ONCE INSIDE
Disclaimer: Mutant X, don't own them. Enjoy!
It was a good two hours before Jesse and Brennen sat at the kitchen table in Sanctuary. The molecular waited patiently as the elemental looked for a place to start with his words. Finally, his mouth opened. "I've been here a while."
"A little over a year."
"Yeah.can't say it's been easy."
"Is it your old life that you want? No one will force you to stay if- "
"No! Dude.the only thing I miss is getting takeout delivered. It gets old to have to drive out for pizza."
"I know," Jesse laughed. "We are so high-tech, but there's no way to get little things. Y' know? Shit we take for granted."
"Yeah." Brennen sat trying to untangle the beginnings of his trials with Mutant X. "Do you know what happened to me in Hillview?"
"Yeah, you were in for attempted robbery, but wrongly convicted, right?"
"Right." Brennen's dark eyes searched for words. "Cops.Anyway, Jordan knew because she was on the inside."
"Yeah, Adam sent her in along with Emma. They were lab assistants or something."
"But, Emma wasn't around my ward like Jordan was." He pulled a freshly open beer to his lips. "And you and I were in the cell together for only a few days."
"I remember. Adam had us going in to investigate Mutants forced to fight in an illegal fight club."
Brennen shifted in his chair, playing with the neck of his bottle. In that setting, that light, he looked hardened, Jesse thought. Those dark brows rose almost evil, like he was planning something. "I was already fighting before they pulled me in the door."
"Y'know, I always thought I was the one you met first. That Jordan was just the person whom attended you in the ward."
"No, Jess. She was in sight from day one." His hardened face smirked. "And a damn sexy doctor."
"I bet."
"Like I said, she and I know the whole story. I figured that it's time to tell someone else. Maybe you could piece some things together for me."
"Sure, considering what you put us through. We break in, try to break YOU out, and you escape before we can.that was fun."
Brennen smiled again, still not looking up from the bottle. "So, Adam came for me specifically?"
".Not at first. But when he found out about you, our plans changed real quick."
Once, he thought that ride had been the longest trip of his life. Brennen sat on the bus to Hillview, mentally replaying how he'd got there in the first place. For once in his life, he was innocent. Maybe it was the past revisiting him; paying him back for the life he chose to lead (or so he thought at the time). Unaware to him, a few seats back sat a molecular convicted of armed robbery. The darker man waited silently as the bus rolled past almost desolate countryside.
"I was fighting myself." He began. "This part of me wanted to explode on everyone in the transport."
"Good thing you didn't. There was some serious evil on that bus."
Brennen sat back, a long leg stretching past the table. If he would have known anything, he might have said he was mutating at the time, but that wasn't so. The only Thing growing in him was anger. Sometimes, it still flashed in his veins.
" I stood in that line, listening to those guards' bullshit and all I could think was 'take it.' Too many of my old people had told me about life on the inside, and I wasn't about to be somebody's bitch. So I blended in."
"I didn't." Jesse smirked.
"YOU didn't know any better, shit head." The elemental grinned. "It was because of you that I got in my first fight."
"So we DID meet first!"
" No, we hadn't met yet. Not officially, anyway."
'That fight' was when Jesse made a snide remark under his breath, and got belted by the guard. Brennen, whom was drowning in his own thoughts, broke out in pure anger, slamming another guard into two of the new inmates (this was also a ploy to get himself into solitary). Jesse had retaliated by massing covertly and broke the first guards jaw. That brought out several more heavily armed officers, some with electro-shock sticks. The two men continued to brawl, till the elemental caught a charge in the side and went barreling across the floor. The last thing he remembered was the blonde being clubbed on the head. "I don't know how long I was out," he continued. "But when I woke up, I was in solitary. It must have been an hour before they let someone in to see me."
"And that was Jordan."
"Yeah."
"Well then I must have woken up before you. They actually took me to the sick ward. I met up with Emma there, told her about the fight and she must have sent Jordan to check on you."
Brennen remembered waking up on the bed for a second time to a ramble of voices outside his cell. He squinted his eyes at an emerging light as a painful restraint racked his body. Two guards, preceded by a light colored black woman pilled in. She had her hair pulled back and glasses sitting on the edge of her nose.
"I don't know why, but I kept thinking that if half my teachers looked that good in school, I would have had none of my problems."
"Quite a piece of work, huh?" Jesse smirked.
"Anyway, She pulled out a needle of some blue shit. I didn't want to be drugged, so I tried to launch at her. But what ever they did to me stopped that. It didn't matter because she talked the guards into leaving and put the needle away."
The woman leaned down by his bedside, making sure the guards couldn't see her. Brennen , still weak from his shock, eyed her cautiously.
"Got yourself into solitary, already." She sat down, examining the injuries. "Either you're stupid, or strategic." The elemental remembered smirking at her joke, and trying to sit up, but doubled over in pain. "Don't.don't move." She whispered.
"They neutralized you. If you move, it speeds up the process."
"That's good." He grunted.
"Let's see." She said, her eyes rolling over a clipboard. "Brennen? Brennen Mulray.unusual name. In for attempted robbery."
"They set me up!" he bolted, only to double back over. "Fuck!"
"You have to stay still." The woman continued to check his injuries. " You'll be put in the sick ward later on tonight, but for now, just rest."
"Bandages won't do shit." He whimpered. The woman leaned forward, close to his ear. Even in his condition, the elemental could feel her warmth and managed to make out her perfume.
"I think we'll have a better way to heal you, later." She grinned.
The woman moved to get up when Brennen reached out, grabbing her leg with one hand and creating a charge in the other. Dark eyes widened behind the rim of her designer frames. "Stop it!" she pushed him back on the mattress. "Do you want them to know you're a mutant? They'll kill you."
Brennen had anticipated a scream, not to be scolded like some brat. His frown was almost comical. "Let 'em come."
"Stop being an ass and I can keep you alive. Just rest." She pried his grip off of her thigh. "And stop grabbing the merchandise." Though it hurt, he grinned at that one. "I'll se you in an hour or so."
"What's your name?"
She looked back at the man after calling for the guards. "Not now." Brennen pulled himself up on a forearm only to groan in agony. "Don't you listen?!" Her foot kicked the bed, making him fall. The woman cast him one more glance before leaving his sight. Leaving him to wrestle with the pain in his body.
"Like she said, two orderlies came and got me in the hour. I was delirious by then."
"I don't think Adam knew about you, yet. Jesse replied, opening a new bottle of beer. "Emma had just planted me into Solitary, so I think there was still some time before that. And you had no clue that was Jordan?"
"Nope.I was in too much pain to try and read her badge-it would have been a fake name anyway. When I got to sick ward, she wasn't there. They cuffed me to the bed and left."
"Then what?"
"Then Emma came in."
He'd thought she had some of the reddest hair he'd ever seen-too red to be out of a bottle. When she came to his side, he was struggling in his half sleep. "Just rest. You'll only wear yourself out."
Brennen ignored her, watching the door open.
"I see you made it in one piece."
"Funny, I don't feel that way."
The redhead exchanged looks with the darker woman. "He's been fun, huh?"
"Oh, yeah. A riot."
"Jokes," he started. "How about giving me something for this shit.what did you call it?"
A neutralization. And we're going to do that right now." He watched as the redhead pulled the curtains then exited the room, leaving him with the woman. She smiled before removing her glasses. "Alone at last."
"Yeah," he smirked. She stepped forward, placing her hands on his chest. "You always fool around with sick guys?" A sweet laugh escaped her lips as she focused, doing a near massage on his chest.
"Nope."
"What-" He was cut off by a consuming light. Blue-white waves pulsated through him, barreling from his pain to his mind and back. For a moment, it felt as though she entered his mind, sliding through every one of his thoughts and fears. His heart raced beneath pulsating lungs. Just as quickly, the light faded.
The woman pulled from him, obviously weakened. She held onto the bed, being engulfed in a secondary light -that, too, passed quickly. The elemental tried to sit up and help but paused when she shook her hand. "Be still." He felt a strange sensation in him, like new energy was pushing through his veins. And when he looked all of his injuries were gone. There were no tender bones, no fresh scars and his body was free of the constricting shock from before. The woman managed to pound on the door once, bringing the redhead back in. Again, Brennen tried to move.
"You're still handcuffed to the bed! Stay still.she'll be fine."
"Have you looked at her?" he barked.
"She just saved your life. I think she knows what she's doing."
He watched the woman help her friend to a nearby chair, still not believing his eyes. "She heals people?"
"It's one of her powers, but it leaves her weak for a moment." The redhead moved to his bedside. "Listen, they are going to put you back in a regular cell soon. We have to keep you bandaged like you're still healing."
"What about getting me the fuck out of here?"
"We'll deal with that when we get to it. For now, being a new mutant in this place is dangerous. Keep your powers to yourself." The young woman wrapped bandages around his new skin, noting his silence. "I'm Emma." She whispered. "But don't call me that while here."
"And her?" The elemental gestured to the woman waiting for her strength to come back. He almost felt guilty for her pain. "What's her name?"
"Jordan. But the same rule applies. If you ever need something, just ask for a medic. One of us will come get you."
Brennen shifted on the bed, still watching the darker woman. "How did she know about me in the first place?"
"We saw the fight break out in the entrance way. They gave us a list of who's assigned to our ward, and you were on it."
Brennen sat back as the woman finished his arm. "You're not just here for that are you?"
Emma looked at him with the most expressive eyes. " I can't tell you much. Our organization is here to infiltrate and stop some illegal operations."
"You two?" he gestured to Jordan, whom was now sitting up.
Emma could only smile. "You'd be surprised at what two little woman can do."
Disclaimer: Mutant X, don't own them. Enjoy!
It was a good two hours before Jesse and Brennen sat at the kitchen table in Sanctuary. The molecular waited patiently as the elemental looked for a place to start with his words. Finally, his mouth opened. "I've been here a while."
"A little over a year."
"Yeah.can't say it's been easy."
"Is it your old life that you want? No one will force you to stay if- "
"No! Dude.the only thing I miss is getting takeout delivered. It gets old to have to drive out for pizza."
"I know," Jesse laughed. "We are so high-tech, but there's no way to get little things. Y' know? Shit we take for granted."
"Yeah." Brennen sat trying to untangle the beginnings of his trials with Mutant X. "Do you know what happened to me in Hillview?"
"Yeah, you were in for attempted robbery, but wrongly convicted, right?"
"Right." Brennen's dark eyes searched for words. "Cops.Anyway, Jordan knew because she was on the inside."
"Yeah, Adam sent her in along with Emma. They were lab assistants or something."
"But, Emma wasn't around my ward like Jordan was." He pulled a freshly open beer to his lips. "And you and I were in the cell together for only a few days."
"I remember. Adam had us going in to investigate Mutants forced to fight in an illegal fight club."
Brennen shifted in his chair, playing with the neck of his bottle. In that setting, that light, he looked hardened, Jesse thought. Those dark brows rose almost evil, like he was planning something. "I was already fighting before they pulled me in the door."
"Y'know, I always thought I was the one you met first. That Jordan was just the person whom attended you in the ward."
"No, Jess. She was in sight from day one." His hardened face smirked. "And a damn sexy doctor."
"I bet."
"Like I said, she and I know the whole story. I figured that it's time to tell someone else. Maybe you could piece some things together for me."
"Sure, considering what you put us through. We break in, try to break YOU out, and you escape before we can.that was fun."
Brennen smiled again, still not looking up from the bottle. "So, Adam came for me specifically?"
".Not at first. But when he found out about you, our plans changed real quick."
Once, he thought that ride had been the longest trip of his life. Brennen sat on the bus to Hillview, mentally replaying how he'd got there in the first place. For once in his life, he was innocent. Maybe it was the past revisiting him; paying him back for the life he chose to lead (or so he thought at the time). Unaware to him, a few seats back sat a molecular convicted of armed robbery. The darker man waited silently as the bus rolled past almost desolate countryside.
"I was fighting myself." He began. "This part of me wanted to explode on everyone in the transport."
"Good thing you didn't. There was some serious evil on that bus."
Brennen sat back, a long leg stretching past the table. If he would have known anything, he might have said he was mutating at the time, but that wasn't so. The only Thing growing in him was anger. Sometimes, it still flashed in his veins.
" I stood in that line, listening to those guards' bullshit and all I could think was 'take it.' Too many of my old people had told me about life on the inside, and I wasn't about to be somebody's bitch. So I blended in."
"I didn't." Jesse smirked.
"YOU didn't know any better, shit head." The elemental grinned. "It was because of you that I got in my first fight."
"So we DID meet first!"
" No, we hadn't met yet. Not officially, anyway."
'That fight' was when Jesse made a snide remark under his breath, and got belted by the guard. Brennen, whom was drowning in his own thoughts, broke out in pure anger, slamming another guard into two of the new inmates (this was also a ploy to get himself into solitary). Jesse had retaliated by massing covertly and broke the first guards jaw. That brought out several more heavily armed officers, some with electro-shock sticks. The two men continued to brawl, till the elemental caught a charge in the side and went barreling across the floor. The last thing he remembered was the blonde being clubbed on the head. "I don't know how long I was out," he continued. "But when I woke up, I was in solitary. It must have been an hour before they let someone in to see me."
"And that was Jordan."
"Yeah."
"Well then I must have woken up before you. They actually took me to the sick ward. I met up with Emma there, told her about the fight and she must have sent Jordan to check on you."
Brennen remembered waking up on the bed for a second time to a ramble of voices outside his cell. He squinted his eyes at an emerging light as a painful restraint racked his body. Two guards, preceded by a light colored black woman pilled in. She had her hair pulled back and glasses sitting on the edge of her nose.
"I don't know why, but I kept thinking that if half my teachers looked that good in school, I would have had none of my problems."
"Quite a piece of work, huh?" Jesse smirked.
"Anyway, She pulled out a needle of some blue shit. I didn't want to be drugged, so I tried to launch at her. But what ever they did to me stopped that. It didn't matter because she talked the guards into leaving and put the needle away."
The woman leaned down by his bedside, making sure the guards couldn't see her. Brennen , still weak from his shock, eyed her cautiously.
"Got yourself into solitary, already." She sat down, examining the injuries. "Either you're stupid, or strategic." The elemental remembered smirking at her joke, and trying to sit up, but doubled over in pain. "Don't.don't move." She whispered.
"They neutralized you. If you move, it speeds up the process."
"That's good." He grunted.
"Let's see." She said, her eyes rolling over a clipboard. "Brennen? Brennen Mulray.unusual name. In for attempted robbery."
"They set me up!" he bolted, only to double back over. "Fuck!"
"You have to stay still." The woman continued to check his injuries. " You'll be put in the sick ward later on tonight, but for now, just rest."
"Bandages won't do shit." He whimpered. The woman leaned forward, close to his ear. Even in his condition, the elemental could feel her warmth and managed to make out her perfume.
"I think we'll have a better way to heal you, later." She grinned.
The woman moved to get up when Brennen reached out, grabbing her leg with one hand and creating a charge in the other. Dark eyes widened behind the rim of her designer frames. "Stop it!" she pushed him back on the mattress. "Do you want them to know you're a mutant? They'll kill you."
Brennen had anticipated a scream, not to be scolded like some brat. His frown was almost comical. "Let 'em come."
"Stop being an ass and I can keep you alive. Just rest." She pried his grip off of her thigh. "And stop grabbing the merchandise." Though it hurt, he grinned at that one. "I'll se you in an hour or so."
"What's your name?"
She looked back at the man after calling for the guards. "Not now." Brennen pulled himself up on a forearm only to groan in agony. "Don't you listen?!" Her foot kicked the bed, making him fall. The woman cast him one more glance before leaving his sight. Leaving him to wrestle with the pain in his body.
"Like she said, two orderlies came and got me in the hour. I was delirious by then."
"I don't think Adam knew about you, yet. Jesse replied, opening a new bottle of beer. "Emma had just planted me into Solitary, so I think there was still some time before that. And you had no clue that was Jordan?"
"Nope.I was in too much pain to try and read her badge-it would have been a fake name anyway. When I got to sick ward, she wasn't there. They cuffed me to the bed and left."
"Then what?"
"Then Emma came in."
He'd thought she had some of the reddest hair he'd ever seen-too red to be out of a bottle. When she came to his side, he was struggling in his half sleep. "Just rest. You'll only wear yourself out."
Brennen ignored her, watching the door open.
"I see you made it in one piece."
"Funny, I don't feel that way."
The redhead exchanged looks with the darker woman. "He's been fun, huh?"
"Oh, yeah. A riot."
"Jokes," he started. "How about giving me something for this shit.what did you call it?"
A neutralization. And we're going to do that right now." He watched as the redhead pulled the curtains then exited the room, leaving him with the woman. She smiled before removing her glasses. "Alone at last."
"Yeah," he smirked. She stepped forward, placing her hands on his chest. "You always fool around with sick guys?" A sweet laugh escaped her lips as she focused, doing a near massage on his chest.
"Nope."
"What-" He was cut off by a consuming light. Blue-white waves pulsated through him, barreling from his pain to his mind and back. For a moment, it felt as though she entered his mind, sliding through every one of his thoughts and fears. His heart raced beneath pulsating lungs. Just as quickly, the light faded.
The woman pulled from him, obviously weakened. She held onto the bed, being engulfed in a secondary light -that, too, passed quickly. The elemental tried to sit up and help but paused when she shook her hand. "Be still." He felt a strange sensation in him, like new energy was pushing through his veins. And when he looked all of his injuries were gone. There were no tender bones, no fresh scars and his body was free of the constricting shock from before. The woman managed to pound on the door once, bringing the redhead back in. Again, Brennen tried to move.
"You're still handcuffed to the bed! Stay still.she'll be fine."
"Have you looked at her?" he barked.
"She just saved your life. I think she knows what she's doing."
He watched the woman help her friend to a nearby chair, still not believing his eyes. "She heals people?"
"It's one of her powers, but it leaves her weak for a moment." The redhead moved to his bedside. "Listen, they are going to put you back in a regular cell soon. We have to keep you bandaged like you're still healing."
"What about getting me the fuck out of here?"
"We'll deal with that when we get to it. For now, being a new mutant in this place is dangerous. Keep your powers to yourself." The young woman wrapped bandages around his new skin, noting his silence. "I'm Emma." She whispered. "But don't call me that while here."
"And her?" The elemental gestured to the woman waiting for her strength to come back. He almost felt guilty for her pain. "What's her name?"
"Jordan. But the same rule applies. If you ever need something, just ask for a medic. One of us will come get you."
Brennen shifted on the bed, still watching the darker woman. "How did she know about me in the first place?"
"We saw the fight break out in the entrance way. They gave us a list of who's assigned to our ward, and you were on it."
Brennen sat back as the woman finished his arm. "You're not just here for that are you?"
Emma looked at him with the most expressive eyes. " I can't tell you much. Our organization is here to infiltrate and stop some illegal operations."
"You two?" he gestured to Jordan, whom was now sitting up.
Emma could only smile. "You'd be surprised at what two little woman can do."