This story is actually an RP between myself and a friend, who I know as LisaOak. I just went back through and edited it to make it more like a story.
Characters I wrote for: Gambit, Xavier, Jean, Kurt, and Warren
Characters LisaOak wrote for: (OC)Lisa, Raikou, Scott, and Ororo
I do not own anyone in this chapter. Later chapters, yes. Just not this one.
It was late in the evening, Twilight maybe Dusk and getting darker. It was raining, not that it was unusual for such a humid and swampy place, though the air was mixed with sounds of loud, piercing thunder, almost like roars of a beast who was VERY angry and the sound of motorcycles.
Oddly enough, however, the thunder was coming from a beast: a Saber-toothed tiger with a purple cloud on its back to be more specific. And it was being chased by the biker gang, though it was easily out speeding them despite its injured rider.
A guy stood against a rather large tree trunk, idly playing with a deck of cards in his hands. At first glance, he seemed to be just like any other guy, but closer look would reveal his unusual red and black eyes. He didn't think twice when he heard a creature approaching, but when it came into view, needless to say he was shocked.
"What an interesting find," he commented, a heavy Cajun accent evident in even that short sentence. "Oh, but I can't have you to myself with dese annoyances bothering you." He pulled out two cards from his deck, both shimmered pink before he threw them.
Just as he wanted, one landed just in front of the motorcycles, the other in front of the creature. They simultaneously exploded, and if things went the way he planned, the riders would be tripped up by one card, while the creature scared into stopping in its tracks by the other.
The creature stopped, but it wasn't scared. It roared violently and snarled charging after the motorcycles, which needless to say took off in the other direction as if their butts had been set to flame.
"Let's try dis again," the man said, his accent turning the th in "this" to a d. He ran after the creature a bit, letting another pink-tinged card land itself in the path of the creature. The explosion was slightly bigger, but still harmless as long as the creature stopped running.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Xavier Institute ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At the Xavier Institute, Professor Xavier wheeled his wheelchair into Cerebro to check on mutant activity. What he did find, however, was very unusual, even to him. 'Jean, Scott,' he broadcasted, 'meet me in Cerebro.'
Scott looked up and seemed puzzled at first but did as told and he promptly went towards Cerebro. Meanwhile, Jean did as she was told. She wasn't doing much at the moment, anyways.
"Scott, Jean, I found some very unusual readings on Cerebro," Xavier explained, wheeling his chair to face his one-time students. "They are nearly impossible to describe, however. I want you to take a few of the X-Men and go to Louisiana. Look for anything unusual." Jean nodded her reply, and was already trying to think of who to bring.
"Louisiana... I wonder what's causing trouble so far off" Scott said also considering their options.
"I don't know. As to who to take, I'm thinking Warren and Ororo might be good options," Jean suggested, making her way out of Cerebro.
"They seem good but... I can't help but wonder what we're up against if even the Professor can't pin point what it is" Scott said with a frown.
"All the more reason we should leave as soon as possible," Jean replied. She sent a telepathic message to Warren and Ororo to meet at the Blackbird, although she would like to take one more mutant with them, she just can't figure out whom. Logan is too reckless, and she didn't want to sound mean, but she's afraid Hank or Kurt might scare it - whatever it is - away, if the rest of them don't. She'll take Kurt if she or Scott can't come up with anyone else, though.
Scott thought over this as well. "I can't think of anyone else except maybe Hank or Kurt" He said with a frown. At this point Ororo had to excuse herself from class and give the students a reading assignment.
"I'll call Kurt down as well," Jean said, holding back a sigh. The moment she did so, the devil-like mutant was next to her in the Blackbird hanger, ready to go. Not too long after, Warren entered the room. Neither of them needed to figure out how to leave their class, as none of the students are currently at their electives.
Ororo followed not long after. Scott greeted them and began to explain. "Apparently, something is up in Louisiana: mutant activity and trouble and apparently something else that The Professor couldn't identify at all."
"No idea at all?" Kurt asked, surprised. "Zat doesn't sound like ze Professor."
"Well, he said it was hard to explain," Jean replied. "But none-the-less, we have to hurry." As she finished the sentence, the ramp up to the Blackbird lowered, allowing Jean to lead the way on to the plane. Kurt, however, was the first one on, as usual.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Louisiana ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Creature Roared and snarled again and turned towards the man, his eyes glowing white in anger. That is, until he was given a bop on the head from his rider - a young female who didn't appear much older then 17.
"Don't even think about it, Raikou," she scolded.
"Well, hello dere," Gambit greeted the girl, bowing. "Is dis creature yours?"
"Yeah he is... he's a little bit protective... but he doesn't bite... Usually...." she said with a sheepish grin. "This is Raikou," she introduced, moving her hand to her side which was bleeding pretty bad. She hadn't had a chance to stem the blood flow because she had been too busy hanging on to the cat for dear life.
"You alright?" he asked, looking concerned. When it comes to mutants, even though he himself is one, he couldn't care less about their well-being at times. A girl, though, is another story.
"I got a little cut up... but I don't think it's deep... I'm a little dizzy though... I can't tell if it's from blood loss or motion sickness..." the girl said with a frown.
"Well, den, you should probably sit for a bit," he suggested, a bit unsure. He's never dealt with a situation quite like this before. "By de way, name's Gambit."
"Nice to meet you; I'm Lisa," she said extending her clean hand for a hand shake and clinging to the large cat with her legs so she wouldn't fall off.
Gambit took her hand, returning the handshake. "Nice to meet you, too" he said. "Where are you headed?"
"Not a clue... looking for some more of my friends... some of them are a little like Raikou, but not tigers obviously, or else I'd probably have the army after me," she said scratching the creature's neck. The feline purred loudly and seemed to take on the air of a kitten as the girl did this.
"I'll keep my eyes out for them, but I still think you should rest," Gambit told Lisa, turning to walk away. He'll keep his eyes open alright, but if her friends are as unusual as, and hopefully more cooperative than, that Raikou, it might be even more difficult for her to get them back.
"Rest where?" Lisa questioned with a slight frown though she looked up as she heard sirens. "Oh... Come on..." She hissed underneath her breath.
Gambit was about to answer her, but the moment he heard the sirens, he bolted. Fortunately for him, there was a casino nearby - his favorite place to hide out and wait for the cops to pass.
Raikou followed as well. He let Lisa down and leapt on to the roof of the casino and hunkered down out of sight of passer bys. Lisa, however, scrambled in after Gambit and went for the restroom to clean herself up.
Gambit didn't notice Lisa sneak in after him, as he was already playing a game of poker, and winning.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Blackbird ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We are now flying over Louisiana," Jean announced, lowering the altitude of the jet. "Keep your eyes open for anything unusual."
"What about a tiger on someone's roof?" Ororo asked, looking out the window.
"That definitely counts," Jean replied, finding a nearby roof to land the jet on. Once the ramp was down, she exited on to the roof, figuring out how everyone would get across to the tiger-thing. Storm and Angel could fly themselves, and Nightcrawler could teleport, but what about herself and Cyclops? Nightcrawler could teleport her, while Angel carried Cyclops. Simple enough.
The creature began to snarl at them, pacing wildly around the roof. The cloud on his back started to spark erratically.
Storm frowned. "I've never felt anything like this - it's like the creature is responsible for the storm here," she said.
Just then the beast roared a booming roar that sounded exactly like loud thunder. Two large lightning bolts hit the roof beside it, and the casino sign as well, causing the building to black out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Inside the casino ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Due to the blackout, we will have to temporarily close, until the power comes back," a voice said over the casino intercom. "If you were in the middle of a game remain where you are seated and we will come around to give you a ticket to get your money back."
"Well, dis sucks," Gambit commented, giving his cards back to the dealer. He had a royal flush and was about to win, but no. There had to be a blackout.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Outside ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Can you do something about the weather, Storm?" Jean asked, scared but not showing it.
"I'm not sure... the creature seems to be drawing its power from the thunderstorm," Storm said with a frown.
The creature growled some more and glared down at them from the top of the building, snarling and baring its teeth.
Cyclops moved his hand to the side his visor, but never got a shot as the beast used its claws to shred the sign and caused it to go hurdling towards them, blocking in everyone inside the casino.
"Nightcrawler, teleport me into the building," Jean said. "I'll be able to find someone who knows about this thing if they're in there."
"But, I might teleport into something," Nightcrawler pointed out.
"Then how will we get inside?" Jean asked, but she soon found her answer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Inside the casino ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, Gambit got his ticket to get his money back and was heading to the door, but was stopped by a crowd of people. Apparently, something large was in the way of the door. He made his way through the crowd as he pulled out another of the cards he constantly carries around. He placed it on whatever was obscuring the door way and stepped back. It didn't take long for the card to explode, opening a doorway and allowing everyone to get out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Outside ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The creature roared again sending the rest of the patrons into a blind panic, causing them to take off running.
Cyclops frowned and backed up. "What should we do while you're looking for the person who knows who that thing is?"
"Keep it on the roof, and calm it down, if possible," Jean replied, scanning the minds of everyone who exited the casino. Eventually, she found someone who knew of the creature. He was among the last to exit through the hole in the sign, clearly angry and playing with a deck of cards in his hands.
Jean walked up to the man. "Is that creature yours? Calm it down!"
Gambit gave a smug smile. "No can do," he replied. "Not mine, though I did meet his owner. Not de type I'd expect to find at a casino."
Something about him made him seem untrustworthy. Still, Jean decided to go into the building to see if who they're looking for was somewhere inside still.
The creature paced around the roof though it stopped once it caught sight of the man Jean had talked to and went to leap down.
Cyclops fired a blast at it which made the creature recoil. Unfortunately, that only made it angrier and he was sent flying back into the windshield of someone's car by a bolt of lightning.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Inside the casino ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The girl was still inside but unconscious in the ladies room. She had collapsed not long after entering, unfortunately.
Fortunately, when Jean didn't find anyone in the main room of the casino, she checked the ladies room. She saw the bleeding and unconscious girl on the floor and immediately ran to her side. The first thing to do would be to stop the bleeding, but she was at a loss as to where the bandages were kept.
'Storm, if you aren't too busy, could you bring the first aid kit from the Blackbird to me in the ladies room?' she telepathically called out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Outside ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nightcrawler teleported to the hood of the car that Cyclops crashed into, He reached to him to help him up. "Oh, I hope Jean gets back quickly," he commented, half to himself.
"Ugh... What hit me?" Cyclops asked trying to pull himself out.
"A bolt of lightning is vat hit you. Don't make that thing angry," Nightcrawler replied.
Storm seemed torn for a second but went for the first aid kit. As soon as she entered the building, the creature leapt off the roof and began to pace snarling loudly.
"Now what? We can't easily scare it back to the roof, and none of us can lift it," Angel called over the sounds of the storm.
"As long as it doesn't run off, I think ve're fine," Nightcrawler replied.
Cyclops got up and attempted to force it back again with another blast from his visor, though the moment he lifted his hand the creature appeared to vanish and faint sparks where felt in the air as the beast took off at speeds fast enough to make the Blackbird proud.
"Oh no," Nightcrawler sighed. "Now vhat are we going to do?" He considered teleporting after the creature, but it's so hard to see where it's going.
Oddly enough, even though just about everyone fled the casino, there were still a number of cars in the parking lot. Leaning on one of them was Gambit, very much enjoying the show.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In the ladies room ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Thanks, Storm" Jean said, grabbing the kit. She took out the gauze while she lifted the girl's shirt from the wound. With one cloth, she wiped some of the excess blood, and another she put over the wound. She searched the kit for something to use to keep the gauze in place, but the best she could find was an ace bandage. She wrapped the bandage over the wound and around the girl's middle.
"I wonder what happened to her..." Storm said with a frown as she looked at the young girl who showed no sign of waking up.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling she knows more about the creature than we do," Jean replied, lifting the girl up in her arms. "Hopefully her presence and the fact we helped will calm it down, as long as it doesn't think we hurt her in the first place." She carried her towards the door of the casino.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Outside ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cyclops backed up, and just as he did, the car that he had been thrown into not long ago had been sliced in half by the creature as it bolted past. It bolted around a bit more before coming to a stop and roaring loudly again, this time a booming shock wave ripped through the air and lightning crashed to the ground from the sky around the creature.
Cyclops looked behind him and frowned. "This thing is getting really dangerous if we don't do something someone is going to get killed!"
Gambit's amused smile shrank as he, too, realized the urgency of the situation. "Raikou, calm down," he called, hoping the thing can understand English. "Are you worried about Lisa? Is dat why you lashed out at dese people?"
The creature gazed over to Gambit panting heavily growling slightly in unease before looking back towards the casino building. He turned to Gambit once more and nodded once in reply.
He walked up to the creature, pleased his idea worked. "If you promise to stay calm, dese people won't attack you and I can go in to find Lisa."
"No need," Jean replied, finally making her way out of the building. "Here's your friend. She was unconscious in the bathroom. If you don't mind, I would like to take her to the hospital I work at, in New York. I can treat her there." She couldn't believe she was talking to a thunder-tiger, but by the way Gambit was talking to it, it understood English.
The creature still seemed weary but it seemed more concerned then weary it obviously wanted to come closer to the girl but it was keeping its distance from Jean. Probably a good thing as well because Cyclops was getting pretty tense. Raikou frowned and rubbed against Gambit sitting down and sulking slightly.
"You can come with," Jean told the creature. "You might need to find your own way, though. I don't think the jet is big enough for you." She turned her attention to Gambit for a moment. "I thought you said you wouldn't be able to calm him down," she pointed out.
"Didn' t'ink I could," was his reply.
The feline stretched slightly slicing up the pavement pretty good with his claws before looking towards Gambit and tilting his head to the side curiously wondering what he was going to do.