Disclaimer: I do not own anything belonging to X-Men or Marvel

Chapter 36: Arrival

David flipped through Cerebro's computer. There had to be something about Saturn's orbit somewhere. Wait a minute, what was this?

There was a video of something passing by Saturn. Was it a comet? Or maybe a meteor? No, it was moving way too fast. He'd better contact Dr. McCoy.

"Dr. McCoy, I think you should see this," he said over the intercom.

"I'll be right there David," McCoy said.

McCoy walked in, and David showed him the video. "Oh my stars and garters," he said. "It's already making its way past Neptune."

"What do you think it is," David asked.

"I'm not sure." He dialed a number on Cerebro's phone.

"Who are you calling?"

"Someone who may be able to help."

Peter stood in the hallway outside the living area. "Don't be so nervous," Bobby said.
"Yeah, you're going to do fine," Kevin said.

Peter looked at them, unsure. "Are you sure," he asked. "What if she says no?"

"She won't say no," Bobby answered. "She likes you, you know she likes you. Just go in there and ask her."

"Okay. You and Rogue are coming, right?"

"Yeah sure, whatever you need."

Peter nodded and walked into the living area, where Kitty and Rogue were sitting on the couch, talking. "Hey Kitty," Peter said.

"Hey Pete," Kitty responded.

"Could I talk to you for a sec? Alone?"

Kitty looked at Rogue. "Yeah, sure." Rogue smiled, got up off the couch, and left the room.

Peter scratched the back of his head. "Listen, I was wondering, if you weren't busy tonight, maybe you would want to do something? Bobby and Rogue were going out to dinner, and I didn't know if maybe you would want to go too…"

Kitty's eyes lit up. "Yeah, that would be great!"

"Really? Well great, I guess I'll see you later tonight." Peter walked out of the room and back to Kevin and Bobby. "She said yes."

"That's great," Bobby said.

"Kevin, you want to come?"

"No, I hate being a fifth wheel. You guys go, I'm just going to hang out around here. You guys have fun, and congratulations Peter."

Tony sat at his desk, when his secretary, Tiffany, came over the intercom. "Mr. Stark, a Dr. McCoy is on Line 2."

"Thanks Tiffany," he said. He pressed the button for Line 2. "Dr. McCoy, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I'm sorry to bother you Tony, but I was wondering if you could look at something for me."

"Sure, what is it?"

"I'm sending it to you now."

A box popped up on Tony's computer, and he clicked on it. He looked at it, mesmerized. "Dr. McCoy, I'll be right there." He hung up and pressed a button on the intercom. "Tiffany, cancel all my meetings."

"What's the news gentlemen," Tony said, walking into McCoy's lab.

"It's heading towards Earth," David said.

"What do you mean," Tony approached Cerebro.

"It's made it through Earth's orbit," McCoy said.

The object plunged through the air, and hit the ground, and the video cut out.

"That might be in Nevada," Tony said.

"Come on, let's investigate," McCoy said.

McCoy brought the X-2 down, and he, David, and Tony got out.

"Amazing," McCoy said.

The three stood by the jet, staring at a massive hole in the earth. The three inched closer to the hole and looked down. It was completely dark, and stretched down for who knows how long. "What should we do," David asked. "What could do this?"

"I don't know," McCoy said. "Something not of this world."

"You know," Tony began. "Back at Stark Tower we have a device used for excavating holes in the earth. I bet between the three of us we could modify it to examine this hole."

"Splendid," McCoy said. "I might have some spare parts in my lab that might be useful. Why don't you get it to the mansion as soon as you can, and we'll get started right away."

"I'll get it there as soon as I can. At the latest, I'll see you both tonight."

Peter straightened his tie. "You think it's too much," he asked Bobby.

"No, you look great," Bobby answered. "Just stop worrying, she's just going to be glad to see you."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Where are you chaps off to," Skinner asked from somewhere in the room.

"Not tonight Skinner," Bobby said. "Don't screw this up."

"Screw what up? Is there something going on I should know about?"

"Nothing," Peter said. "I'm just taking Kitty out on a date, with Bobby and Rogue."

"It's about bloody time. I was wondering when you would finally make a move. I was half tempted to ask her out myself."

"Look Skinner, we're leaving, so just stay out of the way," Bobby said.

"Alright, no need to get so upset."

"You ready to go," Bobby asked Peter.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

McCoy and David met Tony in the hangar. A giant drill sat in the middle of the hangar. "My God Tony, this is amazing," he said. "With any luck, we won't have to do much at all."

"I was hoping the same thing," Tony said. "My guys were asking a lot of questions about why I wanted it. They know not to question me too much, but the thoughts are still there."

"Don't worry, we'll get it back to your lab as soon as we can," McCoy said. He turned to David. "David, go get the things I gathered and bring them here."

"Sure thing Dr. McCoy," David said.

Peter, Kitty, Bobby, and Rogue sat down at their table. "This place looks expensive," Kitty said.

"Don't worry about price," Peter said. "Get whatever you want."

"Don't show me up," Bobby joked.

The waiter approached the table. "What can I get for you this evening," he asked. He took their orders, and soon came back with their drinks.

Peter picked up his glass. "So Kitty, how's school going," he asked.

"Alright I guess, I really like-"

Peter's hand slipped, and he dropped his glass on his lap. "Damnit," he jumped up. Liquid dripped down the front of his pants. "I'll be right back." He made his way to the bathroom.

Bobby looked at the two girls. "I have to go to the bathroom," he said.

Peter stood by the paper towel dispenser, wiping his pants with a paper towel. "I can't believe I did that," he said when Bobby walked in.

"You just have to relax," Bobby said. "You don't need to impress her, just be yourself."

"Yes, I quite agree," Skinner said from one of the stalls. A stall door opened, and then closed.

"Skinner," Bobby said, anger in his voice.

"What, I just wanted to make sure everything with my good friend Peter was going well, that's all."

Peter grabbed Skinner by the throat. "Things are already going terribly, and the last thing I need is you messing it up. Stay out of my way." He released his hold.

"Alright," Skinner backed away.

"Go home Skinner," Bobby said. Bobby and Peter walked out of the bathroom and took their seats back at the table. While they were gone, the waiter had brought their food.

"Sorry about that," Peter said.

"That's fine," Kitty said, smiling a little.

Kevin walked into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. It was late, and he had a lot of work to do. He could use something to keep him going. Tony was sitting at the kitchen counter, staring at the counter.

"Is there something you need," Kevin asked. Tony looked up, startled that his thoughts had been interrupted. "I'm making some coffee, you want some?"

"Yeah, coffee would be great actually," Tony said. Kevin started the coffee maker and took a seat across from Tony. "You're Kevin, right?"

"Yeah, we met briefly in Dr. McCoy's lab."

"Thanks again for the whole saving me thing."

"Don't worry about it, it's just what we do." Kevin got up when the coffee maker stopped, and poured two mugs, handing Tony one. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I'm helping Dr. McCoy with something," taking a sip.

"What is it?"

"Well, I'm not supposed to say anything to anyone yet, but I'll let you in on it. Earlier today Dr. McCoy discovered an object from space that crashed into Earth, and when we went to check it out, there was nothing but a giant hole. We're building something that will hopefully tell us how deep the hole goes, and any foreign residue that may be inside."

"Really, an object from outer space?"

"Yeah, it's incredible." He looked at his watch. "Well, I should get back to work. It was nice talking to you, and thanks for the coffee."

"No problem."

Tony walked into the hangar, and David and McCoy greeted him with smiles on their faces. "It's complete," McCoy said. "All we have to do now is fly it to the impact site."

"Incredible," Tony said. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's do it!"

McCoy brought the jet down, and lowered the machine down to the ground next to the hole with the jet's winch. He then landed it, and he, David, and Tony got out. The device was like a giant box, with a long metal rod that reached over the hole. McCoy flipped a few switches, and the machine lit up and began to make a loud whirring sound.

"David, do me a favor and monitor the machine," McCoy said. He and Tony leaned over the hole and watched as the metal rod projected a bright green beam down into the hole.

"This is amazing," David said.

"What is it," Tony asked.

"It goes down for millions of miles. It stops at…"

"At what David," McCoy asked.

"Oh my God, this goes down to the Earth's core."

"Is there any sort of residue?"

"Yes, but I don't know what it is. The machine can't register what it is. If it's something from outer space, it's not recognizable by our machine."

"Well gentlemen, it appears we've hit a wall," Tony said.

"For now," McCoy said. "I'd like to search through Cerebro's computer, see if I can find anything else about where that object came from. Whatever it is, we need to know how and perhaps why, it came to Earth."

Peter, Kitty, Bobby, and Rogue walked out of the restaurant, Peter holding the door for the other three. As the four walked down the sidewalk, Peter and Kitty soon fell behind. "Sorry again for tonight," Peter said.

"Really, it was fine," Kitty said. "I don't know why you were so nervous; you could have had me since the first day we met."

"What? Really?"

"Yeah Pete, wasn't it obvious?"

"Well, not really, I guess."

"I like you Pete, a lot. I have for a long time."

"I really like you too. I guess I'm kind of…in love with you."

Kitty stopped. "R-really?"

"Yeah, very much." He leaned down and kissed her on the lips, and she returned.

"I love you too Pete." She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he put his arms around her waist. The two stood under the light of a streetlamp, embracing each other for a long time.