Young Writers Society

Daniel Connors-Smith--Medi-Co Basement

His eyes were itchy. This was nothing new, to be sure, but damn, it could be annoying. Ever since that bastard cousin of his had blasted his face, it had been like this. Well, the pain had come first, he'd had to rest with his eyes closed for about a week. Daniel shook his head, smirking. He'd been so whiny back then. All that complaining, and what for? It hadn't gotten him anywhere. No, he hadn't gotten anywhere at all until he had taken matters into his own hands and had stopped waiting for the world to do something for him. Because that, Daniel now knew, was never going to happen. Ever.

He was lying on his back on the battered couch in what passed for the Medi-Co security mess room. It was at the center of the second level of the building's basement and extremely gloomy. A decrepit ping pong table was pushed against the far wall, and a cracked TV set faced the couch. An armchair was stuck in the corner. Daniel was staring up at the creaking, dilapidated ceiling fan; the slow-moving blades made twin pinwheels in the reflective lenses of his aviators. A small sound from the corner pulled him out of his contemplation of the past. Looking over, he saw Joan, curled in a fetal position in the armchair, clutching her head and quietly moaning. Daniel's eye twitched. She kept on trying to push him out. It was like her consciousness was in there, somewhere, fighting back against his locks and controls. Absurd, he'd crushed all of her will years ago. But lately...

He could feel her pushing back now, in earnest. It began as a dull throb behind his eyes, before growing into a full-on migraine. Shit. Groaning, Daniel swung his feet around, and strode over to Joan, who tried to turn away from him. He gripped her shoulders.

"C'mon, Joan, don't be like that," he whispered, "It's for your own good, right? You know that?" She blinked at him, her auburn hair sweaty and mussed. Her mouth twitched, and then, slowly, she nodded, and the migraine faded. He sighed. He didn't like it, he really didn't. But when he released her from his mind, she never understood, never stayed with him. They were supposed to be friends, he knew that. He just couldn't understand why she didn't.

Joan had closed her eyes, and her breathing had slowed considerably. Daniel pulled a ratty old blanket from the couch and laid it over her, as, despite the fact that the whole city seemed to be broiling, she was shivering. He hoped she wasn't getting sick again. He personally couldn't stand the heat, and was wearing a tank top, but was still slicked with sweat. Just as he was about to lay back down on the couch, he stopped. This day was looking to be as boring and dull as every single other day in the past month. He hadn't gone out and dealt with freaks in ages. He needed to do something. Glancing around to make sure that Joan was okay, he then closed his eyes, visualizing Bishop's office. Then, exerting his will, he imagined his body standing in front of the desk...

And appeared in front it, just as he'd imagined. Bishop's new assistant, Ezra? Ezri? something like that, jumped. Bishop, though, didn't; she simply continued perusing the large file in front of her.

"Miss Grey, please escort this man out," she said, never looking at him.

"Not so fast, lady. What's the deal? We haven't gone out to do a round-up in I-don't-know-how-long. Let's pick up the action!" Daniel said, pushing past the assistant.

Finally, Bishop looked up. She eyed him cooly. Daniel met her gaze and held it.

"You will go out on missions when I deem it necessary. As it is, that may be sooner that I had thought. There have been...developments." She glanced at the file.

Ari Partridge | The alleyways

"Ari, Ari, do it again, show me!"

Ari's heart thumped with anticipation and adrenaline pulsed through her veins. She couldn't help but grin as the rain danced around her, the dripping sounds against the cobblestones sweet and sharp. Ari's sister, Lydia, eagerly watched on, her eyes as wide as saucers, filled with astonishment and awe, smiling with delight.

Ari nodded at Lydia's request and pulled her baker cap down further so it wasn't blown away by the strong gusts of wind. They were back at their cottage in Britain, standing in the back garden that was surrounded with mossy stone. A few metres to their left was the tiny pond with beautiful little flowers occasionally popping up at the edges of the water.

"Now," Ari smiled, "I'm gonna stop the rain and the wind!"

She made a dramatic swirling gesture with her hands before she threw them her arms up to the sky. The rain immediately stopped hammering against the ground and the wind abruptly halted in its tantrum, no longer tearing at Ari and Lydia's clothes, nor did it savagely bite at their skin. The feeling of freedom made Ari smile and filled her chest with joy. It was one of these prescious and rare moments of freedom that she never received

Lydia's jaw dropped as she gazed at Ari, the shock and amazement on her face an almost comical sight.

"Ta da!" Ari yelled, breaking the silence. She bowed deeply in an attempt to make Lydia laugh but her sister did not smile as she stared ahead, her eyes no longer filled with awe but... fear. The grin on Ari's face dropped and the icy fingers of fear gripped at her heart.

"Lydia, what's wrong?" A confused frown was now upon Ari's face. "Why do you look so scared?"

Lydia began to back away as any normal seven year old would when facing fear.

"B-behind you!" Lydia shrieked, her voice high pitched and piercing. Then she ran towards the cottage, her tiny feet pattering against the cobblestone.

Ari's heart pounded with fear, as she slowly turned around, her eyes wide and her hands trembling. Upon seeing the horrific sight, Ari collapsed to her knees, breathless as though she'd taken a rough fall and the impact had knocked the wind out of her.

"No," she whispered, "no, no..."

In front of her stood an Enforcer. He was a huge man, well over six feet tall with a hard set face that showned no signs of emotion. He wore a long black coat that reached his ankles and black clothes underneath.

The Enforcer's eyes bore down on Ari, his gaze searing into her flesh. He took a few steps towards Ari and she knew what was coming, knowingshe'd been caught by the government.

This is the end...

Ari closed her eyes, silently praying in her head. Ahead, the skies were a stormy black and the thunder roared. Rain beat down upon the grounds, the war drums of this furious storm, a harmony of nature.

Long and gloved fingers closed around Ari's throat. This was it: she would never see her surviving family again or step foot in Britain again...

***

Ari awoke from her dreams with a scream tearing through her throat and tears running down her cheeks. Thunder boomed ahead and hailstones pounded down, slicing at Ari's cheeks, bouncing off her cap and onto the ground. The wind whipped at her face violently, like a young child having a tantrum.

Ari let out a string of curses and leapt to her feet, closing her eyes and frowning, clenching her fists tightly in concentration. The wind suddenly began to die down, no longer snatching at Ari's face. The beating drums stopped abruptly and the sky spat out the last of the hailstones.

When it was over, Ari let out a small sob and dug the heels of her hands into her eyes before the tears could fall.

I'm sorry, Lydia.

I'm sorry, Mum.

I'm sorry, Dad

I'm sorry I killed you.

Co-written by RedBird and I

Layla Frankson | Her Home/The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop

She slammed the door behind her, trying not to think of all that had just happened. After their lunch, the scene continued to replay in her head, over and over again. As she entered into her home she tried to reassure herself with ‘it was all a joke, they were actors’ while yet deep within her she knew it couldn't be true. She paced up and down her home, thoughts taking over her. She felt like there was something missing, how could there be something missing?

But there it was. Missing, a piece of her, like she didn't know something, like something was being hidden from her. She went to her living room after exhaustion from her pacing and sat on the couch, she didn't bother turning on the TV. She just needed to be. She started thinking of the rest of the afternoon with her friends, they did nothing, nothing! How she wanted to escape and be by herself, how she wanted to just be, but no, they had to go to the beach and sit and talk. They had to buy ice cream, they had to go shopping. She was tired of it all, and physically she was just tired.

Whenever she was tired her mind entered a strange state, she often liked falling asleep because it brought her the most peace. There was a battle raging within her, at times she would be riddled with frustration and pain, and other times she wanted to laugh with her friends and just have fun, do crazy things. She drew a breath as her eyes grew heavy, she was starting to relax. She changed her position on the couch, taking advantage of it’s size and length, lying down she was ready to sleep. Her thoughts slowly started to leave her, she was still conscious, yet she knew she was sleeping, or at least that was what she thought. She enjoyed her mind in this way, it shared it’s secrets with her, and she was able to know somethings about her surrounding while completely sleeping...

A deafening sound awoke her with a start, she shot up from where she was on the couch and sought out what was making the horrible sound. She looked all about her, and then went to the kitchen, she was about to give up when she found her mother’s blackberry, it was blaring a disturbing tune. It had disturbed her rare peace, she took it up and immediately started punching random numbers, she wasn't use to it, and didn't know how to stop it. “Urgh!” she accidentally flung it out of her hand spinning it across the table and crashing it down on the marble floor. She scanned the damage, she had ended up splitting into four different pieces, the chip utterly destroyed.

She stared down at what was before her in stunned numbness for a few moments. What was she to do? Immediately she knew she needed to get some help. She went and grabbed her own phone hoping to find a friend who was good at fixing things. After calling three friends who told her after she sent them a picture of the damage, it was un-fixable; she had managed to get a friend who gave her directions to “a guy who can fix things like that well” according to the friend.

She quickly took the phone and her purse and went. The sun was still up though it was late afternoon and she wondered if it would be up the whole day. She hurried through the streets knowing it needed to be fixed that day if possible, she had no intention of messing up her mother’s life, her mother kept almost all her details on the phone. If it was fixed a bit, she could find a way to get at least some of her memory back, at least that was what Layla hoped.

She arrived at a small shop that was almost barely noticeable, “Thank goodness the sign is so long,” she murmured to herself as she pushed open the door and walked in.

It was damp and musty to her as well as small, she wondered how anyone could work in such an environment, she also could smell all kinds of rusted metal and copper. She tried not to breathe too much. She saw the “guy” bent over a piece of work concentrating on it. She felt there was something slightly familiar about him, but she brushed it away, she had felt that way before about total strangers. She cleared her throat, “Excuse me, I really need a quick fix and someone told me you’re the guy, can you help?” She tried to sound polite, but she wasn't so sure it came out as such.

The guy looked up, peering through a small lens, "Depends on what you need fixed. Slap it on the table and I'll take a look." She gave him a look of slight impatience and put the damaged phone on the table.

"Are you going to fix it now?" she asked.

"Jeez, what did you do to it?" he asked, incredulous. He reached out and picked up one of the pieces and then glanced at her, "Yeah, I can fix it, but you'll have to come back tomorrow."

"No, no, no. You don't understand, this is not mine, and the person who needs it, will not be happy," She then looked around the place one more time, "How much do you want?" she asked, giving him a sly look.

He sighed, raising an eyebrow, "For this mess? You're looking at at least fifty bucks. Alright, I'll do it right now. Come back in an hour."

"How do I know you're not going to close the shop after a while because it's too difficult? I'm going to watch, thank you," He looked like he might protest, but before he could she found a plastic chair on one side of the room and grabbed it, she pulled it over to the table and sat, smiling. "Go on," she said.

He cleared his throat and sat back down behind the work desk, then got up again, "I'll...need to take this into the back room," he muttered, and gathered up the pieces of the phone. Layla raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The guy opened the door at the back of the room and squeezed into an absurdly tight space.

A few seconds after the back door closed, there was a crackle and a burst of bluish light from the crack underneath the door. Layla jumped. Then there was a low groan from the repair guy and a string of curses. Then another flash. The door burst open and the guy strode out, along with a pall of smoke that smelled of ozone. His hair was on end and the edge of his sleeve was smoldering. He coughed and held out the phone, now perfect in every respect, the screen glowing faintly. Layla's eyes widened in curiosity and amazement as she reached out to take it, and as she did, her fingers brushed against his. And sparked.

"Well, crap," the guy muttered, as a thin bolt of electricity erupted from his hand and into hers.

OOC: Written with some help from Redbird and thewritersdream ^^

Dr. Allison Bishop | Her Office, Medi-Co:

Bishop glanced up from the file again, ignoring the look her assistant sent her way, and focused her gaze on the young man in front of her. “A fair few developments, if this file is anything to go by.” She flipped the page she had been looking at over to the next one. This time, it held a list. Bishop scanned it thoughtfully, a small frown creasing her forehead. “Is your..little friend up to the task of helping or is she still being a stupid little girl?” Bishop looked up and met the boy’s avaitor-covered eyes. Her reflection stared back at her. A glance flicked down showed the boy’s hand to be clenched in what Bishop assumed to be anger. She couldn’t care less, really. “Is there a problem, Daniel?”

Daniel ground his teeth, upper lip twitching, “No, Bishop, no problem. But there could be.”

Allison raised an eyebrow at that. “Not in my office, boy,” she snapped and tossed the file onto the desk. Miss Grey jumped at the loud bang it made, but Bishop barely flinched. Daniel didn’t seem to notice it, either. “By all means, try it later. But not here, not while we’re working. I wouldn’t want you to have any....little accidents now, would I?”

The boy snorted out a laugh, “Right. As though you could do anything to me. But don’t worry, I’m sure whatever is in that file is much more interesting than imagining what I could make you do.” Daniel reached out to grab the file.

Bishop snorted and slammed a hand down on the file before the boy could get a decent grip. “What is in here is not for you to share with anyone else,” she said, her tone gone dark as she tapped her nails on the cardboard file. “Not even your little mental-case friend.” Her gaze narrowed, reflected in his sunglasses. “Do you understand me, Daniel?”

Abruptly, Daniel snatched his glasses off, and held Bishop’s stare. Bishop’s gaze didn’t move as she contemplated the ruined flesh around his eye sockets. “I understand you perfectly. And I hope you understand that if you ever call Joan by something other than her name again, you might find yourself in one of the most hellish sewer pits this city has to offer. I’ve been to some awful places, and I doubt you’d survive very long down there.”

There was a brief moment of tension as they stared each other down before Bishop snorted and leaned back in her seat, taking her hand off the file as she did so. “You had better hope I don’t do anything to Joan when you screw up,” she said, somewhat conversationally, all trace of darkness gone. “Daniel, you think you scare me, but let me tell you something now. You don’t.” Bishop gestured towards the boy and then flicked Grey a glance. “Coffee,” she snapped before her gaze was back on Daniel. “Dismissed. Go do whatever it is you do, and please go back to that disgusting room you claimed in the basement. I swear, these damn janitors need to have their arses kicked. They don’t even bother to clean properly, and we’re meant to be a medical research centre.”

Daniel’s lip curled in a sneer as he held up the file. “Right away. I’ll bring you whatever I find, shall I?” And with that, the boy vanished.

Bishop snorted and glanced Grey’s way. “What are you still doing here? I told you to get coffee, so go get my damned coffee!” There was a brief moment where Grey stood staring at the spot where Daniel had been before someone knocked on the door, jolting Grey out of it. The girl glanced towards Bishop before bolting towards the door to open it. She had the door opened and was ushering in a dark-haired woman before she glanced at Bishop, excused herself and fled the room, closing the door behind her. Allison met the woman’s gaze, not bothering to get up. “Ah, Mrs. Frankson. Welcome to my office.”

Marlyn looked at her, and Bishop knew what she saw; a confident and inquisitive woman behind a desk. She smiled sweetly. Bishop hated it. “Hello, just Marlyn is fine. I’m looking forward to working with you,” she said. Bishop watched as she scanned the office for anything more to judge her with, anything to help her know what exactly it would be like working with her. It made Bishop smile.

“Welcome to Medi-Co,” Bishop said and stood up, moving out from behind her desk. “How do you feel about mutants?”

Jimmy Connors--The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop

Jimmy stared at the strand of electricity that now bound him to the girl. Her broken phone was now in both of their hands, and neither could let go. He felt another surge coming down his arm and five larger bolts of electricity burst out of each of his fingers. They crawled up the girl's arm, encasing it in a writhing, sparking net. Her eyes were wide with fear and her mouth was shut tight. The blood had drained from her face; the fist of her other hand was clenched.

"Don't worry," Jimmy forced himself to speak, "This has happened before, I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. I don't even have any control over what's happen--"

She tried to wrench her arm away, but to no avail. The bolts of electricity held her fast, and continued to climb up her arm. Before long they were at her shoulder, then her neck, and then, with a massive jump, they swept over her entire body. The girl staggered back a step, and I was dragged forward, my body slipping over the top of the desk, hand outstretched.

"Stop moving!" He shouted, but the girl couldn't hear him, or chose to ignore him. He could feel another surge mounting, knew what was about to happen. Because it had happened before, about three years ago. He'd been fifteen then, living in an alley and working for a mutant who ran a bakery. One of the other street rats who did errands for the baker had brushed by him one day, right after he'd fixed the oven with his powers, and the electricity had simply jumped out of him. Before long, the kid had been wrapped, just like this girl, in the bluish-white tendrils. And it had done something to him.

The girl found her voice, "LET. ME. GO!" she screamed, an unearthly sound, primal and penetrating. The electricity sparked and snapped about her body, twisting this way and that. She was surrounded by a nimbus of blue light. All at once, the windows began creaking, Jimmy's coat (which was hanging on a hook by the door) began flapping, and papers blew off of the work desk, only to stop, suspended in mid-air. Jimmy closed his eyes for a minute. It was happening, it would be over in a minute. When the electricity receded, this girl would be a fully-fledged mutant, and by the looks of things, her powers would have something to do with telekinesis.

She was actually hovering a little over the floor now, her hair whipping around her head, her arms outstretched and her eyes wide open, regarding Jimmy with fear and anger. He looked back up at her, trying to remain as calm as possible. The process was safe, as far as he knew, but she would be terrified when it was complete and there was no telling what she might do with her new-found power.

With a final surge, the excess electrons in Jimmy's system flowed out through his hands and into the cloud of sparks around the girl. She sank down to the floor, the cocoon of electricity flickering before going out. She slumped to the floor. Jimmy, who was still lying across the surface of his work desk, pushed himself off, and hurried around to see how the girl had fared. Her long brown hair was covering her face, and she was breathing heavily. Jimmy stepped on a loose floorboard, which creaked, and the girl's head snapped up. She blinked and her eyes darted to Jimmy's hands, then to his face, and then to the long leather coat, which had fallen off of its hook. A look of suspicion crossed her features. He coughed.

"Well. Congratulations, and welcome to the wonderful world of mutants," He said, with only a hint of sarcasm, "Please don't kill me."

Wren stopped as both her and Carter reached a rusted iron door. She had expected a cool, refreshing night after the abundant heat wave today. However she was wrong, the air was sticky, clinging to everything possible, bringing along with it an annoying sheen of sweat. Wren sighed and cringed internally, it felt like the exposed parts of her body were being wrapped in cellophane.

"Are you sure we should do this? That girl didn't seem all that trustworthy." Wren took off her hat and ran a hand through her hair. Nothing would please her more than a bath, or even a shower; she wasn't going to be picky.

Carter stubbed the cigarette he'd lit underneath his sneakerand blew the reminaing smoke into the night air. "I don't think think we have any other options, do you? I've got your back and you've got mine, right?"

Wren smiled and lowered her head. It felt normal for her to have a boy show some kindness towards her. It felt like another lifetime ago that she was sitting in Caleb's embrace, giggling as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear. "Right. I'll take a look inside, to make sure that we aren't being set up." Carter nodded in reply and smiled warmly as Wren unfastened the zip of his gym bag and placed her sock hat inside.

She turned to assess the size of the door and took a deep breath. "Be careful." Carter told her, his palm on her shoulder providing a previously absent amount of courage. "I will." She whispered, simultaneously whiping her forehead with the sleeve of herhoodie. In a final and soon discovered feeble attempt to withstand the irritable temperature, Wren slipped her hoodie over her head. Carter held out his hand expectantly and she grinned, he placed it into his gym bag and stepped back to allow Wren some room.

Wren allowed her body to relax and she closed her eyes as the familiar vibrating feeling swept through her. It was subtle, like she had a very large cell phone in her pocket. After the vibrating had slowed down, Wren opened her eyes and began walking through the door. Once inside, she backed up against the wall on her left and slowly crept forward. There were a few voices in the room closest to her but she could barely make them out.

With her body still vibrating, Wren willed the auras of the inhabitants to become visible and she noted that she could only see three. That's when somebody taped her on the shoulder. "Carter, how'd you--" Wren's eyes widnended as she realised that it wasn't Carter.

Co-written with RedBird

Layla Frankson | The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop

Her eyes were wide open and her breathing came up in pants. She stared at him hard still feeling the after shock of electricity streaming though her veins. 'What did he just say?' she thought unsure if what had just occurred was real. He looked to her half concerned, but also half unsure, he didn't know what she was going to do. At that moment, she wasn't planning on doing anything. She was totally confused, and yet she understood what happened. There was no pretending that this man, or who knows who he was, had passed electricity through her.

She felt it, twirling within her body, affecting her mind; she had been thinking, dreaming, all about that insane coat! That coat the person wore who was able to do such an amazing thing. She thought it was a play, but she couldn't get the coat off of her mind. And as the electricity settled within her, she was all to look at the coat, and lift it. Lift it. At least that was what she felt, she felt the weight of her mind, she knew she was the one telling it to rise, and as she told it, it did. She moved it, and she knew it. It was no electricity, it was her mind.

There was also no pretending she wasn't dead. She looked at her hands the starter of the whole situation, and saw no real injuries on them. She looked at her arms, her body, she was fine. Her head was feeling light, but she was perfectly fine. She took a long breath, and turned towards the coat again. That person. That person who had hit someone with inhuman strength. She looked back at the one before her. 'What's happening?' she suddenly thought. 'What did he do?'
She turned to him, and sudden frustration and anger succumed her,

"What did you do to me?!" she screamed at him.

The man flinched and took half a step back, "Like I said before...I couldn't help it. That sometimes just...just happens. I don't have control over it."

"Y-you don't understand!" her voice was quivering. "I don't want to be like you I don't want to have anything to do with you! Can you take it back? Can you do something to reverse it? You have no idea what went through my mind just now, I moved something without touching it, I had some kind of--kind of affect on something, I don't--just please, take it back," she stood up and walked over to him tears sliding down her eyes. "Take my hand!" she said grasping his hand, "Take it back!"

He tried to wrench his hand away, but she held firm, "Lady, I can't! Whatever just happened, you're stuck with it," He paused, "But, I mean, being able to move stuff with your mind, what's that called? Telekinesis. Yeah, that's it. That's pretty cool, right?"

"Cool?! I couldn't care less! I don't know what to do! I don't know how to control it, I don't know if it can hurt people, I don't want it. My mo--," she closed her eyes and let go of his hands. "There's really nothing you can do?"

Blinking at the sudden change in her tone, he coughed, "No, sorry. But if your moth--," she shot him a glare, and he changed tactics, "I mean, there are plenty of people like us who live normal lives, no one the wiser. I'm sure you'll be fine." She wasn't fine. She was conflicted. Her mind was raging with various thoughts, and she felt like she should just either run away or end it all. She didn't know how to handle it, how to tell her mother that she was a mutant. It became real to her, and she couldn't just accept it. She understood now why her father took his own life, there was no one to help him. He wasn't comfortable with who he was. She had the chance now to make a difference, or to be like him. She was at a crossroad, give herself up to her mom, who wouldn't kill her but would most likely disown her. Or run away and never be seen again. Or was there another choice? She didn't know. But she knew she needed to be moving, she needed to leave. Maybe the sooner the better.

He coughed again, "Well. If you'll excuse me, I really need to close up, 'cause I have a, uh, date...party. Thing. Tonight. Kind of." Layla just stared at him, unbelievingly. "Actually, no. I'm sorry, it's just a little weird, right? I don't even know your name." He folded his arms across his chest, almost protectively and then walked across the cramped space to pick up the leather jacket from the place where it had fallen.

"Layla, that's my name." She was trying to compose herself, form a plan in her mind. She wouldn't do what her father did. She couldn't. She had to learn to live, even if that meant in hiding. She had to do it for him, and so she could finally understand everything she's been hiding from. She sighed. "I don't know yours either," she said watching him pick up the jacket, still slightly shaken about her power, about what she did.

"Oh, it's Jonathan. Or Jimmy. Or Jimbo. Anything really." He straightened, clutching the jacket. "So. Do you have any questions about the mutant life?" He laughed, a bitter, cracked laughter. Her face was dead serious as she answered, she looked straight into his eyes, almost tenderly.

"Just one." she said. "H-how do you do it?" she looked away trying not to cry, she didn't want to make it anymore uncomfortable, but the truth was, she didn't know how to do it. She just wanted to know, to know how he could be so comfortable and normal, well as normal as she could tell, while having the power to hurl someone to the ground with one punch. How anyone could enjoy life hiding the most significant part of them. "I mean, how do you accept it?" she tried to explain. "Since I can't escape it, I might as well accept it, right?" she sighed.

"The power?" He laughed again, but this time, it was pleasant, happy even, "Accepting it will not be a problem, Layla. It's part of you, now. It IS you. No, accepting it isn't the issue. Control, that's where you'll get into trouble." He rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a hideously burned patch of skin that extended all the way around the limb, from elbow to shoulder. She cringed. "This is what happened the first time I lost control." He pulled the sleeve down again, "Now, I'm not saying that that's gonna happen to you, but you'll want to start small, don't try using you powers for every little thing, but don't keep them pent up either." He gestured around the shop, "This is my power outlet, if you will. I can use my power for good, and everyone benefits." She smiled, then remembering her mother's phone. Taking it from the floor where she had dropped down to. She looked it over.

"And apparently, you do a good job at it." she said, her eyes widened. "It looks almost new," she laughed a little.

He shrugged, embarrassed, "It's nothing, really. And all things considered, you don't need to pay." He grinned, and held out a hand to help her to her feet. "Now, no offense, but it's getting late, and, I'll be honest, this isn't the best part of town. You might wanna get home." At the sound home she froze and shook her head.

"No, I can't." she told him straightforward, a frown on her face.

His brow furrowed, and he blew a strand of his chestnut hair out on his face, "Why not?"

"Ha, it's kind of hard to explain. My mother doesn't necessarily understand what it's like to be a mutant either, but she, I'll say, she doesn't, like them." she said in a more simple way. She continued, "She thinks it's a disease."

"Ah. I've met that kind of stigmatic, self-righteous as--," He stopped, "I mean, I'm sure she's a very nice person. But I can see why going home at the moment would be difficult." She nodded. "Do you have anywhere else you can go? A friend's, maybe?"

"I'm actually thinking of running away," she said looking at him. "I don't trust my friends and they probably wouldn't believe me and I don't want to put that on them."

Jimmy closed his eyes and sighed, "I guess, if you need a place to crash, you could come over to my place." Her eyes widened, and he quickly backtracked, "But not in a creepy way. I mean. Just so you have a place to sleep. God, that sounded bad." He turned away, "Sorry." She tried not to laugh and looked to the ground.

"If I could crash on the couch, sure. I guess I'll just have to lie to my mom about where I am and then sneak in the house tomorrow to get my stuff. I'm sorry too. It'll just be tonight, I promise and then I'll find somewhere else to be."

"Okay, then," he said, slightly red in the face, "Let me just clean up here, and we can be on our way." He began to pick up the papers and tools that had been scattered over the floor when her powers had been activated.

"Sure," she said, equally embarrassed. "I'll help." she offered and started helping him pick up some stuff. "So how much do you make doing this for a living?" Having lived her life in privilege she was a little wary of starting with nothing. She wanted to make sure she would be able to survive undercover.

"With this job? I could make a lot more than I do, truth is. But I make about a thousand bucks a week, enough to get by without any trouble." He smiled, "I'm sure you'll find some job for your powers. There's always something." she laughed.

"Yeah, maybe I could be an expert coat hanger or something. Hang multiple coats without touching them, saves people time." she smiled at him jokingly.

He grinned again, "Or you could work at a lumber yard and pretend you were lifting all of those massive logs, but really just float them around. Oh, the possibilities!"

"Ha, yeah. Who knows? But then I don't really know what exactly makes me do it yet. Nor do I know how to stop it. I guess it'll come later though. Sorry about your arm though, before, it must be tough trying to control all that electricity."

"Nah, only when I'm angry or afraid," he said, shrugging, "And when I got that burn, I was absolutely terrified."

The bell on the door jingled and Jimmy turned around, "We're just closing up, sor--"

"Absolutely terrified, were you, cuz?" The tall blond man stepped into the shop, followed by a young woman with blank eyes, "Well then I'm here to tell you, you don't know the meaning of fear."

Marlyn Frankson | Medi-Co/ Bishops Office

“So lastly sign here, and then welcome aboard,” the Vice President, Mark Wolden, the new VP said as he had introduced himself. Marlyn grinned at him and did so. He had a short grey beard and thick rings under his eyes. He looked like he could either be easily swayed, or easily beaten down. She pitied him. After signing, she stood, and he did as well. “So, I will suggest you take a tour of the place!” He said. “But, first!” He suddenly remembered something. “First, go find Bishops office,” he laughed. “How could I forget her!” he was shaking his head at himself. Marlyn was appalled. She knew whoever this “Bishop” was she had a lot more power than Marlyn originally thought. She continued smiling though, and nodded at his words. She was swiftly handed more directions and almost groaned at the fact.

“Thank you, for everything,” she told him with her most patient tone. She knew he probably wouldn't understand her otherwise. After shaking his hand she took her leave. If there was one thing she learned from all of this, she thought, was that she would never ever accept directions from anyone ever again. She looked to the paper and followed it’s directions precisely though. As she arrived where she thought she should be, she hesitated knocking the door. She wasn't sure she had found the correct place, and she also wasn't sure if she was in the mood to make an introductions. The interview had been so long and winding and she didn't know when the old man would stop describing the laboratory. She could have probably found her way through the entire place, without all the directions!

To make things worse for her, in the middle of their interview she discovered that she had not brought her phone with her. To an interview! So all her notes, all her tips to herself, even her opportunity to write things down for her to remember, were gone. While she was so pissed with herself she didn't even care so long as her daughter did not touch it. ‘She better had not touched it,’ she thought. She sighed and figured she should just take the chance and knock, before she did though, she calmed her mind down; and promised herself much indulgence in any amount doughnuts or food she wanted. On that thought she knocked on the door, she heard a scurry and then the door flung open. And a young, seemingly overworked assistant, rushed past her excusing herself. Marlyn quickly turned her attention to the woman across from her,

“Ah, Mrs. Frankson. Welcome to my office.” her voice had a strong and commanding tone. She held her head high, and had fire red hair. Looking around the office, Marlyn noticed a very leading presence; the colors she chose were dark, and yet obvious, and she seemed to have everything in her office put in a specific way. Marlyn knew instantly working with her was going to be interesting. She gave her a bright smile.

“Hello, just Marlyn is fine. I’m looking forward to working with you,” she said, meaning it in every regard. She was sure she could crack the woman, after all, she liked solving cases didn't she? She continued looking around carefully, and kept the smile on her face. She stepped forward confidently, knowing she couldn't just stay by the door.

She stood up as well, coming out from behind her desk, “Welcome to Medi-Co,” she said. And then asked politely, “How do you feel about mutants?” Marlyn felt herself grow cold, she didn't expect such a question. ‘Shouldn't she already know I want them exterminated?!’ Marlyn wondered. ‘Why else would I have joined?’ For the first time in a while Marlyn was speechless. She quickly regained herself though and widened her smile, almost making it a smirk.

“Let’s just say, I feel for them, so much so, I don’t think they deserve to suffer in their wretched state.”

Bishop raised an eyebrow at that. “Is that so?” she mused, sounding thoughtful.

"Yes, what do you think of them?" Marlyn asked, she was now curious. Her analysis of the woman made her think she was unconcerned.

"They're a blight on this world, Mrs. Frankson," Bishop said and leaned back against her desk, picking up a file that sat on it and frowning at the pale yellow cardboard. "But I do agree with you; I don't think they deserve to suffer, either. Why don't you take a look at this and let me know what you think?" She offered Marlyn the folder, eyes guarded.

"I will," Marlyn said as she took it. She smiled and then excused herself, it had been a long day for her and she was going home to review it, and take a long hot bath.

Josiah Campbell | Abandoned Warehouse:

Jos frowned at the girl he’d tapped on the shoulder. That wasn’t Aria. And it definitely wasn’t his sister. Who the hell was this girl? Dark haired but definitely not either person he was looking for. He’d listened to Eva berating him all afternoon and now it was pretty close to evening. Ash had slipped out while Jos had been trying to avoid their two housemates without seeming like he was doing so--and without actually leaving the building. That hadn’t worked out very well.. Come on, Ash, he urged silently, eyes narrowed on the new girl as they stared at each other. Where the hell are you?

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded after moment. Ash was strangely silent. It felt weird not to have her in his head all the time. Even weirder when she wasn’t around and within his sight at all times. Jos snorted and moved back a step and then to one side. It put him between the girl and the door. You better not be trying to find a dealer again, Ash. He really hoped she hadn’t gone off and done something stupid. Like bump into the Mutant Police. Something moved behind the girl and Jos’s eyes flickered over to it. Oh, that was great. She wasn’t alone. There was a guy with her, and Jos didn’t know who he was. “How’d you two get in here?”

Neither one of them answered and it made Josiah’s frown deepened. He reached out to touch the girl again, barely a brush but it was enough to get a glimpse of her thoughts. She was a mutant, too. He’d picked up on that much. Jos glanced between, considering the pair. Alright. He assumed the guy was a mutant, too. That solved one thing; but it didn’t reassure him. He crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’ll ask you again,” he said, keeping his tone stern. “Who the hell are you?”

Damnit, Ash. Where are you?

_________________________________________________________

Ashley Campbell | On The Streets/The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop:

Everything was different at night, darker, less stationary, less firm. Ash liked it. It made her feel...freer, less restricted. She sighed, doing a little twirl. This was definitely much better than being stuck inside all day in a stuffy old warehouse. Especially in summer. Ash fell to lean against a nearby wall, staring up at the sky.

An errant thought that was distinctly Jos’s brushed against her mind, but she determinedly ignored it. Her brother would not intrude on here, not right now. Not tonight. Ash hummed and pushed off the wall, continuing on down the street. She was near the foreshore; the scent of salt and seaweed was unmistakable. So was the scent of ozone. Ash frowned. That wasn’t right.

Somewhere nearby, a shop opened and closed, followed by the little jingling of those bells some of them had over the door. Ash paused, glancing up and down the street, but nothing really stood out. There was one shop, tucked away a bit, that had it’s lights on. Ash could see that they had customers. Nothing seemed out of place.

Oh, my god. Daniel.

She blinked. That hadn’t been one of her thoughts, and it definitely wasn’t her brother’s. Ash turned, looking around again, but like before, the street was empty. A wave of fear hit her, then, sending her stumbling into one of the bins that lined the sidewalk. Ash cursed, pushing away from it a little. That was not hers, either. She whimpered, biting her lip as she straightened up.

Help....help me, I’m trapped....oh god, where am I?

Ash turned towards the one shop on the street that was opened, letting the emotions build up as she pushed away from the bin and crossed the street, approaching the shop. The sign above it read ‘The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop’. Ash paused outside the door, staring up at the sign for a long moment. Okay, she hadn’t known that was there before. The emotions were sharper here, more intense, as were the thoughts. Ash winced, trying to reign them in a little. If this kept going, she was going to do something very stupid.

Steeling her nerves (and her empathy), Ash took the two steps to the door and pushed it open. Four people stood inside and not one of them were looking her way. They didn’t move either. “Um, excuse me, I think my watch is broken?” she asked, scanning the room as she slipped inside and let the door fall shut. “Can you--”

“What are you doing here? Get out.”

Co-written by RedBird, thewritersdream, and ScarlettFire

Daniel Connors-Smith | Medi-Co Basement/The Streets/The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop:

Joan was still huddled under the blanket when Daniel flashed back into existence in the mess room. Her eyes were shut, but beneath the eyelids, they moved back and forth with dizzying rapidity. Her mouth was moving too, a silent barrage of words that Daniel had never fully understood. He stood and watched her for a few seconds, the hard lines of his face softening a bit. She was dreaming, he knew, although he was never sure where the dream ended and her waking life began. As far as he knew, she was living in a dream, with no real concept of what was actually happening to her. There was, though, the problem of her resistance. That at least indicated that she had some idea as to what was happening inside her head. And she didn’t like it, that much was obvious. The thought hurt Daniel more than he liked to admit. She was supposed to be his friend, but she persisted in pulling away from him, like he was something to be ashamed of. As if.

“Joan, girl, we need to go,” he finally said, kneeling next to the armchair, and taking her hand in his, “The missus upstairs has a job for us again. Won’t that be fun?”

She jerked her hand away, and turned her head into the moldy upholstery, “I want doughnuts, why can’t I eat?”

Daniel sighed. Joan was like this, sometimes, speaking gibberish, crazy-talk, really.

“C’mon, Joan, we can get doughnuts later, if you want, you just need to help me out, okay?”

She froze, her body tensed, but then she relaxed and nodded, “Okay, if you promise.”

Daniel barely managed to contain his grin, “Of course, Joan. Now, let’s get cracking.”

*****
They were in the battered SUV that Bishop had deigned to allow Daniel to use. The gears were pretty much shot, and the brake pads need serious replacing, but it ran, and that was all that mattered, in the end. Daniel and Joan had gone on many a raid in this vehicle, and he wasn’t about to get rid of it now. Joan was sitting shotgun, her knees drawn up to her chin, the baggy old sweater she was wearing pulled down from one shoulder. Daniel had one hand on the wheel while the other supported the file that Bishop had given him. It was boring crap, mostly, at least until he got to the profile of the guy they were out to get. Jonathan Connors. Daniel had almost laughed at that. So, his little cousin was alive, was he? This was perfect. Closure, one might say. He was sure he could take on Jimmy this time, now that he knew what he was up against. The kid wouldn’t stand a chance. And maybe, just maybe, when that freckly electrokinetic idiot was out of the way, Joan would finally see how good he had been to her, had done her a favor. Behind the aviators, Daniel’s eyelids itched, but it was not the irritation that it usually was. No, this time, it signalled change.

Joan was staring out the side window, taking in the various signs and shops that flashed past, the pedestrians hurrying home from work, blissfully ignorant of the workings of the world. Her head snapped around to face Daniel as they sped through an intersection.

“My brother beat you,” she giggled, like it was some sort of joke, “He made your eyes melt, like ice cream. Can we have ice cream and doughnuts?”

Daniel’s hand clenched on the steering wheel, his knuckles straining against the taut skin of his hand, “Maybe, if you’re good and we get this done quickly.” He could feel another headache coming on. She was pressing against his barriers again. Just what he needed right now. He gritted his teeth, as he pulled over in front of a bank of small shops.

This part of town was what you might call seedy, but Daniel didn’t care in the slightest. Outside of the air-conditioned SUV, the air was still sweltering, and he was glad he hadn’t put on the suit that Bishop had insisted he start wearing on raids. What the hell was that about? There was nothing more obvious than a man in a suit beating up on someone. No, if you were going to go around doing stuff like that, you needed to look the part. So, tank top and ratty pants it was. Joan got out of the car, and skipped around to face him. Daniel looked up at the sign directly in front of them. The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop. Jeez, long name much?

“Do we go in now?” Joan asked. She was getting jittery, like she could sense what was about to happen. It was the only time he used her like this, but it was damn useful, he had to admit. Under his control, she could fight like a wild cat, as quick and vicious as he was.

“Yeah, let’s,” he said, his smile more of a sneer. As he approached the door, he could see Jimmy inside, picking up pieces of paper off of the floor, a young woman helping him. Damn, that made things complicated. Just before he opened the door, he heard Jimmy say, “...when I got that burn, I was absolutely terrified.”

Daniel opened the door, a small bell jingling as he did so, “Absolutely terrified, were you, cuz? Well then I’m here to tell you, you don’t know the meaning of fear.” The surprise and anger that appeared on Jimmy’s face were priceless; he wished he could take a picture. But then his eyes flicked to Joan and recognition pushed everything away. Jimmy’s eyes narrowed, and his lips pulled back from his teeth.

“Daniel,” he snarled. The young woman looked back and forth between the two and occasionally at Joan, she obviously had no idea what was going on. Daniel stepped fully into the shop, and glanced around. Nothing much, a few tools scattered about, papers lying everywhere.

“My, my, Jimbo, you have made a mess here, haven’t you?” he said, folding his arms across his chest, “What ever happened?” The mock tone of concern was marred by a nasal snicker. The young woman cleared her throat.

“Maybe I should wai--,” she began, in a small voice, but Daniel held up a hand.

“You’ll not be going anywhere. Just stay right there, and you might not get hurt. No guarantees, though,” he grinned, and took another step forward, “Joan, grab the goods and let’s go.”

At this point, she was supposed to turn into a fighting machine, knock-out Jimmy and then drag him to the car. But that didn’t happen. Instead, she stumbled backwards, clutching the sides of her head.

“NO! No, I don’t want to hit the children, don’t make me, they’re nice to me,” she was half sobbing, “Family is forever, and I’m hungry!”

The anger in Jimmy’s face hardened, “What the hell have you done to her?” he stepped forward, fists clenched, “Joan...”

“No, no, no, I don’t think so,” Daniel said, noticing a few sparks dancing across his step cousin’s hair, “You’ll want to stop with the ol’ electricity number.”

“Why should I?” Jimmy hissed.

“Because you’re scared again, I can tell. And you don’t want Joan going the same way your parents did, am I right?” Daniel’s grin widened.

They all jumped as the little bell rang again, and the door opened. A slim girl stood there, dressed in a baggy sweater and short red skirt, battered sneakers scuffing the doorstep. Daniel took this in for a millisecond and promptly decided to ignore it.

“Um, excuse me, I think my watch is broken?” The girl’s voice was small, but forceful, “Can you--”

“What are you doing here?” Daniel turned on her, “Get out.” Now that he had the chance to really look at her, he could see that she wasn’t bad on the eyes, not bad at all. If it had been any other time, he’d have pursued a suitable course of action, but, as it was, right now...

“I don’t think I will,” the girl snapped, stepping further into the shop, “What’s going on?”

“None of your business, although if you don’t get out, it will be, and, ask Jimmy here, you don’t want that,” Daniel was getting seriously pissed. This was supposed to be a simple raid, no contact with anyone but the target. Now, he was gonna have to leave a trail, and Bishop would not like that.

The girl hadn’t moved. Her hands were clenched at her sides, and Daniel could see her jaw working furiously, although her mouth was firmly shut. Jimmy took a cautious step towards Joan and the new girl.

“He’s right, I’m afraid. It would be best if you just leave. Please,” he closed his eyes, and a ripple of electrical tendrils travelled down his arms, “Just go. Layla, you too--,”

“Cuz, you talk too much,” Daniel snorted, and then punched his step cousin in the jaw. It was strong punch, maybe not his best, but definitely enough to floor a guy of Jimmy’s stature. But nothing happened. He just stood there, and released a small grunt of pain. Daniel blinked. His head was beginning to pound again, and Joan was huddled in the corner by the door, pressing against the mental barriers. Joan, STOP. But it wasn’t any good; she was persistent, more so than she ever had been. Gritting his teeth, Daniel landed another punch, this time straight into Jimmy’s abdomen. Another grunt of pain, but still no reaction!

“What. The. Hell,” Daniel snarled, pulling back for another punch.

“Brother, brother. He’s hurting. Why so much pain?” Joan was whimpering, pulling at her hair. Daniel turned to tell her to be quiet just as the new girl stepped forward, eyes narrowed.

“You did this to her, didn’t you?” she said through gritted teeth, gesturing at Joan, “You’ve taken away her potential.” And with that, she held out a clenched hand, a gentle movement, and opened it.

It was subtle at first, but quickly built. A small breeze, shuffling the papers on the ground, but growing in force, until Daniel could barely stand. A roaring filled his ears, he couldn’t see anything except the girl, her hair whipping around her face, eyes alive with fear and anger, pain and sadness. Well, well, well. Another freak. And then he was blasted back into the desk, his back smacking against the thick wood. As soon as it had started, it was over. Daniel felt like a piano had been dropped on him; his whole body was a bruise, a universal pain. He groaned.

“Joan?” he said, his voice cracking. For the first time in five years, he could not feel her presence in his mind. A floorboard creaked next to him, someone groaned from near the door, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Daniel looked up, and found himself staring into Jimmy’s hazel eyes, “You never learn, do you, Daniel?” The kid sneered, and then hit him with a punch so powerful, Daniel felt his jaw rattle in his skull. Before he passed out, the last thing he saw was Jimmy, leaning over his body to pick up a long leather coat.

Marlyn Frankson | At her home

Marlyn swayed her wine before bringing the glass to her lips and taking a sip. She was on her bed with her bathrobe on looking through the folder she was given. She found that it had a few different suspects, including the owner of a shop she had passed by many times on her way to work. She took another sip, and she turned a page, she noticed a suspect that looked like the thing in the carnival who had changed the color of his shoes, she knew it! She had just known. Her home phone rang and she grabbed the set that was on her nightstand.

"Hello?" she asked. People rarely ever called her home, well, whenever she had her phone that is.

"Hey, this is Riley, did Layla find the guy?" At the sound of her daughters name, Marlyn jumped and quickly checked the time, she was so consumed in her thoughts at the moment she didn't have time to fully asses her daughters whereabouts, it had happened before. 'What a great mother I am.' she thought. She found it was almost midnight and frowned greatly.

"Which guy?!" she asked now furious.

"The one who fixes stuff, you know her phone broke." Marlyn shut her eyes.

"What type of phone was it?"

"I think it was a blackberry or something." She knew it, Layla broke her phone, how wonderful.

"And she hasn't gotten back to you about it?" she asked.

"Nah, she hasn't."

"Well then how am I suppose to know?!" she slammed down the phone and ran her hand through her hair. What was she going to do with this girl? Although she knew this had rarely ever happened, Layla usually gave some excuse, Layla always has been responsible. She could trust her daughter, couldn't she? Yes, yes she could. She wasn't comfortable just staying there though. Suddenly she thought of finding out where exactly she went and who this guy was, but she stopped herself.

She knew if she talked to her daughter now she would be absolutely furious and she hated talking to her daughter in that state, it was almost unnatural for her to be like that. Also whenever she did end up like that she and Layla would end up not talking for weeks, and she couldn't take another week like that, especially since she wouldn't get a lot of time with her daughter once school ended. And with her new job and everything. She couldn't risk being "let go", things were just starting to get back to normal. Frustrated she went back to her reading and organizing.

Her mind strayed though to her daughter as the clock kept ticking. 'Why won't she just call?' she wondered getting more anxious rather than angry. What if she needed her, what if she needed her? Unintentionally her mind went to a memory after Layla's father died. Layla was crying in her room and she was in the other room, a wall separated them, she was so afraid of facing Layla, she would always kick her away, or tell her to leave. So she stayed away from her daughter, she couldn't run to her and comfort her, she couldn't tell her everything would be okay, and that her father did the right thing. No, Layla would just push her away.

Every time she tried to say her father made the decision, it was his choice, and it was the right one, she would scream at her, tell her she was lying and that her father wanted to live, he just didn't know how. She didn't know how! She was cooping herself up in a tight little ball. Marlyn brushed the memory away. Then, she couldn't be there for her daughter even if she had wanted to, her daughter didn't want her, didn't need her. But now? She couldn't miss that chance, the opportunity to be a real mother, to get it right for once. That bastard took away her chance to be a mother and now that he was gone, she would get her chance; her right!

All those years of dedication, all those years of coaching and coating and encouraging just to get the girl to say a word would not go to waste. How many hours she had to put in, how many fun days and parties and experiences she had wanted to have that she couldn't. Why? Because her daughter was dumb and her husband was crazy. She was the one who had to bare it all. Well, not anymore, now she would be the comforter but not the carrier. She never wanted to have to worry about another mutant ever again, she never wanted to look at one the way she looked at her husband. He took her life away and was still now, years and years after his death taking it away. "You selfish man!" she yelled throwing her glass of wine to the floor, and watching it crash into a million different pieces.

She sunk in her bed and sighed, confused at her state. She hated nights like these when the memories came back to her and the pain came back as well. Nobody would ever know how much she suffered those days and nights trying to hold everything together. It broke her heart that the one person she had wanted to understand her, was pushing her away. She went under her covers, she was just going to sleep for a little bit, after all, maybe Layla just needed space, she was a little off today.

_______________________________________________________________________

Co-written with ScarlettFire

Layla Frankson | The Circuit Breaker Electrical Repair Shop/The streets

Layla struggled to get to her feet, her head reeling from the blast that the girl had given. She was stunned at the force that had ripped through her, but she felt a sense of urgency, especially with the maniac who was throwing punches at Jimmy still in the room; she knew the punches wouldn't do anything, but she still saw the anger in his eyes, he wasn't planning on stopping and that’s what scared her. He looked completely insane. Eventually able to stand she watched Jimmy trying to talk to the girl with the blank eyes after checking on the girl who had made the blast, who was surprisingly on the floor knocked out.

Once composing herself she made her way over to the girl and checked her pulse. You can never be too sure. She wondered how someone could release that much energy ever and be alive, not only alive, but fine. She then felt a strange realization about the world she was now so quickly entangled in, there was so much she didn't know. She tried to push it aside, telling herself she’d get all the answers later as she started to pick the girl up.

The crazy man, who was in the worst condition, considering Jimmy had punched him after the blow, groaned, and Layla moved quicker.

“What are we going to do?” she breathed as she pulled the girl’s arm over her shoulder. Thank goodness she doesn't weigh that much. she thought trying to steady her. Jimmy started to the door with the first girl and spoke quickly.

“We gotta get her to her place.” Layla nodded and just followed him. She didn't exactly know how they would get there, but she noticed the slim girl handing him a paper before passing out, figuring some kind of address was on there. She personally hoped that it wouldn't be too far considering the fact that she was half carrying someone. The night was a beautiful one, the stars were out, and the moon was bright. The night sky was something that Layla had always loved, she found it comforting and wondrous, she loved how there were so many bright lights up there and just the way it was all displayed was like a canvas. It made her able to dream. She felt the girl slipping, and held her arm and waist tighter to keep her from falling. You’re really fragile she thought as she followed Jimmy and the other girl.

The other girl fascinated her as well, she seemed so, well, childish? She seemed much younger than her age, like her mind was not fully grown. And those eyes, they were just so empty. Layla wondered if that was due to some kind of mental illness. And she figured if it was, that the girl shouldn't be with the crazy man she was with. She wondered if she was a hostage. It honestly felt good to be helping somebody with such a situation. She hoisted her passenger up again and watched Jimmy with the girl, he was concentrating on whatever it was she was saying, hanging on every word. Part of her wanted to catch up especially because she didn't want to lose them, but a bigger part of her knew she shouldn't. She felt they needed the space, and they needed to talk and settle things.

She didn't walk slow though, keeping a maximum of ten feet between them. Thinking back on all that had occurred in one night she wondered, Who are they all? She still couldn't believe it, all the things she had managed to see in just two days. It was amazing, stunning but she couldn't enjoy it, she couldn't just bask in the wonder of it all like she could the wonder of the night sky. She had to instead face it, she had to look it in the eye even though she wanted to run away. And all because of her history. Why did I get myself into this mess?! Why did I ever follow him? Break the stupid phone! Do anything. She sighed.

Shut up! You’re thinking too loud. Layla froze. That wasn't her thought. Was it? No! No it wasn't her’s, she didn't think it, she didn't form it. What the heck? She was afraid, she wondered for a moment what she should do, what could she do? What just happened? She racked her mind trying to think of what could have possibly caused her to think that; it didn't even sound like her. She heard another person, another voice. Ugh, I feel like I just got slammed into a wall. Layla jumped slightly, and her eyes have never been wider, it was the same person, the same voice and she now knew, for sure that it wasn't her’s. Her first thought after this understanding was that it was some type of spirit, like a ghost, or some type of being. After all she could believe in anything now with everything she’s seen.

Whoever you are or whatever you are. She spoke mentally to it. Please leave! No one is dying, no one is dead, no souls for you here! Go away.

My name is Ash, idiot, and I’m the girl you’re carrying! And I can’t help it, you’re kind of touching me and this close, there’s no controlling it. Layla tried not to drop her. She heard hollow, echoing laughter in her head and wanted to let go, but she held her, though she was trembling.

How do you-- I mean, how did you get into my head?

Ashley Campbell | Streets/Abandoned Warehouse:

Ash snorted, eyes barely open so she could see the street. She tried to put less weight on the other girl--Layla, she swiftly discovered--and more on her own legs. Legs that were pretty much jelly after that little overload. Ash groaned. How do I do it? she though, not sharing the question with Layla. Well, Ash figured that was pretty obvious and then reconsidered. Er, maybe not to most people, then. She’d been in Jos’s head so long, she’d forgotten how to act around people who didn’t really have any powers. Well, she told the other girl, frowning slightly. I just...kind of...send my thoughts your way and somehow you pick up on them. The frowned deepened and she pulled herself up using Layla’s shoulder. I don’t really know how it works, either. It just kind of...does.

Layla didn’t answer straight away and Ash figured she was thinking. She tried not to listen in on her, though Layla touching her wasn’t helping, and focused on the person in front of them. Squinting, she realised it was two people; the electric-boy and the blank-eyed girl. Joan.

So... Ash turned her focus on Layla. You’re one of...those m-mutants, then? Like...me?

Another snort. What do I look like? A puppy?

No.. It was said in sorry tone. Ash winced. She didn’t like that emotion anymore than she had liked that crazy aviator-boy’s emotions. He was crazy with a capital C. Feeling steadier than she had a moment ago, Ash shoved herself away from the other girl.

“Don’t say it like that!” she grumbled, staggering away a few feet. “Geez....makes avaitor-boy’s emotions feel like kitten-slush...” She trailed off, stumbling towards electric-boy and the other girl, the one with the blank eyes. Ash was certain she could help, if only she could touch her. Barely two steps away, her legs gaze out and she went down. Sprawling. Ash groaned and shoved up onto her knees. “Freaking hell!”

“Hey, I didn’t mean to do anything but help here.” Ash twisted to shoot her a narrow-eyed glare. Layla stared back, a little startled. Ash could feel the frustration rolling off her in waves. “This is all so confusing, and you expect me to know everything.”

Ash heard the unspoken part of that sentence; and I don’t know anything. She sighed and sat back on her heels, shifting until she had the newly injured knee up. One look and she grimaced. Great, it’s skinned. Just lovely. What a way to end a little stroll through town at night. Ash shook her head. “It’s fine,” she said, waving a hand in the other girl’s general direction. “It’s nothing. You can’t know everything....unless you’re my brother, the smartass.”

“Well, I don’t need to know everything. But no need to brush me off, do you need some help?”

Somewhere in front of them, Ash could hear Joan complaining, but it wasn’t really out loud--it was more thoughts than words. She frowned and looked up, half-ignoring Layla’s words for the moment. Electric-boy had turned back and he was frowning. “Is everything alright back there?”

Ash looked away and at their surroundings. “Yup, it’s fine,” she said and then points towards the building to their left. “In there.”

“Need a hand?” Layla asked and Ash glanced her way. Grumbling under her breath, she climbed back up onto the shaky legs and nodded. Layla was quick to respond, grabbing her arm before she could fall over again.

“Thanks,” she muttered and gestured towards the building nearby--which happened to be an old warehouse. “Like I said; in there. Gotta stay low somehow, right?” Together, they moved towards the door. Ash checked to see if Jimmy was following before she shoved at the door, trying to get it open. Layla shifted to help. They got the door open and slipped inside, Jimmy and the other girl following.

Once inside and with the door firmly shut behind them, Jimmy said; “A warehouse? What are we, canned goods?”

Ash shifted to fix Jimmy with a dark look. “What do you think this is? The Ritz?” she snapped and pushed away from Layla, moving to the wall and leaning against it. “It’s not like we’re rich or anything. Besides, this is the best place we’ve found to stay low. Can’t have the Mutant Police on our arses all the time.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Besides, I did just save your butts.”

Jimmy looked away, muttering something under his breath. Ash caught it regardless; “I had everything under control...”

“Did you now?” Ash murmured, the eyebrow rising higher. She pushed away from the wall after a moment and strode further into the building. “Come on,” she called back. “I bet you guys are hungry.”

“Do we get doughnuts now?”

Ash froze. She didn’t turn back. “Joan, you can have all the doughnuts you like.”

Jimmy Connors | The Warehouse:

Sitting at the beat-up table, happily munching on a doughnut, Joan looked like he remembered, Jimmy thought. Almost. But she was older, as he was, and her time under Daniel’s thrall had clearly changed her, changed everything about her. Her hair was a mess, her clothes baggy and unkempt, and there were smudges of dirt on her freckled cheeks. When they were both younger, people had always commented on how similar the two looked and acted, but now, Jimmy felt, that wasn’t the case. She’d always been the one who’d had to look out for him, who’d been able to bring him back to earth when his powers were getting out of hand. Not anymore.

“He’s my brother,” Joan said suddenly, frowning at her pastry and then rubbing her nose furiously, “Little brother, he shouldn’t hit people.”

Jimmy’s forehead creased, “Yeah, Joan, I’m your brother. Jimmy, remember?” She just shook her head, and then swivelled in her chair to stare at the other girl, Ash, who was lying on a couch, regarding the siblings. Joan stared unblinkingly, her eyes wider than seemed possible.
“Oh, yes. He is, he is. Dangerous.” She smiled happily, then turned back to her doughnut.

“Who’s dangerous, Joan?” Jimmy asked, putting a hand on her shoulder, but she shied away from his touch.

“You are. Little brother in a big coat, trying to be a man, but he isn’t yet, not really but still dangerous.”

Jimmy could feel tears pricking in the corners of his eyes. She didn’t trust him anymore, that was clear. She thought he was dangerous.

“Joan, I--,”

“You’re not like him, Ash. I like you, you’re gentle up there. Like feathers in my hair.” She giggled and shoved the rest of the doughnut in her mouth.

Ash? Jimmy turned to look at the girl again. She was still staring at Joan. Hadn’t moved an inch. And then it clicked. It had been evident before that the girl had some sort of psychic ability. Maybe she was worming her way into Joan’s head, and after what Daniel had done to her... Jimmy pushed his chair back so forcefully, it fell over. He strode over to the ratty couch.

“What are you doing to her?” he snarled, his clenched fists crawling with tendrils of electricity. Ash scrambled upright and into the back of the couch, her eyes wide as she stared up at him. Jimmy took a step closer and brought one of his hands close to Ash’s terrified eyes. Opening the fist, he revealed a rotating ball of crackling blue light. “What. Are. You. Doing. To. Her? Get out of her head!”

“I’m not in her head!”

Jimmy brought the whirring ball of energy closer, “Then what’s going on?” Ash winced.

It was Joan who responded, in a sing-song voice, “Daniel is bad, but Ash is good. But she does drugs,” she frowned, “You should just say no.”

Ash narrowed her eyes. “We’re not here to discuss my extracurricular activities.”

Jimmy shook his head, “Whatever. I don’t want an addict messing around with my sister’s head. She’s been through enough.” He snapped his fingers and the electricity fizzled away.

“I’m not an addict.” Her tone was defensive, not quite hostile. “I only take them to block out everything else--”

“Sounds like an addict to me...and what exactly would ‘everything else be’?”

“All of everybody, talking all day,” Joan said sadly, “She hears the world thinking.”

Jimmy turned back to Ash, “You’re a mind-reader?”

Ash sniffed, “Among other things.”

“Then how could you do this to her, after you know what she’s been through?” Jimmy’s voice cracked. Ash looked away, biting her lip.

“She’s not like Dan,” Joan whispered, “Dan is the tooth and the claw, walls and prisons. Ash is like a whisper, a breeze through the grass,” she paused, “Are there more doughnuts?”

Jimmy sighed and gave her another from the box. Powdered sugar was smeared all over her face.

Ash coughed, drawing his attention back to her. “I, um, forced him out,” she muttered, leaning back into the chair. “Out of her head...”

Jimmy blinked, “Daniel? You’re talking about Daniel?”

“Yes,” Ash said, closing her eyes.

Jimmy cleared his throat, and then glanced at Joan, only to find her rolling her eyes.

“You always were thick,” she said, brushing a strand of her coppery hair from her eyes. It was the first lucid thing she’d said since the shop. Jimmy laughed softly.

“I guess I was. Am,” he sat down next to Ash on the couch, “Look...I’m sorry. And thank you, for doing that.”

“It was actually pretty hard,” she said, tilting her head back. “He had his claws in deep....and all those walls.” Ash shivered. “Never doing that again.”

They sat for a few seconds in silence. Jimmy cleared his throat awkwardly.

“So. This place. It’s nicer, you know, than I expected. How many of you are there?”

“He’s lying to be polite,” Joan observed politely from the table, having already polished off another doughnut.

“Six?” Ash said, hesitant, “maybe seven.” She glanced towards Joan. “He’s lying?”

“Oh, yes,” she pushed back from the table and flounced over to the pair on the couch, “He always gets these little frowny, wrinkly bits between his eyes when he lies.” She poked Jimmy’s forehead. “I could always tell when he hadn’t done his homework, back befo--,” Joan cut off abruptly and then collapsed on the ground, clutching her head, “No, no, no nonononononono! NO! They’re not dead, no, not gone. Just at work, yes. Uh huh. I’m going to college next week, soon, so soon. I can’t GO AWAY NOW!”

“Joan!” Jimmy kneeled beside her on the cold concrete, “What is it? What’s going on?”

Ash bounded off the couch and kneeled next to Joan, a look of pain flitting across her features, “She’s remembering everything, everything that’s happened since Daniel took control.”

“Can you help her?” Jimmy asked, trying to keep Joan still, but she continued rocking back and forth, whimpering. Ash glanced towards Jimmy as she took Joan’s face into her hands.

“I don’t know. I’ve... I’ve never really tried this before.”

“Tried what?”

Ash grimaced. “Fixing people’s broken heads.”

Jimmy blanched, “Will she be alr--,”

“Shut up!” she snapped, sparing him a dark look. “It’s hard enough, peeking into her head after what I did to him, so don’t make it any harder for me than it already is!” She closed her eyes, muttering under her breath as she leaned in towards Joan. Jimmy considered for a moment, then got up. Things had definitely changed.

Sara Darring- Her home/ Medi-co lab

The knife cuts deep into my leg, exposing muscle and even bone below the fragile surface of my skin. A searing pain runs through me, but I do not scream. I never scream. The pain fades as suddenly as it came, as my skin grew back over the wound, as my muscles knotted back together with ease. There wasn't even a scar anymore. But there was still pain. More pain than any knife could cause. I was trapped here, in this torture chamber, with a man that I once thought of as a father.

"Fascinating." he said in a low tone, not even a hint of sympathy, of compassion in his voice. Instead, he grinned at me, his eyes dancing with malicious glee.

A knock at the door saved me.

"Go to your room and stay there. Don't make a sound. If you think this is bad, just wait until they get their hands on you."

They? Who's they? I thought as I scampered to what, in the broadest stretch of the word, was my room. Compared to this, Harry's cupboard under the stairs was a palace. I would give anything to live there. I lived in the crawlspace.

No sooner had I wriggled in than he opened the door. I couldn't hear anything of what they were saying. After what seemed like a millennia, the door slammed closed. Sneaking out of the crawlspace, I poked my head around the corner to see him. He was looking at the bills, repeating one word over and over. "Damn, damn damn damn." He slammed his fist down on the table, making me jump out of my skin. But then he lit up, an idea sparking to life. Whatever it was, it wasn't good.

I scampered back to the crawlspace, just in time to see him walk into the kitchen.

"Hello, this is Todd Lucius an I would like to talk to the Mutant division, please." There was a short pause. Then, "Hello, I have a mutant currently in my custody. Yes, it is subdued. I would like to cash in the reward money, please. I assure you, it is in perfect condition. When would you like me to drop it off?" Another pause. "That sounds perfect. Thank you."

My mind racing, I tried to absorb everything I'd heard. He was going to turn me in. I guess that's who they were. I started to panic. Calm down, you idiot, I thought, forcing my breathing to become slower, steadier. He's going to turn me in. He's going sell me to the government so he can pay his damn rent. I thought briefly of running away, of escaping. But the cops would catch me eventually anyways. And at least I know that Cara's safe if I go. If I escape, she'll be in the same place I am now- maybe even somewhere worse.

I wonder when he'll turn me in, where this place is, I think, steeling myself to my fate. With these thoughts still swirling in my head, I fell asleep on the cold metal floor. Todd's tests were exhausting.



"Sara! Get up, girl! Quickly, or do I have to remind you to do what you're told?" He said, throwing open the door to the crawlspace.

Scampering out, I muttered a quick "No sir." The last time I had forgotten, he had tested me like never before. Even I couldn't heal the wounds properly. She still has scars from that night.

He jerked me towards the garage door, where his car- a small corolla- was idling. "Get in the car." he growled, putting restraints on my wrists. I looked up at him questioningly, but he just ignored me, getting into the car and driving away. We drove and drove and drove, until I lost count of ho many turns we'd taken. He was grinning that malicious grin the whole way.

Just as I thought we were never going to get there, the behemoth form of the Medi-co building appeared around the corner. I gulped as Todd swung his car into the nearest parking space, jerking me out of the car. He pulled me through the doorway, to the front desk.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Todd Lucius and I have an appointment with Dr. Allison Bishop."

"Oh, yes," said the receptionist, glancing quickly at him, staring warily in my direction. "Follow these directions to her office." She handed him a piece of paper from behind the desk.

I barely paid attention to what was going on, where we were going. My mind was numb. I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe. I didn't think of escape, or even wondered what horrors awaited me in Bishop- whoever that was-'s office. Fear had wiped my slate clear of any thoughts, any feelings. As we reached Dr. Bishop's office, I saw a red-haired woman in a lab coat. That must be her. I tilted my head down as she looked up from the file, acting the part of the subdued, docile mutant. That's what I was, after all.

"Mr... Lucius, yes?"

"Yes."

"And this is... the mutant."

"Yes." I said, my voice so quiet even I could barely hear it.

"So when do I get my reward money, exactly?" Todd asked timidly.

"Grey, escort this man out of the building."

A woman scurried over and took Todd's hand. But before he was pulled out, he bent over and whispered in my ear, "Don't worry. Your dear sister Cara will make an excellent replacement."

He stepped away before I could react, ducking out of the room. As he left, it was like a light switch turned on in my brain. I swung out at no one in particular, swinging my arms, still zip-tied together, lashing out at no one, at the world. I raged and bucked, scattering instruments on the ground. Then I felt a prick of pain in my neck, something sliding in. A woosh of cold flooded through my body. I fell to the floor, blinking stupidly, then finally loosing consciousness as the sedative worked its way through my system.



I woke up, what I can only assume was hours later, strapped down to a metal table, medical instruments next to me. Dr. Bishop hovered above me, her eyes filled with both hatred and delight.

Allison Bishop | Holding Cell, Medi-co Basement :

The lab doors were secured behind her now, and Allison was looking from the lab assistant to their newest Project. "You seemed to think there was a problem, Hastings?" she asked, gaze sliding between the two. The lab assistant mumbled something in reply but she wasn't exactly listening to the fool anymore. Bishop's gaze was on the boy. He sat calmly, petting the miniature hound he'd made using a seed from his breakfast--someone had obvious given him bread and hadn't bothered to check on what was in it--and a stray ray of sunlight. Most likely stored from when he had been out in the yard. Bishop snorted. "I don't see the problem here, Hastings. He seems very calm to me."


The lab assistant scowled at her. Bishop merely raised an eyebrow. "He has contraband!" Hastings insisted, gesturing to the boy's tiny little vine-hound. "He set it on me!"


Bishop laughed. "Are you scared, Hastings?" she asked, moving towards the boy. Hastings let out a little alarmed noise--a noise Bishop ignored. She reached the boy and peered down at the vine-hound. "I told you he's harmless now. To us, maybe not so much the freaks outside of Medi-Co, though." She turned to fix Hasting with an unreadable look. "He will follow orders, Hastings, like a good little dog."


"T-That's n-not--"


"That's not what you meant?" Bishop offered and the assistant nodded. "Oh, relax. He's hardly a threat to us." Her gaze slid back to the boy. "Tell me, Hastings, what do you think of mutants?"


"T-They need...need to a-all be de...destroyed--"


"Oh, come now, Hastings," Bishop chided, crossing her arms over her chest, gaze drifting back to the lab assistant. "We want the truth now."


Hastings panicked. Her hand twitched and her eyes darted to the left. Bishop stayed perfectly still, moving only her eyes to the right. A section of the lab's metal walls had melted and reformed, floating away from the wall and out into the lab. It vaguely resembled a spear. Bishop smirked.


"Ah," she said, eyes moving back to Hastings's face. The woman's eyes were full of anger and fear, her mouth pressed into a grim line, her hands both clenched into fists. She shifted back a step, raising the left hand slowly. The metal began moving towards her. "So that's how it is." She cut the boy a look. "Five."


The boy's head shot up. His attention fixed on Bishop. He smiled a vacant, pleased smile. "Yes, mother?"


Bishop pointed to Hastings. "Kill her."


Five grinned. "Yes, mother."

Several Hours Later - Her Office, Medi-Co:

Bishop dumped the boy’s file on her desk, stalking over to the window behind her desk. Before her, the city was spread out like a sprawling mess and lights, bricks, concrete and glass. She frowned, stroking the glass as she watched the city down below. Five will be...interesting, she mused thoughtfully, frowning slightly. The boy was going to be useful. Now that she could control him, that was. Hastings had been an idiot, and mutant or not, Bishop hadn’t truly wanted such a lovely mind to go to waste. But still, she had been a mutant, and in her eyes. All mutants needed to either be controlled...or destroyed.

Sighing, she pushed away from the window and faced the room. Five saat off to one side, his vine-hound on the floor beside him and laying there, head on its crossed front paws. Bishop cast the beast a wary look before taking a seat at her desk and spinning Five’s file around so she could read it. Grey was off doing something. Bishop didn’t really care. It gave her some time to herself before the other woman came back. And, of course, there was Five to consider. She glanced his way again as she flipped open the boy’s file. He seemed to be sleeping, but Bishop knew the truth. Five had been locked away from sunlight for months now. This was probably one of the few moments in those few months that he’d been anywhere near this close to full sunlight. A minute or two in the sun every few weeks to make sure he wouldn’t die, but that was probably it. Bishop watched as Five shifted in his seat, stretching out his legs a little more and putting both hands behind his head.

The vine-hound’s murky brown-purple eyes opened and fixed on her. Bishop didn’t move and neither did it. Five controlled the hounds, and she controlled Five; they were no threat to her. She couldn’t say as much for anyone else, of course. Especially other mutants. Like Hastings. Bishop smiled and turned back to the file, flipping through the pages. Nothing of interest, really. Five’s real name, his age--he’d be nineteen in a few weeks--and what his life had been like prior to being picked up by Medi-Co’s research department. Five sounded much better than Ethan. At least, that was Bishop’s opinion. He also wasn’t as young as she had thought, either. His parents. Now, they were interesting. They’d called Medi-Co when they found out about what he could do. Bishop snorted. Of course, that hadn’t been until he’d screwed up. A year after he’d told them what he could do. Five’s parents thought they could send him to Medi-Co and get away with everything else? Bishop closed the file and considered her desk for a moment. They wouldn’t be.

The file beneath Five’s was labelled ‘Four’.

“Bishop.”

She looked up, away from the other file. Daniel stood before her and he looked a little worse for ware, bruised and bleeding from what appeared to be several cuts on hands and his face. “Sit down,” Bishop said, sounding somewhat bored as she set Five’s file to the side. “You’re bleeding all over my carpet.”

He ignored her, but that was to be expected. His aviators were bent and one of the lenses was smashed. His nose appeared to be broken, and the usually tidy blond hair was unkempt, “You were missing a shit ton of info about my cousin, Bishop. He nearly smashed my head off.” A small drop of blood fell from a gash on his forehead. “There was another mutant too, showed up out of the blue. Made some kind of shock wave and I’m pretty sure she had some empath stuff going on, just being near her made me lose control of Joan.”

“Empathy?” Bishop asked, raising an eyebrow. She stroked the files thoughtfully. “Interesting...”

“Bloody painful,” Daniel sniffed, “Who’s this kid, then?”

She picked up Five’s file and tossed it at him. Daniel caught it automatically. “His name is Five,” she said, smiling. “He’s your new partner.” Bishop’s gaze darted towards the other boy. “Five.”

The boy opened his eyes and sat up. “Yes, Mother?”

“Come say hello to Daniel.”

Five got up and moved towards where Daniel stood, frowning at the other boy. “What happened to your face?” he asked, reaching up to poke at one of the cuts. The vine-hound hadn’t moved. “Does that hurt?”

Daniel’s reaction was lightning-fast. Before Five’s finger could prod the bleeding gash, Daniel had grabbed his wrist, twisted it above the other boy’s head, and pinned it behind his back. The file hit the floor with a loud bang. Immediately after that, the vine-hound was on its feet, growling menacingly. “My partner is Joan. I’ll get her back. I don’t need this...lab rat.”

Bishop raised an eyebrow. “Would you prefer to end up like him, Daniel?” she asked, tilting her head towards Five, who was whimpering and muttering under his breath. Bishop didn’t appear to notice.

“I’d like to see you try,” Daniel sneered, “You can’t lay a hand on me and you know it.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Bishop stood up and planted her hands on her desk. “Play nice and maybe I won’t let Five’s little friend over there rip you to pieces. Trust me, he’s fast.”

“Persephone,” Five muttered, “her name is Persephone.”

With an odd look on his face, Daniel released Five, “What do you want me to do with him? And I don’t really care, I’m getting Joan back, one way or another.”

“Just let him tag along,” she told him and sat back down. “And I don’t care what you do to get Joan back. Just don’t make a mess.” Bishop looked at Five, who had slunk away from Daniel a few steps. “Lab rat or not, he’ll be helpful.” She turned a smile on Daniel. “It’s Five or his little brother. Four is...” She frowned. “Well, let’s just say he might screw with your abilities.”

Daniel laughed, “You have no idea what that would take. But never mind, I’ll take the plant kid. That’s not gonna be enough though, with my cousin and that empath chick together. We need weapons, Bishop. I know you’ve got stuff.”

“Stuff?” Bishop asked, smothering a laugh. “You’ll have to be more specific than that, Daniel. I can hardly work with ‘stuff’, you know.”

Off to the side, Five was muttering to his hound; “You’re a good girl, Persephone. You won’t let the crazy boy hurt me, will you?” The hound had quit growling and was now making a weird chuffing sound. Bishop ignored it. Five just continued to dote on his hound.

“I’m crazy?” Daniel snorted, “There’s guns, special ones, I’ve seen some of the guards on the lab levels. Power negation, stun weapons...I know they’re there.”

Bishop blinked. “You want some of my top secret prototype weapons?” she asked, sitting back in her chair. “Are you crazy? What makes you think I’d give you any of those?”

“Because you want me to get these mutants, and much as I hate to admit it, even with plant genius over there, we’re not gonna be able to take them, unless you can take out all sources of electricity in the city and also turn off everyone’s emotions.” Daniel’s sarcastic tone was marred by the trembling in his lip and his clenched fists, “I can still feel her...” he said, almost to himself.

“She’s strong?” The other file on the desk was picked up and opened, Bishop’s raised eyebrow barely seen above it. “How strong?”

“She pulled down the barriers I had in Joan’s head like they were nothing at all. She just forced me out, and that shock wave...well, whatever it was, it packed a punch. And Jimmy...I hit him around, hard, all over his body, and it didn’t do anything. Those two together, and who knows what other mutants in the area, I’m not going back in without some serious firepower. So yeah, you’re gonna give us some stupid ass special prototype weapons. Get me?”

Bishop sighed and snapped the file shut. “Fine,” she snapped and let the file drop. It jolted the table as it hit. Five jumped at the loud thump it made. He quickly stood and joined Daniel in front of the desk. “Four is out on an assignment right now, so I can’t give you him...but I can give you the other three.” She cut her gaze towards Five. “Go and alert the others. They’re needed.”

Five nodded. “Yes, Mother,” he said and turned to go, the hound trailing after him. Bishop watched him for a moment before she returned her attention to Daniel.

“Oh joy,” Daniel muttered, “You’re telling me I get to babysit four of the little bastards?”

“Would you prefer I sent you out alone?”

“What happens if you precious little experiments get...damaged?” Daniel asked, ignoring the question.

“It’s inevitable, really,” Bishop replied, stroking the file on her desk again. “I imagine that being damaged is unavoidable. Just don’t get them all killed, will you?” She waited another moment until the door closed behind Five. “It’s not easy, finding them.”

“Getting easier by the hour, I’d say,” he said ruefully, running a hand through his hair, “I just hope they can handle whatever we’re going into. And if any of them lay a hand, or plant, or whatever, on Joan, I’ll kill ‘em. I swear.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Indeed,” she muttered, sounding only a little suspicious. “As for the first three. You could say my first experiment is a little...thick-skinned.” Bishop smiled. “He’s also very strong. I had one of the guards fire a hundred rounds at him. He walked away without a scratch.” She snorted. “He was much harder to tame, though. Keep an eye on him; he likes toying with his bit.”

Daniel allowed himself to grin, “Sounds like just the guy for Jimmy. What else d’you got?”

“I can give you four each of my power negators and the stronger taser guns,” Bishop said thoughtfully, frowning slightly. She was trying to decide what else to give the crazy mutant boy. “I’ll give you two stand pistols; one for you and one for my first project. The others have abilities that may come in handy.”

Daniel grunted, “It’ll have to do. You know, something like this, it’s gonna be hard to keep on the DL, a big mutant battle like this looks like it’s gonna be. What if...normals get involved?”

Bishop smiled. “Then you have my permission to kill any normals who get in the way. Just don’t kill the mutants.” She picked up the file and opened it again, considering it. “I don’t want any potential lab rats to die or get away.”

He cracked his knuckles and turned towards the door, but stopped and turned back, “One more thing...find me some more aviators. These ones won’t do at all.”

She laughed. “You’ll find some in that basement you call a home.”

Daniel looked like he was going to say something more, and Bishop could see anger and resentment flashing in his ruined eyes, but he just cocked his head, then strode from the room. She sighed and sat back, staring at the slightly ajar door. That one was going to be trouble, and she didn’t know how to deal with him just yet.

After a moment, Grey slipped into the room. Bishop looked up and spotted her. “Go and alert the staff for Labs Six and Seven,” Bishop told her, closing the file and placing it on her desk. “I have a few little....experiments to sort out.”

There was a buzz and then her secetary's voice filled the room. "We have a Mr. Lucius down here. I've sent him up with some directions to your office, Dr. Bishop."

Bishop smiled. "Preparing the labs can wait a few minutes."