Okay so its been a long while and I'll explain later, mostly writers uncreativity. But I had to throw in Emma since she won the Battle Of The Babes. Just some responses then I can get to the story. Again really sorry it took so long I hate when that happens but sometimes it just can't be helped, hopefully the rest will be done quicker.
Blix: You liked the Masque/Katie past connecting thing? That's good…though I really can't take credit for much of the stuff that happens with masque, Katie, Jessica and Violet, though I do take some creative license. Glad you liked it though. Good someone thinks Zack is funny. I feel kind of bad, it seems this fic is getting centered on him and so I'm sorry if that's the way it seems it is my first fic after all.DarknessofDawn: I know it was a long freaking time between updates I wish it hadn't been but it happens. After all it takes you forever to update, so hah! You shouldn't lose faith in me vacation just slowed me down. Yeah you shouldn't change the reapers gender, He might hurt you. Hope you got the email, and hopefully my chars weren't super bad. Thanks for the picture link thing that'll help for reference, good luck in Basic Training.
A dragons wings: Too short huh? Well I guess it depends on whom you're comparing it to. Australians haven't seen season 4 huh, interesting. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.
Nasakea: You liked it eh? Glad you liked the Zack sandwich and shirt thing, thought it'd be fun to write. Alex likes magma yes, lay off the sugar. But the author of Alex asked me to do it and since Magma is easier then making Iceman gay, since people would kill me for that one, I did it. It's okay to be a nitpicker about your characters they are YOUR characters. Sometimes the whole rewrite part isn't fun though but it's why I do this. Thanks for the cookies.
Disclaimer: I only own my characters and the storyline or premise or what not.
Chapter 14
-
Of Blondes and Redheads
Xavier MansionJean had been searching restlessly but she wasn't at the same level as Charles Xavier. It was a wonder she had been able to beat him when he was being controlled by Apocalypse. The feeling of that was so scary and exciting at the same time. She hoped to not have to feel that way any other time. She took off the helmet to Cerebro again and collected herself for a moment. She kept getting close every time, but then right when it was within her grasp she'd lose it and only feel drained. She closed her eyes for just a few minutes before she'd try it again.
Jessica had made it clear she wanted to be kept up to date on the search for Katie so she stayed outside the door to Cerebro at all times. She had been there for two days and she had not left for sleep or the bathroom in that time. Her mind had only one priority, no matter what.
The human students at the Xavier Mansion didn't pay much attention to Alex and Zack; the mutants gave a little more attention. Alex spent most of his time outside watching the New Mutants member Magma talk with a few of the other girls.
Zack himself had found the kitchen and spent his time between making large proportions for snacks and avoiding Wolverine. He had just finished eating a large sandwich and a bag of chips; he quietly snuck his way behind Alex, who wouldn't have noticed the shape shifter even if he screamed his name over and over.
"Hey A-Rog you know girls love it when you just stare at them all day." Zack said causing Alex to jump.
"It's not like I could talk to a girl like her." Alex replied his eyesight still not being broken.
"Then join the institute?" Zack suggested.
Alex's demeanor changed to a slightly more depressed tone. "I tried, but since Xavier's gone missing the school is charging new students."
"Well then you'll just have to stay with us till they find Xavier."
There was some silence between the two until a voice called for their attention.
'Zack and Alex please come to Cerebro.' Jean's telepathic "voice" said.
"Oh wow…that's cool." Alex said as he looked around for the source of the voice.
"Yeah cool." Zack replied sarcastically as he made his way over to Magma.
"Hey where you going?" Alex said as fear overtook him.
"We need to find Cerebro, who better to ask then a resident?"
"So I says to him, you better not put that there again." Tabitha said from her spot on the grass.
"Excuse me ladies." Zack said approaching the two girls.
"What is it peasant?" Amara asked.
Zack held back the urge to say a few choice words and feigned a smile. "Hello princess. Jean asked us to meet her at Cerebro and…we don't know where that is. Would you be so kind as to show us the way?"
"Sure, name's Tabitha and this is Amara."
"Howdy, we're Zack and the quiet one who looks likes he's about to wet himself over there is Alex." Zack said pointing to his teammate behind him, he leaned into the girls and quietly said. "He's shy."
As the two New Mutants led the two FOME members to Cerebro it was spent in silence, so Zack decided to speak up. "So what can you two do?"
"Amara here has the whole Magma thing with the covering and lava. I am Boom Boom." Tabitha replied as she created a small bomb and tossed it at one of the human students. "And you two?"
"Well I was blessed with shape shifting, so I'm Shift. And my friend here is uh…uh…" Alex didn't add a name for himself since he had not come up with one for himself. "He's A-Rog." Zack finished his face displeased with the name he made up.
"A-Rog?" Alex whispered.
"Well when you don't help me, I help myself. Be glad I didn't name you butt hump or numb nuts."
Jessica waited for her teammates. Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Jean had not been able to locate Katie, and Jessica felt all the hope fade from her. Scott had his arm around Jean as she leaned against him from the mental strain of the past two days had taken on her.
Jean felt terrible. She had tried to find Katie and couldn't and now Jessica was distraught. Jean desperately wished she could have searched more but it was just impossible at this time. She leaned in closer to Scott and closed her eyes for a few more moments rest.
Zack and Alex walked down the hall and were met by Jessica, Jean and Scott in front of the Cerebro door. "So oh great head of mind control why were we called down here?" Zack asked.
"I've tried and tried to find your friend but I'm afraid I could not find her. I can try later but I am just to exhausted to do it now." Jean said with a long sigh.
"You did good Jean, no one could've done better." Scott consoled. "I'm sure they're very grateful."
"Oh yeah. I mean you tried and that's more then what we've done with just sitting around here. So thank you." Zack said as he nudged Alex.
"Uh I'm new here so I don't really know Katie…" Alex said which received a harder nudge to his ribs form Zack.
"You big fucker says something nice!" Zack said with another nudge.
"Thanks for helping, we owe you one."
"Good boy." Zack walked over to Jessica and nudged her lightly.
Jessica had been staring at the ground in a daze until she felt the nudge to her shoulder, which brought her back to the real world. "Yeah thank you so much. A-at least you tried. Excuse me." Jessica quickly ran down the hall to the elevator.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more." Jean said as she and Scott left.
"Don't you guys have a telepath?" Alex asked.
Zack nodded. "She wouldn't do it, she doesn't consider herself one." Zack paused then an idea occurred to him. "That's it! We'll ask Jack. That mutant mother…uh-great guy has so many connections he's bound to know someone.
Mutant Apartments
Inside the training room for the Friends of Mutants Everywhere, the Dome, the leader known simply as Jack was meditating on a rock in the middle of the ocean. The sea washed gently against the rock, seagulls crowed overhead, and the occasional whale song could be heard.
The moment of inner peace was quickly interrupted by the sound of his cell phone ringing. "I know I should've turned it off." Jack said to himself as he reached in his pocket and pulled out the phone. "Hello."
"Jack? Hey it's Zack." Zack repressed his laughter. Giggle, our names rhyme.
"Yes I know." Jack replied as he hopped off the rock into the water that reached up to his kneecap. "What can I do for you Shift?"
"It's about Katie. Jean can't find her and she's real drained and well…"
"I understand. I …know someone who can help. She doesn't come cheap though." Jack said as he recalled his previous encounter with Emma Frost, which resulted in a cringe. "I'll be at the Institute in fifteen minutes, be ready to go by then." Jack said as he hung up the phone.
"Fifteen minutes? Hey wait how you going to get here that fast?" Zack shouted over the phone, but no one was on the other end.
True to his word Jack had arrived a minute early. The 69 Mustang pulled up to the front gate to greet Zack and Jessica. "Oh Jessica good to see your coming too." Jack said as he unlocked the door.
"If Katie is out there I'm going to find her. No matter what." Jessica replied so Zack could get in the back.
"What? NO! That's barely a back, it looks like it was created with knives and a stick." Zack protested but the glare he received from Jessica left no questioning. "Right I love backseats, good memories in them." He said as he got into the back.
"We have to use this car just to see Emma. It's like a down payment just to speak with her." Jack said as he quickly flipped the car around and sped off towards his destination.
"Zack when we get there be on your best behavior, if she can help us we don't want to lose that."
"Maybe I should just stay in the car then."
"Don't worry about it Shift. Emma will be unimpressed no matter how you act. Just make sure you don't stare"
"Why is she hideously ugly?"
"She's got the best body money can buy."
The three mutants pulled up to a large mansion on the outskirts of New York. They pulled up to the gate where three men in suits wearing sunglasses and earpieces stood guard. Jack unrolled the window and handed them the keys. The men nodded to each other and the gates opened.
Emma Grace Frost stood in the mirror of her temporary room. Sebastian Shaw in one of the many mansions owned her, they were planning to make their way into the ranks of the Hellfire Club.
Emma looked at herself in the mirror again to make sure she was done the way she wanted. Her lipstick and nails done a slightly darker shade of blue than her eyes, Her white high heels actually a part of her white leather pants leaving a small V shape at the center, her white leather top continued the V shape leading to a cutout in the shape of a diamond showing off her cleavage. She clipped on her white cape to the collar around her neck. After her cape she pulled on her white gloves with three circles for her skin, one on the back of her hand, her arm just before her elbow and the final on her bicep.
After making sure she was perfect she slipped out of the room to the basement for the meeting.
Jack led Jessica and Zack, who was looking at the large car collection each car having its own supermodel on the hood nude. "Hey Zack, doors this way." Jack called just as Zack walked into the stoop of the mansion.
"I'm okay." The shape shifter said followed by a loud groan as he slowly limped towards the door holding his groin.
"Okay, there may be some dirty fellas in here so try not to look them in the eye. This is a meeting of the worst of the men of crime stupid enough to take on the Hellfire Club." Jack explained as he looked at Jessica and Zack. "So Jessica stay close, Zack don't stare at any woman's breasts you may see in here."
"Damn it. I finally get to see boobs and I hurt myself or I'll end up swimming with the fishes. Just my luck." He griped as they entered the large mansion. Inside, just as Jack had said, large amounts of men in suits, biker men, thugs, and one brown haired kid with glasses. At the sides of each, minus the kids with glasses, were women in strange outfits that either accentuated their bosoms or left their breasts in view for the entire world to see.
Jack and Jessica were led to the bottom level of the mansion where a group of men sat playing cards. Among the men were the two mutant men, Sebastian Shaw and Harry Leland. Sebastian took notice of Jack and smiled slightly.
"Ah if it isn't the Friends Of Mutants Everywhere leader, Jack. What brings you to the belly of society?" Sebastian asked as he threw in a few dollars.
"Where's Emma?" Jack asked not wanting to make time for small talk.
"Why she's on her way of course. Where's that bodyguard of yours…Hawk, was it?" Sebastian replied.
"Never mind about him." Jack quickly surveyed the room. Many large men stood in the corner ready to protect their bosses at a moments notice. Sebastian Shaw and Harry Leland had no such men.
"Oh but I can't do that. I hear he was behind the whole incident with the aliens that took New York by storm. Even SHIELD had no defense against them. Now with soldiers like that how could anyone lose?" Shaw placed his cards down gaining a collective groan from the men around him.
"Where's your little computer girl, Tessa?" Jack asked as he realized not only was Emma missing but also Shaw's little assistant type girl was missing.
"The men here would not come to this game unless she was gone, so I gave her the day off. She didn't know what to do but I think she found something. Enough about me who's the redhead with you?"
One of the men at the table quickly slapped Jessica's butt. "She's got a nice firm ass too!" he said with a big laugh as he slammed his foot against the ground. There was a thud as the man went down by a punch from Jessica. The man's bodyguard was about to strike but suddenly turned around and walked back to his corner.
"Aw Jack you came back for me, I knew you cared for me." Emma said as she entered the room and ran her hand around the side of Jack's face, before throwing the unconscious man from his chair and joining the game.
There were a few yells and the sound of a door slamming. After a few short seconds a large man in a suit was carrying a kicking Zack over his shoulder. "He was ogling the girls and got into a fight with Arcade." The man tossed Zack onto the card table. "He lost. What shall we do with him."
"That will be all. You may leave." Said Emma as she moved some of her cards around. The large man left the room. "So Jack, taking in strays now are we?"
"Whoa…nice costume." Zack said as he looked at Emma's cleavage.
"Zack get up." Jessica said in an angry tone.
"Oh right, sorry about your game folks." Zack leaped off the table and took a spot next to Jack.
"So you want me to help with Cerebro?" Emma asked.
"How did she-" Zack was about to ask but was interrupted.
"Reading minds again huh? Yes we need your help, won't tell you why. You know you're the only one who can help, after all it wouldn't be the first time you've been at the Xavier institute."
Emma Frost shuddered. "Don't remind me."
'Emma.' Shaw called out psychically.
'What is it Shaw?'
'Take the opportunity. This is the perfect opportunity for Jason to do what we were planning so we don't need the help of these idiots.'
'Fine I'll do it.'
"Okay you got yourselves a deal. But I will ask something in return."
"Deal! Whatever it is, just please find her." Jessica urged rather desperately.
"Okay you have yourself a deal, my price will be named at a later date. First I'll need my bodyguard so I'll meet you three outside." Emma left the room to go find her 'bodyguard'. 'JASON! Make yourself look like you're a bodyguard its time for a job.'
"Zack, Zack he's a Lego-maniac." Zack song for the fifth time as the three members of the Friends Of Mutants Everywhere continued to wait for Emma Frost and her bodyguard.
"Zack stop singing that!" Jessica groaned. "You've sang the same part over and over for the last five minutes."
"It was only five times." Zack replied and quickly ran behind Jack when Jessica raised her fist. "Besides everyone needs a theme song, and mine just happens to be an annoying one. That'll teach my enemies."
"What is taking so long?" Jessica asked urgently, every second they weren't looking for Katie was another second off the girl's life.
"Relax Jessica, I'm sure Katie's safe. How far could she possibly have gotten?" Jack consoled as he put a comforting arm around the distraught woman's shoulder. "She's probably right under our noses."
"Aw…GROUP HUG!" Zack changed his arms shape to stretch and hug both Jack and Jessica. "Jack…your hair smells nice…"
"Okay someone needs to go back to the car." Jack said as he nudged Zack off of him.
A white stretch limousine pulled up to the group and the back window unrolled to reveal Emma Frost covered by a white cape. "I'll meet you at the Xavier Mansion." Emma informed as she rolled the window up and the vehicle disappeared from sight.
"We waited around for that? I'll be in the car!" Jessica said with a frustrated growl as she walked off towards the car.
"Jack…didn't we give the car to these guys to get in?" Zack asked as he watched the angry red head stomp off.
"Yes, yes we did. Quick let's run now before she realizes there's no car!" Jack said as he ran across the front lawn of the estate.
"Hey no fair! I should've thought that! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEADER!" Zack said as he sprinted off after the "leader."
After the mutants Beelzebub and Shift in civilian form arrived at the mansion, without Jessica. They opened the doors and were greeted with the sight of Emma Frost and Jean Grey staring each other down. A few of the students, mostly the boys, were gathered around taking bets on who would come out victorious or if they would kiss, Bobby being the only one to think of that.
"Oh this won't end well." Jack said as he took in the scene before him and left to go find Magneto. "Zack do something!" he shouted as he left
Zack nodded and ran up to the other boys. "What's the dillio?" He asked still watching the scene in front of him.
"The blonde hottie over there said something about Jean being second rate and a few other words that just made her seem hotter." The New Mutant Roberto said as he put a few dollars into Sam's hand.
"Yeah and were taking bets on who will win, strike first, and of course kiss." Bobby replied.
"200 dollars on the redhead." Zack said as he pulled out the only money Jack had given him since he arrived at the Mutant Apartments.
Most of the boys heads turned to Zack, "Are you nuts? Blondie is much more built…in more ways then one." Ray replied as his eyes drifted back to Emma.
"Yeah but they don't call redheads fiery for nothing. NEVER EVER make one mad…or you'll regret it…which reminds me we ditched Jess…" Zack replied.
Their was a collective gasp as Jean pulled her fist back and sent it into Emma's jaw causing the blonde to fall the floor limp holding her jaw. Jean breathed heavily then stormed off towards her room. The boys quickly ran over to Emma to be the first to have the chance to help her up.
Zack quickly took the money from Sam's hand before he used his powers to get their first. "I did something Jack," Zack said quietly as he counted the money. He left a 20 for the others that bet on Jean, though he knew they had paid more.
The shape shifter walked passed the boys and Emma as she pulled herself up without help. "You!" She yelled at Zack's back.
The shape shifter pocketed his money and turned to face the angry blond. "Don't look at me! You're the idiot who decided to piss of Red." Zack replied smirking.
"You should've been here to protect me!" Emma replied as she swung her hand for effect, causing the surrounding boys to move away as the hand came back.
"You have a bodyguard." Zack's response was Emma falling to the floor again with a loud thump.
Emma reached out with her mind and warned Jean not to trip her again. This time she put her hand out and each boy tried to grab it first, only it latched onto Zack's who had intended to scratch his head. He got her mid way off the ground before someone spoke. "Ooh hey Zack, someone named Bailey called and said that she and the others would be over later." Kitty said as she passed the scene in the hall.
Zack's face deadpanned and he dropped Emma to the floor again and ran off for a place to hide.
The money boys pulled up Emma off the floor, she thanked them with a little bow giving them a sight that made a few faint, then quickly walked off to the lower levels to Cerebro. 'Jason, hurry it up. That scene better have given you the opportunity for it almost cost us our cover.' Emma sent telepathically with a wince as she touched her bruised cheek.
Emma put the helmet on and immediately Cerebro began its search. Emma grinned as she used the machine to search for the girl, for a few moments there was nothing, then the girl appeared out of nowhere. "Found you, Jason better be finished."
Wow…that took forever. It also wasn't that good in my opinion, after awhile I just stopped trying and just got this end result. Sorry I had a friend over from out of time, which would just not relinquish the Internet or computer so I had no chance to update, he also would not go home, however the next one will be up sooner then this I promise. Sorry again. So what did you think? GO on tell me. Come on…review, the faster you review the more it motivates me to start and finish the next chapter.
Also I'm sorry if theirs mistakes and stuff but its 2:30 in the morning and I'm tired so forgive me for the mistakes, just let me know and I'll change them in awhile.
REVIEW! DOOO ITT! Oh right uh please?