ANGELS OF THE CROSSROADS
By Strannik, Master of Unorphodoxy
Synopsis: Angles of the Crossroads is a sequel to yet-to-be-completed Chronicles of Ecto. It is the third book of the saga of experiences and adventures of Shion Komine, an original character created by Post. The story takes place approximately two years after the previous book. In order to understand what's going on in this story, I recommend reading Between the Walls , a tale that started at all. Reading Chronicles of Ecto might help, too.
I would like to thank Post for taking time to provide me with useful background information and summaries of the future installments of this saga. And of course, I would like to thank him for creating Shion Komine, without whom I wouldn't be writing this in the first place.
Disclaimer: Shion Komine is created by Post and used by yours truly with his exclusive permission. Ali Madison is my original character, with all the rights and privileges involved.
Author's Note: The following chapter shamelessly mocks a certain Cajun. You have been warned.
Chapter 1: Too many Triangles.
It was a small, sleepy nightclub. Round, wooden, weary tables were scattered throughout the room, each one flanked by at least two chairs. A man cloaked in a dark trench coat, a red scarf and an old-fashioned hat sat nearby, completely absorbed by what happened on the stage. And who could blame him. Illuminated by a soft white glow and draped in a sparkling green dress, the eternally beautiful Rogue Darkholme was singing her heart out.
The gentle, riveting tune flowed from her lips, revealing a tale of a vampire who lost her way. I sat there, transfixed. How long has it been since I heard Rogue singing? I wasn't sure. All I knew was I received a very rare gift. I wasn't about to waste it.
"Can I join you?"
Huh? What? Who dares to interrupt my Rogue-induced haze!
The perpetrator turned out to be a blond-haired, slightly chubby, well-build guy in a stereotypical red-and-white jock outfit. He reminded me of a former beau of a certain empathic redhead.
"I am Cody Robbins," he said, offering his hand. He had none of Duncan's I-am-God-and-you-are-not swagger. With a simple greeting, he seemed to say: "I am who I am, and I am pleased to meet you."
I shook Cody's hand:
"Shion Komine, at your service."
"Have you been here long?" Cody asked, taking a seat
That was a good question. How long was I here? I couldn't remember.
"No, not really," I said just in case.
"You poor soul," Cody smiled, making me even more confused, "but look on the bright side - at least you get to enjoy the music."
I couldn't argue with that.
"She is a very special girl, you know. No matter how much makeup she puts on or how much she tries to keep people away, you just can't help but notice it."
At this point, alarms inside my head were making a racket worthy of the entire Bayville Police Force
"Wait a minute! You know Rogue?"
"Well, not really. I saw her a few times between classes. She wasn't the most social person, you know. I did ask her to a dance once, but," he smiled ruefully," that didn't end too well."
I didn't know if I should be shocked or confused. In all our time together, Rogue never mentioned any Cody Robbins. Not that she was under obligation to remember all the people that had a crush on her. It's just that… well; I felt that she should have told me anyway.
I couldn't believe it. I was actually jealous of some guy I just met. This was ridiculous. Idiotic. Weak. I told myself I should know better.
I just wished I could believe it.
Meanwhile, Cody continued talking, oblivious to my stupid turmoil:
"…I thought I was alone until I bumped into Mr. Cranston over there, " he motioned in the direction of the cloaked figure, "He told me that he was guarding something important (he wouldn't tell me what). He asked me to help him. I didn't see any harm in it, so I agreed. Next thing I knew, a bunch of weirdoes with powers right out of comic books started showing up. They called themselves mutants. For the most part, they fight each other until they are too tired to move, declare truce, and, as soon as a new mutant shows up, they start fighting again. Me, I just try to stay out the way…."
At this point, my brain finally woke up and put the two and two together:
"So what you're telling me is that we are inside Rogue's subconscience?"
"Well, pretty much," Cody nodded.
"Wait, that's not right! I didn't get zapped by her, at least not recently… "
"Are you sure about that?"
"Very."
Suddenly, the singing stopped. Rogue noticed me:
"Shion?" she demanded, shocked, "What are you doing here?"
Oh crap! How was I going to explain this one?
I got up. Next thing I knew, sparks were flying out of my eyes. My head felt like it hit one of Danger Room's "Sentinels". A hurt, outraged voice on my right cried:
"Jeez, Shion, watch where you're going! People could get hurt, you know. Like me."
Well, at least I wasn't the only victim.
I opened my eyes. My poor roommate was rubbing his forehead. I considered firing off a few cannonball jokes, but the more rational part of me decided that it probably wasn't going to help.
"You alright?" I asked cautiously.
"Yeah," Sam nodded weakly, "at least you're awake. You had me worried there for a minute."
"Sorry. I just took a trip into the twilight zone. It was full of nostalgic jocks and trench-coated music lovers. I loved the soundtrack, though. "
Sam stared at me blankly.
"Don't ask – I don't get it either.'
"Just don't do it again, OK?"
I shrugged. I had enough experience with Rogue-related dreams to know that this definitely wasn't one of them. I just hoped it was a freak accident. Last thing I needed right now was a new power.
"How is your head?" I asked, changing the subject
"It's been worse."
I smiled:
"Think of it as a payback for all the times I had to get out bed just so you could take a midnight pee."
"What about all the times you woke me up?"
"What times?" I asked innocently
Sam froze in his tracks as he tried to remember anything that might fit the bill. Confident that I had nothing to worry about it, I got dressed and started recharging the backup power cells for my watch.
Two minutes later, Sam conceded defeat:
"Damn… you are good."
A few minutes later, we headed downstairs, hoping that we might actually get some breakfast. Sam was telling me something about Jubilee and some guy who was flirting with her, but I wasn't paying attention. My mind kept on drifting back to my trip to Rogue's subconscience. Who was the guy in the trench coat? Why didn't he (or Cody, for that matter), show up when Rogue's powers went ballistic a few months ago? How did I get inside Rogue's head in the first place?
"Shion, are you listening to me!" Sam demanded
I was about to apologize when I saw a tall man with a dark, crimson eyes walking towards us. To him, a brown duster was not just a fashion choice. It didn't matter if he was clad in casual clothes or a battle uniform. He clung to it like a ghost clings to it's bed sheet. His name was Remy, but he preferred to be called Gambit. Either way, he was a major pain in the ass.
"Shion," he proclaimed confidently
"Remy," I echoed without missing a beat
Cue the western standoff music.
Remy had his energy manipulation. I had my "ghost form" and a little mind control on the side. We were both good at hand-to-hand combat. If it came down to it, the fight would of probably gone either way.
I knew it wouldn't happen. Not now and probably not ever.
Remy was convinced that he was destined to be with a certain gothic belle. I knew that his feelings were sincere, but after all that happened between me and Rogue, I was a little skeptical. As much as we wanted to kick each other's behinds, we knew that would only make us look like idiots. And so, ever since Remy moved into the mansion, an awkward truce persisted.
Hey, if Soviet Union and United States can keep it up for fifty years, so can we.
Except Soviet Union collapsed in the end…
Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother talking to myself.
"So, you slept well, oui?" Remy asked casually.
For a brief second, I wandered if he knew something about my latest misadventure, but then I realized he was just trying to kill the silence.
I shrugged:
"Yeah. Listened to some good music in a company of a very lovely lady. You?"
"Gambit don't know about music " he grinned slyly, "but dere was a lovely lady…. "
Was he pushing my buttons? I couldn't be sure.
"Business as usual for you, I guess." I mumbled
"Non… Why stick wit' dreams when you can have a real t'ing, oui?"
Maybe he was trying to start something. Maybe he wasn't. Either way, he was really starting to bug me.
"I have both," I fired back. "What about you?"
"All in due time, " Gambit smiled. "All in due time."
"Don't do it, Shion," Sam urged. "He is not worth it"
"No worries," Gambit taunted, "what's he goin' to do – talk me to death?"
Before Sam could stop me, I shifted my stance, preparing to deliver a quick sidekick where it counted.
"Well, he can make you do the Macarena in front of Professor's office, but I don't think Shion is that cruel."
Ladies and gentlemen, the queen of chaos has arrived.
Everything about her was a little over the top. Her hair looked like it was about to burst in all directions. Her ears were riddled with shiny earrings. Although she didn't abuse her make-up like she used to, it still looked like she went a little overboard.
She walked past Gambit, brushing him aside like a tasteless coat rack. In a flash, she was by my side. Dressed in well-worn hip-hugging jeans and a tight top, she was a vision of casual playfulness.
"Hi Tabi," I smiled, "been there long?"
"Long enough," she winked, "as for you, card-boy, you really should clean that bathrobe of yours. It's getting filthy."
Tabitha and I exchanged high-fives. Sam snickered
"Gambit t'inking you're jealous," my once-annoying nemesis replied, struggling to maintain his composure.
"Nah, just bored," Tabitha replied, dismissing him with a wave of a hand, "anyway, I gotta go. I'll see you guys at breakfast."
She gave me a quick "there-will-be-surprise-in-Gambit's-meal-I-promise" look and headed downstairs, humming something fast and whimsical.
"Unbelievable," Gambit mumbled in bemused wonder, "she likes him. Don't know why, but she likes him… "
"Oh, shut up," I moaned in my best British accent, "come, my dear Sam, the munchies wait for no one."
"Well, it's about time," smiled my faithful roommate, "I was getting worried I'll have to beg Jubilee for cookies again."
"Now, we can't have that. Or can we…"
Sam shook his head:
"Just go."
By the time we arrived at the dining room, the breakfast was well underway. Jean and Scott sat in the far corner of the table, their food forgotten. Kitty, Kurt, Amara and Lance took turns making fun of them. Hank McCoy was sitting in the other corner of the table sipping some coffee. Bobby and Jamie were fighting over the cartoons section of "Daily Bayville". Logan was standing by the refrigerator, reading the suspiciously covered magazine. Jubilee was challenging every speed record known to men as she tried to eat her pancakes and finish her homework before she had to go to school.
"Well, this is where I get off," said Sam as he headed to comfort his girlfriend, "see ya later, dude."
I stretched out my hand, quickly changing anchors. I like Jubilee and Sam, I ready do. It's just that sometimes, I can't stand to be around them. A firecracker and a cannon ball – a hazardous combination, methinks.
Now, who did I anchor myself to?
BZZT!
Next thing I knew, I was yanked off my feet and dragged towards the exit.
"Get back here, shortstuff!" bellowed Bobby as he raced in the same direction.
I had to ask.
Meanwhile, I was dragged out of the kitchen, heading in the direction of the Grand Staircase. I tried to grab onto anything that was nailed to the floor. Except there wasn't anything nailed to the floor. I didn't have time to find another anchor, so I reached for my watch. Hopefully, once I am in the Middleverse, I could phase through the staircase.
Before I had a chance to test that theory, a three-fingered hand grabbed me by the shirt collar. With a loud BAMF, I was teleported back to the dining room.
The residents of the Institute gathered around me, trying their best to be helpful:
"Are you alright?"
"Are there any bruises?"
"I hope he is not bleeding…"
"Wait until I get my hands on that squirt…"
"Hey, it could have been worse…"
"Maybe next time, he'll watch where he is aiming."
"Oh, I am so going to be late for school."
What can I say: it's good to have friends.
"My pride wants to know if anyone caught the number of that truck," I said as Lance and Sam helped me up, "but other then that, I think I am alright."
"Are you sure?' asked Tabitha
"Sure I am sure," I grinned. "Just as long as somebody gets me some breakfast. I am starving."
"Aye Aye, Ghost-boy," she saluted and went off to get something microwaved. Last time Tabitha tried cooking… let's just say it made Toad's room look like a field of roses.
Behind me, a familiar voice with a distinct touch of Mississippi snickered:
"She sure looked excited."
"Rogue!"
"What, you were expecting Avril Lavigne?"
She just stood there, untouched by all the commotion. She wore black boots that stopped two inches short of her ankles, a dark skirt with intricate, web-like patterns, a forest-green top with a collar, black, silky gloves and a medium-length hôri with wide sleeves. This was the first time I've seen her wearing this outfit. While it wasn't quite as nice as the dress she wore in my dream, it was pretty close.
Everybody quickly went back to their seats, giving us some space. Great. Now, I have to think. I shook myself out of Rogue-induced nirvana and replied.
"No, though I can't say I would mind."
Rogue snickered again.
"Anyway… good morning."
"Good morning."
We hugged. When it comes to warm and fuzzies, there wasn't much else we could do.
"Did you have any unusual dreams?" we asked in unison.
…
"You first," I decided
"Well, I had this weird dream where I was singing in the bar when I noticed you in the audience. Before I could talk to you, you disappeared."
Any hope that my nocturnal misadventure was just a product of my screwed-up imagination went straight down the toilet:
"Ditto," I admitted
"Huh?"
"Ditto as in I had exactly the same dream. I don't know what's going on, Rogue."
"Don't look at me," She shrugged, " I didn't ask you to sneak into my dreams."
"Believe me, if it was up to me, I wouldn't be anywhere near them."
"Really?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know… never mind, okay. It's stupid."
"You think I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to get a peak inside your pretty little noggin?"
She nodded meekly.
"In case you forgot, last time I tried to do that, you punched me."
"Hey, that was different!"
"True… Oh, come on, work with me, I am trying to make a point here."
"Then you better get on with it or I might decide to hit you again."
"Well, when you put it this way…"
Rogue glared.
"I just think that sometimes, we all need a little privacy, especially in our dreams."
"Shion…."
Before Rogue had a chance to finish, Jubilee's ear-breaking howl shook the dining room:
"I don't care! Bobby is supposed to drive me to school and he is off chasing Jamie!"
"So, what's the problem?" asked Lance
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, they hate you in school anyway. If you have a chance to miss it, I say go for it."
"Now Lance," Jean declared, switching into her teacher mode, "just because she's having a hard time doesn't mean she should miss out on important material."
"It's not that," Jubilee whispered, staring at the dining room floor "it's just that…"
Sam looked like someone just told him all the bathrooms in Bayville were closed indefinitely.
"It's just what?" I asked, even though I knew full well I probably didn't want to know.
"Here is your breakfast," chipped in Tabitha, handing me a trey with a cheeseburger and a glass of milk.
"Thank you very much, " I said as I took the trey.
"Oh, the best part is yet to come," grinned Tabitha as she slowly bended her fingers. Five, four, three, two, one.
With a spectacular KABOOM, Gambit's meal was splattered all over his outfit.
"Food and entertainment, all in one," I joked, "I love it."
"Come on, Shion, be nice," nagged Rogue.
"Hey, it's not my fault," I shrugged, "Boom Boom over there did it all on her own."
"Damn straight!" nodded the troublemaker. With a wink and a quick smile, she headed to the guestroom.
I glanced at Rogue. She didn't look too pleased.
"What? What did I do?" I asked.
"Nothing, Shion. Nothing at all."
I shook my head. I screwed up. Again.
When I am going to learn to think before I talk.
"Anyway," Jubilee's voice broke though the silence, "as I was saying…"
Before she could finish the sentence, Professor Xavier's voice filled our heads:
"All X-Men and New Mutants, report to the Briefing Room immediately."
Ever since Apocalypse was released, we had a lot of alerts. Most of them turned out to be wild goose chases. But the moment he mentioned New Mutants, I knew things were serious.
"Well, Jubes, it looks like school is going to have to wait," I commented as everybody rushed to the door, "The mighty announcer voice is calling. But look on the bright side – at least you get to miss Physics."
I had no idea…