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Well, during my slow days at work I've been working on a story. Beware all, it's long all ready and it's not done yet. I've just reached a writer's block. My fuzzy blue muse took a vacation for a while methinks. I'm open to feedback and ideas for where to take it, as I'd like to finish it. BTW, it's set right before the 1999 Dream?s End/Shattering (everybody thinks Xavier?s cracked, again) storyline. Here we go:
I don't belong here, he thought. This is pointless. He sighed - quietly, ever quiet, can't make noise - and settled his cleft chin on his forearms.
The room below was abuzz with activity, but he didn't see it. His mind wandered. The figures scurried from console to console, airtight suits rustling in the deafening quiet. It didn't matter. He was in England; things were so much simpler, happier, then. With his mind's eye he could see them, his team, his responsibility.
Why did I come back? He sighed again, closing his eyes; his friends were calling him. No. His eyes snapped open again. I must pay attention.
He watched the lab techs scurry below him. They looked like big white ants to him, and were about as interesting. They were slightly blurry from the biofilter and goggles he viewed them through. Really blurry, actually.
I can't see, this is ridiculous, he thought. Chewing his lip for a moment, he made his decision, peeling the dark goggles from his face. There's no way they can see my eyes way up here. All they see is what's directly in front of them, and, I think, not even that.
With an exercise of will he wasn't sure he possessed anymore he stopped his tail from switching and propped himself up on his elbows, peering down into the room. The air vent?s biofilter cast a sickly yellow light on his face, emphasizing the glow of his eyes.
This is one fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Wagner, he thought. You could have stayed in Excalibur. But no-ho, you had to come back to look for Xavier. And look what he does when you find him!
The hours ticked by slowly, he watched passively, noting the movements of a few technicians, ignoring others. At long last, the clock struck five and the whited-suited ants filed out.
Kurt backed his way down his ventilation duct. Recalling the schematic he had memorized, he counted off the sections of smooth metal in his mind. He finally stopped and produced a small metal cylinder from his belt. He depressed a button, spraying its contents into the air and teleported.
***************************
He reappeared in a dark, dank passageway under the building. Slogging through the water that perpetually stood in the storm drain he made his way to the end of the tunnel and stopped just short of the reach of the dimming light. He flipped on his image inducer and peeked outside, looking for movement or signs of discovery before making his way to the hidden car.
The hotel was miles away, and it was easier to look normal and drive than to 'port back and forth. He flipped on the radio and allowed his mind to wander as he drove.
I hope this is over soon, he thought. Charles is clearly mad. As much as I hate to admit it, that Cajun rat is right. I should be in Westchester where I could be of help. I'm clearly not learning anything here.
He had been so happy to come here three weeks ago. The professor had called him to his study late in the evening.
"Nightcrawler, I need you to do something for me," he had said. "I believe the government may have a cure to the Legacy virus. They will never share it with us after the?Onslaught incident." His mouth had twisted with his own disgust.
"What do you need, Herr Professor?"
"I need you to steal it for me."
Kurt had been shocked. Wouldn't Storm or Gambit be better suited for that, he had asked. The professor had explained that with Cyclops gone, Storm was needed here as team leader and Gambit could not be trusted. His powers, teleportation to get him in and out and near invisibility in darkness, made him the obvious choice.
Kurt had been honored that Charles had trusted him with such a task. He had not felt at home since returning to the X-Men. Charles still saw him as the naive team mascot instead of the competent former leader of Excalibur. This was his chance to prove himself to Charles. He had boarded a commercial flight to Georgia the next day.
The professor had set everything up for him. Image inducers, neutralizers to block the stench of his brimstone, surveillance and computer equipment and the schematics of his target; the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. Charles believed the cure rested there and Kurt's mission was to find it and return to Westchester with it.
Twenty-two long, disappointing days later, Kurt still made his calls to Charles nightly, but he no longer believed the cure was in the CDC. The man was rabid, insisting that it was there if he would just keep looking. He recorded all their secured phone conversations and made him follow a standard report format every night. Kurt's requests to come home or speak to Storm were flatly denied. No one knew he was in Atlanta, Charles had said. And no one would.
So Kurt carried on.
Later that night he reported to Charles in a monotone that he still could find no reference of any work being done on the Legacy virus.
"I've seen AIDS, anthrax, hanta and I got to see a big ol' vial of ebola," he laughed nervously. "But no Legacy. Professor, I..."
"Very good, Nightcrawler. Keep looking. Xavier out." Click.
"...was wondering if you fell on your head recently," he finished with a dispirited growl.
He went to bed shortly after that. His dreams were filled with dark air ducts. He was lost. He couldn?t remember the way out and he couldn't teleport. He was burning up, infected with a dozen diseases. He would die in those ducts. No one would look for him; no one would ever know where he was. He would die alone, and not even Charles Xavier cared.
He woke in a cold sweat. Sleep never returned.
***************************
He had passed this particular vent every day on his way to spy on the top-secret labs. He had no idea why he stopped to look this time. Boredom maybe, or a desire to see other people. People not cocooned in white plastic body bags.
Stop it, Wagner, he thought. You're being morbid.
But he couldn't shake the sinking feeling he had had ever since that dream last night. He shuddered, fingering the biofilter mask he had slung around his neck this morning. He had quit wearing it after the first week, once he learned the vent he perpetually hid behind was already filtered. But today, after that dream, he needed the reassurance of the mask. He'd be damned if he was going to die in here!
He crept up to the vent and peered in; the room was mostly empty except for row upon row of caged mice and a computer console next to a long table. A refrigerator, some unidentifiable lab equipment and a few file cabinets were the only other furniture.
He looked at those mice and shuddered again.
That's me, he thought. Trapped, caged like an animal, running this metal maze every day for a madman...
He dropped his train of thought as two people entered the room. They were chatting about their breakfasts, bantering like old friends.
The man was tall and thin with a bookwormish air, his hair was shot through with gray and his glasses kept sliding down his long nose. The woman looked small beside him, her short black hair obscured most of her face from his angle of view.
They puttered about the room for a few moments, donning lab coats, talking to the mice and fiddling with, what looked like to Kurt, a huge baby incubator. The woman picked a cage of mice from the wall and placed it in the incubator. She sealed the door and pressed a button as the man scribbled on a pad.
Kurt watched with horrified interest as the mice dropped one by one.
"Huh, definitely not an incubator...." he whispered to himself.
He jumped at a loud pop and the woman slapped a red button, panicking as a gasket on the incubator blew off. The man rushed to the wall immediately next to Kurt's hiding place. Kurt began to back up but he was to late; with a clunk and a whoosh of air the emergency fan kicked on, blowing air that smelled of ozone into his face at a gale force.
"Oh, shit..."
He didn't even have time to teleport. The gas began to fill the duct with each grinding whir of the fan. Kurt scrambled to pull his filtration mask up over his mouth but his fingers were already turning to lead. His lungs burned. The last thoughts to pop into his mind as he felt himself lose control of his limbs were that he just knew this would happen. It just figur...
The scientists jumped at the loud thud and groan that seemed to come from inside the wall behind them.
"Uh-oh..." the woman's eyes were wide above her gas mask.
***************************
The man pulled the panel beside the vent away with a grunt of effort.
"Let's see what we've got in he...." he trailed off as the light of his companion's flashlight illuminated the unconscious figure in the duct.
"Wow." Dr. Alyza Stewart was speechless. She trained her flashlight onto the body's face. Words continued to elude her.
"What is that thing?" her associate, Dr. Steven Woodbine, was obviously repulsed and frightened by what he saw.
"That 'thing' is a man," Alyza looked at her friend with a flash of annoyance. "I think," she muttered under her breath as she ducked her head and eased into the tiny crawlspace, reaching her hand out to check his pulse. It was steady.
"Are you sure you should do that?"
"Oh, give over, Steve!" she rounded on him, blue eyes flashing with anger. "Isn't it obvious? He's just a mutant, help me get him out of here."
With a grumble, Steve reached into the space and pulled Kurt out by the ankles, starting when he noticed the unusual three-toed feet. Alyza worked her way behind him and grabbed his shoulders, trying to keep her block-headed friend from bumping the man's skull against the floor.
They struggled him onto a table and stood back for a moment to look at their find.
"We should call security."
"Hmmm, yeah. We'll wait."
"Wait!" Alyza's cold glare stopped him from completing his outburst.
"He was in the wall for a reason, and I want to know why. Besides, we knocked him out; the least we can do is make sure we didn't hurt him."
Steve didn't move, he stared at the man with fascinated horror. Alyza smirked and turned her eyes back to the table. The man wasn't overly tall, taller than her, but shorter than Steve's towering six feet, anyway. He was clad head to toe in flat black, a utility belt circled his narrow waist, dark goggles and a small filtration device of some sort hung around his neck. The black material was stretchy and clung to his well-toned body. The only exposed skin was on his face. Pointed ears poked out from curly indigo hair. She edged closer to the table, leaning over to examine him. She ignored Steve's low warning.
Idiot, she thought. My God, he is blue! I thought so, but in the dark I wasn't sure. His face looks kind of, furry... She reached a tentative hand out to touch him.
She stifled a screech when Steve grabbed her wrist.
"At least wear gloves, 'Lyza."
She jerked her arm away and laid her hand on the man's forehead.
He is furry! She peeled his eyelid back to check his pupilary response and gasped.
"What?"
"Look...no pupils!"
She stepped back, allowing Steve to see the man's solid yellow eye.
"Oh, my..."
She looked at Steve's pale face for a moment and turned back to the table. She checked his other eye with the same result.
Well that won't help me any, she thought. How unusual. I've never seen such an obvious mutant. There's something familiar about him...
"He has a tail," Steve's voice was strained. "We really need to call security."
"We will not! Not until I get to talk to him!" She reached into the pocket of her lab coat, pulling out a syringe. "I'm giving him the counter agent."
Steve clamped his mouth shut and watched her administer the shot to the unconscious man. She stepped back, flipping the spent needle into the biohazard tub.
"Unnngghhh...was?" Kurt slowly opened his eyes and blinked, trying to remember what had happened to him. Was he dead? It was awfully bright. Oh, the duct...right. Oh, shit. He leapt off the table and into an immediate defensive crouch.
He wavered a bit, still woozy from the gas, as he surveyed the room and its shocked occupants. The man looked ready to soil himself, eyes wide and face almost transparent. The woman looked just as concerned for her shaking colleague as for the mutant crouching on the floor in front of her. He knew he should teleport away but he wanted a few more moments to regain his bearings before making the jump. He tried his best to look threatening, baring his teeth in a silent snarl. The woman took a hesitant step toward him.
"Hello.... what were you doing in our wall?" She extended a hand to him, palm down, fingers curled under to protect them.
Kurt fought the urge to laugh. Nice puppy, he thought. At least she looks friendly, but I think I should make my exit now. Might as well give them a show.
Kurt gathered himself and with a smile he could no longer contain he straightened to his full height. He flashed a wink at the woman and turned the full force of his golden glare on the man. He feinted a little jump toward the man, who squeaked quite shrilly.
"Boo!"
He teleported, the man's screams echoing in his ears.
"Wow," Alyza blinked at the cloud of sulphurous smoke as Steve fainted dead away.
**************************
Welllll.....that's what I've got so far, adonde vamos de aqui? What should I do next? Does it just suck? It's the longest thing I've ever written and one reason I tried it was to see if I could sustain a plot and keep up pacing over a longer story. I usually do short well but I dunno about this.....
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
[This message has been edited by Slartibartfast (edited December 26, 2000).]
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http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/eek.gif SLARTI!! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/eek.gif
Although i'm sorely tempted to, I wont go into my usual gushing-with-praise mode ... but SLARTIBARTFAST I will tell you that I was SO completely pulled into your story. You made me feel like I was right there next to Kurt! He is such the good little soldier... you had me feeling sympathy for him as well as giggling over his frustration at the same time! ( the last exchange between him and Xavier cracked me up!)
I am amazed at your ability...pacing...characterization...the way you set up a scene... WUNDERBARR.
This is almost EXACTLY the direction I envisioned the other fan fic taking after the first few passages! BRAVO SLARTI! (Geez, I said I wouldnt gush, but dangit I cant help it!) Suffice to say i'm hooked and EAGERLY anticipating your next entry... http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif!
BAMF!
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?Estupendo! eso era muy bueno!! me gusta, me gusta!! That didnt suck-not at all..I'd start to gush like BAMF but that seems a bit legnthy, so can I just say ditto?
Um, one question though-and I guess this goes to everyone, but what is with the dashed lines with the quotes and what not beneith them? http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/confused.gif is it just extra text for flavor or what not? or maybe I'm just being thick t'day
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Another fine story from Slartibartfast, award winning designer of Norway's crinkly edges and writer of excellent fanfic!
BTW, is someone going to write another installemnt of the other fanfic. It really ended on a cliffhanger.
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It's all you need in superheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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I'll probably write more over there as soon as my cable modem is back to working order. I spoiled myself getting that thing and I don't have the patience to upload anything longer than this with this 56K piece of crap.
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All hail Slart! High poobah o' fanfic!
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I finally got around to sticking around here long enough to read it, and I must say that it kicks, Slarti! I want to read the next part!
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WOW Slar! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/eek.gif
Your writing is becoming positively addictive!Claremont who? http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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`~`~`Dragonlady`~`~`
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Looks like your next award won't be for designing scandinavian countries' circumfrances!!!! Keep it up, but don't forget us lesser scribes on the old fan fic. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/tongue.gif
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Keep It Safe In The
Kitchen!
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ovenmitboy:
Looks like your next award won't be for designing scandinavian countries' circumfrances!!!! Keep it up, but don't forget us lesser scribes on the old fan fic. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/tongue.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif!
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Danke, all! I've been actually working this week OMIGOSH! NOOO! so I havenae been around much, I've got some more written and I'm waiting until I get a bit more done before I post.
But for now I'm gonna be real drunk for a day or so. *reaching for another Guiness* CHEERS! *hic*
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
I'll be around New Year's Day, after I wake up anyways!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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Hey Slar,I just realized that you might have been offended by my last comment considering your disatisfaction with CCs current run.I meant Claremonts glory days ofcourse. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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`~`~`Dragonlady`~`~`
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Naaaa!Don't sweat it Drags, I knew what ya meant. Thanks. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
'sides, it's almost impossible to offend me...thick skull, thick skin!
I'll probably post another chunk o'story tonight, BTW.
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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Hey, guys, I'm getting Spidey sense! I get this cool tingly feeling whenever my boss is coming! Now I can write fic at work to my heart's content! BWAHAHAHA! Or maybe it's all the bad coffee...anyways, I've got my own office so I can hide pretty well but my boss likes to pop in a lot. I keep my work stuff on top of my fic on the desktop so I can flip back and forth; it sure makes the day go faster.
Well, anyhoo, here we go...
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Kurt reappeared a split-second later in the storm drain below the building. He laughed hysterically, doubling over with his hands braced on his knees when he ran out of air. Those stunned faces had been worth it.
I'm in it deep now, he thought, regaining control of himself. I'm going back to the hotel. I can't stay here; I'll have to lay low for a couple days until I can find out how much damage I did.
He was not too concerned with his blown cover. Xavier could rave like the lunatic he had become as far as he was concerned. It had felt good to laugh like that. It had been needed therapy.
He checked for watchers and made his way to the car, flipping on his image inducer. No one would connect him with the blue demon haunting the building.
In fact, the day was young; he impulsively decided to drive around and sightsee for a while before reporting to Xavier. He stifled a giggle as the man's face, as white as his lab coat, rose into his mind again.
That was just too fun, he thought. Too bad I'll pay for it later.
**************************
Dr. Stewart stroked the mouse in her hand absently. It had been no surprise to her that Steve had called in sick today. She had revived him yesterday with little trouble but he had been hysterical, raving about demons. The sulphurous smell had mostly dissipated by then and once he calmed down he insisted that it had all been a hallucination brought on by the gas leak. The only evidence of the blue shadow man's presence was the displaced wall panel leaning against the table leg. She had sent Steve home and replaced the panel, leaving for home herself shortly after she reported the accident with the gas.
Her superiors had not been overly concerned with an anesthetic gas leak and she had not mentioned the man. No one would believe her, there was no proof and, she told herself in a small voice, you want to investigate this yourself.
So she stood in the same room as yesterday, petting a mouse and staring at the wall pensively.
"What do you think, Pinky?" she held the tiny white mouse up to eye level. "Should I forget it, pretend it didn't happen? It wasn't a dream, was it? Should I report it? Should I pull that panel back off and look? Tell me."
The young mouse's pink nose twitched, gossamer whiskers shimmering. She sighed and placed him back into his cage with his littermates, picking up the flashlight on the table.
"Yup, that's what I thought too."
She approached the wall and loosened the panel. She set it down and shined her light inside. Nothing. She ducked her head and crawled in.
"Ugh, how could he stand this?"
She was smaller than the blue-skinned man had been and she could barely maneuver in the semi-darkness. She crawled to the end of the duct and shined her light up and down the converging tunnels. Marks disturbed the dust everywhere she looked. Marks from a body sneaking up and down the ducts. It seemed her shadow man had been skulking in the dark for a long time.
She had no room to turn around so she backed down the duct to her lab. As she passed the emergency fan the beam of her flashlight glinted off something caught near the base of one of the blades.
"Aha, what have we here..." she picked the curly hairs off of the screw head and inspected them with her flashlight. They were dark blue.
Some minutes later she looked up from the microscope with a smile.
"Human," she murmured to the mice. "I knew it."
She had checked the files for any experimental projects or escaped test animals and had come up empty-handed, as she had expected. She knew a human, even an odd-looking one, when he stood up and smiled at her. Intelligence and humor had shined in those strange eyes in the moment before he had disappeared into thin air. He had obviously been taunting Steve. She was sure he had winked at her before he "attacked" him. He could speak, as evidenced by his "boo" and the muttering he had done before he had fully awakened. It had sounded foreign to her; maybe he was a spy.
Now that worried her. Perhaps she should report it. Something about him niggled at her memory though. Something she had seen on the news? But there was a national security concern. She made her decision.
**************************
Another day, another dollar, Kurt thought as he edged up the air duct. The professor hadn't said much, except that he hadn't been uncovered. Kurt doubted that and had been loath to go back to his sneaking but the professor had been adamant. So here he was, inching along in the dark again.
He paused by the duct leading to the lab where he had his little encounter two days ago. I will stop by and peek in on my way back out, he decided.
He spent the day at his familiar vent in the top-secret area. He had hacked into the computers again last night, using every trick he could recall from Kitty and Forge. If there was a secret cure to the Legacy virus anywhere, he could not find it. His midnight sorties into the labs over the last weeks had come up empty-handed and his paranoia of infection while he tripped through deep-freezers had stopped him from continuing. So he watched the labs in the day and raided the computers in the night from his hotel.
This day had been particularly long and he was softly humming a tune to himself as he backed down the duct. There had been no occurrences of note today and he was anxious to get back to his room. He was hungry and there was a good movie on TNT tonight.
If he had been more careful, he may have realized the trap he was backing into but Alyza had made sure she was perfectly quiet.
She lay in the duct that led to her lab for the last two hours. She knew he was in here, she had listened to him whisper to himself all day via a hidden microphone she placed at the junction of the two ducts. She could make out no words, but only a steady stream of chatter.
She heard the low swish of the fabric of his clothing against the metal as he backed toward her. He was singing to himself now. Was this safe? Perhaps he was insane, she thought. Lying here for two hours had nearly done her in; he had obviously been here for days, perhaps weeks. What if he was unhinged, dangerous?
Her heart thumped in her chest and she was seized by the fear that he could hear it. Who knew what powers he had?
But the humming continued, punctuated by a soft laugh. Lost in his own world, he didn't hear her. He was nearly down to her duct now. Her plan seemed so weak now; last night, staring up sleeplessly at her ceiling it had seemed clever enough. But not now, not in the dark.
She could see movement in front of her now. He was backing past her adjoining duct. Her night-vision goggles made his legs glow a ghostly green, a torso inched into view and she held her breath as his face appeared, not a yard away from hers. He was still humming. She licked her lips.
"Y.... you may as well just stop there."
Kurt nearly jumped out of his skin at the weak voice in the darkness. As it was he cracked his skull on the top of the duct, making it and his head ring like the inside of a bell. Vision clearing almost instantly, he heard a gasp as he swiveled his face toward the voice.
The man's eyes glowed a burning, ghastly green through her goggles as he studied her. She had winced when he hit his head, partly from guilt and partly fear. Now his eyes bored into her, his lips were peeled back, exposing bright fanged canines against his dark face. The eyes narrowed, and to her shock, he smiled.
"Ah, it's you again."
It was her turn to jump. His accent was now obvious: German. She fought her stomach out of her throat and wracked her brain.
"I'll ask you again," there, she thought, that sounds pretty steady. "What are you doing in my wall."
"I won't be here for long."
Blinded by a bright flash of light, she choked on the sudden cloud of sulphurous smoke. A sound like a muffled explosion echoed throughout the duct, followed by an answering report directly behind her. Oh, no, she thought.
She froze. She couldn't go further into the ducts; she would soon be hopelessly lost. If he was behind her, she couldn't go back to her lab. He had her caged. Cold terror gripped her spine, what would he do to her.
Stupid, she thought. He'll kill you? or worse. Her throat spasmed as the accented voice called out from the room behind her.
"Come on out, I'm not going to hurt you."
She found her voice. "I have a gun," she lied.
He sighed. "I would never harm a hair on your head, but I would not appreciate being shot full of holes. I've only got so many of these stylish cat-burglar outfits, you know."
What? She had no choice. She scooted backward as quickly as she could, planning to duck out of the vent and break for the door.
He had switched the lights in the lab out. The mice in their tiny cages glowed like green stars against the dark walls. She couldn't see him anywhere now. Straightening, she prepared to bolt for the door
The hand that clamped over her mouth cut off her scream and she fought the arm that closed around her waist. Trying to bite the hand across her mouth, she twisted, bringing her foot up, preparing to crush his instep. Her assailant simply lifted her off her feet, she found herself crushed against a hard body, her head pressed back onto his shoulder. Her cheek was smashed against his. Her eyes wide, she went limp, trying to buy time for another escape.
"I'm truly sorry for this. I swear, I will not hurt you."
The vibration of his voice in her back made her whimper pleadingly. Her heart thudded violently in her ears.
"When I release you, you will not scream. I will answer your questions and you will answer mine, ja? But I must take this."
She felt her night-vision goggled pulled from her eyes as he released her. She spun and caught a flash of yellow eyes before they winked out.
"Now, why were you stalking me?" The voice came from the ceiling, almost directly above her. With a stifled screech she ran blindly into the room, crashing headlong into the table.
I'm going to die?her thoughts faded as the blackness in her head matched that of the room.
**************************
I killed her, Kurt thought, dropping from the ceiling to land, catlike, on his feet. Good move, Wagner, you scared her to death. I couldn't take the chance that she had a gun, though.
He dropped into a crouch, checking her pulse. Gently, he prodded her head and neck for injuries. Sighing with relief, he picked her up like a rag doll. Her head lolled against his chest. He laid her down on the table and stepped back, considering his options.
She's breathing okay, he thought, crossing his arms. If I leave now, she'll wake up with a headache and report me or she'll just keep stalking me. Or she'll need therapy after what I did to her.
He winced at the thought. I'll stay, he decided, flipping the light on. At least until she wakes up.
To be continued....
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Ooookay, we're gonna make this interactive. Oooh, how "digital age" of me...
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
It's a choose-your-own-adventure!
Do you all want:
A- The nosy doc to report Kurt
B- The nosy doc to team up with Kurt
C- Something nasty to happen. No, not that kind of nasty! You dirty, dirty people! Well, if you insist...
D- none of the above...something else entirely (make suggestions)
Tell me and I'll write it! We sure don't have to stay with any continuity...the other fic sure didn't and it was, like, way kewl!
Later, 'gaters!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
[This message has been edited by Slartibartfast (edited January 04, 2001).]
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http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/eek.gifSlar you are definately feeding my addiction until Febuarys new "Evolution" episodes.Your a lifesaver! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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`~`~`Dragonlady`~`~`
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COOL!!! I love it! Please sir, may I have some more? Where do I get off quoting Oliver Twist? Anyway, it kicks a$$. More please.
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Great work, Slarti!
Lessee, I think I'd like to order a combo platter: Maybe the doc at first is determined to report Kurt, so he has to abduct her. Then he manages to persuade her to help him (that charming rascal http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif). And then let's have that nasty thing as a side dish.
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It's all you need in superheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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Ooh. I'll have what she's having. But super size my nasty...just kidding. But I had to say it. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
I'm loving this story. Action, romance, cute little mice, furry blue guy, it's got it all.
Kahlana
[This message has been edited by Kahlana (edited January 04, 2001).]
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Spatula Gal:
Great work, Slarti!
Lessee, I think I'd like to order a combo platter: Maybe the doc at first is determined to report Kurt, so he has to abduct her.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Danke! Your suggestion is most spooky...as you'll find out when ya'll read my next part that I started writing today. Great minds think alike. http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
Vote people! I won' write no more 'til you vote!
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kahlana:
Ooh. I'll have what she's having. But super size my nasty... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
LOL! Naughty girls...
Hey i'm with SPATULA and KC! I wanna see Kurt 'ooze' some of that 'tuetonic charm' on the good Doctor....
BAMF!
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But don't go writing him as seducing her just to get info out of her. That's Gambit's thing and I don't think the fuzzy elf would (I hate to say it, but it's true) "stoop" to that level.
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It's all you need in superheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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Ditto SPATULA GAL! Kurt's more of a charmer than a seducer ..despite her fear the Doc seems to be expressing MORE than just scientific curiosity towards Kurt. I'm sensing kind of an attraction between the two.(?)
That and the fact that the Fuzzy Elf really has a way with words might be enough to sway the Doc...
BAMF!
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Okay, I told you this story rocks right??? Can I put what's up here on my site? PLEASE? I agree with Spatula Gal and Bamf! Kurt wouldn't do that. Gambit would, and have way too much fun doing it.
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Can I just say this is soooo good. I don't have any ideas about where it should go, but I'll let you know if I do http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif Just wanted to register my appreciation.
-Rex
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So I take it the answer is "B"
Good! I'm writing furiously in my lil' office. I moved my desk so the boss can't see my screen when I'm flipping between my work and my fun.
Oh, don't worry, I'll never get the Cajun and Mr. Tuetonic Charm confused. I sometimes like Gambit but I always thought he was a bit of a second-rate copy of Kurt. What with the agility and charm and all.
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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I feel another Nightcrawler fling coming on when I read this. The combo thing is a good idea, but that woman isn't getting away without a blue fuzzy kiss!!!
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Good! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif I like Gambit just fine, but there is just something about Fuzzy Elf. Maybe it's the fur.....
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'Pardon my french' SLARTI but this is SSOOOO friggin' good! Where do you get your knack for pacing and characterization? AMAZING!
And did you say you'll be finishing this story soon?! NNNOOOOO!!!
(Just teasing http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif . I know it eventually has to come to some sort of conclusion. It's just that i've become kind of attatched to/intrigued by the ever-curious Dr. Stewart!)
BAMF!
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The saga continues...I promise to wind this up soon...
*********************
"Uhhhghhh...."
Alyza Stewart opened her eyes slowly. Her head hurt. She realized with one part of her mind that she should be afraid. She was lying flat on her back on a hard surface. As best as she could tell she was whole and unharmed, so far.
I must check, she thought fuzzily. If that shadow-demon-man-thing is still here. I'm still alive, so he either was telling the truth that he won't hurt me. Or he's waiting until I wake up to toy with me...
She sat up, her heart leaping into her throat. The shadow man perched across from her on a tall stool. His toes were wrapped around the round edges of the seat and his tail twined around one of the rungs. He looked relaxed, his forearms resting on his knees and a look of...was it concern?...on his alien face.
"What are you going to do to me..."
"Nothing. I will not hurt you. I'm sorry for...earlier."
"You tried to kill me!"
"No. You said you had a gun. I was making sure you didn't do something rash."
"You wanted to shoot me with it you mean! But I doubt you need a gun."
"Nein, I don't. But not for the reason you imagine."
"Hmmph! Just kill me and get it over with!"
"I know you're not going to believe me, but I'm one of the good guys." A faint smile split his dark face.
"I know who you are."
He cocked his head, still smiling. "Do you indeed?"
"You're an X-Man."
"Am I?" His expression didn't change.
"Well, you're a mutant."
"Ahh, and a fine specimen, at that," his smile melted away. "Is that why you were waiting for me? Did you want to cage me like these poor mice? Gas me again and maybe slice me up to see how I tick?"
"No... I was just curious. The gas was an accident. I'm sorry about that, truly."
"I believe you," his smile returned. Hopping down from the stool, he extended a three-fingered hand to her. "Let me help you off there."
She regarded his hand for a moment. Her eyes traveled up his arm to his dark face. His smile broadened, yellow eyes danced.
"I won't bite. I much prefer aiding damsels in distress than causing that distress."
She took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. Her head spun for an instant. Staggering, she reached out to the table and gripped Kurt's arm to steady herself.
Voices rose in the hallway outside, quickly becoming louder as they approached the lab. Kurt looked at the still-shaking woman and then nervously back at the door.
I can't leave her here now, he thought. Not before I talk to her. With a last glance at the door he slid his arm around her.
"Sorry, those friends of yours out there are going to make a lier of me."
With another short-lived and indignant screech from Alyza, they disappeared in a flash and bang.
**************************
"You bastard!"
"Again, I'm sorry. I can't be discovered and I just couldn't leave you there. The dizziness will pass."
The room spun around her, bracing herself against something...wet!...she raised her head to roughly where his voice came from.
"What... did... you do to me?"
"I teleported you, it's one of my powers. You'll be fine in a moment."
She glared up at him from the ground. Kurt reached down to her, intending to help her up again. She staggered to her feet unaided and ripped her arm away from his hand.
"Oh, no, not again you don't! Bugger off!"
Kurt backed away from the irate woman, a smile playing on his lips again at her explicative and the low stream of frantic curses she directed at him. She straightened her all-black clothes with impatient tugs, trying in vain to brush herself off. Pushing her dark hair from her eyes, she paused in her muttering tirade, looking around at the dank, dim tunnel. The walls shined wetly and a horrible smell hung in the air like an icor.
"Where the hell are we?"
"Under the building. Now, I think we need to be properly introduced, ja?"
"As I said earlier, I know who you are."
"Yes, an X-Man. How did you come to that conclusion?"
Ahh, now to test the hypothesis, Alyza thought. I sure hope I'm right. I have no choice now...God only knows where we really are.
"You're not just an X-Man...I went to university in England."
Now that got him, she thought, watching his eyes widen for just an instant before he schooled his features. He has to be him. How many mutants are there that match his description. He has, aside from that horrid trip, done nothing to harm me. But do I trust him?
"Are you, by any chance, aquainted with a chap named Captain Britain?"
Uh-oh, Kurt thought. She really did recognize me. Is that why she didn't turn me in? On the other hand; maybe an insider is just what I need... a cute insider at that. He grinned broadly.
"Ja, I was best man at his wedding."
"I knew it! You're Nightcrawler."
He flourished a bow and took her hand, kissing it before she could pull it away.
"At your service. And you are?"
"Alyza Stewart. I research the effects of the hanta virus on mice. I don't slice things up," she shot him another glare. "What were you doing in my wall?"
Kurt sighed. "My, you've got a one-track mind," he shifted his weight, folding his arms across his chest. "Why didn't you report me? How did you recognize me?"
"You rather stand out in a crowd."
"Indeed," he smiled, bright teeth flashing.
"As for the other," she hesitated, rubbing her hands together; it was chilly in the sewer. Or where ever we are, she thought. "I told you, I was curious. I've seen mutants before, but none like you. Once I realized who you were, I knew you were supposed to be a hero. I figured you had a good reason, or at least an interesting one, for slinking around here. So, I ask again, what were you doing in my wall?"
"Top secret. If I told you, I'd have to kill you," he frowned slightly. "I'm just kidding about the killing."
"Tell me, maybe I can help you. I think you are telling the truth."
"You do? That's rare. I'm looking for something."
"I know that. A person? A thing? What?"
"Something of import to mutants."
"Tell me."
"If you are serious, I will speak to you about it later. I must go now," he stopped her protest with a look. "Don't worry, I will not leave you here. Give me your phone number and I will call you. Now, take my arm and I'll get you out of here."
******************
Okey...I'm writing the end of this little saga now. Hang loose, peeps.
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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I love it Slart! Question: is Alysa related to Alistair and his sister (forgot her name) from Excal? They were named Stewart weren't they?
Woohoo, Kurt think she's cute! Next thing you know he'll slather her in honey and lick it off...oh wait...getting fanfics mixed up here.
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It's all you need in superheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Spatula Gal:
I love it Slart! Question: is Alysa related to Alistair and his sister (forgot her name) from Excal?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Her name was Alysande, wasn't it?
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HEY! THAT'S MY FIC!! LOL http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif Nice ta know ya like it.
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I got the name from a newspaper, its not a real person but an analgam of two people. I forgot that their last name was Stuart!
No honey...maybe whipped cream?
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BAMF!:
... Suffice to say i'm hooked and EAGERLY anticipating your next entry... http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
SLARTIBARTFAST I'm dying for your next installment! http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif
BAMF!
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ME TOO!!!
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It's all you need in souperheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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Yeah, I've got a bunch written but as some of ya'll know, I was dying of the super flu last week. Now that I'm all better I'll get some more stuff up and bring this puppy home.
I think we need to do another round robin! That last one was fun but it just kinda petered out. Anybody else think we need another?
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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Hows that fanfic comin' along, Slarti?
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It's all you need in souperheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
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Here we go again...
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"Here is your toy back."
The night-vision goggles dropped onto the table in front of her with a clattering thud as a man slid into the opposite chair and smiled across at her. She blinked at him uncertainly.
"Don't recognize me, do you?"
Alyza started at the familiar voice. It was Nightcrawler. She looked him up and down, smiling despite herself.
"Cat got your tongue?" His smile broadened. "Or you just like what you see?"
"It's fascinating. Are you a shapeshifter too?"
"Ach, no. This is an image inducer; I can look like anyone I choose with it." He pulled a small device from his belt, holding it up to her. It looked like a pager. Her eyes slid past it to his fingers, they split unnaturally between his middle and ring fingers.
They're like his real fingers, she thought. She held her own hand up to him, fingers split in the same fashion as his.
"Live long and prosper," she giggled.
He looked down at his own hand, chuckling.
"Ja, it has its limitations. You have a sense of humor, how excellent."
"Of course I do. But back to this. Who makes them, is it a hologram?"
"Stark Industries makes them," he clipped it back on his belt, settling back into the chair. "Ja, it's just a form of hologram. If you touched me, I'd still be furry. On this setting, this is how I would look as a 'normal' human. I used to use it to look like Errol Flynn."
"Really."
"Ja."
"So, are you going to tell me yet?"
"Nope," he picked a menu off the table. "We're going to eat first."
"That's what I was afraid of."
She watched him bury his nose in the menu and picked up her own with a sigh. Surreptitiously, she studied him.
***************************
She leaned over the laptop, cooing at it as if it were a living thing.
"This technology is amazing, where did you get it?"
"I can't give away all our secrets, now can I?"
I already have given away most of them, he thought, watching her gush over the small computer. Should I have? He had told her as much of his mission as he had dared. He had watched the restaurant for hours before he entered, it had been of his choosing, but he had wanted to be absolutely sure he could trust her. She had apparently told no one of their meeting and his phone call to her last night had been untraceable. After several hours, and glasses of wine, at the restaurant he had decided she was trustworthy enough to bring back to his hotel.
Alyza tore her gaze away from the computer. Refilling her wineglass, she looked at the dark-haired man in the chair beside her. His eyes look so far away, she thought. He just doesn't look right like that.
"Kurt?"
He had even told her his real name.
"Ja?"
"I want to see you without the image thingie."
"You do, do you?"
"Yeah."
"There, better?"
"You are so amazing. I can't believe that we humans are so dumb to not embrace diversity like this. Like my associate, Steve, he was so scared of you that I think, if I hadn't been there, that you would be dissected by now. Mutant hatred and misunderstanding like that is just inexcusable, especially in a doctor. We're all only human."
"If only all humans were like you."
"Maybe, someday, we will be."
"Ja...it's a dream of mine," he trailed off, his thoughts with his friends in Westchester, the cheap hotel wineglass tipping, forgotten in his hand. "And of other people."
She took the glass from his hand before he spilled the wine. He looked at it, aghast that he had been so distracted. Smiling, he looked up at her with a thank you on his lips.
She stopped his words with her own lips. After a moment, he drew back
"That was nice."
"Ja," he smiled again.
"Are you angry?"
He wrapped his arms around her in reply, returning her kiss with passion.
**********************
Kurt held the heavy curtain back with one finger. He was mostly in the shadows; no one outside could see him. If they are up this early, he thought. I should have gotten some sleep last night. I can't afford to be tired. The rising sun lit his eyes with amber fire.
He closed them, enjoying the feel of the morning light on his face. There is such beauty in the world, he thought. Sometimes I forget to experience it anymore. We X-Men are so hung up on our problems that we don't see the good we sometimes do. One by one, humans like Alyza do see us as fellows. She looks at me and sees a man, not just a mutant. That one simple fact justifies the sacrifices we make. God works His wonders in the most unexpected places.
The clearing of a feminine throat woke him from his thoughts.
"I'll help you on one condition."
He turned away from the window, smiling down at her. "And what's that?"
"Well, I don't like it here. I won't be able to stay after this. Eventually, they'll figure out that I'm the one who helped you, right?" Alyza sat up in her chair, watching him out of the corner of her eyes.
"Ja...I suppose."
"Take me back with you, to the X-Men."
He shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. "I don't know about that. You see, it's complicated. You're not a mutant, but that isn't the real reason-"
Her face falling, her eyes dropped to the patterned carpet. "Is it...what happened..."
"No!"
"...because I understand if it is. I shouldn't have. It was probably the wine."
"Nein." He dropped into a crouch before her. Lifting her chin with one hand, he gazed into her eyes. "That's not it at all. We are having...difficulties. Difficulties that I can't go into. It has nothing to do with us...er, you. The wine? Why, do you regret it?"
"No, not at all. You can't tell me?"
"No, I'm sorry..."
"We'll talk about it after I help you..." She smiled, brushing a lock of blue-black hair out of his eyes. "Who knows, I may not be any help after all."
"Well, for good or ill, we'll find out the truth today."
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Okie day. I'm getting ready to wind this up, any requests? Comments? Criticisms?
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~Award-winning designer of Norway's lovely crinkly edges.~
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Once again Slarti, Great Stuff!
I can't think of much in the way of requests for now. I do hope the doctor doesn't have a bad end, since she's probably endangering herself.
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It's all you need in souperheroes and haute cuisine:
Culinary_X
