In school for the summer, thought Anna Dyelin. My worst nightmare when I was younger... How her nightmares had changed over the past year and a half. Once nothing but having a cruel teacher, needing to resort to going on a blind date, or failing one of her courses and losing her chance to enter med school, now Anna's fears were much deeper. At sixteen the young woman had begun exhibiting mutant powers and had lived in fear of the day she would be found out by her parents, obsessive pro-humanity activists. Her fears had come true, and now she was living in Westchester with the famous...or infamous...X-men. They had taken her in after she'd been nearly hospitalized by her father, believing that her powers would be useful in some way. Useful, Anna laughed silently to herself. I don't see how being able to uproot trees or start a fire with my thoughts can be useful. Anna's mutant power was control over the natural forces, but it waned the deeper she moved into civilization, so while she exhibited nearly god-like control in the wild, once in the middle of a city she was almost powerless.
*Anna* Jean Grey-Summers' telepathic voice interrupted the girl's thoughts. *You're late for your training session with Ororo*
Anna wished that her Spirit ability was as strong as her control over the rest of the forces so that she could give Jean the shock of her life. She absolutely hated anyone invading her mind without invitation. But because she did not quite have the strength, and because using it if she did would get her in serious trouble with Professor Xavier, she covered her annoyance as well as she could and replied calmly. *I am sorry, I was preoccupied. I'll be down in a moment.* Without waiting for a reply she closed her mind to telepathic contact and began to dress for training.
Jean frowned as her contact with the girl was shut off. How, she wondered, did she learn so much control at a young age, and untrained? Jean frowned, not liking the possibilities that rose to her mind. She distrusted Anna enough already because of her background. Any further distance between them would be detrimental to the team. But even though she didn't particularly trust the girl, she had to admit that she found the girl's occasional bluntness refreshing, if irritating when one was on the receiving end.
"I hate spandex," Anna moaned. Her outfit, a silvery-blue body suit and matching leggings, made her feel like an overweight hippopotamus next to the well endowed X-women. When faced with Ororo's exotic beauty, Anna felt like something that had just crawled out of a deep, dank hole.
"Is that the reason for your inability to concentrate?" the African mutant asked, not unkindly.
"No," Anna replied. "It's just that a holographic rain forest doesn't measure up to the real wilderness. All the tech junk is screwing up my powers." Not to mention the fact that it's my birthday, she added silently. If I hadn't been cursed with these powers I'd be out shopping with Gemma, or celebrating with my parents.
Although she was no empath, Ororo easily picked up on Anna's mood. "You are dismissed for the day," she said, smiling softly. "Enjoy yourself until your lesson with Remy."
"Oh, I'll enjoy that too." Anna grinned slightly. "Thanks, Ororo." She walked out of the danger room and into the hall.
"You are welcome, child," Ororo called after her. "You deserve it," she added as the door slid shut. "Poor girl, having only those she was taught to hate as friends."
Questions? Comments? Criticisms? E-mail me at heavenlydiabla@rocketmail.com . Constructive criticism will be welcomed, flames will be ignored.