Prodigy: Mind Games Pt. 2

"Go save the others! This fall is nothing!" Xiao said fast, assuring Yancey she'd be alright. Xiao made sure to land on her bare feet and keep her heels not completely ruined, and she landed on an unfortunate empty car on the street, completely crushing it while dusting herself off. Again, people were shocked, surprised, impressed, afraid, and took pictures of it all.

"Drat." Xiao said, realizing her dress tore slightly, and she picked up her glasses and put them back on. She went to where Lao landed and tried to pick up a scent. She was completely flabbergasted that there was none to follow.

Assuming her team all survived their respective falls, she called up Silus. "Silus? Bad news. I can't track Lao. It's like he doesn't even leave a scent. Uhm... They talked about a school, right? Ask Red Tide what school it is, or if Atiyah's parents would know. We could find them."

Now the question was how he would get from being suspended mid air in a water bubble back into the building. Ryan lazily kicked his legs, keeping him afloat within the water, though he did not remember even having formed the construct, or it doing something like this before. It was a little strange, but he was alive, so there was no reason for him to do any complaining. However his luck would continue, as Yancey would swoop down, snatching him from the water and doing the whole saving him thing. With the rescue done, he found his feet on land once again, or floor, his suit as dry as ever, thanks to his own special power. ”Thanks Yancey.” He would say, pleased with the whole daring rescue, though they had not managed to rescue the poor girl kidnapped by the aerokinetic. So this whole mission to save her seemed like it had gone nowhere, unless they could find a way to track them.

Ryan absently prodded the rainbow colored angel wings Yancey had formed, the brilliant colors somewhat catching his eye. Perhaps it was a little rude to go around poking a persons wings, but then again Ryan probably did not think about that.

"You keep pokin' and people might get the wrong idea." Yancey said flashing a smirk. One of his favorite pass times was teasing Ryan. Granted he enjoyed poking fun of Ryan's quirks more than anything. Yancey twitched the wing and caused it to brush into Ryan's arm, like a friend pushing his other friend's arm jokingly before letting the wings vanished into a rainbow like mist, caught in the wind. Yancey then looked to Xiao and flashed a big smile. "Nice land by the way. Perfect 10 Xiao!" Yancey lit up. Bad choice of words for a photokinetic as he did not literally, but the point remains the same.

"I ran a search to find the girl's family, we actually came up with a match for a family. I'm gonna go talk to them for a bit. Red, would you kindly look for more information regarding the school? Look for anything they'll have valuable that Zaf would want form them, anything that the school would want an illusionist child for too. I'm starting to think that this isn't about the girl..." Silus made the request before looking to Xiao and smiling. "I know he got away, but you did great. You'll get him one day. Remember what I said in the car when this all began...it's true. You will make a difference of that you have no choice... the choice is WHAT difference will you make? You're a force of good Xiao, never forget that." He turned to look at Red and nodded, it was simple but respectful. He looked to Yancey and just smirked. "Take care of Ryan." Silus said. Yancey's eyes furrowed, one arching more than the other to convey a look of total confusion.

"Yeah...always man. Xiao too, and Red." Yancey said before putting an arm over Ryan's shoulder and Xiao's. Yancey couldn't understand what was happening. "Ryan, keep your phone on, and keep him out of trouble. I counted on you...and you exceeded. Thanks... it means a lot." He said with a small smile. Yancey couldn't help but think it was weird as Silus pulled off his glasses and smiled sweetly before walking away. The arm came up and Yancey knew immediately it was because Silus was crying...even if no one else did.

Red would begin the search as they made a cruise.

"Anyone else think that was weird?" Yancey would ask.

***********

India town, established not all that long ago. Silus could tell exactly where he was by the strong smell of curry and the vegetarian dishes being served up in the hole in the wall shops nearby. Of course the ethnicity of virtually everyone around him was a good indication as well. Several people attempted to sell Silus objects and charms, some tried to sell paintings. It was like a Bazaar gone mad. Silus declined politely and moved into a dark alleyway until he reached the address. Quickly he knocked on the door and sighed, preparing for whatever lay on the other side.

What were these kids getting sentimental or something? Oh brother. Lucius decided to avoid the majority of the bull crap by returning to his car in order to retrieve his suit and mask, placing them on. He'd return in time to hear the little smart kid rattle off inspirational mushy stuff that Lucius ultimately ignored. If the kid would have just shut his mouth and let someone go with him then he might not have to be having this little moment. So while the heroes wasted time with morale and their trust building with barbie dolls and unicorn stickers, Lucius would indeed research this school and anything of value they might have.

  It was unfortunate that Lucius was mentioned and he nodded back at the kid. If ANYTHING he could acknowledge the kid was gifted. He almost felt sad that the kid had to part ways here. For many reasons. The first being now he was the smart one stuck in a band of idiots, the second being because the kid had answers he wanted. Little brat better survive. Lucius needed those answers. He had his own agenda, and the only reason he was even helping right now was because it furthered his goals! Well...the threats of this overly flirtatious angel killing him didn't help.

  He drove on a little cruise control. Being a villain he didn't honor or obey all the rules about not being on the computer while driving. His mask was alight with information. "Well what do we have here?" He hummed to himself with a little chuckle. This school was indeed a legitimate international school. Quite prestigious as well. He couldn't help but notice that there were a couple of metahumans there as well. Normally Lucius wouldn't have been anything less than happy for the future of the race to be taken from low income families and into such a fine curriculum... but this wasn't what one would call normal. With a little more digging in he was able to uncover that each and every metahuman child that attended this school had gone missing, and of course with the children being from low income families the humans didn't do anything for them. He began to look for patterns. Common abilities? Anything in particular about these children that was off? More importantly, what exactly did this aerokinetic and this fat tub of lard have to do with any of this? It didn't take much digging for Lucius to reach the full story. They both had stock in this school.

  "Bastards!" Lucius cursed as he slammed the car to an abrupt stop. So it turns out that the little brat was even smarter than Lucius gave him credit for. Clever kid was right...it's not about the girl. Not entirely. "You kids stay here a second. I'm going to try and search for this lady's purchase history. I need the A.T.M to do it though." He said, excusing himself.

Atiyah was born to a struggling Indian couple who emigrated her ten years ago. They were both from the provinces and were still quite steeped in tradition, while also embracing the modern values of America. Her father was a cab driver while her mother was a seamstress, and their place was far, far too poor even for their income. The apartment's owner walked past Silus, and he was dressed quite well. Too well for a landlord.

Once Silus knocked on the door, a man wearing a turban and sporting a moustache answered. He wore a clean, pressed white collared shirt. "Oh! hello there... can I help you?" He spoke, in halting Indian english.

Still, despite their financial poverty, Atiyah's home had warmth to it. It was kept fairly clean, and there was no sign of alcohol, cigarettes, or anything that indicated money went anywhere but where it was needed. At the dining table was a distraught Indian woman in modest western clothes, crying as she held a little doll. "Atiyah... Atiyah..." She muttered repeatedly.

Well there was one way to get Ryan to stop poking the brilliant rainbow colored wings, though it was Yancey as always the one to deliver the line. Ryan should have been expecting it, but he was not, instead he had been too transfixed by the rainbow of colors. ”Oh..” He said followed by a nervous chuckle and drawing his hand away, slipping it into his pocket, trying not to turn any shade of red and failing slightly, though he was a little disappointed with the disappearance of the wings, not that he showed it. Well, he was somewhat confused by the statement to Yancey about taking care of him, as he could so take care of himself.....totally. He was partially confused, but then again Ryan was always confused, so nothing new was there. The smile that Silus had given him, as small as it was felt like all the thanks needed, though the thank you also was good. Fortunately or unfortunately, he did not notice the crying, lost within his own thoughts.

Eventually they ended up in the weird masked dudes car, though he was not entirely comfortable with sitting in a villains car, not that he had much say in the matter. Sure, he was driving pretty fast for some reason, and considering it was raining, he was partially expecting them to crash but they did not, so that was good. Eventually they stopped somewhere, something being said about a purchase history while he just sat there, twiddling his thumbs silently.

"Sir, I'm here about your daughter who was kidnapped from you. Atiyah is in danger. I've been trying to find he but I need to know absolutely everything you know." Silus said flawlessly speaking the parent's native language. Hopefully he'd be able to appeal to their sense of good nature. He was also secretly hoping that these people had been cold enough to sell their own child. It would have seen simpler. Knife held to the throat. Sadly, and thankfully Silus' secret prayer was unanswered as he saw the crying mother.

  "A group of Heroes called Prodigy are looking for you little girl. If you want her found we gotta work quick." He was still speaking the native language of the parents as he looked to them dead serious.

************
************


  "Xiao... Ryan... Why was Silus so weird back there?" Yancey asked as Red Tide got into the car again, hopefully with news.

LITTLE INDIA TOWN
Atiyah's dad quickly invited Silus to come inside to seat with them, as his words quickly earned his father's trust. "You are looking for my daughter? Please, I'll help. Just come in. The neighbors... they are not very supportive hearing about her."

The man looked down the hallway before closing the door and sitting down. "I suppose if you know her name, then you know her... abilities. When we learned our Atiyah possessed many powers, many of the people here were scared. We had such a hard time wondering how to manage life. We were barely scraping by on our salaries without having to deal with Atiyah's powers, but we tried our best. this Institute for gifted youngsters was such a godsend, and the scholarship sounded too good to be true."

He forwarded a pamphlet of a prestigious school not too far from here. It was in another part of the city, about fifteen minutes' drive.

The father paused, while the mother picked up the rest of the story. She was holding a chibi monkey doll. "But Atiyah forgot her doll, Mr. Monkey. She never goes to sleep without it. We called up the numbers, but none of them worked; we went to the school but we were told Atiyah wasn't there. We filed a police report but they haven't done anything. Please... get Atiyah back. She must be so scared being alone without her doll." She gave Silus Mr. Monkey, who actually appeared to be a child friendly Sun Wukong. The doll emanated latent psychic energies that felt like warm hugs and security, likely a result of being Atiyah's toy. Proximity to her immense psychic mind having instilled an actual portion of her feelings in it. The home's feeling of hominess and security likely had a psychic component to it, and the monkey was the focus.

CAR

While in the car, Xiao changed out of her dress, and was back in hero uniform. She sighed, looking at the tears. She'd have to go see a shop for it. She folded it up neatly into her backpack. Xiao looked over at Yancey, and thought about it. She'd been focused on retrieving the girl, her feelings on the matter only now began to catch up. Ever since they met the girl, Silus has been particularly enthusiastic about finding her. She also recalled His kind words of encouragement that also kept Xiao going, considering how slippery these people were. The Institute was it called?

"Well... Silus is still kind of young... and I think seeing that girl affected his feelings. Me, personally, I understand. Being separated from your family is the worst thing in the world, especially for a child. Everyone is doing their best to get her back to her parents."

It was becoming clear that the Institute people were becoming desperate. Information gathering revealed payments were made to private dock owners from Zafira's ample accounts to smuggle them out by Lake Michigan.

Silus was being weird back there, though as to the why Ryan could not really pick that out. He didn't really know the guy well enough to...well understand much really, not that he didn't want to, but he had never been really good with the whole socializing thing. Actually, he kind of sucked at it, but then again that could have been blamed on his upbringing or maybe other reasons. Xiao had a reason though, so that was pretty good, and sounded valid in some way.  Ryan rested an elbow against the door, looking out the window and trying to think of a reason that wasn't Xiao's, but that did not go very well. ”I dunno actually.” He answered tone not really hiding his confusion, the rain slowly picking up, becoming slightly audible on the cars roof. The girl could have gotten to him, but if that were the case he would have no idea, this was him running off of a hint more than anything. ”So, did you find anything?” He would ask, noticing that Red had returned to the car.

The girl had a monkey doll. Sun Wukong, with a little bit of a more "age appropriate" touch to it. Silus tried to process everything that had been going on and had been relayed to him. So this ploy of Zafira's was probably NOT the work of a corrupt company, rather a few individuals working within the system. The final question Silus had was "why?" Then again he knew his powers started out the same as hers...then you look at what they turned into. Even the vibrancy and warm energy of an almost familiar child-like love and radiance. Silus gently clutched the doll and sighed. He really didn't want to do this, but he was prepared to... it's why he said his goodbyes.

"I'm going to make her safe. Even if it will be the death of me." He said with a slight smile before excusing himself. He had something he needed to do. First he'd text daddy dearest, inquiring about a "drop off" of a specific item. He shot off a text message to Yancey wondering where they thought their enemy was so he could meet them there. Once Yancey knew, he'd get back to Silus ASAP.

"I found out she bought some tickets to a family cruise to Canada. Leaves in an hour. She's pouring out money to smuggle people. So kids..." Lucius said before punching in the "confirm" button on his mobile device. "Thank Auntie Zafira for shelling out that money for our cruise tickets... oh and for paying for that bribe for the suit...and for some research. Yeah, that'll do." Lucius finished as he siphoned a LOT of money from the woman with a smirk. Lucius had many ways to mess with people. This was one of them, and this was very satisfying. Of course he was going to melt the lady's face off in a harsh interrogation session but that was fun for later.

Lucius' car pulled up and he looked about as he took off the suspicious parts of his costume. "Where's the smart one of you rug-rats? I need all of us here if we're going to make this a successful-" Lucius was cut short by a loud thud and a the caw of a raven that flew overhead against the midnight sky. Lucius almost missed it. Silus whom appeared from the bushes, brushing himself off gave a nervous chuckle. On his right hand he had a most strange contraption, it seemed to be technologically advanced. Lucius would need to have a closer look at it later. "I'm here." He said.

"Oh good. Now, if anyone asks I'm your older brother and we're expecting to meet with our parents." He told Xiao he then prompted Silus for his phone. The young man complied and Lucius brought up the secondary purchase sheet for two other tickets... after a little programming that let him "link" access to Silus' phone an go through it's contents freely. He handed it back to Silus with a scoff. "You two come up with your own excuse." He said before walking towards the boat, a man in a fine suit checking tickets.

Xiao nodded to Red Tide's plan for infiltrating the boat. She took a look at the frigid, winter waters of Lake Michigan. The moment she had heard they were taking a boat, they had blundered into the territory of an aquatic hero and a hydrokinetic. She turned to her team mate who wasn't exactly known for his finesse "Ryan, this is our element. Think you can stop the boat from leaving? These bad guys are not getting away this time." Xiao asked him the favor.

Then Xiao waved to Silus. "We'll need to find Atiyah and get the innocent people off the yacht. We can't let Zafira endanger any more people."
"Okay, I'm ready." Xiao put on a weather appropriate coat, as being undisturbed by the freezing cold would give her away. She followed behind Red Tide and onto the boat. Trouble wouldn't be far away, as Master Lao and Edgar were on the empty deck. Edgar was seated beside a small table with cups of tea, while Lao remained standing.

"You are very persistent, Dragon Girl and company. The Institute could have great use for the likes of you, but it's clear you waste your talents on foolish pursuit of heroics." Lao addressed her directly, then looked at Red Tide.

"And you. You think you're so clever posing as a henchman. You've made dangerous enemies, mister Tide. You won't be spared either." The boat began to power up and move away from the docks. It was up to Ryan now to incapacitate the boat some way, before it would reach Canadian waters.

The masked man had seemed to gotten some information on where they were supposed to be going, which was a good thing. If any sort of expectations had been placed upon him to find anything, then likely they would have not gotten anywhere fast, not a good a thing at all. It seemed they would have the advantage the moment something was said about a boat, because boats were on the water, and he controlled water, so that was a no brainer; lucky for Ryan. Luckily, Silus also made a reappearance, meaning they now had the brains of their outfit back here and perhaps things could go good from here on. Soon enough, they would be looking over the cold waters of Lake Michigan, his element, both cold and water. ”Yeah, I can do that.” He would say with a nod, almost sure of himself while keeping his eyes upon the boat he was supposed to stop.

Ryan zipped up his jacket, not really affected by the cold but he was more following Xiao's lead than anything, burying his hands into his pockets and looking around almost suspiciously. The boat had begun to start up as some guy started to talk to them, really annoying the guy was but that's another gripe for another time. Without even needing a real prompt, he was aware the boat was trying to leave, letting his reach over the water spread. ”Okay Ryan, you can do this.” He thought to himself almost as a chant of sorts, concentrating as the flesh around his neck slowly began to turn blue, a sort of mist rising upwards from seemingly nowhere. Overall, the radiant air temperature began to lower and with it, the water around the boat would freeze, hoping to stop it within its tracks, ice crawling up its sides as well, burrowing into the sides of it, and likely to tear it apart if they tried to force any movement.

”Yeah, you're not going anywhere.” he said almost confidently, a small puff of cold air slipping between his lips, as the strange coloration had moved up his neck and onto his right cheek. He could feel it, a cold pressure against his right thigh, the amulet, one hand slipping into the pocket and feeling it over.

I want to believe that was all you...and it breaks my heart because I know it wasn't. Silus thought to himself as he noticed the waters becoming ice and trapping the boat. Yancey laughed and shot Ryan a thumbs up with his award winning smile before looking to all the people around. Yancey smirked and nodded. "You gotta know you can't win..." Yancey smirked as he let out a powerful blinding light for a single moment before a huge bubble appeared around the boat. No one was getting out through the air. "You guys got nothing." He said with a shrug and putting his hands in his pockets, acting all cool and unconcerned.

Silus, on the other hand proceeded to raise a hand to the sky and in a small yet dim flash a small tar fell form the sky, hovering just over the strange mechanical gauntlet. paint a grappling hook and attach it to a window. He scaled himself to a window port and with a little focus he was able to revert himself to his child form and fit himself snugly through the window. When he dropped on the other side he made sure to remove the grappling hook and let it plop into the waters below. His job was to find the girl, and that's what he was going to do. He quickly looked down to the information Red Tide had acquired. Using the transaction number he should definitely be able to see where those two tickets rooms were assigned too when he cross checked it with the boat provider.


After he had that he knew where he was looking for the girl, and off he went as a little 11 year old.

Lucius found himself taking mental not of all nearby enemies and anyone who appeared to be in alliance with the Aerokinetic or her martial-artist fool. He needed a way to clear out the men and women as fast as he could. "Oh my. How narcissistic of you. To believe yourself worthy of being called my enemy." Lucius said, dismissing the martial artists as he unleashed a bright flash of the red energy, which slowly began to corrode and eat away at the deck. Thankfully it was nothing more than a warning shot. "Anyone not wanting to be hit by one of those better get off this ship. I won't hold back on your expense." He announced loudly for everyone nearby to hear. People began to run and scream in panic, but ultimately they were doing what he wanted. The perks of being the bad guy.

"Now, let's see if we can't make this amusing." Lucius mused to himself as he turned and looked back to his many enemies.

YACHT DECK
With the yacht completely immobilized Master Lao took off his glasses and assumed a combat stance against Xiao. As always, Xiao initiated the attack, even when knowing Lao was the superior combatant. What Lao wasn't expecting was the shoulder tackle, as though he could endure punishment, he could not stop a determined Dragon Girl from launching them both into the frigid water like a WWE wrestler.

His senses temporarily confused from the cold and the dark, Lao ate four mighty punches from the aquatic hero, knocking some of the wind out of him. Xiao was dragging the fight lower into the deep, Lao's skills not as well adapted to this environment. He kicks off and tries to swim away, even reaching the surface again but Xiao kept at him like an angry sea predator. "Let go of me, you cretin!"

Edgar did not even pay heed as his partner was fully engaged with Xiao. He slowly stood up, with some effort and chuckled in a stuffy British manner. "Not the brightest bulb, but an acceptable tactic." He commented, then turned his attention toward's Red Tide's energy blast of corrosive nature.

"An Englishman is not intimidated by such displays. On guard sir! We will have our fisticuffs!" He said, pointing his cane at Red Tide, as bizarre psychic energies began to warp the deck. The yacht began to vanish from Red Tide's sight, and it seemed once again a powerful psychic illusion was enveloping them. Edgar's eyes and mouth glowed with energy as the obese man floated a few inches off the ground, and he breathed a gout of eldritch fire directly towards Red Tide.

YACHT INTERIOR

The ship was brightly lit but empty,  people having been forcibly evacuated- most of them were on the yacht deck to begin with. Once Silus reached the right door, a mighty gust of wind smashed the heavy steel door right off its hinges and threatened to cause him severe blunt force trauma, smashing him into the steel wall.

"No!" Atiyah cried out in fear, seeing one of her rescuers probably very brutalized. Sadly, there was little she could do, sitting on a couch as Zafira activated a small device of some nefarious purpose.

"I am not a  very kind or merciful teacher, child. Prepare yourself for a lesson in minding your own business!" Zafira knew there was no more running. It was time to bring the pain of what air can do.

ZAFIRA, Zephyr: Int 3 Str 1  Spd 6  Dur 5 Abi 10 (Airben- I mean, Aerokinesis) Fs 10 Abi 1 (Air vibrations senses) Fly 2
EDGAR, The Brain:   Int 3 Str 1 Spd 3 Dur 7 Magic (Psionic Index) 10 Spells (Psionic Manifestations) 5 Fs 7 Fly 2
LAO, The Unmovable: Int 3 Str 7 Spd 7 Dur 10 Fs 10