[USS Tempest] Angels Taking Wing
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: usstempest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:48:50 EST
Angels Taking Wing
by Rosemary Le Beau, William Worthington, Nathaniel Lynley, Seren Deaver,
Tawa Pax, Betsy Braddock, Eislin Rissa, & Dal Disir
Rosie practically bounced on her toes as she stepped into Georgetown's Sick
Bay, her smile as bright as it always was. No, of course he wasn't one of
her 'cousins' but it was so good to see somebody from home, good to see
another
Xavier kid. "Yoo hoo, anybody home?" she called softly.
There was a flutter of wings and suddenly a form dropped from the ceiling
with a beaming grin on his face. "Rosie," he whispered in his fluting notes.
She laughed brightly at the motions. She could tell it was startling some
of the staff but, to her, it was perfectly normal. "I see you're still here.
I was afraid you'd taken off on a tour of the ship," she teased, her hazel
eyes shining. "Give the staff and Security fits an all."
"I like flying," he said cheerfully. He flashed teeth newly cleaned at her
in a grin. Flapping his wings lightly, he fluted. "Freedom!"
"God but you're as pretty as your daddy is." She meant it as a statement of
fact. Nat was the only man she would ever lay eyes on but she could admit
that Warren looked just like his code name. "How are ya today, handsome?"
"Bored..." he admitted. His grasp of words wasn't bad now, much better than
it had been when he'd been saved, but he found sentences confusing so he
liked using the shortest he could get away with. "Lonely."
"Well how 'bout a trip?" she asked brightly, still bouncing on her toes. "I
want you t'meet somebody and that'd be down on the station."
William shook his head, now tilted to the side, as he frowned at her. He
had a vague recollection of what 'station' meant but it was fuzzy and distant.
"Where?"
"It's a manmade planet so to speak," she explained. "Except it's enclosed
like a ship. It's just a heck of a lot bigger than this ship or mine. Kinda
like a floating city."
Oh cities he knew. He remembered cities. One in particular with his
father holding him tightly and sweeping him up to the heights, the feel of the
wind on his face, the little buildings and people below. His wistful look
became sad and he frowned. "New York..."
She didn't want to get his hopes up. She hoped his parents would be down on
the station but Warren had been in such an all fired hurry (not that she
blamed him the least bit!) that she hadn't been able to find out their transit
information. "Don't worry, sweetie, you'll be back there soon enough. Right
now, though, this particular city is Deep Space Nine and my friend
Nathaniel's there. He's been wantin' to meet you."
New people. More new people. William eyed her warily but he supposed that
if this person was a friend of Rosie, he couldn't be so bad. He nodded
carefully and folded his wings against his back so he could pull a coat over
them
and hide them.
"You going out like that?" she asked curiously. "You don't have to hide
those wings, honey. They're beautiful and anybody with a smart mouth is going
t'get more than they bargained for if they say anything."
William stopped mid-motion, his mirror eyes on Rosie's and he shrugged. He
could go out without, he supposed. "You... don't mind?"
"Mind? William, as some pushy but well meaning lady we both know once said,
we are who we are and we shouldn't have to hide it. I'm through with hiding
what I am. We're in this together, handsome," she told him.
He nodded and dropped his coat on his bed. "Okay... ready..."
Tucking her hand around his elbow, Rosie steered her charge toward the exit.
On the way, they passed the same Vulcan with the oddly bright blue eyes.
"We're just taking a stroll down to the station. Is that okay?"
"Certainly, Lieutenant," Seren said. He offered William a smile. "Careful
spreading those wings down there, my friend. There are a lot of support
beams and poles."
William nodded at him and tucked his wings even tighter against his back.
He could keep them firmly behind him, he would never hurt someone
deliberately.
"I think he meant if you decide t'fly, darlin'," Rosie said in a mock
whisper to which Seren nodded.
William nodded again but kept them tucked in. He still wouldn't risk it.
"Alright, on our way then: the little angel and the little rogue," Rosie
said brightly.
He kept close to her side as they moved through the ship, being sure to
watch everyone who past them. He tried not to stare but it was all so
fascinating. He'd only been out of Sick Bay a few times to go to the holodeck
so he
hadn't really seen much of the ship and new he was staring like a tourist.
"This ship's a lot bigger than Tempest," Rosie told him as she headed for
the level that would take them to the air lock. "Pretty snazzy for such a big
thing, don't you think?"
"Pretty," he said softly. It wasn't as sleek as he remembered his father's
ship being but it beat the hell out of the last ship, the garbage scow that
had taken him to the mines.
As they approached the airlock, Rosie caught sight of one of the guards on
duty from Georgetown. Well, now, isn't he interesting looking. Can't say as
I've ever seen green AND spots before. "Lieutenant Le Beau, Ensign," she
said simply. "My friend and I are going stationside."
Tawa nodded. "I got word from Mr. Deaver already so no problems," he said.
He smelled of citrusy curiosity as he peered at William. "Now that is
really neat, if I might say. I've seen you in Sick Bay, friend, but I never
realized how big those wings were. Very neat."
William blushed and tried to hide behind Rosie. "Thank you," he whispered,
his eyes flicking up before returning to stare at the floor.
"Any way, glad to see you up and about," Tawa said as he waved them through.
"You and Mr. Eislin's kid are the only two still around I think."
"No orphanage," he said softly and in slight panic.
Tawa shook his head vehemently. ""Not for her and not for you, friend," he
said with a smile. He nodded at Rosie. "The lieutenant'll make sure of that
I bet."
"Damn skippy straight about that," Rosie said emphatically. "This dear
boy's one of my own, an Xavier kid just like me."
William nodded but kept behind Rosie, staring at Tawa as if he might change
his mind any minute and force him to an orphanage or worse, back to the mines.
"Have a good day then, both of you," Tawa said with an easy smile. Goddess
but Humans were fascinating...
Rosie waited until they were in the tunnel leading to the door on the other
end to look up at William. "And people say mutants are strange sights? I
can't say as I've ever seen a fusion quite like him."
"Green," he murmured, "like the trader..." The one who'd taken him, stolen
him from his parents, sold him to the mines, to the stinking dark. He
shuddered and shrank even further behind Rosie.
Rosie squeezed his hand slightly. "It's alright, William. We're safe here.
Even if he is a little odd looking, that one's one of the good guys. You
saw the spots? Means he's part Trill and they're definitely alright."
He nodded and held tightly to her. "Trill," he whispered. "Pretty spots."
There was less security on the other end of the airlock. A very bored
looking Bajoran waved them past, barely even making note of William's wings.
There was someone waiting, though, he did see them and his eyes widened
considerably.
"Magnificent!" Nat said with soft awe as he approached.
William tried his best not to flinch. He offered the man a small smile and
stretched his wings out slightly. He let out a small fluting.
Nat grinned and held out his hand. "Hello there, mate. The name's
Nathaniel Lynley and I've heard a lot about you from my Rosemary. I'm pleased
to
finally meet you."
William peered at the hand curiously and took it with more than a little
care. "William," he whispered. "Worthington."
"Nathaniel is Captain Craig's aide and the crew liaison, William," Rosie
said, smiling at Nat's genuine pleasure in meeting the young man. "He's also
my
fiance."
"You're marrying?" William cooed, his eyes dancing happily as he embraced
her tightly.
It was like being embraced by his father's namesake Rosie thought as the
wings and arms enfolded her. Giving him an equally affectionate embrace, she
looked up and said, "Eventually we certainly are but it'll have to wait until
we can have enough time to be on Earth. We want all our families there after
all."
He nodded, he could understand. "Earth? Is it... still beautiful?"
Keeping her arm around him, Rosie nodded. "It still is, honey. Before I
stepped onto Tempest I was home at the mansion and in New Orleans."
"And I was in London," Nat added, "and New Orleans. I'm certain things will
seem strange but they are indeed still beautiful."
He wanted pretty things, like flowers and trees and birds singing. He'd
guessed he wouldn't be going to the mansion because he had no idea how to read
or write, though he was sure he had once known how. "Home," he whispered.
"Soon, honey," Rosie said softly.
"You know, William, there's a lovely arboretum here on the station. It's on
the way to the civilian docking area and there are rather high ceilings,"
Nat said with a calculating look in his eye. "I'm sure if you were careful of
the trees, the lady in charge wouldn't mind if you, ah, stretched out a bit."
"Fly?" he asked in hope.
"I don't see why not," Nat said, glancing at Rosie, who gave him a shrug.
"Who knows, we might meet some interesting people there."
William smiled shyly. He wondered what interesting meant when applied to
people. He supposed he wasn't interesting enough to be interesting.
"This way, then," Nat said with a smile. "The lady in charge likes me any
way. She says the plants know I'm good to the ones at home."
"Plants?" William asked softly. "Green things with flowers..."
"Green and blue and red...William, the plants from other planets are in this
arboretum, too. Ms. Monroe would love it," Rosie told him.
He bit his lip and frowned. "Monroe?"
"I bet you'll remember her more from her code name: Storm. She's Lexie's
mom," Rosie told him.
Then William grinned. "Aunt Ororo!"
"That's her!" Rosie chimed. "She'll be another one to go flying with and
maybe now you remember just a little about her greenhouse at the mansion."
"The lady can fly?" Nat asked carefully.
"And without wings no less. So's my mama," Rosie told him pertly.
"Aunt Marie," William nodded. He could remember them, like he remembered
Rosie, it was other things he was fuzzy with. He'd dreamed of the Xmen all
throughout his time in the Mines, knowing that the next day was the day they'd
save him. They never had.
When they arrived at the arboretum, Nat stepped in and offered the Bajoran
lady there a warm smile. "Madam, my young friend here is new to the station
and I promised him it was probably high ceilinged enough in here that he could
stretch his wings without a problem."
The woman blinked. It was clear that she had never seen someone like
William before. How odd...an avian species. "Of course, child," she said
warmly,
smiling up at William.
With clear relief, William spread his wings out to their full and leapt from
his feet. Several large flaps and he was sweeping out across the arboretum.
"That is absolutely magnificent," Nat said in a softly awed voice as he
looked up, following William's path.
"Isn't it, though? His daddy's just as pretty that way," Rosie replied as
she slipped an arm around his waist. "Nathaniel, did you manage to find out
when his folks are getting here?"
He should have been more aware but the act of flying to freely freed his
mind as well and William let out a high pitched cry as he performed a loop.
This was what living was about!
Betsy would have jumped ten feet in the air if she hadn't felt the presence
of two mutants so close, one of which was achingly familiar to her. Dark
purple eyes searched the ceiling of the arboretum and she finally found her
nephew and felt tears in her eyes.
"William!" she called out. "Sweet William!" She was laughing, giggling and
crying like a silly girl and nothing like the Lady Braddock she was.
William heard the voice and let out another joyful cry as he spiralled down.
"Betsy!" Rosie cried with a smile as she reached to hug the other woman.
"Did you bring everyone else?"
"I was off-world on Betazed when I heard and so Erik flew me here himself,"
Betsy said after hugging Rosie. "Apparently he had business on Bajor, though
I suspect Magneto is softer than he makes out."
"He did?" Rosie asked, wide eyed. "That old sham." She shook her head in
amazement then nodded her chin up at William. "Isn't that just the most
miraculous thing you've ever seen?"
"Wonderful enough to make a woman cry," Betsy sniffed, thoroughly unashamed
that her mascara had run a little. "My Sweet William. Warren and Paige are
on their way. They said a day more tops. All to do with space traffic and
permits. I think Warren's broken every law going just trying to get here."
"I'll smooth things over if it becomes a problem," Nat said mildly.
"Commander Vaughn and I go back quite a long way."
"Is there anybody in Starfleet you don't know?" Rosie asked with a fond
smirk. Of course he knew the current commander of the station.
"No, my dear, there probably isn't," came the smug reply.
"Use all of the connections you can get," Betsy laughed. Her purple eyes
took in the older man but she smiled and offered her hand. "Betsy Braddock.
You must be Nathaniel, the one who's making Rosie's poor grandmother spit
nails." Then she winked. "Good for you."
Nat took the proffered hand gladly, noting the strength of the grip. Good,
he told himself. "That would be me, Nathaniel Lynley at your service. It's
a pleasure to finally be able to meet some more of Rosemary's family and
friends."
"It's good to hear a voice from home," Betsy observed. "Nice to know Rosie
had the taste to fall for a good, old fashioned Brit." She pursed her lips
and narrowed her eyes. "I'd say a Londoner... South of the river... South
East, but with a cultured accent so... Bromley way? Maybe even further into
Kent."
"Oh now that's very good," Nat said, his eyes dancing with amusement. "When
I first met Rosemary, she picked out London simply because I sounded a bit
like the head master of her school." He offered Betsy a slight bow. "I am
most certainly Bromley born and raised. My brother-in-law will tell you that
his pub is the headquarters for the Crystal Palace fan club."
Betsy gave him a wry grin. "I'm more of a Chelsea person myself," she
chuckled. "Our family home is in Essex, just round from you though in the
civilised North of the River." She gave Rosie a wink and shook her head, "A
long
standing tradition. We northerners consider those southerners as heathens and
vice versa."
"He's not too bad, Betsy," Rosie teased gently, smiling up at Nat. "Even if
he does sound like the Professor. Which reminds me, Daddy didn't come back
from anywhere talking about busting any place up, did he?"
"Busting?" Betsy shook her head slowly. "I've been on Betazed for quite
some time working with some of their teachers for dealing with a particularly
gifted psi-talented girl we recently took in. She was with me but I left her
with Erik." Which still made Betsy edgy. He'd taken his helmet off and let
her scan his thoughts but it didn't help that she knew he was adept at hiding
things that only Charles or Jean would be able to see. "Where would Gambit
have been busting?"
"His brother-in-law's pub," Rosie said with a smirk, pointing at Nat. "It
seems him and Uncle Logan were going to go over there and see what sort of
baseline I'd gotten myself mixed up with. Nathaniel kinda neglected to warn
anyone that they were coming."
"So long as they had lots of that watered down swill Logan drinks, he'd have
been fine," Betsy laughed brightly. "He likes American beer," she told Nat,
her nose wrinkling. "I prefer my real ale, especially as Braddock Manor
rents out part of its lands to a small brewery. They even brewed a new ale
for
my wedding. Ever had a Wildcat, Nathaniel?"
"Can't say as I have actually. I'm rather partial to Hobgoblin. During the
war, the barman on my station used to get in especially for me," he
explained.
"That's the Kentish Man coming out of you," Betsy laughed. "Wildcat was
named for my wife. Psylocke was named for me."
"I've been quite well behaved on this voyage. I do believe the next visit
home will have to make up for that," Nat said with a smile. "Any brew name
after someone has great potential."
"I'll ask them to name one for when you get married too, Rosemary," Betsy
told them both, her eyes dancing.
"Tell them to make one for William," Rosie said softly. "Not that he's old
enough to drink yet." She ignored Nat's politely hushed snort at that. "I
think he deserves the honor, though."
"A Sweet William," Betsy said with a smile. Her eyes started to fill again
and she had to dab them with her hanky. "My sweet William. The poor thing's
going to be spoiled when he gets back to the mansion."
"Believe me, Betsy, he'll deserve it. It gives me nightmares seein' what
those poor things were like that were on our ship. William was on Georgetown
and the only reason I knew that was because some doctor there hoped my being a
mutant would make it more likely that I knew him."
"Probably more likely than he even realised," Betsy sighed. "If you hadn't,
just a call to either the mansion or Erik would've confirmed it."
"Fortunately, the rank and file of the Fleet is more sensible than most of
the brass," Nat grumbled. "The wrong sort would have made him a pariah."
"But he had our Rosie," Betsy smirked as she put an arm around her friend
and sort of adoptive niece.
"He's an Xavier kid," Rosie said softly. "We might not all get along and be
at each other's throats but he's kin. And still a sweet kid, too."
William let out another screech as he flipped and spiralled down to land
next to them with a flourish. "Thanks," he whispered. "It's fun."
"Hello, Sweet William," Betsy said softly. She let Rosie go and opened her
arms to William. When he gripped her tightly, she engulfed him in her arms.
"You've grown so handsome."
"Look at that," Nat said softly. "He's a fine young man, Rosemary. I'm
certain there's got to be a good deal of hurt inside but that place didn't
destroy him."
"Thank God," Rosie agreed. "I still want to know how he ended up there.
It's not right."
"It's not," Betsy agreed as she cuddled the boy tightly. "I think I will
ask some questions with some people I know. Maybe even see if Erik knows
something." She doubted Magneto would have anything to do with this, he at
least
respected all mutant life, he would never destroy a child like this.
Disir tugged on Rissa's hand, making him chuckle a bit. "Calm yourself,
child," he said. "The flowers will be there." He couldn't really bring
himself
to scold her, though. The girl had perked up so much since Chailin had let
her stay with him and Elizabeth that he hated to temper the enthusiasm.
"I know," she said brightly. "It's just so pretty..." Her words trailed
off as she rounded a bend in the path. The boy with the wings! She hadn't
seen any boys, except, very small ones, in all her time in the slave camp but
she knew the winged boy had come from there, too. "You're okay!" she cried as
she bounced forward, grinning widely.
William tried not to flinch at the loud noise but when he saw who it was, he
grinned just as widely. Stepping back from Betsy, he nodded shyly. "You
too. Your dad?" he asked, his eyes flicking to Rissa.
Disir smiled shyly up at Rissa then looked back up William. She shook her
head and said, "No but he will be. Rissa and Elizabeth are going to adopt
me."
"Adopt?" He shook his head, he didn't understand. "My Dad and Mom are
coming... I think..."
"Of course they're coming, sweetheart!" Betsy told him firmly.
Rosie watched the older Bajoran man curiously. He was obviously old enough
to be the girls' grandfather but, in her mind, age had no bearing on fitness
for parenthood. And he obviously adored the girl. "William, adoption is
when, for one reason or another, you get an official new family. Mr...."
"Eislin," Rissa supplied, realizing Disir, in her enthusiasm, had failed to
see to niceties.
"Thank you," Rosie said promptly before facing William again. "Mr. Eislin's
going to make your friend here his own but don't you worry. Warren and
Paige are coming, sweetie. If your dad could have flown through space on
those
wings of his, he would have."
"I know," the boy said softly, his mirrored eyes dancing. "He's coming to
take me home."
"Are you Human?" Disir asked curiously. "I never saw a Human with wings
before."
"Of course he's human," Betsy said gently. "We're all Human. We're
mutants."
Disir was still holding Rissa's hand. She looked up at him. "What's a
mutant?"
"Someone who has a natural genetic change from the original," Rissa said
promptly. "At least that's as I understood it when I heard about that sort of
Human."
"Wow! That's so neat," Disir said brightly. She grinned at William. "My
name's Disir, in case I forgot to tell you."
"William," he offered shyly. "Worthington."
This was, it seemed to Rissa, some sort of family reunion that they'd
happened upon and he realized they ought to get on their way. "Say, Princess,
I do
believe Elizabeth's waiting on us."
Disir nodded brightly them smiled at William. "I'm glad you're going home,
too, William. Family is the best."
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