Welcome one and all to the next chapter. Sorry it's taken so long but I hope it will have been worth the wait.
Don't have much to say here this time so I'll go ahead and let y'all get on with it.
So without further ado, On with the Chapter!
XXXXX
As he took a moment to gather his thoughts, Charles couldn't help but wonder if Ben was aware of the presence he could create when the setting required it. Eyes glowing with faint light, blue energy outlining his body, feet shoulder width and fists clenched, all while his expression looked like he had been carved from marble by some master craftsman seeking to embody a cold fury to those looking upon his work. And all of that fury was at the brink of being unleashed upon himself, given the situation it is only understandable that he was beginning to sweat just a little.
"To explain I will need to go back rather far," he began. Ben gave no answer, his silence a clear order to continue. He breathed a slight sigh and leaned back in his chair with fingers interlocked in his lap as he prepared to tell the story. "Eight years ago I was approached for my knowledge in psychology by a Dr. John Grey and his wife, Elaine. Jean, their daughter of only ten at the time, had fallen into a coma after the death of her best friend who had been hit by a car. Other specialists hadn't been able to help, and I was something of a last hope gambit. I agreed to take a look and flew to their home in a place called Annandale-on-Hudson, New York."
"When I arrived, I was amazed to find the lasting psychic echoes of a panicked mind and was even more surprised when I tracked them to the source, the young girl I had come to see. I did not tell her parents of her status as a mutant at the time, knowing it would only add to their anxiety, so I instead began going over the equipment attached to her, going over the scans of her brain waves and such while directing my telepathy to touch her mind. What I found was, disturbing."
"Jean's powers awoke from the trauma of seeing her friend being hit by the car and without direction her telepathic powers instinctively connected her to the nearest mind, that very same friend. She felt her fading and tried to keep her on this plane, try to force her mind not to die. But, while passion and instinct can get one far…the girl was not savable, and her body was dying fast. Worse, it had pulled Jean's consciousness off into the astral plane, so deep into it to the point she could not find her way back. I told her parents I had a possible treatment in mind, but she needed to be transported to my manor here so I can remain close enough to see to her needs. By then they were desperate and readily agreed and I made all the arrangements.
Once we returned to the manor I had her placed in the east wing before going to the device that would help me save her." He paused there, allowing Ben a moment to process the story so far while he prepared for the next step.
"You used Cerebro?" his voice seemed less tense, having realized he was going to actually explain himself. A good step in the right direction.
"Correct. As I briefly explained in our first meeting, Cerebro enhances my telepathic abilities allowing me to reach farther out than I am normally capable of. With its help I was able to find Jean's lost consciousness and, through several sessions, coax her back to her body." Funnily enough, it was one of those sessions that let Charles locate young Scott Summers, but that was not the topic for discussion at the moment. "However, there arose a complication I wasn't prepared for. While Jean was…away…something else had taken residence in her mind. A powerful consciousness I could sense, but the makings of it were far too alien for me to understand and any attempts to force it away were met with failure. I guided some of Jean's energy into helping me form a series of psychic blocks, a cage of sorts, to separate the two and coaxed her consciousness back into her body once I was sure it was locked away."
"Have you checked in on it recently? Do you monitor how it affects her?"
"Of course I have made frequent checks on the blocks during sessions with her, I am no amateur Mr. Tennyson."
"Not the blocks Professor, have you watched how her mind works? Have you made sure your blocks only locked away whatever that presence was, or are you like so many others I have encountered in being so confidant in your abilities you didn't think you could have made a mistake in doing so?"
Charles frowned. "Mr. Tennyson, I have decades of experience in matters of the mind, not to mention training from sources to help hone my skills. Rest assured I knew what I was doing."
"And the fact you are being told something other than your own 'expert' opinion by a person who has been inside her mind is just going to be dismissed I take it?"
"You have admitted yourself that most of your experience is in the utilization of the alien forms in that device—" he pointed to the Omnitrix to emphasize his point "—and you are still self learning in the mystic ways of your ancestry. I have studied the mental field for decades as I have already stated, I suggest you leave the matter of my student's mental wellbeing to me."
Charles was irritated. As he had stated he was a professional in the mental areas of study and had, understandably, built a level of pride in his ability to discern threats in that direction. Not only that, he had been incredibly thorough in his examinations of Jean to ensure her stability as he did not want to harm her, only to protect her from what he perceived as a threat at the time. Now, he was being challenged by a mystic with alien powers who had challenged him already on his methods and had been delving into matters he thought best kept hidden for the time being.
The Brotherhood's existence and the reason behind it were things he did not wished discussed, for exposing his students to their backer at this early of a stage could have catastrophic repercussions if he managed to convince them to his way of thinking. He already knew Logan was more confrontational, the few memories he had gleaned from the wild man's mind were proof of that.
The conversation between his friend and their new colleague were dangerously close to these hidden areas. He had managed to derail it for the time being with that outing, but now things were coming to a head again. So, with pride wounded and the frustration of trying to keep things secret, it is at least somewhat understandable that Charles tried to put things down now. However, the look on Ben's face at this abrupt dismissal made him realize he should have been more patient.
The young man stepped forward, glowing hand raised as if to grab the professor by the face…and alarms began to ring. "Intruder Alert," the speakers came alive with the automated warning. "Hostile action at the front gate." Unbidden a projector's panel rose from its panel in the floor and its lens came to life, a hardlight image appearing next to the men.
A man Ben didn't recognize was standing at the gate, hands gripping the bars and ripping them open with relative ease. A wind must have swept through because it blew the long dirty blonde hair out of his face, letting them see the fur covering where his clothes would normally expose skin, the elongated fangs…the god-awful sideburns. "What's with the wolfman?"
"Catman would be a better term," the professor idly corrected. "His name is Sabretooth, or that's the name I've only ever heard referring to him. He is an old adversary of Logan's. It appears he has managed to track Logan down yet again, though I'm not sure how. Computer, engage defense systems." An affirmative beeping replied and through the image he watched as several turrets popped from the ground. He was distracted from watching however when a familiar flash of green washed across the room. A quick glance showed him that Ghostfreak had been brought out to play.
"I'll go up and lend a hand," the specter's hissing voice declared as he began to fly towards the wall. Charles barely realized the alien's body had turned translucent before it vanished through the wall, letting him realize once again that Ben was quite the versatile character. He shook off sudden thoughts of the events that happened just before this new turn of events, he would deal with Ben's lack of faith in his abilities later. For now he had to make sure this new threat was taken care of.
XXXXXX
Ghostfreak rose from the ground, remaining intangible until he could orient himself. A quick glance showed he had chosen the right direction, as he was currently watching the catman rip a turret from the ground and use it to swat a spinning blade out of the air. 'Really? Flying buzzsaw blades? Save the obstacle course for the students, put the heavy hitting stuff out there for intruders!' He put the criticisms away for later, he had plans to upgrade security already with Logan, but they weren't important right now.
Now, he just needed to change into something more…comfortable. He was tense…on edge…nope he wasn't being political about this. Benjamin Kirby Tennyson was pissed and needed to hit something. Good thing a walking punching bag had just volunteered. In a flash of green the ghostly alien was replaced with a towering beast of muscle that was Rath. When one needed to burn off excess anger there was none better than an alien named after the emotion after all. Bengal tiger versus Sabretooth, time for a battle of the predators.
The Appoplexian transformation let loose his battle cry and charged his new target with abandon. The intruder's attention had been grabbed by the flash of light and it was held by the figure it birthed. While the runt was his target, there was no harm in a little extra exercise right? His animal instincts burned at the obvious challenger this chump wanted to play alpha he was gonna reap his punishment. He roared in kind and met the charge, ducking under the vicious haymaker as it whistled over his head and coming up with an uppercut into the big tiger's ribs. But instead of hearing the crunch of bone and feeling the give under his knuckles, all he heard was the thwack of meat being struck…and then he felt the large palm on his head.
"THAT THE BEST YOU GOT LITTLE KITTY CAT!?" he heard a growling voice demand as he was lifted into the air and then reintroduced to it face first. "RATH THOUGHT YOU'D BE A CHALLENGE!" The grip changed from his head, nestled into a nice little crater from the force of impact, and two hands gripped his feet. What followed next was something Victor Creed was planning to firmly deny ever happening. He was used as the improvised mallet in a game of whack-a-mole…without the moles.
Wham. Wham. Wham. Time and again his torso and head were slammed into the ground. Even with his healing factor that was going to hurt. Gritting teeth against the pain as he had learned in his long life, the old fighter lashed out in desperate hope and fortune seemed to smile on him, as claws capable of ripping through steel lashed against the hands gripping his ankles. There was a startled yelp and he was airborne.
With the nimble skills of his feline nature combined with years of experience the old mutant flipped himself upright to grind his heels into the dirt, slowing his momentum until he was crouched, glaring at his enemy. "Logan too scared to fight me like a man?" he growled to this new mutant. "Gotta send a pet out to get the job done?"
The bipedal tiger growled and shook his hands, blood spattering from the open wounds, though his durable body had reduced the potential damage. Where a normal human's hands would be shredded messes after meeting such claws all he had were torn gloves a couple decent scratches.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING STUPID CATMAN," he bellowed out like some sort of television wrestler. "RATH AIN'T NOBODIES PET, IF YOU TRY TO PUT A COLLAR ON RATH THEN RATH WOULD TEAR THAT COLLAR TO PIECES AND THEN MAKE YOU WEAR IT! NOW GET READY CUZ RATH HAS GOT SOME WRATH TO WORK OFF AND YOU LOOK LIKE YOU CAN TAKE AT LEAST A COUPLE PUNCHES!"
His declaration made he crouched as if to sprint towards the intruder…only for a lance of red energy to shoot in from the side, slamming like a battering ram into Sabretooth's chest and sending him back arse over teakettle yet again. Through the fog of his battle-hungry form Rath looked up as a gust of wind blew past, picking up speed and force until it hit the other wild man while still airborne, extending his flight until he landed just before the front gate.
Rath growled again at his prey getting snatched up by interlopers, but the part of his mind that was more Ben than instinctual quashed down the alpha issues and he rose to full height as Logan ran up to his side. The man had changed clothes, wearing an orange and black number with a hood that covered most of his face complete with a wide set of 'ears.' Orange-gloved hands were clenched into fists with those trademarked claws already sprouting from between his knuckles. Like Rath, the Wolverine had come ready to fight.
"Guess you've met Sabretooth bub," he mused while glaring at said man struggling to his feet. "Funny as it is to watch you tear the fleabag a new one, him and I got a score to settle so I get first dibs on making a new cat rug. Understood?"
Rath wanted to argue, he really did, given that he was here first after all. But the guy had just called dibs and even he wouldn't turn down a rightful claim under the international (and intergalactic) dibs protocol. With that in mind, the Appoplexian reluctantly nodded and let the tension ease from his muscles, letting the man who was slowly becoming his new friend know he would acquiesce to his request.
It was not to be, however, because it seemed Storm had a thing against mano-a-mano situations. The ebony weather goddess was in the sky above them, clad in the cream-colored dress she had been wearing during the mindscape session earlier. The scarf she had used to keep her hair tied back was gone, leaving her white tresses to dance in her conjured wind while the gold bangles at her wrists jingled as she spread her arms. Ben had heard the story of her being worshipped as a goddess for a time in Africa and looking at her now, even through the enhanced hostile mind of Rath, he most certainly could picture it and appreciate the terrifying beauty before him.
"This is not the place for your private war Logan," she declared. "You can settle your score when our students are not endangered by you men and your issues with dominance." She rose both arms to the heavens and they answered her call with a gust of wind more powerful than before, a horizontal stream that barreled into the advancing Creed with the force of a speeding car. The man stumbled back, roaring in outrage and yet another obstacle, and tried to force his way through the barrage. But try as he might to dig his heels into the ground it only gave way, forcing him to slide back without traction.
He tried lowering himself to the ground, digging in with claws as well as feet, but Storm narrowed the air stream in reply. He persisted a moment longer, but then the lightning struck. He jumped back, startled by the sound, heat and brilliance of the sudden bolt…and that was his mistake. In that brief moment of losing grip with the earth Storm redoubled her efforts, sending the man flying yet again and this time he landed outside the estate's grounds. "THIS ISN'T OVER LOGAN!" he roared back to his enemy but still he turned tail and ran into the forest. Rath and Logan were not far behind, slashing through the underbrush in their way with their respective claws as they followed his scent, hoping to put the man down now that they had left the others behind, but all that ended prematurely when they came to a stream. Sabretooth had jumped in, erasing his scent before skulking into the woods. Wolverine gave his own little growl in frustration but let his claws retract knowing the fight would stay over for now. Rath sighed and willed the transformation to end, reverting to his human form once more.
"Get the kids inside," he told the shorter man as they began making their way back to the gates. "I'll fix the gate up for now and we can talk about this newest fiasco we find ourselves in."
Logan nodded and with Ororo's help managed to herd everyone back toward the mansion, where Charles had just wheeled out to observe. The wheel-bound professor and green-eyed intergalactic policeman shared a small moment of eye contact before the latter turned to face the gates. At his will there was yet another flash of light and a new form the kids were unfamiliar with was hovering in their teacher's place.
This new creature had a body resembling an octopus, but his tentacles were wider, sporting rounded ends and missing the suckers that were the norm of a such a creature. Where the fleshy dome of an octopus' body would sit was a transparent dome of some sort of flesh with a brain the size of a full-grown watermelon pulsating. Bolts of light blue glowing energy occasionally danced across this large brain, sparking between the folds in the gray flesh. Finally, a plate seemed to float in this strange bowl structure, glowing green lines standing against its darker surface to show a face starring back at his students.
"I suggest Jean pay attention at least," the dome of this hovering creature flashed as little sparks accompanied each word, though the face on its plate remained motionless. The redhead looking back to him while the transformed newcomer ignored Charles' suspicious glance. "As this form will be the one I use to aid her in using Telekinesis and Telepathy."
He turned away from the staring crowd to face the grounds and Charles began to beckon his students into the manor. Ororo remained, Jean staying at her side and only barely acknowledging the brief moment Scott had stopped to check on her. The de-facto leader of the team frowned slightly but moved to follow the rest.
Together the two women watched as Ben's new form lifted two of his large tentacles as if he were a conductor preparing to coax their orchestra into a performance. The faint flashes became brighter within the jellyfish-like dome, spreading to cover the body in a faint aura. Their eyes widened as each piece of wreckage gained a similar, if slightly more faint, aura. These pieces lifted, anything wrecked beyond simple repair piling itself near the garage while the spinning blades and nets were carefully stacked separately for reuse later. The horribly bent gates realigned, looking almost good as new save a few tears in the metal that were placed as close to mended as possible for simple telekinesis.
With their mess taken care of, the alien directed its floating body to hover next to the gate and then was engulfed in that tell-tale green light, Ben once more left in its wake. His now human hands lifted and began to glow in the aura of his magic, a quick muttering in the magical tongue invoking a spell. They watched as the area around each little tear from the warping seemed to turn to liquid, coming together and forming a now unblemished gate. Then, his work finished, he turned to join them. "So what'd you think?"
"A decent level of control," Ororo replied. "What name have you given this form by the way?"
"Honestly I've only used him a few times and I forgot to give him a name," was the sheepish admission. "His race called themselves…well it translates to Lobians in English. They don't exactly have a language since they evolved to communicate telepathically."
"Then how come you could talk in that form?"
"Telekinesis actually," the trio began to move into the institute, planning to meet with the rest and find out what had brought such an unwelcome visitor. "See that race is one of the smartest in my home reality, so when they encountered other sentient lifeforms it was pretty easy to tell not all of them would be comfortable with someone else digging in their brains even just to talk. Even more importantly, there are those immune to such connections. So they created an alternative method for communication outside of their species. Sound is just vibrations in the air picked up the eardrum and translated by the brain.. Lobians use fine telekinetic pulses to create waves in the air around them, replicating voices."
"Impressive, and very polite as well."
"Polite or not it can be pretty handy, I've just not been in the situation to use my Lobian form often enough to give examples of unfortunately. Which is also why I haven't come up with a good name for the form yet." He shrugged helplessly.
"Why not ask the students and staff to help?" Ororo offered, lips quirking into a smile. "I'm sure we could come up with a few options to choose from. Well aside from Logan at least. The man's naming skills seemed to have stunted beyond little nicknames."
"Tell me how you really feel Static," heads turned to find the man himself leaning against a wall just outside the dining room. Still dressed in what Ben was starting to mentally call the Hero Spandex suit the gruff man had pulled his hood back and was watching them. But despite the cheeky comment his expression was serious as the group stepped closer. "Kids are in there getting some food," he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder while commenting at Jean. "Get in there and eat something. Chuck wants the grownups in his office to talk about our cat problem."
Ben hesitated, watching for a moment as Jean stepped into the room with her fellow classmates, a thoughtful frown marring his expression. Then it was gone, and he was turning to watch the little trade of jibes between his fellow teachers, hands in his pockets and walking with a forced calm. 'It's unavoidable,' he told himself. 'I need to see what he'll do, and I need to make sure she doesn't explode on us all. I just wish it didn't require me to be so…secretive.' Before reaching the office of his employer Ben's eyes flashed, the only sign of a brief spell of warding he used to isolate a certain memory from being discovered. When finally stepping into the room he locked eyes with Charles, subtly letting the older man know with a stern glare that he was not letting things go. The professor's frown deepened but he turned away with a certain finality to address the more pressing issue on everyone else's mind.
"So, what are we going to do about Sabretooth Logan?"
"Can you sense him at all?" the shorter man sat on the couch, elbows resting on knees and staring at his friend.
"He's moved beyond the normal range of my sweeps already, and I've told you before that the more animalistic nature of his mind can make it difficult to keep tabs on him."
"He won't go far, you all know that."
Charles leaned back in his motorized chair. "But he won't attack the mansion again. He's seen firsthand what our automated defense system can do."
"It's because he knows that's got me worried," Logan insisted. "This was the one shot, he got overconfident and relied on the healing factor to bulldoze through what he came up against. I had the chance to take him down here before he got away to put what he knew to use. But now he's been chased off he's going to want to get me alone. And there's one way to do that we are all vulnerable against."
"A hostage?" They turned to Ben who had voiced the guess. "Guys like you're describing don't stoop below using others to get what they want."
"That's precisely what he'd do," Logan agreed. "Which means we need to make a plan to take advantage of that."
They all nodded and began to think, but it was Ben that had the first thought. "He'd aim for the kids seeing them as the easy target…Charles do you have any more of the hologram things you made for Kurt?"
"I have a replacement should anything happen to Kurt's, I take it you plan to turn his intentions against him?"
"He knows what your defenses can do," Ben smirked and lifted hands beginning to glow. "But he has no idea what I can call down on him. But the problem is my studies of illusions haven't gone very far yet. I can cast a glamour to make me look like one of the kids, but I figure having another along could make things easier."
"I'm going," Logan growled immediately and jabbed a finger at Ororo. "You said this school ain't for me to settle scores and I get that. So let me and spaceman here take care of it."
Charles and Ororo both frowned, but after a moment's thought the chair-bound telepath nodded. "I'll concede it's a good idea and I'll agree but on one condition." Blue eyes narrowed and clashed with the wild brighter blue of the wild man. "I know how easy it is for you to get lost in your little war Logan. If Ben thinks you're getting overwhelmed and steps in I need your word that you will not try to force him back. Do I have it?"
The two men glared each other down for a time, a heavy silence between them as wills clashed. Ben was just beginning to consider a spell to test for psychic activity to see if they were continuing the conversation telepathically when Logan sighed and looked away. "I promise to play nice on the team coach," he grumbled, the slight smirk on his lips betraying his inner amusement.
"Thank you Logan, now I think it best you two go prepare. I am going to try searching for our guest to get an idea of his whereabouts."
"Come on Spaceman let's get moving. We need to tell the kids to stay put for now. Creed won't be far, and he'll be watching for people leavin'. Kids will be focused on homework and the like but I wanna make sure they stay put. Plus we'll need the Boy Scout's car."
"Let's stop by my room first," he fell in step with the shorter man. "There are spells for tracking that could augment the search, but I haven't studied them as extensively as my constructs. While we're there we can talk about the security you guys have. Flying sawblades? Really?"
"Hey, nobody expects someone to shoot sawblades at you so they don't prepare for it," Logan defended. "Granted it's only good for first-time intruders."
"And if they can react faster than normal humans like the kitty-cat?"
"Well what'd you have in mind Spaceman?"
"I've had a few thoughts on both the technological and magical sides of the equation. Biometrics built into cameras, intention wards embedded into the walls, basic runes for reinforcing structures and the like. I need to do some searching, find out if there are any ley lines within proper distance to tap into for powering anything that would require more than ambient magic an provide." He frowned as a thought occurred to him. "We also need to have two different sets of security depending on threats and objectives."
"Capture and Kill settings you mean?"
"Exactly, after all a captured person can give quite a bit more information than a dead one. I have no skill in the arts required to speak with the dead –" his face darkened considerably "—nor would I be inclined to find someone who does."
Logan noted the tension and resolved not to touch that subject with a ten-foot poll. "So capture seems the best place to start. What are you thinking?"
"Well on the technological side I think we can replicate an ooze one of my alien forms is capable of using." He paused to open the door to his room, waving his fellow in after him. "When it's still fresh it is highly combustible but when given time to settle is strong enough I once used it to stop a helicopter from crashing with a few strands. There are also certain gasses that can be used, different levels of lethality depending on what we actually want to happen."
Logan nodded. "Those are good ideas."
The book was retrieved, and he began thumbing through it. "Yeah but the only issue is I've never been that good at chemistry so that will be on the backburner for now. Buuuut I do know quite a few mechanical tricks I can implement as long as I have the right equipment." The book snapped closed. "That, however, is for later. I found a proper spell of disguise that should work for both of us. We need to find the kids though, having a visual to compare the images to will let me solve any inconsistencies."
He nodded and the two made for the dining room. They found it empty and decided to try their rooms instead. "I'm guessing Scott was one you want us to imitate. You mentioned using his car."
"He's about your height so it'd fit. Porcupine or Elf are close enough to my height you won't be changing much."
"Good thinking, still you've been training them. Do you think we can trust them to act as real bait, draw him in and let us watch while staying hidden?"
Logan grunted. "I don't want to put them in between Creed n' me," he admitted. "Chuck…look there's something we haven't touched on. I've got anger issues, really bad ones. Usually I can keep the worst of it in control…but people like Creed…it's a lot harder to do that around him."
"Keep them out of the firing line altogether. Alright then—oh Scott. Just the guy we're looking for." They had reached the entrance hall, said red-eyed teen was just coming down the stairs, twirling the keys to the very car they planned to borrow.
"Hey, what's up? You guys need anything from town? I was heading out to rent a movie."
"Not right now you're not," Logan cut him off halfway down. "Until we're sure Sabretooth is no longer around I don't want you kids going anywhere alone. Now where's the rest of the kids?"
"Uh…Jean went out to the garden to meditate and do some homework. Kurt I think was heading to the library looking up something for a history report…but Evan, Kitty and Rogue left a couple minutes ago. Something about practice for tryouts I think." There was a moment's pause as Ben and Logan shared a look of sudden worry. They spun on their heels without a word, the infamous metal claws already popping out on the Wolverine's hands.
"Wait," Scott called after them and made to follow. "I'll come with you."
"No Scott," Ben stopped at the doorway to give a quick order. "Charles should be in his wing with that machine of his. Tell him instead of trying to find Sabretooth he should lock onto Evan and the girls."
The teen frowned, obviously not a fan of being reduced to messenger boy, but after a moment nodded and turned to do as instructed. Ben watched him go a moment longer before turning back to follow Logan. He found the orange-clad Canadian kneeling at the front gate, sniffing the air.
"I can smell Half-Pint's perfume and Porcupine's cologne," he said the moment the young man had joined him. "They left through this gate and went…" he looked to the road where it was joined to the driveway beyond the gate, and after a few more sniffs nodded. "They went north."
"What's in that direction?"
"Not much town-wise. The road bends back bout a mile from here and trails off into dirt road. After that it's mostly forest for a good stretch till you reach the cliffs at the ocean."
"Hmmmm."
"What?"
"Scott said something about them practicing for an audition right?"
"Yeah what about it?"
"Why would they need to go into a forest to practice for a play?"
"I…wait are you thinkin' they're trying to bait him?"
"It's possible, maybe one of them overheard our little chat in the study?"
"Well they got no idea how dangerous Creed is," they began to run, Ben following the man with a nose better than a bloodhound. "The guy is old, and we've fought enough times for me to know there's real training under all that wild. Which means he can take anything they dish out normally and most likely come back ten times harder."
"We'll see about that. For now let's go in quiet, see if we can turn that ambush back on him our way." Suddenly there was a flash of green and a new figure was running on all fours at Logan's side. It resembled a lizard as tall as the average full-grown man, with purple scales marked with splotches of darker purple resembling camouflage in design. From the corner of his eye Logan could see a blue shaped like a triangle with the point toward where a nose would be. "Meet Chamalien," the alien spoke, his voice somewhat growl-like. "He's one of my go-to picks for being sneaky." Instead of forcing Logan to ask why this was it was demonstrated by the alien's seeming to vanish as they ran. His eyes narrowed, but occasionally glancing in that direction as they ran let him catch the movement of a shadow.
"Not bad, shadow bit won't be an issue in the trees as much as out here. Got any tracking abilities?"
"I've got some heat sense like snakes using pit organs, they help but only have a certain range. I'll be following you for now." They moved on in silence from there, soon reaching the trees. A scooter was left at the edge of the forest, a palm against it told the Wolverine it was recently used, and the kids' scents were all over it. They had moved further in, making a very clear trail with what seemed to be Evan in the lead.
"I'll take to the trees," still blended into the surroundings Chamalien crouched at the foot of the nearest tree. "Remember we can't just rush in because Creed pushes all your buttons. Right now we don't even know if he was close enough to even realize there was a trap and he could be following us right now. Play it smart and we all go home." They parted ways after that, one using special claws to climb up into the branches, jumping between them easily while the other moved as fast as was possible while still allowing to keep himself hidden…right up until they heard the familiar roar the same as they had heard only a short time earlier. Stealth was tossed mostly aside for the human of the duo and Ben put more power into his leaps, springing from the thicker trunks to better support the denser body of this form.
Still, it was Wolverine who reached the goal first. The spandex-clad mutant burst had just enough time to see Sabretooth deliver a harsh backhand to Kitty's cheek before he burst from out into the clearing they had been using. "Picking on kid's Creed?" he shouted, the dirty blonde spinning on his heel quick to face the sudden cry just in time to take all three hundred Adamantium-reinforced pounds of angry human missile to the chest. Creed was a strong man, his mutant ability had allowed him to rend metal with ease, but without being able to set himself that much weight hitting him sent them rolling.
But while he had not the chance to prepare, the man was definitely skilled. A fact he showcased by slamming a hand down as they rolled, adding just enough force to the movement that he ended up on top of Logan with his other arm poised to strike. "And why's that runt?" he demanded with a smirk…a smirk that evaporated almost immediately when six bolts of pure agony lanced into his stomach.
Logan hadn't even bothered going for any type of break on the pin Creed had him in. Instead, he'd raised both hands and flexed those very special muscles in his forearms, muscles designed for the sole purpose of unleashing claws of metal-coated bone. "Because…it really, really PISSES ME OFF!" He twisted his wrists and yanked his hands outward, ripping through bone and flesh like they were wet toilet paper and spilling blood all over himself.
The Sabretooth roared in agony, high pain tolerance born through decades of experience with a healing factor not quite allowing him to ignore the pain of getting pretty much eviscerated. As he reared back instinctually Logan drew his claws back in and grabbed at his hated enemy's trench coat, using that grip and the foot he just slammed into his stomach as leverage to heave him up and over, flying several yards to land in a cursing heap.
The bloody cat man struggled into a kneeling position, his flesh already knitting itself back together as the seconds passed. He was far from done and fully intended to keep the battle going. Through the haze of pain and rage Victor Creed never realized there was someone rushing up behind him, nor did he register someone pressing a hand to his neck. But he most certainly felt a completely different type of pain, a draining sensation as if the very strength of his evolved body was being sucked away. The combined pains were enough to overload his mind's capacity to function and he merely locked up, muscles rigid while his mouth opened in a soundless scream, until darkness swallowed his vision and oblivion took him.
From where he had dropped to observe the scuffle, Chamalien watched the large cat-man's body seize up as if hit by an electrical current and then drop to the ground. Behind him stood Rogue, one hand ungloved and still extended from where it had been pressed against his back. Tri-colored eyes watched from behind their camouflage as that hand's nails began to extend and sharpen, fur spreading and muscles growing up her arm. Her other hand burst through the glove it still wore, her biceps and thighs gaining such mass that her sleeves and pants ripped along the expanding muscle. Subconscious growls from the startled girl revealed growing fangs of a predator while her hair grew to such length it reached her waist. With a final sound of ripping fabric the toes of each boot burst open to allow clawed toes room for their growth.
They had seen the man rip metal apart with his bare hands, that combined with no doubt phenomenal balance and reflexes from the cat-like attributes and a healing factor and you got a deadly combination for the girl to use as long as it lasted. However, access to power did not seem to be the girl's top priority.
"Ah hell and I just shaved my legs las' night," there was a layer of primal growl to her voice now, something that sent slight involuntary shivers down Ben's spine as he let the transformation go.
"The finishing touch," Logan stepped up to the unconscious Creed, his own voice tinted with a modicum of respect. "Not a bad move there. So Spaceman was right, you kids planned this didn't you?"
Both girls turned their eyes to Evan, who shifted uncomfortably. "Well most of it yeah, but it didn't go like we expected."
"Then let that be a lesson," one gloved hand jabbed into the skateboarder's sternum, making him stumble back a half-step. "You lot could've gotten yourself killed! You two were laid out, I saw it when little Half-Pint hit the ground right before I hit him."
"He has a point," Ben stepped up to join the group formally. "From what I can tell you had a decent plan, and against someone less capable it would've worked. Creed didn't know what you guys can do and your youth worked against him because he most likely underestimated you. But that lack of information goes both ways, since you didn't know the full scope of his abilities either. If we weren't already looking for you then there's a chance you can all be dead."
"And don't think them puppy-dog eyes are gonna get you outta bein' grounded Half-Pint," Logan barked at Kitty. "All three of ya are in fact." With a grunt he managed to heave the dead weight of Sabretooth over his shoulder. "We'll come up with something you kids gotta do but for now just the basic school and back, no TV and an extra hour training with me every day."
All three shared a look, though the ones directed Evan's way were a bit more on the blame casting side. Said skateboarding teen was the one to gather his courage for the next question. "Um…how long will that be exactly?"
Logan paused, shifting the weight to better keep him from shifting while he walked. The eyes of his mask hid his true eyes, making it hard to tell what he was thinking. After a heavy pause he sighed. "I don't know –" he nodded to Rogue "—till the She-Wolf here can get a haircut at least. I'll come up with a number later so let's just get back to the mansion."
"Too bad you can't let it stay like that without getting questions," Ben quipped as they started walking. "The hair looks good on ya."
"But what about Sabretooth?" Evan jogged to catch up with their teacher. "From what Scott said you two have been duking it out for years. What the heck kinda grudge is that?"
"The kind I don't share with kids under eighteen or with anyone that doesn't need to know. Just know he an' I have got some unsettled business between us. Which we'll be taking care of some other day I guess."
"Then what'll happen to him now?" Rogue growled.
"I'm gonna take him to Chuck, make sure Creed has no idea he was even here, then we can drop him somewhere he can…cool off a little."
Ben frowned from where he was walking behind the group. More evidence that Charles was willing to meddle in the minds of others outside of combat. Still, considering the other's lives were in danger the more that man knew about Logan and where he was staying he managed to shake off the negative thoughts. Yet such talk had left him more than sure of his next move being a good one. With that in mind he waited, following Logan and his fellow young adults back to the mansion, where an unhappy Charles and Ororo met them at the entrance.
The telepath had his own strong words for the students, with Ororo providing her own share of comments. But eventually it was decided on the grounding only lasting until the weekend and they did not ban the girls from trying out for the Dracula play for that weekend. Charles modified the intruder's memory right then and there, informing them that he would be sleeping for a couple a full twenty-four hours and wake up with a headache like the worst of hangovers and thinking he'd been on one hell of a bender.
"I'll take him north, drop him in Greenland," Logan told them on his way to the elevator. "Should take him a while coming back stateside after that."
"Very well," Charles turned back to the others. "I believe you children should get to your rooms. You have homework after all, and I think it best you have a little normalcy after today's…events." They nodded and left, Rogue still grumbling and wondering how long she'd be sporting the newest fashion statement of her fur coat, though noticed she did seem to be running fingers through her hair with a thoughtful look. Ororo excused herself soon afterward, having a desire to talk with her nephew further.
Ben, however, did not leave. Instead he remained firmly in place, locking eyes with the professor who could only sigh. He knew this was coming, just hoped it could have been put off. "Please come to my study and we can discuss the other matter if you'd like Ben."
"No need," he replied, crossing his arms and planting his feet. "What I have to say can be done right here, right now. If you don't tell her by the time they're leaving for that camp you talked about, I will. I don't know about taking those blocks down, but she is old enough now that she deserves to know what is going on in her head and make her own decisions."
"And anything I say will just go unheard about this then?" Charles challenged. "Do you not think a lifetime as a telepath and schooling in the fields of psychology would leave me a bit more knowledgeable when it comes to matters of the mind?"
"Not when you meddle in someone else's mind and choose not to tell them about it," he shot back. "But I'm done arguing about it 'Professor.' I've said my piece, you have your deadline." He turned to walk away, but a few steps later heard the man talk again.
"And if I ask you to leave before then?"
"Then I'll just tell her before I go. And if you think about acting on that little temptation to dig into my mind and erase any knowledge of this conversation or the subject of it…you'll learn exactly how much I've looked into defending myself in that area."
He continued on, leaving Charles to go about his business while he returned to his room. He did not come out again, undisturbed as the others went about their business. He worked at his laptop and studied the grimoire for a those last few hours until night fell, and an hour later when the house had gone silent. It was then, still dressed in clothes for the day, that Ben lay on his bed, and worked a magic he had studied while living with Dr. Strange.
Blue light began to spread over his body, covering him entirely before it began to lift up, forming a complete, ghostly copy of himself. This copy opened its eyes, lifting his hands to examine them. He turned to look at his body, finding it still breathing but unmoving as if locked in some deep sleep. He nodded to himself, and then began to float toward the door.
He passed through the door as if it was just an illusion, appearing on the other side to float in the hallway. There he lifted a hand, dipping his fingers farther into the astral realm's edges to find the echoes of the minds living around him. Like ripples in a pond they spread around, but only one was tinged with hints of red. That was the trail he was looking for, and it was just below him and to the left.
As he moved to follow Ben couldn't help but think about how strange moving in astral form felt. Unlike walking or swimming, it was as if you were projected through thought alone. You think about moving forward and suddenly you were. Think of going up and you fly higher, down and your moving to ground level. You can choose to move through an object, like the floor he was sinking into now, or to not and find yourself coming in contact just like his feet now touching the floor of Jean Gray's room. He moved his legs, a subconscious act made by a someone used to walking their entire life, and his thoughts projected him forward until he stood over the sleeping redhead. Both hands reached out, tapping cobalt fingers against her temple.
"Let our minds connect," when he spoke it was in the language of the Anodites. In some ways it was similar to Latin yet seemed to have its own special words and phrases. "Forge the link between us that we might walk together in dreams."
Again he said the phrase, a mantra created for the effect he wished to work. Sending his power deep into Jean's mind. Working through the dormant conscious mind with ease. His spectral lips muttered the phrase again, and again, his mind focused on the intent behind them as he hovered over the sleeping girl…until he wasn't anymore.
Once again he was floating in the storm of untethered mind that was Jean's mindscape. He waved a hand, creating a platform of cobalt energy with which to stand on, and then he waved it again. Strands of the turmoil around him began to coalesce at his beckoning. Hair formed first, then the face, neck and then shoulders. He made sure to create the clothes to protect modesty, the same shirt and pants she had worn earlier that day in fact. Finally, when he had finished the avatar of his new student he called her mind to it, guiding that seed of thought into the shell and then woke it up.
Her brow furrowed. She shook her head, hair trailing in the air as if it was liquid. Slowly her eyes cracked, then blinked as they focused. Then they snapped open and she looked around, suddenly falling to what seemed like gravity as her 'weight' settled onto the platform. "Mr…uh Ben…where are we?"
"This is your mind Jean," he stood with feet shoulder-width apart, hands clasped behind his back in a parade rest. "The process is a little complicated to explain but I essentially used my astral form to access your mind while you were asleep and then pulled your conscious mind into an avatar here. Your body is still sleeping and come morning you will feel no ill effects of what I've done." She made to speak but he held up a hand to stop her. "I needed the privacy this allows and there is a very, very good reason I've done this if you'll let me explain. We need to talk Jean."
"A-about what?"
"That." He pointed over the redhead's shoulder and she turned, pale green eyes settling on the massive network of mental energy Ben had seen on his first visit here. As she did the girl missed the pulse that reached out from the tip of that pointing finger, washing away the first line of defense Charles had established in the form of a barrier preventing her from even noticing there was something off in her mind.
She blinked, unseen by the elder of the two, and was forced to watch the air before her ripple as if looking at water disturbed by a stone. When the ripples ceased, her expression became one of horror at what was revealed. "What…what the HELL IS THAT!?" the whole scape began to tremble. Immediately a dome sprang up around them, a muttered curse from Ben just barely managing to distract her from the dull sensation of being partially cut off from her own mind.
"Jean look at me!" The urgency in his voice pulled her back from mild panic and she locked gazes with him. "I said this is your mind. Emotion and thought are god here, you need to keep focus. It's my fault, I…could have done that better." He squeezed the bridge of his nose between fingers. "I'm sorry, this whole situation has been on my mind since I failed the mindscape session." He took a moment to gather himself and tried to start again.
"Listen Jean, there's a lot you don't know, and we have limited time to discuss it. So please, can you just hear me out for now? I promise to explain everything."
The young telepath sat in silence, eyes darting between his earnest expression and the net above them. Swallowing, she finally nodded. "Alright, tell me."
XXXXX—And Cut—XXXXX
And that'll about do it folks. Hope you enjoyed and I hope it keeps you intrigued enough to stick around and see what happens next.
Oh and there is a reason he gave Charles a deadline and then went around it. I plan on revealing that next chapter actually.
As for explanation of how and why behind the whole Jean situation, I hope it does the real version justice. Anyway, I'm fighting through a migraine as I'm typing this so I'm gonna go ahead and say thank you all for coming. It was a pleasure taking this next step on the journey of a Plumber Among Marvels. Hope I don't keep you waiting as long next time.
Oh, and the other site stories are still work in progress. Sorry I wanted to have some stuff done and it's been stuck in transit. I'll have more information on the way soon as I have it.
That's about all I've got. Good luck and good day to you all. This will be Yurei King signing out!