Introduction

Chapter Six: Into the Fire


The flames that engulf the Danger Room grow large and seem to saturate the entire room. The way they flow up and outward seems to indicate that the origin of the flames must be from the center of the room. This strikes Hank as odd, considering that this proves the fact that the flames seem to be emanating out of thin air. This confirms his thought that the flames were not created by his invention, but rather some unnatural force within the room itself.

Scott quickly pulls the emergency fire lever on the windows facing, hoping to extinguish the flames before either Jean or Storm are hurt. The air coolant begins to gust out of the corners of the room, completely covering every space inside the room. This mist does not seem to be having an effect on the fire at all. It would seem to be feeding it, as the fire seems to grow larger and larger by the second.

Almost as if by some force unseen to them, a burst of flames seems to rise up from the ground of the control room. As the flames cease from within the room, Storm falls to the ground, unconscious, but seemingly unharmed. Her hair is singed at the tips and her uniform has burn holes on it, but she has no wounds whatsoever. Hank quickly falls to the floor next to her and begins running small tests to ascertain the full extent of her injuries. Everything seems to read 5 by 5. He determines it is best to move her to a medical lab so that he can fully examine her.

After making sure Storm will be okay, the group's attention immediately returns to Jean. Time is an all-important factor here. The longer Jean is held within that room, the smaller their hope for survival becomes. Scott and Xavier are both frantic, as is Hank. They have almost run out of options. They have tried everything they know to do. The seconds seem to pass as hours. Xavier places both hands on his temples, stimulating his mind to try to determine the damage being done to Jean. He is shocked by these actions, because it appears some telepathic force, much stronger than his is blocking his telepathy. Scott turns and begins to run out the control door. He is determined to save Jean no matter the cost.

"Scott!" Hank calls out. "Scott, wait! You cannot go in there! If you open the hatch the fire will flood the room. You cannot risk everyone's lives!"

"I don't care, Hank!" Scott calls back, halfway out the door. "We have so much left to do with one another. If she dies, I die with her!"

At that moment the flames begins die down a little, seeming to suck back towards the center of the room, as if a lever had been turned to cut back on the flow. The flames seem to take the shape of a firebird, the center of the flames more concentrated that the furthest extent. They look as though a human figure is beginning to take shape within the center.

"Scott," a voice sounds from within the room. It is a very familiar voice. A very kind voice, full of love and passion.

"Jean?" Scott asks. He runs over to the panel and opens the intercom. "Jean! Are you okay? What's going on?"

Jean's voice seems to waft out, as if covered by some soft and smooth layer of love. "Yes, Scott," she replies. Her voice seems to grow a little more intense, more booming and defined, more like the voice of a god. "Behold," she begins, "I have changed. I have evolved. I am not the same as I was. Now I can feel the purity of love and trust resonate around me. The rhyme and reason of life seem to speak to me as a song, vague and yet strangely familiar. The hope and joy that will never die. The love that springs eternal. I can feel the fire of the world, both the joy and the pain. I am that fire. I am the soul and spirit of life incarnate. Now and forever, I am Phoenix."

The faces of the X-Men in the control room begin to look in both awe and inspiration at the sight before them. Those flames begins to swirl, revealing flesh beneath them, that flesh then covered by black leather. It seems to grow from her feet up. As the flames reach her chest, the insignia of a golden bird seems to be imbedded within her uniform. The flames grow around her face, falling away showing the ethereal beauty of her face, somewhat more God like than it had always been. The light shimmer of her skin is bright and glowing like a flame. Her eyes, as white as the center of a flame. Her hair, seeming to flow as if she is in water, liquid like, dancing around her head. She is more beautiful than she has ever been before.

She slowly falls to the ground, like a sheet swirling in the wind. As her feet touch the ground, she falls to her knees. "Scott," she says in desperation. "Help me."