BY INVITATION ONLY X-MEN: ASH-WAKE ISSUE #1

[OrlandoBloomers]

"The x-men proper have their hands full; just a few days ago O.N.E. thought they were being funny with an attempt to blow up the last cerebro unit, up in Alaska. And, if you promise to keep a secret, that mutant they 'killed' in San Francisco is actually hiding up in that base as well. Its like Kate said; this isn't the world saving team. Summers' is the one handling that. We're hoping that cerebro unit will help us find mutants that have been taken, once we get some way of figuring out who they are"​

"So he's told you to go screw yourself," Monet condensed succinctly, seemingly putting little stock in the veracity of the statements as opposed to her assumptions of the dynamics at play. She sighed. "Emma darling, I'm beginning to think I answered the wrong text."

Damn her nostalgia blinders! And damn Summers for setting up in Alaska of all places, where the snow wouldn't abide her Louis Vuittons. She clucked her tongue, dismayed.

"You'll be staying behind, I take it? Indulging in reminiscence? Conducting a psionic waterboarding or two for old times' sake?"

Her tone was airy and her words carried the vague note of a bite, same as always, but the time Emma had spent demystifying Monet's various idiosyncrasies in her youth made the underlying sense of concern at the prospect of the former headmistress remaining here in solitude with Orchis still lurking about readily apparent. The old school was secluded, but—
​

"Awwww and here I thought you two made a nice pair." Rachel couldn't help but joke. "Frost and Stark, power couple for the ages. Maybe it isn't too late to annul the annulment." ​

"The x-men proper have their hands full; just a few days ago O.N.E. thought they were being funny with an attempt to blow up the last cerebro unit, up in Alaska. And, if you promise to keep a secret, that mutant they 'killed' in San Francisco is actually hiding up in that base as well. Its like Kate said; this isn't the world saving team. Summers' is the one handling that. We're hoping that cerebro unit will help us find mutants that have been taken, once we get some way of figuring out who they are"​

"How many X-Men teams are there??"​

​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

"...Fair enough."

"Oh, right. Introductions. Logan, this is Alice, or Revenant if you want to call her that instead. Alice, Logan."

"Yeah, I know. Wolverine." ​

​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

"...Fair enough."

"Oh, right. Introductions. Logan, this is Alice, or Revenant if you want to call her that instead. Alice, Logan."

"Yeah, I know. Wolverine." ​

"... Like the diCaprio film? That why you took the name?"​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

"...Fair enough."

"Oh, right. Introductions. Logan, this is Alice, or Revenant if you want to call her that instead. Alice, Logan."

"Yeah, I know. Wolverine." ​

"... Like the diCaprio film? That why you took the name?"​

"No."​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

"...Fair enough."

"Oh, right. Introductions. Logan, this is Alice, or Revenant if you want to call her that instead. Alice, Logan."

"Yeah, I know. Wolverine." ​

"... Like the diCaprio film? That why you took the name?"​

"No."​

"...Reminding me a lot of a certain Negasonic..."​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

"...Fair enough."

"Oh, right. Introductions. Logan, this is Alice, or Revenant if you want to call her that instead. Alice, Logan."

"Yeah, I know. Wolverine." ​

"... Like the diCaprio film? That why you took the name?"​

"No."​

"...Reminding me a lot of a certain Negasonic..."​

"Am I supposed to know who that is?"​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

"...Fair enough."

"Oh, right. Introductions. Logan, this is Alice, or Revenant if you want to call her that instead. Alice, Logan."

"Yeah, I know. Wolverine." ​

"... Like the diCaprio film? That why you took the name?"​

"No."​

"...Reminding me a lot of a certain Negasonic..."​

"Am I supposed to know who that is?"​

"Let's jus get me to Japan. Rach, your protege needs to work up her people skills and I realize that's frickin ironic coming from me."​

"Kid, you're new. Let's just say it's on a need to know basis until we can trust ya. Or at least I can, anyhow. I'll just say there's definitely at least one less now, though."​

"...Fair enough."

"Oh, right. Introductions. Logan, this is Alice, or Revenant if you want to call her that instead. Alice, Logan."

"Yeah, I know. Wolverine." ​

"... Like the diCaprio film? That why you took the name?"​

"No."​

"...Reminding me a lot of a certain Negasonic..."​

"Am I supposed to know who that is?"​

"Let's jus get me to Japan. Rach, your protege needs to work up her people skills and I realize that's frickin ironic coming from me."​

Alright, might as well get this out in the open now…

"Yeah, that's because she's more trying to figure out how to best say that you've met her before, and not on great terms. I'll just spit it out. This girl here, Alice, Revenant, well you probably know her best as Malice, if you remember her at all. One of Sinister's Marauders back in the day. She possessed you, once upon a time, among a couple others. Briefly, anyways. She had a much longer stint inside Polaris and probably had even you beat in the bad hair day competition, gramps. Not so long ago she jumped into Betsy for a ghost joyride, ended up in Emma for a short time, and well let's just say things didn't go great…but they chose to resurrect her, pushing her name up the priority list to do so and well, they chose to give her a second shot at things. She came around to it and so, here we are."

"………….." She was dead silent now, albeit staring him down to see how he took that now that Miss Firehair had said all that.​

"—Wow. The quality of conversation in the room really nosedived in the last minute. I'll be leaving," she remarked around the point discussions turned to Academy Award-winning performer Leonardo Dicaprio, then quickly did so.

Better not let that Pryde one have the run of the place to herself for too long, anyway. Surely she wasn't the only one who'd always found her a bit suspicious? Mutantkind were too newly-minted for the data on such matters to be in any way conclusive yet, but Monet had always been one of those who felt there was something to the school of thought that an individual's mutant abilities were informed by their character—it certainly tracked with her own auspicious talents. What did that say about one seemingly born with the gifts to be the perfect pickpocket or jewel thief??

To say nothing of the body count in the multi-digits, a natural affinity with cretins like Wolverine, or propensity for flaking on her own kind and 'retiring' in their time of need before age thirty. A move WHICH, Monet might've added, they all knew was just a ploy for attention anyway! Attention she was now getting. Stealing focus away from the tenacious, dependable X-Men who'd been waiting a ridiculously long time for even a fraction of the responsibility and trust that woman had been afforded.

Kitty Pryde. Running the show, at their academy. Ugh. She was essentially the original Jubilee. If Monet didn't know better she'd have sworn up and down Emma did this just to mess with her.​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"You'll be staying behind, I take it? Indulging in reminiscence? Conducting a psionic waterboarding or two for old times' sake?"

"Hmm. Old time's sake indeed" she mused, levity with a dash of malice creeping into her tone

"Did you ever look into it? what the academy was like, what my old class was like, before Sean brought you troublemakers to my door? Oh we did have fun here, me especially. And woe to those who interrupted it." The soldier lumbered foward only to be caught under the chin by Emma's finger, and she turned to leave the room after most everyone here seemed to make their intentions to stay, at least for now, known

"Ta' for now, dear; Hopefully this first trip proves engaging enough for you to continue to grace us with your presence"

Alright, might as well get this out in the open now…

"Yeah, that's because she's more trying to figure out how to best say that you've met her before, and not on great terms. I'll just spit it out. This girl here, Alice, Revenant, well you probably know her best as Malice, if you remember her at all. One of Sinister's Marauders back in the day. She possessed you, once upon a time, among a couple others. Briefly, anyways. She had a much longer stint inside Polaris and probably had even you beat in the bad hair day competition, gramps. Not so long ago she jumped into Betsy for a ghost joyride, ended up in Emma for a short time, and well let's just say things didn't go great…but they chose to resurrect her, pushing her name up the priority list to do so and well, they chose to give her a second shot at things. She came around to it and so, here we are."

She would've acknowledged this but she was pretty much the only person in the room who literally knew all this already.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Monet (and anyone who dared to sidle in with her for the first elevator ride found herself in a cavernous underground facility, hewn straight from the rock-bed and supported by stripes of steel beams that held the ceiling above. a set of heavy steel doors sat in the wall directly adjacent to the elevator's exit point, with another on the wall far to their left. What took up most of the room, however, was the landing pad; it sat directly under two plates of a metal that clearly wasn't the same steel as the other pieces of construction, made to slide out from each other to open to the sky (presumably). A short runway made room for two VTOL jets, and Monet's technical mind noted the strange machinery to the side and racks of pieces taking up another large swathe of the hangar was some sort of automated forge for rebuilding the things should they go out of commission in the field; how the idea they were apparently already planning for that eventuality this early in this operation was for her to decide.

Finally, a few robots with two wheels and multiple spindly arms attached to attached to rectangular bodies sat in resting stations on the wall, the STARK-TECH logo emblazoned tastefully (for Tony) on their sides. One in particular was just settling into its charging port, and the Pryde she was prejudiced against had her eyes narrowed at a small Jolly Roger emblazoned on the side of one of the jets before she sighed and turned to see who'd made it down here.

"Japan or Jersey?" She asked straightforwardly.

 

[OrlandoBloomers]

"Hmm. Old time's sake indeed" she mused, levity with a dash of malice creeping into her tone

"Did you ever look into it? what the academy was like, what my old class was like, before Sean brought you troublemakers to my door? Oh we did have fun here, me especially. And woe to those who interrupted it." The soldier lumbered foward only to be caught under the chin by Emma's finger, and she turned to leave the room after most everyone here seemed to make their intentions to stay, at least for now, known​

"Oh goody. Love the colour of hellfire on you." She remarked drolly, watching her go. Honestly. More fool her for even considering that the White Queen might need protection in her original castle; or that anything she personally crafted out of that soldier's nightmares could possibly be more effective than what awaited her.
​

Monet (and anyone who dared to sidle in with her for the first elevator ride found herself in a cavernous underground facility, hewn straight from the rock-bed and supported by stripes of steel beams that held the ceiling above. a set of heavy steel doors sat in the wall directly adjacent to the elevator's exit point, with another on the wall far to their left. What took up most of the room, however, was the landing pad; it sat directly under two plates of a metal that clearly wasn't the same steel as the other pieces of construction, made to slide out from each other to open to the sky (presumably). A short runway made room for two VTOL jets, and Monet's technical mind noted the strange machinery to the side and racks of pieces taking up another large swathe of the hangar was some sort of automated forge for rebuilding the things should they go out of commission in the field; how the idea they were apparently already planning for that eventuality this early in this operation was for her to decide.

Finally, a few robots with two wheels and multiple spindly arms attached to attached to rectangular bodies sat in resting stations on the wall, the STARK-TECH logo emblazoned tastefully (for Tony) on their sides. One in particular was just settling into its charging port, and the Pryde she was prejudiced against had her eyes narrowed at a small Jolly Roger emblazoned on the side of one of the jets before she sighed and turned to see who'd made it down here.​

Well this was definitely new.

It was difficult to be impressed by anything after one saw Krakoa, but her sense of recognition giving way to the unfamiliar was worn on her sleeve readily in the form of a vexed frown as she stepped out and tossed her gaze around the hangar, recalling vividly the funding problems this place used to have when she was a student. Xavier and the X-Men had been careening through one crisis and/or saga after another at the time, and the Institute remaining open at all was really entirely by the grace of miss Frost; they'd had a good run, but she couldn't quite make it work in the end. At least, not without reverting to more sinister means.

Now here it was, their very own hangar carved into the mountain face, Blackbirds and all. It all felt very throwback. Perhaps this would be good for her.
​

"Japan or Jersey?" She asked straightforwardly.​

"French 75 with a splash of vermouth," she answered dismissively, taking a good five seconds more to finish her look around before she glanced over and elaborated with a flap of the hand.

"Ah, pardon. You droned that at me with all the verve and sophistication of a barmaid at the end of her shift. That position must've suited you down to the ground."

She came out with a short, pitying laugh tapering off into a sigh, then an astoundingly European simper as she buttoned up her Prada coat and started affixing the sash.

"I can be over Newark in three minutes, jet or no jet. You'll forgive me if I'm loathe to submit myself to the customary hour-half of patter while the rest of you fly to east Asia." She scoffed. "Shall I assume from that brave choice of wardrobe that you've already resigned yourself?"

You could take the white girl out of Japan…​

 

[TheVaultDweller]

"Yeah, can't imagine how it must've been when Brand did her thing but S.W.O.R.D. managed ok without? Everything else was definitely a mess and a half, kid but, new day, another try at doing more of the right thing if you can."

His internal monologue certainly poked fun at him for the brief encouragement to his one time mentee, though Logan certainly recognized that as to be a voice he hated. And it'd emerged after the events in the North, after something bad happened, with things going sideways. Survivor's guilt, regret for being the impetus of circumstance, whatever, it was always the same and it always came back...

Some might have said without a doubt that Logan had his problems. Hell, the man himself would admit it without issue whatsoever.

But he'd always be one of the best teachers she'd ever had the privilege to work under.

The arms of the armor worked in unison as the right arm pressed it's fist against the open palm of the left.

"You're right. One day at a time, still trying to do everything we can."

Hiding in the shadows, staying low-key, avoiding attention whenever possible. Sure, it worked at keeping her alive. But to actually get out there and make a difference? She'd have to roll up her sleeves and get out there. Logan had lived for an incredibly long time, a lifespan some would likely be jealous of, and with that came experience. He'd likely been down a road like this more times than he could count but he kept on going despite the hardships and Hisako held the utmost respect for him.

"But yea, Logan's got the short of it. A few weeks ago I caught a squad of these scumbags in my neighborhood. They weren't after me though; for whatever reason they're hunting down mutants who never went to Krakoa. Their tech can somehow tell if someone's been through a Krakoan gate or not; If they haven't, the squad ghosts them to who knows where. If they have-" Kate snarled as she gripped the woman's insides tighter, eliciting a hiss of pain "-they put a bullet in them."

"They've been exceedingly difficult to track down." Emma deigned to cut in, after Alice realized that a few seconds ago she'd walked back out the door, dropped and ground out her joint with her boot, then stepped back in before she'd realized she'd done it. "Kate initially thought she had access to the database they were working off of, but it was scrambled, nonsense locations. We did finally manage to pin a squad down while we were still putting the rest of this together. I intended to telepathically pick them apart, get a better sense of what we were dealing with. Unfortunately, someone had beaten me to it. Their memories of the last months had been picked clean. Still acting of their own accord, still with their immediate orders, but how they got those orders were simply gone. I may have been able to scrounge something out of the ruins of their memories, but...

"It also triggered bombs in the entire squad's necks when she tried to dip into one of them. Almost killed Emma"

"A deep exaggeration. My reflexes aren't that aged yet." Emma said blithely, and those who'd seen Emma recently among them noted that there were a few extra, barely perceptible scars on her face along the cheek and her right ear, places where her diamond form too just a little longer to change when the bombs had gone off.

"Why are you even trying this then?" Hissed the soldier, her expression still hidden behind the helmet's visor. "You already know I'd die for Nightshade-"

"Easy promise to make in front of your squad and in the surgical bay I'm sure." Kate cut off. "I'm not stopping you. go ahead and follow through. Take a step forward and I'll keep your spine right here."

"..."

"Thats what I thought." She grunted, sounding borderline disappointed before she returned her focus to her fellow mutants "Nightshade, if you're wondering, is whoever swooped in and snatched up Orchis for whatever the hell they're doing. last night I managed to drag out another cell, took this one with me."

The screen beeped as it finished parsing the database in the soldier's device, and a program Kate had put together earlier in the week locked in the live read of Orchis' network before it could rescramble itself upon the detected intrusion, and the holotable they were seated around flickered to life to display a globe, with two locations pinging.

Before Hisako had even realized it, her armor's hands had balled up tightly into fists.

Willing to have their heads blown up to avoid mental detection/probing? Absolutely vile. The lengths that these people would go to continue to resist and make life harder for mutantkind was absolutely disgusting. A brief thought of bouncing the soldier around like a humanoid ping pong ball using her armor had briefly walked across her mindscape only for her to choke it down. Humorous as it was and as much as someone like this deserved it...she wouldn't give into her anger.

She'd have to utilize it in a better avenue. To help the others get the best of this...Nightshade organization.

The screen beeped as it finished parsing the database in the soldier's device, and a program Kate had put together earlier in the week locked in the live read of Orchis' network before it could rescramble itself upon the detected intrusion, and the holotable they were seated around flickered to life to display a globe, with two locations pinging.

Two targets intended within the next hour:
Shimmer Family: Hokade, Japan
Unknown mutant criminal: Newark, New Jersey​

Kate glanced at the read out and then started to slowly guide her hand up the woman's back while walking her towards the room's window. The soldier tried to turn only to realize how bad of an idea that was, her breath quickening as she started to panic. "Wait, wait what are doing, don't-"

"Got it" Kate answered "Ready?" She asked emma, who took a sip of her glass before she nodded. Kate nodded back, put her other hand into the woman then quickly flicked one hand towards the glass of the biodome as the other wrenched against the woman's side

The suit was pushed towards biodome and got partially lodged in it before the helmet exploded with enough force to crack the glass, and the woman ended up tumbling to the floor in her skivvies in the other direction. She manged to get her bearings just in time for her eyes to glaze over and her body to go limp on the floor as Emma stared at her with a hand to her temple.

Kate let out a huff as she finally let her shoulders relax for the first time in hours, before she gestured towards the hologlobe with a tired frown.

"I don't really have a big speech or sales pitch here. Orchis is purposefully avoiding the big hitters from what we can tell; any mutant with a name people would know. We have no idea what they're taking these people for, or how many they need. This could all be over after they get ten people, who'll never be seen again but the earth will spin on just fine. We're not saving the world, or all of mutantkind, or even taking the fight to the biggest danger to mutants right now like Scott or Rouge are. But Orchis showed up because of what we tried to build, and if we don't put them down for good, no one else is gonna help these people. If you're willing to be that help" she said to finish as she started back for the elevator "be in the hangar in ten."

Rachel's query went unanswered til then, but eventually Kate let the connection stick long enough to respond ['...if we find the time'] before she cut it off on her end.

"...!"

Japan...

These cretins weren't even limiting their anti-mutant crusade to just the US but targeting places like her homeland as well. Hisako had practically grown up and matured (at least in her own opinion. Others could have their own two cents) alongside the X-Men, here in the US.

But she'd never forget her roots. The land she'd grown up in and spent her time practicing honing her Armor's capabilities and getting ready for the day when she'd finally go for it and seek to achieve her dream of joining the world famous X-Men! If this 'Nightshade' was sending Orchis there? Then even if Hisako didn't recognize this 'Shimmer' family then she'd go there without a second thought and crack however many Orchi heads she had to! Nobody else was going to get hurt/have their lives ruined due to the hatred of others! Not on her watch!

"I don't think there's any universe where I pass this down. Count me in."

"Yeah, that's because she's more trying to figure out how to best say that you've met her before, and not on great terms. I'll just spit it out. This girl here, Alice, Revenant, well you probably know her best as Malice, if you remember her at all. One of Sinister's Marauders back in the day. She possessed you, once upon a time, among a couple others. Briefly, anyways. She had a much longer stint inside Polaris and probably had even you beat in the bad hair day competition, gramps. Not so long ago she jumped into Betsy for a ghost joyride, ended up in Emma for a short time, and well let's just say things didn't go great…but they chose to resurrect her, pushing her name up the priority list to do so and well, they chose to give her a second shot at things. She came around to it and so, here we are."

Hisako was being a bit nosy and had listened in on some of that.

Bad hair, possessions...

"I'm glad you're on our side but...and don't take this the wrong way...your life kind of sounds like a horror movie come to life..."

"—Wow. The quality of conversation in the room really nosedived in the last minute. I'll be leaving," she remarked around the point discussions turned to Academy Award-winning performer Leonardo Dicaprio, then quickly did so.

Better not let that Pryde one have the run of the place to herself for too long, anyway. Surely she wasn't the only one who'd always found her a bit suspicious? Mutantkind were too newly-minted for the data on such matters to be in any way conclusive yet, but Monet had always been one of those who felt there was something to the school of thought that an individual's mutant abilities were informed by their character—it certainly tracked with her own auspicious talents. What did that say about one seemingly born with the gifts to be the perfect pickpocket or jewel thief??

To say nothing of the body count in the multi-digits, a natural affinity with cretins like Wolverine, or propensity for flaking on her own kind and 'retiring' in their time of need before age thirty. A move WHICH, Monet might've added, they all knew was just a ploy for attention anyway! Attention she was now getting. Stealing focus away from the tenacious, dependable X-Men who'd been waiting a ridiculously long time for even a fraction of the responsibility and trust that woman had been afforded.

Kitty Pryde. Running the show, at their academy. Ugh. She was essentially the original Jubilee. If Monet didn't know better she'd have sworn up and down Emma did this just to mess with her.

Hisako had initially written off Monet as just something of a Bitch. Y'know, the kind of one that is constantly looking down her nose at people. Acting as if she's the best thing since canned bread. But if they were ALL going to be working together than a view like that just couldn't hold.

They'd all have to be on the same page. Not only as comrades but...maybe...possibly....friends?

"Hey, wait up!"

Hisako yelled out, running after Monet. She kind of doubted the other mutant would indeed slow down for her to catch up. So she just awkwardly settled into a walk alongside her until they reached the elevator. She pushed aside her initial feelings and pursed her lips as she tried to figure out what exactly to say. Her Armor kept it's arms folded over her chest as she looked from side to side.

"So..."

There was a brief pause.

"...How much can you lift?"

Monet (and anyone who dared to sidle in with her for the first elevator ride found herself in a cavernous underground facility, hewn straight from the rock-bed and supported by stripes of steel beams that held the ceiling above. a set of heavy steel doors sat in the wall directly adjacent to the elevator's exit point, with another on the wall far to their left. What took up most of the room, however, was the landing pad; it sat directly under two plates of a metal that clearly wasn't the same steel as the other pieces of construction, made to slide out from each other to open to the sky (presumably). A short runway made room for two VTOL jets, and Monet's technical mind noted the strange machinery to the side and racks of pieces taking up another large swathe of the hangar was some sort of automated forge for rebuilding the things should they go out of commission in the field; how the idea they were apparently already planning for that eventuality this early in this operation was for her to decide.

Finally, a few robots with two wheels and multiple spindly arms attached to attached to rectangular bodies sat in resting stations on the wall, the STARK-TECH logo emblazoned tastefully (for Tony) on their sides. One in particular was just settling into its charging port, and the Pryde she was prejudiced against had her eyes narrowed at a small Jolly Roger emblazoned on the side of one of the jets before she sighed and turned to see who'd made it down here.

"Japan or Jersey?" She asked straightforwardly.

More than grateful to step off the elevator and exhale, letting all the awkward energies ebb off her person.

She looked around and blinked. Man, not only was this place absolutely HUGE but it was a feast for the eyes. She could have stood down here and looked over everything and still probably be amazed. The robots were a cool touch! "They're so cool!!" She exclaimed with the mild eagerness that she tried to subdue after remembering Monet's earlier comment of her and Alice being 'children.' Needed to stay mature after all.

"They're fine."

Turning towards Kate, Hisako placed her hands on her hips and nodded her head. "Japan for me. It'll be nice to step foot back home...Despite the current circumstances."

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"French 75 with a splash of vermouth," she answered dismissively, taking a good five seconds more to finish her look around before she glanced over and elaborated with a flap of the hand.

"Ah, pardon. You droned that at me with all the verve and sophistication of a barmaid at the end of her shift. That position must've suited you down to the ground."

She came out with a short, pitying laugh tapering off into a sigh, then an astoundingly European simper as she buttoned up her Prada coat and started affixing the sash.

"I can be over Newark in three minutes, jet or no jet. You'll forgive me if I'm loathe to submit myself to the customary hour-half of patter while the rest of you fly to east Asia." She scoffed. "Shall I assume from that brave choice of wardrobe that you've already resigned yourself?"

You could take the white girl out of Japan…​

Kate glared at Monet, and she got a good look at Pryde up close as she took a few steps towards her. Her eyes were tired; the sort of bags under them that came from bad sleep and thinking good coffee was going to cover the holes. Her ponytail was a bit of a mess, and there hadn't been any sort of stop between dragging her prisoner upstairs and coming back down to wipe the flecks of blood off her face that were now drying to a dull, crusty red. Despite that, there was a bone of steel in her voice that answered, firm and a little annoyed as she put a hand against the cloth on her chest

"I'm wearing this because Orchis recognizes it, and they know what it means when they see it. So that maybe the next time at least a few of them are too afraid to suit up and head out. I'm glad you were there for the last big fight Monet, and I'm glad you're here help now. Maybe a little less judgement for the ones who had to do all the small fights that got us there."

She turned away, glancing back at the elevator as the rest made their way down. "Rach, mind going with Logan and the squirt?" She asked, not quite able to forget how when she first met armor she was all of 5 foot nothing. "I'll take the new girl with us to Jersey. Depending how every thing shakes out, maybe we just catch up with you. We want to save these mutants, but its just as important we see if there's anything we can trace back to Nightshade so we can finally put these parasites down for good."

With that, she leaped into the cockpit straight through the side, not really pausing to let anyone get a word in edgewise as that VTOL thrummed to life and the ramp came down for Alice.

 

[C.T.]

"I'm glad you're on our side but...and don't take this the wrong way...your life kind of sounds like a horror movie come to life..."

"............yeah." Alice agreed.​

She turned away, glancing back at the elevator as the rest made their way down. "Rach, mind going with Logan and the squirt?" She asked, not quite able to forget how when she first met armor she was all of 5 foot nothing. "I'll take the new girl with us to Jersey. Depending how every thing shakes out, maybe we just catch up with you. We want to save these mutants, but its just as important we see if there's anything we can trace back to Nightshade so we can finally put these parasites down for good."

With that, she leaped into the cockpit straight through the side, not really pausing to let anyone get a word in edgewise as that VTOL thrummed to life and the ramp came down for Alice.

Alice was more than a little surprised to be greeted with that once they had caught up. She had been mulling it over in her mind how best to request to go on to whichever target Monet was also going after, despite having already butted heads pretty fiercely back up there in the control room. Not out of any desire to be friends, or to continue to snap back at the professor of cuntology, as she had put it...but it was because of that. She had been fully prepared to plead her case to them, to explain that once Sinister found her, alone and full of anger, well, he had put on a show. A cunning asshole who manipulated her, the experience of centuries showing in his work as he played her like a fiddle. Made her feel like family, hell, made her feel like bloody royalty with how he treated her. She had been the youngest marauder, by far, and yet the one he chose to be team leader out there in the field, without any hesitation. It all went to her head.

It took a long time for her to realize he had never truly cared, that she had only ever been a long running experiment to him.

Something she would have shared with them, not to excuse what she had done...or all that she would have done, had she been part of that mission...but just to explain why she had done it, so they would hopefully understand. And, she figured that, if she could convince even someone like Monet through her actions that she wanted to be here, that she truly wanted to be better, that she could maybe fit in as an X-Man, then she figured after that uphill battle that she could convince anybody. But they just sidestepped all that.

That made it easy. She said nothing beyond a simple "alright", keeping all those messy thoughts to herself as she made her way up the ramp.

Rachel, on the other hand, was more hesitant. "But--" She had started to say, but Kate didn't linger to hear any of it, jumping straight into the cockpit without delay. The fiery telepath had fully intended to go to the same destination that Kate herself had planned to, regardless of which one it was. She'd had her best friend's back, would always have her back no matter what came their way, or what struggles they were dealing with, no questions asked. But she had picked up on Alice's own intentions, and to do as she had originally planned would leave Logan and Hisako shorthanded in comparison. Dammit.

She sighed softly, looking over to Monet. "M. Promise me you'll watch over her. She can handle Orchis thugs, she's proven that a dozen times over, but..." She left the rest unsaid, hoping her fellow telepath would naturally pick up on her hidden meaning.​

 

[OrlandoBloomers]

"Hey, wait up!"

Hisako yelled out, running after Monet. She kind of doubted the other mutant would indeed slow down for her to catch up. So she just awkwardly settled into a walk alongside her until they reached the elevator. She pushed aside her initial feelings and pursed her lips as she tried to figure out what exactly to say. Her Armor kept it's arms folded over her chest as she looked from side to side.

"So..."

There was a brief pause.

"...How much can you lift?"​

Monet, considering herself a pragmatic person at heart, harbored no such puerile notions of friendship needing to be a foundational element of every team structure or anything like that, and elected to spend the duration of the elevator journey pondering Emma's choice of fluorescent ceiling bulb.

"Hush now."
​

Kate glared at Monet, and she got a good look at Pryde up close as she took a few steps towards her. Her eyes were tired; the sort of bags under them that came from bad sleep and thinking good coffee was going to cover the holes. Her ponytail was a bit of a mess, and there hadn't been any sort of stop between dragging her prisoner upstairs and coming back down to wipe the flecks of blood off her face that were now drying to a dull, crusty red. Despite that, there was a bone of steel in her voice that answered, firm and a little annoyed as she put a hand against the cloth on her chest

"I'm wearing this because Orchis recognizes it, and they know what it means when they see it. So that maybe the next time at least a few of them are too afraid to suit up and head out. I'm glad you were there for the last big fight Monet, and I'm glad you're here help now. Maybe a little less judgement for the ones who had to do all the small fights that got us there."

She turned away, glancing back at the elevator as the rest made their way down. "Rach, mind going with Logan and the squirt?" She asked, not quite able to forget how when she first met armor she was all of 5 foot nothing. "I'll take the new girl with us to Jersey. Depending how every thing shakes out, maybe we just catch up with you. We want to save these mutants, but its just as important we see if there's anything we can trace back to Nightshade so we can finally put these parasites down for good."

With that, she leaped into the cockpit straight through the side, not really pausing to let anyone get a word in edgewise as that VTOL thrummed to life and the ramp came down for Alice.​

Pryde's rebuttal, at first, seemed to gratify Monet in some small way; that little bit of human instinct left over from less civilised times that the beautiful and charismatic were so-often able to exploit, the allure of a struck nerve, a hierarchy of sorts imposed on the conversation. Being able to affect someone, to get under their skin to whatever extent she was able… she'd always drawn a certain strength from it. Perhaps it was the telepath in her, or some odd manifestation of her trauma.

Or perhaps she was just a devious little bitch. Either way.

From an academic standpoint, sometimes it was just interesting to see what people showed her when she kicked over a few social rocks, hit them from some angles most wouldn't out of propriety. At times one might say it even brought out the best in people; at others, old friends ended up screening her calls and losing her number. But, c'est la vie.

Whatever it was about the spirited defence her taunts evoked in the haggard shadow of a woman before her had her aggravatingly impervious simper give way to a plainer, more measured smirk, posture at least no more dismissive than the norm as she let her finish. It wasn't quite a penitent note she tossed after Kate when she turned for the ship, but it at least wasn't as blatantly inflammatory, more thoughtful if anything.

"I've never judged you, Pryde."

It occurred to her, naturally, that the sentiment was not one entirely shared by every corner of every X-related social circle at the moment. Something of a talking point, as she understood it; some moral quandaries reached, some ethical bounds crossed. Everyone being just so terribly sad that Xavier's original doe-eyed mascot wasn't acting herself anymore.
​

She sighed softly, looking over to Monet. "M. Promise me you'll watch over her. She can handle Orchis thugs, she's proven that a dozen times over, but..." She left the rest unsaid, hoping her fellow telepath would naturally pick up on her hidden meaning.​

Ah, yes, there it was. She rolled her eyes.

The unfortunate truth of it was that Monet had her own share of baggage. The war with Orchis had exacted heavy tolls on them all, but even before that to be honest. She personally had crucified a man before she was old enough to have a drink in Eritrea, just nobody noticed or cared because it was with X-Factor, and the tastemakers were probably all busy throwing a certain someone memorial concerts for riding off in her big stupid space bullet or whatever nonsense.

So, probably not the best person to ask.

(*I've just never liked you.*)

The concluding thought echoed in Shadowcat's mind, hopefully a reminder of the futility of trying to snatch the last word from a telepath, while corporeality Monet spared Rachel a glance that was as close to mystified as any had seen of her. She started hovering off the floor, telekinetically slipping on her gloves.

"What, are the two of you friends or something?"

Still, she gave her a brusque nod in acknowledgment, then drew her fists close and coiled the psionic energies around her like a spring, prepared to thrust off in the jet's slipstream when the cavern wall opened.
​

Alice was more than a little surprised to be greeted with that once they had caught up. She had been mulling it over in her mind how best to request to go on to whichever target Monet was also going after, despite having already butted heads pretty fiercely back up there in the control room. Not out of any desire to be friends, or to continue to snap back at the professor of cuntology, as she had put it...but it was because of that. She had been fully prepared to plead her case to them, to explain that once Sinister found her, alone and full of anger, well, he had put on a show. A cunning asshole who manipulated her, the experience of centuries showing in his work as he played her like a fiddle. Made her feel like family, hell, made her feel like bloody royalty with how he treated her. She had been the youngest marauder, by far, and yet the one he chose to be team leader out there in the field, without any hesitation. It all went to her head.

It took a long time for her to realize he had never truly cared, that she had only ever been a long running experiment to him.

Something she would have shared with them, not to excuse what she had done...or all that she would have done, had she been part of that mission...but just to explain why she had done it, so they would hopefully understand. And, she figured that, if she could convince even someone like Monet through her actions that she wanted to be here, that she truly wanted to be better, that she could maybe fit in as an X-Man, then she figured after that uphill battle that she could convince anybody. But they just sidestepped all that.​

She knew nothing of this, and didn't want to know.

​

 

[TheVaultDweller]

Uncle Al's Junk Kingdom

At one point it'd been one of the most prestigious junkyards in the whole of northern Jersey. Back when the original 'Uncle Al' actually cared about the actual business and not whatever else he could use it as a front for/side hustle. The place had gone from five stars on Yelp to the angry comments section of Facebook. About how 'Uncle Al' was a lech and that he didn't give nearly what any car was worth once the owner dropped it off to be chumped. It was no skin off his thinning head (he was NOT balding and if you so much as even fuckin implied it-) his association with certain friends of ours helped keep the lights on. Especially after one of those, uh, whaddya call em? Muties. Yeah, ever since of them entered into his employ, business was booming.

He showed up in the worst kinda state, having climbed over and cut himself horribly on the barbed wire lining the top of the fence surrounding the establishment. The kid's clothes were ragged, soaked with mud and blood, and he had bags under his eyes that implied dozens of sleepless nights. Al wondered if the kid got ANY sleep looking as rough as he did. But even before the kid did anything, Al could tell something was off. His eyes were a bright orange/yellowish color with rings in them. Didn't look like contacts and he doubted a kid-who he figured was probably some homeless runoff-could afford custom ones like that anyhow. Al didn't much care for what others thought of him and certainly had no qualms about sticking his hand into all kinds of foul and dirty business in order to make a quick and easy buck. But he wasn't so callous as to ignore the kid. Calling the police was out unless the kid got hostile. Needed to get the fuzz here in case he had to pull and use his piece. Didn't want anything blowing up in his face and getting more eyes than needed down here.

'Kid, you...you alright? Hell, you even conscious?'

The kid didn't respond, not verbally anyhow, he had a soaking wet black hoodie and a pair of bloodied torn up jeans with red sneakers that looked so worn out the soles were starting to separate. He glanced up at Al and shook his head and pointed to his mouth. Then he pulled down his hood and pulled the collar out his hoodie out. Al winced and mumbled something to the effect of 'jesus murphy...' after seeing the deep scars around the boy's neck. Looked to be the result of a suicide attempt-an attempted hanging. The kid coughed and Al started to visibly panic as it looked like the kid was going to have a straight up fit. He REALLY didn't want to call the police unless HIS life was in danger...At least not while the kid was still on his property. "Jesus...Kid...you got a phone? Paper and pen? Anything you can use to talk to me? I don't know that sigh language crap..."

The kid nodded and his eyes started to glow as he clapped his hands. Al nearly dropped his flashlight. "Jesus christ!" This kid was one of THEM! A m-mutant! Or mutie or whatever the fuck they were callin em! Freaks! The kinda shit you'd see in the circus! "What the hell are you doin?! Don't try anything funny now, you hear me?!" The kid shook his head and pointed to the satchel laying a few feet away. It opened up seemingly on it's own and a teddy bear with what appeared to be a pen, a calculator, loose cables and wheels off a toy car in lieu of it's missing limbs and around which the cables wrapped around to hold the makeshift 'toy' together. The bear's eyes shined blue like peering into the ocean and it glanced up at Al.

"what the absolute fuc-"

<"...do not....be....afraid....mister.....i'm not.....here....to hurt....anyone....">

Where had that voice come from?? It had a faint echo it. It sounded like a kid's voice, voice cracked here and there. Puberty and all the shit that entailed. Voice had a thick accent. French or something? Al didn't fuckin know, he wasn't mr. worldwide. He was barely even Mr New Jersey. "Was...Is...Is that you? Are you talkin to me...?" Al asked, incredulous at the fact that not only was this frankenstein of a stuffed animal up and about but now he was hearing voices!!! The young boy nodded again and coughed while clutching at his throat.

<"....yes.....i'm sorry....for...if i....scared you. I....can't talk.....anymore....">

Al nodded grimly in response. "...yeah, i can see that. S-So what is this..? Some kinda mutie trick?"

<"....not....a trick.....my....power....please....mister....help me....">

Help him!? Al wanted this bleeding nightmare as far away from him as humanely possible!!! "You want my help!? The hell can I do for you?! You...You made this bear thing! Why don't you have it go find a payphone and dial 911 or something?! Just get out of here!!" The kid's eyes grew heavy and he thrashed from side to side as if to keep himself awake at all costs. The teddy bear rolled forward and pointed it's pen arm towards Al who reared back with the flashlight in case this kid...He didn't know did SOMETHING ELSE WEIRD!!!

<"....i....i have nowhere else....to go.....can't go...to hospital....will pass out....before i get there....die in street or sidewalk...somewhere...">

So he was some kind of runaway. Why of all places did a bloody homeless teenager-a mutie at that-have to end up on HIS property, HIS inherited junkyard & business! At this point calling the cops would have just opened up a whole can of worms. Now that he'd all but confirmed that this kid was a freak and all. He STILL didn't want to deal with this but if the kid went and croaked then he was gonna have to call one of his 'friends' anyhow. "...Oh for cryin out loud....alright alright. Just stay with me okay, kid?? I got a storeroom...I'll make some calls...See if I can get you patched up." He went to go reach for Multi only for the bear to gently swat at his hands with the pen. "What the hell are you doin, kid?? I'm TRYIN to help you!"

<"...you're....frazzled....upset....you'll hurt me....more...it's ok....just...lead me...">

The kid clapped his hands again and shivered like he'd just had ice water dumped on him. There was loud creaks and groans and metal bending and twisting as Al looked over his shoulder. "mother of god..." Standing and looking DOWN at him was a construct made out of a mangled Volkswagen Beetle frame and loose electronics & cables with a hockey mask resting over a mannequin head. Where it's 'eyes' would be was the same blue glow as the bear. It gently (but firmly) stepped past Al and reached out towards the wounded child as the bear nestled up against his chest. Its hands were humanoid enough but the proportions were all wrong, it's arms were too long more akin to an orangutan than a homo sapien. The left hand was the cclaws of a rake that'd been bent and twisted into coming 'close' to the shape of a hand while the right was a mess of scrapped metal molded into a hand with a catcher's mitt sewn over it. It gingerly scooped the boy up and glanced back down at Al.

<"...directions....">

"Uh....Uh, y-yeah..." Al started to walk off and the...thing made up out of his junk lumbered after him. It seemed unsteady walking upright and had to keep taking brief pauses to steady itself. "...look kid...i'm doing you a huge favor here. The least you could do is tell me your name..."

The kid didn't reply at first. It wasn't until they reached the office building that Al felt the voice probe his mind again.

<"...Liam. But please.....call me.....>

The boy smiled.

<"...Multi.">

~~~

It wasn't easy and every day Al was paranoid that someone or something would show up and ruin his life.

But he'd managed to get one of his contacts to come out that day and treat Multi's injuries. The kid was in awful shape and would have likely died just as he'd predicted if Al had turned him down and forced him to try and find help on his own. In return for a hefty fee, the doctor would keep his mouth shut about Multi's existence and in the meantime? Well, Al wasn't happy about it but again, it'd create too many questions than answers if this mutie kid was seen walking out of his establishment. So he let Multi stay in the storeroom and treat it like his bedroom.

On one condition.

He'd use this 'power' of his to help ol Uncle Al's friends. When it seemed like Multi had some kind of protest in mind, Al made it clear that the police and possibly even the feds would likely take great interest in Multi's existence. So if he wanted to avoid any trouble for the both of them, he'd shut up and do whatever was asked of him. Al would even cut him in on the profit of they'd get between the two of them. Though he'd still get the lion's share of course. He also had to keep Multi hidden from the gangsters he affiliated himself with. Too much potential for rumors/conflict if they learned this 'Multi' was just some punk ass kid. They might even just give him a better deal than Al was offering and if that was the case...?

Al would be a loose end to tie up....

Multi knew that too and so the two settled into an almost symbiotic relationship. Multi could rest and recuperate...and also take whatever he damn well pleased with his Additions (which he'd gotten much better at crafting after getting some time to mentally sketch out some design details and which materials would work best for his vision.) They were still essentially just made out of rusted and broken junk but beggars couldn't be choosers. He acted as Al's enforcer. Smashing through storefronts and warehouses and walking off with whatever the Addition could fit it's mits around, beating up or intimidating people who owed Al and his friends hefty amounts of money, and just straight up protection rackets ('would be a real shame if you pizzeria had an accident...like oh say....a car somehow finding itself in the lobby....')

Multi didn't like it and tried his best to avoid seriously hurting people. Usually just the sight of his Additions were enough. Those who did try to fight back often gave up just as quickly after seeing the golems repair the damage done to them. Everything was going as it'd been until one fateful day...

Al was sitting at the desk in his office, wearing just a pair of beige slacks and a wifebeater. Al certainly wasn't going to win any handsome sleazeball of the year awards. Mid-fifties and had so much hair on his body that it looked like he was wearing wool armor over his shoulders but he'd still crack you one good if you implied, he was balding. "Junk...junk...junk...oh hey..." He reached for an manilla envelope that'd been given to him by one of the schmucks he'd used Multi to strongarm into paying protection money. "Getting too damn busy these days, can't believe I missed this. Hey kid! Make a list of what you want and-Huh? Oh you've gotta be boiling my piss...what the fuck." He looked over the envelope, inside, even flipped it upside down and watched the stack of dollar bills fall onto his desk.

"It's light. That no good shoe shinin motherFUCKER thinks he can skimp on ME?! Kid!!!"

No response.
"Oh, now he's gonna get cute with me too...Kid!" Al pushed his chair away from his desk and walked over to the storeroom. It was typically locked unless Multi had to use the bathroom. Everything else he'd bought (consoles, games, comics, etc) could all be nestled away in the storeroom.... Which quickly was growing full of Multi's ill begotten goods. Multi's eyes drifted over to the door as Al started to pound upon it. The teenager was currently laying back in his gaming chair, the teddy bear sitting on a stepladder next to him. An XBOX 720 stood under the sixty inch plasma screen HDTV that again, he'd 'bought' across from the two.

"Kid, I KNOW you can hear me!! Open this motherfuckin door right this instant! I need you to go pay someone a visit!!"

The teddy bear turned towards the door while Multi himself remained focused on the game. <"I'm playing a game with Dante. Furio's behind the building. Go ask him."> Although he couldn't see it past the doors, Multi missed Al pinching his brow and wiping a handful of sweat off his (thinning!!!) scalp. For whatever reason that Al and the other gangsters couldn't understand, Multi had taken to giving his Additions 'nicknames.' He said it helped build morale and he performed better than if he treated them like toy soldiers/army men. The ones that were currently 'activated' had sticky notes with their names written on them. 'Furio' was the one that Multi often used to carry out his intimidation jobs. Nothing really stood out about it from the others, they all practically looked identical apart from different metal being sheared and crumpled and molded from different car models. Same hunched over ape like posture and metal over a patchwork metal + wooden skeletal frame. Multi's power allowed him to treat the Additions like walking beefy cameras/drones.

He could see through them, hear through them and even speak through them. He could only really 'play' with Dante however, the others had hands too big to hold controllers effectively and it'd wreck the 720 beyond repair if he tried using it as a component in making any future Additions. "Kid...We've been over this how many times?? There is no 'Dante., no 'Furio', no whatever the fuck. It's you, it's all YOU! You're making them move and I've been letting this little arrogant streak ride but now I need you to buckle down and get this done for me!"

Multi rolled his eyes.

<"These are my family. Not wind up dolls. They will be treated as such. Moltisanti and Gualtieri and Pervasi and Gervasi are watching the lot. Furio is patrolling the back and Dante is here with me.">

Al grumbled a few curses, some American, some Italian, under his breath.

"...ok....Can you have Furio go to-" He proceeded to give the schmuck's home address.

<"Yes. I'll pass it along.">

"...Good. Thanks. Wouldn't want to interrupt your busy schedule of sitting on your duff and playing with yourself." Al scoffed and shook his head as he started to walk away from the door. Fucking unbelievable. He wouldn't have nearly the kind of influence he'd scrounged up without Multi to back up his talk but this kid was quickly growing to become a major pain in his ass. Stepping outside, he watched as 'Furio' lurched out from behind the building and headed towards the gate. "Use those big fuckin grippers and don't forget to lock the gate behind it!"

'Furio' gave a thumbs up as it moved out.

Al watched it go with what to him felt like the world's worst headache. Could this day get any worse? Madone!

 

[OrlandoBloomers]

Something occurred to M as she cut over the county treetops in a straight line, trailing the Blackbird at speed from a distance assuming they achieved liftoff as planned. (*I'm opening a three-way telepathic link, since we're all just doing things. Do we have even a vague inkling of what we're looking for? A lead of remote substance to begin with? Are either of you aware how much odd shit happens in Jersey?*)

 

[Orangewasp]

"Neat, Frost's upgraded. Reminds me a lot of Chuck's."

His comment came breezily, his infinite enthusiasm for the technological marvels in his vicinity threatening to capsize his stoic image, only to be reined in at the last nanosecond possible.

He didn't actually give a shit.​

"Japan or Jersey?" She asked straightforwardly.

"Mmmm."
​

Turning towards Kate, Hisako placed her hands on her hips and nodded her head. "Japan for me. It'll be nice to step foot back home...Despite the current circumstances."

"Mmmm. Yer not flyin' the other one, Hisako."

Logan remarked nonchalantly, his eyes finally breaking off the blackbird in question before peering back to Kate and the others who grouped by the other one, eyes furrowing just a scant as his nostrils flared open a moment with an intake of breath before turning to stride for the jet bound to Japan.

"Even more familiar faces today."​

"I'm wearing this because Orchis recognizes it, and they know what it means when they see it. So that maybe the next time at least a few of them are too afraid to suit up and head out. I'm glad you were there for the last big fight Monet, and I'm glad you're here help now. Maybe a little less judgement for the ones who had to do all the small fights that got us there."

She turned away, glancing back at the elevator as the rest made their way down. "Rach, mind going with Logan and the squirt?" She asked, not quite able to forget how when she first met armor she was all of 5 foot nothing. "I'll take the new girl with us to Jersey. Depending how every thing shakes out, maybe we just catch up with you. We want to save these mutants, but its just as important we see if there's anything we can trace back to Nightshade so we can finally put these parasites down for good."

With that, she leaped into the cockpit straight through the side, not really pausing to let anyone get a word in edgewise as that VTOL thrummed to life and the ramp came down for Alice.

That made it easy. She said nothing beyond a simple "alright", keeping all those messy thoughts to herself as she made her way up the ramp.

"Hiiiiiiii. Kate needs to lift off immediately. Before Emma notices I've made off with her lunch for the day."

Alice found herself face to face with a diminutive blue-eyed blond heavily favoring black for her attire, though it was something of a stylistic choice uniquely her own/arguably out of sync with today's fashion trends, in the next section past the bay from the ramp inside the blackbird that was the small common area for creature comforts. She was tending to a small collection of foods that looked to have been half-way prepared in expensive dishes, with the sorceress sipping from a cup with a mildly piqued curiosity glimmering in her eyes as she noticed Revenant, before flicking her gaze elsewhere in idle thought.

"... Actually, I'll tell her myself. She'll be so ecstatic to see me."

Stepping forward before turning to the cockpit, Magik came to a pause and addressed Alice.

"I have no idea who you are but I trust we'll make small exchanges, and it'll be awkward all around, especially over the course of this flight. My name is Illyana Rasputin, so and so inevitability of the world's demise and Queen of Limbo. Whatever that might mean to you... well, I look forward to finding out I suppose. Oh, help yourself."

A throwaway gesture was made towards the stolen mini-feast before Magik resumed her approach and made her way to the cockpit.

"I could just portal us all there." She muttered thoughtfully to herself, fully recognizing she hadn't the fullest idea where precisely they were going as she hadn't availed herself of the meeting earlier.

Not that she wanted to, she hated this place.

​

 

[C.T.]

Something occurred to M as she cut over the county treetops in a straight line, trailing the Blackbird at speed from a distance assuming they achieved liftoff as planned. (*I'm opening a three-way telepathic link, since we're all just doing things. Do we have even a vague inkling of what we're looking for? A lead of remote substance to begin with? Are either of you aware how much odd shit happens in Jersey?*)

(I got no clue beyond that unknown mutant criminal status, figure Miss Hardcore knows what to look for...and yes.) She answered in order. (I uh, once possessed a random dude there, was a bodybuilding robber who thought he met Jesus behind an Arby's, the son of God having informed him he needed the money from the banks to pay off an alien who could take him to a planet made of cocaine.)​

"Hiiiiiiii. Kate needs to lift off immediately. Before Emma notices I've made off with her lunch for the day."

Alice found herself face to face with a diminutive blue-eyed blond heavily favoring black for her attire, though it was something of a stylistic choice uniquely her own/arguably out of sync with today's fashion trends, in the next section past the bay from the ramp inside the blackbird that was the small common area for creature comforts. She was tending to a small collection of foods that looked to have been half-way prepared in expensive dishes, with the sorceress sipping from a cup with a mildly piqued curiosity glimmering in her eyes as she noticed Revenant, before flicking her gaze elsewhere in idle thought.

"...Hey. Digging the black." She had not expected a fourth one, that caught her mildly off guard. Where had this one even come from?
​

"I have no idea who you are but I trust we'll make small exchanges, and it'll be awkward all around, especially over the course of this flight. My name is Illyana Rasputin, so and so inevitability of the world's demise and Queen of Limbo. Whatever that might mean to you... well, I look forward to finding out I suppose. Oh, help yourself."​

"Uh, Alice MacAllister. Yeah, actually, what the hell is Queen of Limbo supposed to mean? You in a band? If that's not a band name, it sure should be." She questioned, not at all interested in the food at the moment after her earlier snack devouring.​

 

[OrlandoBloomers]

(I got no clue beyond that unknown mutant criminal status, figure Miss Hardcore knows what to look for...and yes.) She answered in order. (I uh, once possessed a random dude there, was a bodybuilding robber who thought he met Jesus behind an Arby's, the son of God having informed him he needed the money from the banks to pay off an alien who could take him to a planet made of cocaine.)​

(*That was not a random dude. That was a drug addict.*)

Illyana things​

"Oh #$%&." She muttered to the winds as she registered the third mind on board the jet.

(*Illyana.*) She offered through the link curtly, if cordially, tentatively extending her telepathic canopy to cover the sorceress as well. (*I must've missed you. Will you be joining us? Hey, not to put you off but wouldn't you be best served not doing that? The Japan group strike me as far more susceptible to being bemused and unsettled.*)

​

 

[C.T.]

(*That was not a random dude. That was a drug addict.*)

(Random dudes can be drug addicts too y'know. Especially Jersey ones.) ​

(*Illyana.*) She offered through the link curtly, if cordially, tentatively extending her telepathic canopy to cover the sorceress as well. (*I must've missed you. Will you be joining us? Hey, not to put you off but wouldn't you be best served not doing that? The Japan group strike me as far more susceptible to being bemused and unsettled.*)

[I heard that!] A certain other voice chimed in out of nowhere.​

 

[OrlandoBloomers]

She kicked Alice from the line. (*Okay. The tele-link is not for wacky non sequiturs or semantics. Rachel, stop flexing.*)

 

[C.T.]

She kicked Alice from the line. (*Okay. The tele-link is not for wacky non sequiturs or semantics. Rachel, stop flexing.*)

"Hmph!" She crossed her arms with a pout, every bit a petulant and annoyed teen and leaned back as much as she could in one of these jet seats. Fine, I didn't need you in my head anyway.

[Hey, just because you ran the show with X-Corp doesn't mean you hold the monopoly on showing off, Monet.] Rachel couldn't help but smirk. [I thought I picked up on another mind suddenly, good to see you Illyana. Impeccable timing, truly. If they didn't get on the other jet themselves I was about fling them all onto it...but if we can sidestep that whole flight, all the better I say.]​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

Connecting to Kate's mind came with some mental static; for whatever reason, she was putting her training under the various x-telepaths in resistance to good(?) use as a default, but despite that she received both of Monet's messages. If she had a response to the first, it wasn't visible.

Something occurred to M as she cut over the county treetops in a straight line, trailing the Blackbird at speed from a distance assuming they achieved liftoff as planned. (*I'm opening a three-way telepathic link, since we're all just doing things. Do we have even a vague inkling of what we're looking for? A lead of remote substance to begin with? Are either of you aware how much odd shit happens in Jersey?*)

(Thanks, was about to ask. I've been there a few times, its just discount New York.) She thought with the sort of firmness only someone who grew up in Chicago could ( We have an address off their network, and I'm going to cross reference the name with Cerebro once we're airbo-)

View attachment 261156

"Neat, Frost's upgraded. Reminds me a lot of Chuck's."

His comment came breezily, his infinite enthusiasm for the technological marvels in his vicinity threatening to capsize his stoic image, only to be reined in at the last nanosecond possible.

He didn't actually give a shit.​

"Japan or Jersey?" She asked straightforwardly.

"Mmmm."
​

Turning towards Kate, Hisako placed her hands on her hips and nodded her head. "Japan for me. It'll be nice to step foot back home...Despite the current circumstances."

"Mmmm. Yer not flyin' the other one, Hisako."

Logan remarked nonchalantly, his eyes finally breaking off the blackbird in question before peering back to Kate and the others who grouped by the other one, eyes furrowing just a scant as his nostrils flared open a moment with an intake of breath before turning to stride for the jet bound to Japan.

"Even more familiar faces today."​

"I'm wearing this because Orchis recognizes it, and they know what it means when they see it. So that maybe the next time at least a few of them are too afraid to suit up and head out. I'm glad you were there for the last big fight Monet, and I'm glad you're here help now. Maybe a little less judgement for the ones who had to do all the small fights that got us there."

She turned away, glancing back at the elevator as the rest made their way down. "Rach, mind going with Logan and the squirt?" She asked, not quite able to forget how when she first met armor she was all of 5 foot nothing. "I'll take the new girl with us to Jersey. Depending how every thing shakes out, maybe we just catch up with you. We want to save these mutants, but its just as important we see if there's anything we can trace back to Nightshade so we can finally put these parasites down for good."

With that, she leaped into the cockpit straight through the side, not really pausing to let anyone get a word in edgewise as that VTOL thrummed to life and the ramp came down for Alice.

That made it easy. She said nothing beyond a simple "alright", keeping all those messy thoughts to herself as she made her way up the ramp.

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"Hiiiiiiii. Kate needs to lift off immediately. Before Emma notices I've made off with her lunch for the day."

Alice found herself face to face with a diminutive blue-eyed blond heavily favoring black for her attire, though it was something of a stylistic choice uniquely her own/arguably out of sync with today's fashion trends, in the next section past the bay from the ramp inside the blackbird that was the small common area for creature comforts. She was tending to a small collection of foods that looked to have been half-way prepared in expensive dishes, with the sorceress sipping from a cup with a mildly piqued curiosity glimmering in her eyes as she noticed Revenant, before flicking her gaze elsewhere in idle thought.

"... Actually, I'll tell her myself. She'll be so ecstatic to see me."

Stepping forward before turning to the cockpit, Magik came to a pause and addressed Alice.

"I have no idea who you are but I trust we'll make small exchanges, and it'll be awkward all around, especially over the course of this flight. My name is Illyana Rasputin, so and so inevitability of the world's demise and Queen of Limbo. Whatever that might mean to you... well, I look forward to finding out I suppose. Oh, help yourself."

A throwaway gesture was made towards the stolen mini-feast before Magik resumed her approach and made her way to the cockpit.

"I could just portal us all there." She muttered thoughtfully to herself, fully recognizing she hadn't the fullest idea where precisely they were going as she hadn't availed herself of the meeting earlier.

Not that she wanted to, she hated this place.

​

(*That was not a random dude. That was a drug addict.*)

(Random dudes can be drug addicts too y'know. Especially Jersey ones.) ​

(*Illyana.*) She offered through the link curtly, if cordially, tentatively extending her telepathic canopy to cover the sorceress as well. (*I must've missed you. Will you be joining us? Hey, not to put you off but wouldn't you be best served not doing that? The Japan group strike me as far more susceptible to being bemused and unsettled.*)

[I heard that!] A certain other voice chimed in out of nowhere.​

She blinked and spun the chair around as the door slid open, and Magik found herself being greeted by a very haggard Shadowkat staring at her with genuine confusion that simmered down to frustration. "Oh. Hey Ilya."

(*Emma, what the hell?*) She accidentally thought over the link, before she realized 1. she did that and 2. Ilya herself had just been looped in and also Rachel didn't know how to keep to psychic herself.

(*Rachel, stop jumping into conversations. Just because its telepathic doesn't mean you have free reign to conference call. Its rude.*)

"..."

Kate ran her hands down her face with a deep sigh before she stood up and walked over to Ilya and grabbed her shoulder long enough for them both to fall through the Blackbird back to the hangar floor.

"Logan, Rach, catch Ilya up and then you guys can portal to Japan, save the time, maybe get the jump on Orchis. This works out honestly, there's a good chance they were going to know you were coming once we hit them in Jersey. Uh. Glad you're here, Ilya." She managed with an awkward pat on the back before she leaped back up through the plane and disappeared into the cockpit once more.

(*anyone still on this link who isn't going to Jersey; get off*)

 

[C.T.]

(*Rachel, stop jumping into conversations. Just because its telepathic doesn't mean you have free reign to conference call. Its rude.*)

[Counterpoint, that's a little rich coming from a lurker, Emma.] Rachel responded with a knowing smirk everybody could practically feel.​

(*anyone still on this link who isn't going to Jersey; get off*)

That said, Emma wasn't wrong. [Yeah, yeah, okay. Good luck, all of you.] Rachel commented before pulling back and exiting the link.​

"Logan, Rach, catch Ilya up and then you guys can portal to Japan, save the time, maybe get the jump on Orchis. This works out honestly, there's a good chance they were going to know you were coming once we hit them in Jersey. Uh. Glad you're here, Ilya." She managed with an awkward pat on the back before she leaped back up through the plane and disappeared into the cockpit once more.

She waved now, greeting Illyana physically rather than psychically. "Basically, we figured out some former Orchis bastards who refused to get the memo are still making moves, planning to target this whole family over in Japan. Our move, do what we do best-" She winked over towards Logan. "-and kick their sorry, mutant-hating asses. So, anytime you're ready, I'll flick you the location to drop us in at."​

 

[OrlandoBloomers]

[Hey, just because you ran the show with X-Corp doesn't mean you hold the monopoly on showing off, Monet.] Rachel couldn't help but smirk.

Rachel and Emma both thought they felt a faint third-party impulse to be defensive about X-Corp reverberate through the bridged portions of their consciousnesses, but Monet was a big girl—with abundant natural talent as a psychic even if she never specialised the way Emma wanted—and it passed without comment.

(*Rachel, stop jumping into conversations. Just because its telepathic doesn't mean you have free reign to conference call. Its rude.*)

[Counterpoint, that's a little rich coming from a lurker, Emma.] Rachel responded with a knowing smirk everybody could practically feel.

(*I always leave a window cracked for Emma, she's iconic. Does that mean I want every raccoon in the neighbourhood getting in? Certainly not.*)

That one was unrelated. Despite how smug she sounded, and how it was the last thing Rachel caught as she disconnected. Really.

(*anyone still on this link who isn't going to Jersey; get off*)

(*I can arbitrate my own psychic channel, Kitty, thank you. If we all need to hold hands and sink into the floor later I'll gladly let you be the arbiter of that.*)

Came the return ping, no real bite in it aside from the peremptory firmness of someone who grew up with chambermaids. She sighed as she stared back at the hangar impatiently, doing loop de loops across the skyline while she waited at this point.

(*Malice, I'm bringing you back. Be a dear and try not to let your intrusive thoughts get the better of you, mm? We're on put up-or-shut up hours now.*)

 

[C.T.]

(*Malice, I'm bringing you back. Be a dear and try not to let your intrusive thoughts get the better of you, mm? We're on put up-or-shut up hours now.*)

(It's Revenant now! Revenant!! R-E-V-E-N-A-N-T!!!)​

 

[OrlandoBloomers]

(It's Revenant now! Revenant!! R-E-V-E-N-A-N-T!!!)​

(*Know what's fun? That you can't shout in here. Because these are thoughts.*)

But just for the attempt, she made it and the remainder of Alice's transmissions sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks. The British version.​