Author's Notes: Here we are, boys and girls! Chapter 8!
Fleurdelys-- I have continued and I agree. Bishop quaking in his boots does make for an entertaining sight.
crazytook-- I'm glad you like the characterization, because I'm still tying to get used to the action. Thanks for the kudos!
T.-- Nice to know I'm appreciated. ^-^
Lucky439-- Well, looks like ya got lucky and the wait wasn't all that long.
Wishful Thinking-- Yes, I think I do a pretty good job with angsting unloved characters when I set my neurotic mind to it. And speaking of Neurotic, the Temptress's underworld and mine are semi-affiliated. So ya don't have to worry about back-stabbing anybody. Consider yourself on the hit list!
Paige Guthrie-- Thank you for the compliments, I have done as you have requested. ^.~
Also note that the update list is ready for more takers.
Disclaimer: Still thy beating heart and know that they are neither thine, nor mine.
_____________________________
CHAPTER 8: ULTRA VIRES
_____________________________
_____________________________
The in-between moments from when Sage hung up the phone to when Gambit's Harly drove up to the front were absolute torcher for the mutant known as Lucas Bishop. He was stuck in that time wondering to himself which would be worse: the things his Cajun teammate would do to him, or the things he imagined the man would do to him.
When Rogue, Franklin, and Remy pulled up, Remy took Franklin's hand. The three of them walked into the house as Remy headed directly for Bishop. Bishop observed that his fellow mutant was showing a remarkable amount of restraint. It was then that LeBeau asked him to come away from the hall so they could 'talk'.
Both men entered the secluded room. About an hour later, after the shouting and screaming were over, both came out. Gambit looked slightly calmer while Bishop looked as though he had been run over by a truck. A very big truck. Remy then scooped Franklin up into his arms and carried him to the living room. There, they and Rogue debated which movie to watch as they settled down for the night.
______________________________
Sage watched on with concern. She had not yet told Remy of the call from Jean. She had eventually managed to lose comunication with the woman, but only because the red-head had already been enormously pre-occupied. Jean Grey-Summers would call again about Franklin. And she would call again soon.
Sage frowned. She was not very effecient at feeling emotions, but it was her duty to analize them. And Jean's emotions were driving her to a cross-roads. The woman's life was busy to the point of being hectic. She was a teacher, an X-man, a recruiter, and a spurned wife all in one. A point was coming where she would tell herself that she needed a break. What better excuse than to recruit a powerful mutant child living in New Orleans?
If Jean came to this conclusion, as she very well could, neither X-men team would likely mind it. The problem would come when it would be time for her to leave. She would be a woman on a mission and would insist on taking Franklin --and possibly a good chunk of the team--along with her. And neither Sage nor the other X-men were willing to let that happen.
But Sage had more than Jean to worry about. She had to know who else was after Franklin. And how her teammates would deal with their three former members on their way back home.
______________________________
"Neal, I am so bloody tired!"
Lifeguard and Thunderbird waited outside the Mary Prey Hospital, just below the window of Room 231. The room that held Lifeguard's brother, Davis Cammeron.
"Try to hold out a little more, Heather. We'll wait till they switch security guards, and then pull him out of the room."
"Which of us is goin' to carry 'im?"
"I could, unless you want to."
"No...I..I think he'd prob'ly put up a fight with me. Better you take 'im. You did tell Sage that we're comin', right?"
"Yeeesss......"
"Whatta you mean, 'yeeesss'?"
"I didn't exactly mention that Davis didn't know we planned on kidnapping him."
"What? She was just s'possed to assume that he'd *plan* on leaving his comfy little hospital bed and stop avoiding us?"
"At least you got to talk to him once."
"I was there for half an hour an' we never got past 'H'llo, Davey' an' 'Hi, Heather'."
"It's still something."
"But it ain't bloody much, Neal."
Lifeguard sighed.
"Ok, Lifeguard! Watch the window! The nurse just turned the light out."
"We wait a few minutes more?"
"Just a few."
"He'll be angry with us for pulling him out you know."
"He's suffered for being a mutant, so maybe now he'll understand how hard it is for the rest of us. Something like this can really change a guy's perspective."
"Can it make him stop seeing me the way I look now, and just make him remember the way I was?"
"Please don't say that, Heather. You are so beautiful, and it hurts to watch you put yourself down like this."
"That whole speach has been used many times, and it's as much a can of rancid worms now as it was then."
Thunderbird sighed.
"Ok, we can move in now."
"We break through the window, you distract the watchers, I grab Davey?"
"That's the plan."
"Alright. Count of Three?"
"One...Two...Three...GO!!!"
CRASH!!
______________________________
Ororo felt gentle tears sting her eyes. The hero on the movie screen was proclaiming his love to the lady who had won his heart over the span of the film. The weather witch critisized herself for crying over such a thing as a video, but it only served to bring on more emotion.
She attempted to side-step her actions by looking away towards her friends. Franklin had scooted himself up close to the TV to get a better view, but was now covering his face with a pillow waiting for the 'mushy part' to end.
Sage was diligent as always, ingnoring the movie and the people watching it as she typed away at her lap top. Digging and analyzing, analyzing and digging.
She felt the sting of eye-water once again as her gaze turned to her padnat. Remy reclined lazily in Rogue's arms, paying more attention to her trusting gaze than to the movie he had chosen.
Ororo frowned as she realized how much she envied her friends. Was she forever destined to be alone? There had been a time long ago when she had hoped to spend the rest of her life with her teammate Forge, but that time was long gone.
She thought back to her last almost-relationships. With Davis Cammeron, she had genuinly had fun. She could even make herself forget that she was supposed to be undercover as a tourist. The dancing, laughs, waves, and warm boyish smiles had allowed her to forget.
But all to soon it had been back to business, and Khan had stepped into the picture. She found something captivating about those strong dictator types. She had very nearly entertained an evening with Victor Von Doom himself at one time.† But as always, his stubborness had to be his downfall.
She would've been willing to be Khan's queen, his wife, but only if it would save her friends and planet. Once she realized that he would take no bargain or compromise, she threw all thoughts of romance out the window of her mind and saught to fight him to a stand-still.
She shoved the thoughts from her mind as she moved to get up. The doorbell was ringing and she needed to do *something* before her mind-ramblings drove her crazy. She then began to wonder who in the world would ring at their door. She hadn't ordered any packages of late, and she was fairly certain that her friends hadn't...she frowned. For all she knew, Logan could've ordered more physical therapy equipment. The slavedriver. She twisted the knob, and opened the doorway...and gasped.
A face that had once seemed so young and charming, that she had associated with so much joy, was now tired, injured, and guilt-ridden. He was supported by his two mutant companions who were equally tired and out of breath. His leg was in a brace and a blood-tainted bandage was tightly wrapped around his forehead. Storm stood back and forced herself to exhale.
"Slipstream?"
______________________________
______________________________
†I read about it in some big volume of Essential X-men at the bookstore. I thought it was a fun little fact to remember, and saved it up in my head only to have it mentioned in this story.
Ultra Vieres: Latin. Means "Beyond the Powers" Overstepping authority, which is what the X-treme X-men seen to have a tendency to do.
Author's Notes: I'm sorry there wasn't much of Rogue, Remy, and Franklin this chapter, but I wanted to do a little more focusing on the other members of the team. I didn't make it as long, because I wanted to post a chapter on time for once. I don't know that I'll be able to be as punctual with the next update, but I can most certainly try. Till then, "Adieu!" & "Review!".
Fleurdelys-- I have continued and I agree. Bishop quaking in his boots does make for an entertaining sight.
crazytook-- I'm glad you like the characterization, because I'm still tying to get used to the action. Thanks for the kudos!
T.-- Nice to know I'm appreciated. ^-^
Lucky439-- Well, looks like ya got lucky and the wait wasn't all that long.
Wishful Thinking-- Yes, I think I do a pretty good job with angsting unloved characters when I set my neurotic mind to it. And speaking of Neurotic, the Temptress's underworld and mine are semi-affiliated. So ya don't have to worry about back-stabbing anybody. Consider yourself on the hit list!
Paige Guthrie-- Thank you for the compliments, I have done as you have requested. ^.~
Also note that the update list is ready for more takers.
Disclaimer: Still thy beating heart and know that they are neither thine, nor mine.
_____________________________
CHAPTER 8: ULTRA VIRES
_____________________________
_____________________________
The in-between moments from when Sage hung up the phone to when Gambit's Harly drove up to the front were absolute torcher for the mutant known as Lucas Bishop. He was stuck in that time wondering to himself which would be worse: the things his Cajun teammate would do to him, or the things he imagined the man would do to him.
When Rogue, Franklin, and Remy pulled up, Remy took Franklin's hand. The three of them walked into the house as Remy headed directly for Bishop. Bishop observed that his fellow mutant was showing a remarkable amount of restraint. It was then that LeBeau asked him to come away from the hall so they could 'talk'.
Both men entered the secluded room. About an hour later, after the shouting and screaming were over, both came out. Gambit looked slightly calmer while Bishop looked as though he had been run over by a truck. A very big truck. Remy then scooped Franklin up into his arms and carried him to the living room. There, they and Rogue debated which movie to watch as they settled down for the night.
______________________________
Sage watched on with concern. She had not yet told Remy of the call from Jean. She had eventually managed to lose comunication with the woman, but only because the red-head had already been enormously pre-occupied. Jean Grey-Summers would call again about Franklin. And she would call again soon.
Sage frowned. She was not very effecient at feeling emotions, but it was her duty to analize them. And Jean's emotions were driving her to a cross-roads. The woman's life was busy to the point of being hectic. She was a teacher, an X-man, a recruiter, and a spurned wife all in one. A point was coming where she would tell herself that she needed a break. What better excuse than to recruit a powerful mutant child living in New Orleans?
If Jean came to this conclusion, as she very well could, neither X-men team would likely mind it. The problem would come when it would be time for her to leave. She would be a woman on a mission and would insist on taking Franklin --and possibly a good chunk of the team--along with her. And neither Sage nor the other X-men were willing to let that happen.
But Sage had more than Jean to worry about. She had to know who else was after Franklin. And how her teammates would deal with their three former members on their way back home.
______________________________
"Neal, I am so bloody tired!"
Lifeguard and Thunderbird waited outside the Mary Prey Hospital, just below the window of Room 231. The room that held Lifeguard's brother, Davis Cammeron.
"Try to hold out a little more, Heather. We'll wait till they switch security guards, and then pull him out of the room."
"Which of us is goin' to carry 'im?"
"I could, unless you want to."
"No...I..I think he'd prob'ly put up a fight with me. Better you take 'im. You did tell Sage that we're comin', right?"
"Yeeesss......"
"Whatta you mean, 'yeeesss'?"
"I didn't exactly mention that Davis didn't know we planned on kidnapping him."
"What? She was just s'possed to assume that he'd *plan* on leaving his comfy little hospital bed and stop avoiding us?"
"At least you got to talk to him once."
"I was there for half an hour an' we never got past 'H'llo, Davey' an' 'Hi, Heather'."
"It's still something."
"But it ain't bloody much, Neal."
Lifeguard sighed.
"Ok, Lifeguard! Watch the window! The nurse just turned the light out."
"We wait a few minutes more?"
"Just a few."
"He'll be angry with us for pulling him out you know."
"He's suffered for being a mutant, so maybe now he'll understand how hard it is for the rest of us. Something like this can really change a guy's perspective."
"Can it make him stop seeing me the way I look now, and just make him remember the way I was?"
"Please don't say that, Heather. You are so beautiful, and it hurts to watch you put yourself down like this."
"That whole speach has been used many times, and it's as much a can of rancid worms now as it was then."
Thunderbird sighed.
"Ok, we can move in now."
"We break through the window, you distract the watchers, I grab Davey?"
"That's the plan."
"Alright. Count of Three?"
"One...Two...Three...GO!!!"
CRASH!!
______________________________
Ororo felt gentle tears sting her eyes. The hero on the movie screen was proclaiming his love to the lady who had won his heart over the span of the film. The weather witch critisized herself for crying over such a thing as a video, but it only served to bring on more emotion.
She attempted to side-step her actions by looking away towards her friends. Franklin had scooted himself up close to the TV to get a better view, but was now covering his face with a pillow waiting for the 'mushy part' to end.
Sage was diligent as always, ingnoring the movie and the people watching it as she typed away at her lap top. Digging and analyzing, analyzing and digging.
She felt the sting of eye-water once again as her gaze turned to her padnat. Remy reclined lazily in Rogue's arms, paying more attention to her trusting gaze than to the movie he had chosen.
Ororo frowned as she realized how much she envied her friends. Was she forever destined to be alone? There had been a time long ago when she had hoped to spend the rest of her life with her teammate Forge, but that time was long gone.
She thought back to her last almost-relationships. With Davis Cammeron, she had genuinly had fun. She could even make herself forget that she was supposed to be undercover as a tourist. The dancing, laughs, waves, and warm boyish smiles had allowed her to forget.
But all to soon it had been back to business, and Khan had stepped into the picture. She found something captivating about those strong dictator types. She had very nearly entertained an evening with Victor Von Doom himself at one time.† But as always, his stubborness had to be his downfall.
She would've been willing to be Khan's queen, his wife, but only if it would save her friends and planet. Once she realized that he would take no bargain or compromise, she threw all thoughts of romance out the window of her mind and saught to fight him to a stand-still.
She shoved the thoughts from her mind as she moved to get up. The doorbell was ringing and she needed to do *something* before her mind-ramblings drove her crazy. She then began to wonder who in the world would ring at their door. She hadn't ordered any packages of late, and she was fairly certain that her friends hadn't...she frowned. For all she knew, Logan could've ordered more physical therapy equipment. The slavedriver. She twisted the knob, and opened the doorway...and gasped.
A face that had once seemed so young and charming, that she had associated with so much joy, was now tired, injured, and guilt-ridden. He was supported by his two mutant companions who were equally tired and out of breath. His leg was in a brace and a blood-tainted bandage was tightly wrapped around his forehead. Storm stood back and forced herself to exhale.
"Slipstream?"
______________________________
______________________________
†I read about it in some big volume of Essential X-men at the bookstore. I thought it was a fun little fact to remember, and saved it up in my head only to have it mentioned in this story.
Ultra Vieres: Latin. Means "Beyond the Powers" Overstepping authority, which is what the X-treme X-men seen to have a tendency to do.
Author's Notes: I'm sorry there wasn't much of Rogue, Remy, and Franklin this chapter, but I wanted to do a little more focusing on the other members of the team. I didn't make it as long, because I wanted to post a chapter on time for once. I don't know that I'll be able to be as punctual with the next update, but I can most certainly try. Till then, "Adieu!" & "Review!".
