Bobby sat, feeling the intense gazes of his mentors on him. He fidgeted slightly. Though it had been somewhat of a relief letting all of his burdens go, it was somewhat embarrassing to have shared his soul so openly. He felt very exposed and self conscious.
Hank blew out a long breath and ran his hands through his shaggy mane. "That was a lot to go through with on your own Bobby."
"Quite" Storm agreed softly, reaching out and wrapping an arm around him protectively.
Reluctantly, Bobby lifted his head and looked at the Professor. His face was inscrutable but his eyes reflected deep sadness.
"I am deeply sorry Bobby."
Bobby frowned. "I'm the one that left. I chose to leave. Besides no-one could have predicted I'd happen to get experimented on by a nutty deity."
"Indeed." He sighed and the corners of his mouth twitched. "Such things are completely unprecedented, but of course they would have to happen to you, yes?"
Bobby grinned in spite of himself. The Professor chuckled and then cut off, expression distracted, distant.
"Charles?" Storm enquired, exchanging a look with Hank.
The Professor did not reply; he looked far away. Bobby looked from him to Hank and Storm, feeling uncertain.
Then the Professor blinked and took a deep breath, looking shaken. He looked at the occupants of the room, who were staring at him.
"That was Jean. The others have run into difficulty. The Brotherhood and" he took a deep breath "the Juggernaut."
"The Juggernaut?!" Hank exclaimed. Bobby was taken aback too; he had fought the Juggernaut on his first mission with the X-Men when they had been fugitives and was surprised to hear he was around again. But he'd slipped past the X-Men when they had beat him and they'd never found him.
"That's not all." The Professor looked frustrated. "I felt something when Jean and I were communicating, but I can't tell exactly what. It's strong, but very elusive. Whatever it is, it the Brotherhood and the Juggernaut may be too much for the others to handle alone."
"Charles, I think it would be best if we went" Hank said, rising to his feet. "Someone need's to watch the newer students in case this is a trap. The others will be out of school soon and they could defend the school if they have to."
Xavier nodded. "I will call the students and tell them to come home immediately from school today."
"What about me?" Bobby spoke up, rising to his feet.
The Professor looked at him. "I don't know..."
"Professor, if there is something stronger than the Juggernaut out there, the others might need my help. My powers can be a pain, but they're great in a fight. Especially as the Brotherhood don't know how strong they are now."
Xavier looked at him and inclined his head, accepting his argument. "Follow Hank or Ororo's lead."
"Wasn't planning on not taking orders. I can listen when I want to" he replied with a grin.
Hank rolled his eyes good naturedly and clapped his shoulder. "Let's go, my very amusing friend. We have a jet to catch."
Two minutes later, they had rejoined each other outside the jet hanger all wearing their uniforms. Bobby had been very surprised to find that not only was his old room still his, but the uniforms still fit. He had grown a few inches since he had last donned it and had lost whatever weight he had a year ago, yet the spandex hugged his frame and the belt rather snugly.
Also to his surprise, a young girl, in a black uniform and green tee-shirt, with loose brown hair was with Hank and Storm. She stared at Bobby with intense eyes.
"Well we should be off." Hank glanced at Bobby and the girl and his eyes widened. "Oh I don't think you have been properly introduced to Laura, Bobby. You knew her as X-23?"
Bobby looked at Laura more closely at that. Sure enough, he recognised her. She had once infiltrated the mansion, knocking him out as she did so.
"Right, the girl who knocked me out." He grinned at Laura to let her know he didn't hold that against her and stuck out his hand. "Bobby."
Laura stepped forward somewhat warily and shook his hand very quickly. "Laura." She turned to Hank. "Are we going?"
"Yes, let us be off my friends" Hank bounded across the hanger, the others after him. Bobby was surprised to see a smaller version of the X-Jet, which did not appear to be there.
"With so many of us, Charles thought it wise to invest in another method of air transport" Hank explained as he powered up the engines. "It has been affectionately dubbed the 'mini X-Jet' and has had its share of student joyrides in the weeks after its purchase."
Bobby laughed at that. Storm co-piloted and was sitting beside Hank. He and Laura sat behind them in two of the four remaining seats. He glanced at her and was fascinated by her facial expression. It reminded him of a polar bear he had once watched as it stalked a seal. Its face and body had been completely still, yet power and strength had radiated from it. X-23 had that expression, of an unstoppable hunter of incredible power.
Her eyes flicked to him and he smiled, before looking away. He didn't want to turn that power on himself.
The mini jet's engines roared and with a surge, shot out of the hanger doors and into the sky.