"Okay, you two, the object of this exercise is to make it across the Danger Room to that bullseye on the back wall. Your opponents are Sinister's Marauders."

Cougar drew a deep breath. *Merde, he _would_ do somet'in like dis. Don' know how ready I am fo' dis. Course, dey come after me, or Remy, right now, we wouldn't be ready either.* She moved out of the small circle of light, into the shadows. *Someone else here, can feel em.* The hair on the back of her neck began to rise and she tensed. Then she relaxed as she identified the man by his scent. "Here t' protect me again, mon amour?" she whispered as the Marauders began to take shape in the center of the room.

"Not even, darlin," he hissed back. "Jus watch yer back. And remember what I taught ya; it'll come in handy if I know Cyke." He faded back into the darkness surrounding them and she tensed again.

"Begin Program."

She quickly dove to one side as Scalphunter opened fire on her position. A kinetic explosion went up on her right and she marked Gambit's position relative to her. Her eyes were scanning even as she ran, half-crouched, toward the rear wall.

The floor lurched under her and she looked over to see Arclight pounding it. However, her agility was coping, so she didn't attack the woman, just kept moving. She stopped dead just before one of Harpoon's weapons would have skewered her, and she whipped her head around to see how Gambit was doing. He was holding his own, his bo a flashing glint of silver in close quarters, holding off Scalphunter and Blockbuster both. "Don' be watchin me, petite, get t' de switch!" he yelled.

She ran again, outdistancing Harpoon, dodging his weapons as she went, only to skid to a halt and dive to one side as Sabretooth jumped in front of her. She felt his claws rake her back and drew in her breath in a painful hiss. *Merde, boss-man got de safeties off!* She forced herself not to react visibly and danced back just out of his reach. She felt dwarfed by his size, and inwardly she shuddered. Her mind raced for a way to get around him to the switch.

"C'mere, girlie," Sabretooth snarled as he reached for her, and again she danced away, keeping herself out of reach. "Don't ya wanna _play_?" He lunged at her and she backpedaled, only to stumble and almost fall, and quick as a snake, he was on her. He towered over her as she desperately tried to scramble backwards, and he grabbed her by the front of her jumpsuit and brought her up to eyelevel with him. "What's the matter, girlie?" he laughed as he felt her shiver. "Not scared, are ya?" He brought her down close to his face and said softly, menacingly, "You should be."

She lashed out with one foot and caught him in the teeth. He gave a roar of mingled rage and pain and dropped her, more from shock that she'd fight back than anything else. She landed running and almost made it to the switch before she heard running footsteps behind her.

"Hit de damn t'ing, woman!" Gambit called out as he staggered under a blow from Scalphunter. She whirled and slapped her palm in the center of the bullseye.

The room faded back to normal and she slumped against the wall, sliding down to sit wearily staring up at the booth. And yowled again when Scalphunter grabbed her by the front of her coverall. Her hands came up to claw his face and he melted away, leaving her to crash to the floor.

"How many times do I have ta tell ya, darlin? Never let your guard down," Wolverine snarled from the control room. "He'd been real, you'd be dead. So would Gumbo over there. Meet me in the gym in ten minutes."

*Wonderful. I not only screw up in here, I get t' go be Wolverine's punchin bag fo' de next hour. Maybe longer, he don' t'ink I do well enough. Times like dis I _hate_ bein an X-Man.* She walked over and offered Gambit a hand up from the floor. "C'mon, _frere_, I can't keep de man waitin too long. I gon' have enough bruises as it stands."

He grinned at her. "Petite, Gambit sure don' envy y' none," he said with a chuckle. "Gambit done enough trainin wit' Wolverine, he almos' pity y'. An he sure is mad dis time, non?"

She dropped his hand and backed away, angry. "Y' don' have t' rub it in, Remy," she spat. "I screwed up, an I know I screwed up, so why don' y' jus leave it alone, neh?" She whirled and stalked toward the door, leaving him standing and staring at her.

*Knew she had a temper, but mon Dieu, never realized it was _dat_ hot.* Gambit stared after her retreating back, considering. Then he smiled slightly. *Mus run in de family.*