Second Chances

Disclaimer: Because Different doesn't feel so different. (1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven:Unwell

Andi never wanted to spend the entire day in the medlab. Yes, it was time for her shots, but those were over in less than 90 minutes. To her, the day's plans included trying to win back the five bucks she lost in the Hold 'Em game with Bryan the night before. Her body, sadly, had other plans.

She felt tired. Considering she'd stayed up late watching Headlines, it was no shock to her and her fatigue went unnoticed. The burning itch down her back had gotten worse since the night before, which puzzled her since she slathered herself with lotion right before bed. It wasn't until she went to open her dresser drawer for a change of clothes that she realized this was something more.

At first, she thought she was hallucinating again. Her hand seemed to blend right into the dresser. No, it wasn't made of wood, but it sure looked that way. When she pulled her hand away and really focused, her sapphire scales and webbing returned once more. How the hell? She wondered as someone knocked on the door.

"Just a minute!" She called, swiftly opening the drawer and pulling out her tie-dyed heart tee shirt and a pair of jeans.

Bang, bang!

"I said just a minute!" She exclaimed as she hurriedly shinnied out of her pajamas and into her shirt, bra, and jeans. "You didn't have to knock the door down."

She swung the door open to see Zartan standing in front of her.

"Finally." The man replied. "I was beginning to worry. You're usually not asleep this late."

"Late night with Ry." Andi shrugged, hiding her hand behind her back. "Regan starting her session early this morning?" What time is it anyway?

He gave her an inquisitive look. "It's almost 6:45."

Shoot. "No breakfast for me today, huh." She sighed.

"Afraid not, Kid." He replied, "Now get to the training room. I still have to find Regan."

"Yes sir." Andi answered with a nod.

XXXXXXX

In another five minutes, Andi was sitting in a chair across from Regan. The older blond tentatively put her hand up to her forehead and focused. As the telepath's eyes glowed lime, Andi focused on a small block in her mind. The harder the block Lady M could break through in her mind, the closer she would be to actually controlling someone else's mind.

"Whoa." The green-eyed girl blinked. "It's like the Berlin Wall."

"And that was torn down too, Miss Wyngarde." Zartan replied. "Just focus on breaking through."

"Okay." Regan nodded. She squinted into Andi's eyes and finally tore a small hole in the two-toned girl's defenses.

"That's a few bricks down." Andi said. "But it's still not gone yet."

"I'm trying!" Regan exclaimed, tearing out several more of the bricks in Andi's mental wall.

"Try harder." The blue-eyed girl deadpanned.

"Fine." Regan growled. With a mental battering ram, she demolished the blockade. "Is that good enough?"

"Let's try one more time." Zartan said. "Andi, use the same wall as before."

Andi nodded and brought the block back. "See if you can't get this in one go this time, Reg."

"With pleasure." The other girl sneered. With a massive jolt, she burst through Andi's wall.

"Finally!" The two-toned girl exclaimed. "I thought you would be at this all day!"

"Whatever." The other girl rolled her eyes. "I'm going to do something other than this."

"Whatever floats your boat." Andi shrugged as she put her hands on the chair and pushed herself up. However, when her hands made contact with the metal arms, her skin took on the same pallor and texture.

"Aaagh!" Regan jumped. "Your hands…"

Andi looked down and groaned. "Not again!"

"What do you mean, again?" Zartan asked.

"My hand turned into the dresser this morning." Andi sighed. "I thought it was a fluke!"

"Apparently not!" Zartan groaned. "You have to go in for your treatment today anyway, so we'll have the technicians run a few diagnostic tests, and no complaints, got it?"

"Yes sir." Andi sighed.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ten minutes later, Andi perched atop one of the metal examination tables in the medbay awaiting the results of the numerous tests that the doctors insisted on running; Her sapphire scales now transformed into the same color and texture as the table she was sitting on. Not that it particularly mattered to her what they came up with now. After the fourth test, she had pieced together the most likely scenario. Dr. Myles, the head medic for the base, finally stepped out of the diagnostic area, concern contorting his face into a near scowl.

"So, how bad is it?" She asked. He shot her a worried expression and sighed.

"It's not good or bad, per say." He said. "Just complex at the moment."

"And by that you mean what?" Zartan asked. "Why is she turning into everything she touches?"

Andi let out a ragged breath. She knew all too well what he was about to say, and it wasn't pretty.

"Her shapeshifting mutation is evolving." Dr. Myles replied. "Rapidly. Even while we were running the diagnostics, her cellular structure continued to change and adapt."

"What is the extent of it?" Zartan asked.

"Right now, her power seems to have taken on a camouflage type ability, but with the way her genetic structure is evolving, I estimate that they will escalade to full- body shapeshifting within 48 hours."

She tuned out the rest of their conversation. There was nothing more to hear. Since she had met her birthmother, she wanted to be like her, but this wasn't what she had in mind. Unstable? She thought. Great. Not only do I have to go in for shots, but also my powers are out of control. Lovely. Just fuckin' lovely. Oh well. Maybe I can request some time off until I can get this under control.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Later that evening, after the rest of the team had been told about her 'condition', Andi had been called into Zartan's office.

"This is about what Myles said, isn't it?" She asked.

"Yes." The older agent replied. "I'm sorry kid, but I won't risk your safety or theirs by allowing you back into the sessions with the rest of the team. Until we find a way for you to control this, or your powers stop evolving, you are on leave."

No frikkin' way! "Does that mean I'm free to visit my family?" She asked. He shot her a questioning glance. "Look, my mother lives in this state. I haven't seen her in a while, and since I've got nothing to do here anyway, I thought it would be fine."

"What about your powers?" Zartan asked. "You can't just walk around turning into everything you happen to come in contact with."

"I'll cover up." Andi said. "I've got a pair of gloves and a couple of hoodies. As long as I keep them on, I'll be fine."

"And what about school?"

"Didn't you pull us out of high school so that it wouldn't interfere with training?" Andi countered. "Besides, she's a principal at a high school. If she thinks I need to be in class, she will put me in class. Now can I go or can't I?"

Zartan mulled the idea over in his mind for a couple minutes. "How long would you be gone, Andi?"

"A week." The two-toned teen replied. "Maybe a little longer. It all depends on how my mom's schedule is right now." And what Magneto's doing to her. She thought. I swear, if that man does anything else to my family, I will see to it that he suffers for it.

The older spy remained silent for a bit longer before finally sighing. "All right, you can go, but I want you to report in when I call you. Got it?"

"Yes sir." Andi nodded.

"Good girl." Zartan replied. "You can leave now. Oh, and when were you planning to leave?"

"Friday too soon?" Andi asked. "I know that it will be a long time without the shots but…"

"I will have Dr. Myles send some of the serum along with you." Zartan interrupted. "Mindbender just developed a liquid oral form."

"I guess that works." Andi said warily.

"We will discuss the dosage in the morning." Zartan said. "It's getting late, and I don't want you up all night again. You have a long day ahead of you."

"Yes sir." Andi answered, walking out the office door.

After she was out of earshot, Zartan rubbed his temples with his fingers. "Dear God, I hope that girl can survive the week!"

1) 100 author points to whoever guesses this song!