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Resigned to Fate
Chapter Two: Revealed
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Kellei
wrestled blindly with the translucent and shape-shifting creature before
her. The enemy was bigger and stronger
than her, but she was determined to win.
“Why?”
It asked, it’s voice a mix of both man and woman.
Diving
from the next swing of it arm, she replied, “Why what?”
“Why do
you fight those you love? Why do you
believe that it is your job to protect them?
Why did you run from your father when all he ever did was protect you
and love you?”
Kellei
froze. Why had she run? She couldn’t even remember why
anymore…no…she remembered. She
remembered hearing about the lies, but she understood her father’s reasons for
it.
“I was
scared! That’s why, alright!” She screamed,
as it stopped and the land, which had become ice and snow when the creature had
appeared, began to return to its previous state, “I was scared that if people
feared me, they’d find Dad. I was
confused and I didn’t want anyone who hated new mutants to take away the only
family I had left.” She finished.
The
creature started to take on a defined shape and color. It grew down to a human height, and Kellei
gasped at the figure before her.
Adam.
“Daddy?”
-*-*-
Adam’s eyes shot open. What the hell had just happened? There was no way he’d dreamed that – telepaths had been in his head before. But he was unsure if Kellei could do that in her unconscious state. Sitting up in his bed, he allowed his mind to go off on a tangent.
He was so deep in thought, he didn’t notice when Shalimar came into the light of his doorway, “Adam?” She spoke softly, at a moment she hoped wouldn’t startle him to hear her.
Looking up, he smiled and patted a space of the bed beside him, which she happily complied with. Settled on top of the warm covers, she noticed the odd look in his eyes, “Did you just have a dream about Kellei?”
“I don’t think it was a dream. I think she was trying to tell me something.”
“Well whatever it was, if it includes you and her answer for why she ran, you’re not the only one. Jesse, Cora, and I both saw it, and it’s a safe bet Lillie did, but she’s still asleep.”
He nodded, “Kellei was always advanced in her abilities, even as an infant. I don’t know why she chose to show us what she did, but maybe now Kellei’s getting better. Lillie might be able to get through to her.”
“Did you figure out what’s wrong with her?”
“Her genetics have been mutating for so long that one gene clashed with another. Combined with the fact that she must have caught a virus from someone, it was too much for her body to handle. I stabilized her DNA, but the virus took its toll on her. It’s simply a matter of how long it take for the virus to run its course now.”
“Simpler than I thought it would be.”
Adam sighed, “Nothing with Kellei is simple. Those first two are secondary to what I’m really worried about.” He paused, trying to hold back the tears, ”I found an infected puncture wound on her arm. It looks like she was injected with something, but I don’t know what it was. It’s driving me up the wall, because it’s probably what’s made her as violently ill as she is, and I can’t fix it until I know what it was.”
Shalimar’s gaze had shifted to the pillow when he began to list the other thing that contributed to the teenager’s illness, but she soon looked back to her mentor – to see two glistening tears slid down his face, “No parent wants to watch their child suffer, Adam, it’s the way it is, but sometimes the only thing you can do for them is remind them that you love them.”
He didn’t answer, just nodded, and wiped the tears from his eyes, only to find that they’d been replaced by two more.
Silently, Shalimar fixed herself so she was sitting Indian-style and pulled him in to a hug, letting him cry for the two important years of lost time with his child, for the loss of a woman he’d loved with all his heart, for everything he’d held in until that moment.
-*-*-
“HOW THE HELL WAS THAT FACING ANYTHING?!” Kellei screamed, the heat of her anger coloring her cheeks crimson.
“The
only thing that has ever bothered you, ever held you back was how and when and
why you ranaway.” The bear answered.
The teen
opened her mouth to yell again, when the wind kicked up, throwing her backwards. She could feel her body hit the ground and
it was suddenly as if someone had turned off every light in the realm.
“You
admitted something that you didn’t want to admit ever in your life. That one secret has been the root of
everything in your life – good and bad.
Your Lair is your attempt to create a sanctuary like his. Your Inconnu is your attempt to create
another Mutant X. You admitted that you
ran to hide because of fear, but that fear changed – into pride. But there is one more thing, Kellei, that
the fear and pride and protectiveness didn’t take away.”
The
light began to come back, but the odd realm was gone. In its place was the unfinished sanctuary that her father and
mother had started building when she was still a young and naïve child. The waterfalls were only frames thus far, wood
planks placed across the dirt floor for some reason she’d never known. She remembered this day – the last day she’d
had two parents.
“Mama?”
Kellei called, walking toward what would eventually be a wall with stairs
coming from it, but for the moment, a latter had sufficed. She carefully crawled up it, then bounced down
the semi-existant hallway.
Laughter
came from the only completed room, which happened to be her parents’ room. As she came to a stop and peered into the
room, she allowed tears to slip out from under her eyelids.
Her mother
and father were laying side-by-side on the queen-sized futon, her four-year-old
self giggling as her father lifted her up with his feet and made airplane
noises while trying not to laugh.
“Papa!”
the young version laughed, “Put me down, papa!
I’m a big girl now!”
“Really? Well, I guess you’re too big to sit in bed
with me and Mommy anymore.” He took his daughter from his feet and placed her
on the floor before rolling over and facing his wife, leaning on his elbow.
The
little girl allowed her mind to pull the pillow from under her father’s arm and
smacked him with it, “I take it back!” She grinned, hopping onto the bed and
bouncing on it.
Finally
pulling her eyes from the scene, sixteen-year old Kellei allowed herself to
slid down the wall and cry.
The cub
appeared and smiled, “That was the other thing – you never once…even as a
little girl….grieved for Evyeline.”
-*-*-
It was hours before Adam was ready to leave his room again, only to find that Brennan and Emma were trying desperately to pry information out of the unwilling Jesse, Corajean, Lillie-joi, and Douglas.
“Does she at least have a name?” Brennan asked, not liking that he’d been left out of the loop.
“Kellei Lyinne.” Adam answered from the top of the invisible staircase, “Her name is Kellei Lyinne.” Slowly, he began to take the steps to the group which was soon joined by Shalimar.
Emma looked to him, “Who is she?”
The fifty-something sighed, but smiled at the thought in his mind, “She’s my daughter.” He continued to smile as he saw the looks on their faces, than proceeded to tell them the same story she’d told Shalimar and Jesse the day before.
“So she’s your daughter…Adam, no offense, but I really cannot see you as the father of any child.” Brennan muttered, looking between the rest of his teammates. His roving eyes finally settled on the trio of teens he’d only seen in the new mutant database, “Since we’re on this explanation kick, who are you three and the munchkins?”
Corajean giggled at the munchkin remark, “I’m Cora…” A look of horror crossed her gentle features and she ran forward – catching the semi-conscious Kellei before the younger fell to the ground. Adam rushed forward, Emma scampering off with knowing exactly what her mentor would need.
“I…I…” She tried, seeing her father as he took her into his own arms, but the words were to bulky in her mouth, “I…” She tried again, needing to say what she’d wanted to say for what seemed like an eternity.
“Shh…it’s alright…” He whispered, taking the sedative from the telempath when she returned. He held it to Kellei’s skin, hoping she would not be angry with him later for trying to keep her asleep.
“I’m sorry.” She finally managed, before promptly falling into her dreamland – but this time it was not dark and desolate.
-*-*-
Emma stood beside the teenager as Adam once again drew blood from the arm of the teenager before him. Her expression changed several times, but the older decided to save his questions for later.
“How’s she doing?” Corajean questioned as she walked in.
“Better.” Was all the man could muster, concentrating on the work in front of him, “I think the virus maybe gone, but I still don’t understand how she managed to get up and get out of here in her state.”
Cora laid her hand on his forearm, “Adam, I asked how you were doing.”
He looked up, seeing her concern etched into her eyes, “I’m fine…” He turned back to the bloodwork, as Cora sighed, nodded, and left the room.
“You really should take a break.” Emma commented.
“And do what, Emma?” He tapped a screen to stare at the visual diagnostic.
The younger stood up from her seat beside Kellei, waltzed up, and clicked off the monitor. She took his hand and led him toward the Zen Garden, where the rest of the team had gathered.
Shalimar pointed to the empty seat between herself and Lillie-joi, “Sit.” She commanded.
Adam decided not to fight what the group had planned and seated himself where the feral had pointed. Emma seated herself in the empty spot, flairing her arms out to begin the meditation.
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