Betrayal
Catching the others was just as easy as capturing Rogue. Kurt was just as trusting as Rogue had been, Cain thought that it was a mercenary recruiting service, and Jennifer had taken Victor's powers and knocked him unconscious. Donovan had watched and helped with all that she could, though she made it very clear that she didn't approve. Dealing with Cain and Victor had made Donovan very suspicious and she begins to fear for the mutants she's helped gather.
"All right, Donny. Time for you to meet our employers," Jennifer says one day. She is lighting a cigarette and leaning against the van she had rented for their stint in Canada, where they had found Victor.
Donovan is sitting far away from the van. The smell of cigarette smoke makes her nauseous so she makes it a point of barely being near Jennifer while she does it. She looks glumly up at Jennifer.
"That's right, you finally get to meet the men who make the world a safer place for mutants," Jennifer says. If I hand over this powerhouse of a mutie, they'll pay me a handsome fortune and then I can get out of the recruiting business. "You think you're up for all the excitement?"
Donovan shrugs and stands. She's up to something. She's going to be taking me to the same place we've been sending all the others. Something's not right. She takes the cigarette from Jennifer's mouth and stamps it out.
"Ready to go so soon, eh?" Jennifer asks. She grins broadly. "Coolness. Let's get out of here."
LATER:
"Colonel Wraith?" Jennifer calls. "Hey, colonel, where are you?" she and Donovan are in the waiting room. Wraith is late. "Hey, if this is getting me back for all the times I was late, good game. But we have business to attend to!"
Wraith walks into the room quickly. He looks at Donovan appreciatively. He has never seen Jennifer's chosen partner till today. He flops into a chair. "This is your powerhouse?"
Donovan changes form and crosses her arms. Wraith's eyes widen. "Impressive. Flight, strength, and…" he peers down at his folder. "…hyper sensitive senses?"
"If she had a healing factor, she'd be your new Wolverine," Jennifer says snidely. Wraith glares at her. "She's capable of being much more of a killing machine."
Donovan looks at Jennifer, horrorstricken. Wraith just nods. "You're sure you want to part with her?"
"For a healthy price, of course," Jennifer says coolly. She looks at Donovan. "Sorry, kid. A gal's got to eat."
"Double your pay. And then I never want to see your stinkin' mutie carcass here again," Wraith snarls. He turns to look at Donovan, who has just jumped to her feet. "You might as well sit still, darlin'. You're gonna be here for a long time."
Donovan charges toward the door, ready to crash through it. But before she gets that close, she realizes that she's in her human form again. She looks at Jennifer, who shrugs. "Sorry. Business is business. And in every game, there has to be a loser. It was fun, Donovan. Just do what they say and you won't be hurt too bad, all right?"
Wraith chuckles and takes his tazer from a clip on his belt. He grabs Donovan by the collar and zaps her on the neck. Donovan struggles against him but passes out shortly after her attack.
THREE DAYS LATER:
Donovan opens her eyes and looks around. She is in a cell that is secured by w light green force shield. She has a throbbing headache and her stomach is aching from lack of food. She sees a plate by her feet and is disappointed to see that it's empty.
"Meal time's once a day. Y' missed it again today," a soft Southern voice says bitterly. Donovan sees Rogue sitting a few feet away. She sits up excitedly. "Don't act too happy. Ah ain't so stupid this time. Ah know what yer all about."
Donovan is genuinely confused. What the… oh. I helped put her in here… she hates me, I'm sure, for this.
Rogue is sitting on a cot that had been set up in the cell. She is a mess with blood stains on her clothes, her hair matted and unwashed, and her face stained with dirt and tears. But to Donovan, who had spent many a night dreaming of the southern belle, Rogue was an angel. "How could ya do this t' me?" Rogue asks quietly. "Ah thought y' cared. Y' seemed so sad an' lost… but it was all just a trick.
Donovan stands, shaking her head vehemently. Dammit, Mandy, let me speak! I love you still, no matter what else happens in my life, but I can't spend the rest of my life in silence. Not when someone else needs me like this! "It… I didn't…" Donovan stammers over what should be her first words in almost a year.
Rogue just looks away. Donovan feels tears roll down her cheeks. She growls and tries to change form. Then, she realizes that she is already in her mutant form. Usually she has to think about it to change, since her human form is what is most natural for her, but her wings are already folded across her back and her skin is that familiar light gray. She is confused and suddenly very dizzy. She falls over.
"You okay?" Rogue's anger fades quickly as she rushes to Donovan's side. She helps Donovan sit up. "They did all sorts of testin' on ya. Made it so ya can't change back… Ah shoulda said something' but Ah thought ya knew…"
Donovan feels very ill. She reaches for Rogue's hand but Rogue doesn't take it. She Rogue remembers her anger again and stands away from Donovan. "Y' lied t' me. Well, Jennifer did, but y' didn't do nothin' t' stop her. An' that Wraith guy said that y' detach yerself from projects so that y' can do this impersonally or whatever…"
Growling, Donovan stands again. She sighs. Please, Mandy… please…
A YEAR AGO:
Mandy touches Donovan's gray cheek, smiling wonderfully. "You know what...?"
"What" Donovan asks, grateful to be with her, loving her. They are tangled in each other's arms, Donovan's wings and tail holding Mandy even closer to her. Their lips meet again and Donovan smiles happily.
"I have a secret, too… Just like yours…" Mandy whispers. Suddenly Donovan feels a presence in her mind. I'm a mutant, too...
Donovan's eyes widen. "You were in my head…"
Just think it and I'll hear it, Mandy says in Donovan's mind. I feel so close to you right now.
I know what you mean. This is wonderful. Why didn't you tell me? Donovan asks.
Mandy shrugs. I was scared to. Why didn't you tell me you're a mutant?
Because I was scared, Donovan admits. But now we both know something about the other.
"I want it to always be this way," Mandy says aloud. "In your arms, in your mind, in your heart."
"And it always will be…" Donovan says. "We just have to get through this rough part."
(after that)
Donovan is holding Mandy's dying body in her arms tightly. Don't leave me!! You can't leave me!!
I'm not leaving you. My mind and heart will always be a part of you, Mandy tells Donovan. She feels her own body slipping away. I'll live as long as you do, Donovan!
NOW:
Donovan has not been able to speak since that day. She has tried and tried but Mandy's presence has blocked her ability to talk. She loves Mandy very much and her presence is very soothing but the hindrance it creates has become more than she can handle. She clenches her fists. Mandy, please. You need to rest in peace and I need to move on. This girl is in pain because of me. I need to alleviate that pain.
But I love you, Mandy's voice is a whisper in Donovan's mind. This is the first time they've actually spoken since Mandy's death. I need to be with you.
I love you, too. But can't you see that this is killing us? Donovan asks. Please…
Mandy's voice is very sad. I love you… I'll see you again someday…
Donovan doesn't hold back the sob as she feels Mandy's mind leave her. She has never felt more alone in her life. She drops to her knees and buries her face in her hands, crying loudly.
"Uh, Donovan, ya gotta keep quiet. The guards'll be down here any second now…" Rogue says softly. She looks around awkwardly. "Donovan…"
"Hey, in there!" one of Wraith's men snaps. He glares into the cell angrily. "Shut up or I'll come in there and close your mouth for ya!"
Donovan looks up, her eyes are blazing red. She looks down at her hands. There are claws where her fingernails had once been. Rather than being completely human looking minus the skin color, wings, and tail, Donovan had been further mutated to have claws, abnormal dexterity, and more power to her wings, adding the ability to fly. She can feel the power pulsing beneath and though she doesn't like it, she can certainly use it to her advantage.
The guard gasps and steps back. Then he realizes that the force shield will keep him safe and he chuckles nervously. "Sorry, Mason, yer gonna be working here a lot longer than you thought. Just cool it or you'll be picking up those pointy teeth of your with a dustpan."
Donovan roars and launches herself at the force shield. She ignores the violent blast of electricity being sent through her body. The guard backs up further and Donovan continues her mindless attack. The lights begin to flicker and the guard aims his rifle. "I'm warning you, mutie. Stop what you're doing or face the consequences!"
"Donovan, stop!" Rogue screams. There is blood oozing from Donovan's pointed ears. "You're killing yourself!"
The fluorescent lights above finally sputter and explode. The force shield fades away. Donovan stumbles forward and falls at the guard's feet. Nothing moves at all within the cells, even though all the mutants are free now. Rogue doesn't dare go to Donovan's side. The guard sighs in relief when the emergency generators kick in. Donovan jerks forward outside the cell when the shield of her cell goes back up.
"Stupid, mutie. What did you think was gonna happen?" The guard kicks at Donovan's body. "You kill yourself to free these mindless savages?"
Wraith storms into the cell block. "What the hell happened down here? What happened to Mason?" he keeps a good distance away from her body.
"She used her body to cause a lapse in the power system. Killed herself, though, and nothing got out," the guard says with a laugh.
Wraith tears the gun from the guard's hands. He aims it at Donovan quickly. "You moron! She ain't dead!" he fires at Donovan repeatedly. "Her skin's made out of some kind of rock. A little electric charge isn't going to do anything to her!"
Donovan's hand snaps out and grips the guard's leg, breaking it immediately. He falls to the ground as Donovan stands shakily. She wavers a bit as she stares at Wraith. "I want out."