Amadore welcomed the warm lobby with open arms. His run here hadn't done much to warm him, the cold air lapped at his sweaty skin and nearly froze him to death. Pulling his bandana down from his face, Amadore walked up to the receptionist and waited for her to finish her call. All the while he went over his mental checklist: Fix Garrachu, talk to Gallagher and maybe even send word out to Walker. He should be on the field right now...

The receptionist snapped Amadore out of his thoughts, "Can I help you Mr. Forza?" He smiled down at her as charmingly as he could. He leaned forward and asked in a deep husky voice, "Spunky I'd love nothing more for ya to help me. That'd be a beatu. Sadly I don't have the yonks for that. I need to give Gallagher a good Ear-Bashing about what's spreading on the streets. So could you be a doll and ring him up for me Sheila?" He winked and gave her a wide smile. She giggled and nodded enthusiastically. Just as Amadore was biding her good bye, his loyal lab assistant came bouncing into the lobby, carefully holding something in her hands. As she approached he noticed it was a cup of joe. "For you! Just how you like it!"

Amadore laughed and patted the short girls head. "Ta Mate! Good go! Ya know me better than a donkey knows it's own arse." He waved for her to follow him up to Gallagher's office. Hopefully he was in. Tracking mutants was one of Gallagher's greatest assets. He filled in his assistant to what he heard on his way over and she began to jot down notes. "I think one of our new experiments will work wonders for this. It's a remote controlled miniature explosive. We've deemed it Arachnids Nest. It's a series of small explosives that resemble spiders, they can locate weak points in an opponent or in a building structure. Best used for sneak attacks."

"Now to locate the buggers. I'll be bushed by the end of the night if Gallagher leaves it to me. I need to give Walker a ring. He's out there right?" He spoke over his shoulder as she lead them out of the elevator and down towards Gallagher's office.

'Should be. Yes sir," She piped up. "Good tell those Jackaroo's downstairs to give a coo-ee for Walker and get me in contact with him. I'll be here in Gallagher's office." Amadore rubbed the back of his head and watched as his little assistant walked off. He would never admit it out loud but Gallagher did frighten him. He was a tough old man you just didn't cross. Slowly he stepped into his office, knocking tenitively on the door. "You're not chuckin a sickie on me today are ya, Gallagher?"

"Well Spook, by your observation abilities and you think about it, the only one with anything read attached to them and is producing an odd amount of heat much like the bird of legend, the phoenix, I am Phoenix."

"I just needed to be sure, that's all. If I was tricked and this was all a set-up by those Mutant Hunters, I... Well, let's just say that I have had some sort of a... 'history' with them. That and they were the ones who killed me. Can't forget that, of course." Spook kept his excitement well-contained. So this was Phoenix. Admittedly, he was expecting something a little grander, but she was well-known among the Mutant community and nothing short of a local hero. Still feeling a little hungry, Spook rummaged around in his satchel for something to eat, finding a small segment of copper pipe moments later with a satisfied smile. Sitting down next to a guy who was swamped in blankets, he started eating the pipe, easily chewing through the metal.

When Spook finished his... meal, he eyed the male with an air of slight curiosity, eventually sticking out his hand for a handshake. He might as well make a friend or two while he was here. Maybe he could even stay here at Phoenix's place. This happy train of thought continued until he heard a voice...

"All Hail Lord Imperator, leader of the revolution, overthrower of the humans, the one who shall lead us to victory."

"Ugh. Not that guy. I sure wish that he gets his hail... in the size of golf balls raining down upon his stupid head," muttered Spook with obvious resentment. He'd heard of failed revolutions led by some nutcase who gave himself that title. This Imperator had a lot to answer for, leading a lot of good Mutants to their deaths like that...

Seeing Spectre go into the window, Idelkys ignored his comment of freezing. And she also ignored the woman's offer on entering through a window. Unless people where dying in there, Idelkys didn't need to make a fool of herself and try to squeeze through a window, only to have her picture taken by the creep who was peeping in it. About to turn and leave the not-so-safe room, Idelkys noticed a lot of flickering and meltdowns happening all at once. And most notably, the creep's camera. Idelkys was indeed amused at seeing sparks randomly fly from the device, probably destroying it from the inside.

"All Hail Lord Imperator, leader of the revolution, overthrower of the humans, the one who shall lead us to victory." An annoying and nasally voice yelled from behind her. Idelkys cringed and slowly turned around. "Oh brother..." Idelkys sighed, her eyes laying on the 'Imperator'. His appearance was one to remember, either by his weird halo or by his picture in the newspaper from the failed coup. Idelkys wasn't there for his failure, but an event like that went down in mutant history, and was kept in the secret libraries underground.

Feeling a sense of danger, Idelkys made the move to leave. The area was becoming too crowded and noisy and then the amazing Imperator had to show up and ruin everyone's electrical devices, probably attracting a lot of attention down this particular alleyway.

Idelkys walked past the mutant and the Imperator, not bothering to speak or even give the two eye contact. If she was lucky, they wouldn't even recognize or remember her face, so when the torture chambers demanded who they saw later on, Idelkys wouldn't be mentioned. Disappearing into the shadows, Idelkys walked several alleyways down next to an escape hatch. She could watch to check the goings on in the room from a safe distance, and not be apart of the mess. Finding a molded chair, Idelkys released her virus to destroy the mold, effectively cleaning her seat in under 30 seconds. She sat down, breathed a sigh of relief, and watched.

"Well, Isaac Dartmouth being that you seem comfortable with the world find, but don't get my furniture soggy and make it mold. Second of all, the correct answer is 'no, I'm not human' being that none of us here apparently are not."

"Ah, potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto," Isaac said, shrugging off the woman's clear dislike of his answer. "And don't worry about your furniture, water damage won't be a problem. I could remove any moisture instantly even if I got your couch soaked, and frankly, I'd be more worried about you burning the place down than anything else."

"I'm Phoenix, and I apologize for my reaction. I'm not fond of people trying to creep around being that very, very few can get by without my notice," her bright red eyes went between the two a few more times, sizing them up.

Phoenix, huh? Isaac thought, registering the name in his mind. Like the mythical creature, seems easy enough to remember. Seems to fit her powers, so it must be an alias. Maybe I should get one of those.

A relaxing silence followed their introductions, and Isaac took the time to reflect. No doubt about it, this place was a safe house, even if it was run by a cranky pyromaniac. Isaac could probably find other places to stay (the lake was always free), but he had to admit that staying in an actual apartment was a better alternative to sleeping with the fishes. Isaac hadn't slept in an actual room in ages, not since the last town he had visited. In that case, he had stayed in a motel, and was eventually run out of the place by an angry mob. The mutant hoped that this place would be a little bit better than that.

"More guests?" she mumbled and turned to find herself staring at a gray face and white eyes.

Phoenix felt her heart skip a beat. At first she though it was a body, but then saw it was smiling and waving, then took a bite out of cardboard. Well that's new, she thought. Pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes, she motioned of the... well... thing to come in. "Welcome to the party, any friend you would like to bring?"

"More people?" Isaac scoffed, shaking his head. "What did you do, put this place up on Craigslist?"

"Hey! There's a guy peeping outside of your window!"

They're still coming? Isaac thought, shocked by the traffic the place was getting. I guess this place isn't much of a secret, then.


"Will you shut up? I don't like being the centre of attention just as much you would, I'm sure. What's wrong? You seem to be a little... spooked, one might say." Phoenix rolled her eyes at his comment and folded her arms over her chest and leaned with most of her weight on her right leg, slowly becoming more relaxed because if she didn't things wouldn't end well. She heard him coming back and he kind of slithered into through the window and inched closer to Phoenix than what she was comfortable with. "Name's Spook, can anyone tell me where I may find someone who goes by the name of... Phoenix?"

"Well Spook, by your observation abilities and you think about it, the only one with anything read attached to them and is producing an odd amount of heat much like the bird of legend, the phoenix, I am Phoenix." Walking towards the window she opened the window and looked out, any snow near her melted immediately. The two standing not far away were either Mutant's or somehow Mutant supporters due to their change in appearance. "Please come and join the party. And Amazon," Phoenix said looking at the tall woman, "I'm sorry to say this is the only way to get in. It'll be tight but you'll fit. I get in here with wings and all." Jumping back down Phoenix walked over to the sofa and sat down, resting her elbows on her knees and her head fell forward in exhaustion and eyes shut. "Alright, I am in fact Phoenix. Now who are you all and just so I can prepare myself what can you do?"

"Well, I'm a hydro-" Isaac was cut off when the whole room went haywire. The lights flickered, the television turned itself on, and the PS3 started smoking ever so slightly.

"All Hail Lord Imperator, leader of the revolution, overthrower of the humans, the one who shall lead us to victory."

Sighing, Isaac stood up and trudged over to the window. "This is a safe house, you know. The entire point of it is for it to be a secret. But, since you asked for your hail so nicely..." Isaac snapped and stepped back, closing the window softly. A few seconds later, the window was whited out by a large bank of snow that had previously been on the roof. Mentally pushing back the snow and reopening the pane of glass, Isaac stuck his head out into the alleyway and smirked. "Is that enough ice for you?"

Stephen Gallagher was sitting in his office, reading over a handful of cases that were just dropped on his desk today. 3 more freaks were brought in today, one killed during transport and the other two were being held 3 stories under the building in secure facilities adjusted to counteract their powers. The one old man who was being held downstairs what put in a straight jacket and in a very small cell where he had very limited movement and his eyes were covered as well since if he made eye contact with you, he could use his finger to control you like a puppet. "Freak," Gallagher mumbled and check a box stating "Terminate: Extremely Dangerous" then closed his file and moved to the next one. As he opened it there was an image of a little red head girl with freakishly huge eyes that were pure black. Curling his lip he continued to read down her file when he heard a light knock at the door.

"You're not chuckin a sickie on me today are ya, Gallagher?" Amadore called from the other side. Gallagher glanced up and closed the girls file and placed it square in the middle of his desk. Tugging gently at his gloves to make sure there were snug then ran his hands over the top of his head out of habit he leaned back.

"Come in Amadore. What kind of news do you have for me today?" Amadore was a fiery Agent. He got the job done well and quickly and every once and a while brought him some news that usually made Gallagher happy, or made his ass hurt. "Please tell me its good news. Today has been very pleasant so far and I would like to keep it that way." Sitting back in his giant dark red office chair, Gallagher looked like a powerful man. His huge oak desk had a sleek new computer on it, the screen black for the moment, the 3 files sitting o his desk and an assortment of pens. His walls were a royal blue and his carpet a soft tan color. There were several photos hung up on his walls, each a photo of a mutant. Some that were shattered because Gallagher had shot the photo because the mutant was killed and the others were in tact meant that these high level freaks were still at large.

---

"All Hail Lord Imperator, leader of the revolution, overthrower of the humans, the one who shall lead us to victory."

Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Phoenix felt her temper growing at a dangerous rate, and flames began to appear randomly at her hands again. Her red eyes snapped fire and she locked her jaw. Standing up she walked over to her window but was briefly blocked off by Isaac. He stood up and trudged over to the window. "This is a safe house, you know. The entire point of it is for it to be a secret. But, since you asked for your hail so nicely..." Isaac snapped and stepped back, closing the window softly. A few seconds later, the window was whited out by a large bank of snow that had previously been on the roof. Mentally pushing back the snow and reopening the pane of glass, Isaac stuck his head out into the alleyway and smirked. "Is that enough ice for you?" Phoenix smirked some at this action, appreciating his humor but it quickly fell away again.

"Excuse me Isaac, I have to deal with his," When Phoenix approached the window she quickly melted the snow in her path away and the concrete began to sizzle from the amount of heat she used. Placing her palms on the hot surface, most others would be scorched, but it was nothing to her. Standing up outside of the window she looked up at the massive man. Lord Imperator and her eyes went to his minions behind him. "I've heard of you. You're the mutant with the big ego who wants to take over the world. I don't mind you taking out a few humans along the way, but as of now, shut the fuck up because unlike you, others don't want the entire area of down town Buffalo to know we are here! We would like to relax once and a while you pompous egotistical spiky headed douche!" By that time Phoenix had about had it. There was a parade of mutants coming to this hide out, and her other larger and much safer hideout was far from ready. At this rate, if somehow the Agents haven't figured out where they are yet then the Human race is truly full of idiots.

Jecht let out a sound of surprise, he had heard from this... Lord Imperator. A man who led a group of mutants to take over the entire world, although, the stories of his failures were something Jecht was interested in. It told him that this 'Imperator' wasn't as great as he thought himself to be. Yeah, yeah, the great Lord Imperator. You shouldn't be so full of yourself, makes you... unwanted. Jecht tried hard to held his laughter, it seems the one sitting next to 'Zombie' was giving Lord Imperator a winter wonderland.

It seemed Jecht wasn't the only mutant in the room who disliked the great Lord. Phoenix went even further and told the man to shut up, she was right after all, not everyone wanted to be the centre of attention, especially from humans. "Now if only someone went out there to slap mister ego in the face, that would clearly finish it." Jecht didn't really spoke up to anyone in particular, he just wanted to throw that idea out. And hey, with the two actions just now, it wouldn't surprise him if someone just hit the guy on his head and laugh at how pathetic he was.

He rose up to stare out of the window, his yellow eyes glaring at the Imperator's head. Hmm, I just got myself a better idea. If those things are what I think they are, why not forge myself a weapon out of that crystal ring of his. Talk about literally beating himself up. Jecht smiled at that thought, but he wasn't really in for fighting. And as it seemed, thing were already taken care of so he'd just sit this one out.

Amadore sighed a breath of relief and ventured into the Veteran's office. To say he felt small when around the other man would be an understatement. But he wouldn't allow himself to loose face. Taking a seat in the none too comfortable, oversized chair in front of Gallagher, Amadore cleared his throat.

"G'day Sir... Can't say it's good or bad, really. It's mostly things I heard from the Local Rag as I came into work today. Heaps of sticky-beaks yabbering 'bout "Two white haired people -one freaky tall and the other with odd yellow eyes- spitting they aren't Mutants". Lemme tell ya this Gallagher, almost every bugger I passed was going yonks over this. I couldn't gather which way they headed... Do these description's match a thing we got on Mutants?"

Amadore was leaning forward in his seat as he explained it all to his boss. He was getting excited, there just had to be something here. Either that or it was a pair of teens into dyeing their hair. Not that he was one to talk. His red hair was like a beacon. "Sir, if there is a chance that we'll be dealing with Mutants then I want to bust a gut with the rest of group that heads out. My assistant told me our newest weapon is polished off. I'd love to take it for a ride." It was hard, he couldn't hide his excitement. The hunt was on. A wide reassuring smile spread across his face.

Amadore smoothed out his bandana and contemplated whether to ask the chief his next question. Normally Gallagher selected the teams to head out, but Amadore knew he needed people he could work with well if he was going to test Arachnids Nest. "Sir... If ya allow me to head out. Would ya mind if I picked the team? With the explosives I'm packing I can't keep an eye on too many people."

He knew exactly who he wanted to ask to accompany him on this mission. Lyra was a reliable partner, she was smart and wasn't too rash like many others tended to be on the field. He could use her knowledge on this expedition. Maybe even Gallagher would want to join along.

Lyra Ward sat at her computer. She slowly scrolled down the long list of dangerous mutants contained in the SWAT database. There were so many of them. Lyra thought sadly. Why did so many mutants go bad? Lyra hadn't. She was slowly working her way down the long list of mutants and had been for the last two weeks she had been assigned to the SWAT team. The one she was reading now was on someone called "The Lord Imperator". Lyra shivered though her work space was heated. The data scrolling down her screen showed an insane monster who had killed hundreds of people. Lyra's pale blue eyes widened.

"That can not be right, but if it is.." Her eyes stared unfocused at the screen, her mind replaying a news report she had watched a few minutes ago. Lyra smiled a lil bit with growing excitement and looked at the computer again quickly. Confirming what she thought Lyra stood up quickly and hurried through the hallways to Gallagher's office. Exchanging hellos with a few other coworkers in the hallway Lyra was a lil less chatty than usual and didn't stop to talk with each of them. She was on a mission. Lyra would talk to them all later so no one felt hurt but she had to tell Gallagher what she had found first.

Lyra was so caught up that she walked into Gallagher's office without knocking. "Sir, I found some-" Lyra stopped talking noticing that she had burst in on a meeting. Her face colored. "I am sorry for interrupting but I found something you should know about." Lyra took a deep breath hoping she was not mixed up. "There was a news bulletin about the freaky behavior of electronics that matches the phenomena the database has listed for a mutant called The Lord Imperator." Lyra suddenly noticed who the other person besides Gallagher in the room was and waved. "Hi Amadore." The greeting sounding as happy as ever.

Snow and ice a veritable avalanche of both poured down upon the Lord Imperator and tracker. Already wet and cold from walking through the snowy streets to get to the hide out in the first place, the cold was perhaps not as unpleasant as it would have seemed to the boy who had called it down upon the Lord Imperator as the mutant lord did not move out of the way as it feel. Or perhaps he had not noticed the ice and snow falling towards his head. Regardless of the reason the ice and snow that fell did land on and around Imperator.

And when the snow was cleared away by the same will that had pulled it down upon the Imperator the man still stood in the same position that he had as the snow came down around him. There seemed to be a ghost of a smile upon his lips as the woman who he recognized instantly as Phoenix clambered out of the window and the lord Imperator listened to her tirade of insults and as she finally finished the man threw back his head and laughed. The laughter and noise that while audible did not carry much and so only the mutants in the safe house and the alleyway would hear it. It would seem that perhaps that rare thing had occurred, that the Imperator had found something funny instead of having it interfere with his ever so prickly pride. "Is that enough hail for you. That's rich boy, that is rich." he muttered as he continued to laugh for a moment before he straightened up to his full height once more.

"Phoenix, I presume." The tone of power and command was vastly and clearly different from the nasal voice that had spoken before. It was obvious to any paying even the smallest bit of attention that the Imperator's voice had not been the one that called out the all hail. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, you have made quite the reputation for yourself in recent years. Torching the hand of the head of the agents is quite an accomplishment." The Imperator did not add that he of course would have finished the job instead of just burning the man and though it galled him the mutant lord did need to do some damage control, tracker had been a fool to scream out the hail when visiting a safe house for recruitment. That would have to be dealt with, and so with great reluctance Imperator spoke again but in a way that was uncharacteristically apologetic for the great man. The head with it's crown of faintly glowing spines turned towards the hideous faced mutant beside him. "Tracker, how many times must I tell you that you are not to loudly announce my presence when i purposefully brought only you with me, and left the others behind so as to be less suspicious?"

"I beg your pardon Lord Imperator." The hideous mutant's nasal voice whined.

The head turned to face Phoenix again. "I apologize for the behavior of Tracker, he lacks subtlety at times and as he finds others for me, he is one I can't just leave out." The head turned slightly, "Well aren't you going to invite me in? I do have something to propose to all here and the longer we stand here the more likely the agents will find us as you so insightfully said yourself."

When the man started to laugh, it caught Phoenix off guard. If she were in his position she wouldn't be nearly as humorous. "Is that enough hail for you. That's rich boy, that is rich." he muttered as he continued to laugh for a moment before he straightened up to his full height once more. The massive man chuckled a little more then looked at her finally, "Phoenix, I presume."

"Yeah. The Imperator I presume?" Phoenix shot back but with a less venomous tone then before. She was getting nervous for the others now. There was a huge gathering of them in a very small space and not in one of her safest places.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, you have made quite the reputation for yourself in recent years. Torching the hand of the head of the agents is quite an accomplishment," when the Imperator spoke of Gallagher, Phoenix narrowed her eyes into slits and clenched her fists, creating a burst of flames as she did. He was the only man to ever leave a scar on her body and the man was lucky all he got was a burned hand.

"The man is lucky all he got was a burned hand. If he was any more of a man he wouldn't bring an army when I was trying to get 3 kids to safety," Phoenix's voice fell slightly as she thought about the 3 tiny kids that came to her 2 years ago. Phoenix was lost in her own mind while Imperator scolded the other mutant. The day her and Gallagher fought she lost one of the kids that day. In most cases she would have stayed to fight, but she had to get the other two out and to safety. She frequently had nightmares about that night, and sometimes dreams of the one little girl she let down. Closing her eyes and her hand going to her scar on her stomach without thought, she took a slow deep breath before looking at the Imperator again and her hand fell back to her sides.

"Well aren't you going to invite me in? I do have something to propose to all here and the longer we stand here the more likely the agents will find us as you so insightfully said yourself." Phoenix snapped herself back to reality and turned to look at the house. She was sure it had to be blown and if she was right, they had about an hour before they would be in real trouble.

"For now. But we are all going to have to move soon. Imperator, go through the front door and there is a wall straight ahead. There is a door behind it. Just go through it." Phoenix looked at the tall woman with white hair, "follow him if you want to come in and get warm." Walking back to the window she slid in and looked around at everyone. Clenching her teeth she began to worry. It has been a long time since she had a crowd this size and it usually never ends well. "Now, please. I need names, what you can do and I need to know what will stop you in your tracks so when the humans come with their toys I can tell who to get out of the way, and who can actually fight." Phoenix entire persona changed now. She was no longer annoyed, she was now in protector mode.

---

"G'day Sir... Can't say it's good or bad, really. It's mostly things I heard from the Local Rag as I came into work today. Heaps of sticky-beaks yabbering 'bout "Two white haired people -one freaky tall and the other with odd yellow eyes- spitting they aren't Mutants". Lemme tell ya this Gallagher, almost every bugger I passed was going yonks over this. I couldn't gather which way they headed... Do these description's match a thing we got on Mutants?" Amadore was leaning forward in his seat as he explained it all, "Sir, if there is a chance that we'll be dealing with Mutants then I want to bust a gut with the rest of group that heads out. My assistant told me our newest weapon is polished off. I'd love to take it for a ride." It was hard, he couldn't hide his excitement. The hunt was on. A wide reassuring smile spread across his face.

Gallagher sat back in his chair and laced his hands together as he listed to what Amadore was explaining. It was very interesting and he seemed eager to get out there. Before he finished talking Gallagher was thinking of who could and could not go on a hunt such as this. Before he could speak Amadore was going again, "Sir... If ya allow me to head out. Would ya mind if I picked the team? With the explosives I'm packing I can't keep an eye on too many people." Gallagher rose his right brow high up on his brow and pressured his lips together. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak Lyra walked in, talking as fast as she could.

"Sir, I found some-" Gallager just looked up at her and waited, she turned a nice shade of pink before she began to apologize. "I am sorry for interrupting but I found something you should know about." Lyra took a deep breathbefore she began again."There was a news bulletin about the freaky behavior of electronics that matches the phenomena the database has listed for a mutant called The Lord Imperator." Lyra suddenly noticed who the other person besides Gallagher in the room was and waved. "Hi Amadore." The greeting sounding as happy as ever.

Pushing off of his chair, Gallagher stood up and turned to look out of the massive window behind him. "Amadore, you may have your team, but keep me in the loop. Whenever there is a gathering as you say. Phoenix is involved and I have a score to settle with her."

"Well aren't you going to invite me in? I do have something to propose to all here and the longer we stand here the more likely the agents will find us as you so insightfully said yourself." Phoenix snapped herself back to reality and turned to look at the house. She was sure it had to be blown and if she was right, they had about an hour before they would be in real trouble.

"For now. But we are all going to have to move soon. Imperator, go through the front door and there is a wall straight ahead. There is a door behind it. Just go through it."

Interesting, Isaac thought as he strode back to the couches and plopped down on an empty stretch. I wouldn't have expected her to let the almighty Imperator in. The guy practically revealed this safe house to the government single-handedly! But, I suppose that since he's here, there's no point in trying to make him leave again. Phoenix's decisions were hardly any of Isaac's business, and if she wanted an egotistical megalomaniac in her household, then so be it.

"Now, please. I need names, what you can do and I need to know what will stop you in your tracks so when the humans come with their toys I can tell who to get out of the way, and who can actually fight."

"Well, you already know me," Isaac started, leaning back into his plush seat and crossing his legs. "I'm a hydrokinetic; that is, I can control water. I wouldn't worry too much about my combat readiness, though. We're in my element, seeing as there's about ten inches of thick snow as far as the eye can see."

As he finished, the young man looked around the room. So far, he had been unable to determine many of his new allies' powers. There was Phoenix, of course, the ever fiery pyromaniac, and that guy named Spook; although all Isaac could figure he had was a hyper acidic stomach. Isaac sincerely hoped that a few more of the others would have combative powers, as he didn't fancy taking on a SWAT team as half of a two man group.

Spook knew that he'd said that wish aloud, but he didn't expect it to come true! Chuckling at the hydrokinetic's actions, Spook patted the man on the back and congratulated him for causing the avalanche. It also surprised him a little to hear the Imperator laugh it off as if he was expecting the incident to happen all along. With a resigned shrug, the Mutant sat down next to the hydrokinetic with a smile still lingering on his ghastly visage. While Phoenix talked to the others, Spook looked around the room, memorising the details and the occupants. It might be worthwhile to keep in touch with at least one of them, especially Phoenix.

"Now, please. I need names, what you can do and I need to know what will stop you in your tracks so when the humans come with their toys I can tell who to get out of the way, and who can actually fight."

After the hydrokinetic Mutant explained his powers, Spook told the group his own powers without further delay. "Well, for starters I can digest any material, even the stuff that's normally toxic or poisonous to... other people." He demonstrated this by getting a half-eaten brick from his satchel and finishing it off in two bites. "I can also fit into small spaces without experiencing any discomfort and my body heals at an astounding rate. There's probably more, but that's all I've discovered so far," he said with an air of modesty. Casually leaning backwards with his hands behind his head, Spook listened to the rest of the group discussion.

Cold, why is it so cold? Freak thought to himself, giving a slight shiver...or twitch. He wasn't sure. Because you're in the middle of winter without a coat, dipshit.

As a couple passed him, he heard their thoughts: Poor boy, out in the middle of winter without a coat... Freak looked to his attire; a Nintendo-licensed T-shirt and a pair of jeans, complete with a pair of Black flip-flops.

"Poor boy, poor boy," Freak muttered, then gave piercing howl, causing the couple to hurry away. "I'm going to freeze! Freeze! A Freakcicle!" His breathing increased in it's tempo. "I'm going to die!" He began to hyperventilate, grabbing his hair as he began to feel his mind slip away. "DIE!"

His wailing suddenly ceased as he attempted to calm down. " N-no. I'm not going to die. I-I'm going to find a nice p-person who will left me in and get warm, or at least g-give me a coat." He wanted a coat, he wished for one so bad...He began to walk.

As a businessman walked past, he felt an urge to give his designer leather coat to the 'poor boy', and did so, questioning an hour later as to why.

Even With the coat, Freak still twitched--or shivered. He needed a place that was warm...

Phoenix. Spooked. Hydrokenisis. Lord. Rich, boy. Interesting.

He stopped and looked up. He saw a light on in a window. Mutants...he could hear them.

Maybe they would help him.

"Phoenix!" he yelled up. He did not know who this Pheonix he 'heard' was, but he wanted shelter...he wished dearly for it.

"Well, you already know me," Isaac started, leaning back into his plush seat and crossing his legs. "I'm a hydrokinetic; that is, I can control water. I wouldn't worry too much about my combat readiness, though. We're in my element, seeing as there's about ten inches of thick snow as far as the eye can see." Phoenix nodded and thought about that for a moment.

"You can be very useful. I'll keep the heat off your ass if you keep the cold off of mine and we should be a force," that thought made Phoenix smirk a little. That would make Gallagher choke when he used his water based weapons and the next thing he knew it was going back at him. "Alright, next?" The ghoul was the next to speak up.

"Well, for starters I can digest any material, even the stuff that's normally toxic or poisonous to... other people." He demonstrated this by getting a half-eaten brick from his satchel and finishing it off in two bites. "I can also fit into small spaces without experiencing any discomfort and my body heals at an astounding rate. There's probably more, but that's all I've discovered so far," he said with an air of modesty. Nodding slowly Phoenix digested that in her mind, her red eyes locked into an empty space.

"If you can get up close that'll be great. And damaging but stay away from their razor wires. Unless you can reattach severed limbs," she said watching him closely. By the pause she took that as a no.

"Phoenix!"

"Son of a bitch!" Phoenix roared and shot to her feet. Someone else was failing at the subtlety thing. They had to be blown soon. That was when she heard the fizzle and click of a radio. Phoenix's eyes dilated and her heart sped up. "Everyone, move now!" she screamed and spread her wings out wide forcing them towards the window that was her many entrance. Behind her Phoenix heard the sound of boots crunching with snow. The pattern was too erratic for her to get a good count as to how many were coming but it seemed to be an outrageous amount. Turning towards the far wall Phoenix threw her hands forward and a blast of flames erupted from her hands the same instant there was a loud Boom! as a rocket made contact with the wall. Phoenix's flames were powerful enough to push back the flames of the rocket, but debris still flew by, one piece catching her shoulder and drawing blood. "Move now!" Phoenix turned and carefully aimed over the others heads with her uninjured arm and a tiny focused ball of flames grew in her palm. When she released it it slammed into the window with enough force to allow for a quicker exit. "Isaac, cool off the ground or it'll burn you!"

From the other wall Phoenix could hear more then two dozen men talking and the clicked and whirrs of their weapons then she heard one speak into his radio. "Gallagher. We found her nest."

There was no need for the Imperator to tell those gathered of his powers. For such was his greatness and fame and infamy that nearly all had at least heard his name and knew a little. The massive man had entered the room through the actual door that had been pointed out without undue difficulty, though he had still ducked his head to avoid catching his spikes upon the top of the frame. The foolish humans never built doors large enough to easily accomadate for him. Yet another thing he would have to rectify when he took over. The Imperator nodded as the boy who had so humorously dumped snow upon him explained his power. "You could be of use" The lordly and commanding voice had spoken decisively in response. And indeed the Lord of the Rebellion did believe that was a useful power, the boy would be one to watch as Phoenix was though the pyro was one that was a proven asset, the boy was not yet.

The Imperator's face twisted into a frown as the mutant who resembled a zombie spoke of what he could do. Eating things and healing fast. Bah, that would not be much use, though all could be used in some way. There did have to be pawns to send first after all. The great man did not deign to comment on the zombie's powers and instead simply stood as Phoenix replied to the man. Then someone yelled from outside the safe house screaming "Phoenix" far louder than even tracker had been announcing Imperator's arrival.

Within seconds the spines that protruded from his head flashed brightly and a suit of armor made from the same strange gray crystals engulfed the Lord Imperator's body. Completely featureless with a crown of glowing spines extending from its head the armored Imperator looked like a Lord in truth or at the very least a leader of some kind. The wall exploding fazed the Imperator not in the slightest and the armored man stepped slightly to the side so that tracker was behind him. He was virtually invulnerable, his servant was not. Though as it would seem Phoenix's fire served to stop the force of the blast the Imperator did not even have his armor touched.

When one of the humans began to speak into a radio the Imperator laughed. The sound which had echoed through the alleyway not long ago now sounded mocking and condescending rather than truly mirthful. "Humans and their technology. So pathetic, and all you scum can rely on." A hand rose and then spines atop the great lord Imperator's head flared brightly. Those agents whose hands clutched radios suddenly began to jerk wildly and scream in pain as the radios overloaded themselves and the batteries within discharged every bit of energy at once in a single burst into the men the radio feed to Gallagher's office would dissolve into a mass of static proceeded briefly by screams of pain before it went dead. The glass in street lamps shattered as electrical currents arched out from them to strike several other agents who had happened to be standing near them.

Imperator began to walk slowly towards the men. His crown of spines blazing with light as blades grew from the armor where it covered his arms. "I am Lord, and you are nothing, pitiful scum. BOW! Before the Lord Imperator." The last was screamed in a voice that sounded of command, of tyranny and an insane will.

As the Imperator unleashed some of his power upon the agents the hideous mutant who had accompanied him to the meeting quickly scrambled up and out the window cursing as his hands burnt slightly. "Follow me" the mutant gestured. "We have somewhere hidden as well, and the rest of my lords army waits there. for us."

"Phoenix!"

Isaac jumped at the sudden cry. Another giveaway? He was surprised that the SWAT team hadn't discovered them by now, with all that had been happening. Understandably, Phoenix looked very aggravated at this new development, and Isaac could feel the temperature of the room soar as her temper rose.

"Son of a bitch!" Phoenix roared and shot to her feet. Someone else was failing at the subtlety thing. They had to be blown soon. That was when she heard the fizzle and click of a radio. Phoenix's eyes dilated and her heart sped up. "Everyone, move now!" she screamed and spread her wings out wide forcing them towards the window that was her many entrance.

Isaac barely had time to react to Phoenix's warning. Acting instinctively, he drew all moisture in the room around himself in a protective ball, freezing it into rock hard ice just before a massive explosion rocked the basement apartment. The shock wave from the blast was enough to shatter the ice, but because of the shield, Isaac was largely unhurt from the incident. He remelted the ice, manipulating the liquid into a thin layer on his body. It was time to fight.

"Move now!" Phoenix turned and carefully aimed over the others heads with her uninjured arm and a tiny focused ball of flames grew in her palm. When she released it it slammed into the window with enough force to allow for a quicker exit. "Isaac, cool off the ground or it'll burn you!"

"I know," Isaac replied, freezing the scorched concrete as he leapt nimbly out of what was once the window. The cement cracked under the stress of the temperature change, but the young man hardly had time to notice as his body was hit by two laser sights.

"Hands up, freak," one SWAT officer warned him. "We'll shoot!"

Isaac moved swiftly and surgically, first flooding the men's guns with water, then freezing the liquid rapidly. The expanding material pushed the weapons apart from the inside, rendering them useless. Another wave of officers quickly rushed in, but was pushed back by a large wave of snow. Keeping aware of his surroundings, he rushed off to find Phoenix.

Isaac found Phoenix in the midst of the battle, fending of several SWAT members single-handedly. "Phoenix!" he cried as he reached her, taking out some SWAT of his own. "Watch my back will ya? I can get us some cover, but it will take concentration."

After seeing the window explode in flames, Idelkys sighed and got up from her chair. The inevitable has made it's appearance. Seeing some S.W.A.T members reach the window ahead of the group, Idelkys released her virus into the air, it was over 100 of them, seeing as how she was patiently saving them up. The three stragglers froze in place and dropped their guns. Their bodies started to shake and if their vocal cords weren't the first thing to go, they'd be screaming. After a few seconds their bodies were completely decomposed to a small black pile.

"Good luck escaping..." Idelkys murmured. She flicked her collar of her trench coat, popping it and covering most of her face. She opened the escape hatch and slid down, a short slide, but a painful one either way. Idelkys felt herself stop mid-slide. Her body got stuck in the small tunnel. "This is the exact shit I was talking about." Idelkys cursed, glad this didn't happen with the window. She released some fresh Virus particles and it partially ate away at the metal, letting Idelkys slide completely down into the street. She landed on the sidewalk, a few alleyways from where the S.W.A.T was running to. They didn't notice her yet so Idelkys calmly walked away towards the park, hoping to get lost in the horde of people.

Freak leapt as the explosion rattled the building. "No, no, NO!" He howled, falling to his knees, breath increasing in speed. It's happening again... He cried as he saw flames, fingering the diamond ring that stayed on a chain around his neck. He sobbed as the memories of his mother and father hit him in an instant, giving no time for the mercy of logic. They're dead, dead! It's my fault!

As he blubbered and wailed, a pair of SWAT officers approached, one taller and stockier than the other. The taller looked to the other. "The hell is this?" The other shrugged.

"He's outside of the building...do ya think he's one of them? A freak?"

"Freak?" Freak had turned to see the two, and began scootching away. "No! Get away!" I don't want anyone else dead...I just need to get away... "I don't want...hurt...no more! I want none of it!"

The shorter one nodded. "He's either a mutie or a lunatic; either way, he needs to be out of our way."

The two set upon the boy, intending to immobilize him, but the bigger one fell into a daze...he was abused as a child, and vowed to never do the same to his own children...yet I'm going to beat this boy? The bigger grabbed the smaller one, who was holding down Freak.

"What the hell, Todd?!" The shorter man screamed, pinned against a wall by the bigger one.

"We're not hurting him, John." The bigger spoke somewhat wavering, beginning to doubt if what he was doing was really the best thing.

"Damnit, the freak's got mind powers," he grabbed the bigger one's helemet, shaking it. "Get a hold of yourself, Todd! Don't forget the mission!"

Todd set John down. "Shit," he swore, twirling around to find the boy long gone. "Damnit."

Freak ran with tears in his eyes, not caring where he ran...he didn't look, either, causing him to run into a copper-skinned woman in a white trench coat. The blow caused him to fall back onto his rear, where he sat for a moment, pulling in his legs and rocking himself, hyperventilating. The only words that came out was a long string of "sorry". After a few seconds, logic set in, and Freak calmed down, easing himself up and wiping away the traces of tears, fully noting the woman. He heard a lot about infecting and infections...

After a moment's silence, Freak spoke. "Infection?"

After a minute of slowly walking towards the park, Idelkys heard the alleyway behind her get louder. The S.W.A.T and mutants were making quite a ruckus. She saw people staring at her cautiously but after the latest outburst, their attention and movement went towards the alleyways. Now Idelkys was counting down until the news helicopter came around. Picking up her speed, she started into the park, feeling a rush of relief when there was few people around. Idelkys took the time to stop and stare at some white flower bushes, white was her favorite color, and it never seemed to lose it's purity.

"Oh!" Idelkys squeaked, something rammed into her shoulder. It caused her to stumble on her fine point heels but she soon regained her posture. She was caught off guard, which was very bad in Idelkys case. She turned around to see a young teenager with glasses. He had big brown eyes and was crying, he was probably sixteen or seventeen, but by his demeanor, he could pass for twelve. He was mumbling sorry after sorry while rocking himself back and forth.

After a while he calmed himself, and his brown eyes lifted to meet Idelky's white ones. "Infection?"

Idelkys gasped, how did this kid know her alias? Could it be he is also a mutant? Idelkys glared at the younger male and lowered her body to sit on her bent knees, still a little taller than the boy's sitting height.

"Who are you kid? And where's your parents?"

It took Jecht a while to note the zombie's abilities, digesting anything? A walking junk-yard so to speak, or that was what he thought at least. In the meantime, the so called 'Lord' had entered the building, judging both mutants who so easily gave away their abilities and their downsides. Superb, so what I thought was a random gathering was actually an invitation to start some sort of fighting group. I'll pass. As quickly as he entered, Jecht had left. He wouldn't be of use anyway, following someone wasn't one of his traits and if that Imperator guy was going to 'help' them. Yeah, he'd leave, for now.

It wasn't long after Jecht had left the alleyway behind, a large explosion originated right behind him. Obviously the ones who did that weren't just neighbours to ask for a cup of sugar. "And this is where I can safely assume I have stayed here for far too long." Not wanting to become one of the S.W.A.T.'s little pets, Jecht set it up for a run, which for him, was quite easy. Too bad two their members had already spotted his presence...

The safest spot to get rid of his chasers, was perhaps, where he started his day. 'The Park'. "Aaron, he is heading for the park, we need reinforcements to corner him there.", "Roger that Seth!" Jecht didn't hear anything further, he just needed to shake them off was all, and possibly if needed... to kill them. Passing human civilians would run off into a corner, frightened from the chase itself. They clearly knew what the two armed men were hunting, and some of them yelled 'Shoot the damned Freak!'.

"I am not going to make a silent comeback in the park, obviously they are going to ambush me there with a zillion other men." Without further hesitating, Jecht ran into the nearest alleyway, the two S.W.A.T. members foolishly following him. "This alleyway is a dead end, we got him cornered!" But little did they know, Jecht lead them in the alleyway intentionally. "Nobody watching, good..." Immediately he stopped dead in his tracks, reaching for a metal pipe that lay on the ground. "Do you really think you can take us freak?" The voice cracked from behind Jecht, yet he did not respond, he only glared at the man. Suddenly his hand started emitting the black flame, the ritual symbol shining on the top of his hand as the metal pipe from around his hand, making a metal glove. To finish it, a sharp spike grew along the length of Jecht's arm, a blade.

"If you dare, shoot me now. Because I won't surrender just like that.", "It is your funeral kid." The two men foolishly aimed their rifles at the boy, bullets bouncing of the walls behind the mutant. "I-Impossible! It was a perfect hit! W-Wait, how'd you do that?!" Jecht just smiled, kicking his feet off the ground as he jumped behind one of the man, slashing the unlucky human in his back. "Ahh!", "You shouldn't cry, I only gave you a simple cut." The two S.W.A.T. members were cornered themselves now. "Who the hell are you!" the other men demanded, but his answer was given from his team mate. "The records aren't there to prove it, as he isn't a large threat. But... I think this is Spectre, a kid who kills without getting seen by his victims." Jecht raised an eyebrow, laughing at the stupid explanation of his name.

"So that's the reason why you choose that name. I was already starting to wonder, why would they name me Spectre? Surely they could come up with a better name. But now I see, you guys really have a lot of imagination." Without further delay, Jecht charged at the injured member, this time a more fatal blow. "Shooting me was a bad idea, I don't like to be shot even though the bullets will miss me anyway." He was too busy killing the man, that his team mate had the time to leap from behind and force Jecht to the ground. "You cursed freak! You'll pay for that! I will make sure you imprisonment will be hell! Jecht didn't try to squirm, wouldn't help one bit anyway. Now if only his luck worked like wishing for an anvil to drop on the damned S.W.A.T. member's head...

Needless to say, the attack caught Spook off guard. If it weren't for the shields provided by several other Mutants then he'd have been torn to pieces. His face lit up when he saw who was attacking, but the man that Spook was looking for was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. Typical. He was always one to stay away from the fighting while others did his dirty work. There were too many soldiers for Spook to handle, so he just launched himself through the escape route thoughtfully provided by Phoenix. When he hit the ground he didn't get up and walk like a normal person would. Instead, he just leaped from place to place like a flea. In all fairness, this was much faster than walking, and it even contributed to his reputation of being downright scary.

With his mind concentrating on the possibility of revenge to be had later on, Spook didn't notice the two people until he landed on them by accident. Scrambling to his feet, he saw that one of them was one of the Mutants who escaped from the safe house when it was attacked. He looked at both of them for a long while before finally saying something to the female.

"Friend of yours?"

Infection gasped as Freak called her as such, giving the boy a glare as she asked who he was and where his parents were.

At the mention of his parents, Freak unwittingly whimpered, the memories flooding back in. This time, however, the memories escaped from his own mind to that of anyone in his presence...which, at the moment, included Infection. He quickly, calmed down, opting to say nothing more on the matter, but began to play with the ring around his neck.

"I-I'm Freak," he told her, then quickly shook his head. "No, no! I mean, Frank. Wait!" Scratching his head, he began to debate whether he was "Frank" or "Freak".

The debate ended suddenly as a zombie-like figure landed atop of him. He gave a yelp and scootched back, but calmed as he realized it was another Mutant. Looking up to the gray figure, he asked, "Spook?" He gave a moment, then giggled as he understood the name. "Oh, I get it. Spook. Ha."

Idelkys was overwhelmed with memories...Memories of fire and a terrible stench. It was akin to the scent of burning skin...If Idelkys wasn't mistaken, it was exactly the scent of burning skin. Books, clothes, everything...burned to tatters or ashes. Idelkys was missing something, her parents were gone. And for some reason, her vision was blurred, as if through tears. She wanted to know where her parents were, why she was crying, and why everything was burning. Suddenly she was jerked back into reality, breathing for the first time in what seemed to be forever.

"Jesus kid. Was that your memories?" Idelkys said in a rush, breathing roughly. She held her head with one hand, staring hard at the ground. She remembered the face of her mother, Marjolaine, her soft green eyes, and smooth skin. Not a burning dress over a charred skeleton. "You did that to your parents?" Idelkys accused, wondering what could have made this kid have such macabre recollections. He had some kind of mental powers and maybe another power that dealt with fire.

The boy began playing with a ring around his neck and said he was Freak. And then Frank. He went back in forth between the names, but Idelkys ignored him. She liked Freak better, it was an accurate description. Before she could speak again she was bowled over by a linky man. The man was laid out over Idelkys with his legs over Freak, and it took awhile but Idelkys finally remembered where she had last seen this weird man. He was the one who was mixed up with camera man, and now that Idelkys thought about it, she wondered what happened to him.

Idelkys felt slight movement, and remembered that the man was still on top of her. It was a while before a man was on top of Idelkys like this, and it brought back a lot of memories from her childhood. Thankfully the man got up, liberating Idelkys from being directly on her back, a position that made her feel like an overturned turtle. The creepy man asked if the kid was a friend of Idelkys, and Idelkys wasn't quite sure how to answer him. Idelkys saw something in the bushes as she was trying to get back up. The slight movement was strange but very familiar. It was a spy. Still not fully up from her turtle shell back, Idelkys rolled over and stuck her hands in the bushes, grabbing an ankle. The man shot up from his crouching spot, giving away his position. It was a lone member of S.W.A.T, with a radio in his hands, trying to be a hero.

"Anything last words before I kill you?" Idelkys snarled in a menacing glare. The S.W.A.T member started to shake and in a violent attempt to scream, his mouth flew open. Idelkys was impressed, normally humans couldn't move when her virus was killing them. After holding on to the slowly decomposing man, Idelkys let go of his ankle, letting it disintegrate into the air.

Finally, Idelkys rolled over with the momentum to be on her stomach, allowing for her to push herself up and stand. Wiping her trench coat off, Idelkys nodded at the two males, signifying it was safe. She almost gave them air purifiers, but remembered how long she was standing next to the bushes, the purifiers wouldn't work. In the 7 foot area, it was already viral with her mist. It would dissipate when Idelkys left the area, but for now, whoever stepped into it couldn't be purified.

"Hopefully our spy didn't give away our position yet."

There was a lot happening all at once. Mutants scattering, fighting. Humans screaming, attacking, running. It was a lot to handle but at the moment Phoenix's only goal was to get as many out safely as she could. The large Mutant, Imperator did some damage taking out several men who had a radio on them. His little nasally follower was calling for many of them to follow him to a safe place. Which at the moment was a good idea but for all of them to go wouldn't be a great idea. "Phoenix!" Without looking she heard the rush of water and the shifting of snow signaling Isaac was making his way over doing some damage. "Watch my back will ya? I can get us some cover, but it will take concentration." Turning to face him, Phoenix threw her arm out just over his left shoulder and a blast of fire took out an agent coming at his back.

"I'll do what I can, but we need to get out of here now." Phoenix turned and summoned a right of fire around them to give them some more protection and made it easier for Phoenix to strike out rapidly but not as powerfully. "Listen! Clear the area! Follow Imperator's guy if you want protection! Get out of here now!" she bellowed again. As she spoke more and more men came rushing in. It was amazing just home many there were. Spinning around playing Isaac's defense, Phoenix saw that the tall woman vanished, Spook made an exit as well. The man with white hair, Jecht seemed to slip away also. Everyone seemed to be clearing out quickly enough. "Imperator, go. I'll get Isaac out of here. We've got this."

Giving cover to all of the fleeing Mutants. "Alright Isaac. Tell me when then I'm getting us the hell out of here. I hope you aren't afraid of heights." As she spoke Phoenix back up close to him her wings out wide shielding him from attack and her arms out controlling the ring of fire, launching fire balls and whips at a twitch of a finger.

"Alright Isaac. Tell me when then I'm getting us the hell out of here. I hope you aren't afraid of heights." As she spoke Phoenix back up close to him her wings out wide shielding him from attack and her arms out controlling the ring of fire, launching fire balls and whips at a twitch of a finger.

Isaac nodded, his fingers fiddling with apprehension. He had created fog before, but always from a nearby water source, and Lake Erie was a mile away at the least. He could use the snow, but that would leave him practically helpless as he and Phoenix were escaping. Clearly, his only option was in the sky.

Sitting down in a meditative position, Isaac closed his eyes and concentrated. Although he was inside the apartment building, he could still faintly sense the thick, grey blanket of clouds that floated miles above the city of buffalo. Isaac tried to summon it towards him, but in vain. The mist seemed to defy him, laying just out of his reach. Come on, you have to make this work? Isaac thought, mentally slapping himself. [/i]It's our only chance of escape.[/i] Taking a deep breath, Isaac tried again. He could once again feel the clouds there, and he strained to get a hold of them, but alas, he could not. In a last- ditch effort, Isaac gathered all of the willpower he could muster and reached out once more, his body shaking slightly from the mental strain.

Almost there... just a bit more... GOT IT!!! The cloud mass, or at least part of it, was under Isaac's control. Almost immediately, the thick mist began shooting down to earth, forming a funnel that looked terrifyingly like a tornado. After a few minutes, the cloud reached ground level and spread out, shooting through the nearby streets and alleys of Buffalo. Once a significant area was obscured, Isaac released control, collapsing to the ground out of fatigue.

"I did it," he coughed, pushing himself up to his feet. "I've covered the nearby streets in fog. That should be a good enough cover for everyone to escape. Get us out of here."