Introduction

Chapter Nine: Memories and Time Slips


"It is as we feared," Hank says to Xavier. After studying the results multiple times from multiple samples, he realizes that Jean's original test had not been corrupted at all. It was completely accurate, and it frightened him.

Charles studied the tests as well and sat them on the lab table. He was very quiet, obviously deep in thought. Hank could understand his need for silence, as he himself was a little taken by this information. It had all became so much clearer. The advanced codes in these DNA samples help greatly in explaining how some of the things Jean did were possible. The unexplainable ability to manifest flames had been explained, as well did the ability to fly and "metamorph" herself from flesh to flame and back. He knows it explains the actions, because the codes on the page are inexplicable. I suppose you would have to be in his mind to truly understand his train of thought. There is a fine line between genius and insanity.

"What do you think we should do now, Henry?" Charles asks, fearing the answer. Throughout his life, Chalres Xavier has helped mutants gain control of their powers. In fact, the first mutant he ever helped was Jean Grey. He feels partially responsible for this. Deep inside, he believes this uncontrollable power surge is his fault. Maybe if he had only listened to Jean when she said her powers were expanding, he could have been able to help her hone these skills to where they wouldn't have burst forth so abruptly. Maybe if he hadn't put up a block in her mind to dampen her psychic powers as a child, she wouldn't have had such a dam burst. Maybe he is to blame.

"I..." Hank falters. "I suppose the next thing we need to do is figure out how this happened." Hank, being a man of science, believes that there must be a reasonable explanation for this. He has based his career on that ideal.

Chalres Xavier aggrees by a nod and then turns his chair away from Hank. He looks at the examination table. He remineces of the day he was called upon to help Jean. He was well known as a psychologist. He had also known Dr. Grey for a very long time, so it made sense he was asked for help. A close family friend would be more trusted than any average psychologist, and that was a major help for Xavier, considering his method of "psychology."

He can remember every single thing from the age of twelve; that is one of the many gifts of a telepath. Her face was so fragile and frail, her eyes had a blank stare in them. She wasn't the same little girl he had seen before. The spark in her eyes had grown dim and the bright smile always stretched across her face was non existant. When he saw her like that, he felt a great sadness well up inside him. She was a;ive, but not there at all. She just sat in her corner, wrapped up in a fetal postion, not moving nor making any sound. He promised to do anything and everything he could to help them, but now he feels he let them down. He let Jean down. He failed.


"Do you remember when we first met?" Scott asks his fiance. Still she does not move; she does not speak. He takes her hand and clutches it near his heart and smiles. "I can still remember it," he adds. "I can remember the day I first dreamt eyes on you. You were in the professor's office." Scott laughs at his memories. "It's funny that I can remember that. I can even remember what you were wearing that day."

Scott's memories take him away from the pain of the moment. He was only 12 years old. After his parents died, he was put into an orphanage. After his powers started to manifest themselves, no one wanted him. He felt as though no one would ever love him and take him in. Then he met Charles Xavier. Xavier, also being a mutant, took Scott into his home and adopted him. For the first time since his parents had died, Scott felt love.

It was an early morning in May; the 17th of May, as a matter of fact. He woke up kinda early, excited about the day ahead of him. Charles had promised him that he was going to take him into town to see a movie. This was not just any movie though! It was Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. He and his father had seen the first two together. The original episode was the first movie he had ever seen in a theatre with his father. The second installment was also the last movie he had seen with his father. His father loved movies about space, and apparently that trait had been passed on.

As Scott ran his fingers through his hair and leapt down the stairs, he was taken by total surprise of what he saw. "The blue dress," Scott says to himself as he recalls what she was wearing. In all of his life he had never seen a vision of beauty quite like this. Grace Kelley of Monaco had nothing on this girl. When he saw her smile, he knew it was love.

"Hi," she said. Her voice...it was so sweet. It reminded him of waking up in the mountains and hearing the birds chirping. Yet again, their sweet, melodic tones had nothing on her. He could have sat and listened to her talk all day long.

"...Hi..." he stuttered. He reached his hand up to brush the hair away from his glasses and noticed his hands were kinda sweaty. If that wasn't bad enough, he felt all funny in his stomach. Kinda like the feeling you get when you go down a rollercoaster. He smiled as best he could, despite the heebie jeebies he had.

He can remember her reaching up and brushing her hair behind her ear. She was a few years older than Scott, but that didn't much matter to him. All that mattered to him was knowing her name, but he was to shy and nervous to ask.

"I'm Jean, " she said. "What's your name?"

Scott felt so relieved. It was like she read his mind. "My name is Scott," he replied. "But all my friends call me Slim." As soon as he said that he felt like slapping himself silly. "Why on Earth did I tell her to call me Slim!" he thought to himself.

Jean giggled and then replied, "It's nice to meet you Slim."

Scott smiled and walked along side her to Xavier's office. "You know what?" Scott asked Jean. she looked at him and he finished, "I am going to go see Star Wars today!"

"No way!" Jean said. "I love Star Wars!"

Scott smiles as the memory fades away and he holds Jean's hand in his. "Do you remember that, Jean?" Scott laughs as he continues. "We blew the Professor off and watched it together. I have never forgotten the way I felt that night. I knew I loved you." Tears once again build in his eyes. "That love for you has never faded or faltered. It has only grown stronger...Answer me, Jean. Please."


The strange swirl of the images she sees before her gives Jean a little bit of chill. A chill because the scenery around her has shifted once more. The sun shine she had seen moments before had faded to darkness. The cars and houses had fallen away, replaced by a burnt down, rock framed chapel. She glances down to notice that her pants and T-Shirt have changed into an elaborate 18th century gown, completely equipped with a tightly bound corset.

"Lady Jean," a woman's voice calls as she comes from behind her. When she sees the woman's face, she strangely recognizes it as her dear friend, Emma Frost. Her golden blonde hair accents her face, as does the white cloak wrapped around her. "We must hurry, Jason is waiting."

"But," Jean begins, completely lost by what she sees around her, as well she is confused as to how she knows this woman.

"Jean," Emma intercedes, "we mustn't make him wait!" She quickly pushes Jean along as they enter the doorway of the Church. "You cannot leave the man which you will marry this day, can you?"

"I..." Jean falters. Quickly, as if she feels completely comfortable here, Jean changes her mood. "I suppose not."

Emma smiles. "Very well, my friend. Let us get you married!"

"What the hell is this!?!"


Across the City, Emma Frost's smile is lost as she falls backwards from her chair. She hits the floor hard. After the initial impact, she reaches her hand up and rubs her temples. She doesn't quite understand it, but something very strange has happened.

"Emma?" Shaw asks as he runs over to his fallen companion. "Emma, what is wrong?

"I'm not sure, Sebastian," Emma begins. "I was in her mind, creating a rapport so that I would be able to continue going in. I had her mind to a point where Jason and I would have been able to turn her, but someone intruded."

"Who?" Jason asks, entering the conversation. He sits his glass down on the table and walks over to Emma, who is now leaning against a wall, massaging her forehead. "Who interrupted you?"

Emma is hesitant at first. "I don't know," she begins "but it was someone of extreme power. Someone who was very familiar with her mind. They may cause quite an obstacle for us."

Jason slams his fists down on the table. "There will be no obstacles!" he shouts. "Once I am in her mind and weave my illusions she will be mine, despite this force you speak of!"

Emma looks at him, almost frightened by this display. "Jason," Sebastian interrupts, "We shall not have behavior like this!"

"I cannot help it, Shaw!" Jason responds. "We need her powers, by any means necessary!"

"Not at the cost of my life, Wynguarde!" Emma replies. "There is a certain delicacy that must be taken in order for this to work. If you ignore that, than you damn our plans and damn yourself!"

After a moment of silence, Jason speaks. "Do what you have to do, Emma. just make sure I can come and go as I please!"


Jean rockets up in her bed, screaming. She is shaken and trembling. Scott grabs ahold of her arms, trying to calm her. "Jean, darling! Please--"

"No!" she screams. Still unaware that she is awake, she uses her telekinesis and flings Scott across the room. He lands hard against the metal tiles of the room, causing a strain on his still weakened form. After a moment, Xavier and Hank enter the room, responding to the screams and crashes.

"Jean!" Xavier calls out. "What are you--" he is unable to finish his sentence as his mind is attacked by Jean. She hits him hard as he, totally unaware, is rendered unconsious.

"Jean!" Hank calls, "Stop this!"

Jean looks at Hank. The expression on her face is far from those he has seen before. She looks not like her self. Worse, she looks more pwerful than she did earlier in the danger room. She lifts her hands up above her head and her eyes flare as bright as the sun. "Die!"

Hank looks above Jean's head as he notices a large ball of flames is growing. "Oh, dear!"