The Transcendentals

Apocalyptic Muse & Doyle's

4

Questions and Answers

Mica and her chaperones were already at a table in the center of the Food Court when Jadyn and Kurt arrived. They dumped their bags beside the empty seats and sat down. "I am so exhausted!" Jadyn said, leaning back in her chair. "So how did it go with you, Mica?" She suddenly noticed that the three of them looked less than happy. "What happened?"

"We ran into Pyro." Mica said softly.

"St. John!?" Jadyn cried.

"Yes," Logan hissed, "St. John."

Jadyn was quiet for a moment, her eyes moving from each face as if studying them. Suddenly she said, her voice level and calm, "Well, considering I have just gotten myself into a good mood do you mind if we don't talk about that little traitor." Everybody gazed at her in shock. They hadn't expected Jadyn to be so straightforward.

"Yet another Pyro fan." Logan commented sarcastically once the initial shock wore off. Storm gave him a look.

A little while later after everyone had gotten their lunch Jadyn's face scrunched in thought. She took a sip of her drink and kept her lips there afterward as if her mind was someplace else. Ororo was the first to notice. "What is on your mind, Jadyn?"

The amethyst haired girl sighed deeply before regarding everyone. "I've been thinking about these damned chips we've got."

"You don't like sour cream and onion?" Mica asked, and for once Jadyn didn't seem annoyed by her sister's confusion. She smiled softly.

"No, I mean the microchips." She elaborated, then turned to look at Storm, "did you hear any more from Jean? Do you know if she will be able to find it's origins?" Mica groaned, laying her head on her hands, mumbling something about her sister, "the detective." Jadyn ignored her.

"No, last time we spoke she had no clue where it came from, but Hank is returning tomorrow and he should be able to get an idea."

Jadyn's eyes lit up like fireworks on the fourth of July. "Dr. McCoy? You mean Beast is going to be here!?" She was excited. To meet such a genius was more than she could have ever dreamed. "Will we get to see him?"

"Of course." Storm answered.

Mica groaned. "Oh, no."

"What's the matter with you, kid?" Logan asked gruffly.

"Jadyn's never going to shut up now, her bein' a scientist and all."

"Scientist?" Kurt inquired, looking at the twenty one year old. Somehow he hadn't seen her as a scientist.

"I'm a biochemistry student back home." Jadyn said. "I'm very science minded sometimes. It gets on Mica's nerves." The younger girl scoffed as if to indicate this was an understatement. Jadyn glared at her. "Anyway, it would be an absolute pleasure to meet someone with a mind as brilliant as Henry McCoy's." She grinned.

Ororo smiled. "I am sure he would also be pleased to meet you."

- X -

Jadyn didn't know when or how the questions started, but as they progressed she found herself sliding lower and lower in her seat, filling with complete embarrassment. Mica was at it again, her mind working up some of the dumbest questions in the universe.

"Has your hair always been white?" Mica addressed Storm, taking a sip of her drink.

"Yes."

"How old are you anyway?" This was directed at Logan. He raised an eyebrow and stared at her before answering.

"I don't know."

Suddenly a bright idea sprang into her head and she glanced at Kurt, "hey! You want me to teach you how t'break dance? You'd be really good at it!" She smiled enthusiastically and Jadyn partially covered her eyes, giving the German an apologetic look. He only smiled.

"No thank you, Fraulein. Maybe in the future." He said to Mica.

Mica looked disappointed. She had wanted something the two of them could do together that wasn't too hard and that she could impress him at. She knew he was an acrobat and that he fenced. He was generally in good shape. Nonetheless her barrage of questions continued. "Are you good at Art?" She looked at Logan again, and this time even Jadyn had to contain a laugh, but her's was one more out of desperation than humor.

"Not that I know of."

"Hm." Mica said thoughtfully, then back to Storm. "Have you ever considered being one of those weather people? You'd always be right." Jadyn didn't know whether to laugh or cry or run screaming away. Meanwhile, Ororo just stared at her blankly, unsure whether she was being serious or not.

"No, I have not." She answered after a minute.

"Oh, okay." Mica said, and then once more to Kurt, "Why are you blue? I mean being blue has nothing to do with being able to poof into another room?"

THUNK!

Jadyn had run out of seat room and ended up on the floor. The chair tipped and swayed but didn't fall over. Everyone exchanged glances before leaning down and peering beneath the table. Jadyn was sitting in shock.

"Are you okay?" Kurt asked, fairly worried.

"Just fine." Jadyn huffed, then tears started to pour down her face. Without another word she climbed to her feet and fled, running out the front doors.

Kurt looked at Mica, "what just happened?"

"Oh, God." Mica shook her head nervously. "This is bad. Jadyn's embarrassed. She hates making an idiot out of herself more than anything, and she just did it in a public place, in front of you guys." She bit her lip.

Kurt stood, his eyes fixed on the doors where Jadyn had disappeared. "I'll go see if she's okay, meet us back at the car." Without out waiting for an answer he hurried off after her.

- X -

Jadyn slid down against the wall and violently wiped away her tears. She hadn't embarrassed herself that bad in a long time. She had thought that after going to college and getting out more that she had left her stupid fears behind. "I guess I didn't." She murmured, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"Are you okay?'

Jadyn looked up to see Kurt standing beside her. "I'm sorry." She apologized. "If I feel like a lot of people are watching me I freak out. Was everyone looking at me?"

Kurt nodded, "a little."

"Oh, no." She was horrified.

"Don't worry." He crouched beside her. "If you want I can go back in there and make them forget all about you." His mouth turned up in a small smile. Jadyn laughed softly.

"You'd do that?" She asked.

"I would terrorize the pants off them." He grinned wider. "Of course the Professor would not like it, but it would make you feel better, yes?"

"Probably." She commented. "That's a little vindictive isn't it?"

"Just a smidge." He replied.

She shook her head. "I feel like an idiot again."

"But you are not." He told her, "some do not like being the center of attention."

"Yeah," she cracked, "and this is coming from Mr. Performance himself."

"Even I used to be afraid, Jadyn, but after a while you realize they don't care and you are fine." He put an arm around her and helped her to her feet. "Come on, our friends are waiting at the car."

- X -

The car ride back to the mansion was quiet except for the occasional brief conversation of Mica's. Jadyn didn't feel like talking, but she wasn't upset anymore. All she wanted was to relax and have some peace after the day she had had. So one of the first things she did when they arrived was query about rooms for her and Mica. Xavier showed them to some temporary rooms. "This is only for now," he informed, "in the morning we'll work out something more permanent."

Mica went straight to bed. By the time they got back it was late and Mica apparently needed her "beauty rest." Jadyn however could not sleep. She thought back to the conversation she and Kurt had had earlier. As silently as she could she slipped from bed and pulled on a robe. She crept downstairs and knocked gently on Professor Xavier's office door, hoping he was still awake and there.

"Come in, Miss Griffin." Xavier called from within and she opened the door. "Sit down. I thought you would be coming to see me, although I did not expect it to be so soon."

Jadyn took a seat across from his desk and pulled her legs up in the chair. "I guess you know what this is about, too." She said, "you seem to know everything else about us."

"You are trying to bait me, but there is no need for that. I will tell you what you ask." He told her, regarding her seriously.

"I am sorry, Professor, but you have to understand my position."

"I do, and there is no need to apologize to me. This must be hard for you to handle, being thrust into our world, especially when you are very aware of the turmoil that is beginning to build."

"It is. That doesn't bother me as much as not knowing why we are here."

"That I cannot tell you because I do not even know it myself." He replied.

Jadyn sighed, raking her hand through her hair. Her purple hair…. That prompted a new question. "Were Mica and I always mutants, or did we just mutate when we arrived here?"

"Yes, you and your sister were born mutants." Xavier answered.

"And where is our rightful home? Here or where we came from."

He smiled softly, knowingly. "Where your home is depends on where you want it to be. If you wish it to be so then here is your rightful place, but if your old life is the one you choose I cannot hold you here."

"I see." She said. "So we belong here, but if it makes us happy we can continue on in the other world."

Xavier nodded. Jadyn was very perceptive, very intelligent. He had the feeling this side of her was not shown as often as it should be. "It is your choice, but until we find out just what those microchips mean I think it is a good idea you stay with us."

Jadyn agreed, "we're going to be here a while, aren't we?"

"I am afraid so."

"I thought as much."

Chapter Four! Once again this is the Muse. I haven't spoken to my compatriot in a few days but we had decided that every three or four days to update with a new chapter so here I am. Apologies for the dumb questions. It was late and we were hyper. And as I said, not very answery, this chapter. But at least it got one main point outta the way. I promise, it'll get better soon.

Toodles.

Next Chapter: Prelude to Letting Go