The latest in a growing list of suspicious behavior, Father John Sublime of the Church of Enlightenment intended to leave the country under a falsified passport only for it to end badly. Sublime was recovered Sunday morning at the Third Street Promenade, the apparent victim of mob violence. Santa Monicans were shocked as they opened their stores to find the controversial figure tarred and feathered with a sign around his neck, reading "Who's the freak now?". The sign was the only indicator of the identity and motives of the anonymous vigilantes. Sublime has since been rushed to the hospital suffering from burns covering the majority of his body. He is in critical but stable condition and under police supervision.

When reached for comment, the Church of Enlightenment said that they are disappointed in Sublime for his recent actions and wish to withdraw their initial support. [...]

[...] In other news, a blog post appeared on the Church of Enlightenment's website on Friday afternoon. It announces a press conference for Monday evening, where Father John Sublime - the head of the former Santa Monica branch of the Church of Enlightenment - is expected to speak in regards to the charges brought against him after the July 2009 arson of the Church's premises. Though the investigation into the arson is still under investigation, Sublime has been charged with manslaughter, accessory to multiple murders, and kidnapping, in addition to other lesser charges. Sublime is suspected of assisting in the deaths of several mutants at the hand of fellow church member Dr. Jerry Gavin who Sublime was later charged in the doctor's death. [...]

During the course of our investigation into the alleged arson at the Church of Enlightenment last July, we have uncovered the remains of twenty-eight individuals, including church member Dr. Jerry Gavin, a private medical practicioner. Evidence suggests the death of these individuals were conducted by the doctor under the direction of Father John Sublime.

Further investigation into Sublime's background indicate his previous research regarding the psychological effects of having mutated DNA. He was arrested in New York in 2006 on battery and sexual assault charges against a female co-worker at his research institution.

At Sublime's arraignment held last week, he pled innocent against the initial charges brought against him: 1 count of 1st degree manslaughter, 28 counts of accessory to murder, kidnapping, and fraud. He was released on bail, paid by the Church of Enlightenment.

For those missing a family member in the greater Los Angeles who may have been a suspected mutant victim to the disappearances occurring before the Santa Monica earthquake, please contact the NCIC. Identification will be conducted based on the DNA evidence. Thank you.

Two detectives, one an older male and the other a younger female, arrived at the crime scene that was once the Church of Enlightenment. Outside the police tape, former members congregated in small groups -- not that many, just the more fanatical ones that were worried about what this meant to their beliefs -- prayed for justice.

The detectives ducked under the tape as they continued their conversation from the patrol car. "Hey, you want the case, it's yours. I got no problem handing over some of my workload."

"Sure, you say that when you figure it's something easy. You get all the good cases," the female detective shot back, looking at her partner from the corner of her eye.

"What can I say? It's my pretty face," the older detective quipped, stretching his shoulders as he looked at what was left of the Church. ( 'Alright, hotshot, you tell me what you think happened here.' )

Father John Sublime of the recently popular Church of Enlightenment was arrested early this morning after an apparent arson burned down his Santa Monica worship center Wednesday night. Motivation in this arson has yet to be revealed.

Sublime is currently under police surveillance at an undisclosed hospital in Los Angeles, awaiting questioning. [...]

"What do you mean they're gone," John Sublime's voice boomed through the basement as he towered over the cowering surgeon.

The church had been left unmanned earlier in the evening while Sublime accompanied some of his followers to a pro-mutant demonstration downtown. In his absence, their donors had gotten out. More like broken out, given the evidence that force was used in their escape.

Then the surgeon started babbling on about the power nullifier being dismantled and Sublime lost it. He struck the surgeon hard, causing him to crash against the crude operating table. The surgeon's head struck the corner of the table, his body falling lifelessly to the floor.

Sublime seethed silently for a second, his fists clenching and unclenching as he stood over the surgeon's unmoving body. This was an unfortunate setback -- another setback. This was almost worse than the shut down in New York, because he had been so close. He had worked so hard to get to this -- gained willing members of his church to be the recipients of experiment, captured enough mutants to conduct trials, built this basement with his own money to see his science come to fruition.

John Sublime was pissed.

He stormed up the steps and back onto the main floor, intent on heading to his office to make some calls to his East Coast contacts. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw someone quietly standing in the middle of his sanctuary. His face changed suddenly, adopting a more calm and welcoming composure which appeared strained.

( Excuse me -- can I help you? )

Without Remy, Vanessa was left to navigate the basement by herself. With the door they entered being sealed, she'd have to find another way out.

Vanessa led the freed mutants deeper into the basement, looking for another exit before Cal caught up with them. He told them about how he managed to trigger the release of the heavy metal door and that they should hurry before it latched again. He didn't have to tell them twice -- the group began running toward that long staircase that would leave them back up the church. However, before reaching the stairs, the generator waned and the lights blacked out before regaining power.

( But that wasn't the only thing that regained power. )

It may have not been top priority with the new and very real scare of kidnappings of mutants, but now information on the church seemed more imperative. When Tessa recruited Vanessa and Cal to assist Remy in his return to the Church of Enlightenment, this was not what Vanessa thought she had signed up for. Slipping into someone else's skin wasn't a new deal for her, neither was sneaking around a place where she had no business being. But this was supposed to be a simple sneak and search, then get out as soon as they'd found what they were looking for.

( But when she and Remy reached the cells, they weren't quite as empty as they'd been on the first visit. )

"I've some bad news, John."

Father John Sublime barely stepped onto the basement floor before he heard those words from his resident surgeon -- a fellow member of the Church and scientist who was under the impression he shared the pastor's more controversial beliefs. There were few members in his church that were part of this more dangerous enterprise -- at least, until Sublime was sure his plans worked as he intended.

"What is it?"

( 'We've lost another one.' )