"DNA is a Powerful Thing."
Story 3
By Erica DeTraglia
E-mail: nbcgrl13@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Nothing in this story except Annika and Shirley are mine.
Annika waved to her mother, "Mom, watch this!" She ran and did a perfect jackknife off the diving board and into the pool. Her mom clapped, cheering. Kurt appeared next to Mrs. Hunter. "Hi, Shirl. How are you?"
"Good. Yourself?"
"I'm fine. Do you vant a drink or anything?"
"A Lemonade would be great." Kurt smiled and disappeared. Shirley walked over to a table and sat down. The Professor looked up from his book and nodded, "Mrs. Hunter."
Shirley nodded back and lounged in a chair, "You know. A girl could get used to this kinda treatment."
The Professor smiled, closing his book, "Would you like a drink?"
Shirley pointed towards the mansion, "Kurt's already getting me one, thanks."
The Professor nodded.
Kitty and Evans ran and jumped into the pool, screaming and laughing as they splashed everyone around the pool. Annika joined them and they jumped to the reggae music Rogue put on before she joined them in the pool
Shirley laughed out loud, "This reminds me of Key West. The sun, pool, relaxing, even the reggae music." As she finished Kurt appeared before her with a tall glass. "Here ya go."
Shirley thanked him and Kurt disappeared and appeared above the pool, making the biggest splash of all of them. Annika swam to him and laughed, "That was pretty good."
Kurt beamed with pride, "I know."
Annika smirked and pulled Kurt underwater and swam away. Kurt came up spitting water out, "Oh you can't get avay that easily!" HE swam after her in a game of pool tag.
Shirley was laughing so hard she didn't notice Logan enter the pool area. He sat down at the table. Shirley turned to say something to the Professor when she meets the eyes of Logan. She gasped and sat up quick. The Professor felt extreme stress and recognition from her towards Logan. "Mrs. Hunter?"
Shirley put the glass down quickly and got up, "I'm fine. It's just getting late and I have to go." She answered, never taking her eyes off Logan. Logan raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what her problem was with him. Shirley grabbed her bag and walked up to the side of the pool where Annika and Kurt were floating. Annika turned, "Mom?"
Shirley swallowed hard, "let's go."
"But mom, Kurt and I were.."
"Annika Hunter! Now!" interrupted Her mother. Annika looked at a confused Kurt.
"I'll talk to you later." Kurt kissed her hand and watched as Mrs. Hunter nearly dragged Annika out. Kurt looked at the Professor. The Professor looked to Logan, who lit a cigar and crossed his arms, "What flew up her butt?"
"Logan, I asked you kindly to not smoke those around me." With a thought the Professor extinguished the cigar. Logan huffed, leaning against the table. The Professor looked at where Mrs. Hunter had fled, "She was disturbed by your presence."
"Most people are." Answered Logan.
"No, this was different. She knew you."
Logan's face became softer, "How?"
"Not sure, her thoughts were distorted with too many things, but I intend to find out."
He turned to the youngsters in the pool, "I believe it's time to start your homework." The kids moaned, but no one objected.
A couple days later........
"Professor?"
The Professor from his row of monitors above the control panel in the danger room answered, "Yes, Oroco?"
She walked up and looked at the data from Annika's blood sample, "Is she a mutant?"
"No..and yes."
"How is that possible? You are either one or the other." Oroco watched the Professor take a remote and flip through a monitor to stop at a screen full of numbers, "Color blindness, like mutation, is caused by a certain gene. When a woman is a carrier, she may exhibit a few symptoms of the recessive gene even though she does not have it. It is extremely rare for a women to have color blindness."
Oroco shook her head, "I'm not sure I understand this analogy Professor."
The Professor smiled, "Annika is a carrier of the mutant gene. Yet, she is different in that she exhibits some mutant properties, yet it is only a partial mutation. I have only seen three others like her. My friend in Australia has a girl who carries the mutation for levitation. Although she couldn't levitate, you never heard her footsteps. It was as if she was walking on air. We called her and any others like her parmus, short for partial mutation. Annika seems to have a strong healing ability, yet her tests are negative for mutation. If it were not for my insight I would never have seen it either. This is not like my brother, who enhanced his mutant genes artificially."
"How did you know to look?"
"Annika's mother recognized Logan, and seemed very agitated around him. Then Kitty told me about Annika hurting herself in gym and it seemed relatively healed the next day."
"What do you think it means?"
"I don't know but I think we are on our way to helping Logan piece back his past. I'm going to speak with Annika's mother tomorrow. I want you to get Annika into the Danger Room. Start training her she may be a great ally. I have seen the thoughts of some of the Political officers in Washington. If they have their way, you might have to submit a blood sample just to enter a building. Annika would be able to pass whereas our kids would fail."
"What do we tell Annika? Or Logan for that matter?"
The Professor gave Oroco a hard look, "Nothing. Annika is now the fourth parmu identified in the world. Unfortunately, she is only one of two that are still living. These parmus become deeply depressed in the fact that they are carriers of a trait most people fear. They're not fully human and they're not fully mutant. They don't know where they belong. I would not want to damage Annika's mental health that way. We'll figure out a way eventually, but I want to make sure she is truly who I think she may be."
IN the den.........
Evans, Rogue, Kitty, Annika, and Kurt were sitting around a table playing poker. Evans laughed, "And you had no clue about the fur, even when he held your hand?"
Annika shook her head, blushing, "I knew he was German so I just thought he was a hairy one. And I thought the three-fingered thing was my own imagination." The whole table roared into laughter, except Kurt, who shuffled the cards and stuck out his tongue His tail swaying back and forth agitated. "Sticks and stones vill break my bones, but names vill never hurt me."
Annika leaned over and kissed his cheek. Kurt smiled at her and dealt the cards. Rogue placed her cards down, "Nah where did Jean and Scott go off ta, they know it's der turn to do clean da dishes."
Evans snickered, looking over his hand, "They're out in the garden, taking a stroll."
Kurt laughed and said as Even made kissing noises, "Or dats their excuse."
Evan placed his hands together and teased in a high-pitched voice, "Oh Scott, you're so big and strong."
Kurt appeared in Evan's lap, "Oh Jean."
"Oh Scott."
The duo was teasing so much they didn't see Scot and Jean walk into the room. They stood behind the two, crossing their arms with anger on their faces. Kurt looked over at Annika, who had a nervous look on her face. Kurt noticed everyone at the table had the same look. Kurt pointed back, "They're behind us aren't they?"
"Yep." Nodded Rogue as she played with her hand. Evan and Kurt looked at each other then behind them to see the couple. Kurt laughed, "Uh..hi! Vana play?"
Jean raised both her arms up, bringing both boys with her. She swung them to the right and the duo went flying out the window, landing with a big splash.
Annika sighed, "Thanks Jean, do you know how bad fur smells wet?"
Jean shrugged, "Sorry."
Scott took her hand and led her to the kitchen to do their chores.
The next day....Westchester County Medical Center.......
Shirley Hunter picked up the chart for her next patient. Headaches, was the only thing written on the chart. She entered the hospital room and pulled back the curtain to find Professor Xavier smiling back at her, "Morning Shirley."
She swallowed, bringing the curtain back around to conceal the both of them. "Can I help you?"
He smiled, "I would like to talk to you about the other day. You seemed very upset when you saw a member of my staff."
Shirley rubbed the back of her neck, "I have a lot of patients here, Professor. I don't want to talk about Logan." She slapped her hand over her mouth.
"Oh really? How did you know his name?"
Shirley sighed, "It's a long story. Can you meet me here around 5 this afternoon?"
"Surely." Shirley nodded and left. Her husband's past was about to reach up and bite her in the ass whether she liked it or not.
At the school.........
Toad was humming away, trying to hack into the Institutes computer system. He hit a few keys and the screen erupted with information. "Hey boss?"
Magneto floated to the screen and read the file, "A Parmu huh? She could be useful. Very useful indeed."
Toad furrowed his eyebrows, "I don't get it."
"Basically, Toad, this girl carries the gene of mutation. Parmu are guaranteed to have mutant children."
"So, what are you thinking?"
"If we can get hold of her, we can create a mutant army. Let's pay this Annika Hunter a visit. Go get mystique so that I might have a word with her."
Toad turned off the computer and hopping away, snickering in an evil way.
Danger Room around 4pm.................
Annika clapped from the observation room as Kurt made it through the program safely. Oroco watched Annika for any other signs of partial symptoms but there was nothing. Although she didn't like to think this way, maybe the Professor had been wrong about this girl. Annika reached up and hit the intercom, "You were amazing Kurt!"
Kurt bowed and blew her a kiss. "Vhy don't you come down and try this out?"
Annika frowned, shaking her head, "No way. My dad may have taught me everything about combat and skills, but there is no way I could do that."
Kitty laughed, "Sure you can! I have an extra suit in the locker room. GO put it on!"
Annika looked at Oroco, "Can I?"
She nodded, "Of course. I'll make sure the setting is on beginner so it won't be as crazy as their program." Annika nodded and dashed to the locker room.
A few minutes later she entered the Danger Room, tuning on her wrist monitor. Her heart was racing and she could smell everyone. Their sweat was so strong to her she nearly gagged. She shook her head, "Calm down Annika." Her heart obeyed and the intense smell faded. She looked at her newfound friends, "Ready."
Oroco watched as Annika's wrist monitor showed a peak in sensory nerves for a second. Oroco sighed. It wasn't enough to prove anything, yet. She hit the intercom, "OK, Program 1 to start in 5 seconds."
Annika stood next to Kurt, "What should I expect?"
Kurt smiled "Yo've seen us in here. Be on your guard." Kurt crouched down on all fours, ready to spring the moment the program started. Annika's heart began to beat hard again. Annika watched as the metallic walls, shifted and opened with weapons projecting out. She could feel the moisture on her face as the room became hot. Her heart beat faster as a buzzer sounded the start. A metallic gunman jumped out and Annika disabled him with one kick. She crouched down on all fours, rubbing her ankle briefly. That was really hard metal, she thought. She lifted her head up, sniffing the air. Evans was behind her, Kitty was above her, and Kurt was to her right. She crawled forward until she heard a growl.
Oroco looked at the monitor. It was reading heightened senses, but in the danger room that was possible. She got up from her seat and watched the action below. Maybe she could record something visual that would prove the Professor's theory. Although, she had no clue what she was looking for down there. Annika's military father had taught her everything he was taught. Annika didn't know why her father insisted on the training. Oroco thought, if he knew about this trait then maybe there was a reason other than protection. Maybe it was a discipline lesson to help her control these ghost symptoms of a recessive gene in her body.
Annika quickly jumped up, grabbed the edge of a ramp, just as Wolverine jumped forward towards the group. He nicked her leg with a claw. She winced but the wound healed so she figured it must have been a scratch.
Back at the hospital............
Shirley sat down next to the Professor, a cup of coffee steaming in her hands, "It is Logan right?"
The Professor nodded, "Yes. That is his name but he does not remember much of his life due to grave circumstances."
Shirley smiled, "My husband would love to hear that..he thinks Logan abandoned him."
The Professor cleared his voice, "Who do you think Logan is?"
"If he's the Logan I know, he's my father-in-law and Annika's grandfather."
Back at the Danger Room..........
Wolverine jumped back, extending his claws, snarling. Annika swung herself onto the pole and snarled back. Kitty giggled, "Look at that, Annika has the same snarl as Wolverine."
Wolverine hit the pole with his claws, sending it crashing down. Annika flipped in the air landing on her feet. Kurt, worried, yelled, "Annika, the object of dis game is to capture the flag. It should be near you!" He was really worried. HE had never seen her like this before. It was as if she was an animal. Wolverine and Annika were just standing there, prepared for battle, snarling, yet they looked over each other like they knew the other.
Oroco turned as Annika's monitor began beeping. Oroco was shocked to see Annika's senses highly agitated. Her levels were exceeding any normal human. If this kept up she might go into shock. She turned back to the Danger Room. Annika wasn't fighting or running, she was standing face to face with Logan. Annika's mind was racing. I know you, who are you? You smell like my father. You smell like me. Why? Annika felt her head snap and a flood of imagines and feeling entered her head. A cabin in Canada, family, him and her laughing, his feelings of loss and regret filled her head like ooze. She screamed, placing her hands to her head and passed out.
Kurt ran to her. Picking her up, he transported them to the med lab. Oroco was already there getting a needle ready. "Vat vas dat?!" He turned to Logan, "Vhat did you do?!"
Logan took off his mask, "Hey, blue boy, I didn't do anything." When Logan tried to get closer Kurt moved in-between them, "Please go." Logan tried again but Kurt was determined to keep him away from his girlfriend. Logan snarled and left, hitting the wall on the way out. Kurt relaxed and held Annika's hand. The sedative was working and she was sleeping. Kurt looked at Oroco, "vat happened?"
"Her senses overloaded, causing a massive migraine. Kurt, go get the professor."
Back at the hospital..........
"Professor, I met my husband on a vacation to Canada. He lived in a log cabin deep within the mountainside of British Columbia. Logan, his father, was a lumberjack and construction worker, a drifter mostly. His mother had died during childbirth so it was only the two of them. I did notice Logan's..differences. He never got sick, he never got hurt, he never complained of the normal aches and pains normal people do. He didn't even seem to age. When Annika was born we noticed that she had a great bond with Logan. They seemed to know each other's thoughts and feelings just by looking. It scared me. I worked on a base where Drake was training. Drake knew most of the moves, since Logan served in the forces, so it was easy for Drake to excel in drills. We were moved to Germany next. That was 1986, Annika was two years old when the word mutant first appeared. Logan had told us that we had to stay in Germany. It was safe there. People had come by the cabin, asking a lot of questions about his abilities. He told Drake that it was safer to tell people that Logan wasn't his father. Pretend that his life in Canada never happened." She shook her head, "Drake was as stubborn as his father and didn't listen. A few days later, Drake received word that his father's cabin had been vandalized and his father was nowhere to be found. Drake thought it was his father's doing." She stopped to take sip.
The Professor opened his eyes, seeing the events as she told him, "But you think differently?"
"Yes. Drake never had any special abilities like Logan, but Annika kinda did. She fought better than any man at the base at three years old. And she healed so quickly. A week after Logan disappeared, men would come around asking questions about my husband. I think Logan was captured. Annika had nightmares about her grandfather being tortured, rods being stuck into his arms. Some nights when I went to comfort her she had bruises all over her body. It was as if this torture was happening to her," Shirley sniffled, wiping her eyes, "I never told Drake. He would have gone back to Canada to try and find him. I wasn't ready to lose my husband or my child. That's why we use my maiden name. Drake doesn't want to take the chance of someone finding us. We never heard from Logan again. I thought he was dead until yesterday. He doesn't look like he's aged a bit. Is he a mutant?"
The Professor nodded, "Yes. How old was he when he disappeared?"
Shirley smiled, "Well, according to Drake and Logan, he will be 65 years old this December."
The Professor nodded, "Tell me more about this bond."
Shirley took another sip, "What's to tell? They were linked closer than Drake and him. They just knew things." Shirley got a sad look on her face. She swallowed hard and asked, " Is my daughter a mutant?"
The Professor shook his head, "Not fully, no. She has the recessive gene that could be passed onto her children. But, she does show some abilities even though she is a not a full mutant. It's like color blindness."
Shirley smiled, "Too bad she wasn't a boy. Then this may never have happened."
The Professor smiled, knowing she was just trying to cope with the situation, "Actually, if Annika had been a boy, she would be a full mutant. She is safe. Parmus as she is called do connect with a person that most resembles their own traits. Plus, if Annika was a boy I know Kurt would be devastated."
Shirley laughed, "That is very true."
Kurt, in his human form, ran into the cafeteria and right up to the Professor. He was out of breath from running the short distance from the emergency room to the cafeteria. "Professor, someting is vrong vith Annika. You have ta come now."
HE was panicking which made Shirley panic, "What happened?"
"She freaked out in the Danger Room when she and Logan met."
The Professor placed his hands together and said to Shirley in her mind, It appears that she was using her abilities when Logan was within close enough range and it triggered the dormant bond.
Shirley shook her head, a normal reaction to having someone's thoughts invade your mind for the first time, "I see. Let's go."
Kurt nodded, fear still written all over his face. The Professor wheeled forward, "Kurt, go back to the mansion and tend to Annika. We will be there shortly."
Kurt bamfed out, not thinking about where he was at the moment. The Professor thanked luck that no one else was in the room. Shirley and him quickly left the hospital.
Kurt bamfed next to Annika. He took a cold rag and replaced it on Annika's head. She still was sleeping soundly. Noticing a movement out of the corner of his eye he saw Logan at the doorway. Logan started to come in and Kurt stood up, "Away Logan!"
Logan backed up until Kurt stopped yelling. Kurt sat back down, "Danke."
Wolverine looked at Annika from the doorway. It was as close to Annika that Kurt would let him. Logan knew he could take the little elf, but something in blue boy's eyes told him not to bother Kurt.
Kurt held Annika's hand, tracing the lines on her palm. Usually this sent her into fits, but she was still sleeping. He hadn't left her side since the incident, except to get the professor. He still had on his uniform, clinging to him with sweat. He touched her palm again and she squirmed. He jumped up, caressing her cheek, "Annika?"
She turned her head, slowly opening her eyes, "Hello, what happened? I feel like I've been hit by a bat between my eyes."
Kurt smiled, "I don't know. You just freaked out and passed out."
She smiled at him. His voice shook as he said the words. She squeezed his hand, "I'm sorry I scared you."
Kurt kissed her hand, "Forgiven. I just happy you're fine. I'll go get Oroco." He vanished in a puff. She moved her stiff limbs and rubbed her temples. She looked over at the door to see Logan, "Hi."
"Hi."
"Did I really freak out?"
Logan slowly walked to her, crossing his arms again, "Yeah, scared blue boy so much he turned white."
Annika smiled, "I don't remember anything after you jumped at me. You must have gotten me really good."
"I didn't touch you."
Annika's smile vanished, "I just passed out."
Logan nodded. Being this close to her, he noticed a familiar scent about her. Funny that he hadn't noticed it before. Usually he could smell a mouse miles away. Kurt bamfed back and looked at Logan, "Ja?"
Logan waved his hand and left. Annika sat up, watching him go, "He's so sad."
Kurt looked at her, "How do you know?"
Annika turned, "I don't know."
Kurt smiled and sighed at her. "You hungry?"
"Starved."
"After Oroco checks you over, I'm taking you out."
Annika nodded. She looked at the empty doorway, wondering how exactly she did know what Logan was feeling.
The Professor and Annika's mother rushed into the infirmary. Shirley, seeing her daughter awake and fine, ran to her, hugging her tight.
"Mom, I can't breathe."
Shirley sniffed, "You ok?"
Kurt jumped on the table, swaying his tail back and forth, nervously. "Ja, she is ok. Oroco is coming to make sure."
Shirley placed the stethoscope she had forgotten to take off at the hospital on and listened to Annika's chest. Her heart rate was alittle fast but within the normal range. She started her own checkup, "You do seem fine."
"Mom," Annika whined, "I just passed out. It was hot in the room so I probably got heat exhaustion."
The Professor nodded, "That is probably the cause." Oroco came in and took some blood work and saying Annika was ok too. The Professor excused her and Kurt. When they were gone, the Professor turned to Oroco, "What did you see?"
"I have it on tape." She walked over to a monitor, pressing a few buttons. The whole Danger Room scene replayed. The Professor rested his chin on his fingers, deep in thought, while Shirley wrapped her arms around herself, watching Annika's primal attitudes when Logan appeared. Oroco turned, "Her vitals were beyond any human, but they dissipated just as quickly, so to a doctor or specialist, it would seem a bug in the program."
The Professor agreed, "That is what makes Parmus a commodity. We have to keep this to ourselves. Shirley I would like to have Annika live here for a while. I want to see how advanced her scenes truly have manifested. Plus, to see if having her around will trigger any memories he has lost. We cannot tell either of them yet, not until we are sure."
Shirley let out a staggered breath, "I don't think so Professor. I want her to have a normal life and you're making her sound like a science project. How would we even explain to her why she needs to stay?"
Oroco turned off the monitors, "Didn't you say you had a conference coming up?"
"Yes, in Pittsburgh, why?"
"Can't you just say you have to go and you want her to stay here."
"It's only for a weekend...you want me to lie to her?"
The Professor raised his hand, "No, of course not. We have to find another way. What is you told me that you studied Logan and his abilities. How would you like to become our physician. The kids could surely use someone who has a medical background and won't be running off to fight off enemies when they need the flu shot. As an employee, you could live here."
Shirley thought about it. It would mean better hours so she would see Annika more and be able to watch her. A nicer place to live than their two-bedroom shack that had no yard to speak of within 4 blocks. A safer neighbor that she wouldn't have to worry about Annika and herself walking home late at night. "I don't know. I need to think about it and talk it over with Annika."
"Of course."
Shirley stood, walking out to se if she could catch Annika. Oroco sighed, crossing her arms, "Professor?"
"I cannot force her. Save the data and come to my office. I want her accommodations already done if she agrees to this employment."
Shirley walked down the hall, looking into room after room to find Annika. She was walking around a corner when she bumped into something solid. It was Logan. HE looked at her, with a raised eyebrow, "Sorry."
Shirley smiled, "No, I'm the clumsy one. I apologize. Have you seen Annika?"
He pointed down the hall, "Kurt and her just left for a pizza."
She frowned, "Oh. I thought I could catch her."
Logan smirked, "When she has a boyfriend who transports, that's gotta be tough."
Shirley nodded, "Yeah."
Logan looked at this woman and hurt, Why was she so familiar to him? Could she be an old flame? Old acquaintance? He sighed and she did too. Shirley was starting to feel uncomfortable. Here she was in front of her father-in-law, the man who had called her daughter, and he didn't even remember her or Annika. "I have to go back to work, Excuse me."
Logan moved and watched her go. He crossed his arms and walked to his room.
Annika was gazing out the window at the parlor when Kurt snapped his fingers in front of her, "Earth to Annika?"
She shook her head, "Sorry."
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah, I just have this weird vibe in my head, like I'm suppose to know something. It's probably a school assignment I'm forgetting."
Kurt took a bite out of his pizza and gives her a look that told Annika that he didn't believe her.
Later that night....
"How's about you and me going somewhere together?" said Kurt as they ascended the stairs to Annika's apartment.
"Where?"
Kurt smiled, "Anywhere! Australia, England, France, anywhere you want to go."
Annika smiling, turned to face her blue beau, "Italy was nice."
"Italy it is den, Fraulein." He wrapped his arms around her waist. She could feel his tail around her ankle.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, "You spoil me too much..I like it, don't get me wrong. I just wanted to let you know that."
Kurt gently kissed her on the lips, "Hey, when the love of your life finally comes to you, you're a fool not to make her happy."
Annika smiled, "You should write romance novels, you got such good lines."
Kurt picked her up and carried her the rest of the way up the stairs, "Nah, I'm more of a Kurt Does Dallas, kinda guy."
"Oh really?" she said with a raised eyebrow. They got to her door and Kurt let her down, "No, not really." He said blushing.
Annika opened the door to see her mother waiting for her on the couch, "Mom, are you ok?"
"We need to talk."
Annika's heart jumped. The last time she had said those words with that tone it was to inform her that she would probably never see her father again. Kurt saw the look on her face, "Annika?"
"I'm ok. Umm, rain check on the movie?"
Kurt nodded, "Of course." He took her face in one hand and kissed her other cheek. She gave him a weak smile before he disappeared in purple smoke. Annika turned her attention to her mother. She swallowed hard and sat down, "What's wrong?"
Shirley wiped her face. Annika noticed the bottle of whiskey and a shot glass on the table, "How would you like the live at the Institute?"
Annika shook her head, "Wha?"
"You heard me."
Annika slumped into the couch, "It would be awesome. I could see Kurt all the time and swim in the pool. I could practice in the Danger Room and hone all that kunfu stuff dad taught me. Why?"
Shirley smiled, "The Professor offered me a job as the Institute's physician. I would still work at the hospital part-time but most of the day would be spent at the Institute."
Annika jumped up, "Really?! That's great! And we get to live there?"
Shirley nodded, "I don't know if I want to take the job or not. I don't want you to become a project to Xavier."
"Why would I be?"
She shrugged, "You know, being the only non-mutant could be tough. You might feel uncomfortable there."
Annika sighed, "Mom, I don't think so. They are cool and being the only non-mutant has it's advantages. I won't have to practice in the Danger Room religiously like the others."
Shirley poured herself another drink and quickly emptied the glass in her mouth, "Umm, yeah I see your point. What if..what if..for the sake of argument, you were a mutant would you like to live there?"
"Mom, you're scaring me." Annika wrapped her arms around herself, "I'm not a mutant. And if I was the Institute is the safest place. Everyone protects each other from any harm. It's one big family."
Shirley nodded, "OK, I'll call the Prof and tell him yes."
Annika smiled and hugged her mom, "You'll love it mom. And just think you can lounge at the pool all day."
Shirley nodded, smiling too, "Yep. Remember I have to go to that conference this weekend. I'll be back around Monday or Tuesday. Will you be ok alone or would you like to stay with the Professor?"
"I'll be fine here. If I need anything I'll call Kurt."
Shirley hugged her little tighter, "OK. Just asking."
Saturday............
Annika was at the Institute working on a project for her computer science class. "C++, you C suck suck," she sang as she worked. The others were in the Danger Room practicing. After her incident, Kurt didn't want her anywhere need the room. He was so cute when he was protective. She hit enter on the keyboard and Kurt appeared next her, "Hey, how ya doing?"
"Good, I got my problem errors on my program down from 150 to 50."
"Ouch, vell I just vanted to say hi." He kissed her on the cheek and bamfed out. "Ewww, gross sweaty fur." She announced and grabbed her napkin. Unfortunately, her soda was on the napkin and spilled into her lap. "Aww crap!" She dapped the stain and walked next door to the infirmary to get more towels. She saw Oroco walk out, writing something on a pad. Annika shrugged and walked into the room. One of the monitor's was on and beeping. Annika kept dabbing the stain with cold water as she looked at the screen. She froze when it said in 12 Times New Roman font, "PARMU Project #4876478-AB Hunter, Annika." She threw the towels down and hit the enter key. Lists of charts and numbers appeared on the screen. She read out loud, "Partial Mutation...those descendents of mutants that carry the recessive gene. Yet, not being a mutant themselves, exhibit traits of the powers from the parent mutant."
Annika felt her heart beating rapidly and she was finding it hard to breathe. The next screen came up stating:
Subject: Hunter, Annika
Sex: Female
Age: 16
Class: PARMU
Trait: Excessive healing and survival skills.
The next item on the list was about to pop up when she heard Oroco coming down the hall. Her heels clicking on the tiles hurt Annika's ears. Then she realized something. Every time she got excited, scared or worried, she had reactions like this to normal things. Partial mutant, what the hell what that? How can you be a partial mutant..that's like saying you are partially pregnant. It's one or the other. She remembered her mother asking her the hypothetical question about if she was a mutant. She knew, mom knew and she didn't tell me! Annika thought. The sound was getting closer and she grabbed the towels and tucked under the sink. She watched Oroco walk in and turn off the monitor. The Professor entered shortly after, "Are all the accommodations ready for Annika and her mother?"
"Yes, do you think we should tell someone about her? At least tell the kids what's going on?"
Annika, through the crack in the door, saw the Professor nod, "I told Kurt, Jean and Scott this morning. We will tell the others when the time is right. She is not to know. I don't want her to become depressed over this endeavor."
"How did Kurt take it?"
"He's so worried. When I told him what could happen if she found out too suddenly, like the depression and mood swings, he freaked out. He truly loves her. I'm not worried about Annika. If she is as strong as Logan, she will make out fine."
Annika smiled, she knew Kurt loved her but it was always nice to hear someone else say it. Then she frowned, 'He knew this morning and he didn't say anything to her. HE was hiding things from her, again!' She understood the Professor said not to say anything, but it's your girlfriend's life! Wasn't she entitled to know what she was and decide how to deal with it on her own! Annika got so mad.
She looked up to see the Professor holding his head, Aww crap did she think to loud or something. He looked at Oroco, "There is a negative feeling in this room. How was the last person in here?"
"Logan, spilled oil on his uniform and came in here to clean up. Annika looked down and touched her own wet stain, Why did he say if I was like Logan?, she thought.
The Professor nodded, "Then that must be it. Let us go." They left and Annika fell out of the cabinet, cramped and sore. It didn't last long and she got up and went back to her laptop. She tried to type her program again but she was distracted. PARMU. She bite her lip, I can't be a mutant. I don't have powers like the others. So, I heal fast, that's because I drink a lot of milk and eat lots of proteins. I just have a healthy immune system, that doesn't make me a mutant. She sniffled trying not to cry. She knew Kurt would be coming back soon. She burst into tears when she realized that Kurt knew and never said anything to her. Annika got up and took her stuff to Kurt's room. She placed everything down in his desk and crawled into bed. She just needed a nap, that's all. When she woke up this would all be a dream.
"Waky, Wakey beautiful."
Annika turned over, rubbing her eyes, "Hello. What day is it?"
Kurt laughed, "It's still Saturday...afternoon. You feeling ok?"
Annika sat up and stretched, "Yep. I had a terrible dream though."
"About what?" Kurt stood up and unzipped his uniform. This didn't take Annika aback, they were comfortable enough with each other that changing wasn't a big deal. Annika smiled, Kurt just got more enjoyment out of watching her undress. She was about to tell him when she noticed the cherry coke stain on her leg. She gasped and held her leg as if it was hurt. The stain...but how..that means it was real. She was a PARA-something. She saw Kurt give her a look, "I got a stain on my new jeans."
He nodded and continued to pull the latex suit off his fur without pulling any out. Annika stood up and pulled her hair back. Kurt was acting like nothing was going on with her. She cleared her throat, "So, I heard you had a meeting with the Prof this morning?"
Kurt nodded pulling the top part of his uniform off, "Ja? Vat about it?"
"Just wondered what it was about?"
Kurt smiled, "It's X-men stuff. I could tell ya but den I'd have to kill you." He bamfed right next to her and kissed her on the lips then down her neck, "Don't vorry about it."
She giggled as the fur tickled her neck. Maybe the Professor didn't tell him everything. She was going to have to look for herself. She tickled Kurt back, causing him to bamf away, itching himself, smiling. She picked up her laptop, "See you at lunch."
He waved and continued to pry his uniform off. As Annika closed the door she heard latex snap and Kurt yelp. She laughed and walked to the nearest modem line.
In the library.......
Annika typed furiously, trying to find any PARMUs online or anything related to the topic. Nothing. She hit her fist on the table. "Sorry," she whispered to Rogue, who was reading her Edger Allen Poe book.
Annika sighed and went to Yahoo. She clicked on the People Search label and stared at the screen. Maybe she could find her father, but he was always undercover so she had no clue what name to use. She wiped her head as a feeling of familiarity swept over her. She turned to see Logan walk in the room and sit next to her. He leaned an elbow on the table and looked at her computer, "Looking for someone, kiddo?"
Annika pushed the uneasiness away from the pit of her stomach, "Yeah, my dad."
Logan nodded, "Not around huh?"
Annika nodded, "Not anymore. He left when I was young. HE said it was for the better, but I don't believe him. I miss him. I can't even find him because I don't know what name he has right now."
Logan frowned at the girl's dilemma. He couldn't help feeling that her pain was his fault and he didn't like it. He didn't know this girl he didn't owe anything to her, yet he felt like he had known her for a long time. He sighed and cursed the block in his head that kept him from remembering any life he had before..the incident. HE rubbed his knuckles where the claws rested. He looked at Annika to see her looking at him with the same pain in her eyes, "Are those your power?"
Logan let one claw poke out as he scratched himself on the head, "These? Nah, these were man-made, my powers are animal instincts and the ability to heal very quickly."
He saw Annika's eyes go wide, but if it was horror or recognition, he couldn't tell. He smiled, "What about you?"
Annika swallowed hard, "What about me?"
"Well, you've been hanging out here a lot and I have a feeling that it's not because of blue boy. You got any powers?"
Annika shook her head, "Just the ability to be deceived."
Logan nodded, "I know the feeling." He tapped her head lightly with a finger, "How're the migraines?"
"OK, I haven't had one since that day in the Danger Room. I think it was just heat exhaustion. That or many pounds of muscle with claws charging me."
Logan let out a laugh, "Kid, the look you had in your eyes told me you were going to be force to be reckoned with..don't underestimate yourself."
Annika smiled, "I guess."
Logan stood up, "See you later." He kissed the top of her head. He quickly pulled back, stunned. Annika stood up too, just as stunned. The only sound was Rogue dropping her book from shock. Logan cleared his throat, "See ya kiddo" and quickly walked out. Annika looked at Rogue. "What was that all about, sugar?" said Rogue.
Annika just shrugged and plopped down on her seat. She quickly exited the People Search and typed into the Yahoo Search Engine, 'Partial Mutation.' This was the only combination of PARMU or partial mutate that she could think and the most obvious. When Yahoo returned, a lot of the sites were for biology listings. She clicked on one and it listed genetic diseases, caused by partial mutations. She exited the site, disgusted. She just had to wait and see how long it would take for one of them to tell her. She was deep in thought when Kurt bamfed into the library, "Hey, Annika, you scared me."
"Why?" she asked as she closed her laptop.
"You veren't at Lunch and you said you vould be."
"I'm fine. I just got caught up on the Internet."
Kurt sat on the table, looking down at her, "Vhy do I not believe you. What are you hiding from me?"
Annika's jaw dropped open, "What am I hiding from you?! I could ask you the same thing!"
"Like what?" Kurt said, offended.
"Like you hiding your true self from me for months!"
Kurt sighed, crossing his arms, "I thought ve vere done with dat?"
"Well, you never tell me things. You are always hiding things from me. Why won't you tell me about Germany? It took an accident to get you to explain you were a mutant. Am I going to have to find a way to make more accidents happen?"
Rogue snuck out of the library. She didn't need these bad vibes in her system.
Kurt grunted, "Vhy do you need to know?! You have a happy family life, I didn't. I told you dat I didn't tell you about the mutant thing because I was too in love with you to lose you. I didn't know whether you could accept me. "
Annika shook her head, "This is how you are going to lose me." She grabbed her bag off the chair and ran out the door. Kurt watched dumbstruck at the door, not believing she just walked out. "Annika." He ran to the doorway but she was nowhere to be found, "Annika?!" HE hit the frame and disappeared to find her.
Annika sniffled as she walked through the gates of the Institute. Was she so different that Kurt didn't seem to trust her? Was it because she wasn't a mutant? Or maybe because she was a PARMU, whatever the hell that was anyway. That he didn't think she would be able to understand or comfort him? The more she thought about it the more she cried, not so much from her train of thought but the fact he hadn't run after her. Her mother always told her to wait until she found someone she truly loved to give herself too. She thought Kurt was that guy, but it seems as soon as he got what he wanted she didn't matter anymore. Annika started to run down the road. She was a fool! An idiot for falling in love..but her heart hurt because she knew she loved Kurt. The mutant thing had shocked her sure, anyone would if they didn't encounter it everyday. But she had liked him so much she didn't care, she wanted him no matter what shape or form. And Kurt was right, she was fine with it, but it also made her think. What else was he hiding? Annika walked into town and into her building. She got into her apartment to find it dark and lonely. Her mother was still at the conference, her dad was somewhere, and there was no one home. No shoulder to cry, no person to rant, just her. She wiped her tears away on her sleeve. She walked into her room, not noticing the movement in the corner. A dark figure hides in the shadows, watching her every move. Annika turned on her desk light and jumped on her bed, crying. The figure moved silently down the wall and next to her. She lifted her head to dry some of her tears when she noticed the movement. She yelped and stood up in her bed, pressing herself against the wall. Her softball bat was in reaching distance if she needed it. The figure jumped on the bed and turned on her room light. Annika closed her eyes to the brightness and opened her eyes to see Kurt crouched in front of her and he was mad. His face was hard, his eyes fixed on hers, and Annika saw his jaw move as he clenched it. Annika sniffled and sighed, "HI."
Kurt stood up quick, making Annika nervous. This wasn't funny. Was he trying to scare her on purpose or was this a game? He leaned so close she felt his hot breath on her mouth, "Did I scare you?"
Annika grunted, "Stop this! Why are you going this? You're acting funny." She tried to push him away but he was as solid as a rock. Then she smelt it. Something rancid and molding like a swamp. She leaned back against the wall, "Kurt?"
Kurt smiled evilly, "Yes?"
"Do you smell that? It smells like a bog?"
Kurt just shrugged, "It must be Toad."
Annika swallowed hard, "Toad? Since when do you hang out with Toad?" She heard her mother's bedroom door slam. Toad appeared in the room, "Hello."
Annika turned to yell at him, when Kurt pulled out a needle, pushing it into Annika's arm. She screamed and struggled but became weak. She slid down the wall, losing consciousness. Her last sight was Toad laughing walking towards her.
Toad laughed, "Boss, that was priceless."
Kurt folded his arms and morphed into Mystique. "Take her to the lab."
Toad nodded and threw Annika over his shoulder like a doll, following a frowning Mystique out.
A few minutes later.......
Kurt appeared in the room, "Annika?" Nothing. He really screwed up. He hit Annika's desk in frustration. It wasn't that he didn't trust her with his past, it was just that, it was his past. When he left that world behind he promised to only focus on the here and now. Annika was here and he hoped she would be there forever. He was running out of places. She wasn't on the road still, not at the bowling alley, not at home, maybe she was at the school. Kurt disappeared not seeing the needle that lay on the floor near Annika's bed.
Somewhere in the Dutchess County (Note: Home of this author :))
Annika woke up hearing the buzz of florescent light above her. She touched her arm and saw a huge bruise from the needle. The room was spinning. She touched the wall, trying the stand, to find the walls padded. She looked down to find her clothes had been replaced with a surgical gown. She touched her face, swaying back and forth. The room was spinning too much and she fell on the floor unto her back.
Above her Magneto floated as Mystique watched her. Magneto knew that Mystique was not happy with this plan, but he couldn't figure out why. "This is the chance we have been looking for, Mystique. To help mutants beat these weakling humans. If you wish, we could take her uterus as well as her ovaries. I can place the uterus into you, making you able to have children again. Can't you see this is necessary?"
"Shall I go in now?"
He sighed, "Yes."
She walked down the stairs and opened the door. Annika turned her head, licking her lips, "Who?" she whispered.
The woman hushed her, "Quiet, little one. I'm here to help." Annika watched as this woman gave her an injection. Annika's world slowly came back into focus. She rolled over onto her side, "Thanks."
The woman smiled, "No problem."
"Where am I?"
"A special place for people like you."
"Like me?"
"yes, you are a PARMU aren't you?"
"I don't know, what is that?"
The woman smiled, "It's a special mutant that's not fully a mutant."
Annika stood and leaned against the wall, "It must be the sedatives but that didn't make sense."
"Your parent or grandparent was a mutant. You have the gene for their mutation but you yourself are not fully a mutant. Yet, you do possess some traits that prove you have this gene."
"Like healing." Annika said matter-of-factly.
"Yes, exactly. Your friend brought you here to us because he said you were a danger."
"Kurt said that! I'm not a danger."
"Hush, child. I only say what was told to me. There is a good advantage about being a PARMU. You will have mutant children."
Annika sniffled, "How is that an advantage?"
"This world needs more mutants." Annika watched the nurse morph into a blue-skinned woman. She looked a lot like Kurt. "You see, I am a mutant. I want to help you, help the mutant population grow."
"How?"
Mystique smiled, "Why have babies of course."
Annika backed into a corner, "You're crazy."
Mystique laughed loudly, "Hardly."
"You're Mystique, you're K.." Annika didn't get to finish her statement, Mystique covered her mouth and whispered, "Don't mention my son here, it might cost him and you your life. If I can, I will help you." She backed up and said loudly to Annika as if someone was listening to her, "Xavier is crazy for not taking advantage of what he had in front of him. All we need is to harvest your ovaries and then you can go free. Maybe we'll let you have one baby first, to see if it's true. Then, we'll take them. And once that is over, we'll have no need of you."
Annika swallowed hard, "No. You can't do this."
The woman walked to the entrance, "I can and I will. That injection I gave you was not just an antidote to the sedative. It was a hormone inducers. Your first pregnancy will be at least triplets. Well, I have to go now. Get your rest, you'll need it."
Annika charged the woman but Mystique exited before Annika could get out. She pounded on the door screaming.
Mystique returned to the observation room with Magneto. "It's good to see you take pride in your work."
Mystique nodded, frowning. She had to save this girl. She was Kurt's girlfriend and he loved her. Plus, she knew what it felt like to lose her ability to have children. She blocked these thoughts from Magneto and went to find a way to help.
Back at the Institute...............
"Professor, we can't find her anywhere." Said Scott as he entered the office.
Kurt bamfed into the room, his hair ruffed from constant pulling, "I don't know vhere to look! It's like she vanished into thin air."
The Professor harrumphed, "I see no other option. Go get Logan and the others and meet me in the den."
The two nodded and ran to get the others.
The Den.......
Logan growled, "You're telling me that she is my granddaughter and you neglected to tell me!"
"It was for the best Logan. The bond you and Annika shared when she was young is very powerful. To rush into that kind of bond so quickly could damage her mentally as well as physically. I wanted to make sure she was truly a PARMU."
Oroco commented, "We sent it to the lab in Australia where another PARMU lives, and they confirmed her blood work. Annika is a partial mutant with the ability to tap into her recessive mutant traits."
The Professor added, "With the right training, she might be able to control the gene and possibly awaken it."
Evans chuckled and punched Kurt playfully in the arm, "You sure know how to pick em, bro."
Kitty giggled, "Ya, like who would of thought your first girlfriend would be like us."
The Professor cleared his throat, "She is at a very fragile state right now. She is agitated and therefore her mutant traits are flared up. It might be possible to find her using Cerebral."
Kurt jumped up, "Vell, let's go."
The Professor wheeled to the machine and hooked himself up to it. "Logan?"
"Yes."
"Give me your hand. If the bond between Annika and yourself is still thriving. I might get a better reading." Logan obeyed, still hot from being lied too. Such a vital part of his past and they kept it from him. He wasn't a child. "Logan, please. It's hard to concentrate when you are self-pitying. There were reasons why I did not tell you. Ones I will explain later."
Logan hushed and the Professor connected. He searched everywhere until he asked Logan to think about Annika. As she thought about the incident in the library, the Professor found her. "She's in an abandoned warehouse right near the Hudson in Dutchess County. She is drugged. And....oh dear god." He turned off the machine. He turned to the group, "Mystique is involved."
Logan crossed his arms, "Why do I feel you are still hiding something."
The Professor sighed, "Fine. PARMUs genetic make-up make it that any offspring they produce will be a mutant. Mystique is trying to harvest Annika's eggs in attempt to increase the mutant population."
Kurt and Rogue let their hands ball into fists. Why would she change they both thought? Kurt jumped up, hanging from the ceiling, "No one touches Annika or her eggs, I have fist dibs on them."
Kitty wrinkled her nose, "Ewww, too much info Kurt."
"Yeah, bro." Agreed Evans.
The Professor nodded, "She still had a couple hours before she is taken to another facility. X-men."
Scott smiled, "Way ahead of you Professor." The group ran and suited up. Logan sat in the Blackbird and pulled his hood over his face, Granddaughter.
Scott and Kurt took the controls and flew the jet to the boondocks of Dutchess County.
Annika shivered. She was having major hot and cold flashes. She felt so weak too. She tried to claw her way out of the patted room, but under the patting was inch think steel. She pounded on the steel for awhile until her hand bled. She turned, leaning on her back, watching her hand heal itself. All the raging hormones in her body were making her 'abilities' more apparent. She growled, "Ya had to be different, didn't ya." She rolled on her side into a fetal position wondering what her father was doing right now. Maybe that's why he left, he was a mutant and he didn't want her to get caught. She whined and spread out as a hot flash spread through her body. She wondered if livestock, about to get slaughtered, felt this way. She was going to die and no one knew where she was because she had to be difficult and fight with Kurt. Kurt, her beloved sexy blue devil. HE brought her here. She shook her head, no he couldn't have done something like that to her. That weird woman could change shapes and she had the same evil smile, she must of done this to her. She wished she could see Kurt again, apologize to him and fall asleep in his arms. She realized she had a regret, she never got to make love to Kurt. They had done everything but had sex but that's because they were both too chicken. Kurt was still insecure about his body and she was scared about what might happen afterwards. Would he leave her? Would she get pregnant? She laughed at that thought, here she was pumped with hormones, aroused heavily, and she was going to die because someone wanted her pregnant. She didn't know if Irony fit but it was damn close. She turned her head as the door opened. She quickly jumped up, standing ready to fight. Mystique walked in, "How are you feeling?"
Annika just swallowed, giving her an evil look.
"That's good. Are you ready to go?"
"Not with you."
"Well, you have no choice." She took out a tranquiller gun and aimed it at Annika. She dodged the shot and pushed past Mystique. "Toad! Lance! Get her."
Annika ran down a flight of stairs. Her heart was racing and she smelled Toad on the next floor down. Lance ran into the stairwell, chasing her. She was caught. She looked over the railing. It was a good four flights up. She threw her legs over the railing and took a deep breath, "Please don't let me die" he prayed to any deity listening. She let go of the railing and fell four floors. She landed with a thud on her side. Toad and Lance looked down. Toad looked up at Lance and Lance down at Toad. "Shit," they said in unison.
Mystique ran into the top floor corridor, "What happened?"
"She jumped." Answered Toad.
"Well, don't just stand there, go get her. See if she is alive!."
Toad and Lance ran down the stairs.
Annika's body lay limp and broken. Her leg snapped out and cracked. Her ribs cracked and her arm cracked. She gasped in breath and let out a staggered breath. It had worked. She heard the boys coming down the stairs. She got up and ran as fast she could. Her body was almost healed, save the deep bruise that went from her shoulder to her foot. She opened the door and ran into a glass hallway. Her body snapped and crackled again, causing her to scream. She started to run again, trying to find an exit to this maze of hallways.
Toad and Lance ran down the final stairwell and stopped, "Where is she?"
"No one could have survived that!" continued Toad.
Mystique yelled, "Someone who has an excelled healing ability can you idiots. Find her!" The two ran more to escape Mystique than find the girl.
Kurt paced the jet as they got closer. Logan stopped him, "Sit down, blue boy, you're giving me a headache."
Kurt sat Indian-style on the floor, "I can't help it. Vhat if ve're too late. Vhat if.."
Logan placed a hand on his shoulder, "We won't be late."
Jean turned to Logan, "The Professor said you had a bond with Annika when she was small. Could you try and contact her now?"
"I don't remember that life, Jean. I wouldn't know how."
Jean unbuckled herself and sat across from Logan, "I can help you. If you want."
Logan grunted. He hated asking for help for anything. But this was for Annika, and she was..family. He nodded and Jean placed her hands on Logan's temples, "Just relax Logan."
Logan obeyed and thought about Annika. Kitty commenting that she had his snarl. He thought about Annika's face, deep dark eyes just like his own, the broad shoulders. He stopped when he saw Annika running down a hallway, scared and hurt badly. "I see her!"
Kurt jumped up, "Vhere!"
"She's running from something. And she's hurt." Logan stood up quickly, causing Jean to fall on Kurt.
He walked up to the window, "There!" he pointed at an old factory building. Scott quickly landed on the roof. "Ok, let's go get her."
Logan unsheathed his claws, "Agreed."
Annika ran into a storage area and closed the door behind her. Her body was still healing and it hurt so much. Her running was now a limping as she made it to the other side of the room. She opened the door to find Mystique on the other side. She screamed and tried to close the door, but Mystique was too quick for her. She grabbed Annika's arm and injected her with a sedative. Annika fought back for a few seconds before passing out on the floor. Mystique sighed, if only she could have told her that she was going to let her escape once they got to the other facility, but Lance and Toad would have told Magneto. Toad and Lance came in after her, "Boss, we got company."
"What?! Take her and let's get out of here." Mystique thanked Xavier for being so efficient. Annika needed to get as far away as possible from Magneto's grip.
Lance picked Annika up. He winced at the sight of her. She was so battered he didn't understand why she was still alive. He carried her as fast as he could behind Mystique. Kurt and Wolverine jumped into the larger part of the storage area. Wolverine sniffed the air, "This way."
Kurt noticed the movement and bamfed in front of Lance, "Give her to me!"
Lance stopped and hugged the girl closer. He stomped his foot, sending a tremor his way. Kurt wavered and fell, giving Lance time to run past him. Wolverine helped Kurt up and chased Lance.
Kitty and Jean were up on the roof, while Scott kept the jet going. Kitty saw Lance run into the woods, "There he is!" Trees began to sway violently, revealing a camouflage helicopter. Jean touched her temples and tried to hold the helicopter down. "I don't know how much longer I can hold it."
Scott ran out, "I think I can hit it from here."
Kitty yelled, "No, Annika is in there. You might blow it up."
Kurt and Wolverine ran out of the building and saw the helicopter. They saw Jean holding it at bay. Wolverine charged the helicopter, digging his claws into the hull. Kurt bamfed himself inside. "Guten Tag."
Toad opened his mouth and slapped Kurt in the face, leaving a film. Kurt fell back wiping the slime away. Lance kicked him in the stomach. Kurt grunted and threw the film off of his face and into Lance's. It was Lance's turn to fall back. Kurt bamfed behind Toad, grabbing his tongue and tying it to the pole. Toad screamed and tried to get loose. Kurt gently picked up Annika's body and bamfed them to the jet. Annika was breathing but knocked out. Kurt placed her on a stretcher they had for emergencies and went out. "Where's Logan?"
Kitty pointed, "He's still there."
Jean sighed and fell to the ground, "I can't hold it anymore." The helicopter shot into the air, Logan still attached to the hull.
Kurt bamfed to the helicopter, "Take my hand, Annika is back at the jet."
Logan nodded and grabbed Kurt. Kurt bamfed them back to the jet.
Kitty was helping an exhausted Jean into the jet, "Let's go home."
Scott agreed and took off.
Kurt and Logan sat by Annika. They watched her body snap into place and repair itself. Kurt gave Logan a weak smile, "Good ding she is related to you, ja?"
Logan raised an eyebrow at Kurt, then smiled, "Yeah it is."
Two Days Later.......
Shirley sat with Logan and the Professor in silence. The Professor spoke, "The encounter has awoken Annika's recessive genes to becoming more accessible. Her blood work still does not show any mutation, but her abilities are more apparent. With concentration and study, Annika may be able to call her abilities at will. She will make an excellent addition to our team. An insider who can go into places full mutants can't go.
Logan looked at Shirley, "So, I have a son."
She nodded, "Yeah, a very good and honest man. He would be so happy to know that you didn't leave him on purpose."
Logan nodded, "I don't remember anything since my incident. I'm still finding it hard to believe you are my daughter-in-law and Annika is my granddaughter."
Shirley smiled, "I know. I'm having the same feelings, but maybe we can start over."
Logan nodded, "I'd like that." He crossed his arms, "Tell me everything..I want to remember."
Shirley poured herself another glass of lemonade and one for Logan, "OK, but it's a long story."
The Professor smiled, they hadn't heard a word he said, "I'll leave you two alone." He wheeled down to his office.
In the infirmary..............
Annika was mostly healed from her ordeal. Her bruises were smaller and there were small traces left of the hormone inducers. She was playing with Kurt's GameBoy when he came into the room. He sat next to her and smiled, "Winning?"
"No." She placed the game down and smiled at him. He kissed her and rested his head on her shoulder. She smiled at him. Kurt lifted his head, "Vha?"
She shrugged, "Just Happy. To be alive, not to be pregnant with a million babies, the usual stuff."
Kurt laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, gently not to hurt her still bruised rubs. "I'm happy too."
"When I thought I was going to die I only had one regret."
"Vhat's dat?"
"I thought I was going to die without ever making love to you."
Kurt went wide-eyed for a second, "OK, those are da hormones talking right?"
Annika punched him lightly in her chest, "NO! I'm serious, Kurt."
Kurt rubbed his chest, smiling, "You really vant to?"
Annika smiled and purring into his ear, "Well, not right now but soon. I love you so much that I want to show you. OK, that was the hormones."
Kurt chuckled, "VE don't have ta do dat, I already know you love me as much as I love you."
"I know." She said lowering her head.
Kurt kissed her neck and cheek, "Vhen you are all better and when the time is right, we will make love. And just because I'm saying dis, don't think I haven't thought about it every night since prom."
"That long?"
"Ja." Kurt said matter-of-factly.
Annika smiled and hugged Kurt tight. He retuned the hug gently. Evans and Kitty walked into the room. Kitty smiled, "Awwww, how cute."
Kurt and Annika gave them a nasty look.
Evans laughed, "So, Annika, how does it feel to be a mutant."
Annika smiled, "Well, technically, I'm not a mutant." She looked at Kurt and smiled, "But I'm enjoying being different."
Evans laughed, "Yeah...gives the ego alittle boost doesn't it?"
Jean and Scott walked in to see how Annika was doing. Jean smiled, "Welcome to the family, Annika."
Scott chuckled, "Evans was right Kurt, you sure know how to pick them."
Kurt answered with a huge smile.
Annika smiled, "So, Scott, how do I get to be an X-Men?"
Scott laughed, "Get better first, then we'll see what you can really do."
The End....NOT!
I'm off to Florida for a few days so hopefully I'll write some new stuff on the plane...or maybe I'll sleep. Write for you all Later! :)
Story 3
By Erica DeTraglia
E-mail: nbcgrl13@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Nothing in this story except Annika and Shirley are mine.
Annika waved to her mother, "Mom, watch this!" She ran and did a perfect jackknife off the diving board and into the pool. Her mom clapped, cheering. Kurt appeared next to Mrs. Hunter. "Hi, Shirl. How are you?"
"Good. Yourself?"
"I'm fine. Do you vant a drink or anything?"
"A Lemonade would be great." Kurt smiled and disappeared. Shirley walked over to a table and sat down. The Professor looked up from his book and nodded, "Mrs. Hunter."
Shirley nodded back and lounged in a chair, "You know. A girl could get used to this kinda treatment."
The Professor smiled, closing his book, "Would you like a drink?"
Shirley pointed towards the mansion, "Kurt's already getting me one, thanks."
The Professor nodded.
Kitty and Evans ran and jumped into the pool, screaming and laughing as they splashed everyone around the pool. Annika joined them and they jumped to the reggae music Rogue put on before she joined them in the pool
Shirley laughed out loud, "This reminds me of Key West. The sun, pool, relaxing, even the reggae music." As she finished Kurt appeared before her with a tall glass. "Here ya go."
Shirley thanked him and Kurt disappeared and appeared above the pool, making the biggest splash of all of them. Annika swam to him and laughed, "That was pretty good."
Kurt beamed with pride, "I know."
Annika smirked and pulled Kurt underwater and swam away. Kurt came up spitting water out, "Oh you can't get avay that easily!" HE swam after her in a game of pool tag.
Shirley was laughing so hard she didn't notice Logan enter the pool area. He sat down at the table. Shirley turned to say something to the Professor when she meets the eyes of Logan. She gasped and sat up quick. The Professor felt extreme stress and recognition from her towards Logan. "Mrs. Hunter?"
Shirley put the glass down quickly and got up, "I'm fine. It's just getting late and I have to go." She answered, never taking her eyes off Logan. Logan raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what her problem was with him. Shirley grabbed her bag and walked up to the side of the pool where Annika and Kurt were floating. Annika turned, "Mom?"
Shirley swallowed hard, "let's go."
"But mom, Kurt and I were.."
"Annika Hunter! Now!" interrupted Her mother. Annika looked at a confused Kurt.
"I'll talk to you later." Kurt kissed her hand and watched as Mrs. Hunter nearly dragged Annika out. Kurt looked at the Professor. The Professor looked to Logan, who lit a cigar and crossed his arms, "What flew up her butt?"
"Logan, I asked you kindly to not smoke those around me." With a thought the Professor extinguished the cigar. Logan huffed, leaning against the table. The Professor looked at where Mrs. Hunter had fled, "She was disturbed by your presence."
"Most people are." Answered Logan.
"No, this was different. She knew you."
Logan's face became softer, "How?"
"Not sure, her thoughts were distorted with too many things, but I intend to find out."
He turned to the youngsters in the pool, "I believe it's time to start your homework." The kids moaned, but no one objected.
A couple days later........
"Professor?"
The Professor from his row of monitors above the control panel in the danger room answered, "Yes, Oroco?"
She walked up and looked at the data from Annika's blood sample, "Is she a mutant?"
"No..and yes."
"How is that possible? You are either one or the other." Oroco watched the Professor take a remote and flip through a monitor to stop at a screen full of numbers, "Color blindness, like mutation, is caused by a certain gene. When a woman is a carrier, she may exhibit a few symptoms of the recessive gene even though she does not have it. It is extremely rare for a women to have color blindness."
Oroco shook her head, "I'm not sure I understand this analogy Professor."
The Professor smiled, "Annika is a carrier of the mutant gene. Yet, she is different in that she exhibits some mutant properties, yet it is only a partial mutation. I have only seen three others like her. My friend in Australia has a girl who carries the mutation for levitation. Although she couldn't levitate, you never heard her footsteps. It was as if she was walking on air. We called her and any others like her parmus, short for partial mutation. Annika seems to have a strong healing ability, yet her tests are negative for mutation. If it were not for my insight I would never have seen it either. This is not like my brother, who enhanced his mutant genes artificially."
"How did you know to look?"
"Annika's mother recognized Logan, and seemed very agitated around him. Then Kitty told me about Annika hurting herself in gym and it seemed relatively healed the next day."
"What do you think it means?"
"I don't know but I think we are on our way to helping Logan piece back his past. I'm going to speak with Annika's mother tomorrow. I want you to get Annika into the Danger Room. Start training her she may be a great ally. I have seen the thoughts of some of the Political officers in Washington. If they have their way, you might have to submit a blood sample just to enter a building. Annika would be able to pass whereas our kids would fail."
"What do we tell Annika? Or Logan for that matter?"
The Professor gave Oroco a hard look, "Nothing. Annika is now the fourth parmu identified in the world. Unfortunately, she is only one of two that are still living. These parmus become deeply depressed in the fact that they are carriers of a trait most people fear. They're not fully human and they're not fully mutant. They don't know where they belong. I would not want to damage Annika's mental health that way. We'll figure out a way eventually, but I want to make sure she is truly who I think she may be."
IN the den.........
Evans, Rogue, Kitty, Annika, and Kurt were sitting around a table playing poker. Evans laughed, "And you had no clue about the fur, even when he held your hand?"
Annika shook her head, blushing, "I knew he was German so I just thought he was a hairy one. And I thought the three-fingered thing was my own imagination." The whole table roared into laughter, except Kurt, who shuffled the cards and stuck out his tongue His tail swaying back and forth agitated. "Sticks and stones vill break my bones, but names vill never hurt me."
Annika leaned over and kissed his cheek. Kurt smiled at her and dealt the cards. Rogue placed her cards down, "Nah where did Jean and Scott go off ta, they know it's der turn to do clean da dishes."
Evans snickered, looking over his hand, "They're out in the garden, taking a stroll."
Kurt laughed and said as Even made kissing noises, "Or dats their excuse."
Evan placed his hands together and teased in a high-pitched voice, "Oh Scott, you're so big and strong."
Kurt appeared in Evan's lap, "Oh Jean."
"Oh Scott."
The duo was teasing so much they didn't see Scot and Jean walk into the room. They stood behind the two, crossing their arms with anger on their faces. Kurt looked over at Annika, who had a nervous look on her face. Kurt noticed everyone at the table had the same look. Kurt pointed back, "They're behind us aren't they?"
"Yep." Nodded Rogue as she played with her hand. Evan and Kurt looked at each other then behind them to see the couple. Kurt laughed, "Uh..hi! Vana play?"
Jean raised both her arms up, bringing both boys with her. She swung them to the right and the duo went flying out the window, landing with a big splash.
Annika sighed, "Thanks Jean, do you know how bad fur smells wet?"
Jean shrugged, "Sorry."
Scott took her hand and led her to the kitchen to do their chores.
The next day....Westchester County Medical Center.......
Shirley Hunter picked up the chart for her next patient. Headaches, was the only thing written on the chart. She entered the hospital room and pulled back the curtain to find Professor Xavier smiling back at her, "Morning Shirley."
She swallowed, bringing the curtain back around to conceal the both of them. "Can I help you?"
He smiled, "I would like to talk to you about the other day. You seemed very upset when you saw a member of my staff."
Shirley rubbed the back of her neck, "I have a lot of patients here, Professor. I don't want to talk about Logan." She slapped her hand over her mouth.
"Oh really? How did you know his name?"
Shirley sighed, "It's a long story. Can you meet me here around 5 this afternoon?"
"Surely." Shirley nodded and left. Her husband's past was about to reach up and bite her in the ass whether she liked it or not.
At the school.........
Toad was humming away, trying to hack into the Institutes computer system. He hit a few keys and the screen erupted with information. "Hey boss?"
Magneto floated to the screen and read the file, "A Parmu huh? She could be useful. Very useful indeed."
Toad furrowed his eyebrows, "I don't get it."
"Basically, Toad, this girl carries the gene of mutation. Parmu are guaranteed to have mutant children."
"So, what are you thinking?"
"If we can get hold of her, we can create a mutant army. Let's pay this Annika Hunter a visit. Go get mystique so that I might have a word with her."
Toad turned off the computer and hopping away, snickering in an evil way.
Danger Room around 4pm.................
Annika clapped from the observation room as Kurt made it through the program safely. Oroco watched Annika for any other signs of partial symptoms but there was nothing. Although she didn't like to think this way, maybe the Professor had been wrong about this girl. Annika reached up and hit the intercom, "You were amazing Kurt!"
Kurt bowed and blew her a kiss. "Vhy don't you come down and try this out?"
Annika frowned, shaking her head, "No way. My dad may have taught me everything about combat and skills, but there is no way I could do that."
Kitty laughed, "Sure you can! I have an extra suit in the locker room. GO put it on!"
Annika looked at Oroco, "Can I?"
She nodded, "Of course. I'll make sure the setting is on beginner so it won't be as crazy as their program." Annika nodded and dashed to the locker room.
A few minutes later she entered the Danger Room, tuning on her wrist monitor. Her heart was racing and she could smell everyone. Their sweat was so strong to her she nearly gagged. She shook her head, "Calm down Annika." Her heart obeyed and the intense smell faded. She looked at her newfound friends, "Ready."
Oroco watched as Annika's wrist monitor showed a peak in sensory nerves for a second. Oroco sighed. It wasn't enough to prove anything, yet. She hit the intercom, "OK, Program 1 to start in 5 seconds."
Annika stood next to Kurt, "What should I expect?"
Kurt smiled "Yo've seen us in here. Be on your guard." Kurt crouched down on all fours, ready to spring the moment the program started. Annika's heart began to beat hard again. Annika watched as the metallic walls, shifted and opened with weapons projecting out. She could feel the moisture on her face as the room became hot. Her heart beat faster as a buzzer sounded the start. A metallic gunman jumped out and Annika disabled him with one kick. She crouched down on all fours, rubbing her ankle briefly. That was really hard metal, she thought. She lifted her head up, sniffing the air. Evans was behind her, Kitty was above her, and Kurt was to her right. She crawled forward until she heard a growl.
Oroco looked at the monitor. It was reading heightened senses, but in the danger room that was possible. She got up from her seat and watched the action below. Maybe she could record something visual that would prove the Professor's theory. Although, she had no clue what she was looking for down there. Annika's military father had taught her everything he was taught. Annika didn't know why her father insisted on the training. Oroco thought, if he knew about this trait then maybe there was a reason other than protection. Maybe it was a discipline lesson to help her control these ghost symptoms of a recessive gene in her body.
Annika quickly jumped up, grabbed the edge of a ramp, just as Wolverine jumped forward towards the group. He nicked her leg with a claw. She winced but the wound healed so she figured it must have been a scratch.
Back at the hospital............
Shirley sat down next to the Professor, a cup of coffee steaming in her hands, "It is Logan right?"
The Professor nodded, "Yes. That is his name but he does not remember much of his life due to grave circumstances."
Shirley smiled, "My husband would love to hear that..he thinks Logan abandoned him."
The Professor cleared his voice, "Who do you think Logan is?"
"If he's the Logan I know, he's my father-in-law and Annika's grandfather."
Back at the Danger Room..........
Wolverine jumped back, extending his claws, snarling. Annika swung herself onto the pole and snarled back. Kitty giggled, "Look at that, Annika has the same snarl as Wolverine."
Wolverine hit the pole with his claws, sending it crashing down. Annika flipped in the air landing on her feet. Kurt, worried, yelled, "Annika, the object of dis game is to capture the flag. It should be near you!" He was really worried. HE had never seen her like this before. It was as if she was an animal. Wolverine and Annika were just standing there, prepared for battle, snarling, yet they looked over each other like they knew the other.
Oroco turned as Annika's monitor began beeping. Oroco was shocked to see Annika's senses highly agitated. Her levels were exceeding any normal human. If this kept up she might go into shock. She turned back to the Danger Room. Annika wasn't fighting or running, she was standing face to face with Logan. Annika's mind was racing. I know you, who are you? You smell like my father. You smell like me. Why? Annika felt her head snap and a flood of imagines and feeling entered her head. A cabin in Canada, family, him and her laughing, his feelings of loss and regret filled her head like ooze. She screamed, placing her hands to her head and passed out.
Kurt ran to her. Picking her up, he transported them to the med lab. Oroco was already there getting a needle ready. "Vat vas dat?!" He turned to Logan, "Vhat did you do?!"
Logan took off his mask, "Hey, blue boy, I didn't do anything." When Logan tried to get closer Kurt moved in-between them, "Please go." Logan tried again but Kurt was determined to keep him away from his girlfriend. Logan snarled and left, hitting the wall on the way out. Kurt relaxed and held Annika's hand. The sedative was working and she was sleeping. Kurt looked at Oroco, "vat happened?"
"Her senses overloaded, causing a massive migraine. Kurt, go get the professor."
Back at the hospital..........
"Professor, I met my husband on a vacation to Canada. He lived in a log cabin deep within the mountainside of British Columbia. Logan, his father, was a lumberjack and construction worker, a drifter mostly. His mother had died during childbirth so it was only the two of them. I did notice Logan's..differences. He never got sick, he never got hurt, he never complained of the normal aches and pains normal people do. He didn't even seem to age. When Annika was born we noticed that she had a great bond with Logan. They seemed to know each other's thoughts and feelings just by looking. It scared me. I worked on a base where Drake was training. Drake knew most of the moves, since Logan served in the forces, so it was easy for Drake to excel in drills. We were moved to Germany next. That was 1986, Annika was two years old when the word mutant first appeared. Logan had told us that we had to stay in Germany. It was safe there. People had come by the cabin, asking a lot of questions about his abilities. He told Drake that it was safer to tell people that Logan wasn't his father. Pretend that his life in Canada never happened." She shook her head, "Drake was as stubborn as his father and didn't listen. A few days later, Drake received word that his father's cabin had been vandalized and his father was nowhere to be found. Drake thought it was his father's doing." She stopped to take sip.
The Professor opened his eyes, seeing the events as she told him, "But you think differently?"
"Yes. Drake never had any special abilities like Logan, but Annika kinda did. She fought better than any man at the base at three years old. And she healed so quickly. A week after Logan disappeared, men would come around asking questions about my husband. I think Logan was captured. Annika had nightmares about her grandfather being tortured, rods being stuck into his arms. Some nights when I went to comfort her she had bruises all over her body. It was as if this torture was happening to her," Shirley sniffled, wiping her eyes, "I never told Drake. He would have gone back to Canada to try and find him. I wasn't ready to lose my husband or my child. That's why we use my maiden name. Drake doesn't want to take the chance of someone finding us. We never heard from Logan again. I thought he was dead until yesterday. He doesn't look like he's aged a bit. Is he a mutant?"
The Professor nodded, "Yes. How old was he when he disappeared?"
Shirley smiled, "Well, according to Drake and Logan, he will be 65 years old this December."
The Professor nodded, "Tell me more about this bond."
Shirley took another sip, "What's to tell? They were linked closer than Drake and him. They just knew things." Shirley got a sad look on her face. She swallowed hard and asked, " Is my daughter a mutant?"
The Professor shook his head, "Not fully, no. She has the recessive gene that could be passed onto her children. But, she does show some abilities even though she is a not a full mutant. It's like color blindness."
Shirley smiled, "Too bad she wasn't a boy. Then this may never have happened."
The Professor smiled, knowing she was just trying to cope with the situation, "Actually, if Annika had been a boy, she would be a full mutant. She is safe. Parmus as she is called do connect with a person that most resembles their own traits. Plus, if Annika was a boy I know Kurt would be devastated."
Shirley laughed, "That is very true."
Kurt, in his human form, ran into the cafeteria and right up to the Professor. He was out of breath from running the short distance from the emergency room to the cafeteria. "Professor, someting is vrong vith Annika. You have ta come now."
HE was panicking which made Shirley panic, "What happened?"
"She freaked out in the Danger Room when she and Logan met."
The Professor placed his hands together and said to Shirley in her mind, It appears that she was using her abilities when Logan was within close enough range and it triggered the dormant bond.
Shirley shook her head, a normal reaction to having someone's thoughts invade your mind for the first time, "I see. Let's go."
Kurt nodded, fear still written all over his face. The Professor wheeled forward, "Kurt, go back to the mansion and tend to Annika. We will be there shortly."
Kurt bamfed out, not thinking about where he was at the moment. The Professor thanked luck that no one else was in the room. Shirley and him quickly left the hospital.
Kurt bamfed next to Annika. He took a cold rag and replaced it on Annika's head. She still was sleeping soundly. Noticing a movement out of the corner of his eye he saw Logan at the doorway. Logan started to come in and Kurt stood up, "Away Logan!"
Logan backed up until Kurt stopped yelling. Kurt sat back down, "Danke."
Wolverine looked at Annika from the doorway. It was as close to Annika that Kurt would let him. Logan knew he could take the little elf, but something in blue boy's eyes told him not to bother Kurt.
Kurt held Annika's hand, tracing the lines on her palm. Usually this sent her into fits, but she was still sleeping. He hadn't left her side since the incident, except to get the professor. He still had on his uniform, clinging to him with sweat. He touched her palm again and she squirmed. He jumped up, caressing her cheek, "Annika?"
She turned her head, slowly opening her eyes, "Hello, what happened? I feel like I've been hit by a bat between my eyes."
Kurt smiled, "I don't know. You just freaked out and passed out."
She smiled at him. His voice shook as he said the words. She squeezed his hand, "I'm sorry I scared you."
Kurt kissed her hand, "Forgiven. I just happy you're fine. I'll go get Oroco." He vanished in a puff. She moved her stiff limbs and rubbed her temples. She looked over at the door to see Logan, "Hi."
"Hi."
"Did I really freak out?"
Logan slowly walked to her, crossing his arms again, "Yeah, scared blue boy so much he turned white."
Annika smiled, "I don't remember anything after you jumped at me. You must have gotten me really good."
"I didn't touch you."
Annika's smile vanished, "I just passed out."
Logan nodded. Being this close to her, he noticed a familiar scent about her. Funny that he hadn't noticed it before. Usually he could smell a mouse miles away. Kurt bamfed back and looked at Logan, "Ja?"
Logan waved his hand and left. Annika sat up, watching him go, "He's so sad."
Kurt looked at her, "How do you know?"
Annika turned, "I don't know."
Kurt smiled and sighed at her. "You hungry?"
"Starved."
"After Oroco checks you over, I'm taking you out."
Annika nodded. She looked at the empty doorway, wondering how exactly she did know what Logan was feeling.
The Professor and Annika's mother rushed into the infirmary. Shirley, seeing her daughter awake and fine, ran to her, hugging her tight.
"Mom, I can't breathe."
Shirley sniffed, "You ok?"
Kurt jumped on the table, swaying his tail back and forth, nervously. "Ja, she is ok. Oroco is coming to make sure."
Shirley placed the stethoscope she had forgotten to take off at the hospital on and listened to Annika's chest. Her heart rate was alittle fast but within the normal range. She started her own checkup, "You do seem fine."
"Mom," Annika whined, "I just passed out. It was hot in the room so I probably got heat exhaustion."
The Professor nodded, "That is probably the cause." Oroco came in and took some blood work and saying Annika was ok too. The Professor excused her and Kurt. When they were gone, the Professor turned to Oroco, "What did you see?"
"I have it on tape." She walked over to a monitor, pressing a few buttons. The whole Danger Room scene replayed. The Professor rested his chin on his fingers, deep in thought, while Shirley wrapped her arms around herself, watching Annika's primal attitudes when Logan appeared. Oroco turned, "Her vitals were beyond any human, but they dissipated just as quickly, so to a doctor or specialist, it would seem a bug in the program."
The Professor agreed, "That is what makes Parmus a commodity. We have to keep this to ourselves. Shirley I would like to have Annika live here for a while. I want to see how advanced her scenes truly have manifested. Plus, to see if having her around will trigger any memories he has lost. We cannot tell either of them yet, not until we are sure."
Shirley let out a staggered breath, "I don't think so Professor. I want her to have a normal life and you're making her sound like a science project. How would we even explain to her why she needs to stay?"
Oroco turned off the monitors, "Didn't you say you had a conference coming up?"
"Yes, in Pittsburgh, why?"
"Can't you just say you have to go and you want her to stay here."
"It's only for a weekend...you want me to lie to her?"
The Professor raised his hand, "No, of course not. We have to find another way. What is you told me that you studied Logan and his abilities. How would you like to become our physician. The kids could surely use someone who has a medical background and won't be running off to fight off enemies when they need the flu shot. As an employee, you could live here."
Shirley thought about it. It would mean better hours so she would see Annika more and be able to watch her. A nicer place to live than their two-bedroom shack that had no yard to speak of within 4 blocks. A safer neighbor that she wouldn't have to worry about Annika and herself walking home late at night. "I don't know. I need to think about it and talk it over with Annika."
"Of course."
Shirley stood, walking out to se if she could catch Annika. Oroco sighed, crossing her arms, "Professor?"
"I cannot force her. Save the data and come to my office. I want her accommodations already done if she agrees to this employment."
Shirley walked down the hall, looking into room after room to find Annika. She was walking around a corner when she bumped into something solid. It was Logan. HE looked at her, with a raised eyebrow, "Sorry."
Shirley smiled, "No, I'm the clumsy one. I apologize. Have you seen Annika?"
He pointed down the hall, "Kurt and her just left for a pizza."
She frowned, "Oh. I thought I could catch her."
Logan smirked, "When she has a boyfriend who transports, that's gotta be tough."
Shirley nodded, "Yeah."
Logan looked at this woman and hurt, Why was she so familiar to him? Could she be an old flame? Old acquaintance? He sighed and she did too. Shirley was starting to feel uncomfortable. Here she was in front of her father-in-law, the man who had called her daughter, and he didn't even remember her or Annika. "I have to go back to work, Excuse me."
Logan moved and watched her go. He crossed his arms and walked to his room.
Annika was gazing out the window at the parlor when Kurt snapped his fingers in front of her, "Earth to Annika?"
She shook her head, "Sorry."
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Yeah, I just have this weird vibe in my head, like I'm suppose to know something. It's probably a school assignment I'm forgetting."
Kurt took a bite out of his pizza and gives her a look that told Annika that he didn't believe her.
Later that night....
"How's about you and me going somewhere together?" said Kurt as they ascended the stairs to Annika's apartment.
"Where?"
Kurt smiled, "Anywhere! Australia, England, France, anywhere you want to go."
Annika smiling, turned to face her blue beau, "Italy was nice."
"Italy it is den, Fraulein." He wrapped his arms around her waist. She could feel his tail around her ankle.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, "You spoil me too much..I like it, don't get me wrong. I just wanted to let you know that."
Kurt gently kissed her on the lips, "Hey, when the love of your life finally comes to you, you're a fool not to make her happy."
Annika smiled, "You should write romance novels, you got such good lines."
Kurt picked her up and carried her the rest of the way up the stairs, "Nah, I'm more of a Kurt Does Dallas, kinda guy."
"Oh really?" she said with a raised eyebrow. They got to her door and Kurt let her down, "No, not really." He said blushing.
Annika opened the door to see her mother waiting for her on the couch, "Mom, are you ok?"
"We need to talk."
Annika's heart jumped. The last time she had said those words with that tone it was to inform her that she would probably never see her father again. Kurt saw the look on her face, "Annika?"
"I'm ok. Umm, rain check on the movie?"
Kurt nodded, "Of course." He took her face in one hand and kissed her other cheek. She gave him a weak smile before he disappeared in purple smoke. Annika turned her attention to her mother. She swallowed hard and sat down, "What's wrong?"
Shirley wiped her face. Annika noticed the bottle of whiskey and a shot glass on the table, "How would you like the live at the Institute?"
Annika shook her head, "Wha?"
"You heard me."
Annika slumped into the couch, "It would be awesome. I could see Kurt all the time and swim in the pool. I could practice in the Danger Room and hone all that kunfu stuff dad taught me. Why?"
Shirley smiled, "The Professor offered me a job as the Institute's physician. I would still work at the hospital part-time but most of the day would be spent at the Institute."
Annika jumped up, "Really?! That's great! And we get to live there?"
Shirley nodded, "I don't know if I want to take the job or not. I don't want you to become a project to Xavier."
"Why would I be?"
She shrugged, "You know, being the only non-mutant could be tough. You might feel uncomfortable there."
Annika sighed, "Mom, I don't think so. They are cool and being the only non-mutant has it's advantages. I won't have to practice in the Danger Room religiously like the others."
Shirley poured herself another drink and quickly emptied the glass in her mouth, "Umm, yeah I see your point. What if..what if..for the sake of argument, you were a mutant would you like to live there?"
"Mom, you're scaring me." Annika wrapped her arms around herself, "I'm not a mutant. And if I was the Institute is the safest place. Everyone protects each other from any harm. It's one big family."
Shirley nodded, "OK, I'll call the Prof and tell him yes."
Annika smiled and hugged her mom, "You'll love it mom. And just think you can lounge at the pool all day."
Shirley nodded, smiling too, "Yep. Remember I have to go to that conference this weekend. I'll be back around Monday or Tuesday. Will you be ok alone or would you like to stay with the Professor?"
"I'll be fine here. If I need anything I'll call Kurt."
Shirley hugged her little tighter, "OK. Just asking."
Saturday............
Annika was at the Institute working on a project for her computer science class. "C++, you C suck suck," she sang as she worked. The others were in the Danger Room practicing. After her incident, Kurt didn't want her anywhere need the room. He was so cute when he was protective. She hit enter on the keyboard and Kurt appeared next her, "Hey, how ya doing?"
"Good, I got my problem errors on my program down from 150 to 50."
"Ouch, vell I just vanted to say hi." He kissed her on the cheek and bamfed out. "Ewww, gross sweaty fur." She announced and grabbed her napkin. Unfortunately, her soda was on the napkin and spilled into her lap. "Aww crap!" She dapped the stain and walked next door to the infirmary to get more towels. She saw Oroco walk out, writing something on a pad. Annika shrugged and walked into the room. One of the monitor's was on and beeping. Annika kept dabbing the stain with cold water as she looked at the screen. She froze when it said in 12 Times New Roman font, "PARMU Project #4876478-AB Hunter, Annika." She threw the towels down and hit the enter key. Lists of charts and numbers appeared on the screen. She read out loud, "Partial Mutation...those descendents of mutants that carry the recessive gene. Yet, not being a mutant themselves, exhibit traits of the powers from the parent mutant."
Annika felt her heart beating rapidly and she was finding it hard to breathe. The next screen came up stating:
Subject: Hunter, Annika
Sex: Female
Age: 16
Class: PARMU
Trait: Excessive healing and survival skills.
The next item on the list was about to pop up when she heard Oroco coming down the hall. Her heels clicking on the tiles hurt Annika's ears. Then she realized something. Every time she got excited, scared or worried, she had reactions like this to normal things. Partial mutant, what the hell what that? How can you be a partial mutant..that's like saying you are partially pregnant. It's one or the other. She remembered her mother asking her the hypothetical question about if she was a mutant. She knew, mom knew and she didn't tell me! Annika thought. The sound was getting closer and she grabbed the towels and tucked under the sink. She watched Oroco walk in and turn off the monitor. The Professor entered shortly after, "Are all the accommodations ready for Annika and her mother?"
"Yes, do you think we should tell someone about her? At least tell the kids what's going on?"
Annika, through the crack in the door, saw the Professor nod, "I told Kurt, Jean and Scott this morning. We will tell the others when the time is right. She is not to know. I don't want her to become depressed over this endeavor."
"How did Kurt take it?"
"He's so worried. When I told him what could happen if she found out too suddenly, like the depression and mood swings, he freaked out. He truly loves her. I'm not worried about Annika. If she is as strong as Logan, she will make out fine."
Annika smiled, she knew Kurt loved her but it was always nice to hear someone else say it. Then she frowned, 'He knew this morning and he didn't say anything to her. HE was hiding things from her, again!' She understood the Professor said not to say anything, but it's your girlfriend's life! Wasn't she entitled to know what she was and decide how to deal with it on her own! Annika got so mad.
She looked up to see the Professor holding his head, Aww crap did she think to loud or something. He looked at Oroco, "There is a negative feeling in this room. How was the last person in here?"
"Logan, spilled oil on his uniform and came in here to clean up. Annika looked down and touched her own wet stain, Why did he say if I was like Logan?, she thought.
The Professor nodded, "Then that must be it. Let us go." They left and Annika fell out of the cabinet, cramped and sore. It didn't last long and she got up and went back to her laptop. She tried to type her program again but she was distracted. PARMU. She bite her lip, I can't be a mutant. I don't have powers like the others. So, I heal fast, that's because I drink a lot of milk and eat lots of proteins. I just have a healthy immune system, that doesn't make me a mutant. She sniffled trying not to cry. She knew Kurt would be coming back soon. She burst into tears when she realized that Kurt knew and never said anything to her. Annika got up and took her stuff to Kurt's room. She placed everything down in his desk and crawled into bed. She just needed a nap, that's all. When she woke up this would all be a dream.
"Waky, Wakey beautiful."
Annika turned over, rubbing her eyes, "Hello. What day is it?"
Kurt laughed, "It's still Saturday...afternoon. You feeling ok?"
Annika sat up and stretched, "Yep. I had a terrible dream though."
"About what?" Kurt stood up and unzipped his uniform. This didn't take Annika aback, they were comfortable enough with each other that changing wasn't a big deal. Annika smiled, Kurt just got more enjoyment out of watching her undress. She was about to tell him when she noticed the cherry coke stain on her leg. She gasped and held her leg as if it was hurt. The stain...but how..that means it was real. She was a PARA-something. She saw Kurt give her a look, "I got a stain on my new jeans."
He nodded and continued to pull the latex suit off his fur without pulling any out. Annika stood up and pulled her hair back. Kurt was acting like nothing was going on with her. She cleared her throat, "So, I heard you had a meeting with the Prof this morning?"
Kurt nodded pulling the top part of his uniform off, "Ja? Vat about it?"
"Just wondered what it was about?"
Kurt smiled, "It's X-men stuff. I could tell ya but den I'd have to kill you." He bamfed right next to her and kissed her on the lips then down her neck, "Don't vorry about it."
She giggled as the fur tickled her neck. Maybe the Professor didn't tell him everything. She was going to have to look for herself. She tickled Kurt back, causing him to bamf away, itching himself, smiling. She picked up her laptop, "See you at lunch."
He waved and continued to pry his uniform off. As Annika closed the door she heard latex snap and Kurt yelp. She laughed and walked to the nearest modem line.
In the library.......
Annika typed furiously, trying to find any PARMUs online or anything related to the topic. Nothing. She hit her fist on the table. "Sorry," she whispered to Rogue, who was reading her Edger Allen Poe book.
Annika sighed and went to Yahoo. She clicked on the People Search label and stared at the screen. Maybe she could find her father, but he was always undercover so she had no clue what name to use. She wiped her head as a feeling of familiarity swept over her. She turned to see Logan walk in the room and sit next to her. He leaned an elbow on the table and looked at her computer, "Looking for someone, kiddo?"
Annika pushed the uneasiness away from the pit of her stomach, "Yeah, my dad."
Logan nodded, "Not around huh?"
Annika nodded, "Not anymore. He left when I was young. HE said it was for the better, but I don't believe him. I miss him. I can't even find him because I don't know what name he has right now."
Logan frowned at the girl's dilemma. He couldn't help feeling that her pain was his fault and he didn't like it. He didn't know this girl he didn't owe anything to her, yet he felt like he had known her for a long time. He sighed and cursed the block in his head that kept him from remembering any life he had before..the incident. HE rubbed his knuckles where the claws rested. He looked at Annika to see her looking at him with the same pain in her eyes, "Are those your power?"
Logan let one claw poke out as he scratched himself on the head, "These? Nah, these were man-made, my powers are animal instincts and the ability to heal very quickly."
He saw Annika's eyes go wide, but if it was horror or recognition, he couldn't tell. He smiled, "What about you?"
Annika swallowed hard, "What about me?"
"Well, you've been hanging out here a lot and I have a feeling that it's not because of blue boy. You got any powers?"
Annika shook her head, "Just the ability to be deceived."
Logan nodded, "I know the feeling." He tapped her head lightly with a finger, "How're the migraines?"
"OK, I haven't had one since that day in the Danger Room. I think it was just heat exhaustion. That or many pounds of muscle with claws charging me."
Logan let out a laugh, "Kid, the look you had in your eyes told me you were going to be force to be reckoned with..don't underestimate yourself."
Annika smiled, "I guess."
Logan stood up, "See you later." He kissed the top of her head. He quickly pulled back, stunned. Annika stood up too, just as stunned. The only sound was Rogue dropping her book from shock. Logan cleared his throat, "See ya kiddo" and quickly walked out. Annika looked at Rogue. "What was that all about, sugar?" said Rogue.
Annika just shrugged and plopped down on her seat. She quickly exited the People Search and typed into the Yahoo Search Engine, 'Partial Mutation.' This was the only combination of PARMU or partial mutate that she could think and the most obvious. When Yahoo returned, a lot of the sites were for biology listings. She clicked on one and it listed genetic diseases, caused by partial mutations. She exited the site, disgusted. She just had to wait and see how long it would take for one of them to tell her. She was deep in thought when Kurt bamfed into the library, "Hey, Annika, you scared me."
"Why?" she asked as she closed her laptop.
"You veren't at Lunch and you said you vould be."
"I'm fine. I just got caught up on the Internet."
Kurt sat on the table, looking down at her, "Vhy do I not believe you. What are you hiding from me?"
Annika's jaw dropped open, "What am I hiding from you?! I could ask you the same thing!"
"Like what?" Kurt said, offended.
"Like you hiding your true self from me for months!"
Kurt sighed, crossing his arms, "I thought ve vere done with dat?"
"Well, you never tell me things. You are always hiding things from me. Why won't you tell me about Germany? It took an accident to get you to explain you were a mutant. Am I going to have to find a way to make more accidents happen?"
Rogue snuck out of the library. She didn't need these bad vibes in her system.
Kurt grunted, "Vhy do you need to know?! You have a happy family life, I didn't. I told you dat I didn't tell you about the mutant thing because I was too in love with you to lose you. I didn't know whether you could accept me. "
Annika shook her head, "This is how you are going to lose me." She grabbed her bag off the chair and ran out the door. Kurt watched dumbstruck at the door, not believing she just walked out. "Annika." He ran to the doorway but she was nowhere to be found, "Annika?!" HE hit the frame and disappeared to find her.
Annika sniffled as she walked through the gates of the Institute. Was she so different that Kurt didn't seem to trust her? Was it because she wasn't a mutant? Or maybe because she was a PARMU, whatever the hell that was anyway. That he didn't think she would be able to understand or comfort him? The more she thought about it the more she cried, not so much from her train of thought but the fact he hadn't run after her. Her mother always told her to wait until she found someone she truly loved to give herself too. She thought Kurt was that guy, but it seems as soon as he got what he wanted she didn't matter anymore. Annika started to run down the road. She was a fool! An idiot for falling in love..but her heart hurt because she knew she loved Kurt. The mutant thing had shocked her sure, anyone would if they didn't encounter it everyday. But she had liked him so much she didn't care, she wanted him no matter what shape or form. And Kurt was right, she was fine with it, but it also made her think. What else was he hiding? Annika walked into town and into her building. She got into her apartment to find it dark and lonely. Her mother was still at the conference, her dad was somewhere, and there was no one home. No shoulder to cry, no person to rant, just her. She wiped her tears away on her sleeve. She walked into her room, not noticing the movement in the corner. A dark figure hides in the shadows, watching her every move. Annika turned on her desk light and jumped on her bed, crying. The figure moved silently down the wall and next to her. She lifted her head to dry some of her tears when she noticed the movement. She yelped and stood up in her bed, pressing herself against the wall. Her softball bat was in reaching distance if she needed it. The figure jumped on the bed and turned on her room light. Annika closed her eyes to the brightness and opened her eyes to see Kurt crouched in front of her and he was mad. His face was hard, his eyes fixed on hers, and Annika saw his jaw move as he clenched it. Annika sniffled and sighed, "HI."
Kurt stood up quick, making Annika nervous. This wasn't funny. Was he trying to scare her on purpose or was this a game? He leaned so close she felt his hot breath on her mouth, "Did I scare you?"
Annika grunted, "Stop this! Why are you going this? You're acting funny." She tried to push him away but he was as solid as a rock. Then she smelt it. Something rancid and molding like a swamp. She leaned back against the wall, "Kurt?"
Kurt smiled evilly, "Yes?"
"Do you smell that? It smells like a bog?"
Kurt just shrugged, "It must be Toad."
Annika swallowed hard, "Toad? Since when do you hang out with Toad?" She heard her mother's bedroom door slam. Toad appeared in the room, "Hello."
Annika turned to yell at him, when Kurt pulled out a needle, pushing it into Annika's arm. She screamed and struggled but became weak. She slid down the wall, losing consciousness. Her last sight was Toad laughing walking towards her.
Toad laughed, "Boss, that was priceless."
Kurt folded his arms and morphed into Mystique. "Take her to the lab."
Toad nodded and threw Annika over his shoulder like a doll, following a frowning Mystique out.
A few minutes later.......
Kurt appeared in the room, "Annika?" Nothing. He really screwed up. He hit Annika's desk in frustration. It wasn't that he didn't trust her with his past, it was just that, it was his past. When he left that world behind he promised to only focus on the here and now. Annika was here and he hoped she would be there forever. He was running out of places. She wasn't on the road still, not at the bowling alley, not at home, maybe she was at the school. Kurt disappeared not seeing the needle that lay on the floor near Annika's bed.
Somewhere in the Dutchess County (Note: Home of this author :))
Annika woke up hearing the buzz of florescent light above her. She touched her arm and saw a huge bruise from the needle. The room was spinning. She touched the wall, trying the stand, to find the walls padded. She looked down to find her clothes had been replaced with a surgical gown. She touched her face, swaying back and forth. The room was spinning too much and she fell on the floor unto her back.
Above her Magneto floated as Mystique watched her. Magneto knew that Mystique was not happy with this plan, but he couldn't figure out why. "This is the chance we have been looking for, Mystique. To help mutants beat these weakling humans. If you wish, we could take her uterus as well as her ovaries. I can place the uterus into you, making you able to have children again. Can't you see this is necessary?"
"Shall I go in now?"
He sighed, "Yes."
She walked down the stairs and opened the door. Annika turned her head, licking her lips, "Who?" she whispered.
The woman hushed her, "Quiet, little one. I'm here to help." Annika watched as this woman gave her an injection. Annika's world slowly came back into focus. She rolled over onto her side, "Thanks."
The woman smiled, "No problem."
"Where am I?"
"A special place for people like you."
"Like me?"
"yes, you are a PARMU aren't you?"
"I don't know, what is that?"
The woman smiled, "It's a special mutant that's not fully a mutant."
Annika stood and leaned against the wall, "It must be the sedatives but that didn't make sense."
"Your parent or grandparent was a mutant. You have the gene for their mutation but you yourself are not fully a mutant. Yet, you do possess some traits that prove you have this gene."
"Like healing." Annika said matter-of-factly.
"Yes, exactly. Your friend brought you here to us because he said you were a danger."
"Kurt said that! I'm not a danger."
"Hush, child. I only say what was told to me. There is a good advantage about being a PARMU. You will have mutant children."
Annika sniffled, "How is that an advantage?"
"This world needs more mutants." Annika watched the nurse morph into a blue-skinned woman. She looked a lot like Kurt. "You see, I am a mutant. I want to help you, help the mutant population grow."
"How?"
Mystique smiled, "Why have babies of course."
Annika backed into a corner, "You're crazy."
Mystique laughed loudly, "Hardly."
"You're Mystique, you're K.." Annika didn't get to finish her statement, Mystique covered her mouth and whispered, "Don't mention my son here, it might cost him and you your life. If I can, I will help you." She backed up and said loudly to Annika as if someone was listening to her, "Xavier is crazy for not taking advantage of what he had in front of him. All we need is to harvest your ovaries and then you can go free. Maybe we'll let you have one baby first, to see if it's true. Then, we'll take them. And once that is over, we'll have no need of you."
Annika swallowed hard, "No. You can't do this."
The woman walked to the entrance, "I can and I will. That injection I gave you was not just an antidote to the sedative. It was a hormone inducers. Your first pregnancy will be at least triplets. Well, I have to go now. Get your rest, you'll need it."
Annika charged the woman but Mystique exited before Annika could get out. She pounded on the door screaming.
Mystique returned to the observation room with Magneto. "It's good to see you take pride in your work."
Mystique nodded, frowning. She had to save this girl. She was Kurt's girlfriend and he loved her. Plus, she knew what it felt like to lose her ability to have children. She blocked these thoughts from Magneto and went to find a way to help.
Back at the Institute...............
"Professor, we can't find her anywhere." Said Scott as he entered the office.
Kurt bamfed into the room, his hair ruffed from constant pulling, "I don't know vhere to look! It's like she vanished into thin air."
The Professor harrumphed, "I see no other option. Go get Logan and the others and meet me in the den."
The two nodded and ran to get the others.
The Den.......
Logan growled, "You're telling me that she is my granddaughter and you neglected to tell me!"
"It was for the best Logan. The bond you and Annika shared when she was young is very powerful. To rush into that kind of bond so quickly could damage her mentally as well as physically. I wanted to make sure she was truly a PARMU."
Oroco commented, "We sent it to the lab in Australia where another PARMU lives, and they confirmed her blood work. Annika is a partial mutant with the ability to tap into her recessive mutant traits."
The Professor added, "With the right training, she might be able to control the gene and possibly awaken it."
Evans chuckled and punched Kurt playfully in the arm, "You sure know how to pick em, bro."
Kitty giggled, "Ya, like who would of thought your first girlfriend would be like us."
The Professor cleared his throat, "She is at a very fragile state right now. She is agitated and therefore her mutant traits are flared up. It might be possible to find her using Cerebral."
Kurt jumped up, "Vell, let's go."
The Professor wheeled to the machine and hooked himself up to it. "Logan?"
"Yes."
"Give me your hand. If the bond between Annika and yourself is still thriving. I might get a better reading." Logan obeyed, still hot from being lied too. Such a vital part of his past and they kept it from him. He wasn't a child. "Logan, please. It's hard to concentrate when you are self-pitying. There were reasons why I did not tell you. Ones I will explain later."
Logan hushed and the Professor connected. He searched everywhere until he asked Logan to think about Annika. As she thought about the incident in the library, the Professor found her. "She's in an abandoned warehouse right near the Hudson in Dutchess County. She is drugged. And....oh dear god." He turned off the machine. He turned to the group, "Mystique is involved."
Logan crossed his arms, "Why do I feel you are still hiding something."
The Professor sighed, "Fine. PARMUs genetic make-up make it that any offspring they produce will be a mutant. Mystique is trying to harvest Annika's eggs in attempt to increase the mutant population."
Kurt and Rogue let their hands ball into fists. Why would she change they both thought? Kurt jumped up, hanging from the ceiling, "No one touches Annika or her eggs, I have fist dibs on them."
Kitty wrinkled her nose, "Ewww, too much info Kurt."
"Yeah, bro." Agreed Evans.
The Professor nodded, "She still had a couple hours before she is taken to another facility. X-men."
Scott smiled, "Way ahead of you Professor." The group ran and suited up. Logan sat in the Blackbird and pulled his hood over his face, Granddaughter.
Scott and Kurt took the controls and flew the jet to the boondocks of Dutchess County.
Annika shivered. She was having major hot and cold flashes. She felt so weak too. She tried to claw her way out of the patted room, but under the patting was inch think steel. She pounded on the steel for awhile until her hand bled. She turned, leaning on her back, watching her hand heal itself. All the raging hormones in her body were making her 'abilities' more apparent. She growled, "Ya had to be different, didn't ya." She rolled on her side into a fetal position wondering what her father was doing right now. Maybe that's why he left, he was a mutant and he didn't want her to get caught. She whined and spread out as a hot flash spread through her body. She wondered if livestock, about to get slaughtered, felt this way. She was going to die and no one knew where she was because she had to be difficult and fight with Kurt. Kurt, her beloved sexy blue devil. HE brought her here. She shook her head, no he couldn't have done something like that to her. That weird woman could change shapes and she had the same evil smile, she must of done this to her. She wished she could see Kurt again, apologize to him and fall asleep in his arms. She realized she had a regret, she never got to make love to Kurt. They had done everything but had sex but that's because they were both too chicken. Kurt was still insecure about his body and she was scared about what might happen afterwards. Would he leave her? Would she get pregnant? She laughed at that thought, here she was pumped with hormones, aroused heavily, and she was going to die because someone wanted her pregnant. She didn't know if Irony fit but it was damn close. She turned her head as the door opened. She quickly jumped up, standing ready to fight. Mystique walked in, "How are you feeling?"
Annika just swallowed, giving her an evil look.
"That's good. Are you ready to go?"
"Not with you."
"Well, you have no choice." She took out a tranquiller gun and aimed it at Annika. She dodged the shot and pushed past Mystique. "Toad! Lance! Get her."
Annika ran down a flight of stairs. Her heart was racing and she smelled Toad on the next floor down. Lance ran into the stairwell, chasing her. She was caught. She looked over the railing. It was a good four flights up. She threw her legs over the railing and took a deep breath, "Please don't let me die" he prayed to any deity listening. She let go of the railing and fell four floors. She landed with a thud on her side. Toad and Lance looked down. Toad looked up at Lance and Lance down at Toad. "Shit," they said in unison.
Mystique ran into the top floor corridor, "What happened?"
"She jumped." Answered Toad.
"Well, don't just stand there, go get her. See if she is alive!."
Toad and Lance ran down the stairs.
Annika's body lay limp and broken. Her leg snapped out and cracked. Her ribs cracked and her arm cracked. She gasped in breath and let out a staggered breath. It had worked. She heard the boys coming down the stairs. She got up and ran as fast she could. Her body was almost healed, save the deep bruise that went from her shoulder to her foot. She opened the door and ran into a glass hallway. Her body snapped and crackled again, causing her to scream. She started to run again, trying to find an exit to this maze of hallways.
Toad and Lance ran down the final stairwell and stopped, "Where is she?"
"No one could have survived that!" continued Toad.
Mystique yelled, "Someone who has an excelled healing ability can you idiots. Find her!" The two ran more to escape Mystique than find the girl.
Kurt paced the jet as they got closer. Logan stopped him, "Sit down, blue boy, you're giving me a headache."
Kurt sat Indian-style on the floor, "I can't help it. Vhat if ve're too late. Vhat if.."
Logan placed a hand on his shoulder, "We won't be late."
Jean turned to Logan, "The Professor said you had a bond with Annika when she was small. Could you try and contact her now?"
"I don't remember that life, Jean. I wouldn't know how."
Jean unbuckled herself and sat across from Logan, "I can help you. If you want."
Logan grunted. He hated asking for help for anything. But this was for Annika, and she was..family. He nodded and Jean placed her hands on Logan's temples, "Just relax Logan."
Logan obeyed and thought about Annika. Kitty commenting that she had his snarl. He thought about Annika's face, deep dark eyes just like his own, the broad shoulders. He stopped when he saw Annika running down a hallway, scared and hurt badly. "I see her!"
Kurt jumped up, "Vhere!"
"She's running from something. And she's hurt." Logan stood up quickly, causing Jean to fall on Kurt.
He walked up to the window, "There!" he pointed at an old factory building. Scott quickly landed on the roof. "Ok, let's go get her."
Logan unsheathed his claws, "Agreed."
Annika ran into a storage area and closed the door behind her. Her body was still healing and it hurt so much. Her running was now a limping as she made it to the other side of the room. She opened the door to find Mystique on the other side. She screamed and tried to close the door, but Mystique was too quick for her. She grabbed Annika's arm and injected her with a sedative. Annika fought back for a few seconds before passing out on the floor. Mystique sighed, if only she could have told her that she was going to let her escape once they got to the other facility, but Lance and Toad would have told Magneto. Toad and Lance came in after her, "Boss, we got company."
"What?! Take her and let's get out of here." Mystique thanked Xavier for being so efficient. Annika needed to get as far away as possible from Magneto's grip.
Lance picked Annika up. He winced at the sight of her. She was so battered he didn't understand why she was still alive. He carried her as fast as he could behind Mystique. Kurt and Wolverine jumped into the larger part of the storage area. Wolverine sniffed the air, "This way."
Kurt noticed the movement and bamfed in front of Lance, "Give her to me!"
Lance stopped and hugged the girl closer. He stomped his foot, sending a tremor his way. Kurt wavered and fell, giving Lance time to run past him. Wolverine helped Kurt up and chased Lance.
Kitty and Jean were up on the roof, while Scott kept the jet going. Kitty saw Lance run into the woods, "There he is!" Trees began to sway violently, revealing a camouflage helicopter. Jean touched her temples and tried to hold the helicopter down. "I don't know how much longer I can hold it."
Scott ran out, "I think I can hit it from here."
Kitty yelled, "No, Annika is in there. You might blow it up."
Kurt and Wolverine ran out of the building and saw the helicopter. They saw Jean holding it at bay. Wolverine charged the helicopter, digging his claws into the hull. Kurt bamfed himself inside. "Guten Tag."
Toad opened his mouth and slapped Kurt in the face, leaving a film. Kurt fell back wiping the slime away. Lance kicked him in the stomach. Kurt grunted and threw the film off of his face and into Lance's. It was Lance's turn to fall back. Kurt bamfed behind Toad, grabbing his tongue and tying it to the pole. Toad screamed and tried to get loose. Kurt gently picked up Annika's body and bamfed them to the jet. Annika was breathing but knocked out. Kurt placed her on a stretcher they had for emergencies and went out. "Where's Logan?"
Kitty pointed, "He's still there."
Jean sighed and fell to the ground, "I can't hold it anymore." The helicopter shot into the air, Logan still attached to the hull.
Kurt bamfed to the helicopter, "Take my hand, Annika is back at the jet."
Logan nodded and grabbed Kurt. Kurt bamfed them back to the jet.
Kitty was helping an exhausted Jean into the jet, "Let's go home."
Scott agreed and took off.
Kurt and Logan sat by Annika. They watched her body snap into place and repair itself. Kurt gave Logan a weak smile, "Good ding she is related to you, ja?"
Logan raised an eyebrow at Kurt, then smiled, "Yeah it is."
Two Days Later.......
Shirley sat with Logan and the Professor in silence. The Professor spoke, "The encounter has awoken Annika's recessive genes to becoming more accessible. Her blood work still does not show any mutation, but her abilities are more apparent. With concentration and study, Annika may be able to call her abilities at will. She will make an excellent addition to our team. An insider who can go into places full mutants can't go.
Logan looked at Shirley, "So, I have a son."
She nodded, "Yeah, a very good and honest man. He would be so happy to know that you didn't leave him on purpose."
Logan nodded, "I don't remember anything since my incident. I'm still finding it hard to believe you are my daughter-in-law and Annika is my granddaughter."
Shirley smiled, "I know. I'm having the same feelings, but maybe we can start over."
Logan nodded, "I'd like that." He crossed his arms, "Tell me everything..I want to remember."
Shirley poured herself another glass of lemonade and one for Logan, "OK, but it's a long story."
The Professor smiled, they hadn't heard a word he said, "I'll leave you two alone." He wheeled down to his office.
In the infirmary..............
Annika was mostly healed from her ordeal. Her bruises were smaller and there were small traces left of the hormone inducers. She was playing with Kurt's GameBoy when he came into the room. He sat next to her and smiled, "Winning?"
"No." She placed the game down and smiled at him. He kissed her and rested his head on her shoulder. She smiled at him. Kurt lifted his head, "Vha?"
She shrugged, "Just Happy. To be alive, not to be pregnant with a million babies, the usual stuff."
Kurt laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, gently not to hurt her still bruised rubs. "I'm happy too."
"When I thought I was going to die I only had one regret."
"Vhat's dat?"
"I thought I was going to die without ever making love to you."
Kurt went wide-eyed for a second, "OK, those are da hormones talking right?"
Annika punched him lightly in her chest, "NO! I'm serious, Kurt."
Kurt rubbed his chest, smiling, "You really vant to?"
Annika smiled and purring into his ear, "Well, not right now but soon. I love you so much that I want to show you. OK, that was the hormones."
Kurt chuckled, "VE don't have ta do dat, I already know you love me as much as I love you."
"I know." She said lowering her head.
Kurt kissed her neck and cheek, "Vhen you are all better and when the time is right, we will make love. And just because I'm saying dis, don't think I haven't thought about it every night since prom."
"That long?"
"Ja." Kurt said matter-of-factly.
Annika smiled and hugged Kurt tight. He retuned the hug gently. Evans and Kitty walked into the room. Kitty smiled, "Awwww, how cute."
Kurt and Annika gave them a nasty look.
Evans laughed, "So, Annika, how does it feel to be a mutant."
Annika smiled, "Well, technically, I'm not a mutant." She looked at Kurt and smiled, "But I'm enjoying being different."
Evans laughed, "Yeah...gives the ego alittle boost doesn't it?"
Jean and Scott walked in to see how Annika was doing. Jean smiled, "Welcome to the family, Annika."
Scott chuckled, "Evans was right Kurt, you sure know how to pick them."
Kurt answered with a huge smile.
Annika smiled, "So, Scott, how do I get to be an X-Men?"
Scott laughed, "Get better first, then we'll see what you can really do."
The End....NOT!
I'm off to Florida for a few days so hopefully I'll write some new stuff on the plane...or maybe I'll sleep. Write for you all Later! :)