Here is the beginning to this next chapter and here is the update I promised…btw
X – men does not belong to me! Got it! Good. However the Shadow team does and you better not steal them!
PS. Anyone have a name for my poor fic? I certainly don't…
"Hack, how dare she…" Scott could barely contain himself now, only Jean held him back away from the young boy. "What type of leader is she! One that leaves her friends, her family, her loved ones behind!"
"NO!" Hack yelled and turned to face the team leader, his eyes a weird shade of green. "She is the one that cared for us, when no one would; she is the one that helped us to understand what we were when no one would even get near us! She is the one who took away our pain!" he took a breath and continued, "And she will always look after us, even when no damned person will! So is she a bad leader, no! She understands us…" His anger trailed off there and he sat down and turned to the computer again. He sighed loudly and put his head in his hands.
MN, who had heard everything, became quite angry at Scott. So when she appeared in front of the men again her eyes blazed a visible white, and in her hands was twenty feathers which she shot at the men. As soon as the feathers made contact with something they exploded, creating dust in the air. She threw ten more and they exploded, leaving more dust flying into the air. Shadow came beside her mother, as MN's eyes turned back to their original bright blue color.
"Wow. You really were ticked off at Scott weren't ya?"
"Then and now."
Scott heard her comment and cursed under his breath, he really hated how she played around with him.
"Hack?"
"Yeah…Look mom I'm really sorry…"
"No need to apologize, you finally stood up for something, I'm proud of you."
Jean came up to him, "Can I talk to her?"
"Sure." Hack typed again. "All yours."
"MN, why didn't you go immediately after Shadow?"
"Because when Shadow gets angry, she is not someone to easily confront to calm her. It is better that she does it on her own, without anyone around her but the enemy."
"Oh. Then you never really left her there did you?"
"No. Why would I?"
Everyone let out a great sigh or relief at MN's words.
"I would have never left her there in the first place but I know how her temper is, she acts so much like a child…"
"Considering I am only now reaching adult hood, you should not be complaining." Shadow retorted.
"Wait, how old are you?" Fiery spoke out behind Jean.
"Around 1000 years old."
"That's YOUNG!" Fiery yelled out, her shock evident.
"According to vampire years, yes." MN answered for Shadow. Fiery began to grumble, "How come she gets to look so good… How come I can't be like that… why can't I have it so good…" Everyone laughed at Fiery, Element patted her head as she grumbled. "Don't worry; you'll be fine just as you are."
Fiery grumbled a "Yeah, sure." before sitting down in the chair that she had been in previously.
As they reached were the others had hidden, MN's eyes turned feral and she saw everything up close to her face, as if she was standing right there. She saw the five armed and ready guards that stood there, ready to fight. She noted that their guns ready and loaded and they were twitching to fight. She shifted up to their faces and saw each of them were taunt, solid and cold. She watched their movements.
They probably heard the alarm…we're doing this the easy way. She told the rest of them.
Who's going to distract them? Hawk passed a glance at her mother.
No distraction this time, I'm going to use sand screen. Better chance of no one getting hurt. Except, maybe, getting sand in your eyes.
And going blind… Illusion said, chuckling softly. Shadow swiftly backhanded him.
WHAT WAS THAT FOR!
For being yourself.
Illusion grumbled and cursed her in his mind.
I heard that.
MN only laughed at their antics, her eyes returning to normal.
"Alright," She whispered, "Let's do this."
Suddenly around the camp a wind began to pick up, seemingly to only drift by. Moments later that small wind turned into a fierce sand storm. The five men that stood there immediately put on goggles and switched them to heat sensor mode, and subconsciously checked their guns making sure they were locked and loaded. But they never noticed the beings that slipped by them, unlocked the security code via MN's heat vision, opened the doors and slipped in. As soon as each of them was in, MN subdued the sand storm. A radio on one of the soldiers' shoulder seemed to come alive.
"Commander Griffon, do you read?" He put it near his mouth,
"Loud and clear sir."
"Any activity around the area Commander?"
"No sir, not a peep, except for the sand that blew over head. I was just going to have the men check around the perimeter though just to make sure."
"Good idea Commander. Beware, there seems to be some mutants wandering around. Proceed with caution. If they are found bring them in alive. General out."
"10-4 sir."
"Alright you sacks of lard! You heard what the general said, get to it!"
"Yes Sir!" Two men and two women shouted in unison and they were off, scouting the premises.
The darkness was pitch black and no one could see anything as they walked into the large building.
"Hack?"
"Yeah Hawk?"
"We could use a little light here; I don't think any of us has the light switch on us."
Hack chuckled and pressed the F9 button.
Lights dimly flicked on and shone on the metal floor. Around them were boxes and boxes of stuff. No one could see where all the boxes ended but they sure knew where they begun.
"What…" was all Mech said until everyone heard the distinct sound of nails clicking on the floor.
"What is it?" Illusion whispered.
"I do not—" Suddenly seven dogs appeared around the northeast corner of the boxes, their red eyes aglow the light.
"Holy—" Illusion never finished his sentence before his mouth was closed by Shadow. The dogs realizing that they were not soldiers began to growl walked toward them, murder written into their eyes.
Hawk, Nova, fly. The rest of us will run I do not know where the exit is and using my powers is not an option.
Why not? said Mech.
Because there is some type of force in here that is messing with my powers. It's taking a lot of effort just to contact all of you right now. She replied feeling a sharp buzzing in her head and it was getting louder.
"On my mark…1…2…3……RUN!"
So they took off each one a different way. Hawk and Nova took to the air, staying just above the boxes.
The dogs below though went after the rest of them. Three went after Mother Nature and one went after the rest of them. Nova went immediately to help her. She blasted two and there was only one left, she was about to get it when she was knocked to one side. She immediately tumbled in the air and saw Hawk.
"What were you—" She never finished, a flash of green distracted her and she dodged rolling. She understood now.
"Thanks Hawk. My wing would have been fried by now." Hawk cried out and dodged another attack from the air.
Alright, anyone see the way out? MN contacted all of them; the weird buzzing sound growing in her head once more, and this time a slight pain accompanied it.
Yes! Illusion cried into her mind.
Where—never mind… I'll teleport myself to where you are…hopefully this will remove the factor of the dog on my heels. Show me. Illusion gave her a sound picture before she teleported, and with a 'poof' disappeared from in front of the dog and reappeared right beside Illusion, the exit in front of him.
"Where's the dog?" MN asked taking deep breaths from running.
"Following an illusion of me." Illusion replied just as tired as she was.
Alright ladies and gentlemen I'm teleporting you in 3… 2…1…
And each one disappeared with a poof reappearing right next to MN and Illusion.
"Thanks," Mech said breathlessly, "I was cornered."
"No problem. Let's get out of here before those dogs find us."
And they went through the door, shutting it firmly behind them.
As they walked in, Hawk cried out and Mech and Shadow groaned.
"Not these people."
"Hack…please don't tell me these are Autos…"
"I'm sorry Shadow, but they most certainly are…I need for you guys to keep working."
"After that crazy run around with those dogs, you have got to be kidding."
"Sorry, enjoy." And Hack tapped his end of the microphone, and it shut off.
"What are the 'Autos'?" Fiery asked; her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Autos are advanced automatic machines. They are pretty close to being AI."
"AI?"
"Artificial Intelligence Element." Scott responded, an unknown hardness in his voice. Jean and Logan picked up on it, but no one else did.
What is it Scott?
Another reason Jean, another reason.
Jean did not pry. Logan glanced at her. Jean?
I don't know Logan he won't say anything except, another reason.
Another reason? He's tallying sweetheart.
Jean lightly blushed at being called that. What tally are you talking about Logan?
He spared her another quick glance knowing that she had blushed and responded. He's keeping a tally against MN; he really doesn't take to her very much.
Not like you have Logan.
Logan grunted loudly. Jean secretly smiled.
And where exactly did you get that information from?
Oh I have my connections…
Where ever your so called connections lie, you better get their ears, mouth and eyes thoroughly checked because I ain't warming up to MN. Got that?
Alright what ever you say Logan. And Jean left it at that, with a hint of suspicion in her voice.
Logan turned his head to give her his scowl, but got Scott's scowl instead and saw Jean laughing quietly behind him. Logan turned and almost laughed out loud but focused on the screen ahead of him watching the team handle the enhanced robots.
He noticed how simple they were, but how deadly they could be against others. They were deathly accurate on everything they would do, and everything they could do, as Logan observed them, they also made sure their blows had enough force to seriously wound a person. There was nothing really abnormal about them, but they could easily pass for a human. That is what made them the deadliest of all. To kill swiftly and efficiently and not get caught, like a deer in the headlights. To be able to blend with the others around you and never be seen at all no matter what you are wearing. Logan admired them and yet he still feared them and what they could do if anyone got a hold on them.
Suddenly a piece of a mysterious puzzle came into place.
'That's why you have them MN; one can think up life destroying things and the other can make them. If they had fallen into the wrong hands it would have been the end for many of us all. You are starting to make sense Tomi.'
All Nova had her sights on was the auto in front of her and how she was going to kill it. It has already given her a couple of bruises here and there and she felt them now even as she moved watching the auto through cold eyes.
She leaped into a flying kick and felt the auto move and go beside her its fist coming to crack her ribs. She immediately spun and kicked it in the face, knocking it off guard and stunning it for a few seconds. And a few seconds where very welcome for Hawk. She gathered her few remaining wits that she had left and circled the auto once again, readying her attack.
Mech dodged a blow to the face and came smack into a punch into the stomach. He immediately fell and coughed up blood. MN saw him lying on the floor beaten as the auto bent over him to make the killing blow. Her eyes flashed lighting for a moment, and suddenly, out of nowhere, lighting came down upon the auto that stood above him.
"Nice try mom, but I made sure that they were lighting proof." Hack looked on smugly, but his look changed when the auto keeled over backwards, its circuits completely destroyed.
"Never underestimate a woman's anger Hack."
Every one looked on shocked themselves.
Shadow, used her speed and swiftness to dodge the attacks that the auto tried to rain upon her. They were evenly matched; she and the auto could hardly lay a finger on the other. But Shadow enjoyed challenges.
MN kneeled beside Mech,
"How are you feeling?"
"Like my gut contents has been spilled out."
"Ouch, can you stand?"
"I might be able to"
"Before you move let me have a look."
"Are you sure? Remember what you said before…"
"A little pain will not hurt me."
This time she found it more difficult than more, this time a harsh stinging pain accompanied the annoying buzzing, and she almost found it difficult to concentrate on what she was doing. Mech saw her mask of faltering concentration and placed his hands on hers. That was all she needed. She healed him and finished off the job.
"Thanks." They both said at the sane time and MN smiled at him.
"I think you should be fine by now."
They got up but MN sidestepped and almost fell over.
"I think that took more out of you than you're willing to admit."
"And I think that you worry too much over my health. I'm fine Mech."
Mech only looked at her critically, the hawk in his eyes not leaving it yet. MN matched it with a look that said, 'I am PERFECTLY fine.' But the look was not getting through to him. The others joined them, bruises were evident in the why that they walked and held their bodies. MN immediately went to their injuries and healed them despite Mech's warning glare that hovered over her. Soon she was finished and when she got up the room around her spun, immediately she stopped and calmed herself down before going to the door. She opened her eyes a few seconds later and walked through the last door, the door that led to 'Jones'.
The door whooshed silently, and they stepped in seemingly aware of what was around them. Then door closed behind them, sealing them in. Mech spun, and as he stepped, everyone heard the distinct sound of a large click.
"Damn." was the only word that he spoke, as the room suddenly came to life. The floor rumbled, splitting apart in the process revealing wickedly sharp spikes below. Lights dimly flicked on, and gave them enough light to see where they were going, and how they could die easily if they were not careful. Laser beams invaded the room, taking up space where ever they wished, not caring about what they bumped into or crossed. To make things worse for them, some laser beams flicked on and off in different areas so no one ever knew where the next one was coming from. To add on to the pressure Jones' body was encased in a force field in the shape of a silver half dome.
Everyone turned to Mech, everyone had 'I am so going to kill you' look on their faces, and no one's was sterner than MN. She sighed suddenly, breaking the atmosphere that was around them.
"Mech, don't move (1) de aannemer, you just might make it worse."
Mech nodded suddenly feeling guilty about what had just happened.
"Alright everyone, any suggestions? And trust me we do not have the time for a long thought out plan here, just short, simple, and effective."
Five minutes later, they had their plan.
MN walked up to Mech first and pulled off her glove and touched him. Scott, Jean, Logan and Storm all unconsciously stiffened knowing that the touch was fatal. But nothing happened. Scott and Logan sighed and Jean let go of Scott's arm and Storm unclenched her hands. It was odd, seeing this young woman with Rogue's abilities under her belt that she could just touch another being when Rogue could not. No one else noticed Rogue's reaction of surprise, shock, and wonderment. She knew that she was Mother Nature and she guessed that she had her ability. Now that she had just seen her touch some one, she knew that there was still hope for her yet. So for the sake of herself and the others around her, she kept silent; biding her time until she could get MN alone.
At MN's touch, Mech could feel his body go rock hard, as if his whole entire body had become cement. Then a white film rose from his pores and slowly grew on him becoming crystallized on his body. When the process was finished his entire body was encased in a diamond shield. Everyone looked at each other and laughed, seeing how funny they looked as they were diamonds.
Everyone inside the danger room controls mouths dropped open except for Element who was nudging Spike to tell him what was going on. Once Spike told him, his mouth dropped open too.
Smoky, still stunned somewhat asked in an awed voice,
"What type of mutation is that?"
No one answered her question, not even Hack could. All he could say was,
"When she comes out of there, you ask her. I'll let her explain everything. She's better at that than me."
Smoky nodded her eyes still glued to the screen.
"You can close your mouths now." Hack said his chuckles evident. Everyone shut their mouths and all gave him an 'I'm gonna kill you look'. Hack swiveled around in the chair once all eyes were on him. He tapped the mike.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, this is the last lap. Can you handle this?"
A very loud, "Woop! Woop!" was heard before they sprang into action.
Hawk transformed into her other self, Nova and Shadow took to the air with her and Mech and Illusion jumped across the parted floor quickly, because if they stayed on them too long, who knew what would happen. MN though stayed behind a bit before beginning herself. She replaced her gloves and formed the same diamond crust over them. She looked up to the lasers above her and smiled. Logan saw her looking at the lasers and what she was going to do hit him.
"Hey bub…"
"Yeah I know what she's planning…" he spoke into the mike to her,
"Mom? ARE YOU INSANE! Do you know what those lasers are going to do to you once they touch you?"
"Yes I realized that before you did (2) Skaper, trust me, this won't kill me, only give me a well needed heart racer."
Logan stared at her and yelled into Hack's mike.
"Are you insane! Has your mind gone numb darlin'?"
NM cocked an eyebrow at being called 'darlin' but nothing more. Rogue lifted her eyebrow too, something she had caught from absorbing Logan, a feeling of jealousy passed over her for a second then she came to grips with herself.
'Ah ya insane girl? You got Gambit…why are ya feelin' like this all of a sudden?'
Rogue shrugged off the thought and returned to watching the screen.
For a couple of seconds Scott wondered why he hadn't seen the Professor. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. The Professor! He was late for the meeting that they were to have. He pecked Jean lightly on the cheek and dashed to the elevator.
Scott?
Sorry love, I had just remembered that I had a meeting with the Professor.
How long ago was that?
Ever since we came out of the Danger Room.
Scott that was over forty – five minutes ago!
Damn it. He is not going to be happy about this.
Good luck to you.
Thanks. I think I'm gonna need it.
As he broke off the connection with Jean the elevator opened and Professor sat in his wheelchair, an uncommon annoyed look schooled across his features.
"You are forty – five minutes late Scott."
"Yes Professor I know, but—"
"No buts Scott just follow me. I see that you have been watching them long enough."
Scott walked out of the elevator behind the Professor, a light embarrassed blush across his face.
Everyone watched in horror and pure amazement as MN swung herself across the laser beams, the only parts of her body that were solid were her hands and feet. But sometimes even her feet and her hands were transparent, giving everyone's hearts a good wrench when it seemed like her feet or her hands were going to be cut off.
All the team had made it to the other side, and was now approaching where Jones was being held captive under the metallic bubble. Everyone had returned to their normal forms. As Hawk tapped it with her beak, a panel came up beside it and an interface popped out. Coming alive, it fizzled for a couple of seconds and words appeared on the screen.
What happens once every minute,
Twice in a moment,
But shall never occur in a thousand years?
"What the—" Shadow spoke aloud, "Hack you know how much I hate riddles…"
Hack gulped, but was brave enough to speak; "Now it is time to find out your brain skills. We have seen your tactics, your powers, your resourcefulness, you're fighting skills and we have yet to see your brain skills. How well do you use your brain?"
Shadow rolled her eyes, "You know, after I'm done here I will have a bone to pick with you hacker, you best beware."
A muttered "Hear! Hear!" and "Amen!" was murmured. Hack gulped again, and muttered, "Why me?" Logan nudged him and the look on his face told Hack that he had better explain.
"Now you know why even though I have to sit at a computer most of the time that I have to stay in good shape."
Logan nodded, a feral smile crossing his face. "Is she that bad?"
"More than you can imagine. You really would not wish to pick a fight with her. It isn't in anyone's best interest."
Logan laughed.
Alright anyone have a clue? MN spoke mentally to them. All shook their head in the negative.
"There has got to be some answer to this…" Illusion pondered aloud, his patience waning.
Hawk gave a soft cry, and everyone swiveled their heads towards her.
"Hawk? You know the answer?"
No, but I know what is going to happen to us if we don't! With her wing she pointed and everyone saw what was under the panel.
"Sh—!" Shadow almost cried out but was interrupted by Illusion.
"I've got it! M!" He pressed the one of the M's that was on the screen. Under the riddle flashed CORRECT and Bomb Defused.
All of a sudden Hawk, Illusion and Nova were grabbed by machine arms and hung in the air. Before the rest could react sharp, wicked looking blades were pressed into their backs. Another message popped up.
If you wish to have your comrades back alive you WILL answer the following riddle:
Gravity is at the center of everything, so
What is at the center of gravity?
MN, Shadow, and Mech looked at each other, blank stares on their faces. But the interface was not done yet.
You have less than 3 minutes to answer. Only one answer is allowed. No guesses.
Time is of the essence.
2:59
2:58
2:57
2:56
2:55
Alright does anyone have a clue? MN asked around hopefully.
No. was all the responses except Shadow's own.
Don't you know mom? You've lived this long shouldn't you know?
A look of pain, regret, and forlornness passed across MN's eyes, and then she closed her eyes, summoning something within her. And the interface kept counting down, while the others waited.
2:40
2:39
2:38
2:37
2:36
2:35
Everyone stood silently all their minds pondering the answer. Nobody really thought to ask Hack, who already knew the answer. They wished to figure it out themselves.
MN opened her eyes again, this time they were unfocused, as if she was staring off into space. Shadow was going to poke her with her power, but she thought better of it when a mysterious, black mist began to spread from her feet. Once it covered the whole entire room, little dots of light started to appear everywhere. Shadow and the rest of the group did not know what she was doing, until a familiar ball of blue, green, and white appeared.
"The Earth." Logan watched awed as the solar system appeared before his eyes.
"(3) Mein Gott. Is it real?" Nightcrawler asked, his golden eyes widening, and his tail swishing back and forth rapidly.
"No. It's just an illusion of the solar system that she is creating. She's thinking about the answer." Hack responded.
"She'd better hurry, time is running out." Logan said, seeing the time go down to one minute.
1:00
:59
:58
:57
:56
:55
MN cocked her head her eyes studying the solar system around her, especially the earth. She made it spin, understanding the gravitational pull, its axis, the ellipse, and other things. She knew she did not have much time since she could felt the alarm in her team's mind.
Mom whatever you are doing I hope you can get us out of this. Shadow sent to her.
Mother…I wish you would hurry… was what Hawk sent to her
Mom! Hurry up please! Illusion calmly sent to her troubled mind
All the others sent their own alarms but she did not seem to hear them, and plus they could not speak for fear of failing the mission and getting their friends killed.
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
Well that is the end of that update, but anyways, cookies go to those who review! Yay for me!
Dontcha just love cliffhangers
Mystery Child
1 Dutch for Builder
2 Norwegian for Maker
3 My God in German