"You are, like, so sluggish this morning, Rogue!" Kitty said as the grouchy
Southern bell climbed into the back seat of Jean's SUV, next to Kurt.
"Ah didn't get a lot of sleep last night, so sue me." She folded her arms across her chest in her famous "I'm-pissed-off-so-leave-me-alone" pose. Unfortunately, Jean was to busy watching the road to notice.
"Why couldn't you sleep?" Jean's voice was so up-beat that it made Rogue want to hurl.
"Why do you care?" Rogue snapped.
"I was just curious," Jean said angrily. "You don't have to get all moody."
"Ah'll show ya moody," Rogue growled.
"Calm down, meine Schwester!" Kurt said, trying to keep them from getting into an all-out chick fight. "Ve're all friends here!" he pointed out.
Rogue rolled her eyes. As much as she loved Kurt, she hated his little heart-to-heart, we-are-the-world sentimentalities. And yet, aggravating as he could be, Rogue knew that Kurt was the only reason she hadn't gone totally postal on any of the mansions inhabitants.
When they pulled into the school parking lot, Rogue was the last one to leave the car. She did not head straight for the main entrance with everyone else, but instead discreetly made her way to the back of the building. She stood there for a few minutes, watching the edge of the woods intently. Rogue glanced at her watch. Five seconds to go.four.three.two.
"Waiting long?"
Rogue looked up at the man now standing in front of her. He was several inches taller than her, putting him at about 5'9." His face was young, that of someone in the early thirties, yet it was worn with years of hard decision-making. The mouth was set in a thin line that seemed to be burned into his features, as permanent as the mark left by a branding iron. The nose had a bump in it, as though it had been broken in the past. The gray eyes were not vibrant or bright, just dull, staring orbs. They betrayed no sign of life, other than constantly scanning the area. If eyes are the window to the soul, Rogue had serious doubts about whether his existed. Atop it all sat an untidy mass of thick, black hair.
He was clad in a blue t-shirt and slacks, just like most of the male teachers at Bayville High. Not that he would ever be mistaken for a teacher. No teacher in the world had his way of moving both surely and cautiously, or his commanding presence. This man was not a teacher. He was a soldier.
"The project went as expected," Rogue said. He nodded.
"Good. I trust that the item is secure?" Rogue nodded.
"In that case, the Collective has a new assignment for you."
"Ah'm listening."
"When you obtained the item last night, I'm sure you noticed the black spots within it? There is evidence to suggest that these spots are a code, holding within them a power unknown to modern man. There is also evidence suggesting that another device exists that can decode the message. It is called the Keystone, and is believed to be a small diamond with a golden letter "K." And before you ask how to tell the original from a forgery," he said as Rogue opened her mouth to do just that, "the K is not on the stone, but within it, just like the black spots. The Collective wishes you to find the Keystone. Now," he said as the six-minute bell rang, "You need to get to class."
A/N: Wow, reviews already! You tolerate me! You really, really tolerate me!
Ishandahalf: I'm glad you think its spiffy. I hope this chapter is spiffy too.
Panther Nesmith: I love your name. (and no, I'm not just sayin' that to get a good review.or am I? You'll never know!) Thanks for the vote of confidance.
"Ah didn't get a lot of sleep last night, so sue me." She folded her arms across her chest in her famous "I'm-pissed-off-so-leave-me-alone" pose. Unfortunately, Jean was to busy watching the road to notice.
"Why couldn't you sleep?" Jean's voice was so up-beat that it made Rogue want to hurl.
"Why do you care?" Rogue snapped.
"I was just curious," Jean said angrily. "You don't have to get all moody."
"Ah'll show ya moody," Rogue growled.
"Calm down, meine Schwester!" Kurt said, trying to keep them from getting into an all-out chick fight. "Ve're all friends here!" he pointed out.
Rogue rolled her eyes. As much as she loved Kurt, she hated his little heart-to-heart, we-are-the-world sentimentalities. And yet, aggravating as he could be, Rogue knew that Kurt was the only reason she hadn't gone totally postal on any of the mansions inhabitants.
When they pulled into the school parking lot, Rogue was the last one to leave the car. She did not head straight for the main entrance with everyone else, but instead discreetly made her way to the back of the building. She stood there for a few minutes, watching the edge of the woods intently. Rogue glanced at her watch. Five seconds to go.four.three.two.
"Waiting long?"
Rogue looked up at the man now standing in front of her. He was several inches taller than her, putting him at about 5'9." His face was young, that of someone in the early thirties, yet it was worn with years of hard decision-making. The mouth was set in a thin line that seemed to be burned into his features, as permanent as the mark left by a branding iron. The nose had a bump in it, as though it had been broken in the past. The gray eyes were not vibrant or bright, just dull, staring orbs. They betrayed no sign of life, other than constantly scanning the area. If eyes are the window to the soul, Rogue had serious doubts about whether his existed. Atop it all sat an untidy mass of thick, black hair.
He was clad in a blue t-shirt and slacks, just like most of the male teachers at Bayville High. Not that he would ever be mistaken for a teacher. No teacher in the world had his way of moving both surely and cautiously, or his commanding presence. This man was not a teacher. He was a soldier.
"The project went as expected," Rogue said. He nodded.
"Good. I trust that the item is secure?" Rogue nodded.
"In that case, the Collective has a new assignment for you."
"Ah'm listening."
"When you obtained the item last night, I'm sure you noticed the black spots within it? There is evidence to suggest that these spots are a code, holding within them a power unknown to modern man. There is also evidence suggesting that another device exists that can decode the message. It is called the Keystone, and is believed to be a small diamond with a golden letter "K." And before you ask how to tell the original from a forgery," he said as Rogue opened her mouth to do just that, "the K is not on the stone, but within it, just like the black spots. The Collective wishes you to find the Keystone. Now," he said as the six-minute bell rang, "You need to get to class."
A/N: Wow, reviews already! You tolerate me! You really, really tolerate me!
Ishandahalf: I'm glad you think its spiffy. I hope this chapter is spiffy too.
Panther Nesmith: I love your name. (and no, I'm not just sayin' that to get a good review.or am I? You'll never know!) Thanks for the vote of confidance.