May 6 - Showing off. Stupidly.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:49 am

"All right," Cal said as they rounded the corner of the hanger. "This is it," he said, at a rather unremarkable (though large) garage door.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:50 am

"And what exactly are we up to today?" Taliyah asks, sounding amused.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:55 am

"Getting help in field testing. From someone who can do heavy lifting. Titan! System powerup!" he called as he sent the garage door the 'open' code, revealing the reworked former-Sentinel.

by **Sara McDohl** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:56 am

Sara followed up behind them, tilting her head slightly.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:59 am

Cal caught sight of Sara as he looked around the immediate area. "Hey, babe, you're just in time for the test," he said as Titan stepped out of the hanger, going through a brief mobility check as he finished powering up.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:04 am

"Your toys keep getting more and more impressive," Taliyah says with a sly smile.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:06 am

"Why thank you. This is Titan. He's what I use because I'm just too awesome for a car," Cal said, looking around a little more. "Ah! There we go. Titan! That rock! Go pick it up and get fifty yards back from me, so that I'm NOT between you and these two!"

by **Sara McDohl** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:09 am

Sara just looks on, curiously, a little shocked, but mostly curious.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:18 am

Titan stopped fifty yards away from him. Cal smirked, tested the new system once, then nodded. "NOW!"

And from fifty yards away, the robot hurled the desk-sized rock in an unerring arc toward Cal.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:27 am

Red eyes watched Calvin carefully.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:35 am

And with the targeting information lining up immediately in his vision, Cal stood his ground, waiting for it to close in.

Then, triggering the device, he let out a shout as he took a running step forward and threw a punch right into the onrushing boulder. Between the two girls, Taliyah was the only one who stood a chance of seeing anything other than the flash of energy as the rock shattered and split, the fragments mostly spraying off to the sides, some larger chunks passing beside Cal to land behind him.

Cal was breathing hard as the dust settled, not really from exertion so much as the panic he'd been fighting off as the boulder flew at him.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:37 am

Taliyah laughs, "Impressive!"

"Man, it pisses me off just watching you," Taliyah says, red lines glowing faintly, "Is this the level of ability at this place?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:40 am

Cal glanced dispassionately back at her, confirming with HAL first that yes, Red was talking to him. "Funny," he said, "I didn't hear you bitching too much yesterday when, y'know, you called us for help."

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:42 am

"Wasn't me," Taliyah says with a snort.

"Have your oversized tin can target me with a boulder."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:44 am

"Oh, I'm sure you can take care of it," Cal said. "Titan! You heard the lady, get another boulder!"

"I had to make sure the emitter was up to spec, and I don't trust the safeties on the Danger Room. But if it'll make you feel more secure, go for it," he said as he waited for Titan to heft another boulder.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:48 am

Taliyah smirked, standing casually with her hands to her sides as the red lines burned brighter.

"Just be glad I'm the one challenging you," Taliyah says, "I'm the nice one. Your little toy will still be in one piece when I'm done."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:50 am

"Who's the not-nice one, for the record, then?" Cal asked, watching Titan haul the boulder back into position. Then, readied, the robot threw it.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:55 am

There was a flash of red light that vaguely looked like a large blade and the boulder split in half, both sides falling to the sides of Taliyah. The edges were burnt black and smoking.

"If you want to challenge her, I think I could arrange it," Taliyah said with a cruel smile.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:58 am

"Not particularly," Cal said. "There's more than three of you in there?" He looked at the boulder, nodding approval. "Impressive," he said. "What else can you do?"

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:59 am

"Not anymore," Taliyah says, "I can control light. I think it's pretty fucking simple to figure out what I can do."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:02 am

"Oh, I can come up with a whole list of things you should be able to do controlling light," Cal said. "I more meant other than powers."
HAL, how many freaking partitions are in there?

Code: Select all: Attempting non-intrusive scan.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:04 am

There were only three active partitions. There were several others but they were all shut down and completely inactive.

"And give you an advantage?" Taliyah asked, "You'll have to figure out the hard way. Just like evryone else."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:06 am

Cal smirked. "In other words, 'not much,' then?" he taunted, not seeming too serious.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:09 am

"Think what you want," Taliyah says, "Doesn't bother me any."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:10 am

"Says the girl who couldn't get herself out of a locked room, but thinks she knows everything I can do," Cal mused.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:11 am

Taliyah shrugs.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:16 am

"Geez, you're no fun to shit-talk with," Cal mused. "Seriously, if you feel like lowering yourself to my level," he said, a little sarcastically, "I could use someone to do hand-to-hand with that, y'know, I can't kill. Just putting that out there," he said, checking his systems again before powering the energy field down. "Titan! Good job. Turn in and turn off."

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:21 am

Taliyah snorts, "I only fight for real."

"But I'll get you an opponent," Taliyah says with a smirk.

Taliyah closes her eyes and after a moment the red lines disappear, replaced by blue ones.

"Ummm...hello again," Taliyah says in a soft voice.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:23 am

"Hi," Cal said, rolling his eyes a little, though he did it good-naturedly. "Sorry, I think your 'sister' is having some fun at your expense. Unless I was reading it wrong that you aren't a big fan of fighting."

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:15 pm

"I guess I am supposed to spar you?" Taliyah says, "Sorry, I'm really no good at this sort of stuff..."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:26 pm

"Well, we don't know that until we try," Cal reasoned.

Code: Select all: Calvin, based on statements by-

HAL, I'm way ahead of you, Cal said, not willing to take for granted for a second that this version of Taliyah was as helpless as she acted.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:29 pm

Taliyah nervously twirled her fingers, looking down at the ground.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:34 pm

"Do you not want to?" Cal offered. "I was mostly just trying to get through to Ms. Violent-and-Bitchy."

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:36 pm

"She said I'm supposed to so I'm supposed to," Taliyah says, "So...umm...here I come."

Taliyah moved quickly, charging Calvin before throwing a heavy but slow punch at his chest.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:46 pm

HAL, give me some help. I'll keep from hurting her, you make sure this isn't a feint.

Code: Select all: Preparing automated responses for unexpected threats.

Cal dodged the punch, moving to grapple with her as he grabbed onto her hand and applied pressure to spin her in front of him.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:47 pm

Taliyah was grabbed and spun off balance rather easily. Without steps being taken to prevent it she'd fall to the ground in another moment.

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:50 pm

Cal took that for his answer and caught her with a hand around her waist, ready to hold her until she had her balance again.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:10 am

Taliyah sniffled, tears coming to her eyes, "...I'm so useless."

The blue lines began glowing more intensely. HAL would start getting active signals from various enhancements throughout her nervous system began to kick in.

Taliyah grabbed onto Calvin's shoulders and pulled herself up, vaulting up and over him, landing in a crouch on the other side of him.

by **Calvin Strong** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:13 am

Oh hell, and it starts. HAL, analyze what the hell's going on.
Cal tracked her as she jumped over him, not wanting to knock her over, but not wanting to get hit by a counter attack either. He let go of her arm, turning to follow her.

by **Taliyah Malik** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:21 am

HAL managed to get data from the newly activated enhancements. All of her senses except for her vision were operating at peak efficiency. Reflexes and motor skills were greatly enhanced.

Unfortunately, HAL was beginning to have trouble getting any more relevant data out of her. Her firewall seemed to have a unique defense in this mode. It was literally drowning any intelligent systems that attempted to connect to her with depression and apathy making them care less and less about scanning her the longer they remained connected.

Taliyah charged again, moving much quicker and attacking Calvin with a well aimed and fluid hammer kick.

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