Issue 1 Downtime

The park is not exactly hopping early in the morning, though a fair number of people are passing it on their way to work. The only actual park inhabitant is a mutant with crocodile-like skin, passed out under a bench and clutching a bottle.

Juma moves into the Auxiliary Team room with the others of his team. His features gradually revert to human, if only so he can talk more clearly. Of course, even when he is mostly human, he still has some gifts from the Serval, as shown by the dark claws which extend and retract from between his fingers.

John followed Juma in, anxious to get started.

Will joined the first two, as that's basically the definition of "gathering".

When Constantine arrives, Juma nods to him and gives a brief description of what he considers to be his own strengths, "I do well as a scout or lookout, I can have really sensitive hearing, vision, and smell. I can hold my own in a fight and then some, at least against most people; bare claws or a mouth full of shark teeth tend to be intimidating, and I know how to use them. Unfortunately, the more I shift, the harder it is to be.. diplomatic."

"If you need a feat of strength or a human shield, I'm your guy."

"I'm a shapeshifter. Size, appearance, shape, material--you need something, I'm your guy. Just don't ask for, like, 30 feet tall or anything. At least, not without help."

"I'm not quite as versitile as Jum...sorry, codename, 'Shaman' over there--he seems to turn into animals, while I'm just shaped like 'em, if that makes any sense."

"I've got these little guys," Nina says, gesturing to a larger probe atop her head, "They can collect vital signs and heal people."

"Nina right?" Con asked, making an educated guess.

"Trauma Pack," Nina corrects, "For now."

"Alright." Con replied, having gotten the answer he wanted. "I'll be recapping for Ra..Nomic when she joins us, so if you could all make sure I got your powers right then, I'd appreciate it."

"Nomic." Rachel said, deciding that maintaining a degree of separation between her personal life and her work on the X-teams would be a good idea "I'm a telepath. I can mindspeak a bit and read thoughts to a limited extent. What I'm best at is controlling the autonomic nervous system."

"Ah yes, I forgot to introduce myself to everyone. I am John Hino. My codename is Genbu."

Juma frowns faintly but repeats his earlier description, elaborating that his gift allows him to borrow the traits of one of four animals.

"Autonomic? Does that mean i will be unable to drive a car?"

"Ok, hold on guys, can the questions for a minute." Con said. So." he continued, recapping as much for his own benefit as Rachel's "Shaman, you're an animalistic shifter. Our lizardy friend here is the tough guy of this motley crue. You're" nodding in Will's general direction "a form and body state shifter and Trauma Pack is a healer of sorts. That pretty much cover the basics?"

He nods to Constantine, flashing a rueful smile for getting ahead of himself.

"Got it in one."

"I think so."

"Sounds right to me."

"Ok, I'm what you might call your atypical wizard. Long story, but the relevant part is that I can fly, blow shit up and other fun stuff like that."

"Septic systems beware," Nina says with a giggle.

"Telekinetic?" Rachel asked

"There's a typical wizard?"

"Yeah, typical wizards use actual magic. I'm a mutant, that happens to work in much the same way. And no, as far as I know, I'm not telekenetic."

William Stanton wrote:"There's a typical wizard?"

"Sure. Big hat, beard, little glasses, staff," Nina says, "Or an angsty young boy with a scar on his head."

Nina begins looking at Con's head intently.

"So, whats the plan, boss?" Rachel asked Con.

Con smirked at Nina before answering Rachel's question.

"Questions first, from me or for me. Then rules of engagement. I've got a few questions, but anyone else got one first?"

"Not yet."

"Our main goal is just to protect the park, yes?"

"Guarding the park, monitoring the park for unusual activity and assuming shit does in fact go down, dealing with any injuries that require it, on either side."

"Do we know what we're looking for?"

"Specifically, no."

"Remarkably unhelpful."

((Blue for Com Channels))

Lumis's voice comes over Constantine's headset.

"Constantine this is Lumis. Is your team ready to move out?"

Con did a quick calculation of how long the trip was going to be and how much ground they could cover in the van.

"We'll be ready in 5 Lumis."

Addressing the group again he went on "We'll just need to keep an eye on things, anything unusual or suspicious will need to be checked out.

If anyone else has questions, we can cover them in the van, I've got a few on individual capabilities I want to get straight before we leave.

Shaman, a couple for you. Can you shift you full animal forms, and if so what ones, and can you speak when shifted?

Gwion, can you take on an artificial form, say a lamp post for instance?

Trauma Pack, can you fill us in on how those things work in regard to injuries?"

"That's my specialty. Don't ask for anything much heavier than---let's keep it at around a quarter ton for right now, but I'm your man. Or street sign, or whatever."

"I can easily shift to a serval, with some difficulty to an eagle, and with enough water to a shark. Chameleon is a big struggle and it is very hard to think. The more shifted I get the harder it is for me to talk, though I can usually manage to be understood while a cat."

"Gwion, can you see and/or hear when shifted like that? I'm assuming speech is out of the question?"

"Well, the smaller probes attach themselves to you and act as diagnostic tools," Nina says, "Relaying me information about your body and injuries and stuff."

"And then the doctor probes, that's the bigger guys, get in there and fix things. Kind of surgical like. No magical hand waving type healy stuff."

"Maybe I should attach a probe to everyone so I'll know when you're injured. None of you are afraid of them, are you?"