7. Studied
Rogue sat on the bench in the backyard, listening to the David in her head brag about his love life. Rogue wished more than anything to shut here x-boyfriend up, but that was hopeless, he went on jabbering. Or until Marina showed up that is. She wandered slowly over until she was standing right beside Rogue.
"Hey can I sit there?" asked Marina, pointing the vacant place on the bench. Rogue just nodded and continued to stare out at the other kids playing on the lawn. "If you didn't act so dejected you might actually make friends," said Marina. Rogue looked up with startled eyes, she should have felt insulted, but this blue-garbed woman was telling the truth.
"I don't get along with people."
"I bet you do get along, you just haven't tried."
Rogue turned and faced Marina angrily. "I can't touch people, if I touch them they get hurt. I can't be with people so there isn't any point in trying to be with them." She snapped.
"I see." Was all Marina said. She looked over at Rogue and her long gloves. Reaching slowly over, Marina touched Rogue's cheek.
The younger girl flinched but stayed where she was, shocked that she hadn't absorbed any of Marina's powers. When Marina pulled her hand away, she left a small damp mark on Rogue's cheek.
"How'd you do that?" asked Rogue.
" Not much can effect water can it? It has no skin to absorb." Said Marina with a kind smile. "What's your name?"
"Rogue."
"What's your real name?" pried Marina.
"What's yours?" asked Rogue with a glare.
"Now what makes you think Marina isn't my real name?"
"Don't play with me. A girls names doesn't just happen to be named Marina Ocean and then her mutation suddenly gives her the power of water."
"My name used to Sarah Jane." Said Marina, no look of amusement in her face.
"I used to be Marie."
Marina smiled and held out a hand to Rogue. They shook hands and then sat quietly again, watching the children play.
"Eric tells me you are good friends with Mystique." Said Rogue suddenly. Marina looked startled and eyes the other girl.
"You know Eric then?"
"No, he kidnapped me once and he touched me. Now I have some of his thoughts in my head, that's all. But you avoided my question, are you and Mystique friends?"
"Its no secret, yes we are."
"Why?"
Marina shrugged. "I dunno. We both like blue."
I sat quietly staring out my window, waiting for him to appear. For the last few days, John would come and only before dawn would he step out and face me.
I don't know why I didn't report him; I knew he was up to no good. But that John in my head told me that he would do nothing to harm me.
I thought about the day, and about what Marina had told me, how Marina had touched me. It felt great to be touched by someone and not feel his or her energy flowing into me.
It was nice to be touched and not make things more complicated, though I wouldn't mind carrying Marina in my head for a time. She would have been an interesting person to hear about.
I'm interesting grumbled Eric.
I rolled my eyes and looked out my window again. A person walked out into the open but it was too early for John. It was the person I had been thinking about, the mysterious girl in blue.
Marina looked up at me and waved. She walked away, and a few minutes later I heard a car driving away. I wondered where she was going, but if she hadn't made her leaving a secret, then it probably hadn't been anything important.
I had told Marina about my lack of sleep. I don't know why I did; but she just seemed like someone who knew how to keep quiet. Marina said that I should sleep more, that I shouldn't take the gift of sleep for granted.
I lay down in bed and was surprised by how soft it was, I had become used to sleeping on the window seat. The bed seemed so soft that I could barley keep my head straight, I couldn't even hear the people in my head. There was only peace.
My eyes snapped open. The clock by my side read 7am and the other girls in the room where running around, getting ready for school. I climbed out of bed and followed suit.
I glanced out the window, wishing that I had been able to see John, but I didn't regret sleeping. Something white stuck to a tree caught my attention and I looked out at it. It must have been a piece of paper, but I couldn't be sure.
I glanced at my watch. I had just enough time to get outside and still make it for breakfast. I ran down the hall way and out the back doors to the forest. There stuck in a piece of loose bark was a folded piece of paper. I snatched it out and quickly unfolded it with my gloved hands.
Rogue,
I missed you last night. You are what makes my work tolerable. I want to see you again. Meet me out here at 1am Saturday night.
Pyro
I looked down at thee paper wondering what he meant by 'your what makes my work tolerable'.
You know what he means said the John in my head He signed his name as 'Pyro'
"No, he is John."
Marina drove up to the factory building. It was dark outside, but a small stream of light could be seen shining through the cracks of the door.
Her message had told her to meet at this address at 2am, and it was just coming up to two now.
She walked up to the metal door and knocked it. I big man pulled it open and let her in. When he had locked the door securely, he led Marina into a small room with a table in the center. A blond haired man sat there, smiling. Marina immediately noticed the ring of guards lining the room.
"Welcome Miss Ocean."
"Who are you?" Marina asked gruffly." I am known simply as Ken."
"Fine. What do you want with me?" Marina asked, She didn't like it when people beat around the bush for a while before actually getting to business.
"Well Ms. Ocean, it has been know that you are a neutral worker, helping both good and bad. It has also been heard that you have built connections with Charles Xavier, founder of the school for so called 'gifted' youngsters."
"So? "
"I don't want anything with the school, I just want to talk with Xavier for a bit. I was wondering if you would retrieve him for me."
Marina studied Ken quietly. She wasn't stupid; he wanted more than just to 'talk' with the Professor. She also may play both sides, but she would never do anything to put Charles and his children in danger.
"Sorry, I can't do it for you." Marina turned, and began to walk for the door.
Ken nodded at one of the guards, who quickly whacked her on the back of her head with his gun. Marina crumpled limply onto the floor. Ken stood up and looked down at her.
"Get her into the car."
I woke up to a sharp pain in the back of my head. I reached up and touched the sore spot. There was a large lump there that hurt whenever I touched it. Without thinking, I morphed into water and then back to human again, my bump perfectly healed up.
"Interesting," said a mans voice.
I turned around and saw three white robed people looking in on me. I realized that I was in cage! It was a very odd one too. The first ¾ was made of glass, with two metal covered holes at the bottom, and every where above the glass was the normal metal a cage is usually made out of, except there were bars of electricity surrounding the outside of it.
"Fill the tank Pete, commanded the oldest looking man.
Other than him, there was a younger man named Pete and a very ugly woman who I could have mistaken for a man if not for her bodily features, which were quite pathetic I might add.
The two holes at the bottom of the tank began to shoot water out of them. Soon the tank was filled as far as the glass reached, and I swam, treading water.
"Change into that tail I hear you have," said the oldest man.
"Say please," I said grumpily.
"Please."
"Nope, sorry." I knew I was taking my chances with being rude to the man who was holding me captive.
"Fine," hissed the man. He turned to a bored of switches and flicked one on.. From the holes where the water had come from, huge jolts of electricity came shooting through the water. I screamed in pain as it jolted through my body, I couldn't not escape it. The man switched the electricity off and walked back to me.
"Change into your tail."
He didn't have to tell me again, I quickly morphed into my tail, and swam under water where I wouldn't have to listen to him. All the doctor people inspected me through the glass, and began scribbling notes down on their clipboards.
I just closed my eyes and lay on the bottom of the tank. They found the fact that I didn't have gills yet I didn't need to come up for air something fascinating.
I lay there for some time, trying to relax, and zoning out from the world around me. When I opened my eyes, only the backlights were on and the doctors were gone for the night. I surfaced and looked around the room.
To my left was the horrible switch board, and to my right was a big cage, its captive staring at me with big yellow eyes. I wasn't sure in the lighting, but he looked to have green skin and hair.
"Hi," I said, leaning against the grating of my cage. I knew if I tried to water morph through it, I would just be electrocuted again. I didn't want to experience that again for a long time.
" 'ello." He said flatly. He lay down on the floor as if going to sleep.
"Where am I?"
"Mutant experimentation and studying lab, couldn't you tell?" The mutant was a Brit and very grumpy one at that. I guess it was because he hadn't gotten his daily dose of tea. I heard English men (and women) lived on that stuff. Well I preferred Coffee.
"What's your name? How did you get here?"
The mutant sat up and glared at me. "Can't I get some sleep?"
"Nope, not until you answer my questions." I said.
" I'm Toad. I got hurt and these people found me floating in the water. They healed me up then stuffed me in this blasted cage for testing. Now please let me get some sleep!" Toad lay back down and rolled over so his back was to me.
"Well I'm Marina. Goodnight."
I swam back under the water and began to swim around. I was going to have a boring night ahead of me.
.... Whooh that chapter took me some time. I nearly DID have a heart attack when i was told a second time that Ray Park would be in x3. Does anyone know a website where i can read that? Thanks to everyone who's reviewed my last few chapters!