The Effects of Hope

Chapter One

By: Lily Handle

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Author's note: Originally this story was going to be part of Hope Returns, the sequel to A New Hope, but I thought it was too long for just a prologue so I made it into it's own story. What I've done, I believe, is called a write in. Hope is written into the episodes Day of Reckoning 1 and 2, Day of Recovery, and The Stuff of Heroes. I hope no one get offended by doing this. Please read and review.

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Dr. Hope Chandler shook her head as Rouge and Sunspot trudged into the Infirmary, their once pristine blue uniforms dotted with orange paint. "He's at it again isn't he?" She asked, taking down another bottle of aspirin. All day long the students had been coming in with various bumps and bruises and while this was not unusual for training days, Hope found that the injuries were happening more frequently as of late.

"All he talks about is Magneto," Rogue said, dropping down onto a bed, "He didn't even get this crazy when you went missin'."

Hope dropped two pills into a little paper cup, "Well, I'm sure Xavier has his reasons for pushing you. He's just worried," Hope said, filling another paper cup with water and handing it over to Rouge.

"Huh," Sunspot snorted, also taking water and aspirin from Hope. They quickly swallowed the pills, handed the cups back and got up, "Better get back to see how this ends."

"How close are you to finishing the exercise?" Hope asked, tossing the cups away.

"All recruits to the control room," Xavier's voice cut through the air over the Institute's intercom system, "All recruits to the control. Doctor Chandler could you also come to the control room please?"

"I guess you're finished." Hope said, "Better get going." Hope followed the weary students through the halls towards the control room, debating the wisdom of having a few words with Xavier once this was over. She didn't approve of what was happening to the students, they were worked to the bone, then they had to deal with schoolwork, and of course the normal problems teenagers have to deal with on a day to day basis. She was afraid some of the students would drop from exhaustion soon. Hank, who was currently on a mission with Ororo to try and find Logan, agreed with her, but when he had tried to reason with the Professor he had made no ground. It seemed Xavier wouldn't budge on his position that the students were just not ready to face Magneto. Hope stepped inside the control room, all the students were covered in orange paint and Charles was facing off with Scott.

"Excuse me, Professor, but what's goin' on? You've never driven us this hard," Scott said, glaring at the Professor.

"I had to see," Charles said, turning away from Scott, "I had to confirm my fears." Hope slide into the room, standing off to the side of the door, "It's clear that none of you are ready to face Magneto."

"I disagree," Scott said instantly, but Hope had a feeling the Professor was right. She remembered the images from when Charles had let her into his mind, and the latest battle with the Brotherhood, lately nothing had been going the X-men's way. Xavier crossed to Scott and leaned forward, getting very close to the boy.

"Do you? You couldn't even take care of the Brotherhood!" Hope gasped, she couldn't believe Charles would stoop to that level of ridicule. Scott looked surprised too, but crossed his arms and pouted like a scolded child. Charles relaxed back into his chair and turned towards where most of the new recruits were standing. "You never students," He said, looking each one of them in the eyes, "Your inexperience will jeopardize the mission. I simply can't risk using you." Hope sighed in relief, at least there was something she and the Professor agreed on. The new recruits were the ones who most often showed up in the Infirmary due to these training sessions and she didn't even want to think about how they would look if they really faced Magneto.

"As for the rest of you," Charles continued, turning back to the other students, "I'm left with a need to bolster your ranks." Charles moved away, back towards the door, he opened it and Hope was left gasping like the others. "Therefore, I'd like you to welcome your new team mates." Hope could barely breathe as the Brotherhood stepped inside, looking smugly superior. She had trouble facing them after all they had done to her, and even now she had a little trouble controlling her nerves. If she got too nervous she'd loose control of it, even though it was mostly dormant, when she was afraid it seemed to defend her. Taking deep breaths as Charles had instructed her, Hope steeled her shoulders and faced them down.

"You want us to work with them?" Kurt said, gesturing towards the Brotherhood.

"No way!" Kitty yelled angrily.

"This is a joke right?" Rouge crossed her arms and glared.

"Not a chance!" Spyke growled.

Kitty advanced on the Brotherhood and Charles, "Professor, you're not serious, are you? After what they did to us?" Hope had to agree, this just didn't sit well with her, and her decision was made, once this was settled, she was going to talk with Charles. She wanted to step forward now, but Toad grinned at her, and she felt the sparks leap between her fingers. She quickly hid her hands behind her back, and started practicing deep breathing exercises. This is not the place or time to lose control, Hope thought to herself, you need the control more than you need to cause more trouble.

Hope watched as Kitty stumbled forward and Quicksilver appeared behind her, "Hey, we won, you lost." He patted her shoulder, "Get over it." He disappeared again and reappeared besides his team mates.

"Look, I know this will be difficult for some of you," Charles said, holding up a hand for peace, "But despite your personal feelings, we face tremendous odds going against Magneto, and we will be a much stronger team with their help."

Spyke crossed over, pointing at the Brotherhood, "Why are you guys volunteering for this anyway? You don't like us any more than we like you." He finished putting his hands on his hips.

The Brotherhood exchanged grins, "We got our reasons," Quicksilver said.

"Yeah, maybe it's "Be Kind To Losers" week," Toad chuckled.

"And from what I've seen," Avalanche said, pointing at himself. Egomaniac, Hope thought, the X-men have beaten you almost every time. "It looks like you people can use a new team leader." He stopped in front of Scott, pointing his finger in Scott's face.

"Yeah, well guess what Shakedown? You can have the job! I'm done with this!" Scott shoved Avalanche aside and stomped towards the elevator.

"Scott!" Jean started after him, but Charles reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Jean, let him go."

"Let him go? Professor!" Jean looked around the room astonished, the look she gave Hope clearly was on for help and Hope just gave her a look that said, I will, just be patience.

"Time is of the essence. Right now we must continue training while you resume your efforts on Cerebro." Everyone looked towards the elevator as the door closed on Scott, "If we find Wolverine, we find Magneto. X-men, Brotherhood, go down to the danger room and wait for instructions." Hope waited while everyone filed out of the room, watching the Brotherhood crow and the X-men glare at them.

"Professor," Hope said once the doors to the elevator closed again, "Can you spare a minute?" Charles looked towards her, he seemed to consider for a second and then nodded, "I think they need a break, the students," She said, taking a step away from the wall, "You're pushing them a little too hard, I'm afraid they'll start dropping from exhaustion, or getting sick. You're weakening their immune systems, you're doing more harm than good."

"Doctor, they need to be ready, if they aren't and Magneto comes after them or you again, they'll be hurt worse."

"I'm not saying they don't need the practice, but they need less of it." Hope paused and took a deep breath, "I don't like the Brotherhood being here either, they can't be doing this without a reason that will benefit them and hurt us."

"That's not the real reason is it, Doctor?" Charles turned away from her and looked down into the danger room where on one side the Brotherhood stood, and the other the X-men. "You haven't been able to get past your fears about them, nor have you been able to learn control of your powers. You're afraid of losing control around them and hurting the others."

Hope gapped, amazed that Charles had read her that well. He is a mind reader Hope, she told herself, looking away from him, what do you expect.

"Doctor, I know you're trying," Charles said, turning back towards her, "You've made leaps in learning control, but I think it would be best if you went away for a the time being." Hope just stared at Charles for a bit, leave the Institute, at this time, why that was crazy.

"Professor," He held up a hand and Hope closed her mouth.

"Just hear me out, Doctor. Magneto may not be actively pursuing you, but he still wants you dead. I think it would be best for you to take some time off, like the new recruits, I can't risk using you."

"Professor, who is going to take care of the students while I'm away?" If I go away, Hope thought, hoping Charles couldn't hear it.

"You've been training Jean and Kitty haven't you? Along with the training Hank, Ororo, and I have, the students will be fine until you return," Charles said, "If there are any problems we can't take care of you will be sent for."

"Where would I go?" Hope asked, sitting heavily down on a consul panel.

"You could go visit your family," Charles came over to her and placed a hand on her knee, "I know it seems like I'm trying to get rid of you, Doctor, but I'm worried for your safety, as much as I am for the students and Logan."

"Then he is really missing?" Hope hadn't heard anything from Hank about the mission he and Ororo went on to see if there was any trace of the other instructor. Hope had tried not to be worried, but well, her crush on Logan made her worry…but only slightly, or that's what she kept telling herself.

"They called just before the exercise was finished, they found a twisted grate, and it does looks like Magneto has him." Hope sighed, maybe a vacation would be a good thing and she did trust the others with the students care. They had been taking care of the students long before she had shown up.

"Professor," Hope sighed, "Maybe you're right. I think it might be a good idea," Hope got up from the consul and looked down at the students. If it was a good idea, Hope thought, why do I feel so guilty?

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Hope closed the last of her suitcases, "I just don't get it, Hank, I know Charles is doing what he thinks is right but..." Hope finished with a shrug. She couldn't really put into words how she felt about leaving. She was a little grateful to get away from the Brotherhood, on the other hand with Charles asking the way he was Hope was worried for the students. She didn't want to antagonize Charles, two argument lost and she didn't have much faith in the third time being the charm.

"I have to agree with him though, we almost lost you once to Magneto, should we risk you when you're just a fledgling?" Hank said from where he sat in a arm chair across the room.

"Don't mother birds push their fledglings out of the nest?" She countered, sitting on the bed next to her suitcase.

Hank chuckled, "We wouldn't push you out until you're ready. You shouldn't worry though, you're leaving the infirmary in good hands."

"I know, I do trust you and Ororo to take care of the students, but I just don't like leaving."

"I can tell, so I had something made up for you," Hank reached into his pocket and pulled out a flip phone, "All the instructors have one, but since you never left the Institute, we didn't see a reason for giving you one. Think of it as a going away to come back later gift." Hope got up from where she sat, crossed to Hank and took the phone.

"It matches my jacket," She laughed, turning the phone over in her hands. It was dark blue with a red X on the front and a caduceus on the back. When Hope had returned from the hospital she'd been given what was jokingly called an X-jacket. A dark blue high school varsity like jacket, hers had been made special with a large white caduceus embroidered on the back. "So everyone knows you're a non-combatant." Charles had said as she tried it on for size.

"We like to match here at the Xavier Institute," Hank joked, as he gently took the phone from her, "This is a direct line to the Institute, Charles and the other instructors. Also you can reach the X-jet, and the Velocity with it."

"Just in case I need you for anything?" Hope tucked the phone into her purse.

"Or just in case we need you for anything," Hank took her hand in his, "You be careful, alright? Magneto may be counting on this move as his chance to get a hold on you."

"He'll just have to deal with the new and improved Dr. Hope Chandler, won't he? And this one comes with mutant powers, under well slight control."

"Doc?" Bobby stuck his head into the room, "Your limo is here and boy, it's a big one."

"It's not a stretch SUV black with a silver logo reading Chandler Shipping is it?" Hope asked, dropping her head to her hands.

"Yeah, man, can I take a look inside?"

"Me too?" Forge asked sticking his head inside beside Bobby's.

"As long as you take a suitcase out to it first," Hank ordered, getting to his feet. "Would you like me to get some more students to help with the bags?"

"Once Bobby and Forge tell everyone about how to get a look inside this won't take more than a minute or so," Hope pulled on her jacket, picked up her purse and hugged Hank, "I tell my family you say hello, maybe Dad will send me back with some cigars."

"Don't be afraid to call just because you want to say hello," Hank said returning the hug.

"You'll call if there's any news, on any one alright?"

"I promise, Hope."

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Hope had her notes spread out on the table before her, every piece of work she had on her X-gene theories she had brought with her to work on while taking a "vacation" form the Institute. She'd come home to a warm welcome, which wasn't surprising, she'd been treated with the utmost of care, which was normal for her mother to use when dealing with Hope, even though she was the oldest child in the family. What was surprising was how much Hope missed the noise and activity of the Institute, especially when the Chandler plantation was silent like it was now. The only sounds in the whole house were the television Hope had turned to her mother's favorite soap opera and the cicadas outside buzzing away in the heat. Hope wanted to hear students running around outside her door, or the beeps and hums of medical equipment while she diligently typed away on her keyboard. Here, at home, she couldn't focus, she needed Kurt to pop up behind her and scare her, or the alarm to go off and leave her scrambling for her medical field kit so she could make it to the X-jet on time. She had tried calling Hank earlier that day, but he hadn't picked up, so she figured he was training with the others, which left Hope with one thing left to do. It was either go to her mother's social club, which was one of Hope's least favorite activities in the world, or stay home alone and work on her theories. So far she's managed to beat seven games of solitaire. Hope set her laptop onto the table and looked up at the soap opera. Suddenly a reporter flashed on screen, a little picture of what looked like a giant robot from a science fiction movie. Hope scrambled for the remote when Jean's face flashed on screen.

"Frightened citizens flee in terror as strangers with inhuman powers desperately fight the metal monolith." Hope was on her feet in a instant, running from her room and slamming into the railing on the second floor hallway.

"Benson!" She yelled, calling for one of the house servants, "Benson, Maria, Nicole!" Hope started for the stairs, thundering down them like a bat out of hell, and at the bottom she slammed into Benson. "Oh, thank god, Benson quickly, get Maria and Nicole to get my things together to send to the Institute later on. I need to leave for Bayville now."

"Ms. Chandler, what's going on?" Benson asked, following Hope as she went sprinting towards the garage.

"I need you, Benson, to call the pilot for the jet," Hope said as she shoved herself into her jacket, "I need to get to Bayville Airport as soon as possible, please, Benson, it's important." Benson could never refuse Hope anything when she was little, and the look in his eyes told Hope that he still couldn't refuse her. "Thank you, Benson, tell Mom and Dad good-bye for me." Hope leaned over and kissed the old butlers cheek and then went running for a car.

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Author's Note: I hope I left you hanging, I really do. My favorite part of this chapter, Hope admitting she has a crush on Logan - it's just so cute. Anyway, I promise not to leave you hanging for too long.