ISSUE #4

" Come on, damn it! Ugh! Why isn't this working? Is there something I'm missing?"

Nathan asked as he paced back and forth in the training fields.

" What do I need ti do to recreate what happened? What am I missing? Think Nathan, think!"

Nathan sat down and said to himself.

Nathan looked down at his palm and started thinking to himself.

' Maybe, it's my emotions. I've only ever used my power when I'm angry. Maybe I need to be in a constant state of anger?'

Nathan wondered.

" Might as well give it a shot."

Nathan said to himself as he got to his feet. Nathan started to think about all the things in life that made him angry, the seventeen years he lived with his step-dad. The beatings, all the fights he had been in. But the thing made him truly angry was all of the times Bill had hit his mother.

" What is this? This feels just like..."

Nathan stopped talking and pulled his hand back. When he shot it forward a shockwave launched from his hand. The golden light destroyed the ground beneath him.

" Whoa! I did it."

Nathan said as he looked down at his work.

"Nathan!"

Scott yelled as he ran out of the school.

" What happened?"

Scott asked as he ran up to the boy.

" I figured it out. I think. watch!"

Nathan replied.

He held his hand out for the man and trusted forward creating another shockwave for the man to see.

Scott looked at the boy and smiled.

" Glad to see you're improving. But do you think you could dial it back a little?"

Scott asked as he looked at the craters in the school yards.

"Oh... I can try."

Nathan replied as looked at the craters he made. Nathan pulled his hand back again but this time was stopped by Scott.

" Not here! Let's go to the danger room."

Scott said to the boy.

Nathan and Scott walked into the school, grabbing Hank along the way. The trio made their way into the danger room where, Scott once again had Nathan fight against the robotic hologram.

" Okay, I want you to try it again. But this time use less force."

Scott explained to the boy.

" Got it!"

Nathan yelled back up.

The robot charged Nathan throwing ounce after punch at him.

' This thing seems so much slower than before.'

Nathan thought as he effortlessly dodged the robot.

Scott watched as Nathan avoided the robot with ease. He then turned and looked at hank.

" Hank turn the level up to four."

Scott said to the man.

" Are you sure scott?"

Hank asked in surprise.

" He seems to be having an easier time than before. Let's see how much he's adapting to his powers."

Scott said.

Hank nodded his head and reluctantly turned the difficulty up.

Nathan's eyes widdend in surprise as the fists he was easily able to dodge before suddenly accelerated.

" Whoa!"

Nathan yelled as the robots fist soared past his face. Though it was faster than before he was still able to dodge it.

"Ugh!"

Nathan grunted as the robot managed to land a blow on his face.

" That didn't hurt as bad as I thought it would."

Nathan said as he recomposed himself.

" Come on, Nathan you got to hit it back. But remember, hold back."

Scott exclaimed.

' Okay, let me try something.'

Nathan thought.

He held back his hand and flicked his middle finger at the robot, sending out a small shockwave that hit the robot in its chest. Though smaller, the shockwave was still enough to destroy the robot.

" Was that good enough?"

Nathan asked as he looked up at the two men.

" Yes, that's good enough for know. Get changed and hit the showers."

Scott said to the boy.

Nathan quickly left the danger room and headed for the showers.

" Well hank?"

Scott asked the furry man.

" Well, Scott, there's not much I can tell you."

Hank replied

" I didn't think he'd be able to wreck the bot at level four."

Scott said to the man.

" It's possible his body is changing to better adapt to the physical strain of his powers. If that's the case, I can't imagine how fast he'll grow the more challenges he faces."

Beast explained.

" What if we threw him in there with a sentinel?"

Scott asked half joking half serious.

" Scott!"

Beast yelled back at the man.

" What I'm only kidding. But it is food for thought. If a challenge pushes him forward then we face plenty as it is."

Scott explained.

" Do you think it's wise to push him to grow so fast Scott? He's seventeen, yes, but he's still getting used to this new life. And from what you've told me, he didn't have a very good life from before."

Hank asked the man.

" I get that hank. But, we need him. As strong as he is now, imagine how strong he can be with more training. You said it yourself, there's no real end to what the boy can do."

Scott replied to hank.

" I just don't think it's wise to push the boy so soon. One wrong move and he could end up flattening the school."

Hank argued back.

" We'll see how things progress from here on out and if it's safe enough we'll push the boy more."

Scott explained.

" I hope you know it's as easy as you think it is, scott."

Beast said before leaving the danger room.