Chapter 14: "I'm Getting Better"
They all turned around. Behind them stood the dark dragon-like being known as Tetsukaeru. His wings were spread out behind him in full glory.
"Who are you?" snapped Althea. "What have you done with Todd?"
Tetsukaeru looked at her. "Sleep," he said. She folded up gently, and lay on the ground, unconscious.
"What did you do to her?" yelled Scott, his hand going automatically to his visor.
"Calm down, young one," Tetsukaeru told him. "She merely rests."
"Who are you?" asked Logan.
"I am Tetsukaeru," the dragon-man replied.
"We know that!" snapped Hank. "What does it mean?"
"Maybe I should explain," sighed Roadblock. "When he first got here, Todd found a stone. It changed him through to the bone. Whenever he's really needed, Tetsukaeru appears." He turned to Tetsukaeru. "Well? We're all ears."
"I inhabit Todd Tolensky's body," continued Tetsukaeru. "Young Althea Delgado may not know, for she too has a piece of the stone within her. Neither may be allowed to discover this until they are of age to properly merge with the stones. At that time, my full powers will manifest in Todd Tolensky. However, should he discover before the proper time, a great and terrible destructive force may be unleashed upon the Earth, with none who could stop it."
"So how did you get here?" asked Lance. "I mean, Toad's dead. Isn't he?"
"I put Todd Tolensky in suspended rest while I healed his body from the inside," explained Tetsukaeru. "He may have appeared dead during the process, but he has now recovered sufficiently that your medical man may finish the reconstructive process. Remember, none of you must tell Todd Tolensky that I exist."
"We remember," nodded Fred.
There was a glowing light from the direction of Tetsukaeru, causing everyone to turn their heads. When they looked again, Todd lay on the ground, breathing shallowly, but definitely alive.
Althea stirred, and groaned. "What happened?" she asked, dazed.
"Todd's alive," Fred informed her.
"What?" she asked. Then she saw Todd. "TODD!"
She dragged herself over to him, and pulled him up into a hug until Lifeline gently extracted him from her arms.
She looked around at the gathered people. "How?" she asked.
"Um... medical miracle?" suggested Rogue.
"Yeah," agreed the others.
Althea was suspicious. "There's something you're not telling me," she said, eyes narrowing.
"Uh... Toad might need you," Lance spoke quickly.
Immediately, Althea forgot her suspicions, and jumped to her feet. She ran off in the direction of the med bay.
Roadblock turned to the X-Men. "You can't tell anyone, especially Todd, about what happened here today," he said. "If you do, well... You remember Pompeii?"
The X-Men nodded.
"It'll seem like a day at the beach compared to what would happen."
They looked suitably taken aback.
"How long have you all known this?" asked Logan.
"About a year, year and a half," Low Light said.
"And you never felt the need to tell us?" Hank said incredulously.
"Nope," said Cover Girl. "Some things are best left secret."
"And so," finished Zartan, "you will vote for the Bill. If you do not, your constituency will hear every detail of... Fifi, the Performing Poodle! Have a nice day!"
He switched off the link, and allowed himself a maniacal laugh. Soon, very soon, he would be ruler of his country, and then... Who knew? They did say the world was getting smaller every day.
"Once the Bill passes, there'll be rioting in the streets," he told Zanya, who was reading a magazine and looking bored. "Mutant and human will rise up in arms together, and civil war will erupt! And once they are locked in struggle, I will be able to rise to the top! Soon I, and I alone, shall rule!"
"Yeah, yeah," said Zanya. She flipped a page in her magazine.
"Hey."
Althea opened her eyes at the voice, one she'd thought silenced forever. Todd lay awake, watching her. He grinned, and the tears burst through once more.
"Shhh..." Todd told her as he held her, gently stroking her long black hair. "It's okay. It's okay."
"I thought you were dead," sobbed Althea, clinging to him.
"So did I," laughed Todd. "But I'm getting better!"
She smiled through the tears.
"Scare me like that again, and I'll finish you off myself," she told him.
He grinned. "Promise?" he teased.
She crawled up against him, and they lay there, holding each other tightly.
Bayville, that night...
There was a flash of light in the dark, and four figures appeared. They tumbled to the ground and sprang up again.
One spoke.
"Ah. It's good to be back. Let's go."
Next time: Some fun, lighthearted romance. It'll be so sweet, your teeth will begin to rot. Tune in again, for chapter fifteen of Misfits in Time!