Learning to Breathe
Disclaimer: I do not own Virus, Cobra, or Lady Mastermind and Thunderbird. They are used for pleasure.
Chapter Forty-Two: Meeting of the Minds
"You want us to what?" Kristen Mortisson, aka Vampira, exclaimed. "Have you lost it?"
"You want us to fight a computer virus." Mitch groaned. "Now I've heard everything."
"The virus is mutant, guys." Atlantis said. "Or were you not paying attention?"
"How do we fight someone who's able to converge with a computer?" Bryan asked.
"You drive him out." Zanya glared. "No computer, no Virus. He'll have to jump out of the mainframe the moment he gets here. All we have to do is contain him."
"Exactly." Zartan nodded. "Now go get ready, kids. Your new uniforms are in your rooms."
That caused a minor uproar. The seven kids all rushed up the stairs, and shouts of "This is Sweet!" rang through the hallway.
"Who knew they'd be so excited about clothes?" Torch shrugged, glancing up the stairs.
"They've needed new combat outfits anyway." Zarana said. "And will probably need to be re-fitted in about six months. God, I forgot how fast and how much kids grow up."
"At least for now, they're happy." Zartan said. "I get the feeling that may not last past today."
An hour later, the team assembled in the living room. Since Virus needed a computer host, and the one upstairs remained protected by a double firewall, the downstairs community computer remained the hacker's only option. Off to the side, one of the main base technicians monitored Virus's progress.
"He's almost here." The tech said, never taking his eyes off the screen. "Get ready."
"We are ready." Thunderbird said, pulling his red and orange gloves up higher on his arm. His uniform was black with yellow, orange, and red flames licking halfway up the arms and legs. It also displayed a red belt, gloves, and boots, and a flaming hawk rested on his chest. "I just hope that we can do this."
"Don't worry. We will." Atlantis narrowed her eyes at the computer monitor. Her new silver uniform fit a little looser than it should, but at the rate she was growing—both up and out—it was a small price to pay for something to wear. Plus, the black boots, gloves, and belt would no doubt last her a while.
"Here he comes." Lady M, decked out in a pink and black halter get-up, groaned as she took a battle stance. The team followed her lead. The monitor glowed a bright green and an English voice crackled through the beat-up speakers.
"So this is where you blokes live." He said. "Can hardly say I'm shocked. After all, such Neanderthal intelligence can only be expected to live in a ratty cave."
"Neanderthal, ay?" Andi raised an eyebrow as the face of a teenage boy appeared on the screen. "I'd have to disagree with that."
"Why is that?" Virus asked.
"Get your ass out here and you'll find out." She teased. "Or if you prefer your own cowardly tactics, stay in the computer. It's not as if you can go anywhere. Nothing else hooked into the main system on this base."
The light bulb clicked for Virus. "You set me up! You bloody trapped me, you stupid whore!"
"There's no need to spread lies about me just because you're mad." Atlantis huffed. "If you're so superior to me, you won't mind hauling your butt out here and fighting me like a real mutant can."
"Are you sure we can take this guy?" Bryan asked, glancing worriedly at his surrogate sister. The blond shrugged.
"Only one way to find out." She responded as a shadow-like entity covered in bright green binary coding emerged from the computer. The shadow reformed into a teen their age with wild brown hair messily held back in a ponytail and vivid green eyes.
"Prepare to fall." He sneered, staring down the group leader.
"Gee, that's original." She stared back. "I thought that a genius such as yourself would come up with a wittier catch-phrase."
"Actions speak louder than words, girl." He growled, picking up a stapler.
"And you're going to what? Staple a note to my forehead?" Andi asked.
"You wish." He said. Instantly, he began to take apart the device and a ballpoint pen, turning both into some sort of projectile gun. "I always found the pen to be much mightier than the sword." He began shooting off staples at the team, who ducked behind pieces of furniture—well, half of the team anyway.
"Hey, that almost tickled." Chaos commented, brushing the pesky metal prongs off his clothing.
"Same here." His brother said, pulling the tiny staples out of his rock-skin. "Gee, you're really dumb for a genius."
"Yeah, really." Kristen glared, hovering above the floor and steadily inching up on the inventor/hacker. "Did you really think you could kill someone who's already dead?"
"I don't have to kill you, love." Virus sneered, grabbing a shattered chair leg left over from a prior fight. "Just stop you." He stabbed the tapered leg into Vampira's chest, causing the vampirette to fall to the ground. "And with you out of the way..." he grinned maniacally as he turned to the rest of the group "you'll all be my victims." [1
"Regan." Vampira hissed telepathically. "Get into his head and stop him."
"I don't want to go in there." The telepath whined.
"His blocks are really low." Kristen said, using her own heightened mental awareness to scan his peripheral mental defenses. "If I had Kim's telepathy, I'd take him out. Since I don't, you'll have to do it. Just stop him long enough for someone to get this damn table leg out of me!"
"I'll try." The blond said, peeking around the corner to where Virus—now wielding a makeshift ray gun—fought off the Dukes brothers. Atlantis shot her a look that clearly meant "do what you have to do". She forced her way into her attacker's mind with no problems
Andi, meanwhile, made several motions to Thunderbird. Though confused at first, the Hindu boy finally got the point and ran over to free Vampira of her paralysis. When Neal reached the frozen girl's body, Lady M screamed bloody murder.
"No one can stay in my mind!" He said, finally ducking past Mitch and shooting the larger boy in the back of the neck.
"Then we'll just have to pound you a different way." Atlantis shouted, charging him. He fired the staple gun at her, only to watch seemingly change into metal. He only got a few shots off before running out of staples and switching to his ray gun. Andi, finding this much easier to dodge, shifted back to her blue scaly form and charged him. For a geek, he sure knew how to scrap with some of the best. She could sense his heart pounding as she and Zanya (the only one not tending to a wounded comrade or rendered unusable) alternately returned blows from the electronic mastermind. Andi at last conjured a sizeable ball of water from the moisture in the air when Virus seemingly stopped. He stared at her, entranced by the water churning beside her head. Zanya raised her hand to strike a final blow when an adult intervened.
"That's quite enough; but hold that orb if you would, Atlantis." Zartan addressed the group. A gooey, lovesick smile plastered itself on Virus's face by the time Zartan turned to him. "Quite a talented young man, aren't you, Virus?" He asked the intruding mutant. The boy nodded.
"I am the master of all things virtual." His eyes grew wide. "Although I must say, I've never seen such a wonderful creature in my life."
Andi really wanted to slap the British mutant, but Zartan grabbed her by the shoulder. "Not yet." He whispered to her.
"Whatever you want to say to that moron, say it quickly." She hissed. "One more remark and he's a goner."
He sent her a sharp glare before continuing. "I couldn't help but notice your style, my boy. You obviously put a lot of effort into this plot."
"I always give my best to get what I want." He said.
"I see." The ninja grinned. "Would you ever consider using your gifts for personal profit?"
"That's why I broke in here in the first place." Virus growled. "Thought if I found something good, I could sell it off for a price."
"Tell me you're not thinking what I think you're thinking!" Zanya glared at her father.
Zartan ignored her. "How would you like to do that all the time and get paid for bringing the information back to Cobra? We would be honored to have someone of your obvious intellect on our side and I'm sure the Commander will pay accordingly."
"On one condition." Virus grinned. Andi tried to charge him again, but found herself restrained.
"What is that?" Zanya asked. "Free video games for life?"
"Nothing that complicated." The Brit gazed wistfully at the two-toned blond to his left. "I want to live wherever she does."
"I don't think that will be a problem." Zartan replied. Andi broke out of his hold and turned to face him.
"No!" She hissed.
"It is not your choice." He replied.
"You would seriously let this egomaniac live with us? After what he did to Kris and tried to do to the rest of us?" She shouted.
"You are not the boss here; I am." He stared down at the girl. "Virus stays."
"Then keep him away from my team." She growled.
"You aren't in any position to make demands, Atlantis." He warned her. "We need someone with his analytical skills. You know that."
"Then you can keep him." She said. "You invited him; he's your Dreadnok."
"Good lord, don't pawn him off on me!" Zanya cried out.
"You won't be here to worry about it!" Andi shouted, leaving the green-haired girl confused.
"We'll discuss that later." Zartan said to Zanya before turning back to the other girl. "He stays. End of debate."
"So I can sleep near you, my aquatic angel?" Virus asked, nearly bowing to the taller girl. Andi grabbed him by the collar and threw him into a wall. "Aiiiieeeeee!"
"Listen, Bub, you chose to come here, so you gotta play by our rules." The blue-eyed girl snarled. "Rule number one: don't piss me off."
"I'd say you've done that already." Bryan commented as Kristen finally regained her footing.
"I thought rule number one was not to call the Baroness a whore?" Kristen asked. [&
"I will do whatever you want!" Virus cried.
Andi smirked. "Anything I want?" She asked.
"Anything!" Virus gazed up longingly at her. Andi fought back the urge to vomit.
"Fine. Here's my one condition. You sleep down the hall with the rest of the boys. Nothing personal, but I don't want you disturbing the other girls." She said sweetly.
"Believe me, we're already disturbed." Regan shuddered.
"Your wish is my command." Virus said. "Will you let me go now?"
"Whatever." Andi rolled her eyes, dropping the boy unceremoniously on the living room floor. "Go pick a room."
"Thank you!" He smiled, bowed to her, and skipped up the stairs to claim a bed.
"Please do something about him, Reg!" Andi pleaded to her Italian-born friend. The blond girl shrugged.
"Sorry, Andi, but his mind is like a jigsaw puzzle with a ton of missing pieces. No way I could work an illusion good enough to fool him for long."
"I don't want you to make him think I'm ugly!" Andi groaned. "Just make him see that I'm not his type."
"Uhm, he's got a little thing for girls who can manipulate water." Regan blushed. "I'm really sorry, but I can't do anything to help you out this time."
"Crap." Andi hissed.
"Will this guy be on our team or yours?" Neal asked.
"He'll train with the Dreadnoks until further notice." Zartan said.
"Thank the gods!" Andi exclaimed. "I don't think I could put up with that maniac on my own."
"Speaking of alone, what's this about me leaving?" Zanya asked.
"Why don't we talk about this in my office?" Zartan groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "This will take a bit of explaining."
1.)That bit is stolen from the TV drama Moonlight. Vampires aren't killed by the steak, but they are paralyzed by it. To truly kill a vampire, you have to burn them alive.
&) Read the sidefic "House Rules".
So, Virus joins the team just in time for Zanya to leave. But where is she going? (If any of you remember this, I'll award extra author points). You'll have to wait and see!