I do not own claim to any of the X-Men or their universe (just my girl Mimik) and I make no money from this. Enjoy!
Darkness…. Everywhere around me, pressing in, sucking the air from my lungs.
I scream silently as numbness settles in and I get dragged down deeper into the darkness.
Then from all around, laughing…
Deep maniacal, insane laughter.
A cracking noise and then the darkness shatters, falling around me like glass from a broken window.
I stand to see red everywhere; splattered on the walls, dripping from the ceiling, pooling on the floor.
Blood…
I look down at my shaking hands to see them covered with the sticky red liquid.
Another crack sounds behind me and I turn to see him.
He's standing there in a pool of blood and his whip in his hand, laughing.
He brings his arms back and I scream, raising my hands as a shield as the whip comes cracking down.
.
I sit up-right, yelling.
Sweat is pouring off me and my arms are out as shielding myself from my imagined assailant.
I calm down and retract my claws and press my hands to my face, forcing the images back down into my subconscious.
As I calm down I begin to sense my surroundings, first hearing the beep of several machines and then a hushed breathing.
I can smell chemicals and the sterile scent of medical supplies and above all that I can smell another in the room with me.
I move a bit and the bed that I'm sitting on squeaks in protest and the blankets on my lap start to get tangled around my legs.
As slowly drop my hands to see what looks to be a darkened lab, the skin on my left hand sends a small shooting pain up my arm and I look to see a needle attached to an IV drip in the back of it.
The panic stars to build; where am I? This isn't the lab I'm used to… Why aren't I strapped to the bed like usual?
I hear a shuffling noise ahead of me in the darkness and I strain to see what produced it.
My eyes adjust slowly and I see the outline of a person sitting in a chair against the wall, next to them is a door.
I slow my breathing if only to quiet the rapidly increasing beeps coming from the machine next to me.
The person shifts again, this time standing up very slowly.
I swallow my panic and begin preparing for a fight.
The person finally speaks, whispering just loud enough so I could hear them, "It's just me kiddo, I'm gunna turn up the lights, kay?"
The familiar voice first sends a wave of terror flooding over me at first and then as I process what I just heard…
"Wolverine?"
He grunts in acknowledgment and slowly the darkness begins to fade and as the room brightens I take in my surroundings.
It's a medical lab, filled with all sorts of equipment and a horseshoe of desks with a few computers, microscopes, textbooks, and notebooks covering it. The walls and floor are made from blue tinted steel and it all seems to be very stark and sterile.
I'm on a small hospital bed hooked up to an IV and a heart monitor.
I look down at myself to see that I'm dressed in a hospital gown and covered with a thin white blanket.
Finally I look over at the wall where Wolverine is standing, a hand on a dial, probably the light control.
He smiles tiredly at me and says, "Heya kid, how're you feelin'?"
I crack my neck and stretch as much as possible on the tiny bed, assessing my body and how it feels.
"Better than I have in a long while…"
He smiles again, looking relieved, "Good to hear. Seeing as you're up I'm gunna call Beast down here to check on you. I was told to call the instant you woke up, but I thought it would be better if I waited 'til you calmed down a bit."
I nod frowning, "How long have I been out?"
The gruff man walks over to a cell phone sitting on the desks, "You've been in a coma for the past two weeks. Beast said-"
"Two weeks? What the hell happened?"
I put a hand to my head, "I remember Wraith coming in and then you getting shot, and then I went with him to see Cornelius and then… Nothing…"
Wolverine looks at me surprised, gripping the cell phone tightly, "You don't remember what happened?"
"No… what's going on, Logan? Where the hell am I? What happened?"
He growls and flips the phone open dialing as he says, "Wait till I can get Beast and the Professor down here and I'll explain everything, kay kid?"
I bite my lip in frustration, but nod. I don't like this one bit; he's acting all defensive all of a sudden.
.
He briefly talks with Beast on the cell, just telling him that I'm awake and that he should bring the Professor down too.
When he hangs up he drops the cell phone back onto the table with a clang and then starts to pace, running his hand through his dark hair.
I watch him, flicking my tail as irritation starts to build and finally I get annoyed at just watching him wear a path in the floor and say sharply, "Would you sit the fuck down? You're making me nervous…"
He stops and looks up at me smiling sheepishly, "Sorry kid."
He walks over and leans against the wall near the door.
I look around again, trying to figure out where the hell I am and I nearly fall off the bed when the door suddenly opens making me jump.
I resituate myself as I watch Beast walk in wearing nothing but a black pair of shorts and a white lab coat and then rolling in behind him is an old bald man in a wheel chair, dressed in a classy but casual set of sleepwear.
They both smile at me warmly as they enter. Beast walks over and grabs a clip board off the desk and begins to write things down as he checks the machines and watches me.
More interested in the old man I watch as he rolls up closer to the bed and says, "Hello Kimberley, my name is Professor Charles Xavier."
I nod warily at him, "Wolverine said you guys would explain things to me once you got here. Like where the hell I am for starters."
I keep an eye on the large blue furred man wondering around the lab in the corner of my eye as the old man nods in agreement, "Of course. You are in the medical facilities at my school."
I raise a suspicious eyebrow, "School?"
He continues to smile, "The Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. Here we help mutants learn to cope with their powers, educating them, and giving them a place to feel safe and free of fear and hostility."
I snort, looking at him with disbelief, "Are you serious?"
He nods, "I'm sure that even from here you can sense that this place is far different from your previous location, no fear or pain or hatred. Here we promote peace and-"
I hold up a hand to stop him, "I've heard this from Cyclops, you guys fight for equal rights and all that bullshit."
A slight flash of annoyance crosses the old man's face before being quickly covered up by his smile again.
"At the moment all I wanna know is what happened. According to him," I point to Wolverine leaning on the wall, "There's something I'm missing, or have forgotten and I think it's kinda important. I mean how the hell did I even get here? There is no way Wraith and his boys let me go outta the kindness of their hearts."
Beast walks up on my left pointing to my hand, "May I?"
I hold out the hand and he gently removes the needle, the hole in my skin sealing up instantly.
"And why the hell was I out for so long? What happened?"
Beast throws out the needle saying, "That part I think I can answer. It would seem that during our stay at the facility your body was being over stressed to the point that I believe you had just been running on pure adrenaline. The constant healing and strain that the Colonel put on you completely exhausted your body and once you were unconscious your body shut itself down, putting you into a regenerative comatose state. It's quite fascinating really and I am truly surprised that you came to so soon. After all that happened I expected you to be out for at least another week."
He picks up his clipboard and begins scribbling again.
My mind starts to slip back, recounting the last few days that I could remember, but I quickly pull myself back to the present and I look at the silent man in the corner, "Ok, so I ask again, WHAT HAPPENED?"
Logan growls softly and pushes himself off the wall, walking over next to the Professor.
He looks down at the old man and frowns, crossing his arms, and then looks up at me and says, "You're free now, isn't that all you need to know?"
"Damn it Wolverine, there's something you're not telling me that I NEED to know. I can see it on all of your faces! Hell for all I know this could just be another one of the lab boys mind fucks again and I'm actually lying on a table somewhere in one of the labs…"
Wolverine shakes his head, "You blew them up. The labs, the control center, the barracks; they're all gone."
I my jaw drops and I think wildly, trying to remember, "And what about Wraith and Cornelius? How the hell did I get past them?"
Logan sighs and runs his hand through his hair again, "Before I let myself get caught I made plan with a group of mutants know as The Brotherhood as well as with a faction of S.H.E.I.L.D. After a few days they were supposed to follow the tracking beacon that I had ingested and were going to help me free the X-men that were captured. After you got taken away from the cell by Wraith that last time they did something to your head and when you came back you were catatonic."
A flash of anger flies across his face as he recalls the memory and he continues, "Sabertooth took me from the cell and we had a little… chat before I returned to the facility finding it a mess. The Brotherhood had showed up and let you guys out. When I first saw you the elf was leading you around 'cause you were still- not there I guess. When the elf pointed out Wraith trying to run away you went ballistic. You charged at him, stabbing him and when Nightcrawler tried to stop you, you cut him too."
He sighs, "You don't hafta worry 'bout Wraith no more. You made sure he wasn't getting back up, ever again."
I close my eyes cringing in pain as my head feels like its splitting open and the memories of that night flood back.
The blood lust, the mutilated body, the mutants, Fury, the labs being destroyed, and the files…
I shake my head as the pain subsides and suddenly I start laughing, tears rolling down my face.
The three all look at each other worried and confused.
"He's dead."
I laugh more, "He's dead. He's really fuckin' dead!"
I wrap my arms around myself as the laughter turns into sobs.
Wolverine rushes over and holds my shoulders, comforting me in what he thinks is sadness.
I'm crying because of the happiness and sudden relief, I felt as nothing in the world could hurt me now that I knew for sure that that bastard wasn't breathing.
.
I force myself to calm down and I wipe away the tears, pondering for a moment the fact that I can't even remember a time when I cried like that.
I regain my composure, trying to hold back a grin, and I gently push Logan away from me.
"Now what happened to those files I saved? There were three of them; mine, Wolverine's and Sabertooth's."
The old man frowns, looking up at Wolverine who shakes his head.
He looks at me and says, "I believe that it would be best to save those for later when you are more settled in and- prepared."
I frown at him suspiciously, but just then my stomach growls and I try to remember the last time I ate, it was before that mission with the X-men.
Beast smiles and says, "I think it would be best if you were to shower and then get something to eat before we continue anything else."
I sniff, smelling a slight body odor coming from myself and agree, "Are there any clothes that I could borrow? I don't even wanna see my uniform, burn the piece of shit for all I care."
Beast nods, a small sad smile on his face, "Of course, if you would just give me your approximate sizes I'll fetch you some of our stock clothes."
"Stock? You have a lot of people who come in naked, needing clothes?"
Beast chuckles and says, "No but it is always best to be prepared, and this instance attests to that."
I shrug and tell him what sizes I think I wear and he leaves the med lab to go get them.
I look at the old man and Logan, "So what happened to the German? He's ok right? I don't think I hurt him too badly…"
The old man smiles again and says, "Kurt is just fine, he may have some scars, but other than that he is adjusting quiet well to life here."
Wolverine grunts, "He's been down here every day, checking up on you too. Seems he's concerned we'd throw you out once you woke up."
I look at my knuckles for a moment and ask, "And will you? I mean it's not like I'm gunna stay anyways, but…"
Xavier shakes his head, "You are welcome to stay here as long as you like. I would actually be very happy if you were to consider staying here permanently to join the X-men. You would be safe here and you would never have to worry about fleeing from men like Colonel Wraith ever again."
I frown, staring at this weak looking man, trying to figure out why even someone like Wolverine respects him and follows him.
The tension is broken by Beast coming back into the med lab holding a set of clothing, following him into the room was the red head, Jean.
She looks at me, plastering a fake smile onto her face, while fear rolls off of her in small waves.
Beast brings me the clothes and says, "Miss Grey assisted me with choosing proper attire for you. There is a bathroom and shower through that door behind the desk, take your time and if you need any assistance I'm sure Miss Grey would be willing to help."
I raise an eyebrow, observing her fake smile and the smell of fear with underlying tones of anger and sadness, "I'm sure I can mange on my own, thanks."
Xavier looks over at Jean and says, "I think I shall return upstairs with Jean, we'll have someone start breakfast a bit early for you. Is there anything in particular you would like?"
I hesitate for a moment, no has ever asked me what I wanted before.
I look at him and ask, "Bacon?"
I cringe slightly waiting for a no, but all I get is another smile and he says, "Bacon it is then."
.
Jean rolls Xavier out of the room and I throw the blankets off, thinking how weird the stark white sheet looked against the dark green of my skin.
Beast walks over to my left side and says, "Be careful, you haven't been on your feet in a while, you may be weak."
Wolverine walks over to the chair and sits, putting his head back against the wall with his arms crossed, "Let me know when you're all set."
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and let them dangle for a moment before carefully slipping off, making sure my gown stayed closed in the process.
My feet touch the cold metal and I stand there smiling at Beast, having proved him wrong and then my legs buckle and Beast holds me up, smiling back with a face that said, 'I told you so.'
I grip the edge of the bed and pull myself upright again. Standing there for a moment I let the blood rush down through my legs, feeling the muscles start to respond.
I hold onto Beast's furry arm and hesitantly take a step forward.
I almost fall again, but determined to get my legs back in working order I take another step and another until I feel confident enough to let go of Beast.
I walk back over to the pile of clothes on the bed and pick them up.
Beast ushers me into the bathroom and says, "We'll be right out here if you require anything else."
I nod and close the bathroom door; perfectly confident in my ability to walk I go over to the huge mirror on the wall and look at myself.
I seem thinner than usual and you can tell I haven't trained in a while because my arms don't seem as toned.
I remove the gown and scan my green body, looking for any new imperfection that I don't remember.
A light green cross shaped scar going down my chest right above my heart is the only thing I don't recognize. Must've been what was done to me after I passed out that last time.
I trace the scar and recall a question Dr. Cornelius was asking himself while examining me one day.
"If her healing factor is so strong, why does it not also heal the scars caused by sever wounds?"
It's always been something I've wondered too and the only thing I can think of is that I'm just that unlucky.
I shrug to myself in the mirror, if I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all I guess.
I shift my appearance ever so slightly, finally letting go of the last disguise I always have in place and watch as the thin scars appear all over my body.
Light green lines outlining my ribs, legs, arms and face. These were from when they replaced my bones; they cut one line from my forehead all the way down to my pelvis.
I snarl silently at the lines and shift again to hide them.
I place my clothes down on the counter next to the sinks and turn to look at the bathroom stalls and the large shower stall next to them. It already contained shampoo, conditioner and soap.
I grin; I haven't seen any hair care products in years, only a bar of soap.
I turn on the shower, as hot as I could get it, and as its warming up I unbraid my hair. It's gotten longer, nearly reaching the bottom of my butt now.
I step back in front of the mirror and nod to myself as I make up my mind.
I pop two of the claws on my right hand and level them up with the length I want it and then I slice it off, tossing the long hair into the trash by the sink.
After a bit of trimming I smile at the mirror satisfied with the new look.
I walk into the scalding water and almost purr with delight. It's been a VERY long time since I've showered with hot water.
I continue to clean myself up and then reluctantly I turn off the water and dry off with a towel from a rack on the wall.
The clothes provided were a bit too large but the undergarments, which Jean must've selected for me, fit just fine and I didn't mind if the shirt was slightly loose.
The pants were a faded jean and the shirt was a black t-shirt with a large red X with a silver circle around it. I roll my eyes at the symbol and fixed my hair, smiling again at the look.
It was short, real short, with the bangs coming down to a point just above my left eye.
I believe the cut was called a pixie cut with a little emo flair to it. I liked it.
The last thing I had to fix before I walked out was my pants, I cut a small hole in the back so my tail could come out comfortably and waved it around to make sure it was ok and then I stepped back out into the med lab.
