9087/Crule Intent

Crule Intent
Date of Scene:	05 September 2019
Location:	Backyard - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Doug and Roberto are interrupted by an unwelcome visitor.
Cast of Characters:	Cypher, Sunspot

---

Cypher has posed:
"...So anyway," Doug says, sitting on the stone overlooking Breakstone, "I went to the Savage Land, because I got an active ping off of something out in one of Magneto's old bases, and I wanted to check it out. I figured the place had been abandoned for years... but I took Illyana with me, just to be sure."

"We found this cult worshipping this weird ancient skull -- and dig this cat -- it *talked*. It was babbling about all sorts of things, but the weirdest thing it said was that it was the last of the Elder Race, but that Illyana and I were both descended from it, though I don't think it was talking about JUST Illyana and I. Nuances in language... you know?" He takes a sip from his bottle of gatorade. "...Remember when we used to come all the way out here, because the Professor didn't like making the hike in his wheelchair? That was *so mean* of us."

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto nods vaguely at Doug words. He brought a tablet to this old hideout and he is going over charts and graphs of arcane elements of trade. Despite the appearances, he is listening to Doug. At some point the last couple years he learned to multitask. Valuable skill for a corporate boss.

"Can you tell when a talking skull is lying?" He asks. "Because it sounds like bullshit. I have read quite a bit of Moira and the Prof's papers on mutants, and although sometimes they get too technical for me, there is nothing about non-human DNA there. I have also skimmed over similar research articles about, for instance, Inhumans, which do hint alien DNA there. Besides, what could a talking skull from the Savage Land know about your ancestry or genetics?"

Cypher has posed:
Doug furrows his brow. "Yeah, it was weird. I mean the skull wasn't Sapiens... more near-sapiens. Not Cro-Magnon either. But you know. I can't help but wonder where the origins of Mutantkind lie. I mean, those are some muddy waters. But everything comes from somewhere, and we have abilities that top out at full-scale reality hacking--"

He rubs the back of his neck, slowly, and then says, "On the other hand, how often do you run into an animated, talking skull? That wasn't the only thing, though. They had some old books collected in the base, and one of them talked about Selene, the Black Queen as part of a group of sorcerers struggling for control of some sort of artifact. I was able to identify the language as a *distant* ancestor of Linear A. But that would make Selene... beyond pre-history. I mean... twice as old as Apocalypse?"

Sunspot has posed:
"Well, only if you believe regular history books," comments Roberto, turning off the tablet when Selene's name is mentioned. That is serious BAD. "Remember that Natural History museum expo about the Hyborian Age a few years back?" He asks. "They had a handful artifacts in display that were proven way older than the oldest Mesopotamian relics." He thinks a few seconds, then he adds, "remember the Atlanteans claim they had a surface kingdom over ten thousand years before Christ? There have always been histories about very ancient civilizations and now we do have some evidence they are real. A history that was lost by some kind of cataclysm. Human civilization might have been around twenty thousand years instead of just six or seven thousand."

Cypher has posed:
"Yeah, the Great Setback theory." Doug says, before he glances up, "But what if it's even older?" He says. "What if what Mutants are really does have its root in--"

He holds up his hand. "The bugs and the birds have stopped." He points at a thicket of trees. "Something's coming, through there. It's big. We have about thirty seconds."

Sunspot has posed:
"Perhaps Doctor Strange would know. That those books were still readable means some advanced, very durable material was used, or magic," Roberto offers. And magic is definitely above his pay grade. Figuratively speaking.

Doug next words make him shut up, though. "We are just outside the school outer security perimeter, right?" That is a small oops. Too many of the X-Men enemies know the school. He stands up, and goes pitch black. "Call there, chances it is something against the students."

Cypher has posed:
"Well I mean, a book will last THEORETICALLY forever... as long as it's dry and you keep bugs away from it, it's one of the reasons the Codex is such a viable--" He drops down behind the rock, as the trees burst outward.

The creature that barrels through is huge, with gray-purple skin, a flattish face, and a long, elaborately braided topknot ponytail. Crule stomps forward, like a freight train on steroids. "Where is it, Wordspeaker. Where is the Skulll of He Whose Name is Unfit to Be Spoken?"

Sunspot has posed:
And suddenly, purple Conan with a ponytail. Roberto resists the temptation to facepalm or laugh at the funny titles the big man is sprouting. He can't avoid sarcasm, though, "I bet he went to Winterfell with all the People With Over The Top Nicknames and Dumbass Titles."

He slides to stand between Crule and Doug, though. Just in the case Doug is the 'Wordspaker'. Seriously? Cypher is a much better codename. "You are trespassing, big man. I suggest you to go now and call for an appointment later if you want to chat with someone at the school."

Cypher has posed:
"Gideon was right. Your abilities might be formidable, but they're exceeded by your *mouth*." Doug looks up, and then says, "Berto!" He grabs a rock in both hands, and then says, "Do watch the Birdie!" That was one he used to do to Doug when they played soccer -- Doug was a *good* goalie but could never figure out what angle the ball was going to come from--

The one time he caught it was when he got it in the *face*.

He tosses the rock at Berto.

Sunspot has posed:
"Gideon," Roberto tenses visibly, although his solar aura disguises the snarl of anger at hearing the name. "If he sent you, then we can skip the appointment and go straight to the hospital."

'Watch the birdie' brings him out of the rage, though. And he catches the rock with a hand as it comes flying to him. "Sure," he grunts, throwing the stone at Crule at high speed. "Although I do have better tricks now," like the plasma burst the follows if Crule dodges the flying rock.

Cypher has posed:
The rock hits Crule right between the eyes. *thoink* and he squints -- "You dare--" And then the plasma blast catches him right after, and he staggers backward, before gritting his teeth, and bellowing.

"He's gonna go for your face," Doug says, peeing up over his rock. "You still got the moves?"

Sunspot has posed:
"That was just a warning shot," states Roberto after the roar. "New time I will fry you, stand back," he threatens. Then much quieter, "why are you still there? Go find Sam, or Wolverine."

That guy took a rock to his face. Roberto knows he would have a broken nose from that impact at least, so he is as tough as he looks. Going for the face? He braces himself to receive him and then throw the larger man as far as he can.

Cypher has posed:
"...Because I'm not gonna leave you here fighting the Purple People Eater by yourself, you dipstick!" Doug hisses back.

Crule thunders forward, and Doug is right -- he swings high. He's fast, with sharp claws, and it's followed by rotating movements of his head that sends his razored braid arcing around in scything motions.

"...You can take him." Doug says. "He's fast, but you're stronger... and smarter. Trust me, you can take him!"

Crule fights like a berzerker, and while he's got skills honed by a long-life, Berto is able to catch him in a moment of overextension, and hurl him into a tree, which explodes. But he's instantly back up, howling in rage.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto's exasperated reply to Doug will have to wait because when Crule attacks, he can barely see him. That was fast! But he was ready, and the big man goes flying. That impact should have been enough. But no, he is up in a flash. Definitely tougher than Sunspot.

"So I am stronger, uh?... But damn," the 'weaponized' ponytail has shredded his left sleeve, though, and cut deep enough to draw blood. That is, at least, a rather original weapon, he has to admit. And a good reason to keep the fight at some range.

"Fine, you asked for it," Roberto half turns, grabs the large tock Doug was using for hiding and wrenches it off the ground. It likely weights over ten tons, and this time the young man is not holding back when it sends it flying towards the ancient berserk.

Cypher has posed:
WHHHH-BAMMMM! The rock catches Crule in the chest, mid-charge, and sends him flying again.

Doug's hiding spot is gone, so he stands up, and says, "...Did that get him?"

Crule gets back up, drooling blood.

"...That did not get him." Doug says. "What the hell do you want with me, anyway?"

"The External council wants the skull of the Reprehensible One, to lock it away forever. The Black Sun and the Black Moon shall never overshadow the world again."

Sunspot has posed:
That sounds ominous enough. On the other hand if Gideon is involved, Roberto mostly wants to do things Xavier would never approve. "Then why didn't you go get it before we found it?" He asks the old mutant. "Typical. You idiots let it be for centuries and the moment someone else finds it, you suddenly decide it is important. Go away, and tell Gideon I will be seeing him soon."

Cypher has posed:
Crule's chest rises and falls, before he looks up, at the sound of others approaching through the trees. "da Costa... Wordspeaker... this is *not over*."

Then he bolts, as the School's security squad gives chase.

Doug leans against a tree, and then says, "...Yikes," As a medic tends to Berto's arm. "Some laceration to the muscle, but it was a clean cut. A little biotic glue and some time in the sunshine and you won't even have a scar--" The medic says.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto waits until he is sure Crule is out of range, not making any attempt to follow the big man. "Do you know who that man was?" He asks Doug. "I still have nearly two years of mission logs to go over, assuming I even have the clearance."

As for the wound, he sighs and heads back to the school. They can heal it there better. But as Sunspot it is quite difficult to cause him deep wounds, so he expects it to be of little consequence.

Cypher has posed:
"I have no idea. Who the hell is Gideon and what the hell is an External Council? You acted funny when he said that name."

He adds, "Also," He says, "Why would you think I'd just bounce on you, butthead? I radioed for help."

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto grunts, "Gideon was involved in my father's death. And he cloned me." That is all he is going to say for now. He just shakes his head at the 'external' bit. "Could he mean the Hellfire Club? I think Gideon is a member. Probably under other name."

And all this is linked to Selene, after all. But Roberto has been against the club forever. Since Donald Pierce had his girlfriend killed just before the New Mutants formed.

Cypher has posed:
"...Cloned you." Doug says. He bites back something glib, and then says, "Well... thank you, because I don't know what that guy would've done if he'd gotten hold of me. Illyana and I took the skull to Doctor Strange, so I don't think they're just going to be able to roll in and get hold of it." He shakes his head. "I just wanted to find an old piece of tech from one of Magneto's bases before someone else did, and I put my foot in it."

Sunspot has posed:
"Yes, don't worry about it," replies Roberto with a headshake. "That dumb skull was there for god alone knows how long. It can't be that important if Gideon and his friends just realized it is important. Let me know what the good Doctor says, though." Because it might have become something personal. If it allows him to find Gideon.

If Doug can read him, Roberto has murder in his intention.

Cypher has posed:
Doug tilts his head at Roberto, and then says, "...Listen." He says. "Don't go off half-cocked doing something you'll regret, hot-shot. Don't stain your honor with this Gideon's blood. Whoever he is, he's not worth that." He holds up his hands. "I think... maybe they didn't know? Word travels fast, though."

Sunspot has posed:
"Really?" Roberto seems skeptic, "who knew about the skull? If there is a mole in the school, you should tell Cyclops right away. The Prof too." As for his business with Gideon, he is not saying anything else. "Listen, I am going to the medbay, and then I need to get back to New York. Keep in touch, okay? And don't leave the school alone for the next couple weeks."

Cypher has posed:
"For all I know one of Illyana's demons might've ratted us out, they're not exactly trustworthy." Doug frowns, and then says, "Berto... Bobby -- nevermind." He huffs out a breath, for a moment looking like the peeved kid who hated always being told to stay behind, stay back.