CHAPTER 13: CLEAN UP
It had been a very long night for them but it wasn't over with yet. On the way back while Peter had been holding Rogue the entire trip since she was out cold. He had no idea what the effects of absorbing that symbiote suit would have on her. Whatever it was really did a number on her mind. Although with all the adrenalin out of his system Peter was not only feeling the aches and pains of the night but also his fatigue.
'God what a night,' Peter thought to himself seeing her sleeping form, 'Yeah you got the right idea…Boy I really know how to show a girl a good time huh? I hope most of our dates don't end up like this, I don't know if I can keep up.'
He just held Rogue letting her rest. The last thing he knew before he blacked out was seeing the gates of the mansion.
"Okay we're back," Logan stated and looked back, "Hey webs, you awake?"
Kurt prodded him but he didn't move, "Nope I zhink he's out," Logan gave a disgruntled growl but he couldn't blame him. "I'll take zhem to ze infirmary."
"Yeah go do that…we'll deal with out 'guest' while you do that," Logan told him as he was referring to Eddie. He too was still out, most likely the trauma of what happened to him pretty much left the man totally out cold. Kurt took hold of both his friends and ported away.
That left Logan with Scott to help carry Brock into one of the rooms of the mansion as the others started to file out. "Man what do you think they'll do to that guy?" Evan asked the others as they made their way to the mansion.
"Don't know, maybe the Professor will wipe his mind," Kitty shrugged, "I mean that guy is totally nuts and not to mention didn't seem to like us much."
"Well whatever it is I never want to see that guy again," Amara said trying to stand tall and dignified as she was cradling her arm. She was going to go straight to Mr. McCoy to get her arm looked at.
"Yeah, maybe they'll put that guy in the loony bin," Evan joked but then noticed no one was laughing as he saw Wanda was in their group. She was also giving him a death glare as well, "Oh man, sorry my bad I didn't notice you there." He said lamely.
She just clenched her jaw and walked a bit faster storming past him, "Smooth move Evan," Kitty rolled her eyes.
"I forgot okay!"
"Yeah but still, you know she's like really sensitive about that kind of stuff," Kitty said as they made their way inside. She phased through the door and went to find her, she figured someone had to apologize to her on behave of Evan.
A little later Eddie was place on a couch in Xavier's office, most of the adults were there as they watched on as Xavier closed his eyes and placed his hands to his temples. Eddie Brock was too dangerous a person to just let him walk around. He knew all about them and he had proven to be a danger as well. Even without the symbiote he was still a danger.
Xavier didn't like to do this to people, he believed that the mind was a sacred thing and that doing what he was doing as a deep violation. But to protect his students he would cross that line, no matter how it turned his stomach. Eddie had already hurt his students and he wouldn't allow him to do the same again or to other mutants. Xavier tried to enter Brock's mind but something was wrong, there was a wall around it a very strong mental barrier.
He probed it and it was very strong, this was unexpected. Xavier stopped and thought about this, Peter had claimed that he couldn't use his spider-sense against him so the symbiote must have done something to by pass that. Also since it knew everything Peter knew would it have done something to Brock's mind to protect him from telepathy? There was no telling just how intelligent it was, it had after all manage to hide its presence from both him and Jean while here.
"What's wrong Charles?" May asked him seeing the worried look on his face.
"I can't enter his mind…It's like it was fortified." He said to them all. Jean looked at Eddie as she remembered how she couldn't get into his mind either during the fight.
"The same was for me…I just thought it was the suit," Jean didn't like this at all, if they couldn't erase his mind then what would they do with him? What could they do?
Logan was also thinking about this, "So now what? Keep him locked up in the lower levels? Ya know we can't do that."
Xavier thought about it, "We'll need to keep him unconscious…But I do have an old colleague that I can call. She specializes in this and it's the only place where he will also be kept out of harms way but also will keep him from harming any more mutants. That and they won't believe anything he says as well."
That got Logan's attention as they went to help him in what he had planned.
Meanwhile Beast was busy patching up the rest of them. Most of them just had some bruising and minor injuries other then Ororo how had a bit more nastier thanks to part of the church falling on her. Amara's arm had dislocated her shoulder. After resetting it and giving her something for the pain he put her arm in a sling and sent her off to bed.
This had been a very long night for the princess and the only consolation she had was the pain medication kicking in and the fact Mr. McCoy said she could skip school tomorrow morning so he could check up on her later that day.
Peter and Rogue were still out, Hank made sure Peter's injuries hadn't gotten any worse. He sighed seeing more bruising on him and had to redo the tape on his ribs. Rogue was also out but he drew some blood from her, they had no idea what the effects of draining such a thing would have on her. It already seemed to have did something mentally to her.
Xavier wanted to take a look at her later and in the morning do a few tests on her to see if there were any side effects. Her powers were still largely unknown so what happened to her no one could know. He was putting her blood into a vile when he noticed the door swing open for a split second. He didn't see anyone but he cocked an eyebrow.
Behind one of the beds were Spyder and Jamie. She wanted to check on Peter and Rogue and had stayed up during the night. Jamie of course had seen how worried she was and checked in on her, he had pretty much kept her company as they stayed up like most of the students most likely. It wasn't like anyone could sleep when one of them got kidnapped and the other beaten up, then go off on a rescue attempt.
Jamie sighed internally at this, 'Why did I agree to help her sneak in? We're going to get in trouble for being up so late.' Then he looked at the grey girl and how worried she had been. 'Man…The things I do…'
Spyder was waiting for Mr. McCoy to leave the room so she could sneak in. She wanted to see just how bad he was doing. Although she was glad Jamie was there for her, 'He's always there for me…He's a great friend. I mean he's the best I've ever had. He stayed up with me keeping me company and he could get in real trouble for this. He didn't have to but he did.'
She looked at him and she gave a small smile, she was lucky. When her Uncle was killed she felt her live was in ruins, but she had a great home, people that didn't mind her looks, a 'big brother' in Peter and a best friend in Jamie. She took a quick look and saw that Beast headed into the lab, "Okay coast is clear."
They quickly moved next to the beds and saw the two of them, Rogue looked like she was sleeping but Peter had some nasty bruises on his face. "Oh man that looks nasty," Jamie said seeing him. He looked like he had been in the Danger Room all day at the highest levels.
Spyder didn't speak, Peter looked like he was just resting there looking like hell. She took his hand in hers and gave him a quick squeeze. She felt better knowing that he was alright now, she had lost so much in life she didn't want to lose anyone else.
Jamie placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked at him, "We better go before he comes back," he said gently to her. She nodded her head and they quietly made their way out of the medical room. They walked the halls in silence. Spyder looked at Jamie, "Hey Jamie…Thanks…For you know…Being a good friend."
Jamie smiled at her, "Hey you're my best friend…Kind of what you're supposed to do with friends, right?"
She smiled back at him and to his surprise she hugged him. His face blushed as he hugged her back after a minute, "You're the best friend ever Jamie." She told him. For Jamie he felt like he could die happy at that moment but it came to a close all too soon for him. She broke away, "Come on let's hurry back to our rooms before we're caught."
Jamie nodded and went with her.
Upstairs Wanda was finishing changing into her sleep clothing, mainly red and black cotton pants and a large shirt. 'Damn idiot,' She thought to herself she still was angry with what he said. She still had nightmare some times with that god awful place.
There was a small knock on her door, Wanda signed she really wasn't looking forward to seeing anyone at the moment. But she opened the door and was surprised to see Kitty there. "Hey, can we talk for a quick sec?"
Wanda thought about it but just shrugged, not like she could stop the girl from just phasing through the door. Kitty gave a small smile and nodded, "Well first off just ignore Evan, he tends to speak first and think like later."
Wanda nodded her head noticing that but let the girl go on, "Well I also wanted to say sorry for him…I know that's a sore subject with you, and I can't even guess what it was like."
"No I doubt anyone can," Wanda said a bit softly. She could still remember the cold feel of the cells and of that giant metal one. She really hated that one, it was always so dark and she was so alone all the time in there. Sometimes she felt like she would have lost her mind in there.
"Well…Just know that everyone else knows you had a hard time and we won't like pressure you into talking about it or anything."
Wanda's face softened a bit but only a bit. She was thankful for that even thought she had counseling sessions with Xavier she still didn't like to talk about it.
Kitty's face then turned into a smile, "But let me say that you really kicked butt out there." That got the goth's attention and surprise at that turn of subjects. "I mean you like really stood up to him there and I think everyone on the main team will respect you more from how you handled yourself."
Wanda was at a loss as to what to say. She couldn't remember the last time anyone praised her, "Uh…Thanks."
Kitty just shrugged, "Hey like no problem, besides nothing like fighting against a common enemy to make people a bit closer. Trust me I so totally learned that while here, but you really did well maybe even one day when Xavier thinks you're ready you'll be put into our team."
Wanda was silent a moment thinking about that, "You sure the others won't mind having a former 'enemy' and a nutcase on the team?"
Kitty just gave a small laugh, "Well you like forget, Rogue was Brotherhood too and she has 'voices' in her head. Besides I think we're all a little nuts, what sane person would willingly go into a room with death traps in it as training?"
That actually made Wanda smile a bit, "Okay I see you're point."
The younger girl nodded, "Well I better be off, it's late and I got school in the morning…God it's going to be such a long day." Wanda nodded her head and let her out. She felt a bit better now actually, sure Kitty's valley girl talk was kind of annoying but the girl had a large heart it seemed. It got her thinking of maybe trying to make a few more friends around here.
Kitty was making her way to her room, yawning as she got near it. "Hey Kitty there you are."
She turned to see Lance there and she gave a soft smile. "Hey."
"Hey, so how did it go?" He asked her although he was just really glad she was okay.
"Well…It went okay, but not great. A few got injured, Peter and Rogue are still in the infirmary…but I'll tell you about it in the morning which would be like in about five hours."
He nodded his head, "Well I can wait, just wanted to see if you were okay."
"Thanks Lance, that means a lot." She kissed him on the cheek and went to her room. Lance smiled as he went to his as well.
-The Next Day-
Behind the Brotherhood house the new people were doing training early morning with the older members. They mainly had been doing combat drills while in uniform. The new guys had their own, Hydro-Man was in a black one-piece with dark blue on the side of his. Delilah was in a purple one-piece that showed off her body, with piece showing skin. Like her arms, and legs wish had long legged boots that went up to her high and gloves.
The last one Sandra had on an all black look. She had on a black top with jacket, with leather pants and combat boots. Although now she would be going by her code name, Shriek. She did have enhanced human strength, nothing in the class of say Blob or Delilah but she could pick up a grown man off the ground with one arm. But mainly her powers were sonic attacks from her ability to control sound.
She also liked to wear light blue make-up against her pale face and even drew on a diamond mark over her left eye that glowed when she used her powers.
Mystique was watching them all carefully, from now on the Brotherhood would train diligently under her, no more slacking off would be tolerated. Already they needed to learn how to fight as a team, so she could pair them up and make them keep doing an exercise until they would help the other.
She also made them do push ups and jog as well as any other exercise she could come up with. Mystique would give them all harsh hand to hand combat lessons showing them how to effectively take out another person. Sometimes in the most brutal manner, Delilah really seemed to enjoy that as she had a natural talent for fighting.
Hydro-Man was coming along well enough, Electro still had a bit of a problem taking orders but he seemed to grasp that what they were doing was important so he didn't talk back to her much. She knew that Max was looking to gain as much knowledge as she could. Quicksilver was being a problem as usual but she gave him a stern talking to in front of everyone.
That if he didn't start to act like a member of the Brotherhood his own father would have no choice but to place him somewhere else. That had shut him up after that, despite everything he wanted to please his father for some reason.
Blob and Toad took a bit to get them whipped into shape, they had gotten lazy and she wouldn't have any of it. It was hard to find exercises for Blob to do but she worked around it, but for Toad she increased it. He was the furthest behind and needed to catch up.
Sandra or Shriek was doing very well, and she was proud of that. Her new daughter seemed to be everything that she wanted in a child. She didn't let up on her though, but she never once complained in fact she seemed to work extra hard just to please her. They were still learning the full extend of her powers but it seemed Irene had been right about her. She was definitely worth recruiting.
"Alright that's enough for today," She ordered and they stopped what they were doing, all of them breathing hard and sweating. "Get cleaned up, eat and then go to school, we'll pick up later when you get back."
They slowly moved off back to the house, "Oh man I don't know how much more I can survive this yo," Todd groan, his entire body ached.
"Well you know what they say frog boy, no pain no gain," Morrie said grinning at the little guy.
"Hey lay off of him," Fred warned him, he didn't like people picking on Todd. He knew what that was like and Todd was his friend too.
"Okay that's enough," Max said not wanting to get into a fight this morning. He was too tired to zap them, "I'm sick and tired of getting my butt kicked in this town and I don't know about you guys but you must be too. So I say we suck it up and train cause I want to teach those x-geeks a lesson they'll never forget."
"I hate to say it but I agree with him," Pietro said sourly, he really didn't like to agree with him but he liked losing to the X-Men more.
Delilah stretched her arms up over her head working out the kinks, and noticed Pietro steeling a glance at her when her chest moved out a bit from it. She grinned internally, 'Men can be so predictable. Show some flesh, some cleavage, a little pose here and there and they fell right all over for you.' She thought to herself. 'Who ever said women were the weaker sex never saw a man trip over himself as a pretty woman walked by.'
Later that day before classes started a few of the X-Men were sitting outside on the benches. Amanda was with them as she listened in on what happened, sitting next to of course Kurt, "Do you guys do this kind of thing all the time?" She asked them.
"No…well…not really," Kitty shrugged with Lance.
Jean nodded next to Scott holding his hand, although neither one had noticed it at first, "Let's just say our lives are never dull."
Amanda had to smile and shake her head, "That's an understatement. But how are Peter and Rogue?"
"Still resting," Scott signed, "Peter took a nasty beating that night and Rogue went through something that no one knows the full effects of. They're planning on doing some tests on her when she wakes up to see if there are any lingering effects."
"I hope they're okay," Amanda said very serious about this but lightened up a bit feeling Kurt wrap his arm around her waist. "So…How is the Paul and Taryn fronts going?"
Jean and Scott had told them about thinking about letting them in on the big secret. Since Doc Connors and his family, plus Amanda was proof that mutants and humans can get along. But it was hard to tell how they would react. They didn't want to lose them as friends but hated lying to them all the time.
Jean and Scott shared a look as they 'talked' about it in their minds. Something that seemed to be getting easier and easier for them to do lately, "We're…Still thinking about it," Jean sighed.
"Well I think if you handle it right they'll accept you," Amanda offered them.
They went on to talk about other things, like what where the school's chances to win the next big game when Lance saw something that caught his attention, "Hey, look at that."
They all looked and were surprised to see the Brotherhood walking to school but what really got their attention were the three new members. There was a blond haired teen in jeans and a black shirt. Then a dark haired and very attractive woman that from her attire 'modesty' wasn't in her vocabulary. She was in heels and a very short mini-skirt with a shirt on that seemed one size to small.
Lastly was a girl that was as pale as Rogue but with a different goth style to her. She had a mane of raven colored hair and black lipstick and eye shadow. She wore black leather pants a dark shirt top as well.
"Oh man…Looks like zhey got new members," Kurt said seeing them.
"Yeah…I think we should tell the Professor when we get home," Scott said looking them over, they looked like trouble all right he was sure of it. They had an arrogance about them and from the looks of it even the older Brotherhood members seemed to have gotten a confidence boost. "He will want to know about this and maybe find out who they are."
-New York-
In the New York area in an out of the way area there was a walled off multi-leveled building made from old stone and mortar with barred off windows was the Ravencroft mental institution. An area that specialized in violent criminals, who were also insane. In the halls walked a lovely looking woman with short dark hair about in her mid thirties. She wore a doctor's coat and was looking at a clipboard of one of their new guests.
She was Dr. Ashley Kafka, and was in charge of the facility. She looked at the preliminary work she had of the person and she had to admit this new case was suffering from Delusions of grandeur, as well as lots of anger and rage. He felt that the world owned him and that he was here to clean it up. She had only a few sessions with him but already she could tell he was dangerous but only to a select few people.
He made it clear that he wished harm to certain types of people, and so she had to agree he was a danger to the public. She walked through the halls as she passed security check points. They took their security very seriously here, since all the inmates were too deranged and dangerous for most prisons. But that didn't stop her to try and help some of these people. Some of them she felt she could cure.
She made her way to the fifth floor and through a heavy security door with guards that always carried none lethal weapons. Tasers, tear gas, riot shotguns with rubber bullets and other such things, although she didn't like the idea of hurting them she wasn't stupid. Some of these people here wouldn't hesitate to kill her, or much worse. There were people here that just gave her nightmares with what they had done.
Then as she made her way to a individual cell she saw that a chair was already placed there. She sat down and looked through the reinforced bars and looked at the man behind it. "Well then, shall we continue Mr. Brock?"
Eddie looked at the doctor, when he woke up he was in a mad house. He told them about mutants and how they were a threat to the world but they didn't believe him. They needed to know that mutants needed to be taken care of, they were abominations and dangerous. But he was stuck here, amongst the lunatics and no one would believe him.
"Yeah fine…Whatever doc, not like I got much else to do here," He told her.
Little did anyone know that night back in Bayville something was happening. In the wreckage of the church where the city was still cleaning up the wreckage something moved. It was going to take days to clean up all of the material but that night when no one was working on it a few of the pieces of debris moved. In the moonlight you would be hard pressed to see it, but a black liquid substance with a mind of its own leaked out.
It moved on its own and made its way to a storm drain to get out of sight. It had only two thoughts, first was to find its host again. It could still sense it but Eddie was a long way from here, it would take time to reach it.
The last thought was revenge, against Peter and his friends for what they did few nights ago. It had taken the last of its strength to reform after Rogue nearly killed it, but it still survived. Once it rebounded with Eddie they would make them all pay.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 14: WAKING UP