Making the Effort

Posted on Wed Aug 28th, 2024 @ 6:18pm by Jean Grey & Aurora Summers

4,008 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 5: Days of Fortune Past
Location: Danger Room
Timeline: October 19th, 11:30am

Aurora watched the tail-end of Jean’s training session in the Danger Room from the observation deck that looked down onto the floor. A sprawling urban area lay before Jean, buildings of concrete and glass towering over shattered streets. Explosions echoed in the distance and the air crackled with the energy of simulated chaos. Holographic enemy forces, resembling a mixture of armored soldiers and alien creatures, advanced menacingly from every direction. With a concentrated focus, Jean raised her hand, and a wave of telekinetic energy surged outward. Nearby debris and rubble were lifted effortlessly into the air, forming a protective barrier around her. As an enemy soldier launched a barrage of plasma bolts, Jean's force field shimmered and absorbed the incoming fire, deflecting it harmlessly into the surrounding buildings.

Jean’s brow furrowed as she concentrated, her mind reaching out to scan for enemy intentions. The soldiers' movements became clearer to her, their strategies and formations laid bare. She pinpointed a group of enemies attempting to flank her from a side alley and telepathically broadcasted a warning to herself, visualizing their positions in vivid detail. The group of enemy soldiers closed in, their weapons primed. With a fluid motion of her hand, Jean directed a powerful telekinetic wave that sent them sprawling backward. The force of the impact shattered their weapons and threw them against the surrounding structures. Debris rained down, and the simulated enemy forces staggered, disoriented and vulnerable.

As the enemies regrouped, Jean felt the surge of an approaching psychic assault, she grimaced but focused. Her telepathic shield flaring to life as she countered the intruding thoughts. The psychic pressure was immense, but Jean’s mental defenses held firm. She projected a counter-wave, disrupting the enemies’ psychic attack and causing their coordination to falter.

Before Jean managed to gain the upper hand, the training scenario shifted abruptly. The street transformed into a crumbling bridge suspended over a chasm, with enemies now appearing on both sides. Jean’s telekinetic powers acted quickly; she created a force field beneath her feet, stabilizing her as she leaped into action. She telekinetically grabbed a large piece of rubble and hurled it across the chasm, smashing into a cluster of enemies and causing them to scatter.

The final wave of enemies surged forward, more relentless than before. Jean’s eyes blazed as she mustered and prepared herself. With a powerful mental push, she disoriented the enemies, their minds swirling in confusion. Simultaneously, her telekinesis whipped up a fierce storm of debris, hurling it at the advancing foes. The combined force of her mental and physical attacks created a devastating maelstrom that incapacitated the remaining enemies. As the last of the holographic enemies fell, the Danger Room’s simulation dissipated, returning to its neutral state. Jean stood amidst the wreckage, her breathing steady but her face flushed with exertion. The environment slowly transformed back into its original, benign setting, the simulated chaos now replaced by a serene, empty room. She took a moment to steady herself, her mind and body aligning after the intense session.

~* ‘Alright Aurora, you can come down now. The session has ended.’ *~ Jean stepped away from the center of the danger room and reached for a bottle of water that had been hidden during the training session.

Aurora had stood watching in awe of what Jean had single handedly managed to do. It made her contributions to recent battles pale in comparison. Making her way down to the danger room she walked inside giving Jean an impressed smile. “That was...amazing! You handled all of that and you made it look easy.”

“Thank you.” Jean bowed her head in acknowledgment of her compliment. Today was an exercise in selflessness for Jean, whatever personal feelings she had for Aurora needed to be cast aside today. She would train her like any other student because the skills Aurora learned in the Danger Room could very well save her life or one of her teammates. That need to learn was far greater than anything personal.

“I have been training for a decade. My abilities appeared when I was ten and the Professor found me at eleven. So I have had much more time to hone my skills in the Danger Room and on missions. I’m sure we can set you up with a session that will help you practice and refine your abilities.” Jean took a sip from her water bottle before she pulled the hair tie from her scarlet curls, freeing them from the high ponytail she often wore it in during combat. “Do you have a personal training session set up in the Danger Room? Can I see it?”

Aurora gave Jean an embarrassed look. “I don’t really have a personal program, I normally just pick something from what’s already there, and normally when Connor is there to monitor, or I’m training with the others.” She shrugged he shoulders. “I tend to go out to the lake when I feel the need to let off steam, hurling stones into the water or messing with the water itself is far less exerting on me. Not that water fights back.”

"Lifting all the water out the lake is a good form of mental calisthenics, but like you said, outside of gravity and maybe a fish or two it doesn't fight back." Jean frowned a little from the fact that she didn't have her own program. "Working with your teammates is critical especially when you can provide telepathic communication and assistance to the whole team, but finding your own strength and knowing your own abilities is also important." She reached out for the keypad near the door to the Danger Room and began to type in a few codes. "When you say exerting yourself, do you mean the maximum telekinetic weight you can lift? Or the total amount of minds you can influence at the same time? What parameters have you established for yourself?"

Aurora gave Jean a momentary wide eyed look, “I count exerting myself as how much doing something exhausts me. I have a rough idea how much weight I can lift, prior to visiting the Savage Land I suffered from nose bleeds when I exerted myself, but that seems to have stopped. One left over that I’m grateful for.” She offered a smile. “As for the number of minds I can influence at once, I’ve no idea. I’ve only ever tried a handful of people before, apart from communication between members of the team in the field.”

“Okay.” Jean huffed the response as her stare became distant and lost in thought. She tapped her foot as she considered every thing that needed to be done and every thing that could be done for setting up a training program for Aurora. Scott often carried the role of leader and strategist for the X-Men but Jean was no wilting flower, she was more than capable of training individuals.

“I’m going to pull one of my older training sessions,” Jean laid out her plan as she continued to tap out some more text on the Danger Room’s console. “I’ll set it up with your profile and you can run it for yourself whenever you have time to train. No more lake and rocks, you need to experience a more dynamic environment.”

The Danger Room came back to life but the environment wasn’t as hostile as the invaded cityscape from moments ago. Neutral dummies and standard structures dotted the landscape, it looked like a training camp where police officers or firemen might practice.

“Danger Room, set Enigma’s training program to level two.” Jean shouted out to the A.I. of the room and it blinked in acknowledgment of her request. “Go ahead Aurora, try to run through the program. It’s set up for telepathic and telekinetic challenges. We can add pyrokinetics next time.”

Aurora nodded as she stepped inside not entirely sure what it was that she was about to face. Her lack of preparation, and practice was starting to show just how truly inexperienced she was in comparison to Jean. Not that she compared to Jean in the slightest, there were a lot of years training that Jean had under her belt. She stood hoping she wasn’t about to make a complete fool of herself.

~* ‘You’ll do just fine,’ *~ Jean attempted to encourage Aurora, her nerves were practically palpable. ~* ‘This program is meant to challenge you but nothing is dangerous, if it’s too much you just have to ask it to stop, if it’s too simple just ask it to increase to level three.’ *~

The Danger Room sensed her approach and the scenario began to come to life. A wall of blocks suddenly appeared in front of Aurora, blocking her path and preventing her from moving forward. The task seemed simple enough, remove the blocks in order to proceed.

Aurora focussed on the blocks, it didn’t take long to move them out of her way, but no sooner had she stepped a few steps forward the blocks moved in behind her only this time more blocks appeared surrounding her on all sides. “Okay, focus..” she remembered Jean’s exercises as she resorted to taking flight, hovering off the ground she reached out with her mind again to mold the obstacles into what she needed them to be, only this time she turned them into rubble.

With the Danger Room clear for the moment she was about to celebrate when she was boxed in again, only this time the blocks closed in from above as well, forcing her down inside a small space in the dark. “It’s just a simulation...you can end it when you want...” Aurora tried to push the blocks apart only this time they were heavier, every time she pushed out the blocks moved in closer in response. Her emotions were becoming more tense at the dislike of being in such an enclosed space. It was only when she let herself reach a state of panic that she let the full force of her abilities loose with a scream, shattering all the blocks and leaving her sitting on the floor in a cold sweat.

“Danger Room, end program.” Jean shouted out to the A.I. that managed the program. It blinked and complied, the metal walls of the room returning to normal.

“Are you alright?” Jean asked, making her way over to Aurora. She knew the answer already but it was curtsy to ask and to help the individual process their feelings. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were claustrophobic. Your profile doesn’t mention that as a preexisting condition.”

Aurora gave Jean a worried look. “I’m not claustrophobic, I used to live in the sewers, I’m used to dark spaces!” She paused as she stood up. “I just felt...trapped, and I...panicked. It’s never happened before. I don’t understand.”

"You weren't prepared and weren't sure what to expect and to some degree you are intimidated by me." Jean stated it all so matter of factly, like the answers were clear and present. "You have a lot of psychological barriers surrounding the use of your powers, you have a hard time trusting yourself and what you're capable of. So in moments of adversity, you usually doubt yourself."

Aurora nodded. “That’s true. Right...” she took a deep breath, let’s go again. I want to learn how to properly use my abilities so I can’t run away from this, I want to keep going.”

“Very well Aurora,” Jean nodded her head in approval and she almost sounded like Xavier. “I’ll head up to the observation deck, maybe a little space will help. It will be the same run as before, so expect the same.”

Jean took her water bottle with her and exited the Danger Room. Giving Aurora a moment alone and to collect herself before the training scenario started again.

The scene began to play exactly as before and the brick walls began to surround Aurora once more.

Aurora took a deep breath closing her eyes and focusing on controlling her fears, she was used to the dark so this time she wasn’t going to let the blocks scare her this time. She focused hard on redirecting the blocks, making them move out of her way to where she wanted them. She smiled as she relaxed into the challenge.

After passing the compressing blocks the next scenario appeared before Aurora. In one building, a group of training dummies was trapped on the second floor of a soon to collapse building while another group of training dummies in a house across the street were trapped and threatening to be crushed. The buildings were set to fall at the same time and both sets of training dummies would need to be rescued at once.

Aurora looked between the two buildings she had only ever had to concentrate her attention in one area before, she wasn’t sure just how she was supposed to do both at once. “How do I...?” She looked back and forth clearly concerned how she’d do this. “Okay...” she hovered up into the air heading for the second floor dummies, she would need to try and stabilize the house to give her time to rescue the others but then... she paused before changing her mind placing herself between both buildings she put all her focus into telekinetically grabbing the occupants, the only problem was she couldn’t see all the dummies. “I don’t know what to do! I can’t be in two places at once!”

~* 'Hold one building while you focus on the other.' *~ Jean felt Aurora starting to panic so her voice remained calm and collected in Aurora's mind. ~* 'Rescuing the people on the second floor will take longer than the people on the first floor. Hold up the second floor building with one part of your telekinesis while you open the first floor and help them get out.' *~

It was an exercise in mental multitasking, it was easy enough to aggressively push or pull a single item but this was training to help build the skill of split focus and concentration.

Aurora nodded, taking a deep breath She held out her left hand focusing part of her mind on holding up the tall building, whilst holding out her right hand to focus on rescuing the people from the house. The dummies from the house slowly floated to safety, being carefully deposited on the floor as Aurora turned back to the second floor of the other building. She only just managed to get the dummies clear as the building rapidly came down around them.

Aurora felt a small wave of approval from Jean's psyche but she remained silent as the next scenario appeared before Aurora.

Two control pads appeared in front of Aurora, one with colors and the other with numbers while two artificial minds began to speak to her telepathically. The voices spoke over each other and out of turn, filling her mind with irritating chatter that was difficult to understand. Occasionally a a number or color was mentioned in their babbling, quick passing clues that Aurora would have to discern and enter into the control pads in front of her. Much like a game of memory, any incorrect number or color entered into the panel would erase all of her hard work and she would have to start all over.

Aurora knew this one, years on the streets sometimes having to steal food to survive, as well as getting herself involved in other nefarious activities, she had grown used to having to filter thoughts in a crowd to get what she wanted. Closing her eyes she focussed in on the voice that was giving her the colours, whilst filtering the chatter for the numbers for the other pad. Her first attempt was almost correct as she entered the colours and numbers, a minor mistake forcing her to start again as she concentrated on filtering the chatter. Next attempt she was through in no time at all.

As Aurora completed the trial, a new one developed in front of her. A narrow corridor lined with machines hurling bean bags appeared before her. The initial challenge seemed easy enough, shield her body to prevent the bags from hitting her. But as Aurora entered the corridor a psychic scream filled her mind, the attack was mild as it only sounded like nails on a chalkboard but it was unpleasant enough to make it impossible to endure for the entire walk through the corridor. She would have to walk and perform two different types of shields, mental and physical, both at the same time.

Aurora cringed at the scream that filled her head, trying to concentrate on defending herself alongside the distraction that filled every corner of her mind. She started along the corridor, trying to shut the noise out, concentrating on shielding herself from the bean bags. It started out well enough, but the scream soon distracted her enough to destroy her focus as bean bags starting hitting her. She refocused raising a telekinetic shield again, but soon starting losing her temper at the sound of the scream. Her thoughts in her mind repeated over and over again. ~ Stop!...stop!!...stop!!!... I...SAID...STOP!!!!~ At that moment her mind took over the controls of the danger room, overloading the program with a bang and leaving the controls smoking.

~* ‘I think that’s enough for today’ *~ Jean’s voice was calm and collected, that cool and careful tone she had expressed before and was so often experienced with Xavier. “Danger Room, end the program and document the results.”

The training course melted away based on Jean’s directions and once it was over she appeared in the doorway so that she might speak to Aurora face to face.

“The Danger Room will record all your trials in your training program. It will adjust based on your strengths and weaknesses as well as providing Connor with a report on your personal development.” Jean opened a final keypad and typed a bit more information, the lights of the room blinked and then dimmed in response.

“In the meantime, I would recommend working on your emotional responses to external factors.” Jean continued with her review of Aurora’s training. “Most mutants have strong connections between emotional responses and the manifestation of their abilities. So much so that they depend on those emotions to aid them when they are first learning how to summon and hone their mutant powers. Separating that emotional response from the use of your abilities is critical, it’s a skill everyone here is working towards.”

There was a twinge of ire in her words as previous conversations came to the forefront of Jean’s mind. Her warning and outrage at Aurora’s behavior with Scott and how dangerously impulsive she had been. “You are a telepath Aurora, a gift you were not in control of receiving but ultimately is your responsibility. Your emotional responses can have a serious impact on the environment and on other people. You need to remain mindful and in control at all times because the damage that can be done is far greater.”

Aurora nodded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to let my emotions get the better of me Jean.” For the first time Aurora’s apology came across as a real one. "The Professor has done so much for me I don’t want to let him down, and I know I have a lot to make up for.” She gave Jean a momentary considered look before looking away again. “For what it’s worth...” She paused trying to word what she was trying to say. “Forget it, it doesn’t matter. Thank you for the lesson today, I’ll work on what you said.”

“It matters.” Jean countered her insecurity as she actually looked at Aurora. Even in the dim light Jean’s eyes were a brilliant green, like a fire illuminated her from the inside. “The hardest things to say are often the one that matter the most.”

“I suppose” Aurora nodded, it was time to ‘bite the bullet’ as the saying went. “Look I know I haven’t really said...” she paused, she was just making a mess of what she was trying to say. “What I mean is...” she sighed. “I’m sorry, for everything...” she knew it probably wouldn’t mean much right now.

Jean sharply inhaled as she processed what Aurora was saying, there was a long pause as she considered what to say in return. “Thank you, Aurora” Jean finally broke the silence with more cool and measured dialogue. “I appreciate you saying that and acknowledging some of the things that have occurred. It doesn’t fix everything but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. I also know that was hard for you to say… I think I can confidently say that all of us are trying to find the good in this, to make the best of it.”

There was another long and uncomfortable pause between them as Jean seemed to be internally wrestling with something. With a slight slump of her shoulders she appeared to have reached a conclusion about what to say next.

“You saw some of the torture I endured,” Jean’s memories from the medical table had been hard to forget, along with her agonizing screams. “That was only one moment, there is more… a lot more. And while surviving and recovering from it has been one thing, the lasting effects are another.”

Jean looked down at Aurora’s now prominent baby bump and a swell of painful sadness rose up inside of Jean. “There is a possibility that with everything that happened to me, I might not be able to have children.”

Aurora knew little about Jean but the gut wrenching sorrow that rose up inside of Jean told her how badly she had wanted to be a mother, to have children with Scott. “I’m too scared to find out if it’s true. Knowing for sure if that was taken away from me… along with everything else… I can’t handle that hard of a blow right now.”

Jean’s lower lip trembled and Aurora understood how hard it was for her to share this, to voice her fears out loud. “This baby might be as close as I can get to motherhood, to know what it’s like to raise a child and to love them. I know that idea is unappealing to you and you have disdain for me in that respect but it means a lot to me, it means more than you know.”

Aurora nodded, it seemed unfair to express her feelings of jealousy over that matter to Jean right now, but it would have to be discussed at a later point. “If I know one thing, it’s that miracles can happen.” She paused. “Tell Scott, I said that I’m...sorry.” With that she offered a nod of her head and started on her way back to her room.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. I shouldn’t give up hope.” Jean somberly nodded her head in agreement as the momentary sharing of her emotions with Aurora melted away. Her ever present jealousy was all Jean felt in return when she had tried to show her how jealous she was of her. “I’ll make sure to mention it to Scott.”

She watched as Aurora started to depart and the formal tone of the conversation returned. “Please try to use the Danger Room several times a week on your own. The results will be reviewed by Connor for team building. I can check in with you again in a couple month and we can reevaluate your program then. Take care, Aurora.”

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