Chapter III: Daydreams and Nightmares
A/N: I don't think I've described how I see Sam well enough.
But this what I imagine:
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I don't own X-men or Harry Potter or the image
-October 20th, 1998 Gymnasium 1:00pm
Art is Samantha's least favorite class, not because she can't copy the details perfectly on paper, which she couldn't, or because she has trouble imagining things, her dislike stemmed from the eternal battle of wills between her two closest friends, Jean and Rogue. Rogue is usually curios about Samantha's past but otherwise few word are exchanged, but when she's around Jean a certain animosity rears its' ugly head. When the PA announced an emergency school meeting at the gymnasium during said class Samantha felt a great deal of relief that was until of course the problem with seating arose. Now two teams of hormonal angsty teenage mutants flanked her on each side. The Brotherhood, as they called themselves were annoying, both Lance Alvers and Pietro Maximoff, or as they preferred Avalanche and Quicksilver, were on a prolonged ego trip and wanted to impress her with their abilities; Todd Tolansky was a toad and had vulgarly attempted to 'put the moves' on her, she threatened to sever his legs from his torso should he ever step out of line, he now feared her; and then there was Fred Dukes, better known as the Blob, had to learn to fear her, he had attempted to belittle and intimidate her and that was unacceptable; she had punched his right shoulder once and that set off a chain reaction of contracting pressure points, they avoided each other when possible. The reason the X-Men were sitting so close to their ebonies was simple Scott Summers felt threatened, how exactly she didn't know nor did she care, so he sat next to Jean and the team copied surrounded him. Duncan sat one row behind Samantha was glaring at her.
Principal Darkholme entered with her usual elegance and the student body went silent. "Good afternoon student, I have a few announcements so listen well." She glares in the X-Men's direction before continuing. "The first thing on the agenda, I am officially announcing the Halloween dance." The student cheered. "and the second announcement; we have a number of guests today, now please give a warm welcome to the Avengers." She sounded less than amused but was drowned out by the explosion of sound from the stands. The first and only one to walk in was a tall man in a blue suit and a round shield, Steve Rogers also known as Captain America; next came in a man in red and gold armor, he flew around the gym a few times before landing next to the captain, Tony Stark, inventor and former weapon smith suddenly a woman in a black and yellow flight suit and a man dressed in red and black grew out of floor, Henry Pym and Janet van Dyne. Principal Darkholme looked less than pleased with the team presence her school. She passed the microphone to the Captain.
"Good afternoon Bayville." He said with great cheer. "We've come to talk to you about the dangers of criminality…" Samantha tuned out his words, from the footage she had been shown there were two of the Avengers missing one code named Black Widow and the other Hawkeye, The files claimed they were both trained assassins of the highest caliber and it would make sense that they wouldn't be used publically as spoke people, but… there was always a but something told her that there was something off. A big hero group visiting a high school just a bit over a week after she moved there was ringing various alarms in her head. She made to stand and out of the corner of her eye she saw a shimmer in the light, the gym had too many scents mixed together there so there was no way of telling if she had seen what she had perceived to see or if it was a trick of the light. The next indicator would be when she began to move Stark was watching her, a hand latched onto her wrist naturally she turned around, her eyes locking with Jean. "What's wrong?" concerned why would she be? Her body showed no out ward expression of being troubled… pheromone levels were normal… body language was neutral… she was certain no indicators were- then it hit her two possibilities she had not considered ether the bond was becoming stronger and at least one of them was open enough to read them or Jean's mutation was slowly evolving and she was developing empathy, the latter would be less cumbersome.
"Nothing at the moment. I just have to go to the bathroom.'
Rogue eyed her worriedly, it was a bad lie Samantha and Rogue knew that but it was believable, and Jean seemed to have believed it. Jean released her. "Alright then… are you sure you're okay? You've been distracted lately." Scott was staring behind his reflective sunglasses not saying a word, but Duncan did.
"Come on, babe, let leave I'm sure she has friends somewhere else." His words lacked wit and were filled with sarcasm. Jean let her wrist go and Samantha made her way to the bathroom. The scent of disinfectant was heavy in the air, but other than that the room was empty devoid of natural scents. The window would be have to be her exit, carefully she removed it from the frame and slipped out. "Ford, I need you." She whispered and the wind carried away her words. The shifting provided her with a human scent behind her, faking stretching her neck she looked back, seeing no one she resumed her regular posture. Her pursuer was using active camouflage, which relaxed her at least it wasn't Kimura that psychopath wouldn't use stealth to deal with her, a chainsaw or a blowtorch would be more her style. Minutes passed before the roar of the engines were hearable to the human ear, the car had gotten a serious over hall, new body, new blue paint, new interior. Ford was happy which was good. Samantha got through the passenger door. "Take me to Gringotts."
-October 20th, 1998 Gringotts Wizarding bank 3:00pm
"You have a mole." She said as Ragnok entered the office, the elderly goblin didn't react he simply walked to his desk and sat down on his oversized leather chair.
"You just noticed?" He acted surprised, in some mistaken notion that it was a good time for humor. "My mother used to say it made me look like her great grandmother." He smiled that crooked smile, Samantha believed he was attempting to get a reaction out of her.
"…" She stared at him blankly.
"Right. You have no sense of humor unless it suits you." He slouched in his chair. "Now, tell me what makes you doubt the loyalty of my employees?"
"The Avengers visited my school today."
"And…?"
"I was being followed by one of them cloaked."
"I am going under the assumption that you managed to loose your pursuer."
"Of course."
"Thank you for bringing this information to me. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Yes," she placed a piece of parchment on the desk. "I would like you to procure these items on this list." Taking the list in his hands the goblin king began to read it.
"As a favor, I shall personally procure the equipment free of charge. The training facility you wish will take some time to build."
"How long?"
"A month. And it will be expensive."
"Can I afford it?"
"Yes, comfortably, very comfortably."
"Please see to it at your earliest convenience."
"Construction crews will be visiting your property in Bayville some time in the afternoon, please leave a letter authorizing them to enter your ground and to instruct you house elves to stand guard. And as for the mole problem do not worry all will end well."
"I am more concerned about who he told of my current residence too, you have clearly stated that the tentative peace in Britain's magical community lies with me staying out of the picture,"
"True, I will have to interrogate the traitor thoroughly."
"Thank you.'
-October 20th, 1998 Bayville plaza 4:00pm
After her talk with Ragnok Samantha had stumbled on the perfect costume for the Halloween dance, and was currently in the bookstore purchasing the series, the books were sill in Japanese so the hadn't sold well. When she finished purchasing the book she was surprised to see a very irritated Rogue waiting outside the store. Dressed in in a dark purple halter-top, long purple gloves that almost came up to her shoulders and knee length with a white chain wrapped around her waist. "Where the HELL have ya been!?"
"I had something to take care of…" Samantha's voice was passive.
"You disappear for over three hours and you expect ME to just let you go with that half assed excuse!" She yells. "Do ya know how worried I was?"
"There was nothing to worry about."
"There's plenty to worry about. I'm you're friend,"
"And as my friend I expect to trust me when I say nothing's wrong."
Frustrated Rogue pulled her into a side alley, "If you don't want to tell me, fine, I'll find out myself." Rogue freed her left hand from her glove.
'Wha-?" Rogue's hand shot up on her forehead, pain erupted from her skull as the sensation of all her energy was being forcibly ripped out of her spread.
- November 7th, 1996, the Facility.
"X-13." Doctor Kinney called her, Samantha looked at through the glass and met the small girl with her fingers entangled in the older woman's hand. She had straight black hair and pale skin. The girl looked up at her with expectant brown eyes. Doctor Kinney tapped the glass getting her attention. "This is your younger sister X-23; X-23 this is X-13 her secondary objective will always be to keep you safe. Understand?"
'Yes." The girl replied quietly in an unused voice. Doctor Kinney smiled lightly before turning around and guiding X-23 out of the lab, but all the while, the two Weapons eyes never broke contact.
"Good." She heard the woman say as the reinforced doors closed with a hiss and she was left alone in floating in the darkness. 'Don't leave me…' Samantha's thoughts echoed.
- January 12th, 1997 the Facility.
Again! The elderly man yelled in Japanese, and the Weapons clashed with their practice. They began their dance with X-23 on the offensive while X-13 blocked and parried each strike. Tsume, you are over extending. Kusanagi you are decent. That was the highest compliment Sensei Tanaka ever gave while training, he wanted absolute perfection and would never settle for less. He acted as a grandfatherly figure outside of training helping them cope with day-to-day life.
'He's presented to me like a gutted piece fish, Zander is smirking, my hate grows and I struggle not to eliminate him. He tells me Laura killed him, but I can smell of drops of the trigger scent. I loose all control and launch myself at him, I kill four of his guard before I'm put under. His fear fed my satisfaction.'
- October 20th, 1998 Back alley
Samantha managed to push Rogue off her, tidal wave of rage washes over her, she strikes at the wall besides Rogues head, nearly falling over herself, she's exhausted she leans against the wall. She looks at Rogue's dazed expression. Samantha slaps her across face. Her lungs struggled to gain oxygen. "Never… do that again…" Clutching her bag filled with books Samantha stumbled away from the quaking girl. Sleep would be for the best for now.
- October 30th, 1998 Bayville high school 11:00am
Samantha had been on a hair trigger for the past ten days, her mind had been warning her of threats that weren't real and her constant avoidance Rogue was obvious to everyone, it quickly became a great source of gossip, Jean had been the first to notice and had attempted reconcile them, but Samantha had been trained well in the art of avoidance.
Opening her locker she felt her instincts flare, suddenly Duncan had slammed his fist on her locker door hitting her shoulder. His hand grabs her by her shoulders and lifts tries to lift her off the floor, so he slams her against the lockers. "Listen and well, I don't care what your problem with the goth is and frankly I don't care. You're upsetting Jean and upset Jean means she doesn't want to do anything except fix whatever's upsetting her, if you don't me and the rest of the-" He didn't get to finish, he had thought Samantha's unchanged facial expressions a sign that she was too stricken to act, his mistake. She had been waiting for him to open his legs wider before launching a devastating kick to his genitals. When her shoulders were free sent a punch to his face knocking him on the floor, he was about to hit him again when she felt a firm hand grab her arm. Pausing, Samantha looked over her shoulder, and lo and behold there was Principal Darkholme was standing behind her with a delicate eyebrow raised.
"What happened?" She asked. Duncan had regained some level of collectedness and managed to wheeze out.
"Crazy… bitch attacked… me out... of nowhere." Principal Darkholme glared at him before turning to Samantha.
"Is that true, Miss Wu?"
"No."
"Do you have any way to prove it?" Samantha nodded and pointed at the security cameras. "Clever girl… Miss Wu, Mister Matthews come with me to my office, there we will learn the truth."
The walk to the office was quiet with Duncan limping behind the two women, Once inside Duncan took the chair and Samantha rested her body on the bookshelf patiently waiting to be exonerated. The video played and all the while Duncan was using every possible excuse he could come up with. His punishment would be a week worth of detention or not being allowed into the Halloween dance, he chose to take the detention and Principal Darkholme left him with a warning should she ever catch him doing such an disgraceful act ever again the result would be rather severe. "Now leave my office I have things to discuss with Miss Wu." Duncan left the office glaring at Samantha. "Now while I commend you for defending yourself; I would like to know what has happened between you and our resident Rogue?"
"It's personal."
"It rarely isn't. Can you give me more?"
"She violated my trust." 'And my mind.'
"I have lost many friends in life you must ask yourself if it's worth loosing a friend over it. You may leave, but please think it over."
-October 30th, 1998 Black Estate 10:00pm
The windows are shut, curtains draped, all the candles snuffed, and the lady of the house sat in the corner hands over her ears, her body encroached in on itself, her ice blue eyes wide in perpetual fear, and a cold sweat coating her skin. The screams of the dead echo all around her there is no escape. She wants to run, she wants hide, but she can't, they find her in the darkest places. Her mother, her father, Sirius, Cedric, Sensei Tanaka, and… Jean.
Fear, desperation, and pain permeated the atmosphere. A scream tried to escape her lips but its swallowed by the surrounding madness. She barely registers the shattering window above her or the animalistic roar following it, all she knew was that she couldn't see them so they couldn't see her.
Rationality crept slowly back into her mind, Logan stood over her claws ready and eyes glaring at the shifting entity. His right claw suddenly dug into Jean's stomach and it stopped screaming, its attention now shifted from Samantha to Logan, dispersing into a cloud of smoke it took the form of an oriental woman with log black hair and a beautiful angular face, her brown eyes were red with tears she dressed in an elegant pink kimono, she staggered back as three puncture wounds sprouted from her chest staining her clothes. "Naze Logan? Naze?" it asked with a trembling voice.
Logan stood stunned, his face contorted into what could only be described as pure agony. "It can't be… Itsu…" tears fell from his eyes. While the Boggart was distracted she noticed the house elves levitate a rather heavy wooden trunk into the room. The boggart fell to its knees prompting Logan to approach it, blood was leaking from its mouth and the normally stoic man was on breaking. This would be her only chance.
"NOW!" She yelled and a series of white flashes sent the spirit hurtling into the wooden chest. Logan tried to catch her but was ultimately too slow, chains wrapped around wooden chest, in his desperation to save the woman he raised both claws in attempt and swung them in a downward arc but was met with resistance halfway. Samantha blocked the strike intertwining her claws in the shape of an x. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Saving her!" He shouted pushing his weight down.
"There is no her!" She snarled, kicking his leg disrupting his balance. "Its an illusion Logan! Whoever that boggart was, isn't in that chest." Shifting her own she threw him over the chest and sprang into the air, her knees slamming onto his chest pining him to the floor.
"I have to save her!" He struggles, arms trying to throw her off.
"There is no-!" She felt it before she saw it, adamantium piercing her lung to her heart. The scent of blood was sobering, it clogged her airways and her body tried to expel it through her mouth. She detests healing lungs, they take an eternity to mend and all the while blood seeps in into them lungs. She cough a glob of blood hits Logan's face. Several elves hit him with stunners before the rest carried their mistress to her room.
- October 31st, 1998 11:00am
Samantha carried a bucket of water and ice in her hands as she marched to find her father, she wasn't in a very 'happy' mood and wanted to wake Logan in a very unpleasant way, She had already made sure that the elves had buried that thing so deep in the ground that no one would ever find it. She entered room were she had encountered the boggart and found him sleeping on the floor. Without hesitation she threw the ice and water at him, and as the water impacted his face she threw the bucket at him as well. Logan cursed a number of rather harsh words, Samantha just stared at him with arms crossed under her breasts, her usual blank expression on her face. "Good, you're awake." She monotone. "Breakfast is in two minutes, the house elf will bring you a change of clothes.' Logan stared at the small greyish humanoid creature before absently nodding his head. With the confirmation Samantha made her way to the dining room to await her meal. Logan came down dressed in a very fine white suit and black shirt. She gestured to the seat next to hers that he promptly took. The house elves brought in eggs and sausage and a bottle of pumpkin juice. "Bring a bottle of firewhiskey for our guest." An elf nodded before snapping away. Logan was looking at her strangely.
"These creatures are known as house elves, they are a servant spicies that for some odd reason find happiness in servitude." Samantha explained. "Unless abused in which case they will attempt to have their masters dismiss them."
"What was that thing from last night?" he asked next.
"That was a boggart, nasty beast with the ability to shift into your greatest fear."
"So Jean's your, gotta admit didn't see that one coming." He chuckled.
"No, I fear having the people I care about taken from me." Her eyes leaver her food and lock into his. 'Who was she?' Anyone that managed to get a rise out of the Weapon X was someone of great interest.
"A ghost."
"Aren't we all?" He sighed.
"Once I had a wife… she was pregnant with my child. There was this rite of passage for men in her village when the wife is with child, you have to prove yourself worthy of being father by fighting. I killed my opponent… when I returned home I found Itsu dead…" She sensed that he was leaving things out but she didn't push things, she looked at her food and began to eat. Soon after Logan did the same. She stopped.
"Why were you outside the mansion?"
"Jean…" He struggled with the appropriate words "… felt your pain and fear."
-October 31st, 1998 Gymnasium 8:00pm
Samantha stood outside the gym silently debating if she should enter the gym or not, she dressed in a white and black body suit with 00 printed on her on navel, her blue eyes were hidden behind red colored lenses, and her short black hair under a shocking blue wig that was being held in place by two cat ear like clips. Her usually identifying tattoos were hidden under layers of base that made her look paler. She was in her opinion unrecognizable, and she enjoyed it. She hadn't spotted Jean, like she'd had been expecting, and she was thankful Rogue seemed to have no interest in this party. A squeal of excitement caught her attention, she turned her head spotting a student from her class, her hair auburn hair in pig tails and she wore a red and orange body suit with the numbers 02 on her navel. The woman weaved past the crowd and made her way to Samantha with a Cheshire like grin. Her eyes were a warm brown like chocolate. She was taller than Samantha, about 177.5 cm.
"Luna." She introduced herself. "Luna DePaula, but you can call me Asuka." She extended her hand. "What can I call you, lovely Rei?"Luna raise her eyebrow suggestively It takes a moment to register that she's being flirted with, it was an odd sensation to be the one being courted, all her programming had taught her to be the seducer… not the other way around. Samantha tilted her head slightly and smiled softly.
"Samantha Wu. We have history together."
Her eyes widened in realization. "Oh, wow… you look so different without the tattoos." Her smile brightens. "Not saying anything against them but you look… wow."
Samantha bowed like she had seen Rei do in the novels. Luna giggled, she grabbed Samantha's arm and dragged her into the gym. Music was booming and students were dancing, Samantha spotted Kurt without his camouflage and an under classman staring at him fondly, her name was Amanda Sefton, who was dressed as a witch, He waved at and she waved back, not sure what to do she allowed Luna to drag her around the gym, she reminded Samantha of Luna in a way and it wasn't just the name, it was in her movements and over all kind personality. Finally Luna made a beeline towards the table with food and sweets. "Hey Nori! Look who I found!" a petit Asian girl of no more than sixteen years, her black hair was cut at the chin, she dressed in a blue, black, and white body suit with 01 on her navel. The girl looked at Samantha with wonder in her eye. "Sam, this is Noriko Ashida. Nori this is Samantha Wu."
"Hello."
"Hi." Nori turns to Luna and does a mock whisper. "You work fast." Which was received with a glare from the much taller girl. Nori gave Samantha a megawatt grin. "So where are you from."
"Surrey."
"Never been."
BAMPH! The flashing lights and loud music managed to hide and no one noticed it, except for Samantha who caught a bit of the smell.
Kurt appeared behind the table and began hording food in his arms. "This party is far out."
"How is it going?" Samantha asked, with a genuine smile. "You sure you should be out like that?"
"The ladies dig the fuzzy dude." He danced away to the rhythm.
Nori raised an eyebrow. "Who was that?"
"Kurt Wagner."
"Really? Cool outfit."
"You have no idea."
Samantha felt a hand on her shoulder, a green eyed wonder woman was standing with what could only be refer to as Hermione's 'we need to talk look' . Gesturing to Luna that she had to talk with Jean, which was met with a very vulpine grin and a hushed hurry back. Samantha let Jean dictate the terms of engagement by letting her take her outside and into the empty parking lot. "What happened with Duncan?"
"When? Duncan and I have had a number of disagreement."
"How about we start with yesterday; why did you attack him?'
"He attacked me, lets make things clear." Samantha said keeping her tone neutral. "What else?"
"Why should I believe you? You're not the one with bruises." Jean was getting irrational.
"First and foremost reason, I'm your friend." Sam moderately raised her voice, emotions could be used to disarm a argument or incite them. "Second reason, the school has the 'attack' as you call it on security video. So I suggest you ask Darkholme for the video." Samantha felt mildly insulted by Jean.
"Alright, now explain rumors; about you throwing yourself at him on the first day of school the? The day after we met? Where you trying to get in my good graces so you could steal him away from me?" Jean is angry and so is Samantha; The words of Sensei Tanaka rung true 'Bonds of friendship wither with jealousy and cannot stand without trust.'
Samantha neutral stance becomes defensive and her expression rather irritated. "Jean Grey, in the weeks I have known you I would have never questioned our friendship, but clearly you have." She grits out through clenched teeth. "If you believe me to be so deplorable that I would something so dishonorable, for the sake of some halfwit beast of a boy…" Samantha's words were coated in in venom. "Then it is I who has misjudged you; and if so I suggest that you kindly SOD OFF!" She finally snarled.
Jean wanted to snap back, but was to stricken to speak. Samantha turned around and began to walk back into the gym. Droplets of rain began to fall but she ignored them in favor of steeling her emotions, she didn't notice the figure that wrapped its arms around her. Her body tensed before noticing the streak of white hair. "What do you want Rogue? I'm not in the mood…"
"Just listen." Rogue asked pleadingly. "I'm Sorry. Ah shouldn't have done what ah did and I understand if you don't want talk to me ever again, but ya gotta understand something too, I'm new to this friends thing and I overreact." Tears stream down her face and Samantha becomes uncomfortable with teary-eyed girl. "Emotions aren't my forte either. You're my first so please, I beg you don't leave me." The girl plants her head in Samantha's chest, and all Sam can do is awkwardly pat her on the back and whisper half hearted 'there, there.'
"Hey Sam, we were wondering if we could hitch a ride later with you my car and phone batteries are…" Luna and Noriko were standing a few feet away. "Never mind."
Samantha quickly and skillfully disentangled herself from the young Rogue.
"Sure. You can even come over to my house if my house if it gets to late."
"So…" Luna begins but was quickly cut of by Noriko.
"Luna signed you up for Karaoke."
"Traidora!"
"And you're up next."
Samantha smiles weakly. "Well Rogue its your lucky night, you finally get to hear me sing."
"Yeah." The smiles forced, but Luna and Noriko take it in jest.
"I'm going to regret this aren't I." Luna asks.
"Maybe."
Just as she opens the door the spotlight is shined on her. Evan is on the microphone dressed as a D.J. was pointing her direction. "Give it up for Bayville newest siren, the student from across the ocean. Samantha Wu everybody!"
The crowd parted in cheer allowing her to pass with no resistance. Once at the D.J booth Evan showed her the list of songs only one sounded familiar. The keyboard began the gentle hums of the songs introduction. She breathed in and out;
"Love, love is a verb
Love is a doing word
Fearless on my breath
Gentle impulsion
Shakes me, makes me lighter
Fearless on my breath
Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my breath
Night, night after day
Black flowers blossom
Fearless on my breath
Black flowers blossom
Fearless on my breath
Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my...
Water is my eye
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath
Teardrop on the fire
Of a confession
Fearless on my breath
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath
Teardrop on the fire
Fearless on my breath
You stumble in the dark
You stumble in the dark."
The silence was deafening as the crowd just stood there with jaws slacked. Kurt was the first one who managed to break from his shock. "Zat was totally wicked!" He wooped and high fived the surprisingly approving Scott, who was dressed as Tron… she guessed. The crowd exploded into cheer. It hurt her heightened ears but did little to dampen her mood of the already salvaged night. Rogue smiled slightly before disappearing into the mass of people. Samantha was shaky on letting Rogue get close but would allow their friendship to grow.
-November 10th, 1998 Bayville High. 12:00pm
Samantha watched the snowflakes fall on her sketchbook, two mountains side by side, they were the keys to finding the Facility. Though she knew they wouldn't lead her to Laura, these people were smart and methodical, the base would be a cold pile of ruble by the time she managed to find it. The geography would have been a great opportunity to learn more about the New England topography, sadly the club had been filled to capacity. Luna was away on the fieldtrip to the Tapoe Caves and Noriko was at the library reading for a term paper. Rogue was supposed to meet her under the tree. Jean was sitting with the other X-Men for once and every now and then she could feel eyes on her but could never find the origin.
An owl landed on the branch next to her with a letter in pinched with its beak. The letter was blank, taking the letter she apologized for not having any treats, the owl hooted indignantly before taking flight. Opening the letter.
Miss Black
We apologize in the delay. Your order has arrived at your residence. We thank you for your services and wish you a happy day.
Our friend is trickier to find than expected…
The letter had no signature but the scent of smoke and iron gave the sender away. Her smile became rather predatory.
A/N: Next chapter will take place before and during Spykecam.