16406/Mutants and Shadows

Mutants and Shadows
Date of Scene:	05 July 2024
Location:	Midtown, Manhattan
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Wolverine, Polaris, Cannonball, Storm, Rogue

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Wolverine has posed:
New York brings about many things. That includes what looks to be Ninjas. It's a group of them in black with a cloth grey tosei gosuku, samurai armor top and pauldrons, a bit of black peeks out on their chest. Near the center of that is a jagged red symbol. These are clearly not The Hand, but they may be associated with another body part or clan.

They're quick to move through several high end stores. Most have the alarms already cut. Smashing into store front windows and grabbing what is perceived to be valuable.

The group keeps quiet, but the repetition of smashed in window. "CRASH"! "CRASH!" "CRASH-CRASH!-CRASH!" "CRASH! Starts to get attention. It's not the sound of glass breaking, it's that repeated sound that can turn some heads. Also, the second to last target they couldn't fully undo the alarm. So, all of that glass shattering brings a "DING-DING-DING-DING" as the metal clangs against it.

This group of twelve isn't deterred as they keep their eyes on a metaphorical, and some ways literal, prize. Some have jewelry, other have bags, and a plethora of stuff. It's all high end, all valuable, even if those red pumps, and white purse, do not go with the uniform.

The group work together, it's clear there's some kind of strategy as they start to take off down the same back alleys. Some climb up fire escapes to jump across buildings. Ones on the ground join the others on the rooftops at random intervals. This is bound to turn some heads, but just another night in NY, right?

Maybe it's the alarms, the sounds of the glass shattering, the team movements, or the skittering across the rooftops. Either way, something about the group, or their actions, will draw everyone here despite their own reasons for being here.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane isn't really a superhero per say. She is an Xman, and reserve at that. Even then she is more focused on mutant rights than petty crime.

However, she is not one to turn her back on said petty crime if she happens to stumble upon it either, especially since one of the jewelry stores she was about to visit is hit by these..Thugs.

Emerald eyes narrow in annoyance, and as they retreat she quickly takes to the skies, not in uniform today but nonetheless dramatic with her bright green hair contrasting starkly with her deep purple billowy blouse and black jeans.

For now she does not engage, just assessing the situation, counting numbers, looking for weapons, trying to discern exactly what their true goal is.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie had been out looking for some things to pick up before work. As he hears something going on, he heads that way, hitting a back alley and blasting up to a rooftop to get a better view of what's going on. His goggles pulled from a back pocket, and places over his eyes as he takes in the scene looking where best to help.

Storm has posed:
Storm is out and about, mostly just taking in the city as darkness sets upon it. She's getting used to being back after a long stint away for personal reasons. Yet it doesn't surprise her when the night becomes filled with the telling sounds of shops being broken into. Immediately, the X-Man takes to the skies, heading in the direction of those crashes and alarm blarings. She has faith in the justice system, sure, but sometimes justice might need a little hand bringing down the people commiting the crime. She likely meets Lorna in the skies and gives the other woman a kind smile. "Any idea what we're looking at yet?"

Rogue has posed:
Rogue was out and about, even full-time X-men needed some personal time after all, and she'd felt like a smoothie. Wrapped in her figure-hugging leather pants and a tank top that was under a more loose-fitting off-the-shoulder top. Gloved hands gripped her drink as the white-streaked brunette made her way down the street, lips wrapping around the straw as she sampled the sweetness at the center of her time off.

Then there were ninjas trashing and robbing places...and it looks like her time off was coming to an end.

A sigh, a deep sip that might well leave the disappointed southern belle with 'Brain Freeze', she takes to the air, zooming towards the sound of the disturbance.

Wolverine has posed:
Lorna is able to keep a good track of them and unless she's engaging, they may note her her preseence. It registers much like a hobo, or something similar, something that is there, but is not hindering you nor helping. It's just there, neutral and thus ignored.

Sam can see the group running. Both him, and Lorna can see a few clearly holding sacks, of things that gleam underneath street light.

Storm joins the fray not long after. To the trio it's clear that there is a group of ninjas working their way across New York and if anyone looks back to where the group started...it's a long line of shops broken into. Nothing but expensive things taken. So, stealthy thieves? Maybe more, New York does offer a litany of options, including the flavors of crime and criminal.

Rogue goes toward the disturbance, and doesn't see them, but she can confirm the destruction they left behind. It's one very large, very organized smash and grab, targetted for high end proudcts. Stuff that will still sell for a Penny on the black market. She can fill in the teammates about what the group did when she joins the observing trio.

What the trio also see is how they move. They jump over buildings in trained motions without fear. Their outfits, clearly inspired by some type of Eastern Organization, but unless someone has a toe deeply planted in those waters it's hard to say who.

And right now, they're not viewing anyone as a threat yet. They're clearly moving toward a specific location. People can trail them or confront them.

Lorna does get a feel for the individuals. Well, their weapons. No guns. The weapons may not be simple, but they're not as complex as a gun. Further evidence of training.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane frowns softly, emerald eyes narrowed upon the ninjas, more interested in their destination than their loot. For now she hangs back, doing her best not to stick out like a side thumb as she searches for a shady out of the way place where she won't be easily seen. They don't seem to regard her as a threat however, perhaps none of them as they are few sand scattered for now.

She glances at Storm but hasn't yet spotted the others. "Not sure but I'm interested in seeing where they are headed. Something tells me they're.." she senses something odd then and her frown deepens.

"Something is not right, I don't think they're even human..it's like there's no iron in their blood, like they don't even have blood, not human blood anyway.."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks up seeing the others he will pull out a com and says into it "Cannonball on scene, rooftop south of them. Ah can make a run towards them to distract them if you want to come in without them seeing you."

Storm has posed:
Storm frowns a little and then narrows her eyes. "So you're thinking that we should tail them while they're having this little happy fun time stealing from..." She looks across the blocks that have been hit. Then back to Lorna. "They're only seeming to target high end shops. What in the world are they up to?"

Of course, she'd be easy to spot if one knew what they were looking for. Her sleek monotoned outfit with the flare of white under her arms, the stark white hair that moves in even the slightest breeze. "Perhaps we should pick off one or two? See if we can get them to talk..." It's not the best or worst idea either way, but she'll follow Lorna's lead.

Then the communicator goes off and she responds. "Hold position, Cannonball. We'll meet up with you and perhaps formulate a plan. Anyone else on this frequency, meet us there. If we begin to lose sight of them. We'll follow as we can until we have intent on engaging."

Rogue has posed:
Subtle wasn't really Rogue's thing, the woman zipping through the air spotting the shape of the destruction and making her way onwards only to spot some other, familiar silhouettes in the sky. Reaching into her pocket to retrieve the earpiece and activate her own communicator, Rogue's connection was established just in time to hear the others reporting.

"Regular block party, huh?"

One twist through the air and she was headed to join the pursuit.

Wolverine has posed:
Everyone's watching the group move. They're moving in the direction fo the East River.

Lorna can still feel the tug, or ping, these indiivduals leave in their wake. An unseen sense only she can feel and sense.

One thing that might not be noticed right away, but Sam may pick up on it first (he does know about trajectories, other bits about physics and travel), they're not slowing down. The group isn't speeding up, but they're not slowing down. Exhaustion, or some sign of slowness should be kicking in. It's not. The speed they started at, is the speed they're staying at.

There are one, or two in the back. They're not necessarily stragglers. They're just the easiest to pick off. Targets that could be remove hopefully causing little fanfare. Storm can figure out the two to take out.

Rogue's still like a coiled spring ready to push forward. She just needs the order to push forward.

That group gets closer and closer to the east River. If someone goes ahead, they will see a simple, yet small, cargo ship actually waiting. This may not be a get away car as much as it is a get away ship. That's -if- someone scouts ahead.

Either way the group just keeps moving closer and closer. Building after building jumped over. Even Spider-Man wishes he was this coordinated traveling over rooftops at high speeds.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane hmms, pondering their options. "We could..Although I think they may not even be sentient if they are androids..Or aliens perhaps? Either way, if we fail at trailing them, having one or two might be able to fill in the details - if we can get them to talk." she clicks on the communicator so the others can hear. "We should split off into two groups, try not to gain their attention. Rogue and Cannonball, perhaps you can cut em off at the end, pick two or so of them off, while Storm and I continue to trail from above? I suspect they are taking the motherload to the mothership so to speak.." of course she will turn to Storm as the seasoned leader to see if she's good with that idea.

She continues to peer up ahead, hovering after them and pauses at the sight of the cargo ship. "So, that must be their get away car, but where *are* they headed?" and is it better to pick 'em off now or will the mastermind just send more? likely the latter. she does seem interested in these beings though, trying to examine their electromagnetic field..are they robots..?

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks back and says "Well, Ah might not be the quietest one, but here we go." He will tone his blast roar down as best he can as he heads down, looking to intercept one of the last ones with the others not seeing it. Sorta like turkey hunting "Ah got the back one Rogue, they aint normal, should be changing pace at least some. They are running without getting tired it seems.

Storm has posed:
As Lorna offers the information she knows and how she thinks things might work, Storm nods her head. Then Cannonball is taking out one from the back. "Lorna. Can you at least get ahead of the pack and see if you can sense anything off that ship? Rogue, clip a couple more off at the back if you can. Hinder them if you need to. Let me know where you can take them so we can try to get them to talk."

Then she flies further upwards and looks out towards the river. "I might be able to hinder the ship from leaving, but it's going to take a moment." She says this and then looks back. "Hinder only. Let's see what we can make of all this. We'll find a meeting spot after we're done here."

Rogue has posed:
"They ruined my night off...I could use a little rough housing," Rogue drawls lightly over her communicator, then the woman still in her civvies zips down, swooping down through the air to land slam down between the group and lash out, ready to catch the first of those fleeing foes from the back by the scruff.

Wolverine has posed:
Lorna talks about the Ninjas and her suspicions are found true in two different ways.

First, there is Sam. He collides into a "straggler" and instantly he collides with metal. Not his first time hitting metal like this. It's clear this is either A. A person in some kind of metal suit. B. Not a person, but something else. Probably a robot.

Confirming the suspicious is the way a hand on the ninja he went after moves. It flails against the speed, but it starts to move. Bend, jerk and in moves that say this thing is double jointed at minimum. They might be triple jointed as they try to reach into a robe to pull out a wakizashi. It's hard to do this, but Sam can see this thing is reaching for something. Lots of options at Sam's disposal to save himself.

Storm can see those move in the ship. Before long she sees something moving. A ninja that looks just like those on the rooftops. It's clear that this is the destination. The com-chatter may change her attack.

Rogue zips through and slams down in front of them. Lorna's suspicions continue to be proven right when Rogue does this.

All of the Ninja's heads move toward Rogue. When groups work toward an individual go there is still deviation. How someone looks, where, etc.

This group focuses on the same spot regardless of angle. Like all are not only focused on the same go, but are working with the same data, it's unsettling for a moment.

Lorna and Storm can see this. 5R
Rogue can grab one with ease. However, when she's there, the group starts to move around her across the rooftops. They're circling hre and actually breaking out formation.

One tosses three Kunai, throwing knives that look like spears, toward the Southern Belle. Another jumps down wielding a katana trying to cut her.

A third will come in with a rope dart, trying to wrap a limb after cutting her with the dart.

What none of these ninjas expect is the strength of this Southern Belle, whose evening they ruined.

Lorna can see this group works in team tactics, but it's timed -very- well. Maybe too well.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna Dane hmms, peering over the ship as she hovers closer, opening her senses to the electromagnetic spectrum but visually and physically. She can see someone moving within but, are they the same as the other ninjas or different somehow? bigger, stronger, more sophisticated perhaps?

While Rogue and Sam deal with the splinter group she moves closer to the ship and lands lightly on its deck, still following the movement of the figure within. When she finds a door she will try to open it and slip in. if it doesn't move she will try to subtly break the lock using a little metal manipulation. If that's the big wig she's determined to get some answers.

Rogue has posed:
Blades, throwing knives, simple and metalic weapons surge towards her as Rogue feels the steel frame beneath her fingers. They slice, they dice, the pierce...but only her clothing. Rogue blinks, her dangerous and outright bulletproof skin was otherwise unscathed.

"Well that's just rude! I liked this shirt!"

Robot also meant one more important thing: she didn't have to play nice.

A slam of her hand downwards to drag the bot downwards, crushing it and preparing to go for the next.