icon_uk

Recovery

 A New Mutants/X-Verse fanfic by Icon_UK

Magneto had to admit that Scott Summers had flaws, many, MANY flaws, but when it came to devotion to cataloguing reports he was in a class of his own.


The Necrosha event was over, but Scott had insisted on debriefing and collation of reports from all parties as soon as possible, just in case some overlooked aspect came to light that required prompt action. He could hardly be faulted for that, but this event had been more emotionally draining than most, with many of the teams having to face lost loved ones in combat.

Magneto had dutifully completed his own report about his involvement, the dealing with of the revived Proteus, a sorry business, and was now reading the rest. He was exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to sleep, but shared Scott’s commitment to making sure everything really was over.

He paused a little before picking up the file that Sam and Dani had submitted, it was foolish he knew, but he still felt a certain proprietary pride in the New Mutants performance. He suspected they would not necessarily appreciate that, and how many of their successes were because of his training, and how many were in spite of his training, he tried not to think about too much.

Sam had always had an excellent writing style. If you were foolish enough to judge him by the stereotypes of his accent you might, for a moment, forget just how well read Sam was, and it showed in the attention he paid to the words he wrote. Magneto had graded enough of their papers to spot the paragaphs where Dani had added in her own, rather more colourful, turns of phrase.

As he leafed through the record he felt a scowl spreading across his face as his anger mounted. Not at the New Mutants, but for what Selene had done, resurrecting the Hellions had been in poor tastes, but DOUGLAS as well?

Magneto had long since given up any faith in a benevolent supreme being and had seen too much of the human capacity for evil to feel the need for a devil, but in that moment he commended whatever passed for Selene’s soul to the foulest demon that could lay claim to it.

It was hard reading, and he almost put the report down until he had calmed down, but kept reading, he owed the New Mutants that much. He was actually dreading reading the end of this battle, as he suspected he knew what would happen.

It was about two pages later that he stopped dead, and carefully went back and re-read the whole page again.

His cloak flew from where he’d hung it on the door and barely had time to settle on his shoulders before he launched himself out the window. He didn’t NEED the cloak to fly, but the more metallic material he had near him the faster he could move and he wanted to move FAST.

Two seconds later, anyone in the flight path between Magneto’s quarters and the Med Lab felt a twinge in their fillings as his magnetic field flared.

Less than fifteen seconds later he landed outside the medical building. He pulled his EM field inwards again so as not to disturb any of the delicate equipment inside, but he still floated down the corridor at high speed and anyone in hid path was pushed forcefully, but as gently as possible, out of his way (Annoying medical staff was always a bad idea).

He stopped at the isolation ward, landed gently and paused. Suddenly uncertain, he looked through the window in the door and saw what he had never expected to see. Sitting up in bed, looking the picture of health, was Doug Ramsey. He seemed a little older than when he had last seen him, and his hair was longer, but where magic was concerned anything was, apparently, possible. A bank of machines (probably Forges work, judging by how ramshackle yet functional they looked) were around the bed, and he had what were probably monitoring devices attached to him.

Warlock was by his side, which came as no surprise, and Danielle and Sam standing to one side as if still trying to assess things. Roberto was noticeably absent, probably with Amara, whose attack, by Douglas (whilst under Selene’s control), had also been outlined in Sam’s report.

No one seemed to be talking, well, Warlock might be, but he often forgot to make his mouth move in time with the words he was speaking, if he remembered a mouth at all. He could tell Douglas was taking everything in though, his gaze was, slightly different somehow, barely blinking, his eyes roving everywhere; at his friends, at the machines, and most often, at Warlock, as if looking for meaning… and probably finding it, Magneto mused. Doug’s eyes finally alighted on Magneto, and he smiled as if completely unsurprised, and motioned for him to come in.

Magneto was not used to being given permission like that, he GAVE permission, but felt he could make an exception under these circumstances. He pushed his way through the door.

“I honestly never thought that I would see this day! Douglas, it is SO good to see you again.”

“Headmaster”

“Now there’s a title I haven’t held in a very long time.”

“A title still has some meaning for me, and for you too… or so I perceive.”

His speech was also different, a little more stilted, as if taking a little more time to decide which words to use. But it was still unmistakably him, and he was right too.

He gave the quirky smile that Magneto remembered, usually when about to make a truly bad joke.

“Sorry I was late, sir.”

Magneto winced slightly, he should have seen that one coming.

“You’re not late any more Douglas, but don’t let it happen again.”

“No sir.”

Magneto nodded perfunctorily, did the same to the other New Mutants (who returned the gesture), and turned away to leave, before he might lose control of his composure.

“I’ll just go and check with the medical staff about how long you’ll be in here. Then I’ll be back and we can… talk”

“Yes sir”

As he left, Magneto paused for a moment and leaned against the corridor wall. He knew that he should see the bigger picture, see the loss of life, and pain, and wasted potential that Selene had inflicted on the world, but now, just for a moment, no matter how selfish it might be, he was grateful to the Universe at large that he had had one of his lost charges return.

One of the fun things about Doug Ramsey is imagining someone whose baseline background and standard reactions were entirely weirdness-free having to deal with the assorted nutjob crap that comes with being an X-Mutant and not being quite sure how to handle it.

I had a go a little while back at Kitty and Doug’s first meeting post his resurrection and her return from the space-missile-thing. And a few other ideas cropped up, conversations that we’d never seen that might be fun to visit… so here’s another one….

I’m not sold on the title yet, so might change it

One Simple Rule For Not Dating my Sort-of Surrogate Daughter-Figure

By Icon UK

A Cypher vignette

Characters – Doug Ramsey/The father figure you do NOT want to piss off

As a New Mutant, Doug had met all of the X-Men. Sure, he’d met one or two of themwhilst hanging out with Kitty in his days BM (Before Mutation) there had been a sort of formal introduction using codenames when he and Warlock had been inducted into the team, and he’d been impressed by them.

Rogue spoke cheerily enough (though his newly conscious attention to body language screamed discomfort around strangers, it was odd to see someone who was invulnerable flinch, even minutely)

Storm inspired a sort of awe that he knew the other New Mutants shared.

Nightcrawler had been somewhat disconcerting, what with the blue skin and the yellow eyes… and the fangs… and the pointy tail… and the faint scent of sulphur. However, it was safe to say the sum was a whole lot LESS scary than the sum of the parts, especially when he found out Doug already spoke flawless German… Of course, that mean Doug was already somewhat sick of Kurt popping up next to him with yet ANOTHER German knock-knock joke that no one else would get.

Colossus had been huge and imposing enough when he had merely been Piotr, aka that Russian guy that Kitty had had a serious crush on, but discovering he could turn into an even taller superstrong solid steel form put a whole new slant on potential rivalries, but he had seemed to bear Doug no obvious ill-will.

Wolverine though, had been almost impossible to read, his self-control was so complete that it was actually scarier than the rest of them put together. He had greeted Doug with a firm handshake and a nod… which remained their longest conversation to date. (Roberto had commented later that he’d been impressed Doug had put his hand out to be shaken, Logan tended not to be the tactile sort. Doug admitted he wasn’t sure he’d ever do it again)

A few weeks later Doug was heading towards the computer lab for a study session, balancing an awkward pile of printouts in his arms and a pencil between his teeth. He was a little distracted, picturing a rather vicious software problem to challenge Kitty with, knowing full well she’d have come up with an even nastier hardware problem for him. As such he more or less literally walked into Wolverine turning a corner.

He managed to pull himself back just in time, but the printouts went up in the air and scattered in sitcom fashion.

He stooped to pick them up, and to his surprise, Logan assisted.

“Sorry Mr Logan!”

Logan looked down “You okay kid?”

“Sure Mr Logan”

“Just Logan will do”

“Ummm… if it’s all the same to you, I’ll stick with Mr Logan”

Logan snorted but didn’t pursue the matter. He bent down to pick up another piece of paper.

“So I hear that you and Kitty broke up.”

Well, that was brutally direct…

“Well…. not so much broken up as agreed not to take things any further and stay friends.”

“How you feel about that?”

That was even more brutally direct.. he wasn’t sure quite how to respond.

“Fine?”

“That the truth?”

“What?”

Wolverine cocked an eyebrow at him. “In my experience, when you answer a question like that with a question, you usually ain’t answered the question.”

Doug decided that lying to Wolverine would be a bad, if short, habit to get into.

“The truth? Okay, it SUCKS!”

Where had THAT come from? Still, no point stopping now.

“I wish she had wanted to take things further, I know I did. I put my heart out there and she said no. She was nice about it and all, I guess, but it’s not what anyone who says what I said wants to hear.”

Doug was a little surprised that he’d said all that, but then again, no one else had asked.

“And?”

“And we were good friends before, and we’re good friends now and that makes both of us happy enough. Do I wish we were something more? Sure… but she doesn’t. And if it wouldn’t have made her happy, why would I want to go down that path? And I’m a lucky guy to have Kitty as a friend.”

Logan said nothing for several seconds.

“Good answer“ he said, and walked away.

Leaning against the corridor wall and letting out a long breath to release tension he didn’t even know he’d been feeling, Doug replayed the conversation in his head. He knew Logan was more than slightly protective of Kitty, and wondered what would have happened if he had answered any other way. He had obviously passed a test and had received something akin to a compliment from Wolverine.

It was only MUCH later he wondered about the odds of someone with Wolverine’s assorted super sensitive senses “accidentally” walking into someone like that. He got the feeling it would be a good thing if he pretended that that notion had never occurred to him.

In honour of Cypher's return to active duty in this weeks issue of "New Mutants", here's an old fanfic of mine from many years ago. It's been published before, but not in a long while...

A New Mutant fanfic by Icon_UK

No permission has been given, no offence has been intended.

This story is set shortly after the first Legion story and the events of NM Annual #1.

+ + + + +

Below

The New Mutants gathered around their prospective team-mate in the
corridor outside the Danger Room.

"Don't worry, Doug -- the Professor will take it easy on you your first
time through, I'm sure of it... Unless, of course, the safety locks are
disabled, or there's been some sort of malfunction. That's happened a
couple of times, y'know, and then things can get really hairy... One time
one of the monsters almost pulled Cyclops apart and if my brother hadn't
been there to intercept the missiles then..."

"Errr... Thanks, Illyana, but I'm not sure I can take much more of your
encouragement."

"Oh, stop teasing, Illyana, they were just flesh wounds! Just remember,
Doug, the only thing that might get wounded here is your pride."

"Dani, my pride is about the only thing stopping me from running off down
the corridor back to the locker rooms. I can't afford for it to be
wounded!"

"Well, if you can't handle it, Doug, you just need to say so." As was
often the case, there was an undertone to Bobby DaCosta's words which
sounded like he was spoiling for an argument, even when he was really
being sincere. Just in case, Sam Guthrie swatted him on the head.

"Pipe down Bobby. Come on, Doug, just have a bit of confidence and do your
best. The Professor never asks for more than that. We know you can do it."

With assorted final reassuring waves and thumbs up, the team sped off up
to the Observation Booth to get a better view.

Left alone, Doug fingered the collar of his new uniform as if it were
about to strangle him. He wasn't yet sure about the whole long underwear,
gloves and knee boots look, and felt very self-conscious (It had looked a
whole lot better on him in his astral body). It wasn't as if he had much
to show off, physique-wise. However, if spandex was what it took to be
on this team, then it was a small price to pay, provided, of course,
that none of his old schoolmates ever saw him... or his parents... or,
basically, anyone he'd ever met.

As the heavy doors swung open, Doug squared his shoulders, took a deep
breath, and walked into the Danger Room. In its inactive state it looked
like nothing so much as a vast bank vault: a huge chamber lined with dull
grey metal. Only the numerous cracks and lines in the walls gave any clue
as to where doors and hatches might be concealed.

He looked up to where he knew the viewing window was and could see the
rest of the team, as well as Kitty Pryde and the Professor seated at the
console. Kitty gave him a cheery thumbs up and waved what looked like a
large box of popcorn in his direction.

He smiled wanly in return. "Oh this just gets better!" he thought. "My
first time out and she treats it like a night at the movies!"

The Professor's telepathic voice, however, was calm and reassuring.

--The task is simple, Douglas, all you have to do is make it across the
Danger Room floor and press the red button visible on the far wall. This
will deactivate the program. I'm starting you on a Level One program, as
I do all my students.--

Doug still felt somewhat uncomfortable trying to broadcast his thoughts,
and spoke aloud to make sure he was saying what he meant. "Okay, Professor.
Give it your best shot."

Above

The Professor and Kitty were running through the warm-up sequence on the
Danger Room systems. He telepathed again, this time on a personal mode
that no-one else could hear: --Douglas, I just want to reassure you once
again that your place in this school does not depend on the outcome of
this exercise. You can always withdraw at any time, with no shame or
embarrassment.--

Doug caught the eye of Bobby DaCosta and decided that he'd sooner chew
glass than back down. This time he did form his reply only in his mind.

--Professor, I'm wearing my underwear over my pants already, how much more
embarrassing can it get? I don't just want to be a student, I want to be
on the team.--

--Very well, prepare yourself, and good luck.--

Sam glanced over at Dani, then directed an intimate-mode thought at
Professor Xavier. --Ah have to say, Professor, are you sure we should be
doin' this?--

The reply reached Dani as well. --To be honest, Samuel, no, I am not, but
Douglas thinks he is ready, and I won't deny him the chance to find out.
For all his recent experiences with us, I am not prepared to risk him in
the more... outre situations our lifestyle often lends itself to. At least
not until I am sure that he can look after himself. Though it would be an
unusual circumstance, I am happy to take him on as a student regardless of
the outcome, but he may not become an active member of the New Mutants
until I have had a better chance to gauge his resourcefulness. The Danger
Room is a tried and tested means of determining that suitability.--

Behind them, the rest of the Mutants were discussing the odds of Doug's
success.

"Ten bucks says he won't make it."

"'Berto! Huv'ye no shame? Nae just gambling, but against a friend!"

'Berto grinned somewhat smugly. "You should know by now that I'm never
ashamed of anything I do, Rahne. Doug's got guts, no doubt about it, but
let's be realistic here. He doesn't stand a chance and we all know it. None of us
made it through on our first run, remember? And we had physical powers to
help us. If he gets further than ten yards, it'll be a miracle."

Dani spoke up. "Excuse me, Bobby, but I managed to make it through the
Danger Room, and my power is as psychic as Doug's."

"Well, yes, Dani but you're... different, aren't you?"

"Oh really?" Somehow Bobby missed the landmine quality of Dani's sweetly
innocent tone. "Different from...? What, Bobby? ...most girls? ...physical
mutants?"

"Well, from most..." Bobby finally noticed the looks he was getting from
his team-mates (who were assuming that Bobby had spontaneously developed
a death-wish) and realised not only what he was saying, but who he was
saying it to. "Well, never mind. I still bet he won't make it."

Kitty turned her head to join in the conversation. "I'll take you up on
that, Bobby. I've known Doug longer than you and he might just surprise
you. In fact, how about we spice it up a bit? Ten dollars for the first
ten yards, then ten more for every yard past that."

"And if he doesn't make it to ten yards?"

"Then... I take your turn at cleaning duties for the next week."

"You're on, Pryde. Consider it a bet."

Kitty caught the Professor's gaze boring into her, clearly not happy
about the betting. She shrugged her best "What can I do?" look at him.

"I'll take you up on it too, for the sake of 'non-physical' mutants
everywhere."

"Fine, Dani, I can always do with more women carrying out my chores."
Bobby didn't even try to dodge Illyana's mock-serious punch on the arm.

"Well, it ain't going to be just women then, Bobby, Ah'm in too."

"Sam?" Bobby was starting to look worried now; was there something going
on here he didn't know about?

"Just a gut feelin' Ah'm gettin'. An' if Kitty and Dani have it too, Ah'm
not going to argue with it."

"I never bet, 'Berto, but I want ye to ken that, if I did, I would."

Amara and Illyana just exchanged glances and kept quiet.

The Professor now seemed satisfied with the readings in front of him and
spoke into the microphone. "Beginning Danger Room training sequence Ramsey
One."

Below

Doug watched warily as several androids emerged from a hatch in the side
of the Danger Room. Level one drones, humanoid in size and weight. Though
made out of a dull grey metal and limited to normal human parameters of
strength and speed, they still looked quite formidable. Clearly the
Professor wanted to either put him off, or stop him with minimum force.
Though he knew that they would be programmed not to cause him injury, any
one of them looked more than capable of stopping him.

Taking a few deep breaths, Doug started a running monologue with himself;
"So I'm not even worth a few holograms to make them look like real people?
Okay, I can deal with this... Concentrate Ramsey... You've been to a Dyson
sphere, you've tackled aliens, you've even been inside the head of a guy
with multiple personalities, you can cope with a few androids!"

He paused for a second. "All right, so the sphere freaked you out, the
aliens whupped your butt, and you found yourself getting in touch with
another guy's feminine side... Okay, note to me: devise new pep talk! Come
on, then, you metal maniacs, you're not just dealing with any old mutant,
you're dealing with a New Mutant."

The androids had positioned themselves between him and the switch, either
alone or in groups of two or three. He moved towards the nearest android.
It moved to block him, and he raised his arms in a placating manner.

"Look, I don't mean you any harm, I just want to get past, please. Can we
just talk about this or something?"

"He actually said 'please'? To an android?" Bobby was grinning broadly.

The Professor nodded approvingly. "Indeed, and I'm delighted to see he
did. Trying a non-combative approach to such a situation is a commendable
idea. The last student of mine to try that approach was... Nightcrawler,
I believe."

The first android lowered its arms and silently gestured Doug past. He
edged past it warily.
Below

In the booth the Mutants gaped at what had happened. "I believe in
rewarding the non-violent approach," said the Professor simply.

The second android seemed to have other ideas as it didn't react to Doug's
repeated question.

"...the first time at any rate," finished the Professor.

Below

This android was reaching out to grab him across the shoulders.

"Okay, so 'please' isn't the magic word with this guy." Doug ducked,
feinted left and then dived right before the android could turn to block
him again. As soon as he was past it, it froze in position.

The next android, learning from the previous one, didn't fall for the
feint, so Doug dropped and dove through its legs, only just managing to
squeeze through before it reached down to grab him.

The next one wouldn't let him dodge past, so he grabbed it by the "wrist"
and twisted it round, pushing it away before it could grab hold of him. It
was the closest thing to judo he knew, but it worked! The android stumbled
away and he jumped past it, freezing it in place. The next one he punched
in the jaw. Though the head unit was designed to give slightly rather than
just bruise his hand, there was still a satisfying "clang" as he made
contact, enough to be heard, not enough to bruise his fist too badly.

The next one he barrelled straight into, gauging what seemed to be the best
spot to push it over. He almost got it right, but it staggered rather than
collapsed, and managed to snag his ankle. He twisted and kicked, but it
wasn't going to give way to simple human strength. As he had passed it, it
was frozen too, but the grip seemed immovable.

Above

"Oooh, too bad for the new kid, that can't be more than about what... eight
yards in? Goodbye, dishpan hands, hello, three weeks of easy living."

Kitty raised an eyebrow. "Don't speak so soon, Bobby. It ain't over until
the Blob sings in drag."

"The what??"

"Sorry, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants joke. X-Men humour."

Below

Doug knew that he wouldn't able to break free unaided. Time for Plan B,
then. Well it was actually Plan A, but he had wanted to see how far he
could get unassisted. He thought his performance had been credible, he'd
got past three (and a half, sort of) of the androids on his own, but now
it was time for the real games to begin.

Doug spoke out loud: "Danger Room, accept command 'Kobayashi Maru.'
Authorisation: Cypher." A bit Trekkie perhaps, but what the heck. This
should make the rest of the Mutants' eyes pop out.

In the Observation Booth the Professor's eyes narrowed as he watched the
read-outs in front of him. Kitty's reaction was very similar, but seemed
less surprised. Both stabbed at several controls in front of them with no
apparent effect.

"Douglas! There seems to be some problem with the Danger Room systems, I'm
trying to shut it down, stay where you are. I'll send Cannonball down to
pick you up."

"It's okay, Professor, I've just taken charge a little."

"You mean this is your doing?"

"Sure is, Professor. I'll explain after the test."

Above

Suspiciously, the Professor tried his control panels again.

"What's up, Professor?"

"I'm not sure how, Samuel, but somehow Douglas has locked me out of the
controls for the entire Danger Room."

"Is he in any danger? Other than from the maurauding androids, of course."

"I don't think so, Danielle. This isn't an accident, he seems to have
planned it somehow. Bearing that in mind, I think we should see how it
develops. On the other hand, it wouldn't hurt to be ready in case of
overconfidence. Magma and Shadowcat: run interference. Cannonball: you're
on retrieval." The three students nodded.

Below

Doug called aloud "Command: Wolfsbane" to no-one in particular. Suddenly
his appearance started to alter; claws sprouted from his fingers, and fur
grew over his elongating hands and a face that was swiftly becoming more
of a snout. Bringing his... well "paw" was the best word, up to his face,
Doug took a brief movement to marvel at the effectiveness of the
interactive holograms. He felt no different, but the outside world would
see a very different Doug Ramsey now.

He slashed out with his 'claws' at the android's hand clamped around his
ankle and it popped open. Another raking slash and its head appeared to
be hanging at an odd angle.

Really getting into it, Doug sort-of-loped towards the next two androids
and snarled. As he had not thought to include a voice-changing subroutine,
it was not as impressive as it might have been, but overall he thought his
impression of a snarling wolf-boy was pretty effective.

Above

The Mutants were staring at the scene with mouths hanging open.

"Professor, how is Douglas doing this, his power isn't copying other
people's powers, is it? I thought he said he could just learn new
languages quickly."

"His power is based on languages, Amara, but it also makes him
extraordinarily gifted with computers, which I think we are now seeing a
rather unorthodox demonstration of. I believe he's using the holographic
interfaces to change his appearance and apparent abilities. How he is
accessing them is another matter."

There was the sound of barely stifled laughter from beside him as Kitty
watched the proceedings below. "Well, I _did_ warn you not to underestimate
him." She offered the popcorn box around, and Sam grabbed a handful without
taking his eyes off the scene below.

Meanwhile, Rahne was having a momentary impression of what others must see
when faced with her wolf form and made a small whimpering sound at the
back of her throat as she huddled closer to Dani.

"Dani? Am I really that scary lookin'?"

"You? Nah! You're a lot more cute-little-puppy-like. However he's doing
this, Doug's been watching way too many Lon Chaney films. He looks much
scarier than you ever do." Privately, Dani thought that Doug had got it
just about right, but saw no need to frighten Rahne.

Below

The next androids had spontaneously developed a much shinier appearance,
and wolf-Doug's claws just skittered across them, barely leaving a mark.
Their reaction time was increasing too, which meant it was time to switch
partners.

"Reset. Command: Mirage." Doug's appearance returned to normal. He'd
thought about adding in a headband and suede boots for this part of the
program, but had decided against it on the grounds of both taste and
Dani's likely reaction to someone making fun of her, even if it was meant
harmlessly.

Doug advanced on the next group of three androids, put one hand on his
forehead and made rather hammy finger-wiggling gestures with the other
hand. In front of him appeared a pink-tinged hologram, much like Dani's
thought projections, this one looking like a giant electric can-opener.

The three androids back-pedalled furiously. One tripped over itself, one
swooned dramatically and the last one curled up into a close approximation
of a foetal position.

One attempted to rush him from the side, but retreated at the sudden
appearance of the Microsoft logo floating in front of it.

Above

Kitty cheered out loud at that one.

"I'm going to kill him for this!" promised Dani, though she was laughing
as hard of the rest of them.

As their original numbers were being thinned out, more androids emerged
from the recesses of the Danger Room.

Sam's accent was getting stronger, a sure sign of worry. "We're moving
into a Level Two sequence. Those androids'll be stronger than normal
humans, won't they, and react faster?"

"Indeed, Douglas passed the Level One sequence I had established, so it
is automatically upgrading the threat parameter. He seems to be remaining
true to the spirit of the program -- in his own way, admittedly". The
Professor sounded almost pleased about that.

Below

Doug only just managed to avoid falling into a trapdoor that suddenly
swung open in the floor. He would have fallen right in if he'd even been
jogging. But he knew enough about the Danger Room to test every footstep
carefully.

However, he was unable to avoid the two large padded slabs that slammed
out from the wall on pneumatic pistons as he backed away from the gaping
hole. He was caught firmly between them in what he was sure was a
hideously embarrassing position, one arm and a leg sticking out from what
was basically two large mattresses.

Wedged inside, Doug shouted again "Reset. Command: Sunspot". It was rather
muffled considering his position, but, as he was still able to breathe
normally, he was counting on the padding to be sound-permeable.

Those in the Booth could see the visible yellow glove and boot suddenly
turn jet black, dark energy crackling around them. With a creaking noise,
the two slabs were forced apart by a shadowy shape within.

As he dived out it was clear that Doug had assumed yet another persona. He
now resembled nothing so much as the silhouette form of Sunspot, though
the outline was still his own.

Above

Kitty heard a barely intelligible mumbling coming from Sunspot's general
direction, and was rather glad she didn't speak Portugese. She'd ask Doug
to translate it later -- she'd know how bad it was from how deeply he
blushed.

Below

Meanwhile, Doug grabbed the two nearest androids and slammed them into
each other. Then one attacked from behind, pinning his arms to sides.
Swinging around so the pit was behind him, he shrugged free almost without
effort, and elbowed it in the guts. The android was sent flying backwards
down the still open trapdoor. Sensing a humanoid body passing by, the
trapdoor snapped shut.

With a casual backhanded swat he sent the next android flying through the
air.

"Hey, you guys, I could get used to this! I can see why 'Berto gets off on
it so much."

Now from the floor behind Doug animated cables emerged, and they swiftly
wrapped themselves around him until he was barely visible. They strained
a little as he stretched them, but they had enough give to trap him
completely.

From inside the cable cocoon, a muffled voice could just be heard.
"Darn... I was enjoying that... Reset. Command: Magma." The cocoon lit up
with a warm red and yellow light from inside.

The coils around Doug flowed like candle-wax and he stepped free without
hindrance. He was glowing all over in a familiar red and yellow pattern
and fire flared around his head.

Above

"Hey, it looks like it's your turn, Amara! Goodbye Doug-spot, hello,
Doug-ma!"

"Indeed, Roberto. I had no idea my other form was that... imposing
looking."

"It looks way better on you though, Amara."

"Why thank you, Sam."

Below

Doug pointed dramatically and a lava bolt shot out of his hand, striking
the next wave of androids, who also seemed to melt into slag.

He moved forward again but found that his heat blasts had no effect on the
next wave. The androids were adjusting faster and faster.

"Oh-kay... Can't raise a rock wall in here, it'd block my own way. Here we
go again then. Reset. Command; Magik." Again his form returned to normal
for a second, then a silver sword burning with white light appeared in his
left hand and silver armour formed around his left arm and upper chest.

Above

"So, Illyana, what do you think of 'Dougik'?" Bobby asked.

Suddenly the real Soulsword materialised in front of Bobby's face. Illyana
held it lazily, and spoke without actually looking at him, still gazing at
the scene below.

"I'll have words with Doug about his little... impersonation later, but, in
the meantime, Bobby, don't mess with the wickedest witch going! Besides,
think about the money you're losing with each step he takes." Bobby gulped
visibly as that realisation struck him, and wisely decided to keep his
mouth shut.

"Illyana..." The Professor's voice was warning.

Illyana suddenly gasped and turned to look at the sword in her had. "Oh
golly, Professor, did I manifest this old thing? I am SO sorry. What can
I have been thinking?" It vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Doug was swinging the blade awkwardly towards the next android which was
now manifesting a sword of its own. He'd forgotten he wasn't left handed.
Okay, too much attention to detail there, but not to worry. He switched
the sword into his right hand and then realised he still had little idea
of how to use it. He waved it in what he hoped was a suitably Errol Flynn
manner and the android backed away slightly.

"He's not touching them with the sword."

"Good move too. If he's keeping within the rules, it wouldn't be able to
harm them anyway. The sword only affects magical objects, and androids
don't count."

Below

Almost on cue Doug pushed the illusion too far and the sword passed right
through the chest of one of the androids without causing it any harm. It
ceased retreating, and moved forward.

"Oh well, so much for impressing the guys with my armed combat skills."
Doug then made a vaguely magical-looking gesture in the air, waved the
sword like a rather large wand, and shouted "Abracadabra!" Beneath the
next three androids, disks of light suddenly appeared and they fell
through them, vanishing from view. Actually holographic technology was
now cloaking them as they fell through more concealed trapdoors, but the
illusion was rather effective.

Above

"I would never use a cheesy sounding incantation like 'Abracadabra'."
Illyana sounded almost offended. "A witty one-liner perhaps, but not
'Abracadabra'."

"Relax, roomie. Anyway, think about it -- Doug could probably read any
book of magic you have, so be thankful he's sticking with the cliches."

"Wouldn't matter. Reading spellbooks isn't enough -- you cast a spell
with your heart and soul, not your mouth." Illyana still sounded slightly
huffy.

The Professor seemed interested despite himself. "I'm not so sure, Illyana.
Douglas' power is based on understanding the language and intent, not just
knowing how to pronounce the words."

Illyana chimed in again. "Professor, I don't think it's an experiment
we'd want to take too far. I doubt any of us would appreciate it if
Doug started translating chapters of say... the Darkhold, as a homework
assignment."

Though it was clearly meant as a joke, Dani noticed Kitty shudder
slightly and Illyana, possibly without realising it, made a small warding
gesture as she spoke. Dani realised that, though she didn't know what the
Darkhold was, the chances were that, if it could worry Magik, ruler of a
demonic Limbo, and Kitty, one of the bravest (if occasionally annoying)
people she'd ever met, then she would probably be happier not knowing.

Below

Doug could see other hatches opening in the far Danger Room walls as yet
another wave of androids were dispatched. These were bigger than the last
set and appeared to have built-in weaponry of some sort. He figured he was
near enough the deactivation switch for the final act.

"Reset. Command: Cypher." Doug's appearance returned to normal again.
A panel opened in the floor, and a hideously complicated looking Shi'ar
keyboard and monitor cube rose up on a simple plinth. Crouching over it,
Doug swiftly started typing commands, staring intently at the crystalline
monitor cube and the symbols that flashed around inside it in complex,
three-dimensional patterns.

Above

"Professor, those are androids from a Level Three routine. They could
really hurt Doug. They've got energy attacks, don't they?"

"Indeed, but I think you should have a little more faith, Danielle. Given
his performance so far, it's clear Douglas is in control and I don't think
he'd let any random factors interfere."

Below

"I could be in SO much trouble here!"

The androids had lined up in front of Doug, blocking his way completely
and advancing towards him relentlessly. He was still typing furiously,
and the watchers could see that sweat was starting to break out on his
forehead. With one final swift flicker across the panel, he stood up,
wiping his brow and letting out an explosive breath he had barely been
aware he was holding. The androids froze in place and then stood to
attention, still in a perfect row.

Turning towards the observation booth Doug addressed his audience.

"Ahem... Ladies, Gentlemen and Technarchs of all ages. Stevie Hunter
always says that, if you're going to do something, especially if the
chances are you're going to fail, then at least do it with style and
always, *always* have a grand finale! So, in that spirit..." He snapped
his fingers and caught a cane that popped out of a hole in the floor. At
the same time the androids suddenly developed straw boaters and bow-ties.

Cheesy music was piped in through the speakers as Doug started to perform
a moderately successful looking soft-shoe shuffle across the Danger Room
floor. Behind him the androids moved in perfect unison with his motions,
becoming the heaviest chorus line in history. With a final twirl of the
cane, Doug reached out and hit the deactivation switch with its tip.

"Danger Room Sequence disengaged. We now return you to your regularly
scheduled program. Have a nice day."

Doug and the androids then performed matching bows, though the androids
remained bent over when Doug straightened. Roses appeared out of nowhere
and fell at his feet and he caught a bouquet that had materialised from
the ether.

There was a spontaneous round of applause from the still laughing New
Mutants, and Kitty, Dani and Sam made "pay up" gestures towards Sunspot,
who bowed almost graciously in defeat. The Professor was looking
relatively stony-faced, though a slight smile might have been seen by
someone skilled in reading body language. His mental voice gave no clue
as to his feelings.

--Douglas, when you've quite finished, I think we need to have a little
talk.--

Above

Most of the New Mutants had left the booth, pausing only to smile or shake
their head in mock anger. Now Doug stood facing the Professor, who was
flanked by Sam and Dani. Kitty was running through several diagnostic
programs on the console behind them. Doug was explaining himself and
looking a lot less confident than he had a few minutes before.

"Professor, when I asked the guys what to expect, they all said the
chances were that I would have to make it across the floor of the Danger
Room unaided -- it's almost a tradition. When I specifically asked you
yesterday if I could use my powers to help me, you said I could. So last
night I hacked into the Danger Room systems and created the scenario you
saw. So I did use my powers to help me, and I did make it across the
floor."

"Indeed, most... impressive, and just when did you learn Shi'ar computer
code?"

"I used the English interface the first night I got here to communicate
with Warlock. But the first time with the pure code? Last night when I
hacked in."

"Are you telling me you learned to program holographic computers in an
alien computer language and achieved this whole... 'production number' of
yours... overnight?" The Professor seemed somewhat incredulous.

"Well, first I had to figure out the security system before it would let
me near the core program from my guest-room terminal, but all in all it
took me about an hour and a half. Then I had to get into the recordings
of the New Mutants' earlier sessions to work out what their powers looked
like and such. If I'd been outside the Mansion it would have been pretty
much impossible, but with terminal access in my room it was just a matter
of finding a shared system."

"Were you a party to any of this, Kitty?"

"No, Professor, I didn't even think there were any links between the room
terminals and the Danger Room."

Doug was warming to his topic now as he turned to Kitty. "There are if you
know where to look for them. There's a back door from the Danger Room's
main environmental control and the sewage treatment system for the rest of
the Mansion that you can access from the Housekeeping menu..."

"If I may return you to the topic in hand? Kitty, how easy would you say
it was to do what Douglas has done?"

"Well, Professor, I'm the best student you've got with the Danger Room
equipment, but there's no way I could have made it do all that in the time
allowed, and I've been using it for over a year now. As for duplicating
the appearance of not one, but multiple sets of powers? It'd take me days
to work it out even if I'd ever thought of it. Plus of course you'd know
about if I had, because I'd have been gloating for weeks."

"True. I must confess I did not expect this sort of subterfuge from you,
Douglas."

"With respect, Professor, it wouldn't have been very good subterfuge if
you'd been expecting it."

"A fair point. I was, in truth, rather impressed by the initiative you
showed. I was more intrigued by your rather... let us call it perhaps
'over-creative' approach."

"Professor, I admit I got a little carried away, but I kept to the limits
of the program. I didn't interfere with the Room's operations, only its
interaction with me. I did think about just making every android just
kow-tow to me, or ignore me, or something, but that wouldn't have felt
right. I wanted to prove I could adapt to random situations, like you
wanted, but in my own way."

"When I copied Sunspot's powers they acted as if I had his powers, same
with Wolfsbane and Mirage and the rest of them. None of the equipment cut
me any slack and I didn't interfere with their reaction time. As for the
final wave? They were completely independent of anything I'd prepared
other than arranging to have a keyboard handy. If I hadn't managed to
work out how to over-ride them on that terminal in there, they would have
finished me off just like they would anyone else."

"So that final part, the err... dance routine?"

"...was made up entirely on the spot on the keyboard. Ask Kitty to check
it out if you don't believe me."

"He's right, Professor, the only additional programming in those androids
was what he downloaded into them when he convinced them to become the
Rockettes. They'd have torn into him if he hadn't managed to stop them in
time."

"I was never doubting the truth of Douglas' words, more the fact that he
was prepared to act in such a reckless manner."

Doug realised that the Professor had been genuinely concerned about him,
and felt a pang of guilt.

"Professor, let's be honest here. My power is so low key it barely
qualifies as a power, it's practically a skill. I know that, you know
that, the other New Mutants know that. So I decided to lose with style
and, whilst I could, take advantage of the only real skills I do have to
weigh the odds in my favour -- my knack with software. It was me against
the Danger Room and no one expected me to win, least of all me, so I was
going to do my best, like you wanted, and do it on my terms! And as a wise
man once said, 'I don't believe in the no-win scenario.'"

"And, as I recall, Captain Kirk learned the folly of that particular
belief when it cost him the life of a friend. Oh, don't look so surprised
-- Sam and Bobby have watched that film often enough for me to have
practically picked it up by osmosis."

"But Kirk always wanted to act alone, that was his flaw. I'll have the New
Mutants backing me up. That's the reason why I copied their powers and not
the X-Men. They're my team, I'd never let them down and I trust them never
to let me down."

The Professor felt a momentary chill, for a reason he couldn't, or
wouldn't, acknowledge, but was distracted by the co-leaders of the New
Mutants giving their opinions.

"You have to admit, Professor, it was a novel solution to the problem..."

"...and it was making the most of his skills and powers in an original
manner, which was the aim of this exercise after all."

The Professor heaved a sigh. "I think I can see where this discussion is
heading. Kitty, do you have anything to add?"

"Well, he'll never put Fred Astaire out of a job."

"Kitty..." The Professor's tone was more tired than anything.

"Sorry, Professor, but I'm not in the New Mutants. Doug's actions are
really a matter for you guys to decide. From an unbiased 'resident
computer genius' viewpoint, I have to say I've never seen computer
programming like this. He even upgraded one of the operational subsystems
and tightened the security net while he was in there."

"It seemed the least I could do since I was poking about inside the code
without permission."

"Most gratifying, Douglas. However, in future I would appreciate it if
you would discuss any amendments you plan to make to my computer systems
before you actually do so."

"Yes, sir."

"I would also appreciate it if in future exercises you will limit yourself
to the gifts you were born with and the skills you have acquired since
then. Frankly I'm not sure my heart could stand the strain of two Sunspots
or Magiks running around the place."

"Yes, sir." Doug managed to keep a straight face for that.

"And as you seemed so keen to injure yourself in this exercise, I think it
might be advisable if you thought about taking the extra credit course in
use of the medical facilities, on a voluntary basis of course. You can
even try cleaning it for a couple of weeks, since you'll be there so much.
Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal, sir." Doug was no longer looking quite so pleased.

"Very well then, we will leave the matter there." Doug breathed a quiet
sigh of relief.

The Professor consulted various notes he had made and looked over at the
similar pads that Sam and Dani had. He looked from one to the other,
clearly having some sort of mental communication with them, and nodded.
Doug was all but hopping from foot to foot in nervousness.

"Under the circumstances, Douglas, you have indeed passed the test, in
the unique sort of manner I have learned to expect from my students.
I am therefor pleased to welcome you formally both to Xavier's School for
Gifted Youngsters and the ranks of the New Mutants."

The Professor solemnly shook hands with Doug, who was somehow managing to
grin like an idiot and look abashed at the same time.

"Are you still planning on using the codename we discussed?"

"Yes Professor, from now on, you can call me: Cypher!"

"I do wish you'd reconsider. I appreciate the reference to your decoding
skills, but you must be aware that a cypher is another word for something
of no value, a zero. There are other names available: Codex? Babel?
Interface?"

"'Cypher' has been my hacker tag for quite a while now. Professor.
Besides, it may be nothing on its own, but I looked it up, and a cypher
is the zero that makes a '1' into a '10'!"

"Very well then. The choice is, of course, yours to make. I have discussed
the matter of a scholarship with your parents already and they were not
averse to the prospect. If you wish, I can arrange for a session with
them, where we can discuss the circumstances of your time here, and the
possibilities that your powers offer you for the future."

Doug's face blanched. "Umm, no, Professor, I'd really rather we didn't at
the moment. I'm still not sure how they would react to all this, me being
a mutant and all. Maybe when I graduate or something, but not right now."

The Professor nodded. "Again, the choice is yours, but it is something I'd
ask you to think about."

"Believe me, Professor, I've lost sleep over it. I love Mom and Dad and
everything, and I know thye love me, and I'm 99.9% sure they'd accept me
being a mutant, but I'm just can't take the slightest risk -- even if it's
only a 0.1% risk -- that I'm wrong. I'm not happy about lying to them,
I've never done that before about anything, but it's just too big a risk."

The Professor nodded solemnly, recalling his own experiences in that
regard. It seemed prudent to change the subject.

"Sam, Danielle, I think it's time you properly introduced the other New
Mutants to their new team-mate. I understand the tradition is for the new
student to buy for everyone else on the team at the Salem Soda Fountain.
I believe I might join you later, but don't wait to order on my account.
Mine, Douglas, will be a very large Chocolate Spectacular. I suddenly feel
in the need for a lot of sugar. Probably a reaction to a certain 'high
stress' situation I've been through this afternoon. Samuel, if you would
do the honours..."

"Sure thing, Professor, c'mon Dou..I mean 'Cypher'."

Doug smiled broadly at that. Being called by your codename name for the
first time by a teammate, THAT makes you feel like a superhero.

"Y'know, I REALLY like the sound of that..."

As the two -- no, three -- New Mutants left the room to join up with the
others, who had been hanging around outside the door, there were cheers as
"Cypher" was introduced and instantly engulfed in a round of back-slapping
and hand shaking.

Before the sound of voices faded into the distance, the Professor turned
to the youngest X-Man. "I'm sure you'd be welcome too, Kitty."

"No, Professor. Doug's a good friend and all, but it's a New Mutant
tradition and I'm an X-Man. I might join you all later, though -- for some
reason I find I have rather a lot of Sunspot's money burning a hole in my
pocket. Anyway I want to have a quick look at Doug's programming again, if
only to keep my 'resident computer genius' position for a little while
longer. You know, I think we could adapt his over-ride technique to deal
with one of Arcade's Murderworld programs, if we ever needed to..."

The Professor was listening to his students as they talked outside to
Booth...

Below

"So Doug, why didn't you copy me when you were in there? Something against
me?"

"Are you kidding, Sam? I'd have loved to copy your powers, but I just
couldn't work out a way to make it look like I could fly in there. I could
have faked your blast field and run around making 'woosh'-ing noises, but
it would have looked silly."

"And pretending to be Magma didn't?" Bobby asked. Doug just shrugged and
smiled sheepishly.

"It was the same thing with you, Warlock, your abilities were way too
complicated to duplicate in the time I had, you shapeshift way too much
so the holograms alone would have taken ages. It was weird enough seeing
myself look like Bobby and Amara, can you imagine what I'd look like if
I looked techno-organic? Ummm... No offence, Warlock."

"NONE TAKEN SELFFRIENDCYPHERDOUG. IT IS NOT SELFFRIEND'S FAULT THAT FEW
SENTIENTS CAN CARRY OFF SELF'S COLOUR SCHEME SO SUCCESFULLY."

The voices faded out of earshot.

Above

Left alone in the Control Booth, Kitty having vanished off with reams of
print out, the Professor was about to activate the housekeeping programs
to clear away the debris from Doug's session. However, as he surveyed the
still bowed androids on the rose-strewn Danger Room floor, he recalled the
whole ludicrous training sequence. Secure in the knowledge that he was
truly alone and his dignity would remain intact, Professor Charles Xavier
finally started to laugh out loud.

Kitty Pryde's head popped through the ceiling. "Gotcha, Professor!"

The End