"No, not like that, ya kind of have ta fall on yer backside and roll a bit. Here, let me show ya." 

Jonathan heard the words over the monitors he had placed in the gym, the lilting accents of the teams newest member were unmistakable. Through his suits sensors, he saw the younger man rolling backwards onto his rear end, his left hand locked around the right arm of Heatwave. The pair tumbled backwards gently, with Heatwave being rolled up and over Danny's shoulder to land with a soft 'thump' on her rear end.

Jonathan stood outside the doorway for a moment and listened as the pair discussed the move,  Heatwave asking a couple of follow-up questions about positioning, Danny giving her pointers, followed by silence and a couple more thuds. It was obvious to the doctor that the kid knew his stuff.  If Jonathan was serious about forcing himself to do this, it appeared he had a viable choice other than Nemesis. 

Uncertain of the duration of the lesson, he decided to wait until later to approach the team's newest member.  He set his internal sensors to monitor Danny and left.  He would get a notice when the young man was alone. They notified him a 6:23 pm that the younger man had left the complex. They again notified him of Danny's return at 10:12 pm. The camera's showed Daniel walking through the building,, talking animatedly with someone on a cell phone. 

After a brief stop in the massive kitchen for a bottle of water, Danny was back in his room and hitting the shower. 

Once Danny had left the shower and gotten dressed, JACE stood in front of his door.  He raised his hand to knock twice, but lowered it each time.  Finally, he reminded himself that this was necessary to ensure there were no further incidents like last week.  Grimacing, he raised his hand and knocked firmly on the door.

"It's open. C'mon in," Danny said after just a moments pause. He was seated at the small desk that was in each of their rooms, firing up his laptop. He looked up, and with just a hint of surprise said "What's up, doc?" 

JACE came in and made sure he closed the door behind him.  This wasn't a conversation he wanted shared with anyone.  He activated a white noise generator he had recently built into the suit, ensuring the conversation wouldn't be overheard.  He had considered numerous options for starting this conversation and had finally settled on one.  Now that the time was here, however, he found himself strangely reluctant. 

Danny had added a few personal touches to the room: a framed landscape depicting a rocky coastline, a coatrack of some reddish wood, a few framed photographs in the built in bookcases alongside several books on cooking, languages and history. There was also a poster showing around fifty or so martial arts throws being performed by two men in white gi's. It was black and white, and the men performing the throws had hairstyles and moustaches that said "1970". The door to the  bathroom was open, and through it Jonathan could see a fair number of men's beauty products standing on the sink. 

He cleared his throat a couple of times and called to mind the embarrassment of his helplessness in the recent incident.  All the facts stated this was necessary.  Finally he spoke, his voice calm and collected despite his embarrasment.  "Mr. McClain, it is my understanding that you have significant ability with the martial arts."

Danny nodded, jet black hair still damp from his shower. He was wearing a plain white tshirt and a pair of excercise shorts, his bare legs crossed at the ankles. "I can hold me own usually. Been studyin since I was four." He leaned back in his chair and indicated with a hand it's twin opposite him at the desk. "Have a seat. What's on yer mind?" 

JACE forced himself to sit down, hoping to make the conversation more comfortable.  He gave an involuntary wince, not from pain but from the memory of a blood soaked wooden chair.  Struggling to supress the memories and stay focused, he lost his train of thought for a moment.  Shaking the memories away, he smiled a weak smile at Danny.  "I have need of your assistance, Mr. McClain."  Nearly overwhelmed with a need to stand up, just to make sure he still could, he was blunter than he had intended to be.  "I need you to teach me to fight."

Danny gestured at the armor the other man constantly wore. "Of course, I'm happy ta help, but doesn't that suit a'yours kind of... remove the need?" The odd pauses and wincing hadn't been lost on Danny - he wondered what had happened to cause this... oh...  "Or is it that ya want ta be prepared outside the suit," he finished, nodding. "I think I see yer point. Sure, and I'll be more than happy ta help." 

Unable to sit any longer, Jonathan stood up quickly.  He kept his voice mostly level, although he was breathing a bit faster than normal.  "Indeed, Mr. McClain.  It has recently come to my attention that I am vulnerable without my exoskeleton.  I am hoping to improve that situation.  Your help is greatly appreciated."  The doctor started for the door, then turned back.  "I hope it is understood that I would highly prefer this remain between us.  I have no desire to have my personal activities advertised to the rest of the team."

The younger mans eyebrows shot up, but he merely shrugged. "Sure, if that's how ya want it. But it's usually best ta practice with others - and I'm thinkin this whole team could maybe benefit from a little trainin' in this area." He stood and extended a hand. "But hey, as you say, it's your life." 

JACE shook Danny's hand firmly.  "Thank you for understanding, Mr. McClain.  I've sent an e-mail to you with my current schedule openings.  Please let me know what time or times will work for you."

"Well, hidin' it from th' others is gonna be a bit tricky. We can't use the gym here, so will have to find someplace else. I'll see what I can find." said Danny. "Wait a minute - you said you emailed me? When did ya do that? I was checkin me email when ya walked in and I didn't see anything." 

"Not until you agreed to the training, of course.  It would have made little sense to do so before then."  JACE considered the problem of location.  He didn't want to bring Danny into his home, so that left some outside location.  He quickly accessed the internet and scanned for available buildings of sufficient size and privacy.  Three seperate buildings met his criteria, so he e-mailed their descriptions to Danny as well.  "Check the locations I have suggested and see if one is more suitable for your needs.  I will purchase or rent the necessary building and equipment."

Danny flipped his laptop around and stared down at its screen. "Huh... well i'll be..." He looked back up at JACE, a half-grin tugging at his lips. "And what else can th' good doctor do whilst he's in his fancy dress?" He said with mock suspicion. "Been peepin at us all in the shower, have ya?" 

JACE looked offended.  "I would hardly have reason or need to peep at you in the shower, Mr. McClain.  I have a cybernetic satellite uplink in my exoskeleton which permits me internet access at any time when I am wearing it.  This allows me access to research as well as electronic messaging systems."

"And that's not a denial, but that's ok. I do have an incredibly sexy backside," Danny replied mischeviously. Probably tied inta the whole buildin', sure and ya are, Danny thought, but said nothing. "One other thing though, and I've been meanin ta ask ya this but hadn't gotten 'round to it yet. Could ya create some sort a voice doo-dad to Americanize me whilst i'm out and about as Paladin?"

JACE raised an eyebrow.  "Voice doo-dad?  I assume you mean a vocal masking system?  I could certainly create something that distorted your voice.  If you are looking for something that maintained the human sound of your voice but transformed your accent, that would be more of a challenge."  His voice trailed off as he considered the possibility.  In a distant tone, he said, "It would also be best if it modified the tone and timber of your voice, to make it less recognizable.  Perhaps it would record what you said and replay it with a microsecond delay."  He called up schematics on his HUD and began working on them.

"Right. That." Danny said, turning his laptop back around. "Is it somethin ya can do? And if so, how much would it cost, and how long would it take?" 

"Of course I can do it," JACE voice was hard for a moment.  The idea that he couldn't handle such a fascinating task was offensive.  Then he reminded himself that he needed this man's help and returned his voice to more normal tones.  "I don't believe the problem is beyond my capabilities.  How long it will take to develop is more challenging to answer.  I should be able to get a prototype assembled in a week.  After that it will depend on how the testing goes and how much time we will have to work together to test it.  I have a number of concerns, especially about ensuring it is durable enough to survive the dangerous situations we will likely find ourselves in."

Danny let loose with a soft whistle. "Impressive, sure and it is." he said, clapping the doctor on an armored shoulder. "And here I was thinkin months at least." 

Starting to zone out again as he considered the project, JACE forced himself back to the present.  "As for cost, I don't believe there is any need for a price.  You are my teammate.  Things that improve your abilities are also helpful to me.  I would be happy to design it for you at no charge."  JACE also hoped by helping Danny at least he would come should JACE ever need to call for assistance.

"That's kind of ya." Danny said. "I appreciate yer time, as I'm sure ya've got far more weighty matters on yer plate." He slung his arm across the doctor's armored shoulders and spun the pair of them towards the door to his room. "Now what's say you see if there's anyone roamin the halls betwixt here and the gym, and we can get ya started on some basic moves if the coast is clear,' he said, tapping the doctors armor with his free hand. "Not that ya do such things, of course," he added, eyes sparkling.

There was a slight sparkle in his eyes and JACE smiled a nearly friendly smile as he looked over at Danny.  "I never said I didn't have surveillance available in the building, Mr. McClain, merely that I didn't peek at you in the shower."  He called up the route to the hall and the gym.  "Everything seems clear, if you would care to proceed."

"We'll have ya Judo Chopping with the best of us in no time," Danny laughed as he opened the door and bowed at the waist. "After you, my esteemed and brilliant colleague."