Need A New Plan...

[Oracle]

Christina: It was that training session I told you about earlier. It was to test to see how my premontions work as well as teach teamwork. I was to lead Kitty through the Danger Room, they called it, by seeing what was coming ahead and trying to avoid them. Chris, Liz, and the others were watching so after we succeeded in the session, Chris gave me the chance to join the team.

[Radar]

Matthews: And you've been with them ever since huh?

(Matthews envied her. She has a family, a team. He only had a mission. Soon, enough things would be over. She'd be dead, or they'd all be dead, but things would come to an end. He hoped everything turned out for the best, especially for her.)

[Oracle]

Christina: Yeah, until I ran away again... Smart move that was.

(Christina looked at Matthews. He seemed really interested in what Christina was telling him. No one ever really paid her this much attention before; no one seemed to ask her about herself. She felt a little arkward getting all the attention.)

Christina: Okay, I feel a little weird just talking about myself. So it's your turn now. Tell me about you.

[Radar]

(Matthews smiled. A genuine smile, not one of contempt, or just one to shut people up. A smile that actually held joy behind it. Matthews shook his head.)

Matthews: No, I don't think so. You're not the one with the obsessive mind. Besides, you've still yet to tell me what I really need to know. So come on, keep talking.

[Oracle]

(Christina rolls her eyes and sighs.)

Christina: Then why not make it easier and just ask what you want to know?"

[Radar]

(Matthews frowns and pushes the pleasantries from his mind. He leans forward and looks ahead at nothing.)

Matthews: Why did you take the cure Christina? Was it the nightmares, or the powers, or trying to save your friends? What was it really?

[Oracle]

(Christina slightly lowers her head, as though in shame for what she had done.)

Christina: The first time, it was because I truly hated my powers. The nightmares would keep me awake at night, and I saw no good in having them if everyone would hate me for them. And then this second time... I guess it was all of the above. I hated my powers just as much, nightmares are still a pain in the @$$, and without my powers I thought I wouldn't attract any trouble towards the others. But I guess that didn't seem to help much. Maybe it's not just my powers... Maybe I attract trouble where ever I go.

[Radar]

(Matthews shook his head.)

Matthews: No, I don't believe that. I think you're given only so many chances in this life to do the right thing, and so far, you've done your best. I think before all of this is over, you'll find what you're looking for. You'll find out that you're not the problem. The world is the problem. And it's because of good people like you and your X-Men, that it hasn't fallen apart yet.

[Oracle]

(Christina looks up at Matthews and smiles. She didn't expect him to cheer her up.)

Christina: But where does that leave you in the world?

[Radar]

(Matthews looked over at Christina and smiled briefly. He was fast, faster than he had even expected. He was whispering in her ear in a second.)

Matthews: Does it really matter where I am, when the world has you?

(Matthews took her face in his hands and kissed her lips. For being in a detention cell, she smelled oddly nice. He pulled away slowly.)

Matthews: I think I'm falling in love with you Christina, and I can't let that happen. Please don't let me.

(Matthews stood up and was out of the room before she could reply. He leaned against the door and let his head drop.)

[Oracle]

(After Matthews left the room, Christina's eyes were still wide in shock about what just happened. Did Matthews really do what he did just now? Christina was even more confused than she was in the first place. Normally when guys tried to kiss her or even flirt with her, she would just tell them off or in some cases beat the crap out of them. But just now, she let Matthews kiss her. Matthews also said that he thought he was falling in love with her. Was it possible that she was doing the same with him? Is that why she let him kiss her? But it was the other thing that Matthews said that confused her even more. He might be falling in love with her, but he couldn't let it happen. This only thing that puzzled Christina was...)

Christina: *whispered to herself* Why not?

[Radar]

(It was just then as Matthews was thinking about the consequences of what he just did (and not regretting it one bit), that Thomas Kutal sauntered up.)

Kutal: Hey battle soldier, get the artifact yet?

(Matthews' good mood instantly dissapated as he looked up at the smiling Captain.)

Matthews: What do you want Kutal?

Kutal: I want us to be sucessful that's all. So did you retrieve the dagger?

Matthews: Yes, I did. Now, leave me alone, I need to think.

(Matthews started away, but Kutal gripped his wrist and spun him around. Kutal looked hard into Matthews pale blue eyes and spoke harshly.)

Kutal: I know you've been playing around with that Collins girl. But that's coming to a close right now. I'm making sure of it.

Matthews: Have you gone insane? Get your damn hands off of me right now!

Kutal: No, I think I won't. I found this in her possession.

(Kutal pulled Radar's rubix cube out of his pocket and placed it in Matthews' hand. Matthews instantly recognized its weight and felt its ridges.)

Matthews: She must have picked it up when I was about to die.

Kutal: Don't make up lies Johnson, you gave it to her.

Matthews: I don't have to vindicate myself to anyone. Least of all you.

(Matthews yanked his wrist from Kutal's grip and turned to go. Just then, Thomas slid in front of him, swung back, and punched Matthews square in the face. Matthews fell back, surprised and alarmed. He fell on his butt and hurridly put on his shades. He saw Kutal smiling before him.)

Matthews: The hell you did...

(Matthews scrambled to his feet and dodged another blow. Radar swept under the blow, picked up Kutal, and slammed him into the floor. Several soldiers nearby came to see what the commotion was all about and instantly formed a circle around the two.)

Crowd: Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!

(Matthews stood up and nodded to Kutal. Thomas raised himself up and snarled at Radar.)

Kutal: I'm going to f&*% you up man!

Matthews: Yeah, go for it.

[Mindcontrol]

(Mindcontrol still siting in his chair, the impatience has now fully filled inside of him. Jack had been in worser situations when he was in that gang organization, but back then he had his powers which came very handy in the worst predicaments. Being in this room to him was a living he!l, without his powers he felt as if a part of him had died, or like losing a brother. He'd wished Lockheed would hurry up with the key so Kitty and him could got out of here, and just then Mindcontrol's wish came true, sort of. Lockheed soar out of the vent and landed on the ground dropping the remains of the key card in front of Mindcontrol.)

Mindcontrol: I don't know about you but am slowly starting to lose hope.

[Shadowcat]

(Kitty slightly groans at the sight of the now useless keycard. Lockheed growls out of anger for the mutant soldier and is about to fly back into the vent when Kitty stops him.)

Shadowcat: Lockheed, don't. As much as I would love to have you light his @$$ on fire, I don't think that's our best approach to this situation.

(Lockheed flies back and lands on Kitty's lap. Kitty strokes Lockheed on doing a great job, it's just that the situation was out of their hands. Kitty looks up at Jack.)

Shadowcat: We've pretty much done all we could do, unless you have another plan.

[Radar]

(Matthews dives under a punch, and comes up hitting Kutal in the nose. As Kutal falls back, Matthews grabs his wrist and flips him over his back. Kutal lands hard on his back and as Radar goes to kick him, he punches Matthews in the gut. Radar doubles over, and Kutal slams his knee into Radar's face. Matthews falls over, blood streaming from his broken nose. Kutal is on him in a second, holding him down and punching him again and again. Matthews can't see anything as all this goes on. His shades are lying a few feet away, broken and cracked. He can only hear the crunch as blow after blow lands in his face. Matthews frees one of his hands and reaches up blindly. He finds Kutal's face and grabs his nose. He sends a wave up his arm, and a sickening crack is heard as Kutal's own nose breaks. Matthews groans as he uses all of his strength to throw Kutal off of him. Kutal lands on his back and Matthews sits up, spitting up blood. Somewhere on his face, there's blood streaming, but somehow he can't really notice where. He's on his feet a second later and stomps on the ground with his foot. A fraction of a wave is visible, enough to see a pair of feet running at him. Matthews dodges to the side and shoves his arm out. Kutal is caught in the throat and Matthews moves to his back. Holding both arms behind his back, Matthews delivers several punches to Kutal's sides. Then he swings Kutal around and throws him into the wall. Matthews takes a second to catch his breath.)

Soldier: Lookout sir, he has a knife!

(Matthews pulls his own knife from its sheath on his ankle and hits it on the floor. A loud ring lets him see Kutal standing a few feet away, two long daggers in his hands.)

Kutal: It's over for you Johnson.

(Matthews hits the ground several times more allowing him to see more clearly and then leaps at Kutal, his blade flashing.)