Take the Long Way Home
Here's chapter 18! Let's see what Mozart has planned for the town of Bayville. And let's find out what the deal with Hack is. Plus; a little Duncan torture when Biker goes to town!
Andivari- Thank you sensei, I have learned well. Yes, but there's more to those two than meets the eye.
L1701E-Yeah, but only barely sane. "HEY! You try being friends with a spirit and two ninjas and see how much of your sanity lasts," Hack protests. Quiet or I'll cut off your internet privileges! "You don't have the balls!" Try me. And I'm probably going to use a few of your ideas in my story, especially the sugar one.
marie lebue- There will be some Rick/Tabby in a little bit, and plenty of Shawn/Maria next chapter
Animeluvr1- As long as Shawn gets to kick serious ass, it's all good with me. I think you can get whole, frozen tunas from Alaska, but I'd have to check back with you on that. Well…I wouldn't say I'm outshining you guys, but I'd like to think that I'm just as good. And does that PS mean I can use the 'Saga'?
"AAA"-talking
'AAA'-thought
AAA-telepathy
AAA-self debate, or conversation with feral side in Shawn and Rahne's case
Disclaimer- You know you have problems when you refer to a super model from Paris as a Quarter Pounder with cheese.
Chapter 18-Strange new Friends
"Now let me see if I've got this right," Logan said, massaging the sides of his head. He seemed to be developing a migraine. "You," he pointed at Hack, "Are one of Scales' old friends from back where he comes from, who saw the footage of him on TV and decided to check up on him." Hack nodded. "And those two," Logan pointed to Scratch, who was in his smaller cat form without the armor; currently being given a tummy rub by Storm, and Biker, who was sitting backwards on one of the kitchen chairs looking supremely bored, "Are two computer programs?" Hack nodded once more. "Hank, as long as you're getting a drink for yourself, could ya get a shot of whiskey for me?" Logan looked at Biker again, who stared back, then purposely blinked the eye in the middle of his helmet. "On second thought, make it a shot of tequila," the Canadian moaned. Biker just went "Feh," and got up from his chair.
"I'm gonna see exactly what the hell there is to do in this town, boss," he called over his shoulder as he left the room.
"Just don't go killing anybody," Hack replied. Storm and Xavier stared at him. "What? I can't tell him what to do anymore." Beast leaned forward at this information, sliding a shot glass and a bottle over to Logan, who caught it and slung it down his throat with the flair of a Mexican bandit. Storm chose this moment to look up from where she was petting an ecstatically purring Scratch.
"Doesn't it bother anyone else that a seven foot tall, three-eyed demon look-alike with a tail and two very large guns just zoomed out of the gate?" Hack and Shawn traded looks.
"No one knows that he came from the Institute, right?" Shawn said. Storm nodded.
"Than what's the problem? He won't kill anyone," Hack laughed. 'I hope.' Beast leaned in and spoke up. Logan had discarded the glass and was now drinking directly from the bottle.
"What did you mean when you said that 'I can't tell him what to do anymore'? I would assume that, since he is merely a computer program, he would have to follow your orders." Hack shook his head.
"Before Shawn left, I had started working on a project that would give programs like viruses and disrupter programs a learning AI. When I was reformatting Biker from his original viral state, I integrated the algorithms to see what it would do." He smiled. "Apparently it was more successful than I could have hoped. It gave Biker, and later after I upgraded him, Scratch as well, a full consciousness and will. Technically, they're as alive as you and I. They can just be broken down into their program forms, enabling them to infiltrate the net." The professor, who had been silent up until now, spoke.
"Are you sure that this isn't just another aspect of your powers Mr. Lutz? They may seem alive, but they are just data after all. Your powers may give them the semblance of life, but they are not truly alive. I sense no thoughts from them." Hack gave a smile at this.
"Can you sense any thoughts from me either sir?" he asked sweetly. The professor frowned and closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them once more, an astonished look on his face. Beast and Storm gave him an apprehensive look, and Logan put the bottle down and gave him a searching look.
"Somethin' wrong Chuck?" Xavier shook his head.
"I felt, almost the exact same thing I felt from Biker. It was a sort static, I couldn't comprehend. Almost as if…" His eyes lit up. "It couldn't be!" he exclaimed.
"Couldn't be what Charles?" Storm asked, absently rubbing at Scratch's ears.
"His mind has been completely altered by his mutation. I can't sense anything because I can't "read" his minds language anymore… he's thinking in computer code!" Hack was starting to look a little annoyed.
"I'm still here ya know," he snapped. He shot a look at Shawn. "Hey professor? Would it be alright if Shawn showed me around a little?" The professor nodded absently, having engaged Beast in a debate about this new type of mutation that they had unwittingly discovered. Logan was back in his bottle, and Storm had left to see to her garden, Scratch following after her, weaving between her legs, but never tripping her up.
"I hear you've been busy," Hack said as the two left the kitchen. Shawn began to reply when the front door opened and Kitty and Jaime came in. Kitty was looking well pleased with herself, and Jaime was sulking.
"Hey J-man, why the long face?" Shawn asked.
"Kitty took my pixie sticks!" Jaime pouted. Shawn swung around to tell Kitty to give them back, when she shoved them into his hands. They were the extra-extra-extra jumbo pixie sticks, each one a little less thick than a baseball bat. There were seven of them total. Hack whistled.
"That," he said in a respectful tone, "is a lot of sugar." Kitty snapped out of her pleased trance and noticed the newcomer.
"Like, hi! Are you like, a new student here?" Hack looked at her for a moment before his eyes lit up in recognition.
"Kit-kat 135, right?" he asked. Kitty nodded confusedly. "I thought that inflection sounded familiar. I'm Hackman Fever! We met in a chat room about three weeks ago. I was the one who sent you the cyber whoopee cushion?" Kitty turned and looked at Shawn in bewilderment. He laughed.
"Guys, allow me to introduce an old friend of mine from back home, Jon 'Hack' Lutz," he grinned slyly, "Otherwise known as the Dot Hack virus." Kitty's jaw dropped in disbelief. Jaime piped up then, having found the conversation taking an interesting turn.
"Don't you mean the creator of the Dot Hack virus?" Shawn shook his head while Hack grinned.
"Nope little guy, I AM the virus," Hack made a face, "Except for the part about wiping the hard drives, that was Biker's fault."
"Biker?" Kitty asked weakly. Shawn grinned.
"Kitty, remember that tiger that we saw in the Danger Room?"
"How could we forget?" Tabby's voice rang out. Everyone looked up to see Tabby hanging over the rail of the stairs. Rick ambled up from the opposite direction.
"Hey, who's the new guy?" he asked. Shawn sighed and shared a look with Hack. The look said "It's gonna be a looong day if we have to explain this every five seconds".
"How about we get everyone together and I'll tell you guys all at once?"
Outside, Remy watched the scene through the window. He had observed the strange figure that had left the Institute on the even stranger motorcycle, tail flying about behind him, and had wondered. Now there was another new person on the grounds. He sighed and looked through the leaves of the tree he was perched in, and smiled fondly, Rogue was beneath him, reading another one of her novels. Impishly, he dropped a leaf in her hair, chuckling lightly.
When it landed, she brushed it away irritably, and scowled up at him. He gave her one of his most charming smiles and waved. Her scowl deepened before she went back to her book. Farther away, the man in red watched the interplay between the two with little interest. He had seen such things countless times before, and it had either ended happily ever after, or, more often than not, with one or both parties dead. It made no difference to him.
-Brotherhood Boarding House-
Coyote took in the dilapidated structure at a glance, noting that beneath its shabby exterior was still a strong frame. 'Perhaps these kids are the same,' he thought to himself. He thought back on what had moved him to make the decision he had. 'I guess that it started with that fight when Tom and I got here. Two of them have incredible hidden potential, and the girl has a bit of power that, if she learned to properly focus it, would make her an even greater force on the battlefield. That silver prick may pose a bit of a problem, but the big guy has a gentle soul beneath a rough exterior. They need guidance, and that's one of the things I'm supposed to do, guide those that need it.' Finishing his mental prepping, he stepped up and knocked at the door. Lance opened it, and his eyes immediately became suspicious.
"Who are you and whadda ya want?" he demanded. Coyote gave him a reassuring smile.
"Relax kid, I aint here to hurt anybody. I came here to see you actually, you and that frog kid. I want to make you an offer." Lance began to close the door in his face.
"Whatever you want us to do for you, forget it!"
"Kid, it's not what I want you to do for me; it's what I want to do for you." Lance stopped the door just short of closing it. "I'm a friend of Shawn's, and he told me about you guys. I decided that I wanted to meet these two interesting individuals." He gave Lance a small grin. "I've seen the two of you around, and I can see potential for greatness, right there below the surface." At that moment, Wanda walked up, Todd close on her heels.
"Who are you and what do you want?!" she demanded.
"This guy says that he wants to train me and Toad," Lance said, opening the door so they could see Coyote better.
"Did father send you?" Coyote shook his head.
"No, I'm somewhat of a free spirit," he gave a small grin, then looked at Lance somberly. "When you use your powers, you feel a great deal of pain, right?" Lance nodded, looking skeptical. "You have a deep bond with the earth, but you deny this bond. You cut yourself off from your center of power, and when you try to employ that power, you cause yourself pain. My training would allow you to do much more than create simple tremors." At this point, Lance was staring at him in astonishment. Coyote turned to Todd. "And you, young toad, you posses the ability to become a great warrior, if you put your mind to it. There is a great deal of potential hidden below the surface in you. I could teach you to tap that potential."
Pietro, who had been listening unobserved, spoke up now. "Toad?! That little wart farm couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag." "Besides," he sneered, "What would a human know of mutants?" Lance looked sharply at him, but Coyote stepped in.
"You think that you're better than me? My people have known fear and oppression just as much as yours have. Ever heard of the Ghost Dance massacre?" Coyote slipped out of 'wise-man teacher' mode, one eyebrow rising. Pietro sneered.
"Can't say that I have. And I know that I'm better than you." He attempted to zip past the spirit to prove his point. Coyote calmly stuck one foot out, and tripped him up. Pietro landed flat on his face. Coyote shook his head in mock pity.
"Pride comes before a fall," he quoted. Toad blinked.
"Who are you, yo? And how did you do that?"
"Call me Coyote. And all I did was follow a simple rule of fighting. Keep your eye on the enemy. I didn't actually see him, but I read his body language and figured out from that which direction he was heading in, and when he started. I could teach you how to do it if you like." Lance looked from Toad, who looked excited, to Wanda, who looked wary, but intrigued, to Pietro, who looked about ready to explode.
"Huddle," he called. The four of them huddled up, and began to whisper fiercely amongst themselves. Coyote leaned against the porch railing and closed his eyes, a rapid-fire planning session going on behind his closed lids. 'They'll accept; I can feel it. But I'm going to need to find a source of income. From what Shawn told me, Lance is the breadwinner right now. In order to train to his fullest, he'll need to cut back on his work schedule, which means that I'll have to find another source of income. I heard something about a 'Mystique' who paid the bills for the 'Hood from Tabby, maybe she left some spare cash lying around somewhere.'
His musing was cut short by a rumble in the distance. He opened one eye, and peered in the direction the sound was coming from. There was a dust cloud forming on the horizon. The four 'Hood members broke their huddle to come out and see what was going on. In a second, the source of the dust cloud came into view, and Wanda's jaw dropped, while Toad began to laugh his head off, joined by Coyote, Lance and Pietro.
The cloud was being caused by the entire jock population of Bayville High, running at full bore. Duncan was in the lead, screaming at the top of his lungs, "RUN YOU SONS OF BITCHES, RUUUUNNNN!!!!!" Hot on their heels was Biker, cackling madly and waving one of his pistols in the air. One of the jocks, deciding to make a break for it, tried to run off the road. Biker took aim, and fired. *BLAM* And suddenly the road had a brand new, two foot deep pothole about three inches in front of the run-away's foot. He got the message and got back in with the rest of the pack. They continued onward, Biker revving Behemoth's engine every once in a while to keep them on their toes.
"Andile`, andile`!" Biker shouted as he went, copying a certain Mexican mouse. He bowed in his seat as the Brotherhood gave him a standing ovation. Then he was gone. Coyote turned to the 'Hood members.
"You still haven't answered my question." Lance held up a finger.
"Just a minute, I want to fix that image in my mind for the rest of my life, Duncan at the head of a human cattle drive." He closed his eyes, still laughing lightly.
"I think we should call that "The Running of the Jocks", yo," Toad chuckled. Pietro nodded in agreement, his previous bad mood dissipating. Lance opened his eyes then and looked at Coyote.
"The final vote was three for, one against. You can train me an Toad; but," he said, "If we think you're trying to use us for anything, you leave." Coyote nodded.
"A sensible plan. But how about a trial period, just to see if you two can cut it? I train the two of you for three weeks; if you don't think it's worth it you can kick me out. That way I can make sure that you two can actually make the cut." He extended one worn hand to Lance. "Deal?"
Lance eyed the extended appendage, and threw a look to Todd. His friend nodded. Lance took the offered hand. "Deal," he said gravely. Coyote rubbed his hands together in a pleased manner.
"Excellent, then your training begins tomorrow. In the mean time, there are arrangements to be made." Pietro looked sourly at the spirit.
"What type of arrangements?" he spat.
"This training is going to take a great deal of time, so Lance is going to have to cut back on his hours at his job." Lance's eyes widened at this.
"How are we supposed to pay the bills then!?!" he protested. Then he blinked. "How do you know that I have a job?!" Coyote winked slyly.
"Just leave that to me, young padawan. Besides, it's the business of a trainer to know their prospective students. And we'll have to see to my rooms. Since I'm training you, I'll need to stay here."
"But the only spare room is Mystique's old room, yo. And she put that big old door back up when she came back for a while. There aint no way that we can open that thing, it's tighter than Fort Knox, yo!" Coyote grinned.
"Show me this unopenable door. I might know a few, 'magic words'." The Hood members moved aside to let the newest member of the Brotherhood in. "I like the décor, but are the pizza boxes supposed to grunt like that?" Pietro raised an eyebrow. Mystique would have had a fit by now, but this human, took it in stride. 'Maybe he'll fit in after…' Quicksilver shook his head to get the stray thought out. 'If father ever heard me say anything like that he'd disown me faster than I can think!'
Eventually the small group found themselves in front of the reinforced door. Coyote examined it, running fingers over its surface, tapping a certain spot occasionally, his face a mask of concentration. Suddenly he smiled. "There's the basterd," he murmured. He moved a few paces away from the door, and motioned for the 'Hood to do the same. He took a fighting stance, one hand fisted, the other open. "HEEEEE-YAHHHH!!!!!" he cried lunging forward, striking with the palm of his open hand.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Toad looked on in amazement, along with the rest of the gathered Brotherhood, as the door seemed to vibrate for a moment, then their collective jaws dropping, saw a hairline crack make its way through the exact center of the door, from the floor to the top of the frame. Coyote relaxed from his position, massaging his hand. "Can you teach me to do that?!" Coyote nodded.
"Everything has a weakness, be it an enemy," he grinned at the small mutant, "or a door. You just need to be alert enough to find them." Pietro shoved past the Indian at this point.
"Yeah, yeah; let's see what the old hag had stowed away in here." He pushed the fractured door open and sped inside. Lance gave his new teacher an apologetic look, then followed after his teammate.
Inside, Pietro was going through one of the bureaus, in the room, tossing aside numerous liquor bottles. "Looks like we drove here to drink," Lance noted sarcastically. Toad exchanged a high-five with him. Wanda, looking through one of the closets, suddenly recoiled from a box.
"What's wrong yo?" Wanda just pointed to the box. On the side, it said 'fun toys'. A whip, and several fairly naughty looking devices, most apparently battery operated, were sticking out of it. Toad made an identical face to Wanda's. "EEEWWWWW!!!!" Coyote suddenly reached between the two of them, and plucked a checkbook from the box, not seeming to touch any of the disgusting devices within.
"Ya know, I think that I'd prefer the couch."
-Institute-
Shawn and Hack had gathered the greater bulk of the students from around the Institute, excluding Kurt, who had date with Amanda. They had finished explaining their history together, and had just began to explain Hack's power, when a rumble sounded. Tabby perked up her ears. "I haven't heard that type of cycle before." Hack chuckled.
"I'd be surprised if you had. That cycle and its rider are one of a kind." As he finished speaking, Biker swept into view, whistling happily to himself. Roberto's eyes bulged and he began to speak in rapid-fire Brazilian. Everyone else was too shocked to say anything. Biker looked around, his eyes settling on the babbling Brazilian.
"Whas his problem?" he grunted, flopping down on the chair next to Kitty. The valley girl recoiled slightly from this stranger.
"Guys, this is Biker, one of the programs on my 'crack hack' team, if you'll pardon the pun. He's a virus that I reconfigured from his more powerful form. The Demon virus." Biker looked at Scott, who was staring openly, or as openly as one can from behind glasses.
"Whassa matta mama's boy, ya wanna fight?" Scott blanched, but Hack smiled.
"You had fun I see." Biker shrugged, grinning.
"A coupla guys thought they'd make fun of my tail. I kinda took offense to that, ya know? I thought that they could use a little exercise, so…"
"You didn't make them 'dance' did you?" Shawn asked, casting a meaningful glance at Biker's sidearm. The virus shook his head.
"Nah, youse to told me not to kill anybody. So I ran em through town. Oh," he added, "I saw that Coyote fella that youse told me bout. Talking wit some kids dat gave me a standin' ovation." Rahne finally found her powers of speech.
"Tha fella's gone to the Brotherhood?! Why would he do somethin' like tha?" Shawn shook his head.
"I'm more interested in why he's even here." Shawn mused to himself. Hack sighed.
"I think you might want to lie low for a little while bud." He snapped his fingers, and Biker seemed to give off a red aura for a moment, before bursting into particles of red light and forming into an orb. Hack hooked the orb onto his belt, and looked around at the stunned faces. "Yes?"
"Well that, like explains those tacky belts. But what's like, with the goggles?" Kitty asked, her fashion alarm going off so badly that nearly everyone could see it.
"These babies's are my pride and joy." He snapped them down over his eyes, and immediately the lenses began to glow. One of them was a dark purple, small text scrolling down, while the other was blue, small intricate circles coming to life upon it. "The blue lens is a scanner, with just about every type of scanning procedure known to man programmed into it. The purple lens gives me a constant stream of data on my surroundings and any enemies around me."
"COOL!" Jaime and Bobby exclaimed. Most of the other guys looked interested as well.
"What about that Biker thing?" Amara asked. Hack looked offended.
"Biker is a he, not an 'it'. And if you mean, are there more of them, like him, yes. But each one is as different from one another, as day is from night." He took another orb from his belt, this one yellow. "Here's one that the girls should be able to appreciate. Initiate Program!" he commanded. The orb exploded into a galaxy of bright yellow points of light, which came together to form…
"A PUPPY!" Kitty squealed. Indeed, it was a cute cuddly puppy. The little thing gazed around the room with bright curious eyes, and settled on the closest interested person, Amara. He ambled over, seeming to just be about to trip over his feet with every step, increasing the cuteness factor. Sam looked at the pup Amara was cuddling, then looked at Hack.
"Ah, agree it's cute ahlrigh, but what does it do?" Hack gave a nasty grin.
"Ladies, if you could put the puppy down for a moment; I'll show you why I keep this seemingly useless little mutt around." The puppy growled cutely at his creator at the last par of the statement. Amara set the furrball down reluctanty. Hack whistled to the pup.
"Show em your trick Decoy!" The pup began to silently bulge and grow, until a huge, mean-eyed mastiff with a spike-studded collar stood in his place. The girls all backed away, while most of the guys leaned forward in interest.
"Now that is a dawg!" Sam exclaimed. Hack scratched the huge mutt behind one ear.
"He's a disrupter program, like Scratch. Biker is a virus I 'recruited' and I've got a few other friends on me as well. But the majority of them are weapons and upgrades for the various programs I've got." Scott's face creased into a smile.
"Well, it's nice to have such a valuable addition to the team." Hack made a time out sign as the others started to agree, and began to debate where he would be staying. They ignored him.
"Guys." No one noticed. "Guys!" Still no one noticed. He sighed and detached a yellow orb from his belt. "Initiate program," he whispered. Instead of exploding, the orb stretched and changed shape until it was a nice sized airhorn. Shawn and Rick, who had paid at least some attention to the hacker, covered their ears.
*PHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
Everyone spun around to glare at him. "What was that for!?" Bobby asked. Hack glared.
"You guys are all assuming that I'm going to be staying here. I just wanted to come and see how my old buddy was doing. After that I'm gone." Everyone, with the exception of Shawn was looking shocked at this announcement. A green cat bounded in then, and proceded to curl up on Decoy's back. Scott's mouth worked soundlessly for a moment before…
"Why wouldn't you stay?! You need…"
"To learn how to control my powers?" Hack laughed. "I've got more control in my little pinky then half of you have collectively!" He started to cackle a little, as Shawn very calmly reached back and… *WHAP!* Slapped his best friend right up-side the head. "Thanks pal, I needed that," Hack laughed, massaging the back of his head. Shawn smirked and leaned back, crossing his arms.
"Feh, don't mention it."
"But…but mutants should like, stick together!" Kitty was still stuck on the fact that Hack was refusing to join. Hack shrugged.
"Sorry, but the only team I'm ever gonna be a card carrying member of is the Triad
---To Be Continued---
Bet that was a surprise! Who coulda seen this turn of events! What type of training does Coyote have in store for the 'Hood? And what will Hack do while in town? And will the X-Men try to recruit Hack? Find out next chapter! Until then, Read & Review!