"Mr. Parks, can I talk to you?" gambit asked.
"What's it about?"
He rubbed his hands together; he never asked anyone for advice before in relationship matters.
"It about this girl…"
"Woah! Wait right there son."
"What?"
"We are not in the proper atmosphere to discuss topics like that."
Gambit looked around the office. What was Felix talking about.
"But I…"
Professor Parks cut him off again…"Got time?"
"Yeah I guess."
"Great, let's go…"
Gambit didn't argue. He followed Parks to the garage and hopped in the car. He didn't know where he was going but the conversation he started just got weirder and he wasn't doing anything at all. Every time he tried to bring up the girl subject in the car, Felix would stop him so …well… Gambit wasn't sure what to talk about with this guy. He didn't know him very well but they talked a bit about being mutants and how classes were going and if Gambit had summer plans.
Finally they arrived at the Wing House. What was Mr. Parks up to? Has he lost it? They went in sat down and he ordered french fries and wings and a beer for himself and Gambit got a soda.
"Why come to me for advice?"
Gambit thought this was pretty cool guy so far; better then his first thoughts of the man. .
"What?" Gambit wondered.
"I'm not the first people usually come running to around the mansion for advice on this sort of thing, so why me?"
"Truth?"
"Always."
"I know I may be the trouble maker in class and you don't think that highly of me but you're the only one around that won't judge me by the questions I ask. I'll get picked on by everyone else or they'll say something flowery and poetic and I have no clue what they mean by it. I figure you're a straight shooter. I need that."
"How do you know I don't have flower advice for ya?"
"You don't really come off that way I guess. Hope you don't mind."
"Who cares? You worry about what everyone else thinks of ya, you'll go crazy. I can't really change who I am."
Drinks came to the table.
"Ok, tell me your troubles son while we drown our sorrows in ale."
"There's this girl."
"Isn't that the way it always is."
Gambit had to laugh, "I like her."
"That's a start...sorry, I won't interrupt you anymore… I hope."
"I don't know how to tell her that I like her."
"The communication of love can be tricky but here it is in simple terms. Most of the time a girl knows if you like her by the little things you do for her. Sometimes they see it and sometimes they are blind to what is right in front of them. Do you see it back, is the question?"
"She acts just normal I guess."
"Then you're not doing it good enough. Trust me in this… you do the little things a bit more noticeable and she'll question you in her mind. She'll then go through the thought process of… do I reciprocate or do I have to ask him what the hell is he doin'. She'll then tell you. Keep your eyes open."
"What should I do for her?"
"Tricky. No two women are the same, but there are some universal signals…smile a lot. Look right at her eyes when you talk to her. Sit next to her, tell her she looks nice today but don't over play that card. If you find something somewhere that screams out her name buy it and say you just had to get it, she was written all over it."
"Wow, subtle yet to the point. Good advice."
"Don't go overboard and crowd her. Let her decide and if all else fails… ask her out, plain and simple. Be a man. You'll know for sure then."
"How do you know so much about women?"
"Well, when you've been out with as many as I have and dumped by even more, don't ask me how that's possible but it is, you learn a thing or two."
"Thanks professor Parks."
"Were out, call me John or Felix, take your pick. I should actually be thanking you. I've had a wing craving for a while now. You gave me the right excuse to come out here today."
One of the waitresses in her cutoff top and short shorts roamed by. Gambit had to smile at Felix, "Nice scenery too."
"I try to please." He smiled back, "Perfect water hole for us men."
They ate for a bit and Felix wondered if there was anything else on his mind…
"Anything else you want to spill while in the right environment for it?"
"Can I ask ya somethin' in confidence?"
"Do I look like a priest?"
"Well, no…but..."
"I'm only kidding…shoot."
"You got anyone in particular you got your eyes set on at work or outside of school?"
He thought it only fair. Gambit told about his love life, why not get the scoop on t he prof as well.
"Yeah I do…"
"Who?"
"That waitress over at table number seven."
Gambit turns and grins. She was a looker.
They talked about this and that; sports, women and their lives before coming to the school. Gambit learned a lot about Mr. Parks. It turns out he was not so much the stuck-up loner as the group first thought him to be. He traveled all over the US and Europe. He met Xavier in London and came to the US to look him up after several years. Xavier gave him a job at the school, he thought it was a good idea so started teaching. He helped Xavier earlier on to develop two other schools in Europe for mutants similar to the one here in New York. They were in London and Munich. Mutant kids everywhere need help in some way and these schools were the key. Gambit never knew there were others. Maybe one day they could have X-change programs or such. It was a neat idea. Finally they finished up and headed back to school so as not to be missed.
Gambit felt more confidant. Who knew that the Don Juan of flirting wouldn't have a clue on how to get the one woman he wanted to pay attention to him. Most of his flirting was just translated as normal behavior so he'd have to try harder like Felix said, in the little things he did.
When he returned her found her to be out driving with Logan. He hoped poor Jubilee wouldn't kill herself or anyone else before he could see her again. She was so independent and wild like him, it was a comfort and a lot of fun to be with her. Hopefully she'd one day feel the same about him. Title: Just Like Frankenstein By: Peachy Teaser: The dark mutant forces finally created their first replacement Rating: PG Genre: Drama
Toad and Plasma made the final check of the pods with a dog as the specimen. It was the third trial run… and third times a charm. The pods worked perfectly, but Erik had no doubts, after all it was his design. It took about four days to grow the Labrador canines. For a human it should be about the same, if not a little more. Only problem now was they had four exact copies of the same dog, barking away and running all over the place. Erik was dog lover but even he could only take so much. He got fed up and demanded them to be disposed. Sabertooth grew attached to the active puppies and kept one for himself as a pet but the rest Plasma removed. Sabertooth grew very fond of the black lab and it became his friend. They had many things in common.
Phase one was over with now that the pods were complete. He waited then to hear word from Vamp that the genetic tests were finished and successful. The report finally came late into the night.
Erik was about to head to bed but he was too anxious and impatient to go to sleep. This plan was critical. They had to succeed. He had other ideas and smaller initiatives to implement as well. He would continue to wage his own private war if this failed. Giving up would never be an option.
"Erik…" Vamp walked in.
In the few months that he had been here, Erik noticed that Vamp had changed a great deal. The newly acquired knowledge matured his wilder side; it was still there but under control and restraint.
On the other hand, Shadow was still a good asset but was too cocky, thinking he was invincible. One day he would get careless, it was only a matter of time before the Xavier discovered him there. That is why Erik needed to move this project along as swiftly as possible.
"I've got it." Vamp stated. A smile crossed Erik's face as Vamp went back to the lab. Erik would join him soon but took a moment to bask in triumph. Test subject number one would be inserted and then they'd wait for the results. There was more to do but the complicated and time consuming parts were over. Erik got up from his metal chair and walked to the lab to join Vamp.
Erik left everyone else to sleep. There was nothing to really wake them up for. They couldn't appreciate the importance of such an event.
Vamp took the specimen and entered the mutated DNA cells into the first pod. They'd test this one first and if successful, the rest would be activated. Erik expected a week to 10 days for full germination. The true growth results even surprised him.
The next day everyone was in the lab watching over the growing cells, maturing at a faster rate then normal. It wasn't that exciting and the group eventually dispersed to complete other tasks Erik assigned. They had to select their targets and figure out a plan to switch the clones with the originals. There was still much work to be done.
Perhaps it was due to the mutant genes inserted into the DNA, but after about five days the human specimen completed the growing cycle and awoke. He was youthful, muscular and human. Was he a mutant? His eyes were neon green; that was a difference. They'd have to wait and see. As for now, a new Mr. Paul Karringer was born.
The man was like a child, new to the world. Not able to talk, walk, or control his powers if he had them...he needed programming. Magneto would provide it. Magneto would be the father, teaching him everything he needed to survive in the world. At least in the adult form his brain was at full capacity and teaching would be easy and fast.
Over time, with advanced lessons and constant training, he spoke quickly and understood English. Erik found his mutation to be telepathy and super strength. Controlling both were critical. Telepathy helped the clone to learn a lot about the world, history and technology through the mind of Erik… his thoughts, dreams, memories and ideas. Developing loyalty. Physically he turned out fine; he was a mutant, strong and powerful. So far this one was a success, and the plan was working perfectly.
There was no activity recently from the X-men or a report back from his little spy. Xavier didn't know everything yet which was good. They knew he was cloning but didn't know when or where he'd strike. When they got tired of waiting, he'd then unexpectantly