Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the X Men. I created Evie and the rosy world she lives in.
We're All Family
Chapter 10
After lunch and more stories, many of John's antics growing up, Adam suggested it was time to go.
"I think I'd like to keep the room here for a while. I have a few meetings scheduled with Nicholas next week. I just bought a car so I'll follow you and come back later."
"We'll just pack light for now…" Adam looked at Evie and smiled as he continued, "but you won't be able to follow us." Adam smiled at the confusion on John's face. "My car's the only one that can enter the garage. High tech security system. I'll explain on the way." As they got closer to their destination Adam explained the reason he couldn't let John follow him and the need for the ocular blinders Evie was holding and waiting to put in place.
"This all seems so fantastic," Dria stated. "If John didn't have special abilities, I wonder if I would even believe all of this. What would daddy and Uncle Michael say? Mutants…powers…evil government cover-ups…"
"They probably wouldn't believe it. It's better that way. The less that's known at this point, the safer people are." Adam stated sadly from the driver's seat.
Once in the garage, Evie gently removed the blinders and got out of the car as Adam opened her door. "Brennan, Jesse, we're home and could use some help with bags."
"On our way," came Jesse's disembodied voice.
Adam smiled as he helped Dria from the car. A swoosh of the door hydraulics told him his boys were close. "This is Brennan Mulwray," he stated without turning.
"Hi."
"and Jesse Kilmartin."
"Hello."
"Guys," Adam turned to them; "this is Alexandria Kane." He chuckled as he felt a small fist punch the back of his shoulder. "Dria," he quickly corrected as he turned and endured her glare. "And this is her son, Dr. John Adam Kane."
"John will due," he reached out and shook each of their hands as they greeted him.
"The boys will get the bags and take them to your rooms."
Adam turned and put his arm around Dria as he guided her to the doors. Evie had gone ahead to meet up with the girls. Walking more slowly, they let the three guys with the luggage move on by. When they had entered the main hall the men were coming back down the stairs. "John," Adam called out, "Dria, welcome to Sanctuary."
Dria stopped and turned to see everything that had met her eyes so far. "Adam, this is amazing. You did all this?"
"Just wait until you get the grand tour." Shalimar led the way as the three women of Sanctuary now approached, each carrying her child.
"Dria and John Kane, this is Shalimar, Brennan's wife and their daughter Shawna."
Shalimar smiled and moved to stand with her husband.
"This strapping young lad," Adam continued, "is Bryan and his lovely mother Kitty."
"They're mine," Jesse offered as Kitty handed him his son.
"And this," Evie spoke next as she steadied the toddler on her feet, "is Nadene Kane."
"Daddy," Nadene shouted and ran into Adam's arms, knowing he would scoop her up and kiss her.
"Oh, Adam," Dria's eyes shined with emotion. "She is precious." Dria kissed the little hand she touched and moved to the other children, kissing each in turn. "They are all so beautiful. You all live here? Together?" Dria reached for John as her right knee buckled. She steadied herself and met his eyes with a firm stare.
John knew how much she hated this weakness that was slowly and completely claiming her body. He also knew she wanted to be strong for Adam. He simply strengthened his arm for her and nodded.
She smiled at her son then turned back to Adam with a smile.
Adam looked into her eyes. It was just like when they were kids. She could never get away with anything when he was around. He let a small smile touch his lips as he could see in her eyes that she was thinking the same thing. He handed Nadene to her mother and moved to Dria's side. "We can give you the details as you settle in. Right now I'd like to show you my med lab and run a comprehensive scan." Adam indicated the way and ignored the mock protests he got from the others. "We'll have plenty of time later. I won't keep them. We'll be out before long," he called back over his shoulder.
Adam knew he had John's interest right away when he saw the look on his face as he entered the lab.
"I've got to be dreaming," the young man voiced as he walked around the lab. "This lab is incredible. I've never seen anything like it."
"No, you probably haven't. Much of it is custom. I find that on occasion, traditional methods and equipment don't work for new mutants and I have to improvise or create what I need." Adam spoke as he moved around the lab. "Dri, this scanner will emit a yellow light that will slowly cover your body. It won't hurt so I don't want you to be frightened. Just stay as still as you can and it will end quickly." Adam began the scan as John moved to his side to watch.
"This is scanning much deeper than anything I've worked with."
"Yes. It's designed to scan new mutants down to the cellular level, but I've also found it helpful on people without mutations." Adam read the results when the scan finished. Moving to her side he reached for Dria's hand. "That wasn't too bad, was it?"
"Not at all. This is a much more comfortable check up than I normally get. I want to know if I can change doctors."
"You just did. No paperwork necessary." Adam smiled as he helped her from the scan chair to another by the desk. "Stay right here for a few more minutes and then we'll join the others." He turned back around to find John reading the results of his mother's scan. "Interesting, isn't it?"
"Yes. Much more detailed than I've seen so far."
"I'd like to scan you as well. Would you mind?" Adam gestured a hand to the chair.
"I've already told you I'm a mutant and I'm not sick, but…I don't mind." John sat back in the chair and looked at the equipment above him as the yellow light appeared and bathed over his body.
When it finished, Adam nodded thoughtfully and turned. "Well, first you're not a mutant." The look on John's face was comical. "You're a new mutant. Yes, there is a difference and I'll explain it all later. For now, it's basically that new mutants get their powers as a result of genetic manipulation done pre natal or in infancy;…man-made as it were. Some mutants have natural powers that are random occurrences; God-given. New mutants, because they're a result of human hands and not perfect, require adjustments from time to time. I'll let you see the scans and explain it more fully later on, but I'm willing to bet that since your powers manifested you've been feeling a little strain in using them from time to time."
"Yes, that's right. It gets just a little harder each time I do it. It's not bad though. I've gotten used to the changes."
"DNA adjustments would realign the altered genes in your system and allow you to control your power with much more ease. The guys will tell you how much better they feel after they come in for what they call...a 'tune-up.'"
"Adam," Evie called to him. "I have tea ready."
"Thank you, Darling. We'll be right there." Adam saw the look on Dria's face when he turned to her. "Sanctuary has more internal systems then the government. Jesse's always modifying the com system in one way or another." He let Dria lean on him as his arm wrapped around her.
They all spent time getting to know each other. Their conversation moved with them from the kitchen to the rec room as they relaxed together and the team began to decorate the tree.
"I hope you don't mind my asking, directly, but Adam told us, you're all new mutants," Dria asked "what are your powers?"
Adam sat with Bryan in his lap as Nadene played on the floor in front of him. He saw his kids look at him so he began. "Shalimar was the first to come live here with me. She's a feline feral." He watched as Shalimar let her eyes turn for a moment then turn back. "She's agile, strong, has enhanced senses including a sense of protection for her family and home that would incline her fight to the death if necessary." Adam winked at her as she reached to put an ornament on the tree. "Jesse came next. He's a molecular with the abilities to do, what we call phase and mass. Exhaling allows him to render his body and whatever his touches intangible. He's great to have around when you loose your keys." Everyone laughed as he continued. "By holding his breath he masses his body and becomes virtually indestructible." Adam nodded to Jesse and watched him take a deep breath.
"It all depends on your breathing though, right?" John was more than interested. He had only met one other mutant in his life. "As soon as you inhale or exhale…"
Jesse did, then spoke. "I'm me again…and vulnerable," he conceded.
"Brennan came next," Adam went on. "He's an elemental. There can be air, water, fire and ground but Brennan's… well," Adam met Brennan's eyes, "It's much better to see."
"Away from the tree," Evie quickly warned.
Brennan smiled and lifted a hand as ribbons of electricity swirled around his fingers and moved across his hand. Closing his fist he reabsorbed the currents.
"He's the most powerful of his kind." Adam's pride in his family was glowing through his face and words. "They all are. That's why they're here, doing what they do."
"And Kitty?" Dria asked to continue.
"Kitty isn't a new mutant," Adam explained. "Kitty's powers are all natural. She can phase like Jesse, but she doesn't mass. She stays away from the fighting when she can. Now she's primarily…the Nanny." He winked at her.
"Oh…Just wait until I get you in the next sparring rotation. I'll show you,…'Nanny.' Honestly." Kitty rolled her eyes as everyone laughed.
"There's a group of natural mutants in New York State who have a similar mission as Mutant X." Evie joined the explanation. "What began as a friendship between our households has developed into much more. Our families are so close that we've come to think of ourselves as one larger family especially when we're together. Kitty was originally part of that team,…until Jesse found he couldn't live without her." Evie smiled as she felt Kitty smile and pride come from Jesse.
"You'll meet them in a few days. We've invited them to spend Christmas with us. They'll be here Friday." Kitty's excitement was more than evident.
"You know about Evie's healing. That is her new mutation. She surprised us almost 3 years ago when psionic mutation that was dormant all her life, decided to become active. It was discovered that her telepathy is natural." Evie looked down and smiled as Adam kissed her mind through their bond.
"Does that mean the babies have powers, too?" John added as he held an ornament for Shal to take.
"This next generation surprises us at every turn." Adam explained. "All have evidenced powers at birth. They seem to settle through infancy."
"Thank God," Kitty sounded. "What would we do?"
"Nadene's telepathic," Evie added. "Bryan's begun massing when he throws a temper tantrum. We're glad he's a pretty easy going kid. Shawna reads as both elemental and feral. Right now her elemental powers are recessed and the feral abilities are just starting to manifest."
"You are all so amazing. What's most evident is your sense of family. All so different yet you've created this loving home." Dria reached for John's hand then looked at Adam. "I feel like I've gone back in time to what it was like when our fathers were alive."
"You probably have," Shalimar moved to stand behind Adam as she put her hands on his shoulders, "in a sense, anyway. This is all Adam's doing. Without him, none of us would be here; none of this would have been possible. He took us in, taught us how to deal with our powers and gave us purpose. He's been a father and mentor to all of us. We're more than family." He blushed slightly at her words as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him.
"Well, I guess I should tell you my secret," John began. "Uncle Adam knows but he's one of the very few. I never really knew any others like myself." John looked around quickly from eye to eye. "I'm also a new mutant."
Wonder circulated the room quickly as questions were raised. Evie was surprised. "That would mean that you were at Genomex about 20 years ago, Dria."
"Yes, I was," she answered sadly. "I didn't really know what was happening. Andrew was very controlling. He made all the decisions in the house. When he found out I was pregnant he insisted that we get involved with this genetic therapy to ensure his son would be the best he could be. He didn't care about risks. He had money and wanted what he wanted. I was there 21 years ago."
"I had just left Genomex by then." Adam stated. "I was building Sanctuary at the time and didn't have good intel on Genomex operations like I did later. You were right here and I never knew it." His voice dropped.
"You wouldn't have been able to do anything, anyway. That was a time when Andrew seemed almost at his worst. God only knows what he would have done if you and I were in contact then."
Kitty sensed the sadness and tried to lighten the mood. "This may be silly but I have to know, John, why are you a Kane?"
"After my…father…died," John looked up into Adam's eyes for a moment then back to Kitty as he continued. "I had my name legally changed. So did mom."
"Andrew swept me off my feet when I met him. He was wonderful and promised me the moon and stars. Well, he wasn't far off. Life with him seemed eternal darkness." Dria took a deep breath and continued. "All was fine until we got settled in Scotland. He provided well for me. I lived like a token princess. I just felt locked in my tower. I did nothing I wanted to do. One of the first things he told me was not to have any contact with my family and friends in the states. He was particularly set against Adam. I was furious. I confronted him and told him that I wouldn't live like that." A tear fell from her eye as she looked to Adam but continued. "He hit me…and threatened me with more and worse."
Evie immediately felt the tension in the room rise. Everyone was upset by what the woman was revealing but the anger radiating from her husband was intense. She soothed him through their bond but this was so heartbreaking for him that he still was not calm. She watched as he stood and began to pace.
"That was the last time I ever spoke against him. Needless to say we were not close. From time to time he would come home drunk and smelling of expensive perfume. When I delivered the baby he'd been out drinking with friends. He came to the hospital drunk. When the doctors asked what the baby's name should be; he said he didn't care and that I could name him. I took advantage of that and named him John after my father and Adam…" she just nodded toward a pacing Adam, no explanation needed. "When he had sobered he was furious but…there were witnesses and it was done. From that point on he began to distance himself from us both. I had taken the joy of his son away from him, he said, because of the name I'd given him. He blamed me and took it out on John. As John grew, the powers he was supposed to have, never seemed to develop and Andrew saw that, as a disappointment as well. Though he never physically abused him, he wasn't a father to him. Since he was ignoring us, I raised my son. I recognized Adam's genius in him and encouraged it as best I could. The mutation we kept between us."
"What can you do?" Brennan asked the question for all.
John walked over to the television and laid his hand on it. In the blink of an eye they saw the TV come on. "Pick a channel," he instructed.
"7 is running a Martial Arts Tournament." Brennan watched as the channels changed without use of the controls or the remote. "Well, that might come in handy if Bryan decides to crush the remote," he mused as a chuckle circulated.
Adam took a deep breath and returned to his seat. "John is a bio-cyber mutant," Adam explained. "He can just think and have the electronics do all he's actions for him. Do you remember Michelle Bigalow, from a few years back? He's a lot like her…without the Genomex control modifications and the directive to kill Mutant X."
"That's a relief," Shalimar voiced what both boys were feeling as they recalled Michelle using her friendship with Emma to get into Sanctuary.
Adam looked up and saw the fright in Dria's eyes. "Don't worry. We're survivors." He lifted opened hands to his family. "We stand together everyday. We train and work and watch each other's back…and at the end of the day we're even stronger." Adam reached for Evie's hand and met her eyes…his look carrying more than his words.
Though she didn't fully understand, the warmth Dria felt in her heart at that moment made her feel stronger.
"John, Andrew never knew about your mutation? How did you keep it from him as it developed?" Jesse asked. "I was always getting into trouble with mine especially the first few months."
"The McDermott fortune provided well for us. He didn't mind sending me away to school so I took full advantage and did all I could. When it developed, I was kind of shy and kept to myself a lot anyway. I was in boarding school and mom arranged for me to have a room with my best friend. He was the only one who ever knew. Because I learned so quickly, I wasn't in one school for very long." He looked up and saw his uncle nod in empathy. "As mom got sick, I stayed closer to home. By then I had a handle on control. There weren't any other McDermotts. He was an only child. When he died, I inherited everything. The first thing I did was have our names legally changed. Then I changed the name on the entire estate. I even had the McDermott name on the gate and cornerstone changed. The day I got my doctorate as Dr. John Adam Kane was the day I saw mom truly smile for the first time. After that, I knew I had to bring her home. I arranged for the estate to be locked down and we came here."
Adam stood and handed Bryan to his father as he crossed the room to stand in front of his nephew. He extended his hand as John stood in front of him. "You are a Kane. You have the Kane spirit. Your grandfather would have been proud of you." Adam shook John's hand and pulled him into an embrace. After a moment he released him and knelt in front of Dria. "This is your home and it always will be. This is your family now." He gestured to everyone around him. "You'll stay here for as long as you like. I'll do what ever I can…for both of you." Tears and cheers of agreement flowed as Adam embraced Dria and she cried into his shoulder.
The day traveled into evening as the team told them stories about how they got together and some of the missions they had. Dria listened in amazement as she tried to piece together the parts of Adam's life that she missed. By nightfall she felt whole again as the part of her heart that was torn from her so many years ago was now returned, larger and stronger than ever.
TBC
