Generation-X

Chapter 9: The Chrysalis Cracked

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- I don't own anything, all familiar characters belong to Marvel.

Shout Outs-

Showstopper- Yeah, I wish there was someone like Tigra around when I was at school too. AS to Penny's second mutation, you'll just have to wait and see.

Anything but ordinary3- Sorry, no Pete/Moira bitchery, it'll be far too serious for that.

Agent-G- Nice mental image, eh? Heh. Nope, the thing with Penny isn't anything like the comics, no twins, no Emplate screwing around.

Thanks to- B. Oots.

Notes- The title of this chapter is taken from Captain Britain Vol 2 #8. It's the issue when Meggan shed her monstrous green form to that of the beautiful elfin woman that we're more familiar with. Obscure comic references rule!

Muir Island-

Doctor Moira MacTaggart and Rahne Sinclair stood and watched as the X-Men's Blackbird landed in the hangar bay. It had been a slow day up until Moira had received an emergency call form Massachusetts. Much to her amazement, it was Pete Wisdom. Their long-running rivalry was put aside once Moira saw the serious expression on Pete's face. There was only one thing that would make Wisdom look like that, a woman.

Moira and Rahne rushed up to the Blackbird as the entry hatch opened and Pete stepped out, followed shortly by Hank McCoy. Between them they were carrying the unconscious form of Penance. They were being extra-careful with Penance, due to her razor-sharp skin and as such, they were wearing protective suits tailor-made for such an occasion.

'What happened to the poor lass?' Moira asked as Pete and Hank lowered Penance onto the stretcher that Rahne brought up.

'That's why we brought her here.' Pete replied. 'McCoy thinks that Penny's goin' through her secondary mutation.'

'Ye did good to bring her here.' Moira said as she strapped Penny down. 'We'll soon find out what's wrong wi' her.'

'You seem kinda sure of that.' Pete muttered. 'You don't even know anything about her.'

'I know that she's got razor-sharp skin.' Moira replied. 'Add to that the fact that she used tae be Emplate's main source o' sustenance bef'r she escaped.'

'Just look after her, alright?' Pete asked. 'She's special.'

'Ye have m' word.' Moira replied as she and Hank rushed Penny to the lab.

Pete just stood there watching after them. Rahne stepped up and put her hand on Pete's shoulder in comfort.

'Moira knows what she's doing.' The young wolf girl said. 'She'll find oot what's wrong wi' her soon enough.'

'Thanks.' Pete sighed sadly. 'It's just... Penny's the only one that treats me with any damn respect nowadays. Sure, McCoy's nice enough but... he's not Penny.'

'Ye care aboot her, don't ye?' Rahne asked.

'There's no use hiding anything form you, is there Furtop?' Pete chuckled weakly.

Meanwhile-

Jubilee was pacing the floor in the rec room as she waited for news of Penny's condition.

'Jeez Jono, how are you not concerned about Penny? You were the first one that connected with her.'

'Of course I'm worried about her.' Jono replied. 'She's my friend to, y'know. We're all worried about her.'

'Apart form M.' Jubilee muttered. 'And she's almost frickin' family.'

'Well you know Monet.' Jono replied. 'She hardly ever show any emotions. I think the only time that she did was when... y'know...' Jono trailed off, not sure how to continue.

'You can say it, y'know.' Jubilee sighed.

'Since Ev died.' Jono replied. 'I'm sure that Emma's worried too.'

'Yeah, when she's not using Penny for a bargaining chip.' Jubilee snorted.

'She already explained that it was only a ruse to find everyone during Zero Tolerance.' Jono replied.

'How convenient.' Jubilee muttered. 'Frosty doesn't care about anybody but herself.'

'That could be no further form the truth, Jubilation.' Emma replied telepathically. 'I care for every single one of you. And don't you dare say that I don't care, I cared for my Hellions and I care for you.'

'Sorry.' Jubilee muttered. 'I'm just...'

'I know, you're acting out your frustrations.' Emma replied. 'I would have done the same thing.'

'Have you heard anything form them yet?' Jubilee asked.

'Henry said that he would call as soon as there was anything to call about.' Emma replied. 'Just be patient, I'm sure that Penance will be back as good as new before we know it.'

'I know yer lyin', Frosty.' Jubilee said. 'But thanks anyway.'

Back at Muir-

Pete was watching through the view-screen as Moira and Hank did their stuff. He hadn't had a cigarette since he had left Massachusetts and to be honest, he didn't care. There were more important things going on than seeing to his nicotine addiction.

'Any news?' Rahne asked as she walked up beside him and watched her stepmother at work.

'Not as such.' Pete replied. 'They're havin' trouble getting' a blood sample because of Penny's skin.'

'I'm sure that we've got some admantium-coated needles aboot somewhere. Moira got them in especially tae check up on Meggan.'

'Yeah, I remember how she used to freak out over anybody even mentionin' injections.' Pete chuckled.

'Ye really care f'r her, don't ye?' Rahne asked.

'You've already asked me this, love.' Pete sighed. 'And yes, I do care for her.'

'D'ye love her?'

Pete just mumbled incoherently. Rahne nodded in understanding.

'Don't ye think that yuir just usin' the poor lass tae get over Kitty?'

Pete turned to Rahne with an angry expression.

'How can you even bloody say anything like that? I may be a bastard but I never purposefully use a woman to get back at my failed romances. I'd never do anything like that to the woman that I love...'

Pete stopped in mid-rant as he finally realised what he had just said.

'Oh God, I love her. This is Pryde all over again...'

'And yuir afraid that if you and Penny actually become a couple, it'll fall apart like it did with Kitty?' Rahne asked.

'Yeah.' Pete sighed as he rested his head on the glass. 'I must be bloody mad to even consider goin' through this again!'

'Love makes ye do crazy things.' Rahne replied knowingly. 'Take it from an expert.'

'Oh, so you're an expert now?' Pete asked, his anger gone for the moment. 'Just because you used to have a crush on the Guthrie kid?'

'Yuir forgettin' Rictor tae.' Rahne replied. 'Havok an' Douglock too.'

'At least you and Douglock actually got somewhere.' Pete said.

'What? One kiss?' Rahne snorted. 'It wasnae as if we actually did anything.'

Pete was about to reply when Moira spoke through the intercom.

'Pete, could ye come in f'r a sec? I think that ye'd want tae see this.'

Pete did as he was told and entered the lab. He saw Penny, still strapped to the table but she seemed different somehow, softer even.

'This happened a few minutes ago.' Moira said as she started to take off her protective suit. 'I wilnae bore ye with details but her skin seems tae have turned back tae normal.'

'H-how...?'

'We're not really sure ourselves.' Hank replied. 'We had all but given up on finding out what as wrong when the sensors went off.'

'So you're saying that it's a miracle?' Pete asked.

'If that's your belief then, yes.' Hank replied.

'Any idea when she'll wake up?'

'Yuir guess is as good as ours.' Moira replied.

Pete was about to ask another question when he heard rustling coming form the examination table. Penny was awake!

Pete rushed over to her and held her hand as she started to regain consciousness.

'Ow...' Penny groaned.

'You talked!' Pete gasped.

'Yes, of course I talked.' Penny groaned as she sat up. 'I always talk to you.'

'No, what he means is that ye can actually talk, tae us!' Moira replied.

'W-what happened?' Penny asked, her mind whirling. 'W-why were you touching my hand just then? My skin...'

'Take a look in the mirror, love.' Pete replied.

Penny hopped up off the examination table and padded slowly across the room to a nearby mirror, the floor feeling extra-cold under her newly sensitive feet. She peered into the mirror and looked at her reflection.

'I don't see any difference.' She said as she prodded her cheeks. 'Apart from the fact that I'm all soft...'

Then her words finally registered.

'I'm soft! I can touch! I can speak!'

Penny span to look at Pete, smiling like a loony.

'I'm normal!'

'Well, as normal as a red-skinned young girl can be.' Hank replied.

Penny ran back across the room and leapt into Pete's arms.

'I can finally do what I've wanted to do ever since I first saw you.' She said.

'What's that, love?' Pete asked.

'This, silly.' Penny replied as she planted a smacker onto Pete's lips.

'Well, that was unexpected.' Pete said as he licked his lips. 'And not all that unpleasant.'

'I should think we had better leave these two alone.' Hank said. 'You have a lot of catching up to do...'

Later-

Pete and Penny were walking hand in hand along the cliff edge. Penny had borrowed some of Rahne's clothes as in her new form; she didn't really need all those leather straps any more.

Penny looked up at the slightly taller man next to her. Pete looked back at her and smiled kindly.

'What happens now?' Penny asked. 'About us, I mean.'

'Well I thought we could catch a movie or something.' Pete replied. 'Maybe go out to dinner.'

Penny's heart skipped a beat at Pete's words.

'Y-you mean that you like me, the same way I like you?'

'Sure do, love.' Pete replied as he cupped Penny's chin in his hand. 'I never want to let you go.' He said as he leaned in closer.

Penny's heart started to beat wildly in anticipation. Once Pete gently placed his lips on hers, Penny's senses started to go wild. This was the best day of her life! She was normal, she could talk, and she had the love of an amazing man as well! She was in heaven!

END...

Watch out for the further adventures of Penny and Wisdom in... 'Penny and Wisdom', coming soon!