xp_logs | The Rictor Effect - Ororo and Scott take stock

Ororo walks down the beach to find the remains of the team recovering. It's obvious Scott is still functioning well, which is good, because 'Ro needs to go home (the sooner, the better).

Chaos. There was chaos all around. Not only was every structure that Ororo passed damaged, ripped asunder by the mighty earthquake that had passed through them not long before, but the earth itself was torn. With every step she could feel the wound, the wrongness of it resonating through the air. She made her way down the beach on foot, not trusting to take to the skies now, when she could barely tell the difference between up and down.

Reaching the place where the X-Men had gathered gave her no additional hope - things were as broken there as everywhere else. Four members of the team were down, others injured or incapacitated. Spotting Scott kneeling beside a figure on the sand, she slowly made her way to his side. Ororo's face went even paler as she saw who it was: Jean, her eyes closed and her body still. "Scott. How is she?"

Scott looked up as Ororo made her way through the increasing crowd of shocked onlookers, victims, and the rescue crews that had arrived as of yet. "Not too badly hurt, I don't think," he said tiredly. "Paramedics haven't gotten to her yet." Triage was the name of the game. "Close to burned out, I'd think.... are you all right? Bobby--Iceman and Sunfire?"

"They are being checked out by the medics further up the beach," Ororo replied, glancing up the beach as if she could see them. "They are exhausted, but I believe they will be all right."

"That's good." Scott bent over Jean, smoothing the wet hair back from her face - and then rose, reluctantly, as a paramedic approached. "We need to figure out what we're doing now," he said, taking her arm. "Coordinate who we've got left standing... we're going to have to get the wounded and exhausted back to the mansion."

"Yes... yes, of course." Ororo appreciated the hand at her elbow - though the shockwaves had mainly stopped, the world seemed to continue shifting around her as the new pieces fell into place. Her absolute exhaustion might've had something to do with it as well. "I believe we can arrange transport for the wounded back to the Blackbird... those who wish to stay will need to be approved before we can let them undertake any rescue work."

Scott gave her a quick, assessing look. "You'll be going back," he said. It didn't sound like a question.

Ororo opened her mouth to protest, then thought better of it. "I will stay at least until the team has been sorted out," she stated, not wanting to leave before she knew they were all right. "Then I will accompany the wounded back to the mansion. I am sure the students will have questions."

"We'll get Sam to take the 'Bird there with all of you and bring it back," Scott said. "Once we've got the wounded in the plane, we can go from there..." He looked out at the ocean again, almost involuntarily, then steered Ororo towards a bench that was remarkably intact. "Sit. I've got to go check on Lorna."

Nodding numbly, Ororo did as he said, sinking onto the bench stiffly. Every minute that passed was a painful reminder of the wrongness and chaos around her. She wanted to stay, to help repair it, to pick the pieces up one by one so that they could be repaired. It didn't feel right, leaving her team, but as another dizzying wave of shifting pressure and empty atmosphere hit her, she knew that she couldn't serve them well if she stayed. Go with the injured. Comfort the students. Serve however you can, and your efforts will not be wasted. X-Men are needed everywhere.