Monday April 2nd: Raising the Alarm..
Bare feet carried Jade silently from her room, a satin green nightie dress all that covered her petit form, fiery curls draped about slender shoulders and bright eyes seemed to pierce into the night’s shadows. Thin fingers reached for the door that led to where her guardian’s slept, timid movements guiding her every action, even as she opened the door quietly. She couldn’t pass the doorway without doing what appeared to be the expected thing, which was knocking softly on the frame before entering. It was late, and they slept heavily, entangled amongst each other, Jade stared a moment, patient to see if they might stir, it may have been discovered she could speak, but that didn’t mean she had become a buzz of conversations.
Zia had dotted on Jade tremendously, treating the girl as an infant, toddler and young teenager all at once, spoiling her in attention, and Hank proved to be just as affectionate, giving her treats, be them sweets or otherwise. One treat had been a toy. Children loved soft toys, and girls most of all, the bear was incredibly soft, Jade loved petting it, loved the feel of it’s warmth against her skin. It had since been affectionately named ‘Bear’ by Jade, who seemed rather proud with the word when it was described to her. At the moment the toy dangled at her side, fingers of her left hand curled around the soft paw of the light brown toy.
It wasn’t as warm out here was it had been under the covers of her bed, the toy had still been warm to the touch so it was comforting to hold while she moved about. Light footsteps had Jade drift into the room; her elegant form moving to the window of the room. From one of the windows Jade could see the front gate, she could see the shadows moving around, and when she looked at them the feeling inside of her grew worse. They were coming in, they weren’t doing what they were supposed to do, and somehow Jade knew they didn’t belong, and somehow she knew she didn’t want them here… somehow she knew.
A slender hand raised, knocking against the glass window, there was a stirring in the bed, the shadows outside weren’t making the tapping noise one is supposed to make before walking in… So Jade knocked for them, they were coming, but she didn’t welcome them, she didn’t like the feeling she got from the shadows that moved out there… she could feel them before she had even saw them. The knuckles of her hands knocked against the panel of glass once again, Goosebumps freckled the milky skin, but Jade didn’t look away from the shifting forms, she just knocked a little louder against the window. Cerebro’s warning alarm started to beep over Hank’s communicator, there was always a brief chance given before extreme measures were taken to defend the school, just in case the alarm was triggered by someone who didn’t pose a threat.
There had been the slight creak of the door that led into the territory and the mildest of mild movements came from the ancient feral as her ear twitched and nostrils flared minutely. She didn't need either ears or nose to tell who it had been that had entered though. She could sense Jade when she was close, the feeling the girl gave off being different than most she had encountered in her life. As there was no threat from her adopted cub, Zia didn't wake any further than to make that observation and her breathing slowed back down to the pace it had been before the arrival of the girl.
The sleeping patterns of the past seemed to be no more for Zia as with the development of the cublets in her womb, her body made invisible changes that caused her to need more rest. Needing more rest didn't dull her down though. Had it been an intruder and not a welcomed visitor, she would have most likely become alert almost instantly and possibly attacked.
There came a tapping... more of a knocking but not solid enough to have been coming from the door. Zia's markings came to life, glowing some under and out of the covers then her eye opened a slit to reveal an equally lit iris. A small rumble of disagreement made its way out of her throat as she moved to stretch a little and to open the other eye to better see what was going on. Then, the mouthless creature that had a habit of calling her mate away from the comfort of the sleeping area or to interrupt them in moments that were best left to be had, sounded to fully wake Zia. Irritation and confusion seeped in. Why was it making this new and annoying sound?!
The sound didn't have most of her attention though as when she looked over to where Jade stood, she became unsettled for some reason. "Something is amiss." She stated in her native tongue, not taking the time to translate it into modern Human. Without saying anything else, she slipped out of the bed and made her way to the window not bothering to take any of the sheets with her. Zia then looked out before a rumble sounded louder from her.
"My mate, are these friends of yours?" She asked. The last time someone had broke into the territory it had been Kage, a friend of Hank's. She wanted to be sure of if these creatures were friend or for before she took further action. If they were foe, the cubs and the developing cublets would need to be protected and she would make most sure of not holding back... Even if it meant changing to the form that was most true to her. The one she became when she used the energy that she was capable of wielding.
Re: Monday April 2nd: Raising the Alarm..
There was something rapping on the edge of his consciousness, trying to drag him back to the surface though Hank didn’t want to come. It wasn’t the strident call that heralded some new panic at the med lab, though those came all to often, but rather a soft knocking that he couldn’t place and certainly didn’t want to respond to. Not now.
He was asleep! Better than that, he was asleep in his own bed, with his own mate, warm and happier than he had ever thought to be. Dreaming of cublets! Knowing that soon, they would be a reality. Why would anyone in their right mind want to leave that ?
In the end though he didn’t have a choice! Because the noise that finally erupted from this com badge was one that could put an end to dreaming once and for all! An attack.! God it couldn’t be but…. "Something is amiss." Zia stated as she rose and went to join their adopted daughter at the window. "My mate, are these friends of yours?"
Hank was out of bed in a flash, all thoughts of modesty forgotten as he rushed to her side cursing under his breath as he saw just how far the intruders had got before the security system…..his security system…. had caught them! It shouldn’t have been possible he told himself in horror. But yet here they were, already breaching the walls while he and the other X men lay stupidly asleep and let them come. And as for the students….
With a growl Hank pushed aside the guilt that he was feeling, knowing that this was neither the time nor the place to deal with it, but it was hard. Because his was his responsibility! Keeping the Institute safe! It was what he was supposed to do! And he had failed! And now, not only his friends, not only the students he had sworn to protect, but his own family, this miraculous unlooked for family that had been so recently given to him, were all in danger because of his mistake.
“No Zia” he told her, his voice and face grim “ these are enemies. And we must fight them. Do you understand my love” he continued taking her face in his hands. ” I have to help defend the school.. but I cannot .. will not do that unless I know you and Jade are safe!” Zia was a warrior. He knew that. More than his equal in battle. But she was also the woman he loved and the mother of his unborn children. And so asking her to fight tore him apart, even as he knew that he could do nothing else. And that in any case she would have done nothing else.
He knew what she was capable of. Melantha had made sure of that. Since Zia had been with him she had softened, learned to live with others, opened up to him in a way Hank hadn’t thought possible. But she had never stopped being a warrior. A force of nature, ready to bring down destruction on any who stood in her way. She held that back for his sake. Because he had asked her not to kill. But now……
He was a doctor.. a healer… but he was also a man. And he loved the people in this room more than he loved his principles, he suddenly realised. He would not have them harmed because of his conscience. He would not risk the lives of his cubs to keep his hands clean! Zia.. he said gazing into her eyes. "Do what you have to do to protect our children. Do whatever you have to do!”
Re: Monday April 2nd: Raising the Alarm.."Something is amiss." Finally Zia had woken, and Jade felt somehow comforted by her presence now, more then ever before, to know she was there, to know she, and Hank, would understand what Jade wasn't sure about. As always they would tell her what was happening, however, Zia's reaction caused uncertainty to swell more as Jade watched apprehensively.
"My mate, are these friends of yours?" Now it was the other, many called him father to Jade when asking about him or referring to him, as Michael had done in Medbay, this was important, and Hank was father where no one else was, she knew he was her watcher now, as the previous Monk before had been, he was her guardian like Zia was. Her bright eyes watched now as Hank studied the scene, demons that seemed further in then they ought to be, the portal sneaking many in having closed before the alarms kick started even as more poured in from the outer walls.
"No Zia" The expression, the body language, Jade knew these people were not welcomed friends before Hank had spoken, and she paid little attention as he continued on for a moment, her eyes keenly focused on the distant shadows. "these are enemies. And we must fight them. Do you understand my love"
Jade wondered if they would fight, she had been trained to defend herself but she had never faced an enemy before, would she face these? What would these people want at this hour when most seemed to just lay motionless and unresponsive? "I have to help defend the school.. but I cannot .. will not do that unless I know you and Jade are safe!" At the mention of her name Jade turned her face, offering a small instinctive smile towards Beast, though he had no smile in him at this moment. His focus was solely on Zia, she¡¯d never seen the healer so stressed, fear laced his words and a fury lay hidden deep down, ready to erupt upon those who invade his presence unwelcomed as these others have done.
"Zia.." Jade looked away, staring hard down at the masses, she didn't understand the feelings she was getting from them, she wasn't happy, nor proud she spotted them, she wasn't angry either yet, but somehow annoyed they were there. Confused on why they arrived, confused on how to ask them to leave¡ why was everyone so worried now? What was happening¡
"Do what you have to do to protect our children. Do whatever you have to do!" Last time people turned up unwelcomed and unwanted like this, Jade had been taken away from the temple, brought so far away that nothing seemed familiar any more. Amlarie had found her somehow, and later passed her on to this place, only because of what she discovered after meeting Connor¡ if Jade knew anything about fate she'd have realized that she was considering her arrival here to the school as just that.
Her fingers wrapped about the key that sat around her neck, all she had from her previous homes, given to her from Amlarie as a reminder of her time in Tibet, it had two streams of memories attached to it, Hank had asked Zia to protect their children one of the nameless monks had asked Jade to protect the ancient words, that to fail would fail all in this world, for man were not ready for the power of the ancient magic now written across her flesh.
Jade spun about, a flicker of images being tossed into Hank and Zia's minds as has happened on occasions before, giving the impression Jade was heading to her room, she would dress swiftly, for last time she walked out in her bed clothes¡ or with almost no clothes on one occasion when Jade was absent minded in her rush, Hank had guided her back to dress from a selection he seemed to approve of for when she left their place of rest. To say Jade took almost no time at all to dress wouldn't have been an exaggeration, her swift movements were at times a blur, though such haste was rarely needed, and so hadn't been seen by many save those who had seen her play fight, which outside Hank and Zia were very few people indeed.
It seemed as if she had barely rushed from their room before Jade re-emerged from her room, dressed in light blue-grey jeans and a white fleece long sleeve top that had been her wear the night before. (As unusual as Jade appeared, she still had a common habit of dropped her clothes on the floor, usually by her bed). She was bare foot still though, her hand still clutching the paw of the stuffed bear, part of Jade knew it was useless, and yet another part refused to let go. She packed it into a small backpack Hank had gotten for, just in case she took up classes, Jade used it to carry random things around, as if it were a novelty to do so.
For now the bear was stuffed inside and it was zipped up and slung over her shoulders with fluid strides taking her into the main room, her eyes casting glances about. Would they stay here, or would they go and greet the ones Hank called enemies? Would they stay together or would they split up? The markings that stained Jade's skin ached from the flood of demonic essence in the area, though Jade wasn't aware that's what was causing it, and for a brief moment she lifted her top to touch the tender skin. Yes there was definitely something wrong here, it was good to see Hank and Zia awake now, even if they were not happy to bare witness to what Jade had woken them for.
Edited by: MattMurdock69 at: 10/1/07 10:32 pm
Re: Monday April 2nd: Raising the Alarm..
Before he even spoke she could tell that they were no friends of her mate's. As the growl sounded from him, she only barely kept from making her own although her markings glowed brightly to where the skin around them was even laced with the light slightly. “No Zia... these are enemies. And we must fight them. Do you understand my love... I have to help defend the school.. but I cannot .. will not do that unless I know you and Jade are safe!” As he took her face in his hands, she looked at him, her eyes locking onto his as if she were searching his soul.
He wanted her to fight. No, needed her to. To protect their cublets, to protect the unborn, to protect herself. She felt that she could protect herself and the unborn cublets well enough, it was Jade and Melantha that she had to ensure made it to safety before she would come back to defend the territory and most of all, her mate as he would be busy with protecting his territory and his friends and could use someone to his back. The cubs would not be defenseless without her. They both knew how to fend of danger and if it came to a point where it was needed, Zia knew that Melantha would defend her sister. Even if she acted as though she wanted to be rid of the younger by centuries girl at times.
"Zia... Do what you have to do to protect our children. Do whatever you have to do!”
So he was not planning on asking her to keep from killing. That would make a big difference. It would mean that she wouldn't have to take unnecessary risks to try not to end the lives of the intruders which more likely than not from her mate's reaction, were out to try to harm them all.
She became somewhat distracted as Jade communicated to them without words but with visions into her mind. For a moment, Zia wondered if the girl would be safe but then, made herself relax... Made herself calm.... Calm like she had been the last time she had kept from holding back. Jade would be safe. Melantha would be safe. They would both be out of this place soon enough.
Zia leaned in, rubbing her cheek against Hank's once. She then pulled back with a serious nod. "You have no need to worry, my mate. No harm will come to them." She told him, the calmness settling in almost fully at this point. The glowing of her markings had dimmed to normal by the time Jade returned to the chamber, Melantha close behind her. Before he first born could speak, Zia looked to her. "We are to depart. I shall look after the both of you and you shall look after your younger." Zia said to the pale figure before looking back to her mate.
"Hank, my mate... You should hurry. I will see you again." She told him, full confidence in her tone. She already had a plan set in her mind. She would change into the only other form that was fully her own, ensure th escape of the cubs, bring them to the exit of the building, set Melantha in charge of making sure that Jade and herself escaped and got as far away from the danger as possible, then she would track down her mate to fight by his side.
It was not until he had left that Zia closed her eyes. The change was never a comfortable one. As Melantha had seen her change before most likely, Zia opened her eyes and looked to Jade. "Do not be afraid or worried. I will be alright." She told her adoptive daughter before closing her eyes again and bracing herself for the pain. She bit back a roar of pain, swallowing it to keep any sound from coming out as wings and a tail literally tore themselves out of her back and the bottom of her spine. Brightly glowing blood spattered the walls and ceiling some at the arrival of the wings and tail. Zia panted a couple of times, dropping to all fours for a moment before pushing herself into a stand. There was no time for wasting. They needed to leave and leave now... The energy, she could feel it flowing much more clearly through her to where she could access it in a manner to dispose of the enemy much quicker than by claw and fang.
Energy... She would use it. Any who came to harm them and who tried to stop them from making their escape... would be burned away to ashes.
((Got permission from PK to mod Melantha... and I hope I remembered right with the Hank-ness. If not I will edit.))
Re: Monday April 2nd: Raising the Alarm..
OOC ( Hank exited a bit fast there.. so I’m going to do this post and then zia will edit in anything new that I add before he leaves.. hmm does that make any sense.. hopefully all will be clear as we go on )
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Melantha disapproved of course. But then again how could she do otherwise. He had promised to spend his life at Zia’s side. He had promised that he would not betray her as so many had in the past. And yet now, when danger was all around he was leaving. Leaving her to carry the burden of looking after this family he claimed as his own. Even if he felt he had done nothing to deserve it.
There was no reproach in Zia’s eyes though, just a ready understanding that almost broke his resolve and his heart along with it. Jade too told him of her acceptance in her own silent way, swiftly preparing for the journey while his mate sought to reassure him obviously seeing how much it hurt him to ask this of her and how he was unable not to. "You have no need to worry, my mate. No harm will come to them."” she told him lovingly; for once the far calmer of the two, though Hank knew that this calm lay before a storm that would tear apart anyone who tried to lay a hand on those in her charge.
Melantha made as if to speak but Zia cut her off, her support of Hank unwavering and allowing no criticism even from her firstborn. Hank looked at his mate’s daughter sadly. Any reproach she might have heaped on him would be warranted and he in turn had no excuse to offer her. None that she might even begin to understand in any case! How could he make this call? How could he put his duty as a doctor above this? Before his family.
He had never had to do it before. Oh he had put his patients needs before his own too many times to count. He had even put his life at risk to save them without giving it a second thought. But he had never had so much to lose in the past. And the mere idea of losing it terrified him more than anything he had ever encountered in his life as an x man. If Zia had been less strong. If she had even once asked him to stay then god help him Hank knew he would have. But she was Zia and in the short time they had been together she had realised that he had given his heart and his honour into her keeping. And so she would not break the first or ask him to sacrifice the second.
"We are to depart.” she told Melantha efficiently I shall look after the both of you and you shall look after your younger. Hank, my mate...” Even now.. especially now.. hearing her call him that stopped the breath in his throat. “You should hurry. I will see you again." It was as much a declaration of love as anything he had ever heard. It spoke of a trust he had feared this fierce and fragile woman might never have been able to give to anyone again considering all that she had gone through in the past and which, despite his leaving, she now offered him unconditionally. It humbled him.
It gave him the strength to leave. He and Zia had no need of any other words between them. But yet there were some that needed to be said. “Jade” Hank said urgently turning towards the seemingly young woman who stood before him barefoot and yet determined. “ Whatever happens you must not let yourself fall into the hands of these intruders. What you are.. what you bear is too important. You understand that don’t you? You must keep the knowledge safe. Otherwise it is not only the people here in the school who would be in danger but the very world itself. “ “Now go! All of you. Go with my love. And with that he turned and left them, and a part of his heart, behind.
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