Antoinette "Toni" Rhodes (toni_rhodes) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-12-20 20:36:00

Entry tags:

Give me the news, doc
There was, in fact, a very good reason Toni hadn't talked to her friends in a while: She'd been rather sick.

Or something, anyway. There was definitely something wrong with her. She didn't... feel right. No appetite. And her powers were going pretty haywire. She'd either end up shooting out too much energy or too little. And when she did, either way, it felt like just about every nerve in her body was on fire.

She'd told her parents, of course, but she couldn't bring herself to tell her brother or Anya. They had too much on their plates already. Just about one more worry would probably break her best friend in half. She'd have to settle for telling her later and suffering the "you should have told me"'s there.

Fortunately, as both a mutant and Avenger, she had access to the best medical treatment of both worlds. Regular tests had been occurring over the past several weeks, but now...

Now she was feeling worse than ever. And as she sat waiting for the results of her latest test, Toni Rhodes was quite worried.

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	nextgen_parent 2010-12-23 01:11 am UTC (link)
	"Oh my stars and garters." He goes over the readings one more time, quadruple checking everything. Its a lot to take in. Composing himself, Hank walks into the next room. "Miss Rhodes, I believe we should talk." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 01:24 am UTC (link)
	Toni frowned. She'd been expected bad news, certainly, but this seemed somehow worse. "Give it to me straight, Doc. What's going on?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2010-12-23 01:28 am UTC (link)

"The bad news is that your mutation is continuing to evolve - the energy signatures are increasing in intensity, and, indeed, some of your physical structures are breaking down. the good news is that, it appears, so long as they're contained, energy processes are replacing and sustaining necessary functions. With proper precautions, based upon readings obtained from Monica, Ms. Marvel and others, your condition won't prove fatal - indeed, you should be able to continue most normal functions. It will need to be monitored for further changes, certain precautions will be needed... and, I'm afraid, the changes do not appear done yet, so some things do remain to be seen. Sufficiently straight for you?"

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	toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 01:55 am UTC (link)
	Well. That was... that was.... Toni looked down at the floor, trying to be tough. She was a Rhodes. Rhodes got mad. They got righteously angry when Starks did some damn fool thing. They got annoyed at the crazy white people. But the absolutely did not cry. "Very," she said, quietly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_parent
2010-12-23 02:16 am UTC (link)

"I do feel it is my duty to inform you that you have options. There are means of temporarily or permanently neutralizing mutant traits - however, the changes have already progressed that it is possible, if you took these options, that you would require medication, regular treatment, and perhaps medical assistance to attend to normal life functions. As such, I cannot recommend these processes - but they are available. Likewise, the Avengers and Fantastic Four have both successfully used technological means to slowly bleed off excessive energies. If your pattern finds a point where it stabilizes, these might also be possibilities, and are a safer way by which we may be able to return you to a somewhat more normal state... in time. For the moment, to my regret, my recommendation is that you avail yourself of Stark force field technologies to build a sustainable energy-containment suit to keep you stable and in case of further mutation until your pattern stabilizes to the point that we can begin alternative treatment."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 02:50 am UTC (link)
	Well, this just went from bad to worse, didn't it. First Apocalypse and the mess with that, the loss of her powers, gaining new powers, and now those were basically killing her. Slowly, she nodded. "All right," she said. "I'll talk to Uncle Tony." Her words were emotionless, as she struggled to process what was happening to her. "Thank-you, Doctor McCoy." (Reply to this)(Parent)

	Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 03:45 am UTC (link)
	Toni shot Anya a text. `Meet me for lunch? Need to talk.` (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: Later anyastark 2010-12-23 03:54 am UTC (link)
	Let me know where and when and I'll be there will bells on. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 04:11 am UTC (link)
	Toni would need about an hour to get out of Westchester (by car, she hadn't risked flying), so she texted Anya that and and the name one of their favorite restaurants. An hour later, she was waiting there for her friend. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later anyastark 2010-12-23 04:36 am UTC (link)
	Anya arrived late, of course, but it was almost expected. She gave Toni a smile and a hug. She was much more cheery now that Steve was home and safe. "Hey you," she said and fell into a chair across from Toni. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 04:38 am UTC (link)
	Toni tried her best to be cheerful. "Hey, yourself. Hear you got that boyfriend of yours back." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later anyastark 2010-12-23 05:02 am UTC (link)
	"Yes, more or less in one piece. Still getting used to the metal arm. Now we need to work on getting the rest of them back." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 05:04 am UTC (link)
	Toni smiled in a faraway sort of way. Charlie. She hadn't even thought about him in all of this. "I'm sure they'll be back," she said. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later anyastark 2010-12-23 05:17 am UTC (link)
	"They will be," Anya said. "So what's up? What did you need to talk about? And before you ask, no, I didn't sleep with Austin." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 05:20 am UTC (link)
	"Please," Toni said, almost grinning. "Even I know you've got more sense than that." She frowned. "I, ah, got some bad news from Doctor McCoy today..." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later anyastark 2010-12-23 05:24 am UTC (link)
	"Oh come on. I've done stupider things." Anya freely admitted being Stark Stupid. "And?" Anya prompted. She didn't like where this was going. At all. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 05:26 am UTC (link)
	"It's... really not good, Anya," Toni said, after a moment. She outlined as much as she could, occasionally having to look away to hold herself together. She'd already talked to her parents, had before even leaving Westchester. But her best friend, as much a sister she she'd ever have, had deserved to know too. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Later

anyastark
2010-12-23 05:32 am UTC (link)

Anya sat there in shock for a few moments. "Oh sonovabitch," she finally said. She shook her head. "Did you talk to my dad yet? There has to be something we can do. Maybe Sersi can transmutate you back to non-energy form."

Anya hated the universe right now. It gave her Steve back only to do this to her best friend.

"You're going to be okay." Toni had to be. Right? Anya couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

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	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 05:39 am UTC (link)
	"Not yet," Toni told her. "Just... been in too much shock, really." She shook her head. "Not that I don't trust Sersi, but I'm pretty sure energy doesn't work that way." She looked down. "I'm scared, Anya." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later anyastark 2010-12-23 05:55 am UTC (link)
	Anya reached across the table and took Toni's hand. "I know, hon. I'm here for you. Always." Anya squeezed Toni's hand. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 06:04 am UTC (link)
	Toni gripped on tightly to Anya's hand, seeing for a moment a brief glow beneath her skin that she fought down with willpower. "I swear to God, I must gotten the factory error mutant power set." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later anyastark 2010-12-23 06:09 am UTC (link)
	"I'm beginning to think the universe has it out for us," Anya said not letting go of Toni's hand. "I still think it's better to have fancy powers go awry than not have any. Never the less, I am here for you and you know we'll do everything we can for you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Later toni_rhodes 2010-12-23 06:23 am UTC (link)
	"Powers really aren't all they're cracked up to be," she insisted. She closed her eyes. "Promise me this is going to be okay." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	toni_rhodes 2010-12-31 05:34 am UTC (link)
	(END) (Reply to this)

	anyastark 2010-12-31 05:37 am UTC (link)
	((END)) (Reply to this)