Heir of the Immortals Resurrection
Chapter 6
Sharee Lori Collins opened her eyes, her gold irises shining in the darkness. For a moment, she just lay there breathing in and out. 'How did I get here?' She wondered. She thought back, but her mind was fuzzy. Closing her eyes, she reached out with her mind.
As she reached out with her mind, she felt around in the darkness, she was laying on corrugated metal. There was a wall near her made of the same metal. She was not alone here, soft breathing filtered out of the darkness.
Ripples spread out from her body, giving her a view of her surroundings, bodies glowing with an inner light shone like small stars in her mind. She was inside a large rectangle; the rectangle was sitting on a ship of some kind. More rectangles were stacked on and around her.
Still reaching out with her mind, she grimaced as she was reaching the limit of her range. Beads of sweat popped out on her brow and her body shook. At the very edge of her range, she found what she was looking for.
Algae was growing along something.
Grabbing a hold of it with her mind, she pulled. I'm sorry, she whispered as the algae withered and floated away. Vitality and awareness rushed into her. The sweat and strain vanished from her body.
Rising to her feet, she raised a hand to chest height, green moss grew over her hand, casting a pale light around. A strand of vibrant green hair fell into her face as she looked around.
She was in what appeared to be a cargo container, made of rusted dark blue metal. Flicking her fingers upwards, the moss launched from her hand, sticking to the roof of the container.
With a force of will, the moss grew over the roof of the container, spreading more of its dim light throughout the space.
With more light in the space, she could now see integrated designs in flaking red paint covering the walls, ceiling, and floor of the container. Kneeling, she ran her finger over one of the symbols, the paint flaked away at her touch. Shaking her head, she rose to her feet and began moving to look at the other occupants around her.
Most she did not recognize, but as she neared the back of the container her eyes widened. A girl lay in an unbroken circle of symbols, her short white hair almost glowing in the light of the moss.
She fell to her knees beside the girl, memories of the recent past coming back to her. She had come to New York to look for her mother, having followed her trail after she left Louisiana, but it had gone dark towards the border into Canada.
While communing with animals to look for her mother across the border, she met Tora Drake, a nineteen-year-old university student. Despite Tora being a year older, the two hit it off, and Tora agreed to help her look for her mother.
She closed her eyes, her hands curling into fists, while asking around they had run across a girl named Brandy. She said she'd seen Sharee's mother, and despite Tora's warnings, she followed the girl, her eyes slowly open, "The last thing I remember is pain." She leaned forward her hair falling to touch Tora's face, "I'm sorry, I should've listened to you," she drew back, her lips forming a thin line, "but don't worry, I'll get us out of here."
Grabbing a piece of her flannel shirt, she tore it off. Wrapping the piece of flannel around Tora's arm, she placed her hand over it and closed her eyes.
The cloth writhed underneath her hands, slowly unraveling and changing into a mass of thread-like vines. Slowly, Sharee guided a few of the threads into Tora's arm. Through her connection with the vines, she saw inside of Tora's body.
Gently, she slowly guided the vines past the skin, and into the muscle, releasing waves of energy so she could see the body and better detail. From what she was seeing, there was nothing physically wrong with Tora's body her lips twisted into a frown, "Maybe a burst of healing energy will wake her up."
Tightening her grip on the mass of vines, she pushed. Green energy flared from beneath her hands washing over Tora's body. Her hands sank to touch Tora's arm as the vines beneath crumbled.
With a gasp, Tora's eyes opened.
Sharee slipped her hand over Tora's mouth, her blue eyes filled with panic and she began thrashing while releasing a muffled scream.
"Quiet," Sharee hissed, "if we're lucky the light show that happened when I woke you up didn't draw attention, but if you keep that up…"
At the sound of Sharee's voice, Tora relaxed slightly, recognition shining in her blue eyes.
Sharee slowly removed her hand from Tora's mouth.
"Sharee, where are we?"
"In a cargo container, there are some others here with us."
Slowly, Tora rose to her 5'8" height, her white high-heeled boots scraping across the metal. Pale blue eyes flicked around, taking everything in a moment. Tora crossed her arms over her pale blue T-shirt, her eyes hardening as she stared at Sharee, "I told you that Brandy was suspicious."
Sharee looked down, "I know, you were right."
Tora stared at her for a long moment, she could understand the desperation of wanting to find her mother, if something happened to Ororo she would've probably done the same. With a sigh, she glanced up at the ceiling, "Kind of weird that they have glowing green moss inside a cargo container, isn't it?"
Sharee's eyes flicked from side to side, if she was going to get them out of here, she was going to have to use her powers, but could she trust Tora with her secret. She raised her hand, in the end, it didn't matter.
Tora watched as Sharee raised her hand, her eyes widened slightly as the moss stretched down from the ceiling in five Tendrils, sinking into the tips of Sharee's fingers. "You're a mutant," she whispered and Sharee tensed as the container fell into darkness.
Silence fell between them.
Tora released a breath, and Sharee could hear her shift in the darkness, "Well, that makes this easier."
Sparks jumped up from the floor as jagged tentacles scraped over the metal, peeling the paint away from the circle around Tora.
Blue eyes shone in the darkness coming through the cracks in the metal, "I can manipulate water. Inside the circle, I could only manipulate the blood in my body. What can you do?"
Moss once again grew over Sharee's hand as a relieved smile spread across her face, bathing them both in dim light, "I can manipulate plants."
While Tora had accepted her, she still did not know her very well, so she was not going to give away all her secrets.
Tora nodded slowly, "Cool, now what do you want to do about these people," she gestured around her at the other occupants of the container.
A vine grew from the moss on Sharee's finger, plucking it free, she tied her hair in a ponytail, "We can't just leave them, it's very unlikely we're the only mutants in this container."
Tora moved between the people, "I think it could've just been bad luck, but you're right we can't just leave them, and with them unconscious they are unable to defend themselves," she glanced back at Sharee, "the way I see it we have two options, fortify our position, or try to take down our kidnappers when they open the doors."
"According to what I've been able to sense, we're on a boat with other containers."
"So that means more people could be in other containers."
Sharee looked around her, "Our best bet is to make sure this ship can't leave for wherever it's going."
Tora set down cross-legged and placed her hand on her knees, "This is going to be harder since I can't see the water, but I guess it's good practice."
–XX –
Lowering Mary to the ground, Herald looked around the office that overlooked the docks. A desk sat off to one corner. A stack of Manella folders piled on each end. Three grey utilitarian filing cabinets stood off to his right, more Manella folders piled on them.
Allowing his duffel bag to slide from his shoulders, it impacted the wooden floor with a soft thump.
Dropping her bag beside Herald's, Mary moved over to the window, "So, how are we going to do this?"
Herald's eyes flashed, and a three-dimensional red translucent image of the shipyard appeared between them. He pointed to two dots coming from opposite directions from alleyways made up of stacked containers, "This is Brandy and Michael."
"Benedict hasn't arrived yet, he sent Brandy and Michael to secure the area. So, I think you should take Brandy, and I'll take Michael."
Mary turned from the window, leaning against it, she crossed her arms. "Are you giving me Brandy to tackle because I'm a woman?"
"You're the one that thought Brandy had a chance for redemption, so I thought you would jump at the chance."
"Fine."
"You want me to run you to her location?"
Mary shook her head, "It's better if I get there myself."
"Good luck then," in a blur of dark blue, Herald disappeared.
–XX –
Michael Baer moved between the alley created by stacked shipping containers, his shadow gliding over the metal, the soles of his shoes scraping against the asphalt.
Brown eyes flicked back and forth as the light from a lamp post glided across his dark skin.
Suddenly, he stumbled forward his left leg sinking into the asphalt up to the knee.
With a grunt, he began pulling his leg out, only for the asphalt to harden, trapping his leg just below the knee.
A man stepped out of the shadows in front of him, his dark blue skin making him almost invisible. Red eyes scanned up and down his body.
He stepped forward, his Brown loafers almost gliding across the ground.
"Who are you?"
The man inclined his head, "Hello Michael, my name is Herald." Removing his hand from his blazer, Herald offered it to Michael.
Michael stared at the arm for a long moment before drawing back his fist and driving it forward with a yell.
In a blur of color, Herald disappeared.
"I was hoping we wouldn't have to do this the hard way."
Michael tensed, turning his head, he saw the man behind him his hands tucked back into his blazer.
What do you want?
"I know what you're doing here, and I'm going to stop it, but given your past, I felt obliged to give you a choice. Walk away, or…"
"Or what?"
"That depends on how much of a fight you put up."
Herald took a step forward, "In case you're wondering, my associate is giving Brandy the same offer, so, what will it be?"
–XX –
Mary rolled up the sleeves of her red blouse to the elbow as she moved towards her target. Light blue energy tinged with black flared in her right hand, slowly coalescing into a katana. Rolling her wrist, she smiled as the blade twirled through the air.
Since merging with Herald's mind to find their targets, her powers had increased. Stepping out from a row of containers, she found herself in a large open space.
Six feet in front of her stood her target, eyes with a red Iris staring directly at her.
Mary slowly scanned the woman before her, she was 5'6" tall with red eyes, and slick back purple hair. A dark purple leather corset hugged her body and matching thigh-high boots climbed up her legs.
The studs decorating her ears and face shined in the streetlights.
Mary cleared her throat as her other personalities surrounded her within her mind, their skills and knowledge flowing into her, "So I have to ask, how did you know I was following you, and what is with all the jewelry in your face?"
Small black circles opened in space around Brandy. With a smirk, she thrust her fist through.
Mary tensed as a fist came at her from all directions, flaring against the psychic barrier around her.
As the fist disappeared, she raised an eyebrow at Brandy, "You could've just answered."
Brandy moved forward, "Where's the fun in that?"
Mary's lips curled, a spark of excitement appearing in her brown eyes, "True." She moved to the side, trying to circle her opponent, but the pale grey-skinned woman matched her step, "You know what Benedict did to your parents, do you still want to work for him?"
Brandy raised her shoulders, a slender hand gliding through her slick back hair, "What choice do I have if it wasn't him. It would be someone else. If it's one thing the incident with Sabretooth taught me, it is that this world is a dangerous place".
"You have Michael, with your abilities the two of you could make a decent living."
Brandy's lips thinned and a hard look appeared in her eyes, "How do you know about my relationship with Michael?"
"Do you honestly think we didn't research you before we came here? The only reason we're even talking right now is because of your past."
Brandy's hands curled into fists, "So this is pity, I don't need anyone's pity!"
"I prefer to think of it as empathy, I have walked a similar path before, but I'm working on doing better. It would be hypocritical of me not to offer you the same chance."
"Thanks, but I'm not quite ready to step into the unknown." Portals once again flickered to life around her.
"If we do this, I'm not going to hold back, you could die. Do you really want to do that to Michael, leave him alone after all he has experienced?"
"We both knew the risk."
Fists once again shot at Mary from all directions. This time she dropped low, layering a bit of telekinetic power beneath her feet as she shot forward, the world nothing more than a blur around her. Closing the distance between her and Brandy, she leaped into the air, the telekinetic power beneath her feet exploding, pushing her higher.
Raising her Psionic blade above her head, she came down with a devastating downward slash.
Brandy disappeared in a black flash.
Impacting the ground, Mary twisted her body, bringing her blade around in a sideways cut.
Brandy's eyes widened as she reappeared.
A horizontal portal appearing in the blade's path.
Mary stumbled with a hiss, blood dripping onto the ground as her Psionic blade bit into her back. Staying low, she stared into Brandy's eyes, "impressive."
Brandy's eyes widened as the Mary in front of her shimmered and disappeared.
–XX –
Standing behind a frozen Brandy, Mary placed her hand on the back of her head, "Sleep." Pale blue light flared in Brandy's eyes and she slumped to the ground. Lifting her with a bit of telekinetic force, Mary turned and began making her way to Herald's location.
–XX –
Michael swung his arm with a roar.
Metal dented as it impacted the closest cargo container.
"The hard way it is then." Outlining his hands in Psionic power, Herald stabbed forward.
A snapping echoed through the air as ribs caved beneath Herald's enhanced fingers.
Michael sagged to the right, his hand instinctively tucking into his ribs. Asphalt cracked as he pulled against the asphalt holding his legs.
Tarmac exploded into the air as one leg came free. He drove it backward.
Leaping into the air, Herald pushed himself away. Impacting a container 6 feet off the ground, he used his telekinesis to cling there like a spider.
Metal caved as Michael's foot impacted it, sending the container swaying.
Glancing to either side of them, Herald focused on the ends of the narrow path between the containers. A translucent red barrier appeared. Eyeing the remaining leg trapped in the asphalt, Herald tightened his grip upon it.
Straightening against the pain, Michael stood to his full 6'10" height. His teeth ground together as he reached his massive arms upward, gripping the lip of the container that Herald was sticking to.
Herald's eyes widened as the container began to leaned forward. Leaping free of the container, he soared into the air watching as to containers file onto Michael.
Stretching forth his hand, Herald wrapped his power around the containers. With a force of will, he lifted them off the ground and settled them back into their proper positions.
Pulling his leg free, Michael grinned up at Herald, blood running down his mocha-colored skin. Bending his legs, he launched upward.
Taking a deep breath, Herald exhaled, releasing a wave of fire from his mouth.
Michael shifted his arms in front of him as the flames impacted, pushing him back to the ground. He impacted the ground with a shattering boom. Heat spread across the ground contained by the narrow space between containers, metal warped, giving away under the heat.
Containers rocked back and forth as tarmac splintered. Before the ground settled, he rolled over and began rising to his feet.
Appearing behind him, Herald focused his will into a Psionic dagger. With a heavy heart, he drove it forward, piercing his lower back at the base of his spine. With a twist, nerves were severed and telekinetic energy flared beneath the skin.
Michael stiffened before toppling forward. He impacted the ground with a heavy thud.
Kneeling, Herald placed his hand on the ground. Forcing his will into the earth, the asphalt became like putty as he formed it back into a solid whole.
Light footsteps drew his attention to Mary's approach, "Seems like your conversation didn't go any better than mine."
"She's awake."
With a scream, Brandy lifted her legs and wrapped them around Mary's neck, before pulling her backward.
Struggling for air, Mary thrust herself backward with telekinetic force. She slammed into a container with enough force to dent the metal.
Brandy's grip loosened.
With rage in her eyes, Mary spun, driving a psionic dagger through the bottom of Brandy's jaw.
Blue energy flared from the woman's eyes and mouth, leaving behind smoldering pits as she slid to the ground.
"Well," Mary turned to Herald, throwing her now loose Auburn hair over her shoulder, "so much for giving them a chance at redemption."
Pushing to his feet, Herald slapped his hands together, "We tried, but honestly, we shouldn't have been surprised that they refused. Benedict's manipulations ran too deep." He glanced up, "Speaking of, he's here." He turned back to Mary, "can you take care of these," he gestured to the bodies.
Mary's Brown eyes narrowed as she pulled her hair back into its bun, "Are you trying to protect me again?"
Herald raised both hands, "In a way, but we do need to get rid of these bodies, and I would prefer one of us to remain anonymous, and let's face it out of the two of us I'm more conspicuous."
Mary stared at him for a long moment before the bodies lifted into the air, "Fine, but once I get these taken care of, I'm coming back."
"Fly high enough to stay out of people's sight, but low enough to be invisible to radar." In a blur of motion, Harald disappeared.
Shaking her head, Mary rubbed her neck where a bruise began to form as she lifted into the air, quickly dragging the bodies behind her.