Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel characters; please don't sue me I am a poor college student. I am not making any money off of this and I am just writing it for the benefit of my own entertainment as well as the entertainment of the other fans out there. Also, this is a story from my own imagination, any resemblance to real life events, or even those in fiction is completely coincidental. As an additional note, there are so many fan fiction stories out there on this site as well as others, so any similarity is coincidental or great minds just happen to think alike. I do claim the non-Marvel characters, such as the Williams family and the new offspring of the LeBeau and Summers families. Thanks!
Note: I apologize for the spacing and random indents and anything of the sort. When the pages are loaded onto this site everything seems to get a bit messed up. I noticed that single lines get double spaced randomly. Sorry about that.
Through the Years
Chapter Twenty-Three: Repercussions
More often than not, Jessica LeBeau spent day after day with her friends. Sometimes they all spent the day at the Mansion, sometimes in the LeBeau's backyard, sometimes at the Williams' house, and of course at school where the kids were attending kindergarten. Where ever they played, the children seemed to live in their own little world, oblivious to anything that didn't have to do with the games that they played. Gambit and Rogue were particularly thankful for this. They were afraid that their encounter with Belladonna a few months ago and the manifestation of Jessica's absorbing powers would have a negative effect on her life. They didn't want her to have to grow up too fast, they wanted her to enjoy her childhood in a way that they never could. But Hank examined her upon their return to New Orleans and found nothing out of the ordinary.
"From what I can conclude," Dr. McCoy told her worried parents after examining the day they returned from New Orleans, "the manifestation of Jessica's absorption powers might have been a one time event until she reaches puberty. After all, that is when a mutant power normally manifests. Unless…"
Hank used one other piece of technology on the little girl. It was combined with Shi'Ar technology and was considered to be the most powerful scanner of mutant powers on Earth. Those anti-mutant groups would need decades to develop a piece like this. All they had was something that detected mutant genes inserted into rats. This scanner was the only thing that could detect powerful X-genes in Alpha mutants such as the X-men. With this powerful scanner Beast determined that Jessica LeBeau did in fact have an active X-gene, a very active one. Fortunately it seemed that Jessica's absorbing powers were different from her mother's. She didn't seem to retain the persona of Belladonna in her mind, much to the relief of her parents, especially Gambit who feared his daughter channeling the personality and memories of his ex-wife. As a result of her inability to maintain a persona, Hank determined that Jessica's powers were not as powerful as Rogue's. And since her absorbing power wasn't as strong as Rogue's Jessica would have to concentrate to make it work, the power wouldn't work automatically like Rogue's. But if Jessica's absorbing power wasn't as strong as her mother's she must have a secondary mutation that made her so powerful. In either case she couldn't call on her powers just yet. It seemed too unstable, especially for someone her age. They realized this a few days after the LeBeau's return from Louisiana when Rogue went into the little girl's room and realized that she was cold to touch. After taking her daughter's temperature and noting it was well below a healthy range she rushed the child to the Mansion.
"Hank, Hank, what's wrong with mah baby," Rogue questioned as Hank did ran some test. "Why is she so cold?"
"Well," he said taking his glasses off and looking straight at Rouge, "after running a few tests, it would appear that little Jessica's powers are the cause of her anguish. She has so much power flowing through her, more than anyone could ever imagine. I can't even get a reading on her, she show up as a flatscan human, but we have all witnessed the fact that she is a mutant. It can only be seen using my unique Shi'Ar hybrid scanner. All that power flowing through her little body takes a lot of energy, more energy than she can really muster, and as a result her body becomes very cold."
"Will she be alright?"
"As she grows, perhaps she will adjust to her power levels, don't forget her power manifested at an age far younger than the norm. Once she reaches an age closer to puberty she will have better control over her powers and her body will cope much better. But until she reaches that point all we can really do for her is to keep her warm."
They were so busy discussing the small patient that neither heard the Professor enter the room. "Or perhaps there is another temporary solution," he said gaining the attention of Hank and Rogue.
For now Xavier was able to put mental blocks in the little girl to keep her powers from emerging too quickly, just like he had done with Jean when she first manifested her powers at a rather young age. But how long those blocks lasted depended on how quickly her powers developed. In fear of the mental blocks failing, Gambit and Rogue tried their best to explain the situation to the six-year old, telling her that she shouldn't try to use any powers that she thinks she might have because it might hurt her since she was so young.
Unbeknownst to the adults in her life, Jessica LeBeau didn't heed their advice. Like any curious child she assumed that the rules only applied when the grown-ups were present. She practiced channeling some flow of power whenever she could get some time alone, usually around bedtime, or when playing in the woods by her house but being so young she really didn't know what she was doing. It was only known to her what she could truly do.
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Nothing out of the ordinary seemed to happen after the LeBeau's encounter with Belladonna over the summer. Holidays, birthdays, and the school year marched on uneventfully. Hank McCoy sat at a desk in the Rec room pouring over some research one February evening. Most people would find his constant work of scientific pursues tiresome, but he didn't. He worked in his lab for pleasure as well as for his profession. It was essentially who he was and he loved it. He was feeling a mental block and decided to take his paperwork to the desk in the Rec room as a change of scenery. The evening news was on and Logan was playing pool against Bobby Drake. He barely knew they were there until Bobby said something that caught his attention.
"Hey Hanky-Panky boy, isn't that your lovely lady friend on TV"
Hank turned around to hear an announcement that he wouldn't have missed for the world.
"…sources confirm that this new research lab is being funded by the Friends of Humanity in hopes that scientists can one day identify a mutant using a simple body scan. The progress of the technology, which was made public nearly eight years ago, has been kept fairly secretive since. However we have reports that they have moved passed being able to detect mutant genes inserted in lab animals. Sources will not confirm anything passed this point. We will keep you updated as the story continues to develop. For Channel Four news this is Trish Tilby, back to you Sue."
Trish Tilby. It had been how many years since he had seen her face? Last he had heard she was in talks with networks to get a talk show deal but he also hadn't watched much TV over the years. Most of his news came from his science journals and newspapers. How long had she been with Channel Four? She had been his on again, off again girlfriend for many years and surprisingly never seemed to care that he was a mutant. Not only was he a mutant, but he was one that couldn't pass as normal. She still looked the same as she did the last time they broke up, still just as lovely in his eyes. When he was with her he forgot everything else. Science wasn't his first love when she was in his life. As sad as it made him feel to see her again, it also made him happy. Seeing her reminded him that there was life and enjoyment outside of the lab. He momentarily sat and reminisced about his life with Trish. Then a few minutes later he got up and walked over to his friends playing pool.
"I realize that you already are in the process of play a game but would you mind if I joined you when this one is finished?"
Hank's interest in their game sparked curiosity in both Logan and Bobby. Usually Hank had to be dug out from his research and practically clubbed and dragged to do anything remotely fun.
"Tell ya what McCoy," Logan said as he set up the balls for a new game. "We'll start one now. Drake was going to lose anyway."
Bobby tossed Hank a cue stick and feigned anger. "No way old man YOU were going to lose. Just to prove my superiority over you I will cream both of you!"
The three friends laughed at his idle threat as they began their game. Passing by on his way to Hank's lab to see if he had heard the news about the FOH openly backing scientific research Professor Xavier spotted them in the Rec room. He smiled and decided it was best to let his former students, his friends to continue what they were doing. Talking to Hank could wait.
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Jackson Porter stood watch as the nurse set up the needed equipment. For the students it was just a standard physical examination. But for the administration and his organization, the Friends of Humanity, it was a day in which history would be made. For the first time the mutant scanning technology would be put into use on a large scale. It was better that the parents didn't know the school was running these tests. If word got out that they were keeping records of mutant manifestations, those who have mutant bloodlines would pull the children out the day of the tests. Someone would more than likely tout some ethical crap about this being against the law. All that he cared about was keeping the population safe against the mutant menace. That was his law and that was what he was going to enforce. A retired police officer, he even looked the part of a an old-time detective complete with a hat and trench coat. Now he helped run security detail for the FOH full time. Since he was considered to be one of their most loyal members he was even put in charge of arranging this project with the Westchester area public school systems. There were operatives in nearly all school districts in New York state and with any luck it would eventually spread to New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and eventually past the East Coast and across the nation. He smiled at the thought of a world free of mutants, but it would take time and he probably wouldn't see it in his lifetime, but maybe by the time his grandchildren were his age it would happen.
The nurse called in the students one by one. The standard hearing and vision tests were given as well as recording height and weight. What the students didn't know was that attached to the scale was a scanner that would detect active X-genes. They were instructed to take off their socks and shoes to get an accurate measurement of their height and weight, but what they didn't know was that by exposing their flesh to the scale it could get a DNA reading. The technology was only in its infancy so it could only detect a gene in use by a mutant that was not very powerful or it could detect a non-power mutation, most of those were physical anomalies, such as wings, tails, gills, and other things that could be seen without the aid of the scanner. Porter as well as the higher ups in his organization thought it was important to start these scans on the youngest children even though there was a slim chance any of them were mutants. He wanted to get a record started for them so that as technology improved and the children matured, then the mutant menace could be nipped in the bud just as it started. He was lucky that a number of school officials were either members of the FOH or at least supporters of their cause. It was the only way something like this could ever be allowed. Even the non-FOH members agreed to these scans because it meant protecting children from mutants. As the nurse ran a series of hearing tests on a skunk-haired little girl he whispered to the nurse, "Everything seems to be in order. I'll be back tomorrow for the results." He then tipped his hat to the nurse and the child. The nurse nodded in acknowledgement and the little girl smiled and waved. Porter smiled back, the little girl reminded him of his own daughter when she was that age. He silently vowed to keep the world safe for people like them as he made his way out of the office.
Later that day Rogue prepared a snack for her daughter who would be home soon. She and Logan didn't have any work to do today so she told Jean to drop Jessica off at their house after school. Remy would be at Xavier's School until dinner time so this would allow her to have a chance to spend some quality time alone with Jessica. No sooner had she finished putting the cookies on a plate did she heard the door close. Rogue went left the kitchen and spotted the girl taking her shoes off and placing them next to the door.
"Well hello Shugah!"
"Bonjour Momma," she exclaimed as Rogue bent down for a hug. "Would ya like a snack, then ya can tell me about yoah day. How's that sound?"
"Great! And then you can tell me about your day, Momma."
Rogue chuckled at her daughter's sincerity as they made their way to the kitchen. Jessica sat down at the table while Rogue poured milk into both their glasses. Then she took a seat next to her daughter whom had already started on the cookies.
"So how was yoah day?"
"Bon Momma," answered the little girl, more concerned with eating her afternoon snack than talking.
"Anythin' interestin' happen?"
"Nope. Oh wait yeah."
"And what was that?"
The cookies were now gone from the plate and the milk emptied from the glass, so her daughter was now more receptive to the idea of having a conversation. "At recess this kid Max ate a bug and the teacher made him go to the nurse. Oh yeah before that we had physicals today," Jessica giggled at her next realization, "So that means Max went to the nurse deux times today!"
Recalling the memo sent home from school about the yearly physical which was nothing more than a few minutes of eye charts and hearing tests, Rogue was more concerned with the boy who ate a bug.
"Was this boy alright aftah eatin' a bug?"
"Sure, he was back in class later that day. He probably passed his physical too. Natey, Carlie, and I passed. But David failed his, he had to take a note home to his mom and everything!"
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"Oh sure Rogue, I heard all about the bug eating fiasco," Monica Williams said during her phone conversation with her neighbor and one of her closest friends. She had first met the skunk haired woman as Anna LeBeau, but upon finding out that she was one of Xavier's X-men and that Anna was just an alias, she got into the habit of calling her Rogue as well. In fact, Rogue only used the name Anna in places where a name like Rogue seemed unfitting, such as at Jessica's parent-teacher conferences. Even the guys at the garage in Valle Soleda called her Rogue in their letters to her. She had explained to them long ago her true reason for moving back east and they all understood. Most of them were either mutants or had mutants in their family so they understood. She made a mental note to send them Jessica's newest school photo. They always sent her pictures of their kids and little gifts for Jessica. Monica spoke again snapping Rogue back to reality.
"It's amazing how something like that can be the highlight of a kindergartener's day," she laughed.
"Ya've got that right Shugah. Actually Jessica seemed pretty impressed by the physicals today too. And we all know how routine those are."
"Hmmm, yes," Monica's tone quickly turned somber.
Recalling what Jessica had said about David, Rogue carefully asked, "What's wrong Monica, somethin' happen?"
"Oh no Rogue, it's just that David brought home a note from the school nurse. He failed one aspect of his physical. I have to go in tomorrow morning to talk to the nurse."
"Good luck with that."
"Thanks. Well I'd better get going, time to tuck the little rug-rats in. Talk to you tomorrow."
"G'night Shugah."
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Author's Note- Time marches on for the X-men yet again…Hope I explained things alright here. I don't exactly know what happened with Trish Tilby, so I fabricated from what I had found out. By the way, what is with not allowing dashes to separate scenes? I had to replace them with X's. Oh well, that's life.
Kitsu Lebeau- Yeah I realize that the detail was lacking a little bit, but I didn't want to give away all the goodness too soon. Sometimes I'm afraid I go into too much detail. Jessica's powers, as well as the possibility of the other children having powers and the developing relationships of the X-men with each other will be revealed in due time. But let me know if I missed anything along the way. I write the chapters out of order (the last chapter of the entire story was the first one that I wrote) so I might accidentally forget to tie up an end. If I do, I will do my best to fix it :-)
Tammy- Don't worry, I think Belladonna will be too ashamed to show her face for quite some time. After all being beaten by a four-year old has to be a shock to her system. Thanks for explaining some of the "dead or alive" Jean-Luc LeBeau controversy. The one site I stumbled upon said that he was dead so I just assumed it was right. But your explanation makes sense and does sound somewhat familiar :-)
Ishandahalf- Nah, you didn't miss anything, I just wanted to make up for my inability to post anything lately. I hope I did a reasonable job explaining Jessica's powers, but don't worry, once Hank finds out more info it will be better explained.
T- I agree, I don't think that attempted murder and kidnapping is a healthy pastime for Belladonna. She should take up a hobby, basket weaving or something :-)
Star-of-Chaos- Hmmmm, wench seems to be the word of the day to describe Belle, a number of people seemed to have used it. It is fitting. I just read a comic called "X-men: The End #1" and it hints slightly at Wolverine and Storm together. I picked it up on a lark so I really don't know what is going on in it.
Le Bibliothecaire- Nah, not following Elvis and I wasn't abducted by aliens, I don't think anyway, though I do know some people who might argue that point, haha. :-P I'm honored that my story is one of the few that you are reading. Personally I think that the stranger in the Rogue comic is her relative, my boyfriend suggested it could be her brother. Anyway, hope you keep enjoying this story! :-)