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"The news is lying to you." A man explains as he paces along the flat of a makeshift stage. "We are not the enemy to you fine people of this great city; we are your friends." He promises, his voice coming off as soothing, calm, collected. A small group has gathered by the stage already; some are interested, others just curious, and some have already left the gathering, deciding it's better to go about their own business.
The man on the stage is a handsome gent, dressed in a nice suit, with slicked back, auburn hair and a feral glint to his golden eyes. Around his upper arm is a cloth band, with a modern looking 'eagle', and three letters spreading across its wings: F.O.H. "I understand the events in Mutant Town were troubling, but I assure you that this is the very reason that our organisation exists. We are your friends, ladies and gentlemen. We are here to prove that we need protection, too. For too long all our hearts have been crying out to aid the minority, when all they've proven to do is pave the streets with blood, anger, and rage. They have been nothing but savages, opening up the gates of hell to what few men were holding a peaceful protest. Our rights need to be protected, too."
*
For those souls whom had been purpose-built to be infiltrators tracking down a civilian organization which operates outdoors within the streets is child's play. Domino approaches on her own, though she's far from being alone. Full gloves and a heavy hood aid in concealing the odd tones of her skin but it's a temporary cover-up at best.
Her first order of business is simple, mix in with the rest of the crowd and start gathering intel. Whether these guys discover her before or after she goes ballistic remains to be seen. All that she knows is that there will be blood in the streets tonight. She'll make sure of it.
*
Cain doesn't blend. He doesn't fit in. He towers, he looms. Seven and a half feet or pure indestructible power doesn't exactly slip into crowds. In this case, he stands at the back. Despite the cold, he's sleeveless, his arms bared and crossed over his chest as he looks on.
He doesn't say anything, but the expression on his face would indicate that he just ate something very, very sour. In the cold temperatures, plumes of frosty breath blow from his nostrils like a brahma bull. Goes without saying, people are giving the Juggernaut a wide berth.
*
There had been hate, there had been violence, but there was always the possibility of more. Sammy had been there to help patch up and treat the wounded in Mutant town, support others whom had been caught under the boots of the fearful racists, but till now she'd never looked upon them with her own eyes.
The blonde woman was here, dressed in simple civillian clothing and with a scarf wrapped around her neck and a small woolen cap on her head. It does a nice job of dealing with the weather and more importantly making it a little harder to see her face.
*
Josh needed a ride: his car is broke, which happens when you don't really have much of a job. But he's blending today, at least: well, in as much as Mr. All American can blend. He at least isn't standing out as black or gold, and that's something. So, he happens to see Julie, and hesitates, and after a moment asks for a ride— but suggests she stay back and safe when we get there'. There's dragons that way! Still, he'll get a ride and get driven towards the rally, his expression grim on the trip. "The Friends of Humanity fanatics are having a rally, I heard about it." is his explanation.
*
Julie is no kind of spy at all, and really, neither is she very interested in the speech going on. But she's agreed and come up with a fairly-nondescript late-model Buick station wagon, respectable-looking save some roof damage and one of the windows in the rear having spiderweb damage. "I'll find a place to be handy to try and get you out in case there's trouble," she'd explained: apparently the previous owner was one late 'Mr. Cohen' who she seems confident would approve. Also, she's assured she can probably fix Josh's own car, by the contraption she'd made for Mutant Town this may seem likely. On arrival she picks a spot the best she can for an easy exit, and if possible, hearing what's going on.
*
"We feed them. Shelter them. Allow them to continue to 'work' for their own families, and what do they do? They hunt us. Stalk us. Destroy our homes and attack us on the streets!" He explains evenly, still pacing the walk and looking to those closest to the stage. A glance up, and over the collection, he doesn't spot many of those lurking about, but the one he does notice is the Unstoppable Juggernaut. His lips twitch before curling up into a smirk. "You there," he points. "Brother, tell me…are you one of us? The blue collared, working class, or have you one of /them/, here to bring more terror and bloodshed onto our heads?" Standing tall, he smiles and waits for an answer, his arms behind his back as the rest of the crowd turns and glances back at the massive figure they were trying to ignore, or at least, not pester.
*
One thing about Cain, the guy makes for one helluva distraction! With the speaker and the crowd at large suddenly turning to focus on the wall of muscle Domino's taking note of where those four roaming guards are at. What amounts to the muscle for this event.
They really should have brought in a lot more.
With their attention diverted she slowly drifts off to one side, as though only moving aside to permit the others a better view. In reality she's making her way toward the closest of these guards.
It's the guy on the stage, however… -That- little stain needs to stay alive for just a little while longer. Already she's reaching for a small item inside one of her coat pockets. Not a weapon, not yet. Just a single innocent glass marble.
*
Cain snorts as he's called out, his mouth stretching into a broad smile. He reaches into the pocket of his vest and draws out a cigar. He places it between his lips, striking a match against his bicep before he lights it and taking a couple of puffs. No need to rush on this monkeys behalf.
"Oh, I'm definitely the latter. Most mutants are actually pretty nice folks, just wanna be left alone. You oughtta know, you an' yers victimized plenty o' 'em. But I ain't no victim," he says and his eyes flash red for a moment, the crimson power of Cytorrak, chaos and wrath incarnate, flaring in his eyes. "Terror? Mayhem? You ain't seen nothin' yet, you loudmouthed sack o' trash."
He lifts up his leg and stomps down, once, enough to make the whole street rumble and shake with the impact of it, crackiing the asphalt around his heel.
*
It's the lot of anyone playing wheel-'man,' …Certain raised voices and possible PA systems aside, what's going on, now?
Dizzy tsks as the ground shakes beneath the tires. "Well, it sure didn't take long for a rumble to develop," she quips, to herself, and shrugs at the rear window's crank, assuming there's no one looking at her, which crank turns to lower *that* in a hurry. Power windows aren't an option she'll likely spend money on in the future, really. She presses the clutch and puts the column-shift in reverse, despite the fact the engine isn't running. It could be dance-time already. As an afterthought, a license plate light's bulb turns and pops out of its socket.
*
Before the world itself begins to shake, the blonde with a partially covered face exits the crowd and moves on. The beefy goons that are playing guard keep their distance, idly walking around the collection, and trying to size up Cain as he looms in the back, hard to miss by anyone. A devilish grin rests on the man in a suit's face as he tsks behind his teeth and starts pacing again. "See? This is what I'm talking…" The ground moves, splits and rumbles, causing the crowd to make soft noises of alarm and a sudden feeling of 'wrong place, wrong time'.
The man in the suit glares out, eyeing Cain while baring his teeth and pointing his way. "Truth! Truth in everything I say is with that abomination right there! I speak, I express myself with poise and he threatens us! See what monsters they are deep down? They wait and pounce us, stealing away our peace of mind and sense of security! Guards!" He calls, and the four hoods start moving in toward Marko.
*
Domino's already planning on releasing that lone marble out into the wild. It's purely by chance that she gives it a gentle roll into the crowd right as Cain's dropping his foot and making the ground shake. In an instant there's a lot of scrambling feet, now with the addition of a small spherical catalyst. While the man in the suit upon that stage says his piece her small contribution to the world seeks out its own path.
An unlucky lady finds it first, suddenly losing her balance and colliding into a photographer with a "Whup—!"
The photographer gets plowed into with an "Agh!" The camera which had been in his hand goes flying out over the heads of those nearby on its merry way to blindsiding the man on the stage with a *Whak!*
Right as the camera works its magic Domino's elbow lashes backward at the face of the guard she had edged her way closer to. Then she's driving herself forward through the remaining crowd to try and get to the downed speaker before he can make a run for it!
*
Cain sees the guards approaching and cracks his knuckles, the sound of his massive bones popping like gunshots in the air, "See, this is yer problem. You keep askin' fer it and askin' fer it. And then, when you're about to receive, you act all ungrateful."
He takes a few steps forward and throws a kick at the guard nearest to him, one that, if it connects, will likely send said guard soaring up and over the nearest building to land god knows where.
"You wanted a monster, boy? You got one."
*
Josh makes his way through the crowd, approaching the spaker. Blond and totally nonthreatening looking, he shakes his head, "Peace? Poise? You people killed 60 people the other day. You came to our home, and you slaughtered people." he calls out, "You think you're innocent? You think they were the ones who did violence and terrorized you? You think he's the villian back there?" Josh shakes his head, "It's people like you who are the cancer on humanity." The guards might be approaching, but Josh is going to try to get as close as he can to the ringleader.
*
Maybe it should be called the 'domino affect' for a reason. As bodies start to fall and topple into one another, the flying, boxy camera clips the man on stage, causing his body to turn to the side. Hand up, he hold at his mouth and nose, his eyes glaring daggers out toward Cain, the reporter, and now Josh as he speaks against him, openly and closely. Moving his hand down, he spits vitae against the stage and grins toward the blonde, red vividly staining his teeth. Leaning down, he chuckles and presses a finger out toward Josh. "Do it. Ruin me. Hurt these people and pretend it won't reach the ears of hundreds. Tell me, pretty boy, who will be the true evil of this day?"
A body goes flying into the heavens, crashing against pavement and the metal of a car some couple blocks away. Horns can be heard blaring out after the fact. An elbow slams into the face of another man, drawing forth a loud 'SONOFABITCH' from behind his hand. He then makes to reach out and grab the albino by her hood. The two other men, who had watched their companion go flying, stare up at Cain in disbelief. One meekly cries out 'NO MORE MUTANTS!' before charging toward the massive, magical beast.
*
Julie angles the steering wheel *just so.* Actually turned nearly all the way to the curb. Simply cocks an ear and waits for anything like a cue. Says to the Buick, "Guess it's more of America, warts and all, Mr. C."
*
The hood is easily grabbed, instantly revealing all of the angry monochromatic glory that it had concealed. The offending guard doesn't have long to take in the sights as that sudden burst of anger and adrenaline are both turned his way in the form of gloved hands. One strike to bust his nose and keep him distracted gets followed with a swift linking of limbs and the audible *snap!* of an elbow being deliberately broken.
If he's somehow still holding onto the ripped hood then she'll just slip free of the entire garment. What she really wants right now is one of her sidearms, the block of milled steel darting out at arm's length toward the injured guard's face in warning even as she's still pushing her way closer to the speaker. She doesn't have time to play right now, thank you! Bigger fish to skewer!
Hopefully Josh can keep the guy busy long enough for her to get over there and get him ready for extraction, because -that- guy is coming home with the Brotherhood.
*
Cain backhands another guard, sending him spinning like a top and driving a knee into another as he approaches, more or less just steamrolling humman bodies on his way now to also approach the stage and the taunting man.
"Hey, pal, you wanna be a martyr so bad, don't let me stand in yer way. I'm happy to crucify ya," he laughs, giving another stomp, this one splitting pavement in a zig-zagging lightning bolt in the direction of the leader.
*
One second Josh is stalking towards the ringleader, the next a zigzag of a quake is racing him, and he stumbles and falls hard to the ground, but he's down only for a moment before he rises up again. "Hey, Juggs, don't kill him. He doesn't deserve to die." he calls back over the crowd, stalking closer as he smiles at the man. "He doesn't serve to die: all those people he and his kind killed, he can't die because then he wouldn't e able to take a message back to the others." And with that suddenly Josh is leaping forward, seeking to grab hold of the man. Doesn't matter where, arms, chest, just to lay a hand upon his body, clothed or not. In the instant his hand touches, the blond does not turn gold— he turns utterly, metallic black. But gold radiates out from his black skin and soaks into the spokesman, immediately finding every nerve cluster in his body that transports voluntary signals and *shredding* them. To say it is likely painful is an understatement. It's also likely to render him rather paralyzed from the neck down. But for a moment he turns off the man's ability to feel pain, "I'm Elixir. My gift is healing. This is what happens when the gift is abused. Its really important you remember this for the rest of your life— which won't be short— I could fix this easily. And I never will. Tell your people I am looking for them. For those sixty people you slaughtered, sixty of you will live. Like this. Don't worry. The pain will wear off eventually." And with that, he stops suppressing the pain, and black skinned, he turns away. He'll let Cain handle the big goon type fellows.
*
Julie whoas to herself, a moment: the rotational momentum of *Juggernaut* spinning someone, she can sense half a block away for sure, and the shaking of the ground again should be obvious to everyone. "Holy Cromoly. Awright, that didn't take long, whatever it is." Takes the steering wheel in hand with deliberation, and the ignition key pops to 'run' position.
Oddly, all *four* wheels start spinning as the Buick, rather impossibly, crabs and turns out of its parking spot: somewhere in the process, Dizzy pops the clutch to jump-start the engine with the wheel-spin just when it'll give the rear wheels the right traction, before putting the car in neutral. The car does its little ballet into the middle of the street, and the engine revs.
Whatever it is, people are going to start fleeing soon, and clearer streets are better for this. She backs the car down the street in a hurry as far as it seems likely she'll be able to get out of again, and turns on the lights.
*
Nose's crunch, bones pop and snap, and joints hyper-extend went sent into a twirl of danger. One coughs up crimson and bile after the solid knee of Cain hits home, and that threat of something packing bullets causes the rest of the crowd to start clearing out. They may have been curious, but that was all over now. As each brother and sister of the Brotherhood makes their way toward the stage, the earth trembles under the stride Marko once more, breaking the speakers sense of balance, his hand moving to grip the edge of the stage for some sense of stability. He parts his lips to retort, only to feel that sudden rush of agony wash over his body. Howling out, he slumps in a pile of person on the stage, his eyes moving and gazing up at the dark figure now explaining himself, and making promises.
The man…laughs. He chuckles and lays limp, giving another 'tsk' behind those teeth. "You think this will stop us? You're fooling yourself. You, them, that man who stole another of us from the other night? Pawns. You'll never be rid of us. I accept this and all you'll do to prove me /right/ to everyone else, you fucking freak." Twitching without control, his body then rests once more as the man strains his neck. "I gladly die for my own. What will yours do? Cry? Weep? Beg all over again for their worthless lives?"
*
Things are going quite well so far! It's almost as if the world at large is gearing up for something..to go..wrong…
"Elixir, don't!"
Domino grunts a curse then winds up ramming into another body hard enough to drop the fleeing bystander to the ground with the mini-quake Cain just caused! A grim look overtakes her as she claws herself upright and leaps up onto the stage, gun already trained down at the now crippled man. Her attention is less on him and more on the mutant whom had caused the speaker's current condition.
"-Dammit!-" she snaps while glaring at the healer. "This isn't the time or place for an emotional response!"
When the downed man starts to laugh and issue another verbal challenge the albino rolls her eyes then promptly kicks him in the head just to knock him out and shut him up. "Mutant and proud, asshole."
Her focus then goes right back upon Josh. "You can explain it to Raven later," is said with a note of warning. At least their mark isn't dead yet, but if Josh really is going to leave the man forever crippled it might create further issues for the Brotherhood…
A quick scan for any remaining guards (they can be dragged in for interrogation too!) is followed with a look to the Juggernaut. "Cain! Come give me a hand with this sack of shit."
*
Cain gives Josh a slow, blank stare as the boy intervenes to inflict suffering on the leader. He ignores some of the remaining guards trying to strike at him, their ineffectual attacks not even registering on his invulnerable hide.
"Bossme around again, kid, and you're gonna find out how far your healin' goes. I only take orders from one body in this outfit, and you ain't it," he says.
He moves forward until he's standing over the slumping frame of the speaker, "Keep on comin'. I want 'em all. Every single one o' you bastards, anybody you inspire. I want 'em all to stand up and be counted. So that I can kill every single one of 'em with my bare hands," he says,then nods to Domino and follows along.
*
"I refuse you the privilege of death." remarks Josh to the … captive?, not even looking back at the cripple, his voice dispassionate and cold, "You will not die for anything. You no longer have any purpose in life. No meaning. You're nothing. But you'll live." He looks to Domino, his skin black to her white and he shrugs, "There needs to be a consequence. Death is too easy, its too kind. After the massacre, I don't feel like being kind anymore." He turns his attention to Cain and shakes his head, "If anyone kills him, I'll simply bring him back. Threatening me is pointless."
*
Julie blows three short blasts on the horn, waits what seems forever but may only be thirty seconds or less, and says, "Awright, some of youse get in the car," All aboard. The vehicle departs the vicinity in a very ordinary way. She'll cross the area a few times later, in case the gold guy is still hung up somewhere, then give up.
*
Cain looks over at Josh idly, "You're really kind of a little asshole, y'know that, kid?"