Earth-717: X-Men Vol 1

Chapter 12: Foresight

Erik tapped his temple repeatedly with his right index finger. Sighing, he moved his left hand over the board, moving his knight to block Xavier's rook. He then rested his head against his right hand, his elbow on the table. He then looked forward at Xavier.

"You have to realize, that regardless of what you or your little students have done, Kelly's war will go on."

Xavier looked into Erik's eyes. After taking a moment to contemplate, Xavier moved his bishop to place Erik in check.

"Of course I do," replied Xavier. "There will always be those who fear us."

Erik breathed in deeply before moving his rook to take Xavier's bishop. The two pieces of glass tapped each other for a brief moment, causing a soft clanging noise to reverberate through the cell.

"Then what do you do when those who fear us are the ones in power?"

Xavier moved his pawn forward, next to Erik's knight.

"I do what I've always done," answered Xavier. "Negotiate the best I can. Keep pushing for peace."

"Peace," said Erik, scoffing. "Such foolish idealism. It's always been your downfall, Charles."

Erik moved his bishop in position to take Xavier's queen.

"Then why am I not the one in a cell?" asked Xavier.

Xavier moved his knight to take Erik's bishop.

"A plastic prison, courtesy of the same people who built the Sentinels," said Erik. "You think they won't come for you or your school next? They built those infernal machines to wipe us out. I stopped that from happening."

Erik moved his rook to take Xavier's pawn.

"Genocide to prevent genocide," said Xavier. "Hardly seems like much of an improvement."

Xavier placed Erik's king in check with his other pawn. Erik scowled when he saw the position his king was in.

"Don't lecture me on ethics, Charles," said Erik. "You and I both know that ethics have failed us in the past."

"They did indeed," replied Xavier. "Yet that doesn't mean they can't save us in the future. Magda believed in that. Why can't you?"

Erik narrowed his eyes.

"Your optimism is refreshing, Charles, it really is . . . . but it won't stop the coming war. You and all your children will be consumed by the fire."

Charles's eyes widened for a brief moment. Erik smirked.

"What, you think I didn't see it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Xavier.

"Oh, don't you?" asked Erik. "You really do believe in those students of yours?"

"I would trust any of them with my life."

Erik slammed his fist against the glass table.

"But not with the truth?!"

The guard in the corner took a step forward, his hand on his plastic billy club. Xavier looked at the guard and gestured, lowering his hand. The guard stepped back, keeping his hand on the club. Erik shook his head, sneering before relaxing his shoulder muscles and sitting back in his chair. The guard walked up calmly to Xavier, grabbing the back handles of his plastic wheelchair. Moving him around the table, Erik then looked directly at Xavier.

"I will get out of here one day, Charles. You've won this battle, but you haven't ended the war. One day . . . . I will finish what I've started."

"And when that day comes, Erik . . . . we will be there to stop you."

Xavier nodded to the guard, who pushed him out of the cell. Erik sneered again before tipping over his own king, which was in checkmate.


Hank and Bobby were sitting on the couch, watching the television. Piotr was behind them, sitting next to the window, painting on his canvas.

"Today, a memorial was held for all of the people who died in the Tampa Massacre, where the mutant terrorist known as Magneto assaulted the city with an army of humanoid robots which have been confirmed to be the Mark One Sentinels, built by Stark Enterprises . . . ."

Bobby folded his arms.

". . . . tough questions are being asked about the head of the Sentinel program, Walter Macken, who refused to comment on the incident . . . ."

"Of course he didn't," said Bobby, scoffing.

". . . . also under fire is Senator Robert Kelly, whose anti-mutant agenda has some believing that he was backing the Sentinel program . . . ."

Hank furrowed his brow.

". . . . this is what the President had to say on the matter."

President Ellis appeared on the screen, standing at a podium.

"It is with the utmost sadness and regret that I have to speak on such a tragic incident," started Ellis. "I send out my deepest sympathies to all those who have been affected by this heinous act of violence. The terrorist Magneto has been apprehended, and I want to assure the American people that he will be made to answer for his crimes. As for the Sentinels, we have been assured by both my own intelligence agencies and Stark Enterprises that it was Magneto who manipulated the Sentinels to his own ends, and that none of the fine people who worked on the project are to blame."

Chess Roberts appeared on the screen.

"Anne Marie Hoag, CEO of Damage Control, has reported that several teams have been dispatched to repair the damage done to Tampa, as well as collect and properly dispose of all Sentinel materials . . . ."

". . . . while certain mutant hate groups have used the incident to launch more propaganda against mutants, others are holding to the belief that not all mutants should be held accountable for Magneto's actions . . . ."

". . . . Stark Enterprises has terminated all contracts with the Sentinel program. However, it seems that all active development and patents on the Sentinels will not go to waste, as Trask Industries has already started bidding to obtain the rights . . . ."

". . . . no one is sure about the current status of the Mutant Registration Act, which was being spearheaded by Senator Robert Kelly's administration . . . ."

". . . . Captain Thomas Bowman of Cape Citadel missile base was found wounded but alive. The military has also confirmed that the stolen nuclear weapons have been recovered . . . ."

". . . . although Washington's official stance on the matter is that it was the military who defeated Magneto and his Sentinels, dozens of eye-witness reports claim that it was actually a group of mutants who helped to defend the city. The following people who were at ground zero in Tampa had this to say on the matter."

Several different civilians were shown being interviewed.

"I'm telling you, the President is lying. It was mutants who fought those robots, not the army."

"He was huge, and he had metal skin. I've never seen anything like it. He crumbled that machine like it was paper!"

"I don't even know what to believe . . . . it all happened so fast."

"I saw her! She flew up into the sky! It was insane!"

"I don't care about what the government or the tabloids say. A mutant saved my daughter. Saved my family. They should be remembered for that."

"I heard them say something . . . . like, 'X-Men', or something like that. I don't know if that's what they're really called, but if they're out there, I just gotta say . . . . thank you. For everything."

Chess appeared on the screen again.

"With Bay News Nine, this is Chess Roberts."

Hank turned off the television.

"Well, Bobby, when you asked if we'd made the news, I suppose that's you answer," said Hank.

"I can't believe this crap!" shouted Bobby. "We both know Kelly was behind the Sentinels. Sure, Magneto's locked away, but . . . ."

"There's nothing we can do about Senator Kelly today, Bobby," interrupted Hank. "Let it be. Eventually he'll slip up, and we'll be there."

Bobby sighed and nodded.

"Okay."

Hank smiled. Bobby then jumped over the couch and looked at Piotr.

"What are you painting?"

Piotr sat back on his stool so Bobby could see. Bobby's eyes widened. It was Jean, flying into the sky over Tampa, with flames on her arms.


Scott stared at the afternoon sun as it held itself low over the ocean. The cool breeze hit his skin with just enough pressure to be soothing. Taking a breath in, he felt the warmth of Jean's hand on his leg, her hair on his neck. Her head was rested against his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her back. They were both sitting on the park bench at the cliff to the ocean, outside the Institute.

"You know," said Jean, "I think I've thought of a codename for myself."

"What would that be?" asked Scott.

"Phoenix."

Scott nodded his head.

"Sounds powerful. How did you think of it?"

"It just sort of came to me," said Jean. "I also thought of one for you."

"Oh?"

"Cyclops."

Scott tilted his head to side.

"Why that name?"

"Because, no matter what, you always maintain your focus," said Jean. "Also, it sounds cool."

The two of them laughed.

"So what happens now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you going to go back home? Back to your mom and dad?"

Jean was silent for a few seconds.

"No."

"No?"

"I'm staying here, at the Institute."

"But . . . ."

"I've already called my parents," explained Jean. "I told them that I was staying here."

"What did they say?"

"My mom said it was a mistake . . . . my dad just wanted to know why."

"What did you tell him?"

Jean sighed.

"I told him that I've finally found a place where I'm happy," replied Jean. "I've finally found a place where I belong. I'll always love my parents . . . . but whenever the Professor came over, I felt like I was with someone who understood what I was going through. My parents just couldn't provide that. I felt like I was in a cocoon. Now . . . . I know I'm in a place where I can grow."

Jean moved her head so she could look at Scott.

"I've finally found my home."

Scott smiled at Jean.

"So have I," said Scott.

After staring at each other for a few seconds, Jean closed her eyes and jutted her head forward, pressing her lips against Scott's. They shared the moisture of their lips for a few seconds before Scott opened his mouth slightly to allow his tongue to slip inside Jean's mouth. Grasping her hair, Scott pulled Jean closer as she placed her hand on his neck. She massaged his tongue with hers. After they broke lips, Jean cuddled up to Scott and placed her head once again on his shoulder, closing her eyes. Scott looked forward again, watching as the sun continued to slowly drop towards the ocean.


Xavier closed the screen of his laptop as Moira placed a handful of books on the shelf. After she was done, she turned to Xavier as he spun his chair around to face her.

"Alright, so that's the last of the reference books," said Moira. "Everything should be in order."

Xavier looked up at her.

"You haven't had your coffee, Charles," said Moira, pointing at the desk.

Xavier looked at the desk to see the cup of coffee sitting there. A large amount of steam came off of it.

"Oh yes," said Xavier.

He picked up the cup and placed it to his lips. Taking a large sip, he felt it massage his throat with its warmth. He then placed the cup back on the plate.

"Hmmm," said Xavier. "Quite good."

"I told you that I've been practising," chuckled Moira.

"Thank you," said Xavier. "For everything."

"You know that it's my pleasure, Charles."

"I know . . . . I just . . . ."

Xavier paused. Moira raised on eyebrow.

"It's nothing."

"Charles, we were together long enough for me to know that you're not a very good liar."

Xavier rolled his eyes.

"Right," he said.

"Talk to me."

"I was just thinking about what's going to happen now," explained Xavier. "The world knows about us. They're going to want to know more . . . . and not everyone who tries to investigate us is going to be doing it for the right reasons. I can't help but wonder if the future is going to bring us more harm than good."

"No matter what happens, Charles, you'll find your way through it. You always have."

Moira sighed. She then stood up and walked to the door.

"How are you getting home?"

Moira stopped, holding the door with one hand.

"I'm not."

"Oh?"

"I figured I would stay. You'll need my help. You've never been very good with organizational stuff, and you'll need someone to maintain Cerebro. I'll be your . . . . tech support. I hope it's not too much trouble."

"Not at all."

Xavier smiled weakly before folding his hands and looking down.

"I figure that your answer probably hasn't changed," started Moira, "but I figured that I'd ask again. Do you think things can ever be the same?"

Xavier looked up at Moira. After taking a few seconds, he smiled and his eyes lit up.

"Perhaps."

Moira smiled back at Xavier before leaving the room. He sat back in his chair. For a long while, he sat there, looking out his window at the afternoon sun. For a long while, he just waited and pondered. Allowing his thoughts to drift, he found himself in a memory he rarely touched. A time before the wheelchair.

He was standing on his two legs, and Moira was standing on hers. He was in his military uniform; she was in a ravishing red dress. Her auburn hair was in an updo, with curled strands framing the sides of her face. Her eyes were oceans of beauty. They were dancing at a restaurant with a name he had long since forgotten. All that mattered was that they were there, her arms in his, her smile as bright as the evening stars.

She used to be happy. They used to be happy.

Xavier let the memory fade before turning on the television.

"Reports are just coming in now that a fire-truck in Boston has crashed . . . ."

Xavier's eyes widened.

". . . . hanging over the bridge! We have no idea how many civilians are in danger . . . ."

Xavier tapped both sides of his forehead with his index fingers.

"To me, my X-Men!"

THE END

The X-Men Will Return


Epilogue

The man's finger tapped the button on his main console. As he watched the footage, three small orb cameras floated around his chair. He placed his other hand on one of the orbs, massaging it gently. He then paused the video. Sneering, he placed one hand on his chin as he zoomed in. On the screen, he saw Scott standing up on the beach, with Jean in his arms.

"Finally," said Sinister. "I've been looking for you, Scott. It's time for you to come back home. The family has missed you so much."

He then zoomed in even further on Jean, who was resting her head against Scott's chest. Sinister chuckled.

"Well . . . . it looks like you've made a friend."