Power of the Mind - Children of Chaos

[Doom]

Dreamcaster pounded his cane into the ground, and used his servant to yell, "Terms?! You listen hear! You give me that hostage and you walk away unscathed. Any alterations, any hesitations, any deceptions, and you'll be dead. Quickly." He felt around the captive's mind, an eerie cloak of darkness covering it. Something is going on here. I don't like it.

[Doom]

"Some people just need protection from themselves. If you genuinely do not trust yourself, we have suits to protect you from the greatest flames in the world. You, and everyone else, will be safe. You shall learn to transform your unstable curse into your incredible gift. I assure you, things cannot go wrong." The chopper landed, and the car drove forward, moving into a garage. After a few minutes of pitch black driving, they arrived near a lit doorway. "This way." Simon said as he exited the car.

[Jay]

Hystia bit her lip, following. She didn't bother to mention that the suit wouldn't protect her. Unlike most pyrokinectics, she could burn people from the inside, out. Including herself. But, she couldn't reveal that just yet, and went after him, taking but a moment to match his pace. "Hm. I wonder, what are we going to do first? I mean, like, what is the order of events going to be?" she cocked her head in curiosity.

[Doom]

"Well, don't ask me the schedule. My brother is the one who will teach you everything. I'm just the one who brings you here." As they walked through the door, they were met with a small room. In the room was a pair of chairs, an elaborate control board with varieties of buttons and switches, a glass window looking into a huge chamber, an elevator entrance, and a man who completely resembled Simon napping quietly on a chair. Simon tapped his shoulder, and he jolted with a yelp. "Sorry to wake you Lance, but the new recruit is here." After straightening his lab coat, Lance extended his hand to Hystia, saying, "Ah, another Pyrokinetic. Nice to meet you." Simon skittered away, whispering, "Good luck."

[Jay]

Hystia was very nervous. She almost called Simon back. This was creepy. Being left all alone with this random twin of his. "Fellow pyrokinetic?" she asked, taking his hand and shaking formally, looking him firmly in the eye. "And, you'd be my... ah, trainer?"

[Doom]

"Yes and no. You see, I will train you not because of what my power is, but because of my training. I don't summon fire. My power is....Phobiakinesis. But, that isn't important. I would like a quick evaluation of your power level, then you're free to relax here for the day's remainder." He motioned to the elevator. "In preparation for your arrival, I've prepared a heat-proof suit. Can't be too careful. Feel free to dress as you descend in the elevator." He sat down again, and pressed a clearly marked elevator button on the dash board. The doors flew open, and a suit hung on a hook inside. "Go on ahead."

[Jay]

Hystia nodded, her shirt off by the time the doors were closed. She sighed, getting into the suit, and knowing it wouldn't do a thing. She frowned. Death today? How fitting!

[Doom]

The elevator halted, and the doors opened into the tall chamber. Through a speaker on the ceiling edge, Lance's voice boomed, saying, "Ok. Now, this test is too evaluate how potent your power is through extreme dampening. Don't worry, you won't be harmed." Sitting in the middle of the room was a sophisticated-looking helmet. "This helmet will put strain on the inner recesses of your mind. It will work through the suit's helmet, so go ahead put it on."

[Jay]

Hystia slipped the helmet on. Great. Just... freaking... great. She should've known better, than to join somewhere she'd have to constantly use her powers. Hystia shrugged, slipping the helmet on, and readying herself.

[Doom]

"Now, instability will be reduced by this helmet." Lance sounded over the mic, "But, you'll notice incredible strain on your power. Now, in exactly twenty seconds, I want you to let loose a mighty inferno. This will exercise your power." As he concluded, a hatch on the ceiling opened, and an enormous metal half dome fell. The dome was hollow, so it landed and trapped Hystia. "Let loose!"

[Jay]

Hystia grimaced. This wasn't going to end well. She pushed with all her might, creating flames that knocked her over, and would have been enough to completely incinerate a mansion. She sighed, getting up, and feeling a burning sensation, tickling at her rib area.

[Doom]

"Burn through the shell without removing the Inhibitor Helmet! You can do it!" Lance's voice boomed through the room, but wasn't very audible through the walls of the dome.

[Jay]

Hystia heard the encouragement and sighed, pushing two times as hard. She was sweating greatly now, and felt like she was going to pass out. She hoped that'd be enough.

[Doom]

With incredible searing and hissing, the melted turned bright red and gave out like wet clay. An applause could be heard over the speaker. The hatch opened again, but this time, a large magnet lowered and picked up the dome. "Excellent work! That was impressive. Most pyrokinetics and cryokinetics take more than three hours to bust a hole in that dome. You made record time!" He paused, then flipped some more switches. In the center of the room, a table rose from underneath the opened floor. On the table was a pincushion with eight needles sticking out of it. "If you're up to it, I have another challenge for you."

[Jay]

Hystia nodded. Once she used a bit of fire, she just had to use MORE. No matter how tired she felt, or how much the burning in her chest hurt. She smiled, nodding slowly. "Yes."