Author's Note and Disclaimer: "The Birthday Wish" is the beginning of an
extended story known simply as 'The Venus Factor'. Events within this part
of the tale take place in a niche that I have carved out between 'X-Men
Unlimited' #34 and 'Uncanny X-Men' #402, about 3.5 years after the
disbanding of the Generation X team. Cut me a little slack and just run
with the time line. As always, these characters are not mine, nor is any
profit made off of using their likenesses. If anyone from Marvel ever reads
this, this true believer would love to write for you. And stop dismissing
Jubilee; she's a great character. Until that day, MMM!
***
"Well," Warren sighed, reclining back in his chair, "we've had the chance to sleep on Jono's little speech. What do you want to do?" he inquired, looking at Bobby.
"I'd never abandon Jubilee," he answered, snowflakes dancing between his fingers as he shot a pointed gaze at Jonathan Starsmore, "despite what some people think. I'm not going to start now."
Warren turned his gaze to Chamber.
"I think you know how I feel, mate."
"So then it's decided," the blue-skinned leader announced, standing and stretching his wings behind him. "Suite up. Flight 393 on Blackbird Air is departing in five minutes."
***
"Now, now, cub. That's no way to greet the welcome wagon," Mystique laughed, falling easily into a fighting stance.
"Some fucking welcome," Wolverine snarled, swinging at the blue-skinned menace.
"I thought I told you to play nice," she countered, easily blocking his blow with a roundhouse kick.
"Maybe I don't know how," he growled, already lunging again.
"I think," she said, jumping back and touching a device on her belt, "that she can still be dead in a second flat."
"You'll be dead in a second," he threatened, moving to attack again.
"So will she. Just keep that in mind."
Wolverine checked himself, pulling in his claws, growling.
***
Jubilee tugged her thoughts into reality. 'Stay true, Jubes. Stay true. Don't let your emotions carry you away. Just remember, you're an X-Man. You've been in worse situations. You can get through this.'
It was funny. After all this time she still thought of herself as one of the X-Men. Sure, she'd been 'demoted' to GenX, but still - once you reach the top of the food chain, there's no going back.
'So what are you going to do to get out of this, Lee?' she countered herself, trying to keep focus.
She looked around the dark room, seeking anything to move on. 'Wait and see. Wait and see.'
***
"So why don't you come with me nicely," Mystique asked, inviting Logan inside the building.
He snarled in reply, knowing that at this point at least Mystique had won the coin toss and got to move first. Now he just had to bide his time.
***
"Well," Warren sighed, reclining back in his chair, "we've had the chance to sleep on Jono's little speech. What do you want to do?" he inquired, looking at Bobby.
"I'd never abandon Jubilee," he answered, snowflakes dancing between his fingers as he shot a pointed gaze at Jonathan Starsmore, "despite what some people think. I'm not going to start now."
Warren turned his gaze to Chamber.
"I think you know how I feel, mate."
"So then it's decided," the blue-skinned leader announced, standing and stretching his wings behind him. "Suite up. Flight 393 on Blackbird Air is departing in five minutes."
***
"Now, now, cub. That's no way to greet the welcome wagon," Mystique laughed, falling easily into a fighting stance.
"Some fucking welcome," Wolverine snarled, swinging at the blue-skinned menace.
"I thought I told you to play nice," she countered, easily blocking his blow with a roundhouse kick.
"Maybe I don't know how," he growled, already lunging again.
"I think," she said, jumping back and touching a device on her belt, "that she can still be dead in a second flat."
"You'll be dead in a second," he threatened, moving to attack again.
"So will she. Just keep that in mind."
Wolverine checked himself, pulling in his claws, growling.
***
Jubilee tugged her thoughts into reality. 'Stay true, Jubes. Stay true. Don't let your emotions carry you away. Just remember, you're an X-Man. You've been in worse situations. You can get through this.'
It was funny. After all this time she still thought of herself as one of the X-Men. Sure, she'd been 'demoted' to GenX, but still - once you reach the top of the food chain, there's no going back.
'So what are you going to do to get out of this, Lee?' she countered herself, trying to keep focus.
She looked around the dark room, seeking anything to move on. 'Wait and see. Wait and see.'
***
"So why don't you come with me nicely," Mystique asked, inviting Logan inside the building.
He snarled in reply, knowing that at this point at least Mystique had won the coin toss and got to move first. Now he just had to bide his time.