Acid & Base

Chapter Eleven: Black, White, Grey, Clear

Author: Icy Flame

"So do ya suppose we can actually get out?" Neutral asked in slight awe, she was the youngest out of the four. Flicking her hair over her shoulder she grinned toothily at the two, looking back and forth between them.

"It shouldn't be ta hard."

"As much fun as talking here is." Wanda continued, motioning for them to carry on their route out of the building. Nodding in agreement both girls looked abashed and followed behind Base. Pushing past the cobwebs and spiders Rogue mumbled about spring-cleaning. Near the end of their escape to freedom voices started to vibrate from below, some oddly familiar voices.

"Shush, I wanna hear this." Neutral breathed, pressing her ear to the thin cool metal border. It'd been such a long time since she'd heard anything but the cold monotone of the scientist, these voices were like a song to her ears. Acid and Base paused in their journey, attempting to hear the conversation on the other side. The cool surface upon her ear made Wanda shiver, breaking her concentration for a moment before she hear.

"So it seems that you are quite the force to be reckoned with young sir. It is odd that you have come to posses such an array of powers, even for a mutant. Have you ever considered working for the benefit for mankind?"

"What are you gibbering on about?"

"Join us., you'll have more power than you ever imagined of. Anything and everything will be yours. Money, fame, power, cars, houses, girls or boys if that's your way." He offered, glancing at the boys fair bone structure.

"Are you implying that I'm-" Pietro began but never finished as the ventilation system above them gave way to three figures. With a series of moves that would make an Olympic gymnast envy them, the trio landed on their feet. Even Kurt looked slightly impressed at the twists they performed.

Neutral grinned jauntily at them, saluting the other mutants before accepting a scowl at the C.A.I.N. operative. Emitting a low growl she exchanged a quick glance with the other two agents. Exchanging silent signs they formulated a plan to take their cruel master out, forever.

"Say g'night bastard." Rogue hissed before they pounced on the man.

He looked fearful and screamed as they pounded on him. Scarlet Witch was the first to act. Wanda drew forth several interesting powers while Neutral assisted. Rogue, not possessing her necklace went for the purely physical revenge by beating the tar out of the man. Pulling her fist back she cocked it and crunched it into his ribs, cackling at the snap sounds that accompanied her movements. Neutral began concentrating on her physic gifts stored in her bracelet, after tapping into them she sent out a blasting psychic shot at his temple he shrieked in agony.

A dog sized shadow emerged from Wanda's palms. It took shape and formed into a thick dark energy wolf. Sneering at the man she began twitching her hands and mouthing silent words. He uselessly shook his head and moaned. Making more drastic movements Wanda called forth more power into the canine form. He tried to buck Rogue off his broken body as the wolf neared, with the sheer determination of a doomed man who had nothing to lose. She held on ruthlessly, all those danger room sessions weren't just child's play after all! Neutral prepared to shoot one more physic blast at the defenseless man.. Rogue cocked her fist and grinned manically at the other two.

"One"

            Her fist connected with his temple.

"Two"

            Neutral blasted his mind with another discharge of psychic energy.

"Three"

            Wanda allowed the shadow to form over take his puny body.

All three girls watched as his movements ceased. His eyes went blank as his body twitched. Scarlet Witch's attack seemed to be eating his flesh, melting it away leaving only bones. Going to the fourth companion, they saw Void standing stock still. She shook her ebony locks out of her face as Neutral flicked her white bangs back.

Void whispered one word, "Nox" and the bleached bones ceased to exist. Turning to the other girls she hid a smirk.

"Mission complete."

Void, Base, Acid, and Neutral all shared smiles. Rushing together into a group hug a wave of hysterical laughing broke out between them. Years of being held prisoner were over, their emotions broke like a damn and over flooded their inhibitors. Tears dropped from their faces liberally as they hugged each other tighter, not wishing to let go. They were finally free of their glided cage. No more missions, no more harsh punishments for failures, nothing, they were finally free.

"So we…we're…"

"Yes" Wanda answered the unspoken question, taking her hand and gently giving it a squeeze of reassurance.

Some one cleared their throat and the four teenagers turned to their audience. The X-Men and Brotherhood stood their puzzled tremendously. Somehow, these four were able to take out a man that none of them could even dent. The silence was like a chasm between the groups.

Scott stepped forward and pointed at them, frowning.

"You have a lot of explaining to do."

~ X- Mansion ~

"Wait a sec, you're telling me that you all got sucked into this thing where you were sent around to collect powers and take people out?" Kitty gaped.

"To put it most crudely, you would be correct. The four of us were selected for our genetics and used as C.A.I.N. agents." Void replied icily, polishing off her rice.

Everyone stared at them blankly. It was a lot to take in and the girls explained it so calmly, as if they were discussing the weather. It came to them so ordinary that it was unnatural. After finishing their meal they all sat back and waited for what would happen next. Xavier took the tail of the conversation and started his own line of questioning.

"So what plans do you ladies have thus far?"

Void blinked, unsure how to answer the question and turned to her counter parts. They hadn't actually thought it out that far and told Xavier that much. He just nodded, having expected it. Scott stared at them in shock, getting read to say something when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. Looking up he saw Fred shaking his head, nodding his consent to keep quite he turned back to the professor.

"Yes well you are all welcome to stay here." They looked ready to protest when he held up his hand. "But this is your decision and not one to be made lightly. I believe Rogue can show you to some rooms where you can rest for the night."

Rogue just got out of her chair and led them out into the hallway and up the stairs. It had been a full and sapping day. Neutral already lagging behind in exhaustion but seemed determined to stay awake until she found a bed. Void still seemed to be in shock of their sudden freedom.

"Ya'll just got one more set of stairs, Ah promise." Rogue pointed to a door that was unmarked and opened it up for them. Six beds lined the walls, three on each side. Dressers were in between each with a chest at the end of the beds. It had the bare necessities and was often only used for guests.

"Ah'll come an' get ya'll in the morning. G'night." Rogue turned to leave when Neutral tugged on her sleeve.

"Is it really real?" Her eyes wide and teary, she seemed so fragile at that moment.

Smiling at the younger girl, Rogue just nodded her head and smiled. Returning the smile, she got into the bed in the middle and barely had her shoes off before passing out. The other two followed suit and Rogue returned to her own room that she shared with Kitty.

~

"I still don't get it Professor. How could they be secret mutant agents who went under such harsh training and yet forget what to do after they've achieved their goal?" Scott scoffed, pointing out the major loophole in their thinking. It was weird enough that there were mutants out there but to be employed by agencies he could only imagine what people would try to do now. If they really didn't have enough training to figure out the last sequence in something that obviously meant a lot to them they'd be hazardous to those around them. If this was the situation it was the X-Men's duty to make sure that no innocents were injured due to humanity's lack of logic.

Charles looked disappointed at the conclusions that his pupil had drawn. Sadly Xavier sighed and was about to respond when Logan beat him to it.

"Ya just don't get it Shades. It ain't that they forgot the 'happily ever after' its that it never was a reality."

"Why waste the time with coming up with the plan then?" He continued, seemingly blatant in his single-mindedness. Why waste there time with something so trivial, there are so many other ways they could employ their skills.

"It's hope, when their ain't nothing left in reality you gotta rely on hope …that one day it'll change." Todd put in surprisingly, his eyes haunted by the past.

 The X-Men looked oddly at Todd Tolensky, he'd always been that punk smart ass kid that you'd wish would just go away and he was all the sudden philosophical? The few members of the brotherhood weren't all to surprised, living in the kind of environments of their previous homes made everyone a bit theoretical. Lance placed a hand on the amphibian like boy's shoulder, squeezing gently in reassurance.

"I believe it has been a very fulfilling day for all, it would be a good idea to follow the girls' example and turn in." Xavier had hoped to end this on a better note, thinking perhaps to leave everyone more optimistic about the events.

~~~

Ok sorry for the long wait, this got deleted like five times by my dumb ass father. 'I needed space on the computer' blah.

I'm looking for names for  Void and Neutral! I mean Acid and Base are also known as Rogue and Wanda so realistically speaking those two should have real names also. Feel free to send in any ideas in reviews or emails. Thank you for all your support I promise never to have such a gaping hole in the updates! I just been getting a new computer so everything was put on hold for a few months unfortunately.

Thanks everyone who reviewed last time!

Later yo,

                    Icy