Raia nursed a headache away from the corners of her vision with a rub of her hand across her temple, wincing slightly at
the loud metal music that someone had turned on. Music was good, but not when it registered on the richter scale and not
when she was trying to think. It was a good thing they were in the middle of nowhere. Pulling herself up, she took a
patrol around what was essentially a very quickly put together camp. The entire area comprised of sleeping bags, tents
that varied from either being professionally made ones or sheets of material sewn together, and several vans from out of
which spilled a variety of bits and pieces. Tiny gas cookers, chairs, blankets, packets of food, clothes. Raia picked
her way through all of them as she took stock of her surroundings. There was close to thirty of them now. Sixteen were
her own people, actual followers, the rest were an assortment of convicts that they had broken out and wanderers and
runaway teenagers. Every single one of them special in their own unique way. She walked past a group of about ten men
who were being trained in self-defense by Aidan. "Take it easy on them Aidan, they don't have four extra limbs!" she
called out when she noted the sweat they were working up. He smiled and gave her a nod, waving with one of his many
arms. Self-defense was necessary even if these people chose not to join them, or even support them. Raia was not
vindictive. As mutants, they needed to be protected even if they did not agree with what she was trying to do. So she
would help them to protect themselves. That was the whole purpose of what they were doing after all, protecting mutants.
Her and Aidan, and the others, had argued over this several times. He insisted that if people refused to join the group
then any fighting skills may well be used against the group. A fair few of the other followers had rallied with this
point, much to Raia's aggravation. Raia had told them in no uncertain terms that whatever anyone they aided went
on to do with their help was their own decision. She could not blame her followers for the paranoia and suspicion they
felt. They had been living with persecution their whole lives, and all had in them now an ingrained sense of bitterness
and bloodlust. She certainly knew she herself did.
Now Aidan stopped the men that he was training in the middle of a combat sequence. "Gentlemen, I think Raia would like a
word with you all." He stepped back respectfully, eyes turning to her. As always, Raia felt mildly uncomfortable at his
total deference to her. She did not know how or why she had become the leader of the organisation. Aidan insisted it
was because she had 'the vision'. She did not see it as a vision, she saw it as the future which she would make happen
if necessary. Aidan, and a great deal of her other followers, admired this sheer dogged determination in her almost to
the point of adoration. Adoration did not inspire closeness, it almost promoted the distance that Raia felt every day
in an almost tangible shape. It was far easier to admire someone you saw as an icon of liberation, as the figure for a
cause, than a genuine human being who still had feelings.
"Sirs, I will not bore you for long. All of you are convicts, recently... liberated from your situation." said Raia,
smiling slightly as they all let out raucous cheers at this. "You are also mutants. It was for this reason that you are
here, and for this reason that you were helped in escaping. Whether your gift is insignificant or monumental, it is my
personal belief that whilst aware of you being a mutant, it was impossible for you to receive a fair trial." Raia paused
now and smiled. "This is why I felt the need to create my own judgement system." Once more there was a loud cheerful
response which Aidan swiftly silenced with pacifying motions. "I have no intention of advocating mutant supremacy. All
I wish for is the same rights to be given to mutants, that are given to so-labelled 'normal' people. I only desire
harmony. And if I have to raise Hell to make 'normal' people realise that mutants will not be treated as a lower being,
then I will. In this instance, you can leave, or you can stay. Whether you choose to support us in spirit, in body or
not at all is entirely your choice. That is known as Freedom. Since I advocate it I have no right to force you into
aiding us. It is your decision."
There was a brief moment of silence as the men seemed to take in what was being said. It was hard to know what to say
after a rant that seemed to spring from pure belief. Aidan smiled. It was precisely for this reason that they followed
Raia.
"I'm with you." said one man. After a pause others uttered it, until all but three of the group of ten had. Aidan's
eyes hardened on the three who said nothing. Raia simply nodded her thanks and continued on her way.
The sooner she managed to get the concept of what this Professor Xavier was trying to do out of her head the better.
Perhaps their ideals were similar. But she for one was not going to sit on her ass and wait for this remarkable
tolerance for mutants to occur. She was going to *make* it happen. As for the Kitty, he was normally everything she
looked for in someone to join their group. But it was in fact his utter dedication to whatever this Professor was trying
to do that was building up the niggling doubt in her brain. Men like that didn't believe in something that strongly if
it wasn't something impressive. Humming to herself as if to dispel her thoughts, she continued surveying the camp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The X men were assembled and were taking a stroll around the gardens of the school as they discussed the mission that had
fallen flat. "If I had known Raia had such alliances with other mutants I would not have risked sending you. I didn't
want to press too deeply into her mind, it is dangerous whilst using Cerebro." said Xavier, travelling slowly along in
his wheelchair, smiling as some of the younger children scampered past shrieking. "Do you still believe she is dangerous
Professor?" said Scott, frowning. They already had Magneto and mankind to deal with, another foe would prove to put an
intense strain on them. "I think the very threat I detected was in fact what you encountered Scott. She has formed
strong alliances with a large group of mutants, and of what you have told me of what she said to you,she appears to be
strongly active in her belief that mutants should be treated equally. Combined the two suggest she is in fact the
leader of that organisation they associated her with, Gagged, or at the very least a member." Logan scowled to himself.
"So this means she's dangerous?" he continued, managing to resist a smile as a kid smacked into his leg and then took
off again. "The danger could arise from her, or it could arise from the situation she is in. Either way I feel that
her actions over the next week or so will decide upon all that occurs for us from now onwards." They all nodded, but
Logan simply grimaced, looking out across the trees at the skyline. He'd certainly got bad vibes off the many-armed guy,
but not really from her. An attitude that pissed him off greatly, but no bad vibes. She'd just seemed... bleak, and
empty, as though there was no point in anything she did. And more than anything, lonely. "If she is the problem you're
talking about then we aren't gonna be able to change her mind. You didn't see her Chuck, the only thing that she seemed
to give a damn about was helping mutants. As soon as we mentioned mutants she listened to us, as soon as we talked
about what your intentions are she paid attention. She believes in whatever it is she's doing." Logan said seriously.
A sudden sharp image of her as she arched up from the bed, stretching her lithe body upwards, flew into Logan's brain,
and he started. Where the Hell had that come from? Chuck continued to talk as Logan tuned out entirely, wondering
where the image had come from so sharply and so suddenly. He shot a glance at Scott who was listening intently to
the Professor, then at Storm. Nobody else seemed to be bothered by anything untoward. He shook his head. Either he
was getting uncontrollable urges about any female in a five mile radius, or someone was messing with his mind. Cocky
liberalists weren't normally his type. "Is it possible that she's telepathic?" Logan interrupted, catching up with the
others again as Rogue and Bobby wandered over to join them. "Extremely unlikely. If she was she would have built up
a slight mental block against my invasion into her mind. The suggestion that she go to Westchester would have had no
effect on her." said Xavier, glancing back at Logan thoughtfully at his question. "What's up?" inquired Bobby, one arm
slung around Rogue's shoulders. "Things. Haven't you got anything better to do?" said Logan with a sharp look, feeling
irritable that his reasoning for her being in his head didn't cut it. "It's alright, them knowing isn't going to change
anything." said Xavier reasonably, reacting to their hurt expressions. Xavier's attention then returned to Logan, and
he smiled slightly, eyes glinting humour. "She's an interesting woman, isn't she? A great sense of honour to a species
of humans even as she refuses to admit she is one herself." Logan shifted on the balls of his feet, uncomfortable under
this type of perusal. If he didn't know that Chuck was an honourable guy he could have sworn he was sifting through his
brain. "Interesting pain in the ass is what she is." he mumbled, making the others chuckle slightly at his awkwardness.
Rogue looked at him knowingly and gave him a smile, which he returned slightly begrudgingly but nevertheless genuinely.
Rogue was a great kid who seemed to get him without even trying. "For now I guess there's nothing else we can do, until
she makes a move." volunteered Scott. "Very true. And I have a feeling that the move that she makes will happen very
soon." said Xavier "How d'you know?" Asked Rogue, expecting some impressive reply. "Because she's impatient, like most
leaders." he replied, smiling in good humour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raia threw Amp another blanket as she continued to throw more sticks on to the fire they had started. The night sky was
peppared with bright stars, and the camp flickered with the warm glow the fires had created as people headed towards
them. The stragglers had all gone to bed, whilst Gagged was assembled more or less, around the central fire. As if in
a subconscious pecking order, those who had only just joined hovered on the periphery, almost out of the glow of the
firelight, whilst those who had been with them longest were with Raia about the fire. The only exception to this was
Amp, who, as the youngest, Raia always treated a little more delicately. "I was thinking about what you said to those
recruits this morning Raia," said Aidan, settling himself down next to the fire. Raia rolled her eyes to herself at the
use of the word 'recruits'. "I just thought... maybe we're being too generous. Too soft on the humans." Raia settled
herself across from him and gave him a cool, even stare. "So what do you suggest?"
"We hit them hard! Like they've been doing to us for goddamn years! Show them they have to accept us." he continued.
The rest of the group had quietened and were all listening as he began warming to his theme, Raia merely watching.
"We have feared for our lives, ALL our lives. We deserve the chance to be treated normally. I say we don't push enough,
I say we keep pushing until their will against us cracks, and they let us into society, a society that belongs to us
just as much as it does to them." Aidan's voice had risen so that all could hear him, and a vast majority of the group
all cheered, rallying around this idea. Raia remained utterly still, her gaze trained steadily on Aidan. "And what would
that accomplish?" she said finally, her voice easily overcoming the yells and silencing everyone. "Forcing, making them
accept us. It won't do jackshit! We push, they do it under duress. Jesus Christ their main fear of us is that we're
dangerous." "Well maybe we should use that fear." said Jake, an eight foot mutant capable of healing and also ultimately
destroying by increasing or reversing a person's natural healing mechanisms, which caused another ripple of encouragement.
"To what end exactly? To make them more frightened so that they persecute us further? How stupid are you people? They
are still in the majority, they still hold the power. We continue as we are, we make an impact on them, we show we will
not accept persecution, and then we BACK DOWN again. We are on the offensive boys and girls, but not the attack. The
instant we choose attack over defense we become that bad guys that they love to think we are." Raia said strongly,
her voice echoing sharply about the camp, her eyes flaring and looking round at them all. The trees bristled against a
soft breeze as the group silenced, sensing Aidan back down even as he did so. At this point a man several feet back held
out his hand towards the fire where drinks had been placed "God I need a drink."
"Don't!" exclaimed Raia too late, as the entire tray of drinks flew across to the man, drenching him and those around him
from head to toe. Once the laughter at their expense had died down, Raia stood up. "Ladies and Gentleman, when you are
standing within thirty feet of this girl," - at this she motioned an embarassed Amp to stand "You will moderate your
powers. Her name is Amp and it isn't just a cute nickname, any mutant around her has their powers amplified by up to three
times their normal limits. I don't want a repeat of that with something more dangerous than water." Blushing, Amp sat
down. "It's alright Amp you can't help it." said Jake, placing an enormous hand reassuringly on her shoulder. "Now,
newcomers," declared Raia loudly, turning in circles so that everyone was addressed. "In two days time we will reach
our destination, which is the government buildings in New York. Our intention is to get into the building and find
verification on mutant testing, which it has been rumoured for many years have been undergone with full government
approval. Once we have this proof, we tell the world. If the world's humans don't care, I'm sure it will at least
bring more mutants round to the idea of not enduring what we have done for decades now. In order to get into the
building we will be divided into several separate teams. Under no circumstances lose your team..."
As Raia continued a young teenager who had joined the group inched away before running out of the woods where the camp
was secreted, and up onto the highroad, heading for the nearest town.
the loud metal music that someone had turned on. Music was good, but not when it registered on the richter scale and not
when she was trying to think. It was a good thing they were in the middle of nowhere. Pulling herself up, she took a
patrol around what was essentially a very quickly put together camp. The entire area comprised of sleeping bags, tents
that varied from either being professionally made ones or sheets of material sewn together, and several vans from out of
which spilled a variety of bits and pieces. Tiny gas cookers, chairs, blankets, packets of food, clothes. Raia picked
her way through all of them as she took stock of her surroundings. There was close to thirty of them now. Sixteen were
her own people, actual followers, the rest were an assortment of convicts that they had broken out and wanderers and
runaway teenagers. Every single one of them special in their own unique way. She walked past a group of about ten men
who were being trained in self-defense by Aidan. "Take it easy on them Aidan, they don't have four extra limbs!" she
called out when she noted the sweat they were working up. He smiled and gave her a nod, waving with one of his many
arms. Self-defense was necessary even if these people chose not to join them, or even support them. Raia was not
vindictive. As mutants, they needed to be protected even if they did not agree with what she was trying to do. So she
would help them to protect themselves. That was the whole purpose of what they were doing after all, protecting mutants.
Her and Aidan, and the others, had argued over this several times. He insisted that if people refused to join the group
then any fighting skills may well be used against the group. A fair few of the other followers had rallied with this
point, much to Raia's aggravation. Raia had told them in no uncertain terms that whatever anyone they aided went
on to do with their help was their own decision. She could not blame her followers for the paranoia and suspicion they
felt. They had been living with persecution their whole lives, and all had in them now an ingrained sense of bitterness
and bloodlust. She certainly knew she herself did.
Now Aidan stopped the men that he was training in the middle of a combat sequence. "Gentlemen, I think Raia would like a
word with you all." He stepped back respectfully, eyes turning to her. As always, Raia felt mildly uncomfortable at his
total deference to her. She did not know how or why she had become the leader of the organisation. Aidan insisted it
was because she had 'the vision'. She did not see it as a vision, she saw it as the future which she would make happen
if necessary. Aidan, and a great deal of her other followers, admired this sheer dogged determination in her almost to
the point of adoration. Adoration did not inspire closeness, it almost promoted the distance that Raia felt every day
in an almost tangible shape. It was far easier to admire someone you saw as an icon of liberation, as the figure for a
cause, than a genuine human being who still had feelings.
"Sirs, I will not bore you for long. All of you are convicts, recently... liberated from your situation." said Raia,
smiling slightly as they all let out raucous cheers at this. "You are also mutants. It was for this reason that you are
here, and for this reason that you were helped in escaping. Whether your gift is insignificant or monumental, it is my
personal belief that whilst aware of you being a mutant, it was impossible for you to receive a fair trial." Raia paused
now and smiled. "This is why I felt the need to create my own judgement system." Once more there was a loud cheerful
response which Aidan swiftly silenced with pacifying motions. "I have no intention of advocating mutant supremacy. All
I wish for is the same rights to be given to mutants, that are given to so-labelled 'normal' people. I only desire
harmony. And if I have to raise Hell to make 'normal' people realise that mutants will not be treated as a lower being,
then I will. In this instance, you can leave, or you can stay. Whether you choose to support us in spirit, in body or
not at all is entirely your choice. That is known as Freedom. Since I advocate it I have no right to force you into
aiding us. It is your decision."
There was a brief moment of silence as the men seemed to take in what was being said. It was hard to know what to say
after a rant that seemed to spring from pure belief. Aidan smiled. It was precisely for this reason that they followed
Raia.
"I'm with you." said one man. After a pause others uttered it, until all but three of the group of ten had. Aidan's
eyes hardened on the three who said nothing. Raia simply nodded her thanks and continued on her way.
The sooner she managed to get the concept of what this Professor Xavier was trying to do out of her head the better.
Perhaps their ideals were similar. But she for one was not going to sit on her ass and wait for this remarkable
tolerance for mutants to occur. She was going to *make* it happen. As for the Kitty, he was normally everything she
looked for in someone to join their group. But it was in fact his utter dedication to whatever this Professor was trying
to do that was building up the niggling doubt in her brain. Men like that didn't believe in something that strongly if
it wasn't something impressive. Humming to herself as if to dispel her thoughts, she continued surveying the camp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The X men were assembled and were taking a stroll around the gardens of the school as they discussed the mission that had
fallen flat. "If I had known Raia had such alliances with other mutants I would not have risked sending you. I didn't
want to press too deeply into her mind, it is dangerous whilst using Cerebro." said Xavier, travelling slowly along in
his wheelchair, smiling as some of the younger children scampered past shrieking. "Do you still believe she is dangerous
Professor?" said Scott, frowning. They already had Magneto and mankind to deal with, another foe would prove to put an
intense strain on them. "I think the very threat I detected was in fact what you encountered Scott. She has formed
strong alliances with a large group of mutants, and of what you have told me of what she said to you,she appears to be
strongly active in her belief that mutants should be treated equally. Combined the two suggest she is in fact the
leader of that organisation they associated her with, Gagged, or at the very least a member." Logan scowled to himself.
"So this means she's dangerous?" he continued, managing to resist a smile as a kid smacked into his leg and then took
off again. "The danger could arise from her, or it could arise from the situation she is in. Either way I feel that
her actions over the next week or so will decide upon all that occurs for us from now onwards." They all nodded, but
Logan simply grimaced, looking out across the trees at the skyline. He'd certainly got bad vibes off the many-armed guy,
but not really from her. An attitude that pissed him off greatly, but no bad vibes. She'd just seemed... bleak, and
empty, as though there was no point in anything she did. And more than anything, lonely. "If she is the problem you're
talking about then we aren't gonna be able to change her mind. You didn't see her Chuck, the only thing that she seemed
to give a damn about was helping mutants. As soon as we mentioned mutants she listened to us, as soon as we talked
about what your intentions are she paid attention. She believes in whatever it is she's doing." Logan said seriously.
A sudden sharp image of her as she arched up from the bed, stretching her lithe body upwards, flew into Logan's brain,
and he started. Where the Hell had that come from? Chuck continued to talk as Logan tuned out entirely, wondering
where the image had come from so sharply and so suddenly. He shot a glance at Scott who was listening intently to
the Professor, then at Storm. Nobody else seemed to be bothered by anything untoward. He shook his head. Either he
was getting uncontrollable urges about any female in a five mile radius, or someone was messing with his mind. Cocky
liberalists weren't normally his type. "Is it possible that she's telepathic?" Logan interrupted, catching up with the
others again as Rogue and Bobby wandered over to join them. "Extremely unlikely. If she was she would have built up
a slight mental block against my invasion into her mind. The suggestion that she go to Westchester would have had no
effect on her." said Xavier, glancing back at Logan thoughtfully at his question. "What's up?" inquired Bobby, one arm
slung around Rogue's shoulders. "Things. Haven't you got anything better to do?" said Logan with a sharp look, feeling
irritable that his reasoning for her being in his head didn't cut it. "It's alright, them knowing isn't going to change
anything." said Xavier reasonably, reacting to their hurt expressions. Xavier's attention then returned to Logan, and
he smiled slightly, eyes glinting humour. "She's an interesting woman, isn't she? A great sense of honour to a species
of humans even as she refuses to admit she is one herself." Logan shifted on the balls of his feet, uncomfortable under
this type of perusal. If he didn't know that Chuck was an honourable guy he could have sworn he was sifting through his
brain. "Interesting pain in the ass is what she is." he mumbled, making the others chuckle slightly at his awkwardness.
Rogue looked at him knowingly and gave him a smile, which he returned slightly begrudgingly but nevertheless genuinely.
Rogue was a great kid who seemed to get him without even trying. "For now I guess there's nothing else we can do, until
she makes a move." volunteered Scott. "Very true. And I have a feeling that the move that she makes will happen very
soon." said Xavier "How d'you know?" Asked Rogue, expecting some impressive reply. "Because she's impatient, like most
leaders." he replied, smiling in good humour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raia threw Amp another blanket as she continued to throw more sticks on to the fire they had started. The night sky was
peppared with bright stars, and the camp flickered with the warm glow the fires had created as people headed towards
them. The stragglers had all gone to bed, whilst Gagged was assembled more or less, around the central fire. As if in
a subconscious pecking order, those who had only just joined hovered on the periphery, almost out of the glow of the
firelight, whilst those who had been with them longest were with Raia about the fire. The only exception to this was
Amp, who, as the youngest, Raia always treated a little more delicately. "I was thinking about what you said to those
recruits this morning Raia," said Aidan, settling himself down next to the fire. Raia rolled her eyes to herself at the
use of the word 'recruits'. "I just thought... maybe we're being too generous. Too soft on the humans." Raia settled
herself across from him and gave him a cool, even stare. "So what do you suggest?"
"We hit them hard! Like they've been doing to us for goddamn years! Show them they have to accept us." he continued.
The rest of the group had quietened and were all listening as he began warming to his theme, Raia merely watching.
"We have feared for our lives, ALL our lives. We deserve the chance to be treated normally. I say we don't push enough,
I say we keep pushing until their will against us cracks, and they let us into society, a society that belongs to us
just as much as it does to them." Aidan's voice had risen so that all could hear him, and a vast majority of the group
all cheered, rallying around this idea. Raia remained utterly still, her gaze trained steadily on Aidan. "And what would
that accomplish?" she said finally, her voice easily overcoming the yells and silencing everyone. "Forcing, making them
accept us. It won't do jackshit! We push, they do it under duress. Jesus Christ their main fear of us is that we're
dangerous." "Well maybe we should use that fear." said Jake, an eight foot mutant capable of healing and also ultimately
destroying by increasing or reversing a person's natural healing mechanisms, which caused another ripple of encouragement.
"To what end exactly? To make them more frightened so that they persecute us further? How stupid are you people? They
are still in the majority, they still hold the power. We continue as we are, we make an impact on them, we show we will
not accept persecution, and then we BACK DOWN again. We are on the offensive boys and girls, but not the attack. The
instant we choose attack over defense we become that bad guys that they love to think we are." Raia said strongly,
her voice echoing sharply about the camp, her eyes flaring and looking round at them all. The trees bristled against a
soft breeze as the group silenced, sensing Aidan back down even as he did so. At this point a man several feet back held
out his hand towards the fire where drinks had been placed "God I need a drink."
"Don't!" exclaimed Raia too late, as the entire tray of drinks flew across to the man, drenching him and those around him
from head to toe. Once the laughter at their expense had died down, Raia stood up. "Ladies and Gentleman, when you are
standing within thirty feet of this girl," - at this she motioned an embarassed Amp to stand "You will moderate your
powers. Her name is Amp and it isn't just a cute nickname, any mutant around her has their powers amplified by up to three
times their normal limits. I don't want a repeat of that with something more dangerous than water." Blushing, Amp sat
down. "It's alright Amp you can't help it." said Jake, placing an enormous hand reassuringly on her shoulder. "Now,
newcomers," declared Raia loudly, turning in circles so that everyone was addressed. "In two days time we will reach
our destination, which is the government buildings in New York. Our intention is to get into the building and find
verification on mutant testing, which it has been rumoured for many years have been undergone with full government
approval. Once we have this proof, we tell the world. If the world's humans don't care, I'm sure it will at least
bring more mutants round to the idea of not enduring what we have done for decades now. In order to get into the
building we will be divided into several separate teams. Under no circumstances lose your team..."
As Raia continued a young teenager who had joined the group inched away before running out of the woods where the camp
was secreted, and up onto the highroad, heading for the nearest town.
