Panic at Home

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: Those left behind: Viti, Melinda, Guardian Dragons, X-Force, Team 3, Martha, Emma
WHAT: Defend McCoy’s lab, aid McCoy in any way possible
WHERE: District X
WHEN: Shortly after the recovery team’s departure; early evening
WARNING(S): Violence, mentions of medical procedures

"...confirmed reports of uncontrollable fires, electrical surges, and other instances of apparent uncontrolled mutant powers coming from District X, the largest concentration of the afflicted in the city..."

"...a tragic event where a busy intersection collapsed into a massive sinkhole, swallowing dozens of cars. A known mutant was spotted near the scene; we will keep you updated as the situation unfolds..."

It was barely hours since the Blackbird had left, hours, and in came thundering the next crisis. A critically ill mutant’s power had not only hastened the illness, but raged out of control—killing innocent bystanders in the process.

Protesters had sprouted up since the virus had been found—human and mutant, sometimes even both in the same crowd, demanding that the infected be shipped out, sent away, put anywhere but here. Now, they were quickly galvanizing into riots, and worse...

Get to the District. Secure McCoy’s lab, protect the sick there. Control the damage.

And see if the reports of Sinister’s soldiers in the crowds are true.

Comments

[griot]

Viti leaned back, almost enough to fall of his chair.

He held up a slide to the light, where the slab of pink flesh could be seen. "These tissue samples have been subjected to various drug test, to see if the experimental anti-viral venoms we've been using causes too much damage. Fear not, none of the samples contain the virus. Normally research like this has to be slow, but today we are operating under a time constraint therefor... "

Viti hopped off his chair, and looked directly into Tenma's blue eyes. "...I challenge you to a race."

Viti grabbed several boxes of half slides and chemicals and set them on the paper towel covered counter in front of Tenma. "These slides need to 'painted' so people can see them under a microscope. First we transfer the slides like so..." He transferred the slides from one box to a metal frame with many slots. In a minute it was full, and the slides clapped against the metal. "Then we dip the metal frame into this chemical that is light red, then dip the frame in the chemical that's dark red, repeating the process three times.

Viti dipped the frame in once in the first bin of chemical, then dipped frame in another bin of chemical, then went back to the first, then back to the other batch, repeating the process three times.

"Ok now lets see who can get the most of these slides 'painted' first. Feel free to use your power."

Viti didn't even bother to ask Tenma if he wanted to race. He just assumed he would cooperate for the good of humanity. He placed his hands on the slides.

"Ready...set...Go!"

[soccerwhisperer]

"E--Ehh!??"

Tenma was completely caught off guard once again as Viti began to dip slides into chemicals like a hungry college student at a salsa party. The other boy had finished a frame before Tenma got his bearings back, and another for him to understand the process.

He decided to be careful with it at first. While he liked competition, the slides seemed fragile and if anything went wrong, he would have to count on his reflexes then to bail him out.

[griot]

Viti had just finished the second dipping of his second batch of slides, when took a second to check Tenma.

"Caution is nice, but you can better."

Viti dived back into his slide dipping.

[soccerwhisperer]

"I don't want to drop it." Tenma said quietly albeit huffily. He was far better with his feet than coordinating with his hands. While he could fill a goal keeper position, keeping his arms and hands out of play was what he excelled at.

[griot]

Viti dipped the second batch of slides for the last time.

"You certainly handled those sandwiches well. Your telekinesis might be just enough."

(ooc note: I'll leave it up to you to decide if Tenma wins or looses.)

[soccerwhisperer]

"That's different. Those weren't so heavy and don't break." Tenma pouted as he grabbed his next set for dipping. The glass slides in the tray clattered noisily as he moved, making more more nervous. So called 'samples' were in them which meant bits of people. He really didn't want to drop them.

(ooc: most likely lose he's not really thinking of this as a competition)

[griot]

Viti reached for another batch of slides, but all of them had already been dyed. He saw his pile was a few boxes higher than Tenma's. He had won. He scowled.

"This isn't how it was supposed to go." His scowl faded, and he scratched his head.

"Hmmmm. Give me a second to check on your emotions."

Viti pulled out a device that looked like a small plastic box. He aimed it at Tenma.

"My friend, professor Shulk, made this for me, because I have trouble reading people's emotions. This will help me communicate with you."

He stood anticipating what the device would tell him about how Tenma was feeling.

[soccerwhisperer]

"E--Ehh??" That was going to be a reoccurring theme today.

Tenma took a step back reflexively, feeling suddenly naked and embarrassed. Despite that, he felt a pang of pity for Viti. Reading other people had been something that came naturally to him (realizing he had that power was still beyond him). He couldn't really imagine being unable to understand others and feel their pain. Without it, true friends would be impossible to make.

[griot]

Viti tilted his head in confusion. "Well now that I think about it feeling a little embarrassed makes sense since I am studying your emotion, but this feeling of pity..."

Viti scratched his head, looking up into his mind. Suddenly he snapped his fingers. "It must be that you feel sympathy for all the patients!" Viti stepped into Tenma's personal space.

"Tenma I understand. What this disease has done to people, to people we know, is horrible, but you mustn't let it get you down."

Viti stood with his chest out and his chin up high. He clenched a fist. "With our powers combined we can take this disease. But we have to give it our all!"

Viti whipped his attention back to Tenma. "Please let me teach you more of the lab work. I know with your power you can accelerate our research!"

He looked to Tenma with wide, shining brown eyes, like a child expectantly begging for help.

[soccerwhisperer]

Tenma strained a smile at Viti's massive conclusive jump. Perhaps it was for the best he didn't find out and get insulted. That happiness and passion was too genuine for it to be an act.

At least he wasn't completely wrong about Tenma wanting to help cure the disease.

"O--Okay." He nervously agreed. "I am not very smart, but I'll do my best."

[griot]

"Now, now, don't put yourself down. Besides, most of this stuff is so simple a drunk monkey could do it. Come with me."

Viti marched into a small lab room where people in lab jackets were hovering needles over petri dishes and half slides. He gave a nod to one of the lab workers, and she scooted over leaving behind some of the petri dishes, and slides.

"Ok remember some of those half slides we painted? This is how they're made to begin with."

Viti slid over a petri dish, and presented it to Tenma. The substance jiggled like jello when Viti moved it. "You see this pinkish, red stuff in this dish? It's human flesh that has been grown into a tissue sample, then injected with enzymes derived from Bee venom. All that we have to do is take this needle scoop thing..."

Viti picked up a needle, and poked it into the flesh. "...Kind of scoop up a little bit, like so..." The flesh was very soft, almost liquid. If Viti had wanted more at once he would've used a spoon "...then lay it in the middle of the slide." Viti took fifteen seconds to finally lay it down. His fine motor skills were faulty, so he had to concentrate hard for the final step.

When the strip of tissue lay on the slide, Viti breath a sigh of relief.

"Now as you can see this process takes way too long, but I know a way you could do it faster." Viti smiled, certain that Tenma knew what he was talking about.

"For now just try to do one, but if you could do it faster than the rest of us at some point, many patients would appreciate it."

[soccerwhisperer]

Tenma had a feeling Viti was downplaying some aspect of this task if he was using words like that. His face paled immediately when the other boy confirmed what the samples actually were. Downplayed indeed.

He tried not to look as green as possible as Viti explained the process, his mind trying desperately to replace the idea of him prodding human flesh with something else.

By the end of the explanation, his attempts to not look sick failed entirely. Viti did have a point about his telepathy being far more suited for this task, even if it was gross.

"O--Okay..." He coughed, barely stable on his feet.

[griot]

Once again, Viti tilted his head in confusion at Tenma's behavior. He brought up the device again.

He raised an eyebrow, then opened his mouth into an "O" shape.

"You're disgusted. Well I supposed it makes sense, since you are working with human tissue softened by Rattle snake venom."

Viti lowered the device, and sighed.

"There isn't much I can do about that, I'm afraid. Except If there's someone that you know that has this disease, someone that you want to help, remembering them might give you the strength to continue through this."

Viti blushed a little and looked away. "Well if that doesn't sound too corny."

[soccerwhisperer]

Tenma felt something move in his stomach and threaten to come out his mouth at the mention of rattle snake venom. And what exactly did he mean by softened!? He forced himself to choke it down, sensing the drop in Viti's mood.

"N--No, I think that was perfect." He said reassuringly. "We should all remember our friends need us."

[griot]

Viti gave a strong nod. He leaned over the petri dish needle in hand. "Remember slimmer cuts are better. It's got to fit in the slide. Any questions just ask."