Jessie's phone went off like an alarm, disturbing her sleep as she reached over from her sleeping position on her couch to answer it. The news she heard was depressing, but not unexpected. After all, Ashley's behavior had become somewhat erratic as of late. However, the news of her death was a blow to her twin sister's already dreadful mood. Jessie and Ashley were very similar, and not just in their identical appearances. Both grew up a little different from normal girls and both went into the job of Law Enforcement, with Ash going to the FBI and Jessie becoming a officer with the NYPD. Of course, while both were quite skilled at their jobs and could easy become the top of their fields, only Ashley really went anywhere with her job.

Jessie's job was prematurely aborted thanks to a sexual harassment fiasco where she was the victim and somehow still got punished. Sure, the official report of her termination cited her violent reaction to the harassment, but it wasn't like the guy didn't have it coming. Besides, it was just a few months in Intensive Care, and its not like the bullet hit anything extremely that was necessary for life, right? He still had one nut, and his penis wasn't too badly scarred. People tend to overreact anyway.

Her sister, far from receiving the same fate as Jessie, went on the lead a very respectful career within the FBI, though Jessie still didn't know what the fuck was up with her sister joining those mutant idealists at the school...especially considering she didn't even use her own name, instead choosing to steal Jessie's name. Jessie was aware that the name thing was to prevent her superiors when catching wind of her mutant nature, but that still didn't answer why Ash, or as she took to calling herself Truthbringer, was even involved with mutants in the first place. Why was her sister involved with such radicals?

These were questions that arose whenever Jessie, while patrolling, happened to catch a glimpse of her sister with various known mutants. Not that Jessie had a problem with mutants herself. After all, she wasn’t exactly a regular human herself.

Jessie sighed and rolled out of bed. It looked like she was going to need to go on another one of her adventures, where she risked life and limb while on some self-fulfilling quest for some unknown prize. Jessie may not carry a badge anymore, but her detective skills still told her that whoever murdered her sister had some sort of ties with this “Xavier‘s School“. Jessie figured that she might as well pay a little visit to their offices and see what they know. After all, if anyone would have had the stupidity to murder an agent of the US government, it would be spandex-wearing nutjobs.

She rose up, and began to look around for some clothing that hadn't been worn until it gave off a constant odor. She removed the clothing she slept in, which happened to be the clothing she had worn the night before, and redressed herself in some new attire. She finally found a white dress shirt and put that on under a brown suit jacket, putting on the suit trousers that went with that jacket as well. As soon as she was fully dressed, she reached onto her desk and picked up her cell phone and placed a few calls to some select friends of hers, and eventually was told the address of the School. Scribbling it down on a nearby pad, she ripped it off, folded it up, and moved over to her apartment door.

As she headed towards the door, she remembered she still had one advantage over the "normal" citizen, no matter how distant her relationship with the police had become. Heading back to her couch, she reached behind the pillow and pulled out a slumbering ferret. They may have taken her badge, but she didn‘t exactly need a police pistol to fight, thanks to her particular genetic gift. She gently shook the ferret awake and the creature slowly opened her eyes. “Jesus, Jess, what the fuck is the problem?“ the creature yelped, and Jessie smirked. Ever since she had been sixteen, she had the uncanny ability to be understood by and understand animals, and mentally nudge them to help her out. Not one for the Dr. Doolittle route, she mostly used it to steal cigarettes from the store and annoy people she perceived as bullies.

“Ok, Tomboy, Aunt Ashley is dead, so we need to go find out who killed her.“ Jessie said, trying to keep her voice as emotionless as possible. Now fully awake, the excitable creature leapt up onto Jessie’s shoulder. “HOLY SHIT! WHO WAS IT? THE MAFIA? CROOKED COPS? WHO?“ Jessie walked along as the ferret, experienced in standing on Jessie’s shoulder, hung on. “I don’t know, but I suspect it’s Mutants. So we are going to pay a little visit to some mutants I know.“

Finally feeling sufficiently prepared, she made her way towards the door, out into the hallway and than into the noonday sun. On the way, she stopped at the local diner to get some waffles to go. After all, if a fight was going to break out, she had to be fully nourished. Besides, she enjoyed waffles immensely. And right now, she needed all the joy she could get.

{JFK International Airport}

Taking his first steps on American soil must've been the only gift his father ever left him, Dominik being born a technical american citizen after all. There was no stopping at the baggage claim, as there was nothing to claim. And there was no stopping for food, for no sooner he had arrived at the terminal entrance he was greeted by a man, not with words, but with an envelope reading: "kalter Sommer", an inside joke between him and "the boss". Stepping outside the terminal into the embracing warmth of the noonday sun, he slowly relinquished the contents of the enevelope to reveal a wad of cash, as well as a slip of paper with the address of a vacant safe house. Dominik grined, placing the money and paper in his coat pocket, looking up in deep thought if not reveling in his own luck. Still looking into the sky he motioned an arm into the air, hailing a cab in his usual apathetic manor.

Getting into the cab, the driver turned towards him in inquiery "Where to buddy?"

Thinking for a moment he reached into his pocket and then after produced another grin. "Take me to the best diner in town."

"hah i know just the place, nice little establishment, real quaint."

The driver putting his foot to the peddle sped off for the diner, only remarking "did it get cold in here? or did the Mets lose again." soon enough Dominik was outside the aforementioned diner, leaving the cab driver a good tip for the ride, he entered the building with his usual aura of intrigued. Noticing the stares, as people instinctly felt the chill pass through the building, he walked forward towards a nearby counter stool and took a seat. Gaining the attention of one of the waitresses he ordered a plate of the house special, and waited tentively for his food to arrive..

Tomboy's head poked out of the inside of Jessie's jacket, a spot it frequents when in a location where she is not welcome. "Did you just...?" she started, but Jessie cut her off. "Yes, Tom, I felt it. I've been feeling it since the purple man entered." she said, with a quick jerk over to the spot of the new arrival. Though she didn't want to excite her assistant, Jessie was relatively sure that the new arrival, whomever he was, didn't just let in a cold draft when he entered the building. No, he was one of "them", a mutant. And she suspected that if he could create such a coldness without even appearing to mean to do it, she didn't want to challenge him. Not when she couldn't be at her full potential.

Though she was far-removed from the police and didn't feel like she owed anyone anything, she still felt somewhat of a desire to make sure the public was kept as safe as possible. If this mutant, as she was sure he was, was involved in his sister's murder in any way or shape, she didn't want to confront him on it in a populated area where Jessie would be at best distracted and at worst blindsided. After all, what qualms would a murderer have about crossfire. No, if she was going to confront this man, she was going to have to do it on her own terms and with her own rules.

Her scheming was cut short as her waffles arrive in their tinfoil wrapper, ready to be taken out. Jessie gave on final glace at the purple-clad man before taking out her wallet and paying for her bill, laying a 20% tip on the table. She then, hesistating for a second and gave the waitress an additional five dollars and a napkin where she had scribbled her phone number. "I want you to give this to the man over there." she said, giving a slight gesture to the purple-clad man. The waitress raised an eyebrow slightly. "You have a crush on the boy?" Jessie gave a slight half-smirk. "I'm paying you not to ask questions. Give him the number, tell him who gave it to him if he even remembers seeing me as he was coming in." She said and, with Tomboy secured inside her jacket, she picked up her wrapped-up waffles and exited the diner.

Once she had reached outside, she walked a slight distance from the door, in case she was being set up and the purple man had goons ready to grab her if she revealed that she was on to anything. She finally stopped about half a block down at an alley way, still within her range of seeing anyone enter or exit the diner while still somewhat safe from being viewed. Still, Jessie was never one for stealth. She was more "Burst in and Break Balls" normally, but she was niether in the mood nor in the position to be challenging potential mutant murderers today. She whipped open her cell-phone and turn it on, waiting to see if the man contacted her. As Tomboy made her way back onto Jessie's shoulder, Jessie slowly leaned back on the alley's wall and waited.

Dominik was overjoyed. His food had arrived and quickly with little waste of time began his eating campaign, as if he had'nt eaten in years. Another waitress moving slowly from behind drop'd a napkin next to his plate just as the red headed woman walked outta the diner. With a slight look of confusion he inquired upon the waitress. "No thank you miss, already have one right here" still speakn with his mouth half full. the waitress turned to Nik with a smile on her face "It has a number on it, ya'know?" Nik still displaying a look of confusion has he looked over the napkin. "It's from the woman wearing the brown pant suit.. yaknow that red head who just left." Thinking hard, knowing his memory wasnt as good as he'd like it to be. He then stood up, leaving the money for the meal+tip on the counter. He slowly walked to the diner door, napkin in hand, figuring why he didnt own a cell phone. Looking back on life he realized he had no reason to contact people , let alone be contacted, besides cell phones were pretty annoying especially if you didnt know how to turn it to silent.

Walking outside he looked around for what would catch his eye, strolling a bit. He began thinking about the person in which the number belong. "Brown pantsuit?... red head?..... could it be?.." remembering a face from the diner, distinguishing it from the other subtle stares, he thought aloud.. "The green-eyed woman?.. yeah, thats it" grinning as if he had won a contest. he turned to his right after finding what he had been searching for, after walking a few feet down the street from the diner. A pay phone stood before him as he searched his pocket for change, to no avail. he then searched the phone and to his surprise was rewarded with two American quarters. He unfolded the napkin in his hand, putting the change in the phone, and began dialing the number.

*beep beep boop bop beep dew fop.... ring.. ring.. ring*

Jessie peaked around the edge of the alleyway and spotted her target, hoping not to be spotted. She wasn't very good with "keeping a low profile", but hopefully this Purple-man wasn't very perceptive. He made his way over to the payphone, and as soon as he inserted the two quarters, Jessie's cell-phone began buzzing in her hand. Jessie tensed up. She was going to have to do this in a certain manner. She couldn't just yell into the phone about how he killed her sister. No, she thought, that would only revealed her location and put her in a very dangerous position. No, she would have to gain this man's trust. If he did kill Ash, she could ease the information out of him safer and easier than trying to force it out of him. She would need to do this in a particular manner. The phone buzzed again and Jessie opened it.

"Hello, Jessie Baltos speaking."

Nik was a for a moment unlike his usual self. A little tense considering the situation, not knowing what the green-eyed woman could want from him particularily. he grew silent as he heard her answer the phone, but soon answered back.. "hello?.. yes, uh pleasure to make your aquiantence miss baltos, im goin out on a limb here and make the asumption you left me that napkin, no?"

As a teenager, Jessie had supported herself by conning guillible tourists out of their money through various methods. These methods had granted Jessie a keen sense of determining emotion through the voice. It wasn't a mutant gift, just a gift of experience. Though coupled with her mutant gift, there wasn't a tourist she couldn't con. But in this paticular situation, her con artist sense was tingling. She felt this man was...nervous? No, not really, more like...confused or tense, perhaps? Whatever it was, she sensed it gave her the advantage in the conversation. If any situation needed Jessie to have as much of a presence as possible, this would be it. Armed with this, Jessie's voice took on a more confident tone. "Yes, I did leave such a napkin for you. You know my name, so perhaps before we continue I could get yours?"

Nik smirked, leaning up against the pay phone. Thinking to himself to where he had heard that before, as if someone would have meaning to know his name. He digressed and continued on in a more casual yet formal tone.. "haha you ask for my name as if i owe you that much, but in my belief my name carries more weight to it than anything, even my own life.. To know anothers name is to have power over that person, and to be able to speak their name is what grants them that power. Im much obliged to the fact you would introduce yourself wih your own name, but i sadly can not be as forth coming. However, if you would like to refer to me as anyone you may call me by my alias, Geist. no offense intended on my part of course haha, just how i was raised is all.. Anyhow, what is it Miss Baltos that you believe i can do for you?"

Jessie couldn't help but give a small smirk. The man was trying to mess with her. "Very well, Geist. I call you because I get the feeling you are a mutant, and I'm looking for answers that only a mutant can give me. What, if anything, do you know about Xavier's school or the students of such a school?" Jessie said, trying to keep her voice as full of confidence and power as she could manage. The more she talked to this "Geist" character, the more she suspected he could be swayed by intimidation. "That is, of course, if you know anything at all."

"hmmmm, Xavier.. xavier.. nope, sadly my dear it doesnt ring a bell. Must not be my kinda crowd, either way, whether i knew anything that could at all be of use to you, all really depends on one thing.. whether i trust you or not. And again Miss Baltos i apologize but i am far from being intimate when it comes to trusting a nice young woman like yourself outta the blue. But I wonder, what could a green-eyed vixyn like yourself be needing with such information, hmm?" leaning his back against a brick wall next to the phone.

Jessie was pretty good at telling lie from truth, so she believed him, at least for now, that he didn't know much about Ashley's death. Still, if Jessie was anywhere close to the mark as to the power of his young man, she wouldn't be wrong to keep on his good side, which is why she was now engaging in small talk.

"Vixen?" Jessie said, suppressing a chuckle. "Thats the first time I've heard that in reference to me, Geist. Usually, I get more of "Crazyass Bitch" labeling." she gave a soft laugh and then continued. "My sister was hanging around with a bunch of those people, and then this morning I get a call she turned up dead. So I'm trying to find out the who, the what, and the where. And once I do, whomever it was is going to be in bad situation. I don't take kindly to people crossing me." She hoped that if she was wrong and this guy was involved, that her "strength-bluffing" would keep him in check, especially if he is as skittish as he sounded.

He snickered under his breath for a moment; fairly interested in what she had said. "really? a crazyass bitch with a dead sister out for revenge, sounds like an oscar to me. But ya know what, you dont seem all that crazy let alone a bitch, and ya know the best remedy to foul play is a little vendetta. So "keenly interesting" would be a better label in my opinion, but hey just thinking out loud. So.. what if i knew about your sister and that school you were speaking of? what if i had something to do with her death, huh? what would you have done?" Smirking intensely. "How would you have dealt with me? What could you have possibly planned to handle the group of people responsible for her death? especially when you think they're mutants, i mean what chance would you have mein frau(my dear).

The back of Jessie's head buzzed ever so slightly, indicating he had actually spoken some foreign language during that last sentence. It happened sometimes, especially with a eclectic language such as english. Jessie was silent for a moment, but then moved her mouth away from the phone and looked up towards the sky. If Geist had excellent hearing and paying close attention he might have heard something like a birdcall.

Jessie returned her mouth to the phone. "You ever see Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"?", she said, her voice talking on a somewhat casual inflection. "Look up."

A bunch of various birds, mostly pidgeons with a few seagulls, decending on the area surrounding Geist, with a couple landing on top of the phone booth itself.

Jessie smirked and spoke again. "Think that, only I would decide when and where it happened. Thus, I could make sure falcons were ready to swoop. I could make sure wolves were ready to hunt. I could make sure Cobras were ready to strike."

Nik began swatting at a pigeon that had landed on his head, cursing at the birds in his own language as he shooed them away. Leaning against the nearby wall Nik had a look of dis-comfort as he covered his fore-head with one hand. Soon after, a smile could be seen gleaming across his face, as it seemed his attitude had become more light-hearted. Nik cheerfully responded to Jessie's bird calling skills. "ah, i see, very interesting mein frau. But a city is hardly a place for a pack of wolves to come on your command, even more interesting would be how useful a flock of birds still fairs against an adversary with certain.. talents. As you might find out for yourself, your enemies might pose a greater danger, not too in anyway underestimate your abilities, but you came to me looking for answers that you believe only a mutant can give you.. but i shall instead give you an important piece of advice.. from one mutant to another... before you go around questioning random mutants, maybe you should.."

And at that moment, Nik let go of the phone phasing through the same wall he had been leaning up against and in seconds appeared behind jessie in the alleyway to deliver the rest of his message as a whisper in her ear.. ".. use what briliance you already hold and follow the bread crumbs to its source.. too cryptic?"

Jessie spun around at the same time she leapt away, and ungracefully collided with a bunch of garbage cans next to her. She picked herself up with as much dignity as she could muster in the situation and glared at the sudden appearence of Geist. "Interesting mutation..." she said, as Tomboy began its climb back up onto her shoulder. "Which is exactly why I choose you. You have an interesting and, I suspect, a powerful mutation. My sister, as you might understand, was a mutant herself, and one of an advanced level. No regular mutant could have taken her down, Mr. Geist. If I suspected your power was flight or mutant memorization of dance moves, I would not have bothered. However, since your mutantion seems to be one of a high degree, I choose to guage your reaction to what I said. I have a ability, abeit not a mutant one, to read people by their voices..." she said, her voice trailing off.