A/N I don't own X-Men. But thank you Marvel for letting me write about them.

Chapter 1

"Thanks for picking me up, Cyc. But isn't San Francisco a bit far away for just a pickup?"

Cyclops snapped a few levers, as he prepared to lift off, "Not really, Jubilee. I needed to pick up some new replacement parts in L.A., so you were just a hop, skip and a jump away. And why take a commercial flight all the way back to New York, when you can have door to door private service, huh?"

As Scott reached cruising altitude Jubilee asked, "Can I take over the controls for a while?"

"Uh, I don't think it's a good idea."

"But it's perfect. Can't you see? We're gonna be in the air a coupla hours and it's not like you'll be flying. You'll have the autopilot on, so why not let me hold the controls? C'mon, Scott. You'll never know when you'll need another pilot in an emergency. So why not at least get me started. You know Professor X said I could start taking flying lessons."

"As long as you maintained all A's and B's."

She hesitated, "Well, I'm almost there. I have a few more weeks to bring up my C in math. C'mon, Scott. Pretty please?"

He sighed, "Ok, but any problems or rough weather, I take over."

"Yes!"

He got up and stood beside her and pointed to one button, "When I tell you, press this to turn off the autopilot."

"NOT NOW! Wait until I tell you," he yelled as she reached for it.

Jumping about a foot, "Gee Cyc, you didn't have to scream so loud. I wasn't going to push it. I was just getting ready."

"First things first, young lady. You aren't buckled in. Even as a passenger, you're were supposed to have been buckled in."

"Well you're not right now."

He scowled, "Do you want me to get you started on flying this bird or not," Impatience laced his voice.

"Ok, ok." Jubilee snapped the heavy duty safety harness in place.

"Now, put your left hand on the yoke. Hold it firmly. You're gonna feel a little buck when you take the autopilot off. Just hold it in place. Don't turn it, don't pull forward or back. I'll instruct you from there. When I ask you to give me control back, press that switch in front of you, it will transfer command to me. Ready?"

"Boy am I!"

"Ok, take it off autopilot."

Scott, still standing next to her seat, held on waiting for a rough shift to manual. He raised an eyebrow in surprise when the crossover went as smooth as silk, "Not bad, Jube, not bad."

"See, I toldya I'm a natural. I'll pick up flying this thing in no time."

Enjoying her excitement just as much, he asked, "Want to try a little maneuvering?"

"Does Jean love chocolate?" knowing full well of his wife's addiction for the dark confection.

"Alright, smartass. How about taking us down about 1000 feet? But I want it slow and easy. Pull the throttle here very, very slowly while you push forward on the yoke."

Scott watched Jubilee with the experienced eye of the grade A teacher that he was, "That-a-girl, easy….easy. You're doing great. Now let's level off."

"That was so cool Scott!"

"Now bank left. I want a large circle. Too steep, ease up a bit……….that's it. Hold it steady. We're almost back to where we were. Doing great. Check your altitude. Good girl!"

Jubilee was exploding with excitement when several pocks struck the right side of the craft. Scott groaned as the ship lurched and started to plummet.

The young girl screamed as sparks and smoke spewed from the consol.

Scott slid into his seat. "Transfer control to me. Quick!"

She hit the switch, screaming, "What did I do Scott? What did I do?"

The question remained unanswered as he held the bucking controls with a steel clamp grip. Sweat trickled down his brow as he fought to keep the aircraft under control. All power had been lost. Hydraulics were unresponsive as they hurdled earthward.

"Mayday. Mayday. Base, this is Cyclops, we're going down. I repeat we're going down."

All he heard was static, "Damn, the radio's gone too!"

He stole a glance over to the white faced girl, "Hold on Jube, this is going to be a very rough landing."

As the ground approached them she imbedded her fingernails into the armrests of her chair. She pushed herself away from the oncoming view.

"Scott? Are we gonna die?" squeaked from her lips but it was too late to answer.