1.
Raien could barely remember the feel of sunlight on his skin. He rarely saw it anymore save through the grate of a storm drain. Life had become hell. Mutants were beaten on the street, and the police didn't lift a finger. A group calling itself the Friends of Humanity had grown into a world power. What had started as a simple hate group had become a cancer of the earth. Raien had to give them credit, they certainly knew what they were doing. They'd begun recruiting youth from around the world, indoctrinating them early into their hateful ways. Now this generation had entered the workplace. Even the government. Now, they were building "Sanctuaries". "Places where Mutants would be happy and safe from the outside world."
Grimly, Raien laughed at the prospect. He knew what these Sanctuaries signified. It had happened before, only this time, the arm band bore not a swastika, but an eagle. The outcome was the same. People went in. They didn't come out.
Months before, Raien had been taken in by a group named the Morlocks. They were a group of mutants unable to walk on the surface. Their mutations so extreme that normal people were afraid of them or spat at them. Raien looked normal enough, but a pair of solid blue glowing eyes tended to give him away. Ironically, a group of FoH, after beating him severely, dumped him right on their doorstep. They'd told him he belonged in the sewer with the rats. The Morlocks took him in, nursed him back to health, and even helped him develop his gift. Made him call it a gift, and not a curse.
He could ignore gravity when he chose to. Many mutants he knew of, mainly those belonging to the X-Men, and some following the renegade Magneto had the ability of flight. Raien, or Nightfire as he'd taken to be calling, couldn't exactly fly, more like float. Though a running start or a strong jump gave it the appearance of flight. Other uses became available though, as one of the Morlocks had been a monk in northern Japan, highly skilled in several forms of martial arts. He'd taken it upon himself to instruct Raien. It had given him confidence. Patience. And one hell of a surprise for anyone who would seek to hurt him.
The memory of the Morlocks and his Sensei sent a twinge of pain into his heart. Raien had been gone, as he liked to walk on the surface in the early hours of the morning while no one else was about. FoH had found the Morlocks. Raien felt a swell of hatred erupt in his chest. They'd killed them. Even the women. The children. Raien's mouth curled downward in disgust. He had returned to find no one left alive. The bodies of his friends, his family had littered their homes.
Since that day, Raien had walked the sewers aimlessly. His life, his family had been taken away from him.
He stared at the slab of stale bread he had been eating, realizing it was getting light outside. "Time to make camp." he muttered. FoH, having found so many "Muties" in the sewer, made appearances every once in a while. Raien knew some of the places that the Morlocks had used for hiding places, and used those to hide during the day. He'd found one such place, removing several large stones, a small hole opened up into a room big enough to stretch out in, but only barely.
He'd tossed his pack inside when he heard a noise. Heavy breathing. Hurried footsteps. Flattening himself against the wall, he listened. The footfalls coming from around the corner were not those of the combat boots FoH seemed to enjoy wearing. They had a lighter tone. Peeking around the corner, Raien saw a stunningly beautiful woman, clad in what had been white, long before. Tears streaked her face, and somehow Raien just knew she was a mutant.
He stepped out toward her. She gasped, and a hand flew up in Raien's direction. She squinted, and a confused look spread across her ashen face. "Whoa there! Its ok, I'm not going to hurt you." he said, trying to sound comforting.
"You... You're a mutant?" she said, her voice shaking.
"Well the eyes tend to give that much away..." Raien said lightly. "I'm Raien by the way. You look like you've been running. I know a spot where FoH can't find us if you'd like to stay with me today."
Relief emanated from her, and she smiled shyly. "I'm M. I've been running for so long... I don't know when I slept last, much less felt safe anywhere. I'd love to join you." she said
Raien showed her to the hidden room, and once they were both inside, replaced the bricks that hid the entrance. Raien handed her the blanket from his pack, and wrapped himself in his long leather duster.
"We're both exhausted, M, lets get a little sleep. We can talk later, okay?" Raien said softly. M nodded slowly and shut her eyes. She looked like she felt safe enough. Raien's thoughts turned inward as he drifted off, thinking about his past.
Raien was back in his hometown High School. He was walking down the hallway with the girl he thought he'd loved. He really enjoyed spending time with her, but she wanted more than that. They'd even had sex. It had felt good, but there'd just been something missing. The whole relationship was like that. There was something Raien couldn't put his finger on, but he brushed those thoughts aside whenever they arose. Raien simply figured that they were not meant to be. When he broke up with Jenna, he found out that she thought he was her soul mate. She was livid with anger. Luckily, Raien had no classes with her. As it was only second period, there was a good amount of time to go before lunch.
During 3rd period, one of Jenna's friends, staring down her nose at him handed him a note from Jenna. I've got to talk to you, it read, Meet me at the baseball diamond at lunch. Raien sighed and turned his attention back to his government teacher.
At lunch, Raien crossed the football field behind the school to the diamond. When he got there, two guys from the football team stepped out from behind the bleachers right in front of him. The next thing Raien knew he was on his ground, pain shooting through his face.
"Jenna says 'hi' asshole." one of them said, planting a boot in Raien's ribs making him cry out in pain. No one was going to come help him. They were too far away from the school for anyone to see or hear this. The two guys didn't stop there. Picking him up by his hair, one held him while the other punched. They let him fall back to the ground. Anger welled up inside his chest, along with hopelessness. He needed help and there was no one around. Another blow to the ribcage. Raien spat blood onto the grass. Reaching inside himself, he found something. Power. Renewed energy flowed through his body. He felt strong. Fast. Rage broke its way to the surface. "Leave... Me... ALONE!!" he yelled, eyes clenched in anger.
Opening his eyes, he found the two football players backing up. Standing easily, Raien watched them turn and run back to the safety of the building. His anger started to fade, and he began to feel like himself again. Pain all over his body returned. Doing his best to dust himself off, Raien walked back to the school. Muttering to himself, he threw the door open, heading to the nurse's office for some ice. He made it about halfway down the hallway before the sudden silence hit him. There were always a million discussions happening all at once in these corridors. Looking around, everyone was staring at him.
"What?" he asked, pissed off from so many stupid things happening all at once. Most of them continued to stare at him. A girl he knew from Biology pointed mutely to a mirror in her locker. Looking back at him was a his face. But his eyes... They burned with blue fire. Raien jumped. All the stories he'd heard came crashing into his head. Someone whispered mutant. His chest tightened. He turned and ran down the hallway, and out into the woods near the school.
Collapsing under a tree, he shook. "I can't be. Oh god no. Please... Don't make me a mutant. I'm not a mutant! I..."
Raien's eyes opened, and they adjusted to the darkness of the hole in the wall he'd shared with M. She stood over him looking concerned.
"You were talking in your sleep, Raien. Must have been some nightmare." she said softly
"Yeah," he began groggily, "I guess it was."
Suddenly he snapped fully awake to the sound of heavy footfalls near them. Boots. He heard male voices, and motioned at M to keep quiet. She looked terrified. He had to protect her. He heard one of them say something, and then one of the stones that hid the entrance to the chamber began to move.
Blue fire erupted around Raien as he jumped from the wall behind him, into the stones. Bursting through them, one landed on a very surprised FoH soldier, crushing his chest. Raien's boots skidded on the ground as he landed. Three. Jumping into the air, he trailed blue flame as he landed both boots on the nearest soldier. Jumping off the man's chest, he landed atop the third, punching him squarely in the temples, knocking him out. One more soldier rounded the corner. He saw M.
"Well, what have we got here..." he leered at her. Raien stepped between the guard and M snarling. He was about to jump, when a sharp pain hit his neck from behind. Instantly his vision began to blur, and he fell to his knees. Staring incredulously at M, he whispered "...Why..."
"I'm sorry, Raien, I wasn't completely honest with you. My name's not M. Its Emma. Emma Frost. Perhaps you've heard of me?"
Slowly Raien's eyes opened to darkness. His body ached. There was a humming sound that had awaken him. As he felt his body for bruises, he didn't feel his normal clothes. When his hands got to his neck, he gasped. There was cold metal there. A Genoshian collar.
Raien could barely remember the feel of sunlight on his skin. He rarely saw it anymore save through the grate of a storm drain. Life had become hell. Mutants were beaten on the street, and the police didn't lift a finger. A group calling itself the Friends of Humanity had grown into a world power. What had started as a simple hate group had become a cancer of the earth. Raien had to give them credit, they certainly knew what they were doing. They'd begun recruiting youth from around the world, indoctrinating them early into their hateful ways. Now this generation had entered the workplace. Even the government. Now, they were building "Sanctuaries". "Places where Mutants would be happy and safe from the outside world."
Grimly, Raien laughed at the prospect. He knew what these Sanctuaries signified. It had happened before, only this time, the arm band bore not a swastika, but an eagle. The outcome was the same. People went in. They didn't come out.
Months before, Raien had been taken in by a group named the Morlocks. They were a group of mutants unable to walk on the surface. Their mutations so extreme that normal people were afraid of them or spat at them. Raien looked normal enough, but a pair of solid blue glowing eyes tended to give him away. Ironically, a group of FoH, after beating him severely, dumped him right on their doorstep. They'd told him he belonged in the sewer with the rats. The Morlocks took him in, nursed him back to health, and even helped him develop his gift. Made him call it a gift, and not a curse.
He could ignore gravity when he chose to. Many mutants he knew of, mainly those belonging to the X-Men, and some following the renegade Magneto had the ability of flight. Raien, or Nightfire as he'd taken to be calling, couldn't exactly fly, more like float. Though a running start or a strong jump gave it the appearance of flight. Other uses became available though, as one of the Morlocks had been a monk in northern Japan, highly skilled in several forms of martial arts. He'd taken it upon himself to instruct Raien. It had given him confidence. Patience. And one hell of a surprise for anyone who would seek to hurt him.
The memory of the Morlocks and his Sensei sent a twinge of pain into his heart. Raien had been gone, as he liked to walk on the surface in the early hours of the morning while no one else was about. FoH had found the Morlocks. Raien felt a swell of hatred erupt in his chest. They'd killed them. Even the women. The children. Raien's mouth curled downward in disgust. He had returned to find no one left alive. The bodies of his friends, his family had littered their homes.
Since that day, Raien had walked the sewers aimlessly. His life, his family had been taken away from him.
He stared at the slab of stale bread he had been eating, realizing it was getting light outside. "Time to make camp." he muttered. FoH, having found so many "Muties" in the sewer, made appearances every once in a while. Raien knew some of the places that the Morlocks had used for hiding places, and used those to hide during the day. He'd found one such place, removing several large stones, a small hole opened up into a room big enough to stretch out in, but only barely.
He'd tossed his pack inside when he heard a noise. Heavy breathing. Hurried footsteps. Flattening himself against the wall, he listened. The footfalls coming from around the corner were not those of the combat boots FoH seemed to enjoy wearing. They had a lighter tone. Peeking around the corner, Raien saw a stunningly beautiful woman, clad in what had been white, long before. Tears streaked her face, and somehow Raien just knew she was a mutant.
He stepped out toward her. She gasped, and a hand flew up in Raien's direction. She squinted, and a confused look spread across her ashen face. "Whoa there! Its ok, I'm not going to hurt you." he said, trying to sound comforting.
"You... You're a mutant?" she said, her voice shaking.
"Well the eyes tend to give that much away..." Raien said lightly. "I'm Raien by the way. You look like you've been running. I know a spot where FoH can't find us if you'd like to stay with me today."
Relief emanated from her, and she smiled shyly. "I'm M. I've been running for so long... I don't know when I slept last, much less felt safe anywhere. I'd love to join you." she said
Raien showed her to the hidden room, and once they were both inside, replaced the bricks that hid the entrance. Raien handed her the blanket from his pack, and wrapped himself in his long leather duster.
"We're both exhausted, M, lets get a little sleep. We can talk later, okay?" Raien said softly. M nodded slowly and shut her eyes. She looked like she felt safe enough. Raien's thoughts turned inward as he drifted off, thinking about his past.
Raien was back in his hometown High School. He was walking down the hallway with the girl he thought he'd loved. He really enjoyed spending time with her, but she wanted more than that. They'd even had sex. It had felt good, but there'd just been something missing. The whole relationship was like that. There was something Raien couldn't put his finger on, but he brushed those thoughts aside whenever they arose. Raien simply figured that they were not meant to be. When he broke up with Jenna, he found out that she thought he was her soul mate. She was livid with anger. Luckily, Raien had no classes with her. As it was only second period, there was a good amount of time to go before lunch.
During 3rd period, one of Jenna's friends, staring down her nose at him handed him a note from Jenna. I've got to talk to you, it read, Meet me at the baseball diamond at lunch. Raien sighed and turned his attention back to his government teacher.
At lunch, Raien crossed the football field behind the school to the diamond. When he got there, two guys from the football team stepped out from behind the bleachers right in front of him. The next thing Raien knew he was on his ground, pain shooting through his face.
"Jenna says 'hi' asshole." one of them said, planting a boot in Raien's ribs making him cry out in pain. No one was going to come help him. They were too far away from the school for anyone to see or hear this. The two guys didn't stop there. Picking him up by his hair, one held him while the other punched. They let him fall back to the ground. Anger welled up inside his chest, along with hopelessness. He needed help and there was no one around. Another blow to the ribcage. Raien spat blood onto the grass. Reaching inside himself, he found something. Power. Renewed energy flowed through his body. He felt strong. Fast. Rage broke its way to the surface. "Leave... Me... ALONE!!" he yelled, eyes clenched in anger.
Opening his eyes, he found the two football players backing up. Standing easily, Raien watched them turn and run back to the safety of the building. His anger started to fade, and he began to feel like himself again. Pain all over his body returned. Doing his best to dust himself off, Raien walked back to the school. Muttering to himself, he threw the door open, heading to the nurse's office for some ice. He made it about halfway down the hallway before the sudden silence hit him. There were always a million discussions happening all at once in these corridors. Looking around, everyone was staring at him.
"What?" he asked, pissed off from so many stupid things happening all at once. Most of them continued to stare at him. A girl he knew from Biology pointed mutely to a mirror in her locker. Looking back at him was a his face. But his eyes... They burned with blue fire. Raien jumped. All the stories he'd heard came crashing into his head. Someone whispered mutant. His chest tightened. He turned and ran down the hallway, and out into the woods near the school.
Collapsing under a tree, he shook. "I can't be. Oh god no. Please... Don't make me a mutant. I'm not a mutant! I..."
Raien's eyes opened, and they adjusted to the darkness of the hole in the wall he'd shared with M. She stood over him looking concerned.
"You were talking in your sleep, Raien. Must have been some nightmare." she said softly
"Yeah," he began groggily, "I guess it was."
Suddenly he snapped fully awake to the sound of heavy footfalls near them. Boots. He heard male voices, and motioned at M to keep quiet. She looked terrified. He had to protect her. He heard one of them say something, and then one of the stones that hid the entrance to the chamber began to move.
Blue fire erupted around Raien as he jumped from the wall behind him, into the stones. Bursting through them, one landed on a very surprised FoH soldier, crushing his chest. Raien's boots skidded on the ground as he landed. Three. Jumping into the air, he trailed blue flame as he landed both boots on the nearest soldier. Jumping off the man's chest, he landed atop the third, punching him squarely in the temples, knocking him out. One more soldier rounded the corner. He saw M.
"Well, what have we got here..." he leered at her. Raien stepped between the guard and M snarling. He was about to jump, when a sharp pain hit his neck from behind. Instantly his vision began to blur, and he fell to his knees. Staring incredulously at M, he whispered "...Why..."
"I'm sorry, Raien, I wasn't completely honest with you. My name's not M. Its Emma. Emma Frost. Perhaps you've heard of me?"
Slowly Raien's eyes opened to darkness. His body ached. There was a humming sound that had awaken him. As he felt his body for bruises, he didn't feel his normal clothes. When his hands got to his neck, he gasped. There was cold metal there. A Genoshian collar.