Lucky Me

Chapter 88


I stepped back, arms swinging wildly in expression of my denial. "No way!"

We had gone from Texas to Las Vegas and were currently being told what our roles in the mission. Because I didn't like what they had to say, I reverted into the child-fit-pitching gear state of being.

"Kerry," Cyclops said slowly, sorta like a verbal flashing caution light. "This is the only way to make sure we get to this 'Lucky Dice.'"

I was still shaking my head to say 'no'.

"Can't we just call all the people in the phone book under that name? It would save time…"

Miss Ororo stepped up to bat (at my head).

"The type of man this Dice seems to be, wouldn't be someone who would be listed in the phone book."

"Maybe on America's Most Wanted." Bobby-Jerk finished.

"Ever tried to Google him?" Blank and irritated stares were my answer. "But why do we have to go to hotels?" I whined, Chris sighed. Well excuse me for not being happy with the idea of sharing a room with a 'senior' member!

"Because he owns four hotels and to make sure we find him, we have to check them all." Jean stated, picking up her suitcase from the mini mountain of luggage we somehow accumulated. "Don't worry, you'll be with Scott."

"And what am I supposed to say to those who ask why I'm with an older guy? That I'm his daughter, yeah, they'd believe that."

"Then borrow some of Julie's clothes, you'll look like a hooker and no one will touch you in fear of catching some disease." From the grunt that followed the remark, I think Julie took a swing at Chris.

"This is final, grab your stuff and get moving," Scott commanded. I was stuck with him all right. Jean was with Adrian, Miss Ororo got Chris (lucky her), and Bobby-Jerk and Julie were together.

I wanted to laugh at this, really, but first I wanted to scream, yell, and cry.

To many this situation wouldn't seem like such a bad thing. I mean, I would get to stay in a four star hotel for nothing and get to order room service every five minutes if I wanted. So what was so bad about this? I was leaving Jack with another person! I knew without a doubt nothing would happen, but still, the female could drill him or manipulate him.

In short, I was being jealous and possessive.

He was my Jack.

"Kerry. Why it's daylight." Scott remarked. I shot a glance back at Jack who smiled and waved, getting a stern look from Jean and I disappeared with my Dad down the steps.

Oh, fun.


"That was not funny." Scott told me for the fourth time after we stepped off the elevator. It was the fourteenth repeat since the lobby.

I chuckled under my breath and the bellboy was curious. See, when I wanted to be a brat I did it in spades. As we were checking in, I kept asking whether or not his wife would be able to find us, whether or not his boss knew that Scott was using the company credit card to pay for the hotel room. The clerk's eyebrow rose and she muttered something in another language before she threw the key toward Dad.

When the bellboy was paid and gone, I plopped down on the bed and smiled innocently at Scott who was currently trying to find out how to get into the mini-bar.

"I'm sure they're used to things like that!"

He glared at me (I think) and I busted out laughing.


"I did not forget to get the number." I groaned in reply to Scott as we sat in the casino that was attached to the hotel restaurant the next day. The 'number' was the one to the cell phone Jean was carrying. We couldn't use the badge communicators because Scott was afraid that someone would pick up on the signal who was associated with Lucky Dice and therefore blow our cover. To prevent this, each mini-team was given a set of disposable cell phones and told to stay in touch.

The current 'discussion' was about who was supposed to get the number to Jean's phone. Scott had Miss Ororo's and I bugged Julie for hers.

Dad crossed his arms.

"Then what is it?"

Thinking, I sadly realized there was no information in my brain to retrieve.

"I guess I forgot to get it."

"See?"

I would have let it slide but oh he just sounded so smug.

"Since when did I become your secretary?" I popped off in an annoyed voice.

"You should have thought ahead and gotten the number."

"You have a lot of nerve giving me the 'leader' speech when you didn't do the same thing!"

I could see the gears grinding, looking for an excuse.

"I was testing you."

Sputtering, it took a few second before I finally was able to get out a "Liar!"

I grabbed a bread stick and jammed it into my mouth. When I get upset, I eat.

"You should have thought ahead." Dad's face was doing its best not to let the grin show. It was failing. He was getting some kind of warped pleasure out of getting me all riled up.

"And one would think your wife's phone number would be the first thing you got. I mean she's in a hotel room with a boy almost ten years younger than she is."

"I know Jean." He reminded me flatly.

Picking up the menu to study the desserts section I couldn't resist one more shot.

"You just don't know her number."

Another hour and Scott looking rather pale about the amount of ice cream I was able to consume in a single sitting. I was a very happy Kookie for the next ten minutes until I got stuck in the kiddie arcade because I wasn't old enough for the 'special carpet' where the people over 21 were allowed. Scott's grin was as big as day as he simply waved me off after signing me into the glorified day care.


It took nearly an hour to sneak past the guard (the baby sitter of the arcade). I had to creep into and through the bathroom. Thankfully the bathroom was shaped like a horseshoe and one side opened up to the arcade and the other side was the gambling floor. I dodged into a stall, played with my image inducer, and rearranged the data until I looked just like my Grandma Arty. I uploaded a picture of her in the inducer's memory just encase something like this ever happened.

I only hoped that no one would know who the crazy lady's face was that I was wearing. I walked out to the 'adult' area of the bathroom and hit a solid wall of smoke. Coughing, I waved my hand, fanning away what I could of the gray gas. Gah, how could people willing become chimneys?

Once free of the fumes, I blinked back the tears and saw rows upon rows of machines. Yikes! How was I supposed to find, scare, and freak out Scott in a place that was more crowded than the mall on Christmas Eve?

Of course, whoever said my luck changed with my appearance needed to try living in my flesh.

"Arty!" I would have ignored the outburst (since the casino was pretty noisy) but there was one thing I couldn't ignore. That one thing was a hand on my behind.

"Hey!" I jumped at least five feet away from the leech, and turned to face him ready to fight. This old man, probably in his mid-forties gave me a huge smile.

"It's been nearly a month since I saw you in this part of town!" He swung his arms open wide and started to advance on me. I panicked. "Come on and give your old buddy Cosmo a kiss!"

Cosmo could go make out with a mirror, I dodged his attack and booked it down the aisle toward-oh great, I had no clue where I was going but it had to be better than back there! I leaned on the side of a slot machine, as I attempted to catch my breath. Then this woman started to cuss me out about damaging her luck and told me to scat.

I wandered around, taking corners at random just in case Cosmo thought I was playing hard to get. I couldn't believe my Grandma's reputation spanned across the states! Maybe I should have tried a different face?

There was no sign of Cosmo, Scott, or Lucky Dice. Checking my watch I flinched and started to stress. I had about five minutes before Dad was going to collect me from the arcade. Thing was, I had gotten so turned around in this place that I didn't have a clue which direction to turn in order to run it back to the arcade. If Scott caught me with my Grandma's image he'd never let it go and probably preach to me for the remainder of the trip.

Picking up the pace, I blindly winded my way through the people— only to end up at the blackjack tables. Oh this was not going very well. I was passing some dice throwing tables and bumped into a man. Apologizing, I noticed the blessed haven of the arcade just across the room! Breathing a sigh of relief, I started toward it.

Or at least I tried but someone grabbed me.

"Hold on there, granny!" It was the man I bumped. "I think you might be my good luck charm!" He pointed toward the dice which added up to 'seven'. "You stay right here."

I wanted to shrug him off and run for the arcade but his grip was firm. I turned to the man who had me, yanked my arm free, and was about to give this addicted gambler a piece of my mind when I recognized who he was.

It was the Flashy guy from a few days ago! The one we fought!

"Stay?" He asked in a, what I'd guess, charming tone.

"S-sure." I nervously studied the guy, trying to memorize his face in order to look him up in the Cerebro files later. The ice cream I had eaten earlier was about to come creeping back up my throat when I saw Scott go in and then storm out of the arcade, his head swinging back and forth trying to find the elusive me (I would presume).

"Win again!" The worker announced happily as he pushed more chips toward Flashy. I kept my head down as Scott charged past the table. I should have kept my head ducked but I didn't. If I had just crawled under the table and died, it would have been easier.

"Arty!" Oh man…didn't that guy get the hint? "There you are my little love bud."

Oh gag. Gag. Gaaaaag.

My eyes twitched in disgust as the Cosmo man wrapped his arm around my waist and started to lead me off (he was pretty strong for a guy of his stature). Cosmo would have succeeded too if it hadn't been for Flashy noticing, grabbing my arm, and tugging me toward him.

"Where do you think you're going with my good luck charm?" Flashy growled.

"I'm taking my love bud to the bar for a drink, got a problem with that ya jerk?" Cosmo jerked firmly on my other arm. I felt like a piece of winged taffy!

"I most certainly do! She is staying with me." Yank to the right.

"She is coming with me!" Sharp pull to the left.

"Don't get between a man and his winning streak." Flashy sounded threatening and pulling me again.

"A fool and his money are soon parted so get over it!" Tug.

They swatted words at each other for about two minutes, when both of my elbows popped simultaneously I shouted for them to let me go. Surprised that they actually did what I wanted, I couldn't catch my balance in time and went flailing backwards. Hitting the next table over with a crack, followed by another funny noise, I moaned and attempted to stand up but only got to a sitting position.

"What on Earth-?" I heard Cosmo stammer. I looked up at him with one eye. The entire section of the gaming floor seemed to have come to a screeching halt.

"Y-You-" Flashy got out; a little less articulate than Cosmo I must say.

I clambered to my feet and watched, horrified as busted pieces of my image inducer dropped to my feet. Oh crap. That's why they were gawking. My mind broke several hundred speed limits as it raced around trying to make up an excuse.

My head snapped up, but my mouth hung open in shock. Trying to collect my scattered wits, I smiled and nervously said, "Ta-da!"

"Huh?" Cosmo blinked rapidly at my image. I couldn't imagine what a shock factor it was to have an old lady morph into a teenager with wings.

"I-I'm ad-advertising for the n-new magic show." I stammered out. This was so unbelievably lame! I was going to be roasted on an open fire and Scott would be the one to rotate the spit!

"What magic show?" Flashy questioned skeptically. I felt like busting out in nervous laughter or praying that the ground would open up and make a snack out of me.

"T-the one, uhm, coming in December?" Then Flashy, still slightly baffled, started to clap. The clapping spread through the section as I gave silent thanks for idiots.

Bowing and quickly making my exit toward the bathroom to sneak back into the arcade and activate my spare image inducer (hey, I learned!). But there was one slight problem. Scott was standing at the entrance of the arcade, arms folded, and face as red as a mad apple.

I was going to die.


That night my ears were in pain from all the grumbling and shouting I had to endure from Scott. But the good news was that we got a message from Bobby-Jerk that they had found Lucky Dice. He was currently at the Duranine, the hotel/casino/theater place Julie and Bobby-Jerk were staying.

Cyclops had half a mind to leave me to rot in the hotel room but didn't trust me alone with the power to call room service so he dragged me along. The cab ride was filled with the 'don'ts' I was expected to follow without complaint. Since the 'magic show' stunt, he didn't want me out of his sight for more than three minutes tops.

We arrived and joined the others for a debriefing meeting after which we separated and went to the four different parts of the restaurant. I felt weird being dressed up (it was an expensive restaurant, like a glass of water was thirty bucks or something!) and eating with Scott.

For punishment, he also forbade me to get any dessert. I pouted like a three year old. Half way through the meal the 'Lucky Dice' guy passed our table in all his glory. He didn't look like a mass murder mastermind. He looked like a well dressed bum in need of a shave. I supposed he was kinda cute if someone was into that bad boy image.

Scott told me to 'stay' like I was a dog or something as he followed the guy into the bathroom. I crossed my arms and continued to pout but as long as he wasn't here-I signaled the waiter over and cheerfully ordered a rather large portion of cake and ice cream.

"Shall I bring two plates?"

Confused I answered, "Why? I'm the only one who's going to be eating it."

The man just stepped back as if I said I was going to eat him. Weirdo. I scratched my nose and waited.

After ten minutes without Scott or food, I started to get irritated. I wanted my junk food!

"If it isn't the magic girl." Okay, I could have lived a long and happy life without hearing from Flashy! Of course it would make sense to see him in this hotel just like it made sense to see him in the other hotel's casino. If he worked for Lucky Dice, then no duh he'd be around here. Heartless monster that he was.

"H-hi?" I stuttered out in a high pitched voice, my fingers ached to grab a utensil and tell him to back off. Unfortunately the only thing left was a spoon. Fat lotta good that'd do!

"I was talking to the boss and he seems to have forgotten this 'magic show' he booked. It is not a surprise really. He is often forgetful." Flashy sat down in Scott's seat. "So he's agreed to have a refresher. You do what you did in the casino, and he'll probably remember."

Yeah, and Scott would remember to eat me alive! I could back out of it, but then I couldn't because then he'd know I was a mutant! Although I knew he was a mutant, he didn't go around without his image inducer on in the middle of a public place. Not that he needed one, but you get the idea.

It was a bad joke and I wasn't laughing.

Flashy seemed ticked about something though. "Are we on one accord?"

I was going to die.

"Uh-" I couldn't have been anymore relieved when IceSculpter boy waltzed up.

"No, we're not," Bobby-jerk said in a serious voice. "As her agent, I must say 'no'."

Flashy's attention went to Bobby-Jerk and my attention went to looking for the nearest escape route. He went into some phony shpill about being my agent and how Drake Roberts never got taken for a fool and blah blah.

With a quick nod after having enough of 'Mr. Roberts' non-sense Flashy left without another word. Thank goodness. 'Drake' sat down and smiled.

"Tell me just how grateful you are."

Crossing my arms because I still didn't have my dessert I gave him a bored look.

"Maybe I wanted to perform."

"How do you get yourself into these messes anyway?"

"By being dumb enough to wear an 'X' in public." He cocked an eyebrow and the other one soon followed as Dad made his glorious return.

"What took so long?" I pestered, thought about it, held up my hand and said I didn't want to know.

"I'd-rather not discuss it. Get back to your table, Drake." Wow, all without taking a breath. He skidded off a question and gave a command, no wonder this guy was in charge…yes, I was mentally sucking up. Why? Because the waiter was coming to our table, loaded down with two trays worth of dessert.


It took another day but finally Scott was able to talk to this 'Lucky Dice' guy. This was the distraction everyone was waiting for. Chris and Storm broke into Lucky's office (her for the breaking, him for the hacking) while the other five of us were the look outs. Jean kept mentally 'tapped' into the security guard's minds to make sure they didn't get wise. Bobby-Jerk, Adrian and I were also on watch.

Didn't know where Julie disappeared, too. Watch me cry over that fact.

However, something went wrong at the office and Storm called for backup. Which had Bobby-Jerk catching Lucky back stage at the theater part of the establishment and I was forced to look like a show girl, complete with costume and my wings were pointed sky-high in an effort to 'blend in'. No, before you think it, I didn't get tricked, dragged, or elected to go on stage.

When things apparently didn't improve in the office, Bobby-jerk and I were to abandon our posts to get to the tenth floor as quickly as possible. Of course, me being the graceful creature Bobby-Jerk usually accused me of, tripped on the second landing and bruised me knee.

"Great. Hurt and I haven't done anything yet."

Hands slid under my arms and easily picked me up and I heard Iceman laugh behind me. "Come on."

We got to the top of the stairs. My knee, my wing, and shoulder still hurt and I had just made a mad dash up ten flights of stairs. Thank goodness this Lucky guy didn't keep his office on the top-top floor. Bobby-Jerk and I paused for the briefest of moments to gasp for breath.

Big mistake.

In the brief span of time between Iceman reaching for the door handle and turning it, this white and red flame engulfed the door and the two of us. I would have screamed but I found out it wasn't actually burning. My mind was growing foggy and my body suddenly didn't hurt so much….and Bobby was looking really….good…like really good.