Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters. Just writing about them. The story belongs to me though

Restart.

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"Boredom rules here."

Shalimar sighed and looked up from her calculus and at her 17-year-old counterpart, who was lying down on the stairs of Sanctuary. "No kidding Sherlock. I wouldn't be doing my homework if it weren't for the fact that there's nothing else to do."

Jesse sat up. "Please God, send us a natural disaster." He said looking up. "Hail, floods, earthquake, Armageddon, anything." He paused and thought for a while. "The newest edition to Playboy? OW!!"

Shalimar laughed as her notebook made contact with Jesse's head. "There's always your homework."

"It's the summer hol's Shal. Homework are for geeks." Jesse said rubbing the spot where the notebook had hit. "Hey, I was just joking." He lifted his hands to protect his head as Shalimar threatened him with her calculator. "Besides, I've finished it." He said matter of factly.

"What? All of it?" Shalimar sighed and placed the rectangular object back on the table. Why do all of these rich boys have the brains? She placed her chin on the table and stared at her questions than back at Jesse who was doing a hand stand on the stairs. "Where's Adam?"

Jesse did a back flip and landed on the floor. "In the lab, I think." Jesse shrugged.

Shalimar but her lip and smiled. "I've got an Idea."

Jesse eyed her curiously. "What?" He took a few steps closer to her.

"We could always practice for fights." Shalimar smiled mischievously.

"Shal! You know as well as I do that Adam won't let us. Not in Sanctuary."

"Come on, it's just some harmless fun, and I promise we won't break anything. Besides Adam doesn't have to know." She pleaded, giving him her best puppy -or was it kitty? - eye look.

Shalimar could see the internal struggle that Jesse was going through. She knew that he wanted to do exactly what she wanted, but another part of him was to do what Adam said. Shalimar knew that Adam had become almost a Holy- father figure to him. After all it was Adam who had practically saved and raised him. "Please?"

Jesse threw his hands up, "Oh all right!" he said giving in.

*Yes! * Shalimar stood up and somersaulted over the table. "Let's dance." She purred before throwing him a punch without any warning, but Jesse managed to avoid it.

"Hey!" Jesse said, annoyed. "That's totally unfair."

"Yeah well G.S.A. don't give warnings." Shalimar licked her lips and crouched to the floor, her eyes flashed golden yellow. She could feel every single sense tingle and the adrenaline pump. As if in slow motion, she could see Jesse extend a kick but she easily avoided it. "Too slow." She taunted before throwing a barrage of attacks. She threw punches at him, but he managed to block all of it and she then she did a high kick, which Shalimar was sure, would have hit him. But just a millisecond before contact, Jesse phased out and her kick when though his body. A ticklish feeling when through her as she imagined every single molecule of her friend brushing against her skin. Shalimar smiled as she realized just how much he had improved in the last two years. Gone are the days where he lacks confidence and also his fears aren't as visible as before. Instead his leant how to control his powers better and learnt how to kick ass.

As soon as he'd returned to his normal body density, Jesse grinned at her and jumped at her with a kick. But Shalimar flipped over him just before he could reach her. Obviously he was hoping she would do just that, because she was forced to face her back towards him. Jesse took the opportunity to grab her arms from behind and twisted them to make a cross around her neck. For a moment, Shalimar was immobilized, but then her feral side took over as she realized that Jesse had made a crucial mistake by letting her face the wall at the same time. Shalimar smiled at herself and extended her legs to the wall and ran up it. Jesse was forced to release his grip and Shalimar somersaulted over him. With his back still facing her, Shalimar opened her palm and planned to hit him in the back.

"Shalimar! Jesse!"

She stopped dead in her tracks, her open palm merely a few inches away from Jesse's face, who had turned behind. *Uh-oh* Jesse and Shalimar slowly faced behind them towards the second floor of Sanctuary, and sheepishly cringe.

"I thought I straightened out the part about fighting in Sanctuary?" Adam sarcastically asked, as he walked down the stairs.

"Well...we...um...." Jesse struggled to come up with a good excuse, "We got bored?"

"Yeah, come on Adam," Shalimar added, "We're been in here ever since school. Closed for the summer."

Adam stood in front of them. "I know," He shook his head, "And believe me, I would send both of you off to camps if I could but-."

"But there aren't any camps for mutants are there?" Shalimar happily teased.

Adam let out a long sigh and showed them a small disk. "I knew this was going to happen, especially when both of your abilities are developing so rapidly. So I've been creating something new." He looked at the both of them. "Follow me." Adam walked in between them while Shalimar and Jesse followed close behind him.

"OW!" Shalimar glared at Jesse who was innocently whistling. She rubbed her head where he had pulled her hair.

"You said something?" Adam peered over his shoulder and asked.

"No," the both of them answered. Adam turned back to the front without any other question, and Jesse whispered into her ear. "I win."

Shalimar stared at him in indignation, but couldn't help but mentally smile. Whenever they practiced, usually in the safe houses, it was agreed that the first person to utter even the smallest complaint of pain, he or she would lose. And Shalimar just lost. It was a childish agreement, but she enjoyed the fun that came from it. She turned back her attention towards Adam who was at the top of the opposite stairs, leading to a big empty space. All this while Shalimar thought it was just there and served no purpose, but this time she know that they were about to find out what it really is for. Adam walked towards one of the control panels, and slipped the disk into the slot. He started hitting buttons while Shalimar and Jesse exchange glances.

"Uh...Adam?" Jesse asked, breaking the silence.

Adam raised his left hand, while still punching in orders with the other hand. Jesse merely shrugged at Shalimar and Placed his hands on his hips while Shalimar crossed her arms across her chest and Unconsciously pouted.

"Computer." Adam finally said, and the computer answered back with a bleep. "Activate test beta." He turned his back against the control panel to face them.

Shalimar waited, but nothing happened. She sneaked a glance at Jesse who looked just as puzzled. "Would test beta happen to be a silence simulation?" she asked.

Adam didn't answer but merely motioned them to turn behind.

So they did and Shalimar went into full feral mode while Jesse stood ready to attack. In front of them were 2 G.S.A's . Shalimar didn't know how they got into Sanctuary or even know where it was, but they won't live to tell the tale. But there was only one problem.

They weren't moving.

"It's a hologram." Adam explained, chuckling at the same time.

"Oh," Jesse stoically said, relaxing.

"And the point of a non-moving, non-breathing G.S.A hologram, would be...?" Shalimar asked.

Adam laughed. "I haven't actually started the program yet, but once it does, than this would be a moving and beatable G.S.A.." He said walking in between the holograms. "This entire area," he continued, "are fitted with holo-emmiters, and with this holograms, you'll be able to enjoy practicing your moves without hurting each other. Also I've installed safety levels into the program, so the hologram can't seriously hurt you." He was standing directly in front of them again. "Any questions?"

Jesse raised his hand.

"Yes?"

"When can we start?"

Adam smiled. "Right now. Make full use of the Dojo."

"The what?" Shalimar asked.

"It's what this place will be called." Adam answered.

Jesse raised an eyebrow. "I like it." Shalimar confessed.

"Have fun." Adam said making his way down the stairs.

Shalimar and Jesse didn't bother to answer, they were already entering orders into the computer.

"Should occupy them both." Adam whispered to himself, "I hope."

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This one isn't much, but I promise the next few chapters will be better and more exciting. Till then, please be generous and place your reviews into the review box, on the way out. You see that little box that says 'submit review' on your bottom left? Yeah, well please hit the 'go' button and fill in the empty space. Pretty please? With cherries and cream on top?

Thanks.

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