The X-Project

Monday morning, the school's newest transfer student runs into Forge. There is much social awkwardness until a technological solution is found.





Forge exhaled roughly, squeezing the rosin bag in his right hand. This
was the part of his workout he loathed, but the docs said it was best
for keeping his biological and mechanical parts working together in
sync.

Extending his arms overhead, he jumped (still using his right leg
rather than his prosthetic left, since Dr. McCoy wasn't around to
scold him for improper form) and grabbed the bar in an overhand grip.
He wiggled back and forth, placing his hands wide on the bar, body
hanging down. Remembering the countless lectures about "don't swing
back and forth" and "don't tuck your legs", he flexed his arms and
shoulders, raising his body to touch his chin to the bar, then slowly
lowering himself down.

"One," he grunted.

Laurie looked around at the gym with somewhat widened eyes. She'd never
known a house to have it's own gym before. Although, she supposed this being
a school as well as a house explained it. Charles had told her to have a bit
of a walk around, familiarise herself with the school and then he'd go about
the business of getting her details on the school's computers.

It was at this point she noticed the other person, who seemed to be intent
on their workout. Time for some social interaction, it would seem. Meeting
new people was not her most favourite thing in the world, or even on the
list of favourite things but it had to be done.

"Um, hi!" she called out, walking over.

"Four..." Forge panted, barely registering the interruption. Turning
his head slightly, he could see blonde hair, slender - the voice
wasn't one he recognized. He levered himself up once more, announcing
"Five," before he bent at the waist, tucking his legs up as he turned
upside-down. Hooking his knees over the pull-up bar, he let his arms
hang limply, shaking out the tension.

Upside-down, he definitely didn't recognize the girl. He cocked his
head in curiosity. "Hi," he replied.


Well, that went well. They'd both said hi so that got the whole greeting
phase of introductions out of the way. Maybe she should hold out her hand
for him to shake now, and actually tell him her name. Also, not standing
here looking at him like a complete idiot would be good.

Laurie stepped forward hurriedly and held out her hand. "My name's Laurie,
I'm the new kid. Well, not quite so new since I live right by here but new
to the school anyhow. So, yeah."

Upside-down, Forge extended his right hand instinctively, then drew it
back and extended his left hand to grasp Laurie's and give it a quick
shake. "Forge. So you're our exonerated riot instigator, huh?"


"You guys know about that?" Laurie squeeked in surprise and then blushed. Of
course they knew about it, it'd only been all over the damn front page.
"Um...it wasn't so much a riot, as a kerfuffle really. Didn't even get
beyond the cafeteria."

Forge felt an odd flutter in his stomach, and his hand seemed a little
warm. Releasing Laurie's hand, he curled back up, grabbed the bar,
then dropped to the gym floor. Turning around a little too quickly,
his prosthetic leg slipped and he grasped the bar for support. "Sorry,
I'm a little out of breath," he explained. "So you're... uh... new.
Yeah."


Well, it would appear that they'd identified the fact that she was new.
Unfortunately, Laurie couldn't really think about what to talk about. What
if he wasn't interested in any of the things she had to say? What if he told
the others she was a complete spazz because she kept staring at him rather
then saying things. Oh God.

"So," Laurie replied, wincing as her voice came out a little louder then
she'd intended. "What kind of mutant are you?"

"An exceptional one," Forge said with a smile. He waved his
mechanical arm for emphasis. "I make things. See them in my head, put
them together. Pretty much anything I can imagine." Was it hot in
here? Of course it was hot in here, it's the gym. "And you, uh...
yeah, same question?"

This was odd. He wasn't nervous. So why was his stomach doing
flip-flops like he was naked in the girls' locker room?


"Well, they told me that I have these pheramone things, and it sort of makes
people react the same as I do. Only, just their physical reactions, since
they don't 'feel' the way I do or anything." Laurie replied, sticking her
hands in her back pockets to wipe the dampness from them.

"Pheromones?" Forge blinked. That must be... that explained it. "Aha.
Hey, did you already see Mr. Lee and get the whole tour? Specifically
the cell phone?" He was getting an idea.


Laurie shook her head. "Nooo. Charles said I should just have a look around
for a bit and then we'd get all the formalities out of the way. I've got a
cellphone though, Mom brought me one last year. Why?"

"Can I see it?" Forge held his hand out as Laurie fished out her cell
phone. Pressing a few buttons, Forge handed it back to her and picked
up his pile of shoes and shirt. "Gimme a minute, will you?" he said as
he headed towards the locker room.

A minute or two later, a text message buzzed on Laurie's cell.

#Hi. Sorry for the abrupt exit. I figured you might be less nervous if
you weren't worried about your pheromones affecting someone. So how're
you liking the school so far?#


Laurie blinked at the phone for a second, looked up at the door where Forge
had exited and then back down at the phone before smiling. Well, this was
much better. Talking to someone through text had always been so much easier
then in person. She started typing a reply.

# S'Okay. This is kinda easier, if a little weird. As to the school.
Everything looks so expensive. I mean, Mum and I aren't poor or anything but
I can't believe you all go to school in a mansion. What are the teachers
like? Should I be worried about catching up with things? #

#Don't worry,# the return message came, #you get used to it pretty
quickly. If you want, I can kind of give you the remote-guided tour, I
suppose. Head on out the door you came in and turn left, that's the
stairs that'll lead up to the kitchen...#

From the hallway, Forge hit SEND on his phone and smiled. This could
be pretty interesting.