[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6DgKSAr.png[/img]
[/center]
[center][sub][indent][COLOR=FFD700][B]Manhattan, New York City[/B][/color] [color=4682B4]|[/color] [COLOR=FFD700][b]Present Day[/b][/color][/indent][indent][hr][sup][b][color=FFD700]Chapter One[/color][/b] [color=4682B4]|[/color] [b][color=FFD700]Part Seven[/color][/b][/sup][/indent][/sub][/center]
[indent]



The four adolescents were situated in a loose circle, using crates as makeshift chairs. After announcing her presence, Kitty had quickly explained at Eli's prompting as to how she had found them. Having followed the trio back to the warehouse, subtly sticking to the shadows and using her ability to slip under the surface, it was then only a matter of waiting, hidden and observing. Although she had witnessed the duo of Elijah and Koriand'r risk their lives to save the boy, she had wanted more information before acting. It had become obvious each of the three had been equally as clueless on the motivations of Garfield's attackers, but it was also clear to Kitty that they were all genuinely decent. And, perhaps, she had believed, they could all help one another.

Kitty had spent the better part of the last hour debriefing everyone on what she knew based on her investigations of the missing mutant children. Elijah, for his part, had been a mostly silent yet attentive audience. To her, he gave the vibe of someone who was deeply contemplative and calculating. It was only after she had finished relaying her story that he began clarifying certain aspects.

Koriand'r, on the other hand, had been extremely vocal. Every other sentence had been interrupted by the redhead asking some of the most ridiculous questions. When she asked what the internet was, Kitty had begun to suspect something was off with the girl. She had put it off as Koriand'r being heavily sheltered, though. Given the ignorance of many modern commodities, and between the odd name and curious speech affectations, Kitty thought maybe Koriand'r came from an isolated, conservative family. Or an Amish community, perhaps. One who had hidden her away once they discovered she was a metahuman. With her own history of hiding from the outside world, Kitty figured it was a possibility. Knowing it wasn't a priority, however, and wanting to respect her privacy, she hadn't pressed the issue. 

Then there was Garfield. Her first thought upon seeing him up and around was that he looked even younger than she had first believed. He seemed to be twelve, at most, she had thought. His scruffy, long hair had hidden much of his youthful face from a distance, and the green skin made it hard to tell initially. But the boy was small and frail. The torn hoodie he wore looked twice his size. Kitty was sure if she lifted the cloth up it'd reveal a skin and bones torso, ribs threatening to push out. She had almost cried when Garfield revealed he had been living on the streets alone for the past year. She couldn't imagine what the poor kid must have gone through, how he had starved and suffered, solely because he happened to be a mutant.

Worse, though, was having to reveal to Garfield that his supposed friend, Charlie, had been one of his attackers. The disappointment, confusion, and a whole host of other emotions that flashed across his face, followed by the fake smile that his lips stretched into as he cracked a joke at his own expense had broken Kitty's heart. It also made her blood boil and only reassured her she was making the right decision in her new crusade. 

"So, you think these Purifiers are the guys responsible for all these missing kids? And the ones who attacked Garfield are a part of them?" Asked Elijah. 

Kitty shook her head. "No. I mean, I did at first. Seemed to fit their style, going after young metahumans. But one of those guys who attacked Garfield was powered, and no way those supremacist jerks would taint their cherished [i]purity[/i] like that."

Elijah nodded, apparently understanding, but Garfield's brow furrowed. 

"But why me? I'm nobody..."

Eli offered a sympathetic hand on the boy's shoulder. "No offense, but if these guys were really after you because you're a mutant, then you were just an easy target. They're cowards who go after and manipulate helpless kids. It's nothing you did."

"Metahuman," Kitty said.

"What?"

"[i]Metahuman.[/i] Not [i]mutant[/i]," she pointed out.

"Oh, uh, right. Sorry. I didn't realize. I'm sorry." Elijah apologized somewhat sheepishly. 

Kitty smiled reassuringly. She knew there was no need to tell him the term had a different connotation coming from a non-metahuman. "No worries."

Just then, Koriand'r chimed in. "If not these Purifiers you speak of, then who is responsible? I believe earlier you said you could help answer that question."

"Right," Kitty said, thankful that the conversation was steered back to the main point. "So, during the fight when you knocked out that Charlie creep, he dropped something."  

Reaching into her back pocket, she retrieved a small piece of cardstock and held it up to the group. Printed on it in bold, capitalized letters was the heading META SOLUTIONS. Beneath in smaller text followed: Calvin Zabo, M.D., Ph.D. - Head Medical Researcher and Biochemist. 

"Could be a coincidence, but it would seem like a pretty big one to me. Either way, it's the biggest lead I've gotten." Kitty told them, offering the business card to Elijah. 

She continued, "I did some Googling on my phone while I was, uh, keeping an eye on you all. Meta Solutions is an independent research lab trying to find a cure for cancer. This guy, Zabo, is apparently brilliant. Whole lotta articles claiming he's the closest out of anyone to finding a cure. He specializes in hormone treatment and I guess he even made a serum a couple years back that increased the natural healing rate in rats or something. All from [i]hormones[/i]."

Kitty looked expectantly back and forth between Garfield and Koriand'r, expecting them to see the link. It was Eli that caught on, though.

"And everyone keeps saying that the metagene that gives you your abilities are hormone based. That's why metahumans usually develop their powers around puberty." Eli turned the card over in his fingers. "So you're thinking this doctor might be responsible?"

"Maybe," Kitty answered. "I mean, he wouldn't be the first immoral doctor to run experiments on people for the supposed betterment of mankind. There are examples of it all throughout history. And if he thinks something about the metagene holds the solution to curing cancer and all the amounts of money that comes with that... We're talking billions of dollars, guys."

"So it's all about money?" Garfield asked. Kitty could see his hands grip the edge of the crate tightly.

"That's my guess, at least. Greed runs the world."

"This does not seem right," added Koriand'r. "Is there no authority who such crimes could be reported to?"

Kitty snickered. "Yeah. Like the NYPD's going to listen to an anonymous tip about a respected doctor kidnapping young mutants with zero evidence. Even [i]with[/i] evidence I'm not sure they'd do anything."

Eli ran a hand across his smooth head and sighed. "But, let me guess. [i]You[/i] plan to do something about it."

"I'm not going to just sit by and let this keep happening. Those kids need help. Like Garfield did." Kitty responded, a little defensively. 

"I know you've got abilities, but if you go in there alone and you're right about all of this, you're bound to get yourself killed," Elijah told her. "You saw what the guy Starfire fought was capable of. No offense, you're sneaky, but what can you really do against him if it comes down to a fight?"

[i]I can take care of myself,[/i] Kitty thought reactively. She stopped herself from voicing this opinion, though, knowing it wouldn't help her earn any favors here. 

Instead, she said: "Well, that's the thing... I don't think I need to do this alone."

She let that hang there for a moment, trading glances at each of the three individuals before her.

"I've seen you do what's right." She said to Elijah before turning towards Koriand'r. "And I've seen you fly around and throw a guy twice your weight with ease. I [i]know[/i] you can handle yourself. And you, Garfield—"

"I can turn into animals!" The young boy blurted, jumping to his feet excitedly. "I know it doesn't sound super impressive, but it is. I can fight, too."

Kitty flashed him a smile. "That sounds impressive to me. All I can do is walk through solid objects. And I kind of mess up electronics if I pass through any. But that won't stop me from fighting for what's right. And if I have to do it alone I will. But I was really hoping you'd all help me. That you'd help all those poor kids who were taken away from their families."

"I'm in!" Garfield shouted. "I'm [i]so[/i] in."

Koriand'r levitated off of the crate, her eyes glowing briefly as she clutched her fist passionately to her chest. "I, too, will assist in rescuing these children!" 

Grinning, Kitty turned to Eli. "And you?"

The young man also rose to his feet, sighing once more. 

"It's okay. Really, I get it, it's not your fight, and—"

"No," Elijah interrupted. "I'm going. There's no way in Hell I'm not helping. But if we're doing this, we need a plan. And supplies. We can't just rush in there without knowing what to expect. We have to do this smart, okay?"

"I was thinking the same thing." Kitty's grin widened. "You know, for a bunch of strangers, you're all pretty amazing. I can't thank you enough for doing this."

"Thank us after we get those kids out," Eli said. "For now, why don't we start with figuring out everyone's capabilities."

"Dude, yes. Now you're speaking my language!" Garfield gestured excitedly towards the hovering redhead. "I so want to see what you can do."

"I have to admit," Kitty added, "I'm really curious about you, Koriand'r. You took so many hits in that fight and kept going. Your skin was practically peeling away, but you look fine now. You're strong [i]and[/i] you heal fast?"

Koriand'r beamed. "I am most curious about you as well. I have never seen a being with abilities such as yours before."

She began unraveling the bandages on her left arm. The cloth slipped away to reveal patches of red among the golden tan. Much of the blistering had already vanished but the skin was still clearly raw. 

"You are correct, though. Tamaraneans process certain energies better than other races. I believe the terminology is... ultraviolet radiation?" Koriand'r made a fist, flexing as she continued to explain. "This allows us considerable physical resilience and other benefits. I am finding my wounds heal much faster than I am accustomed to. I am not a scientist, but I believe this is because of the proximity of Earth's primary star. It is a very unexpected but appreciated experience. I am already feeling much better."

"Dude, that's so cool! I bet you're as strong as Wonder Woman!" Proclaimed the youngest of the group. 

Kitty cocked her head to the side, chewing her bottom lip lightly. "Um, wait a sec. Tamaraneans? Is that..." Her eyes flicked back and forth between Koriand'r and Elijah.

"You're a metahuman, right? You're just, like..." Kitty replayed all the oddities she had noticed from the statuesque, cheerful young woman over the last hour. "Koriand'r, where are you from?"

Elijah interjected quietly, taking a step closer to the two girls. "Starfire, maybe we shouldn't do—"

"I am from the planet Tamaran in the Vega System." Koriand'r replied unhesitatingly. "And I am not a metahuman. I am not human at all." 

Kitty narrowed her eyes, scanning the other girl's face for any signs of teasing or dishonesty. She was greeted with that same overly cheerful, smiling expression. Her gaze flipped towards Eli who was now burying his head in an open palm.

Kitty slumped back down onto the crate. "Well [i]fuck[/i]."


[/indent]