A/N: Hey all! Sorry for the wait. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men.
Chapter 37: An Unexpected Visit:
"The M'Krann crystal?" Warren replied in question. "I've never heard of it, Professor."
Charles did not think this surprising. "I see," he started. "It has come to my attention that you have it or at least someone thinks you have it."
"Hmm… the Worthington estate has a number of jewels in its possession. I can't say I've seen them all. I can talk to my father about it, if you just give me a description of it."
"I don't know much about it either. But what I know is its red like a ruby. But its composition is unknown. It may have strange chemical properties as well…" Charles tried to describe, but he had not researched it yet, himself. "I'm sorry that is all I know at the moment."
"There is… something," Warren began, trailing off in thought.
"Anything will help Warren," Charles assured.
"Well… I remember when I was a little kid, before I came to your school; my father took me with him to work. There was a scientist; he wanted to show my father something. He had a red crystal encrusted in rock. The scientist thought he had discovered a new element. He wanted to show my father what happened when you heated it up."
"What happened?" Charles asked hesitantly.
He heard Warren sigh before answering. "It caused an explosion, a lab assistant died."
Charles paused for a moment. He was somehow sure that this was the M'Krann crystal. "Warren, what happened to the rock?"
"It was strange, we only found a piece of it, the rest of it just vanished into thin air," Warren conveyed.
"Can you get the piece to me? Right away?" Charles asked urgently.
"I think it's locked up in a vault in one of our labs. I'll have to ask my father, but the minute I have it, you'll have it," Warren assured.
"Thank you Warren," Charles finished simply.
Hank walked into the Professors office to see Kurt, Ororo, and Bobby already seated. They all looked solemn.
"Charles is something wrong?" he asked immediately.
"Come in and have a seat, Hank," the Professor said instead.
He took a seat in the remaining chair and looked around. "No Logan?"
"No, Logan has his mind on Lyss at the moment. He'll be no help in what I need from you four," the Professor answered cryptically.
"What is it Professor?" Ororo asked.
"First, Kurt," he turned to the other resident blue mutant. "How close are you to discovering the owner of the earring?"
"Ve've narrowed it down to a jewellery store in New York City," Kurt answered. "I should have the answer by the end of the day."
The Professor nodded his head and addressed the group. "Scott and Rogue have discovered the name of the crystal that is being stolen. It is called the M'Krann crystal. I need you, Hank, to research it. I need to know anything and everything about it."
"All right, Charles," he answered.
"What about us?" Bobby asked.
"Kurt, I need that name by the end of the day," Kurt nodded. "Ororo and Bobby I need you to visit an old friend."
"Who Professor?" Ororo wondered out loud.
"You and Hank will remember Warren Worthington, the third," the Professor elaborated.
"Of course," Hank added. He remembered; they had started at the school around the same time. Warren was about ten years younger than him, though.
"Ororo, I need you and Bobby to escort Warren back to the mansion," the Professor explained. "He has the last piece of the M'Krann crystal and I feel he will need the protection."
"All right Professor," Ororo assured.
"That's all for now," the Professor finished.
Everyone began to get up but Hank wasn't done. "What about Lyss's premonition? You still haven't' told us what she saw."
"You'll know," the Professor began. "As soon as I have that name from Kurt."
Hank could tell he wasn't going to get anything else from him. So he turned to go, the rest of the team following.
Lyss snuggled into her covers, loving the feel of her own mattress underneath her. She'd been ok'd to go back to her room an hour ago and she'd decided that she needed more sleep, even though it was the middle of the day. But the nightmares she'd had that previous night hadn't allowed for very restful sleep.
Logan had wanted to sit up by her while she slept, but she had insisted that he needed to sleep too and to stop worrying about her. It had taken an argument but he had left.
Now, she was on the verge of restfulness. She was in that limbo of half awake, half asleep. It would take only a second for her to fall asleep. Her eyes were shut and she was nice and warm.
"Lyss…" she thought she heard being whispered. She thought she was hearing things so she ignored it. She was sure it was her tired mind playing tricks.
"Lyss…" it was more insistent, more of a hiss this time. Still, she was too tired, too comfortable; she didn't want to get up.
"Lyss!" the voice shouted.
Lyss shot up in bed, eyes wide open, now. Only, as she looked around, she wasn't in her bed. In fact, she wasn't even in her room anymore. She looked down and saw her nightgown floating around her. It was then she realized that she was under water.
"Lyss," the voice came again.
It was coming from behind her. Slowly, she turned around, the water inhibiting her movements. There, in front of her, was the glowing orange she'd seen in her premonition the night before.
Burning eyes flashed in her mind and she realized that she didn't want to see them again. So, she turned back around hoping to flee the inferno. But, there it was in front of her again. She turned again and it was still there.
'Well this is annoying,' she thought, as she floated towards it again.
This time when she reached the warmth she did not find Jean lying down engulfed in a cocoon of flames. Instead, there was a figure clad in a long green hooded robe, with her back towards Lyss. She was still engulfed in the flames, except they were in the shape of a large bird around her body.
The Phoenix, Lyss realized.
The figure lowered the robe's hood and Lyss was afforded the view of brilliant, long red hair.
"Thank you for coming," the voice said.
"Your welcome," Lyss answered. Really, she had wanted to say that she didn't have much of a choice, but she felt that angering the Phoenix might not be the best idea.
The figure turned around and Lyss found herself face to face with Jean. Her eyes were still burning and Lyss still found them frightening to look at. Jean had a smirk on her face.
"You are wise not to play with the Phoenix," Jean/Phoenix said.
Lyss realized that she had heard what she thought. "Am I dreaming?" Lyss questioned.
"Yes and no," Jean/Phoenix answered but didn't elaborate.
"Why am I here? What do you want from me?" Lyss wanted to know.
Jean/Phoenix floated forwards and reached a burning hand up to Lyss. Lyss couldn't help but flinch when the hand touched her chin. She felt it as ice cold instead of burning hot. But it was still a shock, nonetheless.
Jean/Phoenix smiled disturbingly at her. "You, my dear, are special. We have a connection, you and I."
Lyss shook her head, not understanding. "What does that mean? How are we connected? What do you want from me?"
She was quiet for a minute, frustrating Lyss even more. Finally, she spoke up. "You've been seeing the things I've done, haven't you? You've been seeing parts of my life. And each time it drains you, brings you close to death."
"Ye... Yes," Lyss stuttered, even more frightened than before.
"That is because we are connected, your life to mine," Jean/Phoenix revealed.
"How can that be? I don't even know you," Lyss demanded.
"It does not matter how it could be, it only matters that it is," she replied.
Lyss stared at the woman unbelievingly. "What do you want from me?"
"The last piece of the M'Krann crystal will come to your possession. When it does, I need you to bring it to me."
"The what?" Lyss questioned.
"The red crystal," Jean/Phoenix answered.
"Why should I?" Lyss denied.
"Because if you do not, I will burn all those you love," Jean/Phoenix said evenly. "Including your precious Logan."
Lyss gasped. She could tell she was telling the truth. "But… but you love him too!"
"This body, this vessel may, but the Phoenix has no use for human emotions."
Lyss stared at her disbelievingly. Suddenly, Lyss's eyes saw nothing but flames. She could feel their burning hotness. And she heard screaming. Her eyes went wide as she saw everyone she loved in the midst of those flames.
"Lyss!" she heard being screamed. "Lyss!" It was Logan; he was burning and calling to her for help.
There was nothing she could do.
"No! No!" she yelled.
She felt arms on her shaking her. "Lyss, wake up! Lyss, come on!"
Lyss shot up suddenly, this time she was in bed.
Lyss felt arms on her. She looked up to see Logan staring at her worriedly.
"Logan!" she exclaimed.
She threw herself at him, holding him in a death grip.
"Shh… Lyss don't cry," Logan whispered. She hadn't realized she was crying, but she could now hear her sobbing. She had never cried like this before in her life. She truly was terrified.
"Lyss, please, what is it?"
She was scaring Logan. Poor Logan, how many times did he have to find her crying uncontrollably?
"I'm sorry," she tried to get out, but she was afraid it came out as gurgling.
"Lyss, Lyss," Logan said urgently. "I'm going to get the Professor."
"No, don't leave," she tried again, still no words, only crying.
He forced her to let go and left her alone. She tried to call him back, but he couldn't hear her or understand.
Logan burst through the Professor's doors, startling the man in the wheelchair.
"I need you to come, now," Logan demanded.
"Logan what is it?" the Professor questioned.
"I don't have time to explain. It's Lyss. I need you to see her, let's go," Logan explained.
Without a word the Professor rolled after him. They hurried through the halls to Lyss's bedroom.
Finally, they reached her room; Lyss's door was still open. They went inside and found Lyss curled up in a ball still crying.
"Lyss," Logan called.
She sat up at the sound of his voice. Her eyes were wide, glistening with her tears. She seemed to mumble something, but they couldn't make it out and then she flung herself at Logan.
"She's been like this for over an hour," Logan said to the Professor, looking at the man desperately.
"Crying?" the Professor asked.
"Yeah, I came in because I heard her yelling and then the yelling turned into crying. And she wouldn't wake up. She's awake now, but she won't stop," Logan elaborated painfully.
"What was she yelling?"
"She was just screaming no, over and over again," Logan said, running a shaky hand through his hair. "I never should have left her alone."
"Logan, put her in the chair," the Professor demanded.
Logan did as told carrying Lyss over to the chair. But she wouldn't let go of him. She held onto his hand tightly, forcing him to sit next to her on the arm of the chair. He used his other hand to run it through her hair attempting to soothe her.
"Shh… it's ok," Logan murmured.
The Professor moved himself in front of Lyss. He stared into Lyss's dark eyes, seemingly searching for something.
"Can you help her/" Logan questioned.
"Shh…" the Professor answered instead. "Lyss, can you hear me? I'm going to enter your mind."
Logan watched on, basically staring at two non-moving figures, except one was still crying. He wondered what was going on and he hoped that the Professor could fix this.
It seemed like forever had passed, but really only twenty minutes went by when Lyss suddenly spoke. And he understood every word.
"Logan, I'm so glad you're all right! I'll never let her hurt you! Ever!" she exclaimed before burying her face in his stomach and crying again.
He looked to the Professor for confirmation that Lyss was really ok. The man had a grim look on his face.
"She'll be fine," he told him.
"What was wrong?" Logan wanted to know.
The Professor let out a sigh. "Part of her mind had been locked, so to speak. She could see and hear you. But the part that was locked up, was… watching something over and over again. That's why she couldn't stop crying."
"What was she seeing?" he demanded. He wasn't going to take the brush off like the night before. He needed to protect Lyss. How could he do that if he didn't know the whole story?
Lyss pulled back suddenly, looking at the Professor. "It was her Professor. It was her."
"Who?" Logan questioned. "Who's her?"
"The Phoenix," the Professor actually answered, though he didn't explain.
"Damn it, what the hell is going on, and who the hell is the Phoenix?"
Both the Professor and Lyss stared at him with wide eyes. But it was the Professor who answered. "You will have the answers soon."
Then with that he wheeled out of the room.
Charles rolled through the halls of the mansions lower levels, having a few places to visit. First stop was Kurt. The teleporter was in the computer lab, standing in front of one of the Institutes several super computers.
"Professor, you are just in time," Kurt announced, pleased. "I am about to narrow the search down."
"Good Kurt," he replied. "I will wait here for the answer."
Charles watched as Kurt typed into the computer. Then they watched the screen as numbers and names flew by on the screen.
After a few minutes, the computer made a beep and an electronic woman's voice spoke, "Match found, match found."
"Who is it?" Charles asked anxiously.
"Uh…" Kurt said, typing into the computer some more. "I'll bring up the sales file."
Suddenly, a familiar name and address popped up on the screen.
"The earrings vere bought by…" Kurt answered, looking up at the screen. Suddenly, he gasped. "Scott."
"The earrings were Jean's," Charles finished for him.
"But… but how did it get inside the mall?" Kurt questioned. "It couldn't be—"
Charles saw the realization on his face, but he didn't want it to get out yet. At least not until Warren arrived with the crystal and they knew more about it.
"Kurt, I'm going to see Hank, but please, keep this between us until, tomorrow," he advised.
He left the blue mutant nodding uncontrollably.
Well that's it for now. Now, we're getting down the end. Things are starting to be revealed. And hopefully this story will be done by at most chapter 45. We'll see.
Anyways hopefully you guys enjoyed reading this. Not getting much response any more to this story, understandably. I know this story's end has been a long time coming (about 5 years now). But I'm going to see it to the end, because I love it and I hate leaving things unfinished.
So, thanks to my one reviewer: Saphira101 (thanks very much for sticking with me. Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter too.)
And thanks to anyone who has been putting this story on alert or just plain reading.
I'll try to update soon.
Next chapter: We'll see Scott and Rogue again.
See ya soon!