APOCALYPSE
CHAPTER TWELVE:
LAMBDA
A forest in Canada 1901:
The first sounds of the morning invaded his oversensitive ears. The sun begun streaming through the tree branches and the young, savage boy tried to summon his surroundings. He couldn't sense danger, but there was something fluffy covering his body and clear signs that he wasn't alone. He remembered a few things; a hint of the reason he had once possessed and was now replaced by a primal instinct started to come back to him. He saw flashes of memories that made him distinctively uncomfortable. A cage, people staring at him and gawking and someone with a whip and no mercy. He'd escaped, lost all touch with his humanity and ran. Whatever was covering him was comfortable and warm, and his animalistic rage was subsiding. He was now able to look around him and make more sense of things. He could almost analyze the situation, instead of simply sitting still, perking up to feel any hint of danger. Seeing a hearth was a step backwards, and his natural fear of fire made him recoil and curl up in a ball against the tree he had been sleeping under. There was another scent besides his own; a human scent, and he didn't trust humans. Not one bit. His thought's were interrupted by someone speaking. He wasn't yet so sound as to recognize what the soft female voice was saying, but his fears weren't justified, he noted. The words he didn't understand, but the tone was soothing, and it came from over his head, on one of the branches. He looked up and caught a glimpse of a dark figure and strands of long, gray hair. He was up and next to her in an instant, still keeping a safe distance and cocking his head like the puppy he was.
".don't.won't hurt.come 'ere.'s alright, child." The words begun to make sense slowly. It was nothing like what the owner of the circus used to say to him. He immediately liked the old woman, but he wasn't about to trust her so fast. Still, when she smiled warmly at him, he couldn't avoid smiling back. She extended her hand, offering a slice of bread, which he took off her hand in one swift motion, quickly regaining his safe distance. He was gulping and choking himself with it, so hungry that he was. The woman came closer, tentatively and his muscles tensed when she rested a hand on his back, fixing his eyes on hers.
"It's ok child. I won't hurt you. I'm a friend." She cooed, rubbing her hand in circles on his back. "I found you sleeping under this tree last night, and covered you with a blanket. I hope you didn't mind me camping next to you."
The boy only stared at her, leaning shyly towards the caresses.
"Who?" he asked. He hadn't talked in so long that he felt strange about hearing his own voice, and his throat felt raspy.
"My name is Lambda, child. And I'm a bit of a witch, you could say, but a good one at that. I knew you'd be here. The spirits told me to find you and take care of you."
His eyes opened as big as saucers and he stared at her in innocent amazement. She certainly looked like a witch; there was a mysterious air about her, and her eyes reflected wisdom and calm. He'd heard people talking about witches, but he didn't know enough about anything to know if he saw one. The woman had fed him, so he had reasons enough to trust her.
***
PRESENT
"Sugah, ye better stay still if ye don't want me hurtin' ye worse." Rogue said softly while bandaging some of Sydney's wounds. The girl was pouting and whining and squirming under her cares, claiming that she was well enough to take care of herself and displaying a moody personality that would have put Moira McTaggert to shame. But Logan was having a hard time paying attention to her ramblings. He was scooted in a dark corner, with his eyes fixated on the floor and his mind miles and years away. A hand dropping carelessly on his shoulder momentarily brought him back from his recently found memories and he looked up to see a Cajun smiling nervously.
"Are y' ok, homme? Y' look like shit." Logan snorted.
"Look who's talking?! Have ye look at yerself in the mirror lately Gumbo?" Remy sat clumsily next to him and sighed.
"Seen better days, me." The younger man grew quiet, sighing a couple of times and rubbing his eyes wearily before speaking. "Logan, can I ask y' somet'ing?" he said finally, almost in a whisper.
"Sure bub, what is it?" Logan answered detachedly. Remy sighed yet again.
"Why did y' come lookin' for Remy?" Logan stirred uncomfortably as a wave of confusion and fear washed over him, reminding him that His young teammate was an empath. Which in turn surprised him, noticing for the first time that he hadn't been broadcasting allover the place, like any other normal mutant would have with recently manifested powers. 'But that's how it's supposed to be, ain't it?' He thought to himself.
"Remy, yer broadcasting." He grumbled, and Remy smiled nervously again, lifting up his hands apologetically. "And there's no need to be afraid bub, we're not here to bring ye back if ye don't want to. No one's really mad at ye. Maybe Warren, but I wouldn't worry about it. But we couldn't let you face this alone. I think,.I know we were meant to follow ye here." The last sentence was said in a whisper, reflectively.
Remy shook his head.
"I still need an explanation. First all dis t'ings happen to me that I don't understand. Dis dreams and de powers. And den dis petite shows up tellin' Remy he's some offspring and bablin' 'bout prophecies. And now y' speakin' funny too. Remy is beginning to feel he be trapped on an episode of Buffy de vampire slayer." Logan laughed a little.
"Don't tell me you still watch that show, Gumbo?!" Remy looked aggravated.
"Mais oui! Why wouldn't I, it's a great show!"
"Whatever you say Gumbo." Logan paused a moment, and huffed exasperated, trying to say what he needed to say in a coherent sequence. "I don't know where to begin, Gumbo."
"How about the beginning, mon ami?" Remy said smugly, and Logan glared at him.
***
CANADA 1910
"Why can I go practice my battle skills with the rest of the guys? I'm a good warrior! I'm old enough!" Logan pouted. He smothered his black uniform, that clang a little to big for his slender figure. He had his black, almost blue, shoulder length hair up in a neat pony tail; all in all, he looked a bit like a templar knight. He stood up even more firmly, and tried to show his tutor that even in his 14 years of age, he was a man and was more than ready to go with the other members of their little group. The old woman smiled, and purposely ruffled his hair to mock him.
"Child, I know you are old enough. And you are becoming a better warrior than any of the others. But they have already learned about the prophecy, and you haven't. It is important that you know what you are fighting for, isn't it?" she said kindly.
"But, ma'am, don't take this the wrong way, but I've heard about it, and how long it has existed. What makes you think I need to know what it's about? The beast's minions attack us regularly, and I'll probably be dead by the time everything that little book of yours says, happens. I'd make myself more useful training." Lambda looked down sadly, and shook her head.
"My dear child. Of all of us, you'll be the only one to witness the prophecy. I've seen it in my dreams. It has started." Logan looked startled.
"Is it true?" she nodded. "That's not possible. The offsprings haven't even been born yet! I may not do my homework, but I do know that the offsprings will be born at least twenty years before it happens, and before that, there would be all this people being born different, with powers similar to the offsprings' and the beast's. The sign of the prophecy and all that." Lambda unsheathed her dagger and quickly took hold of Logan's hand, cutting the skin and drawing blood. Logan pulled out as quickly, his eyes big and filled with tears, trying to hide what he knew it would happen. The wound was closed before the bleeding even stained his shirt.
"You thought you could hide it from me, Logan? You've always been different, child. That's why those mean people used your nexus with nature to show you off like a freak. And now your powers have manifested as well. Did you think I didn't know about the claws either? Child, I saw them before I'd met you." Logan nodded. He understood why Lambda had been looking for him that day. He was the proof that their time was running short. Lambda handed him the book and he begun reading out loud.
"Before people could write about it, a creature with enormous power saw the light of our world. A monster with a corrupt soul, who thought himself to be god. It has maimed and tortured. There is not, nor has ever been anyone with the power to stop the beast. But for as long a time, there has been those who could see the day nature would balance it all. As it always does. The new era will announce the arrival of the offsprings. Children in every corner of the world will be born harboring the sign of the prophecy being fulfilled. Children with powers similar though not as great as to the ones of beast's, children signing the change in human nature. Two offsprings of this era, one with the mark of onyx and ruby, one with the mark of emerald and amber, will awaken to even greater powers, to destroy the beast and allow a better future for the world. The beast will haunt them, torture them, all their lives. The power of the offsprings will be also all the beast needs to accomplish his ascension. If the offsprings choose to follow the beast, it would be the end of it all. A ring has been conjured, one that will make it's bearer immune to the offsprings' powers. The people that called themselves the Guardians, must track the offsprings, reach them before the beast does, and show them the right path. If they were to fail, the bearer of the ring must kill them, and ensure the continuity of our kind, until nature decides to level it's force again."
Logan cleared his throat and put the book down.
"How am I supposed to know who the offsprings are? It's not like the prophecy is all that clear about it. You all talk in riddles and it's getting on my nerve." Lambda laughed.
"We talk in riddles because we can only see bits and pieces of it all. But don't you worry. I've seen it, you will find them. In fact, I envy you a little."
"You do?"
"Thousands of years, we've fought to stay alive, to keep the prophecy from the beast. Lots of us have died trying. I've pledged my whole life, as it was intended, to guide you all through it. I would have liked to meet them, to see the beast being destroyed at last."
"Well, I will know them, as you say, but maybe it won't go the way we are hoping it will. Maybe you are better off not being present when it happens." Logan said rather grimly.
"Let's hope for the best son. It's all we can do." ***
PRESENT
"Wow.dat's.huh." Remy stammered. "So, I'm.y' know."
"Ye're one of the offsprings, yeah." Logan answered, never loosing the reflective tone he had acquired since he'd regained his memories.
"And do y' have any idea how.er.powerful dis beast be?"
"Very."
"Oh." Remy sighed. "And Rogue."
"Yeah."
"Ok."
"I know, kid. Not everyday ye find out ye're some kinda prophesized savior of mankind, huh?" Logan said amusedly.
"Guess non."
"Now if you excuse me, I need to talk to that girl over there." He stood up, leaving a stunned Cajun behind him. Sidney had been patched up already, and was sitting by the window, staring coldly at him. He sat down next to her and sighed.
"I guess you are the last one, huh? Since you can't be more than 13 and you have the ring." Logan remembered that only the best of the guardians was allowed to carry it. She shrugged, but her demeanor didn't soften.
"Yeah, I'm the last one, mate. I've seen me brothers and me parents die, me friends, everyone. Where were you while all of this happened mate?" she said harshly.
"I.It's a long story kid, but, for what it's worth, I know what you went through." ***
CANADA 1915
"C'mon, Logan! I'll race you to the camp!" Archie, a young man pretty much the same age as Logan, begun running as fast as he could, trying not to drop his charge. They'd been in town all day, gathering supplies for their group. Logan rolled his eyes and tightened his grip of his bags, starting to run.
"Really, Archie, you need to grow up!" he yelled to his friend. When he caught up with him, fifty feet from the camp or so, he noticed he had grown deathly pale. "What is it, bub?" he said, but didn't have to wait for a reply. One glance at the camp and he knew what had gotten his friend so upset. There was only ashes and smoke left. That and corpses. Archie collapsed to his knees and shook his head.
"No.we.we were only gone a day." he whispered. Logan shrugged of the need to cry and pulled the young man to his feet. From the corner of his eye he could see a mass of gray hair tainted with blood.
"Let's go. We have to get out of here, get back to England and tell them what's happened." He said coldly.
"No! we have to look for the book! We.Oh God they must have it!" Archie cried, but Logan shook his head sadly.
"I have it. La.she said I should watch it for a while, she said it'd be safer this way. She know this was coming."
"I'll go to England with the book then." Archie said, shakily. "You stay here and."
"I'll bury them and meet you there, ok?" Archie nodded dazedly.
That night, with his hands dirty with dust and blood, Logan sat infront of the hearth, having the strange sensation that this was the last he'd ever hear from the guardians in a long time.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
CHAPTER TWELVE:
LAMBDA
A forest in Canada 1901:
The first sounds of the morning invaded his oversensitive ears. The sun begun streaming through the tree branches and the young, savage boy tried to summon his surroundings. He couldn't sense danger, but there was something fluffy covering his body and clear signs that he wasn't alone. He remembered a few things; a hint of the reason he had once possessed and was now replaced by a primal instinct started to come back to him. He saw flashes of memories that made him distinctively uncomfortable. A cage, people staring at him and gawking and someone with a whip and no mercy. He'd escaped, lost all touch with his humanity and ran. Whatever was covering him was comfortable and warm, and his animalistic rage was subsiding. He was now able to look around him and make more sense of things. He could almost analyze the situation, instead of simply sitting still, perking up to feel any hint of danger. Seeing a hearth was a step backwards, and his natural fear of fire made him recoil and curl up in a ball against the tree he had been sleeping under. There was another scent besides his own; a human scent, and he didn't trust humans. Not one bit. His thought's were interrupted by someone speaking. He wasn't yet so sound as to recognize what the soft female voice was saying, but his fears weren't justified, he noted. The words he didn't understand, but the tone was soothing, and it came from over his head, on one of the branches. He looked up and caught a glimpse of a dark figure and strands of long, gray hair. He was up and next to her in an instant, still keeping a safe distance and cocking his head like the puppy he was.
".don't.won't hurt.come 'ere.'s alright, child." The words begun to make sense slowly. It was nothing like what the owner of the circus used to say to him. He immediately liked the old woman, but he wasn't about to trust her so fast. Still, when she smiled warmly at him, he couldn't avoid smiling back. She extended her hand, offering a slice of bread, which he took off her hand in one swift motion, quickly regaining his safe distance. He was gulping and choking himself with it, so hungry that he was. The woman came closer, tentatively and his muscles tensed when she rested a hand on his back, fixing his eyes on hers.
"It's ok child. I won't hurt you. I'm a friend." She cooed, rubbing her hand in circles on his back. "I found you sleeping under this tree last night, and covered you with a blanket. I hope you didn't mind me camping next to you."
The boy only stared at her, leaning shyly towards the caresses.
"Who?" he asked. He hadn't talked in so long that he felt strange about hearing his own voice, and his throat felt raspy.
"My name is Lambda, child. And I'm a bit of a witch, you could say, but a good one at that. I knew you'd be here. The spirits told me to find you and take care of you."
His eyes opened as big as saucers and he stared at her in innocent amazement. She certainly looked like a witch; there was a mysterious air about her, and her eyes reflected wisdom and calm. He'd heard people talking about witches, but he didn't know enough about anything to know if he saw one. The woman had fed him, so he had reasons enough to trust her.
***
PRESENT
"Sugah, ye better stay still if ye don't want me hurtin' ye worse." Rogue said softly while bandaging some of Sydney's wounds. The girl was pouting and whining and squirming under her cares, claiming that she was well enough to take care of herself and displaying a moody personality that would have put Moira McTaggert to shame. But Logan was having a hard time paying attention to her ramblings. He was scooted in a dark corner, with his eyes fixated on the floor and his mind miles and years away. A hand dropping carelessly on his shoulder momentarily brought him back from his recently found memories and he looked up to see a Cajun smiling nervously.
"Are y' ok, homme? Y' look like shit." Logan snorted.
"Look who's talking?! Have ye look at yerself in the mirror lately Gumbo?" Remy sat clumsily next to him and sighed.
"Seen better days, me." The younger man grew quiet, sighing a couple of times and rubbing his eyes wearily before speaking. "Logan, can I ask y' somet'ing?" he said finally, almost in a whisper.
"Sure bub, what is it?" Logan answered detachedly. Remy sighed yet again.
"Why did y' come lookin' for Remy?" Logan stirred uncomfortably as a wave of confusion and fear washed over him, reminding him that His young teammate was an empath. Which in turn surprised him, noticing for the first time that he hadn't been broadcasting allover the place, like any other normal mutant would have with recently manifested powers. 'But that's how it's supposed to be, ain't it?' He thought to himself.
"Remy, yer broadcasting." He grumbled, and Remy smiled nervously again, lifting up his hands apologetically. "And there's no need to be afraid bub, we're not here to bring ye back if ye don't want to. No one's really mad at ye. Maybe Warren, but I wouldn't worry about it. But we couldn't let you face this alone. I think,.I know we were meant to follow ye here." The last sentence was said in a whisper, reflectively.
Remy shook his head.
"I still need an explanation. First all dis t'ings happen to me that I don't understand. Dis dreams and de powers. And den dis petite shows up tellin' Remy he's some offspring and bablin' 'bout prophecies. And now y' speakin' funny too. Remy is beginning to feel he be trapped on an episode of Buffy de vampire slayer." Logan laughed a little.
"Don't tell me you still watch that show, Gumbo?!" Remy looked aggravated.
"Mais oui! Why wouldn't I, it's a great show!"
"Whatever you say Gumbo." Logan paused a moment, and huffed exasperated, trying to say what he needed to say in a coherent sequence. "I don't know where to begin, Gumbo."
"How about the beginning, mon ami?" Remy said smugly, and Logan glared at him.
***
CANADA 1910
"Why can I go practice my battle skills with the rest of the guys? I'm a good warrior! I'm old enough!" Logan pouted. He smothered his black uniform, that clang a little to big for his slender figure. He had his black, almost blue, shoulder length hair up in a neat pony tail; all in all, he looked a bit like a templar knight. He stood up even more firmly, and tried to show his tutor that even in his 14 years of age, he was a man and was more than ready to go with the other members of their little group. The old woman smiled, and purposely ruffled his hair to mock him.
"Child, I know you are old enough. And you are becoming a better warrior than any of the others. But they have already learned about the prophecy, and you haven't. It is important that you know what you are fighting for, isn't it?" she said kindly.
"But, ma'am, don't take this the wrong way, but I've heard about it, and how long it has existed. What makes you think I need to know what it's about? The beast's minions attack us regularly, and I'll probably be dead by the time everything that little book of yours says, happens. I'd make myself more useful training." Lambda looked down sadly, and shook her head.
"My dear child. Of all of us, you'll be the only one to witness the prophecy. I've seen it in my dreams. It has started." Logan looked startled.
"Is it true?" she nodded. "That's not possible. The offsprings haven't even been born yet! I may not do my homework, but I do know that the offsprings will be born at least twenty years before it happens, and before that, there would be all this people being born different, with powers similar to the offsprings' and the beast's. The sign of the prophecy and all that." Lambda unsheathed her dagger and quickly took hold of Logan's hand, cutting the skin and drawing blood. Logan pulled out as quickly, his eyes big and filled with tears, trying to hide what he knew it would happen. The wound was closed before the bleeding even stained his shirt.
"You thought you could hide it from me, Logan? You've always been different, child. That's why those mean people used your nexus with nature to show you off like a freak. And now your powers have manifested as well. Did you think I didn't know about the claws either? Child, I saw them before I'd met you." Logan nodded. He understood why Lambda had been looking for him that day. He was the proof that their time was running short. Lambda handed him the book and he begun reading out loud.
"Before people could write about it, a creature with enormous power saw the light of our world. A monster with a corrupt soul, who thought himself to be god. It has maimed and tortured. There is not, nor has ever been anyone with the power to stop the beast. But for as long a time, there has been those who could see the day nature would balance it all. As it always does. The new era will announce the arrival of the offsprings. Children in every corner of the world will be born harboring the sign of the prophecy being fulfilled. Children with powers similar though not as great as to the ones of beast's, children signing the change in human nature. Two offsprings of this era, one with the mark of onyx and ruby, one with the mark of emerald and amber, will awaken to even greater powers, to destroy the beast and allow a better future for the world. The beast will haunt them, torture them, all their lives. The power of the offsprings will be also all the beast needs to accomplish his ascension. If the offsprings choose to follow the beast, it would be the end of it all. A ring has been conjured, one that will make it's bearer immune to the offsprings' powers. The people that called themselves the Guardians, must track the offsprings, reach them before the beast does, and show them the right path. If they were to fail, the bearer of the ring must kill them, and ensure the continuity of our kind, until nature decides to level it's force again."
Logan cleared his throat and put the book down.
"How am I supposed to know who the offsprings are? It's not like the prophecy is all that clear about it. You all talk in riddles and it's getting on my nerve." Lambda laughed.
"We talk in riddles because we can only see bits and pieces of it all. But don't you worry. I've seen it, you will find them. In fact, I envy you a little."
"You do?"
"Thousands of years, we've fought to stay alive, to keep the prophecy from the beast. Lots of us have died trying. I've pledged my whole life, as it was intended, to guide you all through it. I would have liked to meet them, to see the beast being destroyed at last."
"Well, I will know them, as you say, but maybe it won't go the way we are hoping it will. Maybe you are better off not being present when it happens." Logan said rather grimly.
"Let's hope for the best son. It's all we can do." ***
PRESENT
"Wow.dat's.huh." Remy stammered. "So, I'm.y' know."
"Ye're one of the offsprings, yeah." Logan answered, never loosing the reflective tone he had acquired since he'd regained his memories.
"And do y' have any idea how.er.powerful dis beast be?"
"Very."
"Oh." Remy sighed. "And Rogue."
"Yeah."
"Ok."
"I know, kid. Not everyday ye find out ye're some kinda prophesized savior of mankind, huh?" Logan said amusedly.
"Guess non."
"Now if you excuse me, I need to talk to that girl over there." He stood up, leaving a stunned Cajun behind him. Sidney had been patched up already, and was sitting by the window, staring coldly at him. He sat down next to her and sighed.
"I guess you are the last one, huh? Since you can't be more than 13 and you have the ring." Logan remembered that only the best of the guardians was allowed to carry it. She shrugged, but her demeanor didn't soften.
"Yeah, I'm the last one, mate. I've seen me brothers and me parents die, me friends, everyone. Where were you while all of this happened mate?" she said harshly.
"I.It's a long story kid, but, for what it's worth, I know what you went through." ***
CANADA 1915
"C'mon, Logan! I'll race you to the camp!" Archie, a young man pretty much the same age as Logan, begun running as fast as he could, trying not to drop his charge. They'd been in town all day, gathering supplies for their group. Logan rolled his eyes and tightened his grip of his bags, starting to run.
"Really, Archie, you need to grow up!" he yelled to his friend. When he caught up with him, fifty feet from the camp or so, he noticed he had grown deathly pale. "What is it, bub?" he said, but didn't have to wait for a reply. One glance at the camp and he knew what had gotten his friend so upset. There was only ashes and smoke left. That and corpses. Archie collapsed to his knees and shook his head.
"No.we.we were only gone a day." he whispered. Logan shrugged of the need to cry and pulled the young man to his feet. From the corner of his eye he could see a mass of gray hair tainted with blood.
"Let's go. We have to get out of here, get back to England and tell them what's happened." He said coldly.
"No! we have to look for the book! We.Oh God they must have it!" Archie cried, but Logan shook his head sadly.
"I have it. La.she said I should watch it for a while, she said it'd be safer this way. She know this was coming."
"I'll go to England with the book then." Archie said, shakily. "You stay here and."
"I'll bury them and meet you there, ok?" Archie nodded dazedly.
That night, with his hands dirty with dust and blood, Logan sat infront of the hearth, having the strange sensation that this was the last he'd ever hear from the guardians in a long time.
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