A Call for Calm [Voice]

[blesstherains]

[An announcement finally appears on the school network, with Principal Munroe speaking. Her voice is grave, but professional and steadfast as always.]

Students and staff.

As you are aware, there have been a number of disappearances from the school’s infirmary, specifically the quarantined area. There is no current exposure risk to students, and the location of the missing patients has been found.

Classes are postponed until we can get them back.

We ask for your patience in dealing with this matter.

[Private message to the recovery team: Shulk, Joss, Meiling, Reki, Rinka, Kisume, Feliks, Yuui, Greg]

You are needed in the hangar.

Comments

[Closed to the Recovery Team]

[blesstherains]

[The Blackbird was parked in the flight bay below the basketball court; a few technicians are busily retracting the equipment used in refueling the plane, a task just finished.

Ororo herself was pacing back and forth near the aircraft’s loading bay, doors already open and ramp extended for boarding.]

Thank you for coming. I’m afraid there’s little time for pleasantries.

We’re heading to London. If you wish not to go, you are free to leave; no judgment. There is a strong possibility you may be exposed to the virus.

This is not a death-or-glory mission—we’re recovering the ill, not smashing windows. Understand?

[totallystoned]

Reki stubbed her hand-rolled cigarette out on the ground, picked it up by the end.

"Damn! I can understand it from kids. But what's Wagner thinking?"

[blesstherains]

At that Ororo sighed almost imperceptibly, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I wish I knew. The illness has been causing him to...act erratically. But never like this."

[niepokonany]

We'll try and keep the window-smashing to a minimum.

[Looking around, he's a little unsettled to realize that he and Yuui are the most senior people who were called for the mission. He tries not to think about how upset Fai will be if they both get sick.]

[They'll just have to not get sick.]

[blesstherains]

I trust you'll keep a level head during this mission, Feliks.

[It wasn't her first choice of team--even second or third. But the innumerable crises caused by the virus had scrambled their resources.]

[niepokonany]

[Feliks smiles, reflexively -- he's always had a bit of an instinct to make light of it when he's actually worried about something.]

Sure, no big! Get everybody in and out in one piece, that's the big thing, right?

[blesstherains]

Yes. I'm not so concerned about those of us here.

[She sighs, though only allows herself a small one.]

It's the sick I'm most worried about.

[niepokonany]

We'll just have to talk a little sense into them. They're our friends, it'll be okay!

[reallyfeelingit]

Er...if it helps, I had no wish to hurt myself or others. Inanimate objects too, even though that may be unavoidable considering circumstances. I'll do my best.

[psykick]

I don't want to hurt anyone either, but we might have to knock them out. If they've gone this far to get out, I do not think they will come back just because we asked nicely.

[She fiddles slightly with the batons at her waist. She'd hesitated over bringing them at all, but ultimately decided it was better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.]

[reallyfeelingit]

That might be true but I don't wish to give up on it. If other methods are required, I understand but I don't just want to jump directly to it.

[Yes, Shulk is far too optimistic about these things.]

[psykick]

Oh, I'll ask them nicely first.

[With the implication she's going t ask once, and only once. Though, she'll probably ask at least two or three times.]

But people are stubborn, and I have no problem hitting a friend if they need it.

[reallyfeelingit]

Er...

...ah. At least remind me not to get on your bad side then.

[He's rather not be hit. Though he hoped he never needed it either.]

[psykick]

[Rinka gives a little smile]

It's actually really hard to get on my bad side.

[Actually, it'd probably be a kick, but shhhhhhhh.]

[reallyfeelingit]

I'll...take you at your word.

[Hopefully. He'll do his best at that.]

[psykick]

I'm Rinka, by the way. Or 'Ghost Girl.' Still working on the X-name.

[reallyfeelingit]

I'm Professor Shulk. Though I'd prefer if you would just call me Shulk.

[psykick]

[Shulk... now where has she heard that name before? Something on the school network?]

Ah! You're the new shop teacher, right?

[reallyfeelingit]

That's exactly it, yes. I'm glad you could recall that.

[It's not a very popular class.]

[psykick]

Oh, it just seemed funny to me, that they have a class on that in the States. Do students here really need help with that sort of thing?

[she totally thinks it's a class about retail and shopping]

[reallyfeelingit]

It's useful knowledge to have. I'm often surprised at the basic skills that can be learned in this class but a lot of people don't know. And they can be useful your entire life.

[blesstherains]

Apologies, Mr. Franklyn, but it is necessary to cover all possible outcomes.

Wherever the X-men go, property damage tends to follow.

[reallyfeelingit]

Can I vow to at least try to save as much money as possible?

[blesstherains]

I suppose that will have to do.

[And Ororo cracks a small smile, to lighten the mood.]

Still, be aware we are facing the ill, some...moreso than others. They may not all be in their right minds.

[reallyfeelingit]

We want to help rather than hurt. That much, I do understand. No, unless it's in desperate self-defense, I think it would be wrong to hurt someone.

[eternalprincess]

When it rains, it pours...

[Kaguya was fortunate enough to avoid becoming ill, probably due to spending a lot of time with her girlfriend.]

[blesstherains]

I'm afraid so, Miss Houraisan. Do you have any further concerns regarding this incident?

[eternalprincess]

I'm not sure... other than being concerned that more mutants will get sick.

[blesstherains]

I am afraid it is a risk, though minimal. The school itself, however, is safe.

[Voice]

[koukai_kirai]

Understood.

[Private to staff]

Any instructions for those of us not directly involved with the recovery?

[Private—Voice]

[blesstherains]

Keep the students calm. Rash decisions landed us in this situation to begin with; we don't need any more.

[Private—Voice]

[koukai_kirai]

Understood.

Is there anything else we can do?

[Private—Voice]

[blesstherains]

At the moment, no. Besides remain vigilant for the next disaster.

[A small note of exasperation crept into her voice at the last part.]

[Private—Voice]

[koukai_kirai]

When have you ever known me to neglect that duty, Ororo?

[He's always waiting for the next shoe to drop.]

[anythingspossible]

Joss was had to hold her bite her tongue, her robot, Tornado, floating by her side. She quivered with excitement as she looked up to storm. She clenched her fist, tensed her body trying to hold it in, but finally she erupted.

"OH ma Gosh! I'm goin on a mission with storm! Aaaaaaaahhhh!" She let out a scream that echoed through the whole hanger, and her robot slid back from her when she jumped in the air.

She ran to Storm. "Miss Munroe, Miss Munroe, can I have yer autograph?!" Tornado followed her and with a flick of her hand the machine pulled a note book and a pen out of its self.

[blesstherains]

Ororo at least didn't flinch at the sound of a young teenager's explosive glee. One or two technicians did, though they weren't quite so distracted that they dropped anything. But they came close.

"Miss Possible. I must ask you to lower your voice before we continue." Her voice was firm, but not scolding.

[anythingspossible]

Joss winched slightly. She spoke in almost a whisper. "Ohhhh. Sorry Miss Munroe. This is just so excitin." Joss was still quivering, but at least her robot could approach her again.

[blesstherains]

Ororo relaxed some at that, not quite as severe as she was.

"Better. I understand your enthusiasm, but this is no time for rash action. Discipline, not recklessness, must be how we proceed. Do you understand?"

She did see the robot floating at her side; she was waiting for an answer first.

[anythingspossible]

Joss nodded repeatedly on Ororo's every word. For her they might as well have been gospel.

"Ya got it Miss Munroe. I'll be a disciplined as one them red coats gaurdin the queen's palace in England."

She stood strait and stiff as a board with her arms at her side. Then both of her brows rose when she remembered something.

"Oh yeah there's somethin I wanted to give ya." Joss opened her hand, and her robot reached into a compartment within its self to hand her a small, circular, piece of plastic.

"This is a communicator ya put in yer ear." Joss lifted her hair out of the way of her left ear to show that she too had a communicator. "With it I can hear everythang ya say, and it scans yer body too, so I'll know if ya get hurt. I'll share more with the rest of the team later if they want."