The next part of Chapter 5 deals with more of the "X-Men" side of the story than with the Muppets. It's awesome to know that you were laughing at the start, Count, because things get kind of serious at this point in the story.
Also, if some are finding the whole "Mind Transference" between Kermit, Fozzie, Rizzo, and some of the X-Men too freaky, then let me know. I'll find a way to change it up in the next chapter.
But for now, here's the rest of Chapter Five.
Chapter Five (Part Two):
The next day at the mansion, Logan had regained consciousness by the time dusk had arrived, believing that he awoke during sunrise. The same time he woke up was when the minds of Kermit, Fozzie, and Rizzo had been transported to different bodies (at the request of Professor Xavier), so Jean, Scott, and Storm would be able to focus more around the mansion; that, of course, gave Kermit, Fozzie, and Rizzo to help a few young mutants learn control of their powers.
Kermit’s mind was transferred to the body of Bobby Drake (a.k.a. “Iceman”), who was a mutant with the ability to emanate intense cold, which manifested as ice formations and the mental ability to shape those ice formations into whatever structure he could imagine; he was often seen to project cold from his hands in the form of “ice blasts” that could cause an enemy to be completely engulfed in ice in a matter of seconds. Bobby’s power was interesting enough to Kermit, since he was a cold-blooded amphibian.
Fozzie’s mind was transferred to the body of Jubilation Lee (“Jubilee” for short), who had the mutant power to generate bright bursts of energy from her fingertips; she referred to these globules as fireworks (and so would Fozzie). The globules obeyed her mental control, traveling where she directed them, arranging themselves in balls, streamers, and other shapes, and exploding when she wished. The strength of the energy could range from a multitude of colorful sparkles capable of temporarily blinding a person to a powerful denotation capable of smashing objects and destroying property. Jubilee’s power was interesting to Fozzie, since he enjoyed fireworks at times.
And, finally, Rizzo’s mind was transferred to the body of Peter Rasputin (a.k.a. “Colossus”), who possessed the ability to transform his entire body into a form of organic steel. In that transformed state, Colossus’ body gained around a foot in additional height and his body mass was doubled, and he had significant superhuman strength. Colossus’ power was of a great advantage to Rizzo, as well as his enormous physique (something that Rizzo had craved once in a while).
Walking down one of the dormitory-like hallways inside the mansion with Gonzo, the three tried to get use to their new bodies and the powers they came with, while coping with the fact that they were being targeted by a power-crazed mutant and still very far away from their home in Manhattan. Just like the way they functioned through Jean, Scott, and Storm, they spoke with the voices of Bobby, Jubilee, and Colossus, with their mannerisms intact.
“Have you spoken to Rogue since last night, Gonzo?” Fozzie/Jubilee asked.
“Now that you’ve mentioned it…no, I haven’t.” Gonzo said. “I’ve spent the whole day looking all over for her, and she’s nowhere to be seen.” A worried expression came across Gonzo’s face. “I hope she’s alright.”
“Oh, man! This is so awesome!” Rizzo/Colossus exclaimed. “Hey, check this out!” He started transforming himself from human form to steel form, over and over again. “I love this guy’s power! It’s a lot better than Mother Nature’s power that I had yesterday. Seriously, I don’t know how these people get ‘round with these gifts of theirs.”
“Maybe that’s the point of the whole ‘X-Team’ thing.” Fozzie/Jubilee stated.
“According to Professor X, the point of this school is to step into a more evolved position of social responsibility and recognize that there is a world out there and that we mutants are as much a part of it as normal beings.” Gonzo said, and that’s when Kermit’s exasperation had come back again.
“Look, Gonzo…don’t you think that this ‘Magneto Problem’ is none of our business?” Kermit/Bobby said. “We have a job at the Daily Bugle, remember? And Mr. Jameson, the walking car alarm that we call ‘boss’ everyday, is expecting a story about Professor Xavier and the mutant threat real soon.”
“Yeah, and all we’ve got for it are really up close experiences with mutants.” Fozzie/Jubilee said.
“But, guys, we have a responsibility here.” Gonzo indicated. “We can’t just walk away from that.”
“Gonzo, this isn’t a responsibility,” Kermit/Bobby said, “It’s just nonsense.”
“Nonsense?!?!” Gonzo shouted, and there were a lot of shushing noises beyond a set of double doors that they had passed by, which obviously led to the mansion’s library. “Our world, our freedom, and our hope are all at risk here! This just isn’t about me finding out whether I’m a mutant or not, Kermit; this is about stopping Magneto before he does any serious harm to our society.”
“I can’t argue with him there, Kerm.” Rizzo/Colossus said. “That magnetic weirdo wasn’t pullin’ a Milli Vanilli back at that train—he was for real.” Kermit wanted to believe in what he and the others were doing, but his fear was getting the best of him.
“We can’t get involved, Gonzo. It’s too…” Kermit stopped as they passed through Xavier’s office, where Professor X touched his throat and raised a shaking hand to his head. Concerned over his health, the four stepped into the office and checked on him. “Professor, are you alright?”
“Dear God.” Xavier murmured, as he stared at the four characters in from of him. “We must get to the Westchester Mall.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Kermit/Bobby asked.
“I sent Cyclops and Storm there only moments ago to find Rogue.” Xavier said, and Gonzo (as well as Rizzo) was a little confused.
“They’ve got a mall here?” Rizzo/Colossus uttered. “Why the heck didn’t we see it?”
“What’s Rogue doing at the mall, besides shopping?” Fozzie/Jubilee asked Xavier.
“She couldn’t take the pressure of being among a group of people that couldn’t connect with her.” Gonzo said, and he got very worried. “We have to find her.”
“Indeed,” Xavier said, “She is in danger from some of Magneto’s followers.”
“Well, what’re we waitin’ for?” Rizzo/Colossus said, just before they headed out of the room. The group jumped into a specially designed car that enabled Xavier to drive solely with his hands and raced towards the mall, where chaos had begun—courtesy of Sabretooth and Toad, who were attacking Storm, Cyclops, and Rogue. Xavier fought the rush of traffic; people were fleeing madly from the mall. As Xavier and his companions pulled up to the front doors, he saw Cyclops emerging and carrying Storm, who was conscious but breathing shallowly. Scott’s eyes were shut tightly (his visor had been knocked off from the battle), and he must follow Rogue’s every direction, as sirens wailed in the distance. “Looks like we’re too late for the party.” Gonzo had seen no sign of Sabretooth or Toad anywhere near the scene.
“I don’t understand.” Gonzo said. “Why would Magneto’s men attack and leave the scene so soon?” And then there was a look of realization on Xavier’s face.
Moments later, the group had arrived back to the mansion, only to find the fence that surrounded the property had been bent and buckled violently. Once they were inside the mansion, Xavier wheeled down the hallway with Gonzo, Kermit, Fozzie, and Rizzo following, as pajama clad students were milling about the halls; their faces showing that they were afraid to go back to their rooms. One girl, younger and smaller than the others, seemed particularly upset; Fozzie approached her and gently touched the side of her face.
“Hey, don’t be afraid.” Fozzie/Jubilee told her. “Everything’s gonna be okay.” The girl managed a faint smile, while Xavier looked to the other frightened students; he was angered because Magneto and his brotherhood broke into the mansion and took Logan.
A short while later, inside a laboratory that was beneath the mansion complex, Beast reclined in his lab chair, with a splint on his leg (which had been injured from the attack), as Jean stood with Cyclops who watched through a new visor. Rogue sat off to the side, bearing the guilt; Storm, her neck badly bruised from the recent battle, stood near her.
“When Rogue left the mansion, they must have followed her.” Xavier assumed, shutting his eyes in fury. “Yes…they wanted me out of the way. If I had been here…I…” He opened his eyes and saw Rogue sitting on a chair in the corner, visibly upset. Xavier wheeled over to Rogue, reaching out and softly touched her clothing-covered shoulder. “This was not your fault. I knew there was a danger, I should have never left the school.” And with that, he turned his wheelchair to the door. “I am going to find Logan.”
Xavier wheeled himself into a room with a high-sphered ceiling that was entirely black; in the center of it was a device. Part computer/part superstructure, it had a space in the bottom that seemed to fit Xavier and his chair perfectly, while a web of wires, tubes, and cables that were suspended above its center were connected to the heart of the device: a chrome skullcap that descended onto the head of Xavier, who closed his eyes as the machine powered up.
Suddenly, the eyes of Charles Xavier flew open again as there was a terrible noise—the sound of a well-tuned machine going horribly wrong; Xavier was in terrible pain. His back arched, and he fell from his chair onto the floor, struggling to reach for a fire alarm on the wall; his fingers stretched until he finally pulled it. Warning bells wailed as Xavier fell unconscious, convulsing.
END OF CHAPTER FIVE
BTW, we'll see more of the "Gonzo the X-Muppet" scenario in the last chapters of the story, when the battle with Magneto begins. We'll even find out what "mutant power" he has that makes him so much of a mutant.
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