|
Post by squeekness on Jun 29, 2007 10:22:37 GMT -5
(Nine)
Maylee sat with Fallen in her lav. Fallen was in the bath, sitting still in the warm water and staring off into space. She sipped the Rishna only as it was offered, making a face. "You okay, Momma?" Maylee asked, concerned. "Yes, I think so. I'm just really tired," she replied softly. "I don't think Kimble should have given you the Lightning," Maylee said, unable to get it off of her mind. "I tried to stop him, but he used a security screen to keep me out." "He was protecting Fallen," Seth said, excusing his brother. Like all the rooms on the Dragon, there was a viewing screen in here, allowing him to interact with Fallen. "It’s what he does. It could have gotten bad out there. Look at Logan, he got stabbed." Seth was in his control room, watching over Fallen. Remaining inside the computer system didn’t make Seth any less sentient or emotional than his brother, he was worried terribly for Fallen and wished he could be there by her side. It was killing him to be so trapped and useless. "No, he did it to keep me out," Maylee insisted. "He knew I would try to stop him. Now Momma's got that poison inside her again. What're we gonna do now?" Fallen raised a heavy hand and brushed the soft brown fur of Maylee's cheek. "It's all right, May. I beat the Lightening before, I can do it again. It serves me right for being so stupid in the first place." "Why did you do it, Momma?" "Because I just couldn't take Valentin anymore," Fallen sighed. "I know he's a monster of my own creating, but I just can't take him in my life any more. Not when I've found something so much better." She looked up at Seth, who had started to cry silently. "I'm so sorry. never dreamed Cerebus would force Valentin on me like that." She covered her face and sobbed, "What am I gonna do now? I can't be his wife! I just can't!" Maylee pulled Fallen into her arms, unmindful of the water splashing everywhere. "It'll be okay, Momma. Please don't cry." "Fallen, don't you worry," Seth said, wiping his own cheeks and trying to sound very brave, which he wasn't. "We'll stick to the plan, just like Kimble said." "Valentin won't go quietly, Seth. I won't be responsible for setting him loose on Earth. Who knows what he'll do there?" "We'll work it out. Kimble will come up with something, he always does," Seth offered. He had to believe in his brother, it was the only thing that gave him any hope. Kimble had bailed them out of trouble before, surely he could do it again. "It's Kimble that frightens me," Maylee said quietly. She didn’t want Seth to be offended, but she couldn't help the way she felt. Fallen looked at her, startled by what she had said. "Why?" "It's the way he's taking charge and using the security screens. It's like he's hiding something. I don't trust him." "I know Kimble better than anyone, May," Seth said. "You don't have to be afraid. He saved Fallen. He saved all of us. Does that sound like something a bad person would do? Besides, he's better in the hologram than I am. You know I suck at it. I wouldn't have been able to help Fallen like he did." "Then why doesn't he go back? We don't need him to be out anymore. He acts like he's going to stay out all the time now." Seth looked down at her, thoughtful and sad. "I'm not sure he can go back. Something happened in the power surge. I heard him screaming. It was awful. I asked him if he was all right. He said he was, but I still want to run a diagnostic on the hologram components when we get the chance. We'll decide what to do next after that. The most important thing is for Fallen to get some rest. The sooner we get out of here, the better off we'll be. I won't be happy until Valentin is gone."
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Jun 29, 2007 10:23:07 GMT -5
(Ten) Valentin sat at the galley table simmering with rage and frustration. He had to do something, he wasn't about to sit here a prisoner on his own ship. He glared at Gambit who was sitting casually on one end of the long galley table, taking the time to have a drink and a smoke. "This is my ship! I demand to be released!" "Je suis de’sole, Vally. No can do. Seems you got a problem keepin' your hands to y'self." "You really trust that freak? You saw what he did to your friend. He walked right through him! You don't know how powerful he is! We should take him down while we still have a chance!" "Trust dat boy more 'n you, mon ami." Gambit took out a deck of Clan playing cards and shuffled them loosely in his hands. Valentin was playing on his own insecurities, he knew. It wouldn't work. He'd seen a lot of weird things as an X-man, watching Kimble phase through Logan like that didn't really blow him away. He'd seen a girl named Kitty Pride walk through walls and rise up on steps made of air. Jean could fly and read people's minds. Storm, one of his very best friends, threw lightening bolts from her hands. Rogue, the girl who'd stolen his heart, could absorb someone's personality and powers just by touching them. "I know who he is," Bruce said to no one in particular, his eyes thoughtful and dreamy. He’d been moved to the opposite side of the table because Joseph and Valentin wouldn’t leave him alone. They were mad at him for not putting up a good enough fight before. They didn’t seem to care that he was half out of it at the time. "What?" Remy asked, turning his head back to look at him. Bruce looked at Valentin. "Zander. I think he's Zander." "Who's Zander?" Valentin grumbled irritated. He wasn't pleased with Bruce at all right now. "I'd know that voice anywhere." Bruce shook his head with an odd smile. "Never thought I'd see him again." He looked at Valentin again. "You don't remember? The Siskan hologram that went nuts. Killed all those guys." Gambit was immediately interested, but tried not to show it. This could be a trick. Valentin sneered. "Oh, that was so long ago. How could you be sure?" Bruce looked at him pointedly. "Because I knew Zander. I'm positive it's him. I'd know that voice anywhere." Valentin snorted in disgust and looked away. Bruce continued to reminisce. " ‘Well, what do ya know 'bout that?’ " he said in a near perfect imitation of Kimble's catch phrase. "Never thought I'd ever hear that again. It has to be him. I'll just bet your precious little pilot bribed the Curator of Files to get him and she thought she could fix it." "You're being stupid, Bruce. Zander didn't look like this." "You don’t get it, Valentin. The user decides what the program looks like. Fallen’s a pilot so she made him look like one." "Tell me 'bout dis Zander," Gambit asked. "We used these Siskan holograms in our training," Bruce explained. "They made good sparring partners because they couldn't get hurt. We could use them all day and they wouldn't get tired. They used these black cubes that powered them up and healed them if they got damaged. We could load them up with files and they did what we wanted them to. Something happened to Zander. They say he got smart. Thought he was real. Went crazy. He went to work one day and blew up for no reason. He grabbed a sword and started hacking away. Some men were killed. "I was there when it happened. It was horrible. They tried to run him through with swords, but he just kept coming. Someone finally used a taser gun to shoot him down. They shut off the program and Zander was deliberately 'broken' so the program wouldn't work anymore. All the other Siskans were closed down and they disappeared, too. "I'm betting Fallen found him and played with the program. There's two of them flying the ship and working together, right? She did that to fix him, I'll bet. It's him, I'm telling you. It's not stable. We gotta take it down while Fallen is still weak and can't protect him. He might not do anything right away, I mean, he was good with us for a while before he cracked up. But no one knows what set him off. I was there with him right before it happened. He seemed okay to me. Then a couple of hours later, he just went nuts. He could do it again at any time." Remy considered what Bruce said. It was eerily similar to what Fallen had said about Kimble. He suspected Bruce wasn't just kidding around, although Remy didn't think he was telling the whole story. He would have to talk to the others about this. He didn't have to wait long, a moment later they came walking up with Kimble. "Everything seems to be on the level," Logan said as he approached. "Bien. Dat's good ta know. C'mere a minute," he said to Wolverine, pulling him aside. He stood close to Logan's ear and whispered, telling him what was said. He didn’t think Kimble would be able to hear. Kimble wasn’t the least bit happy about it, he knew they had to be talking about him. He resented it, but said nothing. He distrusted the X-men as much as they distrusted him it seemed. He looked at the Clansmen and at Bruce in particular. There was something familiar about the guy, but he couldn't place him. Bruce wasn't one of Valentin's regular guys and hadn't been aboard the Lucky Dragon before this run. Something nagged at Kimble. Something unpleasant. Joseph clicked his tongue at Kimble as if he were a dog, getting his attention. "Zander." he said softly, with an odd smile. It wasn't a question. He wanted to see what Kimble would do. Bruce groaned in dismay and looked away. Remy stopped talking and waited, his eyes locked on Kimble’s face. Kimble squinted at Joseph. "What didja just say?" "That's your name, isn't it? Zander." Kimble felt sick, that acid burning sensation again. The name burned into him with an agonizing familiarity. He saw the bloody sword, could almost feel it in his hands. He realized now that file had been no mistake and the truth of it rocked him. He tried to control his swirling emotions as they fought to run away out of control. He couldn't let these men see how badly he was frightened, they might try to lock him up or worse. If he could just forget about it, it would go away. There was no proof that he had been Zander or anyone else. Let them say whatever they wanted. It had nothing to do with what was going on now. He could never be that way again and so it was meaningless. It was in the past. He could ignore it if he could just control his anger and fear. One thing was certain, he couldn't let Fallen find out about this. He'd had a taste of freedom and wasn't going to allow anything to take it from him. Kimble swallowed heavily and lied arrogantly, "Name's Kimble. Always has been." "Fallen named you that." "Nope. She asked me. I told her Kimble. I'm Kimble. Ya gots me confused with someone else." "Bruce says he knows you. Don't you remember him?" Bruce hissed, "Don't set him off!" Kimble cocked his head at Bruce and laughed to cover his discomfort. He had no clear memory of Bruce at all and he wasn't about to go digging for one. His small dip into the memory files had already caused him enough trouble. "Nice try, Joe. You git these guys all wound up by yerself? Must be quite an accomplishment fer a pea brain like you," Kimble said with a disgusted snort and looked at the X-men. "They tell ya 'bout that Siskan that went nuts? Huh? Old news, pals. Last I heard they fried that bastard good. Unrecoverable. These guys just wants ta spook ya. Fallen ain’t that stupid." "She doesn't know," Bruce whispered, too afraid to look Kimble in the eyes. "Please!" Kimble sneered. "Fallen ain't that blind. Yer just tryin' to get outta this bucket of sh-t yer in. Wonderin' what yer gonna do now that Fallen ain't gonna let ya kick 'er around no more." "Speakin' of which..." Logan interrupted. "We need someplace ta lock these guys up. Keep 'em quiet ‘til we figure out what we're gonna do." He wanted to change the subject so he could get Kimble away from them for a moment. He wanted to talk to his teammates. He didn't believe Kimble at all. The Siskan’s eyes were jumpy, like Joseph had caught him in a lie. "Can we use the barracks?" "Ain't got no security there but I 'spoze we could rig up a security screen or sumpthin' ta keep 'em in. It's got a lav so we wouldn' hafta moves 'em around. I'll see what me an' Seth kin do." "You do that." Kimble walked away to the main room. He called up Seth on the main screen and they talked. Logan used the opportunity to confer with the others. "I think we should keep a close eye on Kimble. Try ta learn as much as we can about him. He's lyin', I can see it." He challenged the others with his eyes to contradict him, but they were quiet. "I hope these guys're wrong, but I wanna be ready if they aren't." To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Jul 6, 2007 8:47:48 GMT -5
(Eleven) Kimble reached up to the top of the barrack’s doorway and drilled a small hole. Shavings fell into his eye and he swore softly in his usual creative manner. "You really should be wearing safety glasses, you know," Beast advised fatherly. Kimble dropped down from his awkward position. He had been up on a small stool he brought up from the workshop. "Fergot how much this crap hurts. This sucks," he complained good naturedly and rubbed his eye. He blinked and his eye watered, still hurting. Just one more hurt to add to today’s list of grievances. Seemed like he couldn’t catch a break. "Let me assist you," Beast offered, grabbing a nearby flashlight. He clicked it on and peered into Kimble’s watering eye, hoping to find the source of the problem. The result was fascinating. His doctor’s eye caught the fact that the light both reflected against and shined into Kimble's eye like it was transparent. The pupil constricted in the light as if his eye was real. Weird. Kimble grumbled with impatience and squinted, concentrating. Henry watched in amazement as the particle that was sitting on the surface of Kimble's eye sank into the eye itself and disappeared. Kimble had absorbed it into his body. Kimble blinked again and sighed in relief. "Uhhnn...That's better." "How did you do that?" Henry asked, curious. "I dunno. I just wanted it gone. If I think 'bout things, sometimes they happen." "Like walking through Logan?" "What?" Fallen was sitting in one of the front seats of the passenger section. She was wrapped in a blanket and watching them. She'd finished her bath and wandered over, using this as an excuse to get a closer look at the new and improved Kimble. Seth was back on the screen in the main room, he didn't want to let Fallen out of his sight. This near miss with death would make him afraid of losing her for a long time. "What did you do?" he asked his brother. "I kinda walked through someone," Kimble explained like it wasn't a big deal. He climbed back up to the hole he'd drilled. "You can control your solidity?" Beast continued to probe. He handed Kimble a part for the security screen. "Uhmm. Yeah, kinda. I dunno. I only did it that one time. Don' knows if I kin do it again." "What else can you do?" Fallen asked. Kimble grunted, working the strip into place. "What is this, Fifty Questions?" "Inquiring minds want to know," Henry joked. Kimble looked down at him and smiled that teasing grin, offering, "I kin sings Phantom of the Opera in three diff'rent languages." "How would you know that if you're Siskan?" "Well, uhmm. Me an’ Seth have this insatiable curiosity, y' know?" he said glancing towards his twin. "When Lucky would go ta port Seth would, you know, interface with the port computers. Be surprisin' what you kin finds out if ya knows what ta look fer. Lotsa ships gone Earthside come our way, y'know? Fallen likes the music so I'd go look through the stuff Seth collects." "Seth would interface with the port computers? You guys know better than to talk to systems that aren't Dognan," Fallen warned. "That's dangerous. If anyone found out they could've held us for spying." "Well, they didn't find out," Seth boasted. "I'm better than they are. Sneaky. I know how to get in and out." "Sometimes, when yer tryin' ta puts a puzzle together, ya gots ta look in lotsa different places fer the pieces," Kimble added as he jumped down, finished. "Is that how you broke the codes?" Fallen asked to the screen. Seth looked at her. "Yeah. Piece of this, piece of that. Someone had a running Siskan program. I read it, figured it out." "Just wish we coulda' got it done faster, is all," Kimble continued for him. "Maybe we coulda made ya happier. Less afraid of Vally if we wuz around fer real. Might've avoided this whole mess." "How did you become like you are now?" Henry asked Kimble, changing the subject. "When Seth seen what Fallen wuz gonna do, he knew it wuz gonna be bad fer her. She wuz gonna git hurt. He activated the hologram program sos we could git to her. I jumped in cuz I kin use it best. Funny thing, the power surge changed the hologram somehow. It feels different, not like it's suppozta be. Don' know what I am now, only that I ain't what I wuz before. Couldn't walk through people before, that's fer shure," he said with a laugh. "The surge also fried the restraints so I could move around. I took advantage of opportunity and fixed up Fallen there. Guess it all worked out or Fallen would be gone." He looked at her then turned away with a sad smile. "Don' matter now." He took another part out of its box and fiddled with it nervously. "When you first used the hologram, why did you chose the Ristle energy as your power source? There are other energy sources out there that last longer." Henry asked, still curious. "We have Shi'ar technology that is much more efficient." "We played around with other power sources before. We likes the Ristle. I likes the way it makes me feel," Kimble said, an odd look on his face. "You told me Seth said the other power sources weren't good enough," Fallen said. "That they weren't compatible with your programming." "Like I said, I likes the way the Ristle makes me feel." He wasn't budging. He waited for Seth to contradict him, but his brother was quiet and looking at him curiously. "What does it feel like when you charge?" Fallen asked, wanting to understand all this. Kimble's grin got bigger. "I think ya already knows the answer ta that, baby doll." "Why, though? It's just power. You should feel stronger after a charge. What you feel is more like...like..." "F-ckin’," Kimble finished for her with a laugh. "Excuse me?" Seth interjected. He didn't like the sound of that and he eyed Fallen possessively. "Don' worry, little brother," Kimble said gently. "It ain't f-ckin' fer real. Not even close." "Well," Henry interrupted, a little embarrassed, but still very curious. "If Kimble used to be a pleasure program, it may be that whatever he feels is defined in those terms. He needs to charge to stay alive. When he does, he is rewarded by feeling good. Like how it feels good to eat for us." "I don't get an orgasm eating a piece of fruit, Henry," Fallen teased. "Maybe yer not eatin' the right things," Kimble responded with a laugh. "I gots a few suggestions!" "Hey!" Seth protested, feeling really nervous now. "Yes, well we don't need to go there," Henry commented. "What does it feel like for you, Fallen? Does it hurt when he takes power from you?" "It feels nice. It doesn't hurt at all. It's kinda like getting a hug when you really needed it. I could feel Kimble in my mind." "A telepathic link?" Henry asked intrigued. "Yeah, something like that. It's like he takes my power, but gives me something back in return." "A symbiotic relationship? Intriguing," Henry concluded, his scientist’s eyes gleaming. "I'd love to get a look at this in my lab when we get back home." "I ain't no lab rat," Kimble protested playfully with mock insult. Henry laughed. "Don't worry, all my rats get treats." "Twinkies?" Fallen asked with a smile. "Are the legends that specific? My word. Is nothing sacred?" Beast joked. He couldn’t help but wonder all the same, just where Fallen’s legends had come from and how she knew so much about them. The X-men were generally secretive, choosing their friends and allies carefully. Fallen looked at Kimble. "He would probably love a Twinkie. All that cream filling." "What's a Twinkie?" Kimble wanted to know. Beast was quick to answer. "A golden slice of heaven, my friend. I'll be sure to have one ready for you to sample. I'm going to need a whole box and then some to put back on all the weight I've lost eating Clan food." "Sucks, don' it?" Kimble joked and stopped, startled by his own words. "How would you know?" Fallen asked him, cocking her head at him. "Just look at ya, darlin'. You got no meat." Kimble's response was jerky. He'd been caught in a lie and couldn't hide it. "Have you been loose? Away from the restraints?" "Me? Naw, I wouldn't ever do that," he teased, covering up his slip. He hadn't been loose, but a memory of horrible Clan food was there all the same. Something recently gained, these new memory files were getting out of hand. "Guess it doesn't matter now," Fallen said. She didn’t feel like arguing about it. Henry was curious. If Kimble had gotten out of the restraints, what else had he been into? Clearly he kept secrets. He could see Kimble was sly, but didn't get a vibe of malice or treachery from him. He was just a guy who wanted to get out and explore. Henry trusted his own sense of judgment, even if it differed from Logan's. He personally liked both Kimble and Seth. Kimble finished fastening the strip. "Well. Looks like we're done here. Just gotta activate it and we're all set." To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Jul 13, 2007 8:32:54 GMT -5
(Twelve) Once the Clan men were squared away, the group headed down to the workshop. Gambit offered to stay behind to do first watch on the Clan again. He didn't have much of a head for science and figured Henry would fill him in on what he missed. Kimble carried Fallen down the stairs and lay her down on the bed, fussing over her until he was satisfied she was comfortable. He didn't like how light she was, but said nothing. He would make sure she ate and put on the weight she needed to get better. He could be very persuasive if he had to be. Opposite the bed was a viewing screen. Seth was there in the control room, flipping switches and tapping away on his keyboard. He was preparing to run tests on the Kimble hologram. "I want to do a regular hologram scan first," he said nodding at his brother. Kimble picked up a metal bracelet from the work bench and put it on. Like the Med-strip, it flashed and winked out. Data from the scan scrolled up on a window in the corner. Seth looked at the data on a screen in his room, the words reflecting on his eyes as they buzzed by at a lighting speed no human could read by. He shook his head and rubbed his chin nervously. "What," Kimble barked impatiently. "Well, you're definitely not just a hologram anymore. I'm not sure what you are, actually. The hologram diagnostics don't even read you at all. They don't ‘see’ you because you're something else now." "What does this mean?" Fallen asked. "He probably won't be able to power off of the cubes even if they are restored, or even the batteries." He looked at Kimble. "Put a regular Med-Strip on." Kimble removed the bracelet and borrowed the strip Fallen still had on her forehead. He put it on and it flashed and winked out. Lucky began to recite. "Subject, Kimble. Height, 5' 9". 102 pounds. Species unknown. Gender unknown. Body temperature, unable to determine. Body density and structure unable to determine. Possible system failure. Diagnostic test recommended." Seth shook his head again. "Guess Lucky doesn't really ‘see’ you, either. Touch Fallen." Kimble grinned and lightly brushed Fallen's face with his hand. His fingers glowed blue from the contact and she smiled back at him. "You're getting a kick out of this aren't you?" "I ain’t complainin’." "This is interesting," Seth said, trying to ignore them. "I can see the Ristle being absorbed by his skin on the infrared. Some kind of chemical reaction. It's heating him up. Interesting.... Whatever. We already know he has to touch you to power up. At least he won't shut off or fade off into nothing as long as he keeps recharging." "That's not a big deal," Fallen said. "This is only until he goes back." Seth looked at her pointedly. "He’s not coming back." "Yer sayin I'm stuck out here?" Kimble asked. Privately, he was elated. He wanted to stay out, he just hoped it didn't screw things up with the ship. Logan groaned inwardly. He'd been hoping Kimble would return to the system and he wouldn't have to watch out for him anymore. The idea of babysitting Kimble for a long period of time was not in the least bit appealing. Who knew what kind of mischief or mayhem Kimble was going to get into? "Yeah. You're out there and I'm in here," Seth said quietly. He looked sadly at Fallen. "Kin ya copy the hologram files sos you kin come out too?" Kimble asked, already knowing the answer. "No. You took them with you. Even if I could rewrite them, we don't have the base material to create another hologram," Seth said, meaning the particles that allowed Kimble to be solid. "Just what files does he have?" Fallen asked Seth while looking at Kimble nervously. "He's got a lot. All the hologram files including a good amount of unopened memory files that were unlocked by the access codes. Who knows what's on those. We should check them out later." Logan noticed as Kimble shifted uncomfortably at his brother’s words. He said nothing, but his distrust of Kimble went up another notch. "He's got all of his personality files. The pleasure files," Seth continued, looking at his brother with a grin. "Don't you even think about using those on Fallen, brother." "That ain't up ta me," Kimble teased, eyeing Fallen suggestively. "Kimble!" Fallen snapped at him irritably, she was in no mood for his games. Kimble put his hands up in surrender, but he was laughing. "Ooooh......" Seth groaned, scratching his chin nervously again. "Uhm...He's got the flight files. That could be a problem." "No it ain't," Kimble answered. "I'll just link up with Lucky and do it telepathic. Whatever I ain’t got you kin send me. Just like we done with the med files. It's still doable." "You two share files?" Henry asked. "Yes," Seth answered. "We can read each other's files, but they can't be copied. To a point I could learn what he knows, but I will never have his skill. He manages the power and flies the ship very well. He and Fallen are a good team," he said, proud of them. "His linking up with Lucky wouldn't be any different than if he was still in. We can still work together like we always have. Same thing only different, I guess." "It looks to me like the two of you are still connected, but now split again because the split is physical. Are you going to be stable?" Henry wanted to know. "Guess we’re gonna find out," Kimble grunted. "Can you guys switch? You know, trade? Even if it's just for a little while?" Fallen asked Seth, her eyes pleading. "No, Fallen," Seth answered, sadly. "This split is final." He looked at her and his eyes grew wet. He started to say something but turned away, shaking his head. Fallen stood on shaky legs and slowly walked to the screen. She put her hands up to Seth and started to cry as she spoke up at him in Siskan. Kimble went over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked up to Seth. "I'm sorry, guys. I really am," he said, meaning it. "I did what I hadta do," he insisted next as if the whole thing was just his idea when it wasn't. "I didn't know what wuz gonna happen. But even if I did, I'd do it again. I'd do it fer Fallen." "This isn't all your fault," Seth said, excusing him. "No, it's mine!" Fallen complained, sobbing. "Baby doll..." Kimble started, but couldn't finish. Seth looked at him. "Can you give us a minute? I want to speak to Fallen alone." Kimble nodded and slowly took his hands away. He didn't want to go, but forced his body to move anyway. He went down the hall and the others followed. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Jul 20, 2007 9:42:37 GMT -5
(Thirteen) Kimble went up the stairs but lingered at the trap door opening as the rest gathered in the galley again. He could hear Fallen crying and Seth trying uselessly to soothe her. Kimble wanted so much to go back, but respected his brother's wishes. He crouched down at the top step of the trap door, hooking his toe claws over the edge. He looked down the steps and waited, hoping that when Fallen came back up he would have something in mind to say to make her feel better. He couldn’t bear the thought of her pain. Gambit was still on guard duty and was now stretched out comfortably across the first row of passenger seats. The arm rests flipped up, allowing him to lay across them like a bed. He was quite tall and his feet stuck out into the walkway, but he didn't mind. He was Gambit and Gambit was comfortable anywhere. He'd watched the small crowd come up and noted Fallen's absence. The others had all shuffled into the galley except for Kimble. Remy kept his watchful eyes on Kimble as he crouched at the door, his face full of woe. Gambit inspected this Siskan hologram with rapt curiosity. There was a variety of expressions clear on Kimble’s face — pain, sorrow, jealousy and pain. Gambit had the reputation of being a heartless conman, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t sympathetic to the emotions of others. On the contrary, he had always been compassionate to the pain and suffering of the people around him. It was what made it easy for him to read people and know the right thing to say to get what he wanted, to charm them, if you will. It didn’t keep him from feeling their pain, he’d had to learn to shut off his emotions to escape the pounding guilt that came on him at times. There were moments when he’d considered the possibility that he might be a low level empath, a mutant who read not thoughts, but the emotions of others. If this was so, he’d never been diagnosed as such and so hadn’t declared it to anyone. He had lost some of that empathy – if that’s what it was -- when he had been told to leave New Orleans and the Thieves’ Guild, in those dark years he’d spent on his own. Those were the worst of times for him, when he’d made the worst of his life’s mistakes. He had to shut off much of that sensitivity or he would have given in to temptation more than just that one time and just ripped his wrists to shreds, bleeding his guilt and suffering out of him until he was dead. Long before Antarctica, he’d been close to suicide many times, another symptom of someone with deep caring and understanding of misery and angst. Some of that empathy was coming back to him now that he was back with the X-men full time and he was trying to deal with it the best he could. Professor Xavier had been very instrumental in keeping him sane, counseling him and giving him advice on how to manage his guilt. Gambit was sympathetic and painfully aware that Kimble was suffering now. What amazed him was that this hologram, this walking, talking computer program should display such powerful emotions at all. If he was so fake, so programmed, why did he appear as though he might cry at any moment? Was it real, or was it because he was out in the open with so many people around him? He certainly had an audience here and all the reasons in the world to manipulate them, Kimble needed them sympathetic enough to his cause so they wouldn’t just pound him to a pulp and take over. But when Gambit saw Kimble put his head down and noted the dismal, soft little sigh that left him, he had serious doubts Kimble was faking this. His instincts told him the pilot wasn’t doing this just to get attention. Those instincts had served Remy far too well for him to doubt them now. Maybe it was all the time they had spent dancing, but he had an idea that Kimble was a lot more complicated than the others here gave him credit for, Fallen included. One of the things Remy had been especially good at back home was talking down a troubled mutant in a crisis situation, especially the younger ones. There had been some teasing that Remy could relate to them simply because he hadn’t grown up himself, but it wasn’t true. It was more that Gambit saved his judgements for later, getting to know a person first before he condemned them outright. That reservation had played out well back home and he used it now to speak to this poor, troubled hologram. "What's goin' on dere, buddy?" he asked Kimble quietly. "I'm stuck out here. Seth's trapped in the system. Fallen ain't doin' so good with it," Kimble replied sadly. He glanced up as Valentin came to the barracks door, but turned his head down so the big man wouldn’t see how upset he was. "I can fix her up nice," Valentin replied arrogantly with a laugh. "Just send her in here." "She don't love you," Kimble said without looking up. Wolverine came to the galley door, expecting trouble. Henry stood behind him. "What does that have to do with anything? She's my wife." "When yer heart is broke, it means evrathin’. She needs real love, not the kind that comes from yer fists, neither. Real love is sumpthin’ you kin feel an’ taste. It kin fix evrathin’," Kimble said with conviction, seeming to speak from experience. Valentin snorted disdainfully. "What would you know of love and broken hearts, creature?" Kimble turned his head to look at Valentin. His eyes were flinty and cold. "What do ya love, Vally, huh? What do ya love 'sides that great big sword of yers?" Valentin considered his answer. "Hmm.... I love a nice big steak grilled on the fire. I love a bottle of fine Kyrule whiskey just opened. But what do I love most of all? Heh, Fallen's nice hot mouth going down on me, slow and easy...." Kimble clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, but didn't move, not just yet. Remy eased one foot down to the floor and slid his deck of cards out, pretending to shuffle them from boredom. He could sense the rising tension in the room and saw Kimble’s jaw working. He didn’t like the smouldering rage brewing behind Kimble’s eyes and remembered how quick Kimble was to fight with Valentin before. He knew Kimble was hopelessly outclassed even if the holographic pilot did not. "But what I'm gonna love best, son..." Valentin continued, "...is the sound of your neck snapping when I crush you down with my bare hands." Kimble laughed suddenly and rubbed his hands together. "Yeah, that'd be fine, I guess -- if I had any bones, that is. Gonna hafta do better'n that ta take me down, you ****** son of a b****," he finished, the dangerous, deep growly edge coming back into his voice. Valentin's mouth split wide in an evil sneer. "My, my. What a mouth you got on you, boy. Still, I doubt taking you down will be a problem for me. I suspect you'll bleed quick enough. I've always been a sword man, myself. You ever feel the edge of a blade, son?" Kimble froze. He hadn't been prepared for Valentin's question or the flash of a memory that came unbidden. Swords and death. Death and swords. Blood, ice cold and frosting the edge of a broadsword as it pulled out of his guts. He shivered noticeably and Valentin laughed again. "Guess that answers that question --- Zander." "My name's Kimble, ya ignorant f***. Best git that straight. As to yer question, I ain't never felt it, but I seen it plenty. I seen you cut Kane down like he was nuthin'. You ain't gonna catch me like that, Vally, no Sir. Yer gonna find out there's a lot more ta me than any a yous kin see," Kimble boasted, trying to sound tougher than he felt. Kimble wasn't sure what exactly he'd seen or felt in the past so, as far as he was concerned, he hadn't been lying...not entirely. "I'm sure," Valentin agreed. "I'll be seeing it as I split you open wide. It's gonna spill out right over those stupid furry feet of yours. Gonna laugh my *** right off, too, watching you die." Kimble stood up, his hands fisted once more. He moved towards Valentin with unveiled hostile intent, his mouth twisted in an angry sneer. Logan cleared his throat. "Ladies." Kimble ignored him, but stopped his advance when Gambit suddenly stood up in front of him. Remy shuffled his cards, his blood red eyes glittering. "Stop right dere, s’il vous plait. Dis trash ain't wort’ it, mon ami." Kimble growled deep in his throat and took another step. Gambit charged two cards and held them up defensively. "Ain't gonna hap --" He stopped in mid sentence and cocked his head with a curious smile. Kimble's widened eyes had locked on the red glowing cards and he was struck dumb with wonder, like a deer caught in a truck's headlights. Kimble loved red. It was his most favorite color because it was bright and reminded him of heat which he loved best of all. His inner core was very cold so anything warm felt amazingly wonderful to him. It was the primary reason he loved to be touched and held and why the Ristle felt so good. The cards sizzled a little from the energy Gambit had charged them with and Kimble could smell them burning. He raised a trembling hand towards the cards, he wanted to touch them and feel their heat blasting into him. It never occurred to him that he could be burned. The red glow simply drew him in and he couldn't resist. Unfortunately, Valentin wasn't quite done yet. "Hey, you. You little child. Why don't you show these fine X-men what a big brave man you think you are? One minute with me will show the truth of you. You'll be begging me for mercy, snot dripping from your nose." Kimble tore his eyes away from Remy's cards. His anger returned and he desperately wanted to rise to Valentin's challenge, but he knew Valentin was right. He couldn't even come close to backing up his own threats. He had no choice but to back down. He was going to lose face badly here. He was rescued by Fallen coming up the stairs. She had tried to give Seth as much comfort as she could and now had to get back to the business of getting herself back in order. She was exhausted and only wanted to sleep some more. She came up the steps and paused when she saw Gambit with his cards lit and Valentin leaning arrogantly in his doorway. She knew immediately what was happening. "Kimble, please. I must speak with you," she ordered sternly, wanting only to get him away. "Come with me." She went back towards the cage and Kimble obediently followed, hiding his relief. Valentin watched them go with a sneer and gave a nasty chuckle, satisfied he’d put Kimble in his place. He withdrew and just like that, the confrontation was over. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Jul 27, 2007 9:54:53 GMT -5
(Fourteen) Fallen and Kimble went into the lav and Fallen shut the door on Valentin's contemptuous laughter. "What do you think you're doing?" Fallen hissed at Kimble, keeping her voice down so no one outside could hear. "Don't start something you can't finish!" "He pisses me off so bad, Fallen!" Kimble complained. He sat down on the floor in a huff and put his head down. "Alla this just sucks!" She crouched down in front of him. "I know and I'm sorry. We just have to deal with it, remember? Picking fights with Valentin isn't going to help." "Aye, Fallen." She tipped his head up to see into his eyes and he looked up at her with the adoring eyes of a child seeing its mother. Fallen was his Captain, but even more than that, she was his Mistress. As a Siskan Courtesan, it was his purpose to serve and please whoever was in charge of him. The fact that she regarded him as her Second only reinforced this idea in his mind. He wanted only to protect her and keep her safe. It made him feel valuable and loved. Her love was just as important to him as the power that sustained him and kept him alive. Fallen knew this just as she knew a lot of his macho posturing and bravado was a false front he put up to defend himself. He was usually a lot less serious and more playful than he was now. He was trying to be brave and strong for her and it made her smile, she loved him so. "I didn't say that as your Captain. I said that as your friend. Just calm down and relax. We’ll get out of this just fine, okay?" Kimble laughed a little. "I thought I wuz suppozta be takin' care a you, not the other way around." "We'll take care of each other, okay?" "An Seth? He gonna be okay, too?" "He will be. It's just going to take some time to get used to how things are, that's all. He'll be good as long as we stick together, the three of us. Don't shut him out. Don't leave him alone too long." Kimble smiled. "He's my brother. I cain't leaves him alone, not fer long. He ain't gonna have the chance ta miss havin' me so close." Seth laughed, popping up on the screen behind them. "Oh, sure. All those smelly cigarettes and stupid pictures of naked women. Right. Plus you snore really, really loudly. Yeah, I'll miss that." "Them pictures, you will. I tooks 'em with me, justa keep ya outta trouble. An' I don't snore!" "Yes, you do!" Fallen said with a laugh. "Yes! Very, very loudly!" Seth joked, feeling better. "Besides, who got you those pictures in the first place, brother? What makes you so sure I gave you all of them?" Seth teased, his eyes merry. "Cuz you got yer eyes on jus' one girl," Kimble answered in all seriousness, looking at Fallen. "I knows yer gonna waits fer her no matter how long it takes." There was a tone of sadness in his voice. "I jus' hope it don' takes too long, is all. I want yous both ta be happy." "I know you do," Fallen replied, kissing him. "That's why I love you. Now do us all a favor and stay out of trouble." "Aye, Fallen." "Good. Now, I want to get some more sleep. I'm exhausted." She stood up on wobbly legs and smiled as Kimble rose to help her. They left the lav and she lay down on her bed. He tucked her in again, putting the pillow to her belly and making sure she was warm and comfortable. Seth came up on the cage screen and watched over her, his face tight with worry. It was frustrating to him that he couldn't reach out to her anymore. He regretted now all those times he'd bailed out of the hologram so soon. If he ever got the chance to come out again, he would be sure not to waste it. He wouldn’t be separated from her ever again. Fallen snuggled down into the blankets and was quickly fast asleep. The two brothers looked down at her, protective and full of love. "I wish she could be yers forever," Kimble whispered softly. "Someday, she will be," Seth replied. His eyes filled up with tears and spilled over. His tears betrayed his lack of confidence. Right now he wasn’t too sure of anything. Kimble looked up at him. He felt bad for having made his brother cry. "Wants ta play some chess?" "Here?" "No. In the Black Room. I wants ta see ya." "Can you still go there?" "I wants ta try." "I'll see you there." Seth winked out and was gone. Kimble knelt down next to Fallen and took one of her slender white hands in his. He closed his eyes and grew still, concentrating. He didn't think he needed Fallen to do this, but he was concerned about leaving her alone and unattended. If she moved, he hoped she would wake him. He relaxed, concentrated, and was gone from the outside world. Kimble’s consciousness slid through the invisible connection line between himself and Lucky. It was odd for him to be back in the system again. It felt the same, but different somehow. He wasn't completely here like before, he was just a visitor now. There were barriers all around him where before he had total access, it was as if Lucky knew he wasn't the same, too. He came to the Black Room and saw Seth waiting for him there. The Black Room was a kind of home base where the two brothers would spend their time in the system. Seth had created it because they needed some place that was just for them, where they could speak privately and play uninterrupted. Fallen didn't know about it, nor did she have access to it -- she had been the unpassworded client Lucky had spoken of before. It was a private place and theirs alone. Well, it had been until Fallen had recharged Kimble the first time. Somehow, she'd come here with Kimble for just a moment and then she was gone. The system had sensed her as an intruder and booted her out. Kimble arrived in the Black Room, comfortable to be here. The room was a great big black empty space with a single large circle of light in the center. He walked into the circle of light and stood next to his brother who was there waiting for him. The endless black silky bed Fallen had experienced was gone, now there was a hard floor. Seth was seated comfortably in front of a chessboard he had placed on the floor. He looked up at Kimble and smiled. "You made it." Kimble brushed his fingertips across the top of Seth's head and grinned. "Yeah." Kimble was Seth’s brother, but he was more than that. He was his protector, his father. The one who looked after him and kept him safe. They were two parts of one person, two fractions of a single splintered psyche. They needed one another and were bonded closer than any real brothers could be, save perhaps true twins. This separation had been violent and painful to them both. Kimble sat down across from his brother, taking the black side of the board. As usual, Seth played the white pieces and Kimble the black. It's just how it was. Kimble grinned and conjured a cigarette out of thin air, snapping his fingers to light it. He took a deep drag and turned his head to exhale, keeping the smoke from his twin. Seth smiled and shook his head. "Same old Kimble." Kimble grunted. "That's right. Same ol' Kimble. You ain't never gonna be rid of me, so don'tcha worry yer pretty little head none about it." Seth, being white, made the first move on the chessboard. He couldn't hide the fact that he felt much better now in Kimble's company. They'd never been apart for this long before. Even when Seth would run and hide, he always felt Kimble's presence because they were both in the system. Kimble would often try to lure him out with soft music or a constant stream of dirty jokes to make him laugh. There was always some kind of Kimble noise going on. These past hours had given Seth only a terrible empty silence. Kimble's return here gave Seth a special kind of reassurance. Kimble would never leave him. Kimble was still looking out after him as always. Kimble still loved him and Seth needed that love more than ever right now. Kimble looked up and saw Seth looking at him with all of that in his eyes plain as day. He grunted and laughed, making his first move on the chessboard. Moments earlier and outside the system, in the Main Room of the Lucky Dragon, Logan had watched Fallen lure Kimble away with a sense of relief. At least one of these crazy people still had a lick of sense. He saw Valentin back away from the door and disappear inside the barracks. He knew Valentin perceived Kimble as the most immediate obstacle between himself and Fallen. If Valentin regained control of Fallen, she might release him and the other Clansmen from their prison. Logan wasn't about to let that happen. They would have to keep Kimble and Valentin apart if they wanted to maintain any kind of peace. Logan walked over to Remy who had resumed his earlier position across the seats. "What was that with Kimble and the cards?" "Beats me. P’etetre, dey just turn 'im on," he replied with a laugh. Logan grunted, leaning comfortably against the cage. "Looks like it don't take much ta get that boy all wound up." Gambit snorted. "Dat's like de kettle callin' de pot black, furball. Seen you go off for nuthin' more dan once." Logan sat down in the row of seats behind Remy and stretched out himself. "At least I start fights I know I can win. That boy won't be happy 'til Vally kicks his *** inta next year. If Vally gets out, Kimble won't last five seconds." "Vally ain't gonna get out so stop worryin’." They both looked up as Fallen and Kimble left the lav. Fallen lay down on her bed and Kimble tucked her in. The two brothers whispered softly but only Logan could hear it. He was confused when he saw Seth leave and Kimble kneel down. He thought they were going to play chess but instead Kimble took Fallen's hand and grew very still. Logan sat up for a closer look. Kimble was completely frozen in place, it didn't even look like he was breathing. It was like someone had come along and flipped an invisible on/off switch. "What's he doin’?" Logan mumbled, more to himself than to his teammate. "Sleepin', I guess," Remy answered anyway. Logan got up and slowly walked over to the cage. He was forced to halt in the doorway when the security grid reactivated. Lucky chimed in but Kimble didn't move at all, the sound didn't wake him. Logan snapped his fingers. Again, Kimble didn't respond. This was a bit spooky so Logan looked at Remy and crossed his arms, a sure sign he was irritated. "This guy gives me the creeps," he complained. "Seems all right to me. Even computers gotta sleep, n’est ce pas?" he laughed. "I heard him say he was gonna play chess. He ain't doin' nuthin' now." "Den leave 'im alone. You been houndin' 'im enough as it is. Dat boy gonna get a complex de way you watchin' 'im all the time. Chill out." "He needs watchin'." "Gambit gonna do dat, patron. You get some sleep. We all be tired now, been a long, long day." Logan grunted and returned to the seats. He stretched out again and pulled a blanket over himself. They had decided earlier that this was going to have to do as their new sleeping arrangements now that the Clan had appropriated the barracks. Fortunately the seats were well cushioned and comfortable. He closed his eyes, surprised by how tired he was. It was so easy to lose track of time out here in space. No sun. It didn't take long for him to drop off into a comfortable sleep. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Aug 3, 2007 8:44:37 GMT -5
(Fifteen) Wolverine startled awake when Remy lightly touched him. He'd been deeply asleep, a rare thing for him. He hadn't realized just how tired he was. Still the lightest touch had roused him quickly. He had no idea how long he'd been out, it was at least a couple of hours minimum. "Sumptin's wrong wit Fallen," Gambit whispered. Maylee was sleeping in the next row of seats behind Logan and Gambit didn't want to wake her. Logan got up and went with Remy into the cage. The security grid was no longer activated and Fallen's bed was empty. The light was on in the lav and the door open so they went right inside. Fallen was seated on the commode, a blanket wrapped around her tiny body. She was having a nosebleed and it was a bad one judging from several bloody towels nearby. Kimble was standing next to her, pinching her nose off with another towel. He held the back of her head with his other hand, gently petting her. He was obviously frightened for her and losing his battle to hide it. Fallen looked wasted, ready to pass out. Henry was there, pawing through the med kit, looking for something. Kimble looked back at Henry. "Please hurry!" he insisted without demanding. "The little bottle with the grey stuff in it," Seth advised from the viewing screen. "Got it," Henry said, sitting back with a small bottle in his large blue hand. "You’ll need a swab, too. One of the long ones." Henry got one from a glass jar. He saw Logan and Remy in the doorway and he shook his head, worried. He went over to Fallen and knelt down in front of her. "Dip the swab in the grey stuff. Put a good dab on it," Seth instructed. "We have to swab the sinus to stop the bleeding." Henry did as he was told. He put a good amount of the grey paste on the tip of the swab. Kimble took the towel away from Fallen's face, scowling when he saw a small river of blood leak from her left nostril. He wiped at it, but the blood just kept coming. Kimble closed his eyes and cursed softly to himself. This wasn't going well. Henry moved in and inserted the swab up Fallen's nose. She coughed, gagging. "Easy, girl," Kimble soothed, holding her so she wouldn't move. Henry gently swabbed her sinus and pulled the stick out. Her nose continued to bleed, but it was slowing down. Kimble wiped at her nose again. The blood slowly grew less and less and then stopped altogether. Kimble sighed with real relief, he didn’t enjoy the sight of blood any more than Seth did although it didn’t make him freak out. Fallen slumped against him, exhausted, and he gently rubbed her head with shaking hands, he was still scared for her and trying really hard not to show it. "That's her second one in as many hours," Henry explained to Logan and Remy. "I don't know how much more blood she can afford to lose." "Why is she bleedin' so much?" Logan wanted to know. He could smell all the blood and it sickened him. "The Lightning thins her blood out," Seth explained. "Still sure it was a good idea?" Logan asked, glaring at Kimble. "Cain't bleed if yer dead." Kimble snapped at him sharply with a growl in his voice. He didn't like his decision questioned. Logan stepped up to him. "You little punk!" "Logan, please," Henry said, pushing him back. These two were proving to be quite a handful. He looked back at Kimble. "Cooler temperatures will prevail here. Both of you calm down!" Kimble was grumbling, but turned to check on Fallen. She pleaded for him to behave with her eyes and he looked away, a small pout teasing the corners of his mouth. He went back to work, reaching for a bottle of Rishna and pouring some of it into a cup that was on the vanity. His face was tense, angry. He tried to swallow the resentment he felt from Logan's question and it went down hard. He put the cup in front of Fallen. "Drink this," he ordered. Her eyes closed. "Won't stay down..." "Drink it anaways," he insisted a little more gently. She sipped it and gagged. "I can't..." "Ya gots ta take sumpthin' down. I ain't given ya whiskey." "You don't have any kind of juice or soda?" Henry asked. Kimble just blinked at him. "What's soda?" "A carbonated sugar drink." Kimble shook his head. "Alls we got's whiskey, beer, Rishna an' water. Maybe some tea." He looked at Henry and shrugged. "It's a Clan ship." "How about a piece of fruit? One of those oranges would do nicely." "There's some in the galley." Remy left to get it, he was closest to the door. Kimble tried to get Fallen to drink more Rishna but she turned away, uncooperative. Logan watched this, concerned. Fallen did not look good at all and he had serious doubts about Kimble being able to handle the situation. It was good that Henry was here but he couldn't help Fallen if he didn't have what he needed. Remy returned. He gave the piece of fruit to Henry who peeled it and offered it to Fallen. She looked at it like she didn't know what it was so Kimble took it and sectioned it quickly, his fingers moving swiftly as he carefully tore it apart. He spoke softly to her in Siskan and slid a piece into her mouth. She chewed mechanically, staring off into space. Kimble fed her a slice at a time, whispering to her softly and petting her head to reassure. By the time she was finished eating, she didn't even look like she was awake. Kimble had relaxed her and she was still slumped against him. He carefully picked up her tiny body and lay her on the floor, pulling more blankets off the shelf to wrap her in. When Kimble was satisfied that she was comfortable, he leaned back against the vanity and rubbed his eyes. "I'll stay up with her 'case she bleeds again." "You look tired," Henry commented. "I'm good. Jus' worried bout her is all. I did this. I'll stay with her." Kimble looked terrible. Henry wondered how it was possible for a program to look so exhausted but it was plain. "I'll be here, too," Seth said as if he was capable of actually doing anything. "I'll stay close as well," Henry offered. "I just need a minute." Beast left the room, taking the other X-men with him. They grouped in the galley, having an impromptu meeting to decide what to do next. "She doesn't look good." he said to them. "I don't know what I can do for her. The supplies here are limited for this sort of thing. She’s stocked up for battle injuries, but not for a head injury I know little about. If she bleeds again, I can put an IV drip on her to keep her from dehydrating. She’s got plenty of bags of fluids so that’s not a problem. I just wish I had some kind of monitoring device that wasn’t tied into the computer. She has no stethoscopes or blood pressure cuffs, not even a thermometer." He sighed and rubbed his tired and aching eyes. "Really, what she needs most is to rest and keep some food down." "What about Kimble? He looks like crap," Logan commented, concerned. "I don't know. He seems tired, but we don't know anything about how his body works or anything else. Judging from the cube we saw, he has no internal organs or a real brain, so I guess we have to fly by night on this one. We’ll keep an eye on him. I do trust him to look after her. He does care for her and seems capable enough. He’s done this before I suspect." "Won't do no good if he flips out," Logan complained, his distrust plain. He had been just as aware as Gambit had been of Kimble’s anger and of his struggle to control it. "We should take turns keepin' watch. Just in case. I just woke up, I'll go first." "No. You stay with the Clansmen, I'll stay with Kimble," Henry said. He didn't think it was a good idea for Logan to be alone with Kimble. Those two clearly disliked one another. "All right. You get tired, you come and get me." To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Aug 10, 2007 9:14:19 GMT -5
(Sixteen) Henry sat comfortably on the bathroom floor, reading one of the books that had been in the storage room, his back against the bathtub. The book was a manual on Siskan technology and he was perusing the section that dealt with the engines Fallen had downstairs. He was using Fallen's small translator so he could read it. He slid the small rod across the words and the translator read them off in English into a small earpiece he was wearing. He found the book fascinating, it was chock full of information and he was hoping he would be able to give a hand in the repairs. Anything to get them home. He looked up when heard a small noise. He saw Kimble and smiled. Kimble sat across from him, still up against the vanity. He was nodding off and trying to fight it. Henry watched as Kimble lost his battle and slowly slumped over onto his side. Immediately, the scientist in Beast clicked into full gear and he began writing notes on an invisible mental notepad. Item number one) This Siskan hologram requires sleep. This was an intriguing idea. If this creature was composed of gel and hardware, why would a sleep cycle even be necessary? Beast looked up to the viewing screen. Seth was laying back in his chair, out cold as well. Hmm, so we sleep if we are out of the system or not. Or is this just a representation of a shut down cycle, a conservation of power if the program itself wasn’t being used?
Henry looked back at Kimble and had to resist the urge to reach out and touch him. He wanted to explore this marvelous creation, to feel him and test his reality. Of course his sense of propriety wouldn’t allow such a thing, it was rude, but he would dearly love to get Kimble under one of the Shi’ar examining machines he had in his lab. He knew something of artificial intelligence, but had never seen anything like Kimble and Seth. As chief science officer, he was in charge of the Danger Room back home and the holograms used within it. They were solid and realistic as was Kimble, but they did as they were programmed to, they did not possess the independence and reasoning skills this one did. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was as far as the differences went. He doubted they had even begun to scratch the surface of what this marvelous creation was capable of. Kimble snuffled softly and began to snore. His hands twitched and he giggled softly. Item number two) This Siskan hologram.....dreams? Now this was interesting indeed. Henry knew only sentient things dreamed. A pure computer program as he knew it did not. This only reinforced the idea that was developing inside of him --- Kimble was real and very much alive. He might not have started out that way, but he was surely that way now. Kimble moaned softly, shivering. He curled up a little and a hand strayed down between his legs. He whispered in soft Siskan and shivered again, this time from arousal, no doubt. Item number three) This Siskan hologram has sexual fantasies? Henry shook his head, a small smile teasing his large mouth. He thought it was hilarious actually. Was this ‘gram so real, it mimicked the sleep cycle of a normal human male? Henry took a closer look at the book he was reading. He checked the index and found that this text did in fact touch on Siskan holograms, but he wasn’t sure to what degree. He took his attention away from the snoozing pilot and skipped ahead, more curious now about the machine in front of him than the engine downstairs. --------- Kimble sat on the floor, his back against the cabinets of the vanity. He felt drained, weak. He didn't understand the sensation, he'd been touching Fallen all this time so he had taken in plenty of Ristle. His eyes were so heavy. He tried to fight it, but it was a losing battle. He closed them just for a moment and before he knew it, was fast asleep. He startled awake a few minutes later, a noise had awakened him. He realized it was just himself snoring and he thought it was funny and laughed a little. Guess he did snore kind of loud after all. "What's so funny?" Fallen asked from the makeshift bed beside him. They were alone in the room. Henry must have left. The door was closed. "Nuthin’," he answered, smiling. "You should be sleepin'." "Come over here." He crawled over to her, laying out flat on the floor. The tiles felt smooth and wonderful against the bare skin of his belly. He was acutely aware of everything around him, especially her. His face was over hers and he looked down at her with eyes full of relief. He was glad she was feeling better. She kissed him. "Take my pain, Kimble," she whispered, stroking his long, dangling ponytail. "Make love to me and take my pain." The phrase sent a shocking blast of arousal right through him, stealing his breath. He began instantly to tremble with excitement but tried to choke it back. Now that it had finally come to this, he realized he simply loved Seth too much to betray him this way. If he did this, Seth would be devastated. "Don' think I kin do that no more since I got broke," he offered as an excuse. "You know you can. Do this for me, please." She kissed him more insistently and rolled, pulling him on top of her. He saw she was naked under the blankets and his trembling grew worse. "Fallen, wait ---!" She trapped him against her telekinetically and he couldn’t escape no matter how hard he struggled. She was amazingly strong in spite of her sickness and he couldn’t break free. He groaned aloud as she squeezed a hand down between his legs. It was simply more than his three years of pent up sexual frustration could bear. She managed to magically undo his pants and then she was touching his bare skin, flooding his most sensitive area with heat. Any shred of resistance he had was gone and he was kissing her madly and running his hands all through her marvelous white hair. He wanted her badly and he wanted her now, consequences be damned. She laughed and released her mental restraints, it was clear they were no longer necessary. "You're so easy," she teased. Kimble had been wanting this a long time. He was designed for sensual pleasure, for making love, yet for years he'd been shelved or forced to work doing something else. Now with the hologram fully restored, his original programming had kicked in full throttle. He was painfully aware of all of the warm bodies around him and he couldn’t help but think of how nice it would be to interact with them the way his creator had intended. It was worse with Fallen because she was his Mistress, the one he loved best. She was so close to him and he had to touch her to power up. It was growing harder and harder to be around her without being used. She was so close it was maddening. He cried out again as she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him even closer. He kissed her passionately, inwardly thrilled by the idea that she had actually chosen him above all others, including Seth. In the three years that he'd been aware of her presence, he'd never known her to take a man for her own pleasure. There was Valentin, but Kimble knew he didn't really count. He couldn’t make sense of an equation that had Valentin and the word pleasure together, it just wasn’t possible. Fallen reached down and tried to slide his pants off. Having crooked cat legs was a hassle. Kimble tried to help her, but his pants kept getting snagged around his ankles. Like everything else, Kimble thought his squirming was funny and he laughed. They made a game out of it, writhing and twisting playfully around one another in a maddening tease. He was helplessly excited, feeling her naked against him, her skin so warm and soft. Kimble was so wound up at the thought of her he feared he would disappoint her. He distracted himself by going through his large supply of data files. The Siskans were a peaceful race who took their pleasures very seriously. Their artificially intelligent Courtesans were known far and wide for their ability to please. Kimble had a large number of detailed files on sexual techniques from which to chose from. The fact that Fallen was telekinetic and could levitate only added to his current options. Fallen laughed and ran her fingers through his hair. The sound of her voice sent shivers through his whole body. Kimble took into consideration her frail condition. He selected one of his favorite files ---one he'd dreamed of often, but never dared to hope he'd ever get the chance to use again --- and maneuvered himself to get ready. He was about to thank her for this wonderful opportunity when his world exploded in a violent outburst of red hot pain. Kimble had been hauled to his knees by his hair, interrupted from his pleasure by someone less than gentle. This again! He felt a blast of rage but then froze in terror as an ice cold blade came against his throat. He looked up at his attacker and gave a startled cry. He could see the man was a Clansman by his dress and by the long blonde ponytail that dangled down, but the face of this man was a broken mess, something not even close to real. Instead of a normal face, this man wore a shiny mask, a distorted image of a human face in a shattered mirror, unrecognizable but still familiar to Kimble in some strange way. He should know who this was, but couldn't place him. Even so, he knew it well enough to be terrified of it. "Hey, kid. Remember me, huh? Heh, jus’ lettin’ ya know I’m still around...jus’ in case ya fergot," the monster growled down to him with a laugh. The voice was eerily similar to his own, it had the same garbled drawl, but it was deeper with a more pronounced growl, like gravel tumbling down a mountainside. Kimble started to scream in fear of his life, but it was cut off as his worst fear was realized and his neck was cut open. Bright red blood gushed out of him in a geyser, spraying Fallen. She rubbed it over herself, laughing. From above he heard the sound of his own laughter. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Aug 17, 2007 9:04:01 GMT -5
(Seventeen) Henry looked up from his book again as once more, Kimble laughed in his sleep. He cocked his head and grinned, then frowned as Kimble's face suddenly changed. Kimble twitched violently and gasped loudly, bringing his hands to his neck, choking. His heels hit the vanity cabinets as he jerked convulsively again. His noise woke Seth. Seth sat up in his chair and rubbed his eyes. He saw Henry was watching Kimble intently. "What's he doing?" Henry startled a little at Seth's voice. "He's dreaming." Seth made a face. "When Fallen dreams, she wakes up screaming." "Doesn't look like Kimble is faring any better." Kimble jerked awake violently, slamming his head against the vanity. A bloody towel left over from Fallen's nosebleed fell from the counter top over his face. All he saw was the blood and he screamed. He whipped the towel away and slid away from it like it would attack him. He looked around him in terror, certain that the monster who had attacked him must still be near. He saw Henry and was disoriented because of the realism of his dream. In his dream, Henry had been gone. Now he was here. Kimble backed away, panting and whining in his confusion. "Easy, now," Henry soothed. "Everything's fine." "Evrathin' ain't fine!" Kimble blurted out before he could stop himself. He looked like he would bawl at any moment. Wolverine poked his head in the doorway with Gambit standing behind him at the ready. Logan saw Kimble trembling on his hands and knees and grumbled, "What's his problem?" "He had a bad dream," Henry explained. Logan started at that, his eyes widening just slightly. Logan was no scientist, but like Henry, he knew only sentient things dreamed. Programs did not last time he checked. Wolverine wasn’t the least bit comfortable with this sign that Kimble was more than he wanted him to be. "Ughh....Fergot what it wuz like..." Kimble said, finally calming down. He sat back on his haunches and wiped his face with his hands, smoothing away those tears that had threatened. He remembered now the time when he was first made and the first time he'd ever dreamed, how frightened he'd been. With that memory came the recollection of the warm Siskan hands that had soothed him and the strong protective arms that had held him afterwards. He felt an aching sense of loss. He would never feel those hands and arms ever again. They were gone forever. This was not a restored memory. It was one he'd hid away for himself and he’d vowed never to forget. He wished now Fallen would wake up and comfort him like that other one had, but he didn't want the others to see him as weak, especially Wolverine who was looking down on him with such unfriendly eyes. "You've dreamed before?" Henry asked. "Yeah. B'fore I got broken," Kimble said, rising unsteadily. He walked on rubbery legs back to the vanity and grabbed Fallen's cup with the Rishna in it. He dumped it out in the sink and filled it with water. He drank greedily, almost choking as the water dribbled down his chin. It seemed like Kimble always drank at a breakneck pace, certain to drown himself. He kept his eyes down, not looking in the mirror. He didn't want to see himself. He wasn't sure who's face was going to be looking back at him. He saw Fallen's jar of cigarettes and impulsively took one. He snapped his fingers to light it with a Ristle spark, but his hands were shaking so badly, it took a couple of tries to get it lit. He took a long drag and gently scratched his head. His own touch was soothing, reminding him of those warm Siskan hands, and he felt better. "Been a long time since I been dreamin'," he mused, a look of wonder on his face. It had been a nightmare, nothing more. He snickered and felt a little stupid for being so frightened. "You remember your life from before?" Henry asked. "Small bits an’ pieces, yeah." "What was it like?" Kimble walked back to the wall and sat down, getting comfortable. "Don' remember too much. 'Member havin' fun. Playin', dancin', makin’ love. Lotsa pretty girls. Some guys, too. Hmm, they wuz a lotta fun..." he said absently, his eyes distant. Kimble didn't notice the sharp look Logan sent to Remy at his words. It had never occurred to Logan that Kimble, being a pleasure program, might be receptive to more than one gender. His earlier flirtatious manner had been dismissed as merely fooling around. Now Logan wasn’t so sure and he shifted nervously. He wasn’t really homophobic, but the idea of two men going at it just didn’t sit well with him. Remy shrugged at Logan’s response. He was a sociable creature and had many bi-sexual and gay friends even though he wasn’t either of those himself. He could care less what Kimble’s sexual preferences were. Kimble was still smiling wistfully, remembering fondly the first part of his dream. It had been so intensely real. "I miss usin' the pleasure files. Be lyin' if I said I didn'. Fallen don' wants me like that, but maybe I kin finds someone who does where we're goin'. That'd be cool." "Ah, the eternal search for true love, how it occupies us all," Henry mused. Kimble snorted with an ironic grin. "Sorry, doc. Seth's got all the true love an' devotion files outta the two of us. What little I had 're long gone. Me? I jus' wants ta have fun. Have some laughs. Show somebody a good time. Heh, a real good time." "You seem confident of your prowess," Henry couldn’t help but tease. The sexual nature of the conversation aside, Beast was quite pleased with the opportunity to know Kimble a little better. "Hey, what kin I say. Them Siskans made me good. I ain't never had no complaints," Kimble boasted, his eyes merry. "You say you don't love, but you seem to care for Fallen." "That's different. She’s m’ Mistress, m’ keeper. I ain't in loves with 'er the way you mean. Not like the kid, there," he said jabbing a thumb up at Seth who laughed at him. "I wouldn't refuse 'er..." Kimble just had to add as a dig to his twin. "...but I ain't in love with her, no. We have fun tagether. I looks after her good cuz someone's gotta do it. She don't makes it easy, the little b--ch," he complained affectionately, looking at her where she slept. "Nope, she shure don't." "Do ya remember how ya got broken?" Logan asked, changing the subject. "Nope," Kimble answered just a little too quickly. Logan didn't believe him. No, not at all. "What about those hologram memory files that are unlocked now?" Seth offered. "Maybe there's something in those." "I gots the feelin’ they wuz locked up fer a reason. Don' think I wants ta go pokin' around in there just yet," Kimble said, just as Logan had expected. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Aug 24, 2007 11:02:53 GMT -5
Fallen stirred and woke, hearing all the voices around her. Kimble grinned as she turned her head to smile at him. He felt a surge of love for her, his Mistress, and a stab of guilt for his lack of resistance in his dream. At least it had all been a fantasy. He hoped he wouldn't be put to the test for real, he had never been known for his good impulse control. "Hey, kid." "Hey." "Feel any better?" "A little. I'm hungry." "Don' hafta asks me twice," Kimble said and rose stiffly. He stretched and walked out past the small crowd in the doorway, going to the galley to get her some food. Remy followed him in case he needed a hand. As they passed the barracks door, Valentin hissed at Kimble, "Was that you I heard squealing like a little girl? What are you dreaming, Zander?" Kimble paused, clenching his hands. He started to say something but thought better of it. He continued on into the galley and started taking out different food items from the cupboards. His face was dark and cloudy, all of his earlier fun gone, and he said nothing to Remy even though he’d seen the other man follow him. "You need ‘elp wit anyt’ing?" Remy asked from the doorway. He positioned himself so he blocked Valentin’s view of Kimble. "I’m fine," Kimble growled a little more harshly than he intended. Gambit watched the Kimble hologram closely, keeping quiet for the moment. It still intrigued him that technically Kimble wasn’t even real. It was impossible to tell that just by looking at him. Kimble moved, acted, and sounded like any other real person. If Kimble was now truly real, he wondered just how well Kimble was going to fare in the real world back home. He would need looking after, at least in the beginning. Remy was concerned about this trip and how Kimble seemed to get angry so quickly. Gambit liked Kimble and wanted only to keep him out of trouble. Maybe he could help Kimble out. "You okay bein’ out?" Remy finally spoke. Kimble looked at him, a little surprised with the question. "Shure. This is how I always been. I ain’t ‘spozed ta be flyin’ ships from inside’a no computer." "Seem a little tense. P’etetre, you takin’ on too much. You gotta learn to relax." Kimble laughed and said wryly, "Relax? Right. I ain’t got what I needs ta do that here." "Oh? If you could do anyt’ing you wanted to right now, what would you do?" Remy asked, his favorite question when it came to setting a person at ease. He sat down on the bench of the galley table, getting comfortable. He’d seen that Valentin had disappeared back inside his room and felt it was safe enough to sit. Kimble worked as he considered his answer. He opened a package of rice and vegetables and put them into the warming oven. The device looked a bit different, but operated similar to a microwave oven, heating up the meal quickly. Kimble opened up a bottle of whiskey and thoughtfully poured a shot for both himself and Remy. "What would I do? ‘Spoze I’d really like ta go dancin’ some place. I jus’ love dancin’, love the music. Clan ain’t gots no real music. I’d go dancin’, work the crowd a little." He laughed and handed Remy his glass of whiskey. His eyes were glowing just thinking about it. "I’d find me sumpthin’ young an pretty. Find us a nice quiet corner...Hmm..." He laughed again. "Best ta stop talkin’ like this, gonna git m’self all wound up fer nuthin’." He poured himself another shot and tossed it back. Remy was all over Kimble’s suggestion, using it to work the pilot around to his point of view. If he could get Kimble to stay calm and focus on a goal, maybe he might ease up a bit and keep his temper. It worked for the kids back home and he had no reason to doubt it would work for Kimble as well. "We got lots of places to go dancin’ back ‘ome. Gambit knows a couple of places he could take you. It’d be good for a laugh. ‘Nessa would ‘ave lots of fun wit you." Kimble cocked his head at him, immediately interested. "You’d go out with me?" "I wouldn’t ‘go out’ wit you, non," Gambit said with a grin, amused by Kimble’s misinterpretation. "But I would bring you to a couple of places, oui. Lots of girls. Gambit knows all de best places." "Who’s ‘Nessa?" "Vanessa. She a girl. She crazy. You’d like ‘er." Kimble grinned broadly. "Sounds like fun. What’s she like?" "She a lot a fun. She like to dance, like to play. She remind me a lot of you. We ever get outta dis place, Gambit take you to see ‘Nessa. She kinda fast. P’etetre, you de only one who can keep up wit ‘er. P’etetre, de two of you like each other so much, you settle down. Dat would be worth seein’." Kimble found a tray and began to set up Fallen’s meal. "Logan gonna let me go out?" he asked quietly. "Sounds like he’s gonna lock Vally away. Maybe he’s gonna put me in a box, too." Remy was quick to reply, not wanting to lose the ground he’d gained. "Nobody gonna lock you up ‘less you do sumptin’ stupid, mon ami. You gotta keep yo’ temper down. You do dat, Gambit gonna take care of you, je promets. But Gambit can’t ‘elp you if you be fightin’ all de time, d’accorde?" Kimble nodded, working it out in his mind. "If I’m good, yer gonna take me out? Take me ta see this ‘Nessa lady?" "Oui. Gambit do dis for you, but you gotta take it easy, homme." Kimble grinned. "I kin do that. Gonna try real hard. Gots sumpthin’ ta looks forward to now." His mood now improved, Kimble finished up quickly and they headed out back to the cage. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2519458/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Aug 31, 2007 8:17:07 GMT -5
(Eighteen) Henry had watched Kimble and Remy leave for the galley to get Fallen’s meal. He turned back to Fallen, a curious look in his eyes. "How long have you known Kimble?" "I dunno. About three years, maybe a little more." "Where did you get him?" Fallen sat up stiffly and rubbed some sleep out of her eyes. "I found him on a dusty shelf in a Clan store room on Nine. I paid the Curator of Files six bottles of vintage Kyrule whiskey for him, but he's been worth every bottle. Why?" "He had a nightmare and he seemed a little troubled." "It's probably just stress. He hasn't been out for this long before. It's strange that he's dreaming. I wonder if he dreamed when he was in the system." Henry shook his blue furry head. "He said he hadn't dreamed since he'd been broken." He looked up at Seth. "What about you? Do you dream?" Seth laughed and cocked his head in a very Kimble like movement. "I have no idea what dreaming is." "Do you see pictures in your head while you're sleeping?" Seth pondered this. "No, I don't think so. I just rest. I mean, I shut down to conserve energy, but that's only for a couple of hours unless there's nothing to do. Most of the time, Kimble and I just play games." "What about Kimble?" "I would know if he was dreaming like that. I'd hear it. No way." "You guys are that close?" Seth laughed. "Of course. We're brothers. We shared a lot of the same files. He can't really hide anything from me." "What did he dream then?" Logan broke in. Seth grew a little wary. He was uncomfortable with Logan's obvious dislike for his brother. "I don't know. We're not connected anymore." "You know how he got broken?" "No." "Right," Logan grunted, his disbelief plain. "What's your problem with him, anyway?" Seth asked sharply. "He's a little kid swingin' his big adult fists around, stirrin' up trouble," Wolverine replied arrogantly. "You're probably not that far off," Fallen interrupted. "What?" Logan grunted at her. Fallen smoothed her hair back and rested her chin on her knees. "Let me explain a little something about Kimble, okay? He's what the Siskans call a Courtesan. He's a pleasure program, sure, but he is also a complex and realistic personality, just like Seth." She looked up at Seth briefly before continuing. Seth knew all this already, but she could see he was curious what she was going to say. "As long as a Courtesan has access to a continuous power supply, they can live to be quite old, as many as two hundred years or so. Their personalities develop slowly, just like our own children. They train for many years before they are actually put into service. It's all in the book I see Henry is reading. Check it yourself if you don't believe me. "Anyway, I suspect Kimble was very young and only just beginning his training when he was taken by the Dognan. The Dognan tore him away from everything he knew and then shelved him in storehouse. Who knows how long he was there before the Clan found him. I'm sure all of that must have affected him badly. My treatment at the hands of the Dognan certainly didn't do much for me," she said bitterly. "In many ways he is like a child. He has a child's temper and emotions. But at the same time there's a hardness to him like he's gone through some kind of serious trauma he's never really recovered from." "Has he ever spoken of his past?" "He says he can't remember it. Most of the original files were damaged or locked away. I have no reason not to believe him. I'm sure he knows more than he says, he's private in much the same way we are. Still, I don't think he would hold back anything I really needed to know." "Maybe he's scared that you'll shut him down if ya ever found out the truth of what he really is, darlin'," Logan drawled as he leaned against the back wall. "Bruce seems ta think he might be this Zander guy. Zander supposedly went nuts and killed a buncha guys back at Nine." Fallen laughed. "Who? Kimble? Please! He's just a big kid who likes to run his mouth. He wouldn't hurt anyone. I've never seen him do one violent thing. We fight, yes, but it's me who's always slamming things around." "I've seen it in his eyes, Fallen," Logan said ominously, quieting her. "I wouldn't put anything past him." Seth closed his eyes and turned away. The man was so unreasonable. Fallen cleared her throat and looked up at him with dark and serious eyes. "I won't deny his temper, Logan, but he wouldn't hurt anyone. You know what Kimble does? He takes care of people. He's always looked out for me and he's done a fine job keeping watch on Seth. It makes him feel wanted and loved. That's all he wants. That's all he needs. He would never do anything to jeopardize that. "Understand, it's been three years since he's been this free. Now he's stuck out here in all of this big mess that I created. His plate is a little full, all right? Just give him a little time. He'll work himself out. Why can't you cut him a little slack? You'd do it for anyone else." Wolverine was quiet. He couldn't explain what it was about Kimble that rubbed him the wrong way, but it was there nagging at him all the time. He'd trusted his instincts much too long to ignore what he perceived as a disaster waiting to happen. He was about to reply when Remy and Kimble returned with Fallen’s meal on a tray. Kimble crouched and set the tray down with a careful and practiced grace. He'd forgotten nothing. He brought her a steaming bowl of rice with vegetables and some more fruit. He'd selected more than one type to give her a variety to choose from. She had a cup of water, no Rishna. He knew she wouldn't drink it so he didn't bother. He remembered a fork and a napkin. Henry and Logan both got the idea Kimble had done this before. Kimble grabbed some pillows and propped her up so she would be comfortable and tucked the blanket around her. "Watch the rice, it's kinda hot," he mumbled motherly and sat near her as if waiting for more instructions. "Thanks," Fallen replied and kissed him. "Anathin' fer you," he said, then looked a little embarrassed when he noticed the others watching him. He backed off and sat against the vanity again. "Well, we'll leave you to it," Logan said and walked out. Henry rose to follow him. "Eat well and get some rest," he advised Fallen with a gentle smile. "I'll be all right." Henry nodded and left. Remy said good night to Kimble and Fallen and followed him. Fallen ate and when she was done, Kimble gave her another shot of the Lightening. He could tell she was needing it. She snuggled up against him. "My head hurts..." "I knows. I kin feel it." And he could. It was trickling through with her Ristle. "Won't take long fer the medicine ta work. Kin I do sumpthin’ fer ya?" She closed her eyes and pulled his arms closer around her. "Sing for me." "All right." Kimble began to gently sing a Siskan lullaby. The sound of it reminded him of another place and another time and it soothed him even though it was his own voice singing it. Seth recognized the song, Kimble had sung it to him many times and he joined in. His voice was as good as Kimble's even though it was pitched a little higher. Kimble laughed a little as he sang, happy just to have Seth and Fallen so close. Fallen relaxed as the Lightening kicked in and let their voices send her off to sleep. Outside the lav, the X-men listened to the gentle song and soon dropped off to sleep themselves. The Lucky Dragon drifted quietly in space, a tiny speck lost among the great and mighty stars. Drifting towards a most uncertain future. To be continued in The Hunter
To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 7, 2007 11:08:34 GMT -5
(One)
Day two Remy couldn’t sleep. Everything that was going on since they had been stranded was rolling around in his head and he wanted nothing more than some kind of distraction. He got up and wandered into the galley but no one else was there, they were off getting some well deserved rest. He felt nosey and poked around in the cupboards, checking out Fallen’s supplies. He liked what he saw and started pulling out some jars of food. He was bored and figured he may as well cook something, he had always loved to cook and found it very relaxing, just what he was looking for. He was pleasantly surprised when he also found a stash of packaged, salted meat. It was some kind of red meat, deer perhaps, sliced into steaks. He opened the package and sniffed at it. He couldn’t tell what kind it was, but didn’t really care. He took out a pan and plopped the steaks in. He next went through Fallen’s dusty supply of spices and groaned when he saw how neglected they were. Jeez, these Clan folks just didn’t know how to cook right, he thought to himself. He seasoned the hunks of meat the best he could with what he found and started them marinating in some wine he found nearby on the counter. The smell was already making his mouth water and he hadn’t really even started yet. He drank from the bottle of wine (Chef’s privilege) and started cutting up some vegetables. The smell of food began to lure the others in one by one. Wolverine, Beast and Maylee sat at the table in eager anticipation, reminding Remy of the audiences he used to get back home. He loved the attention and couldn’t stop himself from smiling just a little. Maylee was smiling, too. She happy to see someone else cook, it was usually her job. Gambit worked with a contented grace. The only thing better than cooking was cooking for an appreciative crowd. He noticed Valentin and Joseph lurking in the doorway of the barracks. "Dogs is ‘ungry, boss," he said to Logan. Logan leaned over on his bench, looking out the galley door across to the barracks. "Guess it’ll be all right ta take ‘em out so long as they’re quiet," he said loudly enough for the Clansmen to hear. Henry and Wolverine went out and brought the prisoners into the galley. Once more, the Clansmen were tied to the benches. Logan noticed that of the three men, Bruce was the only one who’d taken the time to shower while they’d been locked up. The others stank and Logan wondered how long before he would have to drag them in for a bath. Their hands were left free on their good behavior.
Bruce remained imprisoned with the others because it still wasn’t clear which way his loyalties lay. Logan had said, "Keep him with the others and we’ll straighten it all out when we get home," and no one had argued. If things dragged on for too long or if he got too harassed, they would take him out. Gambit finished cooking and served the crowd. The Clan looked at the food with greedy eyes, Remy hadn’t been the only one in need of a diversion and everything smelled so good. It wasn’t a bad thing having somebody different cook, they now had something new to try. Bruce dug in and being the most polite, smiled broadly. "This is really good!" "Merci beaucoup. Glad you likin’ it," Gambit replied with a bow, beaming now. "Looks like you might be out of a job, May," Henry commented with a grin. "Fine by me!" she replied. Cooking was not her favorite thing to do. Logan looked up as Kimble came in next, Fallen in tow. Kimble was plainly still tired, but Fallen was worse. She walked like a zombie, hardly picking up her feet. Kimble had given her another shot and she was a little out of it. The Siskan sat her down on a bench and smiled up at the galley screen as Seth popped up from the control room. Seth waved at Fallen, but she was too doped out to notice him just yet. Kimble went to the stove and looked over Remy’s offerings with obvious interest. He smiled at the Cajun and put some of his cooked vegetables on a plate for Fallen. He sniffed at the meat, but knew Fallen wouldn’t eat it. Too bad, it looked tasty. Kimble was a full service hologram. He could eat and drink even though he wasn’t real. The water he needed for the hologram components, but food was a luxury. Just the same, his whole existence was about pleasure and he loved to eat, to taste. Fallen had given him a few treats since she’d started restoring the hologram, but none of them smelled as wonderful as what he saw before him now. He moved away with some reluctance, he was here for her and not himself, and set the plate he’d made in front of Fallen. She picked up her fork and began to eat numbly without comment. Remy had noticed Kimble’s interest in the meat. "I seen you drinkin’, mon ami. Can you eat, too?" Kimble sat down at the table next to Fallen. "Yeah, I kin eats a little." "Den try dis." Gambit put a small piece of seasoned steak in a bowl and set it in front of him. Kimble picked up the meat and slowly put it in his mouth, wanting to savor it. He shivered and moaned in ecstacy as the spices exploded on his tongue, the flavor of it a bright new experience. As nice as it was to smoke for real again, eating was better. He laughed and smiled up at Remy, thrilled by the taste and unable to hide it. He hadn’t eaten anything like this in ages. Gambit watched Kimble with amusement and laughed. "Dat good, huh?" He took Kimble’s bowl and gave him another piece. Logan watched Kimble without smiling. Kimble’s childish reaction disgusted him. His biggest problem with Kimble was not that he wasn’t organically alive, but that he had no emotional control. Just as he was quick to anger, so too, his reaction to a simple piece of meat seemed exaggerated. Not that Remy seemed to care, Logan could see. The thief was indulging him as if he was some kind of new toy. Maybe to Remy he was. Wolverine shook his head and turned away, not wanting to watch any more. Fallen gradually became more aware of what was going on around her. She watched as Remy set the bowl back down in front of Kimble and then saw what was in it. Her eyes opened wide in horror and she covered her mouth with a trembling hand. Henry saw her reaction and moved away from her a little on the bench, uncertain what it meant. Valentin sat very still, watching her from across the table like a cat does a mouse before it pounces. His eyes betrayed the fact that he knew full well what her reaction meant and he was ready to see it played out. Kimble was enjoying himself much too much to notice. He ate the steak, chewing slowly so he could maximize his pleasure of the flavor of it. He looked up at Fallen, his eyes full of delight. "Ya gots ta try this, baby doll. Maybe you just ain’t found anaone what could cook right." Fallen coughed loudly and vomited explosively, catching most of it in her hands. Joseph pushed his bowl away, disgusted. "I'm done!" "Hey!" Seth shouted, standing up in the control room. "What's going on?" He hated how helpless he was trapped in the system. The frustration was unbearable. Fallen staggered away from the table and over to the sink, coughing and retching the whole way. A shocked and frightened Kimble followed her. "You okay?" he asked in alarm. Fallen didn’t immediately answer and Kimble rubbed her back as she continued to vomit in the sink, frustrated that she was so slow to respond. He couldn’t help her if he didn’t know what was the matter. He glanced up at the screen to his brother, worried. Valentin was snickering now and Kimble had a feeling that more was going here than he realized. Fallen turned the water on and began to wash her hands and face. She rinsed out her mouth and spat before rolling her eyes up at Kimble, her mouth twisted in a furious sneer. "What's wrong?" Kimble asked her again. "What did I do?" "How did we get meat on board? I didn't order any with the supplies!" she demanded. Valentin spoke up. "I did. I changed the supply order before we left."
To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter[/FONT]
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 14, 2007 11:06:30 GMT -5
Fallen's eyes ripped into Kimble who squirmed under the heat. "And you guys okayed it?" "We didn' have no choice. Technically yer his wife. Lucky's his ship now." "Never!" she snarled viciously, charging Kimble. He backed up, unafraid. He just wanted to give her some space so she would calm down. They’d fought so many times before this, he knew how to handle her. He would just let her vent and then he’d try to reason with her some more. She continued to advance, growing more out of control. "Lucky is my ship! I built it! He's mine! I decide the supplies, not him!" Valentin and Joseph laughed, enjoying the confrontation. It seems they’d gotten a little more entertainment than just a free meal. Unlike his compatriots, Bruce had paled and looked frightened. He clearly found nothing funny in this. "This ain't about no supplies, is it?" Kimble said defensively, growing angry himself. He’d done his job as he always had, she was his Mistress and he obeyed her unquestionably. There was no reason he should believe he’d broken any orders. Something else was going on. Maylee moved to say something, but Logan shook his head at her. "He wanted to be Second so badly. Let him handle it." Fallen was spitting now, she was so enraged. " I am your Mistress! I am First Captain of this ship! I am in charge! I decide things here! You will do as I say! Do you understand me?!" Furious beyond measure, she grabbed the pan of meat from the stove and flung it at him, wanting to make her point clear by any means at her disposal. Kimble reacted quickly and knocked the pan away with his hands before it could hit him, but was splattered with it's contents. He growled in pain as he was burned and raised his fists, his own fury fast matching the pace of his hysterical Mistress. Gambit was standing next to him and dove out of the way. His clothing gave him better protection than the Siskan hologram, the juices from the pan weren't hot enough to burn through his sleeves, but still warm enough to hurt. He wasn’t too happy about being so close to Kimble’s fists, either. He didn’t know if Kimble would lash out at the nearest target. "Now that was really frikkin' stupid," Kimble said, opening his fists in an effort to calm himself and wiped at his chin. His hands were trembling as he tried to control his traitorous wrath. "Not as stupid as you forgetting who's in charge!" Fallen snapped, finalizing this, and snatched a whiskey bottle from the counter before stomping out in a huff. Kimble stood up straight and shook with rage. He snarled an order at Seth in Siskan and Seth nodded, his fear obvious. The screen blacked out, he'd gone to follow Fallen. Kimble was panting, trying to decide what to do. He’d clearly made a serious error but wasn’t sure what it was. He knew Fallen didn’t eat meat, but since she kept her secrets, he’d always thought it was a matter of preference. Obviously he’d been wrong. He closed his eyes and swallowed as the acid rose up his throat again. He wasn't used to all the pain and anger coming his way like this. He did not understand or deserve the treatment he'd just received. He and Fallen had fought before, but she never once had struck him physically like this, their arguments had been exclusively verbal. Scathing and explicit, to be sure. But never physical. "Deep breaths, boy. Deep breaths," Logan advised, speaking from experience. He tossed Kimble a towel, eyeing him with distrust. Valentin was still laughing, amused. "Looks like she's got you whipped pretty good, son." "Sure you can handle her, freak?" Joseph added. "Don't make him angry!" Bruce hissed. "You don’t know what he’ll do!" Kimble ignored the Clansmen and started wiping off with the towel, calming down a little. "I kin handle her just fine. Been doin' it a long time already," he said after a moment. "Not quite the same thing in the real world now, is it?" Valentin sneered, unafraid. "Must be the Lightning making her crazy," Maylee interrupted. She was still upset over Kimble's decision and wanted him to know it. Kimble shook his head in irritation, he couldn’t believe she was actually going to bring that up again. Clearly she wasn’t going to let it go, the little brat. Like he really needed this right now. "No. This's sumpthin' else," he insisted impatiently, aggravated that he had to keep defending his decision. "How do you know?" she challenged. "'Cuz I know Fallen!" "I know her, too." "Not like me," Kimble snapped. "I'm with her all the time, yer not cuz a yer schoolin’. She’s got sumpthin' on her mind she don't wanna talk about." "Maybe you just don't want to admit you made a mistake." Kimble flung the towel into the sink. He grabbed a piece of fruit and began to peel it quickly, angrily. Fallen would need to eat and he was going to follow her whether she wanted him to or not. He wasn’t going to leave without making his point first, though. "I didn' make a mistake! I made the right decision!" "For her or for you?" Maylee questioned, angry. "What th' f--k is that suppozta mean?!" Kimble snarled, furious again. "Watch yer mouth!" Logan warned. He moved closer to the girl. "I don't think it's a coincidence that you took all the files you needed to stay out," Maylee continued to accuse. She was emboldened by the presence of the X-men, she knew they would protect her from Kimble enough that she could speak her mind. "You made this happen on purpose and then you addicted her so you could keep her for yourself!" Kimble froze and looked at her stunned. He knew she disliked him, but had no idea of the depth of her hate. "Are ya sayin' I deliberately made her try ta kill herself? That alla this is from me?" he asked still in shock from her words. "I think you would do anything to stay out. You knew she was going to use the hologram for Seth so you did this to take it from him." "Dat's some cold cold sh-t, chere," Gambit said softly. He didn't believe what she said was true. Kimble swallowed the hard lump in his throat and tried to stay calm. He really didn’t need this on top of what Fallen had dished out for him already. He grinned angrily and shook his head. "I know yer disappointed it wuz me an not Seth what got left out, but he woulda let her die. He wuzn't ever good enough ta do what needed ta be done. Yer young, but you ain't a child no more, baby doll." "Don't you call me that!" she hissed. Kimble grunted sarcastically. "Huh. Just think, ya got a whole life of disappointments in front of ya. This is yer first one. Boo f--kin' hoo, darlin'! Welcome to the real world. Life just sucks most of th' time. Ya cain't handle it? Too f--kin' bad! It only gits worse from here!" he said bitterly. "I don' know what I done ta make ya thinks so bad of me. Right now, I don' much care. I know what I done wuz right cuz Fallen's still alive. We're all still alive. You wanna be dead so damn bad, jump out the f--kin' airlock. I could give a sh-t less!" he snapped and walked out. Maylee stood still for a moment and then burst into tears. He frightened her for reasons she couldn't explain. She only believed half of what she'd said, but couldn't stop herself from saying it. The truth was she was disappointed that Seth wasn't the one out here. She loved him best and knew Fallen was in love with him. Now Fallen and Seth were separated forever. It just wasn’t right that Kimble was free and Seth was not, this whole thing was so unfair. She fled the galley, too embarrassed by her outburst to hear Remy as he called out and reached for her, and escaped down to the lower level. She went into the small lav and locked herself in so she could be alone. To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 21, 2007 9:14:38 GMT -5
(Two) Kimble looked to see where Fallen had gone. He looked into the cage room and saw the door to her lav was shut. He tried to open it but it was locked. "Fallen, open the door!" He got no response, but he could hear her moving around. He heard the clink of a glass jar and Seth pleading with her. Kimble had admonished his Mistress not to use any of her funtime narcotics while on the Lightening and it sounded like she had wasted no time in disobeying that order. He needed to get in there now! "Fallen, let me in!" No dice. He put down the piece of fruit he brought and leaned against the door. He knew he wouldn't be able to break in. He had to get inside before she did anything stupid. He remembered the last time he had to get by an immovable object -- Wolverine. He concentrated and pushed against the door, wishing as hard as he could to be on the other side. He felt a strange liquid sensation and then he was there, looking at her. He'd phased through the door. He stood for a moment, stunned that he had actually pulled it off, then saw what she was doing. Fallen was sitting on the commode, naked now with her pants tossed off to the side. She was bent over her leg with a loaded syringe in a vein and was about to push the plunger. He’d seen this before all too many times, she always shot in her legs to hide the needle marks she had from using so much. Seth was on the nearby viewing screen pleading with her to stop. He stopped talking abruptly, shocked silent when he saw what Kimble had done. He had no idea Kimble could pass through a locked door like that. Yes, Kimble had confessed to him about walking through Wolverine, but part of him didn’t quite believe it had actually happened. Kimble had just proven him wrong and it left him breathless. Kimble didn't notice the shock on Seth’s face, he had only his disobedient Mistress in mind. He moved quickly, smacking the needle away and out of Fallen's hand. It hit the wall and broke from the force of his anger. Fallen shrieked, startled by his sudden appearance, she had locked the door on purpose to keep him out. "How did you get in here?" "What the f-ck do ya think yer doin’?!" he snarled, angry. "That's none of your business!" "It's my business ta keep ya alive! I toldja ya cain't take that crap with the Lightnin'!" "I'll do as I please!" He gripped her arms and leaned in close to her face, boldly establishing some dominance while doing his best not to be cruel. He cared about her deeply, but had to make his point. He was doing this for her, he could only hope she would eventually see that. "No, you won't. This ain't just about you, Fallen. It's about alla us. These people're countin' on you. So am I." "It's not fair!" she cried, sobbing. "Lotsa things ain't fair, but they happen all the same," he replied sadly, wiping her cheeks. He really hated it when she cried, it ate right into him. He was an emotional creature and the pain and suffering of others had always bothered him. He wanted so much for this all to go away and he tried to express that by being gentle with her now. He kissed her forehead, lingering so she would know how much he loved her. She knew it and surrendered, falling against him in her misery. "I feel terrible...I need a shot." "No. Whatcha needs is ta eat." Kimble left her long enough to retrieve the piece of fruit he'd left outside. He didn’t show off by phasing again, that was just too freaky, he simply unlocked the door to get out. He sealed it back up after, not wanting them to be disturbed. Seth started to ask him about phasing through the door the first time but Kimble silenced him with a dark look. Kimble grabbed a blanket from the floor and wrapped it around his Mistress, making sure she was comfortable. He sat on the floor and moved her between his legs so he could wrap his arms around her and keep her warm. He carefully sectioned the fruit and fed it to her a slice at a time like before. She took what he offered, chewing slowly without speaking. It was very warm and comfortable with him wrapped around her now and she was relaxed, calm once more. "What setcha off, Fallen? Talk ta me. Talk ta us," Kimble insisted gently. He was calmer himself now and wanted only for her to talk and get rid of her pain. She didn't answer, just leaned tighter into his embrace. "You gots ta talk ta us, kiddo. Stop keepin' all that junk inside of ya. This is still me, still good ol' Kimble, ready ta listen. Ain't nuthin' you kin say that'll change what I think boutcha." "Fallen, please..." Seth pleaded. He put his hands up to the screen where she could see. "Talk to us." "I don't want to think about that place," she whispered, her voice low and miserable. "What place, Fallen?" Seth wanted to know. "The pens... The Dognan pens." Seth nodded. He knew she had been in the pens, the same as the X-men and others that they had rescued, she had told him that much, but nothing else. She refused to talk about it or what she had done there to survive. She dreamed about it, though, he knew that well enough. She would have the same terrible nightmare over and over again. It came whenever she was especially stressed out or Valentin had been away too long. She'd lie still, twitching and dreaming, then wake suddenly, screaming in hysterical horror. Sometimes she'd even run around a little bit before she woke, breaking things, and bellow Dognan curses at monsters she thought were trying to eat her. Seth, being the closest to her emotionally, usually was the one who comforted her. It was especially difficult for him because all he could do was watch her from a viewing screen and try to talk her down. One of his primary motivations for trying the hologram was so that he could give her better comfort. She settled down much more quickly when he was out and could physically hold her. His main trouble was that he was fearful of her terror and hysteria, the violence in her dreams disturbed him and made him tremble with fear. Sometimes he couldn't handle it and Kimble would come out in his place to offer their Mistress comfort. Sometimes after she recovered from her spells, she'd go get high and not talk to them for a while. Seth hated those times most of all because she isolated herself away from them where she could not be reached or consoled. She was too far away from Seth then and he would weep until Kimble would come and offer him comfort as well. Kimble was the bridge between them all, the one that bound them all together. When Fallen was finally sober, Seth would ask her about her nightmares, what they meant, but all she'd say was that the dream was about the pens. Any further attempts to goad her into confessing only led to arguments Seth had no will to entertain, and so the matter was never discussed as it should have been. Now, today, Kimble was hoping that that might finally happen, "What do the pens gots ta do with what happened today?" Kimble asked softly, petting her in the hopes he could coax her to talk and free her heart from all of this pain. Fallen didn't answer right away, but heaved a weary sigh and closed her eyes. Kimble couldn’t hide his relief when at last she began to tell them what she’d been holding back for so long. To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 29, 2007 7:54:02 GMT -5
(Three) Fallen had been born Sarah Xifaras, a small town girl in a small town life. She’d grown up well and lived a normal life, becoming no one special or different from anyone else. She found the perfect husband, had some perfect kids. They lived in a quaint New England coastal town, close to the ocean. She had the pink house with the picket fence, the whole nine yards. Life was good...until the Dognan came and ruined everything. It started out small. Groups of people would turn up missing all over the world, mostly where large groups had gathered. The Dognan were kidnapping humans to be used as drones in a slave army. When the Dognan had created enough white slaves, they sicced them back on the world they had come from in a successful bid to take them over. The white slaves came with the Dognan soldiers and destroyed their own planet. The destruction had been swift and horrible, all signs of human civilization wiped out in a matter of weeks. With the human pests removed, the Dognan then moved in to feast on the planet’s rich resources. Sarah had been one of the last humans taken from the area where she lived. She had lasted long enough to see her whole family destroyed, a fate worse than death. She was captured along with some others who had been hiding out in a nearby forest. She bitterly fought the Dognan soldiers who took her, scratching and biting. They admired her spirit and had her tested for Ristle capability. She came up positive and they had her processed. It was horrible. She spent days in a stasis tank, awake just enough to realize with horror what was being done to her. Her body was ripped apart by surgeons who knew no mercy. Her legs and forearms were replaced with organic pilot body parts, changing her forever. There were no words to describe the pain. Still, her will to survive kept her alive. They cut into her brain and implanted microscopic computer chips and parts that allowed her to create the Ristle energy from her own body. They also implanted her with files on piloting ships, ship construction, salvage, and medicine. Her mutated body tolerated the harsh treatment and she became what they made of her. While she was being processed, Sarah dreamed in the tank. She dreamed of the X-men legends she read about before the war and fantasized that they would come to help her. She recalled a story that had been told of the X-man Angel and how in an alternate time line he’d become an evil twisted creature called The Fallen. He had pale white skin and the sheer leathery wings of a bat, not all that different that what she was now. She now saw herself as him and took his name for herself, changing her identity now that her old life was lost. Sarah was gone, now there was only Fallen. Fallen survived her ordeal and was put into service. She took very well to flying the Dognan ships but not so well to the harsh treatment of her new Masters. She often fought and rebelled, turning her new gifts against her Masters by zapping them with Ristle or scratching them with her new clawed hands. She was beaten and whipped repeatedly for her transgressions, but it did little to tame her. She was transferred from place to place, learning new things about her body as she was moved from place to place and made to do different jobs. She mastered the skill of telekinetic flight and shield making while stationed out in the battlefields. Her job there was to go out and retrieve the wounded or dead flying out in the middle of battles that would have shaken the nerves of any man. Her new Masters didn’t care if she got shot down, she was so unruly, but she never did. She could dip and weave with the best of them. She hated herself and what she’d become, the loss of her humanity a bitter, blazing scar on her soul. It made her fearless and reckless and she flew bravely out into the worst battlefields and firefight, careless of her own personal safety. She would lift and carry groups of soldiers, secret messages, anything they wanted. Using her telekinesis, she was the perfect mule. She could even air lift heavy ordinance and equipment as long as it was strapped to her body. Her telekinesis was more powerful with things she touched. Having finally proved herself, the Dognan put her back into a ship. She took her skills and applied them. She was a skilled and worthy pilot. Problem was, she was still feisty and at times uncooperative. Her Ristle was very strong, higher than normal. She learned quickly that it could do more than power up ships. It could be used as a weapon. Her temper got the best of her one day and she fired off a good sized Ristle blast at a Dognan officer who had attempted to rape her. The practice was common among Dognan men, they saw pilots as creatures to be used any way they saw fit. The man had no chance against her wrath, he was incinerated almost immediately. She had no idea she could do that kind of damage. It didn’t go over well with the Dognan either. Finally done with her, they cuffed and collared her and off to the pens she went. Fallen was horrified in her new environment. She was sorry she had murdered the Dognan officer, but it was too late to take it back. She tried to hide in the bombed out buildings as much as possible, but her food didn’t last. When she tried to forage, she was attacked by the packs. She used Ristle blasts and telekinetic shields to protect herself, killing those who threatened her. As she became more and more desperate, more and more hungry, the charred and cooked bodies of her victims became that much more appealing. It wasn’t long before she took the final, inevitable step towards cannibalism. She had the advantage over most of the prisoners here, her telekinetic and Ristle production capabilities giving her the clear edge in any fight, even against multiple targets. She became merciful death, ending the prolonged suffering of the weak that ended up in the pens. She hunted the packs, dive bombing them from on high, grabbing whomever fell into her path. What made matters worse, was that as time went on, she found she enjoyed the hunt. Considering herself damned, she gave into it, embracing her darker self, and went all the way over the edge. She no longer selected her prey at random, no, she chose who she wanted to kill and how. She toyed with them, improving her hunting and telekinetic skills all the time. As her skills grew, so did her power. She used her Ristle all of the time, firing blast after blast at her prey. She realized now what her Masters had before, that she was stronger than most of the other pilots who’d been made, her Ristle strong enough to incinerate. This power and her ability to control it made her the Queen of the pens. She nicknamed herself the Hunter, proud of what she’d accomplished. She no longer foraged at all, but lived exclusively off of her kills. She grew sleek and fat, living quite well. She thrived now in this new environment with no Dognan masters holding her down. But she was still human enough to grow lonely as time went on. She began to hang out near the main gate to the pens and kept watch as the occasional pilot was tossed in with the rest of the slaves. She would fly in and try to make them join up with her. She met with no success until Carma. Carma was a true sister to Fallen. She embraced the life and together they were merciless, the scourge of all who entered the pens. They killed often and ate well. Gradually others joined them and they became the Angels of the Fallen. Meanwhile, the Clan was gearing up in their resistance efforts against the Dognan. Cerebus knew he needed pilots and ships to do this. He led raiding parties into the pens and tried to capture as many of the pilots as he could. He avoided the Angels because of their violence and savagery, but soon he had his eye on Fallen when he saw how powerful she was. Here was a pilot strong enough to jump, to cross dimensions. He had to have her. He set up traps but she and Carma were much too clever. Finally, Cerebus resorted to shooting her down with arrows treated with sedatives. It was crude, but got the job done. She fell and Carma was left behind. When Fallen awoke, she was tied up and collared with restraints, her Ristle power robbed from her. The Clan knew the restraining devices used by the Dognan for the alphas worked just as well on the pilots and were sure to keep some around for times like these. Fallen was in the hanger of Clan Station Nine and helpless against her rescuers. She howled with rage and fury as Cerebus and his son, Jaska, stood over her laughing. They untied her carefully, waiting to see if she would calm down once she was freed and listen to their proposal of service. Almost all of the pilots they’d taken so far were eager to work for the Clan and exact some revenge against the Dognan who had mutated them so horribly. Enraged by their lack of compassion, Fallen wasn’t interested in talking. She came at Jaska with her clawed hands out and savaged his face, scarring him forever. She dove in to finish the job, but was grabbed from behind and wrestled to the floor by two more of Cerebus’ men. "Kill her!" Cerebus ordered, outraged by the damage done to his son. He had no idea she would be so savage, it had never happened before. "Wait!" Cerebus turned to see who had spoken. It was Valentin, one of his up and coming young officers. "Yes?" The man’s eyes were full of interest of this newly freed creature. He wanted her for himself. "Why waste such a fine pilot? I can tame her for you." Cerebus laughed contemptuously. "You are welcome to try." "If I can, may I have her? I have need of a good pilot for my reconnaissance missions." "Be my guest." Valentin walked up to her as she was once more released and they squared off against each other. She hissed at him like a cat, but he wasn’t afraid of her mouth or her claws. He was quite tall and sturdy, quick on his feet and more than a match for her. "Come, pretty, lay down your hate and come with me," he whispered softly. She spat in his face, hitting him square in the eye. He swung and dealt her a heavy blow across her jaw, almost spinning her tiny body around. He was stunned that she didn’t fall, it was rare that anyone could take a hit from him and not collapse in a dead drunk heap. This pilot just looked up at him as her blood began to flow and laughed crazily, her eyes wild with madness. He could see she was insane and he spoke to her again, gripping her with his voice. "Well, pilot, guess we know each other well enough then, huh? Guess what? You’re in Hell and I am your Devil. You’ve given up your soul, now it’s time to pay the price." He reached out and took her chin in his hand, fixing her with his penetrating, withering gaze. "You will be mine. You know this now. Accept it." He leaned in and kissed her, slipping her his tongue. Fallen was mesmerized, her tiny mind reeling. In her deluded state, his comments about her being in Hell and his owning her soul made perfect sense. She had done such horrible things and now she had to pay. Pay in full. She accepted his kiss and gave herself to him, giving in to fate. Cerebus didn’t quite know what to say as Valentin led her off, docile as a lamb. To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 5, 2007 21:18:32 GMT -5
Of course, Fallen didn’t tame as easily as all that. She did have her moments and Valentin dealt with them in his usual harsh manner. He beat her senseless more than once and eventually she did get the message. The incidents of her violence became less often. Fallen returned gradually to a more civilized frame of mind, her feral Hunter moving into the past. The horror of what she’d done to survive still tormented her. She refused to eat meat and couldn’t stand to be around anyone else eating it. It made her violently ill, destroying her appetite. Valentin knew this and would sometimes use it to beat her spirit down. Forcing her to eat meat was the height of his cruelty.
Fallen did have her highs and lows and succumbed to drug use in an attempt to blot out her darkest thoughts. The Clan often raided Dognan storehouses and narcotics were easily available to someone in the know. She dreamed of the pens but in her nightmares, instead of being the predator, she was always the prey. Night after night she would wake screaming as the ghosts of her past came and hunted her down. Valentin tried to comfort her, but he couldn’t play the role of Master and Mother at the same time, she wouldn’t have it. She wanted only one thing from him; his fists and as hard as possible. She would be good for a long time, then deliberately bait him until he was in a fury. She needed him to punish her. She wouldn’t allow herself to forget what she’d done. She never let Valentin into her cold dead heart, not the way he would have liked. He went along with her because he had fallen in love with her in his own twisted way and took what he could get from her. Valentin compensated for not being allowed to show her any tenderness by bringing her Maylee. It wasn’t long after the Red Sky had crashed. The Red Sky was one of the few working Clan ships and required a pilot to fly it. The Red Sky had been shot down by a Dognan patrol while running a recon mission for Valentin. Fallen was at the helm and the blast from the Dognan ship caused her Ristle to overload the stick and it back washed into her, damaging her brain. When Valentin brought her in to the medics, she was barely alive. The Clan doctors didn’t know what to do for her strange injury until she told them of the White Lightening. They didn’t know if it would work but she was dying anyway. They had some of it around from raiding Dognan storehouses, but never knew of its purpose. They gave it to her, addicting her while saving her life. She recovered from her injury but suffered from even more severe mood swings. On a particularly low day, Valentin brought her a present. Maylee was a tiny child, no more than six. She was the offspring of a Dognan officer who had raped a white slave. Maylee’s mother escaped to the Clan but was horrified by the monster she’d given birth to and killed herself. Maylee was moved around from place to place, never being accepted. She’d tried to steal some food from Valentin one day and he caught her. At first he was just going to kill her for annoying him so, but then thought better of it. Fallen never seemed to get pregnant no matter how attentive he was so he figured Maylee might be a good enough substitute. A child might raise Fallen’s spirits, he reasoned. Valentin had no way of knowing that Fallen had already been compelled to abort herself of his offspring three times by then already. She used harsh chemical potions that ravaged her body and almost killed her. She accepted this as part of her punishment. He was puzzled by her illnesses because she never really got sick any other time. He wasn’t always around and she always seemed to recover from her ‘spells’ so he didn’t question her about it. Fallen embraced Maylee and having the child did lift her spirits. They both thrived from each other’s love and Fallen started to feel a little better about herself. Maybe she wasn’t really this terrible monster after all. Fallen got better rapidly, but was still addicted. Having her self esteem boosted gave her the strength to try and overcome her addiction to the White Lightening. It was a long and painful process, but she did manage to pull it off. Her low spells remained however. They were usually prompted by a sudden longing for the hunt again. Some part of her, the one she called the Hunter, still craved the power and blood. When the urges became very strong, she would send for Valentin and he would beat and rape it out of her. It was the only thing that worked. Until Seth came along that is. It took some time for Seth to work his way into Fallen’s heart, but eventually he did. He showed her that there was another way to redeem herself. It wasn’t as easy as Valentin’s beatings, which made it seem all the more right. Retrieving alphas from the pens was the way. Fallen became more and more independent of Valentin, even going so far as to achieve the rank of First Pilot. She left on her own missions now, and aided by Seth and Kimble, saved herself by pulling more flesh alive from the pens than she killed during her seven month stay there. The more they did it, the more she realized she was no longer a monster, she was just a lost soul who’d strayed a little off the path. Her Siskan pilots had propped her up and set her right. Her Hunter spells came less and less but still occurred. She sent for Valentin less often. He didn’t like it and felt neglected. Valentin vented his frustration by beating her more and more savagely at each visit. He would follow her, seek her out and it became a game to him. Fallen was trapped by the monster she had created. Valentin would not leave her and now had managed to talk Cerebus into marrying them. It was the last straw. Fallen did have some sense of Honor. Rather than break her bonding, she chose instead to give up everything and kill them all. It had cost her Seth and now she wasn’t quite sure what to do about it. Her biggest fear was that she’d never hold Seth ever again. She needed him more than ever now that all this had happened. What was she going to do about Valentin now? Kimble had nodded as Fallen had spoken, stroking her hair back ever so gently. He was an inorganic being, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t understand something like this. " ‘S okay, darlin’. You done what ya done ta survives. Ain’t nobody gonner hold that against you." "No, you don’t get it. There’s more. I wasn’t just a cannibal, Kim. I liked it, don’t you see? I liked the hunt. I liked hunting them down! I called myself the Hunter and made a game of it! It was the only thing that made me happy there!" she sobbed, curling up that much tighter. "I liked it! And when that wasn’t enough, I taught others to do the same!" Kimble closed his eyes, trying to equate his tender Mistress with someone who hunted down her penmates like prey. It was hard. To him she was soft and warm, strong willed and sturdy. He hadn’t realized where that inner strength had come from, how being a survivor meant more than just having lived through something traumatic. Kimble understood a great many things about human behavior, but this was a little out of his range. What he could do was offer her comfort without his judgement. He was perfectly honest when he had said that there was nothing she could say to make him hate her, not even this could scratch a dent in the vast love he had for her. He wasn’t the only one. Seth was horrified by her tale as he would be by anything like it, but he still had this to say. "You did what you had to, Fallen. What I don’t understand is why you thought you needed to be punished for it. The only one who needed to be punished here was Valentin for not helping you through this. How was him beating you ever supposed to make you better? All you had to do was forgive yourself."
"How can I?" she sobbed.
Seth just smiled. "You already have. Think back on all the lives we saved from the pens. It was dangerous to do it but you kept it up. Don’t you see? You’ve saved so many, how could that not be enough to make up for what you did?" Fallen looked up at Seth then. She was warm and safe in Kimble’s arms, but it was the look of absolute love on Seth’s face that finally convinced her that what he spoke was true. "I love you," she breathed. It was meant for them both, but it was Seth’s eyes she saw as she said it. "And I you, my Mistress," Seth replied, his eyes sad for her pain, but his mouth in a tender smile. Fallen relaxed, crying just a little more, her agony finally released, and Kimble held her close until she was asleep. He then rose carefully and lay her gently on the floor. He opened a glass jar and gave her a mild sedative so she wouldn't dream that horrible nightmare again. He could see Seth trembling and shivering in the control room and spoke to him gently. "Go to the Black Room. I'll be right there," he said, seeing that Fallen wasn’t the only one who needed him. Seth nodded, weak with tears, and disappeared. Kimble stood over Fallen as she slept and wiped away an angry tear that dribbled down one cheek. She was his Mistress, his only reason for being, and he couldn’t bear her suffering. The best he could hope for was that she would be better off having finally gotten all of this off of her chest. Maybe she could leave it all behind for good and be stronger. He sank down to the floor next to her and lay still, transferring his consciousness along the invisible link back into the system and to the Black Room.
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 12, 2007 9:04:58 GMT -5
(Four) Kimble found his brother there in the Black Room, curled up in the middle of the circle of light, his hands cupped over his ears and his eyes clamped shut as he cried uncontrollably. Kimble stepped into the circle of light and went to him, putting his arms around him and speaking to him gently. "Seth? C'mon, buddy. It ain't all that bad. She's good now." "How can I help her when I’m stuck in here?!" Seth bawled. "I can’t touch her or kiss her! She needs me and I can’t get to her!" "Easy, now. Calm down." Kimble took Seth's hands away from his ears and pulled him up into his arms just as he did Fallen. When Seth broke down, Kimble always took care of him. He was his brother. The stronger taking care of the weak, it was what Kimble did best. Kimble most often expressed himself physically, he touched and he hugged to soothe the pain of others. He liked to kiss and reach out with his hands. Seth and Fallen both knew this and seemed to enjoy and need his closeness when they were troubled. He now brushed Seth's hair back until he felt him relax. Seth cried himself out and snuggled down against him, burying his face against his chest. Kimble's embrace was comforting and familiar. When they had been locked in the system together, Kimble had often held him as he slept. In many ways, Kimble was more of a father to him than a brother. "How am I going to help her?" Seth whispered in a dry scratchy voice. "By doin’ whatcha been doin’. Just keep lookin’ after her sos she knows ya love her." "It’s not good enough..." "S’ gonna hafta be fer now." Kimble wiped the last of Seth’s tears away. "When ya gots time, I wants ya ta take the password safeties offa the Black Room." "Why? It keeps us safe." "Jus’ do it. If we git inta trouble you kin always put it back." "All right." "In the meantime, I kin take alla the meat and toss it inta Storage. The door’s got a lock on it, it’ll be all right. I won’ let nuthin’ happen ta her like what went on today." "I'm never going to feel her again, am I?" Seth asked, a tremble still in his voice. "Don' say that, kiddo," Kimble soothed. "Life's a funny thing. Never know how it's gonna turn out. Ya just gots ta have a little faith. I'm gonna try my best ta do fer you, 'kay?" "Okay," Seth agreed, his doubt still there. "Have I ever letcha down, kid? Huh?" Kimble teased gently. Seth laughed softly. "No." He was growing drowsy from Kimble's warmth. "You jus’ rest easy, I'll stay witcha till yer asleep," Kimble promised, not quite ready to leave Seth just yet. He kept his word and held his twin until he was asleep, still and warm in his arms. Kimble was a sensitive creature, in touch with the emotions of others. He understood Seth’s frustration, he just wasn’t sure what to do about it. He had an idea from when he had taken Fallen here to the Black Room briefly before, something that could be formulated into a plan if he was clever enough. Maybe he could bring her again and with the password gone, perhaps she could remain here longer than just a few seconds. Kimble closed his eyes and held Seth close to him, wanting a little comfort himself. This day wasn’t turning out so well after all. In here with no one to see, Kimble could let his guard down. He trembled as he started to cry. Being the caregiver was a difficult and painful job, one he chose to do on his own, but one that carried its own pains. He was frightened by Fallen’s story and stung by Maylee’s accusations. He knew deep in his heart that he wasn’t bad or evil like she’d said. Valentin was. This place was. Fallen’s story made him remember that it wasn’t always safe out in the real world and now he was there again. He didn’t know if he could in fact be killed out here and wasn’t in an all fired rush to find out. How was he going to protect his people — Seth and Fallen and May — from everything that was going on, from Valentin? He was the Second, he was Kimble and it was his job to look after them. He would do whatever it took, sacrificing everything else to do it. To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 19, 2007 11:24:23 GMT -5
(Five) Gambit scrubbed the floor of the galley, feeling horrible about what happened. He had no idea what was going on, only that he had screwed up royally and poor Kimble had taken the fall for it. He wished he knew what was going on. He could hear Logan trying fruitlessly to worm the truth out of Valentin. He’d been at it for over an hour now and had nothing to show for it. Valentin was giving up nothing, enjoying the game too much. Gambit stood stiffly and tossed his towel into the sink. He grabbed a cigarette from the table jar and lit it. He was trying to calm down himself. He was even more concerned about Kimble after Maylee’s horrible accusation. His concerns were justified when he saw Kimble return with a large box. The pilot looked terrible, he had a haunted sad look in his eyes as he opened the cupboards and started tossing Valentin’s stash of meat into the box. Remy stood next to him, quick to apologize. "Je suis de’sole, mon ami. I ‘ad no idea." "Yeah, well neither did I," Kimble said gently, forgiving him with a tired smile. Remy’s simple regret made Kimble feel all the more kind towards his new friend, it was a buffer towards Logan’s harsher treatment of him. "That girl keeps her secrets. I been with her alla this time an she didn’ tell me nuthin’ till just now." "Told you about the pens, did she?" Valentin's cruel voice rasped. Kimble whirled, all too ready to vent his rage and frustration. "You knew! And ya brought this crap on board anaways!" Logan saw Kimble’s meager control already slipping away and moved in next to him. He locked eyes with Remy, daring him to stop him from keeping Kimble down. Remy didn’t argue, instead he stepped in between Kimble and Valentin, trying to block their view of one another. He did nothing more, hoping that Kimble or Valentin would say what was going on. He had no problem with them arguing as long as they didn’t start fighting. He also hoped his presence would help Kimble remember his promise to be good. "Of course I know," Valentin sneered. "I know everything about her, boy. Deep down inside she needs me. She wants me to give her what she needs. Something you'll never be capable of doing. You think the Hunter can be stopped with your silly kisses and stupid little songs? Please! I’m the only thing that ever kept her in control." He raised a large heavy fist. "See this? This is all she truly understands and needs, not your pathetic, soft, white brother." Wolverine struggled to process what he was hearing. He looked at the packages of meat and then he remembered what he saw from his brief stay in the Dognan pen. The packs were hunting down the weak and eating them. He pondered Fallen's unspeakable crime, the one she allowed Valentin to punish her for. It came to him suddenly. Fallen had been just like Shayla, the pilot that had gone in with them and was taken in by the Angels. Or worse, he said to himself, thinking of how strong Fallen’s spirit was. Carma, the leader. A woman who was not only a cannibal herself, but the leader of a pack of them might have a few issues. He cursed himself for not thinking of it earlier. Kimble was beyond all that. He thought of Fallen’s suffering at the hands of the monster before him and how it was ripping Seth apart. His rage spilled over and he lost control with frightening speed. So much for being good. He saw Valentin’s raised fist, heard his cruel laughter, and forgot everything else. "You a--hole!" Kimble howled fearlessly and lunged for Valentin, his hands out like claws. Logan caught Kimble as he flew by and held him back, once more using his superior weight to keep the Siskan in check. "Calm down!" At their racket, Valentin began to howl like a rabid dog on purpose, raising a ruckus and adding to the chaos. He pulled against the ropes, but they held him this time. He was laughing like a madman, enjoying himself as he watched Kimble lose control. Henry wasn’t about to stand for it.. He stood behind Valentin and put his big blue hands on the big man’s shoulders. He wasn’t about to let Valentin break free like before. "Get Kimble out of here!" he ordered to Logan. Before Wolverine could respond, Gambit weaved in between Kimble and Valentin, still trying to block Kimble’s view of his antagonist. He knew Logan was stronger than he was and better able to hold the enraged pilot back. He charged a card with his bio-kinetic energy, hoping to catch Kimble’s attention with it like before. " ‘Ey!" he shouted sharply and held the card right up to Kimble’s face. Like before, Kimble’s eyes locked onto the red glow. He didn’t freeze, but Gambit clearly had his attention. "Paisible maintant, cher. Easy now," Remy said slowly, working Kimble with his voice just as he had with the card. "Take it down, nice and easy. Soft, soft, now. Easy like. We gonna talk ‘bout dis civilized and work it out, bien? You trustin’ Gambit now?" Kimble nodded, slowing down. He was easily mesmerized by Remy’s kind eyes and gentle tone of voice. It appealed to his inner desire to please and Remy was asking him so nicely, it was hard to refuse. Logan didn’t quite buy it and wouldn’t let him go, but Remy didn’t hesitate to continue. "Talk to me, Kim. Tell Gambit what’s goin’ on." Kimble took a deep shuddering breath and relaxed. He went slack against Logan and didn’t fight him anymore. His anger was temporarily on hold as he listened to Gambit’s easy words. He answered Remy’s question in a tired, scratchy voice. "Vally knows her pain an’ he don’ care. He thinks her sufferin’ is some kinda joke — Well, it ain’t no joke ta me!" Kimble squirmed a little as he started to grow angry again. "Shhh...Easy now. Relax. What’s ‘er pain? Tell me." Logan waited for Valentin to cut in, but he had quieted and was watching Kimble as intently as everyone else. Kimble was putting on quite the entertaining little show. "She wuz the Hunter in the pens. Huntin’ and killin’ ta stay alive. A cannibal. Three years I been watchin’ her suffer cuz of it. An fer what?! Fer sumpthin’ she didn’ have no control over!" Kimble raised his voice as angry tears spilled down his cheeks. "He coulda helped her, made her see that she didn’t need no punishin’ fer it, but NO! He had ta keep beatin’ her down! You thought that last time wuz bad, huh? You weren’t there when he broke her f--kin’ jaw an’ me an May had ta feed her cuz she couldn’t f--kin’ eat on her own! Or the time before that when he took that big *** f--kin’ pipe wrench to her legs! You weren’t there! You don’ hear her screamin’ evra time he lays down with her or hafta listen ta her heavin’ her guts out killin’ his children! I wuz there! Me! It’s always me f--kin’ cleanin’ up after!" Logan held Kimble firmly as Gambit charged another card, Kimble was getting himself all worked up again. Remy was horrified by what Kimble had just let slip, here was the answer to his unspoken question about who’s crime might be worse, his or Fallen’s. Just the same, he passed no judgment. He gave his all to Kimble now, coaxing him back down with his soothing Cajun drawl. "Easy, easy now. Paisible, paisible, fils. We all done wit that now, ey? We gonna look after ‘er. She okay now." "I never did anything she didn’t want me to," Valentin said evenly, looking up into Kimble’s red, tear streaked face. "She could have run — jumped —anywhere, but she stayed. Why? Because deep down inside she knows she needs me. She doesn’t want anyone else." Kimble snorted with indignant rage. "She tried ta kill ya, Vally. What do ya know ‘bout that, huh? Seems ya don’t know her so well as ya think!" Valentin shrugged. "Fallen is a little confused on account of that little f-ggot boy you call your brother. I’ll take care of him soon enough, that’s a promise. Once he’s gone, she’ll see the error of her ways." Valentin’s words had the desired effect. Kimble went off with a bang. He screamed a scathing torrent of mangled profanity and heaved against Logan again. No bright glowing cards were going to control him now. "You even think ‘bout touchin’ Seth, I’ll kill ya! I’ll rip yer f--kin’ guts out!" he bellowed. "Motherf--ker!" Bruce covered his ears and tried to squirm away from Valentin on the bench. He was terrified of the enraged Siskan and wanted to be as far away from Kimble’s intended target as possible. He leaned into Joseph who shoved him back with a impatient growl. Henry had seen enough. The last thing he wanted was a brawl on the bench as well. "That’s enough! Get Kimble out of here!" he repeated. Logan obeyed and hauled Kimble towards the door. Kimble resisted, digging his toe claws into the floor, but Logan kept him moving. Logan hoped that Kimble was too out of control to try phasing through him again, if he did, Logan had no way of stopping him. Kimble remained solid throughout his rant and Wolverine gave him a mighty shove, tossing him back out into the Main Room. "You just calm yer *** down! We’re all done with yer stupid crap! Can’t ya see he’s playin’ you?!" Gambit followed Logan out of the galley, determined not to let the fight continue on out here. Kimble moved away from Logan’s hurtful words, staggering to the cage. He was getting overloaded again from all the violence. The horror of the story Fallen had told him and his rage towards Valentin was ripping him apart. His head was filled with violent thoughts. He wanted to kill Valentin. He wanted to take that big shiny sword of his and cram it right up that monster’s ***. His belly clenched as his stomach threatened to heave and he bent over with the pain. He rubbed his hands against his stomach and for the first time he longed for the security of the hologram restraints. He felt so trapped here, like he couldn't get out. He wanted nothing more than to be reintegrated with the computer. It was easier then, caught in that two dimensional world. He couldn't interact physically and didn't have to worry about the consequences of his actions. The violence and hatred of this world had never been turned on him personally there. He'd felt no pain, no exhaustion. No real love either, he reminded himself thinking of Fallen's calm white face and her warm and gentle touch. He had to keep focused. He had to help her get through this. He had to keep her safe. He chanted the Siskan phrase Fallen used with Seth softly to himself as he rubbed his hands over himself, calming down from his own touch. Wolverine watched him recovering, waiting to see if he was going to stand down or explode. After a moment Kimble turned to him. His eyes were bloodshot and tired. He started to cry a little more and self consciously wiped the tears away quickly. "Ya don' understand. Ya don’ know what happened ta her," he said as a way of explaining his actions. "Yeah, I do," Logan said quietly. "I was in the pens and I saw what happened there. I saw Carma and I know what she did. I just didn't put it all together with Fallen until now." "It wuzn’t her fault!" Kimble said, his voice so terribly sad. "She didn’ mean ta kill nobody. She ain’t the Hunter no more. He don’ need ta keep beatin’ her down. He’s killin’ her a piece at a time. Her an’ Seth both." "Easy, Kim," Gambit said, trying to soothe him. Again, he was impressed at the depth of Kimble’s concern for his family. He didn’t think the emotions Kimble was displaying were false. He remembered the playful happy Kimble that had danced so skillfully and was laughing and playing around with such happiness. It bothered Gambit to see the same Kimble so miserable and angry. "It ain’t gonna happen no more, d’accorde? We gonna take care of it, je promets. When we get outta dis, we’re goin’ to a place where he won’t be able to touch ‘er ever again." Logan nodded, trying to hold on to Remy’s optimism about their chances. "I know it ain’t always been easy for you, but the Cajun’s right. We got this one, all right? You gotta calm down, boy, and get yer act together," he said, trying to sound comforting. "Get some sleep, whatever it takes. Ya look like crap. Yer f--kin’ wasted. I understand we have to wait for Fallen ta heal, but how are you gonna look after her when ya can’t even keep it together out here?" Kimble nodded and started to walk away. He paused and looked back, flexing his big arm muscles in an unspoken threat. "I’m tellin’ ya now, I loves her. I loves her an Seth an’ May no matter what the kid thinks a me. I won' let him hurt any of one of thems, ya hear me? He ain’t touchin’ a one of ‘em ever again. I'll do whatever it takes. I swears it!" "You won't have to," Logan growled, more as a warning than words of comfort. "Nuthin's gonna happen." Kimble moved away, unbelieving, and returned to Fallen’s lav and his Mistress. To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 26, 2007 9:38:39 GMT -5
(Six) Logan watched Kimble go and then walked back into the galley. Valentin and Joseph were laughing to themselves. If they weren’t going to break free, the least they could do is have a few laughs. Bruce sat in between them, leaning forward with his face in his hands, trembling as he found no humor in any of this. Logan wondered why Bruce should be so afraid. He knew of Bruce’s suspicions, but there was no way to prove that Kimble was this Zander fellow, not right now anyhow. Logan went to the cupboards and finished putting the meat in the box, seeing the wisdom of removing it and completing Kimble’s task. He certainly hoped they wouldn’t be stuck here for days on end. He wasn’t sure who was going to go crazy first, Kimble or himself from being cooped up in this tin can with all of this madness. He kicked the box to one side and rubbed his eyes. All of this tension was giving him a headache. "You gonna cry, too, pup?" Valentin sneered. Wolverine’s rage bloomed like a silent bomb. He turned without a sound and smashed his fist into Valentin’s face. He had reacted so unexpectedly and so quickly, Valentin never had a chance to dodge the blow. Bruce was sitting next to Valentin and was splattered as Valentin’s nose exploded with blood and shattered bone. Bruce screamed at the sight of it, his voice a high hysterical shriek. He cowered as Logan next stood over Valentin, his face full of hate and rage. Logan shoved Valentin’s head down onto the table. The force of it snapped the strap on Valentin’s arm sling, adding to his helplessness. Valentin slid his splinted arm across the table for balance, but Logan wasn’t done yet. He leaned in real close to Valentin’s face, baring his teeth. "Let’s get somethin’ straight, you an’ me. We need both Fallen an’ Kimble ta get outta this mess an’ I ain’t about ta let ya screw this up. Whatever respect I mighta had fer you is long gone. Yer three claws away from bein’ a bloody smear on this table. You readin’ me?" "You don’t frighten me, little man!" Valentin growled fearlessly from his awkward position. Logan popped his claws out real close. Valentin couldn’t help but twitch in fear this time. He’d seen Wolverine use those claws and knew just how deadly they were. He shivered as he heard Logan’s dry growl in his ear. "Maybe I didn’t make my self clear. One more freakout on account of you and yer spendin’ the rest of this trip in yer little room over there. In pieces if it comes ta that. You gettin’ me now?" "F--k you!" Valentin replied with a sneer, still unwilling to give an inch. Logan grabbed Valentin’s hair, raising his head not to free him, but to slam Valentin’s head back down against the metal table with a quick snap, stunning him. Valentin lay still then, wheezing out blood and spit with every unconscious breath. "Anyone else?" Logan snarled, looking at the others. Bruce shrank away, covering his face. Joseph glared at Wolverine, as defiant as his Master. "I’ll kill you for that!" Gambit came to the table, stepping up on the bench with one foot. He put the fingertips of his right hand on the metal table and looked deeply into Joe’s face, his demonic red on black eyes glittering with playful malice. Joseph jumped a little when he felt a sizzling shock as the red eyed mutant gave the table a little charge of bio-kinetic energy. "Oui? You feel dat? Gambit can do dis to anyt’ing, not just ‘is fancy playin’ cards, comprenez? Don’ t’ink you wanna see what ‘e can do to your face." Gambit would never use his power directly on anyone, but Joseph didn’t need to know that. "You gonna go quietly now, or is Gambit gonna ‘ave ‘imself a little down home barbecue?" Joseph said nothing, but put his head down submissively. "Bien. I t’ink we done ‘ere now," Remy said, backing off. "Let’s go," Logan said, untying the men. He and Remy saw Joseph and Bruce back to the barracks while Henry looked Valentin over. Valentin’s nose was broken. He woke in a foggy daze but sat still as Henry next set the bone and taped him up. His eyes were already bruising from the abuse, adding to his already disheveled appearance. "I suggest you don’t keep antagonizing Logan," the big blue doctor advised him. "I’m not sure how many more of your bones you want him to break." Valentin said nothing in return and Henry led him away back to the barrack’s room. Henry made his delivery and looked over to the cage, seeing that Fallen’s lav door was shut. Maylee had come up from her hiding spot below and was curled up on Fallen’s bed asleep. Beast hoped Kimble was getting some sleep as well, they were all tired and irritable. This was going to be a long trip and already everyone’s nerves were on edge. He prayed all the violence was behind them now. Considering the events so far, he doubted it. To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Nov 2, 2007 12:19:42 GMT -5
(Seven) When Kimble had returned to his Mistress he closed the door of her lav and locked it without thinking. He then stood over Fallen and looked down at her, assessing her condition. He saw that she was still comfortably asleep and went to her, needing her badly now. He scooped her back into his arms and held her close to him as if she'd disappear if he let her go. He buried his face in her hair and breathed in her sweet smell, he covered himself with her blankets and felt her warmth and Ristle seep into him. It calmed him and he relaxed. He had to remember who he was doing this for, he reminded himself. He would be strong for her. He would be strong for all of them. He chanted the Siskan phrase of comfort to himself again and felt it's magic work on him. He settled down and slowly fell into an uneasy sleep. He startled awake from another nightmare less than an hour later. His body was drenched in sweat and he was shaking. He was exhausted. He didn't get to sleep long, he’d only had three or four catnaps and with each attempt at sleep, Mirror Face reared his ugly head. He couldn't escape his own personal monster, the guy came on him every time he closed his eyes now. He stood shakily and took a cigarette from the jar on the vanity, deliberately avoiding looking at his reflection in the big mirror. Mirror Face had frightened any vanity he may have had right out of him. If he wasn't going to sleep well, he figured, he was just better off not even trying. He looked down on Fallen, seeing she was still out cold from the sedative and would be so for a few more hours. He wasn't going to accomplish anything hanging around here, so he figured he might as well take a peek at the engines. He walked out of the lav and found Maylee waiting on Fallen's bed. She was awake now and sitting there, impatient to see her foster mother. He didn't meet her eyes but said, "She's sleepin'. You should go in an' sit with her awhile 'case she wakes up an needs sumpthin'." He was trying to offer her a hand of peace, but she didn't accept. "I don't need your permission," she said coldly, rising. "Next time, don't lock the door. You've got no right to keep me out!" Kimble blanched, insulted and wounded all over again at her suggestion. "I wuzn't keepin' nobody out!" "Then why was the door locked?" she challenged. He didn't want to argue and gave in. "No reason. Sorry. I didn't mean nuthin' by it," he stammered lamely and left. He couldn't look at her, he was too afraid of his rising anger. He'd done enough damage in a day and half already and he didn't want to make things worse by saying something else he would regret. Kimble passed by Gambit on guard duty without comment and went down to the lower level. He used his Command Override to open the Engine Room door and blocked the door so it would stay open. He didn't know what tools he might need and didn't want to have to keep using the override each time he went back and forth from the shop. He went over to Engine One and examined it with a well trained eye. He was correct when he told Henry he had detailed files, he could assess the damage quickly and see what needed to be done. So far, the engine didn’t look unrecoverable, always a good sign. He could still smell the burnt rubber and hoped this wasn't going to be too bad. He looked over the main control panel, concentrating as he pulled up files from his maintenance files. He used the tech manuals there as instructions on how to pull the panel apart. He went to work and all his troubles slipped away as he immersed himself in the repairs. Kimble wasn't aware of it when Beast walked in an hour or so later. He'd turned the music on and was so absorbed in what he was doing that a bomb could have gone off and he wouldn't have noticed. Henry paused behind him and watched. Kimble may have been a hologram and technically not real, but he had no trouble working with the machinery. He sat with his crooked cat legs under him in a large open area of floor. He had one of the larger components disassembled and the parts organized neatly spread out in front of him. He had some boxes of replacement pieces next to him and was rummaging around for the right part he wanted. He had a cigarette burning forgotten in a bowl on the other side of him and an open bottle of whiskey, requirements for this procedure, obviously. He had a monitor on that showed Fallen sleeping on the floor of her lav so he could keep an eye on her. His hands moved swift and sure as he reassembled one section of the component and Henry had no doubt that Kimble knew what he was doing. Just the same, he offered with hopeful politeness, "May I offer you some assistance?" Kimble startled and almost dropped the hunk of engine in his hand. Henry was shocked when Kimble looked back at him with eyes filled with rage. His lips had pulled back in an angry sneer, showing his sharp pointed teeth. It changed the whole look of Kimble’s face, making him seem dangerous and out of control. Henry took a step back warily, seeing for the first time what had Wolverine so much on edge. "Excuse me!" he stammered lamely. Kimble saw who it was that had startled him and relaxed immediately. It wasn’t Mirror Face as he had first thought, but good old Henry. He felt silly and smiled sheepishly, relaxing his face into something more normal. "Sorry. Guess I thought you wuz someone else. Didn’ mean ta scares ya." "That’s supposed to be my line," Henry joked, still uneasy. "You need any help?" Kimble grinned and was himself again. "Shure. C'mon over an' sit." He politely cleared a space for his guest and gestured for him to sit. Beast sat beside him and looked over the parts. "This is some piece of work," he commented pleasantly. "Gonna takes some time. She fried the b-tch good." Henry reached out and started to assemble a different section. He had read most of the book Fallen had given him on Siskan technology, but he didn't need it here. In an odd twist of fate, the Siskan mechanics were almost identical to the Shi'ar components he kept up back home. It was enough to make him wonder if the Siskans were themselves related to the Shi’ar, just in an alternate universe or dimension. Dr. Henry McCoy was more than just a fine physician and surgeon, he was an intelligent blue giant who spent most of his time working on machinery such as this and on other experiments back home. He was highly skilled in all kinds of technology and never passed up an opportunity to learn more. In between boxes of Twinkies and reading piles of science journals on all subjects, he’d become quite knowledgeable and learned quickly. Gadgets and widgets were his thing. He was responsible for most of the specialized equipment back home and the X-men’s personal fighter jet, the Blackbird. His fast thinking and skilled, nimble fingers had gotten the team out of more than one scrap. He wasn’t the least bit intimidated about tackling the disassembled machinery Kimble had out in front of him. He recognized what he had in his hands not because he was told, but because he’d worked on so many different kinds of engines that it just came naturally to him. Kimble watched him with curiosity and then grunted in amusement when he saw Henry didn't need any help. "Well, all right then." he said with a smile and went back to his own piece. "Tell me about yer place," he asked after a moment. "My place?" "Yeah. Yer house. What's it like?" He was just making conversation. Beast grinned, more than willing to entertain his host with tales from home. "Well, it's quite large with a lot of rooms. It started off as a school for mutants --- alphas, I mean -- and it still is, but we also do a lot of outreach work and we shelter those who need it. We help out if there is trouble with other mutant groups getting a bit too rowdy for their own good. The grounds are quite large with some woods behind it. We have a lake close by where we go swimming sometimes. Of course, my favorite place is my lab. I was working on several experiments when I left. I suppose I shall have to start all over again when I get back." "You gots lotsa that Shi'ar stuff? You know, like the Siskan stuff here?" Henry looked at him curiously. "Why do you ask?" "I dunno. I wuz thinkin' maybe when we git to yer place, you kin fix it so Seth kin come out." Henry was a little surprised by his question, he hadn't really thought much about it. It pleased him, though, that Kimble had asked. It confirmed his own belief that Kimble did care for Seth and that Maylee's accusations were unfounded. "It depends. Seth had said you didn't have enough base material for another hologram. What do you require?" Kimble read off a list of basic elements, the liquid ingredients for his gel. Most of them Henry was familiar with and the doctor nodded thoughtfully. "I'm not sure I can acquire all that you need, but I would certainly like to give it a try. It would be worth it for the challenge." "You'd like Seth," Kimble said quietly. "I bet he kin helps ya with yer experiments. He's got a better head fer that junk than I do. Gimmie a machine, I kin fix it with the right files. Maybe I kin figger it out on my own with enough time. That science crap jus' makes my head hurt," he said with a laugh. Henry joined him. "It's not for everyone, true. I probably could use a good partner in the lab. He can learn from files as you do?" "I don' see why not. He’s got my memory, too. He’s fast. He's real good with computers. He hacks inta the Dognan stuff alla time. I figger yer stuff can't be any harder. Prob'ly make a good spy if ya needed one." "We can use people of all skills at the mansion," Henry tossed out as bait, hoping to encourage Kimble to believe he might fit in as well. Kimble didn’t bite, but changed subjects, talking about the work at hand instead. They worked together for a few hours and seemed to accomplish a lot. Kimble was quick and they worked well together. Henry frowned as he looked over some damaged circuit boards, they were singed and useless. "Are there replacements for these?" Kimble glanced over his shoulder, checking out the serial numbers. "I dunno. Gots ta go check." He walked away, rubbing his eyes. He was really wasted now and trying to fight it, his disrupted sleep wearing him down. He went to one of Fallen's large storage racks and scanned the index labels. He paused at one rack, it was tall and had many drawers. He slid a drawer out at chest height and rummaged through it, his fingers moving carefully through the small boxes there. His head dipped a little as his eyes shut on him in exhaustion. He jerked awake a moment later and shook his head in a vain attempt to revive himself. "You should get some rest," Henry commented from beside him. Kimble hadn't seen him approach and he startled. "Ughh...Hey. I jus’ wants ta gits this done," he said with a laugh, rubbing his eyes again. "It can wait. It's not a good idea to do this kind of work unrested. You could make a mistake." "I'll be fine." Henry nodded and let him be. He walked back to their working area and saw Logan standing in the doorway. Wolverine was watching Kimble intently, a small scowl on his face. Beast had no idea how long he'd been there, it was spooky how Logan could sneak up on you. Henry smiled at him in greeting. "'Bout time somethin' got done," Wolverine complained good naturedly, his scowl replaced with a small smile for Henry. Inwardly he was pleased. The sooner this was back together, the better. Kimble looked up as he spoke but said nothing. He saw the way Logan was looking at him and didn't like it. It didn’t escape him how Logan’s expressions had changed, the smile was not for him. Kimble didn’t see much in the way of Wolverine’s reputed honor or caring coming his way, not so far. He scowled and went back to the drawer. His head hurt and now he was angry again. He wished now he'd left the door shut, he suddenly wanted to be alone. He couldn't find what he was looking for and the frustration made him even more angry. He closed his eyes and tried to relax and think. He concentrated and scanned his files for the inventory list. He never felt it when his mind shut off again and he fell asleep where he stood. "Looks like yer boy's a little tired," Logan commented wryly. Beast turned and saw Kimble sway unsteadily as he dozed. He laughed and went over to him. He slid the drawer shut and caught the pilot as he fell. He didn't quite wake up but mumbled a complaint Henry couldn't make out. Beast picked him up in his big arms, the doctor was very strong and managed Kimble's much lighter body easily. He carried him out to the workshop and lay him down on the bed. He covered him up and shut the lights off before returning to the Engine Room. "He gonna make it, doc?" Logan asked, just making conversation. "Who? Kimble? I think so, yes. Just the same, the sooner we get out of here the better. These components are very similar to what we have back home. I can help out quite a bit here." Logan nodded and stood by quietly while Henry worked. These mechanics were too complicated for him to work on himself. He was the first to admit he was more of a tinkerer than a repairman. His area of expertise lay elsewhere. After a short while, Logan heard Kimble talking in his sleep. He left the room quietly and went into the shop. He didn't need the lights to see Kimble thrashing on the bed. To read more, click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2529125/1/The_Hunter
|
|