The X-Project

Backdated like crazy. Sam and Ororo meet to look over the new features of the Danger Room.

"...and for the most part, old scenarios have been reprogrammed with the additional features. I asked Henry to be sure to pull the mission files and adapt them for training purposes." Ororo sat back with a sigh, running a hand through her hair. "I have not had a chance to look through them all, but the ones I have seen look very realistic. I hope this will help the trainees envision their environments more successfully and... train accordingly." She stifled a yawn, keying up a tape of a mock-up that Hank had put together. "What do you think?"

"Ah think Hank's outdone himself," Sam said admiringly, leaning forward to watch the tape. "A fully holographic Danger Room? It's definitely gonna be interestin'." As the tape ended, he leaned back in his own chair. "An' it's gonna allow for a whole new level of diabolical Danger Room scenarios," he continued, a fairly evil grin on his face. "Ah'm already startin' ta get ideas."

'Ro smiled, nodding a bit as she shuffled through the papers she had brought with her. "You should feel free to work up any scenarios you like... I believe this will be a real asset to our training program. In fact," she added, thinking of her talk with the Professor and Scott earlier, "you have free rein to do what you like. I would be interested to see what you come up with."

"Speakin' of trainin'..." Sam said slowly, "Ah had an idea for our newest trainee. It just kinda hit me from nowhere. With Angelo's power...ya ever seen video of those flyin' squirrels?" he asked in something of a non sequitur, reddening just slightly in embarrassment. It was a completely off the wall idea that had come to him one morning at breakfast, but it intrigued him. "He ain't gonna be able to fly like that, but Ah could think of a few places where bein' able ta glide like that might be an asset. It's a shame Warren's off in California with Al an' Haroun, since he knows a lot more about that sorta thing than me. Ah'm just a bottle rocket," he said self-deprecatingly.

Ororo smiled at him, nodding her head. "I think that is an intriguing idea," she said consideringly. "And you are more than just a 'bottle rocket', Sam. We each have our own strengths, and you are no exception."

Sam shrugged lightly. "Ah just meant in terms of helpin' Angelo out, Ah'll probably only be of middlin' help, since powered flight like mine is a mite different from the sort of thing Jay does." He paused for a minute in thinking of his brother, hoping that things were turning out well for him. They still didn't talk all that much, but Sam tried to keep up on the things that were happening with Jay by talking to his mother every so often. "Actually, ya might be better with it, seein' as ya understand wind currents and such probably a lot better'n me." He shook his head. "Not that Ah want to be puttin' anything else on your plate, since Ah probably know better than some how busy ya are lately." He looked assessingly at Ororo. "How ya holdin' up with all that, by the way? Ah try my best ta help out behind the scenes, but Ah see how much work ya put into things."

"We all do more than our share of work," 'Ro said, shaking her head and giving Sam a small smile. "It is part of the job description, no matter what the job might be. And you have been a great help, please be assured. I know that it cannot be easy with Scott and myself occupied with... other matters." Such as disappearing students, disappearing teachers, and inappropriate behavior on both parts...

Sam noted the slight deflection away from his question. "But how are ya doin' with things?" he pressed slightly. "Ah know the extra work is the nature of what we do, but there's extra work, an' then there's pushin' yourself inta a breakdown." He didn't specifically mention Scott, who finally seemed to be back on an even keel. "Do ya take any time for yourself to recharge?" he asked slightly pointedly. It had been the reason Scott had wound up coming unglued, and Sam didn't want to see it happen to Ororo as well.

"I have the greenhouse," Ororo replied in her typical fashion whenever anyone brought up the subject of a vacation to her - an annoying habit that seemed to be happening more and more lately. "And the gardens. They provide me with more than enough opportunities for relaxation." She glanced down at the pad of paper in front of her and crossed out a few lines, rewriting them in a more legible hand.Maybe so many people are not completely wrong... maybe they have a point. Maybe. "Perhaps I will take a vacation when the Winter Break arrives," she decided then, looking up once more. "And travel. That would be nice, I think."

"Ah'm gonna hold ya ta that, Ro," Sam said with an easy smile. "The gardens definitely help, but at the end of the day you're still here with all the students and X-Men. Take some time ta travel, like ya said. It'll help. Ah can hold down the fort while you're gone."

"I do not think I would wish that task on you alone," she murmured, shaking her head. "Despite our best efforts, the school and the team seem to be doing their best to self-destruct."

"All we can do is our best," Sam shrugged. "An' not invest so much of ourselves in things that we wind up gettin' dragged down in the process. That was Scott's problem," he said candidly. "He couldn't separate himself from everythin' that was happenin', step back an' take care of himself first. Ah think he's managin' that a lot better now, though."

"Yes, he is," Ororo agreed, smiling with relief. Not perfectly, but... better, at least. "And I am glad of it. Though it does not seem like anyone has quite learned the lesson yet, we can continue to hope that one day we all will."