Question Inaba 2: Sucks to be you

May 28th, 2007
Rice Lake Reservoir
Near Duluth, MN

Liabella Navarro is definitely the type of girl who is going to meet Mrs. Carson sooner rather than later with this kind of record. Father a long-haul trucker and mother an MCO agent at their local office, yikes, too much free time. Started developing at the age of 12, oh boy. And made to move to a new place because of her mom's job, her parents are deluded if they think this reformed her and don't keep a close eye on her still.

At a reservoir watching Memorial Day fireworks and 15, trouble brew.

Standing at five foot eight, she showed the promise of growing into a tall, exotic Latina woman. Her bikini top barely covering her shapely breasts- a size or two too smaller than the C-cup she clearly needed. Likewise, the thong bottom covered nothing, leaving her backside exposed and showing off the well-rounded backside that in a few years would surely rival J.Lo or those whatsit sisters out in Hollywood.

Yeah, her mom should have an agent tailing Liabella, dressed like this she is asking for trouble. *facepalms* Twins Kenny and Karl Olsen and she's slept with them both, make that several agents following her at all times. Goes to get a beer and this asshole gives her a new drug, this never ends well. Nose bleeding and her eyes changed to an unnatural turquoise color, crap! What was that drug?

September 22nd 2007
Glensheen Manor, Duluth MN

Rose up in a tree, reflecting on life and it has been 3 weeks since Steve raped her, follow-up appointment today and I hope everything is okay. Isobel going to take her to her appointment, breakfast on the back patio and a rabbit comes over, cute. Isobel Navarro shows up, MCO agent and mother, back at the hospital with Dr. Foster and Isobel trying to comfort Rose and keep her calm. The wait to find out medical testing results is the hardest part sometimes.

Dinner with Isobel and her daughter Liabella, I wonder what that drug did to Liabella all those months ago.

They stood in front of a door, decorated in police tape and messages about privacy and removal of body parts for violating said privacy.

“Go away!” shouted a very angry voice from the other side of the door. There were definite tones of hostility and sadness in that voice, and Rose’s heart felt for her.

Yikes, it sounds like Liabella manifested and went through some changes she doesn't like.

The thing that caught Rose’s eye were the black pulsing veins that showed distinctly from under the girl’s gray semi-translucent skin. She had beautiful black hair, running down past her waist, and wore a sweatsuit, trying to hide her modest figure and smallish breasts. Rose looked at her and estimated she was a small B cup, or maybe a large A. Lia looked Rose over with those brilliant turquoise eyes, and then did something she hadn’t expected.

Was not expecting changes like this, no wonder Liabella ticked off enough to punch Rose for being the source of a disturbance in her life.

How dare she bring this interloper into the house. How dare she rub her face in this girl’s mutation, she was attractive, and shapely. The bunny features only adding to her sexiness. She was everything that Lia no longer was, and she hated the new girl for it. She would make this one suffer for making her feel inferior.

Lia needs some counseling past tense to help with her temper and resentments like these. Punched a second time and lost her glasses, Rose is going to want to thrash Lia at this rate. Brushing off her mom, then trying to attack Rose again all because she thinks Rose was brought in as a babysitter for her, arggh! Lia dodges the next blow, gets her glasses back, and runs for it! Lia in pursuit and ranting at Rose about reminding her of what she lost, how she is a monster, counseling is way overdue at this point.

Whoa, what is going on with Lia's veins and her the stigmata-like wounds on her palms? Don't tell me Lia can extend the stuff in her black veins and use them like a tentacle?

They were mouths! Mouths filled with small razor sharp teeth.

Mouths in her hands and tongues like that from them, no wonder Lia thinks she is a monster, poor kid. Good grief, she thinks Rose is 18-20, not the 14 of her actual age. Lia doesn't believe Rose, this girl needs to learn to trust again.

3' long tongues, good, not ridiculously long. Rose finally snaps, attacking Lia back while venting about all the things she has been through.

“You think I have it all? I nearly died! Does that sound like I had it all? I was diagnosed with fucking cancer! I spent the past few years having chemotherapy and operations, and was confined to a hospital. If I hadn’t been a mutant and if I didn’t get a spirit to help me, I would be dead right now. I was minutes away from death, seconds. So don’t you fucking tell me that I have it all. YOU are the one that does, I’m a fucking wreck!”

“Enough!” Inaba screamed in Rose’s head. Rose lurched backwards, stunned by the suddenness and ferocity of the small spirit that dwelt in her hallow. Stumbling, she fell and landed on her ass. Sitting there, she looked at the girl she had beaten up. If Inaba hadn’t interrupted her, she could have beaten the girl to death.

And we know a huge trigger for Rose's rage if she is attacked, saying she has everything you don't, scary. Isobel drawing her service weapon on Lia, that gets the point across.

Rose left behind to walk back to the Superiors HQ, message to Carrie about taking a nap at HQ, hope things get better for Rose and Lia. Wakes up to Carrie sitting by her, an apology for not being there, explains some about the case that took her away for the day.

Carrie sighed and nodded. “This past spring, there was an outbreak of mysterious deaths and sudden illnesses in the local mutant population. Lia Navarro was one of those cases. From what her mother has told me of their time in New Mexico, Lia has always been something of a … troublemaker. She had a reputation for stealing things, beating up other kids, drinking, smoking. When ‘Bel got her promotion and the family moved up here, Lia’s behavior got worse. ‘Bel can’t be sure, but she’s reasonably sure she’s been sleeping around, running with known felons, and causing all sorts of issues. “

Rose nodded. Based on the incident earlier, she believed it. She remained quiet as Carrie continued to speak.

“Around Memorial Day, Lia got violently ill and had to be hospitalized. At first the doctors thought she was undergoing a burnout, as she was manifesting, but instead of the normal symptoms, her body temperature actually fell dramatically. She began to hemorrhage blood, and her pulse became wildly erratic. She actually vomited out her entire digestive system, and the openings on her palms formed. Miraculously, she survived, and grew a new digestive tract, this one connected to the mouths on her palms, instead of her original one.”

Okay, whoever spread this drug needs to be locked away for life. Made to target mutants and even triggers latent mutants in the worst way possible, sickening. Lia actually wants to apologize, hope this means she gains a friend as she desperately needs one right now.

The next day,
St. Luke’s Hospital
Duluth, MN

Heh, I don't think anyone likes waiting in a doctor's exam room. Adapted to the standard birth control pills and very fertile, at least she isn't pregnant.

“If that’s what is necessary, I guess... but why am I like this? It’s not normal. I get turned on at the drop of the proverbial hat, and I get so fixated and focused on sex, sometimes it’s all I can think of. What’s wrong with me Doc?”

Looking at Rose, Dr. Stevens nodded. “I was about to discuss that. In the course of our testing, we discovered something was off about your neuro-chemistry. Do you know what oxytocin is?”

Looking at the doctor, Rose shook her head.

Carrie looked at the doctor and nodded, understanding. She spoke up. “Oxytocin is a neural compound which is often linked to sexual arousal, social and parental bonding, and also orgasmic and euphoric behaviors.”

Excessive amount of oxytocin, and only able to take the edge off, but not cure, ouch.

Even with ice cream comfort, Rose isn't feeling fully up to seeing Lia again.

“Liabella, sweetie. If you don’t start something, she won’t kick your ass. I love you little one. Don’t be a brat. We’ll be back in a couple hours”

Heh, this is one way to get the girls to talk. Lia is sincere about her apology and yeah, her mom and Carrie are plotting something. Ouch, Rose calls Lia Sadako from the Ring, I can see why Lia would be scared by it. Okay, I forget, is part of Rose's powers from Inaba probability control, because those pool shots were nuts.

She can't eat through her original mouth and her hand-mouths' tongues can't taste anything, now that is just insult to injury.

“Okay, but you can still taste with your original tongue, right? Couldn’t you possibly taste things in your mouth, before discretely covering it and spitting into the hand’s mouth?”

I hope that works for Lia, might help a little with some of her frustration.

Ouch, being reminded of Rose's history. Nice exemplar mental tricks and the ability to estimate all those things so accurately. The whole tale of Rose and how she met Inaba, her transformation, and survival. And now it is Lia's turn to share.

That meant I was often left with Abuela Navarro. She grew up in a strict Christian household, and tried to… encourage me to be a good Christian girl.

No wonder she rebelled, and beating her as punishment, ugh, that backfires every time.

I loved Uncle Ricardo. He took time to talk to me, and he treated me like an adult, not like a child. He was so kind. And he would make the most beautiful jewelry. I'd sit at watch him craft these intricate pieces, and it just fascinated me. I was considering leaving the gang and turning my life around. But Abuela ruined everything.”

Oh great, Lia wants to start turning her life around and her Abuela ruins it, meddling adult. Ugh, her Abuela makes me sick, thinks being gay and being a mutant are sins against God, this kind of mindset disgust me. What! Okay, her Abuela needs punishment for causing Ricardo's death, and those who murdered him need to be brought to justice.

No wonder Lia became worse, the one person who understood her and was helping her turn her life around, murdered by bigots.

I didn’t know at the time that Mami was investigating the deaths on the side. I just thought that she was trying to drown herself in her work. She discovered that the murder had been connected to Abuela’s church, to a Humanity First member in the MCO that attended service there. Following leads, she found a trail of mysterious disappearances, all linked to that office. Nearly the entire staff was complicit in the execution and cover-up of various crimes. Mami resigned from the FBI and applied to the MCO and was assigned to assist the new office chief. After six months, she was offered the position of head of the Duluth office, and we relocated.

Murder and cover-up of mutants by H1! creeps who work for the MCO, treating fellow humans like they aren't makes me sick.

I was in a coma for the better part of a month and, when I did wake up… Well, you see the results. I was told that I nearly died. That most of my organs had disintegrated and I had grown new ones they couldn’t identify. My body temperature dropped to about 64 degrees, which is apparently normal for me now. They didn’t even know how to feed me at first. Not until I accidentally started to eat everything my hands came into contact with. It took them time to figure out that the drug I had taken forced me to manifest and also caused some kind of damage to my mutant body image. Once they discovered that, other cases involving the drug were discovered. … most of whom were exemplars that had died because the drug mangled their bodies. I’m not positive, but I think your mentor was involved in taking down the devisor that invented the drug.”

A drug designed to mangle exemplars by messing up their BIT, who came up with this monstrous thing? And why?

Hehe, I love how Carrie and Isobel are about sharing secrets and their lies to cover each other. A devisor created drug that causes such horrific deaths to exemplars, whoever created it has a beef with Exemplars for some reason.

The devisor is a local criminal named Silverback… think devisor that is also an eight foot tall gorilla.

*eyes bug out* Don't tell me, he tried to use a devise to make himself an Exemplar and ended up like that. Lia was shocked at who made the drug, and it sounds like Silverback is dead, dang it.

September 22nd 2007
Great Lakes Shipping Warehouse #3
Duluth, Minnesota

Ah, so Silverback is an Exemplar with GSD. High-level Exemplar and Devisor, a dangerous combo. Transistor checking out the officers in their power armors hope those are up to the job. Special Agent Monroe heading the mission. Yikes, Silverback is even scarier than previously suspected. Carrie gets them in easy, no signs of guards on the doors, crud, it's a trap!

Minions with firepower and Silverback knew they were coming, Officer Crosby in the old power frame is pinned down.

“Exciting, isn’t it? Science has been perplexed by what a BIT is, and lo and behold, I have made something that can destroy them. Granted, that was not my original intent, but now I can sell it to the highest bidder. I’m sure there are those who would pay for the opportunity to study BITS pre AND post destruction.” The simian villain excitedly yelled.

He is a madman! What is to keep someone from using it on him once they no longer need him?

What kind of crazy plan does Carrie have which requires everyone else to evacuate the warehouse? Enchanted arrowheads, Silverback is arrogant and gets one in his right eye, he has seriously underestimated Carrie. Ooo, going for the jokes and such which will get Silverback angry and not thinking. Donkey Kong reference and calling him Gorilla Grodd, this fight is like something out of Spider-Man. He is a rager with Diedrick's, what are you thinking, Carrie!

Heh, that is one way to get hired goons to run for it without having to fight them. Good plan by Transistor for taking Silverback down. Crap! That poor heavy armor wearer never stood a chance.

“High explosive Squash Head. Essentially, they are warheads designed to inflict massive damage on structures. They also do Exemplars like nothing else, or so the Army says, and are useful against infantry. If King Kong out there tries to catch these, he’s likely to lose his hands.”

Sometimes your only chance is to use something you aren't supposed to even have, this is definitely one of those cases. So a missile took out his shoulder, then the warehouse went up like a roman candle, with her regen amped up by his rager state can we be sure he is dead?

September 23rd 2007
Glensheen Manor, Duluth MN

“We searched the wreckage of the warehouse, and the blast radius. All we found was his severed arm.”

Still think he could have survived it now that I know about his rager state and regen. Trying to get Lia to help with planning and decorating for Halloween and Lia doesn't think she can due to lack of control over her hand-mouths.

Wait, the doctor was more interested in the effects of the drug than in the possibility of Lia's hand-mouths having a mind of their own, what kind of doctor is this person? Dr. Hervenhopher, a creep with tenure and ties to H1!, *tries to punch him through dimensions* Lia seeing Dr. Steven, good, some answers coming soon.

Rose missed the smile forming on her guardian's face. These two girls were just the thing that each other needed.

Yay! Friends glad it all worked out.

The following day
Glensheen Manor, Duluth MN.

Ouch, waking up to that first thing in the morning. I hope that bulletin about a radical religious group doesn't come back to bite us in the butt later.

“I looked into this Dr. Hervenhopher. He has definite connections to Humanity First, and there have been some anomalous financial transactions, large sums of money deposited into his accounts. I haven’t discovered why, but I turned the matter over to a friend who is a forensic accountant with the FBI. If he doesn’t do anything blatantly criminal, I can’t really do anything… but it seems for certain that he didn’t have Lia’s interests at heart.”

Possible payments for outing mutants who come to the hospital maybe. And already implanting the devises, that is quick.

Interesting devises and dang, staying awake through that with only local anesthesia. Tears on Lia's face and worry in Isobel's eyes, what happened? Oh no, probably turning into a boy, as if Lia doesn't have it bad enough already.

“The drug seems to have jump-started it, and then froze the change in the beginning stages, so thankfully there is no dick in my future.”

I hope it stays frozen at the beginning stages for Lia's sake, if she starts changing into a boy more fully she might do something drastic.

“The little fluff-head there was right though about something. When she said my mouths have a mind of their own, she was actually right. The doctor said that there are some sort of primitive neural nerve cluster things in my forearms, all along the throats.”

Knew it was possible, but still, a little weird those mouths have minds of their own. Carrie wants to try something with her medicine pouch and Rose just has to make a crude joke. She puts Lia's arm to sleep and Lia has full control over the mouth, too bad it is temporary. 24-hours, that is some long temporary spell. And plans on a permanent binding of the spell, woohoo!

Carrie off on an emergency, so Isobel is going to watch Rose and Lia is staying over, a sleepover! Oh, time alone for Isobel and her husband, heh. Lia's idea of a heating pad to help with Rose's pain, go get one now! Warm, wet towel, good enough, nice impro. Canned chicken noodle soup and tuna sandwich, good for an upset tummy. 6 pads in one day, good lord, Rose is having the roughest period I've ever heard of. Exemplar 3, Regen 3, Avatar 4 if not higher, too bad regen doesn't help with those kinds of pains.

Having a spirit as your best friend, Rose certainly is unique in that way. Rose being nice and sharing clothes with LIa, aww. Goth dress and Lia thinks she is trying to make fun of her, this is part of a plan, sneaky. Makeup allowing her to look a different normal than before, but still normal, got me tearing up here. Disguised as a pale goth girl, perfect and cute imo.

Uh oh, Lia kisses Rose, Rose kisses back, Lia freaks out and locks herself in the bathroom. I guess the partial changes towards male had more of an effect on Lia than she thought. Rose has to call Lia, tell what happened, and they are on their way back, poor, confused kid. 6'8", this must be Lia's father.

“Please don’t be afraid, little one. I mean you no harm. I thank you for trying to be a friend to my little girl. I know it’s not easy; she has a lot of grief and pain to get through. She told you about my brother, si?” said the large man.

Salvador Navarro, and he isn't a mutant, at that size I almost thought he was.

“Also, my mother has been especially cruel. When she heard that Lia had manifested, she renounced her granddaughter. I… I have told her we are no longer family, and I no longer talk to my mother, but    we’ve kept this from Lia. It’s just another thing she need not worry about.”

His mother, Lia's grandmother, is a monster to renounce her own granddaughter for something she has no control over. Lia leaving with her parents, not blaming Rose for what happened, even though Rose might be blaming herself. *sigh*

That same evening
The Dream-space of Rose Lindevall

“You need not worry. She will be okay. Her parents clearly care for her. Give her some space. I’m sure that you two just misunderstood each other. I can tell though that she is starting to care for you. Don’t pressure her. Let her come to you”

Words of wisdom from Inaba, I wonder if she speaks from experience.

September 25th, 2007
Glensheen Manor, Duluth MN

Wait, what!?! She experiences her full period in just one day, now that is unusual. Aww, I knew it, Rose feels guilty about kissing back, teen years are rough.

“There was a case of arson at a club named the Scratching Post, over in Superior. Miguel and I were called in because this fits the modus operandi of a dangerous radical anti-mutant group known as the Good Shepherds.”

“I’ve never heard of them. Are they like Humanity First?”

Carrie shook her head. “Not really. The Shepherds are a radical fundamentalist group that takes the stand that mutants like you and I – that is to say, mutants with GSD that resembles the features of animals- are inhuman, and that sexual or romantic acts are considered bestiality and should be punished under ‘God’s laws’. Furthermore, since we aren’t considered as ‘humans’ in their eyes, it’s not a crime to murder mutants like us. The club caters to individuals that seek a... certain kind of exotic dancer to entertain them.”

*fights back losing lunch* These kinds of individuals, I hope I never understand them.

“It’s not like the school encourages that. In any case, the group is very dangerous for people like us. They also have a hatred of people that manifest anything they think is ‘demonic’ looking, as they consider them minions of the devil. That means that someone like Lia could conceivably draw their attention. This is why we train you to be careful, and to protect yourselves. The world is full of people with mistaken beliefs and hateful ideologies,” Carrie responded.

Sometimes I just wish people could see others as people despite their differences.

Carrie looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. “I’m not sure if I should envy you or pity you.”

Why not both? Training and a run, at least Rose will be ready for Whateley, or at least parts of it.

“For search and rescue purposes, we have two vehicles. The Catalina and a HH-65A helicopter, which is referred to as a ‘Dolphin’. If he gets it up and running, perhaps we can take you up in it tomorrow.”

I love that is it called the Dolphin.

“Nothing of any real importance. Whateley routinely sends out notices to the registered hero groups about potential threats from non-allied individuals and groups. I’m sure they do so as well for the Syndicate and other more… nebulous groups as well, but I can’t confirm that” Carrie said as she looked at the papers.

Ooo, I love knowing Whateley sends out those reports, wonder how many graduates from Whateley are on registered hero groups right now. Having to be called in to testify against Steven, I hope it isn't needed.

‘Diedrick's Syndrome is a condition where the use of a mutant power causes the brain to overproduce certain kinds of neuro-transmitters. The exact effect of these neurotransmitters varies with the individual but classic effects are: megalomania, euphoria, paranoia, irrationality, delusions and extreme mood swings. Diedrick's is a very 'Bipolar' condition with extreme swings being followed by balancing periods of extreme lucidity, remorse, ultra-rationalism, fatigue and even narcolepsy.’ I think hypersexuality and Euphoria count…”

So that is the full definition of Diedrick's, very interesting. Rose left alone while Carrie goes off to learn what she can to help LIa.

President of Hedgeworth Enterprises to address GSD club arson issue.

Is this person the one who owns those clubs or is something else going on here?

Crud, it is Steven's father and he owns all those clubs, part of Hedgeworth Enterprises. And Rose is scared of him.

"Although Hedgeworth Enterprises has grown into a leading Fortune 500 company, we will never forget our humble origins. One of our very first acquisitions was a run-down club in New York City. This club was rebuilt with the vision of a place where mutants suffering from GSD could work and make a living, a place where patrons would be able to appreciate them for their unique differences, a place where all people could come together. This run-down club became the first 'Petting Zoo' club, and would continue to grow into an industry leader with locations Worldwide. Including the famous locations in Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston, and of course the much-celebrated original New York club.

Okay, knowing this I have to think Steven targetted her because she reminds him of some of the women at those clubs. His wife and all their children are mutants, uh oh, what are Steven's siblings like?

All that to help out mutants and see the "Good Shepards" brought to justice, yet his own son uses his power to rape women, ugh.

Rose was shaking violently with fear. The Father of the man that used her was coming here. He surely would try to meet with her. He probably would even throw offers of money at her to refuse to testify, or to even perjure herself. She clenched her fists tightly, so tightly that her clawed nails were digging into her palms.

Crap, Rose needs someone with her right now. Steven escaped!

Mr Hedgeworth looked slightly annoyed by the question. “I have had no contact with him since just after his arrest. I told him that we do not support such heinous activities, and he is no longer welcome in our family. We denied him financial and legal assistance. If he is listening, I urge him to turn himself in.”

This man is completely different from Steven, what went wrong with Steven?

“I believe that my ... son ... is capable of such acts. It is my failing as a father that he grew up with little compassion for his fellow mutants, or humanity in general. They say that power corrupts, but if we who have power don’t use it responsibly, we become dangerous. I believe that a wise man one said that ‘with great power must come great responsibility’. No truer words have been spoken. When I fly out to meet with the owners of the Wisconsin club that was burned down, I fully intend to seek out the young girl to offer my… assistance. If you are watching, I would like to meet you in person, Rose Lindevall.”

Steven's father is a good man, yet Rose is so afraid she is already in a full-blown panic attack, this is very bad.

Whateley Academy
Melville Cottage, Freshman floor.

Oh crap. Either some fangirl or psycho little sister of Steven who believes he can do no wrong is out for Rose now.

The girl shut off the laptop and reached into a drawer. Pulling out a long, thin sewing needle. She violently jabbed it into her thigh and moaned in euphoric pleasure, as she dug it around in her own flesh.

One messed up girl, either way, I hope Mrs. Carson learns of this development before Rose ends up at Whateley.

Duluth Superiors Headquarters
Duluth, MN
A short time later.

Nooo! Her full-panic mode sending Rose into that room, doing that. She needs Carrie to be back, now!

Rose’s Dream-space
At that moment.

And in their special place to be together a cold, winter storm has sprung up, Inaba calling out to Rose with no reply. The storm getting worse, Inaba in danger, and not able to see through Rose's eyes, someone please help Rose! Finally finding Rose, but is Rose as she was, sickly and in poor health.

“Unclean” Rose said as the tears running down her face blended with the blood from her fresh wounds.

Right now I wish to kill Steven for causing this, Rose has had enough pain in her life, she doesn't deserve to endure more.

Duluth Superiors Headquarters
Duluth, MN
A few hours later.

Miguel finding Rose in that state, good lord, it is worse than I expected. And now we have to wait to see what happens to her, this is going to be torture.