Black Bay: Ground Zero (Tags listed within)

[Conduit]

( Tags for Girlzilla, Rogue, Gambit, any bored Titans, ... more to Come)

* I can feel the Diesel engine rumble as I stare out over the bay, light blinking out as we pass each of the lines holding the bridge up. Looks like a nice enough day out... Sun shining... the only problem being that breeze from the north. Right now I'm riding shotgun in one of the school's rigs, making a delivery to downtown on lunch hour.*

* I can't lie... things haven't been the same since the incident. Kami's gone, Frisco has suffered as much damage as our public image... and Alice... Alice hasn't been the same since all of this happened. She's hardly said anything... she doesn't seem comfortable anywhere... even while we're alone it feels like we're miles away.*

* It can't help what all she's had to go through.*

* At first, it sounded like she got off easy... left a trustee of the school while she worked off some community service. It wasn't until later that we found out just what that service to the community was. Cleanup. That's right... every morning after she wakes up off the cold hanger floor, she gets to come back down-town, back to ground zero, passing by all of the destruction and chaos that she helped sew, and join the guard in digging through this mess. All the while all the protests and the name-calling and the thrown rocks play on for her in the background.*

* It's hard enough when you've got to do chores to fix a window... I can't imagine what it's like when you have people are constantly rubbing it in your face.*

* Been so wrapped up in staring out the window, mulling over all of this I've kind of... 'toned out' the romantic advice the Driver has been giving me. I know it's rude, especially toward a teacher... it's not like it was intentional. He's a new face around here... well, new to this class at least. He's got the funniest southern accent I've ever herd... like out of that Frog movie that Robin watches. He's easygoing for the most part... always has and seems like he's always got those weird eyes of his focused on the ladies... *

* ... and he gives me the creeps for some reason...*

* All we've been told is that he took a leave of absence from the school... but I've herd rumors around the school... things about him having a sordid past, even rumors that he was one of those Horseman school is scared over... Death I think. Right... like they'd REALLY let someone like that re-enlist at the school to look over the student body.*

* Still... I just got this, uneasy feeling around him.*

* It's not that long of a trip after we exit the freeway. A few turns and we're here... Ground Zero. Multiple city blocks that Alice and Kami razed over something that I haven't been told about. Yeah... it's kind of a PR nightmare but it's still their buisness.... like with my powers surfacing... she'll tell me when she's ready. We get down to the area that Alice is working in... and low and behold, here's the welcoming committee. Looks like there are fewer than there where yesterday. Not that it's new... the crowds been thinning over the past couple of weeks. The message still doesn't change... whether it's on a T-shirt, on a cardboard sign, or screamed out into the air. All the same bigoted anti-mutant crap. I wish my brain could tone THIS out instead of all the important stuff that I keep blocking out.*

* ... stupid selective attention span...*

* Members of the Guard stop us to verify we are from the school before opening the gates to let us in. As we pull through the eviscerated city streets, these once bustling roadways now empty... it feels like we're driving through a cemetery. Nobody here but Guard soldiers and construction workers. No matter how often I see it... the devastation caused here... it's like one of the history tapes on the aftermath of WW-2.*

* A war fought between 2 girls.*

* We finally make it up to Alice's work area, seeing her warily load up another dump truck with rubble. She's helped clear out a bunch of rubble in the time she's worked. One thing that hasn't cleared out is the number of soldiers. Their either on work or guard detail... not like they could really DO anything. If Alice wanted to leave... she'd leave, and none of them could do anything to stop her. She wouldn't... but still.*

* The truck rolls to a stop... I wait for the teacher to put the parking break on before I get out, hopping out of the rig and moving to where she's working at. I wave at Rogue as I run by, moving through one of the 'safe' areas. She drops one last armload of rocks and girders into the back of the truck before one of the soldiers gives them the signal to move out. She looks exhausted as she wipes off her forehead. Then she looks down and See's me... and her face just lights up. The Soldier who's supervising takes notice, then turns to confirm we're there before calling the lunch break.*

* Everyone starts to slowly scatter...casually moving toward the chow wagons. As they pass I notice some of the looks they give... dirty looks. The kind of thing you'd expect from the protesters. But I don't feel like worrying about that now. Alice waits for everyone to clear out before she walks ahead... towering over the surrounding wreckage. Ever since their not-so-little fight Alice has spent most of her time as a giant. I've tried to talk about it... but with my limited communications skills and her unwilling to talk about it it hasn't gotten far... but like I said before... she'll talk about it when she's ready.*

* We're heading back to the chow wagon when I pull the collar up on my flannel shirt. The air's gotten a weird chill in it all of a sudden... different than that breeze from the north. Reminds me of back home when I was little... the way the temperature dropped before that storm came through and we spent the night in the storm cellar... found out over the radio Twister passed through the next county.*

* But Frisco doesn't have Tornados... right?*

[Gambit]

On a bright, sunny day in San Francisco, with a clear sky over head, it seemed like another fine day. Though for those moving along the Golden Gate Bridge, the sight of this beautiful day is all but lost among the speeding metal. There was, however, a rather odd pair within a dump truck whose glances did not miss out on the sight of the shinnying sun and the clear air. Driving the truck was Remy LeBeau, the X-Man known as Gambit, who had returned from being ‘away’ for so long and was doing his best to get caught up on all that has happened sense he was away. Sitting in the passenger seat was Chris Richardson, a student at Graymalkin who was accompanying Remy downtown to where the National Guard and local construction crews were busy repairing a section of town.

The reason they were repairing a section of San Fran., was because a few weeks ago a fight broke out between two other students from Graymalkin; Sheena Nyght and Alice Vance. The fight was so intense that several buildings and streets were destroyed, and much of the surrounding property was damaged. Current working along side the workers was Alice, who was doing community service to rectify her actions. Ever since the incident, she seems to refuse shrinking down from her giant form. This causes the X-Men to try and be accommodating as possible, which is why Remy and Chris were driving to the site in the rig. Their job was to haul Alice’s lunch in everyday, which they have done so for the past few weeks. Yet in that time, Remy knew very little of Chris, so he tries to take this time to get to know him better.

“So…I un’erstand you be seeing mademoiselle Alice, non? How is you fairing wit’ de young lass des days? Il est difficle*, yes? Can not blame you. Aft’a wha’ happen ‘ere, dere be much on both ya’lls minds. Though Gambit suspects dere be more on her mind dan you, perhaps. Is nothin’ ta worry too much about. She and her friend fight, is no big deal. Causin’ a ruckus all ‘bout town cause’a dere spat. Sure she be feelin’ guilty, though I wadger it be more for her friend den about herself. It happen’s; friends fight, den feel mighty guilty afterwards. ‘Tis no new ding.”

He glances over to his passenger and notices that he isn’t giving his full attention to what’s being said. So Remy decides to skip over a few things and goes straight to what he was getting at to begin with.

“But if you be needin’ some advice, den you listen ta ol Gambit. Cause he been ta a few blocks and back again in his day. Best ding I can tell ya: be patient. Though she be tall as a tree, she a woman. And she got’s a lot on her mind. So best stay by til she comes back around. But not too close, cause women need der space. And wit’ a girl like dat, you know you need ta back off, for she push you to next county.”

Chris still doesn’t respond to Gambit’s remarks, so he decides to hold off on the advice and concentrate on the driving. Soon after they were off the highway, it didn’t take long for them to reach the areas that were affected by the massive fight. Streets and buildings were in ruins, with debris all over the place. It wasn’t anything new for Remy to see, as he has seen much worse damage than this in his line of work. Much, much worse. But to the people of San Fran., it wasn’t something they were going to tolerate, as mobs surrounding from perimeter of the clean-up site were protesting. Mostly over the fact that the damage was cause by two mutants. This, also, was nothing new to Mr. LeBeau.

When they reached the perimeter, Remy informed the guardsmen who he was before entering. They made there way through the ruined streets, pass several workers that shot dirty looks their way, until they reached their destination. Close by was Alice, busy moving debris into other dump truck so they could be carried away. Also close by was Rogue, the X-Man who was assigned to accompany Alice and help with the clean up. Soon as they exit the truck, Remy begins removing the tarp cover the back, revealing the extremely large quantity of Raman noodles. He climbs up the ladder and pears inside to inspect the contents, shaking his head as he climbed down.

“I swear, dis girl best shrink down soon, else she starts eatin’ da city.”

Though he meant for it to be said in a hush tone, it appears that it was loud enough to be heard. This was made apparent when he felt a painful shot to the arm from behind. He didn’t need to turn all the way around to know who was there behind him, remarking over his choice of humor.

“Excusez-moi, chere. You know Gambit only be jokin’. He know da girl wouldn’t eat anything round ‘ere. Else she gonna hafta start over ‘gain.”

Remy smiles at Rogue, giving her the same look of playfulness and mischief he was known for. Working at this all day would ware anyone down, so the jokes were for morale sake. And as much as he would like to continue trying to bring his fellow X-Men’s spirit up, he felt a strong breeze kick up from out of nowhere. A breeze that was much to strong or cold for this time of year.

“Ce que l’enfer?**”



*It's difficult

**What the Hell?

[Rogue]

This isn't the first time I've helped clean up some disaster area after a battle.
Though, it is the first time said battle was between gal-pals, and not some villain induced scene.
I'm here to help clear out rubble, as well as keep an eye on Alice herself.
I am the councelor now, and so I need to pay attention to the kids in more ways than one, make sure they are mentally stable as they can be in these kind of situations.
Alice hasn't been quite right since her and Kami fought.
And Scott has filled me in behind the scene on what's really going on here.
Unlike most of the people, I do remember everything that's happened through the 'time slip'.
When ya have as many people walking through your head as I do, alternate states of reality, and time skips, don't effect me in the same ways it effects the others.
I've seen the video clips all over the internet, I've heard the things the girl's were saying to eachother durring their fight.
As much as nobody will want to admit it, the girls needed this blow up.
All their guilt and hiding, if it didn't come out this way, it very easily could have come out in worse ways.
Ways that would have us cleaning up bodies, instead of rubble.
Kami isn't being taken to jail against her will. She wants to go. She admitted to me before she left that she needs a time out away from everyone to figure stuff out.
But Alice, seems to be holding it all in still.
It's not healthy.
I'm just hoping this community service isn't going to back fire on her.
It's supposed to help her face the damages and concequences of her actions, but she's been clearing rubble with the blank face of someone who's not really there, all day.
I can't blame her too much, the protestors shouting the most horrible things at her, is just rubbing salt in the wounds. But that part can't be helped.
It's all I can do to keep from shouting things back at them, feeding them their own hate filled words.
Seeing the lunch trucks pull up makes me smile. Break time.
I wave at Chris as he goes by, happy that he's pushed to come along.
Alice needs to be around those that care about her. And that boy being here should help some.
And, there's Remy.
I let a small smile curve at the sight of him, but keep it small. Don't want too much to go to that Cajun's head.
Not that he notices, as soon as he's out of the truck, he's checking the food in back, and the words that come out of his mouth make my smile turn from small, to non-existant.
I don't miss the opertunity to punch him in the arm.

[glow=green,2,300]"Hush Remy! We don't need tha natives gettin' any more restless. Besides, that 'ole statement is just plain wrong.
It doesn' matta what size tha gal is, she eats tha same amount.
And ya should know betta than ta make fun of a gal's size anyhow!"[/glow]

He smiles, making excuses, and it's all this girl can do to keep from melting in his hands. Damn Cajun needs to stop looking so good...
He cusses in French as a cold wind blows over, and I look up at the sky,

[glow=green,2,300]"Odd. There wasn' any mention o' a storm in this area tonight..."[/glow]

[Deadpool]

[glow=black,2,300]"We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine,
We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine..."[/glow]

[glow=yellow,2,300]We have nearly reached our destination sir. Would you like to take a moment to register me?[/glow]

[glow=black,2,300]"Sure wouldn't."[/glow]

Tell ya one thing, flyin cross country is borin as fuck. Even with this shiney new toy of mine, an the sonic boomin, and the random constructs (like say my current and nifty Beatles inspired ride) it just takes Forever...If I'd known it was gonna take this long to find the freakin zombie doctor army I'd have just teleporter...no wait, can I do that now? I'm not sure...

But yeah, zoomin cross the planes, killin pigeons with discretion, dodgin airliners, flyin over corn and corn and more corn...

There is a LOT of Corn between New York and California as it turns out. A Lot.

Yeah...but hey, I'm almost there now. Deconstructing the beatle mobile around me I dive down lower to the ground, spotting the rain of skittles just ahead of me, no doubt Chesh's party favors on their way to their owners...who will no doubt be oh so delighted to have yours truely along for the ride...what with the zombie hordes incomin and all...

I drop down, blasting off some yellow fireworks just for giggle and then wave at the X-guys around some dumpy looking truck full of...Oooh Ramen...Now I'm hungry. But yeah...other things first!

[glow=black,2,300]"THE END IS NIGH! Nigh is the End! Warning! Warning! Danger Will Wheaten! Run for your alives! The Dead shall rise and claim the lemon sherbert! We got us a Thriller Dance-off coming!"[/glow]

Using my spiffy new ring I pull out all the stops, generating a giant flashy sign for everybody to see, complete with dancing Micheal and umbrella corporation symbol.

Yeah...I don't think they're getting it.

[glow=black,2,300]"What? Too pop? There are Zombies headed this way! And not the stupid, Shawn of the Dead kinda zombies...like Evil Dead zombies...only with more tights...maybe...bit confused on that."[/glow]

Maybe they just don't recognize me in the yellow and black evil world dominatin lantern togs?

Meh. They'll see soon enough. Bettin the rings'll let ehm know whats up.