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The First to Fall; (open)
Topic Started: Apr 14 2008, 10:36 PM (3,401 Views)
Mina
Unregistered

The ground where Mina had been standing only seconds before exploded in a shower of dirt and shrapnel as a small ballistics missile slammed into it. Mina had fully expected to be there when it hit and not being carried by one of her students, but hey, she’d take what she could get. A little out of breath and disoriented, Mina could only shake her head at Everett’s comment. “Here’s fine, thanks,” she said, more than glad to be back on her own two feet.

Turning, she spotted Beast scaling the massive machine while Lorna crushed one of its hands, the green energy of her powers casting an eerie shadow across the landscape. Logan was next, launching himself onto the Sentinel’s arm, and Mina started towards them to do what she could even though she knew they were more than capable of handling it. And then, even with the cries of lost, scared, and hurt children sounding out around them, the pilot’s screams cut through the noise of the battlefield. It was a bone-chilling sound, so full of terror and anguish that it made Mina vaguely sick to hear it. Turning towards the cry Mina stopped mid-step as Cyclops stepped out from behind a pile of debris, without his visor, his powers fully contained in his eyes, and cleaved the Sentinel’s head clean off.

Moving closer, she could see nothing physically wrong with the pilot but that didn’t mean a damn thing here. Plenty of mutants had invisible powers, and who knew what kinds of abilities these kids possessed. Her eyes flickered to Jean momentarily but Mina could never imagine one of her oldest friends using her powers in such a way.

Orbital touched down near the couple and they turned towards him, and Mina’s heart sank to her stomach as she heard their perfectly synched up voices echo out, their words sending a chill down her spine. “Good Lord…” she breathed as they rose into the air, the firelight silhouetting Jean’s telepathic field in shades of red, orange, and gold. When the SHIELD operatives dropped she knew, she knew something had just gone horribly, terribly wrong.

What they were saying was so far from what they had all been taught to believe was right and wrong that Mina couldn’t even wrap her mind around it. Whatever happened to the Professor’s dream? How had everything they had been fighting for suddenly disappeared in the space of one battle? Mina’s mind flashed back to the school assembly that Scott had called without informing her, to the Elite Squad he had formed, and to the other small changes that had been going on over the past few weeks, and a sick feeling settled in her gut.

“Jean, Scott, what are you doing?” She climbed up onto the battered hull of the Sentinel they stood upon and faced them, pointing towards the soldiers that lay twitching on the ground. “Stop this, you know this isn’t how we do things. We’re here for the children, not to start a war.”


They turned to their friend, and the looks on their faces...identical grief, identical pity, identical rage. "Flux..." they said, quietly, no effort made to seperate their voices, no concern if she could hear their speech when there was telepathy punctuating their words, "We're sorry you don't understand. We didn't start this. We're just ending it. We're stopping this before anyone else is hurt, before any more mutant blood is spilt. The children... all of the children, even those not yet evolved, will be taken back with us, so we can help them. Are you seriously suggesting that's wrong? That that's evil?"

They looked down at the sprawled soldiers and their expressions tightened, "We've even been generous and haven't spilled a single drop of human blood. But they know now, every pain they've inflicted here, every fear, every anger. They'll survive, Mina, unlike so many of the children who called this place home, but they'll regret the day they declared war on innocents."

Scott's cane came up, and poked Mina in the center of her chest, holding her at it's length, as the two X-Men looked at her as if she was an interesting but possibly poisonous species of insect. "The X-Men and it's operation have always been our domain, not yours. Headmistress. The fact that you are questioning us suggests that you've forgotten that. How very unlike you. Perhaps you should be looked at once we've gotten back to the school. You're clearly in need of a rest."


It was an eerie sensation, hearing their words physically as well as mentally, and Mina suppressed the urge to shake her head to try and clear it. “I have no argument about bringing these children back to Xavier’s. Our doors are always welcome to them, you know that. But this, what you’re doing to these soldiers, that is wrong. We’ve always held ourselves to a higher standard.”

Scott poked his cane into her breastbone then, backing her up a few steps. At their words her expression darkened somewhat and she shoved his cane away angrily. “And the school’s operations, as well as its faculty, is supposed to be mine and yet I find myself without an economics teacher. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t aware that firing a teacher was X-men business,” she shot back, never in a millions years imagining she’d be having this conversation with Jean and Scott.


"Warren was a security issue, which falls under our jurisdiction, since, your oh-so-capable boyfriend has repeatedly allowed our school's perimeters to be breached and our students and staff to be attacked." The pair answered, not seeming to recognize anymore that they were speaking in tandem, "The school has been out of control and it is our job to regain command of it." The cane came down and a carefully moderated look of puzzled concern passed between Scott and Jean, "And, Warren was fired three days ago. You choose now, in the middle of a battle, as children are dying around us, to confront us on this? Isn't there something better you should be doing? We've done the hard part, Mina. We've ended the battle. Perhaps you should start the mopping up? Oh, we forgot, it has been your greatest pleasure to remind us of our failings and to point out our errors as if we were not the ones chosen first by Xavier to carry on his dream."


Mina stared at them, dumbfounded by their words, a burning sense of anger building in her. What were they trying to play here, some kind of favorites game? She ground her teeth together, her tension clearly visible in her stance. “And if I recall correctly, you were also the first to abandon Xavier’s dream after he disappeared,” she retorted. “The Professor taught us all the be selfish and to think of the good of others before ourselves, but you just left, abandoned your positions as leaders and teachers without even bothering to think about how everyone else, namely the students, were affected.”

Sighing, she passed a hand over her face, shaking her head in disbelief. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered beneath her breath, turning her gaze back to them. “You’re right, this isn’t the place to have this discussion. Let the soldiers go, and let’s get these kids out of here, alright? They’ve seen enough death and destruction to last a lifetime. We need to get back to the school.”


As one, the pair stepped close to Mina, and their shared voice was harsh and cold, as they spoke, "And, how long were you and Jonathan gone in order to deal with his impending death? How long did you take for your grief? Was your sorrow that much more important than ours? We didn't abandon the school, we took a leave of absence because we felt sorrow, and you... perhaps your remaining at the school less of your devotion to the students and more of your eagerness to sit in the big chair." They turned away as one and said, "And, in all that eagerness, and posturing, how much good have you done? Much larger shoes to fill than you were prepared for, seems to us. No matter, you don't have to worry about it anymore. You're obviously incapable of seeing your own errors in judgement, leading us to believe you've been influenced." The two began to move down the sentinel, moving into the field of battle to continue their work saving this world from itself, "The school is at this moment being locked down by the Elite Squad, hand chosen students who are loyal to our dream. You and any other who are narrrow minded enough to question us are obviously influenced. We have to protect our students from your dissent."


As Scott and Jean turned and began to move away Mina could only stare in disbelief. They thought she was the one that was compromised? The whole thing was beyond ludicrous. Their team was fracturing under the influence of something nefarious but she’d been blind to it’s true scope until now. Scott and Jean were going to try and take the school, and for the first time she could remember Mina was faced with the possibility that the friends she had fought along side with for so many years would end up being the people she fought against.
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Samantha Carter
Unregistered

Samantha, or the tiger, arose from its snack and found the knees to buckle slightly. However, the taste of blood, the fury of the moment, and the adrenaline rush had the feral inside taking complete control of the situation. Already, the heartbeat of the mutant was getting extremely quick as the feline inside was desperately trying to maintain the shape. Taking a few steps, and seeing more carnage and smelling more meat, the tiger growled furiously. Whether or not she was heard, didn’t matter. This hungry beast was now on the prowl and definitely wanted anything that was victim as a snack. Taking a few more steps, the knees buckled again and something else caught the feline’s brain.

It was the sound of synchronized voices talking in tandem with one another and proclaiming victory of the battle that was raging on. Sentinels were coming down like oversized toys on display in a museum while people were still fleeing the seen. A woman screamed at the site of a large orange and black beast rummaging through the debris looking for more countless pilots to consume. The tiger only growled in warning basically ignoring anything else. But as the voices spoke, an inner voice spoke as well. It must have been the power of the Phoenix working hard to gain control. To a feral, a telepath is quite harmful. The sting of penetration was absolute and without reserve. The mutant hunched down closing its eyes trying to conceal the pain. Her heart beat faster and eyes became foggy. Sam had been a tiger for too long and it was about to kill her. Somehow, some way she transformed back, possibly from the work of the team leaders up ahead. Sam didn’t know the answers but sat on her rump trying to catch every breath she could muster in thanks.

It was while she regained composure that Mina, the school’s acting director came forth with words to Cyclops and Jean. The feral was in close enough proximity to hear every word and the words coming from both were shocking, exhilarating, and frightening. Who to fight for, whose side do you choose? These metal beasts attempted to kill innocent children and possible adults at the hands of some god-awful government. Were the Xmen just supposed to stand by and watch and take notes? Were they supposed to allow for such atrocities to be completed without recourse? No, war was now upon them and Sam sided with her leaders for their strength and love that drove them forward in such a wondrous display of power. But what about this take over? What was to become of the school? The feral was torn between the two. She took both sides deeply into consideration and found her breath and strength had recuperated enough to lift her from her seat. Stumbling around debris and wiping blood from her face, the young woman attempted to go back to the Blackbird, attempting but about to fail miserably. She needed to rest and allow for all the molecules in her system to recover. It was like being hit by a semi. Every body part ached, every inch of muscle and bone screaming for relief.

Maybe she could comprehend better on more nourished and healthier body, but right now all she wanted to do was sleep.
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Koen Taylor
Unregistered

Koen called upon his entire two months of parkour experience to elude the trained soldiers. Mostly he ran deeper into the wood, allowing them to catch a glimpse of him every so often, lest they lose interest and return to the children. Koen’s two month’s experience was literally the equivalent of a lifetime of practice for others, a byproduct of his abilities. He’d managed to sneak up on and incapacitate two of eight soldiers. Short, sharp jabs to the neck and temple, using the knuckle. They wouldn’t be able to speak for at least a week, and their voices would be distorted for a month.

Of course, despite his muscle memory, he was simply incapable of dodging bullets. He did manage to avoid taking any lethal shots. He had three bullets in his left arm (the good one, too…) and two in his left leg. His head still throbbed fiercely, but this was not the time or place to sit or rest.

And so, he ignored the pain as best he could, but he couldn’t stop a limp forming in his walk, a mild stumble from creeping into his run. He couldn’t completely wear himself out. If that happened, his body might revolt, refuse to move, or he could pass out. Either result meant almost certain death.

A short rest. Just to get his bearings, catch a breath, give his leg a rest. Koen paused and listened. Nobody was near. Not yet, at least. The ground squad couldn’t be too far behind. Koen leaned against a nearby tree and simply breathed, fast and deeply.

Even that seemed to be too much, though. The instant he took a free breath there was movement in the bushes four feet away to his left. The eidetic had only enough time to stand upright before a soldier, one he thought he’d taken out, burst from the bushes, like something off of Animal Planet, where the predator strikes the unsuspecting prey, who had no time to react before being eaten whole.

Koen, however, hadn’t been completely unsuspecting. A hand shot forward for his throat, but he deflected it, and held it at bay for an instant, striking the man’s elbow and forearm with such speed and ease that it seemed as though he’d planned the move for years and had been practicing it since forever. Lots of other people would have felt a brief explosion of pain and stopped (or at least paused), maybe screamed a bit, this man, however, didn’t even react. All he did was bring his arm back and aim a punch with his other arm.

A few more blows were exchanged, Koen gave up Kyushojutsu and switched styles. He blocked the man’s punch, and a slim, vicious thread of pain shot through his arm. It was becoming obvious that Koen was outmatched. He was injured and tired, this man was in more or less perfect health. If Koen had been 100% maybe he could've taken this man down, but it was impossible in his current condition. The only choice he had was to even the odds. His right arm shot forward, two fingers forward in a V, aimed at the soldier's eyes.

Before he could blind the man, he collapsed. Koen didn't ask any how's or why's. He didn't care. He'd done enough. It was time to go back, he had to see how the Eldraiti were doing.

Ah he neared the mansion, he could hear voices and he could feel a telepathic presence within his mind. They were broadcasting their words while speaking. The eidetic mutant took a look around. Soldiers on the ground. Sentinels destroyed.

Once he deemed the area safe again, Koen sat down, leaning against a tree, and allowed Taylor to resume control.

The haphazard manner of their initial trsnsition would allow him to keep vague memories of Koen's actions, but nothing specific or vivid. It would still leave Taylor with a headache and bullets in his body, but hey. At least they weren't dead.

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Synch
Unregistered

Synch watched only a few seconds after he set Mina down on her own two feet and received her thanks for saving her life. He was somewhat disappointed that he didn’t gather more praise from the head mistress but beggars can’t be choosers so he just replied with an incline of his head and disappeared in a cloud of dust and blur of motion. The black suit he ware seemed to shimmer at the incredible speeds he was now capable of reaching as various light sources reflected off of its sheen. Anna cries were still racing out of the dark ally and echoing across the battle field by the time he went skidding across the open mouth Shina had lead them too.

The entire occupants saw was a dark shadow approach the alley at great speed then disappeared passed it as Synch attempted to stop and failed once again. “God damn sonofa...” Synch muttered as he managed to come to a stop a few dozen feet away from his intended destination. Instead of risking doing it again Synch jobbed back to the dark hidden corner of the battle field with a grin.

“Sorry about that. Mina was about to be burnt to a crisp by one of those stupid human robots.” Said Synch with a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders. As he fell into silence and focused once more upon his team and their own mission he couldn’t help remember Anna Cuff’s shouts.

“I didn’t know you cared so much about me?” he said softly with a charm if cheeky smile and a nudge to her side.

Sure they were in the middle of a battle zone risking life and limb to try and save innocent children from huge metal monstrosities of human construction. Even with all this death and despair Synch still managed to muster a smile. In all honestly Synch needed to smile and make jokes or everything that he’d seen in the past few moments would break his spirit and destroy him.

Synch glanced at Anna for a moment grinning like the proverbial cat with the cream before turning back to see Shina his squad leader and wait for instruction. His brow furrowed as a young girl and boy looked up at him from behind Anna’s body. With dirt covered face and wide eyes they glared at him with surprise and fear. Without even thinking Synch dropped to one knee and turned that charming smile into one of sincerity and kindness. “Hey there. Don’t you worry about a thing? Me and my friends here will protect you from those monsters ok.”

Suddenly out of nowhere the psychic assault of the combined minds of Jean and Scott penetrated his mind. Everett had only received the occasional telepathic communication when they were being decidedly lazy but this was unlike anything previous. It was not agonising or even painful just completely distracting and violating. They words pulled his attention from the fear stricken children and consciously he looked up into the sky wondering where exactly they were. With his brief meeting with Mina he saw beast and Wolverine hard at work mounting the large robot but he’d not seen anything of Cyclops or jean.
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Static
Unregistered

Before the battle really started, it seemed to be coming to a close. The sentinels were disabled quickly by the combined power of the X-men, and many of the children were already safe from the danger that had threatened to destroy them as it had the Eldraitii base. The team of Xavier's school was an efficient machine. Of course, they weren't entirely perfect. An argument was occurring between Mina and the combined force of Scott and Jean. Callan couldn't make out much of what was being said, but something wasn't right.

Many things had changed, but Callan didn't notice anything entirely odd until the S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives within her view fell to the ground, attacked by some unseen force. They trembled and twitched like bugs that had been hit, but not killed. That was how Callan viewed them now, as insect-like pests. Seeing the destruction that they caused, that they thought was justified, made her lose her empathy for their beliefs. The change was not only in the battle, but within her.

Stepping out from the alley to get a better look, Callan saw many other things that made her curious. Squinting slightly, she focused on Scott and Jean who were in the air surrounded by a fire-like field of energy which she assumed was Jean's doing. Upon closer examination, Callan also realized that Cyclops wasn't wearing his visor. Red beams cut through the air then, destroying the sentinels and the other S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons. Unable to determine whether or not she was in awe of this or afraid of it, Callan just stood out in the open staring blankly at them.

“SHIELD sent a message when they attacked this place, a haven for children and misfits… the harmless, they said: Fear us! We have more people than you. Our machines of war will send you screaming into the night, hunted, alone, and helpless. We can come for you at any time. Fear us!”

Callan was forced back into the dangerous reality of the situation by a satellite that crashed down nearby just as this statement had come to a close. She jumped when it hit, and stared wide-eyed as it skidded across the ground leaving a deep gash in the earth. Jean had done that? She held such great and terrible power. Callan was just happy that she was on the right side of this war. Humanity didn't stand a chance against them.

"This is our message, humans carry it to your leaders, mutants carry it in your hearts. We will not lie down and wait for death to come. We will not wait for peace, not anymore. We'll bring it to our people, by whatever means necessary. Extend your hand and we'll take it gladly, but raise a fist and we'll counter it with one of our own."

Finally, they would refuse to take the abuse of humanity. Callan had always been at a loss when wondering how this conflict could possibly end, but she was confident now that they could prevail. She had returned to the school, and now she was a part of the strength that would not only protect mutants, but take the task a step further. These humans were now aware that they were messing with the wrong people. Under the guidance of Cyclops and Jean, and with the combined efforts of all the X-Men, Callan was building confidence in the fact that she could do her part and end this war.

She couldn't stop herself from smiling slightly when her leaders landed upon a fallen sentinel and added, "We're no longer your whipping boys, the bastard stepchildren of humanity, and we're not going anywhere. We'll grow stronger, we'll grow in numbers, and if you continue this genocide, we'll grow far more dangerous."

With that in mind, she headed toward the Blackbird without the hesitation she had felt upon arrival. Everything was going to work out. It wouldn't be an easy road, but mutants had enough power and burning desire to come out on top. Nothing could stand in their way now. Humanity had made the first move, and they were getting what they deserved. Things would only get worse if they foolishly tried again, and the growing anger within Callan would not be held back forever. They had all had enough, and they wouldn't be taking any more abuse lying down. No, the time for action had come.

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Wolverine
Unregistered

Hands lifted him off the ground. Head shaking, body aching, wounds healing. The Wolverine just itching to let go! There had been no warning, no care whatsoever that he’d been on the way up the blasted machine’s arm when Cyclops severed it at the knees. He’d fallen, hit the ground so damn hard he’d been knocked out for… well, really, an unknown amount of time. Sounds of human suffering reached his ears, the scent of fear literally assaulted his senses, sending his feral instincts into overdrive;; sheer will alone holding them in place, sheer will that was slowly breaking down.

Blocking out the painful shrieking of the soldiers around him, Logan pushed himself back to his feet as he listened, and soon heard three voices he recognized well;; two of which sounded so arrogant, so sure, so perfectly in agreement with each other Logan could no longer ignore that lingering feeling that something was wrong with two of his closest friends, that Scott and Jean were no longer the people he thought they were. Eyes surveying the scene, he began to understand why each and every soldier was writhing in pain, a mental assault of this scale caused by none other than one of the most powerful telepaths he knew.

Out cold when Scott and Jean’s message had ripped into the minds of everyone around them he hadn’t heard what they’d said, nor was he able to see exactly what it was the Grey-Summers‘ soon used to add impact to the example they were trying to set. Now awake, the smell of burning wreckage was nothing new to his senses;; the same could not be said for the sight of the burning satellite nearby! “What tha hell?” he sneered, eyes narrowing, hackles rising. This was everything Xavier would never have wanted. What the hell were they doing?

Picking up on snippets of what was being discussed between Scott, Jean, and Mina, Logan’s anger levels were already dangerously high. Realizing both of his friends were blaming Mina for the so-called unruliness of the school, he felt the blades unsheathe before he could stop himself;; realizing they were bent on taking over the school, turning it into something Magneto would be proud of, going against every single thing the Professor had taught them… he was no longer Logan by the time he reached Mina’s side, pushing past her and bearing down on two of the people he trusted the most.

“What tha hell was that Summers?! I was on the top of that thing when yer decided ter take it down! And what tha hell is this?!” he hissed, gaze moving between the both of them, locking on Jean for a few moments. “Charles would never condone this. Were tha two of yer just waitin for him ter be out of tha way so yer could do things yer own way?!” somewhere in the back of his mind, deep within the rational part that stopped him from losing it completely, he realized he was in a dangerous situation.

Both of them were formidable opponents on their own.

Together…

This was not something he ever thought he'd be contemplating right now!
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Hank McCoy
Unregistered

Hank's rage was building as he swung his arm again and again at the sentinel beneath him, knocking aside panels and yanking wires by the handful. The sounds of war raged around him, only this was not the war he wanted to be a part of. There were children screaming, terrified and hurt, and Hank wanted desperately to stop it all right now.

The sentinel's knees buckled, and coming out of his furious mind, Hank looked around. Jean and Scott...they were together, working more in sync than the massive blue man had ever seen before. What was this? He barely had time to contemplate the consequences of their actions when a single beam of red light shone mere feet from where he perched, severing the giant metallic head with a clang.

And the sentinel began to fall.

Bracing himself, Hank crouched low, riding the fall for as long as he could before he pushed off to land on his own two feet. Behind him, the sentinel collided with the ground in a cloud of dust and a rumble, but Hank only had eyes for what was going on with his leader.

"Cyclops!" Hank barked, striding to stand beside Mina. "What was that?" It was not out of personal pride that he addressed Scott as such, but out of entire confusion. This was nothing like the Scott and Jean he knew, and as he listened to what was being said, he knew that something was terribly amiss.

"This is not the professor's dream." Hank had to say finally, shaking his head. "You are condemning the children to lives of danger and violence. This will solve nothing." While he had to admit that the art of diplomacy was a slow one, it was infinitely more effective in his mind to outright violence. "You no longer have my support in this matter, though I will still teach if allowed."

Though Hank knew, almost as soon as he said it, that he wouldn't be allowed to teach again. The details of just what had happened with Warren were now becoming perfectly clear. He gave both Scott and Jean a hard look, patted Mina once on the shoulder, and moved away to tend to injuries of the small mutants.
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Shina Schwarz
Unregistered

Shina wanted to unleash her vocals towards Everett Thomas, project her voice as he sped away, telling him to return. She wanted to give her squad orders, give them direction, and carry out their mission. She would have too, had she been given the chance. Instead, the very force that had been driving the X-Men was now ever present in her mind, the one that was Jean Grey and Scott Summers joined. She had something else... a far more important task to issue them... one that would require the utmost cunning, skills, and proficiency... one that only she could perform. Still, as she was fed her information, a order given to her mind utmost directly, Shina couldn't help but watch what was going on around her. She saw the energy... in more ways than anyone with a standard set of eyes could. She not only saw the fiery aura and the vibrant light, but the massive telekinetic tendrils that lashed out like whips on every enemy in the entire area.

But none of that mattered. Surely, Shina had been assured that her team was fine and had preformed well... but she had a different tasking. One that she had been entrusted with, and one that she would not be denied.

Shina had to do some Recon.

SHIELD was up to far more than this little attack... that much was certain. Nick Fury was a man of vast power through military prowess, and while this defeat was likely a set-back, it was only a single battle in what was now War. She had to get more information... vital information. She would have to pull every string and favor she still had lying out there, as well as deal with being a modern day criminal if someone recognized her. Treason, Conspiracy against the Government... the list would go on. But that would be extra motivation. She wouldn't get caught... no one would remember her ever being there... and if someone did perchance see her, she would be forced to take their life. While she knew she had to complete her new mission, she also knew she had to protect her father's honor. He would not be dragged into this war as a criminal... he had worked too hard for too long.

Shina felt the energy lashing around her finally coming to a calm. With her enhanced vision through her blind eyes, she noted one of the soldiers in her vision's range... twitching. The mental whips had done quite a number on them, but had left them their lives. ShadowX was being merciful in spite of the fact that mutants had been killed this day... shown humanity a sample of what they could do. Shina could see their power... the vastness of it... the level of energy that they actually contained... They were holding back.

The battle here was assuredly over... and still Shina stood like a statue, receiving her orders down to the smallest detail. As her mental communication with the powerful entity came to an end, it looked like someone had shocked her into motion, as though someone had turned off a time freeze she was in. At a steady but quite fast pace, she raced towards the street. There were several abandoned vehicles there still in working order, and she knew what she had to do. Quickly she sent a pulse of her energy, using her form of echo-location to find a truck in perfect working order, keys still in the ignition. Dodge Diesel, long-bed, extended cab... not her first choice, but sufficient. As she neared the truck, she looked into it's gas tank... 3/4 full, a 18-20 gallon tank. Perfect.

Stopping just short of the door, she wrenched it open, noting in disgust the smell of stale pizza and flat soda lingering through the cab... likely from the night before. Regardless, she pushed that out of her mind, and twisted the ignition, the engine roaring to life. Then she was off like a shot... not a word to anyone. They would be fine... and Shina had to drop from the radar for a little while... do things that would require that no one... not even her newly formed Nightstalkers, could know about. Her information was strictly between her and ShadowX... to whom she had now sworn her allegiance.

She was the lone Nightstalker.

(((Exit Shina, Next Thread TBA)))
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Anna Cuff
Unregistered

Anna glared at Synch when he finally came back. "you could have been killed out there!" She said, poising to step up and slap some sense into the man, but fought it. there was no need for them to be fighting amongst themselves that this point, especially with the kids next to her.

She continued to glare at Shina, wating for her to say something, poin to something...do SOMETHING in a leader like action. but she just sat there, frozen, as if trying to calculate her next move. The normally calm girl was starting to fray at the edges, waiting in the middle of a battlefield can get even the most trained soldiers, let alone a civilian girl.

But then, in a matter of seconds, it all changed.

Suddenly, the Sentinels exploded, falling over from their crippled knees. Soldiers fell over, pinned by the Psychic hold of the Phoenix. The Phoenix...She had never seen much of Jean Grey Before, but now, it was obvious that there was a difference between the teacher, and the warrior.

"No." She breathed as she looked at the chaos around her. Chaos was her specialty, according to her file But even then, no human alive could see the pattern in human behavior for long. The Human element itself was a chaos in itself. But What about the Mutant Element...

She sat there, holding the hand of the little girl as the two joined beings announced their new world order, a new shift in plans. "Violence begats Violence." That 's what her father would always say to her, "Turn the other cheek." But how many time must you turn the cheek before your pride take the blows. She understood where they were coming from, but that doesn't make them right.

Still, there was nothing she could do now, Any attack on them right now would be suicide, and Mina could flilabust until the end of time, it was not going to do any good here...Anna shrunk back, gripping the hand of the little girl tightly, thinking of her own sister back at the Institute.

"Don't Worry..." She said comfortingly over her shoulder. "It's going to be ok." Entropy said, as a few shards of light peeled out of spacetime, singing a low mournful song to match their master's thoughts. They simple spun in slow arcs, not picking up anything, just hanging there in case they were needed.
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Orbital
Unregistered

[ JP: Orbital + Stretch ]

Out of the wreckage of the ruined upper section of the Eldraitii compound ... was movement.

A strained, pained yell -- as Colin mustered all his strength, hoisting off the ravages of rubble, before standing there, his mask torn and mussed ... and his jacket messily hanging from his shoulders.

Heavy breaths rolled from him, his eyes directed downwards -- to the remains of a young child, caught in the rubble.

Dead.

Eyes narrowed, his teeth grit -- this was inexcusable. And, rushing away from the wreckage, he headed over to where all the attention was now focused -- Scott and Jean ... or something completely different.

"We're no longer your whipping boys, the bastard stepchildren of humanity, and we're not going anywhere. We'll grow stronger, we'll grow in numbers, and if you continue this genocide, we'll grow far more dangerous."

Orbital stood by, just with Mina, Logan and Hank -- an expression on his rugged features best described as incredulous ... and hurt.

Ever since he was a kid, Scott was his hero. His family had close ties to Professor Xavier, and his dream ... and Cyclops was like a role model of that, the staunch defender of the dream.

Even when he grew up and joined the X-Men squad ... he was even more impressed, at the man's selfless dedication.

This pained him.

Heavy brows lowered. " ... Scott, I'm not saying you're wrong, but that's not what we're fighting for here," he uttered, though his tone lifted with intensity and heart-felt direction. "We're here to defend the dream of peace and coexistence, not superiority and subjugation. Do I honestly believe the former's possible, given what's happened with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world in the last few months?" A sigh.

" ... No. But that's not MY right, to pick and choose what's easier, and it's not YOURS, either."

Hell yes, he was angry. He wanted the dream as Xavier thought it up to succeed -- because the hope that it could happen was so much better than the alternative.

But hope was fading.

"Frankly? I'm sickened," he continued, words rising in an irritated tone, pointing at the pair of them. "You've done something I've never imagined I would see ... and that's pervert Xavier's dream."

'Junior' in name only, it would seem -- he grew a pair, and didn't give a damn if they wanted to show him up for saying it.

It needed to come out.

But Stretch stood back for a moment -- and after Roy finished speaking, stepped forth, glancing back to his friend with a momentary look of indignance -- before looking to the mutant couple ... and taking a few steps closer to the Blackbird, without a word.

A pause. Roy stepped over to his good friend -- and took his wrist, as if trying to get him to second-think his decision. " ... Whoa, Colin, you can't honestly go with-"

Before his friend finished talking, though, Stretch shrugged away that hold quite aggressively -- and glared at his friend, before glaring at the group of the righteous, a sneer lifting on his mutated features.

"Ya know what, Roy?" He blurted out, pointing right to his friend's face. "Fuck you. Fuck d'lot a' you, 'cuz dis?" He waved his hand back, in the general direction of the ruined orphanage. "Dis is shit. I was an orphan, growin' up. And losin' d'one place you call home is like gettin' shot in d'fuckin' face."

An irritated sigh, from the gravity manipulator -- he shook his head. "But this isn't going to change things, Colin," he replied, trying to be as frank to his friend as possible. "They're talking about war. Is that what you really want?"

Colin turned his back for a moment -- before a smirk rose on his features, and a dismissive, humorless chuckle lifted from his throat ... shaking his head in disbelief at his friend.

"Fuck, man, are you seriously dat blind?" He shouted back to Roy, red-on-black eyes raging with anger. "Dey've got d'fuckin' MechAssault squad on us 'n attack orphanages wit' heavy artillery. ORPHANAGES."

A shake of his head -- as Roy looked to the side.

"Open your fuckin' eyes, y'spoiled douchebag," Colin continued, turning to walk away to the Blackbird. "D'war's been here since d'first mutant popped outta d'birth canal."

The gravity manipulator looked on -- in stone silence.

The reason? He agreed with his friend. And he had nothing to say to that.

Colin ... was right.

Roy's brows lowered a bit, a twinge of pain running through his mind, just from the stress of the whole ordeal, and how Colin had just gone off at him -- a mild twitch of his right eye hinted at that pain, as a minor, brief, rumbling flux of gravity rose around him -- and dissipated just as quickly.

A sigh. His eyes reopened, and looked back to Jean and Scott.

They weren't going to win this.

For the sake of everything that should be good in this world ... they couldn't.
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Synch
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“Killed HA!” said Synch with a loud declaration of his intent. “I was just helping out the school boss. She was going to be turned into a crispy critter so I whooshed in and snatched her out of harm’s way.” Synch became very animated as he explained what exactly happened to his team mate. “I would be more concerned with that sentinel thing. Last I saw, Logan was clawing his way up one side and Beast up the other. I do not envy the pilot right now I can tell you.”

Anna’s concern for his well being was not exactly what he expected but being in a team he would have to get used to people looking out for him. Personally he didn’t play well with others since he was an attention seeking hot head most of the time and rarely listened to anyone’s circumstances but the current situation was something of unique and a major thrill. Running around at supersonic speeds in the middle of a battle zone was dangerous and reckless and such a rush Synch wanted to do it again.

Synch turned to follow Anna’s gaze to their group leader who had been ominously quiet and suddenly was ominously missing. Shina their fearsome leader had turned tail and disappeared on them leaving the group leaderless and without direction. Shina hadn’t even given them any kind of orders or objectives. “Well this was very unexpected to say the least.” Synch muttered to himself but loud enough for everyone assembled to hear him. Now they were alone in a darkened smoke filled alley in the middle of a war zone with no leadership or direction.

“Ok I declare myself the new leader since I’m the only guy and I say we get the hell out of here and let the real hero’s deal with it.” Synch said while standing up to his full height. “Any objections or complaints can be directed to my assistant and second in command Anna here.” Synch looked around the assembled mutant group and waited for any response or rejection of the idea.

“We are in the middle of a war zone that none of us are prepared for or asked for. Despite my own opinions and rather dubious feelings towards humanity right now I have no intention of getting killed by them. So we grab any survivors we can find and get back to the Black Bird right now.” Synch again remained silent for a moment waiting for anyone to speak up and suggest any better ideas.

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Jayson
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Stone Touch / Super Strength
The world was falling apart at the seams. From the sky fell a satellite of fire. Man-made robots of death were brought down by the mutants they were built to stop. A leader and a phoenix became one. Anarchy was developing slowly but who would name it as such. Everything once known was no more. Everything thought as acceptable thinking was now the lie. A war was no longer on the horizon. It was here. Now stood the truth spoken from the mouths of one mind in two beings.

Rock-solid waited for the order that should have been already given. Shina stood frozen as though she were stone. If an order wasn't given soon then an act not approved would be performed. Last time she had taken an action not stated from her boss she'd gotten punished. That shouldn't stop her from moving, though. What did had been what could be called a miracle by some.

The soldiers of the opposite front fell to the ground. No longer were the children, the innocents, being attacked. Faye's family and friends were now safe. The red head wasn't feeling the joy she should have because of this. How could she? This was just the first step of whatever SHIELD had in mind; whatever the humans were planning.

Jean and Scott spoke of what would come. The fear everyone kept close. Worse happenings and more innocents hurt would become their future. Action needed to occur at that moment to counter everything before it could take place. If her inklings were correct Jayson had family who were mutants like she. If this was indeed true then that means their emergence as mutants happened at the worst time. They would be hunted and hated. Children were the objects of fear. It was heart wrenching to even think of them being the ones hurt. In this battle there would be no separation of ages. This she got and this is what had to be stopped.

Once the speech was over with everything except for their little group was ignored, again. Shina stood not moving and suddenly she was off without a single order stated. Blankly Rock-solid looked at the Night-Stalker's departing form. Before she could ask questions Synch declared himself the new leader. Synch had little battle experience and probably not the best choice as leader. This she thought but did not question. A good point had been made. The survivors had to be gathered and their exit sooner than later.

"Whatever you say Mr. Leader," Rock-solid said shrugging.
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Lorna Dane
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Seeing the group gathering around Phoenix and Cyclops, Polaris turned to the pilot she was still holding, who was whimpering in fear and pain. “Had enough?” she questioned. The human didn’t even seem to hear her, tears running down his cheeks. She rolled her eyes and then began to fly down towards the assembled group, the man trailing behind her. Her gaze focused on the carcass of the felled sentinel and with little care for finesse she tore a thick strip of metal off, floating it towards her as she flew. It moved past her and towards the writhing pilot, wrapping tightly around him, enough to make movement almost impossible and breathing a little more difficult that usual, but nothing that would cause permanent physical damage. As she set herself down on the ground she also lowered her metal prisoner to the ground, dropping him the last way so he landed with a thud on the ground, more to scare than hurt. He had to realise that he was nothing compared to her, nothing without his metal machine to hide behind, and even with those robots he and the rest of the humans would never be able to enslave them. They had proven that tonight.

Leaving the man with the rest of his comrades on the ground, Polaris walked towards the X-Men, admiring the destroyed Sentinels and equipment around her. It was a symbol what happened when humans tried to assert their dominance over mutants, over innocent mutant children. Now they would pay the price and they would continue to do so as long as they kept up their futile war. Her attention was diverted as she saw Wolverine stamp his way into the group like a petulant child, nothing like the feral killing machine he claimed to be. Her anger rose inside her, knowing that if Wolverine was left to win this fight, they would simply roll over for the humans and ask for their bellies to be rubbed.

She extended a gloved hand towards Logan as she entered the circle of X-Men. “Stop.” she said firmly, punctuating the command by latching onto the metal in his bones and stopping him from moving any further. He was physically stronger than her but with his adimantium laced bones, he stood no chance against her powers.

“What are you more upset about Wolverine? That you bumped your head or that today we saved these defenceless children from being slaughtered? Look around you, this place, this orphanage, this was part of Xavier’s dream, and today the humans tried to strike a blow at the very heart of that dream. They couldn’t have made it clearer if they had attacked the Mansion itself and they will do that if we don’t make a stand now. Would you see our students attacked, would you stand back and see the students, see Jubilee and Rosie and Meghan killed by these machines? Would you stand back and complain while the poor defenceless humans destroyed everything we have?” She looked around at the assembled group, her expression echoing complete belief in what she was saying. “Would any of you? We can’t sit on the fence anymore because SHEILD decided to remove the fence completely. The fact that some of you are standing here whining and questioning convinces me all the more that this is the right course of action.:
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Anna Cuff
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Anna blinked as Synch made his announcement. Her...second-in-command? It didn't seem reasonable. Who in there right minds would appoint Anna, this shy little girl with almost no control over her powers, a leadership position.

Then again, it made sense. Anna was the only one to run out and grab the two children now sitting beside her. She was also, compassionate, definitive, logical to an almost Vulcan level, and strong. It wasn't a strength she leaned on much, but when she did...anything is possible.

"Thanks, Everett." She said in recognition of the title she had just been given. This ragtag group needed to pull themselves together, before something worse happens down the field. Anna nodded as Synch made an assessment of the situation.

"How are we going to get outta here once we are on the plane." She asked, thumbing the glowing floating figures of Phoenix, and Cyclops. "Our pilots are a little preoccupied at the moment." She said grimly. Still she took a moment to grab the little girls hand. The little girl, whose bright eye underneath the grime of battle reminded Anna so much of her sister...Lesly, who was back at school, most likely terrified out of her mind...

"We'll need some cover in order to get from her to there." She said, as the insistent shards of light swam around the area, encompassing the group, but still doing no change.
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ShadowX
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“What tha hell was that Summers?! I was on the top of that thing when yer decided ter take it down! And what tha hell is this?!” Logan growled.

The pair who now had made their perfectly in step way down to the killing floor, barely blinked at the Wolverine’s whining. ::Forgive us for thinking a trained warrior like yourself could be aware enough of his surroundings to counter balance what needs to be done. After all, isn’t it more important these things be taken down before they kill one more innocent?:: They had ceased speaking, the voice that broadcast out telepathically no longer sounding like either one of them. Jean’s emotional soprano with Scott’s metered tenor blended into something unearthly. ::Next time we’ll ask your permission before saving lives.::

The Wolverine was not done, yet though, like his woman, he decided to spout baseless accusations of some sort of coup— as if they wanted control of the school for any reason other than to protect the children. They had never wanted the power they were given, but someone must take the reins and guide this floundering race to the safety and abundance that it should be allowed— just like anyone else. They barely favored him with a look, two sets of eyes, one burning with unbridled passion, one blazing with perfectly controlled powers, and their telepathic scolding was amused, like they were speaking to a small boy in need of a nap. ::Logan, this sycophancy is unbecoming. Licking the boots of your woman, blind to her failures and faults. While you two played grown up and cuddled behind the boathouse, we were working to make our children safe, updating security, tightening defenses, training the children to be able to take care of themselves—since obviously their headmistress had no interest in doing it for them.::

Polaris appeared and held Logan, her words exactly what they should be, exactly in keeping with a true believer in Xavier’s Dream. She understood, and her spirit, her fire, made the two who watched from the below know that they were doing the right thing. “We can’t sit on the fence anymore because SHIELD decided to remove the fence completely. The fact that some of you are standing here whining and questioning convinces me all the more that this is the right course of action.” she finished and opposition arose immediately.

"This is not the professor's dream." Hank had to say finally, shaking his head. "You are condemning the children to lives of danger and violence. This will solve nothing."

Without turning to look at the furry blue Beast that was what had become of one of their oldest friends, the pair spoke, their combined voice sad, ::We had hoped you would understand at least, Hank, that this was always what the Professor foresaw. Warren was trained with Swords, Jonathan and Scott in accuracy…:: The terminology was strange, something offputting about the way Cyclops, his mind linked with his wife, referred to himself by his own given name, his impassive face showing no recognition of what he had just done. ::We were selected for our strengths and then taught to use them as soldiers. We are not condemning the children, we are liberating them as Charles liberated us. We are going to give them the same abilities he gave us… the same chance to survive.:: Hank told them he was not going to support them in this and they looked at him in perfectly synchronized swivels of their heads, :There is no place for those who deny the Dream, Beast. When you are awakened to our way of thinking, we’ll welcome you home.:: And, then they said, again speaking in that cold and eerie unison, “But until then, you are a risk to the safety of our children, all of you.”

" ... Scott, I'm not saying you're wrong, but that's not what we're fighting for here," We're here to defend the dream of peace and coexistence, not superiority and subjugation. Do I honestly believe the former's possible, given what's happened with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world in the last few months?…

... No. But that's not MY right, to pick and choose what's easier, and it's not YOURS, either."


The pair all but ignored Orbital’s input, turning away from him, and tossing out, ::Of course it is our right, Little Boy, it’s our lives at stake, isn’t it?::

Surprisingly then, it was Stretch, never what they had considered the brightest bulb in the chandelier who spoke in their defense."Open your fuckin' eyes, y'spoiled douchebag… D'war's been here since d'first mutant popped outta d'birth canal."

::This was never what we wanted, ever. Humanity forced our hand, and Mina's inability to maintain the safety of our children clenched it into a fist. It's too late to consider compromise.:: Scott and Jean turned back then and with the perfectly aimed and now impeccably controlled powers that were theirs to command, as it was Jean’s mind replacing the damaged portion of Scott’s brain that should have always controlled the beams that formed behind the portals that had developed within his skull, they striped the ground between them and their detractors, literally drawing the line in the sand. ::We’ve made our stand! You are either with us, and with the well being of mutantkind, or you are against us and have sided with our enemies. There is no longer the luxury of being grey. The world is now black or white. Cross the line and we will know which you are. We pray you see the light before it is too late to help you.::

As one they began to move back to the Blackbird, sending out the telepathic call, ::All true believers in the Dream, return to the Jet. Gather the children, we’ll give them sanctuary at the school. SHIELD will return soon to collect their fallen.:: Glancing over their shoulders with identical looks of disgust on their faces they focused on their former friends, ::And to put out the fires. You can stay here and help those you think we have so grievously wronged or you can save your own skins. We hope you make the choice before humanity makes it for you. We can guarantee they won’t care that you didn’t agree with ours.::

They turned their backs then, just as had been done to them. There was no question as to what had happened.

Control had been taken.
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