(OOC: Remember to stay in order everyone!! Cassiel, Daria, Kaine, Riruki, Wire, Setsuna, and Orion.)

The X-Men were posted in a building across the street from the museum, while Jonathan was left at the corner of the block so that he could enter the building without being seen with any of them.

They all knew the drill: Jonathan would enter, remaining in radio and telepathic contact with the rest of them, and if there was any trouble they'd all enter the building once he set off the fire alarm. All else failing, they'd be waiting there until the building closed, then make their way into the building.

Daria nervously bit her lip and tapped her foot against the concrete.

Please let this be easy. she prayed in vain. When was anything ever easy. There was a heavy feeling in her stomach and she couldn't shake it.

(OOC: Arjay and I will be narrating at times, but the order will still remain the same. So Kaine, you're still next.)

*After Kaine pulled up to the museum, Johnathon nodded to the rest who had exited the van and jumped down himself. He crossed the street and jogged up the many stairs to the entrance. John entered the world famous museum and paid for an all day pass to wander about the site. He tried to think of the most logical place the stone would be and it first occured to him to check the prehistoric section. 'The stone is pretty ancient, I guess...', he thought making his way passed the several dinosaur bone structures that towered over him. With no luck he began searching again. When he looked in a couple other places, John decided his best bet would be to simply ask.*
"Um, excuse me, please."
*He asked a young woman who had the museum's uniform on. She turned around and smiled politely."
worker: "Yes? What can I do for you?"
*Johnathon pushed back the urge to say exactly what was on his mind as he looked over the attractive girl. He flirtaciously smiled at her and cleared his throat.*
"Well, I've been trying to find a stone. It's supposed to be on display until tonight, I believe? A red stone?"
*The worker caught his hint of flirting and returned it by stepping a little closer to him and touching her hair.*
"Yes, the stone is on the second floor near the top of the stairs. Would you like me to show you?"
*As much as John wanted to say absolutely, he stuck to business and shook his head.*
"Unfortunately I'm in a bit of a rush, so I'll have to decline. I'll definitely have to visit the museum more often though. A lot of beautiful things to see."
*He winked at the girl and turned his back to make his way to the second floor. He jogged up the several set of stairs and saw a crowd at the top. John carefully slid through the many bodies in in front of the display and saw a glowing which was coming from the red stone. It was much larger than he had anticipated which probably meant a lot heavier too. It was about the size of a basketball and looked like a meteor rock. The second floor had dozens of cameras, all mounted on the ceiling's corners throughout the museum. Not to mention that the rock had a camera inside of the glass casing it was in. The crowd was being held back by velvet ropes so no one could get too near. A handful of butch security guards stood around the ropes as well.*
"Damn, this won't be easy."
*He left the museum and came back outside to give a report to everyone.*
"This may be difficult."
*Johnathon explained all about the cameras and the security station that was no doubt somewhere in the museum, but not in plan sight.*

(OOC: Because it's been 24 hours and Kaine has not posted yet, Riruki you may continue on and Kaine will be skipped. Kaine if you come back before Riruki has posted, you may reply and we'll continue on with the normal order.)

Based on the blueprints they'd acquired beforehand, and from Jonathan's recollection of the camera setup, they came up with an infiltration plan. There was a small niche where security cameras couldn't point, large enough to teleport a team into. Mike, Daria, and Setsuna would teleport in there, while Wire, Kaine, and Ruki went around to the back of the building to catch a security guard making his rounds, take his access badge, and make their way to the security center to disable the alarms.

Daria teleported Mike and Setsuna into the niche in the museum as Ruki, Wire and Kaine snuck into the back of the museum. The back was a bit dimmer and a lot quieter, the voices of the museum tourists floating in through ventilation shafts.

Riruki was nervous, it was her first mission and she was counting on Daria to comfort her but she wasn't there. Riruki also didn't know much about technology so how could she help disable an alarm? She cursed under her breath as they saw a man in the distance. His maroon tie and pants helped identify him as a security guard, without having to see his name tag.

He was going to be a problem.

Nervously, Riruki turned to the others. "This I can handle." she volunteered. It really was all she thought she could do; the majority of her powers only worked on animate objects.

Without trying to be sneaky she quietly approached the security guard. He noticed her immediately but it was pretty much too late. A clear glowing sphere was floating in the air slowly taking color. Riruki was hoping for ice but she got earth; that would do too. The sphere began to shade over into a dark color; brown and seemed heavy.

The security guard reached for his walkie talkie, but he had to time, Riruki narrowed her eyes and sent the sphere shootting forward. It collided with the guards head and he fell back into the wall and slid to the floor. Riruki ran over and took the walkie-talkie from his belt motioning to the others.

"Coast is clear."

*Wire moved passed the gothic looking young woman, flashing a smile at her, as he always had to do. It was just the man gene in him to flirt when the time came. He peered around the corner of a room and saw two men sitting in leather chairs, peering at the security cameras of the museum. It was closing time, so most of the patrons had left or were leaving. They waited a few moments as the announcement overhead announced the building was closing. Dominic peered around the corner once more and pushed open the glass door to the security booth, not making a single sound. He placed his fingertips together and then pulled them apart, making the shiny wires glisten in the dim room. Just as the one guard turned around, Wire quickly wrapped the thin threads around his torso, keeping him from his baton. Dominic then wrapped the wires around the second guard to keep him tied down in his chair as well. He pulled the wires tighter and tighter causing the guards to lose oxygen. Just as they were about to pass out, Wire pulled the strings to knock the two into one another, and knocking them unconscious.*
"Wicked."
*He waved the others into the office and watched the screens, trying to find the stone. Dom pointed at the screen which showed the stone in it's case. He pushed the headset receiver down on his ear to talk.*
"Hey, Cass. The stone has no one around it. Try and get there as quickly as you can, if possible."
*Just then he noticed a team moving up the second floor stairacase. They were well armed and obviously trained. He pushed down on the receiver again.*
"MIKE!! There's a team moving up the stairs...Shit, there's two more teams moving around the building as well!"

*Suna didn't particularly like the feeling of being teleported inside, but it was definitely the best way inside. She put a hand in front of Mike so she could lead the way. After all, stealth was the reason Tricity wanted her to go on this mission...though, the Headmistress didn't know they had gone on ahead without her. It was better. She's in no shape to be going on a mission like this. The three person team stopped for a moment until getting the clear word from the second team that it was safe to continue. Kilala motioned for the other two to follow.*
"Let's try and move fast."
*Just as Kilala reached the top step with a glimpse of the brilliantly red stone in its case, she heard the sound of footsteps from behind and then the warning from Dominic. Kilala jumped down a few steps to get behind Mike and Daria. The highly organized team raised their guns up and without hesitation, fired their automatic weapons. Setsuna raised her palms and a frostly field shielded herself and began to spread the width of the large staircase. The bullets pierced the field and time seemed to slow as the bullets creeped through the shield.*
"HURRY!! GET THE STONE!!"
*She screamed, knowing the field wouldn't last long and the bullets would eventually break through and continue at their mark with full speed. Her head shot up to the stairs as she heard more men coming.*
"QUICKLY!!"

Mike nodded.

"Wire, kill all the security. Just start shutting things down, then get up here. Fast."

"Daria, teleport that stone out, then we're making a retreat. I'll distract these goons."

Mike's eyes flared up as his shield replaced Setsuna's, the bullets ricocheting off of his telekinetic shield, as his mind crept into those of the soldiers. He twisted them, adding confusion to their thoughts, until they were firing in the wrong direction.

"All right, we're going to have a few free minutes," he said, "That illusion won't hold, they're afraid of an ambush from behind right now, and it'll collapse pretty quickly, but we can use the respite. Get the stone, then we'll bust our way out of here. This was a setup after all."

Daria nodded moving out of the way and creeping along the hall to the display case. She cleared her path and teleported next to it. She wanted to be sure about this but couldn't open the display case without breaking it. She sighed and concentrated.

The stone faded from view...she looked down at her hands...nothing...what had happened? She hissed as she looekd around.

"The one time I really need hands free teleportation to work and it screws up! what the hell?" she searched frantically then in an ashamed voice aimed at Mike...



Uh...I don't know where the stone went.

"Thank you, Miss Strong."

The gunfire died out as the second group of soldiers Setsuna had heard came out of the stairwell, making way for General Whitmore, who stroked the red stone lovingly.

"Really, I was so hoping I wouldn't have to wait a few days for you to try this. And all it took was a little teleportation jammer, and I can let you all do the work for me." He stopped and examined a device on his wrist, which seemed completely dead. "Completely burned it out, too, but that's a small price to pay. I'm disappointed that Delilah didn't come with you, but sometimes you have to go through the pawns on the board to take out the queen."

Mike's expression didn't betray the panic he was feeling at that moment. "I should have turned your mind off at the mansion when I had the chance," he growled.

"Yessss... you should have," Whitmore agreed with a disconcerting smile. "But it's much better for me now."

With one hand on the stone, he brought Kaine into his mind.

"Atticus Kaine, capture your teammates. I want them alive."

"You really set this up for quite an amusing show, Cassiel. I ought to thank you." His mock-jovial expression disappeared, replaced by an angry, hateful expression. "You've been a thorn in my side since you showed up at that mansion. Much too much trouble for the usefulness you could be."

The stone glowed brightly as he spoke again. "Blackcat, kill Cassiel."

Atticus turned and faced the rest of his team his eyes glowed a deep shade of red that seemed to illuminate his face.

Kaine rose up his hands and men made of shadow rose and made a grab at his team mates.

Inside his head kaine was fighting a batle screaming at his self to snap out of it "come on Kaine wake yourself up its my body damn it whats a bit of jumped up marble going to do to you." Kaine felt like a seperate person inside his own body an idea hit him if he screamed loud enought in his head maybe cassiel could here him "Cassiel help me, help me please youve got to"

Atticus felt himself step forwards as if trying to grab one of his team

((just as a reminder to all involved: Cassiel, Daria, and Setsuna are in the room where the stone was, with Whitmore. Kaine, Wire, and Ruki are in Museum Security alone))

*Johnathon was tapping his foot as he waited in the van.*
"Dammit, I have a bad feeling."
*Just as he was looking out of the window, he saw one of Whitmore's team moving inside of the museum's front door.*
"OH SHIT!"
*John pushed down on his earpiece to communicate with Cassiel.*
"MIKE! I just saw Whitmore's men go inside the museum!"
*There was no response, which didn't sit well with the young man. He waited a few more moments, but decided he should do something. 'Something's wrong...', he thought.*
"Mike, I'm coming in!"
*He pushed open the door of the van and slammed it shut. After not seeing anyone around, he jogged across the street and entered the museum.*

*Whitmore's tactical team that Johnathon had seen was now inside of the museum. They quickly made their way to the security station and found Kaine, Wire, and Riruki. The leader of the squad spoke into the com device connected to his wrist.*
"General, Kaine is following orders smoothly, sir. We'll continue to be back up."

Riruki was grabbed immediately by the shadow people. Not that it mattered, she didn't need to have her hands free. She knew her powers wouldn't hurt the shadow soldiers, they weren't human but their controller was.


She concentrated again until a large sphere formed in front of her. A soccer ball size it glowed a fiery red-a fire blast- to hit Kaine and give him a burning sensation. she sent it in his direction.