Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I making any money from the X-Men
characters. Thank you to Corrinth for the use of her character Dr. Ilehana
Xavier. I do own Blaze, and appreciate authors not using her without
asking.
A/N: Reviews always welcome!
Scene 11
"They followed Blaze and Gambit from the prison, finally cornering them on the industrial estate..." Professor Charles Xavier addressed his X-Men soberly. He was met by equally solemn expressions; pale faces and worried eyes. Nobody interrupted him. Rogue was even visibly fighting tears. "Magneto used an untrained but powerful telepath to invade Blaze's mind. Her connection to Gambit left him too vulnerable to attack. That either of them has survived can only suggest that Magneto found what he wanted. I'm afraid I have no idea what that might be."
"I do," Scott piped up from the back of the room. "Information on the mutation accelerator. Blaze had been into Jacobi's systems, she'd remember the entire program. Anything Mystique didn't get, they've tried to take from Blaze."
"I fear you might be right Scott," Xavier replied. "And to get that information Magneto has used a small boy, a deaf mute named August King, to rifle with rough child's hands through Blaze's mind. This time I fear Magneto has gone too far..."
"So we must rescue the boy, then, yes?" Nightcrawler asked.
"No!" Spat Vixen, adamantly. "The boy is evil! He didn't even try to contain his power. He forced his way through Blaze's mind, ripping into her, prying into her most private thoughts. He violated her conscious, and he enjoyed doing it. If Blaze ever wakes up, as her doctor I can't guarantee that he hasn't irreparably damaged her mind."
"I do not think it will be something we have to deal with. Eric is not stupid, he knows by now this child is too dangerous." Xavier shivered at the thought of those cold prying hands reaching past Blaze, trying to grope and grasp at him. Even now, on the edge of his consciousness Xavier could feel the boy prowling, looking for a way past his walls. He couldn't let his barriers slip for a second, but Xavier was more worried for his daughter than himself. The strain of having to keep August King's mind as far away as possible was telling visibly on Ilehana's face. He couldn't blame Blaze for crying out clumsily to both Xaviers, but he hoped Ilehana was stronger than the boy, for all of their sakes.
**I'll be okay Dad. ** Even her telepathic voice sounded strained. **Logan gives me his strength. **
With a grateful smile at the Wolverine, who looked slightly abashed as he realised Ilehana had told her father of his generous offer, the Professor continued his briefing.
"The mutation accelerator is a different prospect. Not only will innocent mutants lose their lives in the perfection of the machine, but the powers Magneto and his brotherhood could gain may cause endless suffering. We cannot allow such a weapon to persist." For a moment Xavier paused, allowing the X-Men to take in his words before continuing.
"Using Cerebro I have tracked the brotherhood to this location here." Xavier tapped on the projected map, pointing to an exclusive development out in the countryside. Someone, possibly Bobby, whistled appreciatively under his breath, that was an expensive spot for a secret lair. "Scott will lead a team into Magneto's laboratory and destroy not only the machine, but also any records alluding to it. Ilehana, Storm, I want you both to stay here, with the nature of Blaze and Gambit's injuries I don't want them left without medical supervision. Other than that, you will all leave first thing in the morning."
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Magneto watched on CCTV as Mystique almost hypnotically finished imputing her commands into the mainframe that controlled the mutation accelerator. He himself understood it all now, how the basic mechanism of injecting certain unstable compounds into certain parts of the body could manipulate a mutant's already unbalanced DNA into doing strange and wonderful new things. He knew that these compounds had to be administered with such accuracy that both the structure of the machine, and the computer program that controlled the process had to be spot on. Even then, the process was very risky. Blaze's memory had been full of the gruesome death of an unknown amphibious mutant on Jacobi's machine; the female had literally turned grey, before exploding cell by cell, turning inside out all over the lab. But for some reason, Magneto was sure his machine would work better.
On the cold, metallic floor the small boy, August King, played contentedly with the metal marbles that Magneto was fond of setting swinging above his desk. August was seeing if he could use the marbles to bowl over a very expensive side table topped with a priceless Ming Dynasty vase. Hastily Magneto plucked the marbles out of the boy's sweaty hands and into his desk draw with barely a pulse of power. August looked up at Magneto with an awestruck, greedy glance. Magneto frowned underneath his helmet, he knew well that the only reason August would tolerate working for him was that he longed to get under the helmet and explore Magneto's own mind. That could never happen, and Magneto wasn't about to wear this helmet all of the time.
"Time for bed, August." He said; knowing full well that if the boy couldn't hear him, he could accurately lip-read. Unable to respond August simply clambered to his feet and began trotting off down the luxury hallway. Mystique certainly had fitted this place out suitably ready for Magneto's arrival. No doubt Charles was already plotting somewhere to ruin his plans, but he would deal with the X-Men when he needed to.
The telepath tucked up in a giant bed, Magneto silently passed the boy a glass of milk. For a moment August sniffed hesitantly at the liquid, and Magneto's heart pounded harder; what if the boy realised there was something wrong. But the moment passed, and the glass was emptied. Suddenly very weary, the boy fell heavily on his pillows....
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Charles Xavier felt the weight lift from his mind like nothing he had ever felt before. Whilst guilt overwhelmed him that he had sat back whilst his old friend Eric killed a child, he could not deny the relief he felt from those prying, grubby fingers. Across the room, curled up as a wolf nose to tail in front of the fire, Ilehana evidently un-tensed in her sleep. Finally perhaps both of them could relax....
A/N: Reviews always welcome!
Scene 11
"They followed Blaze and Gambit from the prison, finally cornering them on the industrial estate..." Professor Charles Xavier addressed his X-Men soberly. He was met by equally solemn expressions; pale faces and worried eyes. Nobody interrupted him. Rogue was even visibly fighting tears. "Magneto used an untrained but powerful telepath to invade Blaze's mind. Her connection to Gambit left him too vulnerable to attack. That either of them has survived can only suggest that Magneto found what he wanted. I'm afraid I have no idea what that might be."
"I do," Scott piped up from the back of the room. "Information on the mutation accelerator. Blaze had been into Jacobi's systems, she'd remember the entire program. Anything Mystique didn't get, they've tried to take from Blaze."
"I fear you might be right Scott," Xavier replied. "And to get that information Magneto has used a small boy, a deaf mute named August King, to rifle with rough child's hands through Blaze's mind. This time I fear Magneto has gone too far..."
"So we must rescue the boy, then, yes?" Nightcrawler asked.
"No!" Spat Vixen, adamantly. "The boy is evil! He didn't even try to contain his power. He forced his way through Blaze's mind, ripping into her, prying into her most private thoughts. He violated her conscious, and he enjoyed doing it. If Blaze ever wakes up, as her doctor I can't guarantee that he hasn't irreparably damaged her mind."
"I do not think it will be something we have to deal with. Eric is not stupid, he knows by now this child is too dangerous." Xavier shivered at the thought of those cold prying hands reaching past Blaze, trying to grope and grasp at him. Even now, on the edge of his consciousness Xavier could feel the boy prowling, looking for a way past his walls. He couldn't let his barriers slip for a second, but Xavier was more worried for his daughter than himself. The strain of having to keep August King's mind as far away as possible was telling visibly on Ilehana's face. He couldn't blame Blaze for crying out clumsily to both Xaviers, but he hoped Ilehana was stronger than the boy, for all of their sakes.
**I'll be okay Dad. ** Even her telepathic voice sounded strained. **Logan gives me his strength. **
With a grateful smile at the Wolverine, who looked slightly abashed as he realised Ilehana had told her father of his generous offer, the Professor continued his briefing.
"The mutation accelerator is a different prospect. Not only will innocent mutants lose their lives in the perfection of the machine, but the powers Magneto and his brotherhood could gain may cause endless suffering. We cannot allow such a weapon to persist." For a moment Xavier paused, allowing the X-Men to take in his words before continuing.
"Using Cerebro I have tracked the brotherhood to this location here." Xavier tapped on the projected map, pointing to an exclusive development out in the countryside. Someone, possibly Bobby, whistled appreciatively under his breath, that was an expensive spot for a secret lair. "Scott will lead a team into Magneto's laboratory and destroy not only the machine, but also any records alluding to it. Ilehana, Storm, I want you both to stay here, with the nature of Blaze and Gambit's injuries I don't want them left without medical supervision. Other than that, you will all leave first thing in the morning."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Magneto watched on CCTV as Mystique almost hypnotically finished imputing her commands into the mainframe that controlled the mutation accelerator. He himself understood it all now, how the basic mechanism of injecting certain unstable compounds into certain parts of the body could manipulate a mutant's already unbalanced DNA into doing strange and wonderful new things. He knew that these compounds had to be administered with such accuracy that both the structure of the machine, and the computer program that controlled the process had to be spot on. Even then, the process was very risky. Blaze's memory had been full of the gruesome death of an unknown amphibious mutant on Jacobi's machine; the female had literally turned grey, before exploding cell by cell, turning inside out all over the lab. But for some reason, Magneto was sure his machine would work better.
On the cold, metallic floor the small boy, August King, played contentedly with the metal marbles that Magneto was fond of setting swinging above his desk. August was seeing if he could use the marbles to bowl over a very expensive side table topped with a priceless Ming Dynasty vase. Hastily Magneto plucked the marbles out of the boy's sweaty hands and into his desk draw with barely a pulse of power. August looked up at Magneto with an awestruck, greedy glance. Magneto frowned underneath his helmet, he knew well that the only reason August would tolerate working for him was that he longed to get under the helmet and explore Magneto's own mind. That could never happen, and Magneto wasn't about to wear this helmet all of the time.
"Time for bed, August." He said; knowing full well that if the boy couldn't hear him, he could accurately lip-read. Unable to respond August simply clambered to his feet and began trotting off down the luxury hallway. Mystique certainly had fitted this place out suitably ready for Magneto's arrival. No doubt Charles was already plotting somewhere to ruin his plans, but he would deal with the X-Men when he needed to.
The telepath tucked up in a giant bed, Magneto silently passed the boy a glass of milk. For a moment August sniffed hesitantly at the liquid, and Magneto's heart pounded harder; what if the boy realised there was something wrong. But the moment passed, and the glass was emptied. Suddenly very weary, the boy fell heavily on his pillows....
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Charles Xavier felt the weight lift from his mind like nothing he had ever felt before. Whilst guilt overwhelmed him that he had sat back whilst his old friend Eric killed a child, he could not deny the relief he felt from those prying, grubby fingers. Across the room, curled up as a wolf nose to tail in front of the fire, Ilehana evidently un-tensed in her sleep. Finally perhaps both of them could relax....