A Brave New World
Disclaimer: All characters recognisably Marvels belong to them, the story to me.
Elspeth gently touched Bren's mind again, soothing his turmoil as only
a world class telepath could; but really wondering if she knew what
she was doing. She couldn't remember just who had shown her, but it
seemed to be working, his breathing steadied and he relaxed against
her shoulder. At least she was no longer in danger of becoming "lost"
in his mind. What happened then, Sunny? You were telling me about
the girls....
Well, needless to say, they all took off. Girls too... No thank you--not
even an acknowledgement that I was alive. Blast it, Elle, in many ways it's
just like before, only this time, I'm not nursing 'em through broken hearts,
I'm saving lives. censored it, I didn't ask to be "different" back there
or here, either. I used be a 20 year old university student, who saw the world
though the eyes of a person at least twice my age... I had this gift of
insight, so keen that it scared me the way I could read a person from the
way they walked to the moment they opened their mouth, it was like I could
guess pretty much what they were going to talk about. Women took refuge
with me while I helped them get over stuff, kinda restoring their faith
in the male species, I had a will like the Rock of Gibraltar. I could
have done something sorta like that "Jedi mind trick" with some thought,
I mean, I could've had any of those girls, but I never thought using my
"gift" for personal use was right... he lamented, burying his haggard face
in his hands, Hell no, I was always trying to be the "good guy", who never
took advantage... The one who always tried to do the "right thing", regardless
of the effect it would have on me. Now look at me! Here I go again, with a
different "gift". I could use it to become rich and powerful beyond my
wildest dreams, you something inside own't let me do something like that...
It just woulnd't be Right.... He slouched down into the chair, tears
quietly sliding down his pale cheeks. He felt pretty damned hopeless, and
he wasn't sure if he could cope with this kind of "gift".
It's called 'concience', Bren... Get this, maybe we're different for a
reason we can't understand? And who was it used to say, "who consoles the
counselor?" A fellow 'counselor', dearheart. The Goddess moves in mysterious
ways... Just maybe we are different enough, powerful enough to make a
difference here, where others might have failed! You and I seem to be
kindred spirits, who happen to have been granted the means to DO something,
become part of something greater than we were. I have faith that She put
me here for a reason, I may never know why, but I'm going to keep being
who I am; even if I can't exactly remember who eithr of 'us' was. I've got
the memories of two people stuck in my head, I can't tell which one of 'us'
if either of us was real, but I think 'we'd' both do the same thing...
My body may be alien, but my psyche will alwasy be humane. Maybe, now that
I'm a real telepath, I can heal some of those minds out there, and change
those of the ones who do wrong.. Elle contintued, trying to infect Bren
with a little of her incurable optimism, I dunno, it's like, now we've got
the powers to do things we couldn't beofre; and some part of us--our
concience--
compels us to do something, because we are capable of things that others
aren't. It's called concience, and we'd never forgive ourselves if we didn't
try...
Reddened skyblue eyes tentatively rose to meet hers again; a faint, cynical
smile crossing his lips. She smoothed Bren's dishwater blond bangs out of his
eyes and smiled at him, Make you a deal, Bren: We may not have known each
other that well "back when", but starting right now... we're the only friend
the other's got at the moment. We both know we're going to do alot of other
people, it's just who we are. But we watch out for each other, and be there
when the other doesn't want to talk about it whatevers, we talk about it any
way, and keep eachother from giving too much of ourselves. We watch each
other's backs, and help each other stay sane, no matter what happens, we
stick this out, together. Good and bad...
Bren looke up at the regal young woman sitting next to him, as a smile crept
across his face, Okay. Deal. he replied. For a moment he did't care if Elle
wasn't quite the person he remembered, she was simply the most beautiful
person alive... he was about to kiss her, when something cleared it's
throat"....
She'd been in the kitchen, talking to Bren about some of the strange things
she could actually do with her mental talents, and comparing notes on just how he
got thru. House's rather frantic chatter disrupted the telepathic conversation, --Hate
to be a bother, by the bye; I'm picking up a metahuman intruder in flight. He's on
an intersept course for our location. I'm afraid I can't do much to deter it, since Joey
neglected to repair the defense grid before he left for the weekend.--
"Never mind, House! I think Sunshine and I can handle this..." she winked at
Bren'soutraged expression, as she shrugged out of her sweatshirt; revealing her rather
impressive build. She posed for a moment, and laughed, "Time to see if the
old bod's up to specs..."
He grimaced at her reference to his recently aquired blonde hair and blue
eyes... But she was right, this was also his chance to see just what he was capable
of, since House had proved he wasn't exactly human, either. Maybe his inexplicable
kinetic bolt thingies would prove useful, afterall?
They stood on the deck, listeing to House's telemetry; while Elspeth scanned
the area for the unfamiliar thought patterns. His sharpened senses heard the faint
hum of the focusing mechanism in her psiber-eyes, as they scanned the beach head.
Funny, that she didn't even think her visual acuity any odder than her drasticly increased
telepathic powers. He knew he was going to take a hell of alot longer accepting
everything; and somehow this "waiting for something to happen" schtick was
overly familiar, and extremely discomfiting.
Something 'snapped' inside her head, as she got a mindlock on the 'bogie',
and her eyes focused in, giving her a it's distance and velocity on the HUD. Something
instinctual took over, ash she pushed off the deck, rusing headlong to meet
their uninvited guest...
The "gears" of that old Motley Crue sone began to grind through her head, as she
poured on the speed, feeling the adrenaline singing fire in her veins...
When I get get high, I get high on speed...
Top fuel funny car's a drug for me...
My heart, my heart....Kickstart my heart....
Skydive naked from an aeroplane...
Gonna live my life in outer space...
My heart... my heart...Kickstart my heart... Hope it never stops...
The wind streaked past her, and somewhere in her subconcious, she was really
surprised that her skin wasn't being torn off by the friction!! But screw that, the
high Gee turn caused her to be momentarily lightheaded, and the sudden rush of blood and a
drenaline brought everything back into prisstine focus. It trickeled down
the link into Bren's mind, along with a rush that was better than sex, or even her
memories of playing live in a heavy metal band in front of hundreds of screaming
fans, or any chemical high he might imagine...
Bren laughed as he imagined the sight... A feeling of sheepishness flowed
down the mindlink, Oh (censored)!!
He was knocked off his feet, as he felt the aftershock'svirbration..."That's sure some kick
you've got there, my lady Elspeth!" he grinned, as he was blown
off the deck.Her boom sent the intruder reeling, trying to recover his equalibrium, and
it shattered some of House's windows...Bren cursed under his breath, "Damn, babe, you
always knewhow to make an enterence, but that's one hell of an exit..."
Concern flooded his thoughts as he realised the 'link wasn't there anymore,
Elle?? Talk to me damn it, Elspeth!, he mind-muttered as he searched the sky for
her...
Elspeth pulled up, slowing and turning...she'd broken the man'sconcentration, and now
she reached into his mind, and 'shouted' at the top of her telepathic lungs!
The stranger's mind was afire...she hadn't realised just how powerful her
'shout' was, but whoever he was, he was going to leave a mighty nice crater in the pure white sand!
She figured if this bloke could shrug off the physical effects of a sonic
shockwave, then he could jolly well use the beach for brakes...
Bren, he's going to crash into the beach...If he get up, blast him; 'cause
he seems pretty tough. We can ask questions later... she 'pathed, passing along the
rush of combat.
Understood... he replied, feeling relief flood through him, just don't
kick me down again...
No prob, Sunny. I'm going to follow him in, steer him away from House... Meet
me down there! she replied before she dropped the link.
Her instinctive flight control paid off, as he plowed into the sand, and
skidded almost half a mile before he was stopped by a rather large dune. Elle slowed to a
reasonable speed, as she watched Bren striding down the beach toward their uninvied
guest... The man, however, shook his head as he looked around. He seemed angry as his
eyes locked onto Elspeth, and he started moving toward her...
Brian Braddock didn't have the faintest idea why his twin sister had jsut
attacked him, nor did he recognise the blond man who was heading down the beach,
toward him. And why was his violet haired sister flying?? He tried to cut the fog and
fire from his mind, remembering the last time she'd cut loose on him...
Concentrate, Bren... he thought to himself, as he unleashed a powerful
blast into the sand, creating a sizable rift between Elle and the stranger. Damn, that's
like packing a photon grenade in your back pocket..., he mused as he stared at his
glowing fists and the glass-fused rift...
Brian looked up at her, confusion marring his English goodlooks, "Elisabeth,
what has happened to you?? You're my sister... aren't you?"
Bren moved in closer, "Look dude, you got one chance. Chill out, and
we'll all get outta this in one piece..."
Brian snapped around, "I asked you a question, chum, and I'd advise you
to answer it!" And with that, Brittanic thudded his fists into the
ground, creating a tremor in the sand that knocked Bren feet over
"tailfeathers", rolling him downt he dune...
"censored!!" Bren grumbled as he unleashed another blast, this one
considerably less powerful; but still slamming into the intruder's chest
hard enough to knock him back a few feet.
Elspeth gained altitude, then turned and dove straight toward the large
man. She let gravity do most of the work, counting on her apparent
invulnerability to protect her, and put a thunderous punch into him--
sending him down to the waterline. When she saw that he was still
itching for a rumble, she set down on the beach, and pulled off the
remains of her sweatshirt she'd been wearing over her workout gear.
Her violet eyes, and the glowing "butterfly mask" began to spread over
her pale features, giving her a slightly sinister, otherworldly
expression.
Brian's eyes widened, as he realised the extent of the changes to his
sister...she was a couple of inches taller, and as muscular as those
lovely Yankee ladies on the American Gladiatiors show that Meghan loved
to watch. But most of all, her violet eyes held no signs of recognising
him, none what-so-ever, and she carried herself far differently, like
she was someone else entirely...
Elspeth cracked 12 fingers, and moved in on the stranger...finding her
link with Bren was broken; she decieded to try out House's assessment
of her 'new' body, Who are you, and why do you intrude upon private
property?? she pathed at him.
Elisabeth, don't you remember?? I'm your brother... he thought thru
the link he seemed to share with this woman, What's happened to you??
I've never seen you so....so angry!
The stranger moved toward her, as though he were going to try to
restrain her... Elspeth easily evaded, sensing his intent in mind.
First off, my name is Elspeth! {punch} Second, my kid brother, Misha
is dead... {kick} Third, my twin was Capt. Britain, and he's dead too...
And Bren is the only friend I've got here!
Her last punch knocked him off his feet, but then the stranger tripped
her, pinning her to the sand... I don't want to hurt you, Betsy...
Please, stop fighting me... he plead with her, though it was like
trying to restrian a wildcat...
Elspeth was horridly claustraphobic, and being pinned down caused her
mind to flash back to how Catherine's mother had held her down, beaten
and 'mind-raped' her with sheer hatred... Elle tried to focus past the
fear, and rage. She felt something 'sliding' inside her, as it took a
form both physical and mental...
MY NAME IS ELSPETH!! she cried out, NO one is going to hurt
me, ever again... I. Am. Who. I. Choose. To. Be. Not--what anyone
else wants me to be! And in a burst of strenght, she broke the pin,
threw the stranger off herself, and with another punch--knocked him
down the beach. She was really angry, now; and all the carefully
crafted walls around both sets of memories came crashing down in the
face of her rage...
The two parts of her slipped and flowed, until she was of one mind that
happened to have lived two different, yet hauntingly similar lives...
Elspeth flew down the beach, but the stranger was ready for her, and
body blocked her. But she took the blow, and kept coming...so they
traded blow for blow as her temper flared, and another wall crumbled.
Something part of her remembered...being beaten down by someone called
the Slaymaster, and blinded... Having her mind blasted open against her
will by a mother who never wanted her...the raw pain and crushing weight
of all those minds... their fears, their loves, their desires...
what about her needs?? HER fears???
Who was this person who dared shred her reality to its very foundations?
With an herculean effort, she seperated her from all it the Isles and
over half of Northern Europe... Her thoughts focused, as the masklike
glow faded from around here eyes--a crackling of light around her hands
caught the stranger's attention. He was shocked, as the crackling became
a 'blade' of scintilating amethyst energies...
I am not your sister. I. Am. Elspeth. she declared, I am who and
what I have ever wished to be. Nobody. Not you. Not anyone or anything
else will ever take this away from me. I do not care who you are. You
hurt me! By the Bright Lady--No one will ever hurt me again...
Her thoughts rang in the heads of every psychic sensative on the planet,
leaving them wondering at the primal declaration of independence in the
strange telepath's mindvoince...
Britainic's mind was truly electrified as she impaled him upon it, as
the blade caused every neuron in his brain to fire simulatneously. For
a single instant, the remainder of Elisabeth screamed inside Psylocke...
who instinctively knew that this feeling of a dull, hacking blade in
at the base of her skull; was what it felt like to have her psychic
knife used upon one...and so, Psylocke reveled in the pain, and the
superiority over her victims...
And for that single isntant, Brian felt Elspeth's pain, and understood
her, as his world turned to black.
She watched the stranger fall, the rage draining away as quickly as it
had flooded through her. The glowing 'blade' was still in her hand, as
she looked around for Bren...
Damn! Bren thought, shaking his head, as he mentally searched for
Elle's presence. His head still rang with the power of her projected
emotions and thoughts. The scene replayed through his mind, as he slowly
made his way abck to his feet. Raising his fist, he attempted to send up
a flare of energy, so she could find him--but nothing happened, though
not for his lack of trying.
Mental Note...never make her mad! he reminded himself, as he had
watched the massive intruder slump over. He struggled, eventually
finding the energy to return to his feet, but his legs were quite shaky
but it was sheer determination that carried him over to Elle's side.
He saw her, still standing over her opponant, looking a bit dazed.
"You didn't...um, you know...kill him, did you?" Bren asked, as he
approched her, falling to his knees from the exertion.
She silently shook her head, I still feel his thought patterns, but I
think he'll be making a serious reality check whenever he finally comes
to. I don't know what made me snap like that, Bren... I'm usually so in
control...
"Guess I was't much help..." he quipped, attempting to lighten the mood
as the tried to stand again.
"Huh??" she replied, shaking off her daze, and returning to reality.
"Censored", he growled, punching the sand, "Elle, I'm sorry. I shoulda
been able to help you, and you coulda been seriously fubared..."
Elspeth reached Bren, and sank to her knees beside him, It's okay,
Sunny. I always was tougher than I looked. Don't you dare beat
yourself up over this...you've never really used whatever powers you
inheirited with this 'new' you before. We'll figure it out, dearheart.
I always manage, somehow...
She reached out, and wrapped her friend in an embrace; just holding the
only person she could really trust here... Somehow, they'd survive, and
cope with the wierdness happening all around them.
They had to. Life hadn't given them a choice.
Disclaimer: All characters recognisably Marvels belong to them, the story to me.
Elspeth gently touched Bren's mind again, soothing his turmoil as only
a world class telepath could; but really wondering if she knew what
she was doing. She couldn't remember just who had shown her, but it
seemed to be working, his breathing steadied and he relaxed against
her shoulder. At least she was no longer in danger of becoming "lost"
in his mind. What happened then, Sunny? You were telling me about
the girls....
Well, needless to say, they all took off. Girls too... No thank you--not
even an acknowledgement that I was alive. Blast it, Elle, in many ways it's
just like before, only this time, I'm not nursing 'em through broken hearts,
I'm saving lives. censored it, I didn't ask to be "different" back there
or here, either. I used be a 20 year old university student, who saw the world
though the eyes of a person at least twice my age... I had this gift of
insight, so keen that it scared me the way I could read a person from the
way they walked to the moment they opened their mouth, it was like I could
guess pretty much what they were going to talk about. Women took refuge
with me while I helped them get over stuff, kinda restoring their faith
in the male species, I had a will like the Rock of Gibraltar. I could
have done something sorta like that "Jedi mind trick" with some thought,
I mean, I could've had any of those girls, but I never thought using my
"gift" for personal use was right... he lamented, burying his haggard face
in his hands, Hell no, I was always trying to be the "good guy", who never
took advantage... The one who always tried to do the "right thing", regardless
of the effect it would have on me. Now look at me! Here I go again, with a
different "gift". I could use it to become rich and powerful beyond my
wildest dreams, you something inside own't let me do something like that...
It just woulnd't be Right.... He slouched down into the chair, tears
quietly sliding down his pale cheeks. He felt pretty damned hopeless, and
he wasn't sure if he could cope with this kind of "gift".
It's called 'concience', Bren... Get this, maybe we're different for a
reason we can't understand? And who was it used to say, "who consoles the
counselor?" A fellow 'counselor', dearheart. The Goddess moves in mysterious
ways... Just maybe we are different enough, powerful enough to make a
difference here, where others might have failed! You and I seem to be
kindred spirits, who happen to have been granted the means to DO something,
become part of something greater than we were. I have faith that She put
me here for a reason, I may never know why, but I'm going to keep being
who I am; even if I can't exactly remember who eithr of 'us' was. I've got
the memories of two people stuck in my head, I can't tell which one of 'us'
if either of us was real, but I think 'we'd' both do the same thing...
My body may be alien, but my psyche will alwasy be humane. Maybe, now that
I'm a real telepath, I can heal some of those minds out there, and change
those of the ones who do wrong.. Elle contintued, trying to infect Bren
with a little of her incurable optimism, I dunno, it's like, now we've got
the powers to do things we couldn't beofre; and some part of us--our
concience--
compels us to do something, because we are capable of things that others
aren't. It's called concience, and we'd never forgive ourselves if we didn't
try...
Reddened skyblue eyes tentatively rose to meet hers again; a faint, cynical
smile crossing his lips. She smoothed Bren's dishwater blond bangs out of his
eyes and smiled at him, Make you a deal, Bren: We may not have known each
other that well "back when", but starting right now... we're the only friend
the other's got at the moment. We both know we're going to do alot of other
people, it's just who we are. But we watch out for each other, and be there
when the other doesn't want to talk about it whatevers, we talk about it any
way, and keep eachother from giving too much of ourselves. We watch each
other's backs, and help each other stay sane, no matter what happens, we
stick this out, together. Good and bad...
Bren looke up at the regal young woman sitting next to him, as a smile crept
across his face, Okay. Deal. he replied. For a moment he did't care if Elle
wasn't quite the person he remembered, she was simply the most beautiful
person alive... he was about to kiss her, when something cleared it's
throat"....
She'd been in the kitchen, talking to Bren about some of the strange things
she could actually do with her mental talents, and comparing notes on just how he
got thru. House's rather frantic chatter disrupted the telepathic conversation, --Hate
to be a bother, by the bye; I'm picking up a metahuman intruder in flight. He's on
an intersept course for our location. I'm afraid I can't do much to deter it, since Joey
neglected to repair the defense grid before he left for the weekend.--
"Never mind, House! I think Sunshine and I can handle this..." she winked at
Bren'soutraged expression, as she shrugged out of her sweatshirt; revealing her rather
impressive build. She posed for a moment, and laughed, "Time to see if the
old bod's up to specs..."
He grimaced at her reference to his recently aquired blonde hair and blue
eyes... But she was right, this was also his chance to see just what he was capable
of, since House had proved he wasn't exactly human, either. Maybe his inexplicable
kinetic bolt thingies would prove useful, afterall?
They stood on the deck, listeing to House's telemetry; while Elspeth scanned
the area for the unfamiliar thought patterns. His sharpened senses heard the faint
hum of the focusing mechanism in her psiber-eyes, as they scanned the beach head.
Funny, that she didn't even think her visual acuity any odder than her drasticly increased
telepathic powers. He knew he was going to take a hell of alot longer accepting
everything; and somehow this "waiting for something to happen" schtick was
overly familiar, and extremely discomfiting.
Something 'snapped' inside her head, as she got a mindlock on the 'bogie',
and her eyes focused in, giving her a it's distance and velocity on the HUD. Something
instinctual took over, ash she pushed off the deck, rusing headlong to meet
their uninvited guest...
The "gears" of that old Motley Crue sone began to grind through her head, as she
poured on the speed, feeling the adrenaline singing fire in her veins...
When I get get high, I get high on speed...
Top fuel funny car's a drug for me...
My heart, my heart....Kickstart my heart....
Skydive naked from an aeroplane...
Gonna live my life in outer space...
My heart... my heart...Kickstart my heart... Hope it never stops...
The wind streaked past her, and somewhere in her subconcious, she was really
surprised that her skin wasn't being torn off by the friction!! But screw that, the
high Gee turn caused her to be momentarily lightheaded, and the sudden rush of blood and a
drenaline brought everything back into prisstine focus. It trickeled down
the link into Bren's mind, along with a rush that was better than sex, or even her
memories of playing live in a heavy metal band in front of hundreds of screaming
fans, or any chemical high he might imagine...
Bren laughed as he imagined the sight... A feeling of sheepishness flowed
down the mindlink, Oh (censored)!!
He was knocked off his feet, as he felt the aftershock'svirbration..."That's sure some kick
you've got there, my lady Elspeth!" he grinned, as he was blown
off the deck.Her boom sent the intruder reeling, trying to recover his equalibrium, and
it shattered some of House's windows...Bren cursed under his breath, "Damn, babe, you
always knewhow to make an enterence, but that's one hell of an exit..."
Concern flooded his thoughts as he realised the 'link wasn't there anymore,
Elle?? Talk to me damn it, Elspeth!, he mind-muttered as he searched the sky for
her...
Elspeth pulled up, slowing and turning...she'd broken the man'sconcentration, and now
she reached into his mind, and 'shouted' at the top of her telepathic lungs!
The stranger's mind was afire...she hadn't realised just how powerful her
'shout' was, but whoever he was, he was going to leave a mighty nice crater in the pure white sand!
She figured if this bloke could shrug off the physical effects of a sonic
shockwave, then he could jolly well use the beach for brakes...
Bren, he's going to crash into the beach...If he get up, blast him; 'cause
he seems pretty tough. We can ask questions later... she 'pathed, passing along the
rush of combat.
Understood... he replied, feeling relief flood through him, just don't
kick me down again...
No prob, Sunny. I'm going to follow him in, steer him away from House... Meet
me down there! she replied before she dropped the link.
Her instinctive flight control paid off, as he plowed into the sand, and
skidded almost half a mile before he was stopped by a rather large dune. Elle slowed to a
reasonable speed, as she watched Bren striding down the beach toward their uninvied
guest... The man, however, shook his head as he looked around. He seemed angry as his
eyes locked onto Elspeth, and he started moving toward her...
Brian Braddock didn't have the faintest idea why his twin sister had jsut
attacked him, nor did he recognise the blond man who was heading down the beach,
toward him. And why was his violet haired sister flying?? He tried to cut the fog and
fire from his mind, remembering the last time she'd cut loose on him...
Concentrate, Bren... he thought to himself, as he unleashed a powerful
blast into the sand, creating a sizable rift between Elle and the stranger. Damn, that's
like packing a photon grenade in your back pocket..., he mused as he stared at his
glowing fists and the glass-fused rift...
Brian looked up at her, confusion marring his English goodlooks, "Elisabeth,
what has happened to you?? You're my sister... aren't you?"
Bren moved in closer, "Look dude, you got one chance. Chill out, and
we'll all get outta this in one piece..."
Brian snapped around, "I asked you a question, chum, and I'd advise you
to answer it!" And with that, Brittanic thudded his fists into the
ground, creating a tremor in the sand that knocked Bren feet over
"tailfeathers", rolling him downt he dune...
"censored!!" Bren grumbled as he unleashed another blast, this one
considerably less powerful; but still slamming into the intruder's chest
hard enough to knock him back a few feet.
Elspeth gained altitude, then turned and dove straight toward the large
man. She let gravity do most of the work, counting on her apparent
invulnerability to protect her, and put a thunderous punch into him--
sending him down to the waterline. When she saw that he was still
itching for a rumble, she set down on the beach, and pulled off the
remains of her sweatshirt she'd been wearing over her workout gear.
Her violet eyes, and the glowing "butterfly mask" began to spread over
her pale features, giving her a slightly sinister, otherworldly
expression.
Brian's eyes widened, as he realised the extent of the changes to his
sister...she was a couple of inches taller, and as muscular as those
lovely Yankee ladies on the American Gladiatiors show that Meghan loved
to watch. But most of all, her violet eyes held no signs of recognising
him, none what-so-ever, and she carried herself far differently, like
she was someone else entirely...
Elspeth cracked 12 fingers, and moved in on the stranger...finding her
link with Bren was broken; she decieded to try out House's assessment
of her 'new' body, Who are you, and why do you intrude upon private
property?? she pathed at him.
Elisabeth, don't you remember?? I'm your brother... he thought thru
the link he seemed to share with this woman, What's happened to you??
I've never seen you so....so angry!
The stranger moved toward her, as though he were going to try to
restrain her... Elspeth easily evaded, sensing his intent in mind.
First off, my name is Elspeth! {punch} Second, my kid brother, Misha
is dead... {kick} Third, my twin was Capt. Britain, and he's dead too...
And Bren is the only friend I've got here!
Her last punch knocked him off his feet, but then the stranger tripped
her, pinning her to the sand... I don't want to hurt you, Betsy...
Please, stop fighting me... he plead with her, though it was like
trying to restrian a wildcat...
Elspeth was horridly claustraphobic, and being pinned down caused her
mind to flash back to how Catherine's mother had held her down, beaten
and 'mind-raped' her with sheer hatred... Elle tried to focus past the
fear, and rage. She felt something 'sliding' inside her, as it took a
form both physical and mental...
MY NAME IS ELSPETH!! she cried out, NO one is going to hurt
me, ever again... I. Am. Who. I. Choose. To. Be. Not--what anyone
else wants me to be! And in a burst of strenght, she broke the pin,
threw the stranger off herself, and with another punch--knocked him
down the beach. She was really angry, now; and all the carefully
crafted walls around both sets of memories came crashing down in the
face of her rage...
The two parts of her slipped and flowed, until she was of one mind that
happened to have lived two different, yet hauntingly similar lives...
Elspeth flew down the beach, but the stranger was ready for her, and
body blocked her. But she took the blow, and kept coming...so they
traded blow for blow as her temper flared, and another wall crumbled.
Something part of her remembered...being beaten down by someone called
the Slaymaster, and blinded... Having her mind blasted open against her
will by a mother who never wanted her...the raw pain and crushing weight
of all those minds... their fears, their loves, their desires...
what about her needs?? HER fears???
Who was this person who dared shred her reality to its very foundations?
With an herculean effort, she seperated her from all it the Isles and
over half of Northern Europe... Her thoughts focused, as the masklike
glow faded from around here eyes--a crackling of light around her hands
caught the stranger's attention. He was shocked, as the crackling became
a 'blade' of scintilating amethyst energies...
I am not your sister. I. Am. Elspeth. she declared, I am who and
what I have ever wished to be. Nobody. Not you. Not anyone or anything
else will ever take this away from me. I do not care who you are. You
hurt me! By the Bright Lady--No one will ever hurt me again...
Her thoughts rang in the heads of every psychic sensative on the planet,
leaving them wondering at the primal declaration of independence in the
strange telepath's mindvoince...
Britainic's mind was truly electrified as she impaled him upon it, as
the blade caused every neuron in his brain to fire simulatneously. For
a single instant, the remainder of Elisabeth screamed inside Psylocke...
who instinctively knew that this feeling of a dull, hacking blade in
at the base of her skull; was what it felt like to have her psychic
knife used upon one...and so, Psylocke reveled in the pain, and the
superiority over her victims...
And for that single isntant, Brian felt Elspeth's pain, and understood
her, as his world turned to black.
She watched the stranger fall, the rage draining away as quickly as it
had flooded through her. The glowing 'blade' was still in her hand, as
she looked around for Bren...
Damn! Bren thought, shaking his head, as he mentally searched for
Elle's presence. His head still rang with the power of her projected
emotions and thoughts. The scene replayed through his mind, as he slowly
made his way abck to his feet. Raising his fist, he attempted to send up
a flare of energy, so she could find him--but nothing happened, though
not for his lack of trying.
Mental Note...never make her mad! he reminded himself, as he had
watched the massive intruder slump over. He struggled, eventually
finding the energy to return to his feet, but his legs were quite shaky
but it was sheer determination that carried him over to Elle's side.
He saw her, still standing over her opponant, looking a bit dazed.
"You didn't...um, you know...kill him, did you?" Bren asked, as he
approched her, falling to his knees from the exertion.
She silently shook her head, I still feel his thought patterns, but I
think he'll be making a serious reality check whenever he finally comes
to. I don't know what made me snap like that, Bren... I'm usually so in
control...
"Guess I was't much help..." he quipped, attempting to lighten the mood
as the tried to stand again.
"Huh??" she replied, shaking off her daze, and returning to reality.
"Censored", he growled, punching the sand, "Elle, I'm sorry. I shoulda
been able to help you, and you coulda been seriously fubared..."
Elspeth reached Bren, and sank to her knees beside him, It's okay,
Sunny. I always was tougher than I looked. Don't you dare beat
yourself up over this...you've never really used whatever powers you
inheirited with this 'new' you before. We'll figure it out, dearheart.
I always manage, somehow...
She reached out, and wrapped her friend in an embrace; just holding the
only person she could really trust here... Somehow, they'd survive, and
cope with the wierdness happening all around them.
They had to. Life hadn't given them a choice.