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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 11:40:35 GMT -5
Professor Xavier
<Charles? Are you all right? Do you require assistance?>
Xavier strained to respond to Emma, but nothing he tried allowed him to focus on a reply. His mind began to scream as the images became more and more powerful.
At first they were static, like still life images, as if he were viewing snapshots from some other life, but then they became more vivid more alive like a piece of celluloid one sees when a old film first starts. Eventually the images become so fast that appears to be moving to the eye and the mind.
The bodies of his precious X-men lay scattered across a devastated landscape, no life present in them. Then he saw the body of Magneto and his brotherhood also dead lying as scattered as the others. Finally his eyes came to rest on the Hellions who had shared the fates of the others.
Suddenly, a figure of flame and fire appeared pointing a judging finger in Xaviers direction. "YOU DID THIS! YOU KILLED THEM ALL! YOU, AND YOUR PRECIOUS DREAM!! NOW SEE YOUR DREAM, BURNED AND BURIED BEFORE YOUR EYES!!", the feminine yet ominous voice burned in Xaviers mind.
It rose high into the sky its body swathed in a trail of red and orange flames. An aura of bright yellow echoed from its body in all directions. The figure pointed a finger engulfed in bright flames at Xavier. "AND NOW IT IS YOUR TURN OH MASTER OF THE DREAM!!"
A blaze erupted from the figures hands it shot forward impacting Xavier in his chest, he screamed in pain as the searing heat incinerated his body into ashes.
Suddenly the visions ceased, as Xavier could no longer stay conscious his body fatigued from the horrifying images he had just seen. Charles tried to move but his body would not respond, fear had gripped him in its powerful hand and like a scared child facing down a powerful canine, Xavier tucked into a ball and began to shake uncontrollably.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 11:42:59 GMT -5
White Queen
((Cross-posted from White Queen's Room))
The psychic connection had been cut off too abruptly for Emma's peace of mind. Something was wrong with Charles and she could only assume it was an attack of some kind. She had no idea what room he was in so she sat down in her chair and made herself comfortable. Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to travel through the hotel, skipping through the thoughts of visitors and employees alike until she found one that would be useful to her.
Locking onto the man's psyche, Emma plunged herself into his mind and abruptly took over. She didn't have time to be too gentle and when she was done, he was going to have a major headache. Now in possession of what the man was doing and seeing, she “suggested” that he turn to the computer and look up the room number of Xavier, Charles. Finally, the name was found and a number flashed on the screen.
Commanding her “assistant” to create a new key card for the door, the man did just that then walked away from the desk. The ride in the elevator was painful for Emma simply because the elevator attendant wanted to converse with the man. She had him just shake his head a few times, knowing her hold would be lost if she tried to make him talk. Finally exiting the elevator and walking to her door, she had him slide the new key card under her door. Lastly, she made him walk over to a chair that was sitting against the wall in the hallway and made him sit down.
Releasing her hold on him, Emma was mentally exhausted. She didn't do that trick very often and now she remembered why. Sitting back in her own chair for several minutes, she knew she was losing what could be precious time. Pushing past the slight headache that was beginning to take hold, she stood up and grabbed the key card from the floor and exited her room.
Taking the stairs two at a time, which was a feat in her skirt and heels, Emma reached Charles' floor and used the card to enter his room. Sensing him in one of the bedrooms, she made her way toward him and cautiously opened the door. There, lying in a fetal position on the floor was Charles. Throwing the door wide open, she quickly made her way to him and knelt down. He was shaking pretty badly and she reached out with her hands on his face and tried to contact him mentally. Whatever was happening was making it impossible to get through so she hurried to the bathroom, soaked a wash cloth in cold water and returned to him. Slowly stroking the cloth over his face, she softly called his name in his ear several times in an attempt to reach him, all the while pushing at the incredible mental barriers she had encountered.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 11:44:16 GMT -5
Magdaleina
Getting into the rooms was the easy part. Electronic and metal locks had their advantages, especially when the latches on the window were metal. The hard part, of course, had been getting up to the window in the first place, and then inside without being heard. Magda's brand of telepathic immunity helped with that, at least, and a good thing, too. She didn't just have Xavier to deal with, and she'd known that the minute she got to the hotel. The entry was quiet, and all who needed observation were discussing in the other room when she got there.
So they knew about the attack, or suspected at least. Colonel Hamphire had wanted to know that much. Magda hung back away from the door leading out of the room she was in, a bug planted near the door transmitting the most of their conversation just fine. The small metal and electrical gadget set a terrible buzzing in her ear because of its componants, but she would live. It would also be tricky keeping that up for too long. She'd known some telepaths to be able to pick up some electrical impulses, too, so she ran the risk of at some point in time having Xavier sense the bug.
This was, of course, why she'd planted it near the lightswitch outlet, in the hopes of offsetting any unwanted signals.
There were far too many other mutants here -- many of them telepaths -- for her liking. Magda knew she was pushing her luck, frightening new employer or not, by hanging too close to the target in such a tightly knitted area. When she felt the auras of his two guests diminish, indicating an exit, she made her way lightly back to the window, and willing all her self-control, slipped outside. A fast twitch of her powers had the sliding glass shut again, though at present it left her balancing on a ledge just next to it. Thankfully, the suite was obscured mostly by a large tree, and with hope meant no one down below could have seen her while passing by.
The bug allowed her to hear Xavier as he entered the room, but most of his activity seemed restricted to some mumbles before he went into complete silence. He wasn't moving, so she guessed, by listening, that he might have been speaking to another telepath. This was, of course, until he screamed, and she hissed in pain as the sound, mixed with the already existing strain from the earpiece. She risked a glance back in the window after a moment, seeing him curled up, and she watched, waiting for him to move.
What she didn't expect was for someone else to burst in, and she pulled herself around to press her back against the wall of the building once more.
Another telepath. Perfect.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:01:51 GMT -5
Phoenix
Immediately Scott turned the car around to head back to the hotel. Finding out what was happening with the Professor was much more vital than casing a facility for their mission.
"Come on," Scott held out his hand to his wife, helping her out of the car. "We'll find out what is going on. If someone's harmed him.." Scott didn’t finish his sentence. Jean took the liberty of doing it for him. “They’ll wish they didn’t.” Eyes narrowing Jean held Scott’s hand, doing a mental sweep of the hotel as they ran inside to the elevator.
What she found surprised her for a moment. She should have known. There were more mutants here than before, and some of them all too familiar. Rushing past the bellhop she made sure the empty elevator was ready and waiting for them to enter and telekinetically pushed the button, willing the elevator to hurry as it took them to the penthouse suite. Giving Scott a worried look, she squeezed his hand.
"I can’t sweep the penthouse, due to the Professor’s modifications." Worried, she urged the elevator to move faster. There could be anyone in there with Charles. For their sakes, she hoped not. Maybe the Professor was ill, and needed an ambulance. Either way, they needed to get into that suite, and fast.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, the doors opened and Jean fled out of the elevator, clutching Scott’s hand as she went. Taking out the keycard Jean already swiped it through the slot with her teke as she and Scott approached. Opening the door, Jean rushed in, calling out for their mentor. "Charles?? Where are you??" Obviously upset Jean hurried to the bedroom in which Charles had headed before she and Scott left.
The partially opened door revealed an empty mobile chair that the Professor had been sitting in. "Charles!!" Jean could feel another presence in the room and thrust the door open the rest of the way to reveal a woman leaning over Charles’ body. Immediately Jean’s eyes narrowed, stopping abruptly. The White Queen, manipulative headmistress of the Massachuesetts Academy and leader of the Hellions, if you could call her that. The X-Men had had their fair share of confrontations with her and the Hellfire Club, and all left a bad taste afterwards, like cheap Chardonnay that was poured into an expensive leftover bottle of Merlot to try to trick the consumers.
Jean’s eyes lit dangerously, her hair waving from the massive amount of anger as her fists clenched. Unable to stop her emotions from pouring over the bond with Scott, Jean headed over to Emma and Charles, bringing over a chair from the side of the room. Pushing Emma with her teke to fall into it she demanded, "What’re you doing?! And don’t say you were just having a friendly little chat and he suddenly keeled over."
'If she’s the one that did this to him, so help me, I’m going to stop the blood flow to her heart Right NOW.' The thought slid through her mind with ease, her emotions on high. Emma had better come up with some suitable answers, and she’d better come up with them now.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:03:00 GMT -5
Cyclops
Cyclops followed his worried wife, switching from his sunglasses to his visor as soon as they entered the penthouse. He could feel the anger and hate pouring from Jean as she telepathically opened the door to reveal the empty wheelchair and Emma Frost kneeling over the Professor's prone body. He tried to suppress the emotions, to keep control.
Then Jean's eyes flared with flames and her hair began to weave and coil in the air. She moved a chair over and telekentically shoved the White Queen into it. "What're you doing?! And don't say you were just having a friendly little chat and he suddenly keeled over," she demanded furiously.
Scott was almost sent reeling from the hateful, malicious feeling that where being openly broadcast from his normally gentle wife. As little as he liked Emma Frost, Jean was quite honestly frightening him with her show of force and anger towards the woman. He refused to talk about it to Jean, for fear of hurting her feelings, but her powers, the Phoenix's powers, disturbed him. The total change in her personality made him worry that she would lose herself to the entity. He grabbed her arm gently. < Jean, > he said evenly through their link, trying to center her.
He managed to gain some control over the wild emotions flowing through the psychic link and look at the white Queen himself. As much as he was worried about his wife, she was right. Emma Frost had some questions to answer. "What happened?" he demanded.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:03:49 GMT -5
White Queen
Emma had been unsuccessful at rousing Charles from whatever had caused him to collapse and there was no way she could lift him on her own to put him on the bed. She heard someone come into the room and was relieved that someone else was finally there to help her with the man. Emma had things she needed to get done and his students would probably want to take him off her hands anyway.
What she received, however, was quite unfriendly. Quite unfriendly, indeed. Not only did Mrs. Summers literally throw her in a chair, she demanded, "What’re you doing?! And don’t say you were just having a friendly little chat and he suddenly keeled over."
Emma simply stared at the other woman for a long moment. Then she looked at Scott and said, "Control your wife, Scott, before she does something she'll regret."
Looking back over at Charles who was still lying on the floor, Emma wondered where he had gone wrong in teaching them manners during the years they had been with him. Her eyes connecting to the flashing one's of Phoenix, Emma replied, "Actually, I was in the middle of a conversation with him only I was in my room at the time. He 'screamed' my name then the mental connection went suddenly dead. Knowing who some of the other occupants of this hotel are, I thought the worst and found a way in. He was lying on the floor like that when I found him. I've been trying to contact him but whatever is going on, I can't break through."
There, she had answered honestly and now they had no reason to keep her there. Whatever they did with Charles was up to them. She had other ways of dealing with the proceedings tomorrow and she would need her rest and all her energy for it.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:05:01 GMT -5
Magdaleina
The last thing Magda expected was for the two guests from before to return. Of course, by then she'd been risking another glance through the window, and though she could not see anything in the bathroom, the bug was still working just fine. She pulled out of sight and pressed her back against the wall again, closing her eyes to focus on the conversation unfolding as the man forced the newer visitor to sit and speak to them.
At present, it did her some good to understand what had made Xavier suddenly ill. If that were not the case, she felt sure she would have been gone by now and off this god-forsaken ledge. It was something Hamphire would have wanted to know; would probably give him an edge later. If not, at least she tried.
It would be just my luck if the man didn't wake up and tell them, she thought, realizing that was the only way she was likely to get an idea of what was happening.
The fact that they all suspected Hamphire would probably be enough, but if Magda was anything, she was thorough, and quite wary about displeasing this new "employer" of hers. She did not want to give him any reason to give her back to Fisk, after all. She could not be sure which of them was more tolerable to failures, but she knew neither of them would be terribly lenient, nor would either way of "correction" be more or less painful than the other.
Ah, the messes she always got herself into these days.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:06:04 GMT -5
Professor Xavier
Charles stirred as he felt himself suddenly bombarded by psychic impressions. A man considering quitting his job, a woman doubtful about her husbands faithfulness, a child scared to show his mother his new report card, a criminal with nothing to live for...
It was clear to Xavier now that reality was once again all around him. He rubbed his head in an effort to calm the raging storm of mental babble around him. Slowly each of his internal barriers rose into place gradually blocking out all the unwanted traffic. Charles mind finally grew still sensing only the thoughts of those within close proximity.
Opening his eyes, Xavier looked at the highly detailed alabaster colored ceiling noticing its intricate circline stylings. Then he was aware of a presence nearby. Emma was still within the area, apparently she had been here the aura of her psychic impression was still strong. She had been very close, perhaps in this room.
Another impression entered Xaviers mind then quickly darted away. He dismissed it as perhaps a maid doing her rounds or guests entering the range of his perception.
Attempting to right himself, was not an easy task. Sometimes Charles wished that whatever being desired this mutation upon him, would have also allowed him to keep his legs. Perhaps it was a penance for the arrogance he once allowed to rule his life, that night his life almost came to an end, all of that was changed. With the loss of his legs came a new view of life, and those with mutations like his.
Yes, it was time to focus once again on the mission. There was too much at stake to allow a simple handicap to stop the X-mens mission...
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:06:48 GMT -5
Magdaleina
Magda's brow twitched when she felt a familiar pulse, telling her that her com was going off. She fished it out of one of her pockets and held it up to examine the message. "Ce dracu vrei?"* she whispered to herself.
M. We got a problem, contact operations ASAP, CH
Wonderful.
Time for her to get down, then. She looked around and immediately regretted it. How in blazes had she gotten up here again? It didn't matter; scaling the wall backwards was a lot harder than climbing up. So what were her other options?
Right. The tree.
There were sturdy branches stretching a good six feet away from her. If she were nearer to the ground, the jump would have been more than simple. However, right now she was several stories off the ground and getting dizzier by the minute.
No time to worry about it, she realized, and biting her lip, she branced herself to push off from the wall. A simple boost with her legs sent her into the branches, and she caught a good, thick one with her arm with hardly a snap or crackle of twigs. Balancing her hand and footholds, she shot a quick look down to the ground to make sure no one was in sight before climbing down. She dropped onto the ground with a gentle thud, and brushed some bark and dead leaves from her uniform before picking up her com again.
She dialed the right sequence, and the signal coming from the bug shorted out to tune into another. Thankfully, using the com looked just about like anyone talking on a cell phone would, and she could wander nonchalantly out into an unoccupied area of the parking lot beyond.
"M here," she said when she knew the connection had been made. Her accent was thick; it was a wonder she was understandable at all. "What is it?"
((*Ce dracu vrei roughly translates as "What the Hell do you want now?"))
((Continued in Garage))
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:07:26 GMT -5
NPC
"M here," she said when she knew the connection had been made. Her accent was thick; it was a wonder she was understandable at all. "What is it?"
Location: Hampshire's Office
Steven, had not expected M to react so soon. Not allowing his voice to alter he responded.
"Present situation is now null, I repeat null. New post in route, standby for feed." Though his communication with her sounded cryptic it was clear that the party at the other end had been informed of an assignment change.
Activating a serious of encrypting algorithms, the coded engineer nodded to the Colonel. "We are clear Sir, you may begin transmission." Working at an incredible speed the high security officer that Steven had requested, was now being put to good use. Looking again to the Colonel the engineer nodded "Message encoded on Delta-Echo-Gamma 2.0.0.1"
"Good, you idiots are perhaps useful for something other then collecting a paycheck..."
The coordinates were sent to the agent at the incredible speed of 300 Terabytes per second via highly sophisticated transponders located in digital satellites, encoded with 1GB encryption, the best that the government had to offer. It read simply 021.312.41, the coordinates of the FBoMC.
((Just a little FYI, 1GB encryption, is at current, only in science fiction, but seemed to fit well with an organization ran by Mr Hamphire. Our best super computers are not currently up to the task.))
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:08:37 GMT -5
Phoenix
< Jean. > Angrily Jean had stalked forward, but her husband’s touch on her arm and call to her through their rapport stalled her for a moment. Reminding her to gain control over her emotions, Jean locked a heavy gaze on the blonde now sitting in the chair she had put her in. If it weren’t for him, she might not have calmed down so easily. Luckily for Emma, her first goading statement didn’t register with Jean while she gained control.
"What happened?" Scott demanded.
Emma glanced at the Professor’s still form as she spoke, turning back to look at Jean. "Actually, I was in the middle of a conversation with him only I was in my room at the time. He 'screamed' my name then the mental connection went suddenly dead. Knowing who some of the other occupants of this hotel are, I thought the worst and found a way in. He was lying on the floor like that when I found him. I've been trying to contact him but whatever is going on, I can't break through."
Jean held her gaze for a few more moments before speaking. “What were you discussing before he passed out?” It was possible that something in their conversation might have triggered his reaction. The anger now subsided and her eyes glinted a dark emerald green, her temper successfully subdued. More concerned with Charles and his welfare, Jean was just about to check his vital signs when he began to move.
"Professor!" Rushing to his side, Jean helped him to sit up. "Are you all right?" Just seeing him start to regain some semblance of his whereabouts was a huge sense of relief.
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:09:29 GMT -5
Professor Xavier
"Professor!" Rushing to his side, Jean helped him to sit up. "Are you all right?"
"J..Jean?, is that you?", Xavier turned to look toward the sound of her voice propping himself up on his Elbow. He could see concern in her face and worry on her brow. Charles smiled weakly, trying to ease her tension.
"I am fine Jean." He lied. He wasn't fine not in the least, yet it was crucial that they not know what he had just seen in his mind, especially not Jean. For what dwelled within her must never be given a chance to rise from the ashes. Xavier attempted to raise barriers in his mind, but something happened something he did not expect. His brain suddenly felt like it was on fire, the pain was not present though this time, it was more like something was working through him. Pushing at his restraints.
Charles could not stop the images as they flooded from his mind like a rushing torrent of water released from a stone damn. Xavier winced as he began to broadcast his thoughts unable to control the overwhelming loss of restraint. "No.. Jean... No...Emma...No!"
Just as soon as it had began, it was over with. Xavier fought to desperately bring his psychic barriers back up, but it was to late. He could tell from the look on the others face that they had seen what he had seen. Even Scott due to his link with Jean had been introduced to Xavier's nightmare...
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 12:13:26 GMT -5
NPC
Pariah shifted out of time, he moved forward to point where Xavier had collapsed, just as his master had predicted it would happen. The master was never wrong, things would unfold exactly as he had foreseen.
Re-entering the time space continuum, Pariah used his holographic emitter to change into a more respectable form, he knocked lightly on the door to Xavier's room, "Room Service." There was no response though he could sense others in the room, as their thoughts ranged from worry to love of the Professor. Waiting patiently, Pariah realized that the vision had already entered Xavier's mind. How could this be? It shouldn't be happening yet, unless his calculations were wrong. Knocking on the door once again he rapped harder this time hoping to catch someone's attention "Room Service!"
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 13:50:22 GMT -5
Dark Matter via cell phone
*Emma Frost's cell phone begins to ring, If it has caller ID it would come from Sabastian's cell phone at the Hellfire Club*
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Post by Siryn on Jul 24, 2005 13:51:21 GMT -5
Phoenix
"J..Jean?, is that you?" Charles asked weakly, turning towards her and sitting up. "I am fine Jean." Jean didn’t quite believe him, but she couldn’t help but feel relieved to see the Professor awake, and gave him a hug. As she pulled away she could feel his mental blockades returning fast. ‘Those sure returned in a flash.’ Her brows creased slightly as a feeling of unease came over her. It was as if the Professor didn’t want them to see what had gone on in his mind. What he was thinking. Of course, he was entitled to feeling that way. But still, the manner in which he did it left her unsure.
“Charles, what happened? Where did your mind—“ Jean was stopped in mind question. Charles began screaming, his face contorting in horror. "No.. Jean... No...Emma...No!" What was he—
A barrage of violent, angry images came streaming through the Professor’s mind, slamming into the telepathic world around him. Unconsciously Jean slowly shook her head, disbelieving the pictures she was seeing. “No..” It was barely a whisper. Why was the Professor seeing these things?? Fiery death and destruction. Everyone was dead—everyone!
On instinct her mental shields went up, protecting Scott from being able to see the brunt of what Xavier had projected. Staring wide-eyed at the Professor, Jean could only hope this was some sort of weird joke.
< What was that? > Jean sent to both Emma and Charles, not wanting to mention anything verbally just yet. Immersed in what was going on in the bedroom, she didn’t pay attention to the knocking at the door.
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