Kid Dynamo Chapter 9 "Truth or Consequences" by Connie Hirsch Prologue Magneto knelt carefully on the grass next to the hole. "Ah can see them down there, sir," said Sam next to him, pointing. "That light, there: that's where Warlock is." "Thank you, Sam," he said, and sighed silently. "Rahne? Douglas? Are you all right?" Faintly, an answer came out of the deep hole. "Yeah, we're okay," said the voice he instantly identified as Douglas Ramsey. "But Warlock -- he's still a little freaked out." One crisis after another, Magneto thought. Plotting to take over the world had been an easier pastime, for at least it had ensured long periods of calm reflection. "Warlock," he said sternly. "Acknowledge self- teacher." Even fainter was the voice that answered him. "Acknowledged." It wasn't hyperbole to say the voice was faintly mechanical. "Warlock, listen to me carefully," Magneto said. "We covered the reproductive schema of viviparous bisexual animals in biology class, remember?" He peered into the pit the biotechnological sentient had hurriedly dug for protection, taking his weakest classmates to cover with him. Was there a blinking of lights down there? "Self remembers," said Warlock grudgingly. "I do not mean Jessica any harm, Warlock," Magneto said, keeping all annoyance out of his voice. "Indeed, the complete opposite. I am not angry with her, nor do I wish anything for her save happiness." Things were happening too fast: scarcely had he time to reorient himself to Earth, put the school in order, prepare to contact and convince Thor to bear him back to Asgard to search out the children. Suddenly Danielle, Douglas, and Jessica had come back, only to have Jessica claim the relationship she had had no wish to reveal. "Self-friend-teacher does not lie?" came the faint voice from the pit. "Has he ever lied to us, Warlock?" Sam said. The young man glanced up at him, a questioning look. "Jessica did not want our relationship made public," Magneto said, both for Warlock and the rest of the New Mutants who were gathered near the hole in the middle of the mansion lawn. "Ah see, sir," Sam said. "Query," said Warlock. "Will self-friend's friend Jessica attack parental unit?" "Warlock, if she was gonna attack, she'd have done so by now, wouldn't she?" said Douglas. "There's no danger now, really, Warlock ol' buddy." "Oh, please do let us up," said Rahne. "If self-friends are sure?" said Warlock. Magneto caught Illyana rolling her eyes and gave her a stern glare, which only inspired a shrug in response. "Come up now, Warlock," Magneto said. "I promise, no violence from either Jessica or myself." There was a whirring noise and Warlock flew slowly out of the hole, clutching Doug and Rahne close to himself with several mechanical arms, propeller on top of his head _whupping_ faintly. He put them down carefully on the grass and hung his head. "Danielle, Douglas," Magneto said, taking note of the strawberry blonde young woman dressed in Viking gear who stood watching with avid interest. "I take it that pursuit was not imminent or you would have immediately brought it to my attention?" "You got it," said Doug. He ignored the slang. "Then we'll convene a quick debriefing in the library in half an hour. Time enough for the two of you to freshen up," he ordered. He looked around at the assembly of students and staff. Everyone but his daughter was present. "Anyone else who cares to may attend. Jessica will be excused; since she is obviously overwrought." * * * I cried until my eyes were red and my nose was full of snot. It felt like I could never stop: all that I'd been through recently, plus all that I'd endured in the past, had seemed to rear up and grab me. I hadn't the slightest idea what I was going to do next; I couldn't stay here, that much seemed clear, now that everyone knew. He'd start thinking he could act like a father.... But there was a limited number of places I could go, being who I was. Project Pegasus or Interpol wanted me too bad, not to mention the Right, X-Factor and all of Magneto's many enemies who'd like to get back at him through me. If I were just a little older.... There was the sound of a throat being cleared behind me. I flipped over, using my TK -- like a turtle, the armor made me a little clumsy. Illyana had 'ported into my room. "How you doing?" she said with studied casualness. I stared at her, my tears forgotten. "What the hell are you doing here?" I said at last. "I -- well, I thought you'd like to talk," she said. "Didn't anyone ever teach you how to knock?" "It wasn't in Belasco's curriculum, come to think of it," she said. She was still dressed in the Capri pants and fuzzy sweater she'd been wearing when we'd arrived. "It's just that -- I thought you might want to talk -- you know, with somebody who knew and didn't care." I stared at her, remembering the one time she'd made a gibe about it... a little over two weeks ago. It seemed like years. "Spare me," I said. Illyana shrugged, but the way she did it made me regret I'd rebuffed her. A little. "Well -- if you feel like talking later --" she said, and disappeared in a circle of white light. I got up off the bed and went over to my dresser. I leaned over and took a good look in the mirror. It was the eyebrows, I decided. They'd gone back to white, their natural color. It's funny how eyebrows change the shape of your face. Before, I'd thought I looked a little like Magneto, but now with my hair short and white, and my eyebrows and lashes so pale, I resembled nothing so much as a female version of him. I looked like a damn freak, that's what I looked like. That was what I was, after all. A freak who could tear anything apart without using her hands. All because of my damned father. I blew my nose and carried the box of tissues back to the bed. I lay down, leaking around the eyes. There was a knock on the door. "Try again, Illyana," I called, swallowing back my sobs and making my voice steady. "Like, maybe next year." I heard the knob turn, which was funny, because I'd locked the door. "Next year is rather too long to wait," said Magneto. "May I come in?" "You're already in, aren't you?" I said. He inclined his head graciously. "I should have had this talk with you weeks ago," he said. "You were already under considerable stress and the thought of how a parental claim would affect you dissuaded me." He made a languid gesture and my metal wheeled desk chair rolled over so he could sit. "I thought to save you pain." "Don't do me any favors," I said, turning over so my back was to him. I could hear him sit down. He'd changed back from his costume to a business suit; I could easily picture him in my mind's eye, looking noble. There was a long pregnant silence as we waited each other out. I lay there, simmering with resentment. I knew it was partly misplaced; I knew it even then and it made me more resentful. It was hardly his fault that I'd been born; Noemi had admitted to me that she'd seduced him. But at some deep level I couldn't get rid of the feeling he was to blame. "It was just 19 years ago," he said suddenly, "that I saved Wanda and Pietro from an angry mob." I didn't respond, but then he didn't seem to expect an answer. "Though I cannot say I regret saving them, I regret virtually everything that I did after that. I brutalized them. I physically beat Pietro more than once, verbally abused Wanda when her hex powers were erratic, as they often were. It was years before she came to mastery -- perhaps it was her lack of physical maturity, but my belittling attempts to break her spirit could not have helped." "I have much to answer for," he said. "Even today, Pietro will have nothing to do with me. "Wanda ... tolerates me," he continued. "Allows me to see my grandchildren -- your nephews -- from time to time; but I have no illusion that it is not painful for her. It is to her credit that she does so much. She is willing to grant me a chance that I may have reformed, to hold open a door, though it costs her." "And now," he said, and sighed. "Nineteen years later, another child of mine enters my life. For the first time in nearly forty years I am emotionally prepared to be trusted with the care of a young adult. For a little while yet, you are in need of a father -- and in light of my transgressions against your siblings, I should like very much the chance to make up for those grievous sins." I'd listened to just about enough, I thought. I turned over and glared at him. "What you did to Wanda and Pietro has no bearing on what you've done to me," I said. He raised one elegant eyebrow. "And what have I done to you -- daughter?" I couldn't let that pass. "For starters, you could have looked in on Noemi and me a little more often." His expression hardly changed but still I got the feeling he was shocked beyond words. At last he said, "You do not think -- I had imagined Noemi peacefully retired in Britain. I never knew of your existence until barely three weeks ago." "Bullshit," I said flatly. "You called me by name when you first met me." He shook his head as though he were innocent. "I had your wallet open in my hand," he said. "Your handbag was on the floor next to you, remember?" "And you knew my original name, 'Europa,'" I said. "Dr. MacTaggert inquired after your mother's British medical records for me," he said. "She turned up your birth certificate: father listed as 'unknown.'" "But Mother always said," I broke off, "that you were looking out for us." He looked sad. "Could she have been speaking in a metaphorical sense?" "She wouldn't--" I said, and stopped again. It was the sort of comforting lie you'd tell a little kid: that we couldn't live with my father because it would be too dangerous, that he'd like to be with us. More that a few times, lying scared on the floor of a getaway car, I'd comforted myself because I knew if we were really in trouble he'd come flying to our rescue. I must have been sitting there with my mouth wide open. "Do you for one minute think," said Magneto, "had I known of your existence I would have permitted any power on Earth or in Heaven to keep you from me?" I felt as if someone had snatched the floor away from under me. "Noemi did," I said in a small voice. "She kept me away from you. By hiding my existence." "She left me because of my treatment of Wanda and Pietro. And poor Mortimer," he said. "She could always stand up to me -- I respected her for that, even back then. Despite our differences, we could work for a common goal. But ultimately she could not trust me -- and I cannot say I blame her for it, now." "How can you sit there and be so--" I ran out of words. "Honest?" he said. "Jessica, I have not lied to you. I believe I have been negligent in not bringing up our relationship before this point. I should have been sensible and settled it on your first day here." "Oh, spare me," I grumbled. "I was attempting to," he said. "Your Asgardian kidnaping -- and my frustrating subsequent search -- brought home to me how precious this chance is." "For you, maybe," I said. "But you're years too late." "You knew, then," he said. "From your initial reaction to me, I could not tell if our kinship was known or merely suspected." "Yeah, I knew," I said. "I thought you knew too." "If only I had," he said, and I couldn't deny the tone of truth in his voice. "To have you survive so much alone," he said. "Had you known of your relationship to Wanda or Pietro, you could have sought them out for shelter." "Noemi said she wondered why none of you would talk about it. She said it was perfectly obvious to her." He raised an eyebrow. "But I was afraid that going to them would publicly brand me as -- your daughter." I turned over, fighting the urge to start bawling. "Besides, my reaction if a sibling turned up would be to run screaming in the opposite direction, so I didn't think they'd welcome me." "Jessica," he said, shocked. "They would neither of them, ever, turn you away. Family means so much to them, for so many years they only had each other. Wanda was particularly close to your mother; you would most certainly be welcome in her home, simply as Noemi's daughter." I shook my head; I couldn't imagine living in the West Coast Avengers compound. "I just wanted to live a normal life," I said. "One where people let you alone." I hung my head, holding back tears. "I would give anything to have that sort of life for you," he said. "Aren't you kind of late?" I snapped, tears avoided. "Like several attempts to take over the world ago?" "Jessica, do you think you are the first mutant who has wished for a simple life?" he said. "Had I never existed, would the prejudice against mutants have gone away? Perhaps it would have taken a different course, with different players --" "Or perhaps you made it worse," I said. "Frightening people." "There is always the question of 'What If,'" he said. "One can not unmake the omelet." "Stop it," I said. "Just stop it." I didn't think I could stand another word from him. All my best arguments were going up in logical smoke. "Stop what?" he said. "Talking? Or being related to you?" "You screwed up my life!" "Intent should count," he said. "I knew nothing of your existence. I knew nothing of my relationship to Wanda and Pietro. My actions might have differed had I known that my theoretical children were instead real." "Might have?" I said. "I was a different man, then," he said. "More driven; certainly more flawed and less wise." "All the king's horses." "Jessica," he said, reaching so his hand was over mine. I tried to jerk it away but he had a firm grip. "Damn you," I said, staring into his eyes. "You'd think you could at least be decently cautious around somebody who could bring this house down around your ears." Magneto smiled. "I am equally capable of such destruction," he said. "But I have learned nothing of human nature if I do not judge correctly that you are unlikely to take such a course." I stared at him and he looked back, sadly. I broke first and lowered my eyes. "Jessica, as I was about to say: One cannot revise history -- one must go forward, accepting what has happened." "I can't forgive you!" It came out as a half sob. "Do not, then," he said, taking his hand away. "I shall not give up hoping to win your forgiveness. Do but allow me the chance to do so." "I can't forgive -- you killed her!" Now I really was turning on the water faucets. "Jessica," he said after a pause. "I do not believe I was a direct contributing factor in your mother's illness." "What?" I said, sniffing back tears. "You used gene therapy on her --" "I used a placebo," he said. "I thought your mother's control problem was psychosomatic in nature; I treated her accordingly." I stared at him. "How can you say such nonsense! Her control problems were _not_ psychosomatic!" "So it turned out," he said. "At the time, they responded well enough." "You're saying she killed herself --" my voice was rising. He held up a hand. "No," he said firmly. "There seems to have been definite, progressive nervous system damage: that was no psychosomatic illness, though I know not what it was." "But how -- you said she responded --" "My training her in biofeedback and yoga helped at least marginally," he said. "I gave her vitamin injections, told her they were 'gene therapy.'" He turned his head, a rueful smile on his lips. "I lied to her, Jessica. I was years away from my serious researches into genetics. I knew enough to convince her of the treatment's scientific nature; her confidence and relaxation turned marginal control into firm control -- for a while." _He's lying_, I said to myself. _He's making his lies sound so logical_. "Can you prove it?" I said at last. "Jessica, I cannot provide you with my notes -- the majority of my records were destroyed with Asteroid M. In any case, they could as easily have been faked." _That's for sure_. He inclined his head. "If I can produce the culprit in your mother's death -- the cause of her deteriorating condition -- would you believe my innocence?" "It would have to be convincing," I said slowly. "I'm no slouch when it comes to medicine." "I am aware of that," he said. "Your ambition is to become a doctor -- the proof would have to be overwhelming." "You sound so damn sure you can just waltz in and solve the puzzle," I said. "Even you must admit I am one of the foremost experts on mutant physiology and genetics," he said. "And I have a personal stake to motivate me. It is worth any effort." He didn't sound as arrogant as his words might indicate; I had to admit that his expertise was nothing less than fact. "But what if there was no cause?" I said. "They checked her for everything from multiple sclerosis to AIDS! I was there. I know." "I can but try," he said. "Yeah," I said and sighed. He got up and went to the window. I turned my head away but I could still hear him. "I realize that the month you promised is not up," he said. I turned over to look at him; he was slightly clenching his fists as though he might be steeling himself. "Have you made your decision?" About a thousand things flashed through my mind, but I said, "I just don't know." "There would be decided advantages to being a ward of the school," he said. "Your legal status would be normalized. Project Pegasus and the other government agencies could not demand to examine you." "I know -- I know," I said. "I _do_ like it here. Everyone is wonderful. But---" "You cannot abide my presence," he said. "You're not what I expected," I said in a quiet voice. "You've been -- okay, really. Fair." "Ah," he said. "I cannot be the mentor Charles was to his students, so perfectly tailored to each pupil, so patient. I am mind-blind and unfamiliar with the customs and problems of the contemporary American adolescent. Still, it is good to know I am considered 'fair.'" I gazed at him, open-mouthed, I think. For an instant it had been as if I had been looking at a different man: a starchy professor called out of retirement to take over a school of teenagers, determined to do a good job. It seemed to me that I almost could like that guy. For an instant, that is. This was _Magneto_, after all. "Jessica," he said, reaching out to touch my arm again. It snapped me out of my reverie: I flinched and he withdrew the hand. "I said I would not prevent your departure," he said. "I _will_ heartily argue against it, though." "You can, I guess," I said. "Do you intend to count the past week in Asgard as part of your time?" he said. That would mean I had barely a week left at the school. "No -- I don't suppose I should, do you?" I said. "It's not like I was here taking classes, hanging around." "There's so much yet to teach," he said. "No other place will have better facilities to aid you in learning the use of your powers." "Damn you, you're trying to make this as difficult as possible, aren't you?" I said. "I merely speak the truth," he said. "If you do not like the sound, that is your problem." "Thank you," I said with a trace of sarcasm. "I will use every valid argument in my possession," he said. "The facts are neither spurious nor specious." I sighed but didn't reply. "Very well," he said. "There's time before dinner for you to wash and dress. Sharon is overseeing the orientation and disposition of the young woman you brought back; I should stop in and formally welcome her." "Her name is Mist," I said. "She's a Valkyrie." It sounded incredible as I spoke it -- we were in the middle of goddamn _Westchester County_. Of course, I was saying it to the most infamous mutant supervillain of all time, just to up the weirdness of it all. "Then I'll see you at dinner," he said, opening the door. "I would like to meet with the you afterward for a formal debriefing of your ordeal in Asgard. I've already spoken with Douglas and Danielle, so it need only supplement their report." "Right," I said, as he closed the door. I locked it and then telekinetically braced it -- just watch him or anyone else try to open it now. I lay on the bed and wondered if this was how Dorothy felt after she'd woken up back in Kansas: oppressed by the reality of it all. * * * As I washed up I kept remembering how much of our adventure hadn't depended on our mutant abilities. Most of the people we'd met didn't even know what mutants were, and quite likely wouldn't have cared if we had taken the time to explain it to them. I wished I'd been able to tell Lucas.... I cut off the thought, standing in the shower with the shampoo running down. There was no Lucas, there had never been a Lucas. There had only been Loki, dressing up and pretending. Making fools of us, of me. Dammit, Lucas had been such a nice guy. I wasn't making that up: he'd been truly a neat person, able, optimistic and fun to be around. _He would have to be_, I thought, _in order for me to fall for him_. Loki had had to play an authentic imitation of a nice guy. I was glad he'd waited to take the collars off until after he'd sent us back. I'd have been very tempted to use my telekinesis on him. Working out in the Danger Room had let me know just how _strong_ I was -- I could have torn him limb from limb, regardless of his Asgardian strength. I leaned back into the stream of warm water and washed the shampoo off my face. Some of it had gotten into my eyes. Showers were a wonderful invention -- how I had missed them. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror when I went back to my room. With my hair slicked back and wet, I looked more like my father than ever. That would never do: I took special care in fluffing up my hair as I dried it. Bridagan's spell had done more than merely restore the natural color: all the accumulated damage from years of dyeing had gone as well. I finished by applying some eye makeup. Just enough to darken my eyelashes; my face looked funny otherwise. Even with telekinesis, it was a bitch to dye eyelashes, but I'd been doing it since Noemi died; that, and my hair and eyebrows. There wasn't time before dinner to do the job; I'd have to face my fellow students in my natural state. I slowly got dressed. I chose jeans and a t-shirt to wear down to dinner. After a week of living in armor I felt light as a feather. With a touch of my power I piled all the armor on a chair; I didn't know what to do with it. Maybe I could get a dressmaker's dummy and set it up like a museum exhibit. I stopped at the door and looked back in. Funny how quickly it had become "my" room. The last time I'd had a room I really felt was mine was just before Noemi became sick, and after that I'd been spending more time at the hospital than at the apartment. My kitten poster was still over the bed. "Hang in there, baby," it said. I'd been hanging in there so long my arms were tired. Maybe it was time to give them a rest. Hearing voices, I stopped on the landing above the foyer. "Don't be silly," I heard Stevie say, and I crept forward to look down. She was standing just inside the front door, her coat on. Magneto still had his hand on the knob. "I wasn't about to stay home when I heard the kids had returned," she said. "It was not necessary," Magneto replied. "You have had an exhausting ordeal yourself; no one could blame you for waiting overnight to greet the chil -- students." "Piffle," she said. "Besides, I've been as worried as you have about them." "True," he said. "If you must, I suppose you will." "You bet, buster," she said. "Now, if you don't step aside, these boots are gonna walk all over you." Magneto's sigh was audible as he bowed her in. "I know better than to ask," he said. "Don't worry," she said. "I doubt even the kids would have recognized that Golden Oldie." At a guess, she was quoting some kind of song lyric, but I couldn't place it. Not that I was going to ask her right then. "May I help you with your coat?" he said. She turned gracefully so he could slip it off her shoulders. I'll give Magneto this: he was a real gentleman at times. "I had better tell Amara to add yet another serving to the dinner. She has had to revise her planned menu once already," he added. "Sorry to cause so much trouble," Stevie said, not sounding very. "Where are the prodigal students?" "Upstairs. Illyana and Rahne are seeing to the accommodations of our new visitor -- an interesting cultural orientation for her. The others are dressing." He paused. "Did Sam mention Jessica?" "The first thing he asked was if I knew," she said. "I gather the ... revelation was dramatic." "Poor child," I heard him say. "I should have prevented that." "What could you have done?" Stevie said. "Insisted that our relationship be open knowledge. But I thought to spare her some trauma. I do not -- I wish she would not hate me so." "You have to give her time," Stevie said. I backed off down the hall until their voices receded into gentle murmurs. There was a table and two wing chairs in the hall and I slumped into one of them. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut; all the air seemed to have vacated my lungs. I can't really be feeling sorry for him, I thought. But I was. How often had I wished he'd come flying to our rescue in the past week? In my lifetime? I was having a hard time resolving the way I felt; I was beginning to tear myself in half. My mind kept cycling through emotions like an endlessly looping computer program, with about as much result. I was staring blankly at the opposite wall when Stevie came down the hall. "Jess," she said. "Are you okay?" I looked at her. "You knew," I said. "You knew, and didn't say anything." "Oh, no, no!" she said, holding her arms open. "He only told me last night." "But you --" "I didn't even suspect!" she said. "You were so upset over your mother. I didn't look any farther than that --" I really needed a hug, just then, so I got up and went over to her. "I guess you didn't need to." I felt strangely calm now, the lump in my throat was gone. "I'm so mixed up," I said. "We'll talk," she said with a promising smile. "Later, after dinner." "Dinner," I said. "Stevie -- I can't face them!" "Of course you can," she said. "I'll be right by you the whole time. No one will hold it against you." Into the hall behind us came Mist and Illyana and Rahne. Rahne was in front; she stopped when she saw me and her mouth worked a few times soundlessly. At last she said, "'Tis good to see you back," and continued on. Illyana stuck her tongue out at Rahne and gave us a wink as she walked on. Mist paused next to us. The Valkyrie was dressed in a pink sweater, pleated skirt, white knee socks, saddle shoes, and a swordbelt. Her strawberry blonde hair was loose, falling to just below her collarbones, making her look very young. "[You have the most curious culture, Jess,]" she said in Asgardian. "[You will have to explain the bits that Dani couldn't make clear to me last night.]" "[Right, sure,]" I mumbled, my heart quailing. "[Is this Stevie?]" said Mist. "[Dani said she had dark skin the way Roberto does. It's very attractive, once you get used to it.]" I realized they hadn't been introduced, so I translated a few pleasantries back and forth. "C'mon!" Illyana shouted from down the hall. Mist excused herself graciously and continued down the hall with the stateliness of an ocean liner, pausing to glance curiously at the telephone table. She was going to have a lot of things to stare at, I thought. "We're going to have to go down sometime," Stevie said, her hand on my shoulder. "It might as well be now." "I -- you're right," I said. Downstairs, I almost followed her into the living room where everyone was gathering before dinner, but instead I went into the dining room, intending to head on into the kitchen and hide out with Amara. Roberto and Warlock were setting the big table as I walked into the room. "Er," I said. "Could you use some help?" Roberto put down the stack of napkins and actually bowed. "It shall not be necessary, _menina_," he said. "We are all but finished. Allow me to introduce myself -- Roberto da Costa. And you are?" he added, holding out his hand. I took it in a firm grip; if he wanted to kiss my hand, he'd have to wrestle it around. "Jessica Pierce, they call me Jess," I said. "Your teammates told me all about you." "All?" he said with a twinkle. He was small, but well built, with light brown skin and features not particularly white or black. "My reputation is so great, you must surely be intimidated, then." "Oh, quite," I said. What a flirt. Warlock had been hanging back, motionless except for some small points of light that flickered in the assembly of spare parts that made up his "body." He had two "eyes" in the proper places, but there were several more ocular devices sticking out around him. He created a mouth and said, "Salutation -- query intentions towards sire?" Puzzled, I looked at him and he looked back at me with numerous eyes that somehow had an earnest puppy-dog air to them. "He means, do you intend to fight Magneto," Roberto said helpfully. "No," I said. "Excellence," Warlock said, retracting some of the eyes. "Human biological reproductive schema quite acceptable." Still at sea, I looked to Roberto. "Warlock's people reproduce asexually," he said. "At maturity, the son fights the father; only one can win." "Oh yeah, that's right," I said. "That's why you ended up on that planet with Professor X, right?" "Ah, you have made a study of our adventures," Roberto said. "I'm glad to finally meet you," I said. "And I, you," he said. "Our teammates left behind had much to say -- I was sorry to miss you." His eyes twinkled again. "It appears from your tumultuous arrival that I have not missed all the fun." _I wouldn't quite call it fun_, I thought. "Haven't you finished yet?" said Amara from the doorway to the kitchen. In her flaming hands she held a covered dish, keeping it warm, I suppose. "Just a minute more, _menina_," said Roberto. "All that is left to setting the table are the napkins." He took one off the top of the pile and started folding it. "I'll get the rest," I said. I could lift and fold and place each of the remaining napkins in the time it took Roberto to do one. He watched open-mouthed as they set themselves in place. "I forgot you could do that," he said. I smiled and shrugged. Actually, I'd forgotten he wasn't used to me doing that. There was a kind of whirring noise behind me and I turned to see Warlock regarding me not merely with several kinds of ocular devices but with small radar dishes and some other esoteric thingumabobs. "What are you looking at?" I said. "Self attempts appreciation of self-new-friend-teammate's ability," he said. His voice was somewhat metallic, but warmly metallic, if you can imagine it. "Variant of parental mutant ability?" "It's not magnetic, if that's what you mean," I said. "Warlock's speech patterns take some getting used to," Roberto said, recovering his composure. "Help me carry out the dishes," Amara said, hands on her hips. "That is, if you're finished flirting." She rolled her eyes at me. Roberto gave her a bow. "One is never finished with flirting," he said. "However, I will help with the dishes anyway." Amara had us set the serving dishes on the sideboard, so people could help themselves cafeteria-style. I suppose handing dishes around the table would have been awkward and taken too long; there were fourteen of us to sit down tonight. We started serving without much fuss; I kept my head down and stayed in the background as much as I could and ended sitting at the far end of the table near Stevie and Tom and Sharon. It was pretty much where I always sat. Mist was seated next to Magneto, with Doug beside her to provide simultaneous translation. With a table that long you tend to get several conversations going at once. Stevie was telling Tom and Sharon and Amara and Roberto about her adventures with Magneto after they'd left us. A lot of Magnetic This and That, --okay, so the guy had a cool power, I knew that-- plus a big fight with a dragon. At least their adventure hadn't been emotionally wrenching. "And what about you, Jess?" Roberto said when she finished. "Doug indicated Loki fell in love with you, is that so?" I stared at him; I'd been expecting the talk would turn toward the "other" set of adventures but not so abruptly or rudely. "Just what did he tell you?" I said in frosty tones. I must have come across as severe as I felt; Roberto sat back suddenly. "Why -- just that Loki tried to ensnare you with a love spell, only to have it rebound on him. Unless I misunderstood?" "Something like that seems to have happened," I said. I hadn't even thought about relating just what happened to Magneto and the rest of the team; it was ... personal. "The end result was that he sent us home -- and that's all that really counts. I'm sure Magneto will give us a formal debriefing and you can read the report of that." Roberto was ever so slightly flushed though his skin color made it hard to tell. "As you will," he said, turning his head and lowering his voice. "I did not mean to offend." I stared at my plate, trying to think of nothing. It was probably too late to warn Doug or Dani to keep quiet about my tryst. Maybe they'd play it down -- after all, they didn't have much proof. I could stonewall if I had to. Magneto had stood up at the end of the table. He didn't clear his throat or tap a fork against his wine glass; he had the sort of presence that just commands your attention. When all conversation died he said, "The past three weeks have put great stress on our school community, but at last we are together again, joined by new friends. "Roberto and Warlock, I know I speak for us all when I say how happy we are to have you back with us. I trust the misunderstanding that led to your departure has been cleared to your satisfaction. You were both deeply missed. "As for our Asgardian misadventure, I am particularly pleased with those who remained behind -- Sam, Rahne, Amara, Illyana, Tom and Sharon. You kept your wits about you and did not lose hope. I returned to find the school in superb shape. I suppose special mention should be made that you did not neglect your studies during this time. "Dani, Doug and Jessica succeeded in the difficult task of getting themselves home without aid. Stevie, too, endured hardships by my side and proved herself to be of great help. "I am proud of all of you," he said. "It is perhaps the greatest honor I have ever had bestowed upon me to be associated with you. I thank you." He raised his glass in a toast, and everyone reached for their wineglasses, even though some were only filled with water. I hesitated but held up my glass anyway. We all clinked our glasses and Mist said something that sounded like "Skol!" and we drank together. He waited until everyone put the glasses down. "Tonight we welcome a temporary guest to the school: Mist Grasschild, who was of great help to your schoolmates in Asgard. She will stay with us for a season or more to sample the life and culture of Midgard. I have taken care to explain the difficulties of the life we face, but she is adamant that she remain with her friends. Mist, I welcome you to our school; may your stay be a pleasant and educational one." A murmur of welcome ran around the table. Mist stood up and bowed. "[Glad am I to be your guest,]" she said, waiting for Doug to translate each short phrase. "[To learn of your country, to share your adventures and friendship, I can think of no greater pleasure. In the words of the language that I learn today:] Thank you!" Her English came out with a near-stereotypical Scandinavian accent, but she looked pleased with her accomplishment. Everyone was murmuring again, Magneto stood waiting patiently until it died down again. "I realize Dani, Doug and Jessica's arrival here was a tumultuous affair. In the rush of events, a disclosure was made that I feel sure was not planned; that Jessica is my daughter." A couple of heads swiveled; I kept my eyes on my plate. "Individually, and in groups, since then you have sought to confirm this fact with me. I have not denied it. Had I been asked in private earlier I would have requested the questioner to keep his or her speculations quiet, as it was evident that Jessica wished our relationship be kept private. "I had hoped that Jessica would see fit to acknowledge our connection of her own free will as she grew to know me. But that choice was abruptly taken from her and it is no surprise that she acted dramatically. "Her reasons for her silence should be respected," he said after a slight pause. "My reputation is such that any child of mine is likely to be made to bear the repercussions of my fame. Jessica has only known me these three weeks; it is absurd to hold her responsible for the sins of her father, yet the ignorant are likely to do so. That is reason enough for her to hide the connection. "I hope you will extend the curtain of privacy we reserve for the X-Men community to preserve this secret. "Furthermore," he added. "I understand Jessica is undecided as to whether she will become a permanent member of the school. I have pledged to abide by her decision. However, I know I speak for the school when I say she will be welcome for as long as she cares to stay or if she leaves and later decides to return. "Thank you very much for your attention," he said. "I believe, Amara, it is time for the dessert course." Roberto and Warlock helped Amara clear the table; Warlock doubling as a sort of waiter's cart, rolling in and out of the kitchen. Across the table from me, Tom said, "Is it true, Jess? Are you still thinking about leaving?" I hung my head. "I'd rather not talk about it now," I said. "Not that I want to influence you," he said, then shook his head. "Oh, hell, I _do_ want to influence you, Jess. Stay." "Don't be so... " Sharon said, "pushy. Jess has got a lot on her mind just now. Jess, if you want to talk about it later, I'll be happy to chat. I know I speak for us all." "Thanks," I said briefly, thinking, _He's manipulating them all into pleading that I stay. That's dirty pool_. To my relief, talk turned to recent public events during our adventure. The new group "X-Terminators" -- who were almost certainly some of the original X-Men in disguise, had fought some yo-yo's called the Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who named themselves War and Plague and Pestilence. I guess they couldn't count too well, but at least they believed in affirmative action: two of them were women. There was worse news: Warren Worthington III, playboy millionaire, better known as the Angel, had unfortunately had to have his wings amputated due to gangrene, and then had committed suicide by blowing up his own plane. It turned out he was the secret financier of the X-Factor group, something that caused no little comment. "Had to have gone off his rocker," Stevie summed it up. "To think anyone who trained with Charles could turn on his vision of mutants living peacefully with the human race." "Don't you mean 'the rest of the human race?'" I said. Stevie raised her eyebrows. "I've noticed even Professor X fell into the trap of considering mutants as something apart from the human race. When you're really discussing the difference of a few minor genes at most." "I -- well, I guess you're right," said Stevie. "I tend to deal with the difference as though it were along racial lines." Magneto stopped by our seats on his way out of the room. "Dani and Sam are ready for your debriefing," he said. "As we have the initial sketch of events from Douglas and Danielle, an hour of your time should suffice." I put my napkin on the table and followed him down the hall. Dani and Sam were already in his office. "Sam, if you will," said Magneto, who then sat back into his chair as if he were going to watch a Mets game. "If you'll start with the abduction," said Sam for the recorders. He was making notes as he spoke, as well. Magneto liked to start the debriefing process with an oral reminiscence as soon as possible followed by exhaustive written reports. The X-Men compiled their records the same way, in even more detail. Furthermore, he made Sam and Dani, as co-team leaders, conduct the interviews and compile the reports for the archives. If nothing else, it discouraged the team from going out and picking fights -- all that paperwork! The debriefing went fine until we came to the night at the inn. I'd gotten into my storytelling (in a vastly abbreviated fashion, but you'd be surprised how many high points you can hit in an hour) and was going great guns when I found I was describing going back to Dani and Mist's room. "But I decided I was going to spend the night in Lucas's room," I said kind of lamely. Dani shot me a grateful look. "Then, you, uh, spent the night with, um, Loki?" Sam said. He was blushing. "I didn't know he was Loki," I said. "And I don't think the rest of it is anybody's business." "I agree with Jessica," Magneto said from across his desk. I'd have to say he was working hard at looking unperturbed. "Accept as given she spent the night in his room and the love spell went awry. Unless there are any significant information contained in the way that happened?" "No," I said hurriedly. My face might have been a little red. "It was all perfectly -- normal." Dani coughed. I think she was trying to cover up a laugh. "That is all the record need reflect, then," said Magneto. "Right," said Sam gratefully. "We'll pick up with the next morning." We finished up by 9:30, when Magneto dismissed us for the night with a reminder to rest well. "Jessica," he said as I was the last one going out the door. I stopped and looked back at him. "Another moment of your time, if you would," he said. I sighed and closed the door. "Well?" I said. "If I had had the raising of you--" he said. "But I did not. At seventeen years of age you are of sufficient maturity to make certain decisions concerning your body." "You're right. I do," I said. "Still-- If you have any questions or concerns you wish to ask me in a fatherly capacity -- or if you would prefer to speak with Sharon or Stevie, I feel sure they would aid you in this matter." "I think Noemi covered all that I needed," I said. _It'll be a dark day before I ask you for anything fatherly_, I thought. "Yes, she would have," he said. "But practice can vary considerably from theory at times. Do not deny yourself knowledge because of ... shyness." "I won't," I said. "Speaking of practice," he said. "I would be remiss in my duties as headmaster -- if I did not ask if you practiced birth control?" "Well, yes we did!" I said, feeling my face grow red. "What do you take me for? Stupid?" He looked at me. "Young," he said. "One does not necessarily think clearly in such situations." "Well, I did," I said. A horrible thought hit me. "Of course, for all I know, _that_ could have been an illusion too. So much else was." "Ah," he said. "I'll ask Sharon to include a pregnancy test in with your regular post-excursion physical tomorrow. Though I deem it unlikely that Loki was desirous of fathering a child." "Yeah, probably," I said. I hadn't given any thought to the chance of getting pregnant; I thought we'd taken care of that. The idea of pregnancy seemed almost unreal, like it couldn't possibly happen to me. Famous last words. _Well, I'll deal with it if it comes up_, I thought. "Is that all?" I said. "One more thing," he said. "If on reflection, there _is_ anything significant to your personal encounter with Loki, you could consider putting it in the written account. It may be easier to relate there." "Okay," I said. "But really -- it was pretty ordinary, all things considered. He was in character the whole time." I paused. "I don't _believe_ I'm having this conversation with you." "There is a certain absurdity to the situation, I agree," he said. "I must balance your right to privacy against the school's need to know vital information about an enemy. Not an easy choice, I hope you understand." "I guess I do," I said. "Anyway -- I'll put it in the written report --- it was really completely normal." "That's all then," he said. "I would recommend a restful night's sleep. You have a week's grace on that written report. Since your physics class will start up once I straighten out the class schedule you may want to complete it before then." "I'll see what I can do," I said. "I'll be working on my own report tonight," he said, holding the door for me. The room lights extinguished themselves. "Good night, Jessica." I looked back at him. "Good night yourself," I said. * * * On my way to my room, I passed by Roberto's room where he was showing Mist how to work a stereo system. She seemed to be more interested in the pretty pictures on the CD cases. Down the hall, Doug was talking to Sam in his room. They looked up as I walked past, but I didn't say anything. I only had a few minutes of solitude back in my room before there was a knock at my door. I hadn't had time to do more than lie on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I used my seeker sense, noticed the long straight braids: it was Dani. "You might as well come in," I said, opening the door without using my hands. Dani, who had experienced far more weirdness than the average teenager was unfazed and walked in as though nothing could be more normal. "I've got to talk to you," she said, shutting the door. I sighed and sat up. "So?" I said, heart heavy. "I mean, I never even suspected!" she said. She sat down in my desk chair, hands protectively crossed over her chest. "Nobody could have been more surprised than I was." "Yeah, well, I'm sorry," I said. "I hope we can still be friends, after this." "I do, too," she said, looking worried. "You don't feel different about me, do you?" "Huh?" I said brilliantly. _Why would being Magneto's daughter make me feel any different about you_? "I mean, it's a shocking revelation -- at least it was to me," she said. "You didn't -- suspect -- did you?" "No?" I said. "You know what really worries me?" she said, not paying any attention to my semi-question. "How am I going to explain it to Rahne?" "Wait a sec'," I said. "I thought you were talking about my father and me." It was her turn to look surprised. "I was talking about Mist and me -- last night." "Oh," I said. Had it really only been last night? It seemed like months had passed. "I wasn't thinking of that--" Dani threw her head back and shook so I thought she might be crying but she gradually got control and I realized she had been laughing so hard she couldn't make a sound. "You thought I was talking about -- and I thought you were talking about-- Oh, Jess, I'm sorry I'm not taking this seriously -- but we're both so wrapped up in our troubles that we couldn't get straight what we were talking about!" I shook my head, trying to throw off the incipient grin. Suddenly things made much more sense. "It doesn't matter," I said. "I mean if you _are_ a -- lesbian." It sounded so bald. "I mean, _one_ time doesn't have to mean anything, it's not as if you knew what you were doing." I realized I was babbling. "I just don't know," Dani said. "Listen -- thanks for covering for me at the debriefing. It's just that I'm trying to work it out by myself, and I don't need half the school freaking out while I'm trying to do it." "I don't think it will matter to most people," I said. "I mean, they know you for who you are." Dani regarded me for a very long moment. "Kiddo, you should listen to yourself more often. Here you've been freaking out over whether it'll matter to us that Maggie's your dad, when we _are_ going to judge you for yourself." I sighed. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry that I deceived you." She shrugged. "You were going to tell me two nights ago, weren't you? You were going to tell me _something_." "Guess I was," I said. "Are we still friends, then?" "If you want a, um," she rolled her eyes in embarrassment, "_lesbian_ for your friend. Great Spirit, I can't get used to calling myself a, _that_." "Don't then," I said. "Don't start putting yourself into a little labeled box until you're figured out where _you're_ at. I bet Mist doesn't label herself that way." "Yeah, she's a Valkyrie. That's a category off by itself," Dani said, gesturing "way and gone." "I think she really likes you," I said. "To come all this way -- not that she had much choice about coming to Westchester. I haven't noticed that she's complaining about it all." "You know, I'm not sure how I feel about her," said Dani. "It's just like a friendship, but -- oh, hell." "When and if you want to talk about it, you can count on me," I said. There was a knock at the door. My seeker sense told me female, middle height, short curly hair. "Amara," I said to Dani. "Shall I let her in?" "It's your room," she said. "I'm not the only one who wants to speak to you tonight." I opened the door without getting up. Amara surveyed this with the same grave manner she studied anything she hadn't experienced before. She'd switched to one of the chiton-like garments she used for nightgowns. "Am I disturbing you?" she said, noticing Dani. "Oh -- you are already busy." "No, we were just talking," I said. "What can I do for you?" "I have nothing to say that Dani can't hear," she said and inclined her head gracefully. "Events went so fast this afternoon, and at dinner I was so busy -- I had no time to explain my comments at your arrival." "Really, it's okay," I said. "I feel I should," she said. "I had imagined matters between your father and yourself were more -- cordial. But private. So I said nothing, when you could have used a confidante." "When did you figure it out, anyway?" said Dani. I moved over on the bed to give Amara room to sit down. "Why-- the first day," she said. "The way Magneto looked at Jessica -- and the way Jess looked back at him, as injured as she was." "I can't get used to the idea of Maggie being a father," said Dani. "Surely you have noticed the pictures of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch on his desk," said Amara. Dani stared at her. "Oh," she said. "The resemblance to Quicksilver is marked," said Amara. "I just never thought of him as being very _fatherly_," said Dani. "Well, neither did I," I remarked. There was a knock on the slightly ajar door. "You decent, Jess?" Doug's voice boomed through the crack. Amara called out something elegant sounding in Latin, rewarded by the sound of laughter. "Roughly, 'a lady of good breeding is never indecent,'" she translated for us. "Shall I let him in?" "I'll get it," I said, swinging the door open. Doug was still in the jeans and button-down shirt he'd changed into for dinner, but he was barefoot now. He regarded the self-swinging door with a slightly raised eyebrow. Then he gave us a dazzling smile. "I just got off the phone with my folks," he said. "I thought you'd like to know that they don't suspect a thing." "I guess I should be elated or something," I said. "That's what we were in such a tizzy about, after all." "Ah," he said, leaning his butt against my desk. "I should probably be elated too -- but really, it's kind of depressing." "Yes, you're just oozing depression," said Dani. "Hey, just because I don't _brood_ like some people I could mention doesn't mean I don't worry about some things," said Doug. "Like the fact that I'm deceiving my parents." Amara sat up a little straighter. "You should tell them," she said. "You dishonor them when you lie." _Have a little tact_, I thought, but didn't say anything. Doug shrugged. "You're right, of course," he said. "I -- really don't know how they're going to react. They're against the Mutant Registration Act, you know. Petitions and all that. But their only child? They might take me out of the school." "I don't know what to tell you, Doug," said Dani. "Oh, there's more to it," he said. "This -- _broadening_ of my power -- do you realize that formal schooling is pretty much superfluous for me now? Even if I'm still a minor -- what can they _do_ to me -- cut off my allowance? I can make all the money I need, using my power. Legally, even." "What if they threaten to go to the media about the school?" I said. "What -- and expose their son?" he said. "If I had to, I'd get Magneto to threaten them, first." "You're kidding, right?" I said. "Mostly," he said. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure _what_ I'm going to do now. Get used to using my _abilities_ in the Danger Room with you guys." "But you still must tell them," said Amara. "What if you had not returned from Asgard, instead you had died there?" "Amara!" I said. "That's morbid." "Your culture hides from plain facts, Jess," she said. "If danger is such an essential part of your life, you must accommodate the possibilities into your plans. Which must include _death_. "No matter the consequences, you must tell them," she said to Doug. "Why _are_ you hiding your mutancy from them, at this point? Mostly, for your parent's peace of mind, which will be shattered anyway, should you ... become injured." Doug sighed. "You're right, I know you're right," he said. "It's just -- when I tell them, I'm leaving childhood behind, there's no going back. They can't protect me any longer." "They haven't been able to protect you for a long time, have they?" I said softly. "Not since Warlock landed in the lake," said Dani with a grin. "And Sam flew over to get you to translate." "His life was already in danger from mutant hunters," said Amara. "They might have found him eventually, even had we not intervened." Doug sighed again. "I'll tell Magneto to prepare for a meeting with them," he said. "He's offered to help me with telling them before, you know." We were all silent a moment. Doug smiled his familiar grin. "You can cheer me up now, and tell me everything's going to be okay," he said. "If I go into this expecting them to freak, they will. So I'll just have to work on a positive attitude, okay?" "It is provident you came back when you did," said Amara. "You could only be at the mall so many times when your parents called, after all. Illyana wanted to have Warlock impersonate you when they finally visited." "Oh, Great Spirit!" said Dani. "'Expressions of greeting, Parental Units!'" "Exactly," said Amara with a grin. "We cast aspersions on her idea at great length." "I don't know who's the greater silly: Illyana for suggestin' it or Warlock, who would ha' gone along wi' the daft plan," said Rahne from the doorway. She looked about twelve years old in her unadorned full length flannel nightie. "Ye do na' mind me coming in, Jess?" Who was I to say no? "'Course not," I said. Rahne sat on the floor next to Dani's feet. "[Is this where everyone has gone?]" said Mist from the doorway. For a Valkyrie she was looking awfully innocent and defenseless in a white shift. "[You may as well come in too,]" I said. There was a circle of white light suddenly, over by my closet. "Collecting mutants?" Illyana inquired sweetly. Her negligee looked like it came from the Frederick's of Hollywood "Lolita" collection. "Excuse me, this must the the stateroom scene from the all-singing, all-dancing, all- mutant production of 'A Night at the Opera.'" "Hardy-har-har," said Doug with a smile. She stuck out her tongue at him. "You know," she said, "'The Road Warrior' is showing on Channel Nine tonight. We could make popcorn and cheer for the Gyro Captain." "Count me in," said Doug. "I'm looking forward to explaining it all to Mist." "Really, we shouldna' -- 'tis a school night, after all," said Rahne, looking up at Dani for approval. "Not like a regular night at all, furtop," she answered. "No classes until Mr. Magnet sorts everything out. Anyway, I'm nowhere near tired -- we're still on Asgardian time, so we're about four or six hours out of phase. It's you homebodies who are going to be yawning." "Who's going to be yawning?" said Sam from the doorway. "All us dull, stick-in-the-muds who don't get kidnapped," said Amara with a saucy smile. "Yeah, we never get any fun," said Sam with a wink. "But at least we're well-rested." "Sleep is highly overrated," said Doug, heading for the door. "[C'mon, Mist, I'll tell you more about this crazy culture. And introduce you to cocoa.]" "[Is Cocoa someone I haven't met?]" said Mist as she followed him. The New Mutants started a mild stampede in the direction of the TV. Sam stood by the side of the door as they exited. "You comin', Jess?" he said. "Oh, I suppose," I said, getting up. "I expect you've had a pretty exhausting day," he said. "And I guess Magneto's speech at dinner may not have helped. So I just wanted to say... if you go, we'll miss you lots. I know I speak for the team in this." I sighed. "Thanks, Sam," I said. "I just don't know." "Ya'll been under a strain," he said. "Just don't go making any decisions 'til ya'll've calmed down, hear?" "Yeah," I said. After all I could always decide tomorrow. Or the day after that. We headed downstairs where I could already hear the others whooping it up over some stupid commercial. Mist wasn't the only one who felt like a stranger in a strange land, tonight. Story Continues in Kid Dynamo Chapter 10: "Double Dare" This story (c) 1992 Connie Hirsch The New Mutants, Magneto, the Hellions, Loki, the Hellfire Club, the Horsemen of the Apocalpse, and all constituent characters (c) 1992 Marvel Comics Group. This story is not for sale and is not to be distributed without permission of the author.