CHAPTER 77

Self-Inflicted Amnesia /or /Occupations Part 3#

AN: I'm not sure I like how this chapter turned out. It doesn't seem to…..flow. Maybe as I keep going I'll get that rhythm back. Keep your fingers crossed! And, BUNNY FINALLY MAKES ANOTHER APPEARANCE! DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!

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BOBBY DRAKE

As he made his way quietly down the hall, the ice-mutant tried to remember all he had been taught about how to deflect the Professors mind-reading powers, thinking about what the black-cloaked figure had told him.

~flashback~

"….the best way to do it, is to forget about the thought you're trying to hide, create a vault in your mind and put the thought there. I believe it has been described as 'self-inflicted amnesia', much like the technique severely traumatized people unconsciously utilize."

~end flashback~

Then they (he and his mentor) had practiced. The man had told him to pick a thought to hide then place it in his 'vault' before he began to try to pry the thought out of him.

The first attempts had been pathetically easy for his black-formed tutor, and incredibly painful for Bobby. After months and months of practice, however, he had managed it. Now, he methodically began the process of forgetting the text he had received, erasing the memory of Furys Infinity serum, and deleting his rage at Rogue.

Then, there was always the extra shielding his 'mentor' had given him through hypnotism, but he preferred not to think on that too much.

Shaking his head, Bobby Drake took a left turn at the end of the hallway and made his way towards the stairs. There was no doubt about it, to him, the Professor was going…..senile. His allowing that feral flea-ball into the school was just another major road sign that something was wrong in that genius head of his.

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KAYLA/BUNNY

The Native American perked her head up from her root beer when she noticed the blonde-haired, blue-eyed teen making his way down the hall and arched an eyebrow in what Cassie affectionately called her 'The Rock' look.

"Now what is he up to?" Bunny asked herself quietly, putting down her rootbeer and rising stealthily to her feet with all the grace her soul-sister could only hope to find (not for lack of trying to teach her).

During the past week the knife-wielding Native American had familiarized herself with the EXTREMELY colossal school and it's grounds while doing a great deal of eaves-dropping, sneaking and some out-and-out spying. Some of this was keeping an eye on her imouto, but it was also for gathering information. She wanted to know more about this 'Sabretooth' who had supposed claimed her little sister and the rumors surrounding him. The Professor had assigned her a small room for her stay, but she never used it, preferring to lurk and listen and learn.

She had seen the huge ferals game of 'Mr. Bear' in the green, though her soul-sister did not know it, and had noted how the 'animal' behaved with the kids approvingly. That didn't mean, however, that she in any way approved of the lug.

Quietly, she began to follow the preppy looking teen at a safe distance, curiosity aroused as she thought back to all she had learned about the man who thought he was going to 'claim' her sister.

Apparently, the guy had used to belong to some mutant group called 'The Brotherhood' run by another mutant named 'Magneto'. Now HIM she had heard about; a mutant who could control any type of metal, shape it to his whim, and who was hell-bent on wiping out the human race. From what she had heard, however, the guy was locked up in some plastic-prison and maybe didn't even have his powers anymore. A total lunatic…..but a brilliant and powerful lunatic, the worst kind.

This Sabretooth had apparently been his henchman, his hired brawn, though he had supposedly turned over a new leaf.

Bunny quietly took a right and watched the blonde teen enter an elevator. She waited to see what floor the elevator stopped at before racing for the stairs right next to the device. Martial Arts had kept her in perfect shape and she sped up the flights of steps without slowing or losing too much breath. Opening the door a crack she peeked out just in time to make out the blonde kid turn right at the end of another hallway.

`*(&^% this place is big…..` Kayla mused to herself as she raced down the corridor, mentally making a reminder that she had spotted a pool table in one of the rooms (maybe she could get a game in later.)

She had also heard about the little 'speech' the Sabretooth had given a class; a speech about how he was now alpha and was going to get things in line. The very blonde she was tailing had been adamant in his disbelief and anger that the 'feral flea-bag' was getting away with things, this she had heard while the blonde was venting in what he had probably thought was a private room to another friend.

Bunny let out a very evil smirk. `Causing chaos is MY job, kid. You're just a beginner…`

She watched as Bobby knocked on an oak-paneled door. "Professor? Are you up?"

The answer came not in voice, but in a mental response that made Kayla shake her head a little, like she had water in her ears.

*Come in, Bobby.*

The blonde kid opened the door, went in and shut it behind him. Bunny raced to the door and pressed her ear to the key-hole, listening…..that is, until she spotted the venting. Smirking devilishly, the Native American quickly went to the vent and pulled out a screw-driver from her fanny pack, pushed a chair under the vent and climbed up to remove the grating.

With very little difficulty, she was in. Crawling with all the stealth and speed of a panther, Bunny followed the sound of voices to the vent that went into the Professors office, smirking to herself as their conversation became clearer and clearer.

"Bobby Drake, what are you doing up at this hour?" The Professors voice was deep and warm, like a kindly grandfather…..Bunny didn't trust it.

"I-I'm sorry Professor, I couldn't' sleep. I was worried."

"What about?" There was a pause in which Bunny assumed the bald-man was reading the kids mind. "Ah, I see. You have concerns about our newest arrival, ."

"The man's an animal, Professor" Bobby continued, managing to sound a little afraid with concern and worry, a tone which Kayla would bet money on that was contrived and fake.

"How do we know he's truly changed? He's dangerous to have around!"

"We all deserve second chances, Bobby. I believe I have explained this to you before." The Professors voice was patient and kind. "I have been inside Victors mind and I believe he truly means to change."

Bunny could practically hear the blonde kid gritting his teeth. "I-I know sir. It's not that I don't trust you, Professor, it's just…..I think he's trying to change things here in the school."

The Professors voice became concerned. "What do you mean?"

"He, he seems to think he can take over. Did you know he's moved the littlest kids classroom?"

Kayla peered through the vent to make out the two figures below and the bald-mans eyebrows furrowed in concern. "No, I did not know that. Did he give a reason?"

Bobby shrugged. "I don't know, Sir, but it doesn't seem right. Don't little kids need a routine?"

Kayla couldn't help snorting softly to herself. She had heard about the room change, but, to her, it had seemed like common-sense. In her little check-out of the school she had come across the childrens room with the perverted butterflies and had noticed the huge bay windows facing the street. She had even tested the glass and found it not bullet-proof.

"I understand your position, Bobby, however I cannot turn Mr. Creed out on the fact that he has changed the childrens room. Unless Victor Creed causes harm to those under my care, there is nothing I can do."

Kayla face-palmed herself, mentally cursing. She was pretty sure the Professor had unknowingly just given the ice-mutant a few ideas that he DEFINITELY shouldn't be having; she didn't even have to be a mind reader to know that.

"I-I understand Professor."

The bald man wheeled his way over to where the blonde stood and put a hand on his arm. "I understand where you are coming from, Bobby, but for now my hands are tied."

Kayla blinked. So the baldie wasn't too happy with the big lug being here either? That was interesting.

"Have no worries," the Professor patted Bobby on the shoulder. "I am and always will remain, the headmaster and king here."

Kayla barely reigned in a snort. King? KING? It sounded like this guy had some major illusions of grandeur going on. Seeing the blonde kid turning to leave, Bunny beat a hasty retreat through the vents and waiting, thanking the moon that she had had the foresight to hide the vent grating behind the chair she had climbed up on. Maybe the blonde-kid wouldn't be very observant and see that the vent had no cover.

Crossing her fingers, Bunny observed at the teen left the office and shut the door. Once the huge oak portal his face underwent an amazing transformation. The proper and concerned student turned into a conniving and smirking toady, making Kayla raise both eyebrows. `Well, well, well, THAT'S interesting…..`

Once the blonde turned the corner, Kayla quickly dropped neatly from the vent onto the chair, replaced the grate in record time and moved the chair back in place before taking after the blonde, all the while thinking; `Some telepath. Baldie didn't even notice I was up there…..`

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VOCABULARY:

METHODICALLY: Orderly

COLOSSAL: Huge, humungous, gigantic

PORTAL: can be used as another word for 'door'