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.
Most of it was kitsch, but that was kind of what made it a souvenir right? Ghost perused the lacquered frog section for something for Shin. She'd already picked up a notebook made out of handmade paper and banana leaves for Katrina. The paper was lumpy and had dried flowers in it. It just begged to be given to the 13 year old. For Calley, Ghost found a slogan tee that read "Save the whales" and featured an adorable cartoonized whale with a top hat and monocle. For some of her younger friends, she grabbed generic puka shell bracelets. Arielle would get a grass skirt and lei... at least that was what was in her basket so far. That only left Shin since Sam was with her here.
Would he enjoy a real dead frog standing on his hind legs covered in shellack with his hands nailed to a teeny tiny ukulele? Something told her the answer was no. But he might enjoy the tear drop shaped "portable beach" that was for sale. It looked like a paperweight, but acted rather like a small snow globe. It had the black sand that made this beach so unique, half of a clam shell, and a string hammock suspended between two glass palm trees that were affixed to the bottom of the glass. It all lay all under the clearest ocean water. Perfect.
For herself, Ghost found a swimsuit that was like the marriage between some bicycle shorts and a typical one-piece. It only came in black and was next to most of the scooba stuff, but it was perfect for her. She cared more about being comfortable than upper thigh tan lines that no one should ever see. Add in the straw hat and sunblock and Ghost may not even get a tan.
Wow that was more than she thought she'd end up with. Hopefully the wad of cash that flamboyant Englishman gave her for giving him a tour of the inside of a sushi restaurant was enough to cover it all.
She put her plastic basket up on the checkout counter and smiled at the man who came to greet her from the back. He had a small head for the size of his body, but his ears and nose were in-humanly large. Ah, what a good opening for conversation! "Wow. I heard Hawaii was laid back as far as we mutants go, but letting people with obvious mutations work up front in the shop? That's the kind of thinking we need in New York!"
"I'm not a-who told you-uh-" the man with large ears sputtered.
Resonant laugher sounded from behind her and Ghost spun around to see a man who was... gold. "He's not a mutant, sweety." He had metalic strands of hair much like Kaz except his were shorter and gold. Even the scruff coming out of his gold-flecked skin was some how more reflective of light. He was tan and handsome and those golden eyes! It was like there was something deep inside of them. Some flaw or point of darkness existed there and she had to stare deeper and deeper so that she could find it.
Her face went slack and her eyes half lidded. The golden man started with surprise.
"Dude, you're not supposed to uh," he wiggled his fingers indicating obvious hocus-pocus, "the customers."
"I didn't mean to! I mean, I wasn't trying - she did it to herself!" He waved his hand in front of the pale girl's face and she didn't even blink.
Ghost's lips moved. I didn't mean to.
"Cut that out! It's freaky!" The large eared man rubbed his arms to ward of the chill that had nothing to do with being cold.
"Just wait a sec- I wanna try something."
Her lips moved again. Try something.
His power was like hypnosis and was generally had to pull off without some seriously prolonged eye contact or fast talking. This girl just kind of fell in. He'd never met someone so weak minded before. "What's your name?"
His words went straight to her subconscious so there would be no lying. "Maya." came Ghost's prompt response.
"What is your mutation, Maya?" Direct and clear questions were the easiest way to get responses.
"Air elemental. Insubstantial body." Responses were always short and direct. The subconscious wasn't capable of much more, which was why it was such a good way to get the truth out of someone.
"Donnie. Seriously, you're freaking me out."
The gold-tinged man, Donnie, sighed dramatically. "Augh, fine." He snapped his fingers in front of Ghost's face a few times before she blinked and the life returned to her eyes.
"Sorry! I must have zoned out, I didn't mean to. Were you going to try something?" Echoes of the words she had heard from her trance came spilling out in sentence form.
"Quite alright, let's get you checked out." Donnie scooted his coworker out of the way and typed in the prices for Ghost's items. He read her the total which was thankfully much lower than she imagined it to be and she watched her hardly earned bills go into the register.
"So, we don't get a lot of cute elementals in these parts." Donnie handed Ghost her bags and the hat which she plopped onto her head. "We're gonna have a party on the beach tonight. Here." He grabbed a pen and Ghost's hand and scribbled his name and number. "I'd like to see you there."
"Er-" This was the kind of things that only happened on TV she thought. But something behind Donnie caught Ghost's eye. The clock. It was 4:03 and she had to boogie to be able to meet Sam. "Oh! I've gotta go! Uhm - yeah... sure. Bye!" Bags in hand, she practically ran out the door toward the surf shop down the beach. They rented surf boards, wake boards, and other beach equipment like umbrellas. Sam was already there waiting.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 24, 2009 18:03:10 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,370
105
May 15, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -6
The second he hit the sand his eyes were scanning everywhere, looking for the choice place to put his things and it took a second but he found it. Beach front no shade, Sam already had a surfboard in his arms as he slammed it into the black sand. “Paradise!” Sam called out as he took off his hat and then his shirt and then put his hat back on. Turning his head to give it a good stretch Sam caught the attention of a few girls that were staring at him. ‘Sorry Ladies’ thought Sam as he continued to stretch extending and contracting his muscles, ‘I happen to be taken’.
With that he put his shirt under a little sand along with his hat, after he was sure there was no way either would be blown away Sam picked up his board of ice and walked into the warm waters. The warm salt water gave off a nice scent and the breeze was good as well. Sunglasses weren’t needed but he looked cool in them and that's one of Sam’s favorite past times. Throwing the board of ice into the water he felt it start to melt but he quickly focused the water around it and froze it making it resistant to the change as long as it was near him.
Swimming and crawling onto the board Sam felt a familiar weightless ness as the board was propelled through the water, he didn’t even have to paddle his mutation did the work for him. Lying on the board out in the water Sam looked at the blue sky through his glasses and smiled, “God this mission is sweet, well not the mission part but recon is awesome.” Then it hit Sam he didn’t do any recon yet…
Sitting up on his board Sam looked on the shore and saw the same group of girls sitting in the shade talking to each other, Sam lifted his hand and waved to them and waited to see if they waved back. Grinning at the small hand movements from two of the six girls Sam looked back at the scenery behind him and spotted a wave, “There is the attention getter…” said Sam to himself as he made the motions of paddling to catch the wave but then used his mutation to control the ice to again propel himself in the right direction as the wave began to swell.
Standing on the board now Sam looked back to shore to see if the girls attention were on him, grinning and then going up the wave and then back down it Sam knew they were watching. He then proceeded to go through the tube of the wave as it started to close around him. Noticing his window out of the tube getting smaller and smaller Sam jumped down on the ice and tightened his body and made the ice move faster.
Shooting through the small window and feeling his feet get wet Sam grinned as he proceeded to ride the air for a second then land into the water with his board head first. It took a second but he resurfaced and then swam back to shore acting like he swallowed a little too much water and hit his head. Walking back to his hat and shirt which were buried half in sand Sam fell on his back and looked up to the sky through his glasses and took deep breaths.
Keeping a straight face as spotted the girls running over to him spotting if he was okay, ‘Hook Line and Sinker’ thought Sam as he waited till the girls were directly in his sunlight, “Are you alright?” one of the girls asked, “That was amazing,” another added. Grinning a little Sam said, “Fell at the end, usually land those,” the girls then started to protest on how ‘cool’ he looked, something he never tired of hearing but it would have been better coming from Leila. “You girls from around here?” Sam asked as he sat up which caused his abs to contract which caused a few of the girls to giggle like little kids which Sam ignored.
“Ya” said a short but pretty blonde, “Were on vacation we were hear since the mutants started disappearing… and hearing that strange noise that usually happens the same nigh…” she was cut off as her friends exchanged worried looks, “Mutants huh?” Sam asked as he stood up, “Any mutants or are they only picking certain ones?” asked Sam, he frowned slightly as the girls seemed to have no idea, “I only ask because well…” he paused and then leaned in closer to the girls, “Can you keep a secret?” the girls giggled and nodded, “Good, cause my friend is a mutant and I don’t want her to go missing to, only reason I ask…”
The girls seemed to eat it up at the fact that he was worried about his friend, which he was. But of course Sam neglected to saw he was one as well. There was a silence for a second as two of the girls left and the other four stayed, finally the blonde that spoke the most said, “Umm There is this party tonight and well, I… I mean we,” Sam noted the blood rushing to her face then her friends,“were wondering if you want to come... you know meet us there? Could be fun?” the girl asked as she stood on her tiptoes slightly.
Grinning Sam smiled and said, “that it could be… missy…” the girls blushed and giggled and the blonde spoke up and said, “Erica, my name is Erica…” then point to the other girls in the group she said, “Becky, Lindsey and Maggie”. Nodding to Erica Sam smiled and said, “Eric, Eric Knox.” He didn’t feel right giving out a fake name but well he was on a mission and they less they knew him the better.
After a few more minutes of talking Erica and Lindsey, were the two most reluctant to leave but before they left the both gave Sam the directions to the party and their numbers, “Expect a call tonight,” Sam yelled as he watched them running off with red faces, ‘To easy’ thought Sam as he walked over to the surf shop only after getting his things together, the only thing he left behind was his surf board of ice which quickly melted into the sand.
After getting a hot dog and a soda Sam waited for Ghost who was running a few minutes late. “How am I the punctual one?” Sam asked as he spotted Ghost coming his way with bags full of stuff. Looking to see if he would get a gift Sam’s attention snapped back to Ghost’s face, “YOU DID?” Sam jumped up and down and clapped, “Wait you didn’t hit him with a bat did you?” Sam asked a little worried. “Tell me about it over dinner,” Sam said as he finished his hot dog, “Found out a little info,” Sam said as he paused then changed the subject, “Wait so how’d he hit on you?” Sam asked to excited for Ghost to contain himself.
Ghost shifted the bags in her hands so that she could show Sam the digits on her hand. Unfortunately the bag handles had smudged a few of the ending numbers. Ah good! So now she had a good excuse not to call! "Dinner sounds fabulous. All this super sleuthing is making me hungry. Give me a sec to put this stuff away and then we can go!" She ghosted, rushed over the sand blowing bits up in her wake and trailing some all the way up to her balcony. If that wasn't a 'hey look! a mutant lives here!' sign, she didn't know what was.
It only took a second to let go of her spoils so that they bounced onto the crinkly bed and Ghost was back out through the sliding door and skimming along the sand. She stopped the racing speed some paces away from Sam to keep the dust cloud from overwhelming them.
"Should I go solid or glide into the restaurant like this?" She grinned. It was... kind of fun to stretch her legs and show off. She couldn't really see many of the people's faces like this anyway. So that was why Sam did it all the time. Ghost thought she was starting to understand it a bit now. "So what did you find out? Anything yet?"
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 26, 2009 0:08:20 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,370
105
May 15, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -6
Sam blinked as she ghosted to the room, now she was just showing off but Sam couldn’t help but give of a smile; she certainly did know how to get attention. Not to mention she looked like she was having fun while doing it, which he was cool with because in his mind Ghost was way to serious. “Even though I want to say you should ghost in there your going to be seen with me and well, you're the target and I am supposed to be the ghost.” He grinned as he took her name, “Best if we go un-noticeable at the restaurant.”
He grinned as walked along the wooden boardwalk that was near the beach that leads to a few seafood restaurants. “Yeah I did actually,” he paused and looked around to make sure they weren’t being followed which was secret mission 101 for him. Satisfied with the lack of people Sam pulled his hat lower on his face to hide it even more.
He knew she wasn’t going to be thrilled about the way he found out what he did but he at least stayed focused and got some information. She had yet to mention anything. “Met a few girls on the beach who were here when the kidnappings first started, obvious mutants as the mission briefing stated but what it didn’t say was how they were taken and where they were taken to.” He paused as he walked over to the edge of the pier and put his hands on the railing which hung over the water, “the mentioned hearing something a motor of some kind, but it was only one of them that said it so I don’t know if that's the case…”
Letting out a loud sigh Sam lifted his hat for a second and scratched his head and made it look like he was deep in thought, “But from what we know there weren’t any tire tracks along the beach where most of the kidnappings happened, which leads me to the conclusion of two things,” Sam put his hat on and put his hand on Ghost’s arm for a second urging her to keep walking with him. Putting his hands at his side as he continued to walk he continued his theories, “One possible scenario is that they had the vehicles near the water which would mean the tides flushed away the tire tracks, another possibility is that the sounds Erica heard came from the water further out meaning it could be a boat or a water craft of some kind.”
Pausing his speech again Sam spotted the restaurant and walked towards it, “Now if the water craft is what happened their would have been some kind of struggle because I don’t know anyone who simply goes for a midnight dip and then disappears…” he thought for a second then said, “You know how to dive?” Sam asked curiously as he continued to ponder his thoughts as his nose was overwhelmed by the scent of all kinds of seafood from the restaurant they just entered.
Deep in thought Sam became oblivious to the things going on around him, ‘Why does this seem so familiar?’ he asked himself as he and ghost were seated at a booth overlooking the sunset on the ocean. ‘Tip of my tongue’ he continued to think in silence as he looked out at the sun. ‘Mutants disappearing, no signs of struggle wiped off the face of the earth…’ he frowned behind his sunglasses and hat, he was dancing around the answer with his eyes closed he couldn’t figure out why it seemed so familiar.
He was right. She didn't approve of how he got his information and he didn't even have to give her all the details to know (or at least imagine she knew) how it happened. But after turning solid and getting some food in her belly, she was willing to hear his theories.
"You know people could go out for a midnight swim and just get sucked out to sea. Wouldn't be the first time, but it doesn't explain your friend Erica's reliable testimony about the sounds she heard." She teased, but it was more of a lead than she had.
Of course, they were probably supposed to be sleuthing now. But Ghost saw great potential in this party. People would be there and everyone loves a good story. All they had to do was ask the right questions, right? Ghost stabbed at her broccoli and munched as she thought about how to go about this evening's detective work. Sam didn't seem to mind rattling on about his theories to fill the silence.
He also didn't seem to mind footing the bill at the end. She wasn't sure if the Mansion was paying for this like a business trip or if that was Sam's mysterious bankroll, but it didn't actually matter. Either way she didn't pay for those tasty scallops. As they were exciting the restaurant Ghost decided to ask. "Sam... Maybe it's none of my business, but - where do you get all that cash?" If he was super good about stocks or something maybe he could help her play the market and pay off those school loans.
Two kids with an obviously heavy ice chest suspended between them were hefting their prize toward the beach. It looked like they were headed to a more secluded part of the bay that was away from the hotel. Was the party starting so early? The sun was already setting, so she guessed that it wasn't too early.
"You need to change or something before we get this show on the road?" They could probably just follow the refreshments to the shindig. It might be easier than looking on the road to the address of whatever beach house was going to get wrecked tonight.
Posted by Cold Steel on Feb 28, 2009 18:07:27 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,370
105
May 15, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -6
As he finished up his shrimp and lobster he nodded to Ghost, “But this many at once?” he knew his theory was based on the facts, that he got from a group of girls that had no proof what so ever, cute girls non the less. But it was better than going with Ghost’s information, which was nothing much other than she got hit on. A fact that he still couldn’t believe, he never thought Ghost was one for a party, which they were going to do.
Looking back out at the ocean Sam was a little taken aback by the question of ghost, if they were still eating he would have choked on some food but luckily they were outside in the fresh air. He thought about it for a second then simply stated the lie he always used when he wasn’t ready to tell people, “Random question… let’s see…” he made a look like he was thinking back but then simply stated, “Odd jobs mostly, then one day hit it big, seventeen years old with a big pay role, after a year or so I quit and then I found my self at the mansion.” He smiled and then continued walking back towards the hotel; he said nothing else about his financial situation.
It wasn’t tat he couldn’t trust Ghost with his secret he just wasn’t sure how she would react, after all how do you say, ‘yea I used to kill people but I realized I did wrong and now I work at the mansion teaching kids…’ stuff like that was never easy to understand. He was actually surprised that Leila took it so well when he told her. Not to mention the bat that Ghost had, she brought that simply for gossip around the mansion. He had no idea how she would react to his past now that she had a taser.
Looking at Ghost as she spotted a large ice chest carried by a pair of Jocks he snickered at her question, “What you don’t like my suit or my hat?” shrugging he smiled and said, “your not getting second thoughts about this are you?” he started to laugh and nudged her arm, ”What about that guy that was hitting on you? Won’t he be sad you didn’t show?” he started to walk off following the two guys carrying a large the large ice chest which was full of what he knew wasn’t grape soda.
Once at the party Sam kept his hat and glasses on as he looked around the place trying to locate anyone suspicious, “ Eric!” Sam didn’t respond up until one of the blondes and the brunette from earlier that day pulled him by the hand, “ Come dance with us![/color]”. Grinning to Ghost he said, “I want to meet your guy, just make sure you stay in my view I don’t want to have a melt down cause you disappeared!”
Letting the girls pull him away he looked back at Ghost and really hoped that she would stay somewhere where he could see her. He didn’t know why but he didn’t feel quite right about this party. As the girls pulled him to where all the dancing was Sam grabbed a drink that was already pored in a bunch of dixe cups, he took a sip and let out a small laugh, ‘Ghost doesn’t drink does she?’ wondered Sam as he took another sip of what was clearly vodka and orange juice mixed together.
Once he was center stage between Lindsey and Erica, Sam looked over to Ghost to see a big guy who looked like he had a spray on tan walking her way. ‘That is Ghost’s type?’ thought Sam as the guy looked like he was talking to her.
“your not getting second thoughts about this are you?”
"Why would I?" It was obvious from her question that she'd never been to anything remotely like this. She didn't know what to expect, but really how bad could it be? She imagined the worst thing would be that she found out no information from the gold-kissed mutant she'd met. Surely someone would talk to her and then she could prove that she was working on the mission rather than just taking vacation.
”What about that guy that was hitting on you? Won’t he be sad you didn’t show?”
"What do you mean? I think he'll be here tonight. They can't have more than one party per night, right?" They followed the drinks to the more private area of beach and Ghost was surprised to see people mingling around a large bonfire. Well. As long as no one threw her in she'd be okay, right? "Besides. He's not just 'some guy,' Sam. He's a mutant. If anyone would be aware of mutants disappearing it'd be a mutant, don't you think?"
Ghost noticed a silver barrel that seemed to have a spout of some kind. Just as she was opening her mouth to ask Sam what in the world came to a party by barrel, some girls came up calling Sam Eric. She arched her brown at Eric even as he was leaving to go dance.
“I want to meet your guy. Just make sure you stay in my view. I don’t want to have a melt down cause you disappeared!” Sure he said that now, but it looked like he was going to be more of a girl Sam-wich and that did not help his womanizer profile in Ghost's mind. Heh. Sam-wich. She ducked her smile behind her hand to hide the mirth she was enjoying at her own lame pun.
"Haven't seen you around here before."
Ghost blinked at an unfamiliar voice. She looked up and up some more before smiling nervously at a man that would do well in International weightlifting or professional football. "I just arrived today." She tried to be polite while edging off toward the drink table. He was very big and very tan and very much not Ghost's type.
Her careful side-stepping made her bump right into someone and when she turned around it was Donnie. Somehow she was relieved to see someone slightly less huge even if he was just as unknown. Ghost threaded her arm through Donnie's and waves at the behemoth of a man. "Thanks for keeping me company. Found who I was looking for!"
Donnie was all smiles and freshly laundered board shorts. It was even more obvious that his skin was flecked with gold - like bits of fool's gold or glitter was hiding just under the skin. It was practically mesmerizing under the light of the setting sun. Donnie's rich laugh made her blink and look around. She jumped a bit when she realized they had walked all the way to the drink table and he was offering her a drink. It looked like orange juice and so she accepted.
"You okay in there, Maya?"
"Just tired I guess. Uhm. Nice to see you again and sorry about jumping you. That guy was huge." She started to free her arm from Donnie's but he squeezed her hand indicating that he would rather she leave it where it was. Ah. Great. She couldn't get mad at him for that one, she'd started it.
"You have a good dinner?" He turned those golden eyes like lamplight on Ghost and she was practically helpless against their power. She nodded, her eyes un-focusing as they struggled to find that flaw so deep down behind the golden iris.
Posted by Cold Steel on Mar 1, 2009 20:29:54 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,370
105
May 15, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -6
The music continued as Sam took another sip from his drink as he felt a pair of warm hands on his face. His vision was pulled down from Ghost and her golden friend as they were talking at the drink table. He didn’t know why but that guy unsettled him, mainly the fact that Ghost was so quick to latch on to him. That was the most suspicious thing about him right there. It was so out of character for Ghost.
Looking in a pair of big blues Sam seemed to loose himself for a moment, Erica was now gazing in his eyes as Sam felt slightly uncomfortable he tired not to meet her gaze but instead tried to keep dancing. He felt a pair of hands on his sides, “You seem distracted you okay?” . Turning his back to Erica who was trying to get a little too friendly, he looked at Lindsey through his glasses then shifted his vision over to Ghost and the golden fellow who were not walking away from the drink table to the sliding glass doors that lead outside.
Thinking on his feet knowing he couldn’t loose focus or loose Ghost, “You girls want to go some where quieter?” Sam asked as he watched them leave the house and hit the beach. “Absolutely!” said Erica as hers and Lindsey’s faces went beat red. ‘shit’ thought Sam ‘they think I am going to try something’.
Walking over to the drink table Sam replaced his one empty cup with a three cups in each hand. Worst-case scenario he would have to drink a lot for Leila to possibly let it slide. Even if he were hammered it still would have been bad. The girl’s faces were both red as they walked out of the house and onto the beach. The sand formed to his feet as he spotted ghost and the golden guy; they were off to the side by the beach.
Sam however found a spot between ghost and the house so he could keep an eye on her, he felt super uncomfortable with this situation. The two girls sat on both sides of him as he set his drinks in-between him and the girls. Quickly grabbing and downing two drinks Sam felt his cheeks warm slightly. “Why you drinking so much… don’t you want us?” a large arc of vodka and orange soda shot out through his mouth, as he was blind sighted by the comment. He couldn’t blow his cover but what else could he do he had to improvise quickly! “Not drinking cause I’m with you guys, just thirsty and I used to look at the stars with my dad…we always used to lay out under the stars back home, and I haven’t seen my dad in a long time so hence the drinking.
Looking up as he felt the girls hands on his while he was looking up at the stars in the direction of ghost and her mystery man. ‘This night needs to end’ thought Sam as he didn’t move his hands away from the girls as the both laid their head on both of his shoulders, ‘Leila, Leila, Leila’ thought Sam as he was trying so hard to resist his old ways.
She was putty in his hands. He led and she followed. Through the ferns and past comfortable earshot of the party that was starting to spill outside. He pulled her toward the sand and she complied, all the while lost in his power. They settled in the sand so that Donnie sat between the house and Ghost. He wanted to be her only attention so she leaned in close. To the innocent party-goer they would just see two kids who'd found a secluded place to make out. Donnie's nose brushed against Ghost's as he started his string of questions.
"Why are you here?" "Looking for you."
The downside of communicating with the subconscious was that he had to keep the questions simple and clean. The simpler the question, the less likely it was to go against the victim's typical behavior. The less it went against typical behavior, the longer the trance could last. The worst part about asking simple questions was that it left room to interpretation and he didn't always get the answer he was looking for. Donnie sighed and started again.
"Why are you looking for me?" "You are a mutant."
He paused to formulate another question. Giggling sounded from the fern behind them and Donnie raised his hand to cup Ghost's face. Yep. Just two love birds goin' at it. Nothing nefarious here. He licked his lips.
"Why seek a mutant?" "A mutant might know."
"What might I know?" "Where the mutants go."
"What mutants?" Though the tightening in his stomach told him that he already knew. "The ones that disappeared."
Donnie leaned back for a moment digesting that information. This slack faced, placid-eyed girl... had unwittingly stumbled on one of the persons responsible for the disappearances. He'd decided already to take this one. She seemed to have useful abilities.
More rustling from behind. Donnie smiled and leaned in close again. This was his favorite part. He didn't stop the stream of questions until he knew exactly what she could do, who sent her, and who came with her. This one came with lots of surprises. Not only was she a member of the X's, she came bearing T.A.T. a gift... Sam Johnson, one of their best, was her partner. Oh, this was just too perfect. There was one thing left to do before he took her away and trained her to kill her partner.
"You can't ghost."
Her brow wrinkled. The command was confusing.
"Your ghosting ability doesn't work. You don't know why, but it doesn't." He whispered it over and over as he leaned in close. He finished with a simpler command. "Kiss me."
Or at least... it should have been a simple command. Donnie didn't know that a bad thing for Ghost, practically against her basic programming. She blinked back into herself to feel... lips? sand? She pushed him away and then she... she started to... but why couldn't she?
"What's wrong? Don't you like me anymore?"
She blinked and realized her hand was on a glass of what she'd thought was orange juice. What was in that drink!? She narrowed her eyes at him.
Posted by Cold Steel on Mar 3, 2009 22:34:49 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,370
105
May 15, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -6
The fires were getting bigger as drunken teens started to add firewood soaked in what must be gasoline or something else. Because a large jet of flame lit up the night and cut clean trough the darkness. It was then that something forced Sam to look around. He noticed that something that should have shadows didn’t and then something felt off very off. He looked down in the sand and saw shadows from the fire form around his legs making his shadow bigger but something about the girls didn’t was off… they didn’t have shadows…
”You want to go some place more secluded?” Sam finished his other two drinks and nodded and stood. He didn’t help the girls up but rather kept his arms at his sides, he was aware of the situation he was being watched which meant that Ghost was in trouble or going to be. “Where to?” Sam asked with a sly grin on his face as he was led over to the beach and down a little ways, “How far are we going?” Sam asked getting impatient with the situation. One of the girls giggled ”here is good no one is around…” He felt something on his chest; it was a pair of hands that felt like specters there but not. “Kiss me”
Obliging to her wishes Sam leaned in for a kiss and saw a small glint of a reflective object as he felt the half there lips form the specter of the girl. If this were the actual girl he would have known he would have liked it he would have enjoyed every second of the kiss but these girls, weren’t real. Specters, illusions, figments, what ever they were called they were good. Everything except from the way they had no shadows and the way they touched… it wasn’t real. Sam pulled back and sighed, ”What’s wrong Eric don’t you like it?”
Forming a golem to the spot where he saw the small glint he heard a scream as the two girls went hazy for a second then vanished into thin air. ‘If only’ thought Sam as he walked over to the bush where his golem had someone pinned. Grinning as he walked over to the mousey man Sam picked him up by the collar, “Now that wasn’t very nice of you…”
It took a few hours but Sam found out that the illusions were actually copies of the actual girls he met before on the beach. He was holding the man upside down a three-story rock cliff that lead to black sand and water. “Where are they?” Sam yelled getting frustrated. “Why would I tell you? It doesn’t really matter anyways, you should be more worried about the girl you were with,” cried the mousey illusionist who was dropped and fell three stories who was lucky enough to land on his legs.
It took a few minutes to get down ground level with the guy but the screams could be heard for miles, as Sam approached he crouched down on the ground, “Now look what you made me do… all you have to do is tell me where the girls are, including the girl I arrived here with…” Sam waited for a second then felt spit on his face as the mouse spat at him, “I ain’t telling you shit, they’ll kill me!” tilting his hand, “You don’t think I won’t?” Sam asked as he picked him up by the collar and started dragging him back to the area that he climbed with the mouse man before. “You know not to screw with’em 602…” ‘602?’ it was then Sam realized why everything seemed so familiar, “T.A.T.” whispered Sam as the illusionist started to laugh, “You didn’t figure it out yet? God your worse than the stories say you were. A killer, years a head of his time but a little slow when it came to problem solving. Order’s you were the best dog they ever had!”
This changed everything, missions were one thing Ghost wasn’t ready for T.A.T. his personality changed from there he had to find Ghost and make sure she was okay. Two days that was the window he figured he had, if the protocol was the same as it used to be that’s how long he had to save ghost from them, test that was all they would do maybe a little mind tinkering to settle them but nothing big happened till the third day.
Sam dragged him back to the beach but this time by the foot, hearing the screaming Sam grinned, “Stories of me eh?” he let out a dark laugh and formed two ice golems around the mouse man as they picked him up and pinned his arms to a rock and froze them there, “Stories are interesting things…one thing troubles me though, stories are only as reliable as their sources.“ Sam poked the guy in his broken leg and grinned away the disgust he was having for himself, “Let’s play game shall we? I’ll ask you a question and if I like the answer I’ll ask another one, if I don’t like your answer…”
Third question in Sam was grinning, “So the girls are alright?” the man’s head nodded, “Good” said Sam, “they’ll be okay?” the mouse man nodded again as he clenched his teeth blood still dripping down his legs. Looking at his face he smiled and said, “Okay good next question, I already know that T.A.T is behind the kidnappings and the from what you told me the trouble that will become my friend,” he got closer and pointed his finger on the man’s leg a Sam formed a needle of ice, “AgHHHH” screamed the man, “Where would T.A.T. be located?” Sam asked politely as he stood back up and looked to the man, “Just a warning, she happens to be a dear friend of mine, and if anything should happen to her I’ll be pretty upset with you because I couldn’t get to her…”
The mouse man started to laugh as Sam shattered the ice around his arms and tossed the small man into the salt water, more Screams could be heard as Sam picked him up and pinned him back to the rocks, “Let’s try this again, Where are they?” Sam yelled, “There going to kill me if I tell you!” Punching the man in the face Sam yelled, “I’ll do far worse if you don’t tell me!” Sam held his fist up again and was ready to bring it down like a hammer from the heavens when the guy screamed, ”Alright I’ll tell you!”
Walking away from the scene Sam put his phone back in his pocket, “They said they would be here in five minutes. Sam took the opportunity to lay him on a sheet of ice as he ran back to where the party was and to where Ghost was but when he go there she was gone. ‘shit the mouse was right! I shouldn’t have left her!’ said Sam as he scanned around nervously for her hoping she would jump out at any time and say, “Got you!”
Ghost glared at the store clerk, accusation was clearly written across her features until she started to fall into his mesmer again. Donnie smirked. This one just couldn't stay angry at him. Even if her mutation was weak, the fact that her mind was also weak meant that she would be a valuable asset to T.A.T. One of the perfect tools, asking no questions and needing no reasons to pull a job. Oh he was gonna get a great bonus for this catch.
~~~
The paperwork was expedited since 602 was undoubtedly on his way. It would be that much sweeter to turn friend against friend. Perhaps in his time away, Sam had grown soft enough that he would spare the girl and let himself be re-processed into the program. Wishful thinking no doubt, but a tool was a tool and this one was useful because of its social attachments with 602. Typically for brain control they'd send a new recruit to a professional before tactical and combat training, but they didn't have time to do it properly.
Quick and dirty was more T.A.T.'s style anyway. They shaped socio-political events and sculpted the world to their liking through slaughter and menace. The circumstance dictated the action and in this case a patch job would do. Hopefully they wouldn't need her in a high functioning mental capacity any time soon.
~~~
He had caramel colored skin. Beyond the drugs and the mesmer and the disorientation of semi-consciousness that was the detail she was stuck on. Caramel skin. Not the matted dreadlocks, wife beater, nose ring, cargo shorts. or plethora of tattoos. Caramel skin, she'd always wanted a tan like that.
And then burning. Her hands and feet were strapped to the chair, there was no telling what this wiper's victims would do involuntarily and T.A.T. didn't like their new merchandise being damaged before it even got off the shelf. The burning helped cut through the fog, but it wouldn't matter once everything was said and done.
He was forcefully re-mapping her neural processes. He was essentially plugging in a set of commands. Pressure points, history, how to disassemble and reassemble a rifle in under 60 seconds, ways to disable an opponent lethally and non-lethally, stealth, mission operations and even the proper etiquette for submitting T.A.T. paperwork. It was slop work. Probably like a distant memory until they had Adonis trigger the memories and tell her that they were her own.
Easily broken, but they'd do a proper and less painful job when she'd brought in number 602, Samuel Johnson.
Posted by Cold Steel on Mar 7, 2009 12:23:37 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,370
105
May 15, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -6
He scanned the seas as he approached his supposed destination; it was in under water pretty far down, and to difficult for most people to swim but Sam was a mutant and an ice elemental at that. He drove a jet ski he ‘acquired earlier after finding a map and plotting a location nearest an underwater volcano and a trench. ‘Four hours’ Sam thought as he approached the spot, ‘That’s how long I left her, that's how long they had her, couldn’t have done much right?’ he asked himself as the wind battered his face and as it tussled his hair about.
Ditching the ski Sam dove into the water and surfaced. Forming a large bubble of air around him that took the shape of body armor Sam swam down into the water and formed flippers. Sure ice was buoyant but with the right power being it anything can sink hence the flippers. He had to hurry he could pay attention to the sea life or the scenery. Time was everything; Ghost was down there, down there and in trouble. ‘My fault’ thought Sam as he picked up his speed forming two propellers made of ice, which pushed him along the dark water, which quickly became lit up, from the lights around the complex.
When it came to secret layers with TAT hiding wasn’t there strong point at least not the bases. Sam stopped short as he reached his destination. He couldn’t find a escape hatch, looking Sam panicked and put his hand to the thick metal and froze it and then waited till the ocean water warmed it to the point where it would shatter.
He felt like a fish getting flushed down a toilet, it wasn’t a fun experience, but he was in and a step closer to getting Ghost. Footsteps, lots of them to many to count, two feet per person made it hard to count as Sam shattered the bubble around his head that was quickly replaced by a smaller one. Don’t move! Sam shot out an icicle that shot into the guys gun and caused it to drop from his hand and break. “WHERE IS SHE??” Sam yelled as the water under him, which was still pouring in from the room froze over.
Pulling his feet from the ice Sam walked over to the closest armed guard, “Where is she?” Sam yelled louder, he didn’t have time for this, stealth wouldn’t help him here, he wanted attention so ghost would be left alone, they leave her alone it means more time for her, which means more time for him to find her.
The man said nothing, “Your forcing my hand,” Sam said as he reached to the guys arm and activated his cold touch freezing the mans arm. A blood-curtailing scream could be heard from the hardened guard who was ‘to tough to talk’ grinning an evil grin from under his armor Sam gave a small tug to the mans arm which came off with ease, blood shot out as the man tried to move but couldn’t his feet were still under a layer of ice. “Tell me our I go for the next one!” cried out Sam as he felt bullets from his backside dent his thick armor. Turning his body Sam shot three ice beams causing the other three guards around him to loose control of their frozen arms.
Snapping his fingers the ice shattered in the most brutal way he make it. The hands of the three guards, which were covered in ice shattered as their screams, were cut off as their bodies froze over. “Where is she?” Sam asked again to the one armed guard. Sam wasn’t in a good mood; his friend was kidnapped from the place he already hated with such a passion. Again hearing nothing from the man but a few whimpers Sam snapped his fingers again as the other three bodies shattered. “Fine” Sam said as he put his finger on the one-armed’s forehead freezing his head, first and then his body was soon covered. The left side of his armor was covered in bits of now frozen blood giving him a more grotesque and ominous look.
Raising his arm Sam pulled his middle finger up and aimed it at a small blinking light that was a security camera. He did what he needed to do, get the attention that was his main focus right now. All he had to do was walk around the base and find his friend. He was no longer Sam the member of the X-Men, but rather 602 on a mission, “Find and Rescue Ghost!”
Her body contorted unable to find comfort or any relent from the burning in her mind. The only parts of her that touched the chair were her hands and ankles where they were strapped down. She writhed and heaved and tried anything she could to escape. She wasn't thinking, just fighting the hurt.
It went on for some time. Hours, days? There was no way to tell in an underground facility with fluorescent lighting and especially no way to tell when confined to a small room with clean walls and only one man. One man who seemed hell bent on setting her mind on fire from the inside out. His face was always surprisingly close to hers, but just out of reach. Oh what she would do if only she could get her hands on him.
In the end, they were both sweaty and tired, but the deed was done. Ghost sat panting in her chair ready and willing to take orders even if those orders were to kill. The door buzzed and the mind wiper gave "Donnie" a high five as he took over. The heavy door swung shut and Adonis, the man who had her under his spell earlier, took center stage.
He sat a parcel wrapped in brown paper on Ghost's knee before reaching for Ghost's face. He held her chin solidly between his fingers and turned her head toward him, but she wouldn't meet his eyes like before. It was confusing for her. Something was telling her not to meet his eyes like a mother would warn a child about petting the face of a snake. It felt like something she'd always known: Adonis makes people do things with his eyes.
"Look at me." And she did. A direct command gave her no moment of hesitation. Direct commands were to be followed without question.
Donnie smiled and released the command against ghosting. She would be most valuable to the company when she had her every power. He finished the command structure making her see that the things the wiper had implanted were true. Her first time using the knowledge would be awkward since the memories weren't technically hers, but in time... even this patch job would make a proper agent. Donnie leaned in to plant a kiss on the girl's forehead, but she poofed into thin air taking the parcel of new clothes with her.
"Shower." She didn't ask, she demanded with ice in her voice.
Adonis sighed. This one wasn't as much fun anymore.
~~~
Fresh from the shower, Ghost dressed in the clothes provided. They were dark, form fitting pants and shirt. It was very different from her usual flowing skirt and bright colors. Most surprising of all, she put on the shoes. They were a mix between dancer's shoes and boots, flexible in the middle but with heavy soles to keep her feet safe. Someone was waiting for her when she came out of the shower.
The man handed her a Browning Hi-Power Practical and holster complete with extra clip. 9mm was standard issue. Ghost strapped it around her waist and leg and checked the gun for bullets as she'd felt she'd done a thousand times over. Thirteen to a clip with a spare. That was enough for any job.
"The one you know as Samuel Johnson has gone rogue. We need you to bring him in for processing."
"Non-lethal force?"
The man nodded.
"Shame."
"He's in the complex. Bring him home, 716."
Direct order received. Ghost, agent 716, had been deployed.
~~~
It wasn't all that hard to see where the deviant had been. 602 left a trail of defrosting chunks of meat. A lesser person would have flinched or even vomited at the sight of all the gore, but TAT agents were trained to be sterner stuff. She kept her gun holstered and stepped gingerly around the carnage. He had to be close. Ghost went as stealthily as she could manage. Getting a surprise round on the enemy was one of the few joys of this lifestyle.
Posted by Cold Steel on Mar 7, 2009 20:17:53 GMT -6
X-Men
Team Leader of the X-Men Teacher of Self-Defense
color=48D1CC
4,370
105
May 15, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -6
Melting chunks of blood and meat were everywhere. Sighing as he disposed the last of the henchmen Sam dropped him to the ground. He lost count of the ones he killed there were so many of them but the number didn’t matter, they were monsters each and every one of them. Monsters in Sam’s book didn’t have a value; they were easily created and easily destroyed. His goal was finding Ghost that’s all he cared about. He didn’t even care about the mission any more; Ghost was the only thing that mattered right now. He would be damned if one of his friends had to live a life like he once did.
Blood now covered his armor as Sam looked around, “Ghost?” Sam asked as his ice around his body shattered to the ground. The crunchy sound of Sam stepping on the chunks of frozen flesh didn’t bother him he found Ghost, but not Ghost. As he approached her he realized something was different about her. The ghost he knew would have freaked out at the sight of the bodies and would have either run or attacked Sam for having his armor covered in human blood.
She did nothing she just seemed not right, “Ghost are you okay?” Sam asked as he walked closer to her but more cautious this time. It was then he realized what she was wearing. The formfitting clothes the boots, she was wearing the clothes that TAT gave to its agents for missions. Sam’s eyes traveled down to her waist where he spotted a gun, “Ghost….” Sam’s eyes traveled down for a second then darted back to her eyes.
A tear traveled down his eye as he walked towards ghost with his hands in the air, “Come on ghost, you really letting them control you?” he paused as he took another step foreword, he had to get to her before she pulled the gun or used her powers to do something stupid.
She accidentally kicked a chunk of ice and it skittered across the floor. So much for the stealth routine. He knew it was her. Or at least, it was obvious from his face that he was relieved to see her. She was honestly a bit relieved to see him too. Unharmed. It was the condition she was supposed to return him. She stood, slightly torn on the course of action to next take.
“Ghost are you okay?”
She smiled, but even the smile wasn't quite the same. "I've been better." She let out a laugh that was more like a 'heh' as she ran her fingers through her still damp white hair. Her head ached, but she tried to appear casual. Maybe he wouldn't notice that she'd been activated. He came closer and she watched his movements carefully, specifically the hollow at the base of his neck. Her hand-to-hand training taught her that any physical play for power would show there first, before the fists even started flying.
She noticed his eyes had caught sight of the gun. “Ghost….” He sounded a bit strangled, sad even. And... wait? Was that a tear? She wasn't sure in all the time she'd known him that he'd ever cried for anything. She'd even seen him take a football to his man parts and nothing. Truely, TAT agents were made of sterner stuff. That one tear. It confused her.
“Come on ghost, you really letting them control you?” He advanced another step and Ghost bent her knees so that she would be ready. She didn't want to pull the gun because you don't draw a gun unless you're ready to kill someone. She was supposed to bring him back alive.
"I can't believe you ever left," It was her voice, but so obviously not her typical tone, "Didn't you realize they'd be back for you? Did you not know who's side I was on?" Ghost was no TAT agent before today, but that didn't mean that she didn't believe she'd been working for them for years. She had memories of it all, after all. Memories of the training, the mission, everything -- she was a sleeper agent. She understood that now. They wiped her, had her get in close to Sam, circumstances would bring them here, and she would wake... she did wake.
Ghost didn't hesitate this time. With a flick of her wrist she summoned gale force winds to push CS away and up. Hopefully it would take him off of his feet, at the very least, it would give her the room she needed to maneuver. If she could get CS up off of the ground, that would do wonders for her tactically.