That's right everyone its Chamber. I may not put London in this chapter yet, I haven't decided. So don't get your hopes up. Sorry it's been so long. I went on vacation two weeks ago and hadn't finished this chapter yet. But here it is. Short I know hopefully you enjoy. Also I didn't edit this one much so it may be really bad, if it is leme know and I'll redo it.
Blix: Yeah I figured someone would get it, most likely you, and clearly I was right. You could picture the symbiotes everywhere? Good means I'm writing goodly enough. Thanks for the kind words, don't know if its well done as usual but it seems most reviewers think that. Hope you update soon.
DarknessofDawn: Yes I hate that problem. I thought Katori was a dude, can't say people thought the same for me the bastards. Well which group are the Renegades? Cause I figure there's really only two characters whose powers can be used offensively. Zack, who I'm embarrassed to say I have forgotten the last name of but whose mutant name is Shift. Or Jack, Beelzebub. I could always send you there uh…profiles if you like.
A dragons wings: Your reviews are always so detailed. It's about a paragraph a review. Thanks for the kind words though its nice to know what people like or don't.
Lizbeth: Not a fan of Spiderman? Well I'm sure there are a lot who aren't a fan of him. Me, personally, I like him. But that's just me.
Nasakea: There I fixed the problem you better like it or I'll kick your butt!
Disclaimer: This fic is not a movie or comic so clearly I don't own it.
Chapter 13
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The XXX-Men
London-Sewers
Masque hadn't left Katie's side since he had brought her to London. She was still slightly frightened, but he had a feeling she was warming up. Night had fallen a few hours ago and Katie lay on the bed in "her" room. She continued to toss and turn, the springs in the mattress squeaking each time she did so.
Masque opened the door to check on her and saw her fiddling with the moon ring he had left for her on her nightstand. She finally sat up in bed and called out for Masque. "Hey uh…Masque?"
Much like a lovesick puppy he entered the room at her call. "Is the room not to your satisfaction? I can find you another one…"
"No it's not that." Katie interrupted. "The room is fine, thank you for letting me use it."
Masque nodded. "Then what is it? Are you thirsty, hungry? Some people need a warm glass of milk, I can try and get you some." Masque continued on like that offering many futile suggestions. "Are you not tired? I thought you needed a room, I'm sorry I just assumed, what with you asking and all."
"No its not that either, I am tired it's just…this is going to sound strange but could u stay in here till I go to sleep?"
Masque was completely at a loss. "I-I…" He wanted so bad to say yes, the words just wouldn't come out. All he could stutter out was I. Katie had a dejected look on her face, which made his heart sink.
"Forget it, its stupid. Forget it." Katie turned and lay down again.
Masque paused and briefly considered leaving, instead he left to get a chair and brought it back next to her bed and sat next to her. Katie rolled over and smiled at him. That smile. Oh how that smile affected him. Bits and pieces of his past played for him in his mind, but he pushed them aside till Katie drifted off.
As long as he could remember he had always been alone, always been ugly. At 15 his powers emerged and the orphanage he was in threw him out, after he "accidentally" turned one of the other kids ugly. From then on he was on his own, no place to call home, no friends or family, just himself. At 17 he had made his way across the country and was quickly spotted by the local F.O.H. branch, which then captured him.
The images of his past were so vivid it was he reliving them all over again. He was in a town he was unfamiliar with. He was tied to a pole by his hands and feet, his face in the open for everyone to see, the sun beat down on his face and body causing large amounts of sweat to perspire from his body and below him. The people of the town shouted obscenities and words like "Freak!" and "Mutant scum!" That didn't matter to him though, he had always received words like that and after the orphanage he was a mutant and the insults followed him. He may have stuck to the shadows but he finally got careless and now he was tied to a pole surrounded by a mob of anti-mutant people.
The sun had fried his brain and his mouth was so dry it could be used for kindling. "Water…water please." He begged. This in turn only delighted the citizens even more as they continued to scream about his thirst and tease him with offerings of water but he received none.
He hung his head low and closed his eyes and awaited death. The crowd fell silent, and the sun was blocked from his body. Masque looked up to see a young girl above him. The shadow covered her body, but he could make out slight parts of her face. To him she was an angel; either of death or life at this point it didn't matter. He'd welcome death or freedom, both would help him.
The young girl reached for Masque and pushed a water bottle to his lips and tilted his head so it would slide down his throat. The bottle had been half finished until it stopped. The young girl had been pulled back by one of the same people that had captured him. Bastards he said mentally, to weak to say it outwardly.
"Mommy, why did Katie give the mutant a drink?" a young boy asked his mom.
"Katie…" Masque uttered. The name sounded so beautiful, angelic. He'd have to thank her some day.
"Shut up!" Growled a F.O.H. member. The man grabbed his gun and slapped the gun into the mutant's stomach causing him to pass out from pain.
The members of the F.O.H. continued to watch over Masque late into the night, the mutant had come back around and eyed each guard carefully. One of the members picked up his radio and began to talk into it. "Let's go men, there's a mutant sighting just a few miles down the road!" The man explained as he jumped into his vehicle.
"What about him?" One FOH member asked.
"I'm your leader, just get in!" The man with the radio said as he started up the vehicle. Soon Masque was alone, still tied up to the pole.
There was some tugging at his ropes and the mutant turned his head to see a red haired girl untying his legs and arms. He had lost all feeling in them long ago and knew he wouldn't be able to move right away. "What are you doing?" he asked exhaustedly.
"Didn't you hear? There was a mutant sighting. That means you're free to go." She replied as she finally finished untying him. Masque fell to the ground with a loud thump. "Hurry before they come back."
Masque turned to tell the girl his thanks, but she was gone. He stood up the best he could and felt life returning to his arms and legs. Using energy he didn't have, he made his way to a nearby payphone and to the phone book. "Katie…"
Katie let out a small snore and snapped Masque back into reality. She continued to sleep; only now she was holding his hand. Masque's stomach went crazy, butterflies everywhere, Goosebumps lined his whole body, and he felt like vomiting and jumping for joy at the same time. If anyone had been watching they'd see Masque's face blush behind his scars and a small smile spread across his face.
Xavier InstituteZack and Alex had been given a spare room to share in the Institute, Alex had got up early but been to afraid to venture out so sat on his bed and stared at the wall. Zack slept on the bed with his arm dangling over the side, a puddle of drool on his pillow and his mouth agape letting out a loud snore.
"Zack!" Alex said in an almost whisper. "Come on let's go out there."
"Zack need sleepy." Zack replied as he used his hand to try and swat Alex away. "Mmm sleep." Zack then rolled over.
The door to their room opened up and the schools instructor Logan stepped in and quickly eyed the two teens. "Breakfast time kiddos get up!" He said and added a facial expression that left no room for questions. Alex quickly ran out keeping his head down. Zack continued to sleep.
Logan walked over to the sleeping mutant, put his mouth to his ear and yelled "GET UP!" The shape shifter just rolled over and let out a loud snore. With a growl the feral mutant picked up the teenager by his shirt and held onto the shirt tightly, and carried Zack downstairs by his shirt.
After arriving in the kitchen he dropped the shape shifter and took a seat at the table. Zack smacked his lips and looked up from his spot on the floor to see the assembled mutant inhabitants of the institute, minus Charles Xavier. He quickly stood up and nodded a hello. "Howdy." After his greeting the young shape shifter took a seat next to his fellow FOME member.
"Alright you rug rats, you got twenty minutes to eat before the others get up." Logan said as he made his way out of the kitchen.
"Why is there a time limit on breakfast?" Zack asked as he prepared himself a plate and began to shovel it into his mouth.
"Simple young, Shift." The group of mutants turned to see a man in red armor, and a large purple cape behind him standing in the doorway. "Since Charles disappearance the mansion has needed a bit of repairs, so we have let the homo-sapiens a chance here. So the school is now more of a private school."
Zack used his powers to expand his stomach to fit in more food. "Nice suit." The shape shifter replied his mouth full of food, some dribbled out as he spoke.
"The same to you." The red armored man said as he ran a hand through his white hair.
Zack looked down and noticed his white shirt and boxers. With a nervous laugh he used his powers to change into a pink bra and mini skirt. "Better?"
The man simply turned away and muttered something under his breath. "Something's up his ass." Alex said finally breaking his silence.
"Don't worry about Bucket head. He's just a bit cranky since he took over for the Professor. I do suggest you hurry up and eat the danger room session will be soon. The other students too will be up."
The table began to empty until it was just Zack and Alex left, the shape shifter continuing to stuff his face and the other just sat idly in his chair. "You know A Rog, you can go. I'll be fine alone." Zack said between bites.
"No it's cool, I don't mind."
Logan returned to the dining room and expectantly looked at the two remaining mutants. "Let's go! Let's go, let's go!" He yelled.
Zack once again used his powers to change into a shirt that read 'I hate people, so leave me alone.' Logan gave him a glare and the shirt changed to one that read 'Yipe!'
Jessica Soranido was riding the elevator down from the infirmary after receiving a check up. The elevator, however, went up instead of down opening on Jack's floor as he stepped into the elevator.
"Where you headed?" He asked.
"To Xavier's. Katie's out there and I am not just going to wait around here all day. I'm going to do something!"
"Oh…you sure that's a good idea? I mean Xavier isn't there so its…"
Jessica interrupted. "You won't talk me out of this."
"Wasn't trying to. It's just the school has gone some changes lately, wanted to make sure you were clear what you were up against." The rest of the elevator ride was spent in silence as it made its way to the ground floor.
Zack and Alex Rogers stood inside the Danger Room off to the side away from the X-Men minus Jean. Logan entered and the room grew quiet. He turned his attention to the two F.O.M.E. members. "Change." Logan growled at Zack who was wearing his usual getup. In fear he quickly changed to the X-men training suit.
"God do any mutant groups know how to make superhero outfits?" Zack asked as he pulled at the crotch of his suit. "I mean not only am I chafing so bad you could start a fire I can feel my tes…" The shape shifter quickly quieted after another glare from Wolverine.
Wolverine stood tall in front of the group and spoke in his no non-sense tone. "I know it's been hard since Charles has been gone and with the human but that doesn't mean our training should suffer." Wolverine paused and approached Bobby Drake who was flirting with Jubilee. "Icecube, shut up before I cut out your heart and eat it in front of you!"
After Wolverine's threat he finished his speech and exited the danger room. The room shifted and a destroyed New York took its place. Screams flooded the ears as a group of Sentinels landed in the streets and began to target the large number of mutants.
"Okay team destroy the sentinels and don't forget about the civilians!" Wolverine's voice ordered from somewhere in the room.
Cyclops began to divide the objectives between certain members, which they quickly obeyed. Zack and Alex stood back for a few moments. "What about us?" Alex asked confused.
"Why don't you go protect Lava." The shape shifter answered with a nudge.
"It's Magma!" Alex replied then blushed after realizing what Zack had done.
"Of course you'd know that. Now if you don't mind Shift is off, maybe I can find a grateful hooker to save." Shift quickly changed to his flying form and began to take people from the streets and out of harms way.
Alex watched as one Sentinel prepared to fire at Magma and quickly used his powers to blow the machine back into a building. He smiled and waved at the New Mutant but she barely noticed causing the mutant to become rather dejected.
The X-Men and New Recruits had wiped out all of the Sentinels while Shift continued to rescue civilians. Alex occasionally blasted but had pretty much stayed in the shadows. "68." Shift said as he flew down past Alex and grabbed someone from harms way.
"Good job kids, Shifty you should have fought more." Wolverine said over the loud speaker.
"I'm one away from 69 leave me alone!" The Destroyed city rocked as an all blue Sentinel stomped down the street. It's eyes turned red and it quickly shifted to a round body with four legs. A large laser cannon rested on its round surface and began to shoot at the mutants.
Shift got into the air and noticed a small girl in the way of the robot. The gun charged and Shift quickly flew down and pushed her out of the way just as the laser hit him knocking his flying shape away and his X-men suit ripped. "Aw man that was a rental!"
The scene faded and Wolverine hovered over the shape shifters body. "Sixty-nine." He choked out with a smile before coughing and wincing in pain.
"Get up kid you have company." Wolverine said before leaving the room again. "Okay X-Men capture the flag." His voice had an evil happiness in it.
Shift quickly jumped to his feet and ran out of the room just as the room changed. HE found Alex outside waiting. "How'd you get out so fast?"
"Uh I saw Wolverine and got scared." He answers.
Jessica continued to press the buzz button at the gate of the mansion for the hundredth time. "Come on! Come on…" She groaned. The limo had gone and she stood at the gate with only the clothes on her back. She continued to ring the buzzer until the familiar face of Zack walked up to the gate.
"Some people would find that annoying." He said with a smile as the gate opened and walked up to her.
"Did they find her? What's taking so long!" She asked feverishly.
Zack had walked to the buzzer and began to buzz it. "Some people find it annoying, I for one love it. Oh sorry. NO they haven't found her. Jean's been working since we got here though." Zack said continuing to buzz.
Jessica grabbed him and turned him around to face her. "What is taking them so long? Why can't they find her!" she asked on the verge of tears.
"I don't know I'm not them. I don't know how that damn thing works. Did you take your Ritalin today?"
"Come on I need to talk to Xavier." Jessica said as she grabbed Zack's arm and dragged him with her.
"Uh okay, he's not here but whatever." Zack said as he began to sing as he was pulled along with Jessica. "Jingle bells, jingle bells, and jingle all the way. I have got to learn the rest of that song."
The human students looked strangely at Jessica and Zack as she made her way to the Professor's study, like an expert. "Sure you haven't been here before?"
She pushed the doors open and was taken aback by the sight of a man with white hair and in red and purple armor. The man turned to face her his purple cape flowing in the movement. "Yes?"
"Where's Xavier?" She asked confused.
"Charles has gone missing, who are you and just how did you get in here?"
"UH I let her in." Zack said and quickly added "Uh sir."
"Oh so you're the one who is looking for the young girl. Well I assure you we'll find you."
"Until then, I'm staying here." Jessica said sternly. She quickly turned on her heel and left the room.
Magneto stood his mouth open. "What's her power?" Magneto asked as he looked at Zack.
Zack realized he didn't get pulled along with Jessica and wished he did, the man's armor that he always wore made him feel uncomfortable. "Jessica? She's not a mutant. She's normal. She's kind of like Katie's godmother. Plus she's rich so she helps out Jack."
Magneto sat down at the desk and turned to look out the window again. HE had been doing that a lot since taking over as headmaster of Xavier's school. After Apocalypse he had definitely changed. He started to see his oldest friend's point of view and when Charles called him on that fateful night to watch over the school he took the opportunity to try and make amends. Now in finding the Jessica woman, non-mutant helping mutants, he began to have more faith in his friends dream. "Maybe there is hope after all."
"Talking to yourself means your crazy doesn't it?" Zack asked. "Yes it does." Zack answered for himself and left the room.
Zack walked down the halls looking for Alex or someone he knew. He had met some of the X-men but not on talking terms. He heard some girlish giggling and images of girls in bras having pillow fights flashed in his mind and he didn't notice the blue furry mutant Nightcrawler come down the hall, both of them falling to the ground.
"Sorry about that." Zack apologized as he stood up and looked at the fallen blue mutant. "Oh no your…"
Kurt cut the shape shifter off. "Yeah a demon."
"No your sandwich fell apart. Such a shame, now I really feel bad." Zack replied motioning to the pieces of lunch meat and other condiments scattered about.
"Mein Gott I forgot about the food!" Kurt replied as he looked at his failed lunch. "Guess I better go make another." His face sank he touched a watch on his arm and his body changed and he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The phone on a small table next to Zack rang. He looked around and found no one in the hall so with a shrug he picked up the phone. "Home of the whopper what's your beef?" he greeted.
"Zack?" asked a female voice.
The voice was unfamiliar to the shape shifter who seemed to know him. "God? Mommy?"
"It's Kara."
"Oh hi how are you? I'm good thanks for asking."
"I didn't say anything."
"But you were thinking it."
"No I wasn't. Look Jessica is on her way there. And well she doesn't know about the terrorist mutant groups."
"Wait what?"
"Yeah so if you could try and keep her from that, it'd be great thanks."
"Why's it matter if she finds out."
"Because if she were she may not be with the group anymore. Not to mention she's a financial backer."
"I thought you guys was LOADED."
"We were. But there were a few bad investments in which the people took off with our money. She's pretty much been the backbone of our organization."
"Ironic."
"No it's not."
"YES IT IS!" before the Manipulator could reply Zack hung up the phone then left it off the hook defiantly.
The shape shifter had no luck finding Alex or Jessica so he made his way to the Rec room where the tv was on the reporter talking aboutthe symbiote event earlier. It quickly shifted to an expose on evil mutant groups causing the shape shifter to charge into the room and cover up the program.
"Hey get out of the way!" Yelled one of the human kids.
One girl in a yellow jacket glared at the human student. "It just badmouths mutant anyway." She said her voice full of disgust for the program.
"Exactly why I want to watch it!"
"Look the girl who just came in today. Small redhead, a temper and cant cook worth a damn. She doesn't know about the bad mutants so lets not let her watch this, hmm?"
"Why should I care?"
"Cause I'll break you in half, you want to try me?" Replied Zack as ne punched his fist into his palm, which caused him to flinch slightly. Note to self, don't activate powers when your going to hit yourself. He scolded himself mentally
Zack moved away from the television hoping it would change, it didn't. He sat down on the couch with a sigh. There was a small scream and a loud thud. Zack turned around and found Jessica unconscious on the ground, he quickly hopped over to the couch to her side.
"The one girl fainted." The human student called out, his concentration on the TV not breaking.
Thank god that's done major writers block with this one. I was going to make this one a long one again, but it would be too cluttered I think. So I'll make it two. Fifteen will have Chamber in which works cause I have to figure out how to write him. He'd probably only be in it for a few chapters since he is an X-Man and I don't know how well he'd work as a FOME. Now If I get a few facts from Evolution series wrong its cause I got this virus thing so I had to reinstall all my software so I lost my bookmark to the site that I had for Evolution. So if I'm wrong hopefully I'm not too off since I cant double check. What did you think of this chapter? Just leave a lil note or maybe things you'd like to see in this fic.
One last thing, which X-Men character is being brought in for the one chapter? Come on guess. I'll give you a hint. Everyone is using the character lately along with Psylocke. Got it yet? How bout in the Ultimate X-men (at least I think it was in there) this character had a bodyguard of sorts with Havok. Come on guess!
GO ON AND REVIEW ALREADY!