Bush Memorial Hospital
VIP Facility
Megacity of New York
11:00 PM
Titan lowered the train quite well, though the landing left a little to be desired. You were all loaded onto the EPIC jet, a tight squeeze to be sure, and flown to the Bush Memorial Hospital. The hospital, Thunder explained, specializes in VIP treatment and mutant recovery.
Each student is examined and treated by one doctor, bearing a strong resemblance to Thunder. He is both soft spoken and kind, and a mutant. Unlike X12, his healing abilities have no deliterious effects on him, though it takes him several long minutes to treat most wounds. Kevin lets out a scream of intense pain when the battlesuit's final plate is removed from his back. Those present see eight hooks pulled from his spine, some kind of neural interface Anna explains. After an hour, everyone has been treated for their remaining injuries. After you are examined, a nurse leads you to a comfortable sitting area, with benches, televisions, magazine stands and a small area of computers. Vending machines line the wall and there is a Krispy Creme and a Deli operating within the area. A few video games are on another wall.
Thunder has already assured you that you'll be at the institute in an hour or so and is in a nursing station on the edge of the sitting area, talking into a vid-phone. Titan reclines on a bench, feet up and eyes closed. A large, overweight woman, dressed in grey fatigues with a multi-pouched belt on her waist and blaster pistol on her hip, is in the Krispy Creme getting some donuts. Her hair is tied back into a simple ponytail and she is smiling and laughing as she talks with Anna who is in her wheelchair nearby. You recognize the woman as Michelle Sanchez.
Most of the students are here, milling about and talking about what happened. A news broadcast is on, and you see the words "Mutant Attacks" flash up on the screen and pay attention to the broadcast.
"Several attacks around the globe happened today, all on mutants. Who is behind the attacks remains a mystery, but various powerful mutant teams fell victim themselves to the surprise assaults. EPIC was active both in the NAA and in the EU. Reports of a massive battle in EU were confirmed when an eyewitness sent in this tape."
The tape that plays is of a massive combat between rather familiar robots and members of EPIC. Trailblazer, Jun Po, Kodiak and Merlin are present battling the robots. As you watch, a detonation rocks the area the battle is in, detroying the walls of nearby buildings. Both Trailblazer and Jun Po are videotaped lying unmoving on the ground. The scene cuts to what must be the final moments of battle, where Kodiak has grown into his gigantic bear form, ripping apart a human mutant, also grown to giant size. Of Merlin, there is no sign.
"As you can see from the tape, the battle was fierce and possibly deadly. Reports from Liverpool indicate Trailblazer and Jun Po were taken to local hospital with undisclosed injuries. No report has been received of the whereabouts of Merlin.
"In related news, the train carrying EPIC students was attacked as well. A car containing several reporters witnessed the battle between the students and several robots and soldiers. What the attackers were after is unknown. According to one reporter, two mutants participated in the attack. Only one was caught on tape as he attacked a reporter." The screen shifts to show Vincent shouting at a reporter, then the image turns to static. According to eyewitnesses, one reporter was badly injured when this mutant attacked him and shoved him away from the scene. It is unknown if the mutant is in custody or not, but it is assumed he is on the large and extremely dangerous. If you see this mutant, call the police immediately.
"We will have more news on these strange mutant attacks as it becomes available. For CNN, I'm Theresa Soulsmith."
