[Amid a Field of Crimson Flowers]
---
Kirikou
[10/17/03 - 10/19/03]
---
[Alighting]
---
Christmas carols where sung on every corner as the snow fell apon the ground, bells ringing around every bend. People doing their last minute shopping, stopping every so often to view a beautiful display, nutcrackers and dancing ballerinas. Santas shaking their bells for money, their ho hos and ha has filling the streets with noise. Jean Grey and her group walked along these streets, admiring the scenery around them with their coats, hats and scarves. A beautiful night by any standards, with the street lights as illuminated as the sun.
One person, though, stood out from this group of happy carolers, standing dully in the shadows, watching singer by singer, traveler by traveler go along on their merry way, hating them. He despised these people, these pathetic things that humans called 'normal'. At that moment, as a child laughed, he wished them all to hell. And to hell would they go, soon enough, he thought, picking up a small box he had been carrying and striding off to a new location with the toll of the hour.
"Isn't this just great, Jean?" A friend of the redhead asked, whirling about, trying to catch the snowflakes in her mouth. Jean laughed, mimicking for a moment. Their leader ushered them on to another building, their hotel, but before they went in, a large screen before them choked out startling news, stopping the girls in their tracks.
"Mutant forays have been spotted all over the United States, and even in some other countries. If you have any information about this massacre, or know of any planned attacks, please call the local police station immediately with any information that you have regarding such. We warn you to stay away from anyone that you find to be intimidating, or show qualities of being mutant." Jean stood lifeless, eyes wide in amazement. Her friend waved a hand in front of her face, waking her out of her sudden trance.
"Hey girl, you gonna stand there all day? It's cold out!" The girl pulled Jean in the building playfully, the two running up the stairs and jumping on their beds as soon as they huffed through the door. Both where laughing, trying desperately to catch their breaths, when Jean suddenly stopped again, staring up at the ceiling in deep thought.
"Girl, what's the matter?" Her friend asked, poking her gently. Jean sighed, nodding.
"It's just those attacks."
"Oh, come on, you know they make that stuff up to scare us!" Jean smiled, nodding. That was all it was. Mutants where just some little circus trick that people where coming up with to scare the public and boost the news ratings. The institution came to mind for a split second, bringing her little fairy tale into full perspective. If only she knew.
Jean quickly turned on the television, unable to watch what she was seeing. Her friend almost laughed.
"Hollywood. I think they're going a little overboard, don't you?"
"Overboard, yeah."
".Deaths are ranging in the hundreds as these massacres continue, leaving towns and cities destroyed in their midst. We will keep a constant update of death records and mutants wanted. Please be sure to contact the authorities immediately if you see any of these characters."
"See, characters? They're not real, I bet. Nothing ever is anymore." The girl giggled ferociously, dragging Jean down into a tickle contest, of which the girl won. They fell asleep only a few moments later, curled up in their own beds and blankets. But, as the girl slept, Jean was wide-awake. It was almost twelve. Her mind wandered back to Xavier's again, back to Scott.why Scott? She should have been thinking about Duncan! She mentally slapped herself, glaring out the window at the falling snow, so well lit from the downtown lights. Carolers could still be heard, their songs rising above the already noisy city. Her eyes closed for a split second, and she was fast asleep.
---
"Ready?" The figure asked a group of younger characters. They all nodded, eyes glowing in the low-lit basement. The lead figure grinned devilishly, watching as the boxes where moved. The time drew near.only a few more minutes left and revenge would be his. The three younger characters called in on the walky talky. They where ready. The figure cradled a button, smiling with vengeance. The three came back, the mood now intensified.
"Three.two.one."
---
A huge jolt awoke Jean and her friend from their sleep, jumping out of bed and getting dressed. Her friend was freaking out, but she was instantly trying to find a solution. She darted to the window, looking out in horror at the scene before her. The once serene snow scene with the carolers had been replaced with a flaming building only next door, people running and screaming, trying desperately to get away from the falling pieces of the building. Four people ran out from the door, dressed in black. She'd found her target.
"Lily, get out of here! I need to do something before I leave."
"But Jean."
"It's alright." She shoved her friend out of the door, amazed at how many people had the same thing in mind. Hundreds where running out, the leader of Jean's group leading the girls down the stairs down the hall. Jean ran back into her room, grabbing the phone, but before she could dial, a large noise came from outside. She went out, looking at he video screen. A blonde stood in the window, smiling.
"You have now been targeted by Exodus. I only have one thing to say before I leave you do your demise. Mutants will have their day in the light!" Jean's eyes widened in terror, finally picking up the phone and dialing.
"Scott! Scott!" She screamed over the phone as soon as she'd heard him pick up. "We're under attack! The mutants have attacked here! They call themselves Exodus! Tell Xavier right away!"
"Jean, are you alright? Where are you?"
"I'm in the hotel, but I need to get out of here! Don't worry about me! Just tell Xavier!"
"Jean...Jean? Hello?"
Jean hung up, running out the door floors later. She ran down the sidewalk, avoiding her group. The man was running around, calling her name, but she paid no heed, running after those Four clad in black. She could sense them, and knew they where mutants right away. Now if she could just find them.
---
"Professor!" Scott ran as fast as he could down the hall, waking two of the sleeping mutants that followed right behind him. Scott found the professor in his bedroom, shaking him awake.
"What's the matter?"
"New York is under attack! Jean just called."
"What?" Xavier immediately got out of bed, heading somewhere else, but the other kids did not follow. Scott ventured to the living room sitting down, head in his hands. He should have known that something would happen. Kurt came in a moment later, sitting beside the distraught young man.
"I'm sure she'll be just fine." Scott sighed, burying his head farther into his hands.
"I really hope so, Kurt. I really hope so."
---
Hours later Scott awoke to light streaming in from his window. How did he get back into his room, he wondered, but didn't ponder on it for very long. He immediately picked himself up from bed, climbing downstairs into the kitchen, where Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, and Professor Xavier where eating breakfast. It was an unusual sight, since they wheren't eating at the table. He yanked an apple out of the fridge himself, staring at it for a moment before biting into it. Silence filled the entire place, each of the characters thinking of something else than another, and nobody willing to speak. Scott finally growled, slamming his fist on the table.
"Well, aren't we going to go after her?" He almost yelled. Xavier shook his head.
"Calm down, Scott. There's nothing we can do at this point."
"I have no idea what's going on down there."
"Xavier's right, Scott. Like, Jean can take care of herself, right?"
"That's right, Kitty." A noise was heard signaling the mailman. Kurt grinned, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"I'll get it." Was the last thing he'd said. Scott rolled his eyes, tapping a finger apon the table as Kurt re-appeared, a large package in his hands, an amazed and somewhat frightened look on his face.
"It's.for you, Professor. From New York." The man took the package, looking carefully at the postage. It came from Downtown, from someone named Exodus. Nervousness took them all over as it was opened, revealing a tape. Xavier took it into a viewing room, popping it in for all of them to see.
FZZZZZ.
"Hello there, Xavier's institute," The man on the screen was the blondest blonde they'd ever seen, with the brightest blue eyes. A huge scar ran over his face, from a fight or fall. His teeth glowed with cleanliness as he grinned into the television. "I'd like to inform you of a new program that we mutants have running for students willing to join our group. We are Exodus, making a departure from the tyranny that we mutants are subjected to every day of our lives. We are ridiculed, spit on and walked over every day, and we are sick of what they are doing. As you can see behind you," The man moved his head, exposing the most shocking thing the group had ever seen in their lives, Kitty covering her eyes and the rest gasping in horror. "We have come up with a way to teach these pathetic normal humans what torture is really like." Xavier was almost moved to turn the violence off because of his students, but something made them all keep it on. Humans where stretched on torture devices, cut from knives, laying dead in pools of blood on the pavement, rotting in the dark as mutants jeered and others looked on. Many more unspeakable horrors lay beyond the camera's light, which none wished to see.
"These bastards will never understand what we are subjected to until they see and feel it. That's why we would like your support. Peace is not the way to go through with pain such as ours. Only a revolution will bring society back to reality. It was nice speaking to you all. Consider our offer. If you do not, then we will go it alone, and you will fall with the rest of humanity."
FZZZZZ.
"I can't believe this! That's absolutely insane!" Scott yelled at the top of his lungs, taking out the tape. He was about to smash it before Xavier plucked it out of his hands, putting it back in the box. His composure was perfect as he spoke over his distraught students.
"What these other mutants are doing is unacceptable. And, I cannot let this kind of torture go on. You all now know that Jean is in horrible danger and we must get her out of that city before she is captured by this Exodus."
"Ah can't even imagine what kinda crazy people would do that ta people." Rogue practically whispered an agreement to take part in the fight. Kurt and Kitty nodded. Scott sat in his chair, head bowed. He couldn't just leave Jean in that hell hole. At this point it didn't matter who she was going out with. He cared about her more than he realized. A nod proceeded his thoughts, signaling unanimously the group that would get her out of danger.
"We won't be leaving right away, though. I need to get in touch with Storm and Wolverine. They will help you all any way they can, but it will take them a day to get here from where they are. We'll just keep an eye on the news for now."
"But what about Jean?" Scott spoke up, standing to his feet.
"She's apparently taking care of herself for now. I understand your worries. I'm just as worried as you for her, but we are unable to do anything right now. We can't just barrel in without any knowledge of our enemy." Scott growled, sitting down impatiently. Kitty clicked on the news, eyes downcast at the new updates.
"Hundreds of people have gone missing in the New York area, as if they disappeared from the face of the earth, some say. There is no information or bodies to identify these persons, but if you see any of these people please notify the authorities." Kitty sighed, shaking her head. As the four students stared out the window three days before Christmas, the snow didn't seem so appealing anymore. Below the streets hundreds where tortured. They didn't need to call the authorities. They already knew where these people where.
Their families would never see these people again.
And all worried that Jean was gone for good as well.
---
Kirikou
[10/17/03 - 10/19/03]
---
[Alighting]
---
Christmas carols where sung on every corner as the snow fell apon the ground, bells ringing around every bend. People doing their last minute shopping, stopping every so often to view a beautiful display, nutcrackers and dancing ballerinas. Santas shaking their bells for money, their ho hos and ha has filling the streets with noise. Jean Grey and her group walked along these streets, admiring the scenery around them with their coats, hats and scarves. A beautiful night by any standards, with the street lights as illuminated as the sun.
One person, though, stood out from this group of happy carolers, standing dully in the shadows, watching singer by singer, traveler by traveler go along on their merry way, hating them. He despised these people, these pathetic things that humans called 'normal'. At that moment, as a child laughed, he wished them all to hell. And to hell would they go, soon enough, he thought, picking up a small box he had been carrying and striding off to a new location with the toll of the hour.
"Isn't this just great, Jean?" A friend of the redhead asked, whirling about, trying to catch the snowflakes in her mouth. Jean laughed, mimicking for a moment. Their leader ushered them on to another building, their hotel, but before they went in, a large screen before them choked out startling news, stopping the girls in their tracks.
"Mutant forays have been spotted all over the United States, and even in some other countries. If you have any information about this massacre, or know of any planned attacks, please call the local police station immediately with any information that you have regarding such. We warn you to stay away from anyone that you find to be intimidating, or show qualities of being mutant." Jean stood lifeless, eyes wide in amazement. Her friend waved a hand in front of her face, waking her out of her sudden trance.
"Hey girl, you gonna stand there all day? It's cold out!" The girl pulled Jean in the building playfully, the two running up the stairs and jumping on their beds as soon as they huffed through the door. Both where laughing, trying desperately to catch their breaths, when Jean suddenly stopped again, staring up at the ceiling in deep thought.
"Girl, what's the matter?" Her friend asked, poking her gently. Jean sighed, nodding.
"It's just those attacks."
"Oh, come on, you know they make that stuff up to scare us!" Jean smiled, nodding. That was all it was. Mutants where just some little circus trick that people where coming up with to scare the public and boost the news ratings. The institution came to mind for a split second, bringing her little fairy tale into full perspective. If only she knew.
Jean quickly turned on the television, unable to watch what she was seeing. Her friend almost laughed.
"Hollywood. I think they're going a little overboard, don't you?"
"Overboard, yeah."
".Deaths are ranging in the hundreds as these massacres continue, leaving towns and cities destroyed in their midst. We will keep a constant update of death records and mutants wanted. Please be sure to contact the authorities immediately if you see any of these characters."
"See, characters? They're not real, I bet. Nothing ever is anymore." The girl giggled ferociously, dragging Jean down into a tickle contest, of which the girl won. They fell asleep only a few moments later, curled up in their own beds and blankets. But, as the girl slept, Jean was wide-awake. It was almost twelve. Her mind wandered back to Xavier's again, back to Scott.why Scott? She should have been thinking about Duncan! She mentally slapped herself, glaring out the window at the falling snow, so well lit from the downtown lights. Carolers could still be heard, their songs rising above the already noisy city. Her eyes closed for a split second, and she was fast asleep.
---
"Ready?" The figure asked a group of younger characters. They all nodded, eyes glowing in the low-lit basement. The lead figure grinned devilishly, watching as the boxes where moved. The time drew near.only a few more minutes left and revenge would be his. The three younger characters called in on the walky talky. They where ready. The figure cradled a button, smiling with vengeance. The three came back, the mood now intensified.
"Three.two.one."
---
A huge jolt awoke Jean and her friend from their sleep, jumping out of bed and getting dressed. Her friend was freaking out, but she was instantly trying to find a solution. She darted to the window, looking out in horror at the scene before her. The once serene snow scene with the carolers had been replaced with a flaming building only next door, people running and screaming, trying desperately to get away from the falling pieces of the building. Four people ran out from the door, dressed in black. She'd found her target.
"Lily, get out of here! I need to do something before I leave."
"But Jean."
"It's alright." She shoved her friend out of the door, amazed at how many people had the same thing in mind. Hundreds where running out, the leader of Jean's group leading the girls down the stairs down the hall. Jean ran back into her room, grabbing the phone, but before she could dial, a large noise came from outside. She went out, looking at he video screen. A blonde stood in the window, smiling.
"You have now been targeted by Exodus. I only have one thing to say before I leave you do your demise. Mutants will have their day in the light!" Jean's eyes widened in terror, finally picking up the phone and dialing.
"Scott! Scott!" She screamed over the phone as soon as she'd heard him pick up. "We're under attack! The mutants have attacked here! They call themselves Exodus! Tell Xavier right away!"
"Jean, are you alright? Where are you?"
"I'm in the hotel, but I need to get out of here! Don't worry about me! Just tell Xavier!"
"Jean...Jean? Hello?"
Jean hung up, running out the door floors later. She ran down the sidewalk, avoiding her group. The man was running around, calling her name, but she paid no heed, running after those Four clad in black. She could sense them, and knew they where mutants right away. Now if she could just find them.
---
"Professor!" Scott ran as fast as he could down the hall, waking two of the sleeping mutants that followed right behind him. Scott found the professor in his bedroom, shaking him awake.
"What's the matter?"
"New York is under attack! Jean just called."
"What?" Xavier immediately got out of bed, heading somewhere else, but the other kids did not follow. Scott ventured to the living room sitting down, head in his hands. He should have known that something would happen. Kurt came in a moment later, sitting beside the distraught young man.
"I'm sure she'll be just fine." Scott sighed, burying his head farther into his hands.
"I really hope so, Kurt. I really hope so."
---
Hours later Scott awoke to light streaming in from his window. How did he get back into his room, he wondered, but didn't ponder on it for very long. He immediately picked himself up from bed, climbing downstairs into the kitchen, where Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, and Professor Xavier where eating breakfast. It was an unusual sight, since they wheren't eating at the table. He yanked an apple out of the fridge himself, staring at it for a moment before biting into it. Silence filled the entire place, each of the characters thinking of something else than another, and nobody willing to speak. Scott finally growled, slamming his fist on the table.
"Well, aren't we going to go after her?" He almost yelled. Xavier shook his head.
"Calm down, Scott. There's nothing we can do at this point."
"I have no idea what's going on down there."
"Xavier's right, Scott. Like, Jean can take care of herself, right?"
"That's right, Kitty." A noise was heard signaling the mailman. Kurt grinned, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"I'll get it." Was the last thing he'd said. Scott rolled his eyes, tapping a finger apon the table as Kurt re-appeared, a large package in his hands, an amazed and somewhat frightened look on his face.
"It's.for you, Professor. From New York." The man took the package, looking carefully at the postage. It came from Downtown, from someone named Exodus. Nervousness took them all over as it was opened, revealing a tape. Xavier took it into a viewing room, popping it in for all of them to see.
FZZZZZ.
"Hello there, Xavier's institute," The man on the screen was the blondest blonde they'd ever seen, with the brightest blue eyes. A huge scar ran over his face, from a fight or fall. His teeth glowed with cleanliness as he grinned into the television. "I'd like to inform you of a new program that we mutants have running for students willing to join our group. We are Exodus, making a departure from the tyranny that we mutants are subjected to every day of our lives. We are ridiculed, spit on and walked over every day, and we are sick of what they are doing. As you can see behind you," The man moved his head, exposing the most shocking thing the group had ever seen in their lives, Kitty covering her eyes and the rest gasping in horror. "We have come up with a way to teach these pathetic normal humans what torture is really like." Xavier was almost moved to turn the violence off because of his students, but something made them all keep it on. Humans where stretched on torture devices, cut from knives, laying dead in pools of blood on the pavement, rotting in the dark as mutants jeered and others looked on. Many more unspeakable horrors lay beyond the camera's light, which none wished to see.
"These bastards will never understand what we are subjected to until they see and feel it. That's why we would like your support. Peace is not the way to go through with pain such as ours. Only a revolution will bring society back to reality. It was nice speaking to you all. Consider our offer. If you do not, then we will go it alone, and you will fall with the rest of humanity."
FZZZZZ.
"I can't believe this! That's absolutely insane!" Scott yelled at the top of his lungs, taking out the tape. He was about to smash it before Xavier plucked it out of his hands, putting it back in the box. His composure was perfect as he spoke over his distraught students.
"What these other mutants are doing is unacceptable. And, I cannot let this kind of torture go on. You all now know that Jean is in horrible danger and we must get her out of that city before she is captured by this Exodus."
"Ah can't even imagine what kinda crazy people would do that ta people." Rogue practically whispered an agreement to take part in the fight. Kurt and Kitty nodded. Scott sat in his chair, head bowed. He couldn't just leave Jean in that hell hole. At this point it didn't matter who she was going out with. He cared about her more than he realized. A nod proceeded his thoughts, signaling unanimously the group that would get her out of danger.
"We won't be leaving right away, though. I need to get in touch with Storm and Wolverine. They will help you all any way they can, but it will take them a day to get here from where they are. We'll just keep an eye on the news for now."
"But what about Jean?" Scott spoke up, standing to his feet.
"She's apparently taking care of herself for now. I understand your worries. I'm just as worried as you for her, but we are unable to do anything right now. We can't just barrel in without any knowledge of our enemy." Scott growled, sitting down impatiently. Kitty clicked on the news, eyes downcast at the new updates.
"Hundreds of people have gone missing in the New York area, as if they disappeared from the face of the earth, some say. There is no information or bodies to identify these persons, but if you see any of these people please notify the authorities." Kitty sighed, shaking her head. As the four students stared out the window three days before Christmas, the snow didn't seem so appealing anymore. Below the streets hundreds where tortured. They didn't need to call the authorities. They already knew where these people where.
Their families would never see these people again.
And all worried that Jean was gone for good as well.