And then Conrad came back.

[corragh]

<@Ahriman> That dreaded half-Scot, Fergus - dreaded, in the style of his hair, not in that he was some terrible person - meandered through the Sanctum's circular hallway. He had a tablet in hand, something that normally wouldn't be found there. And he was studying it, very intently. It was more luck that intent that kept him from running into anything. He was on to something, and this something was important.

<@Ahriman> Well, having wandered with no apparent aim for a good while, Fergus finally figured there were precious few other options at the moment. She he pulled out his phone, and sent a text to all the team members and prospectives that he had in his address book: "Good lead on Hayden and Conrad. Find Fergus for details."

<Suzthulhu> MEANWHILE, in another part of the Sanctum, Willow's phone beeps and buzzes. She dives for it, nearly knocking it off the coffee table in Conrad's apartment, but manages to rescue it before certain disaster. She's only a couple of words into the message before she's out the door and heading for the stairs, petals shedding from the roses in her hair and leaving a red trail behind her. Thunkthunkthunk, feet pound down the stairs because the elevator takes too damn long, and she's out in the hallway in an instant, looking first one way, then the other, until she spots Fergus down one side. Her feet are bare, as usual, and carry her swiftly to him. "Where is he?"

<@Ahriman> Oh good, Willow was there. He figured she should know as well, since, ya know, Conrad. "Hold one," he frowned a bit, having to hold off on what he figured was a good discovery. "I want everyone to be here who's gonna be here before I spit it out, I don't wanna have to repeat it 80 different times."

<Suzthulhu> "Alright." Lavender eyes narrow at Fergus just slightly before she asks, "Just tell me, are we going to get him tonight? Because if we are... I need to get some things together first."

* Midas would pluck a peice of paper from his pocket, and scribble something down on it. "I gotta jet out for a lil bit." Pushing that scrap of paper towards Gabriella. "Gimme a call or text sometime." Slipping up from the bench. Wiggling his fingers at Mikhail. "Nice to see ya again." He'd seen the man a few times, but never properly introduced himself.

<@Ahriman> He glanced at the tablet for a long while, then evventually gave a nod, before looking back to Willow. "Yeah.. I think so." The point of alerting the team was to gather them so they could go over it, and decide whether or not action was merited. He checked a clock off on a wall conveniently nearby, and wondered if the team maybe needed some expediency drills. But not one to stop there, he abused the power temporarily given to him as temporary head of security, and resent the same text to damn near everyone in the sanctum. Somehow. That text reads: "Good lead on Hayden and Conrad. Find Fergus for details."

<MarloCross> As soon as the text was sent, Marlo was up and ready, calling his mother to let her know something might go down. A text was shot off to Fergus, hoping to gain his location as he exited the room he'd been feverishly watching baseball in.

* Midas would dart off for awhile, only to return after a bit. Peering around he didn't have Fergus's number so he'd settle on looking for him the old fashion way with his eyes!

<Suzthulhu> WILLOW nods at Fergus, stepping back toward the hallway again. "I will be back then. I need to go... get ready for this. I won't be long." The usual cheerful tone of her voice has been replaced by a calm, even measure that sounds... angry. She goes back to the stairs and back up to Conrad's apartment to change and gather some... things.

<@Ahriman> Oh look! There's a Midas. And a Katie. And a text from Marlo. And Ashy. And Willow would be back. Texters were given his location; those who found him the old fashioned way were waved closer.

<Griffin> Griffin just knows that there's going to be a massive rescue tonight and shows up at the decided meeting place where the others were beginning to assemble, clothed plainly enough in jeans and a tee under a dark jacket. Apparently he'd met this Conrad person once, and there were people who cared to have him back, so he'd go along to help if allowed.

<MarloCross> Marlo had a stake in this, though less so than Willow. It was payback, plain and simple. Conrad, as much as the younger mutant butted heads with him, had taken on a huge risk to save Kayla. Now, Marlo needed to return the favor. Conrad was a resident of the Sanctum and, therefore, family in Marlo's eyes. He only hoped, as he spotted DeadEye, that he could be of help.

* Midas perhaps didn't have as personal a stake in this venture as others did, but Hayden had seemingly been a thorn in his new homes side since he arrived, and kidnapped one of his friends! Though he wasn't sure how useful he could be, that wouldn't stop him from volenteering. After all he had been on the failed attempts to rescue Kayla.

<Suzthulhu> True to her word, Willow returns soon enough. She'd been planning for this, it seems, and had even gone so far as to borrow a spare suit from someone on the team. Who the hell knew Willow had a figure like that? Well, Conrad knows, but seeing as how she usually wears very loose-fitting, comfortably flowy clothing, that suit fits her but damn, like a glove. At any rate, her hair is pulled back from her face, secured by its own thorny rose vines, blooming with miniature red roses. She has a backpack on over her shoulders, and as she arrives, returning to the meeting spot and glancing over the rest of the group, she shrugs it off and sets it down, unzipping it and shuffling its contents around a bit.

<@Ashlynne> Ashlynne Clark was glowing as brightly as a street lamp, the girl dressed in a form fitting tight black catsuit, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. On her back is a very large duffle bag filled with 'everything' from her dads Lab. Glasses, sparkles, sirens, shock sticks and a couple stun guns and multitudes of com units. All his lethal stuff had been locked tight away and, being a good father, he'd not told the kids where the key was. Grunting as she carries the bag she makes her way to the lounge. "Feeerrrguuss?"

* Midas would of course had taken the time to get his own uniform in order. The standard issue equipment being all he carried with him, he didn't wear uniform gloves choosing instead to wear a pair drving gloves. Those would allow him to use his powers..without trapping his hands inside of a golden glove.

<MarloCross> With his suit already on and helmet under his arm, Marlo steps over to Willow." Hey." He was just hoping to provide some comfort to the proceedings. Lord knows he'd be half psychotic if he'd been in this situation again." You ready for this?" He was hoping that came out as positive as it sounded in his head, a sort of 'Lets Kick Hayden's Ass and Get your Guy back.' kind of way.

<Griffin> "...Jesus, give me that thing, Ash. It's too heavy fer you to be carryin'," Griffin muttered, intercepting the young girl on her way to the lounge and politely removing the duffle bag from her hands as if it were a feather. Ooo comm units and shock sticks. "Y'goin' too?"

<@Ahriman> Though less-than-pleased with the turn out, there wasn't a whole lot he could do about how busy people were. "Alright, folks, gather up." He positioned himself comfortably, and held the tablet so as many people huddled around could see it as possible. "Now, I'm sure most of you are at least vaguely aware of Hayden. It's a bad person; he's taken one of our people, brought her back, and taken someone else. Well, this someone else - Conrad - had the bright idea to swallow a tracking device before he left. Now, I've been monitoring the signal, and it looks like Hayden's had him on the move constantly, so ordinarily, our hopes of getting him back before Hayden gives him up would be close to nil." He looks up from the tablet, which had higlighted several places on a global map, indicating where Conrad was taken to. There was no traveling between those points, though; it was always an immediate move from one place to the next. He glanced at the people gathered, making sure they were both listening and comprehending.

<Ivy> Crouched down as Marlo approaches, Willow satisfies herself with whatever's in the backpack and zips it closed again, rising to her full height. Her mouth twitches faintly as she looks at Marlo, considering his question. This isn't a Willow they've ever seen before, and the warmth in her gaze is completely gone, lavender eyes cold and calculating. "I have been ready for this. Hayden has no idea what he's dealing with." Her expression does soften a bit though, as she looks around at everyone gathered, and she manages a smile before looking back to Marlo. "If I forget to say it later, you'll understand, I hope, but thank you." And as Fergus starts to speak, she crosses her arms over her chest and listens.

<@Ashlynne> Giving Griffin a smile of thanks the girl lets the bag be handled by him before she looks back to Fergus, listening to the rundown. The girl looks down at her hip and the Zort gun she had strapped to it. Looking at the map again she tilts her head and frowns a bit, "How do we know he's not going to be stolen away again before we even get there?"

<MarloCross> Marlo gives her a nod in understanding. He left her alone with her thoughts and listened to Fergus's briefing. Deep inside he hoped he'd get to fly the team's Lynx. It'd be the first time he'd flown it on a team mission...

* Midas nodded as the recap was given out. Peering at that global map, and tilting his head. He stayed quiet curious to see what the plan was overall.

* Angel`Pearson just like fairyland trip, Angel was running late! This time because he'd taken the time to change into his trainee uniform thing and grab some things for Mikhail...The lack of skirt in the uniform was a little disconcerting, buuut it -was- plenty tight, and he still rocked his kneehigh boots with the pink lace detailing. He zipped through the courtyard holding a pair of sneakers in one hand, and smiling as Mikhail was spotted, calling "Latelatelatelatelate!" as he made his way for the rec center.

<`Mikhail`> As he hears Angel in his approach, he moves to quickly stand, sensing before words that it was urgent. Needing to go quickly, he glances to Gabriella. "I'm so sorry, I'll have to see you again later. This seems rather important." Tugging on his sneakers as quickly as he can he takes the small case Angel would have brought with his things and is taking off quickly after him to join the others.

<Griffin> He listened to Fergus then glanced at the others with fancy suits. He spared a moment to wave to Midas, the only other familiar person among the group of assembled people.

* Midas would return Griffins wave, before his dark eyes glanced back at Fergus.

* Angel`Pearson a smile was flashed Mikhails way as the sneakers and case were passed off before contiuing on toward the rec, bursting in and skidding to a halt on the edge of the group, falling into 'totally not late' nonchalant pose.

<Krys> The electrokinetic came in at a rushed clip, catsuit donned and comms unit already in place in her ear. She'd been on her way back from work when she got the call, hurrying to get to the Sanctum, get in her gear, and meet up with teh group. "Right, I'm here." she called out cheerfully, tying back her hair in a neat braid.

<`Mikhail`> Very thankful he had given Angel keys to his room, he is just now tying his sneakers and trying to figure out what the eff is going on. He flashes the young man a grin, noting the gathered group, but he is busily pulling on the spare wifebeater in his case, and then arranging a dozen throwing blades into a holster belt he cinches around his hips. Six to each side, the small blades fit easily and safely. He is tempted to whisper-ask Angel whats going on, but he just remains silent for the moment, pushing his case to rest against a wall to collect later, not bringing that with him. He takes a spot at Angel's side, his hand settling on the other man's lower back.

<Ivy> Normally, Willow would have greeted everyone with a smile, a wave, and a hug, but not tonight. Tonight, she glances at everyone present, just offering them a subdued twitch ot her lips or a nod, and the occasional mouthed 'thank you.' It's heartening to see so many willing to go into this for Conrad, regardless of how well they knew either him or Willow. When duty called for a family member, so to speak, people responded, and that's good to see. She'd likely get around to personal thank yous once things were settled and Conrad was back home safely... or... at least back home. She gives a glance to the backpack on the floor at her feet, then to the lump under the glove on her left hand where she's still wearing her engagement ring.

<@Ahriman> "That's just it," he looked to Ashy. "He's not there yet. But there's a pattern in their movements. They've been moving him between the same spots, in the same order, at the same interval, since they took him. I don't know if Hayden is just that uninspired, or if he's got such an entourage that he's just unable to switch things up. I don't know. But if the pattern keeps up, he should be here," he pointed to the tablet, indicating Salem's warehouse district, "in a few hours. Should be plenty of time for us to mobilize something, right?"

* Midas squinted his eyes at the location on the map. "An ambush?" He'd say, without adding if he thought they should ambush, or if it might be an Ambush for them.

<Ivy> Willow leans in to eye the tablet and the indicated place where Fergus expects Hayden to be soon. Greenish brows knit together thoughtfully. "What kind of warehouses are these? Finished flooring? How far apart are each of the buildings?" The closer and easier the access to the natural dirt and soil outside, the easier things might be for her, regardless of what's actually growing around the buildings. Flooring matters too; concrete is easy to bust and break through, but dirt floors would be better, and so would wood. If the concrete is too thick, she will have to find other means.

<@Ashlynne> Ash nods a bit, "Yeah.. it should be." The girl chews on her lower lip, "We'd have to be sneaky... incase he's got people casing it out, though.. right?" Honeygolden eyes slide over to Midas, giving him a bit of a wave. Did he still thinnk she was a crazy bitch? He'd let her eat his hamburger though.. so maybe not? Reaching down she picks up the hood to her suit, it had been altered a bit to allow her now long hair to poke out of it, like a head tail! She looks at the mask for a bit and decides it was probably best to wear this tonight, so she didn't give them away.

<MarloCross> THinking for a second, Marlo voiced his concern. Something was nagging at him. A Time Manipulator getting stuck in a rut? It sounded...Off." If I can say somethin'...We might wanna consider going into this like It's a trap. He might be trying to lure us in on his terms." He didn't want to back out, but the idea of it being a set up wasn't far out of the question, especialy when a guy knew what was gonna happen.

<`Mikhail`> Not at all knowing the city, nor the abilities of either the people they will face or those with him, he is relying on the others to formulate a plan. He is happy to go along with them and help, but for now he is silent, just drinking in the information as it comes and formulating a idea in his head of what exactly he volunteered for.

* Midas would offer a small wave to Ashlynne. Though still wary of her, he could put that aside for the mission. Afterall he was a bit confused over the whole last encounter in general, especially the little talk with Rick. Mind back on the mission however. Nodding at Marlo's suggestion of a trap. "Don't we have to assume that anytime we deal with him?"

<Krys> She didn't know the wharehouse district so kept quiet. She was there to lend whatever aid she could for the team, and she wanted to see Hayden put down just like everyone else. "Much as I hate to say it, Marlo makes a valid point." It was good to have her powers back, green eyes sweeping over everyone, getting a feel for what they carried on them that was electrical, pausing to flash Griffin a quick grin. No EMPs then, unless absolutely necessary.

* Angel`Pearson Oooo holster-belt, he was totally going to have to get himself one of those. He perked up to listen closely as everyone spoke, he'd only received the message with the basics on the upcoming mission so details were good. Ooo Ashy! A smile and lil wave was give over her way when she was spotted.

<Griffin> "Aye, the lad's got a good point. He's got to know by now that someone will have found some way to track your friend Conrad. It'd be foolish, goin' in without a backup plan or expectin' an ambush." He shot Krys a look, misunderstanding her grin and warily edging away a single step. "Be tryin' not to kill me tonight, please. I'm fond of livin'."

<@Ahriman> Fergus nodded around. "It's true, we have no way of knowing if it's a trap for us, or if us setting a trap would matter to a man who can just slip through time. There might be people waiting for us there, there might not. But we should at least try, right? I think, if nothing, he might just give up Conrad to get us out of his hair. I know Nick is probably more familiar with him than the rest of us here, and especially this building. But he's not here. So.. Griffin?" he looked over to the mostly-machine man. "Think you could find us a layout? Give us a better idea of what we're headed into?"

<Griffin> He listened with all of his attention, though he seemed to be in another world most of the time even now, gazing off into the distance absently until someone spoke his name. The cyborg didn't startle this time and replied once the download had finished. "Done. They're uploadin' to your tablet now." Too easy to find. It made him a little wary. "He likes playin' games with the Sanctum... I noticed that when I came across th' article from his theatrics in Great Britain."

<MarloCross> Marlo was happy that his thought was validated, but Krys skepticism of his intelegence still showed Marlo had a lot more people to convince of his worth, himself included. It was too bad he couldn't think up a plan. His tactical sense wasn't up to snuff," Before we go in, Can anyone gimme a boost?" A Kinetic Charge, to be exact.

* Midas nodded a little falling silent as he pondered. The young latino wasn't exactly a tactical genius. "What if we did something he wouldn't expect?" He'd speak up, raising an eyebrow at Marlo. "A what now?" Questioning gaze in his eyes.

<`Mikhail`> Glancing to Marlo,Mikhail's expression seems to echo Midas's words. He really has no clue what mutations this collective group hold, aside from Angel. His fingers toy over the hilts of those little throwing blades, his other hand still rested lightly on Angel's back. He is vaguely concerned and worried. Not for himself. He has no fear for himself...only for one of the only people he holds any loyalty to, and his hand clenches at Angel's back at the worried thoughts. A gentle kneading, his eyes flicking from the man, back toward Marlo.

<Ivy> Willow bends down, grasping one backpack strap and then straightening, picking it up and proceeding to slide her arms through the straps. It doesn't look particularly heavy or full, and lays closely against her back as she adjusts the straps more securely. When Fergus asks Griffin to find a layout, she turns toward him, waiting to see what he's able to find out about the area and its buildings. Once the layout is uploaded to Fergus' tablet, she edges a bit closer once again to take a look. Spaces between the buildings, if any, are noted for potential access to the ground itself. Also, she makes note of any windows. The warehouse is very large, but it appears to have a decent amount of windows. "Alright.... this works for me. If he's not there yet, then we need to come up with a plan quickly and get there before he does. Or..." She glances at Midas, lips pressing together. "Maybe wait until he's already there and surprise him. Any ideas how many other people he's got with him?"

<@Ahriman> Fergus shook his head. "From what little we've managed to gather, he's always got that teleporter with him, so at least one. He seems to be able to get henchmen pretty easily, so probably at least a few more. But he doesn't seem to like being surprised, so I think if we met him there, even if we didn't have anything set up, he'd be thrown off, and we'd get a good chance." He lowered the tablet and again looked over everyone gathered. "Rather.. you'd have a good chance. I need to stay here, and make sure he doesn't try anyhing on everyone else after you've surprised him."

<@Ashlynne> Ash listens to the discussions quietly, she had no real skills to offer. When Fergus mentions not going the glowgirl blinks, "At all?" The urge to volunteer for captain was obvious in her eyes though she does a good job staying silent.

<Griffin> "I'm searchin' for an updated map of the surroundin' area. No guarantees I'll be findin' anythin' good." He'd taken a look at the location on the map and was currently cross referencing the area with updated GPS information. "I was hopin' to find a security camera, somethin' useful," he murmured, looking thoughtful. He frowned at Marlo initially until he remembered the kid's powers. "I'll do it, if you want."

<MarloCross> "Thanks, Dude." He winches at the thought he of the alternative if Griffin didn't slug him as hard as he could," Or else I'm waiting to get my ass kicked before my powers actualy work." It kind of sucked needing to get pounded on before you could do the pounding.

<Krys> "Marlo needs someone to punch him." she said with some exasperation. She could do it herself except, well, electricity tended to do teh opposite to the boy. A glance towards Griffin as he offered, a brow lifting. "Careful, Marlo, he might either give you a huge boost..or break you. 50/50 chance I'm thinking." Buts he gave the kid a smile, turning to look to Fergus next. "You're not coming?"

<Ivy> "Might be good to have at least one or two... not seen with everyone else. I don't know, this is Conrad's thing. Maybe I could try asking for him back first." Not likely, but Hayden is a weirdo on top of being a psycho, and that whole chaotic evil thing meant he might just give Conrad up to be rid of the lot of them, as had been thought before. She nods at Fergus' reasons for not coming. "Who's leading this mission then?" She's ready to go, as evidenced by the fact that she's tugging restlessly at the straps on her backpack. "And how soon before we're ready to go?"

* Midas blinks a little surprised. He'd assumed Fergus would be leading this little shindig. Shrugging then, he'd nod as Krys explained what sort of boost Marlo was asking for. "Whats the plan again? Do we need too like i dunno..I mean whats everyone doing?"

<@Ahriman> Fergus shook his head at Krys. "I'm security while Conrad is gone, so I need to stay here and keep on top of it, just in case. Think you could lead 'em? Ash, hand out equipment? Everyone with powers good for a fight, be ready to use 'em," he nodded to Marlo. "Everyone else..I guess distractions? It'll probably be close-quarters, so make sure you all stay safe. I doubt Hayden would kill Conrad, even if a rescue is botched, so watch out for yourselves first."

<Griffin> "I didn't intend t' fry him. Honest." Griffin hid his hand behind his back, hiding the sparks that he'd been planning to discharge. Oops. "Here's fer hopin' then." He hoped as much as Marlo did that the poor kid's powers were operating at their full efficiency. Driving his fist as hard as he could into Marlo's jaw also put most of his weight behind a machinery aided blow. He shook his hand out afterward and swore under his breath a little, barely catching the talk of Who's the Boss for tonights misison

<`Mikhail`> Even if he didn't have the obvious reason for going...supporting something Angel thinks is important...and the secondary reason of knowing he -should- help someone even if he's never met them...he would want to go just to pay Hayden back for the horrible experience of that damned blue foam. He does perk up at mention of combat-worthy skills, nodding his head and looping his fingers through the circular ends of his current throwing blades. He knows how to use them quite well up close and personal even without distance throwing...aim is aim, even if it's in close combat. As Krys is appointed leader, his gaze turns dutifully to her, awaiting anything she has to say.

<MarloCross> He gave Krys the 'No Shit' look, with a bit more apprehension than irritation. He faced off with Griffin and put the helmet on." Aim for my.." WHAM! He flew back a few steps. The Helmet distributed the kinetics perfectly, as JJ had designed it-Clever little shit he was. Marlo shook the cobwebs out of his head. Yeah, you never punch straight on, you gotta drop it down on the guy, Right Griff?" Are we uh...takin' the Ly

<@Ashlynne> Nodding the girl scrambles for the duffle she brought. ( http://cobaltacademy.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=277 ) There were items for every non-lethal option that Jameson had worked up, as well as dozens of com units. Ashlynne began handing out things to people, explaining what they did.

* Angel`Pearson blinkblinked as punching Marlo was mentioned. He wasn't very good at the whole punching thing anyway. The kneading at his back from Mikhail brought a small smile, and he leaned over into him as he listened. When Ashy came by with goodies, things were accepted and stuffed in his messenger bag. Yay goodies!

<Midas> "Just give me a clear chance, and we'll bring a Golden Haydeen Statue.." He'd say to no one in particular. Peering at the duffle bag, and accepting the equipment Ashlynne handed out. Wincing a little when Griffin beaned Marlo. That looked painful...even it did help the guy. statue back*

<`Mikhail`> Looking at the things handed out as he pockets the com he comments idly to Midas's words. "If I can get a clear shot with one of these stun guns, it might slow him enough for you to get a second to touch him." Hard to focus on timetravel when you're spasming in shocks. Or at least he'd assume...he's never time traveled. His hand pets Angel's back once more then he simply leans in against the man, giving a soft kiss atop his head before they will be out on the mission.

<Ivy> "Thank you, Ash." Willow takes one of the comms earbuds and places it in her ear, adjusting it to fit properly. That was the only thing she took, however. And there's a
doubletake as Griffin hauls off and WHAMMOs Marlo. "That explains so much..." It's said to no one in particular, but it does explain quite a bit of why she sees him in medical so often! Having to get wailed on like that just touse your powers can't be healthy. "We have to remember what we're doing... this is a rescue mission... not a mission to get Hayden, am I right? If we manage to do both, then wonderful." Satisfied with the little earpiece in her ear, she clears her throat softly.

<Griffin> "....Hit just a touch harder than I was meanin' to. S'pose it works anyway." Overall he seems impressed with himself and distractedly sends off a final will and testament to his lawyer in the event that he can't return. "I'll be takin' one of your shock sticks, Ashy, if y'don't mind. I've got my own, but never hurts t' have backup...and...a readly accessible supply of power."

<@Ashlynne> Ash nods, givig everyone a smile as she hands out all the items. "No problem at all... dad made this stuff to be used. There's lots here so don't be shy about taking a couple of them." Handing Griff his stick she clears her throat and begins to snap some of the spheres to the belt that seemed to hang around her neck! What good was a belt to Ash if she couldn't stretch because of it? On her catsuit it was built into her suit like a collar.

* Midas the equipment he'd choosen beyond the usual comm unit being 1 shock stick, and 2 flashbang grenades. If it came to close quarters combat he had his own nonlethal way to defeat someone he'd been practicing with. Though the stick would be good in a pinch.

<@Ahriman> "Well.. that was a hastey exit," he frowned at where Krys suddenly wasn't. "Alright. Unless Marlo wants it?" Fergus shrugged. "I guess it's Ashy's lead. Or," he looked to Angel. "You applied to the team, right?" He didn't wanna have to leave security to the redshirts - unless Kevin came by - but if he had to, he would. "This is gonna be a seat-of-your-pants situation, so keep your heads and your wits. Marlo, if you can. The lynx is probably the fastest way to get there, before Hayden and company."

<Griffin> "....I want a damned suit." Griffin muttered something under his breath about seeing Jameson after this. He accepted a few flashbang grenades as well, fastening each to the utility belt that he'd brought along.

<`Mikhail`> He did snag one of those stun guns. It could come in handy, especially if by some chance he ran out of blades and shit hit the fan. Not likely, but new toys are fun. Glancing around to the others, he falls back into silence. It seems to work for him. The stun gun is tucked into an empty slot on the holster.

<Ivy> Willow does chuckle, just briefly. "I borrowed a suit from someone else who had a spare. It's a little... tight." But hubba hubba. "Look, I don't even care who leads or if we even have a leader... we need to get moving." Impatient Willow is beginning to get impatient! Who can blame her though? After weeks of this mess and everything else, she's ready for this to be over with. "If we're going in the Lynx, then that's where I will be, waiting."

<@Ashlynne> Ashlynne blinks, her glow fading as it's suggested it's her lead. "I... guess I could, yeah." Looking over to Angel the girl wills him to volunteer.. he or Marlo... they were team members, right? "If nobody else.. wants too.. I can try."

<MarloCross> "I'll follow whoever gets the job done." Marlo wasn't going to speak up for Mission Lead. It was something you needed to Earn. He started off toward the Sanctum's fun Inner Levels. Namely, where the Lynx was parked. " I'll go with you, Willow. I'm flyin' after all." It was why Sisip pushed for his liscence.

* Angel`Pearson blinkblinked, head snapping up as his name was mentioned, getting that 'deer in the headlights' look "..Oh! I uh, yes. Idid. I've rilly only been on a few missiony things though...I don't think I'd be very good leading anythingyet.." pointing over Ashy and Marlos way when he'd finished "Theyshoulddoit."

<@Ahriman> Fergus had a comm of his own, which he tapped into place and made sure was working. "I'll be monitoring you. Good luck, come back safe."

<Midas> "Why not just split us into two...one can back the other up.." He'd say as he stowed his equipment onto the apropriate loops and hooks along his own suit. Which even though he wasn't a full on team member, he'd never gotten around to returning since the C Teams botched rescue attempt. "Both can lead then..incase one group..well..yanno."

<@Ashlynne> Slipping her own com into her ear the young girl stared at the group, almost afraid. Marlo wasn't, Angel wasn't.. that left her. "Ok then.. Uhm.. Crippler? Get the .. bird into the air? Lets all get .. " She grins widely, glow returning, "Get to tha choppa!" Looking over at Griff she clears her throat, "We'll need you to guide us through this if we can."

<`Mikhail`> Glancing to Angel and sensing his sudden nerves, Mikhail slides the hand that had been at the small of the man's back up and back down in a petting gesture. Then, drifting it up to settle on Angel's shoulder to squeeze. But then...finally there is movement. So, he waits to see which direction the others move in toward their transportation. Happy to be on the outskirts of things for now until he sees how the others work together.

<Ivy> Willow glances back at Marlo with a nod. "I think you would do fine to lead, Marlo. You don't give yourself enough credit. Volunteer for it next time." Willow isn't a team member, and honestly could care less who's leading, so long as Conrad comes back in one piece. There's a touch of Mama Willow in her voice, which fades again when Ashy breaks through in her ear. "I don't mean to sound like a downer, but this is serious, so please... let's get our game faces on." Once out on the helipad, she steps aside to let Marlo go first toward the Lynx, sighing heavily.

* Midas chuckled a little. "Whatever you say Stretch." He'd comment, as he slipped on those drivers gloves as he headed off towards where the teams transpot awaited. A little nervous himself, but confidante that they would succeed with any luck at least.

<MarloCross> From under the Helmet, Marlo Cross took a deep breath, finding that angry center he holds just for these occasions. That part of his mind Insaniac ruined and used to turn him into a monster. He brought it out Bringing Crippler out for some air. He turned to Willow and nodded," We'll see how this goes. Sad to say I am one of the senior team members." Fighting since he was 16." But thanks for the vote of confidence

<Griffin> Griffin happily went along to board the chopper, following hte others out onto the helipad and....suddenly feeling sick to his stomach at the sight of the chopper. Please...please no. For some reason he didn't consider mode of transportation until now and felt his stomach twisting. This wasn't like a plane where he could put down the window and pretend he was in a car or an elevator....sweet Jesus. On he went, into a corner, where he probably curls up fetal position for the ride.

<MarloCross> Once to the Lynx, Crippler will go through the ignition sequences(or whatever) as the others would board....

* Angel`Pearson That petting at his back, and the shouldersqueeze afterward had him smiling....and when Ashy used that awesome quote Angel couldn't help bursting into a snickering giggle as he headed off with the group.

<Ivy> "Anytime." She boards and takes the seat behind the pilot, shedding the backpack to her feet before strapping in. And OFF THEY GO. Eventually.

* `Mikhail` follows Angel, the man's laughter quirking his lips up into a smile. Off to the chopper he goes.

[corragh]

<MarloCross> Say what you wanted about him, but the Human Wrecking Ball handled the chopper like it was a part of him. His natural kinetic gifts gave him an affinity for flight it seemed. As he neared the destination, he voiced over the Coms to Ashy," Okay, how close do you want her down?" He could put her right above the action or on a nearby rooftop.

<@Ahriman> ENOUGH TIME PASSES FOR THE CHOPPER TO GET TO WHERE EVER IT'S GETTING. The warehouse was familiar to some people; unfortunately, none of those people were present. Except Midas, and even then, he'd only seen the outside. By now, that golden fuse box was gone and replaced, even. From where ever the lynx landed, there didn't seem to be any activity, but as already discussed, that could have been all part of the ruse. Or maybe not. WHO KNOWS.

<@Kraken> Well Shannon was back to her normal energy self and fine physically or what passed as her physical body. Emotionally and mentally? That would probably take a little more time and a therapy session or two. And veteran of the X-Team or not with a clean record that not many of her xteamate past members could boast of - it just wasn't safe for the girl to go missioning just yet. Semi-pacifist or not, a depressed bomb was not a healthy choice to bring along on a rescue mission. Instead, there's Kevin, all dressed up in his reverse wetsuit and other assorted X-gear. Seated in the chopper like everyone else. He was ready

<@Ashlynne> A question? She chokes down the lump in her throat, "Not too close. Can we rapple down on ropes, then you land about five blocks away and kjump back to us?" She had no idea what she was doing but that sounded good. Pulling the mask on Ash quickly resembled a Putty from Power Rangers. A putty with a ponytail. Her com inside her suit still picked up her words.

<Griffin> "....Might I suggest somethin', Ashy? Y'may be wanitn' to put the ponytail away. Gives someone who's wantin' to hurt you somethin' to grab." Really, he was picturing in his head one of Hayden's baddies beating on the noncombatant but stretchy girl because he'd trapped her by winding up a fistful of hair. He waited with the others to go down and unboard the chopper whichever way they could, still looking just a little green. Well...It wasn't as bad as it could have been. He coul dhave puked. Seemed as if he'd just been recovering when the flight ended too.

<Ivy> Whichever way they got down to the ground is the way Willow would get out of the Lynx, backpack snug against her back as she calmly waited for everyone else to rappel down or get out or whatever. Reaching up behind her head, she upzips the top of the backpack just a few inches, all that would be needed. Until everyone else was down and out of the Lynx, she eyed the front of the warehouse critically. "It's too quiet, I think." She does see the windows though, and sees that many of them are broken. Broken is good. The ground under her feet stirs just a little, and whatever's in that backpack makes a soft rustling sound. Ominously.

<MarloCross> Crippler set the chopper in hover and looked back to the rest," Okay, hook on to the ropes and drop down at your discretion." As he said this, he popped open his helmet's faceless front plate and popped a pill into his mouth. Whatever it was for it seemed to calm him. Shutting the plate, he looked at the horizen," there's a parking garage not too far i think? I'll try there."

* Angel`Pearson a mask! He totally needed a mask...or maybe some slick ass goggles. Something. Repelling....Well, that would be an experience. He looked a bit nervous at the prospect, peeking out any available windowy things.

* Midas this would only be his fourth..or was it third mission. Repelling down ropes? That was new to him. Swallowing dryly, he'd go second to last. Taking a moment to watch everyone else do it before doing it himself. A decidedly unmanly squeel slipping out as he went down the rope when they arrived.

<`Mikhail`> It takes a couple of people moving ahead of him for Mikhail to get the idea of how it works, but quick minded he isn't shy about stepping up and following the others down after making sure his gear is secure against him. Pausing before he goes he glances to Angel and speaks softly. "It will be fine." Then he is on his way down, too. Wheeee!!

<@Ashlynne> Put it away? Oh! "Thank you." She was new at this! The Putty reaches up and winds her ponytail into a bun, fastening it back in place quickly. While everyone reppeled down the young girl simply .. launced herself out of the chopper, her skin stretching into flying squirrel mode as she makes tight circles downwards. Close to the ground she'd tuck and roll! Successful landing! "sounds good Crippler, don't keep us waiting."

<@Ahriman> It's quiet. Too quiet. The sort of quiet like in the movies, where something terrible happens shortly after the scene begins. No crickets being noisy, no vermin scurrying around, no birds flapping away, no gates or doors ominously squeaking, no footsteps with no discernable source. They were alone with themselves and all that eery silence.

* Griffin rapes his way down from the helicoptor

<@Kraken> Mask and goggles? Check for Kraken. Though his were more to continue breathing comfortably and live in the summer than standard equipment. Rappeling down a rope? Sould be easy, right? Nopes! Kevin was used to having suckers on his hands to aid in any sort of climbing. A drawback to his wetsuit was it rendered part of his powers ineffective - well covered over. But he would make his way down with out falling to his doom. This whole thing felt wrong... kevin inwardly cursed the summer weather... He'd be able to smell and feel the air better with his tentacles free...

* Midas unhooking the rope from his belt, he'd roll his shoulders a little. Straightening up a little, putting off that almost girlish squee he'd shrieked when he repelled down. Noticing how silent it was around them. "Thats kinda creepy..." It hit him then, he'd been to that warehouse before! "Theres a fire escape on the otherside that goes to the roof, if anyone can make that jump...or reach." As he remembered the escape was about fifteen or so feet off the ground.

<@Ashlynne> "Griff, can you see any sort of .. anything?" He was like her dad, wasn't he? Could look into systems? "We need to know if there's anyone here... Willow? Is there.. " What did Willow really do? All Ash knew was she helped heal people. ".. anything you can see? with plants?" God she sounded like .. the amature that she really was. "We need to find where they'd hold him..." How did you do that?

<Griffin> "Analyzing local systems fer any pertinent data. It'll be just a second, lass." There had to be something somewhere, everyone was modern these days, including super villains, so the next thing that Griffin did was search for everything electronic that he could, computer systems, security cameras, even electronic door locks and card readers. There had to be something.

* Angel`Pearson nodnodded smiling at the reassurance and followed after the others, avoiding screaming like littlegirl-Midas by clamping his teeth down. Hooooolycraaaaaaapppp-ohitwasover...and he'd step over to join the rest of the group.

<MarloCross> He pushed it a bit faster, but at a safe altitude. Hopefully he wouldn't be noticed by some one with a frigging bazooka. A Parking Garage with no one on the top was his target. He set down as fast as he could and secured the chopper before leaping to the ground. After all, he had to be closer to the earth to feel it move. Slowing his descent, Crippler touched the ground and readied the jump....

<`Mikhail`> Looking around to get an idea of his surroundings he is quietly waiting while the others do their recon. Watching Angel coming down the rope is amusing, and he can't quite help but grin. It certainly beats sitting in the courtyard idly. Looking back to the building, the eerie silence is noted, and though he has no powers that would at all help yet or sense why, he is keeping his eyes and ears pealed while the others discuss strategy.

<Ivy> Willow is not keen on wasting time with this, and as soon as everyone is on the ground, she starts toward the warehouse door. The ground rises gently under her feet with each step, small roots and vines noodling their way out of the ground and following along with her. "Plants don't have eyes..." She could sense things with them, presences, but only those in direct contact with the ground they were growing out of or in direct contact with the plants themselves. So right now, she's sensing nothing, but she's looking at that big garage door on the front of the warehouse. "I'm going to open the doors unless someone has a better idea." Along the front of the warehouse, the ground begins to split open, thick, woody tree roots boiling up out from the cracks and seams in the sidewalk and snaking their way toward the doors.

<@Ahriman> There are no obvious slights on inside; none that aren't always on in these sort of old buildings. Nothing seems locked, either. The building is appropriately run-down, but built in a time where people took pride in raising structures, so despite its disrepair, it was still sturdy and sound.

<@Ashlynne> As willow heads in Ashy stares after her, ".. but there could be traps? .. Willow, stop acting with your heart and use your head. We can't just barge in. I'm a KID and I know that. Griff, do you have ANYTHING yet?" Ash takes a few steps after willow, looking back at the rest of the team as she gives a bit of a wave for them to follow, "Everyone keep your eyes and ears open."

* Midas 's gaze would turn towards Ashlynne, he'd stayed put with the bulk of the group. Even his stint with the C-Teamers had taught the value of at least organized action. He'd watch for the plan of action to be formulated. But it was rather quiet...and as someone that had lived on the streets for a year and half it struck him as odd. "This ain't right." He'd say shaking his head. "I've been homeless...listin..not even the scuttle of a rat or the coughing of a bum.."

<Griffin> Griffin hooked up to the single camera feed that he found, directing it to Ashlynne's glasses so that she could view the same thing that he was watching. He'd also casually hacked the cell phone that he found so that it could operate as a cheaply rigged intercom for delivering audio from its location. "Aye. Have a look at that."

<Ivy> Willow hadn't gone anywhere near the door. She's still standing a good 10-15 feet away from it, in fact, and turns to look at Ashlynne. "That's why I'm using the roots to open the door." Speaking of those roots... they crawl their way up the door, winding through the handles. With a short gesture from Willow's hand, they'd try and pull the doors up, or out, whichever way they opened.

<`Mikhail`> Mikhail's expression is blank, whatever he is thinking is kept under wraps, but his gaze cuts to Angel, then away again. His fingers toy with one of the knives hitched to his belt, and the other hand flexes and relaxes into fists and out of them. He will remain there, still, until some plan of action is given.

<@Kraken> "nothing I can tell..." His covered tentacles were twitching and lashing about behind him. Nerves? Maybe, also likely just habit of normally being able to sense the world around him with the noodly apendages. He was calm though. Watching Willow's roots and the doors. Waiting.

<MarloCross> With a Rumble of thunder, Crippler clears the multiple blocks and lands a few yards away from the group. The dremamine thankfull keeps him from losing too much of his lunch in the helmet. He stopped to calm himself for a second then headed to the others as they prepared to head in. He took a breath and tried to 'feel' for footsteps within the warehouse, however difficult that might be for the young mutant's kinetic senses.

* Angel`Pearson noooodly noodly noodle. He stood watching as well, attention flicking Mikhails way with a small smile as he glanced over his way before back to the building, his hand resting on the messenger bag he'd stashed the goodies from Ash in. Marlo-Cripplers flashy hoppy enterance was mentally Ooooo'ed at as he rejoined them.

<@Ahriman> There are no footsteps for Marlo to feel. No people moving about inside, not even rodents scurrying around outside. Midas was probably right to be creeped out at the complete lack of the mundane background things. Willow's roots pushed the warehouse's obvious door upward. It wasn't locked at all, but age made sure it wasn't a smooth opening. The camera Griffin tapped into was stationary, showing Ash only a single empty room. And the cellphone, though it was on, had nothing of interest in it. Likely a burner, waiting to be used, or already discarded.

<Ivy> The roots are strong and wind themselves tighter around the door handles, some even wedging themselves under the door's edge to continue to wrench it upward and open. Once it's open a good bit, they recede, leaving broken concrete behind. "I think we're early." There's nothing inside that she can see... but the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

<Griffin> "I've got nothin', lass. I'll try the other two phones I've found, but everythin' about this is givin' me the creeps.....I hate to say it but perhaps we're better off goin' in half cocked an' makin' a whole lot of noise." He gestured to Marlo. "Early's a good thing, if we're exactly where he's plannin' to appear, we'll be the ones ambushin' him fer once."

* Midas would slip the shockstick from his belt. Even if the others weren't a little weirded out he was. Doing his best to push that nervousness aside. It made streets that he usually felt with ease in seem alien, strange, almost otherworldly to him at least. "Maybe we are..." He didn't quiet share that optimism, straining to catch any noise that didn't belong to his teammates "This ain't right at all.."

<@Ashlynne> Ashy winces at the sound. Well, smart move or not they were dedicated to it now. "Alright everyone.. I guess we go in. Stay close to the walls, nobody wander off alone without a swimming buddy." She shrugs a bit, "Well it's not like we have a choice now.. if there's someone in there.. they know we're here." Looking at the map again she hmms softly, "Griff, can you transmit this to everyone with a pair of glasses or a cellphone? If we take key points around the edge we'll have it really well covered. Right?" She looked over at him and though he couldn't see her face she was obviously desperate to be told she wasn't fucking up.

<`Mikhail`> Mikhail speaks in a gentl tone, not meaning any sort of criticism, but pointing out th obvious. "Not sure an ambush will work so well when it's obvious the doors been messed with. Might have to revise that plan." He has no other to suggest, however, a fact that wrinkles his nose into a look of frustration. "Aside from electronics,is there anyone able to tell if there is some typ of mutation-set trap laid on the building?"

<MarloCross> "I don't feel anything, either. No footfalls, no heartbeats...nothing." His faceless helmet looked to Griff, his voice cool," I cannot help that, sadly. My K-Jumps rely on a massive jolt. If I could silence it, I would." beneith the Crippler facade, Marlo somewhat resented the indication that he was doing it for kicks. He also could be imagining it.

<@Kraken> This all seemed weird. Still. Unexpected. "There is no early when you're dealing with a time traveller..." He pointed out. The way Hayden worked they could just *poof* appear in a cell somewhere within the building and not think it weird, because their memories would have shifted accordingly. This was a horrible method... Alert wouldn't do anything for them if they were ambushed before the arrived! Ug, now his head was hurting.

<@Ahriman> The intrepid rescuers get inside the apparently oft-used warehouse without any trouble. Way too easily. Once they're well and truly inside, the doors slam shut, the lights go out, and the ghosts come out. PIRATE GHOSTS. Not really. But when they've just about readid themselves for their ambush, there's a bit of an odd noise. It's low-pitched, and constant, and accompanied by a floating disturbance in the middle of an open expanse of warehouse floor. It takes a moment, but soon enough, a quartet appears. Well.. it's very briefly a quartet. Once the small squad is there, one of them - a tall man with tightly cropped hair - literally 'blips' back out, leaving the other three to..whatever it was they were brought to do.

<Henchmen> Two of them might look familiar to one or two of the people present, if they've got good memories for this kind of thing. They're both of an average height, one with short, blond hair, the other with a black, shaggy, somewhat unkempt cut. From one, intense cold radiates. From the other, scorching heat. Frostbite and Heatwave, two of the Pulse junkies from that laundromat. What are they doing here? What else? Someone's paying them, and Pulse doesn't buy itself. That shit's expensive. Frostbite wastes no time, moving away from the others, and encasing himself in a thick armor, created by freezing the air around him. It's sturdy, and covered in nasty looking jagged spikes at the shoulders and forearms. Heatwave moves to the other side, keeping away from his frozen companion, and the air starts to ripple around him, like a convection oven gone wrong.

<@Ashlynne> Ashy's sigh can be heard over the com as the lights go out. It wasn't a happy sigh. She hated the dark, she hated stupid quartets. Why did she come on this thing again? Oh right, because she .. wait.. now it's a trio? The teleporter! "Is that them?" She speaks quietly through the coms. "Do we.. just.. charge in?" Ash had no frikken clue. "No.. that's.. not them. Uhm... " Ash was obviously terrified beyond capacity for rational thought and it could be heard in the unease of her words. "Crippler?"

<`Mikhail`> At the first sign of doors slamming shut, Mikhail is lifting from his right side a throwing blade and in his left hand, the stun gun ready and poised in case it needs to be used. Instinct wants him to move in front of Angel defensively...but he knows better. He stays beside him, trying to inch to a place where as those figures appear, he has at least a small window through which he could throw. It wouldn't take much space, a few inches with his mutant-bolstered aim, but there he waits...poised with knife held by the blade and ready. He looks to the leader, asking in a voice just loud enough for her to hear. "Are we fighting our way out of this?" Never know, there might be a better plan.

<Midas> "I don't see Hayden." He'd whispered over the com, from his own hiding place...wherever that was. Gripping his shockstick tightly, as his eyes narrowed on heatwave. That was the douche that seared one of his hands. Oh how sweet payback would be...if he didn't end up with his flesh melted off his bones first. He'd hold his position though.

<Ivy> Once they'd gotten inside, Willow moves to one side of the group, not by herself, but far enough away that she's near one wall and one of the broken windows in it. She pulls the backpack from her shoulders and simply sets it down in front of her. It rustles again, and as the henchmen begin to fan out and take their places, what she's brought along with her begins to become apparent. Thankfully, she'd chosen the side where the frosty mutant started to encase himself in armor; frost is no friend to plants either, but Willow herself has a near catatonic fear of fire. When Ashy starts to babble fearfully, Willow speaks up. "Spread out. Stay away from the hot one, take him from a distance." Her voice is cold, angry. From the unzipped opening of the backpack, nettle vines begin to erupt, growing and winding, but not toward the bad guys as one might expect. Instead, the vines twist their way around Willow's body, encasing her in a thorny, poisonous shield of tough plant matter. "If Conrad isn't here, they know where he is. We fight." A second set of green, leafy plant matter spills out of the backpack's opening and begins to crawl across the floor, growing exponentially in size, sprouting large pink and green... traps. Traps armed with spiked teeth on the insides of them, dripping with crippling, digestive juices. Willow and the nettle plant move as one, roots wound around her ankles, the rest of her body covered in thick, thorny growth.

<@Ahriman> The third, likewise a man of average height, distinguished by slicked-back brown hair, takes a step forward. "Alright, like the man said. Make sure the perimeter's clear. You've got a minute before the boss and the package show up." He smooths a hand over his hair, but pauses halfway when there's a voice. And..vines? Well..this was gonna be a fun night afterall. "Forget that. We're not alone." He was glad his partners were wary men; his hand came down from his hair with a flick, depositing a thick glob of goo on the floor with a sickening wet plop.

<MarloCross> Crippler actualy held himself at bay for the moment untill he spotted the Greasy Monkey and his blob fiulled hair." Watch the greaser. Don't know what that shit does yet.." He set to helping Willow with Frostbite, Moving in to corner the icey mutant while keeping close track of the other two via his kinetic senses...

<`Mikhail`> Someone made the decision and so Mikhail reacts instantly. Taking a few spare seconds to aim, even if there is only a small window of space to aim through the people in front of him, he makes a sudden lunge-step forward and with a quick whip of his arm forward he releases one of those throwing blades in a shot aimed for the neck of the fire radiating Mutant. He knows it likely wouldn't get through ice, but -fire- he can probably handle. With his secondary mutation, his aim is very nearly perfect, even in the most difficult and downright impossible angled shots. So, here's hoping. He is also hoping that attacking really fast will be out-of-the-blue enough to catch the man unprepared to dodge. The benefits of being somewhat to the rear of the group.

* Angel`Pearson fire and ice guy were recognized, and when Mikhail asked his question he looked to Ash...When Willow answered for her and drew the attention of the baddie-types he frowned...Well, so much for follow the leader. He reached into his messenger bag to slip a pair of already dosed blades from a pocket inside, watching for opportunity.

<Midas> "What the hell are you doing The teamleader didn't give the signal!" Shit, they were all jumping the gun. He'd hold his position, his powers were touch based, he'd need to wait for an opportunity to present itself to either dart in, or lob a flash bang.

<Henchmen> Immediately, Heatwave does as he'd been instructive, and aims one hand at that glob of tar-like goo. The air ripples in a column, a wave of intense, superheated air rushing forward toward it, then igniting it into incandescent flame. The heat around him increases, and he narrows his eyes at the gathering. There weren't supposed to be people here. This was supposed to be easy money. It must be close to a thousand degrees near his body, and right now, he's just getting warmed up. Ha ha. The knife thrown by Mikhail enters that aura of incredible heat around him, but it melts before it touches him as he turns up the juice further, drops of molten, liquid metal hitting the floor with a sizzle. "Fuck is this, Sludge? Weren't supposed to be people here." He says, eyes narrowed still. His compatriot, the man encased in frozen armor, eyes the two that are trying to corner him. "Can it, Heat. We're getting good money for this, and you're not fucking this up for me." With that, the floor around him suddenly becomes a sheet of ice, and he slides, not toward Willow and Marlo, but away from them, instead sending blasts of cold from each hand toward the two of them as he moves backward.

<MarloCross> Crippler tucked and rolled. Hopefully , He might be able to absorb the blast's force-if any-at the cost of icing his right arm. His mind kicked into gear and called out to Ashlynne," Stretch, Ivy, I need a closeline on Frostbite!!!." He then brought his charged fist down into the rear of the ice slide, hoping to upset Frostbite's forward momentum.

<Ivy> "I don't think they were going to wait for her to make a decision." It's understandable that Ashy is scared and indecisive, but the three in front of them weren't going to wait, obviously. The sudden column of fire to her left gives her pause. A lot of pause. So much pause that when the blast of cold air hits, it doesn't register until the damage from the vines around her registers clear, <Ivy> singing pain. Willow shrieks, but her nettle armor twists around her further, growing to replace and cover its damaged bits. The man-sized fly trap continues to grow, and once its moving roots hit the ice, they both recoil and begin to slide, sending the heavy thing toward him with increasing, uncontrolled speed. The frontmost trap opens and snaps closed, lunging out toward the cold-blasting mutant. From out of the backpack though, likely unnoticed by the rest due to it's small size, a third and final plant has begun to inch its way along the wall. Inch. Inch.

<Midas> "And I don't think someone who's too emotionally attached should be making calls either." He'd snap back into the com, as he plucked one of the flashbangs from his belt. Gripping the grenade tightly, as he moved to take cover behind whatever debris might be around to do so. He'd saw the knife melt...he wasn't if the flash bang wouldn't follow suit if he tossed it towards him...but still..he'd pull the pin, and dart from his cover. Counting. "One..two..." Then send the grenade rolling towards Heatwave.

<`Mikhail`> Mikhail doesn't stop to pout or curse or even think overly long, instead he looks to Angel and speaks in a near-whisper since the man is right beside him. "Dose him. Maybe it will lower his ability to control the temperature, then I can get a shot in." He crouches down, yes, behind others but it keeps him out of the major line of fire, and if need be, he can dodge from that crouch.

<@Ahriman> "You just make sure the boss isn't too annoyed by these jerks, and you'll get your money. Now light me up." He repeated the action of smoothing back his hair with either hand now, one after the other. The left hand flung a glob near Frostbite; the right hand held onto its payload. At the same time, that familiar, low-pitched hum begins again. As does that floating disturbance, in the same place where the current trio had come from. Very soon, the henchmen wouldn't be alone. | MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE SANCTUM. Fergus, as promised, was monitoring the team via the comms, and was scowling at..nothing in particular. Maybe he should have gone. "Heads in the game," he snapped. He couldn't see what was going on, but the conversation didn't sound promising.

<@Ashlynne> Grabbing her zort-gun the Putty skuttered close to the ground and out of the way. Once she'd gotten over her obvious fear her weapon is aimed towards Frostbite and she gently squeezes the trigger. ZORT attack gooo. Was her aim true? Who the hell knew, she was pants-pooping scared right now!

<Henchmen> Forward momentum? But Frostbite is skating backward. But Jesus, now Audrey II is sliding towards him with unpleasant velocity. "What the FUCK?!" Both ice-armored hands whip out, and a double barrelled blast of cold tears toward the mutated plantlife, attempting to freeze it solid as Frostbite moves away and to the side, out of its path, and fortunately out of the path of the electrical attack as well. His armor provides surprising insulation against that sort of thing, regardless. Heatwave nods to Sludge, and then, well... turns up the heat on him, blasting the other mutant with a wave of searing, superheated air. "Flame on." He says, smirking to himself as the blast ignites the other mutant like a living effigy. He then turns his attention toward Angel and Mikhail, as they seem to be focusing on him now.

* Angel`Pearson nodnodded as he heard Mikhail, creeping closer...Firey guy was eyed cautiously, but he was less confident he could make a hit with all that heat, instead when greaser guy smoothed back his hair he reached to deactivate his dampner, spitting a concentrated stream of the potent hallucinogen for the mans chest area. He'd seemed pretty preoccupied with his hair, and he was hoping to catch him off guard.

<Henchmen> The flashbang goes off and Heatwave is momentarily blinded. Still very hot, though, now angrier and hotter.

<@Kraken> Going against Heatwave was a no-no for the fishman even though he had on his reverse wetsuit. Instincts yelled for him to stay away from the heat source. He'd be of no use if he couldn't breathe properly. Marlo and Willow were covering the cold one. That left the unknown blob... who was flamable. Great. Powers ineffective with the suit on, he'll have to rely on the team gadgets. Shock sticks, held in his tentacles, a greater reach than his normal - errr more human looking arms. He would stay close to Ashlynne, arching his tentacles if they drew closer.

<Ivy> It wouldn't do to strangle your own team member. Besides, Willow's not like that anyway, in spite of the glaring evidence to support the urge. There are bigger things to worry about than whether or not someone had given any orders at the moment, because there were three men trying to kill them. This is also her fiance at stake, and right now, there's no indication of him being anywhere near where they are. She barely registers her own irritation before the calm sets in again. Perhaps she'd been listening to Conrad's stories enough, watching the way he dealt with things, and maybe she'd taken Nick's words to heart about not being so frantic. At any rate, OHWHATTHESHITMOREFIRE. The ingnition makes Nettle-Willow turn away reflexively, and Audrey II catches the blast head on, freezing solid. This... hurts. A great deal. It hurts and stings as Willow's skin blisters under the borrowed team suit and the coating of nettle surrounding her. Meanwhile, inch, inch, inch. Willow gestures, rapidly shrinking the frozen Venus Fly trap down to nothing, causing it to burst and send ice shards flying toward Heaty McFlamingpants. Likely they'd melt when they came in contact with the heat from his flames, but a couple of them are large, heavy chunks.

<@Ahriman> Sludge gives the flames a brief moment to spread before he starts screaming. It's the scream one might expect to hear from a man who suddenly finds himself on fire. He holds his hands out in front of them, a look of utter horror on his face, disbelieve that this was apparently how he'd die. He looked up to the would-be rescuers he could see, his expression a mix of dispair and pleading. And then.. then the screams fade into laughter. The kind of laughter one does when something is incredibly funny, but to no one else. "Oh man, I love doing that," he managed between guffaws. And then a splat of Angel-goo lands on his chest. "Dude.." he looked from the spittle to the spitter. "Gross." This, coming from a man whose clothes had burned away, and was now standing naked. And on fire. Bits of flame dripped off and landed on the floor, now effectively a sort of mutant napalm. Also, there's a flashbang that goes off nearby that half-blinds him, briefly. Burny Sludge is getting upset. At the same time, there's another trio that finally arrives. This time, no one leaves. And this trio, this team of rescuers is no doubt quite familiar with by now. There's of course Blip, the man relied on for the majority of transportation. There's Hayden, the man behind all the men and their mayhem. And then there's Conrad. His hands are cuffed behind his back, which makes the SND he's been forced to wear all the more uncomfortable. And he's obviously been worked over. Hard.

<MarloCross> His arm went numb as he tried to Break Frostbite's sliding surface. After he finished the roll, Crippler's arm started to burn. It was excrutiating. His shoulder ached as his arm was stuck at a 90* angle. How could he break the ice in time to help his friends? Simple. But dangerous. Setting himself like a linebacker ready for the snap, Crippler set his sights on Sludge and set the frozen, ice covered arm as far in fron far in front as he could. Then, he fired off a burst of kinetic charge with a kick. It would shoot him forward like a bullet toward the now flaming Sludge. It was Ok, the suits were flame retardant, Right? Hopefully the fire and impact would weaken the ice if it wasn't too thick. He might atleast take ONE down before Hayden turned up the difficulty

<`Mikhail`> Not at all disrupted in his flow by the fact Angel chose another target, though slightly phased by the amount of fire going on in the room, he takes another moment to pause and aim from that crouched position...his abilities allowing him to aim even when he isn't level with the target and send another blade flying, this time toward the goo-haired naked guy. He is aiming for the man's throat, as before...not takin' any chances at less-damaging body parts. Two blades down, but thankfully he came prepared with the small knives. Yes, he realizes that he became a target as soon as he threw the first blade...even if it didn't hit...so after throwing the blade his gaze does flick to the fireslingin' jerk.

<Henchmen> "Fuck! Mother.. fucking... FUCK!" Heatwave howls, his ears ringing, and spots hovering in front of his blurred vision as a result of the flashbang grenade. Stupid, stupid stupid. But then, he's not the smartest guy out there, expecting his heat shield to protect him from everything, after all. But now he's mad, and just firing blasts of superheated air off randomly, without any care of where he's aiming, or what damage they might do to the structure. As for Frostbite, now that the danger of being eaten by a giant venus vagina trap has ended, he skids to a halt on the floor, the ice retreating and the concrete of the warehouse floor returning to normal as he takes a moment to assess the situation. He turns his eyes toward Willow then, in all her nettle armor. It won't protect her from the cold, and he raises his fist up. "Got you, bitch." He hisses through his ice armor, and then unleashes a solid blast towards her while she's momentarily taken aback by the flames emanating from Sludge's form.

<@Ashlynne> Ash knew she wouldn't be any good against these guys. It wasn't like she could launch herself at one of them, wrap around them and not get frozen or burned to death! So she stayed back, peeking out from behind things as she fired her ZORT gun, her aim getting better as she stopped freaking out, but people were still moving so fast. When she spots Hayden the gun shifts and she fires off a ZORT towards him. Sure she had to fire through the other badguys but maybe this was a lucky shot.

* Angel`Pearson blinked at the unexpected screaming, then again as Sludge looked his way his shoulders lifted in a little shrug at that 'Gross' before quickly retreating as Mikhail hurled his blade and Marlo chaaaaarged. When the rest of the group blipped in his attention was drawn their way...OhpoorConrad.

<Ivy> The screaming really is unnerving and unnecessary, and does nothing at all to put Willow at ease about the flaming, naked man. She steps back, pressing herself against the wall as hard as she can, trying to keep as much distance between herself and the heat and flames on the other side of the warehouse. There's that humming though, the same thing they'd heard just before this first trip had blipped in. Focusing on where it seems to be coming from amidst all the other chaos, Willow lets out a choked cry when she sees the state Conrad is in when they finally all appear. "It's Conrad! He's here! We need to get him and get out..." Before they're all incinerated! No the nettle wrapping won't entirely protect her from the cold. What it will do, instead, is take the brunt of the damage from it, preventing her from being frozen solid... but at a terrible cost. The plant matter freezes, yellowing instantly, turning brittle and beginning to break away as the cold blast penetrates it. Willow screams in pain, dropping to her knees, thankfully missing watching Conrad get shot by his own team member. The flesh blisters on her cheeks, peeling away as though sandblasted by cold. She rolls to the side, onto her side, just as her third and final little friend gets close enough... to Conrad. It's a rose vine, thick, dark, and thorny, and it bursts from the tiny rootling crawling across the floor to begin to encase him in a protective sheathe, with thorns as thick as a shark's fin and razor sharp. Extra vines wave menacingly, lashing out at anyone who comes too close. "Need to.... get out... NOW!"

<@Kraken> Really needed alterations to the reverse wetsuit to at least be able to shoot ink. Or he could alternatively just not go on missions in the middle of the worst summer in years. But no, a discomfort like weather wouldn't stand in his way at rescuing their lost captain. Afterall, if a plantgirl could stand up again frost - bane of plantlife, he could risk a little fish suffocating heat. Tentacles coiled tighter around the shock sticks. All around him teamates were shouting. He moved forawrd to strike out at whichever bad guy he could, extending those squid limbs far infront of him zappy zappy.

<@Ahriman> Sludge couldn't control the flames, he could just endure it, so he wouldn't be melting any incoming blades. Thankfully, Marlo was come to save him, although with a bit of a painful tackle. It hurt, sure, but he was soon enough distracted by the world of magic and mystery he could suddenly see unveiled to him in the flames covering his body. As he goes flying with Marlo, his flaming goo splatters, sending sticky flames around him. Hayden, true to form, pulls Conrad in front of him just as Ashlynne pulls the ZORT trigger, letting the captive take all the zaps. Maybe he should have brought Cheryl with him; she'd have been loud enough to get everyone's attention. He'd have to hope his voice carried well enough inside a big, open, mostly empty warehouse. "LISTEN ALL YOU MOTHERFUCKERS." There was no 'calling all freaks' accompanying it, even if he thought it. Noticing his captive is..suddenly covered in thorns? dafuq? Hayden gives himself ample time to, at the very least, take back his handy-dandy SND, before kicking the buzzard forward.

<@Ashlynne> Ash goes where everyone else does.. cause hedache.
<Henchmen> Almost like it was summoned by Hayden's tirade, there's a sound. It starts low, like a small rumble, but then picks up in intensity and volume. Within moments, it's like a goddamn freight train, bearing down on the warehouse, and everyone in it. It's not a train, though, it's footsteps. Heavy, thudding, unstoppable footsteps, and then? Brick explodes outward from one of the walls, and in almost a blur of motion, a massive, leather clad hand grasps Frostbite by the through, fingers flexing, cracking through the armor, splintering it down to the soft, supple flesh beneath. The cracking continues as the man is literally dragged off of his feet, and it's not just the sound of ice breaking, but bone and flesh being collapsed in a sickening symphony. And then, whatever did it finally stops its forward momentum, and throws he mutant's lifeless body to the ground. Horde. He'd been... taken away from the Sanctum a few weeks ago, as part of a META transfer. What the hell is he doing here? But here he is, larger than life and twice as ugly, and he's just destroyed one of Hayden's henchmen. "Everybody get the fuck out." He growls, looking at Hayden, eyes narrowed, the grated mask that covers the lower half of his face almost expanding with the bull-like exhalation of his angry breath. Is he helping them? WHO is he helping, exactly?

<MarloCross> Now the flaming goo on the helmet could be easily delt with. but his leather jacket was now on fire and his right arm was quite a bit frost bitten. It would take some time before the flame burned through the jacket. THis would give The Crippler a few good licks in before having to disengage from the fisticuffs and shed yet another leather jacket. Thank god they were cheap-ish. Hopefully having taken Sludge out, Marlo race

<Ivy> Under the vinyl and/or leather of that team suit, her skin is screaming, raked off in sheets from the extreme frostbite she suffers, both from the direct contact with the cold blast, however brief, but also mostly from sharing the damage with her green, leafy, thorny friends. She rolls to her hands and knees, crawling toward Conrad as Hayden kicks him forward, the rose vines roiling and pulling him closer toward her outstretched hand. Smaller thorns shave and saw at the cuffs binding him, useless though it may be. They twist and turn to avoid slicing Conrad himself. Once he's close enough, Willow wraps her arms through the thorny vines, using them to surround her body as well as COnrad's so she can help him move. Horde's proclamation to get the fuck out... well, she doesn't have to be told twice. They have what they came for. "Let's go! Marlo, get the Lynx!" This... this is too much for them, way too much. They can't handle this, not this group.

<MarloCross> Marlo races to Willow's side to assist when HOLY SHIT!!!" Okay Time to Get the fuck out like Willow said!" He now doubletimes it, covering Willow and Conrad," What the fuck kinda juggernaut is THAT?!"

<Midas> The debris Midas had taken cover behind would been blasted by heatwave (when he was shooting randomly), sending the young mutant tumble before he thudded against a wall. Which is why he took a moment to recover. Shaking his head as he pushed himself up intime to see conrad get zorted, and wrapped in thorny vines? The Boom. Who the hell..He didn't recongize the man that just crushed the icy one. Blinking kind of stunned. Shaking it off though he'd pull his last flashbang out and lob it towards Hayden. Pulling the pin on it of course tossing after Conrad had been kicked away. "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" Then bolting himself with the rest of his teammates!

<`Mikhail`> Well. Holy shit. Frustrated by watching the well aimed blade suddenly flying over the baddy's head he is thankfully distracted from cursing by the GIANT FUCKING HAND. His eyes widen...and dodging out of the way of a passing fireball so closely it singes a path along his left bicep in a painful sizzle of the top layer of flesh he hears the booming order....then confirmation. It seems the man they were recorvering is nicely wrapped up and so Mikhail is first spotting where Angel is, then making sure he is close he is moving to get the fuck out.

* Angel`Pearson yay magic and mystery!...His eyes went wide when the brick wall exploded and horrible something burst through the other side. That was -not- magic and mystery. His retreat hastened considerably and when he was close enough to Mikhail he reached out to snatch a hand as he ran. What the hell -was- that thing?

<@Kraken> Running time! Go go go! Back to the chopper but most importantly of all, help others make it. There were wounded!

<@Ahriman> Blip..well..blips, as he's wont to do. He'd performed this maneuver before, even against the Cobaltians. The first pair of blips brought him into the path of the flashbang. The second pair of blips brought him to the front of the fleeing squad. "You dropped this," he grinned, dropping the flashbang in front of them. And then the next pair of blips brought him back to Hayden's side. Sludge is very thoroughly pummelled, and as if he'd been luck-fucked recently, he even managed to catch a few pieces of wall debris after Horde let himself in. Normally, he wouldn't be happy. But he was tripping the fuck out, so there were no complains coming from him. Hayden was glad the sanctum saps were beating feet the hell away from him, but was annoyed that Conrad had been taken before he was actually done with him. That annoyance continued, seeing Horde crash the party. "Can I help you with something?"

<`Mikhail`> Taking Angel's hand, fingers lacing tightly, he is hauling ass away toward where the chopper will pick them up. Hi expression it utterly blank. No anger, no pain, no fear, no relief or joy or annoyance. That wall built up high, and his nerves still shocked from the blast of heat, so he isn't feeling the burn fully yet. And now, Aymz must sleep.

<Henchmen> Horde stands in front of Hayden, all 6'5" brick shithouse inches of him. Some of the others at the Sanctum knew him better as "Assistant Bob", but this is what he really is, an animal, caged when he needs to be, and let loose when the time calls for it. There'd been a prisoner transfer from the Sanctum, but unfortunatly for everyone involved, it fell during the Fae's attack, when everyone's powers has been removed in Salem. "Just a message." The beast grunts through that Hannibal Lechter style mask that covers the lower half of his face. For a moment, it looks like he might have the speed and the power necessary to grab Hayden, to overcome his abilities and drain him of his strength, leaving him just another husk to be cleared up in Horde's wake. But this isn't the time, and he's not a hundred percent sure he can take this one. "Cobalt ain't the only ones keeping an eye on Salem." He lifts one massive, booted foot up, and then brings it down HARD on Frostbite's chest, collapsing it like someont crushing an egg.

<Midas> "Oh sh-" As the flash went off Midas was staggered. Blinded with a ringing in his ears. The latino would drop onto his knees as he clutched at his ears. Completely and utterly stunned by the flashbang going off infront of him. (Unless something nullfies it)

<MarloCross> Marlo makes a dive for the flashbang, hopi9ng to shield the others from it and suck up the raw force of the detonation. Flashbangs did have a concussive aspect. But that wouldn't stop him from being blinded, but it might spare the others...If he's fast enough...

<Ivy> Moving more slowly than the others, since she's using her rose vines to ferry Conrad toward safety, she's inside just long enough still to hear Horde's words to Hayden and witness the horrible, awful crushing, the sound, the smell that followed, everything. Thankfully, it also means that the flash part of the flashbang is behind her, but the bang part causes her to drop to her knees again, Conrad cradled close to her as she shields his body with her own, and those vines, expecting more onslaught. WHen it doesn't come, she's back on her feet, turning and making as much haste as she can back toward the Lynx. "Conrad... are you with me? Please be with me..." She pauses only once, to bring her face down to his, tears flowing freely down her frostbitten cheeks, making the blisters sing out with fresh, stinging pain. Once at the Lynx, she will carefully load him into it, with help from Kevin and others, of course, and then recede the vines. They melt away into the tiny plantling that she'd carried in her backpack here. She scoops it up, holding it in one hand, the other draped over Conrad for the ride back to the Sanctum.

<Henchmen> Conrad's eyes flutter, briefly, and then open. Just a little. He's in bad shape, Hayden's goons had worked him over, broken at least two of his ribs, and dislocated his jaw before forcefully setting it back in place. But there's enough of him conscious to say one word. "Willow." He manages, through his split lips, before he passes out again.

<@Ahriman> Hayden's eyes narrowed at Horde, but it was a minute before anything was said. "Put him out, would you?" Hayden was staring at Horde, but speaking to Blip, and referring to Sludge, who was currently playing with a bone sticking out of one of his legs, and giggling like an idiot. "You're right, they aren't the only ones." The time bandit stepped up close to Horde. Maybe closer than he was used to people approaching; maybe not. Hayden also gave the massive man's massive chest a single, hard poke. "There are more eyes than you could ever want or fear for watching Salem." Now, that poke was meant to be intimidating, a show of how few fucks Hayden gave, despite what touching Horde did to him.

* Angel`Pearson he unfortunately caught flashbang right in the fayce on his retreat. What the hell Blip? What the eff Midas? He stumbled his way back to their ticket home, crying out "SONUVABITCH!" at the initial explosion of the flashbang, he pretty much just kind of tumbled blindly into the lynx once theyd reached it. What the hell had that shit been?

<MarloCross> Once at the Lynx, a Dazed Marlo takes a moment to regain his senses and make sure everyone was in before he started the rotors," Hey everyone in? Conrad, good to see you alive, Man." He slowly started taking off, keeping his altitude low and his speed likewise.

* Midas would have snagged a random teammates shoulder, as sort of a guide during the retreat to the lynx. Who's shoulder did he grab? Hell he didn't know, only that at least he didn't knocked unconcious by it, thanks to marlo taking the brunt the concussive force behind.

<Henchmen> He snorts through his mask, and narrows those cold, blue eyes at Hayden. "Titan's watching you, boy." He growls through the bars at the bottom of the mask. "We're staying out of this, but don't get too big f'r your britches. We're keepin' an eye on you, and your little pals." He looks over to Heatwave, who'd been cringing in the corner this whole time. He points at him. "You got a debt to pay, George." And with that, Horde straightens back up, and turns around to start back through the hole he'd made in the wall,.

<MarloCross> Midas can Grab Marlo's.

<@Ahriman> Harumph. On the one hand, Hayden's mood was now ruined. On the other hand, this kinda meant he wouldn't have to deal with Cobalt unless he really wanted to. It also meant he wouldn't have to keep moving around, unless he really wanted to. He had to wait for Blip to find a fire extinguisher and put Sludge out, then evacuate him, before coming back for the boss. Oh, he didn't need to mess with Cobalt anymore, but after all these headaches, he sure as hell was going to, anyways.