The Mall was an enormous building, daunting in its
size. Star stared up at it with something approaching horror.
"Come on, Star. It's just a Mall."
"Jubilee, it hasn't been that long since you were
afraid to go to the mall." Rogue scolded her. "We'll go in when Star
is ready." She turned to Star. "You okay, hon?" Star nodded and the trio walked from
the parked car to the building. As they entered the main doors, Star flinched.
"What's the matter, sugah?"
"So many people."
"Jean tol' me to tell you to just bring a curtain
across you mind. That way you can block most o' the noise out." After
a moment, Star nodded.
"Yes. That is better." She smiled up at Rogue's
worried expression. "I'm fine, now."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go."
After a couple of hours of what Jubilee called
"Serious Shopping", they decided to stop for something to eat. As they
finished their 'snack', Rogue stood up.
"Gambit asked me to pick up some cards for him. Why
don't you two get some ice cream, and I'll meet you back here in just
a few minutes."
"Sure, Rogue." Rogue left their table. "So, what
flavor do ya wanna try, Star?" Jubilee asked, slurping the last of her soda.
"Do they have chocolate?"
"You bet! Watch our stuff, I'll be right back."
Jubilee hopped up and went over to the Iced Dream Ice Cream shop. Star
watched the other shoppers with interest, keeping the 'curtain'
tightly closed so she wouldn't be overwhelmed.
"Well, what d'we have here, Mikey?" A young man said
as he approached her table. He leaned arrogantly on the chair opposite Star.
"Looks like a Mutie ta me, Stretch." Said a second young man from behind her.
"Yeah," said a third. "And from the looks o' all
them bags, she's got more money 'n what's good for her."
"That true, Mutie?" asked Stretch. "Ya got plenty a'
money stashed in there somewhere?" Mikey grabbed her arm and pulled
her to her feet. She just stared at him, confused by the strong
emotions he virtually radiated. The people at nearby tables were
quietly, but quickly, gathering their purchases and moving away.
"What do you want?" Star had no desire to read these
men who seemed to hate her just for existing.
"We told ya, Mutie. Give us your money."
"I don't have any money."
"Ya hear that, Stretch? She don't have any money."
"Well, maybe she's got somethin' else ta give us
instead." Stretch said, as he sauntered around the table. "What d'ya
say, Mutie." He said as he put his arm around her waist and pulled up
against his body. "Ya wanna party with me an' my friends?"
"Leave her alone!" Jubilee yelled when she turned
away from the ice cream counter and saw what was happening. She
dropped the ice cream on the table in front of her and hurried toward
Star and the three punks.
"What're you, her keeper?"
"Naw, she's just a Mutie lover. Maybe she wants t' party, too. Grab her, Steve."
Steve tried to grab Jubilee, but she struck him in
the chest with one outstretch hand. There was a small thunderclap and
Steve fell back with a cry.
Rogue heard the clap as she was leaving the shop
where she had purchased Gambit's cards.
"Uh oh." She said as she hurried in the direction she had left Jubilee and Star.
Stretch turned quickly toward Jubilee, but did not release Star.
"Hey, Mikey. She ain't nothin' but another damn
Mutie." He reached inside the loose jacket he wore. "Well, we know how
to handle them, don't we?" He pulled a handgun out of his jacket and
pointed it at Star. "Back off, babe, or there'll be one less mutant in
the world." Jubilee froze. "Mikey, get Steve on his feet and let's
blow this place." He looked down at Star, standing quietly in his
grip, not resisting. "We'll take silver girl, here, with us. For
insurance." He laughed unpleasantly. "Maybe we'll still have us that
party, boys." Mikey got Steve up and followed Stretch as he pulled
Star toward the nearest exit. Jubilee watched, helpless, afraid to
follow. They disappeared around a corner in the mall and she was about
to start after them when Rogue said, from behind her,
"What's goin' on, gal?"
"Eeep! Rogue! Boy am I glad to see you. Three punks
grabbed Star. They went that way! Rogue!" She called after the
departing X-Man. "One of 'em's got a gun!" She glared around her at
the mall crowd, for the most part just watching passively. A security
guard appeared. "Now you show up." She said in disgust. "Watch this
stuff. We'll be right back." She followed Rogue around the corner.
Stretch pulled Star into a run down the short
corridor toward the door. Mikey and Steve hurried after them. A young
woman, unaware of what was going on, stepped out of a shop directly in
front of them. She held the hand of a little boy, and carried a
second child in her arms. Startled, Stretch pointed his hand gun at
her and pulled the trigger twice. The woman screamed and twisted,
trying futilely to protect her children. Star reached out with her
mind and deflected the bullets into the ceiling. Stretch yanked her
past the woman, and out the door. She pulled her arm free from his
grasp and stopped. The door behind her slammed shut just as Mikey and
Steve reached it. They hit the door at a dead run, and it didn't budge
an inch. Stretch stopped almost as soon as Star, turned back and
reached for her again. She stood stock still, her hands fisted at her
sides, glaring at him. He looked through the door and saw his friends
lying on the floor on the other side. He shakily raised his gun and
pointed it at Star with both hands. She didn't move, just stood there
looking at him. Suddenly, the gun flew out of his hands, then a giant
fist seemed to grip him, lifting him off the ground.
Rogue saw Star through the glass door, and flew
quickly down the hall, past the woman who huddled on the floor,
thankfully clutching her children. Two of the punks were out cold just
inside the door. She pushed, but the door wouldn't open, so she tried
to smash it. Nothing. She realized that Star must be holding it. She
moved sideways until she could see the punk in front of Star. His feet
weren't touching the ground. He was struggling. As she watched, he
began to turn blue.
"Star!" She called through the glass. "Star! Listen
to me, sugah. Ya gotta let 'im go, honey. C'mon, Star." Her voice grew
almost frantic as the punk's struggles grew weaker. "C'mon, baby. Let
me out. You can't kill 'im." The door opened and she nearly fell
through in her haste. She moved forward carefully, slowly approaching
Star and her captive. She put her hand on Star's shoulder. Her body
was fiery hot through the thin cloth of her blouse. "Let 'im go, gal."
"Why? He tried to kill that woman and her children. He was going to hurt Jubilee."
"You're right, sugah. But that's what we got cops
and judges for. I'll explain how it all works later, but you gotta let
go now!" Stretch dropped suddenly to the ground, drew a deep
shuddering breath, and began to retch. Jubilee burst through the door
behind them and skidded to a halt.
"Looks like I missed all the fun."
"Shut up, Jubilee."
"Well, excuse me!"
Rogue moved in front of Star, who still stood
rigidly, with her hands clenched at her side. Her skin was still hot.
"Star. C'mon, honey. It's all over." Star slumped
slightly and brought her hands up to her face. Rogue put her arms
protectively around her. "C'mon over here, sugah." She drew Star to a
bench just to the side of the door, and sat her down on it. "Jubilee,
stay with her for a sec, please."
"Sure." Jubilee put her arm around Star. "Boy,
you're burnin' up." Rogue moved to the bank of phones on the other
side of the door, dropped a coin in one, and called home.
"Hello? Why hello, Chere. You 'member to pick up dem cards fo' me?"
"'Course, Gambit. Listen, I need to talk to the Professor, right now."
"Problems, Chere?"
"You could say that, sugah."
"I get him for you. Hang on."
"What's wrong, Rogue?" The Professor asked a moment later.
"Did ya get that custody order for Star yet, Professor?"
"Beast and Storm decided that she was probably legally of age."
"Well, get 'em to change their minds, and get legal custody, right quick."
"Rogue, what has happened."
"No time now, Professor. The cops just got here, and
I gotta go deal with them. Bye, now." She cut the connection.
"Back off, you jerk." Jubilee was saying to the
uniformed officer who seemed determined to arrest Star. Star still had
her face buried in her hands. Jubilee had both arms around her now,
determined to protect her.
"What seems to be the problem, officer?" Rogue asked.
"I've got to take her in, ma'am."
"What on earth for? The child was just attacked by those three goons, and you want to arrest
her?"
"Well, they claim she tried to kill them."
"Oh, right. This little slip of a thing tried to
kill those three big apes. An' I suppose you're ready to believe them?"
"Not really, but I can't get her to say anything."
"Well, let me tell you what happened, officer. These
two girls were gettin' ice cream and mindin' their own business when
your three 'victims' decided to have a little fun. When the girls
didn't play along, they grabbed 'em. Jubilee got loose, but Star
couldn't. One o' these goons had a gun. Those two in there, the one's
with the headaches? tried to go out through the 'in' door and got
knocked cold. Once he got her through the door, Star did what
daddies've been teachin' their little girls to do as long as there
have been daddies and little girls, and kicked him where it'd do the
most good." Rogue put her hands on her hips and looked the policeman
in the eye. "Now, which story sounds more reasonable to you."
"You're right, of course, ma'am." He cleared his
throat. "I will need a statement from each of you, when you feel up to
it." He looked back at Star and Jubilee. Jubilee glared at him. "You
sure they're OK?"
"I'll take care of 'em."
"All right, ma'am." He turned to the other officers,
just arriving. "Let's get those three locked up, and let these ladies'
get on with their lives." The Security Guard showed up then, loaded
with their purchases. Rogue went after the car and the guard loaded
their sacks into the trunk while Rogue and Jubilee helped Star into
the car. The trip back to the mansion was made in silence.
Professor Xavier, Jean Grey and Cyclops met them at
the door. Jean and Cyclops hurried down the steps to help with
Star.
"She hasn't said anything since we got in the car."
Jubilee told them. Jean leaned into the car.
"Star? Can you hear me?" Star sighed, but said nothing.
"Let's go inside, Star." Jean took her hand and
helped her from the car. Star cooperated, but made no move to act
independently. Jean led her up the stairs to Professor Xavier.
"Star. Child, come back to us. We can not help you
if you shut us out." Star turned her head and looked at him.
"Why, Professor?" She asked him quietly. "Why did he hate me?" He glanced at Rogue.
"The girls were attacked by some anti-mutant punks." She told him.
"People are afraid of what they don't understand,
Star. Many hate what they are afraid of." He looked up into her pale
face. "Come inside, child, and I will try to explain."
Star sat quietly on the couch in the study.
Professor Xavier moved his chair next to her and took her hand.
"Star, the world is full of ugliness. One of the
things we try to do here is to lessen the ugliness." She looked at
him, her face expressionless. "I had hoped to protect you longer. I
did not believe you would be in danger, or I would not have let any of
you go."
"I nearly killed him, Professor." She said suddenly.
"If Rogue hadn't stopped me, I would have. I could feel his hate,
burning him up inside, and I wanted to crush it."
"Will you let me see what happened?" She just looked
at him. "Share your memory with me Star." After a moment she nodded.
He was sitting at a table in the mall, watching
Jubilee place an order at a counter. There was a large sign just over
her head, but he couldn't read it. The letters were perfectly clear,
but they didn't mean anything. A dark presence moved in front of him.
It spoke, but the words were unclear. Then there were two more, one on
each side and he was being pulled to his feet. The first presence
moved very close, pressing against him. Images of his(her) body pinned
down, being hurt, passed through the other's mind, very clearly.
He(she) was not this dark creature's first victim. It knew exactly
what it would do with him(her) when it had him(her) away from this
place. He felt, rather than saw, Jubilee's approach. One of the lesser
creatures moved toward her. It was going to hurt her! No! But before
he could stop the thing, Jubilee had (knocked it down? He didn't
understand.) The creature holding him turned toward Jubilee, and he
felt a flash of fear from her. It was holding a (gun?) thing and
pointing it at him. The creature was afraid now, too. Afraid of
Jubilee? Why?
He felt himself being dragged backwards, away from
Jubilee. Then he was running, the creature holding tightly to his arm.
The other two were following, but not as fast. One of them was hurt.
The creature dragged him around a corner, and he felt Jubilee start to
fade as they moved further away. In front of them, he felt a woman
with two small children, their presence bright as the sun. There was a
surge of hatred from the thing dragging him along. It pointed the
(gun?) at them. It made a loud noise and a spinning piece of metal
leaped from the end, hurtling toward the smaller child. He reached out
with his mind and slapped it away. He began to grow angry. The thing
barked again and a second piece of metal leaped toward the trio. He
slapped it away also. He was yanked past the cowering family and
through a door. Enough! He pulled his arm free, which startled the
dark creature. He slammed the door shut behind them as the other two
reached it. They hit the door hard, desperate to escape, but he held
it closed effortlessly. He felt their pain, felt them fall, but this
seemed to only fuel his anger. The first creature pointed the (gun)
at him, but it suddenly had no confidence in the weapon. He took it
from its nerveless hands, crumpling it into an unrecognizable ball of
useless metal. Then he seized the creature with his mind. Hatred had
been replaced by fear. This thing was afraid of him! Good. Let it feel
what the woman had felt. Let it feel as Jubilee had felt. Slowly, he
crushed it, savoring its panic, as it felt itself dying.
He became aware of Rogue's presence behind him. She
was frantic, fearful, desperate to reach him before he was ... hurt?
He wasn't in any danger, why was she frightened? He released the door
and Rogue burst through, rushing towards him.
"Let 'im go, gal." He heard her say.
"Why?" he answered. "He tried to kill that woman and
her children. He was going to hurt Jubilee."
"You're right, sugah. But that's what we got cops
and judges for. I'll explain how it all works later, but you gotta let
go now!" He felt confused, but dropped the thing he held, letting it
fall unheeded to the ground. He felt Jubilee approach, felt her fear
for him. His anger faded to nothing and suddenly the thing on the
ground became a person. Full of pain and terror. He had done this.
Once again, he had caused pain. He felt himself slipping away into the
darkness. It was safe there. But that caused pain for others as well.
There would be no escape. He felt Jubilee's arm around him. Her
presence steadied him, but he was not ready to come all the way back.
Not yet. Just let him rest here in the shadows for a while. Just rest.
He was so tired.
Professor Xavier came to himself with a start. Star
sat on the couch, watching him impassively, as if waiting for him to
pass judgment on her. Which, he supposed, she was.
"You did well to protect the woman and her children,
Star. The cre... the man who attacked you deserved the treatment he
received." He reached for her hand, and held it in his own. "Rogue was
right, however. We must let the law punish your attacker." She didn't
move at all, not even a blink. It was disconcerting how still this
child could be. "This does not mean you do not have the right to
protect yourself, or others around you." He looked at her intently,
wishing for some sign that she had understood what he was trying to
tell her. "Star?"
"Yes, Professor." Her tone was as flat as her expression.
"I am proud of you, child." he said earnestly. "You
could have killed him, but you chose not too. It does not matter that
you were influenced by Rogue, the decision was yours. And I believe
you made the right one."
"Thank you, Professor." He released her hand, still
disturbed by her lack of emotion. He gently probed her mind, but she
had closed him out. She needed time to absorb everything that had
happened to her in such a short period. He prayed he could grant her
all the time she needed.
She stood to leave, then swayed on her feet. He
reached out to steady her and noticed for the first time how gaunt her
face was. She appeared thinner than she had earlier, as if it had been
days, lean and hungry days, at that, since he had seen her, instead of
merely a few hours.
"Star? Are you all right?"
"Yes, Professor. Just tired, and a little hungry."
"Well, go get something to eat, then perhaps a nap would do you some good."
"All right." She turned away from him, leaving his
study without glancing back. If she had turned, she would have seen
the worried look he wore. One of his children was in trouble, hurting,
and he didn't know how to help. Again.
[ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 ]
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