Issue 1 Downtime

It was odd to think of a potential terrorist and murderer just enjoying coffee at a local cafe, but that's exactly what Ariel was doing. Dressed rather fashionably, Ariel appeared to be waiting for someone.

A visibly frustrated Aria shows up out of nowhere, sitting in the other chair. No one seems to notice the sudden arrival of a mutant with big, black wings on her back. WHich might be because to everyone else the entire table and that whole section of the cafe just ceased to exist from their point of view. It's still there, of course, but folded out of regular three-dimensional space.

Ariel grins softly, setting aside the cup on a china platter on the table.

"Having a lovely afternoon I take it?"

"Just splendid." she grumbles.

"It's not their fault, you know," Ariel says, stirring the coffee idly, "Everyone wants peace. A confrontation means pain and sacrifice. It means breaking from the status quo."

"It is so much easier to bend your knee than to stand your ground."

"Did you have a philosophy book for breakfast? Everyone wants peace where they live, they just don't really give a shit about anywhere else. So hey, if that's how they want to do this then we'll fight for our peace at their expense."

"You'll have to forgive me. Drama is an indulgence of mine," Ariel says, "The situation is getting worse, you know. Mr. Kinsey and his thugs are on their way here to act as cultural ambassadors. Ready to spread the good word of mutant registration."

"That's why I'm here. I'd do something on my own, but I'm not that full of myself."

"Well, we're glad to have you," Ariel says, "We recently lost two members, so we're sorely in need of some help."

She nods. "So... You sound like the kind of person who has a plan."

"My dear, I always have a plan," Ariel says, "But first, I have to unfortunately do the rather cliche 'test your loyalties' rigmarole."

"I need you to get us something from the university."

She mentally groans.

"Okay, what is it?"

"Schematics of the Danger Room," Ariel says, "Particularly the holo-projectors."

"Trust goes both ways. What do you need them for?"

"We're going to need a series of distractions in order to get to Kinsey," Ariel says, "A few disasters happening across the city should do the job nicely. And keep the collateral damage to a minimum."

"You do have a plan. Alright, I'll see what I can do."

"That's all we ask," Ariel says.

"You make it sound so simple, guess I'll have to go and make it look easy now." she smirks.

"If it was simple, I would have taken care of it already," Ariel says, smirking back, "If I make it sound easy, it's only because I have absolute confidence in you."

"Damn you're a good liar. Alright, I'll be back with the schematics."