To Err is Human
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I bet Einstein turned himself all sorts of colours before he invented the light bulb"
--
Chapter 9 - Attacked from within
---
Sebastian Shaw grinned as he stepped off his private jet, he gave a nod to his attendants and they walked with him into the office building he had chosen to use. He'd bought it a while ago, and was begining to re-vamp it. For now, however, it would suit his purpose. Already waiting inside was a girl of about twelve, sitting outside his own office, tugging nervously at her brown hair.
"Ahhhh hello", said Shaw with a smile, offering his hand, which she took, giving it a nervous shake, "I assume you are the young lady here for our meeting?"
"Uh huh", she said, nodding her head, a strong Southern accent, "ah'm Joelle".
"Pleased to meet you, Joelle", said Shaw, opening the door to the office, "lets begin, shall we?"
She nodded, walking with him, taking a seat in front of his desk.
"I'm a man that gets right down to business, Joelle", said Shaw, "so you'll have to excuse my bluntness. You're here to give me vital information to aid my mutant...project"
Joelle nodded, before frowning softly.
"Before a'h tell you....you...you won't hurt them...will you? The mutants?".
Shaw chuckled, shaking his head.
"Of course not, child", he said, "I am a mutant myself, my company aims to cure mutancy, let them lead normal lives again".
"Oh", said Joelle, nodding, "okay"
Shaw smiled, clicking on a dictorphone on his desk.
"I understand, Joelle, that some members of your family are mutants...will you give details please"
Joelle cleared his throat.
"Two of ma'h brothers and two of ma'h sisters are already active mutants", she said, "and one brother and one sister have dormant X-genes...they haven't manifested yet"
"Mmm hmm", said Shaw nodding, "and yourself?".
"A'hm a flatscan", she said, "and the twins...they're the youngest, Sir, they're flatscans too".
"So, only three X-gene free in a family of..nine, is it?"
"Yes'ir", said Joelle with a nod.
"Interesting", said Shaw before smiling, leaning forward, now, lets talk about powers, Miss Guthrie" [1]
---
Meanwhile, Piotr Rasbutin was sitting in the garden, enjoying the morning sunshine. It provided good light for drawing. A few months ago, he'd been asked to join the X-Men, a position he greatfully accepted, it meant he could still stay in contact with his family, now safe from Magneto's threats, while making a difference with his abilities.
"Hello, Katya", he said, glancing over his shoulder.
Kitty paused, not aware she'd been making that much noise,before giving him a weak smile.
"Hey, Piotr", she said, walking over, looking over his shoulder at his 'doodles', "what're you drawing?".
"I have not decided yet", chuckled the large Russian, before looking at her softly, "you are unhappy, Kitty".
"No, I'm fine, honest", said Kitty with a forced smile.
"I am an artist, Kitty", said Piotr gently, "we can tell soft changes in expressions, in postures, and you are unhappy"
Kitty sighed defeatedly, sitting next to him.
"Lance showed up last night", she said, "he...he told me he still loved me".
Piotr frowned softly, before sighing.
"And you, do you still love him?"
"I.....I don't know", said Kitty, giving a sob "I wish I did, this is tearing me apart"
A large but gentle hand rested on her shoulder.
"I care for you alot, Kitty", Piotr said gently, "but in the end, you must follow your heart, as much as it would hurt to lose you, I could not stand to see you unhappy".
Kitty gave a sniff.
"You're too good a guy, you know that?".
Piotr cleared his throat modestly.
"I only want you to be happy, Katya", he said gently, "go to him, if it is what you wish"
Kitty gave him a hug, hiding her face in his chest.
"Thank you", she whispered.
"You are welcome", said Piotr hugging her back.
Kitty pulled away, kissing him on the cheek.
"You deserve someone really special, you know that, Piotr?", she said, "I hope you find her, I really do".
With that, she stood, walking away.
"So do I", whispered Piotr, watching her leave with a sad sigh.
----
In the control room, Hank had been trying to follow the movements of the Hellfire Club. Even from the little information Roberto could give them, it was obvious they were a force to be reconed with.
"Any luck?", asked Xavier, wheeling in.
"We've managed to get a lock on the Hellfire Club", said Hank, tapping at the keyboard, "just waiting for a.....oh no"
"What is it, Hank?", asked Logan frowning, walking over.
"The Hellfire are heading for Cumberland, Kentuky", he said, "...they're attacking the Guthrie farm".
---
Amanda Sefton sighed as she entered the Mansion. The house Kurt had made was tucked under her arm.
"Hellooo?", she called out into the house.
Bobby peered around the common room door, a big, red mark on his face from where he'd finally yanked off the kebab skewer.
"Kurt isn't here".
"I know", said Amanda, "he gave me this...err...thing and asked me to try and convince a Shortpack that it was a really nice place to live"
She paused.
"Now, I know this place is sureal at it's best, but that's all the information I have to work on right now, mind filling in the gaps Kurt left?"
Bobby rolled his eyes, beconing her into the Common Room, before knocking on the side of the old dollhouse in the corner.
"Shortpack, Kurt's sent his girlfriend, Amy, to see you".
"Amanda", corrected Amanda, shaking her head, she'd been dating Kurt for a loooong time now, and STILL Bobby called her Amy.
"Oh, right", said Bobby.
"What happened to your face?", asked Amanda sweetly.
"Awww man, the mark's still there?!!!", squeaked Bobby, "I gotta go wash it off!"
With that he ran off. Amanda blinked, putting Kurt's house on the floor. It was then she noticed the tiny little man at the door of the other house.
"ARRGGHHHHHH!"
She stepped backwards, unfortunately standing on Lockheed's tail, which caused him to spew a jet of flame, setting Kurt's house on fire.
"Well...that's a new reaction to me", said Shortpack.
"Uh oh, fire, there's a fire!", shouted Amanda, "fire!"
Bobby ran in, throwing a jet of ice on the burning house. When the smoke cleared, it was a soggy, charred mess.
"......Oooooooh", said Bobby, giving the once-a-house a poke, "Kurt's gonna kill you, Amy"
---
"No way, Cannonball, you're stayin' put", said Logan, "the last thing we need is another kid to worry about"
The X-Men had started to gather the main team, when Sam had shown up, suited up and ready to go.
"But....they're ma'h family", protested Sam, "they're attackin' ma'h home".
"Sam", tried Xavier carefully, "we're just worried that your emotional involvment might blindside...."
Sam narrowed his eyes. It was very rare the soft-spoken Southerner spoke out against his elders, he'd been brought up to respect them. But...this was his family in danger, and his family were his world, his universe....they were worth being grounded and running Logan's training sesssion for the rest of his life, if it came to it.
"A'h WON'T abandon ma'h family", he said, not budging an inch, "it's ma'h job to protect them, and a'hm not gonna stand by while a bunch of physcos try to destroy them".
"Cannonball", started Logan with a growl.
"Look, if a'h don't htich a ride with you, a'hll find my OWN way there", said Sam, "even if a'h have to fly there on ma'h own power, a'hll go. A'h won't stay in the mansion, you can't make me".
"Yer an X-Men and yer staying put", said Logan pointedly, "that's an order from a superior".
"Fine", said Sam coldly, turning his back and walking away.
Logan blinked, watching the teen go.
".....What the heck happened ta that one?", he said, forwning, "he was one'a the good kids".
"He's upset about his family, Logan, he'll...", started Xavier, pausing, "well, that was unxpected"
"What was unex...."
Logan paused as he heard the basketball court being opened, the Velocity taking to the sky.
"Huh", said Logan, "I didn't know the kid had it in him".
"Gather the team and follow him in the Blackbird, Logan", said Xavier, "he can't see it himself, but Cannonball is way out of his depth here".
----
[1] - Yes, Joelle GUTHRIE. In the comics, she apparently joined a mutant- hate group for a while...here, she's a mole. Bad mole!
Bwhahahahahahaha! Sam's gone AWOL!. I love pulling suprises out of my hat, I really do :D. And poor, poor Piotr. Next up, to the Guthrie farm, where another Guthrie joins the Institute (and it's probably not the one you're thinking of). Do review. Until next time...
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I bet Einstein turned himself all sorts of colours before he invented the light bulb"
--
Chapter 9 - Attacked from within
---
Sebastian Shaw grinned as he stepped off his private jet, he gave a nod to his attendants and they walked with him into the office building he had chosen to use. He'd bought it a while ago, and was begining to re-vamp it. For now, however, it would suit his purpose. Already waiting inside was a girl of about twelve, sitting outside his own office, tugging nervously at her brown hair.
"Ahhhh hello", said Shaw with a smile, offering his hand, which she took, giving it a nervous shake, "I assume you are the young lady here for our meeting?"
"Uh huh", she said, nodding her head, a strong Southern accent, "ah'm Joelle".
"Pleased to meet you, Joelle", said Shaw, opening the door to the office, "lets begin, shall we?"
She nodded, walking with him, taking a seat in front of his desk.
"I'm a man that gets right down to business, Joelle", said Shaw, "so you'll have to excuse my bluntness. You're here to give me vital information to aid my mutant...project"
Joelle nodded, before frowning softly.
"Before a'h tell you....you...you won't hurt them...will you? The mutants?".
Shaw chuckled, shaking his head.
"Of course not, child", he said, "I am a mutant myself, my company aims to cure mutancy, let them lead normal lives again".
"Oh", said Joelle, nodding, "okay"
Shaw smiled, clicking on a dictorphone on his desk.
"I understand, Joelle, that some members of your family are mutants...will you give details please"
Joelle cleared his throat.
"Two of ma'h brothers and two of ma'h sisters are already active mutants", she said, "and one brother and one sister have dormant X-genes...they haven't manifested yet"
"Mmm hmm", said Shaw nodding, "and yourself?".
"A'hm a flatscan", she said, "and the twins...they're the youngest, Sir, they're flatscans too".
"So, only three X-gene free in a family of..nine, is it?"
"Yes'ir", said Joelle with a nod.
"Interesting", said Shaw before smiling, leaning forward, now, lets talk about powers, Miss Guthrie" [1]
---
Meanwhile, Piotr Rasbutin was sitting in the garden, enjoying the morning sunshine. It provided good light for drawing. A few months ago, he'd been asked to join the X-Men, a position he greatfully accepted, it meant he could still stay in contact with his family, now safe from Magneto's threats, while making a difference with his abilities.
"Hello, Katya", he said, glancing over his shoulder.
Kitty paused, not aware she'd been making that much noise,before giving him a weak smile.
"Hey, Piotr", she said, walking over, looking over his shoulder at his 'doodles', "what're you drawing?".
"I have not decided yet", chuckled the large Russian, before looking at her softly, "you are unhappy, Kitty".
"No, I'm fine, honest", said Kitty with a forced smile.
"I am an artist, Kitty", said Piotr gently, "we can tell soft changes in expressions, in postures, and you are unhappy"
Kitty sighed defeatedly, sitting next to him.
"Lance showed up last night", she said, "he...he told me he still loved me".
Piotr frowned softly, before sighing.
"And you, do you still love him?"
"I.....I don't know", said Kitty, giving a sob "I wish I did, this is tearing me apart"
A large but gentle hand rested on her shoulder.
"I care for you alot, Kitty", Piotr said gently, "but in the end, you must follow your heart, as much as it would hurt to lose you, I could not stand to see you unhappy".
Kitty gave a sniff.
"You're too good a guy, you know that?".
Piotr cleared his throat modestly.
"I only want you to be happy, Katya", he said gently, "go to him, if it is what you wish"
Kitty gave him a hug, hiding her face in his chest.
"Thank you", she whispered.
"You are welcome", said Piotr hugging her back.
Kitty pulled away, kissing him on the cheek.
"You deserve someone really special, you know that, Piotr?", she said, "I hope you find her, I really do".
With that, she stood, walking away.
"So do I", whispered Piotr, watching her leave with a sad sigh.
----
In the control room, Hank had been trying to follow the movements of the Hellfire Club. Even from the little information Roberto could give them, it was obvious they were a force to be reconed with.
"Any luck?", asked Xavier, wheeling in.
"We've managed to get a lock on the Hellfire Club", said Hank, tapping at the keyboard, "just waiting for a.....oh no"
"What is it, Hank?", asked Logan frowning, walking over.
"The Hellfire are heading for Cumberland, Kentuky", he said, "...they're attacking the Guthrie farm".
---
Amanda Sefton sighed as she entered the Mansion. The house Kurt had made was tucked under her arm.
"Hellooo?", she called out into the house.
Bobby peered around the common room door, a big, red mark on his face from where he'd finally yanked off the kebab skewer.
"Kurt isn't here".
"I know", said Amanda, "he gave me this...err...thing and asked me to try and convince a Shortpack that it was a really nice place to live"
She paused.
"Now, I know this place is sureal at it's best, but that's all the information I have to work on right now, mind filling in the gaps Kurt left?"
Bobby rolled his eyes, beconing her into the Common Room, before knocking on the side of the old dollhouse in the corner.
"Shortpack, Kurt's sent his girlfriend, Amy, to see you".
"Amanda", corrected Amanda, shaking her head, she'd been dating Kurt for a loooong time now, and STILL Bobby called her Amy.
"Oh, right", said Bobby.
"What happened to your face?", asked Amanda sweetly.
"Awww man, the mark's still there?!!!", squeaked Bobby, "I gotta go wash it off!"
With that he ran off. Amanda blinked, putting Kurt's house on the floor. It was then she noticed the tiny little man at the door of the other house.
"ARRGGHHHHHH!"
She stepped backwards, unfortunately standing on Lockheed's tail, which caused him to spew a jet of flame, setting Kurt's house on fire.
"Well...that's a new reaction to me", said Shortpack.
"Uh oh, fire, there's a fire!", shouted Amanda, "fire!"
Bobby ran in, throwing a jet of ice on the burning house. When the smoke cleared, it was a soggy, charred mess.
"......Oooooooh", said Bobby, giving the once-a-house a poke, "Kurt's gonna kill you, Amy"
---
"No way, Cannonball, you're stayin' put", said Logan, "the last thing we need is another kid to worry about"
The X-Men had started to gather the main team, when Sam had shown up, suited up and ready to go.
"But....they're ma'h family", protested Sam, "they're attackin' ma'h home".
"Sam", tried Xavier carefully, "we're just worried that your emotional involvment might blindside...."
Sam narrowed his eyes. It was very rare the soft-spoken Southerner spoke out against his elders, he'd been brought up to respect them. But...this was his family in danger, and his family were his world, his universe....they were worth being grounded and running Logan's training sesssion for the rest of his life, if it came to it.
"A'h WON'T abandon ma'h family", he said, not budging an inch, "it's ma'h job to protect them, and a'hm not gonna stand by while a bunch of physcos try to destroy them".
"Cannonball", started Logan with a growl.
"Look, if a'h don't htich a ride with you, a'hll find my OWN way there", said Sam, "even if a'h have to fly there on ma'h own power, a'hll go. A'h won't stay in the mansion, you can't make me".
"Yer an X-Men and yer staying put", said Logan pointedly, "that's an order from a superior".
"Fine", said Sam coldly, turning his back and walking away.
Logan blinked, watching the teen go.
".....What the heck happened ta that one?", he said, forwning, "he was one'a the good kids".
"He's upset about his family, Logan, he'll...", started Xavier, pausing, "well, that was unxpected"
"What was unex...."
Logan paused as he heard the basketball court being opened, the Velocity taking to the sky.
"Huh", said Logan, "I didn't know the kid had it in him".
"Gather the team and follow him in the Blackbird, Logan", said Xavier, "he can't see it himself, but Cannonball is way out of his depth here".
----
[1] - Yes, Joelle GUTHRIE. In the comics, she apparently joined a mutant- hate group for a while...here, she's a mole. Bad mole!
Bwhahahahahahaha! Sam's gone AWOL!. I love pulling suprises out of my hat, I really do :D. And poor, poor Piotr. Next up, to the Guthrie farm, where another Guthrie joins the Institute (and it's probably not the one you're thinking of). Do review. Until next time...