Authors Note: Hey! So we are done with this entire lesson planning for this quarter. And we are quite free this week so I guess I have had my time to finish this chapter. LOL. Again, I would like to air my remorse. Well, I guess I can't do anything about it. *sigh*
Special thanks to:
Enorm87: thanks man! Yeah I know what you mean. It's the first time a feral like her had not idea what to do but cry. Thanks for the review and keep it coming.
Brigitta: Thanks. I guess I could end my story right here and now. I have reached by goal (to have 100 reviews. I don't know about the successful part. LOL. So what do you think? Should I continue? LOL, anyways the thing between Brennan and Jesse was not really a fight but we could see some action in this chapter. Okay! Thanks again (for the two reviews you sent me).
Bjvision: You guys keep on showering me with compliments. LOL. Well, I think you should not judge Cole right away until you finish reading the whole story (or at least until the chapter where Emma gets to tell everyone everything.) And about Adam solving the problem, well, it's more like they will solve their problems themselves. Okay. Enough with this briefing. I'm tempted to tell you the whole story. Thanks for the review again (or should I say reviews since you posted 2 reviews for this chapter) and please keep on reviewing. See you later.
Aur: LOL. That was what I really wanted and I'm happy you've sensed that it is mostly Gabriel. LOL. Anyways, about Shalimar and Jesse explaining, actually they really don't need to. You'll find out why on the next few chapters. *grins*
Freckles0707: Thanks girlfriend. LOL. I've missed your reviews. Anyways, I know that chapter 15 wasn't the best story for B/E. I promise to write a fic for them someday. *winks*
Emma453: Hey there! I've missed you. It's all right; at least you've posted your review for this chapter. I really hope you would stick around with me longer. Thanks again and please keep on reviewing.
Goldstranger: LOL. That wasn't enough. I wanted Jesse to kick Brennan's ass just once in his life. I'm sick and tired of Brennan being the center of the group's story. Actually, Shalimar was not that defenseless. She was just overwhelmed with the pain that she is into. LOL. So I guess you're a hybrid (psionic and elemental), just keep that fire away from me so I could concentrate with the next chapter. *avoids the fire*
la-angele321: Yeah, Brenn was used. Emma said it herself. This chapter would answer your questions. Thanks for the reviews and keep it coming. See you again soon.
Samm: are you new in my fic? I mean, I haven't seen you around before. Anyways, thanks for the compliments. Your comments were so good. Thanks again. I hope you would stick around with me until my story ends. Thanks.
Underestimated
~Thought ~
Memory
/Sounds/
"Conversation"
Chapter 17
Brennan started to leave when Jesse grabbed him by his arms.
"We have to talk." Jesse stated, gritting his teeth.
Brennan looked at the molecular's hands on his arm and he pushed it away. "We have nothing to talk about." Brennan hissed.
"Yes there is." Jesse yelled. "You went in bed with my girl!"
"Your?" Brennan echoed. "Your girl? HA!" he laughed then eyed Jesse. "She WAS yours. Not anymore." He turned around and begun leaving again when Jesse's angry fist got his jaw.
Brennan shook his head and grabbed his chin, checking his jaw. He was really tempted to hit Jesse back a minute ago before Emma stopped him but now Emma is not around. Maybe he could at least defend himself.
The elemental stood up and punched Jesse back. He hit him directly in his face, which made Jesse fell on his back. He could see blood on Brennan's fist, enough to tell him that his face is bleeding.
"Touch me again and I swear I'll forget that we even became friends." Brennan yelled.
"You freaking son-of-a-bitch!" Jesse stood up. He forgot all his manners. He wanted to beat Brennan so bad the he massed his fist and hit him on the belly, which sent the elemental flying across the hallway…literally. "I'm gonna kill you, you bastard!" Jesse screamed as he run towards Brennan. Gone was the sweet caring Jesse they knew. All that was left was this man who wanted to kill him.
Brennan, having no time to stand up and compose himself, created a small tesla coil in his palm and he sent it to Jesse.
It was too late before Jesse could phase and Brennan hit him with his voltage. He landed on the floor with his belly.
Jesse tried getting up but his knees were still shaking because of the voltage that got him and his knees failed him causing him to fall again.
Brennan took the time to compose himself as he pampered the part of his body where Jesse hit him. He had to admit it really hurts. He became too occupied with curing himself that he didn't notice that Jesse was back on his feet.
"Damn you!" Jesse yelled, grabbing Brennan's hair and hitting him again…with unmassed fist but still hurting the elemental.
For a moment there, Brennan thought he was dying. He was groggy and he could feel his nose bridge break. Blood was rushing out from his nose and mouth. And then he thought…would he dare? Using his power while Jesse was still holding him means risking his own safety but what else could he do? He would die if he didn't try anyway.
Focusing all his powers to his hands, he released it. Electrifying Jesse and himself. Both fell on the floor in an excruciating pain as Brennan stopped releasing electricity for the sake of his own life.
Shalimar stood amazed as she witnessed the whole event. Are these her friends? Why are they killing each other? What should she do?
She was about to run to Brennan when she heard Jesse's soft cry.
"Emma" Jesse called "Emma darling!" Jesse called her again, hoping that she would hear his cry
"How dare you!" Brennan hollered. "How dare you call her darling, you two time fucker!" Brennan tried standing up and he paced towards Jesse.
"Emma!" Jesse said, still groggy from Brennan's electric shot. "My Emma!"
"Stop it!" Brennan punched him again. Though he was still weak from his own electricity, he gathered his left power just to be able to hit Jesse back. "She's not yours. I warned you Jess. Once you let her go there is no coming back. So back off. I never wanna see you near her again." He threw Jesse on the floor and stood up.
"It's not his fault."
Brennan turned around when he heard Shalimar. He became so furious that he didn't even notice the feral.
Tears streamed from Shalimar's eyes. "It's not his fault." She repeated. "I was not myself. I didn't know what I was doing. It was I."
"That's crap!" Brennan spat out. "We all know how ferals act. He should have known that you needed to be touched. And even if you asked him to sleep with you, he could have easily turned you down but what did he do? What did the both of you do?"
"I didn't know what was happening Brennan." Jesse cut in.
"Shut up! Asshole." Brennan yelled at Jesse. He shook his head and turned to Shalimar. "I was not expecting this Shal. Especially not from you."
"Brennan! Please listen." She begged him.
"Listen? No! You two listen to me." Brennan hissed. "You don't know how Emma cried. You didn't know how she trusted you two so much that she even thought everything was just a bad dream."
Brennan stopped. He could see Emma in his mind when she just woke up from her unconsciousness. He was very happy to see her smile. He was even happy when he thought Emma didn't remember anything. He told himself: ~It's okay. I could leave with that. I could let her be with Jesse even if I know he slept with Shalimar. I could do that if it'll make Emma happy. ~ but then, she recalled and she was hurt.
Brennan forced a smile. "I honestly believe that the two of you have a good reason for fucking each other and cheating at Emma's back." He spat the words and paused. "Why?" he softly said. "Why do you have to cheat on her?" he asked Jesse.
Jesse sat on the floor quietly as Shalimar wept. They really don't have any idea what happened that day. All they could remember was … what could they remember? They don't even know.
Shalimar looked at Brennan when she saw him leaving again. "Wait Bren. Something went wrong." She explained.
"Yeah! Something indeed went wrong. You went in bed with your best friend's boyfriend." Brennan mocked her.
Brennan was a bit surprised when Shalimar's hands hit his face. "I'm a feral, not a whore!" she hissed. Yes, Shalimar was in pain…but even hurt ferals fight back. Now is the time she felt like fighting back but Brennan started leaving again so Shalimar jumped on him.
"You are done talking, now we demand you hear what we have to say." Shalimar effectively pinned him down on the floor. "That wasn't me back there." she screamed "Yes, I admit my feral was screaming for body contact but I would certainly not do it with Jesse." She cried.
"Is that why he was in your room?" Brennan said cynically.
"I was there to call her." Jesse explained.
"But instead of calling her, you went in bed with her." Brennan teased and laughed devilishly as he tried to push Shalimar away from him but fail.
Shalimar slapped him again. "That is not what happen. We were talking and everything went blank then when I returned from oblivion…"
"You were with him in your bed? Puh! That's shit! That's bullshit!" Brennan broke free from Shalimar causing her to sit on the floor.
"You should…"
"Believe you?" Brennan finished Shalimar's sentence for her. "You actually believe that I would take that pathetic reason?"
"Bren. Please believe me!" Shalimar begged as Brennan tried standing up.
"Give me one reason why I should believe you," the elemental demanded.
"Because I LOVE YOU!" Shalimar hollered.
"."
Brennan was frozen from his position. He couldn't react; he couldn't say anything. He just stood there absorbing Shalimar's words.
Brennan was not the only one surprised. Shalimar was surprised of what she just said. She covered her mouth with her hands and trembled in fear of being turned down. She didn't want to hear Brennan's reply so she stormed out of the hallway and hid back to her room.
Jesse sat there, still absorbing everything. He still doesn't have any idea what had happen between him and Shalimar. All he could remember was a blank.
For a moment, both male mutants sat there; trying grasp on any sane reason why they are both there; trying to pacify themselves. Brennan lifted his head and he looked at Jesse.
"Was it true? Did she force you? Were you both blank?" Brennan asked the molecular, willing himself to entertain the almost unbelievable alibi.
Jesse paused for a while, looked at him and nodded. "Shalimar loves you so much. She loves you even more than how I love Emma." Jesse sighed. "I'm in love with Emma. I love her so much. I can't even look at Shalimar without feeling guilty." He gazed at the elemental. "You've got to believe me Bren. I would sell my soul if that's what it takes to have her back."
Brennan didn't have to be a telepath to know that Jesse and Shalimar were telling him the truth. But he is not sure if Emma would buy that reason. Brennan knew that Emma is not thinking straight at this moment. The psionic is over whelmed with pain and rage. He has to think of some other reasons, something that is more accepted by the average brains.
*****
Hours later, Adam still sat in front of the computer monitor, fingers tapping at the computer keyboard non-stop. He has been searching for any files about 'Cole' for hours now but since he didn't know Cole's family name, Adam ended up reading thousands of 'Cole' in the city.
Adam shook his head and finally called the team—except Emma from course.
"Shalimar! Come down to the computer quickly. Jesse, Brennan! Come here quick." Adam spoke in his comlink ring.
Shalimar came in about five minutes later. Eyes still swollen from crying, she faced Adam. She has just ceased from crying just a few minutes before Adam called them.
"Shalimar, I need you to…" Adam stopped when he noticed. "What happened to you?"
Shalimar shook her head and forced a smile. She avoided looking at Adam by looking at the computer screen when her eyes caught a picture.
"Who is that?" she asked.
"Who's who?" Adam turned and faced the computer.
"That man!" Shalimar pointed at the photo, which is almost out of the screen since Adam put it in an auto scroll.
"From where are you reading?" Adam stopped the scrolling and put the computer on hold.
"Scroll it up again." She told him so Adam did what Shalimar told him. "That man. Who is he?"
Adam looked at Shalimar and cringed his forehead. "You know him?"
"Uh- uh!" she shook her head. "But I've seen him."
"You did?"
Just as Adam and Shalimar are conversing, Brennan came in. "I knew that asshole is a big problem." Brennan exclaimed.
Adam and Shalimar turned to Brennan.
"You know him?" asked Adam.
"That was the man Emma met in the bar. I've only seen him once but that face is definitely unforgettable." Brennan said. He could recall how Emma and the man looked at each other intensely and it made him grit his teeth
"What's wrong?" Jesse came in. He and Brennan settled their differences an hour ago when Shalimar left them, that is why the molecular and the elemental felt a lot at ease with each other now.
Jesse's eyes caught the photo in the computer monitor. "What do you need to find out about Cole?" he asked.
"You know him?" Adam asked the same question for the third time.
"Yeah. Emma introduced him to me. He's her friend." Jesse answered.
"Friend? That man is working for Gabriel!" Shalimar exclaimed.
"Are you sure?" Adam asked the feral.
"Sure I'm sure." She told him. "I've seen him talking with Ashlocke weeks ago in the bar we crashed in." she explained.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Adam again.
"Well, I didn't know that it was badly needed."
"We've got to tell Emma. We've got to warn her." Brennan frantically uttered.
*****
"Adam!" the team whipped around when they heard Emma's voice. "I'm going out to meet a friend." Emma said.
"Oh no you don't." Adam rushed to block her way. He knew from what he heard that Emma is now going to her friends. "I can't let you see Cole."
Emma cringed her forehead. "I didn't tell you about Cole, did I?" then she remembered that someone in the group knew Cole. She turned to look at Jesse, raised her brow and snorted from her nose.
Jesse looked back at her. Feeling the coming thoughts from Emma. He knew she would blame her.
"You keep on disappointing me Jess. First, you cheat on me then you tell them my secrets. Talking about trust."
"I didn't tell them anything Emma." Jesse defended.
"Yeah right!" she uttered and begun pacing away.
Adam caught her arm and stopped her. "Emma you're staying here." He said firmly.
"Let go!" she pulled herself free. "I'm not some baby Adam. I could take care of myself."
"But Emma you have to know that Cole is working for Gabriel." Shalimar exclaimed.
Emma turned to her and she gritted her teeth. "Is this one of your lies Shal?" she mocked her.
"Emma, I'm not lying. Please believe me." Tears appeared from Shalimar's eyes again.
Emma shook her head and started to leave again. "Nothing you say would stop me!" she said.
Shalimar was about to jump on her when Adam stopped her. "Adam, we've got to do something." She screamed in between her sob.
Just as Emma was about to step out of the sanctuary, she heard Adam's voice.
"Once you've stepped out of the Sanctuary, you cannot come back."
"."
"."
"."
"."
The four mutants went dead silent. Adam never threatened them like that before. He would always tell them that going in and out the Sanctuary is always a free choice just as free as they were when they choose to join the Mutant X. But he was serious and that was his last choice. Adam couldn't think of anything anymore. He just needed to keep Emma from leaving the Sanctuary.
Emma faced Adam, sighed and silently retreated to her room.
"."
"."
"."
Everyone was still silent until Adam broke it. "Brennan go and change the codes of the transports." Adam commanded just as Emma disappeared from sight. Brennan ran outside to the transport stable. "Jesse, I want you and Shalimar to retrieve any file about this 'Cole' and keep an eye on Emma." Adam said and left for his own search about the mystery man.
******
"Have you changed the codes?" Jesse asked Brennan when the elemental returned form the stable.
"Yes" he replied. "So, you really saw this 'Cole' speaking with Gabriel?" Brennan asked Shalimar.
Shalimar didn't say a word since she still feels a little awkward for telling Brennan about her feelings. She just nodded and looked away.
Brennan felt the hanging tension between him and the feral and he didn't like it. This is not the right time to ask or discuss this, but when Shalimar told him that she loves him he was surprised and he felt something weird. When did Shalimar started falling for him? He wanted to know.
Their thoughts were interrupted when they heard someone coming. "Emma!" They chorused.
"Emma. Where are you going?" Brennan asked when he noticed that Emma was carrying a travel bag. "What is that?"
Emma looked at the mutants and answered: "My stuff. I'm going out." She casually replied and she started pacing again.
"Emma. Adam told you that…"
"I know." She cut in Shalimar's sentence. "That is why I went back to take my stuff."
"Are you leaving us?" Jesse worriedly asked.
Emma faced the molecular and grinned sinisterly. "Don't you want that? You and Shalimar wouldn't need to hide your affair anymore." She mocked.
"Emma!" Brennan run to block Emma's way but Emma threw him away effortlessly.
The group was a bit surprised when Emma threw Brennan away. Brennan landed on the edge of the couch, almost breaking his back.
"What the…" Brennan almost cursed.
Emma winked devilishly and started to leave again when Shalimar turned feral and jumped to catch Emma. When Emma saw her in the air, she lifted her leg and kicked the feral on the belly. Shalimar landed in the middle of the living room, breaking the glassed table into pieces. Surprised to what had happen, Shalimar was not able to move immediately.
Jesse run and massed in front of Emma to block her way but Emma already worked through his brain pinning him and his position.
Emma snorted with satisfaction. "Now tell me who's weak?" she boasted. Emma paced closer to the Sanctuary's door. "Oh, I forgot." She turned around and faced the team. "You changed the codes and I have to know them." She demanded.
Brennan avoided her eyes. He didn't want Emma to read him that easily.
"Oh, but I did." Emma announced.
Brennan was quite stunned when he heard her voice.
Emma laughed. "8934959EDL" she uttered. "The code! Right?"
Brennan gritted his teeth. ~She read me! ~ he told himself.
"Of course I did." She laughed again.
"Emma you can't go!" Brennan screamed. "He'll only hurt you."
Emma eyed him, "Why? Because I'm weak?" Emma laughed again. It was a mocking laughter. She glared at them and hissed: "Never underestimate the power of a psionic!"
With that, Emma was gone… Shalimar ran to Emma's room and checked her stuff. Gone. It was all gone.
********
"What happened here?" Adam yelled as he came in the rec room.
"Emma left!" Jesse said with tears in his eyes as he moved after Emma used her power on him.
"What?" he exclaimed. "She what?" he repeated.
"She's gone, Adam!" Shalimar barged in.
Adam rushed to check Emma's room but like what Shalimar saw—nothing, her things were gone.
"Adam!"
They heard Emma's voice in the intercom.
"Emma, come back here!" Adam commanded.
Emma laughed. "Are you so worried about the Double Helix? Don't worry, I'll put it in auto pilot."
"Emma!" Adam called out but no one called back.
Emma looked at her ring and spoke again. I'm returning everything Adam—my card identity, the transport key, the room's key…everything…including the ring."
"Emma, don't…" Adam didn't have the chance to finish his sentence. Emma took off her comlink. "Emma!" he screamed. "Shit!" he cursed. Adam leaned on the wall for support. ~this is not happening! ~ he thought. Tears begun to stream from his eyes. Emma's gone and now that Emma took her ring off, it is now impossible to find her.
MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-X-MUTANT-
***Lyza***
So how am I doing? Do you still want me to continue? I really don't know if Emma would even consider leaving the Sanctuary but I think it's the best way to prove herself. Continue reviewing…
