Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or the X Men. Evie is my character.

/Personal thoughts/

~~telepathic communications~~

Chapter 14

The explosion was huge and seemed to shake everything. Everyone hit the ground hard. Most were just stunned and able to shake it off easily. Jaku rose and quickly grabbed Evie again, this time holding the knife to her back. He saw two men rise to their feet and begin to approach him. "STOP!" he yelled.

Cyclops and Wolverine froze in their tracks seeing, her face contort as she must have felt the knife begin to dig into her back.

Jesse finally lifted his head and saw her. "NO! Evie!" he screamed as he bolted toward her only to be caught by the strong arms of his friends.

Jaku was now the center of attention as he stepped back in fury. "I will not hesitate to kill her or any of you. You have ruined all my plans. You will not leave here this day." He pulled his arm back preparing to plunge the knife into Evie. - "AAAHHH!" -

Everyone froze as a blood curdling scream cut the air. Jesse broke free and ran as he saw Evie thrown to the ground like a rag doll.

Jaku fell to the ground with electric currents still sliding over his body.

Shalimar looked over and saw Brennan lower his arm and collapse back into Onnaka's lap.

Jesse helped Evie to her feet and followed her as she ran when she saw Brennan. By the time Shalimar joined them, Evie's hands were already simmering.

Onnaka left them and ran to her sister who was being gently cradled in Logan's arms. "Sister," Onnaka called to her.

Slowly Ororo opened her eyes. "Is it done?" she laboriously whispered.

Holding her close to him and stroking her hair, Logan said, "Yeah, Darlin', it's done."

"Sister, you must drink this." Onnaka held the same flask to Ororo's lips as she watched her followed instruction. She turned and saw Evie at her side, then marveled at the glowing hands laid on her sister's head.

Scott and Jesse were holding their girls. Scott had also checked on the professor and laid his body flat on the ground from the position he had fallen into. All three were unconscious.

When he saw Evie come up to them, slowly, Jesse could see the healing having affect on her. "Evie, wait." He stopped her before she touched Charles. "They're only unconscious. Why don't you wait until we get everyone back to the hut? It'll give you a chance to recoup."

She looked to Scott who nodded in agreement. "Alright, but just let me check and give them a little strength to make it back." When she saw both men concede; she moved from Charles to Jean to Emma. Finally, she sat back against a rock now and looked around. "Jesse, how are we going to get everyone back? Too many are injured." Her voice was weak and strained as she sadly voiced her random thoughts. "Shalimar's wrist is broke, but she wouldn't let me touch it. …Brennan's still not out of the woods. …It would take too long to make two trips."

Jesse knew she was wearing out. He could hear it in her voice. "Don't worry. I've got that covered."

Evie watched as he gently laid Emma on the ground and pulled from his pocket a small device. She smiled as she recognized the Helix's remote. "Good boy. You're always thinking, aren't you? Adam will be proud."

He smiled as he brought the Helix overhead. They cleared a place as Jesse brought her to a soft landing and opened the door. It was close quartering but they got all the injured inside. Jesse gave Scott a quick co-pilot briefing on the controls as Logan and Onnaka made sure all were secure for the trip back. Onnaka walked out as Logan watched her walk over to Jaku. She slowly knelt beside him and extended her hand to his neck. Logan approached her as she dropped her head and began to cry. He helped her stand and let her cry with her head on his chest. "I'm sorry, Darlin'." His voice was kind and his features seemed to soften as she looked up to him.

"I know there was no other way. Thank you." She stepped back. Looking to her brother one last time she turned and entered the Helix.

Storm opened her eyes as she felt her sister's hand in hers. "Onnaka," she whispered.

"I am here, Sister."

"Jaku?" After she asked she saw Onnaka look down and more tears began to fall. She looked to Logan whose condoling eyes confirmed her suspicion. "We will mourn with our family, but we must remember that Jaku chose his own path. He walked it of his own accord." She closed her eyes and squeezed her sister's hand.

Jesse and Scott got everyone back into the hut and all the injured were made comfortable.

Onnaka did what she could for everyone and made sure Evie ate to increase her strength as she began moving from person to person.

Jesse made sure she rested in between rounds. He didn't want her passing out. He knew she would push herself otherwise and Adam would have his head. He knew she was concentrating her healing on Jean first to have the doctor's help.

After assuring that all were now comfortable and on their way to recovery, Evie walked up to Shalimar. "Ok, let me see your wrist." Evie sounded tired but refused to quit.

"No." Shalimar just sat staring into Brennan's placid face.

"Shal, I have to heal your wrist."

"No, you have too much else to do. They still need you." Shalimar turned to face her.

"It's ok, I'm fine. Let me see it. I know it must be hurting."

"No, Evie. I can deal with it."

Just then Jesse came up to them. "What's going on? Is he ok?"

Shalimar just turned away as Evie spoke. "Brennan's fine, Jess. It's Shalimar who is being a difficult patient. She won't let me heal her wrist."

"Shal," Jesse tried to reason with her, "I know you're worried about Brennan, but you have to think about you, too."

"No. Evie's exhausted and Brennan is still in bad shape. I can't use her strength when he needs it." Shalimar's voice betrayed her fearless front.

"Shal, listen. We're all worried. Evie's already gotten them past the worst of it. I'm watching her and making sure she rests. Right now it's important that you let her help you. Your wrist has to be healed sooner or later. I need your help. Scott, Logan and I can't get everyone home on our own. I'll need you to help pilot the Helix." Jesse hated to go against her, but he had to lay it on the line. He knew she would never give in unless she could see the result of what she was doing.

Looking down at Brennan, she finally raised her arm from her lap and lowered it into Evie's waiting palms. "Good girl," she heard as Jesse kissed her forehead and went back to Emma's side.

Logan was either out patrolling the area to assure no other imminent danger or sitting by Ororo's side holding her hand as she slept. Again he felt helpless. The feeling quickly spread among all the men. There was nothing any of them could do but watch and wait for their friends to awaken.

Jesse and Scott decided to check in with the mansion. Hank got the transmission and called Adam to the control room.

"I'm here," Adam called as he walked through the door. "What's your status?"

Jesse began, "We believe the Shadow King's been destroyed. The professor, Jean, Emma, Storm and Brennan are all unconscious. Shalimar had a broken wrist but Evie's taken care of it. The rest of us are fine."

"How's Evie holding up?"

"She's going from person to person for short periods. She's really tired."

"Jess, you know how she can be. She'll push herself too hard. Watch her."

"Like a hawk, Adam. Don't worry."

"Scott," Hank began, "Charles, and Jean are out like before? Do you feel there are signs of anything else?"

"No, I think it's the same condition; overexertion. I believe they'll come out of it. There's just no telling how long it'll take. Evie ran med scans in the Helix during the return to the village. She didn't find anything to concern us. She's been spending most of her time on Jean in order to have the med help, though."

"She believes Emma's in the same condition and will probably be the last to come out around. She was firing off blasts faster than I've ever seen," Jesse added.

"Very well," said Hank. "Now, what of Storm and Brennan? Adam spoke of an antidote. Did it take affect?"

Scott began, "Yes. The scans showed it did take affect but," he stopped and looked at Jesse, "they were very weak."

Adam was quick to read Jesse's face. "Jesse, what else?"

"The poison took affect quicker than we anticipated. They were both very weak just from fighting off the Shadow King's hold on them. It caused the antidote to take longer to kick in. Storm's antibodies helped her to pull through well enough."

"And Brennan?" Adam was obviously trying to calm his rising concern.

"Onnaka was able to get the antidote to Brennan but Evie wasn't able to get to him as planned to help increase his strength. She's not sure what affects the poison lingering in his system might have." Adam look down as in deep thought.

"You said she was fine. Why couldn't she get to Brennan?" He knew Jesse was holding something back. With more urgency in his voice, he demanded, "What happened, Jesse?"

Jesse could hear his concern and was quick to answer. "She is fine. Jaku found her as she was in the jungle waiting to do her job. He…held her at knife point and brought her to the Shadow King. After the Shadow King was destroyed, Jaku vowed to kill all of us and was about to stab her when Brennan got up enough energy to shoot him from behind before the poison made him pass out." He could see Adam release the breath he was holding and drop his shoulders in relief.

"And what of Jaku, now? Hank asked.

"Dead" Scott reported, adding, "Onnaka is dealing well. I'm sure Ororo will, too."

Just then Shalimar walked up behind Jesse and Scott. "Shalimar, how's the wrist?"

"I'll be ok, Adam. How's Marie?" She saw Hank and Adam smile at each other.

"She is wonderful. Everything worked out well." Adam was obviously pleased.

Hank continued, "After she awoke, there was the expected pain. It cleared faster than anticipated and she was released from the med lab a little while ago. Remy took her straight to her room. I…um…don't expect we will see her until morning." He looked down as Adam cleared his throat and blushed.

Shalimar hugged both guys. "That's so wonderful. Everyone will be ecstatic to hear. Thank you."

"You all stay put until Evie and Jean give clearance to move everyone back home. We'll be waiting to check you all when you get back. We're here if they need us in the meantime." Hank wrapped up the communication.

TBC