Author Note: This is something new that I'm doing, this story will be a little of an AU. For the most part it won't be too different from X-Men: Evolution, just a small change of settings. Once you read this chapter you'll see what I mean.
I have a few new characters that will be introduced into the story; some will play very important or minor roles. So if you have any suggestions for type of mutant powers, I'm all ears. As for the X-men characters that I'll be using for the first time it'll definitely be a challenge since I am very Unfamiliar with them, so please don't hate if I mess up their personalities.
I hope you enjoy this story. I've had this idea in my head for awhile and I'm kind of excited to see how it'll happen. I was so excited that I originally planned to post it a little later this week but I couldn't wait, (Lucky You). Hehe. Enjoy! Oh. And I don't have a Beta, so I try my best to reread and double my grammar and spelling. I'm not a writer or English major, so please forgive any mistakes, I do however try my best!
Important Note: I plan on changing my penname to jadedXelement. So just a heads up.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from X-Men: Evolution or X-Men. If I did we all know I would have made Bobby and Jubilee a main pairing in the story. Hehe. All other characters are made by me.
Chapter 1: It Never Ends
… Everything seems to be going great. I swear I can't believe just how much has been changing with the X-Men since you left. After a year we're starting to see the rewards, not to mention everything else we've been doing before that.
I'm finally officially an X-Men leader. Can you believe it? Neither can I. They must have been crazy to promote me to this position or I must be as great as I always knew I was. Anyways it feels great to make it this far. I led my first official team mission solo today. It was awesome! I'll tell you about the next time we talk. Well I got to go and write my report before Scott catches me typing this email (although I did catch him sending Jean a v-card online)
P.S. Don't faint from the picture I enclosed ... but I won't blame you if you did; I do have that affect on some ladies. HAHA! Just Kidding Jubes!
BTW. I miss you Jubes.
Jubilee smiled at the last line and scrolled the mouse down to view the picture attached to the email. Her eyes grew wide and a proud smile filled her face as she stared at a picture of Bobby in his black X-Man uniform a yellow band wrapped around his left arm signifying his leadership position.
A sigh escaped her red lips as she looked at her best friend, the smile on his face. It was only a little over a year, almost two, and yet she couldn't help but notice the small changes in his appearance. His dark brown hair was shorter, his jaw line stronger, his shoulders much broader since she last seen him. And with the help of his fitted uniform, Jubilee was able to see the define muscles he had strengthen. Despite those changes, she couldn't help but notice the same spark in his eyes and the smile in his face was still the same.
"Wow. Who is that hot guy!" A voice said behind Jubilee, whistling after she had said it.
Jubilee looked over her shoulders as she rolled her eyes. She wasn't surprised to see Leah standing right behind her.
Leah Carver was her fellow teammate and mutant friend. Gorgeous shiny blonde hair ran down her shoulders and stopped a few inches above her waist line. Sea green eyes that almost always made guys just want to drool just by looking into them. She had the face and body of a cheerleader but the street smarts to go with it.
She contained the ability to manipulate light and the speed that almost matched Quicksilver. Being able to expel and dispel light especially one controlled by electrical powers. Because of her ability to do so, she also contained the small power to control some electricity. Leah's code name Luminary derived from her light ability. However, Jubilee often liked to call her Star instead due to the fact that one of trade marks out on missions was turning off all the lights and speeding through with a light tailing right behind her, something that reminded her of a shooting star.
"Who is he?" Leah asked as she took a seat next to Jubilee. Placing her elbow against the computer desk she rested her chin on her hand as she leaned into to look at the picture better.
Jubilee rolled her eyes at Leah's nosey-ness and shook her head as she turned to look at Bobby's picture once more. Looking at his charming smile, she answered, "If you must know that is Bobby Drake, the newest official leader of the X-Men."
Leah whistled once more and Jubilee clicked out the windows box to close it. Widening her eyes Leah turned to stare straight into Jubilee's. "The Bobby Drake."
"Yes, The Bobby Drake." Jubilee scoffed, as she held back the urge to act like she was throwing up at the comment. "Like you haven't seen his face before!" I mean come on she's been in my room a thousand times, his picture is right there with the rest of the x-men team.
A large smile formed on Leah's face and she nodded her head. Winking at Jubilee she spoke, "Of course I have but it isn't as close up and detail as this picture." Pausing she looked at Jubilee carefully before continuing, "Are you sure you don't like him? I mean look at him a body and face almost like a God."
Bobby a God? Jubilee let out a giggle as she rolled her eyes. She swiveled her chair towards Leah and shook her head still giggling. "I do NOT like Bobby like that."
"Sure." Leah answered nodding her head unconvinced. "I mean I only see you only check your email like almost everyday to see if he's emailed you."
"We're best friends. You know that." Jubilee simply explained as she crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't see what the big deal was. Despite that she had left the X-Men over a year ago they continued to remain close friends. Talking was often difficult due to time difference and not to mention their 'work' schedules, so with the easy access to the computers, emails became the next best thing. This wasn't the first time Leah got on her case about it; Jubilee was use to it, even though Leah did understand it didn't stop her from bringing it up every so often.
"Uh-huh. Yeah I know that." Leah said as she rolled her eyes. Throwing her hands in the air she shook her head causing her blonde hair to wave. "But you know I just have to ask, I mean come on! We come back from a 10 day mission and the first thing you do is get on this damn computer to check your email. I mean look at you, your still in your uniform!"
Jubilee's sapphire eyes lowered as she looked at her uniform. It looked very similar to the X-men uniform though unlike the shiny black Bobby wore, theirs was a dark charcoal color. The X on the belt gone and instead imprinted in script was the words X-Force.
"It's been less than 20 minutes since we've returned." Jubilee pointed out. Facing the computer once more she moved the mouse and clicked around to shut it off. "You're over reacting. I merely looked at the computer because we've been gone for so long I knew that he wrote me." And Jubilee was right the email she had just read was already a week old.
"You are so stubborn Jubilation Lee!" Leah shrieked as she ran her hands through her hair out of frustration.
Jubilee smiled amused by Leah's reaction and let out small laugh. "Get a better argument Star." She then retorted cheekily.
The comment frustrated Leah causing the lights to flicker in the room, a habit of hers whenever she was unable to control her quickly growing emotions. A frown on her face, her eyes burned with determination and Jubilee knew it was because Leah of all things hated to lose.
"Well. Okay, I'll drop it, don't hate on the idea its not like it could never happen." Lean mumbled as she crossed her arms.
"Your right." Jubilee said briefly and she watched as Leah's face lit up at her comment. Shaking her head, she continued, "But, it's it won't ever happen. What Bobby and I share is strictly platonic. I have never ever thought of him that way and I can assure you the girl problems and advice he's been coming to me with since day one, means he sure does not see me that way either."
"Okay point, point and point taken." Leah said as she finally dropped her arms to her side in defeat. A smile soon appeared on her face, "Since we got that measly reason out of the way, tell me then, why have you denied all the guys and not to mention Havok's constant request for a date with you!" Leah pointed out, a smug look appeared on her face and Jubilee instantly felt her face burn.
The true reason to Leah's attack about Jubilee's love interest was now revealed. It was a cheap shot of an argument because if there was anything that Leah knew about Jubilee it was that she hated talking about the 'romantic' life here at headquarters, especially in common areas.
Jubilee scowled and she pushed her chair backwards as she stood up. Letting out an entertained laugh she looked at Leah before walking away, "I DON'T date them because I am not here to date." Pausing a little Jubilee frowned as she thought, "And well, Alex and the rest … they're just not my type." She added, this time her voice not as convincing.
"Oh, Puh-lease!" Leah exclaimed as she jumped up from her chair and easily caught up to Jubilee. It quickly annoyed Jubilee how unfair it was to try and get away from a mutant with the speed beyond a cheetah.
Their paces matched Jubilee from the corner of her eye could see Leah peering at her, a look on her face that showed that she wasn't going to drop it.
"If I remember correctly it was YOU who pointed out Alex Summers's charming all American boy looks and not to mention his almost what was the word you used?" Leah asked pausing for a second to look at Jubilee before smiling, "Oh that's right, and intriguing personality."
Jubilee rolled her eyes as she waited for the silver doors to slide open to allow them to leave the meeting room. "Drop it Star." Jubilees said shortly, she was not in the exact mood or have the energy left to engage in this conversation.
Leah smirked as she quickened her pace allowing her to easily stop in front of Jubilee. Crossing her arms over her chest she tapped her foot against the metal flooring, "It's sounding like your losing your defense Sparky."
The sound of her not so favored nickname caused a stir in emotions in Jubilee. Jubilee felt a charge of energy running through her veins and she was sure that her eyes showed just how much the name had affected her. Because Leah stood in front of her the smirk on her face becoming bigger.
"You're being annoying you know that, don't you?" Jubilee hissed as she pushed her way through Leah and continued to walk through the empty hallways.
Leah let out a laugh and just as she had done minutes ago easily caught up next to her. "Yes. And I think your grouchiness is beginning to show."
Jubilee rolled her eyes "Then you must enjoy torturing me?" Jubilee was starting to think that Bobby had nothing to do with what Leah wanted to talk about, just a way to lead up to her real purpose. She's being sly.
Leah let out another laugh and it echoed through the hallway. Jubilee soon felt the weight of Leah's arm around her shoulders as they continued to walk. "You know I'm just teasing you Jubilee. Besides, I mean, I did hear Alex talking about you in the locker room."
Aha! And there it is. Jubilee rolled her eyes as she listened to Leah talk. Wait, what? The last statement caused Jubilee to stop in her steps. She quickly felt her face burn up at the thought of what she just heard and before Leah could turn and notice it, Jubilee looked away and continued walking. I don't care and I don't want to know.
"Hey I know you care; I saw that look on your face." Leah called out, as if she had just read her thoughts, as she followed Jubilee.
Jubilee huffed and as much as she tried to deny the fact, she knew, she couldn't. Because even though she hated it at times, especially a time like this, Leah knew her better than anyone else there.
So Jubilee did what she could, she ignored her, and continued to walk on. Why Leah liked to harass her about something like this after just coming back from a mission, she didn't know. Maybe it was because she was always so eager to tell Jubilee anything she had heard especially when it was something juicy or about Jubilee herself.
"Hello! Are you listening to me I just said Alex was talking about you." Leah yelled as she followed Jubilee once more. "Don't you like h –"
Stopping in her steps quickly Jubilee's natural instincts kicked in and she grabbed her friend's wrist. "Will you shush." Jubilee hissed and she felt the natural urge to send a charge of plasma at her friend. Her sapphire eyes shot around looking, praying silently that no one had heard Leah's big mouth.
"What?" Leah whined as she pulled her wrist from Jubilee's grasp. Her other hand held the place where Jubilee's once was, massaging it.
"Just what were you trying to announce to the whole X-Force team?" Jubilee hissed as she stared with accusation at her friend.
Leah shrugged her shoulders but stopped when she began to realize just exactly what Jubilee's problem was. A smirk crept on her face and she looked her innocently at her. "Nothing, I mean it's not you actually like Alex, right? I mean because if you did then of course you wouldn't want others to know. But I mean if you do that would mean -."
Jubilee shot daggers towards Leah her stare stopping Leah from saying any more. Leah knew exactly what she thought of Alex Summers, she only said and did what she was doing to make Jubilee say it out loud or do something about it.
"You know exactly what I think." Jubilee hissed, speaking her thoughts out loud, as she began walking once more. Why did she find herself doing this with Leah after missions? Damn locker room conversations.
Leah's footsteps could be heard as she followed right after. "Of course I do. The problem is I don't see why you don't do something about it."
Jubilee stopped once more and stared at her friend. She was right when she thought she didn't have the energy to do this. "I've told you before I'm not here to date." Jubilee watched as Leah shook her head in disapproval. "Okay fine." Jubilee said exasperated. "It's complicating. Now would you drop it? I spent over 24 hours awake and 8 hours straight on my feet, all I want is a good long hot bath."
"Okay." Leah said reluctantly, finally realizing she was pushing it.
Letting out a sigh Jubilee smiled weakly at her friend. "Thank you." With that Jubilee turned to walk down the corner hall towards her room. Her footsteps were the only thing that echoed as she walked through the empty hall, leaving her friend standing there near the entrance of her own room.
"You don't want to know what he said." Leah called out before Jubilee reached the corner.
Stopping in her steps Jubilee gracefully turned around and looked at Leah a small smile on her face. "Thanks but I don't think it'd be good if I did."
Leah frowned, her face confused as she looked back at Jubilee. "What, why not? It's nothing bad." A smile on her face told Jubilee her that Leah knew very valuable.
"It'll just complicate it even more." Jubilee said with a shrug and before letting her friend say anything else she turned back around and continued walking.
Jubilee could feel Leah's eyes on her, her gaze burned on her back, and Jubilee knew it was because she was trying to understand. Jubilee let out a sigh as she ran her hand against the cool metal wall. If she had the words to explain it to Leah to understand, she herself would understand it. But she didn't. It was like what she had said it was, a romantic life now, was complicating.
- - -
"Jubilee."
"Jubilee."
"Jubilee. Come in."
Jubilee eyes slowly opened at the sound her name being repeated from the intercom placed in her room. Groaning she looked at the time, 3:02 a.m. You got to be kidding me.
"Jubilee. Get your pretty butt up or I'm going to come knocking on your door and I'll kick you pretty butt up."
Mumbling curse words, Jubilee pushed herself off her bed and threw off the covers. She then pushed the button so his annoying voice would stop nagging her. "If you don't stop your threats Crisp, I'm going to be kicking your ass."
Ray's shrill laugh echoed through the intercom and Jubilee couldn't help but roll her eyes. Did he always sound this annoying? No. She thought answering her own question, only when he's waking you up at un-forbidden times like this.
"Someone's waking up on the wrong side of the bed." Ray commented as he muffled another laugh.
Jubilee growled as she threw on a large hooded sweater over her spaghetti strap. "Ray Crisp, if you do not tell me why you're waking me, I swear I'm going to make training in the damn danger room an experience you'll wish you were in hell instead."
She was exhausted. Jubilee had only gotten 2 hours of sleep after finally getting that warm bath she had been dreaming of and now she was being woken. She was not in a good mood to be joking around with.
"Whoa whoa." Ray's voice was heard, trying to calm the fuming mutant in her room. "Okay I got it. Sorry boss." Jubilee eyes rolled once more at the nickname as she put on some slippers. "But we got a new mission update and you need to come into the meeting room."
You got to be kidding me. Jubilee eyes dropped as her arms flew in the air a number of course words came flying out of her mouth. This job never ends.
"Jubilee you coming?" Ray asked unaware that she was currently expressing her extended vocabulary of swearing words in English and Chinese.
Jubilee stopped in her steps, her eyes shot directly at the damn intercom that was currently the reason of her bad mood. Pressing the button she snapped, "Yes I'm coming." Her tone was enough for Ray to stop asking or talking to him any longer.
Marching out of her room Jubilee let out a deep breath to try and calm her mood. It was one of her shortcomings her firecracker attitude. She was quick to let her emotions rise and sometimes especially when she let it, she let them affect her attitude and actions. It came with some benefits but also with a price. Exhaling Jubilee let out a sigh and ran a hand through her hair, she was tired, but she wasn't going to let it put her on a rampage.
The sounds of Jubilee's steps echoed through the silent metal hall. It was one of the few things about the X-Force headquarters that reminded her much of X-men the way the layout and design was very similar.
She placed her hand once more on the cold metal wall and ran her hand against it as she walked. When she first left the X-Men to be a part of the start of X-Force it was a rough journey. They didn't always have what they had today.
Shuddering at the thought, Jubilee recalled the poor use of a warehouse as X-Force's first and original headquarters. It's not that they didn't have the funding or support to be at where they were today. It was really only because of the minor fact that the X-Force team was never meant to be this permanent.
Yet the fight for mutant rights had other plans and X-Force's purpose and path took off to a different direction all together. X-Force was relocated to a new facility that contained the equipment that was better appropriate to their needs.
Letting out yet another yawn Jubilee stopped in front of the meeting room, punching in her code she waited quietly for the doors to slide open.
The sounds of the sliding doors were heard and Jubilee slowly walked in her hair still in a slight mess and yawns still escaping her ruby lips. Looking up she saw Ray wide awake, his feet up on the table in front of him and his chair reclined. Yup, I'd be wide awake like that too if I had the luxury he had of sleeping during this last mission. But I don't.
"Ray. What's so urgent?" Jubilee called out as she stepped onto the lower level that he was on.
Ray swung his legs off and with a look over his shoulders shook the mouse that was in his hand. "You have a business call." Ray said simply. The screen soon projected a very familiar face right in front of her.
Jubilee's eyes widen and the face she now stared into, if she hadn't been awake she was now. Business call? Now something is definitely going on.
Author Note: Haha. Sorry I know cliffhanger! I didn't mean to end it like that but as I was writing the ending of this chapter I had a change of mind on exactly what was going to happen and that's what happened. But besides that, how'd you like it? I hope for the most part you do.
I know X-Force is still a little unclear but it'll be a lot more revealed in the next chapter. I'm still debating just how much I'll make the story of X-Force a part of this story plot. For those who read my previous story 'Where Do We Go From Here', you know that I'm not a big action writer but we'll see if that changes. I was actually debating to use the idea of X-Generations for those of you who know it but I am not so familiar with it, so I ended up deciding against it.
I've decided to use Havok, Alex Summers, as Jubilee's love interesting for this story. BUT, don't worry this is still a JUBBY. He's a new character I'll be using and I don't know much about him so if you know anything about his personality that might be helpful when writing out the next chapter I'll appreciate it. That also goes for suggestions for mutant powers and names. Hehe. OR. If anyone rather see Jubilee paired up with someone else, I can always change it! But remember I am a dedicated Jubilee and Bobby fan so this pairing will ultimately win.
It feels weird to be using another main friend for Jubilee besides Amara. I sometimes think I type Amara's name instead of Leah's. But I think I did it for a big reason, hopefully it'll make sense as the story goes. For my loyal readers who love a Amara/John pairing, I am thinking how I'll try and bring them into the story AND if I'll be able to. But who knows! You all know I love Amara's loyalty to Jubilee so you might be seeing her later in future chapters.
Well. I hope to update soon. I start an internship next week but I'm hoping to keep this story going with very little long waits.
Please review and let me know what you think. I especially want to know since this is a little/lot differnt from what I've done before. Or just let me know you're reading this. It really does encourage a writer knowing that there are readers out there who like the stories. I'd like to know who you are. Suggestions and Ideas are welcome and I do try to include it, if I can.
Thanks for reading.
