Nelson Harvati was stressed. He ran a hand over his balding head and let out a sigh. He stood in front of board room full of men all smoking their cigars and drinking their brandy with an overwhelming sense of dread.
“We’re unimpressed Nelson.” Came the chalky voice of a taller darker man from the far end of the room. “We’ve given you time and have seen no improvements.”

Nelson shook his head. “I tried the volunteer program like you all suggested gentlemen-“ started Nelson meekly.

“It wasn’t enough Harvati!” yelled a stouter man from the back. “You’re clearly incapable of leading this organization!”

“You’ve shown no ability with the stalkers…”

“…and as we speak there are mutant supporters all over the news raving about the fir rescue in the city”

Accusations were coming left and right all over the room when Nelson slammed his hand bravely into the table. “That’s enough.” He scowled. “This broadcast will go on as planned. The two camps will become one. The public is going to get suspicious with the number of deaths and escapees we must maintain order. We’re faltering with the Stalkers and losing our grip. We need to send a message to the public that there is order and control and damnit there WILL be order and control.” He growled viciously like a bull dog passed his prime staring them all down daring them to challenge.

“Fine,” a sultry woman with long blonde hair stood up. “ This will be your last chance Harvati. The pro-mutant groups have been growing by the second. There’s no telling when the resources will fail out this is your last chance.” She put out a cigarette on the table and switched the camera in the center of the room to focus on Nelson.

All over the two camps the tv’s and monitors flicked on to Nelson’s seemingly cheery face.

“Good morning. It is with great pleasure that I announce to you mutants that the two camps will now be combined into one. Sleeping bunks will still remain the same but all of the camps major activities will now take place together. This will create a strong mutant to guard ratio and result with more supplies for all. That is all for today, thank-you” As the broadcast ended Nelson hung his head- this better work. One more breakout and he wasn’t sure what would happen…

Ooc: ok! So feel free to continue posting in the various camp threads including mens and womens (to finish up) and you may start posting in this thread to interact with everyone!

Alan Haddix rubbed his now stubbly face as the announcement took place. He shook his head, thinking about how preposterous the man had sounded. "More supplies, my ass," he muttered to no one in particular. The fucks that ran this place didn't give a damn about supplies, and everyone knew it. He'd seen a lot of this kind of talking and politicking when he watched promoters promote their fighters. They really weren't so different; at least their lies were the same. The more they said they cared about your needs, the less they actually did.

He walked across the yard towards the laundry pool, shirtless as always. A guard came huffing across the yard at him. "Oi! Prisoner! Where's yer shirt?" He was red in the face, his mustache being tossed about by the rapid inhalation through the portly man's nostrils. "This ain't no singles' beach; all prisoners are required to wear shirts at all times!" The guard used the butt of his rifle to jab the Pit Bull in the stomach. The fighter's instinct took over, tightening his stomach muscles to weather the blow. To the guard's astonishment, Pit Bull stayed on his feet, although he took a second to catch his breath. "Well as you can see, my arms tend to tear them to shreds, and unlike your fearless leader, I actually care about supplies for the other mutants in here." His retort was answered with a rifle butt to the stomach, harder this time. It forced him to one knee, and the guard immediately swung his leg across, connecting to Pit Bull's face with his shin. Haddix went prone, spitting blood. He felt the pang of the rifle butt on his back. And again. Five weeks here and they were still worried about breaking his spirit. Unfortunately for these fools, breaking a fighter's spirit was clearly not something they were ready to do.

"Well then, get on with yer job, tattooie," the guard spat. After a second, Haddix got up and wiped the blood from his chin. He spent several minutes at the laundry pool calming himself, telling the animal in him that now was not the time to unleash what would no doubt have been the most hellacious beating that the fat guard had ever witnessed, let alone experienced. He breathed deeply and heavily, collecting the meager sheets from the pool to hang on the laundry line at the barracks.

Little puffs of steam were coming out of Sara’s mouth every time she took a breath. She remembered when she was younger, pretending she was a train. A old locomotive steam engine. Vehicles she saw race by every day, and things that she wished she could be as fast and as strong.

The feline’s body has since, gone through it’s mutation, it’s change, much like the modern day trains, but she still wasn’t as strong as them. That strength would certainly come in handy at the moment. Today she was hauling sacks of cloths from the guard barracks, back to the pool. For someone who nearly never tired, the wear of being in the camps from the beginning, was finally showing on her furry face.

Approaching the pool, she caught the subtle sent of blood on the butt of a rifle, held by a guard who was walking in the opposite direction. Good, she wasn’t in the mood to deal with more then one guard, who felt all high and mighty. The one escorting her was enough.

She shifted the weight of her laundry bags so that she could set them down without dumping their condense out on the ground. Then caught sight of the other mutant helping with the sheets. “Thank you.”

Raina barely noticed the TV as it came on and Nelson began to spew his nonsense. The last time she saw him speak she ended up on a volunteer mission that nearly cost her her life. She was busy staring intently at the grueal on her plate in the cafeteria thinking. Naveed. Naveed was here in NYC and she couldn't figure out why or how.

She mindlessly tugged at her collar - it felt tight and her throat hurt. She glanced up at the TV to hear that the camps were combining. She looked down at her plate... she supposed that was good... she'd get to see the others more and maybe they could plan something but really... she just wished she could somehow contact Naveed.

"No problem," Haddix said, looking up and seeing the feline-lady standing beside him. He tried to hide his shock, but was sure he failed at it. He then gave her an apologetic look.

He tongued one of the teeth in his mouth. Fuck! he thought, another one's gonna go. There was an itchy, tearing feeling along one of his molars, right next to the one he'd lost at the graves, and--sure enough--he spat a molar onto the ground. "Christ," he said lightly as blood came out of his mouth, "I don't know how I'm going to eat solid food anymore at this rate." He bundled a pile of sheets together and threw them into a large, empty bag. "So, where are these ones going to?"

That strange look he gave her was just something Sara had been used to. She use gave him a shrug in reply. Wasn’t the first time she got that look and it certainly wouldn’t be the last time. Guess not even mutants are use to seeing bipeds with fur.

She was quiet as she watched him spit out a tooth. How many had he gone through? As he made his comment about chewing solid food, apparently more then one and the subtle sent of blood became a bit stronger. She let her head give a subtle shake.

"So, where are these ones going to?"

Sara peaked in the sheets glancing at a tag. “The guard barracks on the ladies’ side. I can take them once I finish these.” She indicated three of the bags she had just set on the ground.

Glancing behind her to see how far off the first guard was she couldn’t’ help but ask. “So what was the guards’ problem this time?”

He didn't bother wiping the blood away anymore. He was more worried about infection, but there wasn't much to be done about it, really. The meds he was on for his hands would probably keep his system clean for a little while anyways.

"They got mad because I can't wear a shirt," he said. "Also, I may have said some things concerning that prick Harvati." He couldn't help a smile. He checked the tag on the ones he was bagging up; these ones were for him. He stretched his arms up above his head for a moment, splaying his fingers out and rolling his neck around to either side before returning to his normal stance. He still had a few loads of sheets to throw into the pool, so he started doing that. "So what's your name?"

"They got mad because I can't wear a shirt,"

Sara eyed his hand but no sign of surprise showed on her face. Compared to the things she had seen that was a minimal of a mutation.

"Also, I may have said some things concerning that prick Harvati."

She shrugged. “Well that’s understandable.” Small smirk forming for a second on her face. “If you look at them cross eyed you get the same reaction. My name is Sara.”

She dumped the dirty cloths she had just gathered into the pool. Then moved to the box where the soap was kept and began measuring it out into the water. “If you want I could try and make something that would hold up to those things on your arms.” Despite the fact this particular mutant seemed tough (And was) she was concerned about everyone being able to be ready and et when it was time to break out. Getting continually beat, especially if you’re not a healer, wasn’t all that great.

“If you want I could try and make something that would hold up to those things on your arms.”

"It's alright," he said in his Boston accent. "I've gone my whole life with 'em, so covering them now would seem kinda cheap, ya know?" He wasn't offended by what the girl had said, but the concept of trying to hide his mutation had never sat right with him. In a world where everyone was always going on about being an individual and just being yourself, it never ceased to amaze Pit Bull how many people suggested surgical removal of the spikes on his arms so he could 'fit in.'
And if a few ripped shirts now and again was the price to pay for it, well so be it.

The whistle sounded for lunch. Haddix dropped the bag of sheets he was about to tote over to the guard barracks and smirked. "Chow time, Sara," he said as he headed for the mess hall. He opened the doors to the cafeteria and made his way through the line, getting the hot water that passed for soup in this place. he took a seat next to a girl who looked like she could just as soon break down as eat her damn soup. She was truly disconnected from any and everything. Maybe putting the camps together wasn't such a bad idea after all...

Haddix looked at the soup, stirring it a bit. "Jesus, this like cutting weight for a fight all over again," he said to no one in particular. He took a spoonful of soup to his mouth. It tasted like cardboard, but it was better than nothing.

The whistle to signal that it was time to go eat sounded, making the feline press her ears back against the back of her head. Teeth grit tight. They couldn’t locate that stupid whistle on the other side of the camps? It hurt her head each time every day. She dropped the soap back into the box and folded the cover over with a sigh. Work like that was getting old.

“I wasn’t thinking of hiding what you have. Your hands, the way they are, I imagine are useful. I would simply sew on a material that could hold up more to them.” She clapped her hands together twice to remove the dirt and water. Then whipped them clean on her grey dress. “I was thinking more so you get less attention from the guards but then again that doesn’t seem to matter here. At least it would give them one less reason.” She followed him, and the others, to the mess hall, got her food and found a seat.

Sara had been the target of more unwanted attention then she really cared to think about. So far she’d kept her dignity and her pride but more than once she found her healing factor drawing the attention of those who wanted to let off some steam. After all, they could leave no lasting evidence on her.

Having found a seat with her soup she stirred the liquid a little. It tasted funny to her each time and don’t get her started on the smell.

Everything was black as Acer was dragged off of the transport vehicle, it black due the fact that he was blind folded but that made no differnece cause he was also unconcius at this time.

"Oy he's just a child mate," said one of the awaiting guards standing in front of the gate, "theres no need for need for this."
he retorted to one of the ecorting guards.
"Shut up!...you wer'nt there when we picked him up there is every bit a reason for treament he got" replied the escorting gaurd. This guard was a bit on the heavy side and looked as though he could make a gorilla cry if he wanted too, he was'nt alone either he was acompined by 4 other gaurds who were assiting him in dragging poor Acer limp body by chains across the gravle(as if he needed it).
"Oy explain then!, this boi no older than my son and you beat and tourture him till the bink of death there is a line and you've reached it now pick him up off the ground!" shouted the first gaurd, he was short and a short puggy Irish fellow who obviously had a soft spot for childred.
"We did'nt do it too him......he done it to himself...."the gorilla spoke"...and took 7 officers with him, he devistated half a block in the processe, it was only until he black out that we could move in..."

Just then Acer stired and found 5 heavy guards on his back." ah! get offffffffffffff!!!!!!!!!" just then Acer attempted to slash out with a wave energy but found that it was him that wreaked with pain, "HA HA not so tough now huh boy!" and the gorilla finshed statement with a defenit blow across the skull that it made the ground beneath him wail with force.

"Thats enough oy!" retaliated the Irish man" Yoi going to kill the lad STOP!"He took all that he could stand, he new his duties, hes done some unspeakble things while he was in the camp but never has he allowed a women or child be harmed in front of him(at least the ones that still look normal anyways) he pushed the gaurds off the young boy and before they could fight for there prey they heard the chow bell go off.

"you're lucky brat , I'll see you later HA HA HA......"he scoffed as he and the other gaurds left for break.

"I'm sorry" the Irish gaurd wispered to him as he pull Acer to his feet"lets get you cleaned up and fed,"

"Dont bother the changeing area is up ahead, there only 3 gaurds left the other 4 went to chow, the 3 outrank you and there the meanest here, I also know what you,ve done...to her and you wont get away with it with just 1 good deed so just as I have to repent so do you, you stop now we're here...." Acer spoke as the gaurd led him to the changing area, the man was so shocked at what he heard he almost past it.

"Alright Frank you can go now" the first of the three men said with a twisted grin on his face....

"Hey frank"Acer called after him "dont look back, you've taken the first steps to forgiveness......do stray off that path nomatter what."he finished with a coolness in his voice.

Acer spent next 20min face down in his own blood being beatin like dog. They did'nt stop til they got tired, but not ounce did make a sound not cause he knew that it would be easier on him but because he belived in karma.....and murphy's law.

"Thats enough" called one the gaurds wiping Acer's blood off on a pair of grey sweats," here freak!" he yelled trowing the stained sweats his way."fine I'll put on the sweats but please give me a clean set( this was odd cause Acer was never unblind folded)
The gaurd then gave him a new set and wacth as he changed while handcuffed.

After the very od show that they exorted him to the mess hall and trew him down, there were alot of mutants eating, it was quiet as the guards threw this shackled teenager on the floor, still briused and bleeding from his welcome.

Raina looked up at the new mutant boy entered the cafeteria. He was badley bleeding and obviously in pain. He didn't look old enough to be a mutant... she wondered what his abilities might be. She stood up from the table and tried to give him a little wave to signal him to come sit with her. It wouln't be good for him to stand alone for so long. She hoped he noticed.

ooc: sorry, short, lol

Haddix wasn't worried about ripping shirts. He cracked his neck and took a slurp of soup as Sara sat across from him. "It's no biggie," he said, "I can manage." In truth, it was nice for someone to show at least a passing concern for once, but he didn't let that show. He stirred the soup around a bit, not feeling hungry all of a sudden. A kid came in, bloodied up and looking beaten straight to hell. It bothered Haddix, mostly because of the boy's apparent age, but shit happens. He tapped his feet rapidly under the table; Haddix was ready to be gone from this hell hole.

Tough guys. Sara reminded her self as she listened to, "It's no biggie,".

Sara just shrugged. "Just thought that you liked eating solid food." Not that the things they were asked here to eat at the camps counted as food in her books. She stirred her soup and lifted a spoonful to her nose. Immediately making a face. Sara held her breath and forced the spoonful in her mouth then down her throat. With her mutation she had a higher metabolism, so she needed all the sustenance she could get. As it was, she had shown signs of starvation for a few weeks.

The new smell of blood hit Sara's nose,mingling with the stench of the food, and she closed her eyes. Lips pressing tight together. She gathered herself before turning around to see the new comer at the door. The look at how young he was made her heart feel like it dropped. "The sooner things start happening around here the better." Sara grumbled with her teeth tight.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Raina waving him over. Sara watched for a second to see if he would come and join them.

Beatin to a pulp, bloody as hell, and starving for a little food Acer quickly gathered himself and concluded that he had to be in a mess hall. With stares coming from all around the hall he new as a newguy it would'nt be wise to linger in the doorway too long. He had no Idea where to get the food from givin the fact that everyone was allready sitting and eating their food your watching him, either way they were all sitting and there was no evidence as to where the food produced from.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught one waving hand and decided to approach there first,(what am I doing here) he thought as he begain to stumble over to the strange hand bekoning him(the last thing I remimber is.........blood......cops....and....and)he could'nt recall a thing and this was the first time that the fact that he was alone actually settled in and it killed him inside, it made that hand become more than just a place to sit but a bekon of hope.

Finally he reached his goal and before being asked to sit he toppled over on the seat,"my name's...Acer"he managed to breathe out."Please can any of you tell me where to find food?"

Before any of the group could respond a gaurd shouted
"HEY YOU, NEW GUY SHUT THE HELL UP YOURE NOT GETTING SHIT FROM US PUNK!"
And as if he did'nt make himself clear enough he struck a blow aross the back of Acer's head and walk off quit content with himself.

" 'Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Kerethites and destroy those remaining , I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I take vengeance on them.' " acer spoke low enough for the group around him to hear
"Ezekiel 25:15-17" he spoke again refering to the book of the lord
"They will get what they deserve.....they will."