144. New Training

- Lex, this is incredible! - those were the first words I heard from Ashley as soon as I got back on the bus.

- What's incredible? - I asked, even though I had idea what it was about.

- Mental protection. I have been noticing it since morning. I didn't realize how much my ability really weighed on me until I woke up this morning and felt free. There is no longer this unpleasant sensation in the back of the head, with which I have struggled for so many years and to which I managed to get used. - Ashley said excitedly.

- Congratulations. I told you a solid shadow would help. - I said with a smile as I stroked Ashley's hair as I stepped inside the bus and helped myself to a bowl of bacon and eggs.

- But I didn't expect the effect to be so amazing. It's like I was reborn. It's like I got enlightenment. It was like a mountain had been lifted off my shoulders. It's like… - Ashley began to say with even more enthusiasm and she seemed to be jammed, but grandfather saved the situation.

- We understand Ashley. You really liked the protection effect that Lex made. - Max said calmly, who did not feel anything like that, since he had no problems, but, as they say, there is no excess protection.

- And how! - Ashley exclaimed, and finally, more or less calmed down, sat down at the table for breakfast.

- Well, how do you like the protection effect, Gwen? - I asked the girl, who all this time just sat and silently ate.

- Yeah, I have the same thing. Ashley is right, it's like being enlightened after a long walk in the dark. Thoughts flow so easily and nothing hinders them. And the anger that I constantly felt lately disappeared without a trace. In general, now I look at the world with completely open eyes, if I may say so, of course. - Gwen said calmly.

- Then why are you sitting there with such a drooping look? - I asked, pointing out Gwen's obvious bad mood.

- It's just that now I can review my behavior over the past few weeks and now I understand how badly I've been behaving. - Gwen said softly.

- Well, not so terrible… - I began to speak, but I was not allowed to continue.

- Do not lie. Now I can clearly see that I behaved like a vile bitch. I was unbearable. I gave you permission to date others, and then when Hope showed up, I started to get mad and even hit you, and then ignored you…. - Gwen said almost on the verge of tears, but I stopped her abruptly.

It's good that Grandpa went to say goodbye to his friends and did not find this scene, and Ashley left us alone.

- Yes, but we already found out that it was because of the Pyrokinesis Tattoo. - I said, trying to calm the girl down before she raged.

- But it just heightened my true feelings. And now I'm ashamed as hell. And how much I said about Hope, my God... - covering her face with her hands, said Gwen.

- You apologized yesterday, so it's not such a problem anymore. In any case, your problem is solved and this story is over. You can take this as a lesson for the future. - I said calmly, although I myself was seething with anger inside, because I knew that it was my fault, but now there is little use from me. Gwen has to deal with her own problems.

- I know, but before I could not sort out my feelings, and now there are too many of them and I am completely confused. I don't know what to do… - Gwen complained, resting her head on the table.

- I think you need to blow off some steam. I always get better if I destroy something. - I said with a smile, slapping the table to cheer up the girl.

- And what did you come up with? - Gwen asked somehow languidly, not having any enthusiasm, but only wanting to crawl into the deepest hole in order to continue self-flagellation.

- You will send back to the virtual world. - I said as I pulled out my laptop.

- Again 'Sumo Slammers'? - even more sluggishly, Gwen asked.

- No, this time will be different. As you know, I've been designing my own world lately, and although I haven't finished yet, I managed to create a small simulator program for us, because I knew that it could come in handy. - I began to tell.

- Simulator program? - Gwen asked with little interest, raising her head.

- In fact, this is a small piece of cyberspace that I prepared and now I can program it any way I like at any time. Any location and conditions, any opponents and weapons, you can even prescribe the plot. I named this place the Danger Room. - I said with enthusiasm.

- Is it like another game? - Gwen asked, looking at me carefully.

- Almost, but only better. This is a piece of a real virtual world, so to speak, which I can customize as I want and pretty quickly. Although it's not as big an open space and uses optical illusion, it's going to be pretty much the same as when you got into Sumo Slammer. just created by me. - I said, just finished the last setting.

- And what do I need to do there?

- Stop the invasion of huge squid-like robots, once every 50,000 years, destroying all the races of the galaxy that went into space to make room for the less developed races, which in the end will also die and this cycle has been going on for a billion years, but it is you who are destined stop them. - pathetically I retold the plot of the Mass Effect series.

- Are you serious? How did you even come up with such nonsense? - Gwen asked looking at me strangely.

- And nothing is nonsense, but the brilliant work of the scriptwriters, if the finale had not let us down. - I complained quietly, but then added louder: - Don't worry, you'll like it.

- Okey then. Maybe it will really help me relax. Will I keep my powers? - Gwen asked, already gearing up for battle.

- Only your Anodite abilities, which will be significantly weakened. So you'll have to try. You will fight robots, aliens and other people, but you will also be able to use high-tech weapons, and let's see how this will affect your skills in the real world. - I said.

- All right, send me. You managed to interest me. - Gwen said with a wave of her hand.

- Okey. I'll get you back when you finish the first part. - I said, and turning into a Phantom Virus sent my girlfriend to the Danger Room, in place of Jane Shepard.

- What about me? Now that I have the protection of the mind, can I continue to train my abilities? You promised. - Ashley said with a pleading face.

- If I promised, then let's get started. Just while on the road, we can spend time on this. - I said, making sure that Gwen started the 'game' and there are no problems.

- And how are we going to train? - Ashley asked enthusiastically as we set off, as Grandpa had already said goodbye to all his friends and returned.

- Well, I guess we'll start simple and improve your electricity absorption skills. - Thinking for a bit, I said.

- But, I'm pretty good at it. - Ashley said angrily, sitting down beside him.

- Yes, but now that it is safe for you, you will be able to unleash the full potential of this energy and learn to fully control it. Besides, it will be useful considering that you can always access it. - I said instructively, pointing to the Electrokinesis Tattoo.

- Eh, I understand. -Ashley said with a breath, and then asked: - And when we finish with this, what will happen next?

- Let's move on to a tracking type of energy that is easy to access and safe. - I said, keeping the intrigue.

- And what is this energy? - Ashley asked impatiently.

- Kinetic energy. If you learn how to absorb it, then you will actually become invincible in close combat. - I said with a smile.

- Sounds amazing. - already clearly imagine herself how it will be, Ashley said.

- When you gain experience, we will move on to the energy that is used in laser weapons, and then we can study something more dangerous, like solar energy or radiation.

- And magic. After all, then I too can conjure. - Ashley said excitedly.

- Yes, and you will also learn how to absorb mana. But, all this will be over time, but for now let's start with the basics. - I said, turning into Feedback.

- Why did you turn into this alien? - the girl asked incredulously.

- To help you. Get on the floor. - I said, and sat down myself, and after I began to explain: - This alien can also absorb energy, like you, although this is a more intuitive ability. I thought that with his help I would help you gain experience and teach you more control over this ability.

- What am I supposed to do? - Ashley asked eagerly, sitting in the lotus position.

After absorbing some electricity from the refrigerator, I gathered it into a small ball, which I held out to Ashley and said briefly: - Absorb it.

Ashley did as I said, and had no problems with all the energy, and I said: - Now give it back.

- What? - Ashley asked incredulously, obviously not expecting this.

- Collect all the energy you've just absorbed and return it to me. I think it will increase your control and help you. Only, don't use the power of your tattoos. - I explained.

- Okay, I'll try. - Ashley said intently and tried to do as I said, but she did not succeed.

- You see, before, you just attacked with electricity as if you didn't hit and used it to enhance your physical characteristics. And now, when I asked you to give the energy a more concrete form and collect it all at once, you did not succeed. Of course, with the power of the tattoo, you would be able to do it without any problems, but now we are training your Osmosian abilities. That is the point of this training. - I said with a smile.

- Yes, now I understand. I used to just trust my instincts and let my abilities do all the work without even trying to learn how to do it myself. - Ashley said displeasedly, realizing her mistake.

- Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Osmosian abilities always drive them crazy and control them. Although, it doesn't matter now. In any case, we are training so that you learn to control your powers and not allow or do this to you. It will take time, but I'm sure you can handle it. Try again. - I said, handing Ashley another ball of electricity.

- Okey. - Ashley said as seriously as possible and tried to gather energy into one point.

This time it turned out clearly better, and even a spark ran through, but in the end, everything ended with a one-time emission, which I managed to absorb, before the bus was damaged or Nebula, who lay nearby and just watched us, since we were the only entertainment for her.

- Again. - I said calmly, giving Ashley no time to get upset and allowing her to absorb the electricity again.

When Ashley failed again, I did the same and Ashley started a new attempt. All the way to St. Louis, we continued to use this method of training and, in the end, Ashley was able to collect the absorbed energy into a ball and transfer it to me, although losing 70% of the electricity in the process. Good progress for a first time.