Holding Out For a Hero, A Battle of Contrasting Ideologies Options

[Bennet]

OOC: Alright; the GAME does not start until next week. Until then, I'll be the only one posting in this thread. For those who need to be reminded:

DO NOT POST IN THIS THREAD UNTIL THE GAME HAS BEGUN.

These series of posts are designed to offer insight and explanation to the world your characters are about to enter. I'm undecided on how many of these posts are going to be made, but I'm going to do enough as I feel are needed to get the story rumbling along the right path. Also, expect NPC Character sheets to start appearing soon in the OOC thread to let you guys know more about the people you're dealing with.


And without further ado, I give you:

Prologue, Part One: Everything Old is New Again
Berkeley, California, 2010

Eric Jones stepped off the small city bus, taking a deep breath of the smell of university air around him. After wading through many useless years in High School, Eric had finally arrived to a place he wanted to be.

He adjusted the backpack on his back, and began to walk around the campus. He flashed a smile to those he saw, a friendly wave to a few others, as he walked around trying to find the Art Museum. He looked at the large campus map he printed off the day before, but it didn't seem to be too much help.

"Should always magnify before printing..." He muttered to himself, as he calmly walked over to a large group of students.

"Hi, excuse me...I'm Eric Jones. I don't suppose one of you could tell me how to get to the art museum?" Eric asked awkwardly, as the students just cast him a 'drop dead' look, before returning to their own conversations.

"The Art Museum?" A voice called out from behind him.

Eric turned to see an older looking woman standing not to far from him. Must be a professor, Eric thought as he nodded and folded up the map in his hands.

"Yes, the museum." Eric replied, as he looked at the older woman.

"I'm Eric Jones, and you are?" Eric said, as he extended his hand.

"Sherry Vered, Professor of Art History." Sherry said, as she shook his hand and looked at him for a moment.

"Jones...I believe you're in one of my classes. First year." Sherry added, as Eric smiled and nodded.

"Well, come along with me. You're with the right person for a gander at the art museum." Sherry said, as she motioned for Eric to follow her.

The two walked silently along the campus, as Eric tried to remember the paths he was walking for future reference. Eventually, the two made their way to the far east end of the campus, moving slightly southward as they came to a large building where they stopped.

"Here it is." Sherry said with a smile, before glancing down at her watch.

"Thank you, professor." Eric said, with a boyish grin on his face.

"No problem, Mr. Jones. I'll see you in class on Tuesday, remember, nine am." Sherry said, as she waved and walked away.

Eric nodded as he watched her turn to walk away, then he stared at the large building in front of him and smiled, before running inside with boyish glee.

Eric wondered around the halls, looking at some of the exhibits as his mind wondered. He thought back to when he told his parents he wanted to study Art and Art History. They were crushed. Eric had always been a A plus student, always. When ever he crammed for an exam, he crammed enough knowledge into his head to kill a small animal. He was just really good at it, even seeming to know stuff he didn't remember reading.

However, there was a shortcoming to his 'brilliance' as his homeroom teacher used to call it: Once he switched over to study something else, he could barely remember what he had wrote about earlier. Most of his teachers called it laziness, some said it was simply because he lost interest in the other subjects, and others suggested it was some form of mental defect...One teacher went so far as to call him an 'idiot savant'. His parents weren't impressed with that one.

Eric wandered past more exhibits, before he checked his schedule and watch and realized he had three minutes to get across campus to his first class.

"s***."

***********************************************************

Davin Holden walked across the campus like he owned the place. His grey suit reflecting slightly in the sunlight, as a band of people followed behind him.

"Holly, make sure you swing by my place tonight." Davin said to one of the women behind him with a wink, as she giggled and ran off from the pack.

Davin smiled, as he continued walking, the others behind him waiting for their own marching orders.

"Paul; go to my economics class and get the notes for me would you. Don't forget to slip Professor McFarland his tip for the week." Davin said, as he handed Paul two hundred dollar bills.

"The rest of you, give me some f***ing space." Davin proclaimed, as they all scattered away from him.

"d***, I love that." Davin whispered to himself, as he walked around the campus, flashing his smile at any pretty ladies who passed his way.

Davin made his way towards Davis Hall, slipping inside and then making his way to the basement. Once he was inside, he leaned against a wall and pressed ever so slightly. A small popping noise was heard, as the wall moved slightly and Davin slide between it. Popping the wall back into place once he was inside.

He looked around at the large mausoleum like structure he stood in.

"You're early." A voice called from the shadows, as Davin turned to see an older woman leaning against a wall.

"Professor Tural...I didn't think anyone would be here right now." Davin answered, as the older woman looked at him.

"That's often one of the cruxes of youth, you tend to underestimate a lot of things...Especially when you breeze through life on good looks." Tural said, as she walked over to Davin.

"But, I suppose that's something you wouldn't care too much about." Tural said, a bit of anger in her voice as she stared at Davin.

"Stop it Kira!" Davin yelled, anger obvious in his voice now.

"Fine; you're no fun anyways. If you can't learn to block out my control, how the hell can you hope to avoid the control of others?" Tural said, as she stepped back from Davin with a smile.

Davin became more relaxed as he saw her smile, even smiling himself for no reason.

"Do you know why Sherry has called this unusual meeting?" Davin asked, as Tural looked around.

"My guess; a new recruit. She seemed excited when I spoke to her last in the 'lounge'." Tural said, as she continued to keep her gaze off Davin.

"That's more than likely." Another voice said from behind Davin, as he turned to find a younger man standing in front of him.

"Ross. You forgot to close the door again." Davin said, as he looked at the secret passage still open from Ross' entrance.

"My bad." Ross said, as he motioned towards the passage and it closed.

"Show off." Tural said, as she walked over to a small sofa in the mausoleum and sat down.

"Well boys, any idea how to pass the time while we wait for the others?" Tural asked, a note of lust in her voice.

Davin and Ross looked at each other, trying to fight the emotional manipulation that Tural was using against them.

"You forget, Kira...You can make us feel your emotion, but its still up to us to decide whether or not we follow it." Ross said, as Tural frowned and the feelings disappeared.

"College boys, always thinking with the wrong head." Tural said dejectedly, as she slumped on the couch...

*************************************************

The alarm went off as Katherine Solomon leaned over in bed and slammed her palms hard against the alarm clock.

"God damned time...If I ever find the man who invented it, so help me." Kat muttered to herself as she got up from under the blankets and slipped on her father's old Ramones T-Shirt.

She glanced in the mirror for a moment.

"Whoa, creature from the black lagoon look going on." She said, as she made monster movements towards the mirror before laughing and adjusting her hair slightly.

A knock came from Kat's door, as she swung it open, ignoring the fact that she was only wearing a black t-shirt and bright pink underwear.

"Yeah?!" Kat yelled, as the man at the door cast her a strange look, before shaking his head and walking into the room.

"And what would you have done if it wasn't me?" The man asked, a thick Greek accent muttering some of his speech.

"Well, it's 7:45 and you always come at 7:45...I'm not exactly worried, Kyros." Kat said, as he sat down on the bed and nodded.

"True enough. But please, put on pants before we go to the meeting. I already don't like the way Davin stares at you." Kyros said, as he pulled a pair of pants out from underneath the bed and tossed them to Katherine.

"Really? I'd be more worried about the way Ross stares at Davin...That guy's unbridled, unapologetic, YET EXTREMELY closeted homosexuality worries me. It's just not healthy." Kat said with a smile, as she put her pants on.

"You think every one is gay though...It took me three years to convince you about me, and even then, we were rocking the casbah through most of those years." Kyros said.

"Yea, well, that's just you're more effete than I am." Kat responded, as she blew him a raspberry.

Kyros shot her a look.

"I'm European, we're well groomed and polite. Sorry for sending the wrong message." Kyros said with a smile, as Kat leaned in and gave him a kiss.

"Think it's dark enough?" Kat asked, as she looked out the window into the night sky.

"Should be." Kyros responded as he opened the window and held on tight to Kat.

Kat smiled, as she lept through the window with Kyros and the two lifted off into the night sky, heading towards Davis Hall and the meeting that awaited them...

***********************************************

Carlos locked up the doors to the lab, as he tried to balance his keys, briefcase and coat on one arm. He dropped the briefcase, as he muttered a few less than appropriate words. He finished locking the office, as a student walked by and began helping him with the papers that fell out of his case.

"Thank you." Carlos said, as he looked at the student.

"No problem, Doctor Oded." The student replied, as Carlos took a closer look.

"Wait, you're in one of my classes." Carlos said, as the student nodded.

"Sure am. Jake Charles." Jake said, as Carlos nodded as his memory came back to him.

"Ah yes, I remember. You did the research paper on the effects the ebola virus on livestock. Interesting, not entirely appropriate for the course, but interesting." Carlos said, as Jake smiled.

"Well, what can I say. That virus scares the hell out of me, so I thought it would be interesting. They said you had some experience with it, back in the Congo?" Jake asked.

Carlos sighed. Talking about his past wasn't something he usually indulged in, but Jake had helped him.

"That's right. Saw a few cases of it while I was there." Carlos said, as he put his papers back in his case.

"But accounts from others say that everyone treated by you didn't die. Their symptoms disappeared and they were good as new. Yet your papers don't mention this...I've done some reading." Jake said, as he looked at Carlos with wonder.

"And just what are you saying?" Carlos asked.

"That you found some kind of a cure...Something you're not telling the world about. Something that might save millions from Ebola, and other diseases." Jake said, as he started to sound crazy.

"I think you've read too much. It was just luck, and good medical practices that saved them." Carlos said, as he began to walk away.

"And I contacted some old patients of your from your private practice days. Cancer, AIDS, and a lot worse...All of them, miraculously healed. What are you trying to hide!?" Jake yelled, as Carlos turned around quickly and grabbed the young man by the throat.

Jake could feel his windpipe closing in on itself, as he began to shake and convulse, his blood boiling.

"I took an oath to do no harm, and that's what I did for those people. Don't make me break it for you. Abandon your little theories of some miracle cure that doesn't exist, and I'd suggest you drop my class and never come near me again. Got it?" Carlos said, as he let go and Jake returned to normal.

Jake nodded as Carlos looked at him.

"Now get out of here." Carlos said, as Jake stood up and took off down the halls.

Carlos wiped some sweat off his brow, before regaining his composure and walking out of the medical building, making his way through the campus and towards Davis Hall.

As he was about to enter the building, Kat and Kyros touched down in front of him.

"Kat, Kyros." Carlos said, as the two looked at him with embarrassment.

"Doctor Oded." Kyros replied, as he avoided eye contact with him.

"I hope for all our sakes, no one saw you two flying here. Come, we're running late." Carlos said as he opened the door and led the two into the building.

They made their way into the basement, walking to the same wall Davin and Ross had leaned against and entered the secret mausoleum behind it. The others were already gathered, sitting a long table, Sherry at the head of the table.

Carlos cast an apologetic nod towards Sherry, as he closed the passage way and made his way to the seat beside Sherry.

"Well, ladies and gentleman, let's begin. This emergency meeting of the Marauders is now in order. I've called you all here to discuss a new arrival, as I told you would come. He has arrived, and tomorrow I shall make the reveal to him, as I had done for all of you." Sherry said, as she stood up from her seat.

"I know he will join us, and together, we shall become the group that I sought to establish here for so many years. We are ready, and he will complete us." Sherry said, as she took out a small folder and tossed some photos of Eric onto the table....

End of Prologue Part One


OOC: As mentioned, NO ONE reply to this thread until the game starts. I've established most of the NPCs you'll be dealing with in this post, as well as subtle hints to most of their abilities with the exception of a few which will come in later posts. Enjoy the read, I hope.

[Bennet]

Prologue, Part Two: I Will Come to Visions and Revelations
Berkeley, California, 2010.

Eric sat in the front row of the large auditorium style class, checking over some of his notes from yesterday. Nothing major, just a brief overview of his classes, and he expected the same for today. Eric leaned back, surveying the other people in the class, checking to see if others from his other classes were there as well.

Eric was somewhat disappointed to see no one he recognized, figuring it meant he'd just have to go and make new friends in this class as well. The back door to the auditorium opened, as Sherry came walking down the stairwell, a large canvas under her arm. She made her way to the front of the room, up to a small dais that rested a few feet off the ground and placed the canvas on a small prop that held it up.

"Now, I'm Professor Vered and welcome to Art History 110. As this is the first day, we're not going to do much other than hand out the syllabus and make sure you have an idea what this class is about." Sherry said, as she glanced at the painting.

"This is the work of Isaac Mendez, bought by the University from the now defunct Linderman Group. Mendez had a brief, but very fortunate, career as an artist and we will be studying him and others in this class." Sherry said, as she scanned the room, looking for the first question.

"Yes, what do you need?" Sherry asked, as she pointed to a girl who put her hand up.

"I thought this was art history; like famous masters and all that...Who the heck is Isaac Mendez?" The girl asked, as Sherry smiled and shook her head.

"We will do the masters; Rembrandt, Caravaggio...And a few non-painters should I decide to. However, we must clear up this misconception: History does not mean old. History refers to something that has happened, not today, but in the past. Yesterday is the past, thus it is history. Today, will become tomorrow's history and onwards and so forth. Isaac painted for quite awhile, most of his work brought to life through a small comic book called 9th Wonders. Unfortunately for us, Mr. Mendez was murdered in his studio in 2007, so we don't have much work to go on." Sherry said, as she stared down the student.

"I consider his work impressive; perhaps not the same scale as beauty as the masters, but equally important. Now, I've left the syllabus at the back of the room, you're all free to leave...Except, Eric Jones, I want to speak with you." Sherry said, as the students gathered their books and began to exit the room.

Eric looked around, wondering why he was singled out.

"Are you going to stay in your chair Mr. Jones, or are you going to come up here?" Sherry asked, as Eric moved out from behind his desk and made his way to the dais.

"Can you do me a favour, Eric...I want you to think about history, let's say the Cold War. Just think about it for a few seconds...Close out every other thought but that." Sherry said, as she leaned against the bolted down desk on the dais and stared at Eric.

Eric shrugged, as he thought about what she said.

"Now, have you studied the Cold War much?" Sherry asked.

"Not really...I was always more concerned with further periods of time...The fight against communism and ideologies never really appealed to me." Eric said, as he went back to thinking.

"So, if I asked you the dates of the Cuban Missile Crisis?" Sherry asked randomly.

"October 14th, 1962 until about October 22nd." Eric responded, surprised with the words coming out of his mouth.

Sherry smiled as she came down off the dais and looked at Eric.

"Impressive. I wonder just what else you can apply yourself to do." Sherry said, as she rested her hands slightly on Eric's shoulders.

"You're special, Eric. Gifted. Like me, and others on campus." Sherry said, as Eric seemed confused.

"Gifted? How...Like academically superior?" Eric asked.

"No; Genetically." Sherry replied, as Eric stepped back from her.

"It's alright. I understand your doubt, it's a lot of information to take it. All the ones on campus I've spoke to took time to convince, but I know you will accept what I have to tell you. Believe me, I know how you're going to react." Sherry said, as Eric grabbed a pencil and threw it against a window.

"Yes, I knew you would do that too." Sherry said, as Eric looked at her.

"But I didn't...I just decided to do something random." Eric said, as he looked at her.

"Nine times out of ten, I'm pretty accurate. Hopefully, I don't have to get too expressive in what I can do, Eric. It's a tremendous drain, so I hate to do it too often. But, if you want, I can tell you what your parents are up to this moment...Or say, Sarah, back home in Sacramento." Sherry said, her eyes closing for a moment.

"You...How did..." Eric stammered as he looked at Sherry.

"I told you, we're special. And we want you to join us, be with people like you who can help you master what you can do, and help you develop your ability." Sherry said, as she took a card out from her purse and handed it to Eric.

"I already know what you're going to do, so I'll see you there at seven. Hopefully; now that you know, you could very well change the outcome." Sherry said, as Eric took the card.

Sherry gathered her things as she walked out of the room, as Eric stood at the bottom and read the card: Davis Hall, Basement, Press on the North-East Wall.

********************************************************

Davin sat in the mausoleum, tapping his fingers gently on the large conference table as he sat alone in the shadows. He played with a small watch that he flipped in between his fingers, twisting it through like a coin.

Davin focused for a moment, as the watch began to fall apart. It wasn't breaking, it was disassembling, as if some invisible watchmaker was taking it apart. Eventually all the parts fell onto the table, which Davin then dusted onto the floor.

Davin sighed, he was tired of testing his ability on these lousy inanimate objects, he wanted a challenge...To see how far his ability could really go. He looked up as he heard the door open, and stood up as Sherry, Carlos, Tural, Katherine, Kyros, Ross and some new guy entered the mausoleum.

"Mr. Holden, always early." Sherry said, as she noticed the watch pieces on the ground.

"I do hope you plan to clean that up." Carlos said, as he made his way to his chair and sat down.

The people moved through the mausoleum as they made their way to their seats. Eric stood near the door, looking in as the others looked back at him.

"Close the door, would you?" Tural said, as Eric gave an apologetic nod then pushed on the wall to close it.

"Well, as mentioned...I have discovered a new and last member. As we voted last night, we agreed to bring him into the fold to make him an official Marauder." Sherry said, as she leaned forward in her seat and motioned for Eric to come forward.

"You still haven't told us what he can do, Sherry." Carlos said, as he glanced over at the small framed Eric, then back to Sherry.

"It's strange...A type of applied intelligence when he concentrates on a subject. That's the simplest way of explaining it...I don't think he fully understands it himself." Sherry said, as she glanced at Eric and smiled.

"I think I can agree with that..." Eric said, as the others stopped talking and looked at him.

"Well, how do you suggest we break him in?" Katherine asked, as they stopped looking at Eric and turned back to themselves.

"Sparing?" Ross asked, excitedly as he started to bounce a little in his chair.

"He's not an offensive person...Tactical, perhaps, but not offensive." Sherry said, as she shot down Ross' idea.

"We could play Jeopardy, the home version." Katherine said, a note of sarcasm in her voice.

"Well, that's more accurate for someone like him; but probably not best for the rest of us. Sherry's word is good enough for me." Carlos said, as he glanced over at Sherry.

"I think, perhaps, we should just do what we've always done. Show him what it is we can do, and what he's getting into." Kyros said, as the others whispered and nodded.

"Very well, sounds good enough." Carlos said, as he motioned for Ross to stand up.

"Ross Morris...And they say I'm telekinetic." Ross said, as he raised his arm and the empty chair at the table moved out by itself towards Eric.

Ross sat down, as Kyros stood up.

"Kyros Anatolius, and I make shock waves." Kyros said, as he clapped his hands together slightly and a brush of wind hammered Eric, pushing him back slightly.

"Professor Kari Tural, happy to meet you." Tural said, as Eric began to feel incredibly happy.

"Or perhaps I'm just a little bit pissed off." Tural said, as Eric began to feel angry.

"Ok, back to normal, little boy." Tural said, as Eric shook his head slightly and wondered just what the hell had happened to him.

Carlos stood up, as he walked over to Eric and shook his hand.

"Tell me, are you healthy? Any troubles? Problems?" Carlos said, as his eyes blinked rapidly as he shook Eric's hand.

"Not...That I'm aware of." Eric said, as Carlos took his hand away.

"You had a small infection in your lower intestinal tract. Nothing major, probably wouldn't have done a thing, but it won't be a problem now." Carlos said with a smile, as he walked back to his seat.

Sherry remained seated, as she looked at Eric.

"There's no good word for what I know, and what I do. You know that, so we'll just move on." Sherry said, as Katherine stood up and began to hover over the table.

"Katherine Solomon, and I fly. Fast than Pacific Air, I might add." Katherine said, as she flew above the table for a bit before landing back in her seat.

Finally, Davin stood up as he looked around at the others.

"Davin Holden...And you don't want to f*** with me." Davin said, as he walked over to one of the mausoleum walls and bent down.

When he stood back up, he was holding a mouse in his hands. He smiled, as he focused and the mouse began to decrease in side, then looked as though it was a fetus, before it disappeared completely.

"And that's us." Davin said with a smile, as Eric stepped back from the table slightly.

"Well Eric, we've all taken a great risk in telling you what we can do and showing you...If you can handle it, welcome to the Marauders." Carlos said, as Eric smiled and took his place at the table...


End of Prologue, Part Two

[Bennet]

Prologue, Part Three: Let Not Man Tear Asunder
Berkeley, California, 2010

It had been months since Eric had joined the Marauders, but already he felt as though he had a new and further understanding of himself. When he had come to the campus, he had no idea about the ability he had and the power it would give him in life; but the Marauders had changed that. They made him feel special, wanted, and for the first time in his life: accepted.

Eric sat in the mausoleum, sitting in on a special meeting that Sherry had called to response to some kind of 'crisis of faith' as she called it. Everyone but Sherry sat in the room, and all of them look impatient.

"This better be good...I'm missing one of my lectures for this." Carlos said, as he looked at his watch.

"She usually has good reasons...Although, she has been running short of them in recent years." Tural said dryly, as she smiled at Carlos.

The door to the mausoleum opened, and Sherry entered, looking different than she ever had before. The smile that was always on her face had gone, replaced by a look of concern and bewilderment. She shut the door behind her, as she made her way slowly to the table and sat down in her seat.

"I'm glad you could all come. It means a lot." Sherry said, as she looked around the room at those gathered.

She was visibly shaken, everyone could see it.

"Sherry, what's going on?" Katherine asked out of concern, as Sherry looked up to the group.

"There's been an accident...A group of geology students from here at Berkeley were touring the Sutter Creek Gold mine, when there was a cave in." Sherry said, as she glanced around at the group.

"And what does that have to do with us?" Davin asked.

"We can do something about it. I know, that if we rely on conventional methods, those students are as good as dead. But if we intervene, use our abilities to help, we can get them all out." Sherry said, as the others looked solemnly at each other.

"So, where's the problem?" Eric asked.

"It's not as simple as you think. There are people out there, if they knew what we could do...Well, the world wouldn't be a safe place for any of us." Carlos answered, as the group seemed to fall into thought.

"If we help them, most of us will be exposed for what we can do...And that puts all of us at risk. If any of us are exposed, eventually all of us will be..." Tural added, as she looked over at Davin.

"I say its not worth it. I have no intention of ending up as some nerd's prized science project for the next twenty years." Davin said, as he leaned back in the chair.

"I have to agree with Davin." Ross said, as he also pushed himself back from the table.

"And your opinions are noted, but not surprising." Sherry said, as she glanced around at the others.

"If I was stuck in a mine, I'd hope someone who could help me...Would. We have to do this." Katherine said, as she looked over at Kyros.

"I would hope the same...But, what if we do more harm then good? Sure, I can make shockwaves and blast those fallen rocks out of the way...But wouldn't I also risk a greater cave in? We're not rescue workers, we're not trained for this...I can't agree to it. Not because of risk of exposure, but risk of making things worse." Kyros said, as Katherine looked away from him.

"That's three votes, no. And five of us left to speak..." Sherry said, as her gaze fell upon Eric.

"You know how I feel. If we can do something, we have to do it." Eric said, as Sherry nodded.

"I agree with him. That makes us tied, with our two last remaining professors to cast their votes." Sherry said, as she looked at Tural.

"Well, I'm inclined to agree with Kyros. We're not rescue workers, we have no place trying to save anyone." Tural said, as Sherry looked at Carlos.

"Old friend...I've shielded my thoughts from this, I didn't want to know these poor students fate before you had your say. How say you?" Sherry asked, as Carlos looked her in the eye for a moment, then looked away.

"I'm sorry. But, we can't risk it. For many reasons, there's simply nothing we can do." Carlos said, as Sherry's eyes began to tear and she nodded politely.

"Then we have decided the fate of twelve students, because I tell you, without us...They have died." Sherry said.

Davin stood up from the table.

"Who cares. It's not as if they were important." Davin said, as Carlos cast him a look.

"All life is important, Davin. This is nothing to be proud of, we have blood on our hands...I do regret my decision, the least you can do is the same." Carlos said, as Davin scoffed.

"For too god damned long I've sat here listening to all this self-righteous bullshit about how we need to protect those around us. That our abilities were given to us to try and make the world a better place. But at the same time, we keep saying how we can't let anyone know of our power, because of the many horrible ways these people treat things that are different." Davin yelled at the professors, as he turned away for a moment, then turned back to face them.

"These people don't deserve saving, and you all know that. What they deserve, is a life of servitude under people like us. They should know that we have the ways and the will to wipe people like them out and they should consider themselves lucky we let them live!" Davin added.

"Davin, that's enough!" Sherry screamed through her tears, as Davin laughed again.

"You're in no position to stop me, old woman. So you know everything, who gives a d***. With a simple touch of my pinky, I could take you all out of this...And I've thought about it, listening to all the bullshit you've fed us. This group has the ability to become a real force, with some real power backing behind it. And you're all denying us the right to do that." Davin said, as Ross stood up and stood beside him.

"He's right. I came here, barely able to move a pencil with my mind...You taught me to move chairs, rocks, heavy s***...And then, you tell me never to use it. I've had enough of your hypocritical bullshit. Finally, someone speaking some truth in this god damned group." Ross said, as Davin smiled.

"You guys shouldn't talk like that...How can you possibly make such claims?" Kyros said, as he moved back slightly as Davin came a few feet from him.

"Oh, and what gives you the knowledge to say otherwise? We're the wave of the future, not these old bunch of squandered talents. They want us to be as restricted as they were, keeping their powers secret and then living vicariously through the young. Well, from now, this young guy is living only for himself." Davin said, as Ross opened the mausoleum door with his mind.

"And anyone who feels the same should join me...Abandon this excuse for a group, and finally be able to learn to use their power to the fullest." Davin said, as he walked out with Ross following him.

The group sat there for a few seconds, eying each other to see if anyone would follow the young men out. There was an awkward silence as Professor Tural pushed her chair away from the table and made her way out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

"So, this is how we end." Carlos muttered, as he sunk in his chair.

"End? Oh no, old friend, this is just the beginning." Sherry said, as she looked around at the others.

"No matter what happens from this point on, we must all rely on each other. A storm is brewing in young Davin, and he intends to unleash it. Come, we need to get out of here." Sherry said, as she motioned for the others to follow her.

*************************************************

"Good evening, our top story tonight is a fire on the Berkeley Campus. Details are small, but we do know that Davis Hall, a housing facility for numerous different scientific offices, was the source of the fire. Firefights are saying the fire seems to have started in the basement, but released few details after that. The scientific community is calling the loss of the building, and the research within it, a major blow to the scientific advancement of the campus community."

*************************************************

The group sat in Katherine's dorm room, watching the events on the television.

"I can't believe he would do something like that." Kyros said, as he shook his head.

"Davin is doing what he believes he must. He sees us all as traitors to what we are, and we aren't going to change that. Although, we won't be seeing him again for sometime." Sherry said, as she sighed and stood up from the bed.

"Sherry; what will Davin do?" Carlos asked, as he stood up beside her.

"You know I can't do that, Carlos." Sherry said, as she crossed her arms.

Carlos grabbed her by the shoulders, as he stared directly into her eyes.

"Yes you can, you just won't. How far is Davin going to go with that hate he was spewing?" Carlos asked.

"Far enough. I was not exaggerating about a storm brewing in Davin, and it will be released on us all. When the time comes, we will take action and I will tell you all I know...But until then, we can not interfere." Sherry said, as she walked away from Carlos and towards the door.

"I don't agree with Davin, but he was right about us having these abilities for a reason. If you refuse to use yours, then why even do what you've done?" Carlos asked, as Sherry stopped and looked back.

"So that when the time came, we could stop people like Davin." Sherry simply answered, as she opened the door and walked out of the room.

"Well...As much as I like having a room full of guys on my bed, I think I'm going to have to kick all but one of you out for the night." Katherine said, with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Carlos nodded, as he opened the door to let Eric and himself out, leaving only Kyros and Katherine in the room.

****************************************

Davin sat in the passenger side of Ross' old truck, the engine rumbling and causing the vehicle to shake.

"So, where do we go from here?" Ross asked, as he put his seatbelt on and wrapped his hands on the truck's steering wheel.

"Well, with this...We'll start making rounds." Davin said, as he held up a CD.

"Are you sure that has what we need?" Ross asked, as he shifted the truck into drive and began to go off down the road.

"On a campus that large, we couldn't have been the only people who were special. Vered picked us for a reason, and rejected the others. I assumed she kept records of those she rejected, and of course, I was right. Thankfully, she's quite thorough in her records...Birth dates, address...People she knew from years ago are on this disc, and we're going to bring them together." Davin said with a smile.

"And then what?" Ross asked.

"And then the world is ours for the taking."

End of Prologue, Part Three

[Bennet]

Prologue, Part Four: From the Eternal Sea he Rises, Creating Armies on Either Shore
Berkeley, California, 2010.

The Marauders sat in a small office, decorated with pictures of Africa and degrees. There were also a few pictures of Carlos' family back in Israel hanging on a few of the walls.

"They're gone...I should have been more careful." Sherry said, as she held her head in her hands and shook gently.

Carlos comforted her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright...How did we know they would raid your office? Or know that the b**** Tural, would show them where you hid your files." Carlos said, as the others watched the two professors.

"Just what kind of files are we talking about here?" Eric finally asked.

"Documents on people like ourselves. We're not the only ones on campus who are special, or even in this state...Sherry kept records on most of them...And now they have them. No doubt Davin will find a few sympathetic to his cause." Carlos answered, as he checked the door to make sure it was locked.

"And then what? Start the Davin Revolution?" Katherine asked with a small chuckle.

"Perhaps. Who knows what he will do." Carlos responded, as he cast a bitter glare at Sherry.

"And what are our options?" Kyros asked.

"Well, nothing. We sit back and see what Davin does. If, and when, he needs to be stopped then we can do something about it. But until then, there's not much we can really do. Not unless, Sherry changes her mind about her ability." Carlos said, as he again shot Sherry a bitter glance.

"I can't, Carlos. You know that. Just because we can do these things, doesn't mean we should. Davin's nothing yet, and if I do this, I'll become what he wants us to be...Please, have some understanding for me." Sherry said, as she leaned back in the chair.

Carlos nodded, as he looked to the others.

"I have some spare files, backups of the ones Sherry was keeping. I want you all to make some rounds, find out who Davin's visited so far...And if anyone is missing. It will give us a sense of how true Davin's message is ringing to these others." Carlos said, as he opened a locked file cabinet, and tossed some manila folders onto the desk.

"Don't be gone too long. Katherine, do you mind doing more...Given the ease of travel for you?" Carlos asked.

Katherine scoffed.

"Sure, why not just ask the flying girl to pick up a few lattes while you're at it." Katherine said, as she took the largest folder.

"Well, if you're taking cafe orders..." Kyros said with a smile, as Katherine punched him gently on the arm.

"Jerk." Katherine muttered, with a smile, before leaning in to give Kyros a kiss.

"Well, you all have work to do. Eric, do you have car?" Carlos asked.

Eric shook his head.

"Been a slave to public transportation as long as I can remember." Eric answered.

"Then you'll ride with me." Carlos said, as he grabbed his coat off a rack and cast another look at Sherry.

"If anything happens that we need to know, you have my numbers." Carlos said, as he opened the door and the groups began to walk out....


***********************************************

Las Vegas, Nevada

Davin walked down the strip, a wide smile on his face.

"I couldn't have built a better city myself." He whispered to himself, as he walked further down, adjusting his sunglasses.

He took a look at the paper in his hand, a single name and address, nothing that would occupy an entire day. And besides, Ross and Kira were doing a fair job of recruiting by themselves. The numbers had begun to shore up, and soon Davin could start making some of the moves he'd been wanting to since he discovered his ability.

He looked around at the people he saw; obese, alcoholics, compulsive gamblers: pathetic, each and every one of them. Why should they sit atop the leadership of the world, when they could barely maintain order in their only lives. Either way, their time was coming to an end. A new era would soon arise, but first, he needed to set the mood.

Davin turned off the strip, jumping into the driver's seat of his rental car as he sped off down the Vegas roads, and towards his target.

After a rather uneventful drive, Davin pulled up outside the house and got out of his car. He knocked on the door, and smiled as it swung open, a young woman standing in the door way.

"If you're talking 'bout Jesus, selling anything, or come to ask for donations; you're s*** out of luck at this house." The woman said, as Davin smiled.

"I'm not here for any of those things. You're Lauren Greene, right?" Davin asked, as he took off his sunglasses, using his eyes and boyish smile to lure her in.

"Yea...And you are?" Lauren asked.

"Davin Holden. I'm a student from Berkeley University, and I've come to talk to you about something incredibly important." Davin said, as Lauren leaned away from the door.

"I don't do surveys." Lauren said, as she seemed ready to close the door.

"It's about you...What you can do, Lauren. I know." Davin said, a tone of seriousness in his voice usually reserved for funerals.

Lauren stood there for a moment, trying to process what she had just heard. She leaned in again.

"You mean...My gift?" Lauren asked, as Davin nodded.

She opened the screen door, and motioned for Davin to come in.

"And how do you know? Ain't no body round here who does..." Lauren said, as she looked at Davin.

"Someone I knew...They could...Find people like us." Davin answered.

"Us? You can do what I can do?" Lauren asked.

Davin smiled and shook his head.

"We're all different. Some aren't, but those are rare. My records don't exactly tell me what it is you can do." Davin said, as Lauren walked into the kitchen.

She came back with a glass of water and tossed it into the air. Before a single drop could hit the floor, it had crystallized.

"Amazing...Can you do that with anything?" Davin asked.

"Nah...Just water. Turns it to ice, but...Nothing else works." Lauren said, as she watched Davin pick up a few of the ice pieces.

Davin took the glass from her, placing it under his hand, he closed his eyes as the ice reverted back to water and drained from his hand into the glass. Davin then turned his attention to the glass, smiling as it turned into nothing more than a pile of sand.

"Heat? Is that how you did that?" Lauren asked.

"Not quite...I can...Reverse things. Break them down to a state they used to exist in, but don't anymore." Davin answered, as he looked at Lauren.

"So...Why are y'all here?" Lauren asked.

Davin looked at her, before taking her hands.

"The time has come. We're planning to take our rightful place. We're gods among mortals, and we're hiding it. Not developing to the level we can, and I say no more. We deserve better, and we deserve to be on top. Not them. Their time is over, ours is only about to begin." Davin said, as Lauren looked at him.

"And how do you plan to do that? I doubt people just hand over countries." Lauren said, as Davin nodded.

"The way all things work; through fear. Make them fear us, let them panic, and then give them comfort in safety; by making sure safety can only be achieved when we rule over them." Davin said, as Lauren leaned away from him.

"I'm not sure I agree with that...I mean, you're advocating killing, right?" Lauren asked.

"A few will have to die for the cause, on both sides." Davin said, barely phased by the words he was speaking.

"I think you need to get out of my house." Lauren replied, as Davin looked hurt.

"Are you sure about that answer, Lauren?" Davin asked, his seriousness turning to anger.

"Get out!" Lauren screamed, as she tried to pull her hands out of Davin's.

"Too bad." Davin said, as he squeezed tighter and let his ability kick in.

He watched, some what enjoying the screams Lauren was emitting, as her hair began to turn short and her body began to shrink. Backwards through the years, nineteen, twelve, six. Davin's eyes closed for the next part, it wasn't something he wanted to see, as she went even younger. One, a few months, until she was nothing more than an embryonic zygote, and then further back to an unfertilized egg, invisible to the naked human eye.

Davin wiped his hands on a nearby sofa, before turning and walking out of the house. He took out a red marker from his jacket, and crossed off Lauren's name on his paper. He then took out his cellphone, and pressed speed dial.

"Ross, Lauren's a no go. I'll meet up with you guys later tonight at the hotel, I'm going to take in some sights while we're here." Davin said, before hanging up the phone and climbing back into his car...


**************************************

Eric sat awkwardly in the car with Carlos, they had only been to a few houses, but it was already shaping up to a be a long day. Carlos remained silent during most of the rides between houses, he only really became vocal when they came across a house that was empty...Which seemed to be most of them.

"Either Davin's recruited this many people..." Carlos said, as he looked over at Eric, before merging into another lane.

"Or?" Eric asked.

"Or we're dealing with deaths on an incredible level. I wouldn't put it past Davin; if you're not with him, you're against him. Look what he did to the Mausoleum." Carlos said, as he turned the AC on the car on, and then merged back into another lane.

"I don't exactly see Davin running around killing people." Eric said, as Carlos looked at him again.

"I pleaded with Sherry not to bring him into the Marauders, you know. I saw him for what he was since day one; a pretty playboy who thinks he can do what he wants. I wouldn't put anything past him, Eric." Carlos said, as he blew his horn at another driver who cut them off.

"And what did you size up about me?" Eric asked.

"You...You have the markings of a good leader. Your ability is an incredible one, and if it worked on people, you could rival Sherry in knowing a great deal." Carlos said, before taking a deep breath.

"But you're also a liability. Worried, anxious, and unfocused. Doing the right thing is noble, that's why I've made many of the choices I have in my life. But consequences can come from nobility, just as much as inaction. If you don't learn that, you could see some harsh life lessons come your way." Carlos said, as Eric swallowed a breath and nodded.

"Who's next on our local list?" Carlos asked.

"Peter Williams." Eric said, as he flipped through the papers and handed the address paper to Carlos.

"Don't take my advice too harshly, I see myself in you, Eric...I really do. I just don't want you to have to experience the same problems optimism brought me in my youth." Carlos said, as he signaled and turned off the highway...

**************************************

Katherine touched down outside her dorm on campus, the sun had set a long time ago and there was no body around, so she figured it was safe. She walked towards Carlos' office, knocking gently on the door as Sherry opened it.

"You're the first one back." Sherry answered, as Katherine walked in and took a seat on a cabinet.

"Good for me; is there some special kind of prize for being prompt?" Katherine asked, as Sherry shook her head.

"What did you find?" Sherry asked.

"A whole lot of nothing. Everyone I went to find wasn't there, even a few of the out of state people. Either Davin's hit them all up, or there's some unofficial holiday going on that I really want to be a part of." Katherine said, as Sherry chuckled slightly.

"Well, as much as it takes the fun out of life for me. Give me a name." Sherry said, as she prepared to use her ability.

"Well, when I saw Vegas on the list, I knew I had to hit up sin city...I mean come on, think of the shenanigans a girl like me can get into over there. Lauren Greene, no one was home, door was wide open though." Katherine said, as Sherry focused.

"Oh my..." Sherry muttered, as she collapsed slightly, bracing the desk for support.

"She's no more." Sherry answered, as Katherine rushed over to help her regain her balance.

"So, Davin's killing people?" Katherine asked, surprised.

"It would seem that way...Those that refuse to join perhaps." Sherry said, as she pushed Katherine away and stood up under her own power.

"We'll wait for the others, see what they've found." Sherry said, as she sat back down behind Carlos' desk and wondered what else Davin would do to accomplish his goals...

*************************************************

Portland, Oregon, 2011

A single man in black stood among the school playground, watching the children play, before taking a second to look at his watch.

His cell phone rang, as he reached into his trench coat to answer it.

"Yes. I'm in position. I'm ready when you are." The man said, as he closed the phone and tucked it back into his jacket.

He moved away from the playground, moving towards an alleyway where he couldn't be seen. He raised his arms, as his hands began to emit a bright, yellow light. The posters on the wall behind the man began to burst into flames, as the light began to emit not only from his hands but from every patch of visible skin.

The heat began to grow stronger, as the light began to expand like a bubble around the man. Eventually, he threw his arms down as the bubble collapsed in on itself for a split second...Before it spread out around the city like a wave in the ocean. Windows shattered, cars flipped, people were incinerated as the wave past by them. The bubble engulfed the entire city, leaving a wake of destruction that nothing could have survived.

In the barren city, only a single figure of a man in a tattered black trench coat made his way out of the burning city...

******************************************

"Again, details are still sketchy. All we know is that at around 9:03 am, Eastern Time, the city of Portland, Oregon was destroyed in a nuclear attack. Numerous Federal Agencies are looking for those responsible, as well as trying to discover how an attack of this magnitude was orchastrated, without raising any suspecion. We'll keep you..."

The channel flickered and went to static for a moment, before it was replaced by an image of twelve people in black ski masks.

"We are The Guild, and we've come forward to claim responsibility for the attack on Portland. It was the first, and it will not be the last. We have many ways to carry out similar attacks, and will do so. This has nothing to do with religious extremism, just so you all know, this is about survival of the fittest. Darwin was right, mankind is evolving and those who do not deserve to be at the top are about to be knocked down." A man said.

"This first attack is a message to the United States, the rest of the world will receive similar messages. We deserve to rule, and we have the means and the capacity to wear you down to submission. You will dismantle your governments, and install us to rule over you. We shall be just and fair rulers, and punish those who deserve our wrath. You have twenty-four hours, then we shall strike again. Remember, you all are targets. We do not discriminate."

End of Prologue, Part Four

[Bennet]

Prologue, Part Five: The Future Belongs to Those who Prepare for it Today
Seattle, Washington, 2011.

Calvin Dobbs sat in his small auto-body shop, watching the news coming out of Portland. And then the subsequent interruption that followed.

"Can you believe that s***?" Alan, one of Calvin's mechanics, asked, before lifting the hood up on an old Ford.

"Sure can...Just another bunch of assholes who think they can push us around. I'm telling ya, someone ought to do something about this." Calvin answered, as he made his way over to the car and started looking around.

"Then why don't you?" Alan asked.

"Me? I'm just a mechanic. What the hell am I supposed to do about god damned Muslim Terrorists?" Calvin asked.

"I thought they said they weren't religious." Alan said, as he slid under the car and started looking underneath.

"What better cover for those bastards then to say it's someone else? They know we got our finger on the button for Iran...Syria...All those other backward nations that can't embrace a good idea, like democracy, when they see it. It's just misdirection, simple misdirection." Calvin ranted, as he checked the oil.

"Perhaps...Perhaps not." Alan said, as he tapped his wrench against a few parts, before sliding back from under the car.

"Either way, I think we should be prepared. Call the community together, make some plans. People like you Calvin, you're sort of a local legend around here. If you start calling people together, I tell ya, they'll come. Even if it's just making plans for what to do in case we get attacked." Alan said, as he walked over to a tool bench and wiped off his hands.

"Maybe you're right." Calvin answered, as he turned to take another look at the television...

**************************************

Berkeley, California

"Do you have any idea how many people have died because you didn't want to use your ability!" Carlos screamed at Sherry, as he slammed his fist against the desk.

"I'm not God, Carlos. I have no right to interfere with the plans set forth. When the time comes..." Sherry started, before Carlos cut her off.

"The time is now! Davin's behind this, he has to be, and yet you tell us to do nothing!" Carlos yelled, as he turned away from Sherry and sat down by the door, sighing.

"There is one thing we could do." Eric piped up, as Carlos looked at him.

"Which is?" Carlos asked.

"Tell the world about us. No one knows how Portland was destroyed, we can tell the world how Davin is doing these things, and let them know that there's people like us who are out there to stop him." Eric said, as he looked around at the others.

"So, we come forward...Tell the entire world, plus my parents who still live in their own fictional realm where I'm a virgin, that we have these unique abilities and so do the terrorists attacking you...But don't worry, we'll stop them when the time comes. And oh yeah, we knew the guy leading them was crazy, but we've just been too busy picking our asses to try and stop him. Yeah, that will play over really well." Katherine said, as she scoffed a little.

"Look. If we do something unexpected, it might slow Davin down. If people know what to look for, he may have to change his plans." Eric added.

"It will changing nothing. People will still keep their eyes peeled for suspecious looking people, aka Middle Easterners like myself, and will panic only over them. Telling the world about us will do nothing, but cause panic." Carlos said, as he looked over at Kyros, who seemed deep in thought.

"I think, Eric makes a point. If people know how Davin and his group are doing these things...It might make it easier to pinpoint them. Not to mention, we know Davin, Ross and Tural are leading this group. We can at least put their names forward with some pictures, so we can hunt them down." Kyros said, as the group nodded.

"We should wait until the governments have a chance to respond. Davin's given them twenty-four hours..." Carlos started, as Sherry cut him off.

"It's a trick. They have twenty-four hours, but no way to contact him...No way to get in touch. He's giving them false hope, even those who want it will not be able to take it. No, this is a ploy for more destruction. He wants them to see what he can do." Sherry said, as she scanned the rest of the group.

"Give me some time. I need to think about what we should do next. Meet at my house, tomorrow at six pm." Sherry said, as she stood up from behind Carlos' desk and walked out of the room.

"Is it just me, or is she always too dramatically cryptic?" Katherine asked, trying to break some of the tension in the room.

*******************************************

Moscow, Russia

A bitter snow was falling, as troops paraded around Red Square, keeping a close eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

A woman and a man were walking, seemingly having a good time enjoying each other's company, as a soldier approached them.

Translated from Russian "There is a curfew in effect, you have to leave, or we will arrest you." The soldier said, as his hand rested gently on his rifle.

"Curfew, comrade? That's not very democratic, now is it?" The woman asked, as she looked at her man with a smile.

"No, I don't think it is. Perhaps you need a lesson in democracy?" The man asked, as he coughed directly into the soldier's face.

The soldier twitched for a second, before grabbing his throat and gasping for air. His skin began to cover with black boils, as he collapsed on the ground began to go into convulsions. Within a few seconds, the twitching stopped, as blood stained the snow under the soldier.

"Get his gun, we might need it." The man said, laughing knowing they wouldn't.

"It's a little chilly, shall I turn up the heat?" The woman asked, as the man nodded.

She smiled, as he hands erupted with flame. She brought her hands closer to her chest, her body shaking from the pressure building, before pushing them away quickly. There fire spread through some of the square, not affecting some of the stronger stone structures, as more guards came running. They turned the corner, only to be engulfed in a wall of flame that awaited them.

The man and the woman kept walking, making their way through the square and towards the Kremlin. They stared at the building for a moment, then looked at each other.

"It's beautiful. Such a pity." The man said, as he watched the woman prepare another massive fireball, which broke through many of the first floor windows and engulfed the building from the inside.

"They will try to put it out." The woman said, as she heard alarms start to go off throughout the city.

"They can try. But we shall prevent that." The man said, as he held the woman's hand slightly, and they kissed in the light of the burning building...

***********************************************

Washington, D.C

The entire capitol was on alert, reports were coming in that Moscow was burning. A fire started in the Kremlin, and was threatening to engulf the entire city. Secret Service Agents walked through the streets near the White House, snipers were called in, tanks patrolled the street, and aircraft were heard overhead. The President was taking no chances.

Marine One had been called into pick up the First Family and move them to a secure location. After the strike on Portland, and a possibly related attack in Russia, anything was possible. The Secret Service made their route, as a man in a black trench coat walked the streets of Pennsylvania Avenue, trying to blend in with the other 'worried' people on the street.

The Secret Service were escorting most people off the street, telling them it was a restricted area. That meant he'd have to be fast. He leaned against the fence of the White House, touching his hand to the grass lawn, as he focused. He dug his fingers into the dirt, making sure that he could maximize his damage.

The green of the lawn started to turn brown, and spread quickly from the area the man was touching, as it made its way over towards the White House itself.

"We have a situation!" A voice shouted, as the man looked up and saw Secret Service agents, running towards him.

He lifted his other hand, and looked back towards the grass. He could feel the heat coming off his other hand, and no doubt the agents could too, as their skin began to develop radiation burns. Most of the them pulled away, running around a corner as they tried to use their dead radios to call for help. The man felt it, in his shoulder first, before it hit his torso. He looked to see blood coming from both, he turned to look at a building, seeing the reflection of a scope in the sunlight flash, before another bullet entered his skull.

He fell to the ground, as the browning of the grass stopped. A few Secret Service Agents walked carefully over to him, pistols trained, as another man walked over carrying a Geiger Counter.

"His body is putting off over 12,000 mSv of radiation..." The man said, as he scanned the lawn.

"Same with the lawn. Get out of here, now!" The man told the agents as he dropped the counter and ran away from the area.

The Agents ran away from the area, wondering how the hell a person managed to do what this man just did...

*********************************************

Seattle, Washington

"We have breaking news that an attack on the White House has been foiled by Secret Service Agents, with co-operation from other Federal Agencies. The attack occurred little under an hour ago, with a single man seemingly carrying some kind of nuclear material. The radiation in the area has caused most of the surrounding blocks in Washington to be evacuated. Press releases say the President and his family were in the White House at the time, and they have been moved and treated for potential radiation sickness. This news comes as the world is learning more about the deadly fires in Moscow, which have officially destroyed over half of the city. Firefights are continuing to fight the blaze, but are calling it an effort in futility."

Calvin turned off the tv, as he looked over at Alan.

"Well, it seems our government is ready to do s***. I think we should. Call up your neighbours, your friends, everybody...We're going to get this town together and figure out what we can do." Calvin said, as he walked away from the car he was working on, and made his way to the phone.

************************************

New York, New York

A teenager sat in a boat in the harbour, throwing some rocks into the water as he sat waiting. The cell phone he'd been given started to ring, as he answered it.

"Are you sure?" He asked, as he nodded slowly then shut the phone.

He took a deep breath, as he reached out and touched the water. It began to bubble for a second, as the water started to rise, the boat he was on began to rock back and forth, as the pier it was beside disappeared under the rising tide. He watched as the water began to pile onto the land, raising higher and higher, until his boat started to move towards some of the buildings.

He had his orders, not to completely submerge the city, but do just enough damage to cause panic. He could certainly see the panic, as people in the heart of Manhattan looked up to see the large wall of water moving towards them, and riding the wall a single boat. The screams below were glorious, and short, as the people making them were slowly cut off from oxygen by water. The boat hit a building, cracking the small hull, as the teenager struggled to remain on his feet.

The water levels were high enough now, anything below the seventh floor was completely submerged with water. The teenager stopped focusing, as he noticed his boat beginning to sink. He jumped from the boat, into the now calm waters, and swam to an open window. He climbed in, despite the cries of protest he received from the people inside, and grabbed their house phone, dialing a number.

"It's done."

***********************************************

Berkeley, California

Eric and the others stood uncomfortably in front of the lights and cameras, people were taking pictures and others just sat there, wondering why they came.

"After New York, this better be one hell of a story to take coverage away from that." One of the reporters whispered to another, as Eric walked up to the small podium set up by the University.

"Ladies and Gentleman...I'd like to thank you all for coming, especially considering the bad news we keep getting out of major cities. We come here before you all today, to reveal the methods behind the terrorist attacks afflicting ourselves, and our allies." Eric said, as he took a deep breath.

"I want you all to know, that we ourselves, are not terrorists. We do not endorse the methods and tactics taken by this group, and we oppose them quite openly. That being said, we would like to reveal how these attacks are occurring. Doctor Oded." Eric said, as he walked away from the podium and Carlos walked to it.

"Evolution is a constant process, the terrorists we fight referenced evolution in their video. Well, I've come to tell you that it is true. Mankind is evolving, in ways we only thought of in fantastic stories. I know none of you will believe the words I am saying, and that only a demonstration can put apart any sense of doubt. Well, demonstrate we shall. Katherine, Kyros...If you would." Carlos said, as he took a deep breath, and the reporters focused on Kat and Kyros.

Katherine took a deep breath, as she began to hover in the air. There were a few gasps, but most thought it was a trick, until Katherine flew around the entire room, zigging and zagging, and even waving her hands around to prove there were no wires.

Kyros placed a group of coffee mugs on a table near him, as he put out his arms and clapped his hands. The table flipped, and tumbled for a feet feet before coming to a rest. At this point, the camera flashes were almost uncountable.

"All of us here, can do something extraordinary. As can the terrorists who are attacking us now. Again, not all of us mean harm. But we know some do...As such, we know the identity of those leading this so called Guild: Davin Holden, Ross Morris, and Kira Tural." Carlos said, as he held up pictures of each other after their name.

"I stand here, with a promise. We will work endlessly with the world governments to find Holden and his 'terrorists', to stop them from doing further damage. However, we ask for understand from the world. Not all of us believe as Davin believes, he has killed our own who refused to join him, and tried to kill all of us up here today. If we work together, we can stop them."

************************************************

Seattle, Washington

"That's unnatural!" Calvin screamed at the television, as he watched it in the community hall, which was filled beyond capacity.

"These freaks of nature are more powerful then atomic weapons, and they're walking around, capable of killing us?! How long have they been here, and kept quiet? Long enough for them to become corrupted and long enough for them to try and kill us, obviously!" Calvin yelled at the gathered crowd, as they screamed in agreement.

Calvin climbed up onto the small stage in the community hall, pacing as his mind started to race.

"We need to do something about it! The Government ain't going to help none of us, they probably knew about people like this all along, and yet they told us normal people nothing!" Calvin added, as the crowd screamed in agreement again.

"We have a duty, as normal, God-fearing human beings to stand up and protect ourselves! To protect our children! To protect the American way of life!" Calvin screamed, sounding like a preacher-possessed, as the crowd continued to agree.

"And to do that, we need to stand up! To find these people, these atrocities of nature, to find them and hunt them and hurt them before they hurt us!" Calvin screamed, to even more crowd approval.

"Alright then! Let's gather what we can, and track down every last one of these sons of bitches down in Seattle, and drive them out of our city!" Calvin screamed, as he climbed down off the stage, and the people began to move out of the community hall with him.

Calvin smiled to himself, as he led the march of over 50,000 people through the streets of Seattle, crying out to those still in their houses to join them. By the time they reached the centre of the city, they were 200,000 strong, willing, and murderous...

End of Prologue, Part Five

[Bennet]

Prologue, Part Six: Behold, The Man has Become Like One of Us, to Know Good and Evil
Seattle, Washington, 2011

Seattle had become a very different place, as Calvin and his group began to grow in both strength and numbers, taking their message to the airwaves and the internet, eventually finding common ground with other groups in other states.

Calvin met with the other leaders of the groups in a conference in Seattle, as the men debated over what course of action to take. Eventually, the group decided the only method was extinction. And Calvin, being the most charismatic of the leaders, was elected to leader the groups in uniform. They also decided upon a name, The Founders for the Protection of Humanity.

Calvin smiled as he walked out into the auditorium full of people, from the smoky backroom where the other leaders sat waiting.

"My brothers and sisters, I come to tell you that we have made our decision. These freaks pose a very real threat to our very existence, and we can not allow that. If the government tells us that carrying a weapon in public is illegal, and can lock a person away for that...Why do they do nothing against someone stronger than ten thousand firearms? Where they do nothing, we shall rise up, and we shall take action." Calvin said, as he took a breath.

"But locking them up is too dangerous. People like that can break out, and become an even larger problem, seeking out those who locked them away. There is only one solution, and you all know of what I speak. Anyone who doesn't agree, let them walk away now." Calvin said, as he paused and waited to see if anyone would leave the auditorium.

No one moved.

"Then you have seen the path, and together we shall walk it. We must seek out these individuals, we have the resources." Calvin said, as he motioned with his arms.

"People, in high positions, sympathetic to our cause, and angry with our government's impotency on this issue. They want to act, and they're going to help us. We have the names, of confirmed and suspected people in the Seattle area who could be members of this dangerous group. I say we go from this auditorium, hunt them down, and string those bastards from the highest tree!" Calvin yelled, as the crowd erupted with approval.

Calvin smiled, as he jumped down from off the stage, taking a pistol out from his jacket, as he held it up high and slowly marched out of the auditorium; the audience slowly following behind him....

*************************************************

Undisclosed Location, USA

President Harrison sat in the small bunker, surrounded by men in uniforms, as a knock came from the heavily enforced door. A guard opened it slowly, as a man in a business suit entered.

"What do you have for me, John?" Harrison asked, as he shook the man's hand.

"Not much. We're still working on getting in contact with the people from Berkeley, but they seem to have been driven underground." John said, as he took a file folder out from under his arm.

"Seems this is the reason why." John added, as he placed the folder in front of the President.

"What is this?" Harrison asked, as he flipped through the pages.

"A radical group that's formed in Seattle, and spread to Los Angeles and what's left of New York. Right now, they're mostly talk...But they seem to want to hunt down as many of these 'evolved humans' as they can." John said, as Harrison listened.

"What happens if they cross the next step?" Harrison asked.

"Well, if they actually kill someone, I'd say we're going to have to worry about them going national...Possibly international." John said, as he sat down across from Harrison.

"What do we know about the leadership?" Harrison asked.

"As far as we can tell, the group is under the control of one Calvin Dobbs, a mechanic. Not much of a history, a few problems back in New Orleans when he was a member of a local gang...But nothing of this magnitude." John answered.

"And he's just targeting the evolved?" Harrison asked.

"For now. He's made a few comments about us, our 'inaction' as he calls it...But I don't think they'll branch into sedition." John answered.

"Good. For now, just keep a close eye on them. We have to worry more about this Davin fellow...What did you get on him?" Harrison asked.

"Again, not much. Born in Houston, a few misdemeanors on his record there...Then fell off criminal law enforcement radar for a very long time. Outside of that, we don't know much." John said, as he pushed up on the bridge of his glasses as they slid forward.

"Well, Davin's our main focus right now. I want this son of a b**** found, we can worry about Dobbs and his people later." Harrison said, as he leaned back in his seat.

"Sir...If Dobbs and his people actually kill a lot of evolved humans, we might be just as guilty for not stopping them when we had the chance...In the eyes of the public." John warned.

"The public won't carry about the death of someone who can emit high levels of radiation...Or raise sea levels. The public will see it as a service, and I'll tell you, if it at least stops one of those people from organizing another attack on our nation, I'll give Dobbs the Medal of Honour myself." Harrison said, as he stood up from the chair and walked over to the door.

He peaked out for a moment, seeing his daughter playing with her doll in the hall.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to spend some time with my daughter."

****************************************

Outside Quincy, California

Carlos wiped some sweat off his forehead, as he checked the backseat of the large van he was driving. Most of the group was sleeping, while a few others were lost in conversation among themselves. Sherry reached over from the passenger seat and tapped on Carlos' shoulder.

"Are you sure this is for the best?" Sherry asked, as Carlos nodded.

"It's not safe in Berkeley...Not anymore. Until things with Davin are settled, I doubt anywhere will be too safe for us. I'd cross the border, if I'd thought we could actually make it." Carlos said, as he scratched his chin for a moment.

"All we can do is wait. Time will eventually prove to the world that we're not the monsters Davin makes us out to be. And that's the overall goal." Sherry said, as she leaned her seat back and looked up into the night sky overhead.

"It's been so long since I left Berkeley, I was beginning to forget there was life outside of university." Sherry said, as she glanced over at Carlos.

"There's life, but there's death too. Fate isn't too discriminating about which one is handed out when." Carlos said, as he turned onto the road that would take them into the small town.

"True enough, I suppose." Sherry said, as she closed her eyes.

"We're going to need gas...I'll try to stick to a small station, and hopefully we don't have any trouble." Carlos said, as he glanced over at Sherry, who was already beginning to snore.

Carlos drove for a few more miles, until he came to a small service station, he pulled the large van in and stopped outside the pumps. He stepped out of the van, opened the fuel tank, and began to pump gas. He stood by the pump, until the van was full, then he closed the tank and walked into the store.

He browsed through some of the racks, grabbing a twenty-four pack of a generic soda, as well as some chips and a few 'hogie' sandwiches. He dropped them on the counter, as he looked at the clerk.

"And some gas on number four." Carlos said, as he grabbed some candy bars as well and added them to his collection.

"That'll be forty..." The clerk started, before he took a second look at Carlos.

"Aren't you that fella off the tv? The one that was with that girl that could fly?" The clerk asked.

Carlos laughed, awkwardly.

"I think you have me confused with someone else." Carlos said, as he took out a fifty dollar bill and placed it down on the counter.

"No...I'm sure...And we don't serve people like you..." The clerk said, as he began to reach under the counter.

Carlos grabbed the man's arm, making sure to grab onto bare flesh, as Carlos focused intensely. The clerk began to cough, as sweat dripped from his forehead, before his eyes rolled back slightly and he fell to the ground.

"It's just a flu, you'd be surprised how many bacteria are in your immune system...And how quickly they can work with a little help. Get plenty of bed rest, some over the counter medication, and you'll be fine." Carlos said, as he gathered up the supplies he bought and left the money on the counter.

Carlos took the supplies out to the van, throwing them in the back with the others, before climbing back into his seat and driving away from the service station.

"Something wrong?" Sherry asked, as her head moved slightly with the van.

"I don't think Quincy is quite far enough...I'm going to drive though, go somewhere more remote." Carlos said, as Sherry nodded and returned to her slumber, leaving Carlos alone to ponder their next destination.

*********************************************

Seattle, Washington

Calvin walked in the door, his hands and lower shirt stained with blood. He walked quietly through the hallway, before stepping the squeaking floorboard he'd been meaning to fix for months. The light in his bedroom turned on, as his wife Lucille, walked out of the bedroom.

"Calvin!" She screamed, as she rushed over to him, worried from the sight of the blood.

"It's alright, it's not mine." Calvin reassured her, as she looked at him.

"What do you mean...Not yours?" Lucille asked.

"We found a few of them...Made them pay for Portland, New York...Washington...All of it." Calvin said, as he walked into the bathroom and began to wash his hands.

He unbuttoned his shirt, taking it off and throwing it into the tub. He turned the tub tap on, as the water quickly went from clear to murky red.

"Just...How many is a few?" Lucille asked.

"Around fifty...I lost count after that." Calvin answered, as he adjusted his undershirt, then rubbed his hands under the warm sink water.

"Calvin...Baby...You can't do this. These people have families...Lives...Who are you to judge?" Lucille asked, as she stared at her husband.

"These 'people' are hardly people. They're not normal, not like you and me. If they weren't planning something, working with these terrorists, why wouldn't they simply come forward sooner and let us all know?" Calvin asked, sounding like he was addressing his group.

"Calvin...We...We need to talk." Lucille said, as she moved into the small bathroom with him and shut the door.

"If it's about what I've done tonight..." Calvin started, before Lucille pressed her finger against his lips.

"It's about Damien." Lucille said, as Calvin stopped talking and looked at his wife.

"Is he ok?" Calvin asked, concern obvious in his voice for his first-born son.

"He's fine...Well, no...He's terrified...Of you." Lucille answered.

"Why would he be terrified of his own father?" Calvin asked.

"He told me...Calvin, our boy is one of those people you killed tonight." Lucille said, as Calvin's expression disappeared.

He stared at his wife for a moment, before trying to get past her.

"What are you doing?" Lucille asked, as Calvin grabbed her by the shoulders and threw him by her.

Lucille landed on the floor with a hard thud, as her shoulder braced most of her fall, it was hardly enough to stop her head from banging hard against the base of the toilet.

"That thing...Is not my son." Calvin said, as he opened the door to the bathroom, leaving his wife bleeding and confused on the floor.

Calvin walked down the hall, making his way to his son's bedroom. He stopped outside it for a moment, before opening it and walking in slowly. He looked at his sleeping son through the moonlight that came in from the window. He walked slowly to the side of the bed, looking down at Damien. Calvin grabbed a pillow at the foot of the bed, then looked at the boy for a second, before bringing it down hard on the boy's face.

Damien tried to get up, tried to scream, tried to breath, tried to fight off his attacker; he tried everything, but couldn't do anything. The pillow slipped away, as Damien stared into his father's eyes.

"Dad?" Damien asked, as Calvin slammed his fist into the boy's face.

"You're not my son! You're not my son!" Calvin screamed back at him, over and over, punching him repeatedly in the face, until the face was hardly a face anymore.

Calvin stepped away from the blood soaked bed, as he made his way back to the bedroom. Lucille was standing, checking her head wound in the mirror when she saw Calvin enter, more blood on his hands. She looked at him for a moment, before rushing past him and running into Damien's room. Calvin saw the light come on from the bathroom, then listened to his wife's bloodcurdling scream and cries. Calvin washed his hands in the sink, as Lucille ran into the kitchen.

Calvin listened as she picked up the phone receiver, and as she whispered into the phone that she needed police and an ambulance...

*******************************************

Somewhere in Kenya

Davin walked through the small city, a slight smile on his face, with Ross and Tural walking beside him.

"You have to love these backward civilizations. In the United States, we'd be lucky to walk so free. But here, they don't have access to as much of a telephone, let alone a television." Davin said, as he continued to walk along his way.

"Perhaps...But we have some things we have to consider." Ross said, as he stopped Davin by gently taking his wrist.

"Like what?" Davin asked.

"Like this so called anti-evolved human group. If our operatives are being hunted down, then we're going to have a hard time keeping the normals in a state of fear." Tural said, as she pushed the two boys apart.

"They'll never find all our operatives, and the ones we do loose...Well, they can easily be replaced." Davin said, as he readjusted his hat, then continued along his way.

"Perhaps...But we need to do something about them. Send them a message that they can never hope to be as powerful as we are...If they produce results, people might think they're an alternative to our rule." Ross warned, as Davin stopped to look back at both of them.

"Fine, if you're all so worried about it, I'll have some of our people change their plans." Davin said, as he took a water bottle off his belt and took a long sip from it.

"In the meantime, I want someone to locate Sherry...She's dangerous to all of us." Davin said, as he reattached the water to his belt, and continued to walk outside of the city.

"Well, you heard the man, Ross. Get on it." Tural said, a note of superiority in her voice, as she followed Davin outside of the city.

Ross stood there for a moment, before groaning and walking back into the heart of the city to find himself a telephone.

*****************************************

Seattle, Washington

"Can you tell us what happened, ma'am?" The police officer asked, as paramedics took the body of Damien out of the house under a sheet.

"My husband went into his bedroom, and when he left, my son was dead." Lucille said, as she cast a bitter glance at Calvin.

"And what can you tell us, sir?" The officer asked.

"I caught him sneaking back in, some tempers flared, and next thing I know my own son pulls a knife on me in my own house." Calvin said, as he looked at the officer.

"That's bullshit! You killed our son because of what he was!" Lucille yelled, as she stormed out of the kitchen.

The officer looked at her leave, then back to Calvin.

"Don't worry sir..." The officer said in a hushed voice.

"The cause will get a major boost from your devotion, sir." The officer added, as Calvin smiled, then shook the officer's hand.

"Brother Hall; I'm glad to know this won't get blown out of proportion...Or stop our great work." Calvin said, as he patted the officer on the shoulder.

"Clear case of self-defense, plain and simple." Hall said, as he put away his notepad and looked at Calvin.

"See you at the next meeting, sir." Hall added, as he walked out of the house.

Calvin turned around to see Lucille and his other children standing in the hallway, with suitcases.

"So, this is how it's going to be?" Calvin asked, as Lucille ushered the children to go past their father and out to the garage.

"I don't even know who you are anymore, Calvin." Lucille said, as she moved slowly past Calvin and made her own way out of the house.

"I'm somebody now, Lucille. Which is more than I could say I was when I was with you!" Calvin yelled, as her and the kids backed up out of the driveway.

Calvin stood there for a moment, watching as the car drove away into the coming sunrise, before returning into the house and laying down in bed...

*************************************************

Somewhere outside Utah

Carlos struggled to keep his eyes open, as he felt a hand touch his shoulder.

"Eric...Why aren't you resting with the others?" Carlos said, as he put his focus back on the road.

"You've been driving for a while, sir. I thought, perhaps, I could take over." Eric said, as Carlos looked at him for a moment.

"I thought you didn't have a license? Slave to public transport, remember?" Carlos asked.

Eric chuckled slightly.

"I said I didn't have a car, never said I didn't have a license. What self respecting guy my age wouldn't have that all important piece of paper?" Eric asked, as Carlos nodded in agreement.

"I could use some time to get some sleep." Carlos said, as he pulled the car over.

"If anything happens, let Sherry or me know." Carlos said, as he climbed out of the driver's seat and into the back.

"No problem...Just one question, where the heck are we going?" Eric asked.

Carlos stopped for a second, trying to think.

"You know, I've never been to Colorado. I think now might be the time." Carlos said, with a smile, as Eric nodded and strapped himself into the driver's seat.

"Well, here goes nothing." Eric muttered to himself, as he shifted the van back into drive and slowly made his way back onto the road....

End of Prologue, Part Six

[Bennet]

Prologue, Part Seven: The Fall of Man
Seattle, Washington, 2011.

Calvin walked around the auditorium, it was practically empty save for a few dedicated 'warriors' who called themselves his bodyguards. A few of them walked around with strange electrical devices, scanning the building as they walked around, looking for bombs or hidden weapons.

The door to the auditorium entered, as a man entered in a business suit with a large metal briefcase.

"Mr. Dobbs." The man said, as he walked in and shook his hand.

"Frances. It's been awhile." Calvin said, as Frances put the briefcase down on a table.

Calvin looked at the case for a moment, making a note of the large "Primatech Research" logo on the side of it.

"Did you get what we asked for?" Calvin asked.


Frances smiled, and nodded.

"Of course. If my superiors knew, they'd have my head. But with all the chaos with what's going on, they have bigger fish to fry." Frances said, as he slide the number dials to their correct position and popped open the briefcase.

Inside were test tubes, litmus strips, and other strange looking devices.

"We did a random check on the people you've taken care of so far. Out of the 1,200 killed, only about five hundred were actually evolved humans." Frances said, as he took out a folder and placed it beside the briefcase.

"Casualties of war." Calvin said, no tone of feeling in his voice.

"True. We do what we have to do to keep ourselves safe." Frances said in agreement, as he took more things out of the case.

"Normally, a simple blood test would help you identify an evolved human...But that can be risky against more dangerous ones. This is a device we've just come up with, works like a modified geiger counter, detects the presence of a certain chemical put off by evolved humans. It will detect them from a distance of about thirty feet." Frances said, as he switched the device on and it began to beep.

"That's strange..." Frances said, as he read the meter.

"There's something coming." Frances said, as he turned the meter around and pointed it at the door.

The door exploded with a crack of lightning, as a few bodyguards near it were thrown across the room. A single woman entered, firing electrical arcs across the room at anyone who got to close. Frances pulled out his Company pistol and took a shot, grazing the woman's arm. She screamed, as she turned and fired a massive bolt of electricity at him. The bolt went through his chest, coming out on the other end, leaving a massive wound where his lungs should have been.

More guards pooled into the room, and opened fire on the woman, not stopping until she was on the ground in a pool of her own blood. Calvin looked up from the seat he had ducked behind.

"Good work men...This is exactly the kind of thing I knew would happen. They're worried about people like us who see them for what they are, and they're going to try and stop us. Let the rest of our brothers and sisters know what happened here...And tell them to be ready, we're going hunting tonight..."

*********************************************************

Outside Yampa, Colorado

Eric rubbed his eyes as he saw the road sign announcing the upcoming town of Yampa. Eric thought to himself for a second, before tapping on Sherry's shoulder.

"What is it, Eric?" Sherry asked, as she woke up from the nap that she was taking.

"Yampa...2000 census said about 443 people. Seems like a small enough place to duck away to, right?" Eric said, using his ability to his advantage.

"Did you hear that Carlos?" Sherry asked, as she leaned in the back to find him playing cards with the others.

"For now, it should be fine." Carlos said, as Eric signaled and turned onto the road towards Yampa.

They had heard a few radio reports come in. No major new attacks, but there had been an assassination attempt on a man named Calvin Dobbs, the leader of a radical group that was out killing evolved humans by the dozen. Most of the people in the van wouldn't wish ill-will against anyone, but they did regret that the assassination attempt had failed.

The report went even further to suggest that Dobbs' group were running candidates in 'special elections' in New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle, where the current sitting mayors were 'killed in evolved human attacks'. This was finally enough to irk the government into calling out against the group, saying that they were a sedition group that was involved with the murders of the mayors. The group was outlawed, placed on the same terrorist watch list as Davin's Guild, but that didn't stop membership levels from rising and holding open rallies.

After the last report, Eric had turned off the radio, not wanting to hear any more bad news. That had been awhile ago, and the silence in the car was starting to get to him. He switched the radio on, static coming from the station they were previously on, so he hit the seek button to let them randomly find a new station.

"You're listening to KIDN-FM, 95.9 FM." The radio said, a little too loudly, causing Eric to turn the volume down.

Some modern rock music slowly came over the speakers, before an official news sounding music replaced it.

"This is KIDN-FM, with a breaking news report. The President has issued a statement to the cities of New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle, warning them about tonights special mayoral elections. The cities, which have become hot beds for the sedition group, Founders for the Protection of Humanity, are seeing candidates belonging to the group running for the city's top job. The President warned citizens in these cities that a vote for a candidate belonging to the FPH could be considered treason. Meanwhile, FPH New York Mayoral Candidate, Rod Bruick, had this to say:

'Of course the government is afraid of having FPH members elected to mayoral, congressional, and senatorial positions, because they know we're willing to do something about this threat that is facing our nation. The current government has dropped the ball, and the destruction here in New York speaks louder than the words of our President ever could.'

As you know, we'll have special election updates throughout tonight, given the magnitude of the votes. For KIDN-FM, I'm...."

Eric switched off the radio, as he looked around the van at the others.

"If the FPH win those cities...I don't know what will happen." Katherine said, as she looked over at Kyros, fear in her eyes.

"If they win, they'll have resources they could have only dreamed of at their disposal. The 1,200 killed in Seattle will look like a pittance compared to what will come." Sherry answered, as Carlos looked at her.

"Eric...Pull over, I need to talk to Sherry." Carlos said, as Eric nodded and slowed the vehicle to a stop.

Carlos climbed out of the back, as Sherry exited from the passenger side. They closed the doors, and moved a little away from the van so the others couldn't hear them.

"Sherry...I need you to do something." Carlos said, as Sherry looked at him.

"I know what you're going to ask Carlos...And you're right. He's in Nevada...But I don't know how we're going to get to where he is." Sherry answered, as she leaned in and whispered the rest of her words into Carlos' ear.

Carlos nodded, as the two walked back towards the van. Carlos opened the driver's door, and motioned for Eric to move out. Eric moved into the back, as Carlos turned the van around and took off down the highway.

"Wait...Why are we going back?" Kyros asked, as the others seemed confused.

"We need to talk to someone who can actually help us. He's in Nevada, and we really need to speak with him. Until then, Eric..." Carlos said, as he took a deep breath, hardly believing what he was about to say next.

"I need you to find out everything you can about Area 51."

***************************************************************

Los Angeles, California

The rally was massive, hundreds of thousands of people as far as the eye could see. A small stage was set up in the middle of the crowd, large banners flying and a giant television in the centre. The crowd erupted in applause, as the television turned on and the face of an elderly man was projected on it. Underneath, read the banner: Tom Kapert.

"Ladies and Gentlemen...Brothers, and sisters." Tom announced, as his 'floating head' scanned the crowd as if he was looking right at them.

"I stand before you tonight, to tell you of a wonderful event for our nation, our city, and our cause." Tom said, as he took a deep breath.

"With 52% of the vote counted, all ballots so far have clearly said that they want Tom Kapert as mayor of Los Angeles." Tom announced, as the crowd began to cheer and applaud even louder.

"But, this is not a night about me. We have achieved a great victory here in our great city, but our cause expands further than ourselves...Above us to Seattle, where Rick Jelori, our brother, is currently leading." Tom paused, as the crowd continued their cheers of approval.

"And to the east, to the great city of New York, where Brother Rod Bruick is also leading in the polls." Tom announced, as the crowd began to become more excited.

"This is a great victory, and once these three cities have official adopted the FPH as their ruling party, we will carry out uniformed strikes against those who threaten our nation, our livelihoods, and our children. As you all know, our leader, Calvin Dobbs, was the target of an attempted assassination earlier today. Through the grace of God, he was unharmed, and the assassin was killed. She was not the first evolved human to be put down, and now with us, she shall not be the last!" Tom said, as the crowd cheered again.

Before Tom could speak again, the television burst into flames and exploded on stage, as the jovial mood turned to one of terror. The crowd watched as three individuals stood apart from the crowd, a female throwing balls of fire, a man growing in size, and another woman doing nothing, stood there.

The crowd let out a battle cry, as the unarmed masses charged them. Many died, but eventually the three were overtaken. The pyrokinetic was killed first, as numerous people stamped heavily on her face under her skull was crushed beneath the pressure.

As the crowd turned to face the other two, they watched as the woman grabbed the growing man and they disappeared. The crowd lifted up the body of the pyrokinetic, and chanted as they paraded it through the streets of Los Angeles...

*************************************************

Undisclosed Location, USA

President Harrison watched the election results as they rolled in, not to mention the scene of the potential riot going on in Los Angeles.

"Well, it seems the people didn't care much for your address." John said, as he looked over at the President.

"They're scared. You know as well as I do, what happens when you put an electorate into a frenzy and panic. They're voting for security, at the cost of murder." Harrison answered, as he turned off the television.

"Any luck finding Dobbs?" Harrison asked.

"We're looking. As far as we know, he's still in Seattle, but he's a difficult man to find. He has a lot of connections, and now with the mayor under his thumb, we're not going to get any help." John answered, as he rubbed his chin.

"What about the group from Berkeley?" Harrison asked.

"Security camera footage from a gas station near Quincy, California, showed one of the men...Identified as Doctor Carlos Oded, attacking the clerk." John answered, as Harrison seemed doubtful.

"Why would he do that?" Harrison asked.

"It seems the clerk was reaching for a shotgun under the counter. We interviewed the clerk, and he denies reaching for the gun, but the footage shows otherwise. Oded was just defending himself." John answered, as Harrison nodded.

"Well, keep your eyes peeled. I want to speak with them if given the opportunity." Harrison answered, as John shrugged his shoulders than nodded.

"Will do, sir." John added, as he stood up and walked out of the room.

*********************************************

Somewhere in South Africa

Davin and the others stood around the makeshift campsite, a small fire in the centre of it, as they waited for word to come in from their radios. There was some confusion, when a woman and a man appeared out of no where in front of them, but Davin kept his guards from attacking.

"Jean, Kelly." Davin addressed them, as he scanned them.

"Where's Tanya?" Davin asked, as Jean hung her head low.

"The crowd turned on us. They didn't run away, they ran at us...Beat Tanya to a pulp. She's dead." Jean answered, as Davin looked around for a second, then got close to them.

"So, the Los Angeles' mission was a failure?" Davin asked.

"We didn't have time to do anything...We thought we could, but when they attacked us...There were just too many." Kelly said, as he rubbed his wrists.

"I see. Well, I'll have to break the news to Vladimir that his wife has been killed. He'll be less than happy with that." Davin said, as he motioned for Ross to come over.

"As for you two." Davin added, as he turned and walked away.

Ross smiled as he raised his arms then slammed his fists together quickly. Jean and Kelly both began to gasp for air, coughing up blood as they scratched at their throats and chests, trying desperately to breath.

"Compacting lungs, a nice new skill I've learnt, wouldn't you say?" Ross asked, as the two fell to the ground, still trying desperately to breath.

Ross stood there for a second, until the motions stopped and they laid lifeless on the sand.

"Someone, take these two out of here." Ross said, to a group of people sitting around one of the campfires, as he followed Davin's footsteps away from the bodies.

Ross found Davin comforting Vladimir, the viral Russian who helped Tanya burn down the Kremlin.

"She was a valued member of our team, and we will avenge her." Davin told Vladimir, as he patted him on the shoulder.

"Nyet. I shall avenge her. Master, I beg you...Let me do my final mission, let me die to see my wife." Vladimir begged, as Davin nodded.

"Very well. My old mentor, Sherry Vered, she is your target. One of our people has been following them for days, they were in Colorado, but they seem to be headed back towards California. Get on a flight to California, and we'll tell you where to go from there." Davin told the burly Russian, as he nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Comrade Davin." Vladimir said, as he stood up and gave Davin a hug, before rushing off to his tent to prepare his supplies.

"Sherry will know he's coming..." Ross warned Davin as he stepped forward.

"Perhaps. But either way, something makes me think he's infectious dead or alive."

****************************************************

Seattle, Washington

Calvin stood in the back room, watching as Rick Jelori gave his acceptance speech to the crowd amassed at his campaign headquarters. One of Calvin's bodyguards step forward, as Calvin nodded to what the man was whispering in his ear.

The crowd erupted in applause once again, as Rick made his way off the stage and towards the back room.

"Seems we were right. 'The Guild' struck out against some of our mayors." Calvin said, as Rick nodded.

"Well, I'm just glad you had the foresight to make sure it wouldn't happen here." Rick said.

"Oh, of course it wouldn't. They already lost one of their terrorists here today, I don't think they want to lose another. We got one of them, but another two escaped. This will strengthen Tom's right to activate the next step." Calvin said, as the two men walked out of the back room and down a secluded hallway.

"That's good for us then. We can take the same liberties." Rick added, as they moved through the hall and to a small door leading to a parked limo outside.

"Indeed. I want you to make the call already, we need to get on this tonight, especially before the Feds have a chance to organize themselves better." Calvin said, as Rick nodded.

"They call us terrorists, and we've just won three major victories. Of course they'll see us as a threat now." Rick said, as he took his cell phone out of his pocket.

He dialed a number, then pressed the phone against his ear.

"This is Mayor Jelori, commissioner, I want the police to be on constant search for evolved humans. You got the equipment we sent, correct? Good. Other crimes are to be put on a low priority, tracking down these evolved human is all that matters." Rick said, before taking a pause.

"I wish you luck as well, brother." Rick added, as he hung up the phone.

Calvin smiled, as he shook Rick's hand.

"The great work begins." Calvin said, as he walked back into the building to wait for his own ride.

Rick climbed into the limo, as it took away from the building. Within seconds, the limo exploded, as a black van drove away from another nearby alley way...

***************************************************

Outside Area 51, Nevada

It had been a long eleven hours, but they finally made it to Nevada, stopping in the town of Indian Springs, as it was close to the location the group was trying to reach.

"Well, I think we all need a rest before we go any further. That, and we need a plan." Carlos said, as he looked at Eric.

"Once we get close, and cross the perimeter line, we're going to have people on us. If we don't stop, they have the right to open fire on us." Eric said, as he took a deep breath.

"There's also the possibility that they don't know the President is being kept at the base, for security reasons." Sherry added, as the group nodded.

"Well, we'll have to take that risk. If we're lucky, they know and we'll be taken to see him." Kyros added, as the van pulled over to a small parking lot.

"Everyone get out, stretch your legs and get ready for what we need to do." Carlos said, as the doors opened and they walked around the small lot.

Eric kept his head down, as he kicked some small rocks that were littered around the parking lot. He was the first to hear the siren, as the police car came pulling into the lot, accompanied by numerous 'black vans'. One of the van opened, as a man jumped out and approached the group.

"Easy does it. We're not here to hurt anybody." The man said, as the sun reflected off his dark sunglasses.

"I'm Agent Pavel of the FBI, I'm here to bring you in." Pavel said, as he moved closer to the group.

"We need to speak to the President, it's important." Carlos said, as Pavel lowered his arms and moved closer.

"The President is in deep hiding right now. Even if I knew where he was, I could not disclose that information to you." Pavel replied, as he stared down Carlos.

"We know he here, in Nevada. In Area 51, why else do you think we'd come back this way?" Sherry said, as she looked at a very confused Agent Pavel.

"I don't know how you found that out, but that's a national security risk you just put out there. Fine. I'll take you to the base, but only because the President's been wanting to speak with you since your little press conference in Berkeley." Pavel answered, as he motioned for some of the other agents to come closer.

Pavel escorted the group into one of his dark vans, as he climbed into the passenger seat and took out his radio.

"Papa Bear, this is Cub Junior, we have found the wondering pack and are requesting permission to bring them into the cavern, over." Pavel said, as he waited for a response.

"Roger, Cub Junior. Please authenticate." A voice crackled back over the radio.

"I authenticate, Brown-Zero, over." Pavel answered, straining to remember his authentication code.

"Authentication confirmed, bring them into the cave." The voice responded, as the van started up and began heading out into the Nevada desert....

End of Prologue, Part Seven

[Bennet]

Prologue, Part Eight: And I Heard, As It Were, The Noise of Thunder
Area 51, Nevada, 2011

Eric and the group sat in the dark van, as Pavel and the other FBI agents left them to secure the route.

"No doubt hiding the things we're not supposed to see." Carlos muttered, as he checked the door hand to find it was locked from the other side.

"Well, you know that ET, always running around getting into trouble. They have to make sure he's locked up, or who knows what sort of hell would break loose." Katherine said, as she leaned back into Kyros' arms.

"Either way...Think of the story we could tell. We're actually inside Area 51." Eric said, a smile on his face, as he thought of all his old conspiracy theory buddies from high school.

"I think most of you are in for a disappointment about what we'll find here." Sherry said, as she leaned back against one of the walls as the door opened and Pavel motioned for them to follow.

They left the van, and followed Pavel through some of the twists and turns of a complex tunnel system inside the military base. It led to a large steel door, as Pavel grunted as he twisted the sealing wheel on the side and pulled the door open. They walked through, and entered a large bunker. Dozens of similar doors on either side of the hall.

"Now, stick with me. I know you're all probably curious to open up some of these doors, but don't." Pavel told them, as they walked to the end of the hall and Pavel opened another door.

It revealed a large living area, couches, chairs, a television and other everyday objects filled the room.

"What is this, Hitler's last days?" Katherine asked with a chuckle, as Pavel shot her a disapproving look, silencing her.

"If you'll wait here, I'll go see if the President is ready for you." Pavel said, as he walked through a more standard looking door and closed it behind him.

"So, where do you think they keep the aliens?" Katherine asked, as she looked back to the hallway they had just come from.

"If we have them, they're not here." A voice called from the other side of the room, as President Harrison walked into the room.

"Mr. President." Carlos said, as he shook the man's hand.

"I'm not going to get the flu, am I? We heard about Quincy..." Harrison said, as he shook Carlos' hand.

"No. It's not a standard touch activated ability, I have to want to do it." Carlos assured him.

"Good." Harrison said, as he looked over at the rest of the group.

"You've come a long way...And I have to say...How the hell did you know I was here?" Harrison asked, as he scanned the group.

"I knew...It's part of my gift." Sherry answered, as she looked at Harrison.

"Are there others like you?" Harrison asked.

"It's possible. If they really want to find you, they have their ways." Sherry told Harrison.

"Well, they'll have to fight through hell to get in here." Harrison said, a smile on his face and a tone of arrogance in his voice.

"Not really...If they had someone who can teleport, he or she could come in, grab you, and be gone in under twenty seconds." Sherry told him, as Harrison's smile disappeared.

"Then let us hope they don't have anyone like that." Harrison said, as he sat down on one of the couches.

"So, why exactly are you here? Pavel told me you want to speak to me as badly as I wanted to speak to you." Harrison said, as he leaned back.

"It's about Dobbs." Eric announced, as the Professors cast him a look.

"Yes, it is. We want him stopped." Carlos added, taking over for Eric.

"Believe me, we're working on it. You might recall that Seattle's new mayor was killed in a car bombing last night. The FBI had a hand in it, we were hoping to get Dobbs with him...But no luck." Harrison said, as he motioned for them to have a seat.

"Then perhaps it's time for something stronger?" Carlos asked.

"Are you suggesting full military intervention?" Harrison asked.

"Perhaps." Carlos responded.

"Look. I don't like that American citizens elected these nutjobs either...And I don't care to know that they've turned the police force into genocide squads to hunt people like you down. But, I still can't risk harming that many American citizens." Harrison answered.

"There's another way." Sherry answered, as she looked at Harrison.

"The die-hards of the FPH, I can find them...Let you know where they are, and then you know exactly where to strike. If you bring down the ones really pushing the group, and re-establish Federal control, the rest will dwindle away. Trust me, I've seen it." Sherry told Harrison as he nodded.

"Fine; you want the FPH taken down. We'll arrange for it. They're a group we're used to dealing with...But, I want something from you." Harrison said, as Sherry closed her eyes.

"Davin." Sherry answered, as Harrison nodded.

"We've been trying to bomb known locations for his 'Guild', but they seem to have ways to knocking our planes right out of the skies before they can even have a chance to call in a mayday. I'd imagine you guys can take on Davin..." Harrison said, as Carlos stood up from the couch.

"There's only five of us here, and even then only two of us have actual offensive abilities. How do you expect us to take on Davin and his army?" Carlos asked, as Harrison stood up.

"Follow me." Harrison said, as he walked down the corridor the group had came from and opened a door in the hallway of many doors.

The group followed him down a further tunnel and to a large sealed door. Harrison punched in a code on the keypad, as the door opened and the group walked into a large room, with hundreds of people inside.

"The truth of the matter is, we've known about people like you for a long time. Area 51 doesn't study aliens, we study evolved humans like yourselves." Harrison said, as Carlos grabbed him by the collar.

"Who gave you the right to experiment on these people!?" Carlos yelled, as he slammed Harrison against a wall.

"They did...They're volunteers, all of them. Most of them are ex-Army, people who discovered what they could do and came to us for help. They'll help you take down Davin." Harrison answered, as Carlos released his grip on Harrison and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry." Carlos said, as he looked at the large group of assembled people.

"It's alright. I'd be upset too if I found out someone was experimenting on every day Americans." Harrison answered, as he looked to Sherry.

"I trust these people will be able to help?" Harrison asked, as Sherry smiled and nodded...

******************************************************

Los Angeles, California

Most of the prisons had been converted to death camps, the normal prisoners inside executed along with the super human ones rounded up by the FPH. Mayor Tom Kapert walked around the facility, admiring the conditions the prisoners were kept in.

"Most of them are sedated heavily, and given various medications to slow down brain activity. The research Frances gave to us provided a lot of information, and we've been using that against them." The doctor beside Tom said, as Tom smiled and nodded.

"That's good. It will give our supporters something to cheer about at the rally. Is everything set up?" Tom asked, as the doctor nodded.

Tom walked out of the facility, into what was once the recreational yard. A small stage was set up, and people were crammed into the yard, waiting for a view of their mayor and brother.

Tom climbed the small stairwell onto the stage, and walked to the podium.

"Brothers and sisters, I'm glad to see you all here tonight. As you know, tonight we execute every single person in this prison. Not one of them will escape the divine sword of justice that we have perched over them. But, we have also suffered a great loss. Our colleague, brother, and fellow Mayor, Rick Jelori died last night in an undetermined attack upon his limo. We believe they meant to target our leader, Calvin Dobbs, who confirms he was with Rick moments before the attack. Again, God's will protected our leader, and we should be thankful for that." Tom said, stopping as he heard and awkward sounding approaching from the distance.

He looked up towards the sky, as he saw a plane fly overhead. For a split second, Tom could see the missile coming towards the podium and the crowd, but could do nothing as it connected with the surface and resulted in a large explosion in the yard. The gathered crowd was blown apart, as people flew through the air (some whole, others in pieces), as Tom himself was thrown from the stage and hit the side of the prison facility hard, snapping his neck and spine on contact.

"This is Little Man, we have successful launch of the AGM-62, target is not confirmed but presumed to be destroyed. Send in detail crew for confirmation."

****************************************************

New York, New York

Mayor Rod Bruick sat in his office, under his desk as he pressed the phone against his ear.

"The god damned government! They're killing our f***ing people!" The voice, clearly Calvin's, screamed from the other end.

"What do you want me to do?" Rick asked.

"Move up the schedule. Kill all the detainees you have in our possession and then get the hell out of New York. Meet up at the Alpha Point, Security Plan B." Calvin told him, as Rick heard the phone click.

He climbed out from under his desk, as he put the phone base back on it. He picked up the headset, as he dialed a number.

"This is Mayor Bruick, I'm calling to tell you that..." Rick started, as the door to his office kicked open and twelve men in SWAT uniformed moved in, opening fire in his direction.

Rick dropped the phone, as he stood there for a second, looking down at his own bloodstained shirt before he fell to the ground himself.

"This is Bravo Leader, target has been neutralized."

**********************************************************

Lake Chelan, Washington

Calvin sat in his vehicle, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he watched from the distance the point where he was supposed to meet up with his remaining supporters. He'd lost contact with most of the leadership, meaning most of them were dead or captured. He watched as a number of military style trucks pulled into the clearing, FHP logos on the side of the trucks, as well as a few more 'family friendly' cars pulled in.

Calvin smiled, as he got ready to flash his lights and drive into the clearing himself. Before he could, a flash of light hit the clearing, as Calvin watched flames engulf the area. He turned his car on quickly, leaving the lights off as he drove deeper into the forest, hoping to evade anyone coming after him. His group had fallen apart, and he was now a fugitive. The funny thing was, it didn't bother him. Calvin got out of his car, as he walked the rest of the distance to one of the nearby towns, Mason.

He knocked on one of the cabin doors, and when the man of the house answered, he shot him dead. Calvin killed anyone else in the house, then drew the blinds and sunk into the basement to get some rest. He was going to have a long day of running ahead of him...

************************************************************

Area 51, Nevada

"That's excellent news, General. Thank you." Harrison said, as he put down the phone and looked at the group.

"The rendezvous at Lake Chelan has been taken care of. What's left of the die-hard group of the FPH in Washington have been destroyed. We're also getting reports of mass arrests of FPH members in New York State and California." Harrison said with a smile, as he looked to Sherry.

"Your information helped us a lot. Without you, a lot of their leadership would have gotten away." Harrison told her.

"What about Dobbs?" Eric asked.

"Well, his vehicle wasn't found among the wreckage at Chelan, so we're scanning the area to look for him. He won't get too far." Harrison said confidently, as he took a cigar out of his jacket.

"Does anyone else smoke?" Harrison asked, as he looked around.

"I'll take a cigarette if you have one." Sherry answered, as Harrison nodded and walked over to a small desk, grabbing an old pack and tossing it to Sherry.

"To phase one being complete." Harrison said, as he lit his cigar and took a deep inhaling breath from it.

"Now, to phase two. Sherry, where is Davin?" Harrison asked.

"Outside of Johannesburg, South Africa." Sherry answered, as she too took a drag from her cigarette.

"Good. We can have our air force drop you near the place when you're ready to go. It's a long plane ride, but in time this entire situation will finally be over." Harrison said with a smile.

"Perhaps...If our nation continues to refuse to accept people like ourselves, then it will never truly be over." Carlos mentioned, as Harrison nodded.

"Just leave the PR campaign to me...After my first term, no one thought I'd get re-elected...So, I've got a good grip on public opinion. Now, you'd better get ready for the trip."

*******************************************************

Outside Johannesburg, South Africa

Ross walked into Davin's tent, and watched for a moment as Davin stood shirtless in front of a mirror shaving.

"What is it, Ross?" Davin asked.

"Vladimir didn't quite make it to California." Ross told him.

"What do you mean?" Davin asked.

"Apparently, he decided on a matter of nationalism as opposed to genetic superiority. He hopped on a plane to St. Petersburg, and released a plague upon leadership members of the Communist Party there. Apparently, they'd been picking up support since the Moscow burnt to the ground. He was shot dead when he left...Didn't even try to escape." Ross explained.

"Never hire emotionally attached couples...That's a lesson hard learned." Davin said, as he wiped the remaining shaving creme off his face and put his shirt back on.

"Is there something else?" Davin asked, as Ross continued to stand in the doorway.

"About Calvin Dobbs' group..." Ross said slowly.

"Did one of our agents finally kill him?" Davin asked.

"No. The US Government bombed the f*** out of a lot of his supporters, and their key places. Apparently, the leadership is fallen a part and Dobbs has gone into hiding. I still ordered some people to find him..." Ross said, as Davin nodded.

"He'd better wish the government finds him before we do." Davin said, as he walked over to Ross.

"So, prepare for the next bunch of attacks. With Dobbs gone, we can focus our strikes back on the government and the people who support them." Davin said, as Ross didn't move.

"Didn't you hear me?" Davin asked.

Ross nodded.

"We might have a problem, it seems the Marauders are working with the government. One of our people saw them get taken in by the FBI, driven out to the Nevada Desert...He lost track of them once they entered Area 51." Ross told him.

"Great...So we have to face Sherry and little green men." Davin said with a laugh.

"I'm worried Sherry might tell them where we are." Ross told him.

"Even if she did, they don't have the firepower they need to get in here. We've got enough defenses to make sure we're nice a cozy. We recruited or killed everyone on Vered's list, and Calvin killed a lot more. Normal soldiers are no match for us, and we can swat missiles out of the air like bugs with your ability. They're not a threat." Davin said, as he walked past Ross and out of the tent.

"I hope you're right." Ross muttered, as he followed closely behind....

****************************************************

Outside Johannesburg, South Africa

The group sat in the plane, as it flew over the South African landscape.

"We've co-ordinated most of our attacks. Davin's people have camps through out South Africa, but his personal camp is too well defended. We're launching multiple missile strikes against the smaller bases, hoping that at least one will get through. As for Davin's base, that's where your ground troops come in." One of the pilots yelled into the back, as Carlos nodded for the group.

"Just make sure you drop us close, but not too close!" Carlos yelled back, as the pilot nodded and the back of the plane began to open.

"We're approaching the drop site, good luck." The pilot said, as he gave them a thumbs up and they began to jump from the plane.

Eric looked around the sky, making note of the other planes dropping more and more people to the ground. Davin was going to face a force he didn't know was coming, and hopefully, it would be enough to overwhelm him...

*************

Ross ran into Davin's tent, shaking him in the bed and trying to wake him up.

"What is it?!" Davin yelled, as he sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed.

"American planes, just a bit north from here...Air dropped around three hundred people, and they're making their way here." Ross told him.

"Normal soldiers?" Davin asked.

"Only a few of them have guns, according to our reports." Ross told him, as Davin cursed under his breath.

"Vered must have found more for them...Call the other camps, I want them all to move back here. We need reinforcements." Davin said, as he began to get dressed.

"We can't reach the other camps...Reports have bombers and attack helicopters in the area, in addition to the planes that dropped the ground troops." Ross told him, as Davin slammed his fist against the bed.

"Have our boat ready, if things go sour...We might need it." Davin said, as he walked out of the tent to find Tural rallying the troops.

"I've got a nice rage going...It should give them a booster to help them fight better." Tural said, as Davin nodded, feeling the rage within himself growing as well.

"Good. Just make sure you keep your emotions as benefits...If something bad happens, don't f*** the rest of us up because of it." Davin warned her, as he walked to another tent and grabbed some assault weapons.

He hated guns, but his ability was only so effective. He would have to touch someone, and the process to kill them took little over a minute. During which time, someone could shoot him in the head. As much as he hated it, for the time being, he would need a more offensive weapon. Ross came into the tent, as he looked at Davin.

"Our people say they're moments away from the base." Ross warned.

"Let them come." Davin said, as the confidence shook slightly in his voice...

*************************************

Carlos was press up against one of the trees that surrounded the clearing in which Davin's base was set in.

"Remember, Davin is our main target. This entire operation is to take him down." Carlos told the group, as he looked around to make sure the others were in place.

He took a radio out of his jacket, and pressed down a button before holding near his face.

"Green Team, go." Carlos said, as the night sky lit up with explosions of light, making it seem as though the sun was shining above.

"Brown go!" Carlos yelled, as he heard gunfire erupt from the south end of the camp, as well as screams and various other noises.

"Orange, go!" Carlos yelled, as the east and the west end were pincered from both sides, gunfire erupting again.

Carlos looked at his surrounding group.

"In case we don't meet again, it's been an honour to know you all. Marauders, move out!" Carlos yelled, as they charged from the trees and into the camp....

*************************

Davin stood on a cliff, overlooking the camp and the battle that was going on below. He watched as Ross valiantly threw people around using his ability, and in disgust as Tural hid behind others as human shields. He watched as the camp became surrounded, looking as though there was no hope for escape for anyone fighting down below, and as the invaders set fire to the tents.

"You know, I always thought you'd be leading the charge, not running away." Eric said, as he climbed up the small area towards Davin.

"Do they not expect me to fight? Is that why they sent their scrawniest member after me?" Davin asked, as he chuckled.

"No, they do expect you to fight. They just knew I'd have the best chance." Eric answered, as he looked at Davin for a moment.

"Either way, win or lose for you personally, you've lost Davin. It's all over." Eric told him, as Davin shook his head.

"It's not over. Not yet." Davin screamed, as he charged towards Eric, hands first trying to get a hold on him.

Eric moved, as Davin went sprawling past him. Davin regathered his balance, as he reached down and grabbed a nearby tree. He focused his ability, and watched as the tree shrunk in size. When it was ready, he ripped it out of the ground and began to use it like a weapon, taking swings at Eric as he was forced to dodge the assaults.

Eric rolled, as he grabbed a rock and threw it in Davin's direction. The small flat stone connected with his forehead, taking him off balance for a second, as Eric grabbed the shrunken tree from him and turned quickly, slamming it against Davin and knocking him down.

Davin laughed, as he jumped back up to his feet and broke a nearby branch off another tree. The two men used their sticks, looking like children playing swords, as they desperately tried to find away to incapacitate the other one.

*****************

Carlos walked into the centre of the camp, his pistol ready as he looked through various tents trying to find Davin.

"Looking for someone?" Tural asked, as she step out from one of the tents.

"Kira...Don't make me shoot you." Carlos said, as he readied the gun and took aim.

"You wouldn't do that..." Tural said, as she began to cry, and depth of depression and sadness taking over her.

She focused solely on Carlos, making him feel the weight of a million's peoples sadness upon him. He began to tear up, as he took deep and laboured breaths.

"Feeling blue? Why don't you do what others do when that happens, and kill yourself?" Tural asked, as she continued to transmit the depression she was keeping herself in.

"I...I...I..." Carlos stammered, as he looked at the gun, as it fell from his hands.

"You poor handsome, dear...Let me get that." Tural said, as she bent down and grabbed the gun.

She handed it to Carlos, as he looked at her.

"Do it." She said, as her concentration broke for a second.

"Fine." Carlos said, as he grabbed her throat and focused his ability.

Tural screamed, as her body began to become covered in dark blotches, as she could feel her lungs filling with fluid. Her screams stopped, as she instead began to try breath.

"The Black Death...The bacteria has a few cousins, and most people can get infected with those without even really knowing. It's a minor biological change to turn it to it's more lethal cousin, but trust me...Once it happens." Carlos said, as he let go of her throat and steadied his pistol.

"It's a real b****. Just like you." Carlos said, as he looked around and summoned one of his people.

"Shoot her, she's one of the leaders." Carlos told the man, as he took aim with his hands and unleashed a bright array of light.

Tural twitched under the increasing light, as the heat began to cause her already cracking and infected skin to boil and burst with blood. Within seconds, there remained only skeleton bones.

"I...I didn't know I could burn that bright." The man said, as Carlos tapped him on the shoulder.

"It's a good thing you did. The heat should have killed the bacteria I used on her as well. Come, we need to find the others." Carlos said, as he moved away from the body of his former friend...

***************************

Davin and Eric continued to use the tree branches as weapons against one another, with Davin biding his time until he could reach into his gun holster...Which look back, he should have done in the first place.

Eric took a large swing, as Davin's branch flew from his hands and tumbled off the cliff.

"I'm disarmed, it would seem." Davin said, as he fell to his knees and looked up at Eric, trying to keep him distracted.

"Give up, Davin. It's over." Eric said, as Davin lowered his head and felt his leg for the holster.

"Perhaps." Davin said, as he looked up with a smile.

Davin's arm shot up quickly, brandishing the pistol he took from the supply tent, but he didn't count on Eric kicking him in the chest. Davin was winded, as he dropped the gun, and Eric slammed the tree branch against his face. Davin fell back from where he was kneeling, as he laid on the ground defeated.

He heard as Eric knelt down and picked up the pistol, he listened as he cocked it, and waited for the shot that would end his life.

"Get up." Eric told him, as Davin struggled to get back onto his feet.

"Will you really do it?" Davin asked, as Eric aimed the gun.

"I want you to get out of here. I don't care where you go, just know that we'll always be watching you, Davin. And the moment you try to do something like this again, we will find you and we will kill you, got it?" Eric said, as Davin looked at him for a moment.

"You...You're letting me go?" Davin asked, as Eric nodded.

"It's more than you deserve...But I figure, you'll have us watching you and the US Government hunting you. There's no way you can get into any more trouble...And no way you'll be able to even try and raise up another group like this again." Eric said, as he looked at Davin.

"You think you had the right the decide who gets to live and die. If I kill you, I'm no better than you. Now get out of here." Eric said, as Davin stood up and ran off to the distance.

Moments after he left, Carlos made his way up the cliff.

"Where's Davin?" Carlos asked, scanning the area with his pistol.

"I let him go. He won't be a problem anymore." Eric said, as he dropped the pistol he was holding to the ground.

"Eric...I can't let you do that." Carlos said, as he ran off in the direction Davin must had gone in.

By the time Carlos go to the area where the footsteps stopped, no one was there, and nothing could be seen for miles....

*************************************

Richards Bay, South Africa

Ross and Davin walked onto the beach, as the two men looked at each other with a smile.

"You saved my a**...No doubt one of Eric's friends wouldn't have been so forgiving. They're probably looking for me now." Davin said, as Ross used his ability to hover off the ground slightly.

"Well, they won't find the footprints to know which way to go...Speaking of which, where are we going?" Ross asked.

"I figure we'd take the boat up along the coast, make our way into Asia...Then find out where to go from there...Although, I've heard good things about Ni'hau, Hawaii...Small, private...People hardly know its there. Plus, at least we can be at home in America there." Davin said, as he climbed into the small boat, as Ross untied it and climbed in beside him.

"Sounds like a plan."

********************************************************************************
***

United Nations, New York City, New York, 2012.

"This assembly gathers to recognize the right of evolved humans to the same individual freedoms that all humans enjoy. We also recognize the loss of many of them during last year's confusion, terrorist attacks, and anti-evolved human groups that came to rise within the United States. To ensure that evolved humans have a voice, this assembly has agreed to create five new positions to represent the evolved humans of the world." President Harrison said before the assembly, as the crowd applauded his words.

"This Council of Alphas, will serve as the evolved human's voice in the world, and will work internationally to ensure that the events of last year never occur again. The positions, have been filled by those who brought to our attention the existence of this unique group of humanity, but also fought with us to bring an end to the international terrorism that Davin Holden's 'Guild' brought upon us. They have proven themselves not only to myself, and to my nation, but to all nations. I can think of no greater candidates fill these positions than Eric Jones, Carlos Oded, Sherry Vered, Katherine Solomon and Kyros Anatolius." Harrison said, as the five made their way onto the stage beside him, welcomed warmly into the General Assembly with thunderous applause...

***********************************************

Ni'hau, Hawaii

The McCoy family drove down one of the roads, as their son Eric sat reading in the back.

"So, this island is privately owned by the Robinson family...Think they were related to Robinson Crusoe?" The young Eric asked, as he looked up from his fact book.

"Probably not son, Robinson was his first name...While Robinson is these people's last name." Eric's mother, Betty, replied.

"It also says that about 160 people on the island...So, why haven't we seen any of them?" Eric asked, as the car flew off the road and into the forest beside it.

"What the hell!?" Eric's father, William, yelled, as group of people came walking out of the forest, surrounding the car.

Ross smiled as he lifted his arms and the car lifted into the air.

"This is private property." Ross said, as he pushed his arms out and the car went flying towards the ocean around them...

End of Prologue, Part Eight

OOC: There you have it ladies and gentleman, the prologues are finished and the game will be ready to beginning on Monday. Hope everyone is ready for it.

[Bennet]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Chapter Theme Song: Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Day One, Morning
Auckland, New Zealand, 2012
IC: Sherry Vered

Sherry sat up in her bed, her forehead still soaked with sweat from the dreams of the night before. She took a deep breath, as she made her way to the large french doors in her room. She opened them, welcoming the sun into her home, as she stood in the gentle morning breeze for a moment. She smiled as she looked out at the landscape around her, taking it all, before she turned to walk deeper into her small home.

Andrew sat in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee, as he watched his wife walk into the room.

"Good morning, dear." Andrew said, as he stood up from his chair and walked over to her, throwing his arms around her and planting a kiss on her lips.

"Why did you let me sleep so long?" Sherry asked, as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"You looked peaceful. It's been awhile since I've seen you like that, figured you deserved it. Still having the dreams?" Andrew asked, as he returned to his seat and picked up his coffee mug.

"Of course...They're more frequent now. I thought I could control them, but...I guess things never really go as planned." Sherry said, as she glanced over at her husband, fighting to hold back tears as she stared in his eyes.

"Well; I think you shouldn't go into today. You and I will just crawl back into bed, and spend the day just laying there in the sunlight...Maybe get up in the afternoon and take Brutus and Caesar for a walk, if they behave themselves." Andrew said, as he glanced over at two large black labs who were lying quietly down near another door.

"You know I can't...The great work and all." Sherry said, as she took a sip from her own mug.

"I know...Healing the world, righting old wrongs...Making sure people like us have a future." Andrew said, as he smiled at his wife.

"It's honourable, I'll give you that." Andrew added, as he took his mug over to the sink and dumped the remaining coffee from it.

"So, why don't you tell me about these dreams?" Andrew asked, as he glanced at his wife.

Sherry stood there for a second, her mind recalling the dreams: The screams, the blood, the violence...Sherry shook for a second, almost falling, before shaking her head.

"I'm late for work...I'll be home at the usual time..." Sherry said, as he moved towards her husband and kissed him goodbye.

Sherry stopped for a second, as she looked into her husband's eyes. She was about to break one of her solemn, unbreakable rules.

"Why don't you get us a table for dinner tonight? Somewhere nice...Call me when you figure out where, and I'll meet you there. Say for about, six?" Sherry asked, as Andrew smiled and nodded.

"I'll try to get into Jake's, your favourite." Andrew said, as the two kissed again.

Sherry smiled as she walked out of the house, taking as many glanced back as she could...

*******************

Kiev, Ukraine
IC: Kyros Anatolius & Katherine Solomon

Kyros and Katherine sat in the small restaurant, looking over menus and some other paperwork.

"What have you heard from Pakistan?" Kyros asked, as Katherine looked up from the menu then flipped through some other papers.

"Well, we've taken care of the fella calling himself a God...Some UN Forces are working on making sure his cult has been completely dismantled, but it's a slow process. Are you still having trouble in Rome?" Katherine asked, as Kyros groaned.

"Well, the Pope isn't gunning against us evolved humans as much as his predecessor was...Which is good, but he's not telling the faithful to open their arms to us. I think he's doing it just to slight me." Kyros added, as he took a sip from the glass of orange juice in front of him.

"We don't know that for sure. Besides, I'm sure he has better things to do than to piss off an Orthodox Christian." Katherine said, as Kyros nodded in agreement.

"When are you due back to Pyongyang?" Kyros asked.

"Later today, although, travel isn't exactly a problem for me." Katherine said, as Kyros laughed.

"How are the efforts there?" Kyros asked, as he put the menu aside.

"They're going well. We do have a bit of a superiority system going on, which I condemn every month but nothing happens; but other than that...People seem to like the evolved humans running the place as opposed to the 'Communists'." Katherine explained, as she pushed the menu aside as well.

"Will everything still be alright for the twenty-second?" Kyros asked, as Katherine smiled and held up her hand, showing off her engagement ring.

"You just try to stop me. Will your parents be coming?" Katherine asked.

"I think they've gotten used to the idea...Of us...And who we are...So, I think. Well, they did RSVP." Kyros stammered, as Katherine grabbed his hands.

"Well, then I look forward to seeing them. Now, what do you say we abandon breakfast, and have some last minute fun before we don't see each other for a week?"

*****************

Tel Aviv, Israel
IC: Carlos Oded

Carlos looked around at the city he remembered from when he was younger, noting all of the changes that had occurred: For better and for worse.

A small group of people walked with Carlos, most of them wearing body armour that had UN stamped across it. It was something Carlos took pride in, that he was able to get an increased UN presence in the area...It actually did help lower some of the violence in the area, but Carlos wasn't sure if it was the UN or the evolved humans that did that.

Carlos glanced around, waving to people who waved at him, but mostly continued along his way.

"Dr. Oded, what can you tell us about the reconstruction efforts?" One of the men without the UN armour asked.

"That it's going well...I think its proof of the co-operation and change that is overtaking the region. We have Israeli and Palestinians working with evolved humans to reverse the damage of years of conflict. I think that is more important than rebuilding bombed out buildings, the co-operation we're building between conflicting groups." Carlos answered, as the man wrote the response down in a type of shorthand.

"How has the revealing of evolved humans in the area decreased violence between Israelis and Palestinians? Not to mention, the general discomfort of Arab nations over Israel's presence in the Middle East?" The man asked again.

"Well, to chalk all the developments up to the presence of evolved humans would be a bit of hubris on my part. When the anti-evolved human sentiment took over in the United States, it was not fully felt around the rest of the world. I think conflicting sides saw opportunity in people who could act as a weapon without having a weapon, and the refusal of these marginalized people to act in partisan agendas certainly opened a few eyes...But I think, time itself is the answer for why we're seeing improvement here. The time has come, and this area wants to be healed." Carlos answered, as he kept walking along the way.

"Since you mentioned the anti-evolved sentiment in the United States, do you believe that former FPH leader, Calvin Dobbs, will be found and put to answer for his crimes?" The reporter asked.

"Dobbs is a fugitive, and most of the people who believe as he does are even deeper in hiding. Dobbs will be found eventually, and I do believe that he will have to answer for the thousands of people that were killed by an organization he helped found. It would be no different than any other group that advocated and attempted to kill other another group, they must answer for their actions." Carlos answered, as he turned down a side street.

"Are you looking forward to the UN Conference on Evolved Human Research next week?" The reporter asked, as Carlos smiled and nodded.

"As one of the main presenters, of course. I'm also looking forward to seeing old friends again, it's been too long since we've last gathered with one another. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have a meeting to get to." Carlos said, as he motioned towards one of the buildings near him.

The reporter nodded, as he left the group, and Carlos and the UN Peacekeepers walked into the building.

"That's far enough for you. I'll be down in thirty minutes." Carlos said, as he looked at the Peacekeepers, then walked away from them towards and elevator.

He pressed the top floor button, as he waited for the elevator to climb up. After a few seconds, the doors opened and Carlos walked down the long hallway to his office. He opened the doors, and walked in. He sat down behind his desk, and flipped open his laptop. He turned on the microphone and web camera and watched as an image appeared on his screen.

"Dr. Anderson, let's talk about this device you've created..."

*************

United Nations, New York
IC: Eric Jones

Eric sat in his office, which was surprisingly large for someone his age, as he flipped through his day book. He looked up, glancing at the group photo of "The Marauders", taken shortly after the battle at Johannesburg.

"Next week guys..." Eric said, as he ran his fingers around the frame for a moment.

His computer made an alerting noise, as Eric opened his e-mail manager.

You have, 1 (one) new message

Eric clicked the link, as he read it to himself.

Dear Eric,
I'm sending this to you because you're one of the few I still trust. Time is short, and I fear I won't be able to give you all the answers you need or seek. Do not fear, there will be a time when we shall converse again, but until then, I need a favour of you. Most of the people on this list are located within the United States, or very close by. It's impossible for me, or any of the other Alphas, to meet with them. Please Eric, gather them as I gathered you, it's of grave importance. I hope to see you soon,
Sherry.

Eric sat there for a minute, wondering what Sherry was talking about, before opening the attachment in the e-mail. Inside, as promised was a list of names.

Eric picked up his phone, dialing a number to a secure line to a close friend of his.

"President Harrison, Evolved Diplomat Jones here." Eric said, surprised he was being so formal.

"Yes, it has been awhile. How's Lise and Maggie?" Eric asked, running through the pleasantries.

"That's good to hear. I've been well...I need a favour." Eric said, as he took a pause.

"Sherry just faxed me a list of names, says they're people mostly within the United States...But says a couple might not be. She doesn't say where exactly, and I was hoping you might be able to arrange some information on their whereabouts and other factoids." Eric said, as he took out a piece of paper from his desk.

"Yes, I understand that...But under the UN Provision 6, Section 35, I believe I'm granted the right to ask foreign governments to help us located potential evolved humans who pose interest to us." Eric said, as he tucked the paper back into his desk.

"Yes, I hate to call a technicality, but it's a favour for Sherry..." Eric said, as he waited for a response.

"Thanks. I'll e-mail the list to you, and you can pass it along to the right people. Send me anything you can." Eric said, as he hung up the phone.

Eric took another look at the list, wondering why Sherry would ask him to do this...

***************

Ni'hau, Hawaii
IC: Davin Holden and Ross Morris

Davin walked around the small camp, hidden well by the large trees that blotted out the sun. Ross walked beside him, the two men acting like Generals surveying their troops.

"How many do we have?" Davin asked, as Ross ran through some mental math.

"Well, of former Guild members: Around two hundred and fifty. New members, about five hundred. So we're sitting at a grand total of seven hundred and fifty-two, with us included." Ross answered.

Davin groaned.

"That's disappointing...Barely half of the numbers we had in Johannesburg. How are things going in Operation: Black Out?" Davin asked.

"Well enough. We have a few people on the way, and we'll hear from them when the objective has been completed." Ross answered, as Davin nodded.

"Our entire operation, our future, depends on the success of that mission. Are you sure we've sent competent people?" Davin asked.

"Some of our best. Trust me, there's no way we can fail this time." Ross answered.

"Good. Once we have confirmation, have our 'technologist' hijack the radio waves for us again...The world needs to know that we're back and that this time, we're going to win..." Davin said, as he smiled and walked towards his own tent...


[TAG: ALL]

OOC: Alright, the game has begun. For anyone wondering WHERE your character is, anywhere is fine. Don't worry about making connections with "The Council of Alphas", they'll find you. Until then, this is a chance to establish your character: Explore what they did during the rise of Dobbs' movement, Davin's civil war, and the aftermath and how they've been, if at all, helping the world recover from the events of 2011.

Once there's been enough replies, I'll move the game along. Be warned, I'm going to give everyone a reasonable amount of time to respond. But once I've gotten enough posts to move forward, I will. So, do try to get your posts up.

[Admiral Cheesema...]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Morning?
New Orleans, Lousiana, USA, 2012
IC: "Jessica Madsen" (current alias)

"You're certain?"
"Positively."
"It's there?"
"Unless somebody blew it up, that's the place."
"Anything I should know about?"
"Nah. Far as I know, the mound people didn't make traps."
"Disappointing."
"'s the best you're gonna get. Nice collection of silver though. I'd get it myself, but I don't got no tools, an' can't do much of anythin' with this busted back."
The woman handed Ol' Henry a wad of bills, and walked away, down Bourbon Street, past the strip clubs and daquiri bars, through a haze of thick cigar smoke.
A man in a trench coat sidled up alongside her. "Got it?"
"Leave me alone. It's none of your business."
"Give me the map, and I'll let you live. I can shut off your brain."
The man collapsed on the pavement, his tear ducts leaking blood. "And I can shut off your heart."

[Tag: nobody]

[Dear Prudence]

'I wouldn't go as far as saying there isn't a heaven or hell, but it's different, you know?
It's...Well it's hard to explain. When you pass, sometimes you don't really go. It's like vacation, you go but sometimes you have to come back. And that's how I meet people like you. I think God, or Brahma or whoever gave me this gift or if it's something totally different wanted me to help people.
I want to help people, but sometimes they don't want my help.'

The Leaving Song
2 Days ago

'Dinner, is a very important part of my family's lives. It's where we all intersect and connect. Physically of course. I will always be the black sheep of my family, and it's never more obvious than we're all around the mahogany center piece.'

The wind was cold and biting, nipping at her wet, bare feet, the anklets jingling off of them. The stained in-lay of glass on her front door seemed to be mocking her, deep colors of warm late summer, an air of happiness. She turned the brass handle slowly and crept inside her home. The warmth of the fireplace in the great room ahead of her crackled and filled Lakshmi's coldness. Smoothing her hair back and walking slowly into the kitchen next to her, she heard a familiar voice.

"Where have you been! Dinner is on the table and you're out..."
Divya looked down at Lakshmi's feet, covered with mud and blades of grass tracked on the floor.

"Don't you have any sense! Don't track mud into the house!"
Her face was red, Lakshmi had gotten mud on her new rug in front of the door.
Lakshmi rolled her eyes and kept walking, heading for the bathroom around the corner, slamming the door and washing her feet off in the sink, wiping off any mud splatter and washed her hands.
She looked into the mirror, seeing what she wanted, pushing her mother's disapproval out of her mind.
"Come eat!" Her sister yelled at her from the dining room, Lakshmi snapped out of it and made her way to the centerfold of the day.

"How was work today Daddy?" Parvati questioned.
"Alright, we have some overtime to do since Mr. Wilkins injured himself, but everything is good."
"Oh, Mr. Wilkins, I heard. Poor soul, I'll make a casserole for his family. Corn sound good?" Divya added.
"Delicious." He said.
Lakshmi's fork glided over the powder blue plate, meatloaf and potatoes stuck on her fork as debris.
"Why don't we eat Indian food?"
Her mother looked at her, and continued eating, not acknowledging her question.
"So Parvati, have you chosen a dress yet?"
Her sister's dark green eyes lit up, Lakshmi could remember everyone putting lavish on her sister's eyes and looks when she was born.

"Oh, her eyes are so beautiful, like emeralds!"
"She'll be a sight for sore eyes!"
"All the boys will love her!"

Nothing about Lakshmi's eyes, which made her feel sad when she was younger but remembered she had depth, unlike her sister who was as deep as a puddle.
"Yes, Neenah and I really like the turquoise one that goes so well with the bridesmaid dresses"
"Oh I know, it was a great find, those dresses."
Lakshmi snorted when she said this, her sister looked at her, angered.
"What's so funny Lakshmi?" Parvati asked with attitude.
Lakshmi looked up, a slight smirk on her face but she tried to wipe it away.
"Nothing."
"God, you're so weird. I swear you're adopted or something. You're 20, you live with your parents and you aren't even in college. No wonder you don't have a fiancé, let alone a boyfriend. You're just jealous because I'm getting married and you're going to die alone, unhappy and ugly. Why don't you go hang out with your friends. Oh wait, I forgot, you don't have any."
Her mother looked down at her plate and didn't say a word.
In Lakshmi's eyes there was a glint of sadness, but mostly anger.
She pushed her chair out quickly and picked up her plate, walking into the large modern kitchen and threw her dish into the sink before storming upstairs.
"What? It's true." Parvati said.



The impending wedding of Parvati Kumar and Chandra Rammaswami put a stress on the two families as cakes were made, dresses hemmed and caterers called.
Lakshmi hated weddings.
Laying in her bed, dark blue bedding blended with the black walls, she buried her head in her pillow and let out a sharp scream of frustration. She looked up around her, artifacts from yard sales, her beloved Moleskin notebooks and her large poster of Claude Debussy offered her refuge, it was her haven. A comfy chair lured her in, the old leather-bound books were a sirens song.
Through the skylight in her ceiling, the constellations and moon could be seen like nothing before. Lakshmi flipped over on her back and stared out at the stars, wishing she could join them. Be a star, be the moon. Live there in In the big dipper and visit Orion and frolic with Canis Minor and Major. But she was a mere mortal, destined to live and die on Earth among humans. Fellow humans. Lakshmi didn't feel human, she felt like an alien dropped her and adopted by a human family, expected to act normal and blend in. She ran her hands down her face and looked up again, finding solace in the glow of night. The glow enlightened her, and filled her with the strength to face the day tomorrow, along with the items in her haven.
Lakshmi was going to leave this place, and take her things with her. She had the money and knew where she could stay. She had a passport and a green card ready to leave for the USA, and maybe find another alien, like her.

Girl's Not Grey

12 Years Ago

"Hello Lakshmi, I'm Dr. Willis."
The woman's young hand reached out for hers, Lakshmi took it and shook it like a normal person would.
"You're mommy and daddy-"
"Mother and Father."
Dr. Willis sighed and smiled.
"Mother and Father , wanted me to talk to you for a while about your friends."
Lakshmi curled in her seat, curving her back and rounding her shoulders.
"I don't have any friends" She said simply.
"I'm sure you do. School friends, neighborhood friends. Your sister?"
Her face remained calm and friendly, like any child psychologist.
Lakshmi looked the same, stern and obviously not wanting to be there.
"No. I don't like people. People don't like me. I'm different"
Dr. Willis was intrigued, most eight year old children have plenty of friends, are happy and vibrant.
"I'm sure that's not true. But tell me, why are you different? Is it because of your name or your skin color?"
Lakshmi shook her head.
"No, it's not that. I see people."
"Of course you do, everyone sees people. I see you."
"No, I mean I see people that nobody else can see. They don't talk to me, they are very nice and very kind and friendly. I like them a lot, but after I talk with them they go away. Into the sunset sometimes. Vanishing act." Lakshmi smiled as she spoke about the people she met.
Dr. Willis wrote some notes down on her clipboard and looked back up, deep blue eyes looking back at Lakshmi.
"Interesting. What kind of people are they. Are the grown-ups, little kids like you?"
"Sometimes they're adults, other times they're little kids."
"And do they tell you to do things, bad things, good things?"
Lakshmi got angry, was this woman not listening?
"I told you they don't talk. They're warm to the touch though, I hold their hands a lot because it makes them feel safe, like when..."
Lakshmi wanted to say when a mother hugs a child, but she didn't know what this felt like.
"When you drink hot cocoa, or read a good book." Instead she said.
Her eyes darted to the clock on the wall, already an adept time reader for her age.
Twenty minutes left. She silently prayed for time to speed up, so she could go home and read and watch the show on TV about deadly plagues on the Discovery channel.
Dr. Willis saw she was antsy about leaving, she asked a few more standard questions and let her go, Lakshmi darted for the door next to her and waited for her parents.
Dr. Willis walked out to talk to her mother, Divya.
"Nothing seems to be wrong, she says she sees and meets people, they're warm to the touch but they don't speak."
"What does that mean, is she schizophrenic?" her father questioned.
"No, I honestly think she is an eight year old with an overactive imagination. Nothing to worry about. I'll sign you up for a few more sessions and see where it goes from there."
She smiled, and they smiled cautiously.
Lakshmi had her coat on ready to go, her mother ushered her out to the car where she waved goodbye to a tall blonde man. A man she saw in the picture behind Dr. Willis's desk.
Her mother looked back to who she was waving to, and saw nobody.
Driving home, Lakshmi rested against the window and thought of the man, Dr. Willis's husband, long dead from a car accident on the road outside of her office.
He looked so sad to her, yet happy and hiding it for the one person who could see him.

'They have unfinished business here. They don't want to move on, to wherever you go when you die.
I try and help them go on, find the strength to leave this place.
I hold their hand because nobody else can. And with that, I can help them.
At least I can help somebody.'

The Missing Frame

Her poster of The Great Four and Claude Debussy were rolled up and rubber banded, a suitcase of the books she drowned in was bulging with its contents. Clothes were laid out, folded and ready to be packed. Lakshmis ID for the US had been approved, her green card secured and passport laying on her nightstand. She looked at everything, ready and neat to go and sighed.
Lakshmi quickly ran down the stairs, light on her feet to not wake her mother, the morning sun beating down on the spider plants in the living room. Lakshmi wiggled her toes as she poured her morning coffee, deep, dark and black. As she sipped it, her father came into the room, rubbing his eyes and pouring himself a cup.

"I'm leaving."
"What?" He was groggy, just getting up, and didn't really understand.
"I got my visa for the US, my things are packed and I'm leaving."
His eyes widened, was she joking?
"What do you mean, 'leaving?'"
"I have a place, I've already got rent paid for 6 months."
"...How did you get the money?"
"Grants. Got a job too. I'll check facts at a paralegal office and type for the guy.
Secretary."
He nodded, a bit wistful as she said this, but Lakshmi was an adult, she could leave if she wanted.
"I'll be out of the house in..."
Lakshmi looked at her watch.
"An hour."

She set her empty mug in the sink and walked upstairs to get dressed and finish packing.
Seattle, Washington looked really nice in the pictures.


[Tag: Nobody]

[EllesSacrifice]

== Greenwood, New York 2011 ==
== Alicia Baker - Family's House ==

It had been only days since the news of 'freaks' and 'aliens' was released, made public for the world to know and the town was in panic. Neighbor's accusing neighbor's, friends accusing friends. It was a chaotic world. There were random beatings of those considered to be different in the recent days, whether there was cause or not. Alicia feared what would happen to her if she came forward, she couldn't risk it. She would remain silent. Sadly, others chose differently for her.

Alicia awoke hearing the roar of a car as it approached the house. She had grown feverishly nervous since the world had changed and would awake at the slightest sound. Lifting her head she pulled back the curtain and peered out of the window. A black SUV was speeding down the road, minutes away from their driveway.

She had kept her secret safe, to all but her family, who found out only months ago, when she accidentally popped in infront of them. They had not accepted it at first and maybe never would, but they new.

"This can't be happening" She closed the curtains and ran towards her bedroom door, blinking as the picture of her living room formed in her mind. She appeared downstairs. Looking again out the window she saw as the car came even closer towards her house. 'My god, this can't be happening' Her breathing was heavy while her eyes fixated on the vehicle for what seemed like forever.

She shook herself trying to clear her head as the SUV closed in on her. Taking her eyes off the vehicle she ran towards the Kitchen where she heard her mother and sister. Passing the corner her eyes found their's and their expressions read like an open book.

"What have you done! What have you done!" She yelled out at them, met with their sheer silence filled only by her growing breathe, far more heavily now, as the humm of the car could be felt even closer. "How could you do this to me!" She yelled again as tears formed behind her eyes.

"We.. we.." Her sister began, but stopped as words left her leaving her mother (Anne) to take over.

Anne moved forward, reaching to comfort her daughter's pain. To explain... but Alicia moved back out of reach from her betrayers. "We only mean to help you. To make you better. They wi.." she tried to continue but Alicia wouldn't hear it, cutting her off, in mid response, knowing their time was fleeting.

"Better? Better! I am not sick. This is not a disease you can cure. Do you even realize what you've done? Do you?" Tears filled Alicia's eyes. Before she could say anything else, she heard the sound of glass shattering and wood smashing as the door from the living room crashed inward. Her family gasped as three men turned the corner, guns held high.

I'm sorry Alicia thought as the sound of the gun's barrel turning hit her ears. She closed her eyes, picturing the outside. She felt a rush wash over her and now in the distance heard the sounds of gunfire and the screams of her family. She didn't bare open her eyes again, just thought of the farthest place she could remember and vanished. Safe. and Alone.


== Two Weeks Later New York, New York ==

It was not a pretty place. Alicia walked slowly down an empty street as the cold wind whipped at her face forcing her to wrap her arms around her empty body. She had not had anything to eat or drink for the past three days. She had no money left to speak of and was wandering throughout the city, trying not to be noticed, trying to survive. Still wearing only a long sleeved shirt, stretched as far as it would reach, just barely exposing her fingertips to the freezing night. Her jeans were stained and boot's were dirtied. She had been wearing the same clothes for the past two weeks with no end in sight. 'Why is this happening. Why me?' She stopped as a she heard a noise from above. Looking up she couldn't help but think this was it. 'Things are over'... It was a bird...

She was loosing it. She couldn't go on living on the run, on the streets. She knew this, and she was going to change. She was about to do something she had never done before. Not even once, not even with her power, had she ever broken the law. To her displeasure all that was about to change, 'because of them'.

'I can't believe I'm going to do this.' She thought as she came up to the bank. The pavement looked cracked but the building itself was tall and golden. Only yesterday she had checked it out. Inside were marble floors lined with red carpets, a bunch of camera's, and a huge vault filled with money. She didn't actually think she'd actually go through with it not even when she went in yesterday... 'but there is no other way.' "Alright." She took a deep breathe, closed her eyes, and opened them inside the vault. She shook nervously...

After that night she stayed hidden for the most part of the year, moving from hotel room to hotel room, just long enough to feel comfortable before being forced to move on again 'They knew who she was and for some reason they hated her so much they wouldn't let her go.'

[wickedm]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Morning
Alexandria, Virginia, 2012
IC: Kari Martel

“Well it looks like they’re going to close the National for good.” Kari snapped her cell phone shut with a disheartened sigh, setting it on the counter.

There had once been a hope that the radiation surrounding the White House would dissipate to the point of making it safe for people to return to areas nearby, and in some cases that had happened. In the case of the old theatre Kari had loved since childhood it was not going to happen. There had been extensive testing going on for a year and it seemed that the theatre had been too close to the action, everything in the place set off the detectors, even when they’d tried to renovate, stripping out everything and leaving on the skeleton, but it had saturated the building making it beyond usable.

Now she was out of work, not that she couldn’t get another job, she would be welcomed into any group with open arms, it was just that she was newly married and a high percentage of her desire right now, was to spend time with her shaggy haired, Irish, husband.

She watched the man who made her laugh, made her take risks she wouldn’t have dared to take before, the man she loved. He had opened her life up to experiencing so many things. And to think if she hadn’t stopped by the shop looking for an obscure playwright they wouldn’t have met. It started out a just a drink at Murphy’s then it was a movie then it was rock climbing then it was her feeling like she could trust him enough to know her secret.

Until 2012 she’d had to hide her ability while her brother had gone to Canada finding help to control his. It was easier to hide hers, she could pass it like someone had fainted or passed out if she accidentally activated her power, but Josh was another story. Flaming furniture and buildings were a little more noticeable. They had decided late 2010 that he would find help and that she could take care of herself. Then the battles had started and she wouldn’t see him again until the day of her wedding.

To say that was the happiest day of her life would have been an understatement. Never had Kari thought she would be donning a beautiful white dress and be escorted down the aisle by her big brother. Everyday the delicate tanzanite ring wrapped by a curl of gold reminded just how lucky she was.

“Sssoooooo….” She rounded the front counter of his shop slowly as he passed by her on his way to open up to the tourists who felt they were only daring enough to travel to Old Town Alexandria to look at the city across the river. She pounced on his back playfully, wrapping her arms around his neck and strong shoulder, and placing a giggly kiss near his ear.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me hanging around the store until I get a new job. Got anything you want me to fix.”

(tag Dez/JB)

(OOC hope that was okay for an opening Dez)

[Admiral Cheesema...]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Morning?
New Orleans, Lousiana, USA, 2012
IC: "Jessica Madsen" (current alias)

True, the fedora was a silly affection, but it was useful; especially in the South, with the blinding bright sun. It harkened back to when her uncle was still alive, when she was just a little spoiled child, left to her own devices in a huge mansion. She was 'Indy Jo, Daughter of the famous archaeologist'. Back then, she had only her imagination. Now, she was living the dream. Granted, Indiana Jones had never sold artifacts he recovered on the black market, never raided tombs for loot, never killed anyone without cause. But she had, in her own estimation, surpassed him.
She was headed down to the river's edge. There were sirens in the background; the police might be looking for someone answering to her description. A small motorboat bobbed in the river, tied to an old, rotting pylon. She threw her backpack into the boat, and then swam out and boarded it.
RRRRRRWROOOOOSH!
The motor started with a loud rumble, and cruised down the river. By the time the police got there, she would be long gone. She docked the boat three miles down river.
Killing the man had not been part of the day's schedule, but it really wasn't a problem.
His death would look like a heart attack, and even if they figured out how he really died, there were only three people in the world that knew exactly what she could do.
At least, that's what she thought.
She had prepared for a quick getaway, though, anticipating competition. Rumor had spread quickly about Ol' Henry's newest acquisition. The old pick-up truck was left right where she had parked it. She drove through New Orleans, to Metairie, and to the Causeway. The site was on the other side of Lake Ponchartrain, so the Causeway was an obnoxious necessity. As the truck began the mind-numbing journey over the causeway, the woman (or girl?) cleaned her knife. Some people weren't susceptible to heart attacks. Back in New York, and later, during all the chaos, Boston, she would dispatch would-be rapists by cutting them, and forcing out all of their blood. She just hoped this adventure was worth the expense. If she didn't find any silver there, Ol' Henry wouldn't live to see tomorrow.

[Jerub-baal]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Morning
Alexandria, Virginia, 2012
IC: Brendan O'Hara

"Ohh..." Brendan sighed, thinking about it for a moment. "I guess I am stuck with ya, ain't it awful?" Brendan said, chuckling. Not like it was a joke or anything that hilarious, just kidding around, just one of those slight chuckles that come along with a sly smile. Which, of course, Brendan made a habit of wearing since he met Kari.

Pretty much, his face was always marked with a grin. He'd been a miserable sort when he came to America, had just about no one there until Kari arrived in his life, a wonderful ray of sunshine in dark days. As cheesy as that would sound, it was just how he looked at it. Even the bad situation the world was in sometimes gave no dampening to his happiness, the only thing that did were those dreams.

Every few nights, it seemed like clockwork, Brendan would have a bad dream, a nightmare more like it. He'd outrun his past in coming to America, but while he didn't have to deal with it during the days, he did during the nights. That was the way Kari had found out with his ability, in one of his tossing and turning fits he'd phased through the bed, the floor, and ended up cracking a rib over a hard cover. Everything was explained rather quick after that.

Brendan stepped back, phasing through Kari as she dropped off his now intangible back and was caught in his arms. "Heh, whoa," Brendan said, his arms wrapped around Kari. He looked around in a slight panic for a second, checking to see if anyone had seen, but thankfully the streets were clear at that moment. "Close one," Brendan noted.

Brendan nuzzled Kari's neck and left a light kiss there, nestled up against her. "Ssssssooo...." Brendan chuckled again, "we going to actually do the bookshop running thing, or, and I note this does sound tempting, are we going to spend our day with the PDA on the street here?"

[tag: WickedM/...well, WickedM]

((OOC: And yeah, wonderful. ))

[Zensu14]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Morning
Dallas, Texas, 2012
IC: Matthew Lewis

It was raining hard as Matthew Lewis walked down the streets of Dallas, Texas, purposely letting the rain drench him. He looked like any other person who had gotten caught out in the rain without an umbrella, head tilted downward to keep the rain out of his eyes, popped collar to try and keep his neck dry as his socks become drenched through his shoes because he stepped into a puddle.

Of course, he didn't really need an umbrella to stay dry, but with potential special hunters around, he didn't feel like risking the chance.

His sixth sense didn't help either, as he was still getting used to having it and couldn't discern a person from the rain that well yet. If it weren't for those radical groups of specials, he wouldn't be nearly soaked to the bone, which just made him more miserable than he already was.

"Hrumph. F***ing bastard." he thought begrudgingly as a passing car hit a puddle, nearly splashing even more water on him. He had half a mind to flip the person off, but instead just returned to his cold, dead stare as he trudged forward.

He grabbed a paper from one of the newspaper machines and after paying for it, started walking to the local bar, intent on trying to stay as dry as possible without using his ability in public. Well, that and news always seemed to make more sense when he dumbed himself down a bit.

[Tag: No one]

[Dear Prudence]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Morning
Seattle, Washington, 2012
IC: Lakshmi Kumar

The sun shined brightly through her window on the Greyhound bus, the engine roaring as it crossed through British Colombia and eventually into the United States. The land of promise, where the streets are lined with gold and anyone with the clothes on their back can make a living. Of course, now it's different, but still the same ideals held by third-world county inhabitants. Lakshmi knew it was the only way to escape her family and find a new life, a new identity where nobody would know her secret, except the souls whom she talked to and comforted. Lakshmi leaned her head against the window, the weather in Washington wasn't much different than Canada, a long Grey scarf covered her neck and a long black coat kept her warm.
She was fast asleep, before the bus stopped, Seattle was here waiting for her. Her new job at a small paralegal office was waiting, a single lawyer who needed a new secretary. Lakshmi could type 98 words per minute, extremely fast compared to the average 70 or so.
E. James Grey was his name, he paid well and she could work for good salary.
She slowly woke up as the people behind her got off, she collected her colorful carry on tote bag and got off the bus quickly, her blue and green polka dot Wellingtons squeaking on the floor and stepped out of the bus onto American ground, something she had never touched before.

It wasn't as dramatic as she thought, she went quickly to the undercarriage and grabbed her three suitcases and hailed a cab, taking out a piece of paper with her address on it, a chic small apartment right outside of the Downtown area. Lakshmi's eyes filled with wonder as she saw everything around her, bland to most but amazing in her eyes. She was ready to start her life new, fresh and perfect.
No distractions. Except for the fact she would be hated, the dislike for her kind was worse here than in Canada, she'd have to be careful with her park bench confessions with the dead and breaking into mausoleums to spend time with the dearly departed.
Better safe than sorry she'd always say.

[Tag: Nobody]

[Bennet]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Mid-Morning
Tel Aviv, Israel
IC: Carlos Oded

"If what you're telling me is true...It's something I'd like you to bury, Carol." Carlos said, as he adjusted the microphone on his desk.

"Bury it? But the implications of it are astounding." Carol explained, shouting back from the other side of the computer screen as she adjusted her red hair.

"Perhaps. But I think this is exactly the kind of thing the world doesn't want to hear about. If it can do you say, then the world will be up in arms with not just people like me...But intellectuals who seem 'sympathetic' to us. I don't want to put you in that position, Carol." Carlos explained to her, before checking his watch.

"Look, we've already gone over schedule with this...My people were expecting me almost an hour ago, and we need to be on our way. It's a long plane ride back to the United States. I'll see you at the conference, and hopefully, this piece of information you've given me won't be part of your report." Carlos said, as he waved, then closed the computer screen.

He leaned back in his chair for a moment, sighing as he ran his fingers through his greying hair. He took a breath as he leaned forward, then got out of his chair. He grabbed a nearby briefcase from near a couch in his office, before grabbing his coat off a rack and leaving.

*************

United Nations, New York

Eric sat by the fax machine, waiting for the first of his files to come in. He'd been talking to various Department Heads all morning, using his privilege of position to get the files he thought he'd need. He heard the fax machine hum, as the first piece of paper slid through the machine. He ripped it out, and began to read.

Lakshmi Kumar, Canadian resident...Applied for Visa in the United States...Approved, believed to be living in Seattle, Washington...Great, Seattle...As if we don't have enough troubles there, Eric thought, as he put the paper down as the fax machine hummed again.

He took it off, and began to read again.

Kari Martel and Brendan O'Hara...Married. Well, at least that's two birds...Believed to be in Virginia, although exact city or part is unknown. Eric sighed at the unknown part, he was hoping this would be easy.

The fax machine geared up again, as another piece of paper came through it.

Matthew Lewis, American, living in Dallas, Texas. Well, that's specific enough...What's a matter, don't have a street address?

Eric leaned back in his chair as he picked up the phone.

"Yes, this is Evolved Diplomat Jones...Could you patch me through to the Department of Motor Vehicles?" Eric asked, as he waited for a moment.

"Yes, I have an inquiry about the living residence of two American citizens. Yes, I realize you're not supposed to give out that kind of information, but UN Provision 6, Section 35 gives me the right to this information. Yes, you can fax it over. The number is (212) 675-7621. Thank you." Eric said, as he hung up the phone and waited for the information to make its way to him.

**********

Auckland, New Zealand

The man sat in the cafe, sipping on a cup of iced tea, as he read his news paper. His eyes never left the black and white print as his cell phone rang. He reached instinctively into his pocket, pulling the device out and flipping it open.

"This is Chester." He said, as he pressed the phone against his head.

He nodded, still reading his paper as he took a sip from the glass.

"No, not yet. Well, we can't be sure about that. Yes, I know. Well, then, don't bother me and let me do my job." Chester said, as he hung up the phone and finished his iced tea.

He folded the paper and threw it onto the cafe table, as well as a few dollars for the iced tea, then walked away and blended into the crowds...

[TAG: ALL]

OOC: Remember, if you haven't gotten your introduction post up yet, I want to see it soon. As for the ones already here, I'm loving them so keep them coming.

[Misunderstood]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Mid-Morning
Boston, Massachusetts – "Harper’s Auto"; 2012
IC: Seamus Harper O’Conner

Move Your Feet blared through the speakers as Harper sang along, bobbing to the beat as he moon walked across the floor. Grabbing a work light and plugging it in, Harper bounced back over to the car he was working on, spinning around in a circle, laying down on the creeper, pushing his feet on the floor to slide back under, flipping the light on as he hooked it on the under carriage.

“Everybody, move you're feet, and feel united oh oh oh…” Harper grinned as he sang, moving his feet as he grabbed the ratchet from his tool kit on the floor next to him, tightening up the rest of the bolts.

Suddenly the music cut out, causing him to push off the car, and sliding back out, he sat and twirled around until he came to a stop in front of an older man with his arm’s crossed, his head titled at the skeptical. Pointing the ratchet at him Harper shook his head. “You do NOT touch a man’s tunes.”

The older gent rolled his eyes as he slapped another order sheet on the board. “Mr. Guster is back with the Stang…something about not being satisfied…” He narrowed his eyes at the boy still on the floor.

Pushing himself to his feet, Harper walked over and grabbed the sheet, looking at it. “I’m telling you he just likes to rub that car in my face…” Harper muttered.

“Just look at it and fix the problem so you don’t have to…easy as that.”

“Hey…” Harper slapped the sheet back on the board. “Trust in the Harper…the Harper is good…” he twirled the ratchet between his fingers then grabbed it hard in the air, turning his back to the man and walking back to the car he was working on. “Not my fault the man doesn’t know how to take care of a classic…”

The man just shook his head as Harper turned the music back on, bouncing his head again as the song continued. “Don’t stop…don’t stop the beat…” he twirled and pointed at him. “Don’t stop….don’t stop the beat” Grinning he laid back down and pushed back under the car.

[Tag: none]

[bubbles]

Chapter One: The Gathering Storm
Day One, Morning
Alexandria, Virginia, 2012
IC:Aoife Hennessey

It was officially her 3rd day of work. New town, new problems, new people to get to know. More pitying glances in her direction. She sits behind the main desk at the WAAC library, a pile of recently returned books in front of her, her face barely concealing the boredom beneath. The desk hiding her wheelchair beneath.

Well it wasn't like you had much of a choice. You last place of gainful employment did after all burn to the ground. As did everything else in the city. Who else would employ a cripple these days?

The offer had been from a old friend from California, and despite her long standing hatred of all things given with pity she'd accepted, she had little else to do, nowhere else to stay. Be thankful for what you got her mother would say.

She was thankful, but good god! Architects were so so boring. He thoughts were distracted by a loud chatting from the main mezzanine, glancing up over the books, she sees an all American hero, a preppy guy in the mid 20's, leaning up against the wall, chatting up a small girl with hair the colour of wheat. He smiles with his teeth. She gets a shiver when she sees the look on his face as the girl laughs and giggles. The look of a shark. A shark, whose brain cannot handle the simple sign, quiet please. So so simple.

Ever a mind to be careful, Aoife checks no one else was around. All clear.

It always happened like this, like a long SLOOOOOW breath, a sensation not unlike floating & there she was, no longer Aoife, but Gavin Prendergast, a soon to be failing social hunter. She knows everything that he knows, but she is not him. Nor would she want to be. She takes a few seconds to get used to her new viewpoint, she looks over to the desk, where she appears asleep as she always does. A quick check to confirm as well. Well well. Mr Prendergast is hung like a cashew.

"Sorry i have to run. I left my boyfriend tied up on the bed an hour ago & he's probably is wondering where i got to. I better run, he doesn't like it if i keep him waiting."

Aoife stifles a laugh as she runs outside the front door, leaving a soon to very confused Gavin in her wake. She slips back to her body in time to catch the girl stare stupidly. Her mouth dropping to form an O.

Bet you didn't see THAT coming dearie, she sniggers to herself.

After her usual pang of guilt at such unbecoming displays, humans are not toys she tells herself, she pulls herself out from behind the desk as she lifts up her purse. Mr Prendergast reminded her of Brendan, which in turn reminded her that he now lived here. This very city. It would be nice to meet someone from the auld country.

She calls into the office that she's going outside for bit. She's greeted by the usual array of offers; "Can i help you with anything?" - no i'm perfectly able to go outside by myself thank you; "I was going to get lunch do you want me to pick you up anything?" - it may surprise you, but i can both purchase & eat food myself, thanks.; Or her personal favourite. "Are you ok?" - oh just f*** off.

She wheels herself over to daft construction outside the library, enjoying the breeze as she does so. She looks up Brendans number. She laughs, i'll bet he'd have never given her the number had he knew she was disabled.The phone is answered on the third ring.

"Hello? Brendan? Its Aiofe, yeah, from the plane. Where is this bookstore of yours, i'm in the neighbourhood & works boring the proverbials off me."

[tag:JB]