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Post by mcr on Apr 5, 2021 22:31:36 GMT -5
Erik's rage ebbs as he awaits the response of his fellow Mutants. With tempers cooled, he reminds Wisdom: "My boy, I have no idea who any of you are. Or of what any of you are capable - of your resolve." He concedes: "And I take her point that we have yet to see with our own eyes whether humanity is a threat at all to our kind. It strikes me that perhaps it is as Miss Frost says. That the time is not yet now. I am inclined to lend the benefit of doubt. Very well, make your calls." ============================================== -- Sometime Later -- O did not say much to Wisdom on the matter of Morgan Le Fay, only that plans were in motion to deal with her that were best left to the professionals. He did indicate that MI-13 was aware that the Americans had expatriated an undisclosed number of former Nazi scientists, and agreed with Wisdom that their operation should be preserved if at all possible. He also shared Emma's doubts that Mutants were a well-enough known quantity for the American government to be taking active countermeasures against them, and to find out what he could. So far as O knew, the only Mutants they were aware of, by and large, were the ones Wisdom had already met. At Emma's direction, the group finds themselves in Chicago, Illinois across the river from a large nuclear plant. The man they had met a few evenings ago, Sebastian Shaw, has chosen a walking path along the bank as their rendezvous, though in more utilitarian clothing: "Emma tells me that you're looking for some kind of psychic inhibitor - my sources indicate that something of that nature would require an enormous amount of power. This is the only facility I believe capable. I can get you in. That part is easy. But there are levels of security even I won't be able to easily access. The place is a well-guarded maze if you don't know the layout, and unfortunately it's classified. We'll have to be careful not to be caught. The Doctor should be able to pass for one of the plant engineers if we can steal someone's ID - he certainly looks the part. The rest of you...well...I suppose we'll have to chance it." For Hank and Kitty, it is something of a homecoming, taking in familiar sights. McCoy might even remember the plant being built in his childhood, and his dad showing him around some of the non-restricted areas. As they continue their stroll, a young man bumps into Kitty, nearly knocking her over: "Hey, watch it, lady!" He shouts. Erik rushes to her catch her, but one of her hands phases right through him. Her older self shouts in her mind, surprised: " DAD?!?"
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Post by Black Sam on Apr 6, 2021 14:27:53 GMT -5
Azazel kept his own counsel after Eric made his descision. Personally, he felt that the man was right, that a day of reckoning was coming – he'd make a fine general when that day came. For now, he'd continue to make allies among Mutantkind as he was able. After all, one could never have too many friends to manipulate...
Friends...
The thought drew his eyes over to Pryde, then dancing back to Lady Braddock. Wisdom stopped to say whisper something between them.
Azazel's eyes narrowed.
The smug Brit offered his parting advise to Eric. As he turned to the exit, Azazel rubbed the tip of his tongue against one of his hidden fangs before crossing the room in a flash of dark flames. He appeared for a slit second next to Betsy Braddock and vanishing with her, a mear afterimage accompanying her abduction. It happened so quickly that if anyone present so much as blinked they missed it, and none but the comatose speedster could have stopped it...
**********************
Chicago.
Azazel pulled the collar of the long coat up to protect his cheeks. They'd gathered at the walking path across the river from the power plant for this meet-up with Sebastian Shaw, and listened while the man laid out the bones of their situation.
"Instead of stumbling around in enemy territory," Azazel offered, "perhaps you and I go in alone. I can pass for whoever I like. When we locate our objective, I bring the others inside. Easy."
He scowled as a passing human stumbled into Pryde...
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Post by Gris on Apr 7, 2021 4:11:10 GMT -5
Being back in Chicago was supposed to be nice, to make Pryde feel some homecoming warmth even in the windy city, but something had changed. No, not something, someone. The connection and recognition was still there of course, the familiarity with its streets, its people. But after everything she had gone through, Pryde didn't belong there. Maybe it was just a momentary feeling that could be fixed with a visit to a couple classic spots of food, but she hardly had the time. The idea that not even a beef hot dog with everything could make her feel home was disquieting, making Pryde look in the distance, unfocused and distracted. Azazel's plan was sound, but even if she would have been paying her full attention she would probably avoid acknowledging the shifty mutant.
It was precisely that state of daydreaming that got Pryde stumbling upon some man, the reflexive use of her powers rendering her unable to be caught by Erik yet avoiding her a further embarrassing fall. It seemed that the man was busy enough yelling at her that he didn't notice anything strange, but even if it was Pryde's fault being walking around absentmindedly, it still stung her being called out like that. It would have crossed her mind doing something about it, not that she was going to harm him about such a petty thing, but for sure she would have yelled back at him if it wasn't by an even louder voice that filled all her head.
"What the hell do you mean with dad?" Pryde couldn't help but lash out in her thoughts. As far as she knew old Kate and her were the same person in different avenues of time, and even if the recent strange dreamlike experience and that Rachel woman had seed doubts into that theory, Pryde still believed in it. If that unknown fellow, way younger that her father currently was in a neighborhood of that same city, was indeed Kate's dad, something had gone horribly wrong. As far as Pryde understood, the timeline should be the same, untouched in every aspect, before Kate's mind intruded in Pryde's body. There was no way of predicting the changes that had happened after that, how that would shape the future, but the past should stay the same, right?
Or maybe Kate and her were never the same Katherine Pryde to begin with.
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Post by OurLadyWar on Apr 8, 2021 18:19:43 GMT -5
Elizabeth was no stranger to Chicago, or plenty of the other big cities in the U.S., but it certainly was not home to her. For the most part she kept up with the group, but occasionally lagged behind as some folk or another on the path would ask for an autograph. She was congenial and polite, obliging the small talk and perfectly grateful before catching back up again. Her hands shoved deeper into a long shag faux-fur jacket that otherwise cloaked a flowing, belted pink blouse with a high collar, light blue leggings, and white boots. Her light purple hair hung in wavy strands from a large white knit cap. She caught up just on time for Azazel to offer his idea and rolled her eyes as she leaned on the bank's rail, just a few paces from the path.
"Surprise, surprise. More alone time," she muttered under her breath, then nodded over to Peter. If he joined her, she would prop an elbow on the railing overlooking the water, but keep her eyes on the group. "This bloke in New York. Tell me more."
The collision between Pryde and the stranger, however, snapped her out of the conversation. "Oy," she walked back over, pointing at Pryde. "You ran into her. I say it's you that owes her the apology."
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Post by mcr on Apr 8, 2021 21:20:12 GMT -5
As much as Erik wants to school the young man who ran into Kate, he and she find that her powers continue to act up, causing her to slip through him, her feet slipping through the pavement as she lifts and pulls free, phasing in and out. Agape at the display, the man the elder Pryde internally identified as her father backs away, exclaiming: "H - Help? Somebody!" She materializes long enough for Erik to steady her, holding her on her feet. Shaw takes charge: "Oh you need to go. Right now. But Azazel: We can't make an even bigger scene. I'll meet you across the river." He hands the group several visitors badges: Walking towards Pryde's father, he tries to soothe him: "Hey, Mister. Keep your voice down. It's okay, I'm with the government." He shows his own a badge, nodding to the group to get a move on.
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Post by phencerx on Apr 9, 2021 15:22:19 GMT -5
Peter listened to Azazel's plan and knew it was a bad idea. Just appearing in the middle of a facility like this would raise more questions they they had time to answer. This was a mission that would require more tact than he felt this group was capable of.
He began moving towards Elizabeth when the commotion broke out. Without missing a stride, he gently grabs Elizabeth by the arm. "Best not to draw any more attention than necessary luv." That's when Shaw hands him and the rest of the group their badges. "Hey, Mister. Keep your voice down. It's okay, I'm with the government." Peter couldn't help but chuckle to himself at the S.W.O.R.D. emblem. Did Shaw know where he came from? This Hellfire Club seemed to have a deep intelligence gathering network, but he wasn't ready to reveal is true nature unless directly confronted. Still though, this badge gave him an idea that just might work if everyone could keep their calm. Dressed in his black suit and donning his three-quarter length trench coat, he already looked the part.
Wisdom moves over next to Shaw, displaying his badge as well. "Pardon the new recruits. We're still working on the discipline part. We're here on a joint taskforce surprise inspection of this facility."
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Post by Gris on Apr 10, 2021 4:45:10 GMT -5
Still baffled by the situation and its implications, Pryde just let the others sort it out, awkwardly clutching the badge Shaw gave them and leaning into Erik. Pryde realized in the back of her head that there was no way they knew why she was so affected by what they saw as just stumbling upon a rude man, but it wasn't like she could start explaining things she barely understood then and there, so she leaned into Erik for support while she focused in her older half.
"It's weird. And scary. And personal" Pryde thought nervously at the still silent Kate. "We'll get to what is going on, we'll... fix it" she hesitated, as she hardly knew if it was a way to mend whatever was going on. "It feels odd giving support when I'm used to receiving it from you but... even if you aren't me, or exactly me or whatever..." Pryde meandered. "We are still in this together, don't worry about that" she resolved, even if she was less clear and assertive than she would have wanted to.
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Post by mcr on Apr 15, 2021 12:13:46 GMT -5
Erik motions to Azazel:
"Azazel help me with her?"
Propping Kitty up, he drapes one of her arms over Azazel's shoulder while holding up the other, nearly dragging the pair away from prying eyes.
"Doctor McCoy, if you please?"
He motions, hoping McCoy can examine Kate, or at least explain what is happening.
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Post by Gris on Apr 18, 2021 3:43:11 GMT -5
Pryde normally would protest the attention given, she would argue needing help or even less a doctor, but there was no room to object due to being so shaken. "A new tomorrow" she mumbled, dazed. "The monsters, was that your future, Kate? Or is it mine?" she thought, getting no answer, as Kate was probably worse for wear after all that happened. "I can- I can stand" Pryde contested, not wanting to be pampered by Erik with such a vision so fresh and yet... was it his fault? Or was he trying to fix it? Her perspective was incomplete, guidance lacking. All she could do was what she thought it was right and hope for the best.
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Post by OurLadyWar on Apr 19, 2021 10:01:43 GMT -5
Betsy snatched the badge with a dirty look, a few impulses away from grumbling under her breath, but biting her ire behind her teeth instead. As she looped the badge over her head and around her neck, another voice entered her mind. Not Emma's from across the pond, the voice was masculine. And Azazel's dialect was nowhere to be heard. This was someone else, somewhere else. Elizabeth turned away from the others and dug a pair of sunglasses from her coat. She shoved them over her eyes as they clenched shut and she held her hand to her head, grinding her teeth. She tried to mentally pick through the static, but it was hard to hear his voice.
"Who...?" She muttered and verbally flinched as sharp burst of amber-yellow light surprised her vision. Elizabeth caught her breath, cheeks flushed and vision swirling, but ultimately focusing on the facility. "Someone's in there," she whispered, unaware what she was vocalizing or internalizing at this point. "They're in trouble..."
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Post by UrbanBlue on Apr 20, 2021 9:31:44 GMT -5
McCoy was by Kate in a flash, examining her as capably as possible.
3 stones into medical healing.
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Post by Black Sam on Apr 20, 2021 16:51:38 GMT -5
Azazel took young Pryde at Eric's command, but he wasn't pleased to have a potential enemy so close, especially one with her abilities. She may have been uncomfortable as well, had she not been so preoccupied; then again, Count Dragoș had a cleanness to him, smelling faintly of musk and sandalwood and citrussy bergamot rather than the brimstone she might expect.
The glamoured mutant would have looked away to see whose attention they'd draw, but instead his gift of knowing showed him a glimpse of Pryde's turmoil.
Azazel's scowl grew deep.
"I do not think the doctor can help her, comrade," he said to Eric, starring at Pryde intently. "There is another presence over her, I do not make sense of it..."
"Someone's in there," Betsy whispered. Azazel's attention snapped to her, then to Eric. "They're in trouble..."
"Shake it off," he demanded of Pryde. His hand drifted inside his long coat, where the pommel of a curved sword waited for him. "Sort it out later."
His eyes stayed on Eric, willing him to be the king on the board.
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Post by mcr on Apr 22, 2021 3:46:35 GMT -5
Azazel was half-right - McCoy quickly deduces that his medical training will not have an immediate beneficial effect. However, upon witnessing Pryde's phasing ability and her seeming inability to remain solid, he is reminded of academic papers he read in his youth, and an idea so crazy it just might work:
At high energy states, matter condenses and generates mass. With a large source of decaying atomic material spitting out sub-atomic particles, a facility specially built to contain radioactive decay, and a large magnetic field, they could create such a state, bombarding Kitty with high energy particles in the hopes of solidifying her. If only there were a large source of such materials nearby, and an equally large magnetic field....... ================================================================ [[OOC: This is another one of those times where I really wish I better understood high-level physics, but I *think* this is how a supercollider works, obviously ignoring the ability to make an intangible person tangible. But let's just assume for purposes of the game that it does work this way.]]
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Post by Gris on Apr 25, 2021 4:01:45 GMT -5
"I'm fine, I'm fine" Pryde protested, trying to shake the numbness off. Kate was still silent, having been hit by both seeing someone she claimed it was her father and more than probably the same vision Pryde received. It was weird having Dragoș so close, even helping, but there was an underlying tension to it, although Pryde herself didn't feel comfortable either. Bunch of awkward people they were, wary of their own shadow.
"Lets just help whoever" she just sentenced harshly, wanting the attention out of her and into Elizabeth's words. She understood the well meant attempts of helping her, but she was starting to get anxious with way too many men into her personal space. Phasing through thick concrete felt less suffocating than that.
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Post by mcr on Apr 28, 2021 16:46:59 GMT -5
Shaw and Wisdom make their way back to the group, having successfully deterred the teenage Carmen Pryde from asking too many questions about the sudden appearance and partial disappearance of the mystery woman.
Satisfied that she was alright for the time being, Kate steered the group's attention towards the facility and whatever was waiting inside. Betsy and Azazel get a strange shiver as running up their spines draw closer, a sense of lifelessness permeating throughout the building. And, although Shaw had warned them that the facility was heavily guarded, there is a conspicuous absence of armed guards, the only ones they so far observed being a pair outside the facility manning the security checkpoint. They see no patrols, no one milling about, no one manning any obvious work stations - the whole place feels almost sterile, like it had been evacuated, only without telling anyone who worked outside.
Hank notices the lack of personnel, and may also find it similarly disturbing, but he remembers well enough how to get around the building that he is able lead them straight to the reactor core. The one thing he finds strange is that the guards he did see appeared to be wearing different uniforms than he could remember, but it was also quite a while since he had last been here, so it could just be a poor memory.
Even through the thick lining of the door, the team can see a faint blue glow. A prominent sign above reads:
"Danger. This area is highly radioactive. Do not enter without proper protection."
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