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Ch. 5: Revelation of the Mind
##
Logan tore down the street, enjoying the freedom of his motorcycle. Though he knew it was dangerous, he left his helmet off, enjoying how the wind pulled at his face. He grinned and increased his speed, ignoring the angry shouts from passersby who barely managed to get out of the way. Straightening his back, he breathed deeply in bliss.
He pressed hard on the brakes, skidding to a halt. Lifting his nose higher in the air, he sniffed again.
Was that my imagination?
He sniffed again.
Two scents I know, one I don't know...okay, who're the first two...
He narrowed his eyes.
Rogue.
Knowing something was wrong, he left his bike in the middle of the street and ran off through an alleyway.
##
Shadow was sweating under the effort to carry both children at the same time. He wanted to stop and rest, but he knew he had to obey his boss. Sighing, he pressed onward.
"You picked the wrong day to piss me off, bub," a voice called from behind him.
Adjusting his grip on them, Shadow turned to face a young-looking, muscular man. His eyes were narrowed and there was a rage in his eyes. "What do you want?" Shadow asked in his monotone voice.
"Put Rogue and Kaia down now," Logan hissed.
"What did you call them? Are those their new names, then?" Shadow answered with a laugh. "'Rogue' and 'Kaia' indeed."
"Alright, bub, we can do this the hard way," Logan growled as he drew his claws out from in between his knuckles.
Even the sight of six rather painful-looking bearers of death did not deter Shadow. As Wolverine leapt into the air, Shadow calmly stepped forward, making sure the children were still safely in his arms. Wolverine, landing on his feet with his knees bent, swung his claws sideways and parallel to the floor.
"Careful!" Shadow sneered. "Or you'll harm the Subjects."
"Subjects my ass! Let 'em go!" Wolverine snarled as he bared his teeth. He pushed off the ground and brought his claws in front of him, wanting to cut his opponent through his gut.
And in the blink of an eye, Wolverine's opponent reverted into a shadow, bringing Rogue and Kaia with him as he disappeared. Wolverine skidded to a halt with another snarl. "Coward! Get out here!"
"Okay then."
Shadow appeared next to Wolverine, ready to strike him down for good. Wolverine dodged the blow by dropping to the ground and rolling away, then leapt to his feet, his claws brought high into the air, ready to slice Shadow down the middle.
A bright, electrical light surrounded Wolverine suddenly. As volts of electricity ran through Wolverine, he screamed, letting his retractable claws return to his hands. His body shook tremendously as he began to foam at the mouth. Then, his eyes rolling in the back of his head, Logan collapsed on the ground.
Shadow, frowning, said, "That was dishonorable, Alice."
Alice lowered her hand and sighed, kicking at Logan's unconscious form. "You and your honor. Come on, Boss said he wanted them back right away. I'm just making sure you follow orders again."
Deathstrike is always paranoid of deception...Watchers watching the Watchers. How pathetic.
"His paranoia will be the death of him...or his duty to his work will get him, sooner or later," Shadow said in his odd monotone voice.
"Sooner or later," Alice agreed. "Come on, I've already got the van around the corner."
"What about him?" Shadow said with a nod towards Logan.
"He won't get up for a very long time and you know it, Shadow," she replied with a shrug. "Leave him here."
"Never leave evidence," Shadow said.
"We don't have time," Alice said impatiently. "Get to the van, damn you."
And impatience will kill us all.
Shadow followed her out.
##
"My children, my children! The path between destiny and ruin, success and failure, is a thin one! Fear and despair will lie in your path, my children. Forgive me! I did not see until the end..."
The voice was pounding into Rogue's mind. She winced in the darkness, but found she couldn't move. And the voice continued.
"He is coming, my children. Coming for you. Fueled by rage, angered by deception...and deception spawned from love."
Rogue wanted to vomit, to scream, to do anything. She wanted the woman to stop talking, but she continued.
"Forgive me, my children! I tried to hide you, but I failed. I am dust...dust..."
##
Logan groaned. His body ached, but he was grateful it was healing so fast. Wincing, he pushed himself up and stretched his neck, smiling as it cracked several times. Quickly, he bent down to the ground and sniffed quickly.
The scent is gone.
"Damn it!" he roared, slicing at the air.
##
"Oh, children, I left you too soon. Forgive me. I did not see. I have failed, but from my failure, you can succeed."
"Get...out...of...my...head," Rogue hissed inside her own mind.
The voice of the woman grew louder, more powerful, and filled with despair.
"Remember, my children," it continued, "forget not the old ways...follow the path, for it is not broken...follow...the path..."
##
"Xavier!"
Logan nearly wrenched the doors open and sprinted inside, roaring at the top of his lungs.
"Xavier!"
"What is it, Logan? What is wrong?" the Professor asked as he wheeled himself to the front hall. Logan's demeanor frightened him.
"Rogue and Kaia...they've been taken!" Logan snarled. "Their trail is cold...I don't know where they are!"
"How could they have been taken?" Xavier cried. "They should've been at school..."
He put his hands to his head and focused his mind.
Storm, we have a situation...
Yes, Professor?
Rogue and Kaia have been kidnapped.
##
The pounding in her head only added to her discomfort. Moaning, Rogue opened her eyes to darkness.
"Oh, my God...I'm blind!" she croaked out.
"You're not blind," a monotone voice answered in the darkness. "You'll see...let your eyes adjust to the dark."
"Where...?"
Rogue could feel her mind beginning to slip away from her. Her body began to go limp, but she was dimly aware of something cold against her wrists above her head. She tried to fight it and opened her eyes a little wider.
"Where...am I...?" she whispered again.
"You're home," the same voice answered. "Hush now, go to sleep."
Rogue could only obey.
##
"Look at that...a perfect specimen! Skin tone...everything. Careful with that probe there. Don't harm her."
Rogue opened her eyes slowly, then winced from the bright light that bore into her eyes.
"Deathstrike, she's waking up."
A woman's...voice?
It was different than the sad voice she heard before.
She was aware that she was on her back, but she couldn't move her body. Slowly, she looked around. A woman was gazing at her with a blank expression, while a grey-haired man was looking over her with an excited look in his eyes.
"My, my," the man said with a grin. "Welcome back, Subject 1. I was wondering when you would awaken."
He was moving closer to her face. Rogue was horribly aware that she was naked. She wanted to scream, but found she had not the voice to do so.
The man was holding something in his hand, but her eyes couldn't focus on it. Beginning to panic, she started to hyperventilate.
"Now, now, don't panic, my wonderful Subject. Just relax," he said with a smile as his hand lowered to her neck. "This will hurt."
As he injected the needle into her neck, she tried to cry out, but nothing came out from her open mouth. Her body twitched a little as he withdrew the needle. She was dimly aware of him stroking her forehead.
A sharp, biting pain began to spread from her neck throughout her entire body. Her head began to ache.
"What....do...you....want...with...me...?" she finally managed to moan out.
"Now, now, no talking," the man replied sweetly. He traced his fingers along her forehead. "Just relax. You may feel a little...uncomfortable."
The pain reached its climax. Rogue arched her back and screamed.
##
"She's pretty stubborn," Deathstrike said with a sigh as he sat down, gazing through the glass. "And Subject 2 was no different."
"Are you sure this method won't kill them both?" Alice asked as she leaned against the glass to gaze at the other test subject.
"They are my greatest test subjects. Of course it won't kill them," Deathstrike replied.
"They're just children," Shadow replied from the corner.
"Don't you dare start the whole ethical business with me, Shadow. Not again. I can't afford to have you killed, my dear Shadow," Deathstrike hissed. "These test subjects are the key to salvation. This isn't a question of morality, boy, but a question of survival."
Shadow shrugged.
"You're the genius here, Deathstrike. You did all the research, not me," he replied.
"That's right, Shadow. And who hired you both off the streets? I did. So if anyone has any problems, they better shut up about it," Deathstrike hissed. "And they are not children."
"They just look like it, is all," Alice replied quietly.
"I didn't ask for your opinion, Alice, however thought-provoking," Deathstrike hissed.
"And if they remember?" Alice said, looking at him.
"Then we have a greater success than before," he replied with a smile. "It's going to work."
"What about the X-Men? They'll come looking for them," Shadow replied.
"They can't find us underground," Deathstrike retaliated. "And even if they do, you can handle a bunch of kids, can't you, Shadow?"
Shadow shrugged.
$%$%
Please review and stuff...love you all lots!
##
Ch. 5: Revelation of the Mind
##
Logan tore down the street, enjoying the freedom of his motorcycle. Though he knew it was dangerous, he left his helmet off, enjoying how the wind pulled at his face. He grinned and increased his speed, ignoring the angry shouts from passersby who barely managed to get out of the way. Straightening his back, he breathed deeply in bliss.
He pressed hard on the brakes, skidding to a halt. Lifting his nose higher in the air, he sniffed again.
Was that my imagination?
He sniffed again.
Two scents I know, one I don't know...okay, who're the first two...
He narrowed his eyes.
Rogue.
Knowing something was wrong, he left his bike in the middle of the street and ran off through an alleyway.
##
Shadow was sweating under the effort to carry both children at the same time. He wanted to stop and rest, but he knew he had to obey his boss. Sighing, he pressed onward.
"You picked the wrong day to piss me off, bub," a voice called from behind him.
Adjusting his grip on them, Shadow turned to face a young-looking, muscular man. His eyes were narrowed and there was a rage in his eyes. "What do you want?" Shadow asked in his monotone voice.
"Put Rogue and Kaia down now," Logan hissed.
"What did you call them? Are those their new names, then?" Shadow answered with a laugh. "'Rogue' and 'Kaia' indeed."
"Alright, bub, we can do this the hard way," Logan growled as he drew his claws out from in between his knuckles.
Even the sight of six rather painful-looking bearers of death did not deter Shadow. As Wolverine leapt into the air, Shadow calmly stepped forward, making sure the children were still safely in his arms. Wolverine, landing on his feet with his knees bent, swung his claws sideways and parallel to the floor.
"Careful!" Shadow sneered. "Or you'll harm the Subjects."
"Subjects my ass! Let 'em go!" Wolverine snarled as he bared his teeth. He pushed off the ground and brought his claws in front of him, wanting to cut his opponent through his gut.
And in the blink of an eye, Wolverine's opponent reverted into a shadow, bringing Rogue and Kaia with him as he disappeared. Wolverine skidded to a halt with another snarl. "Coward! Get out here!"
"Okay then."
Shadow appeared next to Wolverine, ready to strike him down for good. Wolverine dodged the blow by dropping to the ground and rolling away, then leapt to his feet, his claws brought high into the air, ready to slice Shadow down the middle.
A bright, electrical light surrounded Wolverine suddenly. As volts of electricity ran through Wolverine, he screamed, letting his retractable claws return to his hands. His body shook tremendously as he began to foam at the mouth. Then, his eyes rolling in the back of his head, Logan collapsed on the ground.
Shadow, frowning, said, "That was dishonorable, Alice."
Alice lowered her hand and sighed, kicking at Logan's unconscious form. "You and your honor. Come on, Boss said he wanted them back right away. I'm just making sure you follow orders again."
Deathstrike is always paranoid of deception...Watchers watching the Watchers. How pathetic.
"His paranoia will be the death of him...or his duty to his work will get him, sooner or later," Shadow said in his odd monotone voice.
"Sooner or later," Alice agreed. "Come on, I've already got the van around the corner."
"What about him?" Shadow said with a nod towards Logan.
"He won't get up for a very long time and you know it, Shadow," she replied with a shrug. "Leave him here."
"Never leave evidence," Shadow said.
"We don't have time," Alice said impatiently. "Get to the van, damn you."
And impatience will kill us all.
Shadow followed her out.
##
"My children, my children! The path between destiny and ruin, success and failure, is a thin one! Fear and despair will lie in your path, my children. Forgive me! I did not see until the end..."
The voice was pounding into Rogue's mind. She winced in the darkness, but found she couldn't move. And the voice continued.
"He is coming, my children. Coming for you. Fueled by rage, angered by deception...and deception spawned from love."
Rogue wanted to vomit, to scream, to do anything. She wanted the woman to stop talking, but she continued.
"Forgive me, my children! I tried to hide you, but I failed. I am dust...dust..."
##
Logan groaned. His body ached, but he was grateful it was healing so fast. Wincing, he pushed himself up and stretched his neck, smiling as it cracked several times. Quickly, he bent down to the ground and sniffed quickly.
The scent is gone.
"Damn it!" he roared, slicing at the air.
##
"Oh, children, I left you too soon. Forgive me. I did not see. I have failed, but from my failure, you can succeed."
"Get...out...of...my...head," Rogue hissed inside her own mind.
The voice of the woman grew louder, more powerful, and filled with despair.
"Remember, my children," it continued, "forget not the old ways...follow the path, for it is not broken...follow...the path..."
##
"Xavier!"
Logan nearly wrenched the doors open and sprinted inside, roaring at the top of his lungs.
"Xavier!"
"What is it, Logan? What is wrong?" the Professor asked as he wheeled himself to the front hall. Logan's demeanor frightened him.
"Rogue and Kaia...they've been taken!" Logan snarled. "Their trail is cold...I don't know where they are!"
"How could they have been taken?" Xavier cried. "They should've been at school..."
He put his hands to his head and focused his mind.
Storm, we have a situation...
Yes, Professor?
Rogue and Kaia have been kidnapped.
##
The pounding in her head only added to her discomfort. Moaning, Rogue opened her eyes to darkness.
"Oh, my God...I'm blind!" she croaked out.
"You're not blind," a monotone voice answered in the darkness. "You'll see...let your eyes adjust to the dark."
"Where...?"
Rogue could feel her mind beginning to slip away from her. Her body began to go limp, but she was dimly aware of something cold against her wrists above her head. She tried to fight it and opened her eyes a little wider.
"Where...am I...?" she whispered again.
"You're home," the same voice answered. "Hush now, go to sleep."
Rogue could only obey.
##
"Look at that...a perfect specimen! Skin tone...everything. Careful with that probe there. Don't harm her."
Rogue opened her eyes slowly, then winced from the bright light that bore into her eyes.
"Deathstrike, she's waking up."
A woman's...voice?
It was different than the sad voice she heard before.
She was aware that she was on her back, but she couldn't move her body. Slowly, she looked around. A woman was gazing at her with a blank expression, while a grey-haired man was looking over her with an excited look in his eyes.
"My, my," the man said with a grin. "Welcome back, Subject 1. I was wondering when you would awaken."
He was moving closer to her face. Rogue was horribly aware that she was naked. She wanted to scream, but found she had not the voice to do so.
The man was holding something in his hand, but her eyes couldn't focus on it. Beginning to panic, she started to hyperventilate.
"Now, now, don't panic, my wonderful Subject. Just relax," he said with a smile as his hand lowered to her neck. "This will hurt."
As he injected the needle into her neck, she tried to cry out, but nothing came out from her open mouth. Her body twitched a little as he withdrew the needle. She was dimly aware of him stroking her forehead.
A sharp, biting pain began to spread from her neck throughout her entire body. Her head began to ache.
"What....do...you....want...with...me...?" she finally managed to moan out.
"Now, now, no talking," the man replied sweetly. He traced his fingers along her forehead. "Just relax. You may feel a little...uncomfortable."
The pain reached its climax. Rogue arched her back and screamed.
##
"She's pretty stubborn," Deathstrike said with a sigh as he sat down, gazing through the glass. "And Subject 2 was no different."
"Are you sure this method won't kill them both?" Alice asked as she leaned against the glass to gaze at the other test subject.
"They are my greatest test subjects. Of course it won't kill them," Deathstrike replied.
"They're just children," Shadow replied from the corner.
"Don't you dare start the whole ethical business with me, Shadow. Not again. I can't afford to have you killed, my dear Shadow," Deathstrike hissed. "These test subjects are the key to salvation. This isn't a question of morality, boy, but a question of survival."
Shadow shrugged.
"You're the genius here, Deathstrike. You did all the research, not me," he replied.
"That's right, Shadow. And who hired you both off the streets? I did. So if anyone has any problems, they better shut up about it," Deathstrike hissed. "And they are not children."
"They just look like it, is all," Alice replied quietly.
"I didn't ask for your opinion, Alice, however thought-provoking," Deathstrike hissed.
"And if they remember?" Alice said, looking at him.
"Then we have a greater success than before," he replied with a smile. "It's going to work."
"What about the X-Men? They'll come looking for them," Shadow replied.
"They can't find us underground," Deathstrike retaliated. "And even if they do, you can handle a bunch of kids, can't you, Shadow?"
Shadow shrugged.
$%$%
Please review and stuff...love you all lots!