Chapter 3 - Trapped

Attention:  Generation X and theirvillians, as well as any other mutant mentioned in this story, is propertyof Marvel Comics.  The character Richard Cale is named after familyrelations.  Any other reference to anything copywrighted is a chancehappening.
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Stranger And Stranger
Trapped
               Emplate stood there watching the whole scene unfold.  He knew thathe was safe, and the plan was working.  Being in Godiva's museum didbring Rich down, and Penance was by his side.  He saw how scared thetwo of them were.  They were not ready for something like this. Although,it had helped his plans to know his father was here.  He could hidebetter from his father, now.  He needed to plan everything accordingto what they were going to do.  He decided to listen to the conversation. He noticed that Jubilee motioned Rich and Penance to move forward, in areassuring way.  Godiva then said, "What is going on?"
              His father then said, "Godiva, this statue you received is not a statue. It is a mutant that feeds off other mutants."
              Godiva just looked at him and said, "How do you know this, Cartier?"
              Emplate heard his own sister answer that.  "Because, Emplate is ourfamily."
              Godiva was shocked.  It took her a few minutes to recover from that. In the meantime, he noticed that Rich and Penance were constantly watchinghim.  They were watching for movement.  He wasn't going to move,due to the ace up his sleeve.  He then heard Godiva say, "You meanthat this is a vampire of sorts."
              His father then said, "He probably came here due to the high number ofmutants in the area."
              He watched as Rich and Penance started to back away.  Sean Cassidythen said, "Nae, he came here for a different reason."  They all knewthe reason he was there.
              His father was confused by this, and Godiva then said, "If he's not hereto feast, then why come here?"
              Monet answered that question.  "You are bait, Godiva."
              "What?"
              "My brother came down to your museum to lure Rich down here.  Afterdiscovering Rich's ability, Emplate decided to use that ability to makeRich an Emplate.  His interest in Rich increased as Rich and Yvettestarted falling in love.  He was probably hoping that Rich and Yvettewould come down alone.  He plans on capturing Rich and Yvette." Emplate knew his sister was smart, but he was always surprised at how wellshe knew him.
              He watched as Godiva turned to Rich and said, "You just seem to make enemies,don't you.  First was Elane, then Davis, and now this monstrosity." He noticed that Rich flinched at the second name.  Who was this person?
              Apparently, the question was on everyone's mind.  Rich appeared totense even more, and Jubilee said to Penance, "Ask Rich who Davis is?"
              Finally an answer arrived from Godiva, "Davis was Rich's best friend, untilhe revealed that he was a mutant criminal, and that is all I will say. Rich hates that and doesn't ever talk about it."  He watched as Penancenodded.  Apparently, Rich had told her most of his deep dark secrets.
              Monet finally said, "Is he hunting you down?  I mean we should bewarned if he is going to attack the school."
              Rich finally untensed and shouted at the top of his lungs.  "Shutup!  At least Davis is imprisoned.  You two never said anythingabout that smeghead of a brother that you have when you arrived at theschool.  Everyone has told me that."  Emplate was both insultedand intrigued by the comment, as was his father.  He then realizedthat Monet wasn't Monet, but both Monet and Claudia.  This changedeverything in his mind.  Now, he couldn't kill Monet, at least notyet.

              Cartier was shocked by what he had just heard.  He knew the truthabout Monet, but how did they find out.  He told Monet never to mentionthat.  He turned to Monet and said, "How did they find out about that?"
              He saw that Monet felt ashamed.  He had a feeling that she had beenput in a situation where she had no choice but to tell.  The factthat Richard Cale shouted it meant he must have found out.  Monetconfirmed his theory when she said, "Rich found out about the twins. After Elane attacked the school, I told about it and he told about her."
              He watched as Godiva gasped.  She then said, "Elane attacked the school,and you survived.  Rich, you are lucky."  Whoever this Elanewas, she must be evil.
              Monet then said, "We had thought that Emplate had enlisted her help tocapture Rich and Yvette.  She failed and believed dead."  Cartierdidn't think his son would forgive that failure.
              He then went on to the more important question.  "How much do they..." He couldn't get the rest out because he noticed that Godiva was startingto collapse.  Kyuukai had caught her, but he had a bad idea of whatwas happening.
              Kyuukai looked at everyone and said, "She's been feeling fatigued lately,but I don't know why?"  He had an idea and it confirmed his suspicionabout the statue.  Before he could say anything, he saw Rich run towardthe statue with claws ready.

              Rich was upset.  He ran straight for the statue with claws ready. He was going to rip Emplate to shreds.  Emplate had been feastingon his younger cousin.  Just as he was going to leap at Emplate, Monetjumped in his way.  Whose side was she on?  Monet then said,"Rich, you are just giving Emplate what he wants.  He will grab youand disappear with you in tow."  The rage died down and he nodded. He slowly stepped back and went over to Yvette.  He was going to besure that Emplate wouldn't catch him in a neutral state.
              He then said to Godiva, "Can you get us to where the rooms are, withoutentering the passageways by this room?"  He noticed that she was havingtrouble standing up under her own strength.  Emplate would pay forthis.
              Godiva just looked at Kyuukai and said, "Lead the way."  They allleft the room, and in the Bermuda Triangle room, Kyuukai hit some buttonson the UFO replica.  Soon a door opened and they stepped through it.
              As they walked through the corridor, Sean said something that made Richwonder. "Godiva, what is the security system like, I mean for the passages,and rooms."
              Godiva replied in detail.  "When museum door's close, the secret passagesare sealed off, and the trigger to open them changes from one item to anotherin each room.  To get into the sleeping area, one has to solve aboutthree puzzles, without screwing them up.  The doors are closed whenwe activate the switches up here.  As for the one exhibit, we havepasscodes on the doors, that only Kyuukai and myself know.  That roomis not connected to a secret passage."
              Rich then said, "Perfect for you two."  He smiled as she gave hima nasty look.  Then he said, "What if a door is kept open?"
              "Unlikely, at 5:00pm, the normal museum closing time, the camera's lockon the secret doors.  If it is ajar, it focuses and sees if anythingis there.  If nothing is there, then the door is malfunctioning. Also remember that these doors and wall were built to withstand the strengthof my hair."  Rich had a sinking feeling in his gut, but wouldn'tadmit it.  They continued down the passages and up some steps. At the top of the steps was a landing, leading to another set of steps.They followed her up into a larger foyer.  There were rooms all aroundthe area.  Godiva then said, "This is the main living area. It is off limits at all times, except right now.  Once everyone isin here, Kyuukai and I activate the doors, and the doors at the bottomof the steps close."  She then looked at him and said, "Now why didyou lash out like that?"
              Everett answered the question for him.  "Rich thinks that Emplatehas been feeding of you.  The thing is, there is usually a mark andI don't see any."  Everett was right.  Rich didn't see any either,and then he remembered something.
              Rich looked at his cousin, and in his best monotone voice said,  "Doyou still use your favorite sleeping attire?"  He could tell she understoodthat this was serious.
              She looked at him and said, "Yes, and with the Ben Stein voice, I can tellthat you don't mean it as a joke."  Everyone looked puzzled by this,and she said, "Science teacher on 'The Wonder Years.'"  They thenunderstood what she meant.  He could tell that she was worried aswell.  She looked at him and said, "You don't think that this Emplatemight have..."
              He knew she didn't want to say the rest.  To her, it was a disgustingthough in the first place for a man to see her like that, more less touchher.  Rich could only say one thing, and that might not be the bestthing for her to hear.  "The only way to tell is for you to be examined,and only a few of us here knows what to look for."

              Angelo had put two and two together when he heard all that, and the toneof Rich's voice.  Now this would be perfect payback for the bet. He had a feeling that when Rich asked the question about sleep, that Godivapreferred to be au natural.  This, of course, meant that Emplate couldhave put the bite on her anywhere.  Angelo then said, "Well, if that'sthe case,"
              Rich finished the sentence, "I will check her out."  Angelo's wasalmost ready to shout when Rich said, "I'm the only one who can do it."
              Emma asked, "Why?"  Angelo wanted to ask the question as well, butthen he would have received looks from everyone.
              Rich, keeping a calm look on his face, said, "One, we need someone whoknows the marks of Emplate's feedings, which narrows it down to most ofus.  Second, it cannot be a woman.  Godiva would enjoy that abit." Angelo noticed that she blushed abit at that.  He thought about itand if a woman was examining him, he would enjoy it to, no matter the reason. Rich then continued, "And it can't be any of the guys here, because theywould enjoy it too much."  Okay, Angelo knew he was in that boat.
              He heard Cartier speak up.  "Why not myself, Richard?  I knowwhat to look for."
              Angelo then realized why Rich had singled himself out for that.  Godivawould not be as uncomfortable around Rich in the situation.  Richhad seen her like that before.  Before Rich could answer the question,Angelo said, "Because, Rich has seen her like that.  He mentionedthat to us."  He could sense that Godiva was amazed that they knew,but he figure that she knew that Rich had told them.  "It is not asuncomforting for him to check, as it would be for you to check her." He saw Cartier nod and then saw Rich and Godiva nod.
              Godiva then looked at Rich and said, "Ok, let's get this over with." She was ready to find out the truth.
              Paige then spoke up.  "What about keeping this hidden?  Ah mean.." He then noticed that she was motioning to Artie, Franklin, and Leech. That made sense to him.  The little kids shouldn't see that. Instantly, Godiva's hair enveloped the two.
              Everett walked over to his side and said, "You were hoping to be the oneto check her out."  His friend knew him that well.
              "Well, after that sucker bet, I deserve something."
              "Well, maybe he might loan you some of his videos that you mentioned."
              Right then, there was a loud scream coming from the envelope of hair. Angelo turned to face Everett and said, "If Rich even returns to the schoolwith us, because I have a bad feeling that he won't return."  He saidit softly, because he didn't want to get Yvette too worked up.
              Rich walked out of the hair mass and walked over to Cartier.  He lookedat the man and said, "Bad news.  Your son isn't gay.  From whatI have just seen, he likes women."
              Godiva returned her hair to a normal state and said, "That thing coppeda feel and snacked at the same time.  I think I need to use the ladiesfor a long while."  Godiva ran into a door, and he heard a seconddoor slam.  Judging the actions of all concerned, things had justgotten worse.

              Yvette realized what was going on.  Emplate was here.  He luredthem here to capture both of them.  It didn't take her long to realizethat Emplate had survived the past few days by feasting on Rich's cousin. She then realized a more dangerous thing.  She saw Godiva's power.Emplate could have just grabbed them with his dreadlocks and taken themaway.  For all she knew, they were right behind them now.  Shespun around real quick and saw nothing.  Then, she felt a hand onher shoulder.  She was ready to strike.  She turned, tensed,and almost cut Jubilee. Jubilee looked at her concerned, and said, "Penny,what's wrong?  Emplate can't get you here."
              She labored for her words, for it was difficult to communicate when shewas tense. "H-h-how d-d-do y-y-you kn-n-now?  W-w-with G-g-godiva'sp-p-power, h-h-his dr-dr-dreadlocks c-c-could h-h-have f-f-followed u-u-us."
              "Emplate always tries to out number his foes, or out think them. Just reaching out and grabbing you is not his style."  Jubilee wasright.
              She relaxed abit more and said, "You're right, sis.  I forgot aboutthat."  She then saw Rich was still upset.  He was starting totense up abit.  This worried her abit.  She walked over to himand said, "What's wrong?"
              She knew it was related to Emplate, but this confused her when he said,"He should have moved.  Nobody can stand perfectly still for halfa day."
              Jubilee then said, "What about those British Guards?"  Jubilee wasright.  Those guys never move an inch.
              Jono then said, "I've seen one faint.  So there must be a reasonRich had said that."
              Mondo then said, "Do you think Godiva's ability is long lasting?"
              Sean then said, "Wouldn't explain how he managed to stay still when hearrived."
              Cartier St. Croix then said, "Godiva had shown me that he was out of thebox, but when she put him in the room, he was in the crate."
              Monet looked at her father and said, "Is that important?"
              Yvette thought for a moment.  She then said "Emplate could have removedthe box, stashed it in the secret passage, and returned to the spot hewas in."
              She saw Emma shake her head.  "Security cameras would have recordedit."
              Kyuukai then spoke up.  "Ever since that statue arrived, the camerasin that room have malfunctioned at times, and the passageway door was jammed. Since we thought it was a statue, we had to work on more wiring for theroom."
              Daria then said something.  "How far is it open?"  Kyuukai heldup her hand's and Daria said, "I think I know what it might be."
              Kyuukai then said, "I went down the passage to the entrance.  Thereis nothing there, and when I tried to move the door, it didn't move."
              Yvette glanced at Rich and saw the distraught on his face.  He knewwhat Daria was driving at.  Rich then said to her, {Yvette, give mea little bit of time to think.  If Daria is right, there is only oneroom that we can be safe in.}  She then watched as he ran down thesteps.  She had an idea of where he was heading.

              Godiva calmly left the bathroom and reentered the main hall.  Shewas still disgusted at what had been happening to her over the past coupleof days.  She wondered if some greater force always picked on her,but she always put that aside.  When she returned to the group, shenoticed that Rich was gone.  She started recalling everything thatwas mentioned about Emplate's possible plan.  She said, "Where didRich go?"
              Yvette, Rich's girlfriend, answered the question.  "He said he neededtime to think." Godiva inwardly cursed when she heard that.  Richwas always one to disappear, to be alone, when he needed to think. Right now, that could cause major trouble.
              "What happened while I was gone?"
              Daria then said, "We were talking about how Emplate was staying still,and he needed help to pull that off."
              "So?"
              Sean then said, "I think we were all coming to a conclusion that none ofus wanted. That Emplate is not alone.  I think that we all believethat Aura is here."  Aura.  That must be Elane.
              "That would explain the malfunctions, but how could she hide?"
              Monet started to speak at that question.  "Maybe she can ..." She trailed off and appeared to be looking straight ahead.  What hadjust happened to her?
              Jubilee just looked at her and said, "Great, there she goes.  Spacedout again."
              Cartier then said, "Somebody get her attention, and hurry!"  Therewas urgency in his voice.
              Emma seemed to agree with his urgency.  "We will need her help tostop Emplate."
              Sean looked at Cartier and said, "Any suggestions on getting her attention?"
              Cartier just said, "Try anything!"  This was a different urgency thenbreaking her out of this state.  He was afraid of something, but hedidn't want to show it.  She could read his actions since he had beenspending time at the museum.
              Jubilee walked over to Monet and yelled in her ear, "Hey M, your brotheris coming to kill us.  He said he was going to force you to watch." No movement from Monet.
              Everett walked over to Jubilee and said, "I know she has a crush on me,and she considers herself a princess, so forgive me for this."  Hethen kissed Monet.
              Jubilee just said, "It would wake me up, but she is still out."  Itwas obvious that Everett felt a bit guilty.  He probably thought hehad cheated on Jubilee.
              For an hour, everyone kept trying different approaches to snap her outof her state. Some of Angelo's tactics were a little off the wall. Jubilee tried insulting her.  Daria changed her arm to a steel pipeand hit Monet with it.  All that happened there was a scream fromDaria.  It was at that moment that Godiva noticed a shadow in herperipheral vision.  She turned to see a shadow moving down the stairs. She noticed the blue eyes of the shadow and realized that it must havebeen Yvette.  She must be heading for Rich.  Now was a time toget Monet out of this spell she was in.  She went to Kyuukai and said,"I have an idea."  She whispered her plan and they moved over to eitherside of Monet.
              They whispered something into each ear and Monet blinked and jumped awayfrom the two.  Monet looked at them horrified.  All she saidwas, "Mon Dieu."
              When everybody looked at them, Godiva said, "What we said doesn't matterright now. Yvette has just left the area.  She probably went to Rich. We have to find those two, or Emplate will have what he is looking for."
              It was then that Sean took charge.  "We will have to split into teams,just in case Emplate is moving about.  Each team will search a roomand let us know if they run into Emplate, or find Skitz and Penance."
              Godiva didn't know how this was going to be taken care of, but she startedto think about the tour.  She remembered the reaction that Rich andYvette had during the tour.  She then said, "I think we can rule outtwo rooms.  The Demon's room is the last place they would go near,and judging by Yvette's reactions, the Inhumanities room is out as well. Also, the presentation room has no place to hide, so that is out."
              Sean just nodded and said, "Ye heard Godiva, so lets split up.  Wehave nine rooms to search, and we don't know when Emplate is going to move." She carefully listened as Sean picked out the teams, and who was giveneach room.

              Yvette slowly walked into the room.  The room still scared her, butshe thought out what Rich had said.  This was the only place the twoof them would be safe if Aura was with Emplate. She had heard Godiva saythat the doors could only be open by passwords, and only Godiva and herlover knew the passwords.  Also, there was no secret passage intothe room.  This room was the safest room in the whole museum. She slowly moved through the room and saw Rich sitting on a step. She saw what he was looking at.  A model of a device called a Guillotine.She shuddered when she saw the blade.  She decided to let him knowshe was there.  She thought for a moment and said in his ear, "A pennyfor your thoughts."
              He reached his arms around her waist and pulled her down, until she waslying across his lap.  She looked her lover in his eyes and smiled. He just said, "'A penny for your thoughts.' Did you want me to take youup on that offer?"  He gave her a quick kiss and then said, "You figuredout that this was the place."
              She sat up on the step and said, "Yes, but why are you looking at thatdevice?"
              He turned to face her and said, "Think of it as a symbol right now. The man who invented it, created it to give a painless execution to it'svictims.  Some time later, that same man was executed by the machine. Ironic, isn't it."
              She didn't understand what he was driving at.  "So.."
              He then said, "Isn't it ironic that the place that you feared most, isthe safest place in the whole museum?"  She then realized it. He was right.  This device could represent the situation they werein.
              Then she thought about it more, "But, that means Emplate could captureus in here.  It means that this place could be our doom."  Hethen smiled and she realized that he had thought of that, and had a wayaround it.  "What's the plan?"  she asked.
              He just said, "I'm going to make sure we aren't apart.  We won't haveto worry about that until later.  Emplate won't move until the museumcloses, and Aura won't look for us, because she has to keep Emplate still. But there is one problem."
              She started to tense up.  She then said, "What's that?"
              "Can't communicate.  All the metal in here is interfering with ourcommunicators."
              "So, we're all alone.  And no one will look for us in here."
              Rich then said, "The only way they can know we're in here is if we messwith the camera.  Godiva said that one still works."
              "I wonder if they are going to use it?"
              "I don't know, but I bet that they might not.  They know we can hidein shadows."  He had a point.
              Yvette then looked into his eyes and said, "You are always thinking aboutme, aren't you?"
              He smiled and said, "I can't help it.  I would risk my life for yours."
              She smiled and leaned closer.  "Kiss me," she whispered.  Hejust nodded and they kissed.  She put her arms around him and theystarted to french kiss.

              Elane Bonstien watched the screen that was linked to the camera of theInhumanities Room.  It sickened her to see Rich happy, but at leastnow she could ruin his life.  She turned around and faced her lover. "They're alone, and in the Inhumanities room."
              Emplate, the main enemy of Gen X, walked over to her and said, "Then theyknow you are here.  Too bad for them that I know one of the passwordsin.  You were right to suggest this plan, my love.  Rich camewhen he heard that I was here.  I just wish that he and Penance camehere alone."
              "Don't worry.  I plan to do something about it.  I helped youfeed off Godiva, didn't I?" He nodded.  She knew it was awkward forwhat they did, but she enjoyed watching him feed off Godiva.  Shejust wished that Godiva wasn't a sound sleeper.  The screams wouldhave been music to her ears.
              Emplate then looked at the monitors and said, "Something is afoot." She glanced at the monitors and saw that almost every room had two peoplein it.  In the Myths Room was Emplate's father and sister.  Thecreatures room played host to Jubilee and Synch.  In the Extraterrestrialroom was Mondo and Daria.  She hated Daria, due to her defeat backat the school at the hands of the girl.  In the Ghosts exhibit wasEmma Frost and Godiva, and in the exhibit next to it was Chamber and Husk. She wouldn't mind hurting that hick again.  On the other side of theInhumanities room was the Inner Earth room, with the two strange boys in.Then in the room on Ancient Civilizations was Banshee and Kyuukai, andin the last room before the Hall of Demons was Skin and Franklin Richards. She wouldn't mind beating up Skin again. She was thankful that Emplatehad told her all their codenames.
              "They must be looking for Rich and Penance.  They might just findthem before we can act."
              "I doubt it," her lover said, "because of what I had put Penance through,the Inhumanities Room is being ignored.  She must have shown fearabout that room."
              This puzzled her.  "Why would they be in there then?"
              "I've seen into Godiva's mind.  That room has other purposes, andsuch, it is sound proof, communication proof, and private.  Thereis no passageway into the room, and the doors have passwords on them."
              It finally hit her.  "They must have figured out that I'm here. No way in, and no way for me to attack them."
              Emplate just chuckled and said, "But, I can get in.  You will haveto keep everyone else from getting in, and as luck would have it, bothGodiva and Kyuukai are on the wrong sides."
              "Run that past me again?"
              "The door to the Inner Earth room is opened by Godiva's password, and Kyuukaiis on that side, and vise versa for Godiva."  Elane smiled at whatthat meant.  She had seen Kyuukai put her code in and had memorizedit.
              "We could ambush the two lovers, but we better make sure that no one canhelp them."
              "Do you have an idea?"
              "There is an override control on this panel for the doors.  I saywe close the museum early.  Then you enter the room, changing thepassword, and capture them.  I will follow in the other door, doingthe same, and we shall leave."  He nodded and she threw the switchto shut down the museum.
              Almost instantly, the lights dimmed and a display showed every door locking,and triggers being set for the passages.  Then, something happenedthat she didn't expect.  A voice spoke and said, "Museum has now beenshut down due to an incident.  All precautions of lockup initiated." She glanced at the screens and everyone was bewildered, except for oneperson.  She saw Rich staring at the camera, and in movement so quick,she saw a blur of movement before the monitor turned blank.
              Emplate just looked at her and said, "He knows."  They then headedinto the passages. Rich was lucky last time, but his luck was about torun out.
 

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