This is the second installment of the Will of the Goddess Series. I am really excited about it and I hope that you enjoy it also. I'm ready to get this story on the road. Please remember to read and review. Alrighty then enough babble! Story on!
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the Marvel characters.
Will of The Goddess: Tribulation
Chapter One: One Month Later . . .
Charles removed the Cerebro helmet from his head, raking a hand through his chestnut hair. He slid down in his chair leaning forward on his knees as he massaged his temples.
"Ahh, bloody hell!" his deep voice complained. His brows furrowed and his face was a deep shade of red after hours of using Cerebro. He had been searching for his missing comrades everyday for the past month and he was no closer to finding them than yesterday or the day before. His mind flowed to the new developments happening around them. Powerful psychics have been disappearing all around the world, X-Force team were on their way to the X-Mansion after discovering their headquarters were lined with explosives, a new group of mutant hunters called The Friends of Humanity were attacking mutants, Erik was returning to darker methods of getting things accomplished, Ororo's powers were growing at an alarming rate, and Jean had risen from the dead. Charles mind wandered back to the discovery of her return from the great beyond.
Xavier and Ororo opened their eyes to the hospital wing in the X-Mansion. Ororo looked at Xavier and they shared a smiled. Clarice laughed throwing her arms around Ororo's neck.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too sweetheart." Ororo rubbed her back with her free hand. Blink pulled away looking at Ororo.
"Let me tell Erik and Logan that you're awake."
"Alright." She watched as the girl disappeared from the room. Ororo's sapphire eyes scanned over the room looking at her friends and family that stared back. Remy watched her with unsure eyes. She giggled at him."It's me Remy."
"Chere!" Remy threw his arms around her holding her tightly kissing her cheek. "Remy knew it was you." Xavier laughed a true laugh still holding her hand. He paused in his laughter sensing a powerful presence close to them. Although he was mentally tired, he scanned the area for who the individual could be. Hank noticed Charles's merriment was interrupted.
"Are you alright, Charles?" The Professor looked at his long time friend and nodded an affirmative a fake smile was on his face. Charles noticed that Emma was close to the presence.
Emma? Emma are you alright?
Yes, Charles, but there seems to be a new startling development. It appears that Jean Grey has risen from the dead.
What?
Yes. We are bringing her to the hospital wing this very instant.
Do you know what could have caused this?
No clue. See you in a bit. Charles frowned looking at Hank.
"What's the matter, Charles?"
"Jean . . . she's alive."
"What did you say?" Logan said approaching them. "What did you say Chuck?"
"Jean's alive and Emma and the others are bringing her here." Charles shuddered swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. Ororo looked around Marie who was still hugging her.
"Jean's alive? Are you sure?" Charles nodded his head at Ororo before wading through his friends to get to the door, but it swung open revealing Emma, Kitty, and Bobby with Jean Grey in his arms.
"Bloody hell!" Erik said looking over at Jean to Ororo.
"Dr. McCoy are redheaded friend needs your assistance." Emma spoke walking past the others.
"Of course. Lay her on the bed." Hank pointed to the bed that Charles recently vacated. Bobby gently laid her down when his eyes fell on Rogue.
"Marie?" She smiled at him and ran into his arms. He held her close planting kisses on her cheek. "Thank God! I was worried."
"So you missed me, huh?"
"More than you would ever know." He pulled her back into his arms. He glanced over at Remy, who was watching them.
"Is she . . . going to be okay?" Ororo asked her eyes wide in surprise as she glanced over Jean's still form.
"That remains to be seen Ororo." Hank said as he continued doctoring on her. He was hooking the I. V. into her arm and the heart monitor when suddenly her green eyes snapped open darting around the room. She sat up on her elbows her eyes met Logan, who watching her closely.
"Where am I?" Logan crept up slowly followed by Charles.
"You're in X-Mansion, in the hospital wing."
"How did I get here?" She asked fear etched into her features. Logan swallowed hard glancing at Ororo.
"I don't know darlin' but we'll find out." Tears trailed down her eyes as her breathing became erratic. Things began floating in the room, items began rattling and doors opened and closed. The X-men ducked and dodged the onslaught. Logan placed his hands on either side of her head to calm her down. "Jean, calm down."
"What's happening to me?"
"Jean, look at me. You have to calm down honey." She held on to his hands looking into his hazel eyes a frightened expression on her face. A metallic drawer shot across the room heading in Ororo's direction. Erik stopped it with his powers pulling Ororo into his embrace.
"Hank a sedative please." Charles called out to his friend. Hank nodded disappearing into the lab returning with a syringe. He rolled up her sleeve preparing to injected her with a sleeping agent.
"This should help you calm down and sleep." Jean nodded through the trail of tears on her face. He carefully administered the drug and within seconds the room began to calm down again. "Crisis contained." Hank said looking at his watch. Logan laid Jean against the pillow on the bed watching her carefully. Charles noticed how gentle he was with her and glanced over at Ororo. Logan looked over at Ororo, who was leaning against Erik's chest watching him. Hank distracted everyone from their thoughts with a command for everyone to leave. "Alright everyone . . . that is quite enough excitement for one day. You can visit the patients in the morning. Marie you too back to bed." Groans erupted around the room as they shuffled out of the room.
Charles sighed at the memory leaning back against his chair. Cerebro's sensors began going haywire alerting Charles's attention. He sat up right in his seat slipping the helmet back on to his head. He noticed Raven's energy signature and instantly locked onto her pattern. He noticed that she was in a neighborhood in upstate New York. Charles also noticed that a very powerful psychic was in the area as well.
"She must be after him." Charles scanned the psychic and realized that it was the mind of nine year old boy. "My God. We have to stop her!" Just as he was about to leave the room he noticed Sabertooth's energy signature and three other ones he was trying to sense. Charles frowned straining to sense the others his eyes shot opened. "My God! Nightcrawler! Where?" His blue eyes focused intently trying to discern the location. He frowned again "The Arctic Circle? What are you up to Sabertooth? We have to stop them and get some answer!" He quickly removed the helmet from his head and exited Cerebro.
Clarice sat in her room preparing for tomorrow's test. She laid across the bed her back against the head board, while Warren sat in a chair adjacent to her. Clarice looked over at Warren, who had her lavender legs and feet in his lap as he watched television. He was so beautiful to her as she took in his handsome feature. He yawned and stretched out his wings bringing them to rest behind him. He noticed her looking at him.
"What's wrong? Is the t.v. to loud?" She shook her head no as she smiled at him.
"No, everything is perfect." He smiled back returning his attention to the show he was watching. She tucked a magenta lock behind her ear as she brought her attention back to her books.
"Clarice?"
"Huh?" Warren looked at her strangely.
"I didn't say anything."
"It's me . . . the Professor. I need you to do something for me."
"Anything you need."
"Who are you talking too, Clarice?" She shushed Warren turning her attention back to the Professor Xavier.
"I need you to bring Ororo, Jean, Logan, Erik, Emma, and Remy to my study in the next thirty minutes. Can you do that?"
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you, Clarice. See you and the others soon." Clarice closed her books and stuffed the papers inside them looking over at a bewildered Warren.
"Duty calls baby. I have to go." She kissed his lips and disappeared from the room. Leaving baffled looking Warren behind.
Logan sat in the observation deck of the Danger Room watching Ororo and Jean searching for a missing mutant. It was a simulation to test their skills in the field and combat. The setting chosen for them was an underground bunker resembling the one on Alkali Lake. He watched them creep around the bunker with excellent stealth. He could tell they were communicating with each other telepathically from the way they looked at each other. Logan's mind drifted from the Danger Room to what was going on with everyone. So much was happening around them yet they have not been attacked by Apocalypse himself. That worried Logan. His old feelings for Jean were resurfacing but his feelings for Ororo were growing as well. Although Erik made himself very clear about his feelings for Ororo, he was not going to stop pursuing her. Erik knew that Logan wanted her too but he wanted Jean too. He truly was a confused man. Both women were incredibly beautiful and smart and so very different. Jean was herself this time around although she was dealing with massive powers she was learning to control them instead of them controlling her. She was the Jean he knew and fell in love with over five years ago. The time that he has spent with her has made him realize that there was a lot more to her than what met the eye.
Jean sat on the pool's edge her legs wading in the cool water. It was a lazy summer day and sun was beginning to set to the west. A warm glow poured over Xavier Institute engulfing it in a red flame. A soft wind grazed her face as she sat quietly at the pool side.
"Good day for a swim?" Jean smiled not needing to turning around to know that it was Logan behind her. He sat down beside her looking at in her direction.
"Yeah, it is a good day for a swim." Her expression was tight but friendly. Sadness hung around her eyes as she took in Logan's presence.
"What's the matter, Jean?" She sighed glancing at him.
"Everyone's afraid of me. I don't blame them but . . ."
"I understand." He looked forward. He could hear a wild deer running free in the forest to the left. "Remember when I was brought here . . . for the first time?" She nodded her head a slow smile formed on her lips.
"I do. You almost ripped my throat out."
"Yeah, and I apologized for that." They shared a laugh. "Well anyway, when I first got here everyone was afraid of me. But in time . . . I became part of the team, an X-Man. Everyone stopped being afraid and I was accepted. In time, when you prove yourself like I did. Everyone will accept you and not be afraid."
"Are you afraid of me, Logan?" He looked her deep in her eyes. A shared intimate moment passed between the star crossed lovers.
"No, I ain't scared of ya Jean. I trust you." Jean smiled at him a true smile and slipped her small hand into his own. She looked forward at the skyline and the stars were becoming visible. Logan enjoyed their closeness and the scent of her invading his nose. He sighed but frowned when he heard thunder in the distance.
Logan was pulled from his thoughts by the Cajun coming into the room. He growled glaring at the young man. Remy, undeterred, sat on a chair watching Ororo and Jean battling against an onslaught of enemies. He looked in on the Danger Room session before turning his eyes to Logan.
"Sumting not right, mon ami!"
"What are ya talking about, Cajun?"
"Sumting not right wit Stormy. She don' feel right."
"She's under a lot of pressure with her powers and everything."
"Non . . ." Remy dismissed that claim with a wave of his hand. He leaned back in the chair crossing his leg. "Sumting's wrong wit de, Chere. I know mon, chere." Logan tensed at the possessive way he referred to Ororo but shrugged his shoulders.
"Have you talked to Chuck about it?"
"Non, Remy cum see de Wolverine first. My Stormy not right." Logan cleared his throat. "We need to help her." Ororo caught an enemy within a whirlwind flinging him across the room.
"Seems to me that Ro, doesn't need our help, bub."
"Dat's cause you don' know Stormy like Remy do. Maybe Remy should have jus kept quiet." Logan sighed shaking his head no.
"You did the right thing Swamp rat. I'll keep my eye on her but in all honesty I think you might be overreacting."
"De Wolverine think so, huh? Well Remy'll keep his eyes peeled too." Blink popped into the room. Both Remy and Logan jumped at her sudden entry. Her green eyes blinked lazily looking from Remy to Logan.
"Professor told me to collect you two."
"What's going on?"
"Don't know. The Professor said he needed to see us." She placed her hands on each of the men and they disappeared from the room.
Ororo and Jean crept through the underground bunker searching for the kidnaped mutant. Jean glanced over Ororo, who held a determined face.
"Remember our first mission together?" Ororo smiled looking over at Jean. She nodded her head.
"Yeah, that was when we rescued Jubilee from that mob of mutant haters at the mall. She was so scared." Jean smiled back a laugh almost fell from her as she thought of what happened after that.
"Remember how you got tangled up in the grand opening banner, over the new Saks store, and Hank and Scott had to get you down." Jean and Ororo both laughed out loud at the memory.
"I remember that. Oh my God! Jubilee was about twelve, thirteen?"
"She was. We were so crazy."
"We still are. Look sharp! I see someone up ahead." Jean and Ororo made their way through the bunker. They crept through coming across a large empty area, when the lights flashed on revealing men with machine guns overhead surrounding them. They pointed their weapons down on them. Ororo turned to Jean with a shrug,
"So much for stealth."
"Fire!" Jean covered them in a force-field of psychic flames blocking the bullets from them. Ororo's eyes became white with power as she nodded at Jean, who dropped the shield. Ororo flew into the air and rain fell from the clouds she summoned. Whirlwinds descended down on the men and one man was swept up and slung across the room. Jean snatched the guns from their hands bringing the weapons to the ground around her feet. Ororo's eyes turned bright blue as winds spilled from her very core and lightning danced along her body. Lightning shot directly from her finger tips electrocuting a man that was running to attack Jean from behind. In the midst of everything Blink popped into the room. She dodged as a man flew over her head. Looking at the man she turned to Ororo and Jean.
"Simulation end." Clarice said looking at them. Ororo and Jean made their way over to her both of them frowning at her.
"What's going on?" Jean asked glancing over at Ororo.
"Professor told me to collect you and take you to his office."
"What about?"
"Don't know, Ro. I'm just the messenger." She put her hands on both of them and they disappeared from the room.
Erik and Emma rode back from a busted lead in silence. Erik drove the car with an annoyed expression on his face. His azure eyes peeked over at Emma, whose arms were across her chest. She was seething.
"I said I was sorry!" Erik exclaimed glaring at her. Emma rolled her eyes looking out of the window. "It was not my intention for the gentlemen to be hurled through the window."
"Erik you threw him out of a fifteen story window. We're lucky we weren't arrested on the spot."
"Emma, I thought he had information on my daughter. I was willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve my goal."
"Mark my words, you try something that insane again I will shut you down myself. Trust Me!"
"Fair enough." They continued riding in uncomfortable silence a long while. When Emma snickered shaking her head.
"I must admit the look on his face was quite comical." They looked at one another sharing a laugh. "Please Erik, don't do that again. I promise you, we are doing everything we can to find her."
"I know." He put on his signal light switching lanes. "How are you sessions going with Ororo?" She looked at him meeting his intense azure gaze.
"She's a quick learner. She has already managed to block me out some areas of her mind." The expression on Erik's face was that of pride.
"Hey guys!" Clarice said blinking into the car. Erik swerved the car getting it back under control after the shock he received. Emma held her chest trying to steady her breathing.
"Don't you knock?" Erik said through gritted teeth. Clarice giggled looking at Erik through the rearview mirror.
"No, The Professor needs you guys back ASAP! Let's go!"
"Child we are in the middle of highway." Erik fussed at her. Emma chuckled at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. She pressed a few buttons and the car began taking over itself. Erik gasped fighting with the wheel.
"It will drive itself home. We're ready." Erik was about to protest when Clarice put a hand on each of their shoulders and they all disappeared from the car.
Clarice, Erik and Emma appeared in Charles's study with the others looking at them. Emma and Clarice found a seat leaving the bewildered Erik standing in place. Ororo giggled shaking her head.
"Charles . . . I was told that the car can drive itself to the Mansion. Is that true?" Charles nodded his head a smile lingering on his lips. "Oh?" He walked over to Ororo taking a seat beside her. She shook her head smiling at him and he winked back. Logan rolled his eyes focusing his attention on Charles.
"I called you all here to inform you that we have a situation. I have just locked on to Mystique's energy signature and she is in upstate New York."
"Then let us depart!" Erik said preparing to stand to his feet. Charles raised a hand to stop him. Ororo dragged him back down.
"Let me finish." Erik nodded his head settling back into the cushions of the sofa. "There is a powerful psychic that she's after there and we must protect him at all cost. He's a nine year old boy with powerful abilities."
"Are we going to bring him back here, Xavier?" Ororo asked glancing around the room. Remy watched her carefully before he commented. "I mean we could protect him here."
"Those were my thoughts, but I hesitate because what if bringing him here leads them to us."
"Not if we teleport." Blink said with a cocky smile. "How can you track what you can't catch."
"Remy agrees wit de petite. We can't leave de boy where he is, too dangerous."
"The Cajun and Ro have a point, Chuck. This is our only option. Teleport in get him and get out." Charles nodded his head in deep thought.
"If at all possible, we need to capture, Mystique and bring her back here. We need answers to all these questions we have." Charles said scratching his chin.
"Leave, Mystique to me." Erik said standing up then helping Ororo to her feet. Charles looked up stopping them once more.
"That isn't all, I'm afraid." They turned looking at him from where they stood. "I also found Sabertooth's signature along with Kurt's in the Arctic Circle."
"The Arctic Circle? What the hell they doing there, Chuck?"
"That's what we need to find out, Logan." he clasped his hands in front of him. "Storm?"
"Yes, Professor?"
"Are you ready for the field?"
"Yes. I'm ready." Erik smiled proudly at her placing a hand on the small of her back. Charles nodded turning his attention to Jean.
"Jean?" She nodded her head. "Alright. Storm, you Erik and Remy will take the mission in Upstate New York." They nodded in agreeance. "Logan, Jean, and Emma you will go to the Arctic Circle to find out what they're doing with Nightcrawler there." They nodded. "Blink I will need you to float between both missions and transport them there and back."
"Yes, sir!" she saluted him.
"Suit up guys and keep your eyes opened. Something big is happening I can sense it, and please be careful."
"Relax, Charles. You're being to sound like a mother hen." Erik said with a roll of his eyes. Charles glared at him clamping his mouth shut. The others crowded around Clarice.
"Everyone touch somebody whose touching me, let's rock and roll!" The X-Men disappeared from the room leaving Xavier at his desk. The Professor sighed raking his hand through his hair for the umpteenth time today. Charles looked up when he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." He called out to them and the door opened revealing Moira McTaggert and the X-Force filing into the room. A smile found his face as he watched his second team entering.
"You ready to get to work, Charles?" The Professor grinned at Moira.
"Always."