Jaya O'Riley was walking with Nic, one hand holding onto her market basket, the other holding his. They were walking around the Saturday flea and farmer's market that took place on one of the bustling little neighborhood streets just a few blocks from their safehouse. Jaya's green hair was pulled back from her head by a blue kerchief and she wore a rather emo-looking outfit. Her and Nic just looked like a couple of punks going to market, no one knew any better that they were actually mutants.
As they walked around from booth to booth, table to table, Jaya checked out various fruits and vegetables, choosing ones that she deemed good and purchasing them, placing the items in her flexible, woven seagrass basket. She'd been working for a few little old ladies as a house cleaner, earning a meager income that afforded them the joy of local groceries.
When the basket was full and Jaya was certain that they had enough fruits, vegetables, home-baked bread, and other goodies she thought would help to make some good meals for them in the coming week, they headed back to the safehouse, threading the streets casually as they became more and more empty, their home being in a more abandoned part of the neighborhood.
They were just a block from home when they met someone else in the alleyway.

A bright and sunny day, teeming with excitement, was all to much for the young Geist, formerly Nik. Stir that together with a few sleepless nights, a girl with too much energy, and some unresolved issues and you've got one cranky pile of Geist. As Jaya dragged Geist around NY's more socially inclined atmosperes he felt reclusive among the many smiling faces of the open market. A <i>couple</i> strolling by with subtle whispers. An old lady manning a stand with a piercing stare. Even a little kid intent on not watching where he was going was all that Geist could take, shouting "hey ya little squirt, cant ya see that im walkn here, get outta here.. whatchu lookn at!?" snapping at a group of people as Jaya pulled him away with apologies springn forth. As Jaya finished up the shopping, dashing here and there to round up their meager rations, he thought to himself about how moody he's been lately and where the negativities have been brewing from:

*Loss of sleep.. Geist never slept at nite since his preference was that of being nocturnal, he would normally be taking naps during the day but Jaya's kept him pretty awake and busy at times.
*When Jaya was sleeping.. he would venture out into the nightlife of NY. The call of a club, masses of drunk people, and promise of a good fight kept him well entertained for many a nite. But it was not only for pleasure that he alone travels out, but also to make a living and provide not only for himself but also for Jaya. Being an enforcer, one who is feared and lethal, was his claim to underground fame but it only paid so little considering Geists connections were minimal and werkn freelance only ushered in small jobs. but what little he did earn he would sneak into Jaya's bit of cash jus to help her out. Geist needed little in life so helping her in anyway was his top priority.

But soon with little delay they were away from the hustle and bustle of the commercial streets as they treaded back towards their humble abode. The smell of inter-city life washing over Geist's nose with gusto. But no sooner had they arrived a block away from their homestead had their path been blocked by a mysterious stranger. The stranger was a man, average in height, deck'd head-to-toe in a trench coat and fidora. Geist letting go of Jaya's hand stepped forward and took an agressive stance a meer 10ft from the man. Coldly Geist spit to the side and inquiered upon the man, "Can i help youi?" The man said nothing, standing firm against geists words. "Look unless you've got any bizness with us i suggest you move along" still the man stood still, nothing to say, not even a word. Just as Geist was rolling up his jscket cuffs, get'n ready to lay out a smackdown, the man spoke aloud in a serious monotone voice..

"The girl is coming with me , step aside and maybe this altercation will be forgotten." Releasing a uniquely styled pistol from his trench coat, the man aimed it at Geist with all intention on firing on him. Geist smirked and even managed a small chuckle as he stood strong against his would be assainlent, even poviding a quick response to the man's demands.. "Look pal, Your chances of pull'n that off come in two shapes. Slim, and fat. So throw out the theatrics and walk, or else" folding his arms in a gesture of defiance.

Jaya didn't like the looks of the man from the moment she saw him. She wondered what it was he wanted, but Geist asked the question for her. The answer scared her more than anything else. She had gotten mixed up with the scientist crowd once, and this man seemed to fit the description of one of their cronies. She got behind Geist instinctively as the man pulled out a gun.
"What do you want with me?" Jaya was shaking a bit more than usual. She began to try focusing her energy a little bit, so that she would have a headstart if there was an attack. Her breathing quickened, she was scared and she knew it, but she tried not to do anything that would be stupid on account of that fear. She peeked out just the tiniest bit from over Nic's shoulder, waiting to see what the man would do next.

An evil grin suddenly gleamed across the mans face, his grip tightening around the gun in prepearation for the worst. Geist was ready to stand against the strangers assault, unable to simply phase away for the reason that he was the only thing standing between her and this nut case. Geist had taken gun shots many a time before, and as the man readied his final response, Geist proclaimed to himself that he would not budge.. no matter how painful it might be. "Have it your way" and with that the man pulled the trigger, the bullet zip'd through the air towards Geists' chest, but strangely coming to a complete stop as it hit his skin. Geist soon felt light headed, looking down at his chest he plucked the bullet from its position, and after a close look realised it wasnt a bullet. No, instead he was greeted with a dart of all things, the dart slipping from his hands as he stumbled back. "what the?.. whats goin?... you son ova.." his body falling back as Jaya was forced to try and keep Geist up as he drifted off. The man approached ever closer as Jaya tried to rustle Nik from his tranguil state, Geist doing his best to concentrate to phase to clear his body of the drug. "Cant.. wont go out like this.. run.. Jaya.." was the last thing Geist spoke as the man stood over them, Nik himself passing out slightly.

Much as she wanted to stay there and help him, Jaya knew to do what she was told. She also knew that the man was after her and not Geist, she only hoped that he would be ok. She slid out from beneath Nic's unconcious form and took off at a run, the man on her heels. She wove and zigzaged as much as she could, while trying to gain some speed on him. Because she had so much energy she was better able to keep up a fast pace than normal people, but this man was a machine. Try as she might, she could gain nothing on him. In a last burst of effort she gathered as much energy as she could and let loose.
Just then there was a little pang. Jaya looked down at her arm where a little dart stood up. The man was recovering from her little blast, getting to his knees and standing up as she was falling to hers.
"Oh sh---"[/blue] was all she could get out before everything faded to black and she was gone.

footsteps.. thats all Geist could make out as he lay on the streets of NY. He had a strong will, stronger than normal folk, but even he could not prevent his inevitable blackout. His thoughts became flustered, emotions ranging from great amounts of anger too even greater amuonts of grief for young Jaya, who he knew was in terrible trouble. "Ja... Jaya" he murmured.. The drug that came from the dart, a potent tranquilizer, coursed through his body ever weakening him. He knew he had do to do something quick, but concentration eluded Geist as the darkness once again began creeping over him. In the final moments a stroke of pure duh-ness overcame him, providing the answer to his problems. Looking within himself, he crawled through the deepest and at times most painful memories he had. Soon his body became cold; the street around him slowly froze, the concrete on the verge of cracking; the windows of nearby buildings frosted over, also showing signs of collapse. "Jaya!" In seconds Geist had regained complete consciousness, hands balled into fists, back arched up from the ground. And with a swift breeze he ghosted, hovering no more than an inch from the ground, a sense of victory painted over his intangible smile.

a few seconds later Geist un-ghosted with a small thump onto the ground. He stood, rubbing his neck, complaining about a small headache. "Aghh! jeez, what kinda bullet was that?" recollecting about the dart. "hmph.. lucky that i can ghost away the toxins, or id be even more.." Regaining his train thought he looked about the street for any sign of Jaya or the man. Geist, now running down alleyways and streetsides, yelled aloud the object of his search.. "Jaya!... JAYA!!" But no answer echoed back as he stopped to get his bearings. "Sh**! where could they have gone.." He could sense a warm trail, seemingly she had let off alot of energy, energy that he could follow. walking deeper into the unforgiveing city he ended up in a small backlot. Kneeling down he picked up a blue kerchief, the same Jaya had been wearing earlier. "Please no. please... no.. no, no, no, no, no this cant be happening!" Standing up, kerchief in hand, he yelled out her name but no answer would come of it. Her trail died, her warmth and energy still resinateing in the air as Geist fell to his knees, a single tear escaping his eyes. a moment of silence overcame the area around him. However, gripping the kerchief and rising to his feet his facial expression changed from that of mourning to that of a man with a vendetta to settle. He tucked Jaya's blue kerchief into his jacket pocket, and walked away, words of contention flowing from his breath..


"I wont be stopped... ya hear that!? huh!?.. And when I find her and those who have taken her.. *grin* Ill give them a reason to fear, because after i get done with them thats all they'll have left.."