Disclaimer: Nope, don't own the X-Men. **sigh**
A/NI: Thanks for the info, Towenden. You're right, it's weird and random.
A/NII: I want to warn everyone that I'm getting rid of the "working title" in the title, b/c I'm never going to get anything different, and as I don't know if that will change anything, I thought I ought to warn you.
A/NIII: Now, people, keep with me though this chapter. It's going to be a little surprising, but don't quit reading 'cause you don't like what happens! I've got something up my sleeve, I promise.
A/NIV: I would also like to announce that I've decided, since I went on a writing splurge and wrote quite a bit, that I don't really like the ending the story was originally planned for. So, instead of just posting the damn thing like an intelligent person, I'm going to write another one. One which has no plot, and is going to have some discrepancies with the first thirteen chapters, although not many. And I'm going to post both of them. So start expecting a slightly longer gaps between posting. Never more than a week, unless I go out of town, get very sick, or my computer/internet/ff.net is having fits. But longer gaps. (I'm SORRY!). This being due to the fact that the rest of the story, and the original storyline, had a plot, which no longer applies to the second ending. Wish me luck!
Dedication: To Internutter, for her new fic "A Singular Day" -- Kurt growing up! Very good, go read (wait, not yet! Read mine first!)
"Not Kurt's day", DarkFire? Just you wait!
Chapter XIII
Graydon was watching the girl out of the corner of his eyes, allowing himself a self-satisfied grin at her reaction to the underground complex that housed the main headquarters of the Friends of Humanity. The pristine white walls made the tile flooring shine and although the place looked rather simple at first glance, Amanda would soon be treated to the full tour: everything FOH had to offer. And if she still decided not to cooperate on her own when it was over . . .
He could, after all, channel air into that room.
"Welcome to the real headquarters of the Friends of Humanity. This is our epicenter, where groups from all over the country report in. It's this way to the auditorium," Graydon gestured, and Amanda followed silently.
Lamb, he decided, studying her. She just doesn't have the backbone to really be an upper-class.
"Graydon, what is this place? Really? Why is it hidden under some house in the suburbs?"
Maybe I ought to amend that.
"This, Amanda, is the real Friends of Humanity. The club you joined? The one that's so dreadfully under-represented in the community? That's nothing. You see, the human race is being overrun. And we're here to stop that." Graydon declared.
"Overrun?! What do you mean? I -- I'm afraid I don't understand . . .Graydon, what's going on?!" she demanded as the three of them made their way down their second staircase. "And would you let go of me?"
The Senior whirled on Amanda, who took a step backward in fear. She hit Duncan, whose arms were crossed over his chest. "Dammit, what do you want?!"
Graydon shrugged, smiling. "Your boyfriend."
Amanda sent him a confused look. "Kurt? What do you want with Kurt?"
Graydon snarled. "I care little or nothing for "Kurt". I want the Nightcrawler."
"You -- verdammt. You know what he his? How? And what do you want with him?!" she was edging away from Duncan, who was watching as if she played football for the rival high school.
"Well, when you look as demonic as that one does, it becomes harder to hide after a while. It's in part because of you -- he was less careful to stay in the shadows after you discovered him. And if some girl could figure it out, a group devoted to discovering and eliminating mutants ought to be able to as well, don't you think?"
Amanda just stared. "Eliminating -- Why?" she whispered.
Graydon laughed. So, the little mutie-lover wanted the full explanation? Why not? "Humans have ruled this planet since we evolved. We're being replaced, like an old rug, as if we're not good enough. The only way to keep humanity around is to destroy those who threaten it -- namely, your boyfriend."
Then Graydon got the shock of his life.
"Oh, good. I was beginning to think this was some sort of hunters organization, who hunted mutants because they're challenging prey. Hunting's never been my style; I'm a vegetarian."
Shit. What?! Graydon did a double-take.
The shy little thing he'd become used to working on had vanished. Amanda's bad posture vanished, her brown eyes flashing and her omega demeanor becoming rather alpha. "At least you have the same reasons I do, although I'd be willing to guess there's more to it than that. Where'd you get the funding to make this place? And do you have what it takes to take out the X-Men?"
By now Duncan was completely lost, and Graydon was just barely following. "Wait just one minute. I was under the impression you liked the furred freak."
Amanda dismissed Graydon with a gesture. "I'll talk more when we get rid of dumb and blond here." she jerked a thumb at Duncan.
"Duncan, alert my father we may have a bogie on level two," Graydon ordered, his eyes never leaving the brown-haired enigma who stood almost imperiously in front of him. Physically she may have been shorter than him, but the presence she gave off was that of someone much more powerful than himself. As if she were a mutant -- But she can't be! We did tests on her DNA, for God's sake, and she showed normal across the board!
As Duncan calmly left Graydon, full of confidence that the youngest High Officer in FOH could handle a sophomore girl, Amanda rolled her eyes at Graydon. "No, I'm not a mutant. You did tests on my DNA, you ought to know."
"How did you know that?!"
"What, you didn't think I was smart enough to realize what happened to that kleenx that 'mysteriously' vanished from an empty trashcan?"
"You've been pretending," light dawned on Graydon. "You actually got into the Xavier Institute by pretending to accept the worst of them as he was."
"So clever of you."
"Well, now it's my turn to ask. Why? I mean, you said you don't want mutants to eradicate humans, but to actually dive into their stronghold . . ."
"A mutant killed my brother. Had I known there was someplace like this, I might not have had to work alone for two years," she pointed out. "You people need some publicity."
Graydon shook his head. "Not everyone is ready to take up arms against those who might be family. Not even for the Greater Good. What were you going to do, anyway? You challenged us as to whether we could take out the X-Men -- which I assure you, we can -- and you're just one person."
"To tell the truth, I really didn't have a plan at the beginning past trying to get into their confidence. But mutants aren't very well known -- imagine the panic caused if people suddenly discovered their children were going to school with a demon? Or that Xavier were harboring the insane chemistry teacher, whose twice attacked the school and Principal Kelly? And there is, of course, the werewolf, which is a primal fear of most people. Rightly so, may I add." she shrugged.
"For one person, that's rather ingenious. Would the X-Men realize it was you?"
"And give up my position in their hierarchy? Never. Not that their professor wouldn't be able to tell, eventually, but that much longer in their circle could save someone elses brother."
Graydon nodded. "Well, Amanda, welcome to the Friends of Humanity. Care for the ten cent tour?"
"Sure."
*
"Impressive."
"Thank you," Mr. Brent smiled at the girl as he and his son finished the tour. "Although what's more impressive was your ability to spy on Xavier's mutie cadre for so long, without him finding you out."
Amanda shrugged. "Once I accepted Nightcrawler, he didn't really want to see what was in my head. He just figured if I was able to take Nightcrawlers appearance without shouting "Demon!" they'd be fine. Although how stupid would you be not to tread on eggshells when confronted with someone who looked like that?"
Graydon and his father brought Amanda to the FOH cafeteria, to sit and talk. "We thought the X-Men for sure had pegged FOH as anti-mutant -- how did you manage to join without them causing a fuss?"
"Well, I made friends with Candy, Angel's girlfriend, and that's how I originally found out about you. No kudos for that one -- Angel's on the lookout for you now, and you didn't even cripple him. Anyway, it wasn't that hard. It showed I knew about another mutant when I warned Kurt, finally let me in, and then Xavier practically handed me to you on a silver platter. He asked me to play spy for him."
"When he wouldn't risk one of his own students, who were the ones in real danger," Mr. Brent snorted in disgust. "He instead risked the life of someone who didn't even have a stake in our soon-to-be little war."
"He is a mutie," Amanda pointed out over a cup of hot chocolate. "No morals. Anyway, that's how I got here. Never figured it would be this easy to double-cross a telepath."
"How did you manage to get in there without Xavier discovering you? He is powerful, as he's shown by his many mind-wipes."
"You can feel them too? The little fuzzy blank spots where there ought to be a memory?" Amanda asked, leaning over her drink.
"Yes. Some people can, some can't. Duncan, for example, can't. I can, and I tell you it's annoying to know they've been out in the open more than once, but I have no proof because I can't remember!"
Amanda smiled. "I thought it was just me. Every once in a while you run into someone who's immune to telepathy. Not to mind wipes, but no telepath of any ability can go snooping around in their heads. I'm one of them. That's why I didn't die when a telepath killed my brother. She meant to get me, too, and thought she did, but I'm still here, aren't I?"
Mr. Brent and Graydon stared. "That's possible? Xavier can't read your mind?"
"No. He said so himself -- I was a little worried. I knew Jean couldn't, but Xavier's more powerful than any telepath I've ever run into. I've seen more than my share."
"Is that another reason why you chose to go after the X-Men? A vendetta against telepaths?" Mr. Brent inquired.
"He's the biggest one there is. If I can take him out, mutants haven't a prayer," Amanda pointed out.
"We, miss Sefton. You're part of a team now. The X-Men don't stand a chance."
Amanda grinned.
