To Me, My X-Men!

[Hank Pym]

Hank Pym had been in his office at the Avengers' West Coast HQ outside Los Angeles when he got word some new recruits wanted to test their mettle and see if they had what it took to become Avengers. "How did I get this job?" he asked himself as he looked at the roster of recruits. "Tony should be here for this. Carol. Not just me."

Pym took off his lab coat and hung it on a hook behind his office door and pulled his Yellowjacket cowl over his head and face. He opened the door and headed toward the training room to wait for the new arrivals. He had a workout all planned for them, and he hoped most of them would be able to beat his obstacle course.

TBC

[Ms Marvel]

As Hank came in to the training room, Carol Danvers, AKA Ms. Marvel was there looking at a clip board.
She turned to Hank Pym and shot him a stern look, "You're late Hank." She exclaimed.

Hank looked at Carol and didn't know what to say...

After a second, Carol couldn't keep it in any longer and she began to laugh.

"Ah Hank, It's good to see you." She said as she moved over and gave Hank a hug.

"How have you been?" She asked.

Hank thought for a moment, "Easy," she said. "It's a simple question. I didn't ask you to solve P verses NP."

The two shared another laugh.

Carol looked at her clip board, "Some of these recruits are young. Much younger than I remember."

tbc

[Black Widow]

" That is because times have changed Carol, ze circumstances are different now no?" A strong russian accent came from the darkness as Natasha walked out of the darkness. " A much different world now, not only do we protect the people now, but ze mutants as well." Natasha calmy walked to a window, overlooking a training area where many people were training, alot of them kids.

" Many of them will not make it, but it gives them hope, even if they do not become an Avenger they will grow stronger,they will unite against evil and the corrupt." Natasha turned to Pym and Carol. " Steve gave his life for this principle, never one to hold a man or woman back from their dreams."

Natasha turned back to the window. Placing her head against the glass, she momentarily closed her eyes. " I will never forgive ze man, not for this madness he could of prevented, but ze time to swallow that hate is here, we need to unite, now more than ever."

When the Civil War began, it tore a rift miles wide between the Avengers ranks. It was as if the people were just waiting for a reason to once again fall upon fear of mutants, and when they got it, they ran with it like never before. I don't even think it was the fact Steve cared so deeply for mutants necessarily, but for freedom, for the rights of a being, no matter what term was used to call them. That was always Steve and that was always his vision of America.

" I'm reminded of Mother Russia, the tale of Snegurochka the Snow Maiden." " The daughter of Spring and Frost, she yearned for the companionship of mortal humans yet she could not know such love, her mother from pity gives her the ability to love, but the feelings warm her heart and she melts." Natasha opened her eyes and left the glass window. " Steve's heart was his greatest quality and ze same quality to be his crypt."

[Grifter]

~Down in the Avengers test facility~

" Ugh, you know we're late for our first day, I don't care how good we can be, this isn't good at all." Natalie said as she wasn't quite walking, almost sprint walking, but not quite a run. Dexter just shook his head. " Chill sis, we got this in the bag, i'm a pretty boy, the pretty boy always succeeds and you're um..... white and nerdy, and they usually get in too."

Natalie rolled her eyes. " This isnt school, this isn't frat night with your buddies Dex, this is the Avengers, not even dad could buy us a free pass on this one." Dexter patted his sis on the back. " Hey you've had a rough life, we made it this far, if the Avengers know what's good for them, they'll pass us, we want to do good for people."

They made it up to the front desk where a well dressed classy woman with a clipboard was doing a million things from typing, to handling phone calls, announcing training areas and then she looked up to dexter and Natalie. " Names,codenames and powers."

"Straight to the point, I like that." Dexter said as he leaned against the desk. " The name is dexter, but you can call me Dex, the Dex man, sexy dexy." Natalie chimed in. " Or Poindexter." She rolled her eyes. Dexter turned to his sister. " Shush it or i'll tell everyone about your special tattoo."

Dexter turned back to the lady who was obviously really annoyed. " Codename is Grifter, powers is perception control, you know probability, like the probability of me getting your number after this." The lady wrote some notes down and then looked at Natalie. " And you?"

" Name is Natalie and codename is Batalie...." Dexter nudged his sister. " I told you, you should of totally went with like Hellbat or FireBat or the Flaming Bat......okay maybe not the last one, don't want the wrong impression." Natalie playfully socked her brother in the gut. " And my power is Pyrokinesis."

The lady finished her write up and put the clipboard into a platform and the clipboard vanished, making it's way to Hank Pym. She then looked up at Dexter. " No you're not getting my number, your powers do not work in my office, and yes you've been deducted points for tardiness, have a pleasant and wonderful day." The lady then went back into her multi-tasked work.

Dexter and Natalie started to walk to an elevator. " Ouch, her super power must been having a heart of ice, would hate to be the one to chisel that rock." Natalie stopped her brother. " Look i know your mouth never stops, and it's part of who you are, i've learned to deal with it and your family, the others here, not so much, you may want to tone back the bullshit-o-meter."

Dexter smiled. " That's why we make a good pair and I love you Sis, always knocking some sense into me." The two walked into the elevator and were brought to another upper level area. As the door opened. they could see Black Widow and Ms. Marvel and another guy behind a desk. " Holy crap-o, thats Ms Marvel and Black Widow." Natalie tugged the back of his shirt before they walked. She whispered. " For both our sake, don't hit on either of them, i'd like to surive the first day here."

[Hank Pym]

Hank still felt ill at ease with everyone after the Civil War. He and Reed Richards had been Tony Stark's right hand scientists. They had built the Negative Zone prison. They had pushed the whole showdown with the mystic community after Tony had been sold an enhancement for the prison. Hell, none of them knew exactly what the thing did until they tried it out. Hank kept going over and over it in his mind day in and day out. Natasha's comments about not forgiving likely extended to him and Reed as much as to Tony.

"I've been busy," Hank said quietly to Carol as he looked over at Natasha. "And we all know we screwed up, Natasha. And cost Steve his life. Nothing anyone does could make me hate myself more for it than I already do. All I can do is try to make things work, as a monument to Steve."

Pym might have been the brightest scientist on the Avengers next to Stark, but it also left him in that rare group of the socially inept at times. It was always easier to hide behind a screen or bank of test tubes than to put his feelings on the line. His love life alone proved how inept he really was at social interaction.

"Back to the task then. Yes, most of them are kids now. After Stamford not doing this would leave the world open to another massacre. Hell, even I have to admit Xavier has it right. Train the kids so they know what to do. Most of the ones we'll see today are old enough to make the main squad at least. Vance is working with the Young Avengers recruits. Shall we call our guests in soon?"

TBC

[Ms Marvel]

"Alright," Carol interrupted. "We've been licking our wounds long enough. We need to pick ourselves up and continue to fight forward. If I've learned anything from Steve Rogers it was that. No matter how hard you get hit, you dig down deep, pick yourself up, and fight forward.

We're Avengers. Too many people count on us. There's too much at stake for us to be our own worst enemies.

Now, some of the newbies are here. Get your game faces on."

Sometimes it was too easy for Carol to take charge. Despite the past, her training, and holding rank in the military, and in the Avengers. She found herself naturally taking charge. Steve always said she was a natural leader.

But the truth, deep down inside, it was something she resented. She never wanted to be a leader. She just wanted to be another soldier. Nothing special, just sharing in the work, and the struggle. In the Air-Force, all she wanted to do was fly. She never wanted what ended up coming with it.

But, that was her cross to bear.

She looked at the new recruits as they started making their way in. She eyed Grifter in particular.
"Now, who authorized a newbie, someone who hasn't even made the cut yet, live weapons in a secure area?"

Carol narrowed her eyes a bit. "Someone is so fired." She said under her breath.

Her narrow eyes opened again and she put on her smile.
She was the first to step up to the Newbies.
"Hello, I'm Carol Danvers. But you can call me Ms. Marvel. Welcome to day zero."

tbc

[Captain America]

"Oh, that does not look good," Cap said to Iron Man as they made their way into the training area. Bucky was not all that comfortable being here. It wasn't because of his growing relationship with Natasha. It was because he, now and forever, was not comfortable in the shoes he was wearing. "Carol looks thrilled about something," he said to Tony as he let the Golden Avenger take the lead on checking out the recruits. "Only two?"

"Iron Man and Captain America on site," Hank Pym said as he walked over to the two entering Avengers. "These are the first two to arrive. There is supposed to be a third, but she seems to be late. Not good on the first day."

"May I?" Bucky asked as he motioned to Hank's tablet computer. He checked the list of names and shook his head. "We may have a problem with Number 3. I know the name. She's done work as a merc in the Middle East. Her sister is a Purifier. Her identical twin sister," he said as he emphasized the word identical.

Bucky looked at Natasha and shook his head as he handed the tablet back to Pym. "We better make sure we've got the right sister and not the crazy one. The Purifier is supposed to have a cross burned into her forehead, but we all know what wonders can be done with plastic surgery."

TBC

[Iron Man]

Tony looked at the Tablet, he scanned it and downloaded it to his HUD in his Armor.

"Perfect," he started as he scrolled through the names and faces.
"We're starting to look as colorful as the X Men. Why don't we just hire some mercenaries while we're at it."

Carol cleared he throat and narrowed her eyes at Tony.

"Let's see here, we've got several people of questionable backgrounds, oh and let's not forget the teenage girl downstairs who is emotionally unstable, and happens to have an alien weapon of unknown power grafted to her arm."

iron Man looked at Ms Marvel, "Carol, given your experience and expertise in alien tech, I'd like you to oversee the girl downstairs. This thing, this Tactigon, if we can't get control of it. Then we're gonna have some serious issues. And it makes me feel better to have you as a first responder."

Carol nodded.

Iron Man looked at Captian America, "Cap, nobody is better qualified to oversee the selection process of the new recruits. You're on point."

Bucky narrowed his eyes at Iron Man.

"Hey, comes with the Shield." Iron Man said in response.

TBC

[Captain America]

Bucky looked toward Natasha and shook his head. "Yeah, Tony, so I've been told. And I guess it takes someone of questionable background to know one."

"He didn't mean it like that," Pym replied as he looked at both men and sighed heavily. "Tony, times like this..."

"No, Hank, it's OK. Tony's right. People like me used to end up on the Thunderbolts. The Redemption Team, if you will. The Avengers should be something better. Not everyone can join this team, and we all need to remember that. The X-Men are all joined by DNA. To be an Avenger is something entirely different."

Bucky looked at the tablet again and kept zeroing in on the merc. "There has got to be more to it than what is on this screen."

TBC

[Mata Hari]

"Yes, you have the right sister. And pardon my lateness, but I was detained at the entrance. I was told to bring my gear, but getting it past your security detail was most daunting."

Cynthia Nguyen set down a duffle bag at her feet with her work gear. It was a mercenary's delight. There were enough guns, ammo, knives, swords and whips to make Deadpool salivate.

"Don't worry. I left the C4 at home," she said only half jokingly as she walked over to the group.

"She did," a small voice said as a bug flew into the room.

No. A wasp.

No. The Wasp.

"Sorry, everyone, but Ms. Ngyuen's gear caused fits for the sensors at the gate," Janet said as she returned to normal size. "And the physical check took a lot longer than planned."

"Please, call me Cynthia," she said as she looked at the group. "I know this is a longshot, and I know why. Thank you for the chance."

TBC

[DarkHawk]

" The Avengers are more about chances during these times, if they weren't, I wouldn't even be allowed to be here." A voice came through as Chris Powell slowly walked into the room. A man that had been through alot the past few years.

Back in the day he helped out alot of his friend in The New Warriors. Alot of that crew in time were lost, and the surviving members moved in with the Avengers. Then Chris moved to the Loners, he had deicided that it was better to not use his powers and abilities, try to lead a normal existence. But Chris's existence was far from normal, no matter how much he would try to avoid it.

Then came Razor and the fraternity of raptors. A moment that would change Chris's life. In the end of it, Chris as an out of control Darkhawk, took a life, an important life. Lilandra the Shi'ar Majestrix. Something he could not forgive himself for, and he didn't expect others to as well.

He probably wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for an old friend, Nova. He put in a call to Tony, made a suggestion. The Avengers are giving me a chance. I figure the only way to ever right what I did wrong was to use my abilities to fight the good fight.

" Thank you for even allowing me here Tony and Bucky." Chris said. He wasn't going to say too much, wasn't his place to really. He was lucky enough to be here, lucky enough for the chance. " Hopefully this is where I belong, and can do some good out there."

[Batalie]

" Oh my gosh." Natalie said nervously as more and more big guns of the Avengers filled the room. All they need in the room was Thor and the Hulk and Natalie felt like she would faint. This was real, really real. " I suddenly feel like a small fish in a very big pond." She whispered to her brother.

Dexter slightly laughed. " Relax sis, did you need your inhaler?" He joked as she slugged him in the shoulder. " Seriously these guys are all chill, dude Tony, can you sign one of my guns?" Dexter said not so jokingly. " I so model my sarcasm and stunning good looks after you."

Natalie rolled her eyes. " Oh brother." She started to think to herself. {Those two together, the sharp wit and sarcasm may cause the world to explode} Natalie's eyes searched around the room, and wondered if they should even be there, they should be down on the bottom level training.

" So um...should we go down to the bottom level and start training or do we find where we room or?" Natalie just wanted to get to where the others were and away from the head honchos before they thought of her as a nuisance. And of course Dexter was over still fanboying over Tony.

[Magnetrixx]

Oksana took the elevator to the top level. She was happy to be back but for some reason she had a knot in the pit of her stomach. She took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. It's not like she was a newbie Avenger. She had been with them for a few years, but it was kinda her fault for just up and leaving the team. Yes Tony had broken up with her then and instead of putting on her big girl pants and sticking with the team she opted to leave because it her too much to be close to him. Now that they had figured out what exactly happened to him and things were getting back on track, she just hoped the rest of the team would welcome her back with open arms.

The elevator doors slid open and she exited walking towards her teammates. She put her hand up and smiled warmly. "Hope you guys have another spot on the team open." She said looking at her friends and then she nodded to the new recruits.

[Hermes]

ooc: Karen said it was okay to post him and she will put the final stamp of approval when she gets on later!


"Hey, hope I'm not too late. I'm Blake St. James, hopefully I'm on your recruitment list. If not I got the letter you guys sent me." Blake said as he walked out of the elevator and towards the Avengers. He dropped his pack on the floor and joined the others.

Blake looked around the room and suddenly his palms got really sweaty. This was it. This was the big time here. Iron Man. Ms. Marvel. Hank Pym. And holy crap.... Captain America. Blake was trying to imagine running around with the big guns but that image wasn't materializing at the moment.

"I see everyone got some nice looking firearms. I didn't bring any with me." Blake said as he noticed the new recruits brought their gear with them. "Well, unless you count these guns! He chuckled as he patted his biceps.

Sometimes when he was nervous he made dumb jokes. {{Great start with the dumb jokes, Blake. If Iron Man doesn't open a window and drop me out of it in the next ten minutes, I'll be very surprised.}}

[Ms Marvel]

"Oksana!" Carol shouted as she made her way through the group. She gave Oksana a hug.

"We don't have a spare spot, we have your spot. It's always been yours. Glad to have you back. We need all the experience we can get.

It really is great to see you again."

Carol turned around to face the other Avengers, "Isn't it."

tbc