THE XAVIER INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING

Mission Log #14

>>SIM START<<
SCENE> SCOTT AND JEAN DRIVE IN A MASSIVE STORM TO PICK UP... STORM
<Scott> ::tries to see, the rain making it very hard to see the road very well..:: How close are we?
<Jean> ::she sits still wearing her white tshirt and beaten up, worn jeans and her hair up as she sits 
in the passanger seat. At the moment she's staring out into the space infront of her through the 
windshield at the rain beating against it. Her hands are fidgeting in her lap:: ((I don't know when to 
tell him..before we find storm or after)) ::When Scott speaks she blinks as her grabs her attention. She 
turns her head towards him not having heard what he said:: What?
<Scott> How close are we to Storm?
<Jean> Uhm..::turns back towards the windshield and closes her eyes and concentrates on scanning for 
Storm::
<Jean> Close ::nods as she sighs and opens her eyes. She blinks a few times before turning back to Scott: 
She's beyond upset, though. We need to find her.
<Jean> Scott..I know this is the worst possible time for this, but I have to tell you something. ((I have 
to tell him before Ro gets in the car. I just hope it won't affect him in concentrating on helping her)) 
::she bits the corner of her lower lip as she shifts in her seat and looks out at the rain through the 
passenger side window::
<Scott> hmm? ::looks over at Jean::
<Scott> ACTION> A BOLT OF LIGHTNING HITS A TREE NEARBY, SHATTERING PART OF IT AND SENDING PIECES FLYING 
ALL OVER.. THE MAIN PART FALLS OVER INTO THEIR PATH
<Scott> ::hears the tree crash, snaps head back:: Ah shit! ::slams on the breaks and tries to avoid 
smashing into the tree::
<Jean> ::she winces as the lightning strikes and then she opens her eyes to see the debri:: Shit Scott! 
::she braces herself in her seat::
<Jean> ::winces as she hits against her seatbelt w/ him braking so hard. She then puts a hand out to try 
and sweep the debri from the road::
ACTION> SCOTT BRAKES IN TIME.. THOUGH THEY STILL HIT (NOT SLAM) INTO THE TREE, NOT HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE 
ANY MAJOR DAMAGE
<Scott> You alright? ::heart beating rapidly::
<Jean> ::falls back into her seat and blinks a few times. Her arm flops down onto her leg as she looks 
around and then to Scott:: Yeah, I'm fine. You?
<Scott> ::sighs:: Yeah.. ::opens his door::
<Jean> Where are you going? ::she unbuckles her seatbelt and leans down into the floorboard to pick up a 
jacket::
<Scott> Check out the damage then go try to find storm on foot. ::grabs his jacket out of the back, puts 
it on and pulls the hood up::
<Jean> ::she puts the jacket on and zips it up about halfway as opens her own door and hops out. She 
speaks louder over the rain as she approaches the front of the car:: I can try moving it
<Scott> ::blasts the tree away:: I got it.
<Jean> ::nods and shrugs:: {{Scott and his inability to ever let the woman do the work}} ::joking tone to 
her thought as she pushes now wet hair back as she bends to look at the damage to the front::
<Scott> ::smile at that comment, checks the front of the Navigator, making sure all is fine::
<Scott> ..Nothing major so far.. ::continues looking:: 
<Jean> It'll be a few hundred. ::nods and turns from the car towards the path:: {{You sure you want to 
walk it?}}
<Scott> ::holds the hood up..:: Yeah, It'll be fine. You not want to walk or something?
<Scott> ::completes his inspection.. gently moves the hood back down::
<Jean> {{Not the walking I mind, so much as the extreme dampness of it all}} ::she crosses her arms as 
she waits for him to finish with the car and join her::
<Scott> ::walks over to Jean:: Le's Go.
<Jean> ::nods as she walks and tries to telepathically hone in on Storm::
ACTION> THEY PICK UP STORM'S SIGNATURE ABOUT 75 YARDS UP OF THEIR CURRENT POSITION
<Jean> ((That ruined the conversation. We just hit a tree and I'm supposedt o pick back up with "Oh 
Scott, I'm leaving soon". Yeah that works well)) ::rolls her eyes and glares towards the sky cursing it 
for that interuption as she walks quickly and steadily towards where she sense Storm::
<Scott> What'd you need to tell me?.. y'know before we hit a tree.
<Jean> ::sighs and looks towards the ground as she walks:: ((Just say it. Like a band aid..)) ::looks up 
again trying to figure out how to word it. She looks towards him for a minute and then directly out at 
the path infront of her:: {{I got accepted to Columbia, and I'm going to go to medical school to become a 
doctor}}
<Scott> Wait.. hold on. Sorry, I just halucinated and thought you said you're going to Columbia.
<Jean> ::shakes her head a bit in frustratino and looks towards him. Stopping where she is and 
verbalizing it, a bit louder more out of frustration than to get it over the rain:: That is what I said
<Scott> ..::heart drops, feigns a smile:: Oh.. Jean, that's great. Colombia, congradulations.
ACTION> ORORO CAN SEE THE PAIR OF SCOTT AND JEAN COMING TOWARDS HER.. NOW STOPPED.
<Ororo> ::flying high in the air, most of her clothing shredded from the strong gusts of winds, and an 
onslaught of a basic hurricane encircling her::
<Jean> ::seems to study him for a moment.:: Thank you. ::smiles back at him, genuinely:: I need this. The 
team needs this. It'll only be hard on our friendship if we let it. I plan to stay in contact with 
everyone, especailly you ::she reaches out and puts her hand on his arm and smiles:: You're my best 
friend, Scott
<Scott> Jean.. I..
ACTION> SCOTT AND JEAN BOTH GET KNOCKED BACK BY A STRONG GUST OF WIND FROM ORORO
<Jean> whoah! ::falls back from the wind and winces. She pushes herself up into a sitting position and 
blinks. She whipe her face and then pushes her soaking hair back. She squints up at the sky to try and 
find Ro:: {{Ro..we're only here to help}}
<Scott> ::picks himself up, hood having fallen off..:: ((Goddamnit..)) ::looks a little pissed off.. 
starts making his way up to Ro, doing his best to stay behind trees, to block the wind::
<Jean> ::puts a TK bubble around herself as she pushes herself up from the ground. She uses her bubble to 
struggle against the wind and make a direct path to Ro:: {{Ororo, please. We're worried about how upset 
you are and we just want to help you.}}
<Scott> ORORO! ((gotta get her attention))
<Jean> ::looks towards Scott and opens him up to her communication with Ro:: {{Ororo, stop this. Getting 
this upset is not getting you anywhere. You've vented your anger, now you need to let it go}}
<Jean> <<get to use all my speech class skills ^^>>
<Ororo> ((..You don't understand..)) ::looking somewhat lost in the midst of the eye::
<Jean> ::keeps pushing through the wind with her tk bubble trying to get close enough:: {{We do too. 
Everyone understands hurt, we've lost people we care about. You can't let these feeling consume you. It's 
perfectly fine to be upset and vent, but you can't let it get this unhealthy.}}
<Scott> {{Ororo, this isn't the way to try and get us to understand. This isn't helping anyone.}}
<Ororo> (( *strained voice* Look.. Shit..I can't control it!)) ::face masked with a forced 
concentration, as she strains feebly to control the ongoing weather::
<Jean> ::a worried look comes over her as she turns to Scott. She does not let Ororo hear this part of 
the conversation:: {{I'm not powerful enough to shut her off, Scott}} ::she has stopped and is not 
approaching Ororo anymore::
<Scott> ::tries to move closer to Ro::
<Scott> {{Focus on my "voice".. try to calm down.. breathe in slowly, then out}}
<Ororo> ((This isn't giving fucking child birth, Summers! Look, just stay away from me!!)) ::eyes scan 
down towards them::
<Jean> ::looks at him for a minute before concentrating on floating him towards her so he can be insider 
her bubble:: {{Ororo we can't do that. We have to help you. Quit being stubborn and listen to him}}
<Scott> {{So you're just gonna give up, let your power control you? The Ororo I know would never let 
anything control her. YOU control your powers, not the other way around.}}
<Ororo> ((You don't want to be near me.. Noone can help. I'm alone now..)) ::tilts her head skyward, 
taking a deep, jagged breath::
<Jean> {{You are not alone Ororo. If you were, we wouldn't be here and want to help you. We need you 
Ororo, as part of our team. You are part of us}} ::finally gets Scott over to her and looks at him:: This 
isn't going to be easy ::glaces up towards Ro::
<Scott> ::tries to make his way closer, without.. y'know getting smacked against a tree or something:: 
{{You're not alone. So long as your a part of this team, you're never alone. Let us help you. Don't shut 
us out.}}
<Ororo> ((I can't..control it..)) ::eyes still white, even as the intensity lowers slightly:: ((I'm 
trying..!))
<Scott> {{You CAN control it, keep trying!}}
<Ororo> ::grits her teeth, snarling:: Bastard! ::under her breath, though noone can hear it, then 
furrows her brow more forcibly than before::
<Scott> {{You think you can help her out, Jean?}}
<Ororo> ::looks skyward, making an attempt to bring the hurricane off ground and as high as possible into 
the air, all the while trying to lessen it's power::
<Jean> ::looks towards him and up at Storm as she closes her eyes to concentrate:: {{Ororo I might be 
able to help you stop, but I really can't do it alone. You can't fight against me}} ::she starts to go 
into Ororo's mind and help her relax and control it:: ((I don't know if I can do this..))
<Ororo> ((I'm trying..)) ::closes her eyes to focus, as well::
<Jean> ::puts her hands out to lift her tk bubble up towards her:: ((I can't do it from down here..)) 
{{Ro can you let me in?}}
ACTION> THE HURRICANE STARTS TO DISPATE AS IT MOVES HIGHER AND STORM CONCENTRATES, A BIRD GETS TRAPPED 
IN AND FLUNG TO THE GROUND
<Jean> ::uses the advantage of teh storm dissipating to get up next to Storm. She reaches out to put her 
hands on Storms head and mentally try to clam her and help her finish ending the storm::
<Ororo> ::lip bloody from biting down hard on it, still she concentrates on fixing the situation::
<Scott> ::looks to Storm and Jean:: ((C'mon))
ACTION> THE STORM IS NOW GONE, THANKS TO THE COMBINED MIGHT OF RO AND JEAN... HIGH FIVE FOR THE BIG DOGS
<Ororo> ::drained completely, simply drops like a rock::
<Jean> ::catches her quickly in a tk bubble as she floats them back down::
<Scott> Jean..! ::sighs as she catches Ro::
<Ororo> ::passes out from exhaustion, and all that good stuff::
<Scott> Let's get her back home.. ::shakes his head, holds his arms out::
<Jean`> ::reaches the ground with Ro in tow as she greatfully passes her over to Scott and slinks back 
slightly in exhuastion:: Yeah..sounds good 
<Scott> ::holds Ro, as they make their way back to the SUV:: ..we're probably going to have to take her 
with us.. we can't leave her alone..
<Jean`> ::Nods, not speaking much as she pushes her hair back and looks obviously drained::
>>AND SCENE<<
>>SIM PART DEUX START<<
LOCATION> WASHINGTON, D.C.
SCENE> THE X-MEN (XAVIER, VOLTAGE, ROGUE, AND PIOTR) HAVE JUST GOTTEN THROUGH WITH MEETING DUBYA, WHERE 
HE BELATEDLY THANKED THEM FOR HELPING WITH CHENEY. THEY ARE NOW ON THEIR WAY TO THE SENATE CHAMBERS, FOR 
THE HEARINGS ON SENATOR KELLY'S NEW BILL
<Piotr> ::walks behind the Professor, pushing his chair like a good russian down the hallway, keeping his 
thoughts to himself, and keeping a dark look on his face::
<Rogue> ::looking as skittish as she did through the whole meeting with the president, slinking along 
behind the others and staying very quiet::
<Xavier> It was nice of the President to do that.
<Xavier> ((I have to wonder, however..))
<Piotr> ::doesn't reply, instead just staring idly down the long red carpeted hallway:: ((Why aren't 
Scott and Jean here...?))
<Rogue> ((Why did he bring me along? It should've been one of the others. Ah'm not even a real member of 
the team!)) ::lost in her own thoughts::
<Scott> ACTION> AS THEY MOVE CLOSER TO THE CHAMBER, PEOPLE BEGIN TO WHISPER ABOUT THE MUTANTS
<EJ> Yeah, I guess..::Looks around warily at the people whispering about them, his eyes narrowing:: 
* Scott is now known as Xavier
<Rogue> ::face darkens at the whispers, and she brushes white hair out of her eyes:: ((At least they 
haven't connected me with Momma and the stuff we used ta do...)) ::wary look at the nearest security 
guard::
<Xavier> ::sighs:: ((I would have hoped it would not be like this)) {{Be careful, children. Try not to 
pay them any mind}}
<Piotr> ((Pay them any mind? I've been having to ignore their thoughts of our kind my entire life... Now 
would obviously be no different...)) ::his glum mood is apparant, with his more blunt tone in his 
thoughts::
<Rogue> ::crosses her arms over her stomach a bit defensively and walks faster to stay closer to the 
group::
<Xavier> {{Piotr? Would you like to talk after we are done here?}}
ACTION> THEY FINALLY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE DOORS, WHERE SECURITY GUARDS WAIT FOR THEM.
<Piotr> ((I doubt talking about anything would do any good Professor... It is my problem, I will have to 
deal with it myself in time...)) ::finally begins to see the senate doors and stops the chair when he 
reaches the security point::
<Rogue> ((What if this is some sick kinda trap? Maybe they just brought us here to get rid of a few 
mutants while they got us cornered....)) ::glancing nervously around::
<Guard> I will take Professor Xavier in. You will have to go up to the viewing chambers.
<Rogue> ((Viewing chambers?)) ::eyes the guard::
<Piotr> ::nods briefly:: ((Professor if you need anything... Just tell me, and I will make a way to be 
there for you...)) ::looks back to the guard:: Where might we find the entrance for the viewing chambers?
<EJ> ::Eyes the security guards for a second, glancing towards the Professor:: ((Wonder if they'll allow 
soda in the viewing chambers..))
<Xavier> ::nods:: {{Thank you, Piotr.}}
<Piotr> ::lets go of the handles on the chair and steps back letting the guards wheel the professor in::
<Guard> They are back down that hall way.. there are some stairs that lead up to them.
<Rogue> ::clenches her gloved hands, nervously, looking back down the hall::
<Piotr> I see... Thank you.. ::nods to Rogue and Volt and starts down the hallway, taking the iniative 
step and walking ahead of them for them to follow:: ((I hope Ororo is alright... Did the Professor 
purposely not bring her on this trip?))
<EJ> ::Looks towards the direction the guard indicated and moves to head that way, as well:: So, 
something bugging you, Pete?
<Rogue> ... ::hurries after Piotr:: ((Ah guess if the professor isn't worried, Ah shouldn't be. He's the 
mindreader...))
<Piotr> ::shrugs continuing to walk:: Nothing I can't deal with.... ::his tone is monotone and without 
any emotion::
<Xavier> ::nods to the guard as he is wheeled into the chamber::
<Rogue> ::looks up, a bit puzzled by Piotr's tone:: ((He doesn't sound too happy..))
<EJ> ::Raises an eyebrow, not looking like he believes it:: Don't sound like it, but okay. ((He wants to 
talk, he'll talk.)) 
<Piotr> ::steps up to the doors leading up to the viewing chamber:: Do you guys happen to know why the 
others are not here?
<EJ> Not really, actually..I'm not even sure why I'm here..::Shrugs, slightly:: 
<Rogue> ...prob'ly didn't want anyone who looked 'different' enough to spook anyone.. ::shoves her hands 
in her pockets, looking back down the hall before ascending the stairs::
<Xavier> ::looks around at all the politicians as he is taken inside the chambers:: ((This issue has 
brought a full house.. I wonder which way the vote will go..))
<Piotr> ((That doesn't really explain why Jean isn't here though... Or Scott for that matter...)) 
::starts heading up the stairs behind Rogue::
ACTION> THE SENATE ROOM IS ABUZZ WITH TALK OF THE UPCOMING VOTE.. NONE OF IT CAN BE MADE OUT.. THE GROUP 
CAN ONLY HEAR THE "RABBLE RABBLE" OF IT ALL FLOATING TOGETHER
<Piotr> ::takes a seat near the front of the balcony, glancing around for the Professor::
<Rogue> ((There's too many people in here...)) ::arms tighten, still crossed, and she edges for the 
relative protection of a wall::
ACTION> THE SENATE CHAMBERS STARTS TO HUSH, AS VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD CHENEY MAKES HIS WAY IN
<Piotr> ::glances down at the VP, as he enters the room:: ((He certainly looks better...))
<Cheney> All Rise.
<Piotr> ::stands up, following the actions of everyone else::
ACTION> THEY GO THROUGH THE PLEDGE...please be seated
<Rogue> ::busy keeping her eyes on everyone else in the observation room, or trying to awfully hard:: 
((Do they all know we're mutants, too?))
<Piotr> ::takes his seat again, placing his hands on the arm-rests comfortably::
<Cheney> Today, first on the Agenda for today.. Hearings for the Mutant Registration Bill proposed by 
Senator Robert Kelly, of New York.
<Cheney> If he would please rise, and make his way to the podium. ::motions to it::
<Piotr> ::mutters under his breath:: ((People like him will never understand...)) ::glares at kelly as he 
moves towards the podium::
<Rogue> ::unconsciously clutching the arms of her chair tensely:: ((Too many people...))
<Senator Kelly> ::nods, stands up and makes his way down to the podium:: Good Morning, fellow Americans..
>>END SIM<<