A Brother in Need: Part Two

by Maria Cline

Burst explained to Scott, "I must have your complete trust. The alterations are going to take time and I can't completely control the details."

Scott pondered "I will but only if you will tell me your origin."

Burst explained, "You see Scott. I am from an alternate world very much like this one. Only I existed in that one. I was an X-man for a while. I quit because my brother's shadow overcast me. At the time, all I can do is teleport whenever I would run. I tried to live a normal life but when your a Summers, life is anything but normal."

"Summers?" Alex and Scott asked.

"Yes, I am a Summers. I know that our family tree is more twisted than a pretzel! But let me continue, I kept on going until Galactus attacked. Every superhero went up to stop the behemoth, but it's no good. I saw every one of them fall to Galactus' power. I attacked Galactus partially hoping to die valiantly. But it didn't happen. When I got through with Galactus I changed. My powers increase and I instantly left Earth. I (sob) went back to find Earth a mere husk of rock. I am an orphan to an entire world. I started to travel from one alternate world to another. Trying to find a new home. That is when I founded Alex. I tried not to contact any of my alternate relatives. But I couldn't deny Alex the right to be in his home universe. And when I saw you bleeding and dying. I felt history repeating itself. I had to save you." She broke down in tears.

Scott and Alex stared at their crying 'sister'. "I'm so sorry, Burst," Scott apologized "What's your real name?"

"Kathy Summers, after my mom."

Alex put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Im sorry too Kathy."

"Burst!" She rebottled. "I want to be called Burst."

Scott sadly said, "You can go ahead and do the operation if you want to."

"Yes, Scott I do."

Burst and Alex ate silently at the table. It had been a week since Burst performed the "operation". The alterations that Scott wanted is hard for Burst to do. She had to use a method of alteration that requires time and luck. Burst created a cocoon around him. She gave the cocoon instructions and allowed time for Scott to change.

Alex spoke up, "Well, how is he?"

"He's due to 'hatch' any time now."

Alex stared down.

"What?" Burst asked.

"Nothing, it's just that ..."

"You're worried about Scott."

"Yes, I trust you but I don't know how he will turn out."

"Well," Burst stated, then a hum emanate from the other room. "It's time!" She announced.

Alex and Burst ran to the next room where the cocoon stayed. The edges started to crack and a bright light cracked through. In a boom, the cocoon broke open to reveal a young naked teenaged boy bathed in light. Burst put her hand over her eyes and walked out of the room, as Alex put a bathrobe over the youth.

"Scott? Can you hear me? Are you ok?" a concerned Alex asked.

"Ye-yes," Scott said "I'm starving though."

Burst walked back in with a tray of soup. She said, "Here, this should help you."

She gave the tray to Scott and he gulped it down since he hadn't eaten in a week. When he was done he asked, "Well, how do I look?" Alex handed his brother a mirror.

"Like this bro."

Scott stared at his new face. It is lean and young. His eyes were unique. One eye is a black pupil on white while the other is white on black. His hair is in a unique fashion. His shoulder length hair is black with several white streakes. His once tanned complexion turned into a more ghostly white. "Wow." he murmured. "It's different," he smiled "But I like it."

"Good," Burst said "But you would have to wear sunglasses around other people."

"So," Scott said "I always wear sunglasses before." He laughed. Alex and Burst laughed too. Then Alex realized "What is your powers?"

Scott pondered "I don't know." The two brothers looked over at Burst. She shrugged "I don't know myself. It is solar powered like before. But, I don't know what the power is."

"Great." Scott murmured.

Burst overheard and said, "Hey, you wanted new powers."

"Yes, I do." Scott recalled, "We better go and see what my powers is."

Outside in the Alaskan weather, the trio attempted to find out Scott's new powers. They tried the various 'popular' powers. They tried telepathy, telekinesis, superstrenght, and phasing. Scott tried suggested, "How about flying?"

"FLYING?" Burst and Alex chorused.

"Yea." Scott climbed a tree and cried out "If I can't fly. Catch me!" and he jumped.

He fell like a stone. So Alex and Burst scrambled around to catch the falling teen. Scott felt Deja vu and he felt a surge of power going through his veins. "It's happening!" Scott realized. He saw the air around him turn into a bright yellow. Then he vanished.

"Scott!" Burst and Alex cried out.

"I'm ok." Scott cried out as he stepped out of the woods unscathed. He looked down at himself to check for injuries. Their were none.

"Teleportation." Burst said happily. as she, Alex, and Scott entered the house.

"And all it took is a fall from a tree." Alex mused. "Remember when we got out of a falling airplane with only one parachute supporting us?"

"Yes, and that is when I manifested those damn optic blasts of mine."

Alex looked at his (older?) brother with disbelief. "YOU said 'damn'!"

"So, what are you going to do ground me?" Scott asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Yeah, If you keep on talking like that." Alex rebottled.

Burst snickered a little and said, "While you were 'asleep' I created your past." She pulled out a series of papers. "You are a mutant from an orphanage. You had no idea who your parents are and you have little memories of your childhood."

"Sounds simple enough," Scott commented. "But what if they probed my mind?"

"They can't. I have some telepathic power. But when I tried to put up some walls, your mind repelled me. Your're mind is unreadable."

"Great," Scott said happily " Then I can go and accomplish the next step in my plan."

"Are you sure Scotty?" Alex asked.

"Yes! I need to regain my focus. I need to rebuild it as an Generation X member!"

The end (for now)

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