Today's profile belongs to the team's newest member. Give it up for the energy-wielding Corona!
Corona
Full name: Unrevealed.
Nickname: Rona, Ronnie, Cora
Age: 14 (will be 15 over the summer)
Birth: June 16 Sign: Gemini Element: Air Planet: Mercury and the Moon
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Golden brown
Family: Lupe (great aunt—deceased)
Mutation: Rona's ability is similar to Kid Razor's mystically-gifted ability to channel rock energy. Her ability allows her to convert energy around her into rainbow colored energy that she can mold into force fields or use as an attack outright.
Personality: Vivacious and mischievous Corona adds a new dimension to the team as it stands. She enjoys hanging out with others her age and is always quick to offer advice (or criticism, whichever). She values her friends highly, since they're the only family she has. She is feisty, though, and won't hesitate to jump into a fist fight if it means aiding or defending a teammate.
Learning to Breathe
62. Least One Be Lost
The entire team met back up in the Dreadnok's garage, partly to prepare for the looming manhunt and partly to ensure everyone was on the same page.
"What makes this Locust so dangerous?" Steve asked. "Why we gotta be all cloak and dagger about this business instead of just smashing his face in?"
"Because he controls the actions of everyone close enough to hear his voice." Kristen replied. "It's why the scientists called him "locust" in the first place. Whenever he activates his power, his voice becomes like the hum a locust emits when it flies. Any other locusts in the area are drawn to it and will follow its lead without fighting back."
"So he controls your body." Chaos said. "Does he do any mind-tricks?"
"Fortunately, no." Regan answered. "Which is good for us, because I can fight him on the astral plane. However, it means that any flatscan who's caught in his thrall can't fight back. They want to stop themselves, but can't."
"That explains the lack of defensive wounds." Razor mused. "Now what about those rules you were talking about?"
"Rules?" Virus blinked. "What rules?"
"Lab mutie conduct code." Neal smiled wryly. "See, once we escaped, we knew we needed to make sure no-one went crazy with any of their powers. We voted on 3 rules that no one of us would cross."
"Why only three?" Golem asked.
"We didn't want to overwhelm anyone." Andi answered. "Anyway, they're pretty standard. Don't use your powers to capture or enslave a fellow mutant; no killing another mutant without just cause."
"Or without the promise of money." Kristen added. "That rule has been amended to say that you can't just kill someone for no reason. They have to have earned their fate."
"Which these victims haven't." Andi resumed. "The other rule stated that none of us were to harm the loved one of any of the fallen ones unless they suddenly turned anti-mutant and tried to kill us all."
"So this Locust guy has gone off the deep end and pretty much broken all three rules." Bryan surmised. "How do we catch him?"
"Just capturing him won't work." Kristen stated. "You'd have to have him collared 24/7 and kept under constant surveillance and even then he'd probably still get out."
"Then we let SHIELD deal with him." Virus shrugged.
"That's not a good idea either." Regan pointed out. "General Fury wants to raise up an army. He'd try to recruit the bastard if they did manage to find and apprehend him. Local cops can't handle him. We can't take him in to Mindbender, because that would mean breaking one of our own rules."
"Which leaves us with one other option." Andi sighed. "We have to take him out. For good."
A hush fell over the teens. "You mean you want him gone." Steve said slowly. "You want him dead."
"It's not a matter of 'wanting'." The shapeshifter sighed. "What I really want to do to that bastard would probably be considered inhumane, but he'd still be alive for someone to deal with. No, if we want him to stop, we'll have to stop him permanently."
"And make sure SHIELD doesn't try to make off with his body for "research purposes". Last thing we need are a bunch of solders controlling our bodies like puppeteers." Kristen added. The group nodded along.
"I guess we'll bury him near the memorial wall." Corona said. "Or, at least, dispose of the body and place a marker near the wall. His name should be added to the list as well."
"Why?" Virus scoffed. "He's sick in the head!"
"So are you and Road Pig, and you get to live indoors." Regan glared.
"His name will be added." Atlantis looked down at the floor. "The anniversary's coming up anyway. We'll just ask the caretaker to add it then."
"Why does he get a place on the memorial wall?" Razor asked. "It's not like he died there."
"No. But his humanity died that day." Neal sighed. "I wish we'd have noticed that sooner."
"There's no use crying over spilt milk, or blood in this case." Kris stated. "It has to be done. Now, who's going in?"
"Not you." Andi said. "Sorry Kris, but with your bat-ears, you're the most susceptible."
"I understand." The resident dhampire said. "Should we also leave Virus here? Especially since there's a good chance of us getting lost trying to find him?"
"Not a bad idea." The blue-skinned female mused. "Okay. There will be two teams. One will be focused on rescuing Preston Bradley, the other will take down Locust. Rescue team will be composed of Kid Razor, Chaos, Leathersuit, and Thunderbird. Take-down team will consist of myself, Corona, Lady Mastermind, and if I can drag his ass up out of the sewers, Shatter."
"Shatter?" Golem blinked."The guy who told us to flip off and get out of his manhole?"
"Let her handle him." Kristen waved. "Okay, if they didn't call your name, you're staying here for support and direction."
"That's funny, since there's no way you kids are running off by yourselves." The group all looked up to see Zartan and the other Chicago Dreadnoks standing in one of the doorways.
"This is our fight." Atlantis glared at the assembled adults. "Let us handle it."
"Who're they?" Razor asked. "I don't think I've seen them around here before."
"Oh. That's right, you haven't met our field handlers." Kristen realized. "Kid Razor, these are our job-mandated babysitters!"
"Don't ask for names, boy." Burnout said. "Just get back to where you come from whenever the smoke clears."
"He's already agreed to." Atlantis growled. "Don't you think I made sure of that?"
"Well, since you decided to run off and leave us here worrying about you…" Zartan started, only to be interrupted.
"Oh quit complaining and butt out! This is personal!" The team leader stalked over toward him. The mutant master of disguise looked her straight in the eyes.
"I noticed that. That's why I'm going: to make sure you don't screw this up."
"I can handle it! Just let me go!"
"God, do you have to be so damn stubborn?" The ninja groaned. "Don't forget who pays you and who can fire you on the spot, Kid. You know what has to be done? Good for you. Now let someone with more experience help you out so you don't wind up in a body bag somewhere."
The team leader frowned, not liking the situation one bit. "Yes sir." She grumbled, staring the older man in the eyes.
"Good." He replied. "All right, team, listen up! Since Vampira's the only one with a nose good enough to track this bastard, she will lead us to where this "locust" is holed up. Once there, she will wait for us to arrive, then get out of range of Locust's abilities. The rest of you will be in two groups. Two adults will remain here to supervise, and one will go with each group."
"Can we at least leave the group assignments alone?" Corona asked. "Everyone's already been chosen to go in based on how useful they'll be for the task."
The older mutant considered this a moment. "Yes, the teams may stay as they are. We're just going along as your "tactical support"."
"Yadda, yadda, yadda. Less talk, more action!" Atlantis exclaimed. "If we don't move now, we'll be too late."
"I understand that." Zartan pinched the bridge of his nose. God, he liked the kid well enough, but trying to reason with her was like talking to a brick wall. "But we have to use caution and planning as well, or this mission will fail."
"I disagree."
"But you know I'm right, so stop complaining and do as you're told." She didn't look happy, but at least it shut her up. "Now that that's settled, everybody find your teammates and get ready to move out."
"Not just yet." Kristen piped up. "Your team has a job to do, Boss."
"What job?" He asked.
"Dragging Shatter out of the sewers." Kristen responded with enthusiasm. "Have fun and good luck!"
"You'll need it with that jerk." Mitch muttered.