15976/Vanishing Ice

Vanishing Ice
Date of Scene:	16 January 2024
Location:	Apple Park - Salem Center
Synopsis:	Some kids go missing out on a lake. The Xmen and Juggernaut go looking for trouble. Some squabbles and a battle are had.
Cast of Characters:	Polaris, Wolverine, Boom-Boom, X-23, Havok, Juggernaut

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Polaris has posed:
It's a chilly early morning in Apple Park and a light mist hangs over the frozen lake where fewer and fewer people are skating out here lately, after some ugly rumours of people having disappeared while out on the lake. Given the many twists and turns underneath trees and around lonely corners, it's not hard to imagine getting lost out here, but disappearing for several days at a time is another matter entirely.

Actually it's oddly quiet out on the lake today, save for a lone girl of about seven or eight who sits on a nearby bench, sobbing uncontrollably, looking to be in quite a bit of distress.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan isn't -quite- ice fishing. Usually, ice fishing means going out on the ice with a shanty. Or some kind of set up that involves being on the ice. However, the rumors of people disappearing, plus the uncertainty to the lake's stability, Logan's fishin on the shore. Granted, the claws helped care a heck of a big hole or two. So, he's able to actually cast normally into his previously made hole.

And that's where he is. Sadly, nothing is biting today. Ocean blue eyes slip about the place to see a lone girl, sobbing. Grumbling a little bit, he stands up. A brown bomber coat on his person, a tan cowboy hat, milk chocolate brown cowboy boots, a simple pair of light-ish blue jeans and a button up flannel shirt, yellow and black, hide most of his frame. He'll move toward the little girl.

"Hey darlin', ya okay? Yer scarin' the fish cause fish don't like it when people cry," he says approaching the young woman. His voice soft, but he won't speak until he's somewhat close.

Boom-Boom has posed:
There's not much difference in dressing for ice skating, than it is for winter weather. At least for Tabitha Smith. The explosive blonde mutant known as Boom-Boom. This manner of dressing mostly being her usual skin tight jeans, in red denim this time a white leather belt, a yellow zip up jogging hoodie in yellow, with a pink parka over the top. Yellow boots on her feet.

A white leather choker, gray woolen gloves, and a yellow beanie all help keep her warm, while her cateye glasses in red frames and yellow tints let her see without losing literacy.

Having heard the weird stories. Tabby decided to put her own spin on things. Showing up with a pair of skates hanging off her shoulder it's the sound of a kid crying at the bench she was going to use to switch from boots to skates that gets her attention. That and Logan being logan with the girl

"You look like you could use some help. I'm Tabby." the woman's tone is nothing but warmth for the kid. "This guy's Logan." she introduces. A hand idly pushing her glasses back up on her nose while they keep loose hair not bound in twintails out of her blue eyes.

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney is wearing a blue hoodie with the hood up, strings dangling, jeans and boots. Her dark hair spills out on either side of her face, next to the laces of the hoodie. She tagged along figuring she'd watch Tabby do some skating, maybe steal one of Logan's cigars and grab a hot dog. Even in the cold, the New York hot dog guys would be out.

Instead, they find a crying child. She feels wary of it, sniffing the air. Trap? Why would it be a trap? Just her messed up instincts, the bad wiring they put in her. Everything's an exercise. Everything's a fight.

She'll let the others handle the touchy-feely stuff. Crying kids just reminded her of the lab. A lot of the others would cry sometimes. Not Laura. She didn't cry. That's part of what made her special, they thought. She was hard. She was numb.

She was just better at hiding the tears, of course. Not that she'd ever admit that. She stays back a few feet as Logan and Tabby approach the girl.

Havok has posed:
Not overtly the most social or the best for social situations given he'd rather spend his time at home studying or with a bunch of rocks! But today it seems Alex has come out to look around possibly investigate, black hoodie on under a black leather jacket, boots and blue Jeans he approaches quietly eyes taking everything in.

Polaris has posed:
The girl is quite bundled up for the cold, dressed in jeans, a pink puffer jacket, light blue scarf and toque. It's not unbearably freezing this morning but it is fairly chilly, enough that there's a nasty wind that picks up every so often. She was wearing skates but has just finished taking them off as she was about to go look for help.

Thankfully it seems help has found her.

She glances up at the three adults and sniffs, "Please help! I was skating with my brother when we got lost in a snowstorm...And...And...!" she rusts out crying again as she climbs shakily to her feet, she reaches out to grab at Tabitha's sleeve. "Please help me find him.."

Wolverine has posed:
Logan's gaze slips toward Laura. He doesn't quite nod at her. It's like a nod with a long hold between the down and up motion. It's him silently asking her, "Are you okay?" without actually speaking. Those words are completely go unsaid.

Then his gaze slips down, "Where do ya last remember seein' him? Think ya can show us?" Logan asks and his voice softens. -Sometimes- he can be good with children. Typically, before puberty kicks in because he has built in knives. Many parents, and teachers, probably have brief fantasies of stabbing a rude teen. The built in stabbing weapons make that thought a little more tempting. Plus, he doesn't need to know who likes what, or who did what minor thing that won't matter in five to seven years.

Boom-Boom has posed:
The kid tugs at Tabitha's sleeve, the two coats almost match in color. "Lost in the snow storm. Just in case we hit snags or he's further away than we want. You got adults we can call for you?"

Tabby doesn't specify parents, they aren't always the people that should be called. Wanting to make sure the kid is reassured and got getting all wound up in worry she keeps her smile bright.

"These guys are great at finding people. They could sniff out a human fart in a horse stable." she's not spitting hyperbole either. "We just need direction to start looking"

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney can overhear without having to interact with the child. Thank god. She flares her nostrils momentarily, trying to see what scents she can pick up. Admittedly, the park is crowded, but the cold weather is at least keeping some of it at bay. And odds are, the girl would have the scent of her brother on her, one way or another. Or he the smell of her.

She listens, too, trying to see if she can hear faint calls for help or shouting the girl's name. At least it was hunting something, even if it was just a snot nosed child.

Hopefully the kid was just lost. If someone snatched the boy, they were in for a world of hurt.

Havok has posed:
Havok shakes his head as he gets close enough hearing Tabitha. "The parents are the best bet for whom to call, if not the parents whomever their guardians are. Don't need to get into the legal ramifications of not reporting to their care givers." Alex says simply. "Outside of that we can attempt to find the kid, but but not knowing where or how far he could have gotten is a problem."

Polaris has posed:
The girl shivers and nods, wiping away her tears as she climbs to her feet. "My b-brother takes care of me.." she sniffles, "We were skating over there, when some storm picked up. I saw a lady with green hair moving ice..And then both of them just disappeared!"

She peers at them, perhaps recognizing one or two from tv. "Are you the Xmen? You gotta help me! Please! I can show you where they vanished.." and she starts running towards the far end of the lake, towards a little shady grove surrounded by trees.

Juggernaut has posed:
Business dealings have a funny way of putting people in places they'd normally never be or setting up unusual and ironic circumstances....and that's probably never more true then this very moment.

For, not very far away, easily within 'scenting range' by those present with such abilities...a particularly massive figure lurks while himself being none the wiser of the events taking place closer to the frozen lake itself. Indeed, it is a certain Citizen Cain (Marko) albiet in a more restrained form..

He's casually dressed in a winter jacket that somehow stretches across his gargantuan body, jeans, tee shirt and a winter cap that still shows tufts of his red hair from beneath it. He's still huge, however, so, towering at a cool seven feet and 'don't-even-ask' pounds, but is positively svelte compared to his typical methods of operation.

At present, a tree braces him as he leans against it while speaking with another male who himself is dressed in a long trenchcoat with sunglasses hiding his gaze. An envelop is exchanged from him to the towering redhead and then the other man begins to head off as the goliath turns slightly towards the lake while opening the envelop up, still none the wiser to the presence of the rest.

Wolverine has posed:
"Laura. Ya take the ice, yer quicker on yer feet. Use yer skills if ya need them," he says thinking she could avoid falling into the water if the ice broke. Logan thinks between slower speeds, and the metal, he'd sink like a led weight. A very expensive lead weight.

Logan will start to move around the lake trying to keep his eyes on the group as he does.

Boom-Boom has posed:
There's an eyeroll at Alex. "Not debating that now dude." she states back at him. Not sounding angry, just more flat. Snapping wouldn't help with keeping the kid calm.

If it's just the brother she'd lean on, how old his he? They may have to do the child services thing. Unless one of them proves to be a mutant.

When the girl starts rushing off before she can answer if they adults, and Tabby are X-Men. the blonde might be in her twenties but there's an argument against adult hood even if she's also teaching.

"Green hair, ice powers. Did Lorna and Bobby have a daughter under all our noses?" she says as she starts the run to follow after.

"Hey wait up! What's your name." the skates are ditched even if they might be handy while on the ice.

At least if anyone falls through the ice, a pair of plasma wielders are handy for keeping people from freezing.

Tabby running probably isn't the smart move but she doesn't want to let the kid out of her sight. But she should be easy to catch up with.

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney frowns at her 'father', "My skills mostly involve evisceration," she says flatly.

But she puts her head down and breaks into a sprint. The hood falls back and lets her hair spill free as she tries to catch up with the kid. Ice or no ice, she's going to keep running.

Maybe she slips and falls once or twice, but she just slides into a roll, catching the impact on her shoulder and pushing back up to get back into the rhythm of the run. "Hey, kid! Slow the fuck down!" she shouts.

Havok has posed:
Havok looks at Tabitha. "No argument, stated fact you'd be smart to take them into consideration." He says cooly before the kid is running off and he hears Tabby's next remark. "I'd find that hard to believe as Lorna and I are together and have been for quite sometime keep your gossip to yourself ok? I wouldn't want her name slandered and muddied." And than he too is taking off he shoots a glare to Laura as she shouts like that. "Yea that's what we need the kid to think we're angry."

Polaris has posed:
"Over here!" The girl calls and waves, but she continues running out on the ice. Thankfully she's pretty small and light..But those cracks in the ice look pretty darn ominous. Logan and Laura might smell something odd - the smell of metal beneath a certain large patch of ice where the girl is headed.

And then a large platform of ice starts to *move*. The girl screams as the platform of ice that she - and anyone nearby is on - starts to rapidly descend into the lake.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan's moving along the shoreline trying his best to keep an eye on the group and Ice-Polaris(?). Whoever this girl is. He's a little leary of children alone lately. The lingering effects of a previous encounter. Ocean blues just trying to watch it all. While he's not running across the lake just yet, his body is poised to take taht risk.

Juggernaut has posed:
THe girls scream pierces the silence of the early morning and no doubt the sound of that ice platform moving and grinding is an audible mess as well. One doesn't need enhanced senses to hear that much and Cain Marko glances up from his study of whatever set of documents he'd been given to look, somewhat slack jawed and brow furrowed, towards the lake and the sight of the figures rushing across it.

His eyes then track down towards the shoreline and the distinct figure of Logan prowling there and his jaw tightens and his mouth closes into a small frown.

"What th'hell...?"

Boom-Boom has posed:
The amount of abuse that Tabitha had experienced when she was a child and up to her enrolling the school. It's on record, is a pretty big reason why she doesn't specify parents as the one to call.

She could totally keep annoying Havok while it's still fun. But she's running after the kid and with some careful moving on the ice finally catches up with the girl.

Right on time to catch her breath and then feel the ice crack and move and throw her, the girl and the ice about.

Tabby does at least manage to scoop the kid up in her arms.

There's some worry in her voice but she does her best to reassure the kid. "Don't worry, we're X-Men like you asked. We rescue kids all the time!" Question is who gonna rescue her.

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney manages to catch up to Tabitha and the kid and leaps over to one of the other pieces of ice. Her breath is coming out in plumes of steam, her dark hair spilling around her face. She's angry, of course. She's almost always angry.

"This way, towards the shore. Shit, where's Storm when you need her?' she mutters.

She offers a hand to help them step across to the ice closer to the shore, intending to lead the way and, if need be, help to drag them through the icy water if they fall in. She can handle a bit of hypothermia.

Havok has posed:
Havok rolls his eyes the facts are still there, no matter what history any of them had, his own not the greatest with guardians and parental type figures. But it doesn't change laws and regulations and rules on he proper way of doing things. His own eyes catching sight of the happenings from where he is running along the river bank on the side of the river opposite Logan.

Polaris has posed:
The girl shrieks in fear but then Tabitha scoops her up and then Laura wisks them to the safety of the shore.

"Wait! my brother! he must have activated a trap door or something! Please! you have to find him and the others too!" well, looks like all answers point to the descending platform.

Boom-Boom has posed:
With Laura swooping in for the save, Tabby keeps the girl in one arm, and her other hand hanging on to her feral friend's hand to get dragged back to the shore.

Hopefully the girl becoming calm enough to ponder things is not a sign of impending wounded gazelle style trapping BS.

"Alright, secret lair under a lake? They could have picked a better place for it. So when we go bust your brother out. What's your name, and what is his name. So he doesn't get skittish when randoms come claim to be bailing him out. Knowing names is a start." it could also actually wig the kid out, but random explosions might do it as well.

Looking back to the other mutants she grins. "Wanna go back out there and knock?"

Juggernaut has posed:
Well he could just leave. It doesn't really involve him and with his most favorite group of people in the world being present, certainly there is no need for him to jump in and get involved.

But spectating is a sport unto itself and sometimes it's hard to resist the occasional verbal jab and button push for its own sake. It's amusing.

..And there was that scream... Cain can be callous but he's not entirely heartless. He's just simply...selective..with whom and what he affords his quota of 'being nice' for a given month.

So, after a pause, he begins a slow casual tread in the direction of the lake shore and towards Logan and Havoce while placing his envelop into an interna pocket of his jacket and then retrieving some dark shades to set over his cold blue eyes. He says nothing yet, but it'll be hard to miss the crunching sound of his heavy feet as he plows nearer.

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney flops onto the shore for a second, shaking out some of the excess wet that splashed onto her jeans.

"I swear, this hero business is the dumbest shit in the world. Hey, look, an obviously horrible situation, definitely stick your head right into it," she says.

"But they probably have more kids down there. So fuck a bunch of caution, let's go," she says.

She flares her nostrils. then and whips her head back towards Juggernaut, "STEALTH IS NOT YOUR STRONG SUIT."

Havok has posed:
Havok shakes his head again before finally speaking again. "Perhaps for a rescue mission, those not so good with words and showing compassion might want to remain quiet yea?" He says before looking back to where Juggernaught is. "Oh great this is just what we need, more bad with people folks."

Polaris has posed:
The girl shrinks back at the sight of the big guy, obvious fear in her eyes. But right now she's more concerned for her brother.

"My name is Matilda, my brothers name s David. He had ginger hair and freckles and a light blue scarf just like me. please find him.." they had better hurry, the platform is rapidly descending and it looks a long way down.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan looks at Laura, "Yeah, sometimes it can be, but it helps ya sleep better at night. You'll learn that, too," Logan's going to be honest on that one. sometimes heroing is not the best thing in the world.

His head whips back toward the Juggernaut. "What she said," Logan's not sure if this guy is on the side of angels or if he may be behind it.

Logan's not quick to judge. He expects Juggernaut to have some limits. However, this wouldn't be the first questionable person that has disappointed him, if Juggernaut did have a hand in this.

His gaze goes back to Laura, "How bad is it?"

"I get feelin' this is a trap," but he starts to move out toward the lake. He's going to that descending platfom and he intends to go down with it. That's the plan anyway. If it gets too far down, or something rises out of the ice, the plan could change.

Grumbling a little bit, Logan just thinks to himself, "Sometimes, this is stupid, but it clears the conscience."

Juggernaut has posed:
"Oh, I dunno....I can be pretty stealthy when I'm droppin' down on you from a few miles up. They never know what hit 'em...." drawls Cain's deep voice out in a sort of languid bemusd tone at Laura's shout.

His attention is then dragged towards Havok and his brow furrows once again though his smile slowly grows in an almost shark like fashion.

"Last I checked, chum, being 'good with people' isn't a prerequisite for doing a good deed ...so maybe you better be a little bit more diplomatic ...like yer brother would be....if a possible resource presents itself to ya."

He sweeps his eyes over the others and then back across the lake to try and make out the disturbance therein.

"So whose doin' the screamin'?"

Cain's gaze lingers on the girl as she nervously speaks, unsurprised she'd shrink back from him. He's not even trying to look mean or off putting but ...he's not exactly fluffy looking now is he.
% "...Each time I run into you folk you losin' kids.." referring to another situation that Logan might recall from some time ago. "Soooo...what're you gonna do..?"

Logan opting to move towards the lake seems to answer that but Cain stays put, keeping it myserious if he -is- actually going to help or not. Or..perhaps..he's also thinking that him walking onto the lake surface wouldn't be a good idea.

Boom-Boom has posed:
"Ladies please, you're both pretty!" Tabby calls out at further arguments. The kid gets a hug and more reassuring smiles. "Matilda, even when you aren't related. Family right!" she playfully snarks as she straightens herself up and gets ready to head back onto the lake.

Things may or may not be helped by a big Cyttorakian avatar. "Are you starting shit? No? Good, we don't have time for extra bullshit getting up in our way." That gets aimed at Marko and Summers as Tabby heads for the platform again. It's gonna be cold and wet and she does not have much time. "Anyone not going, can watch and make sure Matilda stays safe so we can bring David and anyone else back!"

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney just flips off Havok with a narrow eyed smile. "Well, if you say so, leader of the X-men - oh, wait, that's your brother. Nevermind."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, old man," she says to Logan.

And so she goes along with Tabby, heading forwards and getting ready to go seek out the little ginger brat and any other kids that got snatched.

Havok has posed:
Havok shakes his head back and forth. "Being good with people is a pre-requisite for doing a good deed." He says to Juggernaught. "And you are no resource in this.../pal/ considering you're already scaring the kid. And my brother is not someone you should ever compare me to, considering he's a push over and a boy scout." He grumbles before looking back to Tabitha. "Oh so we should just let a known villain who may have had a hand in this join in?!?" He glances over to Laura next. "I've forgotten more about leadership, and have more skill an knowledge in tactics in my Pinkey than you've accumulated in your whole life, you might want to learn some humility and respect."

Polaris has posed:
The girl bites her lip, nodding wordlessly in agreement to Havok. She doesn't trust the big guy who is clearly a villain. But someone has to stay behind..

Decisions have to be made quickly though as the platform rapidly vanished from sight before anyone can jump aboard..

But wait, looks like it's coming back up and this time it's not empty! There are about a dozen of what look like metallic robotic dogs, surrounding a tall woman with shoulder length emerald green hair, dressed in a tight black body glove with deep purple panelling, a long purple cape draped over her shoulders and a metallic black domino mask/circlet partly covering her face.

In the dark it's hard to see her face that well and to those who don't know her well they might easily mistake her for Polaris.

"Mm, the Xmen, what a delightful surprise. You sure are loud..And why do you have an enemy in your midst?" she narrows her dark eyes on Juggernaut. Clearly she has done her homework.

Finally she peers at Havok at length, stepping off the platform, reaching out a slender hand towards his face. "We meet again, my sweet. The true leader of the Xmen." she licks her lips, dark gaze drinking in his athletic, muscular form, hunger in her eyes, "Leave these fools. join me, I can show you a whole new world of power, you can rule at my side.."

Juggernaut has posed:
If things -could- be helped by a big Cyttorakin' avatar, Tabitha's tactics of addressing him aren't necessarily ideal in weighing options towards 'help'. Or so it seems.

"She likes runnin' her mouth at someone who can just chuck her into orbit while sneezin' ." He eyes her with that shark like grin, eyes narrowing. '....She's stupid... but charmingly stupid. Clearly she needs better trainin'...but then again judging by yer words here maybe not from you.." This last bit towards Havok as he cuts his gaze towards the man in consideration of his own retort.

Cain continues to stay put because while he could trade barbs with them all day without losing a step in the process...he recognizes the fear in the girls eyes and voice.

"Go on and make yourselves useful. I'll wait till that happens." he adds while eying the lake once more and also considering just what if anything he might do. He could literally just walk into the lake and see what's down there but at the moment seems to decide to restrain his actions until he sees more of what the Xers have to offer....

But it would seem that the banter has take its toll on time as the platform has both gone down and then back up again with the emerald haired woman onboard...and now it's Cain's turn to double take at the sight of the lengthy green hair. His arms unfold and he rests his hands against his hips...clearly looking confused though why exactly is something he remains silent on.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan can't make it and he let's out a growl. There's a lot to say when it comes to Havok and Laura. For now, they are not the big fish to fry here. Afterwards, they might be. Probably.

Then that platform comes down to show a woman surrounded by several robotic dogs. He sees a familiar face. "What happened. Ya looked lost the few times we met fer a beer," that's the last time Logan saw Lorna. She didn't come across anything remotely close to this mentality.

"What brought the change?" he asks, not putting sarcasm in it. No. It's a genuine and measured question.

Plus, it may show Alex that Lorna may not be within her proper mind. This could be any number of things pulling at the strings. Or maybe she just got fed up with the world.

Boom-Boom has posed:
Tabitha just shakes her head while moving about onto the lake's icy surface. "Laura, I think the testosterone is more dangerous than the frozen water right now." Tabitha will absolutely leave the men behind to go on the rescue.

It's not the easiest jaunt over the cracking and shifting ice, but it shouldn't be insurmountable while she looks for anything that seems like a hatch or door.

And opening it is probably easier when you can fine tune a plasma stream to mimic a cutting torch. Or just blow the damn thing open.

That goes out the window when some green haired chick shows up and her little robot dogs too.

"The only reason I'm not going with the Polaris slash Iceman Lovechild is because this chick too old. If Lorna wants to cheat, she has my number." she states and probably gets interrupted by monologuing.

"Real leader?" that gets followed by a pfft sound then being the impatient type she sometimes is.

A sweep of her hand and she's already sending some crackling orbs of volatile explosive plasma, baseball sized right at the robot dogs. "Is this actually Lorna under that lame mask?" she quickly asides to Laura.

If anything, the Ferals should be able to smell if it's her, or someone else.

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney stands there and stares for a long moment, then puts her hands back in her pockets. Mostly because she doesn't entirely trust herself not to cut somebody.

"What the fuck?"

Havok has posed:
Havok shakes his head and looks to Tabitha. "You'll stay the hell away from Lorna in any type of romantic way, she ain't looking to cheat, keep your crap to yourself." He then glances to Logan. "This ain't Lorna, or is your nose broken man?" His gaze back to Juggernaut. "If the truth hurts I don't care, you can't scam us." His gaze back to Tabitha. "And yes I'd say if I so chose I'd be the true leader, and a better one than my stick in the mud brother." Alex says before glancing to fake Lorna. "I told you before and I ain't gonna repeat myself I have no interest in being with you or joining forces or any such. Now move aside kid, we have work to do."

Polaris has posed:
The constant squabbling amongst the Xmen has the Emerald haired lady looking amused. To Logan she sneers, "I am right where I should be, and you can call me Magnetrix." she smiles sweetly at him, "Someone greater than all of you combined showed me the light and my true destiny. But I'm afraid I can't let anyone of you freeing those delicious morsels I have prepared for my new master."

Havok's retort seems to amuse her. "I'm sorry my dear, but I cannot do that. You know we are destined to be together, forget that fake!" dark eyes flash dangerously, "My master had a special interest in you and if you won't go willingly I will have to take you by force!"

When Tabitha hurls a plasma ball at one of her dogs, she lifts up a hand, creating a glowing purple shield around her and her robo dogs.

"Annoying little ants. I have no use for the rest of you. Dispose of them but take Havok alive!"

She lowers her shield and the robodogs leap off the platform, rushing at the various Xmen (and villain), two apiece. They are fast and tough. Magnetrix meanwhile, turns to Havok, reaching out towards the ice, creating ribbons of ice as she attempts to bind him with it.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan has a couple of ideas. A thought from the other night flows through his head. A conversation with Psylocke. He looks to Lorna, the metal dogs and the gears start turning. A true sign of the apocalypse, Logan is using his brain for a moment.

That's when the speech comes followed by the ice toward Havok. Logan will whisper two words quickly then push Havok out of the way, HARD.

It could be an accusation or it could be a clue. That would be Warren to figure out. However, between Logan and Alex, more may be inclined to listen. That's why Logan pushed himself into the line of fire. Plus, he can take pain.

Juggernaut has posed:
"The hell you talkin' about?"

Cain shakes his head as he hears Havok. "Man...each time you open your mouth you just keep provin' the critics right. Sometime sayin' 'less' is the better option...."

He takes his hands from his hips now and listens as the now revealed Magnetrix begins to address them . "She's takin' after her old man here more then usual...that's for sure.." he considers, clearly seeming to have some familiarith with their family dynamics.

Tabitha's pre-emptive attack attempt just causes the giant to shake his head at it all. Naturally her attacking on her own without waiting for the others has just kicked this off into a potential cluster of chaos. While on the one hand it suits him, on the other it doesn't do much for his assessment of the Xers at present.

The approach of the robotic dogs does get his attention however but he holds his position, letting them rush towards him.

"I was trying to decide on if I was gonna help these morons or not, darlin', but you decdin' to take a shot at me has just put me in the mood to throw hands, regardless.." he rumbles dangerously while lifting his arms from his sides and swelling his massive physique as he steadies himself.

As they close in, both of his gigantic limbs come hurtling down, attempting to crash into the dogs and pancake them into each other once they get within arms reach.

Boom-Boom has posed:
Forcefields can be a pain. So when her first bomb detonates and gets rather unsatisfactory results she scrunches up her features. As 'Magnetric' starts getting weird and possessive she just finds some amusement. "Wow, it's one of those clone 'I'm the real person.' shticks." she states and mixes her plasma game up a little. "Or is this a multiple personality thing." she ponders.

No one's given her an answer yet. But she's got other things to worry about.

Like telekinetically guiding some condensed streams of plasma at the two mechanical canines wanting to get more than just tummy rubs and ear scritches out of everyone.

"You should totally go for it Alex. This chick sounds as possessive as you do!" she adds in snark mode."Imma try and get in and free the kids. Then slag the place when I bring em out."

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney doesn't have ideas. She just has violence.

*SNIKT*

She isn't built for negotiation or persuasion. She's getting better at dealing with people, but it's clear to her that Lorna, whom she has known to some limited degree in the past, is currently in the phase of some sort of psychobilly freakout - possibly over Havok of all people - and she just doesn't give a rat's as to what's causing it.

Robot dogs, though? Yeah, she's fought things like that before. Simple. Straightforward. Time to crunch some circuits.

Havok has posed:
Havok oofs as he's shoved out of the way, his own irritation starting to show now as he stands up and shake his head at Tabitha. "You're really somethin' twisted aren't you, get bent kid, ain't got time for your sass." He shakes his head and looks back to Juggernaut. "And you prove how small a brain is in that thick skull of yours, this isn't Lorna, unlike the rest of you, I seem to be the only one who can seem to see and tell the difference!" He glances back to not Lorna. "Oh you're messing with the wrong friggin guy!" He says pushing his arms out. "I'm meant to be with Lorna, not some psycho stalker wannabe!" With that he let's out a blast of his own plasma heading towards the impostor!

Polaris has posed:
The robodogs prove tougher than they look and they don't go down easily..Well except in Juggernaut's case and honestly, there's not much that can stand up to the Juggernaut..His targets are instantly pancaked.

Tabby manages to blast a big chunk out of one of the dogs, damaging it considerably but it's still moving albeit slowly. It leaps towards the girl, grabbing her in its mouth and starts dragging her towards the platform. The second dog dodges completely and takes a running leap for her arm..Should it connect, she will find its bite quite electrifying.

Two dogs circle Laura, rushing in for a pincher attack at opposite ends. And as Logan runs in front of Magnetrix's ice ribbons she frowns, attempting to slash at his body with razor sharp blades of ice.

She looks back at Havok and sighs, "I'm dealing with little children, who keep getting in our way. Come!" she gestures towards two more robodogs who attempt to leap onto him and drag him towards the emerald haired woman who remains standing in front of the platform.

And then Havok blasts her and she shrieks, caught off-guard, stumbling back. The ice blades aimed at Logan falter a bit. "Can't you see? They don't deserve you! Come with me and I'll show you a better life!"

Juggernaut has posed:
"Use -yer- brain pal. It doesn't matter -who- she is right now. She could be brain washed, she could be a clone. I don't give a damn. She's trying to murder yer friends and take -you- as a boy toy! So stop yappin' about who people think she is and take her out!"

Cain had been mostly chill up until now. Havok may have been inclined to just assume the worst of him and antagonize a being that was effectively a walking natural disaster but he had resisted his worst impulses despite being a force quite capable of wiping entire teams out if they weren't already prepared to attend to his particular weaknesses.

Now he's getting annoyed.

The dogs are crumpled up like so much tinfoil against his impossible strength and he clenches a fist upon discarding the sparking, bunched up ball of metal. His arm raises, a bicep flexing and swelling like a buick under his flesh as veins like thick ropes bulk out starkly - stretching the sleeves of his jacket and then ripping them.

"You got ten seconds!" he yells. A warning to give him a clear shot at her and to get the kid out of the way.

Wolverine has posed:
Logan feels the ice pierce at his flesh cutting him again and again. The cutting stops after that blast. And Logan will then try to leap at one of the dogs. Blood pours down the wounds for a few moments. Claws protrude forward with a "SHNKT!" and stab into the beast. Logan's not sure what kind of metal Polaris is going to use on this one. He's thinking she might have come very prepared for this fight.

Boom-Boom has posed:
Thick sleeves and skinny arms are not a match for robo jaws. So that's not good. Tabby's blast took a chunk out but it's clearly not done, and pretty much dragging Matilda where Tabby wanted to be.

"If ya don't want us, then why the children? Mommy never buy you the dollies you wanted growing up. No Ken for your Barbie! Shit, Lorna can do a lot better than this guy, but they get to choose who they let climb on them." she reminds while making a dash back to the girl, climbing on the robodog and with hands on it's head starts charging a plasma blast, conducting it through to explode out the thing's tail and away from Matilda.

And hopefully the explosion sends shrapnel back at the second bearing down on the Pink Parka Posse. before it electrically zaps either of them

Tabby probably shouldn't be where she is but the other option is just letting the robomutts take the kid.

"Seriously, ya want a guy talking about you, the way he's talking about Lorna? What does Lorna have to say about this shit? I've dumped people for less. Hell I've cheated on them just to spite them. No one is property!"

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney mostly just contributes grunting noises as she continues fighting with the dogs. Her arm's been bloodied and she ends up rolling away and tearing her sweatshirt off, leaving her in an A-line tank, blood running down her wrist.

"Now I'm cold -and- pissed," she mutters. She lashes out, tearing into the thing with her claws, piercing its hide with adamantium. Then she sees the kid getting dragged off and she'll dive and try to take down the mutts herself, not caring if the gets blasted or blown up in the process. She talks cynical, but she's still a hero down deep.

Havok has posed:
Havok shakes his head. "Shut up bucket head!" He calls back to Juggernaut as he glances to Tabitha. "Keep running your mouth little girl and I'll turn you over my knee for such lack of respect!" He shouts. "You have no right None, to talk about Lorna nor myself and our relationship, you want to act like some bimbo that's your business but keep it to yourself!" With that he takes another carefully aimed shot one from each hand one at the back end of the robomutt dragging Matilda the other at fake Lorna. "You wouldn't know a good life if it bit you on the ass you poor excuse for a copy! You're as delusional as that one if you think I'd go with you or ever be yours!" He says cooking his head at Tabitha. "If you want to sound as clueless and arrogant as her keep up the path you're on."

Polaris has posed:
The robodogs are clearly no match for the Xmen, but it was a good fight. Tabby easily blasts the would be robo-kidnapped to smithereens, forcing it to release the girl who is now crying uncontrollably as she scrambles to get to her feet but the ice is slippery.

Logan has little trouble slashing the second robo dog leaping at Tabby to ribbons and Laura quickly finishes off the remaining dogs.

Magnetrix watches all of this, looking quite impressed. "Not bad, not bad. But I have the children still. I will come back for my beloved later. And then I will see what The Master wants me to do with the rest of you!"

She lifts her arms skywards, taking control of the metallic scraps that remain of the robodogs, summoning up a mighty furious maelstrom composed of spinning whirling shrapnel, chunks of ice and wind that spins round and round, slashing everything in its way including the unsteady ice at their feet.

And with that distraction, she turns and heads back to the platform to cure her prizes down below. But after getting blasted by Havok she is moving slower than before. Can anyone get through the maelstrom and stop her in time..?

Matilda screams, curling up into a ballon the ice. "Someone help me!"

Wolverine has posed:
Logan sees Lorna leave. Sometimes the world needs a cannonball to solve it's problems. Other times it needs a sniper rifle round. Logan's head whips around to Juggernaut, "Throw her!" And then he looks to Laura, "Fastball." And that's how Logan sees it. Luara is the sniper rifle round. They need something precise and can hopefully travel long distances. Again, he's leaning into their different body types. He thinks there will be less wind resistance from her.

Juggernaut has posed:
"Ah, hell no. My jacket!"

The whirling storm of metal and ice finds no purcahse upon Juggernaut's invulnerable flesh and unstoppable physique. They slam into him and rake across his form but ithe majority of damage is done to his clothing and, unfortunantely, that envelop he had been keeping in his garments.

"ALright, that's it!" he yells, preparing to lunge forward into some sort of devesating assault regardless of the positioning of the others though he had been keeping a careful eye on Matilda..

He hten hears Logan and he pauses and holds his swing back. "Huh??"

His eyes track from Logan towards Laura and he immediately gets his meaning. A few long strides bear his gigantic body towards her and he drags his arm down like a swinging trebuchet to snatch Laura up,

"Don't blame me for this kid!" he yells before pivoting and then swinging Laura around in a wide arc that ends up with him sending her like a spear towards Magnetrix!

Boom-Boom has posed:
"You'd lose a hand and probably still learn nothing about consent." Tabby's tone goes from snark to dead serious a moment. The kid is in the ice, it's slightly better than being bitten but not by much. Luckily Tabitha can help with the cold in a bit. It's getting around and through that storm of metal and ice, not being too far from Matilda she crawls over, collecting are than a few shards of ice and metal cutting Tabby's back while she gives the frightened girl a hug and covers her.

All around the Pink Parka Pair, orbs of plasma start forming and swarming like fireflies, bioelectrically generated, but no less super heated as she starts popping and blasting all around to start working on shielding Matilda. Melting ice and small metal shards alike.

Matilda gets a grin. "My name's Tabby, but everyone calls me Boom-Boom. If we go for a swim, we ain't gonna drown or freeze!"

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney barely has time to register Logan's request, squinting or a moment at him as he shouts fastball at her. Fastball? What the fuck is he talking about? It isn't baseball season.

But theen Juggernaut is charging over and putting down his hands to launch her and yeah, she's seen this move before, in some of the combat films they showed of the older X-men in the early days. Such embarrassing hairstyles. And so her foot goes into Juggernaut's hands as he shoves to fling her up in the air, arms outstretched and ready to...wait, what's she doing again?

Oh yeah, Lorna. Or not Lorna, if Havok is to be believed and, really, how likely is that? She reacts on pure instinct, though, angling in on Magnetrix and trying to slash her claw outward to attack her. Here goes nothin'.

Havok has posed:
Havok smirks at Tabby. "For once in your life shut your damned mouth Tabitha, that smart mouth of yours will get you a beaten from someone less patient than me at some point. Learn respect and your damned place!" He says firmly before looking to Matilda. "Don't listen to her or follow her example, she's not the kind of person you wish to grow into kid. Loose mouth, loose cannon you want to learn respect for those around you, and when to be quiet and listen rather than open a mouth to speak. She does the latter to much." He glances back to Tabitha. "And you keep your mouth closed, because all you do with each opening of it is prove what a fool you are." With that he blasts again at fake Lorna before realizing the incoming Laura fastball!

Polaris has posed:
Matilda blinks as she's suddenly shielded, and smiles faintly and nods to Tabitha. "Thanks!" she seems visibly relaxed now, as she tries to ride the storm out.

As for Magnetrix, it seems that Juggernaut's throwing arm is. strong enough to hurl Laura straight at her before she can retreat to the depths of her icy cavern. As Laura slams into her, slicing a nasty gash across her back she screams in agony, lifting her shield a moment too late. Havok manages to get in a second blast, causing her to shriek and staggers back, weakening her hold on the maelstrom briefly.

"Curse you, Xmen! You will pay for that..Next time!" and with that she makes a tactical retreat, climbing into the sky! using the rest of the rapidly dying maelstrom as a cover for her retreat. Now all they have to do is go down and rescue those kids.

Juggernaut has posed:
"Watch yer mouth! Don't put a curse on me like that by lumpin' me in with them!" bellows Juggernaut after the retreating Magnetrix.

He then sighs and looks out over the lake for a quick glance at Tabitha and Matilda as if actually intersted in their well being in the middle of all that. Or something.

Then a glance toawrds Laura for much the same.. and then finally towards Logan.

"Huh. Good call...."

He can't resist a bit of a quip and a barb though as he adds, "Course I guess maybe you were usin' her just in case I missed, threw too hard, or somethin' and held yerself as back up ...either way good call... So was that the real deal? Do I need to get her dear ol'dad on the line?"

Boom-Boom has posed:
Tabby's back probably could do with some stitches. Or bribing one of the kids with external healing abilities. But she'll be fine. Matilda is safe and so will the kids Magnetrix left behind. "I swear I don't know what either chick sees in that guy. Any man that tells a woman or girl to know her place is not a good man. But I bet your brother is cool." she stands and keeps a hand out for the younger girl, the ice their on might be a little flimsier since a lot of that metal is making hissing sounds when it hits the ice.

Slow steps are gonna get the two where they need to be.

Hopefully Laura landed relatively safely. But the throw gets Cain some Dio Style horns when he looks their way. "You know, you might have some actual success doing a Heel Face turn Marko!" she grins at the man.

Slow movements continue as she helps Matilda on the way to reuniting with her older brother. There's hugs about to happen and Boom-Boom still has blasts for anyone preventing that.

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney falls down from where she slashed, falling end over end until she tumbles back town to the ice. She hits it hard and breaks through for a moment, the shock of the cold water hitting her hard and making her inhale the winter-chilled water, for a moment. She thrashes for a few moments, and then turns, eyes burning as she shoves her way up and splashes onto the shore.

She coughs up some of that crisp water, shaking her wet hair out. She marches back over to where the others are, just in time to catch the tail end of what Juggernaut was saying. "Has anything ever been made better by calling Magneto?"

Wolverine has posed:
"Good job," Logan wills ay when Laura lands and then he nods toward Laura again. "What she said," Logan agrees with her about Magneto. Afterward he'll stay out o fthe hole. One of the few ways Logan could die is via drowning. Going down to rescue a child like this seems risky for him.

Havok has posed:
Havok rolls his eyes. "I didn't tell a girl to know her place I told you to know your place. And I'd tell my brother that too, or Logan, or anyone, gender has nothing to do with it. So you should shut you're mouth, and learn to be a proper example to the students you teach rather than opening your mouth when you should listen. Your foolishness is on par with the most unintelligent people out there! And thinking a villain like that." He gestures to Juggernaut. "Could ever be a good guy is showing a level of ignorance that I have never seen before." He shakes his head. "And once again that's not Lorna, and no one needs you to contact her father if it was. That I can handle if needed, but considering Lorna was at home when I left that's how I know that one!" He gestures to the fleeing not Lorna. "Isn't the real deal, so you can stop trying to over tax your brain with thinking." With that he looks to Matilda. "Remember what I said kiddo, take my advice, don't listen to this kid over her she's no role model for the young." With that he glances to Tabitha. "Perhaps I'll need to talk to my brother's girlfriend about the people she picks to employ at the school and their capabilities and qualifications which you lack anything resembling."

Polaris has posed:
Matilda blinks slowly at Havok's words, climbing slowly to her feet. She's probably a mutant like many who reside in Mutant town, and like many locals she looks up to the Xmen, but so much squabbling amongst members she never imagined. Right now however she is only interested in saving her brother, although she stays back on shore, leaving this to the professionals.

It's been quite the battle but the Xmen came out on top as they always do. Now all that's left is to hop on the platform and ride the secret passage to wherever those kids are being held. It seems Magnetirix lives to fight another day, however. Or whoever she is.

But she sure left a lot of rubble in her wake. It might take some time to clean up the lake and make it safe for skating on again..

But perhaps that's a job for another day..

Juggernaut has posed:
Well -he's- certainly not going out on that ice. While he -won't- drown it'll pretty much be a given that the ice might buckle under him in the current condition that it's in though there are some options to consider if he involves himself more. .

But unless asked, he's not volunteering just yet, instead eyeing them all in an assessing manner.

"You got either a clone, reality displaced, or brain washed version of a daughter his running around and kidnapping people for 'somebody'. while wanting to make a boy toy out of one of your members. I think that things can't get much worse since last I was in touch with them they seemed on good enough terms for to be in on his plans for makin' Genosha a haven ." remarks Juggernaut to both Laura and Logan.

"Suit yerselves but I wouldn't put it past him to get involved."

He then blinks and turns towards Havok as his tirade occurs. He just sort of stares at him and then thumbs at him while turning back to the others. "This what you guys got countin' for a Summer these days? Where's Scott? The guy's got a head on his shoulder at least. His lil'bro seems to busy trying to prove himself and force respect instead o'actin' respectable. Assumin' folks morality and what they will or won't do is usually a bad sign for a suppose d'hero'...but maybe I got your prioritizes pegged wrong. I thought you were here to save some kids, not protect your ego... Oh well.."

X-23 has posed:
Laura Kinney blinks at all of that talking and then just looks over at Havok and shrugs, "Okay, boomer."