Aberrant: Children of Quantum Fire - [Children of Quantum Fire] Finding Balance [1.0]

[Quantum Fire]

The Island..

Far to the north, in the artic circle, so much so that the North Pole was actually to the east, a volcanic isle rose from the incredibly cold waters, the heat and lava was so much on the isle that it was covered at all times by a fairly dense fog or mist.. at least around it, the fog sometimes cleared up on the island itself. It also often snowed over the isle, but the heat of the isle usually melted the snow before it hit, at least on the western side of the isle.

On one side of the isle as well, there were numerous hot springs, varying in degrees of heat, where one could bath or relax. There was an area designated as public, and several ones as private, with markers set to say that they were in use or not. Traveler was fairly relaxed with the children, explaining modesty and inhibition, and cultural views, from that of the ancients to modern day, one could chose to wear, or not wear, what one pleased while soaking in the pools. Areas could be set apart for just the girls or boys, if desired, and there were showers within the complex, if preferred.

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The Complex..

The caves, however, were the important part, for the surface of the island seemed to be uninhabited, as a further protection from the fog and the weather that Marina sometimes drew down on them, beneath however, was a different story. The caves went inside for about 20 feet, remaining caves, then they changed, as one came to the elevator shaft, and descended another 200 feet below.. in a vast and intricate complex, one that the children themselves had altered to suit their interests in the years, sometimes with help, sometimes not.

The complex itself was large, and possessing of high degrees of technology, powered a several hydro fusion reactors that had been improved by several of the most technological capable of the children, Alexandra in particular. This degree of energy powered a link to the Opnet, a training room that some the children call ‘the Danger Room’ in honor of the X-Men, dozens of rooms devoted to different kinds of schooling, filled with all kinds of materials, from sculpture to painting, to athletic endeavors, to engineering and scientific studies, even a well stocked and massive kitchen for cooking, and nova children could really go though the food, though some of them didn’t need to eat, which reduced the amount that was lost somewhat.

The Adults…

Besides the Traveler, known commonly to the children as Uncle Shen, sense that was his first name, there is one other individual who oversaw the children as they grew up, a woman named Serenity, who served as something of an Aunt and Mother to them, she was there sometimes, and gone sometimes, a few of you had discovered something else about her though, that she was a nova who used dormancy when she was among you. Serenity is mute, something to do with her vocal cords, sense she hasn’t ever taken on her nova form around you, non of you are sure if that’s the case as a nova.

She can write or use sign language to communicate, though Epiphany can speak with her telepathically, and link her into a link allowing the others to do so as well, but her most common way to communicate is with her art. Serenity is the cook, seamstress and artist within the complex, she love all kinds of art, and she’s been your teacher in everything regarding the arts, from dancing to painting to sculpture, save singing, though she has demonstrated the ability to play every musical instrument. Many of you surpass her due to raw talent, at least when she’s dormant.

When asked why she’s never shown her nova form, she said only that it was to get them familiar to baseline capabities, and to keep her own feet on the ground. When asked who she was as a nova, she’d always smile mysteriously, and shake her head.

Besides Serenity, who came and went as she desired, Traveler occationally brought other folks to the island, or took the children out to other places in the world, but this was rare, it was mostly to keep the children's view of the world from narrowing down to just this island.

[Toby Lupin]

In the Kitchen...

The smell of grease and tomato sauce filled the air as Darrik cooked in the kitchen. Wrapped around his impressively Adonis-like body, besides the shirt and shorts that he had on, was a green chef's apron that read: Kiss the Cook. Certainly his wicked lips made the average onlooker positively ache to kiss them, among other sections of the teen's seductive body... In either mode of consumption, Darrik certainly retained a large appetite, and he planned to put it to use. Beside the pot of cooking Linguine, deep-frying shrimp was slathered in grease and batter, well on its path to becoming jumbo popcorn shrimp. An interesting fact of Darrik's cooking over the two years of his presence, as noted by his foster siblings, was that he was a reasonable cook, except for the ever-present food-spoiling quality of always being a bit too much.

His steaks were cooked rare, tender and juicy, to the point where you might think you were eating a live animal rather than prepared food. Ice cream somehow always turned out a bit too sweet, where the average fellow might start to be sick from the sugar. A vegetarian dish, gnawing away you'd feel like an actual rabbit. Hamburgers.... don't ask. Confidently oblivious to the final result of his culinary creation today, the dark young man drained the pasta water and dumped on homemade tomato sauce- which had too much seasoning.

[SalmonMax]

Just then, a pair of wide-lensed goggles surmounted by a terminal case of brown bed-head and perched on a cute little button nose poked around the corner and peered myopically at Darrick. Tiny servos whirred, and shutters flicked open within their brass and aluminum body casing.

"Marina," Alex said, then immediately grimaced. "Wait, no. No one would make pasta for breakfast except Darrik."

She sighed and pushed the goggles up her forehead, revealing her pretty brown eyes, complete with the usual dark semicircles of sleep deprivation underneath them. The sigh became a yawn, and Alex rubbed her eyes blearily.

"Well...shit. I thought I had it that time."

Her eyes focused on Darrik, then on the food he was making.

"Why are you making pasta for breakfast?"

[Maia]

"Because he's Darrik." Maia's rich silky voice came from the doorway. She was clad in a long loose T-shirt easily two sizes too big. It was unclear whether there was anything under it, though if it were like most times, she did have a bathing suit on.

"It doesn't fail that his idea of morning cuisine is starkly different."

She smiled. Possessed of a nearly indestructible stomach and a metabolism that went beyond efficient, Maia didn't have to eat. She chose to, and generally ate whatever was cooked, provided the chef was open to criticism.

Her cooking expertise was somewhat limited, mostly to open flame roasting.

"Anything special for breakfast this morning?"

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik smiled back at the girls as he quickly checked over the frying shrimp, with the sort of smile that seemed as if he was trying to come onto the girls- though they had developed plenty of experience to know their newest family member usually not intend such ideas... usually. They'd still gotten the idea fast that Darrik had been oversexed prior to his arrival on the island, which was entirely true.

"Pasta tastes great, is easy to make lots of it quickly, and plenty of carbs for the metabolism, it's certainly worth it for breakfast. As for special sides, there's jumbo popcorn shrimp frying. And since you two are down, could someone lend a hand and slice some apples and bananas?"

[SalmonMax]

Alexandra's head jerked back out of the doorway. In the hall, she was dressed similarly to her 'sister,' in a long t-shirt, though her shorts peeked out below its hem. And she had fluffy bunny slippers.

She pushed the goggles back down over her eyes and stared at Maia for a long moment, then scowled and said, "Slice your own banana. I'm gonna grab some eggs. I'll be down in the lab if anyone needs me."

With that she slipped past Maia to the fridge, took out a package of a dozen eggs, then did an end run past Darrik to the other door out of the kitchen that led to the dining room. But then she stiffened and put the eggs down on the table.

"Hell. Shower!"

The goggles clattered to the floor as she swept them off of her head and ran out of the dining room...intent on being the first one in the shower just this once!

[Maia]

Mai looked at him. "You know I'll just break the knife Darrik." She was amused by Alex's mad dashing around the room and then out before she'd gotten started.

"Looks like someone wants to be first in today." She picked up the eggs and put them back in the fridge.

"Honestly."

[Sunstar]

"I'll handle it, Darrik." Marina said, moving out of the way to avoid running into Alex as she left, while entering the kitchen, her brown hair unkempt. She puts the Apples on the counter and morphs her lower right arm into a watery blade and begins cutting.

"Morning, Maia! How are you doing?"

She asked in a polite tone, making sure to look at Maia with completely blue eyes whilst she cuts.

"If you guys don't mind waiting, I'll whip up some French toast as well"

She said reaching for a banana to cut.

[Kasheal]

Oz hadn’t been seen for the last few days and when he entered the kitchen it looked like he probably hadn’t slept either. As usual his hair was all over the place as his own personal gravity kept pulling it in new direction, and his shirt looked as rumpled as ever.

“Morning-guys” the two words seemed to run together as he talked.

He went straight over to the kettle and flicked it on. He grabbed three cups and poured a small mountain of sugar into each which was then followed by teabags.

“Come-on-come-on” he said at tapping the kettle impatiently. A teaspoon started orbiting his head as he waited.

[Maia]

Maia regarded Marina with her own emerald gaze and smiled. "Doing well. Did my thirty laps around the Island already."

She looked to Oz and chuckled. "So the prodigal comes home for fresh-brewed sweet tea."

"Where have you been?"

[Karren Gaunt]

Originally Posted By: SalmonMax

"Hell. Shower!"

The goggles clattered to the floor as she swept them off of her head and ran out of the dining room...intent on being the first one in the shower just this once!

Alas, Alexandra was too late for that, one of her other siblings having ninjad her way into the bathroom and waited for the daily chaos to begin before turning on the water. Indeed, the genius mechanist could probably hear Coraline's distinctive chorus of voices humming to herself just over the noise of the water flowing. The young metamorph sounded happy, singing in tune to herself as she indulged in a long, satifying shower after a night of putting just-so touches *there* and the odd choice dab of color *here* on one of her latest all-nighter projects.

[LydaLynn]

Epiphany woke to a strange silence. She loved the silence and began to roll over and go back to sleep when she realized it was too quiet. Much too quiet, that was wrong.

Opening her spoke of the link she maintained between everyone at the island, she didn't hear anyone else projecting through it, but the network was still there, so they must all be okay. Her eyes still closed, Pip once again thought about drifting back into sleep. But she was fairly certain it was morning, and this silence was wrong.

Upon opening her eyes Epiphany realized just why she didn't hear anyone else. It was a good thing breathing wasn't a requirement for her. Curled up at the bottom of a hot spring, Pip realized she hadn't returned to her room last night. The moon had been full and beautiful and the fog had been thin enough to really see the night sky last night. So she had come out to moon-gaze. Apparently, she had fallen asleep out here.

Standing up, her head and shoulders just emerging from the water, Epiphany stretched. This was one of the smaller pools and it didn't have room for her wings to unfurl, but just that little bit of stretching helped wake her up. Climbing out of the water, Pip shook most of the water from her fur. Stretching her wings out a couple of times removed most of the water from them. After wringing her hair out and willing her eufiber bikini into shorts and a halter, Pip set out back towards the cave that would lead to the complex.

Normally Epiphany would have flown back to the cave, but her wings were still a bit too wet. Barefoot and unconcerned, she walked, unhurried, towards the cave. If anyone needed her, they'd give a mental call. Pip slowly dried as she walked, the smoldering heat that her body produced evaporating the water.

As she entered the cave, she wondered if anyone was making something amazing for breakfast. Epiphany rarely ate, since it wasn't a need and she understood how much work had to go into keeping the complex supplied. But there were a few things that she couldn't resist at least sampling, the taste more than overcoming her reason.

Epiphany pressed the button for the elevator and waited. Someone must have already been up and back down this morning. She didn't mind the wait, or the solitude.

[Butch_Cole]

Butch Cole picked up the mirrored, wraparound sunglasses off the dresser in his room and put them on. It was unnecessary here on the Island, but he did it out of habit.

He thought back to...was it Brooklyn? That awful smelling warehouse in the one part of Red Hook that seemed immune to gentrification? His childhood was filled with abandoned buildings of all shapes, sizes, and smells in forgotten corners of cities all over. They were always running, always hiding. One morning, it was early and Butch wanted to go outside, but he had to put his glasses on. He didn't want to anymore:

"Dad, why?"

"Because you have to hide those eyes."

"Dad, why?"

"People are looking for you. And me. Bad people."

But that was years ago. He paused before putting the glasses on. In the mirror, Butch saw the green, multi-faceted eyes he had seen in the mirror every time he looked.

"Well, ain't you pretty, Butch?" he said to himself, resting the arms of the glasses on his ears.

One of the girls ran past his room on the way to the bathroom. It was probably Alexandra who had the uncanny ability to want the shower whenever someone else was already using it. He laughed. After four years of living here on the Island, Butch was comfortable. At this time of day, he wanted something else to make him comfortable.

Walking down the hallway to the kitchen, Butch smelled breakfast being cooked. Some of it didn't smell much like your typical breakfast food, but that's what you get when you put a bunch of teenage novas together in one place.

He entered the kitchen and said, "If no one's making coffee yet, I'm on it."

[Kasheal]

“Could-someone-invent a faster kettle.” He said sighing before turning to Maia. “Well-the-other-day-I-had-an-idea-about-a-drug-to-replicate-the-effects-of-people-who-can-grow… but-that didn’t work…Yet!… so-then-I.” He continues listing another ten or so other experiments that he got too distracted to finish, all in about twelve seconds. “- and that also needs more time.”

He looked disappointed for just a moment. “But-its-ok-cos-it-will-work-eventually. I-just-need-a-drink… or-three.”

He stopped when Butch entered. “You-want-to-use-the-kettle-to-make-Coffee! That-foul-drink.” He shook his head dismissively. “There-is-plenty-of-tea-if-you-like.”

[LydaLynn]

As the elevator doors open, Epiphany caught the aroma of food that was carried from the lower levels. She couldn't pick out the individual scents, but there was something about the smell that convinced her she didn't want to try breakfast this morning.

Stepping into the elevator, she pressed the button and waited as it slowly descended. Not wanting to eat and not needing to shower or change, Pip only wanted to get to her room to brush her hair and fur. The sounds of morning in the complex settled over her as the doors to the elevator opened.

This was what morning should sound like. Using her foot to redirect one of the strange small robots that sometimes escaped a lab where who knew what projects and experiments were being done, she made sure it didn't go into the elevator. She remembered when one of the projects had gotten lose on the island before, it took forever to track it down but they kept finding little grass baskets for weeks after it was reacquired.

Epiphany would have to pass through the kitchen on her way to her room. With a sigh, she made sure her clothes were in order. She wouldn't mind particularly, with fur the clothes were almost unnecessary anyway and if they weren't eufiber they would be intolerably binding. But she had learned the hard way that some of the others here took a body clad only in fur as an invitation. And it was not something Pip wanted to invite any of them to do.

Striding towards the kitchen, Epiphany tried to stay out of everyone's way, her wings tucked tight to her back.

[SalmonMax]

Alexandra skidded to a halt outside the door and slammed her fists on it in frustration. That was the sucky part about being physically almost baseline in a family where almost everyone was sporting superhuman bodies. And though her brain was a supercomputer in speed, she had so MUCH to think ABOUT that it didn't always do much good.

"Damnit! Who's in there?!" she shouted, banging on the door. "WHO?!"

[Toby Lupin]

"Calm down, Oz." Darrik broke in as he snatched out a ladle and placed a massive pot of tomato sauce covered pasta down on the table. "Each to their own, each to their own. Do you mind making a cup for me as well? I have the popcorn shrimp to handle."

With that said, he darted back to the stove where the fried shrimp was being cooked, and began extricating them for cooldown.

[Karren Gaunt]

The humming stopped, and an annoyed voice echoed over the psi net, 'It's Cora, Alex. You can use the shower when I'm done getting paint out of my fingernails, clay out of my hair, and damn well *finished* for that matter. So calm down.'

The humming resumed, just that much happier than before and ever so much louder as a form of verbal smirk from the yet-unseen female metamorph using the shower.

[Sunstar]

Marina finishes chopping up the bananas

"Morning Butch. Hey Ozzy. You guys are just in time for breakfast."

She said pulling out the ingredients for making French toast batter. After she's done mixing it up in a bowl, she pours it into a pan and starts cooking the bread to make French toast.

"So what did possess you to make pasta for breakfast, Darrik?"

[Toby Lupin]

Darrik grinned nonsensically. "There are many reasons, but ultimately... I was hungry, I want to eat pasta. Simply that in the end." The finished jumbo popcorn shrimp was added to the table, in a glass bowl, and the apron Darrik wore twisted and squished into the eufiber outfit that the teenage casanova wore. Of course, the shirt now boasted a slogan that said: FULLY APPROVED STUD.

In a quick move, Darrik popped one of the fried and batter-coated shrimp into his mouth, smiling at the taste of it. To him, his food always seemed to taste good.

[Kasheal]

"Fine-I-will-make-your-vile-drink-too" He let the teaspoon fall out of its orbit so he could use it. "Anyone-else-want-some?" He asked as the kettle finally reached the boil. He quickly poured one of his cups of tea first and drank a bit before continuing to pour the other three teas and the coffee for Butch.

The tea almost seemed to instantly revivve him from his wearyness and he finally payed attention to the food as he finished making the drinks. "Toast-would-be-marvalous-but.. I-think I will skip on the pasta. However-I-will-take-some-shrimp." He said as he carried his two remaing drinks to the table.

[Butch_Cole]

Butch lifted the mug that Oz had poured and raised it in mock salute.

"Cheers, guv'nor," he said in his best high-pitched, Cockney accent, throwing a wink Oz's way. Returning to his normal, deep bass voice, Butch turned to Marina. "French Toast sounds great, by the way. I'll have a slice if you'll be so kind, but only if you've got plenty of powdered sugar for it."

He got cream and sugar and then poured some of each into the steaming, brown liquid in front of him. The first time he tried it, Butch demanded his coffee black, just the way his father used to have it. The flavor was horrible. The diner was a dive and the coffee tasted like it had been filtered through an old gym sock which didn't help much, but when he added cream and sugar it tasted like a dessert, like a treat. Since then, Butch hadn't had his coffee any other way than light and sweet. He certainly didn't need the caffeine with all of the quantum energies coursing through him. When your body has an energy source like that, well, who needs caffeine? No, Butch just liked the taste.

[LydaLynn]

As Olivia strolled into the kitchen, "Wwhhaatt kkiinndd ooff tteeaa?" She unconsciously echoed the question across the mindnet. Realizing it with a wince, "Sorry about that. What kind of tea? If it's just your standard sweet stuff I'll pass, but if you got creative with some herbal tea I'd give it a try."

Finding a spot out of the way to stand against the wall, Olivia settled. The morning routine too familiar to bypass, she'd forgotten what a mess her hair and fur must be without having been brushed out after heat drying in her walk back from the hot spring.

[Maia]

Maia retreated from the forefront and went to stand by her more feline sister. "Fell asleep there again didn't you?"

She smiled impishly, the tanned beauty careful to keep away from the others. Her touch was lethal to eufiber colonies, and it wasn't like the stuff grew on trees.

She watched the others with an amused look. When things settled down, she might fix something, but for now she wasn't particularly hungry.

[Quantum Fire]

As the youngsters gathered together, there was a sudden sharp sound, almost like a tuning fork being struck, and Traveler appeared beside the bathroom for a moment.

"You know, Alex, darling, you could go down a few levels and use the showers beside the training room, or go out to the hot springs if you don't want to wait.. I know it's not as well stocked, but it's better then waiting for your sister to get out, if your in a hurry. Or build another shower beside your lab, I believe you've started that a time or too.. before getting distracted with some other project."

He then reappeared in the kitchen with the others. "Good Morning, what plans does everyone have for their day off today?" He was mostly making small talk, letting the children know he was around and keeping an eye on things, more for peace of mind then because they needed him too.

[LydaLynn]

With a slight, self-depreciating laugh, "Yeah, just a bit. But it was such a nice night, I can't say I regret it. You should try it some time, waking up to the quiet is amazing." Epiphany looked over at Maia. "Having a good morning?"

And then Traveler was there. Even when she knew he was coming, Pip had a hard time not jumping at the sudden boom as air was displaced by his porting arrival. Epiphany didn't have any thing to tell him. She almost never had plans for a day off. It was possible she'd fly around some. If she were faster, she might have decided to take a trip, as it was, she couldn't go far enough in a day to be worth the trip.

Of course, Epiphany was looking forward to hearing what everyone else had planned. It was always interesting hearing about some of their projects. She still had a hard time calling them brothers and sisters, she couldn't forget her own family, out there somewhere.

[SalmonMax]

"Goddamnit, Cora..." Alex began to rant...

And then the Traveler was there to dispense some homespun wisdom. She froze for an instant then whirled to glare at him.

"Or I could ignore what the annoying little buttinsky has to say, because..."

Nope, he was gone.

"Nnnngh!" she raged, and punched the wall. Then something he'd said came back to her....and she paused in her tantrum. Thought. Smiled.

"Okay, you win, Cora!" she called. "Take as long as you need! I'll be fine!"

And, still wearing that evil smile, Alexandra turned and ran down the hall.

[Kasheal]

Oz put his two cups on the table then looked at Epiphany like she was crazy for a second before relaxing, trying to preach to them about proper tea would go down as well as the coffee comment. “This-is-Yorkshire-tea-but-I-am-sure-there-will-be-some-of-that-odd-stuff-in-the-cupboard.” he told her happily as though calling what she liked odd was just an observation not an insult.

He went back over to the kettle which he had already filled again knowing others might need it, he would probably need a fourth cup anyway. He rummaged through the cupboard. “Hmmm-there-seems-to-be-some-Twinings-Blackcurrant-and-mint-who-buys-this-stuff. Well-mint‘s-a-herb.” He said to himself as he grabbed a bag and threw it into Epiphany’s cup.

When the Traveller appeared he tuned round and in the space of a few seconds he explained all of the ‘near’ finished research and experiments he had been doing over the last few days like he had told Maia before.

“-the-only-answer-to-their-incompleteness-is-that-my-head-must-be-overworked-so-I-need-tea-and-fresh-air.” His own abilities not being enough to complete something never crossed his mind. “So-the-day-goes-to-exploring-the-island-to-clear-my-head.” He finished explaining his plans in as many words as possible.

[Karren Gaunt]

There was the psychic equivilent of blowing a raspberry at Alex, and Cora settled into the task of actually finishing up her shower in a timely fashion, the game no longer fun now that someone interferred. Besides, she didn't want to miss breakfast. That was family time.

[LydaLynn]

Knowing that Oz sometimes got distracted when he was 'talking' to Traveler, Epiphany slipped in quickly to rescue her tea. It wasn't that she was a tea snob, she just didn't care for caffeine and the herbal teas, while warm and fragrant and delicious, didn't tend to have the bitter bite of caffeine. Not that she ever explained that to Oz, more because she was afraid of getting a deluge of response than because she was reticent on the subject.

Pip moved back to the wall beside Maia, careful not to let her eufiber come in contact with the other girl. Her hair popped and crackled with static electricity as she leaned back against the wall. Eyes wide with horror, realizing again what a mess her hair must be, Epiphany tried to smooth it with one hand. She wouldn't leave while Traveler was here, but as soon as she could, she'd make it to her room for a brush.

With a slight shrug for herself, Epiphany settled back against the wall to sip on her tea. The aroma was quite nice and the tingle of mint was refreshing. After the first sip or two, she held it, the steam curling up towards her nose. Pip didn't have to worry about it getting cold. She couldn't have kept it at boiling, but the heat she emitted would be enough to keep it warm.

[Butch_Cole]

The tuning fork hum in the air made Butch pause for a moment with the coffee mug almost at his lips.

Oz motor-mouthed through...whatever it was he was talking about. Butch only caught bits and pieces of it, but enough to understand that Oz was going for a walk, exploring the island.

He took a sip of his coffee and then said: "After I'm done here, I was planning on a workout in the Danger Room. Work the modified heavy bag for a bit. Gotta stay fighting fit."

He sipped again.

"And then I think I might start that project I mentioned the other day. Start our own nova census. I'm thinking we collect as much information as we can about as many novas as there's information out there on."

Butch paused. He frowned briefly, trying to put his ideas into words.

"I'm not sure about specifics yet or the approach, but it might be useful to have a sense of what the...I don't know... competition out there is like. Try and keep track of power levels, affiliations, known associates and stuff. I mean, we're here on this island, but we're also part of a bigger world, right? We'll probably be dealing with other novas out there, right? I don't know...this might be helpful in that respect."

Having a conversation with people was never a problem for Butch, but he felt like he was making a presentation to the boss, which made him stumble with his thoughts. He continued.

"Hopefully some members of the brain trust we've got here could help me out. Come up with a solid program and then maybe something we can each use to access the information. Maybe some sort of portable...thing. Just a thought."

In one large gulp, Butch finished his coffee and waited to hear what everyone else had to say.

[SalmonMax]

-Edit in process-

[Sunstar]

Marina finishes making the French toast and lays them out on a plate on the dinning room table.

"French toast is done. Help yourselves."

She waves to Pip and Traveler as they enter/warp in

"Morning Pip, Uncle Shen. How are you both doing?"

She takes a seat after grabbing herself a plate and putting some french toast on it.

"Thinking about doing another dive later today. Probably will ask Coraline if she wants to come with when she feels like coming to eat."

She then takes a couple bites.

"After that, I don't know. Been thinking about working on the hot springs bit. Maybe get some exercise in as well."

She then looks over at Butch.

"Good idea, Butch. But if I might make a suggestion, talk to Alex when you get done. She might be able to whip some way to make sure the info doesn't get leaked out. Pun not intended. So, what what does everyone else got planned?"

[Maia]

Maia nodded. "I've done it before"

When Uncle Shen showed up, she smiled. "Good morning Uncle." She'd known him longer than anyone else practically, actually remembering him visiting when she was just a little girl and her parents were alive.

"I don't really have any plans today, I've already done my morning exercise, so if someone needs any help, I'm free for most things."

[Toby Lupin]

"Morning." Darrik gave out as Pip and his 'uncle' appeared, between a munch of pasta. Then he fixed an exasperated glance at Butch and sighed. "If you guys had paid more attention to the outside world like I have, you'd know this information already. At least as much as we can genuinely get through the OpNet public-wise. But if people are that clueless, I'll create a dossier for you. Anyway, I figure today is good to stir the soup with regards to Pandemonium Playthings. Sometimes it's utterly incomprehensible how baselines snatch up Geryon figures, when the Terat has no compunction about murdering them during his retaliations?"

[Karren Gaunt]

"Good morning, Uncle Shen. Thank you for calling Alex off this morning," called Coraline's distinctive voice from the doorway to the eating area as she gracefully padded in. Her siblings wouldn't have recognized the moderately-atractive girl of pacific islander descent with black hair and 5'5 height as anyone familar as the young metamorph sidled up to a chair at the table, at least until they met her eyes, the almost-glowing blue on black eyes she inherited from her father as she inherited her protean looks from her mother. Well, that, and the sense that she could sprint across a telephone wire in a windstorm on a whim. The warm regard in her smile for each of them might have helped, too.

Coraline's hair was still a little wet from her shower, her body clothed in eufiber shifted into a sleeveless dark-grey sundress, her feet bare. "What's this about Geryon?" she added curiously, taking in the gathering and considering her options for food. One sniff and she could tell breakfast was going to be interesting at least.

[Toby Lupin]

"Morning by the way." Darrik commented politely as he wiped his face of a bit of sauce off with a napkin. "Just planning to give his market value a shellacking, as well as Pandemonium Playthings as a whole. Manipulate a few stocks, spread some rumors... it's a public service, really."

[SalmonMax]

(OOC - My previous post can be deleted. I decided not to post anything until now.)

Alexandra came into the kitchen again, with a towel around her hair added to her usual casual ensemble. She blinked at the mass of people shuffling around, many engaged in various forms and stages of food preparations.

"We each need our own kitchens or something," she complained as she opened the fridge to get a package of eggs out again.

[Butch_Cole]

It took a moment for Butch to compose himself after Darrik's comments. He finished chewing a piece of French Toast, leaned back and folded large, muscular arms across his chest.

"Hell, don't do me any favors, pretty boy," Butch said looking at Darrik. "You want to go diddle with Geryon's market value, go right ahead. That's your strong suit, so do your thing. Big Ugly murderer could stand to be taken down a peg or two. If I was any good with numbers...econ...whatever, I'd help. But 'that clueless'? Not appreciated. Don't talk down to me, hoss. Get it? I know what information is out there. I know how to get to some of it. I've been out in the world, I pay attention to it, ain't left it behind. So, maybe I didn't express myself all that clearly before."

He took a deep breath.

"The thing I was picturing wasn't some door-to-door bureaucratic nonsense. I'm not trying to figure out how we should redistrict and change representation in the Great Nova House of Representatives. I'm thinking of gathering some info with a practical purpose in mind. Are we gonna be here on the island forever? Somehow I doubt that. Uncle Shen, doesn't strike me as the warden, and the Island doesn't strike me as a prison. We go out there and people will be after us. Hell, who knows?"

Butch raised both hands, palms up, saying, "Maybe we even stay here and they still come for us," and then puts them down.

"Plenty of them will be our own kind, too. I want to know how to take them down and fast. If there's an Op-Net site out there keeping track of that, great, that's less work to do. If not, can't hurt to gather that info and come up with some sort of tactical doctrine for dealing with whoever we might run into. Gather that info or jack it from somewhere else doesn't really matter. Then someone makes some sort of device for us that tells us that info when we need it. So you're out there and some Mask lands ready to make you a notch on his belt and this theoretical device says, 'Jimmy the Exploder. Elite. 10 Nova Kills. Ineffective at distance. Known to have withstood low to mid range energy attacks.' And so on. Something like that. We run into some unknown nova out there, survive, and he gets away? Well, add the mope to the list and we're ready for the next run-in. If it's not doable, you think it's a stupid idea, well, that's my time wasted if you don't want a part of it. Just something I've been thinking on is all."

Butch exhaled. He turned and looked at Marina. Those eyes...the blue on blue thing...thinking back to his early days on the Island, Butch remembered the first time he saw Marina. One hell of a first impression...

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Marina," he said, smiling. "If anyone can help with that, I'm sure it's Alex. Just figured I'd open it up to anyone else who wanted to contribute."

He took a bite of French Toast, nodding his head and smiling to acknowledge the pleasing taste.

[SalmonMax]

Alex stared blankly at Butch while he had his rant, then shrugged and took a breath. There was a hiss of collapsing probability functions; a whiff of steam, a stuffed Cheshire cat momentarily perched on Alex's head. Then in her hand was a palmtop computer. She quickly diddled her fingers over its touchscreen and held it up.

On the screen was an app titled "Contingencies - Nova." It consisted of a list of the names of novas.

"You're just now thinking of this? Dude, I've had netspiders out on Opnet for two years collecting everything that comes up on every known nova. When I have spare time, I add little notes on possible tactics against them."

The computer, which looked a lot like an iPhone, though was of more advanced architecture, dissolved into waste heat and white light.

"Anyone want any eggs, or can I take them all?"