Chapter Four:
A Secret Power
January 3 (still)
Shaina looked like she was going to have a heart attack. "I…I…"
Logan folded him arms across his chest. "And I thought we knew every mutant in Bayville."
Shaina blinked her eyes. "Wait…Who's 'we'? Are you with the cops or something? 'Cause if you are, I've never used my powers for evil, and that stunt with the bottle was in self-defense!"
Logan held his hands out. "Whoa, hold on…I'm not a cop."
"Then who's 'we'?!" She laughed nervously. "What, are you a mutant, too?"
Logan smiled slightly. "Actually…yea, I am…"
Shaina's eye widened. "No way! You're joking, right?"
Logan shook his head. "No,"
"Well then…what's your power!"
Logan sighed, and picked up a shard of glass from the ground. Wincing, he made a cut in his arm.
"What did you—"
"Shhh…Wait," He interrupted.
And then, before her eyes, the flesh mended itself, as if there had never been a cut.
"Whoa…" Shaina breathed.
And that ain't all…" Logan said. He held an arm out to his side, and ejected his claws.
"You have two powers?!" Shaina gasped.
Loan shook his head. "Nah. Only the healin's my power. The claws…well, I'm not sure where they came from, nor do I wanna discuss it. But I'll let ya in on a secret: I'm a lot older than I look."
Shaina laughed. "Oh, yea…what are you, 40?"
"Try more like 70. I fought in World War II."
Shaina's jaw dropped. "World War II? As in 1940's World War II?! But…you look like you're 27 or something!"
"That's what people say. But enough about me. What's your deal?"
Shaina sat down at the bar, and sighed. "Well, first off, you've already seen it, but my power…is that I can make cracks and splits in solid objects…and in the case of glass, if it gets a lot of cracks, it'll shatter. Wood and cement and that kind of thing will collapse. My power doesn't work on anything living, except for trees."
"How long have you known?" Logan asked, sitting down next to her.
"About my power? Oh, I think since I was 14…I got mad, and I shattered this test tube in the school science lab. The chemicals burned a hole right through the table! I was so shocked, they sent me to the nurse…and I made a chair collapse!"
Logan exhaled and shook his head. "That's how it is for a lot of people: All of the sudden, your powers kick in, and you don't know what the heck is goin' on".
Shaina swung her legs and looked at her feet. "Yea, and the thing was that because I was panicking, everything I touched was getting cracks it in. I remember thinking, 'What's happening?! What's wrong with me?!' Finally, I calmed down, and it stopped. Once I got past the 'excessive, accidental use of power' stage, then I had to concentrate to use it."
Logan nodded. "Do other people know?"
Shaina smiled weakly. "No. It's my secret. Lucky for me, I can control my power, so it doesn't interfere with my life. Some people can't control theirs, like that kid, Scott Summers. He has to wear sunglasses, or else he'll destroy everything."
"I know Summers."
"You do?"
"Yea…and a bunch of other mutants. You know the Xavier institute?"
"You mean that place that people thought was a boarding house, but it was really an institute for mutants?"
"Uh-huh. That's where I live."
"Oh, cool!" She smiled. "Is it nice, living with other mutants, so you don't have to hide your power or make excuses?"
Logan rolled his eyes. "Well, most of 'em are teens, and you know how that is."
"Yea. Hey, Logan, what time is it?"
"It's 10:00."
Shaina exhaled. "I'd love to stay and talk, but I gotta get going."
"Right…'Night, Shaina."
"Good-night, Logan." She star walked to the door, and exited the bar.
Logan looked at his shoes, thinking about this. It had never occurred to him that Shaina might be a mutant. And what were the odds that the two would meet up, and grow close? He had a feeling that Professor X needed to know about Shaina.
It was then that he realized that he had never ended up buying her a drink.
***
"…And then she left. Whaddya make of it, Charles?" Logan asked the Professor. As soon as he got back to the institute, he had told Professor X about his strange ordeal with Shaina.
The Professor pressed his fingers together. "I'm not sure, Logan. She seems to be content with her life as a normal person, and keeping her gift a secret. Though my only concern is that she might be forced to or willingly join Magneto. He seems to have his own ways to locate mutants, and I fear for her safety. Do you think she would like to visit the institute?"
"Beats me," Logan answered honestly. "I guess I could ask her…"
"Why don't you? Are you meeting her tomorrow?"
"Yea. I'll ask her then."
"Good. And Logan?
"Yea?"
"I don't want the students to make a fuss, so let's keep this to ourselves for now. Alright?"
"Right. 'Night, Charles." With that, he departed to his room, and went to sleep.
***
January 4
Logan sighed out the window. Raindrops beat against the glass, and water soaked the lawn.
"Logan?" Beast asked.
"Huh?" Logan muttered.
"Let's go!"
"Oh, yea…right…" Logan broke away from the window, and walked off with him. He and Beast were working on some new scenarios in the Danger Room, and while Logan was needed for his understanding of the room, he was mainly there as a guinea pig. After all, if he got nailed by a saw, and his arm was hanging on by a thread, he could just heal himself.
As they walked down to the danger room, Logan couldn't help but think about how the Professor had told him to ask Shaina if she wanted to visit the institute. How are you supposed to ask a girl that? "Hey, you wanna come and meet a bunch of mutants that I live with?" That just sounded idiotic!
Logan was still thinking when Beast got the simulation ready, and was briefing Logan on possible tactics.
When he was in the Danger Room, he decided to tell Shaina it was Professor X's Idea. After all, mutant or not, Professor X was a highly respected man.
He would have given the matter more thought, but the simulation had started, and he had lasers and giant saws to dodge.
***
That night, after their game of pool, Logan broached the subject of meeting the other mutants to Shaina.
Shaina took a sip of her drink (it was one of the rare occasions that Shaina lost, and Logan head a feeling it was because she was thinking about last night). "I dunno…" She sighed.
"Why not? Ya said you wanted to meet other mutants."
"I know, but it'd be kinda weird. I mean, I've always had to suppress my power and not let anyone tell, and now I'm supposed to tell a bunch of total strangers?"
"Come on, Shaina. The Professor really wants to meet ya, and everyone's real nice!" He almost gagged from saying something so corny.
Shaina realized this, too. "Well, you're sounding as corny as maize. But if it means so much to Charles Xavier…" She stopped and smiled, "…and you…" She looked down at her feet. "I guess I'll do it!"
Logan nodded. "Good. How about we meet here at regular time, and I'll take ya to the institute?"
"Right."
Logan exhaled. Well, he had completed his task, and she had agreed to it. But why had she smiled when she said, "And you?"
***
January 5
The next morning, at breakfast, Professor X broke the news about Shaina.
"So, is she coming to stay with us?" Scott asked.
The professor sighed. "I don't know yet, Scott."
Keri seemed distracted. "Shaina Hope…Shaina Hope…SHAI-NA HOPE…Where've I heard that name before? Hey, Jamie, doesn't that name sound familiar? I think it's someone at our school…"
Jamie thought hard. "Yea…it does…" He tapped his head, and as he did so, multiples of himself apeared.
"Hey, watch it!" Keri shrieked as she was crowded and pushed out of her chair.
"Sorry…" He apologized, returning just to one of himself.
"…Wait, so you two know Shaina?"
Jamie looked at him. "We didn't say that. We just said that the name was familiar."
The Professor clapped his hands. "Students, it's time for school. You can all meet Shaina this evening when she arrives here."
As the students filed out, Logan kept thinking about what Keri and Jamie had told him. They knew someone named Shaina Hope, but they weren't sure where from. It was probably just a coincidence. The first name, 'Shaina' and last name, 'Hope' were pretty common, and it was possible that there was indeed another girl with that name. Besides, it didn't make sense. Shaina was in her late 20's, and Keri and Jamie were eight and 12, respectively. How could they know each other?
***
"Logan?"
"Yea?"
"I don't think I can do this…"
Logan sighed. They were already at the front steps of the institute. "What are you so nervous about?"
"I dunno…I guess meeting other mutants…"
"Well, don't worry! They'll all pretty calm, and we'll just introduce ya slowly."
"Uh, can I reschedule?"
"Too late!" Logan half-led, half-dragged Shaina in to the front door of the institute.
Everything was calm, and ready for Logan to introduce Shaina slowly…
…That is, if you were to ignore the fact that Kitty and Keri were playing a game of tag in which phasing through walls was allowed, and laughing loudly was required.
Logan groaned, and put his face in his hand. "HALF-PINT, IMP! KNOCK IT OFF! WE HAVE COMPANY!" He yelled.
Kitty stuck her head out of the wall. "Huh?" Then, she noticed Shaina. "Oh, is that, like, her?!" She pulled the rest of her body out, and walked over to Shaina. "Hi!" She greeted.
Shaina nodded and smiled. "Um, hi…nice power!"
Kitty grinned. "Oh, that? Wall Phasing? Yea, it's my thing."
Keri suddenly walked through the wall. "Kitty, have we not discussed proper 'I-give-up' gesture?" She looked up and saw Shaina. Her jaw dropped. "…Miss Hope?!"
Shaina looked equally surprised. "Keri Smith?!"
There was a two-second pause, and then, at the exact same time, they both said, "YOU'RE A MUTANT?!"
Logan was confused. "Wait…you two do know each other?"
Keri nodded. "Yea…she teaches P.E. at my school!"
Shaina nodded, too. "And Keri's my student! And let me tell ya, all of her antics that I don't witness, I hear about in the teacher's lounge!"
Keri narrowed her eyes. "Curses…I knew that you teachers gossip about me!"
Logan was now shocked. "You're a teacher?! You never told me that!
Shaina smirked. "You never asked. Besides, it's more like a coach." She turned back to Keri. "So, you're a mutant…I didn't know!"
Keri nodded again. "Yea, 'cause only the principal, my teacher, and my two friends know, and they're sworn to secrecy! My parents and Professor X want for people to think I'm normal."
"So…what's your power? Going through walls?"
Keri turned invisible. "…And invisibility! I've got two!"
Shaina sighed. "Keri Smith is a mutant…I'm scared now…"
They probably could've stood there, chattering all night, but then, Professor X wheeled in to the room.
"Ah, Miss Hope. We have been expecting you. I am Professor Charles Xavier." He stuck his hand out.
Shaina shook it. "And, I guess you already know, but I'm Shaina Hope."
"Come along, the others are waiting." He led Shaina away to the living room.
And so began her evening at the institute. She was introduced to all of the mutants, who displayed their power (some, like Scott, had to go outside to), and everyone was thrilled when she displayed hers, using a glass bottle she had brought from home. Jamie was just as surprised as Keri to see "Miss Hope" was a mutant.
"That's so weird! No one treated you differently when mutants were discovered!" He commented.
Shaina nodded. "That's because no one knew I was a mutant. I've been laying low for 14 years, and that didn't seem like a particularly good time to come forward."
Jamie blinked. "So, how old are you?"
Keri, who was halfway across the room, heard him. "Jamie! That's rude!" She scolded. She took off the slipper she was wearing and threw it at him. It smacked him on top of the head, which bounced off and hit a duplicate of him it, which bounced and hit another duplicate of him, until on the fifth bounce, the in which the slipper hit the wall and stopped.
Shaina smiled. "I'm 28."
Keri considered this. "Well, that would explain why you and Logan look about the same age."
"Oh, now who's being rude?!" Jamie countered, cramming back in to one.
"I'm just making a comment!" Keri snapped as she threw her other slipper at him, which produced the same effect as the first one.
Shaina laughed, and turned to Logan. "Are they always like this?"
Logan nodded. "Yea. They don't get along too well…"
Later, when they were all outside, and the Professor was talking with Shaina, Rogue walked up to them. "'Scuse me, Professor, but can ah interrupt for just a second?"
The Professor nodded. "Go ahead."
Rogue turned to Shaina. "Is it true what they're sayin'? Are you Logan's girlfriend?"
Shaina giggled. "Is that what you people think?"
Rogue looked embarrassed. "Well…ah just…wanna set 'em straight, that's all. Ah hate gossip."
Shaina nodded. "Me, too. No, Logan and I are just friends."
For some reason, Rogue looked relieved. "OK. I'll tell 'em." With that, she walked off.
Shaina rolled her eyes. "Why does everyone think I'm Logan's girlfriend?"
"When two people of the opposite gender form a friendship, people assume things," Said the Professor. "Usually, in that case, people mistake signs and characteristics of a friendship for those of affection. But then again, a lot of relationships start from a friendship, and you must keep in mind that you Logan meeting at night, which is the time that a lot of couples go out on dates."
Shaina looked at him, blinked her eyes, and said, "Whoa, that's deep. You get that off of a bumper sticker or something?"
***
"So, they're not dating?" Keri clarified, later that evening. Logan was taking Shaina home, and the girls were all sitting in Jean's room, talking.
Rouge shook her head. "No. Ah asked her."
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Oh, yea, as if she would, like, tell you!"
Jean sighed. "Well, if she says they're not dating, then I think we should believe her."
Keri nodded. "Yea…Although she does seem to be his type…"
The girls leaned in toward Keri. "His type?
Keri nodded vigorously. "Oh, yea! I mean, I could see the chemistry!"
Rogue couldn't take anymore. "What's wrong with you people?!" She snapped.
Everyone turned to her. "Huh?" Said Kitty.
"Why're ya'll gossipin' about Logan?! So what if he's made a friend who's a girl?! That doesn't mean he likes her!"
Jean blinked. "Rogue, we—"
"Forget it! Ah got better thing to do than listen to this crap!" Rogue snarled, and with that, she stomped out.
She was about to make it to her room, when she met up with Keri.
Keri looked a bit sad. "Rogue…I'm sorry…"
Rogue looked at the ground.
Keri was the only one who knew why Rogue was so sensitive about the whole thing with Shaina. Keri knew Rouge's secret.
Rogue sighed. "Ah'm sorry, too…but…"
Keri tapped her foot. "You don't have to say anything. In fact, don't! After all, there could be spies!"
Rogue blinked. "…Spies?"
"Yes! Now, would you like for me to braid your hair?"
"Wait…what?"
"Would you like for me to braid your hair?"
"Keri, you're talkin' at a mile a minute!"
"Why're you idiots making so much noise?" Said a new but familiar voice.
The two turned and saw Logan standing at the top of the stairs.
"Logan!" Said Rogue. She was relieved that's Keri's incoherent babbling had kept her from revealing her secret!
"Go to bed! Doncha have school tomorrow?!"
"It's Friday, Badger," Keri retorted, rolling her eyes.
"Don't call me that. And whaddya mean, it's Friday? You all just went back to school two days ago!"
"We went back on a Thursday. Don't know why, and I sure don't care!" Keri sang.
Logan rolled his eyes. "Yea…right…Well, 'night."
"Good-night!" Rogue and Keri replied.
When he had left, Keri sighed. "Idn't he the best?"
Rogue smiled, blushing slightly. "Yea…he is…"
***
January 12
Where is she? Logan wondered.
It had been a week since Shaina had visited the institute. The two had continued their nightly ritual of playing pool, and while it was obvious Shaina would've liked to talk about mutants and the X-Men, the bar was becoming more crowded as the Holidays grew further and further behind.
However, tonight, she was late.
Logan looked at his watch. 8:17 PM. He'd wait another 15 minutes, and then go back to the mansion.
He had two things on his mind: (1) She was never late to their games of pool, and he had also learned from Keri that she had a reputation for almost never being late to her class. And (2) Once again, when did he start wearing a watch?
He looked around, and sighed. The bar was almost empty, so they probably could've had a mutant-related conversation…
Suddenly, Shaina burst in, panting, and looking exhausted. She took one look around the bar, and her gaze fell on Logan. "Hey…" She wheezed as she walked over to him.
Logan stood up. "Shaina? What's wrong?" That's when he noticed that one of her shirt sleeves was torn, revealing four bleeding scratches.
"I've…been…running," She panted. "Some weird guy…broke in to my apartment…"
Logan was suspicious. "What he look like?" He asked.
Shaina thought for a second. "Long hair…a weird outfit…he was like a wild animal…His nails were sharp…got me in the shoulder…"
Logan knew at once. "Saber—"
BAM!
With a loud crash, the was smashed off it's hinges and thrown halfway across the bar. Sabertooth strolled in.
Shaina's eyes widened. "It's him!"
Logan stood in front of her. "Sabertooth…" He growled.
Sabertooth turned, and saw Logan. "Logan…"
Shaina looked at the two of them. "You two know each other?"
"We go back," Logan answered shortly.
"Outta my way, runt," Sabertooth growled. "I'm here for the girl."
"Over my dead body, bub!"
"Fine by me." With that, Sabertooth lunged at Logan.
Logan ejected his claws, and dodged, dragged Shaina with him. He placed her in a corner. "Stay here," He ordered.
"No problem!" Shaina said, who was obviously very spooked by this.
Logan turned back to Sabertooth, who was obviously not going to back down. He and Sabertooth growled at each other.
"Whaddya want with her?" Logan hissed.
"I don't…it's my boss who wants her!" He tackled Logan, knocking him over on his back.
The two rolled around for a bit, each one fighting for control. Eventually, Logan managed to get Sabertooth across the sternum with his claws.
Sabertooth roared, stood up, and backed away a few steps. He pressed his fingers to the wound, and saw the blood. He bared his teeth.
"Ya getting' a little rusty?" Logan sneered.
Sabertooth let out another roar, and charged towards Logan. "I'm gonna get ya, ya stupid piece of weasel crap!" He threw a punch at Logan, who veered to the side, but Sabertooth just punched with his other hand, and this time, it connected.
Logan groaned, and fell backwards, landing on his butt. There was blood on the side of his face. "Rrrr…" He growled.
Sabertooth stepped toward him. "Se ya around, runt!"
And that's when Shaina tackled him from behind, and got on his back. It was kind of funny, seeing as how he was at least two times her size. But Shaina seemed to know what she was doing, and she had a determined look on her face. Somehow, despite Sabertooth's thrashing, she managed to spread her hands over his, so each of her fingertips were covering his claws. She concentrated hard.
At this point, Sabertooth turned around, so all Logan could see was his and Shaina's back. Suddenly, Sabertooth howled in pain, but at the same time, he managed to grab off his back Shaina. He held her above his head for a second, roared, and then threw her. She hit the wall with BAM, and laid crumpled on the ground.
Sabertooth turned towards Logan, and took a swipe at him, getting him on the shoulder, in roughly the same place as Shaina had been scratched.
Logan ended up with four lines of blood there, but he could tell by the scent that it was Sabertooth's, not his. This confused Logan, until he saw Sabertooth's fingers: his claws were gone, and his fingertips were raw and bleeding. Then Logan understood what Shaina had done: the tips of your nails are dead, which is why it doesn't hurt to clip them. But if you clip it too far, then it hurts and sometimes bleeds, because you've cut the part that is living. And since Shaina's power didn't work on anything living, she had just cracked and broken the tips of his nails, and in the process, had indirectly cracked the living part. This action had disarmed Sabertooth of his claws, his greatest weapon.
Logan stood up and smirked. "Look's like Mr. Kitty's been de-clawed." He charged at Sabertooth, knocking him backwards.
Logan realized that he probably should make this short, as Shaina may need medical attention. He looked up, and saw the lights: they were the kind that were about six feet long, six inches wide, and covered by a metal cage. He formed an idea, and prayed that it didn't go wrong.
Sabertooth regained his composure, and lunged at Logan. Logan jumped on to the pool table, and then up toward the ceiling, and severed one of two cords connecting a light fixture to the ceilings. Only one cord couldn't support it, and it snapped, leaving the enormous fixture no choice but to fall.
And fall it did, with a loud CRASH, and a shower of sparks…and then landed directly on Sabertooth's head!
He let out a indistinct noise, and then slumped on the ground…out cold.
Logan let out a sigh of exhaustion. He turned and saw Shaina was still laying on the ground, and ran over to her. He propped her up, and noticed a line of blood oozing from her forehead. "Shaina? SHAINA!" He said, trying to wake her up.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, but still looked tired. "Huh?" She moaned. "Oh, it's you…did it work?"
Logan assumed that she meant the thing with breaking Sabertooth's claws. "Yea…good thinkin'."
"Riiiiight …Is he dead?"
Logan looked at Sabertooth, who was still underneath the light fixture. "Don't count on it…but we'd best get outta before he wakes up."
"OK…" She blinked a few times, and then said distantly, "Don't provoke the animals." Then, she passed out again.