Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or GI Joe. Where would I find the money to buy them?
Author's note: At last, I have put together the next chapter in the Atlantis saga. Cobra's plotting, Hawk's panicking, and the Dreadnoks are struggling to keep the entire team from falling apart. As some members grow and change, what kind of impact will it have on Shadowatch as a whole? Will all of its team even survive their changes? R&R
Learning to BreatheChapter one: Just what we Needed, Another Crisis
On any normal weekday, the Dreadnok's base would have been somewhat silent, due to the absence of kids and bikers. However, this day was anything but normal. It all started that morning…
"So, this stuff is supposed to help with the attacks?" Andi Creed aka Atlantis raised an eyebrow. The teenaged blond had been pulled out of school that day so that her body would be given time to adjust to the medication she was being put on.
"Yes." Mindbender replied. "Or at least that's what we're hoping for."
"How does it work?" She asked.
"Why would you want to know that?" Zartan asked.
"I have a right to know how this stuff is going to affect me." The girl said, narrowing her eyes. "How does it work?"
"It will catalyze the drug that is in your system at an accelerated level." Mindbender said. "The side effects observed in my test were minor—headache, slight fever, and muscle tremors. Nausea is a possibility as well."
"So it burns the drug out of her system faster than it normally would, correct?" Zartan asked.
"Yes." Mindbender nodded. "You are keeping her on base for observation, aren't you?"
"I would rather not chance her leveling the school." Zartan answered.
"I'm still here, you know!" Atlantis exclaimed.
"My apologies." Mindbender feigned.
"And I wouldn't level the place." Atlantis continued. "Flood it, maybe, but not level."
"We don't know that." Zartan countered. "Your power is greater than just what you have learned to control."
"Then I just won't use my powers." She shrugged.
"It may not be a matter of choice." Mindbender said. "During your last attack, I was afraid that you would blow this lab to kingdom come with all the stirring of ingredients you were causing."
"I did?" The girl blinked. "All I remember doing was passing out."
"Which is why you are not going to class today." Zartan said. "Until we know how this effects you, you could be a hazard to yourself and others."
"Fine." Andi sighed. "When am I supposed to take this stuff?"
"Every day." Mindbender said. "Starting as soon as you are back on your base."
"Okay." Andi nodded cautiously.
That afternoon, things started to go downhill fast.
"My head is killing me." Andi groaned from her spot on the couch.
"You don't look so great." Zarana pointed out. "Have you taken anything?"
"Not counting those pills earlier." Andi answered. "I wasn't sure how the meds would react."
"Here." The older woman said as she tossed the girl a bottle of Tylenol®. "It'll help."
"I don't think so." Andi moaned as she ran out of the room, nearly running over Zandar in the process.
"What's wrong with her?" He asked, walking into the room.
"I think she's sick." His sister answered. "Probably from the drugs."
"Lovely." Zandar rolled his eyes. "So what now? We take her back to the lab?"
"We don't even know how bad it is yet." Zarana said. "She could get over it and be fine." She said as she turned the faucet on and filled her glass with water. "She's just a kid. What if she had been Zanya? Would you just take her back then?"
"She's gotten to you too!" Zandar shouted. "It's one thing for Zartan to get attached, he's soft, but you? I don't get it. Why do you care so much?"
"Did you ever stop to think about all of this in these past three months?" Zarana asked.
"What does that have to do with anything?" He asked.
"It has everything to do with it!" She shouted.
"Uh, guys…" Monkeywrench said from the doorway.
"You know, sister, I'm beginning to think that you're no longer reliable in making decisions!" Zandar shouted. "She needs to be monitored!"
"We can do that here!" Zarana yelled.
"Hello…" Monkeywrench tried again.
"Why all the sudden fondness for these kids?" Zandar asked.
"Because they could have been us." Zarana stated.
"Hey!" Monkeywrench shouted.
"What?" Zarana snarled.
"Is it normal for the kid to be puking her guts out while our drinks start turning into whirlpools?" Monkeywrench asked.
"Oh gods." Zarana gasped, bolting out of the room. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, she found the young blond going into convulsions on the bathroom floor. "Where is Zartan???"
"Going over paperwork." Monkeywrench said.
"And why is he not here?" She asked.
"What is going… Oh god no." Zartan gasped as he came upon the scene. "Who found her?"
"I did." Monkeywrench raised his hand.
"Then you can go call Mindbender and tell him that we have a problem!" Zartan shouted. "Zarana, you're in charge until I get back. Zandar, go start the car!"
"On it." The twins said in unison.
Four hours later, all of the base's remaining occupants were waiting in the living room for a phone call.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Zanya asked.
"What happened?" Mitch asked. "She's not the kind to just start having seizures for no reason!"
"She was having an attack." Kristen said softly.
"How would you know?" Torch said. "All we know was that our beer was going nuts."
"I've seen her." Kristen replied in the same quiet tone. "Headaches, vomiting, dizziness, convulsions, nosebleeds—all symptoms of a bad attack. I was right next to her during one. She started twitching… and then all the glasses on the table started going nuts. And then she passed out…"
"It's okay." Zarana said. "You don't have to talk.'
"Why are you so easy on them?" Buzzer asked.
"Now is not the time!" Zarana hissed. "Just drop it before I drop you."
"I don't see a difference." Torch commented as the phone rang.
"You are very lucky that I don't kill you where you stand." The female Dreadnok hissed as she answered the telephone. "Why haven't you called before?"
"I think it's the boss." Bryan said.
"Is she okay?" Zarana asked. A short period of silence followed. "Will she have to stay overnight?"
"Ask him if she's awake." Mitch said.
"Why don't I put you on speakerphone." Zarana said as she pushed a button on the handset.
"Can you here me now?" Bryan asked, earning a slap from Kristen.
"Cute." Zartan's voice filtered through the speaker. "Does anyone have any relevant questions?"
"When will she come home?" Regan asked.
"Tomorrow, at best." Zartan answered. "She's sedated now."
"What happened?" Neal asked.
"According to the doctors, the medication triggered the attack." Zartan said. "They had to knock her out to stop the convulsions and give her something to ease the symptoms."
"Let me guess, they want to run some tests on her?" Kristen frowned.
"Tests are no fun." Buzzer said. "I hate peeing in the little cup."
"I don't think they're that kind of tests." Torch said.
"She has to stay in the medbay until they can figure out how to stop the attacks." Zartan said. "Also, they told me that her powers will be unstable after this."
"That doesn't sound good." Neal frowned.
"Yeah, Andi and unstable are two words that should not be used together." Bryan sighed.
"There is not much of a choice right now, I'm afraid." Zartan said.
"How long will they keep her sedated?" Zarana asked.
"Until tomorrow." Zartan answered. "They wanted her to rest up as much as possible, and the same goes for all of you."
"Why?" Mitch asked. "We didn't do anything."
"No, but you still have to go to school tomorrow morning." Zarana added. "I know you want to stay with Atlantis, but right now you'll be more in the way than anything else."
"Fine." Kristen sighed.
"We get it." Neal replied.
"Good." Zartan said. "Now why don't you kids run off and do your homework or something?"
"Whatever." Regan rolled her eyes as she and the rest of the group (kids and most bikers) filed up the stairs.
"There's something you're not telling us, isn't there." Zarana asked.
"They don't need to know just yet." Zartan replied. "It can wait until tomorrow."
"And I suppose that you won't let me in on it either." She raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry." Zartan said, his voice lacking any real sympathy. "I'll tell all of you in the morning."
"Fine." She commented. "I'd better go see what we have around here that qualifies as edible."
"That sounds good." Road Pig commented.
"Goodbye." Zartan said before hanging up.
"This is going to be one of those weeks, I just know it." Zarana groaned as she set the phone on the receiver and walked into the kitchen.