Note: Okay it's everyone's lucky day! Not one…not two but three new chapters and the close of this fic…look for the sequel soon…but not too soon-I have two performances and a big newspaper article to write this week.
Please, please tell me what you think…especially with how I portrayed Asli's past….
-Thanks-
Six
The skin of Asli's cheek was soft; almost downy-Rogue had a few seconds to revel in the warmth that flowed from the other girl in waves. With a lurch the hyperawareness that always accompanied her powers kicked in and Asli's consciousness began to meld with her own. Ripping her hand away Rogue and the hacker fell to the ground in sync; as she hit the floor Rogue was grasped by the force of Asli's memories.
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She was looking up at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen; her long curling chestnut hair shone in the sunshine, her pointed pale face drawn with sadness as she gazed at her gloved hands. Asli didn't understand why her face was so sad. "Mum? Why do you wear those gloves all the time?" She heard her own voice asking in its childish singsong.
"Because mo nighean, when I touch things with me hands all the thoughts of all the people who have touched it afore me rush inta my brain hurly-burly like…" Even at five years old she could see the weight pushing down on her beautiful mother.
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She was supposed to be asleep-but she couldn't help it-she wanted to see her mother in the pretty dress that had been made special so that she could accompany Daddy to a dinner in his honour. Asli preened-she didn't know anyone else with such an important scientist for a daddy-or with a mother as beautiful as her own. Peeking around the corner she could see them dancing together in the living room to soft music-their eyes locked as if there was no one else in the world but themselves. Asli wished that she could have someone stare at her that way when she was grown up. Crawling back to her bed Asli thanked all the stars that her mummy and daddy loved each other so much.
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She was so happy and proud-not only had she gotten an A on her math assignment but the principal had decided it would be more of a challenge if she started taking junior high level math-even if she was still only in grade four. She couldn't wait to see the look on her mother's face. Her father would pick her up in his arms and twirl her around-telling her that she was the brightest girl in the world.
Asli forgot to kick her shoes off at the door she was so excited-instead she rushed into the kitchen where her mum would be making dinner. The kitchen was empty. "Mummy!" Asli ran into the T.V room but it too was empty, so was the dinning room. Mounting the stairs Asli shouted again, "Mummy! I have the most wonderful news!"
Turning Asli ran into her parent's bedroom; her mother's blue silk robe was gone from its peg-she had to be in the bath. Determined to surprise her Asli crept to the bathroom door then swung it open, "Silly Mummy having a bath in the middle of the day!"
Mummy's head was resting on the edge of the tub, her dark hair damp and streaming over her face, back and breasts-she looked asleep. "Mummy?" Asli moved closer-something didn't seem right-her Mum never took a nap in the tub; it was dangerous.
The water was a pale pink-the colour they had painted Asli's room the year before. Moving closer Asli shook her Mum's shoulder gently but she still didn't move. "Mummy?" Asli was getting scared, so very scared she could taste it coppery in the back of her throat.
Screwing up her bravery Asli reached into the tub and pulled at her Mum's arm. It took a few minutes to grasp the deep cuts running down the pale, blue flesh. Then it clicked, her mother was cold-lifeless-the pink of the water was blood that had been her life-force. Tears welled in Asli's eyes as she dropped her perfect math homework-her beautiful, perfect, sad mother was dead.
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Asli's eyes were dry but red as she held her Daddy's hand and watched her Mum's coffin lower into the cold, hard ground. Daddy was shaking with sobs-in fact he hadn't stopped since he had come home and found Asli crying beside the tub that held her Mum's body.
Daddy had hardly looked at her since that day-his handsome face had become lean and haggard-he was positively grey with grief. He had loved Mummy so much-now she was gone and he was shattered. Asli decided that she would be strong for him-Mummy would have wanted that.
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"Where are we going Daddy?" Asli twisted her head around to watch her surroundings-especially the large grey building rising in front of them, "Is that your work?"
Daddy didn't answer-he just stared straight ahead. He had been so quiet it scared Asli-Mummy had been quiet too. She had to wonder if Daddy was dead too-he was walking around but he seemed every bit as dead as Mummy had.
They walked to the building where Daddy swiped a card through a little machine-doors slid open to for them to enter. The hallway smelled like a hospital, Asli wrinkled her nose; "I don't think I like it here Daddy."
He ignored her and gripped her hand so tight Asli cried out and struggled against him. Without a word he pulled his hand back and slapped her cheek-hard. Tears stung Asli's eyes as pain shot through her face; but she stopped fighting him. Trying hard not to cry Asli obediently followed him through the steel doors pushing down her fear with every step.
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Pain bright and arching shot through Asli's legs; burning and itching at the same time-but they wouldn't move. Biting down on her lip Asli tried to move her legs again-but it was as if they were encased in cement and there sharp things pricking at her skin. Asli swung her head towards the door as it whispered open to reveal HIM standing there coldly, "Good morning 24601, I see the drugs have worn off."
Shifting painfully Asli turned her back to HIM-she wouldn't let HIM have the satisfaction of knowing she hurt. "You can ignore me all you want 24601-it seems I have finally found a compound that your body won't reject. We shall be operating on your arms in two days."
Tears ran down Asli's pale face as she considered the new pain that would begin in two days time. Crying quietly, Asli listened as her own personal devil left the room-her father had never even bothered to ask for forgiveness for hurting her.
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"Good again 24061-this time I want you to attack me," the burly feral man intoned gravely.
"I can't do it." 24601 shook her head in frustration, "I'm not a solider-I can't fight."
Snarling he rushed at her allowing the metal in his hands shooting out ready to stab deep in to her flesh. Without thinking she moved backwards into a cartwheel and kicked his hands away. Spinning she brought her foot to his head the way he had been trying so hard to teach her. Her soft shoe made contact spending his head around.
24601 landed and watched him with trepidation. A slow smile spread on his rough face, "Good at least you can defend yourself girl."
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24601 could feel her eyes darken as she drained the information she sought out of the computer-no secret could be hidden from her searching mind. Finished she moved her hand away and stepped backwards-turning she walked towards the door to the control room careful to move around the dead body of the guard who had tried to stop her from accomplishing her mission.
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24601 could feel HIS cold, grey eyes on her back-HE had begun to watch her more closely in the last few weeks. She had taken a quick look in a mirror after a training sim and had been struck by how much she was beginning to look like her Mother-but HIS eyes still stared out at her. 24601 had shattered the mirror in an effort to make it go away.
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Flames licked the walls-24601 had no idea what had happened to start the fire but she was going to use this surprise to her advantage-she was tired of being another drone for them to order about. "Asli!" A rough voice called out from the depths of the inferno.
24601 peered into the flame and saw HIM crushed up against one of his beloved machines struggling to get free to escape. HE stretched out a hand to her, "Asli, daughter help me…the fire is everywhere!"
Silently 24601 smiled and turned her back-after all the years of torment it was time for her revenge. With each step that took her away from HIM she grew stronger, taking back the pieces of herself she had shed for them.
Six years after first entering the center Asli Fraser Carter stepped out into the sunlight-and freedom.
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"You look awful young to be on your own Honey," The waitress drawled raking her eyes up and down Asli's slight form.
"I take care of myself just fine Ma'am." Was her reply.
"No good Piece of garbage!" a voice shouted from the back of the restaurant-a man stormed out, "Mavis can you get that Grandson of yours down here that damn computer froze again."
Asli's ears perked up, "I can fix it for you."
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Cypher smiled as she watched the numbers cycle-thirty more seconds and it was all hers-open access to Pentagon memos. National Security took a backslide to her desire to know why Carter had been allowed to operate his 'experiments' with impunity.
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There was no time to fight when strong arms wrapped themselves around her-one hand careful to cover her mouth and block her screams. Desperate she kicked backwards but it had as much effect as kicking a brick wall. A high velocity syringe hissed below her ear and Cypher could actually feel the needle pierce her skin. It didn't take long for the world to darken around the edges as the drug took affect.
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Each of her limbs felt as if they had been dipped in lead as Cypher struggled to swim to reality's surface. Slowly, she managed to open an eye but all there was to focus on was a huge muscular chest. An equally large hand lifted her chin so that she could look into her captor's deep blue eyes.
Cypher was no judge but the eyes seemed to be concerned about her. A deep voice echoed through the barrel chest as he muttered something she supposed was soothing in Russian. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour Cypher fell back into the darkness.
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"Я сожалею о вашей боли." His voice was soft.
"You said that to me when I woke up in your arms." Asli recognized the soft words he had murmured to ease her mind, "What does it mean?"
He stopped and looked as sheepish as a man standing nearly seven feet tall could, "I'm sorry for your pain."
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Quietly, Cypher made her way into Magneto's control room-if Gambit's calculations were right she had fifteen minutes to get what she was looking for and get out. Pushing up her sleeve, Cypher pressed her hand to the controls and opened up.
Cypher quickly plumed the depths of Magneto's ruthlessness-anger burned deep in her chest when she came to Pitor's file. Stamping it down with prejudice Cypher saved everything into her memory until she could find a way to make Magneto atone for his sins.
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"You want to double cross de Bucket-Head Petite?" Remy lifted one eyebrow sceptically, "It only be your first two weeks-you're moving a bit fast hein?"
Cypher grinned, "What can I say-bringing megalomaniacal super villains to their knees is what gets me up in the morning. So are you in or out?"
A wide smirk grew on Remy's face and Cypher knew he was on her side, "Oh Remy be in…it ain't every day ya get to pull de wool over his eyes."
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"Of course Asli," she watched Professor X lean back and consider all she had shared with him, "I will do anything I can to help you."
Asli let a genuine smile light her face-perhaps this could all work out with a minimum of bloodshed, "I was hoping you'd say that."
"Why?"
She took a breath before dropping her bomb shell, "I want Rogue to come with me."
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He leaned downwards, moving his hand along Asli's chin to rest against her neck. So slowly that Asli felt anticipation shooting through her every limb Pitor kissed her lips. At first he was gentle and Asli could not help but return the kiss-emotion churning her stomach-but the passion built between them and the kiss deepened.
Asli was about to curl her arms around Pitor's waist to pull her body closer when she stopped-this could not happen. She knew full well the lengths the Russian would go to for those he loved-and there was no way Asli wanted to be used against him-or to have him used against her. The need to protect Pitor even from loving her was a splash of cold water on Asli's heart and she forced herself to pull away.
Without a word Asli pushed past Pitor and walked towards her room feeling his deep eyes boring into her back with each step. It took all her strength not to turn back and fall into his arms-to take all that his kiss had promised. She slammed the door to the room she shared with Jean shut behind her and hoped that Pitor would leave before she had to meet Rogue.
The beating of her heart signalled that the closeness they had felt had become more. Ruthlessly Asli crushed that new born sentiment-she had seen the ravages of love firsthand-and she cared too much about Pitor to make him a causality of that particular war.
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"Then absorb me." Asli made sure to keep her eyes calm and serious, "Look into my mind and then if you decide you still don't trust me I'll take my chances with Mags alone."
She watched Rogue carefully for a reaction-she could see the shock plain on the Gothic girl's face, "What?"
"You heard me Rogue." Asli locked eyes with the younger girl allowing her to see just how far she was willing to go to stop Magneto, "Take off your glove and touch me. Take whatever you want from my mind and use that to help you decide because the choice is yours. I won't force you, but don't be too chicken to at least find out if I'm lying to you."
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Rogue snapped back into reality shaking her head as she absorbed the fractured images from Asli's mind. Tears streamed from her eyes-she had never thought there would be so much pain, such unrelieved suffering in the older girl's scarred psyche.
But Asli had been right-Rogue knew the truth. There was no way anything Cypher had found in Magneto's computer files could be allowed to come to fruition. As far as Rogue was concerned there was only one way to do that. Rogue was going to have to help Cypher and Gambit with their crazy hair brained scheme.
Rogue was going to become an Acolyte.