There was anger, but more than that, there was a sense of urgency in John's demeanor. A student was missing in a dangerous crowd, and three more needed to escorted to safety. Looking Bernard in the eye, despite the few inches he had to look up, the nearly middle-aged mutant spoke firmly, "Bass, you get Sam and Damien out of here. I'm going in for Tess, wherever she is. And don't get smart and sneak off. We're taking my van back to the school. the whole lot of us. Got it?"

A dangerous gleam glinted in John's eyes as he turned back to the crowd. A youth, mutant or human he didn't know, saw only a symbol of autority in the older man, and charged, broken bottle raised. John shook his head and charged with a lightning quick shoulder ram into the teen's chest, bowling him over, but using his incredible speed, John caught him by the shirtscuff and wispered something evidently frightening as the bottle feel from the youth's hand and he hastened to run quickly away once released. Then it was back to the crowd, and looking for Tess.

Madness was breaking out, and the anger and miosunderstanding of youth fueled both support and resistance from those around who were previously uninvolved. Then he saw her--he thought--and with iron determination John made his way toward where he thought he spotted her, only to suddenly witness a flash of green before him and the crowd parted. John froze momentarily as his gaze fell upon the man on the other side of the break.