PERSONA - mcc1089

PERSONA - What do you really desire?

Chapter 1 - familiar faces.

Jessica was bouncing off the walls, her blond hair flowing in the sea breeze. Ever since she suggested we go to the ocean, she was so enthusiastic about it. I, on the other hand was content with where I was now. I wasn't looking for any get-away or rebellion from the teachers or other students at the Institute.

"Hey." He snuck his arms around me as I leaned over the edge of the railing. His arms were tight, so I wouldn't fall over. It had been a year or so since we met; by accident I might add, but it turned out good altogether.

"Hey, Pete. Don't get too close, or you might push me over the edge." I laughed as I gazed into his crystal blue eyes. Pete could easily bump me and I would be flying off the edge of the cruise ship. But he wouldn't. His deep laugh made me warm.

"Jessica is having the time of her life I see." His voice was heavy with his Russian accent. I strained my neck to look at his face. He towered over me by at least two feet.

Jessica was jumping on the beds in our rooms. Her boyfriend, Bradley, was trying to contain her, but without success.

The humungous cruise ship, Dreamstate, was entering international waters. I felt insecure about having no rules, for with that note, you never know what could happen. I finally turned eighteen, and that made things just as uncomfortable. Peter, or Piotr I should say, since that is his real name, let go of me and he started to walk aimlessly on the floor of the hotel section of the cruise. I felt like following, but sometimes I know he needs his space. It doesn't take a psychic, or empath, to figure that out.

It's still quite amazing that we are still together. After the things we'd been through, and being what we are, things can get complicated.

"Big guy dump you again?" His baritone voice wrecked my train of thought.

"Hey Ivan. And no, he just felt like walking."

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that we have an addition to the group, Ivan. A troublesome kid, I will add to the top. He's very… oh what's the word… immature, sometimes.

"Darn, oh well. Hey Bradley, Jessica, and I are going to the small mall area. You wanna go?"

His eyes…very captivating…WAIT! Where did that come from?

"Umm. No thanks, Pete will be back sooner or later. He might worry if he comes back to find that I'm gone."

"Ok whatever. The party starts tonight. We crossed the international border a few minutes ago. Jessica suggested that we all stick together, because she doesn't want to get separated at the rave."

"Sounds great. Peter and I will catch up to you later. Have fun."

He looked concerned for a moment and rested his huge hand on my shoulder. "Be careful. I read that this place can get quite creepy at night. I would encourage that you stick with one of us at all times tonight." He lifted his hand off my shoulder. I turned to say thanks, but he was gone. This doesn't surprise me for two reasons. One, I'm used to it happening. This type of stuff happens all the time at the Institute. Sometimes this happens and there is a 'bamf' sound followed by a bad smell.

The second reason is because I know Ivan. He loves to sneak up on people and scare them. However you can always tell when he's around, for with everything he does, it will be followed by fowl language, or an inappropriate gesture of ANY kind.

I scanned the deck and saw him talking to some girl. He'll be fine. I couldn't see Peter, so I guess he's thinking of something to draw.

"I'm so bored!" my body felt so heavy as it slumped over the railing. I felt like phasing through it for sheer enjoyment. Peter was still nowhere in sight so I picked myself up and walked towards the general direction of the rest of the bored crowd.

It turned out that Bradley was as bored as I was and was causing huge crashes in the sea. He was standing at the back "ally" of the stores and punching towards the ocean. You could see the slight light distortion as the physical ripples collided with the water. He had is eyes closed at the time, but he knew that nobody would see. I watched as he forced the energy out of his body and resolved. It amazed me that he had some part in the California earthquakes.

"Don't get too carried away."

"Kitty! Hey. Sorry. I didn't think anybody was here." He looked my way, but continued. His black hair was beading with sweat. "Kitty, I know you are happy with the way things have been going, but there are some things you need to know. Piotr is a little worried that something might happen to the two of you. He's trying hard to make you happy and he believes that it's not enough."

"What?! What is he talking about?"

"Pete is, what, five years older than you? He knows that in human society that it's not looked greatly upon. And what do your parents think of the situation?"

This gave me some thought, to be honest; my parents have never really seen Piotr besides a group picture that was taken a long time ago. He looked so young in it and I don't know if it would be an accurate photo, he's standing almost seven-six now, and in that picture, he was around my height. I wasn't in that picture because I was taking it, but they think he is still my height. I may be short, but I'm small, so it makes up for it.

"Does it really matter what they think? They know I'm dating him and they know that I'm happy with him. Age doesn't matter with them, neither does status, size, nationality, nor race. And since we are called the "Mutant Race" that is out of the question, just like it should be the "human race". If Piotr is so worried that he's not making me happy or thinking that something is wrong, he should come to me! Does he not trust me or something?"

"Kitty, he trusts you with his life, just he wishes the impossible for you to be safe. He knows that being a mutant, being unsafe is inevitable. Until this world recognizes that we are not the type of 'freaks' that people see us as, we will have to run and hide. Piotr can fend for himself; it's you that he can't sleep over."

I let that thought soak in a few moments, Bradley was already walking down the back ally towards the real stores. I just started to walk the opposite direction. The last few words I know were true, but did Piotr really think of me that way? Did he really think of me as just an object to protect? Or if I was a true person that he loved… what makes me that special to be protected?

"ATTENTION, ATTENTION! Dreamstate is about to start its club night in an hour. Please make your way towards the "arena" and bring out the real you on the dancefloor."

The mass intercom wrecked my train of thought. I'll have to think on this heavy stuff later, but now I just wanted to dance it off.


At the arena there were tons of people already there, the regular lights were on, but I knew it was going to be a tight show. The had a screen on from past shows, there were some famous DJs there, but only one was going to perform tonight. There was a list on it with songs, and I found some that I liked. It must have cost the DJ a ton of money to get the ability to perform these songs live.

DJ Tiesto – Traffic

DJ Mistic – Butterflies

Paul Oakenfold – Ready Steady Go (Album Version)

DJ Maestro – Dance to Trance feat. EON (Aurora Borealis Original Mix)

DJ Tiesto – He's A Pirate

Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten (Vicious Club Mix)

Sarah M.– Silence (Tiesto Remix)

Kane – Rain Down on Me (Tiesto Remix)

DJ Dark Phantom – PERSONA (DREAMSTATE ANTHEM)

DJ Maestro – Hungarian Dancefloor (Aurora Australis Club mix)

DJ Jatt – Abrar (Pakistani Rave Tour Version)

DJ Maestro – Night of the Stars (Aurora Australis Club Mix)

People started to pile in. I stuck close to Piotr when we found him near the entrance. The lights were so cool! Music was playing and everybody looked like they are having a great time. Everything seemed so right, except for a few people staring at us. Probably because of Piotr, I thought. We went to the bar on the second floor and got some drinks. Piotr got a bottle of Vodka, Bradley and Jessica got some sort of fruit spirit, and Ivan got some beer. I felt so out of place, I mean I knew that there wasn't an age limit, but still… I settled for a water and sat close to Piotr.

Ivan dragged Bradley and Jess to the dance floor while Piotr and I went to the rail to wait for the program to start. It was so loud that I couldn't even hear what the DJ was saying, but right afterwards, the music started. The crowd cheered as the sounds of Tiesto's "Traffic" started. All the lights shut off and the dance hall lit up with Glow sticks and neon lights. Piotr just leaned against the wall while he watched me dance to the music. I could tell he was bored, but the girls next to him were far from it, watching his every move.

The ground shook. I quickly searched the floor for Bradley. He and Jess were the only ones not moving. He was making gestures as if to say that he had no part in the shakings. It turned out to be the bass of the music, since the booms came in rhythm. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of those girls by Piotr, stand up and talk to him. He smiling and nodded towards the girl. It did make me feel a little jealous… for me being only sixteen… and… Ok I have to stop it. Piotr is with me, and he loves only me… right?

Piotr's hand was on my shoulder and I looked up at the big guy. His face was filled with regret and embarrassment. I saw the girls get up and leave stealing harsh glances towards the two of us. Piotr lifted my chin to focus my eyes on him. The lights caused his ocean blue eyes to look like a purple haze. The red light made him look more handsome than usual… if that is at all possible. "Sorry." He said shortly. He leaned down and kissed me fully. I felt like I was being pushed backwards, but I didn't care. When I hit the wall behind me, I woke up from my romantic trance… Why does he do that to me?

The music stopped and started up to another song. It was one of my favorite. "Dance to Trance Feat. EON (Aurora Borealis Original Mix)" by DJ Maestro. The crowd was wild. Not to be matched with the effect that "Traffic" had, since DJ Maestro is just an amateur DJ from Texas. He was only eighteen or nineteen when he wrote and performed this song for the first time. And EON (DJ Maestro's best friend) was only seventeen or eighteen at that time also. I couldn't believe it when the next song was Hungarian Dancefloor (Aurora Australis Mix) by DJ Maestro also.

"Oh my goodness, Cassidy… we have to get out of here, remember what happened last time?" A girl beside me was practically screaming over the music. Piotr looked at them and pulled the one named Cassidy aside.

"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but hear your conversation. What exactly happened last time, if I may ask?"

"Well its all a blur for me, but last time that song that's next…" she pointed to the big screen it read 'UP NEXT, PERSONA BY DJ DARK PHANTOM (DREAMSTATE ANTHEM)'. "it was weird. Things happen on this ship at night after this song plays."
"It's down right scary!" The girl with her spoke up. "I was in my hotel room the whole time, but you could hear all the violence and destruction outside. Nobody was acting like themselves. Take Cassidy here… She is a bookworm at home. That night she was this monster… I didn't even recognize her. I locked the door until it was time to get off the ship. When I got out there, people were laying all over the decks, as if they were in some sort of trance or hangover.

"I'm not risking it any more. Cassidy… you are getting out of here with me." She started to pull the girls wrists towards the entrance.

"Should we take a chance?" I asked Piotr.

"Regardless if it is true… I could use some night air." Piotr followed me as we both followed the two girls. It was night outside and the sea breeze felt nice. We sat by the pool on those chairs and looked at the starry sky.

"Hey there!" The girl that Cassidy was with, sat down next to Kitty.

"Hey. Where is your friend? I asked as I turned to notice her.

"She'll be here in a sec, she tried to find her boyfriend on the Dancefloor… I hope she gets out fast before that song…" she was cut off by a pair of running footsteps. Cassidy and some guy sat on another chair facing us. Their panting began to soften.

"How was it.?" the girl asked Cassidy.

"Not good. The song is an edit… so its going to be five minutes instead of ten… we need to get off this ship as fast as we can, Veronica… I can't risk it again, even with Julius here."

"I'll do what I can to help protect, but I fear its not enough." Julius put a comforting arm around Cassidy.

"We can fend for ourselves… we have… our own talents and tricks to avoid these things." Veronica winked at me.

"As do we." I winked back.

"What can you do?" Cassidy asked. Piotr got a little protective… I knew they were mutants except the guy, but Piotr obviously didn't know at all.

"It's alright Piotr." I reassured him. Redirecting my attention to Cassidy, I made a fist and punched Piotr in the arm… only to have my hand slide through.

"Cool!" Julius gawked. Cassidy just laughed. Veronica folded her hands together as if she was praying… and glowing orange balls appeared around her. Piotr shifted a little moving back. The balls turned into flames and the heat was tremendous. With the motion of her hand, the balls flew into the air, single file, and when she punched toward the pool, the balls fell into it. causing steam to rise.

"You… by chance… couldn't possible be… PhasingKitty… could you?" Veronica asked.

"I am… and you must be Fire of Fires." I stated. She nodded. I motioned towards Piotr. "This is ManOSteel." Piotr looked at me but shrugged. His fingers started to mutate into the organic steel form we call Colossus. Soon his whole body was covered in steel. Julius was amazed and couldn't stop staring.

"This is Caesar," Cassidy motioned. The guy had a very shy appearance and his cloths are very… one colored; blue. "his mutation is pretty obvious. Metal spikes protrude from his back. He has welts and stuff from the wounds, and this is his favorite shirt… so he's not going to show it right now."

"Cool! And what's your power, Cassidy?" Piotr asked.

"Oh I don't have one. I'm human."

"Oh…" Piotr was shocked. Piotr and I knew that this was common sometimes, but we haven't met many couples that were mutant and human. It just surprised us; that's all.

The music stopped and cheers flew. Veronica and Cassidy had a panicked look on their face. Julius was looking around the entrance.

"Guys we have to get out of here soon. Stay in your rooms, and lock yourselves in them. We can explain everything later, if we survive the madness within the next few days…" Cassidy grabbed Julius and Veronica and they started to run towards the hotels. Piotr and I decided that Jess and Brad could take care of themselves and get to their room without help. We were the first ones there to the hotels and we saw Julius at the counter.

"Veronica told me to mention to you to make sure that you never go back to the club again. We can explain everything, just call our room number," he handed Piotr a piece of paper. "and we can all talk." Piotr nodded and we split.


I locked the door and turned out the lights. It was still quiet, not too many people were around, but mostly stumbling into their rooms, Piotr was peering through the peep hole in the door and I just sat on our bed. I had the TV on when he motioned for me to turn it off fast. I stood up next to him but he forced me behind him.

"Get down and over in the corner." His voice was strained.

"Why? What's wrong?" He looked at me and turned me around towards the corner.

"Don't ask questions, just do it…" He gave me a little nudge and went back to the hole.

"Piotr Rasputin… tell me what is going on…" His hand covered my mouth fast, and he shushed me.

"Quiet… there's a man standing outside the door… and he has a gun." My heart started to race. But it nearly jumped out of my chest when there was a loud knock at the door. Piotr stood up and in the dim light of the window, I could see Piotr had already turned into the Colossus. The knocking again was more like a punching at the door. I was afraid the door would give. It was getting louder and faster and I had to cover my ears from the noise. All of a sudden it stopped. Footsteps could be heard on the other side of the door along with some shuffling and grunts. After about a minute of silence a voice called out.

"Kitty?"


Hey guys. Author mcc1089 here saying GOOD MORNING!! Yes it's officially the first day of July… (Ok so I was one day off from the original schedule) But yes the exciting sequel is here. I had to revise a lot of the story after some last minute thoughts, so as of the first few chapters I'm flying blind. DON'T WORRY! The plot is still the same, just I messed up by doing things a little too fast… no problem. I think it's better this way.

BTW… uhh for those that want to know… DJ Maestro Me! Check out the music at /djmaestromarcuscarpenter (and the info about the song is true and also on the site!) (EON is a real person and still my best friend!) and if you cant see that for some reason, its my music myspace (same url)

Love you all. mcc1089 (DJ Maestro)