The four walked into the Beverly hills shopping centre and Logan couldn't help but laugh, "She lives in a mall?"
Rachel ignored him while they followed her down the corridor, "She performs to make a bit of cash but she's got no where else to go. Her parents were murdered when she was 14"
"That's so sad" Rouge said
"Don't worry Chere" Remy said trying to be comforting, "Livin on da streets aint so bad, she probably have it real nice here"
"There she is" Rachel stopped noticing the young girl shooting bursts of fireworks through her hands.
"How is she doing that" Logan watched behind Rachel
"It's her mutation" Rachel answered, "plasmic energy similar to Gambit"
"Well what's our move red?" Logan asked
"Let me try something, you guys span out and be on the look out for Eric" she looked back at Logan, "If you see Jono don't try and engage him, run
she warned looking at Logan intensely
Logan raised an eyebrow, "Why would I want to do that?"
"He literally breathes fire and can incinerate a building with a single breathe" Rachel said flatly, "Stay clear of him Logan" she said walking off
Worried about me huh
Rachel shook her head. She was lying to herself though. She focused on Jubilee. Jubilee
Jubilee stopped her show and looked around hearing Rachel's voice.
It's alright, you're safe. I'm a friend, I promise
"Ok folks, shows over for tonight" Jubilee announced uneasy
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the mall will be closing in ten minutes" the announcer said over the monitor
"Saved by the bell" Jubilee smiled as the crowd groaned. She packed up her things quickly ready to start her routine over again.
Pack up and leave with the rest of the crowd, then break in through the skylight huh, smart Rachel watched from the distance
Jubilee looked around again I can help you Rachel thought a roof over your head, a place to call home
Jubilee tried to shake it off as she walked out of the mall. Logan walked back to Rachel "No sign of Magneto" he said "Now what?"
"Wait until she breaks in" Rachel said as Remy and Rouge found hem
"What are we going to do until then, we have to leave the mall too" Rouge said noticing a security guard ushering people out
"No we don't" Rachel said as the guard walked past them looking right through them as if they weren't there.
"How are you doing that Chere" Remy asked amazed
"Magic" Rachel answered, "Let's meet back here in an hour" she said walking off
"Where you going?" Logan called
There was a spot where Rachel knew Jubilee would go once she got back in, "Need to check something"
Logan watched with a frustrated curiosity but he let her go. "Guess we could get something to eat"
There it was, the locket Logan wore the night she last saw him. Rachel held it gasping for breathe wondering if she took the necklace now, and if Jubilee wouldn't give it to Logan, would he survive the sentinel attack.
He loved her like a daughter, Rachel knew they had a bond that was as strong as theirs and there was a part of her that wanted to change that jus so the future would be different, if they could avoid loosing each other. So she wouldn't have to watch the love of her life die in front of her.
"Seems like a smart place to set up camp" Logan said behind her.
He looked around the outdoor equipment section of the department store amused while trying to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"She really lives here?" he asked
Rachel held up the small pouch with what little jubilee had from the tent "She said she used to move from space to space, sometimes it would be a camping set up, or if she was really feeling brave a bedroom set up if she wanted a comfy place to sleep"
Logan looked around, "No place for a kid" he noticed the necklace in her hands, "That hers too?"
"It's actually yours" she admitted finally looking at him.
Logan noticed the redness in her eyes and her dodgy stare. "Hey.." he kneeled down
He shook his head trying to rap his head around Rachel's knowledge, he wanted to know it all. All the secrets were starting to grow old "Rachel, why wont you explain what happens to us?" he finally said
Looking at the locket, "I can't" she said, "It's bad enough I have to relive it every time I close my eyes, it's something you shouldn't have to be burdened with knowing too"
"Try me" he simply said
Rachel shook her head, "It's not that simple" she looked at him, "It's better for everyone that they don't know the details" she thought of Jean, "To know what happened would cause more harm than good"
"You not seeing the bigger" Logan was cut off by Rachel shooting to her feet.
"Shh" she hissed She's coming in through the window just like Rachel said She heard Rouge, "She's here"
Logan followed her out of the store and into the main mall again, 'Where did she go?" Rachel spotted Rouge and Remy
"Food Court" Remy answered
They followed Rachel and spotted Jubilee at her normal routine. Rachel couldn't help but smile, she was just a kid. Rachel listened to her stories as a kid living in the mall and couldn't never imagine it, but now she was seeing it.
Jubilee Rachel focused
She stopped what she was doing and noticed Rachel and the others, "What the hell" she dropped a pot "What are you doing here?"
"Please, we don't mean any harm" Rachel said We need for you to come with us, it isn't safe for you by yourself anymore
"How can you do that?" She asked
We're like you Rachel gave a small smile, "We're from a school for mutants, we're all mutants too Jubilee" she pointed, "That's Logan, Rouge, and Remy, and I'm Rachel"
"What makes you think I'm a mutant" Jubilee shifted her weight and crossed her arms.
Logan raised an eyebrow, "You were shooting fireworks out of your hands kid, that aint no magic trick"
"Rachel is from the future, where you live at the school with us" Rouge smiled, "We need your help to stop what's about to happen years from now"
They were beginning to lose Jubilee, "You've got to be kidding me"
"You've got a small oval locket your grandmother gave you when you were 9 with JL engraved inside" Rachel pointed out, "The day she gave you that locket was the last day you saw her, and a week later your parents died"
Even Rouge and Remy were amazed, Jubilee's jaw dropped, "How do you know that?"
Rachel shrugged, "Well I am physic but I didn't get that from reading your mind, you're actually thinking how hot Remy is and that you've got to pee really bad" Rachel said, "You actually told me that story about your grandmother and the locket on my 9th birthday when you gave me a similar one" she said pulling it out of her shirt "You even had my initials engraved too RS"
Logan stared at her in disbelief. She knew so much about everyone, but yet wouldn't let anyone in. He looked at the floor trying to come to terms with the fact that he might never know what happened in the future, or what happened that would cause the sentinel program to be reopened.
"Why do I need to go with you?" she asked now scared
"I'm not going to sugar coat it Jubilee, but in a few years machines are going to be implemented to capture mutants and eventually destroy us. These machines are only going to become more powerful as the years go on and we won't be able to stop them. They will hunt us down, they already have where I come from" she bit out, "We can't let that happen again" she wished she truly believed those words
Jubilee looked at the pot then back at them, "I have a home in your future?"
Rachel nodded, "You belong somewhere in my time, you're part of a team, you have us" she motioned to the others.
She heard Logan trying to picture what that looked like. Putting the pot back down she sighed, "Can't be worse than what I got here"
Rachel let out a relieved sigh, "It's not, but we shouldn't waste anymore time, I'll explain more once we get out of here"
She nodded following them back to her campsite "So you can minds and communicate through thoughts?" she asked Rachel
"That and a few more" Rachel answered
Logan froze "Rach" he said in frustration
Rachel looked back seeing Logan trying to free himself. His stare was full of frustration and furry, "Get her out of here" he said through his teeth
Rachel looked around for Eric, "Stay with me Jubilee"
"What's going on" she asked holding on Rachel's arm
"we have to stop running into each other like this my dear" Eric said from the second level
Rachel looked around for Jono and Mystique. "Give it up Eric, she's not coming with you"
Eric tilted his head and expanded his hand causing Logan to cry out on agony, "Well tit for tat I guess"
Remy had pulled out his deck of cards and was about to shoot them towards Eric when Mystique lunged out towards him. They both few back and into one of the stores.
"Jono, don't do this, we're just trying to stop what's coming, we're trying to save you" Rachel called out. She knew he was there, somewhere in the shadows waiting. It terrified Rachel.
"And so are we" Eric said
"Killing other mutants isn't exactly helping there bub" Logan grunted in pain
Rachel realized Jubilee was no longer at her side, she was gone. "Shit" she said closing her eyes and transforming. She lifted off the ground ready to blast Eric when she was thrown by a wave of fire.
"Rachel" Logan screamed
As Rachel got up she saw Jono step out into plain sight. His mask pulled down and fire coming from his mouth ready to hit her again.
"Jono no" Rachel yelled as he spewed out the fire, but Rouge pushed her out of the way in time causing them both to fall
Remy and Mystique were pushing and pulling each other in and out of the store, Rachel couldn't focus on how Remy was doing, he tried to hit her with one of his blasts but she'd dodge out of the way, then she'd come at him again.
"Go ahead Chamber, see if you can incinerate an indestructible man" Eric instructed
"No" Rachel yelled
"Rachel use your power" Rouge yelled
Rachel tried to focus on Jono to try and move him, but something was blocking her. "I can't" she yelled watching as Jono opened his mouth again.
Dragging Mystique out of the store he threw her sending her clear across the mall and into the second level landing where Eric stood. Rachel noticed another person with Eric upstairs. Someone standing so still she had to focus to really get a look at her. She had long black hair, and it looked like she had no eyes. Rachel tried to shake out of it and focus.
She couldn't hear a thing, she couldn't move anything with her mind. Panicking she watched as Jono was about to incinerate Logan. Frozen, she was back to where she started, watching him die.
She closed her eyes as Logan let out one more cry trying to free himself. There was no use though.
Rachel heard a pop like fireworks and as she opened her eyes Jono was in the air falling through another store front. Jubilee stood where Jono was about to blast Logan. She reached for Eric and shot again aiming for him this time. Eric fell back, his hold on Logan lifted.
"Rouge, Remy Common" Rachel yelled running for Logan and Jubilee. Staring at Logan she wanted to hold him, but he beat her to it as he held her shoulders, "You ok" he asked
She nodded, "You?" he nodded as well looking at Jubilee, "Thanks to the kid"
Jubilee tried to smile as Rachel hurried them out of the mall. "We need a place to hide out for a while"
"I know of a place" Jubilee smiled