DISCLAIMER: Wolfsbane, Excalibur and all other characters are trademarks of Marvel Comics, with the exception of Owen MacFearson. Owen MacFearson is my own invention, and is copyrighted. He may not be used without my exclusive permission. This story is an unauthorised work done purely for my personal enjoyment, and is not intended to infringe on any of their rights in any way or obtain profits from these characters. But this story is copyright to me, please ask before archieving it. If you want to comment, send email to Telepathic speech is indicated by << >> Passing the Torch by Stuart Palin Cycles. The world is a cyclic thing, wheels within wheels, and one wheel has come around again. Thoughts flitted through the mind of Rahne Sinclair, appearing and vanishing at random, unconnected yet focused. Images of her childhood, harsh, strict and loveless. Of her powers manifesting, the fear and horror as she saw fur spread over her arms and body, her fingers lengthen to claws, as she felt her head lengthen and change, and fangs grow. She ran. She ran as far and as fast as she could, for death was on her heels, Rev. Craig and the 'Good People' of Kinross were going to save her soul, at the cost of her life. She feared the change, but the thought of being burnt as a witch more so. She was thankfully distracted from her memories by the quiet rumble of a boat engine, approaching the dock behind her. They were finally here. Turning to greet them, she heard a gasp, and blushed, she had forgotten not everyone was used to the way she looked. She shifted back to human and called over to the boat. "Welcome t' Muir Isle, Mr. Shane, Bridgit. Sorry if I startled ye." "Ms. Sinclair? It's a pleasure t' meet ye." The voice, like the man, seemed large and expansive, but Rahne could feel an undercurrent of hesitancy, maybe ever fear, in it. "That was yer power wasn't it," he started up again, "I'm sorry about muh reaction, I'm not used tae seein' werewolves." The last bit was meant as a joke, to make himself feel less tense, and Rahne was glad of it, she'd rather not have to deal with this man as an enemy , who may prevent Bridgit from getting the help she needs with her powers. "Tha's a'right, it's just tha it's cauld out an' the fur keeps me warm. Well shall we be goin' in, I'm sure the tae of ye wid rather get in oot o' th' cauld evenin' air. Follow me." The three moved swiftly towards the main building, clouds of vapour trailing in their wake. As they approached Bridgit turned to Rahne. "I never got a guid chance t' thank ye for what ye did f'r me, Miss Sinclair." She hadn't said a word since arriving, and Rahne was caught by this, the sincerity in her voice. Bridgit must have noticed because she looked very concerned. "Tha's... fine Bridgit. I'm just really glad tha' ye were able t' tell yer parents about yer abilities, and that yer able t' get some trainin' in them." They moved on in silence for a minute, each mulling over their own thoughts, until they finally got inside, when Rahne turned to the other two. "Now, I sure the tae of ye are tired after yer journey, and wid like tae have a rest an' get somethin' t' warm ye up, so if ye'll follow me." She led then on along on of the corridors, and wafts of what sounded like someone singing reached them, as they got closer the sound turned out to be a rather spirited, if slightly off-key, male voice singing something in another language. When they reached the kitchen the source of the sound became evident, the refrigerator had grown a tail, and taken up singing. Rahne turned back to Bridgit and her father, "May I introduce Kurt Wagner, leader of Excalibur and my long-time friend." The refrigerator grew a head and turned to the trio. "Vas? Ah, Rahne, our guests have arrived then. A pleasure to meet you Herr Shane, and your lovely daughter, Bridgit, truly a vision of young beauty." Obviously Mr. Shane was not ungracious, for despite the apprehension Rahne could smell from him, he strode over to Kurt with a friendly smile on his face, grasped his hand and shook it heartily. Rahne smiled inwardly to herself, Kurt wasn't expecting that. As she turned to Bridgit she half expected to see her looking on Kurt the same way she herself had when first she saw him, frightened, indoctrinated into thinking of him a demon. To her pleasant surprise Bridgit was blushing, half taken by his words, the other half startled, but not scared, by his appearance. Obviously not cursed with as Fundamental a background as her own. Ah, Kurt, she thought to herself, devil you may be, but truly a silver-tongued one. Rahne and Bridgit moved over to the table, where Kurt and Mr. Shane were already seated and deep in discussion about nothing in particular, all the apprehension in Mr. Shane gone. As she turned to Bridgit to strike up a conversation, she thought to herself, well, we're off to a good start, I just hope it stays this way. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The conversations around the table ebbed and flowed for the best part of an hour, before Rahne noticed the clock, and turned to her guests, "We'll need t' be getting down t' the lab so those tests can be done. So, if yuir ready, Bridgit?" Bridgit nodded, rather cautiously, "If ye think its safe." Rahne grinned back, cocked her head in the direction of the door, and got up, Bridgit following her. Her father started to get up when she told him "I'll be a'right wi' Rahne, dad" and quickly left the room. As the pair walked through the corridors, she turned to Rahne, "Are the other two ladies ye were with when ye helped me about? I'd like t' thank them for what they did t' help me." "I'm afraid they're away right now, down in London w' some of the others, I doubt if they'll be back b'fore we leave f'r the states." "Oh" "Dinnae worry, I'm sure they'll phone t'night, or I'll pass on yuir message muhself." Good, thought Rahne, that seemed to cheer her up, the worst thing would for her to be upset before she even gets to the school. Medlab, as ever, looked like to would put the best science fiction shows to shame. Bridgit was obviously in awe at the sheer scale of it, while Rahne, despite her familiarity with the ‘lab still couldn't shake the sense of not belonging, of trespassing, in this temple to science and healing. A figure emerged from behind a bank of computers, a tall, well-muscled man in a lab coat, with an oddly feral look to him and iridescent eyes gleaming out from behind a safety visor. "Hi Rahney, glad ye could finally get down t' muh domain." Rahne blushed, and felt more than a tad sheepish. The conversations in the kitchen had gone on rather longer than intended, and despite Owen's hesitancy to force punctuality on them, he had his own way of making you feel guilty about keeping him waiting. "Sorry Owen, we ran intae Kurt in th' kitchen, an', well, ye know how things go. Och, where are muh manners, Owen, this is Bridgit Shane, as ye must've guessed. Bridgit, this is Owen MacFearson, the resident research student an' Lady Moira's lab assistant. He'll be doin' th' tests as Lady Moira is in London, givin' a Genetics lecture to th' Royal Society." Owen gently nodded as she talked, as if in answer to her excuse, then smiled broadly as he and Bridgit were introduced. "It's a pleasure tae finally meet ye, Miss Shane, after wha' I'd heard from Rahne about ye." Bridgit smiled back rather shyly, obviously affected by the male attention she had attracted since arriving on Muir. "Well Bridgit, if ye'll just jump up ontae the couch" Owen indicated a large cushioned bench, over which was suspended an imposing piece of machinery. "Firstly, I'll have tae take a blood sample, just tae provide an separate assessment of ye, an' for some routine tests." He picked up a sterile syringe and ampule, and with his eyes glowing slightly, deftly inserted the needle into her arm, took the blood sample and removed the syringe, all without her even noticing. The ampule filled with blood was safely placed in a holder on the desk by the couch and Owen turned his attention back to Bridgit. "Yuir a mutant as well, aren't ye, Mr. MacFearson?" she asked as he worked on the machinery above her. "Aye, I am, Bridgit. I'm a psi, a bit like yuirself, I'l talk to ye about it a bit later. Now, we're goin' tae find out just whit abilities ye've got. Tha's what this thing's fer. Now ye just lay back an' relax an' we'll see whit we can see." He shifted into his bedside manner effortlessly, calming his patient and explaining to her everything that was going on, just to ease the job for both of them. Rahne watched Owen at work from the far end of Medlab, and found herself contemplating her past again. She saw again the obvious similarities between him and herself a year or two back, still twisted under the control of the Gengeneer, and utterly unable to return to a human form because it would have meant her reverting to being a mutate, mindless and servile. Owen however, while caught in the same trap as her then, unable to return human, but... <> <> <> <> <> An hour or so later, all tests complete, data analysed and final results prepared, the six of them were seated round the table on the kitchen: Rahne, Bridgit, her father Duncan, Kurt, his lover Amanda, bored with waiting for him, and Owen, itching to divulge the results of his work. "Well," he began, "after all muh work on Bridgit, I've managed tae determine tha' her power is an interesting blend o' at least two known abilities. We known she can project fire, an' is immune tae it's effects, but I think, due tae the extreme psionic nature o' her abilities, tha' she should be able tae manipulate this fire, an' potentially any fire, frae any source. I suspect she would also be capable of a good level of telepathy. It would be best if she c'n get serious tuition wi' her abilities as they have a great potential fer good or fer harm, depending on her trainin'." Bridgit looked the most shocked by this, it was the first time anyone had attempted to quantify her abilities, and they were obviously more than she had expected, as well as the possible impact of them. The rest of the reactions were mixed, Rahne and Kurt happy at the latest addition to the extended X-Family, as was Amanda, but she also seemed fed up that this was all dragging her and Kurt from what they were supposed to be doing. Duncan seemed perturbed by the thought of his little girl's power, but was the first to speak up. "Ye think this Massachusetts Academy is th' best place for her tae learn how tae use these abilities safely?" Owen spoke up, "Yes, it's th' only safe mutant training school we know of, th' only one we can guarantee won't manipulate her intae a weapon or tool for their gain, because it is run by close friends. An' also, she gets a full education an' it's all free." "But, is there nowhere closer? Whit about here on Muir?" Kurt spoke up, slowly shaking his head, "I'm afraid it is as Owen said, there are no other 'schools' that we can trust. As for here on Muir, we are not equipped for teaching, also it would be best if she was around people of her own age. This could only happen at Massachussets, the youngest people here are Rahne, Kitty and Owen - all five years her elder." Duncan turned to his daughter. "How does it sound tae ye? D' ye want tae go to this school?" "Aye daddy, it's the best place fer me. Whit wid ye do it I accidentally burnt the school in Kinross tae th' ground? It's a guid thing, I know it, Rahne's too nice tae lie tae me about this. Maybe I'll git a few friends, more than I would here in Kinross." "So it's of tae th' States for ye then darlin'." He said with a deep smile. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The planning between Rahne, Kurt and Duncan about Bridgit's departure, Massachusetts, and all that was entailed had continued rather late into the night. Owen had retired to the lab to continue some work he was doing, and Bridgit having been hustled off to a guest room, to get some sleep before the journey the next day. Amanda had long since disappeared back to her own quarters, muttering darkly in German. The next morning however, everyone seemed alert, most likely a combination of mutant metabolisms and large doses of caffeine, or for the unwary, a dose of the dreaded 'Moiracoffee'. The two visitors were finally able to meet the other residents of Muir Isle, those not currently using Dr. MacTaggart's business in London as an excuse to 'get away'. Piotr, who had eschewed human company the previous day - preferring the peace of his easel and oil paints, was polite and courteous to a tee, but it was obvious to those that knew him that his mind was brooding elsewhere. Douglock on the other hand was very much himself, friendly, yet immensely curious about Bridgit and her father. He seemed to be trying to make up for lost time, as he had spent half the previous evening querying Piotr about his art, and the rest as an impromptu model. Conversation over breakfast was concerned mainly with Bridgit, but with Rahne trying fervently to make Kurt hand over the 'keys' to the Midnight Runner to fly them over to the school. "Come on nae, Kurt, I'm able t' be able tae handle th' Runner, it's mostly automatic anyhow." "It's not your ability that I doubt, little one, it is your experience of solo flying..." Kurt was slowly shaking his head, he paused for breath, but Rahne cut in. "Ah'm not going solo, Owen is co-piloting f'r me, he says it's a guid chance f'r him tae help Bridgit's TP before she gets t' th' school" Owen didn't even look up when he heard this, but merely sent << Aye, Kurt, and who wid be better qualified t' dae tha'? There's nae one else willin' tae go, hell, I can even act as a safety system, wi' muh TK, if I have tae.>> Kurt's face remained impassive for a minute, as he considered his options: he didn't have any, so he relented. "All right, take the Runner. But, Owen, I warn you, if anything happens to any of you, or the plane, I will hold you personally responsible." Owen remained completely nonplussed by this, he merely returned his attentions to other matters, his own way of acceding to the older man's condition. The edge of Kinross, an hour later. The departure itself had gone, as expected, with no problems, aside from getting Kurt to finish a conversation with Mr. Shane, so he could board the plane. The flight from Muir Isle to Kinross had been short and silent, the four individuals, Rahne, Owen, Bridgit and her father, in the Midnight Runner had each been absorbed in their own thoughts. Rahne had landed the plane, fully cloaked, on the opposite side of a hill to the main part of the town, so as to avoid any awkward questions or unwanted attention, and the four of them had begun loading Bridgit's baggage, already packed and waiting in preparation for the journey, aboard the Runner. Or rather Owen was loading the luggage on his own, in his own words, "Ah can get this done much faster on muh own, and this'll give ye time t' say yuir g'byes", and this they did. Bridgit now seemed deeply upset at the thought of leaving. She and her father were deep in a tearful goodbye when he turned to Rahne, and asked, "When can I visit this school she's goin' to, since we all know I cannae go wi' her to it today?" "We c'n take ye over th' next time we go t' th' States ourselves, but I'm no sure when that'll be, or we c'n arrange wi' Professor Xavier about free tickets f'r th' commercial flights, tha' would be easy enough t' do." He was obviously relieved at this, the thought of the difficulty of visiting due to the airfares must have been troubling him. "What about phoning her, writing letters an' all tha'?" Rahne fished through her pockets, until she found what she was looking for. "Here's all th' information you'll need, address, phone number an' so on", she said as she handed the folded piece of paper to him. As he took it from her, holding it as if it were some sacred text, he spoke, "Thank ye again Ms. Sinclair, f'r all that ye've done f'r Bridgit an' f'r me. I place muh daughter's safety in yuir hands, take guid care of her an' tell yuir Mr Cassidy at th' school tae do th' same." He turned back to his daughter, eyes red-rimmed, for a final goodbye, before stepping back from the Runner. The two women boarded the plane, already started and ready to go. He watched as they left, waving until they were merely a speck in the blue of the sky, but remained until all was as it should be, naught remaining as a testament to their passing, his mind playing over one thought, as if to send it with them: 'All my hopes and dreams go with you'. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The cockpit of the Midnight Runner was silent aside from the breathing of its occupants and the occasional chirp or beep of the controls. It was mostly flying itself, cruising at Mach 6 high above the storm-tossed Atlantic, the occupant of the pilot's chair, in this case Rahne Sinclair, merely a safety precaution. A good thing, for the pilot was rather less concerned with flying than she ought to be. Rahne's thoughts were of herself, back when Lady Moira had first taken her under her protection and brought her to Charles Xavier. Her co-pilot would have seemed at first glance to be staring intently out at the sky, but the gaze was fixed and vacant, his mind on an entirely different plane, interacting with and assisting the third occupant of the aircraft in her own abilities. Rahne could feel the mind link between Owen and Bridgit as the most tenuous of whispers, buzzing ever-so-slightly at the back of her brain. A result of her own linkage with Owen, established to help him through a deeply traumatic accident that had changed him both inside and out, but neither had wished to end it, having become used to the ever-present sense of the other. Rahne's own mind was flitting through memories of her own first days at Xavier's School. She had been shocked and frightened by much of the stuff there, all the equipment, the technology had seemed like witchcraft, which Reverend Craig would have denounced as the work of Satan. Reverend Craig, ever present in her thoughts then, her own personal Bogeyman, until he had been exorcised a few months ago. I pray you never have to suffer such as that, Bridgit, she thought, but at least you have a truly loving family. Pulling out of her melancholia Rahne's thoughts returned to her first days at Xavier's, they had gravitated towards these memories for the past week, since she had heard of Bridgit's decision to undergo the tests and possibly to go to Massachusetts. Now that they were on their way, she had been reminiscing most of the time... She heard steps behind her, she had just gotten to this place, it all frightened her, and now some one was sneaking up behind her. Not Lady Moira, it didn't sound like her, and not the Professor, he was in a wheelchair, so it must be that other girl, the Asian one, her name escaped her. She turned round quickly to find out why she was following her. Before she could say anything the other girl spoke. "Hello, Rahne. We haven't had a chance to talk yet, I'm Xi'an, and it is good to meet you." "H'lo" was all she could muster in response, her shyness overcoming all the questions she wanted to ask, the demands of why had she been following her. Xi'an remained unfazed by such a shy response, but rather continued, face lit with a amicable smile, "We did not get a chance to talk earlier, when I arrived. I've been looking to speak to you since." When Rahne didn't respond she continued, "I realise you are frightened, cherie, of this place, of all the strangers in it, including myself. That is natural, I was the same when I first arrived here in America, a month ago." Her smile became more secretive as she comtinued, "Don't worry, everyone thinks America and Americans are weird and scary when they first get here, it's entirely normal" Now this managed to elicit a cautious giggle from Rahne, she was still on edge and feeling shy, but Xi'an was managing to get through to her, to draw her out of herself. It seemed to be the start of a great friendship. Rahne snapped back to the present, remembering her friendship with Xi'an, and just how much she had helped her accept her shapeshifting abilities. Thinking about the school, Rahne's mind slipped back to the happy times they had had there, and the sorrows. Hopefully Bridgit would have far more of the first than the second. Reminiscences filled the journey to Massachusetts, punctuated only by brief returns to reality to ensure all was well with the aircraft and its other occupants. Arrival at the school was more of a problem. The approach had been fine until they almost flew into a small unidentified flying object, the size of a person, that didn't show up on the radar until too late. It took all of Rahne's piloting skills, and a not inconsiderable push from Owen's TK to avoid the low-flying student. When they landed Ms. St Croix seemed both unflustered about, and unapologetic about the incident, making an off-hand comment that she "knew the aircraft was in no danger at any time". Later, after the Midnight Runner was unloaded and Bridgit was getting to know her new classmates, Emma Frost approached Rahne, to speak to her, for the first time not as an underling or enemy. "Rahne, I have something I've been meaning to ask you about" "Emma..." Rahne's tone was as cold as the other woman's name. She had seen too much of Frost as an enemy, as the manipulator behind the Hellions and ultimately the one responsible for their deaths, to greet her as a an ally or friend yet. For her part, Emma was not visibly taken aback by this reaction, but continued. "I have been thinking, Rahne. Logan cannot come here to aid in the teaching as much as I would like, and the students are sorely in need of more physical training. As you are here, now, maybe you could give them a lesson, you and your friend....MacFearson." Rahne thought for a minute, helping the next generation of mutants, the right thing to do. "Okay Emma, I'll do it, f'r th' students." The pair turned and walked into the school, two adults dedicated to helping both the Dream and the next generation of mutants. Pupil to teacher, the cycle is complete.