xp_logs | Mutation Sternuation: Crystal's Change

Another mutant at the mansion discovers something wrong with her powers.

Something is wrong. That was the thought echoing through the mind of the young woman racing across the grounds of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. The wrongness filled her, and having been on medlab volunteer duty and already knowing something seemed to be amiss with the powers of others, the blonde had the feeling she was next on the list. The fact that her flying abilities appeared to be malfunctioning was another clue; she'd been able to move through the air for over a decade, and now she was faltering, feeling a disconnect to the air. She tried to fight it as much as she could, but what she could do wasn't anything at all. She didn't know what was coming, didn't know what her change was be, and her thoughts were also concentrated on the fact that she will not allow herself to be a danger to anyone. Therefore, the Attilani royal, who always prided herself on control and who knew that control was failing, headed straight to the quarry to prevent whatever was to come from hurting anyone else, and hurt someone otherwise she might, as her skin began to heat and glow.

Crystal gave flying another try, barely managing to get herself an inch off the ground for only a moment or two. Her intended destination in sight, Crystal realized that her change was increasing in intensity, as she now appeared to be on fire. Her next attempt on launching herself into the air worked somewhat better than before, even if part of her mind was aware of the fact that the movement was much different that what she was used to. Instead of actually moving the air itself, it seemed that she was being lifted up by the thermals her body was creating. There she hovered, above the middle of the quarry, her clothes burned away, completely surrounded by heat and flame and light.

Getting a running start at flying women seemed to be the order of things this weekend. Nathan had been sitting on the dock with a book -completely non-work-related - and a beer when he'd sensed Crystal, her thoughts in very uncharacteristic disarray. It had taken only a moment's concentration to figure out that something was seriously wrong, and he launched himself off the end of the dock, his exoskeleton flashing into life around him as he headed for the quarry.

Crystal was burning, and yet she wasn't. The alteration now complete, she didn't feel any pain from the intense heat surrounding her body. What worried her, however, was that she had no idea how to stop being on fire. Even getting back to the ground presented a problem, and she certainly didn't want to set anything or anyone on fire. From her previous experiences with various aspects of her original manifestation, and the powers of others, Crystal was well aware with the problems involved with not knowing how to control mutant abilities, including the additional problems presented with fast drops. All she could do was... hover. And be on fire. And wait.

As had happened to her before, Crystal felt "her" power, changed as it was, begin to go out. The flickering flames died out, the heat and light surrounded her body disappeared, and once again a completely powerless Crystal began an uncontrolled drop to the ground, the rocks of the quarry awaiting her many feet below.

She fell barely ten feet, and the claws of the firebird that caught her did a more than adequate job of cushioning her fall. Nathan gazed down at her, frowning in concern. When precisely had she developed fire powers? #Crystal?# he sent gently, swooping easily towards the ground. #Can you hear me?#

"Nathan?" Crystal whispered weakly, barely moving, only turning her head slightly to try to look at him. "I think... there is something wrong with me."

"Yeah," he said aloud as he landed, collapsing the exoskeleton so that Crystal slid easily into his arms, "I'm getting that sense. Just hold on, okay? I'll have you down to the infirmary promptly."