Wow. Apparently Fade was wrong, Calley didn't bark, he hissed. Here kitty kitty. Damn, if he could turn into a giant tiger, then she'd need a very large yarn ball. As he pounced at her, mid-sentence, she was ready for him, just to phase through. Before she was even able to allow Calley to redeem himself, Luke 'saved' her from him and collided with the stripped kitty mid-air. And he told her damnit?

"What do you think I'm doing?!" Fade snapped. She was defending exactly what she needed to defend, those that would be affected by Haywire. No matter, he had morals and she respected that, Fade had always been the teeter totter, but only on stealing and making the first move. Waiting around could catch you off guard and she did not want that to happen. Quickly moving her feet, she rushed over to where the two fought. "Luke, don't pick an opponent you have a connection to!"

It was true, even with Amp and Vibe, Fade's cousins, there was a connection there which made it a lot harder to fight. Yet the three had an 'I won't kill you' relationship, they could fight, but not kill. Picking an opponent that has been a positive part of your life makes it even harder to get the job done. So maybe she was a little out of whack, she hadn't fought next to the X-Men in a while, but she'd been fighting with the X-Men before most of these people even walked through the Mansion gates, she wasn't oblivious, she knew what she was doing.

In an attempt to lead Calley away from Luke, although she seriously doubted she could, she again turned invisible, sneaking up on a tiger is actually very hard, and she grabbed at his tail. The idea was to pull it, cats hated having their tails pulled and to lure him away from Luke, but the idea kind of backfired. Cats are a lot faster when their tail is on the line. Even though Fade was invisible, it did not take but a simple snap to locate her. Damnit.

If Streak had known Calley better his jaw would've hit the ground when Calley announced that he was a spy. He didn't know Calley all that well but it was still a shock that the entire reason that the Order crashed Raina's party was instigated by Calley. There were more and more people showing up than he'd expected. Some that he'd seen at the mansion and knew that they weren't part of the team and others that he didn't know that he could only assume were hear from word of mouth by someone else. Streak knew that this battle was something that was unavoidable. Since the Order was being so malicious towards the rest of the world by keeping this Haywire virus around, it was their duty to destroy it. Luke was still not giving up on Calley. Once the punches started flying, and they'd be flying soon, there would likely be no coming back to the mansion for Calley. He'd personally have to check out the claims about the bugs. Unfortunately he had a feeling that everything he was saying was the truth.

He noticed that a girl on the other side waved to Sam. He couldn't help but say, "Why does it seem that all the girls ya know turn out to be evil?" Streak was joking of course but it seemed to be true. The Order's forces were growing rapidly, but so were theirs. Soon it seemed that everyone was here. And whoever threw the first punch would set the tone for the rest of the battle. It seemed that Calley had really gotten to Fade. She was just positively pissed that Calley could do such a thing. It was pretty clear why. Fade had let him into the X-men. Well that was definitely going to change. After this battle Streak would see to it that he didn't have access to the mansion's War Room or even the Danger Room. Sam had given him orders to lead the team into the building. All they needed was a way in. The Order had effectively blocked the entrance and there were more KP security guards showing up by the second. "I think getting in is going to be harder than you think Sam." He said. Just then Streak heard the distinctive sound of police sirens. "Sounds like we're gonna have a lot more company here in a second. And I don't think they'll be here to help us." There was one very good question around. Where was Nika? She should be here. "I can lead yall in I just need a way in." Sam thought that he'd had that figured out. Although to Streak it seemed like he had a painful way. Going through a wall.

That's when Fade punched Calley and sent him to the ground. "Whoa. Fade get back here! We've got other plans that need you're help than just beating Calley up. Let Luke do that." It seemed like only seconds after Fade had sent Calley to the ground, when another of the Order members attacked the guy who'd been hit by the shoe. Yes. A shoe. Streak had no idea what that girl was screaming about. Something about clowns, and bugs or something. He didn't really care. He was focused. Time to roll. Just then the cops showed up and formed a line facing the X-Men. This was going to be more fun. He noticed that the girl that had charged was carrying what looked like swords. He followed suit, by creating two swords in each hand and the blades on his body appeared. It was going to be a fun fight. "Figure out how to get in and I'll join ya. Now it's time to party." Streak was ready for the fight; however, he was going to let the fight come to him. Whoever saw fit to attack him would be in for a surprise. "Shin! Start protecting the people who aren't on the team. Now."

Chris wasn't exactly listening to what Tarin was saying. He didn't really understand it either. It seemed like he was talking to himself, until there were spirits that formed around here. Chris was getting ready for the fight. The X-men could talk all they wanted but he was going to fight. No killing. That was one of the provisions for employment with the Kabal. He looked around at the Order's faces. His eyes started to glow. They went from their normal emerald green to a lime green color. This only meant that he was going to be getting ready to use his powers. Practicing was some thing that he did constantly and it was a good thing to because he was finally about to use it in real life.

"Ya need to get in. I can get ya in. And it'll be less painful than throwing someone through a wall." Fission said to the guy who'd started to give out orders. Suddenly things started to happen all at once. Cops started showing up, security guards started to form ranks between the Order and his group, and the Order members themselves were blocking the easy path. Once one of the girls from the Order charged a guy on their side, he figured that it was time to start fighting. "Let's go!" he yelled. Chris then ran at the line of cops and security guards and started throwing punches. With each punch or kick a cop, or security guard, would go flying back a few feet and then slump down unconscious. Chris was using his Alpha rays to surround his hands and to hit the humans harder than he would normally be able to hit them. So far so good. He thought as he hadn't yet taken a hit from any of the guards. The battle was on and they were going to win.

At first things were quiet, though the tension was deep and thick. As Meld stood there, poised and ready, others continued to show up and join one or the other of the two battle lines. She listened to the speeches and insults flying back and forth, feeling no need to add her own words to the verbal battle. Her role was in the physical battle to come and such words were merely incidental and without purpose. She knew that they would change nothing. While she may not know the details of what had created this conflict, she was proficient enough at reading people to know that no mere words would ever diffuse this battle. The fight would happen and people would get hurt if not killed. Many people. And it wouldn't cease until one side was left standing victorious and the other was a crumpled defeated ruin. And she would do her part to ensure that it was the other side that would be defeated.

Then an unknown individual ordered the X-Men to not kill anyone and Meld grinned. That would make things all the more interesting and could only be an advantage for her side. She had no such compunctions against killing and heard no one try to order her to mercy. It was a foolish order and it may very well prove to be their downfall. And suddenly the physical battle commenced with, as best Meld was able to see, actions perpetrated by Calley.

Meld ran quickly after Aura, no more than a half a step behind her friend, aiming for Ranger. She didn't care that a two on one would be unfair to the man, she had a personal vendetta against him, unfinished business as it were. As she came upon her target, Meld raised her right shield arm defensively and aimed a slash with her left hand at her target's neck. She grinned a little wildly, adrenaline racing through her system. This was the sort of thing that made life worth living.

Mimic watched as more and more people arrived and the whole place began to look more like a battlefield. The man in charge seemed to ignore Mimic but ordered pretty much everyone else around and by the tone in his voice Mimic was grateful not be one of the X-Men. His plan seemed pretty straight-to-the-point.

From what he had gathered all he needed to do was distract the others long enough for them to locate something inside the building. As easy as baking a cake. Not that he knew how to do that but it was a figure of speech. Or maybe it was something different? Mimic never really got those damn thing right.

He saw a young girl, scratch that, two girls running towards a guy who had just arrived at the scene on a bike. One seemed to be wielding some sort of pink sword. That´s when Mimic decided to take action.

‘’ Sorry, mate. Normally I’d ask for permission but I need to do this.’’ Mimic said as he touched Steel´s shoulder for a few seconds before using an Ice Slide, like the one he had seen on his way here, to reach Aura right as she was about to hit Ranger and interecepted here blades with an Ice blade of his own. He looked at Aura and realized she was shockingly young.

‘’ Shouldn´t you be playing with and easy-bake oven or somethin’?’’ he asked her surprised that anyone would use a girl this young in battle. It was ridiculous. He had no will to fight children no matter what was on the line. He used his Cryokinesis to expand the Ice blade long enough for it to trap part of the Pink blade to avoid any quick counter and to force Aura to listen to what he had to say. ‘’ I have no wish to hurt women nor children. I don´t know what we are fighting about but your life is hardly worth it. Walk away.’’

Mimic looked into her eyes trying to pick up on any emotion in this child, anything that would make her unwilling to fight.

Sapphire eyes sparkled as she moved them away from the two men to the opponents. Concealing a smile as her inner demon was already thrilled with the joy of the fight, Alexandra pushed off the black gloves and threw them on the motorcycle next to the helmet. She walked slowly, her eyes moving from a person to another as people kept appearing. Her eyebrow rose as all of the sudden Slate seemed to appear, although he wasn’t on their side. Her mind was filled with confusion but her face remained motionless to this question, however, Luke seemed to somehow clarify this situation by calling the teen Calley. Twin? Slate certainly needed to talk a little bit more with his employees especially when it came to twin brothers running around the city.

Surprises didn’t end, as another one she had known as a Kabal member appeared, again not on their side. Bane. Alexandra shook her head, this fight was bringing out many secrets or so it seemed. Turning back to Sam as he told her that she shouldn’t be there, she returned a smile. Mouthing a ‘Don’t worry.’ She scanned the building, checking the appearance of the doors. They seemed easy to manipulate but now, and the way in would have been easy if weren’t for the small army that gathered to protect the facility.

Turning back to Sam as she heard him speak with her, she sighed unhappy with her mission to protect people. But keeping her cover up and running was a top priority and as it seemed that not only X-Men and Kabal had an interest in stopping Haywire she could focus on this as well. Her fists clenched and unclenched as she rotated her eyes. Protect people who are not on the team.

Glowing blue eyes settled on the scene where two Order members, one with a pinkish aura and the other that seemed to have oh, titanium arms and legs launched themselves at one guy. A guy that has been standing next to Sam and that seemed to have same powers rushed into action matching the pinkish sword the aura girl had with an ice one.

Watching the other aiming a slash at her target, her mind reacted at top speed as metal molecules from the gate moved at her will and solidified in front of the attacked man to protect his neck. Moving to Mimic’s and Ranger’s side, she looked briefly at both of them. “Mind if I join?” Her eyes shifted to Aura and Meld, glowing blue increasing in intensity.

Guess I should go back. For old times sake. The place is probably run down by now. I mean, the last time I came here, all I saw was a blank building and a large guy who's ignorance of this who war being off the charts. And although that wasn't too long ago, what ELSE could the place hold besides torturing and samples of pure chaos, anyway? Why the Hell am I even going back there anyway? All that I'll probably do is stand there and relive my past events. That damn red-and-black haired girl, that damn giant red guy. That damn guard Kaz. Mettaliar was surprised at himself for even remembering the guys name. It was so long ago that the events he were reminiscing took place. He was surprised at himself for remembering all the details; yet again, that was like wondering how a veteran of World War II could ever remember storming the beaches of Normandy or anyone alive at the time what they were doing on August 6th, 1945. Still, I guess it's good to go back just to have time to think things over without any bustling going on around the mansion half the time. It's always quiet around here. Better to just come out here and....

Mettaliar could not finish his thought before he arrived to the site of King Pharmaceuticals, the usual quiet place of thought replaced with about twenty or so people out in front. And fighting. Lots and lots of fighting. Mettaliar stopped dead in his tracks and just stood there staring at the crowd of people. It wasn't too soon that people revealed their mutations, alerting Mettaliar that this wasn't just some drunken semi-bar fight. This was much MUCH worse. Mutant battles. Mettaliar was no stranger. No soon after he had been released from the building that sat no farther than 10 meters away from him, a mutant by the name of Iris, a fellow kidnapped soul, returned to the mansion controlled by the Haywire effects and wreaked havoc on the place. Mettaliar was one of the people who lead the defense around that time. He was one of the few at the time who knew anything about the whole Haywire plot, save for the kidnappers and the X-Men. Plus, he was also involved on a one-on-one duel with a girl that he still didn't know the name of. All he could remember was that pink aura she had around her. Maybe that's what he should call her. Aura. Eh, sounds like a decent name.

The thought about the girl soon brought him back to reality as his eyes caught glimpse of her in the mayhem. He raised an eyebrow as she wasn't the only one that he could recognize through it all. Sam also stuck out through the place as well as a few other people he saw at the pool party beforehand, all seemingly X-Men. Or so he could guess. His main focus was on the giant tiger standing out in the middle of it all. A... shapeshifter? Had to be, unless someones main mutation was controlling a pet tiger or something. Mettaliar simply shook his head and tried to return to the task at hand. What the Hell's going on? A brawl? Mettaliar couldn't figure it out until he heard a guy he recognized only from face at the pool party yell at the tiger. Yeah... has to be a shapeshifter.

Trying to catch what he was saying, only three words really stuck out to him. First was Calley. He recognized that name. Thinking back it was that little scrawny kid he had met in that weird place back when the Registration Act was in place. Apparently, the kid was here, now as a tiger. Being as this was a gathering of mutants the whole idea didn't really take him by surprise. The only other two words seemed to solve everything while also keeping Mettaliar standing as stone as he ever could. "... destroy Haywire..." Oh... oh crap. THAT'S why they're here. Mettaliar contemplated what to do. Turning and walking away was the easiest strategy, yet easiest was not really the thing to go for. Actually DOING something seemed to be the better option this time, as pacifistic as Mettaliar was. This was for a goal he only DREAMED about accomplishing. With people there to help him the possibility seemed like it could work. Mettaliar knew he had to get involved somehow.

But what do I do?

Mettaliar knew charging in and swinging wildly was just stupid. He had to actually HELP the plot instead just joining in to cut up some people. Mettaliar considered the plan that may fit more to his strong suit. He had figured since the X-Men were involved assassination was out of the question but maybe the techniques of the assassin could be used. He had to sneak through the battle and try to get to King Pharmaceuticals even if the X-Men were already having that in mind. This wasn't for the X-Men or anybody else but himself for that matter. He dreamed of seeing it all end and finally bringing things to rest. Now was the time to act.

First, Mettaliar had to keep low. While the battle seemed very big it wasn't anything like a Roman legion or anything. With people seemingly going after one another Mettaliar knew some people, if not most, probably wouldn't notice a guy sneaking around. Second, how to get inside. Well, going to the front door probably wasn't the most stealth thing to do. Windows on the other hand, especially those being on the other side of the building, was a completely different issue. The only thing Mettaliar had to worry about was being spotted and if worse came to worse he had the ability to defend himself. He wasn't completely defenseless yet preferred to do things without getting involved in much fighting.

Mettaliar nodded to himself and put up the sewn-on hood of his trench coat. If anything, at least people not seeing his face would help keep him in the back of peoples minds if they so happened to glance at him during the confrontation. He also patted himself and sighed with relief feeling the pocketed knives on his custom sheath belt and his custom sword at his side. He was ready. One things began to heat up, with the Aura girl fighting off what looked like Mimic, the guy he fought alongside in Central Park, he dashed from a good distance away from the main action heading straight for the back of King Pharmaceuticals. Let's get this over with.

Shade had been up all night prowling the city. He hadn't been much of anything though. Instead, the shadow mutant spent most his time trying to remember the weird dream he had had the day before. Most of the events were either unimportant or too distorted to remember. However, the most vivid memory was the overwhelming feel of power. There was no longer just a mutant who could move through the shadows. Shade had been one with the shadows. It was like they had become a part of him. And now as he stood above New York City on one of the famous skyline skyscrapers, that feeling just wasn't there. It was like he was missing a part of himself now. The worst part was that he had no idea about how to refill it.



Buzzzzzz!!! As the first lights of the new day began to fill the air, Shade's pocket suddenly came alive as a message was received by his phone. He quickly snatched it from his pocket to read the message.

King Pharmaceuticals. So Syn's plan was going down this morning. Shade didn't exactly like the timing of the plan. Mornings weren't exactly his specialty. Moving into one of the last remaining shadows on the rooftop, Shade quickly began to make his way over to the lab. He avoided the group outside, instead teleporting into the closest building.

Shade found a nice overview window of the havok that was about to be unfold below. If he was to join the spectical, he wanted to make sure that it would be a surprise to whoever he might happen upon. Then the fighting broke out. Things were happening fast, but Shade kept his calm. He would be needed somewhere soon. He would wait for that moment.

Ali was glad the nightmare had ended. Though she had greater power in her dream she didn't like the 'flares' as she called them. It felt good to be back to normal. The sad fact about things was that now the X-men had all gone to King Pharmaceuticals in an effort to destroy Haywire once and for all. Ali was all to happy to lend a hand.

It was a fairly quick flight to the KP building. Many had already gathered and the lines had been drawn. Ali hovered over her friends as they faced off against the Order members, but who were the others standing with the X-Men. None of them looked familiar. Maybe they were just other mutants who felt the same as the X-Men and wanted to destroy Haywire.

The morning started off typical as Arielle had awoken in a rather pleasant mood and actually had a smile across her facial features as she sat up in her bed. Then it hit her. She had had the weirdest dream...too much detail for her to remember, but to paraphrase, the world was really jacked up. Yeah, the world was jacked up in the present but in her dream, it was far worse, but that was only what it was. A dream...right?

A soft yawn and a stretch, the brazilian girl hopped on out of pen, slipping her feet into a pair of Winnie the Pooh slippers and started towards the bathroom to freshen up for the day. Her agenda had been blank seeing as she didn't have anything in particular to do and every time that happened it was as if the Platinum Visa card in her wallet was begging to be swiped the whole day through as Arielle tended to kill free time with shopping. Yes, her mind was made up. It was time for some serious spending.

Walking from the bathroom, her figure wrapped in a towel and her black curls of hair damp, Ari strolled back into her room after having heard a strange beeping noise coming from inside her dresser. Opening the 3rd, Ari dug in under her socks to pull out a yellow disk marked with an X. "The hell?" she stared at the device puzzled trying remember exactly what it was for. Some deep mind searching and it clicked. Streaky-boo had given it to her when she became a trainee. Ah yeah, and she hadn't heard the thing buzz once before. Clicking the button Ari brought it to her ear and listened to Sam's message and noted the urgency in his voice. Yes, this was serious, but Arielle couldn't help but let out a small squeal of joy. Finally she'd get to see some action! The towel flew off and the X-suit she had chosen was donned, her hair tied back and Ari made a dash out her room to get to the site as fast as she could. Oh she didn't have an ice slide ability nor could she fly. Her legs shifted to liquid and Arielle chose high pressured propulsion as her own unique means of getting to a place fast. Yeah she gathered looks from by standers as the lower liquid half of her body acted like a water jet shooting her down streets and around corners...."This is ridiculous, we have to get there on own. Couldn't we have used the jet? she thought to herself, but oh well she made due and eventually got there.

She bit to late seeing as most of her tea mates had already made it. Seeing all the people that had already arrived before her, she could tell this was going to be epic. Heck, even mutants who weren't even affiliated with the X-men were there. It seemed some what..inspiring to her to see her allies all lined up and gungo for one cause. She arrived in time to hear Sam barking out commands. She was about to ask if there was anything in particular she could do. That was until she saw Alexandra intervene in another chick's attempt to play hack and slash with some guy. Arielle's eyes shifted to another guy who seemed to have ice powers like same and was engaging with am old friend Arielle hadn't seen in months. Not really a friend, just a teen with a rotten attitude and who fought dirty. Oh yeah, it was so on. The brazilian teen walked up to join Alexandra, Mimic and Ranger, turning her body completely into it's liquid state.

"It's been a long time. To tell you the truth, I didn't think I'd find you here. Then again, every time I've bumped into you, there's always trouble and you always seem to be the cause..." a smirk came across Arielle's watery facial features as she looked in Aura's direction. "Hope you and your home girl brought your A game today." she nodded towards Meld. " I'm feeling might violent like the raging sea. Whether you brought it or not, you will be stopped, and you will get your ass kicked. That's not threat either, sweetie. It's a promise."

Dominic had been up since about dawn perched in the tree just outside is window so he could view the sunrise. He had woken up and couldn't really go back to sleep so he figured why not watch the sun embrace the land with it's rays and to watch a new day arrive. What he didn't know was that whatever happened that day would be a huge determining factor of what the future held for not only mutants but the whole world. He wasn't one of the ones who had a dream about the Haywire virus out break and the future, so he was pretty naive to the events that were about to unfold in the day ahead.

He was dressed in his training suit he had put together, hopefully someday he would be able to call it his X-man uniform. Just as he was about to climb inside to grab some breakfast and then hit the gym, he noticed his older brother coming out of the mansion. Obviously something was up when he looked down from his spot in the tree and saw Sam rush away on an ice slide. God, it was so awesome. Why couldn't he have gotten powers like that instead of being a DNA sponge and fighting the urge to go # 2 in a little box. Dominic didn't really pay much attention to Sam's rushed departure from the mansion. Then he realized Sam, wasn't the only one leaving in a hassle. All the X-men and the trainees were leaving whether it'd be by themselves or in groups. Something was going down and he didn't want to feel left out of the loop. Then he saw Shin and Ghost flying off in the same direction everyone else had. That was it, he had to go.

He hopped down from the tree and started to run after Ghost and Shin...yeah right. They were flying. There was no way he'd be able to catch up to them. That was made clear when he had lost sight of them only a few blocks from the mansion after the attempted chase. Luckily Sam's ice trail was still there. He could just follow that! He needed wheels though. He wasn't going to squirrel run his way to whatever the X-men's destination was. Then as if by fate, transportation was brought to him. Not exactly, it was just a 10 year old girl with a pink Disney Princess bike. The white basket and the glittering shiny streamers hanging from the handle bars. Wasn't exactly his idea of a hot ride, but it'd have to do.

"Hey, excuse me? Can I borrow this? Thanks!" Dominic said picking the little girl off of her bike and hopping onto it. He ignored her cries and pedaled to the metal following his brother's ice trail.

He arrived at King Pharmaceuticals, winded from the pedaling and what he saw was really something he hadn't expected. "Whoa" he said seeing mutants in a stand off. some talking trash, some fighting, some taking the building...it was like...awesome. Dominic hopped off the Disney Princess bike and wheeled it over taking a stand next to Shin and Ghost."So uh....does this mean the bookstore is closed and I get today off?" he asked innocently turning to the air elemental and the asian. Dominic then looked down noticing he still had the girly bike in his possession. Long story, don't judge me. Anyways, what's up with the Battle Royale?" he asked

Kasumi feels herself growing more worried over this over everything. She rubs the back of her neck she is not a X-men yet but she will be damed if she sits her and does nothing! Soon the cab stops as the driver looks at her Kasimi pays the man as she gets out soon she takes off running. It seems that she sounds of the battle have started already she narrows her eyes as she nods to herself speaking "I can do this."

Soon she is inside as her eyes looks around. She sees a few others that she knows soon she sees Shin she knew that he would be fighting for the greater good of the world. Kasumi wanted to also. Soon her hands comes up. It seems that there is a lot of good guys here right now yet the number can tip in the blink of an eye and she will be here just in case. Kasumi knows how to fight she knows how to leap she knows how to do a lot. Form what she has been working on been pushing herself so hard to better herself.

It is all that this is about to better the world with her powers. To better everything Kasumi nods to herself. She knows her own heart her own mind she knows what to do with this. Haywire must not leave this place it must not come into this world. What she seen in her dreams what it came to be it can not happen the world livening in fear no never! If it is with in her power she will never let it happen even if it met her life.

Kasumi soon blinks a few times as it seems that time is moving show around her. It is maybe something huge. Yet she is so clam, she has no idea why. But Kasumi feels that she is doing right by being part of this. It is a good feeling soon Kasumi's eyes falls on Aura it pains her some that she might have to fight her friend but if so she will.

((ooc: Tigger nomming is Fade-approved! Tell me if anything needs to change. )

He never saw what hit him. This seemed to be becoming a trend; really, it wasn’t one he wanted to encourage.

The tiger hit the ground. Hard. His breath rasped in his rib cage as he lurched his way back to his feet, if not quite to standing. Wraith seemed to have a new trick. Or had it been Fade? She’d just been turning to him; she’d looked cocky, but not on the edge of an attack.

Luke, on the other hand, had been shouting. Leave it in the blind paragon of justice to trust an acquaintance not to kill his teammate. For some reason, Calley had been thinking—with what little thought was still rational in him—that the man wouldn’t think quite that lowly of him. Hadn’t it been like that since the first time they’d met, though? Luke had always assumed that when the tiger came out to play, he didn’t leave his playmates unbroken. What a nice judge of character.

What a nice little judge.

>> "We're here to destroy the Haywire. I don't want to hurt you! I don't want to."

His round ears caught that last quiet mutter. They twitched back against his skull, a low growl starting deep in his chest; it hurt. The man had given him some serious bruises, if not cracked something.

Kitten went invisible again.

Sight, sound, smell: she was completely gone. Fur bristled up and down his spine as he pushed himself fully to his broad paws, a sharp pain stabbing in his ribs. The fur along his tail—

It wasn’t conscious thought. There was a touch; he was moving from the second her fingers brushed against his stripped hair, curling around with the speed only an angry cat could ever muster. By the time she foolishly closed his hand, he was in position to one up her: Tigger snapped closed his jaws, over that pretty little hand of hers. Didn’t taste like a thing, but it felt like someone else’s mistake.

He spit her out with a snarl, dodging back with a leap; he fully expected another attack from Luke. That self-righteous blind man. The tiger landed flawlessly a few feet away, with another snarl to mask the wash of pain from his chest. Cracked. Luke had definitely cracked something. Apparently he’d taken Calley’s advice: he wasn’t holding any punches.

Well.

Screw that.

The tiger rounded on its paws, crouching a brief second before launching itself at the blind man. The last time Luke had ‘seen’ him like this, Calley had kept his claws sheathed.

This time?

Go ahead, Luke. Show everyone just how much you didn’t want to hurt people. Show them quick.

Well now, it was certainly getting to be interesting. In-your-face man turned out to be some sort of shapeshifter, and went tigery, pouncing on the woman he had been shouting at earlier. Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes had something weird, because it seemed like he bowled the Tiger over in mid-leap. Then the woman went invisible, and did the one thing that even Predator would never, ever do.

She pulled kitty's tail.

She got her just desserts, as the tiger whipped around and bit her on the hand, dealing a pretty serious wound. And that particular act of aggression seemed to start off the whole thing, changing it from a standoff to a brawl. Both Aura and Meld charged off almost at once for a guy who seemed to be apart from the rest of the good guys. Then someone came up and disengaged Aura with an ice blade. Hrmm... An ice manipulator. Just as Meld was about to remove head from shoulders, another mutant stepped in and protected him with something. Two against one? Then a girl made of water joined the fight, and Predator snorted a bit, suppressing laughter.

Three against one, and they called him and his kind evil? That pushed Predator to join the fight, and turn the tables on the Goody-Two-Shoes. He began his transformation, walking around the other side of the building and crouching down behind the second, higher area. That would cover most of his Lion form from view until he was fully transformed. Muscles bulged and rippled under skin, and this time his skeletal structure was the first to change. Bones cracked and popped and rearranged, switching and changing Predator's stature so he could no longer stand upright. Then fur began to cover his body, golden fur and a tail as Predator began to grow in size. When his change was finished, bits of orange cloth, the remnants of his robes, clung to his fur in places.

It was not a human that leaped off of that building with a roar loud enough to set off car alarms down the block and be heard for a mile around, but a twelve foot tall celestial lion, a Foo Dog. Predator landed with a thud a few feet away from meld and her advesaries, and growled, a deep, rumbling sound that was felt, more than heard.

Dreams can suck, and this one did- big time.
The sequence of events and images were already fading from the fire haired vixen’s consciousness, but from what Tris could grasp of the temptingly fluttering imagery was this- dream world had just taken her on one hell of a ride.

True there had been the completely awesome power trip, but the impending apocalypse type world, and worse, vague and undefined slightly fuzzy feeling towards an arrogant air elemental made Tris very glad she could think the entirely clichéd words thank goodness it was just a dream.

Tris groaned as she reached over to the buzzing phone that had shaken her awake from tripped out dream world, her head not exactly the best place to be right now for the so not a morning person Tris.

“Yeah.”
She croaked gruffly into the open connection……and once convinced this was not a joke, was soon very awake indeed.

It was way weird and kinda creepy, but strange as it seemed there had been a run of similar dream themes in peoples heads last night and Slate, being one of them, chose to mobilise the Kabal forces against the perceived threat of KP Pharmaceuticals, the Haywire virus, and any Order members that got in the way.

Tris flew around getting ready- shower, breakfast bar, black jeans, black shirt, black boots, key, wallet slipped into her pocket, and painkiller and she was ready to go as her thoughts flew. While hazy recollections gave Tris the vibe that whatever Haywire could do, it really wasn’t good, and while she did indeed have a job to do, Tris was still a little……reluctant to actually leave her apartment and get to the location.

Unfortunately there was a slight conflict of interest- the clones were Order members, they would be on the opposing side…..Could she really take down Venus, her cute giant red fluffy bear whom she dated in a not serious way?

The thought was disturbing.

A dream image, awaken by thoughts of the Order and Haywire nudged at Tris’s recollection, and Tris’s stomach churned as she was stunned by a memory of that dream.

She really hoped that dream world wasn’t some perverted future place or anything, but still….

Her resolve solidifying, the answer became Yes she could take Venus or any of the clones down if she had to, because in that mixed up dream world, her parents were dead because of the Order and that was not okay.

….Tris was ready, but still she stalled, instead grasping her phone and sitting on the sofa. She dialled a number and after a while her Mum answered- it was late there, but it was good to hear the familiar voice.

The conversation followed a recognizable pattern, but Tris welcomed it.
"-No Mum, nothings wrong, I just wanted to say hi….
-Yes everything’s fine here…..
-Yes the job is still good…..
-Yes, being a secretary at a medical research facility isn’t as boring as it sounds…
-No my boss has not made a pass at me….
-No, I don’t need money….
-No I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment but thanks for reminding me of the lack of dateable guys in the city….
-Yes I am eating healthy, and yes my sleeping patterns are fine….
-(and then the offensive) So how’s Dad doing…."

The conversation lasted a good while longer, and ended in;
“I love you too”
before Tris hung up and sighed, then she got up to do the job she had to do.

A long taxi ride and short walk later and Tris had arrived at KP where it was immediately clear that Tris was very late, and that there was a lot going on that was very confusing.

There were security guards and police and those whom Tris assumed were Order members guarding the building.

There was also a whole mess of people whom Tris understood were Xmen or Kabal Tris hadn’t met yet looking very tense and watchful.

…..There was also a confrontation or two coming to a close with these unknown people, and a fight that might soon turn into a riot was just beginning.

Tris approached the volatile group cautiously, trying to find a familiar face who could help her with facts and details and orders on what the hell they were gonna do to actually get into the building with the fabulous tactics of a frontal assult, but not many faces stood out that Tris could recognise- she supposed since she really should be able to recognise at least the leaders of the Xmen and the people working for her company, that this was as sign she should get out more and meet new people.

She did see Luke Jacobs- the nice blind guy who she’d run into helping Clare, going at it with the biggest tiger Tris had even seen.

Thankfully though, there were no clones in sight- that made things easier.

Also thankfully, Tris was fortunate enough to spot Circe, a levelheaded chick she’d worked with in Columbia, who’d just swooped into a melee to protect some guys back. She might be able to catch Tris up…..if she wasn’t kinda busy right now trying to keep herself and others from being stabbed, but since Tris had an inbuilt pause button on the action if she got close enough, maybe Circe wouldn’t take too unkindly to the interruption.

.....However, here was one of the confusing parts- also spotted from the same Columbia mission that involved the demolition of an army base was a giant of a man named Giants Bane. He too was Kabal, but here he appeared to be on the Order's side.
....What was going on?

Tris mentally shrugged- she could work it out later, but since Circe was closer and actually appeared to be fighting on the right team, she'd aim for her.

Yes, it might seem dumb to waltz into a fight to have a conversation with someone, but Tris wasn’t that silly, she didn’t waltz, she approached the tumultuous crowd cautiously with a watchful eye and hands ready to freeze or blow away(or up) an attacker- after all, if she kept awareness of her surroundings, she should be okay. And if she could get to Circe, all well and good, but if not, someone else could probably explain what was going on just as well.

As it was, while yes, she had arrived a little late and didn’t know who was doing what exactly, she was still ment to be here, and she would do what she could to keep people from killing each other (after all, under Slate's rule, killing cost paychecks).

…But still, it was daunting looking at the beginnings of a fight with whom she didn’t not know so many of the participates, as it was, a general rule of thumb would be to strike against anyone who tried to attack you first…..but still.
Tris sighed.
“Yeah, would da been simpler if we were all wearing team colours.”
She was heard to mutter as she reached the edge of the crowd.