Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men. Nuff said.
Chapter 5
New Families
Logan had lived through the winter alone in his log cabin. It was early March and something was telling him that it was time to go back. He packed up his few possessions and within a couple of days was on the road home.
Meanwhile, his 'lil Rogue wasn't wasting any time during the winter. She and a friend of hers, Jubilee, had both graduated early in order to start training for the X-Men. They were the two mutants selected by Xavier out of the bunch of seniors who volunteered to start their training early.
Xavier felt that they were the most qualified for the job since both of them had had combat or X-mission experiences in the past, and they were both physically and mentally prepared for the challenge.
Training side by side brought the girls even closer together. They became best friends and pretty soon did everything else together, too.
Their first session in the danger room showed to Xavier how close they became during the past couple of months. He was truly amazed.
Most other mutants fight separately when they are in the danger room, even though they may be fighting a common enemy. This tactic usually doesn't work and later on most mutants have to go through extra training to learn to work as a team.
Jubilee and Rogue, however, knew how to work as a team from the very beginning. They fought back to back and both of them seemed to know what the other one was thinking. They fought as one and this made them twice as strong.
Because they didn't have to go through extra training to learn to work as a team, Xavier decided that it was time for the next level of their training—real mission practice.
The Brotherhood Hide-out
By the end of March, Clarice was fully trained and was already ready for her first real assignment. Even though Clarice was only 17 at the time, Mystique decided that the mission could wait no longer.
She called for a meeting the same day Clarice came back from her first "Runt Hunt" with Vic. A "Runt Hunt" was Creed's annual (and often not so annual) stalking and/or chasing of the Wolverine. This time, however, it was unsuccessful, since Logan left to go home several days earlier.
The meeting of the Brotherhood was a rather sad sight, since the only four members gathered at the steel table without their leader, who was still locked up in a plastic prison and kept under Xavier's control.
"The time has come," Mystique finally began, "for young Clarice to go on her first mission with the Brotherhood.
"As we all know, war is coming, and as you all know, our mentor and leader has been locked up for nearly a year and kept in the hands of our brothers who pose themselves as our enemies. It is time for us to free him.
"On our side, we have a shape-shifter, a powerful teleporter, two beyond strong mutants, and four very skilled combatants. If we use all of our resources to the max, according to my plan, we should be able to succeed."
There was a pause.
"And your plan is?" Toad finally asked.
"Secret for now. All you have to know is we strike tomorrow. Tomorrow you shall all find out about my plan. In the meantime, I can shield my mind off from Xavier using Magneto's helmet. You all can't do that. It's nothing personal, it's just a precaution against our enemies.
"Until tomorrow, I suggest that you all get a good night's sleep. This meeting is adjourned."
The X-Mansion
Xavier was sipping a cup of tea in his office. He heard the noise of a motorcycle engine coming from outside as his lips slowly curved into a smile.
/Jean,/ he sent a telepathic message, /go get Rogue, there is a visitor here to see her./
"Logan!" gasped Marie as she wrapped her gloved hands around his neck and shoulders and held him in an embrace. "You're back!"
"Yep, darlin', I'm back. I'm back for good."
The door opened and the Professor rode out in his wheelchair, Ororo and Jubilee behind him.
"Ah, nice to see you again, Logan."
"It's great to be back, Chuck."
"I'm sure it is. I'm convinced you'll find that a lot has changed since your departure. We have had several new additions to our team since then. I believe you've already met one of them."
Logan looked at the young woman in his embrace. Then he looked at Xavier.
"Marie?… really?!"
Rogue just nodded happily in response.
"Oh, that's great, darlin'! Congratulations, kiddo, I'm proud of ya!" Logan said as he tightened his embrace.
His eyes then trailed off in Xavier's direction and focused in on a slender figure standing next to Ororo. It was a young Asian girl with short black hair tied neatly into a bun, a pair of pink sunglasses holding it back. She was wearing a bright yellow raincoat, old worn out combat boots, and hoop earings, and she had the biggest, bluest, most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
"And this," continued Xavier, "is our second addition. Logan, I'd like you to meet Jubilation Lee."
Logan softened his embrace on Rogue and stretched out his right hand to the Asian girl.
"Pleased to meet ya, Jubilation."
"Call me Jubilee. I'm pleased to meet ya too, Mr. Logan, Rogue's told me so much 'bout ya…"
"Now then, how about we all step inside for some tea in my office?" Xavier suggested.
"Lead the way, Chuck."
After all, tea, of course, is an essential component of a wolverine's diet. ;-)