Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten"
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Wow, I depressed a lot of people 0o Well, I shall say nothing but keep an eye on L1701E Vanishes in a puff of mysterious smoke, cackling
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Chapter 26 – Unworthy
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A few hours later, and the bodies had been gathered and placed in the infirmary, Xavier was tired. Huh, perhaps he was finally feeling his age, not that he'd ever give up what he did. No, he'd hang onto his X-Men until the bitter end. Tragedies like this, however, he wished he could avoid. He'd already spoken to the parents of both Karl and Jono, Kevin's parents themselves were long gone…and no one was exactly sure where Syrin's family were, if she had any. He sighed, going to wheel towards his office, before pausing, sensing a presence near the door, he frowned heading towards it, stopping a little way off.
"James", Xavier frowned, "you're leaving?"
Jamie narrowed his eyes, slinging his duffle bag over his shoulder, from where he stood by the door.
"You needed to read my mind to figure that one out?"
"Jamie, what happened today wasn't your fault", said Xavier.
"Yes, it was", said Jamie, "I'm the field leader, they're my responsibility, and I let them down. I lost three team members today, Professor, three. Not to mention a member of Nightshift as well!. All of them are dead, because of my bad judgement"
"And leaving is the answer?", asked Xavier, arching a brow.
"I'm not an X-Man", replied Jamie, "I'm just not cut out for it. I'm better off on my own, or as alone as someone like me can be, at least that way, no one ever gets hurt".
Xavier sighed.
"I don't want you to go, Jamie", he said, "but it's your choice to make, I can't force you to stay. No more than I could Sidney, or Elizabeth, or Bobby…"
"Yeah, but they didn't get anyone else killed, did they?", growled Jamie, "like Scott said, it was my call. I screwed up, I'm leaving. End of conversation"
Xavier sighed as who was once his youngest recruit stalk out of the building slamming the door behind him….When did things change so quickly he didn't even see them happening? He paused, sensing another presence close by, giving the smallest of smiles…perhaps things would go a little better….maybe.
Jamie got as far as the gates when he ran into Bobby going in the opposite direction.
"Isn't it a bit of a crucial time to be taking a vacation, Multiple?", blinked Bobby, "we just had Nick Fury having kittens about some major mutant catastrophe here…"
"Yeah, it's called me being a bad leader", said Jamie, "and I'm not going on vacation, I'm leaving"
"Leaving?", Bobby arched a brow, "because you screwed up?. Heck, I screwed up all the time when I lead the New Mutants…"
"Yeah, but you didn't get any of us killed, did you? Tried, later on, but not before", said Jamie, narrowing his eyes, "I'm better off being on my own from now on, that way no one else can get hurt"
"…..This hasn't got anything to do with Gina, does it?", asked Bobby.
"Don't go there, Drake", growled Jamie, "you never told me, in all this time, that she was still alive, much less dumped me for another guy!"
"She asked me not to", shrugged Bobby, "I respected her wishes"
"Oh, gee, you're a real friend", said Jamie dryly, walking past him.
"I've been down that road you're going, Jamie", called Bobby after him, "Don't let your anger get the better of you"
"Bit of the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it?", sneered Jamie.
"It's a mistake I regret, sighed Bobby, "Look, a friend of ours told me: 'It is our soul, our spirit…whatever you wish to call it that shapes who we are, and it can never be changed'"
Jamie rolled his eyes.
"Thanks, Bobby. You have truly enriched my life with your words", he said sarcastically, "just let me go, okay?"
With a shake of his head he walked off, leaving Bobby standing at the gate.
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Inside the mansion, the other X-Men had been coming to terms with the mutant deaths.
"It's so sad", sighed Kitty, "it was their first real mission too"
"Jamie was pissed when I last saw him", said Tabby, where she sat with an obvious stomach now, "if looks could kill, I'd have died, been resurrected, and died again"
"Gosamyr is looking around the planet now", said Roberto, suddenly, "said she'd be back January"
Kitty's eyes narrowed.
"You're on about that alien chickie again?", she asked, "I'm telling you Roberto, if you do anything to hurt Dani…"
"I'm not going to hurt Dani!", said Roberto, "Gos' is a friend, that's all"
He frowned.
"I hope she's okay", he said, "I wouldn't want anything to happen to her"
"That would be a tragedy", said Warlock sarcastically.
"Oh will you get off her case already?", sighed Roberto, "she's not done anything wrong"
"She's manipulating your emotions", said Warlock, "isn't that much obvious?"
"You're talking crazy", said Roberto, waving his hand, "there's nothing sinister about Gos'"
"Oh?", said Warlock, arching a brow, "then why is it we know nothing about her? Nothing about her species, her home planet? She doesn't answer any of these questions, does she?"
"I don't know what's got you so uptight, 'Lock", said Roberto, "I mean, what if she does have a shady past? You're the prince of a race that slaughters even it's own, and you're not like that"
He paused, frowning.
"But since she came on the scene, I having been wondering otherwise", he said, "you're not exactly…friendly to her are you? Maybe the apple didn't fall far from the tree after all"
Warlock blinked at him, hurt, before looking away.
"You believe me to be acting like any Technarch would?", he asked, then frowned, "Then fine, I will. I will leave you to waltz your way into the danger you are so unwittingly putting yourself into, and I will not make a move to stop you"
He shook his head, walking out of the room.
"But whatever does happen, it will be in your head"
Tabby blinked in shock.
"Well, that was nice, 'Berto", she said, "you might want to go after him to get the knife you just stuck in his back"
"Yeah, you know how much he tried not to be like his father", said Ray, "geez Rob, what's with you?"
"Nothing is 'with me'", snapped Roberto, stalking out the room, pushing Bobyb out the way as he entered, "I'm fine, would you all just back off?"
"….Man, I'm emptying a room before I even get in it now", blinked Bobby, "I'm getting better"
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Over at the Guthrie house, things weren't going as well as Lucas had hopped. Not long after he'd arrived, the twins had sent him to milk a cow named 'Demon'. Lucas had thought about why a cow should be given such a name, but the twins reassured him it was ironic, and 'Demon' was the most gentle creature on the planet. It was that day Lucas learned you never trust a Guthrie when they have a poker face.
"If it makes ye feel any better", piped up Rahne, "They made me milk demon when I first visited too. It's like a test"
Lucas blinked at her from his currently only working eye.
"And ye couldn't tell me this before-hand?"
"No", grinned Rahne, "If I had tae do it, so did you"
"….Thanks a lot", muttered Lucas.
Lucinda walked in, putting the phone down with a sigh.
"Well, Paige has come around", she said, thankfully, then looked at Lucas sadly, "A'hm sorry, Lucas….there was nothing they could do for Syrin"
Lucas frowned, looking away sadly.
"…I figured", he said quietly, "…we'll get back as soon as we can tae check on the others. I should have been there"
"Think of it this way", said Lucinda, "If you had…there could have been more casualties, there would have been more mutants there…more prey for that…..poor boy"
"How can ye call that bird-thing poor?", asked Lucas, "he nearly killed your daughter"
"He didn't mean to", said Lucinda, "it was beyond his control"
She sighed, heading out.
"A'h have chores to do, Lizzie should be back soon with flight plans"
Lucinda left, leaving Lucas with a frown. Until Rahne spoke up, making him blink.
"Ye are so like your Dad"
"What?", Lucas shook his head, "not ye too. Why does everyone say that!"
"Because ye are", shrugged Rahne, "it's nae something tae be ashamed of. Despite how ye feel about him, he's a great man. He's saved many mutants, myself included. I'd be so proud tae have him as a father"
"He abandoned Us, remember?", said Lucas, then tapped his head, "that's how I came along in the first place. David created me when he learned who our father was, tae deal with his anger"
"Then if it weren't for him, you wouldn't exist", shrugged Rahne.
"Don't remind me", growled Lucas, a plant pot shaking slightly.
"He never meant to abandon anyone", said Rahne, bearly batting an eyelid, "…he didnae know"
"He has Cerebro", growled Lucas, "he cannae have nae noticed a mutant with a genetic code so close tae his own"
Rahne sighed, standing.
"Think that if you like", she said quietly, leaving the room, "it's your loss"
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Inside the Morlock tunnels, Callisto was trying not to panic. In a matter of a couple of days, she and Evan would be going to his parents for the holidays…and explain the teeny tiny addition that they'd got married. It was not a meeting she was looking forward to. She paused, her senses picking up movement behind her.
"Hello, X23", she turned, smiling at her, "I don't normally see you this far into the Alley, though I'm glad you're making yourself more at home"
She cocked her head to the side.
"Everything okay?"
"No", said X23, I spoke with Lucid today…"
"Oh…Lucid", said Callisto with a sigh, she had noticed him getting closer to her, but wasn't exactly sure what would end up happening, "…what happened?"
"He told me I was beautiful and I spazzed and ran to hide", said X23, not one to be subtle.
"And that's got you confused?", asked Callisto with an amused smirk, "he likes you, X"
"Not many people like me", said X23 thoughtfully, "Logan likes me…and Torpid and.."
"No, no", Callisto chuckled you, "the other kind of like. The kind that is usually followed by love in a swift manner"
X23 frowned, crossing her arms stubbornly.
"Love has no purpose", she said, "it is only a weakness"
"Boy, have you got it wrong", chuckled Callisto, then sighed, "but I can understand you…you don't know what it is. You've been deprived of your emotions for so long, you barely know how to use them"
"That's Hydra's fault, not mine", she growled.
Callisto sighed.
"That is true", she said, then arched a brow at her, "do you know about Lucid's past?"
"No", said X23, "most of the Morlocks keep their pasts a secret…I know that much"
"True", said Callisto with a nod, "but I know them almost them all. It's one of the privileges being a leader. Normally I don't disclose information like this….but I think this time, it would be right to make an exception"
X23 blinked, before sitting down, her hands folded in her lap perfectly…an old ritual she'd never been able to kick (1)
"Like most of us Morlocks, Lucid was born with the looks that would eventually make him an outcast", started Callisto, "but unlike most of us, he actually had a loving family. His parents weren't afraid of his appearance, and never made that big a deal of it. They were a poor family, true…but a happy one"
X23 cocked her head to the side, not familiar with the concept of growing up with a family around her….she'd only really begun to learn what family meant since she'd become one of the Morlocks.
"Then why is he here?", she asked, "if his…parents loved him so much"
"Because he was an unfortunate victim of circumstance", said Callisto with a frown, "When he was twelve, his father lost his job…and they had to move into a pretty much derelict apartment in New York...it was all they could afford while his mother kept up a job as a maid, earning just enough to keep them all fed"
Callisto closed her visible eye, always hating tragedy to befall the mutants she sought to protect.
"The place was a wreck…something was bound to happen eventually", she said, "part of the wall caved in while Lucid was in school…his parents were home though….byt the time he returned, the place was surrounded with the emergency services…so he hid"
She shrugged.
"He was a kid, he was scared", she said, "he lived on the streets until he was about fourteen, when Caliban and I found him, when we were still founding the Morlocks, and looking for unfortunate mutants just like him"
She gave a weak smile.
"He assumed his parents had died…you could imagine his surprise when we learned she was alive…but not exactly well", she paused, "….you see, the roof caused severe head trauma, she survived, but ended up with catatonic stupor, that's…"
"I know what it is", growled X23.
"…Anyway", said Callisto, "she'd been admitted to the New York Psychiatric Institute. He visits her three times a year, you know"
"Why?", asked X23, "it's not like he'd get any response. Why bother?"
"Because he loves her", said Callisto simply, "what other reason does he need?"
"….And the point of telling me this was?", asked X23.
"Being a Morlock is a hard, cold life", said Callisto gently, "It's nice to have someone to keep you warm"
"I don't need anyone", growled X23, "I can keep myself warm.
Callisto sighed looking at her.
"You remind me of me…when I was younger", she admitted, "when I first took charge of the Morlocks, I tried to be strong, tough…..but I soon learnt that you can't keep it up for long. I couldn't be happier with Evan….he helped me deal with the stress of this life, and as a result made me a better leader, and a better person"
"Humph", said X23.
"You don't know how to love, X23", said Callisto, putting a hand on her shoulder, "…maybe, if you let him, Lucid can teach you how"
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Meanwhile, back at the Institute, Alex had come around and been introduced to the device that would control his powers.
"This looks like a eighties superhero outfit"
Hank sighed, looking at the black containment suit Alex now wore, a circle stood out on the chest, pulsing slightly. (2)
"Considering Forge whipped it together in a few hours, you should consider yourself lucky it isn't tie-dye", he said pointedly, "besides, you need to wear it, Alex. It's the only way to keep you from overcharging. Now see this circle, it pulses, releasing energy slowly and safely, so it's not building up in you all the time, it's also let you know if you get overcharged to use you powers and lose the energy you've accumulated"
"Oh great, I have to wear something to control my powers too", said Alex, "I hope you're happy, Scott"
"Not really", replied the elder brother, then gave a sigh, "I'm sorry, Alex, really, I am"
He frowned, looking over at where Paige was sleeping….at least she was alive…unlike the others.
"It wasn't your fault, Scott", said Alex, knowing his brother only too well, "you can't take the burden for everything"
"I know…but still", he sighed, choosing to change the subject, "looks like your good looks have been chopped down a notch, too"
Alex's hand moved over to the scar now running down his face, across his right eye, thanks to one of Suaron's claws. (3)
"Me, lose my looks?", he snorted, "not a chance"
"I kinda think it makes you look charismatic", smirked Lorna from where she sat.
"See?', said Alex.
"….Since when did you have a girlfriend?", asked Scott, a brow arching from behind his shades.
"I'm not", said Lorna, "we have an arrangement"
"Oh really?", grinned Scott, "ask him what his favourite movie is"
Alex blinked at his brother as if he'd shot him.
"What's your favorite movie?", asked Lorna.
"Die Hard", said Alex with a grin.
"Liar", said Scott.
Alex gave his older brother a glare that could melt ice, before coughing, looking away, mumbling under his breath.
"West Side Story"(4)
Lorna snorted.
"Oh, that's masculine", she said, then blinked, laughing and shaking her head again, "nope, sorry, gotta share that one with Kyle"
Witht aht, she left, still giggling to herself.
"That was cruel, Scott", chided Jean
"No it wasn't", said Scott, then looked at his brother, "She likes you"
"Probably not anymore, Squinty", retorted Alex.
"Aww, don't pull that on me", smirked Scott, "I'm getting payback,after all that teasing you gave me for Jean. Asking if 'It was really true what they say about red-heads"
Jean shot a glare at her brother in law, who gave a nervous chuckle.
"…Don't kill me, I'm injured", he paused, thinking, before closing his eyes, and falling back on his pillow, "I'm dead" (5)
"…..I really hope none of our kids end up like their Uncle", said Jean.
"Kids?", asked Scott worriedly.
"Look all you like, it's gonna happen", growled Jean, stalking out the room, Scott following her. (6)
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Jamie, meanwhile, had made good headway from the Institute. He wasn't exactly sure where he was going, and he didn't rightly care, he just needed to get away from that school, and the people within it.
"Running away?"
Jamie stopped dead in his track as he crossed the parking lot of the nearby mall. His eyes narrowed, recognising the voice, turning to see Kyle Wildfire, leaning on a car and smirking.
"Had you guessed as a quitter a long time ago"
"Don't push it, Thunderbolt", growled Jamie, "I have not had a good day, and you are the last person I want to see"
"What?", Kyle smirked, "you sill sore about losing Gina? Give it up, Dude"
"She evidently gave me up", muttered Jamie, trying to stalk away, "I don't need this"
He was stopped in his tracks as a wall of electricity stopped him. Jamie growled, turning to look at Kyle.
"Cute, now turn off your tacky lightshow so I can leave"
"No", said Kyle, "You know how upset you made Gina? The Thunderbolt came to settle the matter, as seen as you don't want to talk to her"
"Damn right I don't", said Jamie, "and I don't want to talk to the guy who stole her from me, either"
"The Thunderbolt didn't 'steal' her, you Jackass", he said, "You let her go! You let her go even when you knew she was going to go after the Hellfire Club. You knew she was getting herself in trouble and you let her go"
"I was thirteen!", said Jamie, "there wasn't much I could do to stop her. Now put down the shield"
Instead, Kyle moved his shield of electricity towards Jamie, pilling him against the wall. Jamie narrowed his eyes, banging a fist on the wall behind him, a couple of multiples popping out on the outside.
"Keep it up all you like", he said, "I can keep cloning. We'll see who drops first"
Kyle yelped as one of the clones dove at him, managing to land a punch on his face, he quickly form an electrical bull, it charging at the clones, keeping them away.
"The Thunderbolt wants it all out in the open", he said, "You could have followed Gina. You could have looked for her. But you didn't. And when she finds someone new, you wonder why. How can you say you loved her, when you let her go?. Seems to the Thunderbolt, you didn't care about her at all"
"Don't you dare try to tell me how I feel", growled Jamie, "I don't even know you"
"Just admit it", said Kyle, fending off another line of clones, "you screwed up and failed to help her. The only reason you're mad at the Thunderbolt is because he did help her"
"Do you realise how stupid speaking in third person sounds?", asked Jamie, sending another clone out to the attack, "and I'm mad at 'The Thunderbolt' because you took her, from me. Was it you that told her not to contact me, huh?"
"No, you idiot", said Kyle, "she made that decision by herself"
"Yeah and you didn't help her along", sneered Jamie.
Before anymore words or punches could be thrown, a wall of vines parted the two. Two vines spread from the wall, each taking either Kyle or Jamie and wrapping around them. Gina rose up form the ground, her eyes flashing.
"Voi stupido ragazzi!", she snapped, "I can't leave you alone for five minutes without you going at it" (7)
"Hey, he started it", said Jamie, trying to struggle free from his vine, "I was just leaving"
"The Thunderbolt's not the one with a pineapple up his ass", replied Kyle.
"Enough!", snapped Gina, silencing them, then looked at Jamie, Jamie, I'm sorry I hurt you, it was never my intention. I needed space, and you gave it to me, for that, I am grateful, even if it meant we had to part"
She looked at Kyle.
"Kyle, you looked after me, and helped me on the road to recovery, something I doubt I would have trusted myself with, when it came to Jamie", she sighed, "I'm going to let you go both, now, and you're not going to fight, understand?"
She got a mumbled reply from both parties. She sighed, the vines lowering them to the ground, then vanishing.
"Come on, Gina", said Kyle, walking off, "we don't need to hang around someone with issues like him"
"Yeah, well, I don't need people like you around", said Jamie, reabsorbing his clones.
Gina frowned, heading off after Jamie, stopping him.
"Find someone that'll look after you properly, Jamie", she said, "you deserve it"
Jamie frowned, looking away.
"I don't deserve you, clearly"
Gina sighed sadly, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Arrivederci, James Madrox", she said softly, "Lei sarà nel mio cuore sempre" (8)
With that, she turned and followed Kyle. Jamie watched her sadly, before sighing, walking in the opposite direction.
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(1) – See X23. She sits exactly as Dr. Ristman sits.
(2) – This is, of course, the containment suit Alex has to wear in most of the comics…I haven't included the stupid headwear, as it was stupid.
(3) – Comic Alex has this scar, but comic version got his during the Mutant X fiasco, which I'm not touching with a bargepole.
(4) – Oh yes, cannon fact. Apparently, his favorite author is Stephen King, as is mine, so I guess that explains how Havok's grown on me.
(5) – From Muppet Treasure Island. Clueless Morgan does it.
(6) – Monica quote! I need to use them now and again, or I have withdrawal symptoms.
(7) – 'You stupid boys', in Italian.
(8) - Goodbye, you will be in my heart always, in Italian.
Another chapter done! And yes, I made up Lucid's past. I always love it when I get to write about a character as new as him, gives you loads of artistic licence. This chapter was longer than I intended it to be, but considering I start back at Uni tomorrow, my chapters will be updated less, so I guess I'm making up for it now. Do review, until next time…