Chapter Text
Laura was sleeping in the chair again. She was slumped over the table, her head pillowed on her arms, the rise and fall of her shoulders marking each breath. Daken rolled onto his side, putting his back to her, taking care to be silent. She had slept in that chair the last three nights. Monitoring Daken. Making sure his door was locked. Making sure none of the reprobates or science experiments came sniffing around. Looking after him like an invalid.
Daken glared at the wall and scratched at the stump of his arm. He would not be coddled. He would not be a useless waste of resources. He would not live like this. He would not die like this. What was left? Die doing something useful. What could he even do? All of his grand plans were gone because he had never quite imagined an opponent on Sinister’s level. He should do something to force Shogun to release Laura. But Shogun was no amateur, his youth seemed to be as superficial as Daken’s, and in his current state, Daken wasn’t a match for him.
Daken sat up abruptly, and he could hear Laura start awake, lifting her head, as he pushed himself off the cot and headed for the door. “Where are you going?” Laura asked behind him, accompanied by the sound of her chair pushing back.
“To throw myself out of a window like the drama-queen I am,” Daken tossed back, flipping the lock and shoving the door out of the way as he stormed into the hall. He could hear Laura trailing after him, following at a distance, giving him ‘space’ while making sure he didn’t hurt himself. As if he were a tantruming child.
He stalked through the narrow halls of the ship with no destination in mind, just the need to move. He wanted to be outside, but the hum of the engines told him they were airborne, so he continued stomping down the hallway until it reached the ladder to the lower deck. He climbed down a few steps and then jumped the rest of the way, hearing Laura snap his name in reprimand because he was too fragile to be doing such things.
He tried the door to the bridge as he walked past, it was locked. A few yards on, he caught the handle on the galley door and pushed it open, then froze, glaring. Creed looked up at him, from where he was hunched at the table, reading Nietzsche- because why the fuck not? Clearly the world was ending.
“Ain’t it past your bed time, kiddies?” Creed grunted, raising an eyebrow.
Daken took a run at him, grabbing an empty chair with the arm he still had and whipping it up to swing at the behemoth. “Dak- HEY!” Creed shouted, grabbing the chair and trying to yank it out of Daken’s reach. Daken surrendered it without a struggle in favor of slamming his claws through Creed’s left lung.
“Daken!” Laura shouted, running in and grabbing at him.
“... Damn it, kid,” Creed growled, grabbing hold of Daken’s wrist after the second stab. “Now you’re gonna to have to sterilize these things before you can retract,” he mocked.
Daken roared, delivering a kick to the side of Creed’s head followed by a shot in the groin and then slammed a foot into his knee hard enough to snap it backwards, relishing every sound of pain that passed the oversize bastard’s lips. He got in six more kicks but Creed refused to relinquish his arm, finally managing to grab Daken around the waist and flip him to the ground, pinning him by the neck like a dog.
“Sabertooth if you so much as--”
“I’m restraining him, princess!” Creed protested, cutting off Laura’s threat. “He’s hurting himself more’n me!”
“I will make you eat those words, animal!” Daken shouted.
“Then come at me after you figure your shit out!” Creed yelled back. “I got no interest fighting you when you’re being a stupid, pissy brat!”
“Let him go!” Laura snarled.
“Can you hold him?” Creed snapped. “I ain’t letting him up until he calms the fuck down.”
“... Daken, calm down. This is accomplishing nothing,” Laura ordered, crouching down nearby.
“Heard Junk say he’s been knocking Daken out with a sleep-word all day. Probably why he’s so wired now,” Creed growled. “You gonna accept that, kid? Being sedated like a lunatic because you can’t control yourself? You used to be all about control, Daken. You used to say that was the difference between you and Logan. You used to pride your lucidity more’n anything.”
“SHUT UP!”
“GET A GRIP!”
“Daken,” Laura’s small, soft hand landed on the side of his face, contrasting the huge, clawed paw on the back of his neck. “I need you to calm down.”
“What’s going on?” Shogun demanded, running into the room.
“Nothing. We’re fine,” Creed snapped.
“He doesn’t look ‘fine’.”
“Don’t--”
“If you knock him out, you’d better be ready to drop me too,” Creed snarled.
“... I didn’t think you two were friends,” Shogun said quietly.
“We got a common enemy in the man holding the leash,” Creed growled darkly.
“... I’ll keep that in mind,” Shogun said and left.
“... Get off of me,” Daken hissed through gritted teeth and was finally released. Daken glared daggers at Creed while he drew himself to his feet. “You--”
“Go wash your claws, brat,” Creed rumbled, meeting his glare evenly. “The last thing you need is to have to have the other one amputated.”
“Shut--”
“Daken!” Laura grabbed onto his arm, pulling against him. “Let’s go.”
Daken kept glaring at Creed as he let Laura pull him from the room. If he wanted a useful death, Daken thought that grabbing onto Creed and dragging him off the ship while they were thirty-thousand feet over the Pacific might be a good way to go. Perhaps he’d dedicate the rest of his night to planning just that.
000
Laura growled, finding the door unlocked again. She slid it open and then stopped, looking around the room. Daken’s ability to mask his scent inspired her to walk inside for a closer visual inspection before becoming sure that he was not there. She growled again and left, moving along the hallway, sorting out the scents of the ship’s occupants roaming up and down the corridors over the past few days, until she caught something current and turned a corner to find Deathstrike glaring out a porthole at the ocean.
“Have you seen Daken?” Laura asked.
Deathstrike turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow and scratching her finger against the glass of the porthole to make a wretched screech. She said nothing. Laura narrowed her eyes and walked past the woman, who went back to ignoring her.
Laura hunted Sabertooth’s scent back to his room and pounded on the door. A minute later, the door slid back and Sabertooth gave her an uncertain look. “... Laura.”
“Where is Daken?” Laura demanded.
“Talking to Mystique last I knew,” Sabertooth shrugged. Laura turned and headed for the bridge. “You’re welcome,” Sabertooth called after her.
Laura came to the bridge and reached for the door, half expecting it to be locked, however it yielded at her touch and slid aside. She caught sight of Daken crouching next to the holographic table, gesturing within the building represented above it, as Mystique stood at his side, leaning over to follow his point.
“-or here but... Laura,” he broke off, looking up as Laura entered.
“Is something on your mind, X-23?” Mystique asked, leaning back and casting her a casually disdainful look.
Laura glared at her. “I need to speak to Daken,” she growled.
“Can it wait? We’re in the middle of something,” Mystique said, raising an eyebrow at her.
“... Fine,” Laura said tightly and turned back out into the hall, sliding the door shut.
She leaned against the wall a few feet away, in the best position to see into the room when the door opened. To ensure she would know who came out of it. She pressed her lips together and watched the door. Daken had looked more alert and engaged in that moment than he had since Paradise. Mystique no doubt wanted to break into the building in the hologram, and she was asking for Daken’s opinions on the infiltration and extraction. She didn’t need it. She was undoubtedly more experienced than him at heists. But she had approached him and asked him to exercise his tactical savvy- a skill he still had. She was making him feel useful. Damn her.
Every person on this ship was a top-predator, but Mystique as something more. And she apparently wanted Daken in her thrall. She was there when he died. She and Sabertooth had arranged it. She had seen Daken face and succumb to death, only to return vital and restored. She didn’t believe he was finished now either, and she wanted Daken for her supplicant. Laura narrowed her eyes, glaring at the closed door. She flexed her fingers, balling them into fists and then stretching them out a few times. Her claws itched.
Finally the door opened again and Daken came out of it. Laura leaned to the side, looking around him as he gave her a questioning look. She caught sight of Mystique still standing next to the holographic table. She waved at Laura, smirking, relishing the paranoia she’d instilled. Laura scowled at her as Daken let the door shut. “You’re angry at Mystique,” Daken noted, starting to walk down the hall.
“She threatened me,” Laura replied, falling into step with him. “Where are you going?”
“She wants me to fetch Shogun for her,” Daken gave a small shrug.
“... This ship has an intercom,” Laura gritted, glowering ahead of her. “She could call him herself. She doesn’t need you to fetch him. She wants you to run errands for the sake of making you run errands.”
“I know,” Daken nodded.
“And you’re doing it anyway,” Laura grimaced, looking up at him.
“This isn’t for me,” Daken explained. “She’s sending a message to Shogun and its nuance would be lost over an intercom.”
“... What message?” Laura asked.
“That she is in charge and he isn’t,” Daken said, stopping in front of a door and pulling it open. “Shogun. Mystique wants you. She’s on the bridge,” he announced and then turned and walked back the way he’d come, ignoring Shogun’s attempt to question him, so as to further illustrate Shogun’s unimportance. Laura had to admit that the message really may have lost nuance over a speaker.
She followed Daken back toward the ladder to the upper deck. “... You knew where he would be,” she noted.
“This ship’s internal sensors know where all of us are, all the time,” Daken replied. “Mystique only has to ask.”
Laura bit her lip and followed him up the ladder, then chased Daken back to his room. She locked the door behind them and then leaned against it for a moment, thinking. “... Lay down,” Laura said quietly.
Daken gave her a puzzled look. “Why?”
“Lay down,” Laura repeated.
Daken sighed irritably but complied, dropping onto the bed and laying on his back. Laura moved across the room and braced a hand against the mattress as she leaned over him. “Laura- what are...” Daken started and then trailed off, seeming to understand as she put her mouth right next to his ear and used her other arm to cup the pillow around their heads, closing in the tiny space and muffling it from any microphones that might be, and were, hiding in the room.
“Daken, I do not work for Mystique,” Laura breathed, barely audible even within the pillow cocoon, “and neither do you.”
Daken was quiet.
“Is Mystique planning to steal something from that building?” she asked. There was a pause and then Daken nodded. “Is it near a city?” Another nod. “... After she leaves the ship, you and I are going to wait ten minutes and then we are going to leave,” Laura whispered. “If somebody notices that we are missing, they will not be able to compromise Mystique’s extraction by following us until after she has been picked up, right?”
Daken took a moment to consider, and then nodded. “That should give us at least an hour before she sends Sabertooth after us, right?” He thought a bit and nodded again. “... You and I will be in Westchester by then.”
Daken started to sit up, drawing a breath, gritting his teeth, Laura grabbed his shoulder, just above where his arm aborted, and shoved him back down before he’d found his balance. “Daken,” she hissed. “My team isn’t even in Westchester. I am not dragging you ‘home’, calm down,” she said after she’d rebuilt the cocoon. “... These words Shogun is using to control us- they are not magic, they are hypnotic. That means a sufficiently skilled telepath could find and remove them. They were only a threat if we didn’t know about them or were unable to get proper help,” she explained carefully.
Daken settled, waiting and listening again. “... I have stayed on the ship this long for two reasons. The first was that Shogun knew where Logan’s body was. Now the X-Men have it, and I know that Storm will treat it with respect,” she explained carefully. “The reason I did not leave Sinister’s lair with them yesterday is you. I will not turn my back on you, Daken.”
Laura heard Daken’s breath falter ever so slightly. She swallowed and then continued. “I believe finding the words that were implanted in our minds might be very delicate. I trust Jean, but I do not trust her ability to handle something like this, and I do not trust Frost not to have the Cuckoos lobotomize you,” Laura explained carefully. “Psylocke holds to the telepathic ethics of Professor Xavier, she will not hurt you if you are not attacking. And if she will not help you, then we will leave and find someone else. But either way, we are leaving when this ship makes land.”
She pushed herself up to look at Daken, he stared back up at her for a moment, his jaw clenched and lips pursed, and then he shifted, shuffling himself sideways against the wall, making space on the bed and giving a beckoning gesture with his fingers. Laura twisted around and laid down, dropping her head into the pillow and curling it around as Daken leaned down next to her ear. “Psylocke is X-Force. She will drop me on sight,” he breathed.
Laura frowned and sat up, pushing the pillow toward Daken. He flopped onto his back again and Laura reestablished the cocoon. “I will not let her,” she whispered. “If she will not help you, then we, both of us, will leave and find something else,” she said firmly, and then paused, taking a deep breath. “... If I can convince her to help you, will you let her?”
Daken was still for several minutes before finally nodding. Laura pushed herself upright again and sat on the edge of Daken’s bed, looking down at him while he looked back up at her. Laura found his hand and clasped it. “I will not turn my back on you,” she said softly.
000
“Where are you going?” Laura demanded, glaring at Mystique and Shogun as they headed for the exit.
“Shopping,” Mystique smirked at her.
“Why are we here? What does this have to do with Logan?” Laura persisted. “What does any of this have to do with preserving your life, Shogun? You have already gotten most of your team killed, how much longer do you intend to dawdle and play this fool’s game before you stop holding our lives ransom?”
“Let the grown-ups worry about all that, dear. Off you go now,” Mystique waved dismissively.
Laura snarled and turned sharply, heading for the hall to Daken’s room. She could hear Mystique chuckle behind her and Laura felt a smirk curling her own lips as the two departed on their errand. She pushed open the door to find that Daken had deigned to put on a shirt. “Ten minutes,” Laura said quietly, closing the door.
Daken nodded and then tilted his head slightly. “... You don’t have any other clothes?” he asked.
Laura looked down at her uniform. “No.”
“That’s going to draw attention,” Daken noted.
Laura considered that, chewing on her lip. “Sabertooth wouldn’t bother asking people ‘have you seen a girl who looks like-’ so I don’t really see as it matters.”
Daken shrugged and picked up a jacket lying on the bed, draping it over his shoulders, camouflaging his missing arm. Laura leaned against the table and found herself smirking again. “Your hair is as distinctive as anything else. I wonder if anyone will even notice my fashion sense,” she said and was pleased to see the corner of Daken’s lips twitch upwards slightly.
After ten minutes had passed, Laura preceded Daken into the hall, testing the air carefully and repeatedly as they made their way toward the exit on silent feet. Laura could hear movement in the range as they passed through the lower level, recent scents told her it was Junk, but no one interrupted them. The gate opened without issue and let them out into a wooded area.
“Where are we?” Laura asked quietly, listening and catching the sounds of traffic not far off.
“Taipei,” Daken answered, following as Laura headed for the road. “How much Hokkien can you speak?”
“I speak Mandarin,” Laura shrugged. “But I’m not planning on starting many conversations... How are you at pick-pocketing?”
“Artful,” Daken replied.
“I need a phone. A smart-phone.”
“I don’t think they have dumb-phones in Taiwan,” Daken said. “Find me a city, I’ll find you a phone.”
000
Ororo started awake and floundered in the blankets for a few moments as the landline by her bed began to ring. She rolled and crawled and reached until she managed to get hold of the receiver and drag it to her ear. “‘lo?” she mumbled, rubbing at her eyes.
“Storm, this is Laura. I am in Taiwan and I have perhaps twenty minutes before Mystique sends Sabertooth to track me. I- I need to leave. I need help,” Laura’s voice came over the line, starting with its usual strength and then faltering- asking for help was difficult for her, like father like daughter.
Ororo shoved the blankets off of her and scrambled out of the bed, grabbing for the pad of paper and pen sitting on the stand next to the phone. “Where are you specifically? Can you stay on the line?” she demanded aloud and then called in her loudest mental voice, Betsy! I need a team ready to go immediately! You, Kurt, Monet and Megan! I want Rachel tracking us in Cerebra! This is an emergency extraction, I need everybody ready in my office in five minutes!
Roger, Betsy’s answer came immediately.
“I am at twenty-five degrees, five minutes and fifty point three-three-four seconds North and one-twenty-one degrees, thirty-two minutes and fifty-one point one-three-six seconds East,” Laura said, voice strong again as she was back on the solid ground of dealing with facts. “I will attempt to stay on the line.”
“Good girl,” Ororo muttered, copying down the coordinates and then pressing the speaker-phone button as she went to fetch her uniform. “Why did you not come with us yesterday, Laura?”
“Mystique had leverage over me and she was watching me. She is distracted now, stealing something, but it will not last long enough for me to escape on my own,” Laura answered.
“How did she threaten you, Laura?” Ororo asked.
“... I cannot discuss it over the phone,” Laura said.
Ororo nodded slightly, fastening herself into her uniform and clipping her cape in place. “Laura, I am going to put you on hold for a moment while I move to another room. Please stay on the line if you are able,” she instructed.
“I will try.”
Ororo hit the key to transfer the call to her office and grabbed the page with Laura’s coordinates, then started toward the administrative wing at a run. She was halfway there when Kurt burst into the air next to her and began loping along beside her. “What has happened, Storm?” he asked as they ran.
“Laura,” Ororo replied. “Mystique was holding her with some kind of threats. We shouldn’t have left her.”
“Do we know where she is now?”
“Taipei.” They turned the last corner and Betsy was standing next to Ororo’s office as they charged up the hall. Ororo pushed through the door without greeting her and ran to the phone on her desk, grabbing the receiver and asking, “Are you still there, Laura?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We will be with you shortly,” Ororo said, putting Laura back on speaker as she dragged her computer around and pushed it open.
“What’s the emergency?” Monet’s voice demanded behind her.
“Laura is in need of rescue,” Kurt answered.
Ororo had just pulled up a satellite map when a flash of pink light was accompanied by Megan’s sleepy voice yawning, “I’m here! I’m ready! Ready for adventure! Where are we going?”
“Taipei. Here,” Ororo said, turning the computer and stepping aside as Megan staggered over, still looking half asleep.
“Oh, okay, that’s... that’s in Taiwan? Like, under China?” Megan mumbled, zooming the image out and then back in. “I can do that.”
“Are you sure?” Ororo asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Time is of the essence, Megan. Laura is in danger.”
“Laura? Oh! Oh no! No I can do it!” Megan exclaimed, becoming more alert and straightening back up.
“I am in an alley,” Laura said over the speakerphone. “In a suburban area north of the Keelung River.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I got the little pin on the map. I can totally do this,” Megan said, drawing a breath. “Sihal novarum chinoth!”
The next moment there was another pink flash and Ororo felt herself being dragged and dropped. She panted slightly, trying to reorient herself. “Storm,” Laura’s voice called, real now, not filtered through a speaker, and Ororo turned, at first pleased and relieved that Laura’s directions and Megan’s aim had been so good, and then she froze, staring at the man leaned against the brick wall a few feet behind Laura.
“Daken,” Ororo hissed, narrowing her eyes at the assassin who stared back at her through polarized sunglasses. Laura would never lead them into an ambush, Ororo reminded herself. She had more than earned the trust Ororo or any X-Man would place in her. She had never, in all the time Ororo had known her, done anything to abuse that trust. “... Laura, I need you to explain this,” Ororo said calmly.
Laura’s eyes turned to Betsy and a moment later Ororo heard Betsy’s ‘voice’ saying, All right, you’re networked. Go.
Daken was conditioned for obedience every bit as much as I was, Laura’s ‘voice’ said as her eyes focused back on Ororo’s. His outward narcissism and ability to operate unsupervised disguises the fact that he was disciplined for servitude. I was made to be sellable, and so I was conditioned to follow the orders of any authority figure. Daken was made to obey a single master, Laura explained, looking back and forth between Ororo and Betsy.
Ororo glanced at Betsy and met her eyes as Laura continued. Logan did not understand that removing Romulus as Daken’s master did not remove his ingrained need for a master. Mystique does understand that and I have witnessed her in recent days vying for the role, Laura said and Ororo drew a sharp breath, feeling a chill at the very thought as she looked again at Daken. However, it seems that Daken would rather follow my orders. I do not want to be his master. I am nauseated by the idea of it. But I will not let Mystique have him.
“... Betsy?” Ororo asked quietly, turning to her friend.
“... You’re being tracked?” Betsy asked, looking at Laura. “This is perhaps not the best time for a long discussion.”
“There is no discussion. I am not leaving without him,” Laura said firmly.
“Laura,” Daken called in a calm, quiet voice. “Creed can’t track me. I’ll be fine. Get out of here.”
Laura turned around and glared at him. “You are not planning on hiding from him, you are planning on fighting him,” she accused. “He is twice your weight an uninjured. I am not leaving without you.”
“... I could surprise him,” Daken said. “He’d never smell me coming.”
“No,” Laura snapped and Daken fell silent, glancing away.
... I find it curious that he’s not arguing, love, Betsy whispered into Ororo’s mind.
“How about if I just put my hands around his neck while Pixie ports us out of here, and if he squirms, I squeeze?” Monet offered.
“She’s a tank?” Daken murmured, glancing back at Laura.
“I don’t know her,” Laura said, eyeing Monet suspiciously.
“Oh hi, honey! I’m Monet St. Croix!” Monet introduced herself cheerfully, waving at Laura. “I’m sure Jubes has told you all sorts of horrible things about me! And yes, I’m a tank. I crush nasty bad-boys like flies on a windshield.”
“Whatever we’re going to do, we should do it quickly,” Kurt noted. “Or at least move somewhere else to discuss it.”
Daken pushed away from the wall and started toward them. “Daken,” Laura grabbed his arm as he passed her.
“We need to leave and Miss St. Croix has made a very reasonable suggestion,” Daken said calmly, pulling his arm free and giving Laura’s shoulder a squeeze before walking over and standing in front of Monet. “Ready when you are.”
“Huh... You are not in great shape, are you?” Monet noted, looking at him closely before reaching up and wrapping her hands around Daken’s neck.
“Ouch. I like your shape,” Daken replied.
Monet rolled her eyes. “Right. That’s...” she trailed off, her eyebrows raising and her mouth dropping open slightly.
“Okay, this is not going to work. Monet, drop him,” Betsy snarled.
“Do not injure him!” Laura shouted.
He’s injureable? Betsy’s ‘voice’ wondered to Ororo, who frowned softly. “Monet, catch,” Betsy said out loud and a moment later Daken was collapsing. The jacket fell off his shoulders as Monet grabbed him and Ororo gritted her teeth as she caught sight of Daken’s left arm, abbreviated halfway down the bicep.
“What did you do?!” Laura demanded, running forward.
“Oh jeeze! He’s all missing parts and stuff!” Megan exclaimed.
“I made him sleep. He’s not any more damaged than he already was,” Betsy answered and Laura seemed to calm somewhat as Monet slid and arm under Daken’s legs, repositioning him to carry and looking disgruntled.
“Did- did this fucker just...” Monet mumbled, becoming steadily more flustered.
“Hit you with a pheromone cocktail,” Betsy confirmed.
“Son of a bitch!” she made to drop Daken.
“Don’t!” Laura shouted, trying to grab him.
“Monet,” Ororo snapped. “We need to move. Megan, please take us directly to the Danger Room.”
“Right! Sihal novarum chinoth!”
000
“Danger Room- containment lockdown. Respond only to commands from faculty,” Storm ordered as the light of Pixie’s teleport faded.
“Containment lockdown confirmed. Faculty access only,” the Danger Room’s synthesized voice announced.
“I am dropping this piece of shit now!” St. Croix announced.
“Don’t--” Laura started.
“Set him down gently, Monet,” Storm commanded and St. Croix begrudgingly complied. “Megan, thank you for your assistance. You are excused from your morning classes if you choose to sleep in,” Storm said, turning to Pixie.
“Oh. Thanks. So... I guess I’ll just go back to bed then?” Pixie frowned, looking disappointed and annoyed.
“I would appreciate you not mention Daken’s presence to any of the other students,” Storm said.
“... That’s kinda... Mm... Yeah, okay,” Pixie agreed, nodding reluctantly. “G’night- or morning- everybody!” she sighed, heading for the door.
“Danger Room, allow Megan Gwynn to exit,” Storm commanded.
“Confirmed,” the Danger Room chimed, opening the door for Pixie and then closing it behind her.
Laura crouched down next to Daken, brushing a hand over him and smelling for blood or other signs of fresh injury. There was nothing new, he hadn’t been scratched when he’d stumbled and St. Croix hadn’t bruised him. Nightcrawler crouched down on the other side of him, trying to catch Laura’s eyes. “Liebling, perhaps you will tell us now what has happened?” he asked quietly. “How did Daken become so injured?”
“... Sinister... and a creature Abraham Cornelius created,” Laura said, gently removing Daken’s sunglasses. “It... the creature... it killed Elixir...” she whispered, her throat becoming dry. “... It was just seconds... It grabbed him... and then he was dead. Then it caught Daken... I- I cut it... and it ran... It keeps coming back. I’ve shot it and cut it and seen it fall many stories to the ground... and it keeps coming back... It’s very fast. I can’t bring it down long enough to safely capture it... If I get close enough for it to touch me... Daken... his blood doesn’t clot.”
There was a long silence in the room. “... Josh disappeared from Rainbow Valley two weeks ago... Dani has been searching for him,” Storm’s voice was small, desolate. “Why... why was he...?”
“I don’t know,” Laura shook her head. “He wasn’t like the rest of us... I don’t know how he became part of Cornelius’ database... But that thing... He didn’t think it would be able to hurt him. I didn’t imagine it could either... It was seconds...”
“... What happened to his body, Laura?” Psylocke asked softly.
“I... we ran... because of the creature...” Laura whispered, feeling a swell of shame that made her grit her teeth as her stomach turned. “... I think I could find the place he died on a map.”
“... Please don’t say anything about it to the other students, Laura,” Storm said and Laura nodded.
“... The reason I reached out to you and not my own team,” Laura started, shaking herself and trying to refocus on the problem at hand, “is that Cornelius has apparently captured Daken and me, and the others you saw me with as well, repeatedly in recent months and implanted words in our subconscious to control us and remove the memory of these violations. These words are known by the organization he was part of and others as well, and can be used to control or kill us at any time. The people who abducted us have been using the threat of these words to force our compliance.”
“... That bastard,” Storm whispered, and then asked in a clearer voice, “Do we have confirmation of Cornelius’ death?”
“All signs point to yes, but I haven’t seen a body,” Psylocke answered.
“Shogun seems to believe that he is dead,” Laura said.
“Who is Shogun?”
“The man with the red mask,” Laura answered. “He led the people who abducted us. Most of his team defected or was killed when we attacked Sinister. He knows how to fight, but he is an idiot. And now he belongs to Mystique... He is responsible for Elixir’s death.”
“... We’ll find him,” Nightcrawler said, catching Laura’s hand and squeezing it reassuringly. “We will find all of them.”
“... The words,” Laura said quietly.
“I’ll get them out of you,” Psylocke assured her.
“And Daken,” Laura reminded. There was an elongated pause. “... Do you want the people who worked for Cornelius to be able to control him?” she asked, looking up at Psylocke. “Or Mystique? She will probably find a way to force Shogun to give her Daken’s command words.”
“She has a point,” St. Croix noted.
“... Laura, he belongs in prison,” Storm said quietly.
“There is no evidence,” Laura said, looking at her again. “We have been told that he was an assassin for several decades, but there has never been sufficient evidence tying him to a death for any charges to be brought against him.” She narrowed her eyes. “However SHIELD is more than willing to hold a ‘mutant terrorist’ indefinitely without evidence or charges.”
“Laura...” Storm sighed, rubbing her face.
“You sound like Cyclops,” Psylocke noted, looking and sounding amused.
“I have seen it,” Laura answered easily. “They do not even need evidence that a crime has occurred to hold a mutant.”
“She drank the coolaid,” St. Croix smirked.
“Laura makes a few points though,” Nightcrawler said. “Most of Daken’s ‘career’ has happened while he was under Romulus’ control, ja? And afterwards... the man must have severe psychological damage and he was simply... dismissed. Logan and all of us had more pressing matters to concern ourselves with. He is a victim in many ways, and we have forgiven and aided mutants who have committed crimes equivalent to his and had far more control of their actions.”
“... I’ll remove his trigger words,” Psylocke sighed, looking unhappy. “But we still have ‘more pressing matters to concern ourselves with’. Our responsibility is to the children of this school and Daken’s presence would jeopardize their safety.”
“He would not want to stay here,” Laura said, shaking her head. “And I am not staying either. I have a team. I came to you with this because Frost is... less ethical than you.”
That inspired a laugh from Psylocke, Nightcrawler and St. Croix and Storm smirked a little.
000
Well somebody’s seen better days, Rachel noted, strolling into the Danger Room, its door locking again behind her.
Apparently he’s a hemophiliac now too, Betsy replied, standing next to the dentist chair Daken was draped in, her arms folded across her chest.
That’ll slow him down, Rachel said. “You don’t want to get some sleep, Laura?” she asked, turning to look at the girl perched backwards on an office chair a few yards away.
“I just came from Taiwan. It was afternoon,” Laura replied. “I have been in many time-zones this week.”
“Ah,” Rachel nodded. “So, just observing then?”
“Yes,” Laura agreed.
Chaperoning, Betsy added.
Him or us?
Who knows?
“Okay, so first we’re going to wake him up,” Rachel said aloud as she and Betsy took positions on either side of Daken. After you, she said nodding to Betsy.
Daken woke with a sharp intake of breath and sat forward slightly, his one eye coming open with a snap. “Relax,” Betsy commanded; he cast her a wary glance and then looked at Laura who stared evenly back at him. Daken settled back into the chair. “We are going to put you into a hypnotic trance state to operate. How long this takes depends on how much you fight me. I’m going to be working primarily on your language center, so I have no intention of disturbing your memories or any of that,” Betsy said calmly.
“All right,” Daken agreed. “I’ll try to be cooperative,” he said, pretending to relax while his mind was on edge, boiling over with distrust.
“Focus on my voice,” Rachel instructed. “Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Tw--” she cut off with a sharp yelp and jumped backward several feet before spinning around and running for the door.
“Danger Room, exit!” Betsy screamed, steps behind her.
Rachel ran to the wall opposite the door and braced her hands against it, panting and shaking as her heart thundered in her chest. “Wh-what...” she whispered hoarsely.
“Ph-pheromones,” Betsy gasped next to her. A lot of fear pheromones.
Was that an attack? Rachel wondered.
More likely a defensive reflex, Betsy shook her head. Come on, she turned back to the door. “Danger Room, open.”
The door opened and Laura’s voice could be heard, a little weaker and shakier than usual, calling “... Please ventilate.”
“Invalid command. You do not have sufficient permissions,” the Danger Room answered.
“Danger Room, ventilate area,” Betsy called and there was a sudden gust of air strong enough to ruffle everyone’s hair.
Laura was pressed against the wall and Daken was crouched over her, trying to counter the fear-dump with calming pheromones. They both looked over to Betsy and Rachel. “My apologies,” Daken said.
“Back in the chair,” Betsy said, jerking her head toward the chair in question.
Daken rose to his feet and held out his hand to Laura, who accepted it and went to right her overturned office chair while Daken settled back into his place at the center of the room. “Danger Room, air-curtain surrounding Daken,” Rachel called and a circle of jets sprang up around the chair. Ready for another try? Rachel asked as she and Betsy took up their previous positions.
“Once more,” Betsy said, a note of irritation in her voice.
“Concentrate on my voice. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One,” Rachel counted down again, taking control of Daken’s pulse and breathing rate and cushioning his consciousness while Betsy pushed it down. “Danger Room, ventilate area,” she called and the air in the room vacuumed toward the ceiling once more.
“Danger Room, report: any presence of unusually high human pheromones remaining?” Betsy called.
“Negative,” the Danger Room answered.
“Cancel air-curtain,” Rachel commanded and the jets sectioning off Daken stopped. “Monitor Daken’s pulse and respiration. Report any change.”
“Confirmed,” the Danger Room said.
Betsy rested a hand against Daken’s head and grimaced. “This is going to take a while,” she sighed and Rachel nodded. The level of psychic resistance Daken had built up around his mind was truly exceptional for a non-telepath, and picking their way past all the mental razor-wire and fortifications was going to be slow going.
000
“You got your beepbeep ready?” Jubilee asked, glancing over her shoulder.
“Ihh!” Shogo answered, grabbing at his pendant.
“Good boy!” she grinned and turned back to the Danger Room door. “Open sesame, Danger Room,” Jubilee commanded and then stepped just inside as the door slid open. “Laura! Come on, kid- breakfast!” she called cheerfully.
Laura looked up. “Jubilee...” she murmured and then glanced back at Betsy and Rachel flanking the infamous Daken. “I... I should...”
“Hey, as fascinating as watching a couple telepaths stare at each other for hours and hours is, I know you’re hungry. So come on! Let’s get us some french toast and hash browns,” Jubilee insisted, putting her hands on her hips.
“... We’re going to be at this a while, Laura,” Rachel said, her voice vague and distracted. “Daken’s skull is almost as hard as Logan’s.”
Laura hesitated another moment and then relented. “... All right,” she said, climbing off her chair and walking toward Jubilee with a brief look over her shoulder.
“Sweet. Danger Room, open up,” Jubilee commanded and the door slid back, letting them out into the hall. She took note of Laura’s distraction and repeated glances back toward the Danger Room. “Y’know, your friends around here have been pretty worried about you,” Jubilee said quietly. “We were all relieved when we heard you’d signed on with Kitty’s team.”
Laura nodded slightly. “... It has not been a good year,” she said in a very soft voice.
“... Yeah,” Jubilee whispered, catching Laura’s hand and holding it as they walked. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“... I do not know the words,” Laura breathed, her fingers curling around Jubilee’s.
“Buh!” Shogo interjected, waving a chubby hand and making it very hard to be moody. He always knew just what to say.
Laura looked at him strapped into the carrier on Jubilee’s back for a moment before asking, “How old is he?”
“Eleven months,” Jubilee answered, grinning over her shoulder at the baby. “He really wants to walk. He can’t balance himself yet, but he wants to move his tiny feet so much.”
“He is very cute,” Laura said. “I think you are having fun dressing him,” she noted, eyeing his doggie onsie.
“Babies are way better than dolls,” Jubilee laughed and then sobered. “Listen... I know your old classmates are really going to want to see you, but some of them might ask... stupid stuff... You can just tell them you don’t want to talk about it, but, y’know, if you want to skip it...”
“... I will be all right,” Laura said, nodding vaguely. “... I would like to see them.”
“Okay. Good. There’s also a lot of new kids here. If one of them starts bugging you about... y’know, stuff- just give ‘em your grrr-face and they’ll scamper,” Jubilee said.
“... I do not like my grrr-face,” Laura whispered.
“I- I’m sorry. I didn’t--”
Laura stopped walking and caught Jubilee by the shoulders, pulling her into a slightly awkward hug. It was the first time Jubilee had even seen her hug someone. She didn’t know Laura did that sort of thing. “It’s all right,” Laura said softly. “I... thank you for not asking me about Murder World...”
“... I’m mad about what that guy did to you, but I’m not scared or anything... just mad... Trigger-you isn’t the real you,” Jubilee murmured, hugging back.
“... Thank you.”