[Amid A Field of Crimson Flowers]
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Kirikou
[10/26/03 - 10/29/03]
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[Jeopardy]
---
Children playing, parents laughing over silly things, the normal gossip that got people through their weekdays. The perfect picture of life in the city as Jean imagined it, lying in her dirt-cheap hotel, staring out the grimy window at the smoky scenery below her. The mutant rebellion was strong here leaving hundreds in torment every hour, hundreds more disappearing even faster. She'd already been hassled by several prostitutes as she made her way up the stairs, finally collapsing here. This watch was becoming far too stressful. Everyone must be worried, she thought, blinking twice. She'd been keeping close watch over all of the action, and Xavier had told her all about the plans and Scott. Scott.she sighed, feeling horrible for him. He must be so upset.
Scott lay deathly in his room, staring straight ahead at the blank wall, eyes unwavering, uncaring. The moments of the last day moved through his head, playing and replaying over and over. The carnage ran free through his mind, the blood he'd washed off staining him forever. He could have fallen off of a cliff, died and cared less.
"You two will be going to New York where all of this seems to have centered. You should find Jean apon arrival, and get into that base. Their leader has to be destroyed. There is no other way to do this. Do you all understand?" Kurt and Kitty nodded both somewhat nervously. The two had just been recruited on a mission to infiltrate and demolish Exodus. This Christmas Eve was indeed going to be the strangest he'd ever had. Storm came down the stairs a moment later, entering in on their conversation with a question from Xavier.
"So, how's Scott doing?"
"Not too good."
"What are you talking about.I'm fine." A voice was heard behind Storm, the body of Scott rambling down the stairs slowly, hand apon his head as if he had a headache.
"Are you sure? I think you should be in bed." Storm was about to argue, but Scott cut her off.
"I'm fine! Just trust me on...that." He stumbled, but caught himself on a chair and sat down, eyes traveling to where the conversation was before. Kurt nodded.
"Yeah.so when are we leaving?"
"A few hours." Xavier replied, looking up at Logan, who nodded as well. Scott didn't know just what was going on, but he had a slight idea. Kurt and Kitty where going somewhere and doing something that had to do with Exodus. Why hadn't he been involved? It didn't matter. They would all die eventually. Everyone exchanged a few words, Kurt and Kitty heading up to their rooms and Scott heading back up to his. Once Kurt had finished packing, he headed over to Kitty's room. She was still packing.
"So, vat do you think about this whole thing?" Kitty sighed.
"I think it's like, horrible. But more so, why we have to go."
"The professor is counting on us, Kitty!"
"Well.I'm just a little nervous." She shuddered, putting a shirt in her backpack. She zipped it up, throwing it to the side and sitting on her bed, Kurt sitting right beside her.
"Ve're going to be partners, so don't worry!" He patted the girl on the shoulder, who smiled sheepishly. At least she wasn't going to be alone.
"I'll be there for you if you're there for me." She made a deal with him. They shook, laughing together. Kurt stopped smiling for only a moment. Kitty did as well, but they could not think of anything to say, so they laughed again.
"You two half-pints ready?" Logan's voice filtered through the doorway. Two heads turned to the door, then looked back at each other, nodding gravely and picking up their things. The three headed down the stairs, meeting Xavier, Storm and Scott at the bottom. Scott looked dead, Storm looked worried, and Xavier looked proud. The two didn't know which of these facades to believe.
"I wish you the best of luck, Kitty.Kurt." Xavier took something out of his pocket, handing it to Kurt. He took it, examining. It was just a normal old cell phone. He grinned, suddenly gasping and clicking his watch. A little blue demon stood before them.
"I almost forgot!" He took the watch off, handing it to the confused Xavier. "Don't vant them to suspect anything!" Xavier nodded. That would definitely have been a dead giveaway.
"Don't let anyone see that phone. The only number it calls is the institution. Keep us as informed as possible, and.good luck again." He smiled. Kitty almost cried. They went downstairs, jumping in the x-jet and taking off. As Kitty stared out the window, she couldn't help but remember what had happened as they left. The look on Scott's face.She couldn't place weather it was pent-up rage or desperation.but it stuck in her mind. He'd changed quickly to happy, but she'd seen it. Now all she could do was worry for him. Kurt had also seen it. As if he felt there was nothing to live for.he'd felt that before.before he'd come to Xavier's.
Kurt stared out the window, watching the towns fly over. He'd done that for almost an hour now.now he noticed large buildings.bridges, tons of activity. Kitty stared over his shoulder, staring as well. They where in New York. The plane fell down apon a skyscraper, and as the two kids got out, they saw someone waiting for them.
"Jean!" Kitty yelled, running into her open arms, grateful for another girl. Kurt was just as happy, but didn't show it nearly as much. Jean became serious after the meeting, pulling aside and saying a few words to Logan. Logan came back, nodding.
"Any of you have some last words before I get outa here?"
"Well," Kitty started. "Tell Scott that I hope he feels better soon, and Professor, don't worry! We'll be fine." She finished, looking over at Kurt.
"Tell the professor that he better keep that vatch safe! I'll be coming back for it soon." The two kids laughed, at the moment completely oblivious to the dangers ahead of them. Jean smiled as well, tapping her foot. Logan nodded, jumping back into the jet and taking off, the three people waving after him until he was far out of sight. Reality took a train-hitting wave as he disappeared, throwing them headfirst into it. Kitty stared out longingly, as if Logan might come back and steal them from this fate. Jean took her by the shoulder, leading she and Kurt down the stairs and to the ground level. Everything was different from there.
"Who are these people." Kurt shuddered at the sight of these walking people. They shrunk in horror at anything that moved, even them. Jean had a grave look apon her face as she led them farther down, into the depths of the city where the masses gathered. The kids saw just what was on the movie, in horrible real color. Tortured screams emulated around every corner, and rats skittered along the floor, threatening to be stepped on. A blonde man stopped them in their tracks at that moment. The same, as Kurt recognized, that killed Alex.
"Who have we here Jeanie?" His voice was so friendly and curious that it almost wanted to make Kurt hurl. He couldn't help but glare as the man smiled at him. Kitty smiled back.
"We've got some new recruits!" Jean said excitedly, giving them both a gently squeeze on the shoulder. Kurt smiled just because it seemed as though he should.
"You've joined the rebellion. You've joined something that you'll never forget. And, you might lose your life. But, it would be a risk worth taking." The man spoke as if he where the president, so strong. Before Kurt or Kitty could reply, a noise was heard in the background, like an alarm. The man grinned, jumping up and running off.
"They're on another mission." Jean answered their questions. "I have to go with. You two can stay here." She lowered her voice, shrinking a bit back. "Look around.tell the professor what you see.but be careful." She ran off, leaving the two to them. Kitty stared at Kurt, waiting for a reply. The little blue creature followed Jean until she was gone, turning back to Kitty. He suddenly jumped in the air, his tail catching him on a rafter. He hung there, staring at Kitty.
"Looks like vie have some work to do." Kitty smiled as Kurt almost fell down, disappearing and re-appearing a few feet away. She followed right behind him, sticking their heads in every door that was left open. What they saw was to their amazement and fascinated horror. Torture devices, dead bodies laying around, being eaten by the rats.some bites that looked too big to be rats. Unsanitary conditions that they could not figure out. How did people live in this swamp of bodies? Kurt wandered off for a moment, investigating one room. He heard some noises, but didn't turn to listen to them. A cry from Kitty turned him around, wandering back to where she was. He almost cried himself. There, in the middle of a bloodstained room was a baby. The mother was butchered off to the corner, rotting like the rest. Kitty quickly rushed in, taking the poor thing in her arms and rocking it, tears coming to her eyes like a waterfall. This wasn't fair.
"How could they just.leave it here?" Kurt wondered aloud, unable to look at the rest of the room. The babe quieted down after a while with Kitty, but sounds from above awoke it once more, squealing as it was before. The blonde man came in the room, smiling down at the two kids, who where completely surprised and shocked to see him.
"What a nice mother you'd make." Kitty stood to her feet, letting him take the child away, handing it to another person, who carried it away down the hall. They never saw it again.
You can't be so weak like that. A little babe is going to change your mind? You shouldn't be in this group if you can't take a little bit of hurt. But really, why should you hurt? They're not our kind. They don't understand the hurt we go through all of the time. Just forget about it.
Kitty stared out the window of the building Jean had brought her and Kurt to, eyes welling up with tears once more. This man truly had no understanding, no love and a passion for death. He didn't deserve to live, she thought. The baby crossed her mind once, but she refused to think about it. It wouldn't have had a chance. Kurt was in the other room talking to Xavier, and Jean was in the bed next to hers in that shabby place where you could practically see through the floorboards. Kurt came back, talking about how Xavier had said a few things, that Scott wasn't getting any better.That they wished them to come back soon.Kitty closed her eyes, turning around. She hadn't any idea how many more times she'd cry before this was over.
Do we really have to hurt each other like this? Can't you understand that we're all the same? They are no better than we are.we no better than them. I wish you would just understand. Just give up this futile fight.
If we don't fight for them, who will?
---
Kirikou
[10/26/03 - 10/29/03]
---
[Jeopardy]
---
Children playing, parents laughing over silly things, the normal gossip that got people through their weekdays. The perfect picture of life in the city as Jean imagined it, lying in her dirt-cheap hotel, staring out the grimy window at the smoky scenery below her. The mutant rebellion was strong here leaving hundreds in torment every hour, hundreds more disappearing even faster. She'd already been hassled by several prostitutes as she made her way up the stairs, finally collapsing here. This watch was becoming far too stressful. Everyone must be worried, she thought, blinking twice. She'd been keeping close watch over all of the action, and Xavier had told her all about the plans and Scott. Scott.she sighed, feeling horrible for him. He must be so upset.
Scott lay deathly in his room, staring straight ahead at the blank wall, eyes unwavering, uncaring. The moments of the last day moved through his head, playing and replaying over and over. The carnage ran free through his mind, the blood he'd washed off staining him forever. He could have fallen off of a cliff, died and cared less.
"You two will be going to New York where all of this seems to have centered. You should find Jean apon arrival, and get into that base. Their leader has to be destroyed. There is no other way to do this. Do you all understand?" Kurt and Kitty nodded both somewhat nervously. The two had just been recruited on a mission to infiltrate and demolish Exodus. This Christmas Eve was indeed going to be the strangest he'd ever had. Storm came down the stairs a moment later, entering in on their conversation with a question from Xavier.
"So, how's Scott doing?"
"Not too good."
"What are you talking about.I'm fine." A voice was heard behind Storm, the body of Scott rambling down the stairs slowly, hand apon his head as if he had a headache.
"Are you sure? I think you should be in bed." Storm was about to argue, but Scott cut her off.
"I'm fine! Just trust me on...that." He stumbled, but caught himself on a chair and sat down, eyes traveling to where the conversation was before. Kurt nodded.
"Yeah.so when are we leaving?"
"A few hours." Xavier replied, looking up at Logan, who nodded as well. Scott didn't know just what was going on, but he had a slight idea. Kurt and Kitty where going somewhere and doing something that had to do with Exodus. Why hadn't he been involved? It didn't matter. They would all die eventually. Everyone exchanged a few words, Kurt and Kitty heading up to their rooms and Scott heading back up to his. Once Kurt had finished packing, he headed over to Kitty's room. She was still packing.
"So, vat do you think about this whole thing?" Kitty sighed.
"I think it's like, horrible. But more so, why we have to go."
"The professor is counting on us, Kitty!"
"Well.I'm just a little nervous." She shuddered, putting a shirt in her backpack. She zipped it up, throwing it to the side and sitting on her bed, Kurt sitting right beside her.
"Ve're going to be partners, so don't worry!" He patted the girl on the shoulder, who smiled sheepishly. At least she wasn't going to be alone.
"I'll be there for you if you're there for me." She made a deal with him. They shook, laughing together. Kurt stopped smiling for only a moment. Kitty did as well, but they could not think of anything to say, so they laughed again.
"You two half-pints ready?" Logan's voice filtered through the doorway. Two heads turned to the door, then looked back at each other, nodding gravely and picking up their things. The three headed down the stairs, meeting Xavier, Storm and Scott at the bottom. Scott looked dead, Storm looked worried, and Xavier looked proud. The two didn't know which of these facades to believe.
"I wish you the best of luck, Kitty.Kurt." Xavier took something out of his pocket, handing it to Kurt. He took it, examining. It was just a normal old cell phone. He grinned, suddenly gasping and clicking his watch. A little blue demon stood before them.
"I almost forgot!" He took the watch off, handing it to the confused Xavier. "Don't vant them to suspect anything!" Xavier nodded. That would definitely have been a dead giveaway.
"Don't let anyone see that phone. The only number it calls is the institution. Keep us as informed as possible, and.good luck again." He smiled. Kitty almost cried. They went downstairs, jumping in the x-jet and taking off. As Kitty stared out the window, she couldn't help but remember what had happened as they left. The look on Scott's face.She couldn't place weather it was pent-up rage or desperation.but it stuck in her mind. He'd changed quickly to happy, but she'd seen it. Now all she could do was worry for him. Kurt had also seen it. As if he felt there was nothing to live for.he'd felt that before.before he'd come to Xavier's.
Kurt stared out the window, watching the towns fly over. He'd done that for almost an hour now.now he noticed large buildings.bridges, tons of activity. Kitty stared over his shoulder, staring as well. They where in New York. The plane fell down apon a skyscraper, and as the two kids got out, they saw someone waiting for them.
"Jean!" Kitty yelled, running into her open arms, grateful for another girl. Kurt was just as happy, but didn't show it nearly as much. Jean became serious after the meeting, pulling aside and saying a few words to Logan. Logan came back, nodding.
"Any of you have some last words before I get outa here?"
"Well," Kitty started. "Tell Scott that I hope he feels better soon, and Professor, don't worry! We'll be fine." She finished, looking over at Kurt.
"Tell the professor that he better keep that vatch safe! I'll be coming back for it soon." The two kids laughed, at the moment completely oblivious to the dangers ahead of them. Jean smiled as well, tapping her foot. Logan nodded, jumping back into the jet and taking off, the three people waving after him until he was far out of sight. Reality took a train-hitting wave as he disappeared, throwing them headfirst into it. Kitty stared out longingly, as if Logan might come back and steal them from this fate. Jean took her by the shoulder, leading she and Kurt down the stairs and to the ground level. Everything was different from there.
"Who are these people." Kurt shuddered at the sight of these walking people. They shrunk in horror at anything that moved, even them. Jean had a grave look apon her face as she led them farther down, into the depths of the city where the masses gathered. The kids saw just what was on the movie, in horrible real color. Tortured screams emulated around every corner, and rats skittered along the floor, threatening to be stepped on. A blonde man stopped them in their tracks at that moment. The same, as Kurt recognized, that killed Alex.
"Who have we here Jeanie?" His voice was so friendly and curious that it almost wanted to make Kurt hurl. He couldn't help but glare as the man smiled at him. Kitty smiled back.
"We've got some new recruits!" Jean said excitedly, giving them both a gently squeeze on the shoulder. Kurt smiled just because it seemed as though he should.
"You've joined the rebellion. You've joined something that you'll never forget. And, you might lose your life. But, it would be a risk worth taking." The man spoke as if he where the president, so strong. Before Kurt or Kitty could reply, a noise was heard in the background, like an alarm. The man grinned, jumping up and running off.
"They're on another mission." Jean answered their questions. "I have to go with. You two can stay here." She lowered her voice, shrinking a bit back. "Look around.tell the professor what you see.but be careful." She ran off, leaving the two to them. Kitty stared at Kurt, waiting for a reply. The little blue creature followed Jean until she was gone, turning back to Kitty. He suddenly jumped in the air, his tail catching him on a rafter. He hung there, staring at Kitty.
"Looks like vie have some work to do." Kitty smiled as Kurt almost fell down, disappearing and re-appearing a few feet away. She followed right behind him, sticking their heads in every door that was left open. What they saw was to their amazement and fascinated horror. Torture devices, dead bodies laying around, being eaten by the rats.some bites that looked too big to be rats. Unsanitary conditions that they could not figure out. How did people live in this swamp of bodies? Kurt wandered off for a moment, investigating one room. He heard some noises, but didn't turn to listen to them. A cry from Kitty turned him around, wandering back to where she was. He almost cried himself. There, in the middle of a bloodstained room was a baby. The mother was butchered off to the corner, rotting like the rest. Kitty quickly rushed in, taking the poor thing in her arms and rocking it, tears coming to her eyes like a waterfall. This wasn't fair.
"How could they just.leave it here?" Kurt wondered aloud, unable to look at the rest of the room. The babe quieted down after a while with Kitty, but sounds from above awoke it once more, squealing as it was before. The blonde man came in the room, smiling down at the two kids, who where completely surprised and shocked to see him.
"What a nice mother you'd make." Kitty stood to her feet, letting him take the child away, handing it to another person, who carried it away down the hall. They never saw it again.
You can't be so weak like that. A little babe is going to change your mind? You shouldn't be in this group if you can't take a little bit of hurt. But really, why should you hurt? They're not our kind. They don't understand the hurt we go through all of the time. Just forget about it.
Kitty stared out the window of the building Jean had brought her and Kurt to, eyes welling up with tears once more. This man truly had no understanding, no love and a passion for death. He didn't deserve to live, she thought. The baby crossed her mind once, but she refused to think about it. It wouldn't have had a chance. Kurt was in the other room talking to Xavier, and Jean was in the bed next to hers in that shabby place where you could practically see through the floorboards. Kurt came back, talking about how Xavier had said a few things, that Scott wasn't getting any better.That they wished them to come back soon.Kitty closed her eyes, turning around. She hadn't any idea how many more times she'd cry before this was over.
Do we really have to hurt each other like this? Can't you understand that we're all the same? They are no better than we are.we no better than them. I wish you would just understand. Just give up this futile fight.
If we don't fight for them, who will?