EPISODE 1: INTRODUCTIONS ARE IN ORDER

02200 HOURS
THE CITY OF WASHINGTON DC

FRANCISCAN MONASTARY GARDENS

The Gardens should be closed by now, at least to the public who come from all over to feel a sense of peace, to smell the beauty around them, but it is not. Several nondescript bodyguards stand at attention and keep watch over all entrances, their hands clasped together in front of their business-like attire.

Sitting on a park bench are two men, one a balding and liver spotted old man with an American Flag pinned to his person and horn rimmed glasses, he has a definite air of a politician about him. The second of the two of them is a suave, blond haired gentleman wearing a black and white dress shirt and blazer, his shirt's top buttons undone in the heat.

In the younger man's hands is an average sized manila envelope, the young man drops his package on the old politician's lap, and waits silently as he opens it up and pulls several unseen photographs from within and takes a long sigh before putting them back and handing the manila envelope back to him.

"Who are they?" The young man asks, breaking the informal silence,

The old politician stares straight ahead at a rosebush before speaking, "i've always thought of humanity as a beautiful rose, such wonderful colors and varieties, smells that make you think back to simpler times, and the feeling of the delicate petals. Don't get me started," he laughed and wiped a sentimental tear from his eyes,

"What does a rose have to do with anything?" The young man asked with a raise of his perfect blond eyebrow,

"You didn't let me finish," the old man said and finally looked the less educated young man in the eye, "while humanity is like a rose, a rose has it's thorns. The thorns in this context are this new, so-called mutant issue. They are there solely to do harm to those who want nothing more than to admire the rose,"

"Oh," The young man said and nodded, "you want me to prune some roses?" He asked with a wink,

The old man began to stand, and was approached by an assistant to his security detail who handed him his cane, and in a matter of fact tone he spoke, "in a manner of speaking,"

THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON DC- THE NEXT DAY

"These mutants are becoming an issue, it's one thing for some punk kid to go around egg someone's house or tag up a respectable business-"

"A young man with the power to make other see what isn't there was arrested earlier today for stealing almost 1,000,000 from a Wells Fargo-"

"These kids are running about making such a mess of things, when are we going to say enough is enough? When is the government going to do something about this mutant proble-"

A young man turned off his expensive and LED lit up car stereo, before turning his attention back to the city skyline. Beside him a blond model type was hanging onto him, playing with his smooth brown hair,

"I was listening to that," she said with a fake pouty-face,

"Really?" The guy asked and looked over at her in faked astonishment, he had his Lamborghini parked atop an empty parking structure, because sometimes he liked his space,

"No Wally Bear," she teased him and leaned for a brief make out session, "that stuff totes bores me,"

"Yeah," Wally, or Walt as he perferred to be called, "me too," he said with a shrug and looked back over the city. Walt Ashmore was a very rich young man who's image was that of an irresponsible party boy, the playboy son and heir to Ashmore Congolmerate, the family business that liked to buy other businesses and if they didn't make profit, then they would simply be forgotten about, dusted under the financial rug so speak.

So needless to say, his family was both loved and hated, but mostly hated.

"Who wants to listen to people bagging on mutants anyway, we just go out on the streets and do that ourselves," he joked, but if his lady friend were a little less blond she would've known that he was keeping his real feelings about the New Mutant situation a big secret,

"Ooh, speaking of the streets," she said with a girl-ish squee, "there's a rave going on tonight, if you want to go,"

"Do you really gave to ask me that?" He asked ger with a laugh before starting his car up and backing out, "where at?"

"Some abandoned hospital," she said trying to think if the name in her bimbo-ed mind, "saint something or other,"

"St. Elizabeth?" Walt asked as he drove around the corkstrew-ed road that led down to the street,

"Yeah that's the one," she giggled and rolled down her window and let the hair blow about her hair.

"Sounds like a plan,"

Carrie felt her entire face take up arms in an attempted coup. She bit her lip hard, trying not to show it. This part about the new guy she hated the most - talking to him was like prying your eyes out with a wine bottle opener. He just wouldn't look away, his peepers boring through your skull like high-powered lasers. It excited her somehow, but in practice, resisting it was harder than she remembered.

"Why." He asked in his monotone. She really couldn't see what she found in him, sometimes. The guy was a concrete block, a mannequin from a shop window, a failed attempt at a service droid. But damn, he was cute, with those glasses of his, and he always seemed to just be there whenever she had trouble with the instruments, and he was never tired of helping. And he never looked at her chest, no matter what she wore. This angered her as much as satisfied her.

Yes, it was hard, but it was most likely worth it. She would find out tonight.

"Why? You idiot." She pushed him in the shoulder accusingly with a finger. He didn't resist. "Because we've been stuffed in this lab ever since it was built, and I wanna go see the city for once! And there's a great show tonight, in a makeshift club they've built in an abandoned hospital. This is where you meet all the weird kids. It's gonna be awesome."

She stared hard into his face, looking for anything, a sign he had heard her words. She was about to give up, when he said, "Sure. I could use the..." He suddenly stopped, blinked, looked away. His face was still blank, but his eyes were darting, a clear sign of nervousness. She was about to reach out to him but his head snapped upright so suddenly it made her gasp. "Yes. I'll come."

Carrie sighed heavily, brushing her hair away from her face with a hand. What was it with her and men who played hard to get? She almost jumped away when he put his hand on her arm. "Thanks for taking me." he said, and smiled. She couldn't bear to watch. "Yeah, yeah." She pushed him away. "Just - you do have something to wear that isn't this, do you? I mean, nothing wrong with it, just, yknow, don't look like you're the electrician coming to change the lightbulbs. I'm gonna look awesome and you better do too. Though I guess it's fine, just add some non-boring stuff to it and you're good."

Christopher Abu-Machlouf, the biolab's resident applied physicist, looked down on his clothes in time for Carrie, the biomedicine graduate, to boop him on the nose. She clicked a gun finger at him and went back to work. He rubbed his head, a very human gesture for someone who looked like the result of poor motion-capture CGI character. He was, in fact, completely terrified. But one party shouldn't kill him, should it?

Living at the dorms of UWDC was nice in some respect. The accommodations were like a 5 star hotel, the food was excellent, and the study areas had all you needed and more. However, the only thing that Eris had trouble with was her roommate. Because Berkeley was a prestigious college, many of the students were the best of the best, but apparently some didn't know how to leave people alone. Rachael was a peppy girl, who always wanted to hang out and party. Eris had no idea how Rachael got into this school, since she rarely studied.

However, one particular night, Rachael had left with her friends to party and get drunk. Eris was in her room, her study light glaring at the papers that lay before her. She silently wrote notes from that night's reading into her large 5 subject notebook, her pencil never stopped moving. Suddenly Eris's cell phone loudly buzzed on her wooden desk. Eris jumped, startled by the fact that she almost never received texts or calls from anyone. It was Rachael. Eris sighed and picked up the phone.

"Hello, this is Eris speaking." She politely said. In the background she could hear the bass blaring, and people screaming. Eris never understood parties. So what? You moved your body and listened to sound waves. What was fun about that?

"Heyyyy, Arin, do you mind, like, comen' get me?" Rachael slurred, giggling like a maniac. "I'm sooooo drank righ' now." Eris sighed once again and agreed.

"Sure," After Eris hung up, she used an app on her phone she kept specifically for this reason. With that she found the address and got directions to Rachael's location. Eris left her book and papers on her desk, planning to return to them when she came back. She quickly changed into appropriate clothes to wear in public and grabbed her keys.

After 15 minutes of driving, Eris arrived at the place where Rachael was. An abandoned hospital? Why was Rachael drunk at an abandoned hospital? But nonetheless, when Eris drove up to the building she could feel the music. Not just because it was loud, or because the bass was amped up, but because Eris could feel music. Even when she couldn’t hear it. Knowing that Rachael won’t pick up her phone, because of the music or because she was drunk Eris didn’t know, Eris walked into the building. Using what Eris considered her “sixth sense” she found the source of the noise. On one of the top floors, people were partying like tomorrow wouldn’t come. Now it was time to find Rachael.

“What do you mean!” the Store owner yelled, staring at his employees with a mix of bewilderment and rage. he wasnt some mom and pop store owner either, he ran a well known chain store. “well sir, we.. we dont know.. the cameras, they..” the night manager was clearly at a loss for words, as was everyone else, they’d all seen the security video. “the entire sweets isle was stolen, just stolen right out from under your noses, and you saw nothing!!” he was livid, that was impossible. “what about the cameras?” he demanded, and the night manager went on, explaining that the video showed the stuff there one second, gone the next.. and when the owner went to check himself, he couldnt believe it, half an isle of Merchandise had just vanished. the real kick in the balls would probably be the note, a single piece of paper, left in the middle of the empty shelves that read “sup! so clearly this would be were i'd explain i'd pay you back for all i'd taken, but the simple fact is i dont plan to pay you back. i mean, why in the world would i do that right, think about it from my view, would you? anyway, how about we just call this a thank you note.. as in “thanks for the snacks” and we go about our seperate lives.. cool?" that was when the Call to the police was placed, though really who was going to take a theft of snack cakes, ho hos, ding-dongs, and nutty bars as a true threat.

lounging in his room, Nathan was munching, listening to his twentith “new” ipod, the others before having been unable to stand up to the stress, they just dont manufacture those things for the on the go Mutant, and none were more on the go as him. living in a two room, run down single wide trailer, Nathan Grace grew up living the hard life.. father a local drunk, who’s paycheck went to the local bar to pay for the “tab” he’d accumulate during the week, and a mother that walked out on them both, he pretty much knew if he was going to do anything, even live it was going to be on his own, by his own luck. all through high school, his file would read “troublemaker, troubled individual, doesnt think things through” he fought a lot, got in with the wrong crowds, did some time in Juvie.. and then his X-gene kicked on, and his life was constantly moving.

wearing a worn out hoodie and jeans, both having more holes in them then a block of swiss cheese, he laid on his bed, a littering of junk food boxes laid around the bed. his closet, small as it was, was filled with the goods.. stacks of the stolen goods filled it full that the door couldnt even close to hide the evidence, not that he really care about hiding it. licking the chocolate from his fingers, he tossed the eighth empty box of Nutty Bars over his shoulder, and let out a massive belch. “ahh” he said, and in a blink of a eye he was gone and back, the door swinging open still, but he stood in the middle of the room guzzling a two liter of coke like it was water. “mm, that hit the spot” dropping the empty bottle. “and now im bored” there had to be something to do. the only thing that wasnt poorish looking in the room was the sick ass computer he had stuffed in the corner, he’d liberated that from a best buy in Washington, right off the floor, during a rush period. sitting in the chair at the desk his fingers blurs as they moved over the keys, windows opening and closing so fast there was no way for anyone to see what he was browsing, but he could see it all clearly, in fact it was going a little to slow for him, the computer was fast, but not as fast as him, so he was having to dumb it down.. that was til he stopped and leaned back, having been cruising the black sites, he saw there was going to be a rave happening, and that made him grin. “hello ladies” smirking at the thought of hooking up, and making a little extra cash from idiots that wanted to play drinking games with someone that couldnt get drunk.. he was in like flint as he was out of the room, seeming to have vanished, only to appear a second later, naked rummaging through is clothes that were scattered on the floor. “damn, everything has holes” holes in his shirts, holes in his pants, hole on the crotch. he held those ruined pants up. “how the hell did that happen?” before tossing them behind him. when he came across a less holy pair, he pulled them on, grabbing a fresh pair of sneakers to put on, he finished dressing.. wearing a hooded jacket, with a white t-shirt on underneath and a pair of dark blue jeans. checking himself in the mirror, he grabbed a pair of sunglasses, and his ipod and was off, his door slamming shut and locking, he was out of the trailer and an invisible blur heading out of town in a matter of seconds.

Looking down from an apartment in the city she could see the hustle of the people. Everyone scurrying one way or another, passing by wothout a thought. These people were oblivious to the world she lived in. In her world people made their way by taking what you need to survive because no one would think twice about passing you by. You had to take care of yourself or you'd end up in some ditch behind a bar. That didn't mean that you couldn't enjoy life however, especially if it was at some one else's expense. Tonight was one of those nights where she'd be cutting lose on someone else's dime.

Rezzo, a local dealer whose apartment she happened to be in, was talking about hitting a party at St. Elizabeth. It was an old abandoned hospital that was converted into a rave spot a few weeks ago. It was a good opportunity to score some free booze and maybe a few wallets. Mika had been running low on cash of late anyway and stealing a drunk guy's wallet was easier than getting him out of his pants. Rezzo kept bragging to his friends about how much tail he would get at the party so Mika let herself out. It was already getting close to party time so she started to make her way back to her old man's gym to change into something with more pockets.

It used to be that they had an apartment in a decent part of the city but that went bottoms up when the old man couldn't pay his loans and now they had loanshark goons making weekly visits. Speaking of which, just as she walked in the door of 'The Iron Pit' she saw that the local 'tax collectors' had come for their weekly appointment. Mika did her best to ignore them.

Frank Harding: "I told your boss he'll get his money alright? I just ain't got it yet."

LoanShark Goon: "Yeah we heard that story plenty o' times Frank. Listen, the boss don't like waitin' on washed up schmucks like you to pony up but you're in luck 'cause he's in a good mood lately. So you got until the end o' the month or the Boss might not be in such a good mood later."

Mika passed them by and headed for the stairs leading up to their bedroom, well it was technically an office but she and her dad had been living at the gym since they lost their apartment. She could hear them still talking as she made her way up.

Loanshark Goon: "That's you're daughter right? Cute girl. You know, Frank, if you ain't got no money we may be conviced to accept an alternative method o' payment."

Frank Harding: "You watch your mouth. I'll get your damn money, now kindly get the fuck outta my gym."

Loanshark Goon: "All we're saying is you got options Frank. See ya 'round."

It was the same conversation as last time. Mika wasn't too bothered about it. At the end of the day loansharks needed people like her old man to keep making payments since loansharks never actually made any money themselves, relying on muscle and intimidation to keep the money flowing. Everybody knows that you don't slaughter your milking cow for a few prime cuts. The goons would show up, make some noise, and piss off. Every now and then they might slash a punching bag or bust up a locker but in the end they needed her old man a lot more than he needed them. It was too bad for her old man that he was too blinded with fear to realize it.

Mika used to be afraid as well, admittedly. That is, until she discovered her power. She had something that no one else had. Mika could control fire. It was raw power manifested in reality. All she had to do was think it and flames would appear. She could even become the flames. She'd spent many nights practicing in abandoned buildings honing her skills. Her flames gave her a confidence that she otherwise wouldn't have had.

Snapping back out of her thoughts she started perusing her wardrobe. Despite living in poverty Mika had more clothes than she knew what to do with and she always had an outfit for any occasion. After sifting through her entire wardrobe several times she finally settled on a grey and black striped T-shirt with a matching sleeve on her right arm, a black sleeve on her left arm, black trousers with big cargo pockets and plenty of straps down the legs, a studded leather belt, and a sleeveless black leather jacket. Having finally decided on her outfit she moved on to her make-up, going with a smoky grey theme, and putting her hair up in two high ponytails. About an hour had passed and Mika was ready to free drunks and addicts of their dilema of what to do with all their money. Just as she's leaving her old man speaks up.

Frank Harding: "You going somewhere?"

Mika Harding: "Rave."

Frank Harding: "Don't get caught stealin' again!"

Mika rushed out of the gym as fast as her platform boots would allow. She was at the party in no time. The DJ was doing a good job of pretending to be skrillex's more talented twin and the music was intense. There were already plenty of people at the party depite the fact that Mika had shown up early. Finally, it was time to work her magic and make some money. She moved around the crowd, slipping her hands in pockets whenever the opportunity presented itself. One mark even thought he was being hit on and didn't even realize that his wallet had dissapeared. Mika emptied a few wallets and nonchalantly left them on the dance floor for others to find. Any good samaritans would have the fun of explaining the missing cash to the person they returned it to. All in all the night was going smoothly and if it kept going that way Mika was going to come home with plenty of pocket money.

Isabel had just drifted into town. She had yet to decide exactly how she would be spending nights while she was here. There were times when she was stuck under bridges, sometimes far from town to avoid being burned in her sleep. But occasionally she would get a spot in a... friendly bed. She had heard, in whispers and murmurs, that there may be an underground mutant scene here in DC. It wasn't easy to look for things like this, but in the last two years she had learned a few tricks for searching them out.

She was on her first trick today. Party scenes. No house party, though. That was for rich pretty people in the suburbs. Mutants were more likely to congregate in underground scenes. Loud events, both bright and dark at the same time, full of freaks and hosted illegally in out of the way, abandoned places.

She found out about the rave at St Elizabeth's from a web forum devoted to finding parties that she browsed on a prepaid smartphone. It seemed like a good bet. Hell, genetic freaks in an abandoned hospital? The irony was too obvious.

She didn't bother checking the front gate, and simply hopped over the wall on the east side. There were no cars parked in view, but the lights in the through the windows and the electronic music drifting down to her told Isabel she was in the right place. The front door was wide open, and she went in and hit the stairs to the party floor.

She had stashed her meager pile of belongings by the wall out of sight, and all she had on her were her phone and her clothes. She was plainly showing off her abnormalities with short denim shorts and a crop top, exposing as much of her off-colored skin as possible. The blacklights bounced off of her shimmery body, making her appear to glow and drawing exactly the attentions he wanted as she danced through the party, arms up above the crowd. She moshed, she grinded, she touched people. Some recoiled. Some were into it. It didn't matter, she didn't stay with any partner for long. All the while, she was making mental notes of the people she passed, trying to gauge mutant friendliness, or even the possibility of any of them being Homo Superior.

"Daddy! Come on! You know me better than that!" Ryisa rolled her unaturally blue eyes in loving exasperation as she spoke into the phone. "No Daddy, you know I work on Fridays and I never have time to go out." The lie fell smoothly through her lips as she checked herself out in the full lenght mirror. She currently wore a tight bright green miny skirt, a black tank top covered in splotches of bright colored paint and was ripped in little slits up the side exposing a bandue that matched her skirt. Her wrists and ankles were clad in a multitude of bracelets, bangles and charms as were her dreads. Though the hair sported a plethora of bright colors rather than her usual platinum blonde.

She in fact was going out she had been on her way out to rave, one she'd heard about vaugly and had been finally asked too by one of her cute regualars at the club, when her father had called her. It seemed that he had a sixth sense when it came to her doing something remotely bad. "Daddy, do you have to give me this talk everytime you call me? Yes I know, I'm always careful, I don't let anyone see my powers and if anyone does they put it off as great acting!" Another exasperated sigh escaped her lips as another tirade came from the other end, "Daddy, I have to go! I'm going to be late! I love you too! Give Riker and Dad my love! Bye!"

Ryisa quickly hung up the phone tucking into her purse and pulling on a pair of bright colored converse bolted out the door and into the waiting car. This wouldn't be her first rave and she doubted it would be her last. It wasn't the booze or the drugs (though that defiinitly helped) that she loved about them, it was the energy and the people. It was something crazy and wild and she loved it. I wasn't long after she arrived did she find herself lost in it all.

Portland, OR
9:01 pm

For the first time all day the apartment was notably quiet, something Joseph Stein hadn't had the pleasure of having yet. After a long day making sure his siblings went to school with packed lunches, doing laundry at a nearby laundromat, taking his two classes of the day at Portland State University, coming back just in time for his siblings to be home, make dinner for everyone, and finally get them all whisked to bed Joseph was exhausted. Another busy but in the end satisfying day.

Still not everything was cheery in his world. A lot of the problems were stemming from his back, attached to both of his shoulder blades as a matter of fact. The large, fathered wings Joseph has only had for around a month now have been both the biggest blessing and biggest curse in his life. It didn't help at all when he watches TV, the city's normally very tolerant citizens have been very vocal about the mutant troubles as of late. Thankfully nothing too violent has happened... yet at least. Still Joseph was worried about his brothers, his sisters, especially his mom. Now that people have seen him flying around in public and think the city has an actual angel in its midst. It has caused another big uproar in the city, people thinking he was the signal of the end of the world (he's not... least Joseph doesn't think he is) to people just saying its all fake to trick gullible Christians (preening these wings nightly, they sure as heck doesn't feel fake).

Joseph though hasn't felt something he could have such a personal love towards, something so amazing and unbelievable that was just 'his'. The feeling of the cool air rushing against him as he could swoop up and down, all around, through the tightest corners and up high into the sky. He still could never figure out how to describe the feeling. Probably never could since its not something he could just summarize or compare with something else. Flying is something that all at once is scary, thrilling, elating, and all around incredible. Joseph loved every part of it.

As the young winged man was about to turn on the TV though the door to the apartment opened up, his mom coming in slowly as he sighed. Letting her purse plop to the ground with a thud. Joseph got up and quickly gave her a hug, one she clearly needed as she looked defeated, a sight Joseph was all too familiar with seeing from her. “Hey mom.” Joseph quietly said to her, trying not to wake his siblings. “I got your clothes washed and on your nightstand, plus the bills should be okay for the next few weeks.”

“Hmm thank you.” She quietly said to him as Joseph seamlessly got one of her arms onto his shoulder to help her down the hall to her bedroom. “Joseph please I can walk I'm fine.” She tried to assure her son, who quickly gave her shoulder a gentle pat. “Please mom its okay, you look like you're going to fall over any minute. Here lets just get you to bed.” He did so as he gently let her take a sit down onto her mattress. Though before Joseph could leave he heard his mom pat the side of the bed next to her. “Joseph please... take a seat.” She asked in a low tone that worried Joseph, but he complied as he took a seat next to her.

“Sweetie... at the store today...” She started into with, mentioning the general store nearby she worked half her day at. “Someone came in and said I had a mutant son and should be ashamed of myself. I tried to ignore the man but...” She teared up, choking down whatever sorrow she could just to speak.“I'm just worried about how people are taking to you and I...”

Joseph shushed her politely, “Mom its okay, I'll be fine. If someone wants to feel that way let them, but if you let it get to you. All you're doing is making them feel better. I love you mom, always have and always will. Always and forever, no matter what like we always say.” He reminded her, letting her nod. “Come on get some sleep, tomorrow I can take you out to lunch after you get off at the store okay?”

After he left his mom so she could sleep Joseph briefly considered bed himself. However that tingle in the back of his neck, the craving, he couldn't fight it if he wanted too. Getting a sleeveless shirt he made holes in the back of, and a pair of cargo pants. Joseph quietly smiled as he got dressed and could see out into the crystal dark blue night sky outside, simply perfect flying weather. Taking his time Joseph went up the stairs of the apartment, going up around seven stories before reaching the roof. There he could take in a deep breath of the fresh air, hearing the sounds of the city streets below him. Sure they'd probably see him, let them. Joseph strolled up to the ledge of the roof. Seeing everything below moving like a science experiment. Finally putting both of his feet up to the ledge, holding his arms out wide, holding his chin up with a barely contained grin of excitement, and let gravity take him over the edge as he only fell for a moment.

It was time for Joseph to take flight.


London, England
7:01 am

Nicholas Brooks couldn't help but stare at the body that was in front of the mirror, which reflected back at him this... thing. He still had moments of not really being able to grasp that this mass of flesh and fat was him now. Only a month ago he felt like he was 90 pounds soaking wet, now he seemed to be around 321 at the time he had weighed himself.

The time he weighed himself and now though had a lot of ups and downs to it. Whatever the x-gene did to him it had a strange sense of humor. Biggest of all, ironically, was how Nicholas could in fact make himself bigger at will. He tried it out again, almost as some physical reminder. His already bulky form began to expand out and up. His pajamas which already were brand new for his enlarged body creaking with the growing boy they held. Nicholas didn't want to admit at all how this was actually kind of exciting for him. As it was a very bizarre power to have, but after a lifetime of being tiny, weak, suddenly becoming a mass of powerful mass did have its strangely intoxicating power trip to it.

A creek in the floorboard told Nicholas to stop, a good thing too as the pajama pants he had on, normally fairly loose, felt quite tight on him. Having grown around half a foot Nicholas looked like he had gained almost 200 pounds in an instant. A weird moment of admiring himself later Nicholas started downstairs. Each footstep causing a small shiver on the floor.

As he was considering what to eat that morning Nicholas stopped about midway through the stairs when he heard his mom and dad talking. The tone wasn't good at all, and it only got worse when Nicholas realized what it was about. The amount of money they spend on food, the passenger side door of the car he had ripped clean off, all of the new clothes he needed. The bills were frightening even just hearing them. He knew all this mass was a big issue, but he had no idea what it was doing to them. They had the same kind of tone he had only heard when his grandma had passed away. Talking about everything and in a way that made Nicholas feel very guilty like he purposely let his x-gene activate like this.

Nicholas stopped himself from doing any closer as his parents were in the dining room. They never saw him, and he was glad they didn't because right now he wasn't sure either of them wanted to see one another. Nicholas slowly climbed back up the stairs as he sighed quietly, having to fight back the tear welling up in his eye. Getting back to his room Nicholas just quietly got onto his bed. Hearing it give a very ominous creak from the weight he put on it. The young man himself groaning as he got the audible reminder of his troubles.

WASHINGTON DC- SENATE BUILDING- 10:00 AM

Standing before his political peers, the man who had an affinity for roses was shuffling papers behind the Senate podium. Clearing his throat of any struggling phlegm with a refreshing glass of water, he set his sights on the gathering of television news crews as well as the gathered politicians, "ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Americans gathered together in the safety of their homes, I, your Vice President Joe Biden have something on my chest that I must discuss with you all. That pressure I feel is the lack of safety we all feel slipping from our grasp due to the individuals classified as Mutants."

"I understand there has been plenty of discussion and debate over the past few years, some of it beneficial, some of it not so much. I implore you all to continue this discussion, I beg parents to talk to their children, for teachers to formulate some type of lesson plan, for local churches to pray for those afflicted. It is with that word, afflicted that the United States Government has decided to consider the Mutant phenomena as a sickness, and with assistance from the CDC, there has begun work on a cure...,"

CHRISTOPHER

Right outside Christopher Abu-Machlouf's place of work is a plain white van, inside of which are three men. One is listening to audio feeds, one is watching video feeds, and the other is typing up a report as both Cassie and Chris discuss the rave tonight.

"The way the CDC classifies a sickness is something that makes a host ill. This mutant affliction has turned ordinary young men and women from hard working Americans into twisted monsters,"

ERIS- THE NIGHT OF THE RAVE

Following the lo-jack device they had planted upon Eris' vehicle the night before, a plain black van parked a couple of blocks from St. Elizabeth Hospital. The man in the driver's seat reached over to adjust his car stereo while reaching for a seperate, closed radio system, "Unit One in position,"

"this sickness has turned calm and collected mail men into murderers, high school students into bug-like beasts. Worst of all, it has turned friend against friend with these rising attack against man and mutant alike by respected members if each community."

NATHAN

Minutes passed as the Mutant theif's place residence was left alone and untouched as he was running to the party being held at the hospital outside of town, and then the door was busted open and several armored men burst into the room, "plant the explosives," the one keeping watch told the others, "if that Mutant bastard returns, he'll have committed his last crime,"

Then he reached for his radio uplink, "Unit 1, be advised. The Speeder is headed out your way,"

"to avoid having escalations from riot to Civil War status, and I think I speak for everyone, we don't need another one of those," he laughed, some of his peers laughed back and others merely nodded, "The American Military and CDC have entered into a joint venture to create the first of hopefully many Rehabilitation Centers located here in the city."

MIKA

Another blacked out vehicle parked outside of Harding's gym, this time they got brave and simply parked across the street. Inside the van, the agents were loading up on assault weaponry. The driver picked up his radio, "Contingency is in place, Ground Unit 3, you are clear to engage,"

"This state of the art facility will provide accommodations to those the administration deems worthy of rehabilitation, anything they request we will provide in hopes of giving them a brighter future, and hopefully we can clean up the streets while we're at it."

Another van pulled up behind the one that was parked just blocks away, these passengers were also getting ready for an all-out assault.

ISABEL

In the dark skies above Washington DC, a lone stealth helicopter soars through the skies. In the passenger part of the craft, the leader shows off a photo of the targeted mutant, "her name is Isabel, she is wanted in connection with various groups of antagonistic mutants who go by the term Morlocks. The men upstairs want her alive, so lethal options are not authorized,"

"In closing, my fellow patriots. The American government is doing everything in it's power to solve any and all issues or threats regarding the Mutant Race. So sleep tight, and be keep an eye out. Report any Mutant activity to your local law enforcement agency, and be safe."

RYISA

A couple of plain clothed agents had followed the mutant Shapeshifter to the abandoned facility, beneath their baggy clothes they carried 9's and six shooters, just in case they were found out. The shorter, blonder one of the two pulled his cell phone from his pocket as they entered the building, he pressed his phone to his ear, which activated his communication device straddling his jacket pocket, "infil team is successful, awaiting instruction from Alpha Dog,"

JOSEPH

A man on his roof is out stargazing through a telescope, only it's not stargazing he's doing as Joseph enters his view from the evening sky, and it's not a telescope that he holds in his hands.

Disguising his sniper rifle, the agent slowly presses a finger to his ear as he follows the flying Mutant's trail, "I have the mutant in sight, waiting on the All Clear,"

LONDON ENGLAND- "THE NEXT DAY"

NICHOLAS

A man in sweats does his morning jog as he passes Nicholas' home, he doesn't look up but just keeps on moving as he presses a finger to his ear, "target's parents are home, do not engage until they leave the block,"

WALT- AMERICA- WASHINGTON DC RAVE

Pulling up to the front entrance of St. Elizabeth in a brand new Audi concept, he parked it, not really caring if anybody stole it. He ran his hand through his hair and adjusted his flashy rich kid outfit before heading inside where he was met by loud music and hot women.

He yelled out with excitement, but his voice was lost in all other sounds as he approached a girl having drinks with some friends and planted a wet one on her before spanking her and moving on.

He went to the bar to grab himself some unneeded liquid courage and started making out with two girls at the same time, getting his groove prepared before heading out with them to the dance floor to Flo Rida's 'GDFR', grinding against and towards the two of them when he noticed a familiar sight: a brown haired young lady stealing unsuspecting guy's wallets.

Knowing exactly who it was, Walter smacked the girls asses and told them to get lost before he approached the hot little pickpocket.

"Want to search one of my pockets?" He teased Mika from behind, drink nearly empty in his hand.

Chris left work early, as per Carrie's instructions, and went home to change. He did not notice the white van, or anything else - mutants and powers was a common discussion subject in his workplace, and his impeccable poker face gave him a false confidence he could hide his nature indefinitely. His commute was usually done on a bicycle, but this time he felt he needed time to think, so he took a bus. Twenty minutes later he turned the key to a simple studio apartment, chosen for bare necessities and proximity to his job. He did not enjoy spending money on leisure, and the fact half his place was cluttered with documents and half-prototypes of various medical appliances showed it quite clearly.

He opened his closet. Among the usual work clothes and wacky T-shirts he found a black and gray checquered buttoned shirt his mom pushed in his suitcase when he left home. This should camouflage his work pants well enough. He took a quick shower, googled the address of the hospital, and left.

He reached the place after a few bus changes and a fifteen minute walk, taking care to suppress his sweat glands. He was nervous, and glad it didn't show. He couldn't read Carrie - she was nice, but she was nice to everybody, and often asked for his help specifically, but he was one of the best when it came to reverse engineering a garbage UI of an instrument developed by people who never held instruments in their lives. His body was dropping hints about what his hormonal levels were supposed to be doing, and he played around with them until he was hit with the most crippling fear he had ever experienced (Which he assumed was the fear of rejection, or not being good enough). He quickly balanced himself, wondering how normal humans ever handle this without going into a deep depression.

Lost in thought, Chris suddenly found himself in front of a rundown entrance from which loud bass and flashing lights were emanating - as if the coolest Frankenstein's Monster was being built in there. He smiled inwardly at the thought. Crowd was shuffling in and out, some exotically dressed teens were smoking over cups of beer and having entertaining conversation. He slowly began to feel very out of place. But Carrie will be here, won't she? He looked around. Won't she?

Nathan was already at the party, laughing as he downed his eight shot. "thats eight!" he said, before grabbing another two and tossing them back one after the other. "and thats ten, pay up boys" laughing. once he arrived at the old abandoned hospital turned rave spot, he'd went right to scouting out those that had the cash and who'd been drinking a little to much, and set up the game.. ten shots of wild turkey, followed by ten of tequila, no break in between the shots. oh a sucker was born every minute as he collected his money from the five he'd suckered in. five hundred dollars in his pocket, he smiled "pleasure boys, enjoy the party huh.. oh" looking them serious in the face "taco bell is pretty cheap and its got good food.. you can take your dates there" laughing he headed off toward the dance floor, the music not what he'd consider music, but hey when you had a hospital full of hotties, you didnt complain as he began dancing, before he found himself sliding right in the middle of a group of ladies all dancing together. "ladies, ladies" he grinned, flashing that smile of his. "there is plenty of me to go around, and i got more then enough energy for all of you" winking and smiling.. this evening was going to get very interesting as he danced with all of them, keeping it moving and fast, just how he preferred things. little did he know about the assault on his room, and the placement of the bombs that would no doubt put a damper on his good time when he went back.

The music was blasting and the drunken fools were plentiful. Mika had an easy time of pretending to be a drunk party girl. If she was lucky she might snag some big bucks to help her old man pay off his debt. Everything was going smoothly until she heard the voice of someone familiar from behind. "Want to search one of my pockets?" It was Walt Ashmore, a rich kid she had run into from time to time. Mika turned to face him. She moved in close to grind on him face to face. "Hey there Heff. You scouting for new girls to play with you in your mansion?" She slipped the wallet she had taken from the previous mark and slipped it discreetly in her pocket and started to move her hands about. "Funny I don't see any playmates..."

CHRISTOPHER

After the surviellance team watched their taget leave the research lab of his employment, the driver of the van reached once more for his radio unit, "Tactical, you are clear to withdraw the Insurance Policy,"

"Copy that," came a reply. From his vantage point, The Driver watched and acted as look out while a group of plain clothes men entered the laboratory and minutes later had retrieved the young woman, a gun to her back for extra compliance as the waited for a blacked out sedan to pull up and stuffed her inside.

NATHAN

After putting the speed traps in place at the speedster's residence, the bomb squad met up with the other two surviellance teams that were just outside the abandoned hospital, "all units, the insurance is in place, proceed with caution, and as always,"

"Humanity above all else," everyone with a radio spoke in unison.

THE ASSAULT/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER

The stealth unit was just now reaching the abandoned hospital, and hovered over the roof for several moments while the soldiers inside it all loaded up, "remember," the one in charge started to speak up, "Isabel is extremely dangerous with very powerful weapon residing inside her, she's a walking WMD. I won't hold it against any of you if we come back to the Doghouse empty handed,"

"Yes sir!" They all spoke in unison as the ramp behind them began to lower.

JOSEPH

The man with the pretend stargazing equipment zoomed in on the high flying mutant as he got the green light from his radio device, "fire at will," his superior said in his ear.

And he did just that, he pulled the trigger of his high powered rifle and watched as the shot connected with one of the mutant's wings, "I have a hit," he reported and got ready to watch the descent.

NICHOLAS

"Proceeding with phase two," the man in the business suit said as he approached the home of the mutant Nathan and his parents. He adjusted his horn rimmed glasses that were just for show and actually recording back to the Doghouse as he knocked on the family's door, and looked side to side to find there were little to no witnesses in view.

WALT

"Maybe I am," Walter winked at her as the two started to grind up on one another, he set his hands against her hips, "and maybe i'm not," he teased her, "what's with the stealing tonight?" He asked her out of curiousity, "in another jam with the old man?"

As the two grinded away, Christopher was trying to find his place in this strange world, Nathan conned drunks of their cash, and the other girls flirted about, the soldiers above them started to repel down and landed as quiet as a mouse on the roof, using tranquilizer rounds for any witnesses as they entered the building.

FRANK HARDING

The driver of the white van reached for his radio equipment and pressed the button to speak once the coast was clear, "Tactical unit, all clear to gather up the Insurance Policy,"

And in moments of receiving his message, a UPS Delivery truck pulled up to the entrance and the back door flung open, men in full on military grade combat outfits like they were from a sci-fi movie marched out with heavy duty assault weaponry and other devices attached to their persons.

"Orders are clear men," The Driver spoke into their headsets, "be as nonlethal as possible, but if there are witnesses, I make no guarantees that we'll come back clean," he explained as they kicked open the doors and were met by a bunch of beefed up guys punching sandbags and jumping rope.

Joseph

As he flew around the crisp Portland air, over its lit streets. All felt right in the young man's life as he grinned, arms out feeling the winds dance around his fingertips. Joseph relished being able to do this, as it was everything him and any other young boy or girl who dreamed of flying thought it would be like and more. Nothing felt wrong, no thoughts of anything except joy were going through Joseph's young mind. Life was per...

Znnng!

“AHHH!” Letting out a sudden scream Joseph felt his body rotate midair. His right wing suddenly feeling like a searing hot knife slashed into it. Seeing blood slowly leaking out of the top of one of his wings Joseph almost didn't realize that gravity had grabbed hold of him, and just as quickly as he was flying he was now falling quickly towards 4th street. Joseph's heart pounded harder and harder, making the blood squirt out of his wing more and more. Visions of the rest of his family swirling in his eyes as he was clinching out for something to save him. Suddenly though he felt a net cushion his fall away from the harsh concrete. Joseph not even noticing who did it or even frankly cared, he was just relieved he wasn't dead. “Oh man... thank you guys so much I thought I was a gon...er...” When Joseph's eyes finally opened and glanced up at the rather intimidating appearance. His tone become worried again. Before Joseph could scream though, one of them quickly covered Joseph's nose and mouth with a large rag. Trying to fend it off and get off of the netting he landed in. Joseph's jerking movement and struggles slowly drained from him as the gases on the rag knocked him out cold, the men putting him down on the ground and coming towards him being the last thing Joseph saw before everything went dark.

Nathan

Quietly Nathan's mother came to the door, “Come in, Mr. Peterson correct?” The man nodded, though it wasn't true at all, just what he gave the woman.

“We don't know what to do sir. His eating everything in the house, we can't afford anything anymore because in some way he makes it much more expensive than it used to be.” As Nathan's father finished explaining everything the officer listened intently. Finally glancing back to the parents as they sat on the edge of the couch's cushion. “I understand, and believe me our organization wants to help you. I can't promise any real time frame but your son will be returned back to normal from this... horrible condition his been infected with.” Just the slight tone of disgust in the man's tone made his feeling clear. Though frankly Nathan's parents were just wanting some kind of help for their son, before they ended up losing everything. Suddenly though loud creaks from the stairs alerted all three of them to the stairs where the young obese man looked on.

“Mom, dad... really?” Nathan's voice cracked as he had to fight back the tears.

His parents were too shocked by the realization to say anything, though the man was quick to get up from his own seat and approach. “Your parents just believe that you need help for this condition of yours young man. I can assure you we will do everything we can do fix you and get you back to...”

“Fix me!?” Nathan quickly snapped back, suddenly a kind of rage Nathan never felt before swelled up in him as he stepped the rest of the way down. His body slowly ballooning in mass. “FIX ME!? I don't need a damn bit of fixing mate! Yeah I'm big but what the Hell's wrong with that eh? I can't believe you two would do this to me after all the assurances, how we'd all figure this out together. Apparently together meant with this wanker right here!” Nathan gestured towards the glasses wearing man. “Son, you just need to calm down, there's no need for this tone.” “Don't hand me this need for tone crap!” Nathan had never felt like this before, but something about telling some man off like this was actually rather exciting. “You two could have talked to me about all this you know? Actually fucking tell me something instead of bringing in this bloody piece of waste.” “Son you're coming with me...” The man grabbed Nathan's now enormous wrist which only got him slung against a wall like a doll. Nathan's boiling over rage though made him almost not realize a sudden piercing into the side of his neck until he felt something sticking out. Reaching over and yanking out what looked like a large dart.

Before Nathan could turn around to see what fired at him the door and windows exploded and shattered open respectfully. Men all wearing SWAT like gear coming in and dog-piling on Nathan like he was a crazed animal. Nathan swayed and swung himself around viciously which got a few of the men off of him. But they continued to grasp at him. Slamming more and more of the tranquilizer darts into him as they finally started to work, slowly Nathan struggled to stay conscious as he saw his parents crying in a nearby corner. Finally Nathan couldn't keep himself and all the SWAT men on him upright as he collapsed to his knee, and finally shook the Earth as he fell face first to the ground.

Chris took a deep breath. The amount of chemicals his thoughts were supposed to move around, it was almost ridiculous. But chemicals aside, they were supposed to meet up somehow. He looked into the building - there was no chance anyone could be found in there.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the contacts. He didn't have her number yet, but getting it would be no problem since they worked together (He cringed inwardly at the thought - people always say never to date coworkers, and he knew he was going to pay for this, but how can you say no to Carrie?) He flipped through the contacts some more until he reached his boss's number, and pressed Dial.

"Evening, boss." He turned his back to the club. "Yes, all's good. Apologies for the hour, but could you SMS me Carrie's number?" Pausing a little after the man's next question. "Depending on how things go, it could become work-related." The man on the other side of the line was a little skeptical, but yielded eventually. A few moments later, a 'New Message' notification appeared, and Chris dialed the attached number.

Eris, tentatively stepped into the practically bouncing room. Instantly her senses were overwhelmed with a blanket of sound and lights. It almost physically pained Eris to be in the room, but she had a roommate to rescue. So Eris squeezed through the sweaty bodies, trying desperately to avoid contact. However, that didn't work at all. She tried her best to ignore the people who attempted to talk to her. Especially the flirting ones. Apparently people don't realize they're horrible at flirting when they're drunk. Eris planned on making her way to the bar to find Rachael. Hopefully she was there. Unfortunately, the crowd pushed Eris to the right wall of the room. I can make this work. Eris thought to herself. I'll just walk along the outside of the room. Eris mentally slapped herself for not thinking of this earlier. So she put her right hand on the wall and proceeded to walk to the back of the room. People still got in her way, but it wasn't as bad. The only thing that was different was that people were making out and doing other unspeakable things with each other rather than grinding and dancing. Eris could stop her face from going red each time she encountered a couple, but each time she simply mumbled an indistinguishable "Excuse me." or "Sorry."

Nathan, after his bumping and grinding to the young ladies he'd slid up to, he went off, made a little more cash from a new set of drunks as he tossed back drinks like they were water, didnt matter on the alcohol, his body burned through it to fast for him be effected, so it was natural he was starting to piss people off, cause it was human nature to get pissed off when you are played, and it was starting to get around.. so he stopped with that, and went to a new location, a new room. he'd danced, made out, everything someone would expect for a illegal rave party. currently he was leaning against the far wall, sipping a beer just for Social purposes, it clearly wasnt for the reason to get drunk when he was nudged against. of course he was stuck between a couple making out hardcore and a couple that were one grope away from having sex right then and there. "why hello" he said, smiling to the young woman (Eris) leaning forward to speak over music. "no need to be sorry, its all good.. you want something to drink?" he asked. "you need something to drink, cause there is a rule" grinning. "all sexy women have to have a drink" not aware yet of what was going down with the group of people infiltrating the rave, looking for a specific type of person.. mutants.

FRANK HARDING

It was business as usual, his daughter was out hustling at some party, all the regulars were behind on their gym fees, and Frank owed money to a shady loanshark. He had been coaching a sparring match when the geared up agents busted in and told everyone to freeze. Frank stood up from his corner of the ring, hands on his head, and said. "Alright, which one o' you fuckin' clowns went and pissed of the FBI? Larry, Joey, Marco?" To his surprise the agents immediately recognized Frank and proceeded to detain him. "Okay, okay. I ain't resistin' dammit. So what's the charges?" The agent just continued to move him out of the gym. "Hey I got a right to know what I'm bein' charged for you idiot!" The agent shoved Frank in the van and another one gagged and blindfolded him.

MIKA HARDING

Mika got close enough to speak into Walt's ear as the DJ switched to a song by Daft Punk. "Like you'd know what's it's like. The biggest jam you've ever been in was figuring out which fancy new sports car to drive here tonight." She couldn't help resenting people with money and power but Walt wasn't actually that bad. She only teased him about it to rile him up. She moved away from him slightly and grabbed his hand. "You're buying me a drink." Before he could refuse or make a witty remark she started dragging him to the bar.

CHRIS

The phone dialed the number and rang ever onwards fo a good minute before the other end was picked up, for a moment there was silence, but in the background if someone were listening hard enough there could be a woman crying to be heard, "this must be Chris," the voice on the other end was not at all Carrie, "how's your night going, kid? If you say anything to anybody about this conversation, if you hang up, not only do I have 1... 2.. 3... about 10 or so guns trained on your lady friend, who I admit is pretty hot, but as of now there are a group of trained killers getting ready to a g to that rave. Know what that means, kiddo?"

ERIS

The Helicopter squad went from room to abandoned room on the topmost floors, tranquilizing any witnesses along the way, but there were actually very few on the first floor they encountered. On the next floor down they could start to hear the music, bass vibrating through the floor. "Remember, we don't know what to expect from Isabel, so switch to live rounds, and don't hold back," their superior explained through the radio transmission system they all wore, the soldier in the front nodded before starting to open the door that would lead into the two story rave...

NATHAN

He opened the door and immediately brought up his weapon to fire at a couple making out, watching them go down, the music was so loud that gunfire could barely be registered, but it was enough to be picked up by a certain female mutant who was all the way on the other side on the ground floor. The assault team continued to pump lead into soft tissue bodies as they looked for Isabel, sticking to the shadows in their dark outfits.

FRANK

"Frank Harding," one of the men said in his ear as the van started up, "if you want to be read your rights, you got the wrong guys," he said cryptically, but back in the gym, two men went back in, this time with guns and they could gunfire popping like popcorn, and then the two men walked out like nothing happened.

WALT

"I'd rather be in peanut butter anyways," Walter teased Mike as they reached the bar, "but in all seriousness, when your rich, problems just have a habit of disappearing," he said with some wavy hand motions. He rested his hand on her lower back as the bartender approached, "give us something top shelf, on the rocks and dirty for me," he ordered and slipped the man an easy hundred.

There were a couple good candidates for X-gene in this rave. There was a guy who didn't seem affected by the gallons worth of ethanol he had poured down his throat. At least one person was obviously making an attempt to obscure their form under a baggy windbreaker. They were not popular with anyone they tried to dance with. And there was the girl who smelled like... gasoline? Maybe she was actually soaked in it, Isabel did notice that she made a beeline away from anyone who was smoking.

And there were the guys(and not a few girls) who were obviously interested in Isabel. It wasn't a foolproof indication; some humans found her "exotic" or some sexist bullshit. But most of the time humans were grossed out by her, and it at least pointed to people who were open to her existence.

She was considering approaching the booze-chugging possible-mutant, when it happened. A door opened, most people didn't notice, but she was often on the look out for this sort of thing. Men with guns, making their way through the rave, trying to be low key. The strobe lights covered muzzle flash, but even the music couldn't drown out the gunshots. Isabel started to make her way to the other side, meaning to slip out on the other side. These people were in trouble, but it wasn't her problem.

It didn't matter, she was near the door when three of them caught up to her. They raised guns and were clearly ready to fire. She put her hands in the air and got down on her knees. She had been a part of enough protests to know the deal. Most of the time, she would be out within forty eight hours of acquiring a lawyer. It certainly helped that she had committed no recent crimes, and none in this state. In the mean time, the more rights abuses they inflicted on her, the worse their case would be.

But they didn't care that her hands were up. That she was on her knees, clearly surrendering. They opened fire. When she saw the muzzle flash, she tried to deflect the bullets with her mind, but all she could do was slow them. They hit her, slowed down but still enough to knock her backwards. It was like being hit repeatedly by a baseball bat. She fell backwards, large blotchy bruises rising on her body and blood gushing from her blackened cheek.