Realistic or Modern Culmination Then Ruin

[Hippopotamus]

Hajar Alfarsi

Dorm 220

"Oh... Um... Hello."


Hajar's eyes slid up to look over at her new roommate. By the looks of it, she was pretty shy. She would think that, because of how the university was with all the Aberrants within it, that the shy attitude you had towards people would disappear as soon as you became an upperclassmen. She guessed that didn't apply.


"I hope you don't mind I took this bed... if you want to switch I don't mind."


"No, it's fine. If you want to take the bed you want I am all up for compromises. I don't have a preference, anyway."


Hajar blinked. Maybe it was her being too intimidating? That shouldn't have been the case, she wasn't scary at all. Compared to everyone else. She noted the girl chewed on her bottom lip, not sure how to interpret it.


"Hajar Alfarsi. It's a pleasure." Hajar forced up a smile this time, though it quivered with inexperience.


Hajar looked back down towards her photo. Hajar brushed her thumb across her mother and father's face, then took it up in her right hand and placed it above her new bed, sticking it down with wall tape previously used.


Time passed, and it wasn't very long until the bell rang throughout the school grounds. Hajar looked towards the door, then back at Senna, the girl she were to room with.


"That's... Dinner bell, right? Would you like to accompany me to the cafeteria?" Hajar asked. She hoped that this would form some interaction between the two, maybe pulling a bit of information that Hajar missed during the orientation and making more of a bond to her roomie.

 

[SachiGrl]

~Near/outside of the cafeteria~

​

Natalin was hiding behind a tree near the entrance of the cafeteria. She was breathing irregularly. She was scared. She doesn't eat human or normal food. What if they don't offer bugs or small raw critters to eat... she panicked. Maybe... she thought... I can fetch my own food before entering the cafeteria. She was hesitant to move. She didn't want someone to catch her trying to eat insects, that's embarrassing. She froze. Her plan was great except for the part that there are several students still heading towards the cafeteria. If they see her, they'll suspect her for something. Perhaps, they'll inform Katherinna, the scary lady with the crimson robe. Natalin does not want to be on anyone's bad side, especially her's.

Finally, Natalin saw a roach crawl up the outside-wall of the cafeteria. Perfect... she thought. She could sneak this roach in her stomach, and hope an other insect or critter roams by until she's full. Natalin crouched down as low as possible while trying to remain hidden behind the tree. Her very long tongue flashed out of her mouth and captured the crispy, juicy roach. She moaned in pleasure. More random critters please... she hoped as she remained hidden behind the tree. She decided to climb the tree since her skin kind of camouflages with its leaves.

 

[Shura]

Senna Davi


Room 220 -> Cafeteria


Senna smiled slightly at her room mates introduction and was also pleased she hadn't caused any issues with her selection of a bed. She'd always been the last one into her room on the first day which meant she usually never got to pick. She noticed the girl attempt to smile but it seemed as though she was unsure about it. It seemed the two were a lot alike already, perhaps this year would be much more enjoyable than before. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Hajar. I'm Senna Davi... uh but most just call me Sen... I don't mind either way." She began to ramble.


Sen noticed the girl go back to her picture and finished sliding the last of her books away as well before sliding her suit case under her bed where it would be out of the way. She hadn't brought much aside from clothing and few note books and some "light" reading so unpacking was very simple and hadn't taken very long. Sen looked over and saw Hajar taping a picture to her wall and tilted her head slightly noting a man and a woman in it who looked similar to her room mate. Parents perhaps? Sen didn't have any picture to put up, she didn't have any of her actual parents though that really didn't bother her much at all. Most times remembering them just brought back old anxieties. The bell ran snapping Senna out of her thoughts as she glanced out side the window to see students starting to leave the dorm area.


"That's... Dinner bell, right? Would you like to accompany me to the cafeteria?"


Senna looked back to the other girl and smiled slightly with a nod "Sure." She replied before starting to leave the dorm. The subject of dinner brought back the warning from the headmistress before about there being some sore of simulation and Sen grew a little anxious.

 

[Ayl]

Katherinna "Wild Fire"


Girl Dorms ==> Cafeteria

As she strolled down the corridor of the Dorm, Katherinna heard the little bell sound off, announcing dinner time for all the students. She grinned, as she finally had some time off to go and eat at her favourite restaurant right outside the College. She didn't receive much interesting or lengthy missions of late, which resulted in her mostly hanging out around the college, freaking out new students. Most of them were really easy to intimidate, which made her job the more easier and fun. She remembered her first year at the College. It was a long year in which she was trapped in the same room with another girl who didn't make it through the second year. That girl was a pain in the rear, always talking too much and bothering her when she was studying. Until Kat snapped and burnt her roommates' favourite thing that she kept on bragging about: her perfect blonde long hair that she took care of with a never ending lists of shampoos.


Katherinna never really took much care of her hair, for it was not a priority. Still, it looked good enough to appease her.


Before exiting the building, she thought it would be a good idea to take a another look at the students and see which one would she deem fit to make fun of during his stay. Several people who had become Kat's "targets" performed the worse in their tasks, always feeling rather inferior, which was her goal from the beginning. A smirk bloomed on her face as she recalled all the good times she had in the College. This school has given her so much that even she couldn't bare not doing the very, very least she could do, and that being supervising. Of course, no one directly asked her to do this but she knew the old Mistress hag didn't mind. Afterall, she did keep things in order and that allowed the Headmistress to take care of more important business. Time flew by as she got lost in thoughts, realising she arrived at the cafeteria already as she fell back to earth. It was time for some fun!

​

 

[TimeSplitter]

-Alexia Tabor, Dorm room 118 > Cafeteria-





"Oh... Alright. Well, I'll finish here and meet you there, then." Alexia said slowly back to Natalin as her friend left to go to the cafeteria. She cursed lightly under her voice, blaming herself for acting so rash in front of her room-mate, it hadn't even been a day and it seemed as though the person she was trying to be friends with was already put off by her demeanor. She lets out a small sigh as she puts away her bag and goes down shortly after Natalin had left to the Cafeteria.


Try as she might, once Alexia had reached the inside of the Cafeteria she could find no trace of Natalin, perhaps she had gotten distracted by something on the way down? She had no idea, though she did notice the Cafeteria quickly filling with students eager to fill their stomachs with some food. On top of that, she sent a brief scorned glance as she noticed Katherinna enter the building, though secretly she had hoped that had gotten off on the wrong foot, though she imagined that their little conversation not too far before wasn't on the forefront of her mind. Regardless of her thoughts, Alexia's stomach grumbled audibly to remind her that she was here to eat, and so sits at the closest empty table, waiting for food to be served or for Natalin to come in.

 

[SachiGrl]

~Cafeteria~

​

Within the tree Natalin was in, she found the jackpot. Several ants were crawling from the trunk of the tree to a particular hole in a branch. One by one, she picked at the ants and ate them. Once the ants realized they we being 'attacked,' some ran in circles while others just ran in the opposite direction. This made eating a little difficult for Natalin. She couldn't catch her food. Not that she couldn't. She just had a hard time. It was frustrating her. Finally, she gave up and decided she had enough food to last her for some time. Also, she spotted Alexia walking towards the lunch room, so she climbed down the tree.

Before she exposed herself from behind the tree, she ate some of the ants that, sadly, chose to crawl on her instead of away from her. Her scales weren't necessarily bite-able. Not by an ant at least. She walked around the tree pretending she wasn't doing anything suspicious. Whatever that looked like. She walked into the cafeteria along with several other students. She noticed one particular student. It was a male, typical Natalin. He seemed to be walking strangely compared to the other students. She didn't know how to describe it, but his athletic build was wonderful to observe. Natalin wondered if he had super-strength. She walked past him. From the corner of her eye, she found that he had small, brown eyes and a strong bone structure. Like superman... Natalin thought with a smile.

She looked around for Alexia. Oh, there she is! she said to herself. She began to walk towards her. She noticed she was looking at someone in an unhappy manner. Natalin turned in the direction Alexia was looking. Wide-eyed, Natalin turned back around. I saw nothing... she thought frightfully. Natalin sat down next to Alexia, "What are you doing?" she spoke in a hushed voice. "She catches you with that glare and..." she made her finger, symbolically, slit her own throat. "So, what's for dinner?" she said trying to change the topic.

 

[Jays]

Jason Caine, Somewhere


Caine opened his eyes slowly, luxuriously, enjoying every filament of clarity that his widening eyes perceived, taking in the rough yet beautifully coordinated paint-work of the ceiling, the curves and edges of the magnificient chandelier hanging on a golden chain, the slightly fluttering golden at the corner of his eyes. He bathed his senses in the fresh and wet smell of the morning air and the sheet of glorious sunlight falling over the bed, in the sweet lingering scent of perfume belonging to the one lying next to him. Caine propped himself up on his elbows and turned his head, gazing down at the sweetly formed sleeping figure next to him. A little half-smile came to his face. It was all too easy. He had met her only two days before, and they had had one dinner together the previous night. His smile widened at the memory. It was a lovely evening, them chatting away for most of the time on a few bottles of 1963 Cabernet Sauvignon. She was sweet and witty, and nothing if not a rather pleasant company. Of course she would have to be, he had chosen her the first time his eyes set on her one week before. He could tell that as much as she was impressing him, he was leaving a much stronger impression on her. How would he not, she was talking to her fantasy after all. A man who's fit in his lifestyle, loves children, enjoys romantic novels and is extremely successful. He knew enough to say all the right thing, and though he had no doubt his performance last night had flaws (he had to pull out the "love children" part, for god's sake, something he could never really manage perfecly), she wouldn't have noticed. The first thing he learned from his adopted parents is that people don't hear the truth, they hear want they want to hear, what they expect to hear. He had counted on that, and as always, it had worked out perfectly. The smile wasn't for her, it was a compliment for himself for his perfomance.


15 minutes later he was out the door, walking toward the lift. The woman inside smiled at him as she held the door, and he smiled back, a smile that seemed so perfectly sincere it was anything but. He received that a lot, and whatever the circumstance, it always cheered him up. It meant that his cover was working. Small treats he savored as his own reward, his personal Oscars, mind you. He doubted that any talented actor or actress that actually received an Oscar could pull off the role like himself. Caine had always noted the details, and that trait was the most important key to his acts. It was not the special characteristics, or the main feature of your person. The art of faking is subtle, directing at people's subconscious mind rather than their attetion. A small change in body language could change a person's whole identity, making anybody whose mind already registered his posture incapable of recognising him, their mind searching for the slight twitch on his shoulder when he walks, or the uncertain steps he usually take. It was an art Caine had managed to master and perfected being with his adopted parents, and when they told him he had the natural talent for such thing then laughed at his dream of becoming an actor, he knew exactly who he would become. What he would become.


Caine stopped by the reception desk on his way out. "I'd like to check out, please." He said pleasantly to the receptionist in a British accent, who looked up in suprise as if he hadn't seen him their a moment ago and he had just manifested out of thin air. No wonder, the man was reading a swimsuit model magazine, and Caine had always been quieter than most people. The receptionist fumbled a little before turning his business face on. "Of course, sir. What room are you in?" "206. And there's this little thing I'd like to ask of you." Caine leaned closer and gestured for the receptionist to do the same. "I'm going early, but my...lady friend is yet to wake. I don't want to disturb her sleep, so how about you just leave her be and I will pay for another day as well. The room will be unused for the rest of the day, I'm sure, but she's really tired and I just want to give her some rest, and I'm sure you can stretch the rule a bit. How about that?" He pushed 4 one-hundred bills into the man's hand, who coughed, looked around then turned back to him. "Of course, Mister..." He glanced at the computer ".....Taylor." Caine pulled out his credit card and smiled again. "Thank you, Louis." It was on the name tag. "And remember, if she asked for me, she must have been drunk, because she came in here with no one else last night, just by herself. Right?" The receptionist noded his understanding. Another easy escape he though would be harder. It was a fine day indeed.


Caine stepped out into the street and threw his jacket around him. As usual, several woman jogging or walking by smiled at him. That needed to change. He was no longer a charming gentleman, no longer Harold Logan, George Daifus or the lastest, Danny Taylor. He was only Jason Caine now. Caine buttoned his jacket, and in a flash, he was a nobody walking down the street.

 

[Ayl]

Katherinna Elisse von Adler





Cafeteria

The looks she received when walking in the room were proof of her infamous reputation. Almost all the students either feared her or despised her. Some did both as well, which mostly filled her with joy. It meant that her hard work and powers were recognised as being superior to those who she intimidated. After all, if one does not have confidence in his own skills, why show them off in the first place. And confidence was something Kat did not lack at all, quite the contrary really. Some would say she was over-confident and that trait would be the death of her. But she was still there, alive and kicking, proving everyone how wrong they were.


She strolled down the main path, slowly, making a lasting impression with her hand on her hip, the other slowly, sensually swinging back and forth along her body. Her hips made quite the dance while she walked, her black lipstick glowing while her blue eyes subtly analized the room. She had that perky smile so characteristical of her, her overall appeareance able to wake the desire of a monk. She spotted a fine physically built young man, probably a freshman by the looks of it. At another table there was the pair of girls she encountered early on, which made her loosen her smile for a second, replacing it with a grin as she caught the was studying her. They were going to learn the ropes sooner or later, but knowing Katherinne, it was probably going to be sooner. She passed by their table, headed for the far exit which would lead outside the college through a backdoor. Her favourite diner was just vis-a-vis of the school.


She had preferences when it came down to what she ate. By all means, she would never eat anything that made her gain weight. She was crazy about her silhouette like that, due to the fact that her body was one of the assets she would make use of when breaking a student's will. Intimidation by perfection. She was well aware of the fact that she was very beautiful, which was quite a surprise really, as she was very ugly and pale when young. Puberty had certainly had its word however, which she was thankful for. It was far more easier to scare the students that were either envying her for her features...or aroused by them.

​

 

[PicaPirate]

Joseph Judd (JoJo) - Cafeteria


105 s dilation time





Joeseph was leaning on the exit door in a calm state. He held on one hand a plate of simple foods. As most people preferred more extravagant options, these were easy to get. He had no need for extravagant food either, since he found enough nourishment and pleasure from the simple things in life typically ignored. A quote from his book came to mind:


Their food is plain and good, their clothes fine but simple, their homes secure;


They are happy in their ways.


This wasn't to say his food was just toast and butter. It was a healthy balance of good basic foods such as meat and vegetables. His diet was primarily simple but healthy and balanced. It helped him stay healthy and strong and keep his mind calm.


As he ate on some brown bread with a salmon on it, he noticed a slender older woman walking towards him. Presuming she had no concern for him, he stepped aside from the door. Her air she was basically exuding with the walk and posture displayed great inner confidence. Another quote came to his mind.


Those who flaunt themselves are not clear


Those who presume themselves are not distinguished


Those who praise themselves have no merit


Those who boast about themselves do not last


It stated how (in his interpretation) if people had to display such mannerisms, it was usually to cover for a personal lacking or just simple ego. He thought to himself if it was the former. These days it wasn't uncommon for those from the city to have a less than pleasant background. He lucked out getting an adoption at a very young age. Some weren't.


Did they maybe have a painful past or something that is a real sting for them? Did something happen in their life that changed their outlook? Or did the cruel world he was luckily exempt to by living in the forest nurture her in such a manner?


He was open for conversation, but he didn't start one. With that kind of outlook, it would almost seem a waste of breath to engage in good conversation with her. Who knew? He wished people were as honest as him. After all: Act without contrivance, and nothing will be beyond control.


And he controlled possibly one of the most valuable commodities known to man.

 

[TimeSplitter]

-Alexia Tabor, Cafeteria-


Alexia stares back at Katherinna perhaps a few moments too long as an act of defiance before turning to Natalin after a moment to acknowledge her presence, even though she may have seemed emotionless at the time, she was exceptionally glad that Natalin had arrived. Alexia stays quiet as Katherinna walks by their table, glancing around the room until she had left their general vicinity and headed to the back door of the Cafeteria. She didn't quite understand why her friend was so timid whenever Katherinna was around, though in truth Alexia was simply too naive to fear anything as of yet. "Whats she gonna do, huh? She wants people to act scared, you know, feeds her ego." She says with a vicious tone, though afterward she scratches behind her ear briefly and talks much more pleasantly. "Anyway, I'm not going to brood over it. Lets go find out whats for dinner." Alexia responds before pointing to the other end of the Cafeteria where there seemed to be someone serving food to the students, she had noticed someone leaning against an exit door with a plate of food, and so assumed that food was served. Slowly, she gets up from her seat before turning and beckoning Natalin to follow. "You must be starving by now, I know I am. You coming?"

 

[SachiGrl]

~Cafeteria~

​

Natalin's eyes shifted from side to side. She scoffed, "I'll feed all the fear she wants. I'm probably the weakest link here." she ducked her head behind Alexia as she was silent, still shifting her eyes frighteningly. "I still have a hard time controlling my power," she said in a hushed tone. There were many students in the vicinity. This made Natalin squeamish.

She froze when Alexia said she was going to get food. She stared into space, unsure whether to follow or stay. She creaked her head up slowly towards Alex as she beckoned her to follow. 'You must be starving by now, I know I am. You coming?' she heard her say. Natalin didn't want to lie, so she responded with a rotation of her head. It wasn't a shake nor a nod, it was the in-between movement. Natalin gave in with a sigh and followed her newly found friend. "I'm a picky eater," she started off, "don't be surprised if I don't eat."

 

[Shura]

Senna Davi


Cafeteria





Senna felt her nerve making a return as she heard the dull roar of the cafeteria growing closer and took a deep breath to steady them. She'd gotten much better around crowds but going a whole summer with out needing to eat with over a hundred other students made her anxious again to eating in the Cafeteria but she would adjust, like she did every year. Upon entering she scanned the room quickly recognizing some of the students from orientation both old and new. She also spotted Katherine once more, thankfully exiting. Eating was unnerving enough with out her intense and critical gaze. "Just a start to a new year." She reminded herself as she made her way towards the growing line focusing on what was for dinner.

 

[TimeSplitter]

-Alexia Tabor, Cafeteria-





"Alright, suit yourself then." She responds as she walks over to the line of students waiting for food. The line itself seemed fairly long, though whatever was being served was well out of sight as it was eagerly grabbed by the students as they shuffled to the trays of food and scooped it onto their plates. Taking a small sniff of the air, Alexia decided it might be some sort of meat dish, the smell of cooked beef and chicken was ripe in the air by now, and she couldn't help but lick her lips at the thought. Still, it looked as though there would be a bit of a wait as she enters the line just behind a blonde girl she didn't recognize. "So, do you mind if I ask what your power is then?" She says brashly as she turns to speak with Natalin again, not taking into consideration her hushed tone when speaking about her power.

 

[SachiGrl]

~Cafeteria~

​

Wow, quite the line there... Natalin was glad she ate already and from the smell of it; she probably wasn't going to like the food anyway. She saw poor Alexia licking her lips hungrily. Natalin saw Alexia turn around. She, also, turned around. There was a blonde girl with intriguing eyes. Natalin was a hypocrite because as much as she hated stares, she tends to gawk at strange things herself. After a few minutes of realizing she was being a hypocrite, she awkwardly waved at the girl and turned around.

"So-sorry?" Natalin couldn't believe her ears. Did Alexia really just ask about her powers in public. She stiffened her body then said, "Sorry, that classified information." She looked at nothing in particular. She was just staring into space, unsure what to focus on. "I'd feel safer if you didn't know," she gave Alexia an awkward smile. Perhaps, it would be safer if she did know, so she wouldn't accidentally trigger her power. Alexia doesn't seem like a bad kid. Recalling the heated discussion between her and Katherinna made her mouth twitch. If anything, Natalin was good at evading situations that may provoke her powers. Her mind went round and round indecisively as she contemplated whether to share her power or not.

 

[TimeSplitter]

-Alexia Tabor, Cafeteria-





"Ooooh, classified information, right." Alexia says teasingly, giving Natalin a brief little smirk before shrugging. She could tell that her question may have irked Natalin a little, though she couldn't comprehend why, she would find out what it was eventually anyway, wouldn't she? "Whatever makes you comfortable, I guess. Just trying to pass the time..." She gestures with her thumb pointing at the line, ever so slowly etching forward as the students filled their plates with food.


She wasn't quite sure what to think about Natalin, there was so much about the girl that she found intriguing, the green skin was certainly most interesting, though she found it hard not to be prying about it. She didn't expect a huge display of power from her anyway, she seemed too timid to be dangerous... though perhaps that was something foolish to assume.


Alexia shakes her head a little to snap out of her thought process, taking a little glance down the line and crossing her arms over her chest. "Geez... you'd think they'd be quick about getting their food." She says a little impatiently.

 

[Shura]

Senna Davi


Cafeteria





A small shiver ran up Senna's spine causing her to look up anxiously. Thankfully it was just another student staring at her, she found the girl a bit interesting a first glance with the green reptilian skin and fangs. If it had been her first day she probably would have freaked out a but but by this point she had grown used to odd sights. Especially when someone on your floor had a habit of pretending to be a ghost and flying around other girls rooms trying to scare others by making things float. Senna returned the small wave before returning her focus to the back of the person in front of her hoping the line would move a bit quicker so she could find a quiet places to eat before all the tables were filled up.

 

[Killigrew]

Katherine


Ruin City, downtown


Three was the number of darkly clothed villains surrounding the old lady. The wrinkled, bowed figure trembled at the far end, her hands clasping her purse to her chest desperately as her adversaries demanded she part with it.


"I cannot!" She cried, her voice as shaky as her body. "I cannot! My son has the cancer! I cannot!"


Her protests were met with the drawing of knives and the intent of murder.


And this attempt would have come to fruition had a slim figure not rushed into the midst of them. The person's feet silently pounded across the dirt ground as she jumped into a crack between bodies, barreling forward, falling over on the elderly lady, giving her body as a shield for her.


The knives stabbed anyway. The distraction had meant little -- only one more body to add to their count.


But once the blades had entered, they could not pull them out. As though held by hands on the interior of her body, the weapons, though tugged, could not be retrieved. The fellows stumbled back as the slim figure turned. The trench-coat was thrown off, hair golden in the sun's light streamed from it, and on her face was marked a flash of a grimace as she surveyed the three men that seemed so ready to turn and run.


"I leave for a week... and look what happens to my city." Her hand closed round the handle of a knife half-embedded in her back.


She pulled it free without so much as a blink. And the blood that followed the movement did not splatter against the ground in one long slick falling. Rather, halfway in its rapid descent, it paused. It hovered, and it began to float. Swirling in droplets and levitating puddles, it circled around the woman that walked with purpose.


"Burglars, thieves, murderers..." She sighed. Her hand slanted. The blade angled towards the floor. "In broad daylight? Fear should have stayed your hand." She pointed their weapon at them. "Now you must pay the price."


"Hey, who is this chick?" One of the men said loudly, sending a dissatisfied glance towards one of his comrades. "Where does she get off, talking to us like that?"


The blood snapped like a whip, stinging against the man's face and leaving a splatter of red. He doubled over, holding his nose with a yelp.


"Tch..." The woman said. "Sloppy of me." She raised her hand again, sweeping across the three of them as the blood became a thin wave, reaching out towards them and dripping across the space as though gravity had shifted for the red.


The blood snapped in place, and strick their hands, binding their feet and moving their bodies with sudden force into prone and bound posture. Hog-tied, their wrists clasped to their ankles by liquid force that solidified into a harsh, rigid substance.


The woman dusted off her hands. The elderly approached her, head shaking with an overwhelming emotion. "Dearie..." Her old voice crackled. "How can I ever thank you, dearie?"


"Just doing my job, Ma'am." She said, tipping her head as though she were wearing some invisible hat. "I'm bringing harmony to the land."


With that, she gathered up her trenchcoat, withdrew from it a sparkling blue cellular phone, and dialed three finalizing digits. These ne'erdowells would find themselves sleeping in the damp cold of a prison tonight. With a swift boot to the head for each of the thieves and probable murderers, she put them to sleep and left the area.


--------------


A small apartment overlooks a bustling street in downtown Ruin City. It hangs over an underpass, is shrouded in the night sky, but the windows are wide open, and the light therein shines incandescently out. Many avoid the area that the light shines directly upon, for fear of exposure, but the innocent walk boldly through it, and even send a wave up to the figure watching out, made a shadow by the brightness.


She always waves back.


Harmony to most, but Katherine to the personal, the blonde woman stretched languidly out the window, her identity evident in the customary blue of her outfit. She hadn't changed out, but the knife wounds of earlier hand bandages coating them now--no stitches, though the normal fellow would've died without them. She knew she was at 85% capacity, and was aware that with only the mild push of her mind, the speed and accuracy of blood flow would suffice for coherence, and she would be fully recovered within the hour.


Harmony turned away from the window to zip down the back of her suit, and Katherine covered the exposure with smiling popsicle pajamas.


She had just started the tea when the phone rang.


"Harmony." A brisk, nasally voice.


Her hands didn't cease their tilt, pouring green translucency into the mug below it. The phone was held to her ear by wispy red tendrils stretching out weblike from her back.


"That's half of me." She replied happily, setting the kettle down. It puffed water vapor, and she buried her face in the comfort. "What's happening, Lark?"


"Right Hand." He corrected reflexively. "The Matron will see you now."


She sipped. She slurped. Lark drew in a restraining breath.


"I didn't set any appointment..." Kath mused.


An exasperated sigh. "SHE calls for YOU, Harmony. Your only real job is to follow orders, got it? 15 minutes, her office, come as you are."


Click.


"But I just got home..." She whispered.


Morose, Kath chewed her lip and rubbed the hot mug against her face. Even as she brooded over the lamentable need to remain dutiful even to the least sympathetic of authorities, the blood tendrils carried the phone back to its dock, snapping it into place as she moved for the living room. Sipping her tea, Kath slipped on some jeans and made for the parking garage.

 

[Ayl]

Katherinna


Cafeteria


As she walked towards the exit, waving her hair around and blinking slightly a few times, she couldn't refrain herself from noticing a muscly built man standing near the door to the outskirts, all by himself, eyeing her as she moved, not with an intimidated or heated expression, but with one that expressed mostly dissaproval, or total disinterest, Kat couldn't tell


As she neared the man, her lips let out a soft voice, with a tone suited for a polite conversation and with no trace of bitterness in it. "You should have a good reason for staring at people such long lengths of time, analising them so much. So, what is it?" she inquired, glancing at the man. He was quite handsome, with nice features and by the looks of it, a strong body and will, Kat could perceive.

 

[PicaPirate]

Joseph Judd - Cafeteria


105 s dilation time


Joseph's tone was completely passive and without any positive or negative tone.


"Just in thought. You put on an air of greatness around yourself, yet if you were truly so brilliant, you would need not to mask yourself with your assumed brilliance. Are you possibly covering up for a shortcoming as a type of Napoleon complex or if you merely fuel your own ego from your accomplishments.


They succeed but do not dwell on success


It is because they do not dwell on success


That it never goes away.


It is because that you constantly remind people of you of your success, whatever it may be, that people forget what it is. Why is it that you do so?"


It was obviously evident because of his secluded upbringing and study into life that Joseph had little to no tact. He knew he didn't but didn't mind, because it was all part of his honesty. He may accidentally annoy people, but never could he be accused of lying or scheming.


Tapatalk is for scrubs. I use Tapatalk. Why are you talking to this scrub?

 

[Ayl]

Katherinna


Cafeteria

Katherinna couldn't help but smirk, bowing her head a little to snuffle out the flames of a laughter that was brewing inside of her, ready to burst out in the open. The man before her was funny. He was a freshman, yet he thought himself so clever as to question her attitude and posture, gestures and overall behaviour. Finally, she straightened her back and lifted her sight to the student in front of her. "So, you think that muttering some words from some book, or who knows what else, makes you worthy of judging me, new blood?" she said in a serious tone, her smirk vanishing rapidly. "You think that I am where I am now by chance? Let me assure you, life at this college is far from a fairy tale. And afterwards, it only gets harder. I am where I am now, because I am willing to do anything to accomplish my goals. I do not care for morals and laws. Those are only boundaries for the weaker to be strapped to the floor with. You say I flaunt of my success. Of course I do, else the lesser people, those under me, might get the idea that they are my equals, a scenario I despise!". Her arms were now placed across her chest, her voice still calm, her choice of words meant to sting. "I simply wish for those around me to be aware of their status. That of a sheep, while a true lion walks among them. They should be honored, although I do not care to be admired. What I do revel to see, is the feeling of fear inside the hearts of those about to feel my wrath." she spoke again, gently taking her arm away from the X formed on her chest, directing it to the left, letting flames burst from her palm. "You may fancy yourself a calm, peaceful man. I wouldn' know, I do not know you nor do I care to. But I," she grinned for a moment while staring at the dancing flame surrounding her hand "am raw, living destruction. Whatever obstacle it is that sits in my way, burns. And there's one thing that I hate with a burning passion: weakness. The weakness in people's hearts, the weakness of their choices and so on. It disgusts me." she ended. There was more to her speech that she would have wanted to admit. She too, had once fallen to weakness and that costed her an entire life. That was why she was so desperate for power. In the end, Kat brushed off some rebel strands of hair that had found their way to her face, placing them behind her ears. "Anyway, I wish to linger around here no longer. Goodbye, freshman, and next time, keep your eyes to yourself, or you might just lose them!" she spoke again, her voice dwindling more and more towards the end, as she exited the building without waiting for so much as a reply.

​

 

[PicaPirate]

Joseph Judd - Cafeteria


105 s dilation time


Joseph had a raised eyebrow and crossed arms she listened.


Life was hard and a trial. That was no question. He himself had no easy life, working away to help his family and the strict teaching had received. He hated to admit it, but she amused him.


As she left, not even letting him reply, he simply stayed where he was.


"So strong, yet so weak. If she were truly strong, she wouldn't need a constant reminder of it. She would accept it and move on."


Joseph thought about the next time they encountered. He may need to be ready to slow time in case he angered her and she lashed out. Its a shame, because for some inexplicable reason, he wanted to help her.


Yes there was a weakness in peoples hearts. To him, she had one of the weakest hearts he had ever seen. It was like a broken heart that needed help. To him, the heart screamed for someone to help it. Why else would she need to bring others down, was it because her own level was so low?


Joseph sighed and stood up from leaning against the wall. He walked outside into the fresh air and decided to meditate outside. While in the meditative state he had his eyes closed but became of outside presences. It took a good while to empty his thoughts though because he was in thought about the famed Katherinna. Even if he could help her, would she allow it?


Tapatalk is for scrubs. I use Tapatalk. Why are you talking to this scrub?

 

[SachiGrl]

~Cafeteria~

​

Natalin noticed something has changed. The line seemed to be moving faster. She stepped out of line to see what was going on. Two people in uniform were leaving from behind the serving station. Whoever replaced them must be really fast. As students were leaving the serving station they smiled at laughed. Natalin overheard them saying how cool the new server was. This peeked Natalin's interests.

She went back in line and found that they were nearly seconds away from getting served. Natalin grabbed a tray, "I'm not planning to eat the food. You can have whatever I..." Natalin's mouth dropped. She saw an older man with several arms. He was moving so fast she couldn't count how many he had. He had dark brown hair, long lashes, and was fairly fit. Yet, again Natalin found herself gawking at the man, "Whoa.."

 

[Syrenrei]

Spoiler

Katriane was sitting on the back porch of her woodland retreat with her legs splayed down the steps. The day had already been littered with frustrations and disappointment as normal. An affluent lady with a yappy dog that 'looked depressed' had not wanted to hear that the little weasel hated his rhinestone collar and didn't particularly relish being toted around as if he were incapable of traversing a sidewalk by himself. It didn't matter if the answers were not to her tastes; Katriane had been paid ahead of time and her 'translations' were always honest. Brutally so at times. The anger and irritation of the wealthy subsided over time and they returned to her without fail; the more money they hoarded and the more paranoid they became. Only cherished pets were trusted and as such all of their affections were lavished excessively, worrying over each injury or personality oddity. Why would they not pay a small sum to know exactly what plagued Mittens and Archibald? Her head lulled back and fell against the wooden railing behind her.


Katriane- for she was Katriane right now rather than Dreamless- sighed. One of the resident songbirds that was prone to whining had flown to her shoulder and bobbed his head at her. With its beady little inquisitive eyes she knew that it had something to 'say.' Avians were more intelligent than most people gave them credit for, but any being who was as dedicated to complaint as this fellow were exasperating. With great reluctance she sent him a telepathic prod to determine today's topic. An image was flashed back of a humanoid stalking through the lush vegetation no more than half a mile away. She sat up, intrigued by the presence of something that walked with two feet in such close proximity. There was nothing around here- what could he or she possibly want?


Wait here, she mentally warned the winged companion and went inside to through on a loose button-up shirt and a pair of boots. It didn't make her particularly presentable (her ripped jean shorts were several years old, faded with age, and wearing thin in various places) but it would keep errant debris from scratching her. Once she emerged back out the door, the bird fluttered near her face briefly before leading her in the direction of the mysterious person. Butterflies and various insects swarmed around her in hypnotic clouds briefly, encouraging her and welcoming her at the same time. If Dr. DooLittle was a hopeless pessimist who was accused of being a 'blood-sucking b**** out to make money instead of happiness' (because she wouldn't tell whitewash the truth) then Katriane could have a TV show. Or a movie. Who would play her? All the movie stars were much too pretty.


Roosevelt, the resident grizzly bear, sauntered up to her side and offered his company as she drew closer to the site. Of all the forest denizens, Roosevelt was her obvious favorite. Most days he spent sunning himself on one of her two porches or scavenging for food in the most lazy manner possible. It was difficult to find someone less motivated than Katriane, so she had managed to find a bear that put her lack of ambition to shame. Sometimes Katriane furtively wished she could hibernate for a season a year. The heroes leadership would not appreciate the suggestion to be sure.


With one hand on Roosevelt's shoulder, she called out to whatever might be within earshot. "Hello? Whoever you are, this is the forest ghetto. The nicer part of the woods is farther north. If you're gonna die out here anyway, you should aim for the clearing of wildflowers."






Subject Two was on the run again, cursing himself quietly for making his way into the forest instead of sticking to the city. At least there, he knew his way around and some good escape routes. "Bastards," he whispered angrily, tugging a sleeve of his jacket free from the brush he'd gotten caught in. It still wasn't easy, moving around quickly, but he was getting better at it. He had noticed a strange feeling of heaviness after the incident, but he'd never been too sure how long they'd kept him 'hospitalized'.


Shuddering, he soldiered on, thinking back to how they'd gotten to him. He woken early, leaving a lot of time before work to have a quick jog and go get breakfast. However, plans had changed. Not three blocks from his small apartment, two black vans had pulled up - one in front and one behind him. They called him by that name - Subject Two - and he knew immediately that he'd be running away again. Another city checked off the list of safe places.


What was eating at his mind now, though, was not that he was going to have to move again and change names. Something else was there and, despite the efforts to tell himself it was nothing, he couldn't shake a bad feeling. When they'd grabbed for him, he was forced to shove through. One of his assailants, a man he'd pushed out of the way in a frenzy, was sent flying back from him and into one of the vans. The impact, a site Two didn't think he'd ever get out of his mind, caused the van to buckle and bend under the man's body.


What in God's name had they done to him?


"It was nothing, one of the guys probably had powers or something," he muttered to himself quietly and then stopped, going deathly still. There was someone coming. Stifling a swear, he scooted into some conveniently located brush going as still as he could.


The minute that passed felt like an eternity.


When a voice finally rang out, he was slightly relieved but cautious. Who exactly was this person? At the very least, they seemed to be alone. Stepping out and brushing himself off, Two found himself staring at a woman and... a bear? "f****** Christ!" he yelped, backing up a bit and looking between the two of them in a panic.


"Erm... well to answer you, I wasn't planning to die out here. I don't even know where the hell 'here' is!" he continued, eyes locked on the lumbering beast before him. "Look, since the big guy here doesn't look like he's going to murder you, I'm gonna' assume you trained him or something? Either way, if you can, could you make sure he doesn't eat my head?"


The man laughed, a slightly nervous sound that echoed strangely against the trees that surrounded them. "Out've the frying pan and into the fire. Isn't that just cliche as hell..."






Even in the future, some things just never change. Nature, for example, is still around. Robin had half expected the world to be deforested by then and living on a whole lot of artificial stuff. It felt good to see that somewhere down the 100 years he's been in stasis, someone had the bright idea to think of the environment and actually get the backing for it. Unless this forest is artificial too, which meant that natural didn't seem like it would go back into fashion anymore.


"Go into the forest they said. It'd be fun, they said. This was supposed to be an easy job they said. Then I realized Julia Winston was the one who sent me up here. Terrific."


She had told him that this would be more of a field diagnostic on the enhancements. A stress test of sorts to see what the boosted capabilities' limits were. They sent him out to go look for a certain person, they said it would be a cakewalk too. They even sent him a cybernetic signature to go by, supposedly, he know the man or woman when he saw them. Literally, know it when he sees them due to the processor in his brain releasing a bunch of hormones or something into his system. Complicated biology stuff that anthropologists liked to study, which also seemed to be quite the in demand degree program now. They also said he'd feel it when he got closer to them, like that feeling that a person gets that they are going the right way, he could supposedly "smell" them. He'd rather stop and smell the roses though, it was a long time since he was out in the wild like this and he couldn't deny that it excited him again.


"F****** Christ!"


Forget smelling them, that scream made the processor release a few more hormones that supposedly made him feel that that was what he was looking for. It made him feel like he was listening to the best song in the world which lasted a second or two. He closed his eyes and "turned on" his special "vision modes" that Martens and Winston installed into him.


"Thermal."


The world jumped from pitch black to a myriad of blues, reds, oranges and yellows. He had picked up several heat signatures of varying sizes. Some were in the sky, while others were on the ground. Then there were three that didn't seem to move like other animals, in fact that they were just stationary save for a few slight movements or so. The thermal vision canceled out non heat signatures in a 200 meter radius, so if he walked toward them with his eyes closed he'd probably run into quite a number of trees.


"Off."


Robin opened his eyes and blinked away whatever images of the thermal vision which temporarily bled into his reality. The person he was tracking down may been in critical condition so Robin was given a Reed Pharma military grade stimpack, that's what they called it, and he had no idea what was in them, it just healed things or so Richard explained. He walked toward where he saw the figures in the forest and spotted a curious collection. A girl, a bear and a man who obviously has cybernetic enhancements. Forget stimpack, they should have given him a toolbox or something, he could do some glaringly lacking maintenance on the spot.


"Hello, I am just a harmless guy who was curious. I just happened to be taking a stroll when I heard quite the expletive boom throughout the forest. You, my good sir, look like you need a touch of my cybermancy, those enhancements look like they were sloppily installed. Lovely bear pet, miss, reminded me of one time back in '14 when I went hiking with some friends and we ran into a bear that chased us to the nearest ranger station, I swear it was that huge. Ahh good times. "


It had just occurred to him that these people may not have any interest for his "old man" stories, in fact Richard may have been the only one since Julia and Randolph only ever faked it. Worse, they might just think him crazy for referencing something that happened a hundred or so years back.






Katriane stared for a long moment at Subject Two before turning her gaze to Robin. One day her wooded forest was an expanse of solitude from the human race and the next it had two hobo stragglers mucking up the underbrush. "Pet? Train? Don't be absurd- this is my best friend." Roosevelt subtly shifted his weight and yawned before settling into what looking like a menacing, toothy 'grin' of sorts with the teeth apart and the jaw set without closing. It seemed to be a reaction to the spoken words- as impossible as it should be. Once her monotone ridicule and assertion had faded into a brief reprieve of silence she continued, "I'm Dreamless, a telepath. I don't control Roosevelt, but he won't try to eat either of you. He has a sensitive digestive system and you'd probably give him indigestion." Roosevelt nodded. The bear nodded.


"You're in a forest that is supposed to be uninhabited except for me." Despite her somewhat caustic remark Katriane/Dreamless did not look either perturbed or disappointed. Having these two stomping persons wasn't as irritating as she had expected. Neither was projecting thoughts or seeking her for a favor that was coupled with a sob story. 'Oh please miss, I haven't seen my husband in years! Can't you help me find him?' It was curious and quite coincidental that they had both arrived in such short order and were unrelated. Oh well, it really wasn't her business if they were playing a game of boy meets boy, boy chases boy into the forest to fix him, boy seduces boy into a freaky technological tryst. Sexual orientation sure had come a long way in the last fifty years. There was a fetish for everything.


As a hero and a person of regrettable moral compulsions, Katriane couldn't just abandon them here. If they had been a villain she could have excused a little bad behavior. Subject Two and Robin were a little larger than the motherless woodland critters she was used to fostering but they could be an interesting distraction. That's all one could hope for anyway. The world was going to hell in a hand basket- it was just a manner of when and how in her mind. With no expectations or attachments to either, it would be easier for her to enjoy their company as there would be little to no despair when their flaws were exposed. "You can stay out here if you want and hope Bambi's the one rustling the bushes or that the river just over that hill has clean water if you like. I'll go ahead and ruin the surprise: it's a shitty, polluted stream thanks to a few chuckleheads a few miles north. Roosevelt and I are going back to my house, though, if you'd rather have a roof over your head. No one else is desperate enough to visit so you won't have to worry about... visitors. Just try to keep your hands off each other, will you?" Katriane stayed a few moments to allow them to contemplate their decision before turning and slowly wandering back towards her humble abode. There was no rush to return except the fact the first arrival looked a little roughed up. If he requested her assistance she would offer it but she didn't want to steal the thunder of his attractive follower with the old man stories.


Of course, it was entirely possible they'd gamble with the elements. No doubt they had noticed her face reflected that of melancholy and her shoulders sagged as one that had given up on so much. Quietly she anticipated nothing. Leaders, true leaders, inspired confidence and had a certain charisma she didn't possess. Katriane was well on her way to a old maid hermit that shook her cane when zany kids crept up on her lawn. Who in their right mind would put any trust into her hands? Only the very confused.


As she took her first steps away from the gathering a veritable swarm of wildlife chased in her steps. Birds left their branches and swooped a hair's breath behind, chirping at each other and presumably the despondent blonde 'Snow White.' Squirrels leapt from tree to tree in her wake, chittering with exuberance, and a flutter of butterflies flitted in a kaleidoscope of color.






Before the male could continue, another stepped toward them, emerging from... somewhere. Instinctively, Two backed up, his fists clenching. The other just began talking, almost hurriedly, about any number of things. The two things that stuck out were the mention of cybermancy and enhancements and talking about '14.


"Look, if you're after me like those last guys, just back the f*** off. And I dunno' what you're talking about enhancements, man," he said plainly, obviously telling the truth and looking at the other with a mix of paranoia and outright confusion. "And '14? No way you're that old, man. You on somethin'?"


The other laughed a little at this, albeit a bit nervously, and turned toward the woman from before who started on about being friends with the bear and being a telepath named Dreamless.


"So, a telepath with a Hero name and a 'harmless guy' that just sauntered in from the other part of the woods. Huh." He seemed to ponder over this for a few minutes, then realized the woman had said something about the forest being uninhabited.


"Yeah, sorry about that," he admitted, running a hand through his hair and wincing as his fingers brushed over a cut there. "I was planning on just going for a jog today, and wound up getting chased by..." he stopped quickly and coughed, as if thinking better of his words. "Some weird guy with too much road rage."


When the woman offered a place to stay (and a questionable comment about them... putting hands on each other), Two raised a brow. "Er... that's awful kind of you, Dreamless. Thanks, I think. But, as tempting as it is, I think I'll just clean up a bit and get going back to town if you'd point me in the right direction," he started, trying his best to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut of continued fear. "I, uh, think I've got some things to pack up at the house."


If there were people looking for him and they'd found him so quickly after his last move, he'd have to start getting smarter and moving farther. Cursing to himself, he marched forward to follow her. "And... as for whatever you think me and this 'harmless stranger' have going on - I can safely say I've never seen'm before right now."






"You know, miss dreamless, if this place was uninhabited except for you, care to explain the bear or the birds or the rodents for that matter. Believe it or not, I've only 'been awake' per se for a few months following quite the long time in cryostasis, so I have not met this man before and was only ever tasked to make contact with him....besides I don't swing that way."


Robin had noted that Two was the man who he was supposed to look for. As if the nervous look and tense body wasn't a sign. It was clear that this man intends to fight for his freedom, if the clenched fist was a sign enough for Robin. Well he couldn't blame Two for being that way, he is hounded by quite the nasty collection of human beings or so Kellam had told him.


"Bambi...I suppose some things just stay timeless classics. I should download that once I figure out how downloading works in this time and era....if Internet *insert tentative filler for word: 'Piracy'* even exists....ah screw it, the future looks like it took quite the number of pointers from Orwell's 1984, really. So many cameras everywhere, I suppose Big Brother peeps at all of you 24/7?"


*No idea if I can actually even say the word 'internet piracy' or if that'd earn me a one-way ban hammer ticket for life...So I'd rather ask you this right now Grin.*


Speaking of Kellam's warnings, if Robin ever came across any of the other people looking for Two, he was to turn around and run, run and never look back, never look back and pray that nothing invades his skull be it bullet or virus. In fact, Kellam had repeated it so many times, Robin was sure whoever was after Two was not only nasty, they were vicious as well. If he ever got caught, he would forfeit his succession to the Reed business and be disowned.


Robin turned to face Two, he thought of some way to calm the big man down but couldn't so it was clear that he was going to have to improvise. Julia wasn't on the line so he couldn't contact her and be advised with how to proceed. Hopefully, some of the words he was used to saying hadn't gone archaic in the space of a hundred years, fat chance but he was willing to hope. He also thought to pull the rich scion card and hoped they bought it, of course that'd be hard to explain what with his grand niece on the 'owner' throne of Reed Pharma. He'd have to ask to arrange a meeting with her soon and hear about stories of his siblings' exploits.


"Sorry if I haven't introduced myself, my name is Robin Reed. Now, if you were to go look at newspaper articles in the year 2014 on the month of June, it would have you believe that I am a dead man. What happened was I was stuck in a freezer for two or so generations, I was only thawed out a month or so ago. A lot to take in, I know and you don't believe me but ask me anything about 2014 and I could probably answer you with a firsthand account. Not that shit you read in textbooks or articles.....hell do books even exist in this day and age or did Publishing houses go out of fashion and ebooks are now the norm? I would have more questions but I'd rather ask them later."


Robin had set his augmentations to send a ping every 10 seconds within a 500 meter radius. It taxed his processor but he didn't need the processor just yet. For now, his mouth would do the talking as well as his apparent ignorance of everything 'modern.' Of course, sending out that ping was a smart move as it had alerted him to more people closing in. As if Julia screaming in his head wasn't enough of a warning, she just popped out of nowhere really.


You ass! Bail out right now! Someone just tripped the sensors and I do not think they are friendly.


"Well, speaking of 'that guy with too much road rage', I think he brought some friends. Now either we get the hell out and get your house miss Dreamless or we get out and head over to the a Reed Pharma held piece of property, namely a condominium building that has me, a few scientists, and my 'personal' guards as residents. You guys are also running into road rage man and his band of merry men...just saying."


He was primed and ready to run into opposite direction the moment Two would say "no" or either of them making any sudden movements. Robin should also learn to shut up every now and then.






Katriane had initially considered herself lucky when the vagrants invading her personal space happened to be two strapping young men. Not that she had ever been in a relationship, but if she was going to be inconvenienced it was nice to have something pleasant to look upon. The positive thoughts were fleeting when Two referenced being chased by someone consumed by 'road rage' and Robin made a snarky comment about the definition of uninhabited. With a beleaguered sigh she turned back towards them to look them squarely in the eyes. Roosevelt sensed the change in her attitude from 'melancholy' to 'pessimistic and slightly annoyed' and gave them a menacing look that was much more intimidating than any stare Katriane could produce.


"First of all, you know what I meant by 'uninhabited.' I don't function well in crowds and creatures of the wild are a lot less obtrusive than a human's thoughts. This just so happened to be a previously remote home close enough to the city I could get necessities and have my sister visit. And while your parley about 'road raging' individuals is slightly amusing, you should know I'm a bloody telepath. I am regrettably extremely good at spotting fibs, jogger man." Quietly she threw herself another pity party about being such a damned skilled lie detector. Ignorance was bliss and much more simple than the naked exposure to another person's idle thoughts and glimpses of memories. Mental networking certainly wasn't for lightweights and for those with secrets to hide. A few unintentional crossing signals here and there had made her key into what made deceptive persons good at what they did and able to spot more subtle tells. Not that Two likely believed he'd fool her with 'road raging.' He was being purposefully vague and ambiguous out of his own ignorance or a misguided attempt to protect her from the truth.


Katriane glanced towards the forest's canopy where several avian companions had perched with her pause. They hovered around, chirping as they jumped between branches and awaited further movement and excitement. As she fixated on the assorted flock they became suspiciously still and attentive before abruptly dispersing. At least a dozen spread in all directions from where they were standing and a second wave of slightly more took wing after the initial group. Katriane had politely asked them to survey the surroundings and find where other humans might be. They were eager enough to assist- especially since it was well known that she was generous with seed, fruits, and nuts as a reward for the most helpful. "I'll have my friends find where they are."


"Look, I'm not sure what either of you are. I really don't care what you've done or who's after you. I am heading back to my house, though, and you are welcome to join me and Rosie here. The goon squad that's presumably invading my forest will probably have the good sense not to try to do a home invasion. Even if I'm not the shining star of the Hero League, I am a member. What I'm certainly not doing is following some dude back to his apartment who has a hobby of chasing other dudes in the forest 'just to meet them.' Even in this century we have a little something called 'stranger danger.'" The way Robin had phrased his suggestion made it sound like they were almost on a date and he was inviting her and Two back to his place. She was pretty certain he had only good intentions and seemed to be honest about being cryogenically frozen- but the delivery left something to be desired.


Remembering the supposed urgency of their pursuers lurking in the far reaches of the forest, Katriane started to plod back towards her house with slightly hunched shoulders and her hands shoved into her pockets. Even though she had withdrawn from the 'hero scene' as much as she could over the years it had a way of haunting her. Did anyone else have these sorts of problems? Katherine hadn't related any tall tales of runaway aberrant arriving on her doorstep without invitation or expectation. "My real name is Katriane if you prefer to call me that."






The harmless man rambled on about the goings on of the current world and, as usual, Two was only getting more and more confused. Eventually, the other introduced himself as Robin Reed, a man that should have been dead, but was kept alive through cryostasis until recently.


When Dreamless snapped about the telepathy and the 'road rage', Two found himself suddenly embarrassed, and then angry. "Well, I'm sure glad you saw through that clever ruse. You know, my memory hasn't been that great in awhile... mind telling me a little more about what's going on in my own f****** head?!" he snapped, then flushed immediately and sighed. After a beat in silence, he spoke again, voice quieter. "Sorry... that was out've line. You probably already know that I haven't been able to really spread my 'secret' around, Dreamless."


He smiled a little, but his eyes didn't show the same emotion at all. They were, as they'd been since the incident, very tired. And, of course, grew even more-so when Robin announced he'd been followed, leading those after him right to himself and the others. Before he could even apologize, Dreamless cut in again on a rant. Two listened and watched, blinking.


So - she was Hero League. Probably for the best... at least he would hope. Either way, as they walked and she gave them her real name, he only felt more and more guilty about the trouble he was causing. He stopped for a second, cursed and spoke.


"Katriane, Robin. Go to the house. These guys are after me and, as much as I'd like to say I'm being 'noble' or anything by leading them away... I'm just tired of running." He laughed a little, but it was a laugh that lacked much joy or hope. "I'm going to either solve why the f*** they're after me, or let 'em take me back to... wherever is so god damned important."


Giving a salute, he took off running in the direction Robin had mentioned they were, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. If they were going to take him back, there wasn't a chance in hell they were going to do it quietly or without a fight.






Robin don't you f******* do it, don't you dare. Do-


It was easy enough to mute incoming calls and that also meant severing his connection to Julia and the rest. It would also help him gauge just how vital he still is to the corporation. His grand niece might just be smiling at the prospect that an ancient relic just decided to go commit suicide and leaving an uncontested reign over Reed Pharmaceuticals. He hadn't met her before and he could be wrong but he doubted that power grabbing just simply disappeared over the course of a hundred years. Even then, the chip in his head was tracker so they could still tracker him down if worse came to worst.


The target just ran away, the princess just ran toward her doom. No princess meant no cash reward and Robin was always hellbent on getting rewards of the monetary type. At the very least Martens would allow him that adrenaline controller unit installed into him if he brought this "Two" guy back in one piece. That upgrade could open up worlds to him. He could be harder, better, faster, stronger, like that Daft Punk song from Interstella 555 or their Discovery album. Good times.


Dreamless or Katriane as she called herself made it clear that she would have no business with them and went on back to her house to go feed Winnie the Pooh more "Hunny." He couldn't fault her for being that way, they were just strangers in danger, despite the fact that she just called herself a hero part of the "Hero League". Heroes aren't supposed to turn their back on people but then a hundred years could have easily loosened the definition of a hero. If that was the case, Robin wouldn't be surprised to see villains selling girl scout cookies assuming those delicacies his older sister used to sell still exist in this day and age.


It was obvious that these people have not heard of the name Stan Lee or even Marvel or DC for that matter. Robin would have to find an antiques store or some bookstore if those still exist and procure a copy of the New 52, all of them, and have his companions read them. Maybe even find and download the Dark Knight Trilogy and a number of Marvel movies, the one's with Samuel Jackson and co. in them and every X-men with Hugh Jackman. This generation needs a lot of schooling where heroes are concerned.


For now, he had to take up the moniker of Batman and figure out a way to sneak past Bane and his henchmen and lead the innocent Two to safety. Hopefully he wouldn't get his back broken by Bane also known as the Road Rage Man, ending his super hero career too early. That would be quite the shame. Robin had to run to catch up with Two, he would definitely demand to have that adrenaline controller installed in him when comes back. This contract for bringing Two in would supply him the money to purchase it from the Black Market.


"Two! What are you doing?! Two! Stahp! I help you!"


He sounded more ragged and out of breath than he thought he would be. His mind was still working fast but his body was already tiring out. His legs were burning to keep up with Two's cyber enhancements and the pings were more constant now, the people after Two were close and they needed a plan. Letting Two run off on his own is a waste of manpower.


"Two! You need plan....to stahp them! Two! Why you no listen?"


Robin was aware that he was sounding more and more Asian with every step he took.






Oh my, well, this was a familiar scene. Watching the two scurry away in a self-sacrificing manner reminded her of just about every half-baked hero with no sense of self-preservation ever. As she glanced over her shoulder to gaze upon their departing backs, her mind glimpsed back to Katherine, martyring pieces of herself to get that edge to defeat their enemies while the league sat by complacently. Was everyone truly willing to sacrifice themselves, their friends, and their families, only to push back the ever-present tides of evil and corruption one extra hour of one day? Katriane would never inflict loss on her only sibling, mother, and brother, no matter how bleak of a future she believed awaited them. Pain and suffering lingered on the horizon yet she stayed her coarse. Her moral compass was too strong to be eradicated; it merely twisted and bent such that she helped the cause of justice on her own terms.


A tide of irritation ebbed into resignation. No matter how well-intentioned, both had declined her offer of sanctuary even despite her persuasive offer and assurance these 'goons' would not so easily invade the dwelling. Robin had alluded to the fact he had some sort of cybermancy and the fact Two had enhancements- which led her to believe they could defend themselves without her intervention. Even if she had a mind to offer assistance she was piss-poor in melee. Two could pummel answers more easily out of the squad without her presence. With a sigh she called her red-tailed hawk companion to her mentally. Go keep an eye on them, she told him, flashing mental images of the two Unclassifieds before continuing on her way. It would not take that much effort to keep an open connection with this particular creature; he was one of the trio that she regularly relied on. As she strode forward back home he transmitted the world below his wings through her eyes.


Admittedly, it was a touch jarring to be striding through a forest, with a large bear at her side, and to also see stream of vision that was not her own. Lowering her hand to the shoulders of her ursine ally they gradually made their way back to the log cabin cottage. The exterior was completely covered in wood or stone that was made to endure a more rustic existence. No decor littered the outside as Katriane spent minimal effort on the aesthetics for her non-existent visitors. The address was etched into the side of the home and two signs hung at either door saying "Take off shoes before entering." The creatures that frequented were also given manners to follow but they could sadly not read any written instructions.


Roosevelt lumbered up the steps, mindful of his distracted lady, and they opened the door they found Lark Pensley standing there. He impatiently tapped his foot and Katriane once again noticed his rigid posture and vexing disposition. On more than one occasion she had played a game of trying to determine if he was constipated or merely unhappy- but it was impossible to discern. "Ah, Lark. You look like you might need to use my bathroom. Something lodged where the sun doesn't shine?" Lark's eyes flitted to the large bear but he remained typically unimpressed. Katriane, even in her most cynical moments, was not depraved enough to try to encourage her beast to attack him. Still, her insolence offended him nearly as much as his entire being offended her.


Considering how well her interactions with the three men she met today had gone thus far, it was no wonder she was eternally single.






He was running, only vaguely noticing the trees whip past his vision. Running toward them this time, instead of away. Was it stupid? Of course it was. But, as noble as it might have seemed, Two was sick of the way things were. The constant fear of being hunted, moving from city to city and job to job. It was tiring and it was coming to an end.


Or so, he hoped.


A voice called out from behind him, out've breath and gasping. The tall male stopped, stumbling just a little at the sudden halt. How fast had he been moving? He looked around, mouth agape for a second before shaking away the feeling. Robin approached, still running, but Two could not afford to wait. "Stay back, damn you. This doesn't involve you and I've made my choice," he spat, angry that the other had even tried to follow him. "Go back to the cabin and forget this ever happened. I sure as hell will." He grinned bitterly, thinking to how his memories would be 'reconstructed'.


Giving a wave he was off again, even faster this time, but his run was a short one. Before he knew it, he'd run into a clearing where four men stood, quickly raising strange looking weapons. The first spoke gruffly as the others began to circle him. "We 'ave him, boss," he said cheerily into an unseen comm., gesturing his odd pistol toward the other. "Yessir, we'll bring'm in soon."


Tapping his earpiece, the man strutted toward Two and pulled up his mask, sneering toward the other, taller, man. "So, yer' the poor sod we've been tracking all this time. Yer' good at slippin' away, I'll give ya' that." Looking behind Two with steel-grey eyes, the body-armored gentleman shouted out to the others. "Non-lethal, boys... but dun' be afraid to show our 'friend' here how much trouble he's caused us," he finished, looking back to Two and grinning. "Dun' worry, you'll be back home in no time."


Gritting his teeth, Two watched as the first armed man advanced at him from the left, sights of his gun trained directly at his forehead. The closer he got, the more Two's fists shook. His breath began to huff from his nose in steady, harsh exhales. quickening until the man reached out to grip his arm and restrain him.


The ragged breathing stopped.


Two's hand snapped up, gripping the other's wrist and squeezing. There was a crunch and it buckled inward. Without thinking, Two pushed forward and threw the other, meaning to make him stumble and drop his gun. Instead, the man lifted off of his feet and soared into the soldier on his left, leaving them both in a heap.


"Wha--wha?!" Two stammered, looking down at his hands that had resumed shaking, this time out of panic instead of rage. His ears began to ring, vision fading in and out. His stomach turned knots and he stumbled, falling. From what sounded far away, an echoing voice was calling for a pickup for the wounded. "I-I-I," he struggled, scrambling backwards with his hands and feet to try and get up, try to find cover.


Hiding behind a group of trees, the tan-skinned male leaned over gasping, shuddering breath after forced breath and trying to stay quiet. "...Robin was right. He was f****** right. What'd they do to me?" he whispered, hoping that the team after him would call of the search for medical assistance.






His lungs burned and his legs ached as he tried to catch up with Two. The man was definitely moving past a human's limits and yet he didn't seem like he ever broke a sweat. Then, Robin was caught and Two ran off even faster. He took solace in the fact that he could still track Two despite losing visual contact of the cybernetic man. For now, he'd take a moment and catch his breath. However, the comms suite came back online, apparently mid-sentence.


-Right on top of him! Robin, I know you heard me for the past few minutes. Get the hell out of there, Two's surrounded!


Robin momentarily enabled the two way function of the comm suite.


"I can sorta tell, Julia. The guy looked like he had a death wish or at least thought to be noble, like a hero. I can't exactly leave him and you guys promised me an upgrade if I got this job done. Plus didn't you need to run a stress test? Well what about the rest of the functions of my processor?"


The burning in his lungs subsided and his breathing had become a little bit more stable after that momentary break. He began jogging at brisk pace through the woods to where Two seemed to be. He kept switching between normal and thermal optics to keep track of heat signatures and not run into trees as he jogged. He also didn't want to be winded by the time he got to Two after all and the man did have cybernetics installed into him, as long as he had those he could still pack quite the punch or at least that's what Terminator taught him. Cyborgs are scary and so are murderous robots, Two seemed to fall under the former.


You idiot! Bail out now, he's not worth it.


"He's not. The upgrades are."


Looks like he wouldn't be getting support from the team after all. He shut the two way connection but kept the incoming transmission just in case they decide to realize that he was dead set on this job and actually support him.


A number of heat signatures came into range not long after. No doubt that was Road Rage Man and his band of merry men, Two was either among those signatures or in the general vicinity at least. The first order of business was finding Two, the next would either be eliminating the pursuers or leading them clear of the forest. He wasn't capable in a fight but there could be a chance he'd succeed of he kept taking them unaware, much like Batman minus his utility belt and other signature weapons and proper knowledge of several fighting styles that may or may not still exist.


Of course, his job was made easier by spotting an isolated heat signature that didn't move. It wasn't that far from the main group but normal vision showed that the thick treeline kept it hidden well. He had to approach carefully though as it could just be one of those guys after Two. A few agonizing seconds later and he was able to confirm that that isolated signature was indeed Two, unless everyone's limbs started to emit more heat than their bodies.


"Two, let's get out of here before we're spotted."


Robin decided to come out into full view of the cybernetic man. Of course, he didn't expect this fearsome cyborg to look like he was having a panic attack.


"C'mon, we don't have much time for this shit. You can panic later."






The being called Two sat, looking at his hands in disbelief again. A voice startled him and he clenched his shaking fists again before the voice's owner stepped into view. It was Robin, of course. "Y-you were right," he stammered, looking back down at his hands, flexing them and testing just how real they felt. "Maybe I've just gotten used to 'em..."


When his voice trailed off and Robin snapped that they didn't have time for panic, Two stiffened and glared at the other for a second. A beat in silence passed, but he nodded . "You're right, damn it. I need to keep it together, at least until we're outta' the frying pan," he said, voice trying hard to slip back into his usual tone, albeit a bit more whispered.


Looking past their makeshift cover, he noticed a couple of the mercs loading up the wounded, but soon they'd be finished and back to looking. The 'leader' - the now-unmasked and very battle-hardened looking chap - searched around the treelines with the instinct of a hunter, his weapon at the ready. "They'll find us soon if we don't get gone. Think we can sneak off without making too much noise? Or... could we outrun them?"






"We've got two choices. We sneak away or we stop them here, at least the way I see it. Outrunning them may be possible for you, but not me. If we get spotted, I'm as good as caught. I'm no terminator, Two."


Robin did have to point that out to Two in case the man forgot that he was a cybernetically enhanced man and Robin was just another fresh twenty year old out of cryostasis for the past hundred years. Regardless of their choice, Robin was still at a disadvantage compared to Two. If they chose to fight, Two would have to do most of the heaving lifting until Robin could get his hands on a weapon. If they chose to ran, Two would outrun Robin who won't be able to outrun people at their physical peak. Sneaking around seemed like a nice bet but he wasn't exactly sure about Two's current disposition and mental state, who knows what could happen.


"I'll defer the decision to you, Two. I'm not exactly good at this past video games. I'm able to keep track of everyone in a 500 meter radius as well as tap into their communications if their frequency isn't encrypted or if I can get my hands on one of their radios. If you can find me I gun, I'm sure I'd be a good shot with it, especially with the augmentation in my brain. Well as long as you find me a weapon, I think I can help fight them. So we sneak, fight or run."






"Madam Grivel has summoned you," Lark stated, ignoring her jab. To comment on it would only encourage the woman into borderline insubordination. It was a shame that such a prolific telepath was so difficult to work with. More than once Dreamless had explained that there was a 'price to paid' with telepathy as with all powers- even if hers was more difficult to discern than most. And so here was, visiting a woman that lived in the middle of nowhere, considered a grizzly her best pal, and whose words were more cynical and pessimistic than were tolerable. If she didn't pride herself on being such a pain in his ass he might have some small amount of pity or empathy for the woman.


"I'm sure she just wants to thank me for keeping a positive attitude," Katriane remarked before sighing. "Today was the first day of classes, wasn't it? I'll need to take care of a few things here but I will answer her call later this evening." Lark opened his mouth to object to the ambiguous response but then considered briefly. It was extremely rare for Katriane to tarry behind; usually she had something snarky to say about how her solitary lifestyle had so many exciting things to do. The superhero was also incapable of flying and had to find more mundane means of transportation such as a car- or annoying the crap out of a peer who did have mastery of flight until they acquiesced to her request. No doubt Madam Grivel wanted Katriane to be there yesterday, but he still had to visit Katherine and with any luck they'd arrive together before the day was over. He pursed his lips together. "Very well."


Lark took one last glance around the cabin discreetly. For as ordinary as it appeared on the exterior, the interior was quite lovely. Without the 'distraction' of other people to please, Katriane had funneled quite a bit of money, time, and energy into her decor. Much of the furniture was made of carved wood that had been beautifully shaped and lacquered to endure the test of time. Original paintings of flourishing landscapes were interspersed with tapestries that were woven with rich warm colors that gave the space a sense of coziness. No expense had been spared for there was no shoddy construction in sight; this was a refuge that would suit many a man or woman with deep pockets.


"Out out out, I have a date," Katriane urged as she noted his distraction and hesitation. Before the larger male could completely comprehend the absurdity of someone like her having a date, he had been nudged out the door by Katriane and Roosevelt in concerted effort. In a mixture of irritation and exasperation, he turned sharply on his heel and departed. What poor soul had been suckered into a date? Perhaps Katriane would report to the league more quickly than he initially anticipated.


----


As Two and Robin spoke, a red-tailed hawk circled above and slowly descended through the forest's canopy to alight on a nearby branch. It was strange to have such a predatory bird demurely sitting beside them, but yet there he was. He stared directly at Two as if he awaited an answer to Robin's query, cocking his head to the side and briefly fluffing his feathers to show impatience. Time was of the essence.


-----


"You know, Roosevelt, this is why I don't like people in my forest. Peace and tranquility they said. Isolation they said. Good for the soul they said." Roosevelt was unable to understand Katriane's spoken words but he yawned and sprawled on one of her rugs comfortably. Her furniture was arranged for this purpose- so that her four-legged friends could find space for themselves if they were invited inside. Katriane sighed. She desperately wanted to help people by and large, but often her intervention was rewarded with the knowledge of the flaws and vices of those she valued. What was worse- eternal loneliness or crippling repetitive disappointment? With a groan she sent out the orders to one of her flocks- she'd help the two men- but just this once.


----


No more than a few seconds had passed after Sir Hawk had joined their company than the pair of technologically-enhanced gentleman watched a horrifying swarm of insects coalesce from previously unseen corners of the wilderness. The most terrifying portion of this impregnable cloud was a angry wasps and bees that buzzed with malevolence. The men after Two and Robin had guns and other weapons, but they had most likely not prepared to be met with antagonistic stinging denizens of the forest. Ants, cockroaches, and other unsightly bugs followed suit as they crawled through the twigs and grasses of the ground in a steady advance.


It was a distraction- an opening for them to flee. The perched hawk screeched at them once before spreading his feathered appendages and slowly leading them in a direction away from their pursuers.






Two looked up at the other and, as he calmed down a bit, listened to the suggestions. "Well, keeping track might be damned helpful, but if I can't control whatever the hell it is I do, we might be in more trouble than if we tried to sneak off."


The man sighed a bit, rubbing his head as his thoughts snapped this way and that, trying to form a decision. "Fine..." he muttered, crouching forward. "I'll try to get you a gun." Sneaking forward just a bit, he peered around the bushes and readied himself to step out when he heard something. A hawk watched him, perched not far away and tilted its head to them.


"Dreamless."


Backing up, he hardly had time to react when a swarm buzzed from nowhere at first, followed by a small army of bugs from underfoot. "Looks like we've got ourselves a guardian angel, Robin," Two said, smiling like he'd not in quite a long time. "Let's get gone while we still have the chance, shall we? I'm sure our previous 'host' is waiting for us."


Pointing at the hawk, he moved quickly but carefully toward where it lead them, hoping all of this was a sign of better things to come...






"A guardian angel huh? Well whatever. as long as those guys are occupied with the whatever the hell it is that's making them squirm and writhe on the ground or generally just scream like little girls keep, I can outrun them. I hope?"


He had been keeping track of the guards even when before he showed himself to Two. They were alert and pretty much ready to beat Two and possibly Robin to within an inch of their life. After that came screams and something about a swarm of bugs. As if to reinforce the point, the communication line he tapped into seemed to have some sort of steady background noise when there wasn't a few seconds earlier. So they didn't expect anyone to listen in on them which gave Robin the impression that they were just there for Two.


He was too preoccupied with finding an open frequency and tap into that to notice the bug swarm past him, he may have been subconsciously aware of it but his current task was to give himself ears as well as eyes against the pursuers. It was only after Two said the name "Dreamless" that he began becoming more aware of his surroundings again. He thought that she'd abandon them honestly. Two followed a hawk not long after.


Robin broke into a jog after Two. He can't keep up with Two but if they had a general direction to go to and a guardian angel watching over them perhaps keeping pace with Two doesn't have to be a necessity. At the very least, if the cover was only for Two, Robin would have some energy to put up some semblance of a fight.


"Where do you think this little bird is leading us?"






The red-tailed hawk was suspiciously conscientious of their progress. As Two sprinted ahead and Robin lagged behind it circled around patiently, expertly dodging in and out of trees and watching them with keen interest. It guided them to a small clearing in which there was a cabin nestled. It was not quite as small as might be expected for Dreamless's home; it was two stories and looked to be close to 1500 square feet if not more. Size aside, it had all the rustic charm for a woodland retreat- completely created out of wood, with a front and back porch, and some stonework around the foundation and chimney. Sets of tracks led both to the dwelling and away from it. Most notable of the prints were Dreamless's (the only humanoid pair), that of a cougar, and that of Roosevelt (which were still fresh). As soon as they reached the threshold, the hawk flaw to the railing for the back porch and perched there with contentment, preening his feathers.


Dreamless had cut off contact with her avian companion once she saw the two men safely withdraw from looming combat. Her friend knew where to bring them and did not need further instruction, nor did she need to expend energy to watch two unclassifieds stumble through the forest. Even if she was a little lonely for affection now and then she certainly wasn't desperate enough to watch something so inane. The bugs that had assisted her had been told it was to help protect Dreamless- and most in this forest liked her. She didn't eat or squash them and there was a peaceful co-existence; if anything, they saw other humans as even more of a threat than Dreamless herself did. When there was an 'invasion' they were all too happy to help protect their home. Most of the animals feared the day when the strong tree trunks would be ripped down, vegetation trampled on, and the earth made barren for some sort of human development. She had promised to help make sure that didn't happen- and that is why she owned several acres of 'under-utilized' forest.


When she heard the approaching footsteps of Two and Robin, the insects were told they were now safe and could leave the other men alone. Most did, but the overly aggressive bees and wasps fought on valiantly. Dreamless had found them to sometimes have a complex that made them a little frightening. She had sprawled on her sofa without much care for how ungraceful she appeared. Heroic deeds, no matter how miniscule in the grand scheme of things, were exhausting. Her mental energies retreated and she was Katriane once more instead of her other persona- not that either escaped her pessimism.


As she had promised Lark she'd see Madam sometime tonight, she reluctantly turned her thoughts towards food and cooking. Years of cooking for one meant she wasn't exactly sure how to feed anyone besides herself. Well, once they came in she could try to encourage one of them to help her with that. If she could grant them a brief respite and sanctuary then couldn't they fry a few eggs or something? "Take your shoes off at the door!" she yelled. Roosevelt lifted his head from where he was laying on the floor, eying the threshold to see what appeared and make certain it wasn't outwardly threatening.






Two hadn't realized how quickly he was moving until he'd stopped and realized Robin was further behind him by a ways when he spoke, asking about where the bird was leading them. Calling back, Two couldn't help but give a half-smile. "If I was a betting man, I'd say back to a certain cabin."


After catching his breath, Two started off again - a bit more slowly this time. Soon, he approached the cabin, a bit taken aback by the size of it. It was, however, very homey and felt inviting - he just hoped not to be a burden for too long. Especially now that he partly knew what he was capable of. What if he accidentally hurt someone or one of the animals? What if the people that had done this to him had a failsafe in place and could control him?


Shuddering, he put those thoughts behind him and moved to open the door, greeted with a shout to remove his shoes. Blinking, he did just that and stepped forward into the cabin, avoiding the bear and watching it cautiously.


"Dream-- Katriane?" he called out, trying to judge just where he should be heading in the cabin before tromping around into somewhere he shouldn't be. The circumstances were strange, but he was still a guest and he'd act as such going forward - even if that meant making damn sure he didn't accidentally crush something with his untrained abilities.






Robin would have had some response to Two but somehow he simply couldn't say it. The reason must have probably been the burning sensation in his lung and the fact that his legs were screaming for him to stop trying to catch up to the cyborg.


He found Two taking a break a short distance ahead of him. Following the example of the cybernetic man, Robin too took a breather. Now the only problem was that Two's breather was so fast it probably wasn't a breather to begin with. No sooner had Robin stopped when the cyborg continued moving on. The concept of fatigue may be lost on the cyborg after all. Robin tried to move along as well but found himself unable to do so. Instead he'd just have to settle on catching up the cyborg a little bit later.


On top of being tired without a doubt about it, the network reception in this part of the woods was nonexistent otherwise he was sure Julia would be giving him quite the lecture right about now. He had reopened his communications functionality and got silence as a response. Some small part of him was thankful though, being disconnected from the future world in this small corner of the woods reminded him of the times he and his friends went out camping for the weekend. No reception, no technology, just nature at its basest, which seemed to be quite the scarce kind of environment.


His worn out body would need to rest, hopefully whoever was on their trail was still far behind for them to catch up to him. He couldn't afford to wear himself out unnecessarily, doing so might just make him the easy target for whoever was after too. Besides, Robin himself wasn't sure just how far down the path Christine Robin's cabin was and if pooh bear and the gang was with her, maybe Robocop made it to the cabin already.


"Damn...a hundred years....how the hell am I supposed to fit in?"

 
Katriane a/k/a "Dreamless"- Her Home in the Middle of Nowhere


Katriane raised herself from where she was lounging on the sofa languidly, moving towards Subject Two with more grace than he might expect. She leaned closer and closer to him (assuming he was not adverse) as she stared squarely at his face. Robin had mentioned that the man was a cyborg and would near repairs but her own visual inspection indicated he also needed a god damned towel. With a shrug to herself she sauntered into the kitchen with a gesture for him to follow. Roosevelt let out a yawn that sounded more lethargic than ferocious and rolled onto his other side. Had he not been a create of several hundred pounds it might be cute or comedic- instead it was merely bizarrely terrifying. "Dreamless, Katriane, Kat, Kitty McKatterson- you can call me whatever you like. Roosevelt and Mittens certainly don't answer to their names so I'll know you mean me. Let's get you cleaned up while Sparky trudges along." She'd hold off on telling him that she had to jettison to the Hero League shortly. Having a half-man half-robot that was spooked by himself, swimming in self-denial, was enough to keep him occupied mentally and emotionally. Even Katriane had a little more social grace than to abruptly note that he was an Unclassified and subject to being deemed a threat by a bunch of humorless self-important twats. Their hearts might be in the right place but they were so exasperating. There were graveyards that had more appreciation for her witty commentary and they were a lot less exhausting to keep up with too. "Do you want something to drink?"


The kitchen was predictably homey and vibrant, the walls painted a golden yellow and the cabinetry a seemingly flawless cherry stain with continued hardwood floors. It was not completely spotless, but neither was it in disarray: the sink had only a few dirty dishes, all the knives were in their block, and the counters were free of any obstruction or litter except for an old bottle of beer and a half-eaten bag of chips. Katriane liked to joke that heroics required a lot of calories- even though she was rarely a participant in combat given the utility nature of her powers. As she awaited an answer she reached under her sink and fetched a dark red towel that she had used on more than one occasion to clean up her own blood when there was a scuffle. It was freshly laundered even if it was stained from prior use. The lithe blonde stepped forward and handed it over to the oblivious Subject Two as he stood there. Did he even realize what he looked like? Would a mirror instigate a freak out session? Her 'cabin' had a lot of things she preferred not break immediately.


Seeing as Robin was tarrying behind, Katriane also sent orders for the red-tailed hawk to make certain that the other male make it safely to her residence. With a little more reluctance than before the avian took flight, beating its wings several times as it twisted through branches and whizzed past other wildlife lingering in proximity to the retreat. All the animals knew Katriane had a soft spot for them and was likely to hand out 'leftovers' on a whim. The arrival of armed men had also driven smaller creatures- rabbits, squirrels, birds of varying sizes, and the like- to her abode for safety. Once he found Robin on the path, heaving and carrying on with perspiration rolling down his face, the bird let out an annoyed squawk. Its reward would only be gifted once he was at Katriane's cabin. It circled several times in impatience before darting forward and repeating the process to make absolutely certain the slow two-legged human kept up.


@Grin , @Sol

 

[Ozmic]

[Redacted] - Alias: Subject Two


A Home in the Middle of Nowhere




​

As Two stepped into the home and called for the house's owner, Katriane rose from the couch to greet him, moving fluidly. Stopping before him, she leaned closer and closer, causing Two to blink in surprise and meet her eyes, studying them as she seemed to study him. The sudden closeness wasn't exactly unwelcome, just unexpected. When she moved away, he exhaled and blinked again, a bit taken aback by the exchange, but following her anyway.


When she started naming off names, he gave a half-smile and a nod, then let her finish. "I think I'll stick with Kat for now," he stated, grateful that she'd mentioned getting cleaned up. He wasn't sure just how bad he looked, but he WAS certain that he'd taken a few bumps and scrapes along the maddening path his morning had lead him down. "I'd offer a name myself but, honestly, the only thing I've got to go on right now is Two. Subject Two, if we're going to get technical."


He smirked a little at this, but the smirk didn't meet his eyes. They were worried and hopeful all at once. Sighing, he rubbed his head. Was this over or just beginning? When she asked about a drink, he snapped back to reality and scritched his chin. "Well, if it's not too much to ask, a beer sounds just about damned perfect right now," he stated bluntly, looking around at the bright kitchen. It was full of color, an opposite to his host's seemingly dismal attitude, but at the same time fitting of the home and its owner.


Taking the towel that was offered, he began to dab his face, wincing at the bits that hurt and growing slightly concerned at the bits that didn't seem to. There was feeling, of course, but it seemed masked by a sort of numbness, especially around one eye. Chocking it up to just nerves or shock, he ignored it for the time being and held the towel out, not wanting to set it down and possibly stain something. "So 'doc'," he joked. "Just how bad of shape am I in?"

 

[Sol]

//Satellite tracking initialized//


//Target: Robin Reed//


//Target located//


//Recording video feed//


//Streaming//


//Gotcha, you fossil//


Robin had already lost sight of Two. No doubt the cybernetic man had already made it to the cabin by now. His target was on safer grounds at least if he was with a super hero. He actually had half a mind to just go back and report in, no doubt to a furious Julia Winston, an indifferent Randolph Martens and an invisibly disappointed Richard Kellam.


He had basically ignored their warnings and went off on his own. It was an irresponsible thing to do now that he had thought about it. His life wasn't just riding on him but the future of the sciences department as well. It would not serve him or the people around him to just go off on a dangerous mission and wing things, it would basically throw away the investment of his parents for his future. They had told him to make contact with this Subject Two and then pull out, nothing more. He intended to do just that, get a feel for subject Two and then leave the premises.


Robin resumed his trek through the forest to get to the cabin. The rest of this trip was simple, go in, talk to the guy, go out and report. Nothing to it. In fact, he might be able to wriggle in that upgrade seeing as he went beyond the call of duty and kinda sorta helped to keep Two out of the wrong hands. There was no way those three would say no, right? Still that decision was still up in the clouds, he'd know what their assessment was when he got there, for now it was just trying to keep his pace steady and getting the job done.


A squawk broke his train of thought as he saw a bird circle around him and then fly off again. Perhaps that bird may as well be a vulture in training, if so, Robin wasn't about to be its first practice meal. He'd see that fowl fry before it starts pecking his eyes out and generally flaying him alive or maybe dying on the ground. However, he was wrong and the bird was simply there to guide him to the cabin, although very annoyingly, squawking every five minutes as if it really wanted to be Kentucky Fried.


"Shaddap."


He couldn't be bothered to do anything more.


Eventually he had finally reached the cabin. It looked like any other cabin and didn't exactly radiate holy grail or something. Just a rundown cabin in the woods that was a prime spot for horror movies. He wouldn't be surprised if Jason Vorhees and co. just burst out of the bushes and gave him a new hole breathe through. He knocked on the door as soon as he reached it.


"It's me...the pizza guy."