Guys... Waya reached out telepathically to alert the others. There was a very small chance of everyone being asleep. She was quite sure Eliza would be awake at least.
It's show time.
"Man it's been a while since we wore these things. Any chance we can get new fittings for these from Mr. Richards later?"
Jayden asked, pulling out a wedgie from his x-suit.
"I'm afraid we've grown it seems." added Jaden.
"I'd say they probably just shrank in wash guys."
Rhydian told the twins, coming up from behind them, adjusting his own collar which suddenly seemed a bit tighter as well.
Maribel walked into the entrance hall, feeling very akward. She had to make some last minute modifications to her suit, accompanying her newly found appendages, hands and feet. Basically she just folded the neck area down and didn't wear the boots or gloves. Something would have to be done however as her mutation progressed. Never the less, she felt uncomfortable in this wet suit. You could see
every curve of her form. It was a bit strange.
Phinagin arrived a few seconds later. He looked grim in his x-suit. "I still prefer my suits over this." he said as he joined up with everyone else, but as far from Rhydian as possible.
Junior came down through the ceiling as he usually did, also dressed in his uniform, which was just a pair of pants really. "So where's Waya?"
The twins looked around. She had ditched the two of them earlier on in a fury and they hadn't seen her since. "Sure she'll show up if things go down." they said together. "Maybe."
"She will"
Eliza said confidently, coming through the door and pulling her suit into a more comfortable position. "We just need someone down there to keep the defences up and running" and to keep Waya away from the Sentinels.
The boys didn't say anything. Waya had confessed to being scared of those things to them earlier today and they werent about to spill the beans in front of the others.
Maribel tapped on Eliza's shoulder. 'Those robot things can take down whatever is coming, right?'
"Ummm... look, those things can either be the most efficient killing machines in the world... or they become scrap metal real soon"
Eliza said, honesty getting the better of her "either way... They buy time."
"I don't think you guys are giving the O.N.E.s enough credit. These guys are trained for this sort of thing."
Rhydian explained, "Unless the dude is like Magneto, they should do a pretty good job of it."
"Or Wolverine... or Sebastion Shaw... or the Hulk... or... look, they haven't had the best track record have they?"
Eliza pointed out to Rhydian "I'm glad they're here but I'm not going to lie about the chances."
"She's got a point."
Junior said. "They might be hollowed out for pilots, but they have no idea what they're up against."
"Neither do we. I mean seriously, all we know is that somebody is coming for us. We don't even know why. For all we know, the guy could be wanting to join up and SHIELD's got it wrong. It wouldn't be the first time either..."
Rhydian pointed out
"Yea, and he wants to join so much that he has hospitalized a few people to show his dedication."
Phinagin said with a sneer. "Shouldn't we be outside?"
"Or weren't we supposed to wait until the sentinels did their thing?"
"We may be in the way. If we are needed, we should leave. Or was something else worked out, Rhydian?" the
twins asked.
"The O.N.E. are here for our protection. They requested we stay put until they take care of the situation. At least,t hat's their standing orders from SHIELD."
Rhydian explained
"And when they're four big piles of rubble it's our turn."
Junior said looking out the window in hopes of seeing something happening.
Maribel was peering out the window. She knocked on the wooden frame to get the other's attention, 'Jeremy is out there!'
Phinagin ran over to the window next to Maribel. "What the hell is he doing out there?"
"It lookes like he's just talking to the sentinals."
Junior said. "Should one of us go get him?" It wasn't as if Jeremy could really get killed out there.
"I think Jeremy is acting as our 'guard' for tonight... I don't know if he trusts the sentinels either. He has got that little thing against humans after all, probably doesn't trust them"
Eliza said, leaning over to try and look out of one of the windows. She was silent for a minute before saying carefully "What... are they all staring at?"
"At him."
Waya said, stepping out of the shadows. "He's requesting that we let him in. He's looking for someone and he says he needs help. That's why he hurt those people. Apparently he didn't mean to."
"He... didn't mean to hurt people... but he did?"
Eliza said, raising an eyebrow at Waya "What the hell does that mean?" But still, for a supposedly violent person who they thought worthy of sending a flock of sentinels after... he was standing at the front gates ringing the door bell?
"How many of us have hurt someone we didn't mean to?"
Waya asked.
"It sounds like your defending the guy."
Junior said from the window.
"I didn't say that."
Waya said crossing her arms. "But I scanned his mind. I didn't get much, but I got sincerity... He says he want's to talk and if he needs help, he needs help. That's what this place is supposed to be for."
"Oh goody!" the
twins clapped.
"I'll go get the cherry pie we made today!"
"And I'll go get the refreshments!"
It was late at night and these two wanted to be the welcoming committee it seemed. It was a bit obvious they had their mother's empathy and kind hearted nature to help innocent people by giving them the benefit of the doubt.
"I think we had better hold off on the pie for right now."
Phinagin said before turning to Waya. "What are we going to do?"
"That's why I came up here."
Waya told Phinagin. "I'm not going to make the decision on my own. Instinct tells me to let the robots unload on him, but my instincts have been wrong before. He's asking for help and from what I got from his head, he needs it."
Eliza chewed her lip... what should she say? If he really did ask for help... If he was here for a fight then the sentinels were still out there, its not like they couldn't fend him off and push him outside for them to deal with.
Maribel was standing at the window, hoping nothing horrible was about to happen. She had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that something indeed was about to...very soon.
Rhydian wasn't comfortable with letting this guy in. If he was supposed to be coming after them, should they really just let him come inside?
"Ok, lets think about this"
Eliza finally spoke up "What proof do we have that this guy wants to hurt us? None. A SHIELD report on some violent behaviour. No mortalities, he hasn't come raging up to the gate... and we still have sentinels outside. And he's outnumbered. And he says he needs help. Why are we so afraid of him?"
"Because agent Coulson said he wanted to come and rip out all our spines."
Junior said leaning against the wall. "But when you think of the things we've been up against, one guy is really a pushover. I mean, we stopped a Skrull invasion at the beginning of the year. If we can do
that, mostly survive Moe's Mom when she attacked and beat all of Cortez' goons... Is one guy really that much to worry about?"
"Uhh... but why risk it? They think we needed those giant ass robots out there for a reason."
"They know what this guy is capable of, we don't."
"Best to let them do their thing."
the twins said.
"It would be naive just to let him in here." Seemed they went a total 180 after their pie was denied.
"Violence, that's all we've heard about"
Eliza pointed out "And he's admitted to that... he's admitted that he has problems. You want the Sentinels to kill him just because he doesn't have control? They don't even know what he can do, what's up with him. Waya knows more about him from one glimpse into his mind."
"Which isn't much."
Waya said. She looked at Rhydian, he'd been awfully quiet during all this. "What do you think Rhydian? "
Not really caring that Waya had asked Rhydian his opinion,
Phinagin chimed in. "I say let him into the grounds but not the building. Have one person talk to him while the sentinels cover him."
Maribel nodded and lifted a thumbs up, agreeing with Phin's proposition.
"We think that's the best bet. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, but not surrendering this place up if he is lying." the
twins added.
"The Sentinels aren't supposed to attack unless provoked. But I have to agree with Phinagin's plan. If this guy was coming after us, letting him in wouldn't be a good idea."
Rhydian replied calmly
"So we're agreed about opening the gate then, but that's it?"
Waya asked, just wanting to be sure. "Someone go tell the pilots, I'll tell... whoever he is..."
"I got the pilots."
Rhydian told her, pressing his comm link to his ear. "Captain Richovich, we're going to let him in. We want you to provide us with back up as one of us speak with him."
"As you wish, but call me Rocky kid." The answer came back for all of them.
Waya moved to the pannle by the door and hit the intercom leading out to the gate. "Alright, your cleared to enter the gate, stop thirty yards short of the front door... understand?"
Maribel could feel her webbing inside her fingers, moving to the tips as if her body was readying herself. This feeling made her very nervous, as if something were going to happen. She made gentle fists to hide it, still peering out the window cautiously.
"Now, who is going out there?"
Phinagin asked, "Or are you going to communicate with Jeremy and have him talk to this man?"
"I'll go..."
Waya said. "I've already spoken to him, but I think there should be more of us out there with, some hanging back here as backup just in case he decides to flip out on us."
"Alright, so you, Jeremy, me, and who else?"
Phinagin said, sneaking in his volunteering for the task.
"Someone needs to keep an eye on the automated defences downstairs right?"
Eliza said, looking over towards the window "I'll head out there, I don't mind, I'm just thinking that we might need someone down there."
"Good idea Liz."
Waya said. "Rhydian, Junior..?" She wanted one of them to come outside with the group. Not that she didn't trust Phinagin or Jeremy, but they hadn't been here for very long. Junior and Rhydian, in her mind, where more predisposed to the safety of the school.
The twins weren't talking and simply waiting to be summoned for something, if anything. They walked over to the front door and opened it, wanting to see what the hell was going on during these past few minutes of their chit chat.
Rhydian would have preferred to go with her. But he knew both Jeremy and Phinagin were still upset with him for what had happened on Asteroid M. It would be better if he stayed behind...still
. "I'll watch the defenses here."
"I'll go then." Junior told her. "I'll camouflage myself. This guy might get a little nervous if a whole posse of us show up to talk to him."
"Good idea." Waya said. "What about you two?" Waya asked the twins. Three was a good number to go talk to the guy. Considering Maribelle's recent evolution it might be a good idea if they stayed back to help her out should things go nuts.
"Aww... but we want to make a good impression." the boys argued. in truth, they wanted to get to him first if he wasn't going to kill them. Maybe if they chatted with this kid before the others, they could gain a new friend.
"Plus that's boring. Uhh... no offense, little blosseum." Jayden said to Maribel.
Blossom... she gets a whole flower and Waya was only a petal... why did that frustrate her? "Make an impression later." She told the twins. "Stay here with Maribelle and Rhydian. The rest of you, let's go." She wrapped Junior and Phinagin in her shadow and teleported them to Jeremy;s location in the school garden
The twins looked at one another with blank, unamused expressions. Their gaze shifted to Rhydian and Maribele briefly. Screw that noise. They nodded to one another and closed the door behind themselves as they exited.
Maribel looked over at the only person left in the hall. Rhydian... the kid who betrayed everyone. Leaning to the side, she placed a hand on her hip and waited for an explosion or a peaceful new student.
Rhydian looked over at Maribel, "Do you want to head downstairs with me? It doesn't get any safer than down there. In case this guy starts blowing stuff up, at least we'd be safe."
'I feel so useless....but my mutation isn't as useful as everyone else's. I supposed that's the best.' Maribel replied
"Trust me, I know how you feel." Rhydian said quietly. He sighed and looked down at the ground. "I'm not proud of what I did, but it was necessary." He told the floor as he walked to the wall panel and opened the elevator
'Should we stay nearby should they need us?' Maribel signed, heading over towards the elevator.
"Waya wants me to watch the auto defenses. The best place for that is downstairs. But should they need us, we can be topside quickly enough. Worst case scenario, we open the hangar doors under the basketball court and come up through there." Rhydian explained with a shrug
Maribel nodded and stepped into the elevator. Maybe she shouldnt have squeezed into this suit after all. Hopefully nothing stupid would happen.
The elevator door closed and Rhydian took Maribel downstairs to the danger room3
Phinagin walked in with Maribel along side him. He sat down on the nearest thing that could double as a chair.
Maribel walked in behind him and sat stood with her claws behind her back. She watched Phin's cryptic actions for a moment before bringing them forward to sign, 'So- what happened?'
"I'm not sure." Phinagin said, "We were all transported to different "Galaxies" and experienced different things."
Maribel waited for a moment, but when he seemed to be finished, she signed a short, 'Go on...'
"That's all I know." Phinagin said not really wanting to talk about what happened to him. "Each of us experienced something different."
Maribel didn’t have a reason not to ask and did it by signing a simple, ‘What did you experience?’ She had no clue of the horrors the group underwent. All she could gather was that no one really seemed eager to talk about it.
"I...was stuck in a castle's throne room." Phinagin said, "And there was fire involved."
Maribel could take a hint and stopped pushing the issue. Phinagin obviously didn't want to talk about it along with the others. She might as well treat Phinagin as she had with Jeremy, 'Can I get you something?' If no one wanted to talk about it, the least she could do was make them a bit more comfortable. If it really was all bad, maybe they all wanted to be left alone?
"No, thank you." Phinagin said. "I'm just glad to be out of that awful place. I really want to know what happened to that Rex fellow."
'It's one thing to attack you guys when he was going berserk, but it's even more curious why he would just vanish like that.' Maribel signed. 'I hope he gets free like you guys did. I know what it's like to suffer from your own mutation.'
Phinagin hoped he didn't. He hoped that Rex would have to go through all the shit that they had to. Hoped that the bastard never came back. "Me too." he lied.
Maribel didn't really know how to continue this conversation. Phinagin seemed so distant right now....just like the others were. Waya stormed into her room almost right after she arrived back. Today was everything but uneventful, that was for sure. Maribel glanced over at Phin for a moment and moved her arms as if about to sign something, but decided against it and placed her hands behind her back.
Phinagin saw her get ready to sign and then stop. He turned to look at her, "Go ahead and ask."
Maribel gave him an apologetic smile and signed, 'I'm sorry, but everyone is so down and cryptic even though they escaped. Waya left to her room immediately..very unlike her. I suppose I'm just curious. Eliza, Rhydian and I didn't know WHAT to think when you all vanished.'
"I was repeatedly set on fire and burned alive trying to escape the throne room." Phinagin said, staring across the room. "One time you all picked me up and threw me into the fire. By the end I had to cut my own hand off, twice, to slow the fire down in order to escape. And mine wasn't even the worst of the alternate galaxies."
Maribel was staring wide eyed at Phinagin. No way he could have just made something like that up. She seemed a bit guilty for pushing the issue. 'I'm...' she stopped and frowned more, lowering her hands, 'sorry... I didn't know.'
"It's ok. You were just curious. Just don't ask anyone else what happened to them, it seems I got the light end of the stick." Phinagin said.
She nodded and sat down next to him on. 'Are you ok? That seems terrible.' she signed, a bit concerned for her friend. She wondered what happened with Jeremy and the others.
"I...I don't know. I don't think I am ever going to be comfortable around fire again." Phinagin said.
Maribel looked sadly at Phinagin. He was a strong young man who had a sure handle on his abilities and confidence to back it up. But right now... he looked so broken and exhausted. Her friend must have really gone through something just earlier...the others as well. Not knowing what to tell him, her black, elongated hand gently rubbed his shoulder for some comfort. Sometimes her sign language just wasn't enough to convey what she wanted to say.
Phinagin placed his hand ontop of her's and gave it a gentle squeeze. He decided to change the subject, "So what happened after I vanished?"
Maribel smirked when he squeezed her hand. Unfortunately, she had to use it to communicate and pulled it away. 'Rhydian stupidly ran upstairs right after Waya vanished. Eliza and I hurried behind and she managed to tranquilize him. Honestly though, Rex wasn't putting up much of a fight. He was just lying there screaming. We had to put him to sleep to keep him from sending us into those.... personal hells as well. I wrabbed him up in webbing and we brought him down stairs to contain and try to figure everything out. No sooner had Rex awoke, Eliza forced him to use his powers and then you all just reappeared. Only about ten minutes had passed. Fifteen at most I think. I'm so relieved it was that easy to bring you all back- after hearing what happened to their parents, I was really worried.'
Phinagin listened in silence as Maribel related to him what had happened. "So, when did you get such a grasp on your powers?"
Maribel lifted her brows and chuckled, though no sound emitted but her breath. Lifting her hands, she signed 'I don't think I really have a grasp on it yet per say... but I've definitely improved. Lately, I have been trying to ignore my physical deformities and focus on what benefit I can be to the team. Hopefully I will be as comfortable and natural with my mutation as you are with yours someday. Until then, I just have to keep working on it and hope Eliza can find some way to reverse my mutation's hold on my appearance.' It seems she was still upset about the new look her body has been morphing into. Then again, who wouldn't be? Sure Jeremy was a bit unsightly... Waya was pale, the twins were pink and Junior was red... but none of them look like a monster like she does. It doesn't really do anything for one's self esteem in a foreign country that's for sure.
"Well, the only way I got good using mine was constant testing and training." Phinagin said, "There are still some things that I think I can do, but can't figure out how."
'Like what?' Maribel asked, a bit curious.
"One time I was able to connect my bones to someone else's and was able to influence use my bone control power on them." Phinagin said. "But, I've never been able to reproduce the effects."
Maribel blinked widely and her expression read something of complete surprise and awe. 'That is incredible!' she signed with exaggerated gestures to emphasize her point. 'Who was it? If I can ask.'
Phinagin looked a bit sheepish at this, "It, uh, it was one of the family dogs. No person in my house would allow me to try it on them."
"Why wouldn't you ask one of us?" Maribel signed curiously. 'Or is it painful to whoever you do it to?'
"It does involve me 'stabbing' someone with a bone and then making their bones move involuntarily." Phinagin explained, "The dog never came near me again and I tried it again on a stray a few weeks later and couldn't do it again."
Maribel winced, 'I would offer but... I don't really want to be stabbed, sorry.'
"Exactly, and I don't know if it would work on anything in the Danger Room." Phinagin said, "The whole, hard image thing."
'I have no idea. Unfortunately you are probably going to have to use it in the field of action. Gosh- I'm making us sound like a bunch of super heroes.' Maribel chuckled again.
"We did stop Asteroid M from attacking Earth." Phinagin countered, "That's pretty super heroic in my opinion."
'Well...you guys did.' Maribel winced. 'I did a lot of running around for my life. I'm just not used to that kind of situation... I've never had my life in peril before. I can't believe how you and the others handled it all.'
"You didn't know what your powers were then." Phinagin rationalized, "I bet if you had then what you have now you would have done much less running and more ass kicking."
Maribel blushed a bit from embarrassment and bumped her shoulder against his, hinting for him to stop teasing her. She lifted her shoulders and smiled, shaking her head.
Phinagin smiled, "There will come a time soon when you're the one who has to use your powers to save the day and then you can tease me."
'Just don't do anything stupid like what you did on the asteroid or I'm going to have to use my powers on you.' Maribel explained, "And it will be more then just a slap.' she joked
"I can make no promises." Phinagin said. "I will do whatever I can do make sure that my friends here are safe."
Maribel smiled, 'I know you will.' she signed simply. 'You seem the very noble type.'
"And you seem to be a courageous person in hiding." Phinagin said, "Just waiting to break free of your shell."
Maribel couldn't help but be thankful for Phinagin's kind words. 'It's unfortunate that when I gain confidence in my powers... I lose confidence in the way I look. I'm afraid it's rather depressing actually. I don't mean to be completely negative- but it's so hard getting used to it.' She frowned and looked at him with very strong, emotional eyes as dark as coal. 'Just appreciate what you have, you don't never know when it can be ripped away from you.' In Maribel's case, her face, hands and legs. She had appendages sticking out of her neck and black patches spreading all along her cheeks like diseased freckles.
"Your too good of a person to be kept down by physical appearance." Phinagin said. "And if anyone says anything mean, or judges you based on how you look, I'll break their face. Sound good?"
Maribel chuckled airily once more and nodded. 'I'll try to remember that. I still haven't told my Father yet... I'm scared to actually.'
"If you want, I can fly you over to France and you can tell him in person." Phinagin said, "It might be a bit more of a shock, but it would be better then telling him over the phone."
'Fly me? I couldn't have you pay for my ticket!' Maribel signed quickly, shocked that he would offer. Tickets to Europe were very expensive this time of year.
Phinagin stifled a laugh, "No, Maribel, I could fly you over there in my father's plane. It's quite fast too."
Maribel gasped a bit. Was he serious?! She figured Phin's family was well off...but by THAT much? 'I can't accept something like that, Phinagin-' she stopped herself, not knowing what else to sign exactly.
"Why not? We can take the whole school and make a field trip of it." Phinagin said, "Going to France, not visiting your father that is." He corrected himself hoping she didn't think he wanted to bring everyone along when she talked to her dad about her physical mutation.
'Would your Father be alright with that?' she asked, half hoping. 'This could be a fun opportunity to cheer the others up.'
"No, he won't care. As long as we fill it up before we return it." Phinagin said with a smile.
'Oh Phinagin, that would be amazing!' Maribel exclaimed with her enthusiasm.
"Alright then. Just pick a date and I'll make sure it won't be in use." Phinagin said.
'I'm afraid I won't be able to help too much with paying for the fuel.' Maribel confessed with a slight frown. 'I'll do what I can though.'
"Consider this an expense free trip." Phinagin said, "I can cover all the costs for everone."
Her face immediately brightened. She missed her father dearly and was so thankful that she was going to see him again. Maribel wanting to scream thank you, she put her words into actions and grabbed Phin into a big hug, squeezing him tight to ensure her emphasis.
Phinagin was caught off guard by the hug, but was none-the-less pleased with her excitement. "Now all we have to do is present the idea to the rest of the students."
Maribel was bouncing with excitement. 'Even if no one else wants to go, I would still love to go back home.' she signed quickly. 'You are a wonderful friend, thank you so much. This means a lot to me.'
"I'm glad I was able make your day." Phinagin said with a chuckle, "And yes, if no one else wants to go we will still go visit your father."
Maribel was so pleased, she had to think of some way to make it up to him. But what to you get someone who can buy just about ANYTHING? She decided not to think about it right now and stay in her moment of happiness. 'I would love showing everyone where I come from. We could even visit Paris...its about an hour drive, but that's no problem. There aren't any airports out where I live anyway.'
"Sounds good to me. We can visit all the boring places too like the Louvre." Phinagin said with a joking nudge with his elbow.
'Have you been to Paris before? Or Europe at all for that matter?' she asked him curiously.
"A few times with Mom and Dad, but they never let me leave the hotel room or the plane." Phinagin explained, "Always to afraid that I would get kidnapped or murdered, and then once they found out I was a mutant, they just worried more."
'Do they know how fully capable you are of taking care of yourself now?' Maribel asked.
"I believe they do." Phinagin said, "They were the ones providing me with training partners after all."
'Oh, of course. Well I don't think any of us will need to use our mutations at all- we live way out on the countryside.' Maribel explained. She had become quite good at signing with her extended fingers.
"In the short time that I have been here, I have learned that you should always expect something to happen." Phinagin said.
'If anything does- one of these guys are surely bad luck. I've never experienced ANYTHING as life threatening back home. One time the herd wandered off of our property and it took a whole week to gather them all back. We lost three unfortunately...but that's as exciting it's ever gotten.' she explained, glad it was just that.
"Wow, what a crazy life you led." Phinagin said with friendly sarcasm.
Maribel shook her head and rolled her eyes with a smirk. She was glad Phinagin seemed to have cheered up since he got tossed out of his personal hell. At least Maribel was able to help him forget about it...if only for now.
Phinagin yawned a bit too loudly for the silent room, "All this planning has made me tired. I think it would be better if we wait till tomorrow to mention this plan to everyone." he said, "Give them time to come down from the events of today." he didn't want to say that he was emotionally and physically tired from his experience, this seemed like a good excuse though.
Maribel could definitely take the hint and nodded, hopping off their seat and brushing herself off. Turning around to face Phin, she signed 'I'm going to get some soup for Jeremy before I go to bed. Would you like some as well?'
"No thanks." Phinagin said as he got up as well. "I'm just going to go to bed."
Stumble!