((ooc: Shall we assume that this happens way back in March, before Colombia?))

The press releases were ready. They would not be sent out for a month, however. In that time, Slate would be doing a very many things down in South America. And here at Mondragon Labs, a significant overhaul would be taking place.

He tapped at the next item in the list. Second to last. Everything was so bluntly stated, it looked like a joke; some sort of child’s game. The list was headed by Destroy giant extinct insect cloning technology; below that followed Destroy Malaripoxbola Plague-carrying mosquitoes, Replace concrete grounds with gardens, and Dismantle anti-killer-robot technology and laser guns. The gardens would be a mixture of styles, from Japanese to European to water, with the sort useful in cooking predominant. The head chef had quite supported that last. Frankly, all of that pavement was terrible for drainage, and only contributed to the heating effect common in cities. Some of the excess storage warehouses would be removed at the same time, and the somewhat imposing utilitarian chain-link fence around the grounds replaced with a tasteful stone wall. Next month, this place would be Mondragon Labs Medical, the home of philanthropist endeavors for human kind’s benefit. It helped when the exterior matched the company goals. Relocate surplus guards was somewhat trickier, but it simply boiled down to sending more people afield.

Slate’s finger was currently hovering over Burn vampyre army research to the ground and salt the earth it walked on. Charles of the Triforce had dictated for him, when he’d walked the Labs earlier and taken note of everything he could find that was in need of revision. Charles of the Triforce was going to get a small talk about accuracy in dictation later today. For now, Slate simply took a moment too long to read the note before turning back to Nigel Banks. “Take extra care with that item,” he instructed simply. “I want everything gone. I’ve already ordered Ingram to never experiment along that avenue again, and to give up all of his notes on the subject—though he might try to fight that command. Make sure to search the Lab completely. Has there been any progress on finding the experiment?”

Nigel Banks shook his head. “No, Sir. We’re widening our search field again.”

Slate frowned slightly. “Keep me informed.” Zelek, Hunter’s little abomination of nature offspring, was a lose end the Kabal’s new leader would rather not have loose in the world.

The very last item was anticlimactic: Expand pasture for war horse. He’d had to have someone remind him why the Labs had a war horse. It was because one of the Kabal’s previous members had been a samurai. Of course. Shogun was still missing, but Slate assumed that if the man was capable, he would return one day. Until then... Slate had a Japanese war horse. A white one.

And with that, the Mondragon Labs staff had a month’s worth of chores. When those press releases went out, this place would be fit for public visitors. Slate grew weary of the paranoid defenses at the Labs. It was far simpler to have nothing to defend.

Slate leaned back in his leather chair at the long table’s head, allowing himself a brief moment to listen to his heart beating, and feel air going in and out of his lungs. Eyes closed, he finally asked; “What do I have scheduled next?”

Nigel checked the notepad near to Slate’s hand. “A meeting with a potential Kabal recruit. Slade brought her in; he’s giving her a tour right now. Young Mansion girl; claims to produce explosive...”

“Explosive what?”

“...Teddy bears, Sir.” Nigel Banks finished, in precisely the tone that one would expect.

“Ah.” Slate replied. Ten heart beats. Three breaths. “You are dismissed, Mr. Banks. When her tour is complete, send her in.”

Slate would wait. This near to the start of his plan in Colombia—to the launching of all of his plans, to success or failure—he did not mind waiting. It was... relaxing.

Seventeen heartbeats. Four breaths.

...

...Teddy bears?

[Yes that works ^^ And sorry but I can't just help laughing at Slate's reaction to 'exploding teddy bears' a few seconds later XDDD]

There was a shuffling of feet the foot falls different in tone due to the sizes of the two people. One a simple man wearing a black suit and shades- looking more like those stereotypical mafia bodyguard guys in the movies. And the other- a young girl about twelve or so, with brown/amber eyes and dyed green hair. This young girl was a mutant of course despite being young though she had potential in her ability. One would of course laugh at the sheer strangeness and unlikely ability of 'exploding teddy bears', and in most cases the girl found it hard for herself to swallow the fact that these 'cute and fluffy toys' were actually C4 explosives! However having the mind of a child and being one at that she found it easier to comprehend the most of her- ah, peers.

Luna Highland age 12 1/2 born in August a young mutant who only a year ago killed her brother while discovering her mutation in a complete accident. Her parents were sad of course of both of their looses, one in the death of their son- the other in the form of letting their daughter leave to New York to better her powers. Though Luna left with a bitter and sad heart, she began to warm up to the fact that she would be loved again or atleast liked. Thanks to a mansion greeter named Sam. Or Cold Steel by his code name. However her staying in the mansion was brief after encountering Seizure who left the X-men for the order.

Luna thought of joining the order as well, though felt that their ideals were a little too straightforward and thus her random meeting with another mutant named Slade in a mall, changed Luna forever. She never did tell them she left the Mansion behind.... Now with more guilt piled upon her heart she felt as though nothing would turn better. And now she was meeting the head of Kabal for recruitment and she couldn't help but be afraid!

Was the man a old scary man with several scares and a evil eyes? Was he a gentleman with a kind yet secretive exterior and hidden motives? Was he even a man at all? Maybe it was woman? A boy? A girl? Luna wasn't told these things as she had not yet asked but she couldn't help but be nervous, it bit at her like a dull knife edge making her wonder if this was worth it all....

Before she could even decide to chicken out they were at the front door to Slate's office! "We're here Miss Highland, hold on for one moment." Explained the guard as he entered the room to address his Superior, with a nervous Luna just behind the door. "Sir, Miss Luna Highland his here for the Recruitment meeting." Luna gulped hearing the guard's words, What now?

((ooc: Exploding teddy bears are the best kind of exploding anything. I merely attempted to give them their full measure of respect. ))

>> “Sir, Miss Luna Highland his here for the Recruitment meeting."

Slate looked up at the guard who had come in; a pleasant enough man by the name of Donaldson. He was a few steps above the usual soldiers, but quite far below the upper echelons. One of Melissa Rivers’ subordinates, if he recalled correctly.

The eighteen year old gave a simple nod. “Send her in, please, Mr. Donaldson.”

He could not help but think that the girl looked nervous. Slate himself was a little surprised—he had been told that she was young, but not that she was only around Katrina’s age. Still, seeing as that was only a difference of five years or so between them, it was hardly a reason to halt her recruitment. Tools came in all shapes, sizes, and vintages. The Kabal’s young leader rose as Donaldson showed her inside, and gestured to a seat close to him at the long table of the Board Room. “Please, join me. Your name is Miss Highland? I am Slate Swartz, the Kabal’s leader.”

He took his own seat only after she had taken hers. “May I ask what interests you about our humble operations?” A small smile twitched at the corner of his mouth at that; ‘humble’. Yes. That was one word for what he was planning. Perhaps not the most accurate one, but a word nonetheless.

When she walked in to the sound of a young male voice, smooth and calm, Luna couldn't belive what she was hearing! She was even more surprised when her eyes traced to the voice to the body and finally seeing her soon-to-be-boss! He- He, was YOUNG! No scratch that! He was probably a few years older then her, but most likely about 5 to 6 years! To add a plus he was hot-t- 'no-no-no! Bad Luna! No crushing on older guys who are your Superiors!' She thought annoyed with her girlish- 'I'll glomp any guy who is cute and moves' type o' deal.

Instead she nodded meekly and walked over to the chair and sat down not far from him, which Luna noticed as she fought down a blush. "..." Gah! VERY professional! Now she was going to be get kicked out before you could say 'C4'! "Y-Yes! I'm Miss Highland- I mean Luna Highland.. Nice to Meet you Slate Sir!" She spoke with a nervous edge as she scuttled away a bit in her chair only by a inch before settling down.

"Um... well- I excel in explosives.. and-" She sighed what did she do well in? She could barely control her powers and the mansion didn't help much... "Well, what I mean is, I don't have a very good control of my powers yet and I'm still learning..." "Um.. sorry..." She bowed her head in shame, waiting for the words for him to get a guard and kick her out on the streets.

>> "Y-Yes! I'm Miss Highland- I mean Luna Highland.. Nice to Meet you Slate Sir!"

A small smile twitched on the older teenager’s lips as the girl blushingly found her seat. He did not know its cause, but he could suspect—she was nervous, correct? No other reason entered his mind. If it had, he would not have said this: “I like your bow. It goes well with your hair.” And with her hoodie, for that matter. The bow was actually blue, rather than the hoodie’s (and her hairs) vivid green; it stood out in interesting context. A nice effect.

>> "Um... well- I excel in explosives.. and- Well, what I mean is, I don't have a very good control of my powers yet and I'm still learning... Um.. sorry..."

Her hesitance—even shame—hinted at a great many things.

“Let me guess,” Slate narrated simply, “at the Mansion, they have been trying to teach you how to make your powers less destructive? To minimalize the effect of your explosions? ” That would be just like the Mansion. To take a power, and limit it—for the good of all, of course. To focus upon its destructive effects—not its wielder, who was a young girl who needed to test her limits. Only then could she gain confidence in her abilities; the same easy confidence as any master craftsman. Only then could she learn control.

'He- He thinks my bow is pretty?! I-I never got a compliment on my bow before!' Thought the green haired girl as she blushed again, this time controlling her blush and thanking Slate, in her own stuttering way. "T-Thank you for the compliment Slate Sir..." Soon she focused on what he had to say to her previous reply. She began to feel a little more calm now that she knew that she was not going to embarrass herself- well not more then she already had... Luna's eyes widened little by little as he explained every detail of how the mansion trained her! It was, was he psychic?! No.. this was some type of advanced foresight!"Yeah.. that's it in a nutshell..." She mumbled. Before straightening up and nodding."Yeah.. your right Slate sir- who did you know?" Questioned the young mutant curious.

A psychic, he was indeed. But not that kind.

“I simply know the Mansion,” Slate explained. “If a mutation does not have a clear application to their ideals, they do not always know quite what to make of it. I knew a pain manipulator once who was quite nearly ostracized for accidentally using his powers on some of his fellow students.” More than ‘some’—Garret had woken every Mansion resident up one night with a searing pain. It had not, however, been his fault. Garret no longer lived at the Mansion, as far as Slate could tell. “He was a good person, but his power was not ‘good’, as it were.”

He leaned forward in his chair, resting his arms lightly on the table. “Personally, I believe that not all of our powers were made for saving kittens from trees. That does not make us good or bad, however. That is determined by our own actions. What we choose to do, both as human beings and as mutants. Before we can even make that choice,” he continued, “we need control.”

“What brought you to the Mansion in the first place, Miss Highland?” His blue eyes should all the attention of a patient listener. It was an important question; many mutants held things in their past which they dragged with them into the present. Abusive parents, friends who had turned their backs, accidents born from ignorance of their own capabilities. Slate was fortunate, on this front: he could not remember his parents. He did not particularly have friends. And his own ability... he was learning it, bit by bit.

Luna sat in a from of attention as she listened to Slate's words. Most of of ity went over her head but she understood a good portion it. All up to the point till he asked the dreaded question... "Well, it- was by accident to be truthful..." started the confessional Luna. "I was angry at my older brother who was going to college and leaving me behind that day... " The mistress paused before continuing. " I went up to my room holding onto my grandmother's handmade teddybear and flung it at my wall in rage, before I knew it there was an explosion and-" Tears formed in her hazel eyes but she held them back. "A-And... the next thing I knew he was buried in the rubble and the car was smashed!"

She tried to hold her tears back but felt hem falling down her cheeks! She wiped them away upon noticing them. "S-Sorry, I-I get emotional sometimes..." She bowed her head low in her pain. "I can't forgive myself... but that's when my parents sent me to Xavior's Sister school in hopes I could better my abilities- and make friends." Luna explained. "It didn't help much though..." The preteen spoke with a grimace turning slightly away in anger.

Slate listened to her story quietly, with only a small nod and attentive baby blue eyes to show he was listening. Ah. So that was her story. It was not uncommon, but it that did not lessen what had happened. The death of a loved one was always a defining event in a person’s life. To be the one that caused that death? How much more weight must that carry. He did not comment about her tears. There was no shame in them.

>> "S-Sorry, I-I get emotional sometimes... I can't forgive myself... but that's when my parents sent me to Xavior's Sister school in hopes I could better my abilities- and make friends. It didn't help much though..."

Her voice carried almost a sense of anger towards the end. Slate gave another nod; simple, discrete. “Forgiving yourself is not something that will happen because you want it to. I am no expert on such things, but it seems to me that you would only forgive yourself if you had a cause to. It is because of your inexperience and lack of control that he died. Therefore, let us get you experience. And let us earn you control.”

“As for friends,” Slate stated, with something of a half-smile, “I am rather in need of them, myself. That is a more difficult thing to come by. I cannot promise you friendship. I can, however, offer you a team. Structure, and a direction to apply your powers in. Would you like to join my Kabal?” He asked. “You may ask any questions of me you wish. I will answer as honestly as I can. Even if you do not wish to commit yourself to us, may I train with you sometime? We have training rooms here at the Labs, and I would like to try and help you with your powers.” And some of the higher ranking members of his staff were hinting rather strongly that he should get out of the Board Room and get in some training, himself. “I can promise you that we will not try to limit your powers, here. It seems to me that you must know your own limits, if you are to control them.”

Luna sta in silence thinking over the past few days. All of this was so fast! Being in the mansion, to meeting Slade, to meeting Slate! From one Faction to another- even having ideas of joining the Order... but now Luna thought hard of what she would do. She knew she had no intention of turning back to her life at the mansion let alone her own home!

She frowned deep in thought as memories surfaced of her life thus far, her parents her brother, Sam, Iron Mouth, Seizure, The fight on the Mansion roof, Katrina's Birthday party, the ball.... All of these things came to mind as she found herself getting lightheaded before sitting back- looking at the blank ceiling.

She tuned out everything around her as she looked at nothing. Suddenly her resolve sunk in as she sat up and looked at Slate with determined eyes. "Yes, I would love to join you're Kabal Slate Sir. Maybe not as a friend so to speak, but as someone who won't be a hindrance either... I don't want to be weak anymore, I hate losing control."

Confirmed the green haired girl as she turned away for a moment then looked directly in his light blue eyes again. "And training to my fullest abilities, might get me over my fear of my powers so- I accept." Spoke Luna with finality in her tone a smile lacing her face and voice. She was ready for anything, this would be her next step as The Doll Mistress Luna!