Disclaimer: I, of course, do not own X-Men: Evolution, its characters, or their likenesses, etc. etc. The good folks at Marvel comics have that happy power. This is a non-profit endeavor for you, the readers.
A/N- Greetings all! It is I, Cobra, back on FF.net after a lengthy absence. For those who care, or even know what I'm talking about, I will finish the Seasons Chronicles I begun some time ago. You can check those out in the Ranma ½ section, if you are so inclined. Anywho, I got bitten by the X-bug, and just had to write this story. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. Enjoy!
Dawn broke, as it was prone to do, with all the grace and subtlety of a stampeding herd of buffalo. Harsh rays of early morning sun fell across the closed eyelids of Kurt Wagner, and the young German boy cursed, not for the first time, the placement of his bedroom window in relation to position of the rising sun each morning. Kurt attempted to roll away from the encroaching sunlight and get back to sleep, but the moment he did so, he felt a sharp pain coming from the small of his back.
"Verdamt tail." He muttered and threw off the covers, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and landing with practiced grace on his two-toed feet. Kurt yawned, briefly showing off his elongated canines, and stretched gracefully, arching his uncommonly flexible spine in a direction most yoga practitioners could only dream of assuming.
Rubbing the sleep out of his yellow, pupil less eyes, Kurt trudged down the carpeted hallway, towel thrown over one shoulder, towards the bathroom. One three-fingered hand was about to be placed on the doorknob when a petite form dashed in front of him and straight through the bathroom door with hardly a glance back.
"Sorry Kurt, but, like, this is a total emergency! I'm sooo late!"
Kurt stared blearily at the door, before moving his eyes towards the clock mounted on the wall.
"But, Kitty…" he moaned. "We don't even have to leave for school for another hour."
"I know!" Can you believe I slept this late?! I'll never be ready on time…"
Kurt heaved a defeated sigh and, leaving Kitty to her ramblings as she prepared for her morning routine, turned and began the long trudge to the bathroom on the other side of the mansion. He didn't dare teleport, with his sleep-addled mind barely able to concentrate on walking, there was no way of telling where he might end up if he bamfed. So, his only hope was that he could make it to the bathroom before someone else did.
"Fat chance." He muttered to himself.
Logan peered out of the Danger Room's large observation window as the new recruits ran through one of the many practice exercises designed to teach them how to properly use their powers. Needless to say, the children were bumbling through the session, barely escaping harm purely on instinct and reflexes. More likely than not, it had something to do with the fact that they had been up since five-thirty that morning.
Logan sighed as he watched Iceman escape being singed by a low-powered blaster by unceremoniously falling on his icy butt and sliding across the Danger Room floor. These kids were the future defenders of man and mutant kind? Well, if he could do it with Cyclops and the others, he could do it with this group. Or he'd die trying.
"Alright kiddos, class dismissed." He growled into the microphone as he terminated the session. There was a general sigh of relief all around as the kids turned as one and trudged towards the exit.
"Man, Wolverine's such a slave driver. Why's he gotta go and get us up at the ass-crack of dawn for these torture sessions?" Berserker complained to the group in general as they filed into the elevator that would take them to the mansions main level.
"Because, Ray, we have to 'learn to function as a team in order to use our powers to the fullest extent and protect the people of this world'." Magma answered, quoting one of the Professor's speeches.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we gotta be run through the wringer five times a week." Bobby said, converting his ice form to normal flesh and blood again.
"Well, you can tell that to Wolverine," Wolfsbane replied in her Scottish brogue. "Because here he comes now."
The kids looked up wearily as Logan advanced on them, ready to begin one of his tirades on how poorly they had performed. A speech most of the children tuned out, having heard it many times before.
Breakfast that day was the standard affair. Scott, Jean, Kurt, Kitty and Rogue sat about, chattering away about the various classes they had that day, the oral report they were dreading giving, or the homework assignment they would be spending study hall working on, having failed to complete it the night before.
At the other end of the table, Professor Xavier sat with Logan, Storm, and the Beast, listening as Wolverine completed his report on that mornings Danger Room session.
Xavier chuckled quietly at Logan's exasperation. "Now Logan, they'll improve in time. They've still got a lot to learn you know."
"Yeah, I know Charles." He replied as he stabbed at a plate of sausages with his fork. "I just wish they'd take it more seriously. It's a dangerous world out there, what with Magneto running around, and half the population not trusting us mutants."
"They'll only be children for so long." Hank offered, reaching out with a long, furry arm to retrieve a pitcher of coffee. "Besides, when the going gets rough, they've proven they can hold their own."
"Indeed. And they've got the others to look up to. Don't worry Logan, they'll be fine." Xavier patted his old friend on the shoulder as his older students stood from the table, making room for the younger students who would be along shortly. And made their way towards the front door to leave for school.
"Alright, who's riding with me?" Scott fished his keys out from his pocket as he made his way towards his sports car. Jean would be coming with him, of course, and his brain had already accounted for her. That left two free seats, three if they scrunched. Kurt 'ported into the backseat, while Kitty hoped over the door into the seat next to him. Scott and Jean climbed in, and Scott glanced up at their other friend.
"Rogue, you coming?"
The skunk-haired girl shook her head with a tiny smile. "No thanks, I feel like walkin' today.
"Suit yourself." Scott shrugged and started the car, pulling out of the garage. "See you at school!" He called back, before driving through the front gates and onto the road.
Rogue waved, then began to follow in the cars wake at a relaxed pace. The school building wasn't far, and she'd make it with time to spare as long as she didn't slow to a crawl. And with very little on the way there to distract her, that wasn't likely to happen.
As they drove, Kitty leaned forward to talk to Scott and Jean.
"D'ya think Evan will be in school today?" she asked, referring to their teammate who had left to join the Morlocks some time ago.
Jean shook her head, her fiery hair blowing wildly behind her as the convertible sped along. "Not unless he's gotten his powers under control, and even then, he might not want to."
Kitty nodded and sat back again, as Kurt, now under the guise of a normal human, thanks to his image inducer, laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry Kitty, we'll see him again, when he's ready."
Kitty nodded, but her reply was cut off as a jeep went screaming by them, passing in a no passing zone, and blowing a cloud of smoke in their faces from its exhaust.
Behind his shades, Scott's eyes narrowed in annoyance and suspicion. "Alvers. Where's he going in such a rush? It can't be school, Principle Kelly expelled him and his thugs."
Jean merely shrugged, not having an answer. Kurt glanced at Kitty, and noticed she had that look in her eyes again.
Daydreaming about Lance again. He thought. She still hasn't gotten over him apparently. No matter what she says.
Rogue walked along the sidewalk, enjoying the springtime air. Most of her fellow pedestrians ignored her. Those that recognized her barely spared her a glance as they hurried about their busy lives. She was thoroughly enjoying the lack of attention, until she turned the corner, and spied an all too familiar figure leaning against a lamppost, brown trenchcoat fluttering lightly in the breeze.
"Mornin' chere." The Acolyte called Gambit said as he turned to face the approaching girl.
Rogue narrowed her eyes and adopted a position of defiance, hands planted firmly on her hips.
"What d'ya want, swamp rat? Yer gonna make me late."
The cocky Cajun smiled that infuriating (And handsome, Rogue was forced to admit) smile of his as he raised his hands in a gesture of peace.
"No worries, chere. Ol' Gambit, he dun come here lookin' fer a fight. Just came ta warn ya. Da boss man, he t'ink somethin's goin' on. Somethin' big maybe. You might wanna tell yer friends ta be on dere toes."
Rogue eyed the Cajun warily. "Why are ya telling' me this. We ain't exactly on the same side."
"Gambit believe in a fair fight, dat's all." Then, with a bow, Gambit stuffed his hands in his pockets, crossed the street, and headed off in the opposite direction.
Rogue watched him go for a few moments, then realized she'd be late for school if she stood around gawking any longer.
He kept the room dark. He preferred it that way. It was much easier to think without distractions caused by the light. So, in the dark, the pale man sat, and thought. Putting his genius to work at solving the mysteries of human evolution.
His glowing red eyes glanced towards the door as it opened, allowing a shaft of light to pierce the darkness, illuminating a portion of the pale man's dark blue costume.
"Yes, Julio, what can I do for you." The pale man addressed his visitor, allowing a hint of annoyance to creep into his voice. The man called Julio did not show any outward signs of intimidation. Good, he's learned his lessons well." The pale man thought.
"It's Lykos." Julio replied. "He's becoming harder to handle. He tried to feed off of Cassidy before we could sedate him."
"Are you complaining, Julio? Lykos will be a powerful ally."
"He's becoming a liability. It's only a matter of time before he gets his scaly talons on one of us, with those damn hypnotic powers of his."
The pale man sighed, he was growing tired of having this conversation with Julio. "Then don't get close enough for Lykos to exert his power over you. Soon enough, he will have all the mutants to feed off he desires. Now, please excuse yourself Julio, I would like to get back to my previous activities."
"But…" Julio began.
"Now!" The pale man snapped, suddenly sounding much more dangerous.
"My apologies." Julio bowed sharply, before turning and hurrying from his master's chambers. Leaving the pale man in his darkness once more.
Rogue sat in algebra class, barely listening to her teacher drone on and on about some complicated equation she didn't have a prayer of comprehending. I'll have to get Kitty ta help me again. She thought remembering her friend had skipped a grade, thanks to her high IQ.
What really had Rogue's attention was the conversation she had had with Gambit that morning. It was entirely possible, she reasoned, that the Acolyte was simply messing with her, trying to throw her off her game. But he just seemed so sincere.
The question was, whether or not to tell her friends about the encounter. She was pretty sure they would scold her for listening to the enemy, but what if his words were true, and they really did need to be more alert?
Any further musings were cut short, as he teacher's voice snapped her out of her reverie. "Miss Rogue, I'm sure your daydreams are fascinating, but kindly save them for when you are not in this class."
Rogue shook her head and forced herself to concentrate on the lesson. "Sorry sir, won't happen again."
Her teacher nodded curtly, and then returned to the blackboard to resume his droning.
Authors Ramblings: Not much of a first chapter I know, but it's only the first! There is certainly a lot more to come. Can anyone guess who this mysterious new villain is? If you do figure it out, please do not say so in your review, you might spoil it for other readers. Chapter two coming soon, until then. Cobra, awaaayyyyy!!