Slate looked at the address. The building in front of him. The address, again. There was no mistake: the Palace Hotel lived up to its name. This was somewhat nicer than the accommodations his employees were in.

The blue-eyed teenager made his way into the lobby; he shared the elevator with a business man for a few floors, then road alone for one. The doors gave a subdued ding: he had arrived.

It had been a few days since he had entered Romania; several more since the X-Men had arrived. It was well overdue for the Leaders to meet, and discuss how matters were progressing. Even Pacifica, the Underground’s elusive head, would be joining them.

The paper came out again: quiet halls were strolled by carpet-muffled feet, until the appointed numbers aligned. He rose his hand, and knocked politely on Cold Steel’s door.

Blue was the color of her eyes, the color of both compassion and anger. He had no idea how he could read both from the same set of eyes but he some how managed it. His voice was serious no longer smiling like he usually did Sam watched those eyes as he continued to speak. ”I’m Sorry!” he had no problem admitting he was wrong but it still didn’t make things any easier for him, he still pictured Alex in Kaz’s arms. ”I overreacted, I was tired and hungry, and when I saw you and Kaz with each other I lost it, I don’t want to lose you Alex, and I should have been there when you couldn’t keep control…I’m sorry…”

Even if it had been the tenth time he had apologizing for the incident that happened a few days ago he still had the feeling that she wasn’t going to forgive him anytime soon, even if she said she would. Eyes trailing from the blues that sat across from him from the table to the television that played the news about a fake mutant safe house being destroyed Sam sighed slightly as the listed casualties only helped to aide in the ‘Anti-Mutant’ cause. Ears twitching slightly as the door shook a few times with a quite knock Sam rose from the chair to carry his exhausted frame over to the door.

Opening it and looking down slightly Sam smiled and spoke to the man with the blank expression, ”Slate, come on in, been waiting for you to show.” it was no lie, he was in fact waiting for Slate and the leader of the resistance to show so they could discuss their plans, hopefully they could all come to the conclusion that violence wasn’t the answer.

”I hope you don’t mind Slate, but I want Alex, to be here, she is a member of my team who was born an raised here, so I think she would be a great asset to the situation.” he nodded his head as he motioned for Slate to take a seat at the small four person table he was sitting at a few minutes before.

”I’m sorry!”

Tiredly, the molecule manipulator sighed. Was it the tenth or eleventh time Sam had apologized to her? She didn’t know, at some point she stopped counting. With her elbows placed on the table and with her chin resting on top of her hands, she listened to Sam. “- and I should have been there when you couldn’t keep control…I’m sorry…”” Alexandra mouthed the words as Sam was saying them, each and one of them engraved into her brain. The molecule manipulator leaned back on the chair, elbows sliding away from the top of the table, hands now resting on her knees. “I know Sam… And I already said that is fine. I understand.” Sure, she was still bothered by the non-trusting issue between the two of them but instead of apologizing over and over again, she actually wanted to see him trusting her… when the time came.

As silence fell between the two of them, the news of the destruction of a governmental building without a reason (yeah, right!) reached her ears. Blah, blah, blah. Mutants were the threat. Blah, blah, blah. Tilting her head to the side, the fingers of her right hand started to tap lightly against her knee. The knocking at the door made her turn her head toward the direction of the sound. Slate.

”Slate, come on in, been waiting for you to show. I hope you don’t mind Slate, but I want Alex, to be here, she is a member of my team who was born and raised here, so I think she would be a great asset to the situation.”

Alexandra didn’t move from her place at the table, just blue eyes scanned calmly the Kabal Leader. “Hello Slate.”

<<Pretend that you are bothered by this request.>>

Hands traveled from her knee to the table again as Alexandra leaned forward.

“So, what is this about?” Eyes traveled from Slate to Sam then back again, careful to have that ‘I don’t give a damn if you agree or not’ although she wasn’t sure if Slate would listen to her advice or not. Of course, she knew what this was about. A meeting with Pacifica, Slate had told her that before Sam had but the details (what a surprise!) had yet to be revealed. Well, at least the details that Sam had no need to know.

<<And this time you let me know what you’re planning exactly cause I’m not walking into this with the little information I know.>>

She wasn’t sure if Slate could pick up her mental tone, but in case he did, she was sure to transmit that she wasn’t meeting Pacifica in Slate’s usual style of him knowing everything and the others following blindly.

Cold Steel looked oddly drained. Exhaustion did not usually equate with exemplar reasoning skills; this was quite a poor condition for the man to speak to Pacifica in.

On the other hand, exhaustion did not usually equate with keen observation skills, either. That might prove useful.

>> “I hope you don’t mind Slate, but I want Alex, to be here, she is a member of my team who was born an raised here, so I think she would be a great asset to the situation.”

>> “Hello Slate.”

Baby blue eyes met sky blue; Slate refrained from taking a seat at the table. He was not entirely certain how to show surprise on his face; his hesitation would have to do.

“Hello, Alex. I believe we met at Sebastian’s wedding.” It had been Ghost’s wedding as well, of course. Sebastian’s name was the one that came to Slate’s mind, though: he was Slate’s mentor in healing. Ghost was merely the polite young woman who had borrowed his pants.

>> Pretend that you are bothered by this request.

Ah. That expression, Slate was confident in: he frowned slightly, and turned his eyes towards Cold Steel. “Are you quite sure...?” He asked, trailing off as if he did not want to question the lady’s qualifications in front of her. She would be the only one present who did not lead a faction: he hoped that would speak for itself.

>> “So, what is this about?”

>> And this time you let me know what you’re planning exactly cause I’m not walking into this with the little information I know.

“We are going to try and talk Ms. Pacifica, the Underground’s leader, into reining her people in. The killings, the pointless destruction they have been doing... it does not serve her cause. Do you know of Ms. Pacifica?” He asked, with an innocent blink.

Ah, my apologies for keeping you in the dark. Slate explained, in another realm of speech. I would like to orchestrate an opportunity to insert my loyalty command into Pacifica’s mind. Either Cold Steel needs to leave the room temporarily, or we must get her alone after the meeting; I will require her to submit willingly, or to have her unconscious. That will be where you come in. Do you know what her powers are?

‘Did you know I could insert loyalty commands’ was a question the young Leader did not think to ask. Baby blue blink.

So they had met at Ghost’s wedding, which was good, it would make everything hopefully run a lot smoother. Running his hands through his hair Sam nodded in Slate’s direction before adding, ”They way she is doing things now only increases the fear and hates of mutants, if she wants the registration to end then things have to change.” walking over to his chair next to Alex and sitting Sam pulled him closer to the table ready to continue on the conversation.

”Yeah, I’m positive, Alex proved herself time and time again here and I want her to be a part of this.” eyes glancing to the side Sam eyed Alex and gave a small grin, before looking back to Slate. Trying not to make his feelings for her obvious Sam quickly changed the subject back to the meeting, ”I have not yet, but I am looking forward to getting acquainted with her.” Sam said as he eyed his watch.

The sooner he met her the sooner he could try to convince her to stop doing what she was doing, like the Order all the actions she was performing with the resistance was doing little to aid them in their struggle. ”Anyways, do you have any ideas on how to convince her actions are counter productive?” Sam asked curiously as he looked to Slate. Sam planned on tossing out a few nonviolent ideas on how to overcome this registration but at the same time Sam was egger to hear what Slate had in mind.

“Hello, Alex. I believe we met at Sebastian’s wedding.”

A small nod was her response to this affirmation as fingers continued to tap against her knee. Tap, tap, tap.

“Are you quite sure...?”

The molecule manipulator smiled inside her mind. Slate knew when he had to take an advice and that pleased her. Sam’s answer also pleased her. Apparently, they were getting somewhere with the whole trusting issue. She smiled at the ice manipulator then, sky blue eyes traveled to the Kabal leader, for a moment wondering if Slate was aware of what kind of relationship was between Sam and her. Not that she cared what Slate said, anyway.


“We are going to try and talk Ms. Pacifica, the Underground’s leader, into reining her people in. The killings, the pointless destruction they have been doing... it does not serve her cause. Do you know of Ms. Pacifica?”

The tapping stopped as mentally, she listened the real plan. The fact that Slate could insert loyalty commands was simply ignored. At some point she got used with the ways the Kabal leader liked to work, and, ignoring him seemed the best option. Instead she focused on another word: Room. She frowned slightly, shifting her position on the chair.

<<Are you planning on meeting Pacifica in a room? If you want your plan to actually work… meet her in an open space.[/i]>>

Alexandra interrupted her thoughts for a few seconds, as her eyes traveled from one leader to another. Somehow, she found the fact that both of her leaders were in the same room amusing. “Yes. I know Pacifica… Better than anyone.” Moment of truth. Her eyes stopped on the X-Men leader. “And, as a matter of fact, you know her too, Sam.” She didn’t feel the need to go into details. Probably later. She had set her priorities since she had first known about the meeting and dealing with Pacifica was first on her list. So, without adding another word, she took a deep breath and spoke again, this time only for Slate to hear.

<<Pacifica won’t submit willingly. And render her unconscious will be difficult… but not impossible.”

Sky blue eyes traveled once again between the two men in the room. “Pacifica doesn’t want the Registration Act to end. This is her reason to gather more adepts to her cause and attack. So… I doubt that she’ll listen to any of you.” The molecule manipulator sighed as she leaned back on the chair, stretching her legs for a second.

<<Her powers negate any thought that is meant to harm her. I’m not sure about the area she affects; it might have grown since I have last seen her. However, she has a weakness. If someone is exposed to her powers for a long time, that person becomes immune.>>

Legs were brought back to their previous position as Alexandra placed her hands on the table. She got up from the chair, pushing it away from the table as she got up. Arms were folded in front of her as she moved next to the window, leaning against it, still facing the two men.

“My assumption is that Pacifica agreed to meet the two of you so she could convince you that she’s doing the right thing.” A corner of her lips rose slightly to form a smile. “Get you on her side.” The molecule manipulator shrugged. “Also. Pacifica won’t come alone. Probably she’ll bring her second in command, Loki, with her and some back-ups won’t be far away.”

Alexandra didn’t waste the seconds that formed the pause in her speech. She knew that there was much information that needed to be absorbed by both Sam and Slate… but mostly by Sam and for him she remained quiet after she dropped a few lines. She knew that at some point the question ‘how do you know all these things?’ would follow. Concerned eyes were locked on Sam for the seconds she stopped talking. Thoughts however were directed toward Slate.

<<I’m not sure if you know but Pacifica had been my previous leader, for years. I am immune to her powers when she’s affecting an area. She’d need to focus her powers on me and then she’d be vulnerable to other attacks. One of us is bound to render her unconscious if we could time our attacks properly. Also, Cold Steel. Pacifica will bring Loki with her. If she feels that she’s being in danger, she’ll send Loki to summon the back-ups. We could send Cold Steel to deal with him. [/i]>>

The molecule manipulator took a deep breath. “We’ll be walking into some sort of trap… but. As long as both Pacifica and Loki will stay in our sight they can’t do anything.” Arms were unfolded as Alexandra stopped talking waiting for reactions.

>> “Yeah, I’m positive, Alex proved herself time and time again here and I want her to be a part of this.”

“If you insist,” Slate replied, attempting to sound reluctant. Later, he would have to ask Ms. Kettler how she had gotten this far into Sam’s confidence. He quite approved.

>> “Anyways, do you have any ideas on how to convince her actions are counter productive?”

>> “Pacifica doesn’t want the Registration Act to end. This is her reason to gather more adepts to her cause and attack. So… I doubt that she’ll listen to any of you.”

“I hope to convince her with proof.” Slate stated simply. “My people are starting to have some success with their briberies, whereas Ms. Pacifica is steadily loosing both members and potential recruits to the police. I hope that we will be able to negotiate somewhat—to convince her to hold off on attacks while my people work, and open the possibly that we will help to free her captured teammates, as well as give other mutants the choice between fleeing the country or joining her. I hope that the possibility of reinforcing her troops will appease her: at the same time, we can ask that she put her own troops towards our ends, both in helping to get mutants to safety and in approaching politicians. We could get much done on many fronts, if we were all coordinated.”

This was true. However, baring complete coordination—including coordination with the Order—Slate was quite willing for things to remain as they were. The threat of imminent social collapse and grievous personal harm was quite motivating to politicians, and the Order and Resistance were quite good at providing it. The Kabal, in turn, was working to use that relatively mindless fear-mongering towards productive ends. And the X-Men were nobly shuttling the innocents to safety. The innocents with x-genes, in any case. Someone really should help the humans. Something to worry about another time, perhaps. For now: Circe was saying very important things.

Troublesome powers, and the way around them; back ups, seconds in command, and former allegiances. Interesting.

>> “My assumption is that Pacifica agreed to meet the two of you so she could convince you that she’s doing the right thing. Get you on her side. Also. Pacifica won’t come alone. Probably she’ll bring her second in command, Loki, with her and some back-ups won’t be far away.”

“I can see why you brought her to this meeting, Sam,” Slate said, giving an approving nod to his fellow Leader. Even though, perhaps, his fellow Leader was also hearing some things for the first time.

“What would do you advise that we do?” He asked Circe aloud.

In the comforts of their more private conversation, he said, I would prefer if Sam does not learn about my command ability. What would you suggest we do, to trigger Loki’s leaving and Sam’s pursuit? Being completely honest with the X-Leader was not an option.

Giving Alex a curious look as an eyebrow quirked he asked her, ”When was this? I think I would remember meeting the leader of an underground Mutant supremacist group…” still slightly confused Sam went through his head and placed names with faces and shook his head slightly, ”I don’t recall ever meeting her Al…” Sam said as he looked back to Slate who was explaining how his plans of bribery were working so well.

Sam frowned slightly not very thrilled how they were making progress, but then again they were making progress towards a more peaceful solution than mutant camps so he couldn't complain about the Kabal leader’s plan. Politicians were in fact some of his least favorite people in the world, more crooked than lawyers and ready to stab you in the back for power. Remembering some of the missions he was on as a child he recalled how low some politicians were willing to go to make sure they got the power they were looking for.

”The last thing I want here is a war Slate, too many lives have been lost here already, and I want to end this as peacefully as possible.” he frowned slightly as he looked at his hands and let out a small shrug, ”If she won’t appeal to reason the next best thing might be to remove her from power all together, how we go about doing that I have no idea, but I won’t support murder if she won't listen to us, there is always another option.” Sam said his head starting to throb again.

Moving his foot to tap Alex’s when Slate approved of her being there. Giving her a small flash of a grin Sam then commented on Pacfica’s method of meeting them, ”She can bring who ever she likes, I doubt she would risk trying to start something with both the Kabal and the X’s as you had said before Slate she was losing numbers and I think this is more of an act of desperation than anything else.”

He paused and then looked to Alex, ”From the way you talk about Pacifica she isn’t stupid, stubborn maybe but not stupid, and if she refused our help or tried to set a trap for us it would be the equivalent to her digging her own grave…” Sam cut his words off as he retreated to his thoughts, ”If she is stupid enough to set a trap, why don’t we try and spring it?”

Hmmm. Alexandra could almost smile at Sam not knowing when he’d met Pacifica and Gabriel. And yet, she didn’t. Instead, she kept her straight face on, sky blue eyes locked on the ice mancer. “Yes, you did. Border hopping. The happy couple in the back.” She repeated Sam’s exact words. A corner of her lips curled up slightly. “Pacifica and Gabriel.” Quite curious that Sam had yet to wonder how exactly did she know all that information, she continued. “Where do you think I got the tip about the trap we were about to walk in?”

Without really waiting for an answer, she continued, this time shifting her eyes to her other leader. “For Pacifica, all these people she’s recruiting are just … pawns. All the upper echelon is kept safe for other plans. Letting her own people getting caught offers a motivation. Buys their loyalty.” Alexandra smiled slightly. “She has a plan, I am sure of it. I just don’t know what exactly… I’m still waiting on my contact to find it out.” And, secretly, she hoped that Fausto was not having troubles getting himself in the upper ranks quickly.

“As for this meeting. You must realize that the Underground has mutants with various powers. Including mind control. I bet that she’ll have one of those not far, in case she can’t convince you with her lovely voice. Pacifica does not see failure as an option and… I believe that is her weakness….And, yes, words are not an option but they can be used to buy time. I tried talking her out of this, several times, but she’s too convinced that this time she’ll win.” And also have revenge. Alexandra paused for a moment, pushing herself off the window. “My advice, is to subtly suggest that if she won’t agree with you, she’ll have both X-Men and Kabal against her. With me knowing the Resistance’s location and on your side, she’d feel that this is a real threat. Maybe she’ll back off.”

<<This is your answer, Slate. She won’t back off. As soon as I make a move against her, she’ll send Loki away because she’d feel threatened. And, let’s say that she has yet to know that I’m immune to her mutation. It will be quite a surprise, don’t you agree?>>

Slate was not yet used to holding two conversations at once. Fortunately, it was easy to tell which was more important.

<<This is your answer, Slate. She won’t back off. As soon as I make a move against her, she’ll send Loki away because she’d feel threatened. And, let’s say that she has yet to know that I’m immune to her mutation. It will be quite a surprise, don’t you agree?>>

Ms. Circe, Slate replied, remind me to give you a rise.

For the sake of the other conversation, he gave a nod. “Even if this is a trap, I believe we’ll be able to bluff our way out, given the forces we represent. And we must at least attempt to change her mind. If that fails... then we can consider other options.” He met the X-Leader’s eyes. “Though I certainly must agree that murder is no option at all.” Not in any way tied to him, at least, and only if it showed a clear benefit. Sometimes taking the head off a beast just made its claws more dangerous. In this case, removing Pacifica from power would leave the Resistance in chaos. Chaos on top of violence did not equate to ‘beneficial,’ in Slate’s mind.

How curious, however, that the X-Leader had thought of such things. And been the one to suggest her ‘removal’, in the first place. It occurred to Slate that he knew very little about Sam.

“I fear I must warn you ahead of time,” Slate started, somewhat hesitantly, “if things come to a fight... I am rather useless. I can heal myself, and I can heal either of you. That is about the end of my combat abilities.”

Being useless, it was quite natural that when Loki ran off, it would not be Slate who chased after him.

Sam stared at Alex for a moment recalling the happy couple that she had described. It wouldn’t be the first time he would have used that description to describe a ‘happy’ looking pair. He scratched the back of his head for a moment to recall the pair of mutants who decided to take a bus back to Bucharest. ”The brother and sister? You tripped onto the brother right?” Sam asked trying to see if the happy couple he described and the one she was talking about were one in the same.”[/color]

Sam frowned slightly, ”They were the reason you looked so worried in the sewers!” Sam said, he figured out why Alex was so distant from them or tried to be. He smiled slightly and gave a slight nod feeling like he was finally brought up to the level of information everyone else was on.

Wondering who Alex’s contact was Sam shivered slightly, oh how he disliked mutants with the ability of mind control. Well any mind mutation that allows you to read your target like a book it cut down on the privacy that he loved to have. A simple nod and Sam understood what Alex meant, there were some people that couldn’t stand to lose when losing sometimes could be important as winning. If Pacifica was truly afraid of losing that might be the leverage Slate and he could use.

Slightly curious to Alex’s source of knowledge he figured he’d best ask he later now however he would focus on the meeting and now Slate who was mentioning his lack of skill in a fight. ”I hope it doesn’t come to that but if it does, Alex and I can handle it, I doubt Pacifica would come looking for a fight anyways…” the odds were stacked against her and unless she had some sort of death wish he doubted she would try to start anything. Not only was there Slate and Alex in the room but also the hotel they were having the meeting in was crawling with X-Men most of which would only have to take a flight of stairs to arrive if needed.

”So when exactly is she supposed to arrive?”

Sam took the information she was giving surprisingly well, Alexandra noted, a bit shocked by this fact. Either that or he wasn’t exactly realizing that she had been part of an organization that praised mutant supremacy. Well, not exactly the time to wonder about that. At Sam’s question about the happy couple in the back, she simply nodded. “Yeah. I tripped.” She replied, containing a smile.

<< Ms. Circe, remind me to give you a rise.>>

At this, she was tempted to offer a smile to the young Kabal Leader. But she refrained herself from doing it, instead just letting the straight line of her lips curl slightly for a brief moment as she turned her eyes toward him. She didn’t give him a reply, instead tilting her head to the side as he spoke.

“Indeed murder is not an option. Having Pacifica disappear from the scene would make the Underground chaotic. They are quite fond of her.” She explained with a smirk. She didn’t comment at Slate’s statement about his fighting skills. Sam had already offered their help, and she, on the other hand, knew that the battle plan was another.

”So when exactly is she supposed to arrive?”

Alexandra frowned slightly. Did Sam listen to what she said earlier? The molecule manipulator sighed. “If you did set up a meeting in this room, I strongly suggest otherwise. Call her and set another meeting place. An open space. If she had a plan regarding this meeting, changing places suddenly will leave flaws in it and … if you’re in a room with her Sam… you don’t actually stand a chance against her.” Shifting her eyes from a leader to another, the molecule manipulator paused for a few moments. “And don’t let her know I come. I’d rather be a surprise.”

((ooc: Jumping us ahead to the meeting. If either of you mind, tell me! I can rewrite. )

Phone calls were made, and the meeting’s arrangements were changed. Pacifica was polite about it, but her words carried a distinct undercurrent of not pleased. Though the new meeting place wasn’t far from the hotel, she negotiated an extra hour before their meeting time. Slate did not ask what the hour was for. It was only polite, after all, to let her set up her men again in peace.

The new meeting place was a somewhat deserted square; the police and mutants had clashed at a business near here a few days ago, and the public at large was cautiously avoiding the area. It was large, it was open, and it was relatively unwatched by outsiders. It was quite sufficient, for the needs of both sides.

Slate sat down at a table in front of a small cafe, the sign on its door turned over to ‘closed’. There were enough seats at the table for six. Like the square itself, it would do.

Like Alex suggested the meeting was moved, he didn’t really see the point to moving the meeting location after Slate had given her an extra hour to prepare for the meeting most likely setting up her troops should need be. It was at that point Sam ha a full realization how serious she was about winning. She was willing to burn the bridge of both X-Men and Kabal just so she could get her way. Sam was instantly reminded of that girl from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie, sure the greedy girl got what ever she wanted but eventually she was consumed by it.

As they arrived to the location Sam looked around the Square and frowned slightly, tons of locations to hide your men and the fact that he had lost the security of the hotel they were at upset him slightly. No longer was the rest of the team only a call away, no longer did they have the edge. He looked over to Alex offering her a smile and then over to Slate to do the same.

As Slate sat down Sam held off on the sitting for a moment fully observing the area, if a fight did break out it was expected to know your surroundings before the fight ensued (a fight that he wouldn’t start) after a minute passed Sam sat down next to Slate waiting for the meeting to begin.

The meeting place was changed. Again, Alexandra was grateful that the Kabal leader listened to her advice. Sam, on the other hand, was slightly upset about changing locations. She didn’t pay too much attention, for Sam didn’t actually know what the plan was. She was almost feeling sorry for using him to chase Gabriel down later down the line, but it was something needed to be done.

She almost smiled when hearing that Pacifica delayed the meeting. A plan made in an hour couldn’t be compared with one made in a day. Besides, Loki wasn’t going far enough to alert the other Underground members. She trusted Sam with that.

Reaching the square, Alexandra refrained herself from seating, not even when both of her leaders did. She just kept her eyes on the surroundings, standing by the table, arms folded, waiting for Pacifica to show as the clock slowly advanced toward the hour of the meeting.

Minutes later, two silhouettes became visible at the edge of the square. As they advanced, she recognized Pacifica and Gabriel. Nothing surprising there. The two reached their table soon, and, as she expected, both were a bit surprised to see her there. “Well… and I thought this was a meeting between leaders. You representing any faction, Circe?”

The molecule manipulator shrugged. “Apparently I don’t need to lead one to be here.” She replied, shifting her eyes to Gabriel. Who was kind of busy glaring at Sam. Alexandra sighed. There went her hopes of Gabriel forgetting about what happened during the border mission.

“Well, I’m here. Let’s talk.” Pacifica announced, sounding rather smug. The molecule manipulator shifted her eyes from Gabriel to Slate, then Sam, and finally settled on Pacifica. Talk, indeed.