Nadir
Disclaimer: Premise and characters are the property of Marvel, I'm just borrowing them for a bit of non-profit fun.
Thanks to everyone who sent feedback: Rex, xfearddarknessx, T. Riddle, Tewks, Sophia, Tainz, raniatlw, descendent
As the car turned into the Institute's driveway, revealing the pile of rubble that was all that was left of the mansion Logan stopped his update. After a moment of silence he said. "I'm damn sorry you're coming home to all this Charles."
Professor Xavier reached out with his powers, touching the minds of his students and his expression saddened as he realized that at least to some extent every one of them was in a state of shock. "It's too soon," Xavier protested. "They're just children," Logan didn't argue with the sediment. Their home had been destroyed, they were bombarded with news reports calling them monsters, and then there was Lance, it was so much more than any group of teenagers should be asked to deal with.
Xavier used his powers to listen to his student's surface thoughts as they began the task of rebuilding.
/I knew, I had to have known what he'd do. Why did I let him come?/
/This was my room./
/I'm not surprised Maximoff betrayed us./
/This isn't real./
/I was helping them! Why are they calling me a menace./
/Mom's going to freak./
/What if they come after us here./
/Lance, please wake up./
/We could have died./
/Are we going to have to hide in the sewers like the Morlocks now?/
/They don't want us here./
/This is all just a nightmare. If I don't talk it'll go away./
/Oh my god, it's one of Kitty's muffins. The blast didn't even dent it./
/Maybe Magneto is right./
/They know we're here, is it safe to stay?/
/It's not fair!/
/Oh yippee, one standing wall and look, graffiti./
/Why are people like this?/
/This isn't real./
/I'm going to wake up and none of this will be real./
/Was it just a couple of days ago?/
/This isn't real./
/Why do they hate us?/
/It shouldn't be like this./
"Charles I think you should see this," Hank McCoy said leaning into the storage room Xavier had commandeered as a study and bedroom.
"What is it?" he asked. McCoy gestured toward the TV in the large room that had become their living room.
Xavier maneuvered his chair out from behind his desk and followed Hank. The TV screen was titled 'Mutant Menace". The background was a map of Bayville overlaid by a multitude of dots and dates. In the foreground Xavier recognized the head of the team of siezmotologists who'd been studying Bayville since Avalanche had begun making his presence felt.
"Less than a year ago Bayville went from being one of the more geologically stable regions of the country to experiencing nearly daily earthquakes. Almost all of the disturbances have been extremely localized, being felt no more than a block from the epicenter and totally unlike anything recorded before.
My team has been studying the phenomenon for months with no viable theories as to why it began or why it subsided just over a month ago, but I believe recent events finally have provided us with an explanation: A mutant who can cause earthquakes."
"This is hardly catastrophic," Xavier said.
"Just wait," Hank sighed.
"One thing that we have yet to consider when discussing the potential threat represented by mutants is the long term impact their unnatural powers may have on our world. In this specific case how has this mutant's activities affected the tectonics structure beneath Bayville?" the scientist continued. The picture zoomed in on the map, highlighting one particular point.
"That's where we were when Lance had his seizure," Hank commented softly.
"As I said earlier, most of the quakes recorded were remarkably locale phenomenon, they affected little more than top soil. This quake, however, was different; originating much deeper in the earth's crust, possibly creating a new fault-line below Bayville placing the city at risk from natural earthquakes and even volcanic activity."
"Good lord, they're setting the stage for a witch hunt," Xavier exclaimed.
Hank nodded, "The broadcast began with news of a warrant for the arrest of any mutant with Lance's powers. They already suspect one of the Brotherhood, the boarding house was the epicenter of too many quakes for them to overlook the connection.
"Then they'll be coming here shortly," Xavier sighed. "We'd best warn the students."
"Will you give Lance to them?" McCoy asked quietly.
"No," Xavier said. "I doubt any further harm can come to the boy, but no, I won't turn him over to the sort of mob that report will stir up."
McCoy smiled, "Perhaps some misdirection, I'll make sure the students know not to refer to Lance by his codename."
Pyro laid his hand on the table. "I fold," he said getting up with a yawn. "And I'm off to bed."
"Another hand?" Quicksilver asked as Gambit raked in the pot.
"Don' yo' evah sleep Silver-kid?" the Cajun asked good-humoredly.
"Not if I can help it," Pietro muttered.
Gambit gave the teen a searching look then said, " I wedge one of m' cards in de door while I sleep. Dat way it blows up in de face of anyone openin' it."
"Why didn't I think of doing that?" Pietro said bitterly.
"I s'pose alarmin' de door wouldn' help," Gambit said. "Non, de room's too small. 'Course dere are 'fficiencies on de lower floor. Not much more dan a couple of glorified broom closets wit' a bat'room 'tween dem really, mais yo' got a back door, Chat won' be able to corner yo' so easy."
Pietro's eyes widened in surprise. "Thanks," he said as Gambit dealt the cards. Several hands later he asked. "Why are you here anyway? None of you guys are like Dad or Mystique, you don't want to take over the world and I don't think you're into hurting people like Sabretooth."
" 'M nothing like Chat!" Gambit snapped then he took a deep breath, reining in his temper. "Oui, yo' be right, a'way been a live an' let live type. I won' be anyone's victim dough. I t'ought dat be what your pere was 'bout. Mais I don' much care for de company he keeps."
"So why do you stay?"
"I gave de man m' word. He was de first person I met who didn't t'ink I was de devil's spawn," Gambit said.
"Everybody?" Pietro asked disbelievingly.
Gambit smiled fondly at his memories. "Once I asked mon pere why he 'dopted a demon chile. He tol' me demons an' angels be no different 'xcept in de choices dey make an' dat when de time came he trusted me to make de right choices," he said. "Jean-Luc nevah gave a damn what I was, I miss him somet'ing awful."
"He sounds cool," Pietro said a little sadly. "Why'd you leave?"
"Because he was wrong 'bout me," Gambit said. "I made de wrong choice and someone died who shouldn't have."
Storm faced the Institute's assembled students with a sigh. "Children please remember today is not the day to show off. Please co-operate with the officers, but show him nothing more than you must."
"And remember they're looking for Avalanche," Logan said. "If there's anything to be said about him, leave to us, we only need them hearin' one story."
"We understand," Scott said. "When does the freak show start?"
Xavier flinched. "They're pulling up to the gates now," he said. "And I'm afraid you're right, there's a news crew following after them."
Wolverine snarled as a discontented murmur swept threw the students.
"I will deal with this," Xavier said.
When the police officers stepped out of their car they found the Institutes' entire population assembled on the front steps, most of them scowling or watching with carefully guarded neutrality.
Xavier waited for the men to approach then glared pointedly at the camera crew following them. "You have a warrant to be here," he said. "They are trespassing on private property."
"Freedom of the press," the reporter retorted. "Bayville has a right to know what sort of dangers you're housing here!"
"I'll show 'em what sort of danger," Wolverine growled.
"Logan," Ororo said, placing a hand that was both calming and restraining on the stocky fighter's shoulder.
The students drew closer together, the phrase "Witch hunt," could be heard passing around the group.
The lead police officer turned to the news crew. "I told you when you started following us that they had every right to ask you to leave. Now you've been asked and if you don't go I will have to arrest you," he said.
Grumbling reluctantly the camera crew retreated to the gates.
"Let us take this around to the backyard," Storm said calmly, smiling at the camera crew as she led the students and police behind the newly erected frame of the mansion.
"I'm Officer Jensen, this is my partner, Officer Rondell. First off I'd like to reassure you that this is not a witch hunt."
Berserker snorted loudly in disbelief.
"If a crime were committed using martial arts would I be wrong to ask local dojos if they knew of anyone with the ability to commit the crime?" Jensen asked.
"There's been a crime committed?" Scott asked sarcastically.
"Reckless endangerment," Jensen said. "I am aware that it is likely the person responsible was unaware of the consequences of their actions, but that is why we have courts."
"And witch hunts never ended in witch trials," Kitty muttered.
"I need each of you to state your name and demonstrate your power," Jensen said as if he hadn't heard Kitty.
"And here Ah thought the Mutant Registration Act failed," Rogue commented.
"It is more than apparent that you have frequently made a practice of using your powers in and around the Bayville High School, which is one of the primary epicenters for this areas earthquakes," Jensen replied. "It would be a show of good faith if you'd co-operate."
Storm stepped forward, "I am Ororo Monroe, I believe my powers have been adequately demonstrated by the local news coverage."
"You can create lightening correct?" Rondell asked. Storm nodded.
Logan stalked forward. "Wolverine," he unsheathed his claws, close enough to Jensen's face to make the man jump. "Any questions?"
"Henry McCoy," Beast said spreading his arms wide and doing a model's turn. "What you see is what you get."
"Dr. Moira MacTaggart, bad handwriting," Moira said factiously. "Some of us aren't mutants you know."
"Thank you," Jensen said. "Now if we could begin with the students?"
/Jean Grey, telepath and telekinetic./ Jean projected, levitating the note pad Rondell had been writing in.
"Scott Summers, you saw the news."
"Nightcrawler," Kurt said teleporting to the front of the group then quickly back into his place.
A bone spike flew into the ground at the officer's feet. "Evan!" Storm reprimanded.
"He wanted to see," Evan said unrepentantly. "It's Evan Daniels by the way."
"Bobby "the Iceman" Drake," Bobby announced using his powers to make the air around the officers uncomfortably cold.
"Samuel Guthrie, I fly, sir," Cannonball said his tone polite but cold. He blasted off then crashed to the ground. "I don't land so well," he admitted.
"Amara Aquilla, my powers are the opposite of Bobby's," she said, "Can I borrow you're pencil?" Rondell handed her his pen, a moment later she returned a melted lump of aluminum.
"Berserker," Ray said snapping his fingers and letting off a crackle of energy as Rondell dug out a second pen.
"Jamie Maddox." Screwing up his face with a look of intent concentration Jamie waited for a gentle tap from Jean's telekinesis, they'd decided against any indications that some of the students couldn't control their abilities.
"Rahne Sinclair, when my powers first manifested I was hunted as a werewolf," the young girl send, changing form for a moment then switching back. "Do'na tell me witch hunts do'na happen in this day and age."
"Rogue, Ah touch people, they faint," she said brusquest. "An' Ah don't do demos."
"Fred Dukes, like Mr. McCoy said, what you see is what you get. This is Todd, he has a long tongue."
"What?" Rondell asked.
Todd glared up at the man for a moment then half-heartedly snagged a fly, not bothering to enjoy the look of revulsion on the officers' faces.
"You've seen the tapes, you've already called my parents, why bother with this!" Kitty said getting up and walking inside.
"May I speak with you?" Jensen asked Xavier leading him off to one side. "I couldn't help but notice a number of your students were absent."
"Yes, their parents felt they were too much of a target here and removed them from the school," Xavier said. "I'm afraid I must respect their parent's wishes and remain silent about them."
"In particular we were wondering about two of your recent transfer students: Pietro Maximoff and Lance Alvers. They were placed under you're guardianship after Ms. Darkholmes' negligence was brought to the state's attention," Jensen said.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken," Xavier replied. "Lance turned eighteen shortly before the students transferred here, he's legally an adult."
Jensen frowned. "Where are they?"
"Pietro fled during the attack. Given the current climate I was afraid of what might happen if the police were asked to find him, all it would take would be one bigot with a badge and they would most likely get away with murder since my students are incapable of disarming themselves and all mutants are currently being regarded as a threat." Xavier said coldly. "Lance Alvers was severely injured as a result of Trask's unprovoked attack on my students. There is little hope he will ever regain consciousness. And you wonder why my students feel threatened by your presence here. The only human casualties since mutants were revealed to the public have been killed by other humans who suspected them of being mutants. One of my students, a friend and classmate of the children you were just interrogating, lies close to death because of a giant robot created solely for the purpose of hunting and destroying mutants like themselves. Officer Jensen, who truly has more cause for fear? Humans or those children?"
"What are their powers?" Jensen asked.
"Pietro has enhanced reflexes. Lance was a telekinetic like Jean," Xavier said.
Rogue stared at the ringing phone willing the other person to give up and go away. She'd started screen calls almost from day one and this yahoo failed the test, hanging up as soon as the answering machine picked up. He was getting more persistent though the silent calls came on an almost hourly basis. Everyone was out and so it was an endurance match between Rogue and the caller.
The answering machine picked up. The line was disconnected with a click. The phone started ringing only a moment later. With a snarl Rogue snatched up the handset. "Ain't yah got anything better to do?" she demanded.
"Rogue?" a timid voice asked.
"Pietro!" Rogue exclaimed. "It's been you calling all this time?"
"Everyone-else-hates-me-right-I-thought-maybe-you'd-still-talk-to-me-I-had-to-do-it-he's-my-dad-and-Wanda-was-going-to-kill-him-I-just-warned-him-though-that-was-all-I-didn't-know-about-the-Sentinels-or-him-wanting-mutants-to-go-public-I-know-he's-a-jerk-and-I-shouldn't-care-but-he's-still-my-dad-and-do-you-hate-me?"
Rogue sighed, "Ah been in your head too much to hate yah," she said. "Ah saw him and I knew no matter what yah told yourself about him dumping yah, yah still cared what he thought of yah. And Ah know yah love Wanda too, you've never known what to do when yah get caught between the two of them. Ah understand too much to hate yah, or to be surprised."
"Thanks," Pietro whispered. "I saw Freddy on the news fighting Juggernaut with you guys, but is Todd okay and is Lance back from Scotland?"
"Todd ain't been injured," Rogue said slowly, stalling for time to think. In her mind's eye she saw Scott with dark circles under his eyes that even his glasses couldn't completely hide. She saw him pausing by the infirmary door when he thought no one was looking, staring at Lance with guilt written in every line of his body. Scott didn't even like Lance and all he'd done was let Lance make his own choices. "Lance hasn't gotten back yet," Rogue told Pietro.
"Oh," he replied. "How much do they hate me?"
Rogue remembered watching Kitty tear apart a simulacrum of Pietro in the danger room and winced. She thought about Freddy and Todd wandering the halls, nearly in shock, dazed by loss. She remembered Wanda's brief visits and the cold determination in the other girl's eyes as she talked of slaughtering her family. And she thought of Lance, who might as well be dead. "Ah don't think yah should come anywhere near here, or call anymore, just in case someone figures out it's yah," she said.
"Please, I really need to talk to someone," Pietro said.
Rogue closed her eyes for a moment. "Ah'll call yah," she said. "Give me the number."
On the other end of the line Pietro glanced around at Magneto's headquarters. "I-don't-think-that's-a-good-idea," he said. "Wait-a-minute." With that he set the phone down and dashed away. Two minutes later he was back. "Here-681-743-8670-that's-the-number-of-a-payphone-a-short-run-from-here."
"Slow down," Rogue commanded and Pietro repeated the number carefully pausing between each digit. "Can yah be there at six on Wednesday?" she asked.
"Sure no problem," Pietro said. "Can you talk now?"
"There's no one home to eaves drop," Rogue said.
"So, well, how's everyone doing, I saw the Institute on the news, what happened?" Pietro asked.
"It's crowded but things look worse than they are," Rogue told him. "We fixed up the below ground ourselves, lots of people figuring out practical aps for our powers, yah know how Mr. McCoy loves incorporating lessons into everyday."
"He's cool. What happened anyway? I didn't think the Sentinel got that far," Pietro said.
"Mystique set the place to self-destruct," Rogue said her voice turning a bit cold.
"Oh," Pietro said. "I-didn't-know-did-anyone-get-hurt?"
"Scotty got the New Mutants out, otherwise it would have been real bad," Rogue said. "And we're rebuilding."
"And your trip with Wolverine, how'd that go?" Pietro asked, mostly just wanting for her to keep on talking.
"It was a bust," Rogue sighed. "First your dad gets to the guy before we do, then we get captured by Trask. Fun and joy all around ya know."
"Who was it? I might have met them," Pietro said.
"A Cajun thief," Rogue said. "He was too busy flirtin' to give a name."
"Gambit," Pietro said frowning a little. "He-flirts-with-everyone-you-know. You shouldn't pay any attention to him, he even calls Colossus 'cher' 'cause it really annoys him."
"Just like you, huh Speedy?" Rogue laughed. "Don't worry, I told him I was taken… So what's life like as an A-list baddy?"
"Pretty dull actually. We spend a lot of time waiting for the opportune time and Dad still likes to hear himself talk. Gambit and Pyro and I play cards. They handcuff me to my chair so I can't look at their hands, no one in the Brotherhood ever figured out I run around the table and look at everyone's hands. It's not like they don't cheat too, but even Gambit doesn't do slight of hand good enough to stack the deck against me. I still think he's cheating though; he wins too much. Anyways Pyro writes and Colossus paints and Gambit and Sabretooth get to go out. I think Gambit picks up girls; you really wouldn't like him. I don't want to know what Sabretooth does. And I'm bored. Dad doesn't like me going out, he says I've got no sense of discretion, sometimes I go anyways, it's still boring. I-miss-you-and-everybody."
"Somebody just came home, I better go," Rogue said. "We'll talk Wednesday."
"Okay, Wednesday," Pietro said. "Bye, I'll be waiting for you to call."
Pietro disconnected and turned to see Gambit lounging in the doorway. "How long have you been here?" he demanded.
Gambit grinned. "Consortin' wit' de opposition, tsk-tsk… 'Course de opposition be a mighty lovely femme, I'd consort wit' her, if she gave me de chance."
"You-can't-touch-her, I-can. Our-powers-are-made-to-go-together. So you just forget about her." Pietro exclaimed.
"Damn yo're easy to rile," Gambit laughed. "Dat's what I like 'bout yo' 'Silver."
"You're not going to tell Dad about me calling her?" Pietro asked, suddenly worried.
Gambit strolled in, took a seat at the consol and altered the call logs with a few casual keystrokes. "I been coverin' your calls to de X-Men since de beginnin', it hardly be in m' bes' interest to bring dat little detail to Magneto's 'ttention."
"What? You? Why?" Pietro stammered.
" 'Silver-kid someone needs to look out for yo'."
"And you're just helping me out of the goodness of your heart?" Pietro snapped.
" 'M a demon, I have no heart," Gambit said with a shrug and walked off.
Kitty hovered in the doorway of the room Jean was sharing with Amara and Ororo.
"Kitty," Jean greeted the younger girl with a sympathetic smile. "Is there something I can help with or did you want to talk?"
Kitty swallowed then plunged in. "You were pretty much carrying Lance for most of the rescue weren't you? With your telekinesis I mean, but he was still there for a long time, conscious right. It was when he saw Beast carrying me that he went under the last time wasn't it."
"Kitty, where'd you hear that?" Jean asked.
"Scott's not the only one who isn't sleeping so good," Kitty said. "I watched his recreation of the rescue."
"Oh," Jean replied. "Kitty, don't think about it like that."
"Like what Jean?" Kitty demanded angrily. "Tell me what I'm thinking!"
"That Lance would be okay if you hadn't gotten captured," Jean said bluntly. "It's not true, he still would have gone after Todd and Fred. And… I don't know how he held on as long as he did. It wouldn't have mattered if we'd found you up and ready to break out or dead, Lance still would have gone into the coma."
Kitty sat down on Jean's bed, pulling her knees up to her chest "I wish I hadn't been sedated," she said. "That way Lance would know he saved me. Dr. MacTaggart says people in comas can still hear stuff. I tell him how grateful I am and that I miss him and really want him to wake up, but I don't know… I wish… I wish… I'd told him I love him before…"
Jean looked at the younger girl. "I could tell him for you," she offered impulsively. "If talking is good, he should really hear a telepath right?"