The door was open; he was expecting a guest, after all.

He supposed, perhaps through a bit of unlawful surveillance, that she was on her way, albeit at a leisurely pace. That was all well and good, though; he had a few more things to prepare. He muttered under his breath as his chitinous hands plucked away at a keyboard. He was on view-tube. Of course he was; everyone was. Spindly fingers poked in the first few letters of his desired video, and the bar filled in on it's own, evidence of his many visits to this particular video.

And, surprisingly enough, it wasn't a particularly popular video showcasing a bout of police brutality, but rather it was a response to said video, featuring none other than the mutant reporter, Maxine Ralls.

Good, the video was loading. Gregory stood and turned, eyeing the fresh put of coffee he'd brewed; last time this particular guest had been in, she'd stiffly refused any item of hospitality he'd offered; perhaps, he'd thought, she just didn't like what he'd offered on that day.

This time he had something a little more... basic. Coffee and Doughnuts. Would they be more to her liking? That remained to be seen. Either way, they had much to talk about, and not much of a window to act in... He really did hope she would arrive soon.

After all, less time waiting meant more time plotting the rise of mutant kind... With the added plus of personal gain, of course.

With events going the way they were Syn had become restless. She wanted to make the humans pay. She wanted to give her fellow mutants a reason to rise up. Something needed to be done.

It was at this time when Roach had requested another private meeting. With the little secrets he was able to gather from his little informants he might have found a way for events to occur as Syn was imagining. He might of even have found where the culprit police were now.

Reaching the open doorway into Roach’s room Syn announced herself upon entering. “I’m guessing you requested another meeting because you have something pressing to discuss.” She moved to the same seat she had sat in the last time. “What’s on your mind my dear Roach?”

Ah, yes, she had arrived. Good. He had much to say, and there was precious little time to talk.

"Welcome to my cozy little room once more, I'll get right to the point. I can tell from the look in your eyes that you are outraged, and we all know why. I am here to suggest that we not make haste in slaughtering the police officers responsible for the beating of Gina Schuyler. Instead, I would suggest a more... Sinister approach."

He pointed to the screen he'd set up, and pressed enter on the keyboard.

"Lawrence Metzler."
"James Cervini."

"Jeffrey Fletcher."

"Evelyn Jolitz."

"Martin Bailey."

"I could go on, but we've only got five minutes. Those," she gestured to the stack, "These, are the names of the NYPD officers injured or killed on our streets in the past five years while responding to mutant-related-"


He spoke over the woman's voice. "Do you know Maxine Ralls? The mutant reporter for Wolf news? It's a horrible shame that the rare mutant celebrity would speak out for the NYPD in a time like this. Still, she is an invaluable tool for the likes of us, if we can get her on our side... That is not to say her words should not go unpunished... So, as I watched this video, I thought to myself... How can we punish Ms. Ralls, the police officers who assaulted Ms. Schuyler, and sway a reporter to our cause?

Why, we kill three birds with one stone, of course... I have a plan, Syn, and I'll be needing your help... Are you in?"

If he could smile devilishly, he would be right now, instead, his mandibles clacked with anticipation. "Also, Doughnut?"

Listening carefully to Roach and watching the video he had waiting a name was brought up. Maxine Ralls. Oh yes…Syn knew Maxine Ralls. More to the point she knew her as the Queen of the Amazons in a post holocaust setting. Syn’s memory of the woman never let the red haired woman go.

“Yes, I know of her my dear Roach. I’ve seen her before.” Syn wondered what thoughts the giant bug man had come up with prior to her arrival. The fact that he had mentioned taking a ‘sinister approach’ sparked high interest from the dark woman.

A polite hand wave and subtle head movement declined the offered treat. “What thoughts have you come up with regarding Miss Ralls and the police?”

"Yes, I know of her my dear Roach. I’ve seen her before."

There was a spark of recognition in Syn's face. It was barely noticeable, but it was most certainly there. Had the manipulative mutant queen and the female reporter had interactions in the past? Had they ended well, or were they enemies... He was going to have to gamble.
"As have we all, on her news show... Unless... You've met her... I do hope you are not fond..."


"What thoughts have you come up with regarding Miss Ralls and the police?"

"Ah, yes... Well, you see, I was hoping for your help, there... I have come to the realization that it would be simply perfect for our cause if the same police officers Mrs. Ralls chimed in to defend just happened to be inclined to... Flog her. Brutally."

He stared at her in silence for a moment after he completed the sentence... How would she react? Would she smile? Would he maintain a blank face? Or would she get upset? He was, after all, talking about having one of their own kind punished in quite a painful and humiliating way.

"We would, of course, have to be very careful... Specific instructions would have to be involved... Can I count on your skills?"

Passing up Roach’s inquiry of just hoe Syn knew of Maxine the dark woman listened to his idea. Having the same police who had become famous on the web and TV give Maxine a little something extra to report on sounded very pleasing. So much so that a wicked smile sliced across Syn’s lips once the full picture set into her mind.

“My dear Roach, I do believe that sounds like a wonderful plan. She doesn’t share our views and so she would be an excellent little lamb to throw to the wolves. Of course you may count me in on this.”

“My dear Roach, I do believe that sounds like a wonderful plan. She doesn’t share our views and so she would be an excellent little lamb to throw to the wolves. Of course you may count me in on this.”

He bristled in anticipation, nodding firmly. "Good. I do hope you realize that in the future she may be a valuable resource to our cause; we just have to bend her to our will, not break her. I believe it be quite easy after she's convinced that we are her only ally, and the humans will only belittle and abuse her."

He could tell that Syn wasn't particularly fond of Maxine; he had to be sure she wouldn't go overboard in coaching her beating. "I would guess to your relief, this will not be done without much pain to her, emotionally and physically. Celebrate that if you must, but know that we have to be discreet; Maxine must never know you and I are responsible for this."

He stared for a moment as if to get his point across.

She could sense Roach’s excitement with this whole plan rising. “Yes, I’ve already considered her potential once she sees the true light and accept the fact that we cannot live with the humans.” Maxine’s dream self in Syn’s post apocalyptic vision knew how the humans were and would crush them under foot as well as those who got in the way. That was the Maxine she needed to bring forth.

The comments regarding Maxine’s assault received a Cheshire like smile. “It’ll be a day she’ll never forget I assure you, and she’ll never know it was us.”