BoH: Power Failure

[x-wolfcub.livejournal.com]

When the power goes out in the Salem Center, a group of Xavier’s faculty joins together backstage to problem solve. One of the members steps up with a plan that seems to work for the time being.



It wasn't enough that he had to contend with his stupid graduation robe that was firmly pressed up against his throat, but Bobby Drake now found himself stumbling around the stage of the Salem Center in the dark. "Oh sure, in the middle of the summer, there's 10,000 pyro generators around, but when you need one..." With both hands extended forward, he stumbled around, trying to find the backstage area, but suddenly was thrown into panic as he hit a large piece of fabric. "Oh God, what is this!" Flailing his arms around, he was sent into a brief panic before he realized he was fighting with the stage curtain. But before he realized it, he was already caught up in the middle of its folds, with no perceivable way of getting out. Well at least with the lights out, his students wouldn't see him in this predicament.

"Hey, Iceman, calm down", came a voice from just to his left, then a tiny flame appeared as Angelo flicked his lighter into life, casting an inch or so of light around him. "What've you done to that curtain?"

Bobby stuck his head out towards the sudden frame of light, and using it, he was able to step out onto the floor, a small smile of embarrassment on his face. "I meant to do that..." His eyes cast around, he was able to notice that most of the other staff members in attendance had made their way backstage already, and with a small shake of his foot, he was able to free himself completely from the curtain. "Any word on the sudden dark ages?"

"There's no electricity running through the system." Lex said, from the corner. In the flicker of the lighter's little flame his quizzical expression would seem almost comical if his eyes weren't sharp and alert. He could feel distant electricity in far off systems, so he knew the grid wasn't down, but nothing beyond the people around him resonated with an electrical signature and that made him wonder how localized the problem was. "Should we see if one of the circuits has tripped?"

"Someone should check", Angelo agreed. "But they shouldn't go alone. I don't like this happenin' today."

"Too late. Nope. Breakers are fine, I reset 'em and all and pretty much nothing happened. It's gotta be something bigger. Power's pretty much out all over." Unlike everyone else, Kyle was moving easily in the dark. Perhaps not quite as easily in his shirt and tie, but he'd promised he would dress nicely, even if it wasn't an actual suit. It was too damn hot for a suit. "Might be a heat thing, I remember Cain sayin' heat could trip transformers a long ways back. It's why we've got all those backup generators at the school."

"I could probably get something going if we had more time, but things are about to get started." Hank put his doctoral hat back on, bringing up his robes above his waist, he opened a pouch on the utility belt hidden beneath. "Glow sticks," he said with a smile, cracking them and tossing out across the stage and casting the auditorium in a pale green light. "It's not much, but it's a start."

"We have some of the most extreme powers in the world. There has to be something that we can do here." Bobby paused, tapping the side of his face as he tried to think through an idea. "We can't just not let the kids graduate. They've work so hard. Not to mention, I don't want to be the one to break it to kids who could break me in half."

Lex looked around at the others and then shrugged. It would be hard to start a system from zero, but he could probably set up some sort of feedback loop by using his body as the start and stop point. "I think I might be able to do something about it, but I don't know for how long." He looked straight into Hank's eyes, "Please don't talk too long. I'll do anything for the kids but I'd prefer not to end up in the medlab, again."

"I shall endeavor to keep my comments to a minimum," Hank said with a sheepish grin, "whenever you're ready."

Angelo had put his lighter away and picked up one of the glowsticks as a better option, and he nodded. "Lex, if you can get this place kickstarted, go for it. Kyle, Bobby, you want to come with me an' check around outside? Just in case."

Kyle reached into the pocket of his slacks and pulled out his phone, which he quickly un-silenced. "Yo, Lex, you blow a breaker, call me. Somebody remind me to turn this thing off before the speechifying so I don't get yelled at either." The phone went back into his pocket and he pointed a thumb at the door. "Lead the way. I need to get clear of you guys if I'm gonna sniff out anything weird. You guys smell like hair gel."

"I don't plan on breaking anything, but I'll let you know if something goes wrong." Moving to the wall he found a control panel and pried it open. "This'll just take a moment. I recommend standing back." Feeling around inside the box, Lex tested each wire with a bit of electricity until he was able to find the right circuit. With a deep breath he counted back from five and then channeled his energy into the system. He could feel the power building inside of him and the lights flickered for a moment before turning on.

Hank resisted the urge to pat the younger man on the back, unsure if doing so would jolt him into next Tuesday. "That should do Mister Lexington, that should do. Shall we begin?"

"I'll go tell the kids. I'm afraid that your outfit still looks too much like a Halloween outfit to them." With a smile, Bobby patted his former classmate on the back as he turned to fight the scary backstage curtain once again.