And yet another chapter. Nothing for six months thenthree in one go. Four when I put the next one up. Read, enjoy and please review.
I don't own the X-Men, just Mattie
Fetch
Emma let out another shriek and dug her nails still harder into Bobby's shoulder. "You are doing this on purpose." She screamed in his ear.
On his other side Jubilee let out a whoop of delight as Bobby executed another perfect corkscrew, although he noted that she too was digging her finger nails into him.
"Just trying to make up some speed." Bobby told them. "The others have got fliers remember. And I'm sure I don't need to mention what a speed freak Chase is."
"We don't need speed." Emma ground out through clenched teeth. "I'm telling you where he is."
"That's no good if he's already dropped the flag." Jubilee pointed out. "We have to get to him before he hides it."
"Exactly." Bobby nodded. "Now hold on ladies cause here we go." He sent his ice slide into another dive and heard Emma's shriek begin.
X
Mattie raced past another beckoning Jamie. So far she hadn't seen Paige, or any of her little tricks. But that was no reason not to be alert, of course being alert while running at just short of 50mph was on the side of difficult.
A wall of spikes thudded into the ground in front of her and she threw herself into a forward roll to clear them. Hitting the ground she sprang to her feet, searching all around her. Sure enough Spyke was crouched in a tree nearby.
He waved at her. "Thought I'd trip you up a little."
Mattie grinned back at him. "Sorry to disappoint."
"Not to worry, sugar." Mattie spun to find Rogue behind her. "Mind if we detain you a while?" The X-Man asked in her southern drawl.
"Actually." Mattie launched an attack. Rogue was a great hand to hand fighter. She was Mattie's sparing partner. She'd trained Mattie. One on one, without powers Rogue might very well be the best fight of all the X-Men. With the added complication that if Rogue laid a hand on her, not only would Rogue gain her speed, Mattie would be down for the count.
Rogue blocked Mattie's first attack and counted with one of her own. She grinned at Mattie. "You're good, Chase. All those sessions are paying off, huh?"
Mattie nodded and ducked as Rogue swung at her. "What can I say, teach? You inspire me."
Rogue laughed, a sound that wasn't heard often enough as far as Mattie was concerned. She always considered it a personal challenge to get the solemn Goth girl to laugh.
Too late she realised she hadn't been paying attention and she leapt aside just in time to avoid another volley from Spyke. She side stepped again to avoid a second volley and felt Rogue's ungloved hand touch her cheek.
Mattie staggered back shaking her head to clear it, and landed flat on her back courtesy of a super speed punch from Rogue.
She sprang to her feet, allowed a smirk to cross her face. "Catch me?" Then she was gone. A glance over her shoulder showed that Rogue was indeed chasing after her. But that was fine. Rogue may be the superior fighter, and she might now posses Mattie's speed. But Mattie was willing to lay bets that she could win this race. They were in her element now.
X
"We've got company." Emma yelled.
A second later Nightcrawler teleported in front of them. Bobby veered the ice slide off course to avoid a head on collision. Kurt landed lightly on the ice slide, his circus background helping him to stay balanced as he slid along.
No flag. Bobby noted. So Kurt had hidden it somewhere and then returned to hinder them. Well they could use that information.
Emma? He saw the telepath's head snap round to look at him. Probably he'd mentally shouted or something, no time to ask now. Try and find Wolfbane, Rahne. He clarified. She's tracking the flag by sent, see it you can pick up on where she is, then let me know.
She nodded and he saw her eyes become slightly unfocused as she concentrated on something he couldn't see. Which only left them with the problem of Nightcrawler to deal with.
"Jubes, I'm going to corkscrew again." He muttered. "I want you to distract Kurt with your fireworks, okay?"
He saw he nod out of the corner of his eye. "And grab Emma, I don't want to loose her."
Jubilee clapped one hand firmly on Emma's closest shoulder then raised her other hand and sent a stream of brightly lit flashes in Nightcrawlers direction. At the same time Bobby spun them in the tightest corkscrew yet. Kurt covered his eyes against the bright light from Jubilee's fireworks and lost his footing on the ice slide. Jubilee watched him teleport safely to ground, still rubbing his eyes against the flashes of light.
"Brighter than a camera." She told Iceman with a grin.
"Any luck?" Bobby asked Emma.
She nodded, and pointed off to the left. "That way."
"Hold on." Bobby sent the ice slide arching out of the trees and heading the way she had pointed.
X
Mattie raced through the trees, Rogue not far behind her. So far she'd past at least half a dozen Jamies and hopeful one of them had reported back to Cannonball that she could do with some help.
Ahead of her something caught her eye. Maybe she didn't need any help after all. She checked her speed then dashed off again in a wide circle. Sure enough Rogue was still with her. Mattie risked slowing again, just enough to make sure that Rogue was focused on her and not paying attention to her surroundings.
"Come on, Chase." Rogue called out. "Make it worth playing."
One last check to make sure Rogue was well and truly with her. Mattie ran as fast as she dared and jumped at the last possible second. Rogue kept going and found herself running on empty air as a looped rope tightened on her ankle and hoisted her upside-down off the ground.
Mattie grinned. Thank you, Paige.
Rogue was already struggling and reaching up to try and free herself. Mattie looked up as Cannonball and a host of Multiples came crashing through the trees.
Sam slowed as he saw Rogue. "Should we help her down."
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Ah'm not on your team. And Chase played it fair. Get going before Ah get free and come after you."
"We've lost their trail anyway." Multiple moaned. "How are we going to find them now."
"Quickly." Mattie told him. "Sam can you carry Jamie?"
Sam nodded and hoisted the younger boy on to his back. "Hold tight, Jamie." He cautioned before blasting off again. Mattie glanced back at the still struggling Rogue.
"Ah'm fahne." Rogue told her. "Go, before you loose them."
Grinning Mattie ripped off a salute. "Yes sir." Before chasing after Sam and Jamie.
X
Below them Bobby could see Ray blasting away at the ground, trying to free his right foot. It looked like he'd had a run in with Shadowcat and she'd phased his foot into a rabbit hole or something. Of Roberto and Amara there was no sign. But he was willing to bet they were nearby.
Up ahead of him Cannonball rocketed out of the trees with Multiple clinging to his back. So Mattie was still in the game. He couldn't see her, but if anyone could keep pace with Sam's flying it was Mattie.
"Look!" Jubilee pointed away to the side of them. Rising higher and higher into the air were Jean and Boom Boom.
"Let me down you red haired witch!" Boom Boom yelled.
Jean grinned an evil smile. "Down?"
Too late Tabitha realised the mistake of pissing off a telepath when she was all that was holding you in the air.
"I meant witch in a nice way!" She screamed as she plummeted several feet before Jean caught her once again.
A bolt of red, meant that somewhere Cyclops was giving someone trouble. Bobby was glad it wasn't them. "Where now, Emma?"
"Keep going." She told him. Then her expression changed. "She's found it!"
"Not to worry that's only the first part of the task." Bobby grinned. "Now they have to get back with it."
X
Above her Mattie saw Cannonball make an abrupt course change.
"Rahne's got the flag." He shouted down to her. "She's making a break for it."
"Racing time." Mattie called back. And her team had two of the fastest members. Taking her direction from Sam she raced ahead, searching for any sign of Wolfbane.
X
"There she goes!" Jubilee pointed to where Wolfbane was running for home, the flag firmly clasped in her mouth.
Behind her Cannonball was rocketing after her, and it was only a matter of time before he caught up with her. Which meant that Mattie was also hot on Rahne's heals.
"Then here we go." Bobby said.
"Oh no." Emma clutched tighter to his chest as Iceman began his dive.
X
Rahne focused on running. Wolves could run for mile upon mile at a steady pace. Trouble was this wasn't a steady pace. This was a flat out run. And she knew there were others who were faster than her. Her sensitive nose had already picked out Chase's sent, she wasn't far behind.
Another sent tickled her nose. Ice. Iceman! She turned her head in time to see Iceman gliding past her, Jubilee grabbing the flag from out her mouth as the ice slide curved back up again.
"Got it!" Jubilee held the flag aloft in delight.
"Correction. Had it!" Sunspot crowed as he snatched the flag from her.
"Roberto!" Jubilee howled as he soared away. But her dismay soon turned to a cry of delight as she saw Multiple leaning dangerously off Cannonball's back to snatch the flag himself. "Teach you to snatch, Roberto." She called out.
Sam dived into the cover of the trees, the flag grasped firmly in his hand. "Chase? Where are you?" Looking round for Chase he missed Jamie's warning and crashed straight into the unmoving form of his granite encased sister.
"I know you're invulnerable brother dear." Husk said delicately picking the flag from Sam's un-protesting hand. "But you should really look where you are going."
Sam managed a grunt from where he and Jamie lay sprawled on the floor.
"Okay, Tabs." Paige handed her the flag. "Run for it."
Boom Boom rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like I can out run Chase."
Husk glared at her. "Just get going will you, Rahne will catch you up before you know it."
X
Mattie scrabbled to her feet, again. She was going to murder Paige once she got hold of her. That last trap of hers had cost her valuable time. She'd lost sight of Sam and Jamie, she hoped she wasn't to far behind them though. Last she'd seen they'd managed to get the flag, which meant that they were now the target for everyone else. Squaring her shoulders she set off back towards the mansion and hoped it was the right direction.
X
"Where'd he go?" Bobby scanned around him trying to find Sam. He couldn't have gone too far, they'd have seen him.
"There she goes." Emma pointed out Boom Boom making a break for it with the flag.
"Sam!" Jubes yelled right by Bobby's ear. "He's hurt."
Bobby looked where she was pointing and saw both Sam and Jamie struggling to their feet.
"Calm down, Jubes. You know Sam's invulnerable when he's blasting."
"We have to help him." Jubilee said.
Bobby glanced back at Sam again and shook his head. Sam was already up and Jamie looked fine too. He turned his attention back to the fleeing Tabitha.
A moment later Cannonball rocketed out of the trees, Jamie clinging onto his back for dear life.
"Sam are you okay?" Jubilee called to her boyfriend.
"Fine, Jubes." Sam reassured her. "Just let me get my hands on Paige."
Below him Bobby could see a fast moving blur. Chase was on Boom Boom' tail. Which meant he had to get there first. "Hold tight." Was all the warning he had time to give to his passengers before he nosed into an almost vertical dive. Using the momentum to increase their speed he closed the gap between them and Tabitha.
X
Mattie could see Tabitha in front of her. Sam was closing fast, but she was closer. There was no way Boom Boom could out run her, but give her her due she was trying.
A sheet of ice made her break fast, as Iceman and passengers swooped down on Tabby. Boom Boom sent a few of her bombs flying towards her pursuers, but Jubilee easily took them out with her fireworks.
Taking full advantage of this distraction Amara came along side Boom Boom and wrestled the flag from her grasp, before throwing it up to Roberto who flew off with it.
"Sam!" Mattie roared as she changed direction to follow Sunspot. They were almost back to the mansion now. If they could head Roberto off, maybe they could still take the flag.
X
Bobby glared at Amara before sending his ice slide up again to follow Roberto. It was into the final now, the mansion was in sight and all the teams were gathered around the flag.
X
Out of the trees Mattie speed up gaining on Roberto, for all the good it would do her. He was still in the air. Where was Sam?
With a cry Sam dive-bombed Sunspot sending both him, Sam and Jamie plunging into the swimming pool.
"Yes!" Mattie punched the air as she hurried to her team mates.
Several Jamies pulled themselves out of the pool gasping for breath. Sam and Roberto were wrestling in the water, each other trying to gain the flag or flight. With a cry Multiple launched himselves back into the pool, many extra hands now grabbing for the flag.
Mattie looked up as Bobby pulled up along side her. Emma leapt off the slide holding her head in her hands.
"Who's winning?" Jubes asked.
Mattie shrugged. "At the moment, through sheer weight of numbers I'm gonna say, Multiple."
A Jamie struck out for the far side of the pool, serveral extra Jamie's helping him to get onto the side. The flag was held in one of his hands.
"Way to go, Jamie!" Mattie cried waving wildly at him.
"Should I tell them the flag's gone?" Jubilee asked, looking at the still thrashing Sam and Roberto.
Clambering to his feet Jamie shook the excess water off himself. Panting heavily Wolfbane covered the distance between them and knocked Jamie on to his back. Jamie squealed with laughter as Wolfbane tickled him, clearly planning to lick Jamie within an inch of his life until he gave up the flag.
"Get off him." Emma's commanding voice rang out.
Without so much as a whine, Wolfbane stepped away from Jamie.
"Now give me the flag, Jamie." Emma held out her hand expectantly.
Eyes glassy Jamie got up and placed the flag in Emma's outstretched hand.
"What the hell!" Mattie raced round the side of the pool in a flash. Startled, Emma stepped back to avoid her, lost her footing and landed with a screech in the pool. She surfaced spluttering and Mattie snatched the flag from her grasp.
One look at Bobby told her this was not going to be easy. He was already heading towards her. Straight through the house was the quickest way, but Logan would have her doing laps until the end of time. She raced around the side of the mansion, leaping over Bobby's makeshift ice block.
"Sam! Get you're butt out the pool!"
Bobby was between her and her goal now. "Come here Mats." She felt his strong arms catch her round the waist bearing her to the ground. He'd better be up there. She launched the flag into the air and saw Sam catch it before she landed on her back. She rolled and found herself staring up at the icy features of her boyfriend.
"Hi honey." Bobby smiled down at her.
She could hear a commotion round by the front of the house, but she couldn't seem to care about that right now. "Does this mean you win?"
Bobby grinned back at her, his ice melting away. "And to the victor go the spoils." He told her before kissing her soundly.
X
"So, who won?" Mattie asked, from where she lay curled up next to Bobby.
"There was no official winner." Paige said in a tone that indicated that she at least felt there was a winner, and that she was it.
"Basically, Ray, Amara, Paige and Tabitha tacked me the second I touched down." Sam said.
"And the resulting mess was to much for Logan. He just called it a draw and left it at that." Amara added.
"Which really is so unfair." Paige started up.
"No it's not, Paige." Ray told her rolling his eyes.
"So really it was only Bobby's team that lost." Mattie teased, squirming away from Bobby's hand as he tickled her in response.
"Yeah." Jubilee muttered. "Ice boy over here was making out, while our telepath was busy drowning."
"Blondie didn't like her impromptu dunking much, did she." Tabby commented.
Mattie bit her lip. "I didn't do it on purpose. Do you think I ought to apologise again?"
"Hey, she fully deserved it." Tabitha shook her head. "After what she did to Jamie and Rahne."
"It was seriously creepy." Rahne agreed.
Jamie nodded solemnly. "I had to do what she told me too. I just had to."
"It only stopped once she went in the pool." Rahne added. "I guess she lost concentration."
"Logan did say we could use powers." Jubilee said. "And I guess that is her power."
"Jean's never done that." Amara pointed out.
"No she just thinks it's funny to pretend to drop people." Tabby muttered.
"But Emma doesn't have telekinesis." Bobby said. "She has telepathy. That's what she does."
"Okay, the Professor then." Amara said. "The Professor's never done that. Turned one of us into powerless zombies."
"But he can shut people down, by their minds I mean." Mattie commented. "Isn't that what he did to his brother? The Juggernaut."
The others nodded.
Jamie shivered. "I don't care if it is her only power. It was creepy."
"Besides, it's not her only power." Rahne added. "She can read minds and stuff. So she should know how creepy it is."
"Well." Tabby grinned. "Maybe her little dunking will help her realise."