Hey guys! I am so so so sorry for the HUUUGE delay between updating, but hear me out. I've just started my second job, and therefore working 13 hour days, safe to say by the time I get home I'm dead and ready for bed! And the weekends are taken up a lot with seeing friends/family. ALSO, my computer is slowly and surely dying on me, and I'm not going to be able to get a new one until some time next year. BUT I have not given up! I'm afraid I can't give you exact update times, but I wills till be writing!
Took me a while to get back into the swing of things this chapter, and its more of a filler for next chapter. Also, I may be making time jumps to ensure the story runs smoother and its not the same old rubbish of lessons/danger room practices etc. This is all thrown together in an hour, so its not great, but I wanted to give you something.
Chapter 8: Trouble
Saturday morning came, and as much as I was enjoying being at the Xavier Institute I was glad to be able to rest. Lessons, homework and squad training were really taking it out of me, but Charlie assured me I would get used to it. "Its easy for you to say, you just don't do homework" I muttered as we lounged in the sun in the lush expanse of the Institute grounds. Annabell was out visiting her parents and Reya was still sleeping, despite it being past noon. I could see Bastion from where we sat, shooting hoops by himself in the courts. I had wanted to approach him, just because he was intoxicating to me – the way he made me all hot and flustered was nice, but I still didn't know if he was just a flirt.
"Easy life bro" Charlie replied, ruffling his brown fauxhaux. He noticed my straying eyes and smirked. "Put your tongue back in your mouth and go over and talk to him"
I felt colour rise in my cheeks but maintained a flat stare at Charlie. "No way. He's too much of a mystery right now, besides, I've been here for a week.. I don't need any relationship drama"
Don't even talk to me about relationships. I sat up with a start as Jean Grey;s voice echoed into my head, using her telepathy to speak as she strode over. Her red hair fell in pretty curls placed just so, with Lacey trailing behind, looking halfway between lost and angry.
I noticed Charlie sit up straighter. "Sorry, but I could hear that thought halfway across the lawn" she said, sitting down opposite us. I waved a hello to Lacey but she just stared vacantly. I was kind of getting used to her now.
"Oh dear... whats up with you and Alex?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes and didnt reply for a second. "He's just such an egotastical, big headed, self absorbed... dick" she said with a defeated sigh.
"Then what are you doing out with him?" I asked. She looked at me for a few seconds, blankly. "You know what?... I don't even know anymore" she said sadly.
Lacey reached out and patted her hand while muttering under hear breath. "I'm sorry Jean, but he is as you so nicely put it 'a dick'. You can do so much better, trust me, hot babe like you would be snapped up like that!" Charlie exclaimed clicking his finger.
"Where is he anyways?" I mused.
"With Lorna Dane" Lacey said bluntly. Jean scowled.
"He does seem pretty chummy with her.. I'm sorry Jean, its not my place..." I said slowly.
"Don't worry, your only saying what Lacey and Charlie are thinking. Its just... I know how bad he really is, but he was the first person I met at the Institute last year, and he was so much... nicer then. Then the semester started and he just became the Alex he is now. I feel like he's part of me being here..." she trailed off, obviously upset.
Struggling to change the conversation I said the first thing that popped into my head. "So what do you guys do on the weekends?"
"Loads go back to see there parents" Charlie said and I felt a guilty feeling flush in my stomach. I had spoken to my parents the day before, and it had been an uncomfortable three minuets. I had arranged to see them soon.. no particular time, just.. soon. "But normally we go out and do something. And its our last free weekend for three weeks.. lets do something fun"
"Lets go bowling!" Lacey screeched, making everyone jump. "I love bowling!"
"No Lacey.. we go bowling most weekends because of your obsession.. lets do something good"
"Hang on.. last free weekend?" I interjected, frowning.
"Well... next weekend, Miss Frost is coming" I looked at Charlie stupidly. "Of course, you don't know... basically Miss Frost runs a place a bit like this called the Academy of Tomorrow. Every three months she and her best squad visit and we have a 'friendly' competition... but a lot of people take it seriously. Miss Frost used to be a supervillian" he finished.
"And Xavier just welcomes her with open arms?" I gasped.
"Yeah.. him and him only. Miss Munroe hates her with a passion.. of course she'd never admit it to any of the students but you can just tell. Apparently she turned over a new leaf a few years ago... I still say I don't trust her"
"Xavier trusts her! He's the world's most powerful telepath, I think if anyone can know if she's being genuine, he can" Jean said rather scathingly. Charlie simply batted her comment away.
"You must be forgetting she's also a telepath, and quite a powerful one too. Okay, not as strong as Xavier, but who knows what mind tricks she can do? Besides Jean, your only sticking up for her because she thinks you've got real potential" he teased.
"Don't say that about Jean!" Lacey suddenly shouted, standing up and glaring daggers at Charlie. His face fell and he began to stutter, but she simply flicked her hair over her shoulder and stormed off.
"Ah man..." he sighed, his head in his hands.
"You know what she's like Charlie... you just have to get used to it" Jean said sympathetically.
"Theres no way shes gonna go out with me" he said despairingly.
After lots of umming and ahhing we decided to go to the cinema. After waiting for an hour and a half for Jean and Lacey (who seemed to have forgotten about her outburst at Charlie earlier) to get ready, me, Charlie, Jean, Lacey, Reya and Mario set out. As we exited the cinema, I let loose a big yawn.
"Watching films always makes me tired"
"Well perk up, I say we go to a few bars!" Mario grinned handsomely, rubbing his hands together.
"Yeah, cos' all of us can get in can't we" Jean said sarcastically.
"Look, stick with me ladies, I know a few bouncers..."
"Wait.. shut up Mario, everyone shut up!" Jean suddenly hissed, frowning in concentration. Suddenly she glanced up the street, in particular at a group of about ten men striding, all wearing big baggy coats. They may have looked a little suspicious, but in the city strange things were a norm, and they all talked excitedly.
"Finished?" Charlie said with a laugh as the men strode past. Jean however, kept her narrowed eyes on the men's backs as they turned into a side street. "What is it Jean?" Lacey asked.
"Those men... they're about to do some serious damage.." she said quietly.
"Obviously Jean, they're about to hit the town! Like we should, so I say we start off at..."
"I'm serious Mario! I could hear there thoughts so loudly, and Xavier has already taught me how to block out all the loud thoughts! I had to, otherwise I'd be in agony with all these people and thoughts.. but they came through clear and strong.. they are excited to go and do something bad.. and I know it had something to do with mutants!" Jean hissed angrily. I could tell she was being serious straight away.
"We have to go after them!" Lacey barked, already walking off.
"Hold on.. Hold it Lacey! We cant go running after them! It could be anything, Jean could have been wrong -"
"Which I'm not!" she shouted as we all half walked half jogged to keep up with Lacey.
"Look Lacey, lets at least talk about this!" Charlie called after her "We need to let Xavier or the authorities know!"
"Wait Lacey... oh for god's sake!" I shouted, suddenly getting angry. Instantly, a light purple wall of telekinetic energy sprung up in front of Lacey. She bumped into it and tried to carry on walking before cottoning on and spinning round to regard me with a murder stare.
I glanced around, thankful for the empty side street. "We can't go running off after these men, it could be seriously dangerous! Besides, it could be a misunderstanding" I noticed Jean rare up to shout, but I carried on talking strongly "I'm not saying your wrong Jean, it could just be all taken in the wrong context"
"I don't know Max... I've heard of people like this. Anti-mutant extremists.. didn't you hear about the house that was burned down killing the family in it, cos' the boy was a mutant? They are dangerous.."
"Which is exactly why we shouldn't be going after them, and leaving it to the proper people!" I insisted. I knew I was sounding wimpy, but if these people were as dangerous as Mario insisted, I didn't want to get in over my head.
"Well you can wait around, but I'm not!" Lacey screeched, shoving me and breaking my concentration and dashing off before any of us could respond. With many shouts and swear words we ran after her, round the corner into the back alley.
A huge warehouse stood, with loud beats and disco lights shining through the windows. Lacey was already pushing her way through the queue outside. "Of course! Its 'Freak'" Mario said, slapping his head. Taking in everyone's confused glances he explained. "Its a nightclub for mutants.. clubs like this have been cropping up everywhere"
"So they must be out to cause trouble! There thoughts.. the venue.. fits perfectly" Charlie said with a raised eyebrow. "Never mind that, what about Lacey!" Jean hissed, dashing over to the door.
Lacey was causing quite a stir, a lot of the mutants outside were shouting angrily about her pushing, but she was also arguing quite loudly with the doormen, two hulking men, one with red eyes, the other with unnaturally large hands and feet.
"But you have to listen, there are men in the queue who are going to cause trouble!" she shouted, fuming.
"Sorry lady, no I.D, no entry.. besides, we'll take care of any trouble" the large handed man grunted.
"Lacey! What are you doing!" Jean shouted, trying to grab her arm.
"No! Get off Jean! They have to understand" she retorted angrily, shrugging Jean off.
"Jean's right Lacey, we can ask to speak to the manager or something" I said, catching my breath. Charlie and Mario were staring over at the group of men, further back in the line. The men were staring back, not looking impressed. They began to mutter amongst themselves, before turning back, looking angry.
"Either sort her out, or clear off!" the red eyed man shouted, pushing her firmly away. With a shout of rage Lacey tried to lash out, but Jean was already there, pulling her away.
"Lacey... we are GOING!" Jean shouted, struggling with the thrashing blonde. With an effort we moved a little away.
"We have to stop this Jean.. you know we do! You know my mum was killed by people like them! Get off me!" she roared, struggling free but staying still, a mask of rage across her face.
"I know your upset Lacey, and we will do something.. but you can't go charging off"
"Jean's right.. just chill" Charlie said slowly, putting his arm around her. After a few moments, a sly smile crossed her face before she linked her hand with his over her shoulder. It wasn't normal.. these mood swings. Mario still eyed the men, who were now glaring over.
"What are we going to do?" I asked. "I think your idea is best Max, lets ask to speak to the manager, at least then we can make him understand. If he doesn't do anything... we call the Institute and tell them." Jean said with a nod.
But it was then that I noticed it. Lacey's eyes glowed bright white, and as did Charlie's. Jean saw too, and her face fell. Before we could speak, both of them turned on there heel and ran straight over to the men, Lacey roaring. Charlie's arms burst into pure flame, and he swung one forwards, a fiery blast shooting before him. The men dived out of the way, shouts ensuing.
"Lacey! No!" Jean screeched. "She's used her mind control powers.. on Charlie!" she said horrified, running over. Mario was already ahead of me, attempting to pull Charlie away by his jacket, but with an unnatural sneer Charlie turned and swung a blazing fist at Mario. Before I could shout out, Mario had raised both hands, now glowing blue and clasped them over the fist at the last second.
Smoke rose from Charlie's fist as Mario's water powers extinguished his flames, but Lacey was now throwing herself into the men, fists swinging and kicking. The men now ripped off the baggy coats to reveal baseball bats and planks of wood, and to my horror, they began to swing them at her. Jean was using her telekinesis to try and put a barrier around Lacey, but she was moving to fast.
I left Mario to Charlie and ran forwards, the familiar echo reverberating in my head. I swung a burst of psychic energy at one clump of the men, slamming them straight back into the wall. I sidestepped a swinging bat and released a blast to send him sprawling back into a group of distressed mutants. Most of the queue had now dispersed, now screaming and shouting. The doormen were trying to reach the ruckus, but two of the men swung and smashed at them, keeping them back.
Lacey now had blood dripping down her face, but she was to busy in her rage to notice, grabbing one man's face, her eyes glowing again. The glow sparked in his own eyes, and he stood rigidly as he turned to his companion, bringing his own plank to connect sickeningly with the man's shoulder, who crumpled.
"Lacey! Stop it!" I roared, receiving a light blow on my back. I spun and without thinking released a blast of energy – the man shot backwards as if on a bungee string.
Two more men were now under Lacey's influence, turning on there own, delivering brutal smashes and blows. I felt a rush of heat over my head and turned to see Charlie and Mario now coming to our side, Charlie's eyes back to normal. Both of them had sustained minor cuts in there own scuffle, but neither bothered to argue – there main concern was us.
The men's numbers now dwindled, with only three of them left, the others on the floor. The men who Lacey had been controlling now lay, unconscious on the floor. With a grunt, Jean managed to encase Lacey in a telekinetic bubble. She beat and scratched and kicked, but Jean stood firm, gasping for breath.
"Mutie scum!" One man spat, but a well aimed whip of water lashed across his cheek, smashing his head into the wall behind him.
Finally the club's doormen reached us, instantly knocking out the remaining two men as if they were dolls. They then turned to us. "What the FUCK do you think your doing!" the red eyed man roared, actually advancing on me, who stood nearest. Before I could think, a 'bamf' noise and a cloud of purple smoke billowed in between us.
Nightcrawler stood, dressed in casual attire once more, one hand holding his fencing sword, the other a fist. His yellow eyes narrowed on the man. "Back. You know I'm part of the X-men.. we will deal with this" he hissed. The man took a step back after a moment, still seething.
"We?..." Charlie said.
"Yes, Mr Brookes. We." came a familiar voice. We spun on the spot to see Professor Munroe and Professor Summer's standing there, both dressed in black attire, Professor Munroe with a wide cape. Both outfits had a red X emblazoned on the belts.
"Into the X-jet... now" Professor Munroe said, as cold as ice, motioning the huge, impressive looking sleek black hovering airplane behind her.
As one, me, Jean, Charlie and Mario gulped.