Fire Within
Black intangible, with no sense of cold or hot, no passage of time existed and it was quiet while being noisy at the same time. This is were Aidan woke when she found the strength. She had a sense that something was very wrong with her, but her mind wasn't letting her think about it. She here, floating, senseless. All she knew for sure was that she wasn't dead. Raven would never have killed her, but he could have done worse things. Aidan wanted to panic, she wanted to be able to feel her heart beating or her breath coming in, but there was only floating. Some where in the midst of this space she saw a gleam and wanted to touch it, but without arms it was impossible. So she stared as the gleam grew larger and came closer. There was a faint red shine to it and at it's center was a bright blue flame.
"John?" She opened her mouth and no sound came out, but somehow she had spoken.
"No, this is Xavier." The Professor's voice floated through the darkness, coming from every side. "I have been trying to reach you for a long time. Something has happened at the school."
"What do you mean?" Aidan wanted to listen with her ears, to hear with her powers. But that was impossible.
"The only reason I know something is wrong is because I can't reach anyone." Xavier paused. " But then again, this could all be an illusion."
"No Professor I assure you this is not an illusion." Aidan knew that much about the space. "I have been here before and this is a very real space."
"Then where are we?" Xavier's glow came to stop just in front of her and he took a shimmering milky resemblance of his original self.
"I think it's my mind." Aidan tried to look around but there was nothing but darkness. "If this is my mind, why is it all black?"
"There is a wall around your mind." Xavier said simply. "I have been unable to breach the wall since you walked in. I wonder how I got in this time?"
"Why can't I know where I am?" Aidan was beginning to worry a little. "I don't feel safe in here and shouldn't I be feeling safe in my own mind?"
Charles nodded. "Yes."
"Then something isn't right inside my head." Aidan paused. "That might explain why I can't remember things."
"Perhaps we should take a look?" Xavier offered a hand. "Come."
"And go where?" Aidan stared at his hand.
"This is your space, you tell me Aidan."
Aidan sighed and shrugged, " Sure, it's not like we have to be anywhere."
Taking his hand she and Xavier strolled into the darkness that surrounded them.
**
John moaned as he tried to lift his head. It spun around as if loose on his shoulders and he was having trouble breathing. Finally managing to open his eyes he focused on a blue shape and was startled when it knelt beside him.
"Hi John." Mystique whispered. "Don't sit up too fast."
"Mystique? What are you doing here?" He managed his words and they were slurred.
"We came here after Eric passed out while using his powers. He says something has changed in his system. When we pulled up in front of the gates, commando's jumped out and arrested us. We have been sitting here for a few hours now."
"Where are we?" John tried to focus on his surroundings.
"The mansion, I believe this is Xavier's office." Mystique let him sit up on his own and stood back. "Bobby and Scott are still under the drug."
John was managing to gain some focus and saw Magneto hunched up against a far wall. He was still in jeans and a work shirt but he looked old. That magnetic pull to him was gone and he truly did appear to just an elderly man.
"Where is Dorian? I mean Carbon. He's a black skinned dude." John held a hand to his head to keep it from spinning.
"If you mean the man who is commanding this group of people, he is rounding up the rest of the students. I am under the impression that he has them locked in the lower levels."
Just then the door opened and in walked Carbon. He was flanked by two men in military outfits. Carbon glanced at them and smiled slightly. "Welcome back to us Pryo."
John glared at him and was rewarded with waves of nausea. "What do you want?"
Carbon laughed, "I have what I want." He waved a hand to Magneto. "Aidan did as we asked after all and I will be leaving soon. You are welcome to join us John."
"What about Aidan, you said she was unconscious."
"Indeed she is, when I last looked in on her, Xavier was right next to her. The only ones we are missing are Logan and Rogue, they haven't returned yet." Carbon crossed to the window and swept back the heavy curtains. Weak sunlight spoke that the world was sinking into darkness.
"I have a question." Magneto spoke up, his voice carried easily despite his weakened state. "Why did you send Aidan to me, if she is already working toward mutant prosperity?"
Carbon let the curtain fall back. "Haven't you figured it out yet old man?" He turned to glare at Magneto. "People like you are too powerful, you have to be stopped. Aidan was the perfect choice. I sent her to you to see if she could still do what we trained her for."
John felt like shit run over three times, but he still caught Carbon's words. "You sent her? I thought Shadow sent her."
Carbon glanced at him, "Your point?"
"Unless you are Shadow..." John paused, " You are shadow aren't you?'
"What a bright fellow you are." Carbon grinned. "Yes, John I am Shadow. So what?'
"That explains why Aidan was so angry with you. It was a subconscious response." John shook his head. "I bet she figured it all out in her head so you decided to stop her. You made her unable to remember things so she wouldn't turn her powers on you."
Carbon cocked his head to the side and watched him. "What a surprise you are indeed."
" Again back to me." Magneto snapped. "You sent her after me for what reason? Are we not working for the same goal?"
"No we are not Magneto. You wish mutants to take their place in the world, I wish for them to have no place. But rather then kill them all, we just make them human." Carbon/Shadow crossed his arms.
John recognized the motion as Aidan's and it sent a shiver through him. There was more to Aidan then he had even thought possible.
"So you wanted Magneto stopped, so you sent Aidan after him?" Mystique asked gently. "Is that why you had her copy our files?"
Carbon looked up, clearly startled. "That was a secondary mission. We seek to end mutants and Magneto and Xavier are the only two men on the planet that could interfere. Aidan was sent to disarm them."
"Charles is with her right now," Magneto said in a clipped tone. "She is doing what you asked."
"Again you are incorrect." Carbon sounded annoyed. "Aidan is at war with herself and is become a danger to us. Her powers are growing and she will eventually break through my work. Once Aidan discovers what she knew in the past, the mission will be ruined."
"But you just said you wanted her to stop Professor Xavier." John muttered.
"Aidan must be conscious for her powers to work properly John. Other wise I would keep her sedated all the time." Carbon waved an angry hand in the air. "I do not owe you explanations. I will complete my mission and you will not stop me."
John wanted to know more but his head was aching too much and he was slipping away again.
**
Logan paused two blocks from the school and drew in a breath. At his back Rogue shifted her weight and leaned over his shoulder.
"What is wrong?" She asked in that gentle southern drawl.
"Something has happened at the school. It's not safe for us."
She gazed at the distant mansion. "Not again."
"I have a hunch this is different. Stryker is gone for now, it's too soon for him to return." Logan sighed. "Come on we will head back to the city, I have to make a call."
Rogue looked back over her shoulder as they drove away from the school. She thought of Bobby and then of Aidan and wondered if they were okay. For a rare moment she longed to have a power like John or Storm. Something that would be useful right now. Instead she clung to Logan as they drove away.
**
Aidan paused as they came to a heavy looking black door. She searched for a handle and couldn't find one. Pushing against it didn't do any good and she was frustrated within moments.
"Aidan this is your mind, you can unlock this door if you choose to." Xavier said gently.
She gazed at the black door and tried to see where it started and stopped. In either direction, up, down, side to side, it was went on forever. Could she have created this door? If so what was she trying to block out? If not, then why had she been forced to forget what ever it was that lingered behind here?
Looking at the Professor she saw him nod and then stared at the door.
"Open." She told it. The door didn't move. "Open sesame?" Again it stayed closed. Sighing she shook her head. "What now?"
"Try forming a handle on the door and get in through that." Xavier suggested.
Aidan stared at the door. She imagined a handle, a simple, round knob to grab and turn. At first nothing happened and she felt her head beginning to ache. Aidan paused, this was ridiculous, she was in her own mind surely she could make things happen here. Drawing in a deep breath she closed her eyes and made the handle appear in her imagination. Opening her eyes she pushed out against herself and felt a tingle in her blood. A hum started around her and the door groaned as the handle grew out of the surface. She reached with no arms and turned it. The door was heavy and required a lot of effort to open. Once open she gazed into more black space and stopped in her tracks.
"Where is it?" She asked Xavier.
"Where is what?" He inquired.
"Whatever I hid behind the door." Aidan waved to the black space. "It's empty."
"No, not empty. You are not allowing yourself to see what is here. You are in a war with yourself Aidan."
She frowned as she realized he was right. "What do you suggest?"
"Open your eyes," Xavier tapped his forehead. "Open your mind."
Frustration was building in her as she stared at the empty space. May be there was nothing here to see? She pushed the thought aside. There had to be something. She formed an image in her mind and pushed it out like she had with the handle. Only this time she felt something tug at her, something that grabbed around her body and yanked. Aidan was lifted off her feet and sucked into her the space. Xavier was pulled with her and the door slammed shut behind them.
**
Dull pain woke John and it was late at night. He tried to move and found that was the source of pain. His muscles were too stiff. Concentrating he willed fire to form and used the light to help him see what he was doing. Shifting his position was hard as his hands limbs were tight.
"Need a hand, boy?" A voice swirled through the dark and brushed against his face. There was a sound of fluttering feathers and then a shadow pressed against the dark.
John shifted his weight and extended the fire, light spilled in a wider circle around him. He saw the tips of a man's shoes and the hem of a long, flowing coat. Brightening the fire, John took in long legs, a muscles mid section and strong arms. Chiseled, handsome features were framed by thick dark hair. Crimson eyes glittered like wet blood.
"So you are John." The man said lightly, his eyes moving up and down John's body. "I thought it was the other one."
John turned his hand and the light illuminated both Bobby and Magneto. Bobby looked to be peaceful and unharmed, Magneto was not so lucky. Bruises darkened his face and he sat awkwardly. Mystique awoke at the light and gazed at John with yellow eyes. Her gaze slid to the man and then back to John. She was trying to tell him something without actually saying a word.
"Go back to sleep." The man ordered, "This doesn't concern you."
Mystique gazed at John a moment before closing her eyes again.
"So John." The man kept his voice easy. "What has Aidan done to capture you?" He dropped like liquid to sit cross-legged just in front of John. "Was it her eyes or her kiss?"
"Who are you?"
The man grinned, fangs flashed in John's fire. "Surely you have heard of me."
John stared at him a moment. "You must be Raven."
A nod. "Now that we have that established, what drew you to Aidan?"
John didn't want to talk to this guy about Aidan, he just wanted to get out here and make sure she was okay. But gazing into those dark red eyes, John had a sinking feeling that he didn't have a choice.
"Her light." John was pleased when the man frowned at him. "You know the fire within her heart?"
Raven smiled slowly then, "I know what you mean now. It was the same with me. One look at her and I knew I had to possess her. I had to hold that light within my arms and kiss it from her lips."
"Yeah, well not exactly." John shook his head and gazed at his hand, the fire was bright. "It was more of a kindred spirit. She and I are the same in basic ways. Both of us control fire and are out casts. There is an attraction between us that goes behind possessing. It's a... mutant bond."
Raven ran a hand through his hair. " I can see why she likes you. You are warm like the sun, passionate like the fire you control while being dark and mysterious at the same time. Like Aidan, you are more then what you appear."
John stared at him. " You something that Aidan doesn't, I mean about herself?"
Raven grinned, " I know a lot. I know for example how she ended up here and why. I also know why it is that Aidan allows Shadow to keep her under his control."
"Because she doesn't have a choice." John snapped.
Raven shook his head. "Not at all. It's because of her brother, Keahi. Shadow has her under the illusion that he is lying in a bed in some hospital being kept alive by machines. Which in part is true, but not all of it."
"What brother?" John asked.
"The one she supposedly burned up when she was younger. The one who was supposed to have died from lethal burns suffered when he touched her all those years ago." Raven paused and looked at him. "You know of what I speak. You too have lost a sibling."
John looked away from those eyes, " My whole family turned against me. I never knew my mother and my father didn't want me around. He only kept me there because someone had to look after my younger brother."
"Then we have something else in common." Raven stood smoothly. "Neither of us knew our mothers."
"So?"
Raven shrugged, "So nothing, it just proves a pattern to her madness." He stepped out of the circle of light around John. "Now rest, boy. Tomorrow is coming quickly."
Against his will, John felt his eyes dropping shut as he his body fell back to sleep.
**
Rogue sat back against the deep couch as she watched Logan pace back and forth. He had been doing this since they arrived at the hotel last night. Apparently he didn't sleep because he was still pacing when she woke up this morning. From the pattern on the floor he had been doing this a while. His features were drawn and dark with lines showing around his eyes and mouth. The only signs of age on his ageless face.
"What are you waiting for Logan?" She asked for the thousandth time.
Logan didn't pause or acknowledge her in any way. He just paced. Then he just stopped as if his muscles had frozen in place. To show he wasn't really frozen his claws snapped into view and made Rogue jump. He turned his head to the hotel door just moments before a knock came.
"Yeah?" Logan growled.
"Someone want Cajun?" Came a New Orleans drawl.
Logan grinned and the claws slid back into his hands. He marched to the door and threw it open with a grin. "Hey, Swamp Rat, what took you so long?"
"Business mon ami."
Rogue sat up straighter when a six foot man stepped through the door. His long auburn hair brushed his jaw as he gazed around the room with red eyes. There was a clever mind behind the eyes and the glint of a troublemaker shone in them. He wore a faded leather coat that brushed his ankles, hands jammed in the pockets. Under the coat he had blue jeans and a dark T-shirt. He gazed at her with those eyes and Rogue felt a rush go through her.
Logan glared at them, "Knock it off, Remy." His growl broke the hold on them both and Rogue curled up on the couch while the man flopped gracefully into one of the arm chairs.
"You called Gambit 'member?"
"Yeah I remember. I called you because I need someone with fast hands who can handle themselves. The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters is under attack. I don't think it would be wise for us to go in there like an army. I need you to get by them Remy."
"What is Gambit facin'?"
"Military probably." Rogue muttered from her seat. "They seem to really like our school."
Gambit gazed at her a moment. "You go to dis place chere?"
She nodded. "So does my boyfriend."
Rogue bit her tongue, what had possessed her to say that? Gambit's mouth curled into a soft smile. "Too bad."
Rogue looked away from him and gazed too hard at her gloved hands.
Logan cleared his throat nosily and stood in the center of the room. "If you two are finished?"
"Sorry Logan, Gambit couldn't 'elp him self." Gambit waved a hand to motion Logan should continue.
Rogue noticed he too wore gloves, but these only covered two fingers. They were the middle ones and covered his palms. She was curious by the way he ran his fingers over a playing card. Rogue had a sense that it was a nervous gesture.
"Look Remy, we are going into a dangerous place. I need you to stay focused." Logan snarled slightly. "This a school of mutants and for some reason, they weren't able to stop the invasion. That either means that there is more to this then just military or it was an inside job."
"Then we should take a look, non?" Gambit raised a brow at him. "Or does Logan have a plan?"
Logan smiled, "We'll talk on the way."
**
Aidan opened her eyes and gasped at what she saw, it was a living room. For some reason it looked very familiar. She turned and was startled to see herself reflected in the mirror over the mantel. Only it wasn't the face Aidan recognized right away, the hair was the same, but it was the eyes that caught her. They weren't gold, but a simple blue. Again she turned and found herself staring at a younger man. He looked just like her except for flecks of gold in his blue eyes.
"Keahi." The name rolled out of her lips without having to be thought. Aidan knew without having to force it, that this was her younger brother.
Keahi turned as if he had been called and walked away from her. Aidan moved to follow and was surprised to see she could. He walked down a small hall leading to a large kitchen. Aidan saw herself sitting at it with her head on her arms, it looked as though she was crying. Keahi reached out to touch her and she screamed, throwing herself back. Holding out a hand as if to ward him off.
"Professor what is this?" Aidan whispered.
Xavier appeared beside her, "It appears to be a memory."
Aidan watched herself collapse to the floor and Keahi knelt next to her. She continued to weep and he threw his arms around her. She tried to push him back and that was her mistake. Fire ignited between them, but it wasn't her doing. It was Keahi. The fire flowed from him to her and back, only something was wrong. Aidan frowned as she watched the memory. Keahi tried to let go but it wouldn't work, his body was clenched around hers. They were beginning to burn together as they both screamed and no one came. Aidan felt a tingle go through her and pain burst along her and spread outward. She went to her knees in the kitchen just as she did in the memory.
"Aidan? What is wrong?" Xavier reached to touch her.
"No! Don't touch me!" She screamed it at him. "I might kill you."
Xavier held his hands away but knelt next to her. "Tell me what it is."
Aidan gazed down at herself and her brother. Keahi was lying in her arms and was black with burned skin. She held him and was trembling as her own burns began to hiss and pop. Her skin pulled its self back together as she lay gasping.
"You can heal yourself." Xavier said in an awed tone.
"No." Aidan shook her head. "My body can adapt to mutant powers. Keahi used his powers to do this, my body is adapting to them.
At her back came someone else, it was a woman whom Aidan knew to be their mother. She was screaming now too and crying hysterically. Next came her father and he started to babble. Aidan felt the space ripple under as the memory changed and she was no sitting in the living room. Hands clasped tightly in her lap and head down. Across from her was a man in black coat and hat. He was speaking gently.
"That is Shadow." Aidan whispered. "This must be the day he came to my house."
"If only we could hear what he was saying." Xavier said softly.
Aidan looked at him and caught the meaning. She concentrated on making the memory have sound. Slowly it came like someone was scanning a radio frequency and couldn't get it quite right.
"Aidan I know you feel bad about hurting Keahi, but we can help you." Shadow said lightly. "I have medicine that can heal him, but I need you to help me in exchange."
She looked up at him, "What do you want from me?"
"Few people in this world understand what it is to be what we are." He extended a hand to her. When she touched him her hand went right though him. There was a shimmer around him and he grabbed her hand and held it. "I work for a group who want to change that lack of understanding. We want to make the world equal for everyone."
The memory melted away and left them in black space again.
Aidan stared at Xavier. "This is not something I didn't know already."
"As I told Logan once, the mind must discover things on it's own. Perhaps this is all your mind is prepared to show you."
Aidan gazed at the spot where the memory had vanished, "But I have to know the rest of it. I have to know why Shadow has done these things to me."
Xavier sighed, " Be careful what you wish for Aidan. Logan didn't like what he found and you may be the same."
"That doesn't matter!" She snapped and had to take a deep breath. "Professor I don't care about what it is, I have to know. I can't go on living like a mindless slave, I have to know who I used to be."
Xavier looked away from her. "Then perhaps another door?"
**
John jolted away and found Bobby shaking him gently. "Bobby stop, I'm up."
"Good, let's try to get out of here." Bobby whispered.
John sat up and paused, "Where's Magneto and Mystique?"
"I don't know, that Carbon fellow came a few hours ago and took them. I have been wondering about Scott. Have you seen him since before this happened?"
"No." John tried to loosen his shoulders and couldn't move his hands. "Damn these cuffs."
Bobby reached behind John. Touching the metal he watched as ice formed on them.
"Crap Bobby, that's cold!" John complained and Bobby grinned.
"Now try." Bobby moved back as John flexed and there came a sharp snap. "Once the temperature of metal is lowered to a certain degree it breaks under pressure."
"Oh yea, where'd you learn that?" John.
"Chemistry class, you might learn stuff too if you showed up once a while." Bobby had mean it to be a playful remark but the tone wasn't playful at all.
John paused in stretching out his arms and back. Staring at his friend with dark eyes, "What does that mean?"
"I mean...Why did you leave with Magneto anyway?" Bobby shook his head, "Why'd you do it?"
"Because I had to see if he was right. I had to see if I could be my own person. Around here we are treated like dumb kids. But we're not kids Bobby. We are mutants. Meant to be better then everyone else. Who are they to say what we can and can't do or say?"
"They are the ones in charge." Bobby retorted. "They are the ones who go out there and risk their lives to that we can have a better future." Bobby heard his voice crack as he spoke and remembered Dr. Gray. "They are the X-Men, John. The only security we have in a world that hates us for being different."
John stared at Bobby, "Why are you crying?"
"You have probably noticed Dr. Gray's absence." Bobby watched as John nodded. "Well we ran into trouble after you left. The dam broke and the jet wasn't working, we couldn't get any power. With thousands of gallons of water coming at us, Dr. Gray decided to give up her life so we could get out. She stopped the water long enough to power the jet and get us above it."
John blinked at him, " Dr. Gray? She did that? I didn't know she was that strong."
"She wasn't, I mean Scott thinks that it is because of something that happened on Liberty Island. But no one knows for sure. All we know is that she is gone, just like you were."
John hated the feeling of guilt that rose in him. "Bobby I thought that Magneto had the answers. I mean he said things that sounded like what I was feeling."
"Then why did you leave him behind?" Bobby asked him.
John sighed, " I met Aidan. We got talking and she helped me think about a few things. But more then that, I missed you and Rogue and I even missed Scott. I missed being here Bobby."
Bobby stared at the ground for a moment. "Well as long as you don't plan on running off anytime soon, I suppose I could use your help in getting out of here."
"What if Carbon comes back?" John asked as he moved to his feet.
It hurt so he had to pause a moment. His head spun a little as his system got used to standing again. After a breath he joined Bobby at trying to open the door.
"Then we do what we have to." Bobby muttered as he froze the lock on the door and gave it a kick. The door opened with a crack and they peered into the hall.
"We should try and find Storm or Colossus. We need more then just us."
John and Bobby moved silently through the quiet school. Every hall was familiar while being different at the same time. There was something about having invaders in your space that just changed it.
"Do we know where to find anyone?"
"We'll try the lower levels." Bobby lead them into the second floor library but stopped. "No good it's guarded."
John held up a hand, it flared red. "No problem."
"No John, we can't hurt anyone." Bobby pulled him along the hall. "We'll go through the outside."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll scale the walls and use the exterior doors to enter the lower levels." Bobby paused at one of the dorm room doors. Turning the handle he pushed the door open and looked around at the feminine room. His eyes slid over the room and was unprepared for the figure that came exploding through the window.
"Down!" Bobby hit the floor as the figure did several flips and landed smoothly on the floor. Ice formed in a shield around him as exploding objects came at him.
"Hey pal, let me take that for you." John threw off a fire ball that knocked the man off his feet and into a collection of stuffed toys.
"Bobby you okay?" John offered a hand to his friend as they both kept eyes on the man.
He groaned and sat up. "Wat you mean by hurtin' Gambit that way? Logan sent me."
John and Bobby looked at each other. Bobby spoke. "Where is Logan?"
"He out side in the yard. He wanted Gambit to find a way in." The man looked around at the room and made a face. "Somethin' tell me dis ain't what he wanted."
"Come on, if Logan is outside then we need to get out there. He can help us." John made for the window.
"Non, mon ami, he said not to go lookin' for him. Gambit is all you need." The man held up a card and it sizzled as orange light surrounded the surface. "Let us find some bad guys, non?"
John grinned, "I couldn't agree more." Fire swirled in his palms as he looked at Bobby. "What do you say Iceman?"
Bobby looked from one to the other and sighed. " We need to help the others before we attack anyone."
Both Gambit and John frowned but said noting in conflict. Just then the door rattled as a concessive blast hit the walls and shook the whole room.
"Something tell me, that they have other plans." Gambit muttered as the walls broke and the room fell in on them.
The last thing John saw before passing out was a golden fire bird with the face of Dr. Jean Gray.
Black intangible, with no sense of cold or hot, no passage of time existed and it was quiet while being noisy at the same time. This is were Aidan woke when she found the strength. She had a sense that something was very wrong with her, but her mind wasn't letting her think about it. She here, floating, senseless. All she knew for sure was that she wasn't dead. Raven would never have killed her, but he could have done worse things. Aidan wanted to panic, she wanted to be able to feel her heart beating or her breath coming in, but there was only floating. Some where in the midst of this space she saw a gleam and wanted to touch it, but without arms it was impossible. So she stared as the gleam grew larger and came closer. There was a faint red shine to it and at it's center was a bright blue flame.
"John?" She opened her mouth and no sound came out, but somehow she had spoken.
"No, this is Xavier." The Professor's voice floated through the darkness, coming from every side. "I have been trying to reach you for a long time. Something has happened at the school."
"What do you mean?" Aidan wanted to listen with her ears, to hear with her powers. But that was impossible.
"The only reason I know something is wrong is because I can't reach anyone." Xavier paused. " But then again, this could all be an illusion."
"No Professor I assure you this is not an illusion." Aidan knew that much about the space. "I have been here before and this is a very real space."
"Then where are we?" Xavier's glow came to stop just in front of her and he took a shimmering milky resemblance of his original self.
"I think it's my mind." Aidan tried to look around but there was nothing but darkness. "If this is my mind, why is it all black?"
"There is a wall around your mind." Xavier said simply. "I have been unable to breach the wall since you walked in. I wonder how I got in this time?"
"Why can't I know where I am?" Aidan was beginning to worry a little. "I don't feel safe in here and shouldn't I be feeling safe in my own mind?"
Charles nodded. "Yes."
"Then something isn't right inside my head." Aidan paused. "That might explain why I can't remember things."
"Perhaps we should take a look?" Xavier offered a hand. "Come."
"And go where?" Aidan stared at his hand.
"This is your space, you tell me Aidan."
Aidan sighed and shrugged, " Sure, it's not like we have to be anywhere."
Taking his hand she and Xavier strolled into the darkness that surrounded them.
**
John moaned as he tried to lift his head. It spun around as if loose on his shoulders and he was having trouble breathing. Finally managing to open his eyes he focused on a blue shape and was startled when it knelt beside him.
"Hi John." Mystique whispered. "Don't sit up too fast."
"Mystique? What are you doing here?" He managed his words and they were slurred.
"We came here after Eric passed out while using his powers. He says something has changed in his system. When we pulled up in front of the gates, commando's jumped out and arrested us. We have been sitting here for a few hours now."
"Where are we?" John tried to focus on his surroundings.
"The mansion, I believe this is Xavier's office." Mystique let him sit up on his own and stood back. "Bobby and Scott are still under the drug."
John was managing to gain some focus and saw Magneto hunched up against a far wall. He was still in jeans and a work shirt but he looked old. That magnetic pull to him was gone and he truly did appear to just an elderly man.
"Where is Dorian? I mean Carbon. He's a black skinned dude." John held a hand to his head to keep it from spinning.
"If you mean the man who is commanding this group of people, he is rounding up the rest of the students. I am under the impression that he has them locked in the lower levels."
Just then the door opened and in walked Carbon. He was flanked by two men in military outfits. Carbon glanced at them and smiled slightly. "Welcome back to us Pryo."
John glared at him and was rewarded with waves of nausea. "What do you want?"
Carbon laughed, "I have what I want." He waved a hand to Magneto. "Aidan did as we asked after all and I will be leaving soon. You are welcome to join us John."
"What about Aidan, you said she was unconscious."
"Indeed she is, when I last looked in on her, Xavier was right next to her. The only ones we are missing are Logan and Rogue, they haven't returned yet." Carbon crossed to the window and swept back the heavy curtains. Weak sunlight spoke that the world was sinking into darkness.
"I have a question." Magneto spoke up, his voice carried easily despite his weakened state. "Why did you send Aidan to me, if she is already working toward mutant prosperity?"
Carbon let the curtain fall back. "Haven't you figured it out yet old man?" He turned to glare at Magneto. "People like you are too powerful, you have to be stopped. Aidan was the perfect choice. I sent her to you to see if she could still do what we trained her for."
John felt like shit run over three times, but he still caught Carbon's words. "You sent her? I thought Shadow sent her."
Carbon glanced at him, "Your point?"
"Unless you are Shadow..." John paused, " You are shadow aren't you?'
"What a bright fellow you are." Carbon grinned. "Yes, John I am Shadow. So what?'
"That explains why Aidan was so angry with you. It was a subconscious response." John shook his head. "I bet she figured it all out in her head so you decided to stop her. You made her unable to remember things so she wouldn't turn her powers on you."
Carbon cocked his head to the side and watched him. "What a surprise you are indeed."
" Again back to me." Magneto snapped. "You sent her after me for what reason? Are we not working for the same goal?"
"No we are not Magneto. You wish mutants to take their place in the world, I wish for them to have no place. But rather then kill them all, we just make them human." Carbon/Shadow crossed his arms.
John recognized the motion as Aidan's and it sent a shiver through him. There was more to Aidan then he had even thought possible.
"So you wanted Magneto stopped, so you sent Aidan after him?" Mystique asked gently. "Is that why you had her copy our files?"
Carbon looked up, clearly startled. "That was a secondary mission. We seek to end mutants and Magneto and Xavier are the only two men on the planet that could interfere. Aidan was sent to disarm them."
"Charles is with her right now," Magneto said in a clipped tone. "She is doing what you asked."
"Again you are incorrect." Carbon sounded annoyed. "Aidan is at war with herself and is become a danger to us. Her powers are growing and she will eventually break through my work. Once Aidan discovers what she knew in the past, the mission will be ruined."
"But you just said you wanted her to stop Professor Xavier." John muttered.
"Aidan must be conscious for her powers to work properly John. Other wise I would keep her sedated all the time." Carbon waved an angry hand in the air. "I do not owe you explanations. I will complete my mission and you will not stop me."
John wanted to know more but his head was aching too much and he was slipping away again.
**
Logan paused two blocks from the school and drew in a breath. At his back Rogue shifted her weight and leaned over his shoulder.
"What is wrong?" She asked in that gentle southern drawl.
"Something has happened at the school. It's not safe for us."
She gazed at the distant mansion. "Not again."
"I have a hunch this is different. Stryker is gone for now, it's too soon for him to return." Logan sighed. "Come on we will head back to the city, I have to make a call."
Rogue looked back over her shoulder as they drove away from the school. She thought of Bobby and then of Aidan and wondered if they were okay. For a rare moment she longed to have a power like John or Storm. Something that would be useful right now. Instead she clung to Logan as they drove away.
**
Aidan paused as they came to a heavy looking black door. She searched for a handle and couldn't find one. Pushing against it didn't do any good and she was frustrated within moments.
"Aidan this is your mind, you can unlock this door if you choose to." Xavier said gently.
She gazed at the black door and tried to see where it started and stopped. In either direction, up, down, side to side, it was went on forever. Could she have created this door? If so what was she trying to block out? If not, then why had she been forced to forget what ever it was that lingered behind here?
Looking at the Professor she saw him nod and then stared at the door.
"Open." She told it. The door didn't move. "Open sesame?" Again it stayed closed. Sighing she shook her head. "What now?"
"Try forming a handle on the door and get in through that." Xavier suggested.
Aidan stared at the door. She imagined a handle, a simple, round knob to grab and turn. At first nothing happened and she felt her head beginning to ache. Aidan paused, this was ridiculous, she was in her own mind surely she could make things happen here. Drawing in a deep breath she closed her eyes and made the handle appear in her imagination. Opening her eyes she pushed out against herself and felt a tingle in her blood. A hum started around her and the door groaned as the handle grew out of the surface. She reached with no arms and turned it. The door was heavy and required a lot of effort to open. Once open she gazed into more black space and stopped in her tracks.
"Where is it?" She asked Xavier.
"Where is what?" He inquired.
"Whatever I hid behind the door." Aidan waved to the black space. "It's empty."
"No, not empty. You are not allowing yourself to see what is here. You are in a war with yourself Aidan."
She frowned as she realized he was right. "What do you suggest?"
"Open your eyes," Xavier tapped his forehead. "Open your mind."
Frustration was building in her as she stared at the empty space. May be there was nothing here to see? She pushed the thought aside. There had to be something. She formed an image in her mind and pushed it out like she had with the handle. Only this time she felt something tug at her, something that grabbed around her body and yanked. Aidan was lifted off her feet and sucked into her the space. Xavier was pulled with her and the door slammed shut behind them.
**
Dull pain woke John and it was late at night. He tried to move and found that was the source of pain. His muscles were too stiff. Concentrating he willed fire to form and used the light to help him see what he was doing. Shifting his position was hard as his hands limbs were tight.
"Need a hand, boy?" A voice swirled through the dark and brushed against his face. There was a sound of fluttering feathers and then a shadow pressed against the dark.
John shifted his weight and extended the fire, light spilled in a wider circle around him. He saw the tips of a man's shoes and the hem of a long, flowing coat. Brightening the fire, John took in long legs, a muscles mid section and strong arms. Chiseled, handsome features were framed by thick dark hair. Crimson eyes glittered like wet blood.
"So you are John." The man said lightly, his eyes moving up and down John's body. "I thought it was the other one."
John turned his hand and the light illuminated both Bobby and Magneto. Bobby looked to be peaceful and unharmed, Magneto was not so lucky. Bruises darkened his face and he sat awkwardly. Mystique awoke at the light and gazed at John with yellow eyes. Her gaze slid to the man and then back to John. She was trying to tell him something without actually saying a word.
"Go back to sleep." The man ordered, "This doesn't concern you."
Mystique gazed at John a moment before closing her eyes again.
"So John." The man kept his voice easy. "What has Aidan done to capture you?" He dropped like liquid to sit cross-legged just in front of John. "Was it her eyes or her kiss?"
"Who are you?"
The man grinned, fangs flashed in John's fire. "Surely you have heard of me."
John stared at him a moment. "You must be Raven."
A nod. "Now that we have that established, what drew you to Aidan?"
John didn't want to talk to this guy about Aidan, he just wanted to get out here and make sure she was okay. But gazing into those dark red eyes, John had a sinking feeling that he didn't have a choice.
"Her light." John was pleased when the man frowned at him. "You know the fire within her heart?"
Raven smiled slowly then, "I know what you mean now. It was the same with me. One look at her and I knew I had to possess her. I had to hold that light within my arms and kiss it from her lips."
"Yeah, well not exactly." John shook his head and gazed at his hand, the fire was bright. "It was more of a kindred spirit. She and I are the same in basic ways. Both of us control fire and are out casts. There is an attraction between us that goes behind possessing. It's a... mutant bond."
Raven ran a hand through his hair. " I can see why she likes you. You are warm like the sun, passionate like the fire you control while being dark and mysterious at the same time. Like Aidan, you are more then what you appear."
John stared at him. " You something that Aidan doesn't, I mean about herself?"
Raven grinned, " I know a lot. I know for example how she ended up here and why. I also know why it is that Aidan allows Shadow to keep her under his control."
"Because she doesn't have a choice." John snapped.
Raven shook his head. "Not at all. It's because of her brother, Keahi. Shadow has her under the illusion that he is lying in a bed in some hospital being kept alive by machines. Which in part is true, but not all of it."
"What brother?" John asked.
"The one she supposedly burned up when she was younger. The one who was supposed to have died from lethal burns suffered when he touched her all those years ago." Raven paused and looked at him. "You know of what I speak. You too have lost a sibling."
John looked away from those eyes, " My whole family turned against me. I never knew my mother and my father didn't want me around. He only kept me there because someone had to look after my younger brother."
"Then we have something else in common." Raven stood smoothly. "Neither of us knew our mothers."
"So?"
Raven shrugged, "So nothing, it just proves a pattern to her madness." He stepped out of the circle of light around John. "Now rest, boy. Tomorrow is coming quickly."
Against his will, John felt his eyes dropping shut as he his body fell back to sleep.
**
Rogue sat back against the deep couch as she watched Logan pace back and forth. He had been doing this since they arrived at the hotel last night. Apparently he didn't sleep because he was still pacing when she woke up this morning. From the pattern on the floor he had been doing this a while. His features were drawn and dark with lines showing around his eyes and mouth. The only signs of age on his ageless face.
"What are you waiting for Logan?" She asked for the thousandth time.
Logan didn't pause or acknowledge her in any way. He just paced. Then he just stopped as if his muscles had frozen in place. To show he wasn't really frozen his claws snapped into view and made Rogue jump. He turned his head to the hotel door just moments before a knock came.
"Yeah?" Logan growled.
"Someone want Cajun?" Came a New Orleans drawl.
Logan grinned and the claws slid back into his hands. He marched to the door and threw it open with a grin. "Hey, Swamp Rat, what took you so long?"
"Business mon ami."
Rogue sat up straighter when a six foot man stepped through the door. His long auburn hair brushed his jaw as he gazed around the room with red eyes. There was a clever mind behind the eyes and the glint of a troublemaker shone in them. He wore a faded leather coat that brushed his ankles, hands jammed in the pockets. Under the coat he had blue jeans and a dark T-shirt. He gazed at her with those eyes and Rogue felt a rush go through her.
Logan glared at them, "Knock it off, Remy." His growl broke the hold on them both and Rogue curled up on the couch while the man flopped gracefully into one of the arm chairs.
"You called Gambit 'member?"
"Yeah I remember. I called you because I need someone with fast hands who can handle themselves. The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters is under attack. I don't think it would be wise for us to go in there like an army. I need you to get by them Remy."
"What is Gambit facin'?"
"Military probably." Rogue muttered from her seat. "They seem to really like our school."
Gambit gazed at her a moment. "You go to dis place chere?"
She nodded. "So does my boyfriend."
Rogue bit her tongue, what had possessed her to say that? Gambit's mouth curled into a soft smile. "Too bad."
Rogue looked away from him and gazed too hard at her gloved hands.
Logan cleared his throat nosily and stood in the center of the room. "If you two are finished?"
"Sorry Logan, Gambit couldn't 'elp him self." Gambit waved a hand to motion Logan should continue.
Rogue noticed he too wore gloves, but these only covered two fingers. They were the middle ones and covered his palms. She was curious by the way he ran his fingers over a playing card. Rogue had a sense that it was a nervous gesture.
"Look Remy, we are going into a dangerous place. I need you to stay focused." Logan snarled slightly. "This a school of mutants and for some reason, they weren't able to stop the invasion. That either means that there is more to this then just military or it was an inside job."
"Then we should take a look, non?" Gambit raised a brow at him. "Or does Logan have a plan?"
Logan smiled, "We'll talk on the way."
**
Aidan opened her eyes and gasped at what she saw, it was a living room. For some reason it looked very familiar. She turned and was startled to see herself reflected in the mirror over the mantel. Only it wasn't the face Aidan recognized right away, the hair was the same, but it was the eyes that caught her. They weren't gold, but a simple blue. Again she turned and found herself staring at a younger man. He looked just like her except for flecks of gold in his blue eyes.
"Keahi." The name rolled out of her lips without having to be thought. Aidan knew without having to force it, that this was her younger brother.
Keahi turned as if he had been called and walked away from her. Aidan moved to follow and was surprised to see she could. He walked down a small hall leading to a large kitchen. Aidan saw herself sitting at it with her head on her arms, it looked as though she was crying. Keahi reached out to touch her and she screamed, throwing herself back. Holding out a hand as if to ward him off.
"Professor what is this?" Aidan whispered.
Xavier appeared beside her, "It appears to be a memory."
Aidan watched herself collapse to the floor and Keahi knelt next to her. She continued to weep and he threw his arms around her. She tried to push him back and that was her mistake. Fire ignited between them, but it wasn't her doing. It was Keahi. The fire flowed from him to her and back, only something was wrong. Aidan frowned as she watched the memory. Keahi tried to let go but it wouldn't work, his body was clenched around hers. They were beginning to burn together as they both screamed and no one came. Aidan felt a tingle go through her and pain burst along her and spread outward. She went to her knees in the kitchen just as she did in the memory.
"Aidan? What is wrong?" Xavier reached to touch her.
"No! Don't touch me!" She screamed it at him. "I might kill you."
Xavier held his hands away but knelt next to her. "Tell me what it is."
Aidan gazed down at herself and her brother. Keahi was lying in her arms and was black with burned skin. She held him and was trembling as her own burns began to hiss and pop. Her skin pulled its self back together as she lay gasping.
"You can heal yourself." Xavier said in an awed tone.
"No." Aidan shook her head. "My body can adapt to mutant powers. Keahi used his powers to do this, my body is adapting to them.
At her back came someone else, it was a woman whom Aidan knew to be their mother. She was screaming now too and crying hysterically. Next came her father and he started to babble. Aidan felt the space ripple under as the memory changed and she was no sitting in the living room. Hands clasped tightly in her lap and head down. Across from her was a man in black coat and hat. He was speaking gently.
"That is Shadow." Aidan whispered. "This must be the day he came to my house."
"If only we could hear what he was saying." Xavier said softly.
Aidan looked at him and caught the meaning. She concentrated on making the memory have sound. Slowly it came like someone was scanning a radio frequency and couldn't get it quite right.
"Aidan I know you feel bad about hurting Keahi, but we can help you." Shadow said lightly. "I have medicine that can heal him, but I need you to help me in exchange."
She looked up at him, "What do you want from me?"
"Few people in this world understand what it is to be what we are." He extended a hand to her. When she touched him her hand went right though him. There was a shimmer around him and he grabbed her hand and held it. "I work for a group who want to change that lack of understanding. We want to make the world equal for everyone."
The memory melted away and left them in black space again.
Aidan stared at Xavier. "This is not something I didn't know already."
"As I told Logan once, the mind must discover things on it's own. Perhaps this is all your mind is prepared to show you."
Aidan gazed at the spot where the memory had vanished, "But I have to know the rest of it. I have to know why Shadow has done these things to me."
Xavier sighed, " Be careful what you wish for Aidan. Logan didn't like what he found and you may be the same."
"That doesn't matter!" She snapped and had to take a deep breath. "Professor I don't care about what it is, I have to know. I can't go on living like a mindless slave, I have to know who I used to be."
Xavier looked away from her. "Then perhaps another door?"
**
John jolted away and found Bobby shaking him gently. "Bobby stop, I'm up."
"Good, let's try to get out of here." Bobby whispered.
John sat up and paused, "Where's Magneto and Mystique?"
"I don't know, that Carbon fellow came a few hours ago and took them. I have been wondering about Scott. Have you seen him since before this happened?"
"No." John tried to loosen his shoulders and couldn't move his hands. "Damn these cuffs."
Bobby reached behind John. Touching the metal he watched as ice formed on them.
"Crap Bobby, that's cold!" John complained and Bobby grinned.
"Now try." Bobby moved back as John flexed and there came a sharp snap. "Once the temperature of metal is lowered to a certain degree it breaks under pressure."
"Oh yea, where'd you learn that?" John.
"Chemistry class, you might learn stuff too if you showed up once a while." Bobby had mean it to be a playful remark but the tone wasn't playful at all.
John paused in stretching out his arms and back. Staring at his friend with dark eyes, "What does that mean?"
"I mean...Why did you leave with Magneto anyway?" Bobby shook his head, "Why'd you do it?"
"Because I had to see if he was right. I had to see if I could be my own person. Around here we are treated like dumb kids. But we're not kids Bobby. We are mutants. Meant to be better then everyone else. Who are they to say what we can and can't do or say?"
"They are the ones in charge." Bobby retorted. "They are the ones who go out there and risk their lives to that we can have a better future." Bobby heard his voice crack as he spoke and remembered Dr. Gray. "They are the X-Men, John. The only security we have in a world that hates us for being different."
John stared at Bobby, "Why are you crying?"
"You have probably noticed Dr. Gray's absence." Bobby watched as John nodded. "Well we ran into trouble after you left. The dam broke and the jet wasn't working, we couldn't get any power. With thousands of gallons of water coming at us, Dr. Gray decided to give up her life so we could get out. She stopped the water long enough to power the jet and get us above it."
John blinked at him, " Dr. Gray? She did that? I didn't know she was that strong."
"She wasn't, I mean Scott thinks that it is because of something that happened on Liberty Island. But no one knows for sure. All we know is that she is gone, just like you were."
John hated the feeling of guilt that rose in him. "Bobby I thought that Magneto had the answers. I mean he said things that sounded like what I was feeling."
"Then why did you leave him behind?" Bobby asked him.
John sighed, " I met Aidan. We got talking and she helped me think about a few things. But more then that, I missed you and Rogue and I even missed Scott. I missed being here Bobby."
Bobby stared at the ground for a moment. "Well as long as you don't plan on running off anytime soon, I suppose I could use your help in getting out of here."
"What if Carbon comes back?" John asked as he moved to his feet.
It hurt so he had to pause a moment. His head spun a little as his system got used to standing again. After a breath he joined Bobby at trying to open the door.
"Then we do what we have to." Bobby muttered as he froze the lock on the door and gave it a kick. The door opened with a crack and they peered into the hall.
"We should try and find Storm or Colossus. We need more then just us."
John and Bobby moved silently through the quiet school. Every hall was familiar while being different at the same time. There was something about having invaders in your space that just changed it.
"Do we know where to find anyone?"
"We'll try the lower levels." Bobby lead them into the second floor library but stopped. "No good it's guarded."
John held up a hand, it flared red. "No problem."
"No John, we can't hurt anyone." Bobby pulled him along the hall. "We'll go through the outside."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll scale the walls and use the exterior doors to enter the lower levels." Bobby paused at one of the dorm room doors. Turning the handle he pushed the door open and looked around at the feminine room. His eyes slid over the room and was unprepared for the figure that came exploding through the window.
"Down!" Bobby hit the floor as the figure did several flips and landed smoothly on the floor. Ice formed in a shield around him as exploding objects came at him.
"Hey pal, let me take that for you." John threw off a fire ball that knocked the man off his feet and into a collection of stuffed toys.
"Bobby you okay?" John offered a hand to his friend as they both kept eyes on the man.
He groaned and sat up. "Wat you mean by hurtin' Gambit that way? Logan sent me."
John and Bobby looked at each other. Bobby spoke. "Where is Logan?"
"He out side in the yard. He wanted Gambit to find a way in." The man looked around at the room and made a face. "Somethin' tell me dis ain't what he wanted."
"Come on, if Logan is outside then we need to get out there. He can help us." John made for the window.
"Non, mon ami, he said not to go lookin' for him. Gambit is all you need." The man held up a card and it sizzled as orange light surrounded the surface. "Let us find some bad guys, non?"
John grinned, "I couldn't agree more." Fire swirled in his palms as he looked at Bobby. "What do you say Iceman?"
Bobby looked from one to the other and sighed. " We need to help the others before we attack anyone."
Both Gambit and John frowned but said noting in conflict. Just then the door rattled as a concessive blast hit the walls and shook the whole room.
"Something tell me, that they have other plans." Gambit muttered as the walls broke and the room fell in on them.
The last thing John saw before passing out was a golden fire bird with the face of Dr. Jean Gray.