Mature Immaturity: "Betsy thrust her indigo dagger of death into the doomed scientist's head." Hehehe… I kind of like it. Thanks for the encouragement, though!
The Hog of Hedges: Thanks dude! I love Ocean's Eleven – not that I'd ever be able to plot like that. As for Hank translating Hebrew…I dunno, it kind of seemed like the sort of thing he'd do. He does a whole lot of random stuff, after all. And yeah, Neal is in this one – just for you!
Ivan Alias: hooray for Robbie Burns! Thanks, and sorry about the updating delay
The Uncanny R-Man: hmm, interesting. I'll have to see where I can work that in, thanks! I love Oxford so much, can you tell?
Atomic midnight: love the name! Glad you liked the action, that makes me feel better about it. And the revelation should come up in this chapter, so I hope it lives up to expectations.
Episodic: hehe, you make me laugh. I have this pathological inability to not shorten things hugely, but I'm working on it…
Jordsan: thanks! Yeah, she really does.
Anon(girl): thanks for the review.
Chaotic Boredom: so that was you? I was wondering who that was. I'd like to see the first season again, I still haven't seen Middleverse…Come to think of it, Rahne in tight black leather is a little odd… hmm… oh well. And yeah, Hank's lab… I had fun with that idea.
HybridMutant: thanks as always! There really wasn't a lot of action – this story just didn't turn out that way, and now I've atrophied my action writing muscles anyway, so yeah. Glad you liked the stuff with Siryn and Psylocke's powers, I had so much fun doing those bits. (Always wanted to be a spy, and a super-powered spy is just even cooler).
A couple more shout outs this time, to a few people who helped this chapter come out…first to Raskolion Phoenix for looking over it before I posted and telling me that I'm not completely crazy to upload this, to hellion, for some general conversations about Rahne and advice on parts of my rewrite (see the note after the chapter), and to Caliente, for her wonderful brilliance on talking about clothing and things, which I have taken out of context and nicked to put in this. You guys are great!
And yeah, insert general apology for updating lateness in here.
-----
It took Moira nearly a day and a half of poring over the notes from Carson's office to reach a conclusion about his supposed cure for mutancy. Judging from the constant frown which her foster mother was wearing throughout that time, Rahne could tell the news was unlikely to be positive, for Jono or for the rest of the mutant population of Britain. And when her foster mother's announcement came, it was both unsurprising and surprising – unsurprising because she'd learned to expect the worst over the last few months, surprising because despite everything that happened, this still seemed to be in the realm of wishful, fantastical day-dreaming. She doubted that any of the members of Excalibur who had gathered to here the geneticist's verdict had ever seriously considered the possibility which Moira was now explaining to them.
"I've been over and over the data a hundred times," Moira said as they sat round the conference table. Defeat and weariness showed plainly on her face. "I can't see any way around it – Francis has found himself a cure, and as far as I can tell, if he gave it to any of you, it would work near to perfectly – with next to no side effects. You would all be the same, but you'd loss any active use of your powers."
There was silence in the room. Rahne would have sworn that she could hear her mind working furiously, trying to process the idea, but she felt sure that she was missing at least half of the implications…And the others seemed to feel similarly - across the table, Rahne saw Betsy and Neal look at each other and shudder. Powers were a curse sometimes, but they were a part of you, something that made you who you were. The idea of having them simply just… gone… was staggering.
"How?" Teresa asked finally, bringing the unvoiced musings to a halt.
"It's simple," Moira replied, sorting through her notes to find the page she was looking for. "Simple and yet, exceedingly complex. I can try to explain, but I'm afraid there's a lot of molecular biology theory involved..." Pushing her glasses up against the bridge of her nose, the scientist went into full lecture mode.
"It starts with the x-gene, as I'm sure you'd guess. But the x-gene isn't exactly a gene – or at least, not in the way you'd expect: It doesn't code for a specific protein, but instead seems to link into other genes and change the way they're expressed by changing the way a variety of transcription factors bind and relate to a particular gene. The linking to somatic genes seems to happen before the zygotic stage, but that's not really important here…," she explained, bringing another set of papers to the top of her sheaf. "Francis has been studying a different aspect of the x-gene: specifically how it is activated – in lay terms, what occurs when a mutant's powers first emerge."
Moira paused to make sure that the Excalibur members were following her, or attempting to, before going on. "There are a number of pathways which seem to be involved in the triggering of powers, or, speaking on a cellular level, the activation of the x-gene. And the one that Francis has homed in on involves an auto-catalytic phosphorylation triggered by some of the pathways set in motion by the advent of puberty - which as you all know, is the time when most mutants manifest. This creates an activated transcription factor protein, which must bind to a specific region of the x-gene before any enhanced effects in transcription can be initiated."
The explanation was already starting to blend into one big mess, right over Rahne's head, despite Moira's attempts to simplify the ideas. And her nose told her that she wasn't alone – confusion was the dominant note threading through most of the scents in the room. She noticed Brian start to nod off, slack-jawed, before he was shoved in the ribs by Meggan. He sputtered, shaking his head and looking around.
"The transcription factor binding is absolutely essential to x-gene activation, and its presence is required to maintain the expression of the enhanced genes," Moira continued, carefully oblivious to the by-play. "Block the binding, and you can block the expression of the x-gene – effectively curing the phenotypic effects of mutation, the 'mutant powers'. And Francis has figured out a way to do just that: his formula will deliver a protein to cell nuclei, which specifically methylates cytosine residues in a particular DNA sequence: the specific sequence of the x-gene which binds that phosphorylated transcription factor. The methylation blocks the factor from binding, and it's permanent – it's copied along with the DNA during normal replication." The geneticist paused once more before delivering her conclusion. "So the 'cure' is fast-acting, silences the x-gene near to completely, and is effectively irreversible."
"Um… It's all very nice and neat, Moira, but what does it mean?" asked Meggan, after the scientist's words had died away.
"Yes, and why do I get the feeling that there's something more to this?" Brian interrupted. "You haven't brought us all the way up here just for a biochemistry lesson, have you?"
"Well if you'd just engage your brain, Bri, you'd realise that this has the potential to do terrible things for mutant rights," Betsy snapped back. "Just imagine what they could get away with…"
"Alright, I'm not stupid Bets…," her brother replied hotly. Rahne looked around nervously. She could smell the tempers in the room beginning to fray.
"Please, children," said Moira. There was an edge of annoyance in her voice. "Settle down. Brian is actually correct – there is something more to this cure of Carson's, but it involves biochemistry, not politics." Brian smirked at his sister across the table, while Betsy pretended not to notice. "I'm afraid something else came out of my review of Carson's notes and my own data. If Jonothan Starsmore takes the cure, it will kill him."
The room was silent again, but this time it was not the silence of people trying to process an idea. It was the silence of shocked minds shutting down. Eventually Neal found his voice. "But…um, is it just that I'm new to all this stuff? Didn't you say that this thing had no side effects?"
"Yes, for any of you the process would be completely harmless," replied Moira. "The formula would silence the x-gene, and normal expression of genes would resume. But I believe you've all seen what Jonothan's first use of his powers did to him?"
Rahne nodded, shuddering at the memory of that gaping empty hole in the boy's body. "Francis' formula is a neat little trick, but it's hardly stem cell research, it can't reconstruct organs or tissues… I'm afraid that the damage Jono did to himself in the blast is irreparable. He survived because his body has effectively become a bio-kinetic generator, due to the nature of his mutation – it provides energy for his remaining tissues. But his activated x-gene is currently the only thing that's keeping him alive."
"Okay…" Neal still looked and smelled confused, and Rahne couldn't blame him. "So what does that mean, then?"
Sean answered that, his face grim. "It means we need t' go and have a wee talk t' the Brothers Carson before they do anythin' stupid."
-----
And so the next morning, at 10.36am, the members of Excalibur, once again minus Captain Britain and his fiancée, filed into the London offices of Edward Carson, QC, to await a meeting with him and his brother. A non-descript clerk led them into one of the meeting rooms, indicating that they should sit down and wait for the lawyer. Nervous, and more than a little intimidated by the official surroundings, Rahne slid into the end seat beside Teresa, fiddling nervously with the soft black material of the long formal skirt that Moira had insisted she wear for the occasion. All the members of Excalibur were dressed similarly, in neat and slightly official looking clothes. It was just a different type of uniform, but Rahne found she missed the tight black spandex of her old training uniform at Xavier's. That had felt safer.
After a few minutes, Edward Carson swept into the room, with his brother, looking perhaps a little worse for wear after his run-in with Betsy, following on his heels.
"Well, what do we have here?" Carson asked, running his gaze along the line of crisply dressed Excalibur members. "My dear old friend Moira MacTaggert and her current motley collection of little lost mutants: …. A policeman whose record is spotted by a rather 'colourful' record of cover ups and mishaps; a young man who I believe is wanted on several charges of destruction and assault; Professor Braddock's darling little daughter – whose history with telepathic indiscretions is really rather legendary, I must say; a former Dublin street – well, 'urchin' is far too pretty a word for what young Miss O'Rourke got up to, isn't it? And…" Pausing, the lawyer's eyes flicked over Rahne briefly. "And your newest little stray pet…" He laughed brightly. "So, where would the illustrious Captain Britain be today? Off saving the country from whatever menace you and your Irish rogue have cooked up this time?"
Shuffling her papers together, Moira pointedly ignored the question. "You've got to stop this Edward," she said briskly. "All this nonsense about making the cure statutory for mutants like Jonothan Starsmore."
"Stop it?" asked the lawyer, arching one eyebrow. "And why should I do that, exactly?" Rahne had thought of him as a vulture before, back at the trial. That was still there, at least to some extent. But today Carson was a hawk, staring at Moira with coolly calculating eyes, all composed menace and hidden talons.
"Because it will kill him! This isn't America, capital punishment is illegal here!" Teresa burst out, glaring at the two men before Moira silenced her with a look.
Francis shifted uncomfortably in his seat, looking questioningly at his brother. But the lawyer laughed again, fixing his gaze on the young girl for a moment as that familiar nasty smile curved his lips. "I'm afraid you're wrong there, Miss O'Rourke," he purred. "Whether it would terminate Mr Starsmore's current miserable existence or not, there is actually nothing illegal about administering the cure to him. You see, our friend Jonothan has no rights – legally, he is quite, quite dead."
"But…," Neal protested angrily.
"Please Mr Sharra, think before opening your mouth," Carson said mockingly. "One would think that you would have picked up at least something about our hallowed legal system in the decade or so you've been here, but if you really do insist on showing your immigrant ignorance, I suppose I should explain…" Neal growled, and was prevented from rising only by Betsy placing a warning hand on his arm. "Our legal code defines death as occurring when the heart stops beating and respiration ends," the lawyer continued. "Something that I believe happened around two months ago for young Mr Starsmore. After all, he hardly has a heart or lungs any longer, does he? In a legal sense, ending his existence is no different from switching off a respirator."
"Somehow I doubt that the public would see it that way," Betsy said calmly, poised and confident with all the assurance that seemed to come naturally to her, as though self-possession was a birthright. "They aren't usually that fond of legal technicalities – if they knew what would happen…"
"And how would they find out?" Carson's question was flippant, but still laced with menace. "On the basis of information given to them by a group of mutants who are known to be biased about such matters? And how did this group of mutants get such classified information about the technique anyway? How do you think the public would see Professor Braddock's youngest child breaking into a government sponsored lab and assaulting a researcher? Something else they might not be too fond of, perhaps?"
"That's a risk we'll take," Moira said evenly, staring directly at the hooded bird-of-prey eyes of the lawyer. "You have no proof. And if it will save Jonothan Starsmore's life, that's a price we'll pay – willingly."
"Even though it goes against the greater good?" Carson asked sharply. "You know first hand the damage that mutants like Jonothan Starsmore can do if allowed to retain their powers. What they can do despite all attempts to reason with them or teach them control. Who knows, maybe you can save him… but who knows what the next one will do? What will the cost in lives be next time a mutant surfaces? Tens, hundreds even…"
Moira opened her mouth to protest, but the lawyer continued ruthlessly. "What's the matter, Moira? Got all high and mighty in your old age?" His measured tones were beginning to get heated now, and the vowels were roughening at the edges. "Not willing to sacrifice one life for the good of others? You never used to see things that way, Dr MacTaggert…"
Moira suddenly went very pale, and Rahne could smell a bolt of fear and sorrow and guilt mixed in with her foster mother's rising anger.
"I'm sure even a great and 'noble' scientist like you has some things which they'd rather the public didn't know," said Carson. "Things in their past – family secrets, even…" In his eyes, the hawk pounced, ready to rend its prey. Moira's face became suddenly still, perfectly schooled in an expression of icy calm. But Rahne could smell the guilt and fear in waves now.
Carson leaned back into his chair, face twisted by his peculiar smile. "And that's why I don't think you will go public with your 'information' about Starsmore."
-----
Okay, I hope no one died with all the biochemistry (well… there wasn't really that much). I also hope no one is going to be jumping up and down telling me that I've given an explanation that makes no sense and doesn't fit the science (you try making it work… actually, if anyone has any suggestions as to how the explanation could be improved in a scientific sense, I'd love to hear about it).
The little factoid about the legal definition of death is completely true, and something I've been wanting to put in this since I found it out (back in February). Hooray for random factoids!
And yeah, I know it was a very sudden ending – in the next chapter we'll find out just what Carson knows about Moira – although if you're familiar with the comics, you might be able to guess.
One more information notice thingy from me (there's a lot of them today, I know) – I'm currently in the process of rewriting quite a lot of the early chapters – nothing really major, mostly fixing up bits of writing that sounded really bad, and introducing a very minor little subplot about Rahne's religious beliefs (as in a couple of paragraphs spread over 16 chapters, really really minor). However I am writing a new chapter to fit back in between chapters 5 and 6, because I decided I wanted more balance and things on the earlier part of the story. So if you see that there's an update, but can't find a new chapter at the end, look at Ch 6.
Okay, news flash over… hope you enjoyed! (the chapter, not the news)