Two
Koda felt her way down the hall the next morning. She wore baggy, blue jean with the knees cut and a black spaghetti strap, skintight tang top. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail with loose strands that fell in front of her face. She wore black, thin, wrap around shades and black boots that buckled over her ankles.
She heard someone coming and stopped to listen. When they were a few feet in front of her she dropped her hand from the wall and smiled.
"Can you tell me where Professor Xavier's room is?" she asked.
"It's right there." The voice said.
"Can you be more specific?"
"What are you?" the voice was irritable. "Bli-"
"Blind?" Koda cut in quickly. "Yes actually."
The person gasped. "I am so sorry."
Koda laughed lightly. "It's okay, I was sort of expecting that."
"I'm Rogue." The girl shook Koda's hand.
"Koda," she smiled.
"I'm so sorry, I just broke up with my boyfriend, he's so," she growled. "He thinks it's all about kissing and stuff like that."
"You don't kiss him?"
"I can't." Rouge sighed. "When people touch my skin I absorb their power, their life force if I keep flesh contact with them long enough I'd kill them."
"That must be a bummer."
"You have no idea." Rogue lead her into the Professor's room and shook Koda's hand again. "Again, I am sorry."
Koda nodded and heard the door close.
"Problems?" Professor Xavier asked.
"Always, apparently Rogue broke up with her boyfriend and it is hurting her."
"Ah yes, Bobby still doesn't understand that love is more then it appears."
Koda shrugged. "So last night when Kurt took me to a room, he named me."
"Oh?" the Professor already knew this but he let her continue.
"Koda, how about that? Koda is my new name."
"I think it is a wonderful name." He smiled. "So about your friends."
Koda felt her way to a sofa and sat down. "Yes?" she looked worried and concerned. "Are they alive?"
"They are alive."
She smiled and fell back into the softness of the sofa. "Thank God." She felt like dancing and shouting for joy, but she contained herself. "Where are they?"
"Jackson is in St. Petersburg, but he is fixing to move here. He is not injured in any way and he is coming back to America to look for the Odd- Quad. He stayed there in Eurasia because he was captured in the mission."
"Oh no," she got worried again. "What did they do to him?"
"They tortured him for information or the whereabouts of the Odd- Quad, but he said nothing, then he escaped, kept low in St. Petersburg and is now coming back."
"What about Jak?"
"Jak is in Albuquerque, he is working for a construction site. He lives with Satine who works as an erotic escort."
Koda laughed outright. "She would, she's always had the body for that line of work."
"They have been looking for you, they have had leads but Jak is convinced that you have locked your mind to him, he can't reach you."
Koda shook her head. "He never could get to me with his powers."
"Everyone wants to be reunited," Professor Xavier smiled. "I can send out the jet and get them."
Koda lit up. "Would you really do that for me Professor?"
"Of course I would Koda." He smiled. The door behind Koda opened.
"Professor,"
"Scott,"
Scott Summers looked down at Koda. "Hello." He said to her. "Nice shades."
"Thank you." she smiled.
"Professor, Logan is back from his escapade."
Professor Xavier nodded. "Very well."
Scott wanted to say more but held himself in light of Koda's presence. Then he turned on his heels and left the room.
"Scott and Logan never got along." Professor Xavier explained.
"I see," Koda smiled. "So you'll do that?"
"Yes."
She smiled then went into thought. "But why would you do all of this for me Professor? Are you truly such a good man that you would do anything for a fellow mutant?"
Professor Xavier sighed then nodded. "Yes Koda, that is it exactly."
She arched an eyebrow then shrugged. "Thank you."
"In the mean time, you are more then welcomed to attend classes here. I understand that you want to learn music?"
"The violin." She nodded.
"Well, we have a tutor here who can help you. I'll talk with him and he'll teach you to learn by sound."
Koda jumped up. "Professor! You really are a the greatest man!"
He laughed. "I am happy to know that."
Kurt came by the Professor's room and took Koda to see Storm who set up a list of classes Koda would be taking.
"You'll be learning Brail with a special tutor Professor Xavier called in just for you. His name is Professor Lighter, he'll teach you Brail in the living room at eight o'clock. Then you'll be in History with me, Kurt has that class, would you walk her to that class Kurt?"
"Of course."
"Good, then you'll have medical lessons with Dr. Grey in the lower levels. Rogue has that class; I'll have her take you there. Then it is lunch, after that you'll have Physics with Professor Xavier and then Professor Tawny with violin. After classes there is a training facility in the lower levels where you can train to fight again. Are you still a fighter?"
"I haven't fought ever since I lost my sight."
Storm smiled. "Well, we can help you learn to fight again, and I hear your friends are coming in as well?"
"Yes."
"They can help you brush up on your fighting too."
Koda smiled. "I never knew life could be so good," Storm and Kurt chuckled. "For the blind." She added without them hearing.
"That'll be all for today," Professor Xavier said. "I'll expect your chapter outline on my desk by Friday."
The students stood up and headed for the door.
"Oh, Koda,"
"Yes Professor?" she turned around.
"Your friend are coming in this afternoon, so if you want to miss your training lesson for today it'll be quite alright."
Koda smiled. "Are they really?"
"Yes."
"Goodness," she smiled. "Professor, I don't know how to thank you, you've done so much for me and it's only my second day here."
"How are your classes going?"
"Great, they are a little hard, but at least I can record the lessons, oh, by the way, thank you for the tape recorder and walking stick."
"You're welcome." He smiled.
She grabbed her walking stick and turned around. Professor Xavier watched her as she made it down the hall and into the living room again for violin lessons. He frowned then returned to his desk.
Koda picked up the violin as if it was a precious child. She felt its outline then tucked it into her neck and rested her chin on the padded piece.
"Good," Professor Tawny patted Koda's shoulder. "Here's the bow. Have you ever played before?"
"No, but I have had dreams of playing." Koda answered.
"Well, let's see if your dreams have taught you anything first."
"Alright." Koda said and sat on a stool. She thought for a moment. In her dreams she played a song she heard from a movie called Queen of the Damned. In the movie a gypsy girl named Sophia was playing the violin.
Koda breathed deeply then pulled the bow across the strings and dove into the song she had heard from the movie. Her hands danced across the stings and bars as the music poured out of the small wooden instrument.
Professor Xavier wheeled into the living room with a look of shock. "You can play?"
Startled Koda almost dropped the violin but quickly caught it before it even reached her lap. "Professor Xavier?"
Professor Tawny sat on the couch laughing lightly. "I've never heard of dreams teaching someone to play an instrument."
Professor Xavier looked at her. "Excuse me?"
"I asked her if she has ever play the violin and she said only in her dreams and this is what her dreams have taught her it is extraordinary, but very good!"
Koda smiled, raised to the violin to her chin again and played. The music flowed down into the halls, seeping into classrooms and snatching the attention of many students and Professors.
The sound of an incoming jet made her stop with a start. She lowered the violin and inclined her head a little and listened intently.
"Ah, their here early." Professor Xavier said. "Come Koda, your friends are landing."
Koda handed Professor Tawny the violin and held onto the Professor's chair and they left for the garage in the lower levels.
Koda stood behind Professor Xavier at the entrance of the garage and waited. The hatch of the jet opened and he heard footsteps file out.
"Logan, I didn't know you decided to go on this little pick up." Professor Xavier said.
"Yeah, I needed something to-" he stopped and starred at Koda.
Koda felt his eyes upon her, and not in a friendly manner.
"I know you," he said. "You're that girl from Lofland City."
Koda arched an eyebrow and smiled. "Yeah, do you want a rematch?"
Logan took two steps forward then was pushed to the side by Satine running to Koda.
"Your alive!" she shrieked. "Your alive!"
Jak and Jackson also ran over to her shouting with joy.
She hugged them all in turn and smiled and nodded.
"So what happened?" Jackson asked. "How'd you guys get out?"
"It was hell!" Satine growled. "Those damn sentries kept throwing sponges at us, then tried to splash us with whatever was in the buckets-"
"Chemicals." Koda said.
"What?"
"It was a blend of different chemicals in the buckets."
"You saw it?" Jak asked.
"Yeah, it was the last thing I saw."
Satine gasped. "What happened?"
Koda explained what had happened after they had blitzed it. Jak reached over and took off her shades and looked into her eyes.
"Funny," he said. "You don't look blind."
"Yeah, but I can see worth beans." She shut her mouth and blinked. She didn't want to say 'beans' she meant to say shit.
No foul Language. She heard the Professor say in her head.
"Sorry." She muttered in a low voice.
"What about the rest of you?" Jackson asked. "Jak, how did you get out?"
"I took the East Wing Passage and I guess that passage turns into the North Passage because Satine and I collided with each other, then we turned on the sentries and we tore our way out of there."
Satine nodded. "Yeah, as hard as it was, I have to admit it was fun."
"What about you Jackson?" Koda asked. "What happened to you?"
"I took the South Passage, but that's where they had all come from in the beginning, I guess more were called up to help capture us and I ran right into them. I fought off as many as I could, but they overwhelmed me and I was taken to a holding cell. I was tortured for information, but only for a couple of weeks. When they were moving me to a different cell I broke away and I got out. Then I went to St. Petersburg, I felt that if I made a break to go back to America, they'd catch me again. So I bided my time in St. Petersburg."
Satine hugged him. "You should have called us, we'd have come over and helped."
"Thing is I didn't know where you all were, I wasn't sure if they had caught you or if you all had escaped." He shrugged. "I was in the dark."
The Professor cleared his throat and they all looked over at him. "If you'd all follow me, we can talk in my office."
Koda put her hand on Jak's shoulder and let him lead her. They went upstairs and into the Professor's office and relaxed on the sofa.
"What is you next move Koda?" he asked.
"Who's Koda?" Jak asked.
"I am." Koda said. "I have a name now."
"Koda." Satine said. "That's a nice name."
Koda nodded, then put her attention back on Professor Xavier. "I don't know, I want to stay here, I like it here."
Jackson looked around. "What is this place?"
"It's my school for gifted youngsters."
"Mutant High, as one boy put it in History class." Koda smiled.
"Ah," Jackson nodded. "You know," he looked over at his friends. "We never did go to school."
Jak laughed. "Professor Xavier right?"
"Yes,"
"Would it be alright if we stayed here and attended your school?"
"I don't see why not." Professor Xavier smiled. "In fact I think that is a wonderful idea. Just let me get some information on you." he typed into his computer and looked up at the kids. "Let me start with Satine."
She smiled at him. "Okay,"
Koda swelled with joy, she had her family back, she had the school, and she was happy again.
Koda felt her way down the hall the next morning. She wore baggy, blue jean with the knees cut and a black spaghetti strap, skintight tang top. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail with loose strands that fell in front of her face. She wore black, thin, wrap around shades and black boots that buckled over her ankles.
She heard someone coming and stopped to listen. When they were a few feet in front of her she dropped her hand from the wall and smiled.
"Can you tell me where Professor Xavier's room is?" she asked.
"It's right there." The voice said.
"Can you be more specific?"
"What are you?" the voice was irritable. "Bli-"
"Blind?" Koda cut in quickly. "Yes actually."
The person gasped. "I am so sorry."
Koda laughed lightly. "It's okay, I was sort of expecting that."
"I'm Rogue." The girl shook Koda's hand.
"Koda," she smiled.
"I'm so sorry, I just broke up with my boyfriend, he's so," she growled. "He thinks it's all about kissing and stuff like that."
"You don't kiss him?"
"I can't." Rouge sighed. "When people touch my skin I absorb their power, their life force if I keep flesh contact with them long enough I'd kill them."
"That must be a bummer."
"You have no idea." Rogue lead her into the Professor's room and shook Koda's hand again. "Again, I am sorry."
Koda nodded and heard the door close.
"Problems?" Professor Xavier asked.
"Always, apparently Rogue broke up with her boyfriend and it is hurting her."
"Ah yes, Bobby still doesn't understand that love is more then it appears."
Koda shrugged. "So last night when Kurt took me to a room, he named me."
"Oh?" the Professor already knew this but he let her continue.
"Koda, how about that? Koda is my new name."
"I think it is a wonderful name." He smiled. "So about your friends."
Koda felt her way to a sofa and sat down. "Yes?" she looked worried and concerned. "Are they alive?"
"They are alive."
She smiled and fell back into the softness of the sofa. "Thank God." She felt like dancing and shouting for joy, but she contained herself. "Where are they?"
"Jackson is in St. Petersburg, but he is fixing to move here. He is not injured in any way and he is coming back to America to look for the Odd- Quad. He stayed there in Eurasia because he was captured in the mission."
"Oh no," she got worried again. "What did they do to him?"
"They tortured him for information or the whereabouts of the Odd- Quad, but he said nothing, then he escaped, kept low in St. Petersburg and is now coming back."
"What about Jak?"
"Jak is in Albuquerque, he is working for a construction site. He lives with Satine who works as an erotic escort."
Koda laughed outright. "She would, she's always had the body for that line of work."
"They have been looking for you, they have had leads but Jak is convinced that you have locked your mind to him, he can't reach you."
Koda shook her head. "He never could get to me with his powers."
"Everyone wants to be reunited," Professor Xavier smiled. "I can send out the jet and get them."
Koda lit up. "Would you really do that for me Professor?"
"Of course I would Koda." He smiled. The door behind Koda opened.
"Professor,"
"Scott,"
Scott Summers looked down at Koda. "Hello." He said to her. "Nice shades."
"Thank you." she smiled.
"Professor, Logan is back from his escapade."
Professor Xavier nodded. "Very well."
Scott wanted to say more but held himself in light of Koda's presence. Then he turned on his heels and left the room.
"Scott and Logan never got along." Professor Xavier explained.
"I see," Koda smiled. "So you'll do that?"
"Yes."
She smiled then went into thought. "But why would you do all of this for me Professor? Are you truly such a good man that you would do anything for a fellow mutant?"
Professor Xavier sighed then nodded. "Yes Koda, that is it exactly."
She arched an eyebrow then shrugged. "Thank you."
"In the mean time, you are more then welcomed to attend classes here. I understand that you want to learn music?"
"The violin." She nodded.
"Well, we have a tutor here who can help you. I'll talk with him and he'll teach you to learn by sound."
Koda jumped up. "Professor! You really are a the greatest man!"
He laughed. "I am happy to know that."
Kurt came by the Professor's room and took Koda to see Storm who set up a list of classes Koda would be taking.
"You'll be learning Brail with a special tutor Professor Xavier called in just for you. His name is Professor Lighter, he'll teach you Brail in the living room at eight o'clock. Then you'll be in History with me, Kurt has that class, would you walk her to that class Kurt?"
"Of course."
"Good, then you'll have medical lessons with Dr. Grey in the lower levels. Rogue has that class; I'll have her take you there. Then it is lunch, after that you'll have Physics with Professor Xavier and then Professor Tawny with violin. After classes there is a training facility in the lower levels where you can train to fight again. Are you still a fighter?"
"I haven't fought ever since I lost my sight."
Storm smiled. "Well, we can help you learn to fight again, and I hear your friends are coming in as well?"
"Yes."
"They can help you brush up on your fighting too."
Koda smiled. "I never knew life could be so good," Storm and Kurt chuckled. "For the blind." She added without them hearing.
"That'll be all for today," Professor Xavier said. "I'll expect your chapter outline on my desk by Friday."
The students stood up and headed for the door.
"Oh, Koda,"
"Yes Professor?" she turned around.
"Your friend are coming in this afternoon, so if you want to miss your training lesson for today it'll be quite alright."
Koda smiled. "Are they really?"
"Yes."
"Goodness," she smiled. "Professor, I don't know how to thank you, you've done so much for me and it's only my second day here."
"How are your classes going?"
"Great, they are a little hard, but at least I can record the lessons, oh, by the way, thank you for the tape recorder and walking stick."
"You're welcome." He smiled.
She grabbed her walking stick and turned around. Professor Xavier watched her as she made it down the hall and into the living room again for violin lessons. He frowned then returned to his desk.
Koda picked up the violin as if it was a precious child. She felt its outline then tucked it into her neck and rested her chin on the padded piece.
"Good," Professor Tawny patted Koda's shoulder. "Here's the bow. Have you ever played before?"
"No, but I have had dreams of playing." Koda answered.
"Well, let's see if your dreams have taught you anything first."
"Alright." Koda said and sat on a stool. She thought for a moment. In her dreams she played a song she heard from a movie called Queen of the Damned. In the movie a gypsy girl named Sophia was playing the violin.
Koda breathed deeply then pulled the bow across the strings and dove into the song she had heard from the movie. Her hands danced across the stings and bars as the music poured out of the small wooden instrument.
Professor Xavier wheeled into the living room with a look of shock. "You can play?"
Startled Koda almost dropped the violin but quickly caught it before it even reached her lap. "Professor Xavier?"
Professor Tawny sat on the couch laughing lightly. "I've never heard of dreams teaching someone to play an instrument."
Professor Xavier looked at her. "Excuse me?"
"I asked her if she has ever play the violin and she said only in her dreams and this is what her dreams have taught her it is extraordinary, but very good!"
Koda smiled, raised to the violin to her chin again and played. The music flowed down into the halls, seeping into classrooms and snatching the attention of many students and Professors.
The sound of an incoming jet made her stop with a start. She lowered the violin and inclined her head a little and listened intently.
"Ah, their here early." Professor Xavier said. "Come Koda, your friends are landing."
Koda handed Professor Tawny the violin and held onto the Professor's chair and they left for the garage in the lower levels.
Koda stood behind Professor Xavier at the entrance of the garage and waited. The hatch of the jet opened and he heard footsteps file out.
"Logan, I didn't know you decided to go on this little pick up." Professor Xavier said.
"Yeah, I needed something to-" he stopped and starred at Koda.
Koda felt his eyes upon her, and not in a friendly manner.
"I know you," he said. "You're that girl from Lofland City."
Koda arched an eyebrow and smiled. "Yeah, do you want a rematch?"
Logan took two steps forward then was pushed to the side by Satine running to Koda.
"Your alive!" she shrieked. "Your alive!"
Jak and Jackson also ran over to her shouting with joy.
She hugged them all in turn and smiled and nodded.
"So what happened?" Jackson asked. "How'd you guys get out?"
"It was hell!" Satine growled. "Those damn sentries kept throwing sponges at us, then tried to splash us with whatever was in the buckets-"
"Chemicals." Koda said.
"What?"
"It was a blend of different chemicals in the buckets."
"You saw it?" Jak asked.
"Yeah, it was the last thing I saw."
Satine gasped. "What happened?"
Koda explained what had happened after they had blitzed it. Jak reached over and took off her shades and looked into her eyes.
"Funny," he said. "You don't look blind."
"Yeah, but I can see worth beans." She shut her mouth and blinked. She didn't want to say 'beans' she meant to say shit.
No foul Language. She heard the Professor say in her head.
"Sorry." She muttered in a low voice.
"What about the rest of you?" Jackson asked. "Jak, how did you get out?"
"I took the East Wing Passage and I guess that passage turns into the North Passage because Satine and I collided with each other, then we turned on the sentries and we tore our way out of there."
Satine nodded. "Yeah, as hard as it was, I have to admit it was fun."
"What about you Jackson?" Koda asked. "What happened to you?"
"I took the South Passage, but that's where they had all come from in the beginning, I guess more were called up to help capture us and I ran right into them. I fought off as many as I could, but they overwhelmed me and I was taken to a holding cell. I was tortured for information, but only for a couple of weeks. When they were moving me to a different cell I broke away and I got out. Then I went to St. Petersburg, I felt that if I made a break to go back to America, they'd catch me again. So I bided my time in St. Petersburg."
Satine hugged him. "You should have called us, we'd have come over and helped."
"Thing is I didn't know where you all were, I wasn't sure if they had caught you or if you all had escaped." He shrugged. "I was in the dark."
The Professor cleared his throat and they all looked over at him. "If you'd all follow me, we can talk in my office."
Koda put her hand on Jak's shoulder and let him lead her. They went upstairs and into the Professor's office and relaxed on the sofa.
"What is you next move Koda?" he asked.
"Who's Koda?" Jak asked.
"I am." Koda said. "I have a name now."
"Koda." Satine said. "That's a nice name."
Koda nodded, then put her attention back on Professor Xavier. "I don't know, I want to stay here, I like it here."
Jackson looked around. "What is this place?"
"It's my school for gifted youngsters."
"Mutant High, as one boy put it in History class." Koda smiled.
"Ah," Jackson nodded. "You know," he looked over at his friends. "We never did go to school."
Jak laughed. "Professor Xavier right?"
"Yes,"
"Would it be alright if we stayed here and attended your school?"
"I don't see why not." Professor Xavier smiled. "In fact I think that is a wonderful idea. Just let me get some information on you." he typed into his computer and looked up at the kids. "Let me start with Satine."
She smiled at him. "Okay,"
Koda swelled with joy, she had her family back, she had the school, and she was happy again.
