I know. Cliffhangers are awful. But I couldn't help it. The muses made me do it.
Doggy: Grr…..
Dexroth: Don't blame this on us!
hnh: Don't be bitter. I was setting it up for good times.
Dragonet: Am I going to have to lock Herman's bedroom window at night? Alright, I get the message, I'll see what I can do about letting Herman show up a little more.
Disclaimer: What's mine is mine, what's X-men is Marvel's. Don't sue.
Saying of ze fic.
It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living. (Terry Pratchett)
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The shot echoed through the streets. Scott was filled with fear.
"Jean!"
He and the X-men poured every ounce of speed they had into getting to the place where the shot was fired.
He called out for her again. "JEAN!"
He turned an alleyway to see Jean laying against a wall.
He feared the worse.
"Jean!" Scott knelt by her side. He cupped her face in his hands, preparing to do CPR, whatever it took to get her living again.
WHACK!
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Jean glared angrily at him.
"I thought you were-"
"Were what? EASY!?"
"Yes, I mean, NO! Of course not!"
Jean shoved Scott backwards. "Men."
"Alright you two," Logan glared at them, "Enough with the lover's quarrel. Red, what
happened?
"I met our gunslinger." She shook her head. "He made it very clear that he didn't care if we were protecting them."
"How's that?"
"He said something like, 'innocence is in the eye of the destroyer', or something. He
may have some sort of god complex."
There was a distinct coughing sound that, oddly enough, sounded like the word 'scott'
from Bobby's section.
Oddly enough, Scott began to glare at him.
"Alright, Red, what did he look like? And why didn't you keep up with him?"
"He shot me. Or rather almost. I think he was warning me."
"How so?"
"I think he was showing me how easily he could have killed me, but that he was going to give me the chance to back off."
"Why didn't you stop him or follow him?!"
"Now Logan, she-"
"Stay out of it Scott!"
Amara leaned towards Bobby. "Think Miss Perfection is having PMS?"
"Probably…."
"WHAT WAS THAT?" Jean glared at them.
Both of them pasted innocent looks on their faces. Jean gave them both a dirty look.
"Whatever he did, he knocked me out somehow. It was probably from his gun. Some sort of aftershock from the bullet.
"Can't you still track him Logan?"
"Depends. What does he look like?"
They all looked at Jean expectantly.
"What? I don't know what he looks like!"
"He just SHOT AT YOU!!!!"
"That doesn't mean I know what he looks like Bobby."
"….."
"It should, shouldn't it?"
"Um….Yeah."
Jean shook her head slowly. Now she was more confused than ever.
"I don't know what he looks like. I looked him straight in the eye and I don't remember.
There was silence from all of them as they mulled over this information. Bobby whistled.
"That's some mutant power. Do you know what you could do if no one remembers what you look like?"
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^*^**^*^*^*^^
Careless.
He should have allowed for the fact of other mutants. It was careless of him to think that the CEO wouldn't do his best to keep their secret little operations safe.
No matter. It just convinced him to do his worst.
Right now, the most pressing thing on his mind was food. Getting chased by evil flying redhead pychics managed to make him very hungry. Who knew?
He sat down in a small café and ordered the special.
As soon as it came and an edge of hunger was rounded off, his mind went back to the matter of the mutant bodyguards.
They had gotten their warning. If they chose to proceed, it was their problem.
*^*^*^*^**^*^*
"Couldn't find a sweeter kid. Hope she's okay."
"She's dead."
"That's awful."
"Do you know what she was doing with Mr. Jackson?"
"They say love is blind."
"She was having an affair. Isn't he married?"
"Yeah. She didn't know she was just his flavor of the week. Poor kid."
"I see. How many affairs has he had?"
"How many leaves hangin' off the trees? Why do you want to know?"
"I want to know why she was killed, so I can tell Jackson I know."
"Wouldn't that be a bad idea if he killed her?"
"Not for me."
"And who are you?"
"Arcane."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*
The X-men passed wearily by a café as they went back to break the news to Mr. Jackson.
Jean found herself glancing at one of the patrons. He looked familiar, but he didn't seem to do anything but give her a vague feeling of déjà vu.
Believing it was nothing she turned away.
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That's it! Fifth chapter is done.
Oh, and if you're wondering about the paragraphs in italics, they're past conversations that Arcy has. I use them to shed a little light on the present state of mind of my elusive character.
Please review
And be true
Cause if you do,
I'll recognize you!