Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I making any money from, the X-Men movie-
verse. Duncan and Hana belong to Corrinth, as does Ilehana Xavier should
she be mentioned. Star owns Golan, should he be mentioned too. All other
OCs belong to me, especially Blaze and Jessie.
A/N: Post X2 spoilers, and spoilers for Corrinth's Guardians of Destiny, which incidentally is excellent so go read it! Reviews always appreciated.
Scene 18
Jessica cowered low in the back of the car as it pulled out of her drive. Her Mom was driving, her Dad talking frantically on his mobile to someone in a cryptic code consisting mostly of yes and no answers. It was dark, she had been just about to go get ready for bed, but her parent's raised voices had dragged her downstairs and their reaction had been to bundle her in the car and set off. Neither would say why, or where they were going. Scruffy had barked and ran around in circles in the hall, hating to be left behind. Jessie bit her lip, afraid.
"They're ringing him now." Mark told his wife, noting how much those few words made her relax her grip in the steering wheel. "He should be there when we get there."
"Who?" Jessica asked hopefully. "Gambit? Why are you ringing Xavier's School Dad? What's wrong?"
"No, Jessie." Her Mom cautioned. "Dr McMahon."
"Why?"
"Because........." Mark began, then froze and ran out of answers. Because we think the Xavier School people are after you? Because we are afraid that if we take you to anyone else for help or protection, they will reject you and us because you are a mutant? Because we are too scared to lose you to your real parents?
"Because we think your eyes are getting worse, Jessie. We want to see if the Doctor can give you eye drops or anything to help, before it starts hurting." Lila improvised.
"My eyes aren't any worse." Jessica retorted, knowing that if she wanted to she could slip away right now, make herself invisible in the night and disappear. As if reading her mind, her mother pressed the door-lock button and trapped Jessica where she was.
"Don't you trust us, baby?" Mark asked, "Don't you believe your own parents know what's best for you?"
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**Gambit! ** Jean's announcement of her presence in his injured head was like being hit with a sledgehammer. They were in the X-Jet now, Rogue operating the controls with Bobby by her side working with the jet's computer to hack into Shark's palmtop. Logan was sulking, Blaze conferring with Wolverine quietly as Remy was supposed to be resting. Somewhere not too far away Ororo was waiting to be picked up after losing his daughter.........
**Gambit! ** Jean insisted again and Remy realised she didn't know he was already listening. Even with Cerebro she wasn't as strong as either Xavier had been.
**I'se here. ** He offered through the tentative bond.
**Good. ** She announced. **I have news from Golan. He's tracked down the other children Blaze pinpointed.........** Her telepathic voice tailed out, unsure. Gambit tried to remain positive to encourage her.
**And? ** He asked. **What is it Cherie? **
**Three ran away from home not long after we gave up trying to recruit them. ** She began, acknowledging their failure with pain in her voice. **One is diagnosed a manic-depressive, on severe medication probably for the rest of her life. Two have succumbed to extreme illness, they're little more than breathing vegetables. ** Again Jean's telepathic contact became strained and uneven even to Gambit's unpractised mind. This was one of the reasons he so often shunned telepathic contact, not just for his own privacy but also through not wanting to know what the telepath was feeling on the subject.
**And two, ** Jean finally concluded, **Two are dead, Remy. Angelica and Roberto. Something this man is doing to them......... **
The contact was cut short as Jean pulled away again, in too much distress to continue to report. Gambit hoped Scott was nearby to comfort his wife, that his and Blaze's actions hadn't damaged their relationship too much. Oh well, too late to worry.........
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"If only Ilehana was here." Logan finally admitted after too long skirting around the subject. Blaze smiled softly, knowing what he meant. But she waited until the predatory Wolverine looked at her before she offered what stark comfort she could.
"I get the feeling that if Ilehana was here, or the Professor for that matter, none of this would have gone this far."
"I got it!" Bobby suddenly exclaimed, cutting off Logan's reaction to Blaze's words.
"And there's Storm!" Rogue added, smiling. Gambit grimaced as he realised he was up again, holding up a hand to Blaze as she made moves to deputise him.
"Bobby, hold on five minutes." He ordered. "Take her down Rogue."
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"Am I glad to see you." Storm offered as she came on board the jet, immediately heading to change out of her civilian clothes into her X- uniform the same as the others were now all wearing. "You look terrible." She offered Gambit as she passed him.
"Merci, mon belle Amie." He replied, making Blaze smile even if it was a little nervous. He addressed his partner also in French to give them a little privacy to see how she was holding up. "Ca va Chere?"
"J'ai terrifie." She replied frankly, meaning she was terrified. He couldn't blame her, was mostly grateful for her honesty that mean he knew he was not alone. But then Storm was back and she and Bobby, not to mention his own report from Jean to deliver, demanded his attention.
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"Dr McMahon." Mark and Lila stood to greet the medical professional as he entered the tiny treatment room. Jessie only scowled, leaning back against the wall as she sat on the bed. The doctor was a middle-aged man with a round belly and veins that stood out predominantly on his forehead as if his tight collar was cutting off all the circulation to his brain. As he approached the family, Jessica's mutant power began to kick in involuntarily, making her shimmer as light was absorbed into her.
"Mr and Mrs Price, and little Jessica........." The man smiled his welcome, the veins in his head growing an ominous shade of purple as he did. "Perhaps if we step into the office next door?" He indicated that Jessica's parents precede him, giving Jessica a conciliatory smile as she was left by herself. A smile that very closely resembled what Jessica would imagine a snake giving a baby mouse before it ate it. Jessica shuddered and her skin became black.
"Its so good of you to come out like this," Lila began in earnest, "I'm so sorry that we have to bring this to your door, but there really isn't anybody else we can trust........." For a moment the woman choked as her words tried to get out too fast. Mark put an arm around the blonde's shoulders, but didn't offer anything himself.
"I'm afraid I don't understand." The doctor confessed. "This isn't a problem with Jessica's eyes?" He looked from one parent to the other, waiting for an explanation. Again it was Lila who offered one.
"Its those people, at that mutant school you told us to take Jessica out of, the ones who didn't know what they were talking about." Lila took a breath before continuing, dropping her mascara-coated eyes. "Two of the staff there, well, they claim to be Jessica's real parents. And we think they've had another staff member, a white-haired black woman we saw through the window when we arrived to pick Jessica up, follow us home. We need to get away, make sure we keep Jessica safe, and, well, we were hoping you could help us?"
"Why me?" Dr McMahon asked, apparently un-phased by the story. "Why can't you ask your friends or neighbours to help you? Or the police?"
Mark and Lila didn't answer, instead glancing through the one-way observation window to where Jessica was sat on the treatment table. She was visibly shaking; rocking backwards and forwards just slightly as the sheer volume of energy she was absorbing from the vicious neon lights made her every nerve scream. As usual she was completely blacked-out against the green tinted tiled wall. Dr McMahon nodded sombrely, brushing his chubby chin with his fingers as he considered his options.
"Well then, how can I refuse such a cry for help? I am a doctor after all, here only to serve." Neither of the Prices noticed the malicious edge to his words nor the sarcasm in his tone, so desperate where they for someone to help them without judgement. But at the moment when he agreed to help them, uncannily Jessica raised her head as if her indistinguishable eyes were baring right through the glass, right into Dr McMahon's twisted soul.
A/N: Post X2 spoilers, and spoilers for Corrinth's Guardians of Destiny, which incidentally is excellent so go read it! Reviews always appreciated.
Scene 18
Jessica cowered low in the back of the car as it pulled out of her drive. Her Mom was driving, her Dad talking frantically on his mobile to someone in a cryptic code consisting mostly of yes and no answers. It was dark, she had been just about to go get ready for bed, but her parent's raised voices had dragged her downstairs and their reaction had been to bundle her in the car and set off. Neither would say why, or where they were going. Scruffy had barked and ran around in circles in the hall, hating to be left behind. Jessie bit her lip, afraid.
"They're ringing him now." Mark told his wife, noting how much those few words made her relax her grip in the steering wheel. "He should be there when we get there."
"Who?" Jessica asked hopefully. "Gambit? Why are you ringing Xavier's School Dad? What's wrong?"
"No, Jessie." Her Mom cautioned. "Dr McMahon."
"Why?"
"Because........." Mark began, then froze and ran out of answers. Because we think the Xavier School people are after you? Because we are afraid that if we take you to anyone else for help or protection, they will reject you and us because you are a mutant? Because we are too scared to lose you to your real parents?
"Because we think your eyes are getting worse, Jessie. We want to see if the Doctor can give you eye drops or anything to help, before it starts hurting." Lila improvised.
"My eyes aren't any worse." Jessica retorted, knowing that if she wanted to she could slip away right now, make herself invisible in the night and disappear. As if reading her mind, her mother pressed the door-lock button and trapped Jessica where she was.
"Don't you trust us, baby?" Mark asked, "Don't you believe your own parents know what's best for you?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
**Gambit! ** Jean's announcement of her presence in his injured head was like being hit with a sledgehammer. They were in the X-Jet now, Rogue operating the controls with Bobby by her side working with the jet's computer to hack into Shark's palmtop. Logan was sulking, Blaze conferring with Wolverine quietly as Remy was supposed to be resting. Somewhere not too far away Ororo was waiting to be picked up after losing his daughter.........
**Gambit! ** Jean insisted again and Remy realised she didn't know he was already listening. Even with Cerebro she wasn't as strong as either Xavier had been.
**I'se here. ** He offered through the tentative bond.
**Good. ** She announced. **I have news from Golan. He's tracked down the other children Blaze pinpointed.........** Her telepathic voice tailed out, unsure. Gambit tried to remain positive to encourage her.
**And? ** He asked. **What is it Cherie? **
**Three ran away from home not long after we gave up trying to recruit them. ** She began, acknowledging their failure with pain in her voice. **One is diagnosed a manic-depressive, on severe medication probably for the rest of her life. Two have succumbed to extreme illness, they're little more than breathing vegetables. ** Again Jean's telepathic contact became strained and uneven even to Gambit's unpractised mind. This was one of the reasons he so often shunned telepathic contact, not just for his own privacy but also through not wanting to know what the telepath was feeling on the subject.
**And two, ** Jean finally concluded, **Two are dead, Remy. Angelica and Roberto. Something this man is doing to them......... **
The contact was cut short as Jean pulled away again, in too much distress to continue to report. Gambit hoped Scott was nearby to comfort his wife, that his and Blaze's actions hadn't damaged their relationship too much. Oh well, too late to worry.........
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"If only Ilehana was here." Logan finally admitted after too long skirting around the subject. Blaze smiled softly, knowing what he meant. But she waited until the predatory Wolverine looked at her before she offered what stark comfort she could.
"I get the feeling that if Ilehana was here, or the Professor for that matter, none of this would have gone this far."
"I got it!" Bobby suddenly exclaimed, cutting off Logan's reaction to Blaze's words.
"And there's Storm!" Rogue added, smiling. Gambit grimaced as he realised he was up again, holding up a hand to Blaze as she made moves to deputise him.
"Bobby, hold on five minutes." He ordered. "Take her down Rogue."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Am I glad to see you." Storm offered as she came on board the jet, immediately heading to change out of her civilian clothes into her X- uniform the same as the others were now all wearing. "You look terrible." She offered Gambit as she passed him.
"Merci, mon belle Amie." He replied, making Blaze smile even if it was a little nervous. He addressed his partner also in French to give them a little privacy to see how she was holding up. "Ca va Chere?"
"J'ai terrifie." She replied frankly, meaning she was terrified. He couldn't blame her, was mostly grateful for her honesty that mean he knew he was not alone. But then Storm was back and she and Bobby, not to mention his own report from Jean to deliver, demanded his attention.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Dr McMahon." Mark and Lila stood to greet the medical professional as he entered the tiny treatment room. Jessie only scowled, leaning back against the wall as she sat on the bed. The doctor was a middle-aged man with a round belly and veins that stood out predominantly on his forehead as if his tight collar was cutting off all the circulation to his brain. As he approached the family, Jessica's mutant power began to kick in involuntarily, making her shimmer as light was absorbed into her.
"Mr and Mrs Price, and little Jessica........." The man smiled his welcome, the veins in his head growing an ominous shade of purple as he did. "Perhaps if we step into the office next door?" He indicated that Jessica's parents precede him, giving Jessica a conciliatory smile as she was left by herself. A smile that very closely resembled what Jessica would imagine a snake giving a baby mouse before it ate it. Jessica shuddered and her skin became black.
"Its so good of you to come out like this," Lila began in earnest, "I'm so sorry that we have to bring this to your door, but there really isn't anybody else we can trust........." For a moment the woman choked as her words tried to get out too fast. Mark put an arm around the blonde's shoulders, but didn't offer anything himself.
"I'm afraid I don't understand." The doctor confessed. "This isn't a problem with Jessica's eyes?" He looked from one parent to the other, waiting for an explanation. Again it was Lila who offered one.
"Its those people, at that mutant school you told us to take Jessica out of, the ones who didn't know what they were talking about." Lila took a breath before continuing, dropping her mascara-coated eyes. "Two of the staff there, well, they claim to be Jessica's real parents. And we think they've had another staff member, a white-haired black woman we saw through the window when we arrived to pick Jessica up, follow us home. We need to get away, make sure we keep Jessica safe, and, well, we were hoping you could help us?"
"Why me?" Dr McMahon asked, apparently un-phased by the story. "Why can't you ask your friends or neighbours to help you? Or the police?"
Mark and Lila didn't answer, instead glancing through the one-way observation window to where Jessica was sat on the treatment table. She was visibly shaking; rocking backwards and forwards just slightly as the sheer volume of energy she was absorbing from the vicious neon lights made her every nerve scream. As usual she was completely blacked-out against the green tinted tiled wall. Dr McMahon nodded sombrely, brushing his chubby chin with his fingers as he considered his options.
"Well then, how can I refuse such a cry for help? I am a doctor after all, here only to serve." Neither of the Prices noticed the malicious edge to his words nor the sarcasm in his tone, so desperate where they for someone to help them without judgement. But at the moment when he agreed to help them, uncannily Jessica raised her head as if her indistinguishable eyes were baring right through the glass, right into Dr McMahon's twisted soul.