(no subject)

[stretchy_girl]

Who: Gemini & Charles Xavier. Open to any Heron crew who drop by.
Broadcast: Partial Audio
Action: SS Heron
When: 06/12



[There's a sad faced child sitting in a corner of the Heron's cargo bay. He's wearing the ship standard uniform and looks more than a little forlorn, although appearances as ever when it comes to Gemini are very deceptive. Nope, no shapeshifting assassins here, just a poor innocent child in need of help.]

[Private Audio To Charles Xavier]

Mister I'm here on your ship, you said I could come over and that you could help me.

Comments

[ audio > action ]

[axiomed]

Of course. I'll be right over.

[ And he does make good on his word, heading towards the Cargo bay. There is an unfamiliar mind around, which he assumes is the child but he gets a nagging feeling about it as well . . . Still, when he spots him, Charles smiles kindly. ]

There you are.

[stretchy_girl]

[The child looks up nervously as Charles enters, a sharklike almost predatory appraisal hidden behind a nervous stare.]

My mom told me not to talk to strangers.

[With that long hair Charles does look like the type mothers might warn their children to stay away from.]

[axiomed]

And she's quite right. But we're not entirely strangers, are we?

If it helps, I'll be sure to keep my distance.

[stretchy_girl]

I guess not.

That might be a good idea, I hurt people when they get too close. [Just to illustrate the point his skin suddenly bristles with razor sharp barbs that seem to extrude from every pore.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles is still amazed that there's a child mutant and no one has spoken of him. ]

How long have you had this power?

[stretchy_girl]

[That would be because he doesn't exist. Why tell the truth when a lie will work just as well?]

A few months. [There's a long pause before the sob story suddenly gushes out.]

I hurt my step-dad, it was an accident I swear! Then suddenly I was on this big space ship...I want to go home!

[axiomed]

I'm sure you didn't mean to.

[ He tests the waters of the child's surface thoughts. ]

Unfortunately, you can't go home yet. I'm sorry.

[stretchy_girl]

I didn't! It just...happened.

[He looks heartbroken, but his mind is anything but, in fact it doesn't feel at all like a child's or even a human mind, slightly female thoughts tinged with anger and malice floating around in a liquid soup, calculating how best to manipulate him.]

I know, the Captain of my ship told me that when I arrived.

[axiomed]

[ His fingers unconsciously tighten over his arm rests. ]

And who would that be?

[stretchy_girl]

[Reading body language is one of her skills, and the fingers tightening makes her mentally frown for a moment, wondering what had caused it.]

Captain Tony. He can be very rude sometimes. [Time to get off that unwelcome subject.]

You said you could help me?

[axiomed]

[ He doubts Tony would ever call himself a captain. And if he did, it would be derogatory. ]

I might be able to.

If you tell me who you really are.

[stretchy_girl]

Sorry? [The shock in his eyes is real, the thought 'how did he know' ringing loud and clear. She's determined to keep up the act though, not wanting to give anything away.]

I don't understand, I'm Michael, sir. Michael Rodriguez.

[axiomed]

[ The surprise clinches it. ]

No, you're not. The charade is over, I'm afraid. It ended once we met.

[stretchy_girl]

What is a charade, I don't...you know what fuck it!

[Michael's expression turns darker, voice changing from young and male to Gemini's own darker, angrier tones, the face remaining the same.]

How the hell did you know?

[axiomed]

[ He can't help the slight twinge of grim satisfaction. Charles isn't above some petty emotions. ]

I'm a telepath. You didn't do your research. It's common knowledge in the Fleet.

[stretchy_girl]

[Sloppy, careless, Gemini's going to be kicking herself for days. As it is he gets a fierce scowl from the child's face.]

How nice for you. Fucking mind readers.

[She lifts an arm, the move seemingly completely nonthreatening until it suddenly stretches, shooting through the air to try and coil and constrict around Charles. Neutralise the telepath by destroying his focus, it had worked for her before.]

[axiomed]

[ That's no good. Charles doesn't like retaliating with his powers, but he doesn't hesitate here, lashing out with a concentrated burst that overloads the pain receptors. ]

[stretchy_girl]

[Gemini can feel the sensation of something alien in her mind, but unluckily for Charles she doesn't have any pain receptors to overload, her body just doesn't work that way. Her scowl becomes a savage smirk.]

Nuh-uh, that won't work on me.

[Her arm loops around him like a fleshy snake, constricting powerfully, lifting him up out of his chair.]

Now, you're going to tell me about all the people with powers you know about in this fleet. I'd suggest you talk fast, we wouldn't want you to run out of air would we?

[axiomed]

That's — not going to happen.

[ But this was not good. Charles claws at the tendrils as he tries something else. He may not be able to go deeper, but he could reach her surface thoughts. Struggling, Charles attempts an illusion. Flames all around her. ]

[stretchy_girl]

[Whatever retort Gemini's about to give dies as the wall of flames appears around her, terror sparking on her stolen face at the fire, her body twisting and coiling inhumanly to try and avoid it...but why was there no pain?

Her arm lengthens, loops around, and slams Charles viciously against the floor to try and break the illusion. The rubberyness of the limb wrapped around him cushions some of the blow, but not all of it.]

Do that again and I'll rip your miserable head off!

[Her neck elongates, carrying her head to only a few inches away from his as she dangles him in mid-air, the expression on her still-childish face livid as she snarls at him.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles grunts, pain lacing through his body and the illusion blinks out for a moment. He continues to struggle against her hold, though there's little he can do with only his legs. Wracking his brain for another idea, he tries to distract her. ]

Why do you need to know anyway?

[stretchy_girl]

[The arm coiled around him continues to tighten, constricting around him with excruciating slowness.]

I want to find out who might be a threat to me. It's not so much to ask is it?

[axiomed]

[ He gasps. ]

I only see one person being threatening here.

[stretchy_girl]

[She smirks cruelly, the pressure she's exerting continuing to increase.]

My heart bleeds for you. Now, are you going to start talking or is this conversation going to have to get more pointed?

[axiomed]

What's the point?

[ It's too tight - and he can't risk his otter form unless he knew for a fact that she can't catch him. Breathing is certainly getting harder though. ]

Won't you do that anyway?