The Boogie Man
Sequel to Kittens Have Claws, Too. Victor, Katherine, Tayla and Mystique discover the secret to helping keep female ferals alive…But will nightmares be the setback for an old friend, or will her personal Boogie Man be the one to save her soul.
I DON'T own them…at this point I wish I did…I would put them all out to pasture and go on with my LIFE…SOMEONE get Victor Creed OUT of my head. Wait, never mind. (Victor muse purring in the background as he throws back the covers on the bed…) I am going to pet the kitty while you guys enjoy the story.
Chapter 14
He looked at the devastation caused by those freaks. His people were injured, the facility in ruins. Those damned freaks had killed half his men, destroyed six of the new Sentinel Robots and had taken the prisoners. He KNEW exactly where they were going, that jet wasn't that hard to recognize. Xavier had some explaining to do; now he just had to decide exactly how he wanted to handle this.
He had other issues to deal with – his precious family for one. He'd found out his new 'step mother' was hiding out at Xavier's as well – and he had plans for her, and the rest of her freak family. He hadn't been able to track down his father – yet, and had had the pleasure of putting a knife into his precious mother's gut just this afternoon.
"Tribune."
"What."
"What do you want us to do with her?" He looked over his shoulder. Megan was hanging unconscious between two of his guards.
"Finish her like the whore she is – then send her body to Xavier's. I'm sure her sister will appreciate being allowed to bury her." He had no further use for that piece of mutant trash. Her blood work had come back – she had a latent X gene, and he couldn't allow himself to breed with a mutant. At least her body would give him a surprise factor when he attacked that breeding ground they called a school.
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"Report."
"No sign of them yet, Logan confirmed they are here – but they are not easily accessible."
"I want them – at least one of them. I want to know what they were doing to those mutants." Erik said into the microphone. Mirage cut the connection. It was a waiting game. His job was to get in – find them – convince them to come out to the grounds where Pyro and Avalanche would take them and bring them to him. He wouldn't hurt them – if they gave him the information he wanted. He didn't know who these women were, or what they had been doing in that facility, but if his brothers and sisters were being harmed or experimented on he would put a stop to it.
He was also concerned, he hadn't heard from Mystique or Sabretooth in several weeks. He didn't expect to hear from the feral, he was trying to infiltrate this organization, but Mystique had just left. He didn't want to admit it but he was worried. This wasn't like her. He settled in to wait. Mirage would succeed, he had no doubt.
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She looked at her children huddled in the back of the plane; some of them were just CHILDREN. One pair barely fourteen, she was going to KILL that offal offspring of hers. She looked at the blood soaked bandage around her middle. He would pay for this – pay with his life if she had anything to say about it. He was the biggest mistake she'd ever made – letting him live in the first place.
"Myst, are you alright." Nancy asked. She was one of the older girls, one of the first Myst had found.
"It hurts – in more ways than one." She muttered.
"As soon as we get there – let them give you something for the pain."
"I will – but I wasn't going to rest until we got you out safe."
"Momma bear – you need to heal." Nancy grinned at her. Mystique glared at the Ice mutant who was looking at her in shock. All of the X-Men had been shocked when the twelve young people had rushed around her, not letting anyone near her when she was injured. Her children had carried her to the plane after she'd been stabbed, they had treated her wounds
"There's trouble at the mansion – a metamorph." Storm said accusingly.
"That would be Mirage – he works for Erik. He can mimic look and voice but can't take on every aspect of his disguise." Mystique said.
"Logan said it couldn't change it's scent."
"Definitely Mirage then."
"Why are you helping us?" Storm asked suspiciously.
"You are helping us." Mystique looked at the weather witch.
"I don't want any of our students getting hurt." Storm said with a snarl.
"I didn't want any of my children getting hurt – we can deal with whys later, right now, we need to keep Kat and Tayla safe." Storm gave her a curt nod.
She could feel the poison girl glaring at her, but she ignored her. Rogue had surprised her, treating both her and Toad as one of the team, expecting them to work together, and until Graydon's attack, there had been no complaints. Once she'd been attacked, the children had taken things into their own hands – most of the deaths at the compound had been retaliation for her being injured – and the attack on their safe house, the loss of their siblings.
Mortimer sat next to her, helping to support her. He'd used his goop to seal the wound, it worked fairly well, until they could get her to the plane and bandaged. She could see concern in his eyes – something she rarely saw. He'd become attached to the children as much as she had, and he also had hopes of a mate of his own someday.
Her mind was wondering – blood loss was taking its toll. She could feel the plane start to descend as she closed her eyes. Her children were safe – for now.
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He watched the plane land in the hanger. This body wasn't as durable as it looked, and he grew tired very easily. He knew they'd succeeded – that they had saved lives – but taken some as well. He was going to have to calm Rogue and Storm. Mystique and Toad had surprised him, acting with teamwork he hadn't expected from two such independent mutants. They would be good permanent additions to the team – if he could convince them to stay.
There was danger looming – he could sense it. This was simply the tip of the sword, and the bulk of the thrust was still on its way, he just hoped their armor and defenses were up to the task of deflecting it. He smiled at his imagery; such martial images usually came from Logan.
The back ramp of the plane dropped and four young people came out first carrying a stretcher between them. Mystique's blue form laid there, a bloody bandage around her middle. Hank was waiting in med lab, ready for her. He nodded to the four as Bobby stepped forward to guide them. The other eight came down from the ramp, bedraggled and dirty, but there were rooms ready for them. He was shocked to see two children not much older than thirteen or fourteen with arms wrapped around each other like lovers. Some of his own students were waiting to guide these new guests to their rooms.
"Professor – this ain't the end of this." Rogue said as she approached.
"I know."
"They went wild – berserk." Storm said.
"Do you blame them – remember Stryker's attack here."
"It ain't the same."
"It's very much the same – they were attacked, I am surprised at their restraint to be honest. We only had one feral to protect you children then – there are a dozen of them, and they lost sixteen more."
Storm just nodded. "I understand – but the Friends of Humanity will NOT take this lying down."
"I expect retaliation – and am preparing for it. I don't like the idea but we may have to look to our 'brethren' for help."
"You'd go ta Magneto?"
"If it means keeping MY children safe, yes." He said fiercely. He knew his children could defend themselves to a point – but with the forces of an organization like the Friends of Humanity arrayed against them – any and all assistance would be petitioned and appreciated.
The two women nodded – and then left to change out of their uniforms. He focused his mind to let Logan and Victor know the children were safe.
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"They're here." Logan said simply, looking at Kat and Tayla leaning on the headboard of the bed. Both women had been silent since being confined to the room.
"It ain't safe ta take them out." Creed snarled.
I think it is – we may need Erik's help. If he knows you are here he might be willing to talk. I think its time to use his own plan to bring him to the table.
Victor growled, and Logan echoed the sentiment silently. He hated the idea of allowing that megalomaniac anywhere near the school.
Victor stepped away from the door and both women leapt for it. Logan chuckled.
"You two ain't goin anywhere alone." He said, stepping away from the window and following them out into the hall, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as Victor followed him out. He HATED Creed being behind him – for any reason. He could smell the metamorph nearby, and knew they were about to be approached. He looked back and nodded at the other man.
"There you are – everything is clear." The fake Kitty said as he came around the corner. Mirage wasn't nearly as talented as Mystique.
"Where are the kids?" Tayla asked.
"Downstairs being checked out. Before you go down, the Professor wants you to come with me." Victor growled and grabbed the metamorph by the throat.
"I don't think so, Mirage." He snarled, and snatched a radio transmitter from the now shifting metamorph. His skin was tinged a dark green instead of blue like Mystique but he had the same neon yellow eyes.
"Creed – what are you doing here?" He said in his atonal voice.
"None of your business." Logan watched Creed slam the kid into the wall, knocking him cold.
"I guess that's one way to get Magneto's attention."
"No – I just don't like the kid." Creed said with a snort.
"VICTOR!" Kat snapped.
"SHUT it, woman." He said as he turned on the transmitter.
"Mirage – report."
"It's Creed."
"What are you doing there?"
"Not important – what was Mirage doin here?"
"He was supposed to be bringing me one or both of the women – the ones who were breeding the ferals."
"Fuck that!"
"WHAT did you say? Creed you are supposed to be…"
"You are a stupid old man – and I'm sick of bein your errand boy. You touch my wife – and I'll kill ya myself."
"Your WHAT!"
"My wife, Dr. Katherine Creed. You'd think you'd figure that part out at least – but then again you ain't put me and Graydon together either." He could hear the older man sputtering on the other end of the radio.
"I'm givin you one choice, Mags – get your ass in here – with whatever goons you have waiting to kidnap my wife – and talk to Xavier, or I'm coming after you."
"You wouldn't dare."
"You threatened my wife and cub – damn straight I'd dare." Logan was leaning on the wall, wheezing from trying not to laugh out loud. Tayla was just staring at Victor in shock while Katherine was standing there both hands on her hips, tapping her feet. "Ten minutes, Mags, or I hunt ya down."
"Victor."
"Xavier said he wanted ta talk to him – best way to do it – and get him the hell off your back."
Logan just shook his head – not how he'd handle it – but then again, he'd have just hunted him down, without giving him the choice.
The four of them stood at the top of the stairs, waiting to see if Erik and crew would show up. Eight minutes later the door opened and three men walked in, Pyro, Erik and a man Logan didn't know.
"JAN!" Tayla said with surprise, and flew down the stairs.
She threw herself into the strange man's arms and he spun her around, a huge grin on his face.
"How are you doing, Tay?" He smiled. Logan let out a low predatory growl. It wasn't lost on anyone in hearing distance.
"YOU quit – he was my prom date." Tayla snapped at him. That caused him to do another double take – she snapped at him. Something was going on with her – and he needed to figure it out SOON. Kat and Victor walked down the stairs, Kat hugging the stranger as soon as she was able. Creed shook his hand.
"How ya been, kid?"
"Good boss."
"BOSS!" Erik hissed.
"Yeah – someone had to keep an eye on you."
"Avalanche works for me." Creed said to Magneto. Logan just watched from the stairs. The dumbfounded expression on Lensherr's face was almost worth all the pain he'd been through to get to this point, and then the kid kissed his mate.
He let out another growl.
"Logan – Janos, Janos – this is Logan, my mate." She said, sticking out her tongue.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. If you want company between cycles look me up." This time Creed growled and Logan grinned as the presumptuous stranger dropped his arms from around Tayla.
"Right, boss, sorry."
"You bastard." Pyro said, stepping forward, his flamethrowers out and pointed at Janos.
"I'm sick of this jerk." Victor said, picking Pyro up by his collar and shaking him like a ragdoll.
"Victor put St. John down." Charles said as he wheeled into the room, a crowd of young people behind him. All of them rushed to Kat, Tayla and Victor, and suddenly Logan understood a whole lot.
Every one of them hugged Creed and Kat, but it was Tayla they all turned to. She was the center, everything revolved around her, and she was the glue that held it all together. He watched her smile, and cry and laugh with these children – and realized he had to share her – even if she finally turned to him – he was going to have to share her with them, and he didn't mind one bit. He smiled and walked down the stairs and took his place behind Charles' chair.
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She watched him come down the stairs – nothing monstrous about him. He smiled at her before taking a stand behind Professor Xavier's chair. She smiled at him. She didn't know why, but something had changed, and her fear was gone. He was her mate – she had nothing to fear.
Her children surrounded her, talking and smiling, glad she was safe, angry about what had happened. She tried to hear what was going on with the rest of the room, but suddenly they were all drowned out by the sound of a helicopter over the building. She watched as something heavy – and bloody dropped to the driveway outside the front door and the helicopter sped away.
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Death – he smelled death. Something heavy and very dead dropped onto the driveway outside the door. He saw his mate's face pale, his nose wrinkled at her spike of fear, but then she turned – to him, slipped to his side, through the crowd around her, and let him put an arm around her, letting her know he'd protect her and the child.