Reunion

Chapter 2

Cyclops led them down the hall to the professor's old office. Everyone else passed through the doorway, but Talon paused outside, Cyclops behind her.

"Go on in, Talon." He said softly.

Talon looked back at him. "Why are we going in here? Shouldn't we ask…"

Jessica paused, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Um, Talon. He's… gone."

Talon looked up at her, her face pale with shock. "What? When? Why didn't anyone…?"

"Beast thought it best not to worry you. He said you've lost enough people in your life. Come on." Cyclops said quietly.

The group crammed into the small space. "All right. This reunion was meant to bring us together for fun and friendship and all that, but there was another reason why I wanted everyone here."

Furball yawned. "Okay, Mr. Summers. Get to the point."

Cyclops glared at him. "Enough, Jason. There is a race of people- no, an entire world that is in great danger. Its creators hid it by using what they called a "locking spell". It's some sort of highly charged force field. Trecia is a member of that world. She came to us a confused and terrified three-year-old, but she was able to relate to us enough to know that she could trust us."

Jessica suddenly nodded. "Is she the centaur chick?"

Cyclops nodded. "You've still got it, Jess. Furball, tell her to come in here."

Furball turned and left the room.

A minute later, Furball was back with the nervous female centaur at his side.

She looked from one to another of the group and sighed. "What do you wish of me, Sir Summers?" she asked nervously.

Cyclops gestured toward the others. "Tell us what it is that menaces you."

Trecia nodded. "Our world was once protected by the Selah—an army of elves who have used the element to shield us. Somehow, its power is being weakened. Some sons of men who looked much like you invaded our land and took several of us captive, my family among them. Once we arrived in your United States, we were split up and sent to several parts of your world. The invaders released my family, saying they were of no value, allowing them to return. I was kept like a pet and taught to dance and performed as a sort of circus animal. Fortunately, my family was able to temporarily reseal the tear between our world and yours, but it weakens without the element to strengthen it. If those sons of men succeed in opening our world, who knows what may happen? Magic and science will collide. The mythical and realistic will be as one. If that happens…"

Talon stepped forward. This was starting to sound very familiar. "What other races inhabit your world, Trecia?"

Trecia looked her way. "Elves, gnomes, dwarves. As the modern expression goes- you name it, we have it. Do you not see the urgency in our position?"

Talon nodded. "Yeah. I think I do. What do you want us to do about it?"

"Cadar is powered by a rare element buried deep within the caverns of our homeworld. Our dwarven allies mine this element, which they then transfer to our elvin allies, who stabilize the element. We centaurs offer our strong backs in the mines and ferrying the element, still buried within the mineral Acarinite, between the two. The gnomes have found a way to isolate the element in the mineral and draw it out. They feed it into the machine which powers Cadar. For some reason, our once abundant mines have become impenetrable to us. We can no longer enter the mines without falling weak and prolonged stay inside the shafts only a few feet has killed several of our kin and our allies. We fear it is the work of the Orc and Troll nations working together. Your sons of men seemed unaffected by the shields. We… I hope that you can find out the cause of the … illness that sweeps the mines. I also hope, should they still live, you can find those of my homeworld that they took from us." Trecia took a deep breath and paused, looking over the group. "I leave the rest for Sir Summers to detail." Stepping aside, she gently motioned to Cyclopes to continue.

"I know of seven other centaurs. Three are loose like you and the other four are in Cruise City's Base B." Cyclops said.

Talon's eyes widened. "That's not far from Spartanburg. They're not sideshow freaks are they?"

"No." Trecia said. "They serve a more practical purpose."

Talon shrugged. "Why are they still holding them?"

Trecia kicked out at the air. "Their blood. They have a unique type of plasma in their blood that allows them to recover from many of your world's deadly diseases."

Talon stood silent for a minute. "I'm such an idiot." She mumbled.

"Why do you say that, Talon?" Cyclops asked.

Talon gave her teacher a look. "I passed the sideshow freak exhibit at the fair last month and they kept talking about something called Kzron Zim the Mighty. They described it as a half horse half man. It was pulling all these barrels filled with pig iron or something. I didn't even think about it. I just kept right on going."

Renegade elbowed her cousin. "You're getting dense in your old age."

Talon ignored her, keeping an uncharacteristic silence.

"Well." Cyclops said. "Are you familiar with that particular centaur, Trecia?"

Trecia cocked her dark black head and thought. "No, but the name is Centaurian. I believe he is of the Gondori tribe. They are hardy people and will keep for a while provided they are not locked in a small room with no windows."

"Why is that?" Furball asked.

"Centaurs are claustrophobic." Renegade supplied.

"And they also are afraid of fire." Talon added.

"Trecia? Do you know if any Elves have been captured?"

Trecia nodded. "Two. The warrior-king Calavrox and his son the one Prince Nesson. The last time I heard, they were both in a holding facility in Europe somewhere, but that was nearly five years ago. I don't know what is being done to them, but Calavrox is a strong ruler. He will be able to withstand most of what the sons of men can dish out."

"Okay." Furball said, twitching impatiently. "What are we dealing with first, the Acarinite, or the captured?"

Cyclops spread his hands in a wide gesture. "Floor's open. What do you think we should do?"

Renegade cocked her head and thought. "In this case, I'd say the safety of the world is more important than the rescuing of a few."

Cyclops turned to Trecia and Furball. "I go where she goes." Furball said, grinning at Talon.

Trecia gave an annoyed sigh. "Hold your disrespectful tongue you blue-furred two-legger! If I were you, Lady Talon, I would put as much distance between you and this irritant as possible."

Talon nodded. "He's water off my back."

Cyclops cleared his throat. "On task, all of you. Talon, your opinion?"

Talon thought for a minute. "I think I'll have to go with Renegade on this one. It's been how long since you've physically seen any of these people, Trecia?"

Trecia frowned. "I haven't seen any of the centaurs, but I've been hearing murmurings out of Ireland about a young man who single-handedly captured a tiger without using any form of restraint and asking it to enter its cage. He has been spotted at zoos and circus grounds, but when people try to find him he's nowhere around. I believe that is Prince Nesson." She looked at Renegade. "I believe Renegade has determined the best course of action. I can get you into the world. Sir Summers, are you with me?"

Cyclops heaved a huge sigh and turned toward the door. "Sounds like a plan to me. I'll see what the rest of the blue squad thinks. We'll need a few more experienced minds on this trip. Furball, would you mind summoning your dad?"

Furball grinned. "Okay, but I'd much rather…"

"Jason, go. We don't have time for your useless jawing."

Furball sighed. "Okay, okay I'm going."

Cyclopes stood looking at the assembled people standing near the Blackbird. According to Trecia, who stood with the group, they would need to take a short jaunt to the upper Adirondack Mountains before she could take them to Cadar. "'We must go through the veil there to get to my village'" was what she had told him. Standing with her were Beast, Furball, Talon, Renegade, Wolverine, and Ice.

Renegade looked around at the assembled crowd herself. "Um, is this enough of us to save an entire planet?"

Talon gave a short chuckle. "I don't know. If we can figure out what's causing the mine to malfunction and the element … maybe."

"Even the smallest person can make a difference," Beast said in a sagely manner. "We just have to eliminate all the other un-possibilities."

"Just board the plane," Wolverine grunted, chewing on the end of an unlit cigar.

"Agreed," said Cyclopes.

The plane boarded and takeoff successful, the passengers about the Blackbird enjoyed a quick ten minute flight to the location Trecia has given them.

"So, um," Ice started, "how exactly do we get to your world?"

Trecia stamped her hind left foot in frustration. "It will be easy, if I could find the veil's tear. I haven't been here in a short piece of time, Ice. It may have sealed itself…" She paused, reaching out her arm towards a gossamer thread suspended in mid-air. "Or, in this case, gotten more visible," she finished dejectedly. I wonder how many more sons of men have gone through here. Pulling her arm aside as one would a curtain; Trecia motioned for the others to go ahead of her. "Make haste."

It only took a moment for the others to file through.

Twitching, Renegade gave a feral grin and shifted to full panther even as Wolverine's claws gave their trademark "SNIKT" as he let them out. "I don't think yer people are takin' kindly to visitors, Tre," he said gruffly.

"No kidding, Einstein," Furball said cheekily.

Trecia gave a half snort and kicked her foreleg. "Would you leave a weak point at the school unguarded if my kin had already come in and kidnapped your friends and family, Wolverine? I think not." She reared up suddenly and upon impact called out in her native tongue…ignoring the looks the others gave her. "I am Trecia, daughter of Denryx and Allyri Gyr, keepers of the Caltineo Stone and heiress to the Gladimer Gauntlet. I bring help."

"Trecia," came the same tongue, "we thought you lost with the others. Pray, who are the others of your party?"

"With me stands Cyclopes, trusted advisor and leader of the others. The large blue one is called Beast, healer and philosopher. His son, the little blue one, is Furball. The short female beside me is Talon. Next to her stands Ice." Trecia suddenly stopped. "Where are Wolverine and Renegade? I did not see them move off."

Talon looked around, head cocked as she listened. "They probably didn't want to be seen or heard. I think they're scouting though."

Trecia stomped again, snorting in disgust. "They couldn't wait?" Before anyone got the chance to say anything, Trecia continued. "There are two more of our party. One called Renegade and another called Wolverine. They are scouts and… have already begun scouting ahead of us. Should you see them, don't damage them… too much."

"Step forward daughter of Denryx."

Trecia did as instructed and nodded as five centaurs, one courser and four warriors, stepped from the trees. This group was put together to take on more powerful foes and the female felt confident that no one else had gotten through this tear in quite some time.

"The smell of our world lies faint upon you, child, but you are indeed one of our own," the large courser said in greeting. "You carry yet another of our world with you. Step forward, Talon Eagle."

Talon took a step backwards in surprise before doing as she was told. "How do you know my full codename?"

"Twas I who gave it to you," he replied. "Perhaps you know me better as Cassious."

For a moment, Talon stood in disbelief. It had been many years since she'd heard that name.

"You know this guy?" Furball asked.

Talon nodded, relieved now that someone else stood between herself and Furball.

"Yes. I know him quite well, actually. Cassious? When we have more time, I'd like to catch up on old news, but right now I have to ask you- have all who ventured into the mines died because of the… fumes or whatever?"

"No." said the large Morgan centaur. "Most were removed before they died. Many of them complain of tightness in the chest and a burning sensation in the throat."

Talon nodded, but her thoughts seemed elsewhere. To Beast's trained eye, she appeared to be fighting with something—something she did not want to remember. Like his teacher before him, he refrained from searching her mind, though her haunted expression still troubled him. "Keep them in quarantine until we can question them." She said finally, regaining her composure .

Cassious nodded. "We are grateful for your arrival, but I fear it has been long overdue. As long as we're asking questions, I have one for you. What are your plans for saving our world?"

Talon blinked and looked back at the others.

Cyclops looked up warily at the other four centaurs. "I think we would get more work done if we tackled this problem on several fronts. If you would allow Beast to work with one of your chemists, the rest of us can figure out what's going on here."

Cassious looked at Trecia for a long time. "Can we trust them, daughter of Denryx?"

Trecia nodded. "You know the Lady Talon. The one called Beast raised me from filly-hood. I'll vouch for the others. They are loyal friends and can be trusted."

Cassious nodded and motioned for the other centaurs to step out of the way. The group gazed through the trees in front of them into a city straight out of a story book.

"Wow." Ice breathed, pushing Trecia's flank out of the way so he could get a clearer view.

Cassious bowed to the group. "Welcome to Cadar." he turned to Trecia. "Your father will be much relieved to know you are safe. Come. I will take you to the borders of his land, but I cannot accompany you to his home. I am a member of the Hamib Ahraru, or Hill tribe. My crossing into Denryx territory would be considered disrespectful without his leave."

Talon looked up at him. "Since you can't go with us, do us a favor and inform your people of what's going on. Any help at all they can offer us will be appreciated."

Cassious smiled down at her. "I will relay the news. Now let us go. Every delay puts us one more thread closer to danger."

"Ou!" Renegade grunted as a branch smacked her in the face. She and Wolverine were attempting to make their way silently toward a suspicious-looking wooden house in a completely Elvin neighborhood.

"I thought you said these guys lived in trees." Wolverine growled.

"I did, but what's that?"

"Looks like a house to me."

Renegade elbowed him hard only to receive the heel of a palm in her back. "Ou! It is a house, but it's the wrong kind of house." She said through gritted teeth. "Now do me a favor and make yourself useful and get this branch out of my way."

Wolverine stepped forward and lunged into the thick tree branch. To his surprise, the tree swung back, knocking Renegade into him and flinging them both into the air. Renegade bounded back to her feet as Wolverine stood up, brushing himself off and swearing loudly. "What kinda place is this?" he spluttered, spitting bits of leaf.

Renegade, still in panther morph looked at him. "It's enchanted like me. Now quit your griping and let's go."

Wolverine looked at the tree which had resumed its original position. "Hey, Bushy! Ya mind moving your branch out of the way?"

Renegade laughed. "And you're being polite? Guess that tree knocked something into you."

Wolverine growled and kicked at the ground.

Slowly, the tree lifted its branches.

"Wow." Renegade said. "It listened." But as they started toward it, something happened. There was a strange roar in the air like the sound of a rocket returning to earth.

Wolverine froze with Renegade a pace ahead of him when the earth suddenly bubbled up like melting cheese in front of them.

Renegade gave a mighty leap, barely avoiding being swallowed. The two jumped the seven-foot hole in the ground and ran into the dense tangle of trees toward the house. "This is why I should've stayed with Cyclops." She groaned.

"Hmph. We'll get a lot more done without him." Wolverine said, pushing ahead. "Com'on."

As the two moved across the small open space before the house, a tiny door flew open from the side and several hundred creatures came running out at them. They were perhaps two feet tall with short white hair and very wrinkled faces. They wore heavy armor and carried wooden-handled axes. The teammates froze, not sure what to make of this deadly little army.

Renegade looked questioningly up at Wolverine who grinned down at her.

"Oo! Dominos! This is my idea of fun." as the little creatures swarmed around them, Renegade and Wolverine sent them flying to both sides, but it seemed the more they knocked down, the more there were to deal with. Suddenly, Wolverine looked up toward the house, and froze just as another wave of creatures came barreling toward them.

Renegade dove into them, snarling and snapping. Five had some parts missing and four more reeled back, their carotid arteries torn in half. Blind to everything but her opponents, Renegade forced her way through until she found herself at the door of the house.

It was like someone threw a switch.

Once her front paws were on the bottom step, the strange creatures left her alone. She looked back to see what had become of Wolverine and froze herself. He was too still, his eyes looking straight ahead, his clawed hands outstretched in a lunge. Something was wrong, deadly wrong. She rose up on hind legs and pawed at the door knob. It turned easily and the door swung open. She stared into a luxuriously furnished room, and in its center was the largest crystal ball she had ever seen. A radiance that was so strong it put off heat wafted over her, and a curious smell like rusty metal filled her nostrils. The little men walked right past her as if they didn't mind her standing in their doorway. An instant later, she realized why. She could not move, but she could still see. She could no longer turn her head to see what had become of Wolverine, but she had an idea, and it wasn't good. It became painfully obvious to her that they were stuck in more ways than one.

TBC...