Monument to our Sins (R)

Shikon felt the gnawing sensation in the back of his head again. Then there was a small flash back just a few months ago.

The lab...Shikon had no clue where he was or how he got there. Someone had tore into the back of his head, and in the base of where his neck and skull met there was something there, it was always able to force him into doing something. Shikon could never get to it, almost as if it were moving just out of reach every time he went to get it. That worst memory was the sickening snap sound as he forced a man's neck into a death position. He didn't want to do it, but in the end he had no say over what his body would do. Shikon had missed Lakai dearly through all of this, wanting her company more than anything. Shikon wanted her there to tell him it would be alright, that he was going to make it through this, but he refused to go see her afraid that who ever was controlling his body might make him hurt Lakai. If Shikon were to do that he would never forgive himself.

As he thought that last thought he was snapped back into the present by the wind whipping around his face. Shikon was in the middle of Times Square, and for the life of him he couldn't remember how the hell he had got there. Although he knew what was coming next with the gnawing sensation. The sensation had always come before he lost control, and he knew it would be a terrible fate for who ever was going to be his next target. Before Shikon could stop himself or think a second thought the store next to him was ablaze, and he knew it was his fault. The flames licked higher and higher until they reached the next building, people were running and screaming in terror yet there was nothing he could do to stop himself. As he walked forward more and more stored caught fire and started to burn to the ground. "Dammit I just want this all to stop!"

"It's never going to stop, you need to learn to live with it."
Said a disembodied voice mingling with the smoke. The shape moving within the polluted air was hardly perceptable, unless one paid all their attention to the subtle tricks of light and shadow.

"Get yourself under control, Shikon."
It was a hard fact to realize, there was no doubt.. but a mutant starting random fires in the heart of the city couldn't be overlooked. When the source of the blaze was identified, Kas couldn't ignore it.
"I know this might not be easy after everything that's happened, but try not to think about that."

Not that he wanted to make light of the man's concerns. His girlfriend was taken captive by the MRD and warped to do their dirty work. Since, Lakai had regained some idea of who she is. Though she had no idea who Shikon was. Put in the same shoes, Kas couldn't say he would not have lost it either.

"Clear your mind."
Easier said than done. At least one person who could walk through fire unaffected had been the lucky one to notice the inferno.

Shikon's rage blinded him
"Kas you can't understand what's going on! I'm not doing this because want to! There is something very wrong. I don't know why I can't stop myself. There is someone forcing me to do this, and I don't know who."
The fire continued to burn around them. Shikon could see Kas out of the corner of his eyes, he made sure that he never really looked hard enough to form Kas, anyone who was watching would only catch a glimpse.
"Kas you know me! I don't want to hurt people, but I'm not in any control of my body! I don't know what's going on!"
The words were ripped from his mouth as flames spewed out onto the street. Shikon had no control over his body and he had no clue as to how he could stop himself.

"Someone...?"
The voice questioned, though didn't show disbelief. He couldn't blame the man if he wanted revenge; though as Shikon stated he didn't want to be doing this, it made the situation even more concerning.
Finding this an annoying conundrum, a portion of the smoke tumbled in place, undecided on what to do next. The foggy white shape moved through the flames, smothering them in his wake. It would be a chore to put all of the fires out, and what would the point in that be if Shikon was only going to make more?

"I guess there's only one way to stop this."
Assuming that this control wouldn't effect Shikon if he was unconcious. At least Kas could get him out of the middle of the city before MRD swooped in to supress and apprehend.
"Tell me where you would like to wake up.. Choose carefully."

Walking past Times Square, Allayne saw a reddish-orange hue glowing brightly to his right. He felt the intensity of the flames, and wondered what could be going on?

Was it an oildrum fire or something worse going on? Should he even look into it?

Always one to lend a hand, Allayne started over towards the blaze. As he neared the inferno, he thought he saw a shape inside the blaze! Is there a guy burning in there, or a mutant who is causing this?, he wondered, concerned of either answer.

Either way, there's got to be a way to help stop the fires!, Axe thought, as he started getting even closer to the inferno.

That's when Axe felt the air shift. Knowing that it was an odd feeling, Allayne looked around for the source. That's when he heard two voices having a conversation within the fire!

Well, it was clear that it was a mutant in the blaze after all. Allayne resigned himself to trying to help, even though he knew this fire might be the last thing he'd see.

Mutants help mutants, right?, he said as he started charging up his barrier.

Shikon watched as Kas smothered the flames, and realized that it wouldn't make a dent if he kept on making more. Shikon nodded to Kas. "I'd like to wake up somewhere that will help me Kas. I have no idea waht's going on, but something isn't right."

Shikon could feel a presence among the smoke and could just barely make out a human like shape. "Oi! You get away from the fire, do you hear me?? Get out of here!" Shikon was frantically trying to get the man in the smoke to turn tail and run. It wasn't safe and Shikon wouldn't be able to live with himself if he killed another man who didn't deserve it and who might have a home and a family.

The mist that was smothering the fire had a pulse! He knew it was Kas, and that this must be a mutant problem. The other man's heart was beating so rapidly, indicating a sense of panic.

"Oi! You get away from the fire, do you hear me?? Get out of here!", screamed the firestarter. His voice was one of concern, and it made Allayne wonder what was really going on around here. Why would someone trying to burn a name for themselves worry about me going near the fire?, he thought worriedly.

Axe admitted to himself that he was nervous, and he didn't know what he could do in this situation short of try to rattle the mutant's brain in hopes of shutting him down. He knew he wasn't abandoning the situation, no matter what the cost was.

"Kas, keep your friend's fires controlled, man. I'm going to see if I can lull him or something!" Allayne could talk a mean game, but the flames were already licking through the barrier, causing minor burns on his body. Allayne put more effort into his barrier, fixing the pockets where it had been breached.

Focusing on the sounds of the raging fire, Allayne started pulling together energy.

Just in case he needed a construct or two on the fly.

A voice came from nowhere... "Well this does look like fun! Mind if i cut in?" Hades stood over the fire, blade rested on his shoulder. Flames licked at his feet and coat, he either didnt care, or just didnt seem to notice. A sinister smile spread across his face.

Allayne looked to his side to see a man in the fire, with a sword drawn over his shoulder. The smile looked like something out of a serial killer's guide to creepiness, but Axe had to admit to that certain allure this man possessed. However, this was NOT the time for that.


"Is it the clothes that resists the fire, or you?", he asked, wanting a quick answer. Maybe if he could get a way inside, he could use the soundwaves to hypnotize the mutant without having to worry about getting char-broiled. It was taking a lot to keep the barrier up over the few flames he dashed through to get in this far.

"Me mostly..." Said Hades as he jumped down from the wall. He slowly walked towards the stranger, blade trailing across the floor, flames parting around his feet. As he walked he said "... but as i controll the heat around me i like to protect my clothes. These are expensive you know!" He spun his sword in his  white, silk gloved hands and as he did the blade ignited. Once again resting his sword on his shoulder he asked "So, to whom do i owe the pleasure?"

Allayne's mind started coming up with ideas. Some relevant to the fire, some to something equally hot. But now was NOT the time for that, as much as he wished it was. But something had to be done.

"Aiight firecrotch, I'm Axe. I need your assistance with this out of control fire, so you think you'd be willing to help?". Axe decided the guy in the suit seemed the confident type, and needed another confident man in order to be instructed to do anything that seemed to get in the way of his fun. Deciding to play it his way, Allayne added "I'll make it up any way you want!"

What was this sudden spark in Allayne all of a sudden?

Hades was rather taken aback by Firecrotch With a tone of annoyance, he replied "Close my friend, very close. My name is Firehawk, but I suppose I could be convinced to help." He twisted his sword in his hand and flicked a tongue of white hot flame into the air above one of the larger patches of fire, sucking the oxygen from it and in turn extinguishing it. And turning back to Axe and adding "For the right price ofcourse..."

Holding the heat and flames and choking smoke at bay absorbed most of Kelly's cocentration. He was aware of the other man approaching them, unscathed by the fire. Remaining unseen, Kelly listened while the stranger made an offer to 'help'.

"Sure, like we're all millionaires.. Get lost, vulture."
A trenchant retort came from the smoke, though the source was little more than a lingering cloud, swirling within the heated air as if caught up with indecision.

"This situation isn't your concern."
Axe helping, that he didn't mind so much. The guy seemed to appear like magic when things got too out of control for Kelly to handle. That he was thankful for..
but this new face, Kas didn't like the looks of him. His smile was menacing and honestly a little creepy. All the more reason to stay incorpereal. The last thing he needed was more of New York City's psychos knowing his name and face.

"Axe, Shikon is a friend. Could you take him somewhere safer?"
The generalized question was given before pressure began to shift. Smoke hanging at eye level was suddenly packed down, and the air cleared, a cool breeze rushing in.
Flames reaching for the sky bowed down, slowly being smothered by a dense blanket that would afford no live-giving oxygen. Spreading like a stain on white cloth, the dead space crept outward away from the three men in the center of the blaze, revealing the ghostlike figure of a person made of steam standing with them.

"I'll catch up with you."

Looking up and the man of mist he said in a defensive and offended tone "Now why would you just assume i was after money?" He then cocks his head to the side and admits "Well, i was but thats not the point! I only wanted $500... And a large stffed crust pepperoni pizza from Domino's." He then looks up rather sharply and proclaims "And anyway, by the looks of things you aren't really in a possition to be too picky as to the help you receive."

Kas was right about Hades' sudden arrival. And Kas had the fire itself under control. He had asked Allayne to transport Shikon somewhere safe, but where was the somewhere?

"I don't know who he is or where to drop him off!", Allayne yelled back, while getting the sounds to morph into a floating stretcher construct. Thinking about the flames, he added "And I'm paying Firecrotch here to tag along, in case Torch here flares out again."

Turning to Hades, he said "I'm gonna give you half up front bud, and the other half when it's all done. And I'd join you for pizza, but Domino's has too much rosemary in it's sauce, which I'm allergic to." He knew he had a soft spot for bad boys, but this one might be the death of him.

With Shikon ready to go, Allayne turned to Kas. Then, he remembered from the files in Xavier's Institute. "Is this the same fuckin' Brotherhood Shikon???" Allayne was worried now. The person he was levitating went from mutant in need to bringer of the apocalypse. Allayne knew he couldn't match seasoned warriors yet, but he also saw a mutant in need. Damn his need to help!

"Hmm, I quite like rosmary. It gives an nice flavour to the tomatoes." He remaniced for a while and then closed his eyes and continued as he tilted his head back "Oh, and the stuffing in the crust! Beautifully spiced cheese with pepper and basil, ooooh!" He could almost taste it already, he loved pizza. It was always his favourite food, it reminded him of a nicer time. A time where every time he went home he didn't have to wash blood stains out of his jacket or scrub the blackened soot from his gloves. He stood back up straight and held out his hand, "I believe you said I was getting half up front?" His sword was already burning, ready to scatter the rest if the flames.

"Suit yourself."
If Axe was still willing to take a chance on this stranger, then Kas wasn't going to waste time. He would just have to trust that Allayne had good judgement of character.

The nearest flames died out, and the surrounding temperature decended to a comfortable level.
"Shikon of the Brotherhood. Not someone you'd want to piss off."
Giving the words the proper weight of warning, Kas decided to drop the subterfuge, and take physical form. He shook his head while the other two exchanged their terms of contract, and frowned a bit at the mentionings of Domino's.

"He said that he wasn't doing this on his own motivation. We could be hopeful he'll wake up in a good mood and drop him at home?"
Who wanted to go calling at the Brotherhood's homefront? Nobody. And it didn't exactly sound like a smart idea anyway, even if a bunch of emo teens were the ones in the greatest danger of being hurt.
To Kas, Shikon was an alright guy; despite this 'bringer of doom' rep. He didn't deserve to go through more loss.

"There is a certain place that could have what's needed to fix the problem.."
He gave Allayne a penetrating look, making it fairly obvious where he was speaking of.
The question left now was; did Axe want to possibly fire-bomb the Institute, or was someone going come up with a better idea?
"and on a side note, Totonno's on Coney Island. There is the pizza to end all other pizzas."