Ok then, here's chapter four for all you readers out there. I like to call it…
Experimentation
"Well," Beast said while studying a beaker full of pink serum, "I believe the best way to start the process of making amends is to find a cure for are dear pigment challenged friend."
"Ok, well that shouldn't be to hard right?" Bobby asked hopeful, "I mean you invented that little pill in the first place."
Beast shook his head morosely and set the glass down, "Unfortunately it will not be all that easy Bobby. As you should recall the invention of my little pink pill was quite by accident. I was fully counting on Wolverine's healing factor to take care of the ill effects it had. Now I must come up with an antidote. And in order to find a cure… I must first have a test subject." He turned around and smiled at Bobby and Gambit, "Any volunteers?"
The two looked at each other and bolted for the door. Beast casually flicked a switch under the counter next to him and a huge metal slab slammed down over the door to the lab. Gambit's hand quickly dove into his pocket and brought out a glowing playing card. He flung it at the door and the card exploded, but the metal remained intact.
"Oh don't mind that." Beast said while pulling a syringe out of a drawer, "It's just a reinforced adamantium plate. Security measure." He inserted a stopper into the pink beaker and turned it upside down. Sticking the needle into it he began filling the syringe. "One can never be too careful."
Bobby began frantically clawing at the silver surface and Gambit began to edge around an exam table, away from Beast. "Beast," Bobby said worriedly, "your not serious, are you? Buddy?" He abandoned his attempts to scratch thru the door and stood with his back against it.
"Quite," Beast stated flatly while tapping out air bubbles in his needle, "So now, who's it going to be?"
"Don you come near Gambit wit dat ting." Gambit warned in a quavering voice, "Dis is you an Bobby's mess, Gambit ain't got noting to do wid it."
"Yeah, well it wasn't my idea," Bobby argued, wearily eyeing Beast's needle. "I said let's throw him in the pool."
Beast studied the two for a moment and then folded his arms across his chest, his fingernail tapping the glass of the syringe, "I'll tell you what. You two decide who gets to be the test subject."
Bobby and Gambit looked at each other and then sprang forward, one tackling the other and landing on the floor. They rolled around, each clutching a fistful of clothing and using it to roll the other one over. Beast strolled back to the drawer and pulled out another syringe, filling it with serum. The two were so intent on winning the battle that they did not notice Beast's actions until he walked up and stabbed both of them.
"HEYYY MERDE BEAST!!" Gambit yelled, pulling his arm away and cupping a hand around the injection spot.
"OWWWW!!!" Bobby screamed. He glanced at his wound, "That hurt. Hey, wait a minute… AHHHHH I'M TURNING PINK, BEAST I'M TURNING PINK!!!" He ran around the lab screaming.
"Oh no." Gambit groaned staring at his hand. "Dis is not happening, dis can't be happening," He closed his eyes, "nope not happening. Gambit he not turnin…" he opened his eyes, "pink. Beast, you a dead man."
Bobby stopped flailing and the two X-men began to advance on Beast. The blue mutant put his hands up and smiled, "Hold on you two, you must remember that if you kill me, I cannot cure you. That is after all, the whole point behind my inflicting you with this particular condition. All in the name of science"
"Gambit never agreed to be your guinea pig homme," the Cajun said coldly, "so you better fine dat cure fast."
"Yeah, that fur ain't gonna help you if I decide to reenact the Ice Age." Bobby said, dropping the temperature in the room.
"Alright, alright." Beast agreed waiving down their threats, "First of all I'll need a blood sample. And with it I shall endeavor to find a cure for the both of you, as well as our dear leader Cyclops."
BACK AT THE BLACKBIRD
Cyclops piloted the blackbird in tight-jawed anger. His eyes were set forward and his knuckles were white from his iron grip on the wheel. Behind him his passengers had grown quiet. It had taken five minutes after takeoff for the laughter to die down, but now only a rare snicker was heard.
'Come on Scott.' Jean Grey whispered into his mind via their telepathic link as she sat next to him in the copilots seat. 'You shouldn't get so worked up over a thing like this.'
Cyclops only let out an angry sigh and said nothing.
'You have to learn to let go once in a while, it wasn't so bad.'
Scott angrily turned on her and yelled, "JEAN, EVEN TOAD WAS LAUGHING AT ME!"
This statement caused another laughing outburst from the other X-men.
"BWAHAHAHA YEAH IT'S PRETTY SAD WHEN TOADS LAUGHIN AT YA!" Wolverine cackled and the others laughed even harder while nodding their heads in agreement.
"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THOUGH," Rogue laughed while holding her side, "THAT'S ONE DARN GOOD WAY TO WIN A FIGHT. I'LL BET EVEN THE HULK WOULDA KEELED OVER LAUGHIN AT PINK SCOTTY!"
Scott wheeled around to glare at them but his serious expression matched with his pink composure only caused them to laugh even more.
"HE LOOKS LIKE ONE O' THEM PISSED OFF JIGGLY THINGS FROM THAT SHOW JUBILEE USETA WATCH!" Wolverine hollered while pointing.
"HE DOES DOESN'T HE!" Storm agreed and doubled over.
Cyclops faced forward and stared out at the sky in front of him.
'Thanks a lot everyone.' Jean broadcasted hotly to the others.
'No problem Jeannie.' Wolverine answered with a feral grin.
Jean let her anger feed thru the link and then broke it to talk with Scott again, 'look honey. I'm sure this is only temporary.'
'Yeah sure, and in the meantime I get to give everyone around me a good laugh.' He replied.
'Look, when we get home I think I might have something that will help you.' Jean tried to comfort him.
'What might that be?'
'If I tell you now you might not think it's all that helpful, I'll tell you when we get there.'
Scott raised a quizzical eyebrow but said nothing.
In the lab Bobby and Gambit sat on an examination table watching as Beast worked, writing equations and mixing chemicals. He had Bunsen burners lit and beakers bubbling over them. Strange liquids flowed thru corkscrew tubing and dripped into glass vials and strange machines spun test tubes around at a rapid rate.
Bobby picked up a flask and examined its contents. He swished it around and then held it up to his nose, inhaling deeply. "ACK! *cough* what is this? It smells terrible!" Beast looked up and gave him a stern glance and then went back to his work. "Here smell it." He offered the container to Gambit who pushed it away.
"Get dat away from me."
Bobby put down the flask and looked around at the various items of equipment laid out around him. He picked up a pair of tongs and began clicking them. He examined them and then experimentally clicked them rapidly thru the air. He grinned and then quickly turned to Gambit and snapped them closed on his ear.
"What de hell is wrong wit you?!" Gambit yelled trying to pull back but Bobby held on. "Let go!" Bobby only laughed as Gambit grimaced against the tongs pinch. Quickly he glanced around at the instruments before him. He picked up a pair of tweezers and latched them onto Bobby's nose.
"OWW!! Let go, let go!" Bobby pleaded and tried to pull away. When he did he pulled on Gambit's ear and Gambit pulled harder with the tweezers.
They were both trying to twist away when Beast's furry hands closed over their torture instruments and clamped them down so hard that both Bobby and Gambit let go in order to grab at Beast's hands.
"OWWW HANK!!" They both exclaimed.
"Are you finished?" Beast asked sternly.
"YES I'M FINISHED!" Bobby yelled.
"OUI! GAMBIT EST FINITE!" Gambit yelled.
Beast let go and the two men grabbed and nursed their sore ear and nostril. They cast evil glances at one another and then turned to Beast.
"So, you done yet?" Bobby asked, in a slightly nasal voice.
"I have performed my calculations and checked over my results several times. And from these calculations I have created what I believe is an antidote to your current conditions."
"Alright!" Bobby exclaimed, "Then let's have it!"
"There is, however, one problem." Beast related.
"There always is isn't there." Bobby stated flatly.
"What is dat den?" Gambit asked in irritation.
"Well, my calculations have brought about two solutions." Beast said and displayed two flasks, one purple and one blue. "Now I've checked and re-checked and I can't find any errors so I really can't explain this particular anomaly, but I'm sure that once we test these two serums at least one will prove effective. If not both."
"Well I suppose we have no choice den, non?" Gambit said in submission.
"I call the blue one!" Bobby yelled.
"Hey dat's not fair." Gambit complained. Beast shrugged and handed Bobby the blue flask and Gambit the purple one.
"Bottom's up." He said.
I hope you guys are liking this story cause I'm havin a great time writing it for you. Fortunately, or unfortunately your choice, I think I've worked out a conclusion but if your willing to read it I'll try and make it worthwhile for you's guys ok? Ok then, It's a deal. See ya soon. Adam_bat