(OOC: This takes place several days to a week after the events of End Game.)

Iris parked quite nearly a mile away from the school, and hiked the rest of the way in, in an effort not to draw any attention to herself.

The place was still in ruins, nearly three months after the Registration Law and the Raid. The grounds had taken on the 'Abandoned Lot' look. She surveyed the area, scanning for signs of life. Besides her, the air shimmered, and Crystal appeared.

"I don't see any signs of Stalkers," the hologram reported, "but that doesn't mean they aren't here. They've got some heavy-duty tech attached to those metal skeletons."

Iris shrugged. "If they are here, we'll know soon enough."

She wandered onto the grounds proper, and headed for what used to be the maintanence shed behind the main building. She began poking around for tools and supplies, and drug them out for inspection. A large pile began to form, including a wheelbarrow, shovel, rake , garbage bags, and various other items. The grounds were immense, and there was no way she would be able to restore the entire property, especially the buildings. But she could help the grounds out, at least for a beginning.

Doing so would also help ease her conscience about the damage she had caused.

ooc: hope ya don't mind. Poor Navi is itching for some threads!

ic:

Naveed had scoured the area a hundread times in the past few days being tipped off that the school Raina had been attending was here. He didn't know what he'd do if he found the place- mostly he used searching for it as a way to pass time while waiting for the resistance. Part of him felt like if he found the school he'd find Raina. Or maybe he'd find some missing link to help him save her. Or maybe... maybe he'd understand this mess a little more.

His heart skipped a beat as he saw the frame of a wall through the woods and headed closer. How did he miss it before? He'd been here every day a week at least! He felt a twinge of excitement in his belly like he'd happened upon some great prize. As he neared the clearing where the school was his heart sank more and more with each step and the excitement in his stomach turned into a pit.

The place was in ruins- in shambles. Parts of the rooms were still standing and as Naveed surveyed things from his spot rooted in the ground he realized just how big the place was. Just how many mutants did they house here?

As he continued to walk around he fought the urge to gag thinking how many students must now be in the camps. How many were just like his sister? The thought repulsed him.

It was then that he heard a snap of a twig on the ground as if someone was approaching. He froze and his hunter/gatherer instincts started to take over. He felt his senses become atune with nature and he heard one loan bird chipring an echo around them. His hand went slowly to his belt where his knife was. A knife wouldn't do much against a Stalker but this wasn't like the mall- he was automatically suspicious for being in a hidden mutant zone. He was silent. He felt his heart pound in his ears. He smelled the leaves on the trees.

"Who goes there?" it was an order- not that the person hearing it could even take it as one since he wasn't looking at them. But his voice was stern and commanding.

OOC: Hopefully no one will mind me appearing out of nowhere.

IC:

Mettaliar appeared from around the corner. It had been a while since he left the other area and was trying to find a way home. He decided to check on how the mansion faired throughout the time he had been away. He kept his head low and his eyes up, looking around for faces to call to, for voices to listen to, and for bodies to hold onto. He needed to recognize someone. Hell, Kaz could be around and the fact that Mettaliar recognized him would be good enough. He continued on looking, failing to hear or see any person known to Mettaliar.

Suddenly he caught glimpse of the Mansion Grounds... or what was left of it. The place was in ruin, and Mettaliar felt a feeling of hopelessness. He didn't know what to do or where to go. If the mansion was gone, he was gone. He began to feel like he should mourn the mansion or something, for he had a strong feeling he would have to leave it and find a new place to live. Yet, a familiar girl caught his eye and caused a small tear to appear in his hazel eye.

... Iris?

Mettaliar practically sprinted to the grounds at that point. No reason to feel sorrowful at this point, he had some hope still left. It all surprised him since he was usually the downer of the situation, and now he had that small feeling that he could remain with the people he felt most comfortable with. Even the loner of the mansion couldn't live without the personalities of the mansion.

He approached the grounds and slowed down. Even this new overwhelming joy couldn't keep him from showing his shy side. He didn't want to embarrass himself still. He walked onto the yard and kept his hands in his coat pockets. He leaned against a tree in the lawn, waiting for others to appear. He knew they would. He just knew they would.

While Iris worked, Crystal monitored the area from inside Iris's cellphone. Her capabilities were limited, but her bio-scanner allowed her to at least keep an eye out for anyone or anything warm-blooded sneaking up on them. She saw two bodies approaching, but didn't say anything, unless the being came too close for comfort. One body, the one moving faster, she identified as a previous Mansion resident, matching him with the student roster she had long ago downloaded. The other didn't match any of the files she had access to.

It wasn't until the second body came into striking distance that she spoke, refraining from appearing this time.

"We have company."

Iris froze for a heartbeat, fighting back the urge to run. She took a few moments to calm herself, reminding herself that she wasn't acting suspicious, or even mutant-like. The place was abandoned. She was simply exploring. She took a deep breath and heaved a fifty-pound bag of soil onto her shoulder. It had been a while since she'd worked with that kind of weight, and regaining her balance gave her something else to focus on.

"Anyone we know?"

"Actually, y-"

"Who goes there?"

"Wha-? Whoa!" The forceful, and unfamiliar, voice startled Iris into turning, and she nearly lost her balance. In fact, to keep from falling over she had to loose her grip on the bag. Her arms flew out to her sides, and wobbled, before regaining herself.

She looked at the man with wide grey eyes. He was big.....

"I-I.... uh, I was just looking around...." she stammered and looked around nervously. Another person stood a ways off, but close enough for her to see his stance.

<"He looks familiar....">

For a brief moment the demanding man's presence was forgotten, and Iris's eyes unfocused as images flashed through her mind. So much had happened in the months since KP that her memories were dulled and fuzzy.

But she did know that boy.....

"What business is it of yours?"

Iris's eyes widened even further as Crystal spoke up, loud enough to be heard. But without the hologram being visible, it sounded like Iris had spoken instead. And rather rudely.

"I.... uh...." She gulped, unsure of what to say now.

ooc: you're hilarious

ic:

Naveed saw a pale young woman fall backwards and reached reflexivly to grab her but as she fell it looked more like he'd pushed her. He was aware that there was someone else approaching too so he stood in a tall stance gripping his spear tightly. His nostrils flared at the rude remark and he wondered if this fragile looking woman could somehow be related with the camps. If that was the case she was treading on forbiddon territory.

He didn't know much about the school only that Raina had been there and he momentarily wondered if there were any other mutants hiding about here. He'd have to protect them if this woman and the other approaching were sniffng things out from the camp. He pointed his spear at her feeling inside like a bit of an idiot for threatening such an intimidated looking woman but knew in his gut he had to just be safe.

"Naveed wants to know." his eyes glowed with a firery hypnotic red. "Tell me who you are and why you're here" if she was some form of robot than his power of suggestion would have no influence over her at all. He waited trying not to show how nervous he felt forgetting for an instance the approaching person through the woods....

Mettaliar watched as the stranger suddenly began interrogating Iris. His heart sank. He didn't want anyone to be hurt. At the same time, the look on Iris's face looked as if she was surprised by the man as well. This didn't fit too well for Mettaliar and he waited for something to happen. Iris's face also gave sign that she saw him... and was remembering him. With all that happened, it would be hard to remember someone. Mettaliar looked concearned and worried. He was scared for her safety.

Than suddenly the man raised his spear to her back. That was that something Mettaliar was waiting for. He wasted little time reacting as his hand raised and formed a throwing knife. His eyes locked on a peice of the spear. He was not aiming for the man in hopes of this all being oen big mix-up. But doing nothing was not an option. Mettaliar thrusted his arm forward and let the knife go on it's path. It struck the spear and forced it to move. Mettaliar readied another knife and stood ready to throw. This time, however, a wrong move would make the man's skull the target.

"Leave her alone now! I will not hesitate to protect her. She belongs here!" His heart was filled with rage at this point, so the fact of him screaming never struck him. He knew, somewhere in his mind, that he'd regret it later. now, however, was not the time to feel embarrassed. He considered Iris part of the family he connected with in the mansion. His blood relatives were of greater emotional distance than the people in the mansion. That's why he was ready to fight the man to the death if needed to protect her. He was no longer a loner anymore, and it was because of them. He owed him his life for that, and that alone.

ooc: let me know if this post is too much. I'll edit it. But I like to use moments like these to sort of show Naveed barbaric side even though he's generally a nice guy- he's just too quick to act. Also, if you have any questions about his powers let me know. I always try to keep it open for it not affecting everyone you just have to rp well and why it doesn't affect PM if you need more info.

ic:

Naveed was still feeling like a bit of an idiot pointing his spear at the young woman- of course he'd probably never really hurt a woman mutant or not but his run in with the Stalker had taught him to be weary. He'd forgotten about the other approaching until they made themselves known. He was very irritated at this point and while keeping his spear pointed at Iris he unleashed another smaller one cuffed to his jeans. He pointed it strait at the boy. He turned his gaze as quickly as he could to the boy.

"You. Sit." he comanded. His eyes were red and hypnotic and if the boy wasn't a robot or some strong psychic mutant he should feel the overwhelming urge to sit down. "I'm asking this lady a question." he said looking back to the girl. "Then I can play."

There was nothing to suggest that this man had any affiliation with anyone at the mansion except for that very odd mark on his wrist. It could have been tattoo, henna, or a birthmark, but whatever the mark Raina had the same one. (I posted that in their profiles and forgot competely about it! Thought I should use it)

Naveed looked like a shabby mountain man towering over two. But still he stood with those piercing eyes locked on Iris waiting for a response.

Naveed wants to know.

<"Wow.... that looks sharp...."> Iris gulped and backed a step or two away from the hunter-looking man with the spear. <"Are his eyes red?? And glowing??? That can't be good....">

"Tell me who you are and why you're here."

"Rayne Iris Belamount. I lived here for a while before I went crazy and destroyed half of the building. I'm looking for stuff to help rebuild the grounds at least."

Iris slapped a hand over her mouth. Did she just say all of that out loud She backed up a few more steps from Naveed, afraid of what else he was capable of doing, or making her do.

Something glinted in the edge of her vision. It impacted with the spear, and diverted Naveed’s attention.

"Leave her alone now! I will not hesitate to protect her. She belongs here!"

"You. Sit. I'm asking this lady a question. Then I can play."

Confused in many ways, Iris had no problem seeing that this confrontation was about to get out of hand, which was the last thing she wanted.

”Okay, hold it!” She resisted the urge to use one of her mutations to keep the two men apart; that would likely draw Stalker attention. Instead she moved sideways and backwards, putting herself both out of close striking distance, and slightly in between the two men.

”Okay, there’s obviously a misunderstanding here. Let’s all just.... calm down, and talk rationally.... without the weapons....”

<“Hypocrite,”> she scolded herself mentally over the pounding of her heart. She gulped, and spoke aloud again, deciding to run with the confession she’d made earlier.

”Like I said, I-we....” she pointed to the other man, wishing she could remember his name, ”.... used to live here. I left before.... well.... all of this happened. I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted to fix the place up a bit. That’s all.

”What about you? Naveed, you said? Did you live here once too?”

That would also tell her if she needed to be worried that Naveed might turn them in. She didn’t want to fight anyone, but she also didn’t want to end up in the Camps, either.

Crystal, meanwhile, remained silent, but set her scanners fully on Naveed. She was ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure he was a mutant, and fifty percent sure that his eyes had something to do with his mutation, due to the glowing. If a fight broke out, she wanted to be able to help Iris out of it.

Mettaliar looked as the threatening man turned to him and pointed his spear at Mettaliar. Mettaliar lowered himself ready to strike, before the man told him to sit. Sit and wait. Normally Mettaliar would laugh or stand confused. A silly threat. One usually overconfident people give.

However, something seemed to work as he slowly lowered himself to the ground and sat. His eyes were wide with disbelief. He was silent, unlike Iris when she followed the mans orders. He stared at him with a look of helplessness. He didn't know what to do, how to help, or if he could. He just sat there. As he was told.

He watched as Iris got in between him and the guy, now newly found to be named Naveed, trying to stop a fight. Mettaliar lowered his head. NOW was the time he felt embarrassed. He breathed a deep sigh and looked up as Iris asked Naveed about the reasoning about his presence. He listened with a great amount of interest. He never saw this Naveed anywhere around the mansion before the whole incident. He wanted to know what had gone down while he was "away."

Naveed's musles relaxed after he heard Iris's words and he put down both of his spears. He stood silent for a moment and suddenly looked a lot less threatening. "Thank-you" he said to both of them lending them each a hand to get up. "I'm sorry to be so brutish." he said not entierly sounding sincere though he was. Navi wasn't exactly good at the whole tone of voice thing. He knew Iris was telling the truth.

"You both lived here. I needed to be sure you werent affiliated with the camps. Please understand" he looked even sillier trying to apologize than he did threatening them with his spear.

"I'm Raina's brother, Did you know her?" his eyes were pleading and it was hard to believe that this was the man who was just threatening. It was clear that his mutation had affected them somehow.

ooc: awesome posts guys! You were both really creative with Navi's powers!

"I needed to be sure you werent affiliated with the camps. Please understand"

Okay, Naveed's tone wasn't exactly.... faith inspiring. But he lowered the spears. That was more reassuring. Iris straighted a dropped her hands, now that the aggression seemed to be calming.

"I'm Raina's brother, Did you know her?"

"Raina...." Iris blinked. More fragmented memories, but.... a redhead. A chanter..... An ice chanter. "I remember Raina. She's.... in the camps...."

She looked over at Mettaliar, and her shoulders drooped a bit. "It seems like everyone's in the camps."

She bit her lip, and looked around. "I was hoping to fix things up around here. For when everyone comes back...." She stopped short before she began babbling, and turned back to the two men.

"I'm glad not everyone got rounded up, but.... I wish there were more...."

It seemed to be a growing habit to let her sentances trail off, and she blushed a bit.

"Indeed." snarked Naveed crossing his arms looking down at the rubble. "They will be coming back. I'll promise you that." he looked about and sat himself on a rock juting from the ground "The government seems to be buckling under the pressure... and it seems like every other day there is an attempt made at the camp. They've already dwindled in numbers... there's no one left to make a point."

He reached his massive arms out and stretched them cracking his knucles in the process. "what exactly are you planning to do?" he asked surveying the area. "It's not like you can wave a wand and this place will look like it used to. Maybe it shouln't even stay in this same place after the raid..." he trailed off thoughtfully.

Truth be known be wanted to help. Manual labor always gave Navi a chance to cool off in stressful situations. He felt it to be relaxing... but he had no idea how the old school used to look and doubted very much that without raw materials they could accomplish a lot. Still he looked to Iris for a responce.

"They will be coming back. I'll promise you that. The government seems to be buckling under the pressure... and it seems like every other day there is an attempt made at the camp. They've already dwindled in numbers... there's no one left to make a point."

Iris winced, remembering the scene at the CoH. Yet another reason she needed to help make amends here.

A loud popping noise startled her, but she calmed when she realized Naveed was simply stretching.

"what exactly are you planning to do? It's not like you can wave a wand and this place will look like it used to. Maybe it shouldn't even stay in this same place after the raid..."

The tall blonde shrugged. "Maybe not, but it still doesn't need to be left in such a state. I guess there's not much to be done with the building yet. But at least the grounds can be cleaned up...." She turned back toward the bags of fertilizer and the gardening tools. Shrugging, she added, "First thing would be to gather all the loose debris and pile it out of the way. Maybe over there...."

Her voice trailed off as someone else appeared from the direction she pointed. She tensed yet again, until he drew close enough for her to recognize. Even then, her unease grew. Their last meeting had been..... confusing. She wasn't sure how to react to Virote this time.

She glanced back at Naveed and Mettaliar.

Naveed nodded "fair enough." he stretched again. "I think I'll join you. " he wasn't very talkative and when he was he was pretty to the point. True to his word Naveed started scowering the area around him picking up huge pieces of debris and holding it in a pile on his shoulders. One had to wonder if his mutation wasn't strength related... but he broke a sweat and it was easy to see he was just used to hard work.

He turned on his heels however eyes flashing red briefly a moment with the arrival of another.

"Well Iris, if I doubted you before, I am simply more confused about you now then I was before."

<"You're not the only one,"> she thought silently, examining the odd-looking and odd-colored tattoos, and the new haircut. The change was drastic enough that she had at first doubted who he was.

"I see the x-men were not spared humanity's blind prejudice."

Iris realized she was staring and frowning slightly, and shook her head. "Uh, yeah. That's one way of putting it. Most of them are in the camps. I'm not sure about the rest. Um.... this is Naveed. His sister goe-erhm..... went here."

"And Mettaliar," Crystal added from within the phone. She kept herself still hidden.

<"So that's his name...."> Iris mused, oblivious to the fact that it appeared she'd spoked without moving her lips.

She decided not to address the issue of loyalty at that moment. She didn't like the flash in Naveed's eyes, and she didn't want another confrontation to start. She shot a look in Mettaliar's direction that hopefully said, "Stay calm."

Virote seemed interested in helping as well, so she simply nodded. "Just cleaning up the grounds a bit, is all."

She bent to gathering debris, while her mind whirled around, trying to give itself a bit of focus.