Portugal...

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

We're later than we expected, getting back - had to stop and drop off some of our unwilling passengers to Val Cooper, who should really thank me for having given her a heads-up while we were still in Portugal to expect some fairly powerful mutations needing containing. Happily, none of them were showing any of the symptoms of the kid in Maine that Jean saw, but they're all going to have to be checked out anyway. And interrogated.

For those of you who held the fort here - everyone who went is pretty much intact (although if I can move around comfortably in the morning I'm going to be surprised. I hate being thrown into walls). We brought back six, lost maybe another four that escaped. The terrain was conducive to fleeing.

Although they put up one hell of a fight - a serious fight, by any stretch of the imagination. I don't think we could have been dealing with cannon fodder or would-be bombers here - I'm betting these were core members of the group. Anyone else get the same impression?

Comments

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

I'd say so - they'd obviously done some training. I say this because of the pair that tried to electrocute me. They'd obviously been working together on that nasty little trick.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Rather glad they didn't try that with anyone less durable than you. (Although I suppose we do stock a defibrillator on the 'Bird.)

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

Yes, but we're much happier when we don't have to use it.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think that goes without saying.

How's the hair? (And should I be running away for saying that...?)

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

Heavily conditioned. I think another spa day is in order, but this is nothing like the time it was burned off. It's just gonna be a little frizzy. But it is still there.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

I'll call Greta.

If she screams and faints again, you're going to have to send her flowers.

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

That's going to be my definining moment on the team forever, isn't it?

[x-cannonball.livejournal.com]

At least you didn't get suckered by a tribe of "natives" called the Arenques Rojos?

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I agree that anything where giant snakes feature in any way beats a basic mental breakdown. Reading a mission report with a link to pretty complete video coverage was actually interesting, but I ended up with too many tangental thoughts about what sort of formative-years damage could have been responsible for that sort of exploitative depravity. Or, um, Kraven.

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

We're always happier when we don't have to break out the defibrillator.

[x-storm.livejournal.com]

You do not enjoy being thrown into walls, I do not enjoy being grabbed by the ankle and spun around like a whirling dervish. It is dizzying, to say the least.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

... is that what happened? I thought you looked a little disheveled.

[x-storm.livejournal.com]

Every self-defense teacher I have ever had has said it is a bad idea to lose one's footing in combat. They are so very, very right.

And I never look disheveled. Temporarily ruffled, perhaps. Disheveled, never.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

We call a spade a spade, 'Ro.

Also, do you want to call Pete and/or Remy, let them know what happened? Since the Preservers are an open file for them, too.

[x-storm.livejournal.com]

I will show you a spade...

Very well, I will contact them shortly. As soon as I locate the source of the suspicious snickering I hear.

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

I want to see that.

[x-jeangrey.livejournal.com]

No spading my husband. You at least managed to look attractively disheveled. And I'm not snickering, really.

[x-ccelerate.livejournal.com]

I would imagine the Attilani government would be interested to know about Preserver heavy hitters operating out of the neighbor's yard, so to speak--presuming, that is, you haven't already passed the information along.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Good point, though that phone call, I think I'll leave to Charles. He would almost have to pass it along via Crystal and Medusa's parents, and to be honest, I'm a little intimidated by their mother.

[x-ccelerate.livejournal.com]

Smart man. Their mother has stared down my father. Or so I gather from context, having been left to cool my heels in the waiting room during that particular conversation.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

I learned early to respect women like that. Call it spending entirely too much time around Moira when I was sixteen.

[x-sanfuaiyaa.livejournal.com]

You know what I don't want to encounter again? A pyrokinetic who can take control of my own fire.

You know what's sad?

[x-wolverine.livejournal.com]

Ferals without claws.

Little dude could _move_, though. Gotta give him that. And maybe when his legs grow back he'll have learned not to let himself get pinned into a corner.

*grins*

Brewskies down at Harry's, anyone?

Re: You know what's sad?

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

...when his legs grow...

Tell me that's an exaggeration.

I am so glad I don't go into the field. Ever.

Re: You know what's sad?

[x-cable.livejournal.com]

Given that Scott and 'Ro didn't toss him out of the plane on the way back from Portugal, I'm guessing that it is at least something of an exaggeration, yes.

Re: You know what's sad?

[x-wolverine.livejournal.com]

The one had grown back already, and the other was replacing muscle mass. Guy will be tanking down prison food for a long time, but he'll get better.

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it went well. In respect to no one being incapacitated and nobody among the captured showing signs of imminent death, I mean. I'd say you're right about that impression since there's some practical drawbacks to investing time and effort into training someone who's just going to explode soon.

Sorry. Headache interferes with thought. That was remarkably devoid of any kind of original insight.

Decently-powered mutations were present. Great. Nothing makes news of suicide bombings better than a side of the strong exploiting the weak.