A hail of bullets rained down on the prone X-Men… enough adamantium-laced bullets to rip every person on the ground to shreds. Scott Summers looked at the bullets… it was as if they were slowing down – perhaps his mind extending the last moment of his life. This life would soon end, and he would join his soulmate in the beyond - to be bound together in eternity's embrace.
The bullets just hung there for a second, then three… then five… Suddenly, the sounds of the real world assaulted his ears! These suspended bullets were not a figment of his imagination. The bullets were actually hanging in mid-air, stopped dead in their tracks. Cyclops could now hear the bewildered gasps from the soldiers assembled in the staircase.
"Lieutenant, what's happening?" growled one soldier.
"I thought these muties couldn't use their Psycho sht!" screamed another.
"Reload!" yelled Lieutenant Peter Lyman, leader of Captain America. "Wait… check fire! Check fire!" Lyman held his fists up, and the other soldiers stopped reloading their weapons. One young soldier was about to ask him why they weren't firing but Lyman cut him off and simply whispered… "H.E. rounds." Then he pointed at two lone figures standing on the far rear of the damaged lobby. One of the figures was a young man, blonde-haired and wearing a strange metallic headband. The other figure was unmistakable. It was an older man, gray-haired, aristocratic in appearance, and wearing a strange magenta-colored helmet on his head. MAGNETO had arrived. "FIRE!"
Captain America fired another barrage, this time made up of High Explosive rounds, set to detonate on impact. In the speed of sound, the lethal shells hurtled towards their intended targets, but without the slightest impact. The H.E. rounds slowed down in mid air, as Magneto stretched out his arm, and they eventually came to yet another dead stop. "Come now, did you think that your weapons would suffice to kill the Master of Magnetism?" he said smugly, "It would seem that you gentlemen need a lesson in respecting your BETTERS!"
The old man's eyes flashed with a malevolent, yet silent, rage as the H.E. projectiles, along with the adamantium bullets, began spinning and swirling in a makeshift tornado. The explosive adamantium storm contorted and spun towards the soldiers on the upper lobby staircase, buzzing and swirling like angry hornets. "Retreat, take cover..!" was all Lyman could yell before the bullet-cloud slammed into the stair case. Adamantium bullets collided with the volatile ordinance. The result: Magneto created an adamantium claymore mine. A HUGE EXPLOSION spewed adamantium shrapnel in all directions in the upper lobby, and sent the entire top half of the staircase, along with twelve of the Captain America team members, careening to the ground. Had it not been for their adamantium weave armor, nearly indestructible… they would have all perished. Still, the fall left many of them incapacitated for the moment.
Charles Xavier gained his composure and yelled at his former friend, "Erik, STOP THIS MADNESS! This has gone far enough. Can't you see that this is why they think we're a threat? If you kill them, you'll just validate all their worst fears about mutant-kind!"
"Are YOU mad, my old friend?" Magneto answered, "In case you didn't notice Charles, the humans have ALREADY started the war you, in your self-righteous delusion, sought to avoid. You can't avoid it any longer Charles. It's here. The Apocalypse is NOW!"
"No Erik, it is not. Mankind is merely reacting to the magnitude of the Cerebro disaster. Over a million people were killed that day, hundreds of thousands gravely injured, even more will surely die…" Charles Xavier's voice quivered a little as he pondered his own words. "It was my fault… our fault! All the bloodshed since then… all because of us…"
"It wasn't your fault Professor", yelled Cyclops, "Stryker's mutant was controlling your mind, and MAGNETO made the changes to Cerebro. He could've easily stopped Cerebro, or destroyed it, but instead, he chose to kill. HE'S THE MURDERER, NOT YOU!" The X-Men's field commander was burning with hatred and anger. Not only had Magneto caused a human holocaust that was unheard of in recent times, but he also helped cause the death of his beloved Jean.
"My only mistake… is that I didn't kill ENOUGH humans that day. But I will not make that mistake again!" Magneto sneered a sly grin. "Pyro, show these gentlemen your way with fire." The young mutant, who stood silently beside his leader, raised his hand.
Marie, who was sitting on the floor, rocking a waking Wolverine back and forth, said to her former classmate, "John, wait… this is going too far! We got to figure out a way to stop this… not make it worse!" Tears streaked down the young mutant girl's cheeks. Not only was the pain of her shrapnel wounds too much to bear, but seeing her friend Pyro looking so… sinister, so cold and callous, made her feel deeply guilty about not doing "enough" to stop John from joining with Magneto.
"You called it Rogue", said Pyro, smiling eerily, "I'm stopping this right now!" Fires that were scattered throughout the room suddenly leapt off of their previous spots and merged in the center of the room, into a spectacular fireball. The ball of fire intensified, until the heat was searing, causing the surrounding area to begin to scorch.
The young man flicked his wrist, and sent the flaming sphere hurtling at the fallen soldiers. Peter Lyman, looking at the blazing object, muttered a silent prayer. It was answered. Just as the flying inferno was about to smash and burn the Captain America team, a man jumped, or rather FELL, in the path of the flames and let the fireball collide with his falling body. The explosion was hellacious. A bright flash of light was followed by a loud, thunderous booming noise. The entire expansive lobby, and what was left of the mansion, shook violently. The charred remains of Anthony "Turk" Grayson lay at the base of a 6-foot crater in the center of the lobby.
Logan, who was now awake, and Scott Summers, looked stoically at the timely sacrifice of an unknown soldier (to them). Scott Summers turned to his healing comrade and nodded silently, as if some telepathic communication was sent between them – though neither possessed any such ability. Was this man, who just gave up his life for his friends, different from them? The death of the soldier reminded Scott Summers of another similar sacrifice which occurred just under two weeks ago – made by the woman they both loved. In as much as this lone man represented the spirit of humanity, so did Jean. And if both mutants and non-mutants alike shared the human spirit, then how could they ever see each other as different. This new conflict needed a new solution, and the X-Men's leader knew what had to be done. Somehow, he knew that the Wolverine, at some level, understood… and agreed.
As for Lieutenant Lyman, he unsuccessfully blinked back tears, as he silently raised his weapon and fired a barrage of H.E. rounds at Pyro's head. Magneto's powers easily stopped the rounds from hitting and killing his young protégé. Lyman's head sunk in defeat, letting out a deep breathe in resignation to his fate.
"You see, Charles", Magneto gloated, "As I said before… We are the FUTURE. Not them."
"I don't know if we're the future, you old bastard", Cyclops spit through gritted teeth, "But at least we HAVE a future!" With that, the X-Men leader fired an optic blast at the suspended high explosive shells. The shells, which hung just a foot and a half between Pyro and Magneto's collective heads, exploded in a loud boom and sent fire, shrapnel, and smoke in all directions. A smoke cloud enveloped Pyro's and Magneto's bodies… temporarily shrouding them from view. Pyro's form materialized first, as if walking through the haze. But then, he suddenly stopped, and his HEADLESS corpse tumbled forward… a smoldering hole ripped from where his neck would have been. Marie screamed in horror, as she watched Pyro's lifeless body hit the ground, and quickly grow cold.
Magneto stumbled forward as well, his head looking badly burnt in certain spots. The hair under his helmet looked matted and bloody. Otherwise, the helmet he wore had saved his life, again. Wolverine abruptly stood up, walked over to the burnt body of the soldier known as Turk, and borrowed the dead man's still-working OICW rifle. He then walked over to the semi-conscious Erik Lensherr.
"Logan, don't so this…" pleaded Charles Xavier, "There are other ways to deal with adversaries… to work out differences… even in times such as…"
Wordlessly, Logan squeezed the trigger and watched Magneto's head explode into a crimson pool. It was short and sweet – no last words for Erik Lensherr. He then turned to an utterly stunned Xavier, speaking, "You know Chuck… sometimes justice has to be quick and FINAL. This man deserved to die… and everybody in the whole world deserved to kill him."
Peter Lyman was speechless as he watched the whole scene unfold in sheer astonishment. The very mutants he had been sent to capture or kill… had just saved his life. He fumbled for his communicator and flicked open his radio, opening a channel to the AWACS airborne control center. "General Ross here", answered a voice from the other end. "Lieutenant, what's the situation? In less than a minute I'm commanding those cruise missiles to start launching."
"Belay that launch General", Lyman explained, "The situation is under control, and we have a bonus: Erik Lensherr… known as Magneto… is dead and accounted for."
"WHAT???" General Ross's voice was hardly heard over the din of cheers and claps that erupted from the crew of the AWACS. The room was still clamoring as the General continued to speak, "Are you shttin' me son? You tellin' me that you bagged that son of a bcth?"
"No sir", Peter spoke, now noticing that the entire X-Men were looking at him intently, "We need to thank the X-Men for that bit of work. They saved the lives of my men and me, (looking over at Turk) most of my men… even after we tried to kill them. What are your orders?" The rest of the Captain America team was now getting up and reaching for their weapons. The X-Men took up defensive positions on the opposite side of the room. "What are your orders, over?"
Before anyone else could speak, Charles Xavier wheeled forward, placing himself in the middle of the fray. "We surrender", he said. "There will be no more bloodshed for today." The other X-Men were about to protest, but the Professor glared at all them and firmly ordered them, "Stand down, everyone. This is over."
Peter Lyman, having just received his instructions, stepped forward and said, nonchalantly, "Charles Xavier, you and your covert strike team, known as the X-Men, are hereby placed under arrest by authority of the Mutant Investigations Bureau."
"Agreed", said a stern faced Xavier.
"Sir", said the young officer, "We owe you and your people a debt of thanks, and an apology… and (looking around the blasted out remains of the school)… so much more…"
"There has been enough bloodshed on both sides", said Xavier, "the question is: Do we learn from the mistakes of others, or go on making our own?"
Lyman almost couldn't meet Xavier's gaze, starting to feel a bit conflicted about his actions as of late. "For what it's worth, I hope this works out for the good of everyone… mutated and non-mutated humans both."
"Mutated humans is it?" Professor Xavier said with a smile, "I rather like the sound of that. I think there may be hope for all of us yet Lieutenant Lyman."
"How'd you do that, know my name?" asked the soldier.
"I simply read the nametag on your uniform", the Professor said, a weary smile on his smile.
Just then the sound of various helicopter rotor blades were heard surrounding the school. Armored Bradley fighting vehicles came rumbling to a stop near the school, and scores of soldiers poured in and around the school grounds. Operation Avenger had re-grouped and was back for round two. No soldier dared enter the damaged facility though, until they had been given the proper orders.
Storm walked over to Lieutenant Lyman, and asked, "What's going to happen to us? Are we going to be imprisoned? Or… what?"
"I don't want to go to jail", said Marie, still grimacing from her wounds. "I mean, is that where we're going to?"
"You'll all probably go to a hospital first", said Lyman, "Maybe not all of you (looking at Grace Frost), and some of you are definitely wanted for questioning. I don't know anything more after that. I just do the work, I don't give the orders."
"You were with Stryker", Logan finally recognized the man. "You were here before, when Stryker attacked the mansion."
"Yes I was, Mr. Logan", Lyman admitted, "I was sent by Washington to keep an eye on Stryker, lost a lot of good people at Aikili lake."
"We all did", added Scott, who was standing next to Grace Frost. As he spoke, he subconsciously gave her a sideways glance.
Minutes later, several black Crown Victorias pulled up and stopped in front of the dilapidated mansion. M.I.B. agents came streaming out and headed right towards the X-Men. One of the agents, a tall man with a medium build, flashed a badge at the Captain America team and quickly asserted, "We'll take it over from here soldier." Turning to Professor Xavier, "Charles Xavier, I am Agent Hathaway. We will see to your… CARE for the time being."
"Bullsht", said Logan. "What have you aholes done with the rest of the kids?"
Agent Hathaway, whose eyes were hidden by his dark sunglasses, looked astounded. "Your file is right about you, Mr. Howlett… I mean… errr… Logan. You have an uncanny ability to see the big picture."
"Yeah I get it, bub", Logan made a mental note of the name this man just dropped, "You goons didn't just show up out of nowhere. You got the rest of our people, and now you came for us."
"WHERE IS KURT?!? IF YOU'VE HURT HIM I SWEAR I'LL…" Storm's eyes frosted over and a heavy wind began picking up.
"Calm down ma'am", Agent Hathaway said, ignoring the wind. "Kurt Wagner and the other students of the school are perfectly safe and unharmed… except for a headache, but that'll clear up in a few hours. They're on their way to a secure location in Washington, as are you."
"Secure location? Is that where you keep your mutant prisoners?" Scott asked firmly.
"No Mr. Summers. That is where we send our GUESTS." Agent Hathaway smiled with a sly grin. "We have a proposal for you that we've been planning for a long time – and this rather unfortunate episode has only served to validate our hopes about you… but also speed up our plans."
"And what about me?" asked Grace Frost. "What are you going to do with me, now that you have them?"
"Ahhhh, the elusive Ms. Frost." As the agent stepped closer to her, Scott Summers, and Logan, maneuvered themselves in between them. The body language was unmistakable. "We will, ummm… ultimately will leave you to the care of the X-Men… after the M.I.B. has conducted a thorough debriefing with you, of course."
"Of course", Grace answered. She stepped back behind the two mutant men who were clearly taking protective stances in front of her.
"So Mr… Hathaway is it?" Xavier asked, "You're going to let us take 'care' of Emma Frost? How are we going to be able to do that, now that the school is in ruins? What exactly are you talking about, and what is this PLAN of yours?"
The agent spun around to face the Professor and said, "Something that will change the world!"
---------
"Not To Be"(4 long months later…)
"Construction is ahead of schedule, and I think the new command center is going to be completed by next month… at least, that's what the Project Managers say. Is there anything else you wanted to me to file sir?" The girl was immaculately dressed. She was a petite blonde, hair in a bun, wearing a conservative business suit – black with gray pinstripes. Her name badge had the new X-Men emblem, but it was the silver ID tag given to non-combat personnel, not the Gold-encrusted shield worn by strike-team members.
"That is all Ms. Blaire", said Cyclops, barely looking up from his paperwork, "And Allison, could you hold my non-essential calls this morning, I have to get ready for a net-meeting with the Joint Chiefs."
"That's always a party isn't it?" The dazzling young lady's smiled literally LIT up the room.
"Yeah, a real laugh riot", conceded Cyclops, "Another long and boring afternoon session… them questioning EVERY dollar we spend…"
"Well, they are investing a lot of money here", Allison quipped.
"$4.3 billion and change", said Cyclops, "Not to mention all the international donations. Just make sure no one gets in here. This whole morning is being dedicated to some SERIOUS prep work."
"Yes sir", the girl answered. She then took all of her documents and notes off of Cyclops' lavish desk and stepped out of his office. Scott Summers took a minute to get up and stretch. His new office had the luxury of a spectacular view of the Westchester countryside. He looked out and saw all the construction workers and machinery milling about. The reconstruction of the Xavier Institute of Higher Learning, as it was now called, was going splendidly. The U.S. government granted Charles Xavier ten times the acreage to build the sprawling campus. Science buildings, classrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, an observatory, and even botanical facilities were simultaneously being built. By next fall, a rather large staff of human and mutant personnel would welcome an expected international student body of about eleven thousand – made up of both mutants and non-mutants. The expansive dorm facilities were already built and temporarily housing workers. The scope and magnitude was astounding.
But the REAL construction was taking place UNDER ground. Just like the previous school, this institute was a cover for a covert base of operations that was housed beneath the school's pristine veneer. This was no 'bat-cave', but a $2 billion dollar state-of-the-art command and control facility: equipped the latest in surveillance, security, communications, weapons, logistics, research labs… and just about everything. It would soon be occupied by the X-Men, who now had an expanded roster that included prime "operatives" like Cyclops, combat support strike-teams (like Lyman's Captain America squads and the newly dubbed "Iron-Man" corps), and about 300 mutant and non-mutant personnel (administrative, medical, security, maintenance, etc…). The underground base was about half the size of the campus, and the average person was none the wiser.
Cyclops sat down at his leather captain's chair, and began looking over budget reports. Is that all he did now? It seemed like it. He knew this would pass, the construction would be over, the facilities would be operational, and he could get back to doing what he liked doing most… which he seemed to have forgotten at the moment.
"You got a minute."
Cyclops looked up to see Logan standing there, holding a rather stuffed and large manila envelope with the name "James Howlett" written on it. "Sure Logan", he answered, waving Logan to come and have a seat. "Always have time to talk to 'essential' personnel."
"Is that what I am now? Essential personnel?" asked the gruff mutant, who was dressed in a leather jacket, white shirt, and black jeans. The back of the jacket was emblazoned with the gold X-Men logo, which had become a pop-icon fad as of late.
"We all are", said Cyclops with a sarcastic smile, "Or didn't you get the memo?"
"I don't read my email", Logan answered, "Actually, I don't know how to work it. Send one of the geeks to come look at it for me?"
"Logan, you're an enemy to all things technical", Cyclops stifled a laugh, "Forge was just helping you out last week. What was it you broke?"
"Hey, it ain't my fault if the stupid thing wasn't shutting off."
"The 'stupid thing' that could blow up half this building… remember what I told you?"
"Yeah, yeah…" Logan sneered, then, in his best Scott Summers impersonation, "Don't touch anything that could kill us all… blah, blah, blah…" Cyclops couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed out loud. To which, Logan flipped him off.
"So, what brings you to darken my doorstep today? Mutant threat? Human threat? Another sexual harassment suit?"
"What, no Paternity suit?" Logan added smiling.
"Oh yeah", Cyclops laughed. "Imagine next fall, 100 long lost daughters show up at our doorstep…"
"All with no memories and a dark past", Logan bellowed. "It's the stupidest thing I ever heard (he shudders). Hell, we'll have to build another dorm just for them."
"Imagine that", Scott said, "We have fans now."
"Not everybody's a fan. The Mutant Liberation Front is calling us sell outs, you know that?"
"We are sell outs, Logan", Cyclops said. He stood and walked over to his window, with its gorgeous view. "We fought the law…"
"And the law won", Logan added.
"No… we BECAME the law", Cyclops said. "I mean, look at us. We're a government-funded agency: a branch of the Mutant Investigations Bureau. Half the town of Westchester now either works in this school, or UNDER it."
"So… we're now an INSTITUTION!" Logan stated. "At least we get shiny new badges, new duds, cars, money… and all the big-breasted perks that come with the job."
"That reminds me", said Cyclops, "Allison said one more butt-slap and she'll go nuclear on you. Which, I think she can actually do that…"
"She's just playing hard to get", Logan said. "Too bad I'm easy."
"You know what bugs me about this?"
"The two gay dudes in Accounting that are always checking you out?"
"Not that… well, that TOO, but not as much as knowing that there is SO much more evil in the world than we thought. The MLF, that nut-job Mr. Sinister, Sentinels… and that was just from last month's briefing. It irks me that we've been spinning our wheels for so long… on the sidelines."
"And now we're in the big leagues… or the BIGGER leagues so to speak." Logan looked at the envelope he was holding. "You know what they say… there is no knowledge that is not power…"
"What is that?" Scott said, pointing at the envelope.
"Me." Logan said it flatly, and Scott just motioned for him to continue. "It's the U.S. government's secret military file on me. You know what I had to go through to get this? I had to threaten or sleep with A LOT of folks to get this."
"More likely you threatened TO sleep with a lot folks…" Scott stopped when he saw the glare on Logan's face. "I'm sorry, go on."
"This is my history, or as much of it that they know about me. It's a lot. You know that name was originally… get this… James? I wonder if folks called me 'Jimmy' (He shook off that thought). And apparently I've been involved in just about every major war in the last century?"
"Whoa…" Scott uttered, "How old are you… Jimbo?"
"Call me that again, and I'm telling those Accounting guys you think they're hot!"
"Alright, continue."
"Thank You. I'm just feeling weird about knowing so much stuff about myself… but not remembering any of it. I see the old Army photos, sitting with guys who I don't recognize… it weirds me out. I don't remember anything before the last ten years. I haven't read this whole file, but you know what?"
"What?"
"I'm scared man, really scared", Logan said seriously, "I'm scared that I won't like the man I was. I'm scared that all these bad habits I have now are just the tip of a very LARGE… very ugly iceberg."
"Take your time, Logan", Scott said, walking over and putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "There's a lot of stuff there, maybe too much to take in at once. But maybe you can just take it slowly, ease into it…"
"You know what?" Logan said, looking up at Scott and smiling, "You ARE gay."
Scott started to laugh out-loud again, quickly taking his hand off of Logan's shoulder. "Get the hell out of my office, and go impregnate someone. We need more students for the 'Daughters of Wolverine' department." Logan got up and shook his friend's hand before he left. In the last four months, their mutual grief for Jean had made them better friends than just about anyone else in the mansion. It seemed like an odd pairing to everyone else, these seemingly polar opposites, but when they were with each other they just seemed to revert to sophomoric attitudes and jovial banter: a side of them they rarely showed to hardly ANYONE else. Scott could've sworn he heard the distinctive sound of a butt-slap, followed by a groin-kick… but maybe he was just hearing things.
He got back to his paperwork, and after a half hour was actually making some sense of the schematics for the new Physics labs. He was interrupted by yet another knock on his office door. Frustrated, he pushed on the intercom and barked, "Allison, unless it's the President, please tell whoever is out there that I'm canceling today's meetings!"
The door opened, and a stunning buxom blonde woman walked in – dressed completely in white. "You don't have time for me?" Grace said, in a faux pout.
"I ALWAYS have time for you Grace", Scott said. "How may I help you?"
"I was just stopping by, seeing if you wanted to catch lunch later?" Grace said, a shy smile on her face. She was starting to act less like Jean, to which she could thank the ongoing therapy, but her Jean-ness was just so subconscious that she didn't even notice anymore.
"I'm sorry Grace", Scott replied, noticing the woman's head droop, "It's just that I have this REALLY important meeting with the higher-ups. Why not go to lunch with Ororo and Kurt?"
"What? No way", Grace said, "All those two do is make out like teenagers. Kurt may be religious, but apparently it doesn't stop him from being stuck to Storm's lips night-and-day."
"At least they're getting on with their lives", Scott mused. "You know, I took that month off after our Washington trip because I needed time to just collect myself… and mourn… something I never got a chance to do after Jean's death."
"I know. I took some time to grieve for my sister too. She may have been an evil btch, but she was still my sister, you know?"
"I know. I'm trying to sort this all out too. I'm trying to sort you out too?"
"Yeah, I mean, like I have an MBA and a Master's in Psychology, so I'm in the institute's Economics department and Psychology labs, but in our HQ I'm in the Medical Science Division because of all of Jean's knowledge. Makes it tough for the Accounting guys… which, by the way, think you're…"
"I know, I know…" Scott said, "But that's not what I'm talking about. You know that. I'm trying to make sense of 'us'. You know so much about me, feel so much for me. I have to admit it, my feelings for you aren't getting any weaker. It's just too complicated."
"Yeah, for me too", Grace sat down on the leather couch. "I remember being madly in love with you. Desperately. But the more time I spend in therapy, the more I realized that it was Jean. I mean, I think you're awesome too, but I know it's too soon for you… maybe for a long time. And I need time to sort out my feelings for you too, and Jean's memories of you. I don't want to just be her replacement."
"I don't want that either", Scott answered. "I owe you more than that. And you're right. It's too soon. I still feel guilty every time I notice Allison bending over…" Grace gave him a 'raised eyebrow'. "I mean, I can't think of anyone without these feelings that I'm betraying Jean. I know Jean wouldn't want me to feel this way…"
"No, about looking at your secretary's butt, she would", Grace said smiling, "Trust me, I know."
"Yeah, I guess she would", Scott said, "But you and I both know that Jean wanted me to get on with my life, for her sake. I would love to just walk over there and kiss you and tell you how much I'm falling in love with you but…" Grace's mouth was wide open at the sudden candor of that statement.
"But?" she barely asked.
"But you're right. It's too soon for me to know… if I'm starting to feel for you, Grace Frost, or if I'm just loving what is left of Jean inside of you." Scott paused. "You and I both deserve better than that."
"I guess we'll just keep up the awkward flirting for now?" Grace said, cheerfully shrugging her shoulders. This woman is so gorgeous, Scott thought. And he knew she was already his, and maybe he was hers… but they both had to make their peace with Jean – strange as that seemed.
"Yeah", Scott said, "And vicariously make-out through Storm and Nightcrawler." Grace laughed, as Scott ran his fingers through his meticulous hair. "You know what… I think I will join you for that lunch, maybe the Professor can join us too."
"That'll be tough, since he flew out for Belgium this morning." Grace said, as she stood up from the couch, taking Scott's hand.
"That's right, the NATO meeting", Scott remembered, "Man, does the Professor EVER go a week without a speaking engagement?"
"Lifestyles of the rich and EXTREMELY public. He's a celebrity now. 'The Man Who Stopped Magneto'. At least, that's how the press puts it."
"Yeah, I guess we're all celebrities. Celebrity super-cops. Maybe there'll be a movie. Who do you think would play me?"
"Ben Affleck… or maybe Brad Pitt…"
"I think James Marsden would do a better job, he's got the right look, although a little young. Oh well, after you Madame." Scott gave a bow and opened the door for Grace, who stepped through and into the huge X-Men administrative facility. Scott Summers followed her out, the door auto locking behind him. "Allison, I'm going to lunch. Unless it's the Professor, don't put through any calls to my cell, Ok hon?"
"Sure thing, Fearless Leader." The bright girl continued to do her work, and Instant Message her friends on the computer. Scott Summers and Grace Frost did indeed meet Ororo and Kurt for lunch. Then they spent an hour watching the two of them keep from fondling each other. Of course, Kurt and his ebony goddess did stop long enough to announce their engagement, which meant even more kissing for the inseparable pair. Life would get back to normal sooner or later, but it would never be the same.
Someone once said that for evil to win, all good men have to do is nothing. The X-Men would never sit idly by ever again, watching the world hurt and only worrying about their own kind's survival. Xavier's dream of integrating with humans was finally beginning to take hold, but with a sobering reality of what super-powered mutants' responsibility is to the rest of mankind. The Institute did not exist to protect mutants from humans… but rather to protect humanity from the powers of irresponsible mutants. It was a Brave New World that was forged that fateful day in Aikili Lake… a world that came about through the strains and strife of events that served only as the birth pains to a new era.
The End… or rather… The Beginning.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This was going to be two chapters, but I decided to release it all now, so I could get started on another story – a sequel to AU storyline of X-Syndicate. If you don't know about that story, then read it on this site. Maybe I'll do a short vignette about the events in the 4 months between this story's last battle, and the final scene of this story. I'd like to thank all those that took the time to actually read this LONG story, and review it. I know I took my time, but REAL life just crashed in the way of getting this done. I had actually written another ending, where Grace stopped the bullets, and then died saving the X-Men again. But then I had to deal with Magneto, so I just brought him in for his Shakespearean finale. Possessor of the X Gene, thank you for all your encouragement, I don't think I would've kept writing this had it not been for your kind words. And Coral, I hope you enjoy the third person kuroro relationship – I just couldn't write a scene for them too (it would've been SOOOOO long). Thank you to everyone, again, for reading this little piece of fiction.