Duke stepped on set with his co-actor, Sarah. He was a little nervous about this scene coming up. His character, Marty, was about to have his first kiss with Sarah's character. It was going to be his first kiss too. He would have prefered it if it was with Robyn, but maybe kissing Sarah would help him work up the nerve to kiss Robyn?
Duke and Sarah took their positions. They waited for their cue and began the scene.
After the talking part was over, Duke, as per the script leant forwrd, his hand reached out to cup Sarah's face. His right hand, as that was the one furthest away from the camera and ths wouldn't block his face. Hand and lips met at the same time.
Two things happened at once. Duke's head filled with images, so many he was momentarily dazed byt he rush. Sarah pushed Duke off her, clutched her face and screamed like she had just been burnt. Duke stared at her, dumbfounded as she back away from him, and finally turned and ran.
"Cut! What the hell just happened?" the director demanded. "Sarah?"
But Sarah had run out of the studio.
"Duke?"
Duke looked up at him, silent.
"Duke, what happened?"
"I... I don't know..." Duke stammered.
He looked down at his hands, and realised he was shaking. One of the crew attempted to approached him, but he pulled away instinctively.
"Don't touch me."
The crewman stopped, and turned to catch the director's eyes.
"Sir? It's just a theory, but, I think we may have a new mutant on our hands."
The director looked at the crewman and then at Duke.
"Okay everyone," he said. "Take a break. Duke, get back to your dressing room. Someone will be there shortly."
Duke gave a bare nod and left.
**********
"Duke?" Rowena said, stepping inside.
"Mum!" Duke exclaimed.
She reached out her arms to give him a hug, but Duke pulled back.
"Don't."
Rowena stopped, trying not to feel hurt at Duke's perfectly rational reluctance to touch anyone.
"Reflex," she said calmly.
Duke paused, then relaxed.
"How much did they tell you?"
"Everything they know," Rowena replied. "What you told them, about seeing Sarah's memories."
"Do you know if she's okay?"
"Sarah? As far as I know, she's fine, but they're going to run some tests just to make sure. She was convinved she had actually been burnt."
Duke shuddered and curled up on the lounge.
"I didn't mean to hurt her."
"I know, honey," Rowena replied, sympathetically.
There was silence for a moment.
"We're going to see if we can find anyone who knows anything about this kind of mutation," Rowena said.
"Run tests, you mean," Duke said bitterly.
"Only if it's really neccesary," Rowena said firmly. "Most mutants out there know more about their own powers than what any tests can prove. Your own case in point: they had no idea about the memory thing until you told them."
Duke paused and consented.
"True."
"In the meantime, you get an early mark today."
"I do?"
"Well, they think they may have to rewrite some scenes, things like that. You're not exactly in a position to refilm the kissing scene with Sarah, now are you?"
"No..." Duke gave his mother a worried look. "They're not going to kick me off or anything?"
"What? No, of course not," Rowena replied, a little surprised at the question. "Aside from the fact that they can't - at least not until the end of the season, the director and at least two of the writers are thrilled at the idea of writing in an emerging mutant who can't touch anyone. One of them... Jessica? I think she'll be more disapointed if it turns out they don't have to rewrite the scripts after all."
Duke managed a smile.