The Uncanny G-boys

[Author's Note: Disclaimer: The actual Kensico Dam was not harmed in the making of this fanfiction. ^_^; | Rampant strong language ahead!]

Dorothy?
What is it, Professor.
He hadn't realized she had regained so much awareness so quickly. How are you feeling?
I think you already know.
He grimaced at her biting tone. I have some questions for you, and you will answer them.
It's not like I have a choice.
He sighed. Just make this easy on both of us, all right, Miss Catalonia? Now, why did you attack Quatre?
Her mind was eerily silent. It felt almost like she was afraid to answer.
Dorothy? Answer me. You must have had a real reason. I know you don't get along with some of the students, but it was never this vicious.
Still no trace of a reply, although he felt it clearly now -- Fear.
Dorothy. Why did you attack him?
H-He's powerful. More powerful than you know.
That is a petty reason.
N-No. Y-You don't understand. The world isn't ready for another like you, Professor. And h-he's much more powerful than you.

After the second group took the tour along the base of the dam, the students were reorganized according to whomever wished to continue the history lesson, trekking up to the top of the edifice and along the stretch of road that went past the maintenance buildings. Most of Duo's gang went, and the braided mutant saw Quatre tag along. The blond hunched down in his overcoat, hanging to the back of the group. He tried to pay attention to the Beast but was too distracted by the unsettling feeling that had taken up residence in his stomach about an hour after they had arrived at the dam.
They walked single file on the shoulder of the road, passing by a small soccor field. Off to the side was a wooden bench, upon which sat a flame-haired girl with her head down. An odd feeling, something like a mental spark, struck Quatre and he felt the urge to turn and study her. He did so, but wondered why a moment later. He turned back and jogged to catch up to the group.
Beast was motioning across a chainlink fence to an oval pit of the familiar pinkish tan stone, rows of ledges with vertical spouts lined up within it. He was explaining how they had once been used to aerate the water, but had long since gone out of use. Abruptly the very air shook, and there came a grating grumble from beneath their feet. Water erupted from the spouts, filling the pit...but not cycling back into the system. In minutes the pit was full and the unceasing flow began to spill over the rim toward them...
"Holy....SHIT!!!!" Duo screamed. He leapt up, forgetting all about the shoelace he had been attempting to tie. He nearly cracked his thick skull against Heero's jaw as the latter desperately looked around for a certain someone. He shouldered his way through the startled group, the others only staring as the water pressure grew, sending the plumes up higher from the spouts.
"Wufei!!" Heero grabbed both his arms and pulled him toward the fence, hoping the boy with an affinity for H₂O would realize he was their best hope at the moment. The grumbling complaint of granite sounded again. Wufei swiveled his head to gape at Heero, but one look at his friend's determined expression made him gather his wits and understand his intent. Immediately he began to summon up as much of his power as his pale experience could grasp so that by the time Heero lifted him over the fence he was exerting his will on the deluge, slowing it down but not quite able to hold it back yet.
Heero's mind raced all the while, checking through the powers of every student he could think of. No...no...no...oh, God, this is no good! What could possibly be of any use... Duh, DUO! He whirled, ready to levitate back over the fence, but was two steps too slow -- Duo had climbed over the fence, along with several other students. Heero didn't wait for words, only grabbing Duo's right arm and yanking his glove off, then placed his hand on Wufei's neck -- the closest exposed skin. Instantly the aqua-shield Wufei had been creating doubled in strength, pushing the water back into the dam -- even retrieving some of what had already shed into the street.
All three boys were relieved, yet the problem still remained of sealing up the hole. They couldn't keep this up forever. Heero looked around again, completely at a loss. The Beast had ambled over to assess their progress, his blue eyes narrowed behind black-rimmed glasses. His frown deepened by every passing second. Rocks rumbled again. For the moment the best he could manage to utter was, "Oh my stars and garters..."

Quatre was among those who had backed away into the street at the second surge of water. Fortunately there was next to no traffic at that time of the day. He watched everything numbly, trying to not sway on his feet. That feeling was back again, buzzing inside him and making him feel ill. It seemed to be coming frm further across the street...He walked toward the soccor field. As soon as he stepped onto the grass, the buzzing feeling doubled, making it tear through him painfully. He clutched at his stomach, wishing it would go away. His gaze was abruptly drawn to his left, the spark from earlier striking him again. One moment he was immobilized by pain, the next venturing one step then another, moving toward -- something. He felt somewhat mechanical but didn't question his actions.
There was some angry shouting coming from near one of the white-netted goals. He found himself heading straight toward it. A group of students was there, arranged in a ring around two people; one who seemed much too big to be a fifteen-year-old boy, and the other hidden from view by the former's newfound bulk. Quatre could hear their contention, however. As he neared he saw that the boy's jeans, gray teeshirt, and sandy hair gave evidence of being roughed up.
"You did that, didn't you?!"
"Let me go!!" screeched a girl's voice.
"No way! How could you do that?!"
"Leave me alone!!"
Quatre increased his pace, afraid the girl would be hurt -- it didn't matter what she had done. He made his way around the circle until he could see both contestants. He was shocked to recognize the red-head from earlier, her jeans and green windbraker streaked with mud. The boy was holding her by her wrists, keeping her off the ground by several inches so she would have a decreased chance of fighting back.
Only partially having say over his motor control, Quatre shouldered his way through the circle and approached the two. The girl was struggling and yelling incoherently but the towering boy spared a moment to cast a questioning glance at Quatre. With his body acting on automatic all the blond could say was, "Hold her still for a minute longer." Then his hands reached up and placed themselves on either side of her head. His eyes closed, and then...
Catherine had followed him out of curiosity and she bore witness along with twelve other students as the fierce girl went suddenly calm, and, after a few moment's swaying, as Quatre collapsed to the ground, no longer breathing.

Like Heero, the Beast was running through a list of superpowers he wished were at his disposal. Would that Bobby were only here, he bemoaned to himself. A sheet of ice might take care of this long enough to find a permanent patch-up. He commended Wufei and Duo for their bravery, but they were still new, after all, and wouldn't be able to hold up to a challenge of this calibre for much longer. He only hoped that even the current strain wouldn't leave them too damaged. Both boys exhibited visual signs of strain, Duo with his jaw clenched as he held onto Wufei for dear life, and Wufei looking pale, his arms trembling a bit.
Absorbed in his fretting, he didn't notice the person who came up behind him until a finger tapped sharply on his shoulder. He whirled and met the green-eyed gaze of a girl in a brown tank top and short denim shorts, her skin lightly tanned. Her brown hair was done in two pigtails, with what looked like taupe beads encircling numberous strands. "Need some help?"
He raised both bushy eyebrows. She was most definitely not one of the students. "Assistance would be most appreciated, if you could be kind enough to explain how."
She grinned. "Just wait." She stepped up beside Wufei, waving her hands much the same way he did when calling up power. She closed her eyes, scowling in concentration. The ground grumbled again, but this time it seemed to sound almost harmonious...and everyone could easily imagine rocks being content to slide back into their original positions.
Everything was nearly as it was by the time Wufei's knees threatened to buckle. Heero saw him sway and caught his sleeve in time; he was careful to avoid his skin as he amended his hold, not willing to find out if Duo's power could go through two people at once. The braided boy seemed only slightly more steady. Heero would have sent him to aid their newfound benefactor but realized she was only able to help because someone was holding back the water. At this point, Duo might have been the only reason Wufei's power still functioned. At last the final pane of stone coated the hole and instantly the looming perception of danger vanished.
The stranger flopped to the ground, sighing loudly, "Whew!" She wiped her brow then grinned up at Beast. "How was that?"
"Admirable." He leapt over to catch Wufei as the aquatic boy finally lost his strength. "I would like to have a talk with you once I deal with..."
She nodded, abruptly sober. Heero gave back Duo's glove; the braided mutant snapped it on just before having to grab Heero's shoulder to keep himself standing upright. Heero lent him the support without complaint since his healing powers could do little for taxed strength. Duo found himself having an inexorable craving for another soda.
Worse off, Wufei slumped down in the Beast's hold, moaning feebly. He seemed to be having some trouble breathing. Doctor instincts kicking in, McCoy tested the boy's pulse at his throat. He noticed something that had him taken aback. "My stars and garters!" he exclaimed for the second time that day, much more shocked than the first occasion which had called for such an outcry.
Before he could react further, a frantic shrieking of his nickname jerked his attention to the side. Catherine was sprinting toward him, out-and-out terror on her face. "He's not moving! N-Not breathing!!"
"Who, child?" Beast was tempted to calm her but his own heart had leapt into his throat. Would that we had more chaperones! The few older students who had come were down in the plaza rounding up the rest of the students and bringing the bus up.
"Q-Quatre!" She grabbed his hand, blind to Wufei's predicament.
Xavier's recovering ward? O Fate, thou art cruel. He briefly checked Wufei again, relieved to see that he seemed to be doing a little better. He called Heero over and relinquished support of the aquatic boy to him. "See if you can help him." He then nodded to Catherine and rocketed ahead of her as the bouncing-Beast mode kicked in. He reached the group of nervous students in record time. To one side stood a boy who was taller than him, holding a limp red-haired girl by her shoulders -- she was unconscious, too, but at least she was breathing. Quatre was lying on his back a meter away, arms at his sides and an overwhelming stillness about him. Beast checked his pulse and heartbeat anyway, yielding exactly what Catherine had tried to say. No response.
"How long has he been like this?"
"About five minutes," the tall boy said shakily.
Beast paled beneath his fur. He had limited resources at the moment, his gut clenching as he wondered if this situation was desperate enough to send the young Winner to the nearby hospital. And yet...there was something odd about this... "What happened right before this?"
"This girl was fighting me, and he came over all calm and told me to hold her still, then he touched her head and they both went out." The boy shook his captive. "She wrecked the aerators."
Beast's eyebrows shot up. Two new mutants in one day? Lady Luck has an odd sense of humor, and I wish she had chosen someone other than the beneficent Beast to use it on. He then considered Quatre. Although, if this luck holds out, I shall owe her a great favor. "All right, my adventurers of mishaps, swiftly get ye onto the bus. We shall be breaking the sound barrier on the way back to the Institute." He carefully scooped up Quatre then nodded to the tall boy who lingered behind. "Yes, bring her. I have a theory, and she is our key."
On the way across the field he collected the rest of the students. Duo had managed to get Catherine calmed down, and Wufei was able to walk on his own. Before departing, Beast turned to the rock-manipulating girl who had quietly followed them. "Miss, I'm afraid I have to burden you with remaining here in case anything further occurs with that most beleagered edifice. I trust you can handle it, however."
"No probs. I'm a native here, don't worry. Terri Wilson, by the way." She smiled.
"Miss Wilson, I am in your debt. If you could wait just another moment..." Beast tended to settling his comatose charge on the bus, then returned with a slip of paper with a phone number on it. "Let no one see this. When you call, say that Henry McCoy recommended you." He smiled then hauled himself up into the driver's seat, closing the door. Terri stepped back as the bus took off down the dam's road, making record time out to Route 22 and breaking the speed limit of several states. Lady Luck continued to hold up her end of the bargain, saving them from stoplights and tickets.

He saw eyes that were red, true to their irises. There was much confusion and apprehension surrounding him, but none of it was his. He felt perfectly comfortable in this state. Her name was lost in the chaos, but something else rose up to identify her. Rage.
And then she knew he was there.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!
I can't.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN? YOU FREAK!!
He would have winced had it been a physical possibility. Well, I won't leave until you calm down, and I can't leave until my own body is close enough to touch.
A sobbing sound came from a distant patch of swirls. WHAT The fuck do you mean? Why is this happening?
Ah, at least he seemed to be succeeding in calming her down. He exerted his transferred will more strongly. You're a mutant. So am I. It only just came back to me today. In a way, I owe you my thanks.
She was still sobbing, obtaining no comfort from his words. Get out...Get out...
Promise me you won't panic when you wake up again. There are kind people who will help you learn to control your power.
I don't WANT CONTROL!! The sobbing stopped abruptly and a burst of force sent the theoretical substance of Quatre Winner's conscience sprawling across the plane of the red-head's mind.
Undaunted, he gathered himself back together and drifted toward where her main thought bank was hiding. You don't have to fear me. I couldn't hurt you if I wanted to.
YOU ARE HURTING ME!! GET OUT!!
That's the limit of my power, so you're only letting your fear rule your reason.
You could be lying!
I wouldn't. I want to help you.
Silence. He drifted closer.
Fuck OFF!!
Another force wave hit him. He retreated for the moment, sighing. This just might take up the entire length of time it took to return to the school. He only hoped that Beast would know to get both the girl and his in-stasis body to the medical room ASAP. He wasn't sure if his telepathy still worked, but certainly not from someone else's body...unless another telepath like the Professor tried to contact him...
What's your name? Mine is Quatre.
Meow. Go away.
I came from overseas to attend a school where there are many kids like us. I made some new friends. I'm sure you could make some, too. Everyone is really nice there.
This is too fucking weird. She groaned.
Just talk to me. I want to make sure you're okay.
Just shut up, will you?!
Would that help you calm down?
No. Let me kill you THEN I'LL CALM DOWN!!
Another blast of force came his way. This time he figured out how to dodge it. To himself, he wondered if she was insane, and his efforts were useless to begin with. But even as he considered the option, he felt that it was wrong. She was perfectly sane. She was merely scared.
Won't you at least give it a chance?
Won't you take no for an answer?
No, I won't, Rage. I can't hurt you but I can be stubborn. I have time, and I don't want to give up on you.
He was answered by a volley of force blasts. Now he had no trouble imagining how she had punched a hole in the base of the aerators...

Professor Xavier had abandoned his interrogation of Dorothy the minute Beast had contacted him about prepping the medical room for a delicate situation. With Dorothy's mind carefully tranquilized he could do so without worry. Now he and the Beast silently observed the minute changes occurring in the new girl's brainwaves. Quatre's body lay on the bed next to hers, without any monitoring equipment. Xavier had agreed with Henry's theory that the boy's body would be fine so long as his consciousness was still active. So far, it seemed like Mr. Winner was handling things well. Xavier dared not try to contact him for fear of muddling the situation further.
One of the monitors suddenly spiked. Beast leapt to his feet while Xavier prepared to enter the girl's mind. Before either could react, she sat up, a serene look in her eyes. She glanced to the other bed, nodded as if in satisfaction, then stood and moved to it, holding out one hand. She briefly touched Quatre's forehead then stepped back. Almost immediately her eyes hardened. She looked about ready to cry out then stopped, sitting down hard on her bed.
Quatre sat up, blinking thoughtfully several times then murmuring, "Works better inside."
The two X-men recovered from their initial shock. Xavier was relieved and Beast chuckled. Not only had the boy finally recovered from Dorothy's attack but his powers had advanced while lying dormant and had grown to their full capability.

Back to the Uncanny G-boys

(c) 2001 - 2004 Autumn Loweck. This work may not be copied, distributed, or reprinted without the author's permission. The flame-haired girl (Rage) and the resizing dude belong to Shiri (aka Autumn L.). Terri Wilson belongs to Kar'ell. Characters of Dorothy, Duo, Heero, Wufei, Quatre, and Catherine belong to the creators of the GundamWing series, Sotsu Agency, Sunrise, Bandai, and whoever else in Japan involved in this most cool anime. Professor Xavier, Beast, and Nightcrawler belong to Marvel Comics, FOX/WB, and all those other cool people who created the X-Men.