Chapter 2: Ryan's Brand New Day

A couple of days have gone by since the rescue of the mutant from Arizona. He has been resting comfortably in the med wing of the X-men's newest California estate. This particular evening, Scott has decided to call a meeting with the senior team. This consists of Robert Drake (Iceman), Warren Worthington III (Archangel), Henry McCoy (Beast), Emma Frost, Ororo Monroe (Storm), and James Howlett (Wolverine). The team gathered in one of the conference rooms.

"Alright, the reason I have called this meeting is because of our newest arrival." Scott said. "We have been keeping him sedated due to the nature of his condition."

"What are you getting at slim?" James asked getting straight to the point.

"We need to handle this mutant in particular carefully." Scott replied. "He has no memory of anything that has happened in his life."

"But, we've dealt with people who have lost their memories before." Robert chimed in. "Wolverine had no idea who he was and we got his memory back."

"That was different." Emma sighed. "His memories haven't been psionically blocked from him or fragmented, or even repressed. His memories have been completely removed from him. I am surprised his mind even survived it."

"So what are you suggesting Emma?" Ororo asked.

"I think that we should replace his lost memories." Emma said carefully.

"What are you talking about Emma?" Robert said abruptly. "Just what are we going to be putting in this boy's head?"

"Yea, I don't think I like where this is going." James said. "This sounds like we're brainwashing the kid and you can understand why I would be against something like that."

"I am not suggesting that we brainwash the child." Emma began. "When he wakes up, what do you think is going to be his first thought? The last thing he remembers is being tortured in a laboratory by someone who could read his mind and do god knows what else. Why should he have any reason to trust us?"

"We could offer him safety and the chance to gain back his memories." Henry suggested.

"We don't even know where the mutant who has his memories is located and why should he have any reason to believe us." Emma retorted. "Besides, I scanned these last couple of days and could not turn up anything. I don't want to promise him something that we cannot deliver."

"That's better than giving this kid a fake life." Robert said. "He'd be living a lie that we propagated. And what if he found out that these "memories" were false? If he is as powerful as you say he is, who's to say that he won't find out?"

"With his powers psychically inhibited, he will not be able to discover the false nature of the memories." Emma said.

"I cannot believe this." Robert said incredulously. "I am really surprised that you are going for this Scott. Didn't the professor erase your memories of your brother and alter your memories of Krakoa."

"That was completely different Robert." Scott said angrily.

"Really, because I don't really see a difference…" Robert started to say.

"Is there any possible way of recovering his true memories at this point in time?" Warren interjected.

"No" Emma answered curtly.

"Well then, I think that we should give this a try." Warren said.

"Hold on; if we are able to retrieve his memories, could we switch them or something of that sort?" Ororo asked.

"Yes, I was pondering the same thing." Henry said.

"Yes, it is possible." Emma said. "Obviously we would have to take due care when that situation arises."

"So can we at least agree on that?" Scott asked looking around the room. "We replace his memories in order to trust us and keep it that way until we find his actual memories?"

"That sounds reasonable." Henry said.

"Yes, I agree with that." Ororo said.
"I still do not think that this is a good idea." Robert said.

"Neither do I." James said as he got up and prepared to leave. "I hope you know what you're doing Slim."

"Well, since everyone here seems to think that manipulating this kid into joining the X-men is a good idea, then I guess I have nothing else to say." Robert said as he followed suit. "I thought the X-men were better than this."

"Don't worry Scott; we understand that this needs to be done." Warren said. "Just promise me that we will give him his memories back when the time comes."

"I promise Warren." Scott said as the rest of the group got up and left.

"I truly hope this is the right thing." Scott said.

"Don't worry love; this is the best thing for him." Emma said.

"But, Bobby did have a point." Scott said.

"As long as we handle this carefully, everything should be fine." Emma said. "Don't doubt yourself so much; you're a great man Scott."

"Thanks Em" Scott said.
"You're welcome; now I am off to wake sleeping beauty." Emma said.

"Good luck." Scott said.

"Thanks" Emma said as she left.

Emma walked out of the room and travelled down to the medical facility. When she arrived there, she grabbed the door knob and hesitated. She looked around for a moment, gathered a new resolve and entered the room. As she walked in, she could only hear the steady beeping of the heart machine. She looked over at the mutant resting peacefully on the bed. She walked over to the bedside and took a seat next to the bed.

"You, my dear, are more powerful than you know." Emma said to the sleeping mutant. "Your existence gives hope that there are other mutants out there whom we are not aware of. This may seem like the worst thing to do, but I pray you will understand when you discover the truth. Scott and I have failed our students and even our own children time and time again. You will be one that we will not fail."

Emma placed her hands on the mutant's temples. She closed her eyes as her face took on an appearance of concentration. In the mindscape, the mutant's mind which was once empty of memories became filled with images of blond woman and a brunette man raising him. These images started off blurry and soon became clear. There were also images of other members of the X-men taking care of him while the blond woman and brunette man was away. These images took hold as his mind began to form memories of its own accord.

"Oh my…" Emma gasped as her eyes snapped open. "Did his mind create memories on its own?"

The young mutant began to murmur and move around in this sleep.

"I don't under…" Emma began to say.

"M…mot…mother" The mutant said.

"Ryan" Emma said as she hugged the boy.

"Where am I?" Ryan asked he hugged Emma back.

"You are in the hospital wing." Emma said as she let Ryan go. "We were attacked and you were kidnapped. It was when your powers first manifested. Don't you remember?"
"No… wait, I think so." Ryan said as he began to think. "Yeah, I was here playing here with… Aunt Ororo and the men came when she left. I tried to get away and almost did but they took me."

"It's okay Ryan." Emma said. "So long as we have you back that is all that matters."
"So how is our young patient doing?" Henry said as he entered the room.
"Everything's all good Uncle Hank." Ryan said smiling brightly.

"Henry, I have completed altering his memories and he believes that we adopted him as a baby with Scott and I being his parents. For some reason he thinks of the senior staff as his aunts and uncles… so go with it." Emma said to Henry telepathically.

"Alright champ, everything looks to be in order." Henry said as he nodded to Emma and looked back to Ryan. "If you are up to it, you can go back to your room tonight and we can start running some tests on your powers tomorrow."

"Sweet!" Ryan said excitedly. "Does this mean I'm going to be an X-man uncle Hank?"

"Well…" Henry started.

"Not just yet sweetheart." Emma said.

"But mom…" Ryan began.

"We'll see" Emma said. "Now run along to your room, Henry and I have a few things we need to talk about."

"Alright, see ya mom." Ryan said as he got up and left. "Later Uncle Hank"

"So Emma, what was that all about?" Henry said as he turned off the equipment.

"To tell you the truth Henry, I don't really know." Emma said as she rubbed her head.

"What do you mean?" Henry asked.

"Well, I was inserting memories of the X-men into his mind and all of a sudden his mind started to shape them itself." Emma said. "The memories were creating themselves and this is what the result is. I don't know what he really knows."

"This is interesting." Henry said. "Perhaps his mind knew that there was nothing there and once your influence began, it put the pieces together."

"But that is just it Henry, I only supplied a few images." Emma said. "He supplied the rest and put them all together by himself."

"I don't know Emma; all I can say is that we are going to have to watch him closely." Henry said putting the last of the equipment away.

In the meantime, Ryan left the medical wing and walked across the compound. The people who saw him gave him an odd look due to his attire. He looked down and realized he was still in a medical gown. He blushed and quickly ran to the residential quarters. He ran upstairs and down a hallway until he found a room which had Ryan labeled on it. He opened the door and walked in. The room was painted a deep forest green and many posters of the Avengers, the X-men, and the Fantastic Four. There was also a desk which had a laptop on it and a closet which was filled with different outfits.

"Wow!" Ryan said to himself. "I missed my room."

Ryan quickly changed into a black T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. After changing, Ryan felt his stomach growl. He decided to head over to the kitchen and grab some food before going to bed. He left his room and made his way downstairs. When got to the hall that leads to the kitchen, he heard voices.

"No Ororo, this is wrong." A male voice said. "We should not have done that. Who are we to control his life."
"Who are we to have him live a life of pain and frustration?" Ororo replied. "You should understand that more than anyone else Robert. Weren't you the one who was chased out of town by the people there?"
"Yes, but…" Robert said.

"Would you wish that on someone else?" Ororo asked.

"No, I guess not." Robert said.

"Good" Ororo said.

All of a sudden, Ryan felt a wave of anger and shame wash over him. He grabbed his head and fell to the floor. He tried to force the emotions away from him, but it was too strong. As he felt his head splitting, he heard footsteps approach.

"Ryan" Ororo said as she gently shook him. "Ryan, are you okay?"

"Uncle Bobby, please don't be angry." Ryan said weakly.
"Uncle Bobby" Robert said to himself.

"Robert, it's his empathy." Ororo said. "Try to be as emotionless as you can."

"Right" Robert said. "Is this okay?"

"Yea" Ryan said as he gathered his bearings.

"Here, let's take you to the kitchen." Ororo said as she helped Ryan walk.

"So it's good to see you up and around buddy." Robert said as they sat at the table.

"Yea, I am really happy to be back again." Ryan said as Ororo placed a sandwich in front him. "Thanks Aunt 'Ro."

"You're welcome Ryan." Ororo said as she gave Robert a look.

"So, what do you remember?" Robert asked as he took a swig of root beer.
"Everything is pretty fuzzy, but I was playing a game with Aunt 'Ro and then a bunch of people came in and took me." Ryan said. "Then I woke up here."

"Wow that is pretty rough." Robert said. "So let's play a game."

"Sweet, I like it when we play games Uncle Bobby." Ryan said with excitement.

"Okay, the game is questions." Robert began. "I ask you a question, you answer and then you ask me a question and I answer."

"Okay, cool" Ryan said. "What's the question?"

"How old are you?" Robert asked.

"15 of course" Ryan replied. "My turn; why aren't you with Aunt Lorna?"

"Hmmm… you're pretty straight-forward aren't you." Robert said nervously. "Well, Lorna, or Aunt Lorna rather, decided that I was not her type in comparison to Alex and left to be with him."

"Don't be sad Uncle Bobby." Ryan said as he felt a small wave of sadness. "You'll find someone else."
"Thanks, okay…" Robert said. "…why do you refer to all of us as Aunt and Uncle?"

"You know that Uncle Bobby." Ryan said.

"Humor me" Robert said.

"Alright, Mom and Dad adopted me when I was a baby and when I was younger I couldn't enunciate names so I referred to everyone here as aunt or uncle." Ryan explained. "Even as I got older, I still felt like you guys have been the best family that I've had."

"That is truly beautiful Ryan." Ororo said as she hugged him. "Don't stay up to late now; either of you."

"We won't, good night Aunt 'Ro." Ryan said as she left. "So I think it is my turn. Who were you and Aunt 'Ro arguing about before?"

"…it was about…" Robert struggled. "I really can't say."

"But Uncle Bobby…" Ryan began.
"Don't worry about it Ryan." Robert said smiling. "Let's have a root beer float before bed."
"Alright" Ryan said excitedly.

The pair grabbed some ingredients and made root beer floats. Soon enough they were feeling the effects of the sugar and decided to have midnight manhunt game in the Danger Room. After several rounds of fun, the two had worn themselves out and went off to bed. Ryan lay down, closed his eyes and let his mind wander into the realm of dreams. His dreams were peaceful, drifting memories of Ryan doing various things with different X-men. This continued for a while until a sudden darkness started slowly leaking into his dreams rather subtly; completely unnoticed. In the midst of a memory of James, Ryan, and Robert at the movies, Ryan felt the strange sensation that he was being watched. He looked around until on the movie screen he saw a glowing red diamond. The sight surprised him and suddenly he gasped; awake.

'What was that?' Ryan thought.

"Ryan, are you alright?" Emma asked telepathically.

'Yes, I think so.' Ryan mentally thought.

"Are you sure?" Emma pressed. "Because I sensed…"

'Yes! I am fine.' Ryan thought in a burst of anger.

"Very well; Henry would like to see you in the Danger Room for testing." Emma said.

'Sweet! Tell him I'll be there in about 15 minutes.' Ryan thought excitedly as he prepared to shower.

Ryan took a quick shower and got changed. He grabbed his backpack and ran downstairs to the Danger Room. When he got there, he saw Beast, Wolverine, Storm and Emma Frost.

"Hey Dr. McCoy, what's everyone doing here?" Ryan asked with intrigue.

"Well, we're going to be performing multiple tests to see exactly how your powers function." Henry said. "After some preliminary tests, we have determined that you have two very interesting powers."

"Two?" Ryan asked. "I thought mutants only get like one power."

"Well, there are occasions where mutants have more than one power." Henry explained. "For example, Jean Gray had Telepathy along with Telekinesis. She was an exceptionally powerful mutant who very gifted with both abilities. Another example is Wolverine. He has both a regenerative healing factor as well the ability to produce claws. Then again, there is also secondary mutation which your mother is all too familiar with."

"That's true." Ryan said thoughtfully. "So what powers do I have?"
"The easiest one to explain is Empathy." Henry said. "You, Ryan, have the Psionic ability to read, manipulate, and control the emotional state of others."

"So that's why I have been feeling weird lately." Ryan said to himself.

"What was that?" Henry asked politely.

"Nothing. So I can feel what other people are feeling and change it?" Ryan asked.

"Yes, and potentially even more than that." Henry said as he saw Ryan eyes light up. "But we're just going to do some basic things today. Emma is going to help you read and change the emotions of Wolverine."

"And that's going slow?" Ryan asked incredulously.

"Aww bub, are you afraid of hurting my feelings?" Wolverine said mockingly.

"Why wolverine, why not Storm?" Ryan asked pleadingly.

"Because Ororo's powers are tied to her emotions and if we were to create an extreme emotion within her, her powers could rage out of control." Emma said as she approached Ryan. "Don't be afraid; I am here."

"Alright, what do I do?" Ryan asked.

"Close your eyes and feel the emotion you want to create." Emma said as Ryan closed his eyes. "I suggest a simpler one like sadness, happiness, excitement, etc."

"Alright, I got one." Ryan said with his face scrunched in concentration.

"Good, now open your eyes and mentally push that emotion away from yourself and onto Logan." Emma said.

At that moment, Ryan's eyes started to glow a bright green as he looked at Wolverine. Suddenly Wolverine began to feel a bit off. A few seconds ago, he wasn't filled with any emotion in particular; now he felt an overwhelming sadness wash over him. He could see sad occasions happening in his life and could not stop them. He fell to his knees and began to cry uncontrollably.

"STOP IT!!" Wolverine bawled.

"Okay Ryan that is enough." Emma said.

"I don't know how to stop it." Ryan said worriedly.

"Just cut the emotional connection" Emma said quickly.

"Kid you better put a stop to this now." Wolverine growled as his emotional state changed.

"Alright… alright I can do this." Ryan said as he fearfully took a deep breath.

Ryan's eyes glowed again and this time everybody in the room felt a wave of calm wash over them. Wolverine growled a little bit and left abruptly.

"Wolverine, I'm sorry." Ryan said as Wolverine left.

"Don't worry about it sweetheart." Emma said as she put her hands on Ryan's shoulders. "Wolverine was just a bit overwhelmed. We'll work on some techniques a little bit later."

"I don't think I want to use that power again." Ryan said shuttering. "I felt his pain and it scared Me."
"We don't have to continue with empathy today." Henry said. "Well let's move on to your other ability. This one is a bit more complicated so I will go slowly. You have the ability to change an atom or molecule's orientation in relation to other molecules or atoms and create weak bonds."
"Which means?" Ryan asked very confused.

"Many things, one thing in particular was weakly bonding molecules to paralyze an opponent." Henry said. "Let's give that a try."
"O…K…" Ryan said. "So what exactly do I do?"

"Try envisioning me not being able to move." Ororo suggested as she stepped forward.

"What if I accidentally use my Empathy on you?" Ryan asked fearfully.

"Do not worry; Emma is psionically shielding me from your abilities and I have a few tricks up my sleeve for dealing with mental powers." Ororo said as she smiled warmly. "Now give it a try."

Ryan began to concentrate exactly as Ororo told him. He soon began to see small dots all over the place. As he continued to concentrate, the dots began to collect all around Ororo's form.

"Ryan you did it; I cannot move." Ororo said.

"How in the world did you perform that perfectly on the first try?" Emma asked with surprise.

"I really don't know." Ryan said. "I just did what Aunt 'Ro said, saw some dots, and it happened."

"What do you mean by "saw some dots"?" Hank asked curiously.

"Don't you see them?" Ryan asked as his eyes glowed green.

"Emma, see if you can project what Ryan is seeing into our minds."

"I suppose." Emma replied as her eyes glowed with a pale blue.

Suddenly Hank, Ororo, and Emma began to see small dots all over the place; moving in different directions and in different orientations. They appeared to be different types, sizes and shapes.

"Fascinating, I think we are seeing atoms and molecules at the sub-atomic and atomic levels." Hank said as he looked around. "I don't think I have ever met someone with this capability. It truly is remarkable."

"Thanks… I think." Ryan said with confusion.

"No, thank you." Hank said wholeheartedly. "Now, I would like to see something. Ororo, could you please supply with a small summer shower."

"No problem Hank." Ororo said as her eyes began to glow white.

A moderate sized thunder cloud appeared above them. A quick flash is seen and small clap of thunder is heard. At that moment, small drops of water began to fall on them. As if by some sort of reflex, Emma shifted to her organic diamond state. Meanwhile, the raindrops seem to fall around Ororo entirely. Hank looked over at Ryan, whose eyes were stopped glowing and nodded in confirmation.

'Just as I suspected, at this level of control some of his powers are merely subconscious." Hank thought. 'He isn't even trying and yet he is changing the orientation of the water molecules so they do not touch him. This child is definitely more powerful than we know.'

"Is there a point to this Hank?" Emma asked. "Other than getting soaked…"

"Oh yes Emma and you will see." Hank said. "Ryan, can you do me a favor? Can you concentrate as you were before, except this time concentrate on the rain going away?"

"I can try." Ryan said as he began to concentrate.

Ryan's eyes glowed green once more as the rain continued to pour. It seemed like nothing was happening until he rain began to get lighter. Hank looked over to Ororo who had a look of surprised painted on her face. Suddenly, the cloud started to disperse and the room began to fill with steam. Soon the steam evaporated and Hank looked around.

"Thank you Ryan." Hank said. "I think that will be all for today. We have been working all afternoon and I suspect that you might be quite hungry."

"Now that you mention it, I am a bit hungry." Ryan said. "How did I do?"

"Quite well sweetheart." Emma said as she shifted to her human form.

"Yes, you performed remarkably." Hank said.

"So does that mean I will be able to join the X-men soon?" Ryan said excitedly.

"We'll see, remember this has only been the first day." Ororo said. "Now let us go and get some food. Then perhaps we can play a game."
"Cool Auntie 'Ro. Catch ya later Dr. McCoy." Ryan said as the two began to leave. "See ya later mom."

"Farewell Ryan." Hank said.

"See you later Ryan." Emma said as they left.

"Emma, he is truly…" Hank began.

"Scott, Logan, and Robert, I need to see you all in the Danger Room immediately." Emma said telepathically. "Hank, I have called the others down to discuss our results today."

"And what results they are…" Hank said as he went up to the control room.

While Scott, Logan, and Robert were on their way to the danger room, Ororo and Ryan are sitting in the kitchen. They are eating leftovers from a dinner served a night ago which consisted of chicken parmesan.

"Why is it that everyone is so surprised by my powers Aunt 'Ro?" Ryan asked.

"Well Ryan, you are a very powerful mutant with gifts which are not seen very often." Ororo said.

"Is that why they worry about me?" Ryan asked.

"What do you mean?" Ororo replied in question.

"I am an empathy Aunt 'Ro. I feel things all of the time." Ryan said. "For instance, you are worried right now about something."

"I am worried about your safety. Powerful mutants do not manage well here in the X-men." Ororo said woefully. "I think that is what everyone is truly worried about."

"But I am not like mutants; I won't lose it with you guys training me." Ryan said. "Don't worry Aunt 'Ro, it hurts when you do."

"I am sorry child." Ororo said as she cheered up. "Oh look, there goes Anole, Pixie, and Armor, why don't you go talk to them."

"I don't know, I really do not remember them." Ryan said thinking.

"Well, the best way to remember them is to talk to them again." Ororo said as she got up and led Ryan over to the group. "Hey guys"

"Hey Professor Monroe" the trio said.

"This is Ryan" Ororo said. "Remember… Ryan, Emma and Scott's child who was recently kidnapped."

"Okay, how are you doing Ryan?" Pixie said. "You have awesome green eyes."

"Thanks, I am well." Ryan said. "It looks like you guys are going somewhere."

"Yea, there is a Dazzler concert downtown; do you want to join us?" Anole said.

"I don't know if that…" Ororo began.

"Please Aunt 'Ro, come on it sounds cool." Ryan said pleadingly as the other three mouthed Aunt 'Ro.

"I guess it wouldn't be too much of a problem." Ororo said. "Keep an eye on him guys."

"Oh we definitely will." Pixie said as she grabbed Ryan's arm. "Let's blow this popstand.

"Cool" Ryan said as the group left.

'I hope nothing happens to them.' Ororo thought as she watched them go.

Meanwhile, Scott, Emma, Hank, Robert and Logan met in the Danger Room to discuss the testing which took place.

"These results are insane." Robert said.

"Yea, the kid packs a punch." Logan said. "I could not believe he got to me that badly."

"Emma, I thought you placed Psionic blocks in this kid." Robert said.

"Ryan… and I did place powerful blocks in his mind." Emma said in a huff. "But he seems to be able to bend the blocks subconsciously to supply himself with more power."

"Well, I talked to him last night and he seems to be pretty happy with the way that he is now, so I guess we will wait and see."

"I guess we will." Scott said. "Hank, finish reviewing these results and let me know everything that you find."

With that the group left and Hank continued to work into the night.