Issue 1 Downtime

A hooded woman is walking towards the outskirts of the small town at the foot of the mountain, although her get-up seems to be more against the drizzling weather than to hide because while the coat is wrapped over the wings on her back the lion's tail and feet already betray her identity as a mutant. Like everyone who comes down from the mountain from time to time she isn't hassled by the few denizens of the little village. When pressed none of the people can quite tell why they leave the mutant visitors be, some might mention something about them being protected by the mountain or it's ancient spirits but none dwell on the topic for long.

And thus Nailah just shrugs off her overcoat as she steps into a small tavern. Stretching her wings she spots the white-haired man at the back of the room and walks over to him. "Sergei." she smiles softly.

"You say that like you're surprised that I made it back in one piece," Sergei smirked back.

"I've been known to be wrong once or twice." she smiles with the faintest hint of a shadow falling over her face.

"Well there was a spot of trouble, but it was nothing we couldn't handle."

He sighed, "Oh for the days when I never thought I'd need to fall back on my training. Not to this extent."

"It's commendable that you do go out there at all."

"Someone has to," he answered after a swig of vodka.

"How many did you manage to find?"

"A group of five people, but they started their trek with twice that... God damn flatscans..."

Nailah sighs. "Well they're safe now."

"But for how long?"

"For as long as they stay here."

"Yes, of course... silly me having doubts about that."

"You know it's true, Sergei." she smiles patiently.

He soon caved. "Bah. You oracles take all the fun out of worrying."

"I think we've all had enough worrying."

"Old habits die hard."

"I know. Sometimes it's hard to believe we truly found a safe haven."

"Exactly. I've been running for far too long to stop looking over my shoulder."

"Just be thankful for the break we caught."

"And every break before that."

"But this one will last."

"Come on, we have new people to show around." she smiles, putting a hand on Sergei's shoulder.

"Yes, that we do," he smiled before following her out.

The trek wasn't far. The previous occupants of the mountain, the New Men, had worn several well-traveled paths from the village below into the former laboratories of the High Evolutionary. Being as the mountain stronghold had been the living place of dozens of New Men over the years, it hadn't been hard to convert it for the needs of the mutant refugees that now called it home.

"Approaching this place never fails to invoke irony." she says as they enter the complex.

"Yet my inner bear loves it anyway."

"I don't think your inner bear is the only one who's grown to love this place." she chuckles slightly.

"It makes a fine home... and the acoustics are fantastic."

"No lack of open spaces, no."

"Pity there's no giant pipe organ to creep out the villagers with."

"Me and everyone else here is very thankful for that." she smirks.

"But I would only do it once a year, I swear," he chuckled innocently.

"Good luck getting an organ delivered here." she chuckles.

"At least he had the foresight to put a piano in."

"That on the other hand? Much more pleasant to listen to than creepy pipe organ music."

"I guess he needed something to drown out the pained cries of animals being forcibly and rapidly evolved."

"Hence the irony in creating a safe haven here of all places."

"Don't forget the part where there's an ancient demon god trapped inside the mountain."

"And that tells a lot about the state of the world out there." she says.

By now the two have made their way into the more populated areas of the complex and Nailah occasionally waves at some of the refugees.

"Good evening, Professor Weaver!" Mizuki cheerfully says and waves as Sergei and Nailah pass her.

"Good evening." Nailah smiles.

Turning back to Sergei after they passed the girl she goes on quietly. "Enough about what's inside the mountain now."