Twyla decided that she could cut the tension in the air with a knife if she had the mind to. She REALLY doesn’t like him... The fuzz decided to show. Twyla thought as she heard cars parking and doors closing. She turned for a quick look to make sure she knew what she was hearing. Just act natural. They don’t know you were there. Twyla tried her hardest to keep herself together and normal looking as they walked.

"Stop and put your hands where we can see them. This is the police." Twyla stopped instantly, a feeling like the touch of ice was creeping up her spine. Oh no. What do I do now? Oh no. Her heart began beating much faster and her palms started sweating, but she managed, luckily, to stay normal looking as she stood there for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. Her questions were answered when Meld pushed Dead into the cops behind them and grabbed her arm. “Wha-” She started to say as Meld pulled her into a nearby alley.

She could hear what she assumed was a scuffle between Dead and the police officers and then he came around the corner seemingly unaffected by the fact that Meld had basicaly offered him up as a sacrifice to the authorities. "By the way they’re both alive, they'll have a hell of a head ache, but I’m sure Tylenol can fix that." He added. Good, they were just doing their jobs. It’s not their fault they’re in this mess. Twyla was happy to know that the officers would be okay, she was sure that Dead could have hurt them fatally if he had chosen to.

Twyla walked to the opening of the alley and peaked around the corner. Her legs were shaking and she was having a hard time breathing. I think I’m in shock. This is what I felt like in Boston. There were more officers coming their way. Some of the, she assumed, to make sure that their comrades were alright. Her brain went whirring, trying to find a way out of this situation. She played out several scenarios before she had her epiphany. “Duh.” She said quietly before turning back to Meld and Dead. “There’s more of them coming this way and I really don’t like the idea of a fight. I have a way out of here though, we’d have to go slow, and I’ve never really had to focus on more than one person before, but I think it’s doable. I think I could get us far enough away, if you wanted to try it–using my power to get us out of here, I mean.” She said this and shrugged before looking down again.

Meld had to admit that she was a little disappointed when Dead dealt with the cops with such pathetic ease though she supposed she shouldn't have been surprised since the cops were only human. Nevertheless, she was hoping that they would at least do some damage to her enemy before he dispatched them. Oh well, there were still more cops in the distance, perhaps there would be a way for them to harm Dead while leaving the rest of them in peace. She decided to keep her eyes open for just such an opportunity. Just because he had claimed truce once did not necessarily mean he would keep to his word. He'd have to do more than just smile and play nice to prove to her that he was worthy of trust.

Meld heard the sirens from the other cop cars, not only from behind them but also from the left and the right as well. It seemed that someone had informed them that the threat they apparently posed was rather large and they were not pulling any stops in order to contain them. She wondered if they were being herded in a particular direction for a reason, and that though alone gave her cause for concern. She didn't like the idea of being herded like cattle at all.

Meld nodded her assent at Wallflower's idea. "Is your power good enough to get us through the cops? I think we're going to need to go through an area of intense cops. I believe they want us to go in a particular direction and I don't like that though so we need to go in a different direction." She hoped they wouldn't have to fight. If Wallflower's power could get them through without conflict, so much the better, but she would certainly fight if it came down to it.

Twyla looked up again when she heard more sirens coming their way. They’re everywhere. She realized. How did I get into this mess? She shot a glance at Dead. Oh, yeah. That’s A LOT of cops...She looked up at Meld when she asked Twyla "Is your power good enough to get us through the cops? I think we're going to need to go through an area of intense cops. I believe they want us to go in a particular direction and I don't like that though so we need to go in a different direction." .

Twyla bit her lip and she didn’t reply at first. She had to rethink things. A lot of cops would be hard to dodge. Just because they can’t see us doesn’t mean that they can’t feel us. I don’t know if going near them is a good idea...Meld said she thinks they want us to go a certain way– it reminds me of bringing the cows in from pasture like back home. As Twyla’s brain tried to figure things out she surveyed her surroundings.

“I don’t think we’d be able to dodge them all–I mean my power just masks me and whatever I happen to be touching. I don’t go truly invisible or anything. It’s just a camouflage. Like a chameleon. If we tried to walk around the cops there’s a decent chance we’d walk into one. I could keep it up–I’m good at that part but unless we get really lucky it might not help us for very long.” Twyla paused for a second before adding “I have another idea though. If they want us to go the way that they’re prodding us to go, why don’t we just go up?” She motioned at a fire escape ladder. It’s what I did to get away from that fight in Boston. Gymnastics does have a few real world applications after all. The buildings look close enough together to jump it and there’s always a way down somewhere. “Just a thought.” She added before looking down again.

Dead Weighed the idea of just running out giving them a distraction.
this is as much Meld fault as it is mine, this would go more smoothly
if she would just be nice to me about this,
but she does have a right to be pissed right now.
Dead thought he noticed WallFlowers quick glance.
yea they both have reasons to be angry.

"ummm humm they'd notice you guys going up i mean that's a long distance up and there not
far yet. Meld wheres this place you where gonna take us, after this run im really really gonna
need a shower and a place to sleep, if i get out of the ally now that should give you enough
time to get up the building."

if this isn't enough then i don't know what will be. Dead thought to himself

Meld took a moment to consider their options. It really didn't seem like a good idea to confront the cops directly, and yet she wasn't sure what kind of trap they were trying to lead the three of them into, besides which Sanctuary wasn't too far away. The trick would be to go where the police didn't want them to go while still avoiding going through the majority of the heaviest police activity. Had Meld been on her own that wouldn't have been terribly difficult, she had taken to the rooftops more than once in similar situations, but there was the difficulty of having others with her that would not be able to ascend to the top of buildings quite so easily.

When Wallflower pointed out the fire escape ladder she nodded, with a relieved smile. "I believe you just read my mind," Meld told her. "As long as you think you could keep up?" The buildings seemed to be pretty close together and Meld was pretty sure that she, with her flesh melded feet, wouldn't have a problem jumping from building to building. She was no acrobat, to be sure, but as long as they remained relatively close together she wouldn't have a problem. She wasn't so sure about the other two, though, and she didn't think she would be able to jump across holding one of them.

"We don't exactly have much of a choice," Meld told Dead after his caution. "Its either take to the rooftops, go right through the middle of the police, or go in the direction they're herding us so unless you can suggest a better option, I think this is our best bet." It was a legitimate point he had but hopefully this way they could at least minimize direct confrontation and if they were very lucky, they might not even notice them at all, especially if Wallflower were able to mask them on their way up the ladder. Once upon the roof she didn't think they'd decide to look up, since most didn't.

As much as the idea of Dead running out into a mob of shooting cops appealed to her, she wasn't entirely sure she could live with the idea of her being the cause, indirect though it may be, of his death. He had, after all, ceased in his attempts to try and kill her and she had agreed, however grudgingly, to give him a second chance. She wasn't at all sure, even with his near indestructibility, that he could survive that many bullet wounds. She sighed. "Only run out there as a last resort. I think we'll try the rooftops first, hopefully with the added benefit of Wallflower's power to get us up there and if situations change to necessitate the need for a distraction, we'll deal with it then."

What he’s suggesting is suicide. How could someone outrun that many cops? Even with his powers that’s crazy. Twyla thought as she listened to Dead speak. She was relieved when it seemed like Meld agreed with her idea about going to the rooftops. "As long as you think you could keep up?" Meld added. Twyla could feel the shadow of a cocky grin spread across her face. This was finally a time when gymnastics, not track, would help her run away.

She thought back on practices spent with the other girls on her highschool gymnastics team. Every single one of the swore that Twyla was a totally different person when she preformed and trained. She went from being shy and hesitant to confident and forthcoming– especially when she was doing her moves well. Twyla usually did her moves well. This was because she’d been doing them since she was four years old. Gymnastics felt as natural to her as breathing and the situation now seemed to call on her to go into gymnastics mode. The cocky grin was a trademark of Twyla during this mind set and she almost blurted out “Oh we will see who has trouble keeping up with whom.”. Thankfully she stopped herself and didn’t say anything. This isn’t a competition, cool your jets. It was a rush for Twyla to be applying her favorite sport to a real life situation and she blamed that feeling for her almost rude outburst.

“I can keep up.” She finally replied. “I’m decently good gymnast.” And by decently good I mean I’ve gone to State every year since seventh grade, won medals at ever invitational since freshmen year in Uneven Bars or Floor Exercise, and placed third overall in my Uneven Bars level at State last year. But they don’t really care about that so it’s best not to seem arrogant. “I can mask us as we climb, as long as we’re all connected or touching in some way. I haven’t been able to get my abilities to camouflage things I’m not touching. If we go slow I’m sure we’ll be fine. I agree with Meld, you shouldn’t throw yourselves at them until we know that’s the only real option that we have.” She directed the last part of her statement at Dead.

Dead walks over to the ladder. "You know there getting closer and we
haven't moved yet..." ok so they do care a little... "Anyways if that's
what where doing lets get to it"
Dead didnt like corners, he liked Dead Ends corners are areas with
exits that cant be gotten to they provide false hope, Dead Ends are
put up or shut up.

turning backwards he looks at both.
"Im waiting lets go, we dont have time to doddle or boast if im not gonna go out there and help more." Better make it look like you wanted to do more

Twyla listened to Dead’s impatient remarks and then she listened for the noises the cops were making. They are getting closer. We need to get up on those rooftops before they get to the alley, that would be the best scenario. She studied the look of the fire escape ladder and the brick around it. Then she looked at Meld and Dead and tried to figure out how much of them would spill over the ladder. Twyla bit hr lip as she thought hard. I could cover up the entire ladder, that might be a lot easier...but what if there are cops in the alley when I release my powers? We’ll be on the roofs anyway...maybe they won’t notice?

“I’m going to mask the entire ladder. It’ll be easier for me to focus on one pattern to match.” She decided out loud. “Let’s go then, I guess. I’ll be first, you two just make sure that one of you is touching me and that you both are touching each other.” I doubt either of them will like that very much. Twyla threw the long strap of her duffel over her shoulder so she could have her hands free. The added weight on her backpack would make climbing weirder, but not impossible. She backed up and took a running jump at the ladder and landed on a rung about five feet up. Just like bars. She figured it would take less time if two people could start climbing right away and she climbed a few more rungs before looking behind her. “Well, follow the leader or what?”

Meld was certainly glad to hear that Wallflower would be able to keep up. That only left Dead as a matter of wondering, but she was fairly certain, given their previous encounter, that he would be able to. And besides, even if he wasn't able to, somehow she couldn't quite bring herself to care. She was fairly certain that she even detected an unusual note of confidence in the other girl's voice and that pleased her very much. Finally, some hint that she could be more than just a victim. She nodded her approval.

Meld grasped Wallflower's hand with her human hand and grasped Dead's hand, with a slight grimace of distaste, with her metal hand. She may have to be in contact with him but that didn't mean she had to trust him with her flesh and blood hand. She knew he couldn't hurt her metal one. "Lead the way," she told Wallflower. "Once we've made it to the rooftops I can lead us to Sanctuary." She knew, given the sound of the sirens, that they would have to move quickly and hope for a little bit of luck as well.

Climbing one handed would be a little more difficult but Meld wasn’t putting any of her weight on her so it was just the fact that Twyla seemed to have lost an appendage that would make climbing the ladder more technical. Twyla turned one last time to look down at Meld and Dead before she went camouflaged. I can do this. I’m good at this. This is natural. My powers are easy to control and I can keep this up. I have to. This isn’t about me anymore. Twyla thought as she looked down and took in Meld’s dimensions one last time. She’s been nice to me for no reason. If it weren’t for me she’d be out of this situation by now. Twyla took a deep breath and looked up at the rest of the ladder. I got this. I’m good at this. Brick is easy-peasy. She concentrated for a moment and the ladder as well as her hand disappeared. “We’re going to have to feel for the ladder rungs.” She whispered. “Don’t talk when we’re like this. It’s harder to concentrate and I’m not camouflaging your insides.”

She checked to make sure that she had covered Meld and Dead. See, you’re good at this. Between gymnastics and your mutant powers you are a veritable pro at your own body manipulation. And you’re so humble it’s ridiculous. Twyla smirked as she searched for another rung. As she climbed she blocked out the noises from the street. She didn’t want any distractions especially considering this was the first time she’d masked two others for any piece of time or distance. She even stopped paying attention to the noises the cops were making and the sirens. I have no idea where they are but it’s best to worry about the task at hand. Let the action heros deal with that. I’m the getaway car and all the getaway car has to deal with is getting away.

Dead shut his mouth tight, silence what he was used to , he climbed on instinct not even bothering to look, he'd already figured out the ladder, you climb on ladder you've climbed em all was his motto.
Melds cold hand was not playing nice his hand had the feeling that at any moment it could be crushed he didn't say anything silently he moved up with the others it was hard climbing connected to two other people but hey thats how the world worked

The going was slow and Twyla began to worry that all too soon there would be cops swarming the alley that Meld had dragged her into. What if I drop the camouflage and there are officers present? I CAN’T screw this up. After a few more moments of silent panic Twyla calmed herself down again by reminding herself that: This is what I’m good at. I work better when I’m scared. My powers are like a defense mechanism. I’ve got this. No worries.

She didn’t turn when she heard the running footsteps on the ground below. She just kept climbing. She didn’t even try to look when she heard the cops pondering their whereabouts aloud. Twyla just looked above her and was glad to realize that the group’s progress, although slow, was bringing them very close to the top of the building. Just a few more rungs and then we’re home free...hopefully.

Meld carefully climbed up the ladder, one hand held in each of her companion's hands, even if one of her companions was a reluctant one. In the minute that it took to ascend the ladder, she was thankful of her birdlike flesh melded feet which could hang onto the rungs of the ladder much like hands, otherwise it would have been nearly impossible to ascend without the use of at least one of her hands. Once they had reached the top of the building, Meld let go of the hands of each of them.

"Follow me," Meld told the others, trying to keep her voice low. She could still hear the approaching sirens but more distressing she was beginning to be able to hear the sounds of cops issuing order for their search. Turning in the direction of Sanctuary, Meld took a running leap from the building she was on and onto the next building, landing with a metallic clunk. It wouldn't be terribly difficult for her to make it most of the way back to Sanctuary by rooftop but it would be almost impossible for her to do so silently. She turned around to see how the other two were holding up. Or at least to see how Wallflower was holding up.

Twyla watched Meld jump between the two buildings with a look of awe on her face. She didn’t hesitate at all. Twyla glanced again at the gap between the two rooftops. It’s not that far. A running jump will do it, I hope. I just have to make sure that I roll when I land--I could really hurt my ankles if I land on that concrete. I guess Meld doesn’t have to worry about that with metal feet and all. Twyla wasn’t very scared at all strangely. This was the least frightening thing that had happened to her all day in her opinion. Apparently for her jumping from roof to roof was less threatening than cops and strangers and humans.

She took a deep breath and looked down for a moment like she usually did before one of her gymnastics routines. That’s what it felt like to her in the moment – a gymnastics routine, not a deadly gamble. Twyla looked back up, started to run, and at the last second jumped off the ledge of the roof. With a roll that was made awkward by her backpack and duffel both being on her back Twyla landed safely on the next building. Ta da! She thought and she almost giggled as she stood up. That was kinda fun. Not very graceful, with less stuff I think it would be, but still kinda fun. She walked to the spot where Meld had landed and said “Lead away.” It was absurd to be excited about risky stunts, but Twyla could still feel the faint edges of a small smile spread across her face as she said this.

Dead got over the top and stood waiting not sure what was gonna happen next, he was loving every minute.
as he watched melds jump he enjoyed wallflowers face of awe.
well if thats a surprise then watch this Dead was wearing his clunky knee high combat boots, he'd been quite on the ladder. he running jumps across rolling on his land his black ops training making silence easy.
"Lets go" Dead has a stupid childish grin like a kid who got away with something no one will understand