A.N: Hello there from Thunder-Rhapsody.
Note: Adrianna is Audri's real name, just so you know. Oh, and screw how old he is in the movie, Kurt is twent-eight [28].
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Previously, in chapter one...
"If you decline, well, you shall be withheld here until you concede."
Audri was still keeping up her stony silence. She didn't want to say a word to this man, he was a backstabber, a liar, a greedy, power-hungry, spiritually broken man, and he had control over her.
But defeat was something Audri wouldn't take anymore. She would get out. She wasn't about to die here at the man's hands. Audri glanced at John, who was behind Sabertooth and watching. He met her gaze, and quickly looked away.
/Then I am alone/ Audri confirmed in thought.
And now...
Chapter two: Of Thoughts and Misgivings
Kurt sat in the meeting room, looking around. Bobby, Rogue, Logan, Ororo, and Scott, along with Xavier and himself, were all sitting around the large "war table", as Kurt secretly referred to it as. The computer mechanisms projected a physical map of the USA, then a 3D image of Buffalo, New York, and the area around it, came up.
"As most of you know, there have been recent sightings of an 'angel' in and around Buffalo," Xavier was saying; "These leads are correct, our angel's actual identity is Adrianna {A/N: mag's called her by her nickname, but that comes up later} Layette Malone."
The mechanisms towered upwards, creating a small replica of the "angel". Kurt's eyes widened as he saw the statue, slowly turning so all could get a good look. His outward appearance was calm and serene, but inwardly he was reeling. This was the mutant, and Magneto supposedly had her? This wasn't right; she was a sign of God!
"She's a twenty-two-year-old originally from France, but when her father was killed on assignment in Russia, she and her mother moved to America, where her mother then married a man named Brain Malone. Sadly, both of Adrianna's parents were killed in a car crash, and on that very day, when Adrianna was with them, she went missing. Now, nearly seven years later, Adrianna has resurfaced.
"But now my fears are that Magneto has her. Currently, Cerebro has tracked Adrianna in Buffalo, but she soon headed from that area, was stalled—" as he spoke, the grid appeared, and a line from Buffalo started moving towards the northwest; "And then headed off at jet speeds towards the Dakotas. Cerebro last tracked Pyro there, as well as Mystique..." his voice trailed off as he sighed; "My proposal is that we investigate."
Bobby was studying the ever-rotating statue; "She can't be twenty-two!" he finally exclaimed.
Kurt nodded. The girl looked young, at least seventeen to nineteen, but not twenty-two.
"That's because she's man-made!" Came a loud, matter-of-fact voice.
All eyes turned to the door as Hank came in, bringing a small stack of papers and a CD with him.
"What?" Rogue asked.
Hank nodded, putting the CD into the small computer by Xavier. The statue, grid, and map disappeared, and a large screen came up in its place.
"Yep," Hank said, sighing; "Found school pictures from France," he said, pressing a button.
Several pictures popped up then, all of different ages; "This is the latest though, when she was fifteen," Hank said, pressing another button.
The picture that came up next was a definite American school photo, square, silver-grey background, and Adrianna was in the center, smiling genuinely and the perfect picture of a youthful teenager.
"And no wings to speak of," Hank said; "That's why Cerebro didn't pick up her trace sooner."
Xavier nodded grimly.
"Hank," Logan suddenly said, coming out of his deep thought; "Do you know where this kid was before she went AWOL?"
Hank shook his head; "All I know is this. She was in the car when her parents crashed, but even that's a mystery to the police;" he pushed another button; "This is the police report," Hank said; "The car was a '95 Mazda," a picture of a totaled car came up with the push of another button.
"And?" Xavier asked, studying the screen intently.
"Apparently, it hydroplaned, then went over an embankment. They, the police, found the car at the bottom of the ravine totaled, both parents dead, and Adrianna missing. The only thing suspicious was the fact that the car hadn't exploded, and there were traces of tracks from some large vehicles. Shame the detectives closed the case, and after a year of being on the Missing Person's list, Adrianna was listed as 'dead' and taken off. No one knows who exactly took her name off."
"That's sick," Bobby suddenly said, grimacing with a glare; "Who would do such a thing?!"
"Stryker, the Soviet Union, Area-51," Logan said, coolly stating suggestions; "A lot of people could have, kid."
Bobby sank into his seat as he stared at the screen.
"But, we defeated Stryker," Scott said, "And, I don't think the government was in to mutating people for the heck of it."
Xavier sighed; "I remember picking up a signature while we were flying from... Stryker's base, but I dismissed it," he said wearily; "Perhaps, indeed, Stryker was the cause..." he wiped his brow.
"Ve should find her," Kurt mused quietly, stroking his chin as he thought, eyes long since having left the screen to stare at the table; "Eet iz only fair;" he looked up; "Dis iz not right, she deserves to be rescued."
The entire month Kurt had been quiet and withdrawn, and that was the most he had said at one time. Xavier let a faint smile grace his face as he watched Kurt; "Excellently put, Kurt," he said, and then he looked around at the others, smile fading; "I'm not asking you all to go. This is not a mission, merely an... assignment to see where Magneto might be hiding, and then to rescue Adrianna if she is there."
"I vill go," Kurt said, standing.
Slowly, Logan rose as well, hands in pockets and eyes staring at the table, the man once more engrossed in thought. Ororo rose as well. Scott, Bobby, and Rogue remained sitting.
"No offense, Professor," Bobby said, Looking up guiltily; "But, I'm not up for it."
"Me neither," Rogue said.
Scott was silent.
Xavier nodded; "I understand. You three shall remain behind to help Hank run the institute in our absence. Team, we leave as soon as possible."
"Give 're take forty minutes," Logan grumbled, lifting his head and rolling his eyes.
Kurt nodded, and promptly teleported out. He came to his room, which was in need of cleaning. He ignored the mess, and went straight to his dresser. Pulling out his black sweater, he replaced it with the cream one he had been wearing. Making his way over to his closet, he pulled out the long leather turncoat with the large red "X" on the upper right arm, same on the left. Kurt then walked over to his desk, and put on his watch. But when he pressed a certain button on the side, his outward appearance changed.
/Technology/ Kurt thought as the image inducer took affect. His skin was now a dark tan, eyes a safe, normal dark brown, hair navy-black. His hands were regular, his index and middle, along with pinky and ring finger separately paired off to cover his sole three fingers. Kurt looked normal this way, no tattoos, no scars, no blue. Xavier had spent two solid weeks perfecting it, so much so that even if someone bumped into him they would tell.
Kurt was satisfied with his appearance, so he teleported into the labs, where Hank was working over a table and laptop.
Hank heard the bamph and smelt the acrid sulfur smoke, and looked up to see it was Kurt. He went back typing and recording.
"Hank..." Kurt said.
"Yeah, Kurt?" Hank asked, not looking up.
"Dis girl," Kurt replied, unsure, "Iz she... Hank, could ve bring her here, and be safe wit' her avound? I mean, if de police report iz true, and Charles' assumptions are correct..."
"Kurt, all I can say is, give her open arms," Hank said, straightening up and closing the laptop; "I still can't get records from France."
"Weetness Protection Agency?" Kurt suggested.
"Maybe," Hank said; "You might want to get going, Kurt. Knowing Logan, he'll want to get this over with."
"Or find someone in line vith Stryker," Kurt muttered, then with a nod to the scientist, he teleported to the "war" room, again a reference of his.
"Alright, everyone ready?" Logan asked loudly, walking into the room and pulling on his gloves.
---
Audri stood stock still. She was in the middle of a dome-like room, only one large, not giant, spotlight to speak of, and she was standing right in the ring of light. She had been brought here by Sabertooth, after being further tortured by magneto and being forced to be taken away. She had been unceremoniously dumped onto the floor, and then left alone. Audri was panicking; it didn't feel right to be here. It wasn't safe, she had to get out.
But should she venture into the darkness? It was all around, as if closing in. The light could give out at any minute, and then she'd be swallowed whole.
/It's a trick/ Audri told herself /He's trying to make you crack. Don't crack, stay calm.../
But even as she thought this, her breathing was picking up; her heart was beginning to race. She looked around hopelessly, but there was no escape. The dark was there, surrounding her, waiting patiently to consume her and claim her as theirs...
/No!/ Audri shouted in her head, closing her eyes and clenching her fists /Mind games won't work, they won't work... oh if I had a mom to cry to.../
---
Magneto, Mystique, and the others watched from the viewing skybox, away from the light and windows safely tinted.
"Do you think she'll crack?" Mystique asked, watching the monitor hungrily.
"All in good time," Magneto said idly, sighing; "All in good time..."
Pyro and Toad were in the back, close to the door and leaning against the wall.
"We shouldn't let them do this," Pyro said, "I'm feeling guilty..."
"Guilty? You?!" Toad asked with a quiet laugh; "Look, Magneto tries this with every newbie."
"He didn't with me," John protested.
"Yeah, that's because you came willingly, like I did," Toad said, "Look, she'll crack, come to our side, and we'll all be a jolly lil' band o' mutants," he added sarcastically, slumping down to sit.
John joined him. They could still see one of the monitors, and they watched it for twenty minutes in silence. No change.
"Think she'll try and barrel out like Collossus?" Toad whispered quietly, watching the screen intently.
"Maybe," John replied almost inaudibly. Audri was only shivering now and only for short moments before she went back to being a living statue. She was shivering from anger, sorrow, fear, or all of the above, John figured. But beside that, her head was bowed, eyes tightly closed, and fists clenched so tightly her already pale knuckles were even whiter.
"She'll explode if she keeps it up!" Toad muttered giddily with a snicker.
"Shut up!" John said, punching him.
With an inaudible grunt toad was knocked over, hitting the small desk beside him. He groaned aloud and rubbed his head, sitting back up.
"That wasn't fair," he hissed, glaring at John.
"Between your mouth and your smell, you deserved it," Mystique called from the front. John laughed. The female mutant had always had a soft spot for him.
---
Mystique again directed her attention to the monitor; "Eric," she said quietly; "This girl isn't breaking."
"Within, she is shattered," Magneto stated wisely; "But her façade shall not be lifted willingly."
"Façade?" Mystique asked.
Magneto nodded; "Wouldn't you wish to keep your anger hidden if you were her?" he asked, looking at Mystique.
Mystique shrugged, and continued to watch the screen.
---
/Please, don't let them break me/ Audri prayed. /I'll do anything, just please, don't let them break me.../
But her heart was caving, her pulse was quickening alarmingly, and she was beginning to start a sweat. Audri opened her eyes, blinded by the light and pummeled by the dark. She sank to her knees, Wings fanning around her as a shield. She got to her feet again, raising her head and glaring into the dark void. With a shout, she took flight, flying from her ring of sanctuary of light.
Audri slammed into something cold, hard, and thick. Groaning, she lost mobility in a quick black out, and only just woke and caught herself from plummeting. Her head and left side hurt, but she flew around in a careful circle, slamming her fist against the wall occasionally to try and sift out a weak spot.
There was no way out.
Her eyes were steadily becoming used to the dark, though not very well. She had relied on city lights and the stars, but now all there was of light was that single stream from the light. Audri groaned as she hovered in place, and then screamed. She screamed loud and shrilly, the noise echoing in the cavernous hall. She finally ran out of breath, and grew silent as she brooded, eyes darting about.
Wait, she could make out a 3D rectangular shape near the far side, attached to the ceiling. Audri flew around to it, realizing there were tinted windows on it. She popped her knuckles, forcibly building up her adrenaline like she had a month ago. She would not stay in the dark again.
---
"Where'd she go?" Toad asked when Audri disappeared.
"Um, duh," John said as he got up, smacking the side of Toad's head. John walked off to Magneto and Mystique, watching the monitor. After hearing the banging, and the scream, John was sure she'd nearly killed herself. Magneto on the other hand, was smirking.
"Won't be long now," he muttered, the smirk only widening.
Mystique rolled her eyes, then screamed as something rammed into the window before her. She and the others scrambled back as another thud came.
And then, with the third try, Audri came crashing through the window, sending shattered glass everywhere and landing on the ground. Glass had cut her wings badly, many feathers tainted red. She raised her head, and revealed a nice cut from her temple to her jaw. But she didn't even notice. She couldn't feel the pain. Her heart was thumping over one hundred miles an hour, last ditch instincts to survive overpowering her rational thought. Her eyes were paling over, she looked almost demonic.
"Audri!" John exclaimed; "Calm down!"
But his plea fell to deaf ears as Audri rose; "Damn you," she said, glare fixed on Magneto.
Magneto chuckled; "How do you feel, Audri?" he asked calmly, a grin on his old face.
Audri chose not to answer; "Anger, I'll wager?" Magneto prompted; "I'm sure you do, it's natural... to be kept in a place you don't want to be in would infuriate anybody."
"Why won't you let me go?" Audri asked heatedly, eyes glazing over further.
Magneto's smirk only broadened; "Do you know where you anger come from, Audri?" he asked; "It's harbored, but who created it, you wonder?"
"I did," Audri spat.
"Of course, but who... created it, gave it a flame to grow through? Any ideas?"
Audri just stared angrily at him. But Magneto knew he was slowly winning her over; "Not a one?" he asked, "Hmm, you would think that... maybe the betrayal you felt, or the fact that someone stole your family from you..."
"Shut up," Audri managed; "You're lying to me... you don't know anything," when in truth, neither did she.
"I know enough, Audri," Magneto said; "That your full name is Adrianna Layette Malone, and your parents were killed so you could be kidnapped..."
"No..." Audri said almost inaudibly, dropping to her knees, glare gone from Magneto as she covered her face with her hands and bowed her head. Her wings slumped down around her, a puddle of feathers, white and red.
Magneto nodded; "You were then mutated, Audri, against your own will. You were forced upon, and then changed. You were given gifts, Audri, after everything that has happened. Those gifts give you power, something you could use to exact your revenge..."
"I don't want to cause more pain," Audri said, lifting her head and facing Magneto with the now even more-powerful glare; "I won't make others go through what I did!"
"They don't care, Audri!" Magneto bellowed; "The whole world wants you dead, because of what one of their own did to you. You didn't ask for what you received, and now they expect you to stand by and face judgment!"
"Let them expect it, let them think whatever they want!" Audri said desperately, "I don't care!"
"Don't you?" Magneto asked; "More innocent people will end up like you, Audri, could you stand that blood on your hands?"
"No," Audri whispered, looking down at the floor and holding her hands over her mouth as she chewed nervously on her thumbnail.
"Then join me," Magneto said, "I am gathering a team to protect those Innocent people."
"I side with no one," Audri whispered, vaguely remembering an argument she might have had. If only she knew, if only she could remember one thing... she closed her eyes tightly.
"You can trust me, Audri," Magneto said calmly; "It's a foreign concept to you, I'm sure, but you can trust me. You can trust us all..."
Audri took in a deep breath, holding it as she bowed her head and closed her eyes in thought. She let it out slowly, coming to an imminent conclusion.
"I don't have a choice, do I?" she asked quietly, looking back up at Magneto.
The old mutant just smiled a twisted, malevolent grin.
a/n: there ya go. review.