Hello again! I've been kind of busy lately, but here's another chapter of Dimension 17! The thing is, I know what I want to happen in the story, but I'm not sure how to write it in a good way. Since English isn't my first language, I don't know that many synonyms and stuff, you get my point.
I'd like for you to do me, and Sweden, a favour. It does not take long time. Please visit my profile to see what it is. Oh, and while you're there, please copy the bunny rabbit to your own profiles. He really wants world domination.
Xavier's plan might seem a bit OOC for him, I'm aware of that. I have to warn you, the last part of this chapter is a bit evil. Maybe the 'darkest' thing I've ever written.
Telepathy
Thinking
Chapter 10: Computer Animation
Professor Xavier took the pictures of Varok's family and scanned them into the computer. They all appeared on one of the big screens in the Bubble Vision studio. Meanwhile, Vingen searched the data base after files concerning Nightcrawler – the Vrogor kept information about every 'guest' that had been chosen from the different dimensions. Rogue had found some sort of camera, and they all took turns taking pictures of each other, where after Shadowcat plugged the camera into the computer and downloaded the pictures – just like a usual digital camera.
"Excuse me, professor," said Cyclops, "but why are we doing this? I'm sure you've got a good reason and that this is part of your brilliant plan, but an explanation wouldn't exactly be wrong."
"Well," started Xavier and pushed some buttons. "We've got to make Varok understand what he's doing to all these people that he's kidnapped. He doesn't think from different perspectives. We have to make him see everything from the victim's point of view."
"And just how, exactly, do you suggest we do that?" asked Wolverine.
Vingen raised a furry eyebrow – she thought that she knew what the professor was thinking. "That's why we have the pictures of his family, and the pictures of you, isn't it? If we can animate them so that they can move and 'interact' with each other, just like the Vodash animations, we can make Varok believe that you've got his family in your power…" Xavier nodded. Vingen continued: "… and that you're gonna, like, slay them or so if he doesn't stop this madness. Am I right?"
The professor smiled at her. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a mind-reader, too."
Jean frowned. "But professor, we could never do that!"
"Yeah, that's not our style at all," Scott agreed. "We don't hurt innocent people… even if they're the relatives of a paranoid madman."
"You're perfectly right," Xavier said. "We're not that evil – but he doesn't know that, now does he? After all, he saw when we defeated the Vodash. He knows that we aren't, well, 'normal', and that we are able to fight extremely well. As far as he knows, we could be cruel assassins who are more than willing to avenge the kidnapping of one of our own."
The X-Men had to admit that Xavier had a point.
"How long have they been in that freaky place?" Evan had been pacing back and forth for at least 20 minutes.
Forge looked at the clock on the wall. "They've got one hour and 40 minutes left before they have to be back in the arena."
"What if they aren't back by then?"
"They'll be stuck in that dimension," sighed the brainy mutant. "They'd have to come up with some idea of their own to get back."
"Man, this SUCKS!" Evan kicked a chair and grimaced at the pain.
"I know, but there is not much we can do about it," Storm said patiently. "Are you sure that you don't want a cup of coffee to help you relax? Or a coke? Maybe a cinnamon bun?"
"How can you even THINK about eating in a situation like this!" Spyke exclaimed. "They could be killed even as we speak, and you're drinking coffee? So damn insensitive!" Usually, he never would have spoken to his aunt like that, but now he was upset and worried (it was a wonder he hadn't lost control of his powers and trashed the whole dining room with spikes). Storm was too, but she was more skilled in controlling her feelings.
"As I told you, there is nothing we can do to help the others, and a cup of coffee calms down my nerves. I don't hurt anyone by drinking it. Nothing gets better by you pacing and kicking the furniture, Evan."
Her nephew glared and uttered a growl that would've made Wolverine proud.
Since neither Kurt, Rogue, Logan, Scott nor Jean were very skilled when it came to computers, they had nothing that kept them occupied from getting lost in their (often negative) thoughts. Although their thoughts were slightly different…
Damn fluffy monsters. Wolverine gritted his teeth. When I get my hands on that Varok guy… Why won't Charles let me kill him?
I seriously doubt that we'll get out of here without injuries. As usual, Rogue was 'optimistic'. Man, this place sucks. If it wasn't for those freaky creatures, I could've been home by now… Even a three-hour training session with Logan is better than this.
Scott, on the other hand, felt kind of relieved after getting away from the labyrinth. As long as we don't have to enter any creepy tunnels, it's fine with me. I've been through worse than this. For example, I almost got killed by Mystique several months ago, when she pushed me into that river… (AN: See 'Turn of the Rogue')
Kurt still felt confused since after he Kitty came back from Varok's office. If ve hadn't been interrupted, ve vould've kissed, vouldn't ve? I zink so. I vonder how it vould've felt? I really must speak to her about all zis. To clear my zoughts, if nozzing else…
Aren't they finished soon? Jean bit her lip. We could get discovered any minute now!
"Okay everyone, may I have your attention please?" They all turned to Xavier. He gestured towards one of the big computer screens. "Watch this. It's what we're going to show to Varok."
Vingen pressed a button, and the professor showed up on the screen. He looked straight into the camera:
"Greetings, Varok, Lord of the Vrogor. I am Professor Xavier from Dimension 1. Several days ago, you let your people abduct one of my students – Nightcrawler – to practically send him to his death. I cannot allow that to happen, which is why I decided to bring some of my friends and come to his rescue. After hearing the story of this place, I want to talk business with you."
The screen now showed Wolverine, the claws on his right hand exposed. In his left hand, he had a steady grip on one of the Vrogor kids from the pictures. He held a strange face expression – some mix between a smirk and a glare.
Xavier's voice was heard in a voice-over. "You saw what happened to the Vodash when it messed with one of us. We are ready to take a more… personal revenge against the one who chose Nightcrawler to get 'tested'… namely you. And your family."
The screen kept showing different pictures while the professor continued with his little monologue.
Kitty and Rogue, holding purple guns which they pointed to a couple of scared Vrogor children.
"However, we are willing to offer you a deal."
Kurt, sitting on a metal beam under the ceiling, holding a Vrogor kid in his tail. He was slowly swinging it back and forth. His yellow eyes glittered.
"If you leave your position as a Lord, and give us your word of honour that you never will hurt another innocent being again…"
Jean using her powers to levitate one of the kids, and Scott preparing to take off his glasses.
"… We will return to our world, and leave your family alone."
Professor Xavier showed up on the screen again. "You have 20 minutes to think. I do hope that we can reach an agreement that will satisfy both parties. We'll talk again."
The screen went black.
No one in the room – not even Logan – looked very happy after seeing the 'movie'. In fact, they felt a bit sick. It was hard to read Xavier's expression, though.
Jean spoke up first. "That was awful."
"You don't say?" Rogue said with a shivering voice. "Geez, I feel like a murderer… even though nothing really happened."
"That movie will give me nightmares for years," Scott said. "It was terrible."
"I know it was, and I am sorry for that." Xavier actually sounded a bit apologizing. "But the thing is, I think it might work."
Wow, I almost get a little sick myself while reading that last paragraph… It might be the cruelest thing I've ever written. I'm not that evil for real, I promise!
Please take the time to review.
Idun
