[img=http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles9121.jpg]

[b][u]The United States of America, New Mexico, The Long Lonesome Road[/u][/b]

[i]'I had wondered for so long before I found them. This conclave of the atom, an isolation of mutation, freedom, solace. The heights of elation and the crushing depths of despair, I felt them all. I was still a way from being fixed, but I was being mended. The first of many, true tests came that day. The day of sweat, dust, blood and tears. The day on the Road.'[/i]

The open landscape of New Mexico opened up before them, and so Alex put peddle to metal. His 4x4 of choice often got a bit of stick, a chrome BMW X5 eDrive hybrid, targetted at the European market. But, for all the decried loss the extra use of battery was 'supposed' to give cars, the BMW soon reached, then exceeded the speed of its petrol/disel only counterparts, the duo-power system pushing the machine onwards as the harsh country road was ground beneath it. The windows rolled down, the music turned up until the sound system shook, to be heard over the rush of the wind. In a somewhat obnoxious display of his ability to choose the music, Alex had 'Make it bun dem' playing, the bass profoundly obvious.

They had been out of state, firstly to look up the possibility of another supposed mutant on the run to join their ranks, something that had not worked out, largely due to the lack of interest from said mutant, and then, as a distraction, to attend the Mayfest, which had gone rather swimmingly, and messily.

"So, my merry band of rogues, admit defeat to the superiority of the British rave scene yet? Or must I play you yet more great...'tunes'?" Alex smirked, his eyes still on the road, as he drove one handed at nearing 200mph, the feat made somewhat easier by his own manipulation of the aircurrent surrounding the vehicle. He still looked bloody cool though, at least in his eyes.

This trip had definitely been interesting. The little group that had offered up to go on this out-of-state trip definitely weren't the most alike, for a lack of better words. Well, at least when Jack would silently examine things. With Alex heading the trip in the driver's seat and his ability to control the air currents, Jack knew that it would be a very fast trip back home. Jack, however, did not anticipate the choice of music. He was all for rave music, but it was so lound that the sound system was boom-booming. The bass was so strong, and Jack knew his ears would blow up if they hadn't already.

[b]"The music is cool, Alex, but perhaps we could find something else to listen to. Or at the very least, turn it down."[/b] Jack said, offering up a suggestion regarding the music. 

As the car that the team were in went down the road at a very fast speed, Jack tried his best to enjoy the scenery. New Mexico had always been a state known for its desert. Granted, it really doesn't have nothing over Arizona, but it still was a close second in that regard. In any case, Jack was surprised that Alex would go this fast. Even more so, he was surprised that there were hardly any other cars on the road. Jack wasn't one to worry, but he just had to have his curiosity on as he didn't know why there weren't many cars on the road. 

"Fine, Fine, anything you fancy my Commonwealth Compañero?" Alex replied with a slight wave of the hand, turning the music down while awaiting any further suggestions. He was fairly ok with almost all music, minus the very worst of any pop chart. Volume was another mattter, he did enjoy his music loud, but at least while others are deciding he could turn it down enough for people to think coherently.

"Or, we could all have a touching, motivational sing-a-long, that will make the time just [i]fly[/i] by." Alex griined, making a slight adjustment to bend with the road, that at this speed would usually have the potential to send the car into a full on roll, but with Alex's unique abilities, barely registered on those within.

At first, Will assumed that perhaps sitting in the front would be worth the fight she’d put up with Chase to get – assisting in choosing the music, a great and open view ahead, as well as a comfortable seat that she could recline with a mere click of a button. Calling shotgun always had the potential of being beneficial in the individual’s favor, but not this time. Will was a fan of raves, as she had been since turning the age of eighteen. However, there were certain occasions when the music most often found in raves should be played and this… well, this was not the time. 

Sighing, Will gradually brought the bottle of Jack Daniels to her lips, taking a few swigs only to place it beneath her legs once more. She rested her head against the side of the vehicle, halfheartedly listening to Alex and Jack discuss music choices, only to find herself contemplating a selected bunch. “Bon Jovi, maybe? Can’t go wrong with It’s My Life,” she suggested idly. “Have A Thousand Miles on that shitty playlist of yours? Let’s bring out that feminine side you boys seem to lack.” 

The girl smirked, adjusting herself in the seat so that she faced Alex, her head still against the car door. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the smell of beef jerky (a road trip favorite) and her alcohol. None of the others really shared her taste in Jack Daniels mid-day. Although, hypothetically, if she’d so desperately had the urge to do so, she could have convinced Alex to drink a good amount, but that would impair his driving skills ever so slightly, and they were already past two hundred. There was no need to intoxicate the boy and find out what happened then, as the aftermath probably ended in the death of all of them. Well, maybe excluding Chase with his ability to adapt to fucking everything. 

“What say you, Chase? What kind of music tickles your fancy?” 

Chase chuckled, sparing the slightest of glances to the back of the girl’s seat. “Why ask me?” he quipped, returning his gaze to the desert outside, “After all, I’m not the one in the front seat.” His tone was light and teasing, not at all reflecting how uncomfortable he truly was. Though he would never admit it to anyone, Chase loathed riding in cars – especially in the back seat. It wasn’t so much the speed that bothered him, but rather the fact that he was practically placing his life in the hands of another; and that person – namely Alex – was currently hurtling down the road at a ridiculously dangerous pace. To be entirely honest, he was surprised no one else seemed upset by it, but then again, with Alex’s ability, it [i]would[/i] be nearly impossible to crash. 

Realizing it was getting a bit too tight, Chase released his grip on his door handle and leaned on the window instead. “Actually, since you were so kind to ask,” he continued quickly, speaking before Will could respond, “I think Jack-” Chase emphasized this with a smirk in the other man’s direction, “should pick. Since, of course, he suggested the change first.” 

The opinion was given as though the young mutant was trying to take away Will’s power to choose, but in reality, Chase couldn’t care less who picked what or what was put on – with the exception of extremes. It was just that he had oftentimes heard Jack playing music from his room and felt that his selection could be something everyone might enjoy. Of course, he wouldn’t explain it like that, preferring Will to think he was messing with her, so he added a tongue-in-cheek, “No offense to ‘A Thousand Miles’ or anything” just for good measure. 

The black-and-forth discussion about what song to put on was pretty interesting. Will had suggested Bon Jovi, which was a nice choice. It was a bit on the Classic Rock side, but Jack really had no problem with that. However, jokingly, Will brought up the idea of putting on some Vanessa Carlton. She is a bit on the poppy side. One of her most famous songs is that one jam that, in Jack's mind, made famous in the movie White Chicks. That was a funny movie. Jack really liked it, but the song itself was a bit unbearable. 

As he thought about it more, Jack's preferring choice of music wasn't really as easy listening as A Thousand Miles. [b]I actually could go for some Silverstein. Ever since I heard Vices a few years ago, it always has been one of my favorite tracks from them.[b] Jack said, offering up the suggestion of Silverstein. He didn't know how the others would feel about it, since it's a bit on the emo-ish side at parts. Even still, Jack really likes that song, and that band, so maybe they'll go for it.

"Ah ha. The man has spoken. Not my first choice, but, could be worse." Alex, defering to the general decision to in fact, defer to Jack, switched playlists to the desired band, managing to keep his eyes on the road while doing so, even if the journey became momentarily more shaky, Alex putting on an over the top expression of distress at a slight bump, before grinning evily. 

"See? I'm a great driver, nothing to worry ab.."

Alex was cut off midsentence when the world suddenly became a loud bang, the road beneath the car exploding with violent force, flipping the vehicle over and into the air. Alex's seatbelt managed to take some of the force, retaining his sense even as it felt like the life was being crushed out of him. With a moment's notice, he managed to create a brief air pocket beneath the car. With less than a split second to do anything, it didn't stop the car from falling, it just slowed them. In the next moment, the 4x4's roof struck the ground, the force jarring through the inhabitants like a truck through a paper wall. At least he'd prevented them from dying, and breaking any bones. Still, hurt like hell.

As the car was launched into the air, it's installed safety features kicked in, the windows immediately rolled up, the door's locking from the outside. Fortunate, because in the next minute a hail of bullets rattled against the outside of the car. Industry standard wouldn't have held up for a second, but the glass was bulletproof and the vehicle had been reinforced, still, under persistent fire, it wouldn't hold for long.

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck." Alex cursed as he dangled upside down, eventually finding his seatbelt release and consequently crashing down onto the ceiling-now-floor of the car. He didn't know anything about the range of telepathy, but tried screaming down the vaguely familiar trace of Helena, from the every now and then she chose to communicate with him thus.

"Under attack. Ambush. Guns. Help."

The next thing he did was activate the GPS beacon on his phone, fumbling as his sense still recovered from the intial explosion and landing, before his breathing started to quicken to an unfunctional rate. Dropping his phone, beacon activated, he took a second, before another salvo of automatic fire tore into the car, with a worrying sound of metal starting to give way.

"Oh fuck me."