GOOD/EVIL
Part 37-B
By Star

"How is she?" Gene asked Cyn, watching the healing process.

"Apart from a few cuts and bruises she's fine. She's lucky. It could have been 
worse. Whoever hit her with the cement wall didn't plan on killing her, just 
disabling her." Cyn said, gently touching Gene's arm sympathetically.

He grunted, studying Gena's prone form. "Shouldn't she be conscious by now?"

Cyn smiled at Gene's impatience. "Everyone has their own stages of 
consciousness. Her body might need the rest. Relax, she's fine."

Gene hesitated, saying softly to Cyn "You know what they're saying about her 
don't you?"

She nodded, looking down at Gena "It's hard to believe it, but it's not an 
impossibility. When Gena awakes we shall know the truth."

Shannon moved silently into the room, touching Gene's back. She hugged him 
close when he turned to her, his expression one of remorse.
"She'll be fine Gene. She's strong, not to mention a member of Kiss_Girltalk. We 
can survive anything."

"You know what they've been saying about her. That she was programmed by 
E.V.I.L. If she wakes up there's the chance she will be evil…I don't know how I'm 
going to deal with that."

"We will deal with it, all of us. You won't be alone." Shannon said softly, adding, 
as she looked behind Gene "You're already not alone in this."

Gene turned to see the group teleport into the room.

"How is she?" Paul asked quietly, studying Gene's worn expression and looking 
beyond to where Gena lay still.

"Cyn healed her but she still hasn't woken up." Lorie answered, as she walked 
into the room. She moved directly to Bruce, wrapping her arms around his waist. 
"As soon as she wakes we can question her, and I'll be able to determine 
whether she's lying to us or telling the truth."

Raven stared at Gena, closing her eyes in remorse "If anything happens to her I'll 
never be able to forgive myself…we shouldn't have done it."

Peter touched Raven's arm, caressing her soothingly "It's not your fault. Gena 
kidnapped you."

Raven shook her head "You don't understand, she didn't kidnap me. It was all 
part of our plan."

"Raven, what are you saying? That this was all planned?" Tiger asked, shaking 
her head in disbelief.

"We thought we could infiltrate Buttercup's quarters, and take as many out as we 
could. Capture some agents. That way we could get a better understanding of his 
plans for Kiss, for all of us. If we knew what he was planning we could prevent 
it…"She broke off, looking away from Peter's horrified expression.
Taking a deep breath she continued "But it went wrong. Gena changed. 
She…the things she did, with the Drow…it wasn't like Gena. At first I thought she 
was playing a part, but she wasn't. She was truly E.V.I.L."

"Programmed by E.V.I.L you said?" Stephanie asked quietly.

Raven nodded, "She must have been programmed when they caught us. That's 
the only time I can think of when it might have happened."

Paul cocked his head to the side, studying Raven "Then why attack Andrew?"

Raven looked at Paul in surprise "She attacked Andrew?"

"We found him stuffed in the closet." Peter said quietly, an expression of hurt on 
his face.

"It doesn't make sense. She wasn't evil beforehand. I know she wasn't." Raven 
insisted.

"Maybe you don't know her as well as you thought. Right now I'm wondering if 
anyone knows much about any of us." Lorie answered quietly, resting her head 
on Bruce's chest.

"When she wakes we'll know. She might have had her reasons for the things she 
did." Stephanie answered, her eyes travelling over Gena.

Paul turned to stare at her, sensing the battle of emotions raging inside of her. 
He could feel her compassion, and almost an understanding of Gena's actions, 
and was surprised by it. He would ask her about it when they were alone.

***

Buttercup scowled, as he stared around the empty building. It wasn't like his old 
quarters but it would have to do until he found something better.

He stared out the window, his thoughts drifting to Gena and Raven. He had been 
so close, so close to reaching that ultimate goal. If he had been able to control 
Raven and Gena he would ultimately have brought at least two of the KISS 
members to their knees.

He smiled savagely. Lovely Gena. KISS were in for a surprise when they 
discovered how evil she really could be. She was a dark one. He had known that 
the first time he had set his eyes on her, the first time he had set into motion the 
plan to bring Kiss to their knees.

He had thought he could control her then, but she had turned on him. Turned on 
him because of her ardent love for Gene Simmons. 

His eyes burned red at the thought of Gene Simmons. He hated that man. He'd 
once had him in his clutches, and lost him. This time there would be no escaping 
for Simmons. He would make sure of it.

He leant back, closing his eyes again as he thought on Raven Catt. She was 
strong, stronger than he had ever encountered. His whole body tingled, as he 
thought of what he could do with her powers. Even better hers and the one who 
had the rage. He could destroy the world, rain down destruction on everyone who 
got in his way.

It wouldn't be easy. Delicates never were. He wanted all the delicates. One by 
one he would turn them, but first he would start with Raven, Gena and whoever 
held the rage.

He rubbed his hands together in almost glee, as he began to formulate a plan to 
discover the one gifted with the rage. Once he discovered who she was he could 
put forth plans to capture her, and recapture Raven and Gena. He would turn 
them, use them against KISS, and if they refused well…he would simply have to 
convince them fighting for E.V.I.L would be more beneficial than fighting for 
KISS.

***

Gena screamed in agony, feeling the burning sensation running through her 
whole body, as she heard the saccharine voice whispering in her ear "Don't resist 
it, you will only make the process worse." She felt a hand stroke her forehead, as 
the voice continued to whisper "You were born for this, born to bring down KISS. 
It's a part of you, let your inner demon be set free."

She opened her eyes, staring at the man "Where am I? Who are you?"

He bowed mockingly to her "You're at E.V.I.L headquarters, Buttercup's my 
name and evil is my game."

He paused, pacing in front of her, his hands tucked behind his back "I have a 
mission for you my little Gardenia…one of important circumstances."

Gena nodded her head, her voice calm "And my mission is?"

"Infiltrate Kiss, become part of their group. Sleep with them if you have to. I want 
to know everything there is to know about them, I want to know their habits, and 
most importantly their powers and how aware they are of them.
Once you discover these powers I want you to report back to me. Am I making 
myself clear?" Buttercup said sternly, as he handed her a photo of KISS

"Crystal. I will not fail you." Gena said, taking the photo and assessing the band. 
"It shouldn't be a problem. I already have decided on a target." She murmured, 
her eyes resting on the man in demonic makeup.

*

Gena blocked her ears, the raised voices of her parents startling her. 

"She must never know about her heritage, know about what she is…never." Her 
father's voice rang clearly.

"You think I don't know that?" Her mother answered back, her voice tingling with 
fear "If people were to know the truth about her, that she was adopted…that she 
was…"

"Don't even say it!"

Gena raised her head from where it rested on her knees. Adopted she was 
adopted? And what word didn't her father want her mother to say?

"Half-demon." Her mother's voice finished.

Gena's eyes widened, as she stuffed her fist into her mouth to cover the startled 
sob. Demon? What did they mean she was half-demon? She didn't understand.

*

She touched the man who had annoyed her, watching his skin began to burn, 
and hearing and feeling his screams of agony. She smiled in pleasure. She loved 
the thrill of the kill, and men were such easy preys. KISS should be a piece of 
cake. She would make Buttercup proud. She alone would bring KISS to their 
knees, and she wouldn't stop trying until she succeeded

***

Gena tried to sit up, her clothes drenched in sweat. She looked wildly around the 
room, and at the restraints holding her. 
"Gene." She whispered.

"I'm here." He said, flicking on the bedside lamp.

"What is this? Why am I restrained?" She asked, tugging at the restraints in 
annoyance.

"I'm sorry Gena we had no choice but to restrain you in case you turned on us." 
Shannon answered.

Gena stared at her, ducking her head to prevent her thoughts being read. "I don't 
understand…why would I turn on you…"

Gene closed his eyes, opening them to look at Gena when she begged "I don't 
understand, why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you? I would 
never hurt you, never."

Gene turned to Shannon "I think she's telling the truth. I believe her Shan."

Shannon shook her head vehemently "We don't set her loose until Lorie can tell 
us if she's really telling the truth. It's too risky." She gripped the stun gun in her 
hand tighter, aiming it directly at Gena "Don't even think about trying anything."

"I don't understand…why are you doing this to me?" Gena continued, her eyes 
pleading with Gene.

"Get Lorie Gene. I'll keep an eye on her in case she tries to make a move." 
Shannon ordered.

Gene allowed the order this time, avoiding Gena's pleading eyes, as he walked 
out of the room.

***

Peter watched the mice dance around their disco ball, still trying to believe that 
they had helped protect and save Raven. He had seen strange things, but this, 
this was just weird.

"You're angry with me." Raven murmured, resting her chin on his shoulder.

He nodded "You should never have tried to go against E.V.I.L alone. What were 
you thinking?"

"I don't know…we both felt helpless. It felt like we weren't getting anywhere in our 
fight against E.V.I.L, and if we could…"

"Infiltrate and find out what Buttercup's plans were you could stop it. I've already 
heard it. Either way you still didn't think."

Raven made a face, tickling Peter's ribs playfully "I'm sorry."

"Damn it Raven I'm serious. You could have been hurt, Buttercup could have 
turned you. Do you have any idea what that would have done to everyone who 
loves you, what it would have done to me?"

"I made a mistake Peter I'm sorry." Raven whispered, adding "Don't you think I 
feel bad already over everything that's happened. Gena turning evil…its all my 
fault. I know that. I just don't know how many times I can say sorry!"

Peter turned to look at her "We've been through so much together, and the idea 
of you or any of my girls taking chances…it's more than I can bear. Then there is 
the fact I marked you…the claim may be broken but the feelings are still there."

Raven took his hands, raising them to her lips "I promise not to do something so 
foolish again, but please forgive me. I can take everything that will come to me 
from the others, but you…it hurts too much."

Peter nodded "I forgive you." He murmured, leaning over and kissing her 
passionately.

"Someone at the door." One of the mice squeaked, all of them beginning to 
chatter at once.

"No there isn't…"Peter began, stopping when someone knocked on the door. 
Bruce ducked his head in quickly "Gena's awake"

***

Paul watched Stephanie stare blindly out the window "She's awake." He 
murmured, putting down the phone.

She nodded, continuing to stare out the window.

"You sympathise with her, I could feel it." He said, moving to stand behind her.

She nodded "I shouldn't should I? But I can't help it. She did stuff that was wrong, 
but I can't help but understand it. The powers she holds, the powers we all hold, 
they're a heady thing. You can't help but lose your head, and Gena barely knows 
hers."

"She knows them, she's just forgotten them for so long." Paul said, sliding his 
hands onto her shoulders "But that's not why you sympathise with her is it?"

"I hate it when you read my mind." She murmured, trying to smile as she turned 
to him. It came out wobbly, as she whispered "I know what it's like…the darker 
side of the powers. It's scary and you can drown in it, almost revel in it. Some of 
the things I've done to ex boyfriends…I enjoyed hurting them, enjoyed their pain. 
It was only after I felt the remorse…it scares me."

"Because you feel as if you're only a step away from the darkness?" Paul asked, 
his concern etched on his face.

She nodded "Not so much a step away but as if the darkness is there, waiting for 
me to falter and make that one mistake. Waiting to envelop me. If it could happen 
to Gena it could happen to anyone."

"Gena was programmed by E.V.I.L, she never gave in to temptation. She was 
forced to switch sides. She had no choice."

"If she had no choice, than why did she hurt Andrew? That wasn't part of the 
scheme was it? We'd already made it clear he wasn't part of E.V.I.L why hurt 
him? If that's not giving in to the dark side what isn't?"

Paul gently took her into his arms, stroking her back "I don't know why she 
harmed Andrew. Only she can tell us that."

Stephanie sighed, resting her cheek against his chest. She said hesitantly "I've 
wanted to."

Paul pulled back "Wanted to what?"

"Hurt him." She whispered, her eyed filled with tears "I don't know why but there's 
something about him…it's made me want to hurt him."

Paul stared at her "Do you know if anyone else felt the same way?"

She shook her head "I never asked. I wanted to talk to Holly about it, see if she 
sensed any danger where he was concerned, but then everything happened, and 
all was blown to hell."
She bit her lip "What if I'm turning evil?"

Paul cupped her face in his hands, gently caressing her lips with his own "Honey 
you don't have an evil bone in your body…we'll figure out why both Gena and 
you feel that way, but first we should see what Gena has to say for herself."

Stephanie nodded, closing her eyes. She hoped Gena could explain why she'd 
wanted to hurt Andrew, maybe that would explain why she did too.