CHAPTER 14: WAKING UP
The first thing Rogue felt was the mother of all headaches, her head felt like it had been put into a blender. She opened her eyes and winched at the bright lights, it took a moment before she squinted to see the white tiled ceiling. 'Oh great the infirmary,' She tried to move but her body protested at first.
But she managed to sit herself up and looked around, from the aches in her muscles she guessed she must have been out for awhile from being in the bed for so long. She groaned out at the throbbing in her skull, 'God…Okay that's tha LAST time ah try doing that.'
Absorbing that thing was one of the worst things she had ever done. It was still all mixed up in her head, it was unlike any mind she had ever had but she had to stop him someway. She sat back trying to replay all that she saw, there were mixed up images from what she knew were from Peter, some must have been from Eddie but the most bizarre ones must have been from the suit.
The images, and feelings were just…inhuman was the only word to describe it. But she really didn't want to think about it, she guessed she would get nightmares about it some time or later. She hoped later, much later. She really didn't want to think about it, that thing's mind was just too inhuman to fully understand. But she did remember the coldness it felt towards Peter and the others. The part of it that was 'jealous' of her at least that was the only emotion she could relate to it.
It also felt how it cared for Peter since it was its first host but it was kind of disturbing actually.
She pushed all of that aside and tried to clear her mind. Then she heard a flushing sound and then some running water, a door on one of the near walls opened and she saw Peter there, although he looked like hell. He only had on the lower part of his uniform as his torso had bandages on it and there were bruises she could see, there were a few on his face and the only thought was that he got all of that because of her.
She remembered that he had taken a beating when she was captured but despite that he went after her and even got more hurt. Rogue never once thought that anyone would go through so much just for her, she knew Peter cared but…To go through all that to see his body like that…It was strange feeling inside of her, like Peter would go through hell just for her and it made her feel very special.
She also felt like crap that he had to go through all of that for her. He looked at her and despite the way he was moving that showed he was still hurting somewhat, he smiled. "Hey, morning sleeping beauty."
"Hey…Ya look as bad as ah feel…"
He just tried to shrug and sat down next to her, "I'm okay, nothing permanent…How are you feeling?"
There was that feeling of guilt and feeling loved again running through her. He asked how she was despite the fact he looked like he went ten rounds with both arms tied behind his back. "Well…Mah head hurts a lot…but nothin' serious. Just a bit sore for layin' on mah back…how long was ah out?"
"About a day," He asked her taking a chair and sitting next to her. He had kept the bracelet on her so that he could have held her hand while he watched over her. "They said they want us both to take it easy for a few days until we're checked out."
Rogue nodded her head, then noticed Peter left and came back with a bottle of aspirin and water. She eagerly took it thankful for something to help with this. She took a moment after she took the pills before speaking, "Peter…Thanks."
"Wasn't that big a deal, I knew where he kept that."
"No that's not what ah meant…" She looked down and sighed. She was never really good at getting her feelings out but even though Peter made her feel all these things. He made her feel better about herself, made her smile more he made her happy. In fact since they started to date she felt a lot better about her life and herself. She could touch thanks to him and that was a lot of weight off her shoulders.
"Peter…Ya risked a lot for meh…Ah mean look at ya." She looked up at him her eyes close to tears at the sight of his body.
Peter looked at her green eyes and he reached out and with his hand stroked her cheek, "Yeah but it's a price I would pay Rogue…I lost so much in my life…so many people I cared for. I barely remember my parents…my uncle is gone…I just can't lose another person I care for…"
She had no idea what to say to something like that, what could she say? All her life she had been alone, no real friends and Irene as her only family. Then when she joined here she started to slowly not feel so alone in her life anymore. Ever since Peter entered her life she felt that loneliness leave her. In fact that was something she did remember with the symbiote, it had been so alone and when it bonded with Peter it felt complete in some strange way.
That's how she was starting to feel as well she realized. Peter made her feel complete in a way like the suit had, that she found someone that helped to fill a void in her life. All this time being alone she thought was her fate in life, but it wasn't until this moment that she felt that she didn't have to be alone. It was her choice and she didn't have to lead her life like that anymore.
So since she had no words for to say she placed her hands on his face and pulled him down for a light kiss. He happily enjoyed the moment, her lips were nice and soft after a moment they pulled apart Peter smiling. "I take it that's a 'thanks' then?"
She only grinned at him shaking her head in amusement. "God ah must look lahke a mess," She said realizing after she felt her hair all messed up from sleeping in a bed so long. She didn't even want to think about how her makeup was looking in front of him.
Peter smiled and cocked his head to the side as if studying her, "I don't know…the whole bed head thing works." She just rolled her eyes and contemplated punching his arm but that damn spider-sense of his would most likely warn him anyway. Then Peter's shoulder's slumped, "Sorry that our date turned out like that. We don't seem to have the best of luck huh?"
She nearly laughed at that, "Yeah no kiddin' ah swear it's lahke we're cursed in datin'."
Peter nodded his head, "Yeah…How about next time we just stay in and watch a movie?"
"Fahne by meh, at least that will be safer." Then she looked around, "So…anything goin' on while ah was out?"
Peter scratched the back of his head, "Well from what I heard the Brotherhood got a few new members." She was surprised by that as Peter filled her in on what Spyder heard, who heard from Jamie who heard from the older kids. He didn't know much but both teens had to agree this wasn't good at all.
"Peter do ya think ya can get meh some spare clothing? Ah really want to change after ah shower," She asked him since she noticed that she was getting kind of ripe.
"Sure thing, I'll tell Hank you're up since he's tutoring Wanda at the moment I think." Peter got up and planned to get some clothing himself.
"Thanks, ah'm just glad the infirmary has its own little shower down here." She said getting up off her bed slowly.
"You want any help?" Then he saw the shocked look on her face and he noticed how that sounded. "Oh god no, not that, I mean sure as a guy-no I mean…I mean help you over there…not help you…uh…" He tried to say something but he couldn't as his face was all red from embarrassment.
Rogue's cheeks flushed a bit too as she had taken it the wrong way. She did care for him but she was no where near comfortable enough to think of their relationship going that far. Although she had seen him in his underwear…She smacked that thought aside, "Uh…yeah ah could use some help…gettin' over that that is,' She quickly added.
Peter helped her up as she was still a bit unsteady on her way there, she thanked him and closed the door looking in the mirror, "Oh gooooddd," She groaned seeing her appearance, the fact that Peter would kiss her in such a state proved how much he cared. She looked like hell. She sighed to herself stripping off her old clothing and wanted to take a nice and very long hot shower.
-Bayville-
Meanwhile at school Jean and Scott were coming to terms with something else. Lately they have been thinking on letting in Taryn and Paul in on the secret. Both would like it if they could just tell them but they were also afraid they might not take it well. They were both in Dr. Connor's science class, after that whole Lizard thing he had become a very good friend of the them. His son was good friends with Jamie and Spyder as the two played together and hung out a lot of the time. His wife talked with Ororo and May as well and Dr. Connors of course kept in touch with Hank and Xavier since he was still fascinated by genetics.
Although he had also thankfully stopped any and all research into re-growing his limb using reptile DNA after he had been cured. 'Jean are you sure we should ask him?' Scott thought out, one of the advantages of taking a telepath was being able to talk to each other without anyone listening in on them.
'Well maybe he can offer us some advice,' Jean was hopeful for this. They had talked to Xavier long and hard about this and with events had shown that maybe humans could accept them. Although apprehensive he would allow them to use their best judgment. Jean really didn't want to try and erase their memories if things went sour since it was very invasive to her.
Scott would like to be able to bring Paul into their world, he just didn't know how to go about it. He knew that Jean felt the same with Taryn too.
They continued on with class as normal but then waited for the bell to ring. They waited for all the other students to file out before going up to his desk. He looked up smiling at them, "Can I help you two?"
"Yes…Dr. Connors…we've been thinking about letting two of our friends in on the secret," Jean told him. The older man sat back in his chair and nodded his head.
"I see, well if I had you're secret at such a young age I know it would be a large weight on my shoulders," he leaned back and rested his hand on the desk, normally he used to cross his arms but that changed after he lost one of his arms. "I take it you both have been thinking a lot about this?"
"We have, I mean with May, you and your family and Amanda all taking this well…" Jean began while Scott finished for her.
"We just want to bring our closest friends in as well."
Connors nodded his head in understanding, "Well I think you have the best judgment but perhaps lead them up to it. You don't want to shock them too much and of course perhaps show them the mansion and the others as well so they don't know they aren't crazy." He smirked.
"Or that we are," Scott muttered.
"Well thanks anyway Dr. Connors," Jean told him.
"Anytime and if you need any others like myself to help them along please allow me to help. It's the least I can do for you all," He genuinely offered them, they helped him to give him back his life. To him that was a debt that he would never be able to pay off.
Both Jean and Scott talked about it and decided on a plan of action, they would get Taryn and Paul together and slowly lead up to it. They were both really nervous about it but they felt that they needed to do this. By the time the final bell sounded for the school day Jean was leading Taryn and Scott was with Paul as all four teens were brought to a small out of the way and private section on school grounds.
"Hey Scott what's all this about? You said you wanted to talk about something important?" Paul the blond haired boy asked, seeing Jean and Taryn here also was a little confusing. Taryn was just as confused herself.
"Guys, you mind letting us in on what's going on?" She asked looking to Jean for answers.
"You guys might want to sit down," Scott sighed as they took one of the benches that were around the area. Both humans looked at each other both wondering what was going on, this was highly irregular for these two.
"Guys…I'm uh…not sure how to start this," Scott said nervously scratching the back of his head. In a mission or in the DR he was fearless but take him out of that and he hated how that same courage failed to show up. "Me and Jean have a secret and well…we wanted to tell you both for a while now."
Taryn looked wide eyed at Jean, "Oh god you're not pregnant are you?"
"No!" Jean said shocked by that, hell she hadn't even had sex yet, "It's not that trust me on that."
"Oh thank god I was worried there," She said sighing to herself. Although if it wasn't that she sure as hell wondered just what was going on and what this big secret was.
"Come on Scott we've been friends for years you know there's anything you can tell me." Paul offered his long time friend. Scott gave a small smile and prepared to take steps to this.
"That's the thing…See me and Jean have been keeping this secret for years, ever since we came to Bayville."
Paul thought about it, it couldn't be that they were both gay or something it didn't make sense. Taryn was the first to get and idea, "Is this about that mansion you and all those others stay at? I mean I know it's kind of a boarding school but well…something always bugged me how you went to school here but didn't there."
Jean gave a small smile, "We do learn there too…Just…Not the kind of things that you'd normally expect."
"Guys there is a reason we had to keep this a secret. If people found out well…They wouldn't take it well, I mean people have always had a hard time of those that were different."
Now both humans weren't sure what to make of this at all. Taryn Fujioka being half Japanese knew somewhat of what they were talking about. She remembered how her mother an American had met her father who was from Japan and how hard a time they had back then. She was thankful that she really didn't have to worry about all the prejudice that her parents had to go through.
"Scott…when you guys say different what do you mean by that?" Paul asked him.
Jean took it from there, "You see, we learned at an early age that we…weren't like other people. We had certain gifts that no other person had. Xavier found us both and everyone else there and helped us with them."
"Okay I'm starting to get a little freaked out here," Taryn stated hearing all of this, "Will someone tell us what's going on or not?"
Jean sighed and reached into her backpack and after looking around to make sure they were alone placed a book on the table. She closed her eyes and both humans stared when the book started to move and hovered off the ground for a few seconds before she dropped it.
There was utter silence then for about a minute and it was one of the longest minutes in Jean and Scott's life. Finally Paul spoke up first, "Okay that had to be a trick right? I mean like a magic trick?"
"No it's not, I'm a telekinetic a real one." Jean said seriously to him. She could sense what they were feeling and she hoped they wouldn't act on the fear they were starting to feel.
"I got my own abilities as well, in fact that's why I had to wear those red shades all the time. Until now I couldn't control it and I was pretty much handicapped by it." Scott explained to them hoping that if he told them that there were downsides to it all it might help in some way.
"You guys are putting us on right?" Paul asked him, hoping that because it was that or he might be losing his mind.
"No we're not," Scott sighed and looked at both of them, "If you really want the full truth…Then maybe you should visit the mansion and see for yourself."
"We're trusting you two with this," Jean urged them, "We hated keeping this from you but we wanted to tell you. You two are some of our closest friends and well…We wanted to bring you further into out life."
Taryn didn't know what to think, just a few moments ago it was like her entire world had just turned upside down. She thought back to all the years they had known each other and how Jean had kept this from her. There were strange moments like her having nasty headaches now and then but she never would have guessed this. She still remembered when they were fifteen and she slept over at her house, how they stayed up late and had fun.
Did this change any of that? Did this change the past?
Paul was just stunned silent as he too was thinking the same things with her. He looked at Scott and all he saw was his friend, plus they had come to them with this secret. They trusted them with this, could he betray all of their friendship because of this.
"Okay…just to prove that I'm not going nuts…I'm going I…I want to know what you've had to keep from me all these years." Paul finally said. Jean looked to Taryn hoping that she would be the same, she could sense her confusion, apprehension about all of this but she looked at Jean and gave a slight nod of her head as well.
-Unknown Location-
All he knew was blackness, the dark void was all he knew. He couldn't even remember his name at the moment he couldn't remember anything. When he tried all he got were confused images. He tried to fight though the darkness.
Who am I? Where am I? What happened to me?
He tried to move but his body felt like it was miles away, like his mind wasn't even connected to his body. He tried to think to force himself to remember, he tried to remember his name above all else maybe with that he would start piecing it together.
"How's the patient?" A voice said through the darkness.
"Same as usual still unresponsive," Another voice they were muffed and slightly distorted but he couldn't place them.
Patient? Was I injured?
"I'm not sure I would want to wake up giving what happened to him."
What, what happened to me?
"I still wonder why they haven't tried to cut those off."
Cut what off?
"They tried when they first brought him in. Saws, laser cutters, diamond drills they tried it all but whatever that thing it made out of it's tough. Only managed to put some scratches in it and nothing much else. Although from the reports that harness was welded to his spine."
Harness? Welded to my spine? What in God's name happened to me?
"How did he get like this?"
Good question and one I would like to know.
"You know how those two freaks attacked that lab in Bayville?"
"Oh yeah it was all over the news, a few people got killed in that I think."
Wait…Lab…That…That sounds familiar…Yes I think…I think I was working in a lab…
Images of a lab entered his mind, it was large and he was working on something. There was some type of chamber, the place was filled with lots of equipment and there was a logo on some of them. The image read Oscorp on it. He remembered working on something very important to him and then an alarm sounded.
People were running but he was stuck he looked down and was connected to something, but he also refused to leave. Whatever he was working on it was important to his life.
"They say all his research was destroyed in that."
What! No!
Even thought he didn't know exactly what he was working on something deep within him was telling him that this was the worst thing that could have happened to him.
"They shut down his project, hell the boss man wants him kept under wraps. I mean the press would have a field day with this. You just see the Bugle now; Man horribly disfigured in Accident."
"Yeah no kidding, poor sucker…If that were me I'd never want to wake up."
What happened to me? I've got to move…I've got to…wait…there I felt something…I think I can feel my body again…
In the darkness he could feel his body but it felt strange, like there was much more weight to it. It felt heavier and there was this cold feeling wrapped around his chest. But he ignored it as he continued on trying to open his eyes to move to speak.
"Well you better get going I can handle it here."
"Sure thing, take care." With that he could hear one of them leaving, he suddenly realized that other sounds were now registering. He could hear an air flow, peeping noises, and the shuffling of another person.
Then with great effort he began to open his eyes. The world was very bright, too bright at first and it gave him much pain. He moaned and that brought the attention of the other man to loom over him, he looked up at the unfamiliar face.
"Well know this is a surprise, coming back from the dead eh doctor?"
"D…Doctor?" He said confused his voice was harsh and raw. He noticed how dry his mouth and throat were and it was starting to come back to him. His name, was first and then it was followed by pieces of his life. It was like his life was flashing before him, at another time he might find his amusing given that people only said this happened near death. He recalled the experiment clearly now, he had been working and unwilling to leave it behind.
There had been a small explosion and then everything went dark. "W…Where…am…I?"
"No need to worry about that," He followed him with his eyes and noticed him going for an IV feed, most likely it was his. "I've had ordered that if we could cover up you're little…accident, then I'm afraid it would seem that you died from injuries form it. Sorry, it's nothing personal but Mr. Osborn can't have it common knowledge that some of his employees were turned into freaks."
He watched at he took out a syringe and he knew what was coming. He didn't understand why they would, he didn't seen to be in any damage at least he could feel everything. "N…no…" He tried to reach out but his body was weak from being on this bed for who knows how long.
"Don't worry this will be quick and painless," He looked at him with a small apology on his face and was about to inject it when there was a sudden rattling. He looked down at where it was coming from and his eyes widened. The next thing either of them knew a large metallic smooth tentacle flew out gripping the man by the throat.
He was shoved into the far wall with enough force to leave an impression. No one was more surprised then the man in the bed, he froze in horror of what happened. By the angle of the head and limp body he knew the man's neck was broken and was dead.
The shock of it nearly sent him into a panic, then the metal limb fell down as though dead. He then managed to look down and the horror continued. He knew this thing, and as he followed it he suddenly realized why his chest was so cold. He was wearing the harness.
His chest was bare and laying along the edges of the bed where the other arms, all motionless. He had developed these for his research. He tried desperately to pry it open but the latches were fused shut. "Come on, open damn you open!" His fingers worked into the metal but nothing would move. If only his hands weren't so weak.
With that thought two of the metal limbs came to life and went to the metal torso. He was shocked by how quickly they moved. "They never moved that fast before…" he gently tried to control them, normally it took a lot of concentration but it was much more easy now. It was like they were a part of him, but he knew that was impossible…unless the nervous system had been fused to it…
That wasn't a good thought at all, if his nerves were fused there may be no way of getting this off but he had to get out of here. If one person tried to kill him then there would be more. He started to rip off everything that was connect to him but when he got off the bed he fell to the floor.
He looked to his left seeing the body and knew he was in trouble now, who would believe him if he said it was an accident? 'I need to get up, I need to get out of here!'
His new limbs moved and hoisted him up off the ground. 'Okay…now I need to get out of here…' He used on limb to grip the bed and throw it through the window. With his new limbs he moved over to it and saw that it was night. "Osborn…This is because of you…I swear that I'll get you for this…You will learn to fear the name Otto Octavius."
NEXT UP CHAPTER 15: CHANGE IS COMING