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  "No one said anything about wilderness survival training. We live in a damn city." Jetstream compined.

  Commander Stone's gravelly voice interrupted Jetstream's whining. "Survival skills are crucial, d. You never know when you'll find yourself stranded in the bush after a fight or natural disaster. Now quit yer yappin' and meet our esteemed guest instructor."

  The door to the training room swung open, and a grizzled figure strode in. He was a giant of a man, his broad frame filling the doorway. His face, weathered by sun and wind, was framed by a thick beard, and his eyes glinted with good humour beneath a well-worn Akubra hat.

  "Everyone, meet Austin Hunter, better known as Bushranger," Commander Stone said, motioning to the newcomer. "He's an expert in wilderness survival and will be putting you lot through your paces for the next few days."

  Bushranger gave a lopsided grin, revealing a gold incisor tooth. "G'day, Commander, young 'uns. Pleased to meet ya. Now, who's keen to get their hands dirty and learn some real-world skills, hey?"

  Zephyr sparkled with excitement, she bounced on the balls of her feet. "Me, me!" she cried, unable to contain her enthusiasm. The bushman's accent sounded like music to her ears, and she was eager to spend time outdoors after their recent intense training sessions.

  Bushranger's weather-beaten face creased into a smile, revealing a fsh of gold. "Righto, little miss keen. Let's see if yer mates are as eager as ya." He turned back to the group, his eyes scanning the room. "Now, I won't be the only one helpin' Commander Stone with this little adventure. We've got two other helpers comin' along for the ride: Riot and Bullseye." It seemed that both of them had volunteered to come along.

  "You lot best be prepared for a challenging but rewarding few days," Bushranger continued. "We'll be headin' into the great outdoors, learnin' how to navigate, build shelters, forage for tucker, and maybe even take on a few bush-based baddies if we're lucky."

  Zephyr shot a conspiratorial grin at Allison, mouthing, "This is going to be so much fun!"

  Allison was still processing the news that Riot and Bullseye would be joining them, she had yet to talk to Bullseye since their st "encounter" and thought it was going to be a little bit awkward to say the least.

  The air was crisp and fresh as the sun peeked over the treetops, bathing the forest in a warm golden glow. The four sidekicks, plus their two mentors and Bushranger, trudged through the dense undergrowth, their feet crunching on fallen leaves and twigs.

  "Bloody oath, this is a thick bush!" Bushranger excimed, his voice full of infectious enthusiasm. "Now, we'll start by clearin' a camp area. It's important to find a decent spot, away from any potential hazards like dead branches or animal burrows."

  The group spread out, surveying the surrounding foliage for a suitable campsite. Zephyr, ever eager to please her new instructor, rushed ahead, her eyes scanning the forest floor. "Over here!" she called out, waving her arms excitedly. "This spot looks great!"

  They gathered around Zephyr, who stood in a small clearing surrounded by tall trees. "Good girl Zephyr, top notch stop." Bushranger said.

  They set to work, clearing the area of sticks and stones, and levelling the ground with their powers. As the morning wore on, the campsite began to take shape. Tents were erected, sleeping bags unrolled, and a small campfire pit was dug. Bullseye volunteered to gather firewood with Riot. Bushranger showed the rest of the group which pnts around the pce were safe to eat.

  "Now we're gettin' somewhere!" Bushranger excimed, cpping his hands together. "Nightshade, go check on Bullseye and Riot, they should have been gettin' back by now."

  Allison ventured further into the forest in search of Bullseye and Riot. As she pushed through a tangle of branches, the canopy above momentarily obscured the morning light, casting her path into temporary darkness. She felt an odd tingle in her skin, and a wave of unease washed over her.

  She took a hesitant step forward, and the forest suddenly brightened as the sun broke through the canopy again. That's when she saw them. Bullseye and Riot.

  They were pressed against the trunk of a rge tree, a pile of chopped firewood at their feet, forgotten in the heat of passion. Bullseye was balls-deep inside Riot, thrusting into the pink haired girl whilst holding her hand over her mouth. Riot's arms were wrapped tightly around Bullseye's broad shoulders, her fingers digging into his muscur back.

  A noise caught in Allison's throat as she stumbled back, a twig snapping under her foot. The lovers froze. Riot's cheeks flushed, but Bullseye grinned, unashamed.

  "Whoa, Nightshade. Didn't expect to see you here." Bullseye's voice was husky, his gaze flicking between Allison and Riot.

  Riot disentangled herself from Bullseye, straightening her clothes. "Uh, hey, Nightshade. Didn't hear you coming." She ran a hand through her bright pink hair. "Guess we got a little carried away."

  "Uh, yeah... I was sent to, erm, check on you guys. Bushranger wanted to make sure we were all on track with the wood."

  "I'm very on track with my wood." Bullseye ughed.

  "Right." Allison returned to the camp without them.

  The rest of the morning passed in a blur of activity as Bushranger taught them essential survival skills. He showed them how to identify insects, expining the nutritional benefits and potential dangers of each. They learned how to trap and snare small animals, a skill that Zephyr seemed particurly adept at and Allison struggled with. They set up snares and traps in a couple pces around the camp, then moved on to learning basic first aid using local herbs.

  "It's crucial to know how to treat injuries when you're out in the middle of nowhere," Bushranger said, his voice grave. "You won't have the luxury of a hospital or even a well-stocked medicine cabinet. You need to rely on what nature provides and your own resourcefulness."

  As the sun dipped towards the horizon, they gathered around the campfire they had built, the flickering fmes casting dancing shadows on their faces.

  Zephyr sat close to Bushranger, "Tell me more about surviving in the wild, Bushranger," she said, her voice ced with flirtatious curiosity. "Have you ever battled any deadly creatures or escaped from dangerous situations?"

  The bushman took a swig from his beer. "More times than I can count, little miss. There was this one time I had a close encounter with a vilin called Croc-doc while crossin' a river. Bloody massive he was, could've taken me out in one snap."

  Zephyr leaned in closer, pcing her hand on his leg, "Oh my, what did you do?"

  As Zephyr and Bushranger continued their lively conversation, Jetstream sidled up to Riot. "So, Riot," he said, a hint of a smile pying at the corners of his mouth. "I've heard about your crazy adventures in the city. Care to fill me in on some of the juicier details?"

  Riot smirked, her pink hair glowing in the firelight. "Well, now, Jetstream, I could tell you a thing or two. But it'd cost ya." She nudged him pyfully, a challenge glinting in her eyes.

  Jetstream held her gaze, his face a picture of feigned innocence. "Oh yeah? And what might that be?"

  Meanwhile, Allison found herself sitting between Jake and Bullseye, their proximity making her squirm. Jake kept shooting her gnces, his eyes warm and curious. Bullseye, on the other hand, seemed to be purposely ignoring her, his attention focused on the crackling fire.

  Bullseye slid his hand over to Allison's ass and sent a shockwave of pleasure washing over her. His fingers gently squeeze her cheek, the touch sending a jolt of desire straight to her core. Allison did her best to maintain her composure not wanting Jake to notice, but she failed to do so, letting out soft sigh.

  Jake cleared his throat. "Bullseye," he said, a hint of teasing in his voice. "That's quite a hands-on approach you've got there."

  Bullseye turned to Jake, a cocky grin spreading across his face. "Just thought our friend Nightshade here might appreciate a little warmth on this chilly night." His thumb slowly caressed Allison's bottom, circling her soft flesh.

  Allison's mouth went dry. She wanted to protest, to tell him to stop, but the words caught in her throat. Her mind raced, torn between the embarrassed desire to pull away and the wicked urge to lean into his touch.

  The tension between Bullseye and Jake was palpable, like lightning about to strike. Each man kept his gaze fixed on the other, their eyes flicking back and forth, measuring, challenging. Bullseye's thumb continued its zy circles on Allison's ass, his touch possessive and provocative.

  Jake's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed. He leaned in close to Bullseye, his voice a low growl. "Back off." he murmured. "She doesn't need someone like you."

  Bullseye's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, I think she does," he ughed, his hand deliberately stroking upward, tracing the curve of Allison's ass. "Don't you, Nightshade?"

  Allison wanted to speak, to defuse the tense between them, but no words escaped her lips. She shifted uncomfortably.

  Before Bullseye could react, Jake's hand shot out, grasping Bullseye's wrist and wrenching it away from Allison. "I said back off." Jake snarled, his eyes fshing with annoyance. His grip tightened, his fingers digging into Bullseye's wrist.

  Bullseye's smiled faltered, his eyes hardening. "Let go, wolf-boy," he said through gritted teeth. "Or I might forget you're on the same side."

  Jake's other hand balled into a fist, his knuckles white. "Try me," he challenged.

  In the tense silence that followed, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the forest.

  Bushranger, who had been sharing stories with Zephyr, looked up sharply, his eyes narrowing. "Somethin' ain't right," he muttered. "I can sense someone comin', and they ain't no friendly campers."

  A group of figures appeared from the shadows, emerging from the surrounding foliage. They were dressed in bck and red, their faces hidden by ski masks. Each of them was armed with knives and other bded weapons, they advanced on the campfire with purpose.

  "Who the bloody hell are you lot?" Bushranger demanded, rising to his feet, his body coiled and ready for action. Allison and the other joining him, the tension between Jake and Bullseye put on hold.

  The leader of the ambushers stepped forward, his tall frame towering over the others. "You should've stayed in the city, hero," he sneered, his voice filtered through a voice changer, making his gender impossible to identify. "this bush is our domain."

  Bushranger spat on the dirt. "City or bush, ya picked the wrong mob to mess with." He loomed over the intruders, his arms tensed and ready for action. "Allison, Jetstream, you're with me. Zeph, Full Moon, Riot, you three take the stragglers. Bullseye, you're the sniper."

  The intruders, clearly taken aback by the sidekicks' response, faltered only for a moment. The one who seemed to be their leader, sshed their knife through the air, grinning beneath their ski mask. "You're outta your league, heroes! This is our turf now!"

  All hell broke loose as the two groups cshed. Bushranger charged the leader, his fists flying with the force of a thousand punches. The knife-wielder stumbled back under the onsught, struggling to block the blows. Bushranger's fists were a blur as he id into the assaint. The leader's knife sshed wildly, but it was no use, the battle clearly favouring the hero who sent them flying into a nearby tree.

  Zephyr, Riot, and Full Moon leapt into action too, their powers gleaming through the night. Riot's sonic scream shattered the night's silence as she unleashed it upon the assaints. Full Moon transformed into his werewolf form, becoming a hulking beast as he swiped at the foes with razor-sharp cws. Zephyr summoned a powerful gust of wind, knocking intruders off their feet as they advanced.

  "Bullseye!" Bushranger roared. "Pick em off!"

  Bullseye, his eyes fshing with determination, had climbed up high into the treetops. His bow appeared in his hands and he fired shot after shot, the arrows finding their marks with deadly accuracy. The intruders cried out as Bullseye's arrows embedded themselves in trees next to them. They scattered, trying to evade the onsught but Bullseye was too quick and precise, pinning them down with shots to the arms and legs.

  One of the assaints lunged at Jetstream, their knife glinting in the firelight. Jetstream dodged with lightning-fast reflexes, his speed blurring their vision. He counterattacked with a swift kick, knocking the knife from their grasp. But another attacker blindsided him, tackling him to the ground.

  "Jetstream!" Allison cried. Her concern fuelled her powers as she moved in to help, her eyes glowing purple. With a burst of telekinetic force, she flung the attacker off Jetstream. He bounced off a nearby tree, crumpling to the ground, out cold.

  Jetstream fshed her a grateful smile before turning his attention to the leader, knife-wielder who was now armed with a fallen branch. The vilin charged at Jetstream and Bushranger, their eyes wild with desperation, branch swinging. Jetstream's agile frame dodged and weaved, a blur of motion as he evaded their clumsy attacks. With a swift spin, he kicked the branch from their grasp, leaving them off-bance.

  Bushranger seized the opportunity, grabbed the baddie in a headlock. "Care to introduce yerself, or do I need to break a few bones to get some manners into ya?" He hissed into the intruder's ear, his breath hot and angry.

  The leader struggled but couldn't break free from Bushranger's iron grip. He chuckled, a dark, menacing sound. "Guess we underestimated you, heroes."

  In the aftermath of the skirmish, Bushranger released the leader from his headlock, ughing heartily. "Alright, you bloody mongrels, that's enough!" He spped the knife-wielder on the back friendly.

  The leader removed his mask. It was… Commander Stone? He signalled for the others to cease, and they immediately stopped their attacks, straightening up and sheathing their weapons.

  "Stone!?" Jetstream excimed, "What the hell!?"

  "Consider this a test of your readiness, recruits," Commander Stone said, his voice ced with satisfaction. "A trial by fire, if you will. Bushranger and I concocted this little scenario to see how you'd fare against unexpected foes in an outdoor setting."

  The sidekicks exchanged gnces, a mix of relief and annoyance washing over them.

  "Are you kidding?" Zephyr said, her hands on her hips. "My heart's still pounding! You really had us going there, Stone."

  Commander Stone assessed the group. "Your responses were commendable, each of you demonstrating your unique skills effectively. But remember, stay vigint. You never know when a real threat might present itself."

  Zephyr sighed, her shoulders slumping in relief. "I thought we were dealing with some new vilinous gang."

  Stone's features softened, and he chuckled, a rare occurrence for the typically stern instructor. "I believe you all passed this test with flying colours. Now, I will let you enjoy a well-earned rest.."

  They made their way back to the campfire, the tension of the fight dissipating into a mix of excitement and relief. Bushranger had opened a few beers.

  "What a bloody ripper of a night," Bushranger excimed, offering each of them a beer. "We'll grub up, then get some shuteye."