The Purpose of Hope
Chapter Four
By: Lily Handle
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Author's Note: Ah, the frustration of Writer's block, what a pain. You've all been so patient, waiting for this chapter, thanks!
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Glasses resting on his forehead, Hank stared down the sight of a microscope. He carefully brought a slide of Kurt's blood into focus while trying to ignore Hope hovering over his shoulder. He didn't do it to be rude, but it was simple self-preservation. Now that he knew she wasn't interested, it was hard to spend time with her without his heart aching. Working closely with Hope was going to either kill him or help him get over this. He felt that his personal heart ache could be set aside for the students' welfare.
"Anything unusual?" Hope asked, trying to peer down the microscope sight along with him.
"I haven't had a chance to really look," He answered, "Why don't you go see if the computer found anything? It should have the basics done at least."
"Right, right," Hope stopped hovering, and crossed the room to the computer, "I should have paid more attention in bio-chemistry. Guess that's another class I should have taken with you."
"Probably," He said off handedly, studying the slide, "What's the computer saying?"
"Kurt's white count is up, but it's not serious looking. His histamine levels are still a little elevated. I wish we had Pietro's blood to compare."
"What did they tell you when you called?"
"Nothing until I offered up a very generous "donation". Then they promised me my order would be bumped up to priority one." Hank looked up from the slide and studied Hope. She was leaning towards the computer screen, glasses balanced on the very tip of her noise and she had the tip of her tongue sticking out. The gesture meant she was concentrating very hard on something. Hank had a flash back of her during their college days when she did the same thing while he was tutoring her. "So far, everything is normal."
"Well, I guess we'll just have to see what we find at this club."
Hope hummed, "I talked with the manager of the club after bribing the lab. We have a meeting with her at noon, right before it opens."
"And how exactly are we going to be able to collect samples? Not typically something they let visitors do."
"I already took care of that," Hope waved a hand at him, "I did some looking around. Apparently Zone is owned by Treadstone Luxuries. They're a company that specializes in high end restaurants and clubs. Zone was their attempt to branch out into the younger club going scene. It's turning the least profit for them, so I expressed an interest in taking the property off their hands, after I checked out the establishment. Of course that includes allowing me to bring an inspector who will check if Zone is up to code. So, you wear a holo-watch, bring all those fancy science tools and do whatever you need to."
"That's very clever, Hope." Hank said, blinking in surprise.
"It's an advantage from being raised by a cut throat business man."
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Zone was a trendy modern take on the bohemian coffee shop. There was a stage in the middle of the club surrounded by a dance floor. Couches, arm chairs and tables were scattered about in varying shades of blue and silver. Taking up the whole west wall a bar of chrome and glass was back lit by hundreds of multicolored lights. Hope was impressed. It was a very nice place for teenagers. She glanced towards Hank, who looked like a forty something lawyer with a large silver briefcase.
"So, what do you think?"
"A nice place, I wonder if they have a kitchen," Hank motioned his head towards the bar, "That certainly seems like a good place to start looking."
"Ms. Chandler," Hope looked away from Hank towards the woman who had called her name. The woman was dressed in black jeans, a CBGB's tank top and her dark blond hair had large streaks of red tint. She looked like someone Rogue would hang out with. "Hi, Ms. Chandler, I'm Cindy, we spoke over the phone."
"Hello, yes, I remember," Hope offered her hand, "You're the manager here."
"Yup, been runnin' this place since it opened. So, interested in buying this place?"
"I've been hearing good things about it," Hope said casually, "And I've been looking for something to do with my free time."
"Well, owning a club would definitely give you something to so," Cindy smiled, "Who's the suit?"
"I'm Mr. McCoy, I'm here to inspect the club for Ms. Chandler."
"Oh, well," Obviously Cindy was thrown.
Hank smiled, "There's no need to worry, miss. I'm sure every thing is up to code. Ms. Chandler just likes to be thorough. Why don't you give her a tour and I'll stay out of your way?"
Cindy blinked at Hank for a couple of seconds then smiled smoothly, "Sure, sure, sounds like a plan. Ms. Chandler where would you like to start?"
"How about here. This stage is quite impressive."
"No kidding. Our stage has a Broadway level sound and lighting system, all controlled by a technician under the stage. The speakers are built into the base, and then there's a surround sound system to give patrons the full experience." Hope paid half attention to Cindy while she explained all the technology involved in running the stage. She was watching Hank out of the corner of her eye while he took various tools out of his briefcase. It looked like something out of a CSI episode.
"Ah, the bar is rather impressive isn't it?" Cindy said when she caught Hope looking towards the bar, "No alcohol, however. All natural energy drinks smoothies, and juice. We've also got tea and various sparkling waters."
"Energy?" Hope said, perking up, "What sort of energy drinks? Pow-R8?"
"No way, that has too many preservatives. Have you ever heard of Naked fruit juice? They make this great energy drink with all juice, we just mix it with some vanilla and make it into a smoothie."
"Any hybrid fruits involved?"
"Nope, those go against the all natural thing Zone is trying to do."
"Seems odd to have a dance club with all sorts of healthy food."
"Well, Mr. Borne, the man who owns Treadstone Luxuries, keeps thinking up all these wild ideas. He's working on this Goth club idea now, you know vampires, zombies, all that jazz."
"I think I'll stay away from that one." Hope hedged, "What sort of food do you serve here?"
"It's mostly wrap sandwiches, we've also got salads."
"All of it all natural I presume," Hope sighed.
"Now you're catching on," Cindy smiled.
"Alright, keep talking."
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Back at the lab Hope watched while Hank ran various tests on the samples he'd taken.
"It's actually a very good idea," She said while he worked, "It's just in the wrong town. If they opened the club in say Chicago or New York, they'd make a lot of money."
"Suggest the idea to them, I'm sure they'll love the advice," Hank said and Hope frowned at the clipped tone.
"But the all natural idea is a problem for us." Hope walked over to the counter where she had laid out Kurt and Pietro's medical history, "Both boys have no know allergy to anything, which rules out the food there being the cause of their attacks. Did you find anything suspicious?"
"The place was clean, well kept and organized. I didn't see anything that screamed health code violation, but when I finish these tests I'll let you know."
"Well, since I can't help here, I'll go check to see how the lab is doing on Pietro's blood," She said, still frowning at Hank.
"Alright," He muttered distractedly. Hope started for the door, but paused before leaving.
"Is something wrong Hank?" She asked hesitantly, looking at him over her shoulder.
"No, I'm just trying to concentrate is all."
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"Man, I hate yoga," Sam muttered to Bobby while trying to holding a Half Moon posture while finding his center.
"I'd rather do this than another one of Wolverine's sessions," Bobby muttered back. Same grunted his agreement. If he had to hold this position much longer he was going to scream. Or collapse. If he collapsed he could probably go to the Infirmary. Cool, he thought, he could hang out with Doctor C. She would totally fret over him for like ten minutes. Ten minutes of yoga free would be totally awesome. He turned to mention his plan to Bobby.
"Hey!" Sam yelled, watching Bobby collapse onto the floor, clutching at his throat. "Something's wrong with Bobby!" He dropped down by his friend's side and then just froze. Man, what should he do? Doctor C hadn't covered this in her class.
"Step back, Sam," Storm said. Sam scrambled back, got up from the floor and stood with the other New Mutants. They watched in silent fear while Ororo injected Bobby with something then picked him up.
"Sessions over for now," Ororo said and carried Bobby out of the room. The New Mutants stood around, staring at each other unsure of what to do.
"Man, it got Bobby," Jamie said, inching closer to Sam, "It got Bobby!"
"I thought the Professor said that we were okay," Amara said, "Isn't that what he said?"
"Come on," Sam stiffed his shoulders, "Let's go see what Doctor C has to say."
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"Man, it got Bobby," Jamie said. The whole Institute was gathered in the observation room, watching as Dr. Chandler checked over Bobby. Kitty and Jean were working with her, handing her various medical tools.
"You think it's something other than an allergy?" Same asked, looking up at Scott.
"What else could it be? And Dr. Chandler wouldn't lie to us," Scott shrugged his shoulders, "Come on, it's probably another POW-R8 thing."
"I could go see what the Morlocks know," Same offered, "Maybe they've been having the same problems."
"They," Scott paused to clear his throat, "They would have contacted the Professor by now if they had the same problem."
"Uh, Scott," Rogue said, "Ya don't look so good."
"Huh?" Scott glanced at his hands which Rogue was staring at. Tiny welts covered the back of his hands and went up his arms.
"Woah! That's how it starts, man!" Sam said, backing away along with the other kids. Stay cool Summers, Scott told himself. You're right by the Infirmary, nothing to panic about. But was it his imaginiation or could he not draw a deep breath. And whatever those welts were, they itched like crazy.
"Come on Scott, we've got ta get ya ta Dr. Chandler," Rogue said, stepping forward. She laid a hand on his arm and he nodded. He didn't think he could speak anymore, his throat was just too tight. He concentrated on walking, making it. He had to be strong. The others were already panicked enough. He wasn't going to add to their over reacting.
"Doctor!" Rogue said as she half-dragged him into the Infirmary.
"Scott?" Jean gasped.
"Get him on a bed," Dr. Chandler ordered. And he gratefully dropped onto a bed. He watched them work around him with a sort of detached interest. He was still struggling to breathe and he felt like he was being poked by hundreds of needles, but he felt like he was experiencing it through someone else.
"It's going to be okay, Scott," Jean said, moving into his line of vision. He smiled at her while his eyes got heavier. He tried to lift his hands to touch her cheek, but couldn't lift it. His eyes began to close, but at least she was the last thing he got to see and he drifted into unconsciousness.
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"Actually this could be a good thing," Hope said to Charles as he checked in on the students, "With more…victims, we can narrow the field down to what they all have in common."
"If the others can remember the answers to your questions, Doctor," Charles pointed out. "I think we need to insist that the Brotherhood move here. There's no telling when one of them could fall sick."
"Hank is working on Scott's and Bobby's blood. We finally got Pietro's in and he's running that one too. The computers should be able to find something in common."
"And you got nothing from the club?"
"Nothing unusual," Hope sighed and laid a hand on Scott's bed, "I've been reviewing my books, but I haven't found anything yet. I think it's time I made a few calls, Charles. There are people I know who can help. I know Logan's cautious about bringing in outside scientist, but we've got four sick and unconscious."
"Do you have any theories?"
Hope sighed, "It has to be in the blood. We'll find the answers there."
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Author's Note: Naked fruit juice is an actual brand. They sell it here at my school, it's good stuff! A cookie to anyone who can find a movie reference in this fic! On another note, check out the Hope Series Website! http/evolutionandhope.