Templar #2

Written by JFive 
Edited by Kingbob 

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Breaking the Mold, The Conclusion
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The docks of Paris.

	Gideon and Candra, partners in both life and crime, moved as
stealthly as possible.  They were searching for a young woman named Blaze,
 who had reportably been operating in the area near the docks less than a
week ago.  So far, they have been unable to find her.

	Gideon swore for the umpteenth time.  "She can't have just
disappeared.  Scan the surrounding area, Love.  See if you can find
anything."  He looked towards the dark ocean, {She's got to be out there
somewhere, he thought.  When Candra shook her head, he sighed in
frustration.

	"Fine, have it your way.  Call them out."  With these words,
Candra felt an immense amount of pleasure.  This was what she loved the
most about her job.  The satisfaction of the hunt.  Then, the kill.  *Go!*
 With that one word, she released a terror upon Paris.  Blowout, Mindwipe,
and Upgrade.  Three of the deadliest mutants in the world, gathered
together for one purpose:  Stopping the advancement of Human/Mutant
Relations.

	Upgrade, a tall man with flowing red hair, stared around the
docks. "Do you know what she looks like?"  Candra gave him a photograph,
taken when Blaze was 18 years old.  "She's a bloody child."  He smiled a
toothy grin. "Just the way I like 'em."  Blowout looked slightly disgusted
at her teammate's comment.

	Mindwipe motioned the others to be quiet.  "There's something
moving away from us towards the northeast of the large dock."  He
whispered. Candra took a moment to scan the individual, then nodded.  They
had found their prey.  Gideon motioned for Blowout to take the lead, she
slowly crept toward the person.

	A dart flew out of the darkness, narrowly missing Gideon's throat.
They stopped when a young woman with silver hair stepped out into the
open. Candra began to give the others mental commands.  As they began to
move apart, the woman pulled three more darts out.

	"Why have you been looking for me?  Don't lie either, because I've
got friends that have told me that you've been asking about me."  She
seemed to relax, but when Upgrade moved, she threw one of the darts at
him.  Seeing him jump back, she said, "I've either got terrible aim or
great aim.  Do you want to find out which one?  Now tell me why you've
been harrassing me for the past week."

	Candra looked at Gideon, the ball was clearly in his court on this
one.  She wanted nothing to do with it.  Gideon took a moment to phrase
his answer.  "All right, Blaze.  We are all members of an elite strike
force, self-funded, with one goal in mind.  We want to breakdown the
developing peace between humans/mutants.  That is why we've followed you.
 We would like to offer you a position on the team."

	Blaze stood silently for a moment, then she nodded.  "Ok, I'm in.
Now, what about the health benefits?"  She asked with a grin.
=============================

The Orphanage of St. Bernard.

	Nathan groaned as he rolled over.  I shouldn't have stayed out so
late last night, but I was having too much fun to go home, he thought.
The previous night there had been a banquet in honor of Ororo Munroe's
return from the United States.  Nathan had accompanied Crystal Amand, a
girl that he had just met that very day.  What time is it?, he wondered.

	Rolling over, he looked at the clock.  "Damn!  I'm gonna be late"
 He was supposed to attend an early morning workout session with Thomas
Moore.  Nathan fell out of the bed, then went to take a shower.  On his
way to the showers, he encountered Crystal.

	"Good morning, Nathan!"  She said.  "How did you sleep last night?
 I slept like the dead, and I can't wait until our workout.  By the way,
why aren't you ready yet?"

	She looks good, he couldn't even tell that they didn't leave the
party until after two. "I just woke up."  He mumbled, hoping that she
wouldn't hear him.

	"You just woke up?  I've been up for an hour and a half."  She
said with gusto.  "I don't see how you can sleep on such a lovely day.
The birds, the bees, the flowers, they all make like so beautiful.  I
don't see how anyone would want to waste it sleeping."

	Nathan ignored the last part of her speech and continued towards
the showers.  Once the hot water hit his aching body, he began to feel
better.  That feels good, he mused.  Might as well get out and go see
Moore.  After toweling off, Nathan left and went towards the Orphanage's
courtyard.

	When he arrived, he saw that most of the people were there and had
already begun their exercises.  He swore silently when he saw Thomas
making his way towards him.

	"Nathan."  Thomas said with just a hint of impatience.  "So nice
of you to gift us with your presence.  I'll assume that you intend to stay
after everyone else leaves and work on your lunges.  Am I correct?"
Lunges were considered a form of punishment by most of the students that
Moore trained.

	"Yes, sir."  Nathan answered without a pause.  To pause might add
another days worth of lunges to those that he already had to do.

	"Very good, now go join in with the others."

	Nathan went to were the other students were finishing up there
warmups.  He was greeted by his friend, Kevin.  "Hey, Nathan.  Have you
seen that new girl that everyone's been talking about?"

	Nathan stopped.  A new girl?  He couldn't think of anybody.  He
shook his head.

	Kevin barely paused long enough for Nathan to shake his head.
"Her name is Chris or Crystal something.  I just wondered if you had seen
her.  How did your mom like the U.S.A.?  I've heard that it's a huge
place."  If there was anything that Nathan disliked about his friend, it
was Kevin's inability to shut up.

	"Mom had fun..."  Nathan stopped short when he thought about what
Kevin had said.  'Her name is Chris or Crystal'?  Crystal!  "Yeah, I have
seen the new girl, it just took me a minute to remember her."  Nathan
looked up to see Thomas Moore walking toward them.  "We better go get in
line, it looks like Moore is ready to start."

	Thomas was dressed in a flowing robe that allowed him the
flexibility that he needed to teach the course.  After leading the
students through a few warmups, he stopped and introduced Crystal.
"Students, this is Crystal Amand.  I expect each of you to do your best to
make her feel at home."

	In the countryside, Ororo Munroe was working with her mutant
powers. That should be enough, she thought as she stopped the rain.  This
done, she decided to attempt to fly.  She had been trying to master her
control over the wind enough that she could 'ride' on it.

	Well, not today.  She would just have to try harder tomorrow.  She
had only been able to float for about two seconds before she settled back
to the ground.  She turned when she heard a footstep.  "Who's there?"

	"Hello 'Ro."

	"DAVID?  I thought you were dead!  Where have you been all of
these years."  She practically screamed at him.  She hadn't seen him
since...  She broke off, unable to even think about that night.

	"I thought I was dead too.  I should have been."  David stopped
for a second and stared into Ororo's eyes.  "I've missed ya 'Ro."

	"And I have missed you my friend.  Now tell me what happened, how
you survived."

	"I truly don't know.  I remember planning the mission with
Marshall, and then I remember the assault beginning on Essex's lab."
David stopped here, and Ororo saw a look of pain in his eyes.  "I'm sorry
'Ro.  Sorry that we failed that day."

	"I have something to show you, David.  If you'll follow me back to
the Orphanage, I've got a surprise."  Without waiting for him to answer,
Ororo turned and headed back to the Orphanage.  There was something else
that he wasn't telling her, but she couldn't think what it might be.
=============================

San Francisco Airport.

	Beatrice walked up to the ticket gate and waited for the
ticketmaster to return.  She was  getting sick and fucking tired of Essex
sending her off on all those damn wildgoose chases.  If this one didn't
net results, she might just quit.

	After turning on the computer, the man spoke.  "How may I help
you?"

	"I need a one-way ticket to Tallahassee, Florida.  Preferably
non-stop if possible."  Beatrice said.  She doubted getting it, but what
does it hurt asking.  Besides, it's Essex's money anway.

	"I'm sorry, we don't have a non-stop to Tallahassee.  I can get
you on a plane that has brief layovers in Dallas and Montgomery."

	"That will be fine."  After she gave him the money for the ticket,
she went back to the lounge.  Good, only an hour until the flight leaves.
 Then she could get out there, find whatever it was that Essex's wants on
these Askani', and then she could head home.  Or on second thought, she
could use a tan.

	Two hours later, she was aboard a plane heading towards Miami and
hopefully links to the elusive Askani' that Essex wanted her to find.  A
group that might or might not exist.  That's fucking unbelievable.  Essex
had better be compensating her for this wild goose chase.

	She arrived in Miami with what felt like a killer hangover.
Beatrice got into the first taxi that she managed to flag down, then she
directed him to take her to the most expensive hotel in Miami.  Gotta make
good use of Essex's money, she thought with a smile.
=============================

The Orphanage of St. Bernard

	Crystal couldn't believe what she had just seen.  He's good.  Very
good.  Nathan had just defeated four other students on his own, older
students at that.  She saw Thomas Moore nod his approval.

	"That's it for today.  Everyone is dismissed."  All of the
students began to leave the courtyard.  "Except Nathan."  Nathan stopped
and returned to where Moore stood in the center of the yard.  After the
others had left, Thomas led Nathan into one of the far corners.

	"You understand that you should be punished for being late to
class?"  More a statement than a question, Nathan thought.  Moore
continued speaking.  "But because of the display that you put on at the
end of class, I'm only going to make you do 3/4 of the normal amount."
Whoppie, 75 instead of 100, he thought with disgust.

	"Begin."  Thomas said.  Nathan started doing lunges and missed the
entrance of Ororo and David.  They stood at the side, watching Nathan as
he went through the exercise.

	"That is my son."  Ororo said.  David showed a look of disbelief.
 Ororo laughed, then added, "Not my true son, but my foster son."  David
looked at Ororo for a second.

	At this point, Nathan came up, finished with his 'exercises.'
"What time are we supposed to meet with you, Mother?"  He asked, staring
at the man.

	"Change of plans.  Why don't you, Kevin, and some of the others go
into Kingstown for the afternoon.  I have some business that came up.  Oh,
I'm sorry.  David, this is my son, Nathan.  Nathan, this is my friend,
David."  After they exchanged pleasantries, Nathan left, intent on finding
Kevin and giving him the good news.  "Now, David, where have you been for
the last thirteen years?"

	David took a second to compose his thoughts, then he began.  "I
guess it would be better to tell this story somewhere we won't be
interrupted.  Is that ok?"  She nodded, and told him to follow her.
=============================

	It took Nathan no time at all to find everyone, and tell them what
Ororo said.  It had been a while since the last time that they had been to
Kingston.  In a little over thirty minutes, they were ready to go.

	After they left, they decided to split up into groups of two or
more. Nathand and Kevin elected to go off by themselves.  They went to the
shopping center because they wanted to pick up a gift for the sisters of
the Orphanage.

	"What do you think, Nathan?  Do you think that Sister Bernadice
will like it?"  Kevin held up the newest cd by the Foo Fighters.
Laughing, Nathan said that he thought she would.  When they left the music
shop, Kevin was carrying an armful already.

	"If you keep buying stuff like that, you will break Corina's
record for the most money spent in a day."  Nathan said with a grin.

	"Yeah, well at least I've bought something.  You will just walk
around all day saying, 'I ought to buy...'.  And you won't buy a damn
thing." Kevin replied.  A little later, Nathan did buy something...A plant
that he knew his mother would like.

	It wasn't long before their stomaches began to take control of
their actions.  Kevin looked at Nathan.  "Are you hungry?"  When Nathan
nodded, he said, "Let's go get something to eat, then."

	When they got to the restaurant, they had to wait a moment to be
seated.  While they were waiting they were joined by Crystal and another
girl, Anne.  Since it was just the four of them, they decided to eat
together.

	They sat at a booth for four, with Nathan and Crystal on one side,
Kevin and Anne on the other side.  When the waiter came to ask them what
they would like to order, they all ordered burgers, fries, and a pop.
While they waited, Crystal began to tell them about herself.

	"My parents died about two years ago and since then, I've been
bouncing from foster homes like a basketball.  It was about two months ago
that my mutation began to become evident.  The first time that I used it
was when I stopped my foster dad from hitting me.  When he was finally
able to move, he never tried to hit me again.  I left there about a week
later though.  Then I came here."  She smiled at the other three.  "Well,
what about yourselves?"

	Kevin volunteered to go first.  "I came here about six years ago
after living in Miami for a few months.  Since I came here, I can't think
of one time that I've ever gone to bed hungry, like I did on the streets
of Miami."  Anne didn't have anything to say because she was the daughter
of one of workers and had grown up at the Orphanage.

	Nathan began after Anne finished.  "Almost as far back as I can
remember, I've lived at the Orphanage.  Recently, I've had a very shocking
change occur.  I've discovered that I'm a mutant."  This last bit shocked
Kevin and Anne because it was the first that either of them had heard
about Nathan's power.

	"What can you do with your power, Nathan?"  Kevin whispered in a
conspirital tone.  His eyes became very big as he watched the glass in
front of him began to levitate off of the table.  "That's cool."  He said
once the glass settled back in its place.  Further conversation was
interrupted by the arrival of their meals.
=============================

	Ororo sat down at the table in her room and motioned for David to
do the same.  After he was seated, she began speaking.  "First let me be
honest with you David.  Our mission all those years ago wasn't a failure.
 You met the goal when you met my son.  Now tell me what happened to you."

	David waited a moment before he began.  "That tall young man was
the mission objective?"  He said with a tinge of amazement.  "Anyway, you
answer your question, let me begin at the beginning."  Ororo nodded.  "We
planning the assault upon Essex's base..."
============================

Flashback.
David's POV.
1985.

	I look at the team that had beem assembled for the mission.
Myself, capable of absorbing kinetic energy and turning it into a weapon;
Marshall, a lone mercenary shapeshifter, who could morph his arms into
weapons; and Ororo, master of the weather.  We're a sorry looking bunch, I
think.

	Ororo points at the holographic map that Forge Blackwing had
designed specifically for this mission.  "You two will provide cover while
I attempt to slip into the lab.  Once I'm inside, give it everything you
have for ten minutes.  If I'm not out after that time is up, leave.
Understood?"  We both nod.  Neither of us will willingly leave her there,
I think, knowing that Marshall feels the same way.

	I grab my blaster rifle and climb into the rocks to get into
position.  Once there, I give her a thumbs up sign, then I watch as
Marshall moves into position.  Once he is ready, he signals for her to go.
 I watch as Ororo moves towards the lab.  Then all hell breaks out.
=============================

Flashback.
Two years ago.

	He has been a prisoner for more years than he cares to recall.  He
has seen others come and go, but he survived against all odds.  Now he
knows that something is wrong in the place, he has no other name for it,
just that.  It has been too long since he has eaten, something has to be
wrong.

	He hears running in the hallway.  Suddenly the door explodes,
showering him with spinters.  In the doorway stands a tall man in a
uniform with a M.U. on his breast.  The man stares at him for a second,
then recognition hits.  "Oh god!  David?!?  We thought you were dead!
Come on, let's get out of this place."  'David' makes no move to leave.

	"Don't you recognize me?  It's Forge!"  Still no words escape
'David's' lips.  "I don't have time for this.  Forgive me, David."  Forge
aims his rifle at 'David' and pulls the trigger.  A dart leaps from the
underside of the gun, and knocks 'David' out.  "I am sorry, friend."
=============================

The Orphanage.
Present day.

	"...after Forge rescued me, he took me to the Mutant Underground
base.  I've spent the last two years being deprogrammed."  David
concluded.

	Ororo sat slack-jawed.  "I'm so sorry.  Marshall told me that he
saw you killed, that's why I assumed that you did die."  She stood and
embraced her friend.  "I'm so sorry."
=============================

Kingstown.

	Finishing up, they prepared to leave the restaurant.  Nathan
glanced at his watch.  "The others have already left, we're going to have
to hurry if we want to be on time."  The other three agreed, and they all
left.

	On their way back to the Orphanage, they see an elderly woman
being accosted.  "Please, someone stop him.  He stole my purse!"  She
yelled.  Nathan and Kevin took off after the thief, while Crystal and Anne
tried to calm down the woman.

	Nathan saw the man duck back into an alley.  "Stop Kevin, there
might be more of them back there.  Let's do this carefully."  After
listening to Nathan's plan, Kevin agreed to stay behind and watch for any
that came out.  The reason that Nathan wanted him to do that was because
he still didn't feel comfortable using his powers around other people.

	After leaving Kevin, Nathan continued down the alley.  Don't see
anybody, hope he didn't get away!  Nathan whirled around when he heard the
voice speak.  "What have we hear?"

	He stared into the deepest eyes that he had ever seen.  She was
even more beautiful than Crystal.  "Uhm...did you see a man run into this
alley?  He was carrying a lady's purse."  Nathan stuttered, unable to form
most of the words.

	"I might have...What would you be willing to trade?  Perhaps a
little information for a little information?"  She asked.

	"I-I'll try to answer your question."  He said.  Then he thought
about the others, waiting with the lady.  "I need to find him quick though
because I have to get back to my friends."

	"Ok, the man is hiding out in a dumpster just around the corner.
Now for my question.  What is your name?  And why are you out here?"  She
asked him.

	"My name is Nathan, and I'm out here because we came to Kingstown
from the Orphanage."  Having grown up at the Orphanage, he didn't have
enough experience with people to know to not give out information like
that to strangers.

	Beatrice couldn't believe her luck.  Here less than two hours and
she had already found someone from the Orphanage.  She'd question him here
and then ship him back to Essex.  "I'm almost sorry that you said that."
She said regretfully.  "But I've gotta make a livin'."

	Nathan saw her raise a stun-gun and point it at him.  He had just
enough time to send a telepathic cry for help before he passed out.  His
last thought was that of all the times for his powers to short out, why
did it have to be now.
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Next Month,
Templar #3:
Things go from bad to worse.
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