I don't anything except my characters and concepts
-Rogue-
She was pissed
Staring at Casey's body, the world had almost froze around her.
A ventilator lay on his face. Harsh and deep cuts covering his whole figure. The slightest drops of blood leaking from his knuckles. His still protruding claws stuck in place. Various tubes and other medical instruments were in his form. Keeping him from slipping into what Hank's theory was.
A coma.
"If what is coming up is correct." Hank started. Some of Casey's closest friends standing around or sitting in the infirmary. With a mixture of fear and shock covering they're faces at they're newest recruits state. Death was something they were all familiar with, Rogue herself being responsible for some. But the sinking feeling never left her. Or any of them for that matter. "Then Casey's body is in a state of shock, from what i can tell, this" Placing a furry hand on his chest. Right in the middle of the satanic markings. "Is blocking his X-gene from activating. Almost the equivalent of Casey's own erasure quirk."
Silence hung deep in the air, pretty much Casey had lost his X-gene. Sealing half his powers away until they found out a way too destroy it. Rogue gritted her teeth, feeling storm's powers calling on her as the thunder outside boomed. Much too everyone's displeasure.
"How do we fix it?" Scott inquired, his glare of rage barely hidden by his glasses. Fixated on the markings that covered Casey's chest. Arcs of what looked like bruising around his veins. All the way up too his boney weapons.
"Well, I can't say for certain. It could be temporary like Scarlet Witch's usual spells...But i don't know. The effects are much worse. Even a look at Casey's blood is showing horrible signs." Motioning them towards a microscope, Rogue forced her way to the front. Briefly rubbing into Scott making his hair stand up from the contact.
"Alright...Well Rogue, as you can see" toggling the futuristic microphone too zoom in a bit. He continued. "Casey's cells, and by such. His X-gene. Are in a constant state of activating and deactivating. Pretty much tearing them." Rogue's already pale face became paler. Waiting for Hank too continue. "If it was anyone else, They're X-gene would just remain dormant. But it is almost like Casey's body is fighting back. Trying to force his mutation too activate again."
Kurt raised his three fingered hand, something Rogue only caught out of the corner of her vision. Pulling away from the microscope.
"Teacher, is that not a good thing?"
Letting out a deep sigh, Hank fixed his glasses. Walking back over too Casey and placing a hand on his forehead. Rubbing a thumb medolically on his temple.
"You would think so, yes. But no. It's only making it worse, every time his cells tear the new cells just attempt the process again. Some of them work. Which is why he is still healing faster then usual, but it's making the bleeding worse, and putting immense stress on his entire body. If we don't find a solution, and soon. His X-gene could mutate further. Making the process worse again, and blow up his heart."
"...what."
"Yes Scott, i'm afraid it's true." Hank let out a heavy sigh, one that showed how many times he had seen this. A patient, someone close too him, or a passerbyer. Struggling to hold on as hard as they could.
Rogue was taking it bad, fists clenched and teeth grit while she stared out a nearby window. Her eyes glossed over. With the thunder crashing outside. Rage was clear in her vision, and Kitty could clearly read her mind. Even without any powers like Jean.
Revenge.
Storming out of the infirmary, and into the actual storm outside. Rogue stood momentarily, Rain hitting her like stones. The sound of her friends sprinting out towards her the only thing too take her out of her musing.
Jean walked towards her first. Telapathy was a useful tool, but not when she knew Rogue's mind was set. Carefully outstretching a hand to hold onto the girl. Like the world meant on it.
"Rogue...listen to me, we can make a plan. I-I can think of something."
"No. This is the last time someone i care about is hurt like this, I'm going too skin Wanda alive. She won't do this again."
Kitty was next, sprinting towards Rogue and getting a grip on her torso, the much smaller girl couldn't necessarily stop her. But support was what Rogue needed in these times.
Casey was the only man, besides his father. Too even survive prolonged contact with her. Her one chance at a semi-normal life was quickly fading away, and if she couldn't save him. The best she could do was get revenge for him.
For the man she loves.
"Rogue, I know...what you're thinking. But we need her alive, She's our only hope of taking the seal off of Casey. Please Rogue." Kitty begged, the shorter woman herself only having began too warm up too the delinquent.
But like that, an idea clicked in Rogue's head.
"No...We only need her powers."
-Laura Howlett (X-23)-
This was certainly an interesting way too be woken up.
Walking out of her fathers room (luxurious at that), in much softer clothes she was used too wearing. She simply lounged around in the school.
It was still night, but Laura had gotten used too being awake at night. A problem caused by Styrkers torment. Even if the raging thunder outside was only slightly annoying, she simply enjoyed her lounging around.
Something she could get used too.
Her father had ran off, something he seemed rather fond of doing due too they're rare meetings. A note pinned too his fridge telling her he would be back the next day, if not the day after. But Laura didn't particularly care. He was her father, but a bond hadn't necessarily been established between them.
Throwing on a nameless show on the 'television' (a magical box in Laura's eyes). She simply sunk into the soft couch. Much different too the hard steel frames they had called beds. Or sleeping quarters.
Shouting from outside caught her attention, a silent animalistic hiss escaping her while she pryed her way out of the couch. Walking towards the commotion, the sound of thunder sending a ring through her ear. Almost smashing the door open too see what was happening.
The group of people that were previously in the infirmary with her, and that she had briefly seen talking too her father. Were in a mass, well...panic. The thunder was beginning too fade, and squinting her eyes Laura seen how. A brief look at the Auburn and white haired girl rapidly escaping was all she needed too know. Wherever she went. The thunder went.
Walking towards the commotion, as a girl around her height beside her angrily gripped her hair in frustration. Laura scoffed at they're antics. Running around like children wasn't going to solve anything. Her advice was too simply calm down. Think tactically.
That's what got her through her life.
Laying a hand on the frightened girls shoulder, who she didn't know her name. Or frankly didn't care to know what it was. She waited till she snapped out of her aggravated screaming match at the sky, turning to her with a slightly scary rage in her eyes that quickly faded at the sight of Laura. Looking around too the rest of the people there as they slowly quieted down. Noticing X-23's blank stare at them.
"What's this about?" Laura blurted out, no emotion on her face as she simply waited for an answer. Looks were shared between all of them. An air of uneasiness around them all before someone spoke, who Laura quickly identified as the group's 'leader'
What a joke.
"Well...Casey got hurt, bad. And Rogue is flying fucking head on into they're home" Scott started, taking a deep breath too calm himself down. "If she had just waited. We could've all went together. And then we could've had a fucking proper plan. Instead of just sitting around hoping she comes back alive!" He ended with a shout. Flailing his arms dramatically into the air, roaring into the air filled with frustration.
Laura didn't particularly care about the local goth girl, while her father held her in relatively high esteem. Making friends wasn't on her bucket list. Friend's were just a weakness in her eyes.
However...Casey? Even if her father held a deep distain for him, he did save her life. Twice. Once by giving blood, and another by holding off the demon.
"Casey...What is wrong with him?"
Once again a share of looks were spread between the group, probably on a way too break the news without possibly angering Laura. Tapping her foot while she waited for an answer, another one of them stepped forward. This time a redheaded, rather tall woman. Who's vibrant green eyes drilled a hole into Laura.
"He got into a fight, as Scott said. And his X-gene is being suppressed too cut it long story short. He's not healing properly, a-and if something doesn't happen too fix it soon he might not recover at all." Jean's voice began too break, a small lip quiver escaping her before she began to walk back into the mansion, speeding up her departure when she made some distance. Laura could distantly hear a cry. But paid no mind too it.
The cogs in her head began too turn, like when she was on a mission and needed a solution. Casey helped her. Something that wasn't done often.
And now he needs it.
"Hmm. Does he need blood?" Laura questioned, staring down briefly at one of her veins. In unison all of they're eyes lit up, and an imaginative lightbulb went off over they're heads. Practically running back towards the mansion with a small grip on Laura's wrist.
Surpringly, it didn't annoy her. Shock momentarily covering over her face. And a fuzzy feeling in her chest made her ponder while she got taken away. Why did she feel?
Warmth?
It did not matter, quickly crushing the spedt up beats of her heart. She allowed herself too be brought into the infimary by the excited small girl, coming to a stop when she came through the door.
They did not lie too her. Feeling her guides grip on her fade. While she herself walked towards her...brother? It was a complicated situation.
Casey lied in the bed, various cuts and dents all over his body. With a rebreather on his face, Laura's eyes briefly flickered too the claws still piercing through his knuckles. The slightest of blood dropping onto the floor from the slight cracks in between them.
Briefly exchanging glances with the same man who had previously helped her, blue and furry guy. She plopped down beside him on a seat. Letting her claws fly out dramatically before slamming one into her wrist, followed by inserting a drip into her arm. Instantly pumping the blood out of her own body and into his by squeezing down on her bicep.
"L-Laura slow down!" Hank exclaimed, walking over and inspecting the drip. Before slowly inserting it into a small cut in Casey's chest. Only because of the harsh stares he was catching from the young X-men.
A stillness entered the air, everyone hoping for what they all expected too work, the curse was only restricting his X-gene.
But Laura's?
The effects were slight at first, but noticeable. A few of Laura's new accomplices glancing towards the heart beat monitor. The rhythm slowly beginning to calm down and steady out.
Next was his wounds. A small bit of steam while they began too seal slowly. They all knew it wouldn't be as fast as his own regeneration. But anything would help in his current situation.
"T-This is...astounding." Scott spluttered out, staring at Casey's closing wounds in an almost fascination. His look was shared. With some of the people who hadn't seen Casey's own operation on Laura in surprise.
"What...the fuck." Jean got out after a few moments of surprise.
Laura only grunted in response, something akin too her father. Taking a glance at the blood bag over her head filling up rapidly, taking the tube out of het atm. Standing back up, albeit. With a bit of a wobble.
"That should fix him enough, until someone finds a solution." Laura walked past everyone around her, back towards the door. With her destination being her bed.
"If he needs more, knock my door."
With the slightest smirk on her face, she headed back towards her room.
-Scott Summers-
Well, that was one issue solved.
Standing at the door of the infirmary, Scott glanced back at the healing mutant in the bed, a small bit of steam leaking out of his rapidly closing wounds. Jean stood to his side, a softer smile compared too previously while staring at the heart beat monitor.
Jean clearly held sympathy for Casey, even if it put a small bit of jealousy in his heart at her softer approach with him.
Jubilee had also brightened up considerably, not a peep had came out of the asian descent girl after his injuries. But finally a bit of a smile had came back onto her face. Even then,
They had bigger problems too deal with.
Rogue had practically went, well, rogue.
Even in the dire situation, Scott let out a small chuckle at his own mental joke, noticing Jean's side eye from beside him he quickly shoved it away from his brain. It was however, no laughing matter.
They knew where she was going, it was getting her back that was going too end up with them in trouble. Especially with the professor, but it couldn't wait. Sharing a glance with his team. They all nodded and began to leave the infirmary. Kitty trailing behind and sneaking one last glance at Casey.
The moon still hung brightly in the sky, reminding them that this whole fiasco had happened in mere hours. It was scary how fast something could go from zero to a hundred. And that's why they needed to act before it got to two hundred.
heh
Once again Jean only gave him a glance, with Scott stopping near the bottom hallway of the institute.
"Alright, i have the rough ideas for a plan." Scott started, looking at all his friends who merely waited for him to continue talking. "We're going to have to make three teams, one is going after Rogue. Too the brotherhoods base, hopefully we can intercept her before she gets there." Nods followed from the young X-men, except a puzzled look from Kurt.
"Three? Must we split up?"
Clearing his throat, and fixing his glasses. He continued. "Well, that's what i'm getting to. The second team is gonna have to stay here, it's night. And if all of us are gone they'll immediately know something is up if they don't already. That team could also serve as bodyguards for Casey while he's downed." Merely humming, two members of the team placed they're hands up in volunteer. The blue skinned german, and the short brunette.
"Right, atleast that's sorted then. Lastly, i wouldn't call it a team. But one or two people are going to have to go too UA." Giving Scott a puzzled look, he put the hand up as a 'wait' before continuing. "They're sports festival is beginning soon, and from what i know. Casey plays a huge part in UA's 1st year reputation, he probably won't be attending, any volunteers?" Once again, a hand quickly raised up. With Jubilee giving a small smirk.
"Sure, i've been there before" Kurt had went too speak, but a small crackle from Jubilee's hands stopped him in his tracks. "And i think some of them know me, maybe it'd be a good idea. But i'm certain that's where i'll be going."
The group just nodded in unison, with Jean giving Scott a smart smirk.
"I think that's the best plan you've ever given."
"Definitely up there." Short held laughter came through the group, before noticing the time. Devil's hour. Scott placing a hand up before ending his speech.
"It's settled then. Me, Jean and Bobby will go after Rogue, Kitty and Kurt are staying here as backup. And Jubi's going too UA." A confident smirk landed on most of the group, looking out the window at the shining moon.
"Let's go, X-men."
-William Stryker-
How...how dare he.
"What, the fuck, do you mean X-24escaped?"
They're base lay in ruin, William stepping over a horde of corpses that littered his base, some leftover brain by the looks of it squishing against the bottom of his boot.
A lone scientist had appeared to survive the onslaught, by hiding under his desk and holding his breath. Of course the whole facility wasn't breached. Stryker reckoned he would've killed everyone left in the facility if it was, but an intense fight had happened here.
"S-Sir, h-he went on a rampage! H-He just snapped!, holding his blinded eye a-and just roared!" He sputtered out, fear holding a deep grip on him while he spoke, Stryker did not seem pleased however. Only letting out a hum in response.
"And where exactly is he going?"
The lone survivor stood up, on shaky legs. Before bringing Stryker over too a nearby computer. A tracking signal coming up from an implant X-24 had been implanted with at 'birth'
"Zoom..."
Widened eyes came from Stryker, followed by seething rage. Smashing his fist through the screen before letting out a roar from the pain.
He was going towards where he had faced his last battle, and suffered his wounds.
Xavier's institute.
-X-24-
Revenge...
Kill...
Girl...
Casey...
There was a lot of pov changes in this chapter.
I don't think i said it last chapter, but the move wanda moved i well...made up. Pretty much she's used her power blocking powers as a curse too pretty much seal Casey's abilities
Whatever she said, i can't be arsed finding it again. Was something along the lines of "you are not worthy of you're strength." In latin.
Song while writing - Riptide (Unlike pluto)