xp_logs | Genosha: For Free Trade: -Peaceful Sky

And in the chaos of an explosion, a trap waits.

The protest was now a full throated roar, as the additional security
stationing themselves by the doors of the embassy offered a target for
the chants and slogans. It was still well controlled, and the police
remained impassive as the volume grew, save for the odd motioning back
of a protester, which mostly took no more than a warning. It looked
like things were going to go without incident.

The blast tore through the noise, tearing apart the sounds of the
crowd with a single, thunderous clap. Black smoke belched into the sky
from the side of the Genoshan Embassy grounds, next to the far edge of
the protest.

People around them screamed -- some actually flattened, as if
expecting some incoming ballistic missile. Marius dropped into an
instinctive crouch, legs spread in a stabilizing stance. He'd actually
felt the blast in the pavement.

"Of course," he muttered. "What were the odds any rally I go to
didn't end in a riot?"

Yvette had dropped into a crouch of her own, long hands splayed
against the ground and Artie dropped beside her. "Stay calm!" she
shouted as loudly to the Xavier's students, despite the pounding of
her heart and the sick feeling in her stomach. "We need to stay
together!"

Meggan had instinctively ducked down at the blast with a small gasp of
surprise, unsure if everyone needed to scramble out of danger or not.
At Yvette’s words, she nodded. “Right, no getting lost,” she agreed,
trying to keep track of anyone behind them. It would be horrifyingly
easy to get separated in this crowd.

Picking up her peace sign hat that had fallen off when things went
kersplosion, Molly nodded to Yvette and Meggan as she pulled herself
back to her feet. When everybody ducked Molly did too out of reflex.
The teachers told her she needed to pretend like she was normal when
she could cause picking up heavy things in public would draw
attention. Even if she sorta did that already at the last rally.

"Where do we go?" she shouted to the would-be leaders over all the
people screaming and showing and scrambling about for cover. She was a
little nervous but only cause she had no idea what was going on. All
she knew was she didn't wanna go to any more rallies.

Artie shrugged, not even bothering with words and grabbed for Molly's
hand as he climbed back to his feet, heart pounding and staring around
wildly.

As they grouped together, a second blast went off, this one louder
than the first. All eyes were drawn to the same spot on the grounds,
and only those in Xavier's designated area of the protest noticed the
sudden electric blue haze that sprung up around them for an instant,
and suddenly delivered them into oblivion. Where more than twenty
people had stood, there was now only the echo of them as the sound
poured in to fill their unnoticed disappearance.