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Post by hughissuper on Sept 22, 2009 11:53:30 GMT -5
<tag Vivien Ramsey> The most sinister negotiations of Shanghai's black market are not carried out in streets and alleyways, but in board rooms and government offices by the powerful elite. The secrets behind these transactions are assiduously guarded. The Chinese, long being a proud and insular people, carefully shield the true nature of these transactions from foreigners. However, any large plot requires foot soldiers to carry it out. Secondhand information is passed, piecemeal, down from the elite and disseminated by the gangs and other criminal organizations that do the dirty work. Any native, with an inquiring mind and a talent for concealment, could learn a great deal more than the vain elite might realize. <tag Xiaodan> MEANWHILE...Life goes on at Xavier's mansion. The various members of X-men enjoy a rare period of respite. <tag X-men> But Professor Xavier remains closeted in his private office, having received disturbing information of a possible threat to mutant-kind. <tag Professor X> [Be prepared, this one is really going to break canon. Sorry about the cheesiness of the intro.]
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Post by galenty on Sept 25, 2009 12:18:29 GMT -5
Xavier sat in his office, looking out through the slatted windows to the courtyard, and the light forest surrounding the School. Though, he wasn't really seeing the forest or the trees.
A small part of him was enjoying the play of light and shadow; an apt metaphor if there ever was one. Beside his elbow, was his computer, which he turned a baleful eye one.
A program that Hank had once written (and occasionally updated) allowed the professor to perform various searches which, in turn, allowed him a hint of thing happening. Sometimes, the extrapolation of the data was wrong; this time he hoped he was.
**X-men, please join me in my office**
<Tag, everyone>
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Post by hughissuper on Sept 26, 2009 21:11:14 GMT -5
Vivien Ramsey Shanghai, China Lao Feng's Warehouse
"Guilao! Hurry up! You make us late" Lao Feng stamped his foot impatiently.
"I told you, this takes time lao tuizi!" Vivien movements were quick but extremely careful as she finished packing a vase that bore an uncanny resemblance to the priceless Ming in the Shanghai art museum.
"You'd think someone as old as you would have learned patience!" Vivien bit out in irritation as she snapped the large case holding the vase closed and smoothed her business suit.
Bao, a large, bald headed young man picked up the case. Bao was also wearing a suit.
"Good! You finally ready! These customer not wait on slow, American girl!" Lao Feng continued to rant all the way to the limo which looked out of place next to the derelict warehouse on the outskirts of Shanghai.
"Maybe I fire you, daodan! You so slow, always take too long finish vase." Lao Feng was still haranguing Vivien as he climbed into the limo. Vivien followed, rolling her eyes and Bao was last, sitting the case in an empty seat.
Vivien was calm as she replied to Lao Feng, "You seem kind of nervous, Lao Feng. Are you worried I might go to work for Ng?"
Lao Feng's mouth snapped shut and he was speechless for fifty-nine sainted seconds. "You need show more respect. Ng liumang. He sell you out, if he know what you really are!"
"Maybe that's why he offered to pay me double." Vivien bluffed.
"He offer that, he no pay that! He sell you to the government! You and Bao!"
This was as much concern as Lao Feng was probably capable of showing. Vivien let the issue go and silently listened to Lao Feng go on about Ng for the rest of the ride. She was secretly glad that she had not revealed anything to Ng. Bao was silent also, but that was nothing new, Bao was nearly always silent. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shanghai, China Upscale Hotel
Vivien, followed by silent Bao, was glad of the extra care she'd taken with her appearance as they passed by the richly dressed patrons of the hotel. Lao Feng was waiting in the limo, until they returned with the money. Vivien was glad of a break from his constant haranguing.
The clerk they were following suddenly stopped in front of a meeting room door that ended up being far away from the lobby, almost at the back of the hotel. He waved a hand at the door and then disappeared back to the lobby.
Vivien arched her brow at Bao, in silent comment on the clerk's hasty departure. "Wonder what his problem is?" She muttered.
Shaking it off and sucking in her breath, Vivien opened the door and stepped into the room, followed by Bao.
There was a large man in a suit right next to the door and he closed it quickly behind Bao and stepped in front of it.
There was a man in a white coat in the corner, holding a syringe.
"What the hel---" Vivien's question was cut off as another man stepped forward and tried to take a swing at her. She deftly ducked under his blow, which hit Bao squarely in his solid chest.
The blow didn't affect Bao, not many men could throw a blow that would. Vivien came back up behind the bewildered man and brought her knee up between his legs. Bao elbowed the man standing in front of the door in the face. Vivien rushed passed him, intending to pull open the door and secure their escape when she heard a heavy thud behind her.
Turning, she saw Bao, crumpled on the floor, a syringe sticking out of his neck. She didn't have enough time to process this, before another syringe, thrown like a dart hit her in the shoulder. She crumpled to the floor next to Bao.
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Post by galenty on Sept 29, 2009 13:49:57 GMT -5
The train lazily snaked through terrain as it approached Shanghai. For a large portion of the journey, it had approached speeds that were respectable, eating away miles and time with ease.
Now, as it came close to the twisty warrens of the outer city, it begrudgingly slowed in concession to cars, traffic and mere pedestrians.
As it entered the city proper, it began to make the multitude of stops, exchanging people each time.
Halfway through the city, a bit of shadow moved along the top, slipping down between the cars. Between one stop and the next, it detached, falling from the elevated tracks to the dark underpass below.
Xiao landed heavily, tiredly. The information she'd gotten had lead her here. The same information that had almost gotten her friends killed. Did get one killed.
She felt a pang when thinking of Migual. She had few friends. The ones she had left, she wasn't going to risk. That's why she left them behind, taking care to leave no clue as to her destination or purpose.
She'd gotten soft since she'd started working with a team. She had to re-learn to sleep more lightly, to watch her own back. To being alone.
Loping quietly, she went in search of a place to get a few hours asleep...
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Post by Dr. Bagelman on Oct 21, 2009 5:40:41 GMT -5
Xavier's Mansion New York Dr. Malcolm Ramsey had taken probably a week to settle in with his new home/job. There was a box he still hadn't unpacked yet. he looked over at it as it stared at him balefully. He looked away and instead picked up his office phone, pulling a scrawled piece of paper from his pocket. Punching in a few numbers, he waited for a few seconds. "Hello, this is Dr. Malcolm Ramsey, is this Ms. Yui?" <tag Matoko>
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Post by hughissuper on Oct 21, 2009 10:54:31 GMT -5
...how ignorant bliss is..how little we understand...what touches off that tingle...
Vivien was floating, or felt like it rather.
Bruce Lee was there, speaking in broken Chinese she couldn't understand. And Frank Sinatra was playing (in her head)...wait--she was at her wedding. That's where she'd first heard that song. Had Bruce Lee been at her wedding?
Enter: The Marriage
Cold. She was laying on a block of ice and Bruce Lee was standing over her with something shiny....a sword? She wondered if Bruce Lee was about to show her some sword moves. But why would she lay down for that. She tried to get up, but Bruce Lee had some of his helpers push her down.
Marrow? He was suddenly speaking heavily accented English, one of his assistants had asked a question. She sounded American. But why was Bruce Lee talking about marrow? Bruce Lee was never a doctor...
Mr. Sinatra was reaching the climax of the song with the usual trumpeting fanfare.
...so long as you kiss me...and the world around us shatters...how little it matters...how little we know
Bruce Lee's helpers held her shoulders as he plunged the sword into her hip bone...wait, it wasn't a sword.....a gigantic syringe?
Her side was on fire. Why would Bruce Lee set her on fire?
That asshole! Vivien bolted up from her block of ice, no, it was a metal table like in doctor's offices. The helpers tried to grab her again, but she was prepared this time.
A mounting sense of panic brought on by reality jump started her sympathetic nervous system. Adrenaline, calcium, a rapid-firing of neurons, like synchronized swimmers. The rapid beat of her heart burnt off the last dregs of whatever drug had been causing her delusions.
She slipped past the two helpers but the sudden movement caused her pain in her hip to shoot up her back. Vivien staggered painfully and the helpers, along with the doctor (Bruce Lee) caught up with her.
The doctor, who turned how to be not even a close approximation for Bruce Lee, was still holding the giant syringe. It was filled with something dark red and goopy. It had come from her body. Her red bone marrow...that's what he'd been talking about.
Disgusted, Vivien grabbed the huge syringe from the doctor, much faster than he could react. She forcefully buried the syringe in his carotid artery and pulled it out again.
The doctor held his hand to the puncture on his neck, but he couldn't stop the geyser of blood. Vivien threw the syringe to side absently, she was transfixed on the grotesque death scene.
The doctor had fallen to his knees, his face was white and he gurgled as he struggled for breath through the eruption of blood from his neck. One of the helpers was at his side, trying to help. The other helper was picking up a phone receiver...
Vivien was jolted back to reality.
She turned quickly and slipped out one of the doors, looking around for something inconspicuous to put on...the hospital gown she was wearing would definitely give her away.
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Post by galenty on Oct 21, 2009 20:47:47 GMT -5
Xiao woke quietly, listening. All she heard was the never ending sounds of a crowded city and the scurrying of a few rats. She uncurled, opening her eyes, letting them adjust to the harsh glare of full daylight.
'I must have slept longer than I planned,' she cursed herself for her sloppiness. Anyone could have found her. She patted all her pockets, reassuring herself everything was still there.
She drew her satchel to her, pulling out some clothing more suited to walking around in the middle of the day. They weren't something she'd normally wear; bright pink top, a few layers of skirts, heavy combat boots over netted stockings. Piling her hair up and securing it with some sticks, and adding some heavy makeup, and she didn't look much different than the million teenagers roaming around.
Or so Anne had assured her. She felt a pang as she remembered her friend, still recuperating from the last job.
Easing her way out of the building, she slung her bag across her shoulder, letting it rest across her chest. She pulled out her smart phone and began going over the data they'd swiped on said last job. They'd put most of the data to good use, but there was more. Tantalizing bits that promised that something big was going down.
She aimed to find out.
Unfortunately, there were dozens of likely places to find out more. Over the last few weeks, she's steadily eliminated quite a few, working her way up the chain, but here, in a city this size, that meant nothing.
She listened to the recordings, and scrolled through the data as she walked, bobbing her head as if she were listening to music, keeping one eye out for trouble.
There were some warehouses, but they'd be good only if the merchandize, whatever it is, was still there. Unlikely. There were some offices that sounded promising, but she had the sneaking suspicion that was middle management level. But, they might yield something. Then there were some labs. The most promising, but the most heavily secured and guarded. Without her team, that might prove too difficult.
She pondered, finally making a decision. Keeping her walk laconic, like a bored teenager, she bounded down the sidewalk.
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Post by Dr. Bagelman on Oct 22, 2009 5:24:50 GMT -5
Xavier's Mansion New York Scott Summers, you're going to sleep in for once. But I have to get up, there's so many things I have to do... But can't someone else do them? Or can't most of them wait? Scott grimaced and was tempted to pull up his sleep-blindfold he wore at night. What time is it? Go back to sleep. You deserve some sleep, Scott, you work yourself too hard. Cyclops flopped back onto his pillow with a huff. He couldn't tell if it was his body or Jean inside his head, but it was sure convincing. Guess staying in bed all day is ok to do... Maybe if I just don't overdo it.... <tag X-Men, esp. Jean>
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Post by hughissuper on Oct 22, 2009 10:05:09 GMT -5
Jean Gray Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters
Jean scrunched her nose in amusement. She was standing at the end of the bed, watching Scott toss around. She didn't need her telepathy to tell that he was mostly awake, but trying desperately not to be.
His mouth was clenched--like when he was trying not to scream at Wolverine or Gambit.
She hated to bother him....
"Scott...Scott...Professor's calling us..."
<Tag Cyclops>
Gambit Somewhere in Westchester, NY
Greymalkin Lane was exhilarating to navigate at dangerous speeds. A thrilling motorcycle ride was what Gambit considered the perfect end to a long and fruitful night at poker. Once he'd turned down Greymalkin, he knew there'd be no one else for miles around to catch him traveling at speeds in excess of 100 mph. There was a drawback, however, to going that fast--he'd reach the mansion far too quickly.
Vivien Ramsey Shanghai, China
"Subject 5-18 escaped...Apprehend and Terminate" Klaxons blared as a robotic voice endlessly repeated it's mantra in English and Chinese.
"Terminate..." Vivien muttered, "Guess I'm disposable now that they have a piece of me..."
She lucked out and found a laundry room without being seen. It was simple to exchange her hospital gown for doctor's scrubs. Her hip still burned and ached where the doctor had pierced the bone.
But she moved along as quickly as she could without limping. It was difficult, but the surgical mask she'd tied over her lower face hid her grimaces of pain.
The place was a labyrinth. The rooms that were marked, were marked in Chinese. Vivien's understanding of Chinese was limited to curse words and dirty epithets, she couldn't read it at all.
The hallways were pretty crowded. To Vivien, it appeared that this must be a major outfit...whatever it was. Desperate to get away from the others before she was discovered, Vivien ducked in the first door she could.
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Post by galenty on Oct 23, 2009 23:02:42 GMT -5
Xiaodan Jiang Shanghai, China
Xiao crouched in the shadows, looking at the isolated clinic. Unlike the rest of the city's buildings that huddled close together, this one had a bit of space surrounding it. That meant money. This was an expensive city, like others of its size. Space came at a premium.
But, despite the understated wealth, there wasn't much traffic in or around the area. That smelled of either an exclusive clinic, or a private R & D center. The first would just mean she was just embarrassed if caught, the second meant she might be on the right track.
She didn't relish the idea of wandering around blindly. Her training was such that she was used to taking the long route; watching and assessing a target patiently (no pun intended), and moving in with optimal stealth.
But, this wasn't some individual's home that she could canvas with ease. And her target wasn't a long person that needed to be killed. No, she didn't use any silly euphemisms for her line of work.
After watching for some hours, she targeted a small service door, where some of the inhabitants came out from time to time. She sidled from shadow to shadow, getting closer.
She got there in time for one person to come out to enjoy a cigarette. She stood very, very still, waiting. He puffed and read something in a magazine, taking his time.
A few minutes later, he turned to walk back in. She moved forward to catch the door, sliding a small piece of bamboo into the jamb. The door closed, but did not catch.
She waited a few more minutes to make certain he was gone before easing open the door. The short hall was empty and she eased herself inside.
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xmenfan
Adept
Iceman, Archangel, The Potter (Dade Jackson)
Posts: 162
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Post by xmenfan on Oct 24, 2009 7:22:25 GMT -5
Xavier's mansion New York Bobby Drake was sitting in the kitchen, he had just finished putting vinegar in a cola bottle & was waiting for an unsuspecting victim to give it to "Oh boy, this will be a laugh" he said to himself with a gleeful & immature smile across his face, just then he got the call from Xavier, "I wonder what the professor wants, I'd better go find out. I'll give this to someone latter" he thought to himself as he put the innocent looking bottle back in the soda cupboard. He made his way to Xavier with hopeful thought of a new mission running through his head "you called, sir?"
<tag Xavier>
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Post by Dr. Bagelman on Oct 25, 2009 2:20:17 GMT -5
((LOL ICEMAN LMAO ))
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Post by hughissuper on Oct 25, 2009 7:39:11 GMT -5
((KICK ASS Iceman! That's perfect!))
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Post by galenty on Oct 25, 2009 19:05:24 GMT -5
Xavier XSFGY Salem, NY
Xavier turned to Bobby. The too-innocent look he'd had coming in told him volumes. But, it wasn't his practice to monitor every single action his students made. They had to make their own decisions.
Wisely deciding to make no comment, he did however note the enthusiasm in the young man's face.
Raising an eyebrow, "You'll be pleased to note you are the first to arrive. One moment,"
He sent out a stronger call, again telepathic: **X-men, please join me in my office. I should not have to call twice.**
************************** Xiaodan Jiang Shanghai, China
Xiao ducked into a nook, hiding. She composed herself with the Breath of Trees Growing as she watched people pass. It grounded her. Some would be surprised at how much Zen training a person in her line has.
Slowly, she worked herself past offices and general areas. Being late in the evening, most of the lights were off or dimly lit, making it that much easier.
She would have a much harder time once she got nearer the labs. Her security training was very good, but she had no idea what she'd be facing.
She found another door, slipping through it as a technician went in. Here, the decor was much more utilitarian, suggesting she was possibly getting nearer her goal.
She slipped into a room, hoping to get her bearings.
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Post by hughissuper on Oct 26, 2009 11:40:48 GMT -5
Vivien Ramsey Shanghai, China Mysterious Scientific Facility
Once the door clicked closed behind her, the repeating announcement calling for her termination was cut short...
"Guess the speakers don't go in here..." Vivien whispered to the darkness. Although glad to be out of the direct danger of the bustling hallway, Vivien didn't feel great about her current location. Where ever that might be...
She inched forward carefully, not able to make out much in the dimness ahead of her.
Voices speaking Chinese echoed from somewhere...
Vivien flattened herself against the wall in panic.
The lights high overhead clicked on. The space was cavernous and dingy--it was a warehouse of sorts.
Vivien ducked into the shadows between several of the huge objects apparently being stored here...She could here the voices more clearly now.
"I apologize old friend, I forgot you are more comfortable speaking in English." That voice belonged to the same man she'd heard speaking Chinese a few seconds ago.
Vivien adjusted slightly, leaning forward against the large metal piece of machinery she was hiding behind, trying unsuccessfully to see the people speaking.
Then came a second voice, accented with...what? Russian?
"Thank you. I am curious about the People's Republic intends to use these items...You understand, my country had limited success with this type of weapon...Although I understand it has been used effectively in other places."
The Chinese man spoke again.
"Yes, General. The success of these machines in the United States and Genosha is what encouraged us to try them here...We have imported some of the machines actually used in the United States. That's what you see here. Of course, we will be making modifications, to suit our purposes. Right now we are still in the early stages"
Vivien took a moment to examine the equipment surrounding her. It was metal, so she assumed it must be robotic, but it was so large, it was difficult to make out an exact purpose. The dimness and shadows didn't help.
Footsteps approached quickly, before the two men could say anything else, a frantic female voice announced something in Chinese.
The Chinese man then said,
"I am sorry to cut things short, General. It seems that we have an emergency I must see to immediately. You are going to have to leave."
Vivien could easily guess what the emergency was about. She shrank back into her hiding place, wondering if they would leave or search the warehouse.
Apparently, they did not think that she could be in here, because they left and shut down the lights. Vivien carefully crawled from her hiding place. When her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, she could make out the outline of the door which she assumed the two men had entered.
She hoped it lead to the outside.
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