Tails of Change [Revamping!]

5) Scans

[Author's Note:

X-Men Characters in this Chapter: Professor Xavier (Charles)

OC Characters in this Chapter: _____(Sorin)

*Italicized words are either German words or English words with a more Germanic spelling. Any words that are dissimilar to the English version (or a bit out of context) will have a translation appearing here:

(PRN: ) ==

{3.18.2018} Revamped! New material!]

Sorin knocks on the dark, wood door, his eyes tracing the elegant carvings in the frame. They were curling, flowing shapes that did not particularly resemble one thing or another, but still somehow reminded him of the flowery designs he had seen on furniture within pictures from history books. Or had he seen the pictures in his government textbook? It didn't matter. What mattered was that he recognized the pattern from the night before. He was in the right place. He had used the map to get from his room to here. Thankfully, the doors were all numbered and the map was labeled with them. So unless there was another door with the same fancy design, and he'd suffered a serious lapse in direction, then this was Professor Xavier's office.

"Come in."

Sorin turned the brass knob closest to him and pushed the door inwards, having to put more force behind it when he discovered how heavy it was.

"Sorin. Just the person I was hoping to see," the Professor said, placing the paper he'd been looking at on the stack off to his left.

Sorin made his way in to the seat across the desk from the Professor, the door thunking closed before he sat down.

"Ororo said you were waiting for me."

"Yes, we do have some tasks ahead, but before we get into that," the Professor folded his hands together atop his desk, "how did you sleep? I know sleeping in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar place can be difficult."

"No, I slept fine. No problem sleeping." Sorin shifted in his seat, pushing thoughts of his dreams aside. "Kurt lent me some stuff to shower and sleep."

"That's excellent. Well, in any case, we'll get you settled in. There is absolutely no rush. Once we get everything situated, you'll be able to go shopping for necessities yourself, but if there is anything you need beforehand, let us know; I'm sure someone can run out to pick it up."

"I will. Thank you." Neither of them spoke for a moment. Sorin was just starting to feel uncomfortable with the silence when the Professor unfolded his hands and picked up a pen. Sorin watched the Professor reach for a piece of paper and begin writing, though from this angle, with the light from the window directly behind the Professor, Sorin was unable to tell what.

"In an effort to keep you informed about this process: I have a meeting tomorrow morning with the attorney I've been working with for your custody. She called earlier to inform me of your parents' acquiescence. They have signed the custody release papers. Now it is just a matter of pushing the paperwork through the proper channels, and waiting. Then you will officially be a ward of the Institute for Gifted Students."

His parents gave him up. They actually gave him up. No more belittling or berating. No more insults. No more anger over the smallest things, or having to be on guard all the time. No more blame for things he didn't do. No more yelling, and no more violence from the people who were supposed to take care of him, supposed to love him.

He felt a twang of dejection. His parents didn't love him, never would. That stung despite his relief at finally being free of his father's temper and his mother's negligence.

"Since we are only waiting on official paperwork at this point, why don't we get started on our end." The Professor wheeled his chair out from the desk and over to his bookcase that lined the wall adjacent. He punched a sequence of buttons on his chair and a section of the shelving pivoted away from the wall.

Sorin watched in awe as Professor Xavier placed his hand on a scanner pad and then leaned forward and had his eyes scanned as well. When the wall slid open and a low-sloping ramp into darkness appeared, Sorin's awe turned into apprehension.

"There are, of course, less surreptitious ways to get to my workspace, but this is the most convenient." Whether the Professor read his mind or read the expression on his face, the Professor continued, "The lights are motion-activated. It helps preserve energy." The Professor started to make his way down the ramp. "Do come along before the door closes."

Sorin hesitated a second more, but crossed the threshold and followed the Professor down.

"My workspace is where I develop gadgets and gear to assist the X-men in their missions as well as to help those who are having difficulties with their abilities," Professor Xavier explained as they made their way down the spiraling ramp. "We are going because I am preparing a holo-watch so you may go out in public without worrying about people seeing your ears and tail, especially if you choose to take part in the X-men. Keeping your mutations a secret will help protect you and the others at this Institute. To finish the holo-watch, however, I need to run scans of you to input accurate measurements for functionality. So it does what it is supposed to."

They emerged through a similar door at the bottom, one that only required pushing a sequence of buttons on the wall. Professor Xavier's workspace was a large room with many machines, both recognizable and strange, lining the walls and scattered about. There were tables everywhere with gadgets and gizmos in the making, blueprints and sketches spread out, and bottles and boxes of some substance or another.

The Professor rolled over to one machine, similar in shape and design as the scanner Dr. McCoy had used to check his internals the day before.

"Step right in here, face the dark blue star on the side. It should only take a few minutes for the scanner to take its measurements."

Sorin did as instructed, the Professor closing the door behind him.

"Keep your eyes closed until I tell you it's safe to open them. Don't want the light to blind you."

Sorin scrunched his eyes closed and waited. He could hear the machine turn on and the Professor pushing buttons.

With a holo-watch, Sorin wouldn't have to worry about someone seeing his tail, or ears, or lack of human ears, but he knew from his conversation with Kurt that he'd have to be careful about coming in contact with people. He knew they would still be able to feel what was or wasn't there. So normal... he was never going to have that again. But this special watch Professor Xavier was designing for him would make it possible for him to go to school without everyone staring, without having to worry about anyone seeing that he is a mutant.

"Don't move just yet, but you can open your eyes."

When Sorin did, he was met with a bright light. He immediately shut his eyes again.

"I apologize for the lack of warning, but the eye part of the scanning process gets more accurate results when the person is not expecting the light. Don't worry, your eyes will be fine." There was a soft whirring, indicating a machine powered down. "You may come out now."

Sorin hesitantly opened his eyes. Finding no abrasive light, he pushed the door open and stepped out.

"We are almost done here. I just need a blood sample in case there is ever a need, or a want," he glanced at Sorin, "for gadgets, gear, or other assistance for you with your abilities."

Once the Professor had a sample, he placed it in a fridge on the other side of the room. By the time he came back over, Sorin's curiosity was at its limit.

"How long will it take to make the watch? When will l have to go back to school?"

The Professor picked up a watch from a nearby table. "Should take a day or two to tweak. You might be able to take it for a test run this weekend. As far as school is concerned, I'll visit the headmaster after we're sure the watch works and get your enrollment situated." He set the watch back on the table.

"I'll be going to a different school?"

"Yes, you will be transferring to the school the others attend. Is that a problem?"

"No, it's not." Sorin smiled a little as he shook his head. A new start is exactly what he wanted.