Kevin Kinross (better_now) wrote in exiles,
@ 2011-01-24 21:50:00

Entry tags:

Dogs of War: Prelude
They arrived in a new place. Kev looked around. They were in an alleyway in New York City. No dead bodies surrounded them. Always nice. No rampaging mental patients at the moment, also nice. And there was a newspaper. January date. "Worthington Enterprises donates $1 billion to Lenore St. Croix Foundation. Subhead: "Also $10 million to CEO's mutant-specialty alma mater." Kev grinned. "What a terribly normal newspaper." There are sounds above and quite some ways away, and Kev looks up to see, swinging between the skyscrapers, four superheroes on weblines: one in crimson and navy, one in scarlet and azure, one in maroon and gold, and one in black and white.

Kev beams. "CIVILIZATION AT LAST!"

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Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

rogue_star
2011-01-26 02:53 am UTC (link)

Making sure they aren't being too obvious, Sarah looks to the remaining people.
"We can head up to a rooftop if anyone prefers? I can fly, and carry anyone who can't. As I said earlier, I'm Sarah Rogers... I ended up elected leader, partly because I've been at this the longest, I think. If she's the same as the one from my dimension, I'm familiar with Gwenny's abilities. I... don't seem to have a counterpart in most of the worlds we've seen. I don't know who among the team either of you might know anything about, but I'm here to help with any questions."

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	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine a_pal 2011-01-26 03:24 am UTC (link)
	Rooftops are fine," Gwenny says earnestly, heading for a fire escape to climb it up. "I don't know about anybody's abilities but Mr. Valentine's -- he explained what a mutant is, though -- and, well, you have the shield. I do the radiant light, if that makes me the right Gwenny." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

notallhunkydory
2011-01-26 03:25 am UTC (link)

Dorrek glances down at his clothes and then up at the walls of the alley. "It's a bit narrow for me to fly," he says, following Gwenny over to the fire escape. He stretches his arm -- stretches it far beyond human capabilities -- and grabs the bottom rung of the ladder so he can pull it down to Gwenny's hands.

"Shape shifting and super-strength," he informs Sarah with a small shrug. "And you can call me Dorian. Or even Dory, I answer to both."

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Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

rogue_star
2011-01-26 03:31 am UTC (link)

Sarah settles on the rooftop, giving the other two a last hand up.

"Good that he filled you in on that. I'm also a mutant - though I inherited the abilities my mother absorbed from Ms. Marvel - super strength, flight, resistance to injury, combat sense... got some training from my father. You obviously know the shield, the hammer is the one you think it is, Dorian." she confirms.

"Natasha is a highly trained spy and agent with access to a light suit of Stark powered stealth armor. It can't go toe to toe with Iron Man, but it gives her an edge, and she's good at what she does."

"Dane... the Black Knight - mildly superhuman physical attributes, highly skilled with his magical sword and shield. Experienced in fighting demons, solid occult lore, but his world is way behind the technological curve, so he usually doesn't go too far alone."

"Kev is a multi-field genius. Not really a combatant, has some other problems, but good to have his breadth of knowledge in a pinch."

"Questions?"

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	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine a_pal 2011-01-26 03:34 am UTC (link)
	Gwenny appreciates the assistance with the ladder. Then she listens attentively. At the prompting, she asks, "What's a Stark?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

notallhunkydory
2011-01-26 04:02 am UTC (link)

"It's a pretty famous shield," Dorrek agrees, listening closely to the other short-and-dirty descriptions. They seem to cover everything important; and while he's relieved that Kev isn't some sort of powerhouse who might explode if he discovers that this world isn't his, he's not too happy about the vagueness of 'other problems'.

"I assume those problems haven't been of particular issue so far?"

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Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

rogue_star
2011-01-26 04:09 am UTC (link)

Sarah shakes her head. "Not yet. I can't offer the guarantees I'd like to though. We don't get much choice in who we work with - and so far, he's been a big help. Everyone we've been given to work with so far would qualify as a hero, at least... but some of them, like my maternal grandmother, a couple of the others have used... questionable methods. I wish I could be more reassuring. As for Stark... Tony Stark, a common figure in most realities we've hit. Genius industrialist who has invented multiple suits of powered armor. Natasha's allows her to fly, light energy beams, some protection from harm, low level super human strength - but has the downside that we need to watch its power supply, since we won't always be able to repair or recharge it in some worlds. Some of them are... pretty awful."

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	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine a_pal 2011-01-26 04:13 am UTC (link)
	Gwenny listens and nods. "Oh." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine notallhunkydory 2011-01-26 04:29 am UTC (link)
	"As long as it's something can be handled, I don't have any objections," Dorrek says, shaking his head. It'd be a little hypocritical of him after all. "I've been on a junior Avengers' team for almost five years, for the record," he adds. Just in case they think he hasn't been trained. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

rogue_star
2011-01-26 04:50 am UTC (link)

Sarah nods. "Good to know. I'm familiar, so far, with about half a dozen different takes on 'junior Avengers', including my own original group. Good to know you have some training. In any case, I should also state the lesson we've learned the hard way. Don't assume anything. Any world may have different factors at play. Anyone - anyone could be a villain, even if they're a hero in your reality, or vice versa. Its nice to find points of familiarity, but don't count on it.

Second thing, also learned the hard way. Some of the worlds out there are horrible. Ruled by super villains, run by villains who were friends in your world... run by vampires who have killed or enslaved most of the human population. It is really nice to get worlds where we can grab hotel rooms with beds, eat decent food, research... but do not ever count on it. We've been attacked right out of the gate. I've been arrested by Reed Richards' science council..." she pauses, looking to Gwenny to explain. "Reed Richards typically being a major hero, about fifty years in your future. Anyway, be prepared, and don't count on creature comforts, and enjoy the easier worlds where you can. We don't get a lot of luxury, comfort or familiarity. And if you need to talk - at least I'm willing to listen.

Third - try and keep arguments with teammates to a minimum. We don't get to choose our team, and we're stuck with each other. In fact, we're all the 'others' any of us can count on. Disagreements, personality conflicts, objecting to someone else's views or actions are inevitable. If something is bad enough, I'd prefer we try and deal with it as a team. We are in this together, and no one can count on going home any time soon.

Fourth, you will not bring along anything to the next world that isn't either on you, or considered part of your 'normal' gear. Mjolnir and the shield have jumped with me even when I'm not wielding them when we disappear from a world. Other things haven't. If something is important to you, keep it on you at all times or it may get left behind.

Finally - S.O.P. when we hit a new world where we're not attacked right away, and things appear normal-ish -- someone works on getting a current newspaper so we can get the dates and current events. Someone works on immediate needs and resources - food, lodging, things like that. I typically stay out of the way, as I'm pretty conspicuous, and try and fill in any newcomers.

Again, questions?"

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	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine a_pal 2011-01-26 04:52 am UTC (link)
	"....golly." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine notallhunkydory 2011-01-26 05:12 am UTC (link)
	Dorrek's attention turns back to the ring in his pocket, feeling his heart clench within his chest. He doesn't want to imagine a world where Billy is a villain, especially not one this team would have to face. "No questions," he answers. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

rogue_star
2011-01-26 05:17 am UTC (link)

Sarah hates seeing the expressions on people's faces when they get the 'exiles' talk. She can see them picturing friends, family, loved ones as villains or vampires, post-apocalyptic scenarios and the rest. She just figures its better to level with people right off.

"Ok, let's rejoin the others then. So far, the paper actually makes this world seem pretty good. Fairly pro-mutant, reasonable resources... and Kev seemed to have a lot of touchstones here. I'd like to get on with trying to figure out what the Tallus means - its often unhelpful, but not quite this impenetrable. If Kev isn't able to get us lodging, Tasha should."

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Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

better_now
2011-01-26 05:31 am UTC (link)

And soon, Kev and Dane are rejoining them.
At the same time, a portal opens.
Two young women step out of the portal. The lilac-skinned one controlling the portal, a Miss Clarice Ferguson for those who know her, hides a little behind the younger one, who has adamantium claws out and is the one who speaks.
"All right. Which one is Kevin, and has he tried to hurt any of you?"

"Oh, Hang on a minute, Miss Kinney, I haven't hurt anyone in /fifteen years/, unless you count the Shadow King." It takes a while for things to sink in for Kev.

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Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

rogue_star
2011-01-26 05:34 am UTC (link)

"Blink?" she asks. Then notices Clarice hiding behind the other. Yeah, the one she knows... not shy.

"No... he hasn't hurt anyone." She can't quite say he's harmless, but tries to imply that its something like that. "Kev doesn't have the Proteus abilities. I'm Sarah Rogers... and I'm willing to answer any questions you might have on behalf of the group, if you can take me to your headmaster."

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	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine notallhunkydory 2011-01-26 06:02 am UTC (link)
	The mention of 'Proteus' gets raised eyebrows from Dorrek, if only because he'd considered a similar codename and been told about his universe's version of the man to explain why he ought to go with something else. He also shifts his weight to a better stance in case he needs to keep the other members of this team from getting skewered on those claws. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine a_pal 2011-01-26 06:26 am UTC (link)
	Gwenny just watches in consternation. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

better_now
2011-01-26 06:36 am UTC (link)

Blink looks at her. "Yes?"

Laura looks at Kev a little. "The bit about sending people to Baltimore before you came didn't exactly --" She spots Dane. "Oh. Okay. Makes sense now."

"Thank you," Kev replies jovially.

Laura sniffs, looks them over, nods, sheathing her claws, and steps back. "Dr. Summers is acting headmaster while the Professor is on sabbatical. You can talk to him and Mr. Summers." A pause. Another look at Sarah. "Miss Annamarie isn't around either, just to let you know. Right this way." And she'll step back through Clarice's portal.

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Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine

rogue_star
2011-01-26 06:41 am UTC (link)

Sarah sighs at mention of her mom not being around. Always a bit of a shame, but good in some ways as well.

"Sorry... long story." she replies to Blink. "Ok folks, on guard. If this is legit though, I'll talk to Dr. Summers, people can try and settle in and start gathering information." she says, before taking the lead for her group through the portal, just in case.

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	Re: Sarah, Gwenny and Dorrek/Valentine notallhunkydory 2011-01-26 06:54 am UTC (link)
	Dorrek wonders if they ought to wait for Natasha, or if they're keeping her in reserve in case this goes poorly. Best not to ask Sarah that in front of the people they might be hiding her from, though. He shrugs and follows Sarah through the portal. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

better_now
2011-01-26 07:05 am UTC (link)

And Kev follows.

On the other side of the portal is the Xavier Institute for the Genetically Gifted. It looks much like many versions of Xavier's School throughout the time streams, perhaps more expanded than some. It is currently clean and orderly and finished with all repairs since the last time there was an accident or attack.
Ready to meet them, in a wheelchair brimming with extremely high-tech modifications, is Dr. Alexander Summers. Laura is already talking to him quietly.

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	a_pal 2011-01-26 07:06 am UTC (link)
	Gwenny comes through, looking around wide-eyed. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	steelandsorcery 2011-01-27 02:54 am UTC (link)
	Dane follows, maintaining his healthy suspicion of this world and its inhabitants. However, the woman's look at Dane, followed by her comment to Kevin cause Dane to narrow his eyes. "I don't much appreciate being talked around in my presence. What is she getting at?" Dane asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	better_now 2011-01-27 03:03 am UTC (link)
	"Well, y'ken how I said I'd made sure they'd send the teleporter who isn't scared of Black Knights? Well, the one who is...well, terribly powerful fellow, but the lad's not all right in the head." Yes, this is Kev talking. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

steelandsorcery
2011-01-27 03:08 am UTC (link)

Dane isn't certain he understands Kevin's meaning for a moment, because many euphemisms go right over his head. But he /thinks/ he's got Kevin's meaning.

"The individual there were going to send is afraid of...me? And he is off ill-humors? No man has reason to fear me unless he consorts with demons or those who would elevate false gods over his fellow man. I take issue with those who would do so." Dane says, looking between Kevin and Laura.

"Who is this man and why should he fear me?" Dane asks.

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better_now, 2011-01-27 03:32 am UTC

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rogue_star, 2011-01-27 06:39 am UTC

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notallhunkydory, 2011-01-27 07:19 am UTC

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a_pal, 2011-01-27 12:42 pm UTC

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