to my betareaders for everything they had to endure. Feedback and flames are
welcome.
***
"Good evening, my fair lady. Do you mind if I sit down? Ohhh...
I think I
pulled something in that last Danger Room session.
So - here it is. The finest bottle of Dom Perignon I could lay my hands
on.
Just as we agreed.
Perchance, might you remember that rather foolish bet we made?
I knew you
would.
Well... you win. Congratulations are in order I suppose. You win. You
got it
first, just like you said you would.
You know, I have this strangest feeling - as if I have been running
for the
proverbial end zone for ages, but when I get there I suddenly find
that I no
longer possess the ball. Odd, wouldn't you say?
Have you heard about Senator Kelly? The latest unofficial news
have it that
the distinguished Senator was first brainwashed by the mutants and
then
killed by their agents. Preposterous... and yet surprisingly how many
people
believe it. How many want to believe it. But we won't let them. We
will not.
We MUST not.
I know you must have had a considerable amount of visitors lately. Hah...
I would wager you never knew so many cared. Practically the whole
X-Clan is
here. Except for the X-Force kids. From what I have been able to ascertain
they are somewhat - what is that popular vernacular that Robert
is so fond
of? - pissed at us. I am not sure whether anyone has told you yet...
I am
sorry, Moira, but Peter Wisdom has passed away. I'm sorry...
Rahne is doing better. Much better, the depth of her feelings for you
considered. I believe she no longer cries herself to sleep... not every
night at any rate. In fact I think that the call to X-Force did
some good.
On both sides. I would not be surprised if Sam decides to come after
all.
You probably think me mad, sitting here talking to you, as if you were
still alive. Not the case, I am afraid. I am not insane... just very,
very
inebriated. Hah... Surprised you, didn't I? Let me tell you, it wasn't
an
easy feat - my mass is somewhat detrimental to easy intoxication by
the
method of alcohol consumption. In fact I think it set back my funds
considerably. But - I persevered.
I'm still working on the data you bequeathed to Charles before your
passing.
Dr. Reyes is assisting me. I am confident that in a matter of weeks
I shall
be successful in developing a universal vaccine for all the strains
of the
Legacy. But today... today I just couldn't stay indoors. Have you ever
listened to the Prokofiev's 5th? Do you remember that "pregnant pause"
before the music would reach its crescendo? That's the feeling around
here
now. I don't know why, but... I feel as if the Change is coming.
Kitty is still missing. Jean has been spending hours with the Cerebro
but so
far - no luck. I believe that she latched on to this quest as the last
shard
of hope. If Kitty is alive after all... why not Scotty? Heavens, I
miss
him... It seems that every day brings nothing but news of fallen comrades.
Perhaps we are getting old...
I don't think Nathan will remain with us for much longer. In fact I
think
that he has stayed till now is a testament to the power of his will.
He's
restless. He and Logan, both. So alike in some ways those two... It
is
becoming something of a familiar ritual to have two pots of coffee
ready and
waiting for them, long after everyone else has gone to sleep. They
prowl
through the mansion grounds like caged predators.
Logan has been frank in his self-diagnosis. I believe he's correct.
He IS
overdue for one of his "walkabouts." He always dealt with pain
better
alone. One on one...
Nathan is a different case. He's never subscribed to Charles' Dream.
Vocally
opposed it on numerous occasions, in fact. The... passing of Scott
is not
enough to reverse a deep-seated philosophical doctrine that Nathan
holds
about mutants-human relations. I think... he will stay for a little
while
longer. He needs to deal with the remnants of pain, with the doubts
he has
about his place in the world... but eventually he shall leave. He's
much too
much of his own man. Once he realizes that he cannot honor Scotty by
trying
to become him - he'll go. I hope Jean sees that.
I think Remy does. Our ragin' Cajun is surprising many people.
Himself not
the least, I believe. They nod grudgingly and remark how remarkably
quickly
he matured when thrust into the leadership role. Well... I think you
know my
views on that. Or was that Charles who spoke to me on the topic?
Hmm...
Be as it may, Remy is doing well. As I said, I believe he always had
the
potential. Pity he never recognized that, for all of his outward
self-assuredness. He's driving himself into the ground... Trying to
fill
Scott's shoes much in the same way Nathan is. To put it succinctly...
Remy
has got to get himself a life. Oh, yes. Our resident charmer is steadily
turning into a monk. He is still maintaining the appearance but...
I chanced
upon him the Sunday last, at the wee hours of the morning, sleeping
in the
War Room with the dossier on Shaw as his pillow. Too typical of his
working
habits lately. He doesn't trust our newest resident, I am afraid.
Tessa Niles. Late of the Hellfire Club. A charming young lady, who is
proving very useful in many respects, but in others... Well, let us
just say
that she reminds me increasingly of the redoubtable Ms Frost. Which
is not a
bad thing per se, but...
Ah, I mentioned Emma... Which brings us to another mutual acquaintance,
doesn't it? I suppose it was inevitable. Has he come to see you yet?
If not,
he will. Sean is... well, Sean is Sean. It is beginning to sound sadly
repetitive but perhaps he too is buckling under the strain. In some
ways the
news of Everett was the worst of all for every one of us. It has been
a long
time since the Dream claimed a child... Piotr took it very hard.
Sean...
Well, he can tell you himself.
It's so quiet here. Hah. It is rather disturbing, but one of my fondest
recent memories is that of a rather spectacular confrontation between
Remy
and our ever-mysterious Southern Belle. Truthfully, I could not say
with any
amount of certainty whether they are currently in their 'on' or 'off'
phase.
The tactical situation of that particular corner of our universe changes
far
too drastically, far too frequently for my modest intellectual abilities
to
keep track of.
Their... umm, confrontations have not lost the umm... legendary zest.
I
think Remy's tactics are working a little too well on Rogue, of all
people.
I am not sure whether he really did finally have enough and decided
to have
a little vacation or if it was just the judiciously applied alcohol
on the
shirt but... It was memorable. Lifted the spirits of the mansion
considerably. I do believe Charles will have to call a mason about
the
western wall again, however. That girl still doesn't know her own strength.
I'm afraid I am in a disadvantaged position to judge her leadership
skills,
since I have not had much opportunity to observe it in person, as of
yet. Of
course that hardly precludes a little second-hand speculation, does
it now?
Oh, really, Moira... Everybody is entitled to a little character flaw.
I
like to keep abreast of things... Or as Robert, rather unkindly in
my
opinion, once called it - gossiping. Gossiping, indeed! How rude. Hmpph!
But getting back to our beautiful flower of the South. Steel magnolia
perhaps... For a startlingly capable tactician, I'm afraid Rogue has
a
rather appallingly atrocious cinematographic taste. I wonder if that
too is
a carryover from her foster-mother... Ms. Darkholme is still in a hospital.
Steadily getting better. Rogue has been... reserved in her comments
on the
situation. In fact... why, that tricky devil! I do believe that Remy
provoked her on purpose. Hmm... I must admit it worked like a charm,
even
if Rogue's unresolved emotions when given an outlet did almost landed
my
esteemed Cajun leader in the room adjunct to Mystique's.
Robert is still missing. I decided to take the liberty to call his parents
but they also only had a brief visit from him, several weeks ago. His
email
messages, which he sends with the usual regularity, or rather lack
thereof,
seem to indicate that he's in a rarely good form these days. I notified
him
of the present happenings... No doubt we shall be seeing him shortly.
Hmm... Upon reflection it seems that my comment in regards to "all of
X-Clan" being here was a trifle misleading. So many people absent.
So many
missing friends...
We have not heard from Warren for a long time now. I simply do not seem
able
to reach him. The headquarters of his corporation are either as much
in the
dark as I am or are being extremely uncooperative. I hope he is well.
Heavens, but it is easy to breathe here. Not like the mansion... Did
I
mention that already? My apologies. It is as if we are drifting...
So much
has happened lately. Crisis after crisis, after crisis... no time to
pause
and take a breather. It is as if we have lost our center... Tempting
as it
is to venerate Scott by saying that it was his death that shook us
so... I
don't believe that to be the case. It was a heavy blow... but we started
drifting long before.
We deal with such gigantic problems so often that it deadened us. Every
casualty just numbs us farther. Ever since... Antarctica, I suppose.
We are
still a family, the feeling of closeness is still there but... more
and more
it is mingled all too well with that of an outnumbered army... And
I am
afraid. Afraid that this siege mentality will come true.
I hope that my instincts prove true. I sincerely hope that the Change
is
coming. I pray it is. Amusing... me, a man of science, praying. I haven't
done it in close to twenty years, you know. Hmm... Methinks that our
mutual
hirsute, swashbuckling associate is rubbing off on me. Although I must
say
that the patience of several of our friends are being worn rather thin
by
Kurt's formidable composure. But he too is hurting even if he does
not show
it. For all that the tenants of his faith maintain that it's all a
part of
a Plan, it has been a little much for him lately. Scott, Kitty, you,
Pete...
He was closer to you and them, much more so than many of us. But you
know
Kurt. His accent gets stronger, the scenarios in Danger Room get a
little
more piratical and he goes on. Remarkable man, in many ways. I wonder
if it
is really the faith that makes him so or vice versa... We talk
more often
of late. He too confesses of having some forebodings about our future.
The
feeling of a coming Change.
May it come soon.
May it be good.
May it save us.
Slowly but surely we are falling apart, rotting from inside out while
appearing the picture of strength on the surface... And I am
afraid. I am
afraid and I am drunk. I am drunk... and I wish Bobby, Warren and Scott
were here."