Chapter Seven

Luna had changed out of her uniform and back into street clothes. She wore a pink sundress, wanting nothing more than to be comfortable when her mind was so torn. She felt like she should be doing something, but there was nothing to do. She stood on a random balcony she’d found, shutting her eyes as she faced the wind. It was times like this when she wished she could quiet her mind and be peaceful. She would be more of a help by staying calm, but she felt wound up.

“You gonna be okay?” a voice asked behind her.

Luna jerked around and nodded. “Oh yeah… I will be. I… looked for you. Couldn’t find you.”

Logan nodded and stepped up beside her, noting it was a tad chilly. “I was changing out of that suit. And your arm?”

“Thawed,” she said. “I have a feeling that Oriana was holding him back… She could have raised her other hand and burned me to a crisp.”

“She’s a strong girl,” Logan agreed. “She’ll win this.”

Luna shivered in the wind, realizing that this wasn’t the best weather for a sundress. “Why her? Apocalypse could have chosen any of us…”

“I don’t think he really cared who he chose,” Logan said. “He just wants control.” He glanced at her. “You cold?”

“Eh, I’m okay,” she said as her teeth began to chatter.

Logan shook his head and pulled his jacket off, laying it on her shoulders. “You learn quick in this place that strength isn’t taking the world on by yourself. It’s asking for help when you need it. Just thought you’d like to know.”

Luna glanced at him and nodded slowly. “Helpful tip.” She looked out at the view again. She marveled at how so many trees could grow in such a cramped, suburbanized setting. “You take any of that into account with yourself?”

“Only when I feel it’s worth it,” he said.

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“Means that if I trust you, you’ll know it.”

“I get it…” She eased into her next question. “I’ve been meaning to ask you… about your mutation.”

“I had a feeling that was coming,” he said. “Let me guess, the healing thing makes sense. But the claws don’t.”

“People aren’t typically born with metal skeletons,” she said. “Not even mutants. I just think it’s a little fascinating.”

“Well, I wasn’t born with it,” he said. “The metal is a kind called adamantium. It’s indestructible.”

Luna scowled. “How did it get there if you weren’t born with it.”

There was a long silence where neither of them said anything. At first she thought he wouldn’t tell her, but really he was just trying to think of what to say.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I have these dreams… I’m in this room, surrounded by guys in labs coats. They’re all talking about my vital signs… I’m hooked up to all sorts of gadgets and lying in this tank. Then it fills full of water. I’m growling and spitting and trying to break free and…”

“What?” she asked, staring at him with unabashed awe.

“That’s when I jump up and kill them all,” he breathed. “The first time I ever used these.” His claws popped out with a loud slice that seemed to fill their calm conversation with malice. “I ran and never looked back. It was all part of some experiment. They used me…”

“I’m so sorry,” she said, shaking her head.

“There’s no taking it back,” he muttered as his claws slid back into their hiding place.

Luna watched his hands heal over as though nothing had ever pierced them. “But the pain of that procedure… Of feeling those things cut you…”

“I’m okay,” he insisted.

Luna shook her head. “I don’t believe that,” she whispered. “I can read your eyes. They tell the truth.”

Logan averted them just as she said that, wincing when she took his hand. “I don’t need sympathy.”

“Yes, you do,” she said. She lifted his hand and placed a gentle kiss between his first and second knuckle. Then moved between the second and third, pressing her lips there as well. She continued until she’d finished with his right hand and moved to the next.

“Hey…” he said softly, pulling his hand back and putting the other to the back of her head. “Luna, listen…”

But she didn’t. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him, her body conforming with his where they stood. He sank against her, allowing himself to feel this one completely without holding back.

* * * * *

"You can come in Scott." Xavier said, turning his head towards the door where Scott was peering in.

"How is she?" he asked, stepping up to the other side of the bed.

"The same; she’s fighting," Xavier said.

"I wish there was some way we could help her," Scott said, looking down at Oriana's blood-stained face.

"Why don't you clean her up a bit, Scott. I'm going to go check on the students."

Scott nodded and watched as the Professor wheeled out of the infirmary. He grabbed a washcloth and wet it in the sink, then began gently cleaning the blood from Oriana's face.

"I know you can hear me, Ori," he said softly. "You can win this. I know you can."

Oriana's eyes jerked slightly under her lids. Her breathing picked up, and Scott ran his hand down her face. Her body seemed to relax, and he sighed.

"What is he doing to you in there?"

Luna entered the room but nearly turned around when she saw Scott waiting near Oriana. She didn’t want to disturb them.

Scott turned in her direction and put up a hand. “You don’t have to go.”

Luna stilled and blinked at him. “You’re sure?”

“Yes,” he said. “Ori, would probably want you near.”

A smile touched her lips, and she drifted closer. “Do we know how she’s doing?”

“The same as before,” Scott said. He looked down at her and pulled a strand of silver hair from her throat and laid it across the table near her cheek. “I feel like there’s something I could be doing that I’m not…”

“That’s weird,” Luna said, stepping up beside him. “I’ve had that same feeling all day.”

They looked at one another, Luna unable to gage Scott’s expression beneath his visor. He looked to the Professor as he entered the room once more and just stared.

“I just had a thought,” Xavier said gently. “Through me, you may be able to enter her mind and help her.”

“You could do that?” Luna asked in awe.

“Physically you would remain here, but your minds would be with hers on the astral plane,” he said. “You must be very careful. Anything that happens there will affect you here. And anything that happens to Oriana will affect her here, as well.”

“Then we don’t have anymore time to waste,” Scott said. “Take us in, Professor.”

* * * * *

Fire and ice streamed across the surreal, white plane inside Oriana's mind.

"Stop fighting me, Oriana! You can't win!" Apocalypse laughed.

"I will, too! You can't have my mind!" Oriana screamed back at him. Oriana's eyes went wide, and she spun and ran off in the other direction as a huge plasma ball came her way. She hit the ground and ducked just as it soared overhead.

“Apocalypse!” came a strong, male voice from across the expanse of Oriana’s mind. “Let her go!”

Apocalypse turned and narrowed his eyes. “It seems that your precious Professor will find any way possible to endanger his X-Men.”

“This was our choice,” Luna said, doing her best to remain steadfast before their towering enemy. “We won’t let you take her.”

“You may attempt to stop me,” he growled. “But you will fail.”

Scott immediately reached for his visor, sending a full blast from his eyes into Apocalypse’s chest. He stumbled back, but appeared undaunted all the same. Luna trembled next to Scott, feeling helpless suddenly.

“What do I do?” she asked Scott. “There’s nothing I can turn into that will even faze him.”

The astral plane is not like others… Xavier called to her in a soothing voice. If you can gain control of the possibilities of your own mind, you’ll find they are limitless.

“How!?” Luna cried.

“Don’t listen to him, Luna,” Apocalypse purred, his voice echoing. “His lessons are misleading at best. If it is power you want, then you should seek me. Know me and pledge yourself to me. I could give you more power than any you could imagine.”

“You’re a liar!” Luna screamed. “You’ve hurt my friends. The only people who ever took me in and gave a damn about me. I’m gonna hurt you back even if it kills me!”

“Be careful, Luna,” Scott warned. “Don’t give him an inch.”

“Blast him again, Scott,” she said. “And this time, don’t stop. I have an idea.”

"SCOTT! LUNA!" Oriana cried. "What the hell are you two doing here! Get out!" She screamed just as Scott began to fire on Apocalypse.

Luna bowed her head and let out a long breath. “I don’t know if I can do this…”

You can… Concentrate.

Luna nodded and let her mind go back to a time she’d never known. One so old and ancient, but a time that anyone could envision. Volcanoes and giant creatures and primordial oozes… She could feel her heart pounding, her scaly skin burning. Her mind was utterly savage and had one single purpose: to destroy and feed. When her eyes opened, she was level with Apocalypse, and his astounded expression said everything.

She let loose a roar, rows of razor-sharp teeth and a deep gullet opening wide. Her wide tail swished behind her, and her great legs pushed her forward as she charged. Apocalypse raised his hand and fired a plasma ball at her rough, pink-and-black hide. She stumbled but never slowed, grasping his arm and wrenching hard enough to send him flying onto his back.

Scott had stopped firing by this time and ran for Oriana, refusing to acknowledge the massive Tyrannosaurus Rex at his back. He only hoped that Luna had enough control to attack only Apocalypse. He reached Oriana and pulled her into his arms.

“Are you all right?” he asked, panting and almost crushing her against him.

Oriana let out a gasp, "I'm fine, or will be once you stop suffocating me."

Scott quickly let her go, and Oriana waved her finger at him. "You shouldn't be in here. I don't want you in danger."

She looked over his shoulder to see Luna battling Apocalypse. "She needs help..."

Luna tore at him time and again, but Apocalypse, though shocked, staved off her attacks. His arm transformed into a buzz saw, and he hacked into her side, causing a lizard-like shriek to escape her.

“Blast him!” Scott ordered as he hauled Oriana to her feet.

He didn’t even bother using the controls on his visor, preferring instead to jerk it from his face and let the full force of his optic blast slam into Apocalypse. Oriana joined her fire with Scott’s optic blast, and Apocalypse fell backwards from the force of the joined blasts.

"This isn't the end of me," he growled and disappeared.

Oriana gasped as she felt herself being jerked backwards, and her eyes snapped open to see Professor Xavier staring at her. She turned her head and found Scott and Luna sitting next to her, Luna had blood stains down her shirt.

"LUNA!" Ori cried, darting out of bed, ignoring the dizziness that swept over her. She landed on her knees at Luna's side.

Luna winced and took easy breaths in and out. “He got me good,” she growled. “Gah, this hurts like a bitch.”

She lifted her shirt slowly, her arm aching. On her right side was a deep gash, and she swooned at the sight of it. Oriana hovered her hands nervously near it, and Luna jumped. “Ah, God! Don’t touch it! Oh, God…”

"Help, someone help her!" Oriana cried, her hands moving back and forth above Luna's wound. "Oh crap... Ohhh crap..." she muttered, staring at it as Logan came running into the room.

“What in hell is…!?” He trailed off when he saw Luna and fell to her side, pulling her up into his arms. “Come on, girl…”

“Gyah, that hurts, Logan!” Tears were running down her cheeks. “Don’t!”

“I have to move you, darlin’,” he grunted, getting to his feet again. “You have to be seen to!”

“I don’t feel so…” Luna said tiredly. “Don’t take me to a hospital. I don’t like…” Her head fell to his shoulder.

"Hurry up, Logan! Move!" Oriana shrieked behind him.

Logan grumbled something at her as he rushed Luna out of the room. Oriana sunk back against the chair, shaking her head. She wanted to follow Logan, but she was too tired to even stand up.

Scott stepped in front of Oriana and put both his hands out. “Need help?”

"I need Luna to be okay." Oriana took his hands and let him pull her up.

"Damn Apocalypse," she muttered and fell into Scott, embracing him. "And you weren't very smart coming in there after me. You know that, right?"

“I usually go in with a better plan,” he said. “So, yes, it was stupid.” He looked down at her and smiled, tipping her chin up. “But I had to.”

"I would have kicked his butt sooner or later." She smirked up at him. "I was just about to give him some serious burns when you showed up."

“Mm-hmm,” he said, sounding unconvinced. “You’re tenacious. I’ll give you that.” He brushed her cheek. “I love that about you.”

"You know something?" Oriana asked, moving a little closer to Scott. "I think I just plain love you." She smiled at him.

Scott smiled in return, reached a hand to the back of her neck, and drew her lips against his. He sank against her mouth, framing her face with his hands.

* * * * *

Luna awoke slowly, taking in her new surroundings. It was clean and disinfected smelling, full of surgical paraphernalia, and done in soothing colors meant to placate patients. She groaned and closed her eyes again, her eyelids feeling so heavy beneath the fluorescent lighting.

“I said ‘no hospitals’,” she grunted.

“You aren’t in a hospital,” came a surprisingly refined voice.

Luna grunted and forced her eyes open again to see a massive, blue creature standing with its back to her. In her opinion, he looked like Kurt on steroids. She cleared her throat and attempted to speak, her voice slurred from weariness. “Where am I then?”

“You’re still in the institute,” he said. “You never left.” The creature turned and graced her with a disturbingly toothy grin. “Welcome back to the waking world.”

“What are you?” she asked with unabashed awe.

“A doctor,” he chirped. “Henry McCoy, at your service. Though most simply call me ‘Hank’.”

Luna nodded to him and assumed he must already know her name. She moved enough to get a better view of her wound, which was now sewn closed. “Will I be okay?”

“As long as you allow the required amount of time for proper healing to take place,” he said.

“I don’t have time for that, doc,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but there’s a guy out there hell bent on taking over the world.” She gestured to her side. “And if this ain’t proof of it, I don’t know what is.”

“I can see why Logan likes you so much,” he chuckled. “You’re a woman after his own heart.” He turned to his instruments and furrowed his brow. “I have some creams that are still in a more advanced experimental stage. They encourage more rapid healing in injured cells. They’ve only been tested on animals so far, but they appear to be succeeding with no side effects. Would you be willing to try?”

“Anything that works on animals will work on me,” she grunted.

“That’s a rather odd thing to say,” Hank chuckled.

“Well, I’m not totally human,” Luna replied.

“Another reason why Logan would see a kindred spirit in you,” he said softly.

“How come I never met you before this?” she asked, tilting her head where she lay.

“I was away on business,” he said. “Charles fancies me the voice of a mutant nation, so I take frequent trips to Washington, DC. I was allowed an audience with the president on this particular junket. I regret to inform you that regardless of his interest in peace, the senate debates rage on with demands for control and outright war. Discouraging…” He sighed and perked up again. “Luckily for you, I arrived home just this morning.”

“So how much do you know about this whole Apocalypse thing?” she asked.

“The Professor has brought me up to speed, to turn a phrase,” he said. “You and the others seem to be having very little luck in subduing him.”

“Understatement of the year,” Luna growled.

“Never fear,” he said, raising a large, paw-like hand. “I may have a solution. Those stones that Apocalypse is after once belonged to an Egyptian Pharaoh, one who Apocalypse himself may have known. Each stone is a different color and possesses a certain power for luck and good fortune. For instance, one grants wisdom while another grants riches.”

“Lucky rocks?” Luna asked sourly. “All this over a petrified rabbit’s foot?”

“It’s a great deal more than that,” Henry said. “Part of the legend was that a device was needed to combine the stones to release their full power. I have no texts that give the specific dimensions or materials needed, but it would need to be specially fashioned to contain each one in a specific sequence.”

“Does Apocalypse have something that could do that?” Luna asked.

“If he does not, he may certainly have the ability to build one,” Henry said gravely.

“So what happens when everything falls into place?” she asked with mounting horror.

“He’ll have the power of a god,” he said.

“He already does,” Luna said.

“Then there is no imagining the power he will obtain when he’s achieved his goal,” Henry said. “Still there may be a way to stop him.”

“Destroy the device if he has it?” Luna asked.

“No, no. He’ll merely build another. The power is in the stones. That is what must be destroyed.”

“If Apocalypse didn’t kill us, the museum directors would,” Luna sighed.

“While I would mourn the loss of such rich artifacts along with the museum proprietors, there are times when the greater good must take precedence,” Henry replied.

“Okay, we destroy the stones then,” she said. “His plan is in shambles. What about Apocalypse? Is there a way to stop him after that?”

“I’m still working on that one,” Henry grinned.

Luna nodded listlessly as Henry gathered a dish of his experimental cream. He rubbed it into her side, humming some classical tune as he did so. Just as Luna thought she was beginning to recognize the song, he stopped and sat back.

“I’d like to keep an eye on you while that begins its work,” he said. “You are my first, human test subject.”

“I’m honored,” she grinned. “You’re very well-spoken for…”

“My appearance?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I don’t mean anything by that, really. I’m sure pink and black hair is real attractive…”

“On the contrary,” he said. He reached down and took her hand in his, bringing it up to his furry lips and kissing her knuckles. “You are beautiful.”

“Trying to steal my girl, Hank?” Logan asked as he leaned against the doorjamb.

“I’ve been told that I am a man of great intellect,” he retorted, “which would make me smart enough not to cross you, dear Logan.”

“Hey,” Luna called in a whisper. “Dr. Hank here says I’ll be fine.”

“Great news, darlin’,” Logan replied, smiling as he stepped up to her bedside. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, brushing at a lock of pink hair when he stood straight again.

"Luna!" Oriana called as she walked into the room and saw her friend was awake. Scott came in behind her and stepped up beside Logan as Ori nearly shoved him out of the way to get to Luna. "You nutty girl! Do not go getting yourself sliced up like that again." She gave her a gentle hug.

Luna hissed lightly as she hugged Oriana in return. “I’ll do my best,” she laughed breathlessly. “I’m just so glad to see you up and around again.” When Oriana stepped back, Luna looked up at her affectionately. “It was worth it for that.”

Oriana made a face that told Luna she was trying to hold back tears. "Awww, hon, come on now. Making me feel all special," she said, but her face told Luna that she had never been so touched by anything before.

Luna took her hand and held it as tightly as her tender side would allow. Neither of them had allowed themselves to feel, and both of them had thought themselves doomed to a life of aimless wandering with no friends or loved ones to speak of. They’d left comfortable lives behind and been left with literally nothing to show for themselves. They were kindred spirits in every way, and neither of them could think of any other they’d rather be friends with in such a perfect moment.

"I love you, sis," Oriana said softly, knowing that there was no other way to express the friendship she felt towards Luna, for they truly were sisters in every way that mattered.

“Love you, too,” Luna said, trying not to choke on the words as her throat locked up from emotion. “Never had a sister before...” She smiled brightly and sniffled.

“We are all family,” Henry said tenderly. “Beyond mere flesh and blood, we are connected in a way that no one can destroy. Not even Apocalypse.” He grinned at them both. “Luna, you should really rest.”

“Is it okay if I move her to her room?” Logan asked.

“Only if you are very gentle,” Henry said. “If those sutures tear, she’ll be right back where she began.”

“I’ll be careful,” he muttered, pulling Luna into his arms.

"You better be," Oriana warned him as she slipped over to Scott and slid her arm around his waist.

“I’m real scared,” he growled, though he barely suppressed a grin.

"You should be, I can make your life a living hell." She smirked. "Don't forget that’s my sis you've got in your arms." She gave him an innocent grin as Scott laughed.

All Luna said was, “don’t do it, Logan…” She could sense his temptation to whip his claws out. “Be good.”

“Sure,” he grunted, walking past them and toward the elevator.

Oriana watched them disappear, and she leaned against Scott.

"Okay, so what are we going to do about this monster, hm? We really need to get rid of him. I don't fancy having him take over my mind again."

“Me neither,” he said, running a hand across her cheek. His jaw rippled with frustration. “I just wish I had that answer. I don’t know what to do, Ori.”

“Well,” Henry chimed in. “I was just telling Luna a rather fascinating bit of information you may find useful…”

Chapter Eight

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