(OOC: Open to anyone looking for some rp time to kill. But, uh, don't necessarily expect a friendly welcome. )

Vibe had been going stir crazy, stuck in the Labs with nothing to do but train, a rather useless task as far as she was concerned, since her abilities were useless without Amp. Even her hypnosong didn't seem to work. Finally, she'd had enough. She needed air. So she had stalked to the garage, found the nearest car with keys in it, and taken off, though not before one of the Lab security guards handed her an ugly watch with a tracker in it. She tossed the thing in the back seat as she took off. She had the cellphone Mars had given her, and she felt that was enough.

She left the car in a parking garage, preferring to walk around the city; traffic was too much of a bother to deal with. She was dressed down, in plain blue jeans and a white tee, with a long coat against the chill air. She had her long red hair tied back in a braid, and tinted glasses over her eyes. Going against her chaos-craving attitude, she had decided to try and keep a low profile. Stalkers still were on the look out for mutants, and she definitely didn't want to draw their attention.

But still, she needed some decent clothes. In her size. She headed out of the garage and out onto the street. First things first. She needed money to spend, having only brought a little cash.

She paused at a corner to eye the ever-fluctuating crowd for a likely victim.

Naveed was walking down the street grumbling to himself about the difficulties of Rupert and the resistance when he bonked shoulders with a woman wallking the opposite direction. "watch it!" he snapped in an angry and annoyed tone. Unfourtunantly Naveed had just barked an order without specifying exactly what the young woman should be looking at. In addition to probably being pissed off by the rude oversized man- if the woman didnt have any strong psychic abilities she made feel very compelled to watch anything moving near by.

ooc: lol lets see where this goes!

(OOC: This should be fun. )

Vibe ignored most of the people passing her by; her concentration focused on finding a likely suspect for profitable pickpocketing. But one particularly large man nearly knocked her over. She looked up and opened her mouth in preparation to give him a piece of her mind....

"Watch it!"

.... and promptly forgot what she was going to say. Instead her mouth snapped shut, and she stood there, in his path, staring up at him blankly. She didn't think he was fascinating, by any means, except for maybe his size compared to her. Of course she was used to Abyss's size, so it wasn't as if he overwhelmed her or anything.

But for some reason she just felt compelled to watch his every move now.

A confused frown passed over her face.

Naveed gave an annoyed growl when he coudlnt move and furthur. The young woman was standing in his way staring at him blankley. It took him a minute to realize what he'd done. He slapped himself in the forhead. "Damnit." he rolled his eyes. "Stop watching me and forget this happened" sure she could forget they'd just bumped into each other and he gave her an order she felt so compelled to follow- but how would he explain towering over her and staring at her? Naturally Naveed not being so bright didn't think that far ahead. Instead he stood to see if his command took affect.

ooc: let me know if anything I do with Navi is not OK and I'll edit.

(OOC: Will do, and the same goes for Vibe. Hmm.... two versions of mind control meeting up in the middle of New York.... *sings* Possibilities..... )

Vibe blinked, and shook her head slightly. The last thing she remembered was being nearly bowled over. He must have hit her pretty hard, since she had a momentary blank-out. She glared up at the man who was still standing over her.

"Watch it Paul Bunyan! You don't own the sidewalk." She glowered, then a fleeting idea penetrated the anger. She crossed her arms. "Don't you owe me an apology? Or maybe something else?"

Vibe began running her fingernail over the armband she wore on her upper arm. A soft note began to make itself heard. A small crowd began to form around the two facing off, falling victim to the hypnotic melody, and awaiting an order. She watched the tall man for any signs that he, too, was falling under the song's influence. She saw no reason he wouldn't, assuming that he was simply like every other human walking by.

Naveed's nostrils flaired and he stared down at the fiesty girl. He crossed his arms and grunted. "You've got some attitude" he commented. "Too much for someone so small" he looked around at the crowd gathering. Was she a mutant? Why would she risk using her powers in the open like this? It didn't matter... Naveed could do away with her as easily as anyone else.

"Apology? For what? You walked into me little girl." he grinned. He coudln't help it. He was getting totally sucked in to the idea of a face off. He'd been so stressed with this resistance crap and worrying about Raina and dealing with Rupert that the idea of blowing off some steam on this kid seemed great. Of course, he wasn't one to differentiate between guys and gals so Naveed snarked back, "I think you better head back to your little pond big fish... because this is the ocean and out here you'll get eaten." he cracked his knuckles into fists by his side waiting for her move.

Vibe's frown deepened a bit. He wasn't falling for her melody. She hadn't yet run across a human who could resist it, so that must mean he was a mutant, probably one with psychic abilities of some sort. Not someone she should toy with on her own.

<"Of course, I'm not completely on my own..."> she thought, seeing the dull-eyed crowd around them.

"You've got some attitude. Too much for someone so small."

She sneered. "You have no idea."

"Apology? For what? You walked into me little girl."

"Uh, no, I don't think so. You nearly knocked me over, which means you are in my way. Ya oughta try watchin' the road once in awhile Goliath."

And then he grinned at her. She couldn't believe, he was grinning at her. So now she was amusing? Like a clown? And his next words served to further rile her up.

"I think you better head back to your little pond big fish... because this is the ocean and out here you'll get eaten."

Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Little pond? Fish in the ocean? Puh-lease!" She took a closer look, then let an incredulous laugh escape her. He was serious!

Okay, then, she could play along. As long as the Stalkers didn't show up....

She turned and eyed the humans standing around. "I think he owes me some monetary compensation," she announced. "Don't you?"

A monotone "Yes," rippled through the group.

"Good." Vibe smiled and stepped back. "Get it for me."

As one the crowd began to press in on the tall man, hands groping for all of his pockets, looking for a wallet or cashclip, or some other form of money. The redhead leaned against a wall and watched, a devilish smile on her face as she waited for the results.

Naveed smerked. She was his kind of girl that was for sure. He waited long enough to realize she was also influencing the humans in some way and he knew thatthey wern't aware of his actions. He glanced aroud. Despite the crowd heading toward him there wasn't anyone else that he could tell.

He held out his arm in the dirction of the humans who were now closing in. "You find it impossible to get within 1 foot of me." he said loudly enough for them all to hear. He hoped it would register with them despite being under some control by her.

It worked better than he thought! They seemed even more suseptible to sublimnal messaging now then ever before.

In a very comedic way the humans continued trying to move in on Naveed- but as if there was an invisible forcefield around him they were like fish constantly swimming into the glass. Some even tried climbing on top of the others to get over and this only resulted in giving piggybacks that went nowhere.

A green giant esq laugh escaped Naveed's mouth. "Anything else big fish?" he called out. This was getting fun and very amusing

Vibe's smirk quickly changed to a scowl. There was no doubt now that this bix lummox was a mutant, and one with his own version of mind-control. A version that apparently trumped hers. A sudden paranoia filled her. She snapped her fingers at a nearby teenager that had fallen under melodic influence.

"Gimme your ipod," she ordered. He obeyed willingly, and she quickly slipped the neckphones on, and turned the music up full blast. It didn't take much, and the noise irritated her sensitive hearing. But since her own powers were sound based, she hoped his were as well.

She glared daggers at the tall man, trying to figure a way around this dilemma. Eventually a small smile penetrated the glare. She strode forward and tapped several men of different ages on the shoulders.

"C'mere boys, gotta job for you. Huddle." Having become nothing more than robots, they obeyed, while the others continued to beat against the invisible wall. She moved away from Naveed, and whispered to her new charges. "Get me whatever valuables he has. And anything he tells you to do, do the opposite. Go'n now. Make me proud boys."

Vibe leaned back, still smiling, as her group moved to do her bidding. She began flipping through the ipod, to see if there was a decent music selection.

(OOC: No idea if that will work, but I thought it might be fun to see. ;D)

ooc: hmm I never thought of it. Naveed's main ability is the mind control and it is pretty strong... though there isn't any fun if i have vibe's have no affect. hmm Let's take this and roll with it here... lemme know what you think...

ic:
Naveed could see the woman call a few away and he wondered what she was telling them. He had to admit he admired someone with similiar powers to his. It was interesting to see it all play out. He had now become more like a child with a magnifying glass over the ants.

He could see a few of the humans- just a handful- were now breaking through his barrier. He would have got angry except that this was so damn interesting! He watched puzzled and furrowed his brows. "Back up." they flinched a moment as if thinking but continued to advance. "Hmm this wont do."

Like some sort of cartoon character Naveed hoisted himself up on the crowd and hopped out giving them a chance to turn around and advance again. He smiled. "Stop" they did not. "Jump!" they did not. He had to figure out what she'd done.

"Sit down." a few odd ones jumped. "SIT DOWN." more jumped. Now the others that she had not calle dover were within hearing range. "SIT DOWN" they sat down but the group jumped. He's figured out her game.

"Nice Job fishy! Very admerable. But now the tables are turning." He turned to the humans. "For those of you who can, STAY SITTING. For those of you who can't... walk toward me!" it took a moment as if the zombee humans were thinking, but then the remainder whow ere standing and heading toward Naveed, started heading back toward Vibe.

"Check mate"

(OOC: Raina, are Naveed's powers sound based, or word/mind-based? In otherwords, if Vibe sees the command, but doesn't hear it, will she still feel compelled to obey? If so, I'll edit this so it makes sense.

Vibe watched the show with ever-growing amusement. It was like a warped version of Simon Says, with the human being ever willing players. Or maybe Tug-o-War....

With the phones in her ears, she couldn't hear what Naveed said, but she could read his lips. It didn't take him long to figure out what she'd done, and how to counter it. As he literally crawled over the crowd, a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Nice Job fishy! Very admerable. But now the tables are turning." He turned and said something to the humans, apparently an order to sit, as the majority of the group sat on the sidewalk. The crowd was growing slightly larger, as curious passers-by approached, and succumbed to either Vibe's melody or Naveed's commands. She noticed a meter maid and a street cop among them.

Her 'chosen' group began returning to her. Naveed turned back to her, and she saw his eyes were glowing red. "Check mate."

The smile emerged a bit more. "Not just yet, pal. C'mere fellas. You guys stay here, keep me company." Her 'chosen' group came to stand by her side, like tin soldiers. "The rest of you stand up. Look at him." As one the humans stood and turned to stare at the tall man. "Smile pretty now." A wave of insincere, toothy smiles descended on the group. "Now..... laugh. At everything he says. If he says to stop laughing, do the opposite. If he says to keep on, keep laughing. If he says to jog in place or turn around, ignore him and keep laughing!" She had to raise her voice to be heard over the sudden uproarious, yet completely heartless, laughter. She also increased the volume of her hypnotic song to its maximum.

Who knows? Maybe she'd be pleasantly surprised and he was just hard of hearing, and couldn't yet hear her song.

She snapped her fingers at her groupies. "Hand over your cash boys. I still need a new wardrobe." She held out her hand, and was rewarded with a hefty clump of bills. She glanced back at Naveed to see how he was handling the mockery.

ooc: hahahaha hilarious... I don't even know how to handle this situation. And no, seeing his lips move wouldnt be enough they'd have to hear... but... Navi can also give orders to some animals...

ic:

Naveed stood waiting when suddenly everyone started to laugh. He stood dumbfounded a moment and tried to bark out another command when he realized they couldn't hear over their own laughter. It would only be a matter of time before they passed out from not breathing properly... but right now they looked like an insane clump of humanity.

Naveed couldn't help but laugh in return until he found himself sitting on the curb. He glanced over and saw his female adversary most likely making a get away when he saw a little scrurrying to his left from the corner of his eye. He turned and watched all the rats diving in and out of the garbage heaps. Of course this was NYC and no shortage of rats despite the fact Navi hadn't actually seen many in real life. He crouched down and watched them move. When one was close enough he yelled in it's direction. "Come here." it didn't seem to take the first time but as the intensity in his eyes increased the rodent walked toward his open palm and sat in it. Naveed smiled and looked over his shoulder again to see if the woman was still there.

He held the rodent to his ear and whispered then dropped it to the ground. The rodent dashed back where it came and Naveed turned and smiled at the woman waving over the still laughing crowd. Then as if from some Gaiman-esq nightmare, a coiling cloud of black started to cover the ground from behind Navi. Squeeks and the sound of little claws on pavement filled the air as all the rats from the alley skittered toward through the crowd and toward the woman. Naveed crossed his arms and watched what would happen next.

(OOC: Rats! Rats!! lol)

Well, now.... Vibe hadn't expected him to start laughing as well. Was she having some success in influencing him after all?

He sat down, still laughing, and leaned down to the ground to look at something. Her brows knitted together in confusion. What was he looking at?

Her confusion turned to disgust as she finally identified the rat. "Ick! That's disgusting!" She shuddered, while rolling up the wad of bills in her hand and stuck them down inside the front of her shirt, then turned to leave. She was growing bored, and saw no point in sticking around any longer.

A set of new vibrations reached her senses. She glanced back over her shoulder, to see Naveed still smiling, and something coming from behind him.....

"Ugh!! Rats!!" Vibe yelped and backpedaled in horror. She hated creepy crawlie things! For a split second her hypnotic melody ceased as she unconsciously sent out a distress call to an unexpected source. She resumed the song before the hypnosis wore off however, so the human continued to laugh their breath away. Some had already fainted.

"Keep them AWAY from me!!" She jumped at one of the larger men in her group, and climbed onto his back, and up to his shoulders. He wobbled a bit under the unexpected weight, but she was light, so he managed to hold her up. The others formed a circle and began attacking the swarming rodents.

Had Amp been with her, Vibe could have easily driven the rodents away, even turned them on their master, with her own sounds. But she couldn't give the note sufficient amplification on her own, especially not with this many.

She yelped again as several rats broke through and jumped onto her ride's pantlegs.

"Ack!! ACK!! Keep 'em away!! AIEE!!"

A high-pitched screech sounded from above the crowded sidewalk. A little brown form divebombed Naveed, shrieking and clawing at the man's face. Vibe and Amp's pet bat, Echo, was never far from Vibe these days, and her distress call had reached him. Again, without Amp, Vibe and Echo were on their own, unable to call any other bats to help, but that didn't seem to be fazing Echo.

ooc: Naveed isnt identified as a mutant yet just FYI. He should appear completley human and his abilities would be hard to trace... he's not going to use them right now anyway but just FYI so my post makes sense

ic:

Naveed laughed along with the crowd as the rats swarmed the girl until suddenly there was a bat in his face. It clawed at his skin and he snarled and with one large glove like ham he grabbed the shrieking animal. He held it firmly but not enough to hurt it.

That's when he got a bad feeling and that's when he saw the stalker. It was furthur from the girl than he was but it was evident the thing was focused on her. Naveed had to make a descision. He could easily escape right now and call Darren if he realy had to... Or...

well who was he kidding? He liked the ladies! Before he even realized what he was doing Naveed was running like a line backer and tackled the man holding up the girl. He grabbed her in his arms and passed her the bat. "Do me a favour and keep this this from eating my face while we get you outta here?" he didn't say it with intent- it wasn't an order.

"Hang tight!" he dove through the laughing crowd. "It doesnt know I'm a mutant." he said loudly enough for only her to hear. "If everything I know about them is right- it cant attack if it means endangering a human. So we're going to keep you around some humans for a while."

the whole time he was talking he was running like a panther through the crowd dogding this way and that. Naveed's abilities were based souly on experieince in the north so they shoudln
t have seemed too abnormal to the stalker. He wasn't quite sure why he decided to save this woman... it was just that he couldn't stand to let the camps get a hold of any mutant no matter who they were.

He rounded a corner and hoisted the girl up onto his back instead of carrying her like a fireman. "Hold on!" he picked up real speed now and turned down every alley he could to hopefully lose the stalker. He knew these things were built for this so tricking it woudln't be so easy... so every chance he got he ordered a human or an animal to approach it with various believable reasons: "that thing smells good- go smell it!" "that's one of the infamous stalkers you've heard aboout- go interview it!" of course this would only last as long as the stalker wasn't cloaked.

Finally he saw his safe haven- low and behold... it was the mall. He dashed inside and up a down moving escalator knocking the bags and boxes out of a few customers hands until he came to a rather kitchy looking store full of strage hats, wigs, sparkly jewelery and glasses.... etc. He set the girl down and put a finger to his lips to signal her to be quiet and he peered around. Far from a few desgruntled customers he coudln't see anyone. This didn't mean the stalker wasn't here... it just woudlnt strike. So they were safe- for now... until the mall closed at least.

He turned to the girl after a moment breathing deeply looking a little different than the guy who'd just been teasing her. He was serious and intense now. "How did it know you're a mutant?" he asked referring to the fact her powers weren't exactly obserable.


ooc: Sonya feel free to jump in! Also, feel fee to fill in the gaps guys, I just took it and ran with it!

(OOC:

I just took it and ran with it!

Literally! lol)

Music blaring in her ears, raucous laughter on all sides, and rats swarming around her. In short, Vibe was thoroughly distracted. The Stalker's appearance took her by full surprise.

"CEASE AND DESIST MUTANT!"

Vibe felt her blood run cold. The demand threw her back in time to the Sanctuary raid, where she'd lost Amp to two of the metal monsters. She had been helpless then, even with Amp to back her up. Now she didn't even have her sister. The hypnotic melody ceased. She couldn't think of anything of having abandoned Amp, and the emptiness shortly thereafter.

A figure leapt into her line of vision, and she felt hands around her waist. She uttered a strangled-sounding shriek, thinking another Stalker had grabbed her while she'd frozen.

"Do me a favour and keep this this from eating my face while we get you outta here?" Something small and furry, and wriggling, was shoved into her hands. "Hang tight!"

>Echo....< The little bat protested her death grip, which she loosened, but kept a grip on her pet. The ipod bounced out of her possession, clattering to the sidewalk in their wake.

"If everything I know about them is right- it cant attack if it means endangering a human. So we're going to keep you around some humans for a while."

>Paul Bunyan?? What??< Vibe managed to breath again, in between being jostled around. When his statement registered in her mind, she replied aloud, "That's a lie." Indeed, the robots had allowed humans to be slaughtered at the Sanctuary Raid. Vibe doubted that they would let any humans stand in their way of catching a mutant.

Especially a wanted muntat. Vibe gulped. She had left her watch in the car. She could call Abyss and his brothers for help, but they might not arrive in time. Plus, she didn't want to put them in danger. The Stalkers had put Saturn out of commission easily. What was to stop them from doing it again, to all seven brothers?

"Hold on!" Vibe yelped as her unexpected savior bounced her onto his back. She clung on instinctively, digging her nails in to keep her grip.

Finally he stopped, and let her down. She glared when he motioned for her to be quiet. Did he think she was stupid? Of course she wasn't going to say anything! If she could stop breathing, and still live, she'd do that too. Anything to keep those.... those.... things.... away from her.

Echo squeaked irritably. >Sshhh! Quiet, sweetie.< She released the little bat, and it crawled into her pocket, obediently quiet. She shuddered, and rubbed her arms, feeling vulnerable.

"How did it know you're a mutant?"

She looked up in surprise, not sure how to take this abrupt change of attitude.

"The hypnotized humans were probably a good clue." A frown crossed her face and she looked away. In an almost inaudible voice she added, "Um.... thanks...." Then, louder, so he wouldn't ask her to repeat it, "We gotta get out of here. I think those things can track heat, or something like that." She looked around for another exit.