With a Purposeful Grimace and a Terrible Sound

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 3:27 pm

Benjamin Takahashi was at his home in Seattle Washington, browsing the seedier sides of the internet.

Hey, a man's got to kill time somehow, right?

by **John Hino** » Thu May 01, 2014 3:42 pm

A strange window popped up, displaying an idling oscilloscope audio visualization.

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 3:44 pm

"What the..." Benji said, alt-tabbing to the window to check it out.

by **John Hino** » Thu May 01, 2014 3:52 pm

"Benjamin Takahashi, correct?" a deep voice asked, visualization doing its thing.

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 3:59 pm

"I really didn't know that that movie was illegal to download!"

by **John Hino** » Thu May 01, 2014 4:07 pm

"You can relax. I'm not Big Brother."

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 4:52 pm

"Who IS this? Is this the NSA?"

by **John Hino** » Thu May 01, 2014 7:03 pm

"Didn't I just say I'm not Big Brother? Though I suppose that is what I'd say if I were. But really, I'm not."

The window enlarged and changes into a video image of his reptilian mutant caller.

"I'm the son of the guy your little friend almost gave a heart attack."

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 7:09 pm

"I...'m sure I don't know what you're talking about..." he said, evasively.

by **John Hino** » Thu May 01, 2014 7:25 pm

John's face grew more serious. "Your friend left me a message, and your picture. We know who you are now 'Lord Abe,' and what's at stake for us."

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 7:51 pm

"Shiiiiiiiit. I mean. Yes! Yes. Of course. Of course. The...thing, with the stuff. Yeah. On top of it! Have no fear."

by **John Hino** » Thu May 01, 2014 8:08 pm

"Forgive me for not feeling very reassured," he answered dryly.

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 8:36 pm

"Don't worry, don't worry, we can do this! It'll be easy."

by **John Hino** » Thu May 01, 2014 8:54 pm

"And if you can't renew the protection? What then?"

by **Narrator** » Thu May 01, 2014 9:19 pm

"Then....that would be bad. We don't want that.

But don't worry. I'm sure the cult's mostly dead, and if not, they're, like, probably a zillion years old."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 9:56 am

"We have a precog here at Xavier's who is well versed in the ways of magic. They're not gone, just waiting in the shadows to try bringing Her across again, and they will come. If they get what they want, well then it's not only my family in danger now is it?"

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 1:43 pm

"Weelllll...maybe they're mistaken. Or lying! Yes, this is probably some kind of evil plot."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 2:08 pm

"To do what? Make me paranoid?"

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 2:20 pm

"Yes! Yes, that's probably it, so go and check that out and I'll just be sitting over here..."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 2:33 pm

"Her I know, you I don't. Why should I believe you don't have some agenda or even any idea what you're doing?"

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 4:50 pm

"Hey! My family's been doing this for generations, you know."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 6:55 pm

"Yes, Taiki's message to me was from my own ancestor so I know about yours and what they prevented. So stop denying the danger. I'm with the X-Men, I can take the truth."

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:06 pm

"Alright, alright, keep your scales on. We'll work through this. We have contingency plans."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:11 pm

"Any that involved telling my family they were at risk?"

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:24 pm

"Oh, no no no no. If you don't know nothing, you couldn't tip anyone off, see?"

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:35 pm

"So... every contingency involves hiding then?"

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:37 pm

"Welllll. There IS the weapon..."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:41 pm

He smirked.

"Exactly what I was getting around to. And you aren't strong enough to use it are you?"

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:46 pm

"Well, it's not a matter of STRENGTH, per se. It's tied to the bloodline."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 7:50 pm

"I suspected that might be the case, but that's only because I read too many fantasy novels."

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 8:18 pm

"Well, it's well protected, too. So it's always not really what you want to start with."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 8:26 pm

"I'd brave anything to protect my family. Whatever I can do to achieve that end, I need to know."

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 8:42 pm

"Right.

Have you ever been to Japan?"

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 8:45 pm

"Only to see my grandparents. I assume that's where it is?"

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 8:47 pm

"Well, it's not, like, in their house or anything..."

by **John Hino** » Fri May 02, 2014 8:57 pm

"I know that. That would be way too easy."

He tapped his chin.

"How about this? You come here to the University and we plan our next move in a more secure way than this back door video chat."

by **Narrator** » Fri May 02, 2014 9:18 pm

"The University...in London?"

by **John Hino** » Sat May 03, 2014 9:15 am

"Why not? My father can protect your day job, not to mention pay for your ticket and lodgings if a University guestroom isn't to your liking."

by **Narrator** » Sat May 03, 2014 1:13 pm

Benji sighed. "Alright, alright, I'll catch a flight out there."

by **John Hino** » Sat May 03, 2014 2:07 pm

"Think of it as a vacation. One where you get to meet superheroes."

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