Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "All I have to say is if I am not engaged soon, you're a dead man. And they won't have to get me a jury, I'll proudly plea guilty"
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Chapter 9 – Rules of engagement.
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Todd's vision was blurry at first. His unconsciousness still clinging to him as he tried to come around.
"Wake up", snarled Pickles, kicking him in the ribs.
Todd cried out in pain, his eyes opening as he came around fully.
"Where...", he started dully.
"Try and guess", smirked Pickles.
Todd frowned, trying to make sense of his surroundings. As soon as he realised where he was...he regretted it.
"No"
He was tied up to a beam...a beam in the very hub of the Power8 factory.
"A fitting end, mmm", said Pickles with a throaty chuckle, "to die in the very factory your fathers finances helped keep afloat".
"You are deranged", muttered Todd, shaking his head.
"Thank you", said Pickles with a bow, "of course, I'm not going to kill you yet...I want to wait for an audience".
Todd shifted in his restraints, then smirked at Pickles, trying to buy himself some time.
"Didn't expect ta see you again", he said, "I heard the original Freedom Force beat ya up pretty good" (1)
"They did not beat me up", he snarled, "I'm still alive, aren't I?"
"Someone's in denial", sang-sung Todd, "did Icey-Wicey-Man freeze the big demon-Kitty-witty?"
Pickles snarled, raising a clawed hand to drop on Todd's head before pausing. He sniffed the air, giving a growl.
"And here she is".
A small domestic cat jumped slid through a broken window, before leaping down, landing in front of Pickles. Sidney transformed into herself as she stood up, walking over to untie Todd.
"Sid, get outta here", said Todd, "please".
"Not without you", said Sidney, before glaring at Pickles, "I've had enough"
"Have you?", said Pickles with a mock pout, "aww and I was having so much fun"
"No more hiding, no more running", she said with a hiss, crouching down, "it ends NOW!"
"Then come and end it", taunted Pickles, "lets see who is still standing at the end"
Sidney transformed into a tiger, snarling as she dove at him. Pickles quickly mimicked her transformation, dodging her swipe. Sidney gave a roar, twisting quickly, catching him on the flank with a claw. Pickles snarled in pain.
That bloody HURT, he growled, then smirked at her, you are aware, of course, that I'll just heal up?
Indeed, his wound was already closing up as he stalked towards her.
How now, brown cow?, he taunted her.
Sidney growled, flicking her tail.
You'll see
She transformed into a leopard, leaping up the stairs to the higher levels.
Running now, laughed Pickles, transforming into a leopard himself to race after her.
Sidney finally got to the top, changing into her own form.
"Not running", she answered, "I'm not running from you anymore"
Pickles transformed into his own form, smirking.
"Then what, my Dear, are you planning?", he taunted, "you can't kill me, I'm IMORTAL!"
"Not quite", growled Sidney, swiftly turning into a caracal, leaping over him twisting behind him as she did so, her claws racking through his wings, rendering them to tatters.
Pickles howled in agony, sinking to his knees as Sidney transformed to herself behind him.
"Those wings have always been Achilles heels for you, haven't they?", she taunted, "always take longer to heal than the rest of you".
Pickles snarled, standing shakily up.
"Clever girl", he said, "I didn't think you could be so ruthless"
"Ruthless? You haven't seen ruthless, yet", she growled.
She quickly transformed into a tiger, charging at him, knocking him across the floor. Pickles transformed himself into a lion as he skidded to the edge of the floor. He bared his fangs at her, before a creaking could be heard. He blinked, watching as the floor started to give under the added weight, obviously, it had not been meant for lions. He quickly transformed to his own form, but the damage had already been done. The floor gave way, making him grab to the edge of the floor, clinging for dear life. He looked down, his eyes widening at the vat of Power8 beneath him.
"Sidney, help me!", he pleaded, "come on, I'll leave you...everyone you care about alone, just spare my life. Please"
Sidney narrowed her eyes.
"I thought you said you were immortal", she said, then smirked, "as if you knew how to spare lives, you only know how to take them"
Pickles snarled, clawing at the floor.
"I'll rip you apart!", he snarled, finding footing, moving to pull himself up.
"No, Pickles, you won't hurt anyone ever again", said Sidney, quickly transforming into a cougar, digging her claws into his hands.
Pickles howled in pain, using one hand to swipe at her face. Sidney hissed in pain, throwing her head back as he caught her, a deep cut forming on her cheek.. The floor cracking under the strain. Pickles started to drag himself up as the floor finally gave way, dropping them both down towards the vat. Sidney closed her eyes, ready for impact, before feeling something grab her. She opened her eyes as Todd yanked her back up to the upper floor with his tongue. She panted, clinging to him, turning her head away as Pickles fell into the Power 8. His screams of agony filled the factory as the vat hissed. Soon the screams stopped, and everything went silent.
"Come on, Sid", said Todd softly, "lets take you home"
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"What do you mean 'You don't like him'?".
Over in New York, Rahne and Roberto were watching, with some amusement, an exchange between Tabby and Ray. It seemed that, while having lunch with her new beau, Tabby had run into Ray, and happily introduced the pair. Apparently, Ray had taken an instant dislike to the man.
"There's something not right about him", replied Ray, "I'm not a fan of John"
"Well, they do say that water and electricity dunnae mix", smirked Rahne.
John Lopez had revealed he, too, was a mutant, able to transform himself into water, and fire water bursts.
"Hah hah hah", said Ray dryly, "the guy's a sleaze"
"No he's not", said Tabby, "he's just a bit arrogant, and that suits me just…"
The door opened as Warlock walked in, looking terrified.
"Hello, how are you? I am fine, yes", he said, sitting down.
The four blinked, then looked at the alien curiously.
"Warlock….are you okay?", asked Ray, "you're acting more…. weird than usual"
"You sure about that?", asked Warlock his eyes budging, literally, "really?"
"E.T's finally lost it", said Roberto, "who got this time in the sweepstakes?"
Rahne gave Roberto a glare, before putting a hand on Warlock's shoulder.
"Warlock, what's wrong?", she asked, "what's happened?"
"Something terrifying!", said Warlock, "I have been asked out on a date"
There was a silence for a full minute.
"You gotta be kidding me", said Ray.
"Man, Ray", smirked Tabby, "when an alien gets asked out before you, you got problems"
Ray narrowed his eyes.
"Hey, I'm not ready, thank you very much", he said.
True, he wasn't he'd never really felt up to the whole dating..thing since the death of Scaleface at the hands of the Marauders. He still felt guilty in a small part, maybe if he hadn't left the tunnels in the first place…things might have been different. He sighed, glancing up as the others tried to calm the steadily panicking alien.
"So, who asked you?", grinned Tabby, "come on, I want details!"
"Doug", said Warlock, "Query: What do sticks have to do with courtship ceremonies? Doug asked if he had the wrong end of it".
"Doug? As in Language Boy?", asked Roberto, "aww, not you too 'Lock it's bad enough with Tabby!"
Tabby threw a little boom ball at him, which blew up with a soft 'zap', leaving a slightly concussed Brazilian.
"Good for you, 'Lock", she smiled, "and the stick thing, he was seeing if you liked people like him"
"People like him?", Warlock was getting more confused.
"Other guys", said Tabby, "like I'd happily date other girls? Remember that talk, Warlock?"
Warlock thought on this, before nodding.
"Yes, I understand", he said, "but this is still confusing. I know knowing about human courtship, it is not something that I have had a chance to learn a lot about"
"That's what college is for", smirked Tabby.
"I was under the impression college was for learning", said Warlock.
"That too", Tabby shrugged, "so, do you like him?
Warlock squeaked, gesturing wildly.
"I do not know!", he said, "it was not something I was thinking about at the time. I have only just figured out the basics of Earthling behaviour. This is something completely different!"
"Warlock, stop freaking out", said Rahne calmly.
"I have a right to out the freak", said Warlock, "my race are not supposed to feel emotions like this, so I really, really do not have a clue what all this.. confusing stuff is!"
"Warlock, take a breath", said Roberto.
"I would", said Warlock, "BUT I DO NOT BREATHE!"
"He means calm down", said Tabby, "don't make me smack you, 'Lock"
Warlock coughed, making an odd noise that sounded like 'Querzh'.
"I am calm now", he said, "sorry. I am just…not used to this"
"So, you discovered you have a crush on your male roommate", muttered Roberto, "It's always the quiet ones",
"Sam isn't", said Rahne
"He could be"
"Believe me, he isn't", replied Rahne, then grinned, jingling a handcuff key on her finger, "where do ye think Sam really is at the moment?"
"RAHNE!", said Tabby, blinking at her wide eyed.
"What?", said Rahne, "I'm religious, but it doesn't mean I'm completely innocent"
"I am shocked", said Ray, "shocked and appalled…and I'm slightly afraid to go back to the room Sam and I share".
"I am confused", said Warlock, blinking, "there is a problem with such relationships on your planet?...You would tell me if there were...would you not?"
"See, now you have him worried!", Tabby scolded, patting Warlock on the shoulder, "no, Warlock, there isn't a problem, only a few people...think they are wrong. Small, tiny minded people, but they are there...it's best to ignore them"
"You don't have that problem on Technarcy?", asked Ray.
"No", said Warlock, shaking his head, "my people do not have any real problem with gender, as such, considering we are essentially asexual. We create life by combining our best characteristics, the offspring holding fifty per cent of each parents best traits. The young are then created on an assembly line. Usually, both parents do not even have to meet" (2)
He cocked his head to the side.
"Your form of breeding is obviously different", he said, "I remember Ororo's gestation period, something we Technarcs do not have. I am still confused as to all that...works"
Roberto smirked.
"I'll teach..."
"No you won't!", snapped Tabby, "you'll make him all male and chauvinistic, and try to make him think he shouldn't date Doug!. I'll teach him, I can give him the full spectrum".
"Hussy", said Roberto with a smirk.
"Man-whore", she sent back, dragging Warlock away to 'explain' the meaning of life...well, earth life, anyway.
&&&
Back in Bayville, Lucid had been sent out on food pick up duties. With Sidney now sending funds to the Morlocks, this meant at least they could buy their food instead of scrounging it from the garbage, of course, there was still the mutant-hating-stares you got, but when you lived with a physical mutation, you got used to that. Usually a food pickup would be relatively quick. Unfortunately, Lucid had company.
"Remember to get Pixie-sticks"
Lucid sighed, turning to look at Torpid.
"What part of 'essential food' do you not understand?", he asked.
"They are essential", said Torpid, "they are essential for me, because I love them, besides Callisto likes them"
She smiled, sweetly.
"Aren't you glad that Caliban asked me to go with you?"
"Remind me to 'thank' Caliban later for that", grumbled Lucid, throwing some bread into the shopping cart, ignoring the odd looks from fellow shoppers.
"I don't know why Leech couldn't have come with us", muttered Torpid, "at least then he could have negated our powers…we'd have looked normal and avoided the stares"
"You're just upset that you were split up form your boyfriend for a while", smirked Lucid.
"Hey listen you…lizard..horse..rat,..thing", said Torpid, "Leech is not my boyfriend. In his dreams, hah!" (3)
"Uh-huh", said Lucid, unbelievingly.
Torpid, made a 'harumph' noise, putting her candy into the cart and storming off ahead, walking right into someone else.
"Watch it", snarled the figure, a female in her early twenties, long brown hair hiding most of her face.
"I'm sorry, geez", said Torpid, rolling her eyes.
The woman's eye flickered down to Torpid's oversized hands.
"You're a mutant", she said, more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah, and we don't want any trouble", said Lucid, stepping up behind Torpid, the Morlocks moved together for a reason, there was safety in numbers.
The woman frowned, looking behind her.
"It isn't safe here, you have to leave. Now"
"Hey, who do you think you are?", asked Torpid, narrowing her eyes, "we have just as much a right to be here as you"
…Torpid, it seemed, had been spending a lot of time with Evan.
SNIKT
Two claws popped out on each hand of the woman. Torpid stepped back in surprise, before taking off a glove.
"Say the word, Lucid, and I'll drop her"
"You have to leave", repeated X23 with a growl, "they're after me, they'll take you too if they find you"
"Who?", started Lucid, then was cut off by the thwucka-thwuka of propeller blades.
He glanced up at the ceiling, and straight through it, above, a S.H.I.E.L.D helicopter hovered.
"Claw-girl has a point", he said, "put your glove back on, Torpid, we have company"
Torpid frowned, putting on her glove as X23 looked around for an escape route, the other patrons of the store getting nervous. Lucid glanced over his shoulder as he and Torpid raced out.
"Coming or staying? Your choice"
X23 frowned. Hah, she didn't need anyone. She had been on her own for years, she certainly didn't need the help of anyone now. She paused as the helicopter came to land outside….then again, she really didn't have nowhere to run, and if those mutants happened to know of a place…well, it wouldn't hurt to hide for a while, she could always say she found it herself if she was asked. With a growl, she popped in her claws, following the pair and they vanished down a sewerage pipe. Seconds later, a band of S.H.I.E.L.D agents passed by where she had dropped.
"We lost her, again!", snapped one.
"Fury's gonna throw a hissy fit", muttered another.
"Paper rock scissors on who tells him?", tried the third.
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Back in New York, Todd watched worriedly as Sidney woke up from where she'd fallen asleep on the couch.
"Hey", giving her a gentle smile, "how you feelin'?"
Sidney winced, sitting up on the couch.
"Like I've been smacked repeatedly with a bag of bricks", she said, "you?"
"Pretty much the same", he said, sitting next to her, "You think he's really gone?"
"I don't know", whispered Sidney, "I hope so…but something tells me we won't be that lucky. After all, he's still only a mutant artificially…who knows"
She then gave him a small smile.
"You didn't ask me"
"Didn't ask you what?", asked Todd, confused.
"What my answer was", she said with a smirk.
Todd blinked, before his eyes widened in realisation.
"Oh", he said, "that… I kinda got… distracted. So..err..w..w..what was your answer?"
Sidney smiled, showing him her left hand, the engagement ring firmly in place on her furry finger.
"As if there was any doubt", she said, kissing him, "I love you, Todd, and I'd love to marry you. Actually, I was going to ask you myself if it took you any longer"
"Hey, give me a break, I got nervous", said Todd, smiling, "I love you, too, Sid"
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(1) – See Black Ice
(2) – This is roundabout how Warlock's species reproduces. It's incredibly complicated, and I don't think anyone is entirely sure how it is done anymore. Considering Warlock hasn't been seen since his cancelled series, I doubt we'll ever find out.
(3) – Am I the only one who thinks Lucid resembles a horse-cross-rat-cross-lizard? Yet, I think he's sweet, he's one of my favourite Morlocks.
And another chapter is done, with X23 making her Chronicles debut, wee! Do review. Until next time…