[RS] Coordination

[Jason Campbell]

The real coordinating work had begun and so Jason tried to say as little as possible, not wanting to cause Elsa to miss some valuable information. The knots in his stomach were now making their way to his throat. Knowing there was no one else to send, he could hardly believe it. But he supposed it was likely to be the case. Every policeman, every security member, every ex-military or so they could find were now gathered here, in these woods, as they believed this was the place to strike. There were still teachers back at the school. Of course, if they knew the kind of arsenal SPECTRE had, he could either worry more or... well he doubted he could worry less until they arrived there to check the damage done. “How much longer until the infiltration team succeeds in their mission?” he asked her. Wow, he sounded like an actor in a military movie. This was insane. And here he thought the junkie who tried to attack a nurse to get his dose was the worst he’d ever go through.

He frowned at what she said. A mole, was it possible? He hoped not. For if someone did, they were mental. Did they think they’d be spared when SPECTRE just showed their true intentions? He looked at her digging for her cellphone and wondered what she was up to exactly. What she said when the line was picked up only made things more confusing. Until she explained. The press. He had to admit, he was impressed. “Smart move,” he told her, unable not to hide a little smile at it. Very smart indeed. If they had images and caught the public’s attention, maybe they’ll get some of them to see their side of things and how they were no threat to them.

He straightened up and nodded as she said several of theirs had been shot. “I’ll prepare everything,” he said, leaving her to get to the supplies. He had no idea how long he would stand many gunshots but he was ready to keep working until he passed out. And go back to work once he’d wake up until he was done.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"They've already rescued the targets," said Elsa, resisting the foolish urge to smile, both at Jason's thought and how it echoed with what was going on in her own mind. It really did sound like some kind of cheesy action movie. Wonderful, their lives had become like that. "So it's just a matter of pulling them out. Hopefully the distraction team gets into position."

Because they'd need to move quickly. The press would arrive at the school very quickly, considering everything. Of course it was a smart plan, sending them at it. Elsa was tempted to say precisely that, mentioning that she always came up with smart plans. That was possibly tipping her hand a little too much. Dr. Campbell was still on a need to no basis, and that need did not include knowing how Elsa Bellefonte's mind worked. He simply needed to know that it did.

He was already moving in response, preparing things. Elsa moved for a moment, feeling like she should help. No, no, she would be best suited to continuing to coordinate. They were at the dangerous part, where one wrong step cost lives. They'd already stepped slightly wrong; they should've sent one more to defend, one less to infiltrate or distract. How much more helpful would some of the mutants down there be against SPECTRE's assault? Certainly better than what was there. Elsa couldn't help but feel in her gut that she'd just condemned Roxana to her death.

Which reminded her. She tapped her ear, pressing that communicator. Roxana needed to hold out for as long as she could; the press were coming. They'd come back with reinforcements as soon as they could, but Roxana would have to work with what was there. She could do it. And then Elsa was issuing more orders, straining her power, reading words in her mind while her lips spoke others, her head beginning to feel more and more pressure, pressure that she put aside. She was just thankful that the doctor hadn't hooked her up on anything; she certainly didn't want to know what she looked like right now.

{200th Elsa post!}

[Jason Campbell]

Jason was relieved they got the children. Of course, he would really calm down only once he’ll see them returning here. Then the professional side of him would take over and no matter the state they’d be, he’ll do the best for them. Jason refused to accept letting any of them die. He knew it was more than possible. He was not God, he was limited. But he knew that if he started to think right now of the lives he might not be able to save, then he’d freeze in front of them all. He needed to think like the doctor he was, even if that made him appear cold-hearted. Better that than risk his nerve to get in the way and have him mess up.

Pulling them out did sound so easy. If there had been any agent inside, they should have neutralised them on their way to the prisoners. But nothing in their plan really went the way they meant it to so the knots were still in his stomach right now. At least the press would be at the school soon. They might fear losing face for all to see... if they did not simply shot them. No, even villains in movies never think of that one. He was well aware of the irony of comparing this to a movie and how it didn’t prove anything but you find hope where you can. And Jason needed to think things would work in their favour.

He watched Elsa. He thought for a moment that she would join him. It was not like there wouldn’t be enough work for her. But she still had a job to do. He noticed the state she was in and it made him stop for a second. She did look a little exhausted. As the evening went on, Jason had a sample of her power and came to guess it. One thing for sure, it had to do with mental abilities. Either she was pushing it too far or the stress was taking its toll on her but she did look like she could use a rest. He came back to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I know you’re doing all you can and you probably don’t want to stop until they’re back, but try to take it easy. I don’t want to give you anything in case it might also alter your abilities but don’t collapse on me, alright?” he told her. Maybe his tone sounded too much like an adult talking to a child. Not a baby, but he definitely pointed out their age difference in his tone.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Was Dr. Campbell not aware of her abilities? Elsa supposed that not everyone knew, but she would've thought that her information had been given to the doctor. Her mind did brush against his when he spoke, but she didn't wish to focus, and it wasn't simply because she could almost feel her brain swelling within her skull. She shot him an annoyed look at he advised her to hang back.

"I'm not about to collapse,' she informed him archly. "I will not be in a position where I'd have to tell my sister that I hadn't done everything I possibly could to ensure that she and everyone else got out safely."

She paused again, scanning. It felt like some of the distraction team had gotten... distracted. Brilliant. Elsa sighed and tapped that com, telling them to focus, wanting them at their best. Again, she didn't precisely care what was happening with the others, but if they weren't their best, then...

...her head started to throb all of a sudden. This was not the normal headache she got. Elsa let out a tsk and turned to Jason. "I need aspirin," she said, taking a few steps toward the med stuff, still sending her mind out. Drugs now; rest later. She could put it all together... she would put it all together...

[Jason Campbell]

It didn’t matter what she was saying, he could see she was not well and obviously it had to do with her power. She was using it, stretching further than she probably ever did. He could understand why pushing one’s limit was important right now. It might be the difference between life and death. But causing her death so that others may live, it might be a price too high. Jason didn’t want to treat her as well as the others, not when they were supposed to be in the safest spot right now.

Of course, she was not seeing it that way. “And I don’t want to tell your sister you fried your brain to help,” he pointed out. Somehow, saving one sister at the price of another didn't seem very logical. He didn’t know her sister but he hoped she would have been the kind to tell her to ease off so she would listen to what he told her and be more careful.

Jason followed her as she walked towards the medical equipment, asking for aspirin. He forced her to sit down, afraid she might get dizzy and collapse, despite her saying she would not. He knew all too well you don’t always want to listen to your body. You often thought being stronger than you really were. He got her some ibuprofen. “How’s the pain? Do you see flashes of light or hear a buzzing to your ear?” he asked. He wanted to know if he was dealing with a simple headache, a migraine or something worse. Hoping it was just a headache.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Well, it's a shame that I outrank you then," replied Elsa, keeping her voice tight. She began rummaging through the various supplies. There had to be some aspirin around here somewhere. Surely not everything they'd brought had been of the extreme variety. Elsa felt a presence behind her, soon felt a hand on her, and she sighed with frustration as Jason sat her down. She looked up at him with a quirked brow, ready to point out the likelihood of this succeeding. She probably would've started doing precisely that, if her brain didn't feel like it was about to push her eyeballs out of her skull.

"I just need some aspirin," Elsa insisted. She let her attention wander toward the facility. Their people were pulling out now, or should be. Elsa took a deep breath, stretching her mind out, working through the pain, and, well, there was a flash of light now, and she felt her vision swim for a few moments. She still read the thoughts though, they knew they were pulling out, nobody seriously wounded. Elsa nearly sighed with relief. The extraction team would be out, and they'd get to move on to the next fun part soon enough.

Which still left her with an overbearing doctor. She waved a dismissive hand. "It's just normal strain from overusing my powers. I need something to dull the edges," she moved to lock eyes with him, "that's all."

[Jason Campbell]

Jason’s jaws clenched at her snappy comment. It wasn’t the fact a teenage girl was basically bossing him here that bothered him. It was the fact a teenage girl was bossing him, completely dismissing his medical advice when he was asked here for that precisely. Alright, he wasn’t supposed to check on her most particularly, but he was supposed to make sure they all came back alive. To him, that meant making sure her brain did not swell to the point of causing any damage. They were not irreparable as he was there to fix it but that sure would ask a lot of energy from his part, energy he was saving for those who’d be shot and for the students who had been tortured.

He didn't care if she did not like him forcing her to sit down. She would and he was ready to tie her to a chair if necessary. There ought to be some restraining straps here, right? After all, they might rest some of them on a stretcher while riding back to the academy. “What you have is a migraine and it will take more than aspirin for it to fully go away. If you don’t want it to get worse, you slow down,” he replied to her as she once again dismissed his medical concern. There was something harder on his tone. He couldn’t care less if she was rich or was ready to do something to him if he kept going. Jason was a doctor. Whatever she had to say was irrelevant, unless she also had an M.D. Since he doubted it was the case, she better start listening to him.

He walked back to the supply to get something else instead. “Here. It’s a little stronger. But I warn you, if the migraine doesn’t reduce in intensity, I’m forcing you to stop. Complain all you want, but if you want me to be in shape to heal your sister entirely, you should not make me use all my energy on you first,” he warned her. They should be coming back soon anyway so she shouldn’t need to use her power as much.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa Bellefonte did not like being told what to do. on the other hand, she had asked Jason here to do his job. She could hardly hold it against him when he did precisely that. Though part of her was tempted to point out that "headache" ranked several rungs lower on the emergency ladder than "gunshot wound." Jason's tone broked no argument though, and while Elsa may be stubborn she was, despite any appearance to the contrary, a fool.

So she took a deep breath, closing her eyes, withdrawing her reach. They were moving out, and she did still have the earpieces buzzing in her ear. If they really wanted her to pay attention, they just had to say something that would have her moving so. She did, however, keep her mind outstretched, even as she reached for the medication Jason offered. It wasn't until he got to the last point that she opened her eyes, looking up at him, a dangerous glint in hers.

"Be careful using my sister like that, Dr. Campbell," she said, her voice level. "I'm not one to entertain mentions like that often. It just happens that you're also right," she tossed her head, looking over. "Things are wrapping up. We need to get things ready to move. As soon as they get here, we'll be heading out," she gestured for the various others milling about to start preparing to leave. Things were almost over, thank God.

[Jason Campbell]

Elsa should have known better. As a doctor, he was used for his medical opinion not to be questioned. If he said you should sit down and rest, you better sit down and rest. She had the earpieces to communicate with the others. She was not asking for her to close it entirely, he knew it would be best but also too much to ask. He had seen the effects of overusing a mental ability. She probably considered it worth it, as her sister was all she could really think about right now. But it was his job to make sure everyone got out of it in relatively the same state as they were when they threw themselves into this mess. This included Elsa.

Jason was checking on her after she took the medication. She opened her eyes at his words and there was something in them. He could feel the glare, the warning she sent his way, before she even spoke it. “Trust me, I hate it as much as you do. But if it was what it took for you to understand,” he explained, his tone softening as he said that. He had nothing against her. In fact, he felt sorry for her and all the stress she put on her shoulders with this mission. It was slowly taking its toll on her, certainly faster than she anticipated. And with no one else around, Jason was trying the best he could to support her in that, which was a little strange to him, since he knew nothing of her. A good thing she was not the kind to over share otherwise it would have gotten awkward really fast.

He nodded as she said they’d be leaving soon. “I’ll leave you to your work and go back to preparing mine,” he said, getting up and joining the other as they were all preparing to leave as soon as they’d come back. He suddenly realized he forgot to count exactly how they were. He hoped none would be missing because of that mistake.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Somehow, Elsa seriously doubted that Dr. Campbell hated it as much as she did. She was tempted to say as much, to tear the doctor down a little more for speaking to her in such a manner. Yet that didn't feel necessary, and already Elsa could feel the weight settling upon her, pushing down upon nearly her very soul. She nodded as Dr. Campbell did.

"Many hours until we sleep," she agreed. She looked up, staring down at the retreating figures. Orders to give, people to ready, and Elsa was the one to do it. She'd been prepped for this, hadn't she? She did keep moving from one thing to another. Just don't think too much about it, and especially don't think about the costs. Elsa rose, shouting orders, rounding up the entourage, getting them into position to pick up the stragglers and get the hell out of there.

SPECTRE would have enough of a mess to work with.

The coordination here, at least, had finished: Elsa and Jason had their own tasks to do, to be sure: their work hadn't ended just because this had. But that would require work elsewhere. For now, they had to coordinate a withdraw, and hope that it all turned out in the end.