Gryphon_Cyrus

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"I'm fine, just wounded... need to back away from the battle."

"BULLS_IT!!" Paul roared. "Don't listen to that! It's the Nanites!"

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"Paul, whatever is causing you to not fight, you need to get over," Emily shouted at Paul on a private frequency. "If we don't stop both the Vahzilok and the Lost now, then the inevitable death and distruction all the human race, including yourself, Crystal and anyone you ever cared for, will occur."

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"Stay Away!" He shouted to the others. "I... I can't crontrol myself!"

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Emily shouted through the communicators, "Paul! What's going on!? What's wrong!?"

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We... we need to move faster."

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Master Wonderful stepped into the middle of the fray. "WATCH IT! I'm clearing the... ROAD!" His last word was imphasised by the combined force of the shock waves from a mighty clap of his hands and a powerful stomp of his foot. The force sent Vahzilok's minions flying in all directions. "GO NOW!" the hero shouted. "I'll take care of these clowns and catch up with you! Time isn't on our side at this point, so don't even try arguing with me!"

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"Shoot it. [censored] shoot it." Jack shouted at him.

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"GRAAAAAH!" came Master Wonderful's cry as he attempted to tackle the rampaging zombie. What he didn't anticipate was that it decided to instinctively use Jack as a shield. He was able to stop in time to get knocked to the ground by another of Fankenstein's monster knockoffs. "Well that could have gone better."

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In Vahzilok's compound

Adam observed all the action that Girl Genius was getting involved in, and he found it rather boring. Large group of Mortificator and Reapers in the back of the mob pursuing them suddenly seemed to get exhausted and fell asleep, unseen to all, save Adam, who knew the cause of their sudden narcollepsy.

The somewhat weak looking bald man looked up at Penny, "Yes, I think I'm alright, except for this nasty headache. I'm, uh, Adam, Adam Sullivan. Any idea where we are? It smells like a sewer down here."

((OOC: Quicky this time. PM me for specifics on this guy))

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"I don't see any more of them... are you guys OK?"

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A dull groan could be heard from a near by cell. "Ow, my head. Where am I? Hello? I any one there?"

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"The world hates us."

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MasterWonderful was getting annoyed with Jack's apparent tendancy to feel sorry for himself. "The world hates you, Jack? The world doesn't hate you. Indevidual people hate you. They hate what they don't understand. They fear them. You don't make mush of an effort at being understood, because you have the same distrust that you believe everyone has of you. Yes, you may have had bad luck with the people you've met, I don't really know. But what I do know is that you who have known people who have known you for you, not the pain you can inflict with your powers. Heck, I was inadvertently on the receiving end of your powers, and I still think there is hope for you. Don't hold what people did to you as a child against the entire world or else your perspective will cause people to hate you, not because they fear mutants, but because the person who is behind those powers."

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"I just wish I knew the chemical makeup of the drug. I know what the common version of dyne does to a person's genetic structure, as well as several variants of it. But I have never heard of something this powerful."

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Master Wonderful paused in his bickering with Emily. "Actually, Dr. Sanstad, we do know the chemical make up of the drug that was used on them. It isn't a Dyne derivitive, so calling it that doesn't make sense anymore. In fact, it can be far more leathal: 60% chance of death, 40% chance in muntation, not very good odds. You can talk with the people back at MacBeth Techonolgies after we save the 'damsels in distress.'"

"Sorry to interupt, big guy. Mr. Armstong and his assistant are patched in now." Connor could hear another voice in the background, but he couldn't make out what was being said. "Martin's telling me that he had some additional comm units put among the equipment in the truck, feel free to pass them out as needed."

((OOC:I'm going to assume that the truck is being driven by one of the heroes not a MacBeth employee. Also, attempting to inter-connect all the communicators. This could theoretically make it so that Terrie and Emily can hear each other as well.))

Master Wonderful followed Erik into the truck. "Emily, are all the comm units patched into the same signal?"

The voice of a slightly annoyed woman came through the other end, "I'm not sure, partner. It's not like we've tested Dr. Sanstad's or Mr. Armstong's recieving capablities yet."

The pink hero sighed, "Well we could try testing them now, kid."

"Thank you for complementing my age," Emily responded, "though I do believe we are about the same age, but I suspect that one of has a bit more maturity than the other."

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That left him alone in the house with two cave bears and a lot of pent up anger...

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Master Wonderful had to do a double take as he came over head. There was who he assumed was Dr. Erik Sanstad, but he had a pair of extremely large animals with him. He landed across the street from Sanstad residence. As he approached, both bears growled at him, ready to protect their "pappa."

The pink superhero raised his hands slowly in a show of piece. "Whoa, there puppies, I'm not going to hurt anyone. Well, at least not anyone here. I'm guessing you are Dr. Sanstad. The name's Master Wonderful, and I assume those two are the reason why you wanted a truck sent."

While everyone else went to their respective vehicle, Connor MacBeth ran to the roof, changing to his normal pink and green suit and shades as he went. "Em, you are going to need to track me and let me know when I'm going in the right direction once I get to Atlas Park. I doubt I need to say this, but keep me posted on the others' status."

With that, Master Wonderful jumped from the roof and flew towards Atlas Park as fast as he could.

A lone Anomolous entered a remote room in the Rikti facility. The room remained mostly dark save for a few status lights around the room, in the center a hologram of a shadowy figure appeared.

What is the current status of our plans, Syn?

The shadowed Anomolous seemed to smirk. The heroes have escaped as per our plans, Master. I have no doubt that they will return here with friends in an attempt to stop us, as we have anticipated.

The shadowy hologram blinked lazily at the Anomolous. However, you did not kill Connor MacBeth. His continued existance is a threat to our plans. It is important to those religious fools of our race that they are worshiping gods that have never existed. They must learn that their so called savior is just a man!

Syn shied away from the figure. I apologize my lord, what would you have me do to correct this matter.

The Anomolous felt his body changing shape for the second time in his life. The pain was unbearable, causing him to fall unconscious. The shadowed form looked down at the now human for of the former Anomolous. You shall know what to do when the time comes, Syn. For now you shall rest in another’s hands.

((OOC: And the plot thickens. Oh, and internet hex color codes are fun.))

Emily contemplated what she had heard from both Armstrong and MacBeth. If Dr. Vahzilok was the one who created it, then why was it that the Lost also new breed of Aberant around the same time? Then it hit her.

"What did the equipment in the facilities look like? Did the facility have alien technology in it?" Her sudden questions were directed at Jack in an effort to protect her employer's other identity. It didn't work as she had hoped.

Connor's head, hiding the haunted expression on his face as he quietly said what he knew. "it... it was a rikti facility..." Everyone at the table could see, whether they heard him or not, that a pink color was slowly bleeding into his hair, starting at the roots.

((OOC Note: I am spelling Connor's first name correctly. It's supposed to have an odd spelling, just because I feel like having it be that way.)

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She looked around. "Does anyone have any additional information they would like to lay on the table that will fill out our bare-bones analysis?"

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Connor's eyes narrowed. "Doctor Syn," he said, trying to make his voice not sound menacing.

Emily blinked in surprise. "Who?"

The executive looked at Emily, "When he came in with the others, Master Wonderful told me that one of the... Anomolous, was it... spoke into his mind and refered to himself as Doctor Adelbert Syn. All I know about him is that he once worked for Crey Biotech's European devision."

((OOC: Hey, none taken... MW/MacBeth is just very concerned with keepin the connection between his two identities as secret as possible.))

Connor face-palmed as he watched Remington empty his pockets. "I'm sorry that I had not made clear who that request was for. Though if you can vouch for the fact that Mr. Harris has no recording equipment on him, then I will have to accept your word on the matter. I do agree that enough time has been wasted. Even as we speak, the Lost are using the misnamed "New Supradyne" to make even more of their most powerful Aberants yet. Emily, if you would start us off, we can fill in the holes as we come to them.

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But could spines be a Vampire related power as well? Are there any vampire type myths/stories where the creature had powers such as these?

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When it comes to Vampires, about anything is possible, since they haven't actually been proven to exist. Somethings you could do:

-Vampires are known to be shapeshifters. They have been seen transforming into wolf, bat and even mist forms. It could be that this Vampire either has such control over her shifting abilities that she can form spines, or she just has some different form of shapeshifting ability.

- You could take a page from White Wolf's "Vampire: the Masquerade." He abilities could be like the flesh crafting abilities of the Tzimetzi (probably spelled that wrong) or the spines are just a really vivid dilusion of her's that she can project in to the minds of others, like a Malkavian. Also could be done via "blood magic" similar to the Tremer.

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Jack dropped down into one of the chairs around the table. There was something about the man with the Remington man that Jack recognized, maybe from TV.

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Connor raised his eyebrow at the sight of Steven Harris. "I have to assume that you brought him here for a reason, Mr. Armstrong. If you must be at this meeting, I will have to request that you turn out all your pockets and show that you have no hidden microphones on you. I need to be sure that this all remains off the record."

((OOC: I hope you all appriciate me making my character look foolish for your amusement. I wouldn't just do this for anyone... Oh, wait, yes I would. Carry on then.))

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"So.... How do we get there?" He asked.

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Master Wonderful, now back in his typical pink suit but his hair was still it's natural color, wasn't paying attention, so he completely missed Jack's question. He was already give Martin and Emily additional instructions. "If Experiment comes back, update him on our situation. We'll probably be back before he can meet us there, so have him stay here for the time being. Also keep me posted on where we are on getting in touch with Small Arms. Well we're off!" And the hero marched out of the room, closing the door behind him.

In the mean time, Martin could be heard counting down. "Five...Four...Three...Two..."

The door opened again. "Eheh, I forgot to find out where Sanstrad lives."

Connor ignored Jack's use of the wrong name. He'd gotten used to the student calling him by some other name, so it didn't phase him in the least. "That is part of what we are all here to discuss. The reason why we are waiting, is because we need all the information we can get before we can formulate an effective plan. The last person we are waiting for is a hero by the name of Small Arms who has been looking for the source of the new Dyne. There have been some recent reports of radiation coming from his last known location, which might indicate that he's learned abit more about what the Vahz have planned. The fact is, as our numbers stand now, we probably don't stand a chance at taking on whatever Dr. Vahzilok is cooking up nor being able to take down all the new breed of Lost so that their Rikti facility can be destroyed. If you have any suggestions on how we can save Sanstad and his family with what little information we have and with the our small numbers, then let's hear them."

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Jack put his feet up on the table. "You can start by telling us why we are sitting here playing multi million dollar corporation when the doc still needs rescuing? Have you even thought about sending one of your lakys to check on his family?"

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Connor lifted Jacks feet off the table and dropped the on the floor with a loud thud. "Since you asked so NICEly, I will tell you," the executive said, the sarcasm about the assessment of Jack's questions not lost on any one. "The reason why we are here is because I felt that time would be wasted far more if we had to sort things out with the authorities when the hospital discovered that three college students had dangerous levels of the new version of Dyne. And more time would have been wasted trying to explain to them why one of those students was also covered with blood. Now, as far as checking on Dr. Sanstad's family, only the people in this room and my father are aware of my status as a licenced super hero. For the protection of my workers, as well as for my father's investments, I need to keep them as far from the truth as I can. Asking them to go check on a known superhero's family could be enough to trigger some unneeded epiphanies in the employees."

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Experiment walked out of the elevator on the top floor, and looked at a big door. "Well... might as well ask where everyone is." he thought to himself, and walked up to the door. *KNOCK* *KNOCK* "Knock knock, anyone there?"

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Connor looked up at the door, "It looks like one of the last people we've been waiting for has just arrived. Martin, could you get the door?"

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"You Macbeth? Why are........... Pink Boy?" He said in surprise.

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Crystal blinked in surprise. "Oh - I didn't recognize you - without the pink, I mean... do you own all of this?" She looked impressed.

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Connor gave Jack a sideways glance, "We really need to work on your manners, Jack. Now to answer your question, Crystal, I do own much what you see on this floor, however, I don't exactly own this company. It's actually my father's who runs the overall company from the home office in Scottland. I am, however, the executive in charge of overseeing his American intrests."

Connor lead them out of his office and into the confrence room he'd used previously in his dicussion with his new partner. As they entered the room, the two student noticed that there were already two people, an older man and a young woman, waiting in the room. The older man was just hanging up a phone when he noticed the new arrivals. He turned and nodded at Connor, an answer to some unspoken question. "Before we get begin with the meat and potatoes of the reason for this meeting, I think intoductions are in order. The young woman is my personal researcher, Emily Brown. The rather angry looking older gentleman of there is Martin MacDougal. Martin and Emily, these two students are Jack and Crystal. If you'll each take a seat, we'll begin the meeting as soon as soon as our last two members arrive. Um, in the mean time, is there anything I can get for either of you?"

((OOC: Tag, experiment 2.0, Small Arms, Crystal, and Jack.))

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"I believe it is called, backup. And unless I have completely misread Martin, he's been at you to get some."

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Connor laughed, "Well said, Ms. Brown. You are quite right about Martin. He's had his hands full covering for me so we have been unable to use radios effectively. So we are now killing two birds with one stone.

"Now as for your requests, I can live with you being my partner, Lord knows I'd feel more secure with someone monitoring my situation. However, if I put you on the other end of that radio, you are not alloud correct how I'm projecting my 'heroic' persona. I act overconfident for a reason.

"As far as research materials, I'd be giving you the full resouces of the American branch of this company. I can't promise the resouces of the entire company, but my influence doesn't always extend that far. Such things would have to be discussed with my father which only is something only Martin or I could effectively do. Any requests for information from specific departments in this building will have to go through Martin, until we are able to set up a network that will effectively allow full access from a central terminal. Hard copies of all information will still have to go through Martin after the network is in place. You will be allowed to manage that information in any way you deem necissary so long as it only needs to be accessed from either your office and control room. This is part of the reason I'm giving you living quarters on this floor.

"If this is agreeable, and if you don't have any questions, it looks like we have some work to do."

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She sat awkwardly after this. "Um... that's all I have been able to track down so far," she said at last.

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Connor smiled at the uneasy researcher. "I must say, you've done an excelent job. Based on that alone, I would see no reason to have you fired. And while your insults did sting a little, it felt good hearing someone other than Martin speak their mind, especially since it wasn't about how I run things."

Emily felt a little more at ease. However, she got the feeling that there was a "but" coming on.

"The thing that I need to know right now is what happened in your incounter with this Master Wonderful that lead you to believe that he and I are one in the same?"

The researcher got nervous again. "Um... well... you see... uh... He sorta... um... lost his glasses. Or rather, um, one of my assailants shattered them with a, uh, sledgehammer."

Oh, that incident, Connor thought to himself. God, I'd had the improved glasses back then. He chewed on the tip of his thumb in a contemplating manner.

Emily took note of this pause, fidgited a bit and then finally said, "I mean of course it couldn't have been you. I mean you're to well respec..."

Connor held up a finger to silence her. "Before you continue with that, there's one thing I need to do. Martin, bring the Ms. Brown's professional file."

((OOC note to Jen: Since you created Emily initially, I'll let you fill me in on her background.))

Martin returned with the file in short order. There was an uneasy silence while Connor reviewed the file. Occassionally there a "hmm" or an "I see" uttered by the executive. Finally, he closed the file.

"It seems we have a bit of a problem, Ms. Brown. Even though I don't believe you to be the kind of person to use what you have deduced to gain leverage over me, I am still not comfortable taking that risk. So that leaves me with three options. First, I could have you trasfered to some remote sector of my father's company. Second, I could let you go back to work with only your word that you will not speak of what you know about me to any one with no way to insure that you will change your mind and blow the whole thing. These first two are neither of which attractive to me, while for you, only the second one may only be marginally desirable. So that leaves us with our third option. You are still trasfered, however, you would be transfered to a personal office as well as provided accomidations on this floor. You would answer directly to me and be a part of my personal staff, which only consists of Martin at this point. Part of your duties would be to uses your exceptional skills to aid a superhero in his quest to make the city safer. Oh, and you'd get a decent pay raise. So, while I know you consider Master Wonderful to be exceedingly arrogant, what do you say to my proposal?"

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"I hope not," Pensington replied as he stood up, "Because I have a meeting, and you are my best agent. Go on now!" And he left the office.

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Emily always felt like she had the worst luck. She was sent to speak to someone she was almost knew was going to fire her for speaking frankly. Now she found herself wandering what she was certain was the top most floor of the building and muttering to herself. "Where is that damned office? I was told it was the on the top most floor."

"Excuse me miss," came a voice from behind her, causing her to squeak in surprise. "You seem lost. May I help you?"

She turned and saw a tall, lanky man with dirty blode hair wearing a navy buisness suit. "Yes, I'm... looking... for..." He speech slowed as she now noticed the face of the man addressing her. "It's you," she said quietly, half in disdain and half in wonderment.

The man had a puzzled look on his face. "Uh, I'm sorry. But, what's me?"

"You're the one who saved me the day I was supposed to start here." Emily's voice was gaining more confidence and she was sounding more annoyed.

"Um, I did?"

"Yes, and you were an eragant pig of a man! 'Master Wonderful' indeed." She was quite angery now. She didn't care about how obviously strong the "hero," no, the man had been when he'd saved her.

"Miss, I don't think I am who you think I am. Now if you'll just tell me what you are looking for..."

She didn't give him time to finish. "So you can gloat over how you helped me again?! I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of..."

"WHAT, is going on here!?!?" came an extremely annoyed Scottish voice.

"Ah, hello Martin. I was just coming down to check on the status of the Supradine report and found the young woman wandering the hall aimlessly looking for something."

Came DOWN? As in there's another floor above this? Looking for the Supradine report? Oh God, I'm so fired. Suddenly, all the information clicked into place for Emily. "I'm sorry. I had know idea you were... um, well... Uh, here." She handed the stack of papers she'd been carrying.

"Clear part of several unfinished sentances." Connor said with a chuckle. "I assume this is the report I came down here for. I guess we should get up to my office and discuss what all this means..."

"Don't worry, I won't take up much of your time. It seems I'm going to have to pack my stuff up."

"You aren't quiting are you? Or are you thinking that I'm going to fire you? Well, never mind that now. We can discuss what to do about this incident after you explain all this to me."

((OOC: If by his staff you only mean Martin, then yes, he would be very discrete. For the record, while the other employees of MacBeth Technologies realize their boss seems to be the focus of strange happeings, they are frequently either given bonuses for not asking why they happen or if they ask to often without taking a hint, then they are transfered to the mail room for a time. Only Martin should be written as knowing anything more than that.))

((OOC note2: The vehical is the prototype, if I didn't say so before))

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It was only once they were inside and well on their way to their destination that someone said, "Um... might I inquire as to how your morning went? It seems more... chaotic than usual."

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Martin coughed a little before speaking to the young man who'd aske the question. "Do ye need to be reminded about the company policy about such questions?"

"Uh, no sir. I'm sorry sir."

Soon the reached the underground garage of the MacBeth Technologies building.

"OK, people, ye know the drill!" Martin was shouting orders while an exhausted Connor went to his private express elevator.

When he got back to his office he sat down and leaned back in his chair. Soon, his retainer and confidant entered. "Now that we have no distractions, would ye mind telling me how ye came to be with those three doped up college students? The hero I can understand, but who are the others?"

"Long story, Martin. Long story." Connor sighed an leaned forward in his chair. "To give it a couple words: the Lost. If you want a few more words, how about I give you: Doctor...Adelbert...Syn..."

Martin stood in shock. "Syn? Then, that must be why..."

"Why my father sent me away? Why he no longer trusts me?" Connor was on his feet now, very irate. "What do you know about all this?"

The older man started pacing infront of his employer's desk. "I know very little. At the time I was just yer father's assistant. If I'd known at that time what was said in that room, I'd have told ye sooner."

"Enough stalling, Martin."

"I'm sorry, it was many years ago, so the details are a little hazy. At some point while ye were in that boarding school, a representative from Crey Biotech came to speak with yer father. As was usually the case, I left yer father's office so as to protect the confidentiality of what I'd originally thought a negotiation for an attempt at a take over. Soon I was seeing various members of yer father's body guard detail entering the room. It was a few days later that ye and yer cousin, Medb, were found several kilometers from the school ye were supposed to be attending. It was after that he decided that neither ye could nae be trusted. Syn, as ye probably know from having met him, was the headmaster of yer school. My guess is that he was highered in an attempt to brain wash ye and so that you would make it easier for Crey to accuire yer father's company."

"But he didn't, did he..."

Martin sighed again. "I honestly wouldn't know. If anything you would."

Their conversation was interupted by Connor's phone ringing. "Hello?"

"This is Sal from the MCT division."

"Yes, how are my guests?"

There was some murmering of the other end of the line. "The students that we picked up with you seem to have been injected with a new version of the drug Supradine."

"A new version of it? How long before they are healed, Sal?"

"Not too long, Mr. MacBeth, at least not for the girl and even less time for one of the young men."

"Wha...What's wrong with the other student I had brought in?" Connor asked, trying despirately to not sound like he was about to panic.

"He seems to have nanites in his blood stream. What's more, their function seems to be changing because of the Supradine in his system. We have him stablized now, but they we are going to need some help from the robotics division."

"Well, do whatever it takes." He was about ready to hang up but then thought of something. "Oh, one more thing, send our guests up to my office when they are well enough to move."

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Before Master Wonderful had finished talking they were all suddenly back on the University Campus grounds. Jack had teleported them all again. It was the only acknowledgment he gave of Master Wonderful's request.

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Master Wonderful was both relieved that Jack had heard his request, yet concerned that the mutant seemed to be suffering even more now than he was before. He pulled what looked like a small walky-talky or cellular phone from his pocket and spoke into it.

"Martin, it's me, we have a bit of a situation here. I need you to send the prototype father sent to have field tested. My friends need to be gotten to the MCT (Medical Chemical Technologies) division, pronto. You have a lock on my cordinates? Good. I'll see you shortly, old man."

With in a few minutes, what looked like a silver hovering car appeared near them. Master Wonderful shouted for Jack to he and Expirament into the vehical as he helped Paul and then went back for Crystal.