Thanks folks for sticking with me. Here's the latest chapter. I've had it
for a while now and I know everyone is excited to see what happens. Enjoy
and please read and review.
CHAPTER 4
Greer's heart pounded so hard she thought it might bust. Her body ached so badly she wanted to stop but she couldn't. Running further and fast from the pain she hoped she might out run it. Trees zipped by at such speed, she wondered if she was dreaming. The pounding in her chest and her pain, told her different. Struggling to think what she was running from, she wondered if this was what a rabbit felt like when it was being chased. Pushing these horrible thoughts back she could feel her throat growl and her eyes tear. 'I'm not a rabbit!' a voice resounded in her head. She didn't understand this voice, this, almost schizophrenic, pull inside her that made her run. She obeyed it though, running until she could hear the wind like a roar of the ocean in her ears. Running into the night as far and as fast as her legs and pain saturated body could take her.
It was a nice bright Sunday afternoon. Marie was tired from the drive but she was determined to get some answers and results, so drove all night. Pulling up the long drive to the mansion, she clicked the intercom button on by the gate. "Hello, I'm Marie Nelson. I'm here to see a Professor Charles Xavier." She said in a clear voice. Letting go of the button she waited for a response. Nothing happened. Trying the button again, "Hello! I'm here to see Charles Xavier!" shouting clearly. Still nothing. Fatigue and frustration getting to her she pounded on the button, "Open the god damn gate or I'm running it down!" A click came from the intercom, "What the hell do you want?" A gruff voice spoke. "I need to see Professor Charles Xavier." Marie said as clearly as she could, trying to suppress her aggravation. "Yeah, well a lot of people want to see Chuck. What do you want?" "I would be more than happy to tell Professor Xavier of my need if you could please let me in." Marie struggled to candy coat the sentence as much as possible but she had just about hit her limit. "Look lady, nobody sees Chuck unless they're invited and I don't see your name on the guest list." The gruff voice said nonchalantly. Marie couldn't contain her rage any longer. "I'm sorry, let me say it a little louder for you!" violently yelling into the intercom with the same sugary voice. She jumped into her truck. Thundering it to life, she reversed almost half the way back the long drive, putting the truck into drive and bulldozed the entrance gate to the estates.
She hadn't reached a third of the way down the drive to the mansion before a large BANG shuddered through the cab of the truck. She slammed on the brakes skidding to a stop; dust and gravel from the drive clouded the air and flied into the open windows. Another BANG, Marie screamed, "Stop it!" The dust settled and the bangs stopped. Looking out her windshield, she saw a very scruffy dark haired man with his arms crossed over his chest, and an unmistakably angry look on his face. Marie hopped out of her truck, "What the fuck do you think your doing attacking me like that!" She yelled. The dark man was very muscular and only a little taller than her. He glared at her, "Lady the way I see it your trespassing." He didn't raise his voice but his rage could be heard in each word. Meeting his eyes with the same intensity, "As I see it, you couldn't hear me, so I spoke up." her tone even and cool. At that moment the man's expression changed, his glare softened and he snarled, "Your damn lucky he wants to see you or I'd be ripping you a new one lady." Marie walked back to her truck, yelling clearly for him to hear, "You wouldn't be ripping shit, little man!" The remark made the man turn on his heel but Marie had already fired up her truck and raced down the drive.
Calling Scott, the X-man known as Cyclops, to his study, Professor Xavier made preparations for his unexpected guest. "Come in Scott." Charles Xavier spoke into the open office before him. The door opened and a young man with good looks and red sunglasses walked in, "You'd think after all this time I'd be used to that." The good Professor smiled at the comment but went right to business as he entered. "There is a woman coming up the drive, would you be so kind as to show her to my office and apologize to her. I fear she might be a little rattled by her encounter with Logan." "I wondered what set off the proximity alarms." Scott mentioned, "Sure I'd be happy to. Who is she?" The professor didn't look up from what he was doing, "I don't know. She just ran down the front gate to see me, so I feel I ought to give her an audience." Scott's eyebrows rose at the Professor's apathetic tone to the statement but didn't question him and set to answer the front door.
Marie parked her truck. As she got out, she saw the huge dent in her driver's side door and hood, as well as three symmetrical lines shredded into the metal of her wheel well. 'What the hell did that?' she marveled but continued on. Pulling her thick, dark hair back, she went up the stares to the large front doors. Before she could even knock, the door opened. A tall brown haired young man with red glasses smiled at her, "Hello, may I help you?" Marie smiled, relived to not find the same welcoming as at the gate, "Yes, thank you," she said sincerely, "I need to speak with Professor Xavier." Scott smiled, "Yes, please come in. He's expecting you."
Following him as he lead the way, her eyes grew wide as she took in the grandeur of the mansion but made sure to pay attention to were the young man was leading her. As they walked along he spoke, "I'm sorry for what happened at the front gate and also for what ever Logan did." The young man came to a stop at an old, ornately designed door, waving his hand to it, "He's inside." The young man walked away down the hall. Marie was about to knock on the door, when a voice welcomed her, "Please come in Mrs. ..." Marie opened the door to see a bald man sitting behind a large antique desk, "Nelson. Marie Nelson, you are Professor Xavier." It wasn't a question but a confirmation of what she already knew. He smiled and nodded, waving for her to have a seat in one of the wing back chairs. As she approached she noticed that he was fairly young, no more than 45 or 50. "What did you need to speak with me about Mrs. Nelson?" Marie sat in one of the chairs in front of him, feeling her confidence waver she straightened up, "I've been reading and investigating you and your school." Professor Xavier straightened up as well after hearing this news, questioning, "And why is that?" Marie swallowed, her mouth seemed very dry, "My daughter is missing and I need your help to find her." The words came out a little more rushed than she had intended. "Why don't you call the police?" Charles tented his fingers in front of himself. He didn't want to agonize the poor woman, he could tell she had been through a lot, but he wasn't quite sure of her intentions yet. Marie bent her head down, placing her hands flat against the sides of her legs, feeling she had composed herself, "My daughter is a mutant, sir." He nodded, "How intensive has your investigation been Mrs. Nelson?" a single eyebrow arched. Marie folded her fingers together quite similarly to Charles. Intensely staring at him, "This school for the gifted is a school for young mutants. You have a team, you call the X-men. They consist of the individuals code named Cyclops, Jean, Rogue, Night crawler, Wolverine, Strom and Shadow cat. You have a jet under the mansion, as well as a fully, functional holographic simulation room and you are one of the most powerful mutants in the world." Marie leaned back knowing she had struck a cord.
Charles Xavier's eyes were a bit wide at her statement; he cleared his throat, "That is a lot of information Mrs. Nelson. What do..." Cutting him off, "Please it's Marie and I also know that you are one of the fore most supporters of mutant rights as well as for human and mutant relations." She paused, her voice starting to crake with emotion. "Please Professor, I just want to find my daughter." Charles leaned back from his desk; he paused for a moment to absorb the information. "I'd be more than happy to help you find her Marie. Please stay here as my guest. I will need to look into your mind to get a glimpse at what might have happen to..." "Greer, her name's Greer Nelson." Marie interjected. Charles nodded and made his way around his desk to were Marie was sitting. She wasn't surprised by the wheel chair but it didn't seem to fit the man that was sitting in it. "I'll do whatever I can to help." She said softly. Situating his wheel chair near her, he placed his hand on Marie's temple, "Now you won't feel anything, just try to keep your mind clear." Marie did as she was told and tried to make her mind blank. Charles flashed through images of breakfast, no lunch, and then medical rooms zipping by. He felt the horror of seeing a tiger like creature growling over her husband. The taste of blood in his mouth and the feeling of betrayal, finally the horrible echoing of howling screams. He lowered his hand from her head and gave a sympathetic look, "We'll do everything in our power to find her." "Thank you." Marie could feel tears staring to well in her eyes but she push them back and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thank you so much."
"Logan, please come in." The office door opened and the scruffy man that had assaulted her before walked in and glared at her. "So do I get to throw her out?" Logan asked a little too enthusiastically. Charles stifled his smile, he knew Logan didn't mean any malice behind it but he wondered what had occurred outside for him to lose his temper so quickly. "No Logan, actually, could you show Marie to one of the guest rooms, please?" Marie stood up making sure to remove any way ward tears and glared back at Logan. He only growled and walked out the door. "Please follow Logan. We usually have dinner around six o'clock but feel free to peruse the mansion at your leisure." Logan stopped and snorted at his words, "Professor?" "She already knows more about this place than most of our younger students, Logan." Another growl erupted from Wolverine's throat. "So Logan, is it?" Marie asked in a slyly coy manner. He only turned on his heel and walked down the hall in response with Marie following behind him.
Greer woke up to the smell of mold and dirt. Cracking one eye open she saw only darkness, shifting she let out a loud yelp. The sound was loud and echoed in the space she was in. Her eyes adjusted. She became aware of a thin sliver of light high above her. It surprised her how well she could see in the dark space. She was in a cave, 'How did I get into a cave?' she thought. Pushing herself into a sitting position she let out a fierce growl. Shocked by the noise, she looked around the cave to see if she was in an animal's den but there was nothing. Her feet and legs hurt terribly, she bent to examine them but her spine had other ideas, making her let out another fierce growl. Touching her throat, realization dawned on her that she had made the noise. She touched her face and flinched back as her hand came near. Something on her face was very sensitive to the fact that her hand was there. Greer was so confused, everything smelled stronger and she could see in the dark and hear everything. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. She was alone in cave, god knows were, hurt and with nothing. She lay back down and curled into a little ball as best she could, crying.
Professor Xavier made his way to Crebro, a most incredible devise. It allowed him to find any person or mutant any where in the world, with just a thought. He closed the door to the immense room, setting the helmet like mind probe on above his ears. Concentrating, he flashed through the minds of many different people; finally focusing, he found a girl crying in a dark space. He focused to see more clearly the images going through the young girls mind, until he saw the images that matched the ones he saw in Marie's mind earlier. Releasing himself from the pull of her mind, he removed Crebro and made his way out of the chamber.
Marie followed Logan up the stairs at the foyer of the mansion. "So were do I park my truck?" Marie asked candidly. Logan made no effort to be pleasant or courteous, "It's fine." He said very unemotionally. Turning a corner, they came upon a hall of doors. "Here." Logan pushed open a door to a large room with lovely décor and a big bed. Marie stepped inside and looked around more than pleased with her new sleeping arrangements. Logan started to close the door, Marie caught his attention before he did "Look I'm sorry for my actions earlier. I lost my temper." Logan's eyes softened, "It's fine. If my kid was missing I'd be pissed of too." His facial expression didn't change but his eyes looked sad for a brief moment. He then closed the door. 'How did he know my daughter was missing?' She wondered. She was glad her ruse had gotten her this far. She hadn't had enough time to get enough information to really do anything but it was enough to get what she needed. She didn't like to lie, even in her career as a police officer, but if the ends justified the means.
Logan shut the door. He still didn't trust her but he did feel for her. 'Logan could you come into my office please.' The professor's voice echoed in his mind. It really irritated him when he did that. Walking toward the professor's office he saw Kitty and Kurt coming in the front door. "Hey," Logan grunted at the teenagers, "we have a guest in the house so watch yourselves." Kitty and Kurt both looked at each other blankly. "Did you hear me?" Both friends snapped back to reality, "Ja, I'll make sure I keep my emitter on." Kurt said. "And I won't like walk thought walls or anything, Kay." The pretty young girl chirped. "Good, tell the others." Logan grunted walking away. Logan walked into Professor Xavier's office, "Yeah, Chuck." "It's customary to knock before entering Logan." Charles said from behind his desk. "You already knew I was coming Chuck." Charles tented his fingers and continued with the business at hand but never gave up on trying to reinforce Logan's manners. "Yes, the reason I asked you here is that I have located Mrs. Nelson's daughter." "Okay, so lets rally the troops and get a rescuing." Logan said plainly standing next to the large chair in front of the desk. "It's not that easy Logan. From what I can tell she's in California just outside of Madera. She's in a cave, very scared and confused and very unstable." "What kind of unstable?" Logan asked with a knowing look on his face. "Dangerously unstable. I could sense her hold on reality is thinning." Logan grunted, folding his arms over his chest "Sounds familiar." "Yes that's why I'd like you and a few of the more experienced team members to go as well as Hank. She's injured but I don't know to what degree, also I do not want Marie to know of the mission yet. She isn't quite aware of what has happened to her daughter. I don't want her to be endangered" "She's endangered us just being here in the mansion." Logan sneered. "Yes, I understand, but I think it will be best. If her daughter is as I believe she is, I don't think she'll be able to go home to her normal life and the more Marie knows about this institute the more likely she'll be comfortable to let Greer stay here." Logan nodded in agreement. "So when do we go?" "We'll need some more information from Mrs. Nelson and I think it would be good for her to meet the students." "So tomorrow?" "Yes, at dawn."
"Gott it's early." Kurt yawned as he wandered into the plane bay. "Yeah of course it is if you slept last night, other wise it's really late." A familiar voice chirped from behind him. "You mean you didn't go to bed lat night, Kitty." Kitty walked briskly by him toward the plane, "Of course not. If I'd, like, gone to bed I'd be so tired I'd be, like, useless." Kurt smiled; he did feel pretty un-useful at this time of the morning. "Come on guys. We were supposed to depart 5 minutes ago." Jean interrupted. "Like next time, yell out loud instead of in my head Jean." Kitty yelled to the open bay. Kurt chuckled 'Maybe Kitty should have got some sleep.' He thought. "Come on team, daylight burning and you've got school today, Half-pint." Wolverine's voice yelled from the X-jet. Kitty gave a horrible groan. "I thought I was going to have school off today for the mission." She whined. Kurt laughed "Guess you should have gotten some sleep then." He had graduated last year but took a year off to figure out what he wanted to do. Buckling into their seats, the team made way for California.
"So were are we off to and, like, how come it's just us?" Kitty asked from the back of the jet. "Madera, California or rather a forest quit near to it. That was the Professor's last reading on our missing mutant and this is a very covert mission. The only reason your coming is because of your abilities." Beast explained from the co-pilot seat. "Oh Gott and I thought it was for my sparkling personality, my self esteem is crushed." "Cut the sarcasm, Elf, we're here."
After landing, Kurt and Kitty took in the area they were to scout, for their missing person. It was a huge forest, much like Yosemite National Park. Kitty gave a defeated sigh, "Like how are we going to find him in the dark in a huge forest?" "He's a her, Kitty," Jean spoke up from behind her, "And since it should be just us out here I should be able to pick up on her thought activity if we're near by." "And just how are we going to, like, know if we're near by?" "We're going to look for her, Half-pint. So move out!" Kitty made a huffy sound and moved out into the foliage. "Vat's her name?" Kurt asked. "Greer Nelson." Beast stated.
They looked for about half an hour. Fortunately, Wolverine's tracking abilities got them in close enough range for Jean to pick up on her thought patterns. "Were is she Red?" Jean had her fingertips on her temples, her eyes tight with concentration, "Over there." She pointed to the west. "Maybe a half mile. I'm not sure. She's awake but her mind's foggy." 'Good enough.' Wolverine thought and sprinted a head. When the others had caught up with Wolverine, he was at the opening to a rock formation of some kind. It might have been a cave but the hole to get in was way too small for anyone to be able to fit, even Kurt. "I'm pretty sure she's in there. I called to her and I heard a girls voice respond. She hasn't spoken since then." Wolverine stated looking at the hole in the rock. "No she wouldn't. She scared to death." Jean said her voice full of concern. "Hello! We're here to help you! Greer are you in there?" Jean called into the cave.
Greer was shivering on the rock floor. Not so much from the cold but from her situation. She hadn't been able to sleep and every time she tried to stand her legs gave out on her, like she had forgotten how to walk. She was surprised she had survived this long. It must have been a week or so from counting the times the crack of light above her came and left. She was lucky that there were pools of water in the cave but she hadn't eaten in days. Greer had just about given up hope when she heard rustling above her from the crack of light. "Hello, is someone out there?" she yelled and then quickly covered her mouth. 'What if it was her father and the lab people trying to find her? What if they were experimenting on her and they wanted their guinea pig back?' She quickly stayed as still as possible and didn't make another sound. "Hey is someone in there?" A gruff voice yelled but Greer wouldn't dare respond. She just sat there quietly and hoped that they would go way. A bit of time went on and she heard more rustling above. She was really scared now. She would rather die than go back to the lab. She had already turned into a monster. So there was nothing they could do to help her now, if that was what her father was trying to do. The thoughts of him made tears well up in her eyes. She had thought of little else in the cold confines of her stone prison. She was weak and hungry and needed to sleep. She brought her hand up to her face to wipe away the tears. "Ouch." as a single claw scraped her cheek. Realization dawned on her like an angle. 'I have claws. Claws can hurt people.' Her plan of escape was formulating fast. She'll let the people get her out of this cave and then she'll take one of them hostage. She'll get answers and help and if not, to hell with them. They dissevered whatever they got. A small voice inside of her agreed. A voice came from a woman. "Hello! We're here to help you! Greer are you there?"
"Yes! I'm here! Please, I can't walk or stand!" Kitty's heart leapt. 'We found her! We actually found her!' "Okay were going to see what we can do to get you out of there." Jean looked over to Wolverine and Beast. "Okay Half-pint take a peak in there. Take Kurt with you, too." "Ja, if there's room I can get her in and out, no problem." Kitty took Kurt's hand, phasing them through the rock, they looked into the darkness of the cave. "I can't see anything, Kurt." Kitty stated. "I can. She's over there under that rocky ledge." Kurt said to her. They both slipped out form the rocks to report. "Well." Wolverine asked. "She's in there and I think I can reach her." Kurt said with confidence. Jean yelled into the cave again. "Greer we can get you out but you have to stay still. Your going to see something strange but stay were you are." Kurt cocked an eyebrow at Jean, "Zumething strange?" Jean gave him an irritated glance, 'How else are you going to explain a blue elf teleporting in front of you?' Jean thought into his head. Kurt smiled to himself and 'Bmfted' into the cave.
Greer could not remember another time she was so scared and nervous. She had set out the bait and she was reeling them in. She saw a vapor of color come out of the rocks but even with her improved eyesight, she didn't know what it was. Then the same female voice said to stay still, even when she saw something strange. 'What the hell could be stranger than...' but before she could complete her thought a puff of smoke appeared in front of her. She waved away the noxious order and saw a blue person of animal in front of her with blazing yellow eyes. Her eyes were wide with fear and she crawled toward the wall of the cave behind her. "No, no, it's okay I'm here to... Whao!" Kurt turned on his heel faster than should have, "Your naked!" Greer let out a yelp with Kurt's sudden movements and then she absorbed what this person had said. 'I'm what?' she thought and looked down at herself. In the darkness she could make out the curves of her body and modesty swept over her. "I'm sorry. I didn't have anything on when I ran." Kurt damned himself for being such a jerk. This poor girls been lost for almost a week and all he can do is point out her obvious nudity. "I'm zorry that was stupid of me." With his face turned still, "Give me your hand and I'll get you out of here." Greer looked at the open hand, naked or not she needed to get out of this cave. She had to stick with her plan though and from looking at the young man before her, she thought she could take him. She placed her hand in his.
Kurt and Greer appeared but before Kurt knew what hit him, Greer had pulled him to the ground and wrapped her arm around his neck. "Don't move or I slit his throat!" She yelled her claws poised at his neck. He tried to look at the girl holding him hostage, "Please vere here to help you." Greer tightened her grip on his neck making Kurt wince as her claws pierced his skin. Kitty yelled a defiant, "No!" Wolverine had had enough of this, "Listen Tigger, you'll let the elf go if you know what's go for you." He snarled. Jean gave him vicious glare and returned her attention to Greer, "Please Greer, we really are here to help you. You don't need to do that. We're not going to hurt you." Jean focused her mind on Greer's to put more emphasis on the words. "So you can take me back! I'm not going back!" Greer screamed. Her hand tightening even more on Kurt's throat. Making him hiss with pain. Kitty whimpered as blood dripped down his collarbone.
A gunshot rang behind her, as sharp pain stung her backside. She was suddenly so sleepy. 'No' she thought, 'No, not again.' as she sank into darkness.
CHAPTER 4
Greer's heart pounded so hard she thought it might bust. Her body ached so badly she wanted to stop but she couldn't. Running further and fast from the pain she hoped she might out run it. Trees zipped by at such speed, she wondered if she was dreaming. The pounding in her chest and her pain, told her different. Struggling to think what she was running from, she wondered if this was what a rabbit felt like when it was being chased. Pushing these horrible thoughts back she could feel her throat growl and her eyes tear. 'I'm not a rabbit!' a voice resounded in her head. She didn't understand this voice, this, almost schizophrenic, pull inside her that made her run. She obeyed it though, running until she could hear the wind like a roar of the ocean in her ears. Running into the night as far and as fast as her legs and pain saturated body could take her.
It was a nice bright Sunday afternoon. Marie was tired from the drive but she was determined to get some answers and results, so drove all night. Pulling up the long drive to the mansion, she clicked the intercom button on by the gate. "Hello, I'm Marie Nelson. I'm here to see a Professor Charles Xavier." She said in a clear voice. Letting go of the button she waited for a response. Nothing happened. Trying the button again, "Hello! I'm here to see Charles Xavier!" shouting clearly. Still nothing. Fatigue and frustration getting to her she pounded on the button, "Open the god damn gate or I'm running it down!" A click came from the intercom, "What the hell do you want?" A gruff voice spoke. "I need to see Professor Charles Xavier." Marie said as clearly as she could, trying to suppress her aggravation. "Yeah, well a lot of people want to see Chuck. What do you want?" "I would be more than happy to tell Professor Xavier of my need if you could please let me in." Marie struggled to candy coat the sentence as much as possible but she had just about hit her limit. "Look lady, nobody sees Chuck unless they're invited and I don't see your name on the guest list." The gruff voice said nonchalantly. Marie couldn't contain her rage any longer. "I'm sorry, let me say it a little louder for you!" violently yelling into the intercom with the same sugary voice. She jumped into her truck. Thundering it to life, she reversed almost half the way back the long drive, putting the truck into drive and bulldozed the entrance gate to the estates.
She hadn't reached a third of the way down the drive to the mansion before a large BANG shuddered through the cab of the truck. She slammed on the brakes skidding to a stop; dust and gravel from the drive clouded the air and flied into the open windows. Another BANG, Marie screamed, "Stop it!" The dust settled and the bangs stopped. Looking out her windshield, she saw a very scruffy dark haired man with his arms crossed over his chest, and an unmistakably angry look on his face. Marie hopped out of her truck, "What the fuck do you think your doing attacking me like that!" She yelled. The dark man was very muscular and only a little taller than her. He glared at her, "Lady the way I see it your trespassing." He didn't raise his voice but his rage could be heard in each word. Meeting his eyes with the same intensity, "As I see it, you couldn't hear me, so I spoke up." her tone even and cool. At that moment the man's expression changed, his glare softened and he snarled, "Your damn lucky he wants to see you or I'd be ripping you a new one lady." Marie walked back to her truck, yelling clearly for him to hear, "You wouldn't be ripping shit, little man!" The remark made the man turn on his heel but Marie had already fired up her truck and raced down the drive.
Calling Scott, the X-man known as Cyclops, to his study, Professor Xavier made preparations for his unexpected guest. "Come in Scott." Charles Xavier spoke into the open office before him. The door opened and a young man with good looks and red sunglasses walked in, "You'd think after all this time I'd be used to that." The good Professor smiled at the comment but went right to business as he entered. "There is a woman coming up the drive, would you be so kind as to show her to my office and apologize to her. I fear she might be a little rattled by her encounter with Logan." "I wondered what set off the proximity alarms." Scott mentioned, "Sure I'd be happy to. Who is she?" The professor didn't look up from what he was doing, "I don't know. She just ran down the front gate to see me, so I feel I ought to give her an audience." Scott's eyebrows rose at the Professor's apathetic tone to the statement but didn't question him and set to answer the front door.
Marie parked her truck. As she got out, she saw the huge dent in her driver's side door and hood, as well as three symmetrical lines shredded into the metal of her wheel well. 'What the hell did that?' she marveled but continued on. Pulling her thick, dark hair back, she went up the stares to the large front doors. Before she could even knock, the door opened. A tall brown haired young man with red glasses smiled at her, "Hello, may I help you?" Marie smiled, relived to not find the same welcoming as at the gate, "Yes, thank you," she said sincerely, "I need to speak with Professor Xavier." Scott smiled, "Yes, please come in. He's expecting you."
Following him as he lead the way, her eyes grew wide as she took in the grandeur of the mansion but made sure to pay attention to were the young man was leading her. As they walked along he spoke, "I'm sorry for what happened at the front gate and also for what ever Logan did." The young man came to a stop at an old, ornately designed door, waving his hand to it, "He's inside." The young man walked away down the hall. Marie was about to knock on the door, when a voice welcomed her, "Please come in Mrs. ..." Marie opened the door to see a bald man sitting behind a large antique desk, "Nelson. Marie Nelson, you are Professor Xavier." It wasn't a question but a confirmation of what she already knew. He smiled and nodded, waving for her to have a seat in one of the wing back chairs. As she approached she noticed that he was fairly young, no more than 45 or 50. "What did you need to speak with me about Mrs. Nelson?" Marie sat in one of the chairs in front of him, feeling her confidence waver she straightened up, "I've been reading and investigating you and your school." Professor Xavier straightened up as well after hearing this news, questioning, "And why is that?" Marie swallowed, her mouth seemed very dry, "My daughter is missing and I need your help to find her." The words came out a little more rushed than she had intended. "Why don't you call the police?" Charles tented his fingers in front of himself. He didn't want to agonize the poor woman, he could tell she had been through a lot, but he wasn't quite sure of her intentions yet. Marie bent her head down, placing her hands flat against the sides of her legs, feeling she had composed herself, "My daughter is a mutant, sir." He nodded, "How intensive has your investigation been Mrs. Nelson?" a single eyebrow arched. Marie folded her fingers together quite similarly to Charles. Intensely staring at him, "This school for the gifted is a school for young mutants. You have a team, you call the X-men. They consist of the individuals code named Cyclops, Jean, Rogue, Night crawler, Wolverine, Strom and Shadow cat. You have a jet under the mansion, as well as a fully, functional holographic simulation room and you are one of the most powerful mutants in the world." Marie leaned back knowing she had struck a cord.
Charles Xavier's eyes were a bit wide at her statement; he cleared his throat, "That is a lot of information Mrs. Nelson. What do..." Cutting him off, "Please it's Marie and I also know that you are one of the fore most supporters of mutant rights as well as for human and mutant relations." She paused, her voice starting to crake with emotion. "Please Professor, I just want to find my daughter." Charles leaned back from his desk; he paused for a moment to absorb the information. "I'd be more than happy to help you find her Marie. Please stay here as my guest. I will need to look into your mind to get a glimpse at what might have happen to..." "Greer, her name's Greer Nelson." Marie interjected. Charles nodded and made his way around his desk to were Marie was sitting. She wasn't surprised by the wheel chair but it didn't seem to fit the man that was sitting in it. "I'll do whatever I can to help." She said softly. Situating his wheel chair near her, he placed his hand on Marie's temple, "Now you won't feel anything, just try to keep your mind clear." Marie did as she was told and tried to make her mind blank. Charles flashed through images of breakfast, no lunch, and then medical rooms zipping by. He felt the horror of seeing a tiger like creature growling over her husband. The taste of blood in his mouth and the feeling of betrayal, finally the horrible echoing of howling screams. He lowered his hand from her head and gave a sympathetic look, "We'll do everything in our power to find her." "Thank you." Marie could feel tears staring to well in her eyes but she push them back and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thank you so much."
"Logan, please come in." The office door opened and the scruffy man that had assaulted her before walked in and glared at her. "So do I get to throw her out?" Logan asked a little too enthusiastically. Charles stifled his smile, he knew Logan didn't mean any malice behind it but he wondered what had occurred outside for him to lose his temper so quickly. "No Logan, actually, could you show Marie to one of the guest rooms, please?" Marie stood up making sure to remove any way ward tears and glared back at Logan. He only growled and walked out the door. "Please follow Logan. We usually have dinner around six o'clock but feel free to peruse the mansion at your leisure." Logan stopped and snorted at his words, "Professor?" "She already knows more about this place than most of our younger students, Logan." Another growl erupted from Wolverine's throat. "So Logan, is it?" Marie asked in a slyly coy manner. He only turned on his heel and walked down the hall in response with Marie following behind him.
Greer woke up to the smell of mold and dirt. Cracking one eye open she saw only darkness, shifting she let out a loud yelp. The sound was loud and echoed in the space she was in. Her eyes adjusted. She became aware of a thin sliver of light high above her. It surprised her how well she could see in the dark space. She was in a cave, 'How did I get into a cave?' she thought. Pushing herself into a sitting position she let out a fierce growl. Shocked by the noise, she looked around the cave to see if she was in an animal's den but there was nothing. Her feet and legs hurt terribly, she bent to examine them but her spine had other ideas, making her let out another fierce growl. Touching her throat, realization dawned on her that she had made the noise. She touched her face and flinched back as her hand came near. Something on her face was very sensitive to the fact that her hand was there. Greer was so confused, everything smelled stronger and she could see in the dark and hear everything. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. She was alone in cave, god knows were, hurt and with nothing. She lay back down and curled into a little ball as best she could, crying.
Professor Xavier made his way to Crebro, a most incredible devise. It allowed him to find any person or mutant any where in the world, with just a thought. He closed the door to the immense room, setting the helmet like mind probe on above his ears. Concentrating, he flashed through the minds of many different people; finally focusing, he found a girl crying in a dark space. He focused to see more clearly the images going through the young girls mind, until he saw the images that matched the ones he saw in Marie's mind earlier. Releasing himself from the pull of her mind, he removed Crebro and made his way out of the chamber.
Marie followed Logan up the stairs at the foyer of the mansion. "So were do I park my truck?" Marie asked candidly. Logan made no effort to be pleasant or courteous, "It's fine." He said very unemotionally. Turning a corner, they came upon a hall of doors. "Here." Logan pushed open a door to a large room with lovely décor and a big bed. Marie stepped inside and looked around more than pleased with her new sleeping arrangements. Logan started to close the door, Marie caught his attention before he did "Look I'm sorry for my actions earlier. I lost my temper." Logan's eyes softened, "It's fine. If my kid was missing I'd be pissed of too." His facial expression didn't change but his eyes looked sad for a brief moment. He then closed the door. 'How did he know my daughter was missing?' She wondered. She was glad her ruse had gotten her this far. She hadn't had enough time to get enough information to really do anything but it was enough to get what she needed. She didn't like to lie, even in her career as a police officer, but if the ends justified the means.
Logan shut the door. He still didn't trust her but he did feel for her. 'Logan could you come into my office please.' The professor's voice echoed in his mind. It really irritated him when he did that. Walking toward the professor's office he saw Kitty and Kurt coming in the front door. "Hey," Logan grunted at the teenagers, "we have a guest in the house so watch yourselves." Kitty and Kurt both looked at each other blankly. "Did you hear me?" Both friends snapped back to reality, "Ja, I'll make sure I keep my emitter on." Kurt said. "And I won't like walk thought walls or anything, Kay." The pretty young girl chirped. "Good, tell the others." Logan grunted walking away. Logan walked into Professor Xavier's office, "Yeah, Chuck." "It's customary to knock before entering Logan." Charles said from behind his desk. "You already knew I was coming Chuck." Charles tented his fingers and continued with the business at hand but never gave up on trying to reinforce Logan's manners. "Yes, the reason I asked you here is that I have located Mrs. Nelson's daughter." "Okay, so lets rally the troops and get a rescuing." Logan said plainly standing next to the large chair in front of the desk. "It's not that easy Logan. From what I can tell she's in California just outside of Madera. She's in a cave, very scared and confused and very unstable." "What kind of unstable?" Logan asked with a knowing look on his face. "Dangerously unstable. I could sense her hold on reality is thinning." Logan grunted, folding his arms over his chest "Sounds familiar." "Yes that's why I'd like you and a few of the more experienced team members to go as well as Hank. She's injured but I don't know to what degree, also I do not want Marie to know of the mission yet. She isn't quite aware of what has happened to her daughter. I don't want her to be endangered" "She's endangered us just being here in the mansion." Logan sneered. "Yes, I understand, but I think it will be best. If her daughter is as I believe she is, I don't think she'll be able to go home to her normal life and the more Marie knows about this institute the more likely she'll be comfortable to let Greer stay here." Logan nodded in agreement. "So when do we go?" "We'll need some more information from Mrs. Nelson and I think it would be good for her to meet the students." "So tomorrow?" "Yes, at dawn."
"Gott it's early." Kurt yawned as he wandered into the plane bay. "Yeah of course it is if you slept last night, other wise it's really late." A familiar voice chirped from behind him. "You mean you didn't go to bed lat night, Kitty." Kitty walked briskly by him toward the plane, "Of course not. If I'd, like, gone to bed I'd be so tired I'd be, like, useless." Kurt smiled; he did feel pretty un-useful at this time of the morning. "Come on guys. We were supposed to depart 5 minutes ago." Jean interrupted. "Like next time, yell out loud instead of in my head Jean." Kitty yelled to the open bay. Kurt chuckled 'Maybe Kitty should have got some sleep.' He thought. "Come on team, daylight burning and you've got school today, Half-pint." Wolverine's voice yelled from the X-jet. Kitty gave a horrible groan. "I thought I was going to have school off today for the mission." She whined. Kurt laughed "Guess you should have gotten some sleep then." He had graduated last year but took a year off to figure out what he wanted to do. Buckling into their seats, the team made way for California.
"So were are we off to and, like, how come it's just us?" Kitty asked from the back of the jet. "Madera, California or rather a forest quit near to it. That was the Professor's last reading on our missing mutant and this is a very covert mission. The only reason your coming is because of your abilities." Beast explained from the co-pilot seat. "Oh Gott and I thought it was for my sparkling personality, my self esteem is crushed." "Cut the sarcasm, Elf, we're here."
After landing, Kurt and Kitty took in the area they were to scout, for their missing person. It was a huge forest, much like Yosemite National Park. Kitty gave a defeated sigh, "Like how are we going to find him in the dark in a huge forest?" "He's a her, Kitty," Jean spoke up from behind her, "And since it should be just us out here I should be able to pick up on her thought activity if we're near by." "And just how are we going to, like, know if we're near by?" "We're going to look for her, Half-pint. So move out!" Kitty made a huffy sound and moved out into the foliage. "Vat's her name?" Kurt asked. "Greer Nelson." Beast stated.
They looked for about half an hour. Fortunately, Wolverine's tracking abilities got them in close enough range for Jean to pick up on her thought patterns. "Were is she Red?" Jean had her fingertips on her temples, her eyes tight with concentration, "Over there." She pointed to the west. "Maybe a half mile. I'm not sure. She's awake but her mind's foggy." 'Good enough.' Wolverine thought and sprinted a head. When the others had caught up with Wolverine, he was at the opening to a rock formation of some kind. It might have been a cave but the hole to get in was way too small for anyone to be able to fit, even Kurt. "I'm pretty sure she's in there. I called to her and I heard a girls voice respond. She hasn't spoken since then." Wolverine stated looking at the hole in the rock. "No she wouldn't. She scared to death." Jean said her voice full of concern. "Hello! We're here to help you! Greer are you in there?" Jean called into the cave.
Greer was shivering on the rock floor. Not so much from the cold but from her situation. She hadn't been able to sleep and every time she tried to stand her legs gave out on her, like she had forgotten how to walk. She was surprised she had survived this long. It must have been a week or so from counting the times the crack of light above her came and left. She was lucky that there were pools of water in the cave but she hadn't eaten in days. Greer had just about given up hope when she heard rustling above her from the crack of light. "Hello, is someone out there?" she yelled and then quickly covered her mouth. 'What if it was her father and the lab people trying to find her? What if they were experimenting on her and they wanted their guinea pig back?' She quickly stayed as still as possible and didn't make another sound. "Hey is someone in there?" A gruff voice yelled but Greer wouldn't dare respond. She just sat there quietly and hoped that they would go way. A bit of time went on and she heard more rustling above. She was really scared now. She would rather die than go back to the lab. She had already turned into a monster. So there was nothing they could do to help her now, if that was what her father was trying to do. The thoughts of him made tears well up in her eyes. She had thought of little else in the cold confines of her stone prison. She was weak and hungry and needed to sleep. She brought her hand up to her face to wipe away the tears. "Ouch." as a single claw scraped her cheek. Realization dawned on her like an angle. 'I have claws. Claws can hurt people.' Her plan of escape was formulating fast. She'll let the people get her out of this cave and then she'll take one of them hostage. She'll get answers and help and if not, to hell with them. They dissevered whatever they got. A small voice inside of her agreed. A voice came from a woman. "Hello! We're here to help you! Greer are you there?"
"Yes! I'm here! Please, I can't walk or stand!" Kitty's heart leapt. 'We found her! We actually found her!' "Okay were going to see what we can do to get you out of there." Jean looked over to Wolverine and Beast. "Okay Half-pint take a peak in there. Take Kurt with you, too." "Ja, if there's room I can get her in and out, no problem." Kitty took Kurt's hand, phasing them through the rock, they looked into the darkness of the cave. "I can't see anything, Kurt." Kitty stated. "I can. She's over there under that rocky ledge." Kurt said to her. They both slipped out form the rocks to report. "Well." Wolverine asked. "She's in there and I think I can reach her." Kurt said with confidence. Jean yelled into the cave again. "Greer we can get you out but you have to stay still. Your going to see something strange but stay were you are." Kurt cocked an eyebrow at Jean, "Zumething strange?" Jean gave him an irritated glance, 'How else are you going to explain a blue elf teleporting in front of you?' Jean thought into his head. Kurt smiled to himself and 'Bmfted' into the cave.
Greer could not remember another time she was so scared and nervous. She had set out the bait and she was reeling them in. She saw a vapor of color come out of the rocks but even with her improved eyesight, she didn't know what it was. Then the same female voice said to stay still, even when she saw something strange. 'What the hell could be stranger than...' but before she could complete her thought a puff of smoke appeared in front of her. She waved away the noxious order and saw a blue person of animal in front of her with blazing yellow eyes. Her eyes were wide with fear and she crawled toward the wall of the cave behind her. "No, no, it's okay I'm here to... Whao!" Kurt turned on his heel faster than should have, "Your naked!" Greer let out a yelp with Kurt's sudden movements and then she absorbed what this person had said. 'I'm what?' she thought and looked down at herself. In the darkness she could make out the curves of her body and modesty swept over her. "I'm sorry. I didn't have anything on when I ran." Kurt damned himself for being such a jerk. This poor girls been lost for almost a week and all he can do is point out her obvious nudity. "I'm zorry that was stupid of me." With his face turned still, "Give me your hand and I'll get you out of here." Greer looked at the open hand, naked or not she needed to get out of this cave. She had to stick with her plan though and from looking at the young man before her, she thought she could take him. She placed her hand in his.
Kurt and Greer appeared but before Kurt knew what hit him, Greer had pulled him to the ground and wrapped her arm around his neck. "Don't move or I slit his throat!" She yelled her claws poised at his neck. He tried to look at the girl holding him hostage, "Please vere here to help you." Greer tightened her grip on his neck making Kurt wince as her claws pierced his skin. Kitty yelled a defiant, "No!" Wolverine had had enough of this, "Listen Tigger, you'll let the elf go if you know what's go for you." He snarled. Jean gave him vicious glare and returned her attention to Greer, "Please Greer, we really are here to help you. You don't need to do that. We're not going to hurt you." Jean focused her mind on Greer's to put more emphasis on the words. "So you can take me back! I'm not going back!" Greer screamed. Her hand tightening even more on Kurt's throat. Making him hiss with pain. Kitty whimpered as blood dripped down his collarbone.
A gunshot rang behind her, as sharp pain stung her backside. She was suddenly so sleepy. 'No' she thought, 'No, not again.' as she sank into darkness.
