1963-08-10 - Central Park Caravan
Summary: Transportation of something through Central Park is (somewhat) thwarted by some would-be heroes.
Related: http://marvel1963mush.wikidot.com/1963-07-30-get-back Get Back, http://marvel1963mush.wikidot.com/1963-07-31-kitty-returns Kitty Returns, http://marvel1963mush.wikidot.com/1963-08-07-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends With a Little Help From My Friends
Theme Song: None
laura piotr jubilee akihiro jennifer kitty 


Central Park at night has turned into a death trap, and, consequently, the brunt of numerous jokes, quips, and general jabs, particularly in terms of its recent spike in violent crime. In the last week alone, police received reports of multiple muggings, fights, and at least two murders.

Which begs questions why ordinary citizens still go out to the park at night. Despite the change in activity, the park still is abuzz with activity, particularly as different parts of the world converge in one place.

Moonlight reflects through the trees and less than reputable dealings rise. Behind specific trees, specific bridges, and fountains, people murmur and engage in exchanges. Others, however, may involve themselves in even seedier behaviour wherever they can manage it…

*

Jubilee arrives in the park in her jazzy casual clothes. She's carrying a mini cooler, and she's not alone. Walking alongside Akihiro, as they come into the park, she looks around, and to him to laugh "At least at the park if we get bothered it won't be by people who have the capability of harassing us for weeks."

*

"Doubt they'll be able to harass us for more than a few minutes." Akihiro replies, flashing Jubilee a wink. "Besides, I don't get drunk, so we'll be fine." he rationalizes, lighting the cigarette hanging out the corner of his mouth, before tucking a hand into the pocket of his leather jacket.

*

A lawyer takes a walk in Central Park when other people assure lurid gossip reaches even the ivory towers of Manhattan. Shadows tremble with activity and hers joins them. A reasonably well-dressed woman risks being accosted or, worse, beaten and left for fates beyond death. Seedy behaviour almost specifically begs for attention. Jen Walters, girl about town, isn't even on the straight path through the park from the highrises worth millions even in 1963 greenbacks to the subway exit. A hasty dinner consists of half a sandwich stuffed with roast beef, center still pink. Her briefcase, square and black and very leathery, is clutched in her other hand. See, Ma, no hands! Clearly begging for it.

*

Why would anyone brave Central Park after dark? Well, if you're Piotr, you aren't exactly worried about getting mugged — and the later hour provides other opportunities.

The Russian has actually been in the park for hours already, seated on a bench with his sketchbook open in his lap. The fountain nearby makes for a pretty picture, though he's had to take a few cracks at it to nail the perspective, and now he's busily sketching in some loose figures as people wander past.

*

Still presumably confined to the med bay, Kitty strolls through the Park. As she walks, her fingers flip through her sketchbook glancing at pictures she's put together the last few days. Somehow getting away from campus seemed like a good idea. She needs to clear her head, and Central Park always felt like a place apart — a place to think when she needed a change of scene. And so she strolls, sketchbook in front of her, with little regard for the seediness and increasing crime in the area.

*

Jubilee points to a tree, gesturing with the cooler, which is only big enough for a six pack, so it's a six pack they apparently got. "Let's go sit there." It's a warm, humid evening, so she also has a blanket to spread out in the grass to sit on. "Well if you can't get drunk Aki, you still need to drink your share because if I drink all 6 then that'll be too much."

*

A rumbling sound altogether foreign to the centre of the park echoes through the area. Thanks to the increasing crime rate, the noise goes mostly unnoticed by the park's average (aka criminal) patrons.

Those more curious might be drawn to the sound of a multi-vehicle caravan moving through the park, with little regard for the grass. Fortunately, the route had been chartered with such accuracy that the four twelve passenger white vans do not run into any trees. Of note, the driver of the lead van wears a pair of sunglasses despite it being night time.

The lead van seems to increase in speed as it comes to the end of a long field, seemingly heading to the road.

*

"Not gonna ma-" Akihiro starts, before his attention is drawn up towards the sound of vehicles. "I'll be damned if my jacket is gonna have to go get patched too." is grumbles, playful demeanor dropping as he shrugs out of his jacket, tossing it on the blanket. "About to have another situation."

*

Several days ago some chanting men made the park unpleasant. Before that, a weird rat with porcupine quills launched its salvos at unsuspecting children. So a procession of white vans of any size rumbling by is exactly the sort of thing to halt Jen on her unhealthy jog in low heels through the park. The sandwich clamped between her jaws is released as she stumbles up to a bench and peers, her brows scrunched up in obvious dismay behind her rectangular glasses. For a moment the doubletake has her confounded and then she climbs up for a better view. "Ooof ssmmm eefle aa oo eshhffkt."

For those who do not read the Anu dialect of ancient Sumerian, or interpret 'sandwich speak,' she's not happy. Two bites prevent her from choking. Then she takes a jog after the merry wheeled vehicles but the /last/ time a white van wasn't good. The department of transportation wasn't thrilled.

*

The sound of engines gets Piotr's curiosity — but if he's completely honest, it isn't until he also catches sight of a woman climbing onto a bench for a better view and then jogging off in pursuit that they have his full attention. That just took things from Unusual to Potentially A Problem. Pursing his lips, he tucks his pencil behind his ear and rises to his feet, the sketchbook tucked under his arm as he begins slowly pacing along in Jen's wake. Keeping his distance, but also trying to keep her in sight, just in case the poor woman gets herself into trouble.

*

The unusual sound draws out one of the usual suspects. Kitty snaps her notebook shut and lifts her chin as the rumble seems to grow louder. Her paces drive her to spy the emerging vehicles, and a strange sense of deja vu begins to wash over her.

She leans over, grasps the tree in front of her while the contents of her stomach expel on the ground in front of her. She rubs her mouth with her sleeve, and shakes her head. "I've got a bad feeling about this…" but she begins to follow the lead, only to see another woman in pursuit.

*

Jubilee doesn't particularly know what's going on. She's just sitting down, cracking open the cooler, and pulling out a beer. She looks up at Aki "Wha'ts going on, do you hear something?"

*

The lead van's tires screeches, gaining speed and momentum as it moves. While the grass might provide a bit of a sound cushion, the tires squeal with duress as it's forced forward. It seems to barrel forward with no regard for those in front of it — not even a pair of picnickers enjoying an evening interlude in the park.

Subsequent vans seem to be following the same pattern, although as they reach the most open field, they begin to fan out — presumably going in different directions. The last, however, lags behind ominously.

In fact, the final van lingers behind the others.

*

Bouncing along in the last van with the kind of non-expression that is not at all out of place on a bored teenager is a young.. well… she's a girl, but what with the closely-buzzed hair, bulky black combat jacket, her mutation playing merry hell with the normal aging process, and a total lack of any concept of makeup or anything of the sort… well, who can tell anyway. X-23 is there to do a very particular job, which has precisely zero to do with female biology. Even the most chatty or nervous of the van's passengers have given up trying to talk to the stone wall of silence they get back. Weapons aren't big on small talk, one supposes. It makes it harder to hear over the engine noise, for one thing, and she doesn't do 'people', for another. So the van trundles on and she sits in silence, arms folded, occassionally tilting her head to scent the air like a good little bloodhound. Not that it's very easy to smell through exhaust and oil and this… disgustingly un-sterile environment. To say nothing of the human company. Is that fresh vomit? Ugh. Cities are the worst. Someone tell her to do something already.

*

"Vehicles. More than one, may need you to blow some things up." Akihiro explains quickly, motioning towards the source of the commotion. "I'm gonna go ahead and check it out." And that's what he does, breaking off in a sprint towards the vehicles.

*

Kitty dashing along is not entirely lost on Jen. The lawyer's still wearing low heels but heels all the same, and they make enough distraction to notice another person. A worried look on her face might well be shared if the other woman catches up. The only delay comes in tossing shoes and briefcase onto the nearest bench, one under an oak tree. One to be remembered for later, if there is a later. Fear, Piotr, poor woman will absolutely get herself into trouble. She tosses her coat away for good measure, and then swivels, bounding barefoot as gracefully as a gym bunny in a skirt suit can. Subtlety is right out the window. Speed, yeah, there's that. What exactly is one woman going to do running up to that last van? Absolutely nothing right? What if that woman moves in front of its path, throwing out her hand like a classic bobby or policewoman directing traffic?

*

ROLL: Kitty +rolls 3d100 for a result of: 155 [8 86 61]

*

Jubilee sighs. "More adventure," she chirps, but not in an enthusiastic way that suggests she was looking forward to running around instead of kicking back with beer. So she gets up, throws her blanket over her shoulder, and starts walking behind Aki, trying to keep an eye on where he is, while not spilling her beer.

*

At least Piotr wasn't close enough to overhear and/or witness Kitty's pitstop, so… she still has that going for her. Between the behavior of the drivers and the way Jen shucks her heels, Piotr is no longer considering this a Potential Problem. It's an active one. With an unhappy grunt, he simply drops his sketchbook and picks up speed — not to catch up to Jen, but to try and cut off the lead van at the pass and get between it and the pair of picnickers. Now he looks like he might stand a chance against a speeding vehicle.

*

ROLL: Piotr +rolls 5d100 for a result of: 240 [89 8 27 37 79]

*

ROLL: Kitty +rolls 3d100 for a result of: 137 [82 5 50]

*

It's fortunate that Kitty is both speedy and wiry. Would be ninja-Kitty pumps her arms at her sides, attempting to get some sort of momentum as she moves. Her mind screams loudly, and one thought, and one thought only rolls over her mind: she needs to retrieve whatever is in that van… A very brief, wary look is exchanged with Jen as she closes her eyes and takes a literal leap of faith.

…into the last van.

Sprite allows herself to pass into the moving vehicle. Unfortunately for Laura, the smell of vomit wafts on her breath as she becomes solid again inside the vehicle.

*

The vans continue to fan out. The one in front does not even attempt to break as Piotr steps between it and the picnickers. Evidently it's not afraid of running anyone down, or maybe sunglasses aren't appropriate driving attire for night. Either way, it's not stopping.

The second van aims to move to the road, taking a northern bearing as it rolls along.

The third chooses to head westward — taking no care for its bombardment of shifty dealings along the way. It has no regard for those it bears towards. Of course, the black hat wearing fellows it heads towards have little regard for it, with some drawing weapons in response, and murmuring offences about its park rivals (who are clearly behind the target… clearly).

*

X-23 tilllts her had back the other direction, listening to the muted (even for her) noises outside. FINALLY. She doesn't say anything to her handlers, simply stands and adjusts her jacket. She'd much rather not wear such a constricting garment, but it's what she was given. She'd tell them to pick something better, but… well… they didn't ask her opinion. They never do.

…and that's right about when Kitty Pryde the Vomit Comet phases into the truck and lands face to face with… whatever Laura is. Well. That's unexpected. Probably on both sides. Still… Kitty is Not Supposed To Be Here<tm> and Laura has the reflexes of a… well… Weapon X and the reactions of ingrained training. The most expedient way to deal with the unwelcome invasion is to grab the surprise passenger, spin, and throw her out the back of the van. Through the closed doors, if necessary.

*

Akihiro is fast too, just not quite as fast as a speeding van. One thing he does have though is maneuverability, cutting through areas with more trees, putting himself out closer than he'd be otherwise. "Wait," his brows furrow slightly, "is that dad?"

*

Jubilee coughs, and nearly spills her beer. "Your father? Is he chasing us?" she nearly spits. "Somehow I don't think that sounds right. He's not that crazy. What is going on? You tell me because I'm carrying the beer." She has to say this a bit loud since he's definitely gaining a lot of ground on her.

*

ROLL: Kitty +rolls 1d6 for a result of: 5

*

Bad news makes for an ugly business. Jennifer takes a deep breath and one moment, there's an unassuming person of twenty and some years staring them down. An angry set to her jaw tightens the line in her face, and that might be the last hint of normal. Emotion spikes through her veins. A decidedly healthy natural blush to her skin matches the grass, and when she steps forward, she is no longer quite so short. On the next, even taller. Accelerating object, meet unimpressed barrier in your way. One with absolutely no qualm about grabbing a bumper or seizing the hood of said van, and digging her heels while slowly marching forward to maybe stop that thing from going any further than it already has. Hopefully the Vomit Comet will warn her if there's any threat of being run over.

*

ROLL: Kitty +rolls 3d100 for a result of: 153 [19 87 47]

*

Ever play chicken with only one car? Colossus plants his feet and stares, stone-faced, into the onrushing lead van, long since having lost track of Jen (and not having even seen Kitty) as they deal with the rear. As the vehicle draws closer, his expression tightens — until finally, he decides it is not going to stop.

He only hopes that the picnicking couple are too busy scrambling to flee to realize that his body has abruptly become encased in metal.

Colossus drops a shoulder and allows the van to speed directly into him, the force of the impact driving his sneakers into the ground and back nearly a full foot as he digs his hands into the chassis and lifts. He is less concerned with whether or not the driver was wearing a seatbelt than he is with the people behind him — warily, as he holds the van aloft, the metal man casts a wary glance over his shoulder.

*

Reaction is all Kitty has as she literally flies back through the back of the van. Incorporeal body flies through the door and flickers twice before making a (relatively) soft connection with the ground. Her hands scramble to push back on the dirt, and in a single moment of shock, her eyes widen. For a beat she considers what has happened and recognizes she is still here. Relief colours her as she pushes back to a stand.

She takes a deep breath, and yells at the woman bounding for the front of the van, "Something violent is in there!"

But even as she makes purchase with the ground, she's running back to catch up to the van.

*

ROLL: Jennifer +rolls 5d100 for a result of: 297 [72 42 64 72 47]

*

The first van, over Colossus's head, rocks with activity inside. He can hear and even feel it teeter with movement as something or someone clamours to get out. The sound of metal against metal scrapes against the side of the van. More surprisingly, the driver shoots three bullets through the windshield to crack and break the surface. In an instant, the man at the front has leapt from the now in-the-air-vehicle, sprinting along the pavement to escape.

She-Hulk easily gets in front of the last van, her sheer muscular prowess allow her to throw the van off course. It jolts backwards, rocking against her efforts, so much that the metal buckles and the van, even inside, experiences warping.

The second van has made it to the road, and continues in its north course.

The third van, however, yields gunfire as the criminals it bears towards defend themselves. Ironically this doesn't deter the vehicle.

*

Something violent *is* in there, Kitty. Very good. Full marks for Threat Assessment in a Combat Scenario. Well done. Speaking of said Something Violent, X-23 wastes no time in kicking the back of the van open. Or…. attempting to, since what is also violent is the stop the truck comes to while she's hauling back to punt the door. Getting ejected through a windsheild is… not the worst thing she's ever experienced. Doing so then coming to an abrupt stop because and extremely solid green woman is in the way… also is not the worst, but the combination of the two is definitely in the running. Surely 110 pounds of flying little girl will— aw, that's cute. Jen probably won't even feel that.

*

"Nope.. It's a girl?" Akihiro looks very cofused, however that doesn't stop him from popping his claws out, dull black rather than the metallic of his father. "What's going on over there?" he shouts to get some attention his way as he heads straight towards Jennifer and the flying girl.

*

Jubilee really doesn't have Aki's speed especially she's carrying all the stuff. But she tries to stay in sight, drinking her beer yet. Why waste it? "Uhhh okay." she says, not at all understanding why his father is now a girl? Whatever. "But if she's related to you then this isn't a problem is it?"

*

They may all decide now is an excellent time to evacuate the vehicle. The jade jotun curls her dense fingers and hauls the van off its axles, her arm muscles clenched and hardening to a greater rocklike consistency as the two warring forces tighten. Her marching steps come to an end when clearly the van isn't going anywhere, and the next response is a simple one. A devastating kick while it rocks back to break the front axle so driving away is no longer an option. All without even making a snarl.

A girl flying out past her is also a reason to stop. One hundred pounds of anything barely registers. Bees could. X-23 is not so much of one, though she twists to go after it with surprising alacrity for something that… green. "Are you all right?" A straightforward, sharp question in English could be scary. Not exactly so when worried.

*

The sound of gunshots yanks Colossus' eyes back to the van over his head just in time for broken glass to rain down behind him and the driver to make his leap. That tears it: he can't stay silent any longer. With a grimace, he draws in a deep breath, and then lets his heavy Russian baritone ring out over the park: "GUN! I need hand over here!"

Colossus can't take off after the retreating driver. He has his hands full — quite literally. The van didn't stop a-rockin', so he is forced to assume that there are more men inside, probably just as armed as the first. So he puts the van down. Forcefully. Hopefully, he can knock the people inside into unconsciousness before they even have a chance to get out and create additional trouble.

*

Thanks to the van-stop, Kitty manages to catch up to the van and the girl being launched from it. Her mouth works to produce sound, effecting around some thoughts, and finally utters oh-so-intelligently, "Careful it's — she's dangerous — " Of course, someone getting thrown from a van should theoretically reduce their danger level.

She peeks into the van, lingering there a moment to see the driver unconscious and bloodied against the side window. She studies his face a moment longer than she ought.

*

The movement inside the first van stops at the van is dropped forcefully on the ground. There's a lot of silence that emits from the vehicle.

The second van is now long-gone, and the third has created a barrage of violence across its windshield as it didn't stop for gunfire, flying bodies, or anything. Whatever its cargo, its disappeared into the city.

The last van clinks with movement still inside. Evidently the woman wasn't alone, but then, there had to be others in there for her to.. ignore. Right?

*

The girl is apparently fine. Because the ordeal of being ejected directly into Jen hasn't jarred her brains hard enough or done enough damage to prevent the inevitable response. By X-23 estimation— and the familiar feel of her shoulder rapidly knitting back together— Jen is probably too solid to punch. But she has other options far more effective. Kitty's warning is just in time for 23 to throw a strike at Jen, a distinct SNKT-SNKT sound accompanying a lightning-fast glimmer of metal as her claws extend and retract precisely. Fortunately, she's still a little slow from being thrown through the windsheild, because those things cut through just about anything.

*

"Definitely not friendly." Akihiro informs Jubilee for closing the gap and advancing onto X-23. "Hey, how about you dance with me instead?" he asks the girl that smells oddly like himself, Logan, and something else he couldn't place. "It's hard enough being green, lay off."

*

Jubilee isn't out of shape. But she's carrying a bunch of beer and ice, and a blanket, and is wearing a minidress. This is about the worst possible conditions for trying to run. So she eventually just stays back, watching, in case she needs to fire some shots at anything to give Aki some cover. Thats he can do if need be.

*

Something about adamantium claws. They go right through skin, no matter the colour. On the other hand, they do encounter not a little resistance that lesser substances fail to muster. The shock of pain erupting in the arm Jen raises to block that strike from fifty-five kilos of trouble sets off a nervous reaction that serves only to turn her eyes a nuclear green, coalesce her flesh even harder, and flood adrenaline. All that matters. It tips the equation for reflexes and the unbound strength. The tightening of her nightshade mouth in a rictus smile matches low, guttural growl that most parts of the hindbrain would light up at: it's the sound of a cave lion prepared to roar, a thing out of history reaching out. And if Laura is at all within reach to someone who moves far too damned fast for a human, she's going to be hurled with every last iota of adrenaline-laced strength the She-Hulk can muster away from anyone else Laura might hurt.

*

From the van, a series of four weapon wielding men dressed in head to toe black with large, cumbersome, electrical impulse weapons, climb out the back (evidently they wore seatbelts — Laura really ought to learn). The weapons fire at will as the men in the van retreat from the back. With their mission partially fulfilled, two move towards retreat.

Two others move to recovery. They sprint forward towards the first van, firing their impulse electrical weapons at will. The mission isn't quite complete.

*

In an ideal world, Colossus would be able to abandon the now-silent van and take off in pursuit of the armed man himself. But he is not prepared to do that without first stepping around to the back of the van and giving a sharp YANK to open the doors for a look — and it is not an ideal world.

The sight that greets Colossus is one of four unconscious people, which would be great… except for the IVs and, for two of them, breathing tubes. To his great relief, they all appear to be unhurt from the drop, but still — the sight of them is enough to momentarily rock the giant back onto his heels. Before he can react further, he is struck square between the shoulders by one of the electrical bolts.

And remains uneffected. Electricity has never been much of an issue for him. Narrowing his eyes, Colossus turns to face the group charging his way and just… stands there, using his bulk to shield the people in the van. He does not. look. happy.

*

Technically, what's going on with Colossus is why X-23 is here. Unfortuantely, the same is true of Jen, and Laura went and pissed off a hulk first. So… yeah, Team Weapon's blasting off, kinda for the first time, probably not the last. She goes through a tree that only slows her down a ways, skips over a bush, and plows a short furrow in the turf. And after several seconds, begins the process of picking herself up with a few soft hisses, a bit slowly since she needs to hold a bone or several in place long enough for them to knit. That… that was unfortunate.

*

Jubilee doesn't really know what's going on very well here. she lacks the senses. But she's got a beer in one hand, and a glowing ball in the other, ready to chuck an explosion if Aki ever really needs it.

*

Blood running over Jen's forearm where two pretty incisions pierced through gives some hint of where they are, because already the holes start to close up. She takes a hard step away from the unconscious driver where Bad Attitude Part Two emerged from, shaking her mossy hair violently in undulating waves. Any pretense of normal? That's right out the window as she runs her forearm over her mouth, removing traces of blood (conveniently) and loping off at speed, covering a particularly ridiculous distance as a result. Carl Lewis only wishes he had that kind of sprint to length ratio. Colossus might be worried about a fast moving green giant who just hurled a girl off into the woods. She fires a thumbs up at him and bolts past for one of the other assailants, the idea being simple. Move faster than they do. Leap and crash into one from behind, ignoring the shocked cry when she slams down. Hulk SMASH!

*

Kitty follows the men with the electrical weapons invisibly, and her paces quicken to a run to catch them. She turns solid just as she issues a solid kick to the back of one of their knees. This is followed up with a very solid elbow to the gunman's head.

It's then that her eyes flicker to the first van, and the very solid Colossus guarding it. A familiar scent wafts through her senses, and draws the taste of metal in her mouth. Her heart thumps hard in her chest, and despite the presence of the second gunman, the Vomit Comet's hands cradle her stomach, ever so thankful she'd already lost its contents.

*

With one of the retreating assailants now completely incapacitated thanks to the She-Hulk, his friend (presumably the CO), yells towards X-23, "MISSION MANAGED! RECONVENE AT BASE CAMP!" The man keeps running as fast as he can manage away from the scene.

The thug Kitty assaults is easily taken down, crumpled on the ground.

The last one fires his weapon several times at the very metallic mass that stands in front of him, closing the distance as best he can until he hears the order. And then his direction changes, running away from the van — back into the park — rather than towards it.

*

A green giantess moving that quickly does give Colossus a moment of alarm… until he sees the thumbs-up, and the corner of his mouth twitches into a smile even as the last goon's continued weapons fire crashes harmlessly into his chest. The smile is gone just as quickly as it came, however, when he hears the retreat order… and he hesitates.

Colossus does not want to leave the people in the van unguarded, not when they are helpless. But perhaps the green giant will be an effective enough deterrant. He grits his teeth and, decision made, charges after the retreating man, trusting the strength in his legs to help him close the gap before he can get too far.

Colossus does not want to smash the man. He wants one conscious and coherent enough to speak to.

*

X-23 has, by now, put herself back together and is charging back along the trajectory She-Hulk sent her on, head slightly down in a determined kind of way as she runs to re-engage. At least until the distant order reaches her razor-sharp hearing. She doesn't complain, hesitate, or even stop to make sure the others get away cleanly. Not her job. She simply skids to a halt on the turf, boots digging in, and takes off in a completely different direction, nimbly vaulting the park wall when she hits it. It's a few seconds for her to cross the street and vanish into an alleyway.

*

ROLL: Kitty +rolls 1d6 for a result of: 6

*

With Colossus traipsing after the retreating weapon wielder, Kitty slowly steps towards the now-open van. Almost as one possessed by some exterior force, it draws her, beckoning her forward to see whatever morbid scene lies on the other side. Her eyes dart across the motionless bodies and her face pales. A single hand braces her small body against the side of the vehicle and she openly stares.

*

The man Colossus pursues seemingly disappears as in one moment he's there and the next, he's gone. Disappeared. Vanished from sight. The mud beneath his feet, however, leaves a few stray footprints until he vanishes somewhere into the grass.

*

The way the man vanishes is disorienting, but it is not Colossus' first rodeo. He does a decent job of tracking his footprints — right up until he hits the grass. He comes to a halt and grunts in irritation, glaring in the direction he thinks the man retreated in, before he begins to slowly back off the way he came.

It's an unarmored, subdued Piotr that comes to a stop at Kitty's side, his shirt torn and hanging from his shoulders from the van's initial impact. "Katya," he says, keeping his voice gentle to try and avoid startling her. No course of action suggested. Just reminding her that he's there.

*

The image as disorienting as it is, offers something quite different for the gaping Kitty; others roll over her mind — near-memories that can't quite come to the surface. Sounds. Smells. Echoes.

The sound of her would be name, as gentle as its spoken, startles her slightly, drawing her away from the barrage of images that scale across her mind. Her eyebrows draw together sharply as she looks at him. "We need — " the sound of sirens enters earshot, causing the thought to be lost as Kitty freezes again. Her head turns to the shambles of the last vehicle before shifting back towards Colossus. "Maybe," her face scrunches, "maybe we should go?" it's a question, not a plan, exactly. The authorities can theoretically deal with this, right?

*

Piotr's eyes flick to the side when the sound of sirens catch his ears, but it's Kitty that he seems more concerned with. For the second time, he hesitates — before he offers her a hand and nods once, setting his jaw. "Da. I do not think we should be here when police arrive." He sounds frustrated. He wants answers as badly as she does, and this is just too big a coincidence for him to dismiss. "These men, they have base nearby. We will find them, Katya. I promise."

*

Even with agreement in place, Kitty lingers a few moments. Her eyes study each of the faces in the van, attempting to commit them to memory before reaching out and accepting the offered hand. She nods slightly, her own jaw tightening by the second. "I know we will," she agrees. "We have to. Somebody has to stop them." Her lips press together as the pair tread away from the mess that is the park.

*

Kitty's appearance reflects the proverbial girl-next-door. Standing at average height with an athletic frame, she can blend in a crowd. Her wavy dark hair and hazel nearly-brown eyes offset her pale skin and light pink lips.

*

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