X-Men: An Unnatural Omega
Chapter 20: The Trial of Derrick, Part 1: Aftershocks
…
Laura was up all night long thinking about what Derrick reveled to her and what he showed he was capable of while she wrapped the covers around her.
But, as much as she wouldn't admit it, she kind of found him, "cute", and more than that. Even though he was crazy, there was no denying that, he had this look in his eyes like he saw himself as a monster. "He bested her in combat, hell, he bested Logan in combat". "Hell, he pretty much pummeled Thor for crying out loud"! Which was no easy feat. Though, the more she thought about her remarks and the attitude of those around him she realized something.
He lost so much already, "and we treated him like a freak". "I, treated him like a freak before I even got to know him", she thought with shame in her heart.
"Perhaps we all could use an attitude adjustment". She thought to herself as she laid there.
wondered what else he was capable of.
If he can make infinity stones on his hands and mimic anything that gets too close to him, regardless if it's a mutant or not, organic or non-organic, simple or complex, normal, or cosmic, magical or otherwise, then that would make him the apex predator of the universe. Something that would forever evolve and grow stronger with every encounter. "What if a celestial or two got to close"? That was a chilling thought.
"Who's to say he couldn't burn down the universe to cinders if he wanted to"?
She had never seen anything like that before, and it was, "unsettling", to say the least.
"How could Derrick even be a mutant at this point"? "Especially after everything he's displayed thus far"?
"He made infinity stones like it was nothing"! "Out of his own skin no less"!
Then a chilling thought went through her head.
"Could we even stop him if we tried, could anything stop him"?
Then another thought popped up in her head as she remembered what Jean told her yesterday after Derrick was escorted to his room.
…
Laura was baffled as she walked back down the empty hallway. "Infinity stones". She thought to herself. That was unnatural, completely. Once she turned the corner, she ran into Jean who had a serious look on her face before noticing the look on Laura's face.
"Something happened"? Jean said noticing that it was out of Laura's character to be so freaked out.
After a moment Laura mustered up her courage and looked Jean in the eye before asking, "you've been in his head", "did you see anything that seemed", she looked for the word, "cosmic", "involving his mother".?
Jean tilted her head wondering what brought this on.
She then shook her head, indicating no. Before speaking.
"Then again he was born without eye's remember". "So, I cannot say for sure", "but, whoever she was Derrick could sense an arura around her even when he couldn't see her". Jean said letting out a shiver at the memory of his pain. "It felt like something that was unnatural". She finished.
Laura studied Jean's features while she spoke with some surprise in her eyes.
"You think she might have been a mutant"? Laura asked Jean.
Jean shook her head indicating no again. "No, I don't think so, if anything it seemed like something…", she then paused with realization on her face.
"Like, well, death".
Laura's brow raised, not understanding what that meant. "What do you mean by that"? Laura asked obviously intrigued now.
Jean met her eyes with her own horrified expression as realization crossed her face.
"It's what it sounds like, it was, "Death"! She responded in a serious tone especially the, "Death" part.
Laura saw the seriousness on her face and her heart leapt into her throat, "You don't mean"? She stuttered out trying not to believe what Jean just said. Trying to indicate that, that wasn't what she meant by, "her".
Jean nodded indicating, yes, as she put a hand on her head by this revelation thinking what would happen if this were made public knowledge.
"… The Goddess that the mad titan Thanos loved, quite simply put, … Death, the cute girl that was the grim reaper". Jean finally said to a stunned Laura.
"…..". Was Laura's response as her breathing was shallow.
What Jean said next was really disturbing.
"Also, just so you know, unbelievably, the quiet council is going to have another emergency meeting tomorrow to decide what to do about Derrick".
"…". Laura didn't know what to say at this point.
But….
…
"If there's one thing I know, it's that he has some serious demons in his head, and if we keep pushing him, he's going to snap….".
"If that ever were to happen", she shuddered thinking about the consequences.
Then she closed her eye's and went to sleep.
…
The next morning.
By the time Laura woke up and got ready for the day she noticed that everything was deathly quiet while she passed by the mutants in the hallways that were also acting nervously.
"Something's wrong, that much was obvious".
It was in the looks they were giving her.
She was currently on her way to find Jean when she noticed something else once she reached the clearing outside the quiet council chambers.
And there were too many of them outside. As if they were waiting for something.
"Did you hear about that freak Derrick"? Toad said off to the side to quicksilver. Which Laura picked up with her heightened senses. While getting heartbroken and angry at their attitude. "He's talking like I was". She realized with some shame showing on her features while she listened.
"Yeah, apparently, they had enough of his attitude and escorted him with Laura leading him to the quiet council chamber to show him something". "Though she wasn't acting like herself". "Wait"! "Laura"?! Toad replied as he and the mutants around them stared at her in shock since they just saw her go by a while ago and she hadn't come out yet. "How the hell did you get out here"?
Laura visibly flinched at that while she ignored the various mutants who were starring at her now, thinking of one person who could impersonate her who was incidentally part of the quiet council as well.
"Mystique", "you didn't"?! That b!#h! She practically shouted in her head.
Laura was seething now that they would even consider pulling the same stunt twice in a row! And it infuriated her!
She instantly went for the quiet council chamber calling Jean Grey through their psychic link as she did, "Jean, we have a problem".
"The quiet council are playing the same stunt that they pulled yesterday and….", "Jean"? "Jean"?!
There was no reply from jeans end.
She instantly quickened her pace shoving past the various mutants as she did. Nocking one over and passing Scott and Kurt, along with Polaris, Wanda and jubilee off to the side as she did, she reached the door, before she heard Derrick screaming in agony and she slammed open the door leading to the council chambers.
What she saw horrified her as one thought went through her head.
"What have we done"?!