CH.9
The next afternoon when Skylar was packing her for the trip to New York Kat sat merrily on her bed trying to keep Sky as calm as possible. Sky was no longer in shock and was now all furry as she slammed drawers and threw things into her suitcase.
"How are you feeling today?"
"How do you think I feel?" Sky noisily rifled through her closet to find her grey pantsuit to wear to the hearing.
"I meant health wise. Gambit said you were shitfaced last night and he had to put you to bed." Sky stopped for a minute to try and remember the events of the night before only coming up with snippets of the evening.
"I feel fine. No hangover or anything, but I guess I was pretty wasted because I can't seem to remember much of last night."
"Do you remember Gambit speaking with you?" Sky packed her suit and tossed in a few more things before zipping up her luggage and sitting next to her friend.
"I remember ranting to him about this whole situation. I know he told me what Têtue meant."
"What does it mean?"
"Stubborn," Kat snorted which made Sky elbow her in the side, "The rest of the conversation is fuzzy. Why, did he tell you I said something weird?" Kat rolled off the bed and kissed her friends head before she walked over to the door.
"He didn't have to say anything you poor drunken fool." Kat left before Skylar could get on another question. Sky rubbed her temples trying to piece together her conversation with Gambit, but all she could see was his face above hers as he tucked her in. Had he said something to her while she was laying in bed? The more she tried to think the more frustrated she became so she gave up and grabbed her suitcase to bring it to the X-jet so they could fly to New York. Skylar handed her bag to Logan to put into the plane and waited for Kat to head down to the hanger. Kat, Dr. McCoy, and Prof. Xavier would be accompanying her on the trip so when Gambit threw a bag into the plane Skylar walked over to question him.
"Is there a reason you have an overnight bag packed and ready to go?"
"Prof. X wanted to make sure you were protected so Gambit volunteered to be your body guard." Sky put her hands on her hips and gave him a look that said she didn't quite believe him.
"I wasn't aware I needed a body guard. Am I in danger of being hurt?" Gambit placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Not while Gambit's around Têtue. I told you last night that I wouldn't let anything happen to you or your work."
"Now that you bring that up I want to thank you for how nice you were to me last night. You listened to my drunken babbling and put me to bed, but I can't seem to remember most of what we talked about. I didn't say anything embarrassing did I?" Gambit's red eyes seemed sad as he stepped away from Skylar and rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously.
"You don't remember anything dat we talked about?"
"No not really. Why?"
"Nothin'. You didn't say anything embarrassing." Gambit climbed into the jet mumbling something about not holding drunks accountable for promises and Sky tried even harder to remember the conversation that they had the night before. Sky was so engrossed in her thoughts she didn't notice Kat coming up behind her, shifting into a cat so she could use Sky like a spring board, and shifting back to land on her feet inside the place.
"Stop spacing out. It's time to go." Sky climbed into the machine and punched her friend in the arm as she walked past her.
"Shut up and sit down before I put you in a cat carrier. Hey did Gambit say anything about last night other than me being drunk to you?" Kat and Sky sat down next to each other and buckled in. Gambit was behind the controls with Beast next to him, Prof. Xavier was in the back looking over some documents.
"No he didn't say anything. Do you think you confessed your love for him while in a drunken stupor?"
"Please I would remember if I was spouting out professions of love…I hope. I didn't. Crap did I?" Kat laughed as her friend was suddenly sent into a mini panic attack. Once the Black Bird had taken off and was flying with ease Kat got out of her seat to interrogate Gambit on the previous night.
"So Cajun did anything good happen last night?"
"Nothing worth remembering according to some people." Kat gave Remy's back a comforting pat, clearly feeling for the guy's frustration.
"Don't feel bad Gambit, when Sky get's to drunk she blacks out completely. The fact that she could even remember that you two spoke is a testimony to the effect you had on her. I can't even count all the times I had to pay some guy in a bar to carry her back home."
"She used to get that way often?"
"If you had known Sky back in college you wouldn't believe that she could have turned into the Sky you know now. She used to smoke, drink; I remember our freshman year in college she ran away for three weeks to go to Japan and see the cherry blossom festival. She was in Bangkok by the time I was able to get a hold of her and wire her the money to get a plane ticket to come back home. She was so carefree back then." They both turned around to look at the woman who was now looking over her data and smoothing down her straitened red hair. Her reading glasses sat on the end of her nose and her lips moved as she silently spoke to herself.
"Gambit don't believe you chat." Kat purred at him and whispered as she stood to walk back to her seat, "That Sky is still in there so bring her out." Gambit reached out and grabbed her wrist to stop her from leaving his side.
"Why you tryin' to get us together un petite chat?"
"Because I want her to be happy and I think you're the only person who can do that." Kat went at sat next to her friend who only looked up when Kat hugged her arm and snuggled into her side.
Once they were in New York Sky could no longer sit still as every hour brought her closer to having to defend her finds and stand before the person that had tried to bring her to ruin. When it finally came time to go before the board that was reviewing her work the only people allowed to go into the room with her would be Prof. Xavier and Dr. McCoy as only recognized individuals in the scientific fields were permitted to be present during the hearing. As she stood before the council Skylar's heart sped up until the sound of her heart beat filled her ears.
"Dr. O'Riley it has come to the attention of the scientific community that you might be a mutant, is there any truth to this accusation?" Sky had never admitted she was a mutant to anyone who wasn't a mutant themselves. She had spent her entire life denying who she was, but she could no longer refute the truth.
"Yes sir that is correct." The silence that fell was uneasy and heavy as her words hung in the air.
"Have you always been a mutant?"
"Since I was twelve years old."
"What is your ability."
"I control plants."
"Could you elaborate on that please?"
"I can manipulate the growth rates of all plants and foliage." The murmurs grew frantic as everyone started speaking at once. "I would like to say that my power cannot change the structural integrity of the plants which is what all of my work is based on it can only force the plants to grow at an accelerated rate."
"How do we know that to be true?"
"You have to trust that I would never lie about my work. I'm a scientist and all of my work can be tested and redone by anyone in this room if they have the time."
"You lied about being a mutant."
"I was never asked if I was a mutant and why should my mutant status affect my findings? They are accurate and irrefutable. I chose to get into this field because I wanted to help people and I have a knack when it comes to plants, but I would never abuse my power just to get ahead in my career." The entire board was silent as Sky stood in front of them and stared each and every one of them down. "If it is the decision of this board to have me stand down in my field and stop contributing because I am a mutant then I will do so, but I beg of you not to pull the drugs out of circulation that have already been added. The amount of time that it will take for another person to recreate the cures that I have made will take years and people will die without my medicine. My entire career has been centered around this cure and I refuse to allow it to be discredited just because you people don't like what I am." Hank and Charles smiled at Sky as she waited for the council to deliberate about her research. The air was thick with tension as she waited. Finally the council addressed her again.
"Dr. Skylar O'Riley you stand before us today to defend the work of a mutant, your work. As you know the existence of mutant's is highly controversial and your being one would create a stir among the nation. However, the scientific community cares very little about the grief that they will receive for allowing a mutant to remain in their ranks." Skylar looked up completely shocked and took Hanks hand that he held out to her. "It is the ruling of this council to allow you to keep your status as your findings show no result of being falsified and can be duplicated by anyone else in your field. We regret troubling you and forcing you to come down here. Have a great day."
"Wait," Sky called out as the board members tried to leave, "if it's possible I would like to keep the fact that I'm a mutant out of the media."
"If that is what you want." Skylar walked out of the meeting completely at ease. She had expected Kat to be waiting for her, but it was Remy that greeted her outside in the hall.
"How'd it go Skyla'?"
"Everything's going to be ok. My work stands!" Skylar couldn't hold back her excitement and Remy was just as relieved as she was because he swung her up in his arms and spun her in a circle.
"Didn' Gambit tell ya evert'ing was gonna be ok Têtue? They don't care dat you a mutant." Sky laughed as she got light-headed from the spinning and hugged Remy tight as he put her down. For that moment Sky felt whole and safe for the first time in her life, like this was where she was meant to be.
"I can't believe they are letting you walk out of here. You should be taken away by Senator Kelly's task force." Skylar and Gambit both turned to see who was speaking to her. When Sky saw him standing in front of her she lost her breath.
"Michael."