I apologize for the long delay. I've been quite busy with school – university sucks sometimes – but I guess that apology isn't good enough. I've been working more on my current TMNT fic than with this one, I admit that. I guess it is because I ain't that much into X-Men Evolution anymore. I never meant to abandon this story, though!
Telepathy
Thinking
Chapter 11: Some serious business
With a little help from Vingen, the X-Men sent the horrifying movie to the conference room in which Varok and his council had a meeting.
"It should appear on BV in there in a couple of minutes," explained Vingen.
"Is there no way for us to watch what happens in that room?" Logan asked. "I'd like to see Varok's reaction to the movie."
Vingen tilted her head to the side. "Well, there are security cameras in there, but because of the fact that many top secret meetings are held in that room, you need a code to activate those cameras."
"And you don't know that code?"
"Not anymore," Vingen started. "I used to –" Suddenly, she seemed to catch herself and stopped abruptly.
Seven people raised seven eyebrows.
"You used to what?" Scott asked.
"What did you mean by 'not anymore'?" Kitty wondered. "You mean that you, like, have known that code before?"
"I – I don't know what you're talking about," Vingen stuttered.
Needless to say, none of the mutants believed her.
Jean was on her way to put her fingertip against her temple and read their new friend's mind, but a sharp reprimand from Xavier stopped her. No, Jean. If Vingen wishes to keep her secret for herself, she has a right to do so. She may decide to tell us later, or she may not. Either way, you should leave her private life alone.
Jean lowered her head in shame. I am sorry, professor.
"I could try to hack through their security system," Vingen offered with a nervous smile.
Professor Xavier nodded. "Please do so. I will help you."
"I will too," Kitty said. "If you, like, want my help, that is."
"Sure."
With Vingen, Xavier and Kitty working together, it didn't take long before the biggest computer screen flashed and a picture appeared. The X-Men and their new friend watched an image of a large oval table with about 12 or 13 Vrogor around it. Varok sat in a big grey chair on one of the short ends. One of the Vrogor spoke up.
"But lord Varok, what shall we do? If these people defeated the Vodash without –"
He was interrupted by a certain bubble that appeared above the table. The X-Men gritted their teeth when they heard Xavier's voice: "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."
At first, Varok only looked surprised. But when the 'disturbing' images appeared in the BV, his yellow eyes widened and he gaped.
"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. However, we are willing to offer you a deal."
Varok started to hyperventilate, and he seemed to be on the verge of tears.
"If you leave your position as a Lord, and give us your word of honour that you never will hurt another innocent being again, we will return to our world, and leave your family alone."
Now, big, wet tears rolled down from the lord's eyes. Kurt actually started to feel sorry for him. He wasn't the only one.
"Please, professor, turn it off! This is too much!" Kitty cried. Xavier frowned, clearly he didn't like it either, but he didn't turn off the BV.
"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 bubble vanished. For a short moment, Varok stared at the spot where it had been. His council looked at him nervously; they didn't really know how to react.
Suddenly, their lord rose so quickly that his chair fell over. He looked slightly hysterical. "Where are they? Where are my family? I must get to them, I must make sure that they're alright, where are they?"
Several of the X-Men bit their lips.
"And where are those mutants?" Varok ranted. "How am I supposed to talk to them if I don't know where they are?"
Professor Xavier put a finger to his temple. Lord Varok, you can find us in the security room, corridor 12 B. Just don't try to attack us. You know why.
It certainly was interesting to watch Varok's reaction to hearing a voice out of nowhere all of a sudden. At first, he whirled around, trying to find the source of the voice, but of course he didn't succeed. "What…?"
It is Professor Xavier talking. I am telepathic. My voice exists only in your head.
The lord frowned. Then he shook his head, as if trying to clear his mind. "We got to go!" he called out to his council and a couple of guards. "We've got some serious business to take care of."
They all left the conference room, and the mutants and Vingen found themselves looking at an empty screen.
"So, now they're on their way here," Jean said.
"Yeah. What're we gonna say when they arrive?" Logan asked the professor.
"Let me take care of that."
It didn't take long before Varok and his escort burst in. Varok stared hard at Xavier. "Where are my family?" he hissed. "I want them back."
"You'll get them back. First, we must talk."
Varok sighed. "What?"
"You heard me on the BV. Abandon your post as the Lord of the Vrogor, and leave the power to Vingen instead."
Silence.
Then, several voices were heard at the same time. "What?"
"You never said anything about me being the ruler!" Vingen exclaimed.
"You mean… that Vingen should have the power?" Varok gasped. "Vingen? But she's a traitor to the country!"
That was some news for the X-Men.
"She was a member of the council," Varok continued, "but one night she helped some of the 'guests' to sneak out and sent them home, so that they couldn't be tested! Of course, she got kicked out of the council. She was doomed to death for her crimes, but was spared in the last second. She can not lead the Vrogor."
That must be Vingen's secret, the mutants thought. The one she didn't want to tell us.
Professor Xavier didn't seem very surprised. In fact, he looked quite unmoved. "That is an excellent reason to why she should rule the country. Vingen has conscience, fairness, goodness and mercy. She will become a great leader of the Vrogor."
Vingen started to warm up to the idea. She still seemed a bit doubtful, but not at all as much as before. Varok, on the other hand, frowned, and was on his way to say something, but stopped himself. He sighed. "I'll do it. But only because of my family."
"Can we trust you?"
Varok looked offended. "Of course you can. There is much one can say about me, but I always keep to my word."
Professor Xavier looked him deep in the eyes. After a while, he slowly nodded. "Then we take everyone in here as witness that Varok, the Lord of the Vrogor – or maybe I should say the former Lord of the Vrogor – has decided to leave the power to Vingen."
The tension in the room was so thick that you could cut it with one of Wolverine's claws. Everyone felt that they just had seen somethingBig happen.
Suddenly they all jumped, when Rogue said: "Um, guys? We only have 55 minutes left before the bus leaves for home."
"I'll show you the way," Vingen said. She led the X-Men out of the security room.
"Wait!" Varok called out. "What about my family?"
Xavier threw him a look over his shoulder. "Oh, them? They are not here. They never were."
"But…"
"It was a bluff. Never heard about computer animation before?"
They left the former leader open-mouthed.
50 minutes later – the mutants had been running around in circles in the labyrinth, and succeeded in getting far, far away from the arena, so it took some time to get back – they finally were back in the big area where they had fought the Vodash.
"So… I don't really know what to say," Vingen shrugged. "You really have made a difference here. Everything will change now."
"Eh, ve only did vhat ve do best," Nightcrawler smiled. "Helping people."
"So, are you going to become the Lady of the Vrogor now?" Jean asked.
"Nah," Vingen said slowly. "I think we've had enough of lords and ladies. I was thinking of taking the title of 'stewardess'. How does that sound?"
"It sounds great," Scott said.
"But I'm still not sure about the whole thing. What if I screw everything up?"
"You won't," Logan said and put a hand on her hairy shoulder.
"He's right. You will make a wonderful job, I can assure you," Xavier smiled.
In the same second, purple sparks surrounded them. Vingen hurried to step away. She waved. "Good bye! Thank you for everything!"
"Good luck!" the X-Men called back.
Then, they were gone.
That's not all, folks, there's an epilogue too! I hope to have it up in a couple of days!
Idun
