KATHERIN

Katherin helped where she could. She wasn't overly strong but she would use ice to help slip debris off people. Or to help them be pulled out from under debris. More often then not she used her power to freeze or numb wounds. Doing so allowed those who were patching and healing more time to get to the victims. She was glad that her ability could help others. That was the only thing she had ever wanted to do.

Flood looked at the sky and frowned. While the students that had been found mostly survived, many teachers died. Among which were some of the former students parents. If anyone tried to read his emotions they would find the usual insanity that emanated from him, but would find a small tinge of sympathy for everyone as well. "Where's Connor? I need to report to him ASAP." He asked out loud.

It had been a long day, with Connor constantly calling Ryan to see how the substitute formula was going, as well as helping with anything he could. A few times he went to get more medical supplies, but he never went far, a constant prescence around the destruction.

As flood called out for him, Connor sighed wearily, but went over to him.

Connor had yet to remove his suit, and he doubted he would until everything was sorted, until he could go home.

"What is it, Flood?"

Arnold

Arnold had helped out just enough to make sure people could say that he was there. He refused to do anything to ruin his new suit. He just wanted to get credit for being there. It would go a long ways to helping him move up in the word. He was plotting big things. He already made his fortune. He had increased his brothers' meager savings. They were now officially millionaires. He planned to make them billionaires soon.

It had been a long day, with Connor constantly calling Ryan to see how the substitute formula was going, as well as helping with anything he could. A few times he went to get more medical supplies, but he never went far, a constant prescence around the destruction.

As flood called out for him, Connor sighed wearily, but went over to him.

Connor had yet to remove his suit, and he doubted he would until everything was sorted, until he could go home.

"What is it, Flood?"

"After thoroughly investigating the rubble, I rescued exactly 17 students. I have found no evidence of who or what could've have destroyed the Academy. The only clue I have found is that certain species of plants that have never been in this envirkment are now here, but that can probably be explained by a student raising new plants before the Academy was destroyed." Flood explained. He looked directly at Connor. "Personally, I think the case might be unsolvable. But I will continue investigating if you want me to."

Makoto had been diligently studying and attending classes all day. Her schooling often required much of her focus so she almost never heard about the news until it trickled through social media to reach her. She was walking towards home, a small shared townhouse between herself and 3 other students at the same university. Only one of the 3 was also majoring in Health Science where as the other two were in very different programs; one in Social Sciences and the other in Information Technologies. Her heavy, old school, beat up brick of a phone hung made an outline on her brown messenger bag. Her text books bumped against her hip as she walked with her hands in the pockets of her open zippie sweatshirt. Of course her sweater was bright orange and the oversize hood was pulled up over her blonde hair. Often Makoto walked like this, hiding her indigo eyes from other's view. She even took the extra step to wear glasses to detract others from them, often passing off the oddity as a genetic deformity. In reality she knew it was because of her powers, it changed her body's makeup the more she used it, became more of a conductor in a safe way for her body. As usual, many students were both walking to and from the school in the evening. Makoto strongly disliked the late afternoon/evening classes, she was much more of a morning person.

"...superpower academy..."

Makoto's head snapped up and faltered in her quiet, don't mess with me, stride. It was a young male talking with his friends loudly as they walked towards the school. She listened in, slowing her pace to the dismay of those behind her.

"... good thing too, they freak me out. Plus, who needs superhero's today anyway?..." the same boy continued.

The words stung Makoto, knowing all to well it's not a choice for those gifted with superhuman abilities. His demeanor seemed to be that of one seeking acceptance. She could tell that he more meant it to stay as a in guy with the boys he was walking with more than he meant the harsh words. Yet, what was he implying.

"...to blow up the school is definitely one way of dealing with the issue..." another boy spoke.

Makoto was shocked at what she heard. She listened all the more carefully at the young men's conversation, confirming what had happened and when. So not to look odd, and taking all the restraint she had, Makoto quickened her pace to what it was before the boys came along and managed to make it all the way home.

As soon as Makoto walked in the door she was relieved to find that the house was mostly empty. Her IT roommate was engrossed in a video game, so he was hardly home in all reality. She rushed up to her room, sifting through what she would need along the way. Makoto moved as fast as she could, gathering some essentials. She was planning for a day trip and maybe an overnight stay, after all she was a 30 minute bus ride away from the Academy's town. The last thing she did before rushing out the door was write a note to her roommates. She said that there had been a sudden issue at home and that she was going back for a bit. Grabbing her bus schedules and maps for both towns she sped out the door, calling Storm's cell phone.

On the bus Makoto tried Storm's cell again. She knew her unofficial mother supplied sometimes at the Academy, Makoto hoped she wasn't there today and that she was just busy saving the world. She resolved to reviewing relevant sections she had pulled from her textbooks to use in emergencies. Assessment, care and even the parts on electricity. After what felt like an eternity, she got off the bus at the closest stop to the Academy.

Makoto was horrified. Dust had already settled and emergency crews still picked away at the debris, laying the dead out in neat rows. Many of those still affiliated with the Academy were there, graduates and other gifted folk helping with the effort. Makoto tried to come close, to join them but was quickly stopped by a police officer.

"You don't understand," Makoto pleaded with him, as he tried to lead her away as the rest of his unit seemed to be in charge of keeping the crowds at bay. "I came to help, this was my school." Still he pushed. Having been under strain as it was Makoto pushed back, using a bit of her powers. She amplified her own body's electricity and guided the excess into the police officer's body. "Let.Me.Go." her statement was a final one, knowing his body would feel like pins and needles all over his skin. Quickly, finally realizing his mistake he released her.

Makoto rushed to the mass of people scattered across the rubble, her hood back and glasses gone, sturdy shoes kept their grip on the rubble. Storm's fate gnawed fiercely in her mind, but Makoto had come to understand that one must still act with wisdom and accuracy even with fear there.

"I can help!" She called, slightly brethless from the ordeal. "I'm a defibrillator." She was unsure if everyone heard her so she scanned the people for a familiar telepath. Looking around she noticed many gifted people whom she knew well, why hadn't they contacted her earlier?

While still going she noticed that Phoebe had made her way back. Surely she was looking for her father. Knowing better than to leave Phoebe alone in her search she followed the young woman to Bruce's once office. Stepping next to her she put a hand on her shoulder. "Would you like me to check first?"


With her head spinning Estella heard something. A voice of someone familiar. It took a moment for it to sink in and when she connected the dots she stood up suddenly. Makoto had returned. Sudden movement was a bad idea though and she stumbled nearly falling over. Thankfully she was caught and given time to get her barings. "Mokoto!" Trying again she her way through people to the other girl. The only oddity was that Estella had used her real name. Most of the time she had come to call her Gale out of habit.

Makoto smiled limply at Estella, an old friend. They had been close at the academy but after they graduated, the two had lost contact with the other. She had many positive memories about the elemental telepath.

"Hello Estella." She said, warmth filling her tone. "Is there a medical tent or has anyone just recently died? Please, tell everyone I can help if that's the case." her tone steeling to a more professional key. Makoto lifted the flap of her bag, exposing some basic first aid supplies and a few textbooks with elaborate titles on the spine, as if to explain what she could do. She didn't completely realize that Estella may not have known that she was in health science and knew her way around basic health care.

Mokoto assumed right. Since their parting ways she had not kept up well with many of the graduates. And ordinarily she wouldn't have known about the profession she had chosen to pursue. Storm did know however and at the very moment Estella was being heavily influenced by their encounter that night. Smiling proudly she stepped closer and wrapped Mokoto up in a hug. "Yes I know. I'm so proud of you Makoto. The medical tent is this way." Taking her hand she lead her former classmate to where the injured were.

After being seen to have his hands properly cleaned and bandaged, Adrian exited the medical tent still looking a little shaken and exhausted, but ultimately much better now that he'd had a chance to have his wounds looked at and clear his head. During his search for survivors Adrian had never stopped trying to find any piece of evidence that could help him find the one responsible for the school's destruction. It defied explanation, as the (self proclaimed) world's second greatest hunter, Adrian had been taught from the moment he was capable of learning that everything left some sort of trail behind when it moved. It could be anything; a scent, a track, even something as easily missed as a bent branch or a crushed leaf. Sure in the city it was a bit harder to find a trail, but even then the pattern still remained the same. But there was no evidence to be found here, nothing that could possibly used to track. The only thing Adrian knew of that left absolutely no traces was when someone or something went full on scorched earth, but even that couldn't have been the case as it would have wiped out everything.

Adrain gripped his head as if trying to force his brain into overdrive, "There's got to be something I missed. Has to be. Has to be." he muttered tiredly.

Nicholas had helped the daughter of Daredevil putting his mask back on to hide his face form everyone,He slowly picked up the girl helping her on her feet and into the medical tent.Once he got inside she thanked him and looked around for a moment to think if he should help but shook his head saying goodbye to Mordock's daughter heading out of the tent.

Phoebe turned to Kagerou, pitifully grateful for the offer. but she shook her head. "I just don't want to check alone" She said softly, "I was going to call. To ask if he'd take one day off, to hang out with Daniel. Why didn't I?" She swallowed, and turned back to the rubble. There was nothing more to say. They both knew he would have hated to be away, when something like this happened. It was just her own guilt.

She began to move it with her vines, knowing full well that Kagerou could move it more easily.



COnnor looked around, a long, lingering gaze at the destruction. "Flood, we have seen something like this both, haven't we? On a smaller scale. In power development, with Sue. Whose to say that there isn't someone with Sue's abilities out there? After all there's plenty of empaths, telepaths, out there. Why not more sound users? Of course, this is massive scale. Just one of many theories about what could have happened Here. Excuse me, I should go stop Adrian before he kills himself searching" He said, his eyes having landed on his team mate.

"Adrian!"

@t2wave @knight125

Makoto let Estella guide her into the tent where a mature man worked expertly, she didn't recognize him but he also wasn't in a paramedic's uniform. Paramedics were around, working with what they had and transporting who they could fit to what Makoto assumed was the closest hospital. Makoto resolved to the option that the strange man was gifted and was either extremely educated or could heal others. A flicker of envy burned inside her, all she ever wanted was to help like that but her gift was one of destruction. Well, she really shouldn't think like that. Storm had taught her that if she put enough effort and thought into it, she could use her powers for anything. As it stood she already knew how to act as an AED and jump start someone's heart. On that note she looked around, spotting a paramedic doing chest compressions while another was headed towards him with a stretcher.

"Wait!" Makoto called, catching the attention of some bystanders. "Let me help." she rushed over, caught up in the moment and forgetting to thank Estella. The paramedic looked confused and frustrated with her. "No, really, I use electricity. I know how to shock his SA node." By now the other paramedic had reached them. With the consent of the one doing compression, the other helped prep the student as best she could. Makoto confirmed with the medics the approximate age and thus voltage to be used. She placed her hands quickly on the top right of the dead boy's chest and one to his right side just below the arm pit. "Alright..." she said, raising her hands slightly off the boy. "... clear?" the paramedics nodded and Makoto pressed her hands onto the boy's bare skin. He jolted, his muscles flexing involuntarily. Makoto raised her hands, a paramedic checking for a pulse, she shook her dead no. "... clear?" the boy flexed again and the woman checked for a pulse. This time she nodded, a slight smile breaking across her tired face. Makoto beamed at the success, her first human one, and moved out of the way of the paramedics.

Helps move some of the rubble. This place was barely recognizable in the aftermath. Shelves knocked over and crushed, books strewn everywhere. The desk that he often sat behind was in similar shape. Whoever had planned this did the job well because if Bruce was a target then they accomplished their goal. Anticipating the coming emotions Kagerou stood close, ready to comfort Phoebe.


She watched Makoto work. Expertly the young woman controlled her ability to such a degree that she could restart a human heart without harming them. That was not something she herself could do. Part of that might be because her abilities were spread across many elements. But also it had never occurred to to use it in such a way. Having witnessed the saving of a life she walked up to Makoto. "That was amazing. I didn't know you had progressed so far with your abilities."

Phoebe

Even as grief tore at her, Phoebe's expression became blank. She took everything in, but didn't seem to react. Five years. Five years wasn't that long a time, made smaller by the fact she could have had 27 years. "I'm going to rebuild this school. After I catch the ones who did this" She said softly, standing there, and for a moment, it might seem that she was frozen in place, before she looked away. Her composure broke, and she shuddered, closing her eyes tight, she sought to rein herself in. It was only will power that stopped her from breaking down. "Um. I left plants were there were students, alive. We should...see if...if there are still some that need to be taken to the medical tent"

Her voice shuddered as she spoke, but there were still things to do. There was no sense in breaking down, not now. She couldn't stay there. Before she even knew what she was doing, she had fled, running back down the rubble. The familiar shape of Katherin drew her, and scrambling, she flung herself at her friend, holding onto her tight, something familiar in a landscape of unfamiliarity.

Flood nodded at Connor and looked over at Makoto. He saw her revive a student and smiled. Always the helpful one. He grimaced when he realized someone was going to have to tell her about Storm. He walked over towards Makoto and stopped. "Makoto. I need to tell you something." He had a slightly mournful look on his face as he took off his cowboy hat. "It's Storm. She's... I'm sorry." He looked at Estella and mentally pleaded for her to explain. He was always terrible at this type of thing.

@Caits
Katherin

Katherin wrapped her arms around Phoebe. Had Phoebe located her father? Or was Bruce still missing? She wanted to ask but she needed to comfort her friend first. She couldn't imagine what she would do without her father and she had had him her whole life. Phoebe had only had Bruce a few years. It wasn't fair for to lose him so soon. Especially like this. We'll find them Phoebe. We'll make sure that they pay for what they did.

@t2wave @floodtalon

Makoto smiled at Estella, not really knowing how to explain why she chose the life she leads now. It was all intertwined with dreams of her past and learning to work productively with the naturally destructive power she had. Makoto had just done what Storm had always encouraged her to do, really think about something form all angles and find the best solution for the purpose she had in mind. She didn't even want to go there right now though, having not heard from Storm yet. Makoto mumbles a thanks to Estella, still holding her hands in front of her like a surgeon who was all prepared for surgery.

Makoto was glad to see Flood when he approached and waved in greeting. She was always glad to see him though many other gifted people seemed to stay away from him and his father.

"What do you mean..?" Makoto began, her face sombering at the way Flood was behaving and what he said. After her great success it took her mind a second to shift gears and to piece together what the young man could be talking about. No, she didn't want to believe it. Storm had to be out saving the world. There was no way that she could loose her parental figures twice, the world wouldn't be that cruel... would it? "Flood?" she croaked. It was a plea, for an explanation and to prove her worst fears wrong. One could hear the utter heartbreak in her tone, though she tried to hide it. With all of her being, right down to the deepest parts of her core she prayed that Storm would be alright, that though Flood had never joked about this kind of thing before, it would just be a cruel joke. Then she could punch his shoulder and keep going, keep working, keep hoping for the best.

This entire time she had been trying to figure out how to tell Makoto about Storm. Nothing seemed appropriate to say so she held her tongue for the moment. And then Flood let the cat out of the bag. For a second she had a flashback to the woman's final moments that they shared in their mind. Snapping out of it she took a deep breath to try and keep herself together. But there didn't seems to be much success in that endeavor. "She... she didn't make it, Makoto. I found her. I tried to get to her, but there wasn't enough time. All I could do... all I could do was..." Looking like she was about to have a breakdown her expression suddenly softened.

She looked at Makoto for a moment as confusion crossed her face. Glancing around she shot one glance down at herself. She spoke to herself it seemed, her speech pattern having shifted similarly to that of Storm's. "Dear girl, what have you done?" Looking back up she tried to remember what had happened. Yes, the academy was attacked. It had knocked her out, presumably buried. Estella had found her and they "talked" briefly before she began to slip. Believing death had come to take her she could feel the pull to let go, and she did.


Had she been mistaken on what the sensation was? Lifting her hand up to her mouth in shock she took a couple steps back. "No, this cannot be. Estella what have you done?" Transferring a mind to another body was not unheard of in her experiences. It had always required extremely complicated technology or a very high level telepath to accomplish though.

Noticing the pain with mixture of confusion on Makoto's face she stepped forward cautiously. It didn't matter how it happened at the moment. Makoto needed comforting. "Do not cry dear. It's me, Ororo. I don't know how but I am here with Estella. She saved me the only was she could." Being at eye level with Makoto was not something she was used to. Compared to her normal height Estella was quite a bit shorter.

Phoebe

Phoebe soon gained control of herself, but she still clutched to Katherin. For a few moments, she just wanted the warmth of friendship. Eventually though, she pulled away. "They're not going to go down easy. And the only way they will stay down, is...if they are killed"

She swallowed, and looked aside. How long could they stay here, searching for bodies, for survivors? How long until they could find anything that might lead them to who did this?

"What do we do?" It was a hopeless question, merely made of frustration.

Kalinda

Kalinda eventually just had to get away. Being here all day, it took a massive toll of her. She needed some distance, some...closure herself. How many people had she felt slip away today? Their emotions dying off, until there was a kind of acceptance for their fate?

She didn't know. But those last, dying emotions swam around inside her, until she was no good to anyone.

She found her way into the trees that had surrounded the school, leaning against a tree, and meditated. She wondered, fleetingly, about her clients, but she couldn't do anything for them now.