Ok, it's Halloween in the real world, and I couldn't resist. My AU's Timeline is a little skewed from the real world, but I wanted to have a costume party. Hope you enjoy! Thanks, R&R, please, luv ya, mean it!
Agent-G:Fast Stories? Well, 2 heads and 6 hands help. LOL! If had as many stories going as you, I'd perish. Yeah, Mally's making a lot for 3.5 hrs a day, but he WILL earn it. Remember, he's working with Beast and Forge in the labs! (Think: Dr. Frankenstien & Igor) - Thanks!
Proponent of EVO:Not bad for an old gaffer, eh? Thanks!
Red Witch:Hopefully it will be interesting; I think I'm gonna stick some of the Brotherhood in the GED classes with Mally & Forge! And a OC teacher. (Think: Welcome back, Kotter meets the Substitute)- Thanks!
Chapter 12 - The Last Weekend before School
The Institute – Kathy Pryde's Office - evening
It was a sultry night; the heat in the office was turned up a little too high. You could cut the tension at my computer desk with a dull butter knife. I had just finished the last lines of code for the secret government program I was writing. I needed some release; something to uncurl my toes. Just then, there was a knock on my door. I got up to open it. He was just standing in the hall, his yellow eyes smoldering in the night. He didn't wait for me to ask him in, just came in like he owned the place. He was short, dark, and fuzzy, wearing a black shirt and purple pants with matching jacket. He was stoking his hair back with his tail, sitting on my bed looking right at me.
"I vork for the resistance,", he said, his accent thick like a new york cheesecake. "I have a job for you, Fräulein Pryde, but it may require vorking undercover. Tink you can handle it?"
"I think I can handle anything and a box of crackers, but first: If you work for the resistance, Kamerad, answer this. How many Jaime's does it take to fix a light bulb?" she asked the coded question.
He stood up with a hiss, then paced across the room to where I was standing. "Two,", he breathed, "One to turn the bulb, and one to hold the other on his shoulders." Saying that, he placed a light kiss on my lips, a card in my hand, stepped back, and walked out the door. I caught my breath. 'Can't let Herr Blueboy get to me..." I thought. I looked at the card. "Xavier's Gym, 11:30 p.m., come alone." My first thought: call Trixie in on this.
The Institute, Trixie Sinclair's Apartment, later in the evening
They called him 'The Iceman', and it wasn't because he drove a delivery truck for a living. He was one of the meanest hit men this side of Manhattan, not someone you wanted to cross. He was currently holding a cute little redheadby the wrist, threatening her.
"Look, Trixie, either come across with the goods or – "He drug his other hand across his neck.
"Iceman, I not be knowin' where ye stuff is – good old Trixie dint take it, I swears to ya! Ye got ta believe me Iceman, I'm on the your side in all this!"
I had heard enough, standing outside her door.
Before coming, I had stopped in at the Gatehouse, a popular stop for ruff types when Trixie hadn't answered her phone. I picked up Mally 'Legs' O'Bryanson, a big Aussie lout who would do anything for enough money and a pretty face. I had paid his tab and slipped him a fin. He was mine for a while. The barkeep at the Gatehouse told me I had a nice set of getaway sticks, so I told him "Thanks, Pops, but no thanks. I try to date my own species." We left, the old fool shaking his cane; a hairy man smoking a cigar at the table looked up and said "You be careful, bubette. Strange stuff goin' down tonight." Didn't I know it.
I motioned for Legs to break down the door to Trixie's room, and got my gun locked and loaded. The big lout pushed in the door, and we saw the Iceman about to make a Scottish slushie outta Trixie. I wasted no time, pulling the trigger, turning the Iceman into ice cubes. I went over to Trixie, who had knelt down next to the dying Iceman.
"......the fat...man sings at midnight, and that's when the gears get loc-k-ed-uhggggg..." were his last words, and I had some idea of what they meant. The Big Blobber, Fred Dukes, and his band, Paige and the Jaimes' were having a Saturday midnight show at Slicky Guthries new nightclub, the Kentucky Road House.
"Looks like were going out tomorrow night, Trixie." I said.
She squealed in delight, turned to Legs and said "What's ye name, ye big red piece o' beefcake?"
The Institute, Xavier's Gym, later in the evening
It was dark in Xavier's, a gym on the lower south side. I walked in, noticing how foreboding the machines looked in the darkness. The only light was from a small red exit sign above the door. I could smell sweat and sulfur in the air. As I walked in, Herr Blueboy stepped out of the shadows.
"Fräulein Pryde, you came. I trust you are alone, no?" His charm was unavoidable, standing there, chewing on a toothpick.
"Yeah, I'm like, alone,", I said, "Why did you ask me to meet you here. This joint smells like rotten eggs."
"It cannot be helped, Fraulein, I had to varn you. Your very life is in danger! Come zsit here on ze bench press with me, I vill explain."
Like I needed a reason to get close to him. We sat down.
"The Big Boss has put a price on your head, Fraulein, 1,000 clams. He has sent the notorious duo 'Bonnie' Grey and 'Clyde' Summers out to pick you up. He knows about your involvement in the the Kitchen Massacre of last year. He knows you're the one who put the 'cranberry stains on the curtains'." Gangster-speak from a foreigner. Great.
"How could he know about that?!" I exclaimed. "The only person who knows the truth about that is - !"
Canvas bags came down over their heads, their arms held in place by an unknown force. The bags cinched up tight, making vision impossible.
"Oh my, the cats in the bag now," I heard Clyde Summers say.
"Yeah, (smack-smack) da Big Boss will be(smack-smack) very happy.", said Bonnie Gray around her usual wad of bubblegum.
They both started laughing evilly. That's when the lights went out.
The Institute, Warehouse District, Next morning
I woke up in a storage room tied back to back to a sleeping Herr Blueboy. "Wake up, Little Boy Blue, time for breakfast." I said throwing an elbow to his kidneys.
"Ow! Fraulein! Vhat vas that for? I am avake already!" he stammered. "Vere are ve?"
"I don't know. Somewhere in the warehouse district, I suppose." I noticed a utility knife on a crate about 10 feet away. "Can you reach that knife, Blueboy? The one over my left shoulder."
Try as he might, ya just can't stretch an six foot tail to ten. "I cannot reach it, Fraulein, I am sorry."
"Don't be sorry, just be like thinking of a way out of here, heart throb." I grunted, struggling at my bonds. It was futile.
"I tink I saw sometink in the shadows! Over there!" Blueboy whispered.
"You're seeing things, bright eyes. There's nothing – "
From the darkest shadows came a beautiful woman in a black body suit, with an unusual white stripe in her hair. She placed a finger to her lips, warning them to be quiet. She walked toward them, menacing dagger in her gloved hand. She leaned down and cut their bonds. Without a word, she turned to go.
"Vait! How can ve tank you? Who are you?" Blueboy pleaded.
No need ta thank lil ole me, sugah, ah'm jest payin' ya back for saving mah life when we were children – Brutha." Then she disappeared into the shadows.
(Cue 'The Plot Thickens' Music)
The Institute, Trixie Sinclair's Apartment, around 10 p.m.
"He's just so tall, and those legs a his, bloody hell! And you knows I got a thing for locks o' red!" Trixie squeaked, patting her red doo. "And I needs a date fer tonight, so I asked him. Anyway, he'll be good to have, incase we need a brute."
"Yeah, I guess. You know I didn't see any family resemblance between Blueboy and the mystery woman. But why would she rescue us then lie?"
I had been wondering all day about the mystery chicky. On one hand, I was relieved she said she was Blueboy's sister; she was built like a tank, and I didn't need any competition. On the other hand, any rescue was a good one, she guessed. Still, their were too many blackbirds in this pie. "What time is he picking you up Trixie?"
"Right, he said he'd be callin' at half past ten. Is Blueboy picking you up? I don't know what you see in the bloke, his accent is creepy."
"Well, if that ain't the half-pint callin' the kettle blue." I mumbled. "Nah, he said he would meet me there. Typical. But I always fall for the hard cases. It's a curse."
"Yeah, well, we best be gettin' all dolled up. We got about 30 ticks."
The Institute, Kentucky Road House Nightclub, 11 p.m.
"Welcome, ya'll, to my swanky new joint, where the dames are hot and the drinks are cold, the actions on fire and the dance floor is smokin'! Welcome, I say again, ya'll are all Welcome!" Slicky Guthrie was making an announcement from the bandstand. He owned most of the nightclubs in the area. Rumor was he had a direct link to the Big Boss. More likely the Big Boss had a direct link to Slicky, in 'protection' money. As he came down, Paige and her big band, The Jaimes' lit up a hot number.
They left the coatroom, Trixie and Legs first, Trixie in a hot red number with a fox stole, and Legs in his usual thug pinstripe suit. I followed in a powder blue dress and heels, with a cute little hat that had cost me lots of loot at the department store. I looked around the club, scanning for Herr Blueboy, but I didn't see him.
"Don't worry lass, he'll show. He's probably just late, tryin' ta make a grand entrance. You know how he is. Let's get us a table up front." piped Trixie, pulling Legs along with her.
Kitty walked to the table, sat down. The waitress walked up, in a black suit with a pillbox hat. "May ah take your order?"
The voice was familiar. I looked up at the girl. It was the mystery woman from this morning! I didn't recognize her with all her hair up under the hat. She gave me a look that said 'Button it, girlie', and put a drink napkin down for all of us, making a show with mine. "I'll take a dirty martini, please, thank you."
She turned to Trixie and Legs. "I needs a Scotch on the rocks, and the brute here will take a beer, stout." Trixie ordered. Legs just nodded.
When she left to get the drinks, I picked up my napkin. 'Keep an eye on the first act for a clue' it said. Talk about encryption! This note made the walls of King Tut's tomb look like a children's primer.
Herr Blueboy strolled up to the table. "Guter Tag, Fraulein, you look very lovely tonight." He nodded to Trixie and Legs, sitting down. "Hello freundes. Looks like I'm just in time for ze first act."
I showed him the note, explaining who gave it to me. "I have no ideas, Fraulein. I guess ve just vait and zee." shrugged Blueboy. Fat lotta good he was.
"Ladies an Gentlemen, ya'll are in for a show tahnight!" Paige announced from the bandstand. "Please give a big welcome ya'll, fer that Asian songbird, Sweet Jubilee!"
The lights lowered as the audience clapped. A spotlight shown on the middle of the stage. The Jaimes' started a slow, almost dirty little ditty, and the curtains parted. I could hear a gasp from every man in the crowd as Lee strutted to the stage front. She was wearing a low cut white gown with a pearl necklace, and had her hair and face done up full tilt. I had to punch Blueboy to get him to turn back around.
"Vhat!? I vas just looking for ze clue!" he moaned.
"Yeah, right, and I'm Babe Ruth." I did let him turn back around though, we did need to watch.
She started singing 'Fever', strolling around the stage being provocative. At one point, she walked out into the crowd, singing directly to some of the lucky stiffs in the crowd. She stopped at one fellow near the back of the room. This guy was extremely nervous when the spotlight lit him up. That, or he was jumpy because Lee set her caboose right down on his lap, singing to him. When she got to the chourus, Lee turned right in my direction and winked. I don't think anyone thought it strange, just part of the act. Then she stood up and finished the rest of the song back on stage. Whatta floozie.
I leaned over to Trixie. "Who's the sweaty guy she was crooning to last?" I asked. Trixie always had the dirt from the underground. Always made me wonder about her.
"They call the bloke 'Gears'. All I know is he's got a real talent for riggin' roulette tables and one-armed bandits. Not to many joints in town would let him thru the doors, until a rumor started that he was on the Big Bosses payroll." Trixie replied, sipping her drink. "Me thinks he's an Injun'."
Slicky Guthrie jumped up on the bandstand. "Ya'll enjoyed that, I bet! What a looker that girl is,so exotic! Are ya'll ready fer more?" The audience cheered. "Well, let me introduce to ya'll tonights main act, The Big Blobber, Fred Dukes!" The tune 'Chantilly Lace' began playing, and big Fred Dukes walked out in a zoot suit.
The audience clapped and cheered. Dukes began to sing, and people got up to cut a rug on the dance floor.
"That's it!" I said, punching Blueboy.
"OW! Fraulein, if you vant to dance, just ask!" he moaned.
"No, ya devil with the blue fur on; 'Gears' get it? It's what the Iceman said after I ventilated him: "......the fat...man sings at midnight, and that's when the gears get loc-k-ed-uhggggg...". I had a talent for impersonating ghosts.
"Stay calm, and be ready to move..." I said, turning around to look at the 'Gears' fellow. Just in the nick of time, too. Bonnie and Clyde had just walked up to his table. They had words, Gears shaking his head. Clyde pointed to the fire exit, then made a 'get up' sign with his hand. Gears shook his head again, nervous as ever. Bonnie made the same 'get up' sign, then held an imaginary noose over her head, tilting her head forward, standing on her tiptoes and sticking out her tongue. Gears got up slowly, then walked to the fire door, followed by the two thugs.
"Time to roll, Trixie!" I shouted, pushing Blueboy out of the booth. "Bring the meathead with you!" Trixie complied. They headed out the fire door after them.
"I gots a bad feeling about this..." Trixie whined, as they entered the back alley.
"You and me both sister, you and me both..."
The Institute, Warehouse District, 15 minutes later"Doesn't this look familiar, Blueboy?" I asked, peering around the corner at a warehouse that Bonnie, Clyde, and Gears just into.
"Ja, Fraulein. It's the same varehouse ve vere trapped in this very morning."
"What are we going to do now, lass?" Trixie asked, Legs standing behind her.
"Well, we follow them." I said, crossing the street to the warehouse.
"Ve just valk in there!?" Blueboy exclaimed.
"You got a better idea, sauerkraut brains?" I kept walking.
The Institute, Inside the WarehouseIt was dark, and the place smelled of old rags and dirty mattresses. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face, but there was a white line painted on the warehouse floor, leading further in, so I followed it. We had walked about twenty feet, when the lights popped on, startling us. In front of me was a desk. On either side were Bonnie and Clyde, him smiling, her smackin' her gum. Behind the desk was a wheelchair, turned around. On either side of it were a big blue furry lout, and a beautiful woman with stunningly white hair. The wheel chair spun around, slowly, relieving a bald man in his fifties, give or take. He was smiling, and it sent chills down my spine.
"Ms. Pryde, I gather. Thank you for coming. We have things......to discuss." the bald man toned. This guy even sounded rich.
"The Big Boss. What do you want with me?" I asked, playing dumb. "And what did you do with Gears?"
"Gears?" he laughed. "Why he's most likely underneath us in his lab right now. He......creates things for me. Ms. Pryde, I'll cut to the chase. You shot my half-brother in cold blood at the Kitchen Massacre. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Marko was a bum, and you know it, Bossy boy. He deserved to eat lead." I spit back at him. "He was runnin' dames on the street, hookin' them on goofball to keep them in line. The man was vile."
"True." Intoned the Big Boss, looking more evil than before. "But he was my brother. So, now you must die. Clyde, Bonnie, if you would?"
The duo leveled their guns at them, and fired, Clyde taking Trixie down, and Bonnie capping Legs. They moved to shoot Blueboy and I, laughing as they did. Suddenly their guns were shot from their hands.
"Ah need ya'll to cease an desist, now. Don't make this hawder than it needs ta be." Up in the rafters of the warehouse was the mystery women, holding a smoking gun. "Your gonna owe me fah this one, brutha..." she looked down at Blueboy.
The Big Boss looked up. "Who the devil are you? This does not concern you. Leave now."
"Your doing just find, whoever you are, keep up the good work." I shouted to her, looking at Blueboy. Still no family resemblance. Weird.
"Fine." The Big Boss stated. "Doctor, if you will?" He raised his left hand, the side the big blue beast was on.
The Doctor pulled a machine gun out from under his overcoat, and shot up the ceiling, taking the mystery girl out. She fell from the height, landing with a sound thump.
The Doctor moved his weapon to Blueboy. "Say bonjour to my diminutive acquaintance!" he shouted, pulling the trigger happily.
Blueboy went down in a pile. My heart sank, and I ran over behind some crates, followed by Bonnie and Clyde. I ran around a corner only to run right into Bonnie.
"Hello dearie." She slugged me good. I went down hitting my head on the concrete floor. Clyde came into my vision standing above me.
"Say hello to Hoffa for me, tramp!" he bellowed, holding his foot above my face. He brought it down, hard.
The Institute, Kitty and Jubilee's Room, Saturdat morningI screamed, sitting up. The pillow slid off my face, and I could see Jubilee standing over by her bed, stretching.
"Good morning, sunshine, time to wake up. We've got to get things ready for the back to school bonfire," she said, smiling. "The Big Boss is lettin' us have it down at the stables!"
Kitty froze, her insides spinning. "What did you just say?!?" she cried.
Jubilee made a face. "The Bonfire silly, the Professor is lettin' us have one at the stables! Jeesh, no coffee for you today."
'And no more late night snacks with Kurt..." she thought, lying back in bed.
end - Chapter 13 - The Bonfire of the Insanities