Family Affairs

In the Torque home a regal woman with blond hair finished putting herself together for the evening. "I hope for once VanDymes' party won't be such a bore," She muttered.

A middle-aged man with reddish hair and a sturdy athletic body finished straightening his tie. "You know how necessary they are for my business."

"Not to mention my circle of friends," She sniffed. "Well we'd better get it over with. I just…" She looked out of the corner of her eye. "What are you doing here?" She said sharply.

"Hello Mother, Father," Arcade said softly.

"Were you spying on us again?" Mrs. Torque snapped.

"N-no I just wanted to see you," Arcade said.

"What for?" Mrs. Torque asked. "What could a child like you possibly want? Spit it out boy!"

"I…I…" Arcade felt his throat go dry. "Tomorrow's my birthday."

"So it is," Mr. Torque nodded. "Sixteen is it?"

"Yes sir," Arcade responded.

"Well if it's money you want go buy yourself something with your credit card," Mrs. Torque said. "That's what it's for."

"It's not that," Arcade said. "I was wondering if we could do something tomorrow night. If not I could go see some friends."

"You'd better do that," Mrs. Torque went back to her mirror. "We have an engagement tomorrow night as well. That ghastly auction for …what charity was it again?"

"Does it really matter?" Mr. Torque asked. "Yes why don't you go have some fun with friends your own age. You really don't want to hang around with us now do you?"

No I don't, Arcade thought to himself. Instead he replied. "All right. Good night Father, Mother. Have a good night."

He barely left the room when he heard his mother say to his father. "Friends? Since when does he have any friends?"

"Maybe he's finally making something of himself," Mr. Torque said. "Even he can't stay locked up in his room forever."

"I just hope that whoever they are they are at least not some kind of hooligans," Mrs. Torque sniffed.

Arcade didn't stay to hear the rest. His parents had him late in life. They had never wanted children in the first place since they both had one from previous marriages. Yes they were living with their other parents and stepparents. They were now successful in life. One was an attorney and the other was a shrewd businesswoman. They were the 'golden' children. Perfect in every way. Unlike him, a gangly red haired geek.

Yes he was an accident as his mother often reminded him. Still as long as he left them alone and didn't embarrass them he was free to do as he pleased. "Yes Mother I think I will get myself something," He said softly as he locked the door into his room. "But I won't need my credit card."

He went to his computer. "Now let's see what Cerebro has found for me today?" He scanned the files. "Interesting. Now cross reference the sightings to known associates of the X-Men…Bingo!"

His eyes gleamed as he saw the information on the screen. "Perfect," Arcade nodded. "Not one but two mutant sightings. That's just what I've been waiting for! Now to send a little message of my own…"

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"I can't believe what a mess this is!" Hank sighed. "Are you sure that you can't fix Cerebro any faster Forge?" Several X-Men were in Cerebro trying to fix the machine.

"Look I'm more a hands on inventor," Forge told him. "Programming isn't exactly my thing. I mean I'm good at it but you really need an expert here. Somehow Cerebro's files got corrupted and I can't even begin to find the source."

Xavier sighed as he looked over the files. "I'm afraid you're right. I designed this system and even I'm having trouble with it."

"Look I know somebody who could help us," Kitty said. "You guys remember Arcade right?"

"How could we forget?" Kurt moaned. "He nearly barbecued us!"

"Yeah but he's like a genius when it comes to computers," Kitty pointed out. "Maybe he could help us?"

"That's not a bad idea," Xavier sighed. "I'm afraid we need all the help we can get with Cerebro. When I return from West Virginia I think I'll call the boy myself."

"West Virginia?" Kurt asked.

"It seems that another member of Cannonball's family has developed a mutation of her own," Hank told them.

"Yeah my folks got real upset," Sam told them. "We're gonna go down there and help my baby sister out."

"You mean your sister's…" Forge began.

"A mutant like me yeah," Sam nodded. "Mom just called a few hours ago."

"So what's her power?" Kitty asked.

"According to what I could get from Cerebro her powers involve some kind of manipulation of her epidermis on a molecular level," Hank said.

"In English?" Logan asked as he walked in.

"Her powers have something to do with her skin," Hank said.

"I need the Blackbird prepped in…" There was a buzzing sound from Cerebro.

"What's that?" Kitty asked.

"It's some kind of message via e-mail," Forge put it on the screen. "Hey it's from Angel!"

"Wonderful," Logan growled. "Now Fly-boy needs our help!"

"It appears that Warren is requesting our help with a mutant he's found," Xavier looked. "It doesn't go into detail what his powers are but it seems quite urgent."

"So what do we do?" Hank asked.

"Hank you and I will go to Vermont," Xavier said. "Logan you take Ororo and go with Sam to help his sister. Jean I want you to go with them as well."

"Right Professor," Jean nodded.

"Scott you and Rogue are in charge," Xavier said. "We'll be back as soon as possible. Oh and do me a favor this time, no parties please?"

"Don't worry Professor," Rogue nodded. "We'll keep a lid on things."

"Yeah everything will run as smooth as silk when you get back," Forge nodded.

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"I'm telling ya 'Ro, that boy's got it bad for you," Logan said. He was piloting the Velocity an hour later.

"Please Logan," Ororo rolled her eyes. "Forge is only a boy."

"That 'boy' is technically an adult," Logan said. "And even if he wasn't I know hormones when I smell 'em. I'm just saying to be careful will ya?"

"You needn't worry," Ororo smiled. "I believe I can control myself."

"It's not your control I'm worried about," Logan remarked.

"I think we're coming up to Cannonball's farm," Jean cut in.

"Thank goodness we're out in the sticks where not too many people will know about it," Logan nodded.

"The sticks' as you refer to it happens to be my home," Sam told him defensively.

"I'm sure Wolverine didn't mean it like that," Jean said. "He's probably referring to the fact that not many people will be around to see us land."

"Wanna bet?" Logan pointed. "Looks like there's an army out there!"

"That army is my family," Sam grinned as he saw a crowd of people outside the farm. "My cousins must have come over too."

"How many cousins do you have?" Jean asked wide-eyed.

"Well my dad has six brothers and sisters and my mom has nine brothers and sisters," Sam said. "And nearly all of them are married and have kids. And those are just my first cousins. My second and third cousins have a lot more. Looks like only half of them are there."

"Six and nine?" Logan asked.

"Only half?" Jean's jaw dropped.

"Yeah well let's just say that having a lot of kids runs in the family," Sam ran his hand through his hair.

"Does Tabitha know about this?" Jean asked.

"If not she will soon enough," Logan shook his head as he landed the chopper. Already several children and teenagers were crowding around the jet. "Oh great! They're gonna get fingerprints all over it and I just had it waxed!"

"Calm down Mr. Logan they're just curious that's all," Sam said. He opened the door.

"Sammy!" A seven-year-old blonde girl in pigtails and a red dress ran up to him.

"Well hey there Sarah!" Sam hopped down and lifted her up in a big hug. "Man you're getting big!"

"Hey little Bro!" Another tall strapping boy clapped him on the shoulder. "Looks like all that big city living's doing you some good!"

"George you old rascal you! How are ya!" Sam laughed.

"I hate to break up the family reunion," Logan growled. "But we're here on a mission, remember? Hey! You kids don't climb on there! Is that jelly? You'll ruin the paint job!"

"Logan!" Ororo snapped.

"Don't mind Mr. Logan," Sam told them. "He's always like that. Don't mean nothing."

"Sounds like Cousin Irving to me," Another Guthrie chuckled.

"Hi there," Sarah looked at Jean. "Are you Sam's girlfriend?"

"No silly that's Jean," Sam shook his head. "I told you about her. Remember?"

"Oh," Sarah nodded. "She don't look stuck up."

"WHAT?" Jean glared at Sam.

"Uh maybe we oughta go see my sister now," Sam gulped.

"Samuel! Thank goodness you're here!" Mr. Guthrie ran up.

"Pa what happened?" Sam asked.

"Well we were all having a quiet family dinner when all of the sudden Paige starts screaming," He told him. "You see she was fighting with Henry again and you know how they get to tussling. Well all of the sudden…it happened. He grabbed her arm like this and went to yank on it and then…well."

"Well what?" Sam asked. "What happened?"

"This," The boy named Henry pulled something out. "Her skin came off her arm and underneath was something shiny." It was in the shape of a hand and arm.

"Henry James Guthrie you put that away!" Mr. Guthrie snapped.

"That's disgusting!" Another girl shouted as Sarah started to cry.

"I think it's pretty cool," Henry looked at it. "Like some kind of insect husk. Besides there's more of it all over the house."

"I think we'd better see for ourselves," Ororo took charge. "Sam, Jean come with me. Logan why don't you entertain the children?"

"What?" Logan sputtered as Sam handed him Sarah. "But I…But I…"

"Hi Mister," Sarah stopped crying and looked at him. "Boy you have funny hair."

"What does this do?" Henry went inside the Velocity.

"Oh no you don't!" Logan snapped. "Thanks a lot Ororo!"

They went inside the farmhouse. "Where is she?" Sam asked a young woman.

"In her room with your mother," She said holding something golden. "She's shedding it all over the house!"

"Come on," Sam lead them upstairs to a door. "Paige! It's me! Sam!" Sam called out. "Open up!"

"Sammy?" A middle aged blonde woman opened the door. She hugged him. "Oh Sammy I'm so glad you're here!"

"Mamma?" A small voice cried out in the dark.

"Paige?" Sam looked past his mother's shoulder. Something in human form was behind her. "PAIGE!"

Ororo and Jean went into the room. The girl seemed to be covered completely in a brown rocky crust. What little she wore was torn and shredded. "Help me Sam," Paige whimpered. "I can't stop it."

"It's all right Paige don't fret now," Sam knelt by her side. "I'm here."

"Paige? My name's Jean and this is Storm," Jean knelt next to her. "Are you in pain."

"N…No," She sniffed. "Not really. But I can't stop it."

"First she was gold," Mrs. Guthrie indicated the discarded skin all around on the floor. "Then silver. Then this black plastic like stuff and now she's a rock! What does it all mean?"

"Your daughter's mutation has to do with her skin," Ororo looked around. "I think it means that she can change her outer layer of skin to several different substances at will."

"But why did this have to happen to me?" Paige gulped, still crying. "Why can't I have a cool power like Sam's?"

"No one knows exactly why it is a mutant gets the powers they have," Jean said gently. "When I first got my powers I hated them too. But now I can control them. Let me help you." Jean put her hands on Paige's head. "Now calm down and concentrate. Just think about your skin the way it was before the change."

"I…I'll try," Paige gulped. She took several breaths. Then she started pulling at her face with her hands. The rocky exterior crumbled to reveal a pretty girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"That's it Paige," Jean said gently. "Take control." She then noticed that Paige was barely wearing anything at all. "Uh Sam…could we have some privacy please?"

"Uh sure," Sam gulped as he left the room. Ororo went with him as Jean and Mrs. Guthrie tended to Paige.

Sam's father was waiting downstairs. "How is she?"

"Jean's calming her down," Sam told him. "She should be back to normal."

"Yeah but for how long?" George asked. "I mean how does this happen? I thought Sam was the only mutant in the family?"

"Well it is always a possibility that siblings would inherit the X-Gene," Ororo said.

"Yeah and with all of us I guess the odds are pretty good," Another of Sam's brothers nodded.

"You're not gonna send her away too are ya?" One of Sam's relatives asked Mr. Guthrie.

"What choice do I have?" Mr. Guthrie asked. "I don't know how to help her and she can't stay here! You know how some folks in this county feel about mutants! They went nuts when Sam became one! You think it'd be any better for Paige? I don't want her to go but if that's what's best for her…"

"Don't worry Pa," Sam said. "I'll take good care of her. I promise. She won't be alone. It ain't like this hasn't happened before."

"Well at least this time we know what's going on," Mr. Guthrie sighed. "Can you help her like you helped Sam?"

"We will do our best," Ororo said. "The Institute will be the safest place for her. I guarantee it."