The Uncanny Sirens
Chapter 28: Loners- Prologue
By
The Uncanny R-Man
Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel. Nightingale belongs to Agent-G.
Xavier Institute-
It was another school day in the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. Penance and the rest of the Sirens were hanging out in the student lounge. The girls had a free period and were at a loss for anything to do. Penny had toddled over to the vending machines to get a soda. Sharon and Val were having a game of pool on the pool table. The Cuckoos were reading some fashion magazines. Laura was sitting on one of the comfy chairs on her own. The clone sat up straight when she heard familiar footsteps approach. It was Gale. The blue-haired Canadian mutant was waving a piece of paper in her hand.
'Have you guys seen what Mr Summers has just put up on the notice board?' Gale asked her friends.
'How could we have seen it if he's just put it up on the board?' Sharon asked as she leant on her pool cue. 'We've been in here all morning.'
The blue-haired empath held up the piece of paper so her friends could see.
'Xavier Institute First Annual Talent Show…' Penny read out loud. 'So? What's so special about that?'
'There's a cash prize!' Gale blurted out excitedly. 'All we have to do is humiliate ourselves for a few minutes, and we stand a chance of winning money for it!'
'Oh, that makes a whole load of difference!' Sharon grinned as she dropped her pool cue and took the talent show advertisement out of Gale's hands. 'Where do I sign up?'
'Just go see Ms Sage.' Gale told the cat-girl. 'She's the one that's organising it. Why, what have you got planned?'
'I'm not going to tell you.' Sharon stuck her tongue out at her friend. 'You'll only steal my idea!'
'Sharon, I'm your friend.' Gale sighed. 'Why would I want to steal your idea? Anyway, I've got a plan that will undoubtedly make Laura and I the winners!'
'Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait!' Laura held up her hands. 'Don't get me involved in this! I don't do talent shows! Besides, what could I possibly do? Kill somebody live on stage?'
'Oh, I'm sure you'll think of something, sweetie.' Gale comforted her friend, patting her on the back gently. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go sign us up.'
The clone of Wolverine slumped into her chair as Gale walked away.
'She didn't even hear a word I said, did she?' The clone sighed heavily.
'Ooh, look what else it says!' Sharon grinned as she continued to read the notice. 'Celebrity judges too! Reed Richards, She-Hulk, and Tony Stark!'
'Uh, excuse me…?' A timid little voice piped up. 'Penny, can I talk to you for a minute?'
Penny turned around to see the fuzzy face of Nicolas Gleason, also known as Wolf Cub, gazing nervously back at her.
'Sure.' Penny shrugged. 'What did you want to see me about? If it's about Mr McCoy's trigonometry homework, I can't help you. It doesn't make any sense to me, either.'
'Umm… Can I talk to you in private?' Nicholas asked nervously.
'I guess so.' Penny scratched the back of her neck. 'But can you make it quick? We're about to go off on a field trip with Ms Grey and Ms Wagner.'
Nicholas pulled Penny aside so he could talk to her privately.
'Do-do you want to go out some time? Y'know, on a date?' Nicholas stammered timidly. 'You don't have to unless you want to. I just wanted to ask…'
Penny thought about that for a moment. She had never been on a date before. Sure, she had gone to the school dance with Jay Guthrie, but that wasn't a proper date. Neither was that crush on Chamber. It never went anywhere. Not that Penny had much to compare it with. Besides, Nicholas was pretty cute. It was as Mr Wagner always said, 'The chicks dig the fuzzy dude!'
'I'd love to go out with you some time.' Penny smiled. 'As a matter of fact, here's a new club opening downtown at the weekend. It's called Alucard's, or something.'
'I-isn't that supposed to be a Goth club, or something?' Nicholas frowned.
'I think so.' Penny nodded. 'I thought we could go and have a laugh at all the silly humans pretending to be vampires.'
'But how will be able to get in?' Nicholas blinked. 'It's not like we look like normal people.'
'They'll just think that we're dressed up.' Penny responded. 'People are dumb like that.'
'Sorry to disturb you two lovebirds…' Sharon butted in. 'But we were supposed to meet Ms Grey and Ms Wagner like, five minutes ago!'
'Oh, gosh, I'm sorry.' Penny smiled apologetically. 'But I really have to go now. We'll go out when I get back, okay?'
'Umm… sure.' Nicholas nodded. 'See you later, then.'
Penny gave the fuzzy wolf-boy a wave before she joined the rest of the Sirens.
'So, who was the cute boy?' Val grinned. 'Don't tell me you've got a date.'
'That was Nicholas Gleason.' Penny told her friend. 'And yes, I have got a date with him.'
'Uch. You're not going to that new Goth club, are you?' The Cuckoos grimaced. 'All those stupid Flatscans pretending to be vampires…'
'We're going there to laugh at them.' Penny pointed out. 'I like making fun of Goths.'
'Which is pretty ironic coming from a girl who used to dress in leather bandages.' Val smirked. 'But seriously, good for you. It's about time you got yourself a nice guy. When was the last time you went out on a proper date?'
'Never.' Penny answered. 'Going to the school dance with Jay didn't really count.'
'Not to mention that crush that you had on Mr Starsmore.' Laura remembered. 'Never did really get anywhere...'
'Why not?' Val asked. 'Jay asked you to accompany him to the dance. That makes it a date. Okay, I haven't had all that much experience with dates, but that's how I understand things go. The television said so.'
'You do realise that we'll have to come along with you, right?' Sharon butted in again. 'Just to make sure that nothing happens to you, you understand.'
'And absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you're on the look-out for a cute guy yourself, right?' Val smirked.
'Oh, like you're one to talk.' Sharon rolled her eyes. 'Ooh, look at me! I'm Val Richards! I'm so smart, but I haven't ever had a date! I have such a big brain! Oh, why won't guys like me for my mind?'
Val just remained passive as she watched the feline mutant continue to make fun.
'Oh, yes. Your impression of me is spot on. The similarities are uncanny.' Her voice oozed with sarcasm.
'Why, thank you…' Sharon smiled happily. Then she realised that Val was in fact, making fun of her in return.
'Hey, no fair! How dare you use my insult against me!'
But it was too late, Val and the others had gone. Sharon sighed heavily as she trudged along after them.
'Aww, nertz to the lot of you.'
TBC…
Next: Loners- Part 1
The Sirens team up with the Loners in LA.
