nextgen_misc:

From the NY Post:

After weeks of hearings and a parade of expert witnesses, the dust seems to finally be settling on what has been called 'The Siege of District X'. While district attorneys were unable to bring any official charges against Castleton Security Holdings or police Captain Erica Strauss, all standing contracts with state agencies have been cancelled for the latter, and Captain Strauss announced her acceptance of early retirement just hours ago. The 11th Precinct has been indefinitely disbanded, with stationed officers being moved to other districts in the interim.

Chief among the allegations against Castleton were the use of MGH, Mutant Growth Hormone, by their agents assisting police. An official transcript of the pre-trial hearing had this statement by Castleton legal counsel, Renee Devreaux -

"Your frustration is understandable, but the facts are plain to see, and fully documented. Castleton Security Holdings is a privately owned company, not based in the United States. Our agents were given controlled doses of our proprietary defensive biological enhancement formula, without which they would be suffering the same grievous injuries as a number of police officers at the same scene, at our off-shore operations facility, outside of American jurisdiction. All the agents were participants in an ongoing clinical trial of our defensive enhancer. The base material, what is known on the street as 'MGH', is freely donated and humanely collected, much like blood by any number of organizations. Our donors are financially compensated, and their identities protected by double-blind standards and non-disclosure agreements, to prevent any 'closeted', if you'll pardon the term, mutants from being exposed against their will."

Local lawmakers and legal experts expressed shock over a company so publicly admitting to experiments involving mutants, but confirmed that Castleton does not appear to have broken any laws with their actions recently. Company VP, Sanae Takahashi, also released a public comment, regarding Castleton's mission statement.

"Castleton Security Holdings is the bleeding edge of metahuman security. We support mutant charities and relief centers, and willfully employ as many mutants and other metahumans as we are able to place. We provide free counseling and medical support to those whose abilities endanger their health, or simply present certain challenges in everyday life and require training.

The X-gene derived mutant condition is the fastest growing genetic anomaly in the world today. As other security holdings companies may specialize in hostage negotiation, human retrieval, home security, or private security personnel, we specialize in placing those with powers beyond those of baseline humans where they can put their talents to use; or, on the darker side of matters, equip our men to protect against them. Just this year we've been granted thirteen contingency contracts for a number of national museums and capital cities.

Specializing in dealing with the superhuman is a business model, nothing more, much like the esteemed operators of Damage Control could tell you, I'm sure."


District X resident Louis Carter, seen attacking police and security personnel in what had become a virally popular video, was released on probation, after medical testimony revealed an adrenal disorder, rendering him into a state of diminished capacity at the time of his outburst. This has lead to renewed discussion of safety risks in some mutations. His son, David, was also returned to his parents after being placed into a treatment plan to help prevent his own mutation, a corrosive field affecting metallic structures, from becoming a public danger.

Reconstruction efforts have taken over much of the damaged areas of the district, spearheaded by support from the Genoshan Consulate and Julian Howard, perhaps best known as the man behind the X-Factor sensation. Andrew Summers, of the consulate, has begun speaking out against MGH, attributing much of the hysteria around it to humans trying to gain powers, and a created link between that problem and quality of life issues in mutant neighborhoods. A drug treatment and counseling center, along with a new shopping plaza, are expected to have ground broken within the next few weeks. These renewal projects have been hinted to being just the beginning of collaborations between the Genoshan Consulate and Howard, fueled further by rumors of a possible shift in location for the filming of X-Factor.

burnwithlight:

When Gio returned to mutant town with Angelo, Miss Fantasia, and Sengai, who was carrying a somewhat sleepy young boy, there were a few hastily-repaired cameras in her face.

She was glad to see that the poor man had been taken down and was sedated in custody. She hoped he'd be dealt with fairly, considering the entrapment he'd been in, but who knew?

To the slew of questions, she responded only, "Upon realizing how agitated his father's situation was making the younger Mr. Carter, we evacuated him, along with Miss Fantasia -- thank you again for the help, Pauline -- away from crowds and buildings so that he could calm down."
Mrs. Carter, meanwhile, was running for her son, and Gio stepped back to let her at him, nodding to Sengai to hand the tired boy over.
"Mom! There were men with guns opening the door, and Dad got so scared, and then everybody was hitting him, and I just wanted to run and there was only one way to go--"
"It's okay, honey!"
Gio nods politely to the reporters. "If you'll excuse us, we're hoping all the families displaced at this difficult time can be kept together."

And she gives Sengai, in particular a 'good soldier' nod as they walk away.

nextgen_citizen:

"If we do this... there's no going back. This is going to burn through every favor you and I have above my pay grade." Police Captain Erica Strauss poured herself and her associate a shot of whiskey. The strongest she had.

"And yet you will do it. District X's time is over, and this is the way to do it." The gentleman raised the glass, before downing it. He pushed a dossier across the table to her. "This file does not exist. There is no file which contains this exhaustive a cataloging of the District's residents, and their... unique qualities. Just make sure you don't get anyone with wings involved. The media loves them, almost as a rule."

"Nobody's going to love anything about that hellhole after this, not until it's torn down and rebuilt as high-rises." Strauss flips through the files, downing her own drink. "This... if this existed--" she humors him. "--it would be perfect. Let's see those brats try to derail this now."

-----


"The public was shocked today as, in an historic announcement, the governor signed an act to grant emergency powers to the 11th Precinct. Martial law and standing search warrants for the entire District X area have been put into effect. Policymakers are still reeling, as this is the first act of it's kind within the city. Captain Erica Strauss was available for comment earlier today."

"I want everyone in the five boroughs and beyond to understand that no-one involved in this is looking to make any kind of history. These are unfortunate measures to have to be implemented, but it's been determined there is no other appropriate response to the still surging crime wave from District X, and the continuing allegations of disappearances. I'd like to thank my fellow captains of the neighboring precincts for helping to pool emergency funds, as, in an effort to protect taxpayers from the cost of bringing in the National Guard, as well as keeping public safety our first priority, we will be bringing in the brave men and women of Castleton Security Holdings to support our own men and women as we deploy into the District." Every syllable was crisp, except for the parts where the public would respond better to signs of stress or remorse.

Strauss locked her gaze on a camera. "I want those people hiding within this district of our fair city to know that we will not stop. We will put everything as it should be. To the law-abiding citizens of District X, I promise you this, we will be among you."

----

The searches started the next day at dawn. Doors were pounded on. Homes were turned upside down. Residents were subject to 'mandatory relocation' to hotels and shelters in other parts of the city. Every 'successfully' searched building had security stationed nearby afterwards. By nightfall, and the enactment of the district-wide curfew, over five hundred residents had been moved, with well-crafted gentle assurances they would be back in their homes soon.

The efficiency alone was something of wondrous terror.

nextgen_citizen:

"And we're back. If you're just joining us, we're talking today about what local voices have been calling the 'Exodus of Mutant Town', along with the current wave of mutant crime sweeping the five boroughs. With us are Julian Howard, the man behind the modern sensation of X-Factor, and Police Captain Erica Strauss, of the 11th Precinct, which oversees District X.

Before we had to go to break, Mister Howard had brought up the reports of disappearances of transients and the alleged sewer-dwellers of the district. Captain Strauss, your thoughts?"

Strauss gave a practiced smile and tilted her head with a modest shrug. "Well, to be honest, we're at a bit of a loss for the situation. Strictly speaking, we're not even sure that people like that can be classified as 'missing'."

hellfireprince:

Each member of X-Factor receives word of the meeting at X-Factor Plaza's Boardroom with instructions to attend as soon as possible on a matter of urgency. Julian has some minor refreshments set up, but doesn't have the usual feast ready; they may need to move quickly regarding this matter.

Julian waits in the boardroom for the team to arrive.

They'll all notice immediately that there are no cameras in sight.

nextgen_citizen:

A pair of uniformed officers arrive at the Whedon residence around noon, knocking sharply at the door.

"This is the police!" The older of the two officers hollers.

your_talents:

Lisa got out of the town car and told the driver to put it on her usual tab. She was fresh off another modeling gig to pay off the date she'd lined up from the auction. She told herself it was a good cause, even though she knew she'd be telling herself that even more intently if she didn't get a 'taste' of her date. She also needed to have a 'talk' with Julian to further figure out what the two of them were.

Plenty of time for that, and freshening up for her date. The shoot had let her borrow a simply stunning black number that she'd be treating her date's eyes to. Possibly hands as well. She smirked as the car pulled away.

She had taken five steps when the rushing air was all the warning she got. Hands grabbed her from behind and the block blurred past. She was shoved into the front of a building and dragged across it for several yards, before being thrown to the ground.

The damage to the building itself showed that if not for the super-strength she'd helped herself to earlier in the day, there would be plenty of herself embedded in it. As it was, her clothes were all but destroyed and her belongings were thrown across the street. Her breath had been pulled out of her by the shock and the velocity.

Her attacker was silent, dressed all in black. They seemed to hesitate before speaking. "You need to shut your mouth and stop asking questions Stick to being pretty on tv." Their voice is muffled by the mask. They take off again, leaving car alarms screaming in their wake.

Lisa's eyes are wide with disgust, rage, and panic. She slams a fist into the ground, letting out a scream of frustration as the pavement cracks. She pulls her clothes, what's left of them, around her. Mercifully, her phone had survived.

She calls Julian.

your_talents:

Sirens went off for the fifth time of the night, less than two blocks from Lisa's apartment in Mutant Town. Not that this was anything new. The recent crime wave, the drug traffic, and just the fact that it was District X meant that something was always going on. Or going down. Deals, hookups, people looking for fixes, college kids looking to dash in and out of the wrong side of town, everything that made the district come alive, and was slowly killing it.

Lately though, it seemed like the death of the area was approaching faster than ever. It was time to start taking action.

She called up her female co-star.

nextgen_media:

DAILY BUGLE - Crime rates near the so-called "District X" continue to climb in recent weeks, as what are being reported as mutant street gangs ransacked thirteen stores in the past three weeks, with half a dozen home invasions as well. Property damage estimates are estimated to be in the tens of thousands and still rising, and insurance carriers for the claimants are currently entering litigation as to whether or not mutant violence constitute valid claims under criminal sections of their coverage.

THE BUZZ - (editorial by Khan Keorattanavong) Police Captain Erica Strauss commended her precinct's officers today, in a grandstanding public ceremony where the collective members of the 11th Precinct by all rights should have snapped in half from how fast they bent over to kiss their own collective rears. Arrests for possession are at an all-time high as Strauss continues her war on drugs, specifically MGH, Mutant Growth Hormone. Arrests are at an all-time high, with a soaring conviction rate on possession charges as well. Sources also claim that pleas from defense attorneys for what would normally be minor charges have been ignored by the DA's office.

We've all seen what MGH can do, but voices within the local community cite that the arrests have been focused on users carrying empathic and telepathically communal strains, rather than your typical lasers and super strength varieties. Cops beating up on hippies, where have we seen that before?