L1701E: Dude! I was thinking maybe Monster Garage; I mean, Jeese James is obviously a mutant! Yeah, X23 is going to learn a lot about family here. Pappa Beast, Mama Storm, Uncle Chuck, and big brother Logan, and all her other brothers & sisters. I promise to check out yer Kid Razor stuff soon! THANKS!
Red Witch: Hey baby! Yeah, old Petey's a lucky man! Hopefully Scout's progress into the 'real' world will be fun for all. THANKS!
Agent-G: Yeah, Taskmaster is one of my fav baddies! He is gonna whip the Brotherhood into shape. Logo is in the near future, and glad I surprised you on the twins. I'll most likely do some one on one chappies with Scout and selected students. THANKS!
Readrrr Grrrl: Hey J! Can my scenes be 'ruggedly handsome' instead of 'adorable'? LOL THANKS!
Three cheers for: LolitaRed, Tsugath, zombie1, morring star, Proponent of EVO, Joseph McKinley.
Chapter 23 – Class, Meet the new girl
The Institute, front hall, a little after lunch
Mally and Forge had just come in from GED class. They put their coats up, then Mally turned off his inducer. His kilt and t-shirt shimmered in. They noticed Dr. McCoy coming down the stairs.
"Hiya Doc! What are we gonna get into today?" Mally asked, grinning.
"Salutations, boys. I do hope school went well. Mallory, today I am working with Moira on a friends case. I don't suppose you could help Forge out today?" Hank asked.
"Sure, Doc, at the very least, I can clean the unused labs." Replied Mally.
"Oh, that reminds me! You can clean out the room our new student was staying in. She procured a bedroom, not thirty minutes ago." Said Hank.
"Really?" Forge inquired. "Can we go see her?"
"Ah, the ever curious nature of Forge..." Hank smiled. "Ms. Munroe is up with her now. Why not let Scout and her get situated first? You men have some lunch, then you may visit her. OK?"
"Right-o, Doc. I am kinda hungry Forgie. Let's get some grub first, then we'll go introduce ourselves. Come on!" Mally said, taking short hops to the kitchen.
"Well, I headed to the Lab, Forge. Moira and I are working on DNA samples today. Fascinating!" Hank walked to the elevator, mumbling.
Kitchen"So what do you think she's like, Mal? Scout, I mean." Forge asked, making a ham sandwich.
"Dunno." Mally replied, around a mouthful of leftover baked ziti. "I mean, she's been raised in a box from birth. Doc's told me a bit. She is reasonably smart an all, but very sheltered. Musta been hell. I'm just glad Dr. McCoy is taking care of her. If she can take his appearance, she shouldn't have to many problems lookin' at me."
"I dunno. You are pretty creepy." Forge kidded.
"Right, yer one ta talk, robot boy. When is the Borg ship gonna pick you up, anyhows?"
"You will be assimilated, kangaroo boy..." Forge shot back, smiling.
Mally laughed. "Well, I hope she likes her room. I think I'll stop by my room an burn her some CD's to listen to. I can't imagine living a lifetime without AC/DC."
"Sheesh, that noise might scare the poor girl. What she needs is some Barenaked Ladies, or R.E.M." stated Forge.
"Whatever." Mally imitated Kitty. "If it's too loud, yer too old!" he cried, making the heavy metal hand sign.
"I'm sure she would like both your choices in music." the Professor said, wheeling in. "Just be patient with her. She is still very scared and confused."
"Hey Professor!" said Mally, holding out his hand for a 'five'. He new the Professor loved 'giving five', and none of the other students thought to do it. "How'r ya doin' today?"
Charles smacked his hand against Mally's. "Very well Mallory, thank you." He closed his eyes for a second. "Someone is coming to the door."
ding-dong
"Too rippa, Professor! Lemme go see who it is..." Mally hopped to the front door, opening it.
"Hi Mally. Can the Beast come out and play?" asked Peter Parker.
"Hiya, Mr. Parker. Doc's down the Lab. You want me ta take ya?"
"Nah, I know the way. Besides, you better go and wipe the tomato sauce off your t-shirt before it stains." Smiled Peter.
Upstairs, girls hallknock-knock
"What is that?" Scout said, looking at the door.
"That's what you do when you want to enter someone else's room, Scout. Do you want to let visitors in?" asked Ororo.
"Who is it?" Scout asked, a little alarmed.
"Why don't you ask...just call out 'Who is it?'; they will answer." Ororo replied.
"WHO IS IT?" Scout yelled.
Ororo winced. "Perhaps not so loud, child."
"It's Mally and Forge. Two boys here at school. We'd like ta say Hello." His voice came thru the door.
Scout looked at Ororo, questioning.
"Let them in Scout. Mally and Forge are very nice boys." She smiled. "Mally is like Dr. McCoy is certain ways."
Scout walked to the door. She stood in front of it for a second. Her mouth was dry. She could do this; she was trained to kill, she could simply meet someone. She opened the door.
"Hiya, Scout. Me names Mally, and this is Forge. How are you doing? Like yer new room?" he asked, grinning.
"You are all furry, like Dr. McCoy." She said, looking at the fur on his arms and legs. "And you smell like a marsupial." She looked at Forge. "You smell like metal, and petroleum based lubricant."
Forge and Mally looked at each other, then back to Scout. "Well, Mally is sort of part kangaroo, and my leg is bionic. You have a good sense of smell I see." Forge smiled.
"Yes. Do you know my brother Logan? My olfactory senses are like his." She said, still staring at them.
"So, how do ya like yer room. Does it have everything you need?" Mally asked again.
"Yes. Thank you for the card. What does joey mean?" she asked.
"It's a slang for 'young kangaroo'. Have ya tried yer CD player yet?" Mally wondered.
"No. May I touch your hair?" she asked, looking at Mally's dreads.
"Sure thing." he laughed.
She reached up and felt one of his dreads. "How does this happen?"
"Well, mine just got kinda nappy, and after me change, I didn't get to the barber to often, and, well, it just happened." Mally responded.
"Your change?" Scout puzzled.
"Yeah, goin' all kangarooski an such. Happened when I was almost 14. How old are you, Scout?" Mally asked.
"I am 14. Why is your leg metal?" she turned on Forge.
"Well, that's a long story, but the short version is that I lost my leg in an accident, so I made myself a new one. Wanna see it?"
"Yes." She stated.
He pulled up his pant leg so she could see some of his leg.
"Fascinating," Scout toned, unwittingly mimicking Hank, "you...made that?"
"Yup. It's my mutant ability, see, I can figure stuff like this out. I take it you have a healing ability like Logan?"
"Yes. Claws also, but only two on my hands. I also have one claw on each foot." She opened up.
"Rippa," said Mally, "Those claws are too right. Say do you like music?"
"I don't know. I have not heard much. Do you like music?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, love it. Lemme put some on, so you can hear it. This is a group called Aerosmith." Mally stuck a CD in the slot. The opening riff to 'Sweet Emotion' came forth, it's slow rhythmic beat grinding away. Mally's head began to bob to the 4/4 beat. Even Ororo's head moved a bit.
"Like it?" Mally asked, his head in full groove.
"Yes...why are you moving like that? Does music make you do that?" Scout was looking at Mally, a small grin forming.
"I'm just feelin' it! Can't you feel the rhythm? Just close your eyes, listen for a tick." Mally shut his own eyes, now swaying in place to the song. Even Forge had his eyes closed. "You have to admit, Areosmith has a funky drummer. Good call, Mal."
Scout shut her eyes, still not really understanding. As she listened, she did start to feel...different. Not bad, just different.
As the first song faded out, a new, faster rhythm began. This was apparently a mix disk Mally had burned.
"This is a group called AC/DC. Song is 'Girls got rhythm'." Mally said, banging his head.
Scout really felt something now. Her knees wanted to bend, she felt like clapping, and her own head started bouncing. Ororo and Forge exchanged looks; Forge's eyes wide in disbelief, Ororo smiling.
When the song ended, Mally pressed pause.
"Is that all the music there is?" Scout asked, keeping her eyes shut.
"Nope. I put 15 songs on this disk, and here are some more." Mally said, holding some CD's. "Forgie has some for ya too. Wanna hear some of his?"
"Yes. I like music. I think I was having fun." Scout smiled at Mally.
Xavier's OfficeThe Professor smiled, his eyes closed. 'Something this boy does creates harmony. I have seen it in his Father also. Not a mutant power, but not exactly a personality trait either. I shall be interested to learn more.' Charles mused.
Med LabPeter and Hank were in Hank's office. Hank had asked Moira to leave for a bit to protect Peter's identity.
"Hello, Peter, I have good news for you." Hank started.
"Well that can mean a lot of different things, Doc." Smiled Peter. "So, are MJ and I gonna give birth to a mutant child?"
"Well, yes...ummm, Peter, would you like some water? Maybe some coffee?" Hank asked slyly.
"Ummm what doc? Tell me, is my child gonna be OK?" Peter demanded, sensing something was up.
"No! Heavens no, the child seems fine. BOTH of them." Hank gushed.
Peter was stunned. Silenced. His palms got drenched immediately. Sweat formed on his brow. All the color drained from his face.
"Did you say...Both? As in two? As in twins?" he asked.
"Yep. That's what the man said bub." Said Logan, walking in, holding a bottle. "Bet you want that drink now, eh Petey?"
"Holy shit...I'm gonna have Twins. I'm gonna have TWINS! I'M GONNA HAVE TWINS!" Peter bounced up, springing from the chair, flipping to a file cabinet, jumping to the wall. "SWEET PETE PARKER'S GONNA HAVE TWINS!!!" he cried, throwing a fist in the air. He flew off the wall, grabbing Logan in a big hug. "Did ya hear the news hairball!? I'm gonna be a daddy times two!"
"Get offa me, ya freakazoid. Congratulations, webhead. Couldn't a happened to better people." Logan smiled.
"I agree, Peter, you and your charming wife are blessed." Hank said. "Let me explain a few details. The arachnid generally has offspring in multiples, sometimes in the hundreds. I believe the spider DNA, mixed with your own human DNA, again mixed with your wife's human DNA caused the embryo to split. This may happen each time your and MJ conceive, I'm not positive on that fact yet. I did find the mutant gene present in both embryos; hence, both children will carry the gene." Hank paused, taking a sip of water. "Peter, it also seems apparent that the early life cycles of the children will be accelerated. As far as I can tell from testing, the first year of the children's life will age them mentally and physically to approximately five years. After that, it should slow down gradually to match a normal life cycle. Any questions?"
"Yeah," Peter smiled, "have you heard the rumor that May Parker's boy is gonna have twins?"
NYC skyline, mid afternoonPeter was perched upon a ledge, next to his gargoyle friend Mr. Poopiehead. He had decided to leave Dr. McCoy with the knowledge of his secret identity. He reasoned that Hank would be a good man to have in his corner, now that he was starting a family.
"So, Poops, did I tell ya I'm gonna have twins? Oh, I did; well, I'm hardly sorry. I guess I have to leave you now, I gotta go tell MJ and Aunt May the good news about the chips off the ole block – er, sorry, that wasn't a stone joke. Seeya, Mr. Poopiehead!"
He shot out a webline, heading for home.
The Institute, 3:30 p.m.
The kids had all gotten home from school, and were making snacks. The Professor had called off their extra classes, to give everyone a chance to meet Scout. The kids went up in two's as not to overwhelm the girl. Scout made everyone listen to music, asking questions all along as was her nature. She showed her claws to Jaime & Freddie when they asked. She told Jubilee to slow down when she was telling her about the mall. She traced the marks on Clarice's face, telling her she liked them. The last two to go see her were Kitty and Kurt. Kurt was very nervous.
"It is tough enough vhen people who have lived a normal life see me for the first time. I don't want to scare the girl." he said.
"I bet everyone has told her about you already, Kurt, and besides, I don't think she scares very easy. I mean, she's like been down with Dr. McCoy all this time, and Mally said she asked questions, but wasn't bothered by how he looks. And you're like cuter than he is anyway."
"Kätzchen, you know vhat I am saying. Oh, vell, here ve are." Kurt replied, wringing his hands.
"Come on, blue boy, it won't be bad." Kitty knocked on the door.
"Come in..." Scout said.
"Hello, my name is Kitty Pryde, and this is Kurt Wagner. How are you?" Kitty smiled.
Scout looked at the boy. She studied him. Up, down, she even walked around him. Scout looked up at his face.
"Do you talk?" she asked.
"Ja, I do. I like your nickname.To Kill A Mockingbirdis one of my favorite books also." Kurt stated.
"Sie sprechen German? Warum haben Sie einen Schwanz?" Scout asked.
"Sie kennen Deutsche? Wunderbar! Ich weiß nicht, warum ich einen Schwanz habe, aber das nützlich ist." Kurt said, smiling that she knew his native tongue. "Wollen wir Englisch jedoch sprechen es ist grob, die anderen auszuschließen.." Kurt suggested.
"Yes, I can see how it would be. What does your tail do?" Scout asked.
"Anything I want it to," Kurt stated, using it to wave at Scout. "it's like having three arms."
"I see." Scout turned to Kitty. "What do you do?"
"I phase myself and objects I touch to intangibility. It comes in handy when I want to go downstairs quickly."
They continued to talk about this and that, answering Scout's many questions. After they left, Kurt spoke up.
"Zat was really neat how she spoke German! I vonder who taught her?"
"She was forced to learn a lot of things that would help her do what they wanted her to do. I guess languages were important. She seems to be getting along good though."
"Ja, she is nice enough. I hope she likes it here. It has to be better than where she was. I like when we are able to help people. That's why I stay will the Professor." Just as they were about enter the rec room, Kurt heard Mally asking Rahne for a kiss.
!BAMPH!
Kurt popped in between the pair. "Vhy Mally, I never knew you cared so much..." he said, smiling.
"Crikey! You stink elf, I'm gonna get ya for that!" Mally cried. Rahne and Kitty were laughing like crazy as Mally chased Kurt around the room.
End – Chapter 24 – Unhappy Campers
You speak German? Why do you have a tail?
You know German? Wonderful! I don't know why I have a tail, but it is useful.
We should speak English. It is rude to exclude the others.