ENTER MAYHEM
CHAPTER 10:THE JUGGERNAUT COMES
It had been about a couple of days after the mall and things were back to normal, the Danger Room had finally been fixed, and Logan wanted to test it out on the New Mutants. At 6:00am on a Saturday.
They had all of them either crawled out of bed, shuffled out, and in a few cases carried out.
"Aw man, this is what I DIDN'T miss about being here." Jubilee said, while stretching and a yawn escaping her mouth.
Rahne was groggily standing beside her. "I know what ye mean. I cannae understand WHY Mr. Logan has'ta do this at such an early morin'."
"Because Logan's a psychopathic sadist." Grumbled Bobby not to far away.
"Oh hi Mr. Logan." Sam said.
Bobby instantly became vary alert and looked up. "I DIDN"T SAY IT-I DIDN'T....." but stopped when he realized Logan wasn't there.
Sam and the others were starting to have a good laugh at Bobby's reaction. "Ha, ha, vary funny Sam, I'll get you for that." Bobby said sourly.
Sam was able to calm down enough to talk again. "Well look on the bright side, at least your fully awake now."
"Yeah, well could you do it in another way so I DON'T have a heart attack next time."
They had all reached the Danger Room doors and saw Vincent already there with Wolverine and Jamie.
They all saw Vince in his new uniform for the first time. "Whoa dude, how'd you get yours done already I'm still only half finished?" Ray asked him.
Vincent just gave a shrug and flashed a smile. "Hey what can I say, super- speed has it advantages."
"Alright you kids, listen up, since I just got the Danger Room repaired you're getting the lower levels for now, until I'm sure it's working perfectly again." Wolverine says, and gives Vincent a look that says, 'you damage it again and YOU fix it."
They spent the next hour going through the basics, first was the gauntlet, then they had team exercises. At the end of it the New Mutants, where dead tired, well except for Jamie who had enough energy to spare, and Vincent was hardly even sweating.
"Well that was fun, so now what?" Vince said with a huge smile on his face to the others.
Bobby spoke up first, "Now we go back to sleep for a few hours and wake up at noon."
The other nodding in agreement and shuffled off to their rooms. Vincent looked around and saw only Jamie around. "Hey want to get some breakfast J?"
Jamie's face lit up. Being the youngest no one really wanted to spend any time him, so he grabbed any chance to be included. "Sure."
"Great let me shower and change and I'll meet you in the kitchen okay?"
"Sure thing I think I'll change too, this stuff feels kind of weird when it gets wet." Jamie said while looking at his uniform.
"Alright I'll see you there." And Vince was gone in a black and red blur off to his room.
Jamie arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later to find Vincent already there getting out bowls for cereal. "You know everyone likes to sleep in on the weekends, so you don't have to worry about making breakfast for the others like you and Miss Ororo usually do."
Vincent looked over at Jamie. "Really? Oh okay then." He took out only two bowls "cereal okay for you J?"
"Sure, but I can I ask you something?"
"Fire away Jamie?"
"How come you sometimes call me J, usually people just call me kid, shorty, short stuff, or even little guy, but you don't?
Vincent turned around to face Jamie. "Well I can tell you didn't really like those names so I decided to call you something else that wouldn't remind you that you're the youngest."
Jamie thought about that. He really hated being the youngest, no one really took him seriously or only saw him as a kid, but Vincent seemed to see that it bothered him and was trying to make him feel like he wasn't such a kid.
Jamie smiled up at him as he brought over the milk and cereal. "Thanks, and I like it that you call me J some times, you think I could call you Vince at times?"
Vincent smiled at the kid. "Sure thing." He began to pour himself some cereal, he really liked Jamie, he reminded him of a few kids he knew from the orphanage, and especially of Benny.
He missed then all terribly, he missed being around them and being the 'big brother' as they called him. He always liked making others feel better, most likely because it made him happy and that was something he tried to be a lot, but it wasn't easy for him.
His life had been hard and his memories always seemed to haunt him, so at times he was really depressed, but didn't show it. He guessed helping others and being the 'big brother' to people younger than him because no one was there to do it for him, and he wanted others not to have to go through life without it like he had.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a certain blue teleporter who had just popped up right next to Vincent.
"Damn Kurt, give a guy a heart attack!" Vince said while holding his chest.
"Oops, sorry mein friend, I didn't zink anyone vas here yet." Kurt apologized.
"It's okay, I just wish you could give a guy a heads up when you do that is all. What are you doing up so early anyways, Jamie told me everyone likes to sleep in on the weekends?"
Kurt had grabbed a bowl for himself and was starting to get the cereal for himself "For breakfast vhat else. I never miss a meal, and me and Jamie usually hang out on a Saturday anyvay."
Vincent cooked an eyebrow "Really? Doing what?"
Kurt smiled at Vincent "How about we show you after breakfast."
*** About an hour later Rogue had finally gotten out of bead and was heading downstairs to beat out the breakfast crowd that could show up at any time.
On her way down the stairs she heard voices coming from the living room, she knew who it was those two were always up at this time, but she stopped when she though she heard a third person with them.
She went over to the doorway and saw both Kurt and Jamie doing their usual tradition of watching Saturday morning cartoons, but was surprised to see Vincent there watching with him.
Kurt had noticed Rogue by the door. "Hey Rogue good morning"
"Morning Fuzzy, what's Vincent doin' here Ah'd thought that only you two are up this early for toons, and aren' ya a little old for that Vince?" Rogue asked of them.
Vince just shrugged while not turning away from the TV. "Well these guys offered to allow me to hang out with them, and as for being too old, this is kind of just my way of making up for a lousy childhood."
At first Rogue thought he was kidding but at a closer look she could see that he was no longer looking at the TV, but had a far away stare going, and even though that he still had a smile on, the rest of his face was the complete opposite.
She turned around back to the kitchen, when she heard them taking again.
"Hey guys after this you mind if we watch one of my favorites?" Vince asked
"Sure vhat?" Kurt asked.
"Samurai Jack."
She could hear Kurt laughing at that, "Vhy doesn't zat surprise me. Sure vhy not."
*** It was later in the afternoon and all the students were finally up, some for the second time that day.
Vincent was getting bored again, he didn't feel like playing any video games, and everyone seemed to be doing something, most of them were either in the pool, or in the Rec. room, Jamie was talking to his parents, Kitty had gone to the mall again, to meet up with Amy, so Vincent decided to go out for a walk.
He got to the door and saw Rogue was leaving too. "Meeting someone?" he asked her.
Rogue stopped and turned around to see who it was. "Na, Ah'm just goin' out to a place Ah like to go to, you?"
"Just bored so I thought I'd just go for a walk, mind if I join you, that is unless this is one of those places you like to go off to be alone or something."
Rogue thought about it for a moment, she decided that this might be the time to find out more about this guy, everyone knew that he had some kind of mysterious past, and never really liked to talk about himself, so this would be the perfect opportunity to find out more.
"Sure Ah guess, Ah could use the company" She lied.
"Cool, thanks." And they walked off, but little did they know that in the air above them a small flying mechanical camera was following them.
They continued to the center of Bayville, where all the major stores were located, they came up to a coffee shop and when Rogue entered, he followed.
Vince looked around, "Not bad" which it wasn't there were a few people in, some good seats still free, it wasn't too busy yet they seemed to be still doing alright.
"This place is alright, but Ah prefer this other place, but this one is closer, and not as crowded." She told him. "You like cappuccinos?"
"Never really tried them, I'm more of a coffee kind of guy, especially since there was a Tim Horton's near my neighborhood." Vince noticed the blank stare at the name Tim Horton's. "It's like a Starbucks but only they serve coffee, and it's a lot cheaper."
"Oh, well Ah don't really think they serve coffee here."
"Well alright since I could use some caffeine, I'll trust you to pick for me."
"Alright Ah'll get the drinks, you get us a table."
Rogue went to get a couple of drinks, and saw that Vince had picked a table with two chairs by a window, she walk over to him and laid down the drinks.
She watching take a sip of his drink "Is it alright?" she asked him.
"Yeah this is pretty good eh. You might just get me off of coffee with this stuff. So you take everyone else to this place or am I this first?"
"Well Ah did try to take Kurt here once but he didn't like it much." She said.
Vince took another sip of his drink, before his next question that had been bugging him for awhile now, but didn't know why "Rogue I've noticed that you and Kurt seem pretty close, I was wondering why that is."
Both Rogue's eyebrows shot up. But then it dawned on her that no one had told him that Kurt was her brother. She was about to tell him but waited until Vincent was taking his next sip.
She had a smile on her face just picturing his reaction. "Well ya see we're close because he's ma brother."
Vincent nearly choked on his drink then, and after a few coughs was able to talk again. "What, what do you mean brother?!"
Rogue nearly lost it there and almost burst out laughing. "Kurt's biological mother adopted meh, that's why Ah'm not blue or German."
"Oh" Vince blinked a couple of times "No one ever tells me anything. So who's Kurt's mother then?"
"Actually you've already met her, she's Mystique"
"WHAT?! You mean that blue bi-I mean witch that broke into the mansion?" Vince could barley believe she was their mother.
"You could say it you know, bitch, she is one." Rogue's face had turned sour at the name of her 'mother'.
"Yeah well, I was brought up not to swear in front of little kids and ladies."
Rogue nearly laughed at that. "Yeah well, Ah've been called a lit of things and 'lady' ain't one of them."
Vince looked at her then as if seeing something there that wasn't before. "You don't give yourself enough credit Rogue."
She was taken aback by that, was that a compliment or he flirting with her? She could feel her cheeks getting slightly warm.
***
Sinister watched them through the window from his spy drone. This was the perfect opportunity to test him with only that girl there. He turned on a communication device then.
"Juggernaut, I have him I'm sending you to him, he's in a coffee shop by the window oh and remember don't go easy on him."
"You don't have to worry about that" came Juggernaut's voice over the line.
The Juggernaut was currently enroot to the target via special cargo chopper that was stationed just outside of Bayville.
***
Rogue and Vincent were starting to enjoy each other's company, they talked awhile, Rogue asked him what Toronto was like, and his life there, he was pretty forthcoming, and she learned a lot.
She learned about his two old friends, the orphanage, his old master, even the events that brought him to the X-Men. She at first didn't like the way he talked about this 'Mary' girl. She wasn't sure why, it's not like she was jealous of her.....or was she?....no she wasn't, Vincent was just....a friend.
Then when he got the point of how he tried to make things right between them she was furious at her. Here was this really good guy who tried to safe their friendship and she threw it back at him.
She soon realized that she was seeing another part of Vincent that she hadn't seen yet. Normally he was like Kurt, joking and smiling, then she remembered that time she and the others caught him training.
She saw the part of him that was hurting inside and the anger there, a few times see could see his pain about his mysterious past, like the scars, now as he was talking, it was like he had dropped the mask of the joker.
Now he seemed serious but also relaxed, more mature and for the first time she really looked into his eyes and noticed that there was no innocence there. Like he had seen things she couldn't understand, and some of the things he had said, like that time in the Danger Room was starting to make sense.
Vincent didn't know why exactly he was letting it out like this, why he was telling her anything she asked for. But he found that she really listened to him, never interrupting him.
Maybe he was actually starting to really like this girl. She spoke her mind, didn't back down from anybody, independent, not to mention really beautiful. Wait did he just think she was beautiful. He kept telling himself that she was just a friend.
Although as they talked, he noticed that he kept staring into those green eyes of hers. And had to force himself not to. Then suddenly out of the corner of his eye he caught something moving really fast at them from the window.
He turned quickly and got up, and shouted to Rogue before he even new what was coming at them. "Rogue GET DOWN!"
Imagine his surprise as he saw it as a car flying through the air at him. It smashed through the window and right at Vince. Luckily with his super- speed not only was his speed increased but also his perception of time and reflexes tended to be altered.
It was the only way he was able to catch the car. Unfortunately the car was being through too fast and too hard to stop and he did his best to alter its bath so that no was hurt.
Unfortunately he had to be in front of the car the entire time, even when it slammed him into the wall. Rogue had gotten up and seen Vincent take the car and get sandwiched between it and the wall, she turned around to the window and what she saw chilled her to the bone.
It was the Juggernaut.
'Oh god no not him' Rogue silently prayed. 'PROFESSOR, JEAN, THE JUGGERNAUT IS HERE HE'S ATTACKING US!' she thought as loud as she could hoping one of the telepaths would hear her.
*Rogue I hear you.* Xavier said to her in her mind. *I'm sending the team there as soon as possible*
Rogue hoped they were fast because the Juggernaut was coming right at her.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't one of Charles' little kids, I may be here for you boyfriend over there, but if I can take some of you punks out that's a nice bonus too." He was able to grab Rogue by the throat and pull her out through the hole in the wall that used to be a window.
Rogue was terrified, not only couldn't she absorb him because of her glove still on, but she was worried that Vincent might have been hurt.
Rogue could feel his hand tightening around her throat and she couldn't breath, she was about to pass out when this blur came out of nowhere, it was followed by this huge bang sound, the next thing she knew she was on the ground.
She felt someone gently helping her up, and when she could focus again saw it was Vincent, he seemed fine except that his shirt had several rips in it. "Are you Okay?"
She could hear the concern in his voice. "Yeah Ah'll-Ah'll be fahne." Her voice was slightly horse from the injury of her throat.
"YOU LITTLE RUNT!"
They both turned around to see the Juggernaut beginning to get up, and he was obliviously pissed off.
"Rogue did you get through to the Professor?" She turned to look at him, and saw another side to Vincent. His face was like it was set in stone, his eyes looked like they were on fire, staring right at the Juggernaut with no fear.
"Yeah, he'll be here soon."
"Rogue I want you to help get the people away from here, I can't go full out if I have to worry about people in the way."
Rogue was shocked "Are ya insane? Ya think ya can beat him?"
He never looked away from the Juggernaut, who had slowly gotten to his feet. "I don't have to beat him, only stall him till the others get here." She could hear the determination in his voice.
"Get those latches off to get his helmet off, the Professor can't get into his mind with it on."
"Thanks" and he started walking off to face the Juggernaut.
The Juggernaut couldn't believe the kid was just walking right up to him. The kid was tougher than he though, and either had balls or was suicidal, wither way he didn't really care.
"Kid there is a reason I'm called the Juggernaut and your going to find out the HARD way" He sneered
"Yeah well first off you don't through cars into buildings, that makes me mad, but you also don't treat a lady like you did and THAT pisses me off! Your about to find out why I'm called MAYHEM!" Then Mayhem launched at super-speed at the Juggernaut, and slammed his fist into his gut.
Unfortunately it didn't have the effect he hoped for. He heard the Juggernaut grunt, but looked unfazed. 'Ah crap, this is going to hurt.' Was his only thought as Juggernaut garbed his face and threw Vince into the street with such force that left a groove into the road and tore up his clothes even more.
Vincent got up quickly, luckily for him the Juggernaut may be a powerhouse, but he was as slow as a turtle. He launch himself right back at him, but at the last second shoot straight up.
Juggernaut looked up just in time to see crimson energy coming right at him. The blast was powerful enough to tear up all of the street around Juggernaut in several meters.
Vince hovered above looking to see through all the smoke, he knew it wouldn't be that easy. And was proven right as the smoke cleared he could see the Juggernaut, staring angrily right at him.
'This is not going to be fun. How the hell can I even make a dent in this creep?'
Juggernaut went over and grabbed another car and threw it at him. Vince couldn't just dodge the car it might hit someone, so once again he was forced to play catch with the Juggernaut.
He caught it effortlessly and decided to return the favor and send it right back at him. It his him dead on but he just punched right through it.
Vince flew down to him and stated to hammer as hard as he could against him. He was doing quite well until Juggernaut got a lucky shot in Vincent's gut.
Vince double over in pain, he hadn't felt pain in a long time. He didn't miss it. He looked up in time to see Juggernaut smash one of his huge fists into Mayhem's face. The force sent him slamming into the ground.
It didn't end there, Juggernaut then started to stomp on Vincent's head several times. When he finished Mayhem's head looked like it was in a small crater. Juggernaut grabbed his head and brought him up to his face.
Vincent's face even after that abuse had a few cuts, and his nose was slightly bleeding and his lip was split. But what shocked the Juggernaut was that his face was more angry than in agonizing pain.
"My turn chrome-dome" Mayhem said through gritted teeth and with blinding speed sent a double kick at the Juggernaut and sent him into a nearby store.
Vincent decided to take the breather while his opponent got up and back for more. Where the HELL are they taking the cynic route? Uh-oh tall dark and gruesome is getting up, I'd better get that helmet off.
Juggernaut was livid, there was no way some little KID was going to throw him around like that, he was the JUGGERNAUT, he was unstoppable, he wouldn't loose to this little freak.
He got out from the store and looked around for the kid. He saw him there in the middle of the street, but as soon as he got close the kid seemed to disappear, the next thing he knew he heard four 'clink' sounds.
The latches! The little punk actually got all four off. He'd have to finish this before Charles got here. Suddenly he felt a weight on his shoulders, and then his helmet was off.
He looked up to see the kid with his own helmet in his hands, put it was turned around with the outside facing him, then at a speed he couldn't comprehend his own helmet was sent into his own face.
The Juggernaut staggered back, from the blow, his hands went to his face. When he pulled them away he saw blood. His nose was actually bleeding! This kid actually got him to BLEED!
"You little Fre-URG!" He never finished his sentence as his helmet was hurtled into his gut. He was on one knee and looked over at him, the shear rage evident on his face.
Suddenly he felt a pain from the back of his head, and suddenly getting weaker, he swung and arm out wildly and felt it hit someone. He felt slightly groggy as he got up and turn around.
It was the girl, the one that could absorb powers, that was why he felt weak and the fact the girl was getting up so easily after getting hit.
Rogue had gotten as many of the people away, but when she saw the opening on the Juggernaut she took it. She absorbed as much as she could, but it wasn't enough he was still standing.
She ran at the Juggernaut and planted a solid blow to his chest, Juggernaut staggered back and turned around to be met by another punch this time to his face by Vincent.
As he took a few steps back he could feel his consciousness slipping, the girl draining him and their combined attacks were weakening him. The next thing he knew they had both upper-cut him and he sailed through the air several meters away, landing hard.
He got up shaking his head, trying to clear his mind, there was their roaring sound that was distracting him. He looked up to see the X-Jet overhead.
'Oh no, not him not now, I have to get my-ARGHH!' Juggernaut clutched at his head from Xavier's psychic attack, then his world went dark.
Rogue and Vincent looked up and were glad to see their friends had finally made it.
As X-Jet landed, the X-men followed by the adults come out. Scott looked over the destruction, and then at Vincent. One of the legs of his pants where torn off, and there was barley anything even left of his shirt, not to mention a score of cuts, and bruises.
"Man you look like you went through a battlefield Vincent." As Scott looked him over again.
"I wish, I think I'd prefer a battlefield than going up against THAT guy again." As he jerked a thumb over to Juggernaut's body.
"Yes I'm sure." Xavier said as he wheeled himself over to them. "But I'm surprised that Juggernaut would attack just you two, last time he went straight for the manor."
"Actually Professor, he was only after Vincent." Rogue told him.
Vincent did a double take at that, he didn't know he was the target.
"When Ah absorbed his memories Ah saw that he was bein' paid to attack Vincent, for some kind of 'test'. He was workin' for someone name Sinister, unfortunately I don't know more than that."
Xavier took this in. Now it seemed that there was a new threat to his students, and was the incident with Mystique connected? He didn't like where this was going and needed to know more, he had to prepare for this new threat.
No one noticed that the drones overhead had gone, Sinister knew that Xavier might find out of his existence, it was a calculated risks, but anyway he now had a deeper understanding of number 7's powers.
He was impressed that the youth had done so well, and it was obvious that he was going to have to revise his plans, but luckily not too much.
NEXT UP CHAPTER: 11 DOUBLE DATES
Please, please review, so I know people are actually reading my work and that I'm not doing this all for nothing.
CHAPTER 10:THE JUGGERNAUT COMES
It had been about a couple of days after the mall and things were back to normal, the Danger Room had finally been fixed, and Logan wanted to test it out on the New Mutants. At 6:00am on a Saturday.
They had all of them either crawled out of bed, shuffled out, and in a few cases carried out.
"Aw man, this is what I DIDN'T miss about being here." Jubilee said, while stretching and a yawn escaping her mouth.
Rahne was groggily standing beside her. "I know what ye mean. I cannae understand WHY Mr. Logan has'ta do this at such an early morin'."
"Because Logan's a psychopathic sadist." Grumbled Bobby not to far away.
"Oh hi Mr. Logan." Sam said.
Bobby instantly became vary alert and looked up. "I DIDN"T SAY IT-I DIDN'T....." but stopped when he realized Logan wasn't there.
Sam and the others were starting to have a good laugh at Bobby's reaction. "Ha, ha, vary funny Sam, I'll get you for that." Bobby said sourly.
Sam was able to calm down enough to talk again. "Well look on the bright side, at least your fully awake now."
"Yeah, well could you do it in another way so I DON'T have a heart attack next time."
They had all reached the Danger Room doors and saw Vincent already there with Wolverine and Jamie.
They all saw Vince in his new uniform for the first time. "Whoa dude, how'd you get yours done already I'm still only half finished?" Ray asked him.
Vincent just gave a shrug and flashed a smile. "Hey what can I say, super- speed has it advantages."
"Alright you kids, listen up, since I just got the Danger Room repaired you're getting the lower levels for now, until I'm sure it's working perfectly again." Wolverine says, and gives Vincent a look that says, 'you damage it again and YOU fix it."
They spent the next hour going through the basics, first was the gauntlet, then they had team exercises. At the end of it the New Mutants, where dead tired, well except for Jamie who had enough energy to spare, and Vincent was hardly even sweating.
"Well that was fun, so now what?" Vince said with a huge smile on his face to the others.
Bobby spoke up first, "Now we go back to sleep for a few hours and wake up at noon."
The other nodding in agreement and shuffled off to their rooms. Vincent looked around and saw only Jamie around. "Hey want to get some breakfast J?"
Jamie's face lit up. Being the youngest no one really wanted to spend any time him, so he grabbed any chance to be included. "Sure."
"Great let me shower and change and I'll meet you in the kitchen okay?"
"Sure thing I think I'll change too, this stuff feels kind of weird when it gets wet." Jamie said while looking at his uniform.
"Alright I'll see you there." And Vince was gone in a black and red blur off to his room.
Jamie arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later to find Vincent already there getting out bowls for cereal. "You know everyone likes to sleep in on the weekends, so you don't have to worry about making breakfast for the others like you and Miss Ororo usually do."
Vincent looked over at Jamie. "Really? Oh okay then." He took out only two bowls "cereal okay for you J?"
"Sure, but I can I ask you something?"
"Fire away Jamie?"
"How come you sometimes call me J, usually people just call me kid, shorty, short stuff, or even little guy, but you don't?
Vincent turned around to face Jamie. "Well I can tell you didn't really like those names so I decided to call you something else that wouldn't remind you that you're the youngest."
Jamie thought about that. He really hated being the youngest, no one really took him seriously or only saw him as a kid, but Vincent seemed to see that it bothered him and was trying to make him feel like he wasn't such a kid.
Jamie smiled up at him as he brought over the milk and cereal. "Thanks, and I like it that you call me J some times, you think I could call you Vince at times?"
Vincent smiled at the kid. "Sure thing." He began to pour himself some cereal, he really liked Jamie, he reminded him of a few kids he knew from the orphanage, and especially of Benny.
He missed then all terribly, he missed being around them and being the 'big brother' as they called him. He always liked making others feel better, most likely because it made him happy and that was something he tried to be a lot, but it wasn't easy for him.
His life had been hard and his memories always seemed to haunt him, so at times he was really depressed, but didn't show it. He guessed helping others and being the 'big brother' to people younger than him because no one was there to do it for him, and he wanted others not to have to go through life without it like he had.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a certain blue teleporter who had just popped up right next to Vincent.
"Damn Kurt, give a guy a heart attack!" Vince said while holding his chest.
"Oops, sorry mein friend, I didn't zink anyone vas here yet." Kurt apologized.
"It's okay, I just wish you could give a guy a heads up when you do that is all. What are you doing up so early anyways, Jamie told me everyone likes to sleep in on the weekends?"
Kurt had grabbed a bowl for himself and was starting to get the cereal for himself "For breakfast vhat else. I never miss a meal, and me and Jamie usually hang out on a Saturday anyvay."
Vincent cooked an eyebrow "Really? Doing what?"
Kurt smiled at Vincent "How about we show you after breakfast."
*** About an hour later Rogue had finally gotten out of bead and was heading downstairs to beat out the breakfast crowd that could show up at any time.
On her way down the stairs she heard voices coming from the living room, she knew who it was those two were always up at this time, but she stopped when she though she heard a third person with them.
She went over to the doorway and saw both Kurt and Jamie doing their usual tradition of watching Saturday morning cartoons, but was surprised to see Vincent there watching with him.
Kurt had noticed Rogue by the door. "Hey Rogue good morning"
"Morning Fuzzy, what's Vincent doin' here Ah'd thought that only you two are up this early for toons, and aren' ya a little old for that Vince?" Rogue asked of them.
Vince just shrugged while not turning away from the TV. "Well these guys offered to allow me to hang out with them, and as for being too old, this is kind of just my way of making up for a lousy childhood."
At first Rogue thought he was kidding but at a closer look she could see that he was no longer looking at the TV, but had a far away stare going, and even though that he still had a smile on, the rest of his face was the complete opposite.
She turned around back to the kitchen, when she heard them taking again.
"Hey guys after this you mind if we watch one of my favorites?" Vince asked
"Sure vhat?" Kurt asked.
"Samurai Jack."
She could hear Kurt laughing at that, "Vhy doesn't zat surprise me. Sure vhy not."
*** It was later in the afternoon and all the students were finally up, some for the second time that day.
Vincent was getting bored again, he didn't feel like playing any video games, and everyone seemed to be doing something, most of them were either in the pool, or in the Rec. room, Jamie was talking to his parents, Kitty had gone to the mall again, to meet up with Amy, so Vincent decided to go out for a walk.
He got to the door and saw Rogue was leaving too. "Meeting someone?" he asked her.
Rogue stopped and turned around to see who it was. "Na, Ah'm just goin' out to a place Ah like to go to, you?"
"Just bored so I thought I'd just go for a walk, mind if I join you, that is unless this is one of those places you like to go off to be alone or something."
Rogue thought about it for a moment, she decided that this might be the time to find out more about this guy, everyone knew that he had some kind of mysterious past, and never really liked to talk about himself, so this would be the perfect opportunity to find out more.
"Sure Ah guess, Ah could use the company" She lied.
"Cool, thanks." And they walked off, but little did they know that in the air above them a small flying mechanical camera was following them.
They continued to the center of Bayville, where all the major stores were located, they came up to a coffee shop and when Rogue entered, he followed.
Vince looked around, "Not bad" which it wasn't there were a few people in, some good seats still free, it wasn't too busy yet they seemed to be still doing alright.
"This place is alright, but Ah prefer this other place, but this one is closer, and not as crowded." She told him. "You like cappuccinos?"
"Never really tried them, I'm more of a coffee kind of guy, especially since there was a Tim Horton's near my neighborhood." Vince noticed the blank stare at the name Tim Horton's. "It's like a Starbucks but only they serve coffee, and it's a lot cheaper."
"Oh, well Ah don't really think they serve coffee here."
"Well alright since I could use some caffeine, I'll trust you to pick for me."
"Alright Ah'll get the drinks, you get us a table."
Rogue went to get a couple of drinks, and saw that Vince had picked a table with two chairs by a window, she walk over to him and laid down the drinks.
She watching take a sip of his drink "Is it alright?" she asked him.
"Yeah this is pretty good eh. You might just get me off of coffee with this stuff. So you take everyone else to this place or am I this first?"
"Well Ah did try to take Kurt here once but he didn't like it much." She said.
Vince took another sip of his drink, before his next question that had been bugging him for awhile now, but didn't know why "Rogue I've noticed that you and Kurt seem pretty close, I was wondering why that is."
Both Rogue's eyebrows shot up. But then it dawned on her that no one had told him that Kurt was her brother. She was about to tell him but waited until Vincent was taking his next sip.
She had a smile on her face just picturing his reaction. "Well ya see we're close because he's ma brother."
Vincent nearly choked on his drink then, and after a few coughs was able to talk again. "What, what do you mean brother?!"
Rogue nearly lost it there and almost burst out laughing. "Kurt's biological mother adopted meh, that's why Ah'm not blue or German."
"Oh" Vince blinked a couple of times "No one ever tells me anything. So who's Kurt's mother then?"
"Actually you've already met her, she's Mystique"
"WHAT?! You mean that blue bi-I mean witch that broke into the mansion?" Vince could barley believe she was their mother.
"You could say it you know, bitch, she is one." Rogue's face had turned sour at the name of her 'mother'.
"Yeah well, I was brought up not to swear in front of little kids and ladies."
Rogue nearly laughed at that. "Yeah well, Ah've been called a lit of things and 'lady' ain't one of them."
Vince looked at her then as if seeing something there that wasn't before. "You don't give yourself enough credit Rogue."
She was taken aback by that, was that a compliment or he flirting with her? She could feel her cheeks getting slightly warm.
***
Sinister watched them through the window from his spy drone. This was the perfect opportunity to test him with only that girl there. He turned on a communication device then.
"Juggernaut, I have him I'm sending you to him, he's in a coffee shop by the window oh and remember don't go easy on him."
"You don't have to worry about that" came Juggernaut's voice over the line.
The Juggernaut was currently enroot to the target via special cargo chopper that was stationed just outside of Bayville.
***
Rogue and Vincent were starting to enjoy each other's company, they talked awhile, Rogue asked him what Toronto was like, and his life there, he was pretty forthcoming, and she learned a lot.
She learned about his two old friends, the orphanage, his old master, even the events that brought him to the X-Men. She at first didn't like the way he talked about this 'Mary' girl. She wasn't sure why, it's not like she was jealous of her.....or was she?....no she wasn't, Vincent was just....a friend.
Then when he got the point of how he tried to make things right between them she was furious at her. Here was this really good guy who tried to safe their friendship and she threw it back at him.
She soon realized that she was seeing another part of Vincent that she hadn't seen yet. Normally he was like Kurt, joking and smiling, then she remembered that time she and the others caught him training.
She saw the part of him that was hurting inside and the anger there, a few times see could see his pain about his mysterious past, like the scars, now as he was talking, it was like he had dropped the mask of the joker.
Now he seemed serious but also relaxed, more mature and for the first time she really looked into his eyes and noticed that there was no innocence there. Like he had seen things she couldn't understand, and some of the things he had said, like that time in the Danger Room was starting to make sense.
Vincent didn't know why exactly he was letting it out like this, why he was telling her anything she asked for. But he found that she really listened to him, never interrupting him.
Maybe he was actually starting to really like this girl. She spoke her mind, didn't back down from anybody, independent, not to mention really beautiful. Wait did he just think she was beautiful. He kept telling himself that she was just a friend.
Although as they talked, he noticed that he kept staring into those green eyes of hers. And had to force himself not to. Then suddenly out of the corner of his eye he caught something moving really fast at them from the window.
He turned quickly and got up, and shouted to Rogue before he even new what was coming at them. "Rogue GET DOWN!"
Imagine his surprise as he saw it as a car flying through the air at him. It smashed through the window and right at Vince. Luckily with his super- speed not only was his speed increased but also his perception of time and reflexes tended to be altered.
It was the only way he was able to catch the car. Unfortunately the car was being through too fast and too hard to stop and he did his best to alter its bath so that no was hurt.
Unfortunately he had to be in front of the car the entire time, even when it slammed him into the wall. Rogue had gotten up and seen Vincent take the car and get sandwiched between it and the wall, she turned around to the window and what she saw chilled her to the bone.
It was the Juggernaut.
'Oh god no not him' Rogue silently prayed. 'PROFESSOR, JEAN, THE JUGGERNAUT IS HERE HE'S ATTACKING US!' she thought as loud as she could hoping one of the telepaths would hear her.
*Rogue I hear you.* Xavier said to her in her mind. *I'm sending the team there as soon as possible*
Rogue hoped they were fast because the Juggernaut was coming right at her.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't one of Charles' little kids, I may be here for you boyfriend over there, but if I can take some of you punks out that's a nice bonus too." He was able to grab Rogue by the throat and pull her out through the hole in the wall that used to be a window.
Rogue was terrified, not only couldn't she absorb him because of her glove still on, but she was worried that Vincent might have been hurt.
Rogue could feel his hand tightening around her throat and she couldn't breath, she was about to pass out when this blur came out of nowhere, it was followed by this huge bang sound, the next thing she knew she was on the ground.
She felt someone gently helping her up, and when she could focus again saw it was Vincent, he seemed fine except that his shirt had several rips in it. "Are you Okay?"
She could hear the concern in his voice. "Yeah Ah'll-Ah'll be fahne." Her voice was slightly horse from the injury of her throat.
"YOU LITTLE RUNT!"
They both turned around to see the Juggernaut beginning to get up, and he was obliviously pissed off.
"Rogue did you get through to the Professor?" She turned to look at him, and saw another side to Vincent. His face was like it was set in stone, his eyes looked like they were on fire, staring right at the Juggernaut with no fear.
"Yeah, he'll be here soon."
"Rogue I want you to help get the people away from here, I can't go full out if I have to worry about people in the way."
Rogue was shocked "Are ya insane? Ya think ya can beat him?"
He never looked away from the Juggernaut, who had slowly gotten to his feet. "I don't have to beat him, only stall him till the others get here." She could hear the determination in his voice.
"Get those latches off to get his helmet off, the Professor can't get into his mind with it on."
"Thanks" and he started walking off to face the Juggernaut.
The Juggernaut couldn't believe the kid was just walking right up to him. The kid was tougher than he though, and either had balls or was suicidal, wither way he didn't really care.
"Kid there is a reason I'm called the Juggernaut and your going to find out the HARD way" He sneered
"Yeah well first off you don't through cars into buildings, that makes me mad, but you also don't treat a lady like you did and THAT pisses me off! Your about to find out why I'm called MAYHEM!" Then Mayhem launched at super-speed at the Juggernaut, and slammed his fist into his gut.
Unfortunately it didn't have the effect he hoped for. He heard the Juggernaut grunt, but looked unfazed. 'Ah crap, this is going to hurt.' Was his only thought as Juggernaut garbed his face and threw Vince into the street with such force that left a groove into the road and tore up his clothes even more.
Vincent got up quickly, luckily for him the Juggernaut may be a powerhouse, but he was as slow as a turtle. He launch himself right back at him, but at the last second shoot straight up.
Juggernaut looked up just in time to see crimson energy coming right at him. The blast was powerful enough to tear up all of the street around Juggernaut in several meters.
Vince hovered above looking to see through all the smoke, he knew it wouldn't be that easy. And was proven right as the smoke cleared he could see the Juggernaut, staring angrily right at him.
'This is not going to be fun. How the hell can I even make a dent in this creep?'
Juggernaut went over and grabbed another car and threw it at him. Vince couldn't just dodge the car it might hit someone, so once again he was forced to play catch with the Juggernaut.
He caught it effortlessly and decided to return the favor and send it right back at him. It his him dead on but he just punched right through it.
Vince flew down to him and stated to hammer as hard as he could against him. He was doing quite well until Juggernaut got a lucky shot in Vincent's gut.
Vince double over in pain, he hadn't felt pain in a long time. He didn't miss it. He looked up in time to see Juggernaut smash one of his huge fists into Mayhem's face. The force sent him slamming into the ground.
It didn't end there, Juggernaut then started to stomp on Vincent's head several times. When he finished Mayhem's head looked like it was in a small crater. Juggernaut grabbed his head and brought him up to his face.
Vincent's face even after that abuse had a few cuts, and his nose was slightly bleeding and his lip was split. But what shocked the Juggernaut was that his face was more angry than in agonizing pain.
"My turn chrome-dome" Mayhem said through gritted teeth and with blinding speed sent a double kick at the Juggernaut and sent him into a nearby store.
Vincent decided to take the breather while his opponent got up and back for more. Where the HELL are they taking the cynic route? Uh-oh tall dark and gruesome is getting up, I'd better get that helmet off.
Juggernaut was livid, there was no way some little KID was going to throw him around like that, he was the JUGGERNAUT, he was unstoppable, he wouldn't loose to this little freak.
He got out from the store and looked around for the kid. He saw him there in the middle of the street, but as soon as he got close the kid seemed to disappear, the next thing he knew he heard four 'clink' sounds.
The latches! The little punk actually got all four off. He'd have to finish this before Charles got here. Suddenly he felt a weight on his shoulders, and then his helmet was off.
He looked up to see the kid with his own helmet in his hands, put it was turned around with the outside facing him, then at a speed he couldn't comprehend his own helmet was sent into his own face.
The Juggernaut staggered back, from the blow, his hands went to his face. When he pulled them away he saw blood. His nose was actually bleeding! This kid actually got him to BLEED!
"You little Fre-URG!" He never finished his sentence as his helmet was hurtled into his gut. He was on one knee and looked over at him, the shear rage evident on his face.
Suddenly he felt a pain from the back of his head, and suddenly getting weaker, he swung and arm out wildly and felt it hit someone. He felt slightly groggy as he got up and turn around.
It was the girl, the one that could absorb powers, that was why he felt weak and the fact the girl was getting up so easily after getting hit.
Rogue had gotten as many of the people away, but when she saw the opening on the Juggernaut she took it. She absorbed as much as she could, but it wasn't enough he was still standing.
She ran at the Juggernaut and planted a solid blow to his chest, Juggernaut staggered back and turned around to be met by another punch this time to his face by Vincent.
As he took a few steps back he could feel his consciousness slipping, the girl draining him and their combined attacks were weakening him. The next thing he knew they had both upper-cut him and he sailed through the air several meters away, landing hard.
He got up shaking his head, trying to clear his mind, there was their roaring sound that was distracting him. He looked up to see the X-Jet overhead.
'Oh no, not him not now, I have to get my-ARGHH!' Juggernaut clutched at his head from Xavier's psychic attack, then his world went dark.
Rogue and Vincent looked up and were glad to see their friends had finally made it.
As X-Jet landed, the X-men followed by the adults come out. Scott looked over the destruction, and then at Vincent. One of the legs of his pants where torn off, and there was barley anything even left of his shirt, not to mention a score of cuts, and bruises.
"Man you look like you went through a battlefield Vincent." As Scott looked him over again.
"I wish, I think I'd prefer a battlefield than going up against THAT guy again." As he jerked a thumb over to Juggernaut's body.
"Yes I'm sure." Xavier said as he wheeled himself over to them. "But I'm surprised that Juggernaut would attack just you two, last time he went straight for the manor."
"Actually Professor, he was only after Vincent." Rogue told him.
Vincent did a double take at that, he didn't know he was the target.
"When Ah absorbed his memories Ah saw that he was bein' paid to attack Vincent, for some kind of 'test'. He was workin' for someone name Sinister, unfortunately I don't know more than that."
Xavier took this in. Now it seemed that there was a new threat to his students, and was the incident with Mystique connected? He didn't like where this was going and needed to know more, he had to prepare for this new threat.
No one noticed that the drones overhead had gone, Sinister knew that Xavier might find out of his existence, it was a calculated risks, but anyway he now had a deeper understanding of number 7's powers.
He was impressed that the youth had done so well, and it was obvious that he was going to have to revise his plans, but luckily not too much.
NEXT UP CHAPTER: 11 DOUBLE DATES
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