Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Life can be a curse, as well as a blessing. You will believe me when I tell you that there are far worse things than dying in this world".
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Chapter 16 – Silver bullet
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Professor Charles Xavier frowned softly at the very still figure lying on one of the med bay beds. He'd failed one of his students, it was never something he particularly liked, but having one die? He sighed. He knew he should have been expecting it, all the X-Men knew what they were in for, but still, Sam's death had made a poignant point about the lives his students lead.
"Charles?", said Hank quietly, "Logan arrived in Kentucky with the X-Jet, he's picked up Mrs. Guthrie and they're on their way over"
Xavier blinked out of his revere, looking at Hank tiredly.
"Yes…thank you, Hank". he said quietly.
"And your son and Lizzie have just arrived, they're in the common room….we still don't know where Rahne is", Hank paused, "..are you alright?"
"It just seems so…unreal, doesn't it?", asked Xavier quietly, "We all knew this was a possibility for any of the X-Men, but now it has actually happened…."
"I know", said Hank sadly, "I know"
Xavier sighed, closing his eyes.
"We'd better speak to the students, then", he said quietly, wheeling towards the elevator.
In the common room, there was general chaos. The Not-So-New-Mutants had been trying to explain what had happened. Of course, most of it was confused ramblings, involving werewolves, and Sam ultimately being dead. On the other side of the room, Paige and Lizzie were glaring at each other.
"Go home, Lizzie", said Paige, "there's no need for you to be here"
"He's my brother, too, Paige", growled Lizzie, narrowing her eyes.
"And since when have you been here for him?", sneered Paige, "you took the other side"
"No, I took the mid-way", said Lizzie simply, "Nightshift is on neither side of this 'line' Xavier and Magneto created. We just want to live without being shot at and have bigotry thrown at us"
"What?", asked Paige, "I can see your lips moving, but no sound's coming out"
"….Aren't you going to break that up?", whispered Kurt, looking at Lucas.
Lucas blinked at him.
"Do I look like I have a death wish?", he asked.
"You can't blame them for being upset", said Kitty sadly, "I mean…Sam…it's hard to believe he's really gone"
"I'm not even going to pretend I understand your planets death customs", said Warlock sadly, "Query: Will Sam return in un-dead form as in the movie with the mall?"
"Dawn of the Dead is a movie, 'Lock", said Tabby, "it doesn't happen in real life" (1)
The group looked up as one as Xavier coughed, wheeling in, followed by Hank. Xavier sighed at his gathered students, looking at his hands.
"I am afraid I have some bad news", he said, "as most of you know Sam was attacked tonight. I...I am afraid..."
"Geez, you all look serious".
Everyone blinked to find Sam groggily rubbing his head by the door. He paused, noticing a lot of open-mouthed stares
"...What?"
Tabby was first to comment.
"ARRRRRGHHHHHHHHH!", she screamed, falling backwards from the sofa, flailing her arms in a wild manner, "ZOMBIE SAM, ZOMBIE SAM!"
Sam blinked.
"...Why is Tabby screaming at me?".
"Tabby…you just said this didn't happen", said Warlock, then blinked, "..now I'm confused"
Xavier blinked, for once in his life dumbfounded. He tried to find words, but failed miserably. Tabby spoke up for him, pointing at the Southerner.
"You died! I saw you die. You had no pulse, you were not breathing, you had a broken neck, you were gutted like a fish! You were DEAD! Dead dead dead!"
Sam blinked.
"But a'hm not..really", he said, touching his wrist, "a'h have a pulse!...A'h feel fine. A little queasy, a few cuts and a crick in ma'h neck but..."
"DEEEEAAAAD!"
"Err...Tabby", coughed Hank, "I think we have established that Samuel is not dead"
"People don't come back from the dead", said Tabby, "except in bad horror movies!"
Xavier sighed.
"Let's try figuring this out, shall we?", he said as he wheeled towards the lower levels.
"Charles, what's going on?", asked Hank, following "Sam's vitals were flat line, yourself, Jean and Shortpack said his mind was death silent. Cannonball was DEAD an hour ago...how is he ALIVE now?"
"I...", Charles sighed, frowning, "I don't know, Henry...I don't know"
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Hrimhari padded along in the darkness, having finally healed up after Bezerkers attack. Well, at least he'd taken care of..
He paused, sniffing the air, before giving a growling chuckle.
"Rahne", he called out, "I know you're here, I can smell you. Come out of hiding, precious"
There was a snarl from the side as the russet werewolf ploughed into the side of the grey one, knocking him to the ground. Hrimhari growled, standing, getting out of her way.
"I can tell you're in a bad mood"
"No, I'm livid", snarled Rahne, "ye killed the only person I've ever loved, you sick, cruel BASTARD"
"Now now, watch your language", smirked Hrimhari.
Rahne replied with a growl, knocking him over, slashing at him with her claws. Hrimhari gave a bored sigh, knocking her over.
"Please", he said, "I'm twice as strong as you, little she-wolf, give it up, you can't beat me in a fair fight"
"That may be", panted Rahne, "but I didnae say anything about a fair fight"
She snarled, lunging at him again, landing on his back. She hung on with her legs, forcing his jaws open with her hands as he struggled, pulling a herb from her pocket, tossing it into his mouth, then holding it closed. Hrimhari's eyes widened, growling as he tried to open his mouth and toss the mutant off.
"Go on, Himmy", snarled Rahne cruelly, "take ye medicine like a good puppy"
With Rahne's hands closing off his nose and mouth, Himmy had no choice but to follow the natural reaction of swallowing (2). The moment he did, he gave a pained cry, throwing Rahne off him and collapsing to the ground, hacking.
"See, wolfsbane isnae just a codename", said Rahne, watching him as he fell to the ground, his body convulsing, "it's also a plant. Used ta kill wolves, an' repel werewolves, if I'm right"
She chuckled.
"Never said in the books what would happen if a werewolf swallowed the stuff", she said, "not that it matters, I only need ye down for a little while"
She stalked over to the bushes she'd ambushed him from, pulling out a long stick. Hrimhari whimpered as he realized what it was.
"..My cane"
"Bingo", smirked Rahne, running a finger across the silver wolf-head handle, "not quite a silver bullet, but if I gouge ye heart out with it, it should do the trick, don't you think?"
"No", gasped Hrimhari, struggling to get to his feet, before collapsing back to the ground, his legs felt like jelly, "please…mercy"
Rahne snarled, bearing her fangs.
"Mercy?", she sneered, "like ye showed SAM mercy? No, ye didn't, ye just killed him. He did nothing to ye. He was sweet an' gentle an' kind. He'd never hurt a soul, and ye murdered him. Ye don't deserve tae breath, I hope ye rot in hell"
She stalked forwards, slashing a claw through his chest, causing him to cry in pain.
"Now hold still", said Rahne, raising the cane, aiming for the hole she made, "this is for Sam"
"Rahne".
She paused, sniffing the wind, growling without turning around.
"Go away Bobby, this is nae of your business"
"Yes, it is", said Bobby, "don't do this, Rahne, it's not like you. Trust me, you won't feel any better for it"
"All you know", said Rahne, "this scum murdered Sam, Bobby"
Bobby blinked, surprised.
"…..Sam's dead?"
"Aye", snarled Rahne, pinning Hrimhari down, "Himmy here succeeded in the job you failed at" (3)
"Okay, I deserved that", said Bobby, then sighed, "Rahne, do you really think killing this guy will make you feel any better? Listen to someone who's been there, it doesn't help, it only makes things worse. Think about it, would Sam want you to do this?"
Hrimhari whimpered, loosing consciousness as the poison worked through his system. Rahne frowned, before tossing the cane aside, before changing to human form, falling onto her knees. Bobby frowned, walking over.
"He killed him", said Rahne quietly, "he just killed Sam without a care"
"I know", said Bobby, looking away guiltily, "believe me, I know"
Rahne closed her eyes, before letting out a sob. Bobby blinked, looking at her, before sighing, walking over and crouching down, putting an arm around her shoulder. The wolf-girl leaned against him, crying openly.
"I love him so much…an' now he's gone"
"I'm sorry", said Bobby quietly, "I really am"
He looked at the unconscious werewolf.
"We need to get him to the mansion, figure out what to do with him", he narrowed his eyes, "that thing isn't walking around free"
"I can't fit him on my bike", said Rahne, looking away sadly, then paused, "….but I know someone with a car"
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In the computer room of the mansion, Hank had been tapping away the databases for what seemed like Hours. The smell of cigar smoke announced the presence of Logan.
"Mrs. Guthrie's here", he said, "I took her to the med bay"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Sam 'aint dead", he said, "you said he was, and he 'aint. Mrs. Guthrie did not appreciate the emotional trauma you just put her through"
He looked at Xavier pointedly.
"She says she's gonna get you later, Chuck"
"…Oh..goodie", said Xavier with a nervous laugh, Lucinda Guthrie was not a woman to mess with, "we are…trying to find out what has happened"
"I think I've found something"
Hank pointed to the picture on screen. It showed a stone, covered with hieroglyphs. The main scene showed a man, holding a T-shaped cross with a looped top. Beside him was a jackal-headed figure, shying away.
"This tells of an ancient and rare gift", started Hank, "the object the man is holding is an Anhk, a symbol of life and immortality. Roughly translated, a special Anhk was given as a gift to mankind by Isis. Ever since, a small handful are born throughout the centuries who...for lack of a better word, are immortal".
He pointed to the Jackal-headed figure.
"That is Anubis, the God of mummification and the underworld. The human is forcing him back...forcing death back", he ran his hand over the screen, reading the hieroglyphs, "these rare few were named 'Externals'...Immortals. It even goes as far as to name one, do you recognise THIS symbol?"
Hank pointed one out, causing both Xavier and Logan to frown.
"Apocalypse", said Xavier quietly.
Hank changed the screen to an 18th century picture, split in two.
"History has shown, however, that being an external is a double-edged sword"
The first picture showed the grim reaper, passing by a woman, while the second showed the grim reaper taking instead a man, the same woman sobbing, pleading with Death. Hank sighed.
"They are blessed with immorality", he said, "but are cursed with it too. The will have to watch their loved ones die around them, while they stay young and very much alive. There is no final escape for them from the horrors of the world. The one privilege and right every living creature has... they lack".(4)
Logan growled slightly.
"I know that feelin'".
"Yes, but you are not immortal, Logan", said Hank, "you have a healing factor, yes, but you can die".
"So", said Charles with a sigh, "you believe this to be what has happened to Sam?"
"I'm not a man of magic and mystery", said Hank, "as you both know, but this time...I would put my money on it" (5)
"….Well, someone better break it to the kid", said Logan.
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Not far from the mansion, a battered four-by-four was heading towards the Institute, the covered up unconscious body of Hrimhari in the very back, Bobby keeping an eye on his from the back seat, Rahne sitting up front with a confused, and still partially-asleep Doug Ramsey driving.
"So….this is a werewolf", said Doug, trying once again to fathom why he'd been woken up at two in the morning, "…and we're taking him to this Institute to keep him in custody for…killing Sam?"
"For the last time, yes!", snapped Bobby, "seesh, for a computer geek, it takes you a long time to get a simple concept"
"I'm not a computer geek", sniffed Doug, "I'm a hacker"
"Whatever!", said Bobby, "just step on it"
Inside the mansion, Sam was resting on his bed, his mother and sisters keeping a close watch on him.
"How are you feeling?", asked Lizzie.
"FINE!", said Sam in a high-squeaky voice, "A'hm just dandy, never been better"
"Sam...", said Lucinda, narrowing her eyes.
"Well, it's not every day you learn you're immortal, is it?", said Sam.
When Xavier and Hank had broken the news, it took quite a few goes of explaining before it sunk in…Sam wasn't taking the news so well.
"Well, Poppa always said you were the special one", said Paige, then paused, "I always thought he meant you were weird"
"Thanks Sis", said Sam dryly, "your love an' affection warms me to no end"
"Well, I'm just glad you're okay", said Lucinda, "I was worried sick when Professor Logan came to the door"
"He's not really a Professor, Mom", said Paige. (6)
Sam frowned, sitting up.
"I should go look for Rahne", he said, "she could be hurt or…"
Lucinda pushed him gently back into bed.
"Just because you're immortal doesn't mean you don't need time to recuperate", she said firmly, "you need to rest"
"But…"
"Rahne can look after herself", said Lizzie with a smirk, "she's a tough girl"
"Oh yes, that reminds me", said Lucinda, looking in the corner where Lucas was attempting to be invisible, "you, Elizabeth, still need to fetch your young man here to meet the family"
"We will, Mom, we'll be up during the holidays, how's that?", said Lizzie
"That's fine by me", said Lucinda, eyeing Lucas cautiously, "I don't mind who you date, but I do expect them to be acquainted with the rest of the family first"
"I look forward to it", said Lucas, albeit a bit nervously…he'd heard a lot of stories about Lucinda Guthrie and the clan in general…it scared him a little bit.
"Good", said Lucinda with a firm nod.
"You ready tae go, Lizzie?", asked Lucas, "I dunae think it'd be a good idea tae leave Lorna in charge for long, you know her moods, she might kill Sammy"
"Good point", Lizzie sighed, kissing her mothers cheek, "love you, Mom"
Lucinda smiled softly.
"You haven't done that since you were twelve", she said, pulling her daughter into a hug, looking at Lucas, "looks like you've been softened up a bit"
"A'h just needed some responsibility of ma'h own", said Lizzie with a small smile, then ruffled Sam's hair, "don't die again, lanky, you still owe me ten bucks"
"Love you too, Lizzie", chuckled Sam, rolling his eyes.
In the common room, the doors opened with a bang, Bobby sliding in, taking Hrimhari's unconscious form behind him on an ice-sled.
"One werewolf, made to order", he said, being followed in by Rahne and Doug.
"RAHNE!", grinned Tabby, "we were worried sick about you!"
She looked at Hrimhari,
"Yeesh, remind me never to get you mad".
"How can ye be so happy", Rahne asked hurt, "…after.."
She gave another small sob, which was broken off as Tabby flung an arm around her.
"Wolfie, you'd better go down to the Infirmary, where your not-dead boyfriend is worried sick about you"
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(1) – This is a nod to the comics. When Doug died, Warlock, misunderstanding the whole death thing reanimated his corpse…and took it to visit his parents and Rahne….Yeah. It didn't go down well.
(2) – Yes, this is so. It's how you get animals to take tablets.
(3) – Yes, this is a Black Ice reference.
(4) - I took a lot of liberties in the Externals past here, none of it is Cannon. They didn't go into it a lot, and considering so much is in the way of it, including the lawsuit, I don't think Marvel will ever speak of it again. I tried to figure how ancient cultures would perceive it.
(5) - Okay, so Sam has never been confirmed an External, and yes, Selene said he wasn't (but who's going to believe her?) I just take into consideration how many times Sam has 'got better' from dying...and.. well, it seems pretty obvious.
(6) – X2! Logan, Professor of Art!
And another chapter done. I assure you, this night is far from over. There's lots more to happen yet, oh yes.