Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
However long Riley had managed to be asleep it hadn’t been long enough, it had felt as if his head had only just hit the pillow, as if the tendrils of sleep only just had started to creep its way to blanket his mind. Which had made the initiatial moment of forcing open his eyes rather difficult, perhaps McCoy had been right, even if the doctor hadn’t actually said Riley should stay longer in medbay but only insisted he take it easy, perhaps it would have been wiser to spend that extra night or so in medbay… Then again, he’d have been upset had he missed the Zoo trip. Well now he was paying for that, the weekend hadn’t exactly been kind, Saturday he pushed himself with his friends Forrest and Graham and that hadn’t been smart. And then Sunday… well Sunday hadn’t been nice at all, in fact he had wanted to sleep and wake up to a new day so bad, refreshed and stronger and more able to deal with things the weekend had stirred. At this point though, Riley most definitely didn’t feel refreshed and stronger.
It was a siren though, and regardless of how he felt, Riley’s body seemed to move with a fluid motion, playing out a scene it was well adjusted to and needed little guidance from Riley’s still groggy mind. Hands pulled aside the thick cover, Katie’s thin black and white form that had sunk into the bedding with her legs kicked into the air until the sirens rang was now creeping startled to the security of Riley’s form, trying to see if he would give her some form of assurance that everything was ok despite all the horrible noise. Legs slipped out of the warm covers, a cool brush of air helping wake Riley that little more, Katie’s confusion registering enough for his hand to brush over the back of her head as he stood up.
First step, not running out into the fray wearing only his underwear, while it may be quicker and get him faster to the scene of commotion, no matter how important it was he’d end up being worse off for the early arrival due to his poorly protected form. The study chair had a pair of previously worn jeans from the day before draped over the backrest, which Riley tugged his legs through and pulled them on without much thought on the matter. Stepping over the shoes by his bed for a moment as he reached for the draw where his sidearm had been shoved after having taken it out Sunday after noon… It was dark outside so Riley was just guessing for the moment that Sunday was yesterday, he went to bed pretty late so he couldn’t imagine it still being the late hours of Sunday night, especially considering he was pretty sure he fell asleep well after midnight.
As the holstered gun was placed on the bed, Riley squinted his slightly blurred eyes to the clock on his side table, according to which it said he’d at best had an hours sleep or there about. While Riley turned to the draws to grab a shirt, his eyes lingered and momentarily held their gaze on the clock, almost wondering if this was some sort of dream… god knows he’d had his fair share nightmares lately. Fingers snapped at Katie, startling the curious dog who had inched her nose towards the gun in order to sniff and examine it, however Riley didn’t do more then that, she backed off and he had to focus on dressing.
Meanwhile in another room, May was startled away by the fierce the screech of the initial alarm, it would only last a minute or so, there were students who would be too hindered by the sound to manage with it’s loudness, but it was a matter of urgency to at least give the majority a chance to be startled from their sleep and pushed into action. The pitch rang in May’s ears and while it didn’t really hurt her own hearing it disturbed her symbiont, who withered in pain and therefore caused May anguish as well. The host found herself sitting up with a cringe of pain rippling through her as the symbiont spread across her body just to peel away slightly in irritation, tendrils lightly whipping for a moment before withering and shrinking away again. The alien wanted her to make it stop, it didn’t care how just that she did it, and the furious passion of this demand caused May to curl with her hands cradling her head as all these sensations took their toll. Sixty seconds and it was over, but those seconds had seemed to last forever, and May let her body slip from the bed to the floor, her figure crouching down on hands and knees as her symbiont let its own form creep over its host in a show of possessive control.
May pressed the palms of her hands down against the floor, her room’s walls scarce but home to a few clippings of the well known wall crawler, Spiderman, that had been taken from the papers. All this time and May had not invited people to come into her room with her, if they wanted to talk with her she’d either stand at the door or move out into the main area to hold their discussions. It wasn’t that she was hiding anything, she had no possessions worthy of hiding in her room save for a few trinkets here and there that she was still working on. The red veins of the symbiotic suit she wore gave off their faint hellish glow in the darkness of the room, only a steady breathing filling the momentary silence of the air. It didn’t live long, distant thumbs could be heard by other students, muffled voices were carrying across the halls.
A barking started, easily distinguished as Katie after the amount of time the pup had spent in the dorms with the group, even if she wasn’t the kind that barked a lot it wasn’t hard to figure it was her, who else had a dog so close nearby anyway? Outside Riley had emerged from his room, Katie remaining on the threshold of Riley’s doorway, not wanting to stay in the room on her own but too timid to leave for the moment. The white shirt Riley wore made the black shoulder straps and band that ran down his back visible, and although his back was to them and hiding the holster holding one of the guns that rested at the lower back, the second that sat against his hip was visible. One hand held what most would assume to be his favourite jacket for the fact he wore it more often then the others, and while Riley didn’t have ample amounts of clothes, there was a sense of favouritism with the pale leather hide jacket. In Riley’s left hand his fingers held the strands of a medium sized duffle bag, which wouldn’t have been grabbed had the words ‘assist in evacuating students’ hadn’t poured over their com-badges while he was slipping on his socks and shoes.
"Shh.. quiet Katie." It wasn’t harsh, there was a relative peace about Riley as he took in a deep breath, but the peace wasn’t real, he was worried and confused and unsure about a variety of things that were all being forced down into a submissive after thought. First thing first being checking how the rest of the team was going, it was a little surprising but Michael seemed out of his dorm before Riley, crutches in hand and determined but…well… not dressed in anything but some sneakers, shorts and a shirt, it’s as if he just got up, grabbed his own backpack and then headed to brace the entirety of whatever they were faced with. The others were all emerging too… or at least most of them, Tessa looked nervous and Riley could imagine if Scott had still been here she’d have hovered to him for assurance. It was a pity to lose Scott, because Tessa had him like Michael and Ben had each other to rely on, and Riley knew from experience when you had some one to cover your back that you felt close to, it gave you that extra burst of confidence. It’s why Finn always preferred being on patrol with Graham when he was in the Initiative, even if the rest of the team was competent, Graham gave Riley the assurance that there was some one there he knew would do his best to look out for Riley and Riley would do so in turn, everyone needed that.
"Michael..?" It may have started with an inquisitive tone, but Riley realized quick enough that it didn’t matter how Michael dressed if he intended on fighting it’d be in his astral form, made sense, and the thought was quick enough that the former agent could swiftly change topics, holding up the bag a little for Michael to see it. "I’ll leave that with you if you don’t mind," The expression Riley had was more ‘I’ll pick it up when we come back for you or when this is all over’ sort of thing, Riley didn’t seem to expect that Michael would end up having to drag it around with him. And Riley wouldn’t expect it really, though the things inside the bag would definitely come in handy if they had to make a run from the school and needed cash or more ammo in Riley’s case, or other little handy things he always kept packed inside it for emergencies. Riley wasn’t the only X-men who carried a sidearm, he was one of the youngest however and had to show he was competent with guns before even being considered allowed to have them on him while wearing the uniform (or in his possession at the school). He never went into training sessions with them but Lexi had it on files he carried a weapon for emergencies when on missions, and the team was aware of that too, they’d just never seen him with them before.
Katie gave an anxious whine as she inched towards the few feet that separated her from Riley, her brown eyes peering up at him and her tail still, too still, a sense of waiting about her as she stared up at him. This would be interesting… and what happened to her while he was running around helping the other students, at first he figured she’d just stay in his room, but now there was an evacuation and warnings about armed soldiers started ringing in their ears as the alarms started up again in another reminder that this wasn’t a drill and that people have stormed the school grounds. Riley couldn’t run through the school with Katie at his heels!
She was barefoot in a sleeveless night-gown yet she wasn't cold. As she walked the empty hallways of the institute it occurred to Tess that she couldn't recall having owned a night-gown since she was twelve. Usually the hallways were alive with the chatter and gossip of her peers but now there was no sound at all. Somehow that was more frightening than any horror movie. She rested slender fingers against the door frame and stopped to peer into the Recreation Room. It of all places should have been populated. There should have been the low sound of an Insomniac mindlessly flipping channels or the rustle of pages turning as a person read. There were neither of those things.
Tessa turned away, her brow furrowing at the strangeness of the situation, before deciding to walk onwards. She had taken only one step when there was a whisper behind her. "Tessssss" it said in a woman's voice and when she turned she saw a flash of blonde curls before the stranger turned a corner that hadn't previously been there. The half-fairy's heartbeat quickened and she broke into a run after the figure. "Mom?" she breathed, but when she turned the corner no one was there. She knew that she had been searching for someone or something. Had it been her mother? She could no longer remember and was beginning to think that it was someone else. Someone who was more familiar to her but who had been away of late. The school's bell went off and Tessa opened her eyes and realised two things. First, that she had been dreaming and was safe in her bed, and secondly that it was not the bell that had been going off but an alarm that was making a fearsome racket.
More anxious than she had been in her dream Tessa sat up in bed and reached for the lamp on her nightstand. Although she was not a morning person she was able to rise quickly when she had to and the blonde threw back the covers and got to her feet. Without the quirks of the dreamworld she was cold and immediately missed her blankets, goosebumps appearing on her bare arms. The constant scream of the siren was in sharp contrast with the disquieting silence of her dream but she didn't cover her ears. The sound would wake her, would spur her into action.
Amethyst eyes fell on the boxy red numbers of her alarm clock and noted the time with a self-pitying groan before Tessa remembered the notion of clothes that didn't involve fleecy penguins or spaghetti straps. Glad that she had laid out her intended outfit for the next day Tessa exchanged her pyjamas for a pair of dark wash jeans and a sage green tank top. Her eyes fell on a pink knit sweater that had been carelessly draped across the back of a chair and it was added to her wardrobe along with a pair of socks and worn but comfortable sneakers. With the siren still ringing in her ears Tessa was not so vain as to run for her makeup and she settled on running a brush quickly through her blonde curls.
Her father had read her stories when she was younger and the one Sherlock Holmes mystery that had stuck with her was "A Scandal in Bohemia" when, believing it an emergency, Irene Adler rushed for her precious photographs. Now Tess understood that need to protect what is precious to you, even in chaos. She did not consider herself a particularly material person but there were some things that were necessary to keep safe. In the top drawer of her wardrobe were three things precious to her. Tessa grabbed them all in one hand, curling her fingers around the three precious possessions along with, out of habit, her wallet.
She was beginning to grow more afraid as the audible sounds became thumps and muffled voices in the halls. There was a warning that came over the comm. badge Tess had somehow remembered to keep with her. Evacuation. She clenched her fingers in a fist around the few things she had taken and was glad now that she had shoved her wallet into a pocket as well. Timidly she drew open the door and steeled herself for what was to come as she headed out into the common room area and looked to her team-mates for assurance. She thought of Scott as she often seemed to. She would have something she was excited about telling him and would remember seconds later that he wasn't there to tell. Without him there Tess felt very alone. Although she was not close to Riley she knew that Scott had been his friend and somehow that had helped. Now she appreciated his seeming level head as he checked on everyone.
Just behind him was Lexi. The redhead was trying to project an air of confidence but Tess didn't need to be telepathic to know that the young leader was as nervous as the rest of them. No longer defensive over her leadership she looked to Riley and a ghost of a smile crossed her face as she watched him, glad that he was helping and grateful for his leadership. She was not trained for this and all she knew was that she had to look after her team like they were the musketeers or something. One for all and all for one, thought Tessa, watching Lexi look in on everyone as well. Instinctively she knew that the young leader would not leave until all of her team had been evacuated. Tessa found herself, in the absence of Scott, looking to Riley. He seemed the most prepared, the most ready to do whatever had to be done. She wasn't one to take the initiative or act on her own, she would follow someone else, at least until she got her bearings.
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
The siren didn’t so much ease him out of sleep as bring him crashing back to conscious with a jolt that his body in no way appreciated. Michael gasped and tried to force his mind to take in what was going on, part of him refusing to accept the truth even when it registered. This wasn’t fire or flood that was being heralded over the intercom. This was an attack! People were actually forcing their way into he school and half dazed or not Michael wasn’t foolish enough to think that they had the good of the students at heart.
Fighting down the fear that inevitably accompanied this thought Michael swung his legs out of bed, ignoring the pain , knowing there was no time for such things now. Not with a mission to get underway. And it was nothing less than that. A mission. Get people out. Keep people safe. Survive! That was what they were supposed to do such situations and even if the young Scot hadn’t been at the Institute long enough to actually experience an evacuation drill he had studied the plans long and hard. Especially after his discussion with Mr Summers!
The teacher had pulled no punches but then again Michael hadn’t wanted him to. They both knew he wasn’t a team member like all the others. He was and always would be a liability in situations like this. Unless he made damn sure that he wasn’t! Which was what he fully intended to do!
It had been a condition of him staying on the team and one that he was more than willing to comply with. In a normal mission it wouldn’t have been the same. Then there would have been a vehicle he could have left his body safely or some other contingency plan thought out in advance. Here though there was no time, no warning. In this situation he would be one more problem for Lexi to deal with , one more worry for his team mates, a dead weight that would slow them down no matter how much Hood made up for it in his own way. And that wasn’t acceptable. Not to the older X man and certainly not to Michael himself.
And so they had worked things out. He and Mr Summers! Together they had gone through all the scenarios they could think of and, given Scott’s experience those had been many, and had made their own plans. Practical plans in which logic and strategy played as great a role as any sentiment and which kept the team safe and the mission from being compromised while still hopefully keeping Michael alive in the process. This present situation had been one of the first they had covered, both of them recognising the only reasonable course of action available in such circumstances and accepting it despite its risks. Now all Michael had to do was make sure that the others saw it that way as well.
He didn’t bother dressing. This was no time for modesty and besides he wasn’t exactly going to be wandering around so he simply slipped on his sneakers wincing as he obliged his injured leg to hurry as best it could. Then he grabbed the rucksack that he had laid beside the bed and unceremoniously dumped his school stuff out leaving room for what really mattered. For the things he couldn’t leave behind for anyone to get their hands on.
Scott’s lamp, happily sturdier than it looked for he had no time to be gentle as he thrust it into the waiting bag! Illidan’s book, kept always at hand in the bedside cabinet. Morphine! Just in case! Then he was hitching the bag onto his back over the tee shirt he wore for sleep, the short sleeves exposing his arms more than he liked, just as the boxers he wore hid nothing of the scars on his legs.
That didn’t matter though. All that counted was getting the other students out. The ones like Paige and Hope who had no active powers with which to protect themselves and who in many cases didn’t even realise the real danger they faced despite drills and lectures. Michael had grabbed his crutches and was out of the door before his other team mates finished dressing though not by more than a few seconds. Even rushing he was slowed by physical constraints. And that was why he had to stay behind.
Riley at least seemed to realise that. The questions that had been seen in his eyes and heard in his tentative Michael..?" soon faded before the reality of the situation. "I’ll leave that with you if you don’t mind," he said finally, holding out his own rucksack like a pledge.
The young Scot smiled in relief and appreciation. At least there weren’t going to be any arguments over his decision from this querter at least and though the one he had to win over was his team leader he was sure the older students support would go a long way to getting him that. After all Riley’s action showed not only that he thought Michael had made the right call but also that he trusted him to have thought this through intelligently. Not to mention the firm conviction they would be seeing each other again once all this was over!
Aye right Michael said with a grin that looked braver than he was feeling. “I’ll keep it safe till I can get it back to you. I’ve got a rare hiding place all picked out so….. if anyone else wants to use me as a safety deposit box feel free.
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
Ben opened his eyes and stared out into the darkness, with a sigh he rolled over and looked at the clock. It read 2 something. The Darklight mutant let out a grown and closed his eyes again. He had gone to bed relatively early but sleep had evaded him, and now he felt wide awake… it was always the way, he knew he would feel terrible in the morning. Due to the events of the past few days he had become restless and his sleep had suffered from it and lack of sleep was something Benjamin had trouble dealing with. It made him irritable and quick tempered which was a very bad thing seeing as he was now living in a collective dorm full of people he was supposed to be bonding with.
Well all he could do was roll over, close his eyes and hope desperately that sleep would find him soon. That however was not destined to happen. Within minutes of him waking an almost deafening alarm resounded throughout the dorm. So there had been something out of the ordinary going on… as a child Ben had found that he would wake instantly whenever something happened in the house that was not a normal sound. His mother had only ever had to reach for the door handle to his room on the mornings when he overslept for him to wake up. This time however it sounded like something much more urgent than being late for school had woken him.
He through off the covers and swung himself out of bed. He reached down and grabbed the disguarded items of clothing that lay at the side of his bed. For Ben dressing was a luxury he could not do without. There would be no sense in him rushing out of his room to escape whatever was happening just to drop senseless as soon as the slightest amount light hit him. In times like these his allergy to light was a great hindrance. He pulled a long sleeved shirt, sweatshirt and pair of jeans on before finally heading over to the light switch. It was a specially pre-programmed fade lighting system that slowly upped the amount of light until he could face the glare from a normal light bulb.
He grabbed the cap and sunglasses that he had come to rely on and as the details of the emergency came through the intercom he decided that his com badge and cell phone might come in handy as well. Out of privacies sake he took his wallet, it would be stupid to leave them a way to easily identify him. Thus equipped he decided that he couldn’t wait for the light to come up any more so as he opened the door of his room he put up a darklight shield around himself. It would drain him somewhat to keep it up, while gradually fading it, but being cornered in the dorms would be a worse option.
It appeared that his team mates had all made it out into the corridor in a swifter manner than he had. He was glad to see that Michael had come out ready to deal with whatever was coming their way in his own efficient way. So, it appeared, had Riley. The shielded darklight mutant frowned at the guns hanging in their holsters; it was hard to remember sometimes that Riley wasn’t a mutant. Ben did not in any way approve of guns but this was an extreme situation and if Riley needed them to get out safe then so be it.
As the team got their bearings, Ben took a backseat he would be more than happy to go with them or head off on his own to try and get people out. It would be Lexi’s call or if worst came to the worst they would do whatever it took to get themselves out at least.
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
Well, that was everyone… almost, where’s Ben and May? With Michael, there was Tessa, and then Lexi, both appearing and all making their way to the main room and away from what they considered their private sanctuaries. Sure, the school was one big get away from it all, from the prosecution, from the fear, from the uncertainty and confusion. Not only from the rest of the world, but from what often grew inside the mutant as they struggled to deal with their problems on their own, or even worse, struggled to ignore it, neglect it… like ticking bombs waiting to go off. They might not tick anymore, but that doesn’t mean the timer had stopped. But their rooms, their own private make shift worlds where they finally had so much more control over the things that went on in there, control and the ability to let that control of theirs slip. Just a moments rest, where brave faces didn’t have to be made, where ironclad will didn’t have to constantly be so evident, where one could break down if they felt they just needed to. Where being the best didn’t matter while you were shut away from everything else and all the problems that them and life itself seemed to throw at you. How dare these people come in here and take that away from them. There was a pause, a thought registered, a correction paramount to be stated…from us. It was his home too, sure it was no farm in Iowa, and yeah things never seemed to work out for him, but they were all coming together… even if at the same time things seemed to all be falling apart again. Perhaps this was a good distraction, a reminder that he not only needed to fight for this place, but he wanted to… he had to, it had, all those within it had fought for him, this was his turn to fight back and show his strengths. They’ve seen enough damn weaknesses. It was bitter, like the unexpected taste of sour wine from a cherished bottle kept just for the right moment… only to realize it’s moment had long since past blindly by.
Just remember this isn’t your show, It was Lexi’s, command had been ripped from him and now he was placed as a pawn for another to decide his moves… but was that a wise thing in this sort of situation? It seemed so… follow your leader to the end, trust them every step of the way! But… what if his experience in combat offered something more…… No, I read their handlings on the island, they aren’t so shabby as they may let on at times, people don’t give them the credit they deserve. Never underestimate the power of will and conviction. Wasn’t Michael proof of that? Look how far he had come in order to get here? The obstacles he needed to surmount in order to arrive to this point… the very privilege of being allowed to be one of the few on a team, a place a few students were known to take for granted, or consider unworthy of their presence. Sometimes it seemed as if the group was more focused on friendship and group bonding, not that they didn’t do their fair share of exercises… but still, in comparison sometimes it seemed so slack… It works for them… it makes them more formidable then Gold, with all the power those students possessed, and all they could manage to do was bicker I heard. How strange, the thoughts that went through ones mind, flashes so quick it was impressive the thoughts were actually able to be understood and reacted to. Yes, Green worked hard, trained harder, but they managed, trial and error and trial some more, they didn’t need to be pushed beyond their limits by some determined teacher trying to prove a point, nor did they need to spend every waking hour isolated within their training. Riley could see it now… he could see how important their bonds of friendship were, they were an army in spirit, even if their physical presence wasn’t always so intimidating that gave them strength.
It was strange, but Tessa was staring at him, and to be honest Riley wasn’t sure how he ought to reply, staring back blankly seemed… not exactly the right thing to do. Instead a soft curve in the edge of his lip came, perhaps some form of assurance… but it wasn’t his place.. was it? It wasn’t like giving out orders though, so maybe he wouldn’t step on the leaders toes… moral didn’t have to be factored into things with the Initiative, people did as they were told and if they weren’t sure or didn’t like it, tough, they’d have to just carry on as best as possible regardless. And with all the potent chemicals in their systems, as well as the conditioning, it wasn’t exactly a problem for them to blindly follow orders. But lexi wasn’t giving orders for them to follow! Maybe she’s waiting for May… where is she? A glance at the spider-powered woman’s room showed that no sign was yet made for the door to be ready to swing open and reveal Parker’s rushing form. Ben, ok that was understandable, the guy couldn’t rush out here, they all knew how gradual his morning rise would be… even if they didn’t all know how much trouble it could be if he rushed. Much like Michael’s handicap, he could have warned the team all he wanted about it, but it was a different thing to know of it, and to be faced with it.
"Aye right" The voice didn’t seem panic stricken, always good. "I’ll keep it safe till I can get it back to you. I’ve got a rare hiding place all picked out so….. if anyone else wants to use me as a safety deposit box feel free." Why was it, that at that mention of safety deposit box and rare hiding places, Riley remembered his medication? Ok, so it wasn’t going to be as bad as when he had withdraws from the needles once leaving the Initiative… but Riley had no idea how serious the withdraws would be, if there would be any… surely there would be something? And if he got as knocked about, or even slightly disorientated? Wasn’t worth the risk! Just as Ben was appearing from his room, Riley had reached into his own and, upon pulling open his side draw, grabbed up the pill container. Clasping it firmly enough to let his hand engulf the majority of the bottle, Riley pulled it close to his chest… it may not be needles, but it was still medication, and it was still a sign of weakness.
How must it look? The realization dawned, faced with true handicaps, ones his mind, no matter how conditioned couldn’t hope but recognize as being more serious then his. But it didn’t bother him, because he knew they were capable, new, still inexperienced… but capable. Michael’s clothing allowed the invasion of prying eyes upon his skin, the needle marks clear… had Riley ever gotten that bad? He’d been getting needles everyday for… eight years. That’s a long time, how did I let it happen? If only saying it was out of his control was so simple, but was it? He didn’t know, sometimes he felt he was in so much control and then… then nothing. It was hard for him, because at 18-19 Riley had let them recapture him, he couldn’t remember exactly… he was sure it was more about nineteen, just before his trip to the jungle. I can’t even remember the name of where… The thought stopped, even Ben had his weakness, in a sense Lexi and Tess had a weakness of inexperience and uncertainty. What was Riley so scared of? Surely of all groups, this one would be more accommodating to the thought that Riley wasn’t perfect, and he wasn’t the best, and he couldn’t always win, he couldn’t always physically… or emotionally… cope. At least this handicap… came the thought as the bottle remained clutched in his hand, attempted to be discreetly kept out of view. …it doesn’t last, one day the last pill will be taken, one day soon… it’ll be over. He really didn’t have a right to feel so… so insecure, not when faced with all who he now had around him.
While other things were stored away in his bag, both the personal as well as the usual, a force of habit since running at a minutes notice became an almost every day threat…even if it thankfully wasn’t practiced so much the last few years. He never knew for sure when he’d have to pick up and leave again, and Riley knew if things went sour, it’d be with only the bare minimum that he could grab and leave with, that was all crammed into the bag, a ritual, a cupboard space with a zipper. Leaving it with Michael was… daunting… all his things, few as they may be, they were precious as well as dangerous with the likes of his ammo and things inside there. How odd it may be for Michael to pull out a box of bullets and then a vile of holy water, a stake, a pocket knife… all the little things he couldn’t leave scattered around, if Catherine knew their digital camera was stored in there, oh he dreaded to think how she may react to know their first Christmas present was shoved right next to his guns and hunting equipment. The pills would be dropped in there too, but at some point he’d take a couple out, just so he could keep enough for one or two doses on him, just in case something unforseen came up…which sometimes was one of the few steady things in his life he could count on. Never hurts to be prepared. Perhaps… maybe… when they weren’t waiting with baited breath for the next plan of action to be negotiated.
"Lexi, just a suggestion," Riley began, cautious as he was aware there had been times his experience and her leadership had clashed, even if never causing actual problems for the group, or being vocally discussed between he and Lexi, it had become clear at one point enough for Riley to take more care in how he handled situations… He only hoped he wasn’t making things worse by being so careful and holding back. Without loyalty, there was only chaos and unwanted mistakes. "However, perhaps Michael and I could listen over the com.badges while you give the orders…" Assuming Michael needed the help to get to this hiding place… oh god what if he didn’t and Riley just offended the guy with the assumption of incapability? "If you need any assistance that is?" Came the additional words towards Michael that helped loosen the knot which seemed unusually tight in the former agents stomach, even if his cool demeanour remained relatively unfazed. To lighten the situation (at least in Riley’s eyes) the runaway agent gave a gesture of his hand that held the bag… even if Michael didn’t physically need help to get around, he had to need help for at least carrying things, even if just to speed things all up!
The door to May’s room had opened now, her slender form almost strolling casually to the group, not for lack of understanding that this was dangerous, merely gathering her bearings on the aftermath of disorientation she felt. She had nothing visibly seen on her save for the belt around her waist, silver and stark against the suit she wore, which seemed to faintly alternate from an inky black to her trade mark costume of eerie red veins. A hand was placed lightly against her head, the inky blotching subsiding as anxiety faded, at least for the most part.
"Someone got over zealous with the early morning wake-up call." Came the mumble, her voice not entirely as steady as she’d have preferred, but the annoyance in the tone enough to indicate she most definitely didn’t appreciate the siren, nor the disturbance.
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
At first she hesitated, her blue eyes seeming unsure of who to rest upon as they flitted around the room. For a moment Lexi felt the fear of chaos and of the unknown. She knew that there had been an attack on the school and she knew that she was charged with evacuating the members of the team known as Green Rescue Force but she froze anyway, fear slowing her movements. What if I choose wrong? she asked herself and knew that she didn't want to hear the answer. The redhead turned her gaze upon Riley. For a moment she was about to put aside all Moore pride and doubt and ask for help, for direction, for someone who knew better to guide her. Riley had a gun she knew, she could see it at his waist and felt self-doubt. Was it possible for an object to be both comforting and terrifying? She would never carry a gun herself but if the attackers were dangerous surely it was right to be able to defend yourself and others. Not everyone was fortunate enough to have an active power like her own. Her eyes left the gun and stared for a moment as questions filled her brain. Was she truly the one to lead this group? Had she ever been worthy of the task? No answers were forthcoming. For a moment she doubted and she feared, and then adrenaline and necessity won out and she turned back to the newly assembled group.
Memories of their performance on the Island came rushing back to her. There had been injuries but there had also been the success of coming together despite their status as a new team. She had underestimated them and she had underestimated herself. That was not a mistake she would make again. The leader made a silent count in her head, a mental checklist with red pen marks to check off who was accounted for. Her check came up two short and Lexi looked around for the other redhead on her team, May, and for logical Ben, and came up short. She was supposed to lead them but could she evacuate with two team members missing? The answer was no.
There was a second matter clouding her mind. Michael. Yet his voice was calm in a way that she knew hers wouldn't be unless she was careful to steady it before opening her mouth. There was a moment where she wondered if leaving him like this would be right but there had been a quickness to the situation and there was a calmness that told the young leader that Michael had been prepared for such an event. Riley's acceptance added to her confidence and she forced a weak smile at his crack about being a safety deposit box despite the truth contained in the statement.
Her fears were further allayed by the appearance of Ben. She had known that it might take him longer to get ready to leave and supposed that made waiting without orders easier to bare. However that still left May. Any thought of the webslinger was put on hold as Riley spoke up. He sounded so cautious that she felt badly, wishing she had not been so quick to judge his intentions or actions. She had tried to make it clear that she was as new to this team thing as any of them, save Riley of course, and that she welcomed any suggestions and advice. It was this teamwork and openness that had gotten them through the Training Missions she reflected.
"... Perhaps Michael and I could listen over the com.badges while you give the orders…" Riley suggested carefully. "If you need any assistance that is?" This was directed at Michael, an offer without offence and she admired his cautious use of words.
Before she could answer the door to May's room opened and Lexi let out a breathe she hadn't realized she was holding. Noise, she remembered. She wished that she could dim the hearing of each of her team members but that would effect their ability to hear the com.badges as well so she regretfully kept her abilities to herself for now.
"Someone got over zealous with the early morning wake-up call." May mumbled and a ghost of a smile crossed Lexi's face in spite of herself. It was true enough wasn't it? Now, she thought to herself, her features returning to mirror the seriousness of the situation at hand. She looked to Riley first and briefly flashed him a half smile that she hoped would communicate that she was glad he had spoken up. "If Michael agrees it sounds like a good idea to me," she replied, a firmness in her voice that now illustrated her need to be a leader just in this moment.
Lexi could only think that the attackers must be humans of somesort. What else would they be? True she had known two fairies and was certainly no stranger to the supernatural but her first instinct was man. "My powers can dim their senses," she reiterated, sure that her teammates would know but wanting to communicate a plan anyway. "I can dim their eyesight if we pass any of the attackers, that should give us a clean route out of the school. Stay around me and head for the closest exit." She knew that there were others in the school, others with less useful powers but she trusted that to their team leaders, should they be on teams, and to the teachers of the school. They were her team. She thought briefly of her parents, of the thin line of disapproval that she had become so accustomed to seeing on her father's face and of the disappointment in her mother's eyes. Her parents had never approved of her decision to become a teacher here and they had grown apart from her. Wasn't Green Rescue Force also, in some way, her family?
Lexi looked over at Riley quickly once more as she asked, "Agreed?" It was said in a way that implied any other suggestions were welcome but they had better be said quickly or not at all. If there was nothing else then it would be time to leave. They had stayed too long behind already.
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
They were nearly all there now, only May still absent, surprisingly enough given how fast she could move, though no doubt on her way. Michael just hoped she’d be herself when she did arrive and not the disturbing alter ego he had come up against a few days previously, though he supposed that even if she had flipped into her other personality it wouldn’t matter too much.
Not now that they were in battle mode. In fact he almost felt sorry for any enemies who came upon her when she was like that, he certainly hadn’t enjoyed the experience. Besides her problem, like his own, was something that had to have been taken into account when Green Rescue Squad had been put together. After all Hank knew all about her condition, May had told him so herself, and that meant presumably that Lexi did as well. If they still felt that she was capable of taking her place on the team, then he certainly wasn’t going to argue. And nothing Michael had seen in training sessions caused him to doubt their judgement in the least.
"Lexi, just a suggestion," Riley’s words dragged Michaels thoughts away from May and back to the team mates who were there waiting for instructions. "... Perhaps Michael and I could listen over the com.badges while you give the orders…If you need any assistance that is?"
Michael flashed him a quick grin, grateful for the offer which, while not strictly speaking necessary, would certainly help speed up the process of getting his body safely tucked away in its hiding place. He was just about to accept in his usual humerous fashion when May finally emerged, looking slightly the worse for wear but apparently ready to go none the less. "Someone got over zealous with the early morning wake-up call." she told them laconically, her voice irritated but still her own as she waited for Lexis orders. Which weren’t long in coming.
. "If Michael agrees it sounds like a good idea to me," she answered Riley before laying out a plan of action. "My powers can dim their senses," their team leader reminded them "I can dim their eyesight if we pass any of the attackers, that should give us a clean route out of the school.”
It was true. It was even a good plan, meeting the requirements laid down in the drill not to engage the enemy if that could be avoided and certainly giving them an excellent chance of getting out safe and sound. “ Stay around me and head for the closest exit." Lexi continued as Michael realised with dismay that good plan or not he didn’t like it. His grey eyes flickered across to meet Ben’s reading the same reluctance there that he knew must be showing in his own.
“Agreed” his team leader asked, as she always did, and up till now he had never done anything but agree with her calls. So why, now of all times, when this was anything but a training exercise should he do any different? And yet he knew in his heart he was going to! “What about the others Lexi ? “he heard himself say “What about all the students who don’t have training, who don’t even know what really goes on here at Xavier’s. Shouldn’t we make sure they’re Ok before we get ourselves out?
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
Everything seemed to be going smoothly May had not yet made it out of her room yet, Ben was happy with the way everyone was organising themselves. He listened quietly to Michael’s plan to hide his body which made sense; although a part of him was screaming that leaving his friends lifeless body in some hole somewhere was inconceivable. However there just didn’t seem to be any other way, if they wanted to help others, which judging by the look in his eyes Michael did, they couldn’t carry the added burden of his friends body. it seemed that Riley saw it that way as well and by offering to help Michael hide himself away he was giving the young Scot his backing as well as that of the team.
So all that was needed now was Lexi’s approval and May’s emergence; the later did not take long as the spider powered mutant emerged from her room holding her head lightly. It seemed that the loud noise of the alarm had not agreed with her but Ben knew that she was probably the best prepared for these kind of situations, half awake or not. As Riley’s question hung in the air all eyes turned to Lexi, their young and as of yet unproven leader. But maybe it was her slight lack of confidence that made her such a good team leader for the fledgling rescue squad. It meant that she often turned to her team members for advice and support and as a result got the best out of them. So they waited to hear the plan and Ben was already trying to work out the best way to help as many people as possible without endangering themselves.
"If Michael agrees it sounds like a good idea to me,"
Right well that was a start, Michael and Riley would go off together and could proceed from wherever this hiding place was. Ben liked the idea of Riley and Michael be together because once Michael was in Hood form he would provide Riley with some much needed, almost invulnerable back up.
"My powers can dim their senses,"
Which meant that Lexi should be able to make her way around the school safely on her own; if they couldn’t see or hear her they couldn’t hurt her. And May was more than capable of taking care of herself, which only left him and Tess. In his opinion they would be better off together so that they could help each other out of any sticky situations but this did not seem to be what their leader had in mind.
"I can dim their eyesight if we pass any of the attackers, that should give us a clean route out of the school. Stay around me and head for the closest exit. Agreed?"
Ben did a double take and judging by the look Michael shot him he was not the only one. How could they, the school’s own rescue force. The only team trained exclusively to go in and get people out leave without saving anyone else. It was ludicrous. Ben could see the fear in Lexi’s eyes and he felt for her because she felt responsible for all their lives. But they had all entered into this knowing the risks and now everyone needed them, there was no way they were just going to run from this.
“What about the others Lexi? What about all the students who don’t have training, who don’t even know what really goes on here at Xavier’s. Shouldn’t we make sure they’re Ok before we get ourselves out?”
It was at times like these that Ben was extremely glad that Michael was on their team for he had a way of phrasing things that made them as inoffensive as possible. And regrettably this was a time for being diplomatic for the team was going to oppose its leader’s decision and that was never an easy thing for anyone to deal with. So he took a second to organise his thoughts before speaking, just to make sure that he did not put his foot in it.
“Are we not a rescue team? Can we really leave here without saving anyone but ourselves? I’m not sure I could live with myself if I didn’t at least try…”
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
First step, not act as if he knew everything and step over Lexi and her authority.. check… second step, get on with things, almost check! Riley had started to turn away and look for anything else Michael might need a hand with in carrying off to this secret spot of his. "If Michael agrees it sounds like a good idea to me, " And by the grin Michael so kindly offered, Riley assumed that was a yes, in the ‘sure you can help’ and nothing else overly dramatic. "My powers can dim their senses, " It had to have been ‘the plan is I’ll dim their senses’ and not Lexi just stating that for the heck of things, because the team pretty much already knew what everyone else was capable of to a degree. The danger room sessions helped them see what one another was capable of, though admittedly Riley hadn’t been allowed to take part in anything he had sat through it just to watch and learn. They all knew he didn’t have a mutant power himself… and he’d not yet said ‘oh I do, it’s just suppressed by top secret government drugs’, call him crazy, but that just didn’t seem like the easiest thing to bring up in conversation.
"I can dim their eyesight if we pass any of the attackers, that should give us a clean route out of the school. Stay around me and head for the closest exit. " For some reason, as logical as the words were, Riley’s face had turned towards Lexi and hazel eyes found themselves staring as if the words she spoke hadn’t quite gotten translated properly between her lips and his ears. It made sense… evacuate and make a direct path out of the danger zone and protect the team at all cost. Would that be what Riley would have done? It seemed likely enough… so why was he confused?
"Agreed? "Oh god she’s looking at me for approval or something! Riley stared some more, The others hardly look impressed, I’ve been on enough teams to recognize it! If I say yes they’ll glare and if I say no she’ll think I’m starting up a mutiny! And so Riley still stared, almost a hint of plea in his eyes as he desperately hoped the ground would suddenly swallow him whole as an excuse not to respond in either manner and make a definitive choice on the matter.
"What about the others Lexi?" Michael! Yes! Riley could cheer him on for the simple fact that the pressure felt lifted from the elder students shoulders. It was hard enough being an experienced team leader without a team, being on a team with a novice leader supposed to tell him what to do? Ok, as graceful as Riley had tried to be, it was as awkward for him as it was for Lexi. "What about all the students who don’t have training, who don’t even know what really goes on here at Xavier’s. Shouldn’t we make sure they’re Ok before we get ourselves out?" Exactly. Protect the civilians, and as far as the rest of the school was concerned they were just that, super mutants or not, they were innocent children who needed to be protected by the greater evil.
"Are we not a rescue team? Can we really leave here without saving anyone but ourselves? I’m not sure I could live with myself if I didn’t at least try…" This time it was Ben’s voice that cut through to raise his opinions, and Riley watched the group silently, unable to help but recall the last time he questioned orders… a little leg wound and his leader decided it would be better for the team to put Riley out of his misery, all because Riley had said it sounded risky to do what they had done that had caused the injuries of which Riley in the end fell victim to as well. Special Agent Jorak really did not like being proven wrong by anyone, especially some nineteen year old who was classed just the previous year as an attempted runaway from the agency. The threat was carried through and if Graham hadn’t insisted Forrest help carry Riley back to camp, despite the trouble they’d face from Jorak, then Riley would have bleed to death for sure from the gun shot to the chest. And while the memories were like that of a dream, as with much of his past, Riley was still unnerved enough to wonder if he was better off not voicing his comments. But what’s the likelihood she’ll pull out a gun and shoot me with it? Exceedingly low… but she could shoot him down in more then one way… including putting in a bad word regarding his role on her team and lord knows Hank has more then enough reasons as it was to deny Riley the team leader position.
"I…." Riley began a little uneasily, "…don’t know if I can leave," This wasn’t the time to explain things, this so wasn’t the time. "I especially can’t leave with a group, anyone who’s seen with me will be in serious danger. This isn’t the time for explanations but I have a proposal that will suit all our needs," Please, all he wanted was to get along, why did he feel as if he was dragged into situations that called for a reaction that seemed to shatter the peace he was finally feeling he had, each and every time he had them? "If Lexi agrees…" because in the end a leader was a leader regardless, and if she demanded her team make it out then her team was bound by loyalty and duty to follow her commands, at least as far as Riley was concerned, as long as it had her teams best interest at heart he couldn’t wilfully disobey her. "…we could designate an area to work in, if we hurry we may catch another team and work with them, or organize a co-op over our com-badges." Deep down these people weren’t soldiers though, they were students… they shouldn’t have to fight like this and damn the world that makes such things a reality!
"We could … say … choose to help evacuate the dorms because they’re closer and likely would have the most students… duh… The male or female dorms or even the apartments are all together a large area, we should only focus on one section. I’d suggest taking the stairs and getting the bottleneck effect for any trying to come up into the dorm floors, it’d give the students a chance to escape via the hidden exits." This wasn’t his team, so he tried very hard not to sound as if he was taking charge and as if this was merely a suggestion, because he was really trying to make it just that. "Once the majority are out in our area, or Lexi feels staying any longer is putting us at too great a risk, we can pull out via the exits ourselves. I cannot leave with you… but hopefully I can find an X-men during all this and stick with them… It’d be too dangerous for you to be outside the school with me, I refuse to put anyone else in that sort of danger once again." He made sure his tone of voice was enough to inform then he wouldn’t like having anyone say otherwise towards the fact that they should stay together. That was all well and true until it came to the point of staying at his side meant the possible chance of turning into a guinea pig.
"Lexi, you have to decide to stay or go and you have to decide it now or we might not get the option. If we leave we work on the outside to collect as many students as possible that already made it out, if we stay we help as many leave without making it impossible for us to escape… but either way, we can’t wait." He tried to make a point that they could be helpful on the outside if staying inside really wasn’t something Lexi wanted her team to do, even if it was something Riley himself felt inclined to do, protect the students… protect his students even, he had students, kids that didn’t know how to read or right or speak fluent English, how would all this be for them? They knew what the siren meant… but they’d have a struggle on their hands to understand everything being yelled out about. He just wanted Michael to announce he was heading out, Riley would hurry off himself but had no idea where Michael was planning on going to, and it was pretty pointless to charge off without a clue on where exactly Michael planned to leave his body. Katie gave an anxious bark as scuffles started to break out in the nearby distance, her hearing allowing her to pick up the sounds more effectively then any of the others.
"What stops them from coming after us once we leave?" May asked, though her tone was stern as much as it was curious. "They attack the nest and cause us to scatter, enabling them to pick us off in smaller less organized groups, leaving our only hope to some small collection that happen to find a new nest to rebuild within. I say we bust a few heads before leaving, it’d give all of us a better chance and the more we take out on the way, the better chances to assess the enemies we’re dealing with." A fight! A real brawl where life and death hanged in the balance! Where murder was warranted if life was at risk, yes, the symbiont wanted to stay, it wanted to fight and lash out at anything that could be found! A chance to be unleashed… how the alien thrived for such a moment.
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
Now was hardly the time, but the thoughts that immediately entered her mind as she waited for reactions from the members of her team were first, that it was April Fools Day, and second, 'Oh God I wish this were a prank'. Unfortunately Lexi Moore was well aware that this was not a joke, not a drill, but the real thing. This was the sort of emergency situation that tests what a person is made of and how well they can act under pressure. She had assembled her team and she had made a plan. It was simplistic to say the least but this was not a time for strategizing and surely it would do. Surely.
Yet as she looked around at her group and forced herself to try and catch their eyes she saw quickly that surely had not been the right word. There was discontent. It was there as Michael and Ben exchanged glances and it was there as Tess wouldn't meet her gaze, guiltily keeping her head down until someone else was bold enough to disagree.
“What about the others Lexi ?"
Michael became the first to speak up. “What about all the students who don’t have training, who don’t even know what really goes on here at Xavier’s. Shouldn’t we make sure they’re Ok before we get ourselves out?" The way he worded his complaints showed restraint and Lexi could hardly be annoyed at his concerns. She knew it seemed wrong to just leave but there had been directions, orders not to directly engage the enemy and Lexi felt herself responsible for the safety of her team first and for the rest of the student populace second. Could she forgive herself if one of them was hurt or worse in the attack? Then again, could she forgive herself if they didn't at least try to help the others?
Ben was next to voice his opinion and Lexi thought "Mutiny." But no - that wasn't fair. She had asked for their opinions and her team members were offering them, surely as fearful about her reaction as she had been about making the right decision in a crisis. Besides if she shot down their advice now they would never offer it again and the team had been functioning well as a democracy.
"I…don’t know if I can leave." This time the objector was Riley. "I especially can’t leave with a group, anyone who’s seen with me will be in serious danger. This isn’t the time for explanations but I have a proposal that will suit all our needs." Well her ears were certainly open, Lexi had no desire to force her team into compliance and knew that she didn't have the power or the right to do it. Yet by the same token there had to be somesort of a plan. Rescue team or not they couldn't save everyone and would have to pick their battles. If Riley had a better solution she would gladly give anything to hear it.
The added "if Lexi agrees" was respectful but not really necessary. In a democracy the majority won and she was now acutely aware that she was not the majority.
"…we could designate an area to work in, if we hurry we may catch another team and work with them, or organise a co-op over our com-badges. We could … say … choose to help evacuate the dorms because they’re closer and likely would have the most students… duh… The male or female dorms or even the apartments are all together a large area, we should only focus on one section. I’d suggest taking the stairs and getting the bottleneck effect for any trying to come up into the dorm floors, it’d give the students a chance to escape via the hidden exi[/b]
The way Riley spoke and the organisation of his plan made a part of Lexi envious. Would she ever be so natural and efficient a leader as Riley already seemed to be? How was it that he could come up with such a plan under pressure that suited both needs. It was practical and didn't place the team members at unnecessary risk nor was it too conservative, as hers had been. Putting aside the green monster she let him continue.
"Once the majority are out in our area, or Lexi feels staying any longer is putting us at too great a risk, we can pull out via the exits ourselves. I cannot leave with you… but hopefully I can find an X-men during all this and stick with them… It’d be too dangerous for you to be outside the school with me, I refuse to put anyone else in that sort of danger once again."
The fact that Riley couldn't stay with them piqued her curiosity. There were a few things Lexi knew about Riley that her team members didn't. Recoveries and losses were parts of his past but what would cause him to urgently stress that he couldn't stay with them? Her curiosity, like that ill-timed ball of envy, would have to wait.
"Lexi, you have to decide to stay or go and you have to decide it now or we might not get the option. If we leave we work on the outside to collect as many students as possible that already made it out, if we stay we help as many leave without making it impossible for us to escape… but either way, we can’t wait."
Just when she thought it was time to come to a quick decision and move the team out there was another voice in the crowd. Tess remained the only person who hadn't ventured an opinion as May spoke up.
"What stops them from coming after us once we leave? They attack the nest and cause us to scatter, enabling them to pick us off in smaller less organised groups, leaving our only hope to some small collection that happen to find a new nest to rebuild within. I say we bust a few heads before leaving, it’d give all of us a better chance and the more we take out on the way, the better chances to assess the enemies we’re dealing with."
"No," Lexi replied quickly, that was one thing she wasn't about to authorise was that level of violence unless necessary. "Look, we're a fledgling team and we were told not to directly engage the enemy if we can avoid it." Lexi took a quick breath and continued, "but Riley's right. We do have to think about ourselves and I'm not about to put my team's lives at risk needlessly but there are people who need help. We'll work on a path towards an exit that takes us by the dorms and if we see another team we'll co-operate with their efforts. We stick together and we don't stray far from this area but we help evacuate everyone we possibly can along the way to make it safely outside."
Her voice was gaining confidence and momentum, following Riley's lead and starting to sound like a real team leader even though she felt nothing like one inside. "We fight opponents in self defence or direct defence of others but this isn't a brawl, we're not looking for a fight we're trying to help people." She spoke firmly, hoping May would get the idea but sympathising with her all the same. Sometimes it did feel good to unleash but this wasn't a time to indulge those sorts of impulses.
Lexi didn't dare look at her team this time, not wanting to feel another wave of uncertainty if her team members didn't agree once more. "If there's more protesting do it on the way," she said and took a step towards the door at long last. "Head for the closest student dorms. Let's move out."
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?
If Ben’s words were expected and welcomed as a concise and accurate summing up of what Michael too was feeling, Riley’s came completely out of the blue. "I…don’t know if I can leave." What? This was a new and worrying development and one that made a difficult situation even more complicated. "I especially can’t leave with a group, anyone who’s seen with me will be in serious danger The older student continued grimly leaving Michael more confused than ever.
Had Lexi known about this? Or was she too hearing it for the first time? And if so how unfair! Because surely this was one time when she needed surprises like that like she needed a hole in the head! Still Riley wasn’t exactly opening the subject up for discussion. This isn’t the time for explanations he went on but I have a proposal that will suit all our needs." Good for you Riley’ Michael thought with uncharacteristic cynicism ‘because any I might have come up with went out of the window when you dropped that little bombshell.
Riley was in planning mode now, setting out area to be cleared, lines of communication. escape routes And while it all sounded fine all Michael could think of was how , considering the mansion was under attack, sticking with Riley could make things more dangerous. Something he would no doubt learn another day. If they survived this one that was! As for now the ball was once more in Lexis court, and Michael was relieved to see that she at least took Rileys declaration that he wasnt leaving with them in her stride.. Though May had her point of view to put forward as well.
"What stops them from coming after us once we leave? They attack the nest and cause us to scatter, enabling them to pick us off in smaller less organised groups, leaving our only hope to some small collection that happen to find a new nest to rebuild within.” Okkk, the weird alter ego vocabulary was coming through loud and clear. As was the preponderance for violence. I say we bust a few heads before leaving, it’d give all of us a better chance and the more we take out on the way, the better chances to assess the enemies we’re dealing with."
"No," Lexi was quick to nip that plan in the bud. "Look, we're a fledgling team” she told them “and we were told not to directly engage the enemy if we can avoid it." Michael nodded his agreement. Oh they were ready and able to fight if they had too, that he was sure of. But they were first and foremost a rescue team and that meant getting others out safely rather than taking on the invaders head to head.
As usual though Lexi was willing to build on the suggestions her team members had made and Riley’s plan seemed to accommodate the level of security she felt she owed her team while still letting them do the job they had been trained to do. Quickly she redrew the major lines and made it her own before reiterating "We fight opponents in self defence or direct defence of others but this isn't a brawl, we're not looking for a fight we're trying to help people."
"If there's more protesting do it on the way," she said decidedly, "Head for the closest student dorms. Let's move out." Michael followed her readily as she made her way out of the dorm room and along the corridor, the route she had chosen also leading to his pre-prepared hideaway. “Ill be right there” he told his team members as he stopped to access the passageway Mr Summers had shown him. “Riley could you give me a hand!”
In fact there wasn’t much for Riley to do. After all this place had been chosen so that Michael could get in and out of it on his own. Still having someone there to help speeded up the whole procedure, lessening the need to juggle with crutches and doors not to mention backpacks. And apart from that it was just reassuring to have company. Especially as the panel slid back into place and left him in darkness.
He had winked at Riley as he shut himself in but that was just for show. Alone, he found that the hands still clutching the backpack were trembling. Ok.. time to go to sleep he told himself sternly. Or maybe I should say time to wake up. Then Hood was out and through the wall to join his team mates, materialising beside them to say” Ok that’s me safe… now… I'll go scout ahead and see whats waiting for us”
The silence seemed to hover uneasily over the group as every member waited for their leaders reaction. That was until a hesitant voice broke the tension.
"I… don’t know if I can leave,"
Ben looked over at Riley and wonder what had caused the tremor in the former agents voice. Was it that he did not feel that it was right to go against the leader’s orders? Or simply that he did not want to upset Lexi any more than he and Michael had already done? The answer however, proved to be something else altogether.
“I especially can’t leave with a group, anyone who’s seen with me will be in serious danger. This isn’t the time for explanations but I have a proposal that will suit all our needs,"
Wait, rewind… what was this about being dangerous to be around. Ben felt as if he had just been slapped. Why had they not been told about this, how could they be expected to take care of themselves and others without knowing things like this. Surely if being around Riley was a danger in itself he should not be on a team let alone a rescue team? But now was not the time to worry about that; all they had to concentrate on was getting out safely and if that meant going by Riley’s plan then so be it. As it stood he was the only member to have all the information necessary to making a viable plan.
Ben let his mind take in what Riley was suggesting without really thinking about it for thinking just lead to distracting questions that he could not afford to dwell on now. And then there was the sense of betrayal that Riley would put them in this danger without telling them… all it would have taken was for him to inform them. Ben was convinced that each member of this team would have shouldered this burden for their team mate and like with Michael they would have made allowances for it.
Instead they were now face with a do or die situation where they were going to have to leave one of their own behind. So no matter how many other people they got out somehow the whole thing felt hollow to Ben, there should have been a contingency plan, they should have been able to get everyone out all at once as a team.
But it looked like now they were going to be heading for the dorms and picking up as many people as they could in that area. As for Riley he was going to be making his own way through the fray and hoping to god that he met someone powerful enough to shield him, a shaky, risky plan at best. A sudden need for all of this to be over with washed over Ben, he needed to not be Here anymore. They might as well just go with the flow and see how things turn out, it wasn’t like they actually had a realistic plan… at least not one that was properly thought through. Then another voice cut through the Darklight mutant turmoil.
"What stops them from coming after us once we leave? They attack the nest and cause us to scatter, enabling them to pick us off in smaller less organized groups, leaving our only hope to some small collection that happen to find a new nest to rebuild within. I say we bust a few heads before leaving, it’d give all of us a better chance and the more we take out on the way, the better chances to assess the enemies we’re dealing with."
This statement however did not come as as much a surprise. May had always been the most violent in the group and there was something about her that spoke of a difficult past. But to put it bluntly Ben thought that they would be lucky enough to make it out in one piece without throwing themselves in the path of trouble. The “no” that came form Lexi left no room from discussion, they would not be taking on the enemy, they would be following Riley’s plan and trying hard to get themselves out alive.
"If there's more protesting do it on the way, Head for the closest student dorms. Let's move out."
Ben was more than happy to follow without protest, he needed to feel useful, like he was in control of something… anything. He shot a sad and reassuring look at Michael as his friend headed of to his hiding place. Michael was braver and more sensible that the lot of them put together, if there was anyone that would be able to get people out of this mess it was him.
Re: Sunday April 1st: A Heroic Stand...?(Thought I'd leave Michael to start any encounters once we're ready, since he's scouting ahead and all... hope the postie is ok, had to keep rewriting it)
"If there's more protesting do it on the way," Lexi stated with a sense of authority that even Riley felt compelled to give a nod at her order, almost reflexive in his desire to show he understood, "Head for the closest student dorms. Let's move out." The former agents eyes remained momentarily downcast as the team left the dorm, Riley trailed close to their heels but there was a falter in steps as he turned to close the door. A grumble came, even as Riley’s hand motioned for Katie to stay back, her nose sniffled eagerly at the creak beneath the door, I can’t bring you into these halls… I can’t fight and look after you… but I’ll be back,, there was a soft ‘shh’ and a whispered word only for Katie to hear before Riley turned and chased down his advancing team. "Ill be right there" Came Michael’s voice just as Riley closed the few meters of gap which had grown between them, "Riley could you give me a hand!" Wanting to be careful yet swift, Riley aided as best he could, forcing some form of assuring smile as Michael winked, though cherishing the final moment as the panel slid back into place and just before Michael reappeared for one final, longing and worried glance to be cast towards where the soft whimpering could barely be made out from the Green’s dorm room.
"Ok that’s me safe… now… I'll go scout ahead and see whats waiting for us" While Riley didn’t intend to allow his experience to hinder Lexi’s authority, Riley did allow his body to drift nearer to their leader, wanting to give some sort of support, some sort of offer of strength at her side as Riley had been given in his younger years when his leadership skills were still in primary training. Sound and commotion was everywhere, the students were loud and it was difficult to tell who were just yelling in panic and who were yelling in need for assistance. Though a trained ear had a better chance to distinguish, and so Riley’s focus seemed acute, his face impassive, with eyes alert even if he seemed to be straining all over senses and giving off the impression of detachment to the rest of the team as they stalked the halls cautiously in Hood’s trail.
Hazel eyes peered upwards to the ceiling, eyeing the ceiling as if his ears stretched to hear the footfalls of predators on the roof above them, and while Riley was sure he heard some form of aircraft briefly, the distant soft thuds remained too faint, too obscure and light for him to even be sure they were there… A set of stairs was approaching, they were still in the team dorms however, students scuffled at the base of the stairs, yells and demands attempted to try and organize the flow of bodies rushing threw, groups seemed to be split, teams and their members called, both to and for each other. A set of voices rose heated from the stairs, angry and frightened and annoyed, Riley’s step halted, his hand placing its palm on the rails and his body leaned enough to peer over the edge to the descending stairs below. The appearance of the tall form went unnoticed by one, seen by the other, and the look of disapproval and near on disdain with the sight they made. Soon both faces were briefly upcast at him, and although Riley said nothing, his hard features soon vanished from their view and their silence was drowned in the bustle around them.
From falling a few steps behind Lexi, Riley was swiftly once again beside her, a hand reached for his weapon, pulling it free from the clothing which helped conceal it, not even a glance needed in order to secure the gun in his hand, to check the lock was on, to assess swiftly if it was ready to be used with a flick of the safety switch. Unlike the many shows on TV that had the gun showy and alert, Riley’s was low, dangled firmly at his side, at place by his thigh till the situation called for its use or readiness.
Various crashing sounds could be heard, the sound of bodies smashing their way through the glass of the outer building and entering mostly unchallenged lest some student happened to still be in the room. The newest member of Green felt a wrenching strain inside of him, knowing that should Katie be stumbled upon she’d be swiftly dealt with, slaughtered, as any good run of stealthy operations would decree.
May’s form followed them stealthily, though she crawled above on the ceiling yet with just as fluid swiftness as the rest of their footsteps carried them. A girl’s heavy footfalls were easily heard as she hurried from one of her nearby rooms, she wasn’t one any of the teams, her thick auburn hair long and braided, whipped behind the seventeen year old, green eyes squeezed shut tightly for a moment to fight back the tears. She’d been too groggy in her deep sleep to understand most of what the brief message over the announcement system had said, and all she heard now was the screaming cry of the siren that would come and go and Cerberos soft calls for evacuation. Pearl pink nailed fingers wrapped firmly about a picture frame which was clasped close to her chest, though as her forest eyes opened to peer at the students she was rushing towards, all the loneliness seemed to melt away, a look that just screamed I wasn’t left behind! no matter how absurd the thought just might have been. Though May’s voice sliced through the air with almost an annoyed hiss.
"Keep running!" The wall crawling’s arm motioned off in the direction they had just come, and while the girl looked dazed slightly, her hesitating steps slowing but never stopping, she then gave a quick certain nod and rushed past towards where the other students were still leading the evacuation further back in the team dorms. "Foolish girl," May then stated dropping from the wall and landing effortlessly on the ground, "There’s another escape route up the way she came from," scorned the red head, who’s mask had pulled away to reveal her face just sooner before but still adorned the eerie costume of her symbiont, and though May spoke with a certainty and an annoyance there was a look drifting upon May’s features which told of an unspoken concern which was more easily covered up by the anger.
"Not everyone has memorized the routes, not everyone has had the chance to yet," The words from Riley to May were not harshly spoken, though May’s anger was rippling through her and the last thing they needed was her to snap at the wrong person, these students were clueless and careless because of that, but they were scared and confused and May barking orders at them angrily wasn’t always going to work so well. May’s lips thinned, though her eyes passed briefly over Ben’s face and a flicker of thought passed her mind, causing even May’s anger to subside as she wondered over an earlier conversation in the week. Ben had come to her with questions of another youth, a youth with her last name, and her fathers name and with powers that resembled hers… The misplaced child of this times Spiderman wasn’t foolish enough to brush it off, but an unbidden fear had welled up inside of her and kept the symbiont’s host from seeking this student out. That didn’t stop her from catching a glimpse of him, as if mocking any thought of some sort of misunderstanding, Peter had appeared in the science lab, May’s haven from all things. It was confusing at first, there was such a strong resemblance to her brothers and yet he looked the spitting image of photos taken from her fathers’ youth. The quirks of having a father photographer, there was always a camera at hand which means May had memories of photos and images splattered across walls and surfaces.
If Peter Parker looked so much like her dad, May couldn’t deny the possibility of them being brother and sister, and with thoughts of Danny being dragged off to one of the many mutant cells… There was a heated sickness in her as the spider powered youth viciously thought of what she might do should anyone dare try and take this single thing from her that represented a family she no longer had. If he had been here long May was certain then that they’d have crossed paths in the science lab sooner, she was certain that he was new, and suddenly very certain that he might be one of those who Riley hinted wouldn’t have had a chance of learning the escape routes. There was a stiffness in May that became a rigid silence, her mask creeping over the flesh of her face, shielding herself from any risk of prying eyes spotting her weakness. Surely all of them had people that meant something, meant enough for them to want to break away and find them, to make sure they too were among the escorted groups fleeing from the building.
"I know," Came a cool voice from beneath May’s mask, though it was said with a certainty that didn’t seem to be a reply of understanding, but a statement of fact and knowledge, "I know them all," And it was left at that, left for the team to unravel the sentence and realize for themselves what May considered obvious, that in reply to Riley’s comment, she assured that she was not one of those who knew nothing of the emergency escapes.
Ahead of them, beyond even Hood, more yells began to grow louder, and for a brief moment, Riley felt the tickles of fear on his senses, the thought of students with powers both great and destructive, potentially aiding them in their escape, even if unable to harm those attacking them… And yet still screamed, and there Riley walked, powerless, weaker then the years before, not even prepared for what they were walking into with even the slightest hint. For a moment Riley seemed apart from himself, the teams pace picked up and even as he kept inline with Lexi he felt himself watching as they rushed down the hall with an urgency to reach their decided battleground. I get, Came the sudden realization, why Hank put me here, on this team of all teams, Riley’s eyes slid towards Lexi for a moment, and there was the faintest of smiles touching his lips, so ghostly that none but Riley himself could notice.
So used to being solo, Riley forgot that he was going into this fight with only a gun in hand to protect himself… he was going in with a team, and from what he’s seen… maybe this team would leave their fallen as readily as the teams of Riley’s past. If they were going to shoot the wounded or just recklessly abandon those who dragged the team behind and slowed them down, Michael would be rotting somewhere on the training island… this wasn’t the Initiative, this wasn’t as hold or hard a regime… and maybe it was about time he trusted someone not to give up on him, and how he really did want to believe in them… but whenever he wasn’t taking care of himself, someone seemed to be trying to kick him down, and sometimes they tried to keep him down permanently.
"Lexi," His face was looking forward again, his words steady and soft even with their rush, his voice lowered, though not so much that Lexi would have to strain to hear, "I’m not as strong as I was before," Which wouldn’t come as a surprise to the leader considering she had been warned by both Jean Grey-Summers as well as Hank McCoy regarding Riley’s transition from the surgery, though it was the first time Riley had willed himself to admit it. Yes, stronger then average men, with the skill to use that strength effectively, but his day’s of handling a full on fight with a vampire were now behind him once the drugs which strengthened the youth even more no longer pumped through his veins. To be honest, the comment wasn’t needed, it was more a reminded, perhaps showing light to a worry he never let surface, but whatever the cause, he lightened it up by finishing with a slightly mused expression briefly cracking the mask he wore, "But… do you think McCoy will get annoyed if I exert myself just this once?" Cautious eyes glanced around the hall as they passed an intersection, though Riley took the chance to eye their leader a moment, so accustomed to the sense of dread over the years that it took little effort to bring a sly little smirk despite the situation. As brief as it was, where Riley was concerned it meant something, regardless of the swiftness, the years had been hard on him and his good-humoured nature had been in a gradual decline. Moments where he did thaw seemed hard to spot for those who didn’t know where to look or how to speak with him, lately however, the last few days especially, it seemed he warmed up, even if mostly in the manner for which he addressed people.
His eyes hardened as muffled yells and anguished shouts echoed from the floor below them, the walls quaver briefly from an impact somewhere below. It doesn’t seem fair, but maybe I think the good doctor had enough faith in these people to think they could help me… He needed Lexi now, needed her to prove life before was just horrible and that people weren’t as careless as that, that life was precious, and friends were true, Riley would go back for Michael…just as the team had proven they’d support the astral mutant with his weakness as efficiently as Michael supported them with all his strengths. I have no one left to save me this time, Graham wasn’t here to carry him if Riley bled to a point he couldn’t do more then let them drag him, Connor couldn’t stumble upon him and take him to Beast’s care, There’s no one else but those around me, if I fail them, can I trust them to be as forgiving to me as they have been for Michael? Dr McCoy seems to think so… The thought echoed in a fog of adrenalin as it pumped through his system in anticipation of what was to come. Ghostly thoughts of uncertainty were pushed aside however, something more important seeming to wedge itself into Riley’s mind, This was our haven, how dare anyone shatter it’s peace like this, Lines hardened about Riley’s eyes only for another glimpse of a moment, before the impassive mask once again blanketed his features, leaving it unreadable yet alert, Let’s make whoever did this sorely regret it, Urged Riley’s thoughts, though spoken secretly to his team mates the words never fell from his lips, did they really need to though? Riley was sure, rather positive actually, they were probably all thinking the exact same thing… to some extent anyway.
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