Author's Note: Sorry its taken me so long to get this chapter finished. Turns out I could BS my way through high school but my first semester Pre-med has taken all of my attention.
Disclaimer: La de da de da.
Interesting Fact: Reality TV is not realistic, despite the title.
The Damned, Episode 1
Chapter 20: Oh Dear
Marie you're so pretty, so pretty, how I'd love to stay like this forever. Cody's pulse raced to what he guessed was an unhealthy speed. The smell of Marie's lemon scented shampoo filled his senses, intoxicating him. All he was conscious of was the small girl being held in the protection of his arms.
When they finally broke apart Cody felt Marie step out of his embrace. He smiled, ecstatically and opened his eyes. He gasped and fought the urge to scream. On the grass in front of him lay his own body.
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"Irene!" Raven screamed, running towards their bedroom. She reached the doorway, breathlessly clutching the doorknob of the open door.
Irene sat at her desk, eyes cast downwards.
"Irene," Raven whispered.
"I know."
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Cody searched his brain frantically, how could this have happened? Why was this happening? What had happened to Marie?
He shut his eyes and opened them, nothing changed. He looked left and right in alarm. He had to do something right? He couldn't just let this...this imposter lay there. In the middle of the winter he was bound to catch pneumonia. He picked up the imposter's body and carried it over his shoulder with the intention of putting it in the passenger's seat of his truck while he searched for Marie.
"Oh my God, what did you do to Cody you freak!"
Cody turned towards one of the oncoming paths to the river. He saw a group of teenagers staring at him. "Oh thank God! John, Frank, Linda help meh!"
The one named Linda screamed, "Marie you freak, what have ya done ta Cody!" The rest of the group, about six other teenagers stared blankly.
Cody frowned, "Linda stop screwing around, this is serious. Marie is missing and Ah gotta find her." He placed the imposter down, "Ah don't know who this imposter is but Ah gotta go find Marie, guard him until Ah get back." As he placed the imposter down on the spongy grass and turned to leave he heard:
"Stop right there!"
Cody turned around to see an 8 millimeter pointed at him, "Greg what are ya doin? You're supposed ta be mah team mate on and off tha field, remember?"
"Look Marie, Ah ain't got tha patience foh this. What did ya do ta Cody?"
"Why do ya keep calling meh Marie!" Cody yelled exasperatedly.
Greg cocked his gun. "Step away from Cody's body."
Assuming Greg was implying the imposter's body was the real Cody, Cody stepped away.
"Good," Greg said, "John, go check for a pulse. For all we know this maniac killed him."
Linda gasped and fought the tears creeping to her eyes. "We were right ta tell him not ta date that, that, that thing!"
"Greg his pulse is barely there." John's voice shook.
Greg glared at Cody, "What have ya done ta him!"
With a protective instinct Cody couldn't remember developing, he grabbed John by the neck of his shirt and tossed him at Greg. While the group of teenagers were busy freeing themselves from the confusion Cody ran to his truck. Locking the doors he searched his pockets for his keys. Crap, where are they? He frantically looked all over the seats of the car, under the seats, in the glove compartment, anything big enough to hide his keychain.
CRASH!
He looked up to see a bullet in his spider webbed windshield. Thank God for bulletproof windows. He felt the truck begin to rock side to side and without looking knew they were trying to tip his truck.
Acting on yet another instinct, he unlocked the door on his side and kicked it open, sending the two people on that side flying onto their backs. Cody wasted no time leaping out of the truck and running. He found himself ducking branches, leaping over fallen trees and stumbling over rocks. He was fairly certain his so called friends wouldn't be able to catch up to him, he had always been the fastest runner in track and on the football team.
He stopped after running for twenty minutes. He sat and placed his head in his arms. None of it made sense. All he remembered was kissing Marie and when he pulled away, that imposter had taken her place. He breathed a deep breath; he wasn't sure how long he could sit before needing to run again. He lifted his head and realization hit him. This spot he'd stopped in, he knew it well.
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"Okay, I'll take central Caldecott. Raven, search all of her regular hangouts." Erik barked orders to Irene and Raven. "Irene search up and down the river. We're bound to find her somewhere."
Wanda watched the scene with worried eyes. Should she have stopped Marie from going out? This didn't look like the scene of angry parents out to ground their misbehaving daughter. No, this was something else. Something serious.
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Cody scrambled up the steps of the house. He threw the door open, it was always open, and stumbled inside.
"What are you doing here?"
He looked up at his mother. "Momma, some kids at tha river. They think that thing is meh, they want ta kill meh!"
His mother looked at him with more fright than he had ever seen in her eyes. "What are ya talking about?"
He slammed the door behind him, "Greg, he's got his gun and he thinks Ah killed, well me, but Ah didn't. An' Ah can't find Marie anywhere. Ah think something horrible happened to her."
"Ah don't know if ya think this is funny, or if ya simply get ya kicks from tryin' ta mess with hard workin' women but Ah don't got tahm foh this."
Cody's eyes widened as he realized she didn't believe him. "But Momma…"
The phone rang.
"Child, stay right there!" She ordered as she left the room to answer the phone.
Cody let his weary body rest in a small, leather chair. He rubbed his temples, how was he going to get anyone to believe him?
"YOU HEATHEN!"
He snapped back to attention. His mother came barging in the room yelling at him.
"AH KNOW WHAT YA DID AN'AH'VE CALLED THA COPS!"
"But Momma!" He exclaimed.
"DON'T CALL MEH THAT!" she had tears falling from her eyes, "AH WON'T REST UNTIL AH SEE YA IN JAIL!"
Not waiting to see the scene play itself out, Cody did the only thing he could do, he began to run.
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Dominic laid his body down on the couch. All in all the day hadn't exactly been the most productive. He'd gone to school, slept through most of his classes, gone out with some friends and come home. He'd been expecting to be lectured for not calling home a few hours ago to let them know he wouldn't be home in time for dinner but when he got home there hadn't been anyone to receive a lecture from.
He shrugged, at least he wasn't in trouble.
Channel by channel, he searched for something to watch but nothing really seemed worthwhile. He came across some news stories about the relevance of mutations in a modern society but he ignored them; the mutant/human relations of the world didn't really concern him anymore. As far as he could see, no human would ever like a mutant and that was that.
Finally he found something interesting, Scooby Doo. He let his mind relax as he watched his favorite canine attempting to avoid having to solve a mystery but failing due to his love for a simple snack. Dominic laughed. Where did they come up with this stuff?
He heard a pounding on the door. Getting up in annoyance, he walked to the front door and threw it open ready to be rude to whoever should have the misfortune of interrupting his cartoon time.
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Cody grabbed Dominic by the shoulders, "Dominic ya have ta help meh!"
"What's wrong?" Dominic asked, his voice wary.
Cody entered the house quickly and shut the door behind him. He quickly relayed his story to the younger teenager. "An' Ah couldn't think of anywhere else ta go." He didn't miss the way Dominic nodded, stunned. "Ya don't believe meh either do ya?"
"I believe you." Dominic told him quickly. "I should get Wanda, she knows what to do in strange situations." He ascended the staircase swiftly and barged into Wanda's room. "Wanda, you have to come downstairs."
Wanda looked at him, her gaze filled with concern, "What is it?"
"It's Marie, she's down there talking like she's Cody. I, I can't explain it, just come on."
Wanda nodded and followed him downstairs. Cody was pacing in front of the door.
"Thank God, Ah thought maybe ya didn't believe meh either an' ya'd gone ta call tha cops."
Wanda shook her head. "Cody, tell meh what happened."
Cody took a deep breath and explained his situation once again. "We have ta find Marie now!"
Wanda shook her head, "No, if people are hunting you down then you need to stay here and lay low. Dominic will go looking for Marie and I will stay here in case anyone comes looking for you."
Cody wanted to argue but he couldn't. Wanda was right, it wasn't safe for him to be walking the streets.
"So we're agreed then?" Wanda asked.
Cody nodded.
"Good. Stay here, Dominic will be back." She turned to Dominic, "Dominic you need to search central Caldecott, even if you don't find her there, Erik is out there tonight."
He nodded and was about to leave when he heard Cody speak.
"Thank you Dominic. Ah know ya don't lahk meh much but Ah've really fallen foh Marie and Ah don't know what Ah would do if she got hurt."
Dominic paused, not turning, and felt tears sting his eyes. Pushing his emotions to the back of his mind he opened the door and left.
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Pietro laughed as one of his friends made a stupid, sexual joke. "That was a good one."
He was sitting with approximately twenty five percent of the football team, all of them having a good time, acting obnoxiously, and checking out hot girls. This is what he would remember later when asked where he was when he shot Greg McMurry.
"Hey Pietro I got a bone to pick with you!"
Pietro looked at Greg, Linda, and some other people he didn't recognize, walking towards him. "What's up Greg?"
Greg grabbed Pietro by the front of his shirt and pulled him out of the restaurant's booth. "Your little friend Marie!"
Pietro pushed Greg off of him, "What about Marie?"
Linda spoke up, "She killed Cody!"
"What?" Pietro's face went white.
"Shut up Linda!" Greg yelled, not noticing the eyes of everyone in the restaurant focusing on him. He told Pietro what had happened to Cody. "Dude, I always knew there was something wrong with that freak but I never thought she could try to kill anyone."
Pietro frowned; he hadn't missed a single word Greg had said, which was unfortunate for Greg. "You tried to shoot her!"
"I had to!"
"What the hell did ya have ta shoot at her with you stupid hick!" Not waiting for an answer Pietro grabbed a gun out of the belt of Greg's pants. "The belt Greg? What are you, some kind of common criminal?"
Greg yelled, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU AND YOUR STUPID FAMILY PIETRO! YOU'RE ALL WHITE TRASH AND THAT MARIE IS A FREAK! I'LL BET THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU ARE JUST A BUNCH OF DIRTY, FILTHY, LOW LIFE MUTIES!"
That was when the first shot rang out.
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Cody was still pacing in the house when the door flew open. Dominic and Erik came rushing in. "Did ya find her?"
Erik shook his head.
"Then what are ya doin' back here?"
"Don't worry Cody, Raven and Irene are still looking," Erik lied. "I just came back to help you with this trauma." He led the child to the livingroom, "Sit here, I'll be back with some herbal tea."
Cody didn't miss how Dominic sat as far away from him as possible. "Dominic what is your problem with meh?" Dominic didn't answer, "It's Marie isn't it? It's always been Marie hasn't it?" Dominic nodded. "Ya know she really did love ya, still loves ya."
Dominic grunted, "How can ya tell?"
Cody's eyes were cast downwards, "Right before Ah kissed her we were looking for this bracelet she said must have come loose from her wrist." He looked at Dominic, "Ah'm not stupid Dominic."
Dominic felt his heart beat a little faster, she did still care. Before he could reply, Erik came back in with the promised cup of tea.
"Now, drink the whole thing, you've been through a lot."
Dominic watched as Marie drank the whole cup and he watched as her head rolled back and she fell asleep. "What did you put in that?"
"Some extra strength Tylenol. She'll be out for quiet some time."
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When Pietro found Marie she was curled up in a ball under her bed.
"Marie," he said gently, "dinner's ready."
She didn't say anything or make any sign that she even registered his words.
Pietro dropped down on the floor and crawled under the bed with her. He looked into her bloodshot eyes and whispered, "Marie, everything will get better eventually."
She sniffled and turned away.
He sighed, "I know this is going to sound like a cliche because it is but after the storm comes the sun."
Marie turned so that she was facing him and brushed a ball of lint out of her face, "Then we must be in the middle of the longest storm in history."
Pietro gave her a halfhearted smile, "People will get over the shock eventually."
"Pietro its been three months already. If people were going to get over it then Mica's mom wouldn't have moved them out of Caldecott to who knows where," Marie squeezed her eyes shut, "Mica hasn't even called meh since that night." Pietro didn't have a reply so when Marie continued talking he was grateful, "And Ah can't even walk the halls at school without someone saying something to meh about bein a freak." She sniffed, "Ya know what Linda's tellin' everyone?" Pietro shook his head. "She's been tellin' everybody that tha reason Ah wear so much clothing is so no one will see that Ah'ma mutant."
"Linda isn't exactly the brightest person in the world."
Marie laughed humorlessly, "And Cody, God, he's been in a coma foh three months now and its mah fault."
"Marie, you couldn't have known what was going to happen."
"But if Ah'd listened ta mah mom and stayed in that night then he'd still beh alive."
"He isn't dead."
"No, but he might as well beh. Ya heard the doctors, there's really nothing they can do foh him."
"Listen to me, you didn't do anything wrong. You didn't know you were a mutant and we didn't know and you sure as hell didn't go out and try to hurt anyone." Before she could say anything he went on, "Cody will get better eventually and yes you did lose a friend but maybe its just as well, if Mica and her mom were prejudiced then its best that you know now."
"It's not just Mica," Marie sniffled, "None of mah friends will talk ta meh and ya can't say it ain't different foh ya. Ah know kids are harassing tha rest of ya. Ah know everyone's avoiding ya especially."
"That isn't cuz you're a mutant its because I shot a person."
"See and Ah've destroyed your life too."
"You haven't destroyed my life."
"Really?" Marie asked angrily, "When does your trial for attempted manslaughter start?"
Pietro opened his mouth, closed it, then shut his eyes.
"See, let's face it. Mah bein' a mutant caused ya ta shoot Greg and not only are ya being put on trial but ya got kicked off every athletic team in school and no one will talk to ya either."
"Marie someday you'll learn that there are more important things in life than high school."
"But they could give ya up ta seventy years in prison."
Pietro shrugged, "I'll just have to keep positive. Besides, my lawyer's really good. Almost Johnny Cochran-good."
Marie didn't say anything.
He nudged her side, "Now come on down for dinner." She shook her head. "Fine then I'm going to drag you kicking and screaming. You haven't eaten dinner with us in months and frankly I'm tired of bringing your food up here to the freakin' bat cave."
"Fine," Marie muttered, "But Ah'll walk, at least let meh have mah dignity."
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St. John watched in amazement as Marie came down the stairs to eat dinner. "Hey Marie."
"Hi." She took her usual seat, "what's foh dinner."
Irene looked at her through her thick glasses, "Grits, biscuits, mashed potatoes, a good old country meal."
Everyone at the table watched Marie expectantly.
"Cool."
Wanda looked at Marie's hollowed eyes, she'd never seen the girl so depressed or empty of enthusiasm.
As Marie ate her food she felt people glancing at her every few minutes. Of all the people she was most aware of Dominic's gaze. Several times during the meal she caught him staring at her with concern. She couldn't figure out why he should care. It wasn't like he'd shown so much as an ounce of friendliness since they'd broken up. Finally she came to the conclusion that he must be staring at her white bangs, which had had time to grow in.
"So Marie," Erik started, "Does this mean you're feeling up to accompanying us on a mission?"
"Erik," Raven warned.
"It's okay mom. Ah'm looking forward ta going on a mission it'll beh good foh meh." As soon as she said this the tension level at the dinner table disappeared.
"Good," Mortimer said, "Because Pietro as a field leader just isn't working."
"Hey!" Pietro exclaimed, "I did a better job than St. John over here. Burning down a building. What were you thinking?"
Everyone laughed.
"True," St. John agreed, "that was stupid but at least I didn't decide to send Marty in to protect us from Iron Man."
Marie relaxed, even if her social life was shot to Hell at least she still had these people.
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"Will the defendant please rise."
Pietro stood. Clad in his Sunday's best and thoroughly groomed he was the greatest image of an innocent man. His lawyer, Valencio Wernicke, had advised him to not only dress nicely but to keep perfect posture throughout the trial.
"On the charges of attempted manslaughter how do you plead?"
"Not guilty."
Murmurs were heard all through the courtroom.
"Silence!" the judge ordered. To Pietro he said, "You may be seated."
Pietro obeyed.
"The Plaintiff may call the first witness."
Greg's lawyer stood, "Yes, we would like to call Linda Roper to the stand."
More murmurs.
Linda took the stand and in a dramatic show of tears and exaggerations managed to tell the story of how Pietro viciously attacked her close friend Greg.
Pietro whispered to his lawyer, "Why didn't she tell the jury that Greg is her boyfriend."
"Conflict of interest," his lawyer whispered back.
Once Greg's lawyer was finished the judge asked Wernicke if he would like to cross-examine the witness.
Wernicke approached the witness stand, "Miss Roper is it true that you and Mr. Mcmurrin are and have been dating for the last year?" Before she could answer he held up a hand, "And remember you are under oath. Anything you say in this courtroom will be taken very seriously and lying on the stand is a crime."
"I object!" Greg's lawyer exclaimed.
"Sustained." The judge looked at Linda, "Please answer his original question."
By this point Linda looked worried, "I, I,..."
"It's okay," Wernicke told her, "take your time."
She took a deep breath, "Yes we have."
"So why did you refer to him as a close friend?"
"Because that's what the lawyer told me to say," she cast her eyes downwards.
"No further questions."
When Wernicke sat down Pietro leaned over, "So why didn't you keep asking her questions?"
"Because she's not a credible witness. Not after I destroyed her credibility anyway."
The trial was drawn out for hours; people retelling the same story creatively, people accusing Pietro of being a mutant and some trying to save Pietro from going to jail.
After three hours of this Pietro was beginning to become impatient so when the judge announced they were done for the day he was thankful.
As the courtroom cleared Pietro observed his lawyer. Wernicke wasn't even the least bit stressed. "Wernicke why aren't you worried?"
"Can't tell you."
Pietro frowned suspiciously, "How do you know my dad anyway? He said something about being friends in college."
"That's right." He closed his briefcase, "Come on Pietro we should leave before any pesky reporters show up."
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"There she is, the freak I was telling you about."
"Yeah I heard she has these fangs that come out and when she bites ya that's when she sucks the life outta ya."
"Well all I know is she has to be one of those freakin' muties cuz otherwise why would all of her friends have stopped talking to her?"
When the rumors started everyone had had the decency to gossip amongst themselves, making sure the freak didn't hear their whispers. Now it was as if the students didn't even care. Sometimes kids would stand right next to Marie and gossip about her.
Marie picked at her beef and cheese sandwich slowly, she wasn't really hungry; she hadn't been for months now. She bravely lifted her eyes, gazing at something other than her sandwich, and her gaze landed on Carly. Carly met her gaze without blinking. Marie felt her eyes start to plead with Carly. Carly knew Marie, she had to know that Marie wouldn't ever harm anyone on purpose. Marie watched as Carly hesitated, trying to decide whether or not to go over and talk to her friend.
Just as Carly had made up her mind and began to walk in Marie's direction a tall teenager who Marie identified as Jeremy, a star basketball player, put his arm around Carly, leaned in, whispering something in her ear. Carly frowned, glared at Marie and began walking in the opposite direction.
"Well well Mutie, not even that Nigger girl will talk to ya."
Marie was so busy watching Carly's retreating figure that she hadn't noticed Stacy step up behind her. "What do ya want Stacy?"
Stacy sat next to Marie, crossing her long legs and throwing her bleached hair over her shoulder, "I'm just curious you know."
Sitting next to Stacy, suddenly Marie felt empowered, "Stacy do ya really want a replay of the Rave?"
Stacy tsked, shaking her finger at Marie in an exaggerated manner, "Now we both know you can't do that. If you did they would expell you from this school system faster than you put Cody into that coma."
"What makes ya so sure that would stop meh?" Marie still did not look at Stacy, instead she focused on her sandwhich.
"Because then these prejudiced bastards would call the feds on your family, investigate the hell out of them."
"There's nothing wrong with mah family."
"Really?" Stacy asked, "How's Pietro doing?" Marie's jaw twitched and Stacy smiled in triumph, "From what I just read in the papers his case is not looking good and that poor boy even lost his little black girlfriend."
"Stacy if you're all so sure Ah'm a dangerous mutie then why are ya pushing mah buttons? What makes ya think Ah won't just use mah mutant powers on ya and claim it was an accident?"
Stacy frowned angrily, "Marie no mutant is dangerous. We are the future, they are the past."
Marie's eyes were drawn to Stacy's, "What do ya mean 'we'?"
The taller girl smiled sardonically, "Funny that we have something in common isn't it?"
Marie shook her head, "Ah don't beleive ya."
She shrugged, "Fine. But Ah was gonna make things easier for you."
"Why?"
"Before you were just a freak girl, now you're a mutant and in my book that makes us sisters."
Marie rolled her eyes, "Stop messin'."
"Marie you can either sit out here in Siberia," Stacy motioned around her, "Or you can eat with my clique and I'll make sure everyone knows you have nothing to do with Cody's coma."
"Stacy Ah find it hard ta believe ya are a mutant, ya have always been one of the most prejudiced people Ah've known."
"Not prejudiced, just racist."
"Yeah, cuz that makes it better." Marie took in the sight of the popular girl next to her and shook her head in disgust, "The day Ah become friends with ya is tha day Ah lose mah sanity."
Stacy stood slowly, "Funny, according to the rumors you already have."
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Dominic felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around in annoyance. Throughout his math class he had been helping two girls pass notes back and forth across the room. Now, just as he was starting to understand the material they were beginning to pass notes faster, with more urgency.
"Kim could you get someone else to help you?" he hissed.
She shook her head, "This one is for you."
Curiously, he unfolded the note: Dominic are you a mutant?
He frowned at the question and wrote his answer: No.
He got the note back a few minutes later and read what was written: Good. I knew just because Marie was a mutant didn't mean the rest of you were mutants. Cuz you are adopted right and so is she so there's no genetic connection there. Not that I would expect there to be cuz you guys went out and that would just be icky.
He rolled his eyes. What a ditz. He crumpled up the note and put it in his pocket.
Seconds later another note landed on his desk: Dominic do you want to get together after school today?
He wrote back: No.
Why not?
He searched his brain and couldn't find a really reasonable explanation for rejecting her. She was pretty and sometimes entertaining so why not? He fought with his reasoning until the bell rang. Kimberly wasted no time in catching up to him in the hallway.
"So why won't you go out with me?" She asked.
Dominic grimaced; he hadn't actually thought she would ask verbally too. "Kim its just not a good time."
"What? Just because you're ex-girl is a social outcast and you're foster brother is on trial," she stopped talking for a second and considered what she had just said, "Alright so maybe this isn't the best time but hey maybe you just need something to take your mind off what's bothering you."
"No, that wouldn't really help."
"Why not?"
"Just drop it Kim."
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"Erik Ah want ta beh home schooled." Marie announced at dinner.
Erik was take by surprise, "You want to be home schooled?"
"Honey don't you think you should have brought that up with Raven or myself first?" Irene asked.
Marie shook her head, "Because if Ah am home schooled then Ah want Erik ta beh mah teacher."
"If Marie gets to be home schooled then I want to be home schooled too." Pietro told his father.
Erik rubbed his temples, "I really don't think the solution to all of your problems is to be home schooled."
"Maybe not foh tha rest of this motley crew but foh Pietro and Ah it would beh tha most sensible solution. We have the toughest crap ta put up with an Ah think its kind of unfair foh us ta have ta keep going back ta that Hell we call secondary education."
Raven spoke, "I really don't think it would be a bad idea for the two of them to stay home, at least for the rest of this school year. I'm sure by next school year no one will be whispering about what happened. When Pietro's case ends-"
"Assuming it ends in my favor," Pietro put in.
Raven frowned, "-when it ends I think we should start schooling him here. In the mean time we can start teaching Marie here at home."
Erik and Irene crossed their arms over their chests. Irene was the first to speak, "We'll talk about this later, when the kids are not at the table."
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New York, aboard the Brotherhood Jet:
"Marie how did you do with that Trigonometry assignment I gave you?" Erik asked.
Marie grinned, "Ya should start actually challenging meh."
Erik laughed, "I'm already giving you junior level math, what more do you want?"
"Let's try Calculus."
Wanda watched the exchange from the back of jet. She was glad Marie had started to loosen up a little. Ever since she'd been pulled out of school she had been much happier; except, or course, when Stacy would drop by the house and ask if Marie wanted to hang out.
"Alright everyone do you remember our objectives?"
Pyro looked at Mystique curiously, "You seem very happy about this mission Mystique."
Mystique smiled, "It's not every day we get to infiltrate the X Mansion."
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Avalanche replayed the mission objective in his mind:
1. Retrieve Xavier's secret files, his fail-safes for every one of his mutants.
2. Set a bomb in the Danger Room.
3. Kidnap Kitty Pryde.
He didn't quite understand the last objective but it didn't matter, he wouldn't be kidnapping her, that job would be left to Pyro. He crept through the now defenseless halls of Xavier's mansion, courtesy of Magneto, and found the secret elevator leading to the subbasement. Avalanche stepped into the elevator and smiled. He hit the button to take him to the lowest level and knew that in just a few moments he would be in the famed Danger Room.
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Pyro found himself looking at the sleeping figure of the young mutant he was sent to kidnap. Immediately a few dirty scenarios floated to the forefront of his mind. He quickly dismissed them, convinced he was just missing Mica.
He took a needle out of a pouch on his belt. Carefully, as to not wake the mutant, he peeled the covers off of Kitty Pryde. Thanks to Irene's training he was able to find a vain in Kitty's arm without any trouble. He slowly injected her with the serum in the needle and watched as he arm began to turn a deep purple color. He frowned. What had he just injected her with? He shrugged, all he knew was that it would keep her under long enough to get her back to the jet.
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"Do you think they'll be alright?" Destiny asked, adjusting the thick-lensed glasses on her face.
"They'll be fine. Every security system in the house has been shut down and there are no psychics on the premises."
"But if Xavier-"
"If he should come back early we will alert the team and evacuate."
"I'm just worried Mystique, we've sent them into a hornet's nest. Some of the most powerful mutants live in that house."
Mystique's eyes flared yellow with child-like excitement, "And that's what makes this all the more beautiful."
Scene Break
Rogue stood still. According to the schematics she was standing on the edge of the west wing, the X-Men's residency hall. She, Toad, and Blob were only to stand guard at specified spots in the mansion, Magneto would keep watch over the mansion's exterior, the rest of the teenagers would serve their purposes as they completed each task on their objectives list and Destiny and Mystique would watch over the jet's monitors.
Rogue gazed out one of the hall's many windows. Seeing the moon she felt a familiar tug at her heart. On nights like this she and Dominic would always sit in her room just staring out her window. It didn't matter what was said, what was done, it was enough just to be together. She shook herself out of her thoughts. She reminded herself why she was there to begin with.
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Avalanche felt his heart race when he took in the Danger Room. He'd heard many tails of this place, so many that he'd lost count. Word on the streets was that it could replicate any scenario needed to train or even just to lose oneself in. He would have loved to dabble in the technical aspects of the room but he told himself not to become distracted. Still, it seemed unfair that he should find this magnificent piece of technology only to have to destroy it.
He set his backpack down and began to unpack his items.
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Destiny pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Are you okay?" Mystique asked worriedly.
"Yeah I'm fine, I'm just working down a headache."
"You need a stronger prescription."
Destiny shook her head sadly, "Mystique we've already talked about this."
Her wife frowned, "No, I refuse to believe that."
"Mystique one day I will go blind, it might not be today-" she grimaced.
"What's wrong?" Mystique pulled her close.
"Vision."
"Of what?"
"Doesn't matter. Just tell Pyro we no longer need Kitty Pryde."
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Pyro rolled his eyes, after all the medical training Destiny put him through to pull this off she was just going to blow if off. Figured. Adults could never figure out what it was they really wanted.
He looked at the girl in front of him. Maybe some other day cute stuff.
Scene Break
Scarlet Witch was about to go mad. Nothing was happening. She supposed that was the point, that nothing of action actually occur on this mission, but it was driving her insane. She wished her brother could have come on the mission, he would have kept her sane but alas he was in Caldecott, preparing for his second day in court.
She sighed. Nothing to do, nothing to do, nothing to do, not a thing to do…
"Scarlet Witch," came Mystique's voice.
"Yes?"
"Make sure you're ready for any commotion."
"Why?"
"Destiny had a vision, all you need to know is that you need to get ready…just in case."
Scene Break
Rogue snuck into Logan's bedroom. Moments ago she had been handed new orders based on one of Destiny's visions. From what Rogue understood, the vision had a very low chance of even coming true but if the Brotherhood had learned one thing after years of being on the job it was never to take anything for granted.
So now Rogue was standing over one of the most ferocious mutants known to mankind. She removed one of her gloves and pressed one finger, the pointer, to Logan's forehead. She was careful to only absorb him in ten second intervals, no need to leave the X-Men evidence of the Brotherhood's invasion.
Scene Break
Avalanche punched in the correct sequence on what he called the "viral bomb." The explosive he was setting in the Danger Room acted partially as a computer virus; it would integrate itself into the Danger Room's computers, disguising itself as a basic file, only to begin its countdown the next time the Danger Room's technology was activated.
"Avalanche, are you finished?"
"Witch it's going to take a lot of my concentration to integrate the bomb into the mainframe. Just chill."
Scene Break
I wonder what goes on in your head. Rogue looked upon the mutant lying in front of her. In only a few moments her question would be answered, according to her parents her powers allowed her to take others' memories and thoughts along with their powers.
Logan stirred. Rogue realized she'd been letting her concentration slip and quickly pressed her finger back against his forehead. She let a breath go as she watched him fall back into a restful sleep.
Scene Break
"Freakin' wires," Avalanche muttered to himself.
"Can I help you with anything?"
Avalanche felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He looked up slowly. "Wow, Storm you wouldn't believe what those Brotherhood assholes were trying to do."
Storm crossed her arms over her chest. Avalanche gulped as her eyes began their transformation to their unnatural white.
"Avalanche!" Scarlet With yelled over his communicator, "Storm is up and about the mansion."
Scene Break
Scarlet Witch waited for a reply and when she didn't get one she began to get worried. She activated her communicator again, "Avalanche do you read?"
"I believe he's busy."
She winced. She hated that Nightcrawler prick. She began to create a hex ball in her right hand.
"Easy," Nightcrawler said, "We can do this easily and you can surrender or I can use my advanced skills and take you down in seconds. Which will it be?"
Scene Break
Rogue pressed her communicator with her free hand. "Mystique what's going on?"
"Scarlet Witch has been confronted by Nightcrawler and avalanche has his hands full with Storm. Luckily Shadowcat is still under, she won't come out of her induced sleep for at least the next three hours. Just keep Wolverine under and we'll be okay."
Rogue looked down into Wolverine's face. She shuddered, if he woke up there was no telling what he would do with his claws.
Scene Break
"Magneto come in," Destiny attempted to contact him.
"I read you."
"Is there any commotion outside?"
"Negative. All the commotion is on the inside."
Destiny sighed, "Keep your position, I'll let you know if we need you." She turned to Mystique, "This is not good."
Scene Break
"Pyro, help Avalanche."
"Gotcha." He raced through the mansion, having memorized the schematics, and made his way down to the entrance of the danger room's control center. He opened the door and without hesitation grabbed his flamethrower, "Eat this Storm!"
Avalanche leapt out of the way, leaving Storm in the line of fire. Her screams bounced off the walls of the control room. Thinking quickly, she put the fire out with one of her own rain clouds.
"Awesome," Pyro said before he realized that her anger and attention was now focused solely on him. "Crap."
Scene Break
Colossus awoke with a start. He frowned; he could have sworn he had heard someone scream. He wanted more than anything to shake off the unease that had crept under his skin and let himself fall back into sleep's arms but something told him something was incredibly wrong.
He threw his covers to the floor and raced to his sister's room. He did not see her sleeping in the bed and began to panic. He threw the covers off her bed and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her sleeping in the center of the bed. He should have figured, he couldn't count the number of mornings he'd been sent to wake her up for classes only to find her buried by her comforter.
He put the sheets back on her bed and left her room. He forced his heart to stop beating so quickly and walked to the kitchen. After pouring himself a cup of cold water he sat on one of the stools near the island. He shook his head. Maybe his uneasy feeling had something to do with a nightmare he'd had but just couldn't recall. He remembered reading in some textbooks that people often times awoke with feelings induced by a dream that they could not remember.
He finished off his water and placed the glass in the sink. After convincing himself that everything was okay, he began his walk back to his room. He sighed, he would need his favorite classical cassette to get back to sleep. He groaned when he realized he'd let Kitty borrow it.
Maybe she won't hear me if I quietly retrieve the cassette.
He entered Kitty Pryde's room, removed the cassette from her tape deck and placed it in his pocket. He smiled when he saw the young girl sleeping so peacefully. Leaning over he kissed her forehead gently.
"Good night little kitten."
Scene Break
Nightcrawler transported himself to another room. Scarlet Witch was proving to be a worthy adversary and he was going to need backup. He reached over to the bed in front of him and shook the boy in it.
"Sam," he said urgently, "Sam get up."
The boy simply rolled over, muttering something incoherent.
Nightcrawler slapped him across the face, "Damn it Guthrie, now is NOT the time to sleep!"
Sam Guthrie sat up, "What has gotten into you?"
"We're being invaded, gather the rest of the New Mutants."
Scene Break
Rogue looked at Logan. "So Mr.Wolverine, is that how you got the metal implanted in your body?"
She knew very well that he would not answer but the silence was beginning to kill her. She looked at Logan's face in sorrow. She couldn't believe that one man could have witnessed so much destruction and pain. It seemed no matter what he tried he couldn't win. She laughed silently, and here she was taking more from this poor man.
Scene Break
"Scarlet Witch Ah presume."
Scarlet Witch smiled, "I've heard about you, Cannonball is it?" She took a martial arts stance.
"And Wolfsbane."
Scarlet Witch rolled her eyes as Wolfsbane stepped out of the shadows and took her position directly behind Cannonball. "Fine, lets do this."
Scene Break
Destiny grinned grimly, "Call them back."
Mystique nodded. She spoke into her communicator.
Scene Break
"Report to the rendezvous point."
Rogue did not dare leave Wolverine's side, she could not take the chance that with all the turmoil going on in the mansion's halls he would somehow wake up and eviscerate her team mates. She had seen inside his head, she knew what he was capable of.
Monster.
She sent out a message to her team. "Everyone get out, Ah have ta keep Wolverine under. Ah'll meet ya'll latah."
"Rogue, Rogue come in."
"Ah read ya Witch."
"I'm staying behind with you, you're going to need backup trying to bust out of here."
Rogue didn't argue, instead she asked, "Don't ya have yoah hands full?"
"With Cannonball and Wolfsbane?" she scoffed, "They were simple."
"Fine, go help Avalanche and Pyro, Toad and Blob have already evacuated the area."
Scene Break
"Pyro!" Avalanche yelled as he was thrown through the viewing window of the control room and into the Danger Room.
Pyro gulped, "Hey Sheila, what do ya say we forget about all this and just get a bite to eat."
Storm was not amused. A split second later Pyro followed Avalanche into the Danger Room.
"Stop!"
Storm turned to see Scarlet Witch standing behind her. "So the Brotherhood does resort to using both young boys and girls." Storm looked the younger girl in the eyes, "Do you really want to follow those two idiots?" She gestured towards the broken window.
Scarlet Witch smiled, "All of you X-Men are so pompous. What makes you think your professor's dream is the right one to follow?"
"I believe in his dream because it brings peace. Now tell me, why do you follow that monster Magneto?" She smiled, "Other than the fact that he's your father."
"The fact that he's my father has nothing to do with the fact. And FYI Storm, there is no such thing as peace. Whichever path we choose we risk sending the world to chaos before everything settles down. There is no reasoning with the humans, we must take the world by force before allowing peace to reign."
"You've been brainwashed well."
"No, the lot of you have been. You follow Xavier like sheep because you all think you owe him your lives, you think that because he saved you all from being homeless, or outcasts that he somehow deserves your respect. In short, you're all dependant on him." Scarlet Witch smiled, "And Storm. Next time you're in a fight, don't stop to chat."
Those were the last words Storm heard before she fell to the ground, unconscious.
Avalanche frowned at the body in front of him, "She might be a powerful mutant but her skull still has soft spots."
"Where's Pyro?"
"Still trying to climb his way up."
"Fine, both of you need to evacuate, Rogue and I-"
"I know, we caught all that over our communicators."
She nodded and left the room, finding her way back to Wolverine's bedroom. "Rogue Pyro and Avalanche are evacuating as we speak."
Rogue nodded silently, her hand on Wolverine's forehead, her gaze turned to Wolverine in sorrow. "Ya know," she said slowly, "It's funny how we dehumanize our enemies for the sake apathy."
Scarlet Witch stood beside her teammate, "That's right, we have to. Remember, the mission is what matters."
"But what about tha families, tha histories of our enemies? Doesn't that matter too?"
"Rogue that's just Wolverine talking, he's affecting you the way Cody did."
Rogue said nothing.
"Come on, everyone should be out by now."
Scene Break Scene Break Scene Break
Pietro lay across his bed and ground his teeth in frustration; court had not gone well. His lawyer assured him that the testimonies if two of the key witnesses, though damning, would be dismissed for various legal reasons.
"Pietro, we're home!"
He walked out to the top of the stairs and saw his family walking in the front door as if they'd been out on a family excursion. Pietro had to keep himself from laughing, even as a group of super powered mutants they looked normal. When everyone was in the house he asked, "So how did Operation Giggle, go?"
His father looked at him blankly, "Operation Giggle?"
Pietro looked at Wanda and they both started laughing. Erik sighed in exasperation and walked into the kitchen.
"For your information brother, the mission went off without a hitch."
St. John looked at Wanda in a stupefied awe. "What do ya mean Sheila? We were attacked by X-Men and New X-Men, Dominic didn't get to finish his pat of the mission and now those X-Men are going to hunt us down."
Dominic stretched his arms and began to walk to the living room. "Actually," he called back, "I got my part finished."
St. John looked baffled so Wanda explained, "While I kept Storm busy, Dominic finished installing that bomb."
Marie frowned, "So what is it supposed ta do?"
"It's really more of a virus than a bomb," Wanda explained, "It should be triggered by some specific sequence used in the Danger Room. I'd tell you more but the adults didn't really tell me much and they've all escaped to their bedrooms by now."
Marie shook her head, "Ah don't think Ah really wanna know all that badly anyway. Ah'm goin' at bed. Good night."
"Goodnight." they called after her.
St. John yawned, "The girl has the right idea, g'night mates."
"St. John, where did Marty and Fred go?" Wanda asked.
"As soon as they reported back at base the adults sent them on another mission."
"Another one?"
"Yeah, top secret."
Scene Break
Marie dug through her dresser in an attempt to find clean PJ's. She finally gave up and picked up her tattered Green Day shirt. "Whatevah," she muttered throwing off her clothing. She walked to her laundry basket, passing the full body mirror and entertainment set in the process. She decided to sit in her bra and panties and just watch television. Her few minutes before bed was the only time she could dare expose any skin. Even in her sleep she could not leave skin exposed, she could not take the chance that some one might come to wake her and come in contact with her. Locking her doors would not help, not with the skilled lock pickers living in the house.
She yawned and tuned her television to Nickelodeon, by this time Nick at Nite was airing I Love Lucy. Marie gigged at Lucille Ball's antics. She sighed when the program ended and tuned into CNN. She became bored quickly as there was nothing important being covered. She turned the television off and got up to put on her PJ's.
Scene Break
Wanda was removing her makeup when she heard a bloodcurdling scream. She dropped her makeup thinner and ran in the direction of the scream. She almost ran into Marie in the hallway.
"Marie what's wrong?" Wanda had never seen the girl so pale, her eyes were wildly darting around and for the first time, Wanda realized the girl was in her underwear. "Marie, what the Hell are you doing!"
"Wanda, Wanda, look at meh!"
"Yeah, Marie you've got an amazing body no doubt but…" tears graced Wanda's eyes as she realized what she was talking about and she whispered, "…you have an amazing body."
"Marie! Honey what's wrong?" Irene ran towards her daughter.
"Ah'm, Ah'm…." Pietro and Dominic heard the commotion and ran into the hallway in time to hear Marie announce, "Ah don't have any more scars. Look!" she twirled and sure enough her skin was smooth without so much as one trace of a paper cut or acne scar.
"Oh my God," Pietro murmured, "Marie, how?"
"Ah don't know."
Irene stood still, "I suspect it has something to do with Wolverine. You must have used his healing factor."
A flash of disappointment passed over Marie's face, "So Ah won't get ta stay this way?"
"If it hasn't worn off by now then maybe it is permanent. I'm just surprised, you've never experienced a physical change due to your powers."
"Oh well," Marie sighed, "Ain't lahk it would really mattah, Ah can't show any o' mah skin anyway. Not unless Ah wanna send someone else into a coma."
"Marie don't talk like that," Wanda ordered, "Irene and Raven will help you control your powers then this new development will be worth it."
"You think so?"
"She's right," Irene told her, "Now, I must drag Raven out of her hot tub and tell her about this. Get some sleep sweety."
Marie smiled brightly, "Yes Ma'am."
As he watched Irene retreat, Dominic couldn't help the rage burning in his stomach. He knew why Irene had lied, but that didn't make it any easier to accept.
End Chapter Now
Woohoo! Take that fan fiction!
To all my reviewers (my responses will be short and sweet due to a lack of timeL )
Racky: Sorry for not updating soon enough ::ducks fist::. Thanks for reading my story, I appreciate your interest in my wild world of comic book characters!
Elrohirthewriter: Well how do you know the "Prick" isn't just a, well, prick? He he he, I should stop patronizing you.
Demiducky25: Yeah I figured the streak should be developed over time. I wish the people at MARVEL would keep her streak consistent, sometimes it's in the center, other times it's on her bang…they should make up their minds. And Remy was instructed to "give" Rogue mutant powers; that's all you really need to know.
Star-of-Chaos: Thank you! Essex should be banished to the deepest pits of Hell!
Tammy: I want to tell you why Dom is acting that way but it will come up later. Though I can't outright tell you what the second episode will be about I can tell you it will be interesting, I promise you. As for your last question; yes, in a way.
Ishanahalf: Sinister always was one of my fave characters. The rest of my episodes, by the way, will be interesting as well. And yes I do appreciate your oddness. Strange people are more fun than "normal" ones.
Next time: The conclusion of Episode 1. Rogue's final decision, Pietro's fate, and the beginning of the end for the Brotherhood.