Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait on this update. Thanks to a busy time at work, a nuptial celebration, a grieving period, some demanding social obligations, and the many other projects that I either felt the need to start or come back to; my attention was pulled away. Hopefully, I'll be able to update more frequently in the future, but unfortunately, and with the knowledge of what is already planned and knowing how easily plans can become even more chaotic, I wouldn't count on it. Thanks for being loyal and patient readers!
We went back to the house and it was quickly decided that I was going to the Xavier institute. Dad kept rubbing his head and muttering the word mutant to himself as if trying to decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing. I think he just wanted to pretend like none of it ever happened. Mom stayed by my side and listened intently to everything Professor Xavier, a kindly, older, bald man in the fanciest wheelchair I'd ever seen, had to say about being a mutant and his school. She seemed to be sold because of how enthusiastic Jean, the telepathic red-head, talked about her life at the school and the good relationship she still kept with her family.
So I packed up all my belongings, had an awkward goodbye with my parents, and hopped on a private jet, which Professor Xavier piloted, to go to a mutant school. Goodbye home, goodbye Northbrook, and goodbye Lance. It was weird, because we didn't know each other all that well. I mean, I had just met him last night. But when we talked, I felt like we had been together for years. As much as I didn't want to admit it, especially to him, he had been right about everything he had said about me before the earthquake. Worst of all, he knew he was right.
Because I was lost in my thoughts, I didn't pay too much attention to the view outside. I had barely said goodbye to Northbrook when I was told we were landing. Jean escorted me around the mansion as my bags were going to be taken to my room. It was a completely overwhelming tour. The mansion was huge! It already looked massive on the outside from the pictures Professor Xavier had shown us back at my parents' house, but there were several underground levels. The hallways were a complicated maze that didn't even somewhat resemble a grid system, so I was sure I would get lost. I thought about asking for a map, but I was too horrified of the new students thinking I was a loser to say anything. Only Jean seemed to have any idea of my geek status back in Northbrook, so I decided to make an effort to reinvent myself as someone these other students at the Institute would like. My parents had made me promise to keep my grades at their very best, so I would still have to somehow play off my nerdy skills and still come off cool. It was going to be a challenge, and I wasn't sure I felt up to it at the moment. Luckily, the tour ended at my room and I was able to shut myself off for the rest of the night. I immediately crashed on one of the two beds in the room, thankful that I didn't have to share it. For now, Jean had said. None of us had to share rooms, for now.
It was a fitful night of sleep. I dreamt that I was falling through my bed, through the floor, through the mansion, and falling out of a locker door into a familiar face. Lance. I watched him get up and walk away. I wanted to run after him, scream, do anything to catch his attention, but my feet were stuck and my voice suddenly gone. He kept walking away, never turning back.
I woke up in a cold sweat with his face still haunting my thoughts. Why had he been so adamant about not coming to the Institute? After catching a few more hours of sleep, I got up and began to try to find my way to the kitchen for breakfast. I had skipped dinner last night after a skimpy lunch and was absolutely starving. As I tried to maneuver through the many hallways, opening up several doors without any luck, I was careful to watch out for anything that seemed off. Something about Lance's determination to never end up in a place like this made me concerned that behind any door was a room where experiments were taking place on humans with special powers, mutants, like myself. Each time, I breathed a sigh of relief as the door swung open to show a bedroom, a bathroom, a game room, and several other normal rooms.
I was just starting to think I was lost and Lance was crazy when I finally found stairs. I followed them down to a simple corridor that led down to two large metal doors. There were no handles, but I saw a control panel with a keypad. Password protected secret room. If there was anything weird going on here, it would be in that room. I quickly willed myself to feel that tingly intangible feeling and pushed my head through the door. It was thick, so I had to step my whole body through, but once I was in, I immediately had to duck back out. A laser beam had shot just over my head. With a lot more caution, I ducked through again, this time catching an eyeful. A somewhat short, but rather stalky and hairy man was jumping, gliding, and dodging several more lasers as well as a rather extensive collection of other types of weaponry. He had three long metal claws that extended from each hand and with them he was able to slice off offending weapons, swing around the room in unthinkable ways, and fend off lasers. I was horrified. With a scream, I ducked back out of the room and backed directly into something. When I turned I found a tall guy who was probably only a year or two older than me.
"You must be the new student. Katherine, right? I'm Scott," the boy held out his hand. He had brown hair that fell neatly around his face, which was chiseled with a strong jaw. His eyes were hidden by some red-tinted shades, but I had a feeling that if I removed them I would find a very intense gaze. He was obviously fit, and he was definitely polite. Maybe Scott could help clear my mind of some other tall, brown-haired boys with intense gazes.
"Kitty," I answered as we shook hands.
"Well, Kitty, it's nice to meet you. Hope Logan didn't scare you off," he gestured to the room behind me.
"Logan?" I eyed his mouth as it cracked into a wide smile.
"Logan, aka Wolverine. He's the guy in the danger room right now. He's kind of intense, but I promise training sessions are not like that," he chuckled.
"Logan? Wolverine? Danger room? Training sessions?" my eyes got wider with each new question that popped into my mind.
"Oh, you haven't gotten that tour, yet. Well, I just put my foot in my mouth, huh? Maybe I should take you to the professor," Scott gestured down the hallway and we were on our way.
"I was just looking for the kitchen. I haven't really figured out how to get around here," I told him as we reached the elevator.
"Yeah, this place should come with a map, right? But don't worry, in less than a week you'll know every nook and cranny of this place," he smiled. His agreement and his easy manner should have put me at ease, but I found myself missing the banter and the arguments that had flowed so easily with Lance. It was silly, really, but it was more interesting to fight than to agree. I nodded politely, which seemed to end the conversation. We walked together in silence until we finally came to the kitchen, where Jean was sitting with a bowl of cereal.
"Hi, Kitty! Hi, Scott," I looked back and forth between the two of them and saw a noticeable blush creep up Scott's neck while Jean's smile widened. "Want me to grab you a bowl?"
"Sure," I sat down at the large table and watched with amusement as Jean and Scott danced around each other. It didn't take me but five minutes to realize that he was obsessed with her and she didn't have the slightest clue. What I couldn't figure out, even though I observed them all through my cereal and on the way to see the Professor, was if Jean saw Scott as anything more than a buddy.
We got to the Professor's office and I was quickly introduced to Ms. Munroe, also known as Storm; Logan, also known as Wolverine; and Kurt, also known as Nightcrawler. It was also explained that Scott was also known as Cyclops and I would also be called Shadowcat. I almost asked why Jean and the Professor didn't have a second name, but everyone else seemed to accept it so simply, that I decided to just go along with it. The idea of a fuzzy blue kid that could disappear and reappear in a cloud of smoke, however, was going to take some getting used to. Then again, so was the idea of constantly living with two people who could easily read my thoughts, a woman who could change the weather on a whim, a basically indestructible man who was constantly sniffing around like a dog, and a kid that was two years older than me at most who would be barking out orders. After the introductions, Xavier led the way to the Danger room and lectured me about being a mutant, controlling powers, and generally behaving well in the world. He talked on and on about how it was important that as mutants were revealed to the world that we show them there was nothing to fear. He likened our situation to many other instances such as religious persecution, civil rights and women's suffrage, just to name a few. The overwhelming sense of responsibility began to weigh on me more and more as we neared the danger room. By the time we all crowded into the control center, I was on the verge of losing it.
"Now, if Wolverine and Storm would be so kind as to give a demonstration," Xavier nodded to the other adults who quickly left the room. After several minutes, the two entered below wearing spandex uniforms. I raised an eyebrow at Jean who shrugged and then looked back below. I watched in horror as the blank room sprung to life once more, several weapons coming out and aiming straight at the adults that were supposed to be chaperones and teachers for us four students. Storm flew up into the air in the midst of thick dark clouds, sending lightning bolts at any weapon that aimed her way while Logan roamed about like a wild animal on all fours as he slashed, chewed, ripped, and ducked through all the weapons thrown his way. After a while, Xavier turned the room off and the instructors joined us again the room. "Of course, your training sessions will be much less intense and much more safe, but this is the general idea of the use that the danger room will provide. It will give you plenty of training to prepare you for real world situations that you may need to face to help keep the peace and save your fellow humans, mutants or not, from a multitude of dangers. Your team will be a last resort, as we will try to use non-violent actions first, our adult team second, and any other measures we can provide before you are called to action. Even when you are asked to become involved, I want to make it quite clear that violence is always a last resort, and even then, we do our absolute best to avoid using our skills to cause any harm to people, no matter their intentions for us. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir," Scott answered formally, his quick response reminding me of a soldier.
"Yes, Professor," Jean smiled at us, her calm actions trying to put us at ease.
"Ja," Kurt offered with a weak smile of his own. All heads turned to me, but I couldn't find the notion to speak. I nodded and tried not to scream and run away.
"It's a little overwhelming, I know, but you can talk to me about anything at anytime, Katherine," Xavier nodded.
"Ja, Keety. Don't worry," Kurt popped from his spot and reappeared next to me. "We're all here with you."
"Uh… can I go now?" I looked around the room wondering how on earth this was all going to be okay. "I'm wiped."
"Of course, Katherine. Get some rest. You'll be attending your new school tomorrow," Xavier smiled affectionately. "Jean, would you make sure she knows where everything is that she might need?"
"Can do," Jean smiled and linked her arm through mine. Jean chatted the entire time we walked from the danger room to my new room, stopping to point out the kitchen, the shared girls' bathroom, and where we meet for carpool to school. I mostly zoned out though, thinking over everything that had just happened since we landed at the Institute, especially the words Xavier had spoken. I was terrified, but worst of all, I had no one to talk to about it. My parents were certain that this was the right move for me and the other students seemed completely at ease with the arrangements Xavier had made for them. The only person I could think of that would understand was somewhere back in Northbrook and I had no way to contact him. When Jean finally left me alone in my room, I crashed on the bed that I had claimed as mine and tried to sleep.
Of course, sleep didn't come easy yet again, and when it finally did, a new ad more terrifying nightmare crept in. I was in my pj's, standing in the middle of the danger room when it suddenly came to life. I screamed as weapons suddenly sprang out at me and willed myself to phase through them. The danger room transformed into Northbrook's high school and the weapons disappeared, leaving Riley and her usual tag-alongs instead. They chanted mutant as the mob surrounded me and I once again willed myself to phase and fell through them only to land with a thud into something not hard, but not so soft either. I looked up to see thoughtful brown eyes piercing mine.
"We really got to stop meeting like this, Kitten," Lance chuckled.
"Lance!" I screeched, holding him tightly against me, my eyes closing as tears tried to escape down my cheeks. I knew somewhere in my subconscious that this was just a dream, but it felt so good to hold him I didn't care.
"Where you going, Kit Cat?" he called after me and I opened my eyes to find that I was phasing through him, phasing through the floor, phasing through the ground. I couldn't stop phasing and it was scaring me. I willed myself to become solid, to be back in Lance's arms, but I kept falling and falling and falling.
I woke with a loud scream as someone reached out and touched me.
"Kitty? Are you okay?" I looked up to see Jean standing over me. I was still laying in my bed at the Institute and her red hair was falling in front of her concerned but sleepy green eyes.
"Jean? What's happening?" I rubbed my eyes and looked around to reassure myself of what had and hadn't happened.
"You were dreaming, I guess. I heard you screaming and came in here to check on you," Jean frowned and perched on the edge of my bed. "Want to talk about it?"
"I… uh… I don't remember," I lied, focusing my eyes on the window across the room. I thought I saw a flicker of movement, but I figured my over-active imagination was running especially high thanks to the terrifying dream I had just had. "Sorry for waking you. I think I just need to adjust to a new place."
"No worries. I'm sure it's hard being so far from home in a new place. Probably doesn't help that it's a big maze, you just met a bunch of new people that also have powers – a thing you just discovered recently – entirely different from yours, and all this talk about us protecting others from danger," Jean smiled warmly.
"I'm still processing," I nodded, happy to be honest about something. "And I just miss home."
"Hm," Jean pursed her lips. "Home, huh?"
"Yeah. You know," I cocked my head to the side. "My parents, my room, my home."
"Your boyfriend?" Jean raised her eyebrows.
"What?" I almost choked. "I don't… no…I don't have a boyfriend."
"Right," Jean rolled her eyes as she stood up to leave. "Night, Kitty."
"Night," I grumbled back while she slipped out of the room. I knew she wasn't in my head, because I would have felt her pushing in and flipping through my thoughts. Jean wasn't as practiced as Xavier, who I was sure had slipped into my head unnoticed several times since I had met the man. No, if Jean knew what I had dreamed about or what was on my mind it was pure instinct. Sighing, I tossed and turned on the bed for a bit, trying to get comfortable again. It was going to be extremely difficult to live any sort of double life that I was used to in the mansion with two telepaths and the human smell detector around. The perfect Kitty Pryde would have to be on duty twenty-four seven from now on.