Modern Day Earth

Double posted in the wrong topic. My bad! :S

Well, this is new. Not even a month in Europe, at that... Out of all the things Marie had been expecting from a European tour, a job wasn't one of them. The decidedly eerie way the note had found its way to her was strange enough; though what disturbed her most was that she'd only been in London for two days. And my name! Marie! She hadn't used that name in two years; but there it was, glaring back at her. As it happened, the meeting was in a warehouse not far from where she'd made her temporary residence, and the temptation to at least explore the place was hard to resist. As a shape-shifter one homeless-by-choice and curious almost to a fault, she had grown quite used to tricking her way into wherever she wanted to be; timing, who to impersonate, when to speak and when to run. After growing bored of her home country, America, first rows seats for all the beautiful sights of Europe beckoned.

Ancient buildings, landscapes, and landmarks, all hers to explore and enjoy at her leisure... That was the plan anyway, until she met with reality in Madrid. She knew not the slightest bit of Spanish, or any foreign language for that matter. After a week of trying, the troublesome language barrier wasn't worth the effort nor the embarrassment of butchering a conversation to pieces; still in the mood for something new, however, she found England to be her best bet. She was good at accents--being able to warp one's vocal cords on a whim can do that--and maybe she'd visit other parts of Europe over the weekends. That was all the plan she needed, so off she'd went.

But this... What was this? Some note from out of nowhere.. And this "A"... How did he know me? I've... Well, Marie's never met anyone out of my old town, let alone out of country... She was snapped from her thoughts by "Oh. You again."

A girl, fairly young, who had seemed to address her, or the air around her, smiled nervously then walked away. Marie stared after her as she walked down the street, not sure what to think. I don't even look like me! She couldn't have meant... Maybe she knows Mrs. Bennit? Frustrated, confused, and growing tired of being elderly, Marie ducked into an alley and switched to her favourite disguise, Little Suzie. Stuffing the grandma-shawl in the giant grandma-purse, she switched to a flower pink backpack and ran off in pursuit of the girl. Keeping her distance, she walked around as perkily and aimlessly as she could manage while keeping an eye on the girl. Which was why, after skipping along in a half-bored and half-frivolous manner, she nearly fell flat on her face when she saw the girl stop then enter a building. The building.

Half-tempted to walk in and half-tempted to bolt and flee the country on the spot, she took a moment to calm down, and resigned herself to the fact that if they'd found her this easily now, there was nowhere she could run to where they wouldn't later. A creature of habit, however, she couldn't bring herself to walk in the same door the girl had; she took her time wandering around the exterior, finally finding a side-door hanging open. It must have been open for quite some time, she noted; a plant had grown all the way up and around the door's handle and lock. Her eyes quickly readjusted for the dim light, and what she saw was plainly not the sort of facility she'd expected to find. The guy in the suit's a start, at least...

((Sorry.. Posting trouble.))

((Hmm.. I really messed up, looks like. Sorry again. I think I've fixed the problem, though.))

The popular phrase "You can not be in two places at once." Was one that often caused much debate within Gregory’s consciousness. In some ways he could not relate the phrase at all since, even with slightly lessened awareness and distracted though, he was aware that he could, in fact, be in two or even three places at once. On other occasions however he became very aware of the truth the statement preached. This was largely due to the reason that he had tried.

Being in two places at once meant that the person in question would have to be twice as aware as they normally would be, or in fact have there awareness effectively halved. As Gregory entered the warehouse his awareness was effectively non existent. It was something Gregory was less than proud of but in high stress situations he had a tendency to become terribly disorientated if he was at that point, split up. Anyone who has, as they say, "had there life flash before there eyes" should in fact be very much relieved as Gregory deemed it a far more confusing experience to have two lives flash before your eyes, while they were still in progress.

Flailing a little, Gregory lunged for something to hold on to while he regained his composure and, since the girl in front of him had failed to be of any use, he was forced to lunge for the table to his left. His feet clumsily shuffled his weight and he was aware that the process was in fact taking place in all four of his feet. Luckily outside he had found a wall on witch to lean, but inside the table proved to be far more elusive. With his composure gained slightly he still hit the table rather clumsily and sent a great many pots and plants clattering to the floor.

The sensation was one only akin to seeing double, but seeing two entirely different things. As the two things melded together the brain becomes confused and then must separate them again. This was what Gregory began doing. There were a few obvious features that belonged outside, the main one being the outside of the building itself. The features of inside seemed to mainly compose of long tables, covered in an assortment of horticultural paraphernalia, a smartly dressed man who looked like he was on a business trip rather than in the middle of an abandoned warehouse, and a very angry looking young woman, who seemed to be angry with him in particular.

As the anomalies in his vision began to separate themselves he was able to stand again, having before been hunched against the table holding on as if it might move and send him sliding on to the strangely cushioned floor at any moment.

"Sorry." He muttered, embarrassed. "That happens sometimes. Its a rather unfortunate side effect of..."
He caught himself mid sentence. He had forgotten momentarily that his clone outside, who was now back in his concealed position, was in fact meant to be a secret and was there for security purposes.
"Ummm..." He began again rather unsteadily, "Head rush." He offered. "Like, when you stand up fast and, your vision goes blank and you get all dizzy." He trailed of into a rather embarrassed silence. Although it was very much like head rush, but ten times worse.

"Your bloody lucky this isn't a job interview" He thought to himself.

Scott cursed under his breath There are always the ones who take it badly he thought to himself. He put his jacket on as a cold draft caught the back of his neck. He watched on as a third ragged man tumbled into the warehouse. This cant be A either. Where and who is he? He stared at the man inspecting him trying to judge his character. He could glean nothing accept he wasn't happy with his life. Great. Just who I wanted to meet. he picked his way through rubble and other junk until he stood next to the young girl and man. He dusted some dust from his shoulder before offering his hand saying

'My humblest applogies Miss. I didn't intend to offend although it is clear i have unsettled your nerve. And good day to you sir. Mr Miles at your service. I assume your both here for a reason. Presumably for a similar reason I have been summoned. Why else would you both turn up in an abandoned warehouse at the same tim?' His hand hovered in the air waiting to be shaken.

Four people and I, and all of us confused... None of them could be my "employer", that's for sure. This doesn't seem right.

Marie, already perturbed and growing more cautious every minute, decided that small and vulnerable was the last thing to be. Still hidden in the corner among the foliage, she switched the backpack for a duffel bag and switched to Iva, a heavy-weight champion she'd seen once in a newspaper. The sweater, that had been large, limp, and comical on the young child, now stretched to its limit. Feeling more confident, she too came slowly into the light, making sure to step noisily on the glass shards. I don't know much about what I'm getting in to... But I'd best play things safe.

She sighed, and attempted an Eastern European accent as best she could. "..Well? What is to be done, then?"


((Sorry; I refuse to massacre an accent with "Vell, vat, zen?" and all that rot O_o I know I'll kill it, in a very un-comical way, so if you could simply use your imagination I'd appreciate it...?))

Riley woke up to the sound blaring from his alarm he looked over at his watch 7:00 AM, he got himself up and started to get over the room to his wardrobe. In the process he stepped on the alarm clock which was under a pile of toppled books. He hopped on one foot and let loose a string of curses. When the pain in his foot subsided he looked around the room that was his new residence, The office above the garage was dull and full of piles of paperwork which were balanced precariously on the table and the few chairs dotted around the room. He maneuvered himself around these obstacles and found some of his clothes and put them on. His old place had been nicer, but this new place was defiantly more peaceful. Riley opened the door to the office, which led to stairs down into the garage, Instantly he was hit by the smell of oil and petrol fumes. He looked around the garage and put some of the tools he had left out last night. He walked to the door and picked up the mail and looked through, the usual bills but one letter caught his eye. It had no envelope and it said, "I know what you are, come to warehouse 42 if you want answers" Riley was inertially shocked by the contents of the letter. This must be a joke or something some idiots idea of a prank, but a small part of his brain started to think, "what if it's true what if they can get rid of this" he smiled a normal life, worth the risk. He stepped out into the fresh morning air and walked to the main road and hailed a taxi.
***
Later the taxi arrived at the estate and Riley got out and paid the driver and quickly moved towards the warehouse. He gave the building a quick once over, it looked old and dilapidated. He walked along towards an already opened door and wondered whether he should knock or not. He decided against knocking if he just walked in he could try the sorry wrong door excuse. It was a rubbish excuse but it would have to do, he entered though the opened door and noticed others standing around he just walked in as quietly as he could but he brushed past some old rakes, Which toppled noisily to the ground. He looked around at the others as the clattering started to die down.

After a short and, particularly uncomfortable silence Gregory, who was now sitting on the edge of the table he had fallen on, decided that he should respond to "Miles". He walked forward a little and took Miles' hand in his. "Nice to meet." you, he said, trying to glean some for of self confidence out of the cliché statement. "I'm Gregory." He paused a little as he recalled the man’s reference to there purpose in being here.
He considered telling the person he had no idea why he was here but if this was the sinister man that invited him here then showing his suspicion might make a bad situation worse. On the other hand if this man had some other mysterious motive for being here then he might look like an idiot. He turned round and examined the small pile of smashed pots and scattered plants and decided that looking like an idiot was, at this point, rather small as a concern so instead he feigned innocence as a safety measure. "So, are you the interviewer?" He asked with a questioning smile. "I must say I didn't really expect two of you." He said releasing Miles' hand and turning to look at the woman who had shouted at him. "I'm sorry I was rather abrupt with my entrance but, without seeming rude, I didn't think there would be more than one candidate. I mean, since I saw nobody else at the office and working in a small scale IT company, well, I didn’t think it would appeal to many."
He thought that had gone rather well, for a start he hadn't fallen over and secondly he thought he had, quite literally, got into the right mind to make small talk if need be. "So, is there going to be another interview or..." He stopped as the sound of crushed glass reached his ears and, with a slightly startled expression turned to face the seemingly eastern European newcomer. She seemed a little intimidating but as he listened to her question he was rather relived as it was his desire to find out just that.
Before anyone could answer however he gave a startled jump again and turned to face the door he had come in by, a little prematurely, as a second or two later a man walked in and proceeded to knock over a carefully stacked pile of rakes. It seemed his nerves where not quite as diminished as he thought and he made a mental note to be a little more aware of his clone outside. In fact, he thought, if these people already know about my powers I’m bringing him in, its causing far too much trouble.

For a moment, Marie froze up in mixed emotions at the sight of the latest addition to the odd group. Old habits are hard to shake... And her old disdain for Transcenderi resurfaced as she realized exactly what kind of group she was likely looking at; though it was quickly stifled. Different ages, secrecy; not even remotely the same sort of occupation, if clothes are any indication... "Ah. I understand now."

The deeply, burly, and heavy accent of her Lithuanian guise was gone now; as she spoke, her form changed into a younger, more slender build--the hair lightened, the height dropped, and the accent changed to British (one of her favourites). "Unless I'm mistaken, we've all received a mysterious, persuasive note to the tune of: job, Warehouse 42, when the sun shines brightest, A; or something like it. I could also be mistaken, though I don't believe I am, in supposing we're all of a more... Interesting background. Likely of the genetic persuasion." Marie coughed. Extreme changes in muscles, especially her vocal chords, could sometimes be hard to adjust to quickly; though she felt the point needed to be made. "I think introductions--and if you don't mind me being nosy, the trait that got you here, would be a good start. Name's Claire; Claire Ste. Marie. Though if you can't figure out my mutation, I don't think I can help you there." She looked expectantly around the room. It was annoying, not seeing any sign from "A"; but talking with the others would hopefully pass the time.

While the others were talking James had slipped into the warehouse, and was currently sticking to the darkest side of the room which happened to be the wall where the door was located. As he was padding to a better vantage point his footfalls made absolutely no noise whatsoever. He did this by resting the balls of his feet slowly on the ground and proceeded to bring the rest of the foot down slowly enabling him to be next to undetectable when it came to sound. As more, and more began to show up James decided that it would be in his best interest to reveal himself to the group as soon as possible, for if they caught him sneaking around as if he had something to hide that would seem very bad, and would put him in an extremely awkward position.

As James began walking to the group he was taken aback as woman shape shifted, and began speaking - "I think introductions--and if you don't mind me being nosy, the trait that got you here, would be a good start. Name's Claire; Claire Ste. Marie. Though if you can't figure out my mutation, I don't think I can help you there." Claire finished.

James emerged from the shadows, and stopped near the group. Well I better get this over with. "The names James Fracture, and as for my power, and or mutation -- I can control sound in a number of ways." James spoke with his American accent. "Oh, where are my manners? Nice to meet you ladies, and gents." James said keeping all sorts of emotion out of his face.