Chapter 5

He arrived at the infirmary a few minutes later.  It was empty except for Hank, and the unmoving body of John Allerdyce.  "He'll be out for about an hour.  He's weak so I didn't want to over sedate him."  Xavier nodded solemnly.  Hank didn't question his decision.  He only nodded and quietly walked out of the room, leaving Charles alone with Pyro.  The telepath closed his eyes; it would be easier if he didn't have to look into that familiar face.  With a deep breath he pushed into Pyro's mind.

Even in the blissful peace of unconsciousness Pyro felt it immediately, the ping of a telepath entering his mind.  Natalya had described the feeling, warned him of what felt like.  John was her best friend in the Brotherhood and she was his.  Natalya was telekinetic and when her powers manifested had been sent to the Avandale Hall School for Mutants.  It was a horrible, abusive place that reduced the students to just their powers.  Part of her training was developing extensive mental shielding and defense against telepaths.  She and her classmates had undertaken a coup, overthrown their Headmistress and left.  After they'd gone their separate ways Natalya put herself through school.  She'd gotten a doctorate in Biotechnology.  A known mutant Magneto recruited her for the Brotherhood right out of school. 

Natalya had also taught him a last ditch defense against a telepath.  Once they were in the only defense was to keep them from what they want and make it very uncomfortable to stay in there.  The only mind arsenal a non-telepath had were memories.  As soon as he felt the ping John flooded his mind with memories of horrors he'd endured. 

John remembered his real dad, throwing him against the wall, pushing him against the wall, screaming about how disgusted he was by his son.  Charles saw it, heard it, felt the sadness and loneliness John had felt.  He tried to push past the memory, get to the information he wanted.  John's mind switched to Mrs. Martin, sitting him down and explaining that they just couldn't handle the responsibility of another child now that they had a baby on the way, that they didn't want him anymore, they had to send him back.  Xavier shifted his search again but was assaulted by the last foster home, where his powers had manifested.  Mr. Garanski had him pinned against the dining room table.  One of the man's strong forearms was across the boy's throat, holding him down and strangling him.  Mr. Garanski dropped an elbow onto the struggling teen grumbling about how that government check wasn't worth keeping such a pile of puke around.  There had been a candle burning on the dining room table.  The professor could feel the burning in the boy's lungs, how he just wished Mr. Garanski would leave him alone, how he just wanted that fire to jump onto the monster.  He wanted that man on fire and to let him breath.  Then the fire jumped, just like he'd hoped.  Xavier could feel the incredible fear that gripped the young man.  He couldn't even bolt for the door like he'd wanted.  Garanski put himself out and the man beat John within an inch of his life.  Xavier saw as his foster father reduced the teen to a bleeding, bruised and swollen mess.  The sight stabbed at Xavier's chest and left a dull ach that permeated his entire being. 

Xavier pulled back, disgusted.  He was the most powerful telepath in the world.  It was true he could have pushed harder, deeper and ripped the information he wanted out.  But he knew it would seriously damage Pyro.  He could come out a vegetable; if he stayed stubborn Charles might even kill him.  That was something he could not do.  Back from the astral plane he looked at the boy in front of him, he was twitching, valiantly trying to break free of unconsciousness. 

Charles wheeled out of the room without a word.  The matter was closed for him.  When Hank decided the young man was well enough to leave he'd be allowed to.  He would do no more; they'd just deal with whatever Magneto had set into motion when he revealed his plan.  He spoke to no one as he went to his office.  He avoided Wolverine and Storm who were walking the mansion's halls; he didn't want to talk to anyone yet.  The sad images in John's head demanded his attention.  His guilt needed to be dealt with. 

Hank watched the professor go by, not looking at him, not saying a word.  Apparently the deed had been done.  Hank headed into his infirmary to finish off his report on John Allerdyce.  The boy was twitching, so Hank placed a warm furry hand on top of the little smooth one.  He was not prepared for the force with which John jerked away.  He pulled his arm back so fast he rolled off the other side of the cot and onto the floor.  IVs crashed to the ground and monitors wailed as they unhooked and could no longer detect their patient.  Hank leapt over the bed to survey the damage.  John was awake, it probably had prevented him from hurting himself too badly when he fell. 

Hank was about to scold the boy and put him back in the bed but stopped short.  Pyro had a sick, dead chuckle.  "You know I, I, I didn't think he'd do it."  Pyro was mumbling to himself.  He shook his head lost in his confused thoughts

"John…John, can you get up?"     The look in his eyes was full of anger and rimmed in fear.  That was a dangerous look. The boy looked at him suspiciously for a moment and Hank could see him suppressing his emotions. 

"Yeah, fine Doc.  You a telepath too?  Gonna crack into my head?"

"I assure you, I have no telepathic abilities, your mind is safe.  Can I persuade you to get back in the bed and allow me to reconnect your IVs?"

"Is the professor coming back?"

"I don't believe so"

"OK" the boy was a little wary.  Hank decided it was time to return some of his property.  He got the young man back in bed and excused himself.  He opened a cupboard and removed the bag containing the remains of John's belongings. He boots had been fine, socks OK, the rest of what he had been wearing was shredded and/or badly blood stained.  They'd need a donation if he wanted to leave without risking indecent exposure.  But, in the bag was a little metal object that might calm him down a little.

Hank stood next his patient.  "I have something you might like back" he said handing over the lighter. 

"You really are going to let me hang on to this?  I'm dangerous you know."

"You are. I've treated some of our people for burns you've dispensed.  But, considering the situation, you've lost a lot of blood and can't seem to stay awake more than a couple of hours.  I don't foresee you overpowering me."

"Thanks" John mumbled.  Floozy-click…floozy-click …floozy-click filled the quiet room as he sat on the bed.  Hank wandered over to a computer to catch up on a few scientific journals, the floozy-click…floozy-click a soft background noise.  When he noticed it was quiet he glanced over and saw Pyro asleep, lighter still clutched in his hand.

Magneto sat in his office, and glanced at his clock.  He'd called a meeting of his remaining minions.  Mystique was already there, leaning on his desk and smiling.  Sabertooth growled to himself in a corner.  There was a knock, and Magneto slid the door open to find a patched up Toad and Glide, one of his scientists he'd been using during the last few missions.  Jogging up behind them was Gambit, a New Orleans thief that had recently joined up with the Brotherhood.

      "Have no fear, Gambit is here" announced the young man as he took a seat.

      "Oh good" Mystique said as she rolled her eyes.

"As you are all aware Pyro is with Charles back at that school of his." Magneto began.

      "Prisoner ou Deserter?" asked Gambit from where he was tilted so far back in an arm chair he was actually looking at the ceiling, not the group.

      "Prisoner" Magneto provided, "Wolverine stabbed him so we let him be captured in the hopes Charles' medic could save him."  Sabertooth growled loudly at Wolverine's name. 

      "How badly was he hurt" asked a concerned Glide.

      "It was rather serious"

"I say we go to Xavier's and bring John back." Glide commented.

"There is risk involved in that plan my dear.  It is unlikely Charles will just let one of us on to his campus."

"I could go, he doesn't know me" she suggested

"You and ol' Pyro snogging or something Natalya?  He'll find his way back when he's well again."

"Grow up Morty.  He's my friend. I'm sure you've had a friend before Toady."

"Yeah, Loads."

"I don't like the idea of our rivals holding him"

"I'm just sayin' we gotta plan to finish, can we really go chasin after Pyro now?"

"I'm going to have to agree with Glide mes amies, by now Pyro should be well enough to travel and we can let him recover here."  Remy added

"He was hurt pretty badly, if he's survived he still not be able to leave."  Mystique countered. 

"He's alive" Natalya said firmly

"Told you, snogging like rabbits."

"Toad!" scolded Mystique from her seat close to Magneto.  "That's enough"

"Thank you" Magneto smiled

"Aw, Remy like de fight."

"Can we get back to the plan?" Mystique broke in.

            "Glide my dear, I agree with you.  I don't want Pyro with the X-men any longer than is absolutely necessary." Magneto explained, bringing order back to the group.  "So I will send you, Glide, to Xavier's.  Pose as new student; then find a way to get yourself and Pyro out.  You can take the Corsica; it'll help with your cover.  The rest of you, we will complete our mission.  Gambit and Glide have obtained the necessary documents from their raid.  We will be infiltrating the lab tomorrow. "

            The door bell rang.  Someone was at the outside gate.  Storm glanced at the security camera.  A girl stood at the gate of the mansion, leaning on a beat up, boxy, gray car, wearing a tank top, hip hugger jeans and her hair in pigtails.  She was a typical adolescent girl.  But, the best description of her would be road weary.  Storm opened the gate with a press of a button. 

The girl approached cautiously.  "I…I…I've heard you help people like me."  She stammered; then continued in a hushed whisper, "I'm a mutant".  Storm looked at the girl before her.  She shouldered a backpack with a green army surplus jacket threaded through one of the shoulder straps.  It clearly held all she owned in the world.

She wrapped her arms around the fidgeting girl.   "Don't worry child, the professor can help you, you'll be safe here."  With that she led the girl inside.

            "What's your name dear?" Storm asked, leading her to a couch in the parlor.

            "Natalya Warrick"

            "That's pretty"

            "Thanks" her responses were quiet, the girl was either very shy or hadn't been fairing too well with being a mutant."

            "What's your gift Natalya?"  Natalya looked at her for a minute.

            "No one's ever called it that before."  She smiled and continued, "I'm telekinetic"

            "You move things?"  She nodded.  With a flick of her wrist a book fell off the bookcase across the room.

            "Very Good" Natalya smirked.

            "Yeah, it's been a barrel of laughs having them."

The professor arrived at this time, "Welcome" he said warmly extending his hand.  Natalya rose and shook offered hand.

"Natalya Warrick" A puzzled look crossed Xavier's face.  "You have mental shields, projecting interference.  I can't sense you at all on the surface; that's most unusual."

"Uh, OK" Natalya gave an awkward giggle. "I really don't know much about my powers."

"Well, that's why you're here.  Here you'll be able to develop your gifts, with others like you."

"That'd be great, things really haven't been going well since the powers showed up" Jubilee walked by the door of the parlor.

"Jubilee!" called Xavier.  The Asian girl stopped and popped into the room.  "This is Natalya Warrick." Natalya stood up and extended her hand shyly.  Jubilee shook it vigorously.  "She's starting school here; care to give her a tour?"

"Sure, come on Nattie!"

"OK!" beamed the new girl, picking up her backpack.  The professor had too much experience with runaways to try and separate her from all she had.  He smiled as the two strolled from the room.

10 minutes later Jubilee was unconscious in a closet.