A/N: Happy Fourth of July for any of my fellow Americans! In celebration of Independence and in the reunion of Kyle and Yost on Amazing Xmen I am updating sooner than usual. Before anyone gets too upset, I want to say that I do, in fact, really like Scott Summers (Uncanny Xmen is currently my favorite title). However, he is stubborn and hard-headed and sometimes he doesn't make the best choices. That being said, I don't want anyone to assume I'm bashing him in his confrontation this chapter. Also, I am treating Blink like a brand new character, but using some of her basic bio.
The Sinister Solution
Chapter Ten:
Hellion
Julian was restless, his dreams plagued by scenes such as Brian's ill-fated bus-ride, Lady Deathstrike's claws piercing through his chest, and Laura breaking up with him after their adventure in outer space. His eyes snapped open at the slight breeze he felt upon his bare chest. It was Laura. She lifted the blanket from his bed and slipped in next to him. He looked at the bright blue lights of the motel's alarm clock. It was six in the morning, three hours before their wakeup call.
He wanted to say something to her, in fact he opened his mouth to speak, but Laura pressed her index finger vertically over his lips and he kept quiet. She released his lips, then trailed her fingertip softly over the crease between his eyes. He could feel the tension ease in his facial muscles. Did she sense his fitful sleep?
It was times like this, that he wished he had telepathy along with his telekinesis. Rachel Grey and Betsy Braddock had both. It seemed unfair that he did not.
Laura didn't say a word either, she just laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Julian wrapped his arms around her and dozed back to sleep himself.
There was an incessant ringing, fumbling, and a crash.
Julian turned over to face the source of the sound. Warren sat on the edge of his bed and scratched his head, musing his blond hair in the process. "I guess that was the wake-up call?" Warren said questioningly. He chuckled. "I must have been more tired than I realized."
Julian sat up, stretched his limbs, and then shoved aside his bed covers. Laura was long gone. He almost wondered if he dreamed her joining him in bed, but the memory felt too real. Julian accessed his telekinesis, the fallen telephone glowed green, rose from the floor, and settled back onto the nightstand.
"I've got dibs on the shower," Julian said.
"No problem. I took mine last night," Warren said. He laid back on his pillows and stared at the television. "I don't suppose you could turn that on, could you?"
"Sure," Julian agreed. He used his powers to carry the television remote control and the channel guide to Warren. He clicked the power button on the remote before dropping the devise in Warren's lap. "So, nervous about meeting Mr. Sinister?"
"I'm pretty sure we met before," Warren said. "Just because I don't remember, doesn't mean it didn't happen."
"I'm a fan of deniability sometimes, refuse to accept a reality I'm displeased with," Julian said. He looked down at his prosthetic hands. "Though, reality is a bitch to ignore. She makes pesky reminders that your fantasy isn't the way it really is."
"Are you nervous about meeting Sinister?" Warren asked. "I heard you tossing and turning in your sleep last night."
Was that all he heard? Julian shrugged. "Sure, one of the big bad X-men foes and we're meeting him willingly. What could go wrong?"
A short while later, Julian and Warren were at the booth in the diner from the night before. Laura joined them shortly.
"Where's Gambit?" Warren asked.
"Checking on the truck," Laura answered. "I assured him that it had not be tampered with and that the security Wolverine had installed on it were beyond state of the art, up to Gambit's specifications even, but he insisted on inspecting it himself."
"Good morning," Clarice greeted as she came upon their table. "You look like the hours of sleep did you well," she said with a tired smile. "Can I offer you something for breakfast?"
"Coffee. Lots of coffee," Warren said. "And maybe some bacon and eggs. That would be nice too."
"Sure, no problem," Clarice said. She wrote his requests on her little notepad. "And you two?"
"How about blueberry pancakes? With honey and some hash browns," Julian said. "Oh and some orange juice."
Laura drummed her fingers over the formica-covered tabletop. "I would like blueberry pancakes as well, also eggs and bacon. And chocolate milk."
"Better watch your figure," Clarice said with a wink. "I'll just go submit your orders and then I'll be right back with some waters for you."
Julian watched her walk away. "She's in a good mood for someone that just pulled the graveyard shift," he commented.
"If you'll excuse me. I need to pay a visit to the men's room," Warren said. He rose from the table and headed towards the restroom.
"I didn't realize you liked chocolate milk," Julian said, angling towards Laura in the booth. "By the way, I'm glad you visited me last night. I was having some pretty terrible dreams."
Laura nodded. "I know. I could smell the fear radiating off you all the way to the room next door. That's why I went to check on you."
"Is that the only reason?" Julian teased with a smile.
Laura's cheeks reddened. "And maybe I was cold."
"Okay you two lovebirds, here you go," Clarice said. She set their glasses of water, along with Warren's on the table. She stumbled back a step. "Oh, sorry about that. Got a little woozy there." She brushed back her amethyst bangs and revealed that her forehead had a very vibrant diamond marking in the center of it. "Uh oh," she whispered.
The world was a swirly pink tornado. When Julian regained his senses, he was no longer in the diner. He, Laura, and Clarice stood outside of a trailer park. The grass various shades of yellow and crispy as it would be expected in winter. The trailer closest to them had rust stains on the outer walls. A fairly new bright red Chevy Silverado was next to the rusted trailer.
"I'm so sorry," Clarice apologized. Her green eyes filled with tears and she ran her fingers through her hair in wild agitation. "It's really real," she worried.
The door to the trailer slammed open. A tall, dark haired, dark skinned man lumbered down the stairs and ran towards them. He looked familiar and by the sound of Laura's sharp intake of air, he assumed she knew him.
"You're the James she was talking about?" Laura asked. She snorted an amused laugh. "I had wondered."
"X? What the hell?" James "Warpath" Proudstar hurried towards them. He took Clarice by the shoulders and then pulled her against his chest in a fierce embrace. "What happened, Clarice?"
"It happened again," Clarice cried. "Just like with Sir Fluffikins, but this time nobody was hurt." She sniffled against James.
"What happened the first time?" Julian asked, though he dreaded the answer.
"Shortly after her hair and skin changed color she woke up in a field not far from the motel. She brought her cat along for the ride, but he didn't make it," James explained.
"He was a puddle of fur, blood, and bones. I wouldn't have recognized him if it wasn't for his pink and rhinestone collar," Clarice explained.
"You're a teleporter," Laura explained. "It's a very useful skill for a team."
"Don't even think about it, X," James said. "She's not getting involved with the X-men and neither am I."
"Look, we respect your decision," Julian said, holding up his hands in a peaceful gesture. "However, could you possibly give us a ride back to the motel? We're on a time sensitive mission and I have no idea where we are."
"You're about twenty miles from the motel," James explained. "And don't even think about flying, Hellion. People in these parts will freak out if they see someone flying over their skies."
"Okay, does that mean you'll give us a ride back?" Julian probed. He certainly wasn't walking twenty miles. He didn't care if the people of these fine parts freaked out or not. He'd fly himself and Laura back before he made the trek on foot.
"Yeah, just let me put on some boots," James said.
OoO
Gambit
Remy knew that the Range Rover would be secure. He'd been part of the team that had designed the security features. No thieve would stow away with his precious cargo. All he wanted now was a nice hardy breakfast and a big pot of coffee. If they were facing Sinister in a few short hours he wanted to be ready. He didn't tell the others, but he and Sinister weren't exactly best buddies, but they had a history. He was certain that Sinister's interests would be piqued. Besides, Sinister had an almost paternal interest in LeBeau.
He opened the door to the little diner, the greeting bell on the handle jingled in the process. The first thing he spied was Warren standing over a booth with a confused look upon his face. He looked up and met Remy's gaze with wide eyes.
"They were just here. I was only gone a minute, maybe two," Warren explained.
"Mon Dieu," Remy grumbled as he rubbed his temples. If he was a college aged kid, where would he go? "I'll check the other bathroom."
"They aren't in there," Warren said.
"How do you know? Did you look?" Remy asked. He started past Warren, but was stopped in his tracks.
The door to the lady's bathroom opened and Iliyana "Magik" Rasputin stepped out. "Oh, he's right. They aren't here," she said. The door to the lady's room opened again and Scott "Cyclops" Summers followed out behind her.
"The lady's restroom? Really?" Cyclops complained. He looked up and met Gambit's eyes. "Oh, Gambit. What are you doing here?"
"Vacation," Remy replied. "What brings you to Chattanooga? Where's your girlfriend?"
"Oh those two broke up ages ago," Magik said.
Without a pesky telepath to read everyone's minds, there was absolutely no need to tell Scott what their mission was about. He wasn't the boss of him. Besides, what would Scott do if he learned there might be a way to bring someone back from the dead? Would he try to bring back Xavier? Or Jean?
Cyclops exchanged a look with Magik. "We were able to pinpoint this location as the site of new mutant activity."
"Another teleporter," Magik deadpanned. She leaned against the wall, arms folded over her chest with a bored expression. "We just missed her." She directed her gaze towards Warren and snorted derisively.
"Oh! Mr. LeBeau, thank God you're here!" Mrs. Ferguson cried out. She rushed from behind the counter and clutched onto Gambit's arm.
"Oui? What's wrong?" Remy asked.
"It's Clarice. She just exploded in some big pink cloud and took those two wards of yours with her. They just vanished right from that booth!" Mrs. Ferguson explained, her words choked with tears.
Remy patted her hand in comfort. "Don't you worry, cher. I'll find them, non?"
Mrs. Ferguson looked towards Cyclops and Magik. "Don't let them take her away. We've seen them on t.v."
"We're not here to harm you," Cyclops protested. His very stance was threatening. If he wasn't trying to frighten the poor woman he was doing a terrible job. "Your daughter has a gift. I want to make sure that she's taught how to use it. I want to keep her safe from those that wouldn't understand that she's a blessing and not a curse."
"You've been all over F.B.I. and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most wanted lists. Cut the woman some slack, non? So, um, Cyke, where's Erik?" Remy asked, doing his best to act casual. He took out a deck of cards from the inner pocket of his trench coat and started to shuffle the cards — totally non-threatening like.
"He is no longer with us," Cyclops explained. "We had a difference of opinion."
At least that was one small blessing. No need to tell the Master of Magnetism that his ex-girlfriend killed his daughter. Or that his ex-girlfriend was dead. Nor did he need to mention that he planned a sojourn into hell to bring her back. "What happened to you and Emma? It's strange to not don't feel anyone trying to pick at my brain," Remy said.
Magik began to laugh, Cyclop's exposed face for a moment showed pain then he quickly shifted back into the likeness of a stoic prick. "It seems those two have called it quits. Frost didn't take kindly to our glorious leader's snatching the Phoenix Force from her and breaking her," Magik explained.
"That's not what happened," Cyclops said, quietly speaking to Magik.
Magik shrugged. She walked past Cyclops and sat at the diner's counter. "I'm hungry. You, woman cowering behind Death, could I order some breakfast?"
"Do you have money?" Mrs. Ferguson demanded. She looked towards Remy and he shrugged.
Magik reached into her back pocket and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. "Good enough for you?"
Mrs. Ferguson sniffed. "We don't discriminate against mutants in these parts. All I care about is if you have the money to pay your tab."
Remy shook his head and suppressed a laugh. At least Mrs. Ferguson was distracting herself with something she could do. He needed to do the same. He knew that Clarice was a teleporter and apparently she transported by Laura and Hellion somewhere. Were they alive? Teleporters were tricky. An untrained teleporter was down right scary.
"What are you doing?" Cyclops hissed at Magik.
"Eating. You should do the same. We'll be waiting for a while. The girl will come back. Don't get your panties in a wad," Magik flippantly replied. "Oh! And can I have a slice of this apple pie?"
OoO
X-23
Laura and Julian sat in the backseat of James' truck. Clarice had calmed down substantially and was sitting in the middle of the front seat next to James as he drove. It was impractical. There was so much room, why would she restrict the movement of his arm. He needed that arm to change gears.
Laura met Warpath's eyes in the rearview mirror. She wanted some answers. James drew his eyes away first, focused his gaze on the road. How did he end up in this place? She thought he was with Cyclops' team. Granted, she was out of the loop by over a year thanks to her tenure in the Avengers Academy and then subsequently Murderworld. How did he meet Clarice? What happened to Hepzibah?
Julian's stomach growled softly. "I am so hungry," he muttered. He rested his head against the side window. Laura felt the urge to scoot next to him and offer him comfort.
Oh. That's why Clarice was so close to James.
"I already submitted your orders," Clarice said. She twisted around in her seat to look back at them with an apologetic expression. "Though by the time we get to the diner the food might be cold. I'm real sorry about this."
"It's fine. I'm just glad we didn't end up like Sir Fluffikins," Julian said.
Clarice's eyes welled up with tears and she looked away quickly, burying her face against James' shoulder.
James met Laura's eyes in the rearview mirror again. This time he was pissed.
"There is no need to be so sensitive. Julian was making a good point," Laura said defensively. "We are grateful to be alive. A little hunger won't hurt us."
James pulled his truck into the parking lot near the front entrance of the Ferguson's diner. Laura opened her door and immediately detected the foul scent of sulfur in the air. Another teleporter was inside the diner. She turned to Julian. "I believe Magik is inside."
"And with her, Cyclops and Frost," Julian reasoned. "Clarice you may want to stay out here with James while we talk with them."
"She will not hide," James declared. "We will tell Cyclops to his face that we have no interest in what he may offer."
Laura wanted to know what made Warpath such a strong opponent to Cyclops. The last she knew, he was on Cyclops' side after the schism. There was a lot she didn't know about her old teammate. James opened the door to the diner, the greeting bell chimed at his entrance.
"James, sweetie!" Mrs. Ferguson greeted. Her eyes glanced beyond him to land upon her daughter. She ran from behind the counter and wrapped Clarice into a warm hug. "I was so worried about you. Are you okay?" She leaned close to Clarice's ear. "There's some people here who want to take you away. It's that mutant terrorist we seen on t.v.," she whispered.
Laura and Julian entered the diner and he shut the door behind them. Magik sat at the diner's counter and was finishing off a piece of pie. Warren sat next to her, eating his breakfast quietly. Gambit sat in a booth opposite from Mr. Ferguson. Cyclops stood with his arms folded over his chest near her, but upon spying them he pushed away from the wall and approached Clarice.
"Hello, my name is Scott Summers and I'm the leader of a group of mutants that want to help new mutants train in the use of their powers and learn how to survive in a world hostile to our kind," Cyclops greeted. He smiled, the effort forced. He gestured to Magik, who was still sitting at the counter behind him completely uninterested in the proceedings. "This is Illyana. We've come to make your acquaintance."
"My name is Magik," Magik corrected and pointed her fork in their direction. "Illyana is the name of a Russian peasant. You might as well call me Snowflake."
"Um, hi," Clarice said. She stepped away from her mother. "My name is Clarice Ferguson."
"And she wants nothing to do with you," James interrupted glowering down at Cyclops with open hostility.
Cyclops looked amongst the diner inhabitants. "I admit, I'm surprised by so many familiar faces." He focused his attention on Gambit. "Is this why you're here? Are you recruiting for Wolverine now?"
"Non, I said I'm here on vacation," Gambit answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "Well, me and a few friends."
"Where's Ms. Frost?" Julian asked. His green eyes scanned the diner worriedly. Laura could understand his concern. If Frost was present she'd know of their mission. Luckily, there wasn't a sniff of the White Queen.
Laura touched Julian's shoulder. "She's not here," she said quietly.
"Look, Clarice, we can help you. Why don't you come with us? We'll keep you safe," Scott offered. He extended his hand towards the pink-haired mutant.
James stepped protectively in front of Clarice, blocking her from Cyclops' path. "Not interested," James said.
"No offense, Mr. Proudstar, but I was speaking with Clarice," Scott said, his voice barely restraining his frustration. He grimaced, his face contorted in pain. He reached up to rub the spot between his eyes and an optic blast blew out the front windows of the diner. "I'm so sorry!"
Gambit didn't wait for the apology. He lunged towards Cyclops and caught him in a flying tackle. "You can't go around busting up people's businesses just because you don't like an answer!"
Clarice screamed, the sound a piercing shriek, and threw her hands over her ears. "Get out! Get out!" She shouted running towards Cyclops and Gambit where they rolled on the floor.
Laura blinked and they were gone.
"Teleporter, I knew it," Magik said, setting aside her fork. She looked around the room at Julian, Laura, James, and Warren. "Don't want to miss the show do you?"
Within moments, Laura felt the familiar push and pull sensation of teleportation. They landed in a grassy field across the road from the diner. A herd to cattle gazed at them in disinterest as they trudged along near a large barn in the distance. Julian was on his hands and knees dry heaving on the ground.
Laura crouched beside him, laid her hand between his shoulder blades. "Not used to teleportation?" she asked.
Julian shook his head. "Not twice in an hour. Glad we didn't have our breakfast yet." He rose to his feet and stared at the fist fight between Gambit and Cyclops. Their team leader's hair had faded to pale white and his skin grew darker as Death struggled to the surface. The crisp grass at their feet wilted entirely into black, scorched earth. "Yesh, good thing he's on our side."
"I'm not sure Death is on anyone's side," Laura said.
"I like the new look," Magik said with a grin. She and James stood next to each other. The latter had his arms around Clarice as she fought off a panic.
"What are you doing with them? This is no vacation!" Cyclops cried out. He and Gambit exchanged a series of punches, ducking and avoiding them for the most part.
"It's none of your business, homme. I can assure you, I'm on the side of angels here," Gambit said grinning, his red on black eyes flashed menacingly.
Cyclops ducked under a swift kick Gambit sent his way. He wasn't so lucky when Gambit pulled out his bo-staff and bopped him upside the head, sending the original X-men member skidding back several feet.
"Enough of the puns! What are your intentions?" Cyclops demanded. "Tell me!"
Gambit plucked a couple of cards from his coat pocket and threw kinetically charged projectiles at Cyclops, they didn't harm him much, but they did singe his uniform. "X-men business. You know, the part you ain't a member of."
"Look, it wasn't my intention to blast a hole in the diner. My powers aren't exactly in control," Cyclops explained.
"And you want to lead new mutants into learning to harness their powers when you can't harness your own?" Gambit asked. His hair began to fade back to auburn and his skin lightened once more. "I think it's time you left, before you can't," he warned calmly.
"So, you're a teleporter," Magik said, directing her attention to Clarice. "I can give you some tips. My powers aren't broken. When was the first time you teleported?"
"At night, I accidentally killed my cat," Clarice said.
A wide grin spread across Magik's face. "Excellent. Collateral damage. Maybe you're not so bad after all." Her dispassionate eyes drifted towards the fight between Gambit and Cyclops. "Too bad you didn't take one of them out. That would have been funny."
"I'm not sure you understand the definition of funny," Warren argued.
"Come Cyclops, let's get out of here before Hill shows up. The kid's not interested. The triplets keep probing at my mind. They've got another hit," Magik said.
"Look, if the girl doesn't want to come, I'm not going to force her. I just want her to be safe. I want all mutants to be safe," Cyclops said. "You seem to barely keep Death in check. You think she'll be safe with you?"
"She'll be just fine, and she's not going anywhere with anyone. She has me," James stated. He pulled out his two daggers and braced his legs apart in a battle stance. "Just someone try to take her and I'll hunt you until the edges of the earth."
"Enough of this hick-town," Magik said. She latched on to Cyclops and the two vanished.
"Is it over?" Clarice asked.
"For now," Laura confirmed.
James reached over for Warren's shoulder. "It's been a long time, my friend. Why don't we all return to the diner and have that much deserved breakfast?" He took hold of Clarice's hand and began to guide her back to the motel. "I'll fix up the front window. I'll call the hardware shop in town and have them send over supplies."
"You're going to fix the window?" Remy asked. He rolled his shoulders back and fluffed out his trench coat behind him. He met Laura's eyes and winked. "And that's why we didn't leave last night. We'd have missed out on all of this action."
"Do not pretend you are precognisant," Laura said with narrowed eyes.
Warren walked at Laura's side and leaned over. "Do I know the big Indian guy?" he whispered.
Laura nodded. "He was on a black ops team with us. And he can hear you."
James glanced over his shoulder and looked back at Warren with concern. "Did you get your memories wiped?"
Warren sighed, his shoulders slumped. "Only the last fifteen years or so," he admitted.
James shook his head, his dark eyes sad. "There are times I have wished to forget the past, but the past makes us who we are."
"It's better to look towards the future," Julian murmured.
Back at the diner, they all ate a big breakfast and James fixed the front window. Julian helped him hold the heavy materials in place with his telekinesis while James repaired the damage.
"If you ever need some work, give me a call," James said laying a friendly hand upon Julian's shoulder. He took a napkin and jotted down a number on it and handed the napkin to Laura. "This is my cell phone number. I'm not interested in re-joining the X-men, but I'm willing to help a friend if you need back up." His eyes traveled from her to Warren.
"Understood," Laura said. She looked down at the napkin and memorized the number before she ripped it to pieces and tossed it in the trash. She tapped her head. "I'll store it up here."
"What are you going to do?" Gambit asked Clarice.
Clarice looked towards her mother and father, they'd shut the diner down for the morning until James could fix the front of the building. "It's not a bad idea to learn how to control my powers. Maybe, I could look into that school of yours."
"No pressure," Julian said. "Oh, and you need a code name."
"A code name?" Clarice asked. "What's yours?"
Julian touched his hand over his chest. "Hellion." He pointed to the others in turn, "X-23, Angel, and Gambit."
"And I'm called Warpath," James said, draping his arm around Clarice's shoulder and pressing a kiss to the top of her pink head.
"Oh, I don't know," Clarice said, tugging on her hair nervously. "What do you think?" she asked, directing her question to Laura.
"Blink. You were gone within the blink of an eye," Laura answered.
James nodded his head. "I like it," he said.
"Okay, Blink," Clarice said with a slow smile.
The sound of an approaching helicopter drew Laura's attention. She looked out the newly repaired window. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is here. They must be tracking Cyclops," she said turning back to the others. "Should we leave before or after she gets here?"
"If you don't mind, I'd appreciate if one of y'all could explain this to them," Mr. Ferguson asked.
"Not a problem," Gambit answered. He joined Laura at the window and they watched as Director Maria Hill sauntered towards them. "Ah, Ms. Hill, I've got this, mon amis," he said with a wink. He started to step out the door to greet the dark-haired woman, but before he could James stopped him.
"Remy, I know we don't know each other well, but you've got a good lot on your team here. You take care of them, they'll take care of you," James said, holding his hand out to Gambit.
Remy shook his hand. "Will do. You take care of these good people too, non?"
A/N: I was pretty impressed by all the reviews last chapter! Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think! I appreciate you: anon, elamonegro, SamanthaKasa, demonic hellfire, Nikki, Wolvmbm, Harbinger of Kaos, alex 988, KJAX89, X-Gloves Version Vongola Gear, & SublimeDayBlue.
I'm pretty hyped, because I have up to chapter twenty-four plotted out currently and am pretty sure it's going to run to thirty chapters — could be more depending on complications on how convoluted the story might become. Let's see if I can take some of these open-ended plot devices that have been abandoned over the years and make them fit my purposes!