psinex@yahoo.com Blood and Iron Chapter 7 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Everyone here is Marvel's, except for Steve, who's mine, and Buffy and Co., who're 20th Century Fox's. Please don't sue. P.S. - It's my birthday ! The big 25 ... yikes, where does it go ? -------------------------------------------------------- Mass. Acad., 9/11/2003: 06:00 hrs: Girls' Dorm: -------------------------------------------------------- "Grmm ... Luna ... ?" Nga stuck her head above her covers, noticing the low hum Luna's hyperspeed generated when she was using it, and heard the door to their room close gently. #At least she tries to be quiet. I could ask for a worse roommate,# the Vietnamese girl smiled, falling back to sleep. By the time she had finished her thought, Luna was showering in the girls' lockers of the athletic complex. #SLOW. DOWN,# Luna told herself, drying and donning her training uniform. #It's Saturday - you can relax a little ...# She bolted out of the locker room, finding her position at the track and deliberately ... ... walking. #It's just so HARD to do ! I want to runtofleeto-# Luna frowned and found herself halfway down the track. "Agon's BLOOD," she huffed, walking again. "How do regular people DO this ... ?" #Just one thought at a time,# she told herself. #One step at a time ... that's it ... don't be impatient like Daddy ...# She smiled as she crossed the finish line a minute later. "A mile in 10 minutes ! At this rate I'll be able to walk down the street normal soon !" Luna cheered. -------------------------------------------------------- A few doors down, speed was the desire. #Push it don't give in FOCUS -# Ray yawned, trying to stay awake as she and Strongjaw watched Frank cut a path through the water. "He's so cute in that speedo," she smiled to the dog. ~Dog not understand clothing,~ Strongjaw thought at her feet. ~And why like water ? Can't figure out.~ ~It's a human thing, fuzz-face,~ Ray sent, petting Strongjaw. ~I ever tell you how much I appreciate you teleporting Frank to Sunnydale all these years so we could see each other ?~ ~Dog not mind,~ Strongjaw thought. ~Dog like play on beach. Water what dog not like.~ ~We make an odd pair, furball,~ Frank psmiled, surfacing and pulling himself from the water. Ray teked him a towel, giggling when its' force knocked Frank back into the pool. "Sorry," she called. Frank climbed back out and arched an eyebrow, smirking, "I swear you don't want me dry." "I want you anyway I can GET you," Ray grinned, kissing him. She ran an eye down his body and forced herself to calm down. "Red ... mmm," she whispered, eyeing Frank's speedo. He blushed and dried off, removing his goggles and sitting beside Strongjaw on the bleachers. "You ever think about wearing a swim cap ?" Ray asked, ruffling Frank's short hair. "I know you don't have a buzz, but you never let your hair grow at all ..." "I just like it this way," Frank shrugged. "Like ... I like you ..." Ray sat beside him and kissed him again, sending, ~A year now since we woke up and told each other how we feel. I HATE having to wait until we're 18 to get married - we have our rapport ...~ ~I do love you, Red,~ Frank psmiled. ~And if I have to wait, it'll make it that much sweeter ...~ ~You know just what to say,~ Ray winked. She removed her shorts and T-shirt to reveal a tank suit, and grinned, "Race me, stud. Winner gets first dibs on the hot tub ..." "You, Miss Summers, are incorrigible," Frank teased, diving in after Ray. -------------------------------------------------------- Quad: 08:00 hrs: -------------------------------------------------------- "AAUGH !" Sean frowned as another gout of leaves fell from the trees lining the Academy's main walkway, and he went back to raking. "If'n me powers were suited t' cleanin' up trash, this job'd nae be so bad," he grumbled. "Instead - " He arched an eyebrow, then gulped when a whirlwind came twisting down the path, with a yell of "STAND BACK !" Sean leapt aside, fighting back a smile, as Naomi Guthrie passed by, scooping up the leaves in her twister and piling them up on the quad. "Sorry, sir," the girl smiled sheepishly, pulling herself off of the pile. "Dinnae apologize, lass. I appreciate the help," Sean chuckled. "Enough t' lemme outta that social studies test Monday ?" Naomi said hopefully. "Nae THAT appreciative," Sean winked. "So much f'r Southern charm," Naomi sighed. "At least ah got more c'ntrol over mah powers now." "Ye work y'rself so hard already, lass - yuir grades're in nae danger," Sean reassured her. "Mebbe, but ah gotta lotta Guthries t'live up t'," Naomi said. "Sam co-leads X-Force, Paige's Gen X're big heroes on th' west coast, an' Josh's made th' Grand Ol' Opry !" "Aye, but X-Force an' Gen X have t' contend with vicious genegangs, an' Josh's career c'n nosedive at a moment," Sean pointed out. "Be yuirself, Naomi. I've been accused o' cliches, but 'm Sean Cassidy th' teacher first, an' a retired Irish mutant superhero second." "Ah'll ... 'member that, sir," Naomi nodded. -------------------------------------------------------- Girls' Dorm: 09:00 hrs: -------------------------------------------------------- "... so, ah'm goin' t'town an' takin' a day f'r mahself," Naomi told Gwen Parker. "Y'oughta come 'long." "No thanks," Gwen smiled weakly, sitting cross-legged on her bed with her diary. "I don't feel too good today ..." "All right, but if ya puke, go see Dr. Cassidy," Naomi urged. She smiled and added, "Ah don't wanna lose a good roomie." "Thanks, Naomi," Gwen said. "That means a lot. I know I need to get out more, but ..." "Hey, not all o'us're Scarletts," Naomi winked. "Th' world c'ld use a few more eggheads. Ya take care." She left, while Gwen waved until Naomi closed the door. Once she did, tears appeared in Gwen's eyes. #Damnit. She's so nice, and I keep LYING,# the girl thought. She stood shakily, and looked in the mirror above her dresser. Her short reddish-brown hair was a mess, and her blue eyes were ringed with redness. #Damn you ... I still can't get you out of my nightmares, and now ...# She checked her diary, then put a robe on and headed for the bathroom. Gwen showered and went through her toilet, finally shaking her head as she changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. #My period's late. Oh Lord help me ... and damn Normie Osborn -# Gwen's stomach raged against the toaster pastries she'd had in her room, and she barely made it to the toilet in time to vomit. She coughed, wiping her chin with toilet paper, and looked in the mirror with a horrified expression. #HE COULDN'T HAVE ...# "No," Gwen told herself, clutching her abdomen. "I'm too young - it's not possible - I'm just 13 -" #But it IS possible,# a disappointed voice, much like Mary Jane Parker's, rang at the base of Gwen's mind. "God what have I done ... ?" the girl whispered ... -------------------------------------------------------- Library: 13:00 hrs: -------------------------------------------------------- "... and so, I think it's possible," Leong shrugged to Nga. The twins had an anatomy book open on one of the tables, and looked over some "borrowed" bioscans from Moira's office. "You know if they find out we took these, they'll expel us," Nga whispered, looking over at Giles nervously. "They won't," Leong winked. "These are copies, sister dear - I never took the originals. And if we can pull this off, we'll be heroes !" "But it's his head," Nga pointed out. "What if he doesn't appreciate us looking at his bioscans ?" Leong looked at his sister with a regretful gaze and said, "Trust me, Nga. He'll kiss our feet - not that I want him indebted to us, he's a nice enough guy anyhow. I just think we should do something nice for him. He's been through heck ..." "We could at least offer," Nga nodded. The twins rolled up their sheets and replaced the anatomy book, nodding politely at Giles as they left. #THAT was an interesting conversation,# Giles thought, perusing a copy of Vampirica Anatomica. #I should turn them in for unauthorized duplication of private medical files, but if they can achieve such a feat, they deserve praise, not punishment ...# -------------------------------------------------------- Danger Room: 14:00 hrs: -------------------------------------------------------- "You're INSAAAAANE !!" Tobias ducked as his twin flew by, grinning and incinerating flying drones with his heat vision. "Come ON, Tobe !" Malachi whooped, dodging a number of the flying pursuers. "This is supposed to be fun ! It's a lot better'n mopin' around the house with Bova !" "But I LIKED New Jersey ..." Toby sighed from the control booth. #At least there we didn't have to try and keep up with everybody else,# he thought. #We were just two of the guys ... but everyone else here is so smart, and we're farm boys ...# ~YOU'RE farm boys ?~ a kind voice rang in his head. Toby turned to look as Nicole and Claudette entered with smiles. "Sorry about the eavesdropping," Claud said, taking a seat. "You were projecting, though. Don't worry about fitting in - Nicky and I here used to be about as weird as mutants get. First we were bodymerged 8-year-olds imitating our big sister -" "- then we separated and merged WITH our sister, becoming a red-razor-skinned creature -" Nicole added. "- and finally we were separated by Mrs. Wagner's magic, and I woke up from my autism," Claud smiled. "At least you and Mal had a pretty normal life." "We were mostly raised by a mutated cow," Toby smirked. "Bova's really nice, though, and Mom had enough money lying around that we never went without." "YO, TOBE !" Mal yelled. "Eyes front, twin !" Toby yelped to see Mal being swarmed by drones, but gaped when Nicole rocketed into the Danger Room and shattered the remaining attackers. "This was OUR run !" Mal yelled, landing with an indignant glare. "Oh relax," Nicky said, following the infuriated boy back into the control booth. "You needed help - " "I don't need any WOMAN'S help," Mal growled. He phased into the boys' lockers, while Nicole and Claudette watched with curious expressions. "Well," Nicole said finally. "I suppose I should be grateful he called me a woman." -------------------------------------------------------- 16:00 hrs: Girls' Dorm basement: -------------------------------------------------------- "NRGHMMM ...." "Sarah ?" Alexa called, teleporting into the stairwell of the basement from her room. #I could've sworn she came down here,# the blue-furred teleporter thought, arching an eyebrow. She gasped to see Sarah standing shirtless over a basket of bloodied bones, and backed up a step when the other girl turned to her with a glare. "LEAVE ME ALONE !" Sarah cried. "I - I was just - " She began to cry, and Alexa teleported over to put an arm around her. "It's OK ... how long've you been doing this ?" Alexa asked, helping Sarah to the couch. "A few days," Sarah whispered. She pulled a shirt on, ignoring the beginnings of a few bloodstains, and said, "I just wanted to be pretty again ... but the bones've been coming out of my back and my chest ..." "Sarah, you don't have to hide," Alexa said. Sarah pushed her away and leapt up, yelling, "That's easy for YOU ! You're pretty - that fur must drive guys wild !" "No, actually, I've been called some pretty bad things," Alexa sighed. Sarah relaxed and said, "I ... I just thought ... the way you came on to Erik ... and that Dan boy from in town .." "HA ! Sarah, trust me, I'm no better at seduction than you are," Alexa smiled sadly. "I just don't let my looks get to me. Someday, I'm going to toss that damn image inducer. The only reason I don't now is because Frosty threatened to expel me if I did." "Must be tough," Sarah said. "But the bones'll start coming outta my face eventually ... how do I stop it ... ?" "Practice with us," Alexa said. "I'm nowhere near perfect with my 'ports, and I can't stand acrobatics - shocking, huh ? But together ..." "Together," Sarah smiled faintly. She looked at the basket of bones and grinned, "Think Strongjaw wants some snacks ?" "You ARE twisted," Alexa giggled. -------------------------------------------------------- NEXT: At last - APOCALYPSE ! -------------------------------------------------------- end _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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