A/N: I just noticed I had this chapter just sitting around and I never posted it! Oops!
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men, just Badrani and Kohana...
Please read and review! I'd love to know what you think, even if it's bad...
What is Normal? Part 4/?
At seven o'clock that evening, Logan sat next to Ororo in Hank's office. The blue doctor had their undivided attention as he walked into the cluttered room.
"Thank you for coming down." He began as he shuffled through a few pages.
"Hank, please tell us what's happening to our daughter." Ororo said plainly.
"In simple terms, Kohana has become a human plant of sorts." Hank began. "Her epidermal cells have grown cell walls and have, in essence, changed from animal to plant cells. While epidermal cells are located elsewhere on the body, it appears that only those on her external body surface have changed. For instance, the epidermal cells within her mouth have remained the same. Her blood has also been altered and is a cross between human blood and chlorophyll. It still contains some hemoglobin but it also contains chlorophyll now."
Henry paused to let the information sink in before he continued. Logan seemed to be taking the news much better than Ororo, but Hank could see concern in both of their eyes.
"Some of her internal organs have also been altered. The most noticeable change has been in her lungs. Kohana no longer inhales oxygen alone. Instead, she brings in carbon dioxide along with a much lower level of oxygen to supply the hemoglobin still in circulation. The chlorophyll within her blood stream converts the inhaled carbon dioxide to oxygen molecules that have been used to supply her remaining animal cells with the oxygen they need. She has been exhaling any excess oxygen but the carbon dioxide waste from her animal cells has been used by the chlorophyll. Eventually, I believe she will stop inhaling oxygen altogether and will simply use the oxygen the chlorophyll produces."
"What other organs have changed?" Logan asked.
"Well, her liver has changed slightly in order to better filter her new blood." Hank said, looking down at some test results. "Her entire circulatory system has also been altered to effectively circulate the chlorophyll in her blood. The chlorophyll needs to be close to the surface of her skin in order to utilize the sunlight. The cells lining her veins and arteries are now a cross between animal and plant cells but they allow the chlorophyll to reach the surface faster than if they were either one alone. It's unlike anything I have ever seen before, to be quite honest."
Hank stopped for a moment, turning a few pages. Logan and Ororo glanced at each other but then looked back to Henry.
"I also have reason to believe that her hair will eventually change into a rough, hay-like fibrous material since hair is composed of dead epidermal cells. It stands to reason that as her hair grows it will now be composed of dead plant cells.
"As of now," He continued, "her digestive and muscular systems remain the same and I do not believe they will change. Despite these incredible changes to her system, she is still human and still needs her muscles to move and nutrients to survive."
"I thought you said she was like a plant." Logan commented.
"Well, as I said, her external skin cells are the only ones that have fully become plant cells. In addition to her normal diet, Kohana will need a substantial amount of sunlight to provide her new skin cells with the nutrients they need."
"And if she doesn't receive enough?" Ororo asked timidly.
Hank looked from Ororo to Logan and folded his hands on his desk. "If Kohana does not receive enough daily sunlight, she will slip into a coma and…she will most likely die."
Ororo hung her head slightly before looking up at Hank with misty eyes.
"How many hours per day will she require?"
"Based on my current calculations, at least four." Hank replied. "But I would suggest six until I can do some further testing. With this in mind, I am suggesting that we change the lights in her bedroom to UV lights. The ultra violet rays are the most important component of sunlight for plant cells."
"Is there anything else?" Logan asked.
"Actually, yes." Hank said, flipping open a file folder. "I've been running some tests on her metabolism and hers is running at an extremely high level. She had been forming new skin cells since the transformation began."
"What does that mean exactly?" Ororo questioned.
"I'm not entirely sure yet." Henry admitted. "I don't even have a decent theory. But I did want to mention it. I'm still working on some test results. Once I know more, I'll let you know."
"Can we see her?" Ororo asked.
"Yes, of course." Hank replied, standing.
He led them into the infirmary section of the Medical Lab and quietly left the room, pulling the door closed as he left. Ororo sat down next to Kohana, her eyes shimmering in the florescent lights. Logan stood behind her and squeezed her shoulder gently.
"Logan…" She trailed off.
"I know, darlin'. I'm worried, too." He replied softly. "But she's tough. She'll be fine."
Ororo simply nodded her head, slightly comforted by his presence. But her worry didn't diminish as she looked at her now green daughter.
"We should let Badrani come see her." Ororo said, looking up at Logan.
"I dunno about that." Logan said, rubbing the back of his neck. Ororo smiled slightly. He always did that when he was nervous or uncertain, which usually came hand-in-hand with him.
"Logan, I would rather have him upset by her appearance now while she's unconscious than when she's awake."
"I think it's a moot point." Logan commented. Ororo raised an eyebrow in question but quickly turned around to see Kohana's eyes flutter open.
"Mom?" She asked quietly. "Daddy? What's…what happened?"
"You've manifested, sweetheart." Ororo replied, gently patting her arm.
"Really?" Kohana asked, excitement in her eyes. "So I'm not normal like 'Rani?"
"How did you know about that?" Logan quickly asked.
"Uh…" She trailed off, looking down. That's when she saw her arms and she screamed. "I'm…I'm green!"
Logan and Ororo looked at one another. Logan was wincing from his daughter's high pitched scream but managed to give Ororo a worried glance. That's when he inhaled deeply and quickly noticed they weren't alone in the room. He turned his head and saw Badrani standing in the doorway. Ororo followed his gaze and they instantly knew their children couldn't be in the same room right now. Badrani looked horrified and his mouth hung open in shock. Kohana was shaking as she stared at her arms and beginning to cry.
With a wordless exchange between them, Logan and Ororo went to comfort their children. Logan quickly walked over to Badrani and swept him from the room while Ororo sat on the edge of the bed and gathered up Kohana in her arms.
"Dad…" Badrani began tentatively. "What's wrong with 'Hana?"
"Nothing." Logan replied, leading Badrani towards the back patio.
"Nothing?! But Dad, she's green!" He yelled.
"Shush up." Wolverine ordered firmly but quietly. "No one else knows yet, so keep yer voice down."
Badrani looked to his father, confused and somewhat frightened. But he kept quiet, knowing his father would explain himself eventually. Logan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Let's go fer a walk."
Badrani nodded and quietly followed Logan to the path that led to the back of the property. Logan let out a deep breath. He was never any good at this kind of thing. Ororo usually handled these emotionally charged situations. The last time he had tried to help, his daughter had thrown him out of her room, screaming that he didn't know anything. Granted, it would have made more sense for Ororo to have 'the talk' with her, but she was on a mission when Kohana got her period for the first time. Logan didn't think that he had many options at that time. Of course, he never considered asking Jubilee for help until after he embarrassed the hell out of his little girl. Jubilee had laughed lightly and waved him off, quickly going to her niece and taking care of the problem. Thanks to that little incident, it had taken nearly a week for Kohana to speak to Logan again. If only he could pass this problem off to someone else. But there was no one else he could possibly choose to speak with Badrani about this, except for Ororo.
"Badrani, listen t'me carefully." Logan began as they slowly walked along the dirt path. "Your sister is a mutant. She manifeste-."
"How come she gets to be a mutant and I don't?" He complained.
"All I know is that it has t'do with genetics." Logan admitted. "I can ask Dr. McCoy to explain it better, if ya want."
Badrani just shook his head and kicked at a stone in front of him. Logan watched him out of the corner of his eye, unsure of what to say next.
"Dad…do you love her more now?" Badrani asked, looking down at his feet. "Y'know, 'cause she's like you and Mom?"
Logan stopped and looked at Badrani.
"'Rani, of course we don't love her more." Logan said, lifting his son's chin up slightly. "We love both o'you guys just the same, just like we always have. I don't care that she's a mutant. All I care about is that she's my daughter, just like you're my son. I don't care that you won't have any powers or anything. I just care about you. D'ya understand?"
"I guess." Badrani mumbled, looking away from Logan. Wolverine looked down for a minute in thought and then looked back to his son.
"Remember those bearded dragon lizards you had a few years ago?" Logan asked, crouching down and looking up at his son.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Did you like one more than the other?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I dunno." Badrani admitted, shifting on his feet. "I just loved 'em. They were my pets."
"Exactly. You just loved 'em, right?" Logan said and Badrani nodded. "Well, me and yer mother? Well, we just love you guys. But more than you loved yer lizards. You and Kohana are our kids."
"It seems too simple."
"It is that simple, kiddo."
Badrani smiled at his father's confident answer and, as his dad stood up, threw his arms around him. Logan smiled crookedly and hugged his son in return. After a minute, Badrani stepped back and they started walking again.
"So are we your pets?" His son asked in a light tone. Logan laughed at his son's humor and lightly hit the back of his head. Badrani laughed and looked at his dad, rubbing his head in mock pain.
"Now, you gotta try to be nice t'yer sister over the next couple o'weeks." Logan began. "Her body's changed but she's still Kohana, you understand?"
"Yessir." Badrani muttered.
"Don't make fun of her." Logan stated. "She'll be upset fer a little while so just try not t'bother her."
"Ok, Dad."
"Can ya promise me you'll try to be nice?"
"Yeah, Dad, I promise."
"Good. I appreciate it." Logan said simply.
They continued to walk for another minute in silence and Logan took the time to take in all the scents around him. It had been a long time since he had come out here, just to enjoy nature. It stirred an old emotion within him and he felt like he should be hunting the deer he could smell. He just wanted to break free and run towards the animals he used to hunt all the time.
"Dad, what happened to her?"
Logan looked over at Badrani, broken away from his reverie.
"Her skin's changed to plant cells." Logan finally answered. "Like the cells in leaves and the stalks of those flowers yer mom likes."
"Really? That's so cool."
"Yeah, I suppose it is."
"I bet she'll change colors in the fall like the trees do, huh, Dad?"
Logan looked over at Badrani and his son instantly knew he said something of importance. His father's left eyebrow was raised a little and his head was crooked to the side ever so slightly.
"That's an interesting point." Wolverine said softly. His mind began racing with information about chlorophyll that he could vaguely remember from when Ororo tried to explain botany to him years ago. If he recalled correctly, chlorophyll broke down after the summer and that's why the leaves lost their green color. After a little while, the brown leaves would fall off the tree, dead.
Dead, his mind's voice repeated.
The lack of chlorophyll killed them and the cycle began again in the spring. What did that damned chlorophyll do again? It helped make oxygen but it did something else, something more important. Logan's brow furrowed in concentration. He just couldn't remember.
"…can we? Please?"
Logan suddenly looked over at his son, surprised to hear him talking.
"I'm sorry, what were ya saying?"
"I asked if we could go fishing this weekend." Badrani said, looking at his father with doubt.
"Let's see what's going on with yer sister first." Logan said after thinking it over. "Maybe we can all head up to Canada fer a vacation."
"Really? That would be awesome!" Badrani beamed.
"Let me check with your mother and Dr. McCoy, ok, pal?"
"Yeah, cool, Dad." Badrani grinned.
"C'mon. Let's go back in. I bet Kohana could use some dinner."
"Let's make steak!"
Logan chuckled. "Maybe you and me can have steak. Yer mother and sister are bigger fans of chicken."
"That's 'cause they have bad taste in food." Badrani proclaimed.
"Ya won't hear me argue." Logan winked and ruffled his son's hair. "Let's get goin' before your mother sends Aunt Jube and Uncle Bobby out to find us."
A look of humor-filled panic washed over Badrani's face and he began running towards the house. "Last one in has to clean Uncle Hank's fur from the shower!"
Logan laughed and followed his son, careful to stay two steps behind.
Please R&R...thanks!
PAF
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