psinex@yahoo.com Strange Attractors 3 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Everyone is Marvel's, except for Danny, who's mine. Please don't sue. -------------------------------------------------------- Puckett, Wyoming: 8/25/2003: 23:45 hrs MDT: -------------------------------------------------------- #Nooooo, not my fault, Sheriff ...# Danny Davies pulled her jacket tighter about her as she waited for the Greytrak bus east. She'd left the blood-stained wooden floor of what had been her grandfather's restaurant - demolished in her one-sided fight with Billy Joe McShane - and had awoken, naked and terrified, on her front lawn. #Little mutie girl shreds murdering rapist wannabe,# the 13-year-old thought bitterly, slinging a duffel bag over her shoulder. #Grandpa ... well, the insurance'll bury you. And I got this invite to this school out east ...# She wiped a tear from her eyes, boarding the bus and not noticing the unusual pair watching her from a nearby rooftop. [She's mutant, all right,] one of them - "his" body continually rippling with circuitry - said, morphing his hand into a scannerscope and watching the bus pull out. "But we don't know if she meant to kill that creep," the being's companion - a blond-haired young man in a plain black skinsuit and an electronics-bearing backpack - said softly. "Don't matter," a third voice called. The watchers looked up and nodded as a tall man with a flattop blond haircut and black greasepaint over his eyes nodded grimly. "She killed once, she might kill again," the man said, turning as a crowd of black-clad figures appeared from a circle of light. "And that means wherever she goes, whatever she does, we're gonna be there." "To pass judgment, if need be." -------------------------------------------------------- Mass. Acad. Biosphere: 8/27/2003: 07:00 hrs: -------------------------------------------------------- "Mmmm ..." Ray watched as Frank worked on his strokes, trying to keep from stopping and watching her swimsuit-clad body. ~You know you're distracting me,~ he sent, blushing and making another flip-turn. ~I could think of a few more distractions,~ Ray sent teasingly. She smiled as Frank finished his set and carefully levitated out of the pool. The boy sat on a towel beside her and let Ray dry him off. "Hey - that's a little personal," Frank blushed, feeling Ray dry his thighs. "You didn't mind when I massaged your legs before ..." she grinned. "Ray ... maybe we oughta take it slow," Frank asked. "I really like you, but I don't wanna screw this up - "He blushed and added, "I MEANT -" Ray kissed his lips and said, "I understand. You're a gentleman, Franklin Richards - that's one of the things I love about you. Besides ... I'm not so sure I'm ready for ... THAT ... either." "Thanks," Frank smiled. They lay back on the towel, looking at the rising sun through the roof, and shared their thoughts. -------------------------------------------------------- Boys' Dorm: 07:15: -------------------------------------------------------- BRRRRRR-DOOOOOOOWWWWWMMMMMMMMM "AAUGH !" Joe Bailey leapt out of bed, looking around in shock, as Erik finished tuning his guitar. "Sorry," Erik smiled sheepishly. "SORRY !? Jesus, Mary and Joseph, man, what kinda amp you GOT !?" Joe yelled. "I think my eardrums're in another timezone !" A rap at the door made Erik undo the lock magnetically. Nate peeked in and asked, wide-eyed, "You guys hear a plane go by real low ?" "OK, OK," Erik muttered. "Cripes, people, I'm not THAT bad, am I ... ?" -------------------------------------------------------- Girls' Dorm: 07:30: -------------------------------------------------------- "Pass me the shampoo ?" Ray asked Gail. A bottle of shampoo wound its' way above the other girls's shower stalls, landing in Ray's hand. "Whoo ... worked up a sweat there," Gail smirked. "My kingdom for a loofah - or a week's free math tutoring," Nicky called. "Ray'd have that taken care of if Frank was here," Alexa teased. Ray rolled her eyes and ignored the catcalls, manifesting the Phoenix to dry off. "That is always SO cool," Gail grinned, watching as Ray dressed in the black and yellow training uniform they'd all been issued. "I'm just glad these uniforms don't have cowls - ICK ICK ICK," Ray gagged. "I meant the Phoenix," Gail winked. "Yeah ... well, not everyone's thrilled by it," Ray pouted. ~Mom was SO freaked by it when I first popped it off,~ she sent, heading downstairs to the cafeteria. ~Why ? You're sane,~ Gail replied. ~Yeah, but I read the Phoenix file - we're talking psychowitch,~ Ray called, waiting at the door of the dorm for the other girls. "WerehereletsGO!" Luna blurted, stopping beside Ray. Nga came running downstairs, panting, and gasped, "Hope - WHEEZE - Mam'selle - GHASP - Hunter doesn't - CHGAK - overwork us ..." "Nga, just move at your own pace," Ray said. The other girls caught up, and they headed across the quad. "Ray ! Gail !" Nate called. The boys, also dressed in their training uniforms, met the girls at the cafeteria door, and got in line for breakfast. "Lookin' good, kiddo," Ray winked at Nate. "Really ? Thanks," Nate smiled. He looked around nervously and said, "'M kinda glad my arm's covered ..." "Don't worry about it, Nate," Frank offered, filling his plate with bacon, eggs, fruit and juice. "You're not a freak." "Well, THAT'S a nice thing to say," Joe rumbled. "Relax," Gail said. "Frank is being nice - you should try it." "I'll relax when that underclassman Shade stops eyeing you," Joe whispered, glaring at Bill. "You shoulda heard some of the stuff he was saying about girls ..." "Locker room talk," Gail sniffed. "Besides, I can take care of myself. But it's sweet of you to stick up for me." "We're a team, remember ?" Joe reminded his twin. "So know when I can handle things alone," Gail frowned. -------------------------------------------------------- #I dunno if I even b'long here,# Nate thought, looking around and finishing his breakfast sadly. He got up, wiping off his plate, and handed it to the robochef before heading outside. #Frank 'n the others're really cool an' all, but I'm still the litt'lest,# the boy thought, looking around the campus. He removed his left glove, frowning at the TO-mesh which made up his hand. "Maybe ..." he said, concentrating. The alien matter shfited, turning pink, but faded back to metal despite Nate's efforts. "Darnit," the boy muttered. "I'll never - huh ?" A flare of surprise washed over his mindshield, making him run to the front gate. Nate looked at it and waved to a girl about Ray's age in Western gear standing outside. "Uhm ... hi," she called, arching an eyebrow. "I'm Danny Davies - I got a scholarship here ... is that the school uniform ?" "Just for power trainin'," Nate said, smiling. #She feels nice,# he thought, not daring to do more than passively detect her emotions. He checked her papers, then opened the front gate. "I'm Nate Summers," the boy said. "The headmasters're in the front -" They were driven apart by an energy burst which shattered the ground just ahead of them. "STEP AWAY FROM TH' BOY, MISS !" a Southern voice yelled. Nate looked up and went pale, seeing over a dozen black-clad figures descend from a stepping disc overhead. "X-FORCE !?" -------------------------------------------------------- NEXT: Old mutants vs. New Mutants ... ! -------------------------------------------------------- end _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com