Chapter 10 - Enter: Emplate

Attention:  Generation X and their villians, aswell as any other mutant mentioned in this story, is property of MarvelComics.  The character Richard Cale is named after family relations. Any other reference to anything copywrighted is a chance happening.
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Changes
Chapter 10 Enter: Emplate
            Penancelooked around the Biosphere.  She felt as if something was wrong. She moved slowly and cautiously around the biosphere.  She heard andsnap and she turned in the direction of the sound.  She saw His sistercollapse onto the ground, dead.  She saw everyone else lying nearher, dying.  Her only concern was that Rich was not dead.  Shestarted looking for Rich when she heard Jubilee speak.  She watchedher friend take a final breath and say, "Emplate."  He was here. He killed all of them.  He must have gotten Rich.  She startedto run, in search of Rich, and then to escape.  She ran through theBiosphere, avoiding every shadow and movement she saw.  She movedso quickly and fast that she ran into and knocked over Rich.  He wasinjured and almost collapsed to the ground.  She caught him beforehe hit the ground.  He appeared bruised and beaten.
            Richspoke slowly to her, "Emplate captured all.  I had someone else'sability.  He killed everyone.  Everett was the first to go. I don't know what he did, but somehow, he made Monet fell every blow. I escaped, but I couldn't fight.  I was alone.  I would latchonto to him."
            Sheheld him and said, "I'll stay with you, Rich.  You won't ever haveto worry about him again.  I won't let him hurt you again."
            Shefelt his hands go to her arms.  "I'll never lose you again, Yvette." She felt a stabbing pain go through her arms.  She knew what it wasand when she looked at Rich again, he had transformed into Him.
            "No," she yelled as loud as she could.  He must have gotten to Rich. As she struggled in his grip, she saw in His eyes a very scary sight. InHis eyes, she saw Rich's soul trying to break out.  She slowly feltcloser to Rich as she felt her life draining from her.  She criedover the thought of dying in that monster's grip.  She had closedher eyes and opened them expecting to see the evil creature finishing heroff.  Instead, she saw the roof of the Biosphere.  It was morningabout a while after sunrise.
            Penancewas concerned for Rich.  She was afraid that He was here and thatHe would capture Rich.  She decided to find Mr. Cassidy and find outwhere Rich was.

            Emplatewatched the grounds carefully.  He stayed out of synch with reality,but not far enough to be pulled into the Beyond.  He hated being inthe beyond.  He body tortured every moment by the cold hands of thedead. He felt the pull when he didn't have the energy to stay in the realitythat all the other mutants lived in.  The energy he got from feedingoff the other mutants.  When he lost Penance, he was pulled back tothe Beyond on a regular basis.  He was determined to get her back,as well as claiming the young morsels here as his next meal.  He hada score to settle with Jubilation Lee.  She had tricked him, and inso freed them all from his grasp the last time he was at the school.
            Heheard a sound.  He glanced in the direction of the Biosphere and sawPenance run out.  He noticed something in her aura.  It was concern,but for what.  Did she sense his presence.  The fact that shebroke his will, his influence, hurt most than the lack of descent food. She had spent so much time as his victim that he was sure she knew thathe was here.
            Histhoughts were broken when he heard a voice.  He glanced down the pathand saw Paige Guthrie running up the path.  She must have been outjogging.  How easy it would be for him to ambush her as she passed,but now was not the time to strike.  He was determined to find outabout the mutant that dodged him at the airport.  He heard her yellbehind her, "You have to move faster than that."
            Theyoung man ran into sight.  It was the same one that was at the airport. He was dressed the same, and as before, no mutant aura.  He wonderedhow the mutant could dodge his sight.  The man yelled at Paige, "I'mmoving as fast as I can.  You must also remember my ability." He must have been a mutant, but were was the aura.
            Emplatecontinued to listen as Paige passed him.  "I know, I know. But youcan move faster than that.  I know, think that Emplate is behind you." He hated hearing that.  He thought about jumping out and attackingthen.  They must have told this new mutant about him.  But howdid they know he was a mutant.
            Theyoung man started to pass him.  He finally saw the answer.  Theaura around the young man sudden appeared, but how.  He saw a nameto the man, Richard Cale.  The ability this mutant had was in someway like him. He then listened to Richard yelling to Paige.  "Thatis not even funny. That was scary back at the airport.  When I lookedat my hand and......"  He noticed that Rich did the same thing hehad just said.  Rich, all of a sudden, ran very fast.  The mutantaura disappeared and briefly appeared as he passed Paige.
            Helistened as she yelled, "What's the matter, Rich"  and she took offafter him, trying to catch up to him.  He knew what happened. He slowly made his way back to the limo that he had.  The Hellionshad been assembled and it was soon time to attack.
            D.O.A.stepped from the car and said, "I take it we attack sir."
            Ifhis minions could see his face, they would see the smile on his face. "Yes, D.  Make sure the gear is ready.  I can't chance anotheroccurrence of what happened last time.  The mutant is not one I wouldchoose to sup on.  I can change him into one like me."  He startedto laugh and he gathered the Hellions together to catch the students offguard.

            Mostof the students were in the kitchen when Sean entered.  He noticedthat the only ones that weren't there were Monet, Jubilee, Paige, Rich,and as usual, Penance.  He noticed that most of them had gotten thereown breakfast.  Emma was looking out the window.  She had a worriedlook on her face.  Sean walked over to her and asked, "Something wrong,Emma."
            Sheturned from the window and said, "Something doesn't seem right this morning,Sean.  I think there is something wrong.  I just hope it hasnothing to do with Rich's dream from two nights ago."
            Hewas about to comfort her when Jono spoke up.  "Well, there is asight one never sees in here."  He turned to see that Penancehad just walked into the room.  Jono was right on that it was a raresight.  Penance had rarely left the biosphere in the morning.
            Seanfigured that Penance must have been hungry and went to fetch her an apple. He was take by surprise when he voice he did not recognize, but he cameto the immediate conclusion.  Penance had finally spoke.  Helooked at her as she repeated what she had said, "Where's Rich?" He noticed a worried look on her face.
            Angelohad dropped what he had been eating and said, "Even in the hood, I havenever been that surprised.  I can't believe that she finally spoke." Sean had to agree with him.  It even appeared that her skin appearedsofter.
            Seandecided to answer Penance's question.  He didn't want her to get upset,and something was bothering her.  "I haven't seen him, Penance. Idon't know where he is.  I think he must be on his way here. I'll go see if he's on his way."  Penance still was worried and itwas evident.  He turned to go leave the door, when Rich came runningin and knock Penance over.  "Well, I guess we now know where Richis."
            Seanthen saw Paige walk in.  "Something's wrong.  Rich, all of asudden, took off like a bat out of hell and ran for the building. He kept saying, 'You had to say that.  You had to say that.' Ah think something is wrong, because Ah couldn't even keep up with him."
            Seanturned to Rich who had fully mimicked Penance's ability.  He appearedto be in the a very tense form as he brushed against table, and slicedthe leg into pieces.  "What's wrong, lad?"
            Penancelooked at Rich and calmly said, "Rich, what happened?"  Sean watchedas she gasped and said, "No, it can't be."  He nodded and she startedto do exactly the same Rich had done.
            Seanfigured that the two had a psionic connection that no one else could communicateon.  They most likely spoke in her native language, one he didn'teven know from his years with Interpol.  He decide to speak now, inhope that Penance would answer.  "Penny, what is wrong?  Whathas you and Rich spooked."  Penance started to relax again. He turned to see that Monet and Jubilee had entered.
            Jubileelooked in Penance's direction and was surprised to see her standing there. "Hi, Penny.  This is strange to see you here."  Sean noticedthat Penance had relaxed more when Jubilee spoke.
            Penancefinally spoke, although it was not the answer to his question.  Shelooked at Jubilee and said, "Hello, sister."  He watched a look ofshock cross Monet and Jubilee's faces.
            "MonDieu, Penance has finally spoke."  The shock was still on Jubilee'sface, but Monet recovered quickly.  "She must see Jubilee as an adoptedsister."
            Seanfinally walked over to Jubilee and said, "Jubilee, I need ye to find outwhat has both Rich and Penny spooked.  Yur appearance caused her torelax again.  I need ye to find out what spooked the two of them."
            Hewatched Jubilee nod and then she walked over to Penance.  She kneltdown to her and said, "Penny, what's wrong?  We'll protect you here.Your safe here with us.  We can handle any problem."
            Penancespoke very softly and then tensed up again.  He didn't know what shesaid but Jubilee also tensed up.  Jubilee got up and started backover to Monet.  Sean was worried.  Now he had three studentstensing up. "Jubilee, what did Penny say was wrong."
            Jubileeseemed to act as if she didn't hear him.  She just walked over toMonet.  She seemed a bit in shock.  She then said something thatnobody, not even who she said it to, wanted to hear.  Sean and everyoneelse listened as she said to Monet, "Prepare for a family reunion." Sean realized that meant only one thing.  He didn't need to hear that,especially with Rich's ability.  That must have what freaked Richout.  The reason he ran so fast to get to the building, to get awayfrom Emplate.  The reason that he and Penance were tense.
            "Alright,everybody, we have a major problem.  Emplate is somewhere on the campus. Monet, I want you to take Penance, Rich and the wee lads to the Biosphere. It might be the safest place since the last attack. Everyone else, we haveto try and locate Emplate and force him to retreat." Deep down, Sean knewthat Rich wasn't ready to fight Emplate.  Rich wasn't even ready tofight a mutant.  Rich seemed to have a fear of losing his personality,and if Emplate's took over, they would be in deep trouble.

            Richlooked around as he heard Sean tell everybody what to do.  He lookedthen at Yvette as she took his hand.  {I think that we will defeatHim.  They know about the attack now.} she said to calm him down.
            {Yvette,do you truly believe that?  I been having too much good luck lately. I don't mean to doubt you, but it is one of those lessons I have learnedabout life.  For all good luck, there is an equal amount of bad luck,the time it last varies.}  He didn't want to doubt her.  It gavehim some hope, but not enough.
            Hewatched Yvette as she thought about it.  She then looked at him andsaid {Rich, I'm scared.}
            {Soam I, love.  So am I.}  He then notice Monet walk over with Artie,Leech and Franklin.  He looked at her she crouched down to the levelthat Yvette and he was at.
            "Rich,Penance, we should get to the Biosphere.  It will be safest for youthere.  Okay."  He nodded and Yvette did the same.  Sheunderstood what Monet said and with that Monet led them all to the Biosphere.
            Richlooked at Yvette as the slowly made there way to Biosphere. Rich said toYvette, {Yvette, is Monet always this nice to you?}
            {Ihave never seen her much.  I tend to avoid her most times, mainlybecause of Him.  In truth, I always feared her because of her connectionto Him.  Once, when He last attacked, part of me, controlled by Him,wanted to kill her.  The other half saw her as a kindred spirit. It was as if I could see my pain in her.}
            {Well,let's hope we don't run into Him.  Do you think we'll be safe in thebiosphere?}
            {UnlessHe is waiting for us there, we will be safe.}
            {I'mpraying He isn't in there.}
            {Soam I, Rich.}  Rich then noticed that Yvette looked at him with a reassuringsmile.  He felt better.  He was still the new guy around hereand wasn't used to all the excitement, but it had to be better than havingthe possible mutant vampire attacking you at his own home.  He noticedthey were at the Biosphere and that Monet had opened doors.  Theyall went inside and she led them carefully through the Biosphere.
            "Iam going to get you all to the tree house.  It will probably be thesafe place for all of you.  Then I shall make sure that Emplate can'tget in here.  Franklin, here is a communicator, call in case Emplatedoes make it through after I leave."  She handed Franklin the communicatorand then turned to lead them to the tree house.  Rich, even in hissheltered life, had seen what was unfolding then.  Right in frontof all of them, Emplate appear right in front of them, giving Monet a righthook capable of knocking out Mike Tyson, George Forman, Mohammed Ali, LarryHolmes, or any great boxer.  Monet fell to the ground, unconscious.
            Emplateturned his attention to him and Yvette.  "Hello, Penance and Mr. Cale,"he said through his respirator.  Emplate started moving towards them.
            {Yvette,follow me.}  He then looked at Franklin, quickly motioning his headto the left.  He then rushed to the right.  Yvette followed him.He looked back to see Franklin, Artie and Leech run off to the left. He also saw Emplate following them.  He and Yvette were keeping agood lead on him.  It was as if he was letting them take them escape. {Yvette, I have a bad feeling about this.}
            {Why,Rich?}
            {He'sletting us escape.  He can move faster than he is.  He trappingus.}
            {Hemust have the others here.  Be careful, it might be the misty one.}
            {Onethat can turn into a mist.}
            {Yes. Or the wrapped one.}
            {Whatcan that one do?}
            {Teleport.}
            {Yvette,that's just as bad as turning into a mist.  Could anything be worse?}
            {Yes.}
            Hesighed.  If anybody heard it, he didn't know.  He then asked{Well, with my luck right now, what could it be, so I can try and prepare.}
            Henoticed she was about to answer when a loud voice said, "Guten Taug."
            Richsaid to Yvette, with worry in his voice, {What was that?}
            Henoticed a quiver in her voice.  {It was the strong one, in front ofus.}
            Helooked ahead to see a big man, obvious from the accent and language, German,step out and prepare to the two a clothesline.  He was covered instraps, and it was an odds on bet that he wanted to harm them. At the speedthey were moving, and the fact they were running side by side, he was goingto knock them unconscious.  Rich let instinct take over on his partas he jump right in front of Yvette.  He hoped that this move wouldallow her to escape.  He was not going to let Emplate hurt her, notwhile he was alive and breathing.  Seconds later, everything for Richwent black.
 

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