Chapter Two: Confrontations

No characters belong to me. The X-Men and associated characters belong to Marvel. GI Joe and related characters belong to Hasbro. Althea Delgado (as she exists in this fic), Xi, Brittany, Daria, and Quinn Delgado, and Claudius Delgado belong to Red Witch. Only Watson the butler is mine (as far as I know).

            Elisabeth and her brothers were on hand to greet their parents when they got home.

            "I wonder where all this fog came from?" Brian asked. "It was so clear earlier."

            "Life in England, mate," Jamie told him. "Here they are!"

            The Braddock family limo emerged from the fog. Four people got out.

            "Hello, monsters! I see the manor's still standing," James Braddock boomed as he went to hug his eldest son. He usually wasn't one to stand on formality, and now was no exception.

            "James," Elisabeth Braddock (the elder) gently chided as she went to her younger children.

            "Well it is," he replied as he and his wife switched places. The Braddock's weren't nearly as reserved among themselves as other upper-class families were.

            "Jamie, Brian, and especially you, Elisabeth, I would like to introduce Professor Charles Xavier, and one of the Institute's teachers, Ms. Ororo Munroe."

            Sitting in a wheelchair was the man himself, Charles Xavier. He was much as Elisabeth had seen him on television- bald, handsome in a harsh way, with unusually penetrating eyes. Ms. Munroe was a tall, regal woman, with dark skin, white hair, and brilliant blue eyes that didn't appear to be contacts.

            "It is a pleasure to meet you, Elisabeth," the Professor said gravely as he shook her hand.

            "Likewise, sir," she replied.

            "I hope you will enjoy your time at the Institute, Elisabeth," Ms. Munroe smiled as she shook Elisabeth's hand.

            "I hope so too, ma'am," Elisabeth nodded.

            "Well, shall we go inside?" Elisabeth (the elder) asked. "It wouldn't do to bid a proper goodbye standing outside like this."

            "So you are telepathic, Elisabeth," the Professor said as they entered the manor. "I imagine it must have been very difficult to learn to block out the thoughts of the people around you. I remember how difficult it was for me."

            "Yes, sir," Elisabeth (the younger) admitted, "but I've mostly got the hang of it."

            "Mostly?"

            "I'm not always successful," she replied, cheeks flushing a bit.

            "I see. Well, that's what I'm here for."

            "That's why I'm coming with you," Elisabeth replied. Something in the man's tone… well, she couldn't blame him if he was especially confident. Still, it did bother her, a bit.

            "Is that all you can do, Elisabeth?" Ms. Munroe asked.

            "No. I can, well not all the time, but sometimes- I don't have any control over it, but sometimes I can see into the future."

            "Ah- precognition," the Professor nodded. "A useful gift, even if you can't control it. I hope I can help you with that, too."

            The confidence in his tone was definitely irritating, although she didn't know why. She knew that not all mutant abilities could be controlled- maybe her ability to see into the future was one of them. She realized that the man would be doomed to failure if he admitted defeat before even trying, but still…

            As they reached the drawing room, James gave a small sigh of pleasure.

            "Ah, tea time," he smiled. "Something one misses, abroad."

            "Quite," Elisabeth the elder nodded as she waved her guests in. Within moments, high tea was served. The Braddocks may have set little store in formalities, but high store in traditions.

            "So, how was Heathrow?" Brian asked his parents. "You must have flown all the way here from London to get here so quickly."

            James broke out in a grin. Elisabeth I frowned.

            "You might say that, son," James grinned, "except we didn't stop in London. Or anywhere, for that matter. We flew straight here from Bayville."

            "What?" Now this was interesting.

            "How?" Jamie asked.

            "The X-Men have a jet. An absolute beauty, and as fast as she is beautiful. Flew straight here- we're parked a ways away on the grounds, where we're not easily seen."

            "You mean you didn't go through customs?" Elisabeth asked. "Is that legal?"

            "Probably not," Elisabeth I sighed.

            "Tut, tut, no one's going to know," James smirked.

            "What about our passports?"

            "Easily fixed, dear. I didn't cancel our flight for tomorrow, and I didn't check us out of the hotel. So we'll accompany our daughter back, give her a proper good-bye in America, and fly back here, with no one being the wiser."

            "You just want another flight in that jet."

            "And can you blame me?"

            The Braddock children shared a look. Elisabeth and her father shared a love of flying- Elisabeth had her pilot's license even before she got her drivers license. Their father's excuse was just an excuse, and they all knew it.

            They ate for a time, making small conversation, until Watson interrupted them.

            "We have a guest, sir."

            "Who is it?" James asked.

            "Ms. Frost, sir," he said, neutrally. No one in the Braddock household cared for her.

            "Send her to join us," Elisabeth I sighed. "Might as well be polite to that sow," she muttered audibly.

            "Yes, madam," he nodded.

            "You don't like this woman?" Xavier asked, quietly.

            "She's a member of our social circle," James said, quickly and just as quietly.

            "Ms. Frost, sir," Watson announced, and stepped aside. Emma Frost entered the room.

            "YOU!" Ms. Munroe and Ms. Frost screamed at each other. Ms. Munroe sprang to her feet.

            "I take it you've met," Elisabeth I said, looking at the women nervously.

            "She is mine, old man," Ms. Frost snarled, ignoring her hostess. Her beauty was destroyed by her rage. "You will not have her!"

            "That is not your decision," the Professor replied, coldly. He faced the elder Braddocks. "This woman is very dangerous. She's a telepath, and a powerful one. She has ties to a number of terrorist organizations, including COBRA and Magneto's Acolytes."

            "I know I'm not surprised," Elisabeth I muttered audibly.

            "Are you just going to take this man for his word?" Emma shouted. "Haven't you heard anything about him?"

            "Yes, we have," James said, evenly, remaining seated. "That's one reason why I believe him. But to be honest, Emma, your laying claim to my daughter gives him further credibility."

            "So you intend to send her off with him, then?"

            "Perhaps." He turned to his daughter. "Elisabeth- you decide. It is your life, dear. Do you want to go with the Professor, or with Ms. Frost?"

            "If it's all the same with you, I'd rather go with Professor Xavier," Elisabeth said quickly. Arrogant or not, she trusted her people-sense, which told her that Charles Xavier and Ms. Munroe were truly good people, and that Emma Frost was most certainly not.

            "WHAT?" Emma screeched. "Elisabeth, this is nonsense! This… school you would attend is full of the lowest sort of riff-raff you can imagine!"

            "Sounds like my sort of place," Jamie said to nobody in particular.

            "You won't even be taught there, you know," Ms. Frost continued. "You will be subjected to the American public school system, and once the good people of Bayville know where you are staying, you will be labelled as a freak. People who are beneath you will make you a pariah."

            "Perhaps, but you can't help me like the Professor can, can you, Ms. Frost?" Elisabeth asked evenly.

            Can't I? Ms. Frost's voice rang through her mind.

            So, you are telepathic Elisabeth responded, the same way she reached out to Brian. Emma smiled broadly.

            Yes! You are exceptionally clear, and without training yet. Come with me, my dear. You will be with those who are your peers in power, wealth, and breeding.

            No thanks- I'd rather not.

            It is her choice, Emma the voice of Charles Xavier thundered through her mind. And echoed, and echoed, gaining in volume and intensity each time. Elisabeth began to scream, and fell out of her chair.

***

            Inside the cocoon, Kwannon exulted. The man, whoever he was, had greatly weakened her prison! It was still well made, so Kwannon was still a prisoner, but it was open at least twice as wide as it had ever been. Kwannon knew she had to be careful- any sudden intrusions in the girl's mind would be easily detected. No matter- she was a ninja. She knew how to be subtle, and patient as well. And being telepathic herself, she was able to cloak her presence in ways even ordinary ninjas- if that wasn't a contradiction itself- could not.

***

            "Elisabeth!" a number of people shouted as they went to the collapsed young woman.

            "What did you do?" the Professor demanded.

            "I didn't do anything," Emma smirked. "You did. You see, Elisabeth here is unusually sensitive for a telepath of her potential. Handling telepathic contact is difficult for her."

            "And how would you know that?" Elisabeth I asked, voice dangerously quiet. When Emma hesitated, she snarled "You've been in my daughter's mind, haven't you? You-" her husband grabbed her.

            "Don't," he whispered, warningly. He turned to Emma. "I didn't hear an answer to my wife's question."

            Emma sneered. "I believe you know the answer, James."

            "So I do." His eyes grew steely. "Far be it from me to be rude to a lady, but-"

            "Don't be polite to her, father," Brian snarled. He turned to Emma. "Get out of my house, you- you hideous sow!"

            Emma's eyes widened as if she had been slapped.

            "Why you human trash," she hissed, stepping toward Brian. Ms. Munroe quickly stepped between them.

            "I believe you heard him," she told her enemy evenly. "I also believe you know where the door is."

            Elisabeth I went to stand beside her guest. "Correction, Ororo- she definitely knows where the door is. And I invite her to use it- right bloody now!"

            "Elisabeth, Brian, you cross a dangerous line," Emma said, very quietly.

            "No more so than you do," James Braddock said, stepping out in front. He looked at Charles ministering to his daughter. "My daughter collapses, and you do nothing to help. You claim to know the cause, but never once made a warning. You threaten my family. I was already tempted to believe the accusations made against you, Emma, but now I do. You are no longer welcome in my home."

            Emma opened her mouth.

            "I'm willing to let everything here stay here, Emma," James continued before she could speak, "but only if you leave right now, and never return. This will not cause an uproar in either Inner Circle, not unless you start it. But if you do, the whole truth will be made known- I promise you that."

            Emma closed her mouth. Her normally pale complexion reddened with anger.

            "This is not over," she spat. Her eyes focused on the groggy Elisabeth. "You have made a very poor choice, child. And you will come to recognize it in the days ahead."

            "Your coat, madam," Watson said, holding her coat out for her. She grabbed it out of his hands, and stalked away, but not before she saw the smile in his eyes and noticed the amusement and glee in his thoughts. Whirling around, she sent a telepathic bolt at him, which was countered- but not by Xavier!

            Elisabeth was standing up. A corona of visible psychic energy surrounded her head. It looked like a purple butterfly.

            "Get. Out. Now," the young woman said, eyes blazing. Xavier locked angry eyes with Emma, and took Elisabeth's hand, symbolically joining their power. Emma's bolt was nowhere near full force, so Elisabeth stopping it was no major feat. She did not want to go head to head with Xavier, though- they were near equals in power, and he vastly outstripped her in experience.

            Emma turned on her heel, and stalked out of Braddock Manor. Shaw was not going to be happy about this!

            "Are you alright, Betsy?" Jamie asked concerned.

            "Just peachy, love, and-" she smacked him, "I thought I asked you not to call me that."

***

            Within the space of a brief two hours, Elisabeth had gathered her things, and was carrying them to the 'X-Jet.'

            "It's not far," James said as the driver drove them to a secluded area on the Braddock Estate.

            "And you say that patch of fog was you, Ms. Munroe?" Jamie asked her.

            "Yes, Jamie," she smiled. "I can control the weather. That's why my codename is Storm. The fog was necessary to cover our arrival."

            "Does everybody have a codename?" Elisabeth asked.

            "Almost," the Professor replied.

            "Have you chosen one for me yet?"

            "Not yet. I wanted to get more of a feel for your personality and powers first. Sometimes, a name becomes obvious. Not so with you, I'm afraid. Tell me- when you're blocking people out, how do you do it?"

            Elisabeth thought for a moment, trying to find the exact words.

            "It's like I surround myself with… lots of doors. As many doors as there are people nearby. Each door has a lock. When I want to read a mind, I open that particular lock, and allow the mind to come in."

            The Professor nodded.

            "I see. Then how about… Psylocke? Short for 'psychic lock.'"

            "That sounds nice," James agreed.

            "Does sort of have a ring to it," Jamie said.

            "Perhaps," Elisabeth I said slowly.

            Brian noted his sister's discomfort.

            "Psylocke sounds perfect!" he said, mock-innocently. She glared at him… innocently.

            "Very well," Elisabeth said neutrally. Psylocke… Psylocke… it did sort of have a ring to it at that.

            "Psylocke it is, then," the Professor smiled. He caught the unspoken exchange between the Braddock twins. They were deeply linked- Charles had seldom encountered a pair so deeply linked without both twins being telepathic or empathic. And yet Brian's X-gene was inactive.

            "This bears studying," he decided. "From a distance."

            They had soon arrived at the X-Jet. The younger Braddocks stared in awe. It was magnificent!

            "Beautiful," Elisabeth whispered, dreamily. Jamie didn't need to be connected to his sister to know she was already day-dreaming of flying it.

            "Yes," Ororo smiled, coming over, "it is. And you know, we do teach our students to fly it. If you like, I can pencil in a session in the simulator for you tomorrow. It's only a formality- I know you have a pilot's license. As soon as you master the controls, I believe we can let you fly it."

            The delighted squeal could be heard for miles.

            "I believe that means thank you very much," Brian told the amused Storm.

            Soon, the X-Jet was open, and it was time to say goodbye.

            "Take care of yourself," Jamie whispered as he hugged his sister goodbye.

            "You too," she whispered back. "I love you, Jamie."

            "I love you too, sis," he whispered as he broke the hug.

Elisabeth went over to Brian. They simply embraced. Their connection made spoken words meaningless. Still…

"I love you," Elisabeth whispered.

"I love you too," Brian said back.

She broke the embrace, and joined her parents and new teachers on the X-Jet. Within moments, the clearing filled with fog, and they could hear (and feel) the jet take off. Finally, the fog cleared somewhat, and the jet was barely a speck in the sky.

"Go on," Brian said slowly. "I'll walk."

Jamie looked and the driver, and nodded. The driver understood. He knew how close the Braddock children were. He got in the car, and drove back to the manor.

Jamie and Brian shared a look. They didn't have a psychic link like Elizabeth had with Brian, but they were still very close. They walked through the fog to the home that had just gotten a little emptier in silence. Even though they were silent, much was still said.