Chapter 6 – Surprises
Anchorage, Alaska.
"Honey, we're back," Madelyne shouted as she entered the house holding little Nathan in her right arm and a grocery paper bag in her left. Scott was washing dishes at the kitchen sink, his back turned to her.
"Hello, sweetheart," he dried his hands and turned around, a big smile showing on his face.
"Scott! Oh my God, your eyes!" His wife screamed in terror, dropping the bag and scattering fruits and vegetables all over the kitchen floor. She spun around to protect the baby in her arms with her body. Scott approached them and laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Maddie, it's safe. You can turn around, my eyes won't hurt you," he told her calmly.
The woman hesitated. "H-How?"
"The government's been secretly poisoning our waters with the 'cure'," the mutant explained. "As a result, my optic beams became weaker and I am able to control them now."
She slowly turned around. Scott stared at his wife's beautiful face, noticing the delicate brownish freckles and a bluish tinge in her caramel eyes. Her hair still looked auburn, although it showed more traces of gold now. Scott couldn't help but run his fingers through the satin strands.
Madelyne was paralyzed, completely awestricken by the situation. "Scott… Is it really safe? Shouldn't you, uh… close your eyes for a few minutes?"
"Believe me, it's safe. I would never endanger you guys," he affirmed, and tried to explain. "I can feel my beams well-secured behind my eyeballs… I've tested it a dozen times this morning, and I never missed," he said, taking Nate from his mother's arms and holding him close. The baby extended his tiny hands to reach out for his daddy's bare face and laughed.
"Oh Nathan, you're so beautiful," Scott exclaimed, his light brown eyes welling up with emotion as he admired his son as if he was seeing him for the very first time. His gazing was interrupted by Madelyne's confused voice.
"Honey, what did you say about poisoned water? How do you know about that?"
"Alex called today. He said the government has spread the 'cure' into the West Coast's water basins. We've been drinking it for some time now, and somehow it has drained my powers, but just enough to make me able to finally control them."
"That's great, love!" She said excitedly. "Does it mean your powers will disappear if you keep drinking the water?"
"I don't know, and I'm not taking any chances. I've already gone to the market and bought enough bottled water for the whole month. We'll use it to cook and drink, and to prepare Nate's formula," he informed his wife. "God knows what this thing may cause to a growing baby."
Maddie was about to argue but decided against it. "Okay," she told him.
"I know I should be furious that the White House has decided to incapacitate mutants, especially in such a coward way… On the other hand, I'm so grateful for finally being able to see in colors again… to see the two of you as you are," he pondered, pulling the redhead closer to him. "Does this mean I'm a coward too?"
"That's nonsense, dear," Madelyne spoke in a comforting tone. She then cupped his chin and gently rotated his head sideways to have a better look at his uncovered face. "You look so handsome without the glasses, Scott," she said smiling, standing in her toes to plant a kiss on her husband's lips.
Xavier's School for the Gifted Youngsters, Salem Center, New York.
Rogue knocked twice at the studio's wooden doors, but no one answered. She decided to slowly open them, her green eyes peeking inside before she let herself in.
Charles was sitting in his wheelchair with his eyelids closed and a frown on his forehead. He was using Cerebro, the mutant-searcher device he frequently relied on to enhance his telepathy, just as the woman had imagined he would be. The southern belle silently placed a tray with some toasts and chamomile tea on Professor X's desk and turned away to leave.
"Thank you, Rogue," his weary voice filled the large room rather than her mind. Anna Marie concluded he must be really tired in order to choose to use verbal communication over telepathy.
"Mah pleasure, professah," she smiled. "Any news on Magneto and his crew?"
The man took the device off his bald head before responding. "Unfortunately, no. I don't understand, Anna. Erik's helmet prevents me from entering his mind; nonetheless, I should still be able to find his acolytes, especially with Cerebro's aid," he explained and sighed in frustration. "It is as if they have vanished from Earth."
The woman contemplated her mentor's words. "Do ya' think it's possible?"
"What do you mean?"
"Magneto oughta know the Russians and the United Nations are lookin' foah him. What if he's… I don't know… outah the planet?"
Charles sipped from his tea and looked at Rogue with a solemn face. "Where Magnus is concerned, we should be prepared for anything."
Bronx, New York.
"Hey, Red," Logan entered Jean's apartment and gave her a peck on the lips, but she didn't return the kiss. "Sorry 'bout your lock, I'll fix it today," he told her almost timidly, scratching the hair on the back of his head. He had totally forgotten about the damage he had caused to the lock the day before and was blaming himself for not having repaired it so far. "How're ya feelin' today?"
"Sad. Upset. Pissed, to be more precise," she glared at him distrustfully. "I've talked to Warren earlier this morning. He told me he's an X-Man now."
"Did he? Huh," Logan was crouching near the doorway to better check the lock and didn't elaborate. "Ya have any tools in this place?"
With a wave of Jean's hand, the door was violently shut. "Are you going to tell me what yesterday's meeting was about, Wolverine?" The last word was spoken in a bitter pitch. "Or do I have to call Ro and ask her to spill the beans for me? I'm sure Forge isn't keeping any secrets from her," she provoked, irritated.
Logan stood up and wiped his hands on his jeans. 'Damn that bigmouth playboy.' He stared at his girlfriend, noticing her flushed skin and furious glare - redheads and their tempers. "Let's sit down, darlin'," he took her hand and gently pulled her towards the couch. "What did flyboy chatter to ya?"
She sighed. "Not much. He only told me your ridiculous nickname, and that he and Forge are going to help the X-Men to produce an antidote for the 'cure' in large scale. Is this true?"
"Actually, Wolverine's not a nickname, it's a codename," he smirked. "And it's not ridiculous, it's bad ass."
Jean rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Is it true? Did your physician actually manage to create an antidote?"
"Yeah," he confirmed, picking up a small glass tube from his shirt pocket. "This sample's for ya," he said, handing it to the redhead. "Hank said the effect starts in thirty minutes. If ya inject it now, ya can still take that damn vaccine this afternoon and graduate tomorrow… Your powers will stay the same."
"Are you sure it works?" The redhead asked, turning the vial in her hands.
"I'm sure, darlin'. Furball tested it a hundred times. All the X-Men took it."
"Did you?"
"Yeah, but mine wore off. Probably 'cause my healin' factor fought it," he explained.
The woman didn't seem convinced. "What about adverse effects?"
"Ya mean like rashes or itching? None that I'm aware of," he added. "It's safe, Jeannie. If ya take it, ya can keep your powers and still be a doc."
Jean held the small tube in her right hand, silently examining the translucent liquid within it - a simple fluid; the miraculous solution that would make all her recent tribulations go away. As if things had ever been easy in her life.
Her green eyes teared up, and she quickly placed the vial on the coffee table, almost as if it was burning her skin. "I can't."
The feral stared at her face in surprise. "Why not? It's the solution ya've been waitin' for, Red. I promise ya, it's safe."
The telepath shook her head, red hair cascading down and covering her tearstained face. "I just can't, Logan."
"Why not, Jeannie?"
She raised her head to look at his face. "Because… I'm pregnant."