Mutants

Chapter 13

  CHAPTER 13

  Mark

  Jack was trying to increase the strength of our bonds by releasing our pasts to each other. However, we ended up forcing his brain to attempt to comprehend his true, super-Mutant strength that none of us talk about. I'd say that didn't end well.

   You see, our minds--even our superhuman Mutant ones--have limits, and if that limit is exceeded, the brain either terminates the thought process or faints, or sometimes even dies, to protect you. Let's hope it's not the latter.

    A wispy, beautifully glowing light of a bluish-white color comes into view near us. I didn't do that. Whatever it is, I guess it must have preserved this bubble of air after Jack fainted. A tear runs down my cheek, and I hear Kate boiling the tears off her cheeks. She's actually quite skilled with her powers, and although that sounds cool, it means she's had to use them a lot.

    Now Lythus freezes his tears, which promptly peel from his face, forming icy streamers in the darkness. Showing off. He feels he has to prove himself, because he has always felt inadequate. With parents like his, it's understandable. I just create an illusion to hide mine.

    It's so unfair. For whatever reason, girls get so much freedom of character, but guys get weird looks when they acknowledge their own emotions. Whatever. If they see me as a tough, dependable guy, I'm fine with that. I know I'm not as strong as any of them anyways. But I know, and I'm afraid of, what's coming. Scaring me isn't easy.

Lythus

   So he fainted. I remember that day, although not the way he does.

      I had knocked him out of the sky. He had a confused look on his face, because I revealed a little taste of the extent of my powers. The last thought top escape his mind was "Why?" before he began to glow.

    I felt my body halt in midair, as well as his, and his eye was right in front of mine. I felt my left wing twisting, backwards, but not breaking. A strange feeling of warmth that I didn't know existed passed through me, and then he began to fall. I caught him, left him near a ghost town, burned a message in the grass, and left. I knew there was someone else out there who could help him.

     The next thing I did was begin plotting the flying city's fate. Something changed in me that day, though.

      For the first time, I had felt love.

     And now, I hope to return the favor.

The wisp is moving closer to Jack, and I shoot off a crackle of electricity as a warning. The wisp flashes yellow, then becomes pink, and I somehow know it'll be fine.

    Kate

    Jack... they're taking him. I know he may not recover without what appears to be divine intervention, but I still have a hard time trusting them with Jack. He's been my friend since that day, when I gave him a meal and a bed. We spent those years together, alone. And then, somehow, he repaired the burn on my hand. I want to keep the burn on my face, but it's still cool to have two soft hands instead of one being ugly and leathery.

     I guess I'll admit that I like him a bit. That much should be apparent by now, unless he's oblivious. Although, assumptions of that nature are a bit dangerous to act on, so I don't blame him for not saying either way.

     The area around me flashes, and now it looks like a hospital room. We've been moved. However, some of the posters are missing random letters, the number on the door is only a few scribbles, and the drawer is two different colors. This room was created from imagination.

      That wisp must have had power, then. This is a place for healing and recovery, and so it took memories of what we connected that with. Somewhat simple. However, that would mean the wisp is a sentient being. This situation is way too complicated. I look at Jack. As soon as I think about it, vital signs and other measurements are displayed above his head.

    Some of the measurements are unnecessary at the moment, and some make it clear that the wisp has a sense of humor. I think only I can see them, which would mean that the wisp made it possible for us to turn that feature on or off. Helpful if I begin to break down, I guess.

   I know Jack isn't entirely gone, I can feel the machine-like subconscious mind working through our permanent connection. I have a favor to ask of it.

    YES?

    I want you to let him know I love him.

   ...WILL DO LATER. TASK ADDED TO WAKING PROCESS. AND YOUR QUESTION?

    What are the damages?

    ...

    SENSORY FILTERING IS TEMPORARILY SLOWER, MORE CAUSE FOR PRIORITIZING. COGNITIVE ABILITIES ALSO TEMPORARILY SLOWED  BY APPROXIMATELY 1 IQ POINT. COGNITIVE STORAGE CAPACITY TEMPORARILY LOWERED FROM 18 ITEMS TO 17 ITEMS.

CONSCIOUS COGNITIVE FUNCTION IS TEMPORARILY UNUSABLE, CLEANUP IN PROCESS. IN ALL, REPAIRS SHALL TAKE 30 MINUTES. END.

   Absolutely mechanical. At least his safety is confirmed. The room smells and feels so much like a hospital that it's easy to get worked up over his unconsciousness. Waiting is always so boring.