Growing Up A Superhero (19) I didn't expect to end up like this. Locked out of battle. Weak. Unable to command the respect I once had. I knew that someday something like this would happen, I just hadn't expected it quite so soon. And to think that six months ago I had been fine. Well, until the day Beast sought me out. . . .
***
"Cable, wait!" Beast shouted, paper in hand as he charged down the hall. A look of extreme consternation was on his face, and Nate hesitated. It was never good when McCoy looked concerned. It was never good to have something large and covered in fur racing toward you, either, but Beast was no threat. Beside Cable, Domino looked slightly irritated, slung her gun over her shoulder, and walked out the door. Her black hair carried streaks of white now, though she still moved like she was twenty. Cable wished fleetingly that he was able to move so easily still. His knees ached and the prosthetic elbow Forge had made him never really had felt the same as the real one he'd had blown away in a fight. "What is it, McCoy?" Cable said, checking a strap. Hank slid to a stop and opened his mouth. Then he stood quietly for a moment, as though unsure how to go on. That caught Cable's attention. He and his strikeforce had come down to be checked over, like they had every year for the past fourteen, and very little had been found wrong. Beast always did a thorough job, and never let anyone else know how the team sometimes suffered. As Nate stood in the cold white hallway of the laboratory Beast had built years before, a chill worked its way through his bones that had nothing to do with the cold tile. "Beast. Spit it out." They stood in the hallway for a long time, one massive man standing next to another. Finally Beast sighed slightly. "Would you come with me? Let's sit down." They walked slowly back to the living room, where people who hated hospitals often times were treated. The beige carpet was thick and bouncy, and Beast left huge footprints all over it. There was an old chair covered in blue fur, and it was into this that Hank sat. Slowly Cable sat opposite him, watching the man carefully. "Cable . . . Nathan. . . ." If there was one thing Cable was bad at, it was waiting. For a battle, in an ambush, that he could do. He knew what to expect. He had a vague idea of what was going to happen. But this was driving him crazy. "What is it, Beast?" Slowly Hank looked up and met the clear gray eyes of his best friend's son. This type of news was never easy. He sat up straighter, pushing his emotions to the back of his mind. "Cable, I have bad news. These are only preliminary tests, mind you--" An icy fist wound tightly around his heart, and he almost bit off the words. "What is it?" Beast hesitated only a moment more. "I have reason to believe you may have the legacy virus." The words dropped heavily out of Hank's mouth, falling to shatter silently on the carpet. Nothing moved. Not even the air stirred in the enclosed building. "I see." The words were spoken quietly, and without emotion. "These are only the preliminary tests," Beast said, looking down at his paper, unable to look up. "Good." Cable stood, slinging his gun on one shoulder. "You're not leaving, are you?" Hank asked in shock as the large man started to walk out of the room. "Do the next batch of tests. See what you come up with. Meantime, I'm going to work with my team." Hank watched in silence as the man walked out the door. Only a careful observer would have seen the slight limp in one leg. Scars creased his face, blending with wrinkles. His hair was snow white and there were age spots on his hands. And yet, he didn't look at all ready to die. The door closed behind the man and Hank sighed. He looked down at his reliable print-out, then walked slowly back into his lab. Cable was right. No sense sentencing him until they were sure he had legacy. Time to get to work.
***
It had been almost four weeks since Beast had told Nate he might have legacy. In those four weeks he had started work with his team, been forced to slack off slightly, and now was faced with the fact that he couldn't hide it. Legacy was making itself known, whether he wanted anyone to know or not. Cable stood in the bathroom that adjoined his bedroom, trying desperately to control the fit of coughing he'd lapsed into. His hands clenched the sides of the sink so tightly his knuckles were white, and his body convulsed as though it were trying to cough up an integral part of his insides. His stomach, perhaps, he thought wryly. Cable closed his eyes as they started to water, and suddenly he was coughing so hard he could barely breathe. His stomach muscles convulsed painfully, tightening into hard ridges of line. There was a knock on the bathroom door, and Cable recognized it as Domino's. "Nate? You okay?" He nodded, but could say nothing. Domino, standing on the outside of the door, scowled at the wood. She was worrying about him. For weeks now he had been getting sicker, and he was trying so hard to hide it that she knew it must be serious. He'd lost weight, and when no one was looking he leaned against walls to help himself down the corridors. And now this. She knocked again, but he couldn't answer. Finally Domino opened the door, walking into the steamy bathroom to where Cable stood, towel wrapped around his waist, gripping the sink as if to let go would be to fall over. "Nate," she said, watching his face closely. It was red, but it appeared to be more from blood than lack of air. In only a towel it was painfully obvious how much weight he'd lost. The coughing got harder suddenly, and as if he couldn't sustain both that and standing Cable sank to the floor of the bathroom. Domino grabbed for his waist, taking as much weight as she could and lowering him slower so that he wouldn't land too hard on the tile. "Breathe, Nate," Domino said, her face taut as she watched him struggle. "You're going to be fine. Just breathe." But he could barely do that, as he doubled over on the floor. Blood spattered, out of his mouth and on his chin, and he quickly covered his mouth with one hand, catching the rest of it. Domino swore softly as she suddenly realized that the blood-covered tissues she'd seen in the trashcan had been from this. "Come on," she snapped as, finally, the coughing fit started to subside. Blood covered his hand and dripped down his wrist. "I'm taking you back to Beast." Cable glared up at her, grabbing toilet paper and wiping off his hand and face. "No." Domino stopped to look at him. "Yes, actually. We're going." "Dom," Cable said, sounding tired and weak. "You're strong, but even you can't take me somewhere I don't want to go." Domino glared at him for a moment, then, smiling smugly, she walked to the bedroom door and shouted into the corridor. "David! Would you come up here?" She strode back into the bathroom then, ignoring Nate's swearing at her. David walked into the room shortly thereafter. He was a new recruit, but was older than all the others and superstrong. "We need to be discreet," Domino said to him as she motioned for him to get Cable off the floor. "Nate doesn't want people to know he's leaving." David's eyebrows rose, but he said nothing as they carried Cable--protesting--to the jet. "Thanks," Domino said as David got in without her asking and took the wheel, such as it was. The good thing about having older people on the team, Domino thought as she fished out a uniform for Cable, was that they had some sense. David was thirty-something, and he was a godsend. "Dom, I'm fine," Nate was protesting, albeit weakly, as they took off. "I can tell. If you don't mind, I'll just have Beast make sure."
***
In a single month the man that had walked so strongly out of the hospital door was helped, limping, back in. The woman was white, a large black spot marking her face, and the man, David, was darkly tanned and hugely muscled. Time had been kind to Domino, as things were wont to be when it came to this particular woman. Cable was a shadow of his previous self. He had lost almost one hundred pounds, and his lips were red with the blood that seemed to come whenever he coughed. Beast rushed up to take the man, helping hold him up and into a room they had prepared. They laid him down with a moan and stood there for a moment in silence. "I have to go," Domino said after only a moment. Her violet eyes were suspiciously bright. "Tell him, when he wakes up, that I'll come by Saturday." She turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Beast and his assistants to keep the man calm when he awoke. It wouldn't be pretty.
***
Brigette stood in the door, a lollipop stuck in her mouth. You look like a child, Cable sent without opening his eyes. So? You look like an old fogey, but I'm not complaining. At that Cable opened his eyes and sat up on his elbows, glaring at the girl. "What did you just call me?" "An old fogey." Brigette smiled smugly and licked her lollipop. "I'll give you 'old fogey' you little twerp," Cable grunted, sitting up and leaning against the headrest. "Where's Cody?" Brigette shrugged. "Off drooling over girls." She rolled her eyes as though she were far too mature for that sort of thing. Cable successfully managed to suppress a grin. "How old are you, kid?" he asked instead. "Sixteen. Well, almost. The day after tomorrow's my birthday." She paused to lick her lollipop before continuing. "I'm going to be very angry if you die on my birthday." Cable gave a bark of laughter, then fell into a coughing fit. "Angry, I said," Brigette snapped, trying furiously not to be sad. Finally, the coughing ceased and Cable leaned back, smiling wryly. "Glad to see you're as self-absorbed as ever." Brigette shrugged. "Someone around here has to be. Everyone's always feeling so sorry for themselves, it's sick. At least I make them think about something else." "Like inventive ways to maim you," a new voice said from the corner. Cable turned his head, seeing his younger brother, Cody. Brown hair fell in the boy's blue eyes as he floated, cross legged. "Mom and Dad are on their way to see you, Nate." Cable nodded. "I think they want to ask you something about . . . " he screwed his face up, thinking. As if he couldn't hold his ghost form while thinking that hard he started to fade, then suddenly sprang back into existence. "Oops." Cable grinned. "Got caught prying into your mother's mind?" Cody nodded, smiling sheepishly. "Better go. Talk to you later." Brigette nodded in agreement and turned, heading out the door as her brother faded out.
Love ya, old fogey, she sent, a shaft of warmth and love spearing down their link and flooding Cable's mind. He smiled, and sent it back.
***
Jonothon Starsmore, known to the world at large as Chamber, caught his lady love up and swung her around just as they raced into the Blackbird. A kiss for luck? he asked, almost playfully. Paige grinned, standing on her tiptoes and reaching up to kiss the handsome face that looked down at her. "Now let's go," she snapped, breaking loose and jumping the last little way into the modified jet. The two leaders settled into the pilots and co-pilots seats, the engines already started. After they were in the air Paige looked over at her husband of long standing, at the face he'd lost for so long. He could make it appear that he had skin, even manipulate peoples' minds to think they could see and feel his lower face. Now, though, going into battle, it was once again a mass of boiling energy, seething like flames licking up his cheeks. It really was beautiful. Landing time in three minutes, people, the forty-something man said as they neared their destination. This isn't a walk in the park. We don't know what's down there. Be prepared for anything. Paige took a deep breath, pulling her mask over her face and preparing to land.
***
Blasts of energy shot out, demolishing the building the clones had run into. Sinister's men. All these years, and they were still one step behind him. And this time they had been so close. The roar of a jet engine could suddenly be heard, and moments later five of them took off and disappeared before anything could be done. For twenty minutes the X-Men prowled the grounds, making sure nothing had been left of Sinister and his men. Paige was the first to enter the lab, followed closely by Adam X and a newer member--Plague. Jono? These are clones. Rows and rows of them. The disgust was clear in her mental voice. The massive hall was filled with row upon row of tubes, cells, glass tanks. Most of them contained only slush, what was left of a decomposed clone. Many of them were empty altogether, Sinister having taken them with him. A few had bodies floating still in the green, life-sustaining ooze. "Look," Plague whispered. "Summers." Paige looked, her stomach turning at the row upon row of Scotts, Jeans, Brigettes, Codys, Adams and Cables. "This is sick," she muttered. She turned, moving to the massive computer built into the wall. Her fingers danced over the keys, accessing the mainframe, databanks, files. Jono stood behind her, watching for any surprise while she hacked into the computer. Shortly the machine beeped, and Paige smiled slightly. "Done. The clones'll be de-activated within hours. I've cut off the life supply, and without it they won't last." Chamber nodded slowly, his hard shoes echoing in the room as he walked along the rows. Luv, where are the rest of the clones? Paige hesitated, then turned back to the computer. After a moment she looked back at Jono. "Sinister got 'em out before we got here. The ones he liked went with him." Jono nodded, stopping to look at three Scotts and two Cables. Then why did he leave these? They look whole to me. Paige frowned slightly and looked once more at the glowing screen. She sighed and glanced around, hooking a swivel chair with her foot and pulling it toward her. Sitting, she started looking into the files once more. It was a long time before she answered. "One of the Scotts has a deformed kidney . . . the other two have traces of genetic instability . . . one of the Cables has Marauder DNA, apparently an accident, and the other has the T-O virus." She turned, looking back at the man curiously. "Why?" Jono turned to her, a frown creasing his brow. I'm not sure. Lemme think.
***
Scott. Can I speak with you a moment? Scott looked up from the letter his twenty-one year old adopted daughter had sent him from college. She preferred writing to calling, since she couldn't talk. "What do you need, Jono?" Scott answered sociably. It's about Cable. He's dying, isn't he? Scott nodded slowly. Would a new body help? There was a twinkle in Jono's brown eyes, and the impression of a smile. "Why? What don't I know about?"
***
Within half an hour they were at the underground lab, something they had started years ago when the mutant/human relations went downhill and they'd needed a safe place to help mutants. Beast was there, having just arrived, and Jono led both Cyclops and Hank into the back room, where the life machines were. Trapped in one was an exact duplicate of a very young Nathan Summers. "Oh my stars and garters," Hank said quietly, taking off his glasses and cleaning them. Paige sat next to the tube, beaming proudly, still in her uniform. "We raided Sinister's place, an' this was there," she said. "The other clones were destroyed, but Jono thought to save this one in time." Hank nodded, walking around the body and inspecting it carefully. "I'll have to run tests, make sure there's nothing wrong, but it looks fine. If we can convince Cable to shift his consciousness to another body. . . ." "He hasn't exactly had good experiences with clones," Scott said, frowning. "It may take some persuasion." "Let me make sure this is a viable option, and then we'll start the convincing," Beast said, glancing up at Scott. Then he glanced over at Jono, considering. "And perhaps Ol' Fearless here," Scott grinned at the transfer of the name from him to Jono, "would do the honors of telling Nate about it? No offense, Scott, but you are related to him, and it may be better if he's told about this body with a minimal of emotion. You know how he reacts if your emotions are too strong." Scott nodded and sighed. Nate took whatever emotions you gave to him and returned them amplified. If you wanted to argue, it was best to be deadpan. "As much as I hate to say it, I agree. Besides, Jono found the body anyway." He smiled at Jonothon, a warm smile, and it was mentally returned.
*** "Tell Dom," Cable said with a ounce of his former self, "that she had better get in here, or I'm going out there to get her." His tirade done, Cable lay back on his bed and tried to catch his breath. It always seemed to be just out of reach. Made him feel damn useless. He thought of something else to say, for a moment tried, then gave up. The effort it took to rise and speak was too much. All his energy went toward staying alive; his T-O virus was held in check by machines, and the room was shielded against telepaths so that he didn't have to keep his power in check. And yet he still felt weak, sickly. He hated it. It had been two weeks since they had started phase six medication, and already they were starting phase seven. He knew better than any of them that he was dying, and he wasn't going to let anyone else hide from it. If he could face it they sure as hell could too. The door opened and a babble of thoughts hit him before it closed again, leaving only one mind in the room he had to contest with, and that was shielded. Cable? Cable took a deep breath, opening his eyes and looking up. The effort was tremendous. "Hello, Jono." He was grateful it was another telepath; their thoughts weren't nearly so loud. Nate. I've come to talk with you about this virus. Jono shifted uncomfortably. He'd been rehearsing this argument since last night, when Hank had given him the go-ahead to talk with Nate, but it still wasn't easy. Cable lay back again and closed his eyes against the painfully bright lights. What? He let the thought drift in his head, not bothering to project it. Jono was a strong enough telepath to pick it up, and it was so much easier to think than to speak or project. I know you've had bad experience with this, but the X-Men have come up with an idea. You've already realized you're dying. Your body isn't strong enough to support both you, the medications, the T-O virus and legacy. Cable grunted. He knew that. But a body just like yours might be. Nate cracked one eyelid open, eyeing the man before him. A clone? Yes. His answer was as swift as it was unquestionable. No. He had yet to have good experiences with clones. Jono made a mental oddity, something that could only be described--and inaccurately at that--as a noise of disgust. Think about it, will you? Cable breathed harshly, his eyes closed again. His spurt of energy was leaving, and he felt as though he were about to retch. I will. There was a babble of mental noise, then the room was absolutely silent but for the hum of machines. Jono had left. Nate's face creased as pain shot through his body, his muscles tightening with the urge to fight or flee. Cable let his mind go, and dropped into unconsciousness.
***
"You have mail!" the annoyingly cute voice rang out. Domino hit the button, bringing up the message. ________________ Hey, Dom. I've tried your phone (which has been disconnected--you might pay the phone bill soon), running messages through Jean, Beast and Scott. I even tried contacting you through Pete, Logan, Pistol and some other buddies, all to no avail. So, knowing you always read your e-mail, I'm trying this. I'm dying, Dom, I can't hide that. Come see me. I love you. -Nate
Domino looked at the message for a long time. She didn't want to see him. Not like he was now. She couldn't. He looked old, and hurt, and she didn't want to see her lover and best friend dying. Domino propped her head on her knee, staring at the screen. She hadn't seen him since shortly after she'd first dropped him off at Beast's. Tears were falling down her cheeks, but she didn't even realize it. He was dying, and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it, and she hated that. Too many people had died. She couldn't watch Nate--so vital, one of the most alive people she'd ever met--wither away. This thing with Nate, now. . . . It was eating her insides. She couldn't go to see him, because it wasn't him lying in that hospital bed. But at the same time she couldn't not see him before he died--not if he missed her. A dying man's last wish, right? Domino shook her head, becoming aware of the tears. Angrily, she wiped her face dry, swiveling her chair and standing in one fluid motion. She grabbed the leather jacket--Nate's jacket, that she had been sleeping with and wearing constantly without even noticing--off the back of the chair and started out the door. He needed her, and she couldn't sit and be selfish. Even if it killed her.
***
Domino stood just outside the large, heavy door that shielded Nate from the outside world. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the man she knew to be nothing like what she remembered, and stepped inside. He was sleeping. Machines beeped and buzzed, tubes ran across his arms and face. His arms, once so strong and large, were little more than skin and bones. His flesh seemed to sag on his once-powerful body, as if it didn't even have the ability to pull itself taut. His breath rattled as though it were too tired to flow properly, and his chest moved so slightly it seemed that at any moment it would stop altogether. "Dom. . . ." The word was weak, both mental and physical, a whisper across the cold expanse of the room. Domino opened her mouth to answer, looking into those blue-gray eyes, so foggy and uncertain. Her throat closed, and she couldn't even move away from the door as she looked at the skeletal man before her. "Dom." His voice was stronger as he woke more fully, though it was still hoarse. "Domino, it's okay." Nate managed to push himself up into a sitting position, forcing himself to at least look stronger than he truly was. He watched, almost afraid, as the woman he loved dearly stood with her back to the door, unconsciously clutching his beat up leather jacket to her breast. Her purple eyes were wide, and her mouth moved silently as though she were trying to speak but couldn't force the words out. She looked panicked. Cable watched as two tears slid down her face, and he knew she wasn't even aware of it. "Domino." He held out an arm slowly, half afraid she would turn and run. The link was tenuous between them after having been cut off for so long, unable to make it through the telepathic shielding he was in. Domino took a slowly step forward, then, finally, two more lurching steps and came to stand by his bed. Nate reached up, wrapping a weak arm around her waist and pulling her down until she sat next to him. "Domino," he said softly, pulling her as close as he could, "it's all right." She was cold, and shaking, and moments later tears started. They laid there, undisturbed, for twenty minutes before Domino sat up and pulled away. "I feel like an idiot," she laughed uncertainly, wiping away tears. Nate kept his arm around her waist, afraid that if he let her go she would leave. "You shouldn't." He ran his hand along her back, feeling her own strength pouring down their link and filling him. "Take a bed," he offered, smiling, when she turned and looked at him. He tugged and she stretched out along the hospital bed, laying against his side. "I'm sorry," she said, feeling his ribs beneath the blanket. "Domino," Nate responded, frowning down at the top of her head, "there's nothing to be sorry about." Domino snorted. "You're lying in bed . . . sick . . . and I'm bawling like a baby." Cable cringed slightly at the pause, knowing her first choice had been "dying." "I'm not sick, Domino," he sighed. "I'm dying. And we both know it." He could feel Domino tense under his arm, and he tightened it to keep her there. "But I'm not dead yet, so don't measure me for a coffin, okay?" Domino chuckled, though it was stressed. "Darn. That was my plan for the afternoon." Nate grinned. "I thought so." The topic wandered into more neutral areas, Domino telling Nate about how the team was doing as a whole and various scraps some of the more . . . colorful of their teammates had gotten into. It was a whisper along the psilink, almost as if Domino hadn't meant to ask at all. Are you afraid? Nate pursed his lips, unsure if he should even answer. If she hadn't even meant to ask. . . . But, finally, Yes. A little. There was a long pause on the other end. Do you hurt? Nate smiled. A little. But I set up a mental block before it got too bad. A mental nod. Are you scared? She didn't mean to answer. The words she sent were flippant, teasing. Nah. I always knew that you'd find some way out of this relationship. But with his question there were stirred up thoughts and memories she couldn't quite block from him. Everyone leaves me. What will I do? He's the only thing I ever really cared about. He loves me. That doesn't happen often. /imagemothershoutinghatingworthless/ I can't live /Nategone/. I'd rather die. STOP. Domino started with the intensity of the word. Don't ever think that again. You're strong. You'll live. People are wrong about you--you're wonderful, I love you, the children love you, you're one of the most amazing people I know. Domino's breath came in with a shudder as her mind cleared of the overwhelming thoughts/emotions. They were both quiet for a long time. "I'm sorry," Nate said at last, quietly. "I didn't mean to scare you, then." Domino chuckled, a tense sound. "All's fair in love and war, right?" Nate started to answer, and was interrupted by a ring. He sighed and reached over, hitting the button to pick up the phone. "What?" Domino listened in on the psilink, leaning her head against Cable's chest. She could hear the delicate flutter of his heart, feel the tiredness in the gray mental swirl. "Nate, it's Scott. Jono said he talked to you about the clone?" Domino perked up, looking up at Nate's face. "No." "No he didn't talk to you, or no--" "I'm not doing that, Scott," Nate interrupted. Domino watched him with wide eyes as she picked the information from their link while he finished the conversation and hung up the phone. He wouldn't meet her gaze. "Dammit, Dom, I'm not getting my mind put into a clone body!" he finally snapped. Domino sat up further, drawing away. "You're dying," she said quietly, dangerously. "And you won't even consider that?" Nate didn't answer, simply glaring at the wall. "You asshole!" Domino snarled, grabbing a pillow and hitting him with it for lack of something harder. "You're afraid that there might be something wrong with it?! Is that it?!" "Oh come on, Domino," Nate glowered back. "It's not like I don't have a reason for that!" "What, Stryfe?" Domino shot back, purple eyes flashing. "You're right. You've had awful luck with clones and things. But first, it's still your mind. And second, it may just buy you that much time you need to figure something out!" "And what if Jean misses something about my mind, and I'm only partly whole when it's over?" "I'll kill you myself!" Domino shouted, standing. "I can't believe you'd be so . . . so . . ." she made a furious gesture with her hands and let that particular emotion pour down the link, "that you wouldn't even consider it!" "It isn't your concern--" "Isn't my concern?! Then whose concern is it, if not mine? How dare you be so selfish--" "Selfish?! I'm the one dying here, Domino!" She glared at him, then turned and stalked to the door. "Where are you going?" "Out. No wonder I didn't come see you." "Domino, wait." A sigh. "No." "DOMINO!" She whirled, glaring at him. He'd always thought of purple as such a soft color. Of course, that was before meeting Domino. "I . . . come back here and tell me why I should consider it." Domino glared at him, then slowly closed the door and walked back.
***
Cable sighed as Domino left the room, hours later. With the closing of the door the psilink was gone, an eerie silence descending on his brain. And with it, her strength disappeared. He was suddenly exhausted. But she'd made him think. And maybe the clone wasn't such an awful idea. He laughed at that thought and went to sleep.
***
It was without surprise that the phone rang one night, and Beast was on the other end. Dread sank deadly fingers into Domino's stomach as she flew to the hospital, barely changing from her pajamas to sweats. She entered the room slowly, seeing Scott and Jean there already. Rachel stood in a corner, her head bowed. Slowly, Domino made her way to the bedside and knelt. The respirator made a whooshing noise as it forced air into his lungs. Jean's forehead creased, then relaxed as she reached out with her mind. "How is he?" Domino asked, afraid to touch the man before her. At sixty he had been lively and well, though occasionally complaining about arthritis. Now, at sixty-one, he was dying. "His mind is there, though faint," Jean said quietly in answer to Domino's question. "He's fading." "Domino, may I speak with you?" Beast asked from the doorway. Slowly she took in Cable's face one last time, then moved away to stand outside with Hank. "Three weeks ago Jono came by with an idea of a clone. At the time, Nate said no. I was . . . you spoke with him last. I was wondering if he'd changed his mind." Domino hesitated. She glanced down the hall to see Jono and Paige there, talking quietly, in uniform. "He was considering it." She remembered the discussion well; like many of their "discussions," yelling had been involved. Beast scowled, looking at the floor. "He hadn't said yes or no?" Domino looked up at him, shaking her head. "He didn't." Beast sighed and looked down the hall to where the other two were. Jono looked up, his eyebrows raised. Beast shrugged. He looked back, down at Domino. "We need a decision from someone who knows him. I asked Scott, but Nate hadn't talked to him about it at all. It's your decision, and if he's going to live it has to be made now." Domino stopped dead, looking up at the doctor. He was asking her to figure out what Cable would have said? She saw that he was, and swore. "Let me think about it," she hissed finally. "Think quickly," Beast said before re-entering the room in which Cable lay. Domino stood by the doorway, wondering what to do. She watched the people within, tears sliding slowly down peoples' faces. Domino gnawed on her knuckle, looking up at the ceiling. "Damn it," she snarled. "You would leave me to make this choice! Well, blast it then. You'll live." Domino turned and strode down the hall, looking rather formidable even with unbrushed, pulled back hair and sweats. "Jono, Paige, you have the jet?" The pair nodded, Paige starting to smile. "Are we going to get a body?" Domino nodded once, sharply. "Cable left the choice to me. I'll choose what I want." And pray he wants it too, she added silently. Jean, Jono sent through the open door of the room. Keep his mind whole. I'll get Artie to contact Emma and Betsy, and we'll get a body while you prep for psychic surgery. There was a mental nod from Jean, and then the three people were out the door. ***
"I don't believe this," Domino said in utter shock as she was led into a room. The room was filled with computers, machinery, all sorts of imaginable things. And at the end of the room, in a tube, was Cable. "That is uncanny." "We've been aging it since we got it, though we can't age them as fast as Essex can," Paige said, "so it's almost as old as Cable himself." "Almost?" Domino asked, eyeing it warily as they started unhooking things and strapping the body to a gurney. We haven't had enough time to really age it. It's slightly younger than Cable himself. Now come on; we don't have much time.
***
Cable's breath shuddered in his chest, for the first time working without a respirator. His mind noted, matter of factly, that he wasn't swathed in pain from legacy, TO virus and medication. He could move his fingers and his toes, though there was a funny tingle in the back of his head. Slowly he opened his eyes. Jean smiled down at him, though other than her the room was empty. "Welcome back. Your head may hurt a bit; psychic surgery will do that." Cable opened his mouth, trying to force words through his throat. "Take it easy," Jean told him, much to his irritation. "You haven't spoken with this body before. It may take a while for it to get used to being used." I'm in a clone? Cable thought, not using his telepathy but knowing Jean would be "listening." Jean smiled and nodded. "You were dying, and the last we'd heard you'd been considering excepting Jono's offer. I'm sorry we didn't contact you to ask, but we really had no choice in the matter." Cable nodded jerkily. Truth be told, he was relieved to be alive. If only because he wanted to see Domino again. As long as there were no problems that showed up. He smiled slightly, feeling the muscles reacting and his skin pulling. This body had never smiled before. Thank you. I wouldn't have appreciated dying. Jean smiled back and patted his shoulder in a distinctly motherly way. "You're welcome. But you should really thank Domino. When she gets back, I'll send her in."
*** The next weeks were spent using his new body. His hand-eye coordination was shot--he could barely feed himself. To walk across the room required extreme effort. Few people came to visit him--though his sixteen year old sister appeared to love to heckle him. "Faster!" she giggled one day as he did three push ups. "I'm gonna put you in a clone body and see how well you do," he grated as he did his final push-up, his arms shaking with the effort. Brigette discreetly helped him sit up telekinetically, carefully not letting him know she did it. "You do look better," she conceded finally. "But you'd think if they were going to de-age you they could at least make you young again." Nate glared at her. Brigette giggled delightedly. "I helped with the psychic surgery, you know," she informed him primly. "Oh horror of horrors." Cable laid back and started sit ups. "Are you sure I'm all here?" "I did," Brigette said, ignoring the rest of his statement. "Phoenix and I. 'Cause we were already in your head once. Rachel helped too." "I know," Cable grunted. Brigette cocked her head, strawberry blonde hair falling to the side. "Why doesn't Domino come to see you?" Nate wondered that himself. "She's probably busy." Brigette rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Whatever." Her green eyes unfocused as she used her telepathy, able to read people's minds even with the barrier in place. "Mom wants me. Better go." Cable nodded and blew her a mental hug. Brigette caught it and blew one back. Then she was gone. Nate sighed and sat up again. He missed Domino.
***
Domino held tightly to the leather jacket she hadn't released since all this had started. Her computer screen glowed brightly in the pre-dawn darkness. ________________ Hey, Dom. I'm here, I'm living, I look not-dead. And I'm bored to tears. Come visit me soon. -Nate Domino sighed and spun the chair slightly with one foot on the ground. She was nervous about seeing him now. After all, he'd look different. All those scars she'd grown so used to seeing would be gone. The things that made him Nate would be missing. Mostly, though, if she were honest with herself--which she rarely was--she was worried that he would wish he'd died. He so hated the thought of a clone--and she knew that--but, dammit, he'd left the decision to her. Domino rocked back in her chair again, biting her lip. What if he hated her for making him live? What if there was something wrong with the clone? Oh, sure, Beast said everything checked out. But what if there was something wrong with its mind and Nate went insane? It would be her fault. What if Nate had gotten there and realized he wanted to die? What if he hated her for making him live? Domino let her head fall back on the chair, groaning silently. What if she just never spoke to him again, instead moving on and hiding from life? Yes, that sounded good. Of course, she knew she'd never be able to do that. Sighing, she sat back up and replied to his e-mail, telling him she'd be down soon. After all, she couldn't hide forever. No matter how hard she tried.
***
Cable didn't actually see Domino for several weeks even after that. He was grateful, in a certain way, since it gave him more time to re-learn how to use this body. It was still painfully slender, and had little to no muscle tone. It had never been used, and what little muscle it had had was gone. Of course, so was all his arthritis. Cable really couldn't complain about that. He smiled as he looked down at his arm; the prosthetic was no longer needed, and he was whole again. Including the TO virus. His face had fewer wrinkles, due to the fact that it had never been used, and now that he had spent more than a month body building and training he was starting to regain his bulk. Just in time to see Domino. Cable was brushing his teeth when Domino knocked, and he hurried to spit out the toothpaste before she entered his hospital suite. "Domino," he said softly as she walked through the door. Domino shifted uncomfortably, her eyes fastened on a suddenly interesting dot on the floor. She heard him walk closer, and he put his hands on her shoulders. "Thank you," he said softly. She looked up at him then, hopefully. "You're glad to be alive," she said quietly. Cable nodded. "Even if it is in a clone body?" Cable smiled slightly, and nodded again. Domino looked as though a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and for the first time in months she hugged him tightly. His chest, once more barrel-like even if it was without the massive muscle, rumbled with a laugh as he hugged her back. "Now let me see you," Domino said, pushing him away. Her smile faltered. "Oh my God," she said softly, looking at him. Cable frowned self-consciously, glancing down and letting his fingers wander up and down his buttoned shirt to make sure everything was hooked correctly. "What?" "Oh. My. God." He fidgeted, running unlined fingers nervously through shaggy white hair. Cable had the horrible feeling that something was terribly wrong. "You're a baby!" Cable glared down at her, his fierceness covering his surprise as he suddenly realized how much younger he really was. "I'm not that young," he said, though suddenly he felt like a child. "You're 'not that young'? You're going to get carded as soon as you order liquor!" The tension Domino had felt for the past months released suddenly, and she laughed for the first time. And she couldn't stop laughing. The release was welcome, and much needed. "Would you cut it out?" Cable snapped, failing to see the humor in his current state. "I'm still old--forty." "Forty?" Domino gasped through tears coursing down her face. "You were about that when you met up with the X-Men!" Domino held her sides as her laughter increased at the irritation written so plainly on Cable's face. "Nate, I'm just not sure I can live with someone that young!" she panted before falling back against the wall and sliding to the floor in mirth. "Dammit, Dom! it's not funny!" Cable said, hands fisted on his waist. "Yes it is! You--you--you don't have hardly any wrinkles! You look twenty! I--I--" Cable glared at her and didn't say anything. "Even your glare looks young!" Domino cackled, holding her sides as she doubled over. "Stop it. I'm not--" "A baby! You're a baby! I wouldn't let you near a gun!" "Domino, you've got to be--" "Are you sure you have a driver's license, young man?" "Dom--" Tears dropped off her chin. "I don't think someone so young as you should be allowed to fight--" "This isn't funny at all." "Does this mean you call Brigette 'big sister' now?" "Ha. I don't look sixteen." Domino just kept laughing. "I feel like a cradle robber!" "Domino!"
***
Like I said before, I didn't expect to end up like this. At the moment I'm weak, unable to do battle because I haven't the muscle I once had. Hopefully it won't last long. I'm building more muscle every day. But I still don't get the respect I did--mostly from Domino. Not that she ever really gave me much respect. But being younger than she is doesn't help at all. Ah, well. Note to self: next time someone says they can save my life with a clone, find the clone and kill it. *************************** Feedback! Please send feedback to me at JBMcDragon@lycos.com. :)
Back to the living room -
The Summers' Legacy 1/1
JBMcDragon
From: "Nate" <"time_lost12@yahoo.com">
To: "Dom" <"violet_eyes@mailcity.com">
Subj: Where the hell are you?
--------
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From: "Nate" <"time_lost12@yahoo.com">
To: "Dom" <"violet_eyes@mailcity.com">
Subj: I'm alive. Are you?
--------
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