JANUARY 25, 2004
PARKING LOT OF MUNICIPAL INSTITUTE 10:30 a.m.
"Are you sure this place is open to...take people out? I mean, at this time?" Julius shaded his eyes slightly with his eyelids, lowering them to block out the majority of the bright light on it's pristine white walls. "It's not even noon yet."
"How should I know? The information that Russ looked up for me said that as long as there's another place avaliable to take her and we're able to produce something of relativity for her release, from a realative....we can take her," Angel answered without looking away from trying to make the jacket's cuff fit over her heavily bandaged wrist. It was indeed broken and he felt little remorse after the nose incident.
He sighed and took her arm, jerking the black sleeve over it with a hard attempt to ignore her brief jerk away. The area was bulky but it was hardly showing her broken wrist unless someone knew it was there or noticed the different thicknesses of her wrists. She stared at her wrist then broke the trance upon their reaching the front desk; she tapped her fingers against the counter for a moment then began to thumb through the sign-in sheets.
Julius rolled his eyes but said nothing. He wasn't going to start a public spat in a mental institution when they were trying to get a real nut out.
Don't project, Julius.
His reply wasn't so nice or worth repeating.
A nurse, Joyce, looked up from filing several papers. She pasted on a smile that was even more fake then Angel's. It was a pathetic attempt and fell even shorter on making them feel anymore at ease.
"Can I help you?" she asked in a biting tone that held more frost then December snow. She sat in one of the chairs then took the sign-in sheets as if to search for something. A few moments later, she still hadn't found it but gave up. "This is not a petting zoo or a circus for your enjoyment."
"We're not here to enjoy the entertainment. A friend of ours is here and we'd like to move her into her father's home," Julius interjected with a smile to the woman. It fell short like a bad bungee jumper. He dropped the pleasantries. "My name is Augustus Xavier and this is Elizabeth Lebeau...we're here to pick up Jean Grey." The names were almost as false as their users except they were middle names combined with other known X-men middle names; they shouldn't be recognizable after such a long abscence. He was right.
Joyce scanned several computer files then shook her head. "There is no Jean Grey registered here, Mr. Xavier. You, obviously, have the wrong institution." She closed the program.
He sighed, annoyed. "Jean is here. Maybe a photo would help..." Angel, obidently, slid the photo across the desk, allowing the nurse plenty of time to check out every detail. The red hair. The bright eyes. Her strange, much-too-tanned skin.
Angel felt the shift in her emotion, including fear and smiled. There was something there; Jean was definetly a patient if Joyce's thoughts and emotions were any cue. The woman was terrified of Jean.
"Is she a patient...?"
"Yes," Joyce answered, as though, her voice had turned into the mechanical tone of a robot. She pushed the photo back and returned to the computer screen, scanning the names. then nodding. "Room 412. She's registered under the name Madelyne Pryor; do either of you have a clue who that could be?"
Julius shook his head then waited a moment after returning to the photo to it's home in one of his pockets. When it became obvious that she wasn't going to continue, he motioned with his head down one hall then walked along, following the signs.
Angel hesitated then joined him, walking at his side without a word.
He broke it, abruptly, startling her. "What's the deal with Madelyne Pryor? Hank or someone else give you anything on her...?" he asked, following the signs to the 400 wing. He passed several doors with the barest of glances at their numbers; he walked to the end before coming to Room 412.
"Nada," she answered but stopped at the door. Her teeth worried her bottom lip and she hesitated, wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing her arms. Julius gave her a raised eyebrow and she shook her head. "Jean's a wreck. She has a lot of confusion, self-hatred, and mainly..? She's dangerous to herself and us."
"Will we need our powers?" His expression instantly sharpened into a look of coldness.
She shook her head, raising one hand to stop him. "I'd rather not use them here. If we, it's as a last resort, okay..?" She waited for his agreement; it came as a nod.
Angel breathed easier and pushed the door open to reveal their second to last mutant, staring into the dark room.
It's only light came from a weakly lit lamp in the corner and the barely parted blinds. The bed was empty despite the many magazines strone around the desk table and floor. Jean, herself, was curled into a chair in the corner, clutching a blanket against her throat and shivering; incoherent mumbles escaped her lips. Her hair hung in stingy, less vibrant, red strands around her much too pale face and she was incredibly, almost to the point of being a hazard to her own health, skin. Her fingers, holding the blanket, quivering and she tightened them, pulling it further up.
"Mrs. Summers?" Angel offered, speaking in the tone that would be better suited for a scared dog or child.
Jean didn't lift her head or speak.
She tried a louder voice. "Mrs. Summers."
Her head snapped up. "It's too early for my medication, nurse," she said without even looking over toward the doorway. She stared out the window but sat a little straighter.
Maybe I need to try this from a different angle... Angel hesitated a few more moments then walked over and pulled up the second chair to sit in front and to the left of Jean. She noticed Julius came into the doorway further but moved no closer then the bed where he began to thumb through a magazine.
"Jean, I'm not here to give you medication. I'm here on behalf of a friend of yours...do you remember Rogue and Logan?" When there was no response, she reached her hand forward and touched Jean's. It was like ice and it took everything inside her not to jerk away, but she gave it a gentle squeeze. "Rogue and Logan want to see you again."
"Rogue?" Her voice was a hoarse croak like a frog and her hand tightened into a vise-like grip over the smaller, darker hand in hers. "Where's Rogue? I need to speak with her about Gambit. Something's wrong with him."
"Really? What's wrong with Gambit?" She continued the charade of understanding.
"He's been very rude and avoidant lately. He hasn't been the same since we left him...he's cold and distant..."
"Where did you leave Gambit?"
Juilus cleared his throat; he was ignored by both.
"The cold place."
Angel frowned, confused and knowing this game would have to end. "Do you want to see Rogue again, Jean? Rogue and Gambit...both of them."
The woman nodded, looking like an eager child. She stood and began to gather her belongings, shoving clothes into a bag then loading magazines and such into a pile on the bed. "Yes. Rogue. I need to see Rogue."
We need to talk a minute, Angel. Hall. It wasn't asking her permission or even offereing but commanding. She went against her better judgement after giving Jean some excuse.
"This is nuts. Jean Grey-Summers, obviously, isn't right in the head. She's on about events that probably never happened; how much of what she says do you believe? Honesty, Angel." Julius faced her, staring into her eyes. He wished she'd do something instead of just looking at him. "Did you stop to think that maybe there's a reason for her incarcination?"
"Yeah, I did, but I signed up to bring her back and I can feel her emotions. I won't quit."
"You're stubborn as hell and twice as arguementive."
"I learned it the hard way. You helping me or not, Kanteon?"
Julius hesitated then nodded. "Yeah. We're getting the psychotic out then moving on to the last two...Arclight and Riptide."
A BAR ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NEW YORK 1:00 p.m.
"I feel pretty ding, dong, dang stupid."
Corey stared at the remaining ice in his drink, wondering when she'd shut up repeating that phrase. It had lost appeal in the last two hours as had the company of only her. He'd had about eight drinks, non-alcoholic, but still drinks.
"I feel pretty ding, dong, dang stupid."
"Shut up, Kellie." His head was beginning to pound and darken from the smoke, too loud music, and her voices. He fought the urge to grab her or chunk something at her and instead got up and walked away, stopping in the back hallway before the bathrooms, cigarette machines, and chained shut exit doors; it should have been illegal or at unethical.
He did a quick check then altered himself into their next one, Vertigo. He had to admit that projecting himself as a woman still freaked him out but he saw himself exactly as he was without a hitch. Vertigo wasn't difficult to form; her hair and eyes came the hardest. Silver and blue.
A commotion out toward the back drew his attention and he altered his appearance back, checking once on the front of the bar. He noted that Kellie hadn't moved nor had anyone else; that was a little strange, considering the sound. Something was jerking on the outside half of the chained doors from the sounds and incoherent mumbles he could make out.
Corey hesitated then went over. He messed with the chain a moment then remembered what the Remy clone had taught them about breaking locks. It wasn't hard if you knew what to do but he hadn't paid attention. He was paying for that now.
Think, Corey. You have to remember what the instructions were; it wasn't rocket sciences 'cause Julius figured it out early on. He probably already knew. Think. The instructions. Breaking the lock.
It took a few more moments of bangings and twisting from oustside interrupting his thoughts before he remembered and soon had the lock broken. In the last few seconds, before he opened the door, he projected the image of one of the security guys then threw the doors open, scowling.
"Problem?" he demanded, glowering at the three there before recognizing one. Vertigo. She was present with the others but they were even stranger. One of her friends, a female, was a few inches taller with violet eyes and dyed purple hair with a scowl. The other, a male, with white hair and a strange, almost possessed-looking demeanor was with them, though, unhappy he looked.
Vertigo shook her head, somewhat. "We must have gotten the wrong door," she said upon noticing the curled chain nearby and his irritated expression. She put on a charming smile and he almost found himself smiling. "I'm sorry to bother you, sir."
"Next time, if there is one, try the front door or was the fact that it was chained shut beyond your comprehension?" Corey asked, glancing behind him once in the hopes of seeing Kellie. He didn't see her.
"My friend's not very bright." The purple-haired and lighter-eyed female came forward, offering him a smile before walking straight past him with the others.
Corey wasted the time it took to relatch the doors with the chain then walked, slowly, back to the bar area. He scanned for any sign of Kellie then approached her, keeping one eye focused on the three figures the entire time.
"Kellie, I found Vertigo," he mumbled upon reaching his seat. He spoke, quietly, and close to her ear so they wouldn't be unheard. "She has company, though."
Kellie looked around, pulling on the ends of one bright pink spike. She nodded after a moment then dug around inside one pocket for the sheets she'd kept. He almost asked how she fit the sheets in there with them that tight but decided to leave the topic for a later date. She flipped thetm open and pointed out several things.
"Arclight and Riptide. They're Maurders, too...obviously, we have invasion of the super powered psychos. Misery and Shatter have both of those; call 'em?" She left the final decision to him.
He shook his head. "I assume the two have other business or are already on their way to take care of things," he said, smirking at the thought of those two working together. They would no doubt fail in all areas with their insistent need to be in control.
"Already on their way?" Kellie asked with a confused look.
He shook his head. "She's a telepath. Do the math..."
It wasn't even ten minutes later then his spoken words that two familiar figures entered the bar, arguing. Even as they watched, the smaller of the two shoved the taller one, earning a rather rough jerk on the arm that was held by the other. Their voices reached sooner.
"Would you shut it about Jean?"
"Psycho."
"Shut. up."
"Nuttier then a fruitcake."
"Julius."
"Cuckoo."
"Juilus!" Angel's outraged shout drew several heads in their direction, including the remaining Maurders in the corner. She noticed the sudden silence and shut her mouth, remaining silent as if she'd just realized they had an audience.
Julius' smirk was obvious from across the bar. He enjoyed irritating their quick-tempered, empath-telekenetic, former Angel.
Corey hurried over and seperated the two, filling them in, briefly, on their mutants appearances together. It didn't earn much reaction since the two were still scowling and/or glaring at one another. They weren't going to accomplish much; that was his guess at least. They were joined by their fourth member, presently present.
Kellie shook her head without looking away from them. "How do we get their attention?"
"Why don't we try Demon's friendly-you're-not-real approach," Julius said with a blood carmelizing smile. It earned him a scowl and several new 'names' from her.
"Quit calling her demon, Julius," Kellie commanded then turned away, surveying the room. Her eyes settled on them and stayed for a moment before she smiled. "Why don't we just let our friends here do the talking, Angel? I'm sure Julius can get at least Vertigo's attention, maybe Arclight's."
"And Riptide?" Angel raised an eyebrow, but her newly trademarked smirk was coming into play across her face. She nodded after a moment then turned back. "Vertigo should be easy once you gain her trust."
"I'm not doing it." Julius walked past her and to the bar, ordering something. Corey wasn't sure if it was alcoholic or not. He had a feeling that Juilus could fake his way into getting alcohol. "I have more respect for myself then that."
"Julius, stop bein' a prick and go. Maybe you'll even get a good-night kiss." He scowled and Angel picked up a new tactic, leaning against the bar beside him and tapping her nails. They made strange clicking sounds like rough insect legs against glass. "I know you want to get back since you're expecting a letter from your father." His head shot up. "I think they'll be one waiting, but we can't go until these three are in our, for lack of a better word, possession. Please, Julius? It's Nanaki's last day..."
Corey knew she'd been reading his mind when she pulled his father into it. The please was just another nice little touch to make him happy; their newest thing was about saying please. Neither wanted to say it to the other unless forced or they needed something, badly.
"Why should I care about Nanaki or my father? I don't know her and he's the one that put me here..." He took a drink from his glass then nodded to the bartender, telling him that it would pass his current test.
"Julius!" The appeal was made from three different people and he gave in, tossing back the rest of his drink. He stood, shoving away from the bar.
"You owe me, Demon, Dust, and Image." He walked away at a slow pace with that same infuriating aura of power. His trenchcoat billowed out around him even more but it didn't even compare to the clomp of his boots across the polished wood floor.
Corey noticed something was off with Angel 'cause she kept glancing toward the door then returning her attention to behind the bar. She did this several times with glances toward the exit doors that he'd unchained then rechained; her gaze was cautious but there was a note of desperation to it.
"What's wrong, Angel?" he asked in a quiet voice that wouldn't carry beyond their group.
She shook her head. "It's the emotion here. There's a lot of fear and even more anger," she answered without stopping her almost desperate looks around the bar. Her gaze kept settling on the same guy every time, a rather large guy leaning against the nearby 'jukebox'. "I can't even hear my own thoughts."
"Maybe that's a good thing." The words slipped out before Kellie could cover them.
Angel scowled then stalked away, beyond the chattering customers and smoky enviorment and out the front door, slamming it with her telekenesis hard enough to shatter the glass inside the door.
"Nice."
ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER 2:30 p.m.
"It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, there they are, there they are standing in a row. Big ones, small ones, some as big as Julius' head. Hey!" Angel waved her arms over her head while staring at the steadily darkening sky as she laid on top the van, making the song's hand motions. She hadn't moved in the over an hour and a half since she'd walked out of the bar.
Juilus' voice floated out along with another. "It's quite the interesting thought, Ms. Vertigo," his voice carried but there was no drunkeness to it as the other.
"It's even more interesting while horizontal."
Wait a minute...Vertigo? That was Corey and Kellie's chick, not ours. I think they all went crazy while I was gone and now we're suffering from a loss of identity.
Angel gave up and sat up then jumped down from the van's, hers and Julius' new toy, roof to land on the ground. Her attention immediately went to where Julius and Vertigo were doing their version of 'talking'. Unless talking involved that close of contact and their heads bent that close together, they were having too much fun.
"Now do you see why I didn't let you deal with any of our other clones?" she asked in a bored tone with a pointed look toward Vertigo, whose eyes were turning into a darker color. She ignored it to fix her teammate with a look of disappointment. "I guess this means that you'll be along when you've 'thoroughly' explained things to her."
"Angel, that's enough." Julius shook his head, slightly but the move was lost on her.
It was within the next few moments that Angel felt the effects of Vertigo's powers. It wasn't a strong power, more weak, but it would serve a purpose when needed with very little control or no control of any sort.
Her head began to hurt and the ground spun, turning upside down. Thoughts ran through her minds, hers, Julius', Vertigo's, strangers' thoughts. She tried to put up her wall but it began to crack and after a few moments hardly resembled it's fortress-like self. Her stomache turned over and she stumbled, falling to her knees, slightly.
"That's enough, Vertigo. Leave her alone. She's a friend of mine..." Something like rumbling filled the air then several motorcycles uprooted themselves from the ground and hit the side of the bar, narrowly missing her.
Angel didn't see it in anything beyond short bursts of color and clear vision. Her head was beginning to hurt worse while her stomache felt ready to empty it's contents, though, she hadn't felt well enough to eat something. She noticed after a moment that there was a sudden, empty silence except for Julius' and her own labored breathing; the disorientation and confusion began to fade.
Thoughts stopped running together into a steady stream. Her eyes focused on the roughly packed ground and Julius' combat boots in front of her but she didn't move to get up, running one of her hands through her hair to avoid looking up at his I-told-you-so look.
"You okay, Angel...?" Julius held out one hand to her and she took it, allowing him to help her up but pulling away almost instantly. She brushed at dirt and gravel on her clothes.
"Fine...how'd you end up with Vertigo? Corey and Kellie were meant to find her."
"Riptide and Arclight seemed more up their alley and Vertigo was the easiest to approach. She found me rather attractive," he said with a smug smirk.
And I was going to thank him, she thought but pushed the thought away when several, drunken men stumbled out of the bar, looking frantic. Further shouting could be heard from inside the bar along with the sound of something spinning rather frantically. Glass was shattering in the windows and it was a good guess that parts of the bar's alcohol stash were now leaking; a chair flew out of a window, shattering one of the remaining windows.
"You take care of your little girlfriend and I'll go help our friends." Angel walked past him while trying to ignore the shakiness of her legs and the fact that he didn't argue beyond indistinguishable mumbling.
INSIDE THE BAR 2:45 p.m.
Kellie ducked, narrowly avoiding the flying jukebox. It flew over her head and the bar to slam into the rows upon rows of glass liquor bottles. They shattered and sprayed the bartenders, bar, and floor with it's colors and mixes.
"Is there anything that chick can't pick up?" Corey asked with a brief glance away from where Riptide was having fun circling him and laughing, somewhat insanely. He struggled for a moment then created the image of a brick wall in front of Riptide. There was a squeak like a mouse then the boy pulled up short, tripping over his own feet and their spinning motion. The move sent him spinning off into a random direction but stopped when he promptly hit a large wall, knocking several frames certificates and pictures onto his head.
Arclight only shook her head. "I'm having far too much fun being my own boss instead of someone else's little puppet to just let you kill me again, if you're right." She picked up three tables, stacking them together, then threw them forward. Two slammed into the already trashed alcohol bottles and another caught Kellie in the stomache, knocking her over and winding her.
She gasped and tried to cough but managed only a shaky, wheezing breathe that hurt. She shoved the table away and to the floor beside her then continuing to struggle with her breathe.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Juilus' order was immediately heeded and his 'teammates' looked over at him. The entire bar splintered in half down the center to slide drinks across and onto the floor. Patrons ran out again through several different exit doors but a few poor confused guys found the previously chained and still chained doors.
His prescence wasn't warranted. One entire half of the bar that he'd cracked came up and flew at him, splintering upon hitting the doorway; shards of it flew back and embedded themselves in his seeable flesh.
His expression turned even darker but he was stopped from doing anything by a hand pressing against Arclight's face. She stiffened and fought a moment then collapsed to the floor.
"Well, sugah, aren't ya glad to see us or did ya have other plans to trash this place?" Rogue's expression was not pleased nor was Logan's beside her. She frowned, taking in their various positions. Kellie was sitting up on the floor and breathing normally, but she held one hand against her side, grimacing. Corey was still standing over the fallen Riptide who hadn't moved. Julius was scowling at their unconscience Arclight.
"There should have been four of you here. Where'd you dump Angel's body?" Logan looked down at Arclight a moment then picked her up, making his way across the bar. He gave each of them a disappointed look then nodded toward outside. "Let's go."
"We didn't kill Angel. She's keeping an eye on Vertigo...."
"Rogue, pay the man for the damage to his bar then follow me. Image, Dust, take care of our unconscience kid over there," he said before walking outside. He stopped only long enough to speak to Julius. "Especially you."
Now we're really going to get into trouble. Kellie frowned and followed him out, walking beside Corey who held the unconscience Riptide. This is going to come down to using our powers in a public place. It will probably involve a rather long lecture with us arguing with Logan. Great.
Rogue's voice floated out from the bar at the same moment as Logan's came from outside after a loud thunk.
"Fine, but don't you dare call the cops! I'm paying you for all the damges and to keep you shut up about those kids."
"Kid, you're not supposed to hit her with a tire iron for waking up!"
Angel's voice answered, "Julius said I could."
"KANTEON!"
PARKING LOT OF MUNICIPAL INSTITUTE 10:30 a.m.
"Are you sure this place is open to...take people out? I mean, at this time?" Julius shaded his eyes slightly with his eyelids, lowering them to block out the majority of the bright light on it's pristine white walls. "It's not even noon yet."
"How should I know? The information that Russ looked up for me said that as long as there's another place avaliable to take her and we're able to produce something of relativity for her release, from a realative....we can take her," Angel answered without looking away from trying to make the jacket's cuff fit over her heavily bandaged wrist. It was indeed broken and he felt little remorse after the nose incident.
He sighed and took her arm, jerking the black sleeve over it with a hard attempt to ignore her brief jerk away. The area was bulky but it was hardly showing her broken wrist unless someone knew it was there or noticed the different thicknesses of her wrists. She stared at her wrist then broke the trance upon their reaching the front desk; she tapped her fingers against the counter for a moment then began to thumb through the sign-in sheets.
Julius rolled his eyes but said nothing. He wasn't going to start a public spat in a mental institution when they were trying to get a real nut out.
Don't project, Julius.
His reply wasn't so nice or worth repeating.
A nurse, Joyce, looked up from filing several papers. She pasted on a smile that was even more fake then Angel's. It was a pathetic attempt and fell even shorter on making them feel anymore at ease.
"Can I help you?" she asked in a biting tone that held more frost then December snow. She sat in one of the chairs then took the sign-in sheets as if to search for something. A few moments later, she still hadn't found it but gave up. "This is not a petting zoo or a circus for your enjoyment."
"We're not here to enjoy the entertainment. A friend of ours is here and we'd like to move her into her father's home," Julius interjected with a smile to the woman. It fell short like a bad bungee jumper. He dropped the pleasantries. "My name is Augustus Xavier and this is Elizabeth Lebeau...we're here to pick up Jean Grey." The names were almost as false as their users except they were middle names combined with other known X-men middle names; they shouldn't be recognizable after such a long abscence. He was right.
Joyce scanned several computer files then shook her head. "There is no Jean Grey registered here, Mr. Xavier. You, obviously, have the wrong institution." She closed the program.
He sighed, annoyed. "Jean is here. Maybe a photo would help..." Angel, obidently, slid the photo across the desk, allowing the nurse plenty of time to check out every detail. The red hair. The bright eyes. Her strange, much-too-tanned skin.
Angel felt the shift in her emotion, including fear and smiled. There was something there; Jean was definetly a patient if Joyce's thoughts and emotions were any cue. The woman was terrified of Jean.
"Is she a patient...?"
"Yes," Joyce answered, as though, her voice had turned into the mechanical tone of a robot. She pushed the photo back and returned to the computer screen, scanning the names. then nodding. "Room 412. She's registered under the name Madelyne Pryor; do either of you have a clue who that could be?"
Julius shook his head then waited a moment after returning to the photo to it's home in one of his pockets. When it became obvious that she wasn't going to continue, he motioned with his head down one hall then walked along, following the signs.
Angel hesitated then joined him, walking at his side without a word.
He broke it, abruptly, startling her. "What's the deal with Madelyne Pryor? Hank or someone else give you anything on her...?" he asked, following the signs to the 400 wing. He passed several doors with the barest of glances at their numbers; he walked to the end before coming to Room 412.
"Nada," she answered but stopped at the door. Her teeth worried her bottom lip and she hesitated, wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing her arms. Julius gave her a raised eyebrow and she shook her head. "Jean's a wreck. She has a lot of confusion, self-hatred, and mainly..? She's dangerous to herself and us."
"Will we need our powers?" His expression instantly sharpened into a look of coldness.
She shook her head, raising one hand to stop him. "I'd rather not use them here. If we, it's as a last resort, okay..?" She waited for his agreement; it came as a nod.
Angel breathed easier and pushed the door open to reveal their second to last mutant, staring into the dark room.
It's only light came from a weakly lit lamp in the corner and the barely parted blinds. The bed was empty despite the many magazines strone around the desk table and floor. Jean, herself, was curled into a chair in the corner, clutching a blanket against her throat and shivering; incoherent mumbles escaped her lips. Her hair hung in stingy, less vibrant, red strands around her much too pale face and she was incredibly, almost to the point of being a hazard to her own health, skin. Her fingers, holding the blanket, quivering and she tightened them, pulling it further up.
"Mrs. Summers?" Angel offered, speaking in the tone that would be better suited for a scared dog or child.
Jean didn't lift her head or speak.
She tried a louder voice. "Mrs. Summers."
Her head snapped up. "It's too early for my medication, nurse," she said without even looking over toward the doorway. She stared out the window but sat a little straighter.
Maybe I need to try this from a different angle... Angel hesitated a few more moments then walked over and pulled up the second chair to sit in front and to the left of Jean. She noticed Julius came into the doorway further but moved no closer then the bed where he began to thumb through a magazine.
"Jean, I'm not here to give you medication. I'm here on behalf of a friend of yours...do you remember Rogue and Logan?" When there was no response, she reached her hand forward and touched Jean's. It was like ice and it took everything inside her not to jerk away, but she gave it a gentle squeeze. "Rogue and Logan want to see you again."
"Rogue?" Her voice was a hoarse croak like a frog and her hand tightened into a vise-like grip over the smaller, darker hand in hers. "Where's Rogue? I need to speak with her about Gambit. Something's wrong with him."
"Really? What's wrong with Gambit?" She continued the charade of understanding.
"He's been very rude and avoidant lately. He hasn't been the same since we left him...he's cold and distant..."
"Where did you leave Gambit?"
Juilus cleared his throat; he was ignored by both.
"The cold place."
Angel frowned, confused and knowing this game would have to end. "Do you want to see Rogue again, Jean? Rogue and Gambit...both of them."
The woman nodded, looking like an eager child. She stood and began to gather her belongings, shoving clothes into a bag then loading magazines and such into a pile on the bed. "Yes. Rogue. I need to see Rogue."
We need to talk a minute, Angel. Hall. It wasn't asking her permission or even offereing but commanding. She went against her better judgement after giving Jean some excuse.
"This is nuts. Jean Grey-Summers, obviously, isn't right in the head. She's on about events that probably never happened; how much of what she says do you believe? Honesty, Angel." Julius faced her, staring into her eyes. He wished she'd do something instead of just looking at him. "Did you stop to think that maybe there's a reason for her incarcination?"
"Yeah, I did, but I signed up to bring her back and I can feel her emotions. I won't quit."
"You're stubborn as hell and twice as arguementive."
"I learned it the hard way. You helping me or not, Kanteon?"
Julius hesitated then nodded. "Yeah. We're getting the psychotic out then moving on to the last two...Arclight and Riptide."
A BAR ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NEW YORK 1:00 p.m.
"I feel pretty ding, dong, dang stupid."
Corey stared at the remaining ice in his drink, wondering when she'd shut up repeating that phrase. It had lost appeal in the last two hours as had the company of only her. He'd had about eight drinks, non-alcoholic, but still drinks.
"I feel pretty ding, dong, dang stupid."
"Shut up, Kellie." His head was beginning to pound and darken from the smoke, too loud music, and her voices. He fought the urge to grab her or chunk something at her and instead got up and walked away, stopping in the back hallway before the bathrooms, cigarette machines, and chained shut exit doors; it should have been illegal or at unethical.
He did a quick check then altered himself into their next one, Vertigo. He had to admit that projecting himself as a woman still freaked him out but he saw himself exactly as he was without a hitch. Vertigo wasn't difficult to form; her hair and eyes came the hardest. Silver and blue.
A commotion out toward the back drew his attention and he altered his appearance back, checking once on the front of the bar. He noted that Kellie hadn't moved nor had anyone else; that was a little strange, considering the sound. Something was jerking on the outside half of the chained doors from the sounds and incoherent mumbles he could make out.
Corey hesitated then went over. He messed with the chain a moment then remembered what the Remy clone had taught them about breaking locks. It wasn't hard if you knew what to do but he hadn't paid attention. He was paying for that now.
Think, Corey. You have to remember what the instructions were; it wasn't rocket sciences 'cause Julius figured it out early on. He probably already knew. Think. The instructions. Breaking the lock.
It took a few more moments of bangings and twisting from oustside interrupting his thoughts before he remembered and soon had the lock broken. In the last few seconds, before he opened the door, he projected the image of one of the security guys then threw the doors open, scowling.
"Problem?" he demanded, glowering at the three there before recognizing one. Vertigo. She was present with the others but they were even stranger. One of her friends, a female, was a few inches taller with violet eyes and dyed purple hair with a scowl. The other, a male, with white hair and a strange, almost possessed-looking demeanor was with them, though, unhappy he looked.
Vertigo shook her head, somewhat. "We must have gotten the wrong door," she said upon noticing the curled chain nearby and his irritated expression. She put on a charming smile and he almost found himself smiling. "I'm sorry to bother you, sir."
"Next time, if there is one, try the front door or was the fact that it was chained shut beyond your comprehension?" Corey asked, glancing behind him once in the hopes of seeing Kellie. He didn't see her.
"My friend's not very bright." The purple-haired and lighter-eyed female came forward, offering him a smile before walking straight past him with the others.
Corey wasted the time it took to relatch the doors with the chain then walked, slowly, back to the bar area. He scanned for any sign of Kellie then approached her, keeping one eye focused on the three figures the entire time.
"Kellie, I found Vertigo," he mumbled upon reaching his seat. He spoke, quietly, and close to her ear so they wouldn't be unheard. "She has company, though."
Kellie looked around, pulling on the ends of one bright pink spike. She nodded after a moment then dug around inside one pocket for the sheets she'd kept. He almost asked how she fit the sheets in there with them that tight but decided to leave the topic for a later date. She flipped thetm open and pointed out several things.
"Arclight and Riptide. They're Maurders, too...obviously, we have invasion of the super powered psychos. Misery and Shatter have both of those; call 'em?" She left the final decision to him.
He shook his head. "I assume the two have other business or are already on their way to take care of things," he said, smirking at the thought of those two working together. They would no doubt fail in all areas with their insistent need to be in control.
"Already on their way?" Kellie asked with a confused look.
He shook his head. "She's a telepath. Do the math..."
It wasn't even ten minutes later then his spoken words that two familiar figures entered the bar, arguing. Even as they watched, the smaller of the two shoved the taller one, earning a rather rough jerk on the arm that was held by the other. Their voices reached sooner.
"Would you shut it about Jean?"
"Psycho."
"Shut. up."
"Nuttier then a fruitcake."
"Julius."
"Cuckoo."
"Juilus!" Angel's outraged shout drew several heads in their direction, including the remaining Maurders in the corner. She noticed the sudden silence and shut her mouth, remaining silent as if she'd just realized they had an audience.
Julius' smirk was obvious from across the bar. He enjoyed irritating their quick-tempered, empath-telekenetic, former Angel.
Corey hurried over and seperated the two, filling them in, briefly, on their mutants appearances together. It didn't earn much reaction since the two were still scowling and/or glaring at one another. They weren't going to accomplish much; that was his guess at least. They were joined by their fourth member, presently present.
Kellie shook her head without looking away from them. "How do we get their attention?"
"Why don't we try Demon's friendly-you're-not-real approach," Julius said with a blood carmelizing smile. It earned him a scowl and several new 'names' from her.
"Quit calling her demon, Julius," Kellie commanded then turned away, surveying the room. Her eyes settled on them and stayed for a moment before she smiled. "Why don't we just let our friends here do the talking, Angel? I'm sure Julius can get at least Vertigo's attention, maybe Arclight's."
"And Riptide?" Angel raised an eyebrow, but her newly trademarked smirk was coming into play across her face. She nodded after a moment then turned back. "Vertigo should be easy once you gain her trust."
"I'm not doing it." Julius walked past her and to the bar, ordering something. Corey wasn't sure if it was alcoholic or not. He had a feeling that Juilus could fake his way into getting alcohol. "I have more respect for myself then that."
"Julius, stop bein' a prick and go. Maybe you'll even get a good-night kiss." He scowled and Angel picked up a new tactic, leaning against the bar beside him and tapping her nails. They made strange clicking sounds like rough insect legs against glass. "I know you want to get back since you're expecting a letter from your father." His head shot up. "I think they'll be one waiting, but we can't go until these three are in our, for lack of a better word, possession. Please, Julius? It's Nanaki's last day..."
Corey knew she'd been reading his mind when she pulled his father into it. The please was just another nice little touch to make him happy; their newest thing was about saying please. Neither wanted to say it to the other unless forced or they needed something, badly.
"Why should I care about Nanaki or my father? I don't know her and he's the one that put me here..." He took a drink from his glass then nodded to the bartender, telling him that it would pass his current test.
"Julius!" The appeal was made from three different people and he gave in, tossing back the rest of his drink. He stood, shoving away from the bar.
"You owe me, Demon, Dust, and Image." He walked away at a slow pace with that same infuriating aura of power. His trenchcoat billowed out around him even more but it didn't even compare to the clomp of his boots across the polished wood floor.
Corey noticed something was off with Angel 'cause she kept glancing toward the door then returning her attention to behind the bar. She did this several times with glances toward the exit doors that he'd unchained then rechained; her gaze was cautious but there was a note of desperation to it.
"What's wrong, Angel?" he asked in a quiet voice that wouldn't carry beyond their group.
She shook her head. "It's the emotion here. There's a lot of fear and even more anger," she answered without stopping her almost desperate looks around the bar. Her gaze kept settling on the same guy every time, a rather large guy leaning against the nearby 'jukebox'. "I can't even hear my own thoughts."
"Maybe that's a good thing." The words slipped out before Kellie could cover them.
Angel scowled then stalked away, beyond the chattering customers and smoky enviorment and out the front door, slamming it with her telekenesis hard enough to shatter the glass inside the door.
"Nice."
ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER 2:30 p.m.
"It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, there they are, there they are standing in a row. Big ones, small ones, some as big as Julius' head. Hey!" Angel waved her arms over her head while staring at the steadily darkening sky as she laid on top the van, making the song's hand motions. She hadn't moved in the over an hour and a half since she'd walked out of the bar.
Juilus' voice floated out along with another. "It's quite the interesting thought, Ms. Vertigo," his voice carried but there was no drunkeness to it as the other.
"It's even more interesting while horizontal."
Wait a minute...Vertigo? That was Corey and Kellie's chick, not ours. I think they all went crazy while I was gone and now we're suffering from a loss of identity.
Angel gave up and sat up then jumped down from the van's, hers and Julius' new toy, roof to land on the ground. Her attention immediately went to where Julius and Vertigo were doing their version of 'talking'. Unless talking involved that close of contact and their heads bent that close together, they were having too much fun.
"Now do you see why I didn't let you deal with any of our other clones?" she asked in a bored tone with a pointed look toward Vertigo, whose eyes were turning into a darker color. She ignored it to fix her teammate with a look of disappointment. "I guess this means that you'll be along when you've 'thoroughly' explained things to her."
"Angel, that's enough." Julius shook his head, slightly but the move was lost on her.
It was within the next few moments that Angel felt the effects of Vertigo's powers. It wasn't a strong power, more weak, but it would serve a purpose when needed with very little control or no control of any sort.
Her head began to hurt and the ground spun, turning upside down. Thoughts ran through her minds, hers, Julius', Vertigo's, strangers' thoughts. She tried to put up her wall but it began to crack and after a few moments hardly resembled it's fortress-like self. Her stomache turned over and she stumbled, falling to her knees, slightly.
"That's enough, Vertigo. Leave her alone. She's a friend of mine..." Something like rumbling filled the air then several motorcycles uprooted themselves from the ground and hit the side of the bar, narrowly missing her.
Angel didn't see it in anything beyond short bursts of color and clear vision. Her head was beginning to hurt worse while her stomache felt ready to empty it's contents, though, she hadn't felt well enough to eat something. She noticed after a moment that there was a sudden, empty silence except for Julius' and her own labored breathing; the disorientation and confusion began to fade.
Thoughts stopped running together into a steady stream. Her eyes focused on the roughly packed ground and Julius' combat boots in front of her but she didn't move to get up, running one of her hands through her hair to avoid looking up at his I-told-you-so look.
"You okay, Angel...?" Julius held out one hand to her and she took it, allowing him to help her up but pulling away almost instantly. She brushed at dirt and gravel on her clothes.
"Fine...how'd you end up with Vertigo? Corey and Kellie were meant to find her."
"Riptide and Arclight seemed more up their alley and Vertigo was the easiest to approach. She found me rather attractive," he said with a smug smirk.
And I was going to thank him, she thought but pushed the thought away when several, drunken men stumbled out of the bar, looking frantic. Further shouting could be heard from inside the bar along with the sound of something spinning rather frantically. Glass was shattering in the windows and it was a good guess that parts of the bar's alcohol stash were now leaking; a chair flew out of a window, shattering one of the remaining windows.
"You take care of your little girlfriend and I'll go help our friends." Angel walked past him while trying to ignore the shakiness of her legs and the fact that he didn't argue beyond indistinguishable mumbling.
INSIDE THE BAR 2:45 p.m.
Kellie ducked, narrowly avoiding the flying jukebox. It flew over her head and the bar to slam into the rows upon rows of glass liquor bottles. They shattered and sprayed the bartenders, bar, and floor with it's colors and mixes.
"Is there anything that chick can't pick up?" Corey asked with a brief glance away from where Riptide was having fun circling him and laughing, somewhat insanely. He struggled for a moment then created the image of a brick wall in front of Riptide. There was a squeak like a mouse then the boy pulled up short, tripping over his own feet and their spinning motion. The move sent him spinning off into a random direction but stopped when he promptly hit a large wall, knocking several frames certificates and pictures onto his head.
Arclight only shook her head. "I'm having far too much fun being my own boss instead of someone else's little puppet to just let you kill me again, if you're right." She picked up three tables, stacking them together, then threw them forward. Two slammed into the already trashed alcohol bottles and another caught Kellie in the stomache, knocking her over and winding her.
She gasped and tried to cough but managed only a shaky, wheezing breathe that hurt. She shoved the table away and to the floor beside her then continuing to struggle with her breathe.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Juilus' order was immediately heeded and his 'teammates' looked over at him. The entire bar splintered in half down the center to slide drinks across and onto the floor. Patrons ran out again through several different exit doors but a few poor confused guys found the previously chained and still chained doors.
His prescence wasn't warranted. One entire half of the bar that he'd cracked came up and flew at him, splintering upon hitting the doorway; shards of it flew back and embedded themselves in his seeable flesh.
His expression turned even darker but he was stopped from doing anything by a hand pressing against Arclight's face. She stiffened and fought a moment then collapsed to the floor.
"Well, sugah, aren't ya glad to see us or did ya have other plans to trash this place?" Rogue's expression was not pleased nor was Logan's beside her. She frowned, taking in their various positions. Kellie was sitting up on the floor and breathing normally, but she held one hand against her side, grimacing. Corey was still standing over the fallen Riptide who hadn't moved. Julius was scowling at their unconscience Arclight.
"There should have been four of you here. Where'd you dump Angel's body?" Logan looked down at Arclight a moment then picked her up, making his way across the bar. He gave each of them a disappointed look then nodded toward outside. "Let's go."
"We didn't kill Angel. She's keeping an eye on Vertigo...."
"Rogue, pay the man for the damage to his bar then follow me. Image, Dust, take care of our unconscience kid over there," he said before walking outside. He stopped only long enough to speak to Julius. "Especially you."
Now we're really going to get into trouble. Kellie frowned and followed him out, walking beside Corey who held the unconscience Riptide. This is going to come down to using our powers in a public place. It will probably involve a rather long lecture with us arguing with Logan. Great.
Rogue's voice floated out from the bar at the same moment as Logan's came from outside after a loud thunk.
"Fine, but don't you dare call the cops! I'm paying you for all the damges and to keep you shut up about those kids."
"Kid, you're not supposed to hit her with a tire iron for waking up!"
Angel's voice answered, "Julius said I could."
"KANTEON!"