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It's a very early cold, sunny December morning and Lucy is on her way out to do some shopping — she wants to get something for Sue, a kind of 'sorry your home blew up' gift. It's too early for it to be a Christmas gift and, besides, combining gifts is never fun. One gift for each thing. It's exciting to have a paycheck so she can do that.
Also, she's going to get a Christmas tree for the Byrne House lobby. This little corner of Mutant Town isn't going to know what hit it. Hurricane Karolina is especially likely to strike at Christmas.
Humming a Christmas carol under her breath, ponytail flipping excitedly, Lucy bounds out of Byrne House and heads down the quiet, snow-dusted street.
*
The day feels like any day. The chill of the December air seeps through all manner of dress, and freezes everything it touches. The mill of the block is as always with some milling about the street finishing their holiday shopping and engaging in the fun of the season.
Around the corner, with nothing amiss, the sun sparkles from the sky, shining on crystal in the air as they catch the light.
*
Lucy bounces up to the corner, pauses to look both ways. Can't trust New York traffic. The light catches her eye and makes her smile. The sun always feels good on her skin. Energizing. But that's a weird sparkle. Like ice or snow. She heads that way to investigate, unable to resist the lure of glitter.
*
The glitter crystals are nothing odd, just the loveliness of ice crystals in the sunlight. But something down the block catches Lucy's attention. The subtle change in the energy can be felt, but it's not exactly alarming.
It's odd. Uncomfortable. Charged with a distinct static and almost electric energy.
The emission of bright blue light followed by a crisp and too bright white-light, actively coming against her to knock her off her feet.
*
The first thing Lucy feels is hurt. Not physical pain — though, yes, that. Embarrassment as she goes sprawling into the gutter. But. Hurt because light and sun and sparkles are her friends. How could they do this to her?
Lucy rolls to her feet, waving people away.
"No, get away! It's not safe." She heads right back for the light again, in spite of her warning to everyone else.
*
A man emerges from the a distinct 'hole' exuding fluorescent light from its depth. The man, blue-faced, dressed in a green uniform with a purple helmet and gloves, shoots back quickly with that same ridiculous burst of white light. The weapon he emits from isn't something external to him, rather, it emits from the suit itself, spreading energy in stream that spreads in a fan from one particular source.
The burst of energy hits bystanders, forcing them backwards along the icy path with some groaning as they collapse against the cement. Their bodies collapse. Their bodies crack. Their bodies bleed.
*
Well, this is exactly what Lucy didn't want to happen. She pulls off her bracelet and, in the same motion, punches as much light as she can at the intruder. What does that blue-faced baboon think he's doing on her planet?
Lucy lights up with rainbows and takes flight as she soars to intervene. Hit her, space-man, not her innocent neighbors.
*
ROLL: Karolina +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 17
*
A bubble defence around Kang causes the energy to emit around him as a barrier of protection. The bending of the light — an impossibility — actually causes Lucy's attack to deflect back in every direction away from the target.
More bystanders collapse backwards. Screams can be heard down the block… as if Mutant Town hasn't been hit hard enough lately.
*
That's just not fair. Maybe the deflection field is only for energy. Lucy settles for a physical approach, trying to tackle the space-man backward, to take him down so neither of them can hurt anyone. She'll deal with being just as bad as he is and hurting people after she clears this up. If she can get her hands on him, she's going to punch him in his smug, blue face with her fists. Directly.
*
ROLL: Karolina +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 15
*
The close contact has the blue-faced assailant reaching out and, rather aggressively, clutching at Lucy's throat. The grip becomes ever-tighter through enhanced strength emitted and gained by the suit. The thrum of energy through the suit cuts through the rest of the icy scene.
It's fortunate that an emission of bright violet light emits from behind Lucy, prompting the blue-faced man to throw Lucy hard, and dive into the now-disappearing blue hole.
A few odd seconds pass before a dark-haired woman leans over Lucy to spy on the poor girl. "Are you alright?!" there's an edge of panic in her voice. Carefully, she pushes the thick framed glasses higher up her nose. Her chin lifts and her gaze trails to where the blue-hole had been. "I think… I think you're safe now…?" it's more a question that a real response. She shoots Lucy a tight-lipped smile. "No idea what spooked him…"
*
"I don't know what happened." Lucy's voice doesn't really come out. She's going to say that she used to be that bad with her power and she's not anymore but, in truth, she can hardly breathe. Her eyes fill with tears. There are sirens in the distance and she's got to get away. Lucy doesn't know what drove the man off, either, but she's lucky it happened, or she'd be dead. There was nothing she could do, she wasn't strong enough.
"I have to help." That doesn't really come out either. Lucy wants to run but instead, she puts her bracelet back on, dimming the light around her. She makes it to her feet so she can assess the scene. She has to do something to fix everything she broke here.
*
The woman's shoulders sink and she reaches out to offer Lucy a hand, but Lucy is already pushing herself to her feet. A small smile tugs at the woman's features. "He didn't hurt you did he? I mean… he did, but he didn't really, right?" Her eyes narrow slightly and she tugs at the bottom of her shirt. "Maybe your pride more than anything? I mean, I can check you over if you like, I'm…" her eyebrows draw together "…a physician."
*
Drew has arrived.
*
"I'm fine." That comes out…kind of. Lucy shakes the woman off. "Other people are hurt, go help them, please."
Lucy hasn't really been hurt … ever. It's scary. Sure, she's had bruises and banged her head off things — like Thor's butt — but it's not as though she's ever really been at risk. It's horrible and she has a little glimpse of what it is to be human for real.
"Thank you." There's an overturned car making it hard for the ambulances to get through, she can help the bystanders move that. Maybe be a little useful, better than hurting people.
*
The dark haired woman casts a glance over her shoulder towards the rest of the crowd. Her lips press into a thin line and her head shakes slightly as Karolina basically shakes her off. She tugs her collar up higher, further encasing herself in black fabric. Actually, the physician-woman, decked in head to tow black with her nearly-black hair, dark almond eyes peering out behind a pair of thick coke-bottle spectacles doesn't exactly blend.
Something catches her attention and she spins around towards an alley. Her lips twitch into a frown and her gaze flits upwards.
The silver-hued drone patrolling the top of the buildings hums quietly to itself, whirring and buzzing. And, for a moment, the woman's gaze returns to the people on the pavement. But then, something alerts her and she's peeking upwards again. The drone flashes red.
"We're in for company," she murmurs quietly under her breath.
*
ROLL: Karolina +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 34
*
There's a bit of motion nearby that is not in any way, shape, or form blue. It's a near-black shade of red and white that comes swinging into view and lands in a crouch on the side of a building nearby, up near the roof where she can survey the damage.
Spider-Woman makes a bit of a face beneath her mask as she takes it all in — and when she spots Lucy down there, her shoulders slump. At least she seems okay from here?
She's about to call out to her when her head whips towards the same spot the girl in glasses is looking, and both her hands immediately come up to point. Somebody gon' get thwipped.
*
Lucy on is on edge so the drone? Gets her attention. She doesn't think, she's just… everything is terrible. All she can think is that it's coming back to attach people. She pulls off the bracelet again, soaring skyward, and fires at it…and misses. Misses and goes backward all at once. At least this time, the only victim is a telephone pole. And her skull, which cracks hard against the post. When she's thinking straight, she's going to consider never doing this again.
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 25
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 2
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 27
*
The doctor woman freezes, and slowly backs towards a building, wholly anticipating someone appearing behind her. Her gaze, however, moves when the drone flashes multiple colours. She needs to know what its latest alert is.
The blue light forms in front of her a single moment too late as a figure slips from a new blue hole, reaching out and grasping her neck. The air in her windpipe ceases, and she begins to see spots.
The drone, meanwhile, has begun to emit a loud burst of buzzes, whirrs, and angry sounds of upset. The signal calling for help is so loud, it's unmissable by anyone remotely technologically inclined in the area.
*
ROLL: Drew +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 55
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 51
*
The whites on the eyes of Spider-Woman's mask seem to grow larger when the blue light forms, then narrow down into slits a moment later. Okay. That looks like the bad guy. Two thwips send a pair of weblines to anchor to the wall to either side of the woman being attacked and Drew launches herself from her perch, yanking hard on the lines to pick up speed and steer herself right for the big guy's back.
The impact doesn't knock him down but it does make him release the girl's throat, so Spider-Woman's going to call it a win. She tries to grab hold of something as he starts trying to bat her off, making a rather undignified noise. This is, sadly, her first rodeo. "Hey! Stay still so I can punch y— "
He does not stay still so she can punch him. He hucks her off his back, instead. Spider-Woman doesn't go very far, at least, and manages to stick the landing. "…rude."
*
ROLL: Karolina +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 9
*
Laura arrives from Byrne House - Apt 403.
*
Laura has arrived.
*
Oh, that is not okay. Lucy is on her butt in the snow at the base of the lamp post. Her butt is cold and wet. That is not the part that's not okay. The space-baboon (sorry, that's his name now) is attacking the nice doctor lady and Lucy is not having it.
She said she wasn't going to do this anymore but damn it. She pulls off the bracelet and charges at the space-baboon, meaning to tackle him again. She's still not back to herself after nearly being strangled and she only clips his shoulder — he's fast and wily and also evil — as she flies past.
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 18
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 37
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 51
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 46
*
The doctor woman coughs as she falls to the pavement. A scratchy voice tries to call for backup. "Got 4-1," she coughs louder. Her body won't find air. It can't find air. She struggles as the spots continue to enter her gaze. She reaches for her belt buckle — the only interruption of black. Her black-hued fingernails claw at the buckle, but can't find it. Not well. Dexterity struggles to find the weapon.
The drone continues to call out for help, but the signal is easily detectable by anyone. The drone calls louder still. Whoever it aims to reach hasn't made it yet.
A bookish young man, with a mop of hair rounds the corner at a sprint. Jack has a metallic box at the ready, and he pushes the button as he moves, only to slip on the icy pavement. His feet slide out beneath him and the weapon presses violet light away from the assailant as Jack groans loudly.
Kang, meanwhile, sends a full beam of white light towards his many attackers, but draws special attention to the dark haired woman on the ground who still can't get her life together. It's fortunate that snark distracts him, and his gaze lifts from her towards the Spider-Woman. His mind works, trying to discern her origin.
*
Spider-Woman is not about to stay in one spot long enough to see if that white light hurts. She's leaping out of the way as soon as she sees the flash, keeping half an eye on Lucy's trajectory to make sure she doesn't cross into her path as she fires off another line of webbing to swing herself around.
But she's not going for another attack on Kang. Not directly, anyway. One line of webbing does provide an anchor between the big man's feet and she gives a hard yank —
— so that she can land next to the woman he dropped. One good thing about Spiders: they're observant. Without thinking, she immediately reaches down to hit the button on the belt buckle. "Here. Lemme get that for ya."
*
ROLL: Karolina +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 75
*
Laura was over a full block away, headed on an errand when the scuffle caught the attention of her peternaturally-sharp ears. It was recognizing Lucy in amongst the sounds that caught her attention and turned her around.
Now, minutes later, X-23's boot hits the edge of a nearby roof at a full run, identifying her roomate's target just before the assassin propels herself off the brick and into an aerial assault. She tucks, twists to adjust her aim, and in her typical fashion, waits for just the right moment to lash her boot at the villain's face with a telltale SNKT from the toe. Congratulations, sir, you have earned the tag 'with extreme prejudice'.
*
ROLL: Laura +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 69
*
ROLL: Kang +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 77
*
Lucy does not go through the portal, at least. And she doesn't accidentally blast her girlfriend with the return shot as she flips in midair and takes another go at Kang — aiming at his back this time.
Maybe she does better when she doesn't think too much. And then she actually sees Laura and brightens up even further. Everything is much better when Laura is around.
*
The blue-faced assailant its a solid punt to the face of his helmet which pushes him into the still-open blue portal. But as he moves, the beam of white energy emits again, forcing Lucy backwards. With kismet timing, Drew's use of the buckle emits violet energy that presses against the blue hole in the space-time continuum, effectively closing the gap.
The dark haired physician rolls onto her side and then up to a sitting position. With a long few gasps of air, her eyes trail back up to the rooftops where Ringo seems totally relaxed. A relieved smile tugs at her lips as her shoulders slump forward. "Th-thanks," she rasps.
Jack brings itself to a stand and he shakes his head. "I'll secure the perimeter…"
*
It's probably good that Spider-Woman stayed crouched down, or she might have managed to catch a Lucy or a Laura in the face. And that would have been awkward. She peers up at the space where Kang and the portal just were, squinting warily… at least, until the Girl with the Magic Belt Buckle seems relieved.
Okay. It's probably safe, then.
"I have no idea what we just did, but — no problem," Spider-Woman says, offering her a thumbs-up before she straightens and offers both her hands. "Are you okay? Who was the angry blueberry?"
*
Laura lands in a neat crouch on the ground, toeclaw SNKTing back into her boot, and she comes up and takes two steps' worth of giving chase before the portal closes on her. Without missing a beat, she alters her trajectory to head for Lucy instead, offering the other girl a hand up.
"What happened." It's a little harshly-spoken, but she's still in something of a transition between full-on X-23 and her usual mostly-Laura self. One of these days she'll get a little more integrated, probably.
*
"Some space-baboon showed up and hurt a bunch of people and then I missed and I hurt a bunch of people and then he did this.." Lucy points at her throat which is red from Kang's grip and already starting to bruise. She's also wet and dirty and her hair is a mess.
"I'm so bad at this, Laura, I got people hurt, I wasn't thinking. I should have gotten him to follow me but I didn't think he would and now I made everything worse." Lucy is not going to cry about this. The tears are not about this, they're just some weird side effect spilling down her cheeks.
*
The dark haired doctor bends forward and then shifts her weight to take the offered hands. Her lack of fashion sense regardless, she manages a thin smile. "I'm… okay," once on her feet, her fingers gently run over her neck where the blue-assailant had been clutching it only moments before. Her gaze lowers and she shrug. "Just another madman," she reaches for the belt buckle that Drew still holds. She swallows hard.
"They're a dime a dozen these days. I'm glad you came along." Her hands clasp lightly in front of her.
*
Spider-Woman helps pull the doctor up to her feet and smiles cheerfully, which… her mask pretty much entirely hides. "I mean, you're not wrong," she allows, glancing down when the woman reaches for her. "…oh! Right. Here." No objections or protests at all — she drops the buckle back into the other woman's hand. Why wouldn't she?
She glances between her and Lucy, then gestures vaguely towards her own throat. "Do, uh — should we get you two in front of a doctor? Or do you just need some ice?"
*
It is not often that Laura is genuinely upset or angry. The marks on Lucy's neck do the job. The temperature of her expression drops abruptly to somewhere around the level of liquid nitrogen, and she slips an arm around the other girl to walk her back towards the others. Kang's already dead, as far as Laura is concerned. He just hasn't stopped moving quite yet.
But then thee's the other things Lucy is saying, and Laura tries to thaw her voice some. "It is alright. Noone starts good at this. It takes many, many tries. Noone should blame you. You did not bring this… space-baboon… here." A light, supportive hug. "We will move on, improve the mistakes, find new ones to make. It is how you become good at anything."
When they reach the others, Laura gives them both a once-over. The dark-haired doctor lady gets a little more attention. And a frown.
*
Lucy puts her head on Laura's shoulder, still sniffling. "I'm okay," she says to the others. "I mean, physically. It's hard to hurt me. He just…did. Do either of you know who that guy was?"
Truth is, she's scared. But that's not going to stop her from trying to go after Kang.
*
"Thanks," the physician replies as cheerfully as she can manage when Drew returns the device to her. Evidently, the woman is happy to have it back. Carefully, she reattaches it to her belt. With a grin, she shrugs, "Thanks for the help, Spidey. Always good to have help from a friendly neighbourhood… spider-person." Her lips curl into an easy smile.
As far as needing a doctor, "Well, I am a doctor. So, I'll just scoot and catch up with my friends and take care of myself." She motions towards Lucy, "She, however, really ought to go catch up with the Storm-Richards crew. I'm sure they can help out somehow. The Baxter — " her eyes trail to the skyline and her expression deadens. "…oh." Her postures sinks.
Lucy's question causes the woman's expressions to run pained. She frowns slightly. "He's… a complete madman." Her frown deepens.
*
"Hey, that's what I'm here for," Spider-Woman replies brightly. She likes this girl, she's decided. It's nice to have someone who seems pleased to see a so-called Spidey, and she's not gonna take it for granted.
She turns to follow the physician's gaze towards the skyline, and then she does something most Spideys would not — she reaches up to pull her mask down off of her face, letting it rest around her neck.
Jessica grimaces. "Yeah, that's… it's okay, though. I know where Doctor Storm's staying," she says, offering Lucy a smile. "I don't know if she got word to you yet, it's been a… thing." She shrugs helplessly, then eyes the dark-haired doctor again. "You sure you and your friend are okay? Maybe I can help, I don't… exactly have anything else to do right now."
*
Laura is still peering with an odd kind of intensity at the young woman, Like she's trying to figure something out. "Madness does not imply a lack of goals. What does he want?" If she's going to turn him into fertilizer, she needs intel. Motivations behind actions are the most useful at this stage.
*
"Yes, I know all about it, or at least…that it happened," Lucy says to Jessica. "I'm so glad to see you in one piece. I'm Doctor Storm's assistant. Do you think maybe that man was actually after me, if he couldn't get at her or Doctor Richards?" Now Lucy is worried — and needs to get across town to check in with Sue.
*
The dark haired woman's frown deepens. "It's 1963?" se asks quietly. Her expression sobers. Something is definitely not right. "That's not… it wasn't… everyone's okay? Joon is okay? Ben? Both of the Doctors Richards?" she levels a look at Jessica and sucks on the inside of her cheek. Her eyes trial down to her hands ad her head shakes.
What Kang wants breaks the woman's expression. "I… " Lucy's suggestion has the woman pointing at Lucy. "That. That is on the mark. He's after the Fantastic Four. Nefarious."
*
When the dark-haired woman asks what year it is, Jessica gives her a very sympathetic look. Been there. "Right?" She loosely folds her arms over her chest and frowns slightly, her brow creasing as the other woman works her way down the list. "Johnny wasn't home. Ben's… he was hit, but he should be okay."
Now Jessica finds herself squinting at her. "Reed and Sue are fine," she says slowly, her head tiiiiilting to one side. The engagement isn't public knowledge yet… is it? They definitely aren't married yet. "How did you..?"
*
Laura still looks a little… confused? Suspicious? Well, something is still missing from her puzzle, but she has the answer she was asking for, and nods once. "That limits his available actions," she muses, obviously starting to think about approaches for Dealing With The Problem. Good thing she had that meeting with Sue a few days ago— that would make her own aims easier under the circumstances.
As for the rest… well, it's irrelevant to her concerns, so far.
*
"What she said." Lucy points at Jessica. "And you used Johnny's proper name, too. No one does that but his sister and some family. That guy wasn't just from space, was he? You know something!" She lets go of Laura and steps forward. "You have to tell us, we have to be able to help — Sue could have been hurt so much worse, it would have been bad for… just bad!"
*
"Anyone can pay attention to a ring," the dark haired woman replies as her body tenses. "Honestly. Anyone. And it's… unique. So. Obviously Reed Richards. Lab-grown. And all of that, you know." Smiiiiiile. But the smile doesn't meet her eyes. Instead, those eyes track the drone on the roof, and anxiously glance around to catch her friend.
Uncomfortably, she takes a step backwards, "I'm Korean. Well. Korean-American. So I've never really taken to calling either of them Johnny or," her nose wrinkles, "Sue." She frowns, however, at the mention of Sue being hurt. "How hurt was Doctor Storm-Richards," Uh, "Doctor Storm? Was she okay? Is she okay? Did anything — " her face blanches. "Just. She's okay? Like genuinely okay?"
*
"Whoa, whoa! It's okay!" Jessica quickly moves to put herself between Lucy and their Mystery Guest, holding up her hands. She knows Lucy's not going to attack the girl, but she is kind of freaking the girl out with her… enthusiasm? So maybe providing a buffer is wise.
As long as the girl with the claws doesn't take exception, anyway. Jessica eyes her warily a moment before looking back towards the doctor, offering her a reassuring smile. "As far as I know, she's fine," she says gently. "Exhausted, but fine."
*
ROLL: Karolina +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 48
*
"You are…Korean-American. And I am very good at faces. Hollywood will teach you that much — how faces work." Lucy doesn't make any accusation outright because it's cray-zee. Crazy. Cuckoo. Then again, she's an alien. So anything is possible. "Doctor Storm is fine. She's still Doctor Storm, though. And lab-growing stones is not really par for the course here. It's rare. Even if it's unusual. If you're going to pretend you don't know something about them already, you're going to have to try harder. Either you're some kind of spy or things are way weirder than I ever imagined."
Hollywood also taught Lucy to play dirty pool — at least emotionally. "And you should tell us something so that we can keep Doctor Storm safe. Because she won't let this go, she won't even stay in bed. Doctor Richards won't give it up either. Who knows what they'll walk into next time? You know how they are."
*
"They have guardian angels. Like everyone here," the dark haired physician explains. "Things just…" her eyes turn back to the Baxter Building, "are complicated. I can't tell you anything," because it could destroy the space-time continuum. "But it's not…" she frowns.
It's at that moment that Jack rounds the corner and hears Lucy's words. Behind the pair of glasses (that he really doesn't need), he rolls his eyes. "You too?! Seriously, Val, we need to go — " his gaze lingers on Jessica a few beats too long. " — get Ringo and let's move — "
Val, the dark haired physician, lifts her hand to interrupt the thought, " — don't." Because things have already been broken once already. The edge of warning in her tone is unmissable. "Doctor Storm is going to be fine. I can… " she frowns "…say I'm incredibly invested that."
*
"She can not possibly be any weirder than I am," Jessica asides to Lucy in a low voice, raising both eyebrows at her. Seriously. She blinks a few times when she catches sight of JR over Lucy's shoulder, her brow furrowing a bit when his look lasts that little bit too long. Okay, that was kind of weird…
Self-consciously, Jessica looks down and tugs her mask back up over her face. Nothing, nothing. "We should all probably go before the police roll in. We're all on the same side, so I'm happy. That's all that matters, right?"
*
Laura , silent through the exchange but still cataloguing the details, slides her eyes toward Lucy when Jess suggests they should get moving. "Someone should see to your throat," she says in an agreeing manner. "Dr. Storm will be upset if we don't." She's not entirely sure why but she does understand it's likely.
*
"I'll let someone look at it when we get to the hospital," Lucy allows. "Though I'm not sure what they'll make of me." She gives one last look at Val.
"I'll look after her," she promises Val. "Doctor Storm. I will. If it makes you feel better. We both will." She slides her hand into Laura's — Doctor Storm is probably Laura's best chance of getting a shot at the space-baboon. "Can we at least have a name? For the blue guy? Since he doesn't care what he's wrecking."
*
Jack shakes his head, "You can't say anything. Already…." his gaze trails to Ringo. "you've said — "
But Val interrupts abruptly, "We call him Kang." Her eyebrows lift and she looks towards Jack, silently challenging him to say something more. "But you need to protect yourselves too. Sincerely, Miss Dean," not West, Dean, "I know that you need to be careful too. Kang is …" she frowns.
Val receives a sharp elbow to her ribs and she's drawn away. "We need to go. Just… be safe…"
Jack leads the way down an alley which Val follows him down. But should anyone peek after them, the pair have vanished.