Cyclops and Storm entered the conference room where the other X-Men waited.
"Jean will be all right." Cyclops announced before anyone could ask the question that was on all their minds. "She's sleeping."
"And our 'guest'?" Wolverine growled.
"I have her under heavy sedation, and I intend to keep her that way until Professor Xavier returns." Storm answered.
"Beast, were you able to find out what that equipment was for?" Cyclops asked as he took a seat at the table.
"The technicians at the laboratory confirmed that it was a sensory deprivation tank, but with a twist." He paused and held up an electronic circuit board the size of a note pad. "This is a psi-dampener."
"A what?" Wolverine asked.
"It blocks a telepath. If you had one of these set up, a telepath couldn't see into, or out of, the area you had defined by the field. In this case, the field surrounded the sensory dep. tank."
"I examined the girl we brought back. As you suggested, Beast, she did not respond, physically, to either light or sound. Not having the patient's cooperation makes it more difficult to determine for certain, but I believe that she is both deaf and blind."
"It was Jubilee's suggestion, actually." Beast put in. Jubilee shrugged, beaming at being included.
"So, they took this kid, whose main inputs are touch and ESP, and locked her in a tank that took both away." Wolverine snarled. "No wonder she went nuts."
"Why'd they go and do a thing like that for?" Rogue put in, "What'd they think was gonna happen?"
"Apparently pretty much what did happen, just not on the scale they were expecting." Beast answered. "I ... persuaded the technicians to brief me on their experiment. They were trying to force her to develop stronger telepathic powers. When they shut down the field the first time, she had been locked in for over a week already. She blew nearly every breaker in the place, knocked out several of their people. Of course, they had battery back-up for the important equipment." He looked at the circuit board with disgust. "They didn't waste a lot time turning the dampener back on."
"Who do dis t'ing?" Gambit asked, holding Rogue's gloved hand.
"The head man split right after they opened the field the first time." Jubilee put in. "Those geeks don't even know his name. They just called him "The Doctor"." She giggled. "Pretty lame, huh?"
"They were about to, as they put it, 'terminate the experiment' when we arrived."
"'Terminate..'" Jubilee whispered, questioningly.
"They was gonna kill her, Chere." Jubilee looked horrified.
"That was one o' our options, too." Wolverine said quietly. "Might still be the only option." Jubilee stared at him.
"If Charles cannot help her, Jubilee, we may have no choice." Storm said.
"Well, we are going after this 'Doctor' creep, aren't we? I mean, what if he gets his hands on another mutant? Won't he do the same thing again?" Jubilee was almost shrill.
"Almost certainly." Beast answered. "The technicians were under orders not to damage the equipment or the, umm, specimen."
"Specimen!" Wolverine snarled quietly, his fists clenched, his claws extended. "I always hated that word."
"Easy, Wolverine." Cyclops said from the head of the table. "We'll find this 'Doctor'."
"Yeah, mon amie. Den we show him what 'specimen' mean, no?"
The X-Men parted after the meeting. Beast and Storm going to the laboratory to look over the captured circuit board. Rogue looked after them, thoughtfully.
"I wonder if it can 'dampen' anything else."
"We find out, Chere." Gambit assured her.
Cyclops returned to Jean's side. Jubilee shrugged, then went to her own room.
Wolverine watched them go their separate ways, then turned quietly toward the dispensary, where their 'guest' lay sleeping.
The girl lay motionless on the hospital style bed, her dark hair framing her pale face. Wolverine stood watching her, wondering if he would be forced to kill her. He knew he could, but he hoped he wouldn't have to.
"Are you to kill me now?" Wolverine started at the girl's words, spoken so quietly he had barely heard them. She turned her head slowly and looked up at him, her silver eyes dull.
"You in a hurry ta die?" Wolverine glowered down at her, his arms across his chest.
"No." she whispered. "But failed experiments are always terminated." Her eyes grew sad. "And I hurt your friend. I'm sorry." She turned her face away, but he could see enough to know she was crying.
"What's your name, kid?"
"What?" she turned to face him again, tears visible on her cheeks.
"Your name. You know, what do people call you?"
"I ... I am called TP36."
"TP36? What kind o' name is that?"
"It ... it is my designation. It means 'telepath number 36." She was beginning to breath faster. "Please. Don't wait too long." She closed her eyes, gasping now, her hands clutched the blankets on the bed. Wolverine pushed the intercom button.
"Storm."
"Yes, Wolverine?" The answer came quickly.
"Our `guest' is awake."
"That should not be possible. Is she all right?"
"I don't think so."
"We are on our way. Wolverine, be careful. She is very powerful and could hurt you badly."
Wolverine moved quickly back to the bed. He took the girl by her shoulders and shook her. Her eyes flew open, but did not focus on him.
"C'mon, kid. Look at me." He shook her again. "Look at me!" She whimpered, the sound setting his teeth on edge.
"C'mon, now. You gotta hang on. Help's comin'." Her eyes abruptly focused, locked on his. She reached up and grabbed his arms with more strength than he had thought possible for a woman of her size. She clung to him as he continued to speak softly to her.
Storm burst in through the door to the dispensary, followed by Beast, Rogue, and Gambit. They were momentarily frozen by the tableau before them. Wolverine stood next to the girl's bed, their arms locked on one another.
"Wolverine?" He didn't turn at the sound of his name, instead he said quietly,
"Storm, she's hangin' on, but not for much longer. You'd better knock her out."
Storm quickly prepared a syringe, then approached the pair, ready to inject the girl. When she touched her, however, the girl's gaze, previously locked with Wolverine's, snapped toward her. Storm recoiled as if from a physical blow, dropping the syringe as she fell backwards.
"No!" Wolverine shouted, and then slapped the girl, drawing her attention back to him. Beast scooped up the syringe and drove it home as Wolverine was hurled away from the girl and into the nearby wall. The tranquilizer only took a moment to take effect. Wolverine slid down the wall and lay in a heap on the floor as the girl slowly collapsed. Rogue helped Storm to her feet and Gambit hurried to the motionless Wolverine.
"Wolverine? You okay, mon amie?" Gambit asked. Wolverine opened his eyes and groaned.
"Don't ask stupid questions, Cajun."
"Yeah, you be okay." He offered his hand to his friend and Wolverine accepted the assistance. The five X-Men turned to the again unconscious girl with a collective sigh.
In the hall outside the girl's room, Storm turned to Wolverine.
"Was she awake when you went in?"
"I don't think so. I'd been there a while before she said anything. Then she asked me if I was gonna kill her."
"But she was rational?"
"Yeah. We talked for a couple a minutes before she started to lose it. She told me not to wait too long to kill her."
"That gal's got a death wish." Rogue put in. Wolverine shook his head.
"No. She just don't want to hurt nobody else. She knows she hurt Jean."
"Someone needs to stay with her until Charles returns."
"She needs a name, too." Wolverine put in.
"What?"
"The kid don't even have a name. They called her some number."
"That's awful!" Rogue said, "Anybody got an idea?"
"Well," drawled Gambit, "I'm partial to Belle, myself." Rogue elbowed him in the ribs.
"Just kiddin', Chere. No need to get physical."
"Wolverine, do you have any suggestions?" Storm asked.
"Yeah. I say we call her 'Star'."
"That because she make you see mor'n you share o' stars, mon amie?" Wolverine glared at Gambit.
"Will you two cut it out?" Rogue demanded. "I'll sit with her for a while, Storm." She put her hands on her hips and glared at Gambit and Wolverine. "And if she wakes up, I'll ask her if she likes it or not, okay?"
"Rogue, if she even begins to stir, give her another shot, then call me."
"All right, Storm. Don't worry. 'Sides, she's a little bitty thing, I should be able to handle her."
"Rogue, do not take any chances. She could still be very dangerous." Storm cautioned.
"Okay, okay." Rogue threw her hands up in surrender. "I'll be careful. Now, you guys run along."
Storm, nursing sore ribs, went back into the girl's room to prepare a syringe, should Rogue need it. Beast went with her.
"She looks like a child."
"Yes." Storm sighed. "But a very dangerous child. The first tranquilizer I gave her should have kept her quiet for eight hours, not less than two. The second dose would have knocked you out, Beast." She sighed again. "I hope Charles hurries. I cannot continue giving her this much without hurting her." She smoothed the girl's hair away from her face.
"When is he coming back?"
"Tomorrow morning at the earliest. More likely, tomorrow evening."
"I hope we've got that long."
"So do I."
"Chere..." Gambit said uncertainly.
"Don't worry, Remy. I'll be careful." Rogue answered him seriously. "Now, you go after Wolverine. If I know him at all, he's gone to the kitchen for a beer. He could probably use some company, too. Even if it is yours." Gambit caught her up in his arms and spun her around.
"Okay, Chere. But you call if you need anyt'ing, no?"
"I promise. Now put me down." Grinning, Gambit put her feet back on the floor. He blew her a kiss as he turned toward the kitchen. She shook her head, then went into the girl's room.
"Ah, Rogue." Storm said, turning away from the bed. "Here is the syringe if you need it. I am going to check on Jean. Someone will relieve you before too long."
"If you need me, I'll be in the lab, looking at that application we discussed."
"Thanks, Beast. Got it, Storm." Storm and Beast left, going their separate ways. Rogue pulled up a chair and began leafing through a book left in the room by a previous patient. The girl didn't move.
"Here you be, mon amie, just like Rogue say." Gambit said, as he took a beer out of the refrigerator and joined Wolverine at the kitchen table.
"What d'ya want, Cajun." Wolverine growled.
"Not a t'ing, mon amie, not a t'ing." Gambit sipped his drink. "Don' worry 'bout de little femme, Wolverine. De Professor, he be back soon. He take care o' her."
"I hope so, Cajun. I sure do hope so."
At a quiet tap on the door, Cyclops rose from his seat beside Jean's bed and, moving silently, opened the door. It was Storm.
"How is she?"
"Sleeping. Is everything all right?" He stepped through the door into the hall and closed it behind him, so that he and Storm could speak without disturbing Jean.
"After giving her enough sedatives to kill a horse, the young lady is sleeping again."
"'Again'?"
"Yes. Wolverine stopped in to check on her, and she awakened. They spoke for a few minutes, then she started to slip and Wolverine called for me. We sedated her, and now she is sleeping. Again."
"That sounds too easy."
"Yes, it does, does it not." Storm sighed. "It was not that easy, of course. If it had been anyone other than Wolverine, he would probably have been badly injured. She seems to have, um, localized her strikes. Wolverine said she was rational for several minutes before, as he put it, she started to lose it."
"What have we gotten ourselves into, Storm?"
"Hopefully, nothing we can not handle." She answered. "Well, I just wanted to check on Jean, to make sure she had not been disturbed."
"She's fine. Sleeping like a baby."
"I will leave you to your own rest then. Good night."
"Good night, Storm."
The enormous house was quiet as night fell. Rogue looked up from her book every few minutes to check on her charge. After an hour or so, she looked up, only to find that she was being regarded in turn. Her heart in her throat at being caught off guard, she put her book down and said,
"Well, hello, sugah. You feeling okay?"
"I killed him didn't I." The girl said, her voice completely flat.
"Killed him? Who? You mean Wolverine?" Rogue laughed shakily, "He's a mite harder to kill than most, honey, believe me. At most, you might 'a bruised his ego. An' he's got plenty of that to go around."
"He's not...?" A hint of desperate hope entered the girl's voice.
"No way, sugah. He's still down in the kitchen drinking a brew with Gambit, if I know anything at all about those two." She picked up the syringe and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Now, Storm said she wanted you to sleep as much as possible, and she said I was to give this to you as soon as you woke up, okay?" The girl nodded, and didn't resist as Rogue injected her with the sedative.
"By the way, folks call me Rogue. That reminds me, Wolverine said you didn't have a proper name so he thought one up for you. What do ya say to being called "Star" around here? That sound good to you?" The girl looked at her, her silver eyes glittering in the light of the room.
"Star." she murmured, "I like that. Star." Her eyes closed and she slept. Rogue heaved a sigh of relief and moved to the intercom.
"Storm?"
"Yes, Rogue. Are you all right?" Came the immediate reply.
"I'm fine, gal. But do you have anything stronger we can give this little thing? She scared me outta half a year's growth, just by looking at me."
"She is awake?"
"Not anymore."
"I will see what I can come up with."
"You do that." Rogue stood by the intercom for a moment, then triggered it again.
"Wolverine?"
"Yeah, Rogue." Wolverine's voice answered after a moment.
"The little gal likes the name you picked for her. And tell Gambit to sit back down. She's sleepin'."
Wolverine turned and grinned at Gambit, who had spilled his beer in his haste to get to his feet. He turned back to the intercom.
"You okay?"
"Sure, no problems a'tall."
"You need anything?"
"Come to think of it, one o' y'all could spell me for a bit, so I can stretch ma legs."
"Be right there." Without a word, Wolverine helped Gambit clean up the spilled beer, then both turned to the door.
Storm and Beast hung an IV bottle from the rack behind the bed. The line ran to a needle in Star's arm.
"With a steady trickle of the sedative, she should sleep the rest of the night." Beast said as Storm checked the tape holding the needle in place.
"I certainly hope so." She stepped back and looked down at Star. "Perhaps the crisis has passed."
"I don't know, Storm. That little gal was awful low." Rogue put in doubtfully.
"Well, we shall see how she does in the morning." Storm yawned. "I will be in my room, if I am needed." She and Beast passed Wolverine and Gambit in the hall outside Star's room. Wolverine stepped inside.
"I'll keep an eye on her tonight, Rogue."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. Go on, get outta here." Gambit held his hand out to Rogue from the hallway. She took it willingly, then turned back to Wolverine.
"Good night, Logan." Wolverine just nodded as he pulled the chair away from the wall. Rogue closed the door behind her. Wolverine turned the lights all the way down, then moved the chair closer to the bed. He sat down, and propped his feet on the bed rail. Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited, watching the sleeping girl. After a while, he dozed.
The clock read a little after three when he was awakened by a frightened cry. He stood and reached for the bed.
"You okay, kid?" His hand brushed hers and she clutched it convulsively.
"I..I can't see anything."
"Hang on, I'll get the light." He started to move away, but she clung to his hand.
"No! Don't leave me here!"
"Wait a sec. I think I can reach the blinds." After a moment, the room brightened, starlight flowing in. Star gasped again.
"What are those?" She whispered.
"What?" From her tone, Wolverine half expected to see a three headed monster on the lawn.
"Those lights."
"The stars? You've never seen the stars?"
"Is that the sky, then?"
"You've never seen the sky, either." Wolverine's voice was low.
"Only in other people's memories."
"When I find that 'Doctor' of yours, I am gonna skin him alive." There was no mistaking the fury he felt.
"Why?"
"Why? What kind o' question is that?" he snarled. Star cringed. "You were treated like an animal."
"I am an animal. A lab animal."
"Not anymore, you're not." He struggled with his anger, knowing he was just frightening her. He moved around to the window side of the bed.
"You're a person, now."
"Why?"
"Just because you are, okay? Now, c'mere. I want to show you something." He adjusted the bed so that she was sitting up, and opened the window. Then he sat down on the bed next to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and started pointing out the constellations. They watched the stars move across the sky until dawn. When the sun rose, she asked him what it was.
"That's the sun. Our own personal star."
"Its pretty."
"Yes, it is." As they watched the sun rise, he realized that he had taken it for granted too long. She put her head on his shoulder, and drifted off to sleep.
Storm quietly opened the door about an hour later. If she was surprised at Wolverine's position, she made no indication of it. She paused for a moment, watching Star sleep in the crook of his arm, then said,
"Did she have a quiet night?"
"She's afraid o' the dark." Wolverine answered, offering no other explanation.
"Can she see, then?" Wolverine shrugged.
"She knew it was dark."
Star stirred against him, abruptly opening her eyes. She looked up at him, then turned her gaze to Storm. She sat up in the bed and Wolverine got to his feet behind her.
"Is she okay?" Star asked. Storm blinked at her for a moment then said,
"Who?"
Star looked over her shoulder to Wolverine,
"Your friend. Her name is Jean? Is she all right? I didn't mean to hurt her." She looked sharply at Storm. "I hurt you, too. You were trying to help him, and I hurt you." Her voice was becoming shrill. Wolverine put a hand on her shoulder.
"Take it easy, kid. I really don't wanna do this again." Star shuddered, then took a deep breath, visibly calming herself. Storm stepped forward and took her hand.
"Jean is fine. I just came from there. She will be going down to breakfast soon." Storm looked past Star's tense face and said to Wolverine, "Why do you not go get something to eat. Ask someone to bring a tray for Star." Wolverine nodded and, with a final reassuring squeeze for Star, he moved around the bed and out the door. Star watched him anxiously. Storm cupped Star's chin with her free hand, turning her attention away from the door.
"As for myself, I have a few bruises, which will heal soon."
"What about him?"
"Wolverine heals very quickly, child."
"Then I did hurt him."
"Yes. But he knows it was unintentional. As do Jean and I."
"I tried to kill him." Star had begun to cry, but with none of the hysteria which indicated a tip toward madness. Storm drew her close, and held her while she cried.
"He does not blame you."
"Why didn't he kill me?" Star sobbed, heedless of Storm's words. Shocked, Storm pulled away, holding Star as arms length.
"We do not kill unnecessarily. Star. Stop this. Right now." Star sobbed, but met Storm's gaze. "We want to help you." Storm continued. Star nodded.
"I know. But if you can't, if the madness returns, will he be able to do it? Its still there. I can feel it, boiling just below the surface, looking for a crack to seep through, to engulf me again." She took a deep, shuddering breath, "Next time, I might kill him."
"Professor Xavier will be here soon. He should be able to help you deal with the madness." With a final, gentle shake, Storm said "Now, let us talk no more of killing. Can you tell me how you came to be in that laboratory?"
Star shrugged and shook her head.
"I was always there, every since I can remember."
"What did you do there?"
"Like I was telling Logan, I..."
"He prefers to be called Wolverine." Storm interrupted.
"Why? He thinks of himself as Logan." Now it was Storm's turn to shrug.
"I do not know. He just prefers it that way."
"Okay."
"I am sorry I interrupted. Please go on." Star leaned back against the bed, as Storm found a more comfortable position.
"I was telling Lo.., uh, Wolverine, I'm just a lab animal. They taught me to read minds without being caught. And how to move things without touching them. Stuff like that."
"And at the end?"
"I...I wasn't strong enough for what the Doctor wanted. He wanted me to be stronger. But he didn't tell me it was going to be so dark, and so...so...alone. I tried. I really did. But I could feel my mind going to pieces, looking for a way out." She looked down at her hands. "Now I'm not even a lab animal. I'm just another failed experiment, past due for termination."
"'Another'? You were not the only mutant in the lab?"
"No. But I was the last. He'll have to start over with another batch."
"Not if we can find him first. He must be stopped."
"Why? We were all mutations, not people."
"Star, everyone you have met here is a mutant. And we are very definitely people. Come, let me remove the needle. It does not seem to have done its job in any case. Then we will set you up with a room of your own."
Storm was showing Star around her room when Rogue and Jubilee came in.
"Knock, knock!" Jubilee chattered happily as she pushed the door open. She had a bundle of clothing tucked under one arm. Rogue carried a covered tray.
"Hi, sugah. Remember me? We met last night." Rogue asked as she put the tray down on a small table.
"I think so. You are Rogue?"
"Tha's right. Storm, you go on down and get your breakfast. Jubilee an' I'll help Star settle in."
"Thank you, Rogue." Storm turned to Star, "I will be back soon, child." She left.
"I'm Jubilee. We're about the same size, so I grabbed a couple of old outfits outta my closet. Hope you like 'em. 'Course, we'll have to hit the Mall to get you all set up." As she talked, Jubilee spread the clothing out on the bed. Star just stared at it.
"Let her eat first, Jubilee." Rogue laughed, "C'mon over here, gal. Let's see what the fellas fixed up for ya for breakfast." Star sat down in a chair next to the table. Rogue took the cover off the tray. "Well, now. You've got hotcakes and sausage here. A big glass o' milk, and a cup o' hot chocolate. Guess they decided you weren't old enough for coffee. 'Course, the way Gambit makes it, its not fit to drink. Syrup's here in this little pitcher." Star stared at the food. "Well, go on gal, dig in. You don't want 'em to think you don't like their cookin', do ya?"
"What is that?" Star finally asked, still looking at the tray.
"What d'ya mean, honey?" Rogue asked, quietly.
"I've never seen food like this."
"Boy, Wolverine said you'd been locked up, but I didn't know he meant in a box."
"Hush, Jubilee." Rogue sat down on the arm of the chair next to Star. "These are hot cakes. I like 'em with butter and syrup. You put the butter on like this," she spread the butter onto the top hot cake, "then you pour syrup over the whole thing. Then you eat it." Star hesitantly picked up her fork, cut a piece out of the hot cake, and took a bite. Jubilee giggled at the expression on her face.
"Its good!" Star said, after a moment.
"If you like that, you're gonna love frozen yogurt!" Jubilee declared.
"Go ahead and finish your breakfast, hon. Then you can try on some of the clothes Jubilee brought for you." Star nodded, eating quickly. She burned her fingers on the cup of hot chocolate, spilling some when she quickly put the cup down. At her stricken expression, Rogue hurriedly reassured her.
"Its okay, sugah. I should 'a warned you. Hot cakes aren't really hot, but hot chocolate is." She mopped up the spilled chocolate. "The milk is cold. If you hold the glass with your burned fingers, it'll make 'em feel better." Star gingerly picked up the glass. She smiled up at Rogue.
"That does feel better." She put the glass back down, and looked at the reddened skin of her fingers. "Is this a burn?" she asked. Rogue took her hand and examined Star's fingers.
"Yeah, but its not a bad 'un. It'll probably fade in a little while. You 'bout finished here?" Star nodded. "Well, then. Let's get you outta that skintight and inta some proper clothes." Jubilee hopped up from the edge of the bed and grabbed a handful of clothes. Star peeled off the body suit without hesitation. Her body was well muscled, her skin unblemished and nearly as pale as an albino's. Rogue and Jubilee helped her choose a pair of dark leggings, a short, frilly skirt, covered with bright flowers, and a white peasant blouse. After Star had dressed, with quite a bit of help with the unfamiliar garments, Rogue and Jubilee stepped back to view the results.
"Wow." Jubilee whistled. "I wish I looked that good in my old clothes."
Rogue turned Star toward the mirror on the back of the door.
"Well, what d'ya think?" Star stared at the mirror for a moment, then raised a hand to her cheek.
"Is that what I look like?" Jubilee started to make a smart remark, but Rogue's glance quelled her.
"Shore is, sugah. And you look just fine." Rogue looked her up and down once more. "Now, we gotta do somethin' 'bout shoes."
"I've never worn shoes."
"Well, that certainly limits our options, don't it? Any ideas, Jubilee?"
"You know, I got a pair of those moccasin boots about a year ago, but I didn't like the way they felt. Made me feel like I was barefoot, so they should be perfect. Hang on, I'll go get 'em."
Jubilee was only gone a moment, returning with a pair of soft, black boots, trimmed in silver.
"Here you go. I sure hope they fit." Star sat down and started to pull one boot on. Smiling, Rogue stopped her.
"Other foot, hon. That's right. See how they curve in on one side? Same shape as your foot. That's got it. Jubilee, those boots are the perfect touch. You done good, hon."
"Thank you. Thank you both." Star said suddenly. "I've never been treated like this."
"Well, get used to it. That's the way we do things around here." Jubilee said. Rogue smiled at the grown-up tone of her voice.
"C'mon, Rogue, let's go show her off!" Jubilee tugged Star toward the door.
"You feel up to it, hon?" Rogue asked.
"I think so." Star answered, uncertainly.
"C'mon, then! I'll get the dishes later." Jubilee pulled Star after her. Star glanced appealingly at Rogue, who laughed and followed them.
"Jean will be all right." Cyclops announced before anyone could ask the question that was on all their minds. "She's sleeping."
"And our 'guest'?" Wolverine growled.
"I have her under heavy sedation, and I intend to keep her that way until Professor Xavier returns." Storm answered.
"Beast, were you able to find out what that equipment was for?" Cyclops asked as he took a seat at the table.
"The technicians at the laboratory confirmed that it was a sensory deprivation tank, but with a twist." He paused and held up an electronic circuit board the size of a note pad. "This is a psi-dampener."
"A what?" Wolverine asked.
"It blocks a telepath. If you had one of these set up, a telepath couldn't see into, or out of, the area you had defined by the field. In this case, the field surrounded the sensory dep. tank."
"I examined the girl we brought back. As you suggested, Beast, she did not respond, physically, to either light or sound. Not having the patient's cooperation makes it more difficult to determine for certain, but I believe that she is both deaf and blind."
"It was Jubilee's suggestion, actually." Beast put in. Jubilee shrugged, beaming at being included.
"So, they took this kid, whose main inputs are touch and ESP, and locked her in a tank that took both away." Wolverine snarled. "No wonder she went nuts."
"Why'd they go and do a thing like that for?" Rogue put in, "What'd they think was gonna happen?"
"Apparently pretty much what did happen, just not on the scale they were expecting." Beast answered. "I ... persuaded the technicians to brief me on their experiment. They were trying to force her to develop stronger telepathic powers. When they shut down the field the first time, she had been locked in for over a week already. She blew nearly every breaker in the place, knocked out several of their people. Of course, they had battery back-up for the important equipment." He looked at the circuit board with disgust. "They didn't waste a lot time turning the dampener back on."
"Who do dis t'ing?" Gambit asked, holding Rogue's gloved hand.
"The head man split right after they opened the field the first time." Jubilee put in. "Those geeks don't even know his name. They just called him "The Doctor"." She giggled. "Pretty lame, huh?"
"They were about to, as they put it, 'terminate the experiment' when we arrived."
"'Terminate..'" Jubilee whispered, questioningly.
"They was gonna kill her, Chere." Jubilee looked horrified.
"That was one o' our options, too." Wolverine said quietly. "Might still be the only option." Jubilee stared at him.
"If Charles cannot help her, Jubilee, we may have no choice." Storm said.
"Well, we are going after this 'Doctor' creep, aren't we? I mean, what if he gets his hands on another mutant? Won't he do the same thing again?" Jubilee was almost shrill.
"Almost certainly." Beast answered. "The technicians were under orders not to damage the equipment or the, umm, specimen."
"Specimen!" Wolverine snarled quietly, his fists clenched, his claws extended. "I always hated that word."
"Easy, Wolverine." Cyclops said from the head of the table. "We'll find this 'Doctor'."
"Yeah, mon amie. Den we show him what 'specimen' mean, no?"
The X-Men parted after the meeting. Beast and Storm going to the laboratory to look over the captured circuit board. Rogue looked after them, thoughtfully.
"I wonder if it can 'dampen' anything else."
"We find out, Chere." Gambit assured her.
Cyclops returned to Jean's side. Jubilee shrugged, then went to her own room.
Wolverine watched them go their separate ways, then turned quietly toward the dispensary, where their 'guest' lay sleeping.
The girl lay motionless on the hospital style bed, her dark hair framing her pale face. Wolverine stood watching her, wondering if he would be forced to kill her. He knew he could, but he hoped he wouldn't have to.
"Are you to kill me now?" Wolverine started at the girl's words, spoken so quietly he had barely heard them. She turned her head slowly and looked up at him, her silver eyes dull.
"You in a hurry ta die?" Wolverine glowered down at her, his arms across his chest.
"No." she whispered. "But failed experiments are always terminated." Her eyes grew sad. "And I hurt your friend. I'm sorry." She turned her face away, but he could see enough to know she was crying.
"What's your name, kid?"
"What?" she turned to face him again, tears visible on her cheeks.
"Your name. You know, what do people call you?"
"I ... I am called TP36."
"TP36? What kind o' name is that?"
"It ... it is my designation. It means 'telepath number 36." She was beginning to breath faster. "Please. Don't wait too long." She closed her eyes, gasping now, her hands clutched the blankets on the bed. Wolverine pushed the intercom button.
"Storm."
"Yes, Wolverine?" The answer came quickly.
"Our `guest' is awake."
"That should not be possible. Is she all right?"
"I don't think so."
"We are on our way. Wolverine, be careful. She is very powerful and could hurt you badly."
Wolverine moved quickly back to the bed. He took the girl by her shoulders and shook her. Her eyes flew open, but did not focus on him.
"C'mon, kid. Look at me." He shook her again. "Look at me!" She whimpered, the sound setting his teeth on edge.
"C'mon, now. You gotta hang on. Help's comin'." Her eyes abruptly focused, locked on his. She reached up and grabbed his arms with more strength than he had thought possible for a woman of her size. She clung to him as he continued to speak softly to her.
Storm burst in through the door to the dispensary, followed by Beast, Rogue, and Gambit. They were momentarily frozen by the tableau before them. Wolverine stood next to the girl's bed, their arms locked on one another.
"Wolverine?" He didn't turn at the sound of his name, instead he said quietly,
"Storm, she's hangin' on, but not for much longer. You'd better knock her out."
Storm quickly prepared a syringe, then approached the pair, ready to inject the girl. When she touched her, however, the girl's gaze, previously locked with Wolverine's, snapped toward her. Storm recoiled as if from a physical blow, dropping the syringe as she fell backwards.
"No!" Wolverine shouted, and then slapped the girl, drawing her attention back to him. Beast scooped up the syringe and drove it home as Wolverine was hurled away from the girl and into the nearby wall. The tranquilizer only took a moment to take effect. Wolverine slid down the wall and lay in a heap on the floor as the girl slowly collapsed. Rogue helped Storm to her feet and Gambit hurried to the motionless Wolverine.
"Wolverine? You okay, mon amie?" Gambit asked. Wolverine opened his eyes and groaned.
"Don't ask stupid questions, Cajun."
"Yeah, you be okay." He offered his hand to his friend and Wolverine accepted the assistance. The five X-Men turned to the again unconscious girl with a collective sigh.
In the hall outside the girl's room, Storm turned to Wolverine.
"Was she awake when you went in?"
"I don't think so. I'd been there a while before she said anything. Then she asked me if I was gonna kill her."
"But she was rational?"
"Yeah. We talked for a couple a minutes before she started to lose it. She told me not to wait too long to kill her."
"That gal's got a death wish." Rogue put in. Wolverine shook his head.
"No. She just don't want to hurt nobody else. She knows she hurt Jean."
"Someone needs to stay with her until Charles returns."
"She needs a name, too." Wolverine put in.
"What?"
"The kid don't even have a name. They called her some number."
"That's awful!" Rogue said, "Anybody got an idea?"
"Well," drawled Gambit, "I'm partial to Belle, myself." Rogue elbowed him in the ribs.
"Just kiddin', Chere. No need to get physical."
"Wolverine, do you have any suggestions?" Storm asked.
"Yeah. I say we call her 'Star'."
"That because she make you see mor'n you share o' stars, mon amie?" Wolverine glared at Gambit.
"Will you two cut it out?" Rogue demanded. "I'll sit with her for a while, Storm." She put her hands on her hips and glared at Gambit and Wolverine. "And if she wakes up, I'll ask her if she likes it or not, okay?"
"Rogue, if she even begins to stir, give her another shot, then call me."
"All right, Storm. Don't worry. 'Sides, she's a little bitty thing, I should be able to handle her."
"Rogue, do not take any chances. She could still be very dangerous." Storm cautioned.
"Okay, okay." Rogue threw her hands up in surrender. "I'll be careful. Now, you guys run along."
Storm, nursing sore ribs, went back into the girl's room to prepare a syringe, should Rogue need it. Beast went with her.
"She looks like a child."
"Yes." Storm sighed. "But a very dangerous child. The first tranquilizer I gave her should have kept her quiet for eight hours, not less than two. The second dose would have knocked you out, Beast." She sighed again. "I hope Charles hurries. I cannot continue giving her this much without hurting her." She smoothed the girl's hair away from her face.
"When is he coming back?"
"Tomorrow morning at the earliest. More likely, tomorrow evening."
"I hope we've got that long."
"So do I."
"Chere..." Gambit said uncertainly.
"Don't worry, Remy. I'll be careful." Rogue answered him seriously. "Now, you go after Wolverine. If I know him at all, he's gone to the kitchen for a beer. He could probably use some company, too. Even if it is yours." Gambit caught her up in his arms and spun her around.
"Okay, Chere. But you call if you need anyt'ing, no?"
"I promise. Now put me down." Grinning, Gambit put her feet back on the floor. He blew her a kiss as he turned toward the kitchen. She shook her head, then went into the girl's room.
"Ah, Rogue." Storm said, turning away from the bed. "Here is the syringe if you need it. I am going to check on Jean. Someone will relieve you before too long."
"If you need me, I'll be in the lab, looking at that application we discussed."
"Thanks, Beast. Got it, Storm." Storm and Beast left, going their separate ways. Rogue pulled up a chair and began leafing through a book left in the room by a previous patient. The girl didn't move.
"Here you be, mon amie, just like Rogue say." Gambit said, as he took a beer out of the refrigerator and joined Wolverine at the kitchen table.
"What d'ya want, Cajun." Wolverine growled.
"Not a t'ing, mon amie, not a t'ing." Gambit sipped his drink. "Don' worry 'bout de little femme, Wolverine. De Professor, he be back soon. He take care o' her."
"I hope so, Cajun. I sure do hope so."
At a quiet tap on the door, Cyclops rose from his seat beside Jean's bed and, moving silently, opened the door. It was Storm.
"How is she?"
"Sleeping. Is everything all right?" He stepped through the door into the hall and closed it behind him, so that he and Storm could speak without disturbing Jean.
"After giving her enough sedatives to kill a horse, the young lady is sleeping again."
"'Again'?"
"Yes. Wolverine stopped in to check on her, and she awakened. They spoke for a few minutes, then she started to slip and Wolverine called for me. We sedated her, and now she is sleeping. Again."
"That sounds too easy."
"Yes, it does, does it not." Storm sighed. "It was not that easy, of course. If it had been anyone other than Wolverine, he would probably have been badly injured. She seems to have, um, localized her strikes. Wolverine said she was rational for several minutes before, as he put it, she started to lose it."
"What have we gotten ourselves into, Storm?"
"Hopefully, nothing we can not handle." She answered. "Well, I just wanted to check on Jean, to make sure she had not been disturbed."
"She's fine. Sleeping like a baby."
"I will leave you to your own rest then. Good night."
"Good night, Storm."
The enormous house was quiet as night fell. Rogue looked up from her book every few minutes to check on her charge. After an hour or so, she looked up, only to find that she was being regarded in turn. Her heart in her throat at being caught off guard, she put her book down and said,
"Well, hello, sugah. You feeling okay?"
"I killed him didn't I." The girl said, her voice completely flat.
"Killed him? Who? You mean Wolverine?" Rogue laughed shakily, "He's a mite harder to kill than most, honey, believe me. At most, you might 'a bruised his ego. An' he's got plenty of that to go around."
"He's not...?" A hint of desperate hope entered the girl's voice.
"No way, sugah. He's still down in the kitchen drinking a brew with Gambit, if I know anything at all about those two." She picked up the syringe and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Now, Storm said she wanted you to sleep as much as possible, and she said I was to give this to you as soon as you woke up, okay?" The girl nodded, and didn't resist as Rogue injected her with the sedative.
"By the way, folks call me Rogue. That reminds me, Wolverine said you didn't have a proper name so he thought one up for you. What do ya say to being called "Star" around here? That sound good to you?" The girl looked at her, her silver eyes glittering in the light of the room.
"Star." she murmured, "I like that. Star." Her eyes closed and she slept. Rogue heaved a sigh of relief and moved to the intercom.
"Storm?"
"Yes, Rogue. Are you all right?" Came the immediate reply.
"I'm fine, gal. But do you have anything stronger we can give this little thing? She scared me outta half a year's growth, just by looking at me."
"She is awake?"
"Not anymore."
"I will see what I can come up with."
"You do that." Rogue stood by the intercom for a moment, then triggered it again.
"Wolverine?"
"Yeah, Rogue." Wolverine's voice answered after a moment.
"The little gal likes the name you picked for her. And tell Gambit to sit back down. She's sleepin'."
Wolverine turned and grinned at Gambit, who had spilled his beer in his haste to get to his feet. He turned back to the intercom.
"You okay?"
"Sure, no problems a'tall."
"You need anything?"
"Come to think of it, one o' y'all could spell me for a bit, so I can stretch ma legs."
"Be right there." Without a word, Wolverine helped Gambit clean up the spilled beer, then both turned to the door.
Storm and Beast hung an IV bottle from the rack behind the bed. The line ran to a needle in Star's arm.
"With a steady trickle of the sedative, she should sleep the rest of the night." Beast said as Storm checked the tape holding the needle in place.
"I certainly hope so." She stepped back and looked down at Star. "Perhaps the crisis has passed."
"I don't know, Storm. That little gal was awful low." Rogue put in doubtfully.
"Well, we shall see how she does in the morning." Storm yawned. "I will be in my room, if I am needed." She and Beast passed Wolverine and Gambit in the hall outside Star's room. Wolverine stepped inside.
"I'll keep an eye on her tonight, Rogue."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. Go on, get outta here." Gambit held his hand out to Rogue from the hallway. She took it willingly, then turned back to Wolverine.
"Good night, Logan." Wolverine just nodded as he pulled the chair away from the wall. Rogue closed the door behind her. Wolverine turned the lights all the way down, then moved the chair closer to the bed. He sat down, and propped his feet on the bed rail. Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited, watching the sleeping girl. After a while, he dozed.
The clock read a little after three when he was awakened by a frightened cry. He stood and reached for the bed.
"You okay, kid?" His hand brushed hers and she clutched it convulsively.
"I..I can't see anything."
"Hang on, I'll get the light." He started to move away, but she clung to his hand.
"No! Don't leave me here!"
"Wait a sec. I think I can reach the blinds." After a moment, the room brightened, starlight flowing in. Star gasped again.
"What are those?" She whispered.
"What?" From her tone, Wolverine half expected to see a three headed monster on the lawn.
"Those lights."
"The stars? You've never seen the stars?"
"Is that the sky, then?"
"You've never seen the sky, either." Wolverine's voice was low.
"Only in other people's memories."
"When I find that 'Doctor' of yours, I am gonna skin him alive." There was no mistaking the fury he felt.
"Why?"
"Why? What kind o' question is that?" he snarled. Star cringed. "You were treated like an animal."
"I am an animal. A lab animal."
"Not anymore, you're not." He struggled with his anger, knowing he was just frightening her. He moved around to the window side of the bed.
"You're a person, now."
"Why?"
"Just because you are, okay? Now, c'mere. I want to show you something." He adjusted the bed so that she was sitting up, and opened the window. Then he sat down on the bed next to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and started pointing out the constellations. They watched the stars move across the sky until dawn. When the sun rose, she asked him what it was.
"That's the sun. Our own personal star."
"Its pretty."
"Yes, it is." As they watched the sun rise, he realized that he had taken it for granted too long. She put her head on his shoulder, and drifted off to sleep.
Storm quietly opened the door about an hour later. If she was surprised at Wolverine's position, she made no indication of it. She paused for a moment, watching Star sleep in the crook of his arm, then said,
"Did she have a quiet night?"
"She's afraid o' the dark." Wolverine answered, offering no other explanation.
"Can she see, then?" Wolverine shrugged.
"She knew it was dark."
Star stirred against him, abruptly opening her eyes. She looked up at him, then turned her gaze to Storm. She sat up in the bed and Wolverine got to his feet behind her.
"Is she okay?" Star asked. Storm blinked at her for a moment then said,
"Who?"
Star looked over her shoulder to Wolverine,
"Your friend. Her name is Jean? Is she all right? I didn't mean to hurt her." She looked sharply at Storm. "I hurt you, too. You were trying to help him, and I hurt you." Her voice was becoming shrill. Wolverine put a hand on her shoulder.
"Take it easy, kid. I really don't wanna do this again." Star shuddered, then took a deep breath, visibly calming herself. Storm stepped forward and took her hand.
"Jean is fine. I just came from there. She will be going down to breakfast soon." Storm looked past Star's tense face and said to Wolverine, "Why do you not go get something to eat. Ask someone to bring a tray for Star." Wolverine nodded and, with a final reassuring squeeze for Star, he moved around the bed and out the door. Star watched him anxiously. Storm cupped Star's chin with her free hand, turning her attention away from the door.
"As for myself, I have a few bruises, which will heal soon."
"What about him?"
"Wolverine heals very quickly, child."
"Then I did hurt him."
"Yes. But he knows it was unintentional. As do Jean and I."
"I tried to kill him." Star had begun to cry, but with none of the hysteria which indicated a tip toward madness. Storm drew her close, and held her while she cried.
"He does not blame you."
"Why didn't he kill me?" Star sobbed, heedless of Storm's words. Shocked, Storm pulled away, holding Star as arms length.
"We do not kill unnecessarily. Star. Stop this. Right now." Star sobbed, but met Storm's gaze. "We want to help you." Storm continued. Star nodded.
"I know. But if you can't, if the madness returns, will he be able to do it? Its still there. I can feel it, boiling just below the surface, looking for a crack to seep through, to engulf me again." She took a deep, shuddering breath, "Next time, I might kill him."
"Professor Xavier will be here soon. He should be able to help you deal with the madness." With a final, gentle shake, Storm said "Now, let us talk no more of killing. Can you tell me how you came to be in that laboratory?"
Star shrugged and shook her head.
"I was always there, every since I can remember."
"What did you do there?"
"Like I was telling Logan, I..."
"He prefers to be called Wolverine." Storm interrupted.
"Why? He thinks of himself as Logan." Now it was Storm's turn to shrug.
"I do not know. He just prefers it that way."
"Okay."
"I am sorry I interrupted. Please go on." Star leaned back against the bed, as Storm found a more comfortable position.
"I was telling Lo.., uh, Wolverine, I'm just a lab animal. They taught me to read minds without being caught. And how to move things without touching them. Stuff like that."
"And at the end?"
"I...I wasn't strong enough for what the Doctor wanted. He wanted me to be stronger. But he didn't tell me it was going to be so dark, and so...so...alone. I tried. I really did. But I could feel my mind going to pieces, looking for a way out." She looked down at her hands. "Now I'm not even a lab animal. I'm just another failed experiment, past due for termination."
"'Another'? You were not the only mutant in the lab?"
"No. But I was the last. He'll have to start over with another batch."
"Not if we can find him first. He must be stopped."
"Why? We were all mutations, not people."
"Star, everyone you have met here is a mutant. And we are very definitely people. Come, let me remove the needle. It does not seem to have done its job in any case. Then we will set you up with a room of your own."
Storm was showing Star around her room when Rogue and Jubilee came in.
"Knock, knock!" Jubilee chattered happily as she pushed the door open. She had a bundle of clothing tucked under one arm. Rogue carried a covered tray.
"Hi, sugah. Remember me? We met last night." Rogue asked as she put the tray down on a small table.
"I think so. You are Rogue?"
"Tha's right. Storm, you go on down and get your breakfast. Jubilee an' I'll help Star settle in."
"Thank you, Rogue." Storm turned to Star, "I will be back soon, child." She left.
"I'm Jubilee. We're about the same size, so I grabbed a couple of old outfits outta my closet. Hope you like 'em. 'Course, we'll have to hit the Mall to get you all set up." As she talked, Jubilee spread the clothing out on the bed. Star just stared at it.
"Let her eat first, Jubilee." Rogue laughed, "C'mon over here, gal. Let's see what the fellas fixed up for ya for breakfast." Star sat down in a chair next to the table. Rogue took the cover off the tray. "Well, now. You've got hotcakes and sausage here. A big glass o' milk, and a cup o' hot chocolate. Guess they decided you weren't old enough for coffee. 'Course, the way Gambit makes it, its not fit to drink. Syrup's here in this little pitcher." Star stared at the food. "Well, go on gal, dig in. You don't want 'em to think you don't like their cookin', do ya?"
"What is that?" Star finally asked, still looking at the tray.
"What d'ya mean, honey?" Rogue asked, quietly.
"I've never seen food like this."
"Boy, Wolverine said you'd been locked up, but I didn't know he meant in a box."
"Hush, Jubilee." Rogue sat down on the arm of the chair next to Star. "These are hot cakes. I like 'em with butter and syrup. You put the butter on like this," she spread the butter onto the top hot cake, "then you pour syrup over the whole thing. Then you eat it." Star hesitantly picked up her fork, cut a piece out of the hot cake, and took a bite. Jubilee giggled at the expression on her face.
"Its good!" Star said, after a moment.
"If you like that, you're gonna love frozen yogurt!" Jubilee declared.
"Go ahead and finish your breakfast, hon. Then you can try on some of the clothes Jubilee brought for you." Star nodded, eating quickly. She burned her fingers on the cup of hot chocolate, spilling some when she quickly put the cup down. At her stricken expression, Rogue hurriedly reassured her.
"Its okay, sugah. I should 'a warned you. Hot cakes aren't really hot, but hot chocolate is." She mopped up the spilled chocolate. "The milk is cold. If you hold the glass with your burned fingers, it'll make 'em feel better." Star gingerly picked up the glass. She smiled up at Rogue.
"That does feel better." She put the glass back down, and looked at the reddened skin of her fingers. "Is this a burn?" she asked. Rogue took her hand and examined Star's fingers.
"Yeah, but its not a bad 'un. It'll probably fade in a little while. You 'bout finished here?" Star nodded. "Well, then. Let's get you outta that skintight and inta some proper clothes." Jubilee hopped up from the edge of the bed and grabbed a handful of clothes. Star peeled off the body suit without hesitation. Her body was well muscled, her skin unblemished and nearly as pale as an albino's. Rogue and Jubilee helped her choose a pair of dark leggings, a short, frilly skirt, covered with bright flowers, and a white peasant blouse. After Star had dressed, with quite a bit of help with the unfamiliar garments, Rogue and Jubilee stepped back to view the results.
"Wow." Jubilee whistled. "I wish I looked that good in my old clothes."
Rogue turned Star toward the mirror on the back of the door.
"Well, what d'ya think?" Star stared at the mirror for a moment, then raised a hand to her cheek.
"Is that what I look like?" Jubilee started to make a smart remark, but Rogue's glance quelled her.
"Shore is, sugah. And you look just fine." Rogue looked her up and down once more. "Now, we gotta do somethin' 'bout shoes."
"I've never worn shoes."
"Well, that certainly limits our options, don't it? Any ideas, Jubilee?"
"You know, I got a pair of those moccasin boots about a year ago, but I didn't like the way they felt. Made me feel like I was barefoot, so they should be perfect. Hang on, I'll go get 'em."
Jubilee was only gone a moment, returning with a pair of soft, black boots, trimmed in silver.
"Here you go. I sure hope they fit." Star sat down and started to pull one boot on. Smiling, Rogue stopped her.
"Other foot, hon. That's right. See how they curve in on one side? Same shape as your foot. That's got it. Jubilee, those boots are the perfect touch. You done good, hon."
"Thank you. Thank you both." Star said suddenly. "I've never been treated like this."
"Well, get used to it. That's the way we do things around here." Jubilee said. Rogue smiled at the grown-up tone of her voice.
"C'mon, Rogue, let's go show her off!" Jubilee tugged Star toward the door.
"You feel up to it, hon?" Rogue asked.
"I think so." Star answered, uncertainly.
"C'mon, then! I'll get the dishes later." Jubilee pulled Star after her. Star glanced appealingly at Rogue, who laughed and followed them.