The Defenders Renewed (Group Thread Open To All)

[Armphid]

Defender's Lunar Base - Rec Room

What would she think of Makoto's choice and the consequences of it? It was academic, really. Cloe would never know if she could help it.

The Japanese woman returned the smile. She liked Cloe, which was one reason why she so feared her learning the secret. She took the soft, warm hand and shook it, also giving a slight bow. "Tansui Makoto, pleased to meet you." She straightened and gave a rueful shrug, "Yes, we have the same given name. I'm sorry if that is...uncomfortable."

She went on, "I have heard very good things about you, Cloe-san. It is reassuring to me that you are here."

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Defender's Base, Recreation Room

Cloe gave a slight bow in reply and smiled at the young woman's words. She and Makoto had gotten along reasonably well. Despite the fact that he had manipulated the world around through advanced technology, they both had a love for science that they bonded over during long and technical discussions. Cloe only hoped that would have reflected when he talked about her. Though the knowledge that this Makoto knew of her confirmed that the two had at least been close enough to talk about the team; something Defenders were usually discouraged from doing unless they truly trusted a person.

"And how did you know Makoto - Black Ant- the old Black Ant?" Cloe clarified, taking a deep breath and giving the woman an apologetic smile. "Was he a mentor of yours? You certainly have mastered his old skill set." Cloe gestured to the blanket covering the sleeping beauty.

 

[Armphid]

Defender's Lunar Base - Rec Room

"Anoo," Makoto paused with the Japanese version of "um" while trying to figure out how to answer that question. Baka! Of course someone would ask about that! "He was a mentor to me. We met after one of his fights with The Mighty Ludd." That jerk; an anti-tech activist super villain who became one of his semi-regular rogues. "I was a freshman at Furinkan High School in Tokyo then and we encountered each other during their conflict."

She had falsified records to show that Tansui Makoto attended that school. But the rest was a mix of outright fabrication and borrowing from one of the shoujou manga she was reading right now. "I helped him and I guess he took an interest in me.". She held up her hands, "Not like that!"

"Anyway, he would visit me and taught me a lot about science and technology. He even showed me the suit and the nanites, though he wouldn't let me use them." She sniffed and shook her head, "After he died, I took one of his old suits before it was destroyed. I practiced and learned and...well, a few months ago, I thought I might be ready."

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Defender's Base, Recreation Room

"Meu deus!" Cloe said under her breath when Makoto had finished. "You were very brave to help in a fight so young. It is good Makoto took you in. He was always very wise when it came to people. We miss him greatly, that is certain, but it is good you have taken his mantle. We have need of abilities like hi- yours now."

Cloe gestured towards the comfortable lounges at the opposite end of the room to the sleeping girl, beside the pool table. A silent invitation.

"Makoto and I are... were the same age. His death was a shock and a great tragedy," Cloe said as she moved over to the lounges and settled into one. As she did she recalled the bark armour she was wearing and grew some smooth, flexible green leaves in their place. The greens crinkled slightly as she leaned against the back. "But tell me, how do you find the people and the base so far? Did he ever tell you about it here? Does it live up to your expectations?"

 

[silvertongue217]

COMMANDER POV

"Understood" John said turning from his office to head to the rec room "I will meet you there" he told her moving to go into the recreation area.

He stepped in smiling at every one gathered. He noticed Makato and Cloe talking and instead of butting in went over to one of the pool tables over in the corner.

"Been a while since I been in here" John murmured to himself setting a game up. He leaned over the table lining up a shot and sending the balls scattering.


....................................

THUNDERESS POV

"I do not mind" Orror said shrugging and ignoring the man named Adam recovering. He found it strange he wanted to jump up already.

But still it was not her issue. She instead waited for Lynx to finish and went and sat in the viewing room. She watched her sister go through the machine her eyes narrowing as she tossed and turned all that they knew in her mind. There was not a connection yet...... but some thing was happening to her.

Some thing she was determined to find out

.........................................

SPIDER POV

"Uh right" Gregory said sighing and rubbing the back of his neck "Though if I am being honest I dont think I have ever been able to relax"

He watched her look around the room and take it in. He gave her a few minutes, they were after all on the flipping moon! That was always a cause to pause and take every thing in.

"It does have the best view" He told her unable to help himself from giving a small smile "One of the overall benefits of working where we work" He said coming over and threading their fingers together.

"Ready for the tour?" He asked his eyes running up and down her body once more.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Avery's mind was on the room assignments as she made her way to the rec room. She focused on it so that she could ignore the feelings of guilt eating away at her inside. She knew that what happened with Adam was an accident, but it was her powers that had nearly killed him. Flying around was one thing, but her operations had also given her another ability that accidentally kept destroying things even after years of use.

When she pushed into the rec room she noticed John over by the pool table, and Cloe and Makoto over by the lounges. Poor Maya was passed out on a other olive, but someone had thoughtfully covered her in a blanket. Avery offered a smile to anyone that would look up, but went over to the motive board screen. She logged in and placed a note on it. She pulled up a map of the barracks and assigned rooms to each person who had arrived today. The rooms were mostly the same, with only tiny differences in layout, and she made sure that old team members got their old room backs, and focused on putting new members into rooms that had never been inhabited, or whose old keepers would bit be coming back. As she swiped away her fingers lingered over one of them and she bit her lip. Raton. Of all the people that were likely to come back she thought he would be one of the first. Avery certainly hadn't, not for a good six months, and it was unusual. After the disbandment John had made it clear that he wouldn't pursue a relationship with her. Raton and Avery grew close then and started a relationship. It was a good year and a half and they madr a great couple, but Avery knew she was still in love with John and had decided to call it off. It wasn't fair on Raton. Not when he was so devoted to their relationship when she couldn't make that final commitment. They had kept in contact, regressing to being friends, but their calls and emails became more infrequent over the years. That said, six months was the longest stretch with no contact and it was starting to get worrying, particularly now that John had put the call to arms out.

Pushing her unease aside, Avery made her way over to John and put her hand on his lower back as he took a shot.

"Best way to play. Solo. That way you never lose," she teased. Then, she let out a shallow breath. "Say, I was wondering... You haven't heard from Raton at all, have you? It's just... Well, I thought he would be the first to be back here."

 

[Armphid]

Defender's Lunar Base - Rec Room and Hallways

Makoto followed Cloe over to the loungers. What could she have said to any of that? She never thought that she was wise when it came to people...but then one often didn't notice one's strengths.

Her eyes followed the change of Cloe's fauna as she lounged. It was always so interesting to see and watch, even if it felt a bit indecent to do so. But it was likely less so now that she has a female body herself.

She smiled sadly, "I am happy to hear you say that. For all that you have said, I know he often felt uncomfortable around others and was unsure if he fit in. But he was happiest with the Defenders than any other time in his life."

She indicated the room around them, "I have heard of it, yes." It felt so bad to be lying like this to her. She had helped design and build this place. "And it lives up to my imaginings. Especially given how long it has been here without anyone with sufficient training and skill to upkeep it." She was sure the Commander did his best, but he was no engineer. "I always felt the idea of a moon base was impressive but impractical." An argument she had and lost with John back in the initial design phase. So much could go wrong up here and if it did, almost everyone died. "But it is a wonderful place. I could find a window and watch the Earth in the distance for hours, I think."

"I have not spoken to many people here yet. I'm kind of, well, quite, in some ways, shy." She flushed. "And I do not want anyone to think I am a...usurper." That was true, at least. "But the Commander convinced me to come and has been kind. Avery-san has been very welcoming, we spoke a bit in the training dome and it...was good for me. The pilot, Peter-san, also wanted to help me settle in and talk to me but after what happened with that...wolf fellow, he seemed to want time alone." She shook her head, "Aside from my reservations about one person in particular, everyone I have met has been positive."

She smiled at Cloe, "You too, Cloe-san. You are so warm. I know my appearance and being here must be somewhat awkward, but you have welcomed me. I am grateful for it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Glory raised an eyebrow when he took hold of her hand. First he was all shy and fumbling, and now he just held her hand like they were going out? "Aren't you bold?"

She gave his hand a squeeze that would sting just a bit and withdrew her grip from his, "Maybe we get to know each other a little bit better before you just start holding my hand like we're going out, okay? Not that I'm not open to the idea, but I've known you all of ten minutes. Back it off a little, all right?"

She walked ahead in the hallway then, "But yeah, let's see this place. A facility on the moon...you don't just hang out here, right? I mean, you do research and things? It'd be kind of appropriate and kind of tragic if mankind's only facility on another object in space was just a super hero crash pad and orgy den." Glory paused, "Do you do the orgy thing? I mean, the press if full of all kinds of rumors about how depraved y'all are."

 

[Wolfias]

Adam/Greywolf Awakens

"All you have to do is ask." Turning his head as far as he could, Adam can't quite see the woman with the pretty voice. She was talking to someone, he couldn't see her either. Then there she was, and he barely heard what she said as she began to speak .

"Just making sure you didn't hurt yourself while you were asleep."

Adam sits up to find a Anthro Feline right out of a science fiction novel looking back at him. Closing his eyes to shake his head, opening them he see's a pretty woman standing in the same place. +Grey growls, She is real, use your nose Adam!+ Breathing through his nose as not to look like a hound sniffing the air. "Sorry for the staring ... you look like a person I once knew. Oh .. uhh thank you for taking care of me after Avery used her healing call on me."

"If you don't care to go all the way down to the dining area, that is. Once you're finished 'restocking', come back up here. "You're okay" But in the future, there's some small adjustments we need to make the protective wear to accommodate your abilities."

Hearing something about food, it got his mind slightly off of her. "I don't mind, I need to stretch my legs anyway." right about then his stomach growls like an angry bear. "I'll be right back." Rising from the bed he walks to the exit, looks over his shoulder and right into the door frame with a stifled grunt. Acting like nothing happened he walks out the exit he's expecting to hear laughter. Adam could feel the heat in his cheeks after he'd just made a fool out of himself.

-Maybe I got our bell rung harder than I thought- Running his fingers through his long dark hair combing it back +Grey rumbles. Avery the flying Alpha did not mean to hurt our ears. She sent us home we were not one but two. The Spirit Wolf was there to tell each of us we will be stronger so use it wisely+ It all came back to Adam in a rush of images, that he had to brace himself by placing a hand against the wall. -Woah! I haven't had experienced like that for a long time- +Grey rumbles. I haven't since awakening in your young mind+ -Adam thought. It's been twelve years already?- +Twelve Mortal seasons, so yes it has+

Entering the Mess Hall Adam gets a variety of Microwave Hot Pockets, Deli Sandwiches, three Bowls of Chili and a high caloric protein fruit and veggie Smoothie from the Freezer. Puts the items in two Super Nuker's as he calls them, sets the timers on each one taking a protein drink from the fridge seat to wait sipping his drink. It isn't long before the Super Nuker's, as Adam refers to them dings. Stands to get a tray he loads it up and walks back to the Infirmary, goes and sit on the side of bed 1# to eat using the bedside table. Without making a mess when he but did eat it about 30 minutes. Putting the plastic packaging into the boxes before collapsing it all into a neat little ball. He shot it from 35 feet away hitting the can dead center. Put his hands to his mouth to make crowd noise he's losing his mind.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Cloe listened to Makoto speak. She agreed with the wonder of the base. Even if Cloe's own heart lay on the earth, so very far away, she could appreciate the view from the base. The young woman seemed lovely. When she spoke of Peter wanting to be alone Cloe felt a pang of guilt, he had spent five years alone and trapped. Cloe refocused on what Makoto was saying.

"You are no usurper! I am sure he would be proud that you saved the suit, that you carry on his name." Cloe watched Avery fiddling around with the notice board, still looking unhappy, before going to join John at the pool table. "Looks like the room postings are done. I have taken up my old residence in the greenhouse. If you need help getting around or for anything you can find me there."

 

[KimaniNight]

Defenders' Lunar Base

POV Zuya Wagner and Blade

"So any luck?" Zuya asked her friend Jasmijn over the video link.

The beautiful Chinese woman on the video screen shook her head. "I have more than a few possibilities, but those are just calculated guesses at best. The man could be pulling a 'Purloined Letter' on us, though. He's that good, Zuya."

Zuya nodded, not liking the answer she heard, but then not surprised by it at all. Short of the two teenage superheroines she was looking for doing something on their front porch to get noticed by the omnipresent social media, it was going to be next to impossible to find them.

"However," the Chinese woman continued, "I might have an idea on how we can narrow down those possibilities. We can discuss it over a glass of wine, if you can make it to Nice in the next couple of days." she added with a sultry smile.

"Wine, yes," Zuya agreed. "But don't bring down the bottle of ouzo. Last time we discussed one of your ideas over a bottle of that, we ended up being in a car chase that crossed seven national borders and ---"

The Chinese woman laughed. "One wrong turn and you're going to hold that over my head forever." With a warm smile, she asked, "See you soon then?"

Zuya smiled back in return. "I'll give you a call when I get into town, Jasmijn."

With that, Zuya ended the call, and decided she should check in with the Defenders' Commander about her travel plans.

 

[KimaniNight]

Defenders' Lunar Base, Medical Area

POV Lynx and Wind Hunter

Lynx quietly padded up next to Orror, also looking into the imaging chamber.

"Much preferable to those completely enclosed things down on Earth," Lynx observed. "She'll be done in another ten more minutes, and then I'll find somewhere quiet to review the data more thoroughly, but I'm still convinced that the cause of her episode is not physiological in nature. Which doesn't mean we're not going to find the cause and address it as quickly as possible, " Lynx hurriedly assured Orror.

"So has she had any other episodes, other than the one you reported?" Lynx asked. "Or anything else...well not, odd," Lynx smiled. "Up on this base, if we weren't all a collective assortment of odd, we wouldn't be here. But something out of a place."

 

[Armphid]

The Defender's Lunar Base - Rec Room

Makoto smiled with a faint blush on her cheeks. To have Cloe come to her defense was welcome, if not surprising. She felt a moment's doubt about keeping her in the dark. But again, the thought came to her; even if Cloe accepted her as trans, re-building her natural body with machines wasn't natural. She might find it abhorrent. Just like he had. Though that was for other reasons, really.

She inclined her head, "Thank you. I would like that. I have found it pleasant to be in nature, helpful for my thoughts. The greenhouse is as close to it as we can come here, I suppose."

The scientist had noticed Avery entering as well. The forlorn look on her face made her heart ache but the winged wonder was already crossing to speak to John by the pool table. She pursed her lips. When she felt bad, even if she knew the cause wasn't her fault, but she couldn't shake it, a nice, hot soak always helped her. The facilities here didn't support that, but...oh! What if they'd fixed that teleporter? Even if they hadn't, she could!

Makoto say up on the lounger, "Cloe-san. I know, I was told of, a secret hot spring that...my mentor found high in the mountains near Nagoya. There was no natural way to access it, he said, but he built a teleport platform there so that the team could have their own private hot spring. Do you know if that system has been repaired? I can fix it if it has...perhaps some of us could go down for a soak? I have always found a bath in a hot spring washes away my troubles, at least for a time."

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Defenders Base, Rec Room

This Makoto seemed like an empathetic type. Cloe had seen her glance over at Avery. For someone who was so good at helping others manage their own emotions, the feathered beauty often struggled with her own. Cloe remembered the fun nights spent in that natural hot pool (and rumours of others enjoying it in more carnal ways), and thought it would do her a world of good. It was a pity when the transporter had broken down. After it had, things with Jane and the Syndicate had escalated so quickly that the hot pools were the last thing on any of their minds.

"The teleporter pad for that one is in an antechamber behind the main pads... I dont know what state it is in. It is probably best to ask the Commander," Cloe said slowly, lookong over at the hulking man and her winged friend. She thought of what a nice warm soak could do for her own worries and smiled wistfully. "I think you would soon be the most popular person on base if you could fix that," Cloe added with a chuckle.

 

[Armphid]

Defenders' Lunar Base - Rec Room

Makoto nodded. It was never a high priority, naturally, do it wouldn't be surprising if it was still down or had even been cannibalized for parts to repair more vital systems. She grinned and the expression was, perhaps, surprisingly naughty, "A girl does,like to be popular, especially with pretty people naked in the water."

She then blushed deep red, hands flying to her mouth, "Ah! Gomen nasai, I'm sorry that was too...too." Baka! Why say something like that? Makoto shook her head, "What I meant was that...it is good to get along," she said a bit lamely.

"I should go see what shape it's in then." The sooner she got to work, the sooner it would be done. And to be honest, she would like to see all these fantastic bodies in the bath. The water was dark, as the best true hot spring water was, so it nothing could be seen beneath it but it would still be quite titillating. Makoto had come to terms with her bisexuality as well as being trans after her change. "I think many of us could use it."

The Japanese girl paused before rising. Cloe seemed to have something on her mind too. She was better at hiding it than Avery. Maybe she was imagining it? Either way, she felt she should say something. She reached out and laid a hand on one of Cloe's. "Cloe-san, I know I have just met you, but it seems like you are carrying a burden. I apologize if I am overstepping, but...one thing I learned from Makoto-sensei," it was so strange to talk about herself that way, "if there is something you need to say or do, do not wait. Your time may be up before you realize. Regrets weigh more than any trouble."

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Defender's Base, Rec Room

Cloe laughed at Makoto's words and the blush on her cheeks when she mentioned the springs once more. She would never have thought that petite, pretty face would be hiding something so sexually suggestive. It was another reminder of the old days, of the exploits of other on the base. Though Cloe's mind was only on one thing at the moment.

Just before Makoto rose she touched Cloe's hand and spoke. Cloe's eyes widened slightly and a few white buds bloomed on her chest. This new Makoto's words slipped straight to the heart of her problem.

"That seems to be the theme of the day," Cloe sighed, getting to her feet and eyeing the bookcase in the far corner. Though Cloe couldn't help but think that her regret of not speaking her mind would weigh far less than if it lost her a friend. She had carried that weight for five years, and it was familiar now. This new one with all of its vulnerabilities and possibilities chafed far more. Nevertheless she reached out and put a hand on the other woman's shoulder, "Thank you."

 

[such_a_bad_man]

When Peter finally came out of his deep internal debate, he saw that he was alone now in the training room. Drawing a deep breath, he pushed off the wall. Rather than following everyone into the rec room, he stepped up onto the training circle that the Commander and Avery had used just a moment ago. What happened to Adam was a stark reminder that everyone had to be in control of their powers and understand them at all times. He let that thought replay over and over in his head as he stood there, thinking about the fights to come before them. Ultimately, The Defenders were going to have to face Jane. No one was looking forward to it, but the inevitability of that moment weighed heavily on his mind.

"And I still don't know what I can do... not completely..." he muttered to himself. He still wasn't over the bad habit he developed while underground for so many years alone. He wasn't even aware of his propensity to talk to himself now.

Peter walked to the control panel for the training circle and turned on the training targets all around the ring. First, a ring of 18 around the perimeter, then a ring of 9 about 5 feet in from those, then four more five feet in from those. Stepping back into the ring, Peter spoke into the base comms.

"Spiders? If you can hear me, ignore any fire detection signals you get from the training room for the next few minutes. I will handle it if it becomes a problem." He said, not waiting to hear if the base engineer heard or responded.

As he stood there, he focused on his core. He was never really sure what exactly he was tapping into when he used his abilities. It was some part of his mind that linked up with his body in some strange way. He had to learn more about it if he was going to be a real asset to the team. He concentrated on it, made it bigger in his mind... and bigger.... and bigger.

The air around him grew hazy and wavy as his body temperature began to rise. It rose higher and higher until his very skin was glowing a deep red, then a vibrant red turning into an orange. By now, the 4 closest targets and burst into flames as the air temperature cross the flash point of the material. Somewhere, warning claxons were going off along with warnings of a fire in the training room. Still, Peter pushed the temperature up.

He was yellow and shedding light like an arc lamp when the next ring of targets sprung to fire. When he reached this level, Peter opened his eyes. He could feel it. His body felt warm. Could he really become too hot even for himself? His mind raced at the implication and pushed him onward, curious to find out what that limit could be. As he looked down, he saw the platform starting to bow slightly under his weight. All this time, he thought the training platform was indestructible; apparently, it had a temperature threshold.

Lifting his chin, Peter saw that the final ring of targets were still sitting in their stands. "Come on..." he pushed himself toward higher temperatures until they finally went up as well. With that, he released the tension he was putting on that bead of heat deep inside himself, focusing instead on absorbing the heat from the flaming targets around him, cooling them back down until they extinguished. Peter looked around in a slow circle to see if he'd done any other damage to the room other than the slight foot prints he'd put in the training surface. As he turned to the rec room door, he was dreading the disapproving glares he was bound to get from the Commander, Avery and Spiders for that, but he had to know. There was so much more left to learn about these powers and there was no sense in being timid about it.

As he turned to face the rec room doors, he was already thinking about what to do or say to Cloe still. That discussion was by no means over yet either.

 

[silvertongue217]

Defenders Rec Room

COMMANDER POV

"Is it now" John said briefly glancing up to smile at her as he lined up a shot "Given that im liable to shoot a ball right off of the table and hit some one playing alone tends to be safer for every one involved"

He rose turning his body to hug her. Her words however and the question behind them made him pause and sigh.

Raton

He was wondering when some one from the old team was going to ask about him. The man was infamous around the defenders, the kind of guy you wanted having your back when things went to shit.

Which arguably they were.

"Yeah about that" He said glancing over at the others trickling into the rent center and gently grabbing her arm. He pulled her over to the corner and dipped his head in.

"Raton came back earlier than every one else" He explained nodding his head at the picture "I put him to work right away after all you know he likes to work as a solo agent he was working in Russia for me getting the information that led us to the data server.... However he went missing not much later I am hoping the data farm we hit has his location or at least some clue"

.................................

SPIDERS POV

He all but jumped back shaking his head from side to side as he took her in.

"Thats not" He started sighing and shaking her head "I was just being friendly showing you around!" He grumbled slash snapped sighing running a hand through his long crazy hair.

"Anyways" He finally said pinching the bridge of his nose. He inwardly cursed at his social awkwardness. Like always a pretty girl was tripping him up and he was blowing it! If only he could fucking relax.......

"Yes on the research and hell no on the orgies...... At least not with the current team" Gregory remarked leading her down the hall and towards the main atrium area.

"Besides monitoring the earth and any threats against it we do cutting edge research to improve peoples lives" Gregory explained ignoring the spiders of all makes and models clattering around them "A lot of people dont realize this but the Defenders has three branches two are dedicated to combating and fighting threats both natural and unnatural and the other is dedicated to healing the environment and general attempts to make the world a safer and better place"

Gregory stepped into the main area and turned fishing his phone out. With a quick swipe he pulled up the Base's security system. His eyes tracked the information for a few seconds before he pocketed his phone and turned back to her.

"Looks like every one is gathered in the rec room" He told her nodding at the corridor "shall we? Or did you want to go some where else first?" He asked her raising an eyebrow. Before she could answer his COM system chimed and Peters voice filled his ear.

"Roger that Peter" Gregory remarked pulling his phone out once more and disabling the system in the training area. He set the sensors in the room to track Peters powers more out of an inate curiosity than any thing else.

..................................

THUNDERESS POV

"I do believe she had one more" Orror said nodding and leading in "It was not so long ago when we were flying with the Commander however I did not get the phrase she used that time unfortunately I was focusing on the fight"

"Before that no she did not have any sort of episode however my sister and I are still new to each other" Orror explained random sparks moving up and down her body "We only recently found each other so her past might have held more of these episodes if she knew about them however she would have told me I am sure of that"

 

[KimaniNight]

Defenders' Lunar Base

POV Zuya Wagner

Zuya walked into the Rec Room and spotted the Commander in the corner with Avery.

Probably not a good time to interrupt him, especially when he has a new team to get ready, she thought.

Zuya decided instead to text the Commander, letting him know she was heading to Nice to talk to a friend in Interpol about tracking down the two teenage Defenders and their parents.

Text sent, Zuya left the Rec Room to head down to the planet below

POV Lynx and Wind Hunter

Lynx nodded, her forehead furrowed in thought. She was silent for about a half a minute before responding to Orror.

"I'll go through any recordings we have on your flight down and back up, and at the base during the initial briefing," Lynx answered. "And our liaison, what's-her-name, is doing a search for our Irish expert. I'll conduct an interview with your sister after she's finished in the imaging chamber., and see if there are any other episodes in her personal history." Lynx paused before adding, "It might be best if I do the interview with just her and me."

 

[Wolfias]

Adam/Greywolf Escape the Infirmary.

Adam waited long enough and she did say that he's OK, the pretty lil Doc did tell him about ear protection. Unable to sit still any longer he hops off the bed a high protein high caloric, fruit and veggie, Smoothie in hand he walk right out of the Infirmary. Remembering he left his Lynard Skynard T-shirt, socks and boots in the arena tired of being shirtless. Picking up the pace he to an easy run reaching the arena in no time Adam enters to the very strong odor of things having been scorched and burned at high temperatures. Seeing Peter he'd heard his name in a conversation his sensitive ears unintentionally he picked up.

"Hi Peter" Adam pauses just inside the door. "Interrupting anything?" Wondering if he's a Pyrokenetic or what, as he's one of the top Defenders probably had sensors turned off just because he could. Walking across the arena floor to reach his shirt, socks and boots as he left them glad they weren't ashes. "Been roasting Marshmallows in here, or what?"

Pulling on his Skynard T-shirt Adam jumps the railing to sit in an arena seat, dusts off his socks to pull them on followed by his black cowboy boots. Stands to settle his feet into the boots, jumping the railing starts to cross the arena floor. "You haven't seen me OK?" I just couldn't stay in the infirmary any longer, I promise to go back when Lynx needs me." He waits half a beat before putting his palms together as if praying, whatever Peter did Adam took it as 'Go on' He'd trot to the door looking back with a grin at Peter and out the door he went. His boot heels sound loudly against the floor really needs to get rubber heel tabs and soles. Heading to the Rec Room upon reaching it Adam leans into the door putting a finger to his lips.

"Shhhh, I'm not here, you don't see me." Almost whispers when he's speaking. Seeing that the floors carpeted he doesn't have to pull his boots off, stepping in the room he'd walk to the Pool cues selects one. Noticing Commander Hulk had one in his huge hand and is off to one side quietly speaking to Avery. Adam leans on the cue waiting to see if he's going to be ordered back to the Infirmary. What if Avery uses another scream, it wouldn't go well for him. +Grey growls irritably. I don't want to risk it, but you don't even ask what I want. I can speak wherever I want but I accept your will. But not for long if you continue to put us in danger, by not letting the pretty feline fit our ears for protectors Adam!+

 

[SinisterSpiders]

"Yeah about that"

John's words automatically set Avery's nerves on edge. When he gently took her arm and led her over to the corner she knew that he didn't have good news. His words merely confirmed it, and told her that things were worse than she imagined. Her stomach dropped in worry and her eyes widened. She may have ended things with Raton, but there was a part of her that would always love him. Perhaps not in the same way she loved John, but he was a good friend of hers and this news was devastating to say the least.

"He went... missing?" Avery looked at John, struggling to wrap her mind around the concept. The thought... the knowledge that Raton was now most likely at Jane's mercy. All of this time she had just assumed he was busy living his life, and he actually been captured by the enemy. If only she'd asked John earlier, reached out when she started to get concerned...

"Where is the information from the servers? Has it been analysed yet? We need to check it out, send a team down there. I'll go. John, we need to find him! Shit, we need to get him out of there!" Avery struggled to contain the panic rising in her. After what had happened with Adam earlier she was in a terrible place for news like this. Despite her panic, she had her back turned to the room, and her wings flared slightly to give them a touch of privacy. She kept her voice low, but her grip was firm on John's arm. "John, please tell me you plan to get him out of there."

 

[silvertongue217]

Defenders Moon Base

COMMANDER POV

He was not expecting her reaction.

It was like Avery to care.... It was the reason he loved her so much. She had incredible power in her own right more power than him. Yet she used it to heal people, to heal people and defend nature and the world.

But this was some thing else

As she sputtered out and asked him what they were doing to find and help him he watched her closely. What was going on with her?

Then it hit him

"You and him" He said shrugging of her hand and narrowing his eyes "How long were you guys together?" He asked her raising an eyebrow.

"And you should know I would never leave any man behind" He reminded her crossing his arms "The data is being looked over by Darius thats why he was excused from training. Were going to find him and then spring him out" He told her firmly.

..............................

THUNDERESS POV

"I think that would be wise" Orror said rising up and bowing her head in Lynx direction "Thank you please let my sister know she can join me in the rec room as soon as she is released from your care"

She turned disappearing out the door of the medical wing. She moved down the halls slowly relishing the opportunity to go slow and study her surroundings.

"Modern man has many marvels" She murmured turning the corner and spying two people in the main atrium. She eyed them both and walked over to them.

"Are you two new?" Orror asked eyeing the hot ebony bombshell and the skinny white man. The woman looked like a power house! Some one who could prove to be a fine warrior maiden.

"My name is Orror" She said bowing her head "It is in a honor to meet and one day fight with you both"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Defender's Base, Rec Room

The tone in John's voice, the way his hand dropped away from her... Avery's stomach knotted with indignation. Her wings fluttered slightly as they flared more and her fists balled at her sides. She was relieved to hear that John planned to retrieve him and that Darius was the one going through the information, but her heart was still thundering painfully at the thought of Raton being in Jane's possession.

"A year and a half," Avery replied quietly, tone civil despite how John's reaction had stung. "We got together after the disbandment. It didn't... It didn't work. I ended it because I was too hung up on some big guy who I didn't think loved me back. But Raton and I stayed friends..."

She watched John carefully. She didn't know if he felt angry or betrayed, but in her own mind it didn't feel fair. She had tried to reach out to him before the disbandment, and even before that, but he had been to obsessed with Jane.

 

[Armphid]

Defender's Lunar Base - Rec Room and Hallways, Makoto Atrium - Glory

Makoto blushed but smiled at Cloe's thanks and approval. She reached up to place a hand on the one the nature elemental had placed on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Then she turned and made her way out of the room; a glance told her that the conversation between John and Avery was not going well...and that she did not want to butt into it. She'd look up Avery later and see if she was okay.

The Japanese beauty walked through the halls of the base and though she spotted Gregory and a gorgeous, tall, muscular new girl being met by another of the new recruits, she did not go to greet them herself. Her shyness asserted itself and she instead kept to the darker side of the hallways as she made her way to the teleporter room and then the antechamber.

It was dusty and there were small spot-like tracks in it from Gregory's spider drones. The teleporter here had been cannibalized a bit, she could tell even from here. But that was understandable. She could fix it either way. And the dust would actually help.

Makoto walked through it and let nanites seep and pour out of her as she did so, letting the tiny machines flow into the dusty room. The dust would serve as a good source of matter to at least start replacing missing components. She rested a hand on the side of the machine and sent another wave of them in to inspect and transmit the condition of it to the base's systems.

She walked to a monitor on the side of the wall as the dust on the floor began to seemingly dissolve out from footprints. Her pink lips pursed and then twisted into a grimace as she looked at the readout. "I'll need more." She activated a comm line and buzzed Gregory, "Gregory-san? I'm sorry to bother you, but if there's any trash from breakfast that hasn't yet been incinerated, could you have a few of your larger drones bring it to Teleport Annex 7, please? At least...twenty kilograms, if there's that much. Arigatou!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Glory shrugged, "You keep asking me questions like I know what's up here. Greg baby, I have no idea what I would want to see because I have no idea what there is TO see." She felt a little bad pointing it out, but what did he expect her to say? She didn't know jack about this place.

"I mean it, you know. That I'm open to the idea. Damn shame about the orgy thing though; super heroes are always hot." As she spoke, they were approached by another woman; a bad ass looking woman at that!

Formal though. Ra would like that, but Glory just found it kind of funny. Who talked like that who wasn't on a sci fi show or something? "Nice to meet you, Orror." She inclined her head to mimic the woman's gesture and also held out her hand to shake, "Glorious Eye of Ra, but please call me Glory. All the rest of that shit's too long. Could you imagine trying to spit that out in the middle of a fight?"

 

[such_a_bad_man]

As the temperature in the room started to normalize, the side door to the room opened. Peter looked over and saw someone he did not expect walking in: Adam, the wolfen recruit that got his bells rung by Avery's scream just a short time ago. He furrowed his brow as he seemed to be walking around jsut fine. "That didn't take long. I would have thought that Lynx would have you on her table still, poking at you to learn how you tick."

"Hi Peter. Interrupting anything?"

Peter looked around the room as the target stands slowly retracted into the floor. "Uh, no, just... trying some things out." He said, noncommittally. He didn't want to let on about how unsure he was about himself or his gifts after so long in his hole in the ground.

"Been roasting Marshmallows in here or what?"

Peter hadn't noticed, but the burning targets gave off a slightly sweet smell. With his wolf-like sense of smell, it was probably very prominent to someone like Adam, Peter reasoned. "Yeah, marshmallows..."Peter added, glancing down at his foot prints in the floor of the training ground still.

"You haven't seen me OK? I just couldn't stay in the infirmary any longer, I promise to go back when Lynx needs me."

"You don't say anything about seeing me in here like this and I won't say anything to Lynx." Peter offered as he started moving to leave the room himself.

Peter was about to walk into the rec room when he caught a whiff of burnt cloth. Looking down, he cursed to himself. "Dammit, I did it again." His tank top had burned away in patches and his loose pants were burnt around the hems. Shaking his head, he instead turned to the side door to head back to his quarters first. Stepping into the hallway, he looked down and saw Makoto walking toward the teleportation pads. He couldn't help but notice the way the nanites seemed to hug and accentuate her fine back side, even from this distance. In the back of his mind, a part of him wondered about the relationship between this Black Ant and her predecessor. She rounded the corner and Peter's thoughts returned to the task at hand again.

Walking back to the dormitory side of the base, he slipped into his room as he saw some of the younger recruits milling around, looking for their rooms already. He grinned and slipped into his room and changed clothes yet again and tossed this outfit into the trash as they didn't have the means for clothing repair up here. Greg's spiders might be able to help him out, but he secretly didn't want anyone to see that he'd ruined yet another set of clothes. A loose t-shirt and gym shorts would have to do for the rest of the night as he walked back toward the rec room. As he walked, he heard conversation in the teleportation lobby. Greg's voice was easy to pick out in the group as it was the only male voice.

Figuring he might need to explain himself for his request earlier and to see if there were more faces to meet, Peter headed toward the voices. Sure enough, Greg was there and so were two women that seemed to be introducing themselves to each other. One was a woman he saw just before John's speech. The other was new, but built like some of the women that used to work for the Defenders back in the old days. She could probably run through a brick wall if she needed, he thought to himself as he walked up to the group of 3 and waited to see if there was a moment he could use to inject himself into the conversation.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Cloe was about to get a book to read from the corner shelf when she saw the rec room door open. The man who had been injured by Avery's call snuck in and set himself up by the pool table while Avery and John were discussing something (that looked like it was getting rather tense if Avery's posture was anything to go by). Makoto slipped out of the room just as Cloe got to her feet. So, instead of getting a book she made her way over to the new recruit. As she got closer she could feel some energy within him, something old, wild... She gave him a smile as she approached. Another Defender with ties to the natural world. Excellent.

"I'm Cloe," she said, offering her hand for him to shake, "It is good to see you have recovered so quickly."