Disclaimer: Hmmm…lemme think…oh right! (slaps forehead) I own nothing! Duh! If I did I'd be resurrecting the too quickly forgotten 5th Season of Evo and creating the (Dark) Phoenix Saga with the actual show…instead of the next best thing…which is this story. Although (thankfully) my story's not to quickly forgotten. Which I thank you patient readers for.
Oh, BTW, this Disclaimer covers all 20 chaps (yes I said 20, I have them all written. All the way down to the kinda sappy epilogue) 'cause I am not and I repeat not writing a Disclaimer into the beginning of every chap…so yeah.
Child of Light and Darkness
~
Chapter One
Lightning lit up the dark sky as rain poured down the wet streets of downtown Cairo, Egypt. The roads were left deserted, as the large clock tower chimed midnight. The only sign of life was a small rusty red bus sloshing through the puddles the rain had left on the two-way road.
Besides the driver the only other passenger the bus carried was a man shrouded in a trenchcoat and hat. He occasionally tugged his hat down, casting a dark shadow over his face making it impossible for anyone to recognize him. He seemed to blend into the darkness around him, as if the darkness were his only escape from the reality bestowed upon him.
The man stood up as the driver neared his stop.
"You sure you want me to drop you off here?" the driver asked in rusty English as he surveyed the location.
The man said nothing. The driver watched as He dropped his coins in their proper location upon exiting the bus.
The driver shrugged upon noticing the man put in an extra coin or two.
"Alright buddy. Take care." The driver pulled back on the joystick and the doors clanked shut.
The man muttered something in Hebrew as he watched the bus drive away. He pulled his hat down over his face avoiding the drops of rain overhead.
He looked around him making sure the driver had stopped at the correct directions.
What lay around him was sandy ground and small brushes. He was on the outskirts of Egypt. There was nothing around him but muddy desert sand. He looked up into the sky causing the raindrops to drop unto his tattooed face. A small smile crept on his face as he noticed the hordes of mountain tops completing the scenery to the rainy starlight sky.
He patted something in his inner coat pocket before trudging out unto the muddy sand heading for the mountains.
He crossed over the mountains unto a small cliff hidden beneath. He pushed his back against the base of the mountain as he took small steps to ensure his safety as he crossed the bend. A few steps forward and the base became wider as many years of earthquakes had forced the mountain to split in many places. With his left hand he grasped the inner lining of the largest split in the mountain. He pulled himself into the hole as pieces of rock and dirt fell into the darkness beneath him.
The cave was dark and unlit torches lined the walls. He took hold of one of the torches and stroked it against the wall. As he walked the torch cast shadows across the cave. The light swarms around him as he approached a dark figure hidden deep within the cavern. In unisom, he pushed back his hood and pulled a file from within his coat, before placing the torch on a post lining the wall. The man rubbed his bald tattooed head before handing the file over to the shadowed figure.
"I have what you asked Master."
"Good job Mesmero." The man answered flipping open the file.
Mesmero watched as the man flipped the pages in the file looking them over. His metallic skin glinted off what little light the deep end of the cavern could offer.
"Stunning child." The man said looking over the picture paper clipped to the file.
"Ah yes she is very beautiful...Master." Mesmero said quietly.
"She will suit us well...when the time comes."
"I must remind you master that her powers have not yet mutated to their full potential. She still, as we speak, has yet to... Mesmero hesitated ...transform." He finished for lack of a better word.
"Indeed...but shortly that will all change...everything will change."
"Yes. But what are we to do as we wait for her...changes to take place?"
"We wait. When the time is right it will present itself. Come Mesmero we still have things to prepare."
The man dropped the file on the table in front of him before heading deeper into the cave.
Mesmero took a last look at the open file sprawled across the table. He shivered slightly before turning and following the man.
Grey, Jean
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
The 4x4 picture of Jean began to glisten, as visions of a woman surrounded by fire her eyes burning and her hair floating in the open solar system, played in the background. Planets dissipated around her one by one, and she laughed with evil joy.
"NO LONGER AM I THE WOMEN YOU ONCE KNEW, I AM PHOENIX!"
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Destiny jerked her head up in fright at what she had just provisioned. She loosened the tight grip she held on her cane as the future vision came to her. She shuddered in fright.
"Oh that poor child, that poor sweet child."
Destiny murmured in sadness and fear as she rocked herself back and forth holding unto her cane as if it were her life-support.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Hey Jean, Kurt told me you'd be out here."
Jean Grey stood in the front yard of Xavier's Mansion, her home for the past 6 years.
Jean picked a red rose off the rose bush; she brought it up to her nose bringing in the familiar scent before replying.
"He did, did he?"
Scott Summers inched closer to her, hands in his pockets.
"Yeah...you're up early this morning."
"Hmmm...really?" Jean asked picking a bouquet. "I don't think it's any earlier than usual."
Scott shrugged. "Well...yeah...but considering it's your birthday and all...I just thought you'd want to sleep in."
Jean turned around a full bouquet in her hand.
"You know me Scott...even on the best days to sleep in...I won't. Besides, I told everyone I didn't want anything extravagant...and I don't. I mean a little cake, ice cream, fun...I don't think I need anything huge since something so simple suits me fine."
"Yeah...I mean after that surprise party you all threw for me last month, If I were you I don't think I'd want something that big either. Although 19 is a milestone."
"That it is but it doesn't feel any different does it?" Jean asked sitting on a garden bench.
"Just another year to get by...another year to survive." Scott answered sitting next to her.
Scott looked straight ahead from the garden and his gaze fell on the institute's basketball court.
"Hey Jean, how 'bout playing some one on one?"
Jean set her bouquet down. "Sure it'll feel like old times...And like old times I'll win."
A mischievous smile crept on Jean's face.
Scott smiled back, "Why Miss Grey, you sound so sure...but we shall see."
Scott threw the ball to Jean once they had reached the court. "You're check."
The game went on like all the games they had played many times before. The first game they played they had used their powers but after Scott punctuated the ball the rest of the games had been powerless.
It was the fourth quarter, Jean was down 3 points and 30 seconds remained in the game. She knew she could have cheated and use her powers but she wouldn't. She could just shoot from the 3-point line and possibly miss. However, she didn't care if she won or lost. It was just fun playing a game of basketball with her best friend on her birthday.
Scott came after her and Jean faked a left than sprung right getting behind the 3-point line. She bounced the ball as not to travel and concentrated. She was about to shoot it, when a sharp pang shot through her head, and voices, well more as if thoughts flooded her mind. She couldn't make out any thoughts; she was even hearing those of the passerby's. She threw the ball in the air as she massaged her temples trying to drown out the noise. The court shook slightly but they didn't notice
As the ball went threw the hoop with 10 seconds remaining. Jean drew her head up as she managed to drown out and block the voices.
"You okay?" Scott asked in concern.
"Yeah, it's just a minor headache I'll be fine." The ball bounced back down on the court.
"Looks like a tie game."
"Yeah, that was a nice shot by the way."
Jean smiled. "Thanks."
"Next shot wins." Scott said passing her the ball.
Jean caught the ball from him and stood behind the line in the middle of the court. It took one perfect shot to make it through the hoop.
Scott grabbed the ball as it passed through the hoop.
He stood at the exact place Jean had and shot. The ball bounced along the rim but shot out.
Scott raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You win." He murmured shooting Jean the ball.
Jean smiled "Better luck next time Shades."
She shot the ball back to him before leaving the court.
Scott held the ball in both hands. "Yeah...next time."
He shot the ball up in the air then watched as it fell through the hoop.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Hey Scott, Like have you seen Jean?" Kitty asked as Scott walked through the back door towards the kitchen.
"Yeah she just came in. Why?"
Kitty wrinkled her nose. "Oh that's like to bad, I wanted her to try out this batter I'm making for her cake."
Scott rose his eyebrow as he looked into the clumpy bowl of mix.
Kitty's eyes widened. "Oh like that's okay cuz you can try it!" Kitty handed him a spoon.
Scott stared at it unsure, but in an effort not to disappoint Kitty he stuck the spoon in his mouth.
Kitty waited patiently as Scott tasted the mix.
"So...."
"Ah...it's good." Scott lied handing Kitty the spoon.
Kitty stared at the spoon he handed her. "You sure?"
"Ah...how 'bout some milk?"
"Oh yeah I bet that'll make it creamier! Thanks Scott!" Kitty shouted as she rummaged in the fridge for the milk.
Scott swallowed down a glass of water while Kitty wasn't looking.
"Hey Scott you think this milk's still good? It looks clumpy to me. Scott?" Kitty asked peering over the fridge door.
"Hmmph." Kitty sighed as she noticed Scott had left.
She held up the clumpy milk carton. "Smell's fine to me...." She said to herself closing the door with her foot.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Hey Scott, Vhat do you zink Jean vould like, ze blue balloon or ze yellow vone?"
Kurt asked Scott balloons in hand.
Scott looked them over, "The yellow one." He commented without hesitation.
Kurt looked at the yellow balloon. "You zink?"
"Yeah, I know she will."
"Okay, zanks."
"You're welcome...wait...what'd you get her?"
"Oh you know za usual stuff...make-up, movie tickets, CD's concert tickets, air freshener for her SUV...."
"You got her all that?"
"Oh nope, but zats ze kinda stuff we're supposed to give her...but ze truth is I don't know vhat to get her. Therefore, I'm picking out the wrapping paper and balloons. I asked Amanda being a female an' therefore knowing vhat to get Jean better than myself, and she said she could come up vith something to give her...so she's coming over later so ve can vrap Jean's gift...vhatever it is." Kurt smiled.
"You do know Jean doesn't want a big bash don't you?"
"Vell of course, but a birthday is a birthday and everyone deserves somezing."
Scott nodded and walked into the foyer.
"Ah don't know Remy... Ah mean ah like the idea of us splitting the money for Jean's gift but ah don't think a group of rats is what she'd want."
Scott overheard Rogue say.
Remy held a hamster cage of rats. "Oh c'mon chere, think of it like dis...des rats are good for dings. Remy hear they pretty intelligent."
Rogue was staring at the hamster cage disgustingly. "Ah always knew you were a swamp rat but ah didn't know you had groupies."
Remy smiled. "Remy like you Rogue but he ain't so sure of you're dry humor. Fine, Remy'll go pick some pockets or something."
"Remy..."
"Just kiddin' petite, we'll get her whatever you want."
Rogue crossed her arms. "Thanks." A small smile crossed her face as she watched him walk off.
"So I hear things are going pretty well with you two." Scott said approaching her.
"Who? Me an' Remy? Nah we're just friends. Although...."
"You know you can talk to me about this kind of stuff."
"Yeah Ah know...but it's...Ah have a hard time openin' up is all."
"Of course I mean after all you've been through and all the lies you thought were true and everything you didn't know..."
"It's just hard. But Ah do appreciate everything everyone's done for me here...Ah think Ah just need some more time."
"Of course." Scott stated understandingly.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Jean closed her study book as she pushed the 'save' button on her laptop before closing the lid. Jean took off her reading glasses to rub her growing migraine.
She didn't know what had caused her outburst earlier on the basketball court, but as long as it was gone, she didn't worry about it. Although it had left her with a growing migraine.
"Hey birthday girl, shouldn't you be out celebrating or something?" Scott asked walking into the library.
Jean looked up, "Well if I want to celebrate I think I'll stay up at 5 til 12 considering that's when I turn 19."
"Whoa you really stretched the time didn't you?"
"Yeah...I guess I did."
"You catchin' up on homework?" Scott asked noticing the pile of books and her laptop on the coffee table.
Jean sighed. "Actually no. I'm catchin up on some work for the Professor. He has some things for me to study up on about my powers and such."
"I see...."
"Yeah..."
"So ah...I was downstairs and I guess Kitty's making you a cake."
"Yeah I heard. Is it any good?"
Scott made a sour look with his face.
"That bad?"
"Yep. But don't fear, I brought you up a birthday muffin." Scott said swiping the muffin from behind his back.
"Huh, you're just full of surprises Mr. Summers. I'm surprised I didn't notice your hands behind your back sooner."
"What can I say, I keep you interested."
"That you do."
There was an awkward silence between the two until Scott pulled out a box of matches from his pocket.
"Okay I guess it's time for you to make a wish." Scott said after he had lit the candle.
"Oh...I forgot about that, I haven't thought of what I want to wish for." Jean said picking up one of the books and placing it in its proper space on the shelf.
"What would you wish for Scott?" Jean asked placing the scattered books on the shelf.
Scott shrugged. "I dunno...I guess I'd wish for the same thing I wished for last year...and all the years since I came here."
Jean looked up at him from her position putting books away.
"You mean every birthday you've only wished for one thing?"
"Yeah..."
"Than I guess it would be stupid to ask if your wish came true."
"Yeah pretty much. But..."
Scott's voiced softened as he walked closer to Jean. He ran his hand through Jean's hair. Jean looked up at him somewhat puzzled.
"...Now I don't have to wish anymore."
Jean looked into his glasses and for a minute, she could have sworn their eyes met. The electricity between them was so strong that it seemed to be pulling them together as if they were trapped in a magnetic field. Jean hesitated as Scott drew his head down, but the tension she felt between them was undeniable and her feelings got the better of her.
"Scott I..."
Jean felt her body go numb and suddenly lost her breath and she found herself unable to speak. She dropped the books she was holding and her lips trembled as Scott's lips met hers.
For a moment, it was pure bliss and she never wanted it to stop. She felt emotions flying through her, that's when she realized that they were broadcasting their thoughts and feelings to each other. It was wonderful, great, incredible and indescribable. All she knew was that she had never felt this before, and it was so...perfect.
But as perfect as it was, it was also awkward and felt wrong.
Their lips parted as Jean pulled away.
"Wow...uh…Scott, um." Jean found herself barely able to speak caught in the shock of the moment.
"That was…ah…" Jean wiped her lips with the back of her hand as she thought of what to say.
"That was incredible but ah…ah…w-wrong." Jean stammered nervously her heart beating fast in her chest.
"Yeah....uh…Jean look…I didn't meant to…ah rush into things…I'm so sorry…I didn't mean-"
Scott stammered.
"It's okay. It just…um…it's…"
Jean sighed as she pulled away from their embrace. "Scott that was...I just don't know what to say."
Scott took Jean's hands in his.
"You don't have to say anything. I know we both felt how incredible that was."
Jean pulled her hands out of Scott's grasp. "Yeah but ah…we're friends…and uh…"
Jean shook her head. "I don't-I don't…I think I need some time to uh…to think this over."
Scott nodded his head understandingly.
"Look, Jean I am so sorry. I really didn't come in here with the intention of this happening. I-I ah…I didn't mean to uh…to do what I did…Um but ah…yeah take all the time you need. In fact…ah…why don't we just forget it ever happened?"
"Uh…you know that would sound good if it weren't for the fact that ah…that as wrong as it felt…there was definitely something there."
"Jean look…I don't want to wrong our friendship so ah take the time you need…and just try."
"I don't know…Scott…it just feels so wrong…we're just friends…you don't fall in love with your best friend. That's not how it works."
Scott nodded. "Yeah I know."
"I uh…I gotta…go." Jean stammered relieved.
"I'm so stupid." Scott murmured to himself as he watched Jean leave the room.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Okay…yeah…I did revise this chap…but there's not much dif 'bout this one…um, anyway thanks goes out to the 12 reviewers…and gee…I'm so happy I'm finally gettin' this version posted…