Chapter five

"First, I would like to introduce everyone to Bruce Banner - also known as The Incredible Hulk," I say, gesturing to him.

He sits to my right of the table. There are eight people in the room, including myself and Bruce. They all give nods of acknowledgement.

"Bruce, this is my team. You've already met Leilanna - she has the ability to heal. Gale's capable of controlling air - which means that she can also fly. Chambers is a level two telekinetic. Fade can become invisible in a split-second. Shift can shape-shift - unfortunately he can only change into animals but it still comes in handy. We have a teleporter - Portal, and she can teleport anywhere within a twenty mile-radius. You've met Zeke and... well, the only other one you have yet to meet is sleeping."

"Sleeping?" He raises an eyebrow.

I give a dismissive wave of the hand and give a firm shake of the head. "I know you've been asking a lot of questions - not just lately, but for a long time now. And I feel that everything I have to say is... a lot. More than a lot. So, we'll start with why you're here."

He gives a small nod, eyes bright with interest.

"The whole reason... the things that happened in our past, happened... was because of one person. His name is Viktor Andrews."

Even just uttering his word seems to send a shiver around the room. Bruce's brow pinches in response.

"Viktor is... a very powerful mutant. He's a telepath unlike anything anyone has seen before - his abilities far surpass that of Charles Xavier or his student, Jean Grey. Viktor is also possible one of the most evil mutants to walk this Earth. He is manipulative and vile - and I'm sure we all agree."

There's a loud of 'mmhhs' and 'yeses' that circle around the room. Bruce just continues to watch me, eyes slightly narrowed.

"Some of you know this, some of you don't," my eyes focus on Bruce. "But I think it's fair that everyone should know. I'm dying - and it is because of Viktor. When I was eighteen, I made the mistake of thinking that Viktor could help me. My mother was a drunk and my father had left us. He promised he would help me fix them."

I take a slightly shaky breath, my eyes now completely avoiding Bruce's. He'e remembering as I talk - he knew about my mother, about my father, but there was nothing he could ever do.

"What I didn't realise, not for many years, even after working for him and running around doing his bidding - was that Viktor was slowly draining me. Not just my ability, but my essence .. my life. I was... his 'first' technically - and I was with him the longest. Thirteen years. Somehow, having him drain me for such a long time - made it so that I have some kind of bond with him now. Even though I managed to escape from him last year, he is still continuing to drain me ever so slowly."

Bruce is still watching me intently. The frown is still etched into his face and he looks slightly unsure.

"I know that doesn't answer everything. There's still a lot to be answered... but I want you to understand that this is the main reason I did what I did... and we'll take in private about the other things that happened. But I will explain it all."

He nods and I can tell that he's struggling to keep his emotions intact. "So I have a few questions. Firstly, why do you have a team? Do you plan on stopping him somehow?"

"Uh," I blanch slightly. "Sort of. I mean, it would be nice if we could stop him - but it seems unlikely. The whole reason we're all here is to... well, to protect someone."

He raises an eyebrow. "Protect?"

"Yes. I told you there's one more of us. She's sleeping." I nod.

"And why does she need to be protected?"

"I'll come to that later. Next question."

"Why am I here?"

"For one... we need you to help us in many ways. We need to find out how to protect ourselves against his draining abilities and if you could help sever my bond, that would be great," I laugh but it sounds strained. "But more importantly, you're his next target."

"What?"

I nod my head grimly. That's the whole reason I stopped being his little slave. For a long time now, I've been running around, doing his bidding - without questioning. Until he said he wanted you, to drain the Hulk from you."

He scoffs. "That doesn't sound so bad."

I shake my head. "I don't know entirely how the Hulk works Bruce, but I don't think he'd be able to drain it as efficiently as he thinks. And since he knows he can't kill you, it's likely he'll force you to 'work' for him."

He shakes his head. "How would he do that?"

"He'd make me do it." I swallow slightly.

"What? How?!"

I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Because of this bond between us... he's managed to absorb a large amount of my ability. All he would have to do is touch me and keep a hold of me - a simple command and I would be unable to do much else."

"A little taste of your own medicine, huh?" He states suddenly and the others shift uncomfortably at the sudden obvious tension in the air.

I wet my lips and try to control a sudden annoyance. I deserved that. I know I did. Still stings. I open my mouth but a soft voice interrupts me.

"Ria? Why didn't you wake me to tell me you were having a meeting?" The little girl says, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Bruce turns his head towards the little girl, surprised to see her standing there. He looks back at me, head cocked to the side slightly, a silent question.

I walk over to the little girl and lift her into the air. She clings to me tightly, arms wrapping around my neck as yawns sleepily. I twist so that I can see Bruce.

"Bruce, I'd like you to meet the little girl that Viktor so desperately wants... her name is Avery - and she's my baby sister."