LumenVerse. 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, Westchester County, New York. War Dawn

[dens_extra_pups]

Oriana: *hurries down the hall and pops into the rumpus room* Eric, I'm sorry for taking so long. I was in the shower. *reddish brown hair damp, drippy, and standing up in places*

Eric: *slight hint of a scowl* I was about ready to leave.

Oriana: *just gives him an easy going, kindly grin* *mildly* I didn't know you were coming, and it's only seven in the morning. *sits beside him on the couch* Do you need rent money again?

Eric: No. *scowl fading to a slight smirk* Soon, I won't even need rent money any more.

Oriana: *startled look* Even university dorms charge rent, Eric.

Eric: I'm not going to be worrying about that.

Oriana: What? *nonplussed* I don't understand.

Eric: I'm going to change the world. Starting here. We're different from everyone else, Oriana.

Oriana: *brows draw together over those frank blue eyes that seem to look right into peoples' hearts* ...I still don't understand. Different?

Eric: I think you do understand. All the weird things that've been happening, things that you haven't been able to explain... Think about it, Oriana.

Oriana: *brows lift* *quietly* Are you talking about our X genes?

Eric: *nods, smirking*

Oriana: That's no more a difference than my fair skin and Ariel's bronze complexion. We're all just human beings. *frowning again as she looks at this most impetuous of her friends*

Eric: You're wrong. We're better than humans.

Oriana: *firmly* No. We aren't. Eric, stop and think about what you're saying. When's the last time you slept?

Eric: I have been thinking. Why should we have to live in denial while the non X-positives run everything and discriminate against us?

Oriana: Eric, we've never been discriminated against. Your father threw you out because he was drunk. Besides, your X gene isn't even active.

Eric: We're still not seen as equals under the laws. The people who have all the power aren't like us, and they know it, so they keep us under their control and hope we'll go away so they don't have to do anything. *scowling darkly*

Oriana: *gentle and firm repetition* Your X gene isn't even active, Eric. You're normal.

Eric: Who's to say it won't activate? Employers and lawmakers don't care if someone with the X gene has it active or not. If they've got the gene, they're open for discrimination!

Oriana: *shakes her head* Eric... I think you need some sleep. And less Jolt cola.

Eric: *expression darkening* If you're not with me, then you're against me, Oriana.

Oriana: *sighs and reaches for the blanket on the back of the couch, her other hand going toward his shoulder as it has so many times before when he's come to see her hopped up on caffeine candy from his Think Geek addict room mate* I'll lay down beside you.

Eric: *growls and slaps her hand away* I don't need sleep!

Oriana: *look of flat footed shock* Eric, that hurt.

Eric: *far too calmly, as he withdraws a handgun from his jacket* Good bye, Oriana.

Oriana: *shock turns to uncomprehending confusion* Eric?

Ariel: *comes running into the room when she hears the gun shots, her dyed blonde hair flying* Annie? Eric?

Eric: *looks at the slender, giggly, somewhat irritating girl. Then, he's turning the gun on her as well*

Ariel: *freezes at sight of the gun, her mind going blank as she tries to understand what she's seeing, then shrieks as it feels like a hammer slams her back against the wall*

Dion: *just about busted the door down when he heard the gunshots. Was going to surprise Oriana and Ariel by making them breakfast before class today, but now....*

Eric: *shoots him as well, no remorse on his face or in any of his movements*

Oriana: *little sputter from where she's laying crumpled half off the couch*

Eric: *quietly and calmly* You should have just come with me, Oriana. *starting toward the door*

reality: *suddenly warps all around him*

Eric: *startled curse, lets go of the gun*

world: *seems to come apart*


Later


dark haired woman: *groans and sits up, then stops and stares in shock at her hands and arms, which are strongly built and covered with pale skin that has a soft sheen to it* What...? What's happened to me?

young male voice: Is she going to be alright, sir?

older male voice: *quietly* I believe so. She is a strong-willed person.

another young voice: So can we see Oriana now?

older male voice: *gently* Oriana has been changed from what she was. She is stronger and taller now, and gained additional abilities. That is what the effects of shifting the reality has had.

first young voice: So she's different?

older male voice: *quietly* She is here to protect this world... Oriana is gone. She is Optima now.

second young voice: *shock* Optima? Optima Prima??

older male voice: Yes.... You have heard of her? *sounds just a bit puzzled*

Optima: *sits up and looks toward the voices, recognizing the five teenagers who asked to rent a room a few days before* *quietly, her voice alto now instead of the lighter tones that it had held before* Where's Eric?

older gentleman: *quietly* His X-gene activated. He is no longer Eric, but Megatron.

Optima: *face creases with concern* Where is he?

older gentleman: His last known location was *names off a nearby warehouse*.

Optima: *puzzled as she rises slowly to her feet and checks herself over with surprise* What's he doing there?

young voice 3: Being a creep.

Optima: *shoots the kid a look*

older gentleman: I fear he may be attempting to take that which does not belong to him...

Optima: *and now her eyes have widened with shock* Did... did he shoot me?

older gentleman: *small nod* *quietly* As well as your friends. He is bigger, and far stronger now than he once was. His intentions are to enslave all non X-Gene humans, and to have them fear our kind, so he may rule over all of the Earth...

Optima: *angry now, as she has never been angry before* I have to stop him.

older gentleman: *small nod* You must use the abilities you have been given, Optima Prima. Save this world, and its people.

Optima: Abilities... *looks down at herself, and then gasps as she changes form. Rears on her hindmost set of legs, and then gallops from the room that she woke in*

kids: *suddenly blur into shaggy equine shapes and thunder after the powerful female centaur*

large, powerful humanoid: *is basically tearing apart the warehouse as he grabs containers of fertilizer. Knows that the fertilizer will be useful in creating bombs*

Optima: *skids to a stop and transforms back to her two legged form* Megatron! Stop this now!

Megatron: *turns to face the person who's foolish enough to challenge him* *sneer* You do not command me.

Optima: *quietly* I've never tried. *three quick steps and then a titanic uppercut to the jaw*

Megatron: *so shocked that he drops the container of fertilizer he was holding* *his shock only lasts for a few moments before he's lunging at the woman, fists swinging*

Optima: *one two combination that Dion was trying to learn during his long ago boxing kick!*

Megatron: *putting up a heck of a fight, including a bit of dirty fighting*

Optima: *ducking and feinting, and then suddenly lays into him with SING!*

Megatron: *down he goes with a pained wheeze*

Optima: *and then she's flying along with with Megatron's thugs as the whole slagging warehouse blows*

Megatron: *making himself scarce now, kthx*

Optima: The kids! *turns to try and go into the warehouse, only to find herself fighting against a strong grip on her shoulders. Shifts form, and then kicks back!*

big, red-haired man: Whoah! *moving to help restrain the woman* Easy, lady!

Optima: *rears at the red-head* There are kids in that fire!

big, burly, old fart-looking guy: *grunted a bit when he got kicked* Yer the only one I saw, lady.

Optima: There are five kids!

red-haired man: We would have seen them before the warehouse blew up. *trying to avoid getting kicked*

Optima: *stops, panting with distress and suddenly realized pain* But... I saw them go in.

red-haired man: *moving to try and get the woman sitting down so he can tend to her injuries* You were the only person we saw beside the muscle freak and his goons.

older guy: They got the heck outta Dodge. *bit of a scowl, will help his friend try and get the woman sitting down* Let Willy take care'a ya.

Optima: *frowns and changes back to her human form, then folds her legs and stares blankly at her fist* My thumb... *still has her fist clenched. With the thumb tucked inside*

red-haired man: *gently* Let me see.

Optima: *lets him see her hand* *quietly* Who are you people?

older man: *snorts as he sees that the woman had her thumb stuck on the inside of her fist* Hittin' like a girl...

red-haired man: My name is William Johnson. I'm a doctor at *names the hospital* *nods to the other man* This is Ira Irons.

Optima: *blinks at William* You live just down the road from my home... *and then her eyes go wide and she's trying to scramble up again* Dion and Aerial!

Ira: *shoves the woman back down* Let Willy take care'a ya, lady.

Optima: When Eric shot me Dion and Aerial would have heard. They might be hurt. *tears starting to her eyes*

William: We'll go check once I've finished taking care of you.

Optima: *bites her lip* I'm not hurt badly.

William: *bit of a frown* What about Miss Pax? She lives near here too.

Optima: *blinks at William, and then looks down at herself and remembers* I am Miss Pax. Well... I was.

William: ... *blink. Blink* ... Huh.

Ira: *raised brow* *snort of disbelief*

Optima: The old man said something about warping reality. *winces as her broken thumb gets straightened* Oh!

William: *using bandages and a splint on the former Miss Pax's thumb* There.

Optima: I don't understand how boxers do it. *looks at the other hand and is bewildered to see the blood on her knuckles*

William: *will start patching up that hand then*

Ira: For one, they don't tuck their thumbs in.

Optima: *startled look for Ira* Oh.

Ira: *frown* You're not a fighter, are ya?

Optima: *quietly* Physically, I am now. I was reborn to stop Megatron from trying to take over the world. *looks at her bandaged hands* Mentally... Ah, I'm afraid my strategy stops at SING.

Ira: *amused snort* You can be trained.

Optima: But not now. My friends might need help. *and she's gathering her feet under her again and turning her head toward the sound of approaching sirens*

William: Let's get going then. *will help Optima up*

Ira: *moving to help as well*

Optima: *hesitates* We should let the police know what happened.

William: :/ *torn between wanting to go and help if there are hurt people, and knowing Optima is right*

Ira: *headshake* We're going. Mutants spotted at a crime scene aren't gonna be treated as witnesses.

Optima: But... *startled sound as the rough looking old bearded man grabs her by the arm and drags her away*

William: *scooting after Ira and watching the group's six* Unfortunately, Ira's right.

Optima: But the police here know me. *well, they knew Oriana*

William: *quietly* They knew Oriana.

Optima: *mouth open. Mouth closed as she frowns and follows Ira*

Ira: *sympathy in his eyes as he leads Optima and William away* Which way?

William: Here... *will move to lead the way*

Optima: *silent as her home comes into sight, and as they pass through the front door. But then she stops and frowns at the muscular blond man and the slender golden woman who have come to see her*

blond man: *studying you, Optima*

Optima: *deep frown as she studies him back. There's something about his eyes...* Who are you?

woman: *soft laugh*

Ira: *bit of a frown, moves to flank Optima almost on instinct*

William: *looking back and forth between the man and Optima*

man: *deep-ish voice* My name now is Magnus. Who are you?

Optima: I... the old man said that my name is Optima Prima now. But before, I was Oriana Pa... Dion???

Magnus: *boggling a bit now, and then he's whooping and moving to give Optima a hug*

Optima: Ackkk! My thumb!

Magnus: *will fuss over her now, even with the big old guy giving him a dirty look*

William: *to Optima* Friends of yours?

Optima: *nods, her eyes glistening with tears* The ones I was worried about. It seems that the old man did for them what he did for me. Dion, Ariel. Er... I mean, Magnus, and... ah...

woman: *grin* Elita One.

Magnus: He told us your new name, and that you were okay, but not how you looked. *eying Ira and William now* Who're they?

Optima: This is William Johnson, Elly's husband. And this is Ira... ah. I'm sorry, I forgot your other name.

Ira: Call me Ironhide. *slight smirk*

Magnus: ... *sympathetic look on his face as he looks to William* I knew Elly was married...

William: Don't bother saying it. I've heard pretty much every variation of "How do you put up with the explosions?" *not angry, just amused*

Elita: You must have heard the shots?

William: *nods* *quick glance around out of habit* Elly accidentally overloaded the breaker when she heard them.

Elita: Is there any way we can help?

Optima: Magnus, please. I can stand.

Magnus: *sheepish expression is a go as he carefully sets Optima back on her feet* Sorry...

William: *to Elita* We got the breaker reset just fine.

Ira: What're we going to do about the idiot who was trying to steal fertilizer?

Optima: *quietly* He was our friend. But now I have to stop him.

Magnus: Not alone, though.

Optima: *looks up at him and is a little startled at having to do so*

Ira: *eying the group of younger people* I'm in. Y'all need training, at any rate.

William: ... *sigh* And if Ira's training you, you're going to need someone to patch you back up.

Optima: But we can't ask the two of you to do that.

Ira: Where's the kitchen?

William: We're involved... And what kind of neighbor would I be if I didn't offer to help? *quick glance to Ira* And you're not going to be able to get Ironhide to go anywhere now. He's as stubborn as a bull, most of the time.

Elita: *quietly, from the side of her mouth* Magnus, stop poking your muscles.

Magnus: *startled expression is a go, as well as a lot of blushing*

Optima: *facepalming* Magnus, will you show Mr. Irons where the kitchen is?

Magnus: Er... Alright. *will move to show Ira where the kitchen is*

Ira: *as he follows Magnus* Just call me Ironhide, kid.

Elita: *thoughtful look at the old man, and then turns back to her friend* What did you do to your hands?

Optima: *blushes and lifts the damaged members slightly* I... ah. I hit Megatron.

William: Abrasions on the one hand, and a broken thumb on the other. Ironhide will make sure you don't tuck your thumb in when you punch ever again.

Optima: *blushes even worse*

Elita: *wince wince* *and then a curious look for William* Do you have the X gene?

William: *nods, expression going serious* Elly does too. And so does our son.

Elita: What does yours do?

William: Lets me breathe underwater. *very slight quirk of a grin* I'd show you how, but Elly might get mad that I'm taking my shirt off around women who aren't her.

Optima: *BLUSH*

Elita: *chuckles* It's alright. I'll take your word for it.

Optima: *now staring at formerly very giggly friend*

William: *chuckles, then he's getting a quietly thoughtful expression as he thinks of something* Elly can generate electricity. *quieter* Our son, Lumen, is physically stronger than most normal humans, and his X-Gene has been active since the day he was born...

Optima: *quietly* As was mine and Elita's, though our mutations seem to have furthered.

William: *small nod* *quietly* At least you can pass for human...

Optima: *pulls at a strand of her now dark blue hair, and then looks at Elita's soft radiance* ...I'm not so certain of that.

William: *wallet out, will show a picture of his family* Moreso than Lumen, my sister, and my dad can, at any rate.

Optima and Elita: *look at the picture*

Elita: *slight grin* That's Angel, the supermodel.

William: *nod* *soft chuckle as he realizes that Lumen's girlfriend is also in the picture*

Optima: *quietly and absently* I still want to make this a place for those X positive people who cannot find a place in the mainstream.

William: ... *looks around* This'd be the perfect place for that.

Optima: I always thought so. *and then her brows are shooting up toward her hairline as a crash and a bellow of surprise comes from the kitchen*

William: ... *sighs and goes to see what the damage is*

Optima: *rubs her face wearily* I'm going to have a shower and make some calls, Elita.

Elita: And I think I'll go see what Mr. Irons stuck Magnus' head in. *grins and follows William*

((Written with random_xtras))