Memories

Shattered Song

Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any of their characters. Tora and Weapon X-ii are my own though.

A.N. At last, I've included the 'Song'. But still no major hints as to what it is! What can I say? I'm evil.

Tora tugged at the metal bonds around her wrists, cursing Doom's foresight as to pin her fingers straight so she couldn't extend her claws. Because the gaps for her claws to slip out of were in her proximal phalanx, she needed to have her hands in fists to extend them. And when they were out, in fists her hands must remain. She tugged again but was forced to admit she couldn't break free. At least she could see Jamie, sitting afraid but unhurt, watching her with his blue eyes that were so like Logan's. Then Doom was blocking her view.

"I can't believe that imbecile Beast wasted all his resources on your son, when you are so much more powerful. Of course, he is no match to the genius of Doom."

Tora blinked once before slowly raising her head, aiming and spitting, hitting Doom in one eye. He cuffed her and she felt a small flash of pleasure at the slight dent he made in his armour. That evaporated when he walked over to Jamie.

"Disrespect the personage of Doom one more time and your son makes the sacrifice. You see, when I tear open the veil between the worlds, you will die as universes collide."

She tugged hard on the bonds again before looking up at Doom.

"I have killed a woman who threatened my son. I would not hesitate to kill again."

"So now your true colours show through. Do you 'friends' know? Or are you just a hidden murderer."

She growled, a low, impressive snarl from the base of her chest. Prolonged exposure to an angry Sabretooth and a grumpy Wolverine had given her a good base for her snarl. Doom smiled.

"I think we have exchanged enough pleasantries. The world leaders have only an hour until they surrender to Doom. In the likely event they refuse, I need to be able to start immediately. Therefore your latent mutation must be kick-started."

Then he flicked a switch and the machine hummed to life. She screamed as the barriers around her mind were torn into and then suddenly, inexplicably, memories came rushing to her, memories of lives that were not her own, but were being lived by her. She felt her mind, her last sanctuary, her safe haven, becoming embroiled with countless others in a mishmash of minds, thoughts, hopes and dreams. A mind never brushed by another was now being forced to crash into other, near-identical minds. It was a case of the proverbial unstoppable cannonball and immovable post. Neither could give, neither would give. She knew what Doom meant when he said it would kill her. And then she was pulled away from the others, although she could still brush against them. Reaching out, in a morbid curiosity, she found Etana standing in front of her, head thrown back laughing, smelling suspiciously of Captain America and not even pretending to look embarrassed. They were in the mansion and Etana grinned at Tora and winked.

"Understand now?"

"Yes."

Had she just made another her speak? She must have done as Etana laughed.

"Is that the reality where I died?"

"Yes."

"Well I assure you I am not a ghost."

Then she was flicked away and was standing in chains, with Logan crouching next to her. They were wearing military style fatigues and men were hurrying around them. Then she heard the words.

"I assure you, Weapons X and X-ii will get the Senator and his family out alive, with no survivors of the kidnappers."

"They're mutants."

"They are animals. Highly trained, and in the case of X-ii, highly intelligent animals, but with no real knowledge of humanity."

She tried to speak but only a low snarl came out. She couldn't talk. Or rather, as the memories came to her, she didn't. Not since she was beaten for answering back. Better to be a dumb animal than a prisoner. She tilted her head at Logan, who gave a wolfish grin. Then a hand pulled her face around.

"Wolverine and Tigre, you know the drill. Tigre, get the hostages out. Then you can fight."

Unable to help herself, she whined.

"You know what happens when Wolverine is on hostage management."

"You treat them like humans."

"It's just my little way. Of you go pets. If you're good, I'll let you loose in the grounds together overnight. And we know how you like that. They seem ashamed to mate in front of the guards you see. We're working on a way to remedy that."

Then he ruffled Logan's hair like he was a dog and stroked her behind her ear. Then they were dragged outside and pointed towards a large house. The chains were unloosed and they moved swiftly and stealthily, using their improvised sign language that was two parts signing and three parts stance. Low sounds emphasized their points.

Then she moved again and again, seeing snippets of lives, moving so fast that she couldn't register them. She couldn't stop, couldn't find her way home. And then a baby crying brought her home. Jamie was screaming and Doom was looking at him in distaste.

"He's hungry."

"You think I'll let you near him?"

"He'll cry until I feed him."

"You spoil him."

"He needs to eat."

"I have a better idea. I shall simply sedate him."

She suppressed the snarl.

"Won't work."

"Why not?"

"Healing factor."

Doom frowned then pressed a button on his console and spoke into a microphone.

"Bring baby food."

"He's not quite on solids yet."

"Bring bottles."

"He doesn't drink baby formula."

The look of horror in Doom's eyes would have been funny if the situation wasn't so dire.

Then crashes could be heard and a cloud of sulphurous purplish-blue smoke appeared over Jamie who was gone when the smoke cleared. Tora smiled. The X-Men were here. Then Doom pressed a button and started screaming.

"Because you dare attack the personage of Doom, your world shall end!"

Then her mind was being torn into shreds as all the other hers were pulled towards her, pressing down on her shields. Then something small and cool flitted into the burning centre of her mind. A soft almost-voice ran in her head.

Let me help you.

What are you?

I am the Shattered Song. Let me help you.

What do you require in return?

What makes you so sure I require something in return?

Nothing is given freely in this world.

Then yes, I require your help as well. I am Shattered. With your gift, I can be healed.

What do you want me to do?

Give me head room. Let me stay in your mind until I am healed.

Why do you need to be there?

My sibling shattered me through the multiverse when I oppose her reign of terror.

How do I know you are telling the truth?

Images flashed through her mind of a protector, a scholar. Who was forced to fight but broken by a dark force. Then all the power spread across realities.

I AM the Truth.

How will you help me?

Like this.

Then barriers, stronger than anything else were launched up around her, keeping a tiny door for her to pass through as she wished, to see the other realities. But the worst of the deluge was over and then hands were slapping her face.

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

She moaned and shook her head.

"Tora, please wake up!"

She slowly opened her eyes. A tiny part of her mind was conscious of an intruder, sitting quietly in a corner, a little burning lamp. Then she sense rather than saw a tiny firefly slip through the door and join the candle, so it burned all the brighter. Then Eloise slapped her again.

"Wake up you idioteé!"

"I'm awake."

Then suddenly Hank was carefully checking her pupils and forcing a thermometer in her mouth.

"I'm fine. Get me out of this thing."

Then Logan caught her as she fell.

"Don't you dare get kidnapped ever again!"

She wasn't able to think of a sarcastic remark. She was just so relieved to be with her family again. Then she became aware of Hank trying to take her pulse.

"I'm fine."

He frowned then continued to check her responses, and various other things. She chikted out her claws and placed them on his forehead.

"I tell you, I'm fine."

"Doom really was stupid this time. Thinking you were the one with the multiverse perception."

Tora didn't say anything and Kurt's mouth dropped open.

"Are you…? You…? Oh…"

He blinked a few times then Scott crouched slightly to look Tora in the eye.

"You mean Doom is right?"

She wasn't able to talk so she simply nodded. She heard Hank drop a thermometer.

"Oh my stars and garters…"

Phoenix laughed.

"Oh, the tests Hank and Reed did on her. It was brilliant! Then she marched out because Reed was treating her as a subject, not a person."

"It did wonders for his bedside manner though…"

"Good point."