Proteus Unleashed

"You have a son and you never told me about this?" Rahne gasped. "Your son is Proteus?"

"Proteus?" Kitty asked.

"It's what we called the mutant in Cell Block D," Angelo said sarcastically. "We were told never to go near that room because it was too dangerous."

"I'm afraid an explanation is in order," Xavier sighed.

"You knew about all this?" Jean asked.

"Proteus…Kevin was one of my first mutant patients," Xavier sighed. "Even before you Jean or Wanda."

"Wanda?" Bobby asked.

"Remember when Magneto locked her up when she was about eight?" Kitty rolled her eyes.

"Yes, not long after that I took it upon myself to try and help her with very limited success," Xavier said. "But around the same time I was trying to deal with Kevin."

"I guess I'd better tell the story so it makes more sense," Moria sighed as she sat down. "You all know I was married before."

"I didn't know that," Bobby said.

"That's because you have the attention span of a gnat!" Rina snapped. "Be quiet and let her finish!"

"It didn't take me long before I learned that Joe MacTaggert was not the man I thought he was," Moira sighed.

"Bloody brute that's what he is," Sean snarled.

"Well, when Kevin was born it was obvious that he was a mutant," Moira looked at Sean. "To say he didn't take it well was an understatement. Finally we got a divorce when Kevin was only two. It wasn't easy trying to raise Kevin. He couldn't understand why his father wasn't around. He was always frustrated. And when his powers emerged…"

"What exactly are his powers?" Jean asked.

"Kevin is telepathic and also has the psyonic ability to manipulate and alter reality," Sean said. "Unfortunately for some reason these powers make his X-Gene unstable. It does serious damage to his body."

"If I hadn't sedated him and put him in stasis when his powers emerged he would be dead by now," Moira sighed.

"Maybe that wouldn't have been a bad thing after all, considering," Thomas snorted.

"My son has a serious medical condition Sergeant!" Moira snapped.

"Yeah a medical condition that lets him inhabit other people's bodies and use 'em like tissue paper," Thomas snapped.

"Inhabit other people's bodies?" Kitty asked.

"From what we've gathered he's learned a few tricks pretty quickly," Sean sighed.

"Kevin can literally jump his conscious mind into another person's," Xavier explained. "Temporarily inhabiting it. However the longer he stays inside the body, the faster he burns that body's metabolism until it literally crumbles. He will then need to inhabit another body."

"You mean he's some kind of body snatcher?" Bobby asked.

"Technically, yes," Xavier told him. "I was called in to try and counsel Kevin while he was in stasis. To try and rehabilitate him until his mother found a cure. But my attempts were…unsuccessful. The boy rejected all my efforts to such a degree I had no choice but to discontinue."

"I'm afraid he inherited a bit of his father's cruel streak as well as his temper," Moira sighed. "As well as his stubbornness."

"In other words a mutant with immense power and a tendency to kill people has just been unleashed," Logan grunted. "That's not good."

"No kidding…" A telepathic voice was heard in their heads.

"What the…?" Rina snarled as she turned. They saw three more individuals walk up. One was a sixteen-year-old blonde girl with pointed ears wearing a gold outfit and her arm in a sling. The second was a tall eighteen-year-old boy in a costume representing Great Britain's Flag. The third was a sixteen-year old boy with brown hair, and covered in black from the nose down. "I do not like telepaths in my head!"

"I ain't bloody crazy about it either babe," The Boy in Black informed her. "But since it's the only way I can talk I ain't got much choice. So live with it."

"Why you…" Rina popped her claws.

"Go ahead and pop your claws in me sweetie! See what happens!" The Boy snapped back.

"Stop it!" The girl in gold stepped between them. "We have enough problems! Let's not fight anymore."

"More of your team?" Logan asked.

"Yes and no," Sean said. "Two of them are."

"That's Meggan," Thornn pointed out. "She's a shapeshifter and Mr. Personality over there is Jono Starsmore, AKA Chamber."

"Power wise let's just say me and Proteus have some things in common," Jono scoffed. "Although I like to think I draw the line at killing people. Not to mention I can't bend reality."

"And you are?" Logan asked the third mutant.

"Brian Braddock, AKA Captain Britain," Sgt. Thomas introduced them. "The United Kingdom's very own super hero."

"You guys got a super hero?" Bobby was surprised.

"What's so shocking about that?" Brian asked him. "You Americans don't exactly own the monopoly on super powers you know?"

"It's just that we've never heard of you," Scott said.

"Well I did just join the costume brigade," Brian grinned. "It's a long story but Parliament and STRIKE have given me full authority to put my powers to good use."

"Captain Britain can fly, is super strong, super fast and has some mystical qualities," Thomas told them. "Namely he can create magical barriers and force fields."

"So you're like a mystical British Superman?" Kurt said. "Cool. But if you're not part of Sean's team what are you doing here?"

"I was here to ask Doctor MacTaggert about assisting my twin sister Betsy with her powers," Brian told them. "She's a telepath and they've been flaring up lately. When I got here Legion was tearing the place apart."

"No sooner did we stomp Legion and send him packing Proteus breaks out," Chamber told them.

"He jumped in one of my nurse's bodies and took off," Moira told them. "And now he's out there doing god knows what."

"Then it's imperative we find him fast," Xavier frowned. "Before he does even more damage."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"You deserve a break today…" Kevin sang as he munched on his fries. His latest host body was disintegrating much to the horror of the people working at McDonalds. "Forget Burger King, these fries are the best!"

"It'll clog your arteries," Logan said as he walked in.

"Yeah like that's a real problem for me," Kevin chuckled. "Let me guess, Xavier found me and sent you to get me huh?"

"Yeah and you're mom's here too," Logan said. "Now are you gonna come quietly or do we have to do this the hard way?"

"Actually right now I am going to finish these fries," Kevin said as he ate. "You know how long I've been dreaming about these things?"

"Well you're gonna go back to dreaming," Logan snarled.

"Oh please," Kevin grunted. "Do we have to do this now? I'm enjoying the first decent meal I've had in seven years and you want to fight? Sit down and pull up a Big Mac, you need to get your priorities straight."

"Look Kid," Logan said trying not to lose his temper. "I know you got handed a bum deal and all that. Believe me, I hate labs as much as anyone does."

"Oh and of course you'd have a great reason for not liking them do you?" Kevin's eyes glimmered. "Weapon X? Yeah I know all about that. It's a bit like reading a James Joyce book but I can read your thoughts, as jumbled as they are."

"Then you know I ain't gonna just let you get up and walk out of here," Logan snarled.

"That's what this bozo thought before I got him," Kevin indicated the body he was in. "Of course you're the big bad Wolverine, the Indestructible Logan or maybe I should just call you Mr. Howlett…"

"What?" Logan gasped.

"How about Jamie instead?" Kevin went on. "James Howlett. No Logan's cooler. You're better off with that name instead of your original one."

"My…real name…" Logan gasped. "How…?"

"You didn't really think while I was lying in stasis all I did was dream about French fries did you?" Kevin said menacingly. "My body may have been inactive but my mind wasn't. It took me a while but I've been practicing. Three years it took me to be able to read thoughts outside my stasis chamber. Took another one until I was able to know everything going on around the island. Then it wasn't so bad. Listening in on everyone's thoughts and dreams and bloody little adventures while I was trapped like the last grape popsicle in the icebox. Kind of like watching telly all day without the bloody commercials."

"Oh yes Logan," Kevin continued. "I've been having a jolly time watching and waiting. Spying on all those guilty feelings and romantic trysts me mum had with that Irish git. Even went into a dream or two with his little girl and Moira's new little pet wolf. Had a lot of fun in their minds. Of course I made sure they wouldn't remember anything. Couldn't have them blabbing to Mum about me and what I could do. But I remember. Every little detail…"

"You sick son of a…" Logan growled.

"Oh they were a lot of fun," Kevin grinned. "But I gotta admit, taking people's bodies as well as their lives has been the biggest kick of all."

"EVERYBODY OUT!" Logan roared to the workers.

"EVERYBODY STAY!" Kevin snarled. "Unless…Ugggh!" He got up and staggered.

It's over Kevin, Xavier said telepathically. He and a team he put together of Scott, Jean, Bobby, Rina, Kitty, Peter, John, Brian and Jono were waiting outsideJust relax and we'll take you home

"In the first place…" Kevin snarled both vocally and telepathically. "That stupid island prison camp is not my home! My home is with my father! And that's where I'm going! This time you can't stop me!"

Kevin snarled both vocally and telepathically.

"Yes we can Kevin," Xavier grunted as he sent a psychic attack.

"Try not to hurt him too much Charles," Moira said. She was there with Sgt. Thomas as well. "He's just a boy!"

"Are you kidding?" Thomas snarled. "That boy killed quite a few people! A little pain is the least he deserves!"

"It's going to take more than a damn headache from you to stop me Xavier!" Kevin roared. "Remember when you told me to work on my powers? Well for once I took your advice!"

Kevin roared.

Xavier screamed. "He…He shut me out…" Xavier gasped. "His telepathic abilities are incredible!"

"That's not good is it?" Bobby gulped.

"There…" Kevin panted as his form was disintegrating. "Now that that's over with! No more distractions! All right Mr. Wolverine, you wanna fight! Let's fight!"

"Let these people go!" Logan shouted. "They don't need to be involved in this!"

"Agreed," Kevin grinned. He snapped his fingers and suddenly every human left in the restaurant immediately turned to dust. "Cleanup on aisle one!"

"You disgusting little…" Logan sliced into him and then felt his whole world turn inside out.

"Yes I am…" Kevin grinned.

Meanwhile outside the restaurant….

"I can't sense anything from Kevin," Xavier said. "But Wolverine is in danger."

"Well then let's hurry up and kick his ass already!" John snapped.

"You're forgetting the people inside!" Scott told him.

"I'm afraid Proteus has already dealt with that issue," Xavier frowned. "God! No! No!"

"What?" Moira asked. "What happened?"

Logan swaggered out of the restaurant. Only it wasn't really Logan"Hi ya Charley…" Kevin grinned at him. "How's tricks?"

"Oh my god!" Kitty cried out. "Logan!"

"Kevin no!" Moira shouted.

"Regenerative healing factor that heals as soon as I burn up," Kevin grinned "Not to mention adamantium claws and sharp senses…Nice! Very nice! Guess what Mum! I've just found my new home!"

"Kevin stop this! Please! Come back with me before more people die!" Moira pleaded.

"Forget it Mother, I'm off to see my dad and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"

"I'm sorry to tell you this Kevin," Xavier said. "But your father doesn't want anything to do with you."

LIAR!" Kevin screamed. "YOU'VE ALWAYS LIED TO ME! USING YOUR POWERS TO KEEP ME UNDER MY MOTHER'S CONTROL! BUT THIS TIME I'M THE ONE WHO'S IN CONTROL NOW!"

"X-Men! GET HIM!" Scott shouted as he shot out an optic blast at Proteus.

"Please!" With a wave of his arm Kevin made the optic beam bend and hit Scott. "Like that's going to do any good? How about this?"

Immediately all the stones and gravel and asphalt in the road surrounding them rose up and started to attack them. Jean and Brian created shields to protect the others. "Okay then how about this? We fight in the air!" Kevin shouted.

Suddenly the ground and surroundings disappeared and there was only sky. Instead of falling down they all started to fall up. "This is like totally not the trip I planned for!" Kitty screamed.

"Kitty I have you!" Peter held onto her.

"AIEEEE!" Rina screamed.

"I can't tell which is up and which is down!" Bobby shouted.

"That's his plan!" Xavier shouted. "To disorient us! To confuse our senses!"

"It's working!" John moaned. "I think I'm gonna be sick!"

"Bloody Hell…" Jono managed to 'swim' towards Kevin. "Cut it out creep!"

"Yeah like that's going to stop me! Do you have any idea how much I've suffered because of this damned mutation? Well now it's my turn to make other people suffer for a change!" Kevin snarled creating some fireballs and throwing them at him.

"Like you're the only guy to lose body parts!" Jono dodged the fireballs and pulled back the fabric covering his mouth. Or what would have been his mouth if it was still there. Instead was a large stream of brightly colored energy. "I lost my whole freaking jaw as well as nearly every organ in my body! You see me wiping out downtown?" He blasted Logan with his energy. "Of course I am kicking your butt…"

"AGGGH!" Kevin was blasted backwards onto the road. "THAT HURT YOU FREAK!"

Immediately the landscape returned and the others fell to the ground. "Kid packs a punch," John rubbed his sore behind.

"Metal and Jono's energy are his weaknesses," Moira told them.

"Then we use them!" Peter armored up.

"All right that's it, you're gonna…" Kevin got to his feet. That's when he heard the honking of a loud semi. He turned and saw the headlights of a huge SUV headed right for him. "Oh bloody hell…"

The SUV hit him with a sickening thump. Logan's body rolled off the side of the road. The driver skidded to a stop and ran out. "I didn't see him!" He screamed. "It was dark and I…" He put his hand on Logan's chest and looked at his face.

"NO DON'T!" Scott shouted as he ran up and pulled the man away. "He's dangerous!"

"I certainly am…" The Driver growled. Then he hit Scott with a huge wave of energy then ran back to the car. "Cheerio folks!"

He hit them with another wave of unreality, this time they were in a huge mansion with stairs everywhere. "This is ridiculous!" John shouted as he stood upside down. Not long after he said that the real landscape appeared and he landed on his butt. "I am really getting tired of that happening!"

"LOGAN!" Jean ran towards him. "He's alive and his healing factor is working."

"Logan…" Xavier felt the panic in the other man rising. "I need you concentrate. Can you tell me anything about where Kevin was headed?"

"He's not gonna stop Charles…" Logan's voice was shaking. "He's not gonna stop until he gets what he wants. I couldn't get everything but I sensed he was trying to get to someplace…Somewhere called Deenambera."

"Oh my god…" Moira gasped.

"What? You know why he's going there?" Thomas asked.

"Yes," Moira said reluctantly. "That's where his father is."

Obviously the town Proteus is headed to is fake. I'm not really that familiar with the geography of Scotland. Plus if I want to blow up the town or something…well you get the picture. If you can't tell I'm using elements from both the comics and the 95 cartoon as well as my own demented imagination to tell my version of Proteus. And if you've read or seen any of it, you know what's coming. Or do you? Wait and see!