# # #
15:55
Parking lot
Today, I started with French class, I already knew the language so I didn't pay much attention, then we had History, after lunch I then had English and to finish the school day Mathematics HL. It was fun, the principal let me study the hardest Mathematics course in the program; from what I read from the description of the program: Further Mathematics, as studied within the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, is a Higher Level (HL) course that can be taken in conjunction with Mathematics HL or on its own. It consists of studying all four of the options in Mathematics HL.
In Math class, we had started learning Linear algebra and even though it was somewhat simple to understand and go through the entire subject, I intended to focus on the other subjects and tonight with EVE and brush up on this as much as I could. As the teacher was explaining the subject my mind and knowledge automatically resolved everything.
I was actually relieved when the bell signifying the end of school for today rang and accepted the homework, Mister Dean has given us for next class. In the hallway I looked for Cindy, but she found me and sneaked behind me. I rewarded her with a toe curling kiss before she pulled me toward the school building's exit.
To anyone watching us we walked in silence, but mentally we exchanged memories, feelings and impressions to quickly catch up on the day. It seemed that the others were not happy that I missed sitting at lunch break with them, Cindy was one of them, but it was for a good reason, as now she supported my decision to bring in the trio of Mary Jane, Flash and Liz into the group. She was aware that I could still erase their memories if they couldn't handle the truth about us. But I wouldn't let them join right away in the circle, I was going to ease them slowly into it, by inviting them home, or to a fast food joint. Damn it's going to take a week at least to be sure they could handle it.
When we were out, my glasses showed me where EVE had parked herself, strangely the Pontiac was at Peter's Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 side. The vehicle the cheapskate spider boy and Ben didn't want to let me modify for him! My dad, Frank, Barton and Avery even stopped me from doing it stealthily with the excuse that a man first's car was important and that it was bonding time between father and son that I couldn't interfere with. Well at least he let me modify the car's shell and the Pyroclastic Lamination to make the vehicle heat resistant enough.
Though I wouldn't let him touch the project I had with Barbara and Doctor Kinney, so I could understand. I really loved those older gals. Ugh, I was doing it again, I had something for tough brainy girls. I dread the day I meet Sue Storm, I'd definitely make her mine. Or will I? It all depends if Reeds has hypnotized her and sank his claws in her. The guy was a creep.
Anyway, as we walked into the parking lot toward my car, I noticed that the gang was now checking out my car and Peter's. Patsy seemed to have discovered that EVE could talk and tried to make the AI speak to her. Mary Jane and her friends were there, looking at Patsy as if she was crazy and seemed to want to stay well away from her.
Gwen looked more guarded than usual, she kind of had reason for it I guess; no talking shop for her and me this afternoon. Hands linked with Cindy, I arrived amongst my friends and said, "Heya guys, I know you like my car but she's kinda shy so don't crowd her too much."
"Hey Red." Flash called me.
Mary Jane, Angelica, me and Patsy looked at the muscular boy at the same time. "Flash… you know there's like four redheads present right now?" I laughed at him when he had the decency to look sheepish.
So to stop this from being a problem I introduced everyone again, Angelica was relieved to not be the only new member of our little fellowship. Including Liz, Flash and Mary Jane in the group had been surprisingly easy, I still had to explain why via telepathy to my friends though. It was to protect them and they were an investment for later as well.
Gwen knew why I was bringing those three with us to our gathering. Beside Mary Jane being pretty, she was aware of what had been happening to the girl and she approved of me taking my fellow redhead under my wing.
"Hey Jeanie, how was school today?" The little blonde asked me as she leaned against my car.
I made an annoyed face, that translated my feeling about going back to school. "Kinda boring actually, I know all the material already. I think my plan to coast till I am given my GED is a fair one."
I observed that Mary Jane tensed when she listened to our conversation; she must have been bored from listening to Flash gush about Pete's car. And there was a bit of panic in her state of mind, well yeah this was kind of bad news for her, as she wanted to rely on me and my friends for protection. *Don't worry, MJ.* I soothed her spirit with an empathic hug.
Her body relaxed, but she looked around her to see who had hugged her. I smiled at her reaction. As for my little blonde friend, Gwen looked sad, this wasn't what she wanted to hear it seemed. "You still plan on coming to school everyday, right?"
I shrugged. "No, maybe? At least three days a week, we will see if my mom forces me to. By the way, Principal Davis changed my schedule and we don't share classes like before, it sucks."
Looking around me, Flash, Liz, the Jones had the same sadness coming from their state of mind at the news. Cindy didn't care as she could come live to the base and with me when she wanted with her teleport beacon while the others had to come to my house to even access the teleporter to Egypt base.
Looking still alarmed, Mary Jane asked, "Jean what do you mean, you'll get a GED? Are you going to quit school?"
Sighing heavily, I responded, "Not for the foreseeable future, MJ."
The redhead was relieved at my reassurance; it would take me one month to graduate as I wanted to set a record for the GPA of this school to be accepted to the targeted colleges I wished to join. She still needed some background on what was happening, at least the spy version of it.
"You see, MJ. I received a sizable fortune from my uncle Nate, and some of his companies will fall under my control when I am eighteen. So, my parents and our lawyer have come up with this plan that I must graduate early and as stipulated from my uncle's will, I must get to college and take some business courses to have full control of my assets. For now, my lawyers and my parents are managing everything."
"This… sucks." Mary Jane said dejected.
I let go of Cindy's hand and went to my fellow redhead and engulfed her in a hug. "Being rich is a lot of work, but I am determined to succeed. So, MJ we are going to take advantage of all the time we have left, Mhm?"
Cindy quirked her lips upward in a smile at the blatant manipulation that I was practicing on the other girl; I kind of noticed the calculating gaze she was throwing at us as she watched us hug. This girl was a pervert, but I approved, Mary Jane sure had a sexy body. My eyes fell on Peter, *Sorry Pete, we are going to steal one of your potential love interests.*
Were you always this good of a liar, Jeanie? Jessica asked me via our link, interrupting my train of thought.
Spycraft 101, always mix a bit of the truth with your lies for them to be believable. I sent her back.
Jessica opened the Pontiac's door and entered my car after showing me a legendary eye roll. Okay, Matahari.
I narrowed my eyes at the snarky pink haired girl, she was going to pay for that. That's Madame Matahari to you.
Everything was going well, everyone seemed to thaw at the presence of the four newcomers in our group, and Mary Jane didn't leave my arms since I began hugging her, and Cindy started to speak with the girl we intended to slowly corrupt to our ways. But hey, this is Marvel, the universe had to shit on us as a principle. I was discussing fashion with Mary Jane and Angelica when I tensed as a familiar thought stream and pillar of petty feelings approached us.
Sasha Kusnesov had to ruin the gathering, the bitch. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Mary Jane raised her gaze to the sky and mouthed off, "Great, the harpies are here."
Sasha and her friends came to us, stepping aside from the spots full of snow to avoid slipping. Hmm, I melted them with a thought, preparing the terrain because it seemed that those girls had come to pick a fight with us. Sasha and her friends moved like people used to fight. *Strange*
"Oh, wittle Mary Jane has fangs now?" The petite blonde at Sasha's side did a good rendition of Bellatrix Lestrange. But she couldn't pull it off well, I felt that she was trying too hard.
The auburn girl, Sasha said with a saccharine tone while staring at Mary Jane, "Well, the crybaby had to find a big strong woman to be protected from little ol' me." Then her gaze settled on me and asked, "Say Grey, did the little slut promise you to make it worth your while for your protection?"
My eyes widened at the lame banter. *Okay, did Marvel decide that I needed my own Draco Malfoy to spice up my life? I really hope not.*
Of course Cindy came to the rescue as she pinched herself and asked out loud, "Wow, Jeanie is that bimbo real?"
I snorted at that. "It seems so, though she needs to come up with more vocabulary to insult us. She sounds so… thuggish."
I felt the pillar of pettiness darken, at the same time as the girl's face. She stomped toward me, I put myself between her and Mary Jane; Sasha then glared at me. "Bitch, you don't want to mess with me. You and your friends better piss off and leave the little slut here."
Me and my friends looked at the weird female troglodyte that has come to us, roaring its fake superiority. It was Jessica who laughed first, then Patsy and Cindy. It was like an avalanche of laughter came over from my friends, until it was too much for my empathy and I laughed in turn. I held onto my stomach; wow, this girl was a riot. Was she hoping to intimidate me? Me and my friends, we have fought against Hydra's armies, nuked places all over the world, come up with technological wonders and that little girl hoped to be taken seriously by us?
It seemed the girl didn't like being mocked so she threw the first punch, I sidestepped from the jab, then got surprised by the front kick coming toward me, that I fortunately defended with my knee. Then Sasha began to attack me in earnest, right, right, left; I deflected each of her jabs with my hands until she backed off from me as I entered a basic Wing Chun stance.
Sasha knew how to fight, and as I analyzed her stance, came to the realization that she had learned a shit ton of fighting styles, taekwondo, karate, jiu jitsu, krav maga and… taijutsu. It was the last one that confounded me. The only users of taijutsu in New York were in our little group, Matt and Elektra and the… Hand. I quickly tried to plunder Sasha's mind like earlier but my attempt was rebuffed by a solid mental wall.
*What the hell?* I seemed to have shown my surprise on my face as Sasha took advantage of it and attacked.
She lunged at me and threw consecutive kicks, high, mid and low, that I avoided first with my hands to deflect the first kick, with my knee for the second and simply stepping back for the third and while she extended herself, I assaulted her back with open palms and fist that she evaded as well. *Oooh, she's good!*
We separated at this point, despite us, a crowd had formed around to see us fight; damn I was too focused on her. Peter and Flash wanted to intervene, but it seemed that Angelica, Cindy and Gwen told them not to.
"Not bad." I said as I entered my stance once again, this time I will focus on speed to quickly take her out.
Sasha sniffed with disgust, but I felt that she was a bit impressed. "You aren't just a spoiled rich bitch, I see."
"However, you aren't good enough." I said with a come on gesture with my left hand.
This seemed to piss Sasha off. "We will see about that."
She said as she sprung up to me and feinted a left jab, that I ignored completely, knowing her intention with my empathy. The second jab was the real one. So I deflected again but this time I got serious by moving faster than she and punched her in the abdomen, stopping her cold as she exhaled a 'oof' then I swiftly caught one of her hands and flipped her. She landed on the cold ground face first and with an axe kick I hit Sasha between the shoulder blades and began punching her consecutively on her head. The auburn haired girl protected her head with her arms and ten seconds later she chose to counter attack by trying to catch my legs to make me fall and grapple with me on the ground, but I backflipped away from her and landed on the hood of my car. While Sasha stood up, I lunged at her and unleashed a flurry of three heavy kicks on her while I was in the air.
Two kicks landed on Sasha's arms that she put forward to protect her head, but the third hit her on the temple and she fell on the ground completely KO. Landing on the ground, I loomed over the girl. "This fight is over, and I am the victor." I made my most awesome Doctor Doom quote.
But it wasn't over yet for my foe's friends. When their friend fell, Sasha's friends attacked me all of a sudden. But I sensed them coming, Christina Green lunged at me, intent on dragging me to the ground but a well placed front kick batted her away from me and into a nearby Volvo. The little cute blonde, Francine started with a series of punches that I sidestepped and then when I let her grab my arm to see what she would do, she tried some judo throw on me. But my balance was better than hers and I was stronger than her physically, so I stood ram rode while she tried.
Bored, my free hand glowed slightly gold with chi when flicked her behind the skull, making her fall unconscious to her friend's side. With a smile I nodded at a work well done and mimed wiping my hands together. I then turned to the crowd, some looked in awe, some terrified, and I think some guys were planning to fap while thinking of me… eww!
"Nothing to see here, guys, scatter!" I shouted.
And Lo and behold, they seemed to obey, Sasha was lucky that we were yet in the twenty first century, her humiliation would have been complete if those teenagers around us had smartphones. Mary Jane was like a redheaded missile that plowed into me and hugged me tightly. Her respect for me shifted into hero worship and that wasn't too good, I had enough of that with Jessica Drew, Laura and Maddie.
"Hey MJ, that bitch was vile. You have my respect for holding on that much against her." I said while patting her head.
My fellow redhead stepped back from me a little, and looked at me with stars in her eyes. "You were amazing! Since when are you a ninja? Can you teach me?"
"Part time Ninja." I corrected her. "And why not? I plan for you to learn to defend yourself when I won't be here."
Mary Jane laughed with tears in her eyes at that. Cindy snapped her fingers loudly, and made signs for everyone that it was time to leave. "Chop, chop everyone, we don't want to languish here."
I pulled Mary Jane toward the Pontiac and made her board to the back while Cindy took shotgun. I watched as Liz and Flash went to the boy's own vehicle three parking slots further and the rest of my friends filed into Peter's car. EVE who was the soul of discretion didn't say anything when my Pontiac started the engine. Mary Jane still had eyes googling at the dashboard that seemed so futuristic; Cindy smiled at her expression as she fiddled with the hologram to turn on the radio to play some AC/DC songs.
As we left the parking lot, my eyes were on the holographic rear view mirror and I watched as that Christina girl stumbled to her friends and checked their vitals. That girl was too soft to be a bully.
# # #
(Sasha Kusnesov)
Nurse Office
10 minutes later
"Ouch, did someone get the plate of the truck that hit me?" Sasha said with a rough voice.
The auburn girl was into a bed, she had something cold against the right side of her face, she took it and saw that it was packed ice. Then she felt hands on her, and detected the familiar candy smell of Francine's perfume. "Here Sasha, sit up. Damn the right side of your head is swelling, Grey got you good."
"Fran?" Sasha slurred, then her icy blue eyes fell on her blonde friend.
"Yeah?" Francine asked as she inspected Sasha's face.
"That girl, Grey is some kind of master, I think. She moved faster than sensei." Sasha said, thoughtful, she was now regretting ever fighting the girl. She had thought that Grey returning meant nothing for her status at school, but she was wrong.
Acting rashly had cost her her rep while the girl she had been bullying was now well protected. Francine looked at her friend and made her hold the ice pack against her face.
"I noticed, she's stronger than her too." Was Francine's opinion.
Sasha growled as she replayed the fight against Grey, it was clear the girl played with her, it looked like she was used to fighting stronger and faster opponents. This didn't look good for her school life at all; now everyone was going to pick on them. Or… then Sasha noticed that one of her friends was missing.
"Where's Tina?" Sasha asked Francine.
Francine made a face. "The nurse sent her to the hospital... she got bruised and cracked ribs."
"Fuck, this is serious." Sasha lamented, she was sure to get into trouble with their sensei
"You bet, Sasha. You are really in trouble, right now." A voice coming from the entrance of the room said.
Turning her head, Sasha's eyes widened as she recognized the familiar voice of her sensei, who was her legal guardian as well. It was obvious that they would call on her. From the door, the tall auburn haired woman strode toward Sasha, with a disappointed expression on her face. She wore a winter jacket lined with fur and a t-shirt with the Chikara Dojo logo on it; her long legs were covered by dark blue jeans that looked to be painted on them, she had on dark brown trendy leather boots.
Sasha lowered her eyes, not willing to see that look on the woman she considered a big sister as well as a role model. They had the same icy blue eyes, others would often think that the two of them were related if they didn't have a closer look and noticed that the older woman clearly had Asian roots compared to Sasha's clear Eurasian ones.
"Colleen, I can explain!" Sasha exclaimed with a panicked expression on her face.
Colleen primly held herself and stopped at Sasha's side."I already heard from Christina what happened, you are using my teaching to torment and lord over your fellow students."
The younger girl averted her eyes. "I…"
"Don't lie." Colleen bopped her on the nose, eliciting a grunt from Sasha.
"Yes, I did." Sasha growled, still not looking at Colleen in the eyes.
The older woman took Sasha's face between her hands and checked her wounds. She clicked her tongue and took the ice pack from Sasha's hand and put it at her side. Colleen's hand glowed with white yellow energy and Sasha's expression soothed as warmth suffused her aches. Colleen was healing her. Her sensei then took on her intransigent voice as she said, "When we return home you'll go directly to your bedroom. No TV, no Phone. You will meditate on your bad deeds and for further punishment, I will stop teaching you for one month and you'll clean the Dojo for the same length of time."
Sasha looked up at her and whined, "But it's not fair!"
Colleen smiled ruefully at her disciple. "I thought you knew that already, life isn't fair, young lady."
Sasha mumbled, "It's not fair…"
Colleen stopped healing her ward, the swelling was sufficiently less worse than before. She couldn't heal Sasha all the way or people would get suspicious.
"So who was it that defeated you?" The woman asked, curious that someone could take on Sasha, it's been eight months since she had been instructing her and Sasha was her best student so far.
The young woman's face scrunched into a sneer. "Some redheaded tramp who was stronger than me," Then she calmed down after breathing in and out, then said, "and it pains me to say it, but she was more skilled than you as well, sensei."
Colleen's right eyebrow rose, her demeanor switching from curious to clearly interested. "Really?"
Sasha nodded like a bob head. "Really, she was faster and stronger than me, one moment I am dominating the fight, and one second later she's all over me and I wake up in this bed."
A voice interrupted them. "And there's something worse, Sensei."
Sasha had asked Colleen to teach her friend some martial arts, so she was allowed to call the older woman like that. Colleen looked startled, "Ah sorry, Francine, I didn't mean to ignore you."
Francine waved away her apology. "It's okay, you are worried about Sasha."
"Yes." Colleen nodded.
Sasha was the one to make the two of them go back to the previous subject. "What worries you, Fran?"
The little blonde looked a bit frightened. "I felt the same sensation when Sensei used that Chi stuff on me when Grey hit me behind the head."
"Oh?!" Sasha exclaimed, now understanding how clearly outmatched this fight had been. Then she looked at her sensei and was disturbed by the expression she was seeing now on her face.
Colleen smile's became dazzling. "Interesting."
# # #
Back with Jean...
I felt a chill going down my back, as if something really bad just happened. My precognition was telling me that I fucked up somehow and that it may be time to be back on guard. I bit into my hamburger and let my mental field cover the entire city, just in case. I hoped I wouldn't be fucked over too much, but this was Marvel.