Chapter Seven: Cursed
Quick Sticky: I know it seems this story's kinda slow, but I know what I'm doing. All these chapters about the past are very important to the chapters about the present. It will all make sense in two chapters or so and then the action will really start rolling! So enjoy reading this! Like I said in the last note, I've barrowed things from Marvel Comics, and I'm saying again so I don't get, "You're ripping off Marvel and not giving them credit!" lines from all of you. This will be the longest fic I've ever written. The plan is for a 30,000 story. And my stories have never been that long. I'm being outwritten (as in quality) by apERFECtcircle, who is 12 years old, and I'm 17!!! apERFECtcircle, that's a compliment!! I-Heart-Manga, I am not dragging this story out, it's called character development! Okay, read now…
Special occasions among the Logan family included birthdays. Gar's was no exception. His birthday was a warm bright, sunshiny day. "Happy birthday, Gar," Marie smiled. She handed him a hand carved flute. "I didn't make it for you, Tawaba did. Too bad he's not here to see it." It was the rainy season and the Logan's were preparing to leave Africa until it was over. Then they would come back.
They would leave in three days, Marie was nine months pregnant and she would have the baby soon. They didn't know the baby's sex though because they were too far from any hospitals. Mark said it would be a surprise. And Gar didn't care as long as the baby was fine.
"Hey son, happy birthday," Mark gave his six year old a playful hug. "I have something for you." Mark removed a long, slender wooden box from a corner of their small home. He handed the box to a wide eyed Gar.
"Can I open it?" he asked, unsure if it was really for him.
"Of course you can, it's your birthday present!" Mark laughed. "Go on." He turned to Marie. "I wanna see the look on his face when he opens it."
Mark got the expected reaction from Gar as the boy opened the box and removed a long spear. It was one like the spears he had seen King Tawaba use, except it was made of titanium and a lot stronger than the simple wooden ones. Gar gasped and smiled broadly. "Is this mine?"
"Yes Gar, it's all yours, but don't you go poking me with it or I'll take it away," Mark laughed.
"Wow," Gar held it up. It was so big. The long shaft handle was heavy and it held it with both hands, and even then, it was still heavy. "Thank you, Daddy! You're the best!" He ran over to his dad and hugged him tightly. "This is the best birthday ever!"
"You're welcome, kid. I'm glad you like it. After we get back and after your mom has the baby, I'll teach you how to use it, 'kay?" Mark tussled Gar's hair.
"Can I go outside?" Gar asked.
"Sure, kid. Whatever you want." The boy laughed and morphing into an adorable puppy, he ran off, leaving his parents alone.
"So, how are you?" Mark asked Marie gently placing his hand on her swollen belly. "You don't feel like you're gonna pop are you?"
"No, not yet Mark," Marie replied. "I think I'm going to go rest for awhile."
"That's fine honey, I'm going to go do some work," Mark and Marie separated and Mark headed towards his lab he had inside the house. He began sorting through papers and notebooks full of scribbles and notes about his continuing research involving Gar. He was fascinated by the fact that Gar's DNA mutation had done to his genes. The experimental procedure had gone through a strange transformation and he had acquired the DNA of every living animal that had at one time or another walked the planet.
But Mark Logan had done more than research Gar's DNA. He had other projects besides that, his research on a strange aluminum alloy that had no name, but came in a liquid form. It hardened immediately when it was exposed to room temperature and it was the strongest metal that he had ever seen in his life. He was trying to discover a way to harness the metal so he could use it as a building material.
But it was a painstakingly slow process, though. Mark discovered that if he kept the metal heated at a constantly hot temperature, he could do almost anything with it, but he had to do it fast, or the metal would harden, and stay the way it was.
Sighing, Mark pulled out the holograph recorder. Pushing the button, he began to recording the next entry. "Today, August, 23, 1997, research is continuing on the Morphing Phenomenon that has taken place in my son's body. I don't know how it happened, but it seems that he can inherit an animal's traits when he visualizes it. Such things in the scientific community are unheard of. My research has shown me that his body has adapted to the mutation, but the major side effect of mutation shows on his skin. The genes have mutated to a strange green pigment. I will continue research on this later.
Also in my research, I have discovered a strange aluminum alloy. I have called this metal "Adamantium". It has the strangest atomic structure I have ever seen in all my years as a scientist. It seems to be indestructible and it hardens almost instantly when exposed to room temperature.
It is a strange thing and I hope that, with more funding, I can continue to conduct research. I will say more when I have the time—"
"Mark, are you still busy?" Marie's voice asked in a sleepy whisper. Mark turned to look at his wife and smiled. She looked sleepy, but well rested. And he thought she never looked more beautiful.
"Hey, sweetheart," he smiled, walking over to her. "I thought you were sleeping." Marie gave him a smile.
"I was," she replied. "But I think I know myself well enough to know that I have enough sleep." She looked up at her husband quietly. "I worry about you though. You really need to take a break. You work too much, you're wearing yourself—"
"I'm not wearing myself out, Marie! You know work is a big part of my life. It's what I love!"
"More than you love me?" Marie asked quietly. Mark looked hurt by this and she moved closer to him. "I didn't mean it like that Mark." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Smiling, she rested her head on his shoulders, sighing contently.
Mark smiled at her, pulling away, he bent his lips down to hers in a kiss. He pulled her as close as he could and held her in a warm embrace. "You know I love you more than work, sweetheart. How many times to I have to tell you?" he whispered in her ear.
"Until I get sick of it," Marie laughed. "Mark, you tell me all the time, so why would I forget?" She kissed him lightly. Mark gently brushed his tongue along her mouth, requesting entrance. Marie gave it willingly and let explore her mouth gently. He stroked her hair. Pulling away, gasping for air, she smiled. "Thank you."
"You look gorgeous," he murmured in her ear. Marie then noticed the recorder was still on. "Mark, you left the recorder on!" She glared at him. "It's taped everything!"
"Crap!" Mark exclaimed. Then a smile crossed his face. "But it's not like the recorder cares, Marie. Besides, people should be allowed to see how much I love you." He kissed her again.
Pulling away, Marie looked at him. "One of these days, Mark Logan, I'm gonna kill you for that!" Her voice was filled with mock anger.
"Hey, that's what you said when I barreled into in college, I'm not dead yet!" Mark laughed as he turned to the camera. "Don't mind my wife, she's crazy!" he chuckled to himself as Marie turned red with real anger.
"Mark, if I wasn't pregnant, I'd kick you real hard." Mark laughed and started to say, "End Transmis—Ow! Marie that hurt!" he said as Marie gave him a hard kick in the groin. "I've had my Masculinity humiliated! Ugh, what did you do that for? Oof!"
"You started it, Mark!" Marie retorted. "You had to tease me, you workaholic!"
"I'm not a workaholic!" Mark roared back. "Will you stop it already?!"
"I will when you apologize!" Mark said grumpily.
"What do I have to apologize for? It's the truth, you work too much!" Marie shot back. "I don't see what there is to apologize about when I'm telling you how it is!"
"That's not how it is, and you know it!" Mark replied angrily.
"Oh really, why doesn't Gar ever see you anymore?" Marie asked.
"Are you trying to make me feel guilty? I'm providing for my family!"
"It' would be a lot better if you'd get out of this stupid lab and spend time with your son!"-
"I can't take this anymore!" Mark shouted as he stomped out of the room.
"You can't just walk out on me!" Marie fumed as he was leaving.
"Just watch me!" Mark slammed the door with a loud bang! Marie stared at the door, silent. She then saw the recorder was still on.
"Crap, it's all on tape! Stupid machine!" Glaring at it, she slammed her finger down on the Stop button and stormed out in a huff. She shut the door behind her and headed to the kitchen. She saw Gar sitting in the kitchen. "What are you doing Gar? I thought you were outside."
"I was, but I came back in. What's the matter with Daddy?" he looked up at her for answers.
"Daddy and Mommy aren't having a good day, sweetheart, that's all," Marie explained as best she could. "We'll be fine. Don't you worry, we'll get over it."
"I don't like it when you and Daddy fight," Gar stated simply. "It makes me sad."
"You shouldn't be so sad, son. We'll be fine," Marie reassured him. "Believe me, this happens once and awhile. We'll be fine." Gar looked up at his mother, and the look on his face showed her that he didn't believer her that much. She smiled trying to reassure him that everything would work itself out.
Mark Logan returned to the house through the back door in his laboratory. Frustrated to no end he went back to the holograph recorder to edit the entry so he could delete the argument. Tossing his dark lab coat aside, he began fumbling for the recorder. I'm not a workaholic. I'm not, he thought to himself. Why can't she see that?
He began scrolling down the list of entries and noticed something strange. There was the time on the entry, 16:30 PM on the day that Gar had first experienced his mutation, except that Mark had not recorded an entry at 16:30. He hadn't even gone into the lab during that because he was busy making sure Marie was in good condition after the ordeal.
He decided to see what the entry was and pushed the button. To his complete surprise, he saw Mobu, the witchdoctor standing in front of him. His voice was filled with malice and hatred. "May your life be miserable as the ones you love perish before your eyes; may the one that saves lives destroy them; and the one who believes he destroys save them; and Mark Logan, if you yourself survive, may your house be divided!" his malignant curse echoed in Mark Logan's ears. A curse. It was a curse, and he couldn't believe it. No, he refused to believe it.
"There is no curse on this family," he muttered. "Mobu's just a crazy old man. He can't do anything to us. He's miles away now."
He went out to the kitchen where Marie had finished making dinner and they sat down to eat. The tension was in the air and Mark and Marie were sharing an uncomfortable silence. "Daddy, why doesn't Mobu like us?"
"What makes you ask that?" Mark asked, startled that he had brought up the subject of Mobu, considering the fact that they didn't like to talk about him.
"Because Zanta told me he said some bad things about us once," Gar said with a mouthful of food.
"Gar, don't talk with your mouth full!" Marie scolded.
"Don't worry about Mobu, son. He's just a crazy old man. And he's too far away to bother us now. Whatever he said didn't matter," Mark lied. It did matter, but he tried to play it down.
Gar seemed satisfied and continued eating. The family got ready for bed and Mark saw Marie come up to him. "Mark about earlier—"
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I shouldn't have overreacted like that. You're right you know. I do work too much. But when we go away in two weeks I promise we'll spend more time together." Mark smiled and moved closer to his wife. "Can I make it up to you?"
"Yes, this will be enough," she kissed him passionately as they got into their bed in their nightclothes.
Pulling away, he whispered goodnight to his wife and lay back against the pillows. He didn't like the idea of lying to Gar about the curse but he didn't want to frighten him. He knew it was wrong but what the boy didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Sighing, he stared out at the dark night as he heard the rumbles of an approaching storm…