Struggle

Disclaimer: Same as before

The Pit, The Medical Center
Kate, Conrad, Cross Country, Big Lob, and Tunnel Rat
28 February 2002, 1630

"Poor kid," Kate began, as she and Conrad picked up a couple chunks of drywall and stuck them into a box.

Shortly after Todd had collapsed on the floor he stood up and started fighting again, taking out his pain and frustration out. It had taken three other Joes, as well as Roadblock, Conrad and Kate to subdue him until Lifeline arrived to sedate him.

As they set the box down Kate watched Conrad cross himself. She saw the cold look in his eyes, and knew what he was thinking.

"Brings backs memories of that hellhole we found in the Central African Republic, all those unwanted and failed COBRA experiments. Patients left to die in agony..." Conrad replied, responding to Kate's questioning look, "Sights and sounds that will haunt me till I breathe my last."

"I take it you're still in the mood to put a knife through Mystique's gut?" Kate asked.

"Yes, multiple stabs too," Conrad replied.

"Conrad, I found what Mystique did to Todd horrifying too. But I also think killing her is a step too far," Kate replied.

"Is it better to allow such an evil person to remain alive? Where she can harm others?" Conrad challenged.

"I think she should be brought to justice not simply killed on sight," Kate replied, "and there is always God's Justice, Conrad. She won't escape that at the end of her life."

"I think it's better for the world if Mystique were to meet God sooner rather than later," Conrad replied as they walked into the small break room down the hall where Tunnel Rat, Big Lob, and Cross Country were currently sitting at a nearby table.

"Hey guys," Tunnel Rat said, waving from the table.

Conrad and Kate headed over, and Conrad pulled out a chair, letting Kate take her seat first before he found one of his own.

"Where's Todd now?" Conrad asked.

"Down the hall," Big Lob said, "in one of the other rooms."

"What's he doing in there?" Tunnel Rat asked.

"Psyche-Out has some sort of new therapy idea," Big Lob replied, "Supposed to calm him down, make him feel safe and secure."

"Poor little guy," Cross Country, shaking his head.

"After what he's been through, no wonder he's in a world of hurt," Kate added, as she made a couple notes on her PDA.

"And Magneto and Mystique made it worse," Conrad interjected.

"That's right, you guys were in the room when Psyche-Out hypnotized Todd to find out about his nightmares earlier," Tunnel Rat replied.

"So what's the big 4-1-1?" Big Lob asked.

"Yeah, spill it," Cross Country asked.

"One of the orphanages the kid was in wasn't really an orphanage, it was a research facility and he was…" Conrad began.

"No…" Tunnel Rat said, growing pale, "Please tell me you're not going to say what I think."

"Aw man," Big Lob replied, "No wonder he joined the Brotherhood."

"Forced into it, remember?" Kate corrected, "But there's something more. One of the so-called doctors was actually Mystique in disguise."

"Oh man," Tunnel Rat exclaimed, "And where there's Mystique…"

"Mag-nut-o's not far behind," Big Lob finished, "How could they do this to their own kind? Why?"

"Whatever the reasons, it is inexcusable," Conrad began, "Both of them should hang for it."

"Bloody minded rants aside," Kate replied, shooting a glare at Conrad, "the poor kid is wondering the same thing."

All the same I am not fit to be judge, jury and executioner. Conrad thought to himself.

The Pit, Medical Center
Psyche-Out, Roadblock, and Todd
28 February 2002, 1714

The soft and rhythmic breathing from Todd could barely be heard as the boy lay sound asleep, curled up in Roadblock's arms. Roadblock softly rocked the boy back and forth like an infant.

"Do you think this will help?" Roadblock asked, looking up.

"It's a new form of therapy," Psyche-Out replied, "Still in the experimental stages, but there have been promising results."

There was a slight knock at the door, and Psyche-Out turned briefly, looking through the small window. He nodded and softly said, "Come in."

In walked Conrad Hart and Caitlin Todd. As they walked in Psyche-Out noticed Conrad whisper something to Kate.

"What's going on?" Conrad whispered.

"It's an experimental therapy," Kate replied softly.

"That's right," Psyche-Out interjected, "Anyway, the boy needs security, Roadblock. He's been emotionally ravaged and destroyed so many times that it's a wonder he's survived. This will, at the very least, instill a sense of subconscious security in him. It's going to be pretty intense, for both of you…"

"It doesn't matter," Roadblock said, shaking his head, "He needs me. And I'm here for him."

"He should sleep for a while, right?" Conrad asked.

"That's right," Psyche-Out said, "Lifeline gave him a fairly strong sedative. But I don't want to make a habit out of tranquilizing the kid. His body may not be able to take it because of the radiation exposure."

"I suppose that's what explains his pale greenish hue," Conrad supplied.

"And his lack of body hair," Psyche-Out continued.

"When I get my hands on Mystique and Magneto…" Roadblock growled.

"Looks like you'll have to get in line, Conrad," Kate whispered into Conrad's good ear.

Conrad didn't respond, he simply listened and watched impassively as the therapy went on. Something about Todd's tale hit a nerve with Conrad. From what I know the Foreign Legion was a major player in France's war against COBRA. The French have been known to be especially ruthless towards COBRA since the Pyrenees Incident of 1994.

Todd moaned quietly and Roadblock stroked the boy's cheek, "Shh, it's ok...I'm here for you kid."

Todd quieted down and as he did so Psyche-Out began, "I've been thinking it might be helpful if we tried more natural healing therapies."

"Such as?" Kate asked.

"Those natural hot springs the ninjas use," Psyche-Out replied, "It's also said that they have psychological healing properties as well."

"I've spoke to Storm Shadow about that already," Roadblock said, "And he agrees…"

"Why do I sense there's a 'but' somewhere in that sentence, or an 'and'? And why, oh why, do I sense I probably won't like the answer to that question?" Psyche-Out asked.

"We've also talked about intensifying Todd's ninja training," Roadblock replied.

Kate's jaw dropped at the announcement, barely managing to stammer, "Wait? What!?"

"I agree with Agent Todd," Psyche-Out replied.

"It's a grim sort of logic, but it does make a rather hard sort of sense," Conrad interjected.

"Physical exercise will be helpful but..." Psyche-Out began before Roadblock cut him off.

"I know what has to be done. If he has any chance of surviving his future, it has to be this way."

"Roadblock, isn't that too much too soon?" Kate asked, with an audible gulp.

"He won't be harmed or tortured, Agent Todd, if that's what you're worried about," Roadblock replied.

Conrad nodded in agreement and added, "It will make him stronger. Training in the Legion did the same for us."

"Conrad," Kate replied, "This isn't the French Foreign Legion. And anyway, ninja training can be pretty intense. Do you think Todd will survive it?"

Roadblock interjected just then,"He survived Magneto."

They used me...I was nothing but a pawn to them. Todd thought as he floated through this sea of memories, seeing images and moments once obscured by time and trauma.

It's like I'm watching this on TV. Todd thought as he saw his younger self, clutching Hopper in his arms, hiding under a bed as smoke filtered into the room. Feeling the same panic he had felt as his younger self bolted from the under the bed, looking around. Flames started to lap from underneath the door.

A scream of panic. Leaping at the barred window and eyes widening with surprise when he reached it. With a previously unknown strength he kicked the bars out and escaped, racing into the night as the orphanage burned to the ground.

So that's how I wound up on the street. Todd thought as he saw himself in only a ragged pair of pajamas, clutching his stuffed frog while the rain fell and wind howled.

Somehow I made it to Bayville and managed to register at the school, even if I didn't have a guardian. I tried to keep out of trouble and then I saw her.

"Todd Tolansky to the principal's office," the announcement over the PA system had said. A chorus of 'someone's in trouble' and an assortment of looks later had brought Todd before the desk of Raven Darkholme, Principal of Bayville High School.

Todd took it all in. The woman with her shoulder length brown hair and tailored skirt suit in charcoal grey. A knowing smile graced her features.

"We both know you're not like other boys, are you Tolansky?" Darkholme said, fingers forming into a steeple as she spoke, "People call you a freak. A reject. But that's not what you are. Oh no. I can show you your true path."

And with that she changed shape in front of him. Revealing her blue skinned, lithe frame. And Todd felt his jaw drop open.

When she did that I thought it was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen. I even called her beautiful and she smiled and gave me a hug. But what was most important was her telling me that I was no longer alone in the world, a part of something greater and more powerful. That I was useful to her. Todd thought as he watched that scene unfolding before him.

I bet I was useful to her when she didn't have any other recruits for the Brotherhood. She was probably laughing the whole time! She played me! How stupid was I to fall for her line! And I did fall for it like a sap!

She was probably looking for me, Todd thought as he watched his younger self sniffle with barely restrained joy. Wanting me under her control. How could I have been so blind?

And Magneto. He must have known about me too. For all I know he set up the hellhole I was in! Wait, even worse, they not only knew about the place, they did these to me so they could have their own mutant super soldier or something! I guess things must've backfired when that fire happened. Who knows what else would have happened to me? Who knows who else they did these things to!?

Todd's pulse rose, as anger welled in like an incoming tide. Never. Never again…

The Pit, Medical Center
Roadblock, Psyche-Out, Todd, Conrad and Kate
28 February 2002, 1955

A few hours later Todd lay asleep on the nearby sofa, Roadblock having just tucked him in. There was a knock at the door, and the four adults turned to see General Hawk standing in the doorway. He motioned for them to step outside and as they did so Conrad left the door ajar.

"How's he doing?" Hawk asked.

"It's too early to tell," Psyche-Out replied, "He's been through a lot."

"He's about to go through a little more I'm afraid," Hawk said with a sigh, "Flagg wants to know as much as possible about Magneto and the X-men. I've been told to question him as soon as possible."

"I don't believe this!" Roadblock snapped angrily, "The boy's been through hell and back, and you want to interrogate him like he were some common criminal!"

"Roadblock, wait," Kate added, "There has to be some reason behind this. Perhaps that was the only way Flagg could think of to keep Todd here."

Hawk nodded, "Thank you, Agent Todd."

"You can't make him do that!" Roadblock snapped, hands knotting into fists, "I won't let you, sir!"

"Roadblock, I know how you feel…" Hawk began.

"Don't tell me that!" Roadblock shouted.

"Roadblock," Conrad interjected, "Maybe General Hawk had no other choice!"

"That's right, Agent Hart, General Flagg informed me that as long as we use the boy as a source of information he won't hand him to any other area of government," Hawk replied.

"I don't believe this, sir!" Roadblock snapped back.

"Roadblock," Hawk remarked evenly, "It was the only way we could protect him."

"Take it easy," Psyche-Out said, "I'll sit in on the session."

"There isn't going to be any session! I won't allow it!" Roadblock snapped, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Conrad and Kate were preparing to intervene if things turned physical.

"I want to talk," Todd's voice echoed.

The five adults turned to see the boy, standing in the doorway behind them.

Merde, Conrad thought as he beheld Todd's eyes sunken into a pale face, I've seen that look on hundreds of children before when I was in Africa with the Legion. And it is a look that is impossible to forget.

"I want to talk," Todd repeated, voice quivering, "I...I don't owe them nothin'...I can't let them win."

"Todd…" Roadblock began, heading for the boy, placing his muscular frame between himself and the others.

"You told me once the only times you're allowed to quit is either when you succeed or when you stop breathing. The only thing I want now i-i-is to stop them. To keep them from doing what they did to me to anyone else," Todd replied.

God's mercy, Conrad thought, remembering the child soldier he had killed with a grenade in the Central African Republic.

"I want to hurt them. The only way to do that for now is talking. If you don't talk and tell people...don't say anything….then they win. And they can hurt you, again, and again, and again."

"Todd," Roadblock repeated, hugging the boy.

"I don't want them to hurt me anymore," Todd replied, choking back a sob before pulling away and looking his guardian in the eye, "I just want to get it over with."

"Well," Hawk replied, "Do you think now would be a good time?"

"Are you…" Roadblock began.

"Yes," Todd replied.

"We should do this in my office," Hawk sighed.

"Would you mind if we…" Kate began.

"General Flagg actually insisted that you and Agent Hart observe," Hawk replied.

"Can I at least sit with Todd," Roadblock interjected.

"That's not a good idea," Psyche-Out.

"Why can't he be with me?" Todd whimpered.

"Roadblock's a bit too...biased," Psyche-Out replied, "How about we get Lifeline to sit with you? Will that be okay?"

Todd nodded weakly. Hawk put a hand gently on Roadblock's shoulder. "Roadblock I promise we'll go as gentle as possible on the boy. He'll be alright."

"Could you hold off questioning him for a minute? There's something I need to get," Roadblock replied.

Hawk nodded and then Roadblock whispered a few words in Todd's ear before stepping out of the hallway and towards the exit. Todd headed over to Lifeline, sitting on the sofa, looking down at the ground, his face still wearing that hollow, fearful look.

A few minutes later Roadblock returned with something. Kneeling down on the sofa in front of Todd he said, "I was going to save this for later. But you need it now."

Kate felt the pull on her heartstrings as Roadblock handed Todd the item as the boy's eyes glistened with tears about to be shed.

"Hopper," Todd sniffled as he clutched the stuffed frog to his chest, "How….?"

"I kind of had a friend of mine sneak away a few of your things from the Brotherhood House," Roadblock explained, "And for now, if I can't be with you, I figure this is the next best thing."

Todd nodded, sniffling again.

"Now you answer the questions truthfully, understand?" Roadblock said.

Todd nodded again, before standing up and hugging his guardian. Then he took Lifeline's hand with his free hand and filed into Hawk's office with Conrad and Kate in tow.

The Pit, Officer's Quarters
Kate Todd and Conrad Hart
28 February 2002, 2155

Kate sighed as she hit the send button on the email she had spent the past hour writing. She glanced upward, noticing Conrad approaching with a sandwich.

"I figured you'd want this," Conrad said as he sat down.

"Thanks," Kate replied, looking up at him, "It was a tough day today."

"I agree," Conrad replied as he took the seat across from her, "Hawk kept his promise and went easy on the kid but still…"

"Still, you could tell it was hard for the kid. He clutched that stuffed frog like a security blanket," Kate replied.

"And I could tell it wasn't easy for you either," Conrad replied.

"Look who's talking," Kate replied with a wan look.

"The boy's story reminds me a lot of the child soldiers I encountered in Africa. Except this one has another chance. In my case I ended their lives when they attacked us," Conrad replied.

"You did what you had to do, Conrad," Kate replied softly, "I honestly don't know how I'd feel if I had to put a kid down."

"Pray you will never need to do so," Conrad replied.

Kate gulped slightly before reaching for a glass of water. Poor guy. He's got that whole older sibling vibe to him, I can only picture what it had to have done to him.

Conrad regarded her, eyebrows furrowing and she noticed he turned his head slightly, so his right ear was a bit closer.

"Is there something on your mind?" Conrad asked.

Kate sighed, "If there's any hope for Todd it's what he has with Roadblock."

"Let us pray that it will be sufficient," Conrad replied.

To Be Continued…