Chapter II; Mission Accepted
XAIVER'S SCHOOL FOR GIFTED YOUNGSTERS
THE
AFTERNOON AFTER THE FIRST ATTACK
"What's up Cyclops?" Jubilee asked happily as she
bounced in behind Logan. Wolverine
smiled at the little girl who followed him into the conference room. She's such a firecracker…
Rogue, Gambit, Storm and Jean were already sitting at
the spacious and formal-looking table in the wide room. Their faces were unusually grim. Only Gambit smiled when he saw them enter,
but his smile lacked the usual warmth and pizzazz it usually held. Logan smirked at the group, obviously
undaunted by the oppressive silence that greeted him and Jubilee.
"Yeah, C-y-k-e," Logan
drawled casually as he pulled up a chair, "What are ya in such a big huff
about?"
"Yeah, you guys need to lighten up," Jubilee quipped
as she put her arms around Logan's massive shoulders, resting her chin on the
top of his head.
"Hush, sugah, this is somethin' important," Rogue
said quietly. Jubilee pouted a little
but she sat down, her elbows splayed on the table, her chin resting in her
gloved hands. Cyclops cleared his
throat before he began.
"As you all know, there have been a string of violent
attacks occurring in the proximity of New York City's Central Park. Though both we and apparently everyone else
have previously believed that these attacks were acted upon by a mutant,
Professor Xavier has revealed to me that it is not a mutant…it's human." Scott
said, waiting for the impact of his words to set in. His teammates gasped, each one recalling the distorted and
gruesome figure from the previous night's news broadcast. Scott held up one hand as Logan and Storm
began firing questions at him. They
grew reluctantly silent, waiting for Cyclops to explain.
"We don't know anything more-" Scott caught himself
wincing inwardly as he spoke, remembering the professor's strained and weary
expression from the night before. Cyclops didn't have to be a psychic to realize that the professor had
been less than truthful. He knew
something more than what he was telling Scott, and it hurt to think that after
all those years of hard work the professor wouldn't tell him everything…
**It's all right, Scott** Jean said to him
telepathically.
**I'm disappointed that he couldn't trust us Jean-**
**He has his reasons, Scott- he always does**
Logan watched as Cyclops and Phoenix mentally
communicated. After being around them
for so long he could tell whenever they "talked" to each other like that. The signs were subtle; Scott's mouth would
twitch slightly, Jean would press her fingers gently against his hand- but they
would never look at each other. Logan
inwardly flinched as he watched Jean place a smooth, delicate hand over Scott's
rough fist. Jealous? Of course he was…he had loved Jean from the
moment he'd met her, and he'd loved her ever since. Years of longing looks, subtle innuendo and the occasional stolen
kiss…
But that's all in the past now, Logan told
himself quietly, scolding himself for even remembering those earth-shattering
moments he had treasured so much. He
turned away from the couple and tried to pay attention to Storm's conversation
with Gambit and Rogue.
"…and we could use Jean to telekinetically hold the
monster-"
"Human!" Jubilee corrected loudly. The three adults turned a scolding glare
towards her, and Jubilee muttered something sarcastic and turned away. Wolverine patted her gently on the back to
soothe her bruised ego, and Jubilee smiled brightly at him. Gambit looked up at them and then back at
the group, shuffling a deck of cards while he assessed the situation with the
so-called "monster." After a moment he
spoke quietly, laying out his plan verbally to the team. Jean and Scott turned their focus back to
the team as Gambit spoke.
"Gambit tink dat de best way to approach de situation
would be to watch fo' de attacker in de park late at night, no?"
"For once Cajun I hafta agree with you," Logan
growled. Storm and Scott nodded their
heads approvingly.
"Oui, and then Gambit tink dat we best bring the
what-it-is back 'ere an' hold it to keep it from 'urting anyone else, no?"
Storm and Scott nodded their heads approvingly.
"We can set up
shifts and survey the park at all times," Scott said, shifting back into his
'leader' tone of voice. He punched a
few keys on the holographic screen near his seat, projecting a large and
detailed map on the middle of the table.
"A base of operation has
already be secured here-" he pointed to a hotel near the map, "-and all forms
of covert cover have been arranged, so lets get to-"
"Excuse moi!" Jubilee
interrupted, much to Cyclops annoyance, "But, like this all cool and stuff, but
why exactly do ya want ME here? Like,
do you want some coffee or do ya just need little ol' me to take notes and
stuff." There was no hiding the
sarcastic edge in Jubilee voice. She
snapped her gum and looked fearless at Cyclops. Logan smothered a chuckle- yep, that was his little girl all
right. Scott just stared at her for a
minute, his expression a mix between exasperation and disbelief. Disbelief because he couldn't believe what
he was about to say, exasperation because, well, it was Jubilee, after
all. He wanted Jubilee to gain
experience, but on such an important mission?
"You're going with them
Jubilee," was all he could manage to say. There was a moment of silence before Jubilee literally whooped with
joy. The other teammates grinned as
Jubilee grabbed Logan's arm excitedly.
"Didja-hear-that-Wolvie-I-get-ta-come-with-ya-and-it'll-br-great-and-I
finally-get-ta-kick-some-serious-butt-and-"
"Ahem"
"Oh sorry Cyke I'm just a
little excited is all and-"
"A-HEM."
"Yeah, right, I know, gotta
be patient and all…" Jubilee voice lowered until she stopped completely, even
though she kept smiling and fidgeting with excitement. Wolverine grinned at her. Cyclops also suppressed a grin, despite his
original annoyance. He wished all the
X-Men could be as excited when they got their assignments. After a moment he continued with the plan of
action.
"Storm will take Wolverine
and Jubilee on the first watch," Scott said, "Jubilee, you are to stay with
Logan at all times. The three of you
will be positioned here-" he pointed to the center of the park, "And you will
make strategic sweeps of the area every hour on the hour.
"What about Gambit, mon
capiton?"
"You, Jean, and Rogue will
be taking the next shift," Cyclops said, pointing to another spot on the map,
"And you'll relieve Storm's team before dawn."
"And by what means are we to
communicate with each other?"
"Mostly you'll use Jean as a
telepathic conduit, Storm, since we don't know the extent of the attacker's
abilities. Using any electronic means
of communication may leave you open to electromagnetic attack or interference"
"Is this a 'hush-hush'
mission, or are we, like, just going to broadcast to the world that the X-Men
are in NYC? Do we get to wear
disguises?"
"Its New York, Jubilee- not
a lot precautions will need to be taken. You will be out of uniform, of course, and don't demonstrate your powers
unless it's absolutely necessary- but otherwise the city is so big that I doubt
any will notice our presence."
"Ah'll still get to fly when
Ah'm on patrol, right Cyclops?"
"…No."
"So how am ah supposed ta scan tha whole park if ah
can't fly?"
"You'll have to walk, Rogue. I know it will take longer, but no using any
powers that can be seen- and flying, unsheathing claws, throwing fireworks, or
discharging anything at all would all fall under the not subtle use of
powers."
"….I hafta walk? Scott, have you seen the boots I wear?"
"I'm sorry Rogue, but you can't risk letting your
presence be known until you have some real information on this new enemy. We don't know to what extent its powers
cover, so we'll to take it easy for now and just try to find who or what is
behind these attacks." Cyclops said, looking each of his teammates in the eye
as he explained his position. Logan
growled a little under his breath, but stopped when he saw Jean across the table. Small beads of sweat were dripping from her
head and she was breathing in quiet, ragged breaths. Her hands were trembling slightly. Cyclops followed Logan's worried gaze.
"Jean!" he yelled, grapping her shoulders as she
slumped in his arms. There was a
clattering of chairs as the other X-Men stood up quickly.
"Should I get Henry and the Professor?" Storm
asked. When no one answered she ran
quickly from the room.
"Come on, Red," Logan gruffly whispered as he kneeled
next to her, "Snap out of it!"
"What's wrong with her Gambit?" Jubilee asked. Gambit pulled her away as Jean started to
scream in pain, her lips turning blue and her skin drawn tightly over her
face. She emitted erratic waves of
energy as she seized uncontrollably. However, as suddenly as her convulsions started they stopped, and she
lay limp in Scott's arms. Hank rushed
in, the Professor and Storm following closely. Without a word to the others he quickly checked Jean's pulse. Satisfied, he backed up slowly and rubbed a
hairy hand over his face.
"She is fine, she has just fainted," the Beast
diagnosed.
'Professor!" Jubilee yelled in shock," What happened
to you?!"
The other X-Men turned at Jubilee's exclamation. There was a simultaneous gasp as they saw
the professor. Xavier's clothes were
ruffled, his skin was a sickly pallor and he had a thin trickle of blood
streaming from his nose. He wiped it
absent-mindedly, a careless gesture which surprised the X-men.
"It seems that the same…attack…that affected Jean
affected me as well." He said wearily. He entered Jean's mind gently and brought her back to
consciousness. Jean groaned as she
tried to open her eyes, the light stabbing her senses like hundreds of needles.
"I-I f-f-felt it…"Jean whispered, her eyes clouded
and red-rimmed, "A cold light…approaching…"
"I felt it as well Jean." Charles said, placing a
hand on her shoulder for comfort.
"What….what was it, Professor?" Scott asked without
taking his gaze from his wife.
"I don't…know, but I feel that we must investigate
these attacks in New York City as soon as possible," the professor said, his
voice subdued and broken with strain.
"Of…course, Professor- when would you like the team
to be dispatched?" Cyclops asked.
"Tonight."
"By the gods!" Storm exclaimed, "Must we leave so
soon, with Jean in this condition?"
Scott's looked up Storm sharply. "Of course Jean won't be going. Not in this condition." he said.
"No, really Scott, I'm okay," Jean said weakly,
trying to smile.
"No way Jean," Logan growled, "You can't go."
"Jean must go," Xavier said. The other X-Men turned and stared with open
surprise at the professor's command. Scott shook his head furiously.
"No!" was all he could manage to say. Jean could hear the subtle fear in his
voice, and she struggled to sit up.
"I'm all right Scott," she said with a small smile,
bracing herself against his shoulders as she stood shakily on her feet. Logan had to forcibly stop himself from
putting his arms around her to steady her. Why do you push yerself so hard, Jeanie? he thought sadly as she
her footing steadied.
"I'm sorry Jean, but I feel that your empathetic
abilities will be of the utmost importance in this mission," the professor
explained, unable to conceal the apologetic tone in his voice. Jean nodded. Scott stood between the professor and Jean, his face an
unreadable expression. He clenched and
unclenched his fists slowly, but he too nodded his understanding to the
professor. Our mission comes first,
he thought reluctantly.
"So, we're like, leaving tonight, right?" Jubilee
said, her voice cutting harshly through the uncomfortable silence.
"Yes, Jubilation," Xavier agreed, "So I advise all of
you to prepare now. The sooner the
investigation begins, the better it will be. Jean, will you please come with me to my office before you depart?"
"Of course."
"Remember, my X-Men-" Charles said, hesitating before
he continued, "be careful."
As the professor and the X-Men left the conference
room, Scott lingered in the back. As
Wolverine passed him, Scott grabbed his arm suddenly. Logan faced him angrily, but his anger faded as he saw the look
on Cyclop's face.
"Logan, I…"
"What is it Scott?"
"Will you…look after Jean for me- please…" Cyclops
said, the concern in his voice softening Logan's cold expression.
"Of course I will. I wouldn't want anything to happen to her anymore than you do," Logan
said, trying to sound reassuring. Scott's grip loosened on his arm, but he still looked concerned. Logan smiled a little as he turned to leave.
"Don't worry, Scott," he said over his shoulder with
a small wave, "I'm the best at what I do."
Scott didn't acknowledge him. He stood with his hands on the table,
staring silently into space.
Be careful, Jean…
…………
Xavier sat in his office, shuffling through a stack of papers absentmindedly. He looked up as he heard a knock at the large doors that closed off his study. The sound rang sharply through the hollow silence of the wide room. The sound was a distraction from the silence, and Xavier welcomed the intrusion.
"Come in, Jean," he said, looking up from the work on his desk. He couldn't even remember what he was working on. At any rate, anything he had been doing for the passed recent weeks was merely a distraction from what was constantly plaguing his mind. Unfortunately he could find nothing important or even interesting enough to harness even a quarter of attention. He quickly pushed away the worry in his mind as Jean entered the room. He was sure that the weary, drawn smile on her face mirrored his own expression.
"You wanted to see me, professor?" Jean asked, sitting down comfortably in a chair in front of his desk. The professor nodded solemnly, looking carefully at the women who sat before him. It seemed like just yesterday she had arrived at his school, a shaken little girl with uncontrollable powers. She had gone through so much in the past years, and yet her emotional stability was probably one of the more solid amongst the X-Men. The two of them shared a unique bond as the two most powerful minds on the planet. If anyone could understand the immense pressure of being nothing less than a world wide telepathic antenna, it would be Jean. If anything, Jean would know far better than Xavier ever could. Now, as the Phoenix, there was an undeniable chance that Jean had become the most powerful telepath in the world. So it was without a doubt that the Professor knew he could share his worst fears with her, and right now his worst fears centered on the upcoming mission to New York City. He could tell Jean sensed his apprehension, so he cleared his throat and looked up at her earnestly.
"The mental attack that happened to you and I this afternoon," he began, speaking hesitantly, as if searching for the right words, "was that the first time it had happened to you?"
"Actually, no," Jean said, looking nervously down at her hands, "I have been having strange images flash through my mind for the past few days. Today, though, it was different…"
"Wait, Jean- tell me about the images."
"Sometimes I- I just don't know where these images come from- I see the moon, or sometimes I either see planets, I guess, or I see a group of women in strange costumes. Even now, when I try to recall what they look like, the image fades away and I almost completely forget what I saw." Jean said, squinting her eyes as the memory slipped slowly from her mental grasp.
"What happened today?" Xavier asked.
"Today it was…different," Jean said, and swallowed visibly.
"Go on, Jean," the professor encouraged.
"I saw a women in gold, and felt an incredible power that was so cold, and…"
"Evil?"
"Yes." Jean said in a small voice. She looked at the professor questioningly. He didn't meet her gaze.
"I've been having visions like the ones you've described for the past month." He finally said. Silence filled the room as Jean thought about the full meaning of what he said. After a moment he continued.
"I always see the same thing, and the end always…terrifies me," he said, his voice dropping low enough that Jean had to strain to hear him.
"What is it?" Jean asked.
"I don't know Jean, but I feel as if something is going to…'come to a head' is the best phrase I can use to describe it in my present state of mind."
"I think I feel the same way," Jean said. They both stared into the distance, remembering what they had seen.
"I believe something is going to happen- some cataclysmic event, and there will be nothing we can do to prevent it," Xavier said, "And I think what has been happening in New York is somehow connected to what will happen."
As he said that, he wheeled over to face the large window behind his desk. He gazed out past the gates of his estate and looked sadly at the horizon. The sun was just setting, and he found himself wondering how many sunsets he'd see before whatever was coming would take place. He pushed away a shudder as he realized the morbidity of the passing thought. Jean walked quietly up behind him and put her hands reassuringly on his shoulders.
"I don't how much help the X-men could offer, but you know that all of us will do whatever we can," Jean said, "And I also feel very strongly that whatever happens, there is someone out there who will be able to stop it. I don't know who, but during my…visions, you can call them, I always see a figure that radiates a warm light. Whoever that person is, I think that he or she will be our-"
"Light of hope?"
"…Yes," Jean whispered incredulously, looking down at the professor in shock.
" I have also heard that phrase spoken during my visions, and whatever happens, it seems as if The Light of Hope will be what the key." Xavier said. He looked up as the stars began to shin dimly in growing night sky. Jean nodded and followed his thoughtful gaze. After a moment Xavier shook his head as if clearing his mind of unpleasant thoughts. He patted Jean's hand reassuringly and looked up her.
"The other X-Men are ready to go," he said, and wheeled toward the door. Jean followed closely, the conversation weighing deeply on her conscience.
" I believe that you're skills will be the most useful on this mission, Jean," Xavier explained, "Try to use both your psychic and empathetic abilities to gather as much information as possible on what we just discussed."
"I will, Charles." Jean said, her face solemn with understanding.
"The other X-Men are ready to go," he said suddenly, and he wheeled quickly towards the door. Jean followed closely, their conversation weighing deeply on her conscience.
"I would like to wish them off Jean, but I have some pressing matters of which to attend. Would you give them my regards?" he said, his voice once again crisp and formal. Jean nodded and opened the door to leave. The Professor in expectantly closed a pale hand around her wrist. She looked at him questioningly. He looked searchingly into her eyes for a moment.
"Please, Jean," he said, "be careful. All of you."
"We will. Don't worry," she replied quietly. With that she left to join the other X-men, the heavy oak doors of Xavier's office closing slowly with a loud thud. Charles stared at the door for a moment before he wheeled reluctantly back to his desk, his mind oppressive with dark thoughts of things to come.
It was dark now, as the sun had finished setting; the only light in the room came from the narrow strips of moonlight that ran along the floor from the looming picture window behind Xavier's desk. He sat with his hands pressed against his head. His thoughts returned again and again to the images from the newscast of the attacks in Central Park. Those poor people… It wasn't like him to be as sympathetic as this, but he couldn't push the images from his mind of the dead families, their lifeless bodies lying ravaged on the cold ground. He also couldn't stop thinking of the visions he was having. More and more often they would preoccupy him, forcing themselves into his mind despite all the mental control he possessed.
"What do they mean?" he whispered to himself. Without warning, he broke out into a cold sweat as they began again:
the moon shines over the earth casting a white light down to its people but no a dark shadow consumes the light destroys the light a raging hate consumes the planet against all hope hope is destroyed a woman a woman in gold destroys the light there is a light needed the light of
"What is…"
the light of hope
"What is the light of hope?" Charles Xaiver whispered into the night.
the starlight grows weaker every day the shadow comes closer to earth every day three shooting stars come to earth nine guardians who protect the planet wait for the battle the eternal battle the angel has come down to earth
eternal, everlasting
the eternal one
the light of hope
The images flashed through Xavier's mind
chaotically. Images of young women
clashed together in battle; blood spilling to the ground; images of the moon
consumed by a terrifying shadow; images of two women who always stood out the
most from the others. One was evil…pure
evil. It was the only word that came to
Charles's mind. She radiated
unadulterated hate and spite. He
couldn't help but feel that she had something to do with the shadow that always
consumed the moon. He didn't know what
that meant or what she meant or anything else, but then the vision of the other
woman entered his mind. She seemed so
young, for some reason, and she was exactly the opposite of the first
women. This woman- or girl, really-
cast a softer, warmer image. He could
never clearly make anything out, but he could always see…wings? Were they wings? Is that what 'the angel has dome down to earth' meant? Xavier shook his head slowly.
"Something is coming, or going to happen," Xavier
said quietly to himself, "And when it does… whoever that girl is, I think she
will be the only one who can stop it."
He remembered the shadow again, and the coldness of
its presence in his mind.
"And if she can't, then God help us all…"
………..
The other X-men were gathered in the hanger next to
the Blackbird, waiting Jean to arrive. Rogue and Gambit were putting the luggage into the Blackbird.
"Ugh!" Gambit groaned, "Chere, Gambit tink dat you
pack to much for us bein' away for jist a week, no?"
"Be quiet Cajun!" Rogue teased good naturedly, "Ah
have to look mah best since we're goin' into New York City!" With that she lightly tossed the rest of the
luggage into the storage compartment of the BlackBird. Gambit barely had time to move his fingers
as Rogue slammed the heavy door shut.
"Yeow!" he yelped.
"Oh hush," Rogue said as she floated back down to the
ground. Jubilee bounced excitedly up to
her.
"Hey, Rogue," she babbled, "Do ya think there'll be
some cool stores there?"
"Oh, sugah, you have no idea!" Rogue grinned with a
wink, "We'll hafta take ya around and show ya the best places to get some
serious shopping done, right Storm?"
"Well, I suppose that since Jubilee has never been to
New York, it would be educational to give her a tour of the city-"
"And take her shopping!"
"-and yes, take her shopping." Ororo grinned. As regale and stately as she was, Storm was
just as inclined to a good shopping spree as the other X-Women. Jubilee jumped up and down in
excitement. Gambit and Logan both
groaned as if in pain.
"Mon ami, we be stuck wit de cheres all week, no?
"Ya, Cajun…."
"And three of de cheres, they have platinum cards,
oui?
Logan sighed deeply and shook his head reluctantly.
"Gambit wonder, durin' all de shoppin', who will
carry de bags? I tink it may be us,
oui?
"No, Cajun, over my dead body- but you can fend fer
youself!"
Gambit sighed deeply. The two men watched with growing apprehension as the X-Women
plotted the plan of attack on the hapless retail outlets of New York City. Jean stood just outside the doors of the
hanger, hold her suitcase and looking worriedly down the corridor. She waited patiently for Scott. She knew he would be upset to see her leave
after the…attack this afternoon, but they both felt that the misson must come
first.
It had to come first…
How she hated that! How could she be expected to put the ideals of the team before her
needs, when those ideals may not even be hers anymore… She caught her breath as
she thought that, but she realized that it was true. What they were doing- was it really making a difference
anymore? Were all her sacrifices worth
the trouble of saving a race of people who detested her very existence? Jean wondered how long these doubts had been
lingering just below the surface of her mind. A long time, perhaps? Maybe only
recently? She couldn't even remember
anymore, and that disturbed her even more. Before she could delve any deeper into her thoughts, Scott walked
quickly around the corner.
"Well, Jean, I guess I better see all of you off," he
said, and swallowed visibly. Jean
smiled and put her hand on his arm.
"Don't worry, Scott," she whispered, "We'll all be
okay."
Scott said nothing. After a moment of silence, he finally allowed himself to kiss her
gently. She returned his embrace, but
flinched inwardly as she caught a stray thought running through his mind.
Will be the last time I get to kiss my wife?
How many times had he thought that before a mission? Probably every time. She realized that she often thought the same
thing as she watched him go into battle again and again. As unpleasant as these lingering doubts
were, there was only one way to keep them from happening, and even if she
wanted to- which she didn't- there was no way to convince Scott to quit the
X-Men. Thus, it was with a heavy heart
that they indulged in last minute, good-bye kisses such as this one. That this wasn't the last token of love ever
granted to the other, that the other person would come home safely: this was
the best for which Jean or Scott could hope. It was the price paid for doing what they did; it was a price paid by
all the X-Men.
All too soon Jean broke from Scott's embrace. She looked up at him and smiled bravely.
"Go on," she said, motioning to the door that led to
the hanger, "They're waiting for us."
"I know," he said almost sadly, "I wish I could go
with you."
"The professor had his reasons for choosing us, and
we will be back in a week," Jean reassured him. Scott nodded his understanding before entering the large
hanger. Jean followed him. The slick metal door closed quickly behind
her with a soft hiss.
There's no turning back now, she thought, we
all knew what we were getting into when we agreed to this.
"All right people," Scott's loud voice echoed against the metallic
floors and walls. The X-Men gave him
their full attention.
"You have your assignments, and you know the plan,"
Cyclops said, "I expect all of you to do your best; remember, we have to gather
as much information on this being as possible. Only use your powers to protect yourselves or to protect any innocent
people who become involved." Scott
looked at each member of the team again. His eyes finally fell on Jubilee. As she listened to his words, she seemed to stand taller and look more
determined, mirroring the postures of the older members who stood around
her. She was definitely closer to being
a full-fledged X-Man. Scott smiled,
then half-heartedly saluted his team.
"Good luck." he said. He watched as each X-Man climbed confidently into the BlackBird.
"Merci, mon caption!"
"We will do our best, Scott."
"You can, like, totally count on us!"
"Yeah, sugah, don't worry about us."
Jean mouth 'I love you' and winked cheerfully as she
entered. Wolverine was the last to
climb in. He looked at Scott with a
level, unreadable expression.
"Don't worry about Red, One-eye," he remarked
gruffly, "We'll watch out for her."
Scott smirked his appreciation, then folded his arms
across his chest as he watched the BlackBird take off, leaving the hanger with
a roar and a flash of light.
"Good luck," he whispered again, "I hope you won't
need it."
Inside the jet, Jubilee's mask of maturity slipped as
she bounced over to Logan's seat. She grabbed
his arm excitedly.
"Wolvie, we're really going to the big apple!"
"That we are, darlin'," Logan grinned. He pointed to her seat, "Now go sit down
till we get there."
Jubilee grinned and hopped back into her seat. She stared out the window with large
eyes. Moonlight fell softly on her
features, and she scanned the horizon for the first signs of the city.
"What da ya think will be waitin' for us when we get
there?" she asked. The other X-Men
looked at her.
Jean was listening to her when a stray thought crept
quietly into her mind.
The eternal one waits there.
"I don't know, Jubilee, but I think we'll find out when we get there,"
Jean said, her eyes clouded in thought. Who is the eternal one?
The BlackBird flew quietly threw the night sky, each
minute taking the X-Men closer to New York City, where the answer to Jean's
question was waiting.
End chapter two