Welcome to Gaia! ::

(For those who've seen this before, bite me, I like the idea)

What the mayans didn't predict with the end of the world that it wasn't the true end of the world, just the end of civilization as we know it.

World War Three, the shortest war in history, rocked the Earth with nuclear and chemical warfare. Entire continents became uninhabitable and only some cities escaped total devastation.

27 years later and the world is starting to get back to it's feet, in a way.

Within two years of the end of the war, the new generation of children we're born. And within 10 years of that, their mutations started appearing with adolescence. Suddenly, groups of children were able to bend metal, create fireballs or teleport short distances. These mutants split the world even further.

In one mall in Canberra, Australia, a large group of mutants and their parents survived. Being far enough inland, the Capitol city wasn't hit with any nuclear or chemical weapons, but the fallout from both did affect it.

In the mall, with all except two entrances blocked off, the group survived, planting crops on the roof and worked a small, indoor farm. The underground car park contained a large hydroponics facility and the two department stores were cleared out to make sleeping quarters.

Most people had set jobs and the group survived, living off what they could get. The grocery stores had run dry years before and they only reason they had fresh meat was because of trading with distant farmers, which was becoming harder with the lack of fuel.

Until one day when a large cargo plane, something unseen for the last 27 years, flew overhead, dropping a large cargo of goods and equipment and one, small and wiry, grinning 24 year old woman.

OOC thread, profiles here.

Also, if battles happen, I'll be using this guide.

Flint was on guard duty when one of the younger mutants, one with superb eyesight, came over to him and pointed out the plane he still couldn't see. When it came into view though, he formed a megaphone out of his pipe and yelled at everyone to hold their places and keep an eye out for enemy activity.

For some reason people were getting more and more desperate and the group of around two hundred people who occupied the mall were wary of strangers or anything different. And a large cargo plane certainly fell under different.

His parents and another pair of elders approached him after his orders rang out. They stared at the plane with a little fascination.

"The plane master, the plane," Flint's father said, drawing a chuckle from his mother and the other elders. Personally Flint didn't get it, so he thought it must have been from before he was born.

As the large and incredibly noisy aircraft flew overhead, it spat out five large containers which tumbled through the air for a moment before their parachutes opened. Seeing that they were aimed for their mall, Flint roared for people to take cover. Scattering, the elders and Flint went to the nearest stairwell.

The mutant watched as the crates thudded into the roof, destroying one garden, a couple of trees and a small shelter. Thankfully, no one had taken up residence in the shelter.

The closest container's chute fell over a small, wiry woman, who cut her way through it, sheathed her knife and jumped down. Flint checked his pipe and he found that he had unconsiously turned it into a long, sharp sword. He and the small group of elders approached, a couple of younger people, mutants, coming with them.

"Ello. My name iz Dee and I ave brought you some supplies. I zink you might need zem."

Her French accent gave everyone a small pause, for they had not heard such a strong, foreign accent for years.

Flint stepped forward with his parents in tow. His father commented about the last crate as it clipped the edge of the mall and slipped from the roof and onto the road below.

"My name is Flint, these are my parents John and Wendy. We are the leaders of this group and speak for all." He glanced at his parents who nodded for him to continue. They trusted him and knew he could handle one person. "Why are you here Dee?"

"Before I start, you may wish to retrieve zee last crate. It haz equipment zat you may find use of."

Turning to his father, he asked a question with his eyes. John nodded, signaled to a pair of young men and a few elders with weapons before they went towards where the crate was.

Flint was thankful Wade had made an appearance to help move the crates. Her abilities were going to prove very helpful. He was also glad that one of the super strength mutants was helping his father with the last crate, the one that had gone over the edge.

"Lets move the crates to the food court and sort them out there," Flint said, signalling to move the crate down the stairs. It fit, but just barely and without Wade, they would have had to unpack it to move it.

"Zat is a wise decision," Dee said as she watched the plane vanish into the distance. "We can set up my equipment once it is all inside." Glancing in the direction of the last crate, she sighed. "And of course zee really important zings are on zee last crate. Is it safe?"

Flint nodded. "Yeah, my crew will make sure of it. For now, lets get inside."

Following Wade, they made their way to the food court, a large open area which had tables scattered around in random formations. Some of the younger people were moving tables back to accommodate the crates as Wade and the others brought them in.

Once the last of the five crates had been brought in, Dee stood, standing on the counter of an old McDonalds. Even standing on the bench, she was barely taller than most of the people in front of her.

"For zose who have not heard, my name is Dee. I come from France and I come with an offer." She paused, making sure she had people's attention. "I represent a new government, one zat wishes to unite the new world with zee old. We recognise zat people with powers are now a part of zis world and we wish to include you in helping to bring about peace.

"As of now, zere are many little kingdoms worldwide which are ruled by people who fear and eliminate mutations. You are one of zee few places in zee world that has, not only survived, but built a community from zee ashes, one of relative harmony, one zat my father and I wish to use you as an example.

"Now, once I've gotten my satellite equipment running, I can show you where I would be taking you."

Flint nodded a little. "And what do we get out of this?"

"Security, for one," Dee replied. "You will never have to set a guard at night. Also, zere is plenty of food for all at Haven. We only ask for a couple of zings in return. Zat you help make the community work and zat some of you occasionally help on missions like zee one I am on now, recruiting you."

"Okay," Flint replied, nodding. "Seeing as how you need us to get home, I'll tag along." He looked out over the crowd, seeing some nods of agreement. His parents nodded as well, indicating they at least, were with him.

"If you give me a minute, I will set up my computer equipment and report in before we make with the plans." Dee dropped off the counter and, with the help of a couple of elders, set up a small generator, a satellite dish and a laptop. Once the operating system had booted up, she opened a couple of programs and waited while one black box sat in the middle. After about five minutes, a male face, older, scarred, but almost identical to Dee's appeared.

"I see you 'ave made it to Canberra safely daughter," the man said, his accent identical to Dee's.

"Yes father, I 'ave. Zee people 'ere are friendly." Glancing over her shoulder, she moved the laptop so Flint, John and Mary, along with a few other mutants, including Wade, were in camera view. "Zese are John and Mary and son Flint. Zey are in charge 'ere and are willing to come."

"Monsieurs and madame, my name is Rene. I am zee leader of zee Union, a group zat wishes to unite the world, human and mutant alike. We wish to gather all people who are willing to 'elp together, showing the rest of zee world zat unity is possible, even in times like zese.

"I am sure zat my daughter Dee has told you of what you will gain from joining us. I would like to add zis."

Turning his screen, he pointed the camera out the large bay windows to his left. Gorgeous pasture lands spread out from the window, only a couple of small houses marring the land. Huge, snow-capped mountains surrounded the pasture land. A small rain cloud watered one far off corner of the land, sun drenching the rest.

"Zis is all free to be settled, along with another few valleys nearby." Rene turned the screen back to him. "Zee only zing we ask is 'elp in return."

John and Mary nodded as Dee turned the computer back to her. She fired off a couple of sentences in French, the occasional word in English. After about ten seconds of this, she nodded and turned away from the laptop as her father vanished from the screen.

"My father suggests zat if it is not possible to gain an aircraft at Canberra airport, zat we zen convoy along zee coast north, searching for aircraft and resources." She looked at Flint, then John. "'Ave you got vehicles zat can move all of you?"

Flint nodded. "Yeah, though we may need fuel. Dad?"

John nodded. "There's a few gas stations nearby. I'll take a few people and see what we can find." Flint's father turned and looked over the crowd, signalling to a few elders and a few mutants. "Wade, can you help? I think your talents may be appreciated immensely in obtaining fuel. Know how to drive a manual?"

John nodded and headed towards the far side of the mall, his small group following. Within a minute they were looking out through one of three usable entrances to the mall, one that had been 'boarded' up with sheets of metal, thanks to Flint.

"Clear," one younger mutant said as they started moving towards the nearest gas station, taking cover behind ruined cars, low walls and in the rubble of ruined buildings. The area had been clear for years, though they all knew that raiders tried from time to time.


"Very well," Dee said. "If we can make zee vehicles you have capable of moving all of your people, fantastic."

Flint nodded and led Dee to the underground carpark. It was mostly empty, but there were about thirty cars, four wheel drives and utes. Included in there was one mini bus, one that could hold about fifteen people.

"There's also a bus depot nearby, which would be better for moving lots of people. I suggest we try one or two of those."

Dee nodded. "Zis is your area, you know it much better zan I do."

Flint chuckled and lead Dee to the entrance closest to the bus interchange.

((Feel free to add combat near or after the gas station if you wish.))

((Wait, inside or out? Most fuel tanks are either above ground outside or below ground underneath the pumps...))

John took cover behind a crate near Wade. The raiders were not well armed, but knew the layout of things, where he only had his memories of a few years ago to go on.

"s**t," he muttered to himself as he noticed the hole in Wade's leg. One of the other elders had taken a hit too and had their hand clamped over their forearm, blood leaking past fingers.

Looking around his cover, he noted a few pairs of feet underneath the crate. Doing a quick count, he got four people. Didn't mean there was more elsewhere though.

Thinking fast, he inventoried the skills he had. Three mutants, four elders. The mutants were Wade, Henry and Penn. Wade was gravity, Henry was super strength and Penn was a dead-aim.

Could work. He glanced around and focussed on the roof of a car that had been blown off. "Wade, if Henry carries you, can you lift that car roof and provide cover for you, Henry and Penn? If you can, Penn can shoot them out. She wont miss."

((Meh, is all good. I'm used to fuel tanks either being in the open, near the main building or underground underneath the pumps. I'll roll with it))

John admired Wade as she glanced at her wound and seemed to shrug it off. Henry scooped the woman up and lumbered over to the car door, which Wade swung into place, just in time to deflect a couple of bullets. Penn scampered after them, keeping the big man and the door between them.

"That's cool," Penn whispered in awe, looking at the door and the fact that she could see the blood flowing through the wound in Wade's leg, but not out. "Way cool."

"Penn, focus," Henry growled as he lumbered around the inside of the building, trying to get around the dangerous stuff far enough for Penn to get a clear shot. When they were flat against the same wall as the raiders, the bandits let out quite a few shots, trying to drop the big man. A couple of shots ripped past and one went through his shoulder, right next to Wade's head, but he didn't so much as grunt. He dropped to one knee, shifted out from the wall and Penn let out a few shots from her semi-auto pistol. All of the bandits were killed or downed within two seconds and the only things to show for it were Wade and Henry's wounds.

"Clear," Penn yelled before moving behind Henry towards where the bandits were slumped. The big man continued to carry Wade, seeming reluctant to put the wounded woman down.

John came up, dragging a pair of containers with him. The other elders also carried six more. Once Penn and Henry had made sure the bandits were dead, the elders started filling the containers.

"Thanks Wade," John said, pulling out a bandage and wrapping it around her leg.

John and the rest of the group got to work after John bandaged Henry's wound. The big mutant grunted a little, but didn't seem to notice the fact that he was bleeding much. John patted him on the opposite shoulder before checking on the fuel situation.

"The tanks are practically full," one of the elders said. "If we can get the vehicles here, we can fill them all. For now though, we can fill the tins and Henry can carry or drag them back easily enough."

Without warning, Speed, the small mutant, appeared next to John. "Hey, we heard gunfire, everything okay?"

John nodded, patting Speed's head. "Tell Flint and Mary everything's fine, but tell Grace Wade and Henry's hurt."

Speed nodded once, gave a worried glance at Henry and Wade then vanished, the air distortion rippling John's clothes. Searching behind things, he found a rope and a large piece of plyboard. Tying the rope to the plyboard, he trailed it out, making a makeshift sled.

He indicated to the others to put the cans on the sled as he went and kneeled next to Wade. "Hey, I know it hurts, but can I help move you to the sled? At least you wont have to walk back before Grace can heal you."