(Four)
Seth sat in the lab chair, his face glowing blue from the computer screen in front of him. It highlighted his distress, gel sweat was dripping off of his chin, revealing his terror. He was alone now in the lab and had shut off the lights, trying to hide what he was planning to do.
Henry had been true to his word and given him his own separate computer server for his personal use. Seth had wasted no time in installing the special hardware that would allow him to communicate directly with this system as he did the Lucky Dragon. He had put in a modem like device that would not just give him access, but allow his actual consciousness to enter as well. That was the risky business, the thing that was making him tremble so in fear.
Could he do this? Should he?
"I don't want to be so clumsy," he whispered softly. "I don't want to be so weak."
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, wiping his face. He knew the risk. He could enter and be trapped here forever. While he was gone, his physical body left behind would be defenseless. The payoff could be worth it, he reasoned. No more stumbling about, no more bright lights searing into his eyes. He could be as strong in this physical world as his brother was.
"I love you, Fallen. My Mistress," he whispered and clicked "Enter."
Seth gasped as the connection was made and he was sucked from his body into the system. He had spent seven years out here in the physical world, forgetting what it was like to be in a completely digital environment. He felt the weight of his body leave him and he was like a ghost, vapor in this world of streaming numbers and bright lights. He found himself laughing with pure joy, this he had missed. Here he was free to move about and do as he wished, here he didn't stumble into things or have to think about how he should move his body to accomplish what he needed to do. Here all he had to do was think and the world opened up before him.
He closed his eyes and issued a command, "Open file Golden Gate. Execute modifications."
There was a bright searing light and streams of numbers whizzed by his now open eyes. It was blindingly fast but he saw them all, he had written these codes after all. The stream slowed as it collected itself, and he saw something strange. He had written these codes himself, but here now was something hidden. Every so often pairs of numbers leapt out at him, displaying themselves in no logical order. Just as fast, he began to collect them, these unexpected little pairs of numbers, seeing that there was something here he had better not let pass him by. He couldn't explain the feeling, it was just there before his eyes.
It took only a moment, but then it was done. The new codes were in place, all he had to do was upload them and his consciousness back into his own body. His return would trigger a kind of internal reboot, it wasn't until then that he would know if this had been worth it or not. He turned to go but hesitated, thinking only for a moment that it would be so simple to just stay here in this world that had once been home to him. Here, he had absolute freedom... but he would lose his Mistress forever. He would lose her touch, her love. It was enough to get him moving.
"System, return execution," he commanded and braced for impact.
There was the bright light again as the process reversed itself and he was traveling backwards and back into his own body. There was a moment's giddiness as the reboot commenced, a scream of bright white light then a small chime. "System ready."
When the reboot finished, Seth screamed silently in absolute terror within the confines of his mind. The weight of the physical world had come crashing in on him, crushing him. It was so alien now, cumbersome and smothering. He couldn't breathe. As if that wasn't enough, bright white light and booming sound crashed into him with a cataclysmic thunderous wave and he fell from his chair, this time screaming out loud.
He fell in agonizing slow motion, drawing out the suspense, and then he hit the floor with a thud, sending bright lancing pain all through him. The new codes had jacked up his senses even more, an unexpected side effect. He was seeing and hearing too much. Now he felt the impact with the floor as though he had been thrown. He thought his body was going to break apart. What had he done to himself?
(break)
Henry walked back into the examining room, a strange dispassionate smile on his face. This was his doctor face, one that didn't always show what he was thinking, and he was thinking very hard now indeed. Gambit was here for a follow up exam on his leg and Henry wasn't quite sure what he was seeing. The bones were almost healed, knitted back nicely. The thing was, they were healing just a little too well considering the severity of the breaks. Last he knew, Remy didn't have any special healing powers so this was bit of a puzzle.
"Is Gambit gonna make it, homme?"
Beast couldn't help but smile at that whiskey and cinnamon voice. It was lined with no small amount of impatience. Remy was fidgeting already, never having been the best of patients. Medical rooms seemed to make him edgy. Or maybe it was just the skimpy hospital gowns that never seemed to cover his too long frame. His boney knees were sticking out of the bottom, showing that he had lost a bit of weight from being on the disabled list. The scar on his calf from his surgery was razor thin and fading already, another sign of some magic at work here.
"Yes, he is. The break is almost completely healed. The brace will be no longer needed. It's quite remarkable, the progress you've made. As much as I'd like to take the credit for this, I've got a feeling this has nothing to do with me. Got something you'd like to confess?"
The Cajun sat there silently grinning but spoke not a word. Of course Remy had a few ideas, it had been on his mind as well. Just how many times had Kimble "touched" him since his leg had been broken? He couldn't quite remember, but that last one, the one with such passion and fire attached to it, well that one was ringing out loud and clear. Yes, he had hauled himself up off of Kimble's floor, but the next day, his bones were itching like mad and he had been filled with a strange kind of vitality he had been missing for the past few days. He was usually pretty peppy after a session with Kimble, but this last time the added energy had been that much more noticeable because that had been the first time they had been intimate like that while he was injured.
"Mus' be de water in dis place, n'est ce pas?" Remy offered playfully, his eyes merry.
Henry snorted playfully. "Right then. Get dressed."
Gambit slid from the table with his usual grace, eager to be freed and not needing to be told twice. He had just reached for his pants when Henry's head turned suddenly and cocked as if he was listening.
"You 'ear sumpt'in?"
"Excuse me for a moment," Henry replied evasively and slipped out.
Seth was still on the floor, shivering. He jerked with another shout as the room lights came on. He was flooded with light to the point of blindness and he held his hands out in front of him defensively, warding off a blow he was certain must be coming.
"Are you all right?" came Henry's voice thundering in his overly sensitive ears. This room was only two doors down from where the doctor had been with Gambit. Henry didn't have hearing as acute as Wolverine, but it was pretty sharp, sharp enough for him to have heard Seth shriek right before he'd hit the floor.
"H-help me!" Seth gasped, terrified that the world was threatening to cave in on him. Blackness was coming.
Big blue hands came about him and he writhed and shivered, feeling the soft blue fur as if for the first time. He was enclosed in those arms and his world became suddenly smaller, much more manageable. Henry's heartbeat thundered next to him pleasantly and he clutched at his good friend, wheezing, "Don't let me go!"
"I'm right here," Henry replied, trying to keep calm.
It did him no good, Seth could sense the distress he had caused in the doctor. Seth had never been able to feel the vibrations as Kimble and certainly never heard any voices, but he was hearing one now. It said, / My dear boy, you've given me such a fright. I love you and I want to help you, but I have no clue what's going on. /
Seth knew intuitively that these were Henry's feelings, it was just that he was receiving them with a clarity he had never felt before. Seth's disappointment was profound. He had done this to improve his ability to cope in the physical world and all he had done was spark some kind of empathy at the cost of his ability to control his sensory input. He was being swamped just as he had been the first day he had left the system. The only thing that gave him any comfort was that those days of sensory overload had come and gone. Perhaps this spell would dissipate in time as well.
"Better now?" Henry asked as he felt Seth relax a little.
"Yes," the Siskan replied, still grasping fistfuls of blue fur. He still wanted to be held.
Henry began to pet him as though he were a child. "What happened?"
"I- I was working and I think I fell asleep," Seth lied as smoothly as he could, he didn't want anyone to know what he had done. "I've been so tired. I must've had a nightmare."
"Well, you look terrible, my friend. You should get some rest. Come on, then. I'll give you a tonic so you can sleep without dreaming."
Seth whimpered softly and Henry rose, keeping the pilot in his arms. Like Kimble, Seth weighed much less than a normal man. His body mass was much slimmer than Kimble's and it came through in his weight as well. It was nothing for the big blue doctor to lift him up and carry him into the next room. The lab was located right next door to an emergency room and there were some empty beds there. He lay Seth down and carefully covered him, being gentle. He could see that Seth was badly frightened and overly sensitive to whatever was touching him. He was also sporting a nice big bruise where he had landed from his fall.
Henry left him briefly to grab a tonic. Henry had made sure to keep a supply of these tonics at every nurses' station and emergency room in the complex. Their two Siskans could be unpredictable at times and he never wanted to be caught without. It wasn't often that he had to sedate Seth, but the truth was, it had happened more than it did with Kimble. Seth was a tireless worker. Unlike Kimble who slept a full night, Seth only required a couple of hours or so a day. That led him astray at times, causing him to work too hard and burn out. He would get carried away and have a bit of a scare like he had today. Beast would give him a tonic and then he'd sleep deeply for a few hours, waking up fresh and not so badly frightened. Henry had no real idea what Seth had done to himself today and had no reason to suspect this was anything other than Seth just working too hard again.
Before Henry could return, Remy was there at Seth's bedside, limping slightly now without the brace, his hand still on a cane. Soft Cajun hands touched him and Seth shivered. "Hey."
"You okay, mon petite fils?" Remy questioned gently, his body speaking as well. / You look terrible. You so scared an' shakin'. Gambit loves you, please don' be sick. Gambit love you too much. /
"Oui," Seth replied softly, using soft French to tease. Remy's vibration was powerful but somehow more reassuring than Henry's had been. It had a different flavor, he realized. Remy's flavor. It soothed him on the inside in a strange way, a pleasing way that was like getting a great big hug when he really needed it, just like now. He was calmer when he spoke again. "I was working too hard and I fell asleep. I was dreaming and fell from my chair like a total dope."
" 'Enry's gonna take care of you," Remy said, unknowingly accepting the lie. He was still a bit preoccupied with his own matters and had no reason to suspect his friend. The fact that Seth had calmed so fast was reassuring, there was nothing to fear here. This wasn't Kimble having a freakout.
"I'll be fine. Thanks for being here."
"Was already 'ere, fils. Glad for it now."
Henry returned and politely nudged Remy aside to better look at his patient. Gambit nodded and hobbled off to one side, letting Henry work with some privacy. Remy didn't think anything was wrong other than what Seth had said, this wasn't the first time he had seen Seth crash from working too hard. Seth looked shaken sure, but he was always that way after he took a spill. Seth found pain bewildering, it always rattled him. Remy was also aware of Seth's penchant for working too hard. He thought that had more to do with Fallen keeping him so isolated than anything else. Why wouldn't Seth expand his mind? His world was a small as a thimble. Many times Remy had offered to take Seth out and Fallen had forbidden it, sheltering him in a way that Remy sometimes considered to be smothering.
Henry closed the curtain around the bed a bit and stood over his dear friend, frowning slightly. Seth's shivering had returned with Remy's departure as if something vital had been taken from him. His eyes had closed tightly and he gripped the blanket covering him. Henry realized now that this was an above average spell and he hesitated, saying softly, "Is there something you want to tell me, Seth?"
"I'm okay," Seth whispered, convincing no one. "I- I just need to sleep."
Beast just grunted and touched him lightly, indicating that he should drink.
Seth grabbed at the bottle greedily and gulped the tonic down. He was being bombarded with Henry's vibrations again and he couldn't cope with it. These were not like Remy's, they were sharper, harder in a way he couldn't explain. They hurt. / I know you're lying, Beast was thinking. / You've done something, haven't you? You're frightened half to death. How can I help you when you won't tell me what's going on?
"Wh-where's Fallen?" Seth gasped. His throat was burning a little from the tonic, it had a large alcohol content and soon he would be out like a light.
"She had to leave for an emergency run to Westchester. She'll be back in a few minutes." The emergency call had just come in only a minute before he had given Remy his results and Henry had already sent his nurses scurrying to secure what they would need. He didn't know who was coming, only that a mutant had come into Westchester badly damaged.
"Stay with me?" Seth whispered.
"Of course," Henry assured, taking a seat on the bed and moving close. Fallen wasn't due back for a few minutes anyway and all he had to do was wait. He might as well spend it at the side of his poor frightened companion. "Tell me why you're so frightened, Seth. Please. You're scaring me."
"I-I worked on my codes," he finally confessed. "It didn't do anything, just scared the bejeezus out of me."
"Why would you do such a thing?"
"Because I'm too clumsy and I'm sick of wearing these stupid glasses all the time."
Henry stroked his hair back with affection. "My dear boy. Those are the things that make you who you are. Changing yourself won't help you, not like this. I should know."
And he would. Many years ago, an overly intelligent Henry McCoy chose to experiment on himself, altering his own genetic code in an attempt to boost his intelligence. What happened instead was that he mutated himself even farther, sprouting bright blue fur and fangs. His hands were now clawed and he had a face only a mother could love. He had ruined himself as far as publishing his own work was concerned, no one would take him seriously now. He was lucky to find the Professor who got some of his work recognized indirectly. He paid for his arrogance by working in secret, helping the mutant cause.
"I'm sorry," Seth slurred, his eyes growing heavy. "Please don't tell Fallen. She'll be so mad and yell at me."
"I won't," Henry agreed. He wouldn't, but he would be sure to make a note of it in Seth's personal file. Beast kept detailed records of all of his teammates, it was required for one who needed their full medical histories in order to better treat them.
Seth had stopped trembling and was fully relaxed. The tonic dulled his senses and he was no longer drowning in sensation. He could still feel Henry's vibrations, but they gave only comfort and love now. He was safe here and could rest. He took a nice deep breath and grew still as sleep finally took him.
Henry remained at his side for a moment, but then rose to prepare for his next emergency.
"He down?" Remy asked softly, startling him. Henry had almost forgotten that Gambit was still there. The thief had been standing there quiet. He didn't think Remy had heard their private conversation but there was a strange look in those red and black eyes, like he just wanted to ask the question, only he knew Henry wasn't going to answer it.
"Yes. It would be good if you stayed with him. I've got an emergency coming in."
"Absolument," Remy replied in regards to Seth. The questioning look was gone, replaced by a curiosity of a different sort. "Anyone we know?" he asked next as Henry was given a status report on the incoming emergency by a passing nurse.
Henry's eyes had widened in surprise as he read the note. "Actually, yes. It seems our Mister Creed has returned from the dead. Someone took offense and butchered him."
"Firs' Joes in a real long line," Remy grunted unhappily, showing no surprise at Sabretooth's untimely return. Truth was, he had seen weirder things happen. This was just another one of those curve balls of life. He didn't take it that seriously, Victor Creed had bounced back from anything ever thrown at him — unfortunately.
Beast looked up at him, recognizing Gambit's failure to see what was going on. "It seems life has finally caught up with our dear Victor. His injuries are quite serious, his healing factor can't cope with it somehow. He's dying."
" 'Scuze-moi? Since when do dyin' and Saby come in de same sentence? Never been dat lucky."
Henry looked up at him. "I'd better send someone for Kimble."
(break)
Scott walked briskly through the Complex, growing angrier with every step. He had been elected to go find Kimble and tell him about Sabretooth, but no one seemed to know where he was. He went to the daycare center only to learn Kimble hadn't shown up there for days. Furious, he called Remy's cell phone only to have the thief mumble something to him sheepishly that Kimble might be a little busy with two girls they had bumped into at the Marx Club when they had gone there for lunch right before Remy's appointment with Henry. Nurses they were, fresh from the outside. Remy had expected Kimble to be done with them by now, he guessed Kimble must've been having a grand time.
Scott cursed in his fury, snarling as he clicked off. Kimble should never be allowed free like this, not after all the time he had spent in the holding cells before. Gambit had taken full advantage of the move and was letting his Siskan run around like the true slut he was. This could only lead to trouble.
Scott made his way down to the nurses' quarters. He had to stop off at an information kiosk to get the address for the two nurses and was positively steamed. Hunting down Gambit's little sex freak was something he hadn't had on his Want to Do List for today. He didn't understand why no one seemed concerned about Kimble's sudden spike in social behavior, the guy should have been put on a sex offender's list, not be given keys to the cupboard like this. He still wasn't entirely sure how it was that Kimble retained custody of Angel for this long.
Scott made his way to the address he had been given - the two girls were roommates - and knocked on the door.
Silly girlish giggles greeted him from the other side of the door. "No one's home!"
He heard another voice grumble in irritation, one unmistakably low and growly. Kimble's, no doubt. And it wasn't directed at him.
"Kimble! Get your butt out here! There's been an emergency!" Scott snarled in response, just wanting to get this over with.
There was some shifting and another giggle. The door opened and Scott stepped back in surprise. Kimble was naked and was holding the tiniest of towels in front of him, but that wasn't the shock. Not just one, but both girls were on the bed behind him, not even covered by the sheets. The room smelled of sex and candles.
Kimble noted Scott's discomfort and grinned arrogantly, flexing his abdominal muscles. He was in peak physical condition and quite beautiful. He knew Cyclops was a prude and that his nudity would make him uncomfortable. It was the Zander in him that made him push Scott's buttons now. He never liked the way this man had looked at him.
"So what's goin' on?"Kimble slurred drunkenly. He knew it wasn't Angel, she would have called to him telepathically.
"What do you think you're doing!" Scott hissed in his fury.
"Fuckin'. What's it look like?" Kimble snapped, his eyes half lidded and dreamy. He looked like he was stoned, but the use of drugs was outlawed in the Complex. Sex made Kimble high, but Scott didn't know that. He had never taken the time to get to know Kimble well, despising him from the moment they had met.
Scott Summers was a very private man, his need for control forcing him into a stony rigid personality. He didn't express a lot of emotion and he had very strong opinions, one of which was that sex was best kept private. He disliked Kimble's sexual openness from the beginning, happy only when Kimble finally suppressed that side of himself back at the Institute. Now that he was here, it seemed Kimble had wasted no time in falling back on his old promiscuous ways. Scott did not approve.
The smell of sex was stronger now that Kimble was standing in front of him and Scott flushed uncontrollably. The two women were gorgeous. "Your lover boy Creed got beaten up and dumped on the lawn at Westchester. He's a mess. Fallen's bringing him in now," he said loudly, making sure the girls heard his reference to the unconventional relationship between the two men. "Better get dressed. Henry wants you down at the Med Bay in case he doesn't make it."
"Kristalay's dead," Kimble argued, his voice lowering as an icy edge came into it. He disliked being toyed with. He had never been informed of Creed's disappearance from SHIELD and had no idea his former Master had escaped execution. "They tooks him away. He's gone."
Cyclops was confused by the name, but the reference was unmistakable. "Well it looks like he used up another one of his nine lives. He's been badly brutalized and it doesn't look good."
"Kristalay kin heal his'self."
"Not anymore. Jael did something to him."
Kimble looked back at the women, doing his best to hide his escalating concern. His former Master alive? It was more than his heart could handle. "I gots ta go."
Kerri pouted, "Can't it wait?"
"How long 'til Fallen gits here?" Kimble asked Scott.
"Ten minutes," Cyclops replied through clenched teeth.
Kimble grinned back at her, covering his anxiety. Creed was very important to him and he was worried, but didn't want to make a big deal of it in front of Scott. "Sorry, girls. I needs a bit more time than that to finish up with yous."
"It's all right," Donna said cheerfully.
"Oh, sure. He took care of you already!" Kerri complained.
"Kimble! Now!" Scott snapped, not wanting to hear anymore.
Kimble laughed and returned to the bed, grabbing his pants. He dropped the towel and stood in front of Kerri, letting her see him. He gave her a deep, passionate kiss as he dressed, then said, "I'll come back fer yous, don' you worry."
"Who's Creed?"
Kimble smiled at her sadly. "That's complicated."
"Is he your lover?"
"He wuz once, a long time ago. Didn' stop me from doin' fer yer friend, won' stop me from doin' fer you if you still wants me," he said, challenging her with his eyes.
"I'll think about it," she replied awkwardly. She was looking at him differently now, the news of his apparent bi-sexuality unsettling to her. He could see it in her shine, a low shimmer of disgust.
"Ya do that," Kimble grumbled a little irritably, shrugging her off as if it didn't matter. Fact was, Kimble was having no trouble finding lovers, especially now with such a large crew here. He was free, loose, and could care less if she didn't want him now. He had made it clear early on that nothing was permanent with him. He would never allow anyone to fall in love with him. His indifference was a shield, to protect himself and those he might serve, killing any desire for anything lasting.
"Let's go, Kim," Scott ordered, still complaining. Kimble was taking forever to dress. "He hasn't got much time."