X-MEN: (Kai&Trio) AoA: Lost Souls 1a/3
Kaylee1109
home without one. The Trio is mine, they're vicious, trust me
you _don't_ want them. Kai and Tom are Kaylee's -- they are
also vicious, you don't want them either. But if you're feeling
foolhardy enough to try to _take_ them without permission,
my good friend The Evil Phonemaster will buzz you down, tie
you up and leave you tied to the Brady Bunch front door on
the Barney crossover day. The horror, the suffering! Just
don't do it!
FEEDBACK!!!!-YES WE WANT FEEDBACK!!!
SEND FEEDBACK TO: Kayle...@aol.com and (I
stress AND!!) 2Su...@email.msn.com. Feedback is
Very much appreciated...send, and if you send none...well
reader meet my skillet...skillet bad reader <PONK>...awwww
they like each other! <PONK PONK PONK PONK!!!!!!>
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Okay you get the idea!
(Whew! Okay, people...Shera sounds quite serious to me! I'd
suggest you not risking her wrath.<g> ;-)
Disclaimer: The Age of Apocalypse and all recognizable
characters in it belong to _Marvel,_ not _us._ They're used
without permission, but we don't make no stinkin' money!
Don't sue us!
Now you're asking yourself, "What the heck is this story I'm
about to read/enjoy/write wonderful feedback for?" The
answer, friends, is that this is 1) the first result of what
two...unique...minds can drum up at late hours when high on
caffeine and 2) an Age of Apocalypse story set some years
prior to the run we saw from Marvel and featuring a handful of
our own characters, a bigger handful of nifty Marvel characters
that didn't get a light in that run, and a bunch of chaos made up
by the aforementioned disturbed individuals.
Little word of caution...you think you know these characters?
You think that reading Shera's Trio stories or my (that's
Kaylee) Kai stories has told you all there is about these folks?
Here's where you learn differently; because _anything_ is
possible...in the Age of Apocalypse.
Last thing: This story has a mind of its own, and Shera and I
are more or less along for the ride. Suggestions from you all
for interesting ideas are adored! We have no idea how long
this'll be, when it'll end, or who'll be left standing when we're
through, but the ride's gonna be a fun one. (For us, at
least.<g>)
Okay, the _real_ last thing: This story so far contains bad
language, semi-explicit violence, semi-explicit descriptions of
sexual encounters, etc. The AoA universe is an ugly place.
This story therefore isn't recommended for younger or more
sensitive readers.
And the _real_ real last thing: Enjoy!
~thoughts~
*telepathy*
_emphasis_
AoA: Lost Souls 1/?
By Shera Crawler 007 & Kaylee
Bodies rotting in the weak heat of the smog-shielded sun...a
few scattered, desperate individuals tainting the air with the
smell of fear and the sounds of furtive scrabbling as they tried
to stay out of sight…rubble strewn haphazardly across ground
so soaked with blood that the soil was stained a permanent
deep ochre... The scents, sounds, sights were enough to choke
every sense.
But a person could get used to them after a while.
She wore the ratty hooded cloak that was almost a uniform in
these parts, the voluminous folds hiding her shape and the
shadowed hood obscuring her features. The corpses that
littered the ground didn't earn so much as a glance from the
hidden eyes...not even the small, twisted forms that might have
been children once. A person could get used to those, too.
At least, _this_ person had.
There were two walls left standing to the old bar. A third had
been half-built up with wreckage. She approached quietly, feet
making no sound on the debris-laden earth. There seemed a
randomness to her motions, as if she walked aimlessly.
But Kai never did anything aimlessly.
She stopped a few dozen yards from the ruined bar, auburn
eyes fierce. ~I don't care if this _is_ just a temporary
hideout...I _told_ them to post sentries!~
A brief, unpleasant smile flitted across her lips. It would
be...entertaining...to sneak up on them and catch them in their
laziness...perhaps to teach one of them a hard lesson as an
example...and she knew _just_ which one it should be...
~You wanna steal my command, Kwannon? Then learn the
price of it.~
She started forward again, smile stretching into a grin. She
was creeping this time, and if her motions had been silent
before, they were beyond so now. Her feet barely disturbed
the rubble she moved over, her cloak not catching once.
Shadows seemed to reach out and hold her to them, shading
her presence from any prying eyes.
But six yards from the temporary base she stopped, head
raising just a little as she tested the air. The grin faded, being
schooled back behind her more typical closed expression as she
turned to face the other woman. Beneath the cloak, a hand
stayed ready on a knife, just in case...
"You're back early," Yukio commented from where she
crouched atop a rusty oil drum a few strides away. "Find
anything?"
Kai ignored the question. "Who else is on sentry duty?"
The woman showed no surprise that her query went
unanswered. "Siren's on the east side, Pete's south, and Fuse is
taking north."
"Where're the others?"
A slight smile on Yukio's fierce face as she answered lightly,
"Kwannon sent Fatso out on reconnaissance. She and Trin are
still here."
Kai's face didn't change expression, but her eyes sharpened just
a little. "Kwannon sent _Dukes_ out?"
"Yes." Grinning a little more broadly, she added, "You'd
almost think she was infringing on your leadership, wouldn't
you?"
With a swirl of cloak, Kai turned and strode for the base.
"Tighten up your guard, Yukio, and tell the others to do the
same. I got _way_ too close before you spotted me."
The voice was only slightly mocking as it followed her.
"Yes..._boss._"
But Kai ignored that easily, too.
***
No word of greeting. She didn't even push the hood back. Kai
just walked directly to the seated Kwannon, snatched hands
into the fabric of her shirt, and slammed her unceremoniously
back against one of the original bar walls hard enough to startle
an ungraceful grunt from the exotically beautiful woman.
Trinity rose swiftly, but made no move to interfere. Kwannon
didn't even shoot her a look as she fixed violet eyes on the
smaller woman holding her.
"Let me go," she said levelly.
Kai's head tilted to the side, that unpleasant little smile starting
again. "Tell me, Kwan…do you ever bother to _think_ before
giving one of your damn fool orders, hmm?"
"What do you mean?"
"I _mean_..." She bared teeth lazily, as if discussing a
particularly amusing dirty joke. "We're supposed to be keeping
a low profile. This is _X-Men_ territory. And yet you send --
_without_ my approval – the most recognizable member of our
group out on reconnaissance?"
"Dukes used to live here," Kwannon answered coldly. "He
knows the lay of the land better than any of us."
"Mm hmm," Kai agreed pleasantly, eyes still flashing
dangerously. "And he's also a stupid bastard that doesn't know
how to watch his tail. Do you feel _so_ ready to take on
Magneto that you'd have him led right to us?"
Kwannon's hands came up swiftly, knocking Kai's away from
her clothing. The leader didn't even lose her half-smile, but
only backed a step and opened her arms slightly as if in
invitation. _Attack me,_ her stance said clearly. _Please...be
my guest._
But that was one invitation Kwannon wouldn't accept...and
they both knew it. Instead of going for the other woman, she
pulled her clothing back into order and regathered her
composure forcefully. "How much longer do you expect us to
wait? It's been _months_ since he died, and still you have us
running small operations for whoever pays enough. Where's
your honor, Kai? He was your _sensei_...you should have
sought to avenge his death immediately."
"If you have a problem with how I lead, Kwan...you can
always challenge me for the right."
Trinity glanced at both women...the tension in the air was
nearly visible. She kept her voice low, "He died honorably in
battle against..." She paused a moment before continuing.
"_No_ one--" A pointed icy glare directed at Kwannon at this
point-- "has a problem with your leadership, Kai. If we did we
would have voted someone else in."
A bitter glint shined in Kwan's eyes at the mention of _honor_
from Trinity, someone who was nothing more than a gaijin
dog. She only drew herself up taller, staying silent. Her eyes
promising that this was one fight she wasn't going to let go of,
she turned her back to Kai, walking across the room regally
and sitting down as far from them as she could.
Trinity turned her full attention back to Kai, waiting patiently a
moment as she got herself under a bit more control. She didn't
bother to ask if she had found anything, trusting that she'd tell
her if it was important enough for her to know.
Kai's eyes finally focused back on her, unreadable as ever.
"Tell the sentries to keep a sharper eye out for the X-Men.
Then replace Siren."
She nodded slowly, uncertain if they should be left alone. That
dilemma was solved when Kwan stalked out of the room, back
stiff, just daring anyone to call her back. A sigh marked
Trinity's departure into the ruined landscape moments later.
Kai turned heading for the east.
***
Siren was hidden in the shadows of a large tractor tire mound.
She leaned back into it, feeling something sharp dig into her
skin, breaking it. A runnel of blood ran down. Quickly, before
she could lean back more, she caught herself and sat straighter.
The familiar itchy pulling feeling marked the wound's closing.
Leaving blood behind with the Spandex Brigade's lapdogs
sniffing around wasn't a smart idea.
A sigh escaped her lips as she realized her anger would get no
release that way. Another one sounded whisper quiet as she
rose, moving to a new spot within sight of the old.
Settling herself as uncomfortably as possible in the faint shade
from a stunted stump piled with various smashed crockery and
more melted wheels, she slipped into sentry mode once more,
determined not to let anything else distract her. The thought of
Kai pissed did it, really. Not a muscle twitched even under the
strain, not even blinking when a fly crawled across her open
eye. Keeping a silent count in her brain, counting down the
time till she roamed through the waste again.
Her mind wandered as her nose picked over the scents
searching for the unfamiliar, her eyes doing the same through
peripheral vision. Wondering who might come through; Kai,
possibly, on her way back from wherever...she refused to pause
on that thought. Maybe the worthless X-Men, or something of
interest.
~Zero~
She didn't stand immediately, instead letting every sense come
fully aware, then gathering her cloak around her and rising.
She ghosted through her sector twice, then settled again.
The wind was blowing from the east; nothing. She paused,
testing the wind again, eyes roaming, not missing anything.
Something was coming. She rose again, pacing through her
area, extra cautious.
Kai was doing her own searching, carefully avoiding the breeze
that swept towards her quarry. Then the presence stepped
from the shadows a yard away. Siren grinned, the expression
not quite sane. She had gotten the drop on her...this time.
Siren knew she was damn lucky. Getting the drop on _Kai_
was a once a year event...hardly ever happened...something to
enjoy when she did. But her gloating was kept for later; it
would never do for Kai to catch the faintest hint.
Kai was there for a reason, of course. Siren nearly laughed out
loud when she heard it. Kai wanted her to go dig Pig from the
new hole he'd dug himself. Reconnaissance..._ him_...what a
joke. She was the tracker, or Kai, or Pete, hell Trin or Yukio
could do it if forced but...Dukes?! He couldn't scout his way
through a pile of shit if he was looking for his toes.
And if anyone was looking for him... Kwannon had to be
behind this one. Either she was dumb as dirt, or she damn well
knew what she was bringing on them. Siren knew for a fact
Kwan and dumb didn't mix. Rage was stoked a bit higher...she
stopped that train of thought then and there.
Siren scented Trinity not too far away, next sector at most, so
decided to leave immediately. A slight nod was her response
and she slipped off into the shadows, leaving Kai her post.
His scent was almost _too_ easy to find, and his trail was even
more obvious. He had bumbled his usual brute way straight
through. For a while nothing changed...he had stopped to piss
on a broken car window, undoubtedly getting some sick
enjoyment out of it. He was tiring, but still going strong.
THERE...there she spotted it, scentless, but a piece of glass
had moved, the ground was damp there. Something had
crossed his tracks only minutes ago. She paused, head back
sniffing the air; nothing. Her eyes searched the surrounding
landscape; nothing moved. The area was completely deserted,
the usual humans, if you could call them that, weren't cowering
out of sight, they just _weren't_ there.
Keeping this in mind she picked up the pace, running
effortlessly in ground devouring strides. She slowed, rounded
a corner stealthily, and there he was, sitting on the ground
trying to catch his breath.
Not even aware of the damn person behind him, not even
_bothering_ to hide in the least. ~Stupid pig,~ she snarled to
herself, and broke from her cover just as the man leapt,
something held in his hand. They collided over him, his eyes
stared in confusion, but they rolled away before he had a
chance to come to any "helpful" conclusions.
The object fell a few feet away, and an ominous click sounded.
The attacker's face even under the skin-tight mask twisted in
fear and he scrambled away violently. She did a quick take
over her shoulder, grabbing onto Fred's ear and yanking him
with her as she dived behind an overturned car. He followed
willingly, otherwise it would have been a hopeless exercise.
The blast she was sure could be felt for miles, and looking over
the aftermath she was glad to have found some cover. The car
that had hidden them was nothing but a steel frame now.
Dukes had gotten the best of the protection and even he was
singed, burnt badly in some places.
She stayed still a moment, waiting for the healing to take care
of the third degree burns, and one hand that the skin had
melted off of. Dukes watched, face turning an interesting
shade of reddish green.
Siren stood as soon as she could, gazing after the attacker.
The hill of rubble he'd hidden behind hadn't been sturdy
enough, and was a pile of smoking ash now. That pissed her
off. ~I wanted to kill him, goddamnit.~ The rage was rising,
but now was not the time...she pulled her waning control
tighter. Dukes opened his stupid-ass mouth to say something,
but a pointed look unveiling every ounce of fury she had rising
to the surface shut it with an audible click.
She turned without a word, picking up her run again, slowing
only slightly for him to keep up. They had to get away before
someone came to investigate. She wanted to chew him out for
listening to the slut, but Kai could handle that with much more
style than she could, and she knew it. Actually she was sure
that if she dared talk to him, he'd say something completely
Dukes and she'd lose it.
One thought was keeping her in control for now – if Kai
wanted him in, then Kai would get him in. Suddenly that
struck her as funny and muted laughs rose into the unnaturally
still air. Fred stared at her in confusion, and with a bit of
belligerent anger thinking it was _him_ she was laughing at, but
decided for now he'd just follow.
***
He didn't creep through the wreckage. He didn't have to. This
form was as naturally quiet as only a born predator could be,
and he allowed himself a brief moment of reveling in the
contained power. A jaguar this turn; sleek black coat with
somehow blacker spots that only showed in a spill of bright
light...beautiful, graceful, and powerful.
She didn't turn as he came up, though he knew she noticed
him. Her eyes ceaselessly scanned the bumpy horizon with a
wariness that had been taught painfully to all of them. One
didn't let guard down in a country ruled by
Apocalypse...especially if one was part of a group that wasn't
too popular with _anyone_ else involved in the anarchic war.
He fell into step beside her naturally, matching her steady pace
without thought. He knew her patterns well – had been
watching her carefully ever since he'd joined this group months
ago. And he knew when she needed a pair of ears open to her
and a mind that made no judgment.
After long minutes of walking, of scanning, her voice broke the
surreal silence. "We're closer to them than ever, Tom." Her
feet didn't hesitate. Her eyes didn't stop roving. "So close to
Magneto. To the X-Men." He edged closer and brushed
slightly against her legs, feeling one of her hands reach down to
trail lightly along his back. "I saw three of them today out on
patrol. If it wasn't for what Sensei taught me, Creed would've
spotted me."
Tom didn't show his little surge of apprehension. Creed was
one of the ones with a...special...place in the hearts of most of
this group. He'd had a hand in their leader's death. For that he
had Kai's hatred, and Kwannon's. And his relationship with the
Trio; with Trinity and Siren and Fuse; gave those three even
more reason to despise him. Kai's temper was
unpredictable...she might have been just as likely to attack him
as to watch him pass. And with two _other_ X-Men in
addition...
Tom shivered internally, scolding himself for not accompanying
her. He'd taken it upon himself to protect her...no matter what
the cost. The duty, willingly undertaken, gave him something
to focus on, to value, in this world that had so little else. He
hadn't been there, and she might have been killed...
"Kwannon thinks I'm failing Sensei. That I've let it go too
long. That I didn't avenge his death immediately, and I should
have. Is she right?"
He couldn't really answer...but he would have said nothing if he
could. She wasn't asking him. She was asking herself...and
perhaps the ghost of her dead teacher.
"Take patrol," she said suddenly, breaking away from him to
head farther into the wasteland. "I'll be back."
He watched her go, anxiety stirring at leaving her alone even
for a short while...but one didn't argue with Kai. Not if one
wanted to continue finding any enjoyment in this limited
existence. What she'd learned from her teacher...the things that
went beyond simple fighting skills...
He growled softly as he resumed patrol, stalking through the
gutted city as the thready sunlight faded towards darkness.
***
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