Was anyone else wounded?
Who: Nate, Laura, Cora, Magius, Faiza, Kitty, Laura, Jubilee, Neena What: Healings! When: 6/25 Where: Graymalkin status: complete Rating: PG-13 triggers: injuries, mutant and magical heals, and returning from the dead. Only without zombies. (aka your typical x-men tuesday)
Nate shivered as he lay on the bed in the medical bay of Graymalkin. Kitty was gone now and Laura lay on a bed nearby, and Nate slowly pushing himself up to a sitting position. “Damn. That sucked.”
“It’s good to have you back, Nathan. You appear to have undergone some changes.”
He tentatively stretched out with his mind, but he was mostly still blocked. “Professor? I need a blood chem scan. There’s a drug in my system that is inhibiting my mutant abilities. Scan it, identity and store the info, then come up with a counteragent, please.” He glanced at Laura. “Can he scan you, too? Nothing invasive. Just the more info, then quicker we have our powers back.”
Laura was all kinds of pissed off. She’d been sedated enough to not pace the room, but she wasn’t anything close to calm. “I need to go find Jubilee, I don’t have time for this!”
Cora had been both relieved and a little scared when the call came that Nate had been found. She’d jumped at the chance to assist, to look after the rescued ones on Graymalkin while the rescuers went after the others. She was sore from running with Mouse every day in Nate’s absence as she strode quickly down the corridor to the med bay, slowing only as she neared the room and heard Laura’s upset voice.
Oh, she had no intention of stopping. She just paused for a moment to collect herself, squaring her shoulders before she walked in. “Nate?”
Nate was talking as she came in. “Laura. The faster Professor scans us and restores your powers, the faster you get to go after your wife and kick some ass.” His voice was gentle, matter of fact. G
Then he heard that voice and he turned and smiled. Relief hit him, and he realized he had been worried that she had been taken or hurt, too. “Cora?” He was older, and larger, and his voice sounded it.
Laura sighed when she saw the other two talking to each other. “Fine, fix me up then send me down, computer guy.” She turned her back on Nate and Cora. Right now she only cared about finding her wife.
Cora glanced over at Laura, concerned, but realizing that there was probably nothing she could do for Laura that Professor wasn’t already taking care of, and then turned her attention back to Nate. She smiled, her eyes bright, yet suddenly brimming with tears that she’d manage to hold back all week long. It didn’t matter much that he had changed again; only that he was safe.
She threw herself at him--gently!--and held on like she was never letting go again. “I tried calling for you, but I couldn’t find you.”
“Professor?”
“Activating scan of you both, initializing treatment procedures.”
Nate smiled to Cora, and hugged her, gently. He was sore, aching, and tired, and felt stuffy, but he was alive, and now here was Cora. “I’m okay. Thin, and older, and okay. We were yanked a few days ago, and we had a bitch of a terrorist holding us.” He glanced over at Laura and nodded. “I still am pissed off at Scientist lady.”
He kissed the top of Cora’s head. And sighed. He was home again. At least there was that.
Domino’s voice came over the intercomm. “Hey, Nate, who died while you were down there? I lost a dot, tell me you killed one of them.”
Laura jerked like she’d been slapped. “Send me down now! I don’t care if I have my powers or not!”
Nate looked awful, but Cora knew he would recover. She bit her lip when the call came over the intercom, though. Someone had died? Her stomach lurched. She didn’t know what to say to Laura, so rather than make the woman even more angry, she just held her tongue.
Nate’s blood ran cold and he sighed, hugging Cora. “Not that I know of. Professor, can you get ahold of the second team?”
“There appears to be some interference, Nathan.”
“Damn it.”
“Working on it!” Neena announced, before shutting down the comm. Laura got to her feet and stalked off. She was going to find some way back if it killed her.
Cora shivered, and bit back tears as she stroked Nate’s big, dumb, genius head. She didn’t ever want to lose him again, but she felt guilty for being so happy to have him back when other people were dying. “Is there anything I can do?”
Nate smiled softly and kissed her hand. “Just stay here, with me, please? Neena and Kitty will try to get things patched up so we can find some help, while Professor tries to get this drug out of me and Laura, and the teams downstairs work on saving Mom and Jubilee.” He stared upward.
“This sucks, all except for you.” He smiled at her again.
“I’m not going anywhere, sillybutt,” Cora said, sniffing and laughing at the same time. “I belong here. With you.”
Kitty came running in. "Everyone okay? We've lost comms down below and there's no way to get back without getting killed in the process I think. I'd really like to avoid orbital skydiving again."
She looked at them, eyedarted, then turned. “I’ll uh, head to the bridge.” Then she was gone.
"Kitty! You could use the..." But she was gone. Nate sighed. He hugged Cora. "I'm going to have to hold classes about this place. Or... Maybe not."
Cora hugged him back, staring at the doorway through which Kitty had retreated. She knew everyone was busy trying to save lives, but she had made a rather hasty departure without really waiting for an answer. “I hope we didn’t freak her out.”
“I don’t think we freaked her out.” He chuckled. “I think she thought we were being... intimate.” He blushed.
Cora blinked, and blushed even brighter than Nate. “Well,” she said after a moment, “I guess this is kind of intimate. But it’s not like your head is in my lap, or something!” Cue internal flailing. “Who makes out in sick bay anyway?”
“Ah, well, it’s a romance novel sort of thing. The heroine comes to the wounded hero’s side and they end up making love in the romantic angst of the moment.” He chuckled. “Not that I‘m asking mind you. I know we’re not there.”
To her credit, Cora did not say 'ew,' even if she did wrinkle her nose a little. This was real life! "Wouldn't it be more romantic to make chicken soup, so the wounded hero can get his strength back up first?" Nate might be taller now, but he looked like he'd just been rescued from the pound.
“God, please? I am so freaking hungry.” His stomach took that moment to rumble, loudly, even as there was a shimmering and Magius appeared, with Faiza appearing slightly before, and next to him. Magius blinked, then strode the the obviously underweight Nathan and took one look at the partially shredded clothing and sighed. “What have you been doing?”
“Fighting terrorists, doc.”
“I see. Sensorus Malgamam.” Magius waved a hand over him and a shimmering diagram of Nathan appeared above him. Magius nodded, after peering at it. “A heal spell will suffice. Was anyone else wounded?”
"Bugger," Faiza murmured, blinking her eyes. She'd never get used to this sort of thing. She looked around, then went into immediate doctor mode. "Yes, is there anyone else?"
Cora honestly hadn’t paid any attention to the fact that Nate’s clothes looked like the Incredible Hulk’s castoffs--if she had, maybe she would have realized that she and Nate looked like the cover of a bodice-ripper romance with a feminist twist. But no. She had more important things on her mind, like saving people, and nursing them back to health with astronaut chicken soup.
“Laura was here, but she didn’t want to wait. Nate said their powers aren’t working right.”
Nate nodded. “She’s around here somewhere. She stormed off somewhere, because her wife is down there.” He eyed Magius and Faiza. “Can you help starvation and something inhibiting mutant abilities.” Magius nodded, then glanced at Faiza. “Definitely, with my gifted fellow doctor here. “ He grinned at Faiza. “What do you say, Doctor? Shall we do that voodoo that we do so well?”
“Lets, but I want to get a look at Laura as soon as possible. If her powers aren’t working, then she’s probably wounded.”
Cora glanced at Nate, giving his hand a squeeze. “Should I see what I can find in the galley, while they fix you up?”
“Sure! But be careful out there, okay?”
He smiled to Cora, then lay back. “Okay, Doctorly ones, lay it on me, please. I have people in the line of fire, a missing mother, and I’m hungrier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
He turned pleading eyes on the two and Magius began to wave his magic, stepping next to Faiza.
Faiza took Nate apart. “Work your magic, as it were.” She grinned cheerily at Magius.
***
Laura was in the galley attempting to drink her entire weight in water. She had a pile of empty water bottles at her feet, and some empty food containers. If her powers didn’t kick in soon she’d probably eat until her stomach popped.
Cora stepped out, leaving the doctors to their work, and hurried to the galley, pausing in the doorway when she saw Laura there. “Faiza and Magius are here,” she said, moving to the counter to see what she could find for Nate, and the others when they were found and healed. She refused to think if. “They should be ready for you soon.”
***
Magius, meanwhile, did exactly like Faiza said. The powerful magic of the Heal spell flowed from his hands like a brilliant blue light, flowing around and across Nate’s body, making flesh tremble and organs pinken, even the bones growing stronger as health flowed into him. “There...” He pointed to a drug that was pouring out of the cells as he healed Nate. “That’s the mutant inhibitor drug.”
Nate felt very odd, and when he felt the drug pouring out, felt his powers starting to reappear.
“Yes!”
“How the bloody hell did they get something like that?” Faiza shook her head as he assisted Magius by moving Nate’s blood vessels for maximum flow.
*** Laura looked over at Cora. She didn’t know the girl, and she wasn’t in the best mood over. She gave the girl a confused look, then moved away from the fridge. “I’ll go back, then.” She wasn’t sure what to do or think about anything. She just knew she wanted to find her wife.
“I think they figured out a way to get your powers back,” Cora offered. There wasn’t really much else to say, so she just left it at that. Maybe then they’d let Laura go back and rejoin the search, like she wanted.
*** When all was done, Magius nodded to Faiza. “Will you check him? In this situation, I would feel better if we both agree he is completely healthy again.”
Nate was struggling to make sense of the world while pulled apart. But Faiza’s question came through. “I don’t know, but I will find out. They hurt my people.”
Faiza nodded and quickly checked Nate over. Then she put him back together again. "Healthy as a horse, but it wasn't just your face that aged up, duck."
Neena’s voice came through the speakers again. “Nate, when you’re done getting fixed up come to the bridge.” She sounded irritated.
*** Laura nodded at Cora, grabbing another bottle of water before leaving. She skirted the other girl, feeling very wary and uncertain. The hand with the missing finger was shoved into her pocket, which was beginning to look like a pen had exploded in it. “Thanks.”
She went as quickly as she could in her crappy condition to the med center.
Cora nodded, all but clinging to the counter to stay out of Laura’s way. She wasn’t scared of the woman, but she didn’t want to startle her, or piss her off any more than she already seemed to be. Once Laura was gone, she turned her full attention to her work, preparing food, and cleaning up the kitchen afterward. Nate would know where to find her when he was free.
***
Magius nodded, ready for the next patient,
Nate sighed and stretched then smiled a little at Faiza and Magius. “Thank you both. And what do you mean, Faiza?” He waited just a moment before darting off. This could be important.
He rubbed his face. “Also, Professor. Warm up the Starjammer, and use it’s bodyslide device to fetch Uncle and Aunt. Tell them they can blame me and I owe them.”
Faiza spotted Laura and took her apart almost immediately. “We need to get that poison out of you.”
Laura nodded, sulking her way back into the room. “‘kay.” She didn’t like this place. She wanted to be out looking for Jubilee. She hated that she’d been so stupid.
“Your body is older. I’d say you’re mid to late 20s now.” Faiza sounded a little distracted.
Nate nodded. “Thanks. See you all later!” And he ran out of the room, heading toward the bridge, his gait uncertain but fast.
Magius turned to look at Laura and nodded. “If you’ll stand here, Miss, We will have you cured in no time.”
Laura nodded, just wishing they’d get on with it. She had stuff to do. She moved to where he’d pointed and fidgeted impatiently.
There was a flash of pink light, and then two bodies materialized in the medical bay. Faiza turned towards them, putting Laura back together. “Oh hell.”
Laura gasped when she saw Jubilee. She didn’t even really notice Emma. She rushed over to her wife, hugging her tight.
Magius swore, and knelt at Jubilee's side, imparting health and strength to her, then nodded. “Faiza, this one is within your reach, Please, aid her.” Then he moved to Emma and swore louder. “This one however, will require my power.” He stripped off his shirt to prop up Emma’s head and spoke a soft spell, summoning a small chest, which he opened. Inside was a spellbook which he opened to one darker page, and began to read softly.
And the area around him glowed, and around Emma as well, as he began an old and dark spell, the spell of hope, Raise Dead.
Faiza didn't even check for a pulse with Emma. The poor woman was clearly dead, but Jubilee she could help. "Whoever patched you up did a shite job, duck, but I'll get you patched up. Laura, please step aside."
This time Laura wasn’t sullen at all when she moved. She was still very fidgety, and only became more so when she did finally notice the dead body in the room. She shivered a little. That could have been Jubilee.
Magius’s hands snapped out and then, suddenly, living color snapped across Emma’s form. She still looked like shit, but she looked like living shit now. “Welcome back, Mrs Summers. Now don’t move.” His hands moved, and pressed to her belly, and he chanted again, with little pause.
This time his voice rose higher, more imploringly and the light around them grew stronger, yet.
Whatever Magius was doing didn't seem to phase Faiza. She'd seen him do this before, and even then it hadn't phased her. Magic was nothing new to a woman from a version of England that practically swam with magic.
She opened Jubilee up and removed the bad stitches.
Emma gasped, her eyes opening wide. She coughed and started to move, but when instructed she held still. She still didn’t have her powers, but right then she was more concerned about her baby.
Laura stared in surprise when Emma woke up. “What the hell?”
And then Emma’s belly jerked and kicked, and there was another life there. And Magius, sinking to his knees further, had more lines, more gray hairs. He nodded. “Just a little more, Emma. You and your child will be okay. I promise it.” And he wearily began to chant again, his power reaching out as a green glow formed around Emma and her belly, and a feeling of wellness, health, and power rushed into them.
Jubilee groaned, her body slowly stitching together.
Faiza hazarded a look at Magius. “Do you need a break, duck? I can help.”
Laura moved closer to Jubilee. She couldn’t hold her wife’s hand, but she could be there for Jubilee. The queen bitch had enough people looking after her.
Emma reached out to touch Magius. “I knew I picked the right OB/GYN. Where’s my son?” She sat up slowly, feeling odd, still. She supposed it was a side effect of being dead.
“Aye. I healed them both. But Jubilee needs the power dampening stuff out of her. “ He nodded to the pair close by. “They need more than I, now.” He squinted, and nodded to Laura. “And her wife as well, if you did not finish?”
Magius smiled to Emma. “Your son has already been healed and is on the bridge with others, trying to raise the rescue parties.”
After another moment, Faiza put Jubilee back together, then slumped into a chair. She felt like Magius looked. “Please tell me that everyone else is unhurt? I don’t think we’ve got much energy left.” Still, she drank a red bull, then resumed healing Jubilee.
“We don’t know. Kitty brought us up here, I don’t know where the others are.” Laura was now back to essentially normal. She went to grab Jubilee’s hand. “I should go back down and help.”
Emma rubbed her head and tried to ignore the fact that she was in her bondage clothes, still. This was no time to feel awkward. “You two rest, you’ve done a fantastic job. Is there anything I can get either of you to help you recuperate?” There was no way she was going to fight anything for a while. She was going to attend to the healers, then find a place to quietly freak out.
Magius smiled to her. “I think we’ll be fine, with rest and food. “ He rose, slowly and touched Faize’s shoulder, and cast one more spell, drawing on his power. Though the high level spells had drained him, he still had power to give. Refreshment, the equivalent of a good night’s sleep, rushed over Faiza.
“Now, we should all rest. Doctor’s orders.”
“Yes,” Faiza said. “Just as soon as I’m done with Jubilee.” It took another minute, but the rest of the poison was drawn out. Then Faiza could rest.
Emma went to get food and water, wobbling a little. She was exhausted, but if she stopped moving she’d start freaking out, and this was not the time for that. As she went she shed her heeled boots, padding around in her surprisingly mundane light blue socks. They didn’t go with her white leather theme at all.
Laura fidgeted, unwilling to leave Jubilee’s side for anything. “You’re amazing.” She gushed at Faiza and Magius.
“Thank you. But we are doctors. This is what we do. And We hope to not have to do this quite as much as we end up doing.” He eyed Jubilee and Laura and nodded.
Professor spoke up. “There are several private beds in the side room, and a second room as well, if the four of your would like to rest in those rooms until we know more about the others.”
Jubilee leaned against Laura, keeping her eyes closed. She’d had to stare into Emma’s vacant eyes for nearly two hours, and it was still incredibly fresh. That woman had been a teacher to her. They hadn’t always gotten along, but it was still like seeing a family member. “Rest....rest is good yo...”
Laura snuggled Jubilee a little bit, then tugged her up to her feet. “Come on, Hotness, I’ll tuck you in and get you something to eat.” All the wildness and anger was gone from Laura’s motions and expression. Now she was just a girl caring for her wife.
Magius smiled, and he nodded. “If you need anything, let us know.” Then he turned to Faiza and offered her his arm. “Shall we get some coffee, then, and rest?” He had no doubt they would be needed more. He waved a hand toward a coffee machine on the opposite end of the med bay.
Nodding, the Hotness let Laura tug her out. She just wanted to nap forever.
“Coffee sounds bloody fantastic,” Faiza commented, looking at everyone with worry.
Magius led Faiza toward the coffee maker and the seats there. There would be more work, and more things for them to do, soon. For now, it was time for doctors and patients both to rest.