Winter Fire – I'm thankful for the praise. Yes, this story is rather addictive isn't it? Whenever I'm stuck I just reread it and bam! I'm ready to go again.
Ishandahalf – I suppose the terrorists get all the chicks, since they'll kill the ones that don't come. Surprised you with the "secret" didn't I? Expecting something bigger perhaps? Come on Rogue's just in high school, I'm not that demented. And yes, villains are cool. In fact they are the lords, no, the gods of cool.
I don't own Phantom of the Opera or X-Men: Evolution. But seeing as I'm the first person (that I know of) to combine the two I'm wondering if I have a claim on this whole idea in general. Probably not.
Much thanks to Spiffythefaery for all the beta work she provides for this story. And for her putting up with my postponing of works she wants to see me do sooner rather than later.
"This isn't my fault!
I don't want any
Part in this plot!"
- Christine
A violent explosion rocked the Danger Room, sending all the combatants sprawling on the floor.
As the bodies of the students of the Xavier Institute for the Gifted littered the ground of the mammoth metal training monstrosity, the holograms projected along the walls simmered and died out, revealing the normal chamber to the naked eye.
"Better, but you still are making stupid mistakes," Logan reproached with a critical eye as he entered the Danger Room. There was a collective groan from the students as they rolled to their feet and looked at their instructor.
"Lance, next time don't use your powers when standing at the foot of a cliff," Logan began his critique of the session. Each student had made a mistake and Logan pointed out every single one.
"Kitty, don't carry the bomb anymore. You keep phasing through the damn thing." The girl in question smiled sheepishly. The gruff instructor did everything he could to keep his lips from twisting into a similar smirk. Deep down he was pleased that the students were having such a difficult time completing the training sessions. Although, he'd never let them know that.
"Red, I wish I was in your head at the end of that. Care to explain what the hell you were trying to do?" Logan said as he turned his gaze to Jean.
"The objective was to steal the files and detonate the bomb. Since Rogue's team did such a fabulous job with the bomb, I thought I should help out," Jean replied, her gaze locking onto Logan's.
"So you left your team, without telling them, to find Rogue's team, having no idea where they were, and then blew up the bomb at the wrong site since you had no information on where to detonate it?"
"Well – I – uh…"
"Save it. Next time stick to your team and quit worrying about Rogue's. And in case you were curious, Rogue's plan was actually working until you showed up to ruin the simulation."
Jean stammered at Logan's cutting remark, her face a bright red, but she never got the chance to respond.
"Alright, that's enough for now. Hit the showers and get to school," Logan said, his comment greeted by a chorus of groans.
Rogue wore a look of complete disbelief. She was in complete and utter shock. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. In fact, every fiber of her being was telling her to dismiss what she was being told. Especially when considering who she was listening to.
"Ah don't find this joke funny," Rogue snapped, irritated with the boys before her. Whether she was mad at what they were saying or herself for even bothering to believe it was unclear.
"That's why it's not a joke," Bobby replied. Next to the ice-creating mutant were John and Kurt, who were nodding in agreement.
"How'd you find out then?" Rogue said with a raised eyebrow. "Boles said he was gonna reveal the parts today."
"Ve have our ways, Fraulein," Kurt said with pride as he buffed his fingers across his shirt.
"And you're certain that Ah'm gonna get the lead?"
"Absolutely."
"Not Jean?"
John shook his head with vehemence. "No, no, no. That teacher may be kooky, but he ain't dumb. Hates Jean. Hated her audition. Had some bloody brilliant choice comments about her as he walked away."
"For some reason Ah don't believe that."
"Fine. Ignore what we have to say. But you'll come crawling back to us when you realize we're right." Before Rogue could respond to the remark, the three boys vanished in a puff of smoke. Waving away the fumes, Rogue turned to stalk off to her next class… and ran right into Kitty.
"Well? Did they tell you?" Kitty asked with bright and expectant eyes.
"They told me some jokes. Nothing worth listening to."
"Come on, you think they're lying to you?" Rogue paused for a moment while she considered her answer.
"Not lying. Just not telling the truth."
"Well, I overheard a conversation between Boles and Ms. Darkholme and he said that he was going to give you a big part." As Kitty finished her statement the bell sounded, signaling the start of another class.
"See you at the meeting after school!" Kitty cried out as she rushed off to her class, navigating her way through the crowded hall.
The auditorium for Bayville High was imposing, to say the least. Lights dangled from the ceiling, but were unable to completely dispel the darkness that filled the massive chamber. Capable of seating well over five hundred people and having a large stage complete with orchestra pit, the auditorium was the ideal place to put on a play.
However, it wasn't all that nice of a place to meet for the first time.
"Everybody here?" The jubilant drama teacher asked. Mr. Boles was passionate about theater, but he wasn't the most attentive of people. In fact, he failed to notice John and Kurt jousting with some discarded cymbals and trombones.
"Excellent," Boles gleefully declared as he rubbed his hands together in excitement, neglecting the fact that he had not bothered to wait for a response from those present.
"Now, you all know why you are here, because you want to put on this year's school play, Othello! All of you auditioned for roles and it is my great pleasure to reveal your parts to you. Before I do I just wanted to thank everyone for auditioning and to say that if you didn't get the part you wanted then…"
"Just get on with it already!" Bobby shouted, interrupting Boles' speech. John punctuated the comment with smashing the cymbals together.
"Alright, boy. I'm getting on with it," the Irish-tinted voice returned. "As I was saying, if you didn't get the part you wanted that's showbiz! And now, for what you've all been waiting for – your roles! Boys, drum roll please," Boles instructed the Trio, who complied with his request. The middle aged teacher looked through the crowd of students before him, in order to see if his starring cast was present.
"In the role of Roderigo, the jealous suitor of Desdemona, is Mr. Lance Alvers!" There was sparse clapping at the announcement, while Kitty shrieked into Lance's ear. Boles raised his hand to call for silence.
"In the role of Cassio, the poor target of Iago's schemes, is Mr. Duncan Mathews!" Duncan, a blond football player, sheepishly grinned at the news.
"Playing Emilia, wife of Iago, is Katherine Pryde!" Kitty shrieked in delight at her role.
"In the small but crucial role of the prostitute Bianca, Ms. Jean Grey!" Unlike the other announcements, silence greeted the role. Sitting next to Scott, Jean fumed silently at her seemly insignificant role.
"The role of Iago, our treacherous villain, shall be given to Mr. Webber Torque!" The diminutive redhead grinned as Kitty, a friend of his, grabbed him in a hug.
"And now, for the two leads! Playing the part of Desdemona, our own Rogue!" There was hooting coming from the Trio in addition to a large clanging from the instruments they kicked in celebration. Once the boys had settled down Boles continued.
"And the role of Othello, our poor, deceived general, shall be played by Mr. Scott Summers!"
"'Ey! What about us?" John shouted at the teacher. Boles paused for a moment, looking at the boys. Shuffling forward awkwardly, Boles declared, "You? Stage crew!"
The three boys exchanged a quick glance.
"Do we get to blow stuff up?" Bobby asked. Still seeming to be a bit drunk, Boles replied.
"Maybe!" That response was good enough for the boys.
"Ok. We're in."
"Excellent! Is there anything else?" Seeing that no one else had anything else to say, Boles threw his hands in the air exclaiming, "Let's get started!"