Wolverine tapped quietly on Star's door. It swung inward at the pressure and he peered in. She lay on her side on the bed, her hands folded together under her cheek. He watched her sleep for a moment and was reaching for the door to close it when she opened her eyes. They were as blue as the sky.
"Logan," she said without changing position. He moved to the side of the bed.
"How ya feelin'?"
"Tired," she answered, reaching for his hand.
"Hank told ya ta take it easy."
"I know. But this was important." She sat up, stiffly.
"You and Jubilee work things out?"
"I think so." He sat next to her and put his arm around her. She leaned into him, her forehead resting against his neck. "She loves you too, Logan. You are her friend, her protector, her mentor. She doesn't want to lose you." She sighed and he stroked her hair. "If my powers are gone, what can I do to stay here? I won't take you away from your friends, from your life here, but how can I remain?"
"First, tell me what happened this afternoon." She sat up and shrugged.
"I dreamed that the car was hit by a truck and Jubilee and Storm were ... killed. But I woke up and we were still in the movie. Then later, on the way home, we were suddenly in the middle of my dream and I asked Jean to stop. She slowed down and something happened to the tire and the truck almost hit us. But it didn't. And no one died." She shuddered.
"You have any other dreams like that?"
"I'm ... not sure. I don't really remember."
"You have one, be sure an' tell me, or Jean, ya hear?"
"All right, Logan." They both looked up as they heard footsteps approaching the open door. It was Jean.
"Star, if you're feeling up to it, the Professor would like to speak with you." Wolverine felt Star stiffen in his arms, but released her when she moved to rise. Jean frowned as Star stepped past her into the hall.
"What's Chuck want with the kid?" Wolverine asked when Star had gone.
"He believes that her powers have begun to return, though perhaps in a different form than before." Jean looked troubled. "Her shields have returned, whether she knows it or not. When I mentioned the Professor, she put them up, but not before I felt her fear." She turned to Wolverine, "She's terrified of something, but I don't know what."
Star hesitantly knocked on the door to Professor Xavier's study.
"Come in, Star." She opened the door and went in, leaving it open behind her. "Have a seat, dear." He noted the open door, and knew he could not proceed as rapidly as he had hoped.
"Jean tells me that you helped to avert a disastrous accident today." She just looked at him from where she was seated on the edge of her chair, looking as if she might flee at any moment. "Star, both Storm and Jubilee mentioned that your eyes were silver when you warned Jean to stop the car." He waited, but she didn't respond. He sighed. "Were you aware that your shields have returned?" She looked up at him, startled. "Yes, indeed." He smiled at her. "They seem to be as strong as every. Do you wish me to test them?" Without moving, she gave him the impression that she had flinched.
"Is it necessary?" her blue eyes were wide.
"Not at this time, no."
"Then, no. I do not wish to be tested."
"All right," he paused, "can you tell me what happened today?"
"I dreamed," she said simply, "and then it happened."
"Exactly the way you dreamed?"
"No. In my dream, the truck hit us."
"I see. So you acted to prevent the collision?"
"I ... suppose."
"It is called precognition, dear. It can be a very useful gift. Later, when you are stronger, you will need to explore your new power." She nodded, wordlessly, then got up to leave.
"Star," he began and she turned back, watching him warily, motionless as ever. "My X-Men are precious to me and by acting as you did, you saved four of them from injury, possibly from death. Thank you." She nodded once more and moved to the door. As she was closing it behind her, it struck her that he'd said four, not three. He considered her to be one of them. Part of the fear, the aloneness she had felt drained away from her. Perhaps there could be a place for her after all.
She returned to her room, but Jean and Wolverine had gone. She was vaguely disappointed, but was still too tired to go looking for them in the vast house. She lay down, more at ease than she had been since she had awakened, once more, in the med lab several days before. As sleep overcame her, she wondered how long it would be before she would be able to make it through a whole day without requiring a nap. She sighed in her sleep.
"Ahhh!" Storm cried as the wall collapsed, burying her in the rubble.
"Storm!" Jubilee's voice was frantic. "Gambit, help me!"
"On my way, petite!" He spun, taking out an opponent with a lightning fast kick. He snatched a piece of broken brick from the floor and, charging it quickly, hurled it at their enemy. Jubilee shifted the bricks as fast as she could, anxious to dig Storm out. An entangling net dropped about her, knocking her to her knees. Gambit reached for her only to fall back under a hail of bullets. Jubilee screamed and twisted in the net to face this new threat. The muzzle of a large caliber automatic weapon touched her forehead.
"Don't even blink, mutant." She froze, too tangled in the net to be sure of her aim.
"This one's finished, Mike," another man said, standing over Gambit.
"Damn," muttered the man with the gun, glaring at Jubilee.
"The one under the bricks might still be alive."
"No time. The others'll catch up any second." He shoved the muzzle hard into Jubilee's forehead. "Where's the berserker?" he demanded.
"Huh?"
"The guy with the built in hardware. Where is he?"
"He...uh...he was right behind us! He'll be here any second, and boy are you guys gonna be sorry!" He looked at her for a long moment.
"You're lying," he decided and, reversing his weapon, he knocked her out. "Bring the girl and let's get out of here. We'll get the others next time." One of the men lifted Jubilee's motionless figure to his shoulder and they hurried down the darkened corridor. When they rounded a corner, their leader stopped and triggered an explosion that sealed the tunnel behind them.
Rogue zipped into the dust filled corridor and pulled up just short of the demolished section. She saw Gambit, partially buried under the rubble.
"Remy!" she shouted as she rushed to his aid. Jean, Cyclops, and Beast entered the chamber behind her.
"Any sign of Storm or Jubilee?" Cyclops asked as they moved to help free Gambit.
"Storm is nearby, but I can not find Jubilee," Jean answered. Beast straightened slowly and looked at Rogue, silently confirming her worst fears. Gambit was dead. Mute with shock and grief, she gathered the limp form of the tall Cajun into her arms and, crouching in the rubble, she began to weep. The others turned to the pile of bricks, and began to dig to free Storm.
The X-Men seemed to be completely unaware of Star, and she was unable to help them. She struggled to move forward, to help them, but she could not. Suddenly, someone behind her took her by the arm. She spun, striking to defend herself.
"Whoa! Easy, darlin'! It's just me!" Wolverine said as he easily deflected Star's frantic attack. He caught both her wrists and held her. Her eyes, like pools of mercury, bored into his.
"It's a trap, Logan! You have to go with them! Help them! You have to!"
"What's a trap, girl? Go with who?"
"I...I...I don't know." She slumped forward and he put his arms around her, supporting her. She looked up at him and her eyes were as blue once more.
"I hate this! I hate it!" she sobbed. He held her tightly and could feel the rapid beat of her heart against his chest.
"Maybe the Professor can..." she shook her head.
"No. Please," she almost whispered.
"You afraid of him, darlin'?" she nodded, silently. "He ain't gonna hurt ya." She looked up at him, suddenly angry.
"Where have I heard that before?" She turned, pulling away from him. "No. I don't want him in my head."
"All right, girl. Ain't nobody gonna make ya do somethin' ya don't want ta do." He paused, "Maybe Jean can help." After a long moment she nodded. "Ya feel up to it now?" Reluctantly, she nodded again.
"Jeanne, ya got a minute?"
"Of course. Is anything wrong?"
"No. Star had a dream an' she's havin' a little trouble rememberin' it."
"Perhaps Charles should..."
"She'd rather you gave it a shot." Jean glanced at Star, standing motionless and expressionless just outside the door to the library.
"All right." She gestured at one of the comfortable chairs scattered about the room, "Have a seat, dear." Star moved into the room and sat down. Jean pulled a second chair close while Wolverine stayed by the door. "You believe this dream to be a manifestation of your powers?" Star nodded. "Do you remember anything about it?"
"Not much."
"Just relax and I will try to help you remember." The two women faced each other silently. Wolverine was struck by how similar they were to one another. Though Jean was a statuesque redhead and Star a diminutive brunette, they had the same proud bearing. He loved them both, but only Star seemed willing to return his feelings.
"Star, you have to let me in. Lower your shields, dear." Star straightened, lifting her head slightly. Jean took the smaller woman's hand in her own and both shuddered. Wolverine moved forward involuntarily, but Jean stopped him.
"No, Logan. It's all right. Star, show me what you remember."
Star stood before Jean in a dark space, a hallway or tunnel. Jean was behind her, looking over her shoulder. She saw Storm, followed by Gambit and Jubilee, moving quickly down the hall. An explosion ripped through the wall as a dozen trap doors opened all around them, exposing the men that had been waiting for them. They wore uniforms, but they were blurred to her sight.
"Ahhh!" Storm cried as the wall collapsed, burying her in the rubble.
"Storm!" Jubilee's voice was frantic. "Gambit, help me!"
"On my way, petite!" He spun, taking out an opponent with a lightning fast kick. He snatched a piece of broken brick from the floor and, charging it quickly, hurled it at their enemy. Jubilee shifted the bricks as fast as she could, anxious to dig Storm out. An entangling net dropped about her, knocking her to her knees. Gambit reached for her only to fall back under a hail of bullets. Jubilee screamed and twisted in the net to face this new threat. The muzzle of a large caliber automatic weapon touched her forehead.
"Don't even blink, mutant." She froze, too tangled in the net to be sure of her aim.
Jean tried to move forward, past Star, but the smaller woman grasped her arm with surprising strength.
"I'm not even here. I can't help." Jean forced herself to remember that she and Star were sharing a vision. A memory of things yet to be. It was difficult because it seemed so real. She could smell the dust from the collapsed wall, the acrid odor of the gunpowder, the sharp smell of blood.
"This one's finished, Mike," another man said, standing over Gambit.
"Damn," muttered the man with the gun, glaring at Jubilee.
"The one under the bricks might still be alive."
"No time. The others'll catch up any second." He shoved the muzzle hard into Jubilee's forehead. "Where's the berserker?" he demanded.
"Huh?"
"The guy with the built in hardware. Where is he?"
"He...uh...he was right behind us! He'll be here any second, and boy are you guys gonna be sorry!" He looked at her for a long moment.
"You're lying," he decided and, reversing his weapon, he knocked her out. "Bring the girl and let's get out of here. We'll get the others next time." One of the men lifted Jubilee's motionless figure to his shoulder and they hurried down the darkened corridor. When they rounded a corner, their leader stopped and triggered an explosion that sealed the tunnel behind them.
"He's right." Star said suddenly. "Wolverine is not here. Why isn't he here?" Jean didn't answer, watching silently as the memory continued to unfold.
Rogue zipped into the dust filled corridor and pulled up just short of the demolished section. She saw Gambit, partially buried under the rubble.
"Remy!" she shouted as she rushed to his aid. Jean, Cyclops, and Beast entered the chamber behind her.
Jean found it odd to watch herself do something she knew had not yet come to pass. She hoped that with the foreknowledge Star was providing, it never would.
"Any sign of Storm or Jubilee?" Cyclops asked as they moved to help free Gambit.
"Storm is nearby, but I can not find Jubilee," Jean answered. Beast straightened slowly and looked at Rogue, silently confirming her worst fears. Gambit was dead. Mute with shock and grief, she gathered the limp form of the tall Cajun into her arms and, crouching in the rubble, she began to weep. The others turned to the pile of bricks, and began to dig to free Storm.
The scene faded away as Star turned suddenly to face Jean.
"That's all of it." Jean nodded and started to withdraw, but Star reached out, quick as a cat, and caught her wrist.
"Why, Jean? Why don't you love him?"
"What?"
"He loves you. He loves you so much. And it kills him to watch you with Scott. Why don't you love Logan?"
"I don't know, Star." Jean answered after a long pause. "He is a special man, and I care for him very much, but I love Scott." She took Star's other hand in her own. "He loves you, Star. And I'm very happy for you both."
"Does he?" Star asked, her eyes unhappy. "Or does he just feel sorry for me? Responsible since he let me live? Or do I just remind him of you?"
"I don't think so. He's not much one to hide his feelings. He was ready to die rather than live without you," she reminded her. Jean wasn't sure Star was convinced, but she really couldn't help. Star and Wolverine would have to work this out between them.
Star released her as suddenly as she'd caught her wrist and both women withdrew.
Jean turned to Wolverine, while Star looked only at her hands.
"She remembers an ambush that hasn't happened yet. For some reason, you are not present."
"D'ya know who they are?"
"No. I did not recognize them, but they are not mutants."
"Great." As Jean described Star's dream, she unconsciously rubbed her wrist which ached from Star's astral grip.
"Whoever they are, we can handle 'em."
"With the forewarning Star has provided, I believe that we can."
Star retired early, exhausted by the shopping trip. She left her door ajar so that, even asleep, she would be able to hear the others as they moved about the mansion. The Professor wanted to talk to her about her visions and her anxiety about the meeting made it difficult for her to sleep. Finally, long after everyone else in the house had gone to bed, she was able to sleep. Her rest was short lived. It was as if her new precognitive powers were trying to make up for having been unavailable to her.
She woke to darkness. She heard faint noises of people moving about, but the mansion was supposed to be empty. The X-Men had gone on a mission and had yet to return. She slipped quietly out of the living room, where she had fallen asleep while waiting, listening with all her strength.
"Hurry up with that computer core, Joe. Mike just called and he said they missed, so those X-creeps'll be back here soon."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard him. You can only down load files so fast, you know."
"I know, I know. But we gotta get all the files before we set off the charges. The boss says this guy has records on all the mutants, especially them with special powers. With this stuff, we won't need the mutant registration act. We can hunt 'em down one at a time, anytime we feel like it."
"O.K., that's the last of it. Set those charges for a two-hour delay. With a little bit of luck, it'll go off after they get home." Star realized that she couldn't let these people leave with the Professor's files. She didn't know how they had gotten into the building without activating the defenses, but she had to keep them from leaving.
Abruptly, one of the men stepped out of the Ready Room, facing Star. She froze, but it was too late. She had been seen.
"Hey, Joe. There's a kid out here. An' it ain't that Jubilee brat. Mike didn't say nothin' about the guy keepin' another pet." He stepped forward, reaching for her. "C'mere, kid. I ain't gonna hurt ya." She turned and ran, her bare feet making no noise on the floor, while her pursuer thundered down the hall after her. He was gaining on her. She ducked into the kitchen and snatched a large knife from the rack next to the stove. The man rounded the corner and skidded to a halt when he saw her. He smiled cruelly at her and she realized that he was wearing armor.
"Gimme the sticker, kid." She backed away from him, holding the knife as Wolverine had shown her, hoping for a lucky strike. She was suddenly struck from behind and knocked to the floor. The second man had circled and come into the kitchen from the dining room. The knife skittered across the floor stopping at the feet of the first man.
"Well, well. What do we have here? What d'ya think, Joe? Think the boss'd be interested in her?"
"She's not on our list. Get rid of her."
"Aw, c'mon, Joe. She's just a kid."
"Don't be stupid. She's a mutant or she wouldn't be here." He drew his pistol as he stepped forward. He pointed it at her. "Say good-bye, mutie." He squeezed the trigger.
Star sat up with a gasp, clutching the neck of her nightgown. This time she remembered the dream clearly. She had saved Gambit, Storm, and Jubilee, but what could she do to save herself? She didn't know how the men would get into the house, but she had to be prepared when they did. She couldn't allow them to take the Professor's files. Too many lives were at stake. She couldn't tell Wolverine or he would refuse to leave her, then the others would suffer. Suddenly, she couldn't stand to be alone. She ran silently down the hallway and found herself outside the door to Wolverine's room. After a moment, she tapped hesitantly on the door. It opened almost instantly and he stood in the doorway.
"What's the matter, darlin'? Ya look like ya've seen a ghost."
"I...I just...don't want to be alone. Can I...stay with you?" He opened the door wide enough for her to enter, then closed it noiselessly behind her. He took her in his arms and held her until she stopped shaking. He tilted her head back and looked into her eyes.
"You gonna tell me what's wrong?" She shook her head slowly. "All right, darlin'. I'll be here for ya whenever yer ready." She was suddenly aware of his bare chest, of the strength of his arms as he held her. She stood on tiptoe and brushed his lips with her own. His arms tightened almost imperceptibly around her and he kissed her gently. She put her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him, returning his kiss with passion. She began to tremble again, but this time for a different reason. He drew back, looking down at her, his breath as quick as hers.
"You sure, girl?" She nodded, her eyes never leaving his. He looked at her for a moment longer, then lifted her in his arms and turned with her to the bed.
The sun had barely cleared the horizon when they awoke, their limbs still entwined. The fragrance of her hair was intoxicating and he tightened the arm that was around her, pulling her close. She murmured wordlessly, her hand stroking his chest. He bent and kissed the top of her head. She tilted her head back and smiled dreamily up at him. He bent once more and covered her mouth with his own, his tongue tasting her lips before she parted them willingly, returning his kiss tenderly. He felt desire rising once more as he felt her body cradled against him.
"Star," he said, suddenly afraid that his courage would fail him now of all times.
"Hmmm?" she answered, her hands beginning to explore his body.
"Will you marry me?" he unconsciously held his breath as he waited for her answer. After a long time, she finally lifted herself up on one elbow and looked down at him.
"Why?" He inhaled angrily but bit back his reply when she flinched. She put her fingers on his lips.
"I love you, Logan. I will stay with you as long as you will have me, but why should we marry?" He thought about her question for a long moment, the angry beating of his heart slowing gradually to a more normal rhythm.
"It's a...cultural thing, darlin'. Gettin' married is a way two people can tell the whole world that they love each other, that they trust each other, that they want ta spend the rest of their lives together." He was astonished to see tears suddenly forming in her eyes.
"What...?"
"Shhh," she said, her fingers across his lips once more. She smiled sadly for a moment, then said "Ask me again in a week, if you still want me. I'll give you my answer then. For now, please, just love me."
He woke suddenly, alone in the bed. He sat up and looked around. The balcony window was slightly ajar and he moved the curtain aside. Star stood on the balcony, her hands on the rail as she looked up into the morning sky. The sunlight gave her bare skin an enchanting glow. He opened the door and stepped outside, shivering as the winter air touched him. He put his arms around her and drew her back inside.
"What's with you an' goin' outside in these temperatures darlin'?" he asked teasingly.
"The outside is so big," she answered solemnly. "Sometimes I just can't resist it." He wrapped her in his bathrobe, holding her close as she began to shiver. When she finally relaxed, her body warmed again, he reluctantly released her, turning to put his pants on.
"Let's go get somethin' ta eat, darlin'." She took his hand and together they went to the kitchen.