A/N: Another Chapter!
Har har, ok so I THOUGHT I put Chapter 7 up but I guess I didn't. Sorry about that.
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Professor Charles Xavier sat in his wheelchair in his office. He faced the window and looked outside to the mansion's front yard. It had been a week since the New Mutants were retrieved and Kitty was taken. Ogun had vanished without a trace and Professor Xavier was unable to locate Kitty or anyone involved in The Black Manifesto. Rogue and Ray were mostly recovered from their injuries. Lance had recovered but he left the institute to go back with the brotherhood house. Charles thought, or more so, knew it was because of Kitty's kidnaping. Lance loved the girl more than anything else and in anger and hostility, he left the X-men the day after they returned.
"Charles?" Hank's voice brought him back to reality.
"Oh, Hank," said the professor.
"You called?" The big blue mutant replied. "Are you ok?"
"I don't know," Xavier said. He motioned for Hank McCoy to sit down in a chair. Charles wheeled to close the door. There was a moment of silence as Charles thought.
"I feel like it's all my fault," said Charles. "I knew that Ogun was able to possess people and when they were possessed they became stronger. I knew they weren't ready for that but I still made no action to prevent them from going." Charles wasn't really staring at Hank. He wasn't really staring at anything.
"Charles, it's not all of your fault. They did defend themselves remarkably well," Dr. McCoy noted. "Look at Amara. She really showed off her leadership skills and her excellent control of her powers. Rogue, Ray, Lance, and Amara both showed that they were able to use their powers to their extent. Yes, some of them were injured but we have to expect that. Ogun's mind control abilities are far too advanced for anyone except for you and maybe Jean. Katherine had no control. Nobody knew the power Ogun had in store, not even you."
"You're right," Charles replied after a momentary silence.
"You've trained them well," said Hank. Hank got up and walked out of the room, leaving
The Professor to think by himself.
"The room feels so empty without her," she said emphatically, sitting on the mansion's grand staircase. Kurt, her friend and her newfound foster-brother patted her back trying to comfort her.
"Don't worry Rogue. I'm sure The Professor is working very hard at trying to find her." He said. He turned away and whispered to himself. "Gott weiß nur, wieviel sie zu mir bedeutet."
"What was that?" Rogue asked.
"Uh.. Nothing," Kurt said, brushing it off. "Come on, we have school tomorrow, we should go to bed." Rogue looked at him and managed to smile.
"Ok," she said. "Kurt?"
"Yeah?" He stopped and looked at Rogue.
"I know I haven't seemed exactly thrilled that you are my brother but I actually am glad you're my sibling," she replied. Kurt smiled, letting his fangs show. He noticed that this was the first time Rogue ever called him brother. Usually, it was 'foster-brother' not 'brother.' It meant a lot to him even though he knew Rogue wasn't his blood-related sister. The two mutants trotted up the mansion stairs and into their rooms.
Ever since Kitty's kidnaping, things in the mansion had been going quite rough. Everyone looked upset and acted upset. Scott was washing his car, a thing he did whenever he had a lot of baggage to deal with. He clutched the sponge and let the soapy water run down the red exterior of his car. He remembered after their unsuccessful attempt to get Rogue to join them, sitting in the car with everyone and telling Kitty that she was an X-men, and they always did things together. He remembered the countless number of times he had her help him with his trigonometry homework. He always marveled at her intelligence.
"Oh Kitty," he whispered to himself. He moved the sponge up to the window and began to wipe the already spotless glass. His ears were soon filled with the voice he recognized as Jean's.
"Scott," she said. "You've been washing that car everyday, you know it's beyond spotless by now." She approached him a slight smile. He tried to give it back but it came out crooked.
"Hi Jean," he said. He leaned up against a dry part of the car and looked to the ground.
"Scott," she said again. "I know you miss her. I miss her as well."
"Yeah," he replied. "I'm just so worried Jean. The last time I talked to her was when she was angry at me for blaming Lance. I just wish I could tell her I'm sorry."
"I totally understand Scott but there's nothing you can do except for wait," she explained.
"I know Jean but it's already been a week!" He protested. He felt her surprise at the volume of his voice.
"I'm sorry," he said. "It's just that I'm so afraid that we'll never get her back." Jean could tell his worry even through his ruby quartz sunglasses. She wrapped her hand around Scott's arm and he looked down at it.
"Jean," he started. She put her finger on his mouth and then kissed him lightly on the lips. She wrapped her arms around him and he took her in. They kissed again more deeply and more passionately. They turned the kiss into a hug and Scott held her.
"I just feel like I've lost my daughter," he said. Jean just held him tighter.
Amara Aquilla, princess of Nova Roma, walked down the hall tossing a fireball humming to herself. She was still exhausted from her little mission a week ago. As she turned the corner, she ran into Ray Crisp and fell flat on her rear end.
"Oh!" She exclaimed. Embarrassed, she extinguished the fireball and her cheeks flushed.
"I'm sorry," Ray apologized. He picked her up and she rubbed her behind.
"I've seem to have forgotten how much falling on your butt hurts," She chuckled.
"I haven't, I always fall on my ass in the Danger Room," Ray said. They both laughed and Amara looked at Ray. Amara felt her insides getting into a knot. She wanted to ask him to go to a movie but she was afraid.
"Um.." She started. "D-Do you want to g-go to a movie?" She mentally smacked herself in the head for acting like a fool.
"Sure," said Ray. Amara smiled.
"Um, do you want to see A Total Fraction? I've heard mixed reviews but if it's really that bad, we can both just make fun of it," Amara offered.
"Yeah, sure, that sounds fun," Ray replied. "When?"
"Oh, yeah, of course," She nervously laughed. "How about tonight at seven? Maybe we can catch some dinner beforehand."
"Yeah, ok, that sounds like a date. See you then!" Ray smiled and walked off. Amara turned around and walked around the corner where she leaned up against the wall and let out a huge amount of air. She jumped up and let out a shriek of triumph. She ran down to the hall and started to knock on Kitty's door but then it hit her. Kitty was gone. The actuality of the news finally hit her hard. Amara knew that Kitty was gone but she never had feelings that she might not get her back. Amara was also angry at herself that she actually had a moment where she forgot she was gone. Amara leaned up against the wall and sank down to the ground and began to cry. Jamie Madrox happened to be walking down the hall and saw Amara.
"Amara?" He said. "What's wrong?" He walked over to her and sat down.
"Nothing," she said wiping her tears. "I just miss Kitty." Jamie nodded and then decided to say something.
"Amara, I wanted to thank you for rescuing us," he said.
"I didn't do anything except follow orders," she replied.
"I know but you still were great, you were amazing. I admired it," he said. Amara couldn't help but smile.
"Oh Jamie!" She said. She grabbed him and hugged him. "You're so cute!" She hugged to hard and then five other Jamies appeared before.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly.
Amara eventually left the spot where she was on the floor and told Ray that she wasn't in the mood to actually go out. He suggested a movie night and left to go get movies.
"A movie night?" Kurt said, appearing out of nowhere. Amara nodded.
"You can come if you want, Rogue too," said Amara.
"Ok, it's a plan!" He said excited. He teleported away and Amara assumed he went to go tell Rogue.
************
Lance Alvers walked into the brotherhood home, throwing the door open. He looked about, the place seemed the same disgusting mess. He sighed since he got used to living in the neat mansion. Kitty flashed through his mind and he sunk into a bad mood. He missed her deeply. The poor girl, and the damn X-men, he thought. He feelings toward the X-men weren't good since he blamed them for Kitty's capture. His thoughts were soon interrupted by a voice calling out his name.
"Lance!" Todd shouted. The eager and toad-like mutant jumped down the stairs. He noticed Lance's solemn expression "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he spat. He pushed by the teen and placed his stuff on the couch.
"No one else is home," said Todd. "They went somewhere and I wasn't invited as usual."
"Oh," replied Lance. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the mutant. Lance turned around a looked at Todd. He looked like a little innocent puppy.
"I admire you," Lance said. Todd gave Lance a quizzical look.
"Why?" He said.
"I don't know," he replied. "You never seem to let things bother you." Todd rolled his eyes.
"I just tend not to show it," Todd said. "Ever since you left, it hasn't been that fun here. Wanda's become ever so mean. All she ever does is make fun of me and make me feel like shit." Todd kicked an unidentifiable particle on the carpet.
"I'm sorry," Lance said. He mentally kicked himself at not saying anything better.
"It's ok," he said. "Why did you come back here anyway?"
"Long story," Lance told him.
"I've got time," Todd said, a small, crooked smile emerging on his face. Lance sighed and told him the story about the New Mutants disappearing, the Black Manifesto, and Kitty's disappearance. It pained him to even think about losing Kitty. He saw the way she beat up on Ray. It wasn't her at all. He later learned, from Hank McCoy, that she was possessed.
"...And so then I came back," said Lance. Todd simply nodded.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Do you want to go out or something to get your mind off of things?" Lance thought about it for a little while.
"Yeah I guess," he finally said. Todd jumped outside in excitement.
Ray arrived back to the mansion with a bag full of movies. Amara, Rogue and Kurt sat on the stairs as he walked in.
"Are you ready?" He asked, smiling at Amara. She giggled in response. The four mutants walked into the TV room and got comfortable. Amara put the movie in the VCR and curled up next to Ray. She was about to turn on the TV and press play when she was interrupted.
"Oh wait!" Rogue, Ray, and Kurt said in unison. Amara looked at them in surprise as they did themselves.
"I need to get the popcorn!" Ray stated.
"I need a blanket," said Rogue
"I need a bathroom," said Kurt. The three kids got up and went to their needs. Amara turned on the TV and the words Breaking News scrolled on the bottom of the TV screen as some reporter was talking.
"Breaking News!" She stated. Duh, Amara thought to herself. She really didn't like the news station and began to focus her attention on something when something caught her eye. It was the image a black figure running around a building. The figure approached the spy camera and then it went to static.
"And that's all that was on the tape," the reporter said. "Locals have said they have seen a mysterious figure showing up after crimes only to disappear. If you happen to see this mysterious figure, please contact the police as soon as possible. This Amelia Gold reporting live from Beaumont Jewelry." Something was odd about that mysterious figure. Amara's thoughts were soon gone when Rogue, Ray and Kurt came back.
**********
Todd and Lance rode around in his Jeep and Todd noticed that Lance was still down about the Kitty thing. He couldn't blame him, he absolutely loved the girl and to lose her was too painful to think about. Todd decided to turn on some music. He pressed the radio button and waited for Lance to object but he didn't. It was dark down and they drove down a street that was usually busy with people during the day. Something caught Todd's eyes up ahead. Lights were flashing crazily, like a crime scene.
"What's going on up there?" Todd asked more for himself than Lance.
"I have no idea," Lance said. "I think the road might be blocked off, I'm going to take Grayson drive." Grayson drive was parallel to the street they were driving on so Lance made a right and then a left and was on Grayson. This street was a lot darker than the street they just came from. Lance finally decided to turn his lights on.
"You did it," said Todd.
"Did what?" Lance asked.
"Turned your lights on without one of us having to remind you."
"Yeah w--"
"JESUS! LANCE!" Todd's sudden shout cause Lance to look ahead. He was about four feet from a mysterious black figure. Lance shoved his foot down on the brake and the two kids both closed their eyes. Lance didn't feel anything hit the car and he opened his eyes just as the figure passed through Todd and the back of the car. He whipped around. Kitty? He thought to himself. He looked behind him and the figure was gone.
"Todd?" He asked. There was no reply. He looked over at his passenger and saw that his
eyes were wide open and he looked stunned. "Todd!" He called again. Todd didn't move but he
was breathing. Not wanting to waste anymore time and concerned for his friends help, he drove
to the only place that could help him.
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A/N: Hey I decided to add some soft moments for everyone. You'll find out the explanation of
Todd's condition in the next chapter. READ AND REVIEW.
X-girl: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like the way I used Logan's past, I didn't know if
anyone would like it.
