Chapter Four: A School for the Gifted
And here's Chapter Four! Wolverine and Rogue have a new home, and begin falling for the power couple! Also, just a heads up, I am not very knowledgeable about medical stuff, or even most medical equipment (like what they're called), so please excuse my likely poor descriptions.
I know we're only just beginning with this saga, but I cannot wait to publish my version of The Last Stand! I feel really good about the changes I made there, and not just for Rogue and Cyclops!
Laura201112: Thanks for the encouragement, and I'm glad you love it so far!
DusktoDawn21: I'm glad this caught your interest! Yes, the first few chapters are very similar to the original movie scenes, but that's because I wanted to be sure that Rogue and Wolverine are well established into the story. I felt it was important to capture their thoughts and feelings from the beginning, especially since their meeting was very important. Admittedly, the twists I add in this part of the saga are a bit slow burn, but that's mainly because I'm hoping to build up the two main relationships. This is my first story, so revisiting the original movies in this fashion is my way of seeing how far my writing skills can go.
Guest: Thanks, Mom! Yes, this is my mother who knows X-Men better than I do, XD.
And just a reminder that updates are weekly on Sundays! I'll be sure not to make any exceptions, so that means the whole trilogy will be posted roughly by next September.
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men.
Dr. Jean Grey walked around the slab which her patient lied on. She had checked his blood pressure and for any vital signs of injury. Interestingly, though, she found no wounds. His limbs were splayed out normally with no bumps or bruises, so she could only assume he had no broken bones. She would get an x-ray done, though, just to be sure. She gently traced her hand down his left arm, silently marveling at how strong he felt, before collecting herself and inspecting his hand. She saw that his knuckles were red, and she could tell they weren't from the cold. She couldn't stop herself from caressing them. For some reason, this was causing her heart to flutter.
What are you doing? Jean scolded herself silently. You're engaged! Shaking her head, she looked up and telekinetically brought a small tube of clear liquid towards her and injected a needle into it. She turned his left arm and prepared to carefully press the needle in.
A centimeter of the needle had been inserted before Logan suddenly sat up, tossing the needle away, and holding her in a choke hold, breathing heavily. He quickly looked around to see where he was, barely paying attention to the woman who was gasping for air in his arms. He saw that he was in some kind of medical room, and he could sense that the woman he held meant no harm to him.
But he kept his guard up. He let go of the doctor and dashed out of the room, leaving her coughing. He then found himself in a strange room that he assumed to be some kind of hallway. Every inch of floor, wall, and the ceiling was covered in a greyish-blue metal, and long light beams adorned the corners and ceiling. The door shut behind him, and he noticed that the doors were round, each having a giant X on it. He slowly walked around the hallway until he found a section where leather uniforms were displayed in body-length windows.
Where's he going? Logan snapped his head behind him, looking for the source of the unfamiliar voice. He looked at the leather uniforms again, seeing that they all had the letter X all over them. He then saw a shelf holding grey hoodies, and he quickly grabbed one, having realized that he was only wearing black sweatpants.
After donning the hoodie, he walked towards another door. Unlike the other doors, which blended in with the walls, this one was silver, and had a smaller X in the middle. To Logan, it appeared to be a lock of some kind. As he walked towards it, he heard the voice again. Where are you going?
He quickly hid, still trying to find the source of this voice. His other senses were telling him that he was alone in this room, but yet he heard a voice in his head. He heard a different door slide open, and saw that it was an elevator.
Over here!
Logan snuck into the elevator, which took him to an entirely different room. Actually, it seemed to be an even longer hall, but was covered in smooth brown wood. He saw several lights, chairs, framed pictures, mirrors, windows, vases, and a staircase. This place looked and felt Victorian.
Where are you going? This way! He's over there.
The voice now seemed to speak from different places, overlapping each other. He hid from place to place, almost opening a set of doors before he heard people speaking. He hid behind a beam as teenagers descended down the staircase, talking excitedly to one another. He saw that they were holding books and wearing backpacks.
Logan then heard a door unlock and made a beeline for the wall opposite him. He opened the secret door and entered, closing the door. He turned around and saw that he wasn't alone.
"Good morning, Logan," said the suited bald man behind his desk, smiling warmly. Logan saw a small group of teenagers sitting in chairs in front of the man's desk turn to look at him. There was a chalkboard with complicated drawings beside the man, and the teenagers were holding books and pencils.
Was this some kind of school?
The man, apparently the teacher, then said to his students, "So, I'd like your definitions of weak and strong anthropic principles on my desk on Wednesday, all right? That'll be all."
The students all stood up, gathering their things, and filed out of the room. A girl in a blue sweater suddenly turned from the Asian girl in the bright yellow jacket to run back to the teacher, having forgotten her bag.
"Bye, Professor," she said cheerily. The man smiled back.
"Bye, Kitty." Logan watched the girl named Kitty run back towards the door that the other students had shut, but didn't stop to open it. Instead, she kept running...right through the door. He turned to look at the professor.
"Physics," he said simply, holding up a Physics textbook. He placed the book down and turned to leave the desk. "I'm Charles Xavier. Would you like some breakfast?"
Logan now saw that this man was in a wheelchair. Still, he kept his guard up. "Where am I?"
"Westchester, New York," Professor Xavier answered him in his regal English accent as he wheeled himself towards Logan. He noticed that the wheelchair moved by the push of a button, and that the wheels were large X's. "You were attacked. My people brought you here for medical attention."
"I don't need medical attention," said Logan gruffly. Professor Xavier only smiled.
"Yes, of course," he said, nodding. Logan looked around the room and suddenly remembered...
"Where's the girl?"
"Rogue? She's here. She's fine," Professor Xavier assured him.
Logan narrowed his eyes. "Really?" Professor Xavier didn't break his gaze on him. The door behind Logan opened again, and two people walked in.
"Ah," said Professor Xavier. "Logan, I'd like you to meet Ororo Munroe, also called Storm."
"Hello." Logan looked at the dark-skinned woman who was introduced as 'Storm'. She, like Professor Xavier, looked regal as she smiled politely at him. She also seemed to like the color white, from her shirt and sweater to her hair.
"This is Scott Summers," Professor Xavier continued, gesturing to the man wearing red shades beside Ororo, "also called Cyclops."
Scott held out his hand in greeting, but Logan didn't shake it. Faltering at his stare, he slowly lowered it.
"They saved your life," said Professor Xavier.
Before Logan could respond to that, another woman walked in. Like Ororo, she seemed to like wearing clothes that matched her hair. She wore a long-sleeved red shirt over a brighter red skirt, with her red hair up in a bun.
"I believe you've already met Dr. Jean Grey."
Oh, he did. Recognizing her as the woman he attacked, his eyes followed her as she walked to stand beside the professor. Scott narrowed his eyes at Logan, though no one could really tell.
"You're in my school for the gifted," said Professor Xavier. "For mutants. You'll be safe here from Magneto."
Logan tore his eyes off the sexy doctor to look back at Professor Xavier. "What's a Magneto?"
"A very powerful mutant," Professor Xavier answered, "who believes that a war is brewing between mutants and the rest of humanity." He saw that Logan looked skeptical, but carried on, "I've been following his activities for some time. The man who attacked you is an associate of his called Sabertooth."
Logan resisted the urge to scoff. "'Sabertooth'?" He turned to Ororo. "Storm." He clicked his tongue, then he turned back to the professor. "What do they call you? 'Wheels'?" Professor Xavier's expression didn't change, but Scott, Ororo, and Jean narrowed their eyes as Logan snickered. "This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
He walked towards Scott, who was still standing in the doorway. "And Cyclops, right?" He grabbed the collar of his jacket. "You wanna get outta my way?"
Scott just stood there. He looked at Professor Xavier, as if to ask whether or not he should let him leave. The professor spoke again.
"Logan. It's been almost fifteen years, hasn't it? Living from day to day, moving from place to place, with no memory of who or what you are?"
"Shut up!" Logan snapped, letting go of Scott to glare at Professor Xavier.
"Give me a chance," he said softly. "I may be able to help you find some answers."
Logan was unnerved by this proposal. "How do you know?"
You're not the only one with gifts, he heard Professor Xavier's voice say in his head. It was the same voice that was messing with him, leading him to this room. Professor Xavier smiled at him, and Logan smiled back a little.
"What is this place?"
As Professor Xavier gave him a grand tour and told him all about his school, many students were either in classes, or playing games. During one particular game of basketball, one kid used his powers to win, to the annoyance of his classmates.
"Anonymity is a mutant's first defense against the world's hostility. To the public, we're merely a school for gifted youngsters. Cyclops, Storm, and Jean were some of my first students."
Scott and Jean, both suited up, were practicing on a field. She telekinetically sent disks flying towards him, who blasted at them effortlessly with his optic blasts.
"I protected them, taught them to control their powers and, in time, teach others to do the same. The students are mostly runaways. Frightened, alone. Some with gifts so extreme that they've become a danger to themselves and those around them. Like your friend Rogue. Incapable of physical human contact, and yet here she is with others her own age, learning being accepted, not feared."
Rogue was currently in a class being taught by Ororo. She was surrounded by several other people her age – other kids with powers. But she knew she was the only one of her kind. She sat at a table in the back with two girls, one in a yellow jacket named Jubilation Lee (who preferred to be called Jubilee), and the other in a blue sweater named Kitty Pryde. They had asked her about Logan, wondering what kind of mutation gives someone metal claws. They seemed friendly, but Rogue still kept her distance, her chair far away from them. Once again, she had covered herself in a thick shirt, jacket, scarf, and gloves. She watched as the girls talked to each other quietly about the lesson. Then she looked at the boy in front of her, John Allerdyce, holding a lighter behind his chair. He ignited it, and began playing with the flame ball. Another boy that was sitting at the table next to Rogue saw this, too. He held up his hand and a small beam of frost turned the flame ball into a ball of ice, causing John to drop it. The ball shattered, drawing attention from the class and Ororo.
"John!" she scolded him. "What did I tell you?"
"Sorry," he said, embarrassed. The boy next to Rogue smirked before turning to her.
"I'm Bobby," he whispered. "What's your name?"
She looked at him. He was smiling at her, clearly wanting to make friends. "Rogue," she whispered back.
Bobby placed his hand on her desk, and when he drew it away, a rose made of ice was left there.
"Welcome to Mutant High," he said. She smiled back. To her left, Kitty was giggling, apparently impressed by this. Rogue was slowly realizing that these kids genuinely wanted to be her friends. Of course, Bobby seemed to want to be more than friends, but she just wasn't interested. Truthfully, she was interested in someone else...
When Ororo dismissed the class, Rogue stayed behind.
"The lesson wasn't too painful, I hope?" Ororo asked her kindly.
Rogue shook her head, smiling a little. "No."
"Good," Ororo smiled back, walking closer to her table.
"How's Logan?" Rogue asked. "Is he okay?"
The older woman nodded. "He's fine. He's...quite resilient." They shared another smile. Then Ororo grew concerned. "How long have you been on your own, Rogue?"
"Eight months," the southern girl answered uncomfortably. "I didn't know there were places like this."
Ororo gave a soft chuckle. "I don't think there are many places like this."
"And the professor," Rogue continued, looking hopeful, "can he actually cure me?"
Ororo's smile faded. "That's not how it works, honey. He created this place to be a safe haven for mutants, and to teach them how to control their powers for the benefit of mankind. You're in the right place, Rogue. I promise."
Rogue didn't know how her powers could possibly benefit anyone, but she nodded.
"Well, if you don't have any more questions –"
"Actually," Rogue interrupted, her face warming a bit, "if it's no trouble... Could you tell me about Mr. Summers?"
"What'll happen to her?" Logan asked Professor Xavier as they passed the window of Rogue's classroom.
"That's up to her," said Professor Xavier. "Rejoin the world as an educated young woman, or stay on to teach others, to become what the children have affectionately called 'X-Men'. But the school is merely our public face. The lower levels, however, are an entirely different matter."
Professor Xavier led Logan to the lower levels, showing him a hanger with a large, pristine-looking jet.
"When I was a boy," Professor Xavier continued as Logan walked around the hanger, looking at more leather uniforms, "I discovered I had the power to control people's minds, make them think or do whatever I wanted. When I was seventeen, I met a young man named Erik Lehnsherr. He, too, had an unusual power. He could create magnetic fields and control metal. Believing that humanity would never accept us, he grew angry and vengeful. He became Magneto." This drew Logan's attention back to the professor.
Professor Xavier then led Logan through the stables. "There are mutants out there with incredible powers, Logan. And many who do not share my respect for mankind. If no one is equipped to oppose them, humanity's days could be over. I'll make a deal with you, Logan." Once again, Logan's attention was fully drawn. "Give me forty-eight hours to find out what Magneto wants with you, and I give you my word that I will use all my power to help you piece together what you've lost, and what you're looking for."
Logan stood there, pondering over the professor's offer.
Some time later, Logan found himself back on the slab in the med lab with the beautiful Dr. Jean Grey, who was prepping him for the x-ray. While he enjoyed being prodded by her, he knew he owed her an apology. "I'm sorry."
Dr. Grey turned to look at him. "For what?"
"If I hurt you," he said, pointing to her throat. For a second, Jean was speechless. Then she smiled, and Logan could have sworn he saw her cheeks turn a bit pink. As she stepped towards a big monitor, he teased, "So, couldn't wait to get my shirt off again, huh?"
Dr. Grey stared at him, a bit more red in the face. Instead of answering him, she began performing the x-ray. He couldn't help smirking in triumph.
"The metal is an alloy called adamantium." Jean was showing the x-rays to Professor Xavier, Ororo, and her fiancé, Scott. "Supposedly indestructible. It's been surgically grafted to his entire skeleton."
"How could he have survived a procedure like that?" asked Ororo in disbelief.
"His mutation," Jean explained. "He has uncharted regenerative capability, which enables him to heal rapidly. This also makes his age impossible to determine. He could very well be older than you, Professor."
Professor Xavier said nothing to this as he closely inspected the x-rays.
"Who did this to him?" Scott wondered.
Jean shrugged. "He doesn't know. Nor does he remember anything about his life before it happened."
Professor Xavier frowned as he inched his wheelchair closer. "Experimentation on mutants. It's not unheard of. But I've never seen anything like this before."
"What do you think Magneto wants with him?" asked Scott.
"I'm not entirely sure it's him Magneto wants," Professor Xavier said softly.
And there's Chapter Four! Looks like Logan's got Jean under his spell, and Rogue's adjusting to her new home, along with dealing with a new crush.
I left out the part where Xavier says Rogue could be incapable of human contact for the rest of her life, because if he can help Logan, then he sure as hell should be able to help her, too. And Rogue and Storm's talk was from a deleted scene that I changed up a bit. When Rogue asked if the professor could cure her, Storm just said, "I'm not sure that's how it works." I want Rogue to have hope that she could learn control for her powers, instead of waiting for some "cure". Also, in the extended lesson scene, Bobby actually asked for her real name. I decided to leave that out as well, because I believe that Rogue doesn't actually tell anyone her real name unless she trusts them.
People keep saying that Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) improvised the "wheels" quip, and if it's true, that is hilarious.