Chapter 21: Torrents

Plot summary: Gaia and her rescuers find themselves stuck in a tricky situation with the police. Logan stole Kim away from the hospitals that could potentially uncover and experiment on her mutant abilities. Everything seems to be going downhill faster than death.

This chapter is now centered around Xavier and his students. What will happen now? Read and find out...

Shout out to Dontgotaclue88! It's not as much as I think you'd like, but here is some closure for you. ;) More to come! Promise!

Another shout out to Obiwanlivesforever! Lol. I will definitely work on my over-description from the last chapter. Let me know what you think of this one whenever you have breathing room! No pressure. (: Thank you so much for helping me out through this all!

Disclaimer: Haha...yeah. Still don't own X-men Evolution. That's not going to happen anytime soon. Trust me. The characters from my imagination are completely my own, however.

Professor. Professor! I need your help!

Charles Xavier jumped in his seat. The words were disappearing from his mind, their swaths of harsh burgundy and russet signaled distress. He wheeled away from Kismet and closed his eyes to concentrate. Out of habit, his two forefingers came up to rest on his temples.

I'm here, he replied quickly, catching its last echos. Where are you? Where can we reach you?

She told him her undisclosed location, fear coating her speech thicker with every word.

Alright. Stay there. Help is coming.

Thank you, Professor.

Despite this newfound urgency, when Xavier turned to catch Logan's eye he found him unchanged. The man gazed down at the weak form before him, frozen. He cradled Kismet's hand as if it were a petal.

"Logan," Xavier murmured, sensing his friend's reaction immediately. Logan's piercing eyes came back to life and he raised his head to look at Xavier square on. Had anyone else been the target of that stare they would have smoldered to ashes on the spot.

"Logan," Xavier repeated, keeping his tone low. "I need you to suit up-"

"Charles," the man interrupted with a growl. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving K-"

"To pick up her mother. She's in a bind and needs our help. Immediately."

Logan opened his mouth and shut it. His glare didn't lessen but rather intensified at this new bit of information.

"Ms. Reid escaped her residence before the police could arrest her," he continued, watching his friend carefully. "How she managed to do this is remarkable, but, she has no where to run. We can offer her sanctuary here."

The news seemed to become a weight on Logan's shoulders. He didn't reply and simply ran a hand through his dark mane of hair; a rumble of dissatisfaction growing from within. Impatience. Stubbornness. This man's sleepless nights were beginning to show.

Xavier felt the emotions rolling off of Logan and knew his answer, but, he waited.

"Charles, I don't think this is a good time. Get Beast to do the job. I am in no condition to leave; my defense, should it be needed, will be pathetic. Besides, Beast can do the job as well as I can."

Xavier looked to the side. At first, he thought about arguing. He didn't doubt Beast's capabilities. Yet, with him and Storm pulling all nighters for reasons he had yet to announce and his students still in training, he wanted Logan's time told experience. In the end, he smiled at his own folly. The blasted man was right.

"Thank you Logan," Xavier said, surprising him into looking up. "That is good counsel. I will leave Kim in excellent care. Touch base if there is anything you both need."

Logan nodded gravely, relief in his gaze.

"You've got it, Charles."

XXXX

Earlier that day. Walking into Bayville High's school yard…

"I don't know why you worry about her. I mean…she's the one that got us in trouble in the first place, Amara. Get real!"

Tabitha frowned at her friend in growing disdain. The other girl had suddenly acquired this weak, whiny sympathy towards Kismet Reid like a disease. Thank god it wasn't contagious. Tabitha possessed no ounce of sympathy for the little brat. To think that she even came to Tabitha to ask for her advice about this was beyond exasperating.

Since when did either of us waver in the fact that we hate Kim? She endeavored to keep her temper in check as she spoke to Amara through clenched teeth, remembering the night when that rat had told on them.

"She spied on us, Amara. Spied. Even went as far as to cry to your Professor X, claiming that she was worried sick. What is there not to like about this jerk?"

Amara didn't flinch at her friend's threatening tone, but felt her stomach knot tighter and tighter. She quickly second guessed her judgment of Tabitha's character. Boom Boom wasn't being as receptive as she thought she'd be. Still, who else was there to talk to? Amara breathed in deeply, desperation catching aflame around the edges of her heart as she gathered her thoughts.

"You're right," she replied, shakily. "You are right! I don't like her. I'm not an idiot. But…can you imagine if that had been us, Boom Boom? If you or I had been the one to receive that horrible news about our deaths'? What then? What would you do? I can't stop thinking about it and wonderi—"

"Forget it," Tabitha snapped. "I'm through arguing with you. This girl deserved what was coming to her."

Amara covered her mouth with her hand, and felt her eyes widen in horror.

"Tabitha," she said, her voice breathless. "Please don't say that. Think about what happened!"

When her friend, one of the women in her life that she considered one of her best friends, stepped towards her and stabbed her forefinger into her sternum, this time, Amara did jump.

The popping, explosive energy transferred itself over Amara's skin, making her hair stand up at the back of her neck. Amara suddenly couldn't breathe and looked helplessly into Tabitha's face. All she saw…was rage.

"Here's the thing, Amara," Tabitha began slowly. "I'm not going to hop over backwards for Kim, just because she ran low on luck. I don't care if her freaking mother died in a car accident. I know better than to associate with people who rat me out, and so should you."

Amara almost swallowed her tongue when Tabitha retreated just as fast as she had advanced. Something besides resentment was rolling around in that girl; something that scared Amara. She couldn't drag her eyes away from her friend.

Visiting rights revoked do suck. Not getting to see each other every day isn't exactly ideal. Yet, our ban was almost up. Why was Tabitha still so angered by this?

Amara knew she had to back track quickly, or Tabitha might just shake her loose like an irritable flea. In the back of her mind, a stronger, sensible side asked what kind of friend would ditch at the drop of a hat? –but she pushed that aside.

Ignored it.

"Fine," she said instead, looking down at the concrete slab beneath her, reeling from the negative energy still fizzing around them both.

"I'm sorry I told you. I'm sorry. Let's just forget it, okay?"

Tabitha's eyes were dangerously snappy, but she nodded, much to Amara's relief.

"Works for me," she quipped. Without a second glance, she stormed off towards the entrance of Bayville High. Amara's fright thickened as a huge shadow fell across the pavement. She whipped around. Up in the sky, a bundle of storm clouds was racing to cover the sun and their bulk cast her in darkness. Tendrils of winter rain fell upon her face and she shivered violently.

"Too many storms to think about," she whispered to herself.

XXXX

The weather continued to dive. Soon, 20 - 40 mph wind gusts crashed into Bayville High. Within second period, the power cut out.

"Alriight, calm down everyone! This isn't a circus. Stay seated until I give you further instructions."

Amara looked around the classroom, her hands quivering. Boom Boom's episode hadn't left her and she'd been jittery all day. Now, the storm's growing intensity only exasperated her thin nerves.

"Just before an exam too," her teacher muttered to herself as she peered out into the dark hall.

Students around her chattered, their voices rising and falling with the tree branches outside. Someone shouted, "School's out for the day, right?" But everyone else stayed put or moved to stand by the windows. Amara felt bile rise in her throat. Something was wrong. Totally wrong.

She could feel it. Automatically, she closed her eyes and fell into her deeper self. Like a reassuring wave, her inner fire rose to greet her and brought news with it. The earth cried out for her to listen.

What? What is it? Tell me! I don't understand!

"Excuse me. Yes, hi. Amara needs to come with me."

Amara was thrown out of her focus and opened her eyes. In front of her teacher, like a pillar of strength, stood Storm. She encompassed the entire door way, her white hair a flash of radiance in the dark room. People began to stare.

"Who are you?" Her teacher asked, her tone full of warning. "Are you her-"

"Guardian? Yes. I am. Unless you want legalities breathing down your neck, I suggest you let me take her home. Where she'll be safe."

Scott peered over Storm's shoulders and motioned for Amara to hurry and grab her bag. With a racing heart, the girl did just that and followed the small entourage of mutants as they practically ran down the halls to jump out of the rain and into the waiting van. Storm shoved it into gear and pealed out of the parking lot. Other parents were beginning to pour in as buses lined the curbs. The rain was terrible, sliding in pools down the windshield. Amara, being in the front seat, watched Storm's pupils disappear into a ghostly white. Soon, the rain discontinued falling in sheets around them. But only just.

This was serious.

XXXX

"I'm telling you, this reminds me of a hurricane!"

"Kurt," Rogue said, her voice deadly. "I sad cut it out."

They were all gathered in the larger lounging areas, staring at the windows as powerful wind-gusts threw around trees as if they were rag dolls.

The effect was ferocious.

Kitty folded her hands over her stomach and stepped away from the windows, her mind on other things.

She paced along the wall, throwing glares at the door, as if its wooden surface could transform into a healthy, happy Kim. She glanced again at the door as she passed it, trying to hold herself together. The particles of wood called to her, hovering in a vibration only she could feel. They yearned to jump apart for her, allow her physical body to take place among them. She knew they wanted to appease her temper; this was the only way they knew how. Kitty put her hands over her eyes and stopped. The poor atoms didn't understand her current tension and still wouldn't understand it even if she tried to explain it to them. She needed to calm herself.

When Storm had barely navigated death driving them home, she refused to answer any of their questions. The sprinted up the steps to the mansion and stood dripping in the foyer as Beast stepped out of the kitchen, wearing an apron. Despite his silly appearance, he was grim and did not tell them anything, either.

Rogue wasn't afraid to voice her feelings and complained loudly that she'd like to know what the heck was going on. At some point, they all agreed to change out of their soaked clothes and meet in the lounge area. There, they grew angrier with one another. Why wasn't Storm or Beast saying anything? Where was Xavier? What was going on? These storms weren't natural. How was Kismet? Was she any better?

Was anyone going to say anything?

Jean, asked to stay home from school, had walked in ten minutes earlier, apologizing quickly when she realized she had caught their hopes up. She now sat with Scott on one of the love seats, her head leaning into his shoulder. She looked tired.

"Storm wants to speak to us all as a group," she said finally. "Oh, and Kitty, Kim's stable. There's nothing else we can do for her. We just need to wait."

Scott rubbed her arm comfortingly. He knew how many hours she'd stayed awake last night and this morning, glued to Kismet's side. He felt ridiculously proud because of it. He continued to rub her arm and then looked up at the others, knowing too that he should say something.

"Guys, we just need to be patient. I'm sure that Storm will tell us what's going on when we need to know."

"That's easy for you ta say," Rogue snapped, looking down at her nails. "Yer always in their other conversations. If Storm had to fetch us from school, then something is definitely wrong."

"Something's been wrong ever since Kim was attacked," Kitty returned, beating Scott's angry retort with her own."Is nobody thinking of her? She's in a freaking coma!"

Rogue's eyes glittered in frustration, their force turning upon Kitty.

"Why are we worried 'bout her? She didn't seem ta fit in or like the rest of us."

Scott and Kurt both sat up a bit, coming to the girl's defense, but Jean held up her hand.

"Hey! Easy everyone! Let's all take a breath, okay? We all know something bad is happening. Let's not eat each other alive before we find out what it is."

The silence was no better, but, everyone refrained from criticizing each other for a minute or two. Then, Kitty allowed herself to fall into one of the seats.

"She was afraid to use her powers," she whispered to herself. "She was afraid when she first came here. After Toad and Sabertooth attacked her all at once."

"What?" Rogue fixed her gaze on Kitty. "Kismet was attacked?"

Everyone looked at her in astonishment. Where had she been when Kismet arrived?

Scott just sighed and nodded, not daring to call her out on her lack of awareness. Sometimes, Rogue could be heavily occupied in her own mind, pondering over things that the others were never privy too. Everyone had secrets.

Her's were yet to be revealed.

"Yes," Scott said, "I was there. They were...definitely trying to kidnap her."

Rogue cocked an eyebrow, staring at him.

"Why? What would be the point?" she asked.

"To recruit her, obviously. Like they tried with you, Rogue," Kurt said impishly. Rogue turned to glare at him.

"I wasn't attacked…well. Not like tha. Mystique's intention was to persuade me, not make me feel like I was in danger from her. She wanted me ta fear y'all."

"Wait a second," Jean interjected in a weird tone. The expression on her face was stricken. "Rogue. You may be onto something. I thought the whole point of getting recruits was to help them realize that being taught under an experienced mutant would help them to harness their gifts. Kidnapping wouldn't instill trust. It would create fear."

Jean sat up straighter, missing Scott's look of concern as she stared at nothing. Her brain was working furiously. "It almost looks like they would have forced her into using her powers. But for what?"

Rogue crossed her arms in frustration. "Somethings not right, here."

Kurt hopped down from the window seat he had been occupying, landing on all fours in the center of the room.

"You think that Magneto is planning something?" he whispered. Jean looked at him, her face tight.

"It sure looks that way," she answered quietly.

Before anyone else could say anything, the double doors opened to emit a tall, graceful figure. Storm strode in without pretense and stopped in front of them all, her gaze sweeping the room. Everyone stood up. Scott kept his arm around Jean's shoulders and she leaned into him. Kitty swallowed uneasily.

"Kim is still mentally, very sick," Storm said, her strength dissipating as the light in her eyes dimmed. "We…we don't know for sure when she will come around, or if she'll choose to come around. I'm afraid she may not want to live."

Kurt hissed under his breath, his tail lashing. Kitty and Jean looked at each other, sadly.

"Not to diminish the issue, but, we have another problem. A big one."

They all watched as she strode to the dining room table. When she bent down to retrieve the remote they all turned to the tv as Channel 5 news switched on.

For the next few minutes, each mutant listened in growing horror as stories of every airport along the East Coast, one by one, flashed across the screen. All of them were demolished.

Images of firefighters putting out fires, structures collapsing, and people carried out in stretchers came and went. People were crying, faces were tight. It was awful. Storm switched the TV off just as one of the reporters began criticizing the White House for lack of response.

"This began two nights ago, and has only reached national television within the hour."

No one said anything. Silence threatened to suffocate each of them.

"I've been busy making sure no extreme weather patterns have touched the mansion, and, believe me, I've had no sleep."

She went on to explain Cerebro's noticings. Extreme elemental mutant powers were being unleashed all across the East Coast. Their locations were sporadic, making it difficult for Xavier to pinpoint them. But their consistency and sheer number were enough to raise quite an alarm.

Now, these reported attacks had pushed Xavier into a subdued panic. He and Storm had been up for the past 48 hours, trying to figure out who was behind this. She revealed to them the news that Xavier had shared with them some time ago. That Elemental Mutants had been disappearing from their radar. That they believed Magneto was behind this, thereby confirming the teenager's suspicions.

"We need you all to be calm and responsible through this. This isn't another training exercise, little ones. This is the real thing. Xavier is going to be highly occupied over the next few days so do not expect him to be around."

"Are we going to lead a counter attack, Storm?" Scott asked.

"No, not at this time. It's too dangerous. We need to figure out Magneto's next steps and fast."

"Is that why Kim was attacked? Because they were trying to recapture her?"

Storm nodded gravely at Kurt, who asked this.

No one could say anything.

XXXX

She was drowning.

The water rushed deep into her lungs, pushing out the air. It swirled to press against her eyes, blinding her effectively. Inch for inch, pound for pound, it engulfed her, consuming her in its ferocious torrents.

Stop, she thought weakly, seeking to halt the upheaval. Listen to me.

Low, harsh, guttural laughter rang mockingly in the air.

You can't even control your powers anymore. See how they rebel against you.

Get away from me.

You can't kill me. You will never be able to kill me. I'll still be here, latching onto your weakest links; showing you your worst attributes.

Just...stop. Please stop.

You're useless, unable to save the lives of the ones you loved.

Another bite of laughter coursed through the air, slitting her heart into two. The water she found herself in suddenly spit her out onto the ground. Hard. It threw her away in disgrace, unwilling to listen to her pathetic calls. Kim gagged and coughed, spitting up its contents as her lungs burned. Once this ordeal was over, she sagged against the ground. Another voice, the one that had been calling her repeatedly, returned. It was so faint it was difficult to hear.

Kid… you gotta fight this. You can't let this win. Please, come back to us. We need you. Kim, please.

Kim couldn't even lift her head. She sank completely to the ground.