*Chapter 3*
~Shadowcat~
Sleep is an escape. In this state devoid of conscious thought reality warps into dreams, nightmares, or nothingness. Sleep is life's escape from the harshness of the real world. Dreams are a vacation for the mind, a trip to the subconscious free of the laws of physics and reality. Nightmares put things into perspective showing that life really isn't all that bad and tomorrow is another day. And dreamless sleep is a reprieve from the chaos and pain of daily life, empty but appreciated. Sleep is not only life's escape but it is necessary for survival, without it life would be much shorter and far more unpleasant. Of all life on earth human beings need sleep the most and seldom get all that they need. And when humans don't get a full eight hours things can get ugly.
The shrill shriek of an alarm clock shattered the peaceful silence of a dark room at the ungodly hour of 6:30 AM. The offending piece of technology was located on a nightstand next to a large, comfortable bed. After several minutes of the clock's obnoxious complaints a slender arm slid out from somewhere under a shapeless lump of blankets and pillows. The pale arm blindly sought the source of its discomfort, moving in random arcs until the fingertips brushed against the side of the black box. The fingers briefly passed through the side of the shrieking device, silencing its screams. The arm then swiftly retreated back under the covers seeking a return to sleep, however brief it might be. It was brief.
"Wake up." A sleepy Southern voice growled.
"No." Came the muffled response.
"Wake up." The feminine Southern voice repeated.
"Five more minutes." Groaned the muffled voice from under the covers.
"Wake up I said." The Southerner demanded.
"It's too early." The sleepy voice moaned.
"No it's time to get up so get up already." The female Southerner insisted sounding rather irritated.
"No it isn't." The voice protested.
"Yes it is Kitty now get your lazy self up!" The Southerner snapped.
"Rogue, leave me alone I need more sleep." Kitty whined from under the sheets.
"If you don't get up now you'll miss breakfast." Rogue warned.
"I don't care." Kitty growled.
"Well then I guess you don't mind missing Piotr." Rogue drawled. The small mountain of blankets suddenly parted to reveal a brown-haired teenage girl still clouded with sleep. She stumbled out of bed and headed towards the bathroom.
"I hate you." Kitty growled as she stumbled past her gothic Southern room-mate.
"Love you too sugar." Came the Goth's falsely cheerful response. Rogue turned and left the room, pulling on her gloves as she went.
Kitty practically fell through the bathroom door as she tried to clear the sleep and cobwebs from her sluggish mind. She growled again at her evil room-mate for striking her weak point. Why did she have to bring Piotr up? Rogue knew Kitty had a thing for the tall, muscular Russian and always found ways to use it to her advantage. As Kitty entered the warm, steamy shower her half-awake mind began to wander. She remembered when she had first arrived at Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters, the place she now thought of as home.
She'd been a frightened and shy girl, still very upset about her sudden transformation from a normal freshman to a Mutant. She was intimidated by everyone here, even the younger students made her jump. And her room-mate Rogue didn't help matters any. But then she ran into Piotr, literally, he soothed her frazzled nerves and helped her adjust to this new life. They became the best of friends and a great team. But lately she had become interested in him in a different way. Now she could officially say that she, Katharine Pryde, had a crush on Piotr Nikolievitch Rasputin. And missing any opportunity to see him or be with him was quite nearly a sin in her book.
Kitty finally woke up and slid out of her day-dreaming mode and continued the morning ritual of showering, dressing, and primping. When she finished a half an hour later she was a new person, fully awake and ready for the day. She skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen in high spirits, dodging the other residents to complete this morning's mission: grab an orange, a bagel, and sit with Piotr. She sat next to him cheerfully munching on her cinnamon raisin bagel and listened to her Russian friend talk with Logan. By the time she started on the orange Logan had finally finished talking with Piotr and retreated from the chaotic kitchen to work on his precious motorcycle. This left Kitty alone with the handsome Russian Mutant.
"Good morning Katya." He warmly greeted her with his special nickname.
"Good morning to you too Piotr." She cheerfully replied with a faint blush.
"I thought you weren't a morning person, what are you doing up this early?" The Russian asked.
"Rogue woke me up early today." Kitty growled. Remembering her room-mate temporarily killed her good mood. For about 30 seconds anyway. Then Piotr began to talk about something he'd seen on the news and she cheered up instantly. He spoke and she listened for nearly an hour about everything from the weather to some late breaking story. Every now and then Kitty would comment on something to keep the conversation from becoming one-sided, but mostly she just enjoyed his company. He was handsome, strong, smart, caring, and most importantly single, what more could she ask for in a guy? Well maybe some one more her age, Piotr was almost a decade too old for her. That was his only flaw, if they were just a bit closer in age she just might be dating him right now. But life was cruel to her, she was too young. He saw her as a friend and little sister, not a possible love interest. That just wasn't fair. They would've talked more if Logan hadn't interrupted.
"Half-pint, get up and say good-bye. The Professor wants to see us." The Canadian growled.
"What for? Did he say?" Kitty asked as she stood to leave.
"No, but I can guess. Hurry up let's not keep him waiting." The older Mutant commanded. Kitty hurriedly said her good-bye to Piotr and dashed off to follow the feral Mutant up the stairs, down a hall, and into the Institute's library. There they met Professor Charles Xavier, founder and headmaster of this unique school.
"Good morning Logan, Kitty. I hope you slept well." The wheel-chair bound psychic greeted.
"Slept fine Charles, what did you want to see us for?" Logan gruffly asked.
"Both of you expressed interest in a new mission correct?" Xavier asked; both nodded. "Well I have just received one from the government. It seems their own team is tied up with something else and they cannot post-pone this particular operation. The government already set it up with the Germans and it is too late to change things so they want us to go instead."
"Germans? Are we going to be shipped off to Germany for this?" Logan asked warily.
"No, actually, the mission is in Chicago. The reason for the Germans involvement is that the target of this mission includes German organized crime elements in addition to the American kind. The German operative that will be sent is to concentrate on the German half of things and act as a translator when needed." The Professor explained.
"So we're going to be working with a German government agent. What do we have on him?" Logan inquired.
"Well I've looked through the information that was given to me and it worries me." The Professor replied.
"What's the matter with him?" Kitty asked curiously.
"According to the Germans, nothing is wrong with him, but looking some of his background information there could possibly be some problems." Xavier stated.
"Such as?" Logan prodded.
"For one he was taken from his foster family at a young age, isolated from society, and intensely trained by a questionable general. Looking at his training and previous missions he seems more suited for military and paramilitary operations than this. And he is also a highly advanced Mutant rated to be a level five. Seeing all this I cannot understand why he was chosen for this." The Professor sighed.
"A level five!" Logan practically swore. "You've got to be kidding me!" The Professor nodded sadly. Kitty was shocked into silence; the very idea of meeting such a Mutant frightened her. True Mr. McCoy was a level five Mutant and he was really nice but that didn't mean that this German would be. "Well the only reason I can see for using him would be to show him off to us but that's still ridiculous." Logan growled.
"Yes I suppose that could be why." Xavier mused. "Are there anymore questions about the German agent?"
"How young was he when he was taken?" Kitty hesitantly asked in a small voice.
"This particular agent was taken on his eighth birthday." Xavier answered. Kitty's jaw dropped and Logan swore quietly.
"How old is he now?" Logan asked.
"Seventeen." The Professor replied.
"Damn." Logan growled. "That's a shame, a real damn shame."
"What sort of problems could there be?" Kitty inquired.
"The most likely problems are emotional and social difficulties I would think, but I have no way to know for certain." Xavier sighed in frustration. "Knowing all of this do you accept this mission or should I ask someone else?"
"You know me Chuck, I can never say no to you. Of course I'll go." Logan grumbled.
"Sure I'll go. This is in Chicago right? I grew up around there so it'll be, like, perfect for me." Kitty chirped.
"Thank you both. Now as I said earlier this mission is in Chicago and involves German and American organized crime. Your job will be to infiltrate, gather information, and possibly cause a little disruption here and there if you can. In five days you will board a flight out to Chicago and settle in the apartment that was reserved for the original team. Two days later you are to pick up the German operative from the airport and inform him of the plan and anything else he needs to know. Once you are all ready the mission will begin." The Professor paused, pulled a folder out of a drawer and handed it to Logan. "Here is all the information I was given. This mission could get dangerous so there is no limit on the time you have to complete it. Take all the time you need to complete it successfully and safely. You should begin packing now and I wish you both the best of luck."
Logan and Kitty shook hands with the aging professor before leaving to pack as they were told to. Logan would read the contents of the folder first and then Kitty would get her turn. Meanwhile she began sorting through her wardrobe and various possessions trying to decide what to take. But she was interrupted by Rogue the gothic room-mate.
"What are you doing?" The Goth drawled, leaning on the doorframe.
"Packing." Kitty replied tersely, digging through a drawer.
"What for?" Rogue prodded, sauntering into the shared room.
"A mission." Kitty answered, piling up some clothes.
"What kind of mission?" The Southern girl asked, seating herself on her bed.
"Information gathering and maybe some minor disruption type stuff." Kitty said distractedly, searching for a missing shoe.
"How long will that take?" Rogue wondered, leaning against her backboard.
"Don't know." Kitty replied as she sifted through a stack of books.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Rogue demanded, leaning forward.
"I mean I don't know, however long it takes I guess." Kitty said as she flipped through an old photo album. Rogue sighed, this wasn't getting her anywhere. Either Kitty was still mad at her from this morning or she was off in her own little packing zone aware only of empty suitcases in need of filling.
"Fine, whatever, just do a good job and don't get yourself hurt alright?" Rogue grunted, rising form her seat on her bed and headed for the door. Kitty paused her searching and sorting to stare at the retreating Goth's back. Was I just hearing things or was she worrying about me? Even being nice to me? Kitty wondered incredulously. "And don't make a mess of the room. I don't want to trip over all of your frilly crap when I go to bed tonight." Rogue warned from the doorway. Never mind, it was just my imagination. Kitty thought with a sigh as she returned to picking through her belongings.
Why can't we just get along? Kitty wondered. I don't go out of my way to make her life miserable so why does she do it to me? Whenever I try to make friends with her she just pushes me away. Maybe she's this way because she can't touch anyone. Or maybe she's just naturally a bitch to the majority of the human race. Hmm, lemme think... Definitely a gothic super bitch.
Well enough with that, back to them mission. So Mr. Logan and I get to bail out the government again, whoopee! At least we get to go to Chicago. Maybe I'll get a chance to visit Mom and Dad sometime or catch a baseball game. And it'll be great to see the city again, I've missed it. Too bad Piotr can't come, that could be fun... She sighed regretfully; she'd forgotten that she wouldn't be able to see Piotr until they completed the mission. Guess I'll just have to spend as much time with him now as I can and get this mission done ASAP! Kitty continued her packing with renewed resolve, determined to complete this new mission and once again prove herself worthy of the codename Shadowcat.