Title: The Sky is Falling
Fandom: X-Men Universe comics / movies
Pairing: Jean G./Emma F.
Rating: PG-13
Notes: You know that moment in a movie, where one of the actors says the title of the movie and we get excited. Yeah that is totally me right now...teeeheehee. I have been waiting for this moment personally.
Arishem the Judge is a Celestial created by Jack Kirby, first appeared in The Eternals #2 (August 1976).
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I love them.
X
X
"Come now lover, time is wasting." Says the Phoenix pulling Emma up from the bed. "Don't worry about your Jean, as I said, she's asleep. You and I have a meeting to attend." Emma remains silent and follows her out the front door.
They walk down the hallway to the elevator, taking them downstairs to the first floor. Reaching Professor Xavier's office, the redhead knocks and looks at Emma with a toothy grin on her face. Hank opens the door and they walk inside. Storm, Logan, Rogue, Bobby, Forge and Charles are all gathered around his desk.
"Glad you all could make it." The redhead says as she leaves Emma's side, walks into the middle of the room, and sets herself ablaze with a loud birdlike screech. The room is filled with heat as the X-men scramble to escape the flames. Then it stops, just as soon as it started, disappearing as though it never happened. Nothing in the room is burned just a golden-eyed Jean Grey standing in the middle of the room smiling.
"I'm guessing that's what you all were expecting right." She says with a giggle. "I just wanted to get that out of the way. It never ceases to amaze me how attached you people are to your past. Fortunately for you, I am here for your future. Before I begin, does anyone have any pressing questions?" She looks around the room. Charles opens his mouth to speak and the redhead cuts him off. "Jean is fine Chuckie. Are there any other issues?" The room is silent for full minute.
"Good, on to business. I am here because this planet and every human inhabiting it, will be destroyed soon. Last time I manifested here, the global consciousness of this world was full of hatred, fear, and pain, causing my host Jean Grey and I some trouble. My essence was destructive and violent as I adjusted to the energetic vibrations of this place. As a result many people died. Unfortunately, not all that much has changed, save my host's compatibility. I took some time away to raise my vibration in the higher dimensions to better prepare myself before I returned and now it appears you are almost out of time."
"Are you here to destroy this world, because we will have no choice but to –," Charles is interrupted by the redhead as she advances toward his desk menacingly.
"Do what Chuckie, go ahead, tell me what you are going to do to me!" Her eyes glowing as intense heat wafts from body. Charles closes his mouth as she arches a challenging eyebrow at him. "Didn't think so. To answer your question, No, on the contrary I am here to save it. The lack spiritual and energetic advancement on this planet has drawn the attention of the Celestials. There is an entity on its way here called Arishem the Judge. Would any one like to guess what it does?"
Bobby raises his hand. Phoenix motions for him to answer. "It…judges?" Says Iceman, his voice shaking, unsure of himself.
"Well now, give that man a cookie, he's a doggone genius." The redhead says. "You are quite right popsicle Pete. It does indeed judge. It is a universal force tasked with judging if the civilization of a planet will live or die. It's on its way here. As it stands I've come in contact with Arishem a few times over the eons, and it cannot be destroyed but it can be detoured."
Storm speaks up, "What needs to be done for this… detour to take place?"
"Evolution." Says the Phoenix. "The singular manipulation of quantum fields through DNA, what you all call mutation is the next stage of evolution for humans. It is a necessity however at this point that that stage be exceeded."
Hank is confused. "With all due respect Phoenix, but perhaps you are not aware that evolution on this planet happens over the course of millions of years. Why even our own mutations are result of millennia of cellular development."
"Thanks a bunch, I had no idea Grizzly Adams." She says sarcastically. "As I was saying, it is imperative that mutants evolve. Unfortunately most mutants do not have the capacity to. I have however identified a few who might be capable of reaching a higher state strong enough to detour Arishem. I believe it's referred to as Class 5 or Omega on this planet. I intend to forcefully induce this state."
"There are currently 6 who are capable and as fortune would have it you have already assembled them Chuckie. Omega level training will begin with me as soon as the Tech-head and I complete a new Danger room below the current one."
"Who are they?" Charles asks.
"The weather woman, the Popsicle, the Leper, the weasel, and my lover." She says.
"That only makes five." Logan says.
"Congratulations, you can count." She rolls her eyes. "The sixth isn't here right now. But that's not a problem at the moment. Now in regards to this training you will either advance or you will die. And I don't mean from the Judge's arrival. I mean you will die because I will kill you."
"Wait what!?" exclaims Bobby "Don't we get any say so in this?"
"If you don't do it, this planet dies. If you die in training, same difference. So in answer to your question, no you don't have a choice in the matter." The redhead tells him. "I'm sure you all understand the gravity of the situation you are faced with."
Charles takes in a deep breath. "Phoenix, if I may ask why are you helping us."
"I've just grown rather… fond of a few things on this planet." She says gazing longingly toward Emma. She looks the blonde up and down slowly. "And of the few hosts I've had over the eons I've found this one to be the most pleasing. There are also a multi-." A gruff laugh interrupts her…
"You have got to be fucking kidding me." Logan grunts. "Pussy? That's why you want to save the planet! Un-fucking believable!"
"Well if you had had any lately, you might be singing a different tune, short stack." The redhead responds with a smirk. "As I was saying, there are a multitude of planets that contain life, but none have the potential for growth that the Earth has. With trillions upon trillions of life-forms all cohabitating on it, very few planets can boast having that capability. That is why I am helping you. And while I respect Arishem, some of the judgments it will make in the future have far reaching implications on all of existence."
"We are finished here. You are free to tend to your own devices until I have completed my preparations. Come along, Geek Squad, you have work to do." The redhead says in a commanding voice full of authority. As she turns to walk toward the door, opening it telekinetically.
"Phoenix wait." Emma calls to her. She had been listening to everything that had been said, but it was that last bit that caught her attention. The redhead stops and turns her head toward her. "Are you saying you know what will happen in the future? What will happen with all of this, with all of us?"
Suddenly her eyes and body begin to glow, filling the room with a pleasantly warm golden light. Its voice booms filling the minds of everyone in the room and the school.
"I am Life!... I am Creation! … I am the source of all energy that exists, has existed, or will ever exist!... I am the Eternal Light!" The voice suddenly quiets to a mental whisper, only Emma can hear.
~ * There are unlimited probabilities Emma, every breath you take, every left instead of right, every decision you make, creates a new future, a new universe, compounding to infinity. There will come a moment in this battle, when you and only you must make a decision, a choice that will determine the fate all things. * ~ …
The glow begins to fade and everyone in the room is in awe. The Phoenix has not taken her eyes off the blonde. She smiles softly at her. "No pressure." The redhead says with a wink, then suddenly vanishes along with Forge.
Emma stands there staring at the empty space where the Phoenix was just standing, looking completely annoyed she takes a deep breath. "Fuck."
The rest of the team begins to talk among themselves, trying to process everything they were told. It seemed unbelievable, but after dealing with the likes of Apocalypse, not to mention when the Phoenix herself was rampaging, they knew nothing was out of the question. How was the Phoenix going to do it, to force evolution and how was that going to stop some Cosmic force from wiping out the planet? They were all completely confused. Then all eyes turned to Emma.
"What?" She says finally noticing that everyone is staring at her.
"Emma do you know anything about all of this?" Charles asks her.
"This is my first time hearing all this too, in case you hadn't noticed." She glares at him.
"Emma the rest of the team wasn't aware of it at the time, but you were intimately engaged with the Phoenix yesterday in your apartment." Charles tells her.
"Excuse me…" Emma turns staring at him with a confused look on her face. "How did….what exactly are you talking about Charles?" Emma remembers clearly what she was doing yesterday, but Charles shouldn't know that.
Clearing his throat, but remaining composed, "I entered the room yesterday, to find the source of the seismic disturbance that was shaking the mansion along with all the land surrounding it for 2 miles. You and the Phoenix were -," Emma raises her hand and stops him.
"Wait, what do you mean you were in the room, we were alone I can assure you. And I would have noticed if there was an earthquake." Emma is slightly embarrassed a light blush kissing her cheeks.
"Yes, well, you were obviously…. preoccupied. I can see now, that she didn't affect just the team's environmental and spatial awareness, but yours as well. She informed me of our meeting today and told me to make sure not to sedate you two again." Emma stands there speechless.
Charles continues. "She also manifested through my body after the incident, while I was being treated in the medical lab." Charles tells her as he self-consciously looks down at his hands before continuing. "It appears she clearly has the ability to do what she says she will do." Clearing his throat. "I thought you might be able to share more information with us."
"Yeah, like if she likes it doggy style..." Bobby says under his breath chuckling while nudging Logan. He clams up as Emma's arctic glare sends a shiver up his spine.
"No Charles, I don't have any other information." Emma says smugly trying to maintain her dignity. Under normal circumstances she didn't mind being an exhibitionist, but not if her fellow X-men were the audience.
Redirecting his attention to the rest of the team, the professor continues. "This is a volatile situation. Storm, Bobby, Rogue, Logan, Emma, I realize the Phoenix made it clear that you don't have a choice in the matter, but that is not the way we do things here. If any of you don't think you -,"
"Can it, Charles." Logan says. "This ain't rocket science. The hammer's coming down no matter what we do. I sure as hell ain't gonna sit on my ass. I'm fightin'. I don't care how much fire power that bitch is packing, I don't go down easy."
"Are the rest of you on board with this?" The professor asks them.
"I ain't got nothin better to do, so I guess I'm doing it. Ain't much can hurt me anyway." Rogue says.
"Yeah, Omega Iceman, the ice man cometh , the iceinator, has a nice ring to it right." Says Bobby as he begins flexing his biceps. "Welcome to the gun show bitches, Suns out Guns Out! Bang Bang!"
"What are you idiots going to do next, put your hands together and shout some idiotic catchphrase?" says Emma.
"Are ya gonna fight or not Frosty?" Logan grunts.
"Of course I am." She says rolling her eyes at him.
"I will as well." Storm says. "Despite the less than ideal circumstances, I must admit the idea of growth beyond my current powers never seemed like a possibility. This should be interesting to say the least."
"Good, because you'll be first." The Phoenix says suddenly reappearing behind Charles and placing her hands on his shoulders massaging them. "The order will be as follows: The meteorologist will be in training for 4 four days. The Ice Cream man will train for 3 days. MC Hammer will train for 6 days. I am Weasel will train for 2 days, and my Material girl will train for 1day." She says smiling seductively at Emma.
"Alrighty Blue man group, come with me." She says to Hank.
"Excuse me Phoenix." Storm asks, "May I ask, is there any particular reason for these names? We do have proper names."
"Other than that I find them funny? Well after living among humans for a time, I find that your species tends to respond well to nicknames as terms of endearment. So there you go, one for each of you." She responds suddenly vanishing with Hank.
"Well I can tell this is going to be just oodles of fun." The blonde says snidely. "I guess this so called training will be starting sooner than we expected. I wonder when this Judge is supposed to get here anyway."
Wolverine clears his throat. "Well I got some things to take care of before all this gets started." Logan says his voice sounding surprisingly soft. He walks over to Ororo and takes her hand looking into her eyes. "I need to say some things to you. Would you mind accompanying me?" He says looking positively debonair. She nods and begins to walk with him out of the room.
"On that note I think I'll go see what Kitty is up to." Iceman says cheerfully as he's just a few steps behind them.
"Ain't that sweet." Rogue says looking a bit sad thinking of her partner Gambit. He'd been gone on an assignment for about a month, and she didn't expect him back anytime soon. All communication with him is dark due to his mission, so she can't contact him. "I guess I'll get outta here too then."
Charles looks toward Emma with a look of sympathy in his eyes. He opens his mouth to speak.
"Don't Charles. Just…don't." Emma says as she turns on her heels and heads out to her and Jean's apartment.
Charles is left alone in his office, feeling completely useless and helpless. His mind overflowing with thoughts. 'Was this all really happening? What if one of them dies during training? He could tell that the Phoenix was serious. There were just too many variables to make sense of any this. And what about this 6th mutant she was talking about. Where are they? Who are they? He sat there wondering what the criteria was for being able to reach Omega level. What did each of them have to make them capable of ascending beyond their current abilities? Evolution is what the Phoenix said. Six mutants are going to save the world from destruction.'
Charles sighs roughly. "Perhaps I'll use Cerebro and see if I can locate this sixth mutant." He had absolutely no idea what or who he was looking for, but in truth he just wanted to find a way to keep himself busy. He needed to feel like he was helping out in some way. He rolls out of his office and closes the door. He's halfway down the hall when he hears a voice.
"Where you headed, minute man?" He turns around to see the golden-eyed woman walking toward him.
"Excuse me, what did you call me?" He asks her sounding very offended.
She stops in front of him leans over and looks into his eyes. "Minute…Man." A deliberate coldness in her voice a smirk on her face.
He rolls his wheel chair forward causing her to take a few steps back she almost trips. He reaches out to catch her. "It only takes a minute for a woman to fall for me, you should be more careful." He says feeling apprehensive yet gratified.
Phoenix stands to her full height as her eyes begin glowing intensely. She wears a deep frown on her face as she leans forward a few inches from his face. Her breathing is slow and menacing then she smiles. "Touche, hot wheels, let's go, we have work to do." She says, putting her hand on his shoulders, they vanish from the hallway.
TBC…
Nickname references that might not be super obvious
Ice Cream Man: song by Van Halen
Leper- Usually outcast, are deemed untouchable by many cultures
MC Hammer- Can't touch this
I AM Weasel – A 1997 cartoon network show. And wolverines are large weasels.
Material Girl – Madonna and Marilyn Monroe, Diamonds are a girls best friend.
Blue Man group – an experiemental music group