Sage sat in her barely furnished, rundown apartment in Brooklyn, flipping quickly through the pages of a book titled, We Don’t Want ‘Em. From what the woman had picked up from storing the pages of Senator William Finn into the dark recesses of her mind, mutant hostility was becoming more public among the nations leaders than she had ever guessed it would. The Wyoming senator commented on the mutant terrorist attacks and the illegal movements that some mutants around the globe were making. The cyberpath could only hope that people reading his hate book would be able to realize the mutants, such as the X-Men, and those serving for the government were being overlooked by the senator who spoke for a tiny 515,000 people. Once she flipped past the last page, instantly transferring the image into data that would remain in her memory, Sage tossed the library book aside and stood.

It had been two weeks since her return to New York City. Just as Tessa was grabbing her luggage from baggage claim, Charles Xavier contacted her. Much to her disappointment, her mentor of old wasn’t going to allow her entrance into his institution as she had originally thought. Instead, he instructed her to go to Brooklyn where he had living arrangements already set up for her. There she would create a routine, so that anybody looking for her, would be able to find easily. After bringing down the Inner Circle of London’s prestigious Hellfire Club, Charles had a new target for his special agent. The Brotherhood was a growing terrorist organization that was causing the X-Men some problems in their search for peaceful humanity. Her assignment: to infiltrate the ranks of the Brotherhood, collect information and report her findings every three months.

So for three weeks, Sage walked to the Brooklyn Public Library. There she would stay for an hour, drinking a cup of coffee while (apparently) reading Bram Stroker’s classic Dracula. Afterwards, she would return to her apartment. On alternating days, Tessa would make her way to Prospect Park where she would run for two hours, or attend a local gym where she would work out for the same amount of time. Most people would grow tired of the monotonous schedule which rarely included time to interact with other New Yorkers. Tessa, however, knew the importance of what she was doing.

In order to creep into the ranks of the Brotherhood, she would have to be recruited. There wasn’t any doubt in Sage’s mind, and apparently Charles’ as well, that the leader of the Brotherhood would have heard about Emma Steed’s personal assistant who managed to make it out of London with no warrants or other legal baggage behind her. True, it was a melancholy life to live, doing little else but reading and running, but Sage wasn’t much of a socialite and preferred the simplicity over frantically searching for something illegal to do to catch Magneto’s attention.

Realizing that four o’clock was drawing near, Sage stripped off the tight jeans that she had worn to the library and lunch. In place of the denim, the blue-eyed woman dressed herself in a pair of knee-length spandex matching the raven black color of her hair. The spaghetti strap top she had on since the morning would be sufficient for running, so Sage slipped on her running shoes before slipping out the door.

Prospect Park was buzzing with activity. Though the weather had been overcast for several days, the sun finally managed to peak through and cast some light on the playful picnickers. Starting down one of the roads designated for runners and joggers, Sage picked up her pace, and lengthened her strides. Inside the runner’s mind, she listened to exact replicas of popular songs she heard on the radio a couple days prior. It was unneccisary for the mutant to carry an mp3 like the other exercise fiends who dominated the population of the park. Once listening to a song, Sage had the ability to store it in her mind and instantly recall it at any moment she wished.

After three miles, Tessa was finally able to stop shivering from the chilly weather. However, once she stopped her run the muscles in her legs and arms began to tighten from the sudden chill that swept in from the north. Stepping off the pavement and on to the green grass, Sage looked for a spot in the sun where she could stretch and go about it without being disturbed by two pre-teens who apparently were never properly shown how to throw a Frisbee in a straight line. Finally picking a patch of sun that managed to shine through the full branches of Prospect’s trees, Tessa bent over to begin her stretches.

Neena Thurman had been a part of her share of recruitments. From the time that she had been a simple convert herself, Magneto had used all of her various skills to sway others to his cause; usually, her more polite skills were the necessary. Occasionally, she had to play a little rough to get the attention of a prospective member of the Master of Magnetism's elite clan. She didn't mind - she liked a challenge.

Today's mission, however, was one that Domino was not excited about.

Pulling on a short pair of spandex shorts and a slim-fitting black t-shirt, she grabbed a pair of running shoes from her closet and tossed a long jacket over the whole outfit. Heading for the hangar, she grumbled to herself, if only in her head. The Brotherhood had it's methods of tracking various mutants that interested it - mostly financial records, bribes, threats, blackmailing, and simples surveillance did the trick. Mutants, no matter how powerful they were, tended to have a difficult time flying under the radar. Xavier had his accursed Cerebro, which helped him find any mutant he wished - but Magneto's plethora of tracking devices had their uses as well.

The reason why Domino was so particularly annoyed at this assignment was complicated. For one, the woman Tessa interested Magneto far too much for her taste. She was attractive, athletic - much like Domino in appearance. Neena's natural competitive drive drove her to jealousy over anyone that garnered that much attention from her master. Secondly, this "Sage" was telepathic. Nothing like Xavier or his little herd of psionic mimsies over at his Institute, of course; but, nonetheless, she could poke around in Neena's head if she decided to. Domino was no idiot and had had extensive training keeping telepaths out - but that wouldn't stop Tessa if she really wanted to dig.

All of these things made Domino feel... vulnerable, as it were. And Domino didn't do vulnerable well.

Pulling a little black car up to the park where her surveillance had directed her, Neena stepped out lightly and tossed her jacket into the back seat. This little number was one of several that Magneto had recently purchased via private donation from some unknown source, and the little circles on its front betrayed it be an Audi. Strange - I wonder if Erik has any idea that an Audi is a German car?

Stretching lightly and breaking into a light jog, Neena fiddled for a moment with her earpiece, stuffing it into her conch just out of sight. The voice on the other end was already monitoring this Tessa, so finding her would be a breeze. Spotting the woman on a nearby sunny patch of grass, Neena narrowed her eyes and trotted up next to her. Placing her hands on the small area of her back, she stretched slightly and nodded as she caught the other woman's eye. Deciding against subtlety, she spoke quickly.

"You don't know me, but I know who you are." It was so crass that Neena almost winced. Well - not really. "I have a proposition for you."

Tessa knew that she had a visitor, before the woman had even stepped into the runner’s field of vision. The split second when the newcomer had passed behind her blocked the chilled wind, revealed to the analytical maniac that she wasn’t alone. However, it wasn’t the first time Sage had been approached in the park. New Yorkers, the new ones anyway, liked to use the park as way to meet new people, and those prone to exercise often confronted others that obviously shared the same interest. If her focus wasn’t on more important things, like keeping the world safe from terrorists like Magneto, then she was sure her mind would be filled with phone numbers of friends instead of detailed description’s of the Magnetic Magician’s minions.

The timid and shy started by ‘accidentally’ kicking your foot or arm and then work into conversation by apologizing over and over. The more bold and gregarious approached with their hand out, ready to introduce themselves. Then there were those that just approached silently, waiting for Tessa to make the first move. Instead of humoring the timid recluses in their quest for conversation, Xavier’ spy ran off, leaving the individuals to kick themselves in the head for acting like such a fool.

As the woman who was also dressed in Sage’s color of choice cantered to her side, the telepath looked up from stretching her hamstring. It was only a passing glance, but the other woman nodded in greeting. Sage looked away without hinting that she saw her companion’s salutation. It was an obvious intimation that she wished to be left alone, and if she hadn’t been sitting on the ground Tessa would have took off in a jog to the nearest path. Even still, Sage was getting to her feet, preparing to rid herself of the intrusive newcomer when the woman, who Sage had pinned as one of the silent bores, spoke. "You don't know me, but I know who you are. I have a proposition for you."

So the moment had finally arrived. The image of the woman went through the filter in the computer like mind of the mutant and instantaneously popped up with results as to the identity of her new companion. “You assume too much,” Sage replied, her voice low and calm. To clarify she continued, “I know who you are.” The young woman was taller than her but Tessa was never one to be intimidated by physical appearance. Though the information Sage had on the powers of the woman known to the mutant community as Domino hinted nothing in the direction of her having any telepathic abilities, Sage preferred to keep her own mind closed. If she wanted she could pick apart the younger woman’s mind, but in doing so she left herself vulnerable.

“I also doubt you know as much about me as you would like to think you do,” she added, through her leg up behind her and catching it in her hand. Continuing to stretch her leg muscles, Sage tried to make their conversation appear quite normal to the any onlookers they may have. She wasn’t trying to scare the young woman, and from the looks of Neena Thurman it would take much more than mere words. Instead she was leveling. She wasn’t about to let Magneto’s pet think for a second that she had the upper hand. “So this proposition,” she started again, switching legs in her quad stretch. “are you going to make it worth my while?”

It took the woman Sage more than a few moments to respond to Neena's advance, and in that time Domino steadied herself against any possible attack. Whatever her motives, she was a mutant and was no weakling. Domino's powers had an annoying way of keeping her out of harm's way- but only if she was ready for anything that might be thrown at her.

But, as she had hoped, Sage's response came in the form of words. They had a distinct sense of arrogance and an attitude that could best be described as 'haughty,' but Domino was neither impressed nor intimidated. She resisted the urge to smirk at Tessa's arrogance. She didn't know quite who she was dealing with, and seemed to be operating under the mistakes perception that she was above being bought. Neena Thurman knew all to well that everyone had their price - and she sensed that this Sage was no different.

“I also doubt you know as much about me as you would like to think you do."

Domino smiled slightly. "Perhaps." - she offered oly one light word, airy and distinct. She took a step to the side and strolled her long legs lightly around the other woman, giving an intent image of circling. Her arms crossed, she shook back her hair and nodded.

"If you know as much about me as you claim to, I suppose you also know whom I represent. You are a mutant and so am I. I represent a mutant organization that seeks to... encourage... the promotion of mutant rights." She shifted her weight and put a hand on her hip.

"Maybe you'd like to be a part of something that will change history."

Tessa chuckled to herself as the other woman continued her attempts at intimidation by circling around Sage, who by bending over to stretch her hamstrings, was left susceptible from an attack. Even though she was prepared to defend herself if necessary, Sage had a strong feeling that this Domino person knew better than to strike someone appearing to be innocent in front of all the passersby that strolled the park.

The lucky mutant stopped her superior stalk and assumed a position of business. Sage had meant for her earlier statements to be an intimation that small talk was unnecessary, but apparently the younger woman didn’t catch the innuendo. Letting out a deep sigh as she lifted her torso up from her stretch, Tessa gave her guest a look of ennui. Domino was testing Sage’s patient, but after weeks of waiting, the mysterious telepath wasn’t about to explode, when the moment of infiltration was so near.

“I know full well who it is that sent you here. I also no about the actions you and your band of,” she paused, searching for a word that would make her point without offending her attendant too harshly. “rabble-rousers have taken so far in your fight for ‘mutant rights’, if that’s you call it these days. I must confess, that if you ever plan to meet your goals, I wouldn’t hide behind phrases like mutant rights. It sounds too political to be convincing, and you, my dear, don’t look much like someone who enjoys politicking.”

“I know your long term goal. What I’m really interested in is how you and your buddies plan on doing that.”

Something was off about this woman, something distinct and un-ignorable. Neena tilted her head ever so slightly to the side and pushed a lock of thick dark hair behind an her ear. She couldn't put her finger on what bothered her about this conversation, but Domino was a woman in definite possession of "women's intuition-" and something here just didn't add up. Still, she had a mission to do, and in her position her job was to fulfill orders, not twist them or make up new ones. She quieted her racing thoughts and rocked back on her heels, offering only a small smile to Sage's forwardness.

"Politicking is the least of my worries." She said quietly, still gazing intently into Tessa's eyes. "Politicians are careful, they are afraid to make mistakes... afraid to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done." She paused. "I... we - are not afraid of anything. Not you, not any mutant, and definitely not any homo-sapien."

She slowed herself and considered her next words carefully. "Still, we all know it will be the humans who draw first blood in the game of cat-and-mouse our communities have been playing of late. They provoked what's coming... they provoked it and they will continue to provoke until they regret it. It's survival of the fittest."

“I know your long term goal. What I’m really interested in is how you and your buddies plan on doing that.”

Again, Neena stopped and stared. Something was wrong here, very wrong. She just couldn't... gritting her teeth, Neena let her eyes continue to bore into Tessa's for just a moment before loosening her gaze. It was no matter... whatever was up with this "Sage" would not matter once she was in Magneto's hand. One didn't choose to join the Brotherhood, really.... but one certainly didn't get to decide when or if to leave it.

"That information, my dear, opens us up to a whole level of intimacies and possibilities that not even I am necessarily privvy to. And what I do know... well, that require me to trust you. Which I don't." She smiled lightly. "Caution, you know."

"Well - are you in or are you out?"

It was apparent through the younger woman’s speech that she viewed herself not only better than Sage, but she also felt superior in regards to her companions; singular personal pronouns weren’t something the astute mutant could overlook. Sage could tell that her mordant answers were starting to ware on the equally harsh woman, though Domino was doing her best to try and cover it up. Domino wanted answers. Tessa wanted answers. Neither was willing to bend until the other broke. Tessa knew that the battle of obstinacy would only end with one of the two walking away from the grassy plot of park, neither obtaining what they had come in search for.

Even still, Sage wasn’t going to throw the battle so easily. She stared back hard at the younger woman, unblinking for several minutes. In her mind, she almost giggled at how childish the adult games of tenacity could be. Sage refused to return the small smiles –or were they sneers? – that Domino flashed her. She wouldn’t even allow a corner of her tightly pressed, unpolished lips to rise above the straight line in which they were held. It wasn’t until she decided to speak that Sage actually moved.

“I must say,” she started, shifting her weight to her other leg. “You do manage to keep me on my toes with all these surprises you keep tossing my way.” When the pause in dialogue demanded that an explanation be spoken, the telepath continued. “I never would have guessed that you would be stupid, for lack of a better word, enough to think that I would jump head first into an organization as significant and long-lasting as your’s.”

“In fact, I am somewhat offended,” Sage continued, mocking the fellow mutant by putting her hand over her heart and letting her eyes fall to the ground. She rose quickly from her simulated offense and once again assumed a face of serious business. “Or perhaps, you know that I would never agree to such a commitment as the one you are offering.” Sage chuckled slightly as she again shifted her weight. “Now it is time for me to throw the curve ball.” Once again, the black-haired beauty let a moment of silence come over the two before giving an explanation. “I accept your offer.”

Bending to the likes of someone so young and wild as Domino didn’t sit well with the clandestine X-Man, but she had no choice. If she wished to gain access to the information of the Brotherhood, Sage would have to step off her high horse for awhile, until she eventually worked her way into a position of superiority. Sticking out her hand, it was all the telepath could do not to force the younger woman into some position of surrender. Forcing a smile she repeated, “I’m in.”