The Point
Get to It
Chapter Four
Orroro was first out of the jet, soaring high overhead to inspect the clouds that were already clearing. She couldn't figure it out. Where had such a downpour come from when this week's forecast was full of sun? How was it going away already, as if it had come and gone with the attacking insects? Next came Logan, but he dropped right to the pavement below and stood, surveying the scene grimly. Once the jet touched down then out came the kids. Finally, last but not least, came Professor Xavier.
"Logan," Wolverine heard the professor in his head only. "What stock have you taken of the situation?"
"Some people dead," said Logan. "Most still alive. The bugs are already gone. Somebody must've known we were on our way." He looked suspiciously at the kids. Could one of them be a Judas? A traitor? How else could someone have known the X-Men were on their way?
"Professor," said Scott. He had walked over to a pile of black and now knelt over it, inspecting it closely through his red-tinted visor. "These bugs… I think it's remnants of bugs… They've been—incinerated."
"In that rain?" said Logan, strolling over and kneeling beside the younger man. "I'll be damned," he muttered, for the Xyclops was right. All the Wolverine's senses but sight knew those were remnants of bugs, but sight told him that, indeed, these insects had been cremated during the attack. Yet he smelt no sulfur. It was as though they had spontaneously combusted. Logan stooped to press his fingers to the mess, and immediately as he touched the tar an electric charge went through him. These insects had combusted, but not spontaneously. "Electricity," he whispered. "Now where did that come from?"
"What?" said Scott.
"Professor! There's more over here!"
"And here!"
"I think there's more over here!"
Wolverine checked each place the kids pointed out and, sure enough, these bugs had also exploded as if of their own accord. He felt static everywhere he touched. The hairs on the back of Logan's neck stuck up on end and all of his instincts were on high alert. This had been done by a mutant, and been taken care of by another mutant. Were these rogue mutants dangerous to the X-Men? Could they still be around? How would he be able to tell if they were coming?
"Head's up!" yelled Robert. "We found some unconscious kids over here!"
"They're, like, totally untouched!" called Kitty.
"There's a note on one of 'em. It's addressed to Xavier—uh, the Professor!"
Storm, Wildebeast, the Professor, and Wolverine exchanged looks. The four teachers then headed over to where Kitty and Robert were inspecting the two youths. The other kids had been told to search for survivors, help those in the most need however they could; help anyone that would accept a mutant's help. The unconscious little girls were both at least nine years old, one in a pink cotton shift and the other in a pink tee shirt and blue jeans. One in pigtails, the other with her mousy hair worn loose. They were clearly twins, evidently untouched—except for a ring of red, like a burn mark, that went around the one in jeans' right forearm. Storm bent to inspect the burn while Robert handed Xavier a note written on a sheet of cardboard, the ink apparently blood. Yet the handwriting was neat, small and clearly printed, as if written with a ballpoint pen. Whoever had written it must have had a thin but sturdy wire for their bloody handwriting to be this tidy.
"What's it say?" asked Wildebeast.
"It says," said Xavier, "'Ask them. Happy Hunting. Signed, Gods of the Underworld.'"
"Gods of the Underworld," spat Wolverine. "Cocky sonofa—"
"This burn looks as if it was inflicted by steam," interrupted Storm, studying the children. "There's nothing else wrong with them. It looks as if the insects left these two alone. They… appear to be the only two so fortunate. I sense plasma in the air—that's how they must have been knocked-out. There is a mutant out there that may manipulate the weather, or simply electricity. The coincidence of an unexpected downpour in the middle of a clear-skied sunny afternoon makes me uncertain."
"Thank you, Orroro," said Xavier. He studied the children from his wheelchair. "Stay with them, please," he addressed Storm. "When they wake up, ask them what happened. If they do not answer you, send them to Jean or me."
"Yes, Professor."
Xavier moved away. As he went, John and Logan moved with him. "The children are mutants," he told both men.
"You don't say…" muttered Logan.
Ignoring him, the professor continued, "But I don't believe either could be capable of this destruction. This massacre. We must find the parents of the girls and get permission to interrogate them. They must have seen who used the plasma bolts to knock them out."
Hesitantly, John McCoy said, "Xavier, the blood on that card…" He paused, then pressed on very slowly, very carefully, "It—isn't—human, I'm afraid. It smelt… wrong. I can't seem to quite put my finger on what's different about it though." He slid a glance at Wolverine, who sensed it and shot John a glare, but by then the good doctor had already moved his attention elsewhere.
"What do you mean, John?"
Wildebeast shrugged but looked at Xavier. "I'm not sure," he said. "But if I could do some tests on the blood on that card, I could probably figure it out. It might be nothing…"
"But you don't think so," finished Xavier. "Very well." He handed over the thin cardboard sheet.
The hairs on the back of Logan's neck suddenly bristled and he looked up.
Theseus pulled his head back from the edge quick. Osiris struck him absently. Rubbing the back of his head, Theseus sent his friend an incensed look. "Ouch," he said. "What was that for? I just wanted a peek of 'em. Those guys are virtually famous."
"You didn't even feel it," muttered Isis, her chin resting on her arms as she studied the horizon. She sat turned away from either strong young men. Her stomach was growling, but she ignored it in favor of the view of the setting sun.
"Why do you two always gang up on me? I didn't do anything wrong!"
"I'm not siding with anyone," said Isis. At the same time, Oz was saying, "Because you're an idiot." Then the twins said simultaneously, "And don't be so loud. They'll hear you." They sent one another a glance over their shoulders.
Sullen, Theseus started to peek over the side of the skyscraper's roof once again.
"Next time I'm just gonna push you off."
"Oz," Theseus whined, nevertheless scooting away from the edge. "I just wanna see what they're doing."
"Curiosity killed the cat," muttered Isis.
"Satisfaction brought it back," Theseus replied, sending her back a smile.
"Not if I get my hands on it first," growled Osiris.
The three were silent a while.
Finally, bored of the silence, Theseus spoke again, "How long do you suppose we have to wait up here 'til they leave? I mean, people down there don't even like mutants. They don't want their help. Did you notice that the survivors, those up and moving about already, seemed to shy away from the mutants' aircraft? The people didn't rush up to be rescued by it. They would rather wallow in this sudden hell than be offered a helping hand by those who are not like them." Theseus pulled up his knees and set his chin on his forearms, mirroring Isis's pose as he looked out at the darkening sky. If he sharpened his sight, he could just see clouds of insects dispersing in segments. Like human troops returning from war, the insects left in groups to the area that had been their homes. Some wouldn't be returning home. Same goes for the humans. "Do you think it'll always be like this? The mutants and… and the rest?" By now Theseus was just talking to hear the sound of his own voice. Quietly, mostly to himself, he added, "Do you think we'll ever find a place among either side?"
He was answered by a moment of silence.
"Can I push him?" said Isis.
"I already called dibs," replied Osiris.
Theseus smiled sadly.
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A/N: Is anyone else in love with Osiris? Yes, I suppose Theseus is sweet and somewhat sexier… but Osiris has that cruel streak. I love cruel streaks, which I guess explains my obsession with Pietro. Speaking of who, I believe he's going to be in the next chapter. Or was it the chapter after that? Guess you'll have to read to find out. (grins).
(Also, thanks to Paksennarion and TheFuzzyOne1989 for reviewing. Your encouragement really helps. I wasn't going to continue this past the first chapter, but your support really made the difference. Thank you.)