"What is it?"
The pair exchanged looks. An unspoken agreement was reached between them. "Professor," Kitty began, "Something strange is going on, has been for the last couple of days for both of us."
Seeing the Professor and Logan looking at them as they were with equal measures of interest and amazement something triggered again in her mind and once more she was somewhere else. For just a moment that other world coexisted with the one she was rapidly beginning to NOT think of as the "normal one". It was enough so that she could see herself stagger and collapse, fortunately right into Bobby's arms as he cried out in alarm.
Then he was beside her again, once more in that strange unknown place that they had both experienced. But this time they were there together. They were standing on a cold windy place. Before them was the bulk of the X-Jet. Four figures had just disembarked from it. Storm and, of all things, Magneto were on the sides. Before them, just as they had been in the real world were the Professor and Logan. The Professor was smiling and even Logan had the hint of a grin on his face.
What for? She knew the world they were in now was past dangerous, it was deadly. There was a deep feeling of loss, sadness even a tinge of despair. There was the feeling that they were hunted, hunted like animals and turning to make a last stand. So why the smiles?
Then she knew and Bobby did as well. It was the warmth of his hand in hers. Maybe this world was as cold and barren as it seemed but there was one saving grace and it was that she loved Bobby and he loved her too.
Loved? That was too strong a word. Wasn t it? True she was very fond of Bobby and enjoyed his company and they had been friends for a long time. Granted she had just kissed him, or he had kissed her or maybe they had the same idea together. And it had been a wonderful kiss, even with the visions that had interrupted it. In fact she wouldn't mind at all repeating it. But that didn't mean they were in love did it? Just like they were still holding hands it meant... something, she wasn't sure yet.
Her thoughts had interrupted the vision she had wandered off into. Still it had only been seconds. She looked at Bobby, still with his arms around her supporting her. She admitted it felt nice. He was looking down at her and the expression on his face showed that this time they had been to the same place. And felt the same feelings? Possibly. He looked confused and unsure and perhaps even a bit frightened about what was happening to them. But there was also a look of tenderness in his eyes as they met hers, a sensation of caring.
A polite cough brought their attention back to the Professor who was looking at them with an expression of concern. Interestingly that expression was mirrored by Logan.
"You two just went away somewhere. Was that connected to what you need to talk about?" the Professor asked.
Both of them started talking at once, their words tripping over each other at first. There was a moment of laughter which seemed to release some of the tension. A glance between Kitty and Bobby decided it; she went first with Bobby filling in when his experiences seemed to fit in. They described their dreams and the visions they had each had and finally the one that they had just shared.
"Obviously," Bobby concluded, "we shared the same world, along with people familiar and unfamiliar, including you two. But what world was it?" He groped for the right words. "Some kind of alternate or parallel universe perhaps?"
Both of them observed the looks that the Professor and Logan exchanged, a mixture of surprise and concern. And knowledge? Kitty nearly said something but Bobby squeezed her hand and when she glanced at him he gave the tiniest shake of his head. So they waited.
The Professor rolled forward, searching both of their eyes before making a decision.
"That is one possible explanation. I confess I am troubled but I don't believe there is anything dangerous in what you both seem to be sharing. I need to think about this. I promise we will talk again soon."
Knowing that was the end of the conversation the pair left, adjourning to Kitty's room.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"I think that this both is and isn't a surprise for the Professor. Logan as well. They know something that we don't but that we are seeing these, visions or dreams or whatever they are, is something they didn't expect. I'm worried."
Bobby slid his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. "Don't. Regardless of what is going on you know the Professor only has our best interests at heart."
Kitty snuggled against him. It did feel very good. It was even better when he added his other arm and held her all wrapped up. She lifted her face to his. Almost hesitantly they kissed, wondering if that act was going to trigger another vision. But all it did was make them both feel very warm and very close and vey happy.
Mean while back in the Professor's office the two men were trying to come to grips with what had just been told to them.
"What do you think Logan? Although I know about the future they are talking about from what you have told me I still have only the single memory of you bringing me forward to get that talking to from my older self. How accurately do their stories stack up against what you remember?"
Logan pondered for a moment. "Most of what they talked about I wasn't there for of course but Kitty's description of an upcoming Sentinel attack and what she was doing during it matches what they all described to me, to us, when we worked out the plan. And definitely our arrival in the jet and meeting them is exactly how I recall it, especially our noticing when Bobby took Kitty's hand."
He hesitated. "There's more. When we were in Paris and the appearance of Stryker triggered a flashback, which is a strange word for an event that hadn't happened yet, I lost it as you well know. But I believe I lost control in the future as well. I could feel Kitty losing me and with us connected I could tell she was in pain. I think I hurt her. But later on that pain, which had been somewhere in the back of my mind, disappeared. And I heard Marie whispering 'Hello Logan' to me."
The Professor raised an eyebrow. "So there was more than one communication between past and future. Interesting."
Logan smiled, almost bashfully, a look that no one could recall ever seeing on his face. "When I finally returned the other day to 'Here and Now" I was very happy to be waking up with her. Perhaps that connection carried on through time."
"An interesting thought," the Professor said. "Perhaps the connection between Kitty and Bobby became so strong that even the resetting of the time line didn't wipe it away completely. And now it's returning."
"The only other people who know of that future are Hank, Raven and Magneto. Have any of them said anything to you about memories of it?"
The Professor shook his head. "Nothing. As far as Hank and Raven," and he smiled happily that his adopted sister was once more 'Raven', "it may be that because their attraction existed before the events of 1973 and that future they don't need that connection so it doesn't trouble them. Besides," he sighed, "as I recall you telling me both of them died quite early, Raven in the Trask Industries labs and Hank in a futile attempt to rescue her. As for Eric, our communication is sparse but he has given no indication he has any recollection of the future. His thoughts and dreams are still about the past."
"So what do we tell them?" asked Logan.
"Let me think about it over night. The morning will come in plenty of time and we can talk to them then."
But that wasn't to be. In the middle of the night Kitty awoke from a dreamless sleep. Slightly confused she didn't see the form bending over her as a threat, not knowing that after she fell asleep Bobby had covered her up, kissed her on the forehead and gone to his own room for the night. Unaware she sleepily asked. "Bobby?"
The figure didn't answer. By the time Kitty's instincts fully woke it was too late. A cloth was pressed over her face and before she could phase out she slumped unconscious. The figure nodded in satisfaction, hoisting her over its shoulder.
"Hope the other one is as easy as this. Well not my problem," and it left through a panel in the hallway that no one other than the school's staff was supposed to be aware of.
(To be continued)
