Chapter 19 – And The Spiders' from Mars
New York City, Late night
Spider-Man slung out a web, propelling himself up Broadway. There was a 'happiness' his web-slinging, twisting, flipping, shooting webs from behind his back.
'Man oh man, little Petie's gonna be a Daddy!' he thought. 'MJ's got a bun in the oven! Life is sweet!'
He perched high up next to a gargoyle covered in bird poop.
"Well Mr. Poopiehead, have ya heard the news? Peter Parkers' boys can swim! Yeah, I know, and thanks! You don't have to talk, I can see it in your eyes." He said to the stone ward.
Looking down at the city, scanning for trouble, Spider-Man noticed a large figure wearing an overcoat come out of a pizza joint, carrying at least a dozen pizzas. 'That's got to be ole Rockhead, out for a snack...' he thought.
"Gotta go, Poops, gotta spread the word!" he said, shooting out webbing.
Ben Grimm walked up the street, holding 10 pizzas up in the air like a waiter, humming and singing one of his favorite songs.
"hmm-hmm, don't want the world to hmm me, cause I don't think hmm-hmmderstand...when hmm-hmmade to be broken, I just want ya ta know-"
"Don't quit yer day job, songbird..." came from above, as the pizzas were lifted from his hand.
"Wha!? Oh, great. Gimme back my pies, Webhead, or it's serious clobberin' time!" The Thing roared, trying to jump up to where Spider-Man was hanging from a street light.
"No can do Benny, gotta take them home with me – I gotta family to feed now!" Spider-Man burst out.
"No way, wall-crawler, are ya serious!? Like this city needs more BUGS!" Thing joked. "But really, the little lady is with child? Congrats! We gotta celebrate! If ya can still go out wit da boys dat is. Now that the rabbit's dead an all..."
Spider-Man gave back the pizzas. "Yep, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man gonna be a Spider-Daddy!"
"Great! Good fer you, old man!" Thing's face got a serious look to it. "Ya might wanna have Stretch take a look at yer wifey. Make sure everythings on the up 'n' up. Ya know, with you kinda being a mutant like us an all. You know about little Frankie, don't ya?"
Spider-Man dropped down to the street. "Man, I never thought of that. You might be right, Rocky. But that would mean you guys would know who she was; I can't have that, sorry." Thing nodded his understanding Spider-Mans' need for secrecy . "And I can't tell a normal doctor who I am either, but I guess he would need to know." Spider-Man rubbed his chin. "Man, what am I gonna do about that?"
"Call Logan. He's got that Doc McCoy at the school. Maybe they can think of sumthin'. I'll run it by Reed for ya, see what his fat brain thinks up."
"Thanks, Benny, that would be great. I gotta tell the wife about this. Later!" Spidey said, jumping 3 stories up.
"Congrats, Webhead! See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!"
Brotherhood House, morning, next dayPiotr was sketching a small still-life he had set up on his dresser. The picture was starting to take shape, the man had a gift for art. He heard a knock at his bedroom door. He got up to open it, surprised to see the girl he came to America with, Marie Claire.
"Can I help you, kommrade?" he asked politely.
"Qui. Some new furniture has arrived. I wonder can you help me move them in zee house." Maire Claire asked, acting timid. She could just lower the gravity of the furniture if she choose, but she wanted to play the 'helpless girl' with Piotr. She knew he had lost a sister.
"Da, of kourse." Piotr said, stepping out into the hallway. He followed her to the main room, where a new bedroom set and new kitchen and living room set waited. Todd was bouncing on a mattress, laughing.
"Yo! Lookit all the stuff the new girl bought!" he pointed at a TV. "It's a 52 inch plasma, YO!"
Marie Claire lowered his gravity on his next jump, and he floated around in the air, bewildered. She did not want him on her bed.
"Please, Piotr, if you could start with my bedding, I would be most grateful."
Piotr's body turned to metal. He picked up mattress, box spring, and oak headboard, turning them to fit down the hall to Marie Claire's room.
"Oh Piotr, merci, you are so strong, and such a gentleman." She said to him, gushing.
"Da, is nothing." Piotr responed. 'This girl is overreacting. She kould have done this herself, but I will help her." He thought, wondering.
The Institute, Xavier's Office, same time"Yes, Spider-Man, I'd be glad to help. If Logan and Dr. McCoy agree to let me wipe their memories of you and your wife's visit that is. I guess you have already talked to Logan? Good. Well, I can't answer for Henry, but a chance to study mutant DNA in the embryonic stages is something I doubt he'll pass up. Can you stop by today?" Charles asked. "Fine, come at lunchtime. One detail though: I cannot be there with you." Charles listened to the receiver. "No, Spider-Man, it's just that I cannot wipe my own memories, so I can't be allowed to see you." Charles listened again, then laughed. "Yes, yes, now you see my point. No, thank you, Spider-Man. I'll talk to you again soon. Goodbye." Charles hung up, a knowing smile on his face. He found Henry down in his Lab telepathically. He contacted him, and of course he would help Spider-Man.
'And how is X23 doing?' Charles asked.
'Very well, she had breakfast in her room. I have given her To Kill A Mockingbird to pursue. She has been reading all morning.' Thought Henry.
'Fine. Inform her that guests will be coming, but not to be alarmed. Thank you, Henry.' Charles closed the link.
Henry got up to tell the girl the news of guests. Went he opened the door to her room, he saw her sitting cross-legged on the gurney, staring forward, tears coming down her cheeks. The book lay closed in front of her.
"Miss, what is beleaguering you?" Henry asked, moving to her side.
"I don't know. I read the book, and the ending, what that character known as 'Boo Radley' did......and my eyes started leaking. I don't feel...so operative right now, Doctor." X23 said looking at him.
Dr.McCoy smiled, and wrapped an arm around the girl. She stiffened, but he didn't let go. "It's OK, my dear. That book makes me cry also. 'Crying' is the leaking from your eyes. It's an expression of emotion, nothing to worry about. You will be fine."
She felt his fuzzy hair pressed against her side, and could smell him. Not a bad smell, kind of warm. She didn't mind him holding her like this. It made her feel...more operative.
"Dr. McCoy, can I have a...nickname?" she asked.
Henry looked down at her, surprised. "Well, nicknamed are usually bestowed, but certainly you can. What name?"
"Scout." She said.
Henry smiled, hugging her closer. "Wonderful choice, my dear. Shall we try it out?"
"Yes." X23 said, now holding on to Henry, hands in his fur.
"Well, Scout, please don't alarmed, but I will be having guests in the Lab at lunchtime. You can stay in here, if you like." He added, feeling her stiffen up a bit. She relaxed again, still holding Henry.
"Logan will be here too?" Scout asked.
"Yes, actually, these are friends of Logan's." Henry replied.
"OK." Scout said, calming. 'As long as my brother and Dr. McCoy are here, nothing can happen.' She thought.
The Institute, the Gatehouse, lunchtimeBeing Saturday, Pappy wasn't required to man the gate, but seeing as he lived in the Gatehouse, he didn't mind. He let the children get their own breakfast to Saturdays too, so he could have some free time in the mornings. Mally would come up to see him, to have coffee with him. Pappy still liked to watch cartoons on Saturdays. That Yosemite Sam put him in stitches. He and Mally were watching them right now, on Boomerang.
"I tell ye Mally me boy, having an entire channel show funnies is pure genius! Thank the soul that thought of it!" Pappy raved.
"Yep, too right, Pa. Any more cereal left?" Mally had eaten four bowls of Cheerios already.
"Begorrah, boy, ye gonna turn into an oat if ya eat more!...In the kitchen, above the icebox." Pappy said. A horn honked outside. "Who in William Wallace's kilt is that!?"
"I'll go see, Pappy, I'm already up." Mally said, heading to the door. When he got to the gate. He saw a brown haired man and an older lady in the front seat. A stunner of a redhead was in back. He opened the gate and walked out. "Hey now, how can we help ya?" he asked the man.
"Hiya, Mally, I'm Logan's friend, Peter Parker. This is my Aunt May, and my wife, MJ. We're here to see old Wolvie. Can we drive down?"
"Sure, I guess that's OK. Lemme call Logan right quick, just ta cover me bum. Logan can be soooo paranoid at times. Wait a tick, right?"
Peter laughed. "Sure, Mally, I understand."
'How come this dude knows my name?' thought Mally. He walked to the intercom on the gatehouse porch. Pappy was standing in the doorway.
"Let 'em thru, lad, the Professor jest jumped in me noggin with clearance. Ho now, who's the looker in there with him?" he asked, looking in the car from afar.
"That's his wife. Nice, ain't she? Fiery red hair." Mally commented.
"No, lad, the angel sittin' on the bench next ta him. What a pip!"
Peter pulled to a stop in front of the Institute. Logan was waiting on the front steps, smoking. The trio walked up on the landing to Logan.
"Hiya, Pete, MJ. Hello, Mrs. Parker." Said Logan.
"Hello, Mr. Logan," Aunt May said, scowling. "Please put out that cigar, my daughter-in-law is in the family way." She stood, tapping her foot.
"Yes, Mrs. Parker. I didn't think." Logan apologized, putting the stogie out.
"You young people tend to do that. Bad for your health anyway." Smiled Aunt May. She had met Logan once before, but didn't how old he was, or about his healing powers.
"Well...Lets go inside. This way..." growled Logan, glaring at Peter, who was having a hard time keeping a straight face.
Dr. McCoy was waiting for them by the elevator.
"Salutations, friend, you must be Peter Parker." Henry said, shaking hands.
"You, my dear, must be Mary Jane Watson-Parker. Logan, your description of her did not do justice. How are you feeling?" he asked, taking MJ's hand in his. He noticed Aunt May. "Hello, ma'am, My name is Dr. Henry Peter McCoy. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He said, making a slight bow.
"My goodness! That is a lovely shade of blue! Is that natural?" Aunt May asked, eyes wide.
"Why, yes, thank you." Henry smiled. "And you are?"
"Oh, heavens, I'm May Parker, Peter's aunt. I wanted to meet the doctor who would be checking my MJ." Aunt May smiled, reaching out to touch the fur on Henry's arm without thinking. "How soft..."
"Yes, thank you. Shall we head below?" Henry asked, offering his arm to Aunt May. They climbed into the elevator.
"psss, Wolvie, psss, over here!"
Logan turned to a large vase over by the coatroom. Pappy's head was sticking out. He was waving Logan over.
"I'll be right down, guys, go on without me." He walked over to Pappy as the elevator started down. "Whatta ya want Pappy. Make it quick, bub."
"Lad, who is that vixen goin' down to the Beastie's dungeons? I have to know!" Pappy babbled.
"Jeeze, Pappy, keep it in yer pants. That's Peter Parker's wife MJ. Taken."
"NO ya, fur faced galloot, the other beauty! Do tell, ye musn't keep me in the dark!"
The Institute, Forge's LabMally had gone to find Kurt; they in turn !BAMPH!'ed down to Forge's Lab to see what was up. Forge swiveled in his chair when he heard them arrived.
"Howdy guys, what's up?" He asked.
"Not much," Kurt whined, "It's the veekend, and nothing's happening. Vhat are you doing?"
"Just messing around really. Scott's visor needed some tweaking; he got to try it out when they went to pick up that new girl."
"Right, where's she at, anyhow? I ain't seen any new lassie runnin' around. You got the skinny, Forgie?" Asked Mally.
"Yeah. She's in the med lab. Hank says she has been isolated her entire life, so social stuff is hard for her. And hey, guess what?" Forge answered.
"Vhat?"
"Hank says she is a female clone...of Mr. Logan!"
"Holy dingos! No Way!? Did they give her claws too? Crikey, I hope the poor girls not all hairy like him!" Mally exclaimed.
"Well, I haven't seen her yet, but Doc says she had bone claws that they plated with adamantium, like Logan's, but hers are hers! And she heals like him too. She really did a number on Scott and Jean, cutting them up, but Doc McCoy fixed them up. And...", Forge paused, "she's got foot claws too."
"Dear Gott, the poor girl. I hope she is alright. Forge, do you tink Herr Doctor needs any help with her?" Kurt asked.
"No, not right now. He says it will take time for her to get into the swing of things." Forge sighed. "It had to suck, being locked up from birth. Hank told me she hadn't even read a novel before."
"I hope they kicked the arse of the bloody wankers who did that to her." Mally piped, smacking a fist into a hand. "Not bloody right, I tell ya."
"Ja, heartless. Hey, lets get her a present, from all the students to her. Even if we can't see her, she vill know ve care about her." Suggested Kurt.
"Right, bonzer idea, mate! Lets go find the girls, they can help." He reached out and snagged Kurt's tail, and snapped it like a wagon driver. "Yah, mule, yah!"
The Institute, Med LabMJ and Aunt May were in an exam room with Dr. McCoy. Peter and Logan were in Henry's office, waiting.
"Yes, ma'am, I obtained my doctorate from John Hopkins. My specialty is genetics; however, I care for all of the instructors and students here at the Institute." Henry smiled, answering, Aunt May's question.
"Wow, you must be really smart. I don't get those science journal's Peter subscribes to. You and he must get along great." Said MJ. "Pete says I can trust you, and I trust him, so what's first?"
"Mary Jane, first I must procure a blood and plasma sample. This may sting a tad, but I will be quick, I assure you." He said, rubbing alcohol on MJ's arm. He poked the needle in, drawing blood. "After this, there are a few more tests..." Dr. McCoy rambled on about the procedures.
Outside, Logan and Peter were talking. Peter was telling Logan how excited he was.
"Yeah, I'm gonna be a Dad. I never thought it would happen to me, ya know, I got lots to think about, Spider stuff, work, life, but kids? I think I'm ready though. Aunt May and my Uncle Ben were great teachers." Peter smiled. "Aunt May caught you off guard upstairs, didn't she. She's like that, protecting MJ and I. Last week, I came home from work, and there, right out in the middle of our apartment, she was darning a hole in my Spidey tights. Sometimes, she leaves cookies and milk out for me after my patrols. Like I'm a jolly old elf or something!"
"Good stuff. You don't know how lucky you are, Pete. I'm happy for you an MJ. And Things right, we gotta take your happy ass out to celebrate." Logan looked at Peter. "Not ta change the subject, bub, but I gotta ask you sumthing. Personal stuff."
"Shoot, hairball."
"When you found out that Ben guy was a clone of you, how did you react?" Logan asked.
"Whew, that's a whopper. Why do you ask?" Peter puzzled.
"I got a clone now. A teenage girl clone."
The Institute, rec roomMally, Forge, Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, and Rahne were in the rec room talking. Jubilee, Jaime, and Paige were also there, playing Monopoly.
"Right, and Kurt thinks up a rippa idea – let's get her a 'Welcome' present, and one of those great big cards we can all sign! Too rippa!" said Mally, patting Kurt on the back.
"That is a good idea! Kurt, you are so thoughtful!" she sighed, throwing her arms around his neck. "I mean, like, she was naked when we picked her up, so she needs everything!"
"Wow, naked? They did even give her clothes to wear?" Jaime asked.
"Nope. Kitty told me all about it." Jubilee piped in. "Naked as a jaybird."
"Well, maybe we kin all pick sumthin' out, since she don't have a thang. Lawd knows she needs more than clothes. Sounds like she needs everything, an then sum." Suggested Rogue.
Ja, wonderbar! That's it! That makes...fourteen gifts! What did she look like Kätzchen?" Kurt asked.
"Well, dark hair, skin like Mr. Logan's; not hairy though. About the same size as you, Rahne, maybe a little taller. Had a figure like Paige, not full curves like you, Rogue, but female." Kitty explained.
"Us girls can help you blokes out wit sizes, ya lunkheads," Rahne said, sitting in Mally's lap. "So ye gets it right. I'll ask Moira and Theresa if they want ta come to, and Mr. Cassidy."
"Come where, lassie?" Sean Cassidy asked, walking in with Theresa and Sam. They had been down in the Danger Room, Sean working with his daughter. He was as strict about training as Logan.
The kids explained their plan to the newcomers.
"Sounds like a bonnie idea, kids, just bonnie!" Sean agreed. "Very nice o' you ta think aboot a lass ya don't even know yet." He said, ruffling Kurt's hair.
"Yeah, an I'm sure Moira will come, too." Theresa piped.
"Right, then, lets load up and go to the Mall this evening, mates!" Mally said.
"Yeah, I'll go tell everybody else!" Jaime yelled, smacking his hands together a few times. The ensuing Jaime's ran off to spread the news.
Med LabMJ and Aunt May came out of the exam room. Peter stood up. "How'd it go, baby? What did he say?" he asked quickly.
"I don't know, he's the Doctor, not me silly! He said he call us in a day or so. He and a colleague of his who is in town will go over what he found. You'll just have to wait, Tiger."
"Chuck will work his magic on Hank after he gets some results. He's gonna make Hank believe that you to are just close friends of his, wanting to check on the possibility of a mutant child." Logan said.
"OK, that works. Isn't there a mutant that can just 'look inside her belly' or something? I'm not a good waiter." Peter groaned.
"I wish there were, my new friend," Dr. McCoy said, coming out. "I will contact you as soon as I know something, I promise. Now, it was very nice to make acquaintances of all of you, but I must check on a new student. Please excuse me, and good day." Henry walked out of the room.
"Scientists." Logan said, looking at Aunt May.
"Rubbish, he is a fine man. So gentle with my MJ. I am going to make him a pie. Yes, apple." May said, nodding. "Can we go upstairs now?"
"Yes, ma'am. I gotta warn ya though, our new gatekeeper is waiting to meet you, Mrs. Parker. He thinks yer......well, he wants to meet ya." Grimaced Logan.
Med Lab, X23's roomHenry walked in the room. She was asleep, but woke up instantly.
"Hello, Scout, anything I can do for you?" he asked.
"Is there anything to......do? I've never been so...bored, I think the word is." She asked.
"Of course. Your days have always been filled with something, I assume. Sorry, I forgot how slowly time passes when a body is at rest. Well," he went on, "the TV above you works, lots of shows on it."
"TV? Shows?" she looked puzzled.
"Yes, I don't watch much myself, so I didn't think to show you. The students love it."
She didn't seem too thrilled about TV. Henry had an idea. "Do you know how to play chess?" He asked.
"Chess? No, I don't know Chess." She answered.
"I would be happy to show you. Let me bring it up on the TV. Many games are playable on our TV system, thanks to Forge, a student good with equipment." He grabbed the remote, and called up Chess. "You see these 'pieces'? They are called pawns. And these two pieces are rooks, these bishops, and..." Henry continued to explain the game.
She liked having him with her. Of course, she didn't need companionship, had never really had it. But Dr. McCoy was different than anyone she had ever known. He was quiet, and didn't order her around. When he asked how she felt, he seemed to care. He had given her the first book she ever read. And times like now, if she had a question about this 'Chess', he stopped and answered it patiently. She also liked when he had held her earlier. She felt...OK. Good. Alive. Safe. She had never really felt afraid, but somehow she felt safer. Like how Scout felt when Atticus read to her, or held her, or just talked with her; in the book she read. He made her confusion and fear and anger go away.
"So I just say 'pawn to d7?'? she asked.
"Yes, that's the basics, but it's a game of strategy. Remember, you want to capture my king before I get yours. Now, if I say 'knight to g1' then say 'check', what would you do?"
"Uhm. Bishop to g1." she tentatively said.
"Yes! Exactly! But then I say 'rook to g1'. What next?" he looked down at her and smiled.
She looked at him, and felt her face muscles do something funny. The corners of her mouth went up, and her lips parted, revealing her teeth.
End – Chapter 20 – Surprise!