Mutation. It is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, and normally taking thousands and thousands of years. But every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward.

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X-Men 3: Rise of the Phoenix

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Recovery

The stillness of the night air was shattered by a scream.

The large, empty corridor echoed the woman's rapid footsteps as she covered the short distance between the duty room and the girls' dormitory. She knocked quickly so they knew she was coming in, but didn't wait for an answer before entering.

"Is everything alright?" she asked in a sympathetic tone before she even finished closing the door.

All of the girls were gathered around one bed, its original occupant now shaking in Rogue's arms. Rogue smiled sadly up at Storm. "Another dream," she explained with a mixture of sympathy and fatalism.

"I'm sorry," Jubilee whispered between sobs. "I just…"

The girls gave Storm a clear path to the bed as she swiftly strode over, knelt, and placed her hand on Jubilee's shoulder. "It's alright," she soothed. "You're safe now."

Jubilee bit her lip and nodded, still looking guilty. "I—"

"It's all right," Storm repeated firmly. "Do you think you'll be able to go back to sleep now?"

"Yes," Jubilee answered quickly, looking around at the others gathered around her bed. "I—I'm sorry I woke you all up."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Storm assured her. She motioned at Rogue, who without further instruction joined her in the hallway.

"It's been hard for her," Rogue explained as they moved out of earshot of the dormitory. "After what Striker put her through…"

Storm nodded, indicating no further explanation was needed. Jubilee was one of the students captured by William Striker and subjected to numerous tortures at his Alkali Lake facility.

"Do you think you'll be able to look after her?"

"Oh, yeah," Rogue answered confidently. "She just needs some time."

Storm smiled warmly at the younger woman. Though Rogue's status as a student technically gave her the same standing as the rest of the girls, her field experiences with the X-Men had obviously had an effect on her. Storm was quickly learning to rely on her as a leader among the other students. "Thank you, Rogue. Now you try to get some rest, too."

Rogue smiled sleepily and turned back to the girls' dormitory.

Storm was reassured, but still concerned. Jubilee was recovering, but no one so young should have experienced that ordeal in the first place.

Recovery. That word seemed to be on everyone's minds after Alkali Lake.

Storm's musings were interrupted by the sound of someone rummaging around in the kitchen. Curious, Storm stepped in expecting to have to reprimand some student for being out of bed past lights' out. Instead, she was surprised to find one of the adult residents of the Mansion going through the refrigerator in obvious agitation.

"Logan?"

A grunt was the only response at first, but after his fruitless search Wolverine slammed the refrigerator closed in frustration and turned to face her.

"No beer," he stated simply.

"No," Storm agreed, frowning in concern. "You know that."

"Wishful thinking," Logan replied with a shrug. He moved to exit the kitchen, stepping around her in the process.

Storm said, "Hey," and tried to stop him with a hand on his arm, which he shrugged off.

"I need to be alone," he informed her curtly.

"No you don't," Storm answered with a surprising amount of feeling.

Logan merely scoffed and kept walking.

Storm sighed. It wasn't just Jubilee. Everyone was recovering at their own pace and in their own way.

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Several hundred miles away, the man who shared Wolverine's grief walked at Professor Xavier's side. Scott Summers showed fewer obvious signs than his frustrated counterpart back at the Mansion, but his expression betrayed a certain weight in his emotions.

"Thank you again for joining me on this trip, Scott," Xavier said as they approached the entrance.

"Of course, Professor," Cyclops answered.

"I know the past few weeks have been difficult for you…"

"It's good to have something to focus on," Scott assured him. "And the sooner we have a lead on Magneto's location… the better."

Xavier sighed. "Yes. I fear no amount of effort will ensure a lasting peace between mutant and human until Eric is safely back in custody." He paused. "I understand that Logan is not… reacting quite the same way."

"He'll be ready when the time comes," Scott said.

Xavier nodded.

"I was going to ask her to marry me, you know." It was the first time in a while he had even alluded to Jean.

Xavier smiled sadly. "It would have been the greatest of joys to witness that."

Though lesser known, the Academy of Tomorrow was actually much larger facility than Xavier's Institute of Higher learning. Located in the aptly named Snow Valley the campus included separate student dormitories, a gymnasium, library, and all the numerous classroom buildings one would expect to find on a college campus, in addition to the main administrative building Xavier and Cyclops were entering.

When Scott and Charles stepped into the entryway, they were met by a very surprising – and very blue – face.

"Henry!" Xavier greeted, delighted.

"Charles, Scott," Henry McCoy, aka Beast, answered with equal warmth, clasping their hands in turn. "Always a pleasure."

"And a surprising one!" Xavier resumed as Beast led them down the hall. "How long have you been at Snow Valley?"

"My rather generous research grant began about a month ago. I've found it vastly more agreeable than the talkshow circuit."

Xavier frowned slightly. "I'm sorry to hear the general population will not be benefiting from your insight. It was a pleasure – and an asset – to hear your voice so often rising above the fray."

Beast sighed. "The pleasure, I assure you, was not mine. I fear there are many who are simply not ready to see someone quite as unusual as myself so frequently."

Xavier's frown deepened. They stopped in front of a door, but the professor did not immediately enter when Beast held it open for him. "Henry… I had always heard you speak so optimistically of the future prospects for human-mutant relations. It saddens me to hear such a powerful voice silenced by fatalism."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Charles," Beast answered simply. "But I've found it much more… agreeable to remove myself from the society of humans. For the present, at least."

"Well, I can only hope that you will come to recognize the wisdom of your earlier position," Charles countered gravely. But the warmth returned to his expression as he concluded, "And I am glad to see you again."

"The pleasure, in this case, is certainly mutual," Beast agreed. He nodded at Cyclops. "And you as well, Scott."

"Henry," Scott nodded respectfully as they stepped past him.

"Emma!" Charles greeted as he and Cyclops entered the Academy Headmistress's office. "It's been far too long. You will, of course, forgive me if I don't get up." He smiled wryly as he delivered the familiar joke.

"Charles," Emma greeted respectfully, but coolly. "Scott. It's been too long since we've had the pleasure. Can I offer you both something to drink?"

"I'm fine, thanks," Scott answered, taking a seat.

"Earl Grey, if it isn't too much trouble," Xavier answered gratefully.

"I was so sorry to hear about your loss," Frost continued, though her voice still betrayed no trace of any such emotion. "If there's anything I can do…" though her words seemed directed at both men, her gaze lingered on Scott.

Charles nodded in thanks to Frost's assistant as he handed him his tea, and to Emma said, "I appreciate the sentiments, but as you know, we have much to discuss."

"Of course," Frost agreed.

"I wondered if you had given any further thought to the Mutant Rights Rally."

"A worthy goal, to be sure. But the Academy's focus is primarily academic. I fear dragging my students into… political entanglements" – she practically spat the word "political" – "would bring us unwanted exposure. So many of my students do so value their…" she smiled icily at Scott for no apparent reason, "privacy."

Scott shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but if Xavier noticed the exchange he gave no indication. "As a fellow educator, I can understand your reluctance. Nevertheless, I urge you to reconsider. The media exposure you fear is the strongest weapon in the fight for public opinion."

"Weapon?" Frost repeated, apparently offended by the idea. "Fight? No, that simply won't do." She shook her head. "I'm disappointed, Charles. I thought you were a man of peace."

"Surely you recognize the need to enforce peace at times," Xavier countered. "Peace is not merely the absence of violence; it requires the presence of justice."

"I admire your faith, Charles, I truly do. And I wish you luck in your quest, but I regret the truth is I consider it a fool's errand. My students and I have found all the peace we need here. The only true peace mutants can find is away from humans."

Xavier sighed, obviously disappointed. "I really had hoped you would be more agreeable when we spoke of this in person, Emma. But it sounds as though you've already made up your mind."

She smiled coldly. "Sorry to disappoint you, Charles. It really has been a pleasure to see you again."

"Well. I wouldn't want to take up any more of your valuable time for what is clearly a fruitless venture. Goodbye, Emma."

"Charles." Emma smiled icily at Scott, and he shivered.