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One Jump Ahead; tag: Alix & Jamie
Topic Started: Jun 8 2012, 08:10 PM (1,135 Views)
Monet St. Croix
Unregistered

May 20th, immediately following Enemies from a Galaxy not so Far Far Away

It felt - quite literally - that Monet was precious moments away from losing her considerable and impressive mind. For the past month she bore an incredible amount of stress, the majority of which she endured alone, all while maintaining her usual degree of icy tranquility. There was a malevolent presence within X-Investigations, of this she was certain. A little over four weeks ago she received a telepathic message from Alix that was as sudden as it was disquieting, but the next day, the mute girl behaved as though nothing happened. As such, she kept the knowledge to herself while keeping a scrutinizing eye on Alix's odd manner. It wasn't until the news of the dead Xavier's student filtered down to private investigations agency, however, that she was made fully aware of her predicament...and Alix's message was clarified.

Since that time, the telepath worked primarily alone, speaking only to Box and - to a lesser degree - Jamie. To her knowledge, she was his only outside contact while he and his colleagues figured out the solutions to earth's problems, and she only included him on her suspicious because (though she hated it) she needed him. And as for Jamie, is involvement was Alix's request. All the same, with everything so confused and dangerous Monet was only able to fully count on herself, nor did she expect anyone to trust her. The only people she could ever confide in were thousands of miles away and completely cut off from her. Nicole and Claudette were in Monet's thoughts every moment of everyday, but all she could do while this unknown threat loomed ever closer was pray that Everett and the other X-Men kept them safe, and soldier on.

Although the pressure of upholding pretense was stressful enough, disguising her intent from the imposter was the major cause for her mental strain. This was also the reason why she couldn't clue Jamie into her plan, as she didn't have the strength to protect his mind from intrusion as well as her own. The fact that she continued the psychic exercises she frequently completed with the real Alix (all as part of her charade) weakened M all the more. She could not simply fortify her mind against the imposter, as that would be just as effective as tell her all of her plans. A disciplined mind was her only alternative. Important knowledge was tirelessly distorted and encrypted in innocuous ways, so that her mind could remain open without unwittingly divulging her secrets. Perhaps Alix would be able to pick apart the code with time and effort, but not without alerting Monet. And, at any rate, the heiress didn't intend to give her a reason to become wary.

After hearing the lock click open in her front door, Monet stepped inside her unused TriBeCa apartment and flipped on the light switch. Her stiletto boots clacked on the polished hardwood floors smartly as she nonchalantly threw her purse and keys on a nearby chaise lounge. "Come in, come in. We should have some privacy here for the time being, it's certainly no safe house, but it won't be the first place they go either. Jamie, you can set up the module in the living room, which is just down there, and I'll see if I can get it operational later. And Alix, my bedroom is probably the best place for us."

After the travesty of a meeting, in which everyone threw accusations at one another, it was decided that - as the resident telepaths - Alix and Monet were responsible for getting some sort of metal communication established with nearby allies. M, however, simply feigned her agreement with said plan, and had no intention of communicating with anyone. What she wanted, and what she would get were answers...directly from the source.

"Come on darling, I'll show you the way." She said coolly, while she toyed with the apartment's thermostat. When she heard the air conditioner being to warm up, she continued strutting down the hallway leading to her room. "I suppose we could start the search with our X-Corp associates and go from there?"
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Jamie Madrox
Unregistered

There was a lot on the mind of Jamie Madrox right now. So much in fact, that he had just spent the last several hours in a private meeting of the minds…with himself. When Jamie multiplied it was true that his duplicates tended to manifest a very specific aspect of his personality. Fear, anger, paranoia, snarky humor-these he channeled out into half a dozen duplicates. They stood around him with wringing hands and folded arms, venting and raging for him so he could think with an unclouded perspective. He tuned them out entirely.

This problem was big. The fact that they were infiltrated was unquestionable. The fact that this force that did the subversion was malevolent and underhanded was also unquestionable. They were in real danger, a fact that fretful dupe repeated over and over as he paced the floor.

The thing about it was, Jamie knew who two of the intruders were…not for a certainty, but he was pretty sure anyway. Kyle had told him about the dupe that was out there-and it was news that honestly had weighed heavily on his heart to say the least every second of every day. With the help of Alix he had learned a few things about his link with his multiples. More than a few things actually. He had become intimately aware of every multiple that existed out there, almost without respect to time or distance. The one in Japan that he hadn’t seen in years, the one in Utopia, and the few that still remained in the heart of New York in an ongoing effort to rebuild the city after all that had happened in the recent past. He knew where they all were, and he knew who they all were. None of them were the traitors. And if that was true, then who was it parading around in his skin?

And then there was Alix. It was tricky here. A multiple nearby slammed his fist against the table, and Jamie propped his chin up with a crooked hand while glancing over at him. Alix. He knew something was amiss with her, and had been for a very long time. Through the link they shared, she was possibly not even aware exactly how much was betrayed. A multiple hung his head in sorrow. Because she couldn’t completely hide from him, no matter how slippery she was.

The thing walking around was not Alix. He knew that, though using telepathic defense skill that she’d taught him he managed to keep that thought at bay. He managed somehow even through their intimate link to carry on the pretense and there were times that he wondered if he had somehow imagined the whole thing.

But one of the things that Jamie was good at was trusting in his instinct. Rising from his chair he looked at the multiples. “Stay here,” he said to them earnestly and they did not seem tempted to disobey. Walking out the door he headed down the hallway to talk to Monet. He wasn’t completely sure, but he suspected she thought the same things that he did. He looked over at her as she spoke, watching as she calmly went about business as usual-hiding behind a carefully constructed and overly casual veneer as she hid from them.

She was right to mistrust everyone. He wasn’t sure what her telepathic demonstration would ultimately unveil-but somehow he thought it was mainly for show anyway. Jamie squinted his eyes at her, seriously studying her as she led the way down the hallway. He also glanced over at Alix, a shared look passing between them and he softened it with a smile.

“Or should we start a little closer to home?” He looked at Alix, taking her by the hand and squeezing it reassuringly. “We need to find a way to be sure,” he said to Alix. “That we can really trust each other.” With another smile he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. It was a good thing he’d left his duplicitousness in another room-otherwise the whole thing might have made him feel ill.

Turning to M, he kept his hand locked on Alix’s. It was strange-trusting M more than someone he loved with all of his heart. “There will be plenty of time for searching outside the family later on.”
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Alix
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Telepathy, Telekinesis / Empathy
While they went about their suspensions and fears Alix stayed close by, observing as had been customary. Jamie, of course, could hide things. Alix as she had been had always and forever kept off it as best to herself as could, letting Jamie and the others have their own private side of things when necessary. If she'd moved past that unspoken barrier, it was unclear. If she knew more than she let on.. it still was unclear. The broadcast itself had been something she'd watched from their bedroom, listening, taking it in-- reveling in the might of her queen and Skrullos. Monet and the others had broken her from that moment when their hurls of accusations and fears became just a little too much for her to handle.

O'Shi was as always calm. It's why she'd been picked for this particular mutant and why it had worked so well. Still. No matter her calm, no matter the situation, the powers of this inferior human were admittedly cumbersome. Never a moment of silence with someone's thoughts always there-- or emotions and concerns flowing about in her mind. So much capacity, yet none of it completely reached. The sheer number of secrets that could be held inside of that madness was not in the least bit lost on her or the skrulls-- or seemingly on other parties. There was so much insight into everything that was happening that it was, honestly, a small wonder that this mutant had been as trusted as she was. Either through ignorance or trust, the compromising of this particular mutant had lead to more knowledge than most had assumed would come.

Monet began to lead the way and Jamie went on with his schemes while she merely followed along, easily and quietly falling into the soft mannerisms of the original.

::Xcorp, definitely. Perhaps Utopia, as well.:: Monet went about her business and vaguely Alix watched her before Jamie caught her attentions. For a second, she gave a soft smile, though could see the serious lack of usual demeanor. Was it all the invasion business getting at him? She watched, closely, the usual look of analysis crossing her features as it had for as long as any had known her.

::We just have to trust each other.:: she nodded quietly, though her strange eyes shifted between each to carefully glance onto both before focusing back onto Jamie easily.

::I've been looking into files and checking in on things--:: She tapped the side of her head, pointedly.

::For now, despite how bad things are.. we're one of the last strong holds. Makes sense, doesn't it? I mean... isn't that how it always is? Us, them, we're flying by the seat of our pants in chaos until stuff just gets too weird and then it all blows up in our faces?:: She gave a lofty, soft sigh.

::So it's best to start with who gets the most targets on their back. The most public of all of our groups. Monet's right. X-corp is where to start. Especially with Hart--:: There was a catch in her voice, a pang of seemingly real loss.

::-- it's probably best.:: She nodded softly and gave his hand a small reassuring squeeze of solidarity..
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Monet St. Croix
Unregistered

The soundproof windows filtered out most of the usual street noise that fluttered up to Monet's apartment, but her keen ears could still receive the faint notes of chaos and bedlam. One would think the citizens of Manhattan would be made of stronger stuff, considering the shear amount of disaster they faced on a yearly basis. On the flight over here, Monet spotted several riots down below, and even had to stop to extricate an elderly woman from the midst of looters and raiders in a corner store. The fear and madness seemed infectious, as Sapiens and Superiors alike realize they could not trust a soul. Even so, there was little she could do on that front, besides pray no one thought to turn over her clothing store.

When the small retinue arrived at her building, the entire lobby was deserted. From the doorman, the security team, to the mangers and receptionists, no one was in sight. Not that she blamed them. Her apartment was rather compact within, which might be a surprise to those people who'd expect her to live in some ostentatious palace. It was just big enough for herself, and Colette (her 'creepy' cat according to Guido). Even so, she was getting to the point where the expenditure was becoming wasteful, as she spent the majority of her time at the X-Factor building and the boutique. Presently, she was glad she had the foresight to maintain her lease, as she needed a place away from everyone.

Her bedroom was painted a neutral cream color with intricate crown-molding outlining all the walls. Being sensitive to such things, her windows were treated with solar screens, motorized blinds, and long wispy curtains. After using the remote on her night stand, the blinds rose slightly to invite a splash of light across the gloom.

"Go ahead dear," She said, nodding to her queen-size bed as she kicked off her heels. "...make yourself at home." The bedding was all lavender with gold and cream accents, and eight decorative pillows created a small hill atop the mattress, that went almost as tall as her padded suede headboard. Without ceremony, she plucked a handful off the bed and dropped them onto the carpeted floor, being sure not to disturb the remaining few. Instead of climbing in, she hovered above and neatly lowered herself onto the bed, her back against the lush pillows. "Ahh, I've missed this place...my own little sanctuary. Are you okay in there, Madrox!?" She yelled down the hallway. "We are about to begin so no distractions!"

Swallowing down her fury and disgust, Monet looked across at the monster wearing her friend's skin, staring directly into its eyes. For so long, Alix was the only person willing to give Monet the benefit of a doubt, and she was personally offended by the creature's continued existence. She wanted nothing more than to cave its face in, but she raised a singular palm instead and replied with a smirk:

"X-Corps it is. They are about to get a rude awakening, I'd expect." Closing her eyes, she merged minds with Alix as their hands connected; simultaneously visualizing that nameless boy Riva spent so much of her time with. It took mental control, but using her consciousness as an anchor, Monet quietly snaked around Alix's mind, tying her to the astral plane while her free hand darted underneath the remaining pillows. It was a tenuous binding at best - one easily broken - but Monet only needed a small window of opportunity. After a moment of groping within the bed sheets, she produced a large stun rod, placed it directly against the monster's neck, and triggered it.

"Jamie!" She hollered, this time with urgency within her voice. "In here...now!" Without breaking contact, she floated off of her bead and turned on the psionic disruptor belt buckle given to her by Box. She silently prayed the little contraption proved effective, as Jamie and herself were sitting ducks without it. Waves of imperceptible energy permeated within the bedroom, pulsing on the same frequency of a Skrull's mind, causing painful white noise should she push her mind into the dead space.

"Vous êtes une chienne mal!" She spat, thankful that the pretense was over at last. Pausing her electric assault only to bring the baton down upon the Skrull's head, she addressed Jamie when she sensed his presence enter her bedroom. "Jamie, check my closet there. I have some cuffs and zip-ties, quickly."
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Jamie Madrox
Unregistered

It was a good thing that Jamie had spent the effort to shunt some of his personality traits into the dupes that he’d left behind. There was more than one instance when he found himself having a serious crisis of belief. Looking at Alix he had to force himself to believe that she was not the woman he loved. When she squeezed his hand it threatened to bring about emotional ripples, but he had to guard how he was feeling and he had to make sure that none of it was slipping up past the surface. What he had to do was think and feel what he wanted her to believe he was thinking and feeling with all of his heart and mind. Surprisingly, he did.

Stopping in the hall, he squeezed her hand back, smiling in adoration into her eyes. “You’re right,” he said. “X-Corp it is.” And then he let her go, watching as that thing followed Monet into her room and left him alone with his horrified thoughts.

If he let himself start to go down that road he’d have panicked over what could have happened to his Alix. He forced his thoughts to rest on X-Corp instead, his genuine worry for Hartley taking precedence for the moment while Monet spoke to Alix in the other room.

As for what Monet had planned, he honestly didn’t know. And when he heard his name being called many minutes later he hurried into the room, unsure of what he would find. Just as he opened the door he saw Monet bring something down fairly hard on the top of Alix’s head. He had to blink and again remind himself that it wasn’t her. “Closet?” He said, he looked over at the door and headed over there. It wasn’t until he had the door open that he realized what he was looking for. “You keep handcuffs? In your closet?”

His fingers curled over the cold metal and he picked them up, grabbing a clear plastic bag with extra-large zip ties as well. Guido never mentioned the handcuffs. He stopped himself from remarking on that fact, but couldn’t stop the comments altogether. “Do you think I could borrow them sometime? I mean…when this is all over?” He caught that look in her eye and shook his head. “Not a good time? I’ll ask again later.” He nodded and took out one of the large zip ties, winding it around Alix’s slender ankles and pulling it tight with a plastic crackle.

“You think that thing is working,” he said with a nod to the belt. Because otherwise they were as good as toast.
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Alix
Member Avatar
Telepathy, Telekinesis / Empathy
::You two better be ready. We're in motion. On my word-- and only on my word-- you're clear. No smart ass remarks, please. Thank you:: The voice that echoed into the unknown recesses of two minds was very different from the voice that had been known by all. Cold, ruthless. A tad bit lower in pitch and just a fair shade less soft in delivery. The tone alone cut into minds without the barest concern for the comfort of the mind it entered. Back in the real world, she held an even smile as the human went on about... whatever it was that meager humans cared about.

The telepath motioned for her to lead the way, and she acted accordingly. Exchanges were made, more words, and then the motion to sit down and join minds arose. Methodologically she rose a slender hand to meet with Monet's, and smiled at the all together familiar feeling of a mind snaking around in her own. Yellow eyes shot open to stare in analysis as Monet's own eyes remained closed in utter focus. Only when Monet began to fumble for whatever weapon it was she'd use did Alix's eyes close again in focus.

As much anticipation was there, however, could not prepare even O'Shi for the pain that came from the end of the stun rod, nor did it control the brief though obvious glint of yellow that came flashing through otherwise colorless eyes. She reigned it in before Jamie busted into the room, however, and looked at him questioningly even as the baton lowered with violence against the crest of her skull.

It left her reeling. No superior species, no advanced technology, no preparation could really make her ready for that. The cold steel of handcuffs and the zipties slipped into place nimbly and she did nothing to fight it. Either unconscious or letting them act; it wasn't clear.

The white noise at the back of her mind was, admittedly painful-- but not particularly different in rest than from the voices. IN fact, on some level, it was a respite. Uncomfortable, perhaps, and absolutely left her incapacitated from her abilities, but not completely debilitating. Not yet, at least.

Moments passed before, blinking from the stars still dancing through the back of her eyes, she stared first at Monet in utter emotionlessness and then Jamie.

Jamie, who she lowered the single most broken look that had ever crossed over Alix's features. Silence passed over the room and she winced-- visibly-- and shuttered beneath the waves emitted from Monet's belt.

"What is this? W-what did I do?" She looked between both frantically,and inched forward on the bed, nearer to Jamie. Her voice alone was startling and disorienting-- it was Alix's voice-- the soft tone, the subtle hints of emotion that weren't always clear to people who weren't paying attention. But unlike Alix, the voice was spoken aloud.

"It's not me. I-I swear." She stammered with an all together convincing look. She blinked awkwardly as a bit of blood-- red for the moment-- trickled from where the baton hit.

"Is--is this about me being different now? Oh God, Oh Jamie-" she paused, the same heartbroken, crestfallen look crossing over her false features.

"It's not-- I'm not-- I've been.. I've been focusing my emotions. I swear. It's made me better. I'm faster. I can speak! I thought.. I thought you'd be happy for me." more crackles of pure emotion that had never been so clear in the past.

"Jamie, please-- you have to believe me. You have to know it's me." Tears welled up from the edges of her eyes-- her eyes that hadn't left Jamie through the entire commentary. Another few moments passed with her looking between them, searchingly.

And then, a flicker passed over her form like a wave. At first it just was a shuttering lapse of control from O'Shi and then, Alix's face disappeared over the creature and reverted into the startling scaled green skin of O'Shi. Well, that hadn't lasted as long as she'd really wanted.

Coldly, ruthlessly, and loudly she laughed aloud at the emotion that was so very clear on the Human male's face.

"I imagine it kills you to know that your friends-- and dear ones-- are off and away on some cold lonely planet in a galaxy far, far away." Another chuckle passed over her lips, and she reverted back into looking like Alix.

"Tortured." Another flash and it was back to green skin.

"Experimented on." Back to Alix.

"But then, as I'm beginning to see.. you humans are used to that sort of thing, aren't you? Such a miserable existence. Why don't you all just make this easy on yourselves?" Another snide smirk, this time with the cold voice of O'shi shining through Alix's features.

"Surrender. It is not so bad a life as the servants of Skrullos." Another smirk. She did, however, look more focused-- as if staying in form was becoming all the more difficult as the belt's waves intensified.
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Monet St. Croix
Unregistered

It was about time someone kidnapped these freaks for a change.

WHACK!

Ignoring Jamie's japes, M nodded. "Who knew such great swag came along with being friendly with Jefferies? And all in a stylish belt too…it even matched my purse." Though she affected an air of nonchalance, she too was worried about the integrity of the device. Monet hadn't fully trusted Box until this very moment, and now she realized that she owed him one. And she hated being indebted to others. "If those screams of frustration and pain are any indication, I am confident in saying that it is indeed operative." But crocodile tears began streaming from Alix's face.

WHAM!

"Save the platitudes sister, because nobody is buying it. I've known you weren't Alix from day one, and Madrox here has a great deal more intelligence than I initially estimated. Honestly, Jamie, those terrible jokes really do you a disservice, but kudos all the same." Again the baton slashed through the air to strike the imposter across the cheek just as its skin shimmered, and turned a sickly shade of green. The unnerving effect caused Monet to recoil involuntarily, and sneer in distaste. "So there it is - the true face of evil." But as the creature gloated, Monet merely rolled her eyes theatrically.

"Listen, bitch, we're going to skip this part, okay? The conversion sales pitch doesn't work so well when you've just had your ass handed to you by a 'lesser being'." Standing over the bound alien, Monet punched the imposter just below sternum, and then jammed the business end of her baton directly into its mouth - with no regard for its teeth or anything else that might be obstructing her way.

"Torture, you say? That sounds like fun." With a cruel gleam in her eye, she triggered the shock rod again, her lips downturned in unadulterated repugnance. Her methods of getting information weren't exactly kosher, and certainly were not procedure for most of the 'capes' she knew. But at this point, she simply didn't care about 'highroad'…or the Geneva Convention for that matter. She didn't know Jamie well enough to know whether he would approve of this tactic, but if he wanted to give her the boot after this was over, so be it.

"There now…that should teach you not to speak out of turn." Feeling vengeful, Monet yanked the implement out of the monster's mouth, and then shoved it into Jamie's hands. "What are my chances of shaking Sadistically Inventive Dupe right out of you?" She asked, smirking as she gathered the collar of his shirt into her fist, and practically vibrated him against the wall, causing clones multiply in droves. The contact, however, was more so for her benefit. ::I could use your help in this, if you're up for it? Just think of what that bitch and her kind could have done to Alix and whomever else, and then trust her to survive it. Don't let them get under your skin, the best way to help her now is to collect information.:: She thought, releasing him and snatching a baton from the nearest clone. "There now…that ought to do it." She commented aloud, with a malicious grin between her lips.

"Since you are the moron who got...itself...tied up, you are going to tell us whatever we want to know. You've already given us droves, actually, like the knowledge that you can feel pain – just like us inferior apes." To emphasize her point, Monet grabbed a fistful of long dark hair and tugged upward, not hard enough to yank out the follicles, but with enough force to communicate to the Skrull that she was more than willing to forcibly scalp her. "If you do not comply, I will take the information myself – for unlike you, I wasn't born a hideous and vile creature. In other words, my brain frequencies are perfectly regular at the moment. And I promise you, you will not enjoy this alternative." She demanded, staring directly into its eyes.

"We are going to start with names, you will tell us who has been taken…beginning with the member of X-Investigations. And then you will tell us where they are, and whether or not they remain alive. Do all of this in a timely manner, and we may kill you nicely."
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Jamie Madrox
Unregistered

Jamie busied himself with pulling the straps tight on the zip ties, doing his best to avoid looking into the doe eyes of his beloved. He knew it wasn’t really her. Deep down he knew that this thing was just masquerading around in an Alix suit. But taking one last look up at her, and hearing that pleading little voice come from her mouth. He gasped. Hearing Alix talk was something he’d always hoped for, always wanted.

Then he winced as Monet brought the baton back down again with a dull thud. It served as a reminder that snapped Jamie out of his reverie a little and as the creature turned green and then did the whole evil laugh thing, he felt his skin crawling.

“Look, this might not be the best time, but I think we need to take a break,” he said to the alien. “It’s not you it’s…well, okay it is you. I just have a policy…I don’t date outside of my species. And I’m afraid we can’t be friends.” Stopping in mid-breakup he looked over at Monet.

Had she just given him an almost-compliment?

His heart was rending in this, and even when the creature started to turn different colors he had a hard time watching Monet torture it. He was furious by the whole thing. But more than that he was terrified. Alix was somewhere out there…along with others that he undoubtedly knew. He couldn’t feel her, but somehow he knew she was out there. And if this thing was the only way to get her back… He couldn’t let Monet kill it. Not until they got some answers.

Jamie didn’t resist when Monet grabbed him, shaking a dozen multiples free and then freezing as she spoke directly into his mind. He locked eyes with her, letting the moment of communication pass between them and then looking down at the implement of torture in his hands. Two of his multiples didn’t seem to have any qualms with hurting the imposter.

“This will be my pleasure,” one of them said. With a balled up fist he delivered a right hook to the left side of her face with considerable force. Jamie decided he needed to see this through, if nothing else to make sure that this creature survived long enough to lead them to the real Alix. Looking up from the wand he smiled at her cruelly. This had to be believable.

“You’ve made a serious miscalculation,” he said as he stepped up next to her as Monet started to lay down the terms. He waited until she was finished and then stuck the baton against her eye socket and rested his finger on the trigger. “I’m curious,” he mused. “Do you think your eye would stand up to the shock?”

For the most part the other multiples just stood around with their arms folded. One of them grabbed Alix by the hair and pulled backwards. “Answers!” He ordered. “One hint at anything other than what we’re asking and we take the eye.”
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Alix
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Telepathy, Telekinesis / Empathy
"If that's what you believe" Before O'Shi could really prepare herself, the stun rod was shoved into her mouth and set free. The act-- on a human, at least-- would've put them down for the count.

O'Shi was not so weak; but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt like hell. She tuned her mind out of the pain and let whatever involuntary reactions would come from the torture-- torture that, admittedly, she hadn't expected from them-- and listened to what Monet had to say. She played the role well, and recoiled at the violence that continued while Jamie went through valiant efforts to

"Likely not. But that's hardly necessary." While tone suggested still in control, the hoarse sound of her voice and the oddly colored blood that shone at the edge of darker green lips made it very clear it wasn't so simple. Of course, she'd been trained for these things. Prepared? No. But trained, absolutely.

She waited a moment, getting her bearings with the implement still firmly against her eye. Perhaps, they'd imagine this would've taken more pressuring. She figured they'd already shown just how far they'd go without even giving a chance to ask questions and so, without restraint, she gave the names.

"Its fascinating, how easily you believed Kyle, isn't it? I mean, you showed up, he said what had happened, and despite knowing that you weren't missing any dupes-- because you know that sort of thing because of me; well, her-- you just went with it. Did you ever think that he could've been in on the whole thing?" She grinned, though shifted uncomfortably and backed away at what she perceived as a threat.

"He's a skrull. The attack? That was staged. Layla's a skrull, too." Her eyes fell placid-- it was obviously the truth because, despite the posturing, she very well had seen their reaction to any lying.

"Guido, the big guy."

"Jet. Yea, she submitted to your mind reading. She sure jumped up quick, didn't she? You already know we can hide well. And Lets be honest, Monet. There's plenty that has slipped by you on the team already."

"Jubilee."

"And-- yes-- One of yourselves was taken." She looked at Jamie knowingly. "But you've got bigger fish to fry."

"And, naturally.. me." She nodded quietly.

Was it strange to give up names so easily? Not particularly. The war call had already been made and the culling would begin. Knowing who was who and what was what was no longer the issue.

"what else? I can name other groups. Countless leaders; mutant or not. Some have been acting strangely to destroy your ranks. Others? Others you may never know."

"You better ask quick, Kids. Because the jig here is almost up. Big guys upstairs don't take kindly to snitches, even in situations such as this."
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Monet St. Croix
Unregistered

Satisfied, Monet watched as a clone threatened the Skrull's eye with the shock prod, an incensed gleam blazing in their eyes. "And I'm willing to bet those eerie orbs can grow back, should any damage come to them, which is very convenient for us of course. It's very Grecian isn't it, like poor Prometheus and his doomed liver...but without all of the nobility and good intent." She added, as Jamie's inner hate and vitriol got their licks in. While they attempted to intimidate, M paused to collect her resolve and thoughts, never taking her eyes off of the cretin. The current event going on around them were so much bigger than her, larger even than their tiny Investigators firm, or mutantkind. The task of picking appropriate questions seemed...insurmountable. Frankly, she was surprised they managed to make it this far, and what came next was unknown to her.

In an implausibly handy stroke of good fortune, however, the Skrull in Alix's body was particularly chatty. The incredulous telepath narrowed her eyes as the imposter listed off names without instigation, seemingly unfazed by her apparent treason. Monet didn't believe in good luck, and she wasn't about to start now. "You are a conniving bitch." She accused, her voice carrying in an angry whisper. "I don't believe you." Brushing passed a dupe, she didn't even both with torture, instead M simply grabbed the Skrull's face (not bothering with consideration) and concentrated. Try as she may, however, there was no breaching its defenses. In reality, there was no telling if the creature had metal defenses, as Monet couldn't seem to sense a mind at all.

"Typical..." She complained in exasperation, striking 'Alix' across the face with inhuman force after a fierce surge of anger spike her adrenaline output. How were they supposed to get decent answers like this? Looking down at her hand, Monet cursed as she noticed the broken state of her baton. "Now look what you've done." She growled, circling their victim like a prowling tigress. "Liars tend to...rub me the wrong way. But don't fret, there are plenty more where that came from. And this part here is rather pointy, so all isn't lost." Her tone dripping in menace, she pressed the broken end of her baton against Alix's bare neck.

"I know for a fact Jet is who she says she is, and Guido is too doltish to be of any use to your kind, so stop spreading your slander." As she spoke, the jagged edges of her makeshift weapon bit deeper and deeper into the thing's neck, slowly adding pressure until blood began the seep out of flesh. Despite her confident air, Monet had to admit, Jubilee's sudden power meltdown was rather...convenient. Box was one of the few people on earth who could adapt technology quickly enough to surpass that of the Skrull, and the destruction of his lab was a significant setback. She had a natural dislike for the girl, it was true, but the Skrull's words made undeniable sense - and if it was right about her...well, she didn't want to think about it. One thing was obvious; they were going to have to take whatever information given them with a grain of salt.

"How do we locate our colleagues? Where have you taken them and how do we retrieve them?" She asked next, glancing in Prime's direction in an inviting way, silently asking him to join in the questioning. Saving the world, she decided, could come after they'd gotten their friends from whatever hell they were trapped in. "Why do you even keep them alive? For experiments, what sort of experiments? And if your pals do not appreciate 'snitches' - as you so eloquently put it- why are you so eager to rat them out?"
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Jamie Madrox
Unregistered

Jamie just stood there staring at her, a white-knuckle grip on the rod and his anger barely kept in check. The longer he stood there looking at her, the more furious he became. “I’ve had just about enough,” he muttered under his breath. That look in her eyes, the mocking cruelty with which she took the face of the one he loved more than his own life and tortured him with it…he had never wanted someone dead as much as right now. He found his voice with little difficulty.

“What do you want??” It was at least one of the more important questions. “Why are you doing this?” He’d always watched the alien movies in wonder. The intruders were always technologically advanced, and they always had a distinct lack of regard for humanity in general. But the question he always asked was…why??

Grinding his teeth he listened to her list off the names of the compromised, and he automatically discounted the bulk of it as bull. Still, he knew that the best lies always had a sprinkling of truth. Could it be that some of what she was saying was true? Definitely. They already knew about the Jamie dupe…but Kyle? Guido? Jet? Jubilee?? She was taunting him…hitting him where she knew would be a very tender spot.

But then again, if they (whoever they were) wanted to kick his legs out from under him they certainly were going about it the right way. For a little while he listened on as Monet asked questions and the thing on the bed answered. Inwardly he was seething, and a great fury was building up unlike any he had ever experienced before. After a while he could not take anymore.

Jamie pushed past Monet and grabbed the imposter by the face, squeezing hard as he put himself right in front of her. “Listen to me you insignificant bug. I have one question.” He was seething and the urge to end her was almost overwhelming. “If I feel like you are misleading me, if you answer in a goddamn riddle, if you even breathe funny before answering…I’ll kill you.” He squeezed harder, digging his fingers into her cheeks. “Painfully.” Casting a warning look at Monet that said do not interrupt me, he focused his furious gaze into her eyes. “Where are they? What have you done with them? WHERE IS ALIX??!! ANSWER ME YOU PARASITE! WHERE IS SHE??!!
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Strong Guy
Unregistered

JP Between Raza and Phlanz

An answer came with a loud crash from the other room as the front door smashed off its hinges and cartwheeled across Monet’s living room. It crashed into a glass top table and demolished one very fine looking lamp. Through a mist of swirling sawdust, a slender figure sauntered in, followed directly by another, twice as thick, brawny and easily more than a head taller. The smaller one took a look around the room and his attention came up just as nearly a dozen multiples entered the room from the other side.

It was like looking in a hall of mirrors.

The multiples all stopped and stared at the renegade dupe, their shocked and dumbfounded expressions bringing a mocking sneer to the imposter Raza’s face. He took the toothpick out of his teeth and pointed it at at each of them, pulling his shirt up just a little to reveal the handle of his gun. “Got at least one bullet for each of you,” he said as he drew it out.

Behind him stood Phlanz. Seeming every bit Guido Carosella, he stood behind Raza with tree trunk arms folded over his chest. “She must be in the back,” he said with a low tone. There was no hesitation. Lowering his shoulder he charged the dupes, sending them toppling over like bowling pins and knocking out a half dozen new ones before he landed himself in Monet’s room. His eyes moved through the room, sizing up Jamie, O’Shi, and then Monet.

It seemed pretty clear what was going on here and clearer yet what he needed to do. First things first…get rid of Monet. But Alix was still in her human form, so he decided to play along. “Looks like we found out who tha real imposters are,” he said frowning at Jamie and Monet. The element of surprise would only buy him so much time. Once the shock of this intrusion wore off the advantage would be gone. He easily threw Jamie aside and snapped the cuffs on Alix’s wrists.

Knowing every second counted, he moved with surprising speed, spinning around and planting a fist with inconceivable strength right in the middle of Monet’s face.
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Alix
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Telepathy, Telekinesis / Empathy
The pain, as O'Shi had learned, was all relative. These few minutes of abuse was nothing compared to the pain that would come if she did not fullfill her duty to the skrull queen, nor would any good come from abandoning her path.

She knew what had to happen and, right now, this was it. Blow after blow of escalating violence came and she remained within her resolute calm. This was the way it had to be. This was the way to victory.

"Your Colleagues? They're on earth." She answered truthfully and without mirth. "Transport of that many would be hazardous." Another answer.

"We've been experimenting to develop understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. It will be vital when you are our underlings." More answers, despite winces and small bursts of agony.

"We're here to claim our birthright. Didn't you watch the report?" She stared forwards, even while Jamie's fingers dug into her face.

"Because. It belongs to us-- not you. Look at it. Look at the world. You've squandered its grandeur with your filth." Just when she was starting to crack on resolve and wonder if the two were ever going to show, Phlanz busted in as if on cue. They'd doubted that he was a skrull and then-- right then and there.. the proof that she told the tuth. There was no time to gloat or spout off I told you so, however, and by the time she'd reacted, Phlanz had already cut her binds and gone after Monet.

"Focus on the belt buckle, Phlanz. It's holding me back from using any abilities. And keep her busy." O'Shi remained forcefully calm despite the evidence of violence that was clear on every level. None of it mattered and by the time a millisecond had passed, her attentions were onto Jamie- who Forever calm-- though forceful malevolence was only vaguely concealed when she turned toward Jamie-- who's rage was ever clear.

"Kills you, doesn't it? Knowing that everything you thought dear was all just us... doing what you couldn't do better than the real deal." She reached under the back of her shirt for the thin blade she'd brought with her. "I know you, Jamie." She shifted back into Alix. "I know you miss her. You missed her before you even realized-- but you never really knew, either. She was broken, wasn't she? Deep down you knew it. She knew it. You both denied it.. but I saw it in every shared moment." With every pause, she pressed forwards, a sudden speed and violence in every move she made towards him. His dodges and avoiding meant nothing. Strength, adrenaline, and the cold collected calm of reacting to the violence they'd just demonstrated was enough to send O'Shi into a quiet rage.

"Not everyone survives on Skrullos. She, like a few others, couldn't take it. But then-- her death wont matter. Not really." She grinned, and for the last time, shifted back into the green-skinned appearance that was her own.

"I'm going to kill you, Jamie Madrox. Not just because I've been ordered to, but because you are and always will be a lesser species. Your usefulness has been spent and your death will serve to further the glory of my queen."

Suddenly closer than before, she gave a sharp jab forwards with the blade.
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STRIKE ME DOWN SHOULD HAVE HELD IT ALL ALONE
WASH THE QUESTION OFF MY HANDS I'M THE FATE IN NO ONES PLAN
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Monet St. Croix
Unregistered

It was becoming increasingly evident that they weren't going to get any information out of this...thing. All it did was talk in circles, possibly leaving behind breadcrumbs of truth in between taunts, but never divulging anything relevant. Monet's temper rose like an aggravated volcano, and she wanted nothing more than to simply snap the Skrull's neck and call it a day. Telepathy was a bust, and tormenting the creature was proving to be about as ineffective. What she had to do was reevaluate the situation and come up with a better plan. They could try to blackmail the alien with some sort of incrimination, to make her look as though she defected and betrayed to her own people (using the word lightly), she thought.

Jamie and his clones, however, might be a problem. They were all propped so very precariously on the line between mental fortitude and extreme hysteria. M was afraid she was losing him, and bringing him along at all was turning into a mistake. Of course he was distressed, but they couldn't afford to let untamable emotion get in the way of their goals. This was the problem with Americans and their inherent inability to control their emotions, she mused angrily. Matching the Skrull's feigned casualness, she said: "Jamie, darling, you remember we need to keep this grotesque ogre alive for now, right. She's only goading you. You can-"

However, before she could finish speaking, her keen ears picked up the sound of heavy footfalls running toward her apartment. The gait sounded like Guido's, but she didn't tell anyone where they were going, so how could he possibly know where they were? Unless Jamie told him. Now annoyed at Madrox tenfold, she turned to ask him if she blabbed, but the words never passed her lips. There was a resounding crash, and her front door was obliterated, before she heard the imposter posing as Jamie threatened the dupes in charge of the communications node within her living room. "So," She said, with icy detestation. "You sent for your friends..." The realization that 'Alix' had been right about Guido lanced through Monet like a heated dagger, but there was no time to dwell.

"Looks like we found out who tha real imposters are,"

"Give it a rest, you blustering oaf." She snapped. Protecting the belt buckle was highest priority, and without her telepathy, it was probably time to cut their losses. Monet tried to reach for Jamie Prime, but an expansive fist collided with the side of her face before she could manage it. As she soared into and beyond her closet door, it felt as though her brain jangled in her skull, like dice in a tin cup. "Fils de pute." She groaned, as a waterfall of expensive shoes fell atop her. A dull throb railed against her consciousness as she tried to do a mental check of her well being. The soft, but high pitched droning coming from her belt was as continuous as ever - thank god- which told her that the technology remained functional, for now.

"You hit like my Mémé." She jeered, hoping to distract as her slender hand closed around a cylindrical and black object. Without another word, she shot out of her massive boudoir like a rocket, carrying the hidden object in a closed fist. Feigning as though she were about to punch 'Guido' head on, she instead flitted behind him - still flying through the air - snatched off his goggles, and assaulted his eyes with good old fashion pepper spray. Somehow she doubted this creature's eyes were as sensitive as the real Guido's, but capsaicin was a bitch no matter what planet you beamed down from, or so she hoped. And thanks to his power set, a physical fight would get her nowhere, so she had to be inventive. Unless...

As she dodged and corkscrewed within the air, Monet remembered Guido telling her just how he became so deformed, and then there was the heart episode of course. Perhaps she could prevent him from letting off stored energy somehow. Just how she would manage such a feat, however, was a different matter altogether.
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Strong Guy
Unregistered

"Focus on the belt buckle, Phlanz. It's holding me back from using any abilities. And keep her busy."

With a sneer of a smile Phlanz turned toward the human that he had just pounded through the flimsy hollow core closet door. “My pleasure,” he said watching her pick herself up from the wreckage of wood and clothing. This Monet was a tough one. Though the human Guido had never really put much of his ability into testing it on her, she could take quite a lot of punishment. It was no wonder that half retarded ape had such a soft spot for her-no matter how homely she was.

Honestly the plan had been to capture her as well before the invasion was complete. But for many reasons this was part of the plan that had never come to fruition. And either way, he had to get that belt buckle off of her.

With very little warning, Monet suddenly launched into the air; fist reared back as she defied the planetary gravity and soared toward him like a brunette missile. Planz steeled himself for the inevitable impact. Not protecting himself took a little bit of determination. He knew how to fight, and had been trained in combat and defense since he was young. But this body demanded a somewhat different approach to fighting. Rather than avoid getting hit, knowing that it would make him exponentially stronger, he just set his jaw in a grim line and waited…

…for the impact that never came.

As she breezed past him Phlanz turned, not expecting to see her directly behind him. Her attack was as unexpected as it was swift and though he had no idea exactly what sort of weapon she was using on him-as the spray began to burn in his eyes he let out an inhuman cry followed by a string of colorful Skrull curses. With one hand he swatted away the canister, and with the other he reached out to grab for the belt buckle.

Groping blindly he grabbed a fistful of fashion and pulled as hard as he could.
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