(OOC: Continued From Raining Bullets)

IC:
Luke felt drained and exhausted as he sat on the living room couch with his head just laying back against the cushions. A glass of ice water sat on the coffee table in front of him along with the forgotten half from the ham sandwich he had started eating earlier.

Two...

Two people had died. One on the scene and another at the hospital. Two innocent people had paid the price with their lives while several others had been badly injured. Luke was of course one of the fortunate ones becuase he had seen the Doc Prof and been healed up completely. There was no evidence on his body to show that he had been shot earlier in the day and since he had changed clothes there wasn't even any dried blood to remind others about the incident.

"How can someone care that little about life?" Luke wondered aloud, his eyes stared sightlessly at the ceiling. He had faced criminals that cared that little but if someone was targetting him specifically it probably meant it was someone he knew. How in the world could he know someone that treated human life so flippantly? How could he be friends, aquaintances, or co-workers with someone that chalked collateral damage up as a necessary evil?

"I've got to stop them... I've got to get to the bottom of this."

The talk with Slate had lasted a little longer than Sara had anticipated. She expected to only receive information from him. Not his concern, about the loss and return of her sight. Concern of witch, Sara felt she didn’t need.

Sara’s reached the mansion on foot. She’d made a straight v line for the dormitories, where she slipped out of the jeans and belt she’d been wearing all day. The top she’d been shot in, slipped over her head as well to be replaced with a soft cotton shirt and a loose zip up hooded sweatshirt that almost matched the color in the grey sweatpants she’d shoved her legs, and tail, through.

Sara finally made her way down the stairs, towards the living room. One hand held the long cane, under the crook of her arm. The other supported a take out bag from the Dragon Inn, containing Crab Ragoons, and Egg Rolls. Compliments of Johnny.

Sara was sliding her elbow down the wall to get around. She was also starting to learn how to use the 6th sense for navigating around the mansion as she received a sort of 3D map of the halls and stairs people had recently traveled. The only challenge there really was, was remembering what path lead her back to the living room. Once she found Luke’s sent, the job was made easy.

“Ragoon?” Sara offered Luke as she found the coffee table with the side of her leg, and set the bag down on the table in front of him. “Johnny sent home a care package.” She said as she slid her legs around the table and found an empty cussion to sit on, with her tail.

Luke had been so distracted by his own thoughts that until Sara spoke he had been unaware of her presence. "Huh... oh... yeah. A ragoon would be great." He said gratefully as he lifting his head and moving into a slightly more proper sitting position than the slouch he had been resting in for who knew who long, "How is Johnny? I haven't stopped by there, well, since the cell phone incident."

That had been an annoying, irritating, and embarassing time but Luke had abided by Sara's wishes that he stay away from Johnny. Apparently the young man was a "good kid" and didn't need influenced like Luke polluting his mind.

Accepting one of the ragoons from Sara, Luke bit into it and then reached over to grab his now melted ice water and take a sip. Beads of sweat covered the outside of the glass making it somewhat slipper though not unmanageable. "Did your contacts provide anything useful?"

The melancholy moment was over and it was time to get down to business. Luke didn't understand how someoen could be so careless when it came to innocent bystanders but he had already wasted more than enough time rethinking his own decisions. A plan had to be made and then action had to be taken. Someone out there was supplying the gangs of New York with superior armament and that flow had to stop.

"Did they happen to know where these weapons might be coming from?"

Luke asked about Johnny and Sara let a small smile form on her lips. She remembered telling Luke to stay away from the boy, but only because Luke created distractions for him. Now, as long as Luke didn’t out right lie to the boy, Sara couldn’t remember all of her reasons for keeping them apart. Besides.

Not that Sara thought about the fact she was allowing a young man bent on taking over the world to play chess with Johnny while she conducted secret meetings in the back room. Oh no. Luke’s influence in lies struck Sara as much more of a danger than that.

"Did your contacts provide anything useful?"

Luke accepted the ragoon and Sara motioned to the other box. “There’s egg rolls as well.” She then reached into a messenger bag that had been balanced on her shoulder. “My contacts were very helpful and when I regain my sight fully, I’ll be able to read the file.” Sara flipped the folder out of her bag and let it smack down on the coffee table in front of Luke. “Ironic, Huhh. For now, I’ll recite what was read.”

“The guns are FMG9 folding Machine guns. They’re supposed to fold into a small box for easy carrying and open when you press a button. These weapons are intended to be weapons of the future, however apparently someone is making them for today.” Sara took one of the egg rolls and began cutting pieces of it off. And popping it in her mouth between words. “One of my contacts was able to track where the weapon had originated from. Apparently there is a special orders company that makes such a weapon. Among others if you remember the rifles we took off of the gang at the test house a few months ago. From Mexico, the weapons most likely traveled through various black markets in Texas, California, Michigan, the list went on, and now, here, in New York.”

This had to be one of the most frustrating situation Luke had ever found himself in. All the information that he and Sara needed was contained in the file on the coffee table and neither of them could read it! For crying out loud, why did this kind of thing always happen to them? Just for once, couldn't they get a break?

In just a matter of moments Luke had finished off his crab ragoon and then dug out an egg roll. He normally wasn't the biggest fan of chinese food but as hungry as he was at the moment, it could have been some of that tofu and sprout crap and he probably would have eaten it. While Sara's report on what was actually contained in the file gave him a brief overview, it was far to concise to give him everything he needed.

"That factory needs to be shut down." Luke said grimly, "But we need to stop some of those distributors too."

The logistics of the whole situation was beyond what Luke was used to planning but he was deffinately going to give it his best. With the X-Men, maybe they could pull off having a couple of small strike teams hit the different distribution points while a larger team hit the factory itself. Weapon designed to look like boxes weren't used by the normal military. That was something designed specifically with terrorists in mind. The sinister reasons for a weapon like that were far more numerous than the good reasons.

"I think we're gonna need to talk to Sam and some of the others. This is gonna be to much for just me, you, or the both of us to handle."

Pulling out another crab rangoon, Luke munched on it as his mind raced. Come to think of it, were there really enough X-Men for this sort of mission? No way could they bring any of the kids in on something like this but were there enough real X-Men to handle it?

"What are you thinking Sara?"

What Sara was thinking, was this type of situation wasn`t what she normally drifted towards. It was going to be group work and while Sara could be a strong team player, all of her instincts screamed the group idea. she was so used to having to do things either only with Ayesac, or completely alone. However new logic was also starting to make sense.

if they were able to locate the sales points, and the mane distributor, they would be able to all strike at once. No one would have time to warn each other. From there, they could gather the information of where the rest of the weapons are being sold,and to who. Sara might even have a se for the sixth sense she had develuped, in tracking the weapons. with luck, Sara believed that they could get 90 percent of the weapons, off of the streets. But that still left one problem.

"I`m thinking about the one peace of information that we want, that probably isn`t in that file." Sara replied. Her lips pressed together or a moment. "Who`s tying to kill you. and I really want my eyes to go back to normal." It was so hard to keep her voice steady, but she believed she managed it through the last statement. her head bent and she rubbed the center corners of her eye lids, near the ridge of her nose.

No pitty parties, Sara reminded herself. she refused to go back and do that, and so before she spoke again, she grabbed another egg roll, stood, and began walking slowly around the couch and coffee table.

"the guns from the gang at the tet house were unusual as well and my money would say, that if we were to research them, we`d find that they had come from the same distributors. if they did not, then we`ve got twice the problems on our hands because a second illegal gun manufacturer could mean one of two things. they:re rivals with the one that makes this box thing, or they`re partners."

Sara reached the end of the couch where Luke sat and side stepped the arm rest, on her way around the back. "i say call up Sam to at least read tat file. Pool the xmen you have together. with my personal contacts, I might be able to bring in a few more individuals who would find it important to remove these weapons from society." however Sara couldn`t promise for sure, what all her contacts final goals would be.

For not being that much of a team player, Sara sure had some powerful contacts for information.

"For now, i`ve really been looking forward to a little chat with the men we had the privilege of meeting today. Did you have any Luck with the police for allowing us to chat with them?"

"The person that's trying to kill me can take a back seat." Luke replied without the slightest hesitation. His life was in danger but that wasn't going to stop him from doing what needed to be done and it wasn't going to stop him from going after whoever it was that was supplying gangs and probably terrorists with this sort of advanced weaponry. "And your eye sight will come back Sara. The fact that it fluctuates back and forth shows that this must be something you can control. It just takes time to learn how to do it."

Any other time, any other place, Luke probably would have focused more on Sara's ability. He would have tried to talk her through what changed when this new ability activated even if it riled her to discuss it, but in his mind there was something much more important on the table. As the feline began to pace, Luke snagged another Rangoon and munched quietly as he listened to her deliver the information that she had been able to gather.

"I'm pretty sure Sam is out of the mansion today so I'll try to get him to look over the file tomorrow." Luke agreed with a slight nod of his head before reaching out to grab his glass of water and take a couple of swallows.

"I'll give you a call tomorrow to let you know how the conversation with Sam goes. And as for our wonderful attackers, I don't exactly have permission for us to go in but a certain contact of mine has said that no one would try to stop us if we did go in." Luke's voice was grim but with just a touch of slyness. He was obviously looking forward to facing the punks that had shot him and killed at least one other person. "But first, finish eating. Those guys aren't going anywhere."

Typical Luke for you. Sara tilted her head in his direction. One eye brow raising above the other, but she reframed from voicing her own opinion on that.

"And your eye sight will come back Sara. The fact that it fluctuates back and forth shows that this must be something you can control. It just takes time to learn how to do it."

“True.” Sara sighed again. She had managed some form of Control with her eye sight and this new sense before. However so far it involved flashing her eyes with bright lights, like the sun, or forcing herself to relax till even the muscles in her eyes could relax, and that had proven to take over an hour or more.

Sara’s mutation was never something she had the choice of controlling. If anything, it was her body that seemed to try to control her. There were times she sensed something more instinctual inside, that had to be kept on a tight, emotional, leash.

"I'll give you a call tomorrow to let you know how the conversation with Sam goes.

“I’ll make sure to keep the phone near me then. Mean while, I might have another person I can go to for information. However, he might not be into the idea of talking.” Especially to Sara considering the first time she met him, he sort of really kicked her tail. But then he gave her a root bear and a grilled Cheese sandwich. It’s funny how people give Sara things when she’s bad. Go figure.

Sara rounded her way around the other end of the couch, and scooped up another crab Ragoon. “It seems we have a plan. And before the food ran out too.”

They had finished the discussion before they finished the food but not by much. As Sara scooped up another Crab Rangoon, Luke took the last egg roll and munched on it. It still amazed him how good all of this oriental stuff could taste when you were really hungry. "Back to steaks and french cuisine when this is over." Luke mentally vowed before cramming the last of the egg roll in his mouth, "Real food."

Lifting his glass of water, Luke drained the last of it and then turned to give Sara a slight smile. "You ready to go meet up with our jail birds? I'll give the station a call to see which precinct they're being held in and then we can go pay them a little visit."

Once Sara had confirmed that she still wanted to meet up with the gang members, Luke pulled out his cell phone and hit the button to dial information. In just a few minutes he was connected with a Detective Singer that had worked with Jacobs & Jacobs on several occasions.

Standing up, Luke began to pace around the room as he talked. He wasn't particularly nervous but it was just a habit for him. Standing or sitting still while talking on the phone was extremely rare and almost always Luke would wander through his house whenever he was on the phone. Here at the mansion he kept his prowling contained in the living room so that Sara could hear the conversation.

Everything was going smoothly as he took a few moments to simply chat with the Detective, then ask his questions. For a few seconds after that there was silence as the police officer pulled up files in his computer to check the status and then Luke stopped in mid-stride.

"Thanks... I appreciate the info. Take care Detective Singer."

Slowly disconnecting the call, Luke slipped the phone back in his pocket as his blind eyes stared at the wall ahead of him. "They're dead." He said in disbelief, "One by stabbing, one by supposed suicide, and the rest by drug overdose."

Anxious wasn't exactly an addaquit enough word for Sara. When Luke asked her if she was ready to go confront the gang members, she just nodded. knowing full well Luke would see it with his sonar. These men tried to kill Luke. and in the process they could have killed her, and the entire cafe. Sara didn't know the people in there, but what if she did. what if Johnny was one of the two people to loose their lives.

She flopped herself so that she was seated on the back rest of the couch, feet crossed at the ankles resting on the cushions. Sara's tail was draped over the back of the couch, twitching at the end so fast she'd swept an extra clean spot on the floor. Sara was antsy to get moving. her healing factor fed her extra energy and the extra energy was dying to get down and do some clawing at something. Even if this only turned into a threat. something to get some progress done.

her ears flicked back and forth as she caught some of the conversation on the other end of the phone. not that she was trying to eaves drop. it just happened. the news came through the phone first, and Sara's paw like hands twisted into fists, she didn't want to believe it. their jail birds were dead. suicide, or murdered, what ever. they were dead.

Sara had no way of knowing the reasoning as to why these lives were being taken. they just were, and she remembered the face of the last gang member sanding. the one that actually managed to get a shot off at Luke before she took him down, he was so young. What a waist. of his life and his possible potential. what pushed him to this point. Was Sara going to find herself in a similar situation some day thanks to her own past.

"They're dead."

"figures." Sara nearly hissed the word out of the back of her throat. she pushed off of the couch so hard, she sent it rocking on it's legs as she flew a good ten feet in front of the coffee table, then started stalking towards the hall. She didn't know anything else that she could logically do to keep the two of them moving forward. But physically moving herself felt better than sitting still. the situation made her feel a range of emotions and letting her anger show was something that she always dealt better by doing, rather than letting the helplessness she felt be visible. "i'm going to go find a way to burn some energy."

Luke was at a loss. He didn't know what to do next or what to say next. All of their carefully laid plans were suddenly out of control and he didn't know what to think. Whoever had set up this whole situation had wanted to protect his or her identity and had valued that protection over the life of all of the hired guns.

"I... I'll call you after I talk to Sam." Luke said slowly before turning back around to face Sara. "Thanks for your help Sara."

Everything was on hold. There was no way to continue until Luke had talked to the X's and Sara had talked to her friends. What came next would require a group effort and thanks to the death of their attackers, the weapon manufacturer could now be their main focus. Eventually Luke would find out more about who was coming after him or Sara, but for now they needed to focus on the current situation.

"Talk to you later."