Tracking the others

(I LIVE! Okay... like, fucking BARELY. But still. Quick recap with what's going on with me. I've moved into a new home, Lost a family member, got into Zenless Zone Zero, my hyper fixation locked onto like SIX fucking other things, I'm not getting good sleep at night, I have a health issue with my legs that 3 doctors can't tell what the fuck it is, but yeah, I'm trying to make myself focus on writing again cause I really fucking miss it. Anyways, here's hoping that I can focus on writing again.)

Making my way down to the lab I heard a VERY pissed off Laura currently being held back by Jenny, Penny, and Jean standing in front of Sinister as a last resort to stop Laura. I ran over and hugged Laura first and foremost. I think that made her brain freeze for a second cause she didn't look like she was expecting that. "Laura it's okay... He'll never be able to hurt anyone again now..." She looked at me with all the anger of a woman who clearly thought only when he was DEAD would he no longer be a problem. About that time is when the professor and Magneto came in, Magneto assuring her that Sinister would spend a long time making up for his previous actions while the professor explained that Sinister didn't have a choice in the matter. Laura asked why and well... there was an explanation that had to be made...

We spent a good chunk of time explaining to Laura all that had happened while we were trying to find and rescue her. The attack by Stryker and his Purifiers, the attack on the city, the rescue of Storm and the others, that Stryker himself had escaped and the Sentinel program was shut down. Then Laura mentioned that at least it was only her that had been taken... No one was looking forward to telling her, but we still did explain that several others were still missing. Mercury, Magma, Boom Boom, and Magik. That's when Sinister chimed in for the first time, his voice monotone enough that it didn't even have that evil tint to it he used too. "Actually Magik wasn't one that I'd taken. She was not meant to be one of Apocalypse's new horsemen. My former master intended for X-23 to be War, Mercury would be Pestilence, Magma would be Famine and Boom Boom was to be ****. But I never had any access or designs for Magik."

The rest of us both became worried and confused, if Magik hadn't been taken by Sinister to be a horsewoman, then what had happened to her? "However I have located one of the others that were taken. I'm afraid the rest will take more time to locate." Sinister chimed in with, before the professor took a closer look at where the person had been found. He said he'd gather a team but stopped Laura before she could volunteer. His reason? She needed to learn how to control her new tail first. She tried to deny it, trying to act like she could control it easily, but her tail suddenly SLAMMED into a nearby medical bed and smashed it in half. There was a little blush on her face as she realized she wasn't convincing anyone and reluctantly agreed to stay behind. I suggested maybe Kali could give Laura some pointers. Kali agreed to stay behind and help teach Laura, though she did also explain that it would take some time.

While the professor gathered people for the upcoming mission he suggested I seek help from someone from another group. I got an assist from Sarah on that, she helped me get in contact with Sue of the Fantastic Four, who explained they were currently busy with trying to find out what Doom was up to. Tried contacting a few others as well with no luck, until we were able to message Strange.

"Magik is missing? That's certainly a concern. She should be able to go anywhere with her portals. Something that could stop her using her portals to return... That's not a long list. I'll see what I can do, perhaps I can divine where she is or at least, who was able to take her." Strange said before leaving the mental connection to do whatever he needed to help find Magik. I just hoped it would be easier with Mordo around helping him.

While I had time, I decided to go check on the lab for the time being. I arrived to see the police leaving with a group of armed individual's with handcuffs on them. "Liv? What happened?" I asked as I approached Dr Octavius. She explained how a mercenary team had attacked the building, trying to steal any research they could get their hands on. She explained how Sandman trapped them all in sand before tying them up and leaving them outside for the police to collect. Heading inside behind her she started explaining how her and Connors were looking into helping the lizard have it's own body so that Connors would no longer be affected by it. That was their first major project by the sounds of it. Though their next focus apparently would be to help with Olivia's degenerative neurological disorder.

Good news? They were already working on an idea to create an incubation chamber where they could hopefully make a body for Lizard.
Better news? I got a notification to transfer their blueprint into the system and automate it's construction. Along with another section of lab that would be used for researching Olivia's disorder and possible treatments.
So first thing I did upon seeing those? I got started on getting them both built, thankfully it only took some cash, and thanks to them having already gotten quite a bit of the materials needed for construction, the cost was reduced substantially.

About that time, I got a message from strange saying he'd found Magik but would need my help to ensure her return. "Why not ask for a team to help instead of just me?" I asked. "Because, I've an idea for getting Magik out safely, but it'll only work if it's just you and I meeting them..." I heard him respond. Unable to help myself, I asked him. "Wait, who's got Magik?" The response I received wasn't one I had been expecting, apparently Strange was rather surprised about this as well.