Bypassing a suburb to go back to the mansion Sam heard a loud ringing, “Not really my thing but, guess I can help out till the police stop by…” said Sam as he leaned forward as his ice slide began a quick decent to the grass next door to a crappy run down house. Sam hopped the fence and frowned, “why the hell would any one steal from a house like this?”

Walking to the back door Sam looked around and frowned, ‘I’ll check the windows upstairs first see if I can take the burglars by surprise…’ thought Sam as he began to ascend on his ice slide. Looking around the windows Sam noticed in one room that there was a metal covering it as the siren from the house blared.

Sam did a once around in the house then returned to the back door that was wide open, “Guess I am going in here…” said Sam as he covered his body in thick bullet proof ice making sure if someone was to get the drop on him it wouldn’t help the robbers to much.

Other than the alarm the house seemed unnaturally quiet something that unnerved Sam a lot. Approaching the stairs Sam took a quick breath and began on his way up. Just then something began to move something that didn’t make sense to Sam but the second he felt the first two impacts Sam ducked, “Why the hell is their machine guns on the wall…” Sam asked to himself as he formed an ice golem in front of him.

Sure it wasn’t needed but Sam would rather have the option of dodging if something else was coming and with a golem in a way he had something separating him from what ever was going to show.

After getting to the top of the stairs Sam sent his golem to go play with the guns which were quickly destroyed. Looking around upstairs something caught Sam’s attention the room that was blocked off on the outside was also blocked off on the inside.

Approaching the door Sam noticed someone familiar by the door, “Luke what are you doing here?” asked Sam somewhat confused to see a fellow X-man in the same house a alarm just went off in.

(OOC: Nice timing CS... I was just about to send you a PM to invite you to jump in.

IC:
Luke was frustrated... this was yet another time when he realized just how powerless and helpless he was compared to the other mutants. Sara could heal, had enhanced senses, and enhanced strength and agility. Raina could fire ice beams and swim through the water without restraint. Cold Steel could control ice as any number of offensive ways. Silver Streak could cover his body with armor and create weapons at will.

And Luke... he could see using his sonar and as a side effect could make people around him nervous when he was ticked or stressed. Wonderful... with any of the other mutant's powers he could help Sara get out of that room but instead he was stuck on the wrong side of a steel panel.

He heard Sara's muffled statement about the window being covered as well but for now he was trying to calm himself and look at the situation. Surely there was something he could do... all he had to do was analyze things. Sara was in a room... the door and windows were covered by steel panels but none of the walls were. Typical interior construction meant drywall over a wooden or steel frame that would actually be large enough to climb through if they could just punch a hole through.

A grim smile touched Luke's lips as he turned his attention to the drywall a few feet away from the door. His sonar couldn't go through steel or concrete but if he focused he could get at least a little penetration through drywall. Taking several deep breaths Luke focused and then gritted his teeth as he sent continuous waves of the most powerful sonar he could manage directly against the drywall.

In just a matter of seconds it was as if the drywall had disappeared and instead Luke was staring at the metal framing. There was an open area about three to four feet away from the door and it was only drywall. That even a human could punch or kick through. Taking his stance Luke held it for a moment before lashing out with the strongest front kick he could manage. He could feel the drywall cracked under his foot but it didn't give away completely on the first blow.

"Sara! There's spot in the drywall three or four feet away from the door where the frame allows an opening! I'm kicking through!" Luke yelled as confidence as he could manage before he lashed out with his second blow. This time the drywall gave way and a piece of drywall and little large than his foot broke away and then fell down inside the wall.

“Luke what are you doing here?” A voice suddenly broke through his concentration as he prepared for another kick.

"What?!" Luke pivoted on heel, his hand coming up defensively as his sonar swept over the figure. "CS? Look, Sara's trapped in that room. The door and windows are covered by steel panels so I'm trying to break through the drywall."

Luke could feel the disappointment welling up inside but he chose to ignore it. Once again he was going to have to take a back seat as someone else took care of saving his friend.

"Think you can speed up the process?" Luke asked as his hands dropped back to his sides. Whatever pride he had, Sara's life was far more important. He had to get her out of this house and then figure out what the hell was going on.

(I beat you to the PM Luke. )

Claustrophobia was starting to seep in at the back of Sara’s mind. She was shaken when she realized she was trying to claw and punch her way through where the metal frame work was too close for her to squeeze through.

She bowed her head, squeezing her eyes shut. She couldn’t get through the wall and she couldn’t get out. Her head speed up and she was working on keeping her head together. It seemed like Luke took forever to do what ever he was doing on the other side. A wave of his sonar came through, between the metal frames and Sara’s ears flattened. Luke’s sonar wasn’t helping her nerves. Did he know that?

"Sara! There's spot in the drywall three or four feet away from the door where the frame allows an opening! I'm kicking through!"

She heard the kicks. And she heard the sound of two Machine guns on the stairs… ok that explained the armory smell. Still, she wasn’t sure what Luke was really up to. Would he act things out, like this, if he were trying to kill Sara? He’s been saintfuly nice, since Sara met him. But if he planned this… Things weren’t adding up yet.

Sara took a deep breath, and took two steps away from the door. There was a rod iron lamp in the room and she picked it up. Swinging it like a club at the spot in the wall she heard Luke trying to kick through. The bottom went straight through and Sara pulled the base back. Making a hole about the size of a basket ball.

"Think you can speed up the process?"

Sara swung the rod iron lamp back and used the base to hack at the wall again. “Slick?” Sra said a little surprised when she pulled the lamp through and could angle her head out the window enough to see Sam standing there. She stuck her head and her arms through the hold, dug her claws in on either side of the hole and pulled the rest of herself through so that she was now in the hall way. Dropping lightly onto her feet. “Luke you’re either a genius or an idiot.”

She took a moment to try and hear past Luke sonar. It was hard but she could have sworn that the house was now sounding different. Maybe that was Luke’s mutation? “Are the rest of the exits boarded up like this?

"CS? Look, Sara's trapped in that room. The door and windows are covered by steel panels so I'm trying to break through the drywall."

‘That still doesn't explain why you are both here,’ thought Sam, as he got closer to Luke. Sam couldn’t tell what it was but Luke seemed agitated about something, the Luke Sam met once or twice would have been calmer about a situation such as this, ‘No worries’ thought Sam, ‘she’s just trapped in a room nothing to serious’.


"Think you can speed up the process?"

Sam nodded and walked over to the sheet of Steel that covered the door and with a minimal amount of force the sheet of steel froze over. After that it was a simple smash through the weakened metal, “You both realize that you have some explaining to do right?” said Sam as the metal fell to the ground like broken glass.

But the steel only shattered after Sara managed to claw her way through the dry wall. Looking at the frozen steel on the ground Sam frowned slightly, ‘kind of a waste of time…’ thought Sam as he looked back to Luke and Sara.

“Are the rest of the exits boarded up like this?

“Not the one I walked through but for some reason there was machine guns mounted in the walls,” looking back to the shattered steel Sam frowned again, “So what the hell is going on here and why the hell is that alarm still going off?” Sam asked agitated.

"I don't know what the hell is going on, I don't know why the hell there are machine guns in this test house, and I don't know why the hell the alarm is still going off!" Luke snapped back as his frustration forced its way to the forefront. This was supposed to be a simple test but something had happened... someone had changed the house! Not only that but instead of being the hero Luke was left looking like a chump!

With a quick turn away from the other to Luke walked to the edge of the stairs, his eyes knit together in concentration as he swept the rest of the house with his sonar.

"Bastard!" Luke sword under his breath, not really referring to anyone in particular but just in general terms to whoever had set this whole situation up. "Steel panels over all the windows!"

Luke's mind was racing and it felt like his blood was running cold for reasons other than CS's close proximity. "Someone wanted us dead." Luke spoke again, his voice icy and cold as he crouched beside the stairs, trying to sweep the house even more fully, "Sara... get out of here. This is my business so it's my responsibility."

Luke knew he wasn't being noble... he just wanted to personally strangle whoever it was that had set this up. Rising to his feet Luke was apparently ignoring the other two as he mounted the top of the steps and took his first stride downwards. There were answers down in that dungeon and he sure as hell was going to find them!

“Not the one I walked through but for some reason there was machine guns mounted in the walls,”

Sara glared at Luke. “And you said my nose was acting up. F*** that. I should know better.” She had been convinced of the same thing, but things were coming together now. Weren’t they Lukey.

“So what the hell is going on here and why the hell is that alarm still going off?”

OK Recap time.

“Oh you’re about to find this really funny, Slick. Really F***ing Funny.” Sara was loosing her cool. Having someone you think you should trust, try to kill you, sort of does that to you. “It’s him.” Sara pointed an accusing finger at Luke. “I get a little protective of his gal, Raina. You know their dating right? And he offers me a job working as a security consultant. Testing out his security gizmos. So here we are.” Sara waved her hand around the hall. “Think about it. He hires me to test his Sh!t and I agree like the fool I am. Then his Sh!t starts trying to BBQ my hide.” Sara held up the arm that had been burned. The skin had lost the bubbles, and the fur was still missing. Stinking line burned hair. The scar on her arm was just starting to disappear. Showing exactly how fresh the wound had been. “And now Luke has the Gull to play stupid.” Sara practically hissed.

"Bastard!"

“Exactly what I was thinking!” Sara glared past Sam, as Luke made his way to the stairs.

"Sara... get out of here. This is my business so it's my responsibility."

“Oh hell no.” Sara side stepped around Sam and took too marching steps straight for Luke. “I’m not going. I want proof” Sara growled. No way she was doing what Luke told her to. It’s the way she survived. It was her habit, and hell would freeze over before she started obeying someone that was trying to kill her. Not when she was little and not now.

“Drop the game Luke.” Like a flash, Sara covered the distance between her and Luke. One hand grabbed him by the shoulder, hauling his sorry tail side backward and slamming him against the wall of the hall. Her other hand went for his throat, to try and block out his air supply. “Drop the charade.”

Sam really didn’t know what was going on up until Sara was kind enough to fill him in. ‘Yeah I had an idea they were dating’ thought Sam after all Luke was there at the party and he did notice how Raina’s face turned red when she saw him and after that heroic save during X Training, it defiantly made sense but why would Luke try to kill Sara?

Sure Sara had an idea but Sam didn’t buy the reasoning behind it, Sam knew Sara could heal and Sam was almost sure Raina would have mentioned something to Luke about it. But then why would Luke try something like this, no it doesn’t add up and it was something Sam just happened to stumble in to.

In a flash Sara was on the other side of Sam and had Luke’s throat in a death grip. Sam had to act fast other wise Luke would suffocate. “SARA STOP!!” yelled Sam with all the authority he could muster; the air began to get colder as Sam was quickly analyzing the situation. ‘Sara has Luke in a death grip, Sara said traps were going off, a flame thrower and then the steel covering all the exits, not to mention the machine guns that were mounted in the walls at the top of the stairs… then something clicked.

Quickly Sam ran over to Sara and grabbed the wrist to the hand that was like a vice around Luke’s neck, “SARA Think about it, why would the machine gun fire at me when I touched the stairs instead when you touched them?” Sam yelled trying to get calmer, “think about it! I think Luke’s right someone wants you guys dead and the machine guns were meant for the both of you.” Sam calmed his voice again, “Please Sara let him go, Luke said it wasn’t him and I believe him, so please!”

(OOC: Wow... the emotion is so thick you can cut it with a knife!)

IC:
In any other place... at any other time... with any other person, Luke would have remained in complete control. He was a nice guy that rarely if ever was pushed past his breaking point. Even when he got angry he remained in control but this was not any other moment.

As Sara grabbed him and spun him around to shove his back against the wall every little bit of emotional frustration, sexual frustration, and anger came rushing into his mind. Luke had been out to take down whoever had set up this stupid fun house and Sara was getting in the way... "Well scr*w her!" Luke cursed as he felt his throat constricting as Sara worked at cutting off his air supply.

"Stupid b*itch!" The blind man cursed as loudly as he could manage, which was barely above a whisper. She had asked for it and friend or no friend, healing or not healing, she was gonna get it!

Luke's feet were off of the ground but he could work with the situation anyway. Bringing his left foot up he planted it firmly against the wall and then, using it as a leverage point, propelled his right knee toward Sara's gut with all of his strength. Really, it didn't matter in his mind if the attack connected or not... if it did then it would open her for his next attack and if it didn't, it might distract her from his next attack.

As soon as the knee attack was completely, either good or bad, Luke pulled back his right fist and swung toward Sara's nose with the strongest punch he could muster. "If I... wanted... you dead... I... wouldn't have come... in... I.... would have... blown up the house... with... remote!"

(Luke. If I go too far in any of this. PM me. I’ll edit.)

"Stupid b*itch!"

Sara grinned. She could have laughed in his face for that If he’d given her the time before trying to attack her. He had started calling her that word a few nights ago, when Raina was in the other room. Unaware that her furry friend and her love bug were having such problems. “Took that name long enough to come out.” Sara practically pat the words in Luke’s face.

“SARA STOP!!”

Luke could thank Sam for the distraction. Her eyes flashed as if they had little lights of their own, and she shot a defiant glare at Sam. Yeah, yeah. Sam had a point with the stopping because this was foolish but at the same time it felt right. I mean someone’s trying to kill you you’re not just going to hand them a knife and tell them to pick an artery.

Sara wasn’t stopping like Sam told her to. For one thing, he said things with entirely too much authority. He should know better. You never command a cat to do something. For another, he distracted her long enough Luke managed to get a cheep shot off at her. With his knee going straight up into her gut. The air hissed out of her, and the hit woke her back up to what was going on. Oh yeah. Choking someone who’s possibly trying to kill me. Where did possibly come in?

Her attention returned to Luke in time to see the Punch coming. And that punch was about bloody time! It meant that this saint who was Dating Rain, and putting up with Sara’s continual antics against him, was finally showing he wasn’t perfect. Though that still didn’t take his head off of the chopping block. Sara Jerked her head back, as her free arm came up, crossed Luke’s wrist, that was connected t the fist trying to smash it’s self in Sara’s face, and Sara shoved that attack away from her face. Using the Same circular motion, Sara forced Luke’s arm down, grabbed his wrist in her hand, and twisted his arm.

She sacrificed the grip on Luke’s neck to grab his shoulder, Using his punch to turn him so she could shove him face first, back towards the wall. Though this time she pressed on the houlder of the arm she held twisted behind hid back.

"If I... wanted... you dead... I... wouldn't have come... in... I.... would have... blown up the house... with... remote!"

“Like I said before. You’re either a genius or an idiot.” Luke just didn’t get it. Sara had such difficulty trusting. It’s why she tried very hard to keep herself as closely guarded as she did. It’s why she didn’t stay for Raina’s party and why she didn’t stay at the mansion or seek out the help people offered her. When things were too good to be true, they just weren’t true then. Luke just didn’t get that because he kept showing Sara things that were too good to be true. To trust.. .. ..

“Please Sara let him go, Luke said it wasn’t him and I believe him, so please!”

.. .. ..But Sam might.. .. ..She shivered, but not because of air conditioning Sam was providing. Luke wouldn’t know it, but Sara and Sam shared more in common than the fact that both their names started with SA. They had both had a portion of their lives robbed, and they both had a set of numbers on their backs.

“What if you’re wrong, Slick?” Her head bowed as she practically spoke the words in a breath. Sara was strong enough to have control of Luke if she wanted to. She knew it and it was something that meant a lot to her. To drop her hold on things and to try chancing the fact that just maybe Sam was right, Made her shiver again. Her eyes squeezed shut, and her jaw tightened. She was thinking so hard on what was going on. How the house had activated it’s guns after her and Luke were up the stairs, the sounds, Luke’s sound, to trust. To pull away. To twist Luke’s arm so hard she breaks it.

Slowly she let Luke’s arm slip away from her finger tips, and she stepped away, closer to Sam. “If you’re really wanting to investigate this house, then I’m not leaving.” She still wanted proof and wasn’t giving Luke the chance to tamper with any, if it was there. “you can’t see the sensors like I can. Hell. I obviously can’t see them all.” All the more reason to be suspicious of Luke. Didn’t he think about the fact he might kill himself if triggered something? A genius cat killer would… and idiot wouldn’t… “There could be more traps."

Getting more agitated and annoyed more than usual Sam just frowned at the two. Luke started to hit Sara and then the name-calling started. He didn’t expect Luke to swing at Sara defiantly wasn’t Luke’s character at all but then again the worst of people came out in situations like this. He let go of Sara’s wrist when Luke struck.

Backing up a little Sam let the two bicker a little more hoping that the situation would diffuse its self. But of course it showed no signs of doing that what so ever. Then still under Sara’s grip Luke said the first intelligent thing that both of them had said since Sam found them.

"If I... wanted... you dead... I... wouldn't have come... in... I.... would have... blown up the house... with... remote!"

Sam nodded ‘and that's why I don’t think Luke is the one behind this’ thought Sam as he continued to stare down the pair hoping that his disapproving gaze would cause them to quite there bickering.

“What if you’re wrong, Slick?”

Frowning as he just barely heard Sara speak these words Sam walked closer and said, “Then I guess I’ll kill Luke myself then,” he first stared at Luke thinking, ‘you better not be behind this…’ he didn’t want to kill Luke let alone harm him in any way but he told Sara he would if he was indeed behind this fun house.

Now looking to Sara Sam said, “I think I’ll stick around here as well, who ever did this didn’t plan for a third party member.” Sam said as he looked at the broken guns mounted at the wall, “sides if I leave you two will probably kill each other.”

Sam turned his head to Sara and in a calm voice, “So please put the fighting aside till we figure out who is behind this, I don’t want to have to tattle on one of you to Raina…” Sam said with a frown.

As soon as Sara released her hold, Luke spun around, his hands clenched into tight fists. He knew that he had no chance of ever taking Miss Kitty in a fight but he wasn't going to just let her treat him however she wanted to either. As stupid as it was, Luke had actually taken one step toward her when suddenly CS said the magic word... Raina.

"What would Raina think of me?" Luke suddenly thought, freezing in place where he was. Obviously she wouldn't want him to be a doormat but at the same time she wouldn't want him to be mistreating her friends either.

"Fine... both of you stay for all I care." Luke said quietly, his voice cold as he slowly relaxed his hands, "Just don't get in my way."

It wasn't much of a threat but it was the best he could manage. Moving over to the stairs Luke descended three steps before he suddenly froze. His sonar had missed the machine guns that were mounted by the front door until he was partway down the stairs.

"Wonderful... just wonderful." Luke muttered loud enough that the other two could hear even though he wasn't speaking directly to them, "We've got guns trained on the rest of the house."

Craning his head to the side Luke tried to decide how to best handle it. The easiest choice would be to ask CS to disable them but his pride wouldn't let him. "I can alway vault over the railing and stay out of sight of those sensors." Luke continued to muse to himself, his voice dropping even a little quieter, "Difficult, but not impossible."

Sara Raised her eye brow as Luke took an aggressive step towards her and she took one step back to adjust her stance. Shifting her weight back on that foot. If he really wanted a fight, Sara wasn’t backing down. She wouldn’t kill him, She wasn’t sure if she really could kill Luke. Even if her suspicion were right. It shocked her when Sam told her he would. It showed in her face as she looked at him.

“sides if I leave you two will probably kill each other.”

“probably right.” Sara said looking at Luke who was only stopped by the mention of Raina’s name.

"Wonderful... just wonderful. We've got guns trained on the rest of the house."

Sara crossed her arms and stood on the top step, behind Luke. Her tail flicked. “See, more traps.” She was annoyed by this sudden I’ll do it myself streak she was seeing from Luke. Typical. “Exactly why you need someone who knows what their doing.” Especially if he really wasn’t fooling around.

"I can alway vault over the railing and stay out of sight of those sensors. Difficult, but not impossible."

Sara rolled her eyes. “Or you can just be a typical male, and get yourself shot!” yeah, yeah, yeah. Sara was starting to push her luck with Luke again. Even if he innocent, She was probably fired. So who cared about being nice. “Can your sonar pinpoint the guns exactly? You could either instruct Slick to take the guns out, or follow the wires, in the walls, and I’ll disconnect them.” Disconnecting would be better than using ice on the guns as ice might remove finger prints.

Sam frowned at Luke who was on and ‘I don’t need any help’ trip. He himself had gone through a few of those in his life and most of them ended up all right despite getting shot or stabbed.

Not saying anything Sam waited and listened to two he was more focused on them than the area surrounding him, after all his ice armor did protect him from bullets. Sam had also noticed the sudden change from physical violence from Luke with eh mention of Raina, ‘store that for later use’ thought Sam as he listened to Sara.

Sure Sam could have stopped the guns but if Sara wanted to do it he knew that she wouldn’t stop if Sam asked, she was to stubborn so instead Sam just inched closer to Luke and Sara and waited for something to happen.

If it was possible for Luke to give Sara a killing look he would have done so right then and there. This was definitely one of the times Luke regretted not being able to show emotion in his eyes. Sara deserved to know how he was feeling even if he didn't express it in words.

"Now who needs the help Miss Kitty?" Luke spoke back through gritted teeth as she asked whether his sonar could pinpoint the wires. Immediately ignoring her again Luke head bowed forward slightly as he focused his sonar directly toward the weapons mounted by the door. They looked like they were modified Uzi's, or something similar that had been attached to swivel mounts in the walls. Motions sensors would track the weapons toward their target and from the size of the clips they had plenty of ammo left.

"The wires track down the walls and into a large battery pack in the wall right behind them." Luke spoke up again in a few moments, his voice turning sarcastic as he continued speaking, "So feel free to be a typical feline and rush in, wasting a good 2 or 3 of your lives so you can save your precious fingerprints."

Standing to his feet Luke turned around to face CS, on eyebrow raised questioningly. "If I tell you where the battery is in the wall, any chance you can freeze it without actually seeing it?"

The great thing about having super senses was, Luke didn’t have to be able to look at Sara for her to know exactly what his emotion was. She could see the subtle difference in his stance, the change in his voice, and if she took a step forward, she would hear the muffled thumping of his heart. So Lucky Luke. Sara popped the other hip out to the side, and her tail flicked.

"Now who needs the help Miss Kitty?"

Sara’s ears flicked forward then flattened again. She didn’t need help. That was her official stand. She could get to things if she wanted to bad enough but she’d get shot… again. That was another official stand of Sara’s she was getting very tired of being shot.

"So feel free to be a typical feline and rush in, wasting a good 2 or 3 of your lives so you can save your precious fingerprints."

Ok that was practically a dare from the blind man. Sara looked over the railing of the stairs, actually thinking about accepting it. Just to give him the satisfaction of proving him right.