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xp_logsTopaz (refuses a codename) fights Marvel Fishgirl on her own territory - the mind.
Hey Topaz, go battle the stupidly powerful telepath, she probably won't fry your brain. Sure, no problem, what could possibly go wrong? Topaz thought bitterly as she circled the battle, watching Jean go at Kurt and Wanda and trying not to be too bitter. Teach me to open the door next time someone knocks.
The good news - if there was any - was that Jean was completely focused on Wanda (had she hit Jean? Who needed mutant powers when you had a good right), and had no idea about the empath swimming above her. Alright Doctor Fish. Let's see what's going on inside your head. She probed Jean's mind gently while the doctor....fish... thing was focused on Wanda, trying to get an idea of what she was dealing with. Desire to serve, desire to protect, desire to blah blah blah, jesus christ, could bad guys get a new schtick and stop with the brain washing?
Okay, can't drain her, need her to be able to fight. Guess I have to do this the hard way. Topaz frowned, digging deeper, no longer caring if she was noticed. Jean was buried somewhere under all that brainwashing, after all. Topaz just had to find her and hope she didn't die in the process.
Jean knew she would wear them down soon enough. Surely they weren't that stubborn. Even X-Men got tired. Preparing to sound the call for more soldiers, she quickly noticed something that shouldn't be there---or someone.
She tilted her head.
~I see you.~ she said, then unleashed a telepathic blast aimed to both throw the younger woman out of her mind and knock her for a loop.
Perhaps if she killed this one too it would be an example for those who dared to challenge her new people.
The blow hit Topaz’ mind hard enough that she actually reeled back for a moment, shaking her head and blinking fiercely. “Yeah?” She challenged to buy herself time and reorient her mind. “Congratulations, you can see me. You have eyeballs. So what’re you gonna do about it?”
Stupid. So stupid. But she wanted Jean focused on her, and away from Kurt and Wanda. Their deaths would mean something. If Topaz died, it didn’t matter.
Staring at Topaz, Jean's expression (or at least one that could be had with a squid rammed down one's throat) was calculating and analytical. Her black eyes seemed to have two sets of eyelids as she blinked.
~Rip off your head and leave it as a warning for all to see~ she said, floating around her like a predator stalking prey.
~Your life is inconsequential. You even think it yourself. You think you are a burden. You hate yourself. So give up, and I may consider making your death quick.~ The words began to repeat, over and over in Topaz's mind.
~Give up. Give up. GIVE UP. Giveupgiveupgiveupgiveup...~
Topaz squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to breathe through the assault on her mind. Give up, her own traitorous mind echoed. You could transform back right now and drown yourself before anyone could think go save you. Even Amanda can’t heal death. Just do everyone a fucking favor and give up..
A beat of silence - and Topaz smirked, slamming her shields down hard and shoving Jean out of her head. Then, amazingly, she laughed. “That supposed to upset me?” She asked sarcastically. “Big news, Topaz is a fuck up and a burden, alert the presses.”
As she spoke, she gathered every single feeling - every bit of emotional pain and helplessness, every bit of anger and sadness, every negative emotion she had ever felt toward herself. She gathered it, and she circled to meet Jean’s gaze.
“Let’s see how you like those feelings.”
She dove back into Jean’s head, shoving the feelings into every single corner, hoping to stir something - anything - from the human conscience she knew was still somewhere in there.
Jean's hands flew to her head, a heavy tremble overwhelming her body as the emotions flooded her mind.
~ARGH!~
These emotions were not right. They weren't hers. Couldn't be hers. She belonged to them. This was---This was not right.
Staring up at Topaz, Jean narrowed her eyes, lashing out with a tendril. She tried to ignore that she herself was still trembling.
~If that won't upset you, maybe this will.~
Topaz tried to back up, avoiding the tendril. “Ah, yeah, that might do the trick. Here, I have a better idea.”
The emotions still running through her head made it easy to summon up the magic she needed. It didn’t quite do what she wanted - instead of harmless energy tying Jean up and binding her, she got streams of water, but hey, if had the effect she wanted and that was all that mattered.
Jean was not expecting magic. She didn't know why. She'd known Topaz was Amanda's student for some time now. But there it was. The very thought of it gave her a flash of unease, and that was like opening a door to an underlying panic inside of her. The feelings of helplessness and fear started to creep in, and she desperately tried to shove them back but they kept coming, bubbling up more and more. It made her struggle, against both her mental and physical bonds.
Until she realized there were two separate feelings there: hers, and something else. It made her remember the being overwhelmed by the creature, how it blew through her walls like tissue paper. It used her to try to kill her friends, and a student. Up until then it had been hazy, even...okay. Up until then it had been "right."
Looking down at herself, Jean finally saw what she had turned into, and had become aware of the thing over her face. Up until then, it didn't matter.
And that was what was so messed up about it.
Her body became stiff, and she felt a swell of panic, desperate to get it off. Could she get off? Was the change permanent? Was she stuck in the ocean forever?
~Oh God...Oh God....~
She realized Topaz was staring at her and looked up at her.
~I'm sorry. I am so sorry...~
Topaz was grinding her teeth as she slowly floated down to Jean's level. She could feel the panic, and she tried to stay calm. Someone had to. "You're you again?" She asked cautiously, ready to fight again if needed.
Jean nodded. ~Yes. I...it's trying to fight for control but...I--I think because it's separated from the mother it can't--it doesn't have the support. Still it's...trying very hard.~
Absentmindedly, Jean reached up to touch her face but stopped just short when the tentacles moved and she dropped her hand, trembling violently.
Topaz knew she was the worst person to try a comfort an upset, panicking woman whose mind had just been toyed with a squid thing. The idea of draining her flitted through her mind again, but she shook it off. She was in enough hot water after Gabriel, and fucking with someone's head immediately after the person had been brainwashed was probably tasteless. "Look...." Topaz was suddenly sidetracked by another thought. What had Jean seen in her head? She shook that off as well. They could deal with that later, when Jean was back to normal.
Everett was fighting a mind-controlled Namor nearby, and Topaz locked on that. "What do you say we free Namor then go beat up some fish guards?" Was what she finally settled for saying.
What Jean really wanted was to get this thing off of her, but since they were at the bottom of the ocean Jean had a feeling she'd probably die a horrible death. Not to mention, yes, there were still people to save.
Jean felt partially guilty for not being able to mentally fight off the monster, getting them both brainwashed in the first place, but she tried to forget that for the moment. It would've probably gotten them either way if there was magic involved.
Freaking magic.
"Gladly," she said. It was time to show them a little vengeance.
Synch takes over fighting King-Squid-Namor, and discovers surprising facts about the Atlantean when he tries to sync to his powers.
The aura emanating from Namor was unusual. Atypical for a mutant. Though he and Ev had only met in passing, the mutant mimic had heard all about him from Clint, and thought he knew what to expect. Synching to his natural aquatic adaptations and incredible strength would have made this fight go much better. He did not know what he was picking up instead. Effects of the brain squid, maybe. But definitely not mutant marine Superman.
Ev only barely had the time to reach out for Scott nearby and synch to his optic blasts before Namor slammed into him, and the rainbow-glowing merman crashed into a small rock formation, which crumbled under the force of the impact. Ev returned the attack, opening his eyes wide to unleash a torrent of multicolored energy directly at Namor.
The energy beam hit, scattering into a million, dazzling rainbows through the water, but the Atlantean did not waver. He continued to swim forward, unblinking, as the force beam pressed against him — surely pushing him back, but no man could swim so fast to counter simple physics. Namor was, apparently, no man.
Whereas Ev had to brace himself against the remnants of the rocky outgrowth so simple Newtonian physics would not fling him away like a rag doll. He could not keep this up indefinitely, though. But if Namor could provide enough thrust to keep his position, then Ev could turn that momentum against him. All at once, Ev shut his eyes and sprang to his right, out of the path of the careening Atlantean.
There was almost an audible whoosh as the ensquiddened Namor sped past, followed by a wake of bubbles that made it hard to see that while Ev's take on the physics of the situation was accurate, Namor's dexterity in the water was greater than anticipated. It only took a few beats for the Atlantean to readjust and, once again, barrel his way back toward Everrett. Same tactics, a third time.
"What happens when you cut loose, Summers?" Ev asked rhetorically, reaching as deeply as he could into the wellspring of borrowed power. His aura grew and reddened, casting him and Namor in a hellish glow. He planted his hands in the sand to brace himself, because this time when he opened his eyes and focused on the ancient warrior torpedoing towards him, the blasts were wider, thicker, crushing Namor with the force of a runaway train. "Sit. Down," Ev ordered through gritted teeth as he slide back a few inches, his grip on the ground slipping.
No swimming in the world could fight this much force. The Atlantean, hit square, was pushed backward a good twenty meters before he ducked and rolled out of the force beam, spiraling in tight little corkscrews as he tried to slow to a stop. Shadowed, all that Ev should see of Namor now was the red Summers light reflected back from his too-many squid eyes. It apparently knew that such power had to fade. Then. Then it could strike.
The intensity of the optic blast wavered, thinning and losing force as Ev burned through his adrenaline. Knowing this war of attrition would come to a quick end if he exhausted himself after using just one trick, he extended his senses to find someone else to mix things up with. Topaz's familiar aura was within range, along with another psychic he knew. It had been a while since the X-Men's last encounter with the Avengers, but Jean's powers were unmistakable. Dropping his connection with Scott, Ev reached out to Jean, sloppily flinging a boulder of psychokinetic power in Namor's direction while directing a distress call at the women.
The power change was like an invitation for the squid to reengage -- while it was not familiar with Scott's power set, Jean's was one that it has tasted intimately. Namor pivoted quickly in the water to dodge the blast, and again engaged upon Everett.
If there was a time for the two ladies to intervene, it would be now.
Synch helps Topaz and Marvel Girl double-team Namor.
No, that's not quite right.
Our psionic lady duo works together with Synch to mind-whammy Namor out of his very squiddy problem...
One down, one to go, Topaz thought as they approached Everett and Namor. They hadn't been noticed yet. Maybe they could keep it that way. She looked back at Jean, surprisingly calm as she said, "Double team him?"
Jean kept an eye on Namor, her attention focused on the squid for a moment before she gave a simple nod. Truth be told she was looking for some way to release some tension.
~Yes. But in full disclosure, I'm not at 100% at the moment. You have the rest of it it, though.~
"No pressure," Topaz said with a thin smile, her eyes tracking Namor's movements and trying to pin him down mentally. She finally found him, focusing in on his mind. "Right, got him. How hard could it be?"
Hard. Well, at least forceful. While the X-Men may not have the full knowledge of Namor's increased speed, strength, and stamina under the water, the creature possessing him -- a slow, languid mind with many tendrils and a long memory -- remembered exactly how Atlanteans were made. And what that could do.
With a turn of that slow mind, the beast in Namor's mind redirected all of the its undersea monster's strength toward the mind that had gotten away. With barely a flick, Namor was barreling toward the new duo with focused intent. Namor smash.
"I hate my life sometimes," Topaz muttered as she broke out of Namor's head and quickly shield off herself and Jean. "That thing is completely latched onto him."
Jean could feel the monster she was holding back in her mind react in the presence of the other, and she fought to keep it contained. She started to throw up a telekinetic shield when Topaz did the job first, so she put one up behind it to bolster it so he would bounce off from the momentum.
~You would let something control you? I thought you were stronger than that.~ she said to Namor, then tried to hit him with another telekinetic blast before turning back to Topaz and sending a thought only to her.
~I'm hoping appealing to his ego might work.~
While the blast hit Namor enough to knock him away, Jean's telepathic gambit worked a whole lot better than anyone who had previously tried to speaking to Squidmor by this point. There was a brief flash of awareness, and impudence, as the possessed man redoubled back toward his original, punchy goal. Just a hint, but something was stirring under the superimposed serenity of the Squid Mother's control. Something sharp and angry.
Arms wrapped around Namor's waist and a body tackled him before he could get far. Ev, his aura tinged yellow and red from synchronizing with Jean, wrapped himself in a telekinetic suit to augment his strength as he grabbed hold of the Atlantean. "Stay still, Fish Boy," he ordered, "Let the nice women finish their work on you."
There was only so much words could do without a little push behind them, and Jean felt herself faltering a little, especially when trying to fight her own battle within. But she could sense something, the familiar pull of a telepath in Topaz. It was nascent, but still there, like a seedling ready to grow with the right nurturing.
~I have an idea.~ she said to Topaz. ~I don't think I can do this alone. Not where I am now. But if you're okay with it, I can...boost your telepathic powers to make it easier to get inside Namor's mind and wake him up.~
~That sounds... terrible, honestly, but it's a day for terrible choices~, Topaz replied, surprisingly blithe. Sure, boost her telepathic powers. Why not. Nothing got weirder than turning into a mermaid. ~Let's go~.
She wasn't entirely sure what she expected beyond Jean going into her mind, and she had to struggle not to fight back - she was right to be wary as far as she was concerned, even if she knew the woman wasn't being controlled anymore. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing as the presence became stronger, pushing against a small part of her mind like it was knocking on a door.
And then thoughts. Not every thought, not all thoughts like most telepaths, just the ones connected to the strongest emotions in a peoples' minds. Lots of anger, lots of helplessness, lots of i>fuck this unsurprisingly. Topaz shuddered and reeled back slightly, slamming her shields back down and shaking her head. She was swallowed before opening her eyes again, shaky but ready. ~Right~, she said with so much more confidence than she felt as she hesitantly searched out Namor in the psychic chaos. ~Hang on. I'm not entirely sure how to link people, or even if I can, so just... hitch a ride, I guess? I've got an idea.~
With that, she latched on to Namor's current anger, using the invisible line to ride straight into his head, hopefully bringing Jean with her.
Luckily, Jean was prepared for the trip. Since she recognized the other mind within her own, finding the part of Namor that shouldn't have been there was a little easier.
~Alright, what's the idea?~
~When in doubt about brainwashing, I've found overloading the brain and forcing it to reset very helpful,~ Topaz said dryly. ~Thoughts, emotions, anything you can dredge up, just get his brain going until he can't take anymore.~
Jean paused. She was used to the psychic battle/talk it out way, but was willing to give this one a try.
She nodded. ~Go for it. But be careful. The animal's dug in pretty deep.~ It'd have to to get past Namor's ego.
~You too,~ Topaz said - it almost sounded like an order. But Topaz didn't do that stuff, of course. ~Make thoughts up, dig something out of his head, whatever you can think. Get creative.~
And with that she turned her attention away from Jean, focusing on Namor. And just like with Jean, she dug up every single negative thing she could - every bit of hopelessness, every bit of fear and resentment and anger and bitterness, doing her best to keep Jean separate from it all as she swirled the emotions around Namor's head, intensifying them bit by bit.
Jean kept her eyes on Namor, funneling the emotions Topaz was pushing, and adding some of her own as she found his memories of being king...and then losing his kingdom, mirroring them back to him.
~You're letting Attuma beat you. You're his slave. Think about that. Pure, royal Atlantean blood being under subjugation of your enemy. You're better than this, Namor. Prove it. Make him regret pulling you under his will.~
In true Namor fashion, this insult hit hard... just not for the reason Jean was shooting for. If anything, the far away response she got from the Namor bits left were more annoyed at her impudence than the blow to his ego.
~You dare intrude on my memories? You attack me here?~
The mental landscape jolted, washing red as more of Namor came to the forefront. Angry, angry Namor: old rage seasoned with years and years of being trapped, mixed with the loss of a home and a time. There were no words. It was sharp as well, and all of that hit Topaz at once.
"Christ!" Topaz hissed, reeling back and shaking her head, struggling not to be overwhelmed. ~I've got him,~ she managed to get out. ~Follow me.~
~Keep it up!~ Ev sent to Topaz and Jean. His mental voice was strained and muffled as he focused his borrowed powers almost exclusively on the telekinesis to hold Namor in place. The Atlantean was struggling less, which was good, because Ev could not tell how much longer he could keep this up. Even telekinesis of this level only proved a match for this kind of inhuman strength.
~Yeah, we dare.~ Jean said to Namor, shoving the mental image of what Namor looked like right now at him, then throwing in another made up image of a controlled Namor like a lapdog at Attuma's throne as Attuma himself stared down triumphantly. ~What are you going to do about it? Sit and glower, or fight this asshole?~
Namor's annoyance rose to catastrophic levels of sheer disgust at the personal boundaries being crossed. ~You dare use a mockery of my history against me. You dare invade my mind with your petty taunts?~
The anger manifested as spiked walls in Namor's mind, rising to cut off any and all intrusion. This worked doubly against the Mother Squid's presence, for as much as Jean's jeering and Topaz's empathy were working to raise Namor to the surface, the squid mind only soothed and ebbed like any picturesque cliche of the ocean. Inviting. Calming. Don't worry. Follow.
~I will stand neither.~
His irritation sliced like a knife, his mind expanding back to reclaim the boundaries of his mind. The king's desire for privacy a bludgeon against any and all intrusion. With a roar and a violent shudder against Everett's hold, Namor was free. Pissed, but free.
Hey Topaz, go battle the stupidly powerful telepath, she probably won't fry your brain. Sure, no problem, what could possibly go wrong? Topaz thought bitterly as she circled the battle, watching Jean go at Kurt and Wanda and trying not to be too bitter. Teach me to open the door next time someone knocks.
The good news - if there was any - was that Jean was completely focused on Wanda (had she hit Jean? Who needed mutant powers when you had a good right), and had no idea about the empath swimming above her. Alright Doctor Fish. Let's see what's going on inside your head. She probed Jean's mind gently while the doctor....fish... thing was focused on Wanda, trying to get an idea of what she was dealing with. Desire to serve, desire to protect, desire to blah blah blah, jesus christ, could bad guys get a new schtick and stop with the brain washing?
Okay, can't drain her, need her to be able to fight. Guess I have to do this the hard way. Topaz frowned, digging deeper, no longer caring if she was noticed. Jean was buried somewhere under all that brainwashing, after all. Topaz just had to find her and hope she didn't die in the process.
Jean knew she would wear them down soon enough. Surely they weren't that stubborn. Even X-Men got tired. Preparing to sound the call for more soldiers, she quickly noticed something that shouldn't be there---or someone.
She tilted her head.
~I see you.~ she said, then unleashed a telepathic blast aimed to both throw the younger woman out of her mind and knock her for a loop.
Perhaps if she killed this one too it would be an example for those who dared to challenge her new people.
The blow hit Topaz’ mind hard enough that she actually reeled back for a moment, shaking her head and blinking fiercely. “Yeah?” She challenged to buy herself time and reorient her mind. “Congratulations, you can see me. You have eyeballs. So what’re you gonna do about it?”
Stupid. So stupid. But she wanted Jean focused on her, and away from Kurt and Wanda. Their deaths would mean something. If Topaz died, it didn’t matter.
Staring at Topaz, Jean's expression (or at least one that could be had with a squid rammed down one's throat) was calculating and analytical. Her black eyes seemed to have two sets of eyelids as she blinked.
~Rip off your head and leave it as a warning for all to see~ she said, floating around her like a predator stalking prey.
~Your life is inconsequential. You even think it yourself. You think you are a burden. You hate yourself. So give up, and I may consider making your death quick.~ The words began to repeat, over and over in Topaz's mind.
~Give up. Give up. GIVE UP. Giveupgiveupgiveupgiveup...~
Topaz squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to breathe through the assault on her mind. Give up, her own traitorous mind echoed. You could transform back right now and drown yourself before anyone could think go save you. Even Amanda can’t heal death. Just do everyone a fucking favor and give up..
A beat of silence - and Topaz smirked, slamming her shields down hard and shoving Jean out of her head. Then, amazingly, she laughed. “That supposed to upset me?” She asked sarcastically. “Big news, Topaz is a fuck up and a burden, alert the presses.”
As she spoke, she gathered every single feeling - every bit of emotional pain and helplessness, every bit of anger and sadness, every negative emotion she had ever felt toward herself. She gathered it, and she circled to meet Jean’s gaze.
“Let’s see how you like those feelings.”
She dove back into Jean’s head, shoving the feelings into every single corner, hoping to stir something - anything - from the human conscience she knew was still somewhere in there.
Jean's hands flew to her head, a heavy tremble overwhelming her body as the emotions flooded her mind.
~ARGH!~
These emotions were not right. They weren't hers. Couldn't be hers. She belonged to them. This was---This was not right.
Staring up at Topaz, Jean narrowed her eyes, lashing out with a tendril. She tried to ignore that she herself was still trembling.
~If that won't upset you, maybe this will.~
Topaz tried to back up, avoiding the tendril. “Ah, yeah, that might do the trick. Here, I have a better idea.”
The emotions still running through her head made it easy to summon up the magic she needed. It didn’t quite do what she wanted - instead of harmless energy tying Jean up and binding her, she got streams of water, but hey, if had the effect she wanted and that was all that mattered.
Jean was not expecting magic. She didn't know why. She'd known Topaz was Amanda's student for some time now. But there it was. The very thought of it gave her a flash of unease, and that was like opening a door to an underlying panic inside of her. The feelings of helplessness and fear started to creep in, and she desperately tried to shove them back but they kept coming, bubbling up more and more. It made her struggle, against both her mental and physical bonds.
Until she realized there were two separate feelings there: hers, and something else. It made her remember the being overwhelmed by the creature, how it blew through her walls like tissue paper. It used her to try to kill her friends, and a student. Up until then it had been hazy, even...okay. Up until then it had been "right."
Looking down at herself, Jean finally saw what she had turned into, and had become aware of the thing over her face. Up until then, it didn't matter.
And that was what was so messed up about it.
Her body became stiff, and she felt a swell of panic, desperate to get it off. Could she get off? Was the change permanent? Was she stuck in the ocean forever?
~Oh God...Oh God....~
She realized Topaz was staring at her and looked up at her.
~I'm sorry. I am so sorry...~
Topaz was grinding her teeth as she slowly floated down to Jean's level. She could feel the panic, and she tried to stay calm. Someone had to. "You're you again?" She asked cautiously, ready to fight again if needed.
Jean nodded. ~Yes. I...it's trying to fight for control but...I--I think because it's separated from the mother it can't--it doesn't have the support. Still it's...trying very hard.~
Absentmindedly, Jean reached up to touch her face but stopped just short when the tentacles moved and she dropped her hand, trembling violently.
Topaz knew she was the worst person to try a comfort an upset, panicking woman whose mind had just been toyed with a squid thing. The idea of draining her flitted through her mind again, but she shook it off. She was in enough hot water after Gabriel, and fucking with someone's head immediately after the person had been brainwashed was probably tasteless. "Look...." Topaz was suddenly sidetracked by another thought. What had Jean seen in her head? She shook that off as well. They could deal with that later, when Jean was back to normal.
Everett was fighting a mind-controlled Namor nearby, and Topaz locked on that. "What do you say we free Namor then go beat up some fish guards?" Was what she finally settled for saying.
What Jean really wanted was to get this thing off of her, but since they were at the bottom of the ocean Jean had a feeling she'd probably die a horrible death. Not to mention, yes, there were still people to save.
Jean felt partially guilty for not being able to mentally fight off the monster, getting them both brainwashed in the first place, but she tried to forget that for the moment. It would've probably gotten them either way if there was magic involved.
Freaking magic.
"Gladly," she said. It was time to show them a little vengeance.
Synch takes over fighting King-Squid-Namor, and discovers surprising facts about the Atlantean when he tries to sync to his powers.
The aura emanating from Namor was unusual. Atypical for a mutant. Though he and Ev had only met in passing, the mutant mimic had heard all about him from Clint, and thought he knew what to expect. Synching to his natural aquatic adaptations and incredible strength would have made this fight go much better. He did not know what he was picking up instead. Effects of the brain squid, maybe. But definitely not mutant marine Superman.
Ev only barely had the time to reach out for Scott nearby and synch to his optic blasts before Namor slammed into him, and the rainbow-glowing merman crashed into a small rock formation, which crumbled under the force of the impact. Ev returned the attack, opening his eyes wide to unleash a torrent of multicolored energy directly at Namor.
The energy beam hit, scattering into a million, dazzling rainbows through the water, but the Atlantean did not waver. He continued to swim forward, unblinking, as the force beam pressed against him — surely pushing him back, but no man could swim so fast to counter simple physics. Namor was, apparently, no man.
Whereas Ev had to brace himself against the remnants of the rocky outgrowth so simple Newtonian physics would not fling him away like a rag doll. He could not keep this up indefinitely, though. But if Namor could provide enough thrust to keep his position, then Ev could turn that momentum against him. All at once, Ev shut his eyes and sprang to his right, out of the path of the careening Atlantean.
There was almost an audible whoosh as the ensquiddened Namor sped past, followed by a wake of bubbles that made it hard to see that while Ev's take on the physics of the situation was accurate, Namor's dexterity in the water was greater than anticipated. It only took a few beats for the Atlantean to readjust and, once again, barrel his way back toward Everrett. Same tactics, a third time.
"What happens when you cut loose, Summers?" Ev asked rhetorically, reaching as deeply as he could into the wellspring of borrowed power. His aura grew and reddened, casting him and Namor in a hellish glow. He planted his hands in the sand to brace himself, because this time when he opened his eyes and focused on the ancient warrior torpedoing towards him, the blasts were wider, thicker, crushing Namor with the force of a runaway train. "Sit. Down," Ev ordered through gritted teeth as he slide back a few inches, his grip on the ground slipping.
No swimming in the world could fight this much force. The Atlantean, hit square, was pushed backward a good twenty meters before he ducked and rolled out of the force beam, spiraling in tight little corkscrews as he tried to slow to a stop. Shadowed, all that Ev should see of Namor now was the red Summers light reflected back from his too-many squid eyes. It apparently knew that such power had to fade. Then. Then it could strike.
The intensity of the optic blast wavered, thinning and losing force as Ev burned through his adrenaline. Knowing this war of attrition would come to a quick end if he exhausted himself after using just one trick, he extended his senses to find someone else to mix things up with. Topaz's familiar aura was within range, along with another psychic he knew. It had been a while since the X-Men's last encounter with the Avengers, but Jean's powers were unmistakable. Dropping his connection with Scott, Ev reached out to Jean, sloppily flinging a boulder of psychokinetic power in Namor's direction while directing a distress call at the women.
The power change was like an invitation for the squid to reengage -- while it was not familiar with Scott's power set, Jean's was one that it has tasted intimately. Namor pivoted quickly in the water to dodge the blast, and again engaged upon Everett.
If there was a time for the two ladies to intervene, it would be now.
Synch helps Topaz and Marvel Girl double-team Namor.
No, that's not quite right.
Our psionic lady duo works together with Synch to mind-whammy Namor out of his very squiddy problem...
One down, one to go, Topaz thought as they approached Everett and Namor. They hadn't been noticed yet. Maybe they could keep it that way. She looked back at Jean, surprisingly calm as she said, "Double team him?"
Jean kept an eye on Namor, her attention focused on the squid for a moment before she gave a simple nod. Truth be told she was looking for some way to release some tension.
~Yes. But in full disclosure, I'm not at 100% at the moment. You have the rest of it it, though.~
"No pressure," Topaz said with a thin smile, her eyes tracking Namor's movements and trying to pin him down mentally. She finally found him, focusing in on his mind. "Right, got him. How hard could it be?"
Hard. Well, at least forceful. While the X-Men may not have the full knowledge of Namor's increased speed, strength, and stamina under the water, the creature possessing him -- a slow, languid mind with many tendrils and a long memory -- remembered exactly how Atlanteans were made. And what that could do.
With a turn of that slow mind, the beast in Namor's mind redirected all of the its undersea monster's strength toward the mind that had gotten away. With barely a flick, Namor was barreling toward the new duo with focused intent. Namor smash.
"I hate my life sometimes," Topaz muttered as she broke out of Namor's head and quickly shield off herself and Jean. "That thing is completely latched onto him."
Jean could feel the monster she was holding back in her mind react in the presence of the other, and she fought to keep it contained. She started to throw up a telekinetic shield when Topaz did the job first, so she put one up behind it to bolster it so he would bounce off from the momentum.
~You would let something control you? I thought you were stronger than that.~ she said to Namor, then tried to hit him with another telekinetic blast before turning back to Topaz and sending a thought only to her.
~I'm hoping appealing to his ego might work.~
While the blast hit Namor enough to knock him away, Jean's telepathic gambit worked a whole lot better than anyone who had previously tried to speaking to Squidmor by this point. There was a brief flash of awareness, and impudence, as the possessed man redoubled back toward his original, punchy goal. Just a hint, but something was stirring under the superimposed serenity of the Squid Mother's control. Something sharp and angry.
Arms wrapped around Namor's waist and a body tackled him before he could get far. Ev, his aura tinged yellow and red from synchronizing with Jean, wrapped himself in a telekinetic suit to augment his strength as he grabbed hold of the Atlantean. "Stay still, Fish Boy," he ordered, "Let the nice women finish their work on you."
There was only so much words could do without a little push behind them, and Jean felt herself faltering a little, especially when trying to fight her own battle within. But she could sense something, the familiar pull of a telepath in Topaz. It was nascent, but still there, like a seedling ready to grow with the right nurturing.
~I have an idea.~ she said to Topaz. ~I don't think I can do this alone. Not where I am now. But if you're okay with it, I can...boost your telepathic powers to make it easier to get inside Namor's mind and wake him up.~
~That sounds... terrible, honestly, but it's a day for terrible choices~, Topaz replied, surprisingly blithe. Sure, boost her telepathic powers. Why not. Nothing got weirder than turning into a mermaid. ~Let's go~.
She wasn't entirely sure what she expected beyond Jean going into her mind, and she had to struggle not to fight back - she was right to be wary as far as she was concerned, even if she knew the woman wasn't being controlled anymore. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing as the presence became stronger, pushing against a small part of her mind like it was knocking on a door.
And then thoughts. Not every thought, not all thoughts like most telepaths, just the ones connected to the strongest emotions in a peoples' minds. Lots of anger, lots of helplessness, lots of i>fuck this unsurprisingly. Topaz shuddered and reeled back slightly, slamming her shields back down and shaking her head. She was swallowed before opening her eyes again, shaky but ready. ~Right~, she said with so much more confidence than she felt as she hesitantly searched out Namor in the psychic chaos. ~Hang on. I'm not entirely sure how to link people, or even if I can, so just... hitch a ride, I guess? I've got an idea.~
With that, she latched on to Namor's current anger, using the invisible line to ride straight into his head, hopefully bringing Jean with her.
Luckily, Jean was prepared for the trip. Since she recognized the other mind within her own, finding the part of Namor that shouldn't have been there was a little easier.
~Alright, what's the idea?~
~When in doubt about brainwashing, I've found overloading the brain and forcing it to reset very helpful,~ Topaz said dryly. ~Thoughts, emotions, anything you can dredge up, just get his brain going until he can't take anymore.~
Jean paused. She was used to the psychic battle/talk it out way, but was willing to give this one a try.
She nodded. ~Go for it. But be careful. The animal's dug in pretty deep.~ It'd have to to get past Namor's ego.
~You too,~ Topaz said - it almost sounded like an order. But Topaz didn't do that stuff, of course. ~Make thoughts up, dig something out of his head, whatever you can think. Get creative.~
And with that she turned her attention away from Jean, focusing on Namor. And just like with Jean, she dug up every single negative thing she could - every bit of hopelessness, every bit of fear and resentment and anger and bitterness, doing her best to keep Jean separate from it all as she swirled the emotions around Namor's head, intensifying them bit by bit.
Jean kept her eyes on Namor, funneling the emotions Topaz was pushing, and adding some of her own as she found his memories of being king...and then losing his kingdom, mirroring them back to him.
~You're letting Attuma beat you. You're his slave. Think about that. Pure, royal Atlantean blood being under subjugation of your enemy. You're better than this, Namor. Prove it. Make him regret pulling you under his will.~
In true Namor fashion, this insult hit hard... just not for the reason Jean was shooting for. If anything, the far away response she got from the Namor bits left were more annoyed at her impudence than the blow to his ego.
~You dare intrude on my memories? You attack me here?~
The mental landscape jolted, washing red as more of Namor came to the forefront. Angry, angry Namor: old rage seasoned with years and years of being trapped, mixed with the loss of a home and a time. There were no words. It was sharp as well, and all of that hit Topaz at once.
"Christ!" Topaz hissed, reeling back and shaking her head, struggling not to be overwhelmed. ~I've got him,~ she managed to get out. ~Follow me.~
~Keep it up!~ Ev sent to Topaz and Jean. His mental voice was strained and muffled as he focused his borrowed powers almost exclusively on the telekinesis to hold Namor in place. The Atlantean was struggling less, which was good, because Ev could not tell how much longer he could keep this up. Even telekinesis of this level only proved a match for this kind of inhuman strength.
~Yeah, we dare.~ Jean said to Namor, shoving the mental image of what Namor looked like right now at him, then throwing in another made up image of a controlled Namor like a lapdog at Attuma's throne as Attuma himself stared down triumphantly. ~What are you going to do about it? Sit and glower, or fight this asshole?~
Namor's annoyance rose to catastrophic levels of sheer disgust at the personal boundaries being crossed. ~You dare use a mockery of my history against me. You dare invade my mind with your petty taunts?~
The anger manifested as spiked walls in Namor's mind, rising to cut off any and all intrusion. This worked doubly against the Mother Squid's presence, for as much as Jean's jeering and Topaz's empathy were working to raise Namor to the surface, the squid mind only soothed and ebbed like any picturesque cliche of the ocean. Inviting. Calming. Don't worry. Follow.
~I will stand neither.~
His irritation sliced like a knife, his mind expanding back to reclaim the boundaries of his mind. The king's desire for privacy a bludgeon against any and all intrusion. With a roar and a violent shudder against Everett's hold, Namor was free. Pissed, but free.
