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Oh, the Grand ol Duke of York Had One hundred-thousand men... ** =Is there anything peculiar you can remember?= Xavier asked telepathically. Toad was under a type of hypnotic trance and sat comfortably in a large chair, eyes shut as Xavier examined his mind. " Lots...of bright light," Toad muttered. =Anything else?= " Seven beds are empty in the nursery." =Which?= " T-2, my neighbor in the nursery...Robert. C-6: Lydia Tweeks, her bed was empty for a few days now." = The others?= Xavier asked. He focused on Toad, age 3. By then it seemed a lot of his nightmares were more intense. " B-3: Isaac Adar, died of alergic reactions to Elixer 443. E-9: Octavia Nova, taken to the lab and never returned. F-4: Winnie Yale, negative reaction to Elixer 318. Her kidneys shut down. D-5: Spencer Sprague, Nurse's fault. Left unsupervised in the gym area. He loved to climb, by far the ring-leader of us all when we were together. Slipped from the jungle gym, fatal neck break. And J-1: Esmerelda Banks. Pneomonia." =That's awful, Todd.= " Nursery 2 is a little crowded these days. Seven dead from the original dozen. The room has been expanded. Over 200 defectives. Other than the original dozen, all infants. They are dropping like flies though. New elixers killing them." = What is the purpose?= " The people...they...All subjects in both nurseries are all born mutants. Gene's presence obvious from birth. Nursery 1 residents are returned to parents and foster homes after a brief genetic scan. Defectives are kept for experiments." =What type of experiments?= " I'm not sure for certain. Developmental Studies of human adaption and evolution. All subject are mutants with some type of chemical or physical defect which separates them from the others." =What type of defects?= " Chemical imbalances. I saw two with Cerebral Palsy. One born blind. Another deaf. One had gills on either side of her body. She needed to be constantly hooked up to a harness...or she woudn't be able to breathe. She was a favorite since she didn't need air. I was another favorite...too amphibial...reptilian. The others simply had handicaps physical one way or another. I believe 4 were mental/emotional defects....like mine." =Anything peculiar about the doctors?= " They talk funny. I can't understand them. They keep talking about pounds yet I never see anyone being weighed." Xavier woke Toad up and folded his hands. " Did you find something?" Xavier nodded, " I've a hunch that we've narrowed our search. I'll assemble a team. Any objections, let me know." *** A team was swiftly assembled. Xavier was unable himself to go, but felt it best to keep a telepath handy. Jean was of course picked for this assignment. Beast as well, with his knowledge in technology. Wolverine was chosen for his knowledge of mutant experimentation. Kitty was also chosen for her technological skills. Wanda was chosen. Her powers were tricky...and if things got dangerous, would prove useful. Toad had no qualms with the team in general. He trusted Scott. Immature, yes but responsible when lives were on the line. Jean, serious on the job yet compassionate. Beast, he hardly knew him...but he seems to be very good at that hard-to-understand jargon. Wolverine, perhaps his only complaint. He was eased knowing Wolverine was fighting for/with him...not against him. He'd always been afraid of him. Kitty, no qualms there for the most part. She acted ditzy sometimes, but she was very intelligent. Xavier must have put a lot of faith in her for that. And Wanda....he began to feel uncomfortable being with or near her. Mirror's words to him festered about her. Even Wanda's own words haunted him now. Still, he said nothing. Wanda proved to be a powerful foe as well as partner. *** " Buckle up, Bub," Wolverine called back to Toad. He sat curled in his seat. " The Blackbird....we meet again. I hate flying...hate flying." " We brought you an airsick bag this time." Kitty half-joked. Toad scowled at her. " So, where is it we're going?" Scott asked. " The great land of York," Beast grinned, " One of the great English lands of the British Isles." The plane was off at top speed. Kitty turned and glanced at Toad, " I would have never guessed you'd have EVER been to England. How in the world did you end up in New York?" " Why not? York....New York....maybe there's a connection to that too," Toad shrugged. " I just want everything sorted out so I can sleep at night." " Thinking about becoming an X-Man?" " Step off, Pryde!" Wanda spat. " Just asking!" " I don't know WHAT I'm going to do!" Toad scolded both of them. " I just want some peace of mind." *** " What a dump," Wanda whispered, glancing at the dark old English alleyways. "Almost like stepping back into a story by Dickens." " Yeah," Toad snorted, " Oliver Toad. The resemblance is striking. The sarcasm was thick, but easily forgiven. He looked around at the empty streets. Snow littered here and there, but otherwise, it wasn't really as dirty as they had made it sound. It just seemed so untouched by time yet universally modern. " York," Toad muttered, walking along one of the streets and examining the homes. " It's...actually...very beautiful." " Ever been to York?" A policeman smiled. A bushy mustache covered his upper lip. Toad jumped back, startled. " My apologies, Gov. Didn't mean to stir you a fright." He tipped his hat. " N...no I can't remember really being here. But,..." " Ah," The constable nodded, " I know ‘ow that is. I used to live ‘ere when I was a sprout. Can't remember much of it though. But somethin' drew me back and I've lived ‘ere ever since." Toad glanced back at the team walking with him and back to the constable, " I'm doing some soul-searching." " Good place to do that is a church, Gov." " Partly." " One about 10 minutes down the way." " Uhm...thanks." *** He marched them up and up a hill *** " Are you serious?" Wanda asked, peering over at Toad as they reached the huge cathedral. " What have I got to lose? Who knows...maybe a little faith will help." " Are you Catholic?" Kitty asked. " No. I'm not anything." " If he wants to go, let him go," Wolverine sighed. " I'm not one to stand in the way of the Big Man Upstairs." *** The priest smiled as he opened the small door. He wasn't able to speak before Toad hurried out, " I am seeking answers." " Answers?" The priest chuckled. " Then you've come to the right place. What type of answers do you need?" Toad hesitated. But somehow knew that this man wasn't just some average joe on the street. " My past is missing. I'm trying to find it." " ‘Ow is your past missing?" " I can't remember it. I'm getting small memories...but need help putting it together." The priest peered through the screen and smiled at Toad. " I see. You feel that you as a person is impossible if you ‘ave nothing to draw from?" " I want to know who I am. Where I came from...what happened to me." " You are a child of the Father," The priest preached, " just like all of us. You were created by ‘Im and sent ‘ere for a special reason. ‘E ‘as a plan for you, just as ‘E ‘as one for all of ‘Is children." " Maybe. But if I could piece everything back together...maybe I'd better understand what I'm meant for." " Fair. The best thing I can tell you is to pray, Child. If you ‘ave faith, ‘E will lead you in the right direction and give you the answers you desire." *** And he marched them down again *** " Great, Toad," Kitty sighed. " That got us REAL far." " A big part of finding who you are, Kitty," Jean half-scolded, " Is to be able to put yourself at some sort of peace. This allows the mind to work more effectively." " So, what now? Just follow the slimey kid?" Wolverine pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. Toad had been walking with his eyes closed for some time, somehow just FEELING the directions. It worked thus far. He hadn't run into anything and seemed able to walk around objects that were in his path. " Perhaps he's taking faith a little too seriously?" Wanda suggested. " We honestly have very little to go on, Wanda," Beast replied. " All we can do is hope Toad remembers something helpful." At that moment, Toad stopped and peered down an alley-way. He saw a young man...a teenager about his age...maybe a year or two younger. He slowly approached the tattered boy who eyed him. " Hello." " Good Morrow," The boy replied, not getting up from his box. " May I ask your name?" " Duke. Duke North. ‘Ow can I ‘elp ya?" Toad looked around and frowned. How in the world would he figure this out. His team watched him from the street. He finally nodded and smiled, " Why are you out here?" " Got nowhere else to go." " But a box in the street...in the middle of winter?" " ‘Appens sometimes." " Don't you have a family?" " Foster family. Oh well...guess families can't always be perfect. You're rather a nosey bloke. What do ya want?" " I'm looking for some information." " I know these streets better than anyone. Been runnin' ‘em me ‘ole life." Toad felt his throat begin to shut, " Tell me, are there any labs around here?" " On the other side of York. You don't sound like you're from ‘ere. You a FOB?" " FOB?" " Yeah, Fresh off the boat....one of those Americans." " New York." Duke went silent a moment and stood up. " A lab, y'say?" " Yes." Duke stepped back until his back was against the wall. " Why are you lookin' for one?" " Important information. Do you know the way or not?" Duke narrowed his eyes and faced the mutant team, " ‘Oo are yer chaps?" " Friends...they're helping me find some things I lost a long time ago." " Yeah?" Duke frowned. " York is full of lost souls. Sometimes I think they all were bred from ‘ere and like some disease, spread all over the place. Lots of ‘opeless young chaps like me...like you...." he eyed the team again and whispered, " Maybe even like them." " Duke..." " What's yer name, Chap?" " Todd....Tolansky." Duke was silent again and eyed Toad carefully. He leaned in and pulled at Toad's shirt collar. " What are you doing?!" " Where is it?! Where's your mark?!" The team slowly approached, ready to defend Toad if need be.Toad slapped his hands away and scowled, " What mark?" " Why would you want to go back to that lab?" Wide eyes and gasps as Duke turned away and began to walk off. Toad ran over and grabbed him, slamming him to the wall, " What do you know?!" " You're better off never knowin'. Just live yer life." " I'll have my team beat it out of you!" " Are they like you? Are they...." He looked at them, " Are they from the labs too?" " What? No! Duke, PLEASE, I need to find myself. If you know something PLEASE tell me." " What ya give poor ol me if I ‘elp ya?" Toad glanced at his team. He had nothing to give. He was frankly not much better off than Duke at this point. " What is it you want?" Jean asked. Duke looked her over. The expression on Scott's face however detered him from his thoughts. " ‘Ow much lolly ya got?" " Lolly?" Toad questioned. " We don't have a whole lot on us," Wanda said simply. " We're here for answers, not a shopping spree." Duke glanced at Wanda and scowled. " Lairy ladette, eh?" He smiled at Toad, " She yours?" " You disgusting...!" Wanda began. Duke put his hands up, " Don't do your fruit. No need for a leathering. Splash in a tuppence for a twinky and we will talk, eh?" " We don't have British money," Toad cleared up. " We're from New York..." " FOB," Duke sighed and walked off again. " Seek me behind Frenchie's in a few hours. It's about time for din-din and the dumpster's are best full." He smiled over his shoulder, " Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a lav for a Jimmy Riddle." *** And when they were up, they were up *** " He's not going anywhere," Wolverine smiled back at his team. He'd followed Duke for the past few hours while the others pulled out pocket change to convert. They smiled as they approached. Toad ran over and threw a small bag at Duke, who eyeballed it. " 20 Pounds and ½ a crown." Toad said simply. " It's not enough." Toad reached into his pocket. " Tuppence and a farthing." Duke crinkled up his nose, " Pally cheapskates. ‘Ow lucky I am." Beast picked him up and set him on the edge of the dumpster. " You never named a price." Duke scowled again, " Not enough to make me go to that place." " You wanted tuppence...and we're paying you well more than that!" Toad insisted. " You've wasted enough of my time. 20 pounds and half a crown." He smirked and chuckled, " Like it or lump it." " Sneaky SOB FOB," Duke growled. Wolverine extracted his claws and held it to Duke's throat, " Look bub, we're tired of playing games. Either you help us out, or I'll use you for a new pin-cushion." Duke swallowed hard and was dropped to the ground where he picked up the bag. " Very well. You've convinced me. I'll show you the way. ** It rained that night. Duke had taken them a ways before demanding shelter in an old small store...it was useless after a fire some years before. It was a nice place to hide and a slight warmer than the box. " So, how do you know about the lab?" Kitty asked, trying to make conversation. The quiet bugged her. Duke glanced over at Toad and scowled, " Do you really ‘ave to ask?" He peered over to Kitty, " I was THERE." " Do you remember anything?" Jean asked with hope. He shook his head, " Not much. I remember my last year there. I was one of the lucky ones, though. Or was I? Maybe it'd ‘ave been easier if I'd been one of the ones killed." Toad crouched closer to Duke, " Nursery 2..." " I don't remember you," Duke said with closed eyes. " I.." " I honestly can't remember anything before age 5. My fifth birthday...that's the earliest I remember." Toad confessed. " I can remember back to age 4. You must ‘ave been gone by then." " Tell me about the lab." Duke slapped Toad, " ‘Ow can you make me try to remember such a ‘orrible place?! Everyone ‘oo ever stayed in Nursery 2 were nothing but stolen souls! Look at us now! Those of us ‘oo survived are just empty ‘usks of what used to be lives....lives STOLEN from us in infancy! Tell me now that you've experienced a life worth living, Todd!" Toad lowered his head. Duke nodded, " I knew you couldn't. Neither could any of those lucky survivers. Lucky? Pfft, forgive me, but they weren't lucky. None of them ‘ave the life of Riley!" He stood up, " What's your damage, Todd? No survivor ever walked out of those doors without some scar...a constant reminder even to absent minds that their lives were never theirs....they always belonged to someone else." Toad stood up grabbed Duke, " Don't lose it on me! I know just from my nightmares that this lab was something none of us want to remember. But I can't go on until I KNOW what happened to me. I want to know what it is that I've lost...and I want it back." " You are a vain fool," Duke spat, freeing himself and looking at the team, " I can tell a lab baby. I remember them all from that year. Can't remember those gone. Age 4 is when they are released. But I know the name of every survivor. Do you know what happened to a majority, Todd? They are dead. They've killed themselves...unable to bear the grief and torment left on them. They were never able to survive without some kind of ‘elp in society. ‘Elp that was refused! ‘Ow those of them...like us...'ave managed to go this far is a mystery." " We'll find the punks that did this to you," Wolverine growled, " And I'll see to it they pay for every life stolen." Duke walked over to Wolverine and narrowed his eyes at him, " You know what it's like, don't you?" " I know a lot more than you think I do." " What is the purpose of the rest of you....if ‘e's the one with the mark?" Wanda stood up and clenched her fists. Duke was very arrogant and annoying. " We're here to make sure people like you GIVE the answers he needs." " What mark?" Toad asked. Duke spun around and scowled. " Let's de-bag you and find out, shall we?" " Whawhawhat?! Toad gasped, backing away. Duke sighed and removed his own pants, dropping them to his ankles. He recieved loud gasps. " Put your pants back on, Boy!" Beast scolded. " There are ladies present!" Duke rolled his eyes, " Every woman loves a donkey, but that's not what I'm showing off." He crouched down and pointed to a small green mark high up on his inner thigh, closely placed near his groin. " THIS is the mark of Nursery 2 residents. I was R-3: Duke North." He swiftly glanced at Toad, " You're not much for flying solo, are you? ‘Ave you never seen your mark?" He turned to Wanda, " ‘Aven't you EVER noticed it? Pointed it out to ‘im?!" Wanda tried to hex him....and nothing happened, " What the f..." She growled and ran over, slugging Duke in the face. " We're not a couple, you disgusting creep!" Toad was silent and looked away. He peered down at a stuggling Duke, " Wanda...ease off." She went wide-eyed...but obeyed. He crouched beside him, throwing his pants over his exposed....property. " T-3: Todd Tolansky." Duke suddenly grabbed his pants and bolted for the other side of the room, " YOU'RE T-3?!" Wanda ran over and grabbed him, " Put your damn pants bag on!" " Keep ‘im away from me and I will." " What's the big deal which tag I've got?" Toad asked. " I've ‘eard them talk about you." Duke trembled. " You...you've survived over 400 different experiments...more experiments than many of the survivors ever ‘ad to experience. To do that...you must be very powerful." " Hold it, Bub," Wolverine intervened, " Maybe he's just lucky. I'm sure I could survive all those wacky things too." " For one who doesn't ‘eal, it is impossible to endure that many experiments. No one ‘as ever come even close to surviving or even being put through so many. I ‘eard," he turned back to Toad, " I ‘eard....that there were supposed to be in-depth follow-ups. You, Todd, were never supposed to be TRULEY released from Black Womb." " Black...Womb?" Toad went wide-eyed and gasped. *** And when they were down, they were down *** ~Todd rubbed the towel over his hair. He had just had it washed and was trying to dry it himself as the nurse unfolded his clothes. He must have tried too hard, slipping on the wet floor and dropping down hard on his behind. He turned up at the nurse who tried not to laugh. " Bet your bum smarts now, doesn't it?" " Not funny, Na." He said as he got into a froggy crouch. He caught sight of a weevil walking along the tile and followed it with his eyes. It went straigt under him. It was then Todd noticed his mark and squinted. He turned to the nurse who was approaching with his pajamas. " Na, what's this?" She almost answered the wrong question until she saw the mark and frowned, " That's so we know who you are, Todd." " But you already know ‘oo I am, Na." " Yes, but this way everyone knows who you are, even if they don't know you personally. We all needed that mark at one time to identify who you are." " What does T-3 stand for, Na?" " Everybody who was examined was given a tag. Those sent home left behind their numbers. Those who stayed had the tags marked onto their bodies so the doctors and nurses would know which baby was who. You were one of the later babies." She muffeled his hair and forced the pajamas over his head. " Na, where did the other babies go?" The nurse picked him up and hugged him, " Home." " Why didn't we go ‘ome?" " You don't have one, Todd." She looked him dead in the face, " You don't have a home because you were living here." Todd frowned, " I want a ‘ome." " I know. You'll have one I'm sure. You get to have your chance starting tomorrow." " Tomorrow? What's tomorrow, Na?" " You don't have to stay in Nursery 2 anymore. You get to go and get brand new parents." " Do I leave behind my tag?" " No, Todd. You'll always have it." " Why?" " Because, you belong to Black Womb. You're gonna grow up so big and strong and we're never gonna recognize you. Your new parents might even give you a new name. We might have to check up on you sometime. And if you have a new name and look all grown up, we're gonna need the mark to identify you again." " But, if I ‘ave a new mommy and daddy, I don't need Black Womb." " You'll always need Black Womb." The nurse corrected. " You belong to Black Womb. We are your whole life. We helped to make you what you are." " What am I?" " You are a very unique mutant." " Mutant? Na, what is that?" " It means that you are different than me or the other nurses...or the doctors. You and your Black Womb ‘siblings' are all mutants....different from other children. In fact, we think you're better. And we wanted to understand what it was that made you better and how we can make you kids the best." " ‘Ow long will I be in Black Womb, Na?" Forever...as long as Black Womb exists, you'll be part of it. Even after it's long gone, you'll always be a result of Black Womb." " Na, I want to be like normal kids. And like the kids in Nursery 1. They ‘ave mommies and daddies and ‘omes and pets and toys and stuff." " You don't know that. You've never left the labs." " I'll see just what they ‘ave tomorrow when I get to ‘ave a new mommy and daddy." Todd sat at the window all night. He felt a tug at his pajamas, " Isn't it great?" He turned and smiled when he saw Latoya, " Yeah." " We get to get new parents." " What kind do you think you'll get?" Latoya thought a moment, " I want a mommy ‘oo will sing to me...and a daddy ‘oo will read." Todd frowned. He was always reminded that she was blind. The same experiment that left his own vision injured. " I just want someone to love me." The next day, the four-year-olds were gathered and placed in a large van. They were taken to different homes throughout the area. Toad was the last to go, being placed in the orphanage on the way back...the one closest to Black Womb. So it was true after all. He was placed closest...to constantly be monitored by his doctors and nurses until his adoption. Little did he know that he was horribly set up. He'd never have parents. Black Womb saw to that. Whatever Black Womb didn't destroy...his natural mutations did. " Toad!" One of the boys laughed, throwing a rock at him. Todd shielded himself. They did this a lot. How could people be so cruel? Had Black Womb lied to him? If he was better than these normal children...why were they so mean? Upon seeing three more boys coming, he dashed, taking long leaps to hide from them. " Come back, Freak!" " Oh, that's ‘im now," The head-mistress smiled as Toad bolted past her. She was talking to a couple looking for a little boy. They glanced at him with confusion. " Todd, don't go to far, I want you to meet these nice people!" " Miss Pennywise," The woman began, " are you sure ‘e's the one for us?" " Whyever not, Mrs. Lawn?" " ‘E seems rather over-energetic." " Oh nonsense. The boys just play rough with him." Miss Pennywise laughed. " ‘Owever there is one little thing we do ‘ave to bring up. Actually, a few things." " What's that?" Mr. Lawn asked. " Todd may develop some strange things as he grows older. He was rescued from a lab that experimented on orphan babies." " ‘Ow awful!" Mrs. Lawn gasped, " The poor baby." " ‘E's also mentally retarded. We've tried to teach ‘im some basic skills and ‘e just seems unable to learn them. ‘E never seems to perform to the standards needed for us to consider ‘im non-'andicapped." " Mental retardation might be a result of what those monsters did to ‘im," Mrs. Lawn suggested. " I'm sure we'll give ‘im a very good ‘ome and ‘e'll never ‘ave to worry about those beasts again." Upon hearing that, Todd came from his hiding place and walked to Mrs. Lawn. He sucked his thumb as he looked up at her. " ‘E's got squishy cheeks," she laughed. " I still dunno," Mr. Lawn shrugged. " Do you think we're equipped to ‘andle a child with so many medical needs? We don't know ‘ow to care for a retard." =What is this word?= Todd thought. = Retard? What...is that? I thought I was mutant.= " Those types need ‘omes too, Jon," Mrs. Lawn scolded her husband, picking up Todd and smiling, " You're kinda cute....in...a strange kinda way." " Cute?" Todd had never heard himself refered to as "cute" before. Was it a good or bad thing? " Pennywise," Todd asked, leaning over in an unnatural way to look at her. Mr. Lawn's eyes went wide. " ‘Oo are these people?" " This is Mr. and Mrs. Lawn, Todd. They are thinking about adopting you." " Really? A mommy and daddy for me?" He turned and perhaps asked one of the most cursed questions he could have ever asked, " Are you mutants too?" Mrs. Lawn paused, " What...did ‘e say?" " ‘Oo's a mutant?" Mr. Lawn demanded. Toad was very matter-of-fact, never having to hide the fact before, " Me. I'm a mutant. Aren't you?" " Certainly not!" Mr. Lawn growled. " Put ‘im down, Julia. I would ‘ave gone along with adopting a retarded boy...but I'll never be a father to a freak." The couple were out in a hurry. Todd was horribly confused and glanced up at Miss Pennywise who sighed, " You need to learn to ‘old your tongue sometimes, Todd." " I don't understand. What's so bad about being a mutant? Everyone was a mutant where I was born." " This isn't the lab, Todd," Pennywise sighed. " This is the real world and in the real world, you shouldn't prance about like a fool in knickers admitting you're a mutant." " Pennywise, I don't tell. People seem to just know. They pick on me for it. I never told them. ‘Ow'd they know then?" she turned her nose up at him, " Learn to control your tongue, Todd and maybe you'll ‘ave parents someday. Otherwise you'll be alone forever."~ *** " Toad, are you alright?" Jean asked, kneeling beside Toad who had collapsed to the floor. Duke stepped back, unsure of the reaction. " Black Womb...I remember Black Womb!" He declared, getting up and glancing over at Duke. " R-3: Duke North, the born negator! First became a subject when testing Elixer 238. Genetic make-up obvious after birth during a gene scan. Elixer 238 was a review testing which developed your powers harshly and prematurely. Used since then as a control experiment, negating mutants for test purposes without even realizing it." Duke stumbled, " ‘Ow'd you remember all that?" " You were only a year old...they tried to use you on me...and unlike the a majority of the others...you were unable to negate my already obvious mutations. I was who I was....and you couldn't stop me from being who and what I was. Test was a failure due to faulty circumstances." Duke swallowed hard. " It's true. I was raised as an assistant. My purpose was to sit in the corner with other mutants....and to take away what made them mutant outside the gene. They were left powerless...and helpless to those horrible tortures." " Why in the world would anyone do such horrible things to helpless babies?" Kitty asked. " Black Womb babies were all orphaned by contract. Choice hospitals were able to test with advanced systems for the X-gene in a fetus and would make parents sign contracts before birth. After birth, the babies were taken to examination tanks and tested. Those who were perfectly healthy with nothing to toy with were returned to the parents. Those with defects were confiscated. The contract meant that defect infants were no longer property of the parents, but became property thereafter of Black Womb." " I was set up." Toad stammered, feeling tears coming back again. " I was kept at the closest orphanage to that lab. They did everything they could to prevent someone from adopting me. If their own methods didn't work....then the pride they instilled in me would. I was born among other mutants. Grew up among other mutants, knowing no normal human beings other than the doctors and nurses. To me, everyone in my world was just like me. I never understood why people were so angry...when I asked what they could do." " One thing I don't understand," Duke shrugged. " ‘Ow did you end up in New York if studies were performed on you ‘ere in Ol' York?" " I...I don't remember. Somehow I just ended up there." Scott, who had been very quiet, finally put in his two cents, " Must have been still at a young age. You don't have British accent at all." " You sound like an American yank," Duke chimed in. " Streets of Brooklyn will do that to you." Toad growled. " Enough," Wolverine growled. " The rain stopped. North, get us to that lab." *** And when they were only half way up... *** " It looks awful!" Toad exclaimed. Duke gave a nod. " It was attacked about six years ago." " All the files...are they lost?" " Whatever was in there after the attack is long gone by now. I skidaddled as far away from this place as possible. Couldn't keep a place in London so I returned here. ‘Owever, I never came within 12 miles of Black Womb. Met a few survivors. A lot of the back-up utilities work. But no begger was desperate enough to take advantage of it. I'd rather live me days in a jigger rather than go into that building ever again." " I never thought I'd want to see it either...but I have to find some answers." Duke gave a nod, " Then I'll go with ya. It'd be safer for yer pals to stay behind and cover ya. I know this building." " If the Toad goes in, so do we," Wolverine warned. Duke scowled and sighed, " Look, it'd be best if you break. Black Womb may be a mess of rubble but there are still people around. Blue-Bloke, Ladette la Rouge, you stay along one side of the perimeter. Sassy-Cat, you, Brains and Specks keep watch over the other side. Claws, you come with me and T-3." It seemed like a plan. Off everyone went to their respected positions as Wolverine, Duke and Toad scarmbled down to the old building. Toad's heart leapt into his throat once inside the buildings. Walls were charred from a fire and windows were broken from vandals, but he remembered these wall as if they were his prison only yesterday. He stopped and held his head. " What's wrong, Kid?" From Wolverine. " It just hurts...being back here." He turned, " Several rooms each with a particular usage." He began to hop down one of the corridors and slammed into the door and glanced at the large room. It took a moment for the others to catch up. Toddler beds lined the walls...and a few cribs along the other side. " This was our ‘umble abode for 4 years of our lives, Todd." Duke said unnervingly. " Yeah." He turned away and examined the rooms of his childhood, even examining Nursery 1 for the first time since his birth. " I smell something familiar," Wolverine suddenly muttered. Toad and Duke glanced at him and followed him to the tank-chamber. Toad felt ill seeing those tanks...some still filled with that mystery liquid. He covered his mouth to prevent a chunder when he laid eyes on a baby in one of the tanks. It looked almost like a normal baby except for the duck-like feet and tadpole like tail. It was a pale baby, obviously left presevered in that tank for several years. Preserved...but defintely dead...drowned...suffocated. " Kid, if you have to go, go ahead," Wolverine said gently. " This is a lot for someone like you to take in. Heck, too much for ME to take in. I can finish looking. I've been in a place like this before and know how they work. You can meet up with the others outside." *** Outside, Wanda paced back and forth angrily as Beast watched her. " I don't think this is the right way to go about it, Wanda." " Shut up, Blue-Boy!" Wanda hissed. " You're worried about Toad, aren't you? Is it possible you like him more than you'd like to admit?" " How...did you know...he liked me?" Wanda asked. " It's obvious. The way he looks at you...talks to you. Heard him talking to those weird otherworld creatures about you." Wanda looked away, " I don't hate him, if that's what you mean. But, I don't like him...that way either. He's always got my back. He's not the best person to play bodyguard, but it's nice to know I always have someone looking out for me. He's got some sort of potential. But, I have no use for it. I'll never love him back. But, I don't hate him." " Are you worried about him?" " I dunno. He's never really been in this kind of trouble before, y'know?" Wanda shrugged. " He's always bounced back and always seemed so positive, no matter how bad things looked. It annoyed me so bad. But, now I kinda wish he were same ol' Toad again. I don't like who he is anymore. It....." " It what?" " It scares me." " It?" Beast asked quietly. Wanda lowered her head, " He. He's not been himself. Or, what worries me more is...maybe...for the first time ever, he IS becoming himself. And I don't like who that person is. He scares me. I never actually sat back to think about what he could do. His wimpy personality never made me think just how much power he really has. He seems so worthless yet I never stopped to think if something happened....push came to shove...if he'd be able to really hurt someone with his powers. There has to be more to him than he lets on....since he's never been seriously injured...no matter what we've hit him with." " That's why you're avoiding him?" Beast smiled. " I'm afraid...of what he could do to me." " You should!" A high-pitched voice cackled. Both turned and saw three teenage mutants. " Who are you?!" Beast gasped, amazed at how fast they approached. " Just stay quiet and we won't ‘ave ta ‘urt anyone." She smiled, sounding a lot like a stereotypical alien. The other two stayed on either side of her. All had something animal about them. The teen on the left was a brown werewolf. The teen on the right had horns. Her...the one in the middle, she had a long jaw...much like a muzzle with dripping sharp teeth. Black eyes and long hair with boney spikes down the center. She was dark-skinned with hair 3 shades darker. Wanda summoned up a hex, " Don't mess with me, Tootsie! I'm NOT in the mood!" " Ladette is a jam roll," She cackled. " You don't even know what we're capable of." " I don't care!" She felt her knees go weak. " What the hell?!" " Drop." Down she went, unable to move, " I'm...stuck!" " Smashing, Mudley," the wolf-man sneered. Both males rushed forth to attack Beast. He was able to fend them off for a while...but was swiftly subdued. " What do you want with us?!" Wanda hissed. The one called Mudley approached and grinned wide, " It's not you we want. When we get what we came for...we'll let you go. Where is Duke?" " Duke?! You're after Duke?!" Wanda scowled, " You can HAVE him....he'll be coming right to you." " Good lady," Mudley snickered and bounded on the other side of her. She smiled over her shoulder, " Stay." She looked at her teammates, " Boys, ‘e'll be out a while. Come...we've got a toad to catch." " Toad to..." Wanda repeated and screamed after them, " NO! You said you wanted DUKE!" Mudley turned, " Silence." *** " I kinda feel sorry for Toad," Jean said. " Like, I would have never known he'd have a past like this. I just thought he was some jerk." Kitty replied. " I guess he could only be in denial for so long," from Scott. " I wonder what he'll do after all this is over." Kitty brought up. " Who knows. But, the professor is ready to take him in if he wants," Scott smiled. " I'm sure he'll be free to rejoin the Brotherhood." " What if he doesn't want anything. Something like this can destroy a person. Remember what we promised not to tell Kurt?" Scott nodded and Kitty kept silent. Jean sighed, " If he becomes a threat to himself, the professor might keep him anyway. At least, until everything is worked out. " Isn't it kinda strange?" Kitty asked suddenly. Both looked at her. " I mean, like, why was Duke so determined to keep us separated from Toad? Wouldn't he have felt safer with a larger number?" " Now that you mention it," Scott replied, " He did seem eager to keep Toad to himself. I wonder why." " So we could take care of YOU!" All turned around and saw a small group of mutants sitting on the old rubble of what was part of the Black Womb power building. Scott reached for his visor only to be tripped by a young teenage boy. He must have been twleve but his mutations were so obvious that it was unmistakeable. He was green with scaley skin, much like a lizard. He had a human body from the waist up, save the skin and color...as well as a wilted face with fallen arches and sharp teeth. His fingers were scrawny and clawed along with webbing. Waist down...he was totally serpent. " Good going, Sidewinder!" Came the encouraging call. It came from a young woman, magenta in color with fox-like ears and a bushy tail. A metallic voice followed, " Vixen, you take the cat. I got tall, cheery and lovely. The rest of you assist Sidewinder!" Jean gasped when he came close. He was gorgeous! Tall pale and very wellbuilt, yet not body-builder built. More like Scott yet a little more fit. His hair was long and white. Over one eye was a patch of pink skin. His eyes were gold. The patch didn't cover his eye...more like surrounded it...like a mark on a puppy. " No fight, Lady?" He asked in his metallic voice. He smiled and took another step towards Jean who tripped and fell backwards. He ran over and grabbed her, " Now, now. No uneeded injuries." He smiled and placed a hand over Jean's face. She gasped and then fell limp. " What did you do to her?!" Scott demanded. He was beated down by Sidewinder's heavy tail. " Fear not. She is unharmed." " What do we do with them, Jasper?" Vixen purred. She skipped and dodged as Kitty tried to defend herself. " We'll put them where they can't get in the way. No one is to be ‘armed, do you understand? Our main focus is T-3." " You leave Toad alone!" Kitty demanded, leaping at Vixen. Vixen smiled and vanished. " You phase, Kitten. I can do that too. But you can't phase through what you can't see." Kitty spun around searching for the source of Vixen's voice. She was unable to find it before Vixen made her move, slamming Kitty by surprise into a tree and knocking her unconscious. " Take them away," Jasper ordered. " Then meet me inside." *** They were neither up nor down *** Duke walked around and pointed, " Look, an open tank." Wolverine glanced over and then to Toad. " You gonna be okay?" Toad still held a hand over his mouth. His eyes were shut, a tear dripping here and there as he tried to hold his insides in. He nodded however. Wolverine patted him on the back and approached Duke. " The only one open?" " I guess they didn't ‘ave a baby to put in it." Duke replied. Wolverine sniffed the air and went closer. " It smells funny." " An I'll be the one ‘oo's laughing." Duke snickered. Wolverine turned too late to see Duke throw a lever, making the tank's glass drop onto Wolverine's back and knocking him unconcious. Toad leapt to his feet and gasped. He backed away, " Duke?!" " Don't be such a jessie, T-3. No one gets ‘urt as long as you cooperate." " You set me up!" " Yes...but I didn't do it alone." From the halls came the mutants from outside. In walked Mudley, Wolfe, Horn-Head. And from the other side entered Jasper, Vixen, Sidewinder and 4 other mutants. Jasper approached Duke and crossed his arms. " You've proven yourself to be a well-trained individual, Duke. I'm impressed." " ‘Orribly grateful, Jasper," Duke smiled. " Look, I brought T-3. But, y'know we couldn't ‘ave done it without you." Jasper nodded and smiled at Toad, " Forgive me, T-3." " I'm not T-3! I'm Todd Tolansky! I'm the Toad!" Toad insisted. " As you wish," Jasper replied in his metallic way. " We've been waiting for you a long time. You were ‘ard to find. But, I am the one responsible for increasing your already natural nightmares....and for increasing your memories." Toad was still teary-eyed and trembled, " What do you want with me?" " Ah, don't be intimidated by the jiggery pokery. No ‘arm really done." " ANSWER ME!" " Oh, so demanding," Jasper chuckled. The other snickered behind him. "It's not what I want with you, Brother. It's what the uppies want." " Uppies?" " Yes, Black Womb's officials.They wanted T-3...we delivered. Now, all of their best children are finally together and they can finally commense with Black Womb II." Toad lunged forward, planning to throw a punch. His fist was caught by Jasper who smiled with amusement, " No need to be violent, Brother." " Just to kidnap more babies and rip them from life." " Nonsense. Black Womb II doesn't need to kidnap children. They make their own." " What?!" " Black Womb II is made up of only the best of Black Womb's surviving subjects. Aren't you a jammy bloke, Toad? You...and I...we were tied for the number one choice. Made up of over 50 Black Womb boys and girls all in their early sexual maturity..." " I see," Toad huffed through tears. " A puppy mill for mutants..." " Such a derogitory statement." Jasper replied. " But, if you so see it. The top best grade choices of Black Womb put together in Black Womb II, paired and bred with other top choice BW members...creating the perfect grade of mutants. Our very existence can be discovered along with our limits and possibilities. Black Womb II can make us...and our children...and our children's children like gods." " Beyond illegal. Why would you want to work for Black Womb after all the Hell they've caused. My best friends DIED because of Black Womb and I was never given...NONE OF US were ever given proper medical treatment." Toad argued. Jasper frowned, " I wanted you to come easy, Toad. One way or the other, you are breeding stock...and proeprty of Black Womb. They kept you alive and they can kill you too! You are contributing to a good cause, believe me. And I only want the best opportunities for my Nursery 2 brothers and sisters." " I'll never give in to Black Womb ever again. I'm no one's property." " Your mark says differently." Jasper commented, coming very close and placing a hand firmly inside Toad's thigh over the mark's location. Toad froze and his miscles stiffened in defense of the unwanted touch. How provocative a place for these marks. Jasper leaned in and whispered, " You are one of us, Toad. We are your family...and we love you. We are all you knew as children...and all you will ever know. Wouldn't it wonderful to once again never ‘ave to worry about ‘iding ‘oo you are. You are a mutant...and you ‘ave the right to love other mutants....create them. I've never let anything ‘appen to you, Toad. Remember? Not if I could ‘elp it. When you ‘urt, I stayed with you. I took pity on all my brothers and sister when they ‘urt." He embraced Toad tightly, " You...and Black Womb were the only family I ever knew. Good...bad...I was alive...I was fed and I was clean and I was dry. I had dozens of playmates just like me. And we were taught that we were special. We all loved each other. We were family and we now ‘ave a chance to make our family larger. Humanity is ‘anding their lives over to us. I don't want to enjoy this blessing without my favorite siblings." Toad pushed Jasper away, " You're sick. You're all sick." " Very well," Jasper sighed. " This is all very overwhelming. Perhaps what you need is a long rest." " Shall I?" Mudley asked. Jasper cast her a scolding glare, " That won't be necissary, Mudley." He lifted a hand and placed it on Toad's head. " I can take care of this myself." Toad let out a gasp as he fell forward. Jasper caught the limp body and then picked him up. " ‘Urry," he told the others. " Leave ‘is friends ‘ere. They are not part of us. Black Womb's children are the only ones ‘oo will be permitted to continue on from ‘ere. Let them return ‘ome to their own lives. They were born of the world so shall they continue. We...we were born within Black Womb...that is where we belong...and where we shall flourish. Come, My Siblings! The Uppies await!" To Be continued... | ||||
