Misfit- Chapter 9
Disclaimer- I still own very little. However I can now claim my own muses as property.
Mel Muse: Can she legally do that?
Lizzie Muse: I don't know, she's the author.
Digital Muse: Can I have another slice of Ham please?
No. Anyway as I was saying I don't own them so don't sue.
Notes- Ok a little warning, there is a little bad language in this chap but it ain't that bad. Anything But Ordinary3 has heard worse (actually she's taught me worse.) Ncsgirl bet she doesn't use bad language at all, she's Canadian they don't use rude words. (Maybe I've been watching a little too much Due south.) And to all the Reviewers of Retribution X and this story my eternal thanks.
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A blue helicopter flew swiftly away from the shoreline, its blades glinting in the early morning sun. This copter though was different from others that did this act every now and then… because of its cargo.
Sitting in the bullet-proof, bomb proof ex army copters seats were the highest ranking military men and spin doctors that catered to the King of England's whims. And in amongst them sat Edward IX himself signing documents with a gold plated pen.
The king looked briefly over a dispatch from parliament before signing it and handing it to one of the yes men who put it in their briefcase safely. As the king performed this meaningless task another time he looked up and scanned the men for one in particular.
"How long till we reach the carrier?" He addressed the man, glancing back down and signing his name before turning the page again to sign a second time.
"Around 20 minutes. Although your highness I must point out it would have been quicker and a little more comfortable if you returned to England on a commercial airliner rather than Aircraft carrier."
The king smiled as the man finished using what his daughter termed his "Pompous Voice" that he only ever used when addressing the King. To his daughter, the head adviser to the throne used a "Patronising Voice", talking to the princess as though she were a five year old in a place she didn't belong. However his Sunshine was probably more equipped to be at the palace than he was- she actually talked common sense. Plus she wasn't a child anymore, as he had to keep telling himself- she was a young woman.
He had to admit it, he missed her. He wanted his girl sitting at his side right now but it was the best decision to leave her where she was, she needed to learn he kept telling himself- even though the others said that she didn't.
However that didn't ease the heartache. Since her mother had died he had seen his wife's spirit grow in his daughters eyes- she would never be Maria he told himself, but she would always have her mothers greatest qualities; her wit, her kindness and her warm heart. He smiled to himself, then thought to ask.
"How is her Highness today?" he shot at another man.
"From intelligence reports, all's fine and dandy sir. She's settling in fine, no need to worry."
He sighed "I always worry. Are you sure she'll be safe with these people?"
"I have my best operatives on it sir… and of course there has been a few incidences but we believe we can guard against other such… um, attacks."
Edward shock his head in amusement, "I heard one of your "Best operatives" Broke five of his ribs in one of those "Few instances"." He looked back at the page still smiling, "A teacher wasn't it?" The other man had turned a bright red and was staring down in embarrassment.
"Don't worry, it could have happened to the best of us." The king assured.
Calmness on the helicopter settled- until just after the clock ticked over to 9.00.
"A violent Explosion racked the Royal helicopter at approximately 9 AM. The helicopter carrying King Edward IX and many of his advisors nose-dived and plunged into the ocean of the Atlantic… moments later another explosion occurred beneath the water, it is thought that this was the result of flames reaching a perforated fuel tank. A full search has been instigated but first indications are that there are no survivors. The palace has been informed and is keeping in constant touch with the American President. The whereabouts of the Princess is yet to be determined." The news continued but Jools didn't stand by to watch with the rest of the staff. His thoughts were in America with a young woman who was now very much alone.
The world was still spinning when Lizzie came to. Concerned faces swam and fizzed into view and out and a distinct buzzing could be heard, like a bumblebee had found its way into her head and couldn't get back out.
"Are you OK?" Storm asked propping her up.
"I'm fine." Lizzie winced as the light entered her eyes. She couldn't have been unconscious all that along.
"What happened?" Professor X asked as he loomed above her, a look of concern on his face.
She tried to belay his worries with a faint smile, but she thought it might have come out more like a wince. "Nothing I wasn't expecting. Can someone get me my jacket?" She asked exhausted and sure that if she got to her feet she'd end up back in a heap on the floor.
Scott was the closest and so ran to the desk where she had thrown it, grabbed it and quickly brought it back, placing it gently on her lap.
Now sitting up of her own accord- although extremely light headed- Lizzie searched every pocket until she found what she was looking for.
In the lower right hand pocket she found a bar of chocolate and a small bottle of lemonade. She opened the bottle and drank the drink to the dregs in one. Then she ripped open the foil of the chocolate with as much strength as she could taking a huge bite of the brown sweetness as soon as it was open.
Logan just looked down with loathing at the girl… scoffing the chocolate as fast as she could.
"Pig." He said. The girl looked up, chocolate staining her lips, and glared.
"I fainted 'cause I needed energy. High sugar foods are the best way to get the energy I need for time manipulation." Now she sounded stronger, as though the sugar had an instant reaction.
Logan scoffed, "That's still no reason to eat it like a pig."
She just glowered at him.
She sat for a second more on the floor, before asking for a hand up, which she was duly given. She smoothed down her dress again and chucked the jacket back around her shoulders. Then she turned to the assembled X men.
"What did you think?" She asked with a hint of worry in her voice for the first time since entering.
The group turned to their leader… the professor sat looking at her sadly.
"There is nothing I can do for you…"
Lizzie grimaced and turned away, not wanting to meet his gaze.
"You already know so much, there's very little I can teach you about your powers… except maybe to use them responsibly."
With sadness in her voice Lizzie turned back, "I doubt you can Professor. I've studied Ethics and Physics since the day I found these powers. There's nothing more anyone can teach me about that side of the equation." She sat on a desk, looking over at the trees and flowers not daring to look back at the teachers.
"There must be something you can do professor?" Storm pleaded for her.
There was a pause…
"There is… it's highly unusual of course but, what isn't."
"What is?" Lizzie said not letting any hope that this man could help her into her mind.
He eyed her then the rest of the teachers, "It would however be your choice…"
Storm and Scott looked at him almost as if they knew what was coming… they just wanted to be sure it was.
"When students here have learnt all they can they are presented with a choice Lizzie. They can either go back to the world outside these walls knowing what they can do and how to control themselves or…" He looked her dead in the eye, "or they may stay here… become an X man. Teach and protect mutants like yourself." He smiled "I don't wish to push you but you would make a rather incredible member of the team."
She looked at them all, looking from face to smiling face, each set of eyes asking her to make the choice… but she…
"I'm not ready to, make the choice that is, or be a member of your team." She found herself saying. "You said that mutants have to comfortable with who they are… that they are mutants. I'm not."
Xavier smiled at her "You seemed very comfortable demonstrating your skills on Logan."
"Hey…" Logan growled.
The professor turned in his wheelchair "Well she did."
Lizzie just sat and thought for a second, it had been good. She'd always loved using her powers, having that advantage but… it was too much of a risk. She couldn't let them rule her life. Something else would always rule that for her… she was just about to open her mouth again to say no when a feeling rapped around her gut… it might have been a reaction to her fainting, but it felt familiar… the feeling she'd had the night, that night, the night fate and her mother collided in a black Limousine. Something was wrong, she just knew… Sixth sense.
"The invitation will always be there, promise me you'll at least think about it…" The Professor asked, but she wasn't listening… she was trying to figure out what was wrong.
Digital put her head around the doorframe, her green eyes wide.
"Ummm hi." She smiled. "There's something happening on T.V. something about something English. And what with your coming from there Lizzie, thought it might be of interest." She then ducked back out.
Lizzie looked at the Professor for permission, he nodded and she headed to the door, heading to the Rec room after Digit. A few steps behind, the rest of the X men followed to see what could be so important…
"…violent Explosion… Royal helicopter… carrying King Edward IX and many of his advisors nose-dived… plunged into… the Atlantic… another explosion… perforated fuel tank… search has been instigated… no survivors… palace… informed… keeping… touch with the American President… whereabouts of the Princess… yet to be determined."
She stood horrified in front of the television set, her face didn't move, a breath hardly passed her lips. Some of the students sat around, others continued with games and homework not knowing that one among them's heart was breaking.
The scrolling banner at the bottom of the screen revealed the truth of the matter over silent pictures of search and rescue helicopters scanning an area of open-ocean for survivors. Survivors that the anchorman had assured the audience of America surely couldn't exist. The banner proclaimed, "King's helicopter shot down over Atlantic."
No one stood as shocked as the English woman, but no one understood what this meant. Not like Elizabeth did. Sadly she sank on to the floor, tears starting to fall from her eyes- no one noticed. She cried so violently her nose began to run, the first true showing of her emotions since entering the academy. Still no one noticed her pain.
Finally Xavier turned realising that she no longer stood tall beside him. "Elizabeth, what's wrong?". She stared up at him, hand to her nose. "He's dead." She cried. The others turned to her, Wolverine looked down his nose with unbelieving eyes. "I can't believe you're crying over a man you never met. A stuffed shirt, poncy royal."
She froze, the blood pumping though her body boiled in her veins. Through clenched teeth she yelled, "You had better take that back."
"Excuse me?" Wolverine asked not believing what the girl had just said.
She lifted herself to her knees and started to get up. "I said you had better take that back you unfeeling bastard." She said getting so close to him she could smell his after-shave.
"Miss Windsor I think you had better…" Xavier halted, looking at the distraught woman. And suddenly it all clicked into place. "Windsor." He whispered, "Elizabeth Windsor." He realised. "You're the king's daughter, you're Princess Elizabeth."
She turned slightly, letting the sun catch in her blue eyes and sparkle on her tears. Storm and the others, even Wolverine looked taken aback at this development, they were in the company of royalty. But to Lizzie it was something different, a change in attitude. The way Wolverine's shoulders went back, how Storm froze, how the eyes of every child in the room shifted to her with an involuntary gasp- it all made her shudder.
She felt uneasy, self-conscious, she desperately wanted them away. "Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer." She screamed through her tears before it became too much. She turned on her heal and ran, head down to the stairs and up to her bedroom away from the mutants. Away from the outcasts that were casting her out.
Come on Muses. Do your Job.
All Muses Walk out with collection Buckets and "Give us Reviews" tee shirts.
Ahhh I knew Muses were good for something…
Digital Muse: Can I have my cheese now?