Passing the Torch
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Yeah, that's rough... I'm in a coma. I've had an itch on my foot for the last eight months"
In another RPG Sidney was in, she had a cat 'roommate' named Kevin. The irony isn't lost on me.
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Chapter 7 – The demon bear
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Scott frowned as he watched the demon bear stalk around the driveway, snarling at Deadpool and JP. He felt something tug at his pant leg. He glanced down to see Nate, who had managed to get one of Scott's old visors on his head, despite the fact he didn't need one, and it didn't fit.
"Ready to fight, Dad!", said Nate, beaming.
"No, you stay here where it's safe", said Scott.
"But Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad"
"You can help when you have powers, and then only with adult supervision", said Scott as he headed out.
"….This sucks", said Nate, stomping over to sit in the living room with the other youngsters, "I should be allowed to help"
"How?", asked Maddie, "by whining at them?"
"No!", said Nate, then frowned, crossing his arms, "I'll get Deadpool to fight for me, so there"
"I think Deadpool's fighting already", said Douglock, not looking up from the table where he was doing his homework, random fighting was commonplace here, not much to bat an eyelid to…not like he was allowed to do anything, anyway.
In the mansions infirmary, Dani was attempting to get out of bed.
"Vhat part of 'you vere in a coma, you need rest' did you not get?", asked Kurt as she fell out of bed.
Danielle muttered something under her breath in Cheyenne, struggling to her feet.
"In English?", asked Josh
"The demon bear is here!", said Dani, "I have to stop it before it kills anyone, like it killed my parents"
"Yup, she's definitely lost it, man", said Josh as Dani half fell, half walked to the door.
Kurt gave the healer a disapproving glare, before running over to Dani.
"If you insist on going out there, at least let me teleport you there, you can hardly vlak", her said.
"Fine, it'll get me there quicker", said Dani, grabbing his arm.
"This is beyond foolish", muttered Kurt, teleporting to the garden, where the bear had turned it's attention to Scott, who was firing blasts at it, "oh…it is a bear"
There was a metallic hum as the fountain rose up, hitting the bear on the back. The bear didn't so much as stumble.
"….Okay, I'm getting low on ideas here", admitted Magneto.
Scott ignored him, firing another blast at the bear.
"I think we've already established that does nothing", said Magneto, then rolled his eyes, "fine, carry on, don't listen to me"
Suddenly, Scott's car raised off the ground, before hitting the bear, exploding, causing the creature to fall back a little.
"…..There goes another one", said Scott sadly, then looked at Magneto, "did you have to do that?"
"Why am I always the first to be blamed?", asked Magneto, gesturing to where a pissed off Wanda was stalking past the gate, "it was her"
"I leave you alone with the twins for three hours, and look what happens", said Wanda, "they'd have been safer with the babysitter….if she hadn't left to work in that mine field instead"
"I didn't ask it to come, Wanda", said Magneto pointedly.
"It's here for me", said Dani, walking shakily over to it.
The bear caught sight of Dani and snarled, walking over.
"Hey, Doris, who am I?", asked Deadpool, before throwing one of his swords at the bear, "Have at thee!"
JP smirked at the sword bounced right off.
"Who are you?", he asked, "does 'idiot' work in that category?"
"Shadup, it was worth a shot, won't it?"
"Everyone just back off!", snapped Dani, "this is my fight…umm…whoever you new people are"
"Someone's a bit delirious", said Deadpool, "hey!"
Dani ignored him, taking his remaining sword and walking towards the bear.
"Been waiting for you", she said, smirking, "wondered when you'd come back for me. I'm ready, Bear"
"Is anyone else lost here?", asked Deadpool, "'Cause I'm really, really lost"
"Wade, be quiet", snapped Scott, "Mirage, get away form that thing, you'll get yourself killed"
"I know what I'm doing, Scott", said Dani, "I've always known"
"No, I assure you, you don't"
Dani frowned, turning to see a porthole opening, Amanda stepping out, the soul sword in her hands.
"Amanda?", Kurt blinked, "vhat are you doing here?"
"Hi handsome", smiled Amanda, then sighed, "I'm here to stop Danielle from getting herself killed"
The ruler of limbo held up a hand, freezing the bear in place, before throwing the soul sword at it, the sword hitting the animal in the chest, causing it to roar in pain. Within moments, the demon split apart, affected by the magic of the ancient sword. A bright light shone from it, before two shapes formed, a man and a woman. When the light faded, both stood on the ground, looking around in confusion.
"….Mom?…..Dad?", Dani blinked, "but you…you're dead"
"They were the bear, Dani", said Amanda softly, "they've always been the bear"
"Ladies and gentlemen, there is a sign up ahead", saidDeadpool, " it reads: The Twilight Zone. De de de de de de de de"
Dani's parents turned to their daughter, smiling and running over to her, hugging her tightly.
"Oh, Little Spirit", said her father, "We thought we'd lost you forever"
"…This is very strange", said Tag.
"Nah, it's just lazy storytelling", said Deadpool, "a quick way to move the plot along"
"Stop doing that", frowned JP.
"It's not my fault you can't handle the truth", said Deadpool, "I bet we'll move onto another scene any minute now"
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Over in the Brotherhood House, Eileen and Freddy had gone on a date, leaving Doreen to get settled in, much to Pietro's distaste.
"Just great", he muttered, as he walked to the kitchen "my life's hit such a low, I'm stuck in a house with a woman who looks like she belongs on a cartoon show. This sucks big ti…."
Pietro stopped dead in the doorway, watching as Monkey Joe jumped onto the handle of the fridge, causing the door to swing open. The squirrel hopped inside, appearing a few minutes later rolling a soda can along the ground. He paused in his work, watching Pietro with narrowed beady eyes. He twitched his whiskers, before continuing to roll the can into the living room, where Doreen picked it up.
"Chinchin chuckchin", she said, scratching Monkey Joe's chin.
The squirrel chinnered happily, before settling behind the couch to watch TV with his buddy. Pietro scowled, stalking in.
"I don't want that rat in the fridge contaminating the food", he said, "why don't you put it in a cage or something"
"He doesn't live in a cage", said Doreen pointedly, "and he's perfectly clean, thank you very much. And he's a squirrel, not a rat"
"It's a rodent", said Pietro, "a rodent is a rodent"
"He's a rodent", she corrected, drinking her soda, "and an idiot is an idiot"
Pietro paused.
"…..Did you just call me an idiot?"
"Well, there's only you, me and Monkey Joe here, and I didn't call my squirrel pal an idiot", she smiled sweetly.
Pietro narrowed his eyes.
"Okay, listen, Rodent", he said, "I'm the leader of this team and…"
There was a pop sound as a small spike protruded from Doreen's knuckle.
"Call me Rodent again, and I'll ram this where it will hurt for many weeks", she said, then frowned, "….I don't like being called Rodent"
She paused.
"I thought Eileen led the team"
"No, she doesn't!", snapped Pietro, "she just thinks she does. I do, memememememememe!"
"Gosh, you sure are hyperactive", she said, then dug about in a small satchel belt around her waist, pulling out a nut, "here, have a nut from my nut sacs"
Pietro blinked at the proffered nut, before snorting, falling into the floor with laugher.
"Nut sacs", he giggled, "oh, oh man, that slays me"
"….Why does everyone laugh at that?", she asked, putting the nut away, "fine, no nuts for you"
Pietro just dissolved into more laugher. Doreen shook her head, jumping over him.
"I'm going to bed, in case I catch something off you"
"Churn chunick", agreed Monkey Joe, jumping on Pietro's head before following Doreen upstairs.
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Elsewhere, a seventeen year old black-haired girl lay on a table, twiddling her thumbs nervously.
"Well?", she asked.
"All clear"
She sat up, turning to watch as Mr Sinister glanced at his clipboard.
"It worked?"
"I told you that my treatments would work", Sinister gave a smile, "There is no longer any trace of your other personality, Miss Beubier" (1)
Jeanne-Marie smiled happily.
"Then I'm cured!", she said "Oh, I don't know how to thank you"
"Keep your end of the deal, and that's thanks enough", said Sinister, "go make sure the team are together, we need to get started"
She nodded, leaving the room, heading into a bigger wreck room where Sinister's latest team were gathered. Sitting in one corner, flicking through TV channels was a canine-like man in his late twenties, covered in brown fur. He glanced up at her, arching a brow.
"Taking dat look on your face, I'm takin' it de t'ing was a success, Aurora?", he asked in a heavily Jamaican accent.
"It was, Hairbag", she said happily, "I am completely cured. She's gone forever!"(2)
"Well hippy hop hoo flippin' ray", replied a completely purple man from his seat, "let me throw a party"
Gorgeous George's body was like living clay, being able to take any shape he wished it to. It usually involved more fun for the team when he got drunk and forgot what shape his body was supposed to be. (3)
"Hey, be nice", said Aurora, "anyway, Mr. S said we've got a meeting now"
A blonde woman rolled her eyes from where she was cleaning a revolver. Sinister did, indeed, keep his promises. Through his gene-splicing abilities, he'd cloned Prudence's old body back for her, so she was no longer hijacking anyone else's mind.
"Oh goodie. A pep talk"
George smirked at her.
"Aww, come on, Pru, don't be like that"
"Go play with your mold", said Prudence with a smirk.
"You still have that thing?", grimaced Aurora, "that's disgusting"
"Hey, shut up", snapped George, "it'll become sentient one day, you'll see!" (4)
"Didn't Mr. S tell you to get rid of that thing?", asked Hairbag.
"He may have mentioned something about it", said George, "but I chose not to remember"
"He said it was filthy, and to put it in the nearest trash can", said a voice from the shadows.
"If we're talking about that mold, I already expect it to be gone", said Sinister as he walked in, shaking his head with a sigh, "I should have just cloned all the Marauders back again, it would have been far less of a headache"
"I don't know why you just cloned him", said Hairbag, jutting a thumb at the man still in the shadows, "you had less useless Marauders than him, Boss"
"I have my reasons", said Sinister darkly, then smirked, "now, onto business, shall we?"
"If we must", said Prudence, putting her gun down.
"Aurora, I want you to head to Dark Hollow, George, go with her", said Sinister, "You know what you're supposed to do?"
"Make it look good, don't hurt anyone", said George, "make sure Aurora gets left there"
"No capture. Just blend in with the team", said Aurora, "I got it, Mr. S. No worries"
"Good", smiled Sinister, "and I already have my mole in place in the Institute itself. It's just a matter of waiting for the right opportunity"
"What about the ones outside the X-Men and Nightshift's walls?", asked Hairbag
"That's when we get information", smirked Sinister, "Hairbag go to Mutant Town and pick up our little package"
He handed him a playing card, otherwise blank except for a S printed onto it.
"Leave this for our Cajun friend", he said, "I believe he need to be reminded of who own whom"
"Sure thing", said Hairbag.
Prudence narrowed her eyes.
"We had a deal, Essex"
"And it will be fulfilled, I gave you your body back", said Sinister, "you will get your revenge as soon as I gain the information I need"
"I'd better", said Prudence darkly.
Sinister turned to the shadowy figure.
"You, my friend, are going to go keep an eye on Cameron Hodge", he said, "see how far in his project he is. I need to know when he achieves his goal, don't fail me, Morph"
Morph stepped out of the shadows with a smirk.
"I won't, Sir, you can count on that"
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(1) – Aurora is canon. See, Sky? TOLD ya she'd be here ;D If the surname didn't give it away for you, she's Northstars twin.
(2) – Hairbag is canon, part of the Nasty Boys
(3) – Gorgeous George is also canon, and also part of the Nasty Boys. It's an infamous story with him that once he got so drunk, he forgot how long his arms were meant to be.
(4) –George did indeed keep a mold. He really did seem to think it would become sentient eventually.
Bwahahahahahahaha! Okay, those who didn't read all of the Chronicles will be lost now, but I did warn everyone that to get it, you need to read the whole series. For those who've dedicatedly followed it, did that shock you? I hope so. Do review. Until next time..
