Disclaimer: Obviously X-Men is © to Marvel and not to me. I own Maureen,
Myra, and the Pillars. Yay me!
*********
"OW! Shit!" Maureen cursed as she leapt up from her chair and dashed to the sink of her apartment kitchen. She glared down at the offended digit as she ran warm water over it and rummaged through her cabinet for the rubbing alcohol. Unsuccessful in the kitchen, she shut off the sink and continued to search in the bathroom for the disinfectant. She pulled up the peroxide and washed at her cut. When she got tired of the stinging in her finger she set aside the astringent and went back into the kitchen. She put a Band-Aid on her finger and sat back down at the kitchen table, looking down at her half-eaten turkey sub. Her gaze flitted over to where the tiniest bit of blood still sat on the edge of the knife she had used to cut the sandwich. Maureen wrapped up the larger half of the sub and stuck it into the refrigerator, picking up the half she still nibbled on. She walked into the living area of her apartment, picking up the TV controller and flopping onto the couch, clicking the TV to a new channel. She silently ate the remainder of the sub as she surfed past infomercials, soap operas, kiddy cartoons, and music videos. Finally she reached CNN and let it sit, licking her fingers clean of the last juices of the sandwich.
"Yesterday several mutants were attacked by a radical group of mutant haters. Four mutants were killed along with two protesters. Authorities are not pressing charges against the assailants--."
Maureen turned the TV off with a sneer, tossing down the remote in disgust as the door opened. Myra tossed her bags in, keeping the door open with her rear as she shifted a box inside the apartment. Maureen stood up, a questioning look in her eyes.
"What's that?" she asked as she helped Myra with the box.
"Dunno yet. It was sitting downstairs with the mail," was the reply.
"Maybe it's that new PC system I ordered," Maureen suggested. Myra nodded in reply and the two women pushed the box into the living room, Myra kicking the door shut behind them. They got the package to the empty desktop and began to unpack and set up the system. The women surveyed their completed task with wide triumphant grins.
"Would you do the honors?" Maureen giggled and Myra reached out and pushed the power button. The computer began to whir and tick as it came alive. The screen flickered on and Windows began to load and the girls looked at each other again, high-fiving each other at their success. The screen stopped and the girls looked at it in confusion. Myra reached out and began to strike keys, wondering if they'd missed a link somewhere. Then the screen blinked, once, twice. On the third time it whited out. Letters began to filter onto the screen pixel by pixel.
B-O-O.
Everything seemed to happen at once. The windows shattered inward and booted feet landed with thuds as armed and armored men dropped into the apartment. Both women turned, looking around in alarm. The door to the apartment splintered as a giant fist crashed through it. The behemoth dragged himself through the remains of the door, followed by more armed men. Maureen turned to break for the fire escape out the window, only to be tossed back by an armored fist.
"Maureen!" Myra shouted, running to her friend, quickly pulling up her shields and sending guards flying. She reached the still form of her friend. There was a faint pulse still beating. Body protesting, Myra lifted her best friend and tossed her over her shoulder. She turned and began running at the giant who still gazed blankly ahead. She skirted soldiers, her shields sending their ammo flying back at them rather than hitting her. She skidded to a halt as she passed into the hallway, soldiers thundering after her.
"Yawon't. makeit."
"Shuddup, Reeni, I'm doing what I can," Myra growled back.
"Putmedown, I'm just slowinyadown."
"I'm serious, shuddup Reen," Myra huffed, turning sharply and slamming into the stairwell door. She stumbled down the stairs, breathing heavily as she looked up past Maureen to see soldiers flowing down the stairs after her.
"Shitshitshit," she began to chant to herself as she began to run faster.
"Put me down, I'm serious too!" Maureen said at last.
Myra kept running, flying into the first floor hallways.
"I will not abandon you!"
"You aren't! But you can't outrun them with me. Besides, they aren't after me, I'll be fine." Maureen began to struggle off of Myra's shoulder, sending the running girl into a wall with the shift of weight.
"Dammit Maureen!" Myra cried as Maureen slid to the ground. Maureen smiled shakily, leaning against the wall, clutching her ribs. Myra felt nauseous as she noticed the blood leaking through the other woman's fingers. "You got shot! Dammit, why did you move Maureen?"
"It don't matter now, get going," Maureen pushed Myra away. "I'll be fine, but you won't be, now get moving!" Myra was shoved again.
"Maureen." Myra pleaded softly.
Maureen smiled and shook her head with a struggling chuckle. "You worry too much, ya always did. Go and stop worrying about me, I'm a big girl."
Still looking back Myra began to walk away, her big gray eyes wet and shining. "I'll be back soon Reeni, don't you worry!"
"I won't," Maureen laughed. "Now get!"
Myra's feet moved of their own accord, picking up speed as she continued to look back over her shoulder at Maureen, still leaning against the wall as soldiers began to stream out of the stairwell. She rounded a corner, the last thing she saw was Maureen struggling away from the wall.
"Keep running Myra!" echoed down the hall. Myra froze, skidding to a halt and turning around, her breath caught in her throat. Shots rang out, a woman screamed and Myra's heart stopped.
"MAUREEN!" she screeched, beginning to run back.
"Keep running Myra." That had been Maureen; that had been her last wish. Myra turned again, sobbing so hard she could barely breath as she pounded down the hall and burst into the fresh air outside. Tears fell across her cheeks, whipped away by the wind. Myra turned, first right, then left, then left and right again as she fought to lose her captors. ~I won't run forever Maureen, one day that bastard and that cold-hearted bitch will pay!~
**********
Lorna Dane and Alex Summers walked quietly, heads together, through the hallways of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The pair was discussing their upcoming wedding, debating on whether it would be indoors or outside. Both wanted to compromise but neither was willing to admit defeat. Such is the way with couples everywhere. Bobby Drake was just leaving the workout room as they walked past. His lips curled back in a disgusted snarl as he stalked towards the front door, heading out for a jog.
He yanked the door open and pulled back in surprise. A girl stood at the doorway, haggard and dripping with sweat and blood. Her hair was disheveled and her wide gray eyes were frightened and it was obvious she'd been crying recently.
"Please," she croaked out, sounding out of breath and exhausted. "I need help. There are.people after me, they, I--."
Bobby shouted as the girl collapsed, crumpling to the ground, her head lolling to the side.
"ALEX! LORNA! I need help over here!"
The pair came down the front stairs, wondering what all the commotion was about. Alex started and rushed forward as he saw the woman loosely cradled in Iceman's arms. Lorna pulled back in shock, her green eyes wide. She turned and went to get the Professor from his study as slowly other mutants poked their heads in, wondering what had happened and why people were shouting. Annie pressed to the fore and took control of the situation.
"Get her down to the Infirmary. She needs medical attention first, we can find out her story later."
Bobby followed Annie's quick steps down to the medical facility, followed by Alex who had a hand to his head, in deep conversation with the Xavier and Jean as the trio (rather quartet but for their unconscious fourth member). Annie preceded them into one of the med-rooms, throwing a sheet over the metal table as Bobby laid the prone girl across it. Annie commanded the two men out so that she could examine the girl properly.
Several minutes later, Annie emerged. There were bright spots of blood on her uniform but she was shaking her head with a rueful smile. Xavier stood waiting for her, as did Bobby, Jean, and Scott.
"How is she Annie?" the Professor asked, stepping towards the door.
"She's fine, absolutely fine except for exhaustion and slight bruising. None of the blood was hers, I tested it to be sure she just didn't have a healing factor or something. The blood wasn't hers."
"Then why'd she pass out like that?" Bobby asked in consternation.
"Probably exhaustion, like I said. Her muscles have built up a lot of adrenaline and endorphins," the human nurse explained. "Her body just couldn't keep going."
"Robert," the Professor turned to his former pupil. "You said she mumbled something before collapsing. What was it?"
"Something about people chasing her."
"If she was being forced to keep running, it certainly explains why her body seems to have been pushed to the brink." Annie glanced back at the closed door. "Is she a mutant, Professor Xavier?"
"I didn't sense any new mutant prescences on the compound, so I assume she's not. Perhaps a latent mutant. It would explain why she was being chased," Xavier mused aloud. "How long do you think she'll be unconscious?"
"Honestly, there's no way to know," Annie shrugged. "It depends on how long she was running. The longer she ran, the longer she'll need to recuperate from it."
"Let me know as soon as she wakes up," the Professor requested, turning and heading slowly back to the main building followed by Jean, Scott, and Bobby. When they'd reached Xavier's study, several minutes of silence later, Scott finally spoke up.
"Who do you think she is Professor?" the X-man asked.
"I'm not sure Scott," was the thoughtful reply as the Professor took a seat behind his desk.
"But you have an idea," Jean Grey stated.
"I have a suspicion Jean yes. I just hope I'm wrong," the Professor said sorrowfully.
*********
"OW! Shit!" Maureen cursed as she leapt up from her chair and dashed to the sink of her apartment kitchen. She glared down at the offended digit as she ran warm water over it and rummaged through her cabinet for the rubbing alcohol. Unsuccessful in the kitchen, she shut off the sink and continued to search in the bathroom for the disinfectant. She pulled up the peroxide and washed at her cut. When she got tired of the stinging in her finger she set aside the astringent and went back into the kitchen. She put a Band-Aid on her finger and sat back down at the kitchen table, looking down at her half-eaten turkey sub. Her gaze flitted over to where the tiniest bit of blood still sat on the edge of the knife she had used to cut the sandwich. Maureen wrapped up the larger half of the sub and stuck it into the refrigerator, picking up the half she still nibbled on. She walked into the living area of her apartment, picking up the TV controller and flopping onto the couch, clicking the TV to a new channel. She silently ate the remainder of the sub as she surfed past infomercials, soap operas, kiddy cartoons, and music videos. Finally she reached CNN and let it sit, licking her fingers clean of the last juices of the sandwich.
"Yesterday several mutants were attacked by a radical group of mutant haters. Four mutants were killed along with two protesters. Authorities are not pressing charges against the assailants--."
Maureen turned the TV off with a sneer, tossing down the remote in disgust as the door opened. Myra tossed her bags in, keeping the door open with her rear as she shifted a box inside the apartment. Maureen stood up, a questioning look in her eyes.
"What's that?" she asked as she helped Myra with the box.
"Dunno yet. It was sitting downstairs with the mail," was the reply.
"Maybe it's that new PC system I ordered," Maureen suggested. Myra nodded in reply and the two women pushed the box into the living room, Myra kicking the door shut behind them. They got the package to the empty desktop and began to unpack and set up the system. The women surveyed their completed task with wide triumphant grins.
"Would you do the honors?" Maureen giggled and Myra reached out and pushed the power button. The computer began to whir and tick as it came alive. The screen flickered on and Windows began to load and the girls looked at each other again, high-fiving each other at their success. The screen stopped and the girls looked at it in confusion. Myra reached out and began to strike keys, wondering if they'd missed a link somewhere. Then the screen blinked, once, twice. On the third time it whited out. Letters began to filter onto the screen pixel by pixel.
B-O-O.
Everything seemed to happen at once. The windows shattered inward and booted feet landed with thuds as armed and armored men dropped into the apartment. Both women turned, looking around in alarm. The door to the apartment splintered as a giant fist crashed through it. The behemoth dragged himself through the remains of the door, followed by more armed men. Maureen turned to break for the fire escape out the window, only to be tossed back by an armored fist.
"Maureen!" Myra shouted, running to her friend, quickly pulling up her shields and sending guards flying. She reached the still form of her friend. There was a faint pulse still beating. Body protesting, Myra lifted her best friend and tossed her over her shoulder. She turned and began running at the giant who still gazed blankly ahead. She skirted soldiers, her shields sending their ammo flying back at them rather than hitting her. She skidded to a halt as she passed into the hallway, soldiers thundering after her.
"Yawon't. makeit."
"Shuddup, Reeni, I'm doing what I can," Myra growled back.
"Putmedown, I'm just slowinyadown."
"I'm serious, shuddup Reen," Myra huffed, turning sharply and slamming into the stairwell door. She stumbled down the stairs, breathing heavily as she looked up past Maureen to see soldiers flowing down the stairs after her.
"Shitshitshit," she began to chant to herself as she began to run faster.
"Put me down, I'm serious too!" Maureen said at last.
Myra kept running, flying into the first floor hallways.
"I will not abandon you!"
"You aren't! But you can't outrun them with me. Besides, they aren't after me, I'll be fine." Maureen began to struggle off of Myra's shoulder, sending the running girl into a wall with the shift of weight.
"Dammit Maureen!" Myra cried as Maureen slid to the ground. Maureen smiled shakily, leaning against the wall, clutching her ribs. Myra felt nauseous as she noticed the blood leaking through the other woman's fingers. "You got shot! Dammit, why did you move Maureen?"
"It don't matter now, get going," Maureen pushed Myra away. "I'll be fine, but you won't be, now get moving!" Myra was shoved again.
"Maureen." Myra pleaded softly.
Maureen smiled and shook her head with a struggling chuckle. "You worry too much, ya always did. Go and stop worrying about me, I'm a big girl."
Still looking back Myra began to walk away, her big gray eyes wet and shining. "I'll be back soon Reeni, don't you worry!"
"I won't," Maureen laughed. "Now get!"
Myra's feet moved of their own accord, picking up speed as she continued to look back over her shoulder at Maureen, still leaning against the wall as soldiers began to stream out of the stairwell. She rounded a corner, the last thing she saw was Maureen struggling away from the wall.
"Keep running Myra!" echoed down the hall. Myra froze, skidding to a halt and turning around, her breath caught in her throat. Shots rang out, a woman screamed and Myra's heart stopped.
"MAUREEN!" she screeched, beginning to run back.
"Keep running Myra." That had been Maureen; that had been her last wish. Myra turned again, sobbing so hard she could barely breath as she pounded down the hall and burst into the fresh air outside. Tears fell across her cheeks, whipped away by the wind. Myra turned, first right, then left, then left and right again as she fought to lose her captors. ~I won't run forever Maureen, one day that bastard and that cold-hearted bitch will pay!~
**********
Lorna Dane and Alex Summers walked quietly, heads together, through the hallways of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The pair was discussing their upcoming wedding, debating on whether it would be indoors or outside. Both wanted to compromise but neither was willing to admit defeat. Such is the way with couples everywhere. Bobby Drake was just leaving the workout room as they walked past. His lips curled back in a disgusted snarl as he stalked towards the front door, heading out for a jog.
He yanked the door open and pulled back in surprise. A girl stood at the doorway, haggard and dripping with sweat and blood. Her hair was disheveled and her wide gray eyes were frightened and it was obvious she'd been crying recently.
"Please," she croaked out, sounding out of breath and exhausted. "I need help. There are.people after me, they, I--."
Bobby shouted as the girl collapsed, crumpling to the ground, her head lolling to the side.
"ALEX! LORNA! I need help over here!"
The pair came down the front stairs, wondering what all the commotion was about. Alex started and rushed forward as he saw the woman loosely cradled in Iceman's arms. Lorna pulled back in shock, her green eyes wide. She turned and went to get the Professor from his study as slowly other mutants poked their heads in, wondering what had happened and why people were shouting. Annie pressed to the fore and took control of the situation.
"Get her down to the Infirmary. She needs medical attention first, we can find out her story later."
Bobby followed Annie's quick steps down to the medical facility, followed by Alex who had a hand to his head, in deep conversation with the Xavier and Jean as the trio (rather quartet but for their unconscious fourth member). Annie preceded them into one of the med-rooms, throwing a sheet over the metal table as Bobby laid the prone girl across it. Annie commanded the two men out so that she could examine the girl properly.
Several minutes later, Annie emerged. There were bright spots of blood on her uniform but she was shaking her head with a rueful smile. Xavier stood waiting for her, as did Bobby, Jean, and Scott.
"How is she Annie?" the Professor asked, stepping towards the door.
"She's fine, absolutely fine except for exhaustion and slight bruising. None of the blood was hers, I tested it to be sure she just didn't have a healing factor or something. The blood wasn't hers."
"Then why'd she pass out like that?" Bobby asked in consternation.
"Probably exhaustion, like I said. Her muscles have built up a lot of adrenaline and endorphins," the human nurse explained. "Her body just couldn't keep going."
"Robert," the Professor turned to his former pupil. "You said she mumbled something before collapsing. What was it?"
"Something about people chasing her."
"If she was being forced to keep running, it certainly explains why her body seems to have been pushed to the brink." Annie glanced back at the closed door. "Is she a mutant, Professor Xavier?"
"I didn't sense any new mutant prescences on the compound, so I assume she's not. Perhaps a latent mutant. It would explain why she was being chased," Xavier mused aloud. "How long do you think she'll be unconscious?"
"Honestly, there's no way to know," Annie shrugged. "It depends on how long she was running. The longer she ran, the longer she'll need to recuperate from it."
"Let me know as soon as she wakes up," the Professor requested, turning and heading slowly back to the main building followed by Jean, Scott, and Bobby. When they'd reached Xavier's study, several minutes of silence later, Scott finally spoke up.
"Who do you think she is Professor?" the X-man asked.
"I'm not sure Scott," was the thoughtful reply as the Professor took a seat behind his desk.
"But you have an idea," Jean Grey stated.
"I have a suspicion Jean yes. I just hope I'm wrong," the Professor said sorrowfully.