Scorched Earth

Posted on Tue Nov 18th, 2025 @ 20:37 by Jillian McMillen & Phoebe Hunter & Jonathan Monroe & Liana Zhao & William McAvoy & Tom Albridge

Chapter: Besieged
Location: Avalon Institute, Interior
Timeline: 03:05 hours (immediately following A Bridge Too Far)
1321 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

The echo of the breaching charge still rang through the air as the heavy oak doors swung inward, splintered at the edges. A formation of five swept in, tight and methodical. The lead operative had a compact loudhailer in one hand, the other resting loosely against the grip of her rifle. Her voice barked out, amplified but calm. Calm enough to be rehearsed.

"Attention, Avalon Institute. Under the authority of the Genetic Oversight Unit and Section 7 of the Mutant Registration Act, we are executing a lawful search and seizure. We are in possession of a High-Risk Custody Warrant."

Right behind the squad a lone lithe figure moved into the breached doors. Smoke coiled across the floor in thin tendrils, hugging the stone like a living thing. Parting at the rapid steps of the lone operative. As the squad went one way, Effigy quickly stepped out of formation.

"You are ordered to surrender peacefully and submit to identity verification and biometric registration. Noncompliance will be considered obstruction." the Squad leader calmly stated into her loudhailer.

A natural gravitation had brought Liana alongside Phoebe, her eyes trained on the dissipating smoke as the movement of looming shadows gave only minimal information regarding who they were actually dealing with. A glance sideways caught the history teacher's eyes and, for a moment, the pair weighed up their options. Between them, they shouldered a responsibility that Claire normally would have handled with far better eloquence but even she had conceded actual combat leadership to Phoebe. A peaceful outcome was preferable but that seemed off the table. Avalon had been invaded and capitulating to force was a precedent none of them were prepared to make.

Liana exhaled and nodded, once. "I'll go speed things up," she murmured, referencing the evacuation already in place back at the gym. As much as her first instinct was to confront with diplomacy, to talk through a solution like civilised adults, it was blatantly obvious these people hadn't come to negotiate. Swinging her head to catch Jonathan's eye, Liana added quietly, "I'll be back once the kids are out." Then, before there was an opportunity for her exit to be cut-off, the counselor slunk back into the shadows before there was any opportunity for identification or interference.

Jonathan, waiting for Phoebe's lead, held his ground for a few moments longer. "I promised Claire I wouldn't use my powers inside the Institute. Guess I'm about to break that promise, huh?" he said softly, a little sad that the headmistress herself wasn't there. He missed Claire's friendship as well as her leadership at times like these. But Phoebe was the team leader, and he was prepared to follow her too.

Phoebe looked at the man as he spoke and shook his head. “This is not inside the institute. All the doors are gone.” She commented with a touch to the man’s shoulder. “It was a promise for a different time.” She took several steps forward as she watched the woman who had broken away from the formation who she had killed in the corridor far below the institute. “She’s the one who I stabbed and then tried to return the favour and got Cam.” She whispered as she watched Tom and William stepping up to the pair.

"We've met," Jonathan replied quietly. "She threw me out of a window."

Their attention returning to the intruders, Phoebe just inclined her head. “I do not believe that I have seen any of your identity before you demand mine. I am already registered so you know who I am.” Phoebe stated clearly. “You tried to kill me several days ago by coming in without a warrant.”

Effigy had started to peel away from the group but they had encountered the main threat to this incursion fairly early on. "Oracle." The alias was droned as it had been in their first encounter. "How considerate of you to bring me my weapon, and another one of your associates to use it on."

Phoebe inclined her head to the woman who she had met in the depths of the castle and who was the reason why Cam was no longer there. “You don’t get to use my name or comment on my weapon.” Phoebe commented loudly. “But at least you are kind of used the front door this time.” Thomas glanced at the woman who was masked and realised this was the one who had killed Cam, whilst William stood like the statue, he could easily pass for sometimes.

"And since we're on the ground floor this time, just go ahead and try throwing me out of a window..." Jonathan added, backing her up.

Effigy stared down the firebug. "Just try not to burn one of your loved ones this time." She slipped into a martial arts pose and waited for them to make the first move. Knowing them that could take a long time, but she knew that if she closed the distance they would have the advantage, especially Oracle.

The air around them sizzled and with a distinct puff Claire suddenly appeared behind Effigy. It only took her a second to slap the suppression collar around her neck. The head mistress wasn't quite sure if she should admire the ease of use or be horrified by it, but in this moment it was serving her purpose quite well. She hit the activation button on the remote that Cam had given her in the jail cell.

Effigy immediately collapsed to the floor the moment the device switched on, clawing at the collar. "No! Please!" The hands moved from the collar to her head. "They're in my head! Please!" Scratching and clawing at wires protruding from her skull. Pulling the half mask away from her face. "I need my powers!" blood was starting to seep from her nose. A genuine frantic panic.

Claire immediately kneeled down next to her. The anger she had felt towards this young woman dissipating as she saw the genuine panic in her eyes. The cold calculating death stare had disappeared the second the collar switched on.

Effigy's eyes locked with Claire, pleading. Then suddenly clarity. "Becca. Becca lives here. Where is her room? Please! Get me to her room!" There was blood seeping into her mouth.

Looking up at Phoebe she needed a validation that this was the right thing to do. They were here, trying to stave off the institute burning to the ground. She didn't know if helping this poor girl was the right move. She'd been doubting her every step ever since Phoebe had shown her the picture she had drawn.

Phoebe felt like she had whiplash from the sudden appearance of Claire and the power dampener around the person she was going to fight. “It looks like she won’t die today and neither will we.” Phoebe said as William unarmoured behind her as he took the sword from her hand.

That was all she needed, Claire knelt down and pulled Effigy in her lap. "Try to relax. You might want to hold your breath." She focused on the teacher dorms. The hallway. The stonework and long red carpet that she had missed so dearly. The air around them sizzled and with a pop of air filling the vacuum left behind they disappeared from the spot they were just in. Leaving a bewildered squad of G.O.U. officers, who were now slowly backtracking.

Phoebe turned to look at the squad. “Not so powerful now your prisoner mutant is not under your control hmm?” Phoebe said as she watched the officers backing up more and more until they were gone. Thomas stepped up to her looking confused.

“Did you know it would end like this?” He demanded quietly. Phoebe looked up at him and shook her head. She might not have known but she was so glad it had. She had not liked the other version.