Chrome-Plated Suicide (Meld)

It really had been far to long since Meld had engaged in this type of activity, of meeting contacts and acquiring jobs and judging if particular employers were trustworthy and honorable enough to be counted on to keep their word in the agreement. There was a time, in the not so distant past, that this was almost the entirety of her life, a time when she was completely at her ease with such activities. That time, for many reasons, was long past her now and despite her great desire to the contrary she found herself feeling nervous. Perhaps, she mused quietly to herself, the nerves had as much to do with the fact that this was an organization that had some connection to mutants and the mutant cause, though she was, at present moment, a little fuzzy on the details. Or perhaps it was merely her lack of practice. Regardless, she did not let the smallest bit of her indecision show upon her features. The expression upon her face was perfectly schooled and perfectly cold, entirely businesslike. It wasn't her policy to show weakness.

"I wasn't tol much," Meld told her contact truthfully. As, she assumed, her contact was well aware. But she had played this game before, no matter how distantly, and she knew very well what the rules were. "I was told that my services and skills may be of use and that I was to meet you here so we could discuss whether we would be of mutual benefit to one another." She didn't come any closer, didn't even bat an eye at the odd request though internally she wondered at it.

As Meld observed her contact carefully, trying to take proper stalk of her and being hampered not at all by the dim light of the garage, she also remained observant of what was going on around her. In the instant her natural eyes blinked, she would open her tail eye a moment to catch a snapshot of what was behind her, a very useful trick she had picked up recently. So far there were no threats and they remained alone. So much the better.

Meld shrugged as she was asked about her departure from The Order. "You could say that. She kept her posture casual, relaying the fact that she hadn't any sort of worry or care about this meeting. She had learned during her time working with human crime families two major things. The first was to never show fear and the second was not to make it seem like the job mattered to much. It was about weakness. If they saw you as weak they would take advantage of you. It was a painful lesson to learn but a lesson that she had learned well.

"The higher ups in The Order are high on violence and not much else. Sometimes other skills and techniques are needed." She shrugged again. "As for Mars, not sure. I haven't seen him, or anyone else over there, since I left." Which was probably for the best since she had a feeling if she met anyone from The Order, or at least any of the higher ups in The Order it would not be a friendly meeting. Blood would flow and there was a chance it might be hers. Not a thought she particularly relished.

"I am sure you've done your research on me," Meld stated. "You know what I can do and what I've done in the past. You also know why I do the things I've done, the mission that I've set for myself." It was also stated as fact, as if it was unquestionable that her potential employer knew of these things. If she didn't Meld would think much less of her than she did currently and so far the other woman had made a good impression on her. It would be most disappointing should she discover the other woman's ignorance on such things. It was important to know the details about those you were employing.

"What you've said has me interested. I've done a lot of jobs with no real long term purpose. Its a life I've tried to leave behind. For the opportunity to do some good in the world while making a little money for myself, count me in."

At the mention of Adapteds Meld went still. She took a deep breath to calm herself, unable to help the chill of fear that went down her spine. It was not a feeling that she was used to nor a feeling that she particularly liked. She had indeed heard of Adapteds, one of the last things she had learned from her fellow Order members before leaving them. She had felt fear then and she felt fear now.

Meld struggled to control her fear, her visceral reaction to the knowledge that there were those out there, those that she was going to be working alongside, that could nullify her mutation. She didn't even know exactly how her mutation could be nullified or what affect it would have on her, but she knew it would be bad. After several deep breaths she visibly calmed. The fear was still there, but she could deal with it. She could shut it off just as she shut off all other emotions that got in the way of a mission she was on. Or if not completely shut it off, then at least suppress it enough to deal with it.

"So long as the humans, with or without the ability to nullify mutant powers, had proper respect for mutants I can work with them." She was relieved to not that her voice didn't waver. "I won't lie to you. The thought of individuals who could nullify my powers...isn't something I can be entirely comfortable with. But I'd rather those people be on my side than on the side of the enemy."

As Lenna took a step closer towards Meld, she tensed visibly but did not take a step back. "Like I said, I can work with whatever I'm given to work with."

Meld did not like the idea at all of intentionally putting herself within the Adapted's aura. She wasn't used to being vulnerable in any way, hadn't been since she still believed herself to be human. And even then she really hadn't been; years of martial arts training had seen to that. The only time she could recall feeling vulnerable were the events leading up to the discovery of herself as a mutant and the death of her sister. A death that still hurt her in a lot of ways, a death she still regretted as something she should have been able to prevent.

And yet Meld also saw that such an action was entirely necessary. They both needed to know what affect her aura would have on Meld. Better to know now than in the midst of a potentially dangerous situation when not knowing could mean the difference of success for failure or perhaps even life or death.

Bracing herself Meld nodded to Lenna. "I'm willing, just this once, to stand here while we see what your aura will do to me. Make it quick though." She couldn't help the small amount of tension that managed to leak into her voice.

As Lenna approached her, Meld tensed her muscles, completly unsure what was about to happen and terrified to find out. Yet this was necessary and she had never shyed away from doing what was necessary, despite fear or discomfort and this was to be no exception. Fear was only a weakness if you let it control you and Meld was not one to be controlled by something so innane as fear. She refused utterly to be fear's victim.

At first when Lenna touched Meld's shoulder she thought that nothing had happened. She didn't feel any different and none of her flesh melded limbs or other body parts fell off. She was about to breathe a sigh of relief when she realized, an instant later, that she couldn't see out of her electronic eye. At all. Then, fear building within her cheast, she tried to move her hands and found them completely immobile. Her feet and tail as well were entirely immobile, as if large chunks of titanium had been attached to her body.

Meld began to shake ever so slightly, faint tremors felt up and down her flesh and blood parts. "I can't move." Her voice shook and at any other time she would have focused on that fact and despised that sign of weakness, so visible for others to see, but now she was consumed by fear. It was everything she could do to not break down entirely and to continue to report on the effects of Lenna's aura.

"All of my metal parts act as if they were normal metal and I can't see out of my eye." She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself but it had almost no effect. "I think you should move now." Her voice was tight and clipped, but at least she retained some semblance of control. She could deal with this. She could beat this. As soon as Lenna moved she would be able to beat this. Or so she told herself and hoped desperately it was true.