Present Day Philly

The machine dropped it's rifle back onto it's gun rack as Phoenix started soaring towards it. It raised it's arms and the two nylon net pistols flicked from their protective coverings, one in each arm. Phoenix was definitely close enough for the machines initial attack. The MARK platform had been fitted specifically to capture Phoenix, and since Phoenix had super-sensitive hearing and eyesight it had devices on it to overload her senses. A wail beyond the range of human hearing began to scream through Phoenixes ears like a thousand wails of the damned. If that didn't give her a headache right away a tremendously bright flash of light exploding in her eyes from a smaller light under the MARK's optical sensor probably would.

This hopefully blinded and deafened her sufficiently for the robot to make it's next move without fear of Phoenix dodging. The machine waited until she was close to fire one of the nylon nets at her to bind her wings as well as generally tangle her up. The machine waited because firing like he just did would make her trajectory falling practically into the machines waiting arms. Though now there was the second mutant to deal with. An arc of lightning shot from one of the tazer ports around the MARK's 'hood' towards Imp after a brief fizzling noise of the tazer charging. Several more fizzling noises were heard forbearing more electric shocks while the AI platform caught Phoenix, provided she stayed on her original course. If it did catch her it would stick her with a small tranquilizer dart from it's torso-mounted tranq launchers and then dump her on the ground underneath it's four legs so it could focus on Imp.

A fucking robot. There is no room for a human to control it. This thing is a full fledged robot, Phoenix locked her jaw as she flew right at the tin can, her heart racing, her wing beginning to hurt more the harder she beat her wing. Behind her Phoenix heard Imp right on her tail but just above her. It was to late now for him to turn when they were this close to the thing. Both hands were flaming and ready to strike. Her eyes locked on the robot, she watched the rifle slide back then a noise so great Phoenix's entire body went stiff from the pain of this noise, all of the air rushed out of her as if she were just sucker punched by a freight train. Not even a heart beat later a bright flash of light blinded her, everything went white and a searing pain hit her eyes and a headache so fierce the fire faded from her fists.

Blind and deaf, Phoenix could feel herself beginning to fall, her body wasn't responding due to the overload of noise and light. Then she felt something wrap itself around her body tightly, but not to strangle her. Her wings were forced against her back, her injured one protesting but there was no choice in the matter. Then her fall stopped and she began to raise up slowly. No.

"No!" She cried and fire exploded from around her as if she were a ticking bomb. The wave of fire expanded an easy 7 meters around her, any of the buildings being struck fractured, windows shattered and some of the interiors were set a flame. If she were lucky she would hit the tin can, but also Imp was right on her tail, hopefully he was able to get out of the way. But that was all Phoenix had, her sensed were overwhelmed to the point she couldn't properly control her fire, and that blast didn't even harm this stuff wrapped around her. Didn't weaken at all.

(disregard this post)

Imp was in thrill mode, adrenaline pumping though his entire body as he followed Phoenix into a dangerous situation. His green eyes filled with anticipation for a rematch against this hunk of metal, he didn't like it when he lost at his own games. Imp prepared to dive down at the robot, but changed plans as the near future rushed pasted him. Instantly he closed his eyes and moved his fingers to close his ears. Even with his notice he couldn't block out all the effects. His ears ring he opened his eyes to be greeted by another glimpse. With one powerful flap of his scarlet wings he shot skyward, the tazer bolts whizzed below him. With a elegant areal flip Imp altered his course for Phoenix as the nylon net entangled her.
A blast of red fire, however forced him to his wings and dive towards the ground. Even still he felt the sheer intensity of the fire on his back. Snapping his wings open he braked, flipped and kicked off the ground, rocketed back up from the ground. Phoenix was falling right for the robot, unable to remove her bonds. Sticking within feet of the wall moving rapidly, imp prepared to strike the robot with his blade like claws.

[Brief clarification. I decided that it was logical for Shades attack to be negated seeing as wherever he would be kicking the 1.2 ton machine it would probably not fall over unless it were using it's treads for treads and he hit it on it's side to tip it over. But it was using it's four treads as legs. Four points of stability and a lot of surface area between the ends of the legs and the top of the roof of which the machine is not RIGHT on the edge of. That and LiveWire's post would entail the MARK still being on the roof. Thanks for understanding my reasoning (This also raises the tension of trying to beat something that is immensely difficult to beat! Huzzah for plotstuffs!)]

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The MARK just stood where it was when Phoenix released her monstrous blast of flame close to it. Several fire-retardant covers flicked over exposed sensors or other pieces of the machine that could be damaged by the flames. But the moment the flames went away the covers retracted. The machine hissed a little and had a soft glow from having all of it's parts heated like they just were. Phoenix dropped into the robots arms and it was going to tranquilize her but it's sensors lit up with a new presence that had appeared from nowhere. The robot 'felt' something collide with it's back, Shade would be rewarded with scooting the machine very slightly. It's torso had locked at the last moment to keep it's top from moving from the kick, after all the machine knew that the attackers ankle would suffer more damage then itself. Although the damage that was inflicted was a dent in the rocket drone on it's back.

It dropped Phoenix knowing that even while awake, she wouldn't pose much of a problem in the razor-net. The machines torso unlocked and whirled while it's each of it's arms made rapid 'whatch-clack' sound. Two gleaming blades shone in the light of the burning buildings. The circular blades were about 1.5 feet long each and extended from the MARK's forearms. This doubled as a distraction and a preparation for close combat. While the blades came out the machine had charged one of it's four arc launchers and fired it at shade. The tazers were soon firing about twice every second in rapid succession and to avoid one would have to keep moving or just vanish all together.

Now the machine sensed a second presence behind it. Before it could turn though Imp had slid his razor-sharp claws into the relatively thin metal of the rocket drones rocket making the volatile fluid spill out onto the roof and likely onto (or very close to) Phoenix. It's arms did a full 360 degree turn to strike at Imp as he flew within striking range and if he did manage to sail over the machine without getting cut. It locked one of it's arms as it was coming back around and launched one of the nylon nets at Imp. The MARK only had two more left now. But if each net sailed true in the next few actions. That would be all it needed.

Paradox only realized that Steven's weapon was not a conventional gun a single moment before reaching his forehead. Tasers... in general, they only cause pain and do not kill. 'Thats why I hate agents: they always come with something new just to burst my bubble'. Paradox decided to abort his previous plan. But, being already on the edge of reaching that man's forehead, he would still proceed for a second more. Moving swiftly, the mutant managed to touch Steven's forehead only for a split of a second. With a confident smile, he still had time to say a single word to Gallagher: "Done"

And Steven shot as Paradox vanished. So simultaneously that it would be impossible know whether the agent hit the mutant or not.
And Bud's music started to play...


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Paradox appeared at his apartment. He was now in the same position as his other self would be. Sitting in the sofa as if he was watching TV. Unwounded and without that insane shine in his eyes anymore.

As Imp came up behind the machine, his razor nails connected. Slicing satisfactorily through the metal of the rocket drone. He hadn't done any real damage, but just the fact he had made contact, causing some form of damage, was a starting accomplishment. Some things just had to be taken one small step at a time. His green eyes captured the movements of the robot, predicting the actions it would make. He was skilled, even without his futrue glimpse, in gauging actions by watching subtle movements.
A grin split Imp's face and his wings shot open, flipping backwards he avoided the blades that he had already once met. In the next instant a vision gave him the information he needed. Flapping his great, feathered wings he pushed upwards. As the nylon net shot from the robot Imp twisted his body, arching upwards, barely avoiding the net as it whipped through the air. Taking advantage of his position, Imp spun straight and nose dived for the machine, claws hoping to connect, but also ready to defend against the sharp crescent blades.

Mostly blind and currently totally deaf Phoenix could only lay in a heap on the cold concrete while the blurry images flashed around her. "Just go!" Phoenix didn't know if she were speaking or not. She could feel her vocal chords vibrating but she couldn't hear her own voice. It was frustrating, and even more so as she knew she was caught and Imp was going to get himself hurt again. "Get out of here! Be able to fight again! Go!" Still, she could hear nothing. Lifting her left arm she shot a blast of fire at the machine but also at the blurry flying figure in the sky she assumed was Imp. "Go! To the other hide out!"

Phoenix felt the net was loser around her, but still tangled tightly around most of her limbs making it impossible for her to fly, especially with the current state of her right wing. Heart pumping, Phoenix couldn't make anything out. she could see the large robot from hell standing over her, and she still didn't have enough control over her power to really attack it. She was useless. Just a heap on the ground, and others risking their necks for her. "Run!" she called again and tried to throw another wave.

The next thing she felt was a stinging pain in her right side then a warm feeling began to spread over her, her body slowly going numb and things started to turn dark again. Then everything went dark.

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Steven froze after the thing touched his brow, then he was gone. Glancing around Steven swore and curled his lip. Tapping his com three times he put himself linked directly to MARK, "Report," he growled hoping to get some better news than what was going on inside the Agency.

The MARK platform tilted it's eye up towards the flying mutant barreling down towards it. A message came in from agent Gallagher and the machine gargled out a message for two seconds. This message contained a brief synopsis of the situation as well as a quick video from the robots eye.

More pressing than long text messages and videos though, was Imp soaring down towards the machine, razor-sharp claws bared. There was a soft 'whoosh' that turned into a 'FWOOSH' as the rocket fuel on the ground on and around Phoenix lit up. A moment later the machine's sensors were squealing at it and it shut all of it's protective coverings. Imp would see a blaze of fire on the ground that rushed up the stream that was dribbling from the MARK's back, there was a hissing and slamming noise as the spikes in the machines legs rammed into the roof. And then the fire entered the rocket drone.

With a loud explosion the machine and most of the roof was engulfed in flames. A large hole had been blown in the back of the machine but it had not moved from it's spot due to being rooted in place. With another hiss and thud the spikes withdrew back into it's legs and with the whir of straining and damaged machinery it turned towards Imp who had likely been blown back from the explosion. There was a crunching crack kind of a noise and the machine dipped a little bit. It turned it's eye towards the roof and it cracked and split again and with a cacophony of crunches and snaps, the roof under the machine, and under Phoenix caved in and they fell into the conflagrating building.

There was now no noise accept for the sound of fire eating up the structure.

This will be fun, Merel thought in cruel amusement as she accompanied the Professor to his next class. All the students were mundanes, no mutants. Everyone thought she was a real tiger... Hn, this will be very entertaining... she grinned, showing off her fanged teeth and the nearest students cringed, just a bit.

Merel yawned, being sure to open her maw as wide as it would go- giving the skittish students a good view of he teeth. Following the Professor she unsheathed her claws so that they clacked on the tiled floors and deepedned her purr so that it sounded even closer to a growl than it did previously. All in all, she created a menacing picture and had thoroughly enjoyed the terror she struck into the hearts of the students, especially as she did nothing that could constitute a punishment from the Professor, after all, she hadn't put anyone in danger- either by attacking the students or revealing the mutants.

Before Imp could reach his target his keen eyes flicked to the sudden burst of flame. Things where about to get extremely dangerous, a thrill well worth the risk. As the flame devoured the black fuel, tearing it's way swiftly up to the source. Krin had to take action swiftly, the explosion would come in a matter of seconds. Glancing once at Phoenix, verifying he position he acted. One of his large, feathered wings show out, forcing a swift change in direction. Then curling his wings around his body the explosion rang through his ears. He felt as wave of heat singe some of his feathers as he plummeted beyond the roof's edge.
Feeling the cooler air rustle his feathers he opened his wings with a powerful flap. Fire was absolutely everywhere. Nearly everything within the entire block was spewing fire from some place or another. In the flickering light of the hungry flames he rose back above the rooftop.
Moment's later the building beneath the machine and Phoenix was crumbling. It quickly gave way, vanishing in a flurry of sparks, swallowed into an inferno. Imp narrowed his eyes and stared down into the blazing building. It was impossible to see what was inside through the red tongues of fire, tendrils of smoke, and the distortion of heat.
It's simply for the thrills. He told himself, licking his lips. I don't care about her, nor do I owe her. He reassured himself. Then he set his jaw and his eyes lit with determined energy. Taking one last breath of, semi-clear, air he folded his wings to his back, plummeting to the gaping mouth of hell.

The Professor cast a disapproving glance at Merel, but otherwise made no attempt to dissuade her. He wrote several equations on the board and explained their relevance to the lesson. He could tell that he was getting nowhere, however, when after fifteen minutes his smartest student raised her hand.

"Yes Lexi?" he asked.

"Is that a real tiger? And if so, why do you have it at school?" With a sigh, the Professor ruffled Merel's fur and shooed her out of the room. "Go apologize to Anna. You could have hurt her feelings. We need to be in this together if we are to survive," he whispered to her. When she left, he shut the door and picked up his dry-erase marker. All the students sighed. The Professor wasn't the most exciting teacher in the school, and for good reason.

Bugger. Well, there goes my source of entertainment. Merel thought as she glared at the Professor for insinuating that she even remotely cared for the feelings of Anna, or most others really. It was fun while it lasted at least, and I can always make a repeat appearance in random places on the campus. Hn... Merel decided that it was better than being within ten feet of Anna, The bloody bint!, none the less apologising to her!

Besides, she was bored anyhow. The Professor should know by now, I take to cruel and downright mean endevors when I'm bored. So it's not my fault so much as it is his... And with that she was off, swiftly shifting her DNA slightly so that she was only a bit abnormally large and fearsome...

The building burned brightly around Imp and Phoenix. Chunks of plaster and wood fell from the upper floors. The heat was stifling and it hurt just to breathe. It was becoming impossible to see due to the smoke that was billowing up from the flames but there wasn't enough to cause virtual blindness at this point. Imp would likely find Phoenix unconscious on the burning carpet probably burning a bit herself from the flames around her and the rocket fuel that was on her body. [If she isn't a half-smoldering skeleton at this point. I certainly hope not.]

Imp would find her without too much trouble but that wasn't the problem. The problem was the loud angry snarling/gargling/robot sound accompanied by a tall silhouette rising up several feet away. It turned with the methodical noises that came with straining machinery. It was nothing but a silhouette with one bright glowing red dot in the middle of it's "face" at this point. It made another grating snarl-type noise as it re-activated several of it's systems and accessed it's connection with agent Gallagher and with resounding crushing noises it began to walk methodically towards Imp and Phoenix. It's arm-blades gleamed in the firelight and it's arc launchers were already charging up to fire where Imp was and where the machine predicted he would be given the data it had collected on him.

A large blazing wooden beam crashed down behind the robot sending up a shower of blazing sparks. A very imposing effect. With a crackle of lightning passing through air the arc launchers fired at Imp while the machine continued trudging towards Phoenix.

While Merel was turning one of the corners of the campus building something, or someone, ran into her. With a thud of bodies hitting hard tile floors a rather missmatchingly-dressed man tripped over the large tiger possibly startling both participants in the collision. There was a clattering noise as whatever the man was carrying or holding fell and spilled out all over the floor. It was in fact a small collection of newspapers, the mans glasses, an empty pepper grinder, and a few writing utensils. He immediately sat up as though he had not just tripped over a large tiger walking through a school and started to grope about for his spectacles. Upon finding them he put them on, looked at the mess and got a very very upset look on his face.

"No. . . no no no! They're everywhere! All of the evidiences, the papers, the squares, the pyramids, pyramids are triangular just like a prism. A prism is a three dimensional geometric shape but how is that possible when it is also created by Issac newton and reflects light across all the corners of the world and these newspapers." He started to wring his gloved hands and look at the mess worriedly rather than start cleaning it up. He started to rock back and forth beginning to breathe heavily. It looked like he was about to cry.

"So many people need those newspapers, all those corners, all those worlds that exist inside people. Bacterial cultures, microchips, nanites, all those little little things moving about everywhere. Solipsism? I wonder if it exists, yes it exists, in all those newspapers, all those worlds need to see that they aren't the only ones that there's other worlds out there so that they know that solipsism doesn't exist in their mind but only in their desks and video tapes." He mumbled then looked at the pepper grinder. He almost lunged at it and picked it up, putting it to his ear he started to twist it and that seemed to calm him down a bit.

Though she disliked mundanes greatly, she disliked rudeness even more, unless she got to know the person and still din't like them. And so, while the man who had tripped over her went through his spaz atack, she started to shuffle the papers around, nudging them into one pile with her massive paws. Quickly though she started to get annoyed with the fact that tigers had no opposible thumbs and therefore couldn't pick things up except with their mouths. However, she perservered and by the time she had finished the man had decided to grind pepper.

Intrigued by him, she always did have an unhealthy interest in the mentally 'unwell', and picked up the stack of papers carefully in her mouth and padded over to the man, sitting beside him, waiting for him to notice there was a tiger helping him. That ought to be fun, And if he turns out to be one of those crazies who accept almost everything as normal, including random tigers I suppose, he just ought to be that much more intriguing... Unfortunately, patience had never been a virtue Merel claimed, and her nerves were slowly but surely being worn thin by the intense smell of pepper left over from the grinder along with the terrible sound of gears trying to crush something that isn't there.

Feathers all over Imp's wings exploded into flames, but Imp didn't mind that. His mind was focused on how fast his heart was pumping the adrenaline through his body. He came to a landing amidst the flames and the smoke. His keen eyes quickly scanning the area, though the plumes of raging flames and the ever increasing gray clouds. It only took him a moment to spot Phoenix, wrapped tightly int he nylon net, by a swiftly blackening rug. He moved to her side with one flap of his crimson wings, sending sparks flying in his wake. He started to lean down to scoop up Phoenix's burning body. But he was distracted by the screeching squeal of straining machinery and a tall silhouette rose from the flames. His heart started racing so fast, Imp was surprised it didn't pop right out of his chest. The sounds that came from it reminded him of a trapped wild animal then it started crunching it's way towards him and Phoenix.
Imp didn't want to face off with the metal monster, especially, in a burning building. Reacting swiftly to the imposing figure, made more so by a crashing beam, he scooped up Phoenix and kicked off into the air with a flap of his red wings. Even with a flash of events playing past his eyes he couldn't respond properly in the labyrinth of flames, he was hit square in the back. A cry of shock tore from Imp's throat and he crashed to the floor, dropping Phoenix in he process. His wings brushed a tower of flames. They eagerly leapt to the flammable wings consuming them completely in a burst of bright flame before dying into smoldering ashes. Imp cursed and tried to move his stunned body while keeping his green eyes on the approaching robot though the sparks and smoke.

(sorry writers block sucks and I couldn't figure out what to do since paradox just vanished and left all of us agents high and dry haha. So sorry for such a short post I promise it won't happen again.)
Bud abbott would turn the corner and see no Mutant freak so he quickly turned his music off and looked around. Bud took his helmet off and looked at everyone "What the hell happened here?" he asked.

The person who had tripped over Merel blinked and stopped turning the empty pepper grinder when the papers were re-sorted and stacked relatively neatly again. He looked at them and then gathered up the rest of his things into his satchel and picked up the newspapers and seemed to now finally catch sight of the large tiger staring him in the face. He adjusted his glasses and rubbed his eye and then spoke.

"Hello. You're name is Merel right? That's what I saw. I saw you talking to me with your brain and you said you were Merel." He said focusing on her but his speech was odd. Slurred and disjointed and while he was indeed focusing on her it didn't seem that way. He seemed sort of fidgety, noted in the way he continued to turn the pepper grinder and when he finally put that away he started to wring his hands together.

"Yo-you're not a tiger though. Cause you can talk with your brain. Mine brain is special. Can you do anything special? Cause you're not a tiger really so you have to do something special otherwise you wouldn't be a tiger." He seemed to have forgotten about his extremely vital delivery of the newspapers.

The relentless machine made another strained snarl as it struggled to release data out to it's main database back at 'home' and to agent Gallagher that the apprehension of Phoenix was near at hand and possibly another Mutant as well. With the continual resounding crunches of hundreds of pounds of metal crushing wood and cement and the other things underfoot, the robot made it's way to Phoenix and Imp. Whenever Imp made a movement that hinted at getting up, the machine pumped another arc into him to keep him incapacitated.

Doom seemed inevitable at this point as the robot was pretty much on top of them now. It raised one of it's arms at Imp. It gleamed darkly against the fire as a small pistol-like object popped out. With a soft click, a net shot out to entangle the poor, stunned mutant and then started to launch another few arcs into Imp to keep him stunned or possibly make him unconscious. However the situation turned out, it reached down to pick them both up and toss them through the door a little ways off. It then smashed through the aperture itself and picked them up again. Folding it's legs into treads again it started to motor away. Giving off a quick last transmission.

"Mutants incapacitated and captured. Returning to AIRS. Severe damage sustained. Mission outcome: Success."



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Now it's hard to describe the way that the MARK talks and gargles so here is a reference video of my inspiration and some of the sounds the MARK makes.
WARNING: If you ever plan on playing mass effect or mass effect 2 by BioWare. Do not watch this entire video! It contains spoilers! Or if you do plan on playing the game, make sure you forget about this video.

Hn, not a mundane then. I suppose you're all right. And you are correct, I am not a tiger. Merel spoke-thought into the fidgety man's mind, seemingly nonplussed, if not amused, at the current situation. Merel quickly scanned the area, making sure that no one could see her before locking eyes with the man.

Your name would be? Merel spoke once more, shifting into a nightingale and flying up to his shoulder, alighting softly before he had much time to reply. So, why were you running so fast that you didn't see an overly large, bright orange tiger in your path? If birds could smirk one would be clear on Merel's face, though it was plain enough to hear in her tone.

Imp fought the paralysis, stiffly, slowly he started to push himself from the ground. He didn't want to go down like this. But before he could even get his torso a foot off the ground he felt another shock roll over him, stunning him. He collapsed back to the floor, only to try again. Each time rewarded with another arc, finding himself back on the floor. If I could only move. Imp thought, heart racing faster than it had in a very long time, as the robot drew closer and closer. But Imp wasn't given the opportunity to take action and soon the imposing machine towered over his struggling body.
Imp continued to fight against the effects of the arc shots, but his eyes, tinged with fear, where locked on the robot as it raised an arm. A scene flashed past his eyes but there was nothing he could do. He was already breathing heavily from struggling so much and his body still wasn't responding well. Then Imp heard a soft click and the, unavoidable net, leapt on him like a predator to prey. As the net entangled his limbs, crushing his ashy, bone wings to his back, he wasn't given the chance to struggle as a volley of arc shots followed after. His vision was starting to fade and his body was completely paralyzed. He looked up at the metal monster, dancing flames reflected on the metal and for the first time in a very long time, Imp was scared. Finally everything went dark and Imp lost consciousness.

(Sorry this took me so long guys. But you were doing well and I didn't really have anything to put.)

Steven paced around, the entire building was in an uproar. Well, the Agency part of it anyway. Things were getting out of hand, and he still hadn't hear back from MARK. Sitting down in his large chair, Steven leaned back and raised his scarred hand to run it over his scarred face in frustration. He hand Agent's everywhere trying to get order again after that strange encounter with the Mutant that was deep inside the Agents walls. "God damn freaks. They come out of no where," he mumbled and slammed his left hand down hard onto the arm of his chair. "And where the fuck is MARK!"

As if on cue, his com came on, and her heard MARK's gritty and robotic voice. "Mutants incapacitated and captured. Returning to AIRS. Severe damage sustained. Mission outcome: Success." It was almost to good to be true. The damned AI worked and damaged as it sounded. It had Phoenix. Only a moment later Stalker was on his feet and almost running down the halls as if he were a kid on Christmas.

"All available units, prepare for the arrival of MARK and 2 mutant. Phoenix is one. Prepare The Room." Steven didn't think he'd ever get to use the specially developed room to contain Phoenix. He always thought he'd have to kill the bitch and he'd never have his chance to slowly take care of her. But he has. He is alive and the flaming bitch was in his hands. It took some time, but the beaten and burnt MARK rolled in. Phoenix herself was badly burnt. Her right wing was clearly broken, several cuts and lacerations covered her body, her clothing torn and burnt to bits. Despite all that, she slept peacefully. Steven was sure any human would either be screaming in agony, catatonic or dead. But she slept as if nothing were really wrong. The other figure wasn't so at peace. "Bandage them. Set any broken bones, then contain them."

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She didn't know how much time had passes. She had no idea, but the last thing she remembered was falling with the robot standing over her. Then blackness. Opening her bright red eyes slowly, weakly, Phoenix felt that her body ached, but nothing horrid, although her right wing she could feel was bound to her body. Actually, so was her left. Her eyes snapped open and Phoenix found that she was floating in the middle of strange green liquid. And odder still, she was breathing it. Her lungs felt strange, but she was in fact breathing.

Everything she looked at had a deep green tint to it. Phoenix tried to lift her right arm but it only moved about 4 inches then it stopped. Her arms, legs and wings were all bound so that she have very limited movement. Panic began to set in as she realized that the robot had completed its mission. Phoenix was captured. And she had a distinct feeling there was not way she could generate any fire in this stuff. And it would be simple to kill her in here too. Looking around outside of her holding container, she saw the scarred asshole himself. Steven.

Imp stirred and cracked his eyes open. Through the narrow slit his green eyes quickly realized that he didn't know where he was. His eyes shot open and at the same time the earlier events rushed back to him. He had been captured. His shenanigans had finally caught up to him. In a rush of fearful adrenaline, he tried to leap to his feet but he found himself bond and unable to complete the action. He squirmed against his bonds with vigor, green eyes scanning is prison for anything that could help.
His burns and other injuries had completely healed, the only thing that remained unfixed were his wings. A blackened skeletal frame that was also bond to his body. He twisted his hand painfully to get at one of the cords that bound him. At the same time his wings strained to get free. His mind raced with ideas for his escape, starting with what kind of wings would be the most helpful. With that though his imagination took over and his wings began to change swiftly. The expanded, bones becoming larger and harder and filling out with a thick black leathery skin. The cords were now straining to hold his wings. As a finishing touch, sharp bones, slightly curved, shot out along the frame of his wings. Like razors they sliced at the cord until it was no longer strong enough to hold back his massive wings.
Cords snapped and fell around him. Unfortunately that didn't totally free him, only his wings. His sharp claws worked at the remaining bonds. In the meantime he flapped his large, intimidating wings wildly seemingly without purpose.

Previously on Evolved, Paradox entered in the AIRS and did not fought the agents. He was left resting safely at his home.

During his whole life, Paradox's purpose of existence was nothing but existing without a purpose. But, a single month before the present day, he realized that, to exist without a purpose, one should leave behind even the purpose of existing without a purpose. Due to that, Paradox decided, after much reflection, to find a new aspiration to his life.

At first, he determined to devote the rest of his days in revenge for the brutal murder of his parents. But, for his pure disappointment, Paradox realized that he didnt recalled anything about his parents anymore, so he could not know whether they were brutally murdered or not. Probably they were not... After this analizys, a thousand other proposition came to his mind. Some too boring, others too difficult, others too unreal: None seemed to be appropriate. Finally, after even more reflection, Paradox decided to leave this matter outstanding.


And it remained abandoned until the present day. But while storming the AIRS, the insane Paradox acknowledged something that a lucid Paradox would never percieve alone: He could dedicate the rest of his life to the mutant cause! That revealed to be something not only appropriate (since he is mutant), but also ammusing.

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Having this determined, Paradox now only needed to find those mutants. That should not prove to be difficult at all. Being such a drifter (at four different realities) he met many people and heard many rumors. Paradox once heard about a 'Professor' who was gathering mutants. Well, Professors are best found at universities, so there would Paradox search first.

After opening a new Crossroads, each of the four Paradoxes (at their respective realities) left their apartaments and would head towards a different university. But at this point Paradox encountered another problem: Since he still didnt fixed his motorcycle (not the one in which he stormed the AIRs, that did not belonged to him), he needed to find another vehicle.

Since the four realities were still synchronized, the following events happened at them all.
"Ah, Hello Emílio! It is a pleasant day isnt it?" A gardening neighbor warmly greeted Paradox. "Indeed Ned, indeed..." the mutant answered a bit distracted but, as soon as he saw Ned's motorcycle, a wide grin found place at Paradox.
"Hey Ned, would you mind lending me this for a while?" Much more spirited now, Paradox asked while heading toward the bike. "Of couse my dear neighbor, just wait me to get the keys and-" Pleased for being helpfull, Ned started walking peacefully towards his house, when he heard a motorcycle engine running "...Oh wait, you dont need to hot-wir-...Oh no, he has gone already...God bless his soul..." And Poor Ned was left alone in the middle of the street.