Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ceres nodded to Forellen, "Well, I'm ready to go. No luggage keeping us here."

Ceres and Shifter were transported into her living room in Niagara Falls, NY. This was one of the areas of New York not really effected by the change... but everybody really was effected. She looked around, nothing had moved. Nothing had changed... except for a basket of goodies Mrs. Grady probably made her for her return. They took care of her home when she was gone. Sweet neighbors.

"Help yourself to some of that," She motioned to the brownies and muffins, "My neighbor thinks I'm malnourished. Sweet lady, just wants to take care of everybody. I'm going to go pack a few things since I have a feeling the Watchtower is going to be our new home."

Ceres walked into the back bedroom of her house which was the master suite. The room was bright colored with light blue walls. The decor was somewhat elemental and organic reminding her of the ocean and beach. Each area of her house had a different elemental theme. That was her life, it made her feel alive. Walking into the large closet lined with clothes she hadn't worn in years and about 100 pairs of shoes. Behind one of her cloaks was a panel that she held her palm up to for a DNA read and a print scan... Stark had also put in an extra element to the panel. She had to mimic the exact appearance and energy frequency around the panel for it to open. So even if a mimic or metamorph came in, they would have an extremely difficult time duplicating what Ceres could duplicate.

A panel in the wall opened showing her the machine that Reed Richards had tapped into. She watched it's triple layer force field shimmer. It wasn't compromised, that was all she needed to see. She would have shown it to Forellen but she didn't want to compromise anybody else's safety with the knowledge of where that backup computer was.

After pulling a small suitcase off a shelf, she grabbed some essentials that would make her life easier... extra uniform, some civilian clothing, and whatever else she didn't feel like porting back for. Before she left her room, she tucked her uniform behind her civilian clothing of jeans and sweater. Not frumpy enough to bore her, but not flashy enough to draw attention to her.

"I want to stop over at my neighbors to let them know I'll be away for awhile so my house is watched. If anything suspicious happens, they are to call my buddies at the sheriff's office," She picked up the food Mrs. Grady left and put it into her car on their way out. Really, she had nobody else to check on. Allison had been estranged from her family so long that they were a distant thought. She already knew that parts of Canada were gone. Her loyalty was to both countries so that pained her as well.

Knocking on the Grady's door, Mrs. Grady bounced forward. Through the window, Allison could see that their son was inside. He was wearing a training uniform that was vaguely familiar... X-Men maybe.

"Oh, honey, we're so glad you're okay with all this nonsense going on," Erma greeted the girls and invited them in, "Let me put on some tea. I insist you stay for a bit before running off to save the world."

"Mrs. Grady, this is my friend Forellen. I assume this is your son you've spoken about," Ceres nodded to the boy who looked to be about the same age as she and Forellen. He had the same sandy blond colored hair that Mr. Grady appeared to once have.

"Yes, yes... This is David. He was a student at that Xavier School. He was about to head back until all this happened yesterday. He is going to head back today. David, this is Allison Dawn that we've told you about. Sweetest girl. Always helping us out."

Ceres nodded to Forellen signally that they were okay. Of course, she knew not to give up too much information for the saftey of the Grady family. She never wanted to compromise anybody else.

When both elders were out of the room, she looked at David, "Have you been in contact with the Institute?"

He shook his head, "No, all of our communication signals are down. Phone lines work going into the building but nobody is answering. Who are you with?"

"Avengers... but the details aren't important. David, I don't recommend going into the Institute alone. You're just a student. You can come with Forellen and myself. What's your power?"

"Nothing exciting, I'm a TK-er. And just a student... please..."

"Not going to argue about that... I've been fighting villains from an unknown reality for the past 24 hours... this is how it's going to be. We go to Forellen's and then the Institute."

As everyone was making their decisions of either staying or leaving, Max decided to get up and head around to his room. He had no use staying in this room. He didn’t really get a straight answer to his question, not that it could have been answered in a way he would have liked, so he just left it at that. No harm and no foul, that’s how he liked it. If there was nothing for him, why waste energy on something.

Once in his room, he sat down and pulled out his duffle bag. He unzipped it, and started to rummage though it, looking for something. He pulled out a small pair of shorts, a white tank top, and a large baggy shirt. He wanted to work out a little bit, so that he would be in shape for any missions that came his way. He was rather amused with himself asking about weapons, seeing as he really didn’t one. He preferred a hands on approach to combat. He had learned several different layers of martial arts, before moving into the Muir Island Labs. There he didn’t have a lot of time to practice much of anything.

Reassuring the door to his room was closed, he started to change out of his current garb and into training uniform. It wasn’t a lot, he needed to be light for his movements, and he didn’t need anything in his way. The small bicycle shorts and form fitting tank top was perfect for him. Thanks to his little excursion of the compound, he knew exactly where to go, that would be ideal for his practice.

After a few winds and turns he was ready for, since he traveled through the mirrors he didn’t see the direct rout, just the general direction of where he was to go, he arrived in a large empty room. Walking in, his bare feet embraced the cold floor. He walked to center of the room, and started doing some basic stretches.

“Stretching is very important for any type of physical engagement. You will can and will cause serious injury to your self if your body is not relaxed. It will be far worse if you mind is not relaxed as well. As we stretch we should be calming not only our bodies, but our soul, our minds. Let everything on your mind slip in and away. You don’t want anything there except the task at hand.” The wise words of his old sensei at the dojo he attended as a child. The man had made a lasting impression in Max’s heart for the short amount of time they had been together.

Just like when he was a child, Max did all the usually stretches, extending his arms, his legs, his chests, his whole body. After that he conditioned himself with a few quick sets of pushups, and situps. He was already tiring, evidence of his lack of exercise over the past year. No excuse would ever work on Daniel. He was a tough love kind of guy.

“And why haven’t you been practicing anything? Why have you not been working our Maximilian? Tell me this most important reason, I want to hear it.:

“Why must you call me that. I told you already, its Max!”

“Is that so, here in the contract it states I am to be training a Maxamillion, not a Max. Besides, you have to live up to your fathers reputation, Max… Now why have you not been doing as you promised you would do?”

“I… couldn’t”

“Were you laying in the hosptial? Where you coughing up blood? Did you break a limb? Did you die?”

“Now… I just…”

“Just what…”

“I had a lot of homework!”

“Homework! That is no excuse! I push all my students. Even the adults who work seven days a week, I drop them if they don’t show the initiative to perform at home when Im not around. Am I going to have to drop you too!”

Max pulled himself up from his situps, thinking about the man he grew to love like an older brother. It had been years since he saw the man.

“Max… I need to tell you something.”

“What?”

“I cant train you anymore.”

“What! I have done everything you have said. I practice every day, I keep my grades up! I didn’t do anything. Why are you doing this!”

“I have no choice. I have to leave, and go to Germany. My mother is ill, and she is soon to pass and… you know my father is gone as well… Im all my little sister has left.”

“I… don’t care!”

“Max… you have to. Ill call and check on you, and your training, don’t worry.” He ruffled the boys hair as he pulled a small pendant on a chain from his pocket. It had a clear round disk with a swirling silver substance trapped with it. “Here, I cant stay long, my flight is leaving, but I got you this.” He handed it to the boy as a taxi blared its horn outside. “I have to go, okay kiddo.” Max just stood, in disbelief as his only friend left.

It wouldn’t until later that he would learn that Daniel was not only a fine mentor, but also like Max. With an ability. He hid it well. But it was this ability that caused his demise. The whole story of his mother dieing and sister needing a home was a falsehood. Evidently his whole family were mutants, wanted for some act that they had not done. They were all killed, Max never heard back from Max. It was the phone call he intercepted from his father that gave him the sad news.


At this point Max was sitting, curled up on the ground, out of breath, arms wrapped around his knees, tears coming down his face. He never did give Daniel a proper farewell, and it had been a good ten years. It was something he had wanted to do for so long, but he just lost sight of it.

Forellen laughed at the comment. "It's not the battery that's bad. It's the person who's usually to busy with things to change them when she's supposed to." She said and nodded at her. "Not to worry I'm sure their still good so we'll get a hold of someone." She said and made aface shrugging. "Even if it is just Scott." She said dryly.

She nodded at Ceres. "It's not too far from here. Ten minutes tops since trafic's going to be a breeze at this moment and time." She felt a little disquieted about all the sneaking though. "If we have to we'll sneak otherwise we can just drive there. The Professer would feel us coming from miles away on a bad day." She said with a shrug.

She nodded...which she seemed to be doing a lot of lately. "Informally it's Forellen." She said to David and bowed slightly to Mrs Grady. "It's been a pleasure ma'am." She said and frowned as she walked to the car thinking of the fact that she'd have to clean her apartment in order to have room for her team mates here to sleep the night and that was a major undertaking. "Huh? Oh here." She shook her head snapping back to the presant and gave Ceres directions to her place.

Like anywhere else her apartment was quiet with most people glued to the news and radios for the latest updates on the situation. She fished her keys out and unlocked the door. "Mind the mess and don't touch the paintings a few of them might still be wet." She advised them as she stepped in and frowned looking around. Forellen usually had her papers and paints scattered all over the place since she lived alone. It was kind of an organised chaos since she knew what was where and could find it. "Let me clean off the couch so you can sit down...I tend to leave stuff all over the place when i'm writing." She said as she gathered the books and papers off the couch. "Sorry about the mess I wasn't expecting company." She said apologetically. Apart from a pile of loose papers and books here and there it wasn't that bad. Her painting room was a bit cluttered though.

Having Taken a shower to remove the lewd and ofeenisve markings on his body, Shane stepped back into the commons refreshed, recently dried, and turned on the television. He figured that this was perhaps the best way to absorb what was going on. From the tower they could see it all for themselves, but the news channels were better for condensing it down into the important facts and issues to be digested, leaving the trivial facts for later more indepth stories. Apparently the whole world was on the brink of Chaos as governmental alligences shifted as they were replaced by the other world's countries. Scores were grieving as their families weren't close knit enough to be all on one side of the merging line, but on the plus side. All of the governments, super heroes, and religious authorities were doing their best to keep the social contract and social order intact. Apparently even a few villians were helping out, as mass-murder and suffering weren't part of their agendas. It was refreshing to see the world still had so much good in it, but saddening that it took epic disasters to bring it out in people.

Clicking it off, he stoop of and took a stroll to digest what was going on, now that he finally had time to think.

Everything was still a bit fuzzy. She had tried to stand to her feet; wanting to speak with the others. But everything was washed in a violent feeling of vertigo. It was like the fallen all over again. Falling. A strong pair of arms had caught her. Then nothing; everything went dark again.

It was very quiet. The darkness changed. Aria’s dreams danced about in her mind in the hues of a stained glass sanctuary and the scent of dusty rose and lavender played in her memory. The old church? Slowly opening her eyes she blinked in the white lights of an unfamiliar room. ...No. Sitting up Aria stretched out her arms with a yawn and rubbed the remaining stardust from her eyes. Where am I? She thought taking in her new surroundings. Running her fingers through her hair out of habit Aria was taken aback for a moment by the dried blood matted in it, finally remembering what had transpired. She was amazed that her head was no long throbbing and the pain in her ankle was gone as well. But still that didn’t answer her question.

“So you have finally awaken Miss?” Inquired a voice. Aria stared back in wonder at a small holographic figure project on the table in front of her. Did I make hologram while I was asleep? Was the first thought that popped into Aria’s mind as she poked at the projection questionably as it continued to speak.

“Hope you found these accommodations to your liking. There is a shower available for your use and you should also find an arrangement of clean cloths for you choose from while we have your other garments laundered. I was unaware of your exact size but hopefully there will be something to your liking. Now if you excuse me Miss, I shall inform the others that you have awoken.” With a polite bow the figure disappeared from sight. Aria laughed in the back of her mind. What an interesting place this is.

It took a lot scrubbing and a considerable amount of shampoo to wash out all the dry blood caked in her hair. Still felt it good. The hot water relaxing away all the tension in her body; she almost wanted to stay there forever.

They’re throbbing again. She brushed her fingers over the two deep scars etched across her shoulder blades. Old memories that her body still remember but her mind had long forgotten. Water seemed to trigger it. There was just so much she didn’t know. Aria stood there for the longest time watching the water swirl down the drain. She smiled softly. Sometimes the past was forgotten for a reason.

Stepping into the room again with towel wrapped around her Aria sorted through the large stack of cloths that had been left for her, but was none too pleased with the section. They where... well.... spandex....enough said. Why super heros choose to wear this stuff I will never know... The only thing of the none stretchy variety she was able to find was one over-sized white shirt. Which looked even larger on Aria’s petite frame with the bottom of the shirt coming to just above the knee and the length of the sleeves hid her hands completely from view.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror Aria smiled at how silly she looked. Heh heh, I look like I was shrunk in the wash. I wonder if this is how it feels to be a rag-doll? She certainly couldn’t walk around this way. Pulling her arms through the top of the shirt then tugged on the neckline till it rested just below her collarbone. Grabbing the long sleeves she wrapped them in somewhat of a bodice style around her waist tying it in the back like a bow. Now it looked more like a little white sleeveless dress than an over-sized shirt. Aria smiled happily with contentment.

Some time had past, Aria waited anxiously, pacing back-and-forth in the little room as she fidgeted with her hair. How much longer would it be? It had been quite a while since the holographic figure left, no one had come since then. She didn’t like being confined to one place for too long. Pivoting her toes on the cool metal floor, she bit slightly on her lip; she couldn’t take it anymore. Her curiosity was bubbling up controllably inside of her. Peeking her head out the door, no one seem to be around...there should be any harm in taking a look around... right? With out a second thought she disappeared wandering down the halls.

Shane stifled a laugh, in the hall he was in, a small woman. He would have called her a girl, but that indescribable something told him she wasn't some naive little lady. But she was wearing a shirt as a dress, and that would brighten anyones mood.

"Ma'am, I hafta say. Your sense of style is impeccible. The white goes well with your skin tone, but I must say," he said as he walked up to her and reached behind her head, "a nice comfy robe would look much better," he exclaimed as he pulled out from behind her ear his super hero costume and drapped it over her, pushing the hood up so he could look at her.

"Ahh, much better. By the way, my name is Mind Freak. Glad to meet you, tooth pick. I will need my costume back once you find some fitting clothes. I suggest you go to the ladies corridors and borrow something."

Suddenly the speakers blaired that some special mansion was under attack by villians he had never heard of. With a roll of his eyes, he exclaimed that they must be from the other, backward universe.

"Guess I will see you later, tooth pick," Mind Freak said with a smile as his clothing instantly shifted to be the exact same robe she was wearing, though this one was a product of sensory information planted in her head. He turned to go to the teleporting station to get to Earth and help.

The voices of his comrades flashed through his comm, speaking words of desperation, of anger and confusion. Yet Seraph would not budge. He was a member of the Justice League, yes, but even with the whole of the planet in turmoil his allegiance lay somewhere else first and foremost. The Brotherhood of the Rose and Sword, what had become of them in the wake of such terrible rending of reality?

Careening over the desert, a streak of white and brown in the blue skies above the harsh Arabian sands, Seraph's watchful gaze swept the ground. He would soon be back in Israel. It was only a matter of time until... oh... oh God... no, this could not be! Gliding to a halt, hovering above debris and fire, Seraph bowed his head and, for the first time since leaving diapers, cried.

Jerusalem had been destroyed. All that remained was the rock from which the city had been built, now lying sprawled over miles like the toy blocks of a titan. It stood only to reason that with the city destroyed, the temple Seraph had called his only home was demolished as well. For now, at least, the voices from his comm grew more incessant. After offering a silent prayer for the men he'd called his family, Seraph tapped his comm and spoke.

"Oracle, this is Seraph. I am on my way to the States as we speak. Tell what remains of the League that I do not apologize for my tardiness. The Brotherhood is no more."

The traveling through deep space didn't bother Thomas at all, aside from the fact he was in a Javelin. The ship was needed though as Oa was more than a few light years away. The journey back towards the Watchtower was the toughest though, especially after meeting with Ganthet. He was the only guardian remaining after Hal Jordan's psychotic break, and thankfully he was still around after the universal merger. Thomas noticed he was passing Jupiter again and decided to get some sleep; something that was lacking since the merging of the two universes. His sleep though did not go undisturbed.
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"I'm glad to see you have made it to Oa," Ganthet said when he saw Plasma walking towards the huge power battery that fueled every Green Lantern in the universe.

"Not as glad as I am to see Oa still intact," Plasma retorted, "I'm sure you know of what has happened."

"Without question, young Lantern," Ganthet said as they both walked towards the huge power battery. "Half of the Corps is missing. I'm imagining that they are on the 'other side' powerless."

"About that. My ring lost power during the apex of the merger."

"I have stabilized the power battery, so a loss of your ring's power should not be a worry for you."

"That's more than a relief," Plasma said with an extremely audible sigh, "I'm going to need everything at my disposal to try and rectify this situation."

"You and me both." Plasma heard a voice coming from behind him and Ganthet, turned around, and saw Earth's former protector John Stewart. "Mosaic has been going crazy since the universe has been torn asunder."

"Not just Mosaic, but I do understand exactly what you're saying," Plasma said as he walked towards the man he replaced. "It's good to see you again, John."

"Likewise," Stewart said while shaking Plasma's hand, "Earth's alright though?"

"Depends on your definition of alright. We haven't gotten to the core of the issue, but it seems that portions of the universe have displaced other portions. It's been like taking pieces of one jigsaw puzzle to complete another."

"And what of the League?"

"That's tough to tell. Superman has been lost. A good handful of others as well. Too many to count, really. More of our stalwart members have been taken to the other universe." Plasma shook his head momentarily. "I just wonder if they've had as tough a time as the rest of us..."
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A harsh beeping work Plasma up from his slumber. He had only been out for roughly fifteen minutes, which he cursed but he did know it was part of being part of the League.

"Plasma. Members of Captain America's team have run into resistance back on Earth. I'm sending the coordinates now," J'onn said over the Javelin's comm panel.

"Can't you send Bruce, Kara, or Diana?," Plasma said wearily.

"Kara and Diana are taking care of a situation in what we think is Russia right now."

"...................."

"Your hesitance suggests there is something on your mind."

"Of course. I need to go home, see my son, and make sure Star City is safe," Plasma said. Noticing how close he was to the Watchtower, Plasma made a quick-fire decision. "I'm going to dock the Javelin and go planetside. Promise me on thing though."

"It's already done," J'onn replied. "After helping our allies planetside, you have forty-eight hours to take care of your personal business." Plasma smiled slightly as he docked the Javelin in the Watchtower's hangar. Unfortunately for him though, J'onn had to teleport Plasma to Earth before he had a chance to step out of the interstellar ship.

What Plasma saw before him was nothing more than a war zone. The countryside he was in was in complete shambles. Like there was a huge battle here which he was sure had ebbed only slightly. There was a sinking feeling in his gut momentarily before he activated the comm-unit in his ear.

"Members of the Cadre. This is Plasma, planetside. Sitrep and location," Plasma said quietly as he scanned the area. He didn't see anyone around, yet could tell people were extremely close. Judging by the state of the building he stood by, things were only going to get worse before they got better.