OCEAN: Routine Training Late August and Early September

In the most capable world, people would not fall to their greed nor their wrath but in this one? It was peace, solemn, and without a mark it was a place that took away her one friend Shi. He was no longer able to walk, images of him being easily stripped of ability so almost dishonorably in battle. No death, just a living cripple, incapable of moving but for truth she knew he would be well taken care of within the walls of the OCEAN HQ. It was a remote location and not many knew of it..she was sure of this. Zell may have found Shi but he did not know of her headquarters so luckily the man of death was safe within the walls of the Sanctuary they called home.

Today was a big day for her operatives, there were few who signed up for the seminar Angel and herself came up with. It was a no powers ball game and she was going to teach them some basic combat skills. Enough so this probably wouldn't happen again, at least, the people would follow suit and she would take roll call as they would appear. It was a brutally hot day in the open field behind the large HQ. The oasis surrounding the field which the large island their HQ rested on cooled the heat with a gentle breeze. Crossing her arms, there were various targets, sparring rings, it was..intense; Saileyra was dressed to fight. Then again, she was always dressed to fight... but it was here OCEAN would take it's steps with it's new recruits.

This was the usual training, and those who did not show up..would not go on the next mission unless completely dire. It would become mandatory once signed up for..and well, Saileyra did not tolerate tardiness. She was sure everyone would show up accordingly to the holographic private message they got in their computers.. Focus showed in her eyes, she would wait..who would be the first to show up? It couldn't begin without her instructors..and her students..

Well, today was the day Steel would hopefully get into the world and make himself a part of a generation he had no business being in. To be honest, coming into O.C.E.A.N almost immediately after his awakening from his stasis was jarring. The technology was completely advanced from the old dinosaur-age machines of his day and age. Now, he wasn't about to go around saying, "Aaah, you young uns need to appreciate the older generation!" No, he was adaptable, he could get used to things like this easily, but it was still amazing. Of course, that didn't mean he was opposed to the older days, either, he was respectable to both of them, he was basically a link between those worlds.

He shook those thoughts away from his mind, they wouldn't help him very much in this training mission. Steel needed to get his head in the game, he needed to experience and take in the knowledge the future had to offer him. He took nothing with him, besides his large bowie knife, which he kept strapped to his thigh. Over his ripped chest he wore a black, sleeveless t-shirt, God knew that the weather wouldn't be easy on him today, coupled with a pair of comfort-fitting army shorts and his favorite black combat boots. Walking to the corner of the room, he decided he'd better be safe than sorry, and picked up his utility belt, which held a standard glock with a couple of extra clips. His eyes travelled to the sharpened stick of jungle wood that he had used to traverse the harsh jungle on his way to the H.Q. It still had the dried blood of the creature he had killed in the night, he didn't even know what he had killed, it was so dark at that time..

Steel strapped the belt to his waist and turned to the door, alright, he was ready now. Pressing a button on the wall, the door slid open, and he stepped outside his room, seeing many other operatives walk the halls. Sliding past them silently, he made his way to the "back door" of the facility, leading him to the plains where he would be training today. Twice he had to check his map of the facility, but he eventually made it, the walk there being a work out itself. Steel saw that the area had been set up, making for a rough-looking session for him and whoever else had signed up for this. Seeing the only other person in the area, he immediately assumed that it was Sailerya, apparently the O.C.E.A.N's leader figure. Steel walked up to her, stopping at a reasonable distance before taking his usual pose that was used for addressing commanding officers and saying, "Ell Aspida, better known as Black Steel, reporting for duty, ma'am!"

Zoom came well, Zooming towards the training grounds. Ever since he'd joined OCEAN he'd been on an euphoric high. The potential to fight villainy had skyrocketed and he felt as if almost anything was possible. But right now, he was about to go through basic training and all it entitled. Not exactly the greatest start to his career as an operative of OCEAN but not terrible either. He was dressed in a loose tank top which highlighted his decently built frame. He was far from the strongest or most imposing individual in the world of superheroes but sprinters couldn't be weighed down by huge bulky builds. He was also wearing a pair of loose pants and was already regretting it, they seemed to just catch the heat and for someone who literally had to sprint everywhere as his power it was hell. In addition it was the first time he'd sped without his mask on and it was an odd sensation to be sure. He felt liberated to be able to run freely but also, somehow exposed.

He wasn't going anywhere near top speed due to the danger that posed to pretty much anyone around him, but he was moving fast enough for everyone to know he was a speedster. A solid 100 or so miles per hour, about a fifth of his total speed. His speed, damn. He had heard about the no powers rule in his briefing and was slightly annoyed about it, for him it wasn't as simple as, now I throw fire, now I don't. There was no "on" or "off" switch. It was a conscious effort to act at a normal speed let alone defend himself from an onslaught of attacks at normal speed. But he'd wanted to challenge himself. He considered himself a master of Karate and knew pretty much all there was to know about the martial art but he was still far from perfect and he wanted to get pretty damn close to it.

He didn't know what he was going to learn but he figured it would have to be a help to him considering for him he'd pretty much just milked what he thought he should do as a her after getting his speed and any help was considered beneficial. Up until now he'd pretty much just relied on his speed being able to overwhelm anyone, but he knew he'd eventually meet someone who could outclass him and at that point...well it would be handy to be able to fall back on basic survival and fighting skills. Suddenly he would slow and then come to a stop before casually walking towards where Saileyra and a man he had not yet met stood. Not that to surprised him, he didn't know many people at OCEAN and it was all essentially a blur. A blur to him, ha! "Well Zoom is here and reporting for duty." Skylar would say awkwardly still unsure about how he was supposed to refer to his superiors.

He would then turn to the other man present, who seemed to carry a knife, probably some military type. Chuckling to himself Zoom would walk over to him impossibly fast and extend his hand, a slight show of speed. His grip in the handshake would not be crushing but would be enough to show strength of character and to test it. "Good to meet you." Zoom would say with a nod of his head. "You wouldn't happen to have a name like Joe or something U.S military would you?" he asked with a jovial tone to his voice, he was trying to break the ice with a joke of some kind and it was also a decent way to learn more about the mysterious guy before him.

((Black Steel didn't bring his sharp poking stick ^.^''))

((Sorry, misread it, edited it))

Zoom was startled slightly at the speech man in the wheelchair made, he certainly hadn't been expecting it. However as soon as he was done Zoom realized what it would be like to be confined to a wheelchair, particularly for him. When he ran he was free, liberated. To have that taken from him would be...unbearable. He respected the man for his sheer willpower, he could have easily let it crush him but he still did his best to move around and contribute. Was this what it meant to be OCEAN? Shaking the thoughts from his head Zoom began lightly hopping from foot to foot trying to warm up before suddenly the bomb was dropped. No powers.

The obstacle course would have been a breeze. If he wasn't limited to the frustratingly slow pace of normal people. Resisting the urge to face palm he nearly cringed at the fact that numerous people would be launching their powers at him while he was trying to complete the course. Closing his eyes Zoom would compose himself having well and truly stopped hopping from foot to foot before suddenly opening them. Shooting Black Steel a wry grin he would promptly say, "The sooner we start the sooner this finishes." before he would crouch down and allow his more playful side to come to the light. "Race ya." he said before taking off at normal speed.

It had been difficult to resist but he managed to not take off at full speed. Restraint was key here as he really didn't want to get in trouble for breaking the rules straight off the bat before it even truly began. Running forward at a normal pace Zoom would leap over the trench without very much difficulty before continuing to crawl through the barbed wire likely attaining many scratches which would heal pretty much instantly. This wasn't technically using his powers however as there was no way to deactivate this constant ability he possessed.

Of course he would probably be barraged with numerous attacks as soon as he set off...

((OOC: Sorry for the wait. Been all over the place lately @_@))

Steel felt a wash of guilt and sorrow for the man, but he never showed it to the others. Pity for the wounded was dishonorable, the man gave up his legs to help protect the innocent, and that was good enough reason for him to trust the man entirely. Now, the only way he could help the man wasn't by doing anything for him directly, it would be to continue his job of protection. Steel saluted when he was finished, and waited for instruction before simply nodding. It would be a tough run, with no powers, but he wasn't a person who relied solely on his powers alone. He unclipped his gun and set it to the ground, along with his Bowie knife, assuming that weapons were not to be used as well as powers. It seemed the man next to him, Zoom, would have a little trouble as shock was visibly seen on his face.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine." An empty promise, he had no idea what the kid was capable of, but he did seem to boast a strength that rivaled his own. It looked like the guy just wanted this to be over with, and even gave him some extra incentive by trying to race him, "Is this not already a race? I must have misunderstood the task..." Sarcasm, of course, but Steel wasn't planning on trying to win the race. If he could make it through the course without a problem, that would be a personal victory. He walked over to the course, and stretched out while waiting for the kid to start. Once he saw Zoom...well, zoom...over the trench, he grabbed onto the rope and swung, rolling as he hit the ground and coming up unscathed. Next was the barbwire, which was literally no problem for Steel, as he crawled right through it, letting it snap and twist around his body. Technically this wouldn't be against the rule, as his hardening of the skin was able to be toggled, but not his natural durability.

It looked as though the instructors hadn't been able, or just hadn't felt the need to use their powers yet, so Steel took this chance as a blessing. He made it right through the barbed wire without a scratch...well, his skin, at least. His clothes had been torn to all hell, his t-shirt so ripped up that it fell apart as he stood up, luckily, his pants didn't do the same. Now Steel readied himself for a barrage of attacks, his subconscious mind telling him to harden up, but he willpower won over his instincts. Now he had two choices, use the slide to gain some initial speed, with the hindrance of having to trek through water, which was always tough for him, or use the bars. Hopefully they would be able to hold up his weight as he jumped up and grabbed onto the first one. As he grabbed onto the next bar he prayed that a random bolt of fire or something wouldn't knock him off.