Passing the Torch
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I like peace, quiet, and especially solitude!"
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Right until last minute in Gifts and Curses, Paige would have died, and stayed dead, in Saurons attack
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Quite a large chapter today, due to me realising I missed out a scene in the last one, that won't fit in the chapter after this. Doh.
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Chapter 14 – Points of view
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Over in Chicago, Danielle was watching as Kitty was once again going head to head with Alice. Though Kitty was doing well, Alice was using the recent illness to her advantage.
"You let your guard down, and now look what has happened", she said, "a mutant plague! And what if it affects normal humans?"
"The Legacy Virus was created by some anti-mutant loser", said Kitty, "it was designed to attack mutants, it's not going to hurt, as you so nicely put it, 'normal' humans"
"Still", said Alice, "do you want your city to be run by someone who could very well keel over with this plague? Or worse, mutate it and make your children sick"
"Seesh", said Dani from the sidelines, "you couldn't pay me to go up there"
"Don't worry about it", smiled Lance from where he was standing next to her, "Kitty knows what she's doing"
"Why do you always have to make our debates into a pro or anti mutant debate?", asked Kitty with a sign, "why not discuss what the city is worried about? Schooling? Taxes? Care of the elderly?"
"The mutant threat is far more important", said Alice, then smirked, "If I am elected, I would propose a mutant registration act, where we will know who these mutants are and what they'll do"
"And after that, mutant reservations and mutant casinos, huh?", sneered Kitty.
"Umm…that's all we have time for today", said the host between them nervously.
"Ouch, Kitty sure can sock it to 'em, can't she?", said Dani.
"You haven't seen her really go for it yet", smirked Lance, "that Kitty's got claws. Big, sharp, pointy ones"
Dani chuckled, then arched a brow as Alicehobbled off stage, walking with a limp.
"What happened to her?"
"Strangest thing", said Lance, "she was walking off from one of her mutant hate campaigns when the ground just moved right from under her feet"
He smirked.
"Odd, huh?"
"I see someone hasn't quite grown up yet", teased Dani.
"Lance? Grow up? Never", said Kitty as she walked over.
"Har har, lets all make fun of Lance", said Lance dryly.
Kitty rolled her eyes, grabbing Dani's arm.
"We're going to lunch, promise me you won't cause any new fault lines while we're gone", she said.
"….But", Lance sighed defeatedly, "okay, but you owe me, Pretty Kitty"
"Pretty Kitty?", asked Dani as the geokenetic left, "gak"
"Hey it's sweet", said Kitty, then smiled, "he's my Lancelot"
"…..Okay, you're gonna have to stop that if I'm spending any more time with you", said Dani pointedly, "…pet names…ugh"
"Oh, come on", said Kitty, "it's not like you and Roberto never had any"
Dani frowned, looking away.
"I guess one of us had to bring him up eventually", she muttered.
Kitty sighed.
"Danielle, look, Roberto was being manipulated by Gossamyr", she said, "he didn't cheat on you by his own free will"
"Yeah, people keep telling me that", said Dani, still frowning, "but somehow, I'm finding it hard to believe"
"He hasn't been with anyone else since, you know", said Kitty, "he's been heartbroken since you went back into a coma"
"And yet he didn't visit me", muttered Dani.
"He did, but he has to run his fathers company in Brazil", said Kitty, "he can't be in tow places at once.."
"Don't defend him!", snapped Dani, then sighed, "I'm sorry, Kitty. I just…I can't take him back and pretend nothing ever happened"
"…Will you at least talk to him?", asked Kitty, "if you insist on ending it…make it a clean break"
"Fine", said Dani, "but it 'ended' a long time ago"
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In the Institute, Xavier was watching as his daughter-in-law paced around the room, not happy. She'd told him of Lucas…or rather now David, and how she wanted him fixed: now. It wasn't exactly the bets of days for the telepath, he'd already had to break the news to Piotr that his sister had passed away, and now this…
"I can't just force David away", said Xavier, "it's unethical"
"What about him forcing Lucas away?", asked Lizzie, "ah want ma'h husband back. A'h don't even know this David guy"
"It isn't as simple as just bringing Lucas back to the fore", said Xavier.
"You did it once before", pointed out Lizzie.
"And that was by accident", said Xavier.
Lizzie frowned, crossing her arms.
"Well, a'h bet you're happy, you got your son back"
Xavier sighed.
"Elizabeth, he was my son in whatever guise he took", he said simply, "look, I'll talk to him, but I can't detect Lucas' presence…which is worrying"
"A personality like Lucas doesn't just up and vanish", said Lizzie.
"…I have to agree", frowned Xavier, wheeling off to his study, where David was blinking at one of the old family portraits.
"..It's actually a little sad I have no idea who these people are", said David.
"They're your great aunt, uncle and second cousin", said Xavier, "your second cousin is still alive, and running an ostrich farm somewhere in the Andes……he always was the odd one"
David chuckled, then sighed, looking down.
"I've been thinking about what Elizabeth said…and she's right", he said, "I can't force Lucas away, it's the personality she fell in love with"
Xavier arched a brow.
"And yourself?"
"I love her, Dad", he sighed, "I want to do what's best for her, but I've only just got out. There's so much I want to do…but I don't want to break her heart in the process"
"I can't make your choice for you, David, if that's what you're asking me", said Xavier.
"I don't want you to. I already know what I'm going to do", said David, then looked at him, "but I need your help to do it"
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In Mutant Town, Logan was stepping into X-Factor offices, enjoying the fact he could actually smoke here, and not get any physic prodding from the Professor to put the thing out.
"Oh, goodie, Logan", said Jamie dryly from his desk, "you come to get your helmet from Rahne? 'Cause she buried it"
"…..Great", Logan sighed, then pulled a file out of his jacket, putting it on Jamie's desk, "Charles needs to find out about this before it gets outta hand. But he doesn't want it led back home"
"Keep the school in a good light, yadda yadda", Jamie rolled his eyes, rifling through the file, "heard it before. What's this one about?"
"This plague the press are callin' 'The Legacy Virus' , said Logan, "this virus seems ta only affect mutants, Charles is 'deeply concerned'".
"He wants to find out if someone's purposely pumping this virus out?", asked Jamie, shaking his head, "geez, I know we've had our enemies, but this is going a bit of a step too far, don't you think?"
"I think they'll always be goin' a step too far", said Logan, "speakin' of which, you find Stuart Little yet?"
"No", said Jamie, "we don't know where he is, it's like he just vanished. We're working on it"
"Yeah, well try an' find him in one piece, we like Shorty", said Logan, then frowned, looking down.
"…What?"
Logan picked up the empty whiskey bottle from the trash.
"You fall off the wagon again?"
"Fell off and hit a few sharp rocks on the road", said Jamie.
"You're supposed ta stay on the wagon, Madrox"
"You'd rather I be a miserable surly guy who fights his way out of everything?"
"I know that was a shot, but I'll let it slide", he said, "and at least I'm not killin' my liver"
"If you didn't have a healing factor, you'd be dead by now", said Jamie pointedly, "considering the cigars and the beer. I don't need a lecture, I already have Rahne doing that whenever she sees me"
"Good", said Logan as he headed for the door, "make sure she keeps that up. An' when ya see her again, tell her I want my helmet back"
"You are aware you're never going to see that thing again, right?", smirked Jamie as Logan muttered under his breath, leaving.
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Down in the Morlock tunnels, Domino had followed Caliban through the maze of passages. Sure, she'd tried to pipe up a conversation now and again, but Caliban usually gave a one-word answer, or simply didn't answer at all. After a while, she gave up, until he stopped at a tunnel ending in what looked like an underground canal, a small boat tied to the end of the pathway nearby.
"Thisss way", said her companion, climbing in.
Domino blinked.
"You know, I don't normally go floating on boats in dark passageways with a guy until the third date", she teased.
Caliban rolled his eyes.
"Do I give the impression I'd actually even want to do anything untoward?", he asked.
"I don't know whether to be relieved or insulted", replied Domino as she jumped on board.
Caliban sighed, tuning the boat, grabbing a stick from within it and using it to push the little boat along the tunnel.
"So, are the candelabras going to rise out of the water and light themselves any minute now?", she asked.
Caliban gave her a flat look.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry", Domino rolled her eyes, "I can't help it! You look and act the part"
Caliban rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath about this being the reason he liked to be alone, before turning the boat down a right turn, it soon coming to rest at another pathway. Without a word, the place mutant stepped through a passageway. Domino followed him, surprised to find herself in a huge, round room. Stone pillars rose on the sides, the domed roof having a few holes in.
"…It's like a chapel or something", she murmured.
"Thisss isss where I go when I want to be alone", Caliban paused, "admittedly, thatsss a lot"
"Heh, seems like your kind of place", said Domino, arching a brow, "cold, dark, dusty, miserable"
"Apperancesss can be deceiving", replied Caliban cryptically.
"Come again?", blinked Domino.
Caliban walked around the room, adjusting something on the walls now and again. Closer inspection showed them to be pieces of mirrors, dotted around what looked like old stained glass. After a few moments, Caliban stepped back, considering.
"And this one", he said, turning another piece of mirror.
The chamber was suddenly filled with hundreds of swirling lights, of all colours. Domino blinked in surprised, looking around
"Wow, Caliban..this is..this is beautiful"
"Every piecccce of glassss represssentssss one Morlock that died", he explained, "it'ssss the bessssst way we can honour our dead, assss sssseen assss we can't burry them"
"Oh", Domino blinked, "errr. and you showed me this why?"
"You sssseemed to be grieving", said Caliban, "thisss isss the bessst placcce to do that"
"Heh, you're a weird one, you know that?", smirked Domino.
Caliban blinked at her.
"That dependsss on your point of view, doesssn't it?", he asked, starting to the boat, "you'll find another boat jussst to the side for when you want to come back. Jussst follow the lightsss on the wall"
Domino smiled, watching him go.
"Hey, Cal!", she called back, "thanks"
Caliban turned and did a rare thing. He offered her the smallest of smiles.
"You're welcome", he replied, before climbing in his boat, heading off back to the tunnels.
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"You did what!"
Xavier arched a brow at an angry looking Lizzie.
"Nothing", he replied, "David wanted me to merge his personalities, so you could have Lucas, to a degree, back and he could have some of his freedom"
"And you did as he asked?", asked Lizzie, frowning.
"No", replied Xavier, then sighed, "The last time I tried to do that, Legion was freed and David locked away. There's no telling what would happen a second time, especially with Ian's personality no longer in the mix"
"But…", Lizzie frowned, "you said he changed…"
"He did it himself", said Xavier, "there wasn't much I could do to stop him"
"Why do a'h not believe you?", muttered Lizzie, "lets face it, your track record hasn't been all that great when it comes to tellin' the truth"
"You have two choices, Elizabeth, you can chose to trust me or not", said Xavier simply, "I can't do any more for Davi….for my son now"
"So, who is he, exactly?", asked Lizzie.
Xavier sighed.
"He's neither David nor Lucas", he said, "…and yet, he's both"
Lizzie gave her father-in-law a deadpan look.
"That's a paradox"
"I'm not a physiatrist", replied Xavier, equally deadpan.
"So…", Lizzie frowned, "what now?"
Xavier sighed, looking down.
"That's not for me to decide", he said, "you will both have to talk"
"What's he callin' himself now, then", said Lizzie, heading for the door, a defeated sigh escaping her lips.
"I think he's sticking with Legion right now", said Xavier, "just…be careful with him. I'm not sure if this will have any after effects on him"
"A'hll be careful", said Lizzie, "but if there's a way of just getting Lucas back, I'll take it, no matter what the risk"
"Somehow…I had a feeling you'd say that", said Xavier with a frown as she left.
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Toby sighed as he tried to get some sleep. He was glad Trish finally left. He had no love in his heart for his mother. Something like that normally would have made him feel bad….but he didn't feel Trish deserved it. Not a card, not a present, not a letter, not even a postcard. Nothing. Today was the first time he'd been near her since she abandoned him as a baby. He rolled over onto his back, Bingo whimpering and nuzzling him.
"Not now, Bingo"
Bingo gave a yip, tugging his hand. Toby frowned, sitting up, something wasn't right. He got up, walking over to his open window…and walked into someone. Toby yelped, stepping back.
"Take it easy, Kid, you'll wake up the Mansion"
Toby frowned. He didn't recognise the mans voice. At all.
"…..Who are you?", he frowned, "…and why are you in my room"
There was a chuckle.
"I'm the man without fear", he said, "and I'd think I'd get a better welcome for getting you that dog"
Toby blinked.
"…Matt Murdock?", he asked, then paused, "….man without fear?"
"Don't ask me, Urich gave me the title", said Matt, "I thought I'd make you an offer, Toby"
Toby narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"…Such as?"
"I hear Logan trained you well", said Matt, "but he can only train you like a man who can see can train. I'm offering to train you as a blind man can train"
Toby arched a brow.
"…You're joking"
"No", Matt smiled, "I'm not. Meet me tomorrow night in Bayville Park, then every week, I'll give you some training"
"…..How do I know you're the real deal?", said Toby, "no offence, but you could be a nutcase who's climbed up Imara's ladder"
"If you're as good as Logan says you are", said Matt, "then you've not nothing to worry about. Now, I have to go. I have a case in the morning"
"Hey, if I get good enough, can I have a cane that turns into stuff?", smirked Toby.
"…..We'll see", said Matt, heading out of the window, "in a manner of speaking"
Toby smiled, heading back to bed, before pausing.
"Wait…Matt Murdock is Daredevil?"
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See? Told you it was a biggie. That's what I get for not managing my chapter-scenes wisely. Oh well. Do review. Until next time…