Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X-Men, title or characters. Evie is my
character.
I am so glad to see Adam back on the show. It's of course not like my story but I like the way they have him coming back. I was afraid it was only going to be a hologram with a message that started off with "if you are seeing this than I have died" kind of thing. The way they are doing it gives me hope for a brighter future. Life is crazy for me right now so I'm going to shoot for broke and give you the rest. I hope you all like it. I really loved getting the reviews. I have a story brewing with Jesse and Kitty. I'm not sure where it's going yet but I have to get settled from the move first. Thanks to those of you who have stuck by me and encouraged me through my series. I'm glad to see that there are more people like me who like to live in a rose colored world. Look for me in the future. I'll be back. Love, Redhead2
Chapter 23 – Gone
The morning sun had never shown. The clouds were so thick that only the barest of light was able to shine through. Rain continued and along with the land all around, it dampened everyone's spirits. As they attended to their different chores and the novelty of having a baby in the house, the outdoors was soon forgotten and left to nature's hand. Inside people began gathering to visit with their guests.
"My dear Jubilee, do you know if Kitty is still in your room? She didn't come down to the lab for her scheduled check-up this morning." Hank's large frame filled the doorway of the kitchen.
Jubilee looked up and saw Jesse looking at her. Keeping her eyes on him to see his reaction she answered, "I'm sorry Doc., Kitty didn't sleep in her bed last night. Maybe you should ask, Jesse." Everyone in the room suddenly fell silent.
"What?" Jesse was shocked. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't sound so surprised." Jubilee's anger returned as she confronted him.
"Jubilation Lee, what is this all about?" The Professor's voice was stern and demanding.
"I saw him kissing her last night in the hall," she tried to explain.
"Jesse?" Adam turned to his son.
"About 11:30 she showed me to my room and yes, I did kiss her goodnight. I went in and she went to her room. I even heard her door close." Jesse seemed bewildered at the sudden interrogation but not offended. He knew Jubilee would be trying to protect her friend. He also knew and welcomed the professor's search for honesty as he turned and met the older man's eyes.
"That part is true." Jubilee stated with no intent to defend him. "We had an---argument and she ran out---back into his arms." She glared at him and smiled as Logan and Remy both stood from their places.
Holding up a hand to still them, the professor met their eyes with the truth then turned on the angry young woman before him. "Jubilee, that will be quite enough," the professor ordered. "Look at me, child." In a flash the professor sent her bits and pieces of the happenings at Sanctuary so she could understand. ~You see now that Jesse is telling the truth and trying to be the honorable man we know him to be.~
~Professor, I'm so sorry. I was just trying to protect Kitty.~ Everyone saw as she hung her head knowing that Charles had explained.
She looked up now with tears in her eyes and moved to in front of Jesse. "I'm so sorry for accusing you, Jesse. Can you ever forgive me?" As he stood and hugged her in acceptance, she returned his hug, realizing she truly needed the forgiveness of a friend she'd almost lost.
"It's ok, Jubes. I know you were trying to look out for Kitty. I can't blame you for being her best friend. I'm glad you are." He released her when he heard the professor speak.
"Jesse, did Kitty go back to your room at all after that?"
"No, Professor. I haven't seen her since we said goodnight."
"Then she must have gone out to the treehouse." Jubilee offered. "That's where she always went when I got on her nerves." She looked around innocently as everyone snickered. "What?"
"I will check." The professor lowered his head and called to her. In only a moment he looked back up. "I can not reach her."
"She's probably still sleeping. I'll go out and bring her back." Jubilee accepted her penitence and took a deep breath at the back door before racing out into the storm. About 5 minutes later a soaking wet Jubilee came panting back into the kitchen. "She's not in the treehouse."
Everyone looked to the professor who easily gave his first command. "We will have everyone search the mansion. Ororo, check your greenhouse. I will notify the other children to help find Kitty. Please bring her to my office in half an hour." Everyone left the kitchen quietly to begin this game of hide and seek.
After turning the mansion upside down looking for the girl everyone met in the office. "There's no sign of her anywhere. Her scent is all over the house. I couldn't track her in here." Logan reported.
"I tried to reach her mind as well and still can not."
"There's no way she'd still be asleep this late in the morning even if she was up all night." Jubilee stated.
"That only leaves, unconscious." Jesse spoke as the realization hit him. "Professor, we have to find her," he stated in his obvious concern. Turning to Jubilee he asked, "Where else on the grounds does she like to go?"
"No where. She only travels the far grounds when Logan makes us train."
"Could she have left the grounds undetected?" Adam asked.
"De petite, could easily evade de outer perimeter sensors if she phase drough dem."
"She's also the only one in the mansion who could get through the added night security. Since she doesn't like to wander in the day, much less at night, we don't worry about it too much." Marie spoke right after Remy as if they were one.
Logan turned a feral grin toward Shalimar. "Ready to hunt?"
"Always," she smiled back and flashed her eyes.
"She probably headed into the foothills. There are caves up there. Maybe she actually picked up something after all the complaining I had to endure on those survival lessons." Logan knew that Kitty learned her stuff and just enjoyed giving him a hard time.
"With all the rain we've gotten and the meltdown after winter there are only a few of those caves that would stand against mud and rock slides." Scott stepped into his role as mission leader of the X-Men. "We better all go. There's no telling what we'll need to get her out if she's trapped."
"I'd better go too." Evie stood from her seat at Adam's side.
Hank stepped closer to her. "Actually, I was hoping to run your tests now. She can't have gone too far. If she's hurt, they'll get her here quickly."
Seeing the professor agree she took Adam's hand. "Very well." They followed Hank out of the office and down to the lab.
On the porch gathered the teams, ready to search for their young friend. Logan and Shalimar stood in front ready to begin and lead the hunt. "Ro, darlin', would you mind doing a little something about the rain?"
They stood and watched as Storm came forward and raised her arms toward the heavens. With white covering her eyes and wind lifting her high into the air she cleared the skies in the direction they needed to go. Rain stopped and clouds parted as bright rays of sunshine began to show through bringing with them a boost to everyone's moral.
"That's much better but we still aren't going to find her scent any easier." Shalimar commented.
"We'll head up to the caves. If we don't find her there then we'll worry about tracking later. Follow me." Logan grinned and began jogging with the rest behind.
The lab was empty. The Summers family was happily discharged from care that morning. Hank led Evie to a bed and prepared to test her. "I thought of a series of very specific tests that should give us a particularly clear picture of how your mutations are getting along," Hank began. "Are you feeling any ill effects now?"
"No," Evie shook her head. "I'm just really tired. I guess it's a result of all the prolonged stress of the last week."
"I had to wake her up twice before she finally got out of bed, this morning," Adam added.
"Yeah, and I had to fight the urge to clobber you with the pillows for that." She jested as she hit his arm.
"Well Adam, if you will assist me, I think we can finish this in a timely manner and allow Evie the opportunity for a nice nap if she wishes. Then I suggest you allow someone else to do the awakening." They all chuckled as the testing began.
It took the better part of a half hour just to make the foothills. When they arrived they found that many of the caves had indeed been covered over by slides, some from a while ago and some more recently. "Wolverine, when was the last time you were up here?" Cyclops asked as they surveyed the area.
"It was before the spring thaw. There were more caves open, then."
"These are recent slides," Shalimar noted in one area. As she approached she noticed that there were still small stones and pebbles falling from time to time.
"That's where the last survival classes were. There are 4 caves behind all that."
"Could that have all come down last night?" Brennan asked.
Storm moved to his side. "It is possible. The storm overnight did release torrents at times."
"If she wasn't in the cave she could have gotten trapped under the slide." Jesse's concerns began to increase.
"Hold on." Cyclops lowered his head and contacted the professor.
~Yes, Cyclops.~
~We are outside the caves. There seems to have been recent slides. Could you try to contact Kitty again?~
~Stand by.~ ~Kitty, Kitty, child can you hear me?~ He was sensing something but it was intermittent and distant. ~Kitty~ again no determinable response. The professor felt she was trying to respond but was having difficulty focusing. He sent in a stronger tone, ~Shadowcat, report!~
That seemed to jar her. Kitty moaned and tried to roll over. She opened her eyes and began to panic when she found she could not see. Panic took firm hold until she once again heard her mentor. ~Shadowcat, report!~
~Professor? P-----sor, help. I -n't s- and - think I'm --eeding. My ---d--- it -h--ts.~
~Try to calm down, Kitty. Did you run into the caves at the foothills?~
~I--- -n't know. I---think s-. I ran --ay and---yes, the ---thills. I --- ember-- Logan teach--- us to -ind ---lter.~
~Kitty, can you move.~
~Yes, I ---nk so.~
~Listen to me, child. The X-Men are outside the caves looking for you. Try to find a way to let them know where you are.~
~Profes---, don'- ---ve me. --m sca---.~
~I will not leave, Kitty, but you must help them find you. I will inform them that you will try.~
~Cyclops, Kitty is in the caves. Her concentration is wavering. She is hurt and bleeding. I believe she has a concussion. She can move and will try to signal you.~
"The professor said Kitty is here and is going to try to signal us. Try calling into the rock. Maybe she can hear us." They all moved around and began trying to locate the correct spot where Kitty went in. After hearing nothing they regrouped.
"The rock is too thick she cannot hear us." Storm stated.
Kitty tried to yell but found she was too weak. In her disorientation she didn't even know which direction was out. Feeling around in the dark she found a stone that was a little bigger than her hand. She remembered that when she tried to move she found the larger rock that she'd probably hit her head on. Searching for that rock again, she prayed Wolverine was with them.
As the testing continued, Adam and Hank combined their expertise on each type of mutation. Adam found that the new mutancy seemed to be unchanged as her genetic scans read clear of any deterioration or further mutation. Hank was intrigued as he compared her brain function with the scans he had of other telepaths. As doctors they both insisted on a series of complete blood work to confirm that her other systems were not adversely affected by the new chemicals being produced in her brain.
"Can you blast through the rock?" Jesse was getting impatient to find her.
"No. The force of the blast could send rock flying right at her." Cyclops knew he couldn't risk it.
"It might cause more slid---"Wolverine stopped mid word and tilted his head.
"What is it?" Cyclops looked around warily.
Wolverine looked at Shalimar who had let her eyes turn gold as she nodded to him.
"Is it Kitty? Can you hear her?" Jesse pursued.
"She gets an A on her next survival evaluation." Wolverine smiled as he and Shalimar followed what only they could hear. They stopped at what seemed to be a solid wall of fallen rocks.
"She's behind these rocks," Shalimar stated.
~Professor, we found her location. We just have to get to her.~
~Acknowledged.~
~Kitty, good work. They are just outside the cave. They will find a way to get to you. Please stay still and don't panic.~ He sensed her silent assent.
"Can't she just phase through it?" Brennan asked.
"She probably doesn't know in which direction to go. It would be pitch black in there," Cyclops responded, "but maybe the professor can guide her to our presence." He sent his request.
~No Cyclops, that would be inadvisable. With the concussion I suspect she has, because of her inability to concentrate to send to me; she will not have the concentration needed to maintain the phase until she is all the way out. You will have to find a way to get to her.~
"The professor said she's hurt and can't phase all the way through. We have to make a way in."
"I'm going in." Jesse stated.
"Jess, you don't know if you can do that. Only Wolverine and I can hear through that rock. It's too thick for you." Shalimar put her hand on his shoulder.
Jesse turned to Wolverine. "You know these caves. Can you give me an approximate depth?"
"It could be anywhere from 6 to 10 feet. Maybe more."
"That's too deep. You can't keep from breathing that long." Brennan warned his brother.
"Give me the light from the pack you brought, Brennan. I'm going in there." The look in Jesse's eyes dissuaded anyone from arguing with him. He took the light and the small first aid kit and secured them in his jacket. "I'll contact you from the other side." He turned from Brennan and looked to Shalimar. Seeing her worry, he laid a firm hand on her shoulder. Turning toward the wall he looked to Wolverine, "Where?"
Wolverine guided him to the center of where the cave mouth was. After patting him on the back he stepped away.
Jesse took a few cleansing breaths to prepare himself then exhaled fully and began to disappear into the rock face. He walked as quickly as he could to get to the other side. As his lungs began asking for air he continued and watched as nothing but rock passed in front of his eyes. His heart began to beat faster as he went. The lack of oxygen caused his lungs to begin to burn but he refused to inhale. He had to get through. This stone would not encase him forever. His singular motivation was to make things right with Kitty.
TBC
I am so glad to see Adam back on the show. It's of course not like my story but I like the way they have him coming back. I was afraid it was only going to be a hologram with a message that started off with "if you are seeing this than I have died" kind of thing. The way they are doing it gives me hope for a brighter future. Life is crazy for me right now so I'm going to shoot for broke and give you the rest. I hope you all like it. I really loved getting the reviews. I have a story brewing with Jesse and Kitty. I'm not sure where it's going yet but I have to get settled from the move first. Thanks to those of you who have stuck by me and encouraged me through my series. I'm glad to see that there are more people like me who like to live in a rose colored world. Look for me in the future. I'll be back. Love, Redhead2
Chapter 23 – Gone
The morning sun had never shown. The clouds were so thick that only the barest of light was able to shine through. Rain continued and along with the land all around, it dampened everyone's spirits. As they attended to their different chores and the novelty of having a baby in the house, the outdoors was soon forgotten and left to nature's hand. Inside people began gathering to visit with their guests.
"My dear Jubilee, do you know if Kitty is still in your room? She didn't come down to the lab for her scheduled check-up this morning." Hank's large frame filled the doorway of the kitchen.
Jubilee looked up and saw Jesse looking at her. Keeping her eyes on him to see his reaction she answered, "I'm sorry Doc., Kitty didn't sleep in her bed last night. Maybe you should ask, Jesse." Everyone in the room suddenly fell silent.
"What?" Jesse was shocked. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't sound so surprised." Jubilee's anger returned as she confronted him.
"Jubilation Lee, what is this all about?" The Professor's voice was stern and demanding.
"I saw him kissing her last night in the hall," she tried to explain.
"Jesse?" Adam turned to his son.
"About 11:30 she showed me to my room and yes, I did kiss her goodnight. I went in and she went to her room. I even heard her door close." Jesse seemed bewildered at the sudden interrogation but not offended. He knew Jubilee would be trying to protect her friend. He also knew and welcomed the professor's search for honesty as he turned and met the older man's eyes.
"That part is true." Jubilee stated with no intent to defend him. "We had an---argument and she ran out---back into his arms." She glared at him and smiled as Logan and Remy both stood from their places.
Holding up a hand to still them, the professor met their eyes with the truth then turned on the angry young woman before him. "Jubilee, that will be quite enough," the professor ordered. "Look at me, child." In a flash the professor sent her bits and pieces of the happenings at Sanctuary so she could understand. ~You see now that Jesse is telling the truth and trying to be the honorable man we know him to be.~
~Professor, I'm so sorry. I was just trying to protect Kitty.~ Everyone saw as she hung her head knowing that Charles had explained.
She looked up now with tears in her eyes and moved to in front of Jesse. "I'm so sorry for accusing you, Jesse. Can you ever forgive me?" As he stood and hugged her in acceptance, she returned his hug, realizing she truly needed the forgiveness of a friend she'd almost lost.
"It's ok, Jubes. I know you were trying to look out for Kitty. I can't blame you for being her best friend. I'm glad you are." He released her when he heard the professor speak.
"Jesse, did Kitty go back to your room at all after that?"
"No, Professor. I haven't seen her since we said goodnight."
"Then she must have gone out to the treehouse." Jubilee offered. "That's where she always went when I got on her nerves." She looked around innocently as everyone snickered. "What?"
"I will check." The professor lowered his head and called to her. In only a moment he looked back up. "I can not reach her."
"She's probably still sleeping. I'll go out and bring her back." Jubilee accepted her penitence and took a deep breath at the back door before racing out into the storm. About 5 minutes later a soaking wet Jubilee came panting back into the kitchen. "She's not in the treehouse."
Everyone looked to the professor who easily gave his first command. "We will have everyone search the mansion. Ororo, check your greenhouse. I will notify the other children to help find Kitty. Please bring her to my office in half an hour." Everyone left the kitchen quietly to begin this game of hide and seek.
After turning the mansion upside down looking for the girl everyone met in the office. "There's no sign of her anywhere. Her scent is all over the house. I couldn't track her in here." Logan reported.
"I tried to reach her mind as well and still can not."
"There's no way she'd still be asleep this late in the morning even if she was up all night." Jubilee stated.
"That only leaves, unconscious." Jesse spoke as the realization hit him. "Professor, we have to find her," he stated in his obvious concern. Turning to Jubilee he asked, "Where else on the grounds does she like to go?"
"No where. She only travels the far grounds when Logan makes us train."
"Could she have left the grounds undetected?" Adam asked.
"De petite, could easily evade de outer perimeter sensors if she phase drough dem."
"She's also the only one in the mansion who could get through the added night security. Since she doesn't like to wander in the day, much less at night, we don't worry about it too much." Marie spoke right after Remy as if they were one.
Logan turned a feral grin toward Shalimar. "Ready to hunt?"
"Always," she smiled back and flashed her eyes.
"She probably headed into the foothills. There are caves up there. Maybe she actually picked up something after all the complaining I had to endure on those survival lessons." Logan knew that Kitty learned her stuff and just enjoyed giving him a hard time.
"With all the rain we've gotten and the meltdown after winter there are only a few of those caves that would stand against mud and rock slides." Scott stepped into his role as mission leader of the X-Men. "We better all go. There's no telling what we'll need to get her out if she's trapped."
"I'd better go too." Evie stood from her seat at Adam's side.
Hank stepped closer to her. "Actually, I was hoping to run your tests now. She can't have gone too far. If she's hurt, they'll get her here quickly."
Seeing the professor agree she took Adam's hand. "Very well." They followed Hank out of the office and down to the lab.
On the porch gathered the teams, ready to search for their young friend. Logan and Shalimar stood in front ready to begin and lead the hunt. "Ro, darlin', would you mind doing a little something about the rain?"
They stood and watched as Storm came forward and raised her arms toward the heavens. With white covering her eyes and wind lifting her high into the air she cleared the skies in the direction they needed to go. Rain stopped and clouds parted as bright rays of sunshine began to show through bringing with them a boost to everyone's moral.
"That's much better but we still aren't going to find her scent any easier." Shalimar commented.
"We'll head up to the caves. If we don't find her there then we'll worry about tracking later. Follow me." Logan grinned and began jogging with the rest behind.
The lab was empty. The Summers family was happily discharged from care that morning. Hank led Evie to a bed and prepared to test her. "I thought of a series of very specific tests that should give us a particularly clear picture of how your mutations are getting along," Hank began. "Are you feeling any ill effects now?"
"No," Evie shook her head. "I'm just really tired. I guess it's a result of all the prolonged stress of the last week."
"I had to wake her up twice before she finally got out of bed, this morning," Adam added.
"Yeah, and I had to fight the urge to clobber you with the pillows for that." She jested as she hit his arm.
"Well Adam, if you will assist me, I think we can finish this in a timely manner and allow Evie the opportunity for a nice nap if she wishes. Then I suggest you allow someone else to do the awakening." They all chuckled as the testing began.
It took the better part of a half hour just to make the foothills. When they arrived they found that many of the caves had indeed been covered over by slides, some from a while ago and some more recently. "Wolverine, when was the last time you were up here?" Cyclops asked as they surveyed the area.
"It was before the spring thaw. There were more caves open, then."
"These are recent slides," Shalimar noted in one area. As she approached she noticed that there were still small stones and pebbles falling from time to time.
"That's where the last survival classes were. There are 4 caves behind all that."
"Could that have all come down last night?" Brennan asked.
Storm moved to his side. "It is possible. The storm overnight did release torrents at times."
"If she wasn't in the cave she could have gotten trapped under the slide." Jesse's concerns began to increase.
"Hold on." Cyclops lowered his head and contacted the professor.
~Yes, Cyclops.~
~We are outside the caves. There seems to have been recent slides. Could you try to contact Kitty again?~
~Stand by.~ ~Kitty, Kitty, child can you hear me?~ He was sensing something but it was intermittent and distant. ~Kitty~ again no determinable response. The professor felt she was trying to respond but was having difficulty focusing. He sent in a stronger tone, ~Shadowcat, report!~
That seemed to jar her. Kitty moaned and tried to roll over. She opened her eyes and began to panic when she found she could not see. Panic took firm hold until she once again heard her mentor. ~Shadowcat, report!~
~Professor? P-----sor, help. I -n't s- and - think I'm --eeding. My ---d--- it -h--ts.~
~Try to calm down, Kitty. Did you run into the caves at the foothills?~
~I--- -n't know. I---think s-. I ran --ay and---yes, the ---thills. I --- ember-- Logan teach--- us to -ind ---lter.~
~Kitty, can you move.~
~Yes, I ---nk so.~
~Listen to me, child. The X-Men are outside the caves looking for you. Try to find a way to let them know where you are.~
~Profes---, don'- ---ve me. --m sca---.~
~I will not leave, Kitty, but you must help them find you. I will inform them that you will try.~
~Cyclops, Kitty is in the caves. Her concentration is wavering. She is hurt and bleeding. I believe she has a concussion. She can move and will try to signal you.~
"The professor said Kitty is here and is going to try to signal us. Try calling into the rock. Maybe she can hear us." They all moved around and began trying to locate the correct spot where Kitty went in. After hearing nothing they regrouped.
"The rock is too thick she cannot hear us." Storm stated.
Kitty tried to yell but found she was too weak. In her disorientation she didn't even know which direction was out. Feeling around in the dark she found a stone that was a little bigger than her hand. She remembered that when she tried to move she found the larger rock that she'd probably hit her head on. Searching for that rock again, she prayed Wolverine was with them.
As the testing continued, Adam and Hank combined their expertise on each type of mutation. Adam found that the new mutancy seemed to be unchanged as her genetic scans read clear of any deterioration or further mutation. Hank was intrigued as he compared her brain function with the scans he had of other telepaths. As doctors they both insisted on a series of complete blood work to confirm that her other systems were not adversely affected by the new chemicals being produced in her brain.
"Can you blast through the rock?" Jesse was getting impatient to find her.
"No. The force of the blast could send rock flying right at her." Cyclops knew he couldn't risk it.
"It might cause more slid---"Wolverine stopped mid word and tilted his head.
"What is it?" Cyclops looked around warily.
Wolverine looked at Shalimar who had let her eyes turn gold as she nodded to him.
"Is it Kitty? Can you hear her?" Jesse pursued.
"She gets an A on her next survival evaluation." Wolverine smiled as he and Shalimar followed what only they could hear. They stopped at what seemed to be a solid wall of fallen rocks.
"She's behind these rocks," Shalimar stated.
~Professor, we found her location. We just have to get to her.~
~Acknowledged.~
~Kitty, good work. They are just outside the cave. They will find a way to get to you. Please stay still and don't panic.~ He sensed her silent assent.
"Can't she just phase through it?" Brennan asked.
"She probably doesn't know in which direction to go. It would be pitch black in there," Cyclops responded, "but maybe the professor can guide her to our presence." He sent his request.
~No Cyclops, that would be inadvisable. With the concussion I suspect she has, because of her inability to concentrate to send to me; she will not have the concentration needed to maintain the phase until she is all the way out. You will have to find a way to get to her.~
"The professor said she's hurt and can't phase all the way through. We have to make a way in."
"I'm going in." Jesse stated.
"Jess, you don't know if you can do that. Only Wolverine and I can hear through that rock. It's too thick for you." Shalimar put her hand on his shoulder.
Jesse turned to Wolverine. "You know these caves. Can you give me an approximate depth?"
"It could be anywhere from 6 to 10 feet. Maybe more."
"That's too deep. You can't keep from breathing that long." Brennan warned his brother.
"Give me the light from the pack you brought, Brennan. I'm going in there." The look in Jesse's eyes dissuaded anyone from arguing with him. He took the light and the small first aid kit and secured them in his jacket. "I'll contact you from the other side." He turned from Brennan and looked to Shalimar. Seeing her worry, he laid a firm hand on her shoulder. Turning toward the wall he looked to Wolverine, "Where?"
Wolverine guided him to the center of where the cave mouth was. After patting him on the back he stepped away.
Jesse took a few cleansing breaths to prepare himself then exhaled fully and began to disappear into the rock face. He walked as quickly as he could to get to the other side. As his lungs began asking for air he continued and watched as nothing but rock passed in front of his eyes. His heart began to beat faster as he went. The lack of oxygen caused his lungs to begin to burn but he refused to inhale. He had to get through. This stone would not encase him forever. His singular motivation was to make things right with Kitty.
TBC
