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Post by crystal on Dec 16, 2010 14:36:45 GMT -5
Crystal's thoughts wandered. Who else knew where this place was? One name came to mind, but he'd been killed shortly after being the one to rescue Rose. Sky might have told them when she knew Rose was around, but now she was completely on Cain's side. Crystal wasn't with her allies to tell them. Rose would know, if she was able to regain her real self. "Why wasn't I smart enough to tell them..? Why didn't I tell Xavier before...." She closed her eyes, down right furious with her stupidity. The only way the alliance could find Ian and Crystal now.... was Rose... Or Lily in this case.
"It was my fault. I knew he was after me and I put everyone at the school at risk..." At least there had only been one person hurt. Sadly, that person was Professor Xavier. Only when he started to worry about Lily did she finally open her eyes to look at him. "He didn't. He just thinks she's a random human..." Her voice trailed off, her gaze a little spacey. People that knew her would recognize the expression as when she was seeing something going on far from where she was. Sadly, Ian wasn't one of those people. "Rose is starting to wake up..." She didn't feel like adding that she was trying to reach the school, or that Rose waking was mentally tearing apart her previous consciousness.
Crystal had long since finished naming the previous occupants, her gaze settling on the closest skeleton, as if wondering whether that would be one of them in the coming future...
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Post by ian on Dec 16, 2010 14:52:26 GMT -5
"Quit blaming yourself. You didn't know." he said, getting a little irritated that she was being depressed, "Even you can't see what's going to happen, you may know a lot but you're no telepath."
His eyes widened as he got a sudden idea. It was crazy, down right insane to even think about it, but what if it worked? She would be down soon to his mind anyway right? Why not give her a reason to come sooner. He closed his eyes and focused, trying to make sure nothing else was in his mind but his message.
Sky, if you can hear me, please. She's alive. I found her. I'll tell you everything I know, we have to help her before Cain and Shadow find out. Please!
He opened his eyes and couldn't help but wonder if his plan worked. His only worry is that Shadow couldn't read minds to, and Sky was the only mind reader. He struggled to get up, ignoring the searing pain that went through his side. Shakily he rose to his feet and walked towards the door, using the bars as a leverage.
"Crystal, these doors look like they've been here a while. What can you tell me about them?" he looked to her, giving her a gentle smile, "feel free to stop if your head starts to hurt."
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Post by crystal on Dec 16, 2010 15:15:32 GMT -5
Suddenly, Crystal actually scowled. "I wish I could see the future. Everything would make so much more sense if I could. And I could have told them how to end this war ages ago! I could have avoided both of us being caught..." Not being a telepath had always been a peeve of Crystals. She knew so much, but she was only limited to the present and past.
She didn't know that he was trying to communicate with Sky, she just thought he was trying to come up with another plan to escape. She might have told him it was pointless, but she decided not to ruin his last sparks of 'hope'. Not to mention he didn't have anything better to do here other then talk to her.
Sometime during his planning, Crystal had moved to the back of her own cell, away from the wall the two shared, her head resting on her knees, as if trying to fall asleep to occupy herself. Only when she heard his question did she lift her head a little. "The doors?" She paused for only a moment, gathering the information he needed. "They've been here ten years, since Shadow built the dungeon her first year in command. They're made of a mixture of several kinds of metal so that no one of normal human strength can break free. With enough force though, it would be possible to lift them free." The only reason why Crystal hadn't considered lifting the doors free was because she was a kid. She didn't have near the amount of strength it would need. She doubted even Ian was that strong, but it might be possible...
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Post by ian on Dec 16, 2010 15:28:27 GMT -5
"You're not the only one, Crystal."
He had to admit that this war had been going on longer then even he wanted it to. He would rather it have been everyone living in peace and not worried about who can do what with their powers or what danger it could impose. It's like saying a tough looking guy with tattoos is going to cause trouble while he's on his way to pick his daughter up from school. Too many people judge by what they see.
"Hmm...ten years huh?" he thought, looking over the door, "Maybe not lift it, but if the lock is just as rusted..."
He felt around until he could get his fingers through a slit in the door, which happened to be the opening that food was usually served through at the bottom. He gripped the opening on either side with his hands. He began to shake the door slightly, but the more he did, the faster his arms seemed to move. The cells began to give off a slight hum as the vibrations being put into the door increased. Ian had another crazy plan, one that would get them out of the cells if it worked. His only hope that the lock was rusted enough to break easily.
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Post by crystal on Dec 16, 2010 15:57:35 GMT -5
Crystal just shrugged, letting him do whatever it was he was up to. She didn't care all that much, since she was pretty sure it wouldn't work. But what would she know? She wasn't a telepath after all. She just put her head back on her arms, closing her eyes and letting out a sigh. Best to just wait and see what happened now. "All your going to do is tire yourself out. But if it keeps you entertained, go right ahead." She didn't look at him when she spoke, just listening to the vibrations bouncing around. He was shaking the door. Only someone with superhuman speed could do something like that. But he was injured. How long would he last?
"Ian, don't forget your hurt. Keep doing that and you wont be able to fight off the infection." Again, no looking up from her spot against the far wall. She still thought trying to shake the lock free was a stupid idea, if only because it most certainly wouldn't break quietly. "You realize if that works you're going to have everyone in this place charging down here, right? Metals don't break quietly." Sure, it might work if he broke the lock and fled as fast as he possibly could, but would he really leave her behind? The time it took to break her out would doom him. "Ian... Stop for a minute...."
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Post by ian on Dec 17, 2010 0:02:19 GMT -5
"Oh ye of little faith."
He smiled shaking the door ever faster. His smile faltered when he began to notice that the humming was getting louder. He stopped shaking it then, realizing she was right, with as much racket as he was making, if the door broke then the noise would no doubt be heard through the whole island.
He winded a bit, holding his side as he did. When he took his hand off, it was red, and with wide eyes he looked to his shirt and saw that it was bleeding through. He slumped to the ground, propping himself up with only one hand and now feeling weaker then he had before. His efforts ended him up with losing , which is something he didn't plan. He couldn't help but smile.
"Guess I wish I had your power...I would've seen this before I started."
He slowly moved his way back to the wall where he was, too weak to walk so he crawled. He then positioned himself back against the wall, his skin lighter then earlier. When he heard Crystal telling him to stop for a minute, he looked to her curiously.
"What? What is it?"
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Post by crystal on Dec 17, 2010 0:18:55 GMT -5
Hearing his words... Crystal actually laughed. It was more like a chuckle, barely even audible, but it was there. And it was probably the first time she'd laughed in a very long time. "I don't need faith. Either I can do it, or I can't. It's that simple." There was no middle ground for her. Much like the quote 'Do or do not, there is no try'. She knew her limits, and she didn't push them, so she could either do something, or she couldn't.
When he stopped she sighed, both relieved, and slightly sad that it hadn't worked like he planned. If he could get out of here, he was the only one that would be able to free himself from this place. With his speed he wouldn't have to worry about others coming after him, because he could be out of the base before most even heard the sound of the cell breaking. Sadly, something like that was impossible for Crystal. "I already told you, I'm not a telepath. I can't see the future. I didn't know you'd irritate your injury... Though common sense should have told you." She let her gaze settle on him, with a look that called him an idiot.
"...." When he asked that last question she stared down at the floor again. "You need to recover. And when you get your strength back... Get out of here. And don't take me with you." She had to make this clear. If he broke free, in his current state he wouldn't get far, and if you added her weight he wouldn't even get out of the base. Lifting her gaze back to stare at him her expression was dead serious. "Don't look back. Break free, and run as fast as you possibly can away from here."
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Post by ian on Dec 17, 2010 0:28:25 GMT -5
He smiled when she laughed, glad to know she could laugh. He had to agree it was a stupid idea, and her look towards him proved it. He chuckled a little, but winced when he did. Her look reminded him of how Rose use to look at him when he pulled something stupid. He sighed and leaned back against the wall.
"Getting out will be tougher then I thought. It'll be a while for me to actually recover...if I do anyway."
He sighed and looked to her when she said to leave here and leave her behind. He gave her his own look, as if telling her she had to be kidding. Whether she was an x-man, a mutant or even a member of brotherhood, he couldn't imagine leaving anybody behind. It was his own sense of leadership that caused him to think this way.
"Look, quit talking about me leaving you behind. Whether you like it or not, we're in this together, and as long as I'm breathing we're getting out together." he gave her a stern look, "So don't give me that "free yourself and forget me" crap, cuz no matter what you say I'm not buying it."
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Post by crystal on Dec 17, 2010 0:47:46 GMT -5
Ian refusing.... Well it didn't make Crystal at all happy. She jumped to her feet, stalking back to the wall of the cells they shared and staring at him with the sternest look imaginable, hands planted on her hips in a 'Are you daring to talk back to me?!' sort of way.
"I'm not saying it cause I like it! You think I want to stay here where they are going to use me to destroy everything I have ever cared about?! You think I like the idea of betraying everyone I've ever been close to?" She was scowling, wanting to hit him a few times for thinking that. "I'm saying is cause.... Cause they are going to kill you. I'm to valuable to them, they wouldn't even consider killing me. But you were brought here just to amuse them, and when they get bored, what do you think is going to happen?" Now... Not only did she look furious, but she looked like she just might cry!
"In your current condition, how do you expect to get free, huh? How far do you think you'll get when you can barely walk? And when you heal up a bit, it'll still be a while before you regain you're old strength! How do you expect to get both of us out of here, when you might never have the strength to get yourself?" She paused for only a moment, turning and walking back to the other corner, the farthest portion of the cell from where Ian was. She sat there, curled up again with her arms around her knees and glaring at him. "I'm telling you to go, because this war doesn't need anymore casualties..."
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Post by ian on Dec 17, 2010 10:40:00 GMT -5
"Even if I was healed, how far do you think I'd get? Sky can attack my mind at any time and Shadow can literally stop me in my tracks, and we both know what Cain is capable of."
He sighed, his breathing becoming a little hard to do, and the fact that he was getting worked up about all of this wasn't making his side any better. He looked around at there "company" before looking back at the door to the prison. How long were they going to keep them here? He then looked back to Crystal.
"Look, we're in this together ok? If I'm going to get out of here, I'm going to need your help. I can't leave you behind because we're a team right now, and teams stick together no matter what."
He reached his hand through the bar again, as if trying to reach out to her. He gave her a small smile as he did, even though she was at the other end of the cell staring at him like he was the most stubborn man she'd ever met, and he was.
"So...are we a team? Will you trust me?"
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Post by crystal on Dec 17, 2010 14:20:16 GMT -5
Crystal's scowl returned. Man, this guy was dense. He didn't pay attention at all! "You really think Sky is going to show her face anytime soon? She's not even on the Island! She's back at her parents estate, taking care of her Newborn baby. And even if she was here she wouldn't have the strength to come after you. She just gave birth for crying out loud. To a baby that likes to make powers go haywire." Of course he didn't know that before, but she had him fixed with a look that said he should have.
"As for Shadow and Cain, they're not telepaths. You've outrun Cain before, you can do it again. And if you can outrun Cain, you can outrun Shadow. She might be telekinetic, but she only knows something is moving if she is watching that spot specifically. She wouldn't see your escape. " She paused for a short moment. "Though, you don't seem to have control of your power when you worry about Rose.... So who knows if you'd even be able to run at all." She finally shrugged, as if taunting him, trying to motivate him to prove he could escape without anyone stopping him.
When he reached through the bars to her he didn't quite reach her. After all, she was as faraway as she could get, just glaring at him. She didn't even more to take his offered hand. Finally though, she turned her head away, letting out a 'tsk' sound. It wasn't exactly a yes, but it wasn't a no either. "Why would you stay here when you could escape?" She didn't look back at him yet. "They need you, back at the school. When Rose wakes up and realizes what happened... What do you think she's going to do?" After all, Rose knew where the Island was...
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Post by ian on Dec 17, 2010 14:27:25 GMT -5
He sighed, bringing his arm back into his own cell. This wasn't going to work, and he understood that, but with his condition he wouldn't be able to escape without being treated first. Someone would have to come down and take care of him before he could even move.
"Look, even with Sky gone and the others oblivious to everything, I couldn't run even if I wanted to. I've noticed it when I tried to shake open the door. The faster I move, the more I lose and the worse the infection gets."
He couldn't believe she was giving up. He looked to her as if he was staring at a stranger. She stood by Apocalypse when the man could've killed her, turned on Cain without even a thought to her own safety, and now she was sitting in a cell giving up completely, wanting him to leave her behind.
"You know...I don't get you. You're one of the strongest people I know, and even were able to get the X-Men and Brotherhood to form an alliance. Nobody has come close to that even with Magneto in charge. You even turned on Cain without a flinch, and yet now you're giving up? Just because something looks hopeless?"
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Post by crystal on Dec 17, 2010 14:52:14 GMT -5
"They should treat you... They don't want you dying yet." Yet being the keyword. They wanted to have some fun with him first. After all, this was the guy who had basically foiled Shadow's plans for Rose, not to mention Sky and Cain both blamed him for her death. Sure, Cain was only involved because Sky had told him to be, but that wasn't the point. The point was no one was all that happy for him, so he wasn't allowed to die until they made him pay for it.
When he spoke though, naming off some of her achievements, she looked back at him wide eyed. Putting it that way really did make her sound pitiful. Finally though, she sighed. "I'm not giving up..." Was she really? "I'm just being logical. You won't ever have the strength to get us both free. So if you can get free, you should. And when you are, you can help get me out of here..." It wasn't really a lie, but she hadn't considered it before now. But if he was free, he could organize a rescue, to free her. He'd know where the Island was now, so he could find it again after he was back to full strength.
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Post by ian on Dec 17, 2010 15:01:59 GMT -5
"Now you're talking like a member of the team."
He smiled, glad to know he had gotten through to her. Now all he had to do was work up a plan, and he couldn't help but smile as he began to work one out. It was small, with very little chance of working, but it was always the little chances that worked the most right? All he needed to do was get some medical help and then he could work something out.
"Look, it's a long shot, but if it works, we're both getting out as soon as I get better."
One thing he knew about the "lower" members of the nightmares, is that they were puppets. No doubt Cain would send someone to get him for the "party" as soon as he was better, he was sure of that. Then all he had to do was subdue the guard, grab the keys, get Crystal and be gone in a literal flash. Can't leave without giving a goodbye note though he couldn't help but smile at that thought.
"It's crazy, but usually the crazy plans always tend to work the most."
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Post by crystal on Dec 17, 2010 15:13:32 GMT -5
Crystal suddenly scowled. How did being logical make her a team player? Ugh, she would never understand adults sometimes. They always jumped to the strangest conclusions. Scowling still, she looked away once more, somewhat annoyed by his leap, but more exhausted then anything else. She'd used her power to mentally attack Cain after all. That wasn't something she did often, and so by default it was extremely draining. "Whatever it is you're crazy enough to think up, don't tell me."
She had to make it clear right now. Tell him the exact same thing she'd told Xavier. "No matter what, please, don't say it out loud. As long as I'm here, I have to stay in the dark. Otherwise they can get the information from me." Ian might not understand exactly, and just tell her not to give in to their interrogations, but there was more to it then that. "I have to answer any question I'm asked. It's part of my power. Sometimes, if it's left open enough I can avoid giving the answer they want, but I still have to give an answer. If they ever catch on, I don't want to be able to tell them what you're up to." It made Crystal the best, and worst ally. Best because she could literally spy on the enemy, but worst because if she were caught she'd be forced to rat you out with little effort from her captors.
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