[IC] X-Men: United We Stand

[Omega Man]

So the school is getting by after Cyclops became a revolutionary and split from the core X-Men after killing Xavier while possessed by the Pheonix Force. Scott Summers went on to buck authority and reevaluate his stance on mutant rights, but the rest of the X-Men were targeted as possible threats. When a new General in the MRD, using new Sentinel tech and weaponry, decides to neutralize the threat personally, he hires an inside man in the Institute to plant a virus in Cerebro which causes the Mansion to go into lockdown mode and several students and staff are killed and large sections of the dorms and school are damaged from panicking students with uncontrollable powers. Shadowcat, Colossus, Iceman, and Storm are captured, and are eventually tortured and experimented on [cloned, somewhat... NEW ENEMIES!!! LOL]. It's up to Beast to get things rolling on the rebuilding of the school, and the X-Men. The students themselves asked if there was anything they could do. Another just asked about getting a costume. Either way... united they stand, as the New X-Men.

Rules:

1.) No back-to-back posting.

2.) PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND SET-UPS!!

3.) Make sense. If we can't make heads or tails of your posts they're likely to get skipped over.

4.) Get permission before using another player's character in your posts if it involves changing the scene or making actions. Everybody will take beatings in this game in battle however, so don't get pissed if you get punched or blasted into a wall by the bad guys!

5.) Problems with the game or players should be sent directly to me through PM's. I don't want a bunch of bickering in the OOC.

6.) Abandoned characters will be used as NPC's or killed off within the context of the story.

7.) “I was waiting for [insert player/character] to make a move” is not an excuse to not post.

8.) My word is law.

9.) In the event that I'm offline for any period of time, the deputy GM (not yet selected) will take control and [b]HIS/HER[b] word will then be law.

---

It had been a week since the destruction of the Xavier Institute. Didn't seem as shocking considering months ago Xavier was killed by the first X-Man, Cyclops, while he was possessed by the Phoenix Force. About the only thing more uncharacteristic than that was Cyclops and Magneto creating a splinter faction of the X-Men. Beast and other long term members of the X-Men as well as civilian staff at the Institute always did what they could to keep the school going and the dream alive no matter what managed to happen. But this was something that the blue haired X-Man didn't prepare for, not only was the mansion attacked but most of the remaining X-Men living at the Institute were either killed or captured. The rebuilding had already begun, and the new janitor Odin was hard at work with the rest of the staff. And Rogue had recently been killed as a member of Capt. America and Havok's Uncanny Avengers. Jubilee, Warpath, and Northstar were killed while the other X-Men were captured last week. It was all that Hank McCoy could do not to have a nervous breakdown. But he always kept his chin up, he HAD to be an example for the students to follow, and not some savage like Wolverine used to be.

"Let's see...." Hank began thinking out loud in the bomb shelter with several of the mutants, now New X-Men, hanging around underground as well, "Odin and the contractors are up top discussing the rebuild, Angel has got everyone settled in the Brooklyn shelter.... what am I forgetting?"

"You're forgetting that Steve shorted out one of the holo-droids from this ancient danger room tech and you're the only one who can fix it..." Scattershot said approaching his instructor.

"Ah, Jacob, I knew you'd still be training in the gym. You know there's still a world up top, right?" Beast joked.

Jacob was the first student to step up and accept Beast's offer to become an X-Man and rescue those captured the week before. The X-Men's membership had dropped since several had become members of the Avengers, while others chose to walk away from the bright costumes and tv show theatrics. Still, some of them are dead, and Jacob was just thankful to be alive. And thankful there were a few operational holo-droids still in the bomb shelter that was now their HQ. Scattershot had trained for the last week and managed to gain a little more control of the thick glass like energy aura that surrounds him when he flies. Now he could produce the same aura, a goldish white transparent energy, around his fists and make the same scattershot effect as when he flies into something. He'd been blasting the solar energy from his hands already, but hadn't yet been able to produce a scattershot blast. But the scattershot fists were now also something to be thankful for.

"I know Hank, I just feel like after last week I need to fly around the city and save mutants everywhere. Especially in this suit... that 3D printing tech you used for these suits is leaps and bounds over what the general public is making with 3D printers..." Jacob began, "but when are we gonna start looking for the captured X-Men?"

"THAT'S what I was forgetting! My contacts in the government got a lead on the MRD unit who crashed in and kidnapped our people. Apparently some crazed general with an agenda, General Staton, got a group of about twenty soldiers and a handful of scientist to go rogue and began targeting mutant rights supporting groups. Magneto confirmed yesterday the new Brotherhood had been attacked, and of course he felt the need to remind me he wasn't involved with them anymore. One of theirs was captured as well, Avalanche..." Hank said to Jacob who was taking all of the info in.

"I wonder why they're kidnapping mutants?" Scattershot mumbled.

"Whatever the reason, Jacob, it can't be good." Beast concluded now with a more stern look on his face like he was formulating a plan.

~KL~

[Solemn]

Twigs, dead leaves and pine needles crunched underfoot, almost drowned out in Jeanvieve's head by her mantra and her heavy breathing. She felt a ringing in her ears, her heart pumping hard enough to kill a baseline human; she could feel the damned thing rattling her supernaturally strong ribcage. Vivi wove between trees, leapt over logs and danced between fallen leaves as if death itself had rose up to claim her. Far from it. Each step was heavy, determined. Purposeful. Of course the weights on her ankles, wrists and the military surplus backpack filled with an approximation of supplies, balanced as you could get it with a frying pan and a kukri of pure iron strapped to it, weighed her down more than usual.

Still...she appeared to float between the trees like a ghost, the sound of her movement was the only true testament of its existence. Sweat poured down her forehead, back, legs and arms, making the layers of warm clothing cling tighter than comfortable. The hiking boots made it hard for her to move like she wanted, she felt restricted and careless with each step - not that her movement reflected such a thing. She felt sloppy. Imperfect.

Jeanvieve's breaking point hit instantly, she fell to her knees and gave her morning's sustenance back to the earth unwillingly. Droplets of sweat fell to the earth as she heaved, her stomach cramping and wrenching against the intensity of her seeming self-abuse. Slowly, carefully, she sat up, sitting back on her feet and taking a deep breath. She'd lost most of her friends, her team was either captured or dead - she didn't know which and that ate at her more than anything else. Not that she would tell anyone...no, the only one she would've told was gone. Some secret mission for the government. She spat bile onto the ground and gritted her teeth, the clearest display of emotion she may have ever shown, but if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it...does it make a sound?

V strode from the forest calmly, mostly glad she remembered to pack mouthwash this time. Her breathing and the beating of her heart had returned to normal, but she was a little shaky. At least...in as much as she could be. Her body required a substantial amount of food with this new regimen of hers, but that basically meant free rein on caloric intake. She liked that. Food was one of her very few vices, an indulgence no one could every truly deny having in some form or another. V finished off her canteen and let it fall, the strap snapping tautly as it fell into place on her shoulder.

As she moved up to her mostly unfinished room to stow and care for her gear, she planned her meal. It would have to be something heavy to make up for all the lost protein. Steak and avocados? She gave a look that said "not too shabby" as she pulled the clinging, sweat-caked clothing off layer-by-layer. Her muscles ached, hot and pulsing as she switched to her typical workout gear. Before, of course...applying another coating of deodorant. You can train all you want, but God forbid you forget to cover up the scent of your humanity and people turn their noses up. A smile caught her by surprise as she pictured her old team leader's face. Her eyes closed tightly and she swallowed back emotional attachment like she was trained to do. Food...focus on the food. She told herself, reassured herself really. Enabled herself not to feel anything but anger for those that destroyed her home.

Was this her home? She paused to check her sense of loyalty to her family, an odd sense of conflict boiling up. Vivi passed it off as hunger and jogged down to find something to eat. Perhaps someone would need help afterwards, there wasn't a lack of anything to do and she had spent hours doing push-ups, sit-ups, pull ups, swimming laps and going on her runs this morning already. She'd watched the sunset from a tree top and felt next to nothing, but it seemed like the thing to do. To her, the steam rising from the tea cup and the leaves steeping, reaching out into the water was every bit as beautiful. Of course it did resemble droplets of sanguine life-force overtaking water. Which only served to make her stomach rumble with hunger.

Jeanvieve's fingers twisted a medium-sized santuko knife around in delicate little arcs before decisively chopping into her lunch with a precise *schlik*.

[knighthawk]

wip

Odin was in the fight of his life. Every urge was screaming at him to do the right thing but the only thing stopping it was a flick of his wrist. He could end it all if he did the right thing.

"Who you trying to kid? This is a school, don't think we know what you are trying to pull, your figures are all off. You know we ordered three different kinds of steel for different parts of the construction, so why are we being charged for just the one? Don't you dare try to tell me its the wholesale for the cheapest. I can see its retail for the best. You think they wouldn't send the psychic to check this stuff over?"

The construction worker turned three shades whiter as the blood drained from his face.

[Endrance]

It was only a week since the disaster and still it was something Aaron couldn't quite come to terms with. He had survivors guilt at the top of his mind, and it didn't quite help the fact that up until then, he had been the happiest in his life he had ever been. The once extremely shy young adult was finally coming out of his shell thanks to his two extroverted friends, Caleb and Jacob, and although he still hadn't outwardly said it to either of his friends, things had been going amazingly with Zhayne...

Zhayne though... What would he say when he saw Aaron sporting his latest freakish mutation? Often, he had self loathed his golden color but it's true when they say you don't know what you've got till its gone, because now that skin and hair was replaced with a jet black color scheme save his golden iris. Aaron had actively been avoiding him not sure what to say, and honestly scared of his reaction. Although he knew Zhayne wasn't the type of person to be all about aesthetics, he wasn't comfortable with himself and he sure wasn't sure what this whole mutation was about. If he was dying, it surely felt like he was in his prime... but what if he accidentally hurt his friends?

To that end, he'd been holed up in his room from the point these new phenotypes decided to show themselves, which was about a day after the destruction. It was weird, he hadn't been very hungry only eating once since being here, and it was an apple at that. He also had a weird craving for chocolate which he suppressed, laying on his side, staring at the wall. He was thankful that everyone he knew was too busy to even bother with him right now, although he felt as if he should be more thankful that none of his friends had actually died that night...He was often at war with himself these days, running his hand through his hair often, and once in awhile, checking the mirror to see if he'd turned back gold.

Today, he sat on the edge of his bed, fighting the temptation to just go outside and pretend to be as mellow as he was a month ago...(well before Professor X expired...). He stood up, sighed walked towards the door, extended his hand, and then dropped it, favorably deciding to pace back and forth. This is stupid...i should be out training...or showing Mr.Beast. Maybe he could figure out what's going wrong... "Ugh..."Was all that escaped his lips. Fine. He'd just exit his room. Half way into his pacing he quickly whipped around and like a zombie, moved towards his door. As his forefingers gingerly touched the knob of the door, he heard two knocks...

[CrimsonWarrior55]

It had been a full week since the militarized attack, and subsequent destruction, of the X-Mansion. Re-constructive efforts were in full swing, and the student body had been divided into those who were willing to fight, and the majority who either couldn't or wouldn't. The latter where relocated to an apartment complex purchased by Charles Xavier in case of such an event, and overseen by the X-Man Warren Worthington III, or Angel. The former had altered their location to an underground bunker a ways away from the mansion and formed a new X-Men group, appropriately dubbed the New X-Men, led by the ever-stalwart veteran X-Man Henry "Hank" McCoy... The Beast.

However, Shuya "Stephen" Denzan, or Steve for short, was completely unaware of these facts, or indeed anything that had happened this past week for he had been in a coma. You see, during the attack a young new mutant with an explosive ability accidentally blew a hole in a wall right behind Steve, punching a hole in the water main, drenching Steve and shorting out his powers, causing him extreme pain and paralyzing his motor skills. As if this wasn't bad enough, Steve then fell backwards onto an exposed wire. Without his powers he couldn't safely absorb the voltage and received a massive shock, the strain of which drained his energy reserves and knocked him into said coma.

Luckily though, he was found in short order by some survivors, and Beast brought him to the new HQ's medical bay. There, Beast hooked Steve up to the necessary machines to keep him alive. In addition, Steve's abilities reset and he began to subconsciously leech off the machines electricity to restore his reserves. However this did cause a few problems, like shorting out holo-drones on their charging stations. And thus we get to where we are now. The medical bay, where Steve's body gave one final push, absorbing enough power to shut off the lights of the whole bunker for 3 seconds, and he suddenly awoke with a jolt.

"GAH!!!" He cried out, bolting upright in bed, gasping heavily. Panicking at the unfamiliar setting, Steve looking wildly around, before noticing the breathing tube in his nose. Ripping it out, as well as all of the other pads and needles jutting out of his body, Steve quickly moved to get out of bed, only to find his legs couldn't support his weight and he was sent crashing to the floor. Now more confused than ever, he again tried to stand, but stumbled right into the heart monitor, sending it crashing to the ground. Now very scared, Steve tried to reach for the doorknob, hoping he could suddenly reach it, and as he did his vision began to tunnel, and his arm suddenly became like his electricity as if he were about to enter a current. Startled, his arm reformed and he could nothing but stare at it and wonder "What the hell is going on?"...

(Sorry 'bout basically rewriting the entire synopsis, but I couldn't figure out how to do an intro for an unconscious character without it. Also, I had to guess about how someone in a week long coma would be affected by atrophy, so I based it off one night when I woke up from a seizure).

[thatguy]

Before the cataclysmic assault upon the mansion, there was a young man who was a student there. Said student, was a young man named Jay Redmond, who looked normal and rather dashing, aside from his eyes. Larger than normal, and multicolored.

The week the assault occurred, Jay was scared near shirtless and dove under his bed, obviously not the fighting type when it came to an unseen enemy. Then it was over soon before it began, he was surrounded by rubble. The old days of dealing with homework and student gossip was over. Now was a time to rebuild as he was surrounded by death and rubble.

He spent the first few days since, using his power of all encompassing sight for search and rescue, helping just a handful to safety, and getting many more ready for burial. With each death, he got more angry at the unknown perpetrator, but he buried deep, when the time came.

Now, he was sitting outside the medical bay where his roommate Steven had spent locked under a coma. He stared straight ahead, his irises constasight shifting, signifying the use of his super sightas he watched Steven in the other room stumble around.

Crossing his arms he said, "well Nightlight's up," and began to stand.

[Paingodsson]

It was the brotherhood, they were causing so much havoc. Caleb was pinned though, he couldn't move. The rocks had held him. "I CAN'T BE HELD!!!!!!!!!" he yelled as the shockwave came out of his mouth and smashed into the rocks. As he opened his eyes there were simply scratches on the rocks. That's when the sentinels dropped in. He watched as one by one his friends fell until he looked up at the X-Jet, and Heidi had been grabbed from it. She screamed as the Sentinel crushed her. Caleb's eyes filled with tears as he screamed."

Caleb jerked awake as he sat up and was ready to fight, only to realize that the clock wasn't ticking... or at least it wasn't making noise. He rubbed his eyes for a second as he breathed out the clock's ticking noise starting going again. He had accidentally taken the sound away from the clock. It was all just a nightmare... for now. "That's why i need to get stronger.." he said quietly to himself. he looked to his side, he realized Heidi had fallen asleep next to him. He looked up at the TV which now had News on instead of the movie they were watching. The TV was quiet enough to not wake them up but to hear it. He grabbed the remote and turned it off. It was continuous coverage about the X-Mansion blowing up. It saddened Caleb and made him wish he could have changed it all that day. But he couldn't.

He looked to the clock, 8:22AM it said. He looked at Heidi who was sleeping so peacefully. Thankfully she didn't get woken up by him. He put his hand on her shoulder as he leaned in and kissed her cheek lightly. He slowly got out of bed and quietly left the room. He went and brushed his teeth and washed his hands. Then he decided to head over to make breakfast. He started to make eggs and sausage in the lobby of the Apartments as other students from the academy walked over and asked if he would be making enough for everyone. That is when a small child, he remembers her name as Andrea, she couldn't have been more than 9 walked up to him and pulled on his shorts. "Um... Caleb?" she said shyly, "Could you make me somefthin to eats as wells?" Caleb gave her a smile as he bent down, "I'm cooking for everyone Andrea, don't worry, come back in about 15 minutes and I'll have yours ready okay?" he said in a loving voice. This poor little girl was the daughter of two people who were completely against mutants, she had the ability to shoot out spikes and acid from her mouth.

Caleb had heard the story before, by the time cerebro and the X-men got there, the parents had already thrown her out on the street disowning her. What a brave little girl. She smiled and skipped away. Caleb was definitely in older brother mode taking care of others in the apartments, Angel could only do so much. So he cooked and continued making breakfast for everyone, trying to keep his mind on his goals. He was also thinking about Heidi, and making sure he would make enough for everyone, but then a little something for her. Andrea came up and tugged on his shorts, "Caleb, it's been fifteen minutes." she said with a smile. Caleb looked up at the clock, well dang, she was right. Caleb got out a couple plates and started to put eggs, sausage, and toast on them. As he gave Andrea and other kids their breakfast. "Thanks!" they all said as they grabbed their plates one by one.

[Paingodsson]

It was the brotherhood, they were causing so much havoc. Caleb was pinned though, he couldn't move. The rocks had held him. "I CAN'T BE HELD!!!!!!!!!" he yelled as the shockwave came out of his mouth and smashed into the rocks. As he opened his eyes there were simply scratches on the rocks. That's when the sentinels dropped in. He watched as one by one his friends fell until he looked up at the X-Jet, and Heidi had been grabbed from it. She screamed as the Sentinel crushed her. Caleb's eyes filled with tears as he screamed."

Caleb jerked awake as he sat up and was ready to fight, only to realize that the clock wasn't ticking... or at least it wasn't making noise. He rubbed his eyes for a second as he breathed out the clock's ticking noise starting going again. He had accidentally taken the sound away from the clock. It was all just a nightmare... for now. "That's why i need to get stronger.." he said quietly to himself. he looked to his side, he realized Heidi had fallen asleep next to him. He looked up at the TV which now had News on instead of the movie they were watching. The TV was quiet enough to not wake them up but to hear it. He grabbed the remote and turned it off. It was continuous coverage about the X-Mansion blowing up. It saddened Caleb and made him wish he could have changed it all that day. But he couldn't.

He looked to the clock, 8:22AM it said. He looked at Heidi who was sleeping so peacefully. Thankfully she didn't get woken up by him. He put his hand on her shoulder as he leaned in and kissed her cheek lightly. He slowly got out of bed and quietly left the room. He went and brushed his teeth and washed his hands. Then he decided to head over to make breakfast. He started to make eggs and sausage in the lobby of the Apartments as other students from the academy walked over and asked if he would be making enough for everyone. That is when a small child, he remembers her name as Andrea, she couldn't have been more than 9 walked up to him and pulled on his shorts. "Um... Caleb?" she said shyly, "Could you make me somefthin to eats as wells?" Caleb gave her a smile as he bent down, "I'm cooking for everyone Andrea, don't worry, come back in about 15 minutes and I'll have yours ready okay?" he said in a loving voice. This poor little girl was the daughter of two people who were completely against mutants, she had the ability to shoot out spikes and acid from her mouth.

Caleb had heard the story before, by the time cerebro and the X-men got there, the parents had already thrown her out on the street disowning her. What a brave little girl. She smiled and skipped away. Caleb was definitely in older brother mode taking care of others in the apartments, Angel could only do so much. So he cooked and continued making breakfast for everyone, trying to keep his mind on his goals. He was also thinking about Heidi, and making sure he would make enough for everyone, but then a little something for her. Andrea came up and tugged on his shorts, "Caleb, it's been fifteen minutes." she said with a smile. Caleb looked up at the clock, well dang, she was right. Caleb got out a couple plates and started to put eggs, sausage, and toast on them. As he gave Andrea and other kids their breakfast. "Thanks!" they all said as they grabbed their plates one by one.

[Silver Carrot]

Heidi slowly awoke, roused from her sleep by the smell of breakfast. She sat up in the bed. Caleb wasn't beside her. He must be the one making the breakfast. Heidi stretched and yawned, before getting out of bed and walking straight to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror. She couldn't go out there with messy hair, a vest, and knickers. She needed to clean herself up and get dressed.

A while later, she stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around herself, sat down and combed her chestnut brown hair. She then dried herself, got dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, and headed out into the kitchen. Caleb had attracted the attentions of quite a lot of the mutants in this apartment. Heidi stands beside him and kisses his cheek, and with a soft smile, put her hand on his shoulder.

"Hey. How's the breakfast coming along?"

[Kalamadea]

Laurie, who was one of the oldest present within the bunker, sat near where Scattershot and Beast were talking about what to do. She'd already seen the conversation's result, of course, but it was still interesting to listen to. She was still feeling frustration at not seeing last week's attack coming, but such feelings weren't voiced. Laurie never really shared her feelings all too often.It was, after all, a well known fact that she was quiet and reserved, but not exactly shy at the same time. Suddenly, she glimpsed that Steve would be waking soon, so she abruptly got up and went to the medical bay. She opened it and saw Steve standing right in the doorway, reaching for where the doorknob used to be. She had, of course, expected that. "So how are you feeling? Better?" Not that she didn't already know the answer, but she had to ask that question to make that future happen. Plus, it would probably help him feel a bit better to have someone show concern for him. Laurie was concerned for him, though, just as she was concerned for just about everyone there.

[thatguy]

Jay walked in shortly after Laurie had, his iris colors shifting aimlessly as he x-rayed Steven's body for any internal injuries or broken bones, luckily he had neither. "Hey there sleepy head, finally waking up?" He asked his roommate jokingly, then nodded at Laurie, "hey Future sight," he said, using his own code naming for her like he did most other mutants.

[CrimsonWarrior55]

Steve looked from his hand to the door as he heard the knob jingle. The door opened as a familiar face walked in. "Oh, I know you. You're... um... crap" Steve said, snapping his fingers a few times and smacking his forehead a bit "Oh, dammit... Laurie! That's it. You're that Time Lord chick. What the the hell is going on? Where am I?" He asked as another familiar face walked in. "Eyeball? The hell are you doing here? Wait... Were you... were you watching me sleep? That's nice of you, dude... as and a smidge creepy" he finished with a cheeky grin.

Slowly getting to his feet, using the wall for support as his legs still felt like jelly. "To answer your questions..." he panted out, trying to keep balance "... My legs are jelly, I've got a killer headache, my whole body tingles, I have no idea what is going on or where I am, but judging by that heart monitor I wiped out... Yeah, I'm feeling better, actually. And what do you mean 'finally up'? How many hours have I been out of it?"...

[Solemn]

The bags of bruise-like tiredness under Jeanvieve's eyes punctuated her pale face like little hammer blows and somewhere along the way a vein had popped in her eye, coloring the white background pink for the dark green of her iris. She stared into her phone's screen, miraculously existing beyond the "incident" when so much hadn't. There was some resentment for that fact welling up in her, but the instant Miles' slow, smooth sound poured into her ears her tension eased for the briefest fractals of a second and that made it worth it. Somehow.

The red of her rugged, sporty in-ear earphones was a splash of color against her faded, overlarge tanktop and the flat crimson cord trailing a snake path down the baggy front of her shirt. A black sports bra kept her decent enough, not that that really mattered to her. Was life long enough to be ashamed of your body? No, especially not when most of the people she cared for weren't around anymore to appreciate theirs.

Her shirt almost covered her shorts but for the phone's clipped position, bunching up her tank top around it for easy access. Jeanvieve stretched her right hand down to her left foot, matching lavender nail polish going unappreciated on her toes beneath the electric blue running shoes. Her back creaked and popped and she stretched, working out any unnecessary strain her morning's typical work out might've caused.

What looks like self-abuse to some is necessary to others; varying reasons accompany this, of course, but the most common being (at least in this instance) her need to prove her strength to herself. The opinion that mattered most, yet was challenged ceaselessly by some internal demon seeking to spread turmoil in a once-peaceful head.

The room was mostly empty, which is why she chose it, but smaller than her typical practice area. She'd moved most of the stuff out to appropriate rooms, hoping to hoard this little corner to herself. Only a table and a single chair remained. With little to no strain she placed her heel on the table and stretched a diagonal sort of split; she exhaled placidly as the muscles in her leg tightened and burned that unmistakable burn of a worked muscle struggling to push past its acidic limit.

She switched legs and started over.

After her myriad of stretches concluded she dropped into her opening kata's stance, fending off imaginary foes with slow, fluid motions. During her first few years here she'd only practiced killing maneuvers. As, truthfully, those were the only ones she believed she needed. Jeanvieve saw not the limits placed upon herself; trying to control a fight through force went well for one opponent, but not usually multiples. A mutant's shortage of enemies usually only occurs in one's dreams.

Jeanvieve twists and arcs around her imaginary foes punches, kicks and clubs. She produces a knife from, seemingly, nowhere. It's small, not even a traditional handle as such, but a place to put between two fingers. With precise, perfect slashes she tears into nothing as sweat collects and rolls down her elegant visage like so much rain. She feels her body loosen, each individual muscle having been tight from her tenacious morning.

With a practiced balance she kicks off the chair and inverts herself over the table, throwing the knuckle blade with frightening precision as she presses her palm onto the cold, black wooden surface and pushes right back off as if this were some natural process that all sentient life could perform at will. The two inch blade bit deep into a cupboard door pock-marked with a colony of gashes tightly huddled in the center of it.

Jeanvieve placed her hands on the table and leaned, supporting her weight as droplets fell to its surface. Her breathing was hardly labored, but noticeably harder than her usual silence. Her eyes closed tight and she inhaled, standing straight up and exhaling slow and deep. She dotted her forehead with a few presses of her workout towel and turned to leave.

Careful fingers traced a memorized pattern that unlocked her phone, which remained clipped to her hip, and switched to some more upbeat music. As much as she loved Miles Davis she was wont to sit in silence or generally wish to be alone when she heard his trumpet's song. With the deep bass resonating in her head against light synths she set off to find any sign of life that might indicate a need of assistance.

[Damo021]

It had been no more than a whole week since the attack on the Xavier Institute, It was something that hit Sarina hard and came as a shock considering she still had not come to terms with Charles Xavier being killed by Cyclops, Although it was said he was possessed by the Phoenix force. Despite the the dream some what being shattered, Sarina kept her spirit high in front of the others even if she was just kidding herself. But if one thing good came out of it was that Sarina stepped up but in a different way, while Jacob who spent a lot of time with Beast to figure out what to do next, Sarina had kept herself focus on the needs within the bunker, She still remember when she carried in one of the younger children to the infirmary a little worse for and worried the kid would not make it but fortunately they did but she didn't stop the all week she been working hard helping the younger children making sure they were okay with blankets and assisting nurses who needed the extra help, she literally been running around non stop along with lack of sleep and only eating when needed to keep her mind of things, She did have some random outbursts at times under stress.

Things probably wouldn't be the same ever for her as Sarina pretty much kept things to herself being more concerned with the changes and other mutants. She gave up her room and took up to sharing a room with Vivi, Admittedly it was strange to be sharing a room with a new room mate but it was one of those things that was not a major concern and besides they got on well enough considering the circumstances. But Sarina felt slightly out of place because of another factor, And the was Heidi who left for the other shelter and no doubt was doing everything she could to help those there, But it did not change the fact after four years of being room mates and becoming the best friends, She was still not here and deep inside she worried for her. Of course it was to no surprise that Caleb followed her there to keep her safe as her boyfriend, But everyone was dealing with the problem in there own way and some coped better than others. But in all Sarina just kept herself busy so that she would just break down in front of the others weather she had survivors guilt or not.

On a plus side to all of this though, the reconstruction of the mansion was under way, once they did the tough job of removing the bodies of those that did not survive which would of been something Sarina would not of been able to do, it would just simply of killed her inside. Of course on other good news there was a new X man team coming to fruition and even if it was not much training was slowly progressing up. It was a sign that even if they were beaten down they were not completely down and out of the fight and that there was still some hope alive for them yet in this bleak time. Plus Raiix was stable and would be fine which was one small worry that was put to ease, But it had been a long week and Sarina finally had a moment to stop and rest, Maybe she shouldn't push herself so hard.

Either way Sarina was having a glass of water when she was looking at the familiar faces of some of the other students. everyone doing there bit was paying of and that was something for everyone to be at least proud of. It was round this time when she was thinking of the others in the team, Sarina remembered bumping into them and talking from time to time as all were busy but she couldn't remember seeing Aaron since the first day after the attack or maybe she just missed him. It was round that time she realised how selfish she was she had been, So caught up in her own hurt and worries, Sarina had neglected to even stop to properly talk or even see if Aaron was okay, he could've been in his room all week.

Taking a moment of deep breath the fire maiden decided it was time to go and pay the golden skinned guy a visit and see how he was holding up, She picked up a bottle of water and an apple for him just in case there was the chance she did miss and simply not eaten today yet, She might of been a little tired but didn't matter as she set of towards his room... Well that is if she remembered which one it was again. After a while of wondering around, Sarina had finally made it round to where a lot of the rooms where located, She hoped that if memory served correctly it was this particular door she stood in front of the was the one belonging to Aaron, She hesitated for a few moments contemplating if she should disturb him or not. Who was she kidding? Sarina knew better than to second guess herself surely her confidence was still their and not wavered? Picking up the courage and getting the silly thoughts out of her head Sarina knocked twice on the door to what she hoped was Aaron's room. There was a few moments of silence as she awaited with bottle and apple in hand for Aaron to open that door.

[thatguy]

"Pfft," Jay laughed at Steven's question as he took a gander of the medical bay, "why would I be watching my roommate sleep?" He asked him teasingly before adding, "you know who i'd rather watch sleep?" Before throwing a suspicious glance towards Laurie, the one mutant in this joint who could see more than him, making him a little nervous whenever he was in her presence.

[Paingodsson]

Caleb looked over as he smiled at Heidi as she kissed his cheek. "It's going very well." he said, "Would you like me to serve you a plate?" he asked showing the eggs he was just done scrambling and was putting them in a plate with sausages already on it. Now that he had his hands full he grabbed Heidi's hands and brought her close and kissed her. "I hope you slept well, and that I didn't wake you." he said with a smile. Hoping that on the inside she hadn't woken at all from his movement and realized he had lost control of his powers in his sleep.

Andrea saw this and walked up as she gulped her juice. She got in between them and sort of shoved Heidi as best she could as she held up a cup to Caleb. "Can I have some more?!" she said loudly. Caleb didn't realize the shove but looked down and saw Andrea, "Why of course!" he said as he took her glass and poured her some more juice. "Okay Andrea, don't drink this one so fast or I'll give you milk." Caleb said with a grin. "Okay!" she said as Caleb walked off to the fridge. She looked up on the counter at the plate and looked up at Heidi, "You know he gave me more eggs!" she said as she tried to rub it in to Heidi. Caleb came back and gave her her juice as she smiled and hugged his leg, "THANKS!" she said as she walked off and while Caleb had his back turned stuck her tongue out at Heidi and ran off.

Caleb smiled, "Sorry about that, with so many kids here I wasn't going to let Angel have to get all of them breakfast alone." He grabbed Heidi's hand now as he looked at her. He brought her in closer to him as he brought up the plate, "So, Hungry?" he said with a grin.

[Endrance]

Collab between Damo and Endrance
Aaron hesitated after hearing the two knocks. Lady fortune had a way of neglecting him that was sure and now it seemed she downright hated him because as his eyes widened, he knew who was going to be on the other side of that door... He sighed forcefully and as his hands shook, and opened the door for Zhayne...

Except it wasn't Zhayne. It was Sarina. The girl whom he healed many times in the nurses office, and eventually became friends with. She was quite beautiful inside and out...and scary when she was in a mood...but usually he wasn't the victim of them. He smiled weakly at her, and then looked away quickly. He really wished he didn't look away so he could read her face but it seemed his nervous habits were back and so much progress had simply vanished with a new color scheme.

"Hey Sarina."He was shocked at how mellow he was able to make his voice sound, if only his body posture wasn't giving it all away. He sat on his bed and hung his head down, staring at his lap. She still hadn't said anything yet...maybe she thought he should be quarantined or something. "H-how are you?"

Sarina had to wait for a few moments before the door eventually opened to reveal something she certainly did not expect to see, Instead of getting to see the lovely golden skin of the man she got to call a really close friend, Sarina got to see a completely black skinned individual standing before her. Initially there was the awkward moment of silence accompanied with shock. " What the hell.." Was the only thought to creep into her mind.

She was almost unsure what to do next until he spoke to her, Aaron almost sounded depressed to her and with good reason from what she just saw. Thought's ran through her mind trying to figure what actually happened to him along with how and why considering they were in a bunker. She watch as he went back over to his bed and sat down while she simply stood at the door. " I'm err.. Fine" She kinda stumled out although she'd be lying to herself with how much she has pushed herself.

She quickly snapped herself out of her thoughts and instead of standing there like a complete lemon she walked into his room closing the door behind her before going over to him and plonking herself next to him on his bed. She took a moment looking at him with her beautiful red eyes trying to gauge him before figuring out what to say first but wanted to avoid the one hundred questions. "And how are you?" She asked genuinly concerned for him, She still had the bottled water and apple in hand which she offered him.

He ran his hand through his hair, and then pulled up his hood. "Besides the skin color?"He tried to say jokingly but it came out bitter. "...Thanks for the offer but i haven't been hungry as of late."He shook his head. "I..um..."He paused for a second. "Is everyone else holding up okay? I haven't really been out since...you know..."He flopped half his body onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. He wanted to tell Sarina about his fear of seeing Zhayne or ask her what she thought but he was too afraid of the answer and so decided to change the subject.

Sarina watched him closely when he refused her offer, It was clear to her he was distressed over the fact of his skin colour change he was down and despressed from what she could tell, had he locked himself away out of fear of rejection? she thought to herself. His voice sounded very much like the same guy despite feeling down, She reached over placing the drink and the apple on a small side unit by his bed, it didn't bother her at all reaching over his body even if he was lying down.

She would answer his evading question however but she'll jump straight back on him, it was her turn to care for him, to heal him. " Well, I will be honest, people are struggling but coping considering the circumstances, Been running around so much some of us have not had the time to stop." She paused. " Jacob stepped up though, He is often helping out Mr.McCoy figuring out the next plan and rebuild" She finished with a little smile at him her dark red eyes looking into his godlen ones.

"But right now you're the one that has my attention mister" She said jokingly trying to cheer him up. " I am worried about you Aaron, you have been there so many times for me, Now I am here for you, no more avoiding my questions" Latina bluntly added. " But please talk to me Aaron, Please let me try and help you" Sarina added while reaching over to his hood and gently removing it a bit so she could she is face a bit better, She layed down on her side leaning on her elbow. Maybe he needed some of the Fiery Sarina spirit right about now.

He sort of felt bad he wasn't doing his part and was just hiding this whole time when she told him Jacob stepped up to the leader plate. They were rebuilding and he was in here wallowing away...He opened his mouth to apologize but she abruptly went back to talking about him. The dreaded subject... He half smiled and then turned to her and sighed. He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't figure out the right words. It was really hard for him to open up, although he was mesmorized by how kind Sarina was being to him in his current state. Unafraid and caring. He sighed and then turned to her. "...I don't know what's up with this."He held up his hand and rotated it. "I was about to go see Mr.Beast but um...I didn't want to run into..."He trailed off. "I didn't want to scare anyone..." He covered his face. "I look like more of a freak than before." He turned his head and looked up at the ceiling.

Sarina watched him as Aaron spoke to her, She could understand his fear of what others might think, It was the fear of the unknown and he didnt know who to turn to, fortunately for him he had a stubborn mutant before him. she looked at his hand as he rotated it showing the change he had gone through but he had the right idea of seeing mr.McCoy, He was on mutant that might be able to understand better than anyone. He covered his face again and called himself more of a freak, Sarina could just easily sigh but she didn't they were all feaks in a way to human world, skin colour shouldn't change anything.

But she was not about to let go of the gentle, kind and caring Aaron, not on her watch. She observed him for a few moment thinking. Afterwards she gently held his hand within hers, Holding a gentle smile. " You are not a freak Aaron" She replied to him softly, She then took his hand and placed it on her stomach under her top letting him touch her warm flesh, Her hand on his. " I still trust you Aaron, You are still the same gentle and kind guy I know and nothing, not even a skin colour changing will change that. If I was scared I would not be letting you touch me like this and I most certainly would not of come in this room" She smiled trying to cheer him up but she was being honest.

"But you should go to Mr.McCoy, he might find out what changed, but don't be afriad, No one will judge you by your new skin colour" She hoped this was helping Aaron understand that Sarina still knew it was the same Aaron and that she was not scared and still trusted her friend.

Unseen, Aaron blushed a bit although a little bit more so at his friends daring. Sarina still had the warm undertone to her skin and it felt nice. But for a second he hesitated, scared he might accidentally steal some of her energy. He didn't though as he slowly removed his hand. "Thanks, Sarina." He sat up now with a new confidence and put his hands behind his head. "I will go find him...Did you want to come?" He stood up and attempted to reach for the hood but then decided against it. Sarina might force him to pull it down again, so instead he scratched the back of his head. "...Where is he anyway? This bunker is like a maze...so confusing."He mumbled to himself.

Sarina was smiling and happy that she managed to get through to Aaron, He didn't deserve to kick his own head in and worry over something when there might not be anything to worry about. But the guy she was still there and so her daring and trust in him paid off. "Your Welcome, But I won't be able to come with you this time round, I still quite some stuff to do and some of the others to check up on" She paused. "I have not been to where he is, But I know most of the way and can give you some directions, I can come back and check up on you again later too" Sarina added.

Aaron nodded as Sarina told him how to get there, graciously said thanks and departed from his room.

[Silver Carrot]

Heidi nodded and replied. "I would like a plate. Thank you." She watched him put the plate down, and then Caleb took her hands and pulled her into a kiss, she saw the move coming the moment he pot the plate down, but she still showed signs of surprise when she was actually kissed. She kissed back, closing her eyes. She opens them again when the kiss was over. "No, you didn't wake me," she said, and it was true. Her brain enhanced her sensed to the point that the only way sleep was even possible was to become dead to the world until 8:30 on the dot. Every morning, she woke up on the very second the clock turned 8:30 without fail.

That's when Andrea shoved in between them, asked for juice, and bragging about getting more eggs, she watched her as she left, sticking her tongue out at her, and laughed. It was cute. If she didn't know better, she'd say Andrea was jealous of the attention being shifted. Not that she was a child psychologist. She turned back to Caleb. "I am, not you mention it, " she replied, and took the plate with her free hand. She looks around, as she starts to walk to the table. "Speaking of which, where is Angel?"

[Omega Man]

Somewhere in the Appalachian mountains...

This splinter cell of the MRD, led by General Staton, was stationed in an unknown facility hidden in the mountains. They were so confident their genetic experiments to make clones of the captured X-Men to train as soldiers would follow through, but nobody could touch the sheer willpower of Shadowcat's intangibility power. After a week of torture, being poked with needles while being restrained in power dampening shackles, and being the girl to get the attention of a perverted scientist... Kitty Pride managed to escape. Nobody was around to see her ghost through the walls and leave the shackles behind. She ran as fast as a starved woman without proper rest could. It was only about a mile, but to Shadowcat it felt like hundreds. She had to make it to get help to free the others. Kitty had to maneuver through the woods which wasn't an easy task barefoot, bloody, and bruised. She could hear cars. She was close to a town. However she found herself running into what looked like a giant purple boot. It was obviously attached to a giant of some kind, Kitty being the hero she is had to see if it was just a Sentinel or....

"You will weaken this world enough for me to finally consume it. You will be my new... HERALD." said Galactus with a ravaged suit and helmet, sprawled out across the end of the woods leading into some nearby town as Kitty Pride was enveloped in a strange cosmic style suit [like something from Jack Kirby].



Brooklyn...

Angel came out of his quarters, lounging around in a robe like the ones' he'd provided for everyone since he didn't know what if anything the students and staff managed to pull from the wreckage. He looked on as the teen mutant, called Bass in the Danger Room, cooked food for everyone and made sure the young kids had enough and speaking with them on a more personal level. It was things like this that gave the veteran X-Man hope. Suddenly, several of the mansion survivors began losing their density. Some were stuck within chairs, the floors and walls, others just lost tangibility in one or two limbs and not half their bodies.

"What's going on?" Angel thought trying to get outside and airborn until noticing he couldn't fly. One of his wings was mostly intangible.

At the Bunker HQ...

"Beeeeeeast!" yelled one of the students.

Scattershot, Beast, and others ran into the gym to find a student half phased through a weight bench. It was happening around the world... Somewhere in Paris, Captain America's shield went through his now intangible arm in the middle of a mission. Off the eastern coast of the US, several dozen SHIELD agents fell through the floors of the Helicarrier and floated on the ocean below. In Japan a no-name supervillain was shocked to find his legs had become intangible and he'd got stuck in the floor while fighting a heroic Silver Samurai. In D.C., the President of the United States didn't mind that his wife was stuck in the staircase of the White House.

"Tell me you've seen this before, Hank." Scattershot said noticing others in the gym stuck in the floor, and in the walls.

Back in the Appalachians...

Shadowcat, now clad in a cosmic uniform like any other herald, screamed and could be heard like a siren for at least two miles. What only effected one in every three people or so everywhere else around the world effected everyone within a five mile or so radius of where Shadowcat and the malnourished Galactus were located outside of the small town of Ashbury. Colossus, Storm, Iceman, and Avalanche were all intangible and floating as best they could away from the facility where the military men were losing their shit.

~KL~

[Endrance]

Walking through the hallways on his way to find Mr.Beast, something peculiar happened. One student became intangible and started dropping through the floor, while the three or four strewn around this sect of the hallway seemed unaffected. "Whoever doing this...this isn't funny..."One of them said, but as Aaron looked around and it didn't seem as if anyone was, and it certainly didn't feel as if he was doing it.

"Are you alright?"He called out. The girl who had either turned pale by now or just always looked like that (which was a credible assumption since she was dressed in all black with deep purple lipstick and wednesday addams-like ponytails) sarcastically remarked, "Do I look alright? HELP!" As she halfway began to phase through the wall. This seemed like it was straight out of the Everlost book he'd read. What if she fell through to the Earth's core? Or was that just in books?

He rushed over to the closest building, the gym, and saw the backs of Jacob and Mr.Beast. "Hey guys help...There's a girl outside and..."He jogged over but cut himself off when he saw a similar sight. More students floating around.

"What the hell is going on..." Aaron mumbled.