X-Men: Alpha
Episode V
A Woman Scorned
Part One
The sun shone down brightly on the Xavier Institute.
A light spring breeze ruffled the leaves in the trees and carried the sweet scent of flowers throughout the pristine estate.
A blue bird dropped down from the sky and landed on a window sill.
The bird chirped it's song as it enjoyed the perfect weather.
Suddenly, the avian fluttered from it's perch as the idyllic scene, along with several windows, was shattered.
Inside, Scott Summers ducked just in time to avoid a chair that sailed across the room.
He dove behind a nearby credenza. After a few more items struck his cover, the young mutant peered over the top.
Jean Grey stood nearby. She clutched the sides of her head.
Tears streamed down her face as books, pieces of furniture and a bowl containing two rather unfortunate goldfish swirled around her.
Every few seconds, one of the projectiles would fly across the room.
He wasn't sure what had set her off. He knew she was having difficulty adjusting to living away from her family, but Jean had never lost it like this before.
Again, Scott narrowly avoided being struck by a picture frame. However, a large table hit the credenza and knocked it backward.
Summers stumbled back and tripped over some of the debris.
As his head struck the ground, his red sunglasses fell off and powerful energy burst forth.
The beam plowed through the wall, leaving behind a gaping hole.
Scott quickly closed his eyes as he cursed himself.
Professor Xavier had told him that he would be able to train himself to instinctively close his eyes whenever his glasses fell off, but he wasn't at that point yet.
Summers rolled to his stomach and began feeling for his glasses.
"Just to your left, Scott."
Scott moved his hand to the left and found them. "Thanks, Professor. What's going on with Jean?"
Xavier calmly moved his head to the side to avoid a flying lamp. "I'm not sure, but it needs to stop now."
The mutant focused his incredible mental powers and reached into the mind of his distressed student.
After a few masterfully organized psychic waves, Jean Grey's eyes rolled back and she collapsed to the ground.
Scott ran to her side as Xavier slowly followed.
"Is she going to be alright?"
"Yes. I just put her to sleep."
"Is this kind of thing normal?"
"When a psychic is under emotional stress, they can lose control of their powers."
"Did it ever happen to you?"
"Several times, unfortunately. You had best take her to her room."
Scott scooped the redhead into his arms. "What are you going to do?"
"I need to check on a few prospective students."
Summers' eyebrows arched. "Oh, yeah? Anybody good?"
The elder mutant smiled. "Let's just say we'll never need an ice cube tray again."
"Cool." The young mutant turned and made his way upstairs.
As Scott stepped out of sight, Xavier's smile disappeared.
Surveying the aftermath of Jean's eruption, he furrowed his brow and placed a hand on his chin.
He wasn't entirely dishonest. The scenario he had described to Scott was possible.
It's just not what had happened here.
Jean was not powerful enough to cause such destruction.
Not yet.
Not on her own.
-X-
5 Years Later...
Jean's hand never touched the pen as it moved across the paper.
Her fingers were poised above the writing tool, but it was her mind that guided it.
Charles Xavier watched as his student wrote in perfect cursive scripts.
The telekinetic control that such a feat required was immense and she had never completed an entire letter to her family without faltering.
As she neared completion, he could not help but become excited at this new achievement.
She had worked very hard over the past several years to gain this kind of precision. Now it was in her grasp.
Days in which their students show great improvement were what teachers dreamed of.
However, this would not be one of those days.
Just as Jean began her final line, the pen suddenly streaked a few inches to the side leaving a long, black mark.
"Damn!" The redheaded mutant tossed the pen across the room before giving her mentor an exasperated look. "You know, they have e-mail."
Xavier smiled. "Yes, but I've always found those to be rather impersonal."
Jean sighed as she crumbled up the ruined letter. "Why is this so hard, Professor? I've picked up cars before."
"That is nothing but pure strength. This is control."
"I don't see anyone else having to do this stuff."
"Their powers are as under control as they are going to be. As psychics, we have a steeper hill to climb."
"I guess." Jean rubbed her temples.
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just a slight headache. So why are we only working on my TK? What about my telepathy?"
The Professor took a deep breath before responding. "I'm sorry, Jean, but your telepathy is not progressing very well. You know that."
Jean only nodded. The disappointment on her face was apparent.
"Don't worry, my dear. It will develop in time. Until then..."
"Yeah, yeah."
Jean took out a clean sheet of paper.
-X-
Rogue caught Mystique's wrist just before a knife was driven into her throat.
The young mutant twisted her mother's arm until she released her hold on the weapon.
With startling agility, Mystique rolled forward and sprang to her feet. She followed with an attempt to drive her knee into her opponent's stomach.
After blocking the strike by lifting her own knee, Rogue struck the side of Mystique's head with her forearm.
The blue-skinned mutant staggered backward and quickly fell victim to several vicious strikes. The last of which sent her reeling to the ground.
Rogue stood over her fallen foe and sneered. "End simulation."
Responding to her voice command, the Danger Room deactivated and Mystique faded away.
Moments later, Dr. Henry "Hank" McCoy emerged from the control booth. "That was quite impressive, Rogue."
The look that was offered as response was far from pleasant.
"I take it you disagree."
"What the hell was that?! She's better than that, dammit!"
"My apologies, but I have only a cursory knowledge of her fighting ability. I've done my best."
"Well, your best sucks!"
The teenager stormed away. She grabbed a bottle of water and took a drink.
She paused for a moment and then turned to face McCoy. "I didn't mean that. Sorry."
"That's alright. You know, some of the others have become rather skilled in the booth. Perhaps one of them can..."
"No! They can't know about this!"
"Worried that they might start wondering why you are so intent on beating Mystique?"
Rogue slowly nodded. "Yeah."
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you cared what they thought about you."
Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't say that. There's just no tellin' what they'd do if they found out about me."
McCoy placed his hand on her shoulder. "Rogue, you were young, impressionable and terrified. Magneto took advantage of that."
Rogue shrugged his hand off. "I know what happened. I was there, remember."
The young mutant walked past him and stepped over to a panel.
After pressing a button, a punching bag emerged from the wall.
As McCoy watched her resume training, he knew that he would have to keep an eye on her.
It doesn't take much for determination to become obsession.
-X-
Storm knocked softly on the door. "Kitty? Are you in there?"
She waited for a moment but a response never came.
"Kitty?" Again she knocked.
"Go away!"
"I knew you were in there. Let me in."
"No!"
"Do you have any idea how fast I could take this door down?"
Storm's eyes turned white and she called forth a small burst of wind that pressed against the door causing a faint creaking sound.
"You're bluffing."
The wind quickly dispersed and Storm's eyes returned to normal. "Damn."
Ororo quickly glanced around to make sure no one was nearby.
When she was sure no one was watching, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a hairpin.
She inserted the pin into the lock and carefully manipulated it.
After a few moments, she turned the doorknob and the door swung open.
Kitty shot up in her bed. Her eyes were wide as she surveyed Storm's entrance. "You picked my lock?!"
"Well, you wouldn't open the door. What was I supposed to do?"
"Oh, I don't know, go away. Where'd you learn to do that anyway?"
"Nevermind that. Have you been out of bed today?"
"Yes."
Storm's eyes narrowed.
Kitty hung her head. "No."
"Come on, Kitty. Things are not going to get any better while you're laying here."
"I don't want to see him." Kitty plopped back down on her bed. "It's bad enough that I have to train with him and go to school with him."
Storm sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'll bet. Still, you can't just hide out in here."
"We'll see about that."
"Listen, you can't let this control your life. You have to move on."
"Move on?!" Kitty sat up again. "He broke my heart!"
Storm only looked at her with a sympathetic expression.
"I can't just move on." A tear trickled down her cheek as she lowered her head back down to her pillow. "Why would he do this to me, 'Ro?"
"I guess he felt it wasn't going to work out between the two of you."
"No, he did because he's a jealous jerk."
"You really think he's jealous of a dead guy?"
"Yes."
Storm rose and walked over to the window. "I don't know about that. Bobby's not exactly the most secure person I've ever met, but that seems a bit much."
"Who cares? I just want to be mad at him. Is that alright with you?"
Ororo stepped back to the bed. "Yes. Yes, that would be great. You should be mad. So, go be mad."
Kitty sat up and looked at her for a moment. "You're just trying to get me out of bed aren't you?"
Storm only raised an eyebrow.
"Nice try." She laid back down and pulled her comforter over her head.
"Fine, do whatever you want," Storm opened the door but turned back to her friend before she exited. "but do you know what Bobby is doing right now?"
Kitty peered out from under the bed sheet. "What?"
"I'm not sure, but I bet he's not in bed."
As Storm left, Kitty immediately kicked her comforter off and rolled out of bed.
-X-
Cyclops entered complex codes into the Danger Room's control computer.
In the chair next to his, Bobby leaned back with his feet propped up. He stared at the ceiling with a somber expression.
"First, I was thinking of putting in some laser turrets."
"Uh huh."
"Then, maybe some fire traps and pendulum blades."
"Uh huh."
Summers gave his teammate a sidelong glance. "Finally, Charles Lindbergh is going to fly around in a golf cart and drop exploding ducks."
"Uh huh."
"Bobby!"
Drake started and turned to him. "What?"
"Pay attention. You're supposed to be learning to do this. I understand what you must be going through, but..."
Bobby sat up in the chair. "Going through? I'm not 'going through' anything."
"You did just break up with your girlfriend."
"Yeah, well, it had to be done. I've had time to get over it."
"It was only a week ago."
"Whatever." Bobby stood up and left the booth.
As he entered the hall, Peter walked up to him.
"Robert, how..."
Iceman quickly held up his hand. "Save it."
Peter watched as Bobby kept walking.
"Don't take it personally, Peter." Scott stepped out of the booth. "He's neck deep in denial."
"That is unfortunate. I wish that he and Kitty could have worked things out."
"Me too, but I guess that ship has sailed. So, how long are you going to allow Kitty to be single?"
"I'm afraid that ship has also sailed."
"Moving on, huh? Well, good luck with Rogue."
Colossus smirked as Cyclops turned and walked back into the booth.
-X-
Duncan waited near the school's main entrance.
He glanced around the oncoming crowd searching for his girlfriend.
A slight tap on his shoulder caused him to turn.
"Hey there. Looking for anyone I know?"
Jean stood before him in her cheerleading uniform. "Yeah. I'm looking for my girlfriend. Have you seen her?"
"Red hair? Pleasant demeanor? Smoking hot?"
"Sounds like her." Duncan put his arm around her waist and the two kissed.
"Ahem!"
Jean quickly pulled away as a teacher walked by. "Sorry."
"Listen, I need to talk to you about something. I talked to Lisa..."
"From the squad?"
"Yeah, her. Anyway, she said you guys would be choosing your head cheerleader soon."
"That's right."
"She also said you weren't interested in the position."
"Yeah. I have enough going on without adding more. The head cheerleader has to do a lot of extra stuff."
Duncan moved his arm as he nodded. "I see. Here's the thing. I'm the quarterback of the football team. The quarterback and the head cheerleader are supposed to go together."
Jean raised an eyebrow. "They are?"
"Well, it's not set in stone or anything, but that's the way it's supposed to be. You see, it's important for us to be the top couple in this school."
Jean's eyebrow remained cocked. "It is?"
"Of course. I mean, if someone else becomes head cheerleader and she starts dating somebody else on the team then they could end up being the top couple. Is that something you want?"
"I...guess not. I never really thought about it. I had no idea it was so important to you."
"Well it is." Duncan took her hands. "So give it some thought, ok?"
"Ok."
The two kissed and were once again interrupted. "Ahem!"
This time Duncan pulled away. "Don't you have a class to teach?"
Jean grinned. "Well, I have one to get to. I'll see you later."
-X-
"You know what I haven't seen? Remorse! Pain! That's what!"
Rogue glared at Kitty from across the lunch table. "Why did I sit with you?"
"Why should I be rolling around in my misery while he just goes on with his stupid life!"
"Listen, I don't really give a..."
"Storm was right! I should be mad!" Rogue got up to leave, but Kitty grabbed her backpack. "Wait! What do you think I should do?"
Rogue narrowed her eyes. "Let go."
Kitty slowly released her grip. "Sorry."
"If you want my opinion, you should make him rue the day he dumped you."
The short brunette thought about it for a moment. "You're just saying that because you don't like him."
"I didn't say it wasn't a biased opinion." Rogue grabbed her tray and walked away.
Kitty leaned back slightly in her chair and tapped her chin with two fingers. "Rue the day, huh?"
-X-
"Okay everyone, pay attention." Lisa stepped before the cheer squad and put her blonde hair in a ponytail. "It's time to choose our head cheerleader."
The squad sat at a library table that had been reserved for them to have their meetings.
Lisa continued. "I, of course, nominate myself. Anyone else?"
Jean rubbed her temples. Her head had been pounding lately.
She snapped out of her thoughts when she realized the entire squad was looking at her.
"Oh, sorry. No."
Lisa's eyebrows arched. "No?"
"That's right. I really don't have the time to devote to the position."
Lisa suppressed a smile. "Well, Jean, if you don't have the time then you don't have the time. If there are no other nominations, then I am now head cheerleader."
The squad applauded their new leader.
"Ok, everyone, tomorrow we'll meet at the gym to work on our routines. See you all then."
As the cheerleaders began to disperse, Lisa quickly approached Jean.
"Jean, I must say I'm a little surprised that you didn't go for it."
"Well, it wouldn't be fair to the squad to make that commitment when I knew I couldn't do the job." She smiled at her. "Watch your back, though. I could be taking your place."
The two let out a laugh and then shared a quick hug. As Jean turned and walked away, Lisa's smile turn into a conniving smirk.
"Oh no, Jean..." She said quietly. "I'll be taking your place."
-X-
Peter pulled a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.
As he took a drink, Bobby stepped into the kitchen.
"Pete, you Russians like hockey, right?"
Colossus cocked an eyebrow. "I do believe it is rather popular among 'us Russians', but I never really got into it. Why do you ask?"
"I ordered tickets to the Rangers vs. the Blackhawks a few weeks ago and they arrived today. I have two if you're interested."
"You aren't going to go?"
"Hell no. I hate both those teams. I'm a Bruins guy myself. I ordered them because the 'Hawks are Kitty's home team."
"Oh, I see. You were going to go to this game with Kitty."
"You are a frickin' genius. You want the damn tickets?"
"Tickets?" Kitty seemed to pop out of nowhere.
"Geez! Do you have to do that?!"
"Calm down, Bobby. What tickets?"
"Tickets to a hockey game for the two of you." Peter answered.
Bobby shot him a look that could kill someone.
"Really? Wow! I've never been to a hockey game!"
"Yeah, well, I'm sure Pete would be happy to go with you."
"Oh, come on. You paid for them. You should go to the game with me."
"No thanks."
"Alright. I understand. Being around me must be very painful for you."
Bobby's eyebrows arched. "What?"
"It's ok, Bobby. You're hurting. I understand. It's not easy for you to be around me when I am clearly over you and you're still hung up on me."
Peter nervously took a step away from the two.
It took every ounce of self-control for Kitty to keep herself from smiling as Bobby stared at her in disbelief.
"What?!"
Kitty took the tickets from him. "Don't worry, I'll take the tickets. Maybe you should get some Ben and Jerry's and just curl up in bed."
Bobby snatched the tickets from her hand. "Give me those! We're leaving at six!"
As he stormed off, Kitty finally allowed herself to grin.
"Kitty: one. Bobby: nothing."
Peter looked at her curiously. "What?"
Kitty paid him no mind and just walked off.
"Peter." McCoy stepped into the kitchen. "I was wondering if I could have a word with you."
"Of course, Doctor."
The two men stepped out of the kitchen and into the nearby den.
McCoy glanced around to make sure they were alone. "Alright. It's about Rogue."
"What about her?"
"I'm sure you've noticed that she has been practically living in the Danger Room. Frankly, I'm becoming concerned about her."
"Why?"
McCoy considered his words carefully. He didn't want to say anything that could jeopardize Rogue's secret.
"She has been feeling a little helpless lately. It goes back to the fight with the Sentinel, I believe. As a result, she has been overcompensating for that by training constantly."
"She need not feel that way. She contributes as much to the team as anyone else."
"We both know that. We both also know talking to her about it would be useless."
Peter nodded as McCoy continued.
"I think you should ask her to go out with you tonight."
"Do you really think she would?" Peter seemed genuinely excited.
"I'm not sure, but it's worth a try. If she continues on like this she's going to end up burning herself out."
"Agreed. I will do what I can, Doctor." Peter hurried away.
McCoy smirked as he watched him go. "Sorry I had to twist your arm."
-X-
Jean closed her cell phone as she and Storm entered the Institute.
"I got his voicemail again. I hope he's not upset. He really wanted me to go for head cheerleader."
Storm muttered. "I'll bet he did."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Hey, girls." Scott greeted the two at the entrance. "Jean, did you make head cheerleader?"
"I decided not to. Now I think Duncan's mad at me."
Jean's head suddenly wrenched in pain. "Ahh!"
Scott placed his hand on her shoulder. "Jean? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm ok. It's just this headache won't go away."
"Maybe you should lie down." Storm suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea. I'll be upstairs if anyone needs me."
Cyclops walked with her to the stairs. "Don't worry about it. You just get some rest."
As Jean disappeared up the stairs, Storm turned to Scott. "I don't like this."
"It's just a headache, 'Ro."
"Not that. This thing with Duncan has me concerned. There's no telling how he's going to react to Jean's decision."
"You think he's going to make a big deal about it?"
"Possibly. He's already not returning her calls."
Summers nodded in agreement. "There is a lot of prestige that comes along with dating the head cheerleader."
"And shallow ingrates like Duncan value that over everything. Let's just hope that we're overreacting."
As Storm turned and walked away, a selfish part of Scott Summers mind hoped for the worst.
-X-
Jean leisurely strolled the grounds of the Xavier Institute.
Her red hair waved in the cool air.
She knelt down to pick a flower that had caught her eye.
Jean lifted the flower to her nose and took in its scent.
No sooner had she done so than it began to wither and die.
Suddenly, she noticed that the sky had grown dark and the cool breeze had given way to waves of immense heat.
The young mutant slowly turned to the Institute to find it engulfed in flames.
She ran to the building while trying to resist the increasing temperature.
Jean reached the door, but it would not open.
Summoning her telekinesis, she resolved to smash the obstruction down. To her surprise, her mental powers did not answer her call.
She moved down the side of the building and came to a window. She squinted as she attempted to see inside the burning school.
To her horror, she found that her teammates and friends were burning alive.
Before she could attempt to smash the glass, Jean felt the sensation of being watched.
After glancing to the left and right, she tilted her head upwards.
What she beheld she scarcely believed.
The fire had formed into the visage of a giant bird. It glared down at her with pitch black eyes.
Slowly, Jean stepped backward. At that moment, the fire bird reared back and released an ear-shattering screech.
The force of the creature's breath nearly knocked Jean to the ground. Instead, the girl turned and fled.
Jean glanced over her shoulder to see the bird take to the air. Long, powerful strokes of its fiery wings propelled the beast toward her.
She ran as fast as she could, but she knew it would not be enough.
The fire bird grew closer...
closer...
closer...
"Aaah!" Jean shot up in her bed.
She was breathing heavily and sweat had beaded her forehead.
The redhead glanced at her clock. She had only been asleep for twenty minutes.
Jean got out of bed and walked over to her mirror. As she wiped the sweat from her brow, she looked down at her cell phone.
When she saw that she had received no calls, Jean dialed Duncan's number.
After a few rings, the phone was answered. The voice Jean heard was not the one she was expecting. "Hello?"
"Lisa?"
"Oh, hello Jean."
"Where's Duncan? And why are you answering his phone?"
"I better let you talk to him."
"Please."
After some barely audible muttering, Duncan's voice came through. "Yeah?"
"Hi. What's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"You left school without so much as a goodbye and you haven't been returning my calls."
"Gee, Jean, I didn't know that kind of thing was important to you. If you had told me how important it was to you, I would have done it."
His point was not lost on her. "Duncan, I can't be the head cheerleader. I don't have the time."
"Well, you should've made the time."
"Why?"
"Because I told you to."
"What?!"
"You heard me. When I tell you to do something, you damn well better do it."
"Well, maybe some one should have told you that I'm your girlfriend, not your slave!"
Duncan was silent for a moment. When he finally responded his voice was ice cold.
"Actually, your neither."
Jean's mouth opened but nothing came out. Her head began to pound again, but she did her best to ignore it.
"Surprised? I don't see why. Don't pretend you didn't know the score coming into this thing. I picked you to be my girl because you had everything needed to become the most popular girl in school. The only thing you were missing was the most prestigious title a girl in high school can have; head cheerleader."
"B-but I..."
"Save it, Jean. We were both in this "relationship" for selfish reasons. You were with me because I'm the top dog at that school."
"I was not! I was with you because I liked you!" Her head pounded harder.
Duncan let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah, right. Anyway, seeing as how your potential has fallen considerably, Lisa is going to be taking your place. I hope that doesn't strain your friendship. See ya, Jean."
"Duncan, wait!"
A dial tone was all that answered. Jean's eyes began to water as she tried to grasp what had just happened.
He was using her. He had been from the beginning. And he thought that she was using him.
As far as he were concerned neither of them cared about each other.
He certainly didn't care, but she did. If she hadn't, this wouldn't have hurt some much.
To make matters worst, Lisa stabbed her in the back. She was probably her only friend that didn't live under this roof.
As she continued to feel the sting, her head began to pound harder and harder.
Jean clutched the sides of her head. Her face began to twist in agony.
She feel to her knees and then everything went dark.
