Author's note: River is still a bit crazy, not as much as in my Firefly/Riddick crossovers because in this story they don't remove a piece of her brain, they just play with her DNA and genetics, still the whole genius empath thing, plus the whole military experiment thing would make anybody feng le, so her madness kinda seeps in around the edges at times, and you'll still see the "River-speak".
Don't own a thing, just stealing somebody else's imaginary friends for a few hours is all.
P.S.- River is fifteen when she is taken almost twenty when she escapes
CHAPTERS 1-3 HAVE BEEN REVISED AND REWRITTEN AS OF 12-13-09 NEW CHAPTER 3 HAS NOT BEEN POSTED.
A little over two years later….
River moved through the mansion gardens, the wind practically crackling with electricity, dark ominous clouds blotted out bright blue skies, blocking out the sun and casting a shadow across the earth. She let the whispers guide her, finding the source of the environmental turmoil shadowed on a low rise. The Storm was brewing.
Ororo jumped, slightly startled by the sudden light touch on her shoulder, she had been far away and distracted, though once she realized it was River who had been the one to sneak up on her she felt less annoyed by it, River could sneak up on the Professor.
"May she listen?" River asked.
Ororo nodded her head and offered her hand, and River slipped off one long black silk evening glove and accepted it, pleased that the Storm did not see it as an invasion as so many others did. She knew the Professor had hoped she would develop a closer relationship to Jean Grey, but the woman caged inside the doctor scared her, the woman inside burned her when she got too close. The Storm however loved her, loved her like Simon had loved her, and sang beautiful songs to the earth which the winds and clouds danced to. When River touched her skin it did not burn like flames, it vibrated with song and melody, though she knew despite her capabilities she could never sing to the atmosphere and earth as the woman Storm could, but she loved to listen, though the whispers could teach her nothing.
"The Storm is frightened of her namesake to come," River remarked almost absently after a long period of silence, though nothing River ever said was absent of meaning or purpose.
Ororo looked down at the girl holding her hand, she wasn't really a girl anymore, no, in the two years since they had found her she had become a valuable asset to both the school and the X-men team, on the outside she seemed to be nothing more than the fragile slip of a half grown woman, but on the inside she controlled more power than even the Professor Ororo suspected. "The Mutant Registration Act scares me."
"The girl fears it as well," River turned her gaze from the woman Storm back to the graying skies and savored the strong gust of wind, "it marks us as other, we are not other, not better or worse, we are simply different. The girl worries, humanity does not often approve of different, they fear it, humans are creatures of habit and comfort, we make them change, we make them uncomfortable, anger and fear are inevitable. Aggression is inevitable, though the Professor hopes for peace, the girl does not see it, she feels unrest, the Storm's winds carry the unrest to her, and she hears the whispers, the whispers cannot lie."
Ororo raised an eyebrow slightly and waited for River to answer the question she did not wish to speak aloud.
"The girl does not desire a war, but she will fight it, she will not be the aggressor, but when it reaches her doorstep as it will, she will defend her home with a ferocity they have never known and they will learn regret." Her voice was soft, but her face hard, etched with resolution.
Ororo nodded in silent agreement. River was one of the few X-men that saw things as she did, that knew hate and fear as she did, humanity had not been kind to her, but she was still loathe to lash out against it as River was, but should they attack her and her family, there would be no regret or mercy.
River felt the dangerous turn of the Storm's mind, the sharp edged memories which cut fresh wounds and the sorrow which began to flood her sister. "It is the girl's birthday today." River remarked once more seemingly absently.
"I haven't forgotten," Ororo lightened and smiled genuinely as she tilted her head back, her eyes becoming the beautiful pools of pure alabaster which River admired so much, the winds picked up abruptly, howling through the grounds as the leaves danced torn free from their anchors, grey clouds turned black and the sky erupted in crackles of thunder and flashes of lightning, a moment later they opened up, and both women turned their faces to the sky welcoming the torrent of warm rain. All sorrow and pain and fear vanishing, replaced by sheer exhilaration mingled oddly so with utter serenity.
*
Safely inside the mansion, Jean couldn't help but smile at the sudden hurricane which seemed to surround only the school, not far in the distance she could see the blue skies of the warm summer day, "Guess Storm gave River her gift early," she said looking over her shoulder at Scott.
Scott looked up and through the window, and immediately threw down the stack of papers he had been grading, "Shit, my bike's out there," he swore making a break for the door, Jean's laughter echoing behind him.
*
Xavier wheeled himself toward the French doors which led to the balcony of his office, a small smile twisting at his lips, and he allowed the storm to continued for a while, sensing the joy of two of his favorite children, that had long since ceased to be so.
/Ladies, I do not remember a hurricane being in the forecast today, and I believe River has a class to teach which begins in another twenty minutes/ He chided them, enjoying the unashamed answering giggles.
River had brought out a light heartedness in Ororo he had never seen in all his years with her, while Ororo provided for her the steady loving, guiding hand of a sister and a mentor. The pair encompassed everything he had desired for the school when he had formed it so many years ago. /Ladies/ he pushed into their minds again after several minutes had passed and the storm had not abated in the slightest.
/Sorry Professor/ Storm pushed back to him as the clouds began to break apart.
He couldn't help the small chuckle which escaped his lips, but he repressed his amusement when he spoke to them next, /River, you don't wish to be late for your own class, it would be a terrible example to set for your students/
/Sorry Professor/ she mimicked Storm's tone.
/Happy birthday child/the Professor responded, affection apparent in the tone of his whisper.
River smiled at him through her thoughts /Thank you/
/Your welcome, and I will be asking the X-men to gather in the conference room after the days classes have been concluded/
/Do we have a mission/ Storm asked, her curiosity piqued.
/No, just a few matters I have avoided long enough, and River child, no peeking please, I wish to order my thoughts still/
/The girl will restore her shields/ River acknowledged his need for privacy without suspicion or resentment, one was entitled to their mind and the sanctuary within.
"It's about the Act isn't it?" Ororo asked, the weight returning.
River nodded, "The girl does not need to read the Professor to know this."
"Everything is going to change isn't it?"
"Change is inevitable; the world evolves just as we do."
Storm released a breath, resigned to the inevitable, "Then we face it together." She said linking her arm through River's.
"Woe betides those who stand against us." River replied with traces of amusement in her voice, and together, sopping wet the two women headed back toward the mansion.
"The Professor called?" River smiled from the doorway of his office.
Xavier looked up from his desk, weary but offering up a smile, unsurprised that he had not heard or felt her approach, "I have a gift for you."
"The girl does not require a gift from the Professor, he has given her a home, a family, an occupation, control, for all he has given, the girl has nothing with which to reciprocate."
"There is nothing I wish but for my children to flourish and that you have done," he told her removing a medium sized box wrapped in shiny purple paper and held it out for her.
River met the box half way across the room, levitating it towards her, feeling the pride which radiated off her mentor, and only showing off slightly as she unwrapped the box with her mind, not tearing the paper in the slightest, she removed the electronic device from the packaging.
"As if you didn't know already," Xavier chuckled, "it's an electronic book reader, you can download virtually anything you wish my dear, I have taken the liberty of adding a few of my favorites."
"The girl thanks you." She said, retrieving the device from the air she leaned down and hugged her father, a few moments of silent communication passing between the two as only those who walk in minds are capable, thoughts and emotions which would have been cheapened by heavy words. "The others are arriving." River whispered aloud, straightening herself and moving towards the door opening it just as Scott had raised his hand to knock.
"Telepaths," he chuckled shaking his head, "Here kid, we got you art stuff."
"Just ruin the surprise," Jean chided him, "Happy Birthday River," she said hugging her, and River repressed the urge to cringe, the Jean Grey was acceptable, the other was not.
"Not like she didn't know already," he teased leading the way to the Professor's adjoining private office.
"The girl did not peek," River defended.
"She's lying of course," Ororo joked dropping herself into an overstuffed armchair, "Jayne and Kaylee are on their way up, and Hank's just finishing up on the phone with someone from G.E.R.A."
"No doubt about the Senate hearing next week," Scott snorted.
"How is your presentation coming along Jean?" The Professor asked.
"Well, nearly complete, I'd like to do a run through with you though."
"Of course my dear, River child, I would like you to accompany us, I wish to know the truth of it before the vote."
"The girl is in agreement that it is wise."
"Happy Birthday River!" Kaylee sang out skipping into the room, holding a rectangle shaped box, "Love me and Jayne." She beamed, tossing the package to River, who caught it mid air, and unwrapped it just as she had the Professor's.
"They are lovely, the girl is gratefully," River thanked her, as a set of new green silk evening gloves drifted in mid air.
"The color is beautiful," Storm complimented.
"Jayne picked it."
"Did not," Jayne lied, not wanting anyone to think he'd spent time in a girly dress shop pickin' out lady things.
River giggled, and being an empath, as usual her laughter was infectious, spreading from one pair of lips to the next, subsiding just as Hank entered, a broad grin breaking out on his face from the residual.
"I'm the last?" He asked apologetically, "And I missed gifts?"
"The girl thanks the Beast for the book, she has not yet read it, but knows she will enjoy it as it is his favorite."
Hank chuckled good naturedly, and tossed his gift to be opened in the same manner as the rest had been, "Next time I'll be sure to be projecting the ending, if you are going to spoil my fun I will spoil yours."
"The girl promises to not cheat." River continued to smile, completely unrepentant and content.
"Lies!" Storm playfully yelled, and a few minutes were spent trading teasing mutant barbs before River noticed The Professor's silence and called attention to it, wanting to know desperately his reason for it, but not wanting to go against his wish and look for herself.
"The Professor is silent." She spoke just loudly enough to be heard, and yet low enough to cause a lull in the conversation to be better heard.
Xavier rested his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers together, "I am simply enjoying the moment my dear, sitting before me are seven of my children I can no longer call so, how far you have all come, the people you have grown to become, I am so very proud of you all."
Each of the seven in question, smiled, basking in the praise, warmed by it, but River knew it would not last, the warmth his words brought and so she braced herself for the inevitable downfall, sending out waves of calm.
"I asked you here to discuss something I have perhaps waited far too long to discuss, and it seems as mistake to me now, though I fear what it means for our future here. The Mutant Registration Act goes to the Senate floor in less than two weeks. We must be prepared and prepare our students as well for the possible future if it passes."
There was a heavy silence, which no one broke for a few long minutes, each lost inside their own minds and emotions, but when it did end it was River who broke it. "The girl will not be able to remain, to do so would bring the wolves to her door, she cannot acknowledge herself."
"What? River, no," Ororo shot herself up from her chair, "Professor, tell her no." She insisted.
"We can't just register the entire student body, every mutant here is class 2 and above, and us, half of us in this room are class 3 or higher." Scott was also on his feet pacing, agitation pouring off of him in waves.
Jayne snorted, "River ain't the only one whose gots people lookin' for her neither," he shifted uncomfortably on the couch, unconsciously gripping Kaylee's hand tighter.
Xavier raised his hand, effectively silencing the group and once more calling their attention, "I have no intention of registering myself, my students, or my teachers."
River looked up.
"We shall need to develop a protocol should the school be targeted for my decision; the anonymity we have enjoyed may not last. I have compiled a list of our older students," as he spoke a computer screen rose from his desk, "who I believe are ready to begin training as a Junior team. The student body as a whole needs to beware of the danger, they need to know no matter what we shall do our best to protect them and keep them safe, it is what we promised."
"We'll need an evacuation plan, the Junior team will have to be shown the tunnels and the safe rooms," Storm spoke, "and we'll need to run drills, this way the students know where to go and who can help get them out safe."
"I'll make some calls in the morning, we'll need to acquire several safe houses, should we be attacked I think it's best to scatter. I'll start with some of the alumni and a few people I trust in G.E.R.A. the houses should not be connected to anyone still involved with the school however." Hank advised.
"Each of the Junior members should be assigned to a Senior, depending on how many Junior members there are, each team with an assigned meeting place and students, this way we can make sure no one gets left behind, and if it comes to it," Scott paused a moment to level his voice and control his emotions, an act River appreciated greatly, "the Juniors can patrol the grounds."
Ideas flew around the room, modified and discarded as needed, the Professor spoke little, his decision made, his mind in turmoil.
/The Professor will live to see a great many things come to pass he did not wish to/ River broke his mental silence /The girl should leave, she is a danger here, The Uncle will find her/
/Stryker has not found you here yet child, I will hear no more on the discussion, your home is here, and you are not the only wanted individual we shelter/
/The Act WILL pass/
/What do you know child/ he asked curiously.
/The girl knows nothing, but she feels everything, words that are pictures, pictures that have no images, the whispers tell her and she hears them but cannot make sense, the future is spoken in a language she cannot learn to understand, it shifts and changes as the present occurs, we do not exist in the future, existence only occurs within the realm of the present, therefore the future does not exist, it cannot be read nor obtained, we are forever trapped in the present/
/Then let us at least make something of the present/
"Which of the students are you talking 'bout Professor?" Kaylee asked breaking through their mental conversation.
Xavier picked up a slim black remote, sliding back into audible communication with the ease of long practice, "The first," he clicked the remote, "Bobby Drake."
"He's ready," Jayne immediately commented, "Been workin' with him on encasin', kid's nearly got it, and he's got a hellva right hook."
"Agreed," Scott voted.
"Any objections?" Xavier asked of the others, and when none came, "Very well, the next Kitty Pryde."
"I'm not sure if she'd be able to handle a combat situation, but I say give her a shot, we'll know for sure once we get her into the Danger Room." Storm said.
"I think she just might surprise you, she's smart, thinks on her feet really well." Jean remarked.
"I agree Jean, we do not know what we are capable of until we are tested, Kitty makes two, Jubilation Lee."
"Girl's got spark," Kaylee giggled at her own joke, "she's good with computers too, and the younger ones love her."
"The Jubilee does not take life lightly, she will exercise caution and restraint, will only fight when there is no other option, this girl agrees."
"Very well then," Xavier clicked the remote again, "John Allerdyce."
"Kid's got a temper, but he's fearless, he won't ever give up or give in, ain't in 'im," Jayne said.
"Needs to work on hand to hand, in defense classes he relies too much on his mutation, which is great until you take away his lighter." Scott added.
"Fixable though, we make him run a few simulations through the Danger Room," Storm offered, "Jayne can work with him."
"Good," Xavier nodded, "And lastly which would give us five Junior members Piotr Rasputin."
"Wonderin' when you was getting' to my boy," Jayne smirked, "Kid's more than ready."
"Agreed," Storm and Jean answered in unison.
"The students need to be organized into well balanced groups, enough older students to help the younger, students with strong defensive abilities paired with those of passive, River I will leave that to you and Ororo, Jean and Hank if you will work on acquiring the safe houses and see them stocked, Kaylee new perimeter alarms will need to be designed and installed, and Jayne and Scott will begin training immediately with the Junior team."
"Is this it then Professor? This is all really happenin'?" Kaylee asked quietly, looking down at her hands.
"We are only preparing ourselves child, do not lose hope for a better world, it is always just within our grasp."
"In every organism on earth there exists a mutator gene, the X-factor, as it has come to be known. It is the building block of evolution, how we have evolved from homo habilus…" Jean spoke confidently from the podium in the center of the Senate Hearing room, a large projector screen behind her displaying a piece of genetic code.
Above her observing from the rafters, River and the Professor absorbed every thought and emotion which passed through every single mind in the room.
/bullshit/
/eggs, cheddar, do I have broccoli/
/filthy muties/
/what the hell is a homo habilus/
"…Taking its cues from the climate, terrain, various sources of nourishment, the mutator gene tells the body when it needs to change to adapt to a new environment. The process is subtle, normally taking thousands of years."
/Where the hell is Henry, should have had the list hours ago/
/this is what happens when you let evolution be taught in schools/
/makes sense, but how does it happen so fast/
/don't care how or why, things are dangerous, a threat to national security/
"…Only in the last thousand years has man begun to make clothes, build shelters, grow food in large quantities, use heat, the relatively stable man made environment lead the X gene to become dormant, until now."
"Ms. Grey you are avoiding the question I posed to you more than an hour ago. Three words: Are mutants dangerous?" Senator Frank Kelly stood up, interrupting Jean's speech, a piece of paper in his hand which for a reason, she did not know, made her entirely nervous.
"I am avoiding a question that is decidedly unfair Senator Kelly; the wrong person behind the wheel of a car is dangerous."
"Well, we do license people to drive," He smirked and the crowd murmured in agreement.
"Yes, but not to live," Jean answered firmly and confidently.
"Ms. Grey you mistake our purpose here, we are not trying to weed out the mutant population, the purpose of the Registration Act is for identify possible threats, if any, to national security. I have a list here, that my aide has just brought to my attention of a few known mutants, little girl that can walk through walls, what's going to stop her from walking through a bank vault or into the White House or the homes of these people?" He asked looking at her from above his glasses, but did not wait for an answer, "Another child who set fire to a school room bully, Ms. Grey to me a child who can set fires with his mind when he gets angry is a weapon, and as a general rule we do not allow weapons in schools."
"Senator," Jean tried to interject but again he would not allow it, she was losing ground, and they both knew it.
"If these people have nothing to hide, where's the issue Ms. Grey? If they are all nonviolent and peaceable, why don't they come forward?"
"Senator Kelly it is a known truth that mutants who have come forward have been met with violence and animosity…" She tried to continue but the Senator once more cut her off.
"People the question is simple, do we want these mutants, these potentially dangerous individuals in our schools with our children? Do we want them moving unnoticed through our government buildings? Mutants are very real," he paused, his eyes searching the crowd, "and they are among us. We must know who they are and want they are capable of."
Any reply Jean was going to make was drowned out by the overwhelming cheers.
/It has already been decided/ River thought to the Professor.
/So it has my child, so it has/ resignation laced his tone.
/Professor/ River question when she felt his abrupt shift.
/An old friend is here, one we must speak with him, be wary of the deeper places in his mind child/
*
"Erik," Xavier called out, causing the older man, dressed in a heavy winter coat to pause in step.
"Charles," he responded, though not turning to face his long time friend, despite the lines that had been drawn, Charles to him, would always be that.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?"
"Don't give up on them."
"I've heard these arguments before old friend." His voice suddenly harder, and River felt as though she did not need to be an empath to feel the bitterness which emitted from him.
"That was a long time ago," Charles spoke quietly, "they've evolved since then."
"Yes, into us" he smirked, and tapping his head, "I can feel you up there, what are you looking for?"
"Hope," he answered simply.
"I have great hope for the future Charles, a future shaped by evolution. I don't ask for your help," he answered sharply, "only that you stay out of my way." Finally he turned to look at his friend, "I see you have new faces, I knew I felt something new inside my mind, have you chosen your side girl?" He half smirked.
"I have," River responded firmly, meeting his gaze evenly.
"And so you too shall wait for them to come for you, shall you brand yourself as well? Such a pity," Erik remarked, truly disappointed, "Do not interfere Charles, stay in your school," His warning echoed through the otherwise empty hall as he continued on his way, and neither the Professor nor River made a move to follow.
"His thoughts are dark, the whispers are violent, war will begin by his hand." River said quietly to the Professor, "He will destroy all possibility for peace, there is a girl he seeks, she is a vagabond, a Rogue, she is alone, her skin absorbs us, he holds no value on her life, only the use."
"His purpose?" Charles asked, not at all surprised she had gotten more than he had.
"The girl is unsure," River frowned, "The whispers are broken and fragmented, he scatters his thoughts, he knows of the Professor's gift, has learn to resist the push, but he cannot silence the whispers, traces, wisps, nothing tangible, just beyond the girl's reach. The girl is his key, he is tracking her now, she will die for his purpose, he knows this, embraces this." Her grip on the Professor's wheelchair tightened.
/human life means nothing to him, and mutant life little more/ River finished her words mentally.
/he is afraid child, could you not see it/
/his fear has turned to rage, if we stand against him he will try to destroy us/
/and if we do not, he will burn all of the world to suit his vengeance do not hate him child, we are all just a breath away from where he stands, do not think I do not know what goes on in the minds of my students, even those who are stronger than me/ River was visibly taken aback by the Professor's confession, to which he answered with a chuckle. /you underestimate yourself, I do not, in fact it is my desire you begin training with Cerebro, starting with locating the child Erik is searching for/
/the girl cannot, she does not have the control/
/the girl can, and she will, a time will come when I will no longer be here to guide them River, it is my hope you shall take my place in that aspect/
River did not reply, and the Professor did not push, she like so many others of great power she was afraid of it, he knew in time she would become all that she was meant to be, but for now he would give her time.
Endnote: Feeling much better about this version and as much as I would love to get chap 3 up there for you, it is uber late and I must return to the hell which is retail in less than eight hours. much luv.
'Til After Now.