To Err is Human
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "If you ever have kids and one of them when he's eight years old accidentally sets fire to the living room rug, go easy on him".
-----
Hello all I have returned! Florida was most fun...even if jetlag is a cruel mistress. Here is the 8th Sidney Chronicles, whoot! If you haven't read the other Chronicles (bar the 7th, which is a prequel) you will be very lost, VERY lost. This fic takes place about 3 months after Shifting Sands.
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Chapter 1 - Beginings and ends
----
The Xavier Institute for gifted youngsters. A place where those who were different could be themselves without fear or prejudice. A place of safety. A place of learning....and currently a place of boredom. Bobby Drake gave a sigh to show this boredom as he flicked through the TV channels.
"Why is it all news?", he moaned.
"Because you keep looking through all the news channels?", said Ray, unhelpfully.
It was the last week of summer, most of the students had returned to the school, but without high school....things got very dull.
"In other news, a freak hurricane swept through Southern Tortola , only to vanish as mysteriously and quickly as it apeared. Scientists are baffled", said the presenter on the station Bobby finally stopped on.
"Scientists haven't met a pregnant weather witch on her honeymoon", said Ray with a chuckle.
"Oooh yeah", chukled Bobby, then paused, "wait...Storm and Forge...something I was supposed to do.. Supposed to do while Warlock was away challenging the good folks at space camp"
While Bobby screwed up his face, trying to remember, Ray decided to help him along.
"Water Ororo's plants?"
"Did that".
"Keep your eye out for any F.B.I agents trying to steal Forge's inventions again?"
"Did that too"
"Feed Forge's dog?"
All the colour drained from Bobby's face.
"...Uh oh".
"What do ya mean 'uh oh'?", said Ray, "you didn't forget to feed Max, did you?"
Bobby winced.
"...Maybe just a little bit", he replied, "I'd better go to Forge and Storm's house"
-------
Todd sighed nervously as he walked the streets of Baville, he waited until he was a good distance form everyone, before pulling up the nearest manhole and dropping into the sewer. As it was down there, it wasn't long before he was found...
"What are you doing here?", hissed Caliban, his blue eyes looking at Todd in suspicion.
"I just want to deliver this to Sidney...", started Todd.
"No one but Morlocksss enter or exiiit the tunnelsss", said Caliban pointedly, "sssso leave, now"
"Well, can't you at least deliver this TO her?", pleaded Todd, holding out the envelope, "or send her up?"
"No", replied Caliban simply, "on both accountss"
"But WHY?", said Todd, "this is really, vitally important. PLEASE"
"It'ss our new law", said Caliban, "we can't trussst anyone ever again. Not after lassst time. I sssugessst you leave"
With one more suspicious look, Caliban turned his back on Todd, disapearing down into the tunnels. Todd sighed, watching him go.
"Well, that's just GREAT", he snapped.
"Aww, don't let Cal get to you, he's taking his job to heart too much"
Todd squeaked in suprise as Lucid came out of the shadows.
"Well, he could have at LEAST given it to her, this is so important", said Todd.
"Everyone's still shaken up from the attack three months ago", said Lucid, "security around here's been really tightened up...especially around Sidney"
"But that's not fair, she didn't know anything about the attack", said Todd
"Try telling that to Calisto", said Lucid, before sighing, "you know, I'll probably get my head bitten off for this, but if it's that important, I'll take your letter to her"
Todd's face brightened up.
"You will?", he said, handing the letter to Lucid, "thanks man, I really owe you one"
"Don't mention it", said Lucid, "that girl needs some cheering up. I hope this does it"
"So do I", said Todd softly as he watched the Morlock vanish into the complicated tunnel system, "so do I"
-----
Forge had, reluctantly, been made to leave his old home. Mainly because Storm was adamant there was not enough room in it for three people and one along the way. They'd eventually found a place not too far from the Institute, close enough for Storm to still go to work there, but far enough so Forge didn't have to start to worry they were 'recruiting' him. Admittedly, it had taken a couple of months to fix up, but it was quite a nice place, with it's own boundaries. Storm had converted the attic into her own greenhouse, while Forge had the basement for his lab. Neither of the pair went into the others 'inner sanctum', making the ground and first floors the nice, even 'safe' ground between the two...unless one counted Warlock's room, which was currently out of bounds for everyone....he was really picking up teenage habits.
"I can't believe I killed Forge's dog"
"I can", replied Ray, from where they stood in the kitchen.
"See, this is why Sam should have done this!!!", said Bobby, "he wouldn't have forgotten!"
"Sam has been with his family in Kentucky, he couldn't feed Max!", said Ray, "man...you're so dead"
"Can't I say he ran away?", tried Bobby weakly.
"From a locked house with the security measures of Alcatraz?", said Ray, shaking his head, "you'd still get in trouble for losing him. Just accept your fate, Iceman"
"Not yet, my good man", said Bobby, "I have me a little plan"
------
In an old mansion in Manhattans Upper East Side, a group of people gathered in the grand home's library. Lamp lights flickered in the room, casting shadows on the cloaked occupants from where they sat at a huge table. To one side of the table, stood two men, the only people in the room without a cloak hiding their features. One had brown eyes and curly black hair, very obvious Brazillian in origin, while the other had dusty blonde hair, and blue eyes. Both watched as the cloaked figure at the head of the table stood. His voice cutting through the silence with an air of authority that made everyone in the room look at him.
"Tonight, we induct two of our long-standing members of our prestijous organisation into it's grand Inner Circle", he said, gesturing to both men, "Our Inner Circle is hidden from all, including the members of it's founding Club. To have a postion here is the grandest privalage that can be bestowed upon a person. Once you become part of the Circle, you are part of it for life, to betray your fellow Circle members would be serverly punished"
He turned to the men.
"Raise your right hand and pledge your allegiance to the Inner Circle", he said, "teh Circle will be your family, the Circle will be your safe haven, the Circle will be your LIFE".
Both men raised their right hands, speaking together, though with very different accents.
"I pledge my allegiance to the Inner Circle".
The cloaked man nodded, picking up two packages from the table, heading towards them.
"You, Emmanuel DaCosta,will now also be known as our White Rook", he said, handing him one of the packages, before handing the second man the other one, "you, Daniel Toynbee, will now also be known as our Black Rook".
Sebastian Shaw removed the hood of his cloak, as did the other members, showing their 18th century garb.
"Welcome, my Friends, to the Inner Circle", said Sebastian to the two, then addressed the room as a whole, "and may this be one step closer to our ultimate goal, when the Hellfire Club will reign supreme!"
-----
Dum dum dum! I decided to go the oposite way to my 6th Cronicle, instead of keeping my villian(s) in shadow, they have been revealed in chapter one! Obviously, Daniel Toynbee, being my OC isn't an original member, but I thought I'd induct two scum-sucking fathers instead of one ;)
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "If you ever have kids and one of them when he's eight years old accidentally sets fire to the living room rug, go easy on him".
-----
Hello all I have returned! Florida was most fun...even if jetlag is a cruel mistress. Here is the 8th Sidney Chronicles, whoot! If you haven't read the other Chronicles (bar the 7th, which is a prequel) you will be very lost, VERY lost. This fic takes place about 3 months after Shifting Sands.
-----
Chapter 1 - Beginings and ends
----
The Xavier Institute for gifted youngsters. A place where those who were different could be themselves without fear or prejudice. A place of safety. A place of learning....and currently a place of boredom. Bobby Drake gave a sigh to show this boredom as he flicked through the TV channels.
"Why is it all news?", he moaned.
"Because you keep looking through all the news channels?", said Ray, unhelpfully.
It was the last week of summer, most of the students had returned to the school, but without high school....things got very dull.
"In other news, a freak hurricane swept through Southern Tortola , only to vanish as mysteriously and quickly as it apeared. Scientists are baffled", said the presenter on the station Bobby finally stopped on.
"Scientists haven't met a pregnant weather witch on her honeymoon", said Ray with a chuckle.
"Oooh yeah", chukled Bobby, then paused, "wait...Storm and Forge...something I was supposed to do.. Supposed to do while Warlock was away challenging the good folks at space camp"
While Bobby screwed up his face, trying to remember, Ray decided to help him along.
"Water Ororo's plants?"
"Did that".
"Keep your eye out for any F.B.I agents trying to steal Forge's inventions again?"
"Did that too"
"Feed Forge's dog?"
All the colour drained from Bobby's face.
"...Uh oh".
"What do ya mean 'uh oh'?", said Ray, "you didn't forget to feed Max, did you?"
Bobby winced.
"...Maybe just a little bit", he replied, "I'd better go to Forge and Storm's house"
-------
Todd sighed nervously as he walked the streets of Baville, he waited until he was a good distance form everyone, before pulling up the nearest manhole and dropping into the sewer. As it was down there, it wasn't long before he was found...
"What are you doing here?", hissed Caliban, his blue eyes looking at Todd in suspicion.
"I just want to deliver this to Sidney...", started Todd.
"No one but Morlocksss enter or exiiit the tunnelsss", said Caliban pointedly, "sssso leave, now"
"Well, can't you at least deliver this TO her?", pleaded Todd, holding out the envelope, "or send her up?"
"No", replied Caliban simply, "on both accountss"
"But WHY?", said Todd, "this is really, vitally important. PLEASE"
"It'ss our new law", said Caliban, "we can't trussst anyone ever again. Not after lassst time. I sssugessst you leave"
With one more suspicious look, Caliban turned his back on Todd, disapearing down into the tunnels. Todd sighed, watching him go.
"Well, that's just GREAT", he snapped.
"Aww, don't let Cal get to you, he's taking his job to heart too much"
Todd squeaked in suprise as Lucid came out of the shadows.
"Well, he could have at LEAST given it to her, this is so important", said Todd.
"Everyone's still shaken up from the attack three months ago", said Lucid, "security around here's been really tightened up...especially around Sidney"
"But that's not fair, she didn't know anything about the attack", said Todd
"Try telling that to Calisto", said Lucid, before sighing, "you know, I'll probably get my head bitten off for this, but if it's that important, I'll take your letter to her"
Todd's face brightened up.
"You will?", he said, handing the letter to Lucid, "thanks man, I really owe you one"
"Don't mention it", said Lucid, "that girl needs some cheering up. I hope this does it"
"So do I", said Todd softly as he watched the Morlock vanish into the complicated tunnel system, "so do I"
-----
Forge had, reluctantly, been made to leave his old home. Mainly because Storm was adamant there was not enough room in it for three people and one along the way. They'd eventually found a place not too far from the Institute, close enough for Storm to still go to work there, but far enough so Forge didn't have to start to worry they were 'recruiting' him. Admittedly, it had taken a couple of months to fix up, but it was quite a nice place, with it's own boundaries. Storm had converted the attic into her own greenhouse, while Forge had the basement for his lab. Neither of the pair went into the others 'inner sanctum', making the ground and first floors the nice, even 'safe' ground between the two...unless one counted Warlock's room, which was currently out of bounds for everyone....he was really picking up teenage habits.
"I can't believe I killed Forge's dog"
"I can", replied Ray, from where they stood in the kitchen.
"See, this is why Sam should have done this!!!", said Bobby, "he wouldn't have forgotten!"
"Sam has been with his family in Kentucky, he couldn't feed Max!", said Ray, "man...you're so dead"
"Can't I say he ran away?", tried Bobby weakly.
"From a locked house with the security measures of Alcatraz?", said Ray, shaking his head, "you'd still get in trouble for losing him. Just accept your fate, Iceman"
"Not yet, my good man", said Bobby, "I have me a little plan"
------
In an old mansion in Manhattans Upper East Side, a group of people gathered in the grand home's library. Lamp lights flickered in the room, casting shadows on the cloaked occupants from where they sat at a huge table. To one side of the table, stood two men, the only people in the room without a cloak hiding their features. One had brown eyes and curly black hair, very obvious Brazillian in origin, while the other had dusty blonde hair, and blue eyes. Both watched as the cloaked figure at the head of the table stood. His voice cutting through the silence with an air of authority that made everyone in the room look at him.
"Tonight, we induct two of our long-standing members of our prestijous organisation into it's grand Inner Circle", he said, gesturing to both men, "Our Inner Circle is hidden from all, including the members of it's founding Club. To have a postion here is the grandest privalage that can be bestowed upon a person. Once you become part of the Circle, you are part of it for life, to betray your fellow Circle members would be serverly punished"
He turned to the men.
"Raise your right hand and pledge your allegiance to the Inner Circle", he said, "teh Circle will be your family, the Circle will be your safe haven, the Circle will be your LIFE".
Both men raised their right hands, speaking together, though with very different accents.
"I pledge my allegiance to the Inner Circle".
The cloaked man nodded, picking up two packages from the table, heading towards them.
"You, Emmanuel DaCosta,will now also be known as our White Rook", he said, handing him one of the packages, before handing the second man the other one, "you, Daniel Toynbee, will now also be known as our Black Rook".
Sebastian Shaw removed the hood of his cloak, as did the other members, showing their 18th century garb.
"Welcome, my Friends, to the Inner Circle", said Sebastian to the two, then addressed the room as a whole, "and may this be one step closer to our ultimate goal, when the Hellfire Club will reign supreme!"
-----
Dum dum dum! I decided to go the oposite way to my 6th Cronicle, instead of keeping my villian(s) in shadow, they have been revealed in chapter one! Obviously, Daniel Toynbee, being my OC isn't an original member, but I thought I'd induct two scum-sucking fathers instead of one ;)