Wooooo! Yay wahooo waheee! People actually read it! *does the happy dance* Thankee sooo much Faith B, and the clery's
are very useful, my hands just seem to type what they want to sometimes. Hope you continue to like it. Thank you also
Freya, I think when I typed in Naked Logan I was having a random drool moment, hee hee. I'm sure I can wrangle it in
somewhere... how about a semi-naked Logan in this Chpt? No? The full hog? Sure I can get it in, *sniggers* anyways,
enjoy...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raia dropkicked a man in the face, allowing her momentum to flip her all the way round before running down the
next corridor, heart pounding at a painful rate inside her chest, breath rasping through her. Her feet hit out a loud
rhythm on the floor, almost drawing them all to her. The sounds of gunfire and screams only served to increase her sense
of fury and helplessness. The irony that she had told the others not to lose their group, and had in fact
herself been separated, was not lost on her. They had all entered as intended in their different groups, searching the
building.
Someone had intended that they should all be inside before any action was taken.
The instant that Hell ripped loose had happened so quickly Raia could barely register how. One minute she had been
creeping through the dark rooms with her group, Aidan close behind, the next she was throwing herself through a bombard
of bullets and screaming for them all to run. All around the huge building she could hear weapons firing, could hear
yells which she could not discern as mutant or human, telling her that all of the groups had been found and were
fighting for their lives. Thinking about who had done this to them, feeling fear, all of it would come later. She was
thinking too hard, running too hard, to be afraid, though she felt the edge of it tightening her chest as she would feel
the edge of a knife against her throat. Turning sharply round a corner she encountered three men in army fatigues who
instantly turned on her, chambering bullets in her direction. "Freeze!" one roared even as she continued running towards
them. A bullet tore through her shoulder as she impacted with the one in the middle, legs flying out simultaneously to
take out the other two with sharp kicks to the stomach. Landing on the ground with the man beneath her and snapping
his neck in one clean movement, she rolled over him, taking his gun with her, and span in a crouch, shooting each of the
other two in the legs. Grabbing their weapons off them and what magazines they had as they writhed in pain on the floor,
she stuffed the guns into the belt of her trousers, followed by the magazines. Panting for breath, she lightly touched
her shoulder wound as she inched down the corridor and hissed out a curse as pain burnt hotly through her nerves.
Loading her gun, she span around the corner and carried on, listening as gunfire echoed all around her. As it got
closer she found herself moving into a gallery that overlooked a large hall.
Peering down she saw three of the four groups were pinned there, surrounded by these men from the army. It was
obviously taking considerable effort for the army to keep them there due to the strength of most of the mutants. Aidan
was a blur of movement as he fought his way through dozens of them, but more seemed to be coming in a neverending stream
from corridors surrounding the room. Bullets flew in a blur of blood and screams, with Jake healing everyone to the
point of his own exhaustion, collapsing behind a wall of mutants who rose up to protect him. Magdalena, a girl with
flame-red hair, let out what could only be described as a banshee-shriek before sending a torrent of pure energy into
the ranks of the army, sending a dozen flying backwards. Letting out a snarl of anger and frustration, Raia pulled
away from the wall where she had shielded herself and began to fire into the mass of the army, taking them down.
Loading up again against the wall, she pulled away and roared at the top of her voice "GET OUT! GET OUT OF THE BACK!
I'LL COVER YOU!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The world blurred as she staggered out into the darkness, into the cool night and the woods that shielded her from
danger. They may follow her into here, but it would be near impossible to find her. Her breath came to her in hitching
little hiccups, and her muscles burnt beyond belief, her lungs were aflame.
She had fallen out of the building into the barely known city with no possibility of turning back and had stopped a
passing car, throwing the driver out in utter animalistic panic before driving. She had heard police cars, sirens, and
ambiguously dark vans had hounded her. She had to ditch the car, it made her too easy to find. They trailed her to the
very edge of the city before she had shook them off only for an instant, collapsing out of the car in a scramble. There
was blood all over the seats. She had run, run as hard and fast as she had ever thought she could, out away from the
city's edge. It seemed impossible to drag air into her lungs as she collapsed down against a tree, tearing pieces off
her shirt with her teeth. First one bandage, then another. She swallowed as fear welled up inside her. There was too
much blood. Far too much blood to get out of here alive. She needed a hospital, but hospitals didn't take mutants.
Least of all mutants with gunshot wounds. Letting out a small keen of pain as she tightened up the second bandage and
blood gushed out around the sides, she dragged herself upright before continuing forwards. She had been injured dozens
of times before, had been shot before. But she had lost too much blood to simply stitch herself up and lay low this
time. She would die within days if she even tried it. Her thoughts flickered erratically from herself to the group.
Where were they? How long would she be able to keep going? How many had got out alive? How would they be able to find
her again? One thing was simple and was adamantly drumming in the back of her brain: she needed medical attention.
Where she was going to get it however was a far more elusive notion. A memory of her visitors in the dark only a week
ago gave her pause. There was no reason for believing that they might have suitable medical facilities to care for her.
But nevertheless... they were mutants, mutants who had offered her help in the past. She was more than reluctant to
accept it, and would not have ventured near Westchester in any other situation. But if it was a choice between that and
death... Giving a mental 'fuck it' she headed forward at a faster pace, wanting to get further away from the main city
before trying to find a road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ororo trudged down the stairs grumbling to herself as she pulled on her dressing gown, ordering children to go back to
bed even as they peaked their heads around the dorm room doors. "Storm what's..." began Rogue as Orora marched past her,
swiftly followed by Kurt who had been awoken also. He flashed Rogue a nervous smile as he went past. Rogue was one of
the few people aside from the X men that he actually spoke to, being not just chronically shy but painfully embarassed
about the way his appearance was commonly received, even by mutants. "It's just the door! Would people go back to sleep
around here?!" Storm exclaimed, throwing her arms up in annoyance. Rogue smiled and followed her. It was well known
that Storm did not like her sleep to be interrupted. Once they had got downstairs they found Scott and Logan heading
towards the front door from the other direction. Logan was very much without a shirt, something that Rogue couldn't help
but notice and blush slightly to herself over. "What the Hell's with all this racket?" scowled Logan angrily, storming
towards the door and yanking it open. A pale girl with purple braided hair instantly collapsed against him and he
caught her just in time, gripping her round the waist and holding her upright. "Raia!" Scott said with evident surprise.
"Who is she?" asked Kurt, running over to help when he saw the girl was covered in blood. "This is our little vigilante
we told you about." said Logan, gritting his teeth against her weight as he slung her up into his arms. "My that's a big
word for a guy like you Logan." said Scott, flashing him a grin. "My that's a big mouth for a loser like you Scott."
Logan swiftly replied before heading down to the medical room, the others swiftly following him. "Rogue, go wake up the
Professor for me." said Storm. Rogue nodded and padded off in the direction she had come.
"So this is the elusive Raia." said the Professor once he had joined them, rolling his chair forward until he was beside
her reclined head. She lay in a bed entirely unconscious after Storm had treated her wounds, removing one bullet from
her shoulder, another from her stomach. "She has lost an incredible amount of blood Professor. I don't know if she'll
be able to survive." said Storm, her brows knitted together in concern. Xavier rested a hand against Raia's forehead
gently, face serious. "I have faith in your ability Storm. Jean taught you a great deal of things. I am sure she will
pull through." he said. Storm smiled uncertainly at the compliment, doubting herself far more than the others did.
Never before had she held someone's life in her hands, at least medically speaking, and the thought terrified her. "I'll
keep an eye on her tonight." volunteered Logan, surprising them all. It even surprised him, but he knew he wouldn't be
able to sleep knowing she was down here. Concern had hit him full-force the instant she had collapsed in to his arms,
and more than that a caution. They still did not know if she represented a danger to them or not. Looking down at her
as she was now, sleeping and peaceful, he could not imagine for an instant that she was dangerous. She looked sweet,
beautiful even. The others filtered out of the room and he settled down in a chair for the night, eyes fixed on her
sleeping form.
Five days passed and Raia showed no signs of waking up. They all took it in turns to keep an eye on her, so that she
would have someone with her when she awoke, and they all found themselves trying to encourage her awakening in whatever
way they could. Kurt mumbled prayers to himself as he anxiously looked at her, worried that his shocking face would
send her into unconsciousness again if he was the one who received her awakening. Storm read poems to her, checking
every few instances to see if any acknowledgement passed across her face. Scott talked to her, telling her about the
school, about the Professor, recalling how it had interested her before. Logan, who was the most constant watcher over
her, occasionally threw insults at her sleeping form in the hope of riling her into consciousness, but mostly just
willed her to wake up. She genuinely did not feel like a threat to any of them, and even if she was, she was
too weakened to pose one now. When Raia finally did awaken, it was the first time she had been left on her own since
she had arrived, Scott having left for only a second to help Storm with a demonstration in a class. As soon as
consciousness came to her she forced her dead-heavy eyes open, and upon discovering unfamiliar surroundings, threw
herself off the bed in a panic, crouching beneath it. Buckling in instant pain from her wounds and having moved too
quickly, she took in her surroundings. The white, sparse walls suggested a medical room, and she touched her bullet
wounds to find them cleaned and dressed. She vaguely remembered finding Xavier's school and knocking on the door for
what felt like an eternity, with no one answering. She had felt as if all of the efforts she had made to get here had
been for nothing. Now, she tried to stand and her legs betrayed her, trembling and collapsing underneath her. Cursing
to herself, she used the bed to pull herself upright, struggling over to a chair where she warily surveyed her
surroundings. Taking a few deep breaths, she noted she was still wearing her blood soaked, torn clothes. Black, for the
mission... The group. Where the Hell were they? With this motivation in mind Raia willed her strength to return and
tried to stand up again, pleased when her legs seemed a little more willing to carry her.
Cautiously making her way down the brightly lit corridors, she found a lift to one side which she went up in to find
herself in another corridor, which was a stark contrast to the previous ones. Dark, modest furnishings that suggested
a wealthy country house surrounded her, panelled walls, large expansive windows that revealed large green grounds with
magnificent trees surrounding the building. The scenery at least looked familiar, and Raia found herself relaxing
slightly. So this really was Xavier's house. The place was all suspiciously quiet. Glancing at her watch she noted
that it was 10:30. It was a school after all, people were probably in lessons. Moving slowly, partly due to caution
and partly due to necessity from her general feeling of exhaustion, she made her way through several doors, encountering
lounges with TVs, computer games, and a variety of other games for the kids during recreation time. It all seemed so...
normal. As a mutant Raia had spent her life running, sleeping in disgusting motel rooms and in the back of vans. A
feeling bordering on jealousy flashed through her. This was the normal life she had always wanted for herself, for all
the mutants that she had ever known.
As she headed through another corridor to a further door she heard a discussion coming from where she was headed.
"...think Wolverine's hot! He's got that whole bad boy thing going about him, it's just yummy!"
"No way! Mr Summers is just SO much better looking than him."
"Well at least with Wolverine you can actually see his eyes..."
The conversation stopped abruptly when Raia pushed open the door, finding three guilty looking teenage girls hovering
around a counter in the kitchen sharing a pack of cookies. Their expressions of guilt changed to confusion as they
took in this stranger in tattered clothes. "Umm.. hi, are you new here?" said one of the girls, stepping forward and
smiling brightly as Raia continued to survey the room, paying very little attention to them at all. "Something like
that." she replied vaguely, hearing her stomach grumble loudly. The girls all giggled "The fridge is over here." said
one of the other two, opening the fridge door. "Thanks." she said quietly before heading over and rummaging inside.
The girls continued talking about something that was conspicuously not about either of the men previously referred to,
and Raia collected up what looked like the remains of a tuna salad and began ravenously attacking it, sliding down the
counter next to the fridge and sitting on the floor. She gave them a dark grin as they looked at her oddly until they
turned away again before she felt a sudden wash of weariness sweep over her. She suddenly felt red hot and her vision
seemed bleached of any colour or detail. Dropping the bowl of tuna salad her head rolled back, smacking against the
counter. "Are you ok?" asked one of the girls worriedly, stepping forward. "I'm... I'm fine..." she mumbled, never
having found it so hard to utter words before. At this point Logan and Scott entered the kitchen, having come to find
her. Scott came over and picked her up, ready to carry her back to the medical room, but the near-faint ended as quickly
as it had started and she struggled to be put down. When rested on her own feet she peered at him hazily before smiling
"Goggles! And Kitty! Long time no see." At this point in time Kurt teleported into the room, starting in surprise when
he saw how many people were there, and then starting again when he saw Raia was up. She raised her eyebrows upon seeing
him, slowly taking in his tail, his blue skin. He looked ridiculously wretched as he felt the perusal, forcing his
yellow eyes up to meet hers... And she was smiling at him. "That was incredible! Do that again." she said, gesturing
to where he was standing. Amazed that she didn't even seem to acknowledge his shocking appearance, and bashful all at
the same time due to her compliments, he teleported to the other end of the kitchen. "Wow. Can you only teleport
yourself or can you move other things?" She asked, her interest apparent. Kurt looked like he was about to reply just as
eagerly when he was cut short "You can interrogate Kurt later, right now you need to get some rest." interrupted Logan,
stepping forward. She raised an eyebrow, her contrary nature rising up inside her so that she affected feeling perfectly
fine. "You're just pissed off 'cause I haven't asked you to pop your claws Kitty." "You carry on that way and you'll
see them soon enough." he replied, gaze threatening. "That's enough Logan."
They all turned to see Professor Xavier enter the room, his gaze locked on Raia, his expression gentle. Raia was
surprised by the instant feeling of respect she felt for this man who radiated compassion, dignity and strength. "Hello
Raia. I'm Professor Charles Xavier." he said calmly, proferring a hand. Absurdly, Raia's instant inclination was to
leave. She knew it was idiotic, she was in no state to be travelling anywhere, but now that she was here and would have
to deal with these people she felt out of her element, and more importantly, out of control. "It's good to meet you.
Thanks for the help, but I think I should be going now. I have a lot of stuff to do." She said, her tone dismissive as
she backed up, looking ready to leave. "You've lost a lot of blood and have been unconscious for five days, you won't
make it up the road without passing out." said Scott, though nobody moved to stop her leaving. "We wish to help you."
continued Xavier, his gaze seeming to pierce deep inside her. Raia mentally cursed herself. It was just because he
was psychic. "Oh really? You want to help me? Why the Hell would you want to do that? Why should I believe you?"
snapped Raia disdainfully in a sudden whiplash of bitterness. "Let me show you what has gone on while you have been
unconscious." said Xavier.
She buckled as alien feelings, feelings from other people's brains, assailed her. Concern... Warmth... Affection...
Worry... Faith... Kindness... Honour. As they all surged about her head she knew that they had been directed at *her*
as they had willed her to wake up again. Images and words writhed through her brain, of... the woman called Ororo,
reading her poems, "What if I fail her and she dies? It will be my fault if she never wakes up again...". The angry
guy pacing next to her, his name was Logan and he thought she was going to die. He felt protective of her and he was
furious that he didn't even know why. "Sleeping women. I'm a sucker for sleeping women. They look defenseless. She
could destroy all I care about from what Chuck has said and all I want is for her to wake up." Scott Summers, telling
her about this beautiful home of theirs, the students, the hope they give them with what they teach them. Waves of pride
and affection emanating from his speech, wrapped round a deep bone-chilling sorrow. "Jean would know how to talk to her,
to make her feel safe here. She would make her understand we want to help. Oh God it's like a numb part of me that
will never thaw out again." The fabulous, blue Nightcrawler who's patterned face spoke pure fear as he ran his fingers
over a rosary, his thoughts spinning fast in too speedy and fluent a German for her to understand. He admired her. He
thought she was brave and fearless, his Faith in God and in the goodness of people was so dazzling it was blinding.
These people who did not even know her, had no reason to care whether she lived or died. The strength and utter
sweetness of these emotions was almost too intense to bear.
And then they stopped again.
Slowly straightening, Raia looked round at the faces of these strangers who had cared more than anyone else had. With
horror she felt like her face was about to crumple but harshly prevented it. As if knowing all that was passing through
her head and completely understanding, Xavier smiled reassuringly.
"Fine. I'll stay until I'm well. Then I'm out of here."
are very useful, my hands just seem to type what they want to sometimes. Hope you continue to like it. Thank you also
Freya, I think when I typed in Naked Logan I was having a random drool moment, hee hee. I'm sure I can wrangle it in
somewhere... how about a semi-naked Logan in this Chpt? No? The full hog? Sure I can get it in, *sniggers* anyways,
enjoy...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raia dropkicked a man in the face, allowing her momentum to flip her all the way round before running down the
next corridor, heart pounding at a painful rate inside her chest, breath rasping through her. Her feet hit out a loud
rhythm on the floor, almost drawing them all to her. The sounds of gunfire and screams only served to increase her sense
of fury and helplessness. The irony that she had told the others not to lose their group, and had in fact
herself been separated, was not lost on her. They had all entered as intended in their different groups, searching the
building.
Someone had intended that they should all be inside before any action was taken.
The instant that Hell ripped loose had happened so quickly Raia could barely register how. One minute she had been
creeping through the dark rooms with her group, Aidan close behind, the next she was throwing herself through a bombard
of bullets and screaming for them all to run. All around the huge building she could hear weapons firing, could hear
yells which she could not discern as mutant or human, telling her that all of the groups had been found and were
fighting for their lives. Thinking about who had done this to them, feeling fear, all of it would come later. She was
thinking too hard, running too hard, to be afraid, though she felt the edge of it tightening her chest as she would feel
the edge of a knife against her throat. Turning sharply round a corner she encountered three men in army fatigues who
instantly turned on her, chambering bullets in her direction. "Freeze!" one roared even as she continued running towards
them. A bullet tore through her shoulder as she impacted with the one in the middle, legs flying out simultaneously to
take out the other two with sharp kicks to the stomach. Landing on the ground with the man beneath her and snapping
his neck in one clean movement, she rolled over him, taking his gun with her, and span in a crouch, shooting each of the
other two in the legs. Grabbing their weapons off them and what magazines they had as they writhed in pain on the floor,
she stuffed the guns into the belt of her trousers, followed by the magazines. Panting for breath, she lightly touched
her shoulder wound as she inched down the corridor and hissed out a curse as pain burnt hotly through her nerves.
Loading her gun, she span around the corner and carried on, listening as gunfire echoed all around her. As it got
closer she found herself moving into a gallery that overlooked a large hall.
Peering down she saw three of the four groups were pinned there, surrounded by these men from the army. It was
obviously taking considerable effort for the army to keep them there due to the strength of most of the mutants. Aidan
was a blur of movement as he fought his way through dozens of them, but more seemed to be coming in a neverending stream
from corridors surrounding the room. Bullets flew in a blur of blood and screams, with Jake healing everyone to the
point of his own exhaustion, collapsing behind a wall of mutants who rose up to protect him. Magdalena, a girl with
flame-red hair, let out what could only be described as a banshee-shriek before sending a torrent of pure energy into
the ranks of the army, sending a dozen flying backwards. Letting out a snarl of anger and frustration, Raia pulled
away from the wall where she had shielded herself and began to fire into the mass of the army, taking them down.
Loading up again against the wall, she pulled away and roared at the top of her voice "GET OUT! GET OUT OF THE BACK!
I'LL COVER YOU!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The world blurred as she staggered out into the darkness, into the cool night and the woods that shielded her from
danger. They may follow her into here, but it would be near impossible to find her. Her breath came to her in hitching
little hiccups, and her muscles burnt beyond belief, her lungs were aflame.
She had fallen out of the building into the barely known city with no possibility of turning back and had stopped a
passing car, throwing the driver out in utter animalistic panic before driving. She had heard police cars, sirens, and
ambiguously dark vans had hounded her. She had to ditch the car, it made her too easy to find. They trailed her to the
very edge of the city before she had shook them off only for an instant, collapsing out of the car in a scramble. There
was blood all over the seats. She had run, run as hard and fast as she had ever thought she could, out away from the
city's edge. It seemed impossible to drag air into her lungs as she collapsed down against a tree, tearing pieces off
her shirt with her teeth. First one bandage, then another. She swallowed as fear welled up inside her. There was too
much blood. Far too much blood to get out of here alive. She needed a hospital, but hospitals didn't take mutants.
Least of all mutants with gunshot wounds. Letting out a small keen of pain as she tightened up the second bandage and
blood gushed out around the sides, she dragged herself upright before continuing forwards. She had been injured dozens
of times before, had been shot before. But she had lost too much blood to simply stitch herself up and lay low this
time. She would die within days if she even tried it. Her thoughts flickered erratically from herself to the group.
Where were they? How long would she be able to keep going? How many had got out alive? How would they be able to find
her again? One thing was simple and was adamantly drumming in the back of her brain: she needed medical attention.
Where she was going to get it however was a far more elusive notion. A memory of her visitors in the dark only a week
ago gave her pause. There was no reason for believing that they might have suitable medical facilities to care for her.
But nevertheless... they were mutants, mutants who had offered her help in the past. She was more than reluctant to
accept it, and would not have ventured near Westchester in any other situation. But if it was a choice between that and
death... Giving a mental 'fuck it' she headed forward at a faster pace, wanting to get further away from the main city
before trying to find a road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ororo trudged down the stairs grumbling to herself as she pulled on her dressing gown, ordering children to go back to
bed even as they peaked their heads around the dorm room doors. "Storm what's..." began Rogue as Orora marched past her,
swiftly followed by Kurt who had been awoken also. He flashed Rogue a nervous smile as he went past. Rogue was one of
the few people aside from the X men that he actually spoke to, being not just chronically shy but painfully embarassed
about the way his appearance was commonly received, even by mutants. "It's just the door! Would people go back to sleep
around here?!" Storm exclaimed, throwing her arms up in annoyance. Rogue smiled and followed her. It was well known
that Storm did not like her sleep to be interrupted. Once they had got downstairs they found Scott and Logan heading
towards the front door from the other direction. Logan was very much without a shirt, something that Rogue couldn't help
but notice and blush slightly to herself over. "What the Hell's with all this racket?" scowled Logan angrily, storming
towards the door and yanking it open. A pale girl with purple braided hair instantly collapsed against him and he
caught her just in time, gripping her round the waist and holding her upright. "Raia!" Scott said with evident surprise.
"Who is she?" asked Kurt, running over to help when he saw the girl was covered in blood. "This is our little vigilante
we told you about." said Logan, gritting his teeth against her weight as he slung her up into his arms. "My that's a big
word for a guy like you Logan." said Scott, flashing him a grin. "My that's a big mouth for a loser like you Scott."
Logan swiftly replied before heading down to the medical room, the others swiftly following him. "Rogue, go wake up the
Professor for me." said Storm. Rogue nodded and padded off in the direction she had come.
"So this is the elusive Raia." said the Professor once he had joined them, rolling his chair forward until he was beside
her reclined head. She lay in a bed entirely unconscious after Storm had treated her wounds, removing one bullet from
her shoulder, another from her stomach. "She has lost an incredible amount of blood Professor. I don't know if she'll
be able to survive." said Storm, her brows knitted together in concern. Xavier rested a hand against Raia's forehead
gently, face serious. "I have faith in your ability Storm. Jean taught you a great deal of things. I am sure she will
pull through." he said. Storm smiled uncertainly at the compliment, doubting herself far more than the others did.
Never before had she held someone's life in her hands, at least medically speaking, and the thought terrified her. "I'll
keep an eye on her tonight." volunteered Logan, surprising them all. It even surprised him, but he knew he wouldn't be
able to sleep knowing she was down here. Concern had hit him full-force the instant she had collapsed in to his arms,
and more than that a caution. They still did not know if she represented a danger to them or not. Looking down at her
as she was now, sleeping and peaceful, he could not imagine for an instant that she was dangerous. She looked sweet,
beautiful even. The others filtered out of the room and he settled down in a chair for the night, eyes fixed on her
sleeping form.
Five days passed and Raia showed no signs of waking up. They all took it in turns to keep an eye on her, so that she
would have someone with her when she awoke, and they all found themselves trying to encourage her awakening in whatever
way they could. Kurt mumbled prayers to himself as he anxiously looked at her, worried that his shocking face would
send her into unconsciousness again if he was the one who received her awakening. Storm read poems to her, checking
every few instances to see if any acknowledgement passed across her face. Scott talked to her, telling her about the
school, about the Professor, recalling how it had interested her before. Logan, who was the most constant watcher over
her, occasionally threw insults at her sleeping form in the hope of riling her into consciousness, but mostly just
willed her to wake up. She genuinely did not feel like a threat to any of them, and even if she was, she was
too weakened to pose one now. When Raia finally did awaken, it was the first time she had been left on her own since
she had arrived, Scott having left for only a second to help Storm with a demonstration in a class. As soon as
consciousness came to her she forced her dead-heavy eyes open, and upon discovering unfamiliar surroundings, threw
herself off the bed in a panic, crouching beneath it. Buckling in instant pain from her wounds and having moved too
quickly, she took in her surroundings. The white, sparse walls suggested a medical room, and she touched her bullet
wounds to find them cleaned and dressed. She vaguely remembered finding Xavier's school and knocking on the door for
what felt like an eternity, with no one answering. She had felt as if all of the efforts she had made to get here had
been for nothing. Now, she tried to stand and her legs betrayed her, trembling and collapsing underneath her. Cursing
to herself, she used the bed to pull herself upright, struggling over to a chair where she warily surveyed her
surroundings. Taking a few deep breaths, she noted she was still wearing her blood soaked, torn clothes. Black, for the
mission... The group. Where the Hell were they? With this motivation in mind Raia willed her strength to return and
tried to stand up again, pleased when her legs seemed a little more willing to carry her.
Cautiously making her way down the brightly lit corridors, she found a lift to one side which she went up in to find
herself in another corridor, which was a stark contrast to the previous ones. Dark, modest furnishings that suggested
a wealthy country house surrounded her, panelled walls, large expansive windows that revealed large green grounds with
magnificent trees surrounding the building. The scenery at least looked familiar, and Raia found herself relaxing
slightly. So this really was Xavier's house. The place was all suspiciously quiet. Glancing at her watch she noted
that it was 10:30. It was a school after all, people were probably in lessons. Moving slowly, partly due to caution
and partly due to necessity from her general feeling of exhaustion, she made her way through several doors, encountering
lounges with TVs, computer games, and a variety of other games for the kids during recreation time. It all seemed so...
normal. As a mutant Raia had spent her life running, sleeping in disgusting motel rooms and in the back of vans. A
feeling bordering on jealousy flashed through her. This was the normal life she had always wanted for herself, for all
the mutants that she had ever known.
As she headed through another corridor to a further door she heard a discussion coming from where she was headed.
"...think Wolverine's hot! He's got that whole bad boy thing going about him, it's just yummy!"
"No way! Mr Summers is just SO much better looking than him."
"Well at least with Wolverine you can actually see his eyes..."
The conversation stopped abruptly when Raia pushed open the door, finding three guilty looking teenage girls hovering
around a counter in the kitchen sharing a pack of cookies. Their expressions of guilt changed to confusion as they
took in this stranger in tattered clothes. "Umm.. hi, are you new here?" said one of the girls, stepping forward and
smiling brightly as Raia continued to survey the room, paying very little attention to them at all. "Something like
that." she replied vaguely, hearing her stomach grumble loudly. The girls all giggled "The fridge is over here." said
one of the other two, opening the fridge door. "Thanks." she said quietly before heading over and rummaging inside.
The girls continued talking about something that was conspicuously not about either of the men previously referred to,
and Raia collected up what looked like the remains of a tuna salad and began ravenously attacking it, sliding down the
counter next to the fridge and sitting on the floor. She gave them a dark grin as they looked at her oddly until they
turned away again before she felt a sudden wash of weariness sweep over her. She suddenly felt red hot and her vision
seemed bleached of any colour or detail. Dropping the bowl of tuna salad her head rolled back, smacking against the
counter. "Are you ok?" asked one of the girls worriedly, stepping forward. "I'm... I'm fine..." she mumbled, never
having found it so hard to utter words before. At this point Logan and Scott entered the kitchen, having come to find
her. Scott came over and picked her up, ready to carry her back to the medical room, but the near-faint ended as quickly
as it had started and she struggled to be put down. When rested on her own feet she peered at him hazily before smiling
"Goggles! And Kitty! Long time no see." At this point in time Kurt teleported into the room, starting in surprise when
he saw how many people were there, and then starting again when he saw Raia was up. She raised her eyebrows upon seeing
him, slowly taking in his tail, his blue skin. He looked ridiculously wretched as he felt the perusal, forcing his
yellow eyes up to meet hers... And she was smiling at him. "That was incredible! Do that again." she said, gesturing
to where he was standing. Amazed that she didn't even seem to acknowledge his shocking appearance, and bashful all at
the same time due to her compliments, he teleported to the other end of the kitchen. "Wow. Can you only teleport
yourself or can you move other things?" She asked, her interest apparent. Kurt looked like he was about to reply just as
eagerly when he was cut short "You can interrogate Kurt later, right now you need to get some rest." interrupted Logan,
stepping forward. She raised an eyebrow, her contrary nature rising up inside her so that she affected feeling perfectly
fine. "You're just pissed off 'cause I haven't asked you to pop your claws Kitty." "You carry on that way and you'll
see them soon enough." he replied, gaze threatening. "That's enough Logan."
They all turned to see Professor Xavier enter the room, his gaze locked on Raia, his expression gentle. Raia was
surprised by the instant feeling of respect she felt for this man who radiated compassion, dignity and strength. "Hello
Raia. I'm Professor Charles Xavier." he said calmly, proferring a hand. Absurdly, Raia's instant inclination was to
leave. She knew it was idiotic, she was in no state to be travelling anywhere, but now that she was here and would have
to deal with these people she felt out of her element, and more importantly, out of control. "It's good to meet you.
Thanks for the help, but I think I should be going now. I have a lot of stuff to do." She said, her tone dismissive as
she backed up, looking ready to leave. "You've lost a lot of blood and have been unconscious for five days, you won't
make it up the road without passing out." said Scott, though nobody moved to stop her leaving. "We wish to help you."
continued Xavier, his gaze seeming to pierce deep inside her. Raia mentally cursed herself. It was just because he
was psychic. "Oh really? You want to help me? Why the Hell would you want to do that? Why should I believe you?"
snapped Raia disdainfully in a sudden whiplash of bitterness. "Let me show you what has gone on while you have been
unconscious." said Xavier.
She buckled as alien feelings, feelings from other people's brains, assailed her. Concern... Warmth... Affection...
Worry... Faith... Kindness... Honour. As they all surged about her head she knew that they had been directed at *her*
as they had willed her to wake up again. Images and words writhed through her brain, of... the woman called Ororo,
reading her poems, "What if I fail her and she dies? It will be my fault if she never wakes up again...". The angry
guy pacing next to her, his name was Logan and he thought she was going to die. He felt protective of her and he was
furious that he didn't even know why. "Sleeping women. I'm a sucker for sleeping women. They look defenseless. She
could destroy all I care about from what Chuck has said and all I want is for her to wake up." Scott Summers, telling
her about this beautiful home of theirs, the students, the hope they give them with what they teach them. Waves of pride
and affection emanating from his speech, wrapped round a deep bone-chilling sorrow. "Jean would know how to talk to her,
to make her feel safe here. She would make her understand we want to help. Oh God it's like a numb part of me that
will never thaw out again." The fabulous, blue Nightcrawler who's patterned face spoke pure fear as he ran his fingers
over a rosary, his thoughts spinning fast in too speedy and fluent a German for her to understand. He admired her. He
thought she was brave and fearless, his Faith in God and in the goodness of people was so dazzling it was blinding.
These people who did not even know her, had no reason to care whether she lived or died. The strength and utter
sweetness of these emotions was almost too intense to bear.
And then they stopped again.
Slowly straightening, Raia looked round at the faces of these strangers who had cared more than anyone else had. With
horror she felt like her face was about to crumple but harshly prevented it. As if knowing all that was passing through
her head and completely understanding, Xavier smiled reassuringly.
"Fine. I'll stay until I'm well. Then I'm out of here."
