Jack smiled as the girl cringed and worried about his burns. It was the usual response, and whilst he had had no intention of healing the burns he was always in the mood for a bit of show and tell. "They're aren't too bad love." Using his other hand he pressed down hard on his burns. Sliding his hand up as if wiping his hand and arm he felt the familiar warmth rush into his hand and smiled as he felt the burns healed. Slowing down a little to make sure he had finished all of his work he removed his other hand and presented the now perfectly fine hand to the pair. "Burns really aren't that bad. Broken nose is a bitch, I can never get it perfectly straight again." Suddenly Jack turned to Ronan. "Anyway, to answer your questions fella. I am out here because I have found no other groups. I'm sure there are groups of Outcasts marauding and hunting the Blades, like the story book heroes they want to be, but if I am honest I don't want any of that. Besides I could ask why you aren't running in a pack yourself? Never mind, I get to sit by your fire. I wouldn't want to intrude." Whilst Jack said this in a mocking way he was in fact very grateful they hadn't shoo'd him away like a rat. This was the first human contact he had had in a while and he was enjoying it.

John looked up at Ice. "I think it's this kid about our age that I met right before I found you," he said, his face screwed up in thought as to where the kid could've gotten the microchip and as to what else it might possibly be used for.

> "They're outcasts" Cerys says. "Like us. We can talk to th-" > "**No**" Oliver said firmly. "We don't know if we can trust them. They're too close to the cave" "Well like dad used to say, better than eating dirt." Haru said with a small laugh as she made a small storm cloud form beside her and she watched as it started to rain. "Haru not next to the fire!" Aki said pushing her sister so that she was under the cloud. "Gah! Aki you jerk! That was a good storm cloud too!" Haru said sitting straight up and staring sadly at the spot where her storm cloud used to be. "If you want to make storms do it around the bushes." Aki said pointing at a random bush. Haru sighed and let another cloud form over the bush and let it start raining.

A cloud formed over their heads. They looked at each other for a few seconds before it started to rail. Heavily. On them... "Shit" Oliver said, frustrated. "Uh, I mean darn" Cerys let out a small laugh before covering her mouth.

Midnight felt herself stop breathing when she noticed it was a Blade itself. It was a male. She felt her nails dig into the bark of the tree as she looked at the Blade. Mid needed to find a way to run without being seen or she might turn into the dead. She made Tim appear and she said very softly "Find a way to make the Blade go away". After two minutes, she heard a sound like a rock hitting against something. The Blade walker to where the sound was coming from while Midnight climbed down the tree and ran away. "Hey!" Someone yelled out and she heard footsteps behind her. Dammit! She thought as she ran faster. She dodged fallen trees and rocks that got in the way. Then she felt a impact knocking her down to the ground making her hit the ground hard. She looked up to see the same Blade on her with a knife raised up. She moved to the side a little right when the knife stabbed the ground where her head used to be. Her eyes widen as she looked at the knife. One second the Blade was on her, next he wasn't. She looked to where the Blade went and she felt her draw drop. Another Blade had tackled the Blade, she looked up at the face and noticed blood dripping. She narrowed her eyes and saw a gun shot wound on the head of the blade who saved her. She must have summoned something without her even knowing. She watched as the Undead Blade stabbed the live one in the chest which made him scream in pain. Midnight felt her say "Stop!" She watched as the Blade got off the one she stabbed and the body dropped as she made the soul leave the body. She got up and ran towards her home hoping to get the blood off her clothes.

Danny After the latest blade incident, Danny had gone back to his shelter to await a radio call. After some time had passed he grew anxious, the lack of responses had started to make him pretty uneasy. He lit a cigarette and closed his eyes, perfectly intent on sleeping until a radio called in, or whenever he couldn't stand sleeping anymore. He sat up suddenly as he heard maxwell on the other end of the Radio "What makes you think I'm A psyco?"

"Did you hear that Haru?" Aki asked, thinking she heard someone speaking. Haru shook her head. "Nope. All I hear is the fire and my little rainstorm." She said glancing at her older sister.

Midnight ran and ran till she reached her home, slamming the door shut as she dropped to the ground breathing heavily and shaky. She hugged her knees as she felt the whispers and cries of ghost that are now echoing off the walls.

Orson read the last page of the vampire romance novel and set the book on the floor of the pool. “Well, there’s something I thought I would never do,” he said to himself. “Laugh, it’s not the end of the world.” He stood from the lawn chair and climbed out of the empty swimming pool. “One down. Three to go.” He knew he probably wouldn’t read the rest of the books in the series even if they were in one of the offices in the gym where he spent most of his days since the barrier went up. It was one of the few barriers he couldn’t cross. He was able to get into this Athletic Club which was mysteriously hard to get into by normal means. All of the external walls were secured by large sliding steel doors. It seemed bit excessive to Orson but some people were paranoid about their things with people like him running around. The place was secluded enough as it was. It was right on the edge of the city. The two outdoor basketball courts and what was formerly a mediation garden were a stone’s throw away from the forest. Back in another life when he was Sebastian, or Baz for short, he used to come to the club frequently but not many other people attended. The members were a tight knit group and the club wasn’t well known. It was pretty nice. It had three racquetball courts and three small studios for group fitness classes. The place had a café with gas appliances which was quite useful. The kitchen was even stocked originally. The shop also held provisions. The place contained a traditional gym area with treadmills, elliptical machines, Rowing machines, Stairmasters, free weights, and the like but it wasn’t too large. That was nice as was the pool but the main reason Orson came was for the dojo which was a large space with thick dark red matts for floors. One of walls lined with punching bags. Another was originally lined with bladed weapons, sticks and protective equipment. A third wall held the trophies that the dojo had earned in various martial arts competitions as well as the entrance to the rest of the club and the final wall of the dojo was a large mirror. During the day, Orson would come to the club, work out, mediate, and train. During breaks, he would plan escape or read books. He spent most of his down time in the pool or in one of the offices. The pool was a little over 164 feet long and about 82 feet wide. The depth ranged from about 3 to 20 feet. The entire thing was empty and served as sort of lounge area for Orson where he could read or relax for a bit. Orson decided to retrieve the book and return it to the office where he had gotten it. He leaned down and grabbed it from the pool. He walked out of the pool area and by what was formerly the front desk. The empty chairs briefly made him remember what is was like before but he put the thought away. Arriving in the office, Orson returned the book next to the others in the series on the shelf. He hadn’t really wanted to read the novel but he had gone through most of his first picks from the former staff’s personal libraries. The pickings were slim at this point. He had started the novel, Justine, but decided to put that one aside for the time being. So it was either the vampire romance, something by Voltaire, or the loads of textbooks on medicine and kinesiology. He knew he would finish, Justine, at some point, because he almost always finished what he start, at least, in the way of books. The vampire novel had been selected because Voltaire seemed too heavy and he didn’t have the heart to dive into the textbooks, no matter how useful they might be to him at some point. Additionally, one of his former classmates was really into the vampire series, both the books and the movies, so he decided to give one a chance. It was an easy read and he was able to understand whysome people liked the books and why others didn’t like the books. Orson stopped by the café to retrieve some raisins and jerky for the road. It was getting late and he figured he should get back to the cabin. As he grabbed the snacks, he paused to look around. The café used to serve coffee, sandwiches, salads, yogurt, chips, fresh fruit, protein shakes and smoothies. The list went on. Now, it barely had anything besides the non-perishables that he hadn’t gone through in the time since the barrier went up. After grabbing the snacks and a flashlight, he proceed to the sub-level where the lockers and showers were. He had flashlights stashed all over the place. The main level had very dim lights that ran on emergency power that he figured was separate from the electricity the rest of the building used. The low lights had been on constantly. They didn’t use much power and weren’t very bright but he had gotten used to them. He was expecting them to go out any day now hence the flashlights. Orson flicked on the flashlight and walked over to locker number twenty-three. It was his locker. Well, they all were his lockers now. Of course they were also all unlocked now. There was a bolt cutter in one of the offices for emergencies. He opened the locker and retrieved a gray cotton long sleeve t-shirt. He slipped it on over the tan short sleeve shirt he was already wearing. Next, he put on the black vest that had pockets for everything. “Vest with tons of pockets for all your society-induced localized apocalypse needs,” he joked to himself “brought to you by raids and looting after everything went to hell.” He began to munch on the raisins as he did a quick check to make sure everything was where it should have been. He tried to be prepared for everything when going out. The last article of clothing was a leather trench coat which hung down to the knees of his durable blue jeans. The coat was mostly to look cool and match his black combat boots but it was also decently warm which is how Orson justified stealing it for himself. In locker number 24 were the standard traveling guns: a Remington Versa Max 12 gauge shotgun, a Colt 1911 pistol, and a Walther PP pistol. He holstered the pistols but held the shotgun at the ready. These guns like the others he had stashed around were stolen just like almost everything else he owned at this point. He thought about this and said “Welcome to the New Age.” After doing a final check, he returned the flash light back to the café and phased out of the building. He began to walk into the woods as silently as possible. He knew the way to the cabin in the woods but checked the compass every so often just to make sure he was heading in the right direction. He always expected one day to go back to the club and find it compromised but so far he had been able to hold it. The cabin didn’t have that problem there were traps around the perimeter far before you could see the structure. If the traps, which were mainly for animals anyway, were bypassed, the place had a second perimeter comprised completely of landmines. They weren’t hidden at all but there were so many that the average person couldn’t jump them. Orson hadn’t set any of this up though. Although he reset the traps when necessary, he hadn’t lain them down originally. The cabin was a shelter against the people with powers. Orson figured that there were some people with powers who could probably survive stepping on a landmine but then the problem would be the noise would attract attention in addition to the destruction caused by the explosion. The puzzle was how the previous resident got in and out of the cabin. After he had made it a distance equivalent to about two city blocks into the woods, Orson checked the compass again and realized how much he had benefitted from the increasing aggression and paranoia that plagued the city during its final years and months before the barrier went up.

**"Because people steal and kill each other, that's why we ain't in a group,"** Ronan responded in a gruff manner, crossing his arms. Though he couldn't lie: that was certainly impressive. Jack had managed to both piss him off and impress him in the past five minutes. Ronan briefly wondered if anyone else had done that before (not that he could remember) before reckoning with the decision that it was likely the case. Violet was much more outspoken about it, however. **"So, your power is self-regeneration?"** She looked at Ronan and then Jack with an equally cautious look for both, **"..If you don't mind me asking, I mean."** A nod of approval from Ronan. She knew what he meant: _Don't pry. Don't ask too many questions. Above all else, don't get attached._

Jack shrugged his shoulders. It was a fair enough reason to not travel in a group. He did always enjoy playing devil's advocate. "But if you were to travel in a group of those you trust surely there will be safety in numbers? Two isn't exactly many...Three! Now that is a lot safer." He liked these two. Neither seemed too insane and whilst they also weren't that forth coming that was something he may be able to earn over time. Turning to Violet now he tilted his head to the side. Looks like she still din't understand the extent. "Not just Self-Regeneration, healing in general. You stub your toe or break your arm. I can fix that. Don't worry about prying...got nothing worth hiding. Though since you know my power. Do you mind me asking yours?"

Both blue eyes met and then looked back at Jack. It seemed as if he had intentions on "traveling" with them. The only issue is that they chose not to travel or not frequently at the very least. **"Well..,"** Violet started, looking at Ronan, thinking of how they had to move camp in the morning anyway. She would have suggested near a river. Ronan would've suggested stuffing Jack into a bag and tossing him to the bottom of the river. _Scratch that idea._ **"We like bein' alone,"** Ronan finished for her, watching the smoke from a safe distance, looking at Jack through the fire, **"And my power ain't nothing important."** Well, that wasn't entirely a lie. After a few moments of fleeting silence, his gruff face softened, **"Though, if yer insistent, ye can at least stay for the night. But don't you think of doin' anything to my niece or I'll string ye up to a tree."** _Niece._ That was a new one. **"In the case,"** Violet spoke, looking at her 'Uncle', **"I suppose I can tell you that my power is the ability to shock people -- and uhm, objects, too. With electricity, that is."**

Jack smiled as they awkwardly tried to lever him away from traveling with them. It seemed Ronan had the most trouble with the idea however he could tell he was pushing his luck with Violet and so simply nodding his head. "I would love to spend the night here, thank you." Though the comments on his niece came as a shar and short shock to the system. Jack couldn't help being charming, or at least trying to be, and whilst he appeared cocky and a 'ladies man' he was incredibly respectful and wouldn't have actually tried anything. Violet's power was an interesting one adn Jack smiled as she filled him in. "So if I were to need a phone charging, you would be the one too see?" Jac smiled at his comment and moved slightly away from the fire. Now that he knew he could stay he finally removed his rucksack. Opening the top he removed a small pillow with a few stains and small holes. Placing the pillow slightly behind him he fell back and gently lay his head down. Zipping up his jacket he turned up the collar and felt a warmth that was only buffered by the fire and his new found compatriots.

> John looked up at Ice. "I think it's this kid about our age that I met right before I found you," he said, his face screwed up in thought as to where the kid could've gotten the microchip and as to what else it might possibly be used for. "That freaky-deaky kid who was running ahead of you?" Ice asks, looking over his shoulder at the microchip. "Is that who you're talking about? Why would you take anything from that guy?" She tries to look serious, but she can't. She giggles quietly under her breath.

John smirked. "I kind of didn't have a choice. He ran off after the radio announcement and he shoved this into my hand. He seemed nice enough. Little mad at me for ruining his spot to sleep for the night but whatever. Well if it is a tracker, we should keep an eye out for him. There's safety in numbers, and three Outcasts could be quite the team," John said, putting the chip back in his bag.

Ice nods, frowning at the microchip. She hates being tracked, but she had to agree with John. If there are a ton of Blades around, the more they had in numbers of Outcasts, the better of a chance they have. She leans back and walks away from him. She walks back over to the door and leans up against it with a sigh. She watches the clock.

Philip stood up and closed his laptop. He would need to pay for his internet again, as he used a wireless hotspot he had found in one of the apartments a few blocks away. This meant that he would have to either use what little funds he still had in hidden accounts on the internet, or go out and steal some Blade's identity to pay for it, possibly after he was dead. Deciding that he'd rather keep the little bit of money he had, he dimmed his Light and walked out of the computer room. He went to his closet and pulled out a costume. He had decided long ago to make a game out of messing with them, then putting it on Youtube to show the world that they weren't the noble defenders of the people that they pretended to be. In fact, that was only one of the ways he liked to mess with the Blades. Most of his ways amounted to childish pranks meant to make them look stupid, like the time he put pepper juice on the toilet paper of a scouting party, or to sew discord among the ranks, like when he planted stolen pictures of one man's girlfriend in another man's sleeping bag. Some of his efforts, however, struck a real blow for mutant kind, like when he sabotaged their generators, putting there efforts on hold for over a week. This one, however, was just to make them look like fools. He put on his [predator costume](http://www.thehunterslair.com/uploads/gallery/album_132/med_gallery_11565_132_403549.jpg) complete with working arm blade and mask that he found in a comic book store. Once he was ready he grabbed his backpack, rolled up the blanket over the door which was there to block his light from escaping the cracks, and opened the door. After pushing the cases of beer out of the way, he climbed through the shelf and closed the door. He then put the cases back in place and camouflaged himself, taking on one of the more menacing traits of the of the being he was pretending to be. *This is going to be fun.* he thought as he walked upstairs to go look for one of his enemies.

**"Actually, I have no idea,"** Violet responded to Jack's comment, finishing the last bite of her rabbit. When she had followed Ronan towards Shade, she had dropped it in the dirt. It wasted her some extra time to clean it off with her hands, but it was still food. And by the sounds of her grumbling stomach, that was better than anything else, **"Never tried,"** she spoke through a mouthful of rabbit before tossing the leg somewhere in the now mostly darkened forest. As Jack made himself comfortable, so did Ronan. And for once, that didn't actively involve holding a shotgun. Violet would be kidding herself if she believed this was simply because he was low on ammo or because Jack obviously showed some regeneration factor, but maybe she wasn't. Maybe Ronan genuinely was alright with Jack's presence, though his facade was always a mystery to her and she could never tell if someday he would end up going soft. Violet caught a glance of Ronan from across the fire that was now dying down. He was relaxed against a tree with his arms crossed and eyes scanning the woods, as if he were expecting trouble. Though this didn't seem to bother Violet much as she found herself in a ball-shaped position on the ground, with a sweater covering her thighs. A few moments of silence had passed before another word was spoken. This time it was by Ronan, **"Well, Jack. I have a question for ye then. Have you traveled these woods any good or any far?"** Wait a minute. . _Was **Ronan** truly asking a stranger where a good camping spot could be at?_ That would be impossible to even imagine.

Midnight couldn't believe she killed someone with her own powers. She could still here the guy's scream which made her powers slip from her control which made the echoes of ghost get louder. She didn't know she summoned a corpse to help her at all. So it wasn't her fault....maybe a little but not a lot. She felt her powers go under her control so she stood. She went to the living room and sat down. But what really was bugging her was that there was actually real people out in the woods. Which made her smile a little as she grabbed her journal that she hid and drew the people she saw.

"Come on, let's just go." Oliver said. Cerys nodded in agreement. They got up and started wondering through the forest again. Oliver was soaked. He checked his big and gave a huge sigh of relief when he found out that the food was still dry. **Bang**. A shot rang out from nowhere. A bullet ripped through Oliver's arm. He let out a cry of pain and Cerys gave a small yelp before creating a forcefield around them. From the darkness Blades surrounded them. They were all wearing exosuits powered by a glowing blue energy that flowed through the _veins_ of the suit. There was too many of them. Bullets hit the forcefield and Cerys winced a bit as each one hit it. One of the Blades pulled out a gun. It wasn't like any normal gun. It was glowing blue in certain parts and looked pretty scary. He took aim at Oliver and Cerys and fired. The bullet was like any other bullet except from the small blue glow on it. It hit the forcefield and Cerys let out a cry of pain. "Do something" Cerys pleaded. Oliver looked around until he noticed they were right next to a tree. A small smile forced itself upon Oliver. "When I say, run but keep your forcefield up" He said to Cerys. She nodded. Oliver placed his hand on the tree and closed his eyes. The tree started to turn purple slowly from the base upwards. When the whole tree was purple and glowing he shouted. "**Run!**" They both ran as bullets hit the forcefield. They turned around to see the Blades slowly closing in in them. The tree exploded. Violent purple and orange flames engulfed the Blades; melting trough their armour and destroying them. They both sighed in relief.