“Can you help him?” asked Sabretooth, clearly worried.
Christopher nodded in reassurance, even though he hadn’t yet taken a look. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to take it back. He closed his eyes and aligned his energy with Graydon’s. Immediately, he knew that something was wrong, something bigger than the holes burnt into the man’s flesh. Christopher could sense most people as vague human shapes. He could feel the life force within them at first, and then as he went deeper, he could focus in on particular elements that felt out of harmony. He could connect with them, using his own body to feel their wounds and sicknesses. Perhaps, as he trained, he’d be able to do more.
The moment that he connected with Graydon, he sensed something he’d never seen before: Graydon’s life energy wasn’t confined to his body. He wasn’t a faded outline of light like a sick person or a vibrant corona of energy like a powerful mutant. Instead, the energy poured into him as if from some giant funnel nearby. He’d never seen anything like it.
Once again, his stomach did slow flip flops. This felt unnatural. The energy flowing into Graydon felt wrong somehow. He didn’t want to touch it, but he had an obligation to. If he shrank away from this because he feared what he didn’t understand, he’d be no better than Graydon Creed and his followers. They feared people like him just because of how he’d been born. He could give his life to do the right thing, but that wouldn’t matter. Not to them. They’d only see a dirty little mutie, just like Candy had.
He had to prove them wrong. He clenched his teeth together and reached into the twisted flow of energy.
It felt as bad as he’d expected. It was like taking a big bite of your favorite food only to find that every ingredient in it had spoiled, and someone had added live bugs to it while you weren’t looking. His entire body shuddered, and dimly he heard Eva calling his name, but he couldn’t respond. He would finish this healing. Perhaps if he did, he might purify the energy and fix whatever was happening to the poor man. Maybe Graydon would see then that his hate was unjustified.
His body wanted nothing to do with Graydon’s, but he made it cooperate. He forced their heartbeats together through sheer will. He made their breath slow in tandem. He stimulated the politician’s sluggish systems, jolting them into reluctant action and finally into overdrive, knitting new muscle and skin to replace the burnt areas.
Once the healing started, it felt better. Christopher still sensed the sick taint that surrounded them, but it didn’t threaten to overwhelm him any longer. He poured himself into the healing, feeling the wounds fade away, and prepared to withdraw. But he couldn’t. He was stuck somehow, energy pouring out of him and into Graydon. Normally, when the injury was gone, he just stopped. But he couldn’t get out this time. Something held him there, and he panicked as his senses began to fade. He couldn’t see beyond his body or Graydon’s. He couldn’t see…
He fell on his back on the floor, the connection suddenly broken. It took him a moment to realize what had happened. Graydon had shoved him away. For a moment, he could do nothing. He just lay there, grateful to be back in his own body where he belonged, even though his stomach roiled uncontrollably with fear and nausea.
“I told you to stop,” said the politician, retreating away from him, his eyes wide with fear.
“Hey.” Sabretooth nudged him with a foot. “He saved your life.”
“He tainted me,” said Graydon, turning on him. “Or he would have, if I wasn’t already tainted by association.”
Christopher heard none of this. The rank, oily life energy surrounded him still. It filled his eyes and plugged his nose. It curdled his stomach. It wasn’t life, not really. It felt like unlife, if such a thing existed. He didn’t understand it, but he definitely didn’t like it.
Unable to contain his roiling stomach any longer, he whirled around and vomited pop all over Graydon’s slippered feet.
“Sorry,” he said miserably.
Graydon shuddered. “And this is why we don’t spend time with mutants,” he said, sliding his feet out of his befouled slippers. “We inevitably find ourselves slogging through the worst mankind has to offer. Because mutantkind is not equal to us.”
Sabretooth dumped a used napkin on his lap and smacked the back of his head. “Stuff it, Graydon,” he said. “The kid just healed you and made himself sick in the process, and now you’re pulling this human-superiority crap? Show a little tact.”
“Seems to me that if we were as bad as you seem to think, he wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble to save your bacon,” Eva added. She pulled a shaky Christopher up to stand. “You feeling a little better now, pal?” He nodded. “Let’s get you cleaned up, and then we can figure out how to get the lot of us back to the X-Copter, huh?”
“Yeah,” he said, glancing at Graydon. He thought about confessing what he’d seen, but it would probably only start an argument that he didn’t feel up to having at the moment. He would wait until the right time. A short wait couldn’t hurt that much, right? “That would be a good idea.”
Chapter 14
Eva couldn’t wait to get back to the New Xavier School. She’d eat a million bland sandwiches. She’d look forward to her daily sessions with Emma Frost, although she still suspected that Emma had a few screws loose. From here on out, she would accept her student status without complaint if only it meant that she could escape Graydon Creed. In the short time she’d known him, she’d quickly come to realize that his attitude stank worse than the puke on his shoes.
“I need something to wear,” he declared. “These clothes smell, and they’ll attract too much attention out in public.”
“Well, help look for something,” she responded reasonably. “You’re not broken.”
He glared at her. She glared back. Sabretooth broke the detente by smacking Graydon on the back of the head, and in response, Graydon glared at him too. It failed to have the desired effect. Sabretooth didn’t even change expression.
“If you want something else to wear, you’ll help look for it,” Sabretooth snarled.
Muttering all the while, Graydon helped sift through the junk in the office, looking for clothing that didn’t have holes burnt through it, or soda and stomach acids splashed all over it. They all pitched in, looking through boxes and piles of useless crap.
“What about this?”
Eva pulled out an oil-splattered yellow jumpsuit that looked like it hadn’t been laundered in about three years. It was so crusty that it stood up on its own. Graydon grimaced.
“I can’t go out in public in that,” he said.
“You’re not trying to make an impression,” said Sabretooth. “Either stick with the aluminum foil suit, or wear this one. You pick. Anybody got shoes?”
“How about these?”
Christopher emerged out from underneath a shelf, his goggles and dreadlocks covered with dust and spider webs, holding a pair of work boots that had seen better days. Someone – probably the same person who had decorated the wall calendar – had drawn a smiley face on the toe of the left boot. Graydon took one look and began to shake his head.
“No. I have standards,” he said.
“Then wear the puke shoes,” said Christopher, who had clearly had enough.
Sabretooth nodded in approval. “I like you, kid.”
Graydon’s lips twisted in annoyance, and he thrust out a hand.
“Fine. Give me the boots and a little privacy. I need to change,” he said.
As Graydon made his wardrobe switch, Eva sidled up to Sabretooth. She thought that a little advance planning might help avoid some arguments, especially from Graydon, who seemed determined to make trouble. He disliked mutants, and therefore he seemed to consider it his job to act like a spoiled brat.
She didn’t know what to think of him. From across the ocean, he’d seemed a monster in the making, powerful and suave in his tailored suits, preaching hatred with a honeye
d tongue. Her mother had always changed the station when he’d appeared on the TV, to Eva’s great relief. But now, he was one face in a horde that hated her, and it all seemed so stupid. His good opinion was the least of her worries. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. But she had to admit that his behavior rankled.
“So the X-Copter is out on the water,” she said quietly.
“Yeah?” Sabretooth replied.
“I figure we should be able to get there in a couple of minutes. Do you want to go back the way we came? I figure we should plan in advance since Graydon’s acting like a two year-old.”
Sabretooth smirked. “Don’t write him off just yet. He’s a brilliant strategist. If he’s acting the fool, he’s got a reason for it.”
“Yeah? He must like getting slapped around then,” she said archly.
He laughed, and she looked at him askance. She’d thought he was joking, but he seemed to mean the compliment. She hadn’t expected the mercenary to respect anyone, let alone the mutant-hating politician. Graydon must be paying him a boatload.
“So about the chopper?” she persisted.
“Look, kid, I like your thinking, but we’re not going back to the chopper yet. There’s something we need to pick up back at the museum first. I’m not leaving without it.”
With that, Sabretooth turned around, looking toward the corner behind the shelving unit where Graydon hid to change his clothes. He picked up an empty Styrofoam cup and threw it at the politician’s head. It bounced off his hair and onto the ground.
“You done or what?” he said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Graydon emerged wearing the jumpsuit, the boots, and a long-suffering expression. He’d found a package of wet wipes on some random shelf and made some attempt at cleaning the jumpsuit, leaving damp streaks across the fabric but accomplishing little else.
“You missed a button,” said Christopher, reaching toward him. Graydon sidled away, clearly not wanting to be touched, and the healer subsided, shrugging. “Never mind, then. So where are we going now?”
“Well, I thought we were leaving, but apparently Sabretooth needs to get some mystery thing from the Grace Museum first,” said Eva, folding her arms to underscore her displeasure. “Because apparently we want to get caught by the cops.”
“Honey, if we work together, the cops can’t hold us,” said Sabretooth.
“Yeah, that’ll happen,” said Eva. “We’ve got one guy who dislikes mutants, and one guy who has a secret mission that he refuses to talk about because he doesn’t confide in – what did he call us again, Christopher?”
“Newbies,” Christopher supplied scornfully.
“Newbies. But wait a second. Who came here to pull his butt out of the fryer?”
Christopher pretended to think. “You know, I think that was us.”
She feigned surprise. “You know, I think you’re right!”
“Ha ha, aren’t you two funny?” said Sabretooth. “But this isn’t a game, kids. You want to play in the big leagues? Remind me again who was just puking his guts out a minute ago?”
Christopher swallowed. “Yeah, well, about that…” Eva’s stomach sank. Based on his nervous expression, whatever he had to tell them wasn’t going to be good. He looked around. “Wait a minute. Where’s Graydon?”
Eva couldn’t believe it. The politician had been there just a moment ago, and in that jumpsuit he should have been quite visible. Somehow, he’d managed to sneak out of the room while they’d been arguing. He’d done it with no mutant abilities, just determination and skill. She was equal parts annoyed and impressed.
Sabretooth definitely fell on the annoyed end of the spectrum. He punched the broken computer screen, sending a shower of sparks to rain down on the desk. Then he roared in frustration.
“He can’t have gone far,” she soothed him. “We’ll find him.”
Christopher nodded. “Split up, or stick together?”
“Stick together,” Sabretooth growled. “I don’t want to risk losing the two of you as well. I might be able to sniff him out.”
“I might be able to sense him too,” said Christopher.
This statement made Eva stop in her tracks. She hadn’t realized that his abilities extended so far. He’d never seemed to be able to track people before. Once, when all of the students had been out hiking, Benjamin had gotten separated from the rest of the group, and Christopher hadn’t seemed to know where he was. Had his abilities grown since then, or had he been holding out? If so, why?
“You can sense where people are just by… like, sniffing out their life force or something?” she said, not quite knowing what terminology to use.
“Not with most people,” he said. “But Graydon is unique. That’s what made me toss my cookies all over his shoes.”
“You’re feeling better now, though, right? Will tracking him make you feel worse?” she asked.
“I’m doing OK, thanks. I grabbed an extra drink and put it in my pocket if I get the shakes again. So like I was saying–”
“Will you two quit your yapping so we can go?” Sabretooth snapped.
Without waiting for a response, he marched out of the office with the air of someone who has just about reached breaking point.
“I guess I’ll tell you later,” said Christopher quietly.
Eva nodded. She wanted to know what he had to say, but she didn’t want to push Sabretooth. He seemed to be a millimeter away from losing it, and it made her nervous.
If she’d known how to contact Cyclops, she might have considered it. Sabretooth had his moments, but she didn’t trust him. This rescue mission hadn’t gone at all like she’d expected it to. She’d thought they would sweep in to help and then head back to school to receive their accolades, but things hadn’t gone that way at all. Sabretooth clearly had his own agenda, and she didn’t like being led around on a leash. Graydon clearly hated them all, and she had no idea why they were protecting him given that he’d dedicated his life to exterminating people like them. Sabretooth was muscle for hire, sure, but the guy hated mutants. They must have been awfully desperate to agree to work together in the first place. The whole situation stank as bad as Graydon’s slippers, and she could have used some good advice. But the old X-Copter remote didn’t offer access to the comms unit, so they couldn’t radio in until they got back to the chopper.
Cyclops was probably having a fit. They’d landed and gone radio silent for at least an hour now. Frankly, she was surprised he hadn’t shown up with Illyana in tow to pick up his wayward students. Either he trusted them, or he’d decided to let them lie in the bed they’d made for themselves. She wasn’t sure which option would be preferable, to be honest. She wanted her independence, but if Cyclops and the rest of the instructors marched into the parking garage right now, she’d feel at least a little relieved.
Outside the office door, Sabretooth hunched over, inhaling the exhaust-filled air. He growled low in his throat, a frustrated noise that emanated from deep within him. Christopher scanned the area, and he shook his head at her wordlessly. He had nothing.
“OK,” said Eva, keeping her voice as light as possible. “He’s probably trying to get out of here, right? So he’ll either have gone for the stairs, or he’ll be going up the ramp. Which way do you want to look?”
Sabretooth sniffed again. “Ramp,” he said.
He took off, not even bothering to check if they followed. Christopher rolled his eyes, and Eva smiled a little as they trailed along after him. After every few steps, Sabretooth stopped to scent the air. When Eva tried to ask him if they were on the right track, he fixed her with a glare that froze the words in her throat. Seems he didn’t feel like chatting.
They rounded a corner. Just a few feet away sat a serial killer van with whited out windows, parked too close to the neighboring sedan. Eva hated when people did that. Apparently, so did
Sabretooth, because he stiffened like a dog on point and then started toward the van. They followed, jumping at the distant slam of a car door.
Sabretooth darted in front of the van and came out holding one of Graydon’s vomit-covered slippers. He stared at it for a moment with an almost comical level of shock before he threw it on the ground.
“Damn it!” he snarled. “He’s trying to throw me off the scent. When I find him, I’ll…”
His eyes glowed, a red fury building in their depths. Eva had no desire to see all that pent-up anger unleashed. She didn’t think he’d care if they were his friends or not if that happened. She had to calm him somehow.
“He’s trying to jerk your chain,” she said. “What does he want, Sabretooth? What is he trying to get?”
“The Box…” Sabretooth hissed, slamming his fist into his open hand. “Of course. He’s trying to delay us to get to the Box.”
“What Box?” she asked, hoping that maybe for once he’d answer, but of course that didn’t happen. He shoved her aside in his hurry to get past, and she slammed against the sedan, rocking it slightly. He didn’t even slow down.
“You OK?” asked Christopher, his brows furrowed.
“Peachy.” She dusted off her palms. “Let’s go find that Box.”
“What Box?” he asked.
“Exactly!” she said. “I love being kept in the dark, don’t you?”
“Will you two shut up and come on?” asked Sabretooth.
He already stood by the door to the stairway, holding it for them. They hurried through the door before he lost it completely, and it clanged shut behind them.
Chapter 15
When Eva, Christopher, and Sabretooth emerged back out onto the street, they found that the police presence hadn’t abated much. Instead, the cops milled about, trying to look busy while clusters of reporters clutched umbrellas as they took eyewitness accounts on nearly every corner, bright lights blazing and cameras rolling as they tried to make sense of the morning’s wild occurrences. Sabretooth took one look at the crowds and hunched into the depths of his trench coat. Between his size, his teeth, and his wild hair, he stood out in a crowd. Anyone who got a good look at him would instantly know that he wasn’t a garden variety human. They had to stay inconspicuous, or they’d never make it to the Grace without getting into yet another altercation with the police.
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