Intrigue at the Arcade

[apache_banshee]

Sean and Rose had decided to go out and have some fun. Rose had insisted it had been too long since she had "schooled him" in pool, so they were driving to a local arcade that had several pool tables available.

"I still say I won that last game we had."

Comments

[wild_child]

Rose grinned like a madwoman and charged forward, dropping low and striking out with her claws at the last possible moment.

[ngm_xsyndicate]

The claws connected, giving two good strikes. Mayhem snarled in pain, but didn't fall over paralyzed. Instead she grinned. "So you're mutants too? This just got interesting." She tore a chain from a junked car and swung it rapidly at Rose.

[wild_child]

Rose darted out of the way, taking a glancing blow across the side of the head. She saw stars, but kept upright, and kept flip.

"I can do this all day, jumbo."

[apache_banshee]

Sean took advantage of the disorientation to make up the distance between him and the guards. He decked one across the face, dropping him to the ground. Suddenly one of them held his hand up, then it suddenly lit up with blinding light.

"Shit!" Sean cursed, managing to turn his head just enough so that didn't blind him, but he was seeing stars. He just barely saw another guard come at him with spiked brass knuckles. Wait..those weren't brass knuckles. Fuck those are real! Sean barely avoided the full force of the spiked fist, leaving a thin cut across his cheek. "Rose! I think they're all mutants!"

[ngm_xsyndicate]

"Heh, you think I don't know what you're doing short-stuff? I fought on the streets for years. You think you're the first to try and make me lose my cool with stupid insults?" She whipped the chain around again, this time aiming for Rose's legs.

[wild_child]

This time, Rose was in motion, sidestepping the chain and lashing out again with her claws.

"Hey, these are quality crafted insults, ya sorry excuse for a shamrock!"

[ngm_xsyndicate]

This time it was Mayhem who dodged, showing greater speed than her size would indicate. Her left hand let go of the chain, shooting out to try and grip Rose's wrist.

"Can't help what we're born with, twerp. You should know that." Mayhem came down with a sledgehammer like strike at Rose's head.

[wild_child]

Dang it, didn't expect her to be that fast....

The blow rocked Rose's head around, knocking her to the ground.

[apache_banshee]

Rose! Sean leveled Spikefist with a fierce uppercut, sending him to the ground. He then turned and screamed, sending a huge sonic wave hurtling toward the green-haired amazon. Midway though Sean's head was rocked back, busting his lip open. Was that..a rock? His vision blurred as he fought against unconsciousness as he saw another guard run at him, his fist a gray-black.

[ngm_xsyndicate]

Before Mayhem could capitalize on her attack, Sean's scream caused her to fly back to the ground.

"Fucking-! Mother-!" So angry she couldn't form complete sentences, mayhem snarled as she moved to get back to her feet.

[wild_child]

Rose struggled to rise, blunt force trauma already repairing itself. A beast-like snarl escaped her lips when she saw Sean take a hit, and she vented her rage upon Mayhem, claws slashing wildly.

[apache_banshee]

Sean spat out some of the blood forming in his mouth. He dodged the rock-guy's punch, driving a fist into the other man's gut.

"Fuck!" Sean felt the bones in his hand crack when he the man's stomach.

"Stupid kid. I can turn any part of my body into rock." The goon bragged. "And now I'm going to-" The man was interrupted when a hubcap came flying and slammed into the back of his head.

Sean blinked in surprise as the man went down. He turned to see Bennett, sweating profusely as he sat sprawled on the floor.

Trying to stay conscious, Sean gave the man a tired thumbs-up.

[ngm_xsyndicate]

"What in!?" Mayhem couldn't even get her question out as Rose tore into her with multiple slashes. Individual paralyses could be shrugged off, but the various, multiple slashes and the pain that came with them was wearing even her out. Mayhem tried grabbing Rose, but any grip she got broke from the fierce assault. Finally the pain was too much, causing mayhem's eyes to roll back as she fell forward with a thud.

[wild_child]

Rose looked around, seemingly more like an enraged animal than a young woman. There was some intelligence left to her eyes, but right now, it was all subsumed by white hot rage.

[apache_banshee]

While part of him wanted to just pass out, he knew that countenance Rose was sporting. He stumbled a bit toward her, trying to shake off the lights in his eyes.

"Rose..it's over. They're all down..we're okay."

Bennett still sat frozen on the ground, a combination of confusion and fright when he saw Rose's face.

[wild_child]

Some of Sean's words broke through, and with heavy breathing, Rose brought herself back from the brink of rage, the red filling her vision slowly receding.

"Thanks, Irish," she said. "I needed that."

[apache_banshee]

"You're welcome..going to sit down now." Sean promptly fell back on his rear.

"So..you're mutants too?" The voice came from Bennett, who warily stood up.

[wild_child]

"Better than that," Rose said. "We're X-Men."

[apache_banshee]

"Technically just her. I'm working on it," Sean said with a tired smile.

Bennett seemed to sigh before grabbing what looked like his face, but turned out to be a realistic mask. Underneath he had purple, scaled skin. "It gets so hot in there." He took a few breaths. "Not that I don't appreciate what you've done, but..you've only delayed tings for me."

[wild_child]

Rose showed only the mildest surprise at the reveal. "That's pretty flipping realistic," she said, speaking of the mask.

"We... we got people who can help," she said.

[apache_banshee]

Sean for his part gave a surprised start. That thing was damn realistic!

"Well one thing you can say for the Syndicate is you get quality goods," he said with a bitter chuckle. He shook his head. "I appreciate that, but..I've been marked. There's no way for me to get away for long. I..I do have a request though."

[wild_child]

Rose nodded somberly. "Name it."

[apache_banshee]

"My wife..Molly. She and our..our baby. They had nothing to do with my mistakes. She doesn't have..this," he said holding up his mask. "We could only afford one. I was the means of income." He shook his head in disgust at himself before continuing. "She has no means to disguise herself. Even these days..I doubt she'd be safe openly. We have family..among the Morlocks. I..I don't want her to be alone."

"Wait..we can protect you," Sean protested. "You don't-"

"With respect..you're not equipped to protect me from them. One way or another they'll find me."

[wild_child]

"We'll make sure she's safe," Rose assured him. "But we can do the same for you. We've got powerful friends."

[apache_banshee]

"She's not kidding. We can get you out of harm's way," Sean assured.

"They always..always, find those who cross them. I don't..maybe if I stay and accept my..punishment, I can still get enough money to pay back Echidna and Molly and I can raise our child in the Sun." He has a wistful smile on his face, then sighs. "That's not very realistic though."