Chapter Nine

Jean shook off the lethargy that had crept through her limbs when her head struck the wall and focused her telekinetic energy on Jennie. Once she was out of the fight, they should be able to concentrate on neutralising Rebecca and Prowler.

She flung Jennie into the wall with her telekinesis. The girl groaned and passed out, a cut on her temple bleeding sluggishly. Storm shot Jean a look of gratitude and turned back to fighting Prowler.

Jean went to help Jubilee, who was struggling against Rebecca, when a sharp sword of pain lanced through her head. She stumbled back and tried to isolate where the pain was coming from.

Scott!

She cried, "Scott and Aura are in trouble!"

"We're in a little trouble here too," Jubilee retorted, erupting fireworks in Rebecca's face. The redhead recoiled and Jean took the opportunity to throw Rebecca against the wall, where she met the same fate as Jennie.

All three X-women turned on Prowler. With Jean firing telekinetic blasts at him, Storm unleashing lightning bolts and Jubilee pafing every two seconds, it wasn't long before he was out of the fight.

In unspoken agreement, the three X-women ran for the elevator to help Scott and Aura. On the short ride to Level 3 they caught their breath and steeled themselves for whatever they might see.

When the elevator doors swished open, what they saw was Sabrina bending over an unconscious Aura and Scott. She glanced up when she heard Jean, Storm and Jubilee coming and took a few steps back. Jean asked in a soft, dangerous voice, "what did you do to them?"

"N-nothing," Sabrina stammered, fingering a red gemstone around her neck. She took a few more steps then turned tail and ran.

Jean dropped down beside Scott and Aura. The red-and-green-haired girl had bruises on her throat and Scott had a trickle of blood running from a gash on his left temple. She was vaguely aware of Storm and Jubilee going to the end of the corridor, checking for anyone else, then coming back. Storm knelt beside Jean.

"They're breathing, and they don't seem to be injured badly. We'll take them to the jet and check them out," she said to Jean, who nodded. "Yeah. Good idea, 'Ro."

The elevator doors swished open again and Logan walked out. Jubilee asked, "where's Chantelle?"

"I'm here. Sometimes if I get excited and turn invisible it takes a few minutes to turn back. I need to learn how to control it."

"We got attacked by three of them," Logan said by way of explanation for the rents in his uniform where he'd obviously been cut and obviously healed. "We beat them. And I think I smell the kids down this way. What happened to Aura and Scooter?"

"They were attacked too," Jubilee said. "We all were."

"Should have expected it," Logan said. "Did we think this was gonna be a walk in the park or something?"

Storm spoke up. "Jean, why don't you, Jubilee and Chantelle take Scott and Aura to the jet. I'm sure Logan and I can manage to get the children out."

Jean nodded. Jubilee and Chantelle — by now visible again — moved forward and picked up Aura.

Storm and Logan watched them go before turning back to face the seemingly-endless white corridor. Logan sniffed and said, "this way."

Several doors later, he let his claws slide out with a snikt. He slashed the keys of the electronic lock and the door slid open.

Kitty and Remy looked up as Logan strode into the room and glanced around. "C'mon, kids. We gotta find the other two still."

Again following Logan's nose, they found Kurt and Rogue's room. Logan slashed the keys of the electronic lock again and he and Storm were treated to the reunion between the two couples. Remy and Rogue didn't even have to worry about accidentally touching each other's skin, since the karamantium cuffs were still locked around their wrists.

After a few minutes, Logan cleared his throat. "This is very touching and all, but I think we should get out of here. Anyone agree?"

The teenagers nodded sheepishly. Logan carefully sliced their cuffs off and they were about to begin walking back to the elevator when Rogue asked, "how many people c'n ya teleport at once, Sugah?"

She was looking at Kurt. He shrugged. "I've never tried to teleport anyone else, but it's worth a shot."

His tail was twined around Kitty's waist and their hands were clasped. Rogue's gloved hand was in Remy's, so she just took Kurt's other hand. Storm held his left wrist and Logan grabbed Storm's hand. Remy commented, "well, dis don' look too weird," before they all vanished in a cloud of sulphur and brimstone and the bamf.

@ @ @

Raptor was sitting up in bed wearing her Tweety Bird pajamas while she, Dreamer and Solitaire talked. She frowned suddenly. "Dreamer, how did the X-Men know where Kurt, Kitty, Rogue and Remy were?"

"Ah went inta Rogue's dream an' she told me. Ah told ya that b'fore, Raptor."

"Yeah, but how did Rogue know where they were? I can't see Damien being dumb enough to just tell his captives where they were, especially when he knows about your dream-power," Raptor said. Dreamer replied, "he prob'ly thought th' karamantium cuffs'd block mah power."

"If he knew the X-Men at all he'd know they'd find a way to get into Rogue's dream, or one of the others," Raptor argued. "I don't understand it."

"It's a trap," Solitaire said suddenly. "It has to be. Why else would Damien let Rogue know where she is? Raptor's right, if this guy's as smart as you say he is he wouldn't make a stupid mistake like that."

"We have ta warn them," Dreamer said. Raptor frowned. "How? They're too far away for even Professor Xavier to reach them telepathically, and he's not even here!"

"Mah dream-power," Dreamer said suddenly. "Ah c'n contact people who're awake if Ah'm asleep. It's our only chance."

"Wouldn't we have to drug you again?" Solitaire asked. "I don't know if I know how to do that without killing you."

"Ya're a telepath, aren't ya?"

"Yeah. What does that have to do with anything?" Solitaire asked. Dreamer replied, "get inta mah head and combine mah power with ya own. Ya telepathy an' th' range of mah dreamseekin' should be enough ta reach th'others."

Solitaire nodded slowly. "All right, but we have to be careful. If this backfires and we die Jean'll kill us."

Raptor burst into giggles which she tried to smother with her pillow. "Sorry. That sounded funny," she explained between giggles. "Look, is there any way I can help?"

"If we look as though we're in trouble, you have to pull us out of the trance," Solitaire said. "We gonna do this?"

Dreamer nodded. "Yeah, let's get this done."

Both boys closed their eyes. Solitaire reached out with his telepathic senses and felt Dreamer's mind intermingle with his own. He caught a few stray memories and thoughts, and felt a few of his own memories and thoughts absorbed by Dreamer's consciousness. The Southerner radiated a sense of laughter.

So that's what ya think 'bout when ya bein' all "silent broodin' guy", huh?

I don't know what you're talking about, Dreamer.

Sure ya don'. C'mon, let's get this done.

Solitaire concentrated on the X-Men. Suddenly, his mind was hurtling past countless other minds, each one a person going about their normal lives. He could feel Dreamer's gentle amusement at his surprise.

This's th' way Ah do things, Solitaire. Takes a li'l gettin' used ta, Ah know. Just go with it.

He felt Dreamer guiding them both, seeking the sparks he knew as the X-Men. The Southerner said, it'll be easier if we c'n get inta Jean's mind. She's more receptive, bein' a telepath.

Solitaire agreed but didn't say anything, knowing Dreamer could feel his approval of the idea. They targeted Jean's mind and spoke, their telepathic voice coming out as a mix of Solitaire's and Dreamers. The Southern twang slipped in and coloured Solitaire's Ohio accent.

** C'n you hear me, Jean? **

She was surprised. **Solitaire? Or is it Dreamer? I can't tell who you are… **

Dreamer's amusement coloured their reply, as well as Solitaire's confusion over the way they were speaking into her mind, a way he'd never used before. **Right on both counts, Jean. It's both of us. **

**Both of you? How is that possible? **

**We'll explain later, Jean. We had ta tell you that y'all walkin' into a trap. Us an' Raptor figured it's been too easy. Why would Damien let Rogue and the others know where they are? It don' make any sense. **

** I agree, but we're all fine. We're on the Blackbird and we're heading back to the mansion, ** Jean said. ** Although we were attacked not long after we got inside. Scott and Aura got knocked out, but they don't have any serious injuries. They should wake up soon. **

Solitaire could feel Dreamer's perplexity over that. ** Somethin' don' add up, Jean. There's something we don't like about this. **

** We were probably supposed to get captured when we were attacked, ** Jean said. ** They sent a lot of mutants after us. That's probably it. **

** Yeah, that's probably what it is, ** Dreamer/Solitaire agreed, although neither of them really believed that. Something fishy was going on.

Not much we c'n do, though. Jean's prob'ly raht, we're jus' bein' paranoid. Let's get back ta our own bodies, Dreamer said. Solitaire replied, I still don't like it.

Ah don' either, but what c'n we do? Jean, Scott an' Storm have been X-Men f' a long tahme. Ah'm sure they know what they're doin'.

The two teenagers returned to their bodies. Solitaire rubbed his temples. "I feel like I tried to take on Logan," he muttered. Dreamer shrugged. "That's th' way Ah felt when Ah first used mah powers. It passes quickly."

Raptor was looking at them both anxiously. "Are you okay? Did you tell them?" she asked. Dreamer replied, "they're all fahne, Raptor. They got attacked in th' place, but they got outta there. Scott an' Aura were hurt but Jean says they'll be okay."

"Are you two okay? When you were contacting them you kinda looked as though you were going to pass out for a while there," Raptor said. Solitaire noticed the shreds of a napkin on the bedside table and a few strips of the white material in Raptor's hands. He smiled and replied, "we're both okay. It was unreal, like nothing I've ever done before."

"And you're sure they're all okay?" Raptor persisted. Dreamer nodded. "They're okay, Raptor. They'll be back soon."

@ @ @

Chantelle glanced over at Jean as the telepath opened her eyes. "Mrs. Summers-Grey? Are you okay?" she asked. Jean nodded. "Yes. Solitaire and Dreamer contacted me using a mix of both their powers. They thought we might be walking into a trap."

"Es verdad? Why would they think that?" [Is that so?]

"I'm not entirely sure, but I think they might have been right. It was awfully convenient, Damien's mutants getting there so quickly."

Chantelle nodded thoughtfully. She was lying across two of the seats with her booted feet sitting on the headrest, and her hair was lilac laced with pale grey, the colour she said indicated she was tired. Apparently, the darker the grey the more tired she was, until she was either unconscious or asleep, in which case her hair would be black.

"It was strange, nyet? They fought us like wildcats for a while, and then they just let us leave," Chantelle mused. Jean frowned. "You'd prefer them to fight and maybe kill us?"

"Nyet! Timor mortis conturbat me, I would never prefer that. I'm just saying it was odd, comprehendez?" [The thought of dead disturbs me… … understand?]

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. The grey in her hair darkened until it had almost smothered the lilac. Jean said, "go to sleep, Chantelle. I'll wake you when we get back to the mansion."

"You're sure?" Chantelle asked. Jean could tell she wanted to pull her weight but was also exhausted by the night's events, which would be tiring for a newcomer. She nodded and replied, "we'll be fine. We're just flying back to the mansion, after all. I doubt there's a stowaway in the jet."

Chantelle smiled gratefully and in seconds she was asleep, her hair pitch black with streaks of lilac, indicating that her dreams were happy. There were also pink streaks among the lilac, but Chantelle hadn't told them what pink was for.

Jean glanced toward the back of the jet and smiled. Rogue and Remy were in as much contact as they could be without any bare skin touching, and Kitty and Kurt were both asleep, curled up on one seat together. Even the slight separation in Damien's base, each not knowing if the other was all right, had starved them for the touch of their respective partner. Jean understood that; when she'd been abducted with the ten students, three months ago, she'd been scared for herself, her baby and the students, but terrified that Scott and the others were captives somewhere. Not knowing had been torture, worse than anything Damien could have done to her.

Storm sat down beside Jean. "It looks like both Scott and Aura will be perfectly fine," she said. "Both have slight head trauma, enough to knock them out but nothing that will cause any permanent damage. They'll have headaches for a few days, but that's about it."

Logan glanced back from the pilot seat. "Almost home, kids."

Jubilee was sleeping in the copilot seat, her head resting on Logan's shoulder. Jean smiled to herself, a little surprised at the tenderness the big Canadian showed toward Jubilee, Raptor, Rogue and Chantelle, but then he'd taken them all off the road and probably away from a life that no young girl should have to live, and he knew that. They must have been like honorary daughters to him. And to a man with no family that he could remember, the family of misfit mutants was even more precious than anyone could have imagined.

As Logan landed the Blackbird, Chantelle snapped awake and bounced onto her feet, instantly energised again. Jubilee woke up more slowly, rubbing her eyes, and Kurt and Kitty didn't even get as far as waking. Kitty murmured something and buried her head in Kurt's chest, while he wrapped an arm around her, both of them still fast asleep. Jean smiled and said, "let them stay here for the night. There's no point in waking them, and they're safe enough in the hangar."

They moved Scott and Aura up to the infirmary where Jean could keep an eye on them. As soon as they opened the door, Jubilee and Logan were attacked by a bouncing teenager wearing Tweety Bird pajamas.

Jubilee squealed and hugged Raptor. Logan surprised them all by engulfing both girls in a bear hug, during which Raptor somehow reached his face and planted a kiss on his cheek. When he gave her a questioning look, she shrugged and said, "I missed you. All of you."

Once Scott and Aura had been settled in beds, Raptor bounced around the room, hugging everyone. When she reached Chantelle, she grinned and said, "hi, I'm Raptor."

"Chantelle. Nice to meet you."

"You going to stay here for a while?" Raptor asked. When Chantelle nodded, she said, "cool. The mansion's fun, and the teacher's aren't bad for teachers. There's only one thing I'm not too hot on. They won't let me have a martini until I turn twenty-one."

Chantelle burst out laughing, as did Raptor and Jubilee. Logan rolled his eyes. "Wonderful. Three hyperactive teenage girls. Add Rogue and Kitty to these three and you'd never get a moment's peace."

"Sure you would," Raptor said. "It'd just be a very short moment, probably at about two o'clock in the morning."

The phone rang and Jean picked it up. After a few minutes she said, "all right, I'll tell her. You're sure you don't want to talk to her… of course, I understand. See you soon."

She hung up and said, "Raptor, that was Bobby. He would have talked to you, but he was using a payphone and they had to get going. He wanted to tell you that he found your parents and they're on their way here."

TBC. In Chapter Ten, Bobby comes back! With Raptor's parents!! Solitaire and Chantelle have a heart-to-heart in the garden!!! Something sinister is revealed back at Damien's base!!!! Ares gets sick of writing these bits!!!!!