Naveed sat on the steel stool at the counters edge turning the glass of beer over in his fingers nervously. Occasionally he'd look at the watch Vibe had given him- despite not knowing how to read it yet. He replayed the phone message he recieved over and over again in his head.

Flloyd was in town. Once more, Flloyd knew Naveed was in town.

He wrestled with the meaning. He'd left home so long ago, left Flloyd behind... his old friend without any reasons as to why.

He rubbed his temples. Everything had changed so much. He thought of what he might say to his friend, "hey Flloyd, I'm a mutant! And I killed someone in our tribe!" but nothing seemes sufficient enough to explain his absence.

At least with Flloyd here- maybe he could work on getting Raina out of the camps for real. With some backup he didn't need to depend on the resistance.

He continued to sit in the chair, looking up everytime the door to the park cracked open only to be dissapointed at not yet seeing his friend. He took a drink from the beer and ordered another. He might be in for a long night.

Flloyd took a seat at the bar, glancing at his friend with a nod.
"It’s been a while" he gruffly said as he looked at the bartender quickly motioned towards at the draught tap. A moment of silenced passed, it was an relaxed one. They were amongst friends, a feeling that had not recently happened enough.
A full glass slid across the bar and stopped in front of Flloyd.
The room was comfortable, people were not tense, it was a nice change of pace.
But something was waiting for both of them at the bar, something familiar.

A common hidden element existed, but it wasn't apparent.

“Have you seen Raina?”
The room seemed to get quieter, waiting for a response.
Flloyd took a drink and readied himself for whatever was about to be said.

Naveed looked up at his friend as he came in the bar and nearly slapped him on the back with a greeting when that usual uncomfortable feeling that followed Flloyd came in with him. Instead he sat silently watching his friend and the room. The amosphere in the entire bar seemed to have change- it usually happened when Flloyd went places.

It had been a while since Naveed saw Flloyd and Naveed couldn't help thinking to himself how his friend really hadn't changed. He still seemed to observe everyone the second he walked in the room and Naveed couldn't help feeling like Flloyd knew everything.

That was the thing about Flloyd... he just seemed to know everything and Naveed knew there was no point in lying.

When his friend's first words were of his sister he wanted to act surprised but knowing Flloyd he wasn't. With his eyes downcast he took a swig of his drink and drew a breath.
"She's in a camp." he murmered. "Some cop put here there with a gun when he figured out she was a mutant." he leaned back on the stool and turned his eyes to the ceiling. "Tried to get here in time... just didn't happen" he admitted. "It's bad for people like her around these parts. She would have been better staying at home and raising a family with you."

In his heart he knew Raina could have never stayed with the tribe with her powers. And sitting there if Flloyd could see his fears he'd see a small man who feared he was already too late to save his sister.

"Why'd you leave?" as if he has to ask.

After a few moments Flloyd drifted back to reality...

It took a few minutes to sink in, someone he cared about was in a bad place and there was no simple way to make things right.

Blinking, he looked around the room to see who had been listening, nobody seemed to be sober enough to overhear the conversation. They were alone in their thoughts in a vast room of strangers.

"What are the chances of getting her out?" Flloyd asked bluntly, taking another swig. His beer tasted bitter in his mouth. He was sure he knew the answer, but asked anyway.
There was no way around it, when a friend is in trouble, you find a way to help them.

Naveed put his hands on the table "If I could get her out easily don't you think I would have done it already." he said harshly nearly standing up out of his chair but calming himself "I've been in contact with a rsistance... at this point staging a break out would be too risky. We'd end up in there with her and in there we're no use to anyone."

He turned to look at his friend this time, "They've got these things... these machines... robots I guess... You'd probably know more 'bout 'em then I do if you set your mind to it." he slid a photo from a news clipping across the table to him "Called Stalker Bots. Like something out of a sci-fi movie." he took a swig of his own beer.

"Only lead I have right now... is that she's part of some community service thing happening where they work on old buildings do park cleanup... I don't know. I tried to get to see her.." he drifted a moment "The Stalkers know me now though... you might get to see her, maybe even talk... but it's risky. Gotta be quick. Might pick her up to know we're here... best thing we can do is keep on working with this resistance"

He watched his friend for a reaction

Flloyd watched Naveed as he spoke. He moved his fingers idely as he thought to himself. After a moments thought he spoke; "We should find others Naveed. Going in alone would be suicide. But with a bigger group we could stand a chance. Your powers alone would allow you to persuade the humans so it would only be the robots to deal with."

He leaned back in his chair and took a swig of his drink thinking of Raina. He tried to remind himself that he'd go after anyone he cared for in the same matter. It didn't sound very honest though.

"Have you made any contacts?"

Naveed was getting more frusturated as the conversation went on at Flloyds calm-ness. He had to remind himself that his friend didn't mean to come off so cold. It went with the territory. He shuddered for a moment though when Flloyd mentioned his powers. He stared at his friend for a long time and the mood in the bar suddenly became very intense. He lowered his voice.

"w-what do you mean powers Flloyd?" he demaned even if in only a whisper. His stare was challenging. How long could Flloyd have known? Did Flloyd have powers himself?

Flloyd looked at Naveed reading his fears. "I've always known my friend -about you and your sister, and I'm still here." he posed Naveed no threat, he wanted him to know that. He knew he'd have to demonstrate his powers to Naveed if he were to believe him. "You're not alone in having gifts" that's what the tribe had originally called them back in the older days. Gifts.

There weren't any tales of gifts like Naveed's, but Raina's was rich with lore as was his own. Though Raina's was a beautiful story of protection and health his own legacy was one of darkness and torture for the enemies. "I will show you."

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on Naveed. Naveed would see images soon. The room around them got colder.

Everything got dark and cold before Naveed could even comprehend and process what Flloyd had just said. He knew Navi was a mutant? He was also a mutant?

he gripped the edge of the bar though he could no longer see it. Somewhere in the distance he could hear Flloyd's voice. Everything was dark but a light formed infront of him- it started to twist and bubble coiling into the shape of his sister. She was pale and lifeless lying in a pool of blood.

"No." he whispered.

Next he saw hundreads of tribe members standing with fire and spears all circling around him. They were chanting about clensing the tribe and closing in on him.

"No!" he said louder than before, eyes wide, broken into a sweat- still clinging to the edge.

lastly he saw the face of the friend he had killed in the snow.

Naveed didn't realize he was screaming until everyone in the bar was looking at him. "Enough! Enough! No more!" was this Flloyd's power? What a twisted fate.

Flloyd focused on Naveed as he projected his own fears. He wasn't surprised by his friends fears at all. He felt a little shaken from the whole ordeal and Naveed look a little like a mad man when he has finished. "Calm yourself." he said to Naveed. "Im sorry. I didn't think you'd understand until I showed you."

he studied his friends reaction and motioned to the bar tender to fill up his drinks. He took the last glass of his own and put it down harshly on the counter top. "Well- what about that contact?"

It took Naveed what felt like years to calm himself down. He reached for the phone he'd aquired with Vibe. He flipped it open and dialed Theresa. He'd find out how to help- and he'd find out now.

ooc: Sonya and I agreed that Naveed would be filled in "off camera" so he can help with the raid.