[OOC: This section takes place somewhere between day four and the escape. I'm posting it in its own thread so it doesn't get muddled.]

It was a firing range. Will started as he was lead through the door by two rather burly orderlies, fears of a firing squad flitting through his head, but he couldn’t see any rifles.

“Okay, okay, watch it,” he snapped at the guards as they shut the door behind him, one standing before it with his arms crossed. While the young man had not tried escaping for several days they were not giving him the option.

“Ah, William,” a scientist chimed, lifting his head from where he was pouring over a pistol welded to a heavy metal base. “Ready for another experiment?”

“Not like I have-“ Will began then froze, narrowing his eyes. “Hang on a minute, I know you. You’re that bastard that tortured me on the first day.”

“Tortured is a strong word,” he admonished, as Will clenched and unclenched his fists. “I prefer stress testing.”

“I’ll stress test you,” Will growled, taking a threatening step forwards only to be halted as the orderly clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Aw come on,” he protested. “One kick in the crotch.”

“I’ve been told to tell you that you’ll lose group leader privileges,” the man growled.

“Shins?”

“Okay, that’s quite enough of that,” the scientist cut in before they could discuss any of his other extremities. “Anyway, you can call me Jonathan if you like.”

“I think I’d still prefer to call you arsehole.”

The orderly squeezed Will’s shoulder hand enough that he could feel the bones grating.

“Though Jonathan will work.”

“Excellent,” Jonathan began, leading Will to the mounted gun and passing his a pair of ear defenders. “Now it’s come to our attention that you have some unusual affinity with guns.”

“If you mean I attract bullets, you may have a point.”

“No, it was rather that you managed to set them all off,” Jonathan chided, and Will winced. “We’d like you to repeat that.”

“And if I refuse?” will enquired.

“Well then I’ve been told to resort to threats,” Jonathan admitted, shrugging.

Will rolled his eyes. “Which is itself a threat,” he sighed, pulling the ear defenders on. “Okay.” He paused a moment, letting the world rush over him. His senses seemed to be becoming clearer, objects were more defined to his minds eye, or maybe he was just leaning to see with new eyes.

It was easy to find the gun, the bullets were harder but their charges stood out as stark bundles of potential energy amidst the mass of inert metal. Focusing on the one in the chamber cause him to furrow his brow, and picking out the blasting cap brought beads of sweat to his brow. With a final heave, both mentally and literally he yanked on the charge and there was a sudden retort as the gun fired.

“That good enough for you?” he snapped, yanking off the ear defenders.

“Impressive,” Jonathan admitted, reading a time off a stopwatch. “I’ll add telekinesis to your list of abilities.”

“It’s not telekinesis, its telethermal,” Will corrected. “Telekinesis would me be moving the trigger with my mind, and I would like to point out just pulling the damn thing would be significantly easier.”

“Not quite. You couldn’t pull triggers at a distance,” Jonathan pointed out.

“It’s rather pointless when the guns are aimed at me,” Will growled back.

“There are probably other applications of your power though,” Jonathan persisted. “You’ve shown the ability to move both water and gas, if we could crack the common cause you’d be able to do all manner of things.”

“So what!” Will roared, throwing up his hands. “Why the hell do you think I care about the cool uses of my powers? All you’ve managed to do is kidnap me, force me to become one of the wimpiest shapeshifters since aquaman turned into a flounder and given me the ability to curdle milk.”

“You’re proof of concept more than anything,” Jonathan pointed out. “That’s why we need to do these tests.”

“Concept for what? Junior Justice League of America?” Will continued to rant. “I am sick of being left in the dark. I am sick of you people holding all the cards. And I am utterly sick of all these nonsensical experiments. That’s why I want to join your side.”

“Well we... Wait, what?”

“You heard,” Will snapped. “I’m pissed as hell at you guys, but you’re still winning. You have all the guns, money and power and I want to be on the smart team. So I’m willing to pitch my lot in with you guys. On some conditions.”

“I’m not authorised to negotiate,” Jonathan protested.

“Tough. I want my freedom.” The gun barked to emphasise his point. “I want a pay off.” Again the chamber echoed with gunfire. “And I want a salary for these trials.” Jonathan was ready for the final shot and didn’t flinch.

“And in exchange?” he asked.

“I’ll stop trying to escape; I’ll be your lab rat and keep quiet about this to anyone not in the know. I also want a salary; we can call it an internship.”

Jonathan frowned at him. “I think we’re done for the day,” he told the guard. “Take him away please.”

“You know where to find me,” Will called over his shoulder as he was manhandled out of the door.

“That kid thinks way too much of himself,” Jonathan muttered to himself.

The gun exploded next to him, showering him in metallic shards and threw himself to the floor.

“I think I need to talk to Kayje.”