Neena held back the occasional chuckle as Ruby's yawns became more frequent, simply smiling instead.

"Even now she makes sure I''ll be okay and she gets mad when I try to take care of her. *yawn* saying that it was her job to take care of me."

"Sometimes its hard for older siblings to admit they need looking after, too. I used to tell my brother that even a doctor gets sick and needs help sooner or later. Then he'd usually ruffle my hair and tell me to go play with my dolls." Neena rolled her eyes and chuckled. "And then I would usually tell him he was a hard-headed zebra-face, step on his foot, and run for my life."

A slight rustle caught her ears. "I've never had a slumber party but it sounds like fun. Can I join too?" a quiet voice asked.

"Of course. You haven't lived until you've been to a slumber party." She grinned and waved Nika over. "Pull up a patch of floor."

Neena had been very observant over the past weeks, keeping eyes and ears open for any bit of information she could possibly glean. She knew Nika had been having it rough as well with the local perverts, as had Sara and some of the others. Neena was beginning to have serious thoughts about seeing if Shrapnel could locate some razors or scalpels. A lot of damage could be done with the small instruments in a short amount of time, at least to the men. The women were more difficult to deal with, but there were still ways. Especially when the threat of Isolation held no weight. So far the only thing holding her back was the possible repercussions on the other girls. However, if things continued this way, Emerald wasn't going to be the only one who snapped....

"And you can't have a slumber party without slumber party games. Have either of you ever played 'Truth or Dare'?"

Since sleep seemed to be momentarily out of the question, Neena moved back to the positive thinking for a while.

The days had stretched into weeks, and Terry was losing all hope of being saved. More often than not, she had considered herself very unlucky; the first time she'd tried running away from home, she'd ended up in this hellhole. And she felt that she would run mad, any moment soon.

She still had the file she'd shifted from the Custom's Unit with Michael's help, but she hadn't put it to any use. Originally, she'd hidden it in her hair, but fearing that it would be found, should a guard yank at her hair, she relocated it into a small, non-descript crack below a windowsill. And a good thing, too, for a disaster occurred a few days later.

A guard had grabbed her by her hair and pulled her roughly over. The next thing she knew, his hand was sliding down her back. Instinctively, her elbow drove backwards, into the side of his face. As he reeled away, she didn't know what got into her head; an overwhelming feeling of repulsion filled her stomach, and she aimed a kick for the man's groin. By the time some other guards ran over, he was still lying on the floor, groaning pathetically.

What happened to Terry next, was expected. She'd gotten the beating of her life, tied to a pole for a night and half a day, with the occassional crack from a whip or a baton. That was actually the worst part of Terry's life. She'd lived and grown up in a very good environment, and beside the constant friction she'd had with her parents for being a mutant, her life was easy. Then, she wasn't suddenly brought into these conditions, and of course, that event nearly killed her.

She'd gone unconscious, and had remained that way for a day or so, after which she went down with a fever. A week prior to this time, she had been discharged from the Infirmary, and sent back to work. And now, she harbored an aversion for everyone there that wasn't a mutant.

Many times, her mind strayed back to the crack beneath the window, but she waited. For how long, she didn't know. Once she saw an opening, she would attempt to take off her collar, and the collars of as many others as she could find... if she was fast enough.

This night, she lay on her top bunk, listening to the rustle of the wind outside, running a plan of escape for the umpteenth time through her mind, although it didn't not seem feasible in the least. She was alerted by some movement out of the corner of her eye. Well, it was a fox kid, or the fox kid, 'cause there was only one of them here. Another woman joined her, then another. Okay, a cat girl. Terry didn't know what they were doing, but one thing the camp hadn't yet killed in her was the sanguine streak. She still loved company, and talking with others in the same position as she was would probably lift her spirits.

Rolling off the bunk, she dropped and landed ever so quietly on the floor, on all fours. She walked slowly to the trio by the window, and leaned against the wall, before sliding downwards into a sitting position.

"Do you mind another guest?", she asked, almost in a whisper, as if scared that a guard would hear.

Deathstar didn't communicate with the other women as the weeks pass by, She never said a word but a few head nods here and there. She returned to the barracks from a hard days work of grave digging. The amount of people Deathstar buried was astounding, and hope was slowly slipping away from her grasp. She walked tidious to her bunk looking around and hearing bits and pieces of the women conversations, catching the glimpse of Raina looking out the window, if Deathstar wanted to break her silence it would be Raina. She walk slowly to Raina's bunk slowly sitting next to her, "Hey! how have you been coming along?" she asked while looking out the window trying to figure what Raina was thinking. Deathstar was so busy rebelling against others and her team, she forgot what was really inportant, her ailing teamates and the plan to get out of there.

Raina looked up at deathstar and tried to muster a smile. She wasn't sure if anyone asking that question really expected an answer these days. In any case she coudln't give one. She hadn't made a noise in over a month. The shocks from her collar had left what appeared to be a permanent mark around her neck.

She was thankful though that Star had recognised her. Raina's Ethnicity was shining through these days without her cheerfully coloured hair. She gave the woman a nod and thought about the the first time they met. It wasn't the best of circumstances but that seemed to be a pattern with most.

She wondered why Star wasnt in her bunk yet, and therefor began to wonder about the rest of the girls. Curisoity got the best of her as it sometimes can in a place like this and she hopped down to stand next to star.

Sara heard Neena shift in the bunk above her. Then watched her walk off to Ruby. Her arms shifted under the blanket pulling her knees close to her chest so that her body only took up half of her bunk. The way she use to lay when she was younger. She’d only just started laying this way again.

Ruby had told Neena about what the guard had done to her tail and Sara felt her pulse quicken, Hands about her knees tighten into fists. She eased the fists loose until only her shoulders were tight now.

The other feline passed her bunk, Nika, and Sara shifted so that she was sitting up again. Letting her spine lean against a back bed post and her arms pulled her legs close again. She was awake but wouldn’t join in the crowd. Even now with people she had grown to feel for, as family, she had trouble joining in a group conversation. Watch over them, but her personality seemed to pull back. Put her one on one with another and she could openly joke around, have a conversation, sing. As a result only the ones who had been around Sara while she was working or away from the larger groups had really gotten a hold on her.

She heard yet another person get out of bed a few bunks down from her. The soft thump or a light cane and shuffling step told Sara who it was before the blind girl walked by her bunk, on her way to join the rest of the girls gathering.

Shya had woken when she heard the conversation between the girls. She only caught the last few words. She swung her feet over the edge of her bed and stood up. Only fumbling for a second in search of her cane before sliding her hand to the end of her bed and feeling her fingers along each bunk end on her way. Letting her fingers tell her feet where it was safe to walk. Passing DeathStar and Raina she turned her head in the direction of DeathStar’s voice. A small meek smile on her face. Giving them a nod before continuing on in the direction of the other girls who were awake.

Digging graves had given the young blind girl a new look on life. It had put what was going on into perspective. She had berried people she had gotten to know. People she had learned to recognize by the way they walked and the sounds of their voices. The guards never told her the names of the people, the friends she, and DeathStar, were digging holes for. She simply noticed that she never heard them anymore, unless someone had told her exactly who had passed away, but she simply found out the way every one else did. By absence.

Each time she had been called from the quarry, to dig graves she had mourned. One would have to be crazy if they didn’t. She took the time to remember who she had dug a hole for, cried, but at the same time her spirit had pushed forward. Trying to help where she could and keep her own pains to herself. Shya believed that everything happened for a reason. That she wouldn’t be given a challenge she wasn’t ready for. Even if it ment her end.

She came up to the group behind Terry. The warm smile that stretched her closed lips greated the other girls.

"And you can't have a slumber party without slumber party games. Have either of you ever played 'Truth or Dare'?"

“I’d like to join this little party as well.” She shifted so that her cane was just in front of her, resting between her toes on the floor. “And I call dare.”

"Do you mind another guest?"

“I’d like to join this little party as well. And I call dare.”

Well, it seemed that Ruby, Neena and Nika weren't the only restless ones. There was going to be a group of really sleepy mutants wandering around in the morning. But she wondered how many would be a tad bit more.... uplifted? Her grin widened, and she scooted closer to Ruby to make room for the new arrivals. Over the top of Nika's head she could see Sara sitting up in her bunk, but she didn't come over. Neena had gotten to know the feline-featured girl through work, and she knew there was a lovely personality underneath that shyness. Maybe eventually she would open up to the others as well. Neena hoped. Friendship was a lifeline these days.

Neena glanced over in Raina and Deathstar's direction. Her gaze and a raised hand, asked if they wanted to join as well.

Deathstar waited for a response from Raina before noticing the collar on her neck preventing her from doing so, instead she gave off a smile as if she she was trying to let Deathstar know she was ok. "I can't believe through all this mess you been through, you can bring yourself to let a smile escape from your face" she say as she offered Raina assistance as her leaped from her bunk. "After all I put you through when we first met, you can still bring yourself to talk to someone like me, I know I haven't said it then but I'm truly sorry", Deathstar notice an unfamiliar rise from her bunk, she nodded back to woman as she switched her attention back to Raina. "I hope you won't be like me and let this situation change who you are" as Deathstar finished her phrase she heard the voice of Neena inviting them to a slumber Party.

"Sorry!, I'm just not in the mood" Deathstar responded with serious tone to Neena, "Maybe some other time, I just can't see myself enjoying anything while trapped in this hell hole"

Ruby listened to Neena talk about her brother and smiled lightly, it would seem that her older sister was similar to other older sibilings out there. Well except for the whole, part wolf thing.

The small fox girl then began falling asleep as the others, came over, contently snug between Neena and the corner of the room. She let out another yawn, her small body realxing. It would seem that the positive energy around her was slowly lulling her to sleep, making her feel as if she would be safe. Besides If Emerald came she would be able to hear her.

"Truth or dare?" Ruby asked with another yawn escaping her small form. "Can I play with my eyes closed? I'm still playing though...*yawn* I'm not asleep."

When deathstar spoke her ears flattened to her head. She hugged buster closer to her, wishing that Emerald was here to make Deathstar shut up again.

"You don't *yawn* have to be such a jerk about it, we are just trying not to let these humans break our spirits tottaly." The fox girl responded, tail wrapping around her.

The door to the barracks creaked open slowly, and Natalie limped in. She had just been allowed to leave the infirmary, after having a guard break her leg. Gwen was the only nurse who knew about her healing ability; the others just assumed that she had a 'heal faster' mutation. Her leg was wrapped in bandages, no cast allowed, but she planned on healing when she got into bed anyway. But as she went in, she was greeted with a surprise.

Several of the girls had gathered in a group in a corner. Natalie moved over to them, and sat down among them. "Hey. Aren't you all supposed to be asleep?" She spotted the little fox girl. "I'm sure you are." But a quick glance gave her the reason why the fox girl was awake; her sister was gone. She had noticed that the two of them were sisters, and admired the wolf-girl's grim determination to not let anything happen to her little sister. "Just give me a second, this leg is killing me. But don't tell any of the guards; they don't know I can do this."

Natalie placed her hands on either side of her bandaged leg, and focused. Heal. Heal. Heal. She focused on the pain, and imagined it lifting away from leg, floating away, replaced with bliss. Bzzzt!! She gasped, her concentration broken as her bracelet had shocked her. "I hate this thing." She peeled away the bandages, pleased with what she had managed. The leg wasn't totally set, but it didn't hurt so much. It looked perfectly healthy, the horrible purple bruising had gone. "Wow. I think that's the best I've done.

Raina's eyes lit up when she saw Natalie. She'd been worried about the young mutant girl all day. Living in a barrack with a girl could make you feel like sisters- even if she'd never been able to talk to Natalie. She saw the woman's leg and frowned. It been like a joke for the guards to break the girl seeing that she could 'heal faster'.

She sat next to her and watched her heal, glancing up as Deathstar disregarded the invite from the others. She liked deathstar, truth be told, she was passionate and Raina admired that in people. She wish she could have said she'd forgiven her. She gave Natalie a reassuring hand squeeze when she'd finished healing her own leg and smiled. SHe was glad to have the girl back.

"Truth or dare? Can I play with my eyes closed? I'm still playing though...*yawn* I'm not asleep."

Neena nodded with a grin, and put her arm around Ruby's shoulders. "Sure, kiddo. Go right ahead."

Raina joined the group, along with Natalie, but Deathstar refused.

"Sorry!, I'm just not in the mood. Maybe some other time, I just can't see myself enjoying anything while trapped in this hell hole."

"Some other time then." Neena felt sorry for the girl, but there was nothing she could do to make her feel better if she didn't want it. There was a kind person behind the sharp tongue; Neena just hoped the kindness wouldn't be totally buried by the end of this mess.

"You don't *yawn* have to be such a jerk about it, we are just trying not to let these humans break our spirits tottaly."

"Shya, want to start it off?"

While she waited for the blind girl to start, she whispered to Natalie. "You going to be okay?" She saw the leg was healed, so her question referred more to emotionally. She reached out with her free hand to squeeze Raina's hand. "You too?"

They were all tired, but Raina was carrying around a heavier burden then most of the others, and couldn't talk about it. But for that moment, Neena felt that they all needed a dose of normality, so she didn't ask for any specifics. Specifics could wait till morning.

Shya Found a seat on the floor. Making sure it was clear before she bent her knees and settled. Her cane laid on the ground behind her seat.

Her eyes blinked as she listened to the others. Yeah things were bad, this was exactly why she had jumped into the game. Something to take her mind away from the present. She knew the game well too. Last year she had a sleep over and her friends kept her up all night laughing.

"Shya, want to start it off?"

“Hmmm?.. Oh yes.” She pulled her chin up, pulling the meek smile across her lips again. “I’ll start. I asked for a dare.”

(OOC: Syncronizing with the Men's Side. Hope this is okay with everyone. If not, let me know.

The sounds of an explosion rang through the Women's barracks. Neena's head snapped up and looked out the window, but it was dark, and this side faced the outer ring fence of the camp. The noise had come from the other side.

Then Men's side.

"Stay here," she ordered without thinking, though she knew full well that very few of the others would listen. "Someone wanna give Shya a dare? No running with sharp objects though."

She walked carefully to the front door and opened it, stepping out into the cold night air. Yells and screams came from the Men's side of the camp, as well as another explosion, but from where she was, Neena couldn't see anything, except a flash of blue every now and then between the buildings. Whatever was happening had all of the guards' focused on the other side, and away from the women.

Looking around, Neena moved around the corner of the building, away from anyone that had followed her outside. She took a deep breath, bracing herself against the wall.

Unlike some, Neena's mutation didn't need to build or gather energy, nor was the process gradual. It could be activated instantly, which meant that the bracelet also reacted instantly. Concentrating, she activated Xray in one eye, and telescopic in the other. Her fist clenched as electricity flowed quickly into her arm, then through the rest of her body, trying to force her mutation into silence.

The two visions melded together, piercing the buildings, and giving her a momentary, close up view of the outer fence on the men's side; Jason skidding to a halt in an effort to avoid a pair of Stalker bots, a figure swooping down to carry him up and out of harm's way.... Was that Shrapnel? Hmm... nice trick. And how were they pulling this off while being cuffed?

Pain in her body dropped her to all fours, and her internal debate was cut short. Just before blacking out she mentally memorized the glowing blue figure still left on the ground.

Then the electricity won out, and Neena slumped to the ground, momentarily unconscious.

Natalie physically jumped in surprise at the explosion. "What the hell is that?" Neena dashed off outside, telling them all to stay there and continue with the game. Like hell was Natalie about to do that. She followed Neena out, and saw another explosion. She wished desperately for her wings, so she could fly over there and see what was going on. Then Neena tried to use her powers, whatever they were, and was shocked into unconsciousness. Damn.

Natalie held her hands over Neena, and focussed. It wasn't long before she was shocked, and lost it. She hoped that that would be enough, as she didn't want the guards to know Neena had tried to use her powers.

(OOC:Neena, I'll leave it up to you how effective that was. Go anywhere from completely ineffective to fully healed )

The first boom went off. Pounding against Sara’s ear drums. She jumped so hard she rolled right off of the bed. Landing one her knees she was up, and wide awake. Palms pressed firmly against her flattened ears.

She watched Neena leave the barracks, telling no one else to follow. Oh yes. That was going to happen. Well technically Sara’s ears were ringing so hard she couldn’t hear the hole command. So out she went, right after Natalie.

A second explosion came, knocking her to one knee, slowing her progress. Her eyes squeezed shut. Pounding against her ear drums again. The echoes in her head slowed, and lost their force and she pushed one eye open. Wondering what Neena was doing. She was half way there when Neena had gone down and Natalie was there working to heal her.

She made it the rest of the way over looking up and around. The guards seemed to be focusing their force on the mens’ side of the camp. What was going on? Her tail flicked impatiently as she serviced what she could see and hear. Not much really. Basically all she could tell was that the area around them had emptied.

Another set of Shocks drew Sara’s attention down. Natalie’s cuff. “Neena?” Sara dropped down to one knee beside the other two girls. Lifting Neena’s shoulders so that she could be propped up against the wall of the barracks. (If I need to edit that tell me.) “Come on, wake up.” She glanced back at the door catching sight of Shya who was hovering just inside the door, and the other ladies who either gathered there or followed.