CHAPTER 9: TRAINING AND TESTING
The portal shimmered into existence, a swirling vortex of deep blues and purples, leading directly into what looked like a perpetually twilight, corrupted landscape. It wasn't quite a jump into danger, but rather a simulated environment, a perfect, terrifying replica of the anomaly zone in Westchester County, courtesy of the House's boundless capabilities. Adam had configured it himself, drawing on the System's data.
"This," Adam's voice boomed, amplified and projected into the simulated reality, "is a precise recreation of the anomaly's current influence zone. Your mission parameters remain: observe, contain, analyze. Do not engage directly unless absolutely necessary. Your containment field generators are tuned to the anomaly's energy signature. They will hold it. For a time."
Wanda, Pietro, and Natasha stood at the portal's edge, clad in lightweight, reinforced gear provided by the House, each carrying a sleek, wrist-mounted device – the containment field generators. Wanda's eyes, usually drawn to the magical currents, were focused intently on the swirling darkness beyond the portal. Pietro vibrated with barely contained energy, eager to move. Natasha's face was a mask of professional intensity, her gaze sweeping over the simulated environment, already formulating tactical plans.
This is it. Their first real field test. My first real test as a manager. Please don't break anything. Or yourselves. Mostly yourselves. The House is expensive to repair.
"Wanda," Adam's voice continued, "focus your empathic and energy senses. The anomaly's 'sadness,' as you described it, might be a key to understanding its nature, its vulnerabilities."
Wanda nodded, closing her eyes for a moment, already reaching out with her nascent powers. A faint crimson glow emanated from her hands, sensing the oppressive, alien energy bleeding from the simulated anomaly.
"Pietro," Adam instructed, "establish the outer perimeter. Maintain constant visual. Any unforeseen spatial distortions, report immediately. Your speed is your greatest asset here."
Pietro gave a quick, almost eager nod, and then he was gone, a silver streak across the gloomy landscape. He zipped across the simulated terrain, laying down faint, glowing markers that defined their containment zone, his movements fluid and precise even in the distorted environment.
"Natasha," Adam's voice was crisp, "you are the tactical lead. Coordinate their movements. Provide real-time analysis. Ensure the containment field is established without incident. Your role is crucial in understanding the practical application of their abilities."
"Understood, Master," Natasha replied, her voice firm. She watched Pietro go, a flicker of grudging respect in her eyes for his efficiency. She then activated her own wrist-mounted device, a holographic display popping up, showing her Pietro's movements and Wanda's energy readings. She was in her element, the analytical mind working at full throttle.
She's trying to assess my capabilities through their actions. Standard spy stuff. Good. Let her. The more she thinks I'm a tactical genius, the less she thinks I'm just a guy who remembers movie plots.
As they delved deeper into the simulated anomaly, the environment grew more unsettling. Trees twisted into grotesque shapes, the ground occasionally rippled as if the fabric of reality itself was unstable. A low, unsettling hum filled the air, emanating from the swirling, eye-like entity at the heart of the zone.
Wanda, guided by Adam's voice and her own burgeoning sensitivity, cautiously approached the anomaly. Her hands glowed brighter, crimson energy flickering as she pushed against the dark, oppressive aura. "It's… chaotic," she reported, her voice strained. "But there's a pattern to the chaos. Like a broken song. And the sadness… it's overwhelming. A deep, profound loss."
A broken song of sadness. Sounds like a rejected emo band name. But if Wanda's sensing it, it's real. And that's our in.
Pietro, meanwhile, reported back, his voice surprisingly calm through the comms. "Perimeter established. No external breaches, Master. But the ground itself… it feels wrong. Like it's trying to pull itself apart." He zipped closer to the anomaly's edge, confirming visual.
Natasha, coordinating their efforts, began guiding them to optimal positions. "Wanda, can you identify a focal point for the energy emission? Pietro, stay outside Wanda's immediate area, be ready to extract if the distortion increases." She was a symphony of calm commands, processing data and issuing orders with effortless precision.
As they worked, Adam subtly began to introduce unexpected variables into the simulation. Sudden, localized temporal distortions that caused sections of the environment to flicker or repeat briefly. Minor reality warps that made pathways twist and turn unexpectedly. Small, ethereal energy constructs that drifted towards them, not dangerous, but distracting.
Time to crank up the difficulty. Can't have them getting too comfortable. This isn't a game; it's training for an existential threat. And frankly, I'm still figuring out how to control these variables without accidentally giving them all cosmic headaches.
Wanda, initially startled by a temporal loop that replayed a section of twisted trees, quickly adjusted. She focused her energy, pushing back against the distortion, her crimson glow intensifying. "It tries to… disorient," she realized, her voice stronger. "But it's not intelligent. It's a raw force."
Pietro zipped through a suddenly shifting path, his speed allowing him to adapt to the unexpected changes without breaking stride. "More tricks, Master?" he quipped, a hint of his usual sarcasm returning, even amidst the chaos. "You trying to give us motion sickness?"
Adam ignored the quip, his voice remaining firm. "Adapt. Anticipate. The anomaly's unpredictability is its weapon."
Natasha, however, sensed a different purpose to these sudden shifts. She saw the "Master" testing their limits, pushing them. She observed how Wanda instinctively adapted her energy manipulation to counter the temporal distortions, how Pietro's speed became a tool not just for movement but for navigating unpredictability. She saw his hand in the subtle chaos.
He's not just training them for this anomaly. He's training them for any anomaly. He's deliberately introducing variables to see how they adapt. This isn't just about containment; it's about pushing their capabilities. Smart. Coldly pragmatic. And terrifying, if you're the one being tested.
"Wanda, focus your energy towards the core. Pietro, secure the final containment anchor point," Natasha commanded, her voice steady. "The distortions are increasing, Master. Are we reaching peak output?" she added, directing the question to Adam, subtly probing his knowledge.
"You are approaching optimal conditions for containment," Adam replied, his voice flat. Optimal for my test, anyway. Optimal for pushing them to their limits without actually, you know, getting them killed. Which would be a bad look for the benevolent Master.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they managed to establish the full containment field. A shimmering, invisible barrier solidified around the simulated anomaly, containing its distortions, dampening its eerie hum. Wanda looked exhausted but triumphant, her powers crackling faintly around her. Pietro, though still restless, stood proudly by the final anchor point. Natasha, observing her successful coordination, allowed a small, almost imperceptible nod of satisfaction.
"Containment achieved," Adam announced, his voice filled with a subtle, System-imbued approval. "Excellent work, all of you. Return to the House. We will debrief."
The portal shimmered open again, leading back to the serene, normal halls of the Auction House. As they stepped through, the tension drained from the air. Wanda slumped into a nearby chair, exhaling deeply. Pietro leaned against a wall, still vibrating, but with relief. Natasha simply closed her eyes for a moment, processing.
Adam watched them, a profound sense of relief washing over him. They had done it. They had passed the test. And he, the accidental Master, had managed to orchestrate it without panicking or blabbing any spoilers. The quiet machinations were beginning to bear fruit. The future was still terrifying, but now, he had a team. A very, very capable team.