Woah! Large chapter coming up! As it says in the description somewhere, this is a cross over of the entire X-Men universe as a whole. Much of my plot line is going to be set in the Wolverine and the Xmen as well as the Xmen: Evolution setting. I couldn't pick one so I decided, why not both? Anyway, I own nothing but my words, you know the drill thanks and enjoy;D
Chapter 3: Memories
" 'Professor?' " I reach out mentally once inside the X-Jet, which I am told is now called the Blackbird. It's changed considerably since last I was here. In fact, I don't even think it's the same transport anymore; sleeker, stealthier, roomier... But the jet's not the only thing.
These X-Men suits are much better than the old model I once wore; much more black and less yellow. Mystique's suit (which I saw Kurt pluck from the trash earlier when he found out it was once his mother's) was far too gaudy and allowed minimal movement. This one is sleek and stylish, feeling (but not looking) more like tights than fiber glass.
" 'Yes, Ms. Elizabeth?' "
I hesitate, " 'I hate to ask, but…"
" 'You want to know "What's up with Logan?"' " He replies, glancing at me from across the aisle with a friendly smile. " 'I know, your face said it all this morning.' "
" 'It's not that I have a problem or anything!' "I respond quickly, furrowing my eye brows as I glance at Logan who's manually flying the Jet just ahead. " 'It's just…strange.' " I continue to stare at Logan as I say, "He was always so detached to me, back then. Like a lone wolf. I never thought he'd be so…friendly. He's really changed...' "
" 'That's what happens when you're a part of a team,' " The Professor says pointedly. " 'You change.' "
" 'For them.' " I say numbly, looking to Kurt and Scott, Jean and Rogue, Kitty and Bobby..." 'He changed for them, didn't he?' "
The Professor responds with something I've never shared before…Memories.
"Ohhh…" I say out loud as a barrage of images simultaneously pour into my head; all of which involve Logan and the kids on missions where he would wrestle around with Scott and Bobby and Kurt (who he calls the "elf"), during training sessions in which he'd tease Kitty when she couldn't keep up with the others ("Don't sweat it, half-pint…"), comforting Rogue during one of her many slumps.
One memory stuck out to me in particular. One where an even younger looking Scott was obviously struggling with something, and Logan was there. Talking to him. I, like the Professor at the time, can't hear what was being said but…
The way Logan sat and listened to Scott. The way he gripped his shoulder firmly and spoke to him. Like a father The small, sad smile that spread across Scotts face before he got up and left for bed. And finally, the way Logan smiled to himself (completely unaware of Xavier's' presence) at knowing that he'd helped at least one kid when no one else could.
As if sensing my staring, Logan turns his head slightly and offers a smirk, which I return warmly, no longer unnerved by his change in demeanor.
" 'Thank you, Professor.' " I say mentally, but I want to know more. I want to experience more. " 'D'you think you could...?' "
" 'Memories are made, Ms. Hawthorne,' " The Professor responds philosophically. " 'Not shared. Perhaps you can make your own here with us.' " The Professor responds, then says, after noticing my disappointed look, " 'But until then…' "
I sit back and close my eyes as the best memories, the fun memories, and even some of the bad memories flash in the corners of my mind. Like a movie, only with much better color…
By the time we arrive at Senator Kelly's office (which didn't took maybe five minutes) my thoughts are chalked full of the memories of events I'd never been present for. And I was dying to see more.
But I realize that the Professor had been right.
I can't learn about these people through mere memories. I need to talk to them. Get to know them. And I think now would be a good time to start. A few of us wait in the lobby including Kurt, who dons the disguise of a normal human being with the help of an odd, watch-like device, (reminding me disturbingly of Azazel, who had done the same sort of thing to visit me in the hospital after my first run-in with Sabretooth ended in disaster).
There is also Scott, Rogue and Jean as well as Logan who were told to stay in the lobby while the Professor and Storm went ahead to talk to Kelly. Hank volunteered to stay with the Jet along with Bobby and Kitty, who were made to sit this one out.
I stand apart awkwardly from the others, trying to find a way to speak to one of them, when I notice someone has joined me.
Rogue.
"Can't stand to be around them," Rogue says, unprompted, and I look in the direction she's talking about. Logan is busy arguing with the lady at the front desk who is threatening to kick us out, and Cyclops and Jean are deep in conversation, standing very close to one another as always.
"Love birds?" I ask and she nods, looking away with a slight blush. "The only ones who don't know it are them." She says sullenly.
I study her a moment, then turn my gaze forward and say nonchalantly, "He's pretty good-looking. For a high schooler, anyway." I add quickly when she glances at me quickly. I guess technically I'd be in my thirties by now. Thirty-Seven to be exact.
Creepy.
"Yeah, I guess…" She mumbles, shuffling a bit.
"How long have you liked him?"
She looks up at me sharply again, challengingly, and I shrug, "Forget it, I could be wrong."
A silence passes over us and I curse inwardly, sure I just messed up my chance of making friends with this girl who (according to the Professor's memories) is pretty messed up, when she says softly, "He was the first one…" She hesitated, "To try with me."
I look at her and give her my full attention, tilting my head to the side to urge her on. She inhales deeply and says, "All my life, people have just…given up on me. My foster mom…my real mom…" She looks away and I do, too, feeling a familiar pang in my abdomen and my hand goes to it automatically. I can almost feel the blade.
I hope that doesn't become a regular sensation.
"Even people I thought were my friends would just drift away." Rogue continues. "They couldn't touch me and I didn't want to talk to them because they didn't understand."
Then her eyes lift and fall on Scott who currently has a grip on Logan's forearm in an attempt to keep him from lunging at the receptionist who flees her desk in terror. Guess he's not as levelheaded as I thought! Maybe it's just around the kids. Kurt stands by awkwardly as Jean catches up to the receptionist and begins to calm her down using her telepathy. I hope it'll be enough to keep the police—or worse, the MRD—off our backs until the Professor comes back.
We still have to see Magneto.
"He did." She says and I can see a small tear welling in her eye. She hastily wipes it away, "Forget it, it's dumb. I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"No, I guess not." I say and she looks at me in surprise. "But," I continue, speaking slowly to form my words as best I can. "I do remember…the feeling," I hesitate, the words feeling foreign in my mouth. "of having someone reach down when you couldn't possibly be any lower," I say and as I do, the image of a scarlet hand reaching down to me as I sat on a bank, waiting to be flown to Westchester flashed in my mind.
"And lift you up, without caring about who you are or what you've done." Then a face, and the bluest eyes I've ever seen surface in my mind's eye. Someone pulling me to my feet. "Someone who just understands that it's not okay. And is okay with that." I add with a laugh.
"That's all you can ever ask for, isn't it?" I say and find myself studying Logan again, who pats Scott roughly on the back, nearly knocking him over and saying, "Yer grip's getting better, kid! That new training exercise must be gettin' too easy for ya'!"
"N-no, no!" Scott says hurriedly, a hand at his back. "It's hard! Really challenging! Mm, hm…"
I smirk to myself and turn back to Rogue, who stares at me as if seeing me for the first time.
I think I've made a break through.
The Professor returns quite suddenly along with Storm who looks slightly paranoid. "It's time to leave," Xavier says, wheeling past us and I exchange a glance with Rogue before following her out, the others hot on our tail. The Jet lands in front of us, much to the surprise of the civilians in the area, and we leave just as a cop car pulls up along with an army green, armoured van.
"So what's the damage, Chuck?" Logan asks once we're inside. The Professor seems deep in thought, his fingers at his temples, then he looks up and says, "We must go to Genosha."
"Genosha?" I ask. I've never heard of that before.
"Yes," The Professor says, "When he realized he could not control all of humanity, Erik formed his own Nation to rule, called Genosha."
Not what I expected, but okay…
"It is meant as a refuge for Mutants to live separately from Humans." The Professor adds almost defensively. "A Mutant Nation."
"A Mutant Nation, or Mutant Army?" I counter.
"My thoughts exactly," Logan quips, his arms folded.
"I—believe that Erik has the best intentions in mind—"
Logan and a few others give a collective, "humph!" And it takes everything in my power not to do the same. It's obvious Erik doesn't really care about other Mutants. Just about his own self-righteous crusade against Humans. Why can't the Professor see that?
" 'And what?' "A little voice in my head says . " 'Hate Erik like you did Glenn?' "
I shut my eyes a moment, clearing my thoughts, and when I open my eyes again, I find myself meeting Logan's eye for what feels like the tenth time since this morning. I blink and turn back to the Professor as he says, "I would like to get his side before making any assumptions. I believe that if we go to him peacefully we may get to the bottom of this."
"I'm in," Scott says.
"Me, too."
"Same here."
"Yeah, I guess…"
"I vanna go to Genosha!"
The Professor looks to me, "I'm with you," I say resolutely. "I've got a few questions to ask myself."
We arrive in what might be the most obvious way possible to avoid an unnecessary open fire. We fly slowly so as not to cause panic, the Jet in full view, and I clutch the seats as I gaze down at the haven below. It looks incredible. Like the ancient cities of Rome. It really is a beautiful place. Many Mutants look to us curiously. A little boy with fishy scales for skin waves and I wave back absentmindedly as we fly by.
We land at what looks like a palace but no welcoming committee greets us. The establishment beyond appears to be deserted.
"He wants us to find him," The Professor says, his voice echoing in the halls.
"And let me guess," Rogue pipes up. "We're gonna go look for him?"
"Split up into teams." Logan says right off. "We'll go in two's."
"Mind if I go with you?" Rogue asks sheepishly as everyone else start to team up.
I smile a bit, then notice Logan studying me once again. Then he smirks and walks over to Hank, saying, "Looks like it's you an' me, Hank."
The Professor has already paired up with Storm, Kurt with Kitty, and Jean with Cyclops. Perfect.
"Let's do it!" I say enthusiastically, in spite of my worries about seeing Erik again. I barely knew the man after I agreed to join his cause, but he'd made sure to give me every reason to hate him since then. But it's not just him I'm looking for.
We wander off in different directions, phasing into empty room after empty room until I finally stop, realizing how much noise my boots have been making. I look down and touch the floor, Rogue peering over my shoulder. Metal. I look up at the ceiling which has a gray tint to it. Metal too, no doubt. "Of course," I murmur. It's actually a pretty clever move on his part.
He's gotten smarter.
We phase through a large, handless door into (what else?) another empty room. It's dark and eerie-even more so than the previous room. And, despite the place being huge enough to comfortably house the entire population of Genosha, there is no one here. It's completely devoid of life. Seemingly.
Rogue saw it coming first.
But all she could do was point, a look of shock frozen on her face as a slab of metal in the shape of a vice clamped down around her, slamming her to the ground, and then it whiplashed up and dragged her, at an alarming speed, straight toward the wall. "No!" cried, but instead of smearing her against the wall like I feared, the vice began to meld into the wall, taking a writhing Rogue with it.
In the next instance, she was gone.
I chased after it, sprinting through the wall desperately. "Elizabeth!" I could hear her calling, but I couldn't see her any more. She had disappeared.
"Rogue?" I call out, my voice echoing in the large, cavernous room, turning in a circle before calling even louder, "Eriiiik!"
Without warning, the floor drops out from under me, sending me plummeting into the dark. My stomach pitfalls as I reach up in a desperate attempt to cling to the floor but it slips from my grasp and then I'm free falling. Then something catches me around the waist a moment later, knocking the wind out of me, and slowly lowers me down.
I reopen my eyes—unaware that I had even closed them—and find that I'm not alone.
Everyone has already been detained.
Logan's been pinned to the wall along with Hank, Cyclops, Rogue and most of the others with the exception of the Professor, who has yet to arrive it would seem, and Kitty, who hangs suspended by a single tile over a bottomless gorge in the floor. Kurt has been knocked unconscious but it looks like he's breathing.
The metal around my stomach lowers me down and tilts my body up so I'm facing at a somewhat upright angle, which feels more painful than the former, horizontal position. I gasp and, with some difficulty manage push myself up using my hands, the metal biting into my abdomen, and I find myself face to face with a handsome, older gentlemen with white hair and an odd, red and purple get up; including a cape and helmet to match. He hovers above the ground on a metal slab, his hands clasped eloquently behind his back.
His eyes have an eerie white glow to them.
"Erik?" I whisper uncertainly. I couldn't possibly…He looks so old! Good, I'll admit, but old! Then again, so does Xavier—
"How do you know my name, child?" Erik asks, his voice sounding even classier than when he was still a fairly young man, only now he is much more refined; bearing a strangely calm aura about him. But I can tell just by looking into those eyes that he's still as deadly as ever, if not more. "And don't lie to me." He smirks, taking hold of my chin in his gloved hand. "I do so hate liars."
"You really don't recognize me, do you?" I ask in surprise, ignoring the way his fingers dig into my jaw. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Even after you recruited us, you kept your distance. Was it the guilt at knowing you had tricked us into joining you that kept you away? Or did you just not give a damn one way or the other?" I ask viciously, my eyes glowing a violet light and his own glowing eyes, along with his smirk, fade in a matter of seconds.
"I—I don't believe it!" He gasps, his voice suddenly sounding far more like his age than before. He withdraws his hand as if burned and the metal vice around me loosens and I fall out of his trap, nearly landing on my face, but I manage to catch myself before hitting the metal ground. There is a sharp pain on my left ankle where it took the brunt of the fall but I can tell it's not sprained.
"Believe it," I snap, getting to my feet as the others look on helplessly. "I used to think it would be hard—running from your past. I guess it's easier for some than others." I say fiercely as I advance on him and, to my slight amusement, he starts to move back, a look of horror frozen on his face, and for a moment I feel a sense of empowerment.
Then suddenly, he stops.
"How?" He demands, holding his ground and I come to a stop, too. His sharp, blue eyes (darker in his advanced age) stare at me in an accusatory glare, "You were dead. I know it. How are you still alive?"
"As soon as I find my body, I'll let you know." I say and fold my arms, "I guess I can rule you out as a likely suspect, then."
"What do you…" He beings and then a smile creeps over his face and I realize I probably should have shut up. I don't need him knowing my weaknesses. Or my strengths.
"Your body…You died outside of your physical body, didn't you?" He asks, and I feel my face pale. Damn. "I never had the heart to ask Charles myself but I always wondered…" He chuckles suddenly, a disconcerting sound, and now he's the one to start advancing on me. Only I hold my ground, even when his frame comes to stand a mere foot or so away. He towers over me.
"So where is it then, my dear?" Magneto asks, reaching out and grasping a lock of my hair inquiringly. "Where is your body now?" He asks slowly, mockingly.
I grit my teeth, then look away in defeat, unable to come up with a witty comeback or a response at all. I have no idea where my body is. Or why it's gone. Or why I'm still alive. I just don't know…
"Leave her alone!" Rogue cries out in distress, having seen the look of despair on my face and she kicks out at the metal barb that holds her in place by her wrists.
"Ah yes," Erik says, turning to face the others. "I forgot you brought company on your little crusade."
"Enough, Magneto!" Logan calls from the wall, where his arm holds Hank firmly in place beside him, his knuckles positioned beneath Beasts' jaw as his claws threaten to come out. I forgot his body is made of metal, making him an easily manipulated weapon for Magneto. "We didn't come here to pick a fight!"
"Didn't you?" Magneto counters, eyeing me out of the corner of his eye and I find I can't gage what he's thinking anymore. He seemed disturbed when he realized who I was, but now what? Is he guilty? With that smirk, I don't think so. Does he fear me? Not likely. Then what?
"The Professor will tell you!" Jean chimes in from her place the wall where she has been forced to face Cyclops, whose glasses have been removed. If he opens his eyes even a little... "We came to ask some questions."
"Questions? About what, I wonder?" Magneto asks smoothly.
" 'Let me in, and I shall tell you.' " The Professor's voice floats around the room. Magneto sighs, shaking his head, "Charles, you really should call first."
The wall opens to reveal a small room from which the Professor emerges, "I do wish you wouldn't be so quick to violence, old friend." Xavier says, turning to his students and teachers apologetically. "Please, release them, Erik."
"For an old friend—and former accomplice—" He turns to me with a wink and I narrow my eyes menacingly with a purple glow. Wordlessly, Erik waves a hand, and everyone is released. "This way," Magneto states bluntly, brushing past me.
I stare after his billowing cloak as the others start to follow.
I have no idea of what to make of this new Magneto. This new Erik. I can't tell for the life of me what this guy is thinking, whereas before his emotions were written all over his face; hostile, reckless, unsteady. It's unsettling, this—this levelheaded Magneto.
"What was he like?" Logan asks, appearing beside me. "When you knew him?"
I think a minute, "Emotional. Reckless. Unstable. Definitely not…like this." I say, lowering my voice as we begin to follow behind the others. "He seems so in control now. Then again, I never was a good judge of character."
"Heh," Logan says, smirking deviously. "I'd like to see reckless Magneto."
"He—kind of reminds me of you." I say tentatively.
"Me?!" He stops in the hall. Rogue turns to look at us and I smile reassuringly and take hold of his enormous forearm, pulling him forward.
"Well, in a way. When I first met you, you were so…rough around the edges. You might still be now." I add quickly at his funny look. "To strangers maybe. But you're…different. Kinder. You know what matters."
He looks ahead, and I see his eyes linger on each teenager ahead in turn, probably thinking of some of those memories I glimpsed earlier. Then a small smile touches his thin lips, "Yeah, I guess I have changed, huh?"
"If you hadn't I'm not sure I'd be next to you right now!" I say in a joking tone, but even Logan senses the harsh truth behind it.
"I always…knew you didn't trust me."
"I trusted you," I only half-lie, my tone of voice totally betraying me and I fight to explain myself. "It's just that you reminded me of…"
"Of Magneto?"
I tense up. Does he still not know about Victor? About his half-brother? If not, there must be a good reason for it. I observe the Professor a moment, but he appears to be in deep conversation with Magneto at the front of the party, so I settle for a little half-truth, "Yeah, a little."
"Hm," Logan says as we follow Magneto into what looks like his study where the wall has parted for us, "At least I've changed, right?"
"Right." I say breathlessly, following him inside with a sense of dread as the wall sealed in behind us.
"So," Magneto says ponderously, staring out the window at the small nation below us. The lights of the city have begun to shine as the sun begins its descent into the ocean. Is the day passed already? "Kelly is far more weak-minded than I believed."
"I wanted to hear your side of this, Erik." The Professor replies, moving closer to his friend tentatively. "We must know what it is you're planning. The future of Mutants and Humans alike are at stake—"
"You dare chastise me on that which I already know?" Magneto snaps angrily, bawling his fist as he turns away from the window. The X-Men tense up, gearing for a fight, but the Professor waves them down, "I meant no disrespect, Erik. I only wanted—"
"To interrogate me?" Magneto interjects with a raised brow. "My affairs are none of your concern. Genosha operates separately from the Human government; although, I have visited and negotiated with Senator Kelly on numerous occasions—all in the interests of protecting my people, I assure you. I'd say I've been quite diplomatic on the matter, wouldn't you, Charles?"
"Just don't get in over your head, Magneto," Logan says, ignoring the scowl he receives from both Erik and Xavier. "You might think Kelly's got your back, but he'll be the first to turn you and your little civilization to ash the second he finds out how."
I stare at him along with the others. Intense much, Logan?
"Though he lacks tact," Xavier says pointedly, "Wolverine makes an excellent point, Erik," Xavier says in an attempt to diffuse the situation. "Senator Kelly cannot be trusted."
"Your warning, while touching, is unnecessary. I have the situation…under control," Erik adds, looking to me and Logan purposefully, smirking when Logan growls deep in his throat and I lightly touch his arm, tossing him a warning glance. He settles down, but continues to eye Erik, whose eyes meet mine as he says, "Now, if there's nothing else you'd like to discuss…"
I blink, then look around at the group and say, "Could I—have a moment?" I turn my gaze back to Magneto. "Alone?"
"No wa—" Logan starts, stepping in front of me, but the Professor holds up a hand and nods to me, saying, "We'll be just outside." But before they exit the room, his voice says in my head, " 'Be careful what you ask. You may not like the answer.' "
(Insert Billy Mays voice here) But wait! There's more! Stay tuned for the next installment of the New World. Until then, you stay classy!
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