Lucky Me

Chapter 068


I was laid up in the medical lab and D-M was locked up in a cell. They didn't want to chance her trying to 'fix' me since I foiled her plot or some crazy something like that. Apparently D-M had confessed that she'd given me a nasty flu bug (times five) and an inner ear infection.

According to Dr. Hank, I wouldn't have been housed in the med. lab for a week if I hadn't decided to play suicide bomber into a very expensive car from ten stories up. Like that was my choice activity on a Saturday night!

Adam stopped by on an almost hourly basis, always apologizing for anything and every reason why it might be his fault I was in there. He even agreed to stay around for as long as he was needed to help Daisy.

I knew I'd miss sweet and steady (non-psychotic) Adam. Sure he wasn't anything to write home about, but at least he wasn't changing faces, trying to kiss or kill me! But on sad note was that Scott never came by to see me.

Not that this sickness was as major a deal as being shot, but I was pretty banged up and with the unstable mental state of our only healer, I was going to have to wait for my own body to fix all the damage.

Still, he was the one I called out to when I was laying in my own barf, wanting to let my mind drip out from my ears, and scream until my throat went raw. Didn't that count for something?

No Scott, Jean came by, but no Scott. I shouldn't have cared, I knew I shouldn't. After all, the only reason they adopted me was to keep me from a state home, wasn't it? Yup.

That and they didn't want to lose a half-trained soldier to an orphanage.

There was no emotional ties to me whatsoever, nope, uh-huh, none!

…then why the heck was I so emotionally attached?


"Holy crap," were the only words offered by my team. Needless to say those words weren't very encouraging.

Adrian leaned back in his chair with a look of pure shock over his face. Julie smirked, shaking her head from side to side as if she was amused by the whole thing. Poor Adam, who blamed himself for the majority of the event, looked ready to fall over from lack of sleep (I could feel that pain!) because he had redoubled his efforts to try and make up his wrong. Chris, well, Chris' reaction was the strangest.

He didn't say anything (it was Adrian with the 'encouraging words') but instead just stared in front of him at the wall behind me. I guessed he really didn't care too much.

It was my idea to tell the rest of the team what exactly happened to make sure no weird rumors started to flutter around like mad vultures picking at everyone's ears. I was kind of hesitant to allow Julie into the mix, but the Professor said she was a part of the team and should be treated as such (another victim for me).

"Any questions?" My voice was controlled and clipped, just like Cyclops thought a leader's should be when addressing their team about important matters. Emotions only made things worse, like visiting your sick adoptive daughter after she'd been put through hell and back. Heaven knew thatwas too emotional.

"Did you know anything about this before hand?" Adam asked, his voice meek.

I sighed.

"In hindsight, yes I guess I did but in actuality I didn't. There were signs, hints, and so on but nothing that would make me think-"

Adam just nodded as I trailed off.

"How's the news lady?"

"Banged up but otherwise fine. Professor Xavier talked her out of pressing charges, especially after she was given the circumstances leading up to the attack."

"Serves the bloody, heartless witch right. Why'd you stop her?" Julie's question was harsh, but something I think everyone in the room wanted to know.

"Murder is wrong," Chris stated in a low voice, "No matter what the reasons."

"This coming from a mutant man hunter in training, oh that's rich."

Chris closed his eyes as if trying to bury the urge to strangle the annoying child with her own fishnet stockings.

"If that's all, you're free to go. Daisy will not be part of our team for the next few weeks, months probably until-well, until they say so."

Julie shot off another choice comment before waltzing from the room. Adam and Adrian slowly followed, I turned to go, but Chris called me back.

"I knew," he stated plainly as lowered myself back into the chair.

"How?"

"She kept asking me if I wanted to get back at the person who made the Legacy Virus public knowledge. She kept going on and on about it!" He was getting angry, one could tell by his voice and also by the flickering of the computer behind him. "I told her, finally, that I didn't want to hurt anyone. I just wanted to be grateful to be alive and she dumped me."

"You really couldn't have predicted what she was going to try, none of us could."

His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but quickly snapped shut as Chris nodded.

I felt just as guilty as he did, but I couldn't let anything show. I wasn't supposed to be emotional. I was supposed to be the rock, the one who didn't cry or care. I was the shoulder to cry on.

But I had to confess, I would have appreciated having a turn as a human being.


Man, I was nervous.

It was Monday morning, nine days since D-M's stunt and after deeming everyone emotionally calm enough and ready to discuss it, we were in the Professor's office. The 'we' I speak of was Scott, Jean, me, Miss Ororo, Professor, and Daisy-of course.

I walked into the room to see all eyes flicker toward me for a brief second before going back to the Professor.

As the main guy went over the events, again, just in case we'd forgotten anything (like we could) that happened. I stood next to Scott and the sitting D-M. Her head was down and there was a silver collar around her neck with a little red light thing which circled the device and 'bleeped' softly at every rotation.

That was some funky looking jewelry.

"You're late," Scott whispered under his breath.

Must be punctual; guess that was another quality I had to add to my list if I wanted to be perfect. Sheesh, couldn't a girl have been a bit busy with the dumb reports they made her do? Scott should be thankful that 'Jack' stopped by to ask for a 'meeting' and then said I was missing one.

My attention was sadly drawn back when Professor began with the 'now how are we going to deal with this' topic.

"It would seem, Daisy, you are not able to function while you have this matter concerning your past."

Jean's jaw tightened but she didn't say anything.

"We believe, child," oh that wasn't condescending, thanks Miss Ororo, "it would suit your best interest to seek professional help at a local institution. A place which we believe would allow you to overcome any problems or feelings you currently have regarding Miss Tilby and the death of your daughter."

Okay, now I was getting upset.

Then the professor piped up again, "It would be for the best. We cannot provide the type of counseling you need at the present time."

Scott remained passive, Jean's face was slowly turning the color of her hair, and I was just annoyed and astonished at the audacity of this guy!

Not knowing exactly what to say, I let my still exhausted mind fall into the fairytale land of make-believe as my mouth took over manning the plane known as Kookie.

"That has got to be the most arrogant load of crap I have heard you say in a long time, and in my year here, I have heard you say a lot."

There wasn't a word heard and not a face that didn't betray their surprise. D-M looked at me like I promised to shoot Santa, Scott didn't budge but his mouth drew further down in a frown and Jean glanced at me with raised eyebrows.

"Kookie, that was-"

"It's all right, Storm. Do continue, Blyt," Professor coolly requested, leaning back in his wheelchair and interlacing his fingers in front of him.

D-M looked at me like my head was about to catch on fire. Suddenly all the things Scott taught me came knocking on the door of my courage.

Never look weak to the enemy even when greatly out manned or out maneuvered.

Never give up.

Never back down.

Take care of your own.

"You have all the nerve in the world to play mutant advocate for—our entire race," I started. "You pick and choose, personally, who will get a second chance and who will be sent to prison or, in this case, a nut hut. You kept a known convict here, who was guilty of murder, attempted murder and so on, but because you thought him redeemable, he lived in the basement. Where, I will add, he attempted to killmy team and me."

"And now we have a team member who needs a second chance, and yes, she does need help, but you are willing to throw her away without so much as a guilty conscience. If anyone should be here, she should. One mistake shouldn't mark you for life, your-" I almost wanted to buckle with the next word, "family should always stand by you, regardless of what kind of crazy junk you pull."

Professor Xavier stared at me.

"I agree with Kookie, Charles," Jean spoke up, "I've lost two children, Rachel and Nate, I've gotten one back, but it's a loss you don't just shrug off." Scott stood still; I didn't think he was breathing. "Daisy acted out in the only way she thought there was to relieve some of the grief in her."

"But murder should never be condoned, Jean," Miss Ororo debated.

"Daisy wouldn't have actually killed Tilby, she just wanted to beat her up a bit and scare her." Gee, that was eloquent.

"Do you have proof of this?" Professor wanted to know.

"Do you have proof she was actually going to kill anyone?" Jean battled back.

Hey, I liked this tag team thing and it went back and forth for a few minutes until Storm pulled a trick card.

"Scott, what is your opinion on this subject?"

All eyes turned on dad, er, well, whatever. Anyway, he was like a statue, arms cross and a stern expression on his face.

"I don't think Kerry needs to be here for the rest of this discussion. She's given her input which has been listened to and recognized, both girls need to be excused."

Ouch. Big, fat stinking ouch. Oh, that went straightto the heart, no denying that. I mutely nodded when Professor asked us if we'd excuse ourselves and wait in the lobby. After I shut the door it took all I had not to bang my balled fists on it.

Everything I did was wrong to that man!

Daisy looked up at me, and then sat down with her eyes downcast toward her feet yet again.

"You didn't tell them the whole truth."

I glanced back at her, I had to shut her up and quick otherwise eavesdropping on the conversation I was kicked out of was going to be impossible.

"Yeah, I did," I snapped, and pressed my ear to the door. Someone must have known I was going to do this or that it was a popular thing to do because someone banged the door right where my ear was. Yelping, I jumped back holding my offended ear and glared at the wood.

Sighing, I gave up in overhearing everything through the door (because I was partially deaf in one ear, thankyousomuch).

"Ah could heal you, you know, if they didn't have this," she tapped on her funny necklace to let me know what she was talking about, "on. It won't let me use my powers."

I would feel sorry if I didn't know she had every reason to have that—thingon her neck. I think they're called restraining collars or something, a piece of technology meant to prohibit a mutant from using his or her power.

Sometimes it was good to have Scott's password to the 'secret X-Men files' that we weren't supposed to be able to hack into.

"Why didn't you tell them the truth?" I shot her a look of confusion. "The whole truth."

"Because it's none of their business. Because it was a personal choice. Because I'm too tired and fed up to really care. Pick one." My team would freak out even worse if they found out that Daisy already had killed people. All those doctors (I wasn't sure how many) with her cancer kiss and other disease that led to their unexpected deaths. She played a role in it, a major role, heck she was the lead freakin' actress!

But if Professor ever knew about it, she'd have her behind booted to a prison (how they could really prove she infected the medical people would be interesting) or to a mental hospital never to see sunlight again. If things kept going the way they were, I'dend up sharing a room with her at the hospital.

She was quiet for what felt like eternity.

"You didn't have to defend me. You probably aren't being talked about too nicely in there."

I twisted pinched my lips into a thin line of annoyance.

"This is no trial, and they are no judge."

Three seconds later the jury walked out (they might not be a judge but they were a committee of 'listen-to-us-or-get-your-butt-kicked'). Miss Ororo smiled; Jean looked like she just ate a giant four pound chocolate bar in the middle of her period, and Scott looked like himself.

"Daisy, the professor would like to speak with you."

Automatically the girl got up and went inside, when the door clicked shut I opened my mouth to question but someone beat me to the speaking part.

"You need to collect your team and go to the training room. I expect you in fifteen minutes." And then Scott and the other two walked away without telling me a freaking thing!


"When they wanted us to work closely as a team, I really didn't think this is what they meant." Adrian commented.

"Adrian, shut-up. That's an order," I growled.

"I'm trying to lighten the mood."

"Lighten your load off my lap!" Julie snapped, "And whose hand isthat?"

"Bad jokes are not needed!" I exclaimed, trying to elbow my way through the tangle of arms and legs.

"Hey! Watch what you're hitting!"

What were we doing? It was the newest Danger Room exercise. They dumped us (quite literally) off in a room that kept constricting. Chris tried to fry the circuits, Adrian attempted to jam it, but kept getting hurt, and for some reason my strength wasn't so super at that moment. Even though Julie was completely useless against machines, it felt weird having her there and not D-M.

But I couldn't focus on Daisy at the moment.

I just couldn't focus.

"What is the pointof all this?" Julie screamed, her power started to glow, encasing her in a burnt orange..

"Don't even think about it, Brit!" I reprimanded, "We don't need everyone feeling your frustration."

"Myfrustration? This is the whole lots frustration and anger!" She snipped in her bratty British accent.

Each of us (Adam wasn't there because he was just a lab assistant and not a trainee anymore) was pushing against a wall. Too bad the walls were only about four feet away from each other. If we got any closer there was going to be some indecent things happening!

"Work as a team," Scott's voice boomed through the Danger Room on the outside of our box.

"Think outside the box," Chris muttered darkly, "Easy for the one on the outside to say."

"Work as a team, sweat as a team, why not dieas a team?" Julie grumbled. "It'd save on burial expenses."

"Forfeit!" I screamed into my badge as loud as I possibly could and a half a second later, the Danger Room was once again just big and shiny and not big, shiny, and shrinking.

"What did you do?" Adrian asked, "And why didn't you do it sooner?"

"I forfeited the exercise; it's something only we important people are capable of doing." I sassed out, taking in deep breaths of fresh air because while in that tight confined space I got to know everyone's breathe pretty well. And someone had onions with their lunch!

"Then how'd you end up being able to do it?" Julie, codenamed 'Blackflame' (her pick) or 'Butt-Flame' (Chris's contribution), questioned.

I was glaring at her as the door opened to let us out. "Don't say things like that."

"But it had to be said," man this girl was rude, annoying, and a verbal battering ram.

"Next time—hold it in."

"I'll get smart-arse back up then!"

I choked. "Will it hurt?"

"Probably, I've never had it before."

"Then make sure you do it."

"Wanker."

Double, triple hard glare. I walked away from the team and into the control center. I didn't want to call forfeit because that meant we got demerits as a whole group.

"Who wanted it called?" was the first and only question Cyclops asked me (he was the only one in the room at the time, well besides me, so, well, duh).

I thought about it, and in my barely wheel turning mind I smiled, "Julie."

"Why?"

"She had to go to the bathroom," I lied. I was aware of it being a bad thing to do, but what the heck would you have done in my spot? Said that the team couldn't beat a stinkin' room? That's just embarrassing! If you thought about it, I didn't actually lie; she said she'd get backed up—but let us not travel down that road.

"Fine, she gets two more hours a week in the weight room and you get three more hours with me."

Yeah, as Blyt. Everyone knew he didn't want anything to do with Kookie, just Blyt. Man, I really hated my other persona and I would glare at myself for him only liking one part of me but then it would get confusing (and just plain weird).

Scott closed out whatever it was he was doing, picked up his few things, and started to walk past me. I opened my mouth to say something, anything (!) to him, but ended up looking like a mounted fish.

He apparently noticed my tribute to the goldfish pose and turned to me

"Is there something you wanted, Blyt?"

I clamped my mouth shut and shook my head.

"No, not at all." I was screaming on the inside for him to say something about a job well done about anythingI had been doing for the past two months. Instead he said he'd see me bright and early tomorrow morning for weights and leadership training.

Two minutes after he left, I walked over to his chair and dropped down. Tracing the keys lightly with my fingertips, I knew I couldn't hold it in any longer. Crossing my arms on the control deck, I put my head in my arm nest, and cried.

NothingI did was good enough for that freaking man!

I about gagged my heart out when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I tensed (even my tears seemed to stop in their wet little tracks).

"Is there something wrong?"

Oh, my, stars (I'd been in the medical lab too much; I was starting to pick up on Dr. Hank's copyrighted material). Scott was there. I did the quickest reassembling of myself ever, wiped my eyes as I sat up, and sniffled back the remainder of the pain.

"I'm fine." Another lie.

I couldn't look at him, I really didn't want him to see me at my worse when I couldn't get him to pay attention to me at my best.

"Perhaps," he took his hand from my shoulder, "we could—skip a day or two on the sessions." Was Scott actually being niceto me?

I sniffled again and gave him a half-hearted thanks. I looked up at him in the reflection of the Control Room glass, which looked down over the Danger Room. For a split second he actually looked concerned, but then he noticed I was looking at him and the mask of leader came on again.

As he left, I felt the little kid in me to a toe-touch for joy. Maybe Scott didn't despise me so much after all. Then the mood was shattered when I heard a loud curse from Chris and the maniacal laughter of a British girl./pSo much for a time of thoughtful reflection.