The Great Outdoors (all 'hoods going camping)

[Eric Lensherr]

As Magneto entered the meeting hall, motion sensitive lights flicked on, though several flickered uncertainly. It was the price of having not one but two magnetic manipulators in the area - wires warped and sometimes even electrical impulses were distorted, if Lorna was in one of her moods. Eric paid it little mind, he had other things to concern himself with besides the housekeeping of the base. The lights were harsh on the metal table where the Brotherhood gathered to plot, but left the corners in gloomy shadow.

He gestured and the large chair at the head of the long table shifted across the metal floor with a screech and he settled into it. Leaning back and steepling his fingers in front of his chin, Magneto surveyed his people.

The plague had not been kind to the Brotherhood, they had lost members - not the least of which was Exodus - defeat and despair poisoned the air in their base. It was Magneto's intention to change this.

"I think there's been enough licking of wounds, my friends." He said, voice carrying clearly through the room. "The dead are dead and we do them no honor by forgetting the living who still need us."

"We have a mission ahead of us." Magneto relaxed a bit, letting a faint smile touch is lips. "A simple one and an opportunity to practice our unique talents."

With both Mystique and Exodus gone, Magneto felt like his right hand had been cut off - and they were the ones who usually handled the day-to-day interactions with the Brotherhood. Without them, Magneto was going to have to plan, coordinate and execute his plans - personally. And maintain control of his unruly subordinates at the same time. Hopefully, the chance for a little mayhem would calm his people down.

"There is a military convoy on the road in South Dakota," he went on. "We shall take what the carry - " he smiled thinly. "And allow none to stand in our way."

---

OOC: This is the Brotherhood's 'reason' for ending up in South Dakota. Magneto will lay out the plan. IC the 'hood dosen't know the X-men are in the area. Any 'hood members going on the camping thread, could you please check in here?

[Meggan Kinston]

Ever since she had returned where she thought she belonged, Meggan had known that things weren't going to be the same again. Had she been able to go back in the past, she would have accompanied Exodus to the Worthington Labs and perhaps been able to stop Emma Frost and the Cuckoos from killing him. Hell, she would have even gone back in time enough to stop several of the anti-mutant projects the government had started, out of fear and ignorance towards what they couldn't even begin to understand, not to mention tolerate. However, she didn't blame herself for what had occurred. No, she blamed them - Homo sapiens, the fools who'd thought that going against mutants would bring upon them anything else than pain and terror. So, it had been only after she had managed to somewhat regain her mental balance that the blonde had returned to the Brotherhood's base, aware of the fact that the changes that had taken place weren't for the best.

Still, as she took a seat at the metal table, a couple of chairs away from their leader's throne, which was still unoccupied, Meg slowly looked at the faces of those around her, minutes before Magneto would arrive. Her brothers and sisters. While most hid their suffering well, she knew for a fact that even some of them had been affected by the Chimera Virus. Those present had obviously been given the cure and responded to it good in due time, but others hadn't been so unfortunate. It was with a shake of her golden curls that she dismissed the haunting thoughts that had a way of popping inside her head out of nowhere whenever she remembered the events of those past six months. She wasn't of course insensitive to try to forget about their losses, since that would have also been a sign of disrespect for those that had died fighting for the ideals 'father' Magneto and all of them had. No, she was just choosing to momentarily focus on the past, a proof that even one of the most bubbly and chipper Brotherhood members - if not the most optimistic and vivacious of them - fell down sometimes. Reality checks were rarely pleasant for anyone, after all.

Wearing the simple, dark green outfit that she usually wore during the field missions she had constantly offered to participate in starting with her return, the young woman sketched a vague smile when her eyes met with that of certain friendly fellow mutant faces. Nevertheless, as she leaned in her chair and patiently waited for Magneto to join them, while slightly drumming her fingers on the table, the door to the meeting hall opened and the lights started flickering. She hadn't even noticed how obscure it had been in there until her eyes started adjusting with the sudden light and with the form that was heading towards the chair at the end of the long table. Green eyes narrowed on his silhouette, watching his every movement with honest curiosity regarding what he would ask them to do for their family that day. Once he started speaking and his voice carried his words across the room to everyone's ears, Meg's ears instantly pricked up.

Even if she couldn't say that she'd expected his comments and her smile was gone from her currently sober face, the blond-haired mutant didn't dare ask anything until he had finished speaking. True, they could no longer afford mourning over those who had gone to that supposedly 'better place', and a rational side of Meggan's brain realized it, but that didn't mean that it was easier to do that than to actually say it. So, her face wasn't briefly lit with eagerness to hear more about the mission they were assigned until she finally saw Magneto smiling and felt a bit comforted. While she didn't care whether the task at hand was difficult or easy, a wave of nostalgia momentarily made her frown a bit. It'd been Exodus who she remembered last handing out a mission for all the Brotherhood members. Given the fact that their ranks had diminished and that her latest assignments had been mostly given to her and a couple of other team mates, she couldn't help but feel the consequences of Exodus being gone more intensely than a couple of minutes before. It was him who should have told them the details of the mission and so on. Still, she continued seeming relaxed and ready to leave in any moment - as she really was, for that wasn't the time for sobbing.

"In how many groups are we going to split and what will each of those teams be doing? Or are we going to attack as one group and then return here the same way?"[/b] She respectfully asked out of instinct, not wanting to appear rude or like a rebel, since she was far from being any of those things. On the contrary, Meg just wanted to hear as soon as possible what her job that day was and who she would have to keep close by, in case a part of the Brotherhood had to attack the military force that would probably accompany the convoy, whereas the others would take what they would be going after. From the minimal details they'd been given, though, the blonde assumed that there would probably be no back-up team needed, not when those from that room would definitely be more than any humans carrying guns could handle. That day, the Brotherhood was going to make a stand again - or so she hoped.

[Morgaine O’Connell]

“So, Eric, you’ve made up your mind, eh?” a soft angelic voice called form the door way. “Took your bloody time, ye did.”

With a malicious gleam in her eye and playful flick of her wrist that cause a gust of wind to explode into existence, the wind pushing the doors open, a figure walked into the room with a steady, sultry gate, her body adorned in a ,simple red lace dress her long dancer legs made all the more alluring thanks to the heavy boots she always wore. Her name was Pagan, and she needed no introduction.

A class four mutant who had the ability to summon and control the four elements, Morgaine O’Connell was anything but subtle. Ever since the Chimera Virus she had been a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Disgusted and ashamed of the heavy losses the Brotherhood had suffered, Morgaine had taken it upon herself to train and increase her standing in the Brotherhood, always wishing for action, tired of being held back. The brotherhood was dieing. She could feel it, sense. It was like a wounded beast on its last breath. If Magneto didn’t do something soon to marshal them together, Morgaine would take matters into her own hands. It was good to finally see Magneto take charge. She would have really disliked having to kill him.

Coming to stand before Magneto, Morgaine gazed into his eyes coolly, her black curls loose, resembling a tumbling mane of black waves, her sky-blue eyes agleam under the lights, Morgaine glancing at Meggan but saying nothing, her expression neither warm or cold, Morgaine aloof in her manner. Meggan, in her eyes, was just a foot soldier. She didn’t have her level of power. But she followed orders and was loyal. That alone made her worth the time of day.

“Lickin’ our wounds?! For months now we’ve been waiting for ye te get off your arse and call the shots! What took ye so bloody long?!” Morgaine demanded, her voice carrying, echoing harshly against the walls. Holding up her hand to ward off an answer, Morgaine then sighed and shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t want te know. Tiss your business after all. I’m just happy that we finally get a chance te do something! Please, tell me where ye want me te go, who ye expect us te face, and how many ye want te die.” And with that Morgaine crossed her arms over her amble chest, and waited for her answer, her facial expression cool and arrogant but her eyes eager and hungry.

Time to have some fun.

[Lucia Callasantos]

Lucia had kept to herself after the Chimera virus outbreak. Not that that was any different than any other day, mind, but she had been even more of a recluse than was normal. Being ill did not sit well with the feral, and having to suffer through an illness that grew steadily closer to killing you was even worse. She had survived, of course...Thornn always survived. It was what she did, no matter what difficulty chose to rear it's ugly head.

She had things to do before she allowed death to claim her.

Running missions for the disgraceful rabble that called itself The Brotherhood was not one of those things high on the list, but the Latina humored them. It kept her busy and occupied...or it had until the Decimation had struck. After that disaster the Brotherhood had fallen completely apart, and with no more missions to occupy her time Lucia had drifted away for a time, haunting other places and generally keeping to herself while her recovery from the virus was completed. Her healing factor, while rather weak compared to some others, nonetheless shortened the duration of her down time. Thank God.

The meeting room was left shadowed in the corners, and it was in one of these corners that Lucia had chosen to lurk. She had no desire to mingle with the pitiful remains of their company, nor did she see any reason to do so. Those left ought to be plenty familiar with her reclusive ways, so it was highly doubtful that anyone would even expect her to act different. Leaning back against the wall, arms folded and tail swinging lazily back and forth, Lucia watched their great leader with lids halfway closed. It was a lazy posture, at least for her, describing her distinct lack of passion for the cause. Not to mention her distinct lack of respect or interest in Magneto or anyone else in the room. She'd listen and (mostly) do as she was told, but that didn't mean she found it terribly exciting.

Of even less interest was Pagan's infantile display...her overdramatic entrances and childish tantrums had long since ceased to even annoy the feral. At this point they were little more than so much background noise, looked upon with bone-deep weariness from an obviously far wiser mind. Exactly what purpose did she think such acts served? All she did was make herself look like an over-eager idiot. She lacked even an iota of patience and in the end that would result in her being killed, despite the feats her powers made her capable of. One could not always win by stampeding headfirst into every confrontation...sometimes lying low and applying a little stealth was the better option, particularly when it was a small force such as their own. A lesson little miss Drama Queen had obviously not yet learned.

Meggan, on the other hand, seemed to be showing some improvement. The little girl persona seemed to have fallen to the wayside a bit, a feat for which Lucia was unexpectedly grateful. The little empath was much easier to bear when she wasn't always so disgustingly cheerful. Not to mention her current question proved that she had some kind of brain in her skull.

Stirring slightly, allowed her arms to drop to her sides, Lucia spoke from her darkened position. "What is it that they carry? Something easily portable, I hope, unless you intend to hijack their trucks?" A viable option, realy, one the feral would approve of. "How big is the convoy, how many guards are along for the ride, and what sort of weapons are they packing?" All important questions that needed to be answered before they rushed blindly into the fray...despite Morgaine's ridiculous desire to do exactly that. Some of them liked to stay alive longer than the first two minutes of a fight.

[Eric Lensherr]

"In how many groups are we going to split and what will each of those teams be doing? Or are we going to attack as one group and then return here the same way?"

"We are going - " Magneto began then breaking off as his attention was caught by -

“So, Eric, you’ve made up your mind, eh?” a soft accented voice drifted from the dimness. “Took your bloody time, ye did.”

The doors crashed against the wall, metal booming and causing the lights to flicker warningly. Magneto leashed his irritation and the illumination steadied as the magnetic fluctuations quieted down. One of his less ... amiable minions stalked in, dressed like a high school girl's imagination of an eighteenth century hooker. Magneto leaned back in his chair as Pagan strode up to plant herself in front of him, eyes hard and challenging. Magneto rubbed a knuckle over his lips, gaze heavy lidded and unimpressed. How many times had this little drama played out over the years? Sabertooth, Mystique - back when they'd first met - Stryker with his drugs. Rogue and her courage. Scott Summers and his immature bravado. Jean in her madness. He'd faced down more power than this child could imagine, people of will and courage that she could only dream of aspiring too. Magneto's mouth quirked. And, yet, here he remained.

“Lickin’ our wounds?! For months now we’ve been waiting for ye te get off your arse and call the shots! What took ye so bloody long?!”

A question Magneto had no intention of answering, he wasn't accountable to anyone and certainly not some chit of a girl, less than half his age. "Forgive me, my dear," he said graciously. "I didn't know I needed to give you constant instruction and oversight. Do not worry, it won't happen again." He gestured to one of the chairs. "Please, sit."

“Never mind. I don’t want te know. Tiss your business after all. I’m just happy that we finally get a chance te do something! Please, tell me where ye want me te go, who ye expect us te face, and how many ye want te die.”

"What is it that they carry? Something easily portable, I hope, unless you intend to hijack their trucks?" Good to know someone had a bit of tactical curiosity, rather than simple bloodthirstiness. "How big is the convoy, how many guards are along for the ride, and what sort of weapons are they packing?"

"Actually, no, it is far from portable and difficult to transport under the best of circumstances." Magneto picked up a roll of oversized diagrams from beside him and unrolled them over the surface of the table. He was an old-fashioned man, and preferred paper - which could be easily modified and was unlikely to explode or break of one of his people's varied abilities got out of hand. The bundle was a mix of detailed maps (illegally downloaded from weather and spy satellites), and highway (and back-roadways) of a particular part of a desolate place called South Dakota.

"As might be expected, human promises of cooperation and tolerance last only as long as the news cameras are running." Magneto said dryly, with an under current of the anger that burned in him almost constantly. "Now that their plague - and I have not doubt that sooner or later the Decimation will be traced back to human invention - failed them they are turning, again, to technology."

"They have a machine that can control mutant abilities." He said flatly. "Forcing us - homo superior - to serve as if we were beasts of burden. It was intolerable in Genosha and I have no intention of allowing them to complete this project either."

Magneto tossed some (extorted at great expense) transcripts on top of the pile of maps and diagrams. "There's a convoy traveling from one military base to a specialized laboratory in Dakota. They're passing near ... Custer's last stand ... and the rural, deserted surroundings are the best option for an attack."

"The device - and my details are still unclear - is not complete and the entire project is being transported in a lock-box nearly the size of an eighteen wheeler. It cannot be opened safely in the field, and - obviously - cannot be tucked in a briefcase. I will need all of you - working in concert - to complete this mission."

"Pagan -" Magneto glanced over at the woman. "You and I must locate and take control of the lock-box before it's self-destruct is set off. Between us, we will have to match and maintain a precise temperature and magnetic signature - no matter what happens. Thornn and Meggan - you'll be managing the human element. I do want to capture any technicians present, so do keep that in mind."

"We're going to take this abomination and any technicians or designers who are in the convoy, take them, pry out their secretes and remind humanity that attacking us will only result in their own destruction." Magneto sat back down and swept his gaze over his followers, his face hard and dark and without mercy. "I'm content to keep on repeating that lesson until they learn - or are finally wiped from the face of the Earth."

---

OOC:we can continue to plot here or move it to some local site in S. Dakota - thoughts?

[Daisy Temple]

“FUCK!,” shouted the newest and youngest of the brotherhood team members. It the first sound she’d made since the meeting started and it was direct not at Magneto or any of her teammates, but at the small square hand-held video game on which she was failing to save the world from tiny, two-dimensional zombies.

She lifted her arm, poised to throw the device across the room and let it crash into the opposing wall in a shower of self-satisfying sparks and pieces, but at the moment she caught herself and toss the device onto the table, where it slid along the metal until stopping at the edge of Magneto’s paperwork.

“So the plan is, ya’ll go off and ah get left behind with no one buy Remy to look after me?” The teenage outlaw (and legal minor) continued, this time looking at Magneto. “First fun thin’ yall get goin’ since ah signed up and ah don’t get ta go? Talk about fuck.”

She was sitting in a corner chair, one partly obscured in the shadow, with her bare feet up on the table and her long legs bare. She wore only a pair of tight jean shorts and a fitted cowboy football jersey, in pink instead of blue. She now lifted her arm up and tucked it behind her blond curls, the movement causing the jersey to separate from her jeans and reveal her long flat stomach.

“Boring up there anyways.” She added defensively. “Buncha nothing. Probably have a better time here anyways. Just hope Meg an’ Lou learn how take a bullet cause they aint nearly so good at being shot at as I am.”

[Meggan Kinston]

It always surprised Meggan to see how fellow Brotherhood members acted even more childishly than she had, especially when they were supposedly older and more experienced mutants. Not that she held it against them, for she honestly believed that there were times when each mutant should let the child within them surface. However, just as Magneto had started responding to her question, Pagan chose that particular moment to be not so fashionably late for the meeting. There were only two situations in which Meggan called another brother or sister of hers by their codename, and that involved either her disliking said person (which was Pagan's case), or being so utterly impressed by them, that she dared not inquire about their birth name - that applied to Magneto. Not only did the latter's mere voice command her attention, but when compared to the exaggerated gestures and inflated ego of the other elemental from the room, it was as clear as daylight to Meg that Pagan wasn't particularly liked there, or went out of her way to be liked. Just needed. Unless she wasn't mistaken, Exodus hadn't been that fond of her either, so judging by that and several other factors that had made the blonde go from simply standing the other's presence to flatly be annoyed by her attitude, it was likely that it wouldn't be long until Meg would display her displeasure at the other's acts.

Until that time would come, she settled for merely rolling her eyes a bit at what Pagan did and said, unimpressed by the power she obviously had over the elements too, because others could flaunt the same gifts too, and not just the two of them. It was a matter of being self-confident, not egocentric. Pursing her brows when Pagan dared question Magneto about what his actions (or lack there of), something Meg severely frowned upon and thought of as a sign of disrespect to their leader, the woman managed to refrain her powers from making her appearance match her mood. That was not the time for it, but more for listening closely and ignoring any disturbances. Luckily for the other elemental, 'father' Magneto was more tolerant and kind enough to let such interruptions and uncalled for remarks go unpunished, instead politely putting the brunette in her place - or so Miss Kinston thought. Unlike Pagan's, who'd served only as a momentary and unwanted distraction, Lucia's questions were actually worth paying attention to, and consistent regarding the matter they were discussing. Once the mutant sitting at the end of the table explained their mission to them more, though, Meggan's whole attention was directed towards him, which was a victory against her usually ADD tendencies. Then again, it varied from person to person and it was linked to each situation how attentive she was.

As her green eyes started examining the maps he had laid on the table for them to look at, only rarely nodding in regards to any of Magneto's plans, Meg made sure to remember as many of the details as possible, since the location heavily influenced the way in which the mission would be conducted. Once a mention of humans having been responsible for the Chimera Virus reached her ears, though, she couldn't help but quickly raise her eyes to look at Magneto, anger lighting her eyes and making her blood boil in her veins. As a result, she had to clench her fist angrily beside her, having already suspected for months that it was impossible for humans not to have been involved in the disease that had diminished even the BH's ranks, yet she'd never actually been positive that many others would agree. Still, the thought of a machine being transported to a facility so that those inferior to them on the food chain could control their powers was appalling, more so than any of the multiple deeds that had been carried out against her kind. Therefore, it was necessary for them to unite all their abilities into seizing and destroying that killing tool before it could do any harm to mutants everywhere and actually make them be at the beck and call of Homo sapiens.

Had it not been for the fact that she'd just heard her name being called, it was quite likely that the knuckles from one of Meggan's hand would have gone white because of the inner rage she was trying to suppress from making her blow. As she stirred in her seat, eager to know everything she had to do, the blond-haired woman was pleased to hear that she would deal with the lesser people that day too. Although not an exactly cruel person, Meg found herself agreeing with the Brotherhood's policy that there was no need to show mercy to beings which would have gladly enslaved and exterminated mutants as if they were some scientific rats that had gone wild. Did that make her a bad person? Of course not, since she was doing it for the cause and the well-being of her beloved brothers and sisters out there, who were unable to fend for themselves. If that wouldn't have been enough to move any other reasonable mutant, then she failed to realize what would. The only downside to the current mission was that they were to spare and capture the scientists that would probably accompany the convoy - oh, well, that could easily be arranged. Especially if they would become useless to Magneto in time, when Meggan and any other willing members of her family would certainly step up to the plate and get rid of them too. Weren't those the rules of the jungle too? Survival of the fittest.

Having remained silent that whole time, albeit agitated inwardly, Meg thought that she would finally be able to speak and had almost opened her mouth to utter her opinion when someone cut across her. Even if she didn't have anything against Daisy, Meggan was intrigued when their probably youngest member actually stated that she was better than Meggan and Lucia at being shot and living to tell the tale. Consequently, she couldn't resist the urge of replying quickly, before anyone else might have had the chance to. "First off, we've done more than just sit around."[/b] Making a pause to control her indignation and seem less on the defensive side, the blonde glanced toward Magneto, as if waiting to see if he would interfere, before returning to gaze at Daisy. "Secondly, no offence, but this isn't the first mission me and Lucia are in, and we've kinda already dodged bullets without being superhumans. So our experience, plus our abilities, have kept us alive until now. Of course..."[/b] There she made yet another pause and settled her eyes on Magneto, no longer addressing the girl. "We could use her help too, on the field, in case the convoy proves harder to attack and defeat than we think."[/b] She suggested, before leaning back in her chair to hear his decision. It wasn't that she was truthfully for taking the girl along, but Meg sympathised with Daisy, remembering what it was like being new and desiring to participate in all the 'fun things' too. Plus, her own powers might come in handy.

"Anyway, are we going to get there individually or together?"[/b] She asked, because while she didn't have trouble ensuring her own transportation to that area and perhaps that of somebody else too, Meggan was positive that the same couldn't be said for everyone. It seemed only appropriate to travel together, to avoid complications and any delays, still she knew that their leader might have a different opinion.



OCC: I think that we should let each player reply once more, and then maybe Magneto could end the meeting to actually start the mission? But that's just me.

[Daisy Temple]

(occ: Sorry I posted under the wrong account name. Masha keeps forgetting to log out when she leaves the site. I'll be more careful in the future.)

“Na Megers.” Daisy shot in quickly, holding up her hands defensively before the other blond in the room got the wrong idea. The teenager was all hard talk and blustering, but it was all an act. Deep down she just wanted to make friends and fit in, and she didn't want any misunderstanding to screw that up. “I didn’t mean better at dodging bullets. Crap, ya’ll got the edge of me there. I’m still so new ta the “being shot back at” business that I just stand there and scream like a baby. I mean, this ain’t my first rodeo or anything, but ya’ll been playing in a bigger league then I’m used too, and sure as hell aint gonna assume I’m up to your standards. What I mean, I’m better at taking bullets, ya know, being hit by ‘em?”

She lifted her shirt slightly to show off the large yellowish bruise that was still visable on the bare, tan skin of her stomach. She had spent the whole morning in “power testing”, and the bruises were the result of several bullets to the abdomen. The only result.

“They just bounce off. I’m like a fringen’ tank. Twenty rounds right in the guts and look at me.” She said, still a little surprised and pleased by the new development in her power. While she’d always known that she was harder to hurt then most kids, it was only within the last few days that she discovered she was practically impervious to bullets. “I’m just saying, I’d rather have them shoten’ at me then either a’ ya. Right? I mean, ya can dodge ‘em fine, but might as well have them guys shooten at something it doesn’t matter if they hit.”

“Sides, Might shock the piss out ‘em, lay a few rounds an’ me still coming at them. Most people don’t get to shock these days when it’s a big ol’ buff piece of man ass bulldozing at them, but when it’s little ole’ blond nothing like me they all start looking all funny.” She shrugged and pulled her feet off the table, tucking them under her seat as she reached up to retrieve her video game.


“Course if ya’ll don’t wanna take me, you’re gonna have to leave me money for a pizza or something. she added, snapping the game back on and studying the screen intently. Ya'll might not have noticed, but there aint much to eat about here."

[Eric Lensherr]

There were times that Magneto felt like he was running a pre-school, not a terrorist organization. "No," he said shortly. "You'll be coming with us."

He gentled his tone, with effort. "Mr. LeBeau will be meeting us along the way he's been doing some ... preliminary work."

"We may need your general familiarity with the environment," Magneto said then frowned and pointed a finger at the irritating gadget the girl had brought with her. I gave a despairing, electronic hiccup and the screen dissolved into a crazy quilt of random colors as he fried its tiny circuit board. "But we don't need that."

"So," he stood, sweeping his gaze around the room. "We'll be leaving in twenty-minutes. Lodging, primitive, will be provided, as will food."

Magneto swept from the room, his mind already on the next step.

---

OOC: I'll set up a thread at the 'landing spot', once I've figured out where to put them