Next chapter. As always, they don't belong to me, not making any money, blah, blah, blah. Oh, and Ray, you owe me a chapter of Reborn. And Moonie, I think it's time you got that weird, Buffy/X-men/Author thing going again, cause everyone seems to be up loading things 'cept you. Well, don't just sit there staring, up-load! No wait. Go read the chapter, review, then up-load.
The Danger Grotto
5:30pm
Mulder stared around in wonder at all the mutants. He knew he was being rude, but this was a dream come true for him. As far as he could tell, he and Scully were the only humans here, and if Jubilee was right, even he might not be human. It was all kind of…
Overwhelming?
Who-?
A bald man in a floating wheelchair thing entered through the large doors, nodding as he passed some of the others.
My apologies Agent Mulder. Having met the White Queen I would have thought you to be used to telepaths by now. I am Professor Charles Xavier.
"Ohhh." Xavier was now within speaking distance, and the awed, stunned sound that came from Mulder mad him smile.
"It's quite alright if you feel the need to stare. It's rare that we have mutant-friendly humans visiting that the students think it's funny when they get that stunned expression."
"Oh. Well no one's really talked in my head, except for that guy, ah…Chamber? And even that felt more like a general announcement over the P.A system."
"Yes, in fact, with Chamber, that is exactly what it is. Instead of broadcasting to a single person or persons, he sends out to everyone in a general radius. Just the same as if he were talking normally."
"Oh. So are all these people…"
"They were at one point or another the students of either myself, or of Ms Frost and Mr Cassidey. And all of them are trained to fight. I understand that you listen to many conspiracy theories, as well as going through the X-files cases. You may, then, have heard of the X-men. An outlaw group of mutants, that tries to bring peace between humans and mutants."
"It does sound familiar, but the only time I can remember hearing it is when Jubilee mentioned them. These people here are the X-men?"
"Some of them. Other's are part of the group known as X-Force, the younger ones belong to the teenage group Generation X, other's are freelancers that join any group they feel like, as long as they are needed."
"Listen up!" The people around them turned to look at the control booth that was hovering just above the grotto. Jubilee was standing on it, waiting with Emma and Scott. "Alright peoples, there is a plan, but for the moment I can only outline it for you. The basics are, Nightcrawler, you stay with Agent Mulder at all times, as will Phoenix, Psylocke, Storm and M. The others, patrol the areas around the school, always in pairs, make it look like you're out hunting for the little bugger…whatever you do, do not attack him. Xavier and Frost stay with me, they will keep in contact with the 'paths that surround Mulder at all times. The second there is a hint of psychic static, the tekes put up a shield around Mulder, Nightcrawler, the moment you or Mulder actually see the Weyr, you teleport him out and me in. The tekes will move the shield from a personal one to a cage. Then you leave the rest up to me."
"If the Weyr attacks one of you before then, get out of the area quickly and down to the medlab. Agent Scully, Hank and Cecelia will be waiting for you. Even the smallest cut must be cleaned up and quickly. We don't know what might happen if it manages to infect your blood with itself." Emma glared around at the others while Cyclops relayed the rest of the information. Jubilee jumped off the platform and jogged out of the grotto.
"We don't know how much the Weyr can hear through Jubilee, so she is not to know where we plan to set our trap. We need to keep the Weyr as confused as possible. Nightcrawler, Jubilee will be on the roof all night, as that will be the safest place to put Agent Mulder in case the Weyr escapes the tekes. You teleport Mulder up, and Jubilee back down."
"Ja, Cyclops, I understand." The blue demon-like mutant -bamfed- from his place near the door, to the back of the Professor's hover chair. He grinned as Mulder blinked in shock next to him.
"Hey One-Eye. Who's to say that the Fed boy is gonna be the target. Weyr's smart. If he knows we're trappin' him, he'll go after someone else."
"We know. The first plan is in case the Weyr wasn't listening in to Jubilee's mind. If he was and decides to target someone else, then we use the second plan. That's why you're going out in pairs, Logan. Also, Jubilee will be thinking strongly, on purpose, that there is a second plan, and the first one is simply to distract the Weyr from the second. If the Weyr attacks someone else, send an empathic shock bubble to the nearest telepath. They'll inform Nightcrawler and he will bring both Jubilee and Phoenix to take the Weyr."
'Shock bubble?'
All my students are trained to send out a 'bubble' of emotions. It creates a psychic wave that disturbs any telepath in the way. Even with stealth shields and psychic static it will usually get through. The telepaths will respond immediately. Xavier gave him a small smile of encouragement. Across the room, where Scully was standing with Hank McCoy and Cecelia Reyes, he could see that she had heard the same thing.
"I want all teams to stay on the coms at all times, just in case the psychic static deadens the bubble effect."
There was a general nod of agreement, then they were talking amongst themselves, pairing up, and getting weapons. Scully and Mulder exchanged glances, both hoping this would work.
The roof of Mass Academy,
06:47pm
Jubilee paced around the roof, restless, angry and fairly upset. The restless and most of the upset was all her, but the angry and the rest of the upset was Wolf, loudly broadcasting his dislike that she was setting out to trap him.
She in return was broadcasting her intense regret and sorrow that it had to come to this. Unknown to the others, she and Wolf had been more then just psychically bonded. It was more of a symbiont effect, and the fact that she may have to kill her other half was hurting her more then anything else. But the sorrow of remembering what he had done was hurting her too much to just let him continue.
She suddenly hissed in pain as the scars on her shoulder began to bleed. Her head whirled to look at the sun, and she realised it had only just set. There was still enough of a glow to make it look like daytime. But the difference was, Wolf was gone, and Weyr was coming.
Prof? Xavier's hover chair appeared behind her. Now.
The deep rumbling in her mind announced both the psychic voice of the most powerful telepath on the planet, and the end of the change that meant Weyr was now in charge.
It's starting! Positions!
Mulder looked around the small alley like hole they had cornered themselves in. The girls' dorm was to the left of them, while the main house was to the right, and the connecting walkway created the third wall behind them. Kurt and Jean had assured him this was the best place to wait, while Psylocke and Monet had simply nodded and floated to the second story windows using their own unique powers, acting as lookouts and rescue. Storm was floating above them, over the school.
No doubt Jubilee and the others could see her from where they were, but it didn't pinpoint the exact location of Mulder and his team, which would confuse the Weyr, and maybe make it look more like the first trap was indeed the decoy.
Jean and Betsy suddenly shifted.
Chamber has encountered static near the west end of the school. The static wave is moving this way. Kurt, get ready. Kurt nodded to Jean, shifting even closer to Mulder.
There was a few seconds silence, then Xavier's voice intruded.
Gambit is down, Skin is wounded, static moving faster…Gateway just appeared, Gambit and Skin have been transported to medlab. Another few seconds of silence. Logan is down, Cable is reporting heavy static, but it's fluxing. Weyr may be moving toward the lake.
"Is this going to work?"
"I vould hope so, mien fruend ."
Cyclops is down, Storm, get him out of there. Jubilee reports that Weyr is being indecisive.
Above them Storm swept down to the forest, sending droves of cold, freezing air toward one area. A pillar of ice appeared, as Iceman got Cyclops out of the way.
Weyr is continuing to move toward Mulder's location. Another silence, then the voice reappeared, fainter then before. Stati…comin…Kur…ready.
The warning wasn't needed, as all of them could see something loping out of the woods. Kurt sidled up to Mulder, taking his arm into a strong hold.
"Close yer eyes freund, this vill make you nauseous." Mulder took his advice and closed his eyes, though he was still holding tightly to the tranq gun and the flare they had lent him. He heard a growl, around twenty meters away, then a snarl and a loud pop as his world suddenly tilted. Kurt quickly let go of him and the -bamf- noise and cloud of sulphur announced that he and Jubilee were gone. Mulder opened his eyes to find himself standing beside Xavier and Frost.
"The tekes managed to grab him, but they're having trouble holding him. It will be up to Jubilee now. There is nothing else we can do to-" Xavier broke off as the frantic psychic voice of Jean Grey entered their heads.
Sir, we had the Weyr, but the minute Jubilee appeared it started to send sonic shock waves at us. We lost our hold, it ran and now Jubilee is running after it. All the telepaths are out of commission down here, can you and Emma find them?
Frost shifted, cocked her head and then announced clearly to everyone.
Jubilee and Weyr both have their stealth shields up; there was a moment of psychic static when I swept by Domino and Rogue. They report hearing loud noises moving swiftly toward the lake. The sudden flash of bright, psychic power made every head on the school estate ring with pain, and when Mulder finally managed to open his eyes he found Storm standing beside an unconscious Xavier, while Emma Frost had somehow ended up fainting in his arms.
"Help me get them down to the medlab."
"But Jubilee-"
"Will do what she has to do. No doubt the others are looking for them at this moment. Our duty is to get the telepaths somewhere safe so they can recover." Mulder sighed, then nodded. Gingerly he picked up Frost and followed Storm to the stairs. The mutants could take care of themselves. Besides, his head was really hurting.
The school medlab,
March 7, 6:48am
Everyone looked up as the door to the medlab opened again. The assorted teams of mutants waited for the only human on campus to make her report.
"Cyclops is fine. He needed nearly thirty stitches, and will most likely have trouble walking for the next few days, but other then that is unhurt. Now, who has scratches, bruises or other little wounds? Dr Reyes and I will clean them up for you." Iceman and Cable moved toward Scully, while Rogue picked up Nightcrawler and carried him in. The demonic priest was half-asleep, and too tired to walk, let alone -bamf- anywhere.
"Everyone, go get sleep. Now." Most of them grumbled but they were all too tired to argue with Psylocke. As one of only two telepaths still functioning, she had placed herself in charge of the ragged group, while Monet, the other telepath, was out helping Logan, Deana and Jessa to find Jubilee. It had been nearly eleven hours since the young woman had disappeared without a trace, taking the Weyr with her. Logan and Monet were tracking her as best they could, while Jessa and her roommate Deana were doing what they could to help. If Jubilee had managed to subdue the Weyr again, leaving Wolf in charge, Deana would be able to talk to it, asking where Jubilee was. Jessa was there to help if someone got wounded.
The two young girls had gone out as soon as the sun rose.
"That means you as well Agent Mulder. There's a guestroom up in the east wing. Artie and Leech will show you the way."
The pink and green boys appeared beside him, each one grabbing a hand and tugging. Psylocke grinned as Artie made the 'no no' finger appear in the air in front of them.
"Artie says that friend Mulder shouldn't stay down here. Leech agrees with Artie. Mulder needs sleep."
Mulder blinked at them tiredly then nodded.
"Thanks kids. Can you tell Scully where I am?" Betsy nodded and shooed him away. With a sigh she stretched her tired mind.
M? Anything?
Nothing. Not a trace and the scent disappeared when they entered the lake. Wolverine is nearly going insane up here. I'm afraid if we don't find them soon, he'll go feral, and I just can't deal with another feral today. Deana has been asking the trees if they know anything, and all she can find out from them is that Jubilee is alive, Weyr is alive, Wolf is alive and they're all dead. That's exactly what they told her and the only thing they told her. They won't say where, they won't say what happened, they won't-
Monet, enough. You are babbling. Tell Logan to come back. If the trees say Jubilee is alive, we'll find them, but we need a bigger search party, and we aren't going to get that until everyone gets some sleep. A moment of silence, then a growl was her answer.
He won't listen. He wants to know why the trees say she's alive and dead at the same time.
Logan! If you don't stop now, I'll put you to sleep and then when we do organise the search party, I won't wake you up! You are absolutely no use to anyone when you are half dead with worry! There was another growl, and then Logan's thoughts reached out.
'Fine. But if anything happens while we're all takin' a nap, Bets, I'm gonna hold you responsible.'
Of course. Now get your arse back here. And tell Jessa to come down to the medlab. She can help us get Xavier, Frost and Phoenix back up. Chamber is already awake, but he's got a headache like you wouldn't believe. Cable is fine, except for the fact that he's burnt out and probably won't be able to use his psychic powers until this afternoon. She smiled as she remembered something else. Oh, and it turns out that Jubilee was right. Mulder was complaining mentally of bright lights and headaches. I DNA tested him while the doctors were busy. He's a mutant of some kind, we think he might be clairvoyant. So if he and the rest of us 'paths get some undisturbed sleep, we might be able to boost his powers and locate Jubes. There was a grunt of approval.
'Good.'
Then the connection cut off, and Psylocke finally gave in, fainting into the arms of Angel, who had been hovering behind her for the last half an hour.
Mulder tossed again then rolled onto his stomach. He couldn't sleep. Weird images kept flashing through his head. Weird thoughts too.
"She could manipulate water, and with training, would have been able to breathe under it-"
"Did you find them?"
"No, Logan lost the scent at the lake."
The noise was still moving fast in front of her. 'Damn little bugger. I will get you this time Weyr. You know perfectly well, I won't give up!'
The feeling of contempt for her puny legs and her speed came back to her. 'My legs are not puny!' Anger and humour came back to her in an equal mix.
The clear order for her to leave him be then suddenly shock as a tree in front of the head runner exploded. 'I will not let you get away!' The second runner made a flying tackle, and they both of them tumbled into the lake. There was a sharp pain and a push then the pain intensified past anything either of them could really handle. Suddenly, light, energy, air and water began to swirl around them, engulfed them-
Mulder sprung upright as the dream hit him hard. He hadn't even realised he had fallen asleep…
"Mulder? Are you awake?"
"Yeah, come in Scully." His red haired partner gave him a quick once over as she walked into the guest bedroom, then held out an aspirin and a glass of water.
"What time is it?"
"Nine-thirty. Xavier and Jean are both awake, though Monet and Betsy finally collapsed from exhaustion. Emma's awake, but her powers aren't, and Cable has limited broadcasting at the moment. And Chamber's acting as if nothing even happened to him, so they want to try and boost your powers to see if they can find her." She grinned. "Still can't believe you have powers. That's just…even after every X-file we've ever gone through, it just seems strange."
"Yeah…I think I'll just go back to sleep. She'll come back when she's ready. She just has to sort it all out." He swallowed the aspirin dry and let his head fall back to the pillow.
"What!?" Scully, nudged him but he was already asleep again.
Scully watched him for a second, then shrugged and quietly closed the door. A few minutes later she was confronting the telepaths and Logan in Frost's office.
"Well?"
"He went back to sleep. But before he did, he said that Jubilee would come back when she was ready. She just had to sort it out. His words."
"He's sure?" Xavier didn't wait for an answer. After nearly twenty-four hours around telepaths, Scully had become accustomed to the blank-eyed look that signified a communication. "Yes, he is sure. He was having a dream about it."
"So we're just gonna wait?"
"I think that would be best. Mulder was having a uniquely clairvoyant dream. Jubilee will come back when she is ready. Though when that might be is slightly hard to tell." Logan glared for a moment, and then grunted and walked out.
Xavier School,
1:00pm
It was lunchtime when Mulder finally decided to wake up. The noise that assaulted him as he walked in to the mess hall surprised him. Nearly everyone, with the exception of Monet and Psylocke were awake and eating. Scully waved him over to where she was sitting with Emma and the Professor.
"Hey. Why is everyone awake?"
"Good afternoon Agent Mulder." The Professor smiled calmly at him, though the worry lines around his eyes betrayed him. "They're all awake because they are all hungry. You must understand that what happened yesterday was only a middle level crisis when compared to what we normally have to face. All the students really needed were a couple of hours sleep, and enough food to speed up their metabolism."
"Oh…so you found Jubilee then?" From the table next to them Logan and Storm turned to listen to the conversation.
"No, Mulder. You told us this morning that she would come back when she was ready. That wasn't just a dream you were having. That was a clairvoyant vision. The trauma of the psychic overload yesterday seems to have awoken your powers. You'll find that strange bits of information will come to you now, when you don't expect them." Mulder's eyes lit up, and for a second he looked like he was about to start questioning Xavier about his powers, but a scream from one of the younger students, his mind told him it was Jessa, distracted him.
"Oh my God! Wolf!" The room went quite, everyone turned to look at the balcony door, and to what Jessa was pointing at.
A ragged, obviously injured and very wet wolf was limping its way toward the door. If this wasn't strange enough, the wolf was the same completely black colour that Wolf and Weyr had been, with the exception of a bright bluish/purple stripe of fur moving from it's left eye all the way down its back and then to its tail. There was blood all over its fur and it wobbled a bit as it used its snout to open the glass door.
With a whimpered growl, the wolf sat down and closed its eyes. The room was completely frozen as it began to glow a soft yellow/gold. A few seconds later, a very tired, very ragged Jubilee stood up from where she had just transformed.
She smiled slightly at the varying expressions of stun and shock and tried to take a step forward.
"Hey guys-" She collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
