Disclaimer: I've never owned the X-men, nor will I ever own the X-men *tear*
xXx
Scott traveled as far as he could by bike, and went the rest of the way on foot. He had gotten to Alkali lake far faster than he should have.. With his motorcycle, even with the custom engine, it should have taken him at least three days to get to Alkali Lake from Xavier's. But he didn't care, all he could think about was her. He could hear her calling him, constantly now, her voice ringing in his ears.
Alkali Lake hadn't changed. Scott had assumed that the lake would be well on its way back to its original state of being, a wild and untamed river. But, Fate wasn't done joking. Turned out there was a sharp bend about a mile downstream from the dam that formed a natural choke point, preventing the water from draining completely. The level had dropped by more than half since the breach, but had finally reached a kind of equilibrium that still left the industrial complex beneath the dam's face significantly underwater. Worse, the clearing where the Blackbird took off, where Jean had died, remained likewise buried.
He looked haggard, his lean features gaunt, as he stood at the water's edge, staring at nothing. Maybe now he could find some peace. Maybe now he could say goodbye…
Once more, he heard her call.
"Stop," he pleaded. "Stop it."
But she wouldn't.
"Scott," he heard, "Please. Help me!"
That was the last straw.
With a cry torn from the deepest part of him – "Jean!" – Scott tore off his visor and opened his eyes wide.
Scarlet glory erupted through the air, as though someone had opened a window to the surface of the sun, and raw concussive energy gouged a momentary trench directly to the bottom of the lake, parting the waters like the hands of God through the Red Sea. Unchecked for once, wholly unrestrained, the bolt hammered at the rock along the opposite shore, following Scott's line of sight so that when his gaze flicked towards one of the remaining towers of the dam, the entire structure shuddered with the initial impact, as though struck by a battering ram. Then, with breathtaking suddenness, it shattered, not into rocks and boulders but powder, allowing the implacable beam to strike the mountainsides beyond.
And then, just like that, the beam was gone, and the only sign marking its passage through the lake was the crash of water filling space, coupled with the rise of vapor.
Scott collapsed to his knees, although even then – spent and exhausted as he was, in spirit and mind and body – he still reflexively groped for his glasses and snugged them back into place.
Then the water started bubbling in front of him, almost boiling as he rose to his feet for a better look.
As the display built to a crescendo, water shot skyward in a magnificent fountain easily a hundred meters across, rising three or four times that into the air, generating a shock wave that bent the evergreens around Scott almost double and knocked him off his feet.
He picked himself up, stunned, senses kicking into proper gear, reacting now from his training and experience. And he found himself facing a radiance as welcome and comforting as the morning sun.
"Jean?" He didn't believe it as he spoke, certain that somewhere along the way he'd stumbled headlong into madness, and he was beholding what he yearned for rather than what was.
Her laughter convinced him otherwise.
"Scott," Jean called, laughing with delight at the sight of him, yet still unsure as to how she had somehow found herself alive once more. Those last moments were still vivid in her thoughts. The wall of water had struck like it was made of steel, shattering her on contact; she didn't even have the chance to drown. Everything was over in an instant.
Or so she'd thought
"How?" he asked, reaching out in surprise to her hair, which now fell in glossy waves to the small of her back.
"I don't know," she told him truthfully, staring at his eyes through the visor covering them, her hand caressing his haggard face.
And for a while there were no more works, nothing at all save for two lovers holding each other close, savoring the joy that comes with finding your heart's desire. Neither had ever been more happy, or at peace.
"Jean?!" A new voice entered the fray. The two looked up to see Logan half running down the beach towards them with Ororo not two feet behind. They both had identical looks of bafflement and wonderment on their faces. The blackbird parked somewhat off in the distance. They had just landed in the confusion of the water burst, just in time to see Jean appear.
Logan jarringly halted in front of them, looking at Jean with wonder,
"How?" he asked, slowly touching a lock of her hair.
Scott answered, "We don't know", without taking his eyes off of Jean.
Ororo took her friend in her arms, crying and laughing at the same time, "I can't believe it!" Jean's face broke into a grin as she hugged her back, not wanting to ever let go.
Logan could hardly believe his eyes. He looked over at Scott who looked just as amazed as he did. Looking back at the girls he said,
"'Ro, go prep the jet." He looked into Jean's eyes, "Let's get you home."
Storm nodded, smiling again at her best friends face as she ran to get the jet prepped. Logan looked back at Scott and Jean, he smirked a little at their arms wrapped around each other, "I guess I'll give you two some privacy", he murmured, smiling and shaking his head. He never got an answer.
As Logan turned to follow Ororo to the jet, he spotted a woman clad in motorcycle gear sprinted out of the tree line towards the couple next to the lake, shouting-
"Jean…. NO!"
xXx
Muahahaha!!!
I know, I'm evil
Tell me just how much I am in a review…hint hint
-R
