]] Finders Keepers // Lost and Found

[Christian Micheal]

Does History guide us...?

Or do you set out to change it...?

--

Some might question the presence of a fourteen year old on the decimated rock that was Alcatraz Island. Others might simply play it off as a coincidence.

There was only one reason he was here, and why he had not brought anyone with him - and oddly enough, he wasn't even certain he knew it. His eyes were glazed over; as if he had been daydreaming for several minutes. In truth, his Sight was flicking along every surface, within every cell... for that...

Pulse

He'd made it here on his own. The Prison on the Rock, which, under normal circumstances was guarded by a very bored squadron of military police, was currently holding only two people. One was him; he was walking very slowly, stumbling here and there, but all in all, he seemed to be hunting for something very specific.

Taking a deep breath, he willed his Sight past the rubble in his way...

Pulse

Whatever this - no, she - was, it was something only he could see. Psychics weren't able to touch it with their minds, sonar seemed to blur and miss it. In truth, he wasn't entirely certain what he'd spotted that had so drawn his attention...

Which was the problem.

His spray-soaked clothes clung to his body, making him regret not wearing anything thicker for warmth. Brown hair was matted to his forehead with sweat, and it was there, beneath crumbled stone and mangled steel that he found her.

His eyes could see anything. Everything. And yet, every time he looked deeper than what she was, it was like...

Pulse

His head felt fuzzy once more, and it took him a second to remember just what it was he was looking at. She was there, and he was the only one who'd been able to find her. He didn't know why; there was no voice of reason, no logic behind it. All he could do was See things, which was why, struggling against earth and metal, he also wished he'd decided to bring something heavy with which to clear a space.

"I'm here... whoever you are, I'm here..." He offered, keeping his voice low, just in case a guard had arrived. A quick sweep of the island told him that no, no one was there but them.

Him and her.

She was a stranger. He could peek only so far into her past, and the rest was just a blur. As if an eraser had smudged at his mind. Which was why he was standing here, gritting his teeth and moving a thick sheet of steel.

He had to know, because no one had ever kept a secret from him in years. Not if he really wanted to know.

Now he just looked over, beyond the things he'd moved.

Standing there, peacefully, was...

Pulse

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[Red]

-Alkali Lake-

Waters bounced rhythmically of the coasts, splashing the dry sands and creating calming sounds. The skies sparkled with thousands of little diamonds, putting life to the void that has become of the night. And winds blew from the south, showing that winter has finally passed to give way to another season. All was pleasant, a perfect night of desolate stillness that served little to comfort the wildlife around the area. In every way, the calm before a brewing storm as the perfection lay on the brink of being shattered by an unprecedented occurrence.

Light.

From fifty thousand miles above the lake, you would've seen it. Small orbs of luminescent energy coalesced to form a ball of light. Slowly…gradually it formed a figure. Little by little, the light seemed to gather as attracted by an unknown force, forming an incomprehensible shape. And then it spread like wild fire until it formed into a shape of a talon. A bird's talon…and then…a massive surge of blinding spectacle. Enough to render an onlooker momentarily blind.

The waters seemed to react towards it, fearing the inexplicable force that lay within it's depths, as it stirred. The waves it created formed a pattern as the it slowly drained out of a portion of the seas. The vast oceans churned and went into a turmoil as it felt it's womb being violated. The waters shied away from the center, circling furiously until the bedrocks underneath once again experienced being exposed to the still air. And the light grew continuously, but unlike earlier, it only centered on one…object…or rather being.

It stayed afloat the barren bedrocks before shooting up towards the skies and blending with the sky to look like a meteor passing near the earths axis. Very near.

-Alcatraz Island-

Searching green eyes surveyed the surroundings. Worried and confusion etched in every line of her face. Her emeralds kept the continued search, as if the deserted wasteland all around her would provide an answer to her questions.

Where was she? Why was she here? And more importantly…who was she?

She couldn't even recall the one important thing that every individual should have basic knowledge on. It's a testimony of their existence…of their birth…and yet she didn't have any idea. What was her name? She would trade anything right at this moment to be able to know the answer. And another thing, didn't she have a family to worry for her whereabouts? Or friends to look for her upon knowing that she's whisked off somewhere? Someone…anyone?

Only one way to find out. Her feet took a step, hesitantly testing the rubble if it wouldn't give out under her. But more importantly, to test if her knees wouldn't fail her. She felt as if she hadn't moved in ages, and her muscles felt stiff. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad that at least she was able to walk. Quite weird considering how she got here. No recollection came from her as to how she arrived in this place. But she couldn't very well have crawled to get here right?

She looked down absentmindedly, her hand raising to touch her arm and inspecting the clothing she had on. A black leather inspired ensemble. Tattered at a few places, but all in all, looked decent enough. It fit her body like a second skin and she guessed that it was made specifically for her. If you'll judge it by the way it clung to her body. She found one thing. Not really a thing, but a part of her clothes that peaked her interest. The letter X. Another bout of relief washed over her chest. Quite ironic that she can remember basic things, the alphabet…counting…colors and little known facts and yet, her name seemed to elude her.

She froze on her place, surprised to see herself on a mound of dirt that seemed to protrude from the earth's orifice. Her forehead creased and her hands went up to clutch her head as things flashed in her mind. She was there, she had been there. Here, on this exact same spot. And then white. She couldn't remember anything aside from that. As if clouds, thick clouds covered her memory, hiding all the details from her. Biting her lip in frustration, her eyes opened in frustration. What's the use of being in this place if she couldn't remember anything?

Was someone playing tricks on her? If yes, then it's not a good joke. It's not right to bring people into situations like these. Where they are placed in a situation wherein the answer is within their grasp…but still unattainable by any means. The redhead whirled around, her hair blowing in the wind like flames as she turned to the voice that called out. Fear crept into her, should she hide? She's in a dark deserted place with no one to come to her aid if the person turned out to be a mugger. But what would a mugger do here exactly? What if the person who called out is a family member or a friend? The thought seemed to calm her a little, as she started to answer. "Who's there?" Noting the fact that her voice came out hollow and raspy, as if it wasn't used in a long time.

[Christian Micheal]

She looked startled that he was standing there. She was older than he was, and she was... very pretty. Though, the articles she wore were anything but - they looked like they were meant to be used for function, rather than form. He took several careful, cautious steps forward, Looking for the best possible route. He had no idea how she'd gotten there safely, without any defined trail. Still, as he moved, he processed information as quickly as he could. She sounded a bit worried, and... old.

Old wasn't the right word, of course - worn? That didn't much apply either. Perhaps, aged. Same meaning, different word.

For now, he'd mull that over. She looked as though she was afraid - that same weariness in her tone that lapsed into her figure. Then again, she was on an island. She'd been alone, and still was, strangely enough, except for him. He almost Looked at her, though he knew the end result would be a blank. It always seemed to be. Though he'd seen her with his power, this was certainly the first time he'd seen her up close and personal.

"Oh... my name is Christian." He replied, hands extending outward at either side, to help him maintain some semblance of balance. Christian was not a heavily athletic person, though he was fit in his own right. His voice was still a bit high, signifying he wasn't quite through with puberty yet; that, and the fact that he just looked young.

What was worse, was that he looked so out of place here. Amidst this destruction and chaos, here he was, struggling just to take another step. Of course, she was in a very similar boat.

"Who're you?" He asked, his voice holding a bit of seriousness. It was a simple question, but again, he didn't think he'd figure it out. She seemed to be just as confused to all of this business as he was. Still, there had to be a reason he had seen her. The only thing he absolutely knew was that by the end of the day, today, they'd be at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

He couldn't look into her past hardly at all, but he could look into her future just fine, just like anyone else. Still, as he finally made it to her side, he let a grin take over his face.

"I'd ask you what you were doing in a place like this... but... you could ask me the same thing. Only difference is... I could give you a roundabout answer." Roundabout only because he knew he'd been looking for her. Not why, but that was his whole reason for being here.

Fate? Or just his own desire to help?

He extended a shaky hand to her, as if he was still worried he might fall over. This little outcropping didn't feel too stable to him. For just a second, he peered at her. That same fuzzy feeling came over his mind, and after a second, he simply remembered walking up. Words. Looking at her was nothing more than a smear on his memory.

[/blockquote]

[Red]

Her glossy lips opened to what could only be an automatic response to his question. But try as she might, no words came out of her. It wasn't like she was hiding something…or she didn't want to tell him something. If she only had the answers, she would gladly supply them. Pitying herself seems a moot point as she did that already earlier. Bowing her head in shame, the redhead fell silent.

Not wanting to appear rude, her hands extended and clasped the hands of the boy in front of her. "Hello Christian…I'm…" Still, silence. Her jade green pools reflected the inner turmoil going on inside her. And by the way her lips pursed, it was evident that she didn't have an answer to his question just yet. But optimism must be one of her traits as she knew she'd find out soon enough who she was…

Just as well, there weren't any reason to lie about it. Might as well come clean…and get it over with. This person…Christian might even help her about it. "As much as I want to tell you who I am…I'm afraid I can't." Her hands fell to her sides in resignation, helpless with what Fate has put on her table. "It's not that I don't want to tell you…believe me…I want to. But…I…" It was enough to send out her message. And she wished that he could feel her sincerity. There was so much she wanted to tell him, even though technically she just met him. There was something about the boy that told her he can be trusted. And yet, she didn't want to divulge everything…or something with her current state. Something inside her didn't want to make it look like she was that helpless. Pride? Not really. Ego? As far as she knew, she wasn't egotistical. Self preservation was more likely the reason.

The sudden change of topic lightened her mood. Though her answer is likely to cause confusion due to the fact that it would be lacking, at least she had an answer to his question. "When I came to…" She couldn't very well blurt out when she "woke" up could she? But that's what really happened. She just found herself staring to the desolate dump they're in…standing awkwardly in the midst of all the wreckage. "I just found myself here…I don't know how, when or why…but all I know is that I'm supposed to…find something here…" Changing the word "remember" to "find" seems to be the best option. Since she's hesitant to let him know she forgot everything from her memory. Again, with the self preservation thing.

"And what would you be doing here…exactly?" She felt a little comfortable with the way he stared at her. And internally, she felt that she already knew the answer. The air chose to blow right then, making her squint to protect her eyes from the dirt that filtered through the air. Gloom radiated of the place and every fiber of her being told her to take off and hightail it out of here. And yet she stayed. For whatever reason, she didn't know. "Is something wrong?" She decided to ask upon seeing him look dazed. It worried her that something wrong happened to him. With her luck, it wasn't impossible that he turned out to be a crazed lunatic. But her intuition told her otherwise. She inhaled expectantly and awaited his reply. All the while, her stomach churned and butterflies gave her the willies.

[Christian Micheal]

He winced, nodding a little bit. Something about her was more than strange, and she seemed to be picking up on his own uncertainty. She wasn't blocking his power, that wasn't possible - as far as he knew. But still, he couldn't seem to remember. That was very much a possibility, and it would explain why everything seemed to get fuzzy whenever he tried to remember.

It might also be an effect from this place - though... he knew full and well he could watch everything backwards. He'd done it once thus far, and considered doing it again just now to make certain. Though, her question had staggered him, mentally. After a moment, he just shook his head.

"Normally, I'd give you a cryptic or mystical answer, I guess. But the truth is, I came here looking for you - In a weird way. I see things... except you. I mean, I see you... but..." He let out an exasperated sigh. It was harder to explain than he thought it would be - then again, thusfar his track record with power explaining was horrid.

"You know what a mutant is, right? Well, even if you don't, I'm one. And I see things. All sorts of things. All things, I think, if I try hard enough. But with you... I don't see anything behind you. Or rather, I do, but... I just can't remember. So I was curious."

After another shrug, he realized he was honestly starting to get a bit cold. The air was chilly and his clothes were still a bit wet from the seaspray. "But tell you what. I'm the best person in the world to help you find something. Tell me what it is, and I'll Look for it. Oh! And, so I can say something and you'll know I mean you... I'm gonna call you... Red" He said, with a half smile, and a helpful, assuring nod.

"Your hair color is pretty, so, I'm just going with that." He added, for good measure. After all, he didn't want to just make something up and not give her a real reason for it. Slipping his numbed fingers in his back pockets, he leaned his hips back, and his head forward, forcing his toes off the ground.

He took a deep breath, and looked around uncertainly. What could an amnesiac girl who's past he could See be looking for in a place like this? Her name? An identity? It was a strange thought, but who knew? He could see outer space if he wanted, so honestly, stranger things could happen.

Christian hadn't noticed yet, but his lips were trembling. "I think you might be a mutant to. So, if it helps, I know a place we can go. Actually, it's the whole reason I'm in New York, 'cause I'm going to Xavier's School." He finished, hoping that would ring a bell.

[/blockquote]

[Red]

She recoiled momentarily, as if his mere words had slapped her right across the face. He…was…looking…for…her? Now wouldn't that feel nice? If it were on a different situation she was in and at another time, she would be flattered. It was quite evident that there were a few criteria that had to be met for her to feel squishy. First off, she had to know the reason why he was looking for her. Second, she had to know who he is…or at least have a connection with him. And third…well she'd have to stop there. She couldn't think of other reasons behind it…and with her state right now…she just didn't have the luxury. The fact still remains, he never met two or even one of the criteria. "Why-why were you looking for me? I mean…I don't understand…" Her head shook, her auburn red tresses moving with her slight motion. There were so many things to understand and her brain could only accommodate as much. With that being said, she didn't expect the boy to blurt out…things that sounded Greek to her.

Mutants?

What was it? Her above average intelligence seemed to peak at the word but she didn't get that far with the little information he provided. Mutants could see…things. Maybe Christian can help her to know who she was. Hope blossomed in her chest upon the thought…only to be crushed a few seconds after when he mentioned that he couldn't "see" her. She didn't exactly know how "seeing" worked but she had the gist of it. That there was something wrong…different about her that prevented him from doing what he does. But maybe…

Just maybe…

"Are there…any other mutants like you?" Unsure if she had the right to ask that. If he wasn't able to see her…maybe someone stronger could. If that was the case…wait, he just said he was the best person who could help her find something. Something. But what? If only she knew the answer. "You would do that…for me?" There was no mistaking it, if you knew how to read up on body language, facial expressions and tone of voice then you'd know she was confused, hesitant and touched. The boy had offered to help her…even if he didn't really know who or where she came from. She could be an alien from outer space for crying out loud, and here was this boy, being a good Samaritan to someone he barely knew.

Her hands moved down to her body, searching her clothes for any pockets, trying to see if she had something on that could connect her to her past. Or to the very least, let her know who she is. Sighing sadly, her head bent down in defeat. "I don't have anything…" She stopped right then…remembering something she had seen earlier. Her fingers made their ascent and landed on a small detail unto her…clothing. The small intricate X laden on the collar of her attire. "This…" She went silent for a while and just reflected, it was probably useless. For all she knew…he must need something else rather than a silly design on an outfit.

"Red…" It took a moment for her to digest the information. At first, confused as to why he gave her that name. But when it was made clear that it was because of her hair, a smile slowly melted into her lips. And she instantly figured that she liked the name. Clever, really clever.

A startled gasp was elicited from her on his next words. She was also a mutant? But if she was…

Her hands reached up to clutch her head as her blood pounded on her temples. "I don't understand…mutant…who…what are they? And...me?" What made her a mutant? Was it by the looks…or is it having the ability to "see" things like he did? Somehow, that thought didn't sound right. Because that was exactly what she's been trying to do for the past hour. And if she couldn't even see her own past then that would, more or less, make her unqualified as one. "Xavier's?" The name rung a bell…but that's just it. Like all other things she's forgotten…she didn't have a clue as to why that name appeared to sound familiar.

[Christian Micheal]

"Mutants are people, just... evolved a little, if you want to believe the science. Like, there was this guy named Xavier - he founded the school. He could read minds and control people and stuff..." And kill every mutant - or human - in the world, if forced to. That was a pretty scary thought, to. He knew, because that was his power. Seeing things the way they truly were.

"Either way, I think every mutant is different, in little ways. I don't think you'll ever meet someone who can see things like I do, 'cause... it's just how I evolved." He offered, his voice generous and sincere. He was proud of what he could do, sort of, though it wasn't as if he could throw fireballs or lasers from his eyes. Those sort of things would at least be useful. All he could seem to do was... well... look at things.

Shrugging gingerly once more, he looked at the little X.

"That works. See, I don't really need anything to see... anything... but, it's better if I have a starting point. I really can see everything, so it's better if I start looking somewhere. Creation is a big place." he laughed, gingerly.

Then it started. His eyes took on a far-off look, as though he were staring right past her, or through her - because in all reality, he was. That symbol.

He rewound through its past, meticulously avoiding the blurrier edges. He was starting to identify what he wouldn't be able to see - or rather, what he could see, but couldn't remember. Nothing in the universe could stop him, but that didn't necessarily mean someone with the right skill couldn't make him forget.

He saw them. People he'd seen before. His brows furrowed a bit, as he said: "That's an X-men uniform!" He spouted, almost excitedly. "That means you really were destined to go to Xavier's. Or at least, it's probably not a coincidence." But what was this? He was sneaking aroun---

There was a very sharp pain in the back of his mind. Agonizing, sheer, sharp pain like he'd never felt be--- no, that was a lie. Flares were burning on his body, in those specific locations. The ones he'd never show anyone.

He found himself able to see again, his vision was blurred and his whole body felt numb. Oddly enough, he didn't remember being on his knees, and yet, there he was, staring at the ground as though it were the only thing real. Just to test, he Looked further down just to see if he could... but still.

He was breathing pretty hard, now. "I---" His breath was short. "I think... I need to not do that... any more." He murmured, his voice sounding weaker than he'd like it to. Whatever the hell that had been, it was a warning shot. Or maybe, the warning shots had been blanking out his memory. He'd just stepped it up, gone right around looking at her.

Still, he'd gotten a few steps, mentally. That meant that he'd at least had an idea, and Red would at least have a clue. Speaking of red, several little droplets had formed on the gray and blackened ground, which seemed strange to him. His nose was bleeding a little bit - but at least it wasn't on his clothes. A strange way of looking at that, too.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get more..." He added, though his legs were still trembly, and he was not quite up to standing just yet. He wiped at his nose with the back of his hand, which seemed to help a little bit, at least. He could wash his hands back on the boat. "I've got a boat, if you need a ride back..." He added, though in all honesty, he was feeling very sick, as well. Great. He hadn't been to his new school yet, and he was feeling sick on the first day.

[/blockquote]

[Red]

"Evolved humans…" She whispered thoughtfully. If there were…evolved…humans like herself. Then that would mean she isn't alone. Christian here. for example. shared a common ground with her. But it stayed that way for he didn't lose his memory nor did he appear to have a problem. She focused on his next words, her face lighting up upon hearing what this Xavier could do. "He could read minds! That's it! That's exactly what I need…this Xavier-" It was weird, the kind of weird where you feel whirlwind of emotions inside your chest. With the mention of the name, she felt hope and yet it was accompanied by unexplained joy and sadness. Like finding out someone was your long lost father…and then later being revealed that he's gone forever. She couldn't explain it and whatever it was…it all boiled down to one thing. Guilt. Massive amounts of it that made her chest constrict painfully and her eyes mist.

Red shook her head to try and dismiss the emotions. What was happening to her?

Absently, she wondered how "unique" she was…how she evolved. Did she also have an…ability like him? If she did…what were they? Her head tipped to the side, her long hair falling to the sides, as she remembered what she was here for. She didn't have the time to wonder what her powers…or if she even had any. All that matters is that she find out who she is and get help as soon as time would permit.

She smiled a little queasy, happy that she could at least help him in helping her…in her own little way. For a moment, she thought she lost him when he took on that expression. He was there alright…and yet he wasn't. If that was hard to process, imagine what it did to her mangled mind. Headaches that's enough for two lifetimes. If she only had an idea.

"X-men…uniform?" Great, more questions. As if her confusion weren't enough…answers to her questions seems to create more of 'em. And they don't seem to end. The X symbol on her attire completed the X-men's uniform. If that were the case, then why was she in one? Does that make her an…X-man? Whatever or whoever they were… "Yes, lets…go to Xavier's…maybe he can help-" Her words got cut off when she noticed him wobble. Too late, she was unable to prevent him from falling on his knees. "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly, on her way to helping him up.

"Need to do what? I-please make me understand…" She was frantic…and panicking for that matter. Gasping at the sight of crimson blood oozing from his nose. "No, don't do it anymore!" Was that the prize he had to pay when he tries to "see" things? If it is then it was her fault that he's experiencing pain right now. Great, she hadn't even made progress and now she's the reason why a person is hurting. "I'm so-sorry…" Her eyes misted and she felt trickles of wetness roll down her cheeks. "You don't need to do this if it results to you being hurt. Please, don't do this in my behalf." She was practically pleading, her eyes mirroring all what she's currently feeling.

She was about to reach out to him and help him up to leave with him when bright lights shone towards them. So bright that she had to cover her eyes.

"Mutant signature detected. Analyzing…
Unregistered mutants discovered…
Identify yourself or suffer consequences"

From the way it's eyes glowed, made Red want to hide. And that's precisely how her instincts kicked in. Her hair whipped around her as she turned back to Christian who still knelt on the floor. Mustering all the strength she head, Red inhaled and let out her voice, "RUN!" Thanking the cosmos that she's regained a part of her strength, hitching up her legs she ran opposite from the huge robot that's seemed out to get them. Her head snapped back when Christian didn't make any move, "Christian! Come on!" They had to get away fast…especially since she could hear other noises coming from other parts of the island. They were surrounded.

[Christian Micheal]

"It's not normal for anything like this to happen..." He murmured in reply, trying to at least make her rest assured that this side effect was quite unusual - it made his brows furrow, as his stomach really started to settle, now. She had been the cause, in one way - because if he hadn't been looking, he wouldn't have been hurt. That, was not the point he was trying to make, and so he didn't keep on that train of thought. Xavier's school sounded like a plan, especially since he did not really feel up to doing much of anything else, now.

She helped him up, when that voice... literally... boomed. An angry, metallic, robotic voice like he'd never heard before. Sentinels were rarely on the news - at least, not identified as anything more than giant robotic hallucinations. Yet, here was one, staring down at them as though they were both things to be dissassembled and understood. He very literally froze - her pleas for him to run fell on terrified ears. Stunned, in the lights. Footfalls, voices, sounds he couldn't identify. Coupled with the ringing that was still in his head, how his legs refused to move, meant he was a target.

The machine reached down for him, and there was nothing Christian could do. No energy beams, no spikes, nothing that could protect him. His mind finally kicked back in - flight, as best he could - and he did little more than shy away, throwing up his hands defensively, squeezing his eyes shut. He could still see it coming, though - his powers were now reacting to his terror, letting him know exactly what was about to happen, even if he didn't want to see.

He could just start to feel the cold of the metal near him, almost pulling off of it in waves. He caught his breath in his throat, and let out a yell - scared, panicked, trapped... all of those emotions welled up inside him, and yet there was nothing left for him to do. He couldn't scrabble.

Panicked Vision wavered for a moment. He thought he might just pass out.

The last thought he had before he heard the crunch of metal in the stone and earth around him was that his father would never have any idea what happened to him.

"Help me!" He managed, though it was little more than a whisper, terror taking his voice.

[/blockquote]

[Red]

There are times in a person's life where you would be caught between the devil or the deep blue sea. Either choice spelled danger or worst…death. If she chose to go back to Christian then she'd risk getting caught or as previously stated, dying. On the other hand, fleeing right now didn't exactly mean she'd get out of this place alive. So times like this…you had to use your head…what was the best option? Screw that, her principles won out making her choose the more stupid but better option. And that choice made her feel better as a person…stupid or stupid but she wouldn't go back on a friend.

Her breath literally got caught in her throat when she saw the gigantic robot use its huge hands to grab Christian and lift him up. Her eyes widened in fear and she took a sharp intake of breath as if she was punched in the stomach. Seconds passed and she could feel all the cells in her body protest with the lack of oxygen. Another sharp intake of breath. Her mind all but screamed for help but none came. For the most part, she felt her vision dim as she looked on in fear.

No!

Before she was even aware of it, her legs moved on their own accord. Her hands reached up as she ran towards the two figures. "NO!" She screamed verbally this time until she reached a location just a few feet away from them. Still her hands remained upraised and her face looked fierce with determination. "Let…him…down..." Every word spaced, her voice getting more and more vehement. "I said let him GO!" She yelled the last part, a plethora of emotions skittering on her face but most of them rarely showed. Fear for Christian's life, desperation to do something and determination to save her friend were dominant.

Silence

For a split second, nothing could be heard apart from the gentle blowing of the wind and the distant clings of metal. One would literally feel the air become denser as time passed slowly. And then suddenly the clinking of metals started. Nuts and bolts dislodged and flew off of different metallic parts simultaneously. The head of the robot had the guile to look down and survey what's happening before it swiveled up again to stare at her. Her eyes weren't hers anymore as it glowed with embers of flame. Her feet, delicately planted on the ground, produced flames that licked to the middle of her thighs. And yet, it did nothing to burn her attire or hurt her in anyway. It just served as a sort of an aura, a catalyst from which her powers would flow forth to the best of its capabilities.

It's a spectacular show of her powers, too bad she was unable to witness it with her bare eyes. She was there, and yet unaware of the changes going on all around her. She didn't even know when parts of the giant robot started to dislodge and fly backwards. The only remains were the metallic hands, with electricity still sparking from it, that held Christian which floated in the air. Her hand directed down and it slowly made it's descent bringing down Christian with it.

Her eyes blinked, losing the flame it once held and leaving a bewildered look. Withdrawing her hands and surveying it closely. "What…just happened?" She couldn't remember a thing. All she knew was she commanded the robot to drop Christian and everything else is…a blank. She looked up, still confused, and all the worry vanished from her face. She ran towards Christian, knelt on the ground and placed her hands on his shoulder to rouse him from losing consciousness. "Christian! Wake up, are you alright?" Silly question she knew, but it was more of a reassurance that he didn't suffer anything life threatening.

[Ororo Munroe]

The sky had darkened considerably, as this particular woman made her way through the air, on currents of wind. She knew the Blackbird was not far behind - she'd taken off early as an advance agent. Emma had warned them that things could get ugly - two powerful mutants were using their powers openly on Alcatraz, though the intent behind them seemed peaceful, that could change in an instant.

Choppy waters beneath her crashed against the very edge of the little island, where, much to her horror, she saw something she certainly had not been expecting to see. Three Sentinels - and the rubbish pile that remained of one further off - surrounding a duo, one of which was unconscious. Silently cursing whoever created the idea of the sentinels, she spread her arms wide, speaking with the barest hint of an accent into a com-link in her ear.

"Iceman, Rogue... we've got Sentinels." That one line would be all it took to spur the pilot faster, as she started to descend from the blackened clouds. Thunder rolled audibly, as her eyes seemed to lose color, replaced by nothing but white. In africa, they treated her as a Goddess. This was why.

Lightning split the heavens, crashing down and into the three Sentinels. It wouldn't do much more than stun them, momentarily, as electrical energy burst around their metal chassis. She knew, as well as the rest of the X-men, that electricity wouldn't kill a Sentinel; they had shock absorbers that, though they didn't render lightning useless against them, certainly reduced the threat she posed.

Thunder roared once more, though it was directly above them, now. She had their full attention, red-lit eyes turning to face the white haired woman. She stood still, for a moment, before shouting a command in a battle-hardened voice that broached no argument. A trick she'd learned from Scott:

"Get the other kid to safety, and stay out of sight!" She was unwilling to try and lure them away, in case they analyzed - correctly - that the kids would be the smarter target. The wind was starting to pick up, causing her cape to flutter and whip around her. This was the only way to keep herself protected.

Three sets of tentacles lashed out at her, to which she leaped airborne, weaving between the metal lines that would spell certain doom. Silently she wished the other two X-men would get here. Quick.

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[Bobby Drake]

The radio linking the Blackbird to Storm crackled to life and her voice was heard by the two mutants inside. "Iceman, Rogue... we've got Sentinels," came the report. The teen flying the plane immediately pushed the speed up some, knowing they'd be needed. If you were close enough you also might have heard him him mutter, "Crud."

Bobby wanted to turn and look how the other occupant of the plane was doing, but he knew it wasn't a smart idea. This was his first time flying the Blackbird on a mission and he wasn't going to botch it.

"Looks like we need to be prepared for a fight Anna. Storm's going to need our help," he said without turning his head. The rocky island was coming into view on the horizon, the sky through which Bobby was flying getting darker by the second due to Storm's powers.

Bobby was actually pretty nervous about this, more the flying than the fight. The older X-Men had started giving him and Anna lessons in flying the plane. He knew what he was doing, and yet wasn't tested under pressure yet. Just don't screw things up and you'll be fine.

He reached the island, finding a spot where he could land it and touching down. With that he was up and out of his seat, heading toward the door which was slowly opening. Outside a ways away were the sentinels and the two mutants, one of whom was unconscious. Iceman to the rescue I guess. He started running toward the sentinels, ready to freeze one as soon as he got close.

[Anna Marie]

When Anna had first heard that she and Bobby were going to be sent on a mission together with Storm, she had felt very wary about it. Not about the mission itself but the fact that Bobby was her partner. The truth was that it shouldn't have come as a surprise since it did make sense in every way for them to be assigned together. Anyone who watched them in the danger room doing training simulations would see how well they worked well together in less than five seconds. They had once even been told that it was like if they were in sync with each other. So no that wasn't what was worrying Rogue either, she had complete faith in Bobby knowing that he would have her back just as she would have his. What had her on edge was the fact that this would be their first mission together since the...incident. They both tried to ignore it but there had been a slight awkwardness between them ever since that night, always in the background and becoming more pronounced whenever they were alone together.

'An awkwardness that almost led to us....'

The young mutant stopped that thought in its tracks, she was not going to go there. Anna turned and looked over at the young man in the seat besides her. She couldn't help the small smile that spread on her face when she saw the intensely focused expression on Bobby's face and the tight, controlled grip of his hands on the navigation control. She knew that he had been dying for this chance ever since the two of them had been called in for their first flight training session. He knew that he had been way more excited than he had let on when he had heard that they would be piloting Solo on the mission and had been secretly glad, both for him and herself, when he won their coin toss and got the pilot's seat for the first half of their trip. Unlike Bobby, she had been in that seat before she was even taught to fly the customized, high-tech jet. Although her actions that day had helped to save her teammate, she could still remember her complete fright as she held the controls. Anne wasn't exactly scared to get behind the wheel, not anymore, but she wasn't anxious to either.

When Storm's voice came over the speaker, Anna quickly turned away from Bobby to look back at the hazy sky before them as storm clouds approached. She felt the jet accelerate as the radio once again went silent and she simply nodded when Bobby spoke, checking her gloves, out of habit, by pulling on them to make sure that they were secure and flexing her fingers in the leather.

In the next few minutes Bobby had touched down on the rocky plains of Alcatraz island and Rogue quickly unfastened her protective harness and rose from her seat. She was only slightly behind Bobby as they both headed for the opening doors. It didn't take her more than a few seconds to take in and process the situation. The site of three sentinels wasn't pretty but she remained focused on her mission, turning her back on the machine monsters. They both took off towards the two kids knowing that Storm could hold off the sentinels. Bobby was ahead of her at first but thanks to the unexpected and unwanted permanent power transfer of abilities from Ms. Marvel, which had included her super strength and flight, Rogue overtook him after a few seconds, her feet almost literally running on air. Having had reached the two kids first, Rogue knelt beside the young girl and boy, the X - insignia on her shoulder glinting out slightly as a small ray of sun suddenly burst through the bank of dark clouds overhead and illuminated it.

"We're here to help." she said looking at the terrified girl, in the back of her mind she registered that the girl looked slightly familiar though she was sure that she had never met her before. "You can trust us. Its going to be okay."

The girl looked scared and slightly battered but for the most part okay. The boy was unconscious but he was beginning to stir slightly.

"Come on, we have to move." she continued in an urgent voice as she heard the crash of the Sentinel's tentacles crashing against the rocks behind them as Storm dodged them once again.

Rogue stood back up and stepped back slightly to let Bobby reach the boy. She didn't trust herself to touch him, especially not when he was already in such a bad state. She glanced back at the fight between the Sentinels and Storm. They were slightly further away since the robots had followed her, seeking to destroy.

"Think we could make it back to the jet without being spotted?" she asked as Bobby lifted the small boy and she stepped over to the girl. "Or should we find a place to take cover here?"

[Christian Micheal]

The combination of sound, of the weather... of the unfamiliar hands that held him safely away from the ground. Had he been fully awake, he might very well be indignant that some stranger was carrying him; he knew he wasn't all that large, and so he was certainly a better candidate for lugging along than most. Nevertheless, voices were rousing him, speaking as if directly to his consciousness.

"Dad...?" He murmured, uncertainly.

Then the memory of what happen flooded back into his mind, and his eyes snapped open. Everything tensed up, as fear rushed to his form. Immediately he Looked at the entire situation - the guy carrying him he recognized. And the woman who was flying around. He'd Seen as most people never had the events of Alcatraz and Alkali Lake - of Magneto, and many other things that no one would ever hear about.

That didn't immediately remove his fears. His breathing resumed its shallow, panicked rhythm, but at least he was safe. Safe, being in a very strange circumstance, carried by a stranger. Immediately his eyes took on a dull look, as though he was no longer here. To an uncertain observer, it might look as though he had passed out again without closing his eyes.

He was Looking, about ten seconds in to the future.

Which gave him only about three seconds to warn them.

"Drop down now!" He shouted, hopefully loud enough that everyone - Rogue and Red included, could hear him. Granted, they would have no real reason to trust him, as far as Iceman and Rogue were concerned, but Red might very well understand what he was getting at.

As if to reaffirm that point, he became almost dead weight in Bobby's arms, which was a helpful trick to learn if your mother ever tried to drag you in to a kitchen against your will. Not that it ever worked.

He hoped that it would force Iceman to drop.

Hopefully everyone would - his warning would be so that the very literal danger of a giant leg exploding - raining burning, slag-like debris directly where there heads would have been would be avoided. His Eyes were impeccable, which meant that in approximately four seconds, when one of the juggernauts would finally succumb to yet another bolt of lightning, no one would take any amount of damage.

If everyone went down, they'd all be safe.

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[Red]

Nothing.

There was no response from him. And for a moment she held her breath as her hands darted to his pulse points. They were still beating. Wanting to make sure, her head lowered, her ear almost to his lips. Yes, she could feel the faint trickle of wind escaping from him. She wanted to sigh in relief, to thank whoever it was in charge up there for sparing Christian's life, she wanted to. But that idea dissipated from her mind as soon as new lights shone in the night piercing the threshold of her eyes. She blinked and her arm went up in attempts to salvage her vision.

It was a short lived attempt on her part. Her eyes widened at the sight over them. Sentinels. Three of them, stood and loomed all around them, blocking their path. Now how will they escape, when all the odds are against them? As mentioned, they didn't have anywhere else to go. And two, Christian is still out of it and she didn't have the strength to carry him…much more drag him off somewhere safe. They needed help. Badly.

And once again it was proven to her. Ask and you shall receive.

Her…their hero or heroine for that matter came floating down from the sky like a goddess gracing its loyal subjects. And she was there to help them, basing from her actions to distract the gigantic robots. Her intentions were also made clear when she issued an order. Her head turned towards the limp body of her friend, wary eyes calculating the distance from which she had to drag him along to ensure their safety. Could she? She hoisted him up and used his hands as a leverage to carry him. They were only able to make a few steps when tentacles extended from the sentinels and barred their path.

She looked up towards their hero, eyes pleading for some sort of intervention but got disappointed with what she saw. The beautiful woman who looked to be in her thirties hovered in the sky and concentrated not to get the two of them in harm. She already had her hands full. Meaning no use of her distracting her more.

The ray of hope seemed to arrive only a few minutes after in the form of a guy and a girl who seemed almost their age. Her auburn red hair moved as she nodded her hair, showing that she understood and was grateful for the saving. And trust them? The mere fact that they went out of their way to help save Red and Christian warranted them that like an automatic freebie. They needn't ask as long as both of them survive. With all that was happening, she didn't even stop to acknowledge the weird vibes she had from the two. It was like she knew them from somewhere…in some other time. And still...

That was when she heard Christian shout. Reacting on instinct, Red's legs obeyed her command and in a second was on the ground along with the others. Sure enough, a loud explosion was soon heard, but then again, she wasn't sure of the source since she had her head under her arms. She looked up then, her eyes searching her surroundings, "Is everyone alright?" It was a weird question seeing as that they were the ones being rescued, but her true self called out to her and those were the first words that came out of her mouth upon instinct.