|
Post by squeekness on Sept 13, 2006 22:26:41 GMT -5
(Six) The two X-men took their time cleaning up and felt much better after a nice hot shower. They wandered out to the Main Room and saw another door that led to a large galley. It was a large room with a long metal table with fixed benches where Fallen could easily sit all twelve of her passengers and herself. A clear glass jar mounted on the table contained a generous supply of hand rolled cigarettes. There was a large bowl of fruit, mostly some kind of oranges. One whole wall consisted of storage cabinets and shelves that appeared to be well stocked with bottles and boxes of food. A counter top ran the length of one wall. It held a double sided sink and rack filled with a large supply of whiskey bottles. Another rack close by held a row of dark colored ones. It seemed Fallen liked to keep a good supply of liquor around. There was a large double door refrigerator as well. On one of the walls was a large representation of Fallen's X mark. It was an X in a box with a word printed on each side of the square. Honor. Loyalty. Courage. Sacrifice. But best of all this kitchen and galley had a good sized stove where a large stew pot was bubbling merrily. The smell was wonderful and inviting and Logan felt his stomach growl in anticipation. Soft music was playing on unseen overhead speakers. Logan was startled to recognize it as Born on the Bayou from Creedence Clearwater Revival. Where did Fallen get Earth music from? he wondered to himself, but didn’t bother to ask. Seth and Kimble were in their usual chairs in the cockpit room on a viewing screen. Seth had a headset on and was listening to something, his eyes closed in concentration. Kimble was excitedly jabbering away about something funny, laughing merrily. Fallen sat at the table, listening to him halfheartedly with a smile as she smoked one of the hand rolled cigarettes. Her eyes were half closed and she looked sleepy. Logan sniffed quietly at her and realized she wasn’t merely sleepy, she was stoned. She looked up at them lazily as they entered and spoke, "Feel better?" "Do you?" Logan quipped. He had no patience for drug use. She looked at him sharply and locked eyes with him, unafraid. "What I do on my ship is my business, X-man. I'm not about to take any crap from you, legend or not. You don't like it, you can go back to the pens," she snapped. "Reoww! Ffft! Ffft!" Kimble joked from the screen, imitating a cat fight. "Chill, baby. Don' let the furball gits a rise outta ya." Logan sneered up at him, showing his teeth. He wondered if this guy ever left that stupid room. Where were they anyway? The Control room was nowhere in sight and the only scents on board were Fallen and Maylee’s. Logan was about to respond to Kimble's dig when Henry touched his arm and shook his head in warning. Forget it. They sat down at the table to eat. Fallen was quick to assume her duties as host. She got up and went to one of the cupboards. She took out two large serving bowls and served Logan and Henry generously from the stew pot. She gave them some bread as well. She went to the small refrigerator, grabbed two bottles of beer and set them out. The X-men were starved and ate quietly. The stew was very good although Logan noted there was no meat in it. He didn’t mind, he was happy just to fill his belly. Fallen leaned against the counter away from them and smoked. She watched Seth as he worked with a gentle smile. He seemed to be trying to listen in on someone else's transmission. He tapped the head set and typed away rapidly at a keyboard. "Anything?" Fallen asked. Seth squinted and shook his head. "I can't make it out. The Dognan know the pens were broken into and that it was us, but they don't know where we went. They sent out an All Alert. They know the alphas are gone. Fence is fixed.... There was a big brawl on the way out....." He cocked his head as he listened and shivered. "Frishnan's angry. His favorite, Theba, got sliced."
"One of the Angels?" "Yeah." Fallen looked at Logan. He shook his head. "Kane's men." "Poor Frishnan. Gonna have ta find someone else ta place his bets on. Prob'ly lost a bundle on that fight, too," Kimble teased. "Poor baby." "How can you find that funny?" Logan grumbled. "Kimble finds everything funny. It's why I keep him around," Fallen said quickly before Kimble could respond. "Clan'll shut the pens down soon enough," Kimble said after a pause. He looked at Fallen closely and a meaningful look passed between them. Fallen reached behind her and grabbed a whiskey bottle. She opened the seal with a claw and poured herself a good sized drink. She tossed it back like it was water. "Anything else?" "No. It's pretty quiet now. I'll try again later." "Looks like we gots us a breather. Could use the break," Kimble said, rubbing his eyes like he was tired. He leaned back in his chair and put his furry feet up on the console again. "What is it you guys do exactly?" Logan asked, curious about these new people he found himself with. "We raid the pens, harass the Dognan," Kimble explained. "We stays out on the sidelines pretty much. Valentin's army does most of the work of drivin' them Dognan guys back. They've been really busy lately. Think the Clan is workin' on some kinda big project. My guess is Cerebus is gonna go fer the big push soon. All or nuthin'. Prob'ly drag us into it just fer kicks."
"Don't you want to get involved?" Henry wanted to know. "Ain't much inta suicide, thanks," Kimble quipped sarcastically.
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 13, 2006 22:28:22 GMT -5
Fallen was quick to explain Kimble’s reaction. "The Clan army isn't as organized as they could be. They have a lot of resources, but there's too much competition among the Generals. They seem to be more interested in who's going to get the Honor Sword than winning anything for the people." "Honor Sword?" Fallen arched her back and stroked her long tattoo. "This. The Honor Mark of the Hopelessly Reckless." "Ya shouldn't joke about it likes that," Kimble said, oddly serious. "Ya earned evra inch of that Mark." She looked up at him. " I didn't earn it, we did." "How did you earn it?" Henry asked. "Lotsa reasons. Raidin' the pens, mostly," Kimble answered for her. " ‘Corse, it coulda been that time Fallen saved Cerebus' life." he teased with a laugh. "Ol' Cerebus got his *** stuck in the city and we hadta come bails him out cuz Vally chickened out." "Valentin didn't chicken out, he wanted Cerebus' throne. Figured the Dognan would save him the trouble of having to kill Cerebus himself," Fallen retorted. "Yeah, well Fallen got him outta that little mess." "I couldn't have done it without you," she said, looking up at Kimble with a loving smile. "You showed me the way out. Helped me fly through one of the worst firefights I've ever seen." "Nobody flies like you, baby doll. I ain't gots nuthin’ ta do with it." Kimble said with sincere modesty, not wanting to take the credit. "You're wrong. Nobody flies like me and you together." Her look and tone of voice finalized the matter. "That's why you're my Second and always will be." Kimble shrugged. "Anaways..." he continued, returning to Henry's question. "...we take alla the crap jobs nobody wants. Make it back alive. Cerebus wants alphas fer his cause, we gits 'em for him. No sane white pilot would come out here. If the Dognan catch Fallen, she's toast. Good thing she's so good with the stick." "The stick?" " ‘S slang fer the way pilots fly the ship. Fallen's the best pilot around --- no matter what she sez 'bout me. No one kin catch us," Kimble said, proud. "She built this ship and evrathin' in it. Nuthin' else like it around." "Quiet now," Fallen cautioned. It wasn't the praise, it was her secrets. "They don't need to hear you prattle on." She stood straight and poured another drink. "Where's Kane?" Seth flipped a switch on his panel, waited. "Still in the fourth. You want to speak to him?" "No. I'm going to have a bath and crash." She looked at Henry and Logan. "Help yourself to whatever you want in the cupboards." she said and left with the bottle. "I'll go with you," Seth offered and left the cockpit room through the back door. Logan stared at Kimble up on the screen, not really watching his brother leave. It was this one he was really interested in. Kimble seemed to know it. He leaned back in his chair comfortably and stared back, grinning arrogantly. He behaved like Wolverine didn't intimidate him at all. Must be some kind of punk, Logan thought. Can’t wait to meet him in person and size him up for real.
"You said you and Fallen earned the Mark together. Where's yours?" Logan challenged. He’d picked up on the fact that Seth and Kimble were the only males he'd seen with a shirt since they left the pens. He didn't know why, but it bugged him. Kimble didn’t answer but slowly pulled down the collar of his shirt until the handle of the tattooed sword was visible. It seemed he was just as Marked as his captain. His smile changed to one more sly and he cocked his head waiting for Wolverine’s response. "Why cover it up?" Logan continued to probe. He had the idea something wasn't quite right about this stranger. He was bored and comfortable now with his belly full, so he figured he would try and ferret it out. Nothing like a good game to pass the time. He could see Kimble was up for it. "Chilly down here," Kimble replied with a mock shiver. He was obviously lying and didn't care. He continued to stare at Logan and grin, he clearly knew it was pissing Logan off. Beast sat watching the two of them with a resigned shake of his head. He sighed impatiently and scolded, "You two enjoy your pissing contest. I'm going to sit with Remy." He stood up and put his dishes in the sink. He waved to Kimble and left. Kimble returned Beast's wave, but his eyes never left Logan’s face. "Ya always thanks people who save yer life this way, or did we win the lottery?" he challenged in return. His eyes were hard. "Somethin' ain't right about you, boy. Somethin' ain't right about all of this. Why are you hidin’ from the Clan if you're a part of it?" "Not evrathin' here is what it seems. Ya wants ta git home, you'd best be careful." Kimble flipped a switch and his corner of the viewing screen winked out, leaving Logan on his own in the empty galley. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 18, 2006 19:43:34 GMT -5
Beast walked into the barracks to check in on Remy. Maylee had stretched out on the next bed over from the sleeping thief and had fallen asleep. She looked so tiny and small curled up there and he couldn’t help but cover her up with a blanket. She smiled up at him, not really awake, and rolled over, wiggling to get more comfortable. He sat next to Gambit on his bunk and looked him over. Whatever Maylee had done, it was the correct thing, he felt the coolness of Remy's cheeks and was satisfied. He startled a little when Gambit opened his eyes and smiled up at him. So strange, the red on black. At least he seemed well enough. "Didn' know you cared, mon ami," Gambit teased in a raspy voice. "Welcome back," Henry said, smiling. He saw a cup of water next to the bed and held it to Remy's lips so he could drink. "How do you feel?" "Wasted...What did I miss?" "You've been unconscious since last night. We were liberated this morning by some people called the Clan. They broke us out of the pen and brought us to this ship. We've made some interesting new friends." He pointed to Maylee. "That's your doctor." Gambit glanced over at the sleeping young girl. "Dey start young 'ere, eh? Can't wait to meet de rest of de girls." "They're white, have wings and can fly." "Cool. Where do I get one?" "The Captain of this ship is a pilot. Do you recall that strange, white bird like woman on the Dognan ship that delivered us to the pen?" "Vaguely. Gambit wasn’t t’inkin’ too straight mos’ of de time we been ‘ere." "Well, she's one of those and her name is Fallen. It seems the Clan is some kind of resistance group made of those white slaves and their children. They want to drive the Dognan out and take over this world. They liberated us from the pen because they like alphas to join them and make them stronger because of our powers," Henry explained, keeping his voice low enough not to disturb the child sleeping in the next bed. "Dey want us to fight wit dem?" Remy asked nervously. He could hold his own, sure, but he wasn’t interested in becoming a resistance fighter. He was a sneak and a thief, not a soldier. "So far no one has asked us to do anything. I hope we can work something out to get us back home. Kane is a warrior who helped to free us. He said it is possible for a pilot to return us home. He didn't say how or if they would voluntarily." "You ask dis Fallen?" "Not yet. There's been some tension..." "Bien entendu." Remy said with a soft snicker. "What Wolvie boy done now?" Henry laughed. "He's suspicious about the people here." "E's suspicious 'bout everyone. What's so special 'bout dese people?" "He's not saying. He's keeping it to himself as always." "E's paranoid." "Yeah well, my paranoia's saved yer *** more'n once," Logan drawled from the doorway. His eyes glanced to Maylee, but he could tell by her breathing she was out cold. Gambit shifted to get a better look at his ornery teammate. "Dey got us out, took care of me. We should wait ‘fore we be startin’ any fights, n’cest ce pas?" "Good advice," Beast agreed. He looked at Logan. "While we do rely on you for your instincts, I don't think it's a good idea to alienate these people. Kane said a pilot could get us home. Fallen is a pilot. Perhaps she will help us." "When? In between gettin' high or gettin' shot down? She's a freakin' junkie. Somethin's up with that Kimble guy, too. This place gives me the creeps. Can’t smell those two pilot guys anywhere." "Let's wait before we snap to any hasty judgments we'll regret later," Henry advised. "The people here seem harmless enough." "What seems ta be, an’ what is aren’t always the same thing," Logan cautioned. "I just wanna get us outta here and back in one piece." "Den we all on de same page, homme," Remy replied, rubbing his eyes. He felt much better and hoped he would be well enough to move around soon. He wanted to see what all the fuss was about. He felt a little left out, but was happy to be fixed up and cared for. "You should get some more rest," Beast said motherly and pulled the blankets up a little higher on his chest. "Mebbe we all should. Gambit ain’t de only one who look a little ragged." Henry sighed and nodded. It was true. With his belly now full and his concerns about Remy alleviated, he could feel the weariness creeping in. He hadn’t slept worth anything in the pen. He took the bed across from Remy and lay down, smiling as he saw Logan lay down on the bunk next to him without closing his eyes. He watches over us like a hawk, he thought not unkindly. As much as it pains me to see him so paranoid, I am glad for his presence. He closed his eyes and was out like a light. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 21, 2006 8:59:41 GMT -5
(Seven) Kane's group of people joined them just after sunset. They had traveled on foot through the rocky canyon and were dirty and tired. They opened up their tents and set up camp just outside of the ship. There was about twenty people, mostly women and children. The kids were laughing and dove into the nearby water, splashing and playing around while the evening meal was being prepared. Someone had shot an animal that looked like a deer and it was soon roasting on a huge spit. The Clan did not seem to be concerned about the fires attracting attention and were relaxed and comfortable. Fallen came out to greet them soon after they arrived. She spoke briefly with Kane and then went back inside her ship. Logan wandered out, checking out the people as they settled down. They were dressed mostly in furs and leather, reminding him of Native Americans. The tents and sleeping rolls were made of the same. These people had been living off of the land for a long time and were well adapted to it. They carried only crude weapons such as bows and swords, no guns that he could see. They seemed happy enough, although the men were clearly dominant here. They deferred to the men and did all of the cooking and serving. They kept their eyes down and wouldn’t look at him directly although they appeared unafraid by his presence here. He saw Kane sitting by a fire eating roasted meat. He sat down next to him and accepted a good sized steak from a woman who served him. It smelled wonderful and he was grateful. He thanked her and noted her surprise at his courtesy. He ate his meal and turned to Kane, making conversation. "I see you had a good hunt. Maybe next time I'll join you." "You'd be most welcome. Are you a good hunter?" "You could say that," he answered cryptically. Logan had been known to take down big game with his claws alone when he wanted the challenge. Logan never used guns to hunt. He thought it was unfair, there was no sport in it if you didn't get up close. "Your friend is well, eh? I told you we'd take care of him." "Thanks. Those guys don't eat out?" Logan asked as he jerked a thumb towards the ship, trying to maneuver the conversation. "Fallen doesn't eat meat. The guys, well, they don't eat at all." Kane said, a strange smile on his face. Logan blinked. "Excuse me?" Kane laughed. "They're a program on Fallen's computer. They're not real." Logan was stunned, but tried to cover it up with a laugh. "Coulda' fooled me. Sure she ain't got them stashed somewhere on board?" Logan was feeling foolish. He should have known, it explained why there were no scents on board and the guys were never around. "Yes, I am certain. I've seen the whole of the ship. There's no control room, no men. They're just a program Fallen uses to help her with Lucky." "I've seen lots of strange things in my time, but I've never seen a program that real." Logan said not being entirely honest. The X-men had traveled far and wide, this was not Logan's first trip off world. As they traveled, they picked up bits and pieces of technology from people they've helped. One such group, called the Shi'ar, had given them some wonderful and sophisticated holograms. The X-men used these holograms for training, but never interacted with them as if they were real people, not like Fallen did. "Where did Fallen get the program?" "She claims she found the program by accident and she hasn't worked it all out yet. It was damaged and she’s been putting it back together again. She's only had them about three years, but they've made a big difference in our raids, Seth mostly. He can talk to the Dognan computers---that's how we found out about you---and he's made Lucky a much faster, more efficient vehicle. I'm not sure exactly what Kimble does besides run his mouth off. She claims he helps her to fly but I don't see how. I know the two guys make some in the Clan nervous because they are so life like, but they don't bother me. Lucky's the fastest ship we have, the most maneuverable. Fallen flies like the angel she is. Who am I to question how she does it? Fallen downplays its significance, but the Clan doesn't give the Honor Sword to just anyone. She worked hard for it, made many sacrifices to get where she is now. She wants to put a pretty face on Lucky, so be it." "She found this program? Did she say where?" Kane grunted. "No. She keeps her secrets." "Secrets and marriage don't mix." "What do I care of her little secrets? When Lucky is mine I'll have the fastest ship with the best pilot. That's all I care about. " "What do you mean, ‘when Lucky is yours’?" "When Fallen marries me, all that is hers will become mine," Kane laughed. "Really, why else would any one want such a scrawny ugly woman for their wife?" "Yeah, right," Logan agreed, feeling sick. Fallen was a bi!ch, but he had a problem with anyone using someone else like that. He rose to go. "Well, I'm beat. Gonna go get some rest." "Sleep well, my friend," Kane said. He offered his hand and Logan shook it. Logan walked back up the ramp of the Lucky Dragon and into the main room. He saw a large opening in the floor that hadn't been there before. It was some sort of trap door with a stairway going down to a lower level. He quietly crept down the stairs, all senses alert. The stairs led down to a hallway with a large room at the end. As he walked down to the room on the end, he saw three doors that led to other rooms off the hallway. The first led to a small lavatory with just a shower and a toilet. The second said Storage on the door. It had a security panel that needed a palm print scan to enter. The last door was labeled Engine Room. It, too, required a palm scan. Logan made his way down the hall. This lower level was not as nicely finished as the top, it was more like a basement with hastily painted walls. He heard voices as he advanced, Fallen, Seth and Maylee were in the room on the end. "It feels funny.....like I've got a bag over my head," Seth was complaining. "Just relax and breathe... Slowly, you're going too fast," Fallen replied. Intrigued, Logan went up to the opening of the main room. He didn't enter, but hovered in the doorway, checking out what was gong on. This room was a workshop. One wall was covered with strange tools all neatly hung and arranged. A long work bench ran most of the length of the wall, leaving space for the head of a small bed in the far corner. Opposite the bed on the wall was a medium sized viewing screen. The workbench held three large computers with monitors. All were on, their screens glowing brightly with information written in symbols Logan couldn’t read. Fallen sat in a chair in front of one, her back to Logan. She was busy tapping away at a keyboard and didn't realize he was there. Maylee sat on the small bed. She didn't notice Logan either because she was too busy watching Seth. Seth stood in the middle of the room with his back to the door, appearing for all the world like a real man. He was making small movements, doing some sort slow moving dance or stretching exercises. Logan could smell everyone in the room except for Seth and he smiled when he realized what was going on. Kane was telling the truth, Seth was a hologram. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Sept 29, 2006 9:19:48 GMT -5
For the first time, Logan could see Seth's whole body. He had Fallen's bird like physique of a pilot, but he was in better physical condition so his proportions were normal. He was dressed only in a small, white brief that left almost all of his skin exposed. He would have been easily half again Fallen's body mass had he been real and he looked to be a head taller than her as well. His body was smooth white skin that graduated to soft fur at the waist which continued down his legs. He didn’t look quite right as he moved and Logan noticed that it was more like the hologram lacked detail. The image of Seth it reproduced was not as good as he appeared from the control room. It also wasn't as good as the ones back home. Seth's wings were larger than Fallen's with heavier bones and the tips of the wing fingers were clawed. His legs were bent like a cat and he had the strange pawed feet with two toes. He looked like he was having trouble balancing himself as he moved because he was wobbling on his ankles and swaying slightly. He turned his toes in, hoping for better balance, and slid the toe claws slid out, grabbing into the floor to steady himself. His arms came out at awkward angles as he wobbled all the harder. It was enough for Logan to see that Seth’s arms were human with normal hands, not furred and clawed like Fallen’s were. He was a mixture of pilot and human, just like Kimble had appeared to be. And like Kimble, Seth's hair was very long, but white, and his pony tail reached to his waist. What was most striking about him was the long Honor Sword Mark that ran the length of his torso. He was larger than Fallen so the mark was bigger. The emerald woman was bright against the black blade, and commanded attention. The blade was rippling as Seth breathed. He was now gasping for air too quickly, hyperventilating. "Slow down, Seth. Easy. Small breaths," Fallen said. Seth stopped moving and stood still with his sides heaving. "I can't get enough air!" "No, you're getting too much. Slow down." Fallen rose and went over to him. Logan could now see her computer screen. It showed a diagram of Seth that copied his movements as he made them. Fallen made Seth crouch and put his head down. She rubbed his back gently with her hands, revealing that Seth's hologram body had to be of some sort of solid construction. "Slow down. Easy now," she said and kissed him. Seth seemed to relax almost immediately with her so close. "Ahrgg! The lights are too bright or something. I don't feel right." "It's just that you're not used to it. You're trying to do too much." "This wasn't such a good idea." "Chicken," Fallen teased. "Where's your sense of adventure?" "Kimble took it," he joked, then grew serious. "I want to go back." "Not yet, don't be such a baby." She stroked the hair of his head, petting him like a dog. "I need you out so I can work on the codes. Just a few more minutes. Remember what were doing this for." She kissed him again, this time slowly and passionately on the mouth. "Okay," Seth said dreamily, enthralled by her touch and obviously wanting to please her. It was clear he was uncomfortable in this new environment, but was willing to do as she asked. She stood and went back to the computer. Seth stayed crouched down with his hands and feet on the floor. His long white pony tail slid over one shoulder and reached the floor as he caught his breath. Maylee got up and sat next to him, wanting to comfort him. Seth looked at her and smiled, happy she was there. "You going to be okay?" Maylee asked. "Yeah, just need to get used to it," he wheezed. He looked up suddenly when he noticed Logan in the doorway. He startled with a shriek and almost fell over. He slid a leg out to balance himself and tried to position himself defensively as if waiting for an attack. His toe claw was large and wicked as it tacked onto the floor. He whined like a dog as he cowered in fear. Fallen turned and saw Wolverine. "Easy, Seth. I won't let him hurt you," she promised calmly, rising quickly. She moved in between Logan and Seth, shielding him. She faced Wolverine, her chin up and hands fisted. "Can I help you with something?" "Not really. I was just wondering what you were up to." Logan entered the room, walking carefully around Fallen to get a better look at the hologram. "New toy?" he teased arrogantly. Seth still crouched as he was but balled one hand into a fist. There was no trust there. Maylee stood up, blocking Seth from Wolverine. "What do you want?" she asked a little more bravely than she felt. "Just a look at yer boy. Seems to be havin' a little trouble." "He's just learning his way around," Fallen said. "He's only been out a couple of weeks. If you're going to give us trouble you can just leave." Logan put his hands up and moved back. "Not me, ma'am." He found a chair at the work bench and sat down. Seth relaxed a little now that Logan was further away, but he was still rattled. He kept his eyes down, feeling vulnerable. He started to shake even worse. Fallen noticed and sat beside him. "Relax. Forget him." "I want to go back," he whined softly and a tear leaked out of one eye. "Not yet. Here." She reached out behind her, and using her telekinesis, floated a whiskey bottle over and a glass. She poured a small portion of the dark whiskey into the glass and held it to his lips. He sipped from it and shivered from the taste, but seemed steadier. "Better?" Fallen asked, wiping his face gently, and he nodded. "You're thinking too much. Just relax and drink." She stood up, leaving him the bottle and the glass, and went back to her computer. Logan was intrigued. Since when could holograms drink or cry? The ones back home certainly never did, why would they? They weren’t real in any physical sense. Maylee sat next to Seth again. She took out a pack of cards and shuffled them. Seth watched her with rapt attention, entranced. Her actions distracted him from Logan’s presence and he calmed quickly, focusing on what she was doing. She laid the cards out, playing a kind of solitaire. Seth pawed at the cards, he wanted to look at them. Maylee giggled and gently moved his hands away, like you would a small child. Seth laughed and made a game of it. His co-ordination wasn't that good, it was too easy for her to block him. "Teach me to play," Seth asked and listened as Maylee began to explain. Logan ignored them and leaned over to watch what Fallen was doing. Fallen noticed his curiosity and explained, "I'm working on Seth's program codes. It's a large program, he's only using half of it even now. The more codes I unlock, the more real he gets." "Why do ya want to make him real? Got plenty of Clan men around." "I like Seth better," she replied. Seth looked up at her as she spoke, but said nothing. Maylee touched him to get his attention back. Seth went back to the game, but he now had a small wistful smile on his lips. "I have no need for Clan men who are only interested in what I can do or what I possess," Fallen continued bitterly. She obviously knew about Kane's intentions. "Seth is my friend. He provides me with companionship. He accepts me for who I am, no matter what. Most importantly, he listens to me. I don't know if you're the kind of man who is capable of understanding how much just that one thing means to me." "I do understand that, darlin'. But I also believe in dealin' with reality. These things you use to escape are only good fer so long." Before Fallen could respond, Logan looked up to the doorway, his friends had arrived. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 5, 2006 22:40:40 GMT -5
"Well, this is where everyone went." Fallen turned to see Beast and Gambit now standing in the doorway. Gambit looked pale and drawn, but his eyes were bright. His clothes had been cleaned and he came down in his stretch pants and black undershirt. His head wound didn’t look bad at all now, the cut looked clean and there was very little swelling in spite of the five stitches Maylee had put in. Henry had spoken. " I thought maybe you were avoiding us." Fallen laughed and waved her hand at him in invitation. "No, just working on a few things." Henry took a moment to formally introduce Remy to everyone, the boy had been too ill to really greet anyone before. Remy took in these new faces with his usual grace, nodding to them all and smiling. He took in Fallen’s pilot presence and matched it up with the one they had seen before. Seth he never questioned, figuring he was more of the same. Maylee he saw was Dognan, that wasn’t hard to miss, but he held her no ill will, already knowing she had been the one to help him before. Logan watched his teammates go through their paces with a kind of amused passivity. He knew Henry and Gambit didn't know Seth wasn't real. He said nothing, waiting to see how long it would take them to realize it. Beast entered the room and went to the other side of Fallen so he could look at her tools. He never wasted an opportunity to learn something new, especially if it involved new technology or machinery. He had figured out pretty quickly that he could learn a lot from this strange young woman they now found themselves with. Gambit walked on wobbly legs to where Seth and Maylee were playing and sat down with a sigh of relief. He was still very weak although he felt a hundred times better than he did just a short time ago. He smiled and checked out Maylee’s game, offering his hand. "Bonjour, fille. You play poker?" Maylee shook it happily. "What's poker?" "It's a game of chance. Dere's more than one way t' play." "Teach us," Seth requested, his eyes bright and eager. Gambit looked at him a little more closely and smiled. He realized now there was something odd about Seth, but he couldn't figure it out right away. There was something strange and disjointed about his eyes, his way of moving. Remy was patient, he took his time and began to explain the different games. He did this in such a way that Seth was forced to ask questions and then watched the young pilot carefully as he spoke. Like Wolverine, Gambit was very curious and observant of other people. It was a necessary part of being a charmer and a con man and was a habit he had never left behind. Gambit took Maylee's cards and looked them over before starting a game. The symbols were different but could still be used to play the games he knew. He shuffled them skillfully and dealt each of them a hand. He noticed that Seth watched the quick movements of his hands with rapt fascination as if he’d never seen anyone play cards before. Remy was fast and very skilled and he tossed the cards about with flair, showing off and having a blast. He was a sucker for an audience and was rewarded by a beaming smile from Seth, the boy was enthralled. Seth tried to pick up his cards after Remy dealt him his hand, but his fine motor skills were feeble. He had trouble getting his fingers to do what he wanted. He clumsily arranged his cards, almost dropping them. Remy waited patiently as Seth struggled and then succeeded. Seth looked at his hand of cards then leaned over to check out what Maylee had. "Hey, no cheating!" she said, laughing. Seth just smiled. It was obvious he had no clue what he was doing, but was having a grand time just the same. It was a moment later when he startled suddenly and gasped as his cards fell through his hands as if his fingers were made of air. His body flickered and he cried out in panic. "Sorry," Fallen apologized from her computer. Henry turned to look at Seth, startled by the young pilot’s response. "De’tendent, fils. Relax, little buddy. Yo’ hand wasn't dat good anyway." Gambit laughed and picked up Seth's cards, not the least bit fazed. He had already guessed Seth was less than real. "He's a hologram?" Henry gasped, surprised. The Seth personality from upstairs had been so convincing, he hadn't questioned Seth's physical presence here. "Not a very good one, I'm afraid," Fallen said. "He has difficulties." Seth slid back away, blinking. He was shaking again and started to hyperventilate with a high whistling whine. Tears flowed fresh from his eyes and he clutched at his throat with his hands as he wheezed like a frantic freight train. Fallen punched buttons quickly on her keyboard. It didn't do any good. Seth was losing it again. She got up and went to him. "Relax." "I don't want to relax!" Seth's voice trembled. He was terrified. "I want to go back!" "You're never going to get used to the sensory data if you keeping bailing out all the time." "Well, this is interesting," Henry said. "How can a program be frightened? Is it sentient?" "Something like that," Fallen replied evasively. She covered Seth's ears with her hands and made him put his head down. "Close your eyes. Think quiet thoughts." Seth obeyed her command. He closed his eyes and put his head down to the floor. He placed his slender white hands over hers so she wouldn't leave him, wanting her comforting presence close. He opened his wings slightly and lay them down, covering himself. He calmed, but it was only because she was there. " Tay kunda, Seth. Tay kunda Siska esk. Wasayachay felar delay a resk," Fallen said softly, rubbing his hands with her thumbs with genuine love and affection. She kept repeating it patiently until he was very still. She pulled away, but he didn't move. He'd fallen asleep or was in some kind of hypnotic state. His eyes were closed and his hands covered his ears. She'd made him shut out most of what was frightening him. Kimble popped up quickly on the screen across from the bed. "What’s goin’ on?" he demanded, his concern for his brother obvious. Fallen looked up at him. "He’s all right. Just freaking out a little as always. You can finish the diagnostics like I asked, Kim," she said firmly, dismissing him. "Maybe he ain’t gonner be doin’ so well with an audience around," Kimble argued, not quite so willing to leave. His eyes were on Seth, watching as his brother lay still and quiet. "I said he’s fine, Kim. Do as you’ve been told." Kimble hesitated, then scowled and clicked off. "Neat trick," Gambit commented, looking at Seth. "What did you do to ‘im?" "He gets overwhelmed. I've tried filtering the sensory data from the computer, but it doesn't work. He's part of the system and separate from it at the same time. He finds the sound of that particular phrase comforting so I use that. I can't explain why. Kimble does much better, but he's a lot more outgoing and not intimidated." "Kimble comes out, too?" Logan asked, a bit uneasy at the idea. Kimble interested him more because he appeared to be stronger, more potentially dangerous. "Yes. This program is supposed to be a full time hologram, not just a simple personality. I’ve been restoring the hologram codes, with some difficulty as you can see." "Why do you have two of them?" Henry asked. "The original program was damaged when I found it, fragmented. Kimble is what was left of the personality the program originally came with. I created Seth to bridge the gaps. That’s why he's younger and more timid. He's very intelligent, though. He interfaces better with other computers than Kimble does. He also has infinitely more patience. The program is fascinating, the way the two of them work together." "So you didn't create this program?" Henry questioned. "No, only part of it. I gave it certain characteristics like their appearance and the way they talk to a point. I haven't yet discovered just where Kimble got that horrible drawl, though. That's all him," she added with a laugh. "How do you know they aren't dangerous?" Logan asked. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 9, 2006 9:10:20 GMT -5
Fallen smiled at him indulgently. "The main function of this program was entertainment. It has safeguards. It goes against their programing to hurt anyone." "You haven't unlocked all the codes, you said. How do you know the safeties are even working?" "Because I put in some of my own. One of them is the power supply. See those two black cubes there? Those power the hologram. When one of them is 'out', he has to stay within eight feet of those cubes. Those cubes act as restraints. He basically can't leave this room." "What powers the cubes?" "My Ristle energy." Fallen snapped her fingers, making a blue spark. "The cubes are powered directly from me or from batteries in the Engine Room. I charge the batteries and everything that uses power on this ship uses Ristle energy from those batteries. So do Seth and Kimble." "So they're like slaves, then. Totally under your control," Logan said. "Be very careful, Wolverine," Fallen said sternly. "They are not slaves. I was a slave myself once. It was horrible. I wouldn't do that to them or anyone else. This is a program designed to please. They both want to be out so they can play and explore. I don't force them to do anything they don't want to." "Right. Sure. He didn't seem too happy about bein’ ‘out’ just now." He jabbed a finger at Seth who was still balled up on the floor. "Not that I have to defend myself to you, but Seth and I had a long conversation about this before this was done. We have an agreement. He saw that Kimble liked it and wanted to try." "An 'agreement'? You made an agreement with a program? You talk about him like he is already real," Beast interjected. "I don't understand. Either he's sentient or he's not. If he is sentient, what right do you have to control him this way?" "He's not sentient the way you mean. He's just a very realistic personality. Even if I was able to acclimate him permanently to this environment using the hologram, he'll never be alive the way you mean. He asked me to do this because he wanted to know what it was like out here. It's the closest he'll ever come to being what we are. He's very curious. Both of them are. I saw no reason not to indulge him. As a precaution, some safety measures are required." "Sounds ta me like you are dancing on a real fine line," Wolverine commented. "I can see how this 'program' of yours could get out of control so easy. You got it tied into yer ship, now yer tryin' to bring it out in this world. You ain't convincin' me that this thing is safe. What if one of them goes nuts? What then?" "It won't happen. I can control it. It's just a program like any other." Logan shook his head. "I hope yer right. For your sake." (Eight) Logan woke the next morning refreshed but was in no hurry to get up. He lay on his bed, contented and relaxed. He was used to waking up in strange places and could sleep anywhere, especially in a bed as comfortable as this. The mattress was thick, the blankets warm and cozy. He scratched his belly as he lay, letting his mind wander. He wondered how long they would be trapped here and if they would ever get home. Wolverine was adaptable and had no baggage from one place to the next, but he knew the others were not. It wouldn't be long before Henry missed his lab and Gambit his girl. The others back home must be worried about them. He wished there was some way to contact them, but without an inter-dimensional phone, that wasn’t likely to happen. Logan was alone in the barracks room at the moment, the X-men’s temporary quarters, the others had already risen and started their day. He could smell food from the galley being cooked and decided to get up and eat. He washed up quickly in the lav and wandered out to the galley. The room was busy, Gambit and Kane were eating at the table while Maylee was cleaning up and doing chores. What caught Wolverine’s attention next was that Henry and Seth were playing chess. Henry’s board was another small hologram active on the galley table. Seth had a matching board on his desk in the control room. As a move was played, the pieces moved on each board. Henry fingered one of his pieces and made his next move. Seth grumbled a little, unsure of how to make his next move. Unlike yesterday, he was fully dressed, back in his white sweat shirt and jeans. He made his play, his brow crinkling. "Are you certain you wish to make that move?" Henry questioned, his eyes up to the viewing screen. Seth fidgeted. "Yes?" he answered a little uncertainly. Beast snickered softly, amused by the indecision in the young pilot’s voice. "Perhaps you should move the pawn to your right instead." "Um. Right. Thanks." Seth moved his piece, taking Henry’s advice. He smiled shyly at the big blue doctor, obviously happy to be tutored. Logan was too hungry to just stand there and watch. He took the seat next to Beast and smiled as Maylee placed a bowl of food down in front of him. It was leftover stew from yesterday, but after starving in the pen for three days he could’ve cared less. "Thanks, kid. Where's Fallen?" he asked pulling a hunk of bread from a fresh loaf on the table. "She's down in the shop with Kimble, taking down some parts for Maylee's lessons," Seth explained from the screen. He glanced at Henry as he made his next move, waiting for a nod of approval from his opponent before continuing. "Fallen’s teaching her how to repair the ship." Henry looked at the girl. "You're training to be both a medic and a mechanic?" Seth answered for her, "Not much difference between the two if you think about it. Besides, kids like her need to be as useful as possible if they want to do well in the Clan. Maylee has good hands. She has a real talent. She works very hard," Seth finished proudly. Maylee smiled at him, thankful for the praise. Her eyes glowing with happiness showed just how much she cared for Seth, that she was happy he had spoken up for her. At that moment, Kimble walked into the cockpit room from a door in the back. His hands were sooty and black from grease and he was casually wiping his hands on a rag as if he had physically taken machinery apart. The realism of the image he cast impressed Henry, reminding him of himself every time he’d pulled one of the X-men’s Blackbird planes apart. He could almost smell the grease from Kimble’s hands. Kimble had a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth and he took a big drag and blew smoke. "Fallen's ready fer ya, kid," he said to Maylee with authority. Maylee nodded and started finishing up her chores. The happy look she’d had for Seth was gone, lost under a passive submission to Kimble’s tone of command. She clearly did not have the same affection for Seth’s twin. Kimble paid no mind to her change in attitude. As he waited for the girl to finish her chores, Kimble noticed Seth and Henry were playing a game together and looked over Seth's shoulder. He grunted with a laugh and reached down, rudely making Seth's next move on the chessboard. He glanced up at Henry, that teasing half smile back in place. "Checkmate." "Hey!" Seth complained loudly. "I was going to do that!" "Uh huh. Right." Kimble looked down at his brother, smiling with amusement at his reaction. "I was! I--I'd at least considered it!" Kimble's grin grew larger, his eyes twinkling. "Shure you wuz. Uh huh, right," he chided merrily as Seth continued to sputter excuses. Kimble took another drag on his cigarette and blew smoke at his twin. "Shure. Ya coulda had 'im four moves back, too, but I guess you wuz just drawin' out th' suspense, right?" He patted Seth on the head like a dog. "Maybe you should jus' go back ta playin' checkers with the kid, huh?" he finished, jabbing a finger at Maylee. Seth waved smoke out of his face. "I can do this! I just --" "Hafta learn ta looks at the whole board, kid," Kimble finished for him, his voice losing some of its teasing and becoming more instructive. "It’s a lotta squares, gots ta keeps a good attention. Yer smart enough, I guess, butcha lose track of where yer goin'." "Maybe you should just let him lose on his own," Henry suggested. "He might learn more that way." Kimble looked at Beast, his eyes still merry. "Well, if losin' is a learnin' experience, then he oughts ta be a genius by now fer all the *** kickin' I been givin' him," he drawled arrogantly. He looked next at Maylee, a flash of impatience in his eyes. "Downstairs. Now. Fallen's been waitin'." he said sternly. "Yes, sir," she said submissively and left. Seth looked at the chessboard, forlorn. Kimble yanked affectionately on his long white ponytail and gentled his voice even further. "Don' take it personal, kid. I been playin' a lot longer than you." He looked at Henry, teasing once more. "I'm shure Henry there'll letcha win if ya piss an moan enough." Seth looked up at him. "You're an a**hole." Kimble beamed. "Yes, I am," he said proudly, kissing the top of Seth’s head with a loud smack. "Butcha loves me anaways," he finished and laughed as he walked out. "He's a real charmer," Wolverine commented sarcastically, not the least bit amused. Kane laughed. "He's more bark than bite and little more than a child. He's not as tough as he'd like us all to think he is. I've seen Fallen make him break down and bawl more than once from arguing. He's got no patience, no control. It’s sickening. He wouldn't last two minutes out here." "He's tough to me," Seth complained. "And you're all the better for it," Kane commented fatherly. "You're even weaker than he is." Wolverine shook his head. It was hard to believe these images were two halves of some bizarre computer program and not really alive. They behaved and interacted like real people, not made up characters. Kane and Maylee reacted to them as if the brothers were real people. "Well, I'm sick of his crap," Seth continued, trying to hide how Kane's words had stung him. "Fallen lets him get away with everything." He was about to continue when an alarm flashed on his console. He clicked it off and put on a set of headphones to listen. Kimble poked his head back into the control room. "What is it?" Seth held up a finger and Kimble waited patiently, cleaning his hands on the rag again. Seth shook his head slowly and closed his eyes. He slowly took the headset off and looked up at Kimble with sorrowful eyes. "Valentin's in the third. He's too close. He’s going to come here, I know it. We have to move," he said in a trembling voice. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 13, 2006 8:22:40 GMT -5
Kimble grinned at him sadly, all teasing gone. "Been two months gone now. She ain't gonna go," he said softly, coming into the room. Seth began to argue with him angrily in the other language Fallen had used. Kimble nodded without comment and put a hand on Seth's shoulder, listening to him vent. Seth began to cry and Kimble brushed his cheeks tenderly as he would a child. It was odd to see Kimble change from arrogant a***ole to caring brother, but it was there and not artificial. He appeared to care very much about what Seth was feeling. " Shamay war natay a roo. There ain’t no helpin’ it, buddy," he said to his brother gently then looked up at Kane. "You best gits yer women an’ children an’ git out early. Takes May with yous." Kane met his eyes and said boldly, "No. I will stay and face him if he comes." "He'll chew you up an' spit you out," Kimble snarled in disgust, flashing his teeth. Seth shivered at his brother’s angry words and put his head down. Kimble stepped closer so Seth could lean against him and put an arm around his brother’s shoulders protectively. He didn’t look down at Seth, but continued to glare at Kane. "You should go." "No. I'm staying. Someone's got to stand up to that brute." Kimble snorted. "Oh? An' yer it? I'll be shure ta send our condolences to yer first wife." Kane stood abruptly and pointed up at the screen. "That's enough out of you, Kimble!" Seth tugged on Kimble's shirt, getting his attention. "You have to tell her to go, Kimble. Make her listen," he pleaded. Kimble brushed Seth's hair back and looked deeply into his eyes. "She don' listen ta me as well as you, you knows that. We’ll just end up fightin’." "Please..." "All right. I'll try, but I ain't promisin' nuthin'." He looked into Seth's face and saw his distress. He smiled indulgently. " Seth tay kunda Siska esk, huh?" Kimble said gently and rubbed his brother’s head. He gave Kane a long, hard look and walked out. Seth sat still with his head down and wouldn't look at the others. Wolverine turned to Kane. "What's goin' on? I thought you guys were all on the same side." "We are on the same side, it's not about that. It's about Fallen and Valentin," Kane explained. Seth shivered at the mention of Valentin's name. He looked out the door where Kimble had gone, turning his back on the conversation in the galley, not wanting to hear it. "What do ya mean?" Logan said, not understanding. He was disgusted by Seth's show of weakness, by the soap opera that had been played out on the screen. What could have him so rattled? Kane tried to explain, "Fallen and Valentin have this kind of love hate relationship. I don't know how else to describe it. She'll avoid him for months then she'll make sure he finds her. When he does, he comes and beats the living crap out of her." Seth covered his ears and looked down again. He didn't want to hear what Kane was saying and yet didn’t want to click off, either. Kane looked away from him, just as irritated as Logan by his childish behavior. "It's something she's always done. I can't explain it because I don't understand it myself." "He hits her?" Henry asked, alarmed. "Then we should leave at once!" Kane shook his head. "No. This will be the last time. I have asked Cerebus for her. I will stand up to Valentin and protect my claim. I will put a stop to this." Angry voices began to drift up from the floor. Kimble and Fallen were going at it pretty good, a fight just as Kimble had predicted. The conversation had started out merely being loud, with Kimble trying to go about this with some humor, but it soon turned sour and brutal when it was clear Fallen wasn’t going to be persuaded easily. Gambit watched as his teammates grew uneasy over the argument and how it was spiraling down into ugliness. Logan especially was beginning to clench his fists and growl softly, wanting to do something without knowing what. He himself was not so quick to judge. He had been involved in many verbal battles with his high spirited girlfriend, Rogue. Like anyone who squabbled often, he saw fights in layers, that there were levels of severity, and he hadn’t thought that Kimble had crossed that final line just yet. Kimble’s fury was not directed at his captain, the worst of his savagery was aimed at Valentin, this mysterious General who had everyone on edge. Kimble was scared and frustrated, but he was not attacking Fallen herself, something that kept Remy in his seat waiting patiently. Once Gambit had learned that the two brothers were in fact artificial personalities, he had spent some time observing the two pilots. He was quite taken with the Kimble personality in particular, intrigued by how real he had seemed. Kimble’s playful, teasing manner, so much like his own, appealed to him as well as Kimble’s response to his brother’s emotional breakdown. Kimble could tease, annoy, and soothe with equal ease, changing glibly from one to the other as any normal human would. It made him seem three dimensional and real. Even now Remy could hear that Kimble wasn’t just trying to push Fallen around, his argument had merit, he was simply put out that his views were being disregarded. Kimble snarled something again, making Remy laugh in surprise when Kimble let fly with a torrent of mangled profanity, using new and inventive phrasing the thief had never heard before. This was like Rogue, oh yes. Even Kimble’s drawl reminded him of her. Maybe that’s what the attraction was, Remy mused. Kimble reminded him of home, even now with the argument growing more strained. It made him recall those fiery battles, maybe because when all was said and done, they had each scored points and in some ways learned new things about each other. Rogue did not make things easy and he was thinking that Kimble shared that trait. Remy couldn’t help but wonder what the guy was like when he came out in the hologram. He hoped he might have a chance to find out. Logan wasn’t so eager to see an irate Kimble go any further than he already was. He didn’t differentiate between ‘levels’ of verbal battling. All he heard was Kimble’s mouth going way too far. He took a step towards the galley door, intending to go downstairs and interrupt, but a grunt from Kane halted him. "Let them be, son. They’ll work it out." "That Kim’s got a mouth. If he respects Fallen so much, why does he talk ta her like that?" Kane chuckled wryly. "Because a mouth is all he has." Seth wasn’t the least bit entertained by the goings on. He covered his ears tightly at the sound of the raised voices and drew his legs up into his chair, curling up defensively. A door slammed below and it was suddenly quiet. Seth slowly lowered his hands and looked at the rear cockpit door waiting for Kimble. It wasn't a long wait. Kimble leaned in the door, his face red and his eyes blazing. Seth asked him a question and Kimble rubbed the heel of one hand into his right eye in irritation. He shook his head in a negative gesture and replied. " Nisk. Fallen natar ratan eresk tadaesk ratay." Seth broke down into gasping sobs and Kimble went to him. He snapped a switch on Seth's console without commenting to the others and the screen winked out. "What's his problem?" Logan growled. "Why is Seth actin’ like that?" "Seth can't handle any kind of violence. The last time Valentin was here it was pretty bad. He just freaks out now whenever Valentin gets too close. I don't know why Fallen doesn't fix that. Who wants to hear and see a man cry like a child? Certainly not I. At least Kimble stands up to Valentin. Whatever. I've got better things to worry about than Fallen's stupid program. I've got to get my people ready." He nodded at them and walked out. "Gambit seen some pretty strange t’ings, mes amis," Gambit spoke for the first time, running a hand through his bangs and scratching his scalp thoughtfully. "But ‘e ain't never seen anyt'ing dat was 'just a program' act like dat. Dem boy’s be actin’ like real, no foolin’ around. I'm t’inkin' mebbe Fallen got more dere dan she sayin’." "It’s just a program, Cajun. Ain’t no different than what we got back home," Logan grunted, clearly not sharing the same view. Remy smirked at him. "Not even when ol’ Beastie ‘ere put dat Britney Spears patch in de system did anyt’ing we got come dat close to real." Logan shook his head. "Don’t matter. What was up there ain’t no different than watchin’ TV. It isn’t real. Those guys ain’t real. Fallen’s just got a wee bit too much time on her hands, she has to have some kind of show goin’ on, I guess." Remy clearly didn’t agree. "Mebbe so, but dis Valentin? I 'ope 'e one bad mutherf***** to deserve all dis fuss." "I have to agree with you, Remy," Henry said. "I think Fallen's bitten off more than she can chew. These brothers are more real than she cares to admit --- at least to us. If Seth is that badly frightened, we should keep on our toes. I suspect our new friends are going to need all the help they can get." Logan wasn’t about to sit around and be amused by Fallen’s computer. If there was trouble brewing, he wanted to be ready for it. Being very security conscious, said he was going to check the ship’s perimeter and see what kind of defenses the area had to offer. Henry followed him out and Gambit decided to try talking with Fallen about what was going on. Maybe he could worm some details out of her. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 15, 2006 8:44:34 GMT -5
Remy saw the trap door was open and went down the stairs to the lower level. He found Maylee and Fallen working in the shop. She was instructing Maylee on how to take one of the filters apart. Fallen appeared calm in spite of the fact she and Kimble had argued aggressively only minutes before and looked up at him with a smile as he entered but continued the lesson. It only confirmed his guess that he had just witnessed something of a day in, day out scenario here. Kimble and Fallen must bicker often. Remy eased himself against the wall nearby to watch and wait for the lesson to finish. They were interrupted before that, however. Gambit turned his head when Kimble popped up on one of nearby viewing screens. "Fallen," Kimble barked. His voice was tense and angry. Fallen ignored him. " Mistress," he repeated with emphasis, the first time Remy had heard the word spoken. It said something, implying ownership and Fallen’s higher status. Where it might have sounded ridiculous or demeaning in any other situation, here the title made perfect sense, even to Remy’s highly developed sense of fairness. "Not now," she said calmly without looking up at him. Kimble grinned an irritated, nasty smile and raised an eyebrow in impatience. "Fallen, darlin’?" he insisted, his voice sickly sweet. She glared up at him then. "I. Said. Not. Now." Her voice was stern. "Ya gots a coolant leak on two. Fix it. Don' fix it. I could give a crap less," he snapped. He switched off, but not before he clearly snarled, "F**kin' b***h!" "Argghhh!!!" Fallen shouted, clenching her fists. Blue flames of energy rippled around her wrists as she struggled for control. "He's impossible!" She snatched a wrench and hammer from the bench and stomped off to the Engine Room. When she was gone, Maylee started to softly laugh. Remy looked at her and cocked his head in curiosity. "What’s so funny dere, petite?" "This is how Kimble gets his way. He's going to torment her until we leave." "So tell me dere, kiddo..." Remy inquired, trying to sound casual, "...what you t’ink of dat rascal Kimble, eh? Seem like mebbe ‘e make you a little nervous." "He’s all right, I guess. He’s been different since Momma started using the hologram." Remy nodded to himself, keeping track of who belonged to whom. Maylee had used Momma the same way Kimble had used the word Mistress. She must be Fallen’s daughter. "Diff’rent ‘ow?" "I don’t know. Bossier....not so nice to me. He used to be more playful, more fun to be around, but now it’s like he thinks he’s the only one who can take care of Momma right. When she gets...hurt...he comes out in the ‘gram and he’s all over her. He won’t let me get close, like she belongs only to him. It’s annoying. I mean, I was here first." "He older dan you. P’etetre, ‘e sees it as ‘is responsibility." Maylee snorted derisively. "He’s not older than me! He just looks that way because Fallen chose that skin. He’s not a man, not a real one anyways. Real men don’t cry." " ‘E cries?" "All the time. When Fallen gets hurt he cries. When they fight, he cries. He cries more than I do. It’s pathetic. I’ve never seen Kane or Valentin cry. I’ll just bet Kimble’s younger than I am," Maylee complained with obvious disdain. "He’s like a little kid." Remy could see she carried some resentment towards Kimble. He noted how she said nothing about Seth’s own child like behavior. If anything, Seth appeared to him to be more immature and childish than Kimble was. The fact was that Remy had seen Seth fall apart and cry, not Kimble, but Maylee didn’t seem to acknowledge that. Remy wasn’t naive, he had an idea that her problem with Kimble was more like some kind of sibling rivalry. If Kimble was coming out frequently and was active in Fallen’s care, Maylee probably felt displaced or shoved aside. "Sound like you an’ Kim don’ get along so good." "I don’t trust him," she replied evasively, keeping her eyes down. "Why?" "I don’t like the way he looks at Momma sometimes. I wish she would bring Seth out for good and leave Kim behind. Seth is nicer than him. He doesn’t yell or fight and he’s really gentle. He always talks nicely to me." "Sound like you like ‘im best." Maylee smiled at him shyly. "Yeah. He’s good for Momma. She’s been a lot happier since he’s been around. She stays away from Valentin more." "Do you know why she let Valentin treat ‘er so bad?" "No. It’s just always been that way for as long as I can remember." Their conversation was interrupted when another loud verbal argument broke out from the next room. Kimble was still trying to press his case and was getting nowhere. It was clearly pissing him off, his profanity alone could peel the paint from the walls. Kimble had quite the vocabulary, even if he did mangle it as much as possible. After a few moments, Fallen stormed from the room and returned to the bench. She slammed the tools down, furious. She was quite a sight, all riled up, and Gambit couldn't help but laugh a little. She saw his amusement and smiled suddenly, laughing herself to break the tension. "You’re stupid little games aren’t going to work, Kimble! You hear me? Not this time!" she shouted to the air. She suddenly shrieked in shock as the overhead sprinkler fire system turned itself on for no apparent reason, spraying her with ice cold water. Only her. It had activated precisely where she stood and not in the whole room, impossible for it to have done so by accident. "Kimble! You arrogant, little b*****d!" Fallen screamed, spraying water. "Oh, you are so frikkin' dead!" She snatched the wrench and stalked over to the black power cubes for the hologram. She raised the wrench in the air, threatening to demolish them. Destroying them would clearly end any further possibility of the twins using the hologram to leave the system and interact with others. Her threat was taken seriously. On cue, the sprinkler shut off and Kimble came up on the screen. "Wait a minnit there, baby doll," he drawled, his hands up in cheerful surrender. "You don' wanna be doin' nuthin’ rash!" He was trying really hard not to laugh. He saw Remy there and gave him a playful wink. "You going to quit this?" Fallen challenged, the wrench still raised high. Kimble wilted before her obvious wrath, losing that playful charm. He sat back with a defeated sigh, looking ten years older with some kind of suppressed pain. "Whatever ya say, kiddo. If gittin' smacked all ta hell means that much to ya, fine, girl," he said, a nasty hard glint coming into his eyes. "Jus’ don’tcha come cryin’ ta me all about it later." He clicked off with an angry, final flick of his wrist. Fallen wiped dripping water off of her chin and roughly tossed the wrench aside onto one of the benches. "Pr**k!" she snapped to the empty screen, losing her earlier playfulness. She walked back over to Maylee, but the girl had clearly lost interest in the lesson. Fallen noticed and quickly dismissed her. Maylee fled, no longer in a good mood. "Dat Kimble's kinda spunky for a computer game, neh?" Remy noted. "Yeah, well. He has to learn when to quit. Sometimes he goes too far," she replied, using some clean scrap rags to dry off. "‘E's got a point, chere. If it's not safe ‘ere for you, we should go." "Valentin is my problem. Not yours. Not Kimble's," Fallen said, squaring up to him, daring him to defy her. "We don't leave unless I say. That's final. Even if Valentin comes this way, you are in no danger, so the rest is none of your business. I suggest you go back up and get some rest. We’ll be leaving soon enough and you’re not quite well just yet," she said, dismissing him. Gambit shrugged and left, seeing he was going to get nowhere here. Maybe he could try again after she cooled off a little. He had no idea he wouldn’t be given the chance. End book one. To be continued in The Clan. To read more click here : www.fanfiction.net/s/2495701/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 16, 2006 12:14:20 GMT -5
The Clan, Book two of my Kimble series, Chapter one. "Sir, there’s been a problem with the mission."
Charles Xavier sat at his large mahogany desk, eyes closed, one hand rubbing at his temple, warding off what was soon to be a killer headache. Those words had been spoken to him days ago, but they kept replaying themselves over and over again like a bad recording in his mind. Charles Xavier was not a young man, he was in his late-fifties, bald but still quite fit for his age. He was a mutant himself, an omega telepath and possibly the most powerful mind reader on the planet. He was also bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Not one to let limitations of any kind set him back, Charles had used his wealth and his mutant power work for him in creating the Xavier Institute for Gifted Children – a fancy cover name for a school, but more importantly, for a refuge for mutant children. This amazing institution was located on a large estate in Westchester New York, a fine place for such a fine facility. That had been a few years ago now, and some of those gifted children had grown into outstanding men and women. With the help of those first students, Xavier next created his most beloved accomplishment, the X-men. The X-men were not like most other mutant groups or gangs. They fought not for profit, but for peace. They most often acted as policemen against mutant terrorists or did interventions where they would seek out troubled mutants – most of whom didn’t even know or even wanted to know they were mutants – but who had found themselves in trouble, harming themselves or others. The X-men would collect these wayward folks and add them to their own numbers, giving them survival skills, but more importantly, a superior education. These folks then had a choice, they could stay on and help others at the school, or if they had the dedication and the guts to stand up to the challenge, they could eventually win themselves a seat on the X-men team itself. Charles Xavier, or the Professor as he was sometimes called, had many such loyal and reliable people. The team grew steadily larger over the years, mostly by students from the Institute, but also by acquiring the occasional "walk on" like Remy. Logan they had recruited from a Canadian government agency, the first Charles had invited this way, and it was such a success, that others had followed later. Regardless of their reasons for joining, most had worked out well, sacrificing themselves for others on a daily basis. "They’ve simply vanished, Professor. Just like the others."
Charles Xavier wasn’t a stupid man. In every venture there are always risks, sacrifices. It didn’t happen often, but Charles had buried more than one good friend in the large private cemetery on the grounds. This had been very different. If there had been a plane crash, one could search the rubble and bury the remains. If there had been an abduction and a claim of responsibility, one could pursue the perpetrator until he was caught and the stolen ones returned, hopefully safe and sound. But this.... This was a vanishing without a trace. One of a series of vanishings that began a couple of months ago which hadn’t even come close to being solved. No one had claimed responsibility and the number of victims had come close to four thousand in total. The abductions had all occurred to large groups of people in the city of New York. All had happened in places where young people gathered, dance clubs and the like. This is why the Professor had placed his teams there, that is why they had gotten taken as well it seemed. What a colossal turn of rotten luck. "They’ve vanished without a trace and I don’t know what we’re going to do about it. Professor, we have no plan."
Those incredibly painful words had been spoken by the Professor’s right hand man, Scott Summers. Scott was a sturdy young man, one of Charles’ first students and possibly his finest. Scott’s mutation was pretty spectacular in nature, his body produced a sort of destructive energy that could be released through his eyes. Due to a childhood accident, there was no on/off switch, he simply shot out beams of red energy whenever his eyes were open. Because of this, he was forced to always wear protective eyewear that controlled this deadly energy to protect himself and those around him. Charles had perfected a special visor for him, one that allowed that energy to be released at will. Scott had mastered the use of this visor and earned for himself the codename Cyclops. This terrible mutation had brought out in him a strong personal will and self restraint. He did not make alarmist statements without fully assessing a situation and checking all of his options. It had been difficult for Charles to hear the sadness and hint of defeat in the man’s voice. These three missing team members were all valuable in their own way and were already sorely missed. The one missed most of all was Henry. Beast taught many classes in the sciences and was in contact with much of the student body. His classes were the most lively and very popular. Henry made learning fun and the kids learned well from him, some of them going on to work on scientific projects beneficial to the whole Institute. It hadn’t taken long for questions and whisperings about his unexplained disappearance to be heard among the students. The X-men missions were not discussed amongst the civilian students and none of them were in the know. Charles was unsure how long he could keep the kids from questioning this loss before he would have to tell them some devastating news. Wolverine was also missed by the senior team and staff if not the students. His classes were tough and the going sometimes hard. He taught mainly self defense classes and survival training and he expected results. He was fair if not exactly lenient. Logan was primarily missed by the staff because on a risky mission he was the guy you wanted watching your back. Because he could take a beating and walk away from it, Wolverine was the first to jump into harm’s way to protect another, the man was positively fearless. Now Remy LeBeau, prince of thieves... for him there was always a special place in the Professor’s heart. He considered Gambit to be one of his finest achievements. With every step he took, Gambit was a walking symbol of reform and recovery. He was the hardened criminal with the Devil’s eyes who now worked on the side of the angels. It was widely known that Gambit had a checkered past and some even knew about his one most notorious crime. This knowledge had kept Remy from making many friends in the mutant community, he was shunned and scorned by most, finding peace at last in this Westchester refuge. These three men were among the Professor’s finest and now, he had no clue where they were or how to find them. He could only hope that wherever they were, they were alive and well, safe and sound. To read more click here : www.fanfiction.net/s/2495701/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 18, 2006 11:20:40 GMT -5
(Two) Wolverine climbed up the slope to the top of the ravine. The view from up here was fantastic, he could see for miles in all directions. He could see the forest and the big lake they had flown over just yesterday out here to the Lucky Dragon. Even further out were the ruins of the City they had fled from. So far, there had been no sign of an advancing Clan army or incoming ships. Logan was surprised at how barren this area was considering how close the forest had been. In these brown rocky canyons, nothing grew except scrub brush and a few scraggly dead looking trees. He could sense no large animals, only tiny mice and the occasional insect crawling around in the nooks. No birds flew overhead that he could see and he wondered if there would even be bats here at full dark. It was dim here, gloomy. The sky seemed like it was perpetually cloudy. He had expected that near the Dognan city because of all the fighting, but out here it should be clear. Weird. He grinned to himself when he heard Henry slip and slide on the loose rocks behind him. He waited until he heard the big blue man come up behind him before he teased, "Climb much?" "Very funny. You see anything?" "Nuthin'. If this Valentin guy is comin', he ain't walkin' in with a big army." Maybe he has teleportation capabilities." "Maybe he ain't comin’ at all. Could be some kind of trick." "Seth seemed to think something was going to happen." "He ain't real, Blue," Logan replied, quick to show his viewpoint on that. "Doesn't mean his opinion doesn't matter. We haven't been here long enough to dismiss him or Kimble so easily." Logan just grunted. "What's Kane doing?" "Not much. His people haven’t packed up. He's waiting." Logan scanned the horizon again. "We should keep watch up here." "This is too far away from the ship. If something happens, we might get separated. The ship's cameras show these same views on the big screen. Come back with me. You can look out from inside." "You go ahead. I want ta check the perimeter one last time before dark." "Right." Henry turned away and went back down the way he'd come. He wandered through Kane's camp, seeing how his people were milling about nervously. They looked to the canyon top anxiously as if expecting an attack. Some of the men were sharpening their weapons, others were packing up everything else but their tents while trying not to be obvious about it. The children were out of sight and probably hiding. Kane hadn’t given the word to leave yet and they weren’t comfortable with it. It didn’t matter. Henry suspected these people could break camp quickly if they had to. Henry walked up to the Lucky Dragon and went inside. He entered and stood in front of the big screen in the Main Room, observing that it still showed four different views of the surrounding area. Henry could clearly see Logan moving about and noticed that the camera views appeared to be following him as if he was being deliberately tracked. As if in answer to Henry's unspoken question, Kimble popped up on the screen at his work station. He was leaning back in his chair and had his furry pilot’s feet up on the console as usual. He smiled up at Henry as a friendly greeting. "It's all clear, Henry. Don' worry, I gots ya covered. If Vally's cummin', it shouldn’t be fer a while yet." "Logan said he could see no sign of an army. Would Valentin teleport in? Beam down from a ship perhaps?" "Beam down? Dunno whatcha means by that, but if he's runnin' with Reese, he kin teleport most anawhere. Reese kin move a lotta people at once if he's got a mind ta do it." "Who is Reese?" "Reese is Vally's Third. He's an alpha like you guys. He kin teleport people from far away. 'S the only reason why Vally keeps that scraggly little bugger around. Reese ain't always with him, though. Sometimes Vally gots him runnin’ ‘round doin' other stuff. Tough ta say what's gonna happen. Don' worry, me an Seth're lookin' out fer him." "How is Seth?" "He's all right. He's gonna be shy 'til Vally's gone, then he'll come out. It's kind of ya ta ask, though. I'll mention it to him." "Tell him I'm ready for a rematch at chess anytime." "You gonna let him win?" "Not unless he earns it." "Good man," Kimble said with a snicker. "See ya round." He waved and clicked off. Henry smiled and went into the galley. Fallen and Maylee were seated at the large metal table. Fallen was eating a light snack. Maylee had some photos of Gambit's injuries and looked like she was filling out some kind of report. Henry sat across from her and tugged on one of the pictures. "What is this?" "When we go back to Station Nine, I'll go back to my class. Any confirmed reports of any medical work I did out here will be added to my scores. I’m sorry your friend was hurt, but he's really going to boost my grade this quarter." "They have regular schools here?" "Yeah though the classes are pretty small and I only get to go when we come to the station. My instructor is really nice and he holds all my lessons for me. I do most of the work out here." "That must be difficult for you." "Not really. Momma and Seth help me out a lot." Henry smiled at Fallen. "Maylee is your daughter?" "Not in the real sense," Fallen answered. "Valentin gave her to me when she was four. He said he found her in a ditch someplace. I was still pretty low after the Red Sky went down --- that was a ship I had been piloting. I was recovering from a serious injury and not quite myself and he figured that caring for her would take my mind off things. He was right. Maylee was one of the best things to happen to me." She gave Maylee a hug. "May and my boys. They're the best." "How did Remy get those scars on his chest? Was he clawed by a monster?" Maylee asked shyly. She’d seen five large silver slash like scars that crossed most of his chest and abdomen when she’d undressed him. It was an old injury and she guessed it had almost killed him. "Why, yes. He’d been clawed by a monster...in a manner of speaking. We’ve fought many enemies in our time. It would be impossible to walk away unharmed." Henry was aware of Remy’s scars, but hadn’t thought of them for some time. It had been a long time since he’d seen them. All the team members were expected to report for regular physicals, but Remy like Logan, often dodged them. The one time Henry had managed to drag the thief in, he’d been quite shocked by the signs of that old injury to say the least. In spite of his training, Henry had been unable to hide his surprise and the thief had seen it. Remy didn’t allow the doctor to ask about them and never showed up for a physical again. The other team members had taken longer to find out about them, if they even knew at all. It had been clear early on that in spite of his flirtatious nature, Gambit was a shy boy. He never walked around the house or anywhere else without a shirt and he never used the communal showers, even after a grueling workout session with the team. When the X-men finally learned of Remy’s checkered past and his most serious crime, Henry knew then the claw marks had come from Sabretooth, a vicious killer mutant that Remy had been known to be with on one memorable occasion. Judging from the depth of the scarring, Gambit was lucky to have walked away from that encounter alive. As bad as those body scars were, Henry was surprised they were all Maylee had asked about. There were a pair of more devastating scars that Gambit possessed, one on each wrist. Those were still tinged with pink and far more recent, the sign of a serious suicide attempt, no kidding around there. Henry with his deft medical eye had surmised those had come during Remy’s trial in Antarctica or in the beginning of his exile. Again when Henry tried to question the thief in private about them he was brushed off and not allowed to ask about them again. If Logan or anyone else on the team had seen them, they hadn’t dared to ask. Kimble came up on the galley screen, interrupting Henry’s thoughts. He spoke Fallen’s name and waited, saying nothing more. "Yes?" she replied, her eyes glancing up to him. Kimble didn't answer, but looked at her intensely instead. She met his gaze and slowly shook her head. He swore and said, "Better haul *** an' hide, May! Vally's comin’!" He clicked off, vanishing into the system. Maylee reacted immediately to Kimble’s warning. She got up in a rush, snatching her things hurriedly from the table and fled from the galley, disappearing down the trap door to the lower level of the ship. Henry stood, trying to control the hammering in his chest. There had been no mistaking Kimble’s fear or Maylee’s reaction. This was going to be bad. "Are you going to do anything to stop this?" Fallen lowered her eyes, a sad sort of defeat in her eyes. "No. Stay with Remy. This isn’t your quarrel and I’m certain nothing will happen to you. Whatever you see, whatever you hear, don't try to fight Valentin. You won't win and it will only make things worse." "Fallen, please." "Go. Stay with your friend." To read more click here : www.fanfiction.net/s/2495701/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 20, 2006 8:31:40 GMT -5
(Three) Logan came down from the slope and walked unhurried over to Kane. He hadn't seen any sign of anyone coming and had decided to come down. Maybe Kane would have some meat cooking and would want to talk for a while. He greeted Kane and was about to ask him something when the wind shifted. Logan froze. The wind carried the scent of a large group of people coming their way. "Someone's comin'." Kane looked at him. "How do you know?" "I'm an alpha. It's what I do." At that moment, there was a flash of light and a small pack of large men, warriors, materialized in the middle of the camp. The leader was massive, over six feet tall and very powerful. He was Clan, by his dress and tattoos. He had the most markings of any Clan man they'd seen so far. They covered most of the sides of his chest and arms. The only gap was down the front of him where the Honor Sword would be if he had it. His hair was fiery red and tied back in a long ponytail. He had a long broadsword in a sheath tied to his back and a Dognan energy gun strapped to his thigh. His face was cruel, his eyes mean. There was no mistaking the malice or power of this man. At his feet crouched a small black haired man, clearly some kind of feral alpha. He was dressed in a ragged pair of leather pants and wore no shoes on his feet. He carried no weapons. His eyes darted quick and sure about him as he took everything in, sniffing at the air. He grinned wickedly up at his Master, showing broken, jagged teeth. "Easy, Reese," the big man purred, patting this creature of his like a pet. Behind him stood another man, his Second, Joseph. Joseph had a large amount of tattoos and carried a broadsword as well. His hair was a deep brown and tied back as everyone else’s was. He was tall and sturdy, a heavily muscled warrior as were most of Valentin’s men. He looked over the crowd with the arrogance of someone who has been in power for a long time. He would be as cruel as his Master. The people of Kane's camp dropped down to the ground, kneeling submissively in terror. Valentin turned his withering gaze on Kane and sneered. "Kane." Kane dropped down on one knee. "Valentin,"he returned with equal contempt. Valentin looked next at Logan who hadn't moved. "And you are?" "Neutral observer," Wolverine drawled. He slouched arrogantly, hooking his thumbs in his jeans. He figured he could take Valentin without working up much of sweat. Valentin approached him cautiously, but with no fear. "And what have you seen?" "Nuthin' that impresses me much." Valentin stopped and smiled at him indulgently. "Really?" Logan yawned, bored. "Really." "Well, we'll just have to work harder then." Valentin's men began to laugh. Logan didn't get the joke, but all the hairs went up on the back of his neck. He turned to look behind him, but it was too late. A flash of light blinded him and Reese, the feral alpha, stood beside him. This beast was the teleporter. Before Logan could act, a restraining collar was placed on his neck and his target flashed away. The man reappeared next to Valentin bowed on one knee. His master looked down at him, pleased. "Very good, Reese." Reese garbled something lovingly up at him only Valentin could understand. Wolverine snarled and yanked on the collar, feeling the red rage rise. He let it. The collar wouldn't come free. He turned and roared at Valentin. "Come fight me like a man!" He popped his claws, feeling his flesh shred and bleed without healing. He was a pain junkie and shivered with the joy of it, looking forward to the coming battle. He was going to rip this jackass a new one and love every minute of it. Valentin stepped towards him and they circled. Valentin had his large sword but didn't pull it. Instead, he suddenly kicked up dirt into Wolverine’s eyes and smashed a massive fist into his face. The collar dulled Logan’s senses and delayed his reaction time, he hadn’t even thought to dodge the blow. The force of Valentin’s strike lifted him off his feet and sent him sailing backwards a few feet before he landed gracelessly on his back with a thud. He did get some satisfaction in spite of his pain, though. Hitting his metal laced bones was like hitting a brick wall, Valentin howled with pained surprise and gripped his wrist in agony. Wolverine shambled drunkenly to his feet with a wicked laugh. It had been a really long time since anyone had sent him for a flight like that, this was getting interesting. He came back to Valentin without fear and circled him once more, sniffing at him like a buzzard to the kill. Valentin’s wrist was injured and the big man wouldn’t be able to strike out at him again, not like that. Logan chose his moment and lunged, popping the claws on one hand just for show. He wanted to intimidate Valentin but wasn’t quite ready to take this to the next level, not until he was certain just what he was dealing with. Valentin was clearly a veteran warrior, he dodged Logan’s blades quickly and spun, kicking Wolverine in the face. He wore heavy boots with steel toes and Wolverine felt his lips tear as his mouth exploded with pain. How he didn’t lose teeth on that one he didn’t know. He twisted and went down on his knees hard, blood pouring from his open, gasping mouth. Damn, he was getting his *** kicked instead of the other way around! How embarrassing! Valentin laughed, pacing around the downed man in a circle. "You alphas are all the same. So arrogant with your silly powers." Logan calmed, trying to get back under control. He knew he was letting his rage get the best of him and that he was better than this. He would beat Valentin down, it was just a matter of time. He wiped his chin as he stood up on shaky legs and pulled his torn lips back in a bloody smile. He spat blood and they circled again. He was about to make a move when a volley of red glowing objects flew past him overhead towards Valentin. Logan knew to keep his head down but his opponent did not. The ground exploded in front of Valentin and he spun away, cursing. Logan looked behind him and saw Gambit and Henry coming. "'Bout time you guys showed up." "You know us, better late dan never," Remy wheezed. He was still weak but putting up a good front. It wasn't working. He looked like he would fall down at any moment. Valentin barked a command and Reese blinked out. "Watch out!" Logan yelled. "He's got a teleporter!" To read more click here : www.fanfiction.net/s/2495701/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 22, 2006 8:11:17 GMT -5
Gambit and Henry braced themselves but Reese did not appear. Instead, the rest of Valentin's army melted out of the blackness and came towards them. There was at least three hundred men, all in prime physical condition and armed with swords and arrows. More than a few of them carried Dognan energy guns. The X-men were completely surrounded with no way out. Valentin scrutinized the three mutants. He was even bolder now with his men behind him. "Best decide now if you wish to live or die." "Kneel down and live to fight another day," Kane advised from behind Logan. All of Kane's earlier bravado was gone, so much for him standing up to Valentin. There really wasn't much choice and though it rankled him to do so, Logan got down on one knee. Gambit and Henry went down behind him. The submission by these X-men was outward only -- they all knew how this game was played, stay down and wait for the best time to strike again. Valentin approached Logan more confidently now, his men following closely behind. He came up to Logan and gave him a backhand slap, wanting to establish his dominance. "Both knees for you, outsider!" he sneered. Logan started to stand, flushed with rebellious fury, but Valentin knocked him back down. "Stay down, wild one, or maybe I'll take one of your friends. They seem a bit weaker than you." Logan stayed as he was. He knew there was no way out, not just yet anyway. His anger still burned however, rising up out of him in a deep, throaty growl. Valentin eyed the feral man warily, but didn’t back down. Another of his men approached him from the main pack, carrying more restraining collars and energy cuffs. Logan snarled at the sight of them but didn't fight as the X-men were next restrained. There was no profit in it, not three to three hundred. He could probably make it, but not his teammates. He would wait. That finished, Valentin next turned to Kane. "Come here, Kane. We must talk." Kane stood and obeyed nervously, his face pale. He looked up at the larger man and Logan smelled his fear. Valentin could as well, the red haired Clansman grinned with evil intent and Logan knew Kane was going to die. Valentin’s voice was calm as he spoke, "Cerebus tells me you've been to see him, Kane. He is pleased that you have freed these alphas, they are prized above the others. Supposedly, they are the ones of legends told on the Far Earth. Fallen’s little X-men. Seem a bit pitiful to me, but Cerebus wants them just the same. He shall have them." "They are his," Kane stammered, clearly hoping a little generosity might get him out of this. It wasn’t going to happen. Valentin’s voice became more haughty and arrogant. "Of course they are. And I shall bring them, not you. Did you really think this meager offering would get you what you want? The pilot? As if Cerebus would give his First Pilot to a two bit piece of Clan trash like you? Please! Not when he has someone else in mind more deserving." "She'll never bow down to you!" Kane snarled and recklessly drew his sword. Valentin just laughed. "Me and Fallen know each other in ways you'll never understand," he growled. He pulled his own sword and they circled just as he and Logan had done. Kane could see that Valentin was wounded from the brief tussle with Wolverine and was all over it. He lunged wildly and without finesse, Logan almost groaned aloud at the sight of the man’s stupidity. Valentin was perfectly calm and therefore far more accurate, he sidestepped just as he had with Logan and with an easy, well timed stroke, hacked Kane’s arm off and sent the man’s sword sailing off into the growing darkness. Kane screamed, bloody foam and spit flying from his mouth. Valentin walked up to Kane as he finally sank to the ground on his knees and lay his sword across Kane's neck. "No one gets Fallen but me!" he snarled and cut the man's throat with a single angry thrust. He tossed the man down like a sack of garbage and spat on him as he bled out into the ground. Valentin then cleaned his blade on Kane's leather pants and sheathed it with a satisfied click. At that moment, Fallen came from the ship with Reese following behind her, loping awkwardly on his hands and feet like a big broken dog. In contrast, Fallen’s strides were long, confident in her authority. Valentin watched their approach with interest. "Ah, Fallen, so good of you to join us." Fallen saw Kane's ruined body and hollered, "How dare you!"at Valentin with shock and fury. She went right up to Valentin and slapped him viciously across the face. "Who do you think you are?!" she snarled, her face flushed. He didn't answer immediately, but wiped his chin with a wicked smile. He stood over her, enjoying his superior height and laughed, amused in some sick way by her lack of respect. "You look good, Fallen." He licked his lips in anticipation, his eyes gleaming. Fallen glared at him and fearlessly stood her ground. "Who do you think you are, coming in here like this and slaughtering your own people?" she repeated. "Who am I? I am first General and may do as I please." He clearly wanted to avoid talking about Kane and discuss more personal matters, he looked Fallen over with unveiled sexual interest and purred at her, "It's good to see you again, my pretty. It's been a while. Did you miss me?" Valentin towered over her but Fallen raised her tiny fists and defiantly hissed at him like a cat, showing him her long canine teeth. She had no fear of him and it seemed as though she might even attack him. Logan certainly hoped she would. She didn't have a restraining collar so he figured Fallen would use her telekinesis against Valentin and get them all out of this. He'd just love to see Valentin go for a flight. He was quickly disappointed when she made no move to do so. Valentin was amused by Fallen's defiance and continued to undress her with his eyes. He reached out and touched her chin and smiled when she jerked away from him in disgust. "I see your jaw has healed since our last meeting, how nice. Time again to put that mouth of yours to good use." He started to unbuckle his pants. "You put that in my mouth and I'll bite it off!" Fallen warned, meaning it. "Hmm....We have ourselves a bit of a problem, then don't we?" Valentin sneered. He came very close to her and she spat in his face. She was a good shot, her large wad of spit went right into his eye. He snarled and punched her with as much force as his sprained wrist would allow. Unfortunately, it was still quite a bit. Fallen's legs buckled, but to her credit, she didn't go down. Having been on the receiving end of that fist, Logan was amazed. He could see now that this was some kind of brutal ritualized dance she and Valentin had done before. He’d seen enough repeat offenders in the field of domestic violence to see this for what it was. Kimble’s own spoken fears back in the ship only confirmed what he was now looking at. Oblivious to the others around her, Fallen stood and laughed as blood poured from her nose. It wasn't broken, but he'd split her lip. She was crazed, no longer sane. "Just like old times, eh Fallen? Old times..." Valentin said wistfully, his eyes glowing. He caught her hair in his good hand and dragged her towards Kane's tent. She tried to slap and claw at him with her hands but he just ignored it. He roughly tossed her inside the tent and followed, closing the flap behind him. To read more click here : www.fanfiction.net/s/2495701/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 24, 2006 9:11:36 GMT -5
(four) Logan watched them go, furious at how all this had turned out so badly. His sensitive ears couldn't block out the sounds that followed of Valentin beating and raping Fallen inside the tent. She was snarling and crying, still fighting him, her oppressor grunting happily all the while. It was horrible, but Logan thought Fallen's acceptance of his abuse was worse. With her powers, she was stronger, she should be fighting him off. Wolverine looked over at Remy when he heard his teammate make a small noise. Gambit was looking at the tent, his demonic eyes glowing with barely controlled fury. His mouth was a thin tight line as he held back the sounds of his outrage. Remy was secretive and had remained something of an enigma to his teammates ever since he had arrived at the Xavier Mansion just a few short years ago, but some things had been made clear pretty early on. Remy was a creature of sensuality, something he pursued relentlessly and with great style. Intimacy was something he clearly enjoyed, but most of all respected. He tolerated sexual abuse no better than Logan, often going out of his way to rescue those he thought might be in distress with no regard to his own personal safety. Being so helpless now was driving the Cajun thief to a near frenzy. He was wordlessly wringing his hands in a futile attempt to escape the glowing energy cuffs that bound him. It wasn’t going to happen. Gambit wasn’t alone in his distress. Henry sat quiet, his eyes closed and breathing in calm deep, meditative breaths. Wolverine could only admire his friend’s resolve. Unable to stop what was going on, Beast was doing his best to shut out what could only drive him deeply into a helpless despair. It didn’t mean he didn’t care, he was a doctor after all, with a few unpleasant ideas of what Fallen was going to look like when all of this was done. She would need medical attention and if he could, he would help her. For now, he would calm himself now to preserve his superior wits for later. There would be a reckoning. The sounds of Fallen's pain and abuse lasted the better part of an hour. In the meantime, as the night darkened and the moon rose, Valentin's men were bored and amused themselves by terrorizing Kane's people. They slaughtered the men and raided their food stores. The women fared much worse. The children ran off into the scrub, but weren't chased. Valentin's men knew they wouldn't go far out here in this desolate waste. The X-men were guarded by a large group of soldiers and unable to interfere. When Valentin left Kane's tent, he looked around him, satisfied. He had wanted to teach Kane a lesson and had done so to his immense satisfaction. "Yer one sick f*$#!" Logan snarled. "What kind of leader are you?!" Valentin walked over to him, bringing the sharp, ugly scent of Fallen's sensual physical contact and blood with him. "I'm the kind that gets results, little man. This is a vicious world. Only the strong survive here." "You'd get more done if you didn't kill yer own people!" "Would I? They obey me unquestionably. Of course, I am not always this cruel," he commented casually, looking around. "Kane tried to take something that was mine. I made it very clear that will never be tolerated. Surely a beast like you understands the concept of territory." "Sick f*%#s like you always fall. I hope I'm there to see it." Valentin grinned malevolently. "Maybe you'll get that lucky, but I doubt it." He looked down at Logan and recognized him for the warrior he was. "We've got some plans for you boys. Fight with us and things could go very well for you. I've always got a need for alphas who can deliver." "I'll never work for an a**h**le like you. Yer pathetic, beatin’ up on a woman like that." Valentin glanced back at the tent. "Oh, that?" He grunted a laugh and had a strange, almost sorrowful look on his face. "Fallen likes that, she always has." Logan shook his head, not believing Valentin’s act for a minute. "No woman ever asks for that." "Fallen is no ordinary woman," Valentin said, almost lovingly. It was disturbing to hear, like fingernails on a chalkboard. "She and I go way back. We have an....understanding, she and I." "Don' make it right." "It is what it is, nothing more." Valentin gave a command and the X-men were dragged back to the Lucky Dragon. Logan and Remy struggled valiantly, refusing to give in without some kind of fight. Remy lashed out with his feet and tried to twist himself free. He was very flexible, weasel clever in his way. It wasn’t enough. He was held fast, viciously slapped about as a reward for his defiance, and in his weakened state, not able to do much about being herded along. Ragged French, no longer so elegant when chocked with ugly, wrathful profanity, came from him in a scathing torrent until he was finally punched viciously enough to silence him. He had no choice but to give it up and take Henry’s path, saving the fight for another day. Logan had no such desire. He spared his mouth the same angry words and simply used his teeth instead. He bit one of Valentin's men savagely, tearing his arm open and was brutally beaten for it. Still he fought, holding out much longer than Remy had. The fight was savage and brutal, recklessly spilling more of his own blood than that of his captors. They were not restrained by either shackles nor their Master’s will, ever so willing to punish. It was an effort, it took three of Valentin’s men to finally subdue Logan and then only by kicking him until he passed out. Valentin just laughed all the while at the display of X-men ferocity, his sick and twisted psyche entertained by the whole thing. Logan’s wildness would be an asset once it was bent to his will, and he was pleased. He paid no apparent mind to the passive blue Beast, but inwardly he knew better than to underestimate one such as this. Obviously this was the clever one, the brains of the operation if not the brawn, not like the two scrappy fighters that had put up all that fuss. What was this one thinking? Silent but most often deadly, clever men were. He would watch this one, see if his suspicions of Henry’s superior intelligence played out. Valentin had the three X-men dragged into the Lucky Dragon and chained to the outside of Fallen's cage in the Main Room, facing the viewing screen, and went into the galley to eat. His men walked around Fallen's ship as if it belonged them and behaved as if all this violence was a normal thing for them. It probably was. Eventually the hour grew late and things quieted. Valentin came to look at his prized mutant captives one last time before he left for the night. He said nothing to them but rubbed his now bandaged wrist for a moment then he and his men went back outside, leaving the captives unattended for the moment. He apparently wasn't concerned about them getting loose. When she was sure Valentin was gone, Maylee snuck out from the lower level and crept over to the restrained X-men, carrying a small box with her. As soon as she opened it Henry was relieved to see it was a medical kit, something they very much needed right now. Logan hadn’t moved once since they’d been lashed to the cage, not a good sign. "Seth? Seth, are you there?" Maylee whispered, looking over her shoulder to the big viewing screen. Seth and Kimble's portions of the screen had been blacked out since the captives had been dragged in here, but they now winked on. Seth was alone and seated in his chair. "I'm here," he answered her, looking around the Main Room nervously. "Where's Fallen?" "Still outside," she replied. She started to cry, but fought it. "Help me. Help me with them."she said, meaning the X-men. Logan's face was dripping blood and he was still out cold, not moving. Gambit was faring better in that he was still conscious. He sagged weakly against the cage, held up by his restraints as he stared numbly off into space. His face was bruising where he had been struck and there was a tight ring of agony around his ribs when he breathed. Judging by all the damage he had suffered here, this wasn’t going to be one of his better trips. "What do you want me to do?"Seth asked in a small, frightened voice. He kept glancing to the door leading to the outside ramp. It was still open meaning Valentin could return at any time. "I need to do a scan." "Okay." Maylee took out a small strip that looked like a Band-aid and placed it on Logan's forehead. A light flashed from under it and winked out. Medical information scrolled up on the screen and Seth read it off. "He's got massive internal trauma and bruising. His skeleton is metal -- I don't even want to know about that.... Hey, Maylee. Just take his collar off." "Valentin will kill me!" she squeaked with very real fear. Her hands were trembling badly. To read more click here : www.fanfiction.net/s/2495701/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 26, 2006 18:34:24 GMT -5
"Only do it for a minute," Seth pleaded. "Just enough for him to recover a little bit." "He's right," Beast concurred. "Logan can heal. It's his power." "How do I get the collar off?" Maylee asked, relenting. More information scrolled on the screen, showing details about the collar, including how to remove it. Maylee loosened it a bit until the little glowing light shut off. Almost immediately, Logan's injuries began to heal. His bruises slowly faded and he groaned, blinking blearily as he gradually woke up. He was better, but still in a lot of pain. It would take more than just this moment free of the collar to fully recover. He got onto his knees and looked around him, the soldier in him automatically trying to figure out what was going on and where he was. He looked up at the screen and saw Seth sitting there looking fragile and terrified. The young pilot was obviously nervous and frightened, he still eyed the doorway behind them fearfully. Henry hadn’t noticed, he was asking Maylee, "Can you get the cuffs off of us?" She looked to Seth for help, but Seth had frozen in terror. He was looking past her to the ramp that led outside, his eyes wide in fear.
(five) "Oh, Fallen!" Seth said in a pained whisper, his voice trembling. He hunched over in his chair with an inarticulate outcry of internal agony, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his ears as he had done before when he had been out as a hologram and was frightened. He'd shut himself down so he wouldn't have to look at her. The X-men strained at their bonds, turning to look at what had spooked Seth so badly. Fallen was walking slowly towards the screen, a ragged ruin of pilot flesh. She leaned sideways as she shuffled her feet, dragging one foot stiffly behind her as she moved with methodical, determined slowness. Clearly, she had a destination in mind, and wasn’t going to let her condition stop her from getting there. She pressed both hands against her lower belly as she moved as if her guts were falling out. Her head was down and her breath came out in ragged gasps, blood and spit dripped from her chin to the floor. She was naked and dried blood and dirt caked her furry legs and ankles in a dark black accusation of abuse. She shuffled drunkenly and wasn't looking where she was going, though she had determination driving her on. She kept walking past them until she bumped into the screen, arriving at last. She put up a hand to brace herself, but slid to the floor, leaving a bloody smear on the glass. Maylee came out of her shock and rushed to her side at once. She cried out in dismay when she saw Fallen's swollen bloody face. There was a noise as Kimble burst into the control room through a side door, his face tight with barely controlled emotion. He went immediately to Seth and found him cowering in his seat, swearing softly in exasperation at his brother’s condition. He brushed a hand over Seth's head and spoke to him softly in an attempt to rouse him, but his brother didn't move. Kimble looked up through the glass and saw Fallen broken and bleeding at the base of the screen. "Get her a wet towel. Clean 'er up," he ordered to Maylee, his voice icy and eerily calm, considering the wildness in his eyes. She obeyed him and left for Fallen’s lavatory in a rush. Henry jerked in his bonds, the doctor in him horrified at the sight of Fallen’s abused body. He couldn’t restrain his own growl of frustration that he was now unable to move. He could bear being tied, but not when he knew someone was desperately injured and in need of his help. The only thing that gave him any comfort was knowing that Maylee was free and able to act. He would be quick to offer his advice if she needed him. "Seth...? Seth, are you there?" Fallen called weakly, responding to the sound of Kimble's voice. She searched for him with her dirty, bloody hands, but found only glass. One of her eyes was swollen shut, the other was filled with blood. "He’s here, but he's all crunched up," Kimble grumbled. "Figgered he be used ta yer crap by now. Hope yer happy." "Don't be angry..." she pleaded, unable to see him but all too aware of his anger. Kimble leaned against his work table and snatched a pack of cigarettes from his console. He shook one out and lit it with an angry spark from his fingertips. The spark was blue like Fallen’s magic pilot’s energy, sharp and potent. Kimble wasn't angry, no. He was furious. His voice shook with emotion as he began to speak, threatening to break at any moment. "We take pretty good care of each other, right? You an' me. Heh, I mean yer helpin’ us with cummin’ out and I look after ya. Makin' shure ya git what ya needs. Keepin' ya safe, huh?" He didn’t wait for a response, but sniffed as angry tears started to shine in his eyes. He was trying to play the tough guy, but he couldn’t hide just how worried about her he was. "I do a good job, huh? I mean, ya tells me so, right? But you must be thinkin' I need another friggin' challenge cuz look at ya, girl." "Kimble, please!" Fallen gasped with a sob, hurt by his words. It didn’t stop Kimble’s rant. He clearly had to unload his frustration with his Mistress and figured now was just as good a time as any. He took a deep drag on his cigarette and sniffed impatiently, defying the tears that shined in his eyes not to fall. "You tell me what ta do an' I do it, no questions asked. But I'm thinkin' ya musta missed a file I wuz suppozta get, cuz I just don't know how I'm suppozta take care a ya when ya keep doin' this crap ta yerself." Fallen didn’t answer, but stayed as she was, sobbing. He shook his head in frustration and raised his voice. "Seth tells ya he's cummin' an you won't friggin' run! Vally drops his pants an yer right there with yer mouth friggin' open, Fallen! I mean, Jeez! What am I supposed ta do, Fallen?! You tell me cuz I got no friggin' clue!" he finished with a snarl, his mouth grimaced and his eyes closed now, the only thing holding those treacherous tears at bay. "Guys..." Remy croaked, his voice harsh with pain. He had come out of his stupor, brought back by the angry words flying around. He was squirming now in his awkward position, not wanting to be an audience to this argument. The emotions being displayed here were too powerful to be anything but real in his eyes. He found himself responding to all of Kimble’s physical signs of distress, one small corner of his mind trying to figure out how something supposedly artificial could behave in such a realistic way. Ever the peacemaker, he couldn’t stand it. "Arretez ceci, sil vous plait! Stop dis now!" He was ignored. Fallen started to shake as Kimble had raised his voice in censure, his anger and pain hurting her even more than she was already. She sobbed now as she requested, "Play me something, okay? I’ll.... I’ll be all right." "No way. Uh, uh. I an’t doin’ nuthin. Not ‘til ya tells me why yer doin' this, ya friggin' little b---h." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and glared at her. "Tells me why!" "I can't..." "You tell me!" Kimble shouted bitterly, standing now and flashing his teeth in an angry snarl. He shook with his wrath, his hands fisted as he looked at her. "You tells me now! I've friggin' earned it!" "I can't...I can't..."she sobbed. "Fine, then!" he spat impatiently and reached for the switch to sign off. "No!" she begged, pawing at the glass. "Don't leave me...Don't leave me, please!" He stopped, her pleas halting him. He covered his face with his hands for a moment, then wiped his face on his arms. His eyes were all red now and his nose was running. "Tell me why I shouldn’t just shut down," he said quietly, his voice soft with defeat. "Why I should keep puttin' up with yer crap." "Because you're all I have!" she cried. Maylee came from the bathroom. She came towards Fallen but stopped abruptly when she saw the two of them were arguing. Even from the screen Kimble's anger frightened her. "I need you here with me..." Fallen continued. "No one listens to me but you guys. No one helps me like you... Don't leave me!" "Then helps me, baby doll. I needs ta understand, cuz I jus' don' friggin' git it. Why do ya let him do this to ya? It's killin' Seth. He gets wrecked evra time an' I git stuck cleanin' up!" "Because I did something really bad...Really bad...Junta bay...I have to be punished." "Punished? Fer what? I've seen some pretty bad crap in my time, but you ain't ever done nuthin'. I ain't never seen you hurt nobody! What could ya do that wuz so bad thatcha deserve this?!" "I can't tell you...." "Why?!" Kimble snarled loudly, frustrated." Don’tcha trust me?!" "I trust you... I just couldn't bear it if you hated me..." she finished in a thready whisper, her body trembling all over now. "Oh, baby doll..." he said then, a half sob escaping him. He released his anger in a long sigh, a tear finally spilling down one cheek. He leaned forward to put his shaking hands on the glass, reaching out as if he could touch her. He was very close to her now, his lips up against her ear as she rested against the screen. "I ain't never gonna hatecha. Not now, not ever. There just ain't no junta bay in the world that kin change that. We been together too long, you an' me." "You would... It was so awful!" "Tell me, Fallen," Kimble insisted, more tears streaming from his eyes now. "Please! I cain’t hardly stand this!" "I can't....I can't...I can't..!" she bawled and slid the rest of the way to the floor. She curled up, sobbing and covered her face with her tiny white hands. Maylee went to her then and started to clean her up, whispering to her foster mother gently in a feeble attempt to comfort her.
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 27, 2006 17:37:16 GMT -5
(Six) The two X-men took their time cleaning up and felt much better after a nice hot shower. They wandered out to the Main Room and saw another door that led to a large galley. It was a large room with a long metal table with fixed benches where Fallen could easily sit all twelve of her passengers and herself. A clear glass jar mounted on the table contained a generous supply of hand rolled cigarettes. There was a large bowl of fruit, mostly some kind of oranges. One whole wall consisted of storage cabinets and shelves that appeared to be well stocked with bottles and boxes of food. A counter top ran the length of one wall. It held a double sided sink and rack filled with a large supply of whiskey bottles. Another rack close by held a row of dark colored ones. It seemed Fallen liked to keep a good supply of liquor around. There was a large double door refrigerator as well. On one of the walls was a large representation of Fallen's X mark. It was an X in a box with a word printed on each side of the square. Honor. Loyalty. Courage. Sacrifice. But best of all this kitchen and galley had a good sized stove where a large stew pot was bubbling merrily. The smell was wonderful and inviting and Logan felt his stomach growl in anticipation. Soft music was playing on unseen overhead speakers. Logan was startled to recognize it as Born on the Bayou from Creedence Clearwater Revival. Where did Fallen get Earth music from? he wondered to himself, but didn’t bother to ask. Seth and Kimble were in their usual chairs in the c-ckpit room on a viewing screen. Seth had a headset on and was listening to something, his eyes closed in concentration. Kimble was excitedly jabbering away about something funny, laughing merrily. Fallen sat at the table, listening to him halfheartedly with a smile as she smoked one of the hand rolled cigarettes. Her eyes were half closed and she looked sleepy. Logan sniffed quietly at her and realized she wasn’t merely sleepy, she was stoned. She looked up at them lazily as they entered and spoke, "Feel better?" "Do you?" Logan quipped. He had no patience for drug use. She looked at him sharply and locked eyes with him, unafraid. "What I do on my ship is my business, X-man. I'm not about to take any crap from you, legend or not. You don't like it, you can go back to the pens," she snapped. "Reoww! Ffft! Ffft!" Kimble joked from the screen, imitating a cat fight. "Chill, baby. Don' let the furball gits a rise outta ya." Logan sneered up at him, showing his teeth. He wondered if this guy ever left that stupid room. Where were they anyway? The Control room was nowhere in sight and the only scents on board were Fallen and Maylee’s. Logan was about to respond to Kimble's dig when Henry touched his arm and shook his head in warning. Forget it. They sat down at the table to eat. Fallen was quick to assume her duties as host. She got up and went to one of the cupboards. She took out two large serving bowls and served Logan and Henry generously from the stew pot. She gave them some bread as well. She went to the small refrigerator, grabbed two bottles of beer and set them out. The X-men were starved and ate quietly. The stew was very good although Logan noted there was no meat in it. He didn’t mind, he was happy just to fill his belly. Fallen leaned against the counter away from them and smoked. She watched Seth as he worked with a gentle smile. He seemed to be trying to listen in on someone else's transmission. He tapped the head set and typed away rapidly at a keyboard. "Anything?" Fallen asked. Seth squinted and shook his head. "I can't make it out. The Dognan know the pens were broken into and that it was us, but they don't know where we went. They sent out an All Alert. They know the alphas are gone. Fence is fixed.... There was a big brawl on the way out....." He co-ked his head as he listened and shivered. "Frishnan's angry. His favorite, Theba, got sliced." "One of the Angels?" "Yeah." Fallen looked at Logan. He shook his head. "Kane's men." "Poor Frishnan. Gonna have ta find someone else ta place his bets on. Prob'ly lost a bundle on that fight, too," Kimble teased. "Poor baby." "How can you find that funny?" Logan grumbled. "Kimble finds everything funny. It's why I keep him around," Fallen said quickly before Kimble could respond. "Clan'll shut the pens down soon enough," Kimble said after a pause. He looked at Fallen closely and a meaningful look passed between them. Fallen reached behind her and grabbed a whiskey bottle. She opened the seal with a claw and poured herself a good sized drink. She tossed it back like it was water. "Anything else?" "No. It's pretty quiet now. I'll try again later." "Looks like we gots us a breather. Could use the break," Kimble said, rubbing his eyes like he was tired. He leaned back in his chair and put his furry feet up on the console again. "What is it you guys do exactly?" Logan asked, curious about these new people he found himself with. "We raid the pens, harass the Dognan," Kimble explained. "We stays out on the sidelines pretty much. Valentin's army does most of the work of drivin' them Dognan guys back. They've been really busy lately. Think the Clan is workin' on some kinda big project. My guess is Cerebus is gonna go fer the big push soon. All or nuthin'. Prob'ly drag us into it just fer kicks." "Don't you want to get involved?" Henry wanted to know. "Ain't much inta suicide, thanks," Kimble quipped sarcastically. Fallen was quick to explain Kimble’s reaction. "The Clan army isn't as organized as they could be. They have a lot of resources, but there's too much competition among the Generals. They seem to be more interested in who's going to get the Honor Sword than winning anything for the people." "Honor Sword?" Fallen arched her back and stroked her long tattoo. "This. The Honor Mark of the Hopelessly Reckless." "Ya shouldn't joke about it likes that," Kimble said, oddly serious. "Ya earned evra inch of that Mark." She looked up at him. " I didn't earn it, we did." "How did you earn it?" Henry asked. "Lotsa reasons. Raidin' the pens, mostly," Kimble answered for her. " ‘Corse, it coulda been that time Fallen saved Cerebus' life." he teased with a laugh. "Ol' Cerebus got his *** stuck in the city and we hadta come bails him out cuz Vally chickened out." "Valentin didn't chicken out, he wanted Cerebus' throne. Figured the Dognan would save him the trouble of having to kill Cerebus himself," Fallen retorted. "Yeah, well Fallen got him outta that little mess." "I couldn't have done it without you," she said, looking up at Kimble with a loving smile. "You showed me the way out. Helped me fly through one of the worst firefights I've ever seen." "Nobody flies like you, baby doll. I ain't gots nuthin’ ta do with it," Kimble said with sincere modesty, not wanting to take the credit. "You're wrong. Nobody flies like me and you together." Her look and tone of voice finalized the matter. "That's why you're my Second and always will be." Kimble shrugged. "Anaways..." he continued, returning to Henry's question. "...we take alla the crap jobs nobody wants. Make it back alive. Cerebus wants alphas fer his cause, we gits 'em for him. No sane white pilot would come out here. If the Dognan catch Fallen, she's toast. Good thing she's so good with the stick." "The stick?" " ‘S slang fer the way pilots fly the ship. Fallen's the best pilot around --- no matter what she sez 'bout me. No one kin catch us," Kimble said, proud. "She built this ship and evrathin' in it. Nuthin' else like it around." "Quiet now," Fallen cautioned. It wasn't the praise, it was her secrets. "They don't need to hear you prattle on." She stood straight and poured another drink. "Where's Kane?" Seth flipped a switch on his panel, waited. "Still in the fourth. You want to speak to him?" "No. I'm going to have a bath and crash." She looked at Henry and Logan. "Help yourself to whatever you want in the cupboards." she said and left with the bottle. "I'll go with you," Seth offered and left the c*ckpit room through the back door. Logan stared at Kimble up on the screen, not really watching his brother leave. It was this one he was really interested in. Kimble seemed to know it. He leaned back in his chair comfortably and stared back, grinning arrogantly. He behaved like Wolverine didn't intimidate him at all. Must be some kind of punk, Logan thought. Can’t wait to meet him in person and size him up for real.
"You said you and Fallen earned the Mark together. Where's yours?" Logan challenged. He’d picked up on the fact that Seth and Kimble were the only males he'd seen with a shirt since they left the pens. He didn't know why, but it bugged him. Kimble didn’t answer but slowly pulled down the collar of his shirt until the handle of the tattooed sword was visible. It seemed he was just as Marked as his captain. His smile changed to one more sly and he c*cked his head waiting for Wolverine’s response. "Why cover it up?" Logan continued to probe. He had the idea something wasn't quite right about this stranger. He was bored and comfortable now with his belly full, so he figured he would try and ferret it out. Nothing like a good game to pass the time. He could see Kimble was up for it. "Chilly down here," Kimble replied with a mock shiver. He was obviously lying and didn't care. He continued to stare at Logan and grin, he clearly knew it was pissing Logan off. Beast sat watching the two of them with a resigned shake of his head. He sighed impatiently and scolded, "You two enjoy your pissing contest. I'm going to sit with Remy." He stood up and put his dishes in the sink. He waved to Kimble and left. Kimble returned Beast's wave, but his eyes never left Logan’s face. "Ya always thanks people who save yer life this way, or did we win the lottery?" he challenged in return. His eyes were hard. "Somethin' ain't right about you, boy. Somethin' ain't right about all of this. Why are you hidin’ from the Clan if you're a part of it?" "Not evrathin' here is what it seems. Ya wants ta git home, you'd best be careful." Kimble flipped a switch and his corner of the viewing screen winked out, leaving Logan on his own in the empty galley. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 31, 2006 11:38:57 GMT -5
Beast walked into the barracks to check in on Remy. Maylee had stretched out on the next bed over from the sleeping thief and had fallen asleep. She looked so tiny and small curled up there and he couldn’t help but cover her up with a blanket. She smiled up at him, not really awake, and rolled over, wiggling to get more comfortable. He sat next to Gambit on his bunk and looked him over. Whatever Maylee had done, it was the correct thing, he felt the coolness of Remy's cheeks and was satisfied. He startled a little when Gambit opened his eyes and smiled up at him. So strange, the red on black. At least he seemed well enough. "Didn' know you cared, mon ami," Gambit teased in a raspy voice.
"Welcome back," Henry said, smiling. He saw a cup of water next to the bed and held it to Remy's lips so he could drink. "How do you feel?" "Wasted...What did I miss?" "You've been unconscious since last night. We were liberated this morning by some people called the Clan. They broke us out of the pen and brought us to this ship. We've made some interesting new friends." He pointed to Maylee. "That's your doctor." Gambit glanced over at the sleeping young girl. "Dey start young 'ere, eh? Can't wait to meet de rest of de girls." "They're white, have wings and can fly." "Cool. Where do I get one?" "The Captain of this ship is a pilot. Do you recall that strange, white bird like woman on the Dognan ship that delivered us to the pen?" "Vaguely. Gambit wasn’t t’inkin’ too straight mos’ of de time we been ‘ere." "Well, she's one of those and her name is Fallen. It seems the Clan is some kind of resistance group made of those white slaves and their children. They want to drive the Dognan out and take over this world. They liberated us from the pen because they like alphas to join them and make them stronger because of our powers," Henry explained, keeping his voice low enough not to disturb the child sleeping in the next bed. "Dey want us to fight wit dem?" Remy asked nervously. He could hold his own, sure, but he wasn’t interested in becoming a resistance fighter. He was a sneak and a thief, not a soldier. "So far no one has asked us to do anything. I hope we can work something out to get us back home. Kane is a warrior who helped to free us. He said it is possible for a pilot to return us home. He didn't say how or if they would voluntarily." "You ask dis Fallen?" "Not yet. There's been some tension..." "Bien entendu." Remy said with a soft snicker. "What Wolvie boy done now?"
Henry laughed. "He's suspicious about the people here." "E's suspicious 'bout everyone. What's so special 'bout dese people?" "He's not saying. He's keeping it to himself as always." "E's paranoid." "Yeah well, my paranoia's saved yer *** more'n once," Logan drawled from the doorway. His eyes glanced to Maylee, but he could tell by her breathing she was out cold. Gambit shifted to get a better look at his ornery teammate. "Dey got us out, took care of me. We should wait ‘fore we be startin’ any fights, n’cest ce pas?" "Good advice," Beast agreed. He looked at Logan. "While we do rely on you for your instincts, I don't think it's a good idea to alienate these people. Kane said a pilot could get us home. Fallen is a pilot. Perhaps she will help us." "When? In between gettin' high or gettin' shot down? She's a freakin' junkie. Somethin's up with that Kimble guy, too. This place gives me the creeps. Can’t smell those two pilot guys anywhere." "Let's wait before we snap to any hasty judgments we'll regret later," Henry advised. "The people here seem harmless enough." "What seems ta be, an’ what is aren’t always the same thing," Logan cautioned. "I just wanna get us outta here and back in one piece." "Den we all on de same page, homme," Remy replied, rubbing his eyes. He felt much better and hoped he would be well enough to move around soon. He wanted to see what all the fuss was about. He felt a little left out, but was happy to be fixed up and cared for. "You should get some more rest," Beast said motherly and pulled the blankets up a little higher on his chest. "Mebbe we all should. Gambit ain’t de only one who look a little ragged." Henry sighed and nodded. It was true. With his belly now full and his concerns about Remy alleviated, he could feel the weariness creeping in. He hadn’t slept worth anything in the pen. He took the bed across from Remy and lay down, smiling as he saw Logan lay down on the bunk next to him without closing his eyes. He watches over us like a hawk, he thought not unkindly. As much as it pains me to see him so paranoid, I am glad for his presence. He closed his eyes and was out like a light.
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Oct 31, 2006 11:39:43 GMT -5
(Seven) Kane's group of people joined them just after sunset. They had traveled on foot through the rocky canyon and were dirty and tired. They opened up their tents and set up camp just outside of the ship. There was about twenty people, mostly women and children. The kids were laughing and dove into the nearby water, splashing and playing around while the evening meal was being prepared. Someone had shot an animal that looked like a deer and it was soon roasting on a huge spit. The Clan did not seem to be concerned about the fires attracting attention and were relaxed and comfortable. Fallen came out to greet them soon after they arrived. She spoke briefly with Kane and then went back inside her ship. Logan wandered out, checking out the people as they settled down. They were dressed mostly in furs and leather, reminding him of Native Americans. The tents and sleeping rolls were made of the same. These people had been living off of the land for a long time and were well adapted to it. They carried only crude weapons such as bows and swords, no guns that he could see. They seemed happy enough, although the men were clearly dominant here. They deferred to the men and did all of the cooking and serving. They kept their eyes down and wouldn’t look at him directly although they appeared unafraid by his presence here. He saw Kane sitting by a fire eating roasted meat. He sat down next to him and accepted a good sized steak from a woman who served him. It smelled wonderful and he was grateful. He thanked her and noted her surprise at his courtesy. He ate his meal and turned to Kane, making conversation. "I see you had a good hunt. Maybe next time I'll join you." "You'd be most welcome. Are you a good hunter?" "You could say that," he answered cryptically. Logan had been known to take down big game with his claws alone when he wanted the challenge. Logan never used guns to hunt. He thought it was unfair, there was no sport in it if you didn't get up close. "Your friend is well, eh? I told you we'd take care of him." "Thanks. Those guys don't eat out?" Logan asked as he jerked a thumb towards the ship, trying to maneuver the conversation. "Fallen doesn't eat meat. The guys, well, they don't eat at all." Kane said, a strange smile on his face. Logan blinked. "Excuse me?" Kane laughed. "They're a program on Fallen's computer. They're not real." Logan was stunned, but tried to cover it up with a laugh. "Coulda' fooled me. Sure she ain't got them stashed somewhere on board?" Logan was feeling foolish. He should have known, it explained why there were no scents on board and the guys were never around. "Yes, I am certain. I've seen the whole of the ship. There's no control room, no men. They're just a program Fallen uses to help her with Lucky." "I've seen lots of strange things in my time, but I've never seen a program that real." Logan said not being entirely honest. The X-men had traveled far and wide, this was not Logan's first trip off world. As they traveled, they picked up bits and pieces of technology from people they've helped. One such group, called the Shi'ar, had given them some wonderful and sophisticated holograms. The X-men used these holograms for training, but never interacted with them as if they were real people, not like Fallen did. "Where did Fallen get the program?" "She claims she found the program by accident and she hasn't worked it all out yet. It was damaged and she’s been putting it back together again. She's only had them about three years, but they've made a big difference in our raids, Seth mostly. He can talk to the Dognan computers---that's how we found out about you---and he's made Lucky a much faster, more efficient vehicle. I'm not sure exactly what Kimble does besides run his mouth off. She claims he helps her to fly but I don't see how. I know the two guys make some in the Clan nervous because they are so life like, but they don't bother me. Lucky's the fastest ship we have, the most maneuverable. Fallen flies like the angel she is. Who am I to question how she does it? Fallen downplays its significance, but the Clan doesn't give the Honor Sword to just anyone. She worked hard for it, made many sacrifices to get where she is now. She wants to put a pretty face on Lucky, so be it." "She found this program? Did she say where?" Kane grunted. "No. She keeps her secrets." "Secrets and marriage don't mix." "What do I care of her little secrets? When Lucky is mine I'll have the fastest ship with the best pilot. That's all I care about. " "What do you mean, ‘when Lucky is yours’?" "When Fallen marries me, all that is hers will become mine," Kane laughed. "Really, why else would any one want such a scrawny ugly woman for their wife?" "Yeah, right," Logan agreed, feeling sick. Fallen was a bi!ch, but he had a problem with anyone using someone else like that. He rose to go. "Well, I'm beat. Gonna go get some rest." "Sleep well, my friend," Kane said. He offered his hand and Logan shook it. Logan walked back up the ramp of the Lucky Dragon and into the main room. He saw a large opening in the floor that hadn't been there before. It was some sort of trap door with a stairway going down to a lower level. He quietly crept down the stairs, all senses alert. The stairs led down to a hallway with a large room at the end. As he walked down to the room on the end, he saw three doors that led to other rooms off the hallway. The first led to a small lavatory with just a shower and a toilet. The second said Storage on the door. It had a security panel that needed a palm print scan to enter. The last door was labeled Engine Room. It, too, required a palm scan. Logan made his way down the hall. This lower level was not as nicely finished as the top, it was more like a basement with hastily painted walls. He heard voices as he advanced, Fallen, Seth and Maylee were in the room on the end. "It feels funny.....like I've got a bag over my head," Seth was complaining. "Just relax and breathe... Slowly, you're going too fast," Fallen replied. Intrigued, Logan went up to the opening of the main room. He didn't enter, but hovered in the doorway, checking out what was gong on. This room was a workshop. One wall was covered with strange tools all neatly hung and arranged. A long work bench ran most of the length of the wall, leaving space for the head of a small bed in the far corner. Opposite the bed on the wall was a medium sized viewing screen. The workbench held three large computers with monitors. All were on, their screens glowing brightly with information written in symbols Logan couldn’t read. Fallen sat in a chair in front of one, her back to Logan. She was busy tapping away at a keyboard and didn't realize he was there. Maylee sat on the small bed. She didn't notice Logan either because she was too busy watching Seth. Seth stood in the middle of the room with his back to the door, appearing for all the world like a real man. He was making small movements, doing some sort slow moving dance or stretching exercises. Logan could smell everyone in the room except for Seth and he smiled when he realized what was going on. Kane was telling the truth, Seth was a hologram. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Nov 1, 2006 17:28:21 GMT -5
For the first time, Logan could see Seth's whole body. He had Fallen's bird like physique of a pilot, but he was in better physical condition so his proportions were normal. He was dressed only in a small, white brief that left almost all of his skin exposed. He would have been easily half again Fallen's body mass had he been real and he looked to be a head taller than her as well. His body was smooth white skin that graduated to soft fur at the waist which continued down his legs. He didn’t look quite right as he moved and Logan noticed that it was more like the hologram lacked detail. The image of Seth it reproduced was not as good as he appeared from the control room. It also wasn't as good as the ones back home. Seth's wings were larger than Fallen's with heavier bones and the tips of the wing fingers were clawed. His legs were bent like a cat and he had the strange pawed feet with two toes. He looked like he was having trouble balancing himself as he moved because he was wobbling on his ankles and swaying slightly. He turned his toes in, hoping for better balance, and slid the toe claws slid out, grabbing into the floor to steady himself. His arms came out at awkward angles as he wobbled all the harder. It was enough for Logan to see that Seth’s arms were human with normal hands, not furred and clawed like Fallen’s were. He was a mixture of pilot and human, just like Kimble had appeared to be. And like Kimble, Seth's hair was very long, but white, and his pony tail reached to his waist. What was most striking about him was the long Honor Sword Mark that ran the length of his torso. He was larger than Fallen so the mark was bigger. The emerald woman was bright against the black blade, and commanded attention. The blade was rippling as Seth breathed. He was now gasping for air too quickly, hyperventilating. "Slow down, Seth. Easy. Small breaths," Fallen said. Seth stopped moving and stood still with his sides heaving. "I can't get enough air!" "No, you're getting too much. Slow down." Fallen rose and went over to him. Logan could now see her computer screen. It showed a diagram of Seth that copied his movements as he made them. Fallen made Seth crouch and put his head down. She rubbed his back gently with her hands, revealing that Seth's hologram body had to be of some sort of solid construction. "Slow down. Easy now," she said and kissed him. Seth seemed to relax almost immediately with her so close. "Ahrgg! The lights are too bright or something. I don't feel right." "It's just that you're not used to it. You're trying to do too much." "This wasn't such a good idea." "Chicken," Fallen teased. "Where's your sense of adventure?" "Kimble took it," he joked, then grew serious. "I want to go back." "Not yet, don't be such a baby." She stroked the hair of his head, petting him like a dog. "I need you out so I can work on the codes. Just a few more minutes. Remember what were doing this for." She kissed him again, this time slowly and passionately on the mouth. "Okay," Seth said dreamily, enthralled by her touch and obviously wanting to please her. It was clear he was uncomfortable in this new environment, but was willing to do as she asked. She stood and went back to the computer. Seth stayed crouched down with his hands and feet on the floor. His long white pony tail slid over one shoulder and reached the floor as he caught his breath. Maylee got up and sat next to him, wanting to comfort him. Seth looked at her and smiled, happy she was there. "You going to be okay?" Maylee asked. "Yeah, just need to get used to it," he wheezed. He looked up suddenly when he noticed Logan in the doorway. He startled with a shriek and almost fell over. He slid a leg out to balance himself and tried to position himself defensively as if waiting for an attack. His toe claw was large and wicked as it tacked onto the floor. He whined like a dog as he cowered in fear. Fallen turned and saw Wolverine. "Easy, Seth. I won't let him hurt you," she promised calmly, rising quickly. She moved in between Logan and Seth, shielding him. She faced Wolverine, her chin up and hands fisted. "Can I help you with something?" "Not really. I was just wondering what you were up to." Logan entered the room, walking carefully around Fallen to get a better look at the hologram. "New toy?" he teased arrogantly. Seth still crouched as he was but balled one hand into a fist. There was no trust there. Maylee stood up, blocking Seth from Wolverine. "What do you want?" she asked a little more bravely than she felt. "Just a look at yer boy. Seems to be havin' a little trouble." "He's just learning his way around," Fallen said. "He's only been out a couple of weeks. If you're going to give us trouble you can just leave." Logan put his hands up and moved back. "Not me, ma'am." He found a chair at the work bench and sat down. Seth relaxed a little now that Logan was further away, but he was still rattled. He kept his eyes down, feeling vulnerable. He started to shake even worse. Fallen noticed and sat beside him. "Relax. Forget him." "I want to go back," he whined softly and a tear leaked out of one eye. "Not yet. Here." She reached out behind her, and using her telekinesis, floated a whiskey bottle over and a glass. She poured a small portion of the dark whiskey into the glass and held it to his lips. He sipped from it and shivered from the taste, but seemed steadier. "Better?" Fallen asked, wiping his face gently, and he nodded. "You're thinking too much. Just relax and drink." She stood up, leaving him the bottle and the glass, and went back to her computer. Logan was intrigued. Since when could holograms drink or cry? The ones back home certainly never did, why would they? They weren’t real in any physical sense. Maylee sat next to Seth again. She took out a pack of cards and shuffled them. Seth watched her with rapt attention, entranced. Her actions distracted him from Logan’s presence and he calmed quickly, focusing on what she was doing. She laid the cards out, playing a kind of solitaire. Seth pawed at the cards, he wanted to look at them. Maylee giggled and gently moved his hands away, like you would a small child. Seth laughed and made a game of it. His co-ordination wasn't that good, it was too easy for her to block him. "Teach me to play," Seth asked and listened as Maylee began to explain. Logan ignored them and leaned over to watch what Fallen was doing. Fallen noticed his curiosity and explained, "I'm working on Seth's program codes. It's a large program, he's only using half of it even now. The more codes I unlock, the more real he gets." "Why do ya want to make him real? Got plenty of Clan men around." "I like Seth better," she replied. Seth looked up at her as she spoke, but said nothing. Maylee touched him to get his attention back. Seth went back to the game, but he now had a small wistful smile on his lips. "I have no need for Clan men who are only interested in what I can do or what I possess," Fallen continued bitterly. She obviously knew about Kane's intentions. "Seth is my friend. He provides me with companionship. He accepts me for who I am, no matter what. Most importantly, he listens to me. I don't know if you're the kind of man who is capable of understanding how much just that one thing means to me." "I do understand that, darlin'. But I also believe in dealin' with reality. These things you use to escape are only good fer so long." Before Fallen could respond, Logan looked up to the doorway, his friends had arrived. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|
|
Post by squeekness on Nov 2, 2006 10:37:53 GMT -5
"Well, this is where everyone went." Fallen turned to see Beast and Gambit now standing in the doorway. Gambit looked pale and drawn, but his eyes were bright. His clothes had been cleaned and he came down in his stretch pants and black undershirt. His head wound didn’t look bad at all now, the cut looked clean and there was very little swelling in spite of the five stitches Maylee had put in. Henry had spoken. " I thought maybe you were avoiding us." Fallen laughed and waved her hand at him in invitation. "No, just working on a few things." Henry took a moment to formally introduce Remy to everyone, the boy had been too ill to really greet anyone before. Remy took in these new faces with his usual grace, nodding to them all and smiling. He took in Fallen’s pilot presence and matched it up with the one they had seen before. Seth he never questioned, figuring he was more of the same. Maylee he saw was Dognan, that wasn’t hard to miss, but he held her no ill will, already knowing she had been the one to help him before. Logan watched his teammates go through their paces with a kind of amused passivity. He knew Henry and Gambit didn't know Seth wasn't real. He said nothing, waiting to see how long it would take them to realize it. Beast entered the room and went to the other side of Fallen so he could look at her tools. He never wasted an opportunity to learn something new, especially if it involved new technology or machinery. He had figured out pretty quickly that he could learn a lot from this strange young woman they now found themselves with. Gambit walked on wobbly legs to where Seth and Maylee were playing and sat down with a sigh of relief. He was still very weak although he felt a hundred times better than he did just a short time ago. He smiled and checked out Maylee’s game, offering his hand. "Bonjour, fille. You play poker?" Maylee shook it happily. "What's poker?" "It's a game of chance. Dere's more than one way t' play." "Teach us," Seth requested, his eyes bright and eager. Gambit looked at him a little more closely and smiled. He realized now there was something odd about Seth, but he couldn't figure it out right away. There was something strange and disjointed about his eyes, his way of moving. Remy was patient, he took his time and began to explain the different games. He did this in such a way that Seth was forced to ask questions and then watched the young pilot carefully as he spoke. Like Wolverine, Gambit was very curious and observant of other people. It was a necessary part of being a charmer and a con man and was a habit he had never left behind. Gambit took Maylee's cards and looked them over before starting a game. The symbols were different but could still be used to play the games he knew. He shuffled them skillfully and dealt each of them a hand. He noticed that Seth watched the quick movements of his hands with rapt fascination as if he’d never seen anyone play cards before. Remy was fast and very skilled and he tossed the cards about with flair, showing off and having a blast. He was a sucker for an audience and was rewarded by a beaming smile from Seth, the boy was enthralled. Seth tried to pick up his cards after Remy dealt him his hand, but his fine motor skills were feeble. He had trouble getting his fingers to do what he wanted. He clumsily arranged his cards, almost dropping them. Remy waited patiently as Seth struggled and then succeeded. Seth looked at his hand of cards then leaned over to check out what Maylee had. "Hey, no cheating!" she said, laughing. Seth just smiled. It was obvious he had no clue what he was doing, but was having a grand time just the same. It was a moment later when he startled suddenly and gasped as his cards fell through his hands as if his fingers were made of air. His body flickered and he cried out in panic. "Sorry," Fallen apologized from her computer. Henry turned to look at Seth, startled by the young pilot’s response. "De’tendent, fils. Relax, little buddy. Yo’ hand wasn't dat good anyway." Gambit laughed and picked up Seth's cards, not the least bit fazed. He had already guessed Seth was less than real. "He's a hologram?" Henry gasped, surprised. The Seth personality from upstairs had been so convincing, he hadn't questioned Seth's physical presence here. "Not a very good one, I'm afraid," Fallen said. "He has difficulties." Seth slid back away, blinking. He was shaking again and started to hyperventilate with a high whistling whine. Tears flowed fresh from his eyes and he clutched at his throat with his hands as he wheezed like a frantic freight train. Fallen punched buttons quickly on her keyboard. It didn't do any good. Seth was losing it again. She got up and went to him. "Relax." "I don't want to relax!" Seth's voice trembled. He was terrified. "I want to go back!" "You're never going to get used to the sensory data if you keeping bailing out all the time." "Well, this is interesting," Henry said. "How can a program be frightened? Is it sentient?" "Something like that," Fallen replied evasively. She covered Seth's ears with her hands and made him put his head down. "Close your eyes. Think quiet thoughts." Seth obeyed her command. He closed his eyes and put his head down to the floor. He placed his slender white hands over hers so she wouldn't leave him, wanting her comforting presence close. He opened his wings slightly and lay them down, covering himself. He calmed, but it was only because she was there. " Tay kunda, Seth. Tay kunda Siska esk. Wasayachay felar delay a resk," Fallen said softly, rubbing his hands with her thumbs with genuine love and affection. She kept repeating it patiently until he was very still. She pulled away, but he didn't move. He'd fallen asleep or was in some kind of hypnotic state. His eyes were closed and his hands covered his ears. She'd made him shut out most of what was frightening him. Kimble popped up quickly on the screen across from the bed. "What’s goin’ on?" he demanded, his concern for his brother obvious. Fallen looked up at him. "He’s all right. Just freaking out a little as always. You can finish the diagnostics like I asked, Kim," she said firmly, dismissing him. "Maybe he ain’t gonner be doin’ so well with an audience around," Kimble argued, not quite so willing to leave. His eyes were on Seth, watching as his brother lay still and quiet. "I said he’s fine, Kim. Do as you’ve been told." Kimble hesitated, then scowled and clicked off. "Neat trick," Gambit commented, looking at Seth. "What did you do to ‘im?" "He gets overwhelmed. I've tried filtering the sensory data from the computer, but it doesn't work. He's part of the system and separate from it at the same time. He finds the sound of that particular phrase comforting so I use that. I can't explain why. Kimble does much better, but he's a lot more outgoing and not intimidated." "Kimble comes out, too?" Logan asked, a bit uneasy at the idea. Kimble interested him more because he appeared to be stronger, more potentially dangerous. "Yes. This program is supposed to be a full time hologram, not just a simple personality. I’ve been restoring the hologram codes, with some difficulty as you can see." "Why do you have two of them?" Henry asked. "The original program was damaged when I found it, fragmented. Kimble is what was left of the personality the program originally came with. I created Seth to bridge the gaps. That’s why he's younger and more timid. He's very intelligent, though. He interfaces better with other computers than Kimble does. He also has infinitely more patience. The program is fascinating, the way the two of them work together." "So you didn't create this program?" Henry questioned. "No, only part of it. I gave it certain characteristics like their appearance and the way they talk to a point. I haven't yet discovered just where Kimble got that horrible drawl, though. That's all him," she added with a laugh. "How do you know they aren't dangerous?" Logan asked. To read more click here: www.fanfiction.net/s/2486472/1/
|
|