Rising to the Sunset

Disclaimer:  I don't own these characters.  They belong to Marvel.

Chapter 3

 "Now Kitty, Scott," the Professor began, "I don't want you to get your hopes up too high.  Granted this data is quite peculiar, but I'm not sure if it truly indicates what you would like it to".

Scott sat in a chair with his head buried in his hands. 

"But Profesor," Kitty argued.  "These physiological changes are coupled with distinct feelings he's getting.  All of the spikes correspond to specific periods of either euphoria or depression".

"How long have you been monitoring him?"

"I ran his test yesterday afternoon for Hank, and I've had these leads on him since.  Scott's been telling me the exact times of when he experiences the strange sensations". 

"May I see your data again?"

"Here, look.  This is where it was on my first test.  Then this is what happened today in class, and then this is the reading right after.  Also, if you look at this," Kitty searched through her files, finally opening one.  "This is Scott's annual from 5 years ago.  4 years ago.  3 years ago.  Now 2 years ago.  Look at the difference.  Last year.  And now".

"Interesting"

"Kitty," Hank interjected, moving closer to the computer from his place besides Scott's chair, "Can you bring up Jeannie's annuals?"

"Umm, yeah,"  Kitty typed a few commands into her laptop and Jean's waves appeared on the screen.  "There".

"Wow" Hank marveled, "Look at that".

Kitty typed a few more commands in.  "Okay, now Jean is the red line and Scott is the blue line.  5, 4, 3, 2…"

"Holy shit!"
Scott looked up at Hank's exclamation.  On the screen, the red and the blue lines were so closely merged most of the time that they appeared purple.

"Now professor," Hank started, "I won't pretend to be an expert on mind links…you've said yourself that you don't even fully understand it, but this data seems to indicate activity…Scotty, how did she form your mind link?"

"She, uh, did it when we were, uh, particularly close, um, two years ago".

Scott blushed, and Hank snickered.  "Interesting".

"She'd, uh, linked us before, but it had never been a permanent thing.  Like she forged it so deeply that she didn't need to consciously maintain it".

"I always thought that strong emotional reactions could forge the mind link.  All right.  Kitty, Hank, you've got me won over.  We will send a small reconnaissance mission back to Alkali Lake to look around".

Kitty grinned.  "Thank you for giving this a shot Professor."

"My only concern is disrupting classes again so soon".

"I'm going," Scott insisted.

"I figured as much".

"I would also like to go," Hank chimed in. "I think it would be wise because if we do find her, and she happens to be alive, she's going to need some medical attention.  And I haven't been on  mission in a long time".

"All right.  Now who else?  I'm not comfortable sending just the two of you to canvass such a large area".

Hank looked at Scott, they both turned their gaze to Kitty.  "Professor, what if we take a few of the advanced students.   It's just a reconnaissance mission.  It would be a good experience".

The Professor nodded.  "That sounds like an excellent idea.  Who do you have in mind?"

"Well, Kitty for one," Hank began.  "I think we should take four students total, so that we can form two teams of one adult and two students".

"Why don't you take Bobby and Rogue?" the Professor suggested.  "They proved themselves to be quite capable last week".

"Okay".

"One more."

"How about Peter?" Kitty suggested.

"That's an excellent idea, Kitty," the Professor agreed. "Peter was also quite valuable last week.  He stayed with some of the younger children who managed to escape the invasion, and got them back safely".

"And don't forget that Miss Kitty proved herself last week too," Hank grinned. 

Kitty had gone through the walls, into Stryker's office for the team.  She retrieved all of the documents that provided proof of his warmongering.

"When can we leave?" Scott asked anxiously. 
"I think it best if we wait until morning.  Hank, Kitty  can the two of you go find Peter, Rogue and Bobby?"

"Can't you just page them telepathically?" Kitty questioned.

"Please."

"Come on, Kitty.  Let's get 'em".

"Ah.  Ok".

Hank began to open the door for Kitty, but she walked right through it.  Hank laughed and opened the door to follow her.  Scott continued to stare at the readings on Kitty's laptop.

"Now Scott, I don't want you to get your hopes up too high".

Scott looked up.  "I just want to know for sure.  These feelings, they're just so strong… then Kitty showed me this data, and I just can't leave it until I see her.  Either way". He gulped back a sob.  There was a long silence.

"I agree that this data looks promising.  The mind link is such a peculiar thing.  There is no basis to go on when evaluating these results because it is such a distinct phenomena".

"I always found it to be such a nice thing.  And she could do it so effortlessly.  It just became a common thing, we didn't really think about it, but  we were in each others  minds.  It was peaceful.  And then when…it happened…it went out…suddenly…then there was static and fuzziness, and I wasn't alone again. I can't explain it".

There was a knocked at the door. 

"Come in".

Kitty popped through the door, followed by Hank, Peter, Rogue, and Bobby. 

"Have you told them?"

"No, we thought it best you did," Hank grinned.  Peter, Rogue, and Bobby

looked up at the Professor confused. 

"Kitty and Hank have presented me with some data that suggests that Jean may still be alive"

"Really?  That's great!" Rogue exclaimed.

"Well I don't want anyone to get their hopes up too high because the data is not conclusive.  It does however warrant a reconnaissance mission to check it out.  The three of you, along with Kitty have been chosen because of the exceptional skills you exhibited under the pressure of last week".

"When do we go?"  Peter asked. 

"Tomorrow morning".

"Do we get uniforms?" Bobby asked.

"Yes, yes you do".

"Excellent".

"Scott, why don't you take Hank and the students down to the equipment room to get outfitted for tomorrow?  Then you can all go ready the Blackbird for the mission".

Scott nodded, his mood a bit lighter than it had been earlier.

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