X-treme circumstances Part 10
The two men looked at the still form that lay before them.
The taller man checked Sarah's pulse, "She's still alive, Ray."
Ray sneered, "That's good Chuck. We need her alive until we get the information we want."
Chuck nodded, "Then what? She's a human. We can't just kill her."
"Chuck, She's disposable.... who will miss a Mutant Lover? Relax. No one will miss her when she's gone."
"I will." a voice echoed through the hallway.
Roy turned around to look at the speaker and was greeted with a fist in his face.
Chuck watched in horror as his partner went sailing by. "What the hell?!!"
"You shouldn't go around attacking defenseless women. You should know that."
"Who are you?"
The man gave a blood chilling grin, "I'm the boyfriend... My friends and other decent people call me 'Jareth,' but you can go through the formalities and call me 'Your highness'."
"Your highness?," Chuck repeated in confusion.
"Long story and I'm not about to tell my life story here." Jareth lifted up Chuck by the back of the neck. He smiled and looked behind him, "James see if you can find Wolverine and Gambit for me.... They may want to have a talk with these two pests."
James smiled, "Will do." He ran to the stairwell.
Jareth looked back at Chuck, "Now those two I mentioned are going to ask you a lot of questions. I myself only want to know a few things."
"I won't talk."
"Didn't think you would," Jareth commented, "So here is my deal for you, If you cooperate, I will not force my 'gift' gift on you."
"Gift?"
Jareth produced a peach.
"This gift," Jareth explained, "Most of the time I give peaches that will let people live out one of their favorite dreams but for someone like you....."
Chuck looked on with fear as he saw the peach turn black and shriveled up, "Oh my god!"
"For someone like you, I'll give a peach that will become a living nightmare for you. If you cooperate, I won't make you take this peach."
Roy groaned as he came to his senses. He stared blankly at Jareth for a while and then at Chuck, "Don't talk to that F^$%ing mutant! He's the enemy!"
"Oh shut up!," Jareth commanded. He dropped Chuck for a second and threw a crystal over at Roy. The crystal exploded into a cloud of dust right above him and soon he was fast asleep.
Jareth picked up Chuck at him and stared coldly, "Trust me, the cooperative way is the way to go."
Chuck looked at his partner and back at the grotesque peach in Jareth's hand. Was he bluffing or serious?
"If you are wondering, I am quite serious," Jareth said. He studied Chuck's face and realized that he would need some more convincing.
"Chuck... Your really hate spiders don't you?"
Chuck looked at him, "How did you know?"
Jareth smirked, "I can read it in your face... Just imagine.... you living out the scenario being covered in spiders... Their minuscule legs scurrying about on your hands....feet....face...."
"STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!! I'll answer your questions. Just stop talking about that."
Jareth smiled, "Good... Okay first question..."
He pointed at the still unconscious Sarah, "What did you do to her?"
"Chloroform. She'll be out cold for a while but she'll wake up. I won't envy the headache she'll have though... Next question?"
*******************************************************
Gambit and Wolverine walked back towards the campus.
"I can't believe we missed them," Gambit complained.
"Well believe it.... It just happened."
"How could it happened? I thought you were able to smell scents. Why didn't you pay attention to that?"
"There's a good reason for it."
"What?"
Wolverine looked at Gambit ad sneered. He knew one way to get on his nerves..., "I'm not telling you."
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't like you."
They were still bickering as they entered the college grounds.
Gambit looked up in mid argument to see a figure running towards them.
"Hey James!," Gambit greeted, "We have been looking all over for you and the others."
"Yeah," Wolverine said, "We think someone may be stalking you."
"We know. Jareth found them after they attacked Sarah."
"Is Sarah okay?," Wolverine asked. His voice betrayed a hint of worry. Sarah was so much a friend of Jubilee that he wasn't too happy with the idea of Jubilee's friends being hurt.
"I don't know. I think she's out cold right now."
"Why would they go after Sarah?," Gambit pondered out loud, "It seemed most likely that it is Jareth that they wanted."
James shrugged, "You can ask them when you get there. The last I saw of the them one was dazed and the other was being held a foot off the ground by his neck."
"So Jareth caught them as well?"
"Yep. And from what I saw, he's none too pleased with what happened."
"Don't blame him." Wolverine commented.
*******************************************************
Jareth carried the unconscious Sarah into her room and gently laid her on the bed. He wasn't worried about the one guy escaping. True to his word, he didn't give the guy a realistic nightmare. but he didn't feel like he deserved a good dream either. So he had put him in a dreamless sleep.
He studied Sarah's peaceful form.
"Don't worry Sarah," he whispered, knowing full well that she probably could hear him, "So long as its in my power, no one shall harm you."
He kissed her on the forehead and pulled the covers over her. He looked at her face once more and turned to the doorway as he heard the others walk through the hallway towards the room.
He greeted them," Glad you could come."
Wolverine stepped through the doorway and made it over to Jareth, "How is she?"
"She's fine for now."
"That's good."
Gambit looked at the sleeping attackers, "I don't think either one is Mystique."
"Didn't think so," Wolverine said, "None of them even have the faintest smell of Mystique on him
James looked at Wolverine, "You mean you weren't coming to warn us about these guys?"
Wolverine shook his head, "Nope. Sorry but you have some other annoying presence in your life now."
"Who?.... Why?"
"Her name is Mystique and... well it's a longs story. When we bring these two back to the compound we'll explain the situation on the way there. Besides, just giving you a name won't help. At the compound we'll be able to show more information on her."
Jareth thought about it, "Very well I'll go but give me a few minutes to arrange something for Sarah."
"Sure."
"Gambit and wolverine left the room, leaving James and Jareth with Sarah.
Turning to the half-breed, Jareth sighed, "Let me guess, you have classes tomorrow?"
"Yup. But I can skip them to watch Sarah."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I think you shouldn't miss more classes than you have to. Knowing your mom, she wouldn't be to happy with you skipping. Besides, you may want to hand around Jubilee just in case there are people after one of you."
"What about Sarah?"
"Don't worry. I'll have that covered."
*******************************************************
Wolverine waited outside the jet while Gambit got the inside ready.
When Gambit was done he came outside of the Jet and looked at Wolverine.
Wolverine gave an annoyed expression, "What?!"
"Nothing," Gambit answered, "I was just wondering.."
"What?"
"Why are you trying to cover up the fact that you screwed up with the scent of Mystique?"
"I am not covering up! I didn't screw up! There are three things that proves that I didn't screw up."
"And that would be?..."
"one: you were far enough away from me that I couldn't just casually smell someone's scent and Two... You and she were downwind from me. So the smell couldn't reach my nose anyway."
"And what is the third reason?"
"It might not have been Mystique. Could have been someone I never met before."
*******************************************************
After James left, Jareth checked on Sarah and smiled to see that she was still resting peacefully.
Looking away from her, he walked towards her dresser.
"Now is the time to take care of a little problem," he thought as he brought up an image in the mirror. Looking at the image he felt satisfied, "Yes... he'll do."
Waiving his hand a large creature appeared before him.
The large newcomer looked around with a confused look on his face until his eyes finally rested on Sarah.
"Sar-wah?," he asked when he recognized his friend. He then looked at Jareth questionably.
"Yes Ludo," Jareth answered, "That's why I had you come here."
"Sar-wah hurt?"
"No. She's asleep for now. But I need you to watch over her while I'm gone. Can you do that?"
Ludo nodded.
Jareth grinned, "I know I could count on you."
He formed a crystal in his hand and placed it on the dresser.
Ludo looked at it in confusement. Jareth chuckled at the reaction, "Don't worry Ludo. this is only to help if someone other than Sarah and I come in this room. It will keep you invisible so that if one of Sarah's friends comes by they won't be surprised by a gigantic, furry, creature in the room."
"Jareth went to the doorway, "I'll be back as soon as I can... take care of her Ludo."
*******************************************************
Jareth waited patiently for the jet to land. He was eager to find out all he could about this Mystique. If she spent time to get information on him then he should very well return the favor.
After the jet landed, they brought their two prisoners into the infirmary where there were restraints. Just in case they woke up with no one else in the room.
Jareth followed Wolverine to another room where these large screens covered the wall.
"Show the file on Mystique," Wolverine commanded the screen.
When the image of Mystique appeared on the screen, Wolverine looked at Jareth, "I'll leave you with the file. I'm going to help Gambit interrogate those two prisoners."
As Wolverine left, Jareth felt a little pity for the two captives... well maybe just Chuck. They did not know what they were in for.
Looking back at the file, he frowned. Apparently she had tried to kill that Senator before but in the 'guise of Gambit. A common shapeshifter.
He looked up her past allies and was slightly impressed. The names didn't mean much but their track records were impressive.....or disturbing....however you wanted to look at it. He wasn't sure to be flattered or worried by her interest in him. No doubt they were sizing him up for something.
"Hello Jareth," a voice said from behind him. Turning around he saw the man who had entered his mind earlier this week. He looked the same as the image he had projected.... except for the wheel chair.
"Hello Professor," Jareth returned the greeting, "So, how are things with Sarah's attackers?"
"Pretty well... Wolverine has manage to get out that they were members of an Anti-mutant activist group."
"So how did they choose Sarah for a target?"
"There were TV cameras around when Senator Kelly was doing his publicity shots... and they saw when she was saved by a 'mutant'. Since they figured you weren't saving Kelly...."
"They assumed I was saving her," Jareth answered, "Of course! They then gathered that she must have known me and that brings up the 'mutant lover' comment."
Xavier nodded, "They thought she could provide them names of other mutants to target."
"You think she's safe from them?"
"Most likely... They won't try it again so soon if at all."
There was a brief lull in the conversation until something came to Jareth's mind, "Professor, how much do you think Mystique knows about me?"
"Well, I am guessing that she knows that you can change form, heal quickly, and your name is Jareth.... She might also know of your ties to Sarah, and James from following you."
"So, she or her working friends might use them to get to me?... I don't like it...I don't like it one bit."
"I can understand. Its hard to face danger. Much more if loved ones are the ones in danger.
Jareth thought about the situation. James and Sarah were both probable topics. He knew they probably not go after an X-man due to the strong ties within the X-men group. What could he do? Gavin was one of his most trusted servants and James was his son. He couldn't turn his back on him when he could be in danger. Although James had power, he didn't know how to use them and that could be just as bad as not having them at all...
But he loved Sarah and couldn't bear to see her get hurt. He couldn't protect them both... Or could he?
He sighed when he realized what he'd probably have to do.
He just hoped that Sarah wouldn't hate him for what he'd have to do.
-To be continued
The two men looked at the still form that lay before them.
The taller man checked Sarah's pulse, "She's still alive, Ray."
Ray sneered, "That's good Chuck. We need her alive until we get the information we want."
Chuck nodded, "Then what? She's a human. We can't just kill her."
"Chuck, She's disposable.... who will miss a Mutant Lover? Relax. No one will miss her when she's gone."
"I will." a voice echoed through the hallway.
Roy turned around to look at the speaker and was greeted with a fist in his face.
Chuck watched in horror as his partner went sailing by. "What the hell?!!"
"You shouldn't go around attacking defenseless women. You should know that."
"Who are you?"
The man gave a blood chilling grin, "I'm the boyfriend... My friends and other decent people call me 'Jareth,' but you can go through the formalities and call me 'Your highness'."
"Your highness?," Chuck repeated in confusion.
"Long story and I'm not about to tell my life story here." Jareth lifted up Chuck by the back of the neck. He smiled and looked behind him, "James see if you can find Wolverine and Gambit for me.... They may want to have a talk with these two pests."
James smiled, "Will do." He ran to the stairwell.
Jareth looked back at Chuck, "Now those two I mentioned are going to ask you a lot of questions. I myself only want to know a few things."
"I won't talk."
"Didn't think you would," Jareth commented, "So here is my deal for you, If you cooperate, I will not force my 'gift' gift on you."
"Gift?"
Jareth produced a peach.
"This gift," Jareth explained, "Most of the time I give peaches that will let people live out one of their favorite dreams but for someone like you....."
Chuck looked on with fear as he saw the peach turn black and shriveled up, "Oh my god!"
"For someone like you, I'll give a peach that will become a living nightmare for you. If you cooperate, I won't make you take this peach."
Roy groaned as he came to his senses. He stared blankly at Jareth for a while and then at Chuck, "Don't talk to that F^$%ing mutant! He's the enemy!"
"Oh shut up!," Jareth commanded. He dropped Chuck for a second and threw a crystal over at Roy. The crystal exploded into a cloud of dust right above him and soon he was fast asleep.
Jareth picked up Chuck at him and stared coldly, "Trust me, the cooperative way is the way to go."
Chuck looked at his partner and back at the grotesque peach in Jareth's hand. Was he bluffing or serious?
"If you are wondering, I am quite serious," Jareth said. He studied Chuck's face and realized that he would need some more convincing.
"Chuck... Your really hate spiders don't you?"
Chuck looked at him, "How did you know?"
Jareth smirked, "I can read it in your face... Just imagine.... you living out the scenario being covered in spiders... Their minuscule legs scurrying about on your hands....feet....face...."
"STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!! I'll answer your questions. Just stop talking about that."
Jareth smiled, "Good... Okay first question..."
He pointed at the still unconscious Sarah, "What did you do to her?"
"Chloroform. She'll be out cold for a while but she'll wake up. I won't envy the headache she'll have though... Next question?"
*******************************************************
Gambit and Wolverine walked back towards the campus.
"I can't believe we missed them," Gambit complained.
"Well believe it.... It just happened."
"How could it happened? I thought you were able to smell scents. Why didn't you pay attention to that?"
"There's a good reason for it."
"What?"
Wolverine looked at Gambit ad sneered. He knew one way to get on his nerves..., "I'm not telling you."
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't like you."
They were still bickering as they entered the college grounds.
Gambit looked up in mid argument to see a figure running towards them.
"Hey James!," Gambit greeted, "We have been looking all over for you and the others."
"Yeah," Wolverine said, "We think someone may be stalking you."
"We know. Jareth found them after they attacked Sarah."
"Is Sarah okay?," Wolverine asked. His voice betrayed a hint of worry. Sarah was so much a friend of Jubilee that he wasn't too happy with the idea of Jubilee's friends being hurt.
"I don't know. I think she's out cold right now."
"Why would they go after Sarah?," Gambit pondered out loud, "It seemed most likely that it is Jareth that they wanted."
James shrugged, "You can ask them when you get there. The last I saw of the them one was dazed and the other was being held a foot off the ground by his neck."
"So Jareth caught them as well?"
"Yep. And from what I saw, he's none too pleased with what happened."
"Don't blame him." Wolverine commented.
*******************************************************
Jareth carried the unconscious Sarah into her room and gently laid her on the bed. He wasn't worried about the one guy escaping. True to his word, he didn't give the guy a realistic nightmare. but he didn't feel like he deserved a good dream either. So he had put him in a dreamless sleep.
He studied Sarah's peaceful form.
"Don't worry Sarah," he whispered, knowing full well that she probably could hear him, "So long as its in my power, no one shall harm you."
He kissed her on the forehead and pulled the covers over her. He looked at her face once more and turned to the doorway as he heard the others walk through the hallway towards the room.
He greeted them," Glad you could come."
Wolverine stepped through the doorway and made it over to Jareth, "How is she?"
"She's fine for now."
"That's good."
Gambit looked at the sleeping attackers, "I don't think either one is Mystique."
"Didn't think so," Wolverine said, "None of them even have the faintest smell of Mystique on him
James looked at Wolverine, "You mean you weren't coming to warn us about these guys?"
Wolverine shook his head, "Nope. Sorry but you have some other annoying presence in your life now."
"Who?.... Why?"
"Her name is Mystique and... well it's a longs story. When we bring these two back to the compound we'll explain the situation on the way there. Besides, just giving you a name won't help. At the compound we'll be able to show more information on her."
Jareth thought about it, "Very well I'll go but give me a few minutes to arrange something for Sarah."
"Sure."
"Gambit and wolverine left the room, leaving James and Jareth with Sarah.
Turning to the half-breed, Jareth sighed, "Let me guess, you have classes tomorrow?"
"Yup. But I can skip them to watch Sarah."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I think you shouldn't miss more classes than you have to. Knowing your mom, she wouldn't be to happy with you skipping. Besides, you may want to hand around Jubilee just in case there are people after one of you."
"What about Sarah?"
"Don't worry. I'll have that covered."
*******************************************************
Wolverine waited outside the jet while Gambit got the inside ready.
When Gambit was done he came outside of the Jet and looked at Wolverine.
Wolverine gave an annoyed expression, "What?!"
"Nothing," Gambit answered, "I was just wondering.."
"What?"
"Why are you trying to cover up the fact that you screwed up with the scent of Mystique?"
"I am not covering up! I didn't screw up! There are three things that proves that I didn't screw up."
"And that would be?..."
"one: you were far enough away from me that I couldn't just casually smell someone's scent and Two... You and she were downwind from me. So the smell couldn't reach my nose anyway."
"And what is the third reason?"
"It might not have been Mystique. Could have been someone I never met before."
*******************************************************
After James left, Jareth checked on Sarah and smiled to see that she was still resting peacefully.
Looking away from her, he walked towards her dresser.
"Now is the time to take care of a little problem," he thought as he brought up an image in the mirror. Looking at the image he felt satisfied, "Yes... he'll do."
Waiving his hand a large creature appeared before him.
The large newcomer looked around with a confused look on his face until his eyes finally rested on Sarah.
"Sar-wah?," he asked when he recognized his friend. He then looked at Jareth questionably.
"Yes Ludo," Jareth answered, "That's why I had you come here."
"Sar-wah hurt?"
"No. She's asleep for now. But I need you to watch over her while I'm gone. Can you do that?"
Ludo nodded.
Jareth grinned, "I know I could count on you."
He formed a crystal in his hand and placed it on the dresser.
Ludo looked at it in confusement. Jareth chuckled at the reaction, "Don't worry Ludo. this is only to help if someone other than Sarah and I come in this room. It will keep you invisible so that if one of Sarah's friends comes by they won't be surprised by a gigantic, furry, creature in the room."
"Jareth went to the doorway, "I'll be back as soon as I can... take care of her Ludo."
*******************************************************
Jareth waited patiently for the jet to land. He was eager to find out all he could about this Mystique. If she spent time to get information on him then he should very well return the favor.
After the jet landed, they brought their two prisoners into the infirmary where there were restraints. Just in case they woke up with no one else in the room.
Jareth followed Wolverine to another room where these large screens covered the wall.
"Show the file on Mystique," Wolverine commanded the screen.
When the image of Mystique appeared on the screen, Wolverine looked at Jareth, "I'll leave you with the file. I'm going to help Gambit interrogate those two prisoners."
As Wolverine left, Jareth felt a little pity for the two captives... well maybe just Chuck. They did not know what they were in for.
Looking back at the file, he frowned. Apparently she had tried to kill that Senator before but in the 'guise of Gambit. A common shapeshifter.
He looked up her past allies and was slightly impressed. The names didn't mean much but their track records were impressive.....or disturbing....however you wanted to look at it. He wasn't sure to be flattered or worried by her interest in him. No doubt they were sizing him up for something.
"Hello Jareth," a voice said from behind him. Turning around he saw the man who had entered his mind earlier this week. He looked the same as the image he had projected.... except for the wheel chair.
"Hello Professor," Jareth returned the greeting, "So, how are things with Sarah's attackers?"
"Pretty well... Wolverine has manage to get out that they were members of an Anti-mutant activist group."
"So how did they choose Sarah for a target?"
"There were TV cameras around when Senator Kelly was doing his publicity shots... and they saw when she was saved by a 'mutant'. Since they figured you weren't saving Kelly...."
"They assumed I was saving her," Jareth answered, "Of course! They then gathered that she must have known me and that brings up the 'mutant lover' comment."
Xavier nodded, "They thought she could provide them names of other mutants to target."
"You think she's safe from them?"
"Most likely... They won't try it again so soon if at all."
There was a brief lull in the conversation until something came to Jareth's mind, "Professor, how much do you think Mystique knows about me?"
"Well, I am guessing that she knows that you can change form, heal quickly, and your name is Jareth.... She might also know of your ties to Sarah, and James from following you."
"So, she or her working friends might use them to get to me?... I don't like it...I don't like it one bit."
"I can understand. Its hard to face danger. Much more if loved ones are the ones in danger.
Jareth thought about the situation. James and Sarah were both probable topics. He knew they probably not go after an X-man due to the strong ties within the X-men group. What could he do? Gavin was one of his most trusted servants and James was his son. He couldn't turn his back on him when he could be in danger. Although James had power, he didn't know how to use them and that could be just as bad as not having them at all...
But he loved Sarah and couldn't bear to see her get hurt. He couldn't protect them both... Or could he?
He sighed when he realized what he'd probably have to do.
He just hoped that Sarah wouldn't hate him for what he'd have to do.
-To be continued