xp_logs | Worlds on Fire: Timely Rescue

X-Men versus the volcano.

"Oh dear."

Ororo sat at the controls of the Blackbird, looking down at the strange scene below the jet. In the near-darkness she could make out what seemed to be a cluster of buildings of various sizes - a city, perhaps? Beyond that, what seemed to be but could not actually be a small volcano protruding from the ground, glowing lava slowly oozing down one side. Bright fires burned here and there, and another tree burst into flame as she watched.

"As soon as we set down you are clear to address the situation," she relayed to the small team behind her. "Assess and aid as you see fit - do not wait for orders from me. There are innocent people down there in need of help. We will regroup at the Blackbird in half an hour's time if I do not contact you earlier."

With studied concentration Ororo found a patch of open ground large enough to maneuver the Blackbird over and gently set down, punching the control for the door as soon as she could. "Rogue, with me," she said, unhooking her restraints and heading briskly for the door.

Rogue had stared in shock at the scene below, barely able to believe her eyes. She had seen many things in her day, but an unnatural, active volcano was a new one. Squinting, she could barely make out the figures running around the base of the newly-formed volcano. Storm's voice shook her out of her surprise and she rose to follow the senior X-Man, flying out the door and following the other woman closely. "This was not in the briefing," she muttered.

"We will adapt," Ororo replied, summoning a wind to lift her above the ground. It was not difficult to tell what direction to head - the fires burned as brightly as a beacon. She trusted Rogue to follow her closely and flew quickly towards the volcano, where she suspected they would find the sacrificed girl. Dear goddess, let us not be too late...

Watching in horror as the lava began to spread, setting everything it touched ablaze, Marie pushed herself to her limits flying. She let out a gasp as she saw a small person actually in the lava and "Storm, Ah gotta..." the rest of her words were lost in the wind created by her dive for the lava.

It was good that she had learned to remember her invulnerability and had been practicing it before her break from the team. She reached the girl in seconds, the flow having transported her to a small clearing. Ignoring the hiss of burning leather as lava seared through her uniform, she scooped up the girl and cradled her close. She quickly noticed that the girl was unharmed, despite her extended period in the lava and her eyes widened with realization. "Storm, gotta take this one back to the jet. She's not burned. Ah'll be back in a flash," she subvocalized into her comm.

"I copy," Ororo replied, already hovering midair between several fires. The sky overhead became clogged with clouds as she called them into existence, and just a few more nudges had rain falling over the scene. Luckily the fires didn't seem to be anything other than normal blazes, albeit lava-induced, and they began to lessen as the precipitation fell.

Marie returned after she had secured the girl in the jet, feeling relieved that she appeared unharmed apart from being unconscious. The cool rain that was falling was welcome and Marie was glad to see the fires abating, though the rate at which the lava was flowing was alarming. Too late, she noticed a person standing directly in the flow. A bamf of smoke and Rogue smiled in relief as Kurt 'ported the robed figure away to safety.

Ororo had spotted the lava flow too, and beyond that, the city. If they didn't do something soon...

"Rogue, I need your help," she subvocalized, trusting the rain to continue as she lifted herself towards the slow but steady flow bearing down on the city. "We must stop or divert that lava, or there will be much more damage to undo."

Marie paled as she gazed out in the direction the lava was headed. "Any chance you could freeze it?" she asked hopefully, though she doubted she would get the answer she wanted. She began scanning the area for something, anything she could use to block the flow, her eyes settling on a pair of large boulders sixty feet away.

"Not entirely... not in time. Perhaps if we block it or divert it," Ororo suggested, quickly assessing their options. Her gaze lit on the same boulders that Marie was eying, as well as the thick tree trunks beyond it. "Can you lift those?"

"Ah think so." Ah have to. Angling down, she flew for the rocks and picked them up, grunting with the effort it took. "Can't balance 'em long. Where?" she subvocalized as she flew to reach the area beyond the lava.

"Anywhere in the path of the lava is fine. I think we may need to shore them up before I try to stop the flow... meet me at those trees when you are finished." Ororo set down at the small grove of trees, murmuring something under her breath as she ran a hand over the trunk of the largest, oldest one.

Marie watched the lava underneath her flow in a steady path and noticed a place where its natural path would hopefully narrow. Dropping both rocks, she didn't even wait to watch them land before she zipped back over to the trees, landing next to 'Ro and awaiting the next order.

"I think these will reach behind the boulders... I need your help to direct them." Ororo quickly described her plan to Marie, which entailed channeling enough lightning to split the large tree in two and having Marie haul them behind the boulders in hopes that it would help stem the tide of the lava. Glancing up, Ororo eyed the clouds and then looked to Marie. "Are you ready?"

"Let's get it done," she replied, flying up into position. It would be easier if she caught the trees before they hit the ground, but she had to make sure she was far enough away to avoid risking that the lightning would hit her. "Go," she subvocalized simply once she was at the correct distance.

Ororo gave a nod and raised her hands; immediately her skin began to buzz with the sensation of electricity. The clouds roiled and grew darker until suddenly one was split by a thick bolt of lightning. It licked downward, neatly hitting the tallest tree with a loud crack. Ororo could feel the impact through her skin and the soles of her feet - it was like a giant hammer striking the ground.

No matter how many times she saw it, Marie was always amazed by 'Ro's power and how regal she looked when wielding it. Catching the two halves of the tree, she flew them behind the boulder and braced them against the already settled boulders. "Ready again?" she said, flying into position.

"Ready."

As Ororo called down yet another bolt to split yet another tree, she began to murmur again. There weren't many trees where she was from - the plains were better suited to wide, open stretches of grass than to supporting the tall, majestic trees that seemed to flourish here. Still, she knew what they meant and how precious they were, and how their lives were now ending to save others. And so, after the flash and boom of thunder, Marie could hear, just barely, "...we thank the earth, mother goddess, for what she has given to us, and we thank you, for guiding us. Let the rain fall and the grass grow and life begin anew here amidst the scorched earth, and the trees reach the sky once more..."

Marie mouthed an amen, finding 'Ro's barely audible words perfectly fitting. She flew the trees over, placing them to support the small barricade. Turning around, she flew black to the clearing and the duo repeated the process until the trees and boulders formed a dam of sorts, managing to finally stop the flow of the lava. "Think it'll hold?" Rogue asked the white-haired woman as she hovered beside her.

"Yes... already it seems to be lessening." The fact that the volcano seemed to be slowing down now that the girl was gone was a good indication that the two were linked, especially given her unharmed nature when Marie had found her.

Wiping her brow, Marie nodded. "Good." She surveyed the area, noting with relief that the rest of the team seemed to have dealt with the other people while she and 'Ro had focused on the lava. "One of us should probably go to check on the girl, she's gonna be very confused when she wakes up." And probably terrified.

"I will go," Ororo said as the rain began to change to drizzle. She didn't want the girl to give away any of the goings-on to Marie or anyone else in case she should mention Snow Valley's involvement... doubtful that she would, but one could never be too sure. "Sweep the caves one last time for remaining people," she instructed Marie. "And... thank you. I could not have done that without you."

"Aye aye captain," Marie said with a grin and a mock salute. It felt good to be useful. And needed. Spinning around she flew off to check the caves for survivors.

~*~

"There certainly are a lot of you, aren't there?" Shiro snorted, unphased by the robed pseudo-priests trying to look threatening. Kind of hard in those silly get-ups, really. "Come on, fuckers." Shiro bared his teeth as the air around him exploded into flame. "Let's see if the Black Bitch will protect you know."

They really should have run away, Shiro thought as his foot connected with someone's neck and his fist connected with someone else's nose. Or maybe they were trying, and Shiro just wasn't letting them move much. Like that fellow who thought he could hide behind that column that happened to be extremely flammable.

"It's action and consequence, you know. You devote your lives to Selene, who's a disgusting, evil, nasty, twisted cunt of a whore, and in return we kick your fucking asses." He grinned viciously and tossed a fireball at one of the retreating priests. It exploded behind him and knocked him to the ground. "Maybe it's just trial and error for you. Now that you know Selene isn't the goddess to worship, maybe you'll switch to something healthier. Like Satan or Barbra Streisand."

Shiro landed, surveying the damage around him. Most of the priests were lying on the ground, whimpering and breathing heavily. A few others had managed to extinguish the fires on their robes and were running the hell away. "Hey, wait! Where are you going? We haven't finished here yet!"