[IC] The Gifted[CLOSED]

[Cuccoruler]

Cia had been on the corner of a couch while the others were meandering about. She hadn't meant to get so brutal during the mission. But she couldn't exactly help her. The more action she got into and the longer she was in it, the crazier she got. She was a dangerous person after all. She was powerful, but she was very dangerous due to her personality. Cia was in a slump, she was depressed after what she had done. She didn't want any of the orphan's to ever find out what she had done, or the way she had done it.

Thankfully Mrs. Ramsbottom had gotten all of the orphan's out of the city after seeing the news reports. They were in a much smaller town now outside of the city, one that would hopefully keep them hidden from the Warden's as they seemed to be searching major citie's.

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Cinia Pacifica had appeared on the News. Her segment was up. She gave a deep breath before it started, as what she was about to do was highly dangerous, and could very well end her career as a news reporter. "Tonight I am Bringing down the Hammer on the DMA! And this time I'm looking at their facility after the incident the happened a few months back!" Cinia said with power and determination in her face. "This is 'Bringing Down the Hammer' And I'm Cinia Pacifica!" Cinia added as she brought a gavel down on her desk, her signature move on her segment.

"Before we get to the DMA tonight I want to talk about the treatment of Gifted all over the world. We call them Gifted, not Demon's shouldn't we respect them at least a little due to that name? There was a boy recently in Indiana, the moment he became a Gifted his family praised him. However once the authorities had gotten to him he was strong up in a plaza where children, and I mean CHILDREN, started to stone the poor boy. This is not something we want to teach our children about!" Cinia shouted showing a picture of children who were picking up stones. She didn't show anything of the boy who was stoned though only the children as they threw rocks at their former friend.

"At this rate the children are becoming worse than what we believe Gifted are! And I'm looking at you President Callahan when it comes to your propaganda your turning even the most innocent into savages! It would certainly help if you focused more of your budget on the schools rather than the hunt for these's gifted! Maybe then these kids will understand that attacking others is wrong, Human or Gifted!" As Cinia mentioned Callahan she slammed down her gavel.

"After this comercial break I'll be getting into what REALLY happened at the Blacksite! And your going to be shocked at what I found! So Shocked that the I can't just use my Gavel for this!" Cinia yelled into the camera as she threw her gavel behind her and then brought a sledge hammer out from behind her desk. "I'm gonna need a real hammer for this!" Cinia added, the sledgehammer always meant that she was going to reveal something even heavier. The story about the kid from Indiana was to get the audience in the mood for what she was about to reveal.

Cinia took a seat finally during a commercials. Tonight she was delivering her report's with more energy than normal, and she knew that there would be major consequences to what she was about to say. Once the Commercials were over she stood up again with her sledge hammer on a table next to her. "Now that we're back it's time to really bring down the Hammer!" Cinia said as she smashed the sledgehammer through a nearby fake wall in the studio. "What happened at the Blacksite was not from terrorists! Those were ordinary people, just trying to save a friend who was imprisoned unlawfully, and for doing nothing against the law! Shouldn't these people be given the same rights as us? After all they were born citizens! They just want to live their life! Yes was happened there was terrible what this all could have been avoided if those Warden's would follow the same laws that govern our police force! If anything the Wardens are corrupt! They have been seen giving bribes to politicians and judges even threatening them just to avoid the law! Callahan if your really our president then you need to get those Warden's of yours under control! Their destroying property and even lives!" Cinia yelled in the camera.

"Tonight I only have this to say to you folks at home, Stop supporting the Wardens! Their destroying what this country was raised on! Do you want the constituion to burn!? Because it's gonna burn if the Wardens keep acting like savages and ignore our laws! They need to answer for their crimes! This has been Cinia Pacifica! And I have brought down the Hammer!" Cinia yelled into the camera as she pointed at it in a dramatic fashion before it faded to black. She sat down after her broadcast was over. She had put all of her energy into that segment tonight, she only hoped that the people would take it seriously and not pass it off as a joke.

[Ace of flames01]

Tag:@TheDarkTemplar@ArkmageddonCat@Cuccoruler@Airalin@smarty0114

(Pre-time skip) When the group had first arrived at Jack's, they were greeted by a shocked Jack from the amount of blood on the group. "Jesus Christ! Cole! What happened?!" Jack asked. However, the only response from Cole was him shaking his head. Jack turned his attention to Ace, Finn, and Jessica, all who were seriously hurting at the time, and made his way to Ace and inspected her wounds. "Jesus kid, what in Gods name did you do this time? Your injury is infected and your blood is being poisoned!"

Ace shook Jack off and gestured to Finn, who was barely able to stand, and Jessica, who wasn't even conscious at the time. "Take care of those two first.... They were injured much worse than I was..."

Jack nodded with a concerned look but had decided to ask questions later and just drop it for now. He flung Finn's arm over his shoulder and acted as a support for Finn's leg as he led the group to, what Ace mention to be, the "Safe". The Safe is a gussied up concrete room. It had rows of all kinds of books and a TV to watch to pass the time; it also had running water, electricity, plumbing, furniture, and bedding, all which he had collected over the years.

(Post time-skip)

Soon after arriving at Jack's, Ace fell ill with a high fever from infection and has been bed ridden for several days. She has been asleep for the most part but has occasionally woken up, mostly for taking her medicine and eating, and tries to pass the time with the rest of the group but to no avail, everyone has been rather closed off since the raid. During the time when Ace is awake; she tries to avoid listening to the news. She knows what is being said, and she doesn't want to hear it. "I'm not a monster.... I'm not a monster...." She keeps thinking to herself, trying to calm herself down but she couldn't ignore the fact that she had been responsible for the deaths of some of those DMA agents, giving the right for others to scorn her.

[smarty0114]

Finn Lockhart

Finn sighed before clicking off the TV in the safe. "That lady is going to get herself killed," he said to himself. He'd spent the past few months with the others, laying low and agonizing about not being able to do something. He knew that they'd have to take back Manhattan before they even thought about going after Mallory, but that wasn't what Finn was worried about. His sister, Lucy, was still in the city as far as he knew. He hadn't spoken to her in a year, seeing as how a Gifted with a cellphone is synonymous to a Gifted with a death wish.

Finn was anxious that his sister would do something rash, something that even Jessica wouldn't approve of. He knew Lucy was a little bit of a rebel, and now that she had something to rebel against, he wasn't sure that she would make the smartest decisions. He absentmindedly chewed on his lip, contemplating where he could go from here. He was obviously lumped in with this group, they'd all committed a federal crime together. Where this group was going though, that was still a bit misty for him. "Guess we'll have to wait and see."

Jessica Thompson
@TheDarkTemplar
Jessica had spent the last couple of months pissed. She wanted so badly to do something, to show that she wasn't some vulnerable little girl. She had spent most of her days raving at the news, at what she figured was Callahan's propaganda. She just wanted to feel some control again. All she'd been able to think about while they'd been at Jack's was how vulnerable she'd been, how powerless. She just couldn't feel that way, ever again. She was sure of that. So she had decided that today she'd take her issues to Cole, find out if he had a plan for them, or if they were going to live out the rest of the days in the slums.

She made her way upstairs, and took a seat next to Cole. She looked out the window for a few minutes before turning to look at him. She respected Cole a lot. She respected everyone here a lot but Cole more than most. Finn had told her that Cole had been the real master mind behind her escape and she'd thanked him about a thousand times by now. "So, Mr. Bossman, what's your plan? I assume it involves dealing with our little Warden issue?" she inquired, staring at him, waiting for a reply, and hopefully one to let her know that they'd be doing something soon, something that would satisfy this need she had to do more.

[TheDarkTemplar]

It wasn't long after Cole returned from his walk did Jessica come over to talk to him. He knew she wanted to get back into the fight, to be honest Cole wanted to do the same. However he knew the risks if they got into another fight with the DMA, it was this same reason that he got put on their high-priority tatget list. He smirked at Jessica's question before answering, "75% of the gifted population in the city has been killed. The other 25% is either hiding or in the process of being hunted. Our little group isn't strong enough to take on a battalion of Wardens. To be honest I'm surprised Cia took the one at the blacksite out so quickly. No, while I'd love to help I doubt we can actually free the city. We'd be better off smuggling the surviving gifted out of the city but even then we'd need a big enough group to orchestrate it. We could try going to The Conclave, they must have some agents already trying to relocate the survivors". It was all so frustrating, if he could he'd put that plan into action right now if he could. Unfortunately, Ace was sick and he wasn't going anywhere till she got better. He made a promise to Jack and he was going to keep it, besides Cole looks after his kin unlike the Wardens. The thought of Pariah and the amount of Gifted she captured and killed caused an anger to rise in Cole. He clenched his fist but focused on keeping his powers powers down, he didn't want to accidentally drain Jessica if she got to close. Calming himself he spoke again, "Once Ace is feeling better we can work on getting into the city. The bridges will still be up by the time she gets better...anyways, how've you been? Can't imagine that time in the blacksite was pleasant"

[Liocalset]

I have never stayed somewhere for so long before. Mostly I'm all for settling down but this is ridiculous every moment I spend is another day I don't get closer to my past. Patience Car-tali you'll get answers soon. He thought to himself.

This doesn't make sense, if the dma was sending this many wardens it can't be good it may end up like haven. Car-tali stopped for a moment, with a sorrowful expression. Use in dwelling on it now. If I still have to atone then I finish what I started. Well first things first where is Mallory. Noore must have something by now. Well no that's second, first is to see how Jessica's doing then noore. as he was walking Car-tali noticed that he hadn't visited Sam recently. It has been hard going back and forth given that I am wanted but that's never stopped me before and certainly won't now. Some I felt were suspicious at first but I told them that I was visiting an old friend who feeds me information. After a while it just became a regular thing.

Upon arriving Car-tali saw Cole and Jessica talking. Hey sorry to intrude I just wanted to see how everyone is doing.

[Ace of flames01]

Ace awoke to the sounds of talking and footsteps from above. She sat up and looked around a bit to see Finn, Eva, and Cia sitting quietly as they were watching the news but none of them seemed to be paying attention to the program. "They're all itching for a fight with the DMA.... But they know that they can't do anything right now...." She murmured to herself. Ace had stayed with this small group of criminals who had just recently committed a federal offense for a few months now. This wasn't her first time slaughtering a huge group of DMA agents and committing an act of supposed terrorism, though. As a matter of fact, she had killed many people in the past but she has never dwelled on it and she doesn't want to remember the faces of the scorched victims that she murdered for it only brought her guilt and sadness. Looking back on her past, Ace has changed a lot but it's what shaped her into the person she is today.

Ace slowly got up to her feet and made her way to the stairs where Jack stood as he watched the news from a distance. He noticed Ace and stopped her from leaving the room. "Where do you think you're going, shortie?" He replied with a stern look warning Ace not try anything dumb.

Ace sighed annoyed. "I just wanna see what's going on outside."

"Not in your condition, you aren't. Your still sick."

"Tch. Why not, old man? It's better than staying here!"

Jack's expression quickly turned to that of annoyance and anger. "I'll have you know that I am 39 years old, thank you!" With that said he slung Ace's scrawny body over his shoulder and started to make his way back to Ace's bed. Ace squirmed trying to brake free of Jack's hold, but it was no use; Jack was much stronger than her, making her efforts pointless.

[Airalin]

Eva didn't belong here.

She had scarcely spoken a word since she was rescued, instead silently accepting the food and lodging she was given. Fortunately, she could always find somewhere in the house dimly lit enough that her powers weren't completely deactivated. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of self-pity that had been plaguing her since she had been caught. She had been utterly helpless, and now she had to accept the charity of strangers. The only reason she didn't leave out of pure shame was out of fear of being recaptured.

None of the events around her seemed to matter. The news, the execution of other Gifted, the relationships between the people in this house - all of it was insignificant compared to her complete failure to resist the DMA.

She stood up, wordlessly leaving behind the strangers who had been sitting near her. There were too many people here, and people meant a chance to be betrayed. Better to be alone. Even if she had to stay in this house for a while, she could find a room without anyone else in it. An attic, maybe?

[TheDarkTemplar]

DMA HQ, Upstate New York
October 29, 2029
3:00am

First came the pain, the incomprehensible pain as an insane amount of pressure was felt in her skull. A burning feeling followed, it was as if her entire body was in a fire. She was practically screaming as she trashed around in agony. The operating table restraints stopped her from flying off the table. What was strange was that she couldn't see out of one eye. Suddenly a group of doctors rushed into the room, one of them began shouting orders to the others before checking on her to see her status. "She's not supposed to be awake, quickly! Inject the anesthestic!", the doctor ordered to his assistants. Mallory entered the operating room with a concerned look on her face, Mallory held her hand as she screamed so hard until she made no noise at all. Suddenly a stabbing pain jolted up her arm, she looked to her arm to find the anesthetic had been introduced into her bloodstream and in a matter of moments she was unconscious again. She had no dreams, no memories, only fragments of fragments, feelings felt from past events however she could not associate them with a visual representation. She felt fear, pain, and sorrow at first. Then came anger and hate but she did not know wat causes it. Finally came pain once more but unlike the first, here it was worse but shorter.

When she awoke she was restrained to a hospital bed but it was clear she wasn't in a hospital for the facility was too high tech. She struggled to get out of her restraints but to no avail instead the noise signalled those outside the room to enter. Mallory burst into the room with a straight face but with worry in her eyes. She didn't know who Mallory was but she had the feeling they had some sort of relationship. Finally, after looking her over, Mallory spoke,"Its been months how do you feel"

"I feel like shit but who are you? More importantly, who am I?"

"I was told you'd have no memory, I'll have you given a run down of what's happened and who you are later. Right now you need to rest, the facial reconstruction isn't complete yet?"

"The fuck do you mean 'facial reconstruction'? What happened to me?!"

Mallory was hesitant at first but after a brief moment pulled out her phone and turned on the front camera. Her face was destroyed. What they were able to rebuild was perfect but the part they hadn't completed yet showed everything. Her skull, or at least the exposed portion of it, was replaced with metal. The exposed site was bloody and she looked like a monster. She quickly threw the phone and it shattered upon colliding with the wall. Mallory sighed but quickly got over it as shed simply have another one provided for her. "What happened to me?!", she screamed in rage before breaking out on tears. The tear droplets felt lke acid burning her as they slide down her face. Mallory aid nothing at first but finally spoke, "You are a DMA agent. You were, technically killed, but I pulled a few favors and had you brought back...you're welcome"

She shook as soon as she heard that statement. She had died?! How? And why was she brought back? "Why?..", was all that she said before attempting to feel her exposed skull. It was strange, the metal skull could feel pain and she felt every agonizing moment after touching it.

"You're important to the DMA. To important to let die when your work has just begun. It took three months with the best minds combined with the best in cybernetics to bring you back. Even so you'd never gain your old memories, that section of the brain was destroyed. Despite that you should still have all the skills you learned so once you fully recover you'll be put back into the field. This time with a competent partner"

There was a long silence as she stared down as the hospital bed. She died but was brought back to do what? Why? She had no memories of who she was, a second chance at life the question was if she wanted a second chance. "What's my name?", she asked without looking up. Mallory didn't reply immediately but after some thought so answered, "Your name is Pariah".

[smarty0114]

Jessica Thompson
@TheDarkTemplar@Liocalset

Jessica's face grew somber at Cole's question. She knew the answer. But this would be the first time she said it out loud. "Honestly, I feel fucking terrible," she said, chuckling. "I mean I tell Finn I'm alright but I never told him what happened in there. That warden that Cia killed, she could fuck with your brain, and I saw things, things that I'd only seen in nightmares," she said, her hand shaking as she relayed her feelings. Her head whipped around to see Car-tali, the ex-warden turned rebel that everyone had vouched for when they were having a little meet-n-greet. She smiled at him. She smiled a lot more now, more so than before her torture. Seeing the people you love die sort of made you rethink things.

"We're fine, just trying to figure out what we can do to save Manhattan," she said to Car-tali. "If we need to use the Conclave, Finn and I can get us in but I doubt they'd help us too much with taking down the D.M.A. Though if we're interested in saving people, they'll help. The people I worked with prefer getting Gifted safe, I mean most of the people I worked with didn't even know how to fight. Me and Finn were one of the few," she said, chewing on her lip as she thought of an idea. "What we need is a trap. Our own version of the riot. Lure as many Wardens as we can to one place, then BAM, we blow them up or something."

[TheDarkTemplar]

@smarty0114@Airalin@Ace of flames01@Liocalset
"At least we won't have to worry about her anymore", while he was relieved that a person like that was no longer after them Cole knew their problems were far from over. They had stepped onto a path from which there was no turning back only forward into hell. Car-tali entered the room as if he'd been gone to get food or something, "About time you showed up, was beginning to think you wouldn't come back this time". Cole thought over the plan, it could work but that was just one part of an even bigger plot they'd have to put together. "The plan might work, but we can't just kill them and call it a victory. Mallory has to go of course, without her the New York DMA will be forced to let off the pressure. As for the Wardens, taking them out will be hard, they'll only move in force if a massive group of Gifted are on the move. Otherwise they'll just hunt them down one by one. A citywide riot would have us scattered and on top of that we'll just prove Callahan right that we are savages...Car-tali, you've been talking to our little prisoner in the basement right? Go see if she can help, in the mean time I'll figure out the details of this plan". Cole was just about to get up and go to speak to Jack when he heard what sounded like Jack and Ace arguing. Of course he found Jack carrying Ace back to her bed, "You're not well enough to be out of bed. Keep trying to sneak out and I'll drain you back to sleep". Of course he'd never do that but his hopes were the that the thought of it would get Ace to quit trying to get out.

As Jack carried Ace away he noticed Eva walking towards the door. Raising an eyebrow in suspicion he followed her out the door before catching up to her shortly after. "Leaving? You realize you got caught because you had no backup, right? Can't imagine why you'd want to repeat that mistake". Cole crossed his shoulders, he couldn't just stand by and watch a gifted get caught by one of those Wardens, especially since they've been taking less prisoners after Pariah's death. "Listen you've only been with us for a few months in a safe house. If you go out there alone either an Anti-Gifted or a Warden will find you and we won't be there to help you. All I'm asking is you stick around till we get the pressure off of Manhattan".

[Ace of flames01]

Tag: @TheDarkTemplar@smarty0114@Airalin@Liocalset

Ace could tell Cole's threat was nothing but an empty bluff to stop her from getting out. This wasn't his first empty threat he had made to her, after all. "Oh bite me, Cole! Not you nor Jack can hold me down for long because I am an eternal flame, baby!" She called upstairs to Cole.

"Shut yer trap, little miss short stack! And get some sleep! With that amount of energy in ya; you should be better in no time. But until then, you're not going to be going anywhere! I'll strap you down with chains if I have to! And don't you think I won't!" Jack replied and Ace knew that he probably would if need be. This was Jack's form of tough love towards Ace as her guardian.

Jack gently placed Ace on her bed and ruffled her hair a bit after he covered Ace with a blanket. Ace had a crossed look on her face as she turned on her side, looking away from Jack as if to ignore him like a little kid would. Jack sighed and left Ace to sleep.

[Airalin]

"Why do you even care what happens to me?" Eva asked Cole, not quite meeting his eyes. There was no reason for him to concern himself in her affairs. He wasn't wrong to claim that she'd been caught because she was alone - it was true - but staying free was her problem to worry about. "Up until now, no one has shown a whole lot of interest in me... not that I expected them to. But being all cooped up in this place is so boring, and it's making me feel useless! For a long time before getting caught I lived on my own... I could do it again. As long as I only travel after dark, I'll be fine."

She wasn't truly certain that she wanted to leave, of course. Despite her confident words, she was quite worried about being imprisoned again. No - killed. She wouldn't allow herself to be captured alive again, not after what she had seen. But there was no guarantee that staying here would keep her safe. Someone could easily betray the entire group of them, and then the DMA would arrive in numbers. "Well?" she asked, "Give me a reason to stay, something aside from worrying about saving myself!"

[Cuccoruler]

Cia had heard a commotion down stairs. She headed down after the tv was turned off. She heard the girl saying how no one cared about her. If anything that was one thing that Cia hated hearing. She hated it when people said that no one cared, someone ALWAYS cared. She had heard this from her orphan's alot, but not normally from a girl her age. Cia walked up right behind the girl her eyes glaring at her. "Don't you ever say that!" Cia yelled, showing real emotion for the first time since she had killed Pariah. "NEVER SAY THAT! There is always someone who cares! ALWAYS!" Cia yelled angry at the girl. If Cia had arms she would slap her.

"You want a reason to stay? Make a reason! We aren't going to make the effort for you, you have to make your own reasons!" Cia continued, angry with the girl. Cia was finally letting our her emotions after so long of showing none. It was certainly a good thing for her too. Bottling it up inside for so long was destroying her. "Or have you given up on having a reason to live? Because then you may as well just walk out there and get yourself killed! Don't even bother with looking for a warden to kill you! Just find a car!" Cia continued, at this point she didn't really no what she was saying, she was just raging.

[ArkmageddonCat]

John had been standing outside, leaning up against the wall not too far away from the entrance to Jack's building. In fact he'd only been there about as long as it had been since Cole returned from his earlier walk. Now, the young and usually quiet Eva was outside and had been followed by both Cole and, soon after, Cia. John listened in to the conversation up until Cia began to yell in anger, then moved from where he was standing to intervene in the matter.

"That's enough, Cia! Don't take your anger out on her...if she's gonna act like that then she doesn't even deserve it..." He said sternly, looking at Cia for a moment before turning to face Eva. "Okay, look, so you want a reason to stay? Here, I'll give you one; if you walk away, you're dead. That's it, the end. But...if you stay with us, you have a chance to make a difference...you can help people. Do you even know what we're fighting for here? We're fighting for an entire race; the Gifted race. If you want to go off alone and die quietly, then I'm not gonna stop you. But if you want to do the most with your life, I suggest you stay here with us."

Truth be told, John didn't quite seem to be the same person that he had been several months ago...something was different. He seemed to have become more assertive following the attack on the blacksite, and had since gradually become less fearful of Cia...though he still had not talked to her all that much. He had spent most of his time thinking, daydreaming even...about the past, the present, the future...about what could've been and what could be. Hell, even little Mayumi, who he hardly knew, managed to cross into his mind quite a few times...and as of late, she began appearing in his dreams and nightmares. He felt a sense of guilt any time he though of her, due to his close association with the death of her parents, and after a month of thought he was now considering adoption...though he had not gone to Cia about it. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but more so that he wasn't sure if it would be a very good idea right now...

[Airalin]

Eva's eyes darted between the three people confronting her, her fists clenched and cheeks growing red. Why did they all look down on her so much? Couldn't they see there was no place for her here? She served only as a sack of meat that needed protecting! Why did they want to take on that burden so badly?

"Fine," she said, "I'll stay... but only if you let me do something. I'm sick of sitting around here and doing nothing! Take me on a mission or something - my abilities are really good for sneaking. I won't be useless, I promise!" As she spoke, her blush only deepened; those last words made her realize that what was really at stake here was her own sense of worth. She wanted to leave because staying made her feel like nothing but a burden, yet these people were all making it worse, acting like it didn't really matter if she went out and died! What was she supposed to do?

[Liocalset]

Car-tali looked at the crowd of people comforting Eva. He knew they were genuine in thier words but he also got a sense of darkness, this amount of pheramones in the room he couldn't pinpoint it but the sense was there nonetheless. Eventually he had heard enough and decided to add his opinion. " Eva, I know what it feels like to be powerless for so long but skipping out on friends was not the way to approch this. You can't make quantum leaps without taking a few steps back first, remember that. Usually I want to be alone, so i understand that it avoids getting yourself hurt; but some things you can't do alone. Were not invincible,were gifted. Plus it helps to know someone has your back. We all have a stake in this, and for better or worse we are in this together. And John were not just fighting for the gifted were fighting for everyone who was lost, for a chance that peace is not a fleeting dream. and if you need any more assurance after that speach, a few months ago we saved Jessca, and killed a Warden imagine what can be done if you stayed. I am going to meet with Noore right now to see if she came up with anything; and Eva of all my years of experience sneaking is usually the best option." Car-tali left the small group and went downstairs to the locked door and opened it.

Noore had been locked in the basement of Jack's place for the past few months. Those doors only opened when it was for food, bathroom, or to be given a laptop to work on. She hadn't seen outside in months and at the point she wasn't sure she was ever going to. There were multiple times she thought of escaping but those thoughts quickly faded away as she realized how quickly she'd be killed. Now she laid on the mattress that was thrown onto he ground for her to sleep on. Suddenly she heard the door unlock and instead of jumping to her feet as one would expect she slowly sat up in the bed. Most likely they were going to put her to work again. "What do you want this time?", she said without the usual spunky response in her voice. Instead there was only a sullen despair in her words. Being kept prisoner by the people responsible for killing Pariah had put a great bit of fear in her. Oh yes she knew, those few times she was given a laptop she managed to find news articles talking about the blacksite attack. She saw the pictures of her body but what scared her most was that Pariah didn't die by gunshot but by her skull being smashed open. These people were monsters and Noore was sure she'd be dead once her usefulness had come to an end.

Once I opened the door I saw Noore slowly get up. the life was drained out of her and I could see it . This was why I left the DMA among other things. The DMA is much worse but I don't really like holding someone against thier will for so long without proper care. "You've lost that fire in your eyes and in your voice, and you're looking pale lack of vitamin D does that to you. Look I dont like doing this, you seemed like a kind person and if it were up to me you wouldn't be stuck down here." Car-tali looked down at Noore and asked one more question "Why, did you join the DMA."

Noore held her head low, she didn't want to speak to him but at the same time she didn't want to anger him. "I joined the DMA because your kind killed my mother. She was killed on her way home from work, one of them wanted she car but wouldn't stop after beating her bloody after pulling her out of the car. My dad became an alcoholic and killed himself five months after. That's why I joined, after they died I wanted to stop that from happening and the DMA was doing just that...what you did to Pariah. You're monsters for that. She was no saint but no one deserves to die like that, not even her". Noore looked away from Car-tali and towards the nearby wall. Tears began to flow but she refused to let him see, she refused to let them see her break. "The hell do you care for? No doubt you'll kill me like you did her once you don't need me", she said with a quiver in her voice.

Car-tali looked at Noore, he had heard this story before but it didn't make it any less sad. He saw her eyes tear up but she looked away before he could see. When she was done he sensed the particuar pheremones that she had. There were so many emotins that he couldn't decide what thing to say to make her fell better. then he came to the conclusion that nothing really could make her fell better, she has probably kept these emotions locked up for most of her life. "Look your not the only one whose parents were killed by a gifted, so were mine. Now with me being a gifted the DMA had two prominant choices. Either kill me or turn me into a Warden. I'm standing in front of you so i'm pretty sure you know what they decided on. At the time I didnt care what they did to me all I knew was that i'm going to get revenge. Now my goal is the same as yours, to stop all this bloodshed. Now as for pariah I agree no one deserved that; and personally I would've let her live, but I find that her death proves my point. That everyone is at fault and two wrongs don't make a right".

"No two wrongs won't make right. But enough wrongs on one side will right? You all are just going to kill enough DMA until you get what you want? Is that it? Because from what you've had me look for you that seems to be the plan. DMA troop movements, armory and blacksite locations. What are you here for anyway? I'm guessing you want me to find something for you?"

"You want answers to questions that I can't answer." Car-tali made a long sigh. "Tell me what do you think we want?"

"You all with the MRF? Because it looks like you are with what you've had me recover. I'd say you want to take out as many DMA as possible. My guess is your priority is the city, must suck getting kicked out of your home so now you want payback. That right?"

"You are so far off the mark. One I just told you that I've had enough bloodshed and two did you not see what the DMA did, they killed about seventy percent of the gifted populace in this city. Now I don't know about you but I have seen alot and I have learned that people cannot assume that the sins of one can account to a group. There are good gifted out there ones who have lives and families. We can't play God, not the DMA not the MRF not anyone because there are consequences." Car-tali stoped for a moment then continued. "I came in here to ask what else you found out."

Noore was done arguing, Car-tali may have had his fill of killing but he didn't speak for the others. "From what I've gathered Mallory was in Manhattan before you all attacked. Now with the city under martial law she's moved to our HQ. The main group of Wardens are sweeping through the city while smaller groups are stationed at every bridge leading into the city. They have tanks, APCs, and more. There's no way you're getting in there"

"Do they have the waterways capped around the city?"

"They have patrol boats on lookout for anyone trying to get in or out of the city. If your trying to sneak in I couldn't find anything on that, you'll have to look somewhere else", Noore went back to bed, she was done for today. They had their information, let them do what they wished with it.

Car-tali had seen Noore many times but today she seemed broken."You know I will change things, and despite what you think about gifted, we are people too." Car-tali left the room and locked it back up." A plan had to be made and many ideas ran through Car-talis mind. "Well no use dwindling on this info, got to go tell the others."

[Cuccoruler]

Cia turned her attention away from the girl. She didn't want anything else to do with this girl unless she started to believe in herself and stop acting like she didn't need friends. Cia didn't say another word to the girl before going over to the couch in a huff and sitting down. It felt good to yell like that, though she was still haunted by what she had done to Pariah, she had lost control in that battle and ended up letting out a very scary part of herself. One that got worse the longer she was in action. She only hoped that she wouldn't have to fight another warden and lose herself again.

Cia had actually started to like John after the Blacksite, but she felt she had to distance herself from him ever since Pariah. She felt like she was a monster, possibly the worst out of all of the Gifted for what she had done. She didn't feel worthy of being near John because of this and had thus been trying to keep her distance. Though if John wanted to get closer to her, now may be the best time to have a conversation with Cia.

[ArkmageddonCat]

Seems kind of high on himself...but he makes a good enough point. John found himself thinking as Car-Tali spoke...then began to wonder if that's what everybody else thought of him. He shook the thought away, then watched as Car-Tali left before he proceeded to speak to Eva. Don't worry, we'll put you to work as soon as we got something for you. And Car-tali is right, stealth is often a better option...less people die that way. He said, glancing over at Cia as she left the group to go sit down. He pondered why she might have left without a word, and bid a short farewell to Cole and Eva.

John moved nearby to Cia, but did not sit down. Is something the matter? He asked, but did not move from where he stood. He was concerned because she wasn't acting with that joyful persona from before the blacksite, and because she seemed rather angry at Eva only a moment earlier before quietly retreating here. It struck John as peculiar, and he hoped she wasn't falling into depression...a lot had happened, and only just now did he think that the lack of communication between Cia and himself might not be helping.

[Cuccoruler]

Cia turned to see John approach her. She hadn't spoke to him in awhile at first because she felt that he hated her for what she had done to Pariah. "Ever since I took down Pariah I feel like everyone has been looking at me differently. I feel like I'm worse than DMA for it." Cia said as she moved her knees close to her chest. If she had arms he would wrap them around her legs.

John stared at her for a moment, then looked aimlessly around the room. "Well...at first, I must admit I was terrified. You had me in a position to kill me earlier that day...but you didn't, and I'm glad and all...but..." John started, paused for a bit, then hurried to speak. "Look, I was just surprised she was killed like that...but I had shocked her pretty good when I ran into her...so...I guess, y'know, it's not all your fault." John said, feeling pretty awkward about it all. In all honesty, he wasn't sure if it would really help at all.

Cia looked at him again before looking up at the ceiling. John shocking Pariah before hand changed nothing to her. "Do you think the others also thought I was a monster? Do you think I'm a monster?" Cia asked John. This was all she really needed to know, if they thought she was a monster then she would inevitably become a monster, even worse than she was before. She would shed her former life and become the monster they all feared. But if they didn't think she was a monster then she would hold onto what humanity she had left. Keep her humanity or become a monster, that was teh choice that John would have to make.

John paused, thinking rather deeply. He couldn't really call her a monster...not exactly...afterall she did have a nicer side...and she didn't kill John. Though she seemed to get carried away in combat, and she threatened to kill him...then again, as John recollected, he was in enough pain that he asked for it. To him, she just seemed more or less bipolar, and as far as if the others thought that she was a monster...he couldn't really answer. "Hm...no, I can't really say you're a monster. I mean...you're really nice around the kids, and I understand that you attacked me to protect them, right? I can't really consider you a monster for killing one person...even as brutal as it was. He said, sitting down on the floor by the couch. "People get angry, they lose control...but I can't help but feel that I could've done something if I'd been there..."

Cia sat there for a moment looking up at him for her seat as he spoke. Her eyes lit up again as life came back to her face. "So, I'm not a monster then?" Cia asked a smile coming on her face. "Thank you so much!" Cia said with a smile as she approached him. She then leaned against him as one would to hug, of course all she could was press her chest up against him. "You don't know how much this means to me." Cia added with a smile on her face. She was back, and full of life again.

John was relieved as she seemed to have returned to the joyful persona, but was caught off guard by her leaning against him. He locked up and blushed, sitting there for a moment before managing to speak. "Uh...y-you're welcome... He stammered, letting out a bit of a nervous laugh before smiling back. Jesus...she's great at making me feel so awkward...but...I mean...I guess I can't really complain...It's not a bad thing... After a few seconds he seemed to have an epiphany, remembering that she had no arms and this may be her attempt at a hug. Acting on that assumption, he hugged her back and blushed a little more.

[TheDarkTemplar]

DMA HQ, Upstate New York
October 29, 2029
8:00pm

A multitude of files opened on Mallory's computer as she studied them in her office. Files titled "Subject Information" and "Augmentation Report" were being carefully scrutinized by the director before she heard a knock on her office door. With the tap of a key the file windows closed just as a sullen Pariah stuck half her body through the doorway. She was frustrated and it showed in her body language as she eyed the ground with a scowl. "Come in, I've been meaning to speak with you", without another word Pariah entered the room and sat down in front of Mallory's desk. "I see you've healed well, apart from a few scars you seem to be good as new", Mallory received no response as Pariah simply stared at her hands. She had been told that one of her hands were replaced with a cybernetic prosthetic due to her injuries. What they didn't tell her was which one and that was what angered her. Clenching her fists she caught Mallory's attention as she quickly spoke again, "Is there a problem". There was a moment of hesitation before Pariah answered, "...Who am I?". Mallory raised a brow in confusion before answering, "I told you before your name is Pariah, you are a Warden for the Department of Metahuman Affair-"

"That's not good enough!", Pariah slammed her left fist down onto the desk leaving a slight dent on the metal top. "I guess that's the prosthetic", she thought as she eyed Mallory who seemed more annoyed at the fact that she'd need a new desk rather than Pariah's outburst. "If you'd calm down I'd be more than happy to tell you", Mallory stated plainly as she got out of her chair and stood by the window. Pariah followed her over and they both looked out the window into the deep green forest before them. "You were-are- the best metahuman hunter in the DMA, over a hundred confirmed kills and that's not including Haven. You were trained at our facility in Nevada where you graduated at the top of your class. From there you worked alone most of the time but on occasions had to work with others. This was against your nature as your name implies but nevertheless you succeeded every time. Unfortunately you were killed on your latest assignment after being betrayed by a fellow operative and left to the insurgents.

That last sentence stuck with Pariah, she'd been betrayed and left to die. Suddenly a feeling began to grow in her, it was anger, a powerful anger which left her incapable of properly releasing it. She stood there with her hands clenched so hard you could begin to hear the prosthetics whirring under the pressure. Mallory glanced down to see Pariah's trembling hands and she placed her own on Pariah's shoulder, "There'll be a time for it, right now you should head over to the training room, get yourself reacclimated". Pariah let out a breath of frustration that could be heard as she shuddered upon exhalation. "Who killed me?", she asked as she looked out into the forest before staring Mallory dead in the eyes. "There will be a time for tha-"

"Mallory. Who was it?", Pariah's eyes were cold and almost void of humanity. In truth they were, at least one was, her left eye had to be replaced as well. Mallory sighed as she reluctantly answered, "John Reynolds is the name of the agent who defected. The identity of your killer is being investigated"

"Good", Pariah began to look the way she did when interrogating Jessica.

"What do you mean good?", Mallory tried to halt Pariah but she was already headed for the door.

"I have a name, next I'll have a body"