The Mutant Sue Virus, Chapter Fifty One: I don't like this.

[ginevrasm.livejournal.com]

Title: The Mutant Sue Virus:

Chapter Title: I don't like this.

Fandom: X-Men, Comics Universe, Earth-6916 Rating: 18+ Warnings: Graphic Sexual situations. Disclaimer: The recognizable characters and the setting used here are the property of Marvel Comics. Those characters described as “Mutant Sues” or “Mary Sues” are the property of Ladydeathfaerie, Nanaea, Dazzledfirestar, SilverFoxChan, and Ginevra. This story is inspired by, and is intended as a sequel to Dazzledfirestar’s “The Mary Sue Virus” and is written with her permission by Ginevra with lots of input from the above-mentioned ladies. Beta and plot bunny wrangling credit goes to Ladydeathfaerie. We make no money from this work. Enjoy.

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Chapter Fifty One: I don’t like this.

“He did it again!” Haley’s snarl turned heads. Her pale cheeks sported bright spots of color and her green eyes flashed with anger. The rest of Team Purple froze in the midst of their various activities. They had the Staff Rec Room all to themselves for a change.

“Did what?” Morgan’s voice came from the other side of the couch. A second later her head popped up into visibility.

“Left us to baby-sit. Blue Team has been gone for days on that missing freighter job and Red Team’s headed for the hangar. There’s an anti-mutant riot in Jersey.”

“Rather watch it on the news.” Dare grumbled. “Guess that means tomorrow is off.”

“I think a riot’s more important than ice skating.” Jehnna’s voice came from somewhere near the floor. Haley frowned, moving around the corner of the couch to find Jehnna peering into the shadows beneath it.

“Lost the remote again?” Haley asked.

“No.” Morgan raised her hand to show their leader that she had the device in her hand. She pointed it in the general direction of the TV and the channel changed to display a slick looking anchorman. Images of rioters looting a department store hung over his shoulder. “She lost her journal.”

“Hey! I was watching that!” Dare protested and grabbed for the remote. Morgan held it out of reach and rolled her eyes.

“He shoots the dog. Real tear jerker.”

“Damn it! Morgan, I told you not to tell me.”

“I cannot believe you haven’t seen ‘Old Yeller’ before.” Roxxy commented dryly.

“Oh just stuff it, Roxxy.”

“What reason did he give this time, Haley?” The shifter had abandoned her stacks of test papers to join her teammates.

“The freighter job could take days or weeks and none of us have that kind of experience.”

“’Course not.” Dare snorted. “They never let us out of the playpen.”

“What about the riot?” Roxxy nodded pointedly at the screen.

“It’s too volatile a situation for an inexperienced team. Already enough hotheads on the scene.” It was almost possible to hear their leader’s teeth grinding on the word ‘inexperienced.’

“Hotheads!” Dare straightened up from her slouch and glared at Haley. “I haven’t burned anything I wasn’t supposed to in weeks.”

“I think he was talking about me, Dare. He’s still pissed about Christmas Eve.”

“I think it will take more than a few weeks to salve his wounded pride.” Roxxy sighed and perched on the arm of the couch.

“It’s just as well.” Jehnna rose from the floor and brushed dust bunnies off of the thighs of her black jeans. “It’ll be easier to find my journal this way.”

“I think this is a little more important than losing your diary, Jehnna.” Morgan chided.

“Yeah. Chill out. I’ll buy you a new one if it’ll stop the whining.” Dare groused.

“You don’t understand.” Jehnna panted her hands on her hips and frowned at her teammates. “I write everything in there. Everything.”

“So?” Dare shrugged. “Worried that somebody you know is going to read your deepest, darkest secrets?”

“Our deepest, darkest secrets, Ladydeathfaerie.” Jehnna countered. The room went silent, only the sound of their breathing audible. Roxxy was the first to move, gliding silently across the room to peer out in the hallway. Finding it empty, she shut the door.

“Are you saying you wrote down who we really are?” Haley’s eyes had gone wide. “And then you lost it?”

“Or it was stolen.” Jehnna frowned. “I’ve looked everywhere and it’s just gone.”

“Who would want to steal something like that?” Morgan asked, muting the TV.

“Oh. I don’t know. Maybe some horny freshman looking for a little inspiration.” Dare smirked.

“I knew it! You’ve been reading my journal!” Jehnna whirled on her teammate with a fierce glare. “That was private!”

“Hey! Ladies! Focus here.” Haley raised her voice and the others hesitated at the familiar tone of command. “How big a deal is this? What do you think, Roxxy?”

“I suspect anyone who found it would find it hard to believe.” The shifter sounded thoughtful. “They would probably take it for just another fantasy, or perhaps some sort of amateur fiction.”

“They’ll probably just think she’s nuts.” Dare offered. “If they bother to read all of it.”

“You read it.” Jehnna accused.

“I was bored.”

“Dare.” Morgan shook her head and tossed the remote aside. “This isn’t our home reality. This one has experienced alternate realities and timelines, mind control, possession by other entities…”

“Most of the general population would still be skeptical of such a phenomenon.” Roxxy tapped her chin with a forefinger. “I think the danger from any random individual picking it up is minimal.”

“But we aren’t the general population, not here at this school. “ Morgan countered, her expression thoughtful. “I’m not sure what would happen if, say, the Professor took us for hostile entities and tried to separate us from our Sues.”

“Could he do that?” Jehnna asked anxiously.

“I doubt it.” Haley replied. “But I’d rather not find out.”

“So far no one seems to suspect anything is different about us. Even the telepaths.” Roxxy mused out loud. “I suspect there is something about this phenomenon that protects us from accidental discovery.”

“But we don’t know for sure.” Morgan added. “I think we’d better find that journal. Where was the last place you had it?”

“I’m not sure.” Jehnna’s confusion showed. “I was sure I’d put it in my bag, but it isn’t there.”

“And she’s already turned the Bat Cave inside out looking for it.” Dare grumbled.

“Is anything else missing?” Haley asked.

“No. Not that I’ve noticed.”

“When did it go missing? Roxxy asked.

“The last time I remember using it was before New Years.”

“Where were you?”

“The library maybe?” Jehnna bit her lip. “Actually, I’m not sure.”

“What about you, Roxxy? Get any vibes?” Haley’s next question was directed at her best friend. The brunette closed her eyes for a moment, furrowing her brow in concentration. She shook her head and opened them.

“Sorry. I’ve got nothing.”

“So much for the infallible lost item detector.” Dare sighed. “So we search the hard way?”

“I’m afraid so.” Haley sighed, her fury long forgotten. “Let’s split up, cover as many places as we can as quickly as we can.”

“I’ll take the dorm rooms. Maybe I’ll pick up something if I get closer.” Roxxy offered.

“I’ll check the restricted levels.” Haley nodded.

“Library and Student Rec Room.” Morgan raised her hand.

“I’ll take the garage. Might have left it in one of the cars.” Dare volunteered.

“That leaves the downstairs common areas for you, Jehnna.” The younger girl nodded. “All right, lets get moving. I’d like to get this done while the Professor is still occupied with Moonstar’s team.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” Dave gave her a sloppy salute and headed for the door.

“Meet at the usual table at dinner.” Haley called after her. Dare waved. The others nodded and began to file out. “Not exactly the mission I had in mind.” She sighed.

“They can’t all be world savers.” Roxxy gave her a pat on the shoulder in passing.

“Don’t borrow trouble.” Morgan muttered, then vanished from view.

“Guess I’d better get moving myself.” Haley gave the room one last glance before leaving. “Before trouble finds us.”

~*~

In the end, Purple Team’s search proved fruitless. By the time they reassembled for dinner, their thoughts were once again on where their fellow X-Men were and what they were doing.

“Any word from Blue Team yet?” Morgan asked as she reached for the basket of bread.

“No. But Ororo checked in. They expect to be mopping up stragglers until well past midnight. The Prof’s already booked them rooms outside the riot zone.” Haley answered. “So we’re stuck playing home guard at least one more day, I’d guess.”

“So now that you’ve made the X-Men, we’re the X-Babies to you, too?” The smile on Danielle Moonstar’s face took some of the sting out of the accusation. But not all of it.

“Of course not, Dani.” Roxxy patted the empty chair beside her. “How’d the Danger Room session go?”

“Fine. The Professor’s tough, but not the slave driver Logan is.” Dani took the offered seat with a relieved sigh. “Do you think Ororo would mind if I borrowed her hot tub? I got clipped by a stray brick. I hate terrorist scenarios. For a moment, I thought the whole building was going to fall on me.”

“I’m sure Logan’ll want to make up for lost time when he gets back.” Haley commiserated.

“Speaking of -- I’m supposed to let you know Cyclops checked in. No real action yet, but they think they’ve picked up a radio signal off the coast of South America. So far, it’s looking like either pirates or theft by mutiny.”

“Pirates?” Jehnna looked up from pushing peas around her plate. “I thought they were only in the movies.”

“I sincerely doubt they’ll be wearing peg legs and eye patches.” Roxxy smiled. “But yes, they’re real.”

“Wow.” Jehnna sat back with a dreamy look. “Pirates.”

“She’s gone.” Dare snorted and offered Danielle a platter of sliced chicken.

“No thanks. I just stopped to talk for a few. Rahne’s saving me a seat.”

“Oh.” Dare scowled and sat the platter back down. “Well don’t let us keep you.”

“Don’t mind her. You’re welcome any time.” Haley shot the pyrokinetic a warning look. “She’s just got cabin fever. With both the senior teams gone, we’re stuck at home.”

“That and all your guys are off playing hero without you.”

“I’m afraid so.” Roxxy sighed.

“Say, Morgan?” Dani leaned across the table, her voice dropping to conspiratorial tones. “Are you still seeing Gambit?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Exclusively?”

“So far.” Morgan tilted her head. “Why? I thought ‘Berto had moved on to greener pastures.”

“He has.” Their guest smiled and shook her head. “Never mind.”

“Wait a minute.” Dare looked from Morgan across the aisle to where the rest of the New Mutants sat. Her eyes narrowed as they met a pair of blue-gray ones that looked quickly away. “No way. She’d eat him alive.”

“Eat who alive?” Morgan put down her glass and gave Dare an exasperated look.

“Guthrie.” Dare snickered. “All tall, blond and gangly.”

“Sam?” Morgan ignored her friend, instead looking to Dani for confirmation. “Sam wants to know if I’m available?”

“I’m just the messenger. The poor guy is as shy as it comes. I’ll just tell him you and Le Beau are still an item.”

“Cannonball? Seriously?” Dare couldn’t leave it alone. “Mr. Squeaky Clean?”

“Shut it, Dare.” Morgan snapped. “Sam’s a nice guy.”

“Exactly my point.”

“Should I?” Haley raised an eyebrow at Roxxy.

“No. Stay out of it. As long as there’s no blood.”

“Wow. Sam’s got a thing for Morgan?” Jehnna’s eyes were wide. “But he’s so not her type.”

“My type? What am I? A man eater?”

“No. Of course not.” Roxxy shook her head.

“If the shoe fits…” Dare smirked.

“I think that’s a little unfair, Dare.” Jehnna scolded.

“Haley! Tell them to shut it!”

“Shut it, girls.” Haley’s order lacked conviction as she was fighting not to laugh at Morgan’s indignant expression.

“Are they always like this?” Dani shot the redhead a sympathetic look.

“Sometimes they’re worse.” She lost the battle with her giggles and added her own. “I’m sorry, Morgan. I just can’t see you agreeing to go out with him. Ever.”

“Humph.” Morgan frowned. “He never asked.”

“Sorry, Morgan. I wouldn’t have said anything if I knew it would start all this.” Dani apologized. “I’ll leave you guys alone before I cause more trouble.”

“No. Wait.” Morgan held out a hand to stop her. “Tell Sam… Tell Sam that if we ever find ourselves single at the same time, I’d love to go out with him. See if there’s anything there.”

“Are you sure?” Dani looked dubious.

“I’m sure. Sam’s a great guy. I just never thought I was his type.” Morgan shrugged.

“All right. Well, that’s my first good deed of the day.” Dani grinned. “So here’s another. I know you guys had plans for tomorrow.”

“Yeah. But now we’re stuck on baby-sitting duty.” Dare griped.

“Besides. The guys are gone.” Jehnna added quietly. “We were supposed to go to the ice rink.”

“I don’t see any reason why both teams have to cool their heels tomorrow.” Dani smiled. “We’ve got plans to hit the Megaplex for a movie tonight, but the Professor wants to run us through some more Danger Room scenarios tomorrow afternoon. Since we have to stick around anyway…”

“That’s generous of you, Dani. I feel stupid about complaining now.” Haley grimaced. “You guys have had more than your fair share of baby-sitting.”

“Exactly.” Dani nodded. “Believe me, we’re happy to have someone to share that duty with. Just stay close to home in case we need you.”

“Gotcha. We’ll stay in comm link range tomorrow.”

“And we will as well.” Dani rose from the table. “We’ll be leaving right after dinner. Hope you have a quiet night.”

“Have fun.” Haley raised her glass.

“So the skating rink is back on?” Roxxy asked.

“Hmm. Maybe that should wait until the guys get back. Suggestions?”

The rest of the meal was spent making plans for the next day. With the prospect of having a free afternoon in front of them, the girls’ spirits lifted considerably. By the time they finished, they had settled on a trip to the mall followed by dinner at their favorite pizzeria.

Afterwards the group began to break up as they headed off for their individual pursuits. With nothing better to do, Morgan agreed to help Jehnna go through the Staff Rec Room one last time. Once again, they found nothing. Giving up, they sat down to watch the evening news, hoping for news about their fellow X-Men.

“Hey Morgan?”

“Hmm?”

“What you said about Sam – Did you really mean that?”

“Sure I did. Or I wouldn’t have said it.”

“But I thought things were going well with Remy.”

“They are.”

“Then why do that? It’s almost like you’re expecting to break up.”

“Doesn’t hurt to hedge your bets.”

“Morgan…”

“Come on, Jehnna. Can you really see us living happily ever after? Remy and me? Kids, picket fence, family dog?”

“Why not? I mean, if that’s what you want?”

“Right now, I want Remy.” Morgan shrugged and picked up the remote. She began flipping channels randomly. “But maybe I’d like all that one day.”

“And Sam is the picket fence guy.”

“Exactly.”

“Oh! Leave it there. I haven’t seen this one.”

~*~

The moon hung low and heavy over the gently rolling surface of the water. Remy leaned against the railing, savoring the warm, moist air. Back at the Institute it would be freezing cold. So cold that it seemed to seep into his bones, refusing to leave until spring came to chase away the chill. It was late enough that some of the heat had dissipated into the night. But enough remained that he had left his trench coat and body armor below decks. He wore just a thin cotton tank top and shorts so that he could feel the air on his skin.

He’d been glad to escape the claustrophobic confines of the cabin he shared with Logan. This was no passenger ship. The room was spartanly furnished and cramped. They had been following the ghostly radio signal for several days and there had been noting to do but swap stories with the ship’s crew or play poker. Nothing to do until either Beast or Jean found something more concrete to go on. He sighed and fished out a battered pack of cigarettes he’d won off an overly optimistic deckhand.

A tiny spark of power set the end alight and he drew in a long pull of smoke, savoring the rush of nicotine. So much for his latest attempt to quit. Morgan had expressed her distaste without saying a word, so he’d given into Jean’s repeated admonitions. But neither woman was here to see him enjoy this little guilty pleasure.

The thought of Jean made him look over his shoulder, though he knew she was down below in the cabin she shared with Scott. He blew out a cloud of smoke, watching it drift away lazily on the night breeze. A hint of movement at the corner of his eye made him start, turning to follow it with his gaze. He blinked and frowned, disbelieving.

A familiar figure walked along the deck, her bare feet making no noise. Her hand trailed lightly along the railing. Remy straightened, moving closer. The girl wore only a thin dorm shirt. He knew it was red, but it was washed to a pale pink in the moonlight. The girl’s eyes were directed at him, but it was as if she looked through him rather than at him.

“Morgan? What you doing here?” She continued her slow progress with no indication that she had heard him. As she drew closer, something struck him as strange. Even stranger than the impossibility of her being here, half a world away from her bed. She threw no shadows of her own and she seemed insubstantial, as if she were made of moonlight. “Cher?”

“Something bad is coming. I can see the shape in the shadows but not the faces of our enemies.”

“What enemies?” She was close enough to touch now and she stopped. He reached out to take her hand, but there was nothing there, only a vague sensation of cool mist. He swallowed and reached out with his charm and found only a hint of her presence. Like the scent of a woman’s perfume left hanging in the air after she’d left the room.

He shivered and ran his fingers over denim fabric of his shorts as if he could wipe away the chill of touching the misty image. The specter’s eyes seemed to focus on him and the sense of Morgan’s presence grew stronger.

“I don’t like this. I miss you.” The apparition shivered. A cool wind blew right through her and suddenly her presence tasted of her alter ego. Ghostly eyes turned to scan the horizon. She cocked her head as if listening to something far away. “You should go below. A storm is brewing.”

“Faye.”

“When it passes you will find that which is lost. But the finding will reveal more questions than answers. The sea is jealous of her secrets.”

“I don’t understan’. What all dis mean?” He reached for her, but hesitated, reluctant to feel that strange, not-there sensation again. “How you get so far from home?”

“I’m not really here, Remy. Get below. There won’t be much warning. The sea is fickle tonight.”

The apparition faded away, leaving only a creeping mist that seemed to cling to the deck, chilling his skin and raising gooseflesh up and down his arms. He tossed away the cigarette that he’d nearly forgotten he held in his fingers. He scanned the horizon himself, rubbing at his arms to chafe away the chill. Had the sky grown darker? The waves less gentle in their rocking? The night no longer felt so warm and comfortable. It felt ominous and hostile, like a beast ready to pounce.

“Oui. Fickle.”

The alarms sounded almost as soon as he reached the narrow hall that held the door to his cabin. Already the floor was beginning to lurch beneath his feet. Voices sounded from farther down the corridor and a sense of frantic purpose sprang up around him. Several crewmembers brushed by him, intent on their duties.

A door opened in front of him. Jean’s face looked pale and ghostly in the dim light. Behind her, he could see Scott trying to tug a shirt on over his head without dislodging his ruby quartz glasses.

“Remy! What’s happening?”

“Storm come up from nowhere. You stay down here.”

“Hank. What’s going on?” Scott barked into a comm unit as he braced himself against the wall. The ship was lurching in a disconcerting fashion beneath their feet.

“A sudden squall. Not unusual in this region. Captain Alexandros insists that passengers remain in their cabins.”

“Why weren’t we warned?” Scott looked a bit green, Remy thought.

“By the time it showed up on our instruments, it was nearly upon us. Stay put, but keep lifejackets handy.”

“Understood.” Scott switched off and sat down on the edge of his bed, reaching for his shoes. “Jean?”

“Message delivered.” Jean gave Remy a speculative look.

“Left my life jacket in de cabin.” He nodded at the redhead and turned to leave, grateful that the telepath could not hear his thoughts. “We in for a rough ride, I’m thinking.”

~*~

Roxxy pushed away the last stack of papers, stretching her hands above her head in an effort to relieve the tension in her back and shoulders. With much of the staff gone on missions, her workload had tripled. She was simply too conscientious to enjoy tomorrow’s outing with this chore left undone. Correction. Make that today’s outing. The red numbers on her alarm clock sat silent witness to the late hour.

Closing her eyes, she took in a slow, deep breath, listening to the quiet noises of the student body around her. Someone was snoring in the next room. A radio played softly somewhere down the hall. Outside the wind was whistling as it passed through the trees. Morgan’s breathing was the loudest sound in the room, steady and familiar.

Except that it wasn’t.

“I don’t like this…” Morgan’s voice cut through the quiet. Roxxy turned to stare at her roommate. “I miss you.”

She smiled for a moment, guessing the subject of the girl’s dreaming. In the years she’d known her, Morgan had never been so involved with anyone except Dare. Though she’d hardly admit it.

The girl’s breathing changed again, becoming shallow and quick, almost panting. She continued to mumble, moving restlessly beneath the candy-striped comforter.

“Storm… Get below.” Concerned, Roxxy drew closer. A new scent tickled at her senses, the clean fresh scent of ocean and ozone. Morgan’s breathing grew faster, harsher. Roxxy leaned over to shake her shoulder.

“Morgan? Morgan? Are you all right?”

The girl’s mumbling stopped, her breath going still for a long, heart-stopping moment. The scent of ocean and ozone grew heavier. Then abruptly it was gone without a trace. Morgan drew in a deep, gasping breath and her eyes flew open.

“Roxxy? What are you doing?”

“You were talking in your sleep. Something about a storm. I thought I smelled ocean.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t remember anything? It sounded as if you were talking about Remy.”

“Nothing. Did I wake you up?” Morgan yawned sleepily. “Sorry.”

“I…” Roxxy considered asking more questions. But it was late and Morgan clearly remembered nothing. Perhaps it was just a dream? But she had smelled ocean, hadn’t she? Maybe she was just missing someone herself. “Sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep.”

“Mmm…kay…”