Disclaimer : I own none of the X-Men nor their surroundings, however Dell Tucker is mine, along with Ilehana Xavier, should she make a brief appearance!
A/N : The date at the start of a chapter refers to the timeline in respect to the Prologue. Rating for mild language.
Chapter Three : Power
Four Years Previous, Somewhere in New York State
She gritted her teeth, setting her jaw hard and trying to ignore the pain in her ear. She'd lost concentration again, and he was punishing her for it. For nectically pinned her down and pierced her left ear a further nine times to give her ten silver hoop ear-rings. He'd try and pull the ear-rings from her ear, and her mission was solely to curb his power to prevent him ripping her ear to shreds. She hated it, it hurt like seven Hells, she hated him for it……… but she owed him everything and so she bore it like the perfect daughter.
Staring him full in the face, she poured her will out and over him, smothering the energy which r ear-rings from her ear, and her mission was solely to curb his power to prevent him ripping her ear to shreds. She hated it, it hurt like seven Hells, she hated him for it……… but she owed him everything and so she bore it like the perfect daughter.
Staring him full in the face, she poured her will out and over him, smothering the energy which radiated from him in a glowing aura. She caught the flicker of a face - a girl, a couple of years older than Danielle herself, kind but predatory blue-grey eyes, strawberry blonde hair, not exactly pretty but set and confident……… his God-daughter? - "Ow!"
"That's enough for today." He snapped angrily. "You've got to learn to concentrate!"
She said nothing, sore and hurtful, knowing that she'd only receive another black eye if she talked back. The training had a purpose, she reminded herself sternly; he was only doing it for her own good. Aside from affecting other mutants, her power could also be turned upon normal humans, curtailing their energy and exhausting them. If she didn't learn to control her power, someone would find out she was a mutant, they'd hunt her down, kill her, or worse put her in some sort of testing facility……… her father knew what was best.
"The car is waiting, Eric." Mystique came in, pointedly ignoring Danielle.
"May I ask where you are going, Father?" She asked politely, rising and joining her hands behind her back.
"I'm joining my old friend, Charles Xavier, for dinner." He responded curtly. To Mystique, he added, "I'll be back late, see that the girl gets an early night."
"I will." Mystique did not even deign to glance in Danielle's direction.
She stood in front of the bathroom mirror ten minutes later, cotton wool soaked in surgical spirit pressed to her bleeding ear. The sharp stinging had passed and she was able to keep it there without grimacing. The spirit served not only to sterilise the holes in her ear - it toughed the skin too, making every training session less and less painful. Trading the soaked cotton wool for dry, she stepped out of her bathroom into her room, now bare of anything save a bed and a small pile of dull clothing. They'd taken everything away, as an incentive to do better, they'd told her. If she did extra well, she'd get an hour on the net, or be allowed access to her CD player for a while. Tonight though, she got nothing but the beauty of the sunset that brought her little comfort.
What were these images she kept seeing? She kept catching them from Mystique too, whenever the shape-shifter trained her. Just faces, someone who meant a lot them, or - as in today's case - someone for whom her father had a seemingly unreasonable dislike. Charles Xavier was one of the first people she'd come across from her father - a kindly looking man, completely bald but with the same strong, considerate face as Magneto's God-daughter, the same eyes too, they had to be related. Danielle longed to meet this man that her father thought so much of. The two men had been working on something big together, something called Cerebro, and the dinner tonight was to celebrate that. She'd overheard Magneto telling Mystique, had the feeling that she'd been meant to hear, to know that she was being left out again. It didn't matter. Her father knew what was best for her………
"And where is my favourite spitting Cobra, Charles?"
"My daughter," There was just a hint of remonstration in the Professor's tone, "is working in Canada, observing a wolf pack as part of her PhD."
"Ah yes, challenging herself once more, and pushing herself further and further from her family. You should be careful, Charles, you might just lose her one day."
"Never." Xavier responded stoutly, never doubting Ilehana for a moment. "Her loyalties remain true. If you were a father to your children, Eric, you might understand."
Magneto said nothing, stirring his tea quietly, listening to the small group of students playing games outside. The barb was as low as Charles ever came, but it showed that he knew very little about Eric Lencher even after all this time. He felt Xavier brush his mind - he'd known his friend all too long - and scowled at the contact.
"I'm sorry, my friend." Xavier apologised quietly. "But something clearly bothers you. Tell me."
"I worry about the future, Charles." Eric sighed finally. "Tension rises between humans and mutants - to the point where mutants fear for their lives, or they make life worse for themselves by aggravating humans. Something must be done."
"I fear we must wait upon the diplomats, trust that they can come up with a solution." Xavier answered.
"Diplomats." The mutant known as Magneto spat the word. "And who will be the diplomat for our cause Charles, who will stand up and make it known that they are a mutant? You?"
"I have my family to think of - my students." Xavier sighed resentfully. "If I had only myself to think about, then it would be a different matter, but I will not risk the safety of my family against the prejudices of humanity."
"Well, something will be done. Mutants will not sit well under human oppression."
"You have something in mind?"
"Ludicrous ideas, Charles, nothing more, so don't go rifling through them. But I warn you, there is a war coming, a war no one will be able to prevent."
It was early morning - too early for any normal teenager - and Danielle was already pushing herself to the limits in the pool. Length after length, again and again until her muscles screamed with agony, every movement an effort beyond all efforts. Ignoring the pain, she pondered that she'd never felt so fit in her entire life……… at least, she didn't think so. All this training was doing nothing for bringing her memory back. She rolled head first, feet kicking against the wall and pushing her off on yet another length, arms stretched out above her head. All these hours of training - in the pool, the gym, and survival training in the woods around their home - were doing wonders for her strength, stamina and general fitness. And it helped to keep the murderous thoughts at bay. 'He knows what's best, he knows what's best' it was like a mantra, pushing her on and on, helping her reach and surpass her limits. No, there was no limit - only power, and those too afraid to take it.
There, on the edge of her senses, Danielle angrily poured her will out and over Mystique - the witch was watching over her again. Let her wrath feed her power, while her mind centred it. And there he was too, he'd got up at last. Dividing the ball that was her power in half, she sent out two waves now. Yes, she had it. Roll, kick, push. Arms thrashing over her head. Power exuding from her. Reaching the shallow end, Danielle pushed herself up and out of the pool, water running in rivulets and drips down her lithe body. She withdrew her power politely, but slowly enough to prove to them that she was in full control.
"Good morning, father. Mystique."
He smiled proudly, coming forward to touch his hands to the tops of her arms. She refused to baulk although his touch now reviled her. He kissed her wet cheek gently. "Well done." He said softly. "So very well done. Come, come. Galaxy has missed your company. I think you deserve some time with him."
