The X-Men characters featured in this
story are property of Marvel Inc and used without permission.
No profit is made from these works.
AJ Rovner/Unicorn was created by Abby
Rovner and is used with permission.
Ziska Xavier is my own creation.
“Morning, Hank.” William replies as he reaches for the cabinet where the cereal is stored. “How is everyone this morning?”
“I’m afraid I’m running late. I’ll see everyone later.” And with that, Hank is gone.
“Okay... and how about you two lovely ladies?”
“Good so far.” AJ replies.
“Ditto.” Ziska replies. “Yourself?”
William’s shoulders visibly sag. “I don’t think I can test out of any of these math classes. I might survive Earth Science, but beyond that I’ll have trouble is science too.”
“You could always ask for tutoring, but I think Doctor McCoy is the one to ask for sciences. Come to think of it, he’s pretty much got all the bases covered.” AJ points out.
“I know, but I just want to get school over with. Zee, any chance you could get your father to go easy on me?”
“It’s not Dad’s decision; it’s the
state tests you have to pass. Besides, I
already asked a lot of him for letting you stay here and not go to
“Which would also make the tests different.” AJ adds.
“Probably. But, since I don’t know what the school
requirements are there, and I am so familiar with the
AJ looks at Ziska quizzically. “What for?”
“The others just want to get an idea how well you use your powers in different circumstances. For right now, it’s basically a fancy video game level. It will probably be fun.”
“I was never a fan of video games.” AJ replies.
Now Ziska looks at her quizzically. “I’m not sure if I should congratulate you on that fact, or pity you.”
“I’d prefer the first option.”
“Congrats it is then.”
AJ smiles. “I should get going; I have some classes to teach through the distance learning set up. Can this wait until ten?”
“Sure.” Ziska responds, and then turns her attention to William. “You know, I’m sure she’d let you sit in.”
William shakes his head. “I’m already in over my head with math.”
******************************************
After AJ shut down the distance leaning set up in her class room, she goes upstairs to get ready for her first Danger Room session. AJ changes quickly into a practice uniform the school provides and then makes her way down to the Danger Room. Ziska is already waiting.
She glances up from her note pad as AJ walks in. “You’re quick.”
“Thanks.” AJ answers. “So, what’s the goal here?”
“Hide and seek really. But first, here.” Ziska says and hands AJ an earpiece. “Since you did mention you were considering joining the team, you might as well get used to the gear.”
As AJ handles the earpiece it feels like gelatin in her hands. She twists it a bit and finds it to fit quite comfortably. “Okay, now what?”
“Press the knob that’s dangling right behind your earlobe, that’s how you switch channels. Stop when you hear piano music. The ball thing above it is the volume control.”
“Mozart, nice. And now what?”
“Now I give you the basics Dad wants to cover.” Ziska looks over her notepad again. “He wants you to use your senses to ‘higher abilities’ but don’t push it further than you are comfortable with. You are free to fully or partially transform into any animal of your choosing, but please consider the surroundings you’ll be in. Dad is pretty sure that your shifting will work with the loose molecule structure of the uniform, so you shouldn’t have trouble switching back and forth. The ear piece will also adjust. You’ll get the ‘mission’ details when I get to the control room. Any questions before I go?”
“Can I ask questions while I’m on the ‘mission’ about the mission?”
“Sure. I just might not be allowed to answer them. Good luck.” Ziska then turns on her heel and walks out the door.
AJ tries to relax a bit. The thing she dislikes most about video games is they get irritatingly repetitive, kick-kick, punch-punch, what ever the screen calls for. However, AJ does enjoy thinking games. Not to mention she is pretty sure that if this were a fighting exercise, she wouldn’t be allowed to go in alone the first time.
The music in the earpiece cuts out and AJ hears Ziska comes in clearly. “Last chance to adjust the volume if you need to.”
“I’m good.” AJ answers. “Ready when you are.”
“Here we go then.”
AJ expects a forest, where animal type abilities would be handy. Instead, AJ finds herself standing on the corner of a skyscraper roof at night, facing a higher skyscraper across the street.
“Ready for your briefing?” Ziska asks.
“I’m listening.” AJ replies, already considering the easiest way across the street.
“Please note the penthouse suite.” AJ looks, but is having a hard time seeing with human eyes. Considering the lighting, cat eyes are more effective. “Neat trick.” Ziska replies.
AJ keeps watching the building. There is loud music, strangely colored lights, and a lot of movement. “I take it I can’t wait for the party to end?”
“Sorry, we need this done in the next thirty minutes. Anyway, part one; get to the penthouse without being seen. Part two; get into the penthouse, without causing a scene. Part three; go into the office one floor below and access the computer. More details when you are actually in the office.”
“Does the office have a private bathroom?” AJ asks.
“Yes, but no windows if that’s your angle. No working plumbing either.”
“That’s not what I had in mind.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Time to go then, thirty minutes starts... now.”
AJ quickly changes into a Peregrine Falcon and flies across the street.
******************************************
William is sitting in the game room with his math books. Having lived in that old warehouse so long, he isn’t used to a quiet place anymore. All the beeping from the various video games around him is enough for him to focus better. Ironic, since most people need peace and quiet to study.
He decided a long time ago that he hates math. The fact that he has to take at least two of these state math tests doesn’t make it any more appealing. Unfortunately, his argument that if he would just take the higher math test and therefore must already know what is on the lesser test fell on flat ears. On the other hand though, he doesn’t want to just barely pass the test. But he’d rather not take these classes either. Although this time, he actually wants to learn. He chuckles to himself. “Why couldn’t Ziska and I just have gone to school together?” He looks over the books again, but his head is already spinning with all the formulas.
He hears footsteps coming towards him. As he looks up he sees Scott in uniform coming towards him. “This is probably the last place I expected to see someone study.”
William laughs. “I got so used to hearing street noise all the time that I can’t focus when it’s quiet. Maybe I’ll get used to it again. Going out?”
Scott nods. “We’ve lost contact with Excalibur. Even the Professor and Jean combined can’t find them. They can take care of themselves, but we’re going to check it out, just in case. We should be back in a day or two. I don’t want to interrupt AJ’s test session, would you mind telling her and Ziska?”
“No problem.” William replies. “Anything we can help with?”
Scott clenches his jaw, but since he already turned his back on William, the latter can’t tell. “I’m hoping that won’t be necessary.”
******************************************
“I have to admit, you were faster than I expected you to be.” Ziska says with a smile as AJ walks out of the Danger Room.
AJ scoffs. “I don’t think ‘delete all files’ is that hard of a mission.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be.” Ziska replies. “The question was more about how you would use your powers to get in and out. Got to hand it to you though, saying you have to use the facilities and there is a line in the primary one worked just as well.”
“So, did I pass or fail?” AJ asks.
“This wasn’t a test, just getting a baseline about your abilities. Since you have no combat history, this seemed like a logical first step.”
As they reach the elevator, AJ has another question. “What would you have done to get in?”
Ziska chuckles. “Are we talking about now, or when I was a teenager?”
Before AJ can reply, the elevator door opens, with William standing inside. “Are you done already?”
“AJ is a natural. I’m guessing that’s not why you’re here though, is it?”
“You’re guessing, or you telepathically realized the house is empty?”
“I thought it was too quiet.” AJ adds. “Where did everyone go?”
“
“I hope everything works out with that.” AJ responds.
“That makes two of us.”
“Make that three of us.” William adds. “For now though, what are we going to do?”
“Anyone hungry?” Ziska adds.
******************************************
Opening the freezer for the third time, William is starting to get irritated. “Okay, so we are down to some form of frozen pizza, bagged frozen pasta, or bagged frozen rice dish.” He announces. “Which over sized meal will we heat up, and then freeze the leftovers of?”
“I veto pizza.” Ziska calls out from the pantry.
“You always vote against pizza!” William shoots back.
“Then don’t ask me about pizza!”
Before either can say another word, AJ grabs a bag out of the freezer. “Beef stir fry it is.”
“Works for me.” Ziska replies as she grabs the wok from the rack. “This will take how long?”
AJ brushes away some ice from the packaging and reads the directions. “Ten minutes.”
“Perfect.”
A few minutes later, the three of them sit down to watch television together… with mixed results.
“Six hundred channels and not a damned thing on to watch when you want to watch TV.” William groans.
Ziska checks her watch. “It’s eleven, aside from game shows the best thing on now is news.”
AJ presses a few buttons, just as the station’s logo pops up for a “special report.”
The female
reporter starts to read off the teleprompter. “This report just in from our
“Turn it off, not like they know what they are talking about.” William interrupts.
AJ is ready to change the channel, but Ziska pushes her hand down. “Waitaminute.” She says and stares at the screen. The footage seems to be right after an explosion, a cloud of dust still hanging in the air. AJ watches as Ziska leans closer to the screen, trying to listen to something. “Could you rewind that please?” Ziska asks.
“Sure.” AJ replies, and hits the button on the DVR remote. Realizing Ziska is listening for the faint voices in the background, AJ adjusts her hearing. She distinctly hears a male voice barking orders, though she doesn’t recognize it.
“What’s going on Zee?” William asks.
“I think… in the background… that sounds like Nathan. But I’m not sure.”
“Whoever he is, does he usually yell orders like Scott?” AJ asks.
Ziska smiles. “Genetics rock, don’t they?”
“Nathan is Cable right?” William asks.
“Yes, why do you ask?” Ziska replies.
“Have a look.” William redirects Ziska’s attention to the screen.
The cloud had dissipated and in the Ziska could clearly see Nathan, telling a group of people she doesn’t recognize to run. More importantly, he looks seriously hurt.
She knows that Nathan won’t recognize her. And she is sure he won’t trust her. But there’s only one thing left to do. “We have to help him.”
The decision is simple enough. Ziska will do the telepathic tracking, while AJ drives and William will keep a look out from the back seat. As a precaution, Ziska grabs additional medical supplies and forwards the personal calls line to her own cell phone, which she hands off to William. Ziska knows a few telepathic tricks her father isn’t too proud of. Cable is too powerful for Ziska to track without him noticing. And since he’ll notice but not recognize her, he will block her. So instead, she will focus her attention on people who actually see him, jumping from one mind to another.
“He’ll try not to draw attention to himself.” Ziska tries to explain.
“So he’ll be on foot.” William finishes Ziska’s thought.
“A guy his size will have a hard time hiding.” AJ adds as she starts the car.
“Think he’ll call?” William asks while playing with the cell phone.
“Not on a land line. If he would ask for help, he’d try to get Jean or Dad telepathically.”
“And they in turn would call?” AJ shoots back.
Ziska thinks it over. “Maybe.”
******************************************
He lost the police a long time ago, but he still has to disguise himself telepathically. The blood stain from his arm is too noticeable. And using a telekinetic field to stop the blood loss will only work as long as he can concentrate. After years of training, Nathan had become very careful about his surroundings. But not even he can predict all the actions of someone else. And he was so preoccupied with the kids that he didn’t see the shattered pipe until he was pushed into it and it cut into his upper arm. Of course it had to be the right arm, one that wasn’t techno-organic. He’ll need medical attention quickly. He does have a safe house in the area, but unfortunately, he would have to cross paths with the police again. That leaves X-Mansion. But so far, he hasn’t had luck contacting anyone.
Come
on Jean, where are you? Professor, can you
hear me? Since he doesn’t know about
the situation regarding Excalibur, he doesn’t have a reason to try and contact
them across the
And he’s just a little too preoccupied to realize that someone behind him is starting to stare.
******************************************
AJ isn’t a
fan of large cars, but considering it is mid August and in the middle of lunch
hour traffic, she is thankful for the air conditioner. To her right Ziska is in a half trance,
trying to track down Nathan. William
somehow found binoculars under the back seat, and tries to help out. Unfortunately, they ARE driving through
“He’s hurt a lot worse than he realizes.” Ziska says out of the blue.
William lowers the binoculars. “What makes you say that?”
“He’s getting unsteady on his feet. I think he’s losing blood, even though he is using telekinesis as a tourniquet.” Ziska’s eyes glow for a moment, and AJ doesn’t like the look on her face.
******************************************
Nathan looks back, trying to decide how far behind him the police cruiser is driving. Instead, he sees a telepathic shadow surrounding a pedestrian. Oath! Nathan thinks to himself, and tries to put some distance between himself and his follower. A powerful telepath, but he doesn’t recognize who it is. And he is in no condition to have a battle. Great, the one time I need help, I can’t get a hold of anyone. Realizing his tail is jumping from one pedestrian to another, he decides to go to a less populated area.
******************************************
“Aw crap.” Ziska says out loud.
“What?” AJ demands.
Ziska snaps out of her trance. “He spotted me. And since he doesn’t know me, he’s evading. And he’ll probably up the ante on telepathic blocking, so I can’t track him anymore.”
William leans forward. “What about AJ? Can’t see use her enhanced senses or something?”
“Technically, yes I could.” AJ starts. “Except I don’t know Nathan’s scent, so I can’t. Not to mention in an urban environment, even a bloodhound gets confused.”
“What about blood?” William asks.
“What about blood? AJ asks back.
Realizing where William is going with that, Ziska responds. “Nathan can’t hold all the blood telekinetically. So probably the scent of blood should make him traceable.”
AJ considers. “That could work. Can you pinpoint the last place you saw Nathan?”
“Five blocks straight, then three to the left.”
******************************************
There are
many amazing things about
He yells telepathically. JEAN!
******************************************
Maybe it’s maternal instinct. Maybe the twelve years spent in a future timeline raising him. Jean hears Nathan’s scream half way across the world. “Nathan is in trouble.” She blurts out.
Scott’s head snaps in her direction. “What?”
“He’s hurt… badly. He can’t go to a hospital though.” Jean starts to shake.
“We’re too far away to help.” Scott replies. “Kurt, are communications up yet?”
Kurt shakes his head. “Nothing that will go that far, but what good will it do? There is no one at home.”
“There is someone.” Scott starts. “I’ll give you a hand with these wires. Jean, try to get a message back to Nathan that we’re sending help his way.”
******************************************
“Are you sure this is the place?” AJ asks.
Ziska walks up to the wall, which Nathan must have leaned against. She shows AJ a blood smear. “Positive.”
“Here we go then.” AJ starts. “Mind getting my clothes for me?”
After Ziska nods, AJ shifts into a bloodhound and makes a dash following the trail of blood.
Ziska bends down to pick up AJ’s clothing. “Get moving, I’ll catch up.”
With the med kit tucked into a backpack, William runs after AJ. She has a significant head start, but at least she is still in his line of sight.
******************************************
He finds an old tarp, which for now Nathan tears to pieces to wrap up his injury. It isn’t much and it probably isn’t sanitary, but at least he doesn’t have to split his focus on both telepathy and telekinesis. He needs rest. But he can’t rest. His shirt is soaked with his blood, despite his best efforts. He is starting to get light headed.
Occasionally though, such a state is just what a telepath needs to hear better.
Nathan? Jean’s voice calls out, but very faintly.
Relieved, Nathan responds out loud. “Where are you Jean?”
We’re in
“It’s a long story. So, no one is at home?”
There is, but we can’t communicate with
them. As soon as we can get through,
We’ll send help your way.
Nathan gets back to his feet, but stumbles. “I don’t have that much time.”
Jean can’t hold telepathic contact for long at this distance. She fades away, and Nathan is on his own again.
******************************************
Ziska had lost sight of both AJ and William. But since she and William are good friends, he lets her into his head. Nathan must have gone a long way through the street. Ziska takes a short cut to intercept the two of them.
“You need to stop taking short cuts Zee.” William pants.
“It was this or flying.” Ziska replies. “Where’s AJ?”
William points ahead. “She’s in that little alleyway, but looks like he ducked in and out a few times.”
As if on cue, AJ howls. She’s found Nathan.
******************************************
They are using a bloodhound?!? Nathan thinks in disbelief. Normally, the police would have given up by now. He pushes against the wall trying to get back on his feet, but his knees buckle. He doesn’t fall, but just barely catches himself. Slowly, he starts to fumble for his gun. To his surprise, after the initial howl, the dog becomes quiet, and slowly approaches. “Easy does it.” Nathan says. As Nathan stands back up, the dog doesn’t seem interested in trying to stop him. Then he hears footsteps running towards him. The dog had alerted them to his whereabouts. Through a dirty window he sees two shapes running towards the door, neither of them moving like police officers. Just in case though, he takes the safety off the gun.
“Nice going AJ.” The young woman calls out. By her side is a young man, carrying a back pack over his shoulder.
Definitely not police officers. Nathan thinks to himself. As they keep running towards him, the man slides the book pack down his arm, and pulls out a medical kit with a very familiar insignia on it. “I take it you’re the help Jean talked about?”
For a moment, the pair seems surprised. “We would be, but they didn’t call us yet.” The young man answers. “Come on Zee, give me a hand.”
“You know I can’t touch him William.” The young woman replies.
“Wha… Crap.” William replies. “Alright, open the supplies then.”
“Here you go AJ.” Zee tells the dog and hands her a bundle of clothing. The hound then disappears behind a corner. “We need to get that shirt off first.”
Not needing to use his powers anymore, Nathan pulls his own shirt off as well as the tarp telekinetically. “Done.”
William rubs his hands with alcohol, doing the best he can. Nathan also watches as Zee sets her own hands on fire, instantly sterilizing herself.
“I’ve got it Ziska.” A strange voice calls from around the corner. Where the bloodhound just disappeared a woman walks out, wearing wrinkled clothing. “I’ll handle this, can you get the car?”
“On it.” Ziska replies and bolts out the warehouse. Just as it is lights out for Nathan.
“Hurry up Zee, he just passed out!” William calls after her.
******************************************
I can’t sense him anymore. Jean realizes. “How much longer until the phone line is up?”
“Five minutes, tops.” Kurt responds.
“Any luck getting through to Ziska and the others?” Scott asks the Professor.
“No.” Charles replies. “She is preoccupied, and her resistance to telepathic contact is as potent as ever.”
“You will explain who this Ziska is, da?” Piotr asks.
“One thing at a time, we need her to help Nate first.” Scott answers.
“Forget five minutes, we’re back on.” Kurt says and hits a switch.
Scott quickly grabs a phone, and listens for a dial tone. Loud and clear. He thinks, and starts dialing home.
******************************************
Ziska flies a lot faster than she runs, and she just avoids the traffic cop handing out tickets. She peels out of the parking space and drives towards AJ and William. The police office is not pleased, but didn’t get a chance to look at the license plate.
AJ and William are having their own problems. Though now properly bound, Nathan is barely able to walk, so the pair has to support most of his weight.
“God, what the hell is this stuff?” AJ asks.
“It’s the techno organic virus, or some such. But I wouldn’t have guessed it to be THIS heavy.” William replies. “Zee’d better hurry up.” William then feels something move in his pocket. The cell phone is vibrating.
“I hope it’s no one important.” AJ says.
In the distance, they see the SUV they took from the mansion jump a curb and drive toward them. Ziska stops a few feet away from them and jumps out of the driver seat and opens the back. She flips the back seat over so that Nathan can lie down. “Not comfortable, but it is in his best interest.” She answers. Then she hears the phone vibrating. “How long as that been going off?”
“Just a few second.” William replies, and pulls the phone out of his pant pocket. “It’s the forwarded personal line.” He flips open the phone and picks up the call.
******************************************
“Xavi…ool, th…liam.” Is all Scott can hear through the static.
“William?” He shouts into the phone, hoping to carry over the static, but to no use.
“…llo? Is …one the…?” And then the line goes dead.
“No use. We can’t get through.” Scott says as his hand shakes.
“That is not possible.” Kurt says. “We are running at full capacity. The problem must be on the other end.”
******************************************
“Who was it William?” Ziska asks as she buckles up.
“I THINK it was Scott.” William replies. But the cell dropped the call.”
“Nathan said something before about Jean sending help, right?” AJ asks.
“Something like that, why?” William replies.
“Start dialing
“Yeah, a problem with that, it’s not in the caller ID, and I didn’t get a chance to memorize it.” William shoots back
“Do you have enough bars to make a phone call?” Ziska asks, and watches William nod. “Zero, one, one, four, four…”
******************************************
Moira and some of the others were trying to straighten up after the battle. The X-Men coming to help worked out in everyone’s favor. Now they were sitting on pins and needles hoping to get in touch with some new recruits back in the states.
Kitty jumps when she hears the phone ring next to her. Kurt must have finally fixed it. She quickly picks it up. “Muir Island Research, this is Kitty, may I help you?”
“I need to talk to Scott please.” A male voice rings from the other end.
She almost says there’s no one working at the facility by that name, until she remembers Scott is downstairs. “Who may I say is calling?”
“William.” The voice calls back, and the call starts to break up.
“Just a minute.” Kitty says and puts the call on hold. She dials an in house extension to the computer room. “Is Scott still down there?” She asks when someone picks up.
“He’s on the other line trying to call home.” Piotr replies.
“I have someone named William on the line for him.”
Piotr turns to Scott. “Does the name ‘William’ mean anything to you?”
Scott drops the receiver he was just dialing with and runs to grab the other line. “William?”
“It’s still Kitty, hold on I’ll transfer him.”
Scott hears a clicking sound, and then a running car. “William?” He asks again.
“Yes it’s me.” William answers. “You tried to call?”
“I do need you three to help.” Scott says.
“Does this have anything to do with helping Nathan who is injured and somewhere in the City?”
For a moment, Scott is dumb struck. “How did you know that?”
“We saw him on TV.” William replies. “We already picked him up. He’s out cold, but we’re getting him back to the house now. Ziska said something about the automated medical office being able to help a lot, but I think we’d all prefer if one of our doctors would come back home.”
Scott feels a weight lift off his shoulders. “Hank is already on his way.” He leans against a wall and slides down into a seated position. “Thank you.”
“That’s what a team does, isn’t it?” William replies. As soon as he finishes the sentence, the line disconnects again.
“Is everything alright?” Jean asks.
“It will be.” Scott answers. “As soon as Hank lands back at home.”
“Times like these, it is a very good thing the Blackbird is as fast as it is.” Kurt adds.
Jean helps Scott to his feet. Everything will be alright. She tells him as she wraps her arms around him.
******************************************
Morning in X-Mansion. Most people have recovered from the previous day’s excitement. A blood transfusion later and a lot of stitches, Nathan will take some time to mend, but he will be fine with some rest. He has been through worse, but that isn’t much comfort.
“You are quite forunate.” Hank tells his patient. “If those three wouldn’t have seen you on TV, there wouldn’t have been a happy ending.”
“Who are they, anyway?” Nathan asks back.
Hank considers for a moment. “I think you need some sleep for that story makes any sense. I’ll tell you later.”
******************************************
Scott is standing on the patio, watching the sun rise. He spent the night by his son’s side, and now that he’s sure Nate will be fine, decides to let him rest. Always a father I guess. He tells himself.
He hears the door open behind him, someone is coming out. “How is he?”
“Hank is sure he’ll be fine.” Scott replies.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Ziska says and sits down on the stone railing. “I guess having all of us donate our own blood and keeping it in cryogenic stasis paid off.”
“That it did.” Scott answers. “In your timeline, were things… different?”
“Define ‘different.’” Ziska replies.
“Well.” Scott stops, choosing his words carefully. “You recognized him. So…”
She also takes a moment to be careful. “So… that part seems to be very much the same. I guess the only difference I made there I used to baby sit on and off. Although I never got along as well with... sorry, I don’t think I should get into that.”
“It’s alright.” Scott answers. “I guess I should still be thankful.”
“What for? This was a group effort.”
“If you wouldn’t have been here, William wouldn’t have been here either. AJ doesn’t know Nathan, and on her own she would not have been able to track him. Yes, this was a group effort. And I’m thanking you for your part in it.” Scott then turns to her, and reaches out his hand to shake hers.
She leans back a bit. “You know what will happen if I do that.”
Scott smiles. “Guess I always wanted a little sister.”
The End