Chapter 4: No Pain! No Gain!

The Fastest Man Alive

Chapter 4:

No Pain! No Gain!

“Spectacular Benjamin. Do you have any idea what you have discovered? Not just what you discovered, but what your body is doing? This dimensional energy to which you have gained access: it is so far in advance of any scientific discovery yet made. Do you understand that your body is being remade down to the very molecules themselves to harness and power functions of your body? From my calculations, you won’t even need oxygen in two years! Your body would be functioning off of pure energy itself! This is fascinating!

A discovery of a lifetime! Not only that, but from the scans it seems you have a form of energy manipulation. That explains why you’re able to produce that protective screen around yourself. At first I believed that to be a self-contained, subconscious act. It also explains how you were able to wrap another person in this field of energy. Enabling you to protect them also while moving at such speeds.

Now just let me run some tests. I want to see how your neural synapses are firing. A whole new path of research in brain function can be opened up with studying your neural pathways. With a person of your abilities that can speed up and slow down, his perception would make a world of difference to the research.” Stated Dr. McCoy as he rambled on about my abilities.

“So how’s it going Hank: the kid passed his little tests yet? I heard a bang, but since everything is still standing, I guess it’s nothing” Logan spoke up from my left leaning on the wall three feet from me.

“Shit,” came flowing out of my lungs as I swiftly turned around with my hands up. I looked like a total dick. Just imagine it now: Tall teenage male with sharp wild grey eyes, standing at five feet eleven in a medical bodysuit unitard with all the sensors blinking all over with his arms raised in awkward angles.

“Your form is all shit, kid,” Logan spoke up while his focus was still on Dr. McCoy.

“Yes, yes, everything is fine,” replied Dr. McCoy as he was typing away at his terminal cataloging things that I was just starting to understand. I had somewhat of a clue on what was talking about as it was all comic knowledge for me anyway, but this whole not needing oxygen was new. It was tripping up my brain, and I was going to flip out if Logan hadn’t said my form was shit. Taking a look at myself, I realized my arms were still up. But, since he said that, I might have to take him up for a match.

“Since you think that about my form, why don’t you help me out?” I asked Logan with an expectant look on my face. He turned and tilted his head to the side and then gave me the answer I was hoping for.

“Yeah, sure thing kids got an okay from the Doc, and I’ll show you our gym.” Logan replied to me, but still kept his attention at .

With that statement, I had the proverbial nerdgasm. Not only was I going to be able to see and try out the danger room. I was about to get one-on-one time training with Wolverine. There is no way this can go wrong. I have speed, perfect recall memory, and ideal muscle kinesthetic memory. This is going to be awesome!

Yeah, I should have known how much I fucked up. So here I was on my back for what seems like the thousandth time. Let’s rewind time to find out how my over arrogant ass got handed to me.

So with the all-clear from Dr. Mccoy, we headed for the danger room. We were standing out in the sub-basement of the mansion and the walls were a shade of Matt black with what looked like an LCD panel going along the whole of what seemed separated sections. We walked along the hallway then took a right into a room with nothing but computer monitors. From a glance, I noticed some of the words had statements on the side monitors — weapons systems, oxygen levels, and also something saying artificial weather. While Logan stood off to the side, I looked out past the large window panes and looked into a room with nothing, but blank silver walls. It was so damn unassuming what that giant two hundred meters by two hundred meter room could do.

“Alright, kid let me introduce you to the danger room. We use this room to hone our skills and practice our abilities. Today’s plans are to use this room and observe your skills. Yeah yeah, I don’t want to hear it. Everyone says they know how to fight.” Logan grunted out at me while leading the way. I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut.

“Well, I do know how to fight. Thank you very much. I kick a few bully’s asses monthly,” Was my reply to his little tiff from behind him.

That caused Logan to chuckle.

“That ain’t a fight. Those are some shitty kids scraping. I’ll teach you how to fight if you’re willing to learn.” was his reply to my statement.

That gave me heart palpitations a lesson from the Wolverine himself. I was so down for this fight. And my hole opened up before I could think it through.

“Am game let’s go! let’s go!” came out of my face.

Logan just grunted at me with a small smile on his face. Then he spoke up and killed my vibe. “Don’t you want to get out of that unitard onesie?”

Realizing that hearing I could get in a fight with the main man himself got my excitement overriding my brain. That killed the super nerd mojo I was feeling though.

“Oh my gosh, yes, please. Also, you wouldn’t happen to know about any gym clothes available?” I asked hoping to everything that I didn’t seem as awkward and embarrassed as I felt.

Logan didn’t seem to be at all interested in my situation. “Yeah kid don’t sweat it” was all Logan said.

We headed off the locker room which I hadn’t noticed previously was off to the right. It was weird; the room wasn’t set up with much. A large display case was on the far end next to the showers over on the left behind some curtains. Now the lockers were located in the center, but there was another door on the other side. That might lead to the hanger, but I wasn’t sure. Maybe I should ask after this. It would be so awesome to be able to see the x jet. Hell, I just had a realization: I would not be here unless I were being considered for the X-men shit! I am being considered for the X-men! Dr. Mccoy just did a power test and Logan’s about to do a fight test. Oh my gosh am going to be an X-man fuck yeah! Ugh, I have to change the name somehow. But that’s for another time I must focus and give my game face.

Danger Room

“Alright kid, no speed, let’s see what you can do in a fight.” came Logan’s statement shaking me out of my thoughts. I stood there over a mat that just materialized out of thin air, shit I forgot about access to advance technology. So here I am, facing off with Logan, standing with the stance of a comfortable boxer. He straightened himself up, then walked over to me. Placing a hand on my back, he showed me set an angle to steady my body then fixed my feet and helped me fix my center of gravity. After that he went back to his position and moved me forward. With a quick step in, I started with a quick jab. Something I have perfected across Flash Thompson faces back in school whenever I catch wind of him bullying Peter when I am not around.

That jab did nothing to the man. Logan did a quick slap deflection on my hand which hurt like all fuck. I never even saw the hook coming for my face. I went down hard and rolled over to get back up onto my feet; and I was fucking pissed. So that was his plan, no pulled punches old fashioned learning. Yeah, I knew I was biting off more than I could chew, but fuck it. Getting back up from the ground, I started to walk around him. I noticed the way he was positioned and circled with me. Logan didn’t have any of the jerky motions I had.

So I started to mimic his motions, this evened out my flow. I felt so much smoother with my strides. Logan has always been a predator, and it takes an animal to fight an animal. I wanted this fight but never knew how much I was hungering for such an opportunity. Being able to fight one of the best of Marvel’s became my dream when I first met him. My ego kicked in and I added a little bit of speed, nothing major, just enough to give me an edge. Then I latched onto him with such a laser-focused intensity. I wanted to make sure he took notice of me. I was facing one of the best fighters to have ever lived.

Even greater than Captain America himself, and I refuse to be looked at as just another child. What I didn’t realize though was my body was adapting to everything: my healing factor had kicked in sometime last week so any of the bruisings that should have shown from the beating I received was healed in a matter of seconds. I would have known this if I wasn’t so hot-headed.

I lunged at him hard on the offense. Throwing a left feint, yet I came in with a hard ass right kick that caught him in the ribs throwing him across the mat. Yeah, that should teach him for not taking me seriously. That was when I should have known I fucked up.

Logan did a simple roll pushed off the ground and came right back at me. His eyes said it all. And now I was looking directly at The Wolverine himself. He didn’t pop claws, but I knew I was fucked. My pride wouldn’t let me admit defeat, and he came at me hard. The left cross, and right crescent kick both came so hard and fast that even though I was able to block them, I was still knocked around due to his metal bones. Fucking cheater was all I could think. Logan didn’t let up. He threw out swings and strikes then advanced into my space as I backed up to get some breathing room. I took a hook to the jaw, and then a snap kick threw me for a loop. I rolled out of the way from the stomp aimed at my head. He adjusted his swing to my side but as I scrambled up to my feet, I grabbed it with a twist and pull.

I was able to yank Logan off his feet. I got him, but he landed on his hands, spun, and practically flew back up. We both had a manic grin on our faces enjoying the brawl for all it was worth. I was seeing and learning. I was forcing myself to adapt to the situation, trying to get every bit out of my body without going full out speed force. I slapped a kick that came my way but was unable to block the fist that came straight for my nose. That knocked me back with a resounding crunch. The blackness spread out behind my eyelids for a second with flashes of red on the edges.

Something struck my stomach, and something else hit me in the hip, but those hits didn’t hurt as much. I refused to go down from this. My anger gave way to my determination. I was able to catch Logan with a solid hit to the jaw then got in a lucky right cross. Fists and feet kept flying, but I knew that I would have to take a risk eventually. I was able to pull a sliding dodge past his guard and went for a headbutt. That was the dumbest move I could have ever pulled off. Foreheads slammed together. I staggered back blinking like a fucking moron because I forgot Logan’s fucking skeleton was made of god damn metal.

Knocked on my ass all I could do was look at Logan as he loomed over me. Logan stepped closer and closer. He first had a look of interest on his face, which turned to surprise. I hooked his legs and swept them around, pulling him down towards myself. I pivoted upright cocking back my right arm to throw another blow. Only to discover that it wasn’t going to work anymore as we separated. I had to shift positions, and I never saw the boot coming towards my face. So yeah, I had lost. And it wasn’t just some ordinary loss either. I lost even after I cheated and got an assist with my powers.

Woah! I was awakened with a jolt. Yeah, the last thing I remembered was getting a foot to the face. Wait I was fighting Logan right. Yes, I was fighting Logan so why am I laying down on the floor. Oh! Yeah, I lost. Now I realised that boot to the face was a signal my ass was grass. I huffed out a breath, feeling my defeat. Super speed and so much more and I still lost.

“Alright, Sparky now that you’re awake let’s go. I need to run some errands, and you’d make a perfect way to shorten the time.” He spoke to me as if we didn’t just go at each other like animals. All I could do was a grunt, which in turn earned me a chuckle out of Logan. The man had beaten me and served me a slice of humble pie like it was nothing. Now I am hungry and just wanted to take a nap too. Wait a second. Why is nothing hurting?

“Aye, Logan did you have the Doc look me over? I don’t feel bruised up or anything,” I asked him, very confused by this fact. I knew Barry healed fast, but man I was good to go plenty more rounds. My body was also feeling a lot stronger, yeah I might have to look into all that my body was capable of now. All that’s been on my mind recently is just going faster. Maybe I could ask Doc and Logan to help me out.

“Nah, Sparky you healed all on your own. Hell, you even healed mid-fight.” Logan spoke to me, which made me perk up a bit. I am a super healer now, wait a second now that I put my mind to it. This means I have an accelerated healing factor. And If my ribs healed mid-battle, I would recover just as fast as Logan if not quicker. My body isn’t just healing my wounds, but it’s making me that much stronger each time I push my limits without the speed force. I am positive I used a small portion of it to enhance the body. It seems like my recovery is far better than before.

With all that rattling around in my brain, Logan followed me to the locker rooms. With a nice shower and more clean clothes which all had the X for Xavier’s School for gifted individuals on them. I had to grab four bagels on the way out, but one didn’t make it that far since a claw came out of nowhere and took it.

Today’s ride of choice was a beautiful forest green range rover. So now that we were on the road, the silence started to kill me. So being a person who couldn’t keep his face shut. I had to speak up.

“So do you plan to tell me what that was all that about?” I asked the man next to me. All Logan did was grunt at me. I whined to the man. “Man tell me, it’s not as if I can complain. Even after you stomped three shades of shit out of me, I healed right up. So bye gones, are bye gones, as far as I am concerned.”

“I can care less about all that. I just wanted to see what you are made out of, to see if training you might be worth my time. Being a metahuman isn’t easy. And I don’t think anyone ever told you about what’s going to come after you now that your powers spiked on the map” was Logan’s reply to my whining. I had to fake some confusion for this next part.

“Wait, what do you mean, I thought only you guys and that Eric guy had the means to find me?” I asked him trying to play up the confusion. Logan grunted at me and then continued to speak.

“Nah kid, we are just the nice ones about it. They know you’re located on the east coast now and they are going to wait for you to try something. Since you’re not in the school, keep your eyes peeled.” was all Logan said as he fell back into silence.

“Sounds like you have had some experience.” was my reply to the man as I also fell into silence with him.

All I got out of the man was silence and another grunt. So I just sat there in the ranger enjoying the ride along. As we went down a coastal road, a blacked-out SUV pulled up right behind us. This would have been fine because we live in NYC, and a lot of wealthy people drive blacked-out vehicles. They either have the money or want privacy. No, what made it strange was that five more drove past us then boxed us in with no warning.

Bap! Bap!

Bap! Bap!

We got boxed in on all sides front to backside to side. Yeah, it is confirmed my luck was all kinds of evil. I was extremely sure they were not here for me. I just so happen to be in the car when The Wolverine gets backed into a corner and captured. Growing super excited, I tried to vibrate my body at super speeds, and that’s when I realized I fucked up. I had never trained in versatility. I am still one fresh ass baby speedster, and all I know how to do is run and protect. No lightning toss, nothing, and what makes it even worse is I just blew my wad trying to get fancy. My nose started to bleed, and my ears bled, and my internal organs went all flip flop.

“Sparky stay with me, come on kid why did you have to do something so stupid.?” Logan spoke from his position. The last thing I saw before passing out was a canister shot into the rover through the windows. I was all kinds of screwed, and I had no one to blame but myself for being so stupid.

I was jolted awake again this time by extreme amounts of pain coming from my left leg. My mouth tasted of iron maybe, this had to be from my blood. The air was all haze, yet the pain hitting me made it all so clear in an instant. I felt connected yet not connected all at once if that was even possible. I was on some table staring up at the cemented ceiling.

The walls had greenish mold growing, and that told me we were somewhere by water or deep in the mountains somewhere. And yet the pain persisted, and it was getting on my nerves. Also, why can’t I feel anything other than the pain? I knew a second later, and I wished I fucking didn’t. The table I was strapped down on was massive, and I recognize it instantly. This table was from the movie Blade two when he was knocked out and strapped to it for his blood.

The table had a lined one-inch rim going all the way around, not only that, I had to be a good four feet up off the ground. What made matters worse is the fact they had large lights all aimed at me. I am stuck here tied down with a ball gag in my mouth, and they had lights all on me. Am I being experimented on, no that’s impossible I would have felt something? I thought that as I heard a buzz and felt more extreme sharp pain.

No this couldn’t be happening, no not to me no! I struggled and pulled on the speed force, but the feeling was slippery to hold. Then I got the shocking jolt of my life from my neck. That’s when I froze. Then I pulled again and was shocked again. Now I was breathing hard hyperventilating as I screamed out trying to get up off the table.