I don't own the X-Men. They, and any major characters in this story, belong to Marvel, though they don't deserve them. I'm making no money off of this, either - blah, blah, blah, standard disclaimer stuff.
Thanks go out to Luba for the beta read and encouragement, and to everyone who's been so great about providing feedback!
Just a Couple of Kids, After All…
Chapter 22
"Hey look! Seth and Cailin are with them," Bobby said as they peered at the Neo on the computer monitor, trying to see who had accompanied Domina to the mansion. He was actually happy to see the little munchkin, whom he found hilarious, but his feelings about seeing Seth again were mixed; on one hand, he actually found himself kind of liking the guy, but on the other, he was concerned about his obvious interest in Kitty.
"Why would they bring Cailin?" Kitty asked, and Bobby saw she looked honestly puzzled. "There's another kid too, a boy," she added, pointing at the small figure on the screen as he began chasing Cailin around and between the group of five adults who had accompanied Domina.
Bobby shrugged. "Who knows? I imagine we'll find out, though. Look at it this way – it pretty much negates any fears of the Neo having ulterior motives for this meeting. I mean, who'd bring a kid into a potentially dangerous situation?"
"I don't know," Kitty replied. "I can't say I'd put it past Domina, would you? Besides, didn't X-Factor take baby Christopher everywhere with them?" she added, nudging Bobby's arm with her elbow and grinning.
"Point," Bobby admitted grudgingly, wishing he knew Excalibur's history as well as Kitty knew X-Factor's – there had to be SOMETHING incriminating there he could harass her about. He made himself a promise to ask Kurt some leading questions once things settled down.
"But I agree," she added grudgingly. "Domina's probably not up to anything malicious – I don't think she's that devious by nature." Bobby raised his eyebrows, thinking of the trap they'd recently gotten caught in, and she shook her head. "You know what I mean – if she was going to launch an attack or something, she'd probably just do it, not bring kids along to allay our suspicions and THEN attack."
"Can we get audio on this?" Bobby asked, leaning forward to turn up the speaker volume as Jean, Ororo, and Logan came out and began speaking with Domina. He could see their mouths moving as Jean shook Domina's hand and stepped back to allow her to precede her inside, but couldn't hear anything. Kitty slapped his hand, and he sat back down as she turned the volume back down.
"Don't fiddle – I've got I set up for the conference room. No, you can't get audio from the camera at the front door, there's usually no point, but we'll be able to hear the meeting if you don't screw up the settings."
Bobby watched his teammates and the Neo enter the front door. All the Neo except Seth and Cailin had their faces painted heavily with red paint in various designs, and one, a large man with a dark complexion whom he didn't recognize from the meeting he and Kitty had had with Domina, seemed to be of some importance; he walked with Domina, the others following a few steps behind. Seth had caught Cailin and the boy by the arms, and was half-escorting, half pulling them inside while Ororo waited patiently to shut the door behind them.
"Cailin's in trouble," he said grinning, as he saw Seth bend over and say something to her and the boy, both of whom straightened up and began walking to the door under their own power, their heads bowed.
"You like her, don't you?" Kitty asked as Ororo closed the door. With a few clicks, she switched the screen over to the conference room, and settled back to wait until the group entered.
"Cailin? Sure, she's cute – I mean, you can't really blame her for spraying us with the knock out stuff, Domina put her up to it. Besides, I like kids," Bobby admitted. "How about you?"
Kitty grinned, but shook her head. Bobby raised his eyebrows, and she laughed. "No, I like kids – I'm just remembering the time I got stuck babysitting the X-Babies."
"Ouch," Bobby said, hoping she'd tell the whole story. "I hope little Iceman wasn't too obnoxious – I was a pretty bratty kid, or so my mother always says."
"He wasn't there," Kitty said, reassuring him. "No, I got Stormy, Wolvie, Rogue, Dazzler…you know, the team that "died" in Dallas," she explained with some bitterness.
"Sounds like a handful," Bobby replied, knowing better than to get Kitty going on her teammates alleged "deaths". He laughed as Kitty buried her head in her hands.
"You have NO idea. Both Rogue and Dazzler had crushes on Longshot and kept fighting over him, and Wolvie kept singing the song about seeing my underwear – I'd been in my nightshirt when we met up. I was almost ready to turn them all over to Mojo just so I could get rid of them!"
"No, you weren't," Bobby said grinning.
"Ok, I wasn't, but I was tempted a few times," she admitted.
"THAT I can believe. Hey look, they're coming in already. I guess Jean didn't give them the grand tour. I still can't hear them, though…"
"That's because you messed up the sound before," she replied with mock-irritation, fiddling with the volume controls. "There, better?" she added as the sound began to filter through.
"Yup," Bobby replied, and settled in for the show, propping his feet up on the desk. "Wish I'd brought popcorn."
"We just had breakfast!" Kitty said laughing, and slid her chair closer to his. He put his arm around her, and was about to kiss her when Domina's voice caught his attention.
*********************
"While I appreciate your offer of a tour, Jean, I think it best we get down to business. Where are Robert and Katherine?"
*********************
Bobby smothered a laugh at the expression on Jean's face as she entered the range of the camera - a mixture of what he liked to call that polite "I'm putting up with a great aunt" look and outright irritation, quickly hidden. Kitty, he noticed, didn't even try not to laugh.
"We warned her!" she said, grinning.
*********************
"Kitty and Bobby are otherwise occupied at this time," Jean replied between clenched teeth. Logan, standing behind her, looked amused, and Bobby thought he probably was. "Perhaps we should all have a seat?" she added, pulling up a chair at the head of the table. "You could introduce me to the rest of your group?"
"My family. Your records indicate you place much importance on family, just as we do, so I thought it important that that fraction of mine that remains attend the meeting as well," Domina replied, indicating the large man who had accompanied her. With the greater resolution of the camera in the meeting room, Bobby could see that the paint on his face began at his forehead, and continued down past his cheekbones to end in a series of staggered points midway between his cheekbones and his jaw. "Allow me to present my spouse, Jaeger of the Neo."
"An honor to meet you," Wolverine replied, bowing and Bobby saw the man Domina had referred to as Jaeger bow in response. He wondered absently if it was his name or his title.
"Told Jean," he heard Kitty mumble, but his attention was focused on the screen.
"This is my first Advisor, Arakasi, who is also my uncle," she continued, gesturing to a man apparently in his late 60's, who bowed in the direction of Jean, Logan, and Ororo, then took a seat near the opposite end of the table from Jean. Bobby nodded, he and Kitty had met Arakasi when they'd had their initial meeting with Domina. His initial impression had been that the man reminded him of the Professor at his best; cool, level headed, and full of sincerity.
"I should also like you to meet my son Diego," she added, indicating the young boy who'd been chasing Cailin outside, "my niece Moran," a stocky young woman who might be attractive, Bobby's thought, but it was impossible to tell given the paint that covered nearly her whole face like a mask, "and my spouse's nephew Rax." Bobby was less than happy to see Rax at the meeting. He'd been obnoxious when they'd met with Domina before; constantly interrupting anyone who was talking to assert the superiority of the Neo, and object (loudly) to their dealing with "tame spikes". Looking defiant, he walked around the table to take a seat across from Arakasi.
"And then, there are my foster children, Amarantha, Seth, and Cailin," she said, indicating the remaining three," of whom you have probably already heard from Katherine and Robert." Of the three, Amarantha was the only one who Bobby didn't recognize, but she looked like a adult version of Cailin, her forehead painted red with a white circle that looked rather like a target. The three took their seats as well, and Jaeger held the chair at the foot of the table for Domina, then seated himself at her left.
"We greet you," Ororo intoned, bowing formally. "I am Ororo, co-leader of the X-Men. Jean and Logan you have already met, but we should like to invite a few others to join us at this time." She opened the door, and Hank, Kurt, and Moira MacTaggert entered.
*********************
"Did you know Moira was coming?" Bobby asked Kitty.
"No," she answered, peering closer at the screen. "She looks worse, don't you think? Apparently the Legacy virus didn't go into remission in her case."
"Different strain," Bobby answered, with the full authority of someone who had listened to Hank ramble often.
"I guess," Kitty replied worriedly. "I wonder if Rahne came with her?"
"We can check later," Bobby assured her confidently while trying to remember exactly what Moira and Rahne's relationship was. Moira's adopted daughter? Foster-daughter? Something like that. He turned his attention back to the screen, where Jean had just finished introducing the newly arrived X-Men. Domina was looking perturbed, and kept glancing at the door.
*********************
"While it is a pleasure to meet you all, especially you, Dr. McCoy, I must ask again where Robert and Katherine are. I had expected them to be in attendance," she asked finally as if she fully expected Jean to click her fingers and make them appear.
"As I said earlier, Bobby and Kitty are otherwise occupied this morning, though you'll have an opportunity to visit with them later," Jean replied. Bobby saw Logan place his hand over hers, with which she seemed to be trying to claw the table.
"I find this unacceptable," Domina contested loudly, slamming her fist on the table. "You insult the Neo! They were the ones we tested and found worthy of alliance. You," she added scathingly, sweeping her hand in a gesture that included all the X-Men remaining in the room, "are unknown to us; we have only their word that you will make acceptable allies."
Logan stood up. "Bobby and Kitty don't need to be here; they got stuff of their own to get done. Everyone fills their own role; as leader of your people, I'm sure you can appreciate that. Kitty and Bobby are junior members of the team; heck, Bobby's not even a full time X-Men anymore, and Kit's mostly a college student these days. The fact that they were the ones you happened to meet up with first isn't important. They aren't in a position to negotiate an alliance between our groups. They weren't supposed to have even made first contact, though we're glad they did, of course, as WE," he said, gesturing around the room to include everyone, "can now go ahead and discuss an alliance that could benefit everyone. The leaders and senior members of the X-Men are here. You want to talk? Let's talk."
****************
"Nice speech, Logan," Kitty said approvingly.
"I thought you wanted to be down there," Bobby asked her.
"Don't get me wrong, I do," she answered. "But if they'd have given in at this point, Domina would have thought they were pushovers. Now he's got her cornered; she either has to accept his terms, or come out and say the leaders of the X-Men aren't worth talking to. If she does that, she'll lose any chance of an alliance, so she won't. He can always graciously bring us into the meeting later, as a 'favor', or to provide information. Which we'd better start analyzing, by the way." Bobby realized suddenly that Kitty had been typing while the Neo had been being introduced; peering past her at another screen, he saw that she had brought up profiles on each of the Neo present, and was cutting the info into another document, no doubt meant to be a summary of the attendees.
"What do you need me to do?" he asked grudgingly, unwilling to miss any of the drama currently unfolding.
"Nothing right now," she assured him. "Watch the proceedings, and if I get distracted, let me know if anything important is happening. Keep an eye on Arakasi; I really want to know just how much he's advising Domina, and whether or not she's taking his advice."
"Why?" Bobby asked curiously.
"It'll tell me just which side of the issue he's on," she told him. "Is he pro-alliance, or against? I couldn't decide based on our meeting with Domina."
"Ok, no problem," he assured her, and turned his focus back to the screen.
*********************
Domina was sitting at the table, her arms crossed in front of her, apparently realizing that she'd lost ground and being unhappy about it. Bobby scanned the other faces, but didn't know them well enough to read their opinions; with the exception of the children, who seemed to be making faces at each other across the table, the Neo's faces were expressionless, waiting to see how their leader would respond. Finally, she took a breath and addressed Logan.
"While it is true that each has his or her own place, it is also customary among my people to honor the wishes of a guest. However, I can also understand that other tasks may press as well. I hope we will have the pleasure of Robert and Katherine's presence at a later time?" Jean nodded her assent, and Bobby saw Domina appear to relax. "Then, if I could make a request of you? Is there somewhere about a place where my son and younger foster daughter might be allowed stay for the rest of the meeting? Despite their assurances when they begged to be included, it would appear they do not yet have the patience to conduct themselves properly," she added, glaring at the two, who tried to look properly chastened. "I assure you that they will cause no trouble; perhaps if you have a library they could visit for the duration…"
"We can do better than that," Jean assured her, smiling. "My fiancé's foster daughter is also visiting, and I'm sure she would be willing to give Diego and Cailin a tour of the facilities. "Here, let me call her." Jean pressed the intercom button on the unit built into the conference table, and said, "Jubilee? Could you join us in the conference room for a minute?" Bobby couldn't hear Jubilee's response, but he saw Kurt chuckle and Hank shake his head.
Logan shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I guess kids'll be kids, no matter whose. She'll be here in a couple of minutes, no matter what she says."
*************************
"What DID she say?" Bobby asked Kitty, who was chuckling as she typed.
"Something to the effect of how if she wasn't senior enough to attend the meeting, they didn't need her there now that she was in the pool."
Bobby laughed. "Yeah right, like she'll miss a chance to pop in on the meeting. I'm surprised she isn't outside the door trying to hear what's going on."
Kitty raised her eyebrows, grinning. "She was – I could tell from where the reply came from. But I'm guessing she'll go hop in the pool just to make it look authentic when she shows up dripping wet."
**************************
"Good," Domina replied seriously. "Perhaps we can get move ahead to important matters? What do you plan to do about the attack by this so-called High Evolutionary?"
"We have not made any plans to date," Ororo replied. "Opinions regarding what you term 'the attack' have been mixed amongst the mutant community; many have benefited from the loss of their abilities, though there are those who, like myself, would welcome their return. I spent what seemed a lifetime without my powers due to an 'accident'; doing so again by someone's design is not something I find myself enjoying. While we have decided upon no actual course of action, we are interested in hearing what you have in mind. Perhaps we can discern a solution that will satisfy all involved."
"What is it with you spikes?" Rax demanded. "You had abilities almost equal to our own, and you 'welcome' their loss? Are you crazy? The only one of you who has the right idea is that one who calls himself Magneto, and even he's taking this sitting down!"
Jean opened her mouth to object, but Jaeger had already stood up and addressed Rax. "You were TOLD that if you wished to attend this meeting you would keep your opinions to yourself. Insulting potential allies is not only foolish, but dangerous, and it shames the Neo. Have you learned nothing from studying with me? You will never be Jaeger in your own right if you continue to act like a spoiled child. Now, be silent until you are addressed, or you will join the children when they leave the meeting. I apologize for my nephew," he added, addressing the X-men. "He has not yet learned when to speak and when to be silent. Please continue," he added, sitting back down. Rax, Bobby saw, was glaring at his uncle, though he did remain silent.
***********************
"That kid's a real pain," Kitty said, turning to Bobby. "Any reaction from Arakasi?"
"Not so as you'd notice," Bobby answered, wishing he'd paid more attention, but he'd been enjoying Rax getting told off. "Kind of embarrassed, but whether about what Rax said or just that he said it I'm not sure. Did you catch what that Jaeger guy said? Sounds like the position is at least somewhat hereditary."
"Or he was training his nephew to succeed him," Kitty clarified.
"At least we know for sure that it is a title, now," Bobby answered.
"Oh, I knew that," she replied, turning back to the computer she was working at while Bobby thought irritably that it would have been nice if she'd filled him in. "He's their 'war leader'. I found a reference when I was looking up the meeting attendees. 'Domina' is a title as well, it means 'leader of the people'. There appears to be one Domina leading each group of the Neo, but one – I'm guessing the one who's here, though I'm still trying to determine that – can speak for all the groups."
"How many groups of the Neo are there?" Bobby wondered aloud. "And who are they fighting that they need a war leader, anyway?"
"About fifteen, scattered around the world," Kitty answered. "But I don't know who they're fighting, unless it's amongst each other. I haven't found that yet. Maybe it's honorary?"
"Doesn't sound like it," he said, shaking his head. "The idea of Rax holding a position of war-anything is pretty scary, though. Now shhh, it's getting interesting again."
***************************
"Apology accepted," Storm replied coolly. "But perhaps, as you say, we should focus on the topic at hand. While we had not, as yet, made any determination regarding whether or not action should be taken, we have been gathering information. He appears to be acting on his own, with the best of intentions. Among mutants, there have been no fatalities directly resulting from his actions..."
"You are fortunate, then," Domina replied. "Among the Neo, the immediate death toll was approximately 25%, and it continues to increase as those among us who have lost everyone lose their will to live as well."
"So Bobby and Kitty told us," Jean said sadly, "and we mourn your losses with you. We can only assume that the High Evolutionary didn't even know about your people; all information we've gathered indicates that he was not trying to hurt anyone, which of course does not excuse his actions. Planned or no, he is responsible for those deaths. But the number of deaths among mutants is mounting as well, as various groups, including, unfortunately, some working for world governments, take it upon themselves to hunt down former known mutants. We ourselves were recently attacked by the Friends of Humanity, though fortunately we suffered no fatalities, only significant property damage." She sighed, "Apparently even the knowledge that we 'had' been mutants is enough reason for some to hate and fear us."
"What can you expect?" Arakasi asked quietly, and all eyes at the table turned to him. "While I disagree with the actions of these extremists, you spikes, or mutants as you call yourselves, have brought much of this on yourselves."
"What'dya mean?" Logan asked in a gravely voice Bobby recognized as Logan ready to 'snikt'. "The X-Men have always acted to protect humans. Are you saying that's wrong?"
"No. And yes," the elderly man replied. "You call them 'humans'. What, then, are you? We Neo are apart from humanity; we live among you at times, but for the most part keep to ourselves. But we are not 'human', and freely admit it. But you mutants; exceptional children born of human parents are human nonetheless, are they not? You set yourselves as something apart, as we do, but you are not, and they know it. You move among them, but are not 'of' them. It is this ambivalence, as well as their fear of the unknown, that causes them to persecute you."
"What, then, do you suggest?" Hank replied. "Are mutants to separate themselves from the rest of humanity, as Magneto advocates? Personally, despite my outward appearance when possessed of my accustomed though unusual form, I have always considered myself human, first and foremost. I find Magneto's offer of asylum in Genosha unpalatable, despite the negative attention the self-inflicted advancement of my physical mutation attracted."
"And yet, even now, you mutants huddle together," Domina pointed out. "Why are you not out among the humanity you claim to embrace, now that they would be unable to recognize you as a mutant?"
"It is a valid question, Domina," Kurt answered, "and one I have often asked myself. Now, of course, many of us have gathered to hear what you have to say, but there are those among us who did leave to pursue normal lives, Ororo," he said, gesturing toward her, "among them. I myself am studying for the priesthood, though I acknowledge that my studies may end abruptly if my mutant abilities and appearance return. But each of us, undoubtedly, has their own reasons for remaining here; Hank his research, Jean because it is her home, myself – well, in all probability it is sheer laziness on my part," he admitted, shrugging, and threw Domina a smile that showed Bobby why the women always seemed to find Kurt so charming, even in his natural form. "I hate packing and moving, only to pack again and move back if things revert to normal."
Domina spared him a smile in return. "Yes, moving can be a trial, as can the change of that to which you have become accustomed. You mention things returning to normal? Have you reason to believe that they will, without action on anyone's part?"
"Not really," Kurt admitted. "But then, if there is one thing I have become accustomed to during my tenure with various X-Teams, is that you should always be prepared for the unexpected."
"True in any context," Jaeger said. "But there was nothing that could have prepared our people for this. Unlike you - based solely on what I've been hearing here, as I do not know your people well – our people consider their abilities to be part of themselves. Our society incorporates that reality, and the use of our abilities is as natural to us as breathing is to you. Without them – well, imagine yourselves without that ability to breathe. Everything we are requires that this scenario end, at whatever cost."
"At whatever cost?" Moira inquired wryly. "I dinnae know that I agree with that. Have ye heard of the Legacy Virus? I'm suspecting that ye're not susceptible, but hundreds who would've died have gone into remission, and I'm hoping they stay that way until we find a way to spread the cure."
"Spread the cure?" Jean asked amidst the surprised gasps of the other X-men, though Hank, Bobby saw, did not look the least surprised. If anything, he looked – concerned? That was a strange reaction.
"You mean, you have FOUND a cure for the virus?" Storm asked Hank, who glared at Moira and cleared his throat.
"Well, umm, yes, we have indeed discovered a way to ameliorate the symptomology of the primary strain of the Legacy virus," Hank replied grudgingly.
*******************************
"Did you know about this?" Kitty asked Bobby, rolling her chair over to where she could better see the meeting progress.
"No," he admitted. Kitty's face showed her disbelief. "Come on – Hank's just my best friend, you think he tells me anything? This is the first I'm hearing about it. Come to think of it, though, he didn't seem as concerned about the Legacy Virus data being swiped as he would have otherwise, did he?"
Kitty shook her head. "Well, at least it seems as if no one else knew, either. I wonder why?" but Jean was already asking the same question.
*******************************
"Why is this the first we're hearing about this?" Jean asked, the Neo temporarily forgotten. Apparently, given the looks Hank and Moira were receiving from the other assembled X-Men, the same question was on everyone else's mind as well.
"Because the cure's nae worth a thing without a vector to spread it," Moira replied heatedly. "An' the only vector our analyses have determined that will work is totally unusable. We've got to have the time t'find another before you go off half cocked and turn the X-factor gene back on."
"Talk English, Moira," Logan replied. "Do you mean you've got a cure, but no way to spread it, or what?"
"That would be a concise if somewhat inadequate description of our dilemma," Hank replied. "To be more accurate, we have discovered the method by which Stryfe intended the cure to be distributed, but are unwilling to employ it, and are thus seeking another."
The X-Men began to mutter amongst themselves, and Jean stood up. Looking pointedly at Hank and Moira, she asked, "I don't understand this. What is the cure? And why are you so reluctant to use it, if it means saving hundreds of lives?"
"Jean, please consider the rather warped sense of humor of the clone of the son of your clone," Hank said. "Hmmm, that is an interesting relationship – I never considered it in that light before," he pondered. "In any case," he continued rapidly as he fell victim to Jean's intensified glare, "the virus was initially spread when the first person activated their mutant ability and died, correct?"
"As I understand it," Jean replied heatedly. "What does that – oh!" she stopped as the ramifications occurred to her.
"Ye've got it in one, Jean," Moira said. "The cure is intended to be spread the same way; when the person injected with the anti-virus activates their mutant ability and dies."
**********************
Both rooms suddenly went silent while the X-Men in each considered what Moira had just said. Bobby slid his arm around Kitty's shoulders, suddenly needing the reassurance of physical contact. They both knew that it would likely be one of the X-Men to make the sacrifice if it proved to be necessary.
Finally the silence was broken in the conference room.
***********************
"Hey guys, I'm he-re!" Jubilee announced as she thrust the door open. Her hair was dripping wet, and she was wearing a two piece swimsuit in her favorite electric yellow with a towel wrapped around her waist. "Oh, are you having a meeting?" she asked innocently as if she hadn't mentioned it over the intercom. "I completely forgot! Hi, I'm Jubilee," she added, addressing Seth, who happened to be the nearest Neo to the door, and stretched out her hand.
"Seth," he replied, his eyes wide behind his glasses. He took her hand, but instead of shaking it, brought it to his lips. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he added.
"You too. Kitty didn't tell me the guy she tied up was so cute."
******************************
"I'm going to kill her," Kitty announced, burying her head in her hands. "Bobby, I don't care if she's your protégé or not, I'm going to kill her."
"Why, do YOU think he's cute?" Bobby joked, welcoming the respite from Moira's announcement, and admittedly curious as to what Kitty's response would be.
"I don't know, I mean, I guess, but – damn it, I've got to sit through class with that guy next week!"
Still laughing, Bobby turned his attention back to the monitor to see what Jubes would do to embarrass Kitty next.
******************************
"Jubilee…" Logan growled, and Jubilee, rolling her eyes, took back her hand and turned toward him.
"Hey Wolvie, what's up?" she asked, pretending complete innocence.
"Got a job for you, kid. Remember when ya said you'd be the perfect sitter? Here's your chance to prove it. Take these two," he indicated Diego and Cailin, "and give 'em the grand tour of the grounds. Take 'em swimming, if they want to go. Return them still intact in about two hours, and we'll talk 'bout that babysitting job. Sound ok to you?" he asked Domina.
"In view of recent circumstances, I believe Diego would prefer not to go swimming, but otherwise it sounds acceptable," Domina said.
*******************************
Bobby noticed that the boy's face had gone pale. He remembered what Seth had said about Domina's daughter drowning when her powers had been turned off, and suddenly felt ill. He turned to Kitty, and realized she'd just had the same thought.
"That poor boy," she said, staring at his face as it began to regain color. "You know, Bobby, we were really lucky. I keep thinking about that guy Seth mentioned, who materialized inside a wall. That could have been me."
For once, Bobby Drake found himself without anything to say. He settled for giving Kitty a half-hug with the arm still around her shoulders instead.
********************************
"Ok then munchkins, let's make tracks," Jubilee said, gesturing toward the door. "You want to come too?" she asked Seth hopefully, and pretended to pout when he shook his head.
"I'd like nothing better, but unfortunately we have much to do here. Perhaps another time?"
"Any time you'd like!" she answered. "Come on, kids, let's go pull a prank on Bobby…" she was saying as they went out the door. He heard Cailin's faint "Cool!" as the door closed behind her.
************************
Kitty laughed and patted him on the back as he groaned loudly.
"Your turn," she said.
************************
After Jubilee left the room, there was another brief silence, as if no one quite knew where to pick up. Finally, Seth's sister spoke.
"Your daughter is lovely," she said to Logan.
"Foster daughter, but yeah, she's a cute kid," he replied proudly. "Smarter than she lets on, too."
"So I'd assumed," Jaeger replied. "She WILL watch the children, won't she? They have something of a tendency to get into trouble…"
Logan laughed. "So does she. Don't worry, she'll keep them in line. Maybe she'll get an idea on what I've been putting up with the last few years, too..."
"Then, perhaps we should return to our discussion," Domina inserted. "While your discussion of the Legacy virus has been interesting, it is not the reason we have come. In view of what I have heard, it would appear that the spikes are suffering from the situation as well. Ororo, you mentioned the loss of your mutant abilities in the past; your records indicate that you actively sought to regain them then. Will you do any less now? Tell me, do you intend to take action against the so-called High Evolutionary?"
Bobby saw Jean look at the X-Men around the table, one by one, her gaze lingering longest on Logan. Neither Hank nor Moira met her eyes, but the others nodded.
Jean drew in a deep breath, and said, "Yes."