Child of Light and Darkness
~
"The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is for Good Men to Do Nothing."
-Edmund Burke
Chapter Nineteen
Scott watched in shock as Jean transformed Magneto.
"Jean…what are you doing?" He asked himself. He had to get to her, before she did something that no one could undo.
A few of the X-men were regaining consciousness and watched in amazement and horror from their positions on the grass.
It was either now or never.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Charles, I think you better take a look at this." Hank yelled as he switched his computer to TV mode.
"What is it Hank?" Xavier asked wheeling to him from a few feet away.
He gazed up at the flat plasma computer screen, where live coverage from Fox News Channel was playing.
"This is Campbell Brown reporting live at Central Park. We have just received word that longtime mutant rites advisory and mutant leader known as Magneto is moments away from his death. The only news footage we have at the moment is this,
[Live clip of Jean and Magneto is shown]
We have yet to identify the mutant who seems to be the cause of all this destruction it is believed to be a female mutant of great power. Moments ago the mutant fighting team known only as the X-men were on the scene to try and stop her. They were sedated by her power and have yet to reappear. It is clear as you can see behind me, that downtown New York is buzzing with chaos. We've gotten word that the New York police chief had to bring in teams from Buffalo and Albany just to sustain the crowds of bystanders and pedestrians, S.W.A.T. has also been called in to try and calm the scene. That is all we know for now, This is Campbell Brown reporting live for Fox News, back to you Shepard.
Hank switched the television to MUTE.
"Well what do we do now? She has Magneto and I don't know what happened to our team, the Com-links have been damaged I can't reach them."
Xavier ran his long fingers to his sinus as he bowed his head. He sighed.
"To be honest Hank, I don't know. If my X-men were dead I would sense it. Keep watching maybe there's something in that clip that we're missing."
Hank nodded.
Xavier exhaled. "And if things get worse, I'll have no choice but to deal with the situation myself."
"So…you think we should get the jet prepped?"
Xavier nodded. "You should. Just in case."
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Jean!" Scott shouted as he emerged into full view. "Wait! Think about what you're doing!"
"You! An X-men! You are nothing but a thorn in my side." Dark Phoenix was clearly angry.
"Don't you people ever die?"
"Don't do this Jean!" Scott paused. "Let him go!"
Dark Phoenix smirked. "Why? I'm moments away from relieving him of being a burden on you."
"Don't! Leave him alone!"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because…your fight is not with him."
Dark Phoenix became intrigued by Scott's answer.
"Oh it isn't?"
Scott shook his head. "No. It's with me."
"You? Why you?"
"Because, I'm the one mostly at fault."
"What did you ever do?"
"It's what I didn't do."
"Which is…"
"I didn't help you, I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most. And now look at where that's got us."
Recollection fled through Dark Phoenix. "You…yes I remember you. Cyclops…Jean has nothing but fond memories of you."
"Let him go. You don't want him. You want the X-men. We are the people that have made you who you are. We weren't patient enough, we didn't help you, you're angry at us, not him."
Dark Phoenix shut her eyes, conflicted as Scott's words rang true within her. "You did nothing to help me! Xavier did nothing!"
"Let him go…Jean. You don't need him."
"Alright, I'll let him go. But I must take precautions." Dark Phoenix hit Magneto with a very strong psychic bolt, rendering him unconscious before she released her hold on him. He grunted as he fell to the ground noiselessly.
"You want me? You want us? You have us…all of us… at your mercy."
Dark Phoenix sneered. "You make this all to easy."
"Than kill me. I can't stop you. I won't even try to stop you." Scott continued.
"You're the Almighty Phoenix…kill me…" He said as if it were a command. He continued leaving the assumption that it wasn't. "…If you can."
Dark Phoenix was taken aback. "What does that mean? Why can't I?"
"Well you have to ask yourself, if you can't, why? You're Dark Phoenix…power incarnate…no force in existence can stand against you. We've defied you, fought you, yet we live. You had us all at gunpoint yet you didn't pull the trigger. You have to ask yourself, Why?"
"It's simple. You fools are not worth killing."
"Does that make you feel better, does that comfort you to tell yourself that?"
"Are you implying that I can't kill you?"
"Why don't you?"
"I told you-"
"I heard you…we're not worth killing. But that's not the true answer…is it? That may be one answer, but there's another. It's true you are Dark Phoenix, but you're also still Jean Grey. No matter how hard you try you cannot exorcise that part of yourself it's to fundamental. You can't kill us because you care about us. As hard as you try, that side of yourself is still stronger."
Dark Phoenix shook her head trying to dismiss everything that he was telling her, trying to keep Jean's consciousness at bay.
"Listen to me Jean…you know what I'm saying is true. Let me help you…"
For a moment, the goddess-masque slips…and Jean Grey's face shatters with a grief that transcends thought. But the moment passes, the humanity fades…perhaps forever…and only Dark Phoenix remains.
"No…I don't want your help…don't you understand I'm at peace!" Dark Phoenix shouted as she telekinetically hurled a fiery energy bolt at Scott sending him flying to the ground.
Scott grunted as he fell.
"Jean- Please no more! We are your friends! Let us help you…Please!" Storm shouted as she watched Scott fall.
"It is to late for 'help' Ororo. For me, for you…for the entire universe. Dark Phoenix no longer has friends."
She enveloped all of them, except for Scott and Logan into an energy wrap and tightened it cutting off their air supply.
Ororo watched Jean, gasping for breath. Jean wasn't listening to them. She could sense that there was no joy, no love in Dark Phoenix. Only pain, great sadness and an awful, all-consuming lust.
"I'd rather end this quickly, For all your skill…and power…X-men, you haven't a prayer against me. I can pick your minds clean in the blink of an eye…know your plans the moment you think of them. And my power…defies comprehension." She cackled.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Scott looked up at Jean. She wasn't succumbing. He supposed it's not more than what any one of them would do, were their positions reversed. Evil though, Dark Phoenix is, she is still Jean Grey, with all of her strength and courage. She just had to be.
"Believe me X-men when I say…I shall weep over your graves!" She shouted about to give the final blow to her once friends.
"Temper, Temper, carrot-top!" Logan shouted as he recovered somewhat and lashed at her from the ground.
"I'm gonna settle this fracas…the only way it can be settled." He said under his breath.
"Wolverine what are you doing?" Scott shouted as Logan lunged at Jean and they both tumbled into the shallow pond.
Logan knew this had to be done. It had to be done this way. Everyone else was holding back. They kept thinking of Dark Phoenix as Jeannie. They were trying to capture her without hurting her any more than they had to. But that wouldn't work. She was too strong for them…and getting stronger all the time. He had no choice. He was gonna end this…now! Permanently! While he still could.
Logan held Jean down by her throat with his left hand as he raised his right hand over her, claws extended ready to strike.
"Logan what are you doing?" Scott shouted as he rose from the ground.
"I got no choice! I gotta end this now! While we still got the time."
"I won't let you!"
"Ya got no choice!" Logan shouted back a second away from slashing at Jean.
"Yes I do." Scott mumbled quietly as he shot an optic blast at Logan tumbling him from Dark Phoenix setting her free.
Logan yelped as he was knocked sidetracked by Scott's beam and Dark Phoenix shot an energy bolt at him plummeting him into the air and watching as he fell harder into the pond.
She reels under the impact of more sensations than she has names for…as her song of power builds to it's inevitable crescendo.
Dark Phoenix summoned up her powers and flew up from the pond.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Hank what's our status?"
"Well they managed to get to Magneto."
Hank was watching the only footage he had of the team. Which was played back with a silent recording device.
"Good. How's their progress with Jean?"
"She's not yielding. I don't know if they can win this fight professor."
"Are they alright?"
"Yes, for the time being…but I fear they have very little time before someone does something."
"Than I must go."
"Why? Phoenix's telepathy measures way above normal…you wouldn't last a minute in her mind."
"Yes you're right. But if she has held out for this long…than there must be some kind of force within her that still feels something…otherwise she would have killed the team already. I am partly to blame for this tragedy. I must do what I can to resolve it. Whatever the cost."
"Well we can take the helicopter."
"Very well Hank. But make it fast."
Hank nodded. "I can firewall the throttles, it'll get us there in no time."
He said before bounding out to the landing dock.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"What'd the hell ya do that fer?" Logan yelled at Scott as he waded through the pond walking up to the ground.
"I had to! She's still Jean!"
"Listen ta me kid, she's not!"
"Yes she is, I know she is I can sense her!"
"She's a creature o' darkness. She's evil Scottie! She could kill us! She's tried!"
"But she won't 'cause she's still Jean."
"No…she's that…thing! An' we gotta stop 'er 'fore she does somethin' none o' us can stop!"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm sayin' that we are ta use any means necessary ta lock 'er out o' commission!"
"I won't kill her!"
"Ya may not have a choice!"
"I'd rather die for her than kill her!"
"Well ya may just get yer wish!" Logan shouted sarcastically.
"If ya can't kill 'er fine. But that ain't stoppin' me!"
"I won't let you!"
"Try ta stop me bub!"
Logan said claws extended he began to walk.
"Logan please…don't do this!" Scott pleaded stepping in Logan's way.
"Get outta my way, Slim."
"Logan…think 'bout this…please."
"Do you think yer the only one who cares 'bout Red? I care 'bout 'er to. But we gotta face facts…she ain't Jeannie anymore! She ain't even human!"
"No! You're wrong…you're so wrong!"
"Do ya see that Slim?" Logan said pointing hand full of extended claws at Dark Phoenix.
"That thing is evil!"
"That thing is Jean!" Scott countered back.
"No it ain't! Not anymore!"
"How can you say that!?"
"Listen, we gotta stop 'er! We very well may die tryin'!"
"But I can get through to her!"
"'Er will powers too strong, she's fightin' ya!"
"There's still hope!"
"There is no hope!"
"As long as Jean's alive I won't stop trying!"
"Jean's dead. She died when she let that thing corrupt 'er!"
Scott lunged at Logan and held him by his jacket.
"How dare you say that!"
"It's the truth." Logan yelled back pulling away from Scott.
"Jeannie ain't comin' back. Now you gotta step up n' be a man. Ya gotta accept the fact that Jean's body may be here, but Jean ain't…N' now ya gotta accept that…n' take a step ya never thought ya would. Ya gotta put yer feelings for Red aside…n' ya gotta use any means necessary ta save yer friends…'fore it's to late."
"So you're asking me-
"I'm tellin' ya what ya need ta her. Now step up n' be a man!"
Scott clenched his teeth. "I can't. I can't hurt her."
Logan swallowed hard.
"Listen ta me bub…n' listen good. Jeannie has the power of a god…There's no sayin' what she can do. She let 'er urgings fer the power consume 'er…she's evil…dark…Jean is lost in a place where she's never gonna come back. Now it's up ta us ta put 'er at peace."
Scott shook his head. "No…no… I can't… I won't."
"What would Jean want ya ta do? If Jeannie were here…what would she tell ya ta do?"
Scott remembered back to a few weeks ago, when Jean had talked to him in her bedroom…about her life…and her powers.
Flashback
==
"Scott if something happens to me…because of this part of my mutation…"
"Nothing will happen to you Jean." Scott assured her.
"But if something does…"
"Jean…"
"…Please just listen to me Scott." She pleaded as he nodded his head.
"If something happens to me…if my mutation turns me…or forces me to do something I wouldn't under any circumstances do…If I threaten to hurt anyone…the world…the people…If I threaten to hurt my friends…I want you to promise me something."
"Anything Jean."
Jean looked up at him, tears in her jade eyes. "Promise me…that you won't let me. Promise me that you will do whatever's necessary to stop me."
"Okay."
"Scott you have to understand. If I'm in a clouded state of mind…if you know I'm going to harm something…don't listen to me…under any circumstances…even if I plead for my life. If I'm a threat then I want you to stop me buy whatever means necessary."
"Jean…you can't make me promise to kill you."
"I'm not asking you to do that. But please Scott…just promise me that whatever happens…whatever happens…that you'll take care of the team. I couldn't bear the thought that I could harm anyone of my friends. But I can…and I don't want to. I just couldn't bear the thought of killing you."
"You wont'."
"You promise Scott? You promise that you'll protect them?"
Scott grasped Jean's hand in his. "I promise Jean. Whatever happens I will protect them. I promise on my life."
==
"Jean wouldn't want me to stand by and let this happen." Scott answered after a brief moment passed in which he remembered his promise.
"Good. Now let's do this…however hard it'll be."
Scott stopped Logan. "I can't."
"What?"
"I can't hurt her."
"Slim listen…"
"No. You listen. I don't know why you think we have to kill her. But I can't. I don't understand how you can be so willing."
"I'm not willin' do ya think if there was any other way ta go 'bout this thing, I'd do it? But look at where we are, look at all the buildin's.. all the people. It's either Jean or it's thousands of innocents. What choice do I have?"
"Jean is innocent."
Logan sighed. "Look, I love Jeannie like my own daughter, but I don't see another way around this. I'm gonna give the order to bring 'er down by whatever means necessary. This thing needs ta end. And the team is gonna follow me, n' if ya don't that's fine but it's gonna happen."
"Do you think that Jean would want it this way?"
"I know she'd understand."
"She'd understand that we would have to kill her?"
"If it's the only option."
"But it's not the only option."
"Scott…savin' Jean risks the lives of thousands of people. Are you willing to take that risk?"
"For Jean I will."
"Yeah? Well I won't. If savin' lives means sacrificin' than so be it."
"But it's not even your life you're sacrificing! Don't you get that!"
"I can't talk about this anymore Slim, Jeannie's moments away from leavin' n' if she does there may be no chance of stoppin' 'er."
They ran away from the pond just in time to watch Jean ascend to the skies.
"You and I are at quits now, X-men. I can only hope for your sakes that our paths will cross no more!"
Logan looked to Scott as she still cried out threats.
"Now's our chance Scottie…if we don't do this now…we may not get another one." Logan said extending his claws.
Scott held up his hands and placed them on Logan's chest stopping him.
"Wait."
Logan frowned. "What?"
"Look…I made a promise…Just let me talk to her."
"She's not gonna listen."
"Yeah but…look…she hasn't killed us yet…harmed us…but not killed. That leads me to think…that there's something…something inside her that's holding her back…and I think that maybe it's a part of Jean's psyche, a feeling, and emotion, a memory, anything..."
Logan stared at Scott.
Scott held up his hand as he realized Logan wasn't catching on.
"Look, If this doesn't work…than you can feel free do to whatever you want. Just give me a chance."
Logan nodded and retracted his claws. "Make it fast Scottie."
Scott nodded.
He ran across the park and stopped as Dark Phoenix towered above him.
"Wait! Please don't leave!"
Dark Phoenix smirked. "You again? Why are you so persistent? You're so driven, like a man possessed."
"You don't know what you're doing."
"On the contrary I know exactly what I'm doing."
"But why?"
"Why? For the sensations…the rapture of destruction…for the pleasure of the phoenix…the unbound joy of evil!"
"That makes no sense to me! I don't know what you're saying!"
"You don't understand. But you are a mere mortal and I am a god!"
"No you're not! You're Jean Grey…you're human!"
"Why are you so persistent? What is you business with this woman…this Jean Grey?"
Scott hesitated before replying. "I-I care about her."
"You care about her? There has to be more to it. I can sense it."
Scott sighed and replied as if finally realizing the truth himself. "I…I…I love her."
"Love? I don't understand…your answer is unacceptable." She proceeded to shrug him off and leave.
Scott shouted stopping her.
"No…see you do. You understand."
"Phoenix does not love…don't you get it? I live for the power…the power to create and the power to destroy. That's all."
"For pity's sake Jean…listen to yourself!"
"Ask not for pity…From Dark Phoenix…there is none in her."
"Listen to me!"
"I tire of listening!"
"I made a promise! To you! I said I would do whatever's necessary if push came to shove…do you remember that?"
Dark Phoenix shook her head.
"Listen, it doesn't have to end like this. You have an intellect Jean, a will, a soul…use them! Fight this dark side of
yourself! We'll help you! I don't want to hurt you but you're giving us no choice!"
Dark Phoenix shook her head trying to fight away the part of herself that Scott was getting through to.
The fire around her diminished as the good side fought through. Jean talked quickly as she felt the power fighting her…changing her.
"No! Of all people Scott, I thought you'd understand. But you don't. Can't you see, The choice was never yours to begin with. Of all people you should know how I feel. I'm scared Scott…I'm hanging on by my fingernails. I can feel the phoenix within me taking over. Part of me welcomes it. You want me to fight? I have, I am…with all my strength. But I can't forget that I have the power to kill an entire universe. Your way I'd have to stay completely in control of myself every second of every day, for the rest of my life. Maybe I could do it. But if I slipped even for an instant, if I…failed…if even one person died at my hands…I couldn't bear it."
"But that won't happen! We can help you! This will all be over!"
"Scott can't you see? The phoenix can neither be contained nor controlled…especially by a human vessel."
She looked to Scott trying to sense what he was feeling, before continuing.
"I finally understand what I am Scott, and what has to be done…two beings…Jean Grey and Phoenix…separate…unique…bound together. A symbiote Scott; neither can exist without the other. Don't you see what happened to me? I am Phoenix…that's who I'll become but my mutation has corrupted me and I'm letting it. I don't know why, but it provides me with some kind of safe life force, while I provide a living focus for it's infinite powers. As long as I live my mutation will manifest itself through me. And as long as that happens there is no knowing what I am capable of."
"Look Jean it doesn't have to end this way. No one has to die. Don't do this Jean!"
"I'm sorry Scott. But I have no choice. It is already decided. Don't you see? If I were to keep it up, it'll just be Jean, to Phoenix, to Dark Phoenix, It's a progression inevitable as death. I can't take that risk. Kill Me Scott! While I'm still here!"
"No! I won't! Jean…just hang on…Keep it up!" Scott shouted franticly trying to give Jean the will to fight.
"If you can't I will!"
(Jean) Dark Phoenix telekinetically triggered Scott's optic blasts.
"Jean what are you doing?" Scott shouted trying desperately to shut his eyes.
His optic blasts hit Jean full in the chest.
"No!" Scott grunted as he struggled with her hold on him and he managed to turn his head to the ground so the blasts couldn't hit her.
"Jean c'mon Fight this! I have faith in you! I believe in you! I know you can do it!" Scott shouted his head still turned to the ground.
"No! You don't understand Scott! I must be stopped no matter what the cost!"
"Look Jean it doesn't have to be this way." Scott pleaded with her.
"You don't get it!" Jean shouted her teeth clenched as tears sprung free from her eyes. She was struggling to hold unto the 'sane' part of her psyche.
"You're right I don't!" Scott shouted to her. His voice faltered as he tried to stay strong. "But listen to me Jean! You're stronger than this! Don't underestimate the power and control you hold over your mutation."
"It's corrupted me! I can't stop it!"
"You can! You will!" Scott shouted his lips quivering. "And do you know how I know?" He asked expecting to answer himself anyway.
"Because I know you! I know who you are!"
"No! you don't! You don't know me at all!" Jean shouted. Her hair began to illuminate with fire as her 'sane' self slowly lost hold and started to fall away.
"Stay! Don't go Jean!" Scott noticed her change.
"I Am not Jean! I Am DARK PHOENIX!" Jean shouted as she illuminated with dark energy.
"NO! You're Human!" Scott shouted back at her.
"Jean Grey was Human! Dark Phoenix is not!"
"That's where you're wrong. You ARE human. You have to be. Otherwise you would kill us all now. Strike us down before we have the slightest inkling to strike back."
"Dark Phoenix doesn't need to kill to be rid of you."
"Why not? You've killed everyone else? Why not the X-men we are the only obstacles in your way."
Dark Phoenix hesitated and Scott continued feeling some small chance of hope.
Scott watched her as she wondered in her thoughts and that's when he finally got it.
"Or maybe it's not your love for the X-men that keeps you from killing us." Scott said surprised as realization dawned upon him.
"It's not is it? It has nothing to do with the X-men at all. It has to do with…" Scott paused as he examined her face, the way she seemed to hesitate around him.
"It has to do with me…doesn't it?" He asked as the clarity of the situation finally dawned on him, as if he had put a 1000 piece puzzle together.
He continued talking, making sure he understood correctly.
"You can't hurt them because Jean's feeling for me…Scott Summers…are too strong. Somehow she knows what you're doing…and she subconsciously broadcasts her feelings to you…and you can't fight them because they're too strong."
"Impossible! Dark Phoenix can ravage through all human emotions with simple ease!" She countered back.
Scott nodded agreeing with her.
"That's right you can. But you're only a creature of darkness…of evil. You were right…what you said… 'Dark Phoenix knows nothing of love.' And you don't. Those feelings that you feel are new and you can't fight them because the love is so strong, too strong maybe…all you know is hate…you don't know love…you've never had to deal with it."
"You're wrong!"
"No! I'm not! That's it isn't it?! You can't fight those feelings…because as much as you want to deny all feelings all remorse…you can't. Because deep down you're still…ONLY HUMAN."
"I tried to be rid of those feelings," Dark Phoenix explained a hint of anger in her voice. "But I couldn't. I didn't understand it. The transformation should have wiped out all feelings…everything that made Jean Grey who she was. But her feelings for you…were so much stronger…I thought I compensated for everything."
She paused before continuing. "Love," She started almost choking on the word. "Dark Phoenix knows nothing of love. I didn't compensate for that. Everything was going fine until you entered…and her feelings overwhelmed me…her feelings…this love for you…held me back."
"It's so much stronger than we think it is? Isn't it? Our love what we have…" Scott paused a moment to dwell on it.
He could tell by her reaction that Love was her one vulnerability.
"You know nothing of love? You might not, but Jean Grey does. Her very creation stems from love's existence. Because she is love. And you can't fight that." Scott said a smirk playing across his lips.
The fire illumination slowly began to beat back and forth, on and off, as Dark Phoenix struggled for control.
"I can't help it. It's too strong."
"She loves me doesn't she?" Scott asked the answer clearly obvious.
"Dark Phoenix can't love. She has to kill! For the pleasures and sensations it brings! But she can't, she can't help but love…it will destroy her."
Dark Phoenix bellowed to herself as she struggled for control.
"Jean! Listen to me! I know how you feel! And it's okay…You're holding back…but you can't take back control! Focus on me Jean! I know you can!"
Dark Phoenix shook her head in denial. Scott continued.
"Please Jean! I can't lose you like this! If not for yourself than do it for me! Think about what we can have! I love you Jean! I love you! Please…come back to me! I won't lose you! I can't!" Scott pleaded.
"No…No…." Dark Phoenix put her hands on her head struggling for control.
"Scott…" Jean's voice emerged quivering.
"Jean!" Scott shouted relieved.
"Your voice…I love to hear your voice…" Jean said her voice faltering.
Scott managed a smile. "I know. You have control now focus on me and try to push Dark Phoenix back."
"I don't think I can. I need-I need help. I can't do it alone."
"I can help you Jean." A voice said echoing across the park.
Scott looked to Hank and Xavier. "Professor!"
"Let me help you Jean." Xavier said. "I am in part responsible for what happened to you. Let me be there to help you now."
"Please, help me professor."
"I will Jean, I promise."
Xavier swiftly entered Jean's mind. Jean clutched her head and cried out in pain. Xavier grunted as he tried hard to remain in control. A flash of light erupted from Jean and flashed wide across the park. It was so bright everyone looking on had to shut their eyes tightly. Than after a moment the light sucked back into Jean and all the destruction disappeared, the burning buildings and broken debris, along with all the landscape that had torn up, all returned to the state it was before Jean arrived. Magneto's helmet and armor returned on him and Jean's costume changed back. After a few moments he looked up. He looked around surveying the change that had taken place, the S.W.A.T and police teams looked a little astonished too, but relieved that it was over. After surveying the scene he realized that Xavier must have suppressed Jean's mutation for the scene to have been able to go back to normal.
"Is she alright?" Scott asked.
"I believe so. I've sedated her for now. Give her rest."
"And Dark Phoenix?"
"I have installed in Jean circuit breakers…but this time I bound Dark Phoenix within her…or in this case her power…slowly it will release but only at a time when Jean is ready to handle it."
"So she'll be okay?"
"She'll be fine." Xavier said as Hank helped him into his chair.
"How did you…?" Scott asked peering over her body.
"Everyone has a weakness Scott. Even the most powerful of creatures. Once I found her vulnerability I just kept attacking at that weak spot until I made a hole."
"And Dark Phoenix…her vulnerability was love?"
"Love is something Dark Phoenix never experienced. That part of Jean…evil part…never knows love. All I did was show Dark Phoenix love…true love…that Jean had in her all along."
Scott looked up at Xavier. "True love you mean…?"
Xavier nodded before turning to Hank. "Come Hank…let's go home." He sighed, as Hank and the others followed them to the planes.
"What 'bout Magneto?" Rogue asked as she stared at his unconscious body.
"We'll take him with. Drop him off on our way."
Hank caught on and picked up his body and carefully placed Magneto's sleeping body over his shoulders.
"You did a good job bub." Logan said stopping by Scott, still holding Jean.
"If it weren't fer you Jeannie may not still be 'ere."
"You were going to do what you thought needed to be done Logan. You were doing what you thought was right."
"Yeah…but you had hope in 'er…I was to quick to cast it away."
"No…if it wasn't for you challenging me…I would never had known what to do. I just hope it never happens again."
"Yep…we may not be so lucky next time." Logan nodded. He began to walk off.
"Logan." Scott yelled stopping him.
Logan turned his head around. "Yeah?"
"Thanks." Logan just nodded before turning around and walking off.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Ugh…Scott?" She asked opening her eyes."
"Hey."
"What happened?"
"You want a little power crazy for a while…you even had Magneto at your mercy…but you made it."
Jean stole a gaze at Magneto's unconscious body slung over Hank's shoulders.
"Oh no…I'm so sorry."
"But you're still alive."
"Scott you promised."
"And I held true to that promise. You almost died."
"And you almost died."
"But we're all still here."
Jean sighed. "Thank you Scott."
Scott paused before replying.
"For what?"
"For talking to me…you probably saved my life."
"I only told you what you needed to hear."
"Yeah but…I had faith in your beliefs…I drew strength from you…from you I gained the power I needed to fight myself."
"Dark Phoenix had a weakness. A strong one at that. But you fought her, you attacked her vulnerable spot." Jean nodded.
"I guess I didn't quite completely understand how I felt. Not until my demons came out. But you saved me Scott. You have bestowed something so incredible inside me…that you saved me."
"I did that much?"
"You will never know."
Jean smiled and rested her head on his chest. "I'm so tired."
"Let's go home Jean."
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Yes! Ha! Jean's back! C'mon what'd u expect?
Yes and the secret to Dark Phoenix's destruction? (Drum Roll please) DUN DUN DUN…iiiiit's TRUE LOVE! A bit cheesy yes…but totally appropriate and it could actually be true. I mean what's the one thing Evil's afraid of? Well besides, Human Emotions and the side of Good…iiiiit's Love! Er…in this case to feel love. So YAY!
Oh and that Fox News Channel thing…yes Campbell Brown is a real reporter. I don't think she's in Anchor. I think she's just a correspondent. Now Shepard (That's Shepard Smith) He's in Anchor for Fox News. Anyway FNC is my Dad's favorite channel to watch. Ironically, although it was on every TV in our house half the time, I still only remember Campbell Brown and Shepard Smith. I don't know why. Maybe it's cause who would name their son Shepard? And why is she named Campbell? Geez the names some parents give their kids huh?
19 Chaps Down…1 to go. Next Chap's the last and it's the Epilogue so stick around for that!
U know how I feel 'bout Feedback.