Authors Notes: Well I had hoped there'd be more readers reviewing this deal; I've spent a lot of time and effort into this puppy, it's the only story I've ever created that I've stuck to for so long, mainly because I love the characters, stiuations and events...
Ah well perhaps the first few chapters are too confusing for those casual readers checking this out; to which I should apologize, I would have started from the very beginning; but unlike my Crisis on Earth 929 section the first two universes on my list involve a tad more integration with their respective television shows. (So I need all of the episodes that are featured to perfectly integrated my character into existing scenes using the dialogue and the like from the actual episodes.) I'm pretty anal about details like that; anyway I'll stop chatting up now and leave this next chapter for your enjoyment...
Usual disclaimer applies; I don't own any Marvel characters I just borrowed them, Al however is my own creation and any or all characters related to him be they actual family or close friends or something are also mine.
Please enjoy and R&R I'm beggin' ya, give me something to work off of, anything even a totaly bad review would be better then nothing.
I made my way downstairs after a long hot shower that had been desperately needed; feeling slightly more refreshed then before, but Scotts' hand me downs were rather itchy. Not to mention his shirt was just a little bit bigger than me; I suppose that would be expected since if I'm not mistaken he's broader in the chest than me. Still I felt awkward wearing the loose fitting shirt after all those years wearing that skin tight Ensigns' Uniform; Starfleet protocols be damned I sure wish I could have worn casual attire when I was on duty. I entered the dining room first, which caused the entirety of the group present to shut up; I grinned a little nervously at the assembled cast and made my way around to the kitchen area where I assumed I would find something decent to eat. Another thing about fighting demon overlords it tended to take a good five hours or so to wear'em down. I returned with a few odds and ends left over from the brunch they'd prepared and took a seat as far away from the group as I reasonably could; more because I was a little nervous about the whole thing I mean Spider-Man I know a lot more about then the X-Men. And I hardly doubt they'd have their cartoon personas or even their movie personas; plus I was still feeling totally drained. Double checking my watch again I noticed what Stardate it was and did a few quick calculations, terrific I'd been awake for thirty hours including all the time it would be during my transit from Enterprise to Romas' and then here.
"No wonder I'm so exhausted, honestly you'd think traveling the causeways and byways of the Omniverse wouldn't take up so much damn time." I mumbled forgetting where I was for a moment.
"I take it you've had a lot o' experience in that area." Logan commented startling me back to the here and now; his tone was filled with a deep sense of mistrust, I could tell the only reason he currently tolerated my presence was because Xavier had requested it.
"Boy do I wish it were otherwise." I moaned as I started to slowly eat; it had been a while since I'd done that too and eating to quickly would really upset my stomach.
"Has it always been like that for you?" Scott wondered addressing me in his light toned voice; I eyed the ruby quartz glasses for a few seconds curious to know just how dense they were and quickly shrugged aside my inner thoughts once again. Boy it sure is hard to keep track of one frame of mind when you're brain is running a mile a millisecond.
"No, I only started hopping around the Omniverse around when I was Twenty- One." I explained forgetting that my physical appearance still represented that particular age.
"Whatevah for?" Rogue wondered averting her eyes when I turned to regard her; that accent wasn't as thick as I'd imagined it'd be.
"You got me, something to do with my destiny and needing intense physical and mental training before I could face up to it." I grumbled. "At least that's what that jerk Q told me in his round about fashion." I elaborated with another growl, boy I really had it in for the pest; wouldn't do to hold on to this damn grudge, but after all his actions had hurt me on a very personal level.
"Training, sounds like you were drafted bub." Logan observed with his usual snarl-like chuckle.
"Infinitely more complex then that I'm afraid, there are a few deciding factors I'm not that aware of yet, but I do know for a fact that God has something to do with this." I revealed taking a sip of the water I'd gotten myself.
"You are one of his chosen?" Kurt exclaimed in something akin to understanding and respect.
"I don't knowexactly if that's the term,but I do know that yes;she doeshave something to do with it. I felt her presence once very briefly mind you, but it was there." I stated in a hushed tone, just the memory of that brief connection still sent shivers down my spine. It was very unheard of for anyone to experience actual communication with God after all.
"This is all very fascinating." Hank interjected. "However I do believe the Professor was interested in learning more about your particular mutation. Not to be rude mind you; but as a scientist I must admit to being very intrigued by your current condition." He elaborated.
"Hank." The Professor chastised.
"Oh its ok I don't really mind; I suppose since I'll be staying here for an indeterminate amount of time it would only be natural that you guys knew as much about me as you could. Heck I'm living it and I'm still just as intrigued by my condition; as you put it Hank." I returned with a warm smile; The Professor seemed to accept this and steepled his fingers as he assumed a more comfortable attentive pose. "First of all I am a little concerned that Cerebro classified me as Magneto when I, ah, took to the air I wouldn't mind getting a look at those readings if it were possible. Perhaps it could shed a few lights on my current condition that even I'm not aware of; you see my powers kind of have a mind of their own at times." I admitted with a sheepish grin; quickly recovering my train of thought I mentally examined the story from all sides, where best could I begin so that it wouldn't be a lengthy process? The others were silent; patiently awaiting my words, I decided to just get right to the point and avoid all of the secondary nonsense involved with this tale. "Borg, do you know what they are?" I asked.
"Sure." Logan acknowledged. "Somethin' off o' Star Trek."
"Yes; well I had the great misfortune of encountering them." I stated; Logan eyed me skeptically, but he didn't say anything about it. "I was aboard Voyager at the time; undergoing my training, although don't ask me what I could possibly learn there I didn't already learn when I became a well respected warrior. But that's out of context; the Borg were interested in pursuing assimilation through alternate means." I stated. "They'd pretty much picked their particular section of their Universe clean of new technologies to expand upon their... perfection." I said that last part with a venom that surprised me, but only briefly. "The Borg Queen had perfected a new strain of Nanoprobe; thing is she needed someone from another reality to test them on and see if they'd work. So they somehow found out about me and captured me when I was off-ship procuring a few supplies for the Captain." I continued pushing my half-eaten meal aside as an ashy taste entered my mouth; remembering this always involved a lot of pain.
"So yer a Borg?" Logan wondered clearly unimpressed.
"I haven't finished yet." I snapped; blinking in surprise I lowered my head in a show of apology. "Sorry, but this is very personal and quite painful to recall." I explained.
"We understand." The Professor stated. "Please continue when you've had the chance to collect yourself."
"Doesn't take long these days." I sighed. "Anyway the Borg had me; the Queen was eager to test her little toys, so they assimilated me. Of course it wasn't in the usual manner; everything had to be carefully regulated and monitored if they were to learn anything from the process." I stated feeling a half-smirk of remembered amusement crossing my features as I recalled the obvious shock at what happened next. "For some as of yet unknown reason when the Nanoprobes came into contact with my blood stream something happened that went beyond anything she could have foreseen. The Nanoprobes rewrote their entire programming matrix; I guess you could say they evolved, finding the material they had to work with insufficient they took it upon themselves to break me down on a sub- atomic level and rebuild me into the image they saw fit." I paused in the telling my mouth dry with the amount of dialogue I was getting out; it was in such a rush as well it would be obvious to even the densest of beings that I was eager to get this out and over with. "In so doing I changed; mutated I'd guess you'd call it though it was no picnic let me tell you. I have been classified as a Technorganic Borg by Starfleet Medical; considered to be a Human-Borg hybrid due to the fact that unlike a true Borg my implants have become fused with my inner organs to such a degree that removing them is not possible. My ocular nerves now house sophisticated optic sensors; my olfactory senses have been augmented, my vocal abilities have been greatly enhanced allowing me to mimic other vocal patterns even women. And of course there are the extrasensory capabilities; meaning my latent gifts. Such as the ability to manipulate gravity and to a smaller degree magnetism." I elaborated demonstrating the last bit by pulling a spoon into the palm of my hand with a carefully controlled thought. "It is highly ironic then that I can claim something the Borg can not; for due to their failed experiment I have achieved a sense of ultimate perfection..." I paused momentarily shuddering at how much I sounded like her; with a quick mental shove I buried that thought deep within and looked back up at the assembled members of the X-Men. "I hate it when I get all logical on people." I admitted with a weary sigh and a small yawn that took me by surprise.
"I suppose it would be difficult to maintain the level of intelligence you possessed before the incident." Hank observed eliciting a wry chuckle of bemusement from me.
"Most assuredly, we're talking about suddenly awakening to the fact that I am using one hundred percent of my brain power due to the fact that it has become computerized to an extent." I concurred with another wry chuckle. "Fortunately for me my soul is more often in control then my brain." I added with a second weary yawn.
"You've been up for quite some time Mister Rutherford." Xavier observed moving back from the table. "Might I suggest you take this opportunity to rest?"
"You sure you don't want to talk some more?" I wondered. "I mean about Roma and everything."
"Nonsense it wouldn't do for us to keep a guest from getting some rest when he obviously needs it." Xavier returned with a carefully hidden smile.
"In that case, thank the Matrix; I feel like I could sleep for eight days." I remarked taking care to cover my mouth as I allowed myself the luxury of a much needed giant yawn. "When you've been dealing with everything I have for the past thirty hours it can be understandable." I added before politely taking my leave and returning to my room where I promptly fell into the regeneration bed and closed my eyes swiftly succumbing to the sleep that had been creeping up upon me.
"Are you sure now that keepin' him here's a good idea Professor?" Logan asked still doing his best to get the man out before he caused some kind of problem for his friends. "He seems a little unstable."
"As I recall so was a certain current member of the X-Men that shall remain nameless." Xavier returned with another carefully hidden smile.
"I doubt his instability is a constant Logan." Hank added. "If you'd been awake for thirty hours straight you'd probably act a little out of it too."
"Professor was he speaking the truth?" Scott inquired. "I mean it does seem a little farfetched."
"Is it so hard to believe that God vould call someone to fulfill their destiny in such a manner?" Kurt asked pointedly. "The vays of the lord are oftentimes mysterious after all meine freund."
"I didn't mean that Kurt; when he spoke of his brief contact with his lord I could see the reverence in his eyes just as you." Scott clarified. "I was referring to his little tale concerning the Borg."
"The proof is right before us Scott; his scans did reveal the nanoprobes he spoke of. And we have encountered characters from that universe once before." Xavier reminded with a smile; Scott nodded remembering the encounter all too vividly.
"I believe he will achieve some much needed peace of mind here Professor." Jean remarked casually resting her hand on her husbands shoulder and squeezing it. "The way he raced through his little monologue makes me believe he didn't get much time to cope with such a traumatic event."
"Indeed Jean; he is fortunate to have come into this house." Xavier agreed with a slight nod; turning to face the collected group he rose his voice so that all could hear, including the three eavesdropping teenagers from the kitchen. "I suggest we offer kindness and friendship instead of suspicion and mistrust; for someone who has undergone so many hardships at such a young age it is vital that we ensure he feels right at home. Scott I would suggest you take him out to the garage when he's rested I think he might enjoy tinkering with some of those old cars, give him something to focus on."
"Of course Professor." Scott agreed.
"Who knows?" Logan remarked. "Bein' that he's all one-hundred percent of his brain and all that he might be able to fix those two cars you said were hopeless." He elaborated with a feral though friendly grin.
"Yeah right I'll believe that when I see it." Scott intoned with a small grin; he had a feeling that Mister Rutherford wasn't too big when it came to hands on repair work.
To Be Continued