The X-men run missions and work together with the NYPD, striving to maintain a peaceful balance between humans and mutants. When it comes to a fight, they won't back down from protecting those who need their help.
Haven presents itself as a humanitarian organization for activists, leaders, and high society, yet mutants are the secret leaders working to protect and serve their kind. Behind the scenes they bring their goals into reality.
From the time when mutants became known to the world, SUPER was founded as a black-ops division of the CIA in an attempt to classify, observe, and learn more about this new and rising threat.
The Syndicate works to help bring mutantkind to the forefront of the world. They work from the shadows, a beacon of hope for mutants, but a bane to mankind. With their guiding hand, humanity will finally find extinction.
Since the existence of mutants was first revealed in the nineties, the world has become a changed place. Whether they're genetic misfits or the next stage in humanity's evolution, there's no denying their growing numbers, especially in hubs like New York City. The NYPD has a division devoted to mutant related crimes. Super-powered vigilantes help to maintain the peace. Those who style themselves as Homo Superior work to tear society apart for rebuilding in their own image.
MRO is an intermediate to advanced writing level original character, original plot X-Men RPG. We've been open and active since October of 2005. You can play as a mutant, human, or Adapted— one of the rare humans who nullify mutant powers by their very existence. Goodies, baddies, and neutrals are all welcome.
Short Term Plots:Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
The Fountain of Youth
A chemical serum has been released that's shaving a few years off of the population. In some cases, found to be temporary, and in others...?
MRO MOVES WITH CURRENT TIME: What month and year it is now in real life, it's the same for MRO, too.
Fuegogrande: "Fuegogrande" player of The Ranger, Ion, Rhia, and Null
Neopolitan: "Aly" player of Rebecca Grey, Stephanie Graves, Marisol Cervantes, Vanessa Bookman, Chrysanthemum Van Hart, Sabine Sang, Eupraxia
Ongoing Plots
Magic and Mystics
After the events of the 2020 Harvest Moon and the following Winter Solstice, magic has started manifesting in the MROvere! With the efforts of the Welldrinker Cult, people are being converted into Mystics, a species of people genetically disposed to be great conduits for magical energy.
The Welldrinker Cult
A shadowy group is gaining power, drawing in people who are curious, vulnerable, or malicious, and turning them into Mystics. They are recruiting people into their ranks to spread the influence of magic in the world, but for what end goal?
Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
Adapteds
What if the human race began to adapt to the mutant threat? What if the human race changed ever so subtly... without the x-gene.
Atlanteans
The lost city of Atlantis has been found! Refugees from this undersea mutant dystopia have started to filter in to New York as citizens and businessfolk. You may make one as a player character of run into one on the street.
Got a plot in mind?
MRO plots are player-created the Mods facilitate and organize the big ones, but we get the ideas from you. Do you have a plot in mind, and want to know whether it needs Mod approval? Check out our plot guidelines.
Posted by Cold Steel on Jan 30, 2009 20:48:08 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
The sun still wasn’t visible off in the horizon as Sam continued to pack, his room was still dark and despite the timing he was already running late for his first mission. He continued to shove some clothes and what ever else he deemed that would be needed for the mission. Going through his drawers Sam pulled out a few pairs of socks some boxers some clean shirts and some shorts. Pausing for a second he debated about grabbing his next item, “well we are undercover…” thought Sam as he grabbed a pair of swim trunks and tossed them in the bag. Quietly making his way over to the closet he heard a small purring noise as he turned his head to his trunk to find his kitten Cammie in the bag.
Letting out a small laugh at the kitten that was given to him as a Christmas gift from Ghost Sam said, “Afraid you can’t come Cammie, don’t think they allow kittens at the hotel we are staying at.” Sam looked at his phone and realized he was already five minutes late, “shouldn’t stayed up that late with Leila last night” Sam said to the kitten who just tilted it’s head as he continued to purr in the bag.
Sam walked back to his bed with two suits in hand. One was a dress suit that he always wore for special occasions and what better occasion than this? It was his first mission! Sam could barley contain his joy as he folded it up and placed it next to his bag as he held the next suit up to the dim light that was coming from the windows. A large leather suit that with bright blue lines running down the seams of the suit. Sam smiled as he turned it over to see two large blue blades crossing on it’s back. “Sweet” Sam said as he folded it and placed it next to his other suit.
Picking up the female Tabby kitten Sam smiled and held her close to her face as she continued to purr and then tried to lick his nose. Laughing a little Sam hugged the cat and then set her down on the bed, “Hope Leila will look after you like I asked her to…” looking around Sam found the note he had written for Leila on the directions for taking care of Cammie. He was sure she could handle it but if she couldn’t he also asked Streak to look up on her from time to time.
Sam put the two suits in the back and made sure he had everything. Doing a once over in the bag and his pockets Sam nodded and said, “oh” walking over to his night stand Sam pulled the drawer open and pulled a warn out picture of him and his brother, the only evidence that he owned that showed he had a actual child hood at some point. He smiled folded it up and put it in his wallet. Sam never went anywhere with out it.
Picking up his bag Sam took the note and went to the door as soon as he opened it he heard a small cry from Cammie in the form of a meow, “I got to go Cammie, I’ll be back promise!” Sam let out a small laugh as the cat turned around and curled up on his bed when he finished talking, “Smart cat” Sam said to himself as shut and locked his door and walked of to Leila’s room which was contently two to three rooms over. Once he got there he slipped the note under her door along with the key.
It took him five minutes to get to the jet hanger but when he got their all the lights were dim, “Ghost?” Sam called out wondering if she was running later than he was. Walking to the blackbird Sam ran his hand along the railing and walked up the steps, “Beautiful” Sam said as he flicked the lights on in the cockpit.
Luggage? Check. Wad of cash from stranger? Check. Reservations about going to Hawaii alone with one of the Mansion's playboys? Check.
Sam had been nothing but courteous to her when Ghost had been dating and now Sam even had a steady girlfriend of his own... somehow Ghost didn't think she was getting away without at least one or two awkward moments. They were friends, but that didn't mean they were devoid of hormones. Treacherous hormones that would be quashed as soon as they were detected. Maybe she should go back and find a baseball bat? Yeah, a baseball bat. That was sounding like a good idea.
By the time Ghost made it back to the Blackbird's hangar with the baseball bat, the cockpit lights were on. Well, she checked the hangar clock, she was now seven minutes late. Guess that meant Sam beat her.
"Started the pre-flight checklist yet, Sam?"
Ghost boarded the plane and started to feel actual excitement about the mission. So what if it wasn't a vacation? Where they were going: it was always sunny, it was always beachy, and it was always warm. Gotta love that equator business.
Depositing her baseball bat next to her already safely stowed luggage, Ghost took up the co-pilot's chair and strapped herself in. "You know you're going to have to teach me how to fly this thing eventually, right?" She grabbed the co-pilot's clipboard and ran her eyes over the checks for pre-flight.
"I already ran upstairs to check for early-morning basketball players, we're clear for take off. You feed, Cammie?" It wasn't on the list, but it may as well have been. Ghost had a vested interest in that kitten and she wouldn't hesitate to re-possess her Christmas gift if she thought she was neglected. Ghost casually ran through the rest of the list before speaking again.
"Oh and can we swing through Starbucks don the way out? I'm beat." She was kidding, of course, but Ghost yawned for emphasis anyway.
Posted by Cold Steel on Jan 31, 2009 19:12:55 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
Sam was busy in the cockpit checking to make sure everything was good to go when he looked up and spotted Ghost walk into the hanger with some luggage and a baseball bat… ‘Wonder why she brought that?’ Sam asked himself as he shook his head of the thought and through the checklist. ‘All set except…’ his thought process was cut off as Ghost entered the cockpit,
"Started the pre-flight checklist yet, Sam?"
Nodding and greeting her with a smile Sam said, “Yep all set…” said Sam as he ran down the check list hoping she checked the basketball courts before she came down, worst case scenario the kids would freak out and run away, which he wasn’t to worried with seeing that the basketball courts weren’t that fast.
"You know you're going to have to teach me how to fly this thing eventually, right?"
Letting out a small laugh Sam said, “I’ll let you take over once we get in the air, It’s wicked easy once we reach cruising altitude, let’s just hope the weather reports were right it would suck if we hit a storm,” looking over at the controls Sam flipped the engines on and did doubled checked the gas tanks. To some he would appear at home in a cock pit but this is only because he had to pilot a few aircrafts growing up as a kid and from the looks of it the Black Bird was way more pilot friendly.
"I already ran upstairs to check for early-morning basketball players, we're clear for take off. You feed, Cammie?"
Sam nodded and said, “ Sounds good.” He then looked at ghost and said, “Come on, I love Cammie! I got Leila and Streak both checking up on her if it wasn’t for the fact that she loves my bed I would have had her stay in either Streaks room or Lei’s.” then to actually answer her question Sam said, “but to answer your question yes, I fed her and gave her some water before I left.”
"Oh and can we swing through Starbucks don the way out? I'm beat."
After a few moments Sam said, “All ready for take off!” that being said Sam flipped two switches and the Black Bird gave a small lurch as the jets started to lift it off the ground. A small feeling of weightless came over him as the basketball hoops came into view. They were already off the ground and in the air when Sam put on his earpiece and looked over to Ghost letting out a small snort, “We will be there in a few hours at least but from the stories I hear about this baby it shouldn’t be to long.”
Once they were a safe distance in the air Sam pushed the throttle forward as he felt himself be pushed back into his seat. ‘Maybe that's to fast for now’ Sam thought as he quickly adjusted the speed to a little slower till they were high enough in the air.
Once they reached cruising altitude Sam who kept his eyes focused on the radar and all the controls asked, “What’s with the bat?”
Satisfied that Cammie was taken care of, Ghost settled into her seat. The vertical take off wasn't her favorite, but it was a plane. The plane was going to be faster and safer than ghosting. Actually, Ghost had never tried to go that far before it got her thinking...
“We will be there in a few hours at least but from the stories I hear about this baby it shouldn’t be to long.”
"Really? Normal flight from New York to Hawaii is like... half a day at least. How fast are we going?" She somehow got the idea that she didn't want to know the answer to that question. She imagined feeling the G-force pulling at her cheeks as they zipped through the air, stealthy as a stealth jet can be. Ghost gripped the arms of her co-pilot's seat. Maybe she wasn't ready for flying lessons.
“What’s with the bat?”
To Ghost, the question was abrupt. For Sam, it must've been stewing the whole time they climbed in altitude. "Uhh, you know... in case of intruders or... if we find... bad guys. Gotta protect ourselves even in paradise, right?" Ghost would probably never be able to lie comfortably or believably without practicing before hand.
"Hey, I looked up the temperature before we left. It's supposed to be 79 degrees in Hawaii right now!" It was the equivalent of 'hey, look! a distraction!' but she would use whatever worked. No need for Sam to know that she didn't exactly trust his... libido. Ghost smiled at him. Yep. Just you average, every day mission. Go find some missing mutants in a tropical wonderland. They were going to get a tan before everyone else in New York even stopped wearing long sleeves.
Posted by Cold Steel on Jan 31, 2009 22:43:21 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
Pushing the throttle up a little as they began to build u speed again Sam felt the force pushing against him again, “Well this is a jet, off the top of my head I don’t know…” Sam pushed the throttle up again as he felt a sharp jerk this time, “SWEET” said Sam as the force was greater than before, once they leveled out to cruising altitude Sam had a big smile on his face as he buckled up.
“Bad guys?” Sam asked as he continued to look at the controls, “Can’t you just use you mutations? Mainly your air from the lungs trick that you used on me after the whole incident.” He remembered seeing Ghost do something similar when he was holding Garret around the collar when he lost control of his ability. “Be safer then a bat, sides you got me here to protect you as well!” added Sam in a matter of fact tone.
Laughing at the random subject change Sam said, “So it’s safe to say surfing will be expected with that kind of weather?” letting out another small laugh Sam added, “And I got you to make some ’Killer Waves’” Sam tried to make it sound like he was a stereotype surfer.
Suddenly remembering Sam hadn’t seen Garret in a while, not since to the party at least. Sam and Garret never did hang out and Sam thought he use it as a way to break the ice. “How are you and Garret doing?” pausing for a second Sam then added, ”Haven’t seen him since the birthday brawl…”
Not sure if he said something wrong Sam took the plane into a sharp nose dive Sam let out a loud laugh screaming in joy like it was a ride, “THIS…IS…AWESOME…” pulling up Sam felt his stomach drop into his legs as he turned the jet into a barrel roll then a loop. Then he turned it into three more barrel rolls. On the third one however Sam’s hand lost control on the controls and the jet continued in its rotating momentum and continued to spin about. Screaming out in laughter Sam yelled, “YEAH!!!”
Snapping his hand forward Sam grabbed on to the control and jerked it to balance out he felt his stomach lurch from side to side and then let out a laugh. “This thing is amazing!” he unbuckled and put both hands back on the controls then he turned to ghost and said, “The ones I used to pilot usually crashed before I could regain control!” Then throwing out a quick apologetic voice Sam said, “Sorry, having a little fun is all”
“Well this is a jet, off the top of my head I don’t know…” Sam pushed the throttle and the plane jerked off like a stallion from the starting gate. As if they had been standing still before, now they were really flying. "Isn't that what one of those dials is for on that dashboard!?" Her voice creaked in a terrified squeak. He did know how to fly a plane right? RIGHT?
“SWEET” Ghost responded accordingly by tightening the straps on her co-pilot's harness. I mean, it was there for a reason. Someone must have anticipated a crazy mutant driver.
“Bad guys?” Sam continued to tinker with the controls like a child at play. “Can’t you just use you mutations? Mainly your air from the lungs trick that you used on me after the whole incident.”
"Yeah well... I'm not very intimidating all on my own. Maybe we'll need it, you never know..." She hedged, though not very well. Between the chair arm squeezing and the voice squeaking, maybe he'd pass it off as first time flight jitters.
“...sides you got me here to protect you as well!”
'It's you I need protecting from!' She shouted the thought so loudly in her mind that if he had been even a hair telepathic, he should have heard it. Ghost was suddenly left wishing she had the baseball bat here in her hands rather than strapped down in the back with the other luggage. She had strapped it down tightly enough, right?
Ghost peered over her shoulder to check while Sam joked about killer waves. "Sure, I'll make waves for you. No problem. Just get us there safely okay?" She would have promised him the moon if it'd get her back on the ground. Never before had she had a problem in an airplane except for the stale recycled air.
And just when Ghost though she was safe, Sam blind-sided her again. “How are you and Garret doing? ... Haven’t seen him since the birthday brawl…”
Suddenly all of the fight drained out of her. She took a breath to explain, but no words came willingly. "He, uh... found a more important path to follow."
Sensing his faux pas, Sam sent the plane into a DEATH SPIRAL. “THIS…IS…AWESOME…” Ghost's stomach started tap dancing around her chest cavity and she pulled her legs up into her chair and resumed her chair arm death grip technique. "Sam, I know I'm not very good at threats, but if you let me survive this, I am maybe going to hit you." 'with a baseball bat.' and then she closed her eyes and tried to imagine she was formless. It actually made the sensations feel a bit more familiar. Weightless, was what some people called it when gravity tried to wrench your insides up and out through your throat. Ghost liked it to ethereality and tried to remain calm.
“Sorry, having a little fun is all.”
"Do me a favor, Sam, and save the fun for a time other than this mission." If this was on Sam's list of 'fun,' Ghost didn't want to see the rest.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 1, 2009 0:43:36 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
Cutting the engine to normal cruising speed Sam turned his head to Ghost and said, “A better way to make threats is drop the maybe, and it was a rather bad incentive of yours, why would I stop if you were going to hit me?” he gave a small smart ass grin and hit a button that said ‘Auto Pilot’ then he got up and asked, “I’ll be right back…need to use the restroom…” Sam walked back to the bathroom and locked the door.
Upon his return he grabbed to bottles of water and set one down in ghost cup holder, hoping that his tactful trip to the restroom would diffuse some of the he felt from earlier after his little stunt with the jet. He had a feeling that it also had something to do with Garret as well. The term ‘more important path’ gave off the impression that he left her or it could have been a mutual feeling either way he figured Ghost if she needed to would talk to him about it.
Sure he didn’t have the best reputation around the mansion but he often tried not to live up to the reputation too much. Things often happened that way for him, which made it that much greater when, he started dating Leila. She showed up and the girls stopped barking up his tree.
He put his feet up on the council and kicked back and opened his water. Taking a sip he looked at the clock and let out a small sigh realizing that the trip wasn’t even close to a quarter of the way done. Looking to ghost Sam asked, “Want to learn how to fly?” Disengaging the autopilot Sam took the controls and said, “Not that hard, really if I can do it think anyone can do it,” he shot off a goofy smile trying to make the situation less awkward for him and maybe Ghost as well.
Ghost sighed when Sam corrected her threats. She did warn him of her threat inadequacies, but either way Sam seemed to get the message. The plane slowed. Ghost relaxed enough to pry open her fingers and eyes. Sam made excuses and after he left, Ghost took her time aquatinting herself with the control panel. Because someone needed to be responsible about this flying business.
He brought a peace offering of water. "Thanks." She muttered. She hadn't exactly had time to memorize all the dials and knobs, but she did at least see that the autopilot was on. That was a relief.
“Want to learn how to fly?” Disengaging the autopilot Sam took the controls, “Not that hard, really if I can do it think anyone can do it,” She smiled though it was a bit strangled. Part of her just wanted to get there already. She wanted to find a bad guy, someone very obviously in the wrong, and get back to knowing what was bad and was was good. She wanted to mope. She wanted lots of dumb things. So instead of capitalizing on any of those, she thought she'd let Sam attempt to redeem himself.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 7, 2009 10:11:41 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
After about an hour of lecture and pointing to how stuff works Sam smiled and said, “and that’s the speed gauge and the one next to it is fuel gauge just like the way a car is set up…lot easier to read than the ones I flew as a kid.” he grinned and turned the jet off of auto pilot letting ghost have a shot a flying, “Take a deep breath I am sure you’ll do fine.” He didn’t mind teaching ghost about planes, he knew how to fly but when it came to the inner workings of a plane he really wasn’t sure on how to explain that not having learned much himself.
Growing up he had to learn to pilot a planes jets and helicopters they all had the basic design inside the cockpit to Sam thus easy to maneuver once you learned how to do it one, like riding a bicycle.
Sitting back in his seat and looking at the clock and the radar Sam smiled and said, “and look at that took up most of the time, you want to land this?” Sam asked with a big grin on his face, “think you might be ready…” he said teasingly looking at the files once more before he had to take control of the jet again, “So mutants been disappearing through out a few of the islands and our hotel is where the most have been missing…” grinning Sam said, “So much for a romantic get away make sure you bring that bat with you…” he trailed off looking at a few of the scenes and ways they disappeared, all seemingly familiar.
It had been a few years but like flying a jet or riding a bike but one never forgets the fundamentals of abducting, at night was a given it was all about stealth and surprise, one of the reasons he was so good at it. Ice helped hen it came to making one from making a sound, and if he could get the jump a nice blunt block of ice on the head could knock someone out till the area was secure and the target was good to go.
That was his way of doing it but the entire scene showed the same entry ways were used, up most windows on the second floor. Same windows he used to break in to… the only thing that didn’t add up was some of the struggles that looked like they were shown, “You nervous bout this mission?” Sam asked Ghost curiously.
The lecture was riveting, Ghost wished she had some way to take notes without taking off her harness. Yeah, she brought her homework and thereby brought her notebooks. This probably wouldn't hold up if she were going for a pilot's license, but... did she really need one if the X-men let even Sam drive their jet? Hmm. Probably not a question to ask Cold Steel. Maybe Neena would know. Oh wait! She was supposed to be paying studious attention! Yes. Studious attention.
“and that’s the speed gauge and the one next to it is fuel gauge just like the way a car is set up…lot easier to read than the ones I flew as a kid. Take a deep breath I am sure you’ll do fine.”
Ghost looked at the controls in front of her and put her hands on the wheel at ten and two. That's where her Dad had told her to hold the car wheel when she sat on his lap. She took a deep breath. "You know I can't drive a car, right?" Ghost reached over to turn off the auto-pilot light. That probably wasn't the best time to inform him of that. "There's pretty good public transportation in Japan especially near Tokyo so I never really needed to learn."
Flying while cruising wasn't all that bad. There wasn't really anything that needed to change, not even the steering except for minor course corrections that the on-board computer indicated to avoid crossing another plane's flight path. It was... kinda fun.
She hadn't thought she'd been piloting for that long, but before she knew it, Sam was saying it was time to land. She looked out the window and saw more than just water. Land-ho. "you want to land this? think you might be ready…” "Yeah, I'd rather not. Maybe next time." but Sam was already transferring control back to his panel. Ah, so he wasn't an idiot, just a jokester. She was trusting her life to him so she was going to need to learn every quirk of humor.
“So mutants been disappearing through out a few of the islands and our hotel is where the most have been missing… So much for a romantic get away make sure you bring that bat with you…”
"It-! I mean-! Augh." Ghost folded her arms. "What am I supposed to just let you in my room and trust you won't get handsy? You have quite the reputation, Mister!"
She didn't mind the descent as much since Sam had his game face on. He seemed to only think her baseball bat funny, though. “You nervous bout this mission?”
Ghost sighed. "You read the brief -- I'm the bait. Isn't it my job to be nervous?" The plan was for Ghost to be an obvious mutant while she got a single room. Sam and Ghost could investigate around later, but hopefully a mutant girl staying all on her own in the hotel with the most abductions was a temptation too great for their kidnappers to pass up. Ghost was good for this mission. She looked like easy pickings even for a mutant.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 20, 2009 0:30:00 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
Shrugging at her first comments Sam said, “Should always know how to fly, saved my life several times!” he neglected to mention that the flying also got him into those sticky situations but it didn’t really matter he got out of them fairly quick after he fell into them. “Wait you can’t drive a car?” asked Sam surprised then it clicked, “Wait you lived in JAPAN?” Sam asked excitedly, “Been their only once but it was off shore so I guess it didn’t really count, but that’s so cool! So you speak fluent Japanese right?” That was one of the languages Sam didn’t know all he managed to learn was basic introductions and well that's when he made his big escape from T.A.T. he didn’t feel that learning much more of the Japanese language was worth being a puppet for.
Sam was already descending to the small runway that they were directed to land on, “Reputation?” Sam laughed as the landing gear deployed and the ground was close enough to see the yellow dots that were in front of them, “I got Leila, and I’m not one to get handsy, if you must know I am just a victim, you look at all past situation and the girls were the ones being handsy.”
Frowning now as the plane started skimming the ground Sam said, “I can always sleep on the balcony if you get one, I don’t want you to feel like I am going to try anything.” He grinned in her direction to let her know there was know hard feelings, in fact he liked the reputation that was given, it made him more interesting.
Nodding as the plane was now on the ground he applied the breaks, “Look you’ll be fine, do you honestly think I could let them actually kidnap you?” Pausing and waiting to the plane stopped completely Sam turned to Ghost and said, “I bought some things on line that I will go pick up while you make yourself known around the hotel.”
Unbuckling himself Sam got up and grabbed his bag and flipped the switch that opened the hatch doors, “If anything happens I got my cell phone okay? So call me when you get your room okay?” Sam walked down the hatch and said, “Oh unless you can hide the bat in one of your bags I suggest the bat should stay on the jet,” with a grin he waved and walked off in his shorts T shirt and sunglasses with a bag strapped around his back.
The air field they landed at was a small one and no one really checks the private jets that are stored there which made this site perfect for the airfield, it was on the opposite side of the island which made it that much more secretive and being discrete is what they needed to be.
Getting one of the to cabs that were waiting for them Sam got in his and gave the cabby some directions, “Super Spy Surplus is the name, I have to see if they have the security system I need.” Lying was something he was good at now; he had his whole lifetime to perfect the art of it.
Sometimes it was hard to know what people knew about you and what they didn't. It seemed in her time in New York, her foreigner's accent had worn off and even Sam was surprised to know that she lived in Japan. For some reason it felt as if that fact were tattooed on her forehead sometimes. She didn't always get things, mostly social references.
"はい、日本語分かります、でもまだそのことは恐る忘れていた." She immediately translated, knowing that in the mansion only the Polyglot language teacher, Shin, and possibly one other would have understood. "Yes, I understand Japanese, however I'm afraid of forgetting it." It was sometimes a shock to see another language coming so fluidly from familiar lips, even for Ghost. "Maybe I should pretend to be a foreigner?" She smiled knowing that she wouldn't. "Nah --I'd probably forget and start speaking English halfway through anyway."
Ghost sat patiently as Sam taxied the plane into a small tin hangar. Of course he defended his reputation, but she really didn't have much else to say about that. She hadn't actually met Leila and she hadn't actually seen any "hands-ing" anyway.
“I can always sleep on the balcony if you get one, I don’t want you to feel like I am going to try anything.” He teased her and she wrinkled her nose back in answer. "If you sleep out on the balcony, they'll know something's up or you might be too far away to help. I think you should sleep in the closet." She grinned proud of herself. Yeah. Perfect solution all around.
"...Do you honestly think I could let them actually kidnap you?” "Not on purpose." She was only being honest. Ghost was most nervous that Sam would be impressing some lady on the beach somewhere and Ghost would be stuck in a vacuum cleaner.
Sam made his excuses, call two cabs, and made sure she knew how to get a hold of him. Cell phone. Ghost double checked that she had the number and her calling card before Sam started down the gangway. “Oh unless you can hide the bat in one of your bags I suggest the bat should stay on the jet,” She wrinkled her nose again. "It'll fit just fine in my bag, thank you." And it did... kind of. Only the handle peeked out. She wasn't leaving her bat behind! What if she needed it?
Ghost closed the hangar and wondered if Sam had the keys to the jet or whatever. Did jets have keys? The taxi driver helped her with her bag and didn't say one word about the bat handle peeking out. Take that, Sam. "Hilo Big Island Accommodations, please." She smoothed her skirt as she settled into the back seat. Her hotel didn't sound like the classiest thing in Hawaii, but this wasn't vacation. It was business. Hilo was where a majority of the mutant disappearances had taken place.
The cab took off without Ghost even getting to wave goodbye to Sam's cab. Ah well, he probably wasn't even looking anyway. With the windows rolled down, it was a bit too loud to have polite conversation with the cab driver, but the sun-kissed salty sea air was more than enough to keep Ghost happy for the duration of the trip. It was a familiar and pleasurable taste in her mouth.
When the taxi stopped, Ghost started to get the twinge of excitement in her stomach. For now, she was flying solo. She grabbed her bags, payed the driver, and looked at... She squinted against the mid-day sun. Well, she wouldn't call it a roach motel. It was several steps up from that, she was hoping. The exterior was an uneven stucco painted in a Miami Salmon color. The signage was old, perhaps from the 60's or 70's and it blinked "Rooms Available" at her from the curb. The front of the building boasted a wooden deck covered by a sunset striped awning and despite the fact that the whole building seemed to lean a bit from the hill it was built on, it stood four stories tall.
This was going to be some vacation.
Ghost stepped inside and was only slightly relieved to see a more-recent looking foyer. False palm tree fronds spun around as fan blades and the check in desk seemed to consist of a roll top desk guarded by a wicker chair that was inhabited by a sleeping man in a tee shirt that read "Hilo means Big Island Fun. "
"Er, excuse me, Sir? I have a reservation under the name Altair? Sir? SIR?" She kicked lightly at the straw sandal she spied hanging out beside the desk before he snorted awake.
"Oh! Sorrey, mem. You-ah comen en todey, yah?" She tried not to scrunch her face up in confusion. He wasn't Hawaiian and he wasn't all that easy to understand. His skin was tan enough to be Indian or perhaps even African. Jamaican or some other island nation maybe?
"Altair. Vega Altair?" She pulled out her Driver's license and showed the man her legal name. He consulted a book.
"I gotchu rait ere, mem. Peid en full, room foah neinteen."
License and room key in hand, Ghost went to the elevator. It had an ornate brass gate and seemed like a glorified cage dangled at the end of a string. She frowned. Rather than take the elevator, she decided to start showing off. Poof! She was a ghost. She turned incorporeal, bags and all, and took the elevator shaft up to the fourth floor. At least, she was pretty sure her room was here.
She re-solidified right behind a maid who ducked back into a room and crossed herself at the sight of Ghost. Well, you can't convince everyone you're a friendly ghost all at once. The room key slid home into the door with the numbers 41 and a dangling 6 that had to be an upside-down 9.
The interior was pleasant enough: a double bed with obnoxious flamingo floral print, sliding glass door to the balcony, and a miniscule bathroom with a toilet in the standing shower. Most of the furniture looked to be wicker including the lamps. Ghost tossed her bag onto the bed and then flopped down beside it.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 20, 2009 15:28:27 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
Despite the rank smell of body odor that came off from the cab driver the fresh air from having all the windows down took care of the smell no problem. The smell of fresh air opposed to the air in New York was way different. Sam couldn’t believe how great this place was even the city seemed fresh! Not to mention the view… Sam looked out the window as his eyes followed a pair of girls walking around in nothing more than skimpy bathing suits, “Paradise” muttered Sam to himself as he saw his store coming into view, the only thing missing from this paradise was his girl, Leila. But the sooner they got this mission over with the sooner he could get back home and see her.
“Wait here I’ll be back in ten, keep the meter running,” Sam tossed two twenties to the cabby as he got out of the cab and walked into the store. The smell in the store was just as fresh as the air outside, looking around Sam grinned. Walls of Jet black gear covered the walls, rope, suits, night vision goggles, things with secret compartment and small camera’s scattered through the store.
Walking to the counter Sam saw a greasy looking old man with a cigar in his mouth and a glass case with a shotgun and small handguns behind him. Directly between him and Sam was a glass showcase, which held knives of different sizes, “Hear for a pick-up, Bart Hummel” the greasy haired man breathed in his cigar and blew out to the side away from Sam, “What’s the password, special orders don’t need identification but they need a password,” Sam nodded and said, “Winter Wonderland” Sam smiled as the greasy guy smiled showing yellow teeth and hit a small button under the counter which was visible if you looked hard enough, metal platting dropped down from the ceiling by the windows and door and covered them up, “ Welcome to paradise Bart! For legal purposes I have to drop the shades, some of the stuff you ordered isn’t exactly street legal,” going to the gun case he pushed the case aside and opened a cabinet which reside behind it, from their he removed a large black duffle bag that looked quite heavy and placed it on the counter, from their he removed it’s contents.
Grinning like a child at Christmas Sam said, “Looks good” the greasy hair guy didn’t seem quite satisfied as he removed a set of water proof night vision goggles and some scuba gear, which included a air tank, goggles flippers and a belt which contained a knife and a harpoon gun, ”I know it’s none of business but what do you plan on doing with all this stuff?
Sam’s eyes shot down to the remaining contents in the bag a dozen small wireless cameras that were the size of a button and the wireless monitor that could switch between the cameras with a click of a button, he then looked over to a gun that had a small three pronged hook that was a grabbling gun, everything he ordered was in there even a small taser that he ordered for ghost along with some pepper spray.
“Well,” Sam said with a smile, “Me and my dad are going scuba diving for a ship that was lost hear a few years ago, we were going to go see if we could salvage anything and the harpoon gun is for sharks if they show up, and my little sister Kelly is afraid of being alone on a ship so the taser pepper spray and the camera’s are for here so she knows she will be safe!”
Grinning at his expert lie Sam put everything in the duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder and put six hundred dollars down on the table, “Pleasure doing business with you! Think I might stop by again soon!”
With that he left the store and went into the cab and said, "Hilo Big Island Accommodations and if you can get there in less than twenty minutes I’ll pay you double!” Sure he was throwing money left and right but it was mission time and he wanted to make sure everything went according to plan, something about leaving Sam alone for two long unsettled Sam like she was already a target.
Once at the hotel the supposed ‘greater’ shot him to the room 419, Sam had a hat on wicker cowboy hat which instead of the sides being round they bent up exposing his ears, all he had to do is not show his face. Putting one of the small cameras on the darkened ceiling above their door Sam smiled as it blended in perfectly. He knocked on the door and said, “Room service!” waiting for ghost to open the door to let him in.
Ghost groaned and rolled over and over until she rolled right off the twin mattress. It crinkled like it was covered in plastic. Super Classy.
She checked the cracked peep hole and all she saw was a straw cowboy hat. "I didn't order any room service." Sam looked up then. Ah. Was she that suspicious already? It made her feel a bit silly. She opened the door for him.
"Well fancy seeing you here!" Ghost left the door open for Sam and went to hop on her bed like a kid. It crackled with every hop and her skirt flapped in her self created breeze. "Sweet digs, huh?"
She pulled her legs up for the last jump so she bounced into a seated position. "I'd like to get some souvenirs before we get down to our investigative business, is that okay?" She did have some omiyage to buy, that was true, but she didn't actually own a swimsuit yet. She didn't exactly want Sam to join her on that shopping trip either.
"I could meet you out on the beach." Actually, that reminded her that she had yet to check out the beach. She hopped up from the bed and went for the sliding glass doors.
Wow. So that was why this dump was still in business!
It didn't look like the sand was super fine like a normal beach, but it was gorgeous. The view from the balcony was great too! The fourth floor made it easy to see that this area was a secluded bay with calm waters. It was practically a private beach. She was suddenly finding herself very excited to hit the beach.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 23, 2009 13:45:37 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,368
104
May 13, 2024 5:24:33 GMT -6
Walking in the room and tossing his bag with all his clothes by the closet Sam walked back to the door and shut it and locking it in the process. “Small room,” Sam said not really noticing everything in the room at first as he took one of the small cameras and placed it facing the door on the ceiling, “Already got you two gifts but if you need to make sure you have your comlink open if something happens,” Sam walked over to the balcony and took another two buttons and placed them facing out so the balcony was covered, “I trust that you already got some peoples attention with your powers?” Sam asked as he opened the window and put another button camera in the corner of the balcony.
Looking around the room Sam had barley noticed where all the camera’s he had placed were located, the size was relatively small and it was almost like they were made for hotel rooms with popcorn ceilings. He then looked back to Ghost and said, “Got some toys two of which I am giving to you,” putting his large black bag on the bed ghost was jumping on giving a nice plasticy crackle. Unzipping the bag and pulling out the night vision goggles, the small LCD screen, which was wirelessly linked to all the cameras, and the scuba gear, and the harpoon gun, “Here” Sam said as he picked up the taser and small canister of pepper spray, “Both of which are more compact and a lot less suspicious than carrying around a bat.” He set them on the bed on the bed and continued to rummage through the contents of the bag.
Grinning Sam repacked all of the gear in the bag and zipped it up only the screen was out left on the bed beside the taser and the pepper spray, Sam didn’t say what the hand held screen was, as he turned on and then began to switch camera angles, “Good it works.” Sam said with a smile and then went back to looking around the hotel room. Coming to a halt at the window where the black sandy beaches could be seen Sam said, “Yeah we can meet at the beach, how about we meet at that surf shack in a few hours?” looking at his phone Sam blinked at the time, “Ummm how about around four? Give you a few hours to shop right?”
Noticing the waves, bounce up and down he shuddered and had to be out there, surfing was something that came natural to Sam heck he did it in the air when ever he made a slide of ice, all he had to do was make a board and then go from there. Another thing caught Sam’s attention that he didn’t feel like mentioning to ghost knowing full well she would use that bat or worse the taser or pepper spray. There were a few quite girls sun bathing that Sam noticed right away.
Walking back to his bag he pulled out his swimsuit and said, “Think I’ll be doing some investigating down on the beach see if anyone knows anything…” Sam jumped into the bathroom quickly changed into his suit and was out and ready to go, “See you in a few hours!” Sam said as he ducked out of the room and ran down the hall way to the stairs which would lead him to the beach.