Daughter of Magneto, Chapter 1: Bonds (part 2)
Professor Xavier watched as his students enjoyed the beautiful day in the whole-hearted way young children did everything. It had rained several days in a row, making the day’s weather all that more special for both the students and their principle.
“It amazing, don’t you think Jean?” Xavier remarked without turning his head as one of his older students approached from behind him.
“It is beautiful, Professor.” Jean Grey replied respectfully, doing her best to calm herself.
“You are troubled Jean.” Xavier observed as he turned his wheelchair in the direction she had come. Jean just nodded, and followed him as he started towards the elevator that led down to the hanger bay.
~
Shiloh watched as a team of technicians attended to the ship. She was standing out of their way, the piece of adamantium in her hand fluctuating like it had a life of its own. Logan had gone off to meet Professor Xavier, and Scott had long since gone about his own business. This left Shiloh on her own, which made her a bit uneasy. All of her doubts started flooding back in and it took all of her willpower not to run.
“You have nothing to fear, child.” a calm male voice said gently from her right. Turning, Shiloh looked at the owner of the voice and saw Professor Xavier in his wheelchair. Her doubt since again quieted and Shiloh wondered at the power she could sense behind those words. Mentally preparing herself, Shiloh looked into his eyes.
“It is not you I am afraid of, Professor Xavier.” Shiloh responded as she allowed herself to relax.
“I know. You must not allow your fear to blind you from seeing your own potential. This wheelchair is a constant reminder of that.” Xavier replied turning his chair so that he could watch the tech’s at work. Turning his head back to her, he added “Or that of others.”
Shiloh blinked at him, confusion written all over her face. After a few moments of thought, she nodded as the pieces fell into place.
“Why doesn’t he understand?” Shiloh asked, feeling as if someone else had asked the question.
“If I knew that child, we would not be fighting this war.” Professor answered his eyes once again on the ship. He sounded tired, and Shiloh wondered just how many times he had argued on the subject with her father. Glancing in the direction the Professor had come, Shiloh saw Jean and Scott standing talking in low tones. They had been joined by other X-Men whom Shiloh recognized from Wolverine’s memories. Wolverine stood apart, and was the only one of the group that was relaxed. Everyone else had obviously guessed that something was up, and where apprehensive about the mysterious new mutant.
“You risked everything to save Logan, and yet you unsure of your place here.” Xavier observed, studying her face with a look of almost grandfatherly concern.
“I am the daughter of Magneto. None of them will ever trust me fully.” Shiloh explained, a look of loneliness coming over her face.
Xavier raised an eyebrow, and turned to look at his older students. “I don’t believe that, and neither does Wolverine. His trust is hard to earn, and yet I sense you have it completely. That is not something his teammates will ignore for long. You must give them time. Meanwhile, you are welcome to stay here as long as you wish. If you need anything, come to Wolverine or myself. I have already told Logan to find you a room and make sure you have what you need for tonight. Tomorrow we can discuss your path in more detail.” Professor Xavier informed her as he directed his wheel chair in the direction of his students.
“Thank you, Professor Xavier. I will do my best to not to disappoint you.” Shiloh replied following him.
“I know you will, child.” Xavier responded in his calm way.
~
“Here we are.” Logan said, opening a door on their right. Shiloh went through it and found herself in a medium size room with a twin bed, a wardrobe, a desk, a dresser, with a pair of french doors to the deck that went all the length of the house. There was a door on the right hand wall leading to a private bathroom. Shiloh stood in the doorway a moment, taking it all in. Sure, it wasn’t as large as her childhood room in her father’s palace, but it was bigger than anything Shiloh had owned in years. Walking over to the dresser, Shiloh took out the small case she brought with her and put it on top of the dresser.
“If you need anything, just give me a shout. My room is just a couple doors down the hallway to your left.” Logan told her turning to leave the room. Gliding across the room, Shiloh caught up with him in the hallway and placed a hand on his arm.
“Thank you.” Shiloh said softly, looking into his eyes for a moment. Then she was gone, the sound of her door closing being the only thing indicating she had ever been there.
~
Opening the her case, Shiloh pulled out what clothes she owned and started putting them away. Everything else she left in the case, except the solid cube of adamantium and a picture of her family that had been taken when Shiloh had been very young. These she placed on the desk next to the lamp and notepad that had already been there.
Shiloh sat down in the desk chair and turned it to face towards the center of the room. Focusing her mind on the cube of adamantium, she lifted it up off the desk behind her and turned it into its liquid form. Using her inherited powers, Shiloh bent the metal to her will and it formed into many shapes as if it was alive. An hour of practice later, Shiloh settled on a very detailed model of a dragon. The details made the creature almost look real, if it had not been made of metal and very small.
Shiloh walked through the garden, watching as the sky changed from night to day and the world woke up to the new day. All around her birds began singing their songs as they started their daily chores. Behind her the school came alive with children rushing to their classes and getting ready for the day. The distant noise of their laughter added to the serenity of the moment, and Shiloh felt glad that there was a place were mutants could be happy, especially the children. Kneeling down by one of the flower pots, Shiloh studied the plant with the understanding of someone who had spent their life caring for living things.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice said from behind her. Turning her head and standing in a single movement, Shiloh saw the owner of the voice. It was a blue mutant known that she recalled seeing in Wolverine’s memories consistently.
“They all are. I’ve always loved plants. My older sister used to teach me how to care for them. The Spreading Sunset Lantana is my personal favorite flower. Which one is yours?” Shiloh responded as he joined her beside the pot.
“Roses. They are beautiful to look at and smell amazing, but their stems are lined with thorns. A good example of nature and life’s complexity. And thanks to our gardener we can enjoy them longer than most.” Beast explained, waving a hand at the surrounding Rose bushes in full bloom.
“Indeed. They remind me of the opposite of many of the people I have known, both mutant and human. A harsh outer exterior hiding a beautiful heart within.” Shiloh observed, noting the smile that her observation brought to the Beast’s face.
“Hank. Dr. Hank McCoy.” Hank said, holding out his hand having suddenly realized that he hadn’t introduced himself yet.
“Shiloh.” Shiloh replied, taking his proffered hand.
“It is good to meet you, Shiloh. Logan mentioned you this morning when I gave him his medical assessment for mission readiness.” Hank responded, indicating that she could walk next to him as he headed towards the school.
“Did he pass? Last time I checked he wasn’t there quite yet.” Shiloh inquired, as she walked beside him.
“Oh, he passed the physical exam as he always does. However, Charles decided Logan’s mind is not ready for a confrontation at the moment. Therefore he has not passed completely. I wouldn’t ask him about it though, he wasn’t very pleased.” Hank confided as they entered the school door, passing groups of children of all ages going to their classes.
“I wouldn’t be either. But, Professor Xavier is probably right. Where are we going?” Shiloh asked, as she followed him down the hall.
“Logan told me that none of the other students wanted to give you a tour, so I volunteered. Where do you want to start? Logan will join us after lunch, he teaches some morning classes when he is here.” Hank explained, stopping in the main entrance way and turning to face her.
“I honestly have no idea. Why don’t you show me your favorite places? A tour is so much more fun if the tour guide is enthusiastic about what he is showing you.” Shiloh answered, looking up at the amazing architecture of the building.
“In that case, why don’t we start with the library? The amount of knowledge you can store in one room is quite astounding.” Hank declared, leading the way to the library and giving Shiloh the benefit of his first hand knowledge about the school’s beginnings and the building’s origin.
~
When it was time for lunch, they headed to mess hall the conversation having returned to flowers and the outdoors. They got in line and received their food, and where just sitting down when Logan entered the room with a few of his friends.
Shadowcat (Katie) was telling Iceman and Wolverine a story, and though Logan seemed to be ignoring it, Iceman was focusing to intently that he almost missed picking up his food tray. After she was finished, Shadowcat waited for a response from her two listeners. Iceman’s response was immediate, however Logan just kept walking.
“Wonder what has gotten into him.” Shadowcat commented as Logan headed for Hank and Shiloh.
“How did the first part of your tour go?” Logan inquired as he sat down across from Shiloh.
“It was pretty fun and I learned a lot of interesting things. How did you classes go?” Shiloh replied, doing her best not to smile at the look on his face.
“Better than usual.” Logan answered his focus on his food. A moment later he looked up and caught Hank’s look. “What?” he asked with a mock glare.
“Oh, I am just wondering why Shadowcat is glaring at you like that.” Beast explained readily indicating a table behind Logan with his fork.
“She probably thought I said I would sit with them today. A student asked me a question at the same time.” Logan responded after glancing over his shoulder.
“Why didn’t you? We wouldn’t have minded.” Shiloh put in, looking worried.
Logan shrugged, “Because I didn’t want to.”
“What where we taking about?” Hank said changing the subject.
“Medicinal flowers. You where about to tell me about a new discovery you made?” Shiloh reminded him, taking the hint.
To be continued
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