Hi I'm Victoria Wolf. ) Nice to see someone is reading my fic. Yeah! R&R please, and no flames please. Thanks.
Summary: This is an alternate sequel to X-Man. Sabertooth survived and he has a daughter. She is his only chance for a 'normal' life and a life away from fighting, maybe even his redemption, and way to salvation for all of the brotherhood. Granddad Magneto, Aunt Mystique, and ... Uncle Logan?
Disclaimer: I don't own ANY of the X-men characters... ... ... YET! Muh Ha Ha Ha, but I have them under my bed. Shhh, don't tell my parents.
"Mom, Dad, can you get your stuff out my closet. The room under the bed can't hold all of my 'stuff'." )
"Maybe later honey."
"Poo." ;;
Chapter 1
Sabertooth was anxious, he hated going in to the town so close to the base. Everyone there was a mutant hater. It was a small town, only a hundred or so people.
Even with such small populace they could overtake the two mutants ridding in the car, but only because Sabertooth was on a "NO killing" or "cruelty/violence/brutality/etc around my daughter" RULE. This rule was there because not only didn't he want his daughter to witness what most of his life was like, but also she was sensitive to violence and liked humans (kind of).
He didn't see why Alex even wanted to go there. He looked over at the small kid. Well, she wasn't small; she was 5 foot 11, and still growing. And, she wasn't a kid any more; she was seventeen. Not that it mattered what age she was; she'll always be his BABY.
He knew she was excited because it was over five minutes in the car and she had yet to fall asleep. Almost as though she knew what he was thinking she turned towards him.
"Dad, are we there," yawn, "yet?"
"How long have we been in the car?" He asked. Disregarding his last thought as ALMOST impossible, since the last time she read thoughts when she was awake was when she was two.
"18.5 minutes." Alex replied with out hesitation.
"And how long did I say it was going to be?"
Alex stiffened doing her best to imitate him with out shape shifting because that will mess up her transmitter. "'We'll get there in 25 minutes if I have to pick up that hunk of shit and throw it there.'"
Sabertooth's head snapped to the side. "What did you say?"
"Sorry dad. But I only repeat what I hear."
"Maybe you heard it wrong." He mumbled though he knew that she was right because she has a perfect memory along with other 'gifts'. They still don't know what is her full potential. It seems like every day she comes up with a new power.
The equally quiet mumble of, "you wish." Reminded him of her impeccable hearing.
"What's the time on us now?"
"24.3 minutes and closing."
"Good because we're here!"
He watched as her eyes lit up. Then, a second thought clouded her happiness for a second, she then voiced her fear. "Is my transmitter working?" Checking in the mirror, finding to her satisfaction that she had blond hair that came to rest at her shoulders, it was strait except for a small curling inwards style at the front that frame her face. Her now blue eyes still had a question in them.
"Yes." He replied, proud at not letting his anger show that His daughter had to wear a transmitter to cover up the beautiful blue skin and red eyes.
Mystique, yet another mutant that wasn't with them at the present time, thought that it was amazing even though they had no ties at all in family (except through the brotherhood) that their coloring was so alike, except that Alex's hair was blue with red strips not just red, and her eyes were red not yellow. They had the same beautiful form; though he found he was sexually attracted to neither. THANK GOD FOR THAT! The small blessings are the most cherished.
"Love you Dad! See you in a little while!" Alex shouted as she jumped out of the still moving car. Sabertooth parked the car and sat to wait for her. He surveyed his surroundings.
A small restaurant, a mini mall, a laundry mat, and an old out of the way gas station concluded the surroundings. He knew that if he kept driving he would encounter a school for all ages, and a hotel. The rest of the land were houses making this place a regular everyone-knows-everyone-else, and kids'-dream-of-leaving type of place.
It hit about thirty minutes into Alex's shopping spree, that VERY bad feeling. He could feel it in the pit of his stomach. That weird clenching feeling that started deep down in your gut, like when you're getting looked at by someone you love like you're a monster. He knew from experience what that felt like. It crawled up his spine and spread all over his body. He had felt THAT feeling before; the last time was because of Alex's mom, Rebecca.
Fourteen Years Earlier
3-13-1990
Victor was headed towards Rebecca's apartment. He had just finished with a BIG case that had him away for three years. He wasn't with the brotherhood yet. He had sent Rebecca letters, none ever having a return address for safety reasons. He was SINGING he was in such a good mood, the flowers next to him were fresh and lively, when he had THAT feeling.
He grunted in pain and navigated over to the side of the road in a hurry, missing three cars by a hair's breath; he sat there and turned off his engine hoping it would go away. But it didn't go away it got worse. Then he had this feeling like his heart was being torn out. His eyes snapped open when he heard the voice; it was so soft that he almost doubted if it was real.
But no he heard it again, "Help... " It was so sad that it brought tears to his eyes.
He looked around as if to find the source, his short blond hair moving after him, but in a second he realized it was in his HEAD! "Please... help... ." He heard it again this time MUCH fainter barely audible even though it was in his head. "I'll help just WHERE are you?" Sabertooth asked it out loud.
Then he felt this feeling pulling him forward, he instantly hesitated his instincts telling him to run, but in mere moments it was becoming an unbearable force, pushing, pulling, shoving, forcing him to go forward.
He started the engine and moved forward; a mile up he felt as it start to lean right, he passed the turn the feeling wanted to make and it pushed down at him, he slammed the breaks and turned around, he turned right at the place it wanted to go and the pressure let up. And so on.
He was just getting the hang of things when things were starting to get very familiar, he realized where they were going, REBECCA'S APARTMENT! He sped up and was there in ten minutes ignoring the pressure that was soon disappearing, having done it's work.
He pushed the door of it's hinges the second he arrived and the smell of blood hit him hard. " REBECCA! REBECCA WHERE ARE YOU!"
"Over here." Came a weak reply.
"Rebecca... no. Please don't leave me." Victor cried as he saw the mess before him.
It's strange what stuck in his mind the most was what she looked like then compared to before. Rebecca's luscious blond hair was red drenched and clotting in a pool of blood. She was bleeding from a knife wound in her side and small cuts were all over her. Aside from the knife in her side the worse wounds were on her arms, defensive wounds Victor realized. She was wearing her customary sundress the tiger lilies, her favorite flower, drowning in red instead of white. Her favorite lipstick colored her lips, Victorian Secret #47, the spaghetti she had been about to eat was untouched on the table, except for the blood and a few overturned chairs the apartment was also untouched by this violent and wrong fight.
"Rebecca... . No God no. Don't leave me please." Victor begged. Grabbing at his cell phone he called 911.
"911 what's your emergency?" A cold male voice came over the phone.
Victor couldn't find his voice… pain closed his throat.
"No don't call them I'm fine. I'm fine…" Rebecca's eyes were glazed over by pain, they cleared a little as she spoke. "Victor, they took her... . THEY TOOK HER!" It came out with a sob.
"Hello are you okay sir?" The voice sounded worried. "Are you in need of assistance? Hello? You called from a cell we can't get your location hello."
Victor hung up unable to do anything and already knowing that they couldn't either. As he had approached her he could see something he had missed large bruises showed around the cloth that hadn't been stained with blood, the ribs were probably broken, more then likely puncturing one of her lungs. Blood already leaked around her mouth and she coughed blood.
"Took WHO, who did they take?" Victor asked trying to keep his voice soothing, wondering who had called him to Rebecca. She was completely human, no powers. Not that it had changed his love for her. He scooped her head and placed it in his lap, ignoring the blood that stained his pants. "Tell me who took whom." He said still calm, him yelling at her wasn't going to help. Neither was crying.
"Our baby girl... . They took our baby girl... " Rebecca whimpered.
"But... I have a daughter?" Victor replied numbly. "When did this happen?"
"Twelve days after you," cough, "left I found out I was two months pregnant. I had her seven months," cough, "later, she was an early, but healthy baby. The only thing was she was blue, had red eyes, blue with red striped hair, and was TOO intelligent. By 2 months she could talk like a one year old. She even asked about you later at age one." Sob. "I miss her SO much. Oh my poor baby... my poor baby Alexandra. She's only 2 and a half. She's all alone."
Of course THAT was the voice in his head. He had a daughter AND she had a 'gift'. "Honey we need to get you to the hospital."
"It's too late... they got me a while ago... I'm going to die honey. I'm sorry. But please find... our daughter." Rebecca's admission and plea did nothing to calm Victor.
"But I don't even know what she looks like. How will I find her?" Victor replied already feeling animosity toward his own child because of what happened to Rebecca. Victor would have given anything to feel proud and joyful at hearing he was a father, that's the way he always saw himself reacting. That was not the case.
Victor figured some mutant haters found out about the child and came to abduct her, but Rebecca wouldn't stand for it and probably attacked them trying to defend the little almost three year old. Resulting in her getting stabbed.
"There are... some pictures in the scrap book under the bed." Rebecca said bringing him into the now. "Promise that you will find her, keep her safe, and care for her... forever." Cough "I love y... " She went limp in his arms not getting to finish her sentence.
"But you can't leave me!" Victor said desperately, tears taking home in his eyes for the first time sense he was a child. "Please ... don't ... leave. I love you!" But it was too late. He knew she was gone. "I promise... I promise to find Alexandra... "
A Little Over Two Years Later
12-9-1992
"Hulls been breached please exit out the nearest stairwell." Said a mechanical voice over the intercoms.
Not again. Five-year-old Alex thought. They won't get me ever again with that trick.
She was well accustomed to the drill. Some mutant would come barging in being/sent by her 'father'. They then would grab her, pretending to 'save' her. Shooting some people, using weapons, and killing others with their powers/bare hands/guns or in some instances everyone would be gone.
A number of times they were stopped and she was laughed at right there in the hall or lobby. Recently they would take her out of the building gain her trust, then throw it right back at her; sometimes sending for back up, others taking her when she slept.
That was a flaw she had yet to remedy, she slept till her body decided she should wake-up. She was sometimes aware even in her sleep. But she couldn't change anything or respond; she was always at their mercy. But she only REALLY fell asleep, the kind with dreams after a HUGE replenishing act. Like when they cut her up and set her bones with metal.
During anesthesia she had a different reaction, mostly she got lost in her memories, but sometimes it was like if she feel asleep.
When she felt REALLY safe or was trying to escape through her dreams she would have normal 'dreams'. Most of her dreams were of a golden haired man, with feral/wild eyes that where like a tigers, almost every time the dreams are like memories, all his memories. Some were happy, most were of death and destruction - killing and torture; most of others, those were physical; some of himself as a child, those were a mix of every kind of torture you can imagine.
If that was a how TRUE father treated their kids she by no means wanted to meet hers, even if her mother had said so many magnificent things to her about him. The closest thing she ever had to what was like the father her mother painted is her keeper that some times splits his sandwich with her and talks to her like a real person not like some freak.
But he was still more a brother. He never looked down at her, he never cared that she was a mutant probably because he is a mutant. She called him Froggie; something that she has done since she arrived probably because she was still a little kid and needed a friend. He was only 15, but he was also a brother to her. He was in charge of keeping her cell clean and her entertained.
She still longed to meet the man from her dreams. Some times when she fell asleep she would see what was happening to him, looking through his eyes.
She sighed even IF that man or his clone were to show up even now she would be suspicious of him, especially since the last man to win her trust, "Uncle" Logan, had gotten her secret from her. She had been so happy when she had seen him, she remembered him from before. Uncle Logan had been there for her and her mom.
Logan was her mom's brother, what she didn't realize was that he always thought of his mutation as a great way to live through the wars. What better soldier is there then one that can pick himself up after getting shot by a machine gun and be ready in minutes to do it again?
When she had seen him she thought that for once this must be real, that finally she was free. Only once he had handed her back over after two weeks of "freedom" did he reveal the truth. That he had told the men about her ability to heal, that he had told them where to find her, and that they were cutting her up to find out how best to place the metal, and which ones 'their' bodies will reject. That had just about killed her.
Back to her original train of thought Alex knew it wouldn't be surprising if they broadcast this feral man's memories so that they can send him out after her and have it be even more embarrassing and defeating.
The entire time she was thinking about all of this the 'intruder' moved through the facility. Alex let her metal claws slide in and out of her skin. They had just finished her, again. Not an hour ago she had finished healing. She wondered if this was the set they would keep or if they would extract it from her like the others and try something new.
She waited; she knew the drill, sometimes right before they appeared the electricity would cut off so the electrical currents wouldn't shock and kill the 'intruder/rescuer' the other times they would show up and ask her how to turn off the electricity.
Even then she had no chance of escaping without help from the other side, because the bars are made out of a certain metal, almost the same as her claws.
She called it Absorbing metal, Abbie metal for short. She called it this because the scientists had found a way for the metal to act like bone, growing, changing shape as she did, but unbreakable like adamantium and it absorbs other metal it comes in contact to for more then 30 seconds.
He appeared and her breath caught in her throat. THOSE ASSHOLES HOW COULD THEY DO THAT! She had expected it, but it didn't ease the pain. She almost sobbed aloud, but she was careful. They would NOT see her cry she won't let them win like that. So the golden haired man, with feral/wild eyes that were like a tigers, looked over at where she sat stiffly. He inspected the bars, which were still electrocuted.
"Huh, do you know how to turn this thing off?" Feral man asked.
Poor actor, Alex thought as she studied him. He can barely even keep the contempt and disgust out of NORMAL people's notice, with my practice at hearing it every day I can distinguish it clearly.
She lifted a bored hand and pointed behind him to the circuit breaker and keys.
"Thanks." He replied in a mumble.
He quickly disarmed and opened the doors. Alex stood just as stiffly as she had been sitting. Rising to her full 3' 7" she was roughly half his size.
"Come on lets go, kid." Feral man said.
"No." Alex said in a calm, cool, collecting voice.
"What?" Sabertooth couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did this scrawny little, bloodied, dirty, SKINNY kid just say that she didn't want to leave? IMPOSSIBLE!
Even if she wanted to stay he has a promise to fulfill, and he doesn't break a promise unless someone else breaks it first. "Tough you're leaving whether you like it or not." Sabertooth said stepping up to her, trying to intimidate her.
BIG MISTAKE! Alex thought as she punched him in the stomach. Extending her claws at the last moment so she stabbed deep into him. Tensing ready for the blow she knew she would provoke.
Sabertooth let out a ROAR of outrage and pain. He held back the urge to kill her. Deep breathes. Calm down. REMEMBER THE PROMISE. REMEMBER THE PROMISE. REMEMBER THE PROMISE. REMEMBER THE PROMISE. REMEMBER THE... The thought ended as she twisted her claws, slicing organs and muscle.
Sabertooth attacked her. Raising a clawed hand he pushed her back as well as dislodging the claws.
Alex went crashing into the wall. She was denied the bliss of darkness, but had to drag herself up. She knew a way to make him attack all out. She shape shifted into a wolf.
It was one of her favorite forms, she always felt so free in the body of a wolf, even as she sat in this prison. She let the animal take over and curled up into a ball deep within the beast. The wolf opened up it's arms and welcomed her into it's center, as much as she wanted to hide she needed to be up here adding to the wolves brains, reflexes, and instincts.
She guessed that this form would enrage him even more then before. Due to his ummm-catlike qualities. Please let this work. Alex thought desperately.
Sabertooth was in a rage. He was lost in a sea of red, trying to remember what he had to do, with no avail. The beast in him saw a dog, a nuisance that now leapt and attacked clinging on to his leg. He roared and slashed out.
Perfect, Alex thought as she was laid open from nose to tail, keep coming. I won't ever have to endure it ever again.
Alex was relentless, slashing in just to get laid open again. She was sustaining wounds to fast for her body to keep up. The heal factor, called factor H by the scientists or quicksilver by Alex herself, was drained from having to heal from the latest 'session'. She also hadn't eaten or slept in five days after having their shooting sessions; this was to weaken her so that they could cut her open without using the precious green liquid that takes the pain cuts it in half and keeps the wounds from closing immediately. She was paralyzed and restrained, just in case, so they could do it without her moving.
Alex was so close; she could feel it, taste it. Almost there, she was once again slashed almost cutting off her hind leg; the metal covering her bones stopped the claws. Just a little more, please let this work. It wouldn't be the first time that her body had resurrected itself even after all the wounds. But those times she had been at full strength.
Sabertooth slashed down, but all of this fighting was taking a toll on the 'kill factor' as he called it. The red was leaving, and that nagging was getting stronger. But the claws came down. Wolf girl was lying at his feet, bloody, torn; she looked like a rag doll covered in red paint. The only thing that didn't fit was the gasps for air and the metal gleaming in some places.
What was I supposed to remember? Sabertooth asked himself, completely disregarding the nonmoving red, breathing, dog-like mess at his feet. It's important. What was it... promise? It was about a promise I think. Promise about what? Alexandra that's right Alexandra... , but where is she?
He looked around. "Alexandra? Where are you?"
That's when he saw her, the mess at his feet. The only reason that he even saw her was that her form was changing back, her body not wanting to waist it's energy on the shape. She had long ago perfected the art of morphing with clothes on and changing back with clothes on. She merely had to think of them as a second skin.
She had a lot of time to practice. Her powers had remained the same from birth, morphing, intelligence, healing, and memory. They didn't prosper in this enclosed space; she needs open space, time, better memories, and love in order for her powers to grow.
"Why?" He asked puzzled at why she had acted this way. Killed herself purposely, taunting him on.
"I'm not anyone's experiment any more." She said in a hoarse whisper, she smiled and then... 'passed on'.
He recognized that she probably thought him from another agency. In amazement he watched as her body still repaired itself even after death though just enough for her to start to live again.
"Good thing you have my healing ability, or I would be totally screwed." Sabertooth said to himself. "Why me?" He asked the wall.
"Sir." A private's voice came from the base's control center com-link. "The unidentified mutant has stopped fighting Mutant 0089. How will we precede Sir?"
"We will not interfere, she has lost her usefulness, and as long as mutant 01932 is still in his cage we are fine. Besides we have conditioned 0089 to believe that we're always behind these. This time she will be given to us legally after she starts killing the citizens in modern day life." Came a rough voice over the com-link to the base.
"... Oops." Came a scared, worried, weak voice from the other side.
"Private, please tell me that is mutant 01932 in his cell."
"Yes Sir. But the mutants are headed that way."
"As long as Wolverine is still in his cage, I'll be fine. Get out of there before the unknown mutant finds you all."
"Yes Sir."
Sabertooth had no idea that Wolverine was this way. If he did he wouldn't have left his childhood friend there; that is with the information he had so far. All he knew was this was the way food was.
He looked down at the bloody limp figure in his arms. He had tucked most of her organs back into her, using his body to keep most of the wounds closed and the organs in. She needs food to get her healing factor working again. He thought. Just like mine. A warm feeling spread through his body and his heart did a little flip.
He looked down at the color altered, but perfect carbon copy of his Rebecca, when she was five of course. He stared down at this innocent yet tough five year-old and felt a strange melting in the region of his heart.
Could this really be the tough ice child from the cell? He thought. No. That had to be some other child. The angry lines of her face were gone and she looks like an angle.
He strode into the kitchen dripping blood behind him though not his anymore; he was done healing. The base was deserted; half-made sandwiches still out proved that they had left in a hurry. Sabertooth laid Alex down on a table and smelled his way to a can of soup. Perfect!
Sabertooth set about preparing soup for his fragile, beautiful, daughter. Stop. Wait. Slow down. Rewind. Did I just say fragile, beautiful,daughter? She's the reason why Rebecca died... So why do I love her?"I DON'T LOVE HER!" He let the last part slipped out of his mouth.
Yes you do.
"Do not."
To.
"Not."
To.
"Not. Do not do not do not do not do not! "
To...
"Wait why am I fighting with my self? I always win." Dramatic pause. "Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do not. Do n... " He was cut off by the microwave's ding.
What is that man doing? I can smell food. Food? Why won't they let me die? The last part sounded too much like a whine for even her. Who was he talking to? Why can't I hear them to? Too much thinking her stomach growled. Traitorous stomach, she growled back.
FOOOOOOOD Substance... Foooooood. It rumbled at her.
Sabertooth was headed strait toward her when he heard/saw her stomach growl, it was sickening to watch. Fortunately the hole in it had healed so that the acid from her stomach was kept from spilling on to the floor.
Alex started shushing through the dream-world quicksand, I may want to be dead, but I'm NOT letting them use me to experiment for Logan any more. She finally surfaced feeling VERY groggy.
"Now how do I get her to swallow this?" Sabertooth asked aloud. He then sat down on one of the seats for the table, fully intending to spoon-feed her when her eyes snapped open.
Sabertooth was stunned at the red depth of those eyes, the old wisdom that was decidedly not good for a five-year-old to have. "She lives." Sabertooth said in a mock-horror-Frankensteinish way. "Guess I didn't do a good enough job." He remarked in a playful tone. "Don't let my bosses know okay. Can't get around that I miss my targets." The last he added with a grin trying to lighten the mood.
"What is up with you?" Was the frowning five-year old's weak answer.
"It speaks to what a surp... " He let out a started yelp as the soup in his hand spilled over the edge thoroughly soaking and burning his hand and jeans.
Alex couldn't suppress a muffled laugh. Look dinner and a show. I'm feeling better already.
He shoved the bowl at the mutant lying on the table. "Ha. Ha. Eat this while I go clean up." Sabertooth said as he got up.
Alex looked down at the bowl in her hand. Of it's own record her hand lifted the first spoon full to her mouth. This is WONDERFUL. Alex thought. She instantly began shoveling it in her mouth.
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down, no ones going to take it from you." Sabertooth remarked as he saw what she was doing. A snort and her eating faster was the only reply to the playful comment he made.
That's when he realized that that is EXACTLY what these animals had done. Nice going dipshit. He mentally cursed himself. He watched in wonder as the deep cuts on her body began to heal starting with the opening to her organs. Even I don't heal that fast. Neither does Logan.
By the time Alex had finished her meal all her wounds were completely healed. She was still hungry, but was used to the nag of hunger. She glanced up slowly at the feral man in front of her. He had cleaned off his jeans and hand and sat back down ten feet from her.
"You done eating?" Sabertooth asked.
"Yeah." Came the weak creaky voice from across from him. Sabertooth found rage start to boil up out of nowhere, her voice reminded him of those hookers in bars. The ones that have seen too much hate, venom, and pain in their life, those who have lost all faith or hope. That was not a tone any five year old should ever use, especially His five year old.
"Then lets go."
"No." Alex's voice was calm, but firm. She was confused as to why the man in front of her was so angry but she didn't really care.
Sabertooth turned around; he had made it over half way across the room. "What?"
Alex looked at him, her eyes holding hate. "I'm not becoming the, butt of ya'lls sick joke anymore."
"Again I repeat, what?" Sabertooth stared at her disbelievingly. Suddenly he knew exactly what she was talking about. They must have prepared for this day; hell I gave them plenty of time. They knew I was coming as I hunted down their people.
"Stupid fucker." Sabertooth mumbled to himself, but Alex caught it. "Look I'm here to help." Sabertooth said. "You have to believe me I would not have hurt you if you hadn't started it."
Sabertooth was still ashamed and he sounded like a little kid. He could picture himself saying to Rebecca 'well she started it.' Smooth. Everyone already figured him a horrible monstrous beast. All except Rebecca and his best friend Logan, he had just proven the whole world right and his best friend and wife wrong.
Alex's nose twitched. She didn't want to believe him, but her nose NEVER lies, he was telling the truth. She started to debate with herself, but years of following her instincts and she found out that her feet had made the decision for her. She followed him for a while not really paying attention to where they were going.
She stopped her eyes burning from the sun that they aren't used to. "I can't." She choked out and started backing away. "Please, don't make me." The reality of what was happening that this was the realest it has ever gotten and the dark unknown hovered in front of her.
"I know nothing else... Please I only know this. I only know pain, hatred, it's familiar I need something familiar. Please." Alex was horrified. She knew this was real somehow, deep down, but she was still terrified. Get out of here idiot this is your chance of freedom! TAKE IT!, but she couldn't, as much as she hated it here at least it was familiar, she knew the rules. Besides she had just opened up to what amounted to a complete stranger not only that, but revealing that the place had institutionalized her so well.
Sabertooth's heart was breaking. Poor kid. "Alright," he said stepping out of the sun. "What do you want to take?"
Alex was once again shocked. But not for the first time to night she found her body moving on without her, particularly her mouth right now. "Froggie." She said stepping back.
"Who is that?" Sabertooth asked. He had this weird feeling that this wasn't a toy frog or even a real frog and something formed in the pit of his stomach. This one a good feeling, he felt relieved that she had at least one friend SHE felt she could fall back on.
Alex almost collapsed in relief. He's not saying that I can't take him! "He's my... brother." She said that because that's what she felt deep down.
"Your mom never said you have a brother." Sabertooth said in a harsh whisper. Not once had he considered that he had a chance at having a son as well.
Alex instantly looked as if she was caught between running and puking. She was defiantly pale beyond belief especially for a blue girl. "What ... what did you just say?"
He couldn't have possibility have talked about her mom. She knew that her father was unreachable during all of her mother's pregnancy and afterward. She didn't talk to anyone during her time with Alex, fearing something like what had happened would happen. It was inconceivable that her father had gotten a hold of her mother in time for her to tell him all about her before she died.
"I didn't know you have a brother." Sabertooth changed the sentence.
"That's not what you said, you said 'Your mom never said you have a brother.' I heard you correctly, but that's impossible mom was almost dead before I left. So you must be mistaking." Alex spoke never once changing expression and then she bolted.
She ran down the hallway, down two flights of stairs seemingly taking random doors all the while aware of the silent figure following her. Stupid! Stupid! It was a trick! Stupid! I need to get to Froggie, at least to say goodbye.
Her nose never had had the chance to work correctly before. The mutant had worn strong colon or smelled like death and blood, covering up their true smell. The scientists must have come up with a smell that smells like the person is telling the truth. What's sacred anymore in science?
Mortimer was in his cell. The collar around his neck that restricted his powers burned again as he accidentally touched it. "Damn, stupid sensitive collar."
Mortimer was stretched out on the 'bed' that was really a rag that kept most of the dirt from reaching his green skin. Almost as soon as he was drifting off he heard the softest of foot beats. What the hell is wrong with the guards trying to surprise us with an early wake up call? "I'm up!" Mortimer yelled as he heard the cell door un-electrify.
"Froggie?" Came a quiet frightened voice.
"Alex?" 'Froggie' shot up at that quiet voice. Hitting his head, but he caught the curses just in time. He never yelled or cursed in front of any of his 'family', she'd seen enough violence to last her, him, and about half the world a great deal of time, maybe lets see... a century or two, so he cut back on that as well.
"How in Scott's name did you get down here, shrimp?" He added the shrimp bit to try and makeup for yelling at her. He was just walking out of his prison, that had been powered down, when a more silent mutant walked in.
"Who the heck are you?" Mortimer didn't like the way that Alex shifted closer to him as if looking for protection. Ever since the first month here he hadn't even seen her flinch, not even when they were cutting into her did she have the look of fear she now possessed.
The man didn't move or blink for a second and all time stood still, neither he nor Alex were breathing hard at all; even after the distance they had apparently ran. "I could ask you the same question now couldn't I?"
Alex was now standing behind him even though they both know that she is the better fighter especially with his collar on. He could feel her shaking and he was almost over come by rage. "Why are you following the shrimp?" He accidentally let his nickname for Alex slip.
Sabertooth couldn't believe the nerve of this guy, but as he watched Alex move behind this guy it dawned on him. "Are you 'Froggie'?"
The most comical expression crossed Froggie's face. He spun on Sabertooth's daughter and in his shock he forgot all about where they were and in a harsh whisper said. "Please tell me he didn't say what I think he said." Froggie glared at her.
She looked at him and smiled a carefree kind of smile and shrugged her shoulders. With anyone else Froggie would have continued, but when he saw he face light up with momentary joy his anger was forgotten. He turned to the man in front of him. "No one else is allowed to call me Froggie, but shrimp here, everyone else calls me Toad. So what's your name?"
Sabertooth stood there for a moment and watched as Alex looked at him from behind this Toad/Froggie guy. He was adding up the years when realized that when she said brother she meant VERY close friend almost like a brother.
"Do we have to take him?" He looked at Alex and added the whine in his voice because he knew it would lighten up the mistake he had made.
"Definitely, and I would like to know your name too." Alexandra replied, but the whine had done it's work and it held only a little of the normal bitterness.
"Take me where?" Came the reply from the teen. "I can't go anywhere."
Indicating towards the collar now. Sabertooth took a step toward Toad and instantly he took a step back. If it weren't for Alex's swift movements to get out of the way he would be sprawled on the floor.
"I don't even know your name! And I don't want to be driven mad with pain thank you very much. So no touching my collar, 'kay?" Toad took another step back for good measure.
"Well I'm Sabertooth, Alexandra's father and I'm just looking at the collar." Sabertooth retorted in a huff. He didn't notice the flinch Alex made at her old name, but Toad did.
"Alex's father, riiiight. Well I'm tired of all the Alex's fathers that come here." Toad purposely used Alex, Alexandra was the name her no good son of a bitch Uncle used and she had changed it the day she had found out about his betrayal.
Toad now looked at Alex and put his hand on Alex's shoulder. Sabertooth noticed that she didn't flinch away. "Do you believe him?" Toad looked at her as if she said that the sky was going to fall he would believe her.
Alex's defenses drooped and both of them where staring in to a pool of blood or molten fire. There was such fear and uncertainty there that they felt it go through them like a cold wind, the horror of what she's seen, of what she's lived through was there, and then it was gone replaced by a wall of defenses that wouldn't go away entirely, when down waiting for a slip up to reestablish there wall. "Yeah, I believe him."
"Do you trust him?" Toad said in a questioning tone.
Alex looked at Sabertooth with another critical eye. "No, but he can help, I think."
Toad turned and looked at him with the same critical eye. Then with certain determined steps he walked up to him and tilted his neck toward him.
Sabertooth was taken back at the wealth of trust that Alexandra, Alex, she is called Alex now, inspired, he didn't try and kid himself, it wasn't out of respect or trust of him (he was as about as reassuring as a axe murderer and had been told so on several occasions) that this kid walked up to him. Even as Toad stood there and offered his neck to him he trembled, awaiting the pain of the collar.
Sabertooth looked at the kid with a critical eye. He was once again taken back at what he saw, not only was the collar impressive, but the kid who wore it was young and probably not even 15. "Well, this may hurt a little. But I can get it off." Toad tensed, but didn't turn away. He grabbed the collar.
They slammed their eyes shut at the blinding pain that vibrated through both of them made them weak in the knees, but fortunately seconds later it ended. They both feel to the ground weak from the overload of pain.
"Ouch." Was all that Toad said.
"Big ouch." Sabertooth replied in the same groaning tone.
"Mega ouch, from the looks of things." Came a disembodied voice.
Sabertooth and Toad tried to open their eyes, but it was no use, the light being too much. Sabertooth cursed his healing abilities for not allowing him to pass out. "Come on let's go. Wimps." The disembodied voice came again. "Up and adam sleepy heads. I go throw more every 'session' then you did right now."
To further prove a point she moved in front of them. "Take what you're feeling, multiply it by a hundred take it to the ends of eternity and you will only glimpse the pain I feel." She didn't mean to make it sound like a snarl but it did.
"I'm up. I'm up." Toad said repeating the words he had said earlier, but with a calm voice and no venom in his tone.
Sabertooth tenderly opened his eyes, letting them get used to the glow of light. He was pleasantly surprised to find that they didn't hurt as bad as the last time, and that Alex was crouched closer to him then before. It was only slightly irritating that she stayed out of his reach. Probably just in case.
Toad opened his eyes and Alex rushed over to his side helping him sit up. She surprised both of them by asking, "Why?"
"Why what?" Toad answered because Alex was facing him when she asked.
"Why did you do that?"
"Well, you did say that you wanted me to come right." Came a slightly frightened question.
"Yes." Alex said nodding her head like the little kid she was.
"Well you also said you believe this Sabertooth guy would help right?"
"Yeah. But I know how much you hate being touched at all. Why would you do that?"
Toad didn't answer just stared at her.
Finally Sabertooth answered the hopeless face that turned to him. "For you."
Alex was even more confused than before. Sabertooth saved her some confusion and stood up. "Now lets go." He abruptly turned and walked out of the cell, not turning to see if they followed.
Alex helped Toad up as best she could in her almost four-foot tall state. They followed Sabertooth quietly snickering.
Finally Sabertooth realized why they where snickering, he was completely lost. He was saved the embarrassment of asking for help as Alex stepped ahead and took the lead. Leaving Toad and Sabertooth together. (Big mistake!)
As Alex turned a corner Toad stepped in front of Sabertooth blocking his way.
Toad looked up at Sabertooth with a serous expression on his face. "Why are you here? And don't give me that crock about you loved her and were so worried."
Sabertooth growled. "Look buddy I'm just fulfilling a promise, I'm stuck with her. I promised Rebecca that I would find Alexandr... Alex and keep her safe so that's exactly what I plan to do."
"Well she doesn't need some person that doesn't even want to be around her. That sees her as a deal and nothing else. She needs someone that will love her. Can you do that?" With that the outburst was over and Toad moved down the hall Alex walked down, speeding up to catch up so she wouldn't notice the gap.
Sabertooth followed Toad thinking on what he had said.
Now
11-28-2004
Sabertooth's flashback ended as he rushed out of his car. He heard the gasps of fear and disgust as he ran across the parking lot and he could careless if they never let him into the town again.
At the moment all that mattered is getting to Alex. He didn't even make it in the mall as Alex came racing out her face a mask of terror.
"Dad!I...Ididn'tmeanto,butIhadtoshewouldhavedied,butthenwhooshandbangI'msosorrydad!" ("Dad! I... I didn't mean to, but I had to she would have died, but then whoosh and bang I'm so sorry dad!") Alex's mouth was going a mile a minute. Sabertooth thought that that had to be a separate mutation or something, no one should be able to talk that fast.
"Slow down and tell me what happened." Sabertooth said putting his hands on the bouncing teen. He realized that her transmitter wasn't working and she was once again blue.
"Can't we have to run... like NOW!" Alex said as her eyes got big. Sabertooth spun around and saw to his dismay that the once startled people from the parking lot, wherenow a mob chanting, "Kill all muties."
Sabertooth was frightened, for not the first time in his life, as he recognized that some of the mob where military officials. He wasn't scared for himself. No, he was terrified for Alex.
"Run." The protective father yelled as he pushed his daughter towards the woods. He covered her back's running flight by running behind her in case the military types decided to fire.
They made it to the woods before the military opened fire spraying the trees with gunfire. Sabertooth pushed Alex to the ground, but not soon enough. Three bullets made it past him into the young sixteen year old's back embedding them selves till they hit metal or passed through. Sabertooth cried out for her even though he had twenty plus bullets in his arms, legs, and back.
Alex got up, blood covering her shirt and pants and dirt all along her front. Both bodies where healing even as they ran, slowing them down and making them sleepy and hungry.
Even as they ran for there lives as Alex's stomach growled Alex let out a small laugh. She looked over her shoulder and asked her dad, "So what's for lunch?" Sabertooth had to laugh at that. Later on he would look back and admired her smile and how even after allthat she went through in those three years had not left her without a sense of humor.
Alex was terrified, covered in blood, and tiring, but she still tried to make light of the situation. That's when they heard the cars. Behind the running mob where cars, both groups where armed, as they made apparent by once again opening fire. This time neither had the luxury to avoid most of the bullets by ducking. They ran with bullets embedding themselves or just passing through their bodies.
Alex's abbie metal came in handy, later they won't have to dig the bullets out of her back, but she winced when she realized that she would have to remove the bullets in bedded in her father later by cutting open the skin to the bullet.
Alex and Sabertooth where now very lost in the woods. They had just put enough distance between them and the mob when Sabertooth pulled his daughter over behind a tree.
"I want you to stay here." Sabertooth was saying, but her adrenalin-fogged brain didn't register immediately.
"Stay here and make sure that you're out of site. Can you shape-shift?" Alex shook her head, because her wounds were to numerous. "Alright lay down and I'll cover you with leaves so that they won't see you. I'm going to leave... "
This finally shook a startled response from the now half buried teen. But her dad would not be interrupted and he plowed right on, "and leave a false trail. I promise will come back, and you can tell me what happened, got it good."
With that he threw the last patch of leaves on her face and took off. Not knowing that this would be last time that they would see each other for a while.
Sabertooth swerved to make it seem as if more then one person were running as well to avoid the bullets. I promise I won't let them near you.
Sabertooth ran for hours trying losing them. As finally the last of the mob seemed to turn for a long walk home so did Sabertooth. But suddenly he realized that if he turned back now he will catch up with the mob and it will start all over. So with that in mind his body showed him how tired it was by just shutting off. Sabertooth fell to the ground unconscious.
The mob was bloodthirsty. Cries of "What if there are more?" and "What if one of us is a mutie?" Making the crowd even more suspicious.
"It's so heavy!" Came a sudden yelp from around the tree in the path. The mob turned as one to see eight men struggling with a tall well-muscled blond man.
The man was close enough to the flashlights that it looked enough like the mutie they where searching for, fortunately it was unconscious.
They had long ago given up with the shoot 'em approach because the muties obvisally could heal. There were murmurs as the crowed discussed this fact and how to remedy it
"Well let's see if you'll heal from this!" One of the braver mob member said as they lobed the man's head off with an axe he was carrying. Blood splashed the people in front, but no one cared.
Figuring that their work was done they left. Leaving the body with the head two feet away to prevent any rehealing; just in case.
As they walked away they passed the healing induced sleeping teen buried in the leaves. No one noticed the eyes of other muties watching him or her.
The Professor had spotted another mutant power. So Logan/Wolverine, Jean, Jubilee, Ororo/Storm, John/Pyro, Scott/Cyclops, Bobbie/Iceman, and Rogue gathered in this little town looking for it. It was a little past sunset before Wolverine picked up a familiar scent. "Sabertooth." He said in a growl that only Rogue, who was right behind him, heard.
"Wolverine smelt the Brotherhood!" Rogue yelled over her shoulder as she took off after her father figure.
The gang senior and junior members followed the Wolverine to what looked like a mini mall. "Are we going shopping? Way cool." Came a happy voice that can only belong to Jubilee.
"No." Came the collective reply from just about everyone. Wolverine stopped as he saw a blue pickup truck; he slowly approached it, smelling around careful to make sure there was no waiting ambush.
"He was here, at one point. I would say maybe nine hours or so." With a final sniff to confirm his answer he discovered another smell, a slightly different one. "Hey, he might have found the kid first. So be on the look out."
Wolverine started to sniff around, following a faint trail to the woods, he found blood and not all Sabertooth's, he letting the others know gruffly, he continued. Much surer as he followed the stronger scent of blood.
That's when they heard voices. The speech broken up so they moved up a little. The words, "... lets ... see... I... 'll heal from this!" The words garbled, but got clearer as they walked closer.
Wolverine and Cyclops (the two in the front) had the 'privilege' of seeing a blond man get his head lobbed off. They quickly grabbed the junior members so as to keep them from seeing. The gang started to back up as the not so angry mob started to head their way.
Ducking behind a couple of trees to hide from view. They held their breath as the mob passed. Once the coast was clear they stood back on the path.
"What did you see?" An anxious question erupted from the mouth of Pyro.
Jean looked at her husband anxiously; Scott showed Jean a picture/movie of what happened. Jean not thinking about it had already opened the link so that everyone could see. Once she saw what happened she instantly regretted the links.
The juniors gasped and then ran off in separate directions to be sick. Pyro unknowingly choose near the tree that Alex was hiding under.
As he went to head towards the gang that was reforming he stepped on something that moved under his feet. As he fell on his back he let out a startled cry.
"Uff." Pyro groaned, as he fell on to a batch off holly leaves and snow.
Pyro's interest was quipped and he started to dig into the lit cover of now and deep leaves, soon a body was revealed. To his horror it was covered in blood, he realized the noise that he heard was her air escaping.
He leaned forward so that he could see better in the star light. Wait a minute, my mutation, duh. All I need to do is get the lighter and make a ball. Pyro quickly did just that.
He then saw that not only was the body that of a teen girl about his age, but that she wasn't hurt at all, and that she had blue skin, and blue and red hair. Checking her pulse, it was strong against his hand.
Something happened when he touched her; a strong urge to protect her and not let anyone else hurt her. Also a sense of curiosity, a twinge of fear and a great lonely void surged threw his body; and those feelings were defiantly not his.
Deciding that this was the mutant they were looking for he picked her up, mindful to turn his fire ball to a kind of necklace so that he could see the ground and hold the girl; all the while not scorching his clothes or hair, and walked to the group that was waiting for him to get back.
"Hey Pyro you okay?" Pyro looked up to see that his best friend Iceman was looking his way.
"Yeah, uh Mrs. Gray, uh I tripped over her when I was heading back." Now every one could see the bundle in his arms. Illuminated by his fire necklace the group saw a girl that looked very paleish blue and she was fast asleep.
Wolverine sniffed and snorted, and quietly retorted so as not to wake the kid up. "Well she reeks of Sabertooth, probably the same kid I smelt at the car."
Scott saw that the poor Pyro was getting a little tried carrying some one that is probably only 50 or so pounds lighter then him. "Do you need some help with her?" As Scott started to move forward Pyro's necklace flared almost scorching Scott's arms.
"Whoa. Pyro what is the matter?" Scott jumped backward to avoid the flame.
"Sorry I didn't do that Cyclops. She doesn't want anyone to touch her, I was a little overwhelmed." Pyro explained, the curious looks he was getting turned troubled at the ending statement. "What?"
"She is dead to the world, passed out. How can she tell you these things?" Jean said not even needing to use her medical expertise in this instance to judge the girls current state.
"By all the blood on her I would think she is dangerous. So lets get her to the med-lab and strap her down. At least until the Professor makes sure she isn't to dangerous." Pyro's necklace that had finally settled down now lashed out.
"Pyro, man, turn it off!" Iceman was trying to protect the group and was losing fast. Pyro did what Iceman said and poof no more flame. "All you alright man?"
"I really don't know, Iceman. All that fear at once, it was horrible. You needed to have felt it to know what I'm talking about." Pyro then shifted Alex closer as though to protect her from the fear. "Lets get out of here."
The group nodded their heads and started to head towards the Blackbird that hid in the darkness.
Logan couldn't quite place the girl that had shown up in Pyro's arms, but he knew that she was familiar. The memory kept dancing just behind his eyes, but he couldn't grasp it.
Alex could feel the boy that held her, Pyro, carrying her up something, a ramp maybe? That's what it is, a ramp... She then heard a man, Cyclops, say to set her in the back. Terrified by the fact that she was unable to move with the dream sand firmly holding her down, just like all of the other times, she just chanted in her head that her father would find her again just to keep from throwing her self against her invisible bonds.
She was confused as to why she was able to connect to this Pyro. She also could have sworn that she heard Logan's voice and the words med-lab, but in her dream like state she couldn't hear very well.
Pyro felt the girl's anxiety with being left alone, plus it was cold in the back so ignoring Scott he sat on the sofa with the teen in his lap as though she was sleeping; he put her head on his shoulder so that she was more comfortable.
Dropping the nicknames since technically they weren't on the mission Bobby came and took a seat next to John and the girl, whispering so that the adults couldn't hear. "Yo, John are you alright I mean that was some freaky stuff back there."
Marie and Jubilee sat on the other side of John getting into the conversation.
"Do you feel that?" John whispered suddenly as a wave of uneasiness hit him.
"Feel what?" All three asked still in a whisper.
"Here put your hand on her arm." All of the teens shoot looks across his bent head that said, is-he-for-real? What did he mean? Hesitantly putting their hands on the teen's blue arm they waited.
Bobby, Rogue and Jubilee jerked back instantly with a shout at the wave of fear and uneasiness hit them full force. Ororo stood up and walked over to see what was the matter.
"Nothing." Said all of the teens, just a little to quickly for the adult, but she let it slide for now.
"Well just make sure 'nothing' doesn't happen again." Ororo said as she went back to her seat.
"What was that?" Bobby inquired rubbing his arms to lower the hairs and to try and get the goose bumps down.
"That's what I've been putting up with every time ya'll do something that she deems as scary." The retort that they got wasn't at all mean spirited by still slightly irritated.
Bobby and the girls watched over the girl with John all the way back to the school. The rest of the trip went by uneventfully, most of the team hoped that their day was done and they could maybe get to sleep. Well that hope was shot.
Cliffy! Not telling you any more today, well not in this chapter. )
R&R please, no flamers or I will feed them to my pet dragon! O-o