"Timber!"
The gathered mutants scattered quickly as their assembled shelter collapsed on them… for what seemed like the ninth time since they'd come to the remote Hawaiian Island. Nearby, Hank chuckled, resting himself on the flooring of his own constructed habitat that he shared with Ororo and Piotr. The kids had been left to their own devices for the most part when it came to survival, they had just been sent along to keep them from causing trouble.
And to enjoy the show.
Right now at least sixteen or seventeen Jamies were running around trying to re-construct the shelter. Hank could've pointed out they were building on an unsecure landscape, but kept his opinions to himself. Hopefully they'd notice before they got too far along. They'd learn sooner or later.
Rain was an infrequent visitor during their trip down to Hawaii, the days long and sunny and sweltering hot. It had forced the furry mutants, namely Kurt and Hank, out of the sun during the day, and made them more active by night, when things cooled considerably. Having given up on the ideas of shelter almost a fortnight ago, most of the New Recruits had settled on lying down on the beach under the stars. Which of course sucked when they got rained on, made them work on a shelter for a while, and then it would collapse. The pattern kept repeating itself, over and over again.
Further down the beach, the second team was having a much easier time, their shelter having been constructed about three hours after they'd arrived on the island. That was primarily owed, of course, to the superhuman strength of little Rogue, and her team of Lance, Kitty, Kurt, and Amanda. Most of them were still asleep, having learned early on to ignore the sounds of re-construction from the other shelter. Still, Hank happened to notice how Amanda and Kurt were shifting over, no doubt to give room to anyone who might come by and ask to use their shelter for 'just a little while.'
But Rogue… Rogue was another matter.
Rogue was clearly not enjoying herself on the island. And clearly, one did not have to look farther than the members of her makeshift team to tell why. Kurt had Amanda, Lance had Kitty, and Rogue had no one. Her significant other was… well… unable to join them.
And today it seemed, Rogue could not stand it a moment longer. So it was she lifted herself up into the air, soaring up among the clouds searching for Ororo, and finally finding her floating amongst the clouds on her back, much like a swimmer might float on the surface of water.
"Ororo?" she asked, well aware that her white-haired mentor was probably relaxing.
"Yes child?" she replied, sitting up on the cloud to peer at Rogue.
"I'm thinking, if its okay with you an' Hank if I could head home early? I mean, I'm having fun and 'all here, but…"
"Go on," replied Ororo with a smile. Years of dealing with teenagers had taught her how to sense subtle shifts in their emotions and sort through their sometimes veiled questions or requests. Rogue wanted to go home so she could visit Gambit. And that was fine by the weather witch. She'd inform Hank once she decided to head back down. Preferably some time after Ray and Roberto had stopped bickering with one another over their latest failed shelter. Honestly.
"Watch out for low flying planes," remarked Ororo as she lay her head back once more and closed her eyes. Rogue barely heard her as she zipped off through the clouds, moving at close to her maximum speed, mach two. Technically she was capable of mach three if she pushed herself, but she felt no need to over-exert herself. Just get home before the sun set on beautiful Bayville.
And hopefully before visiting hours were over.
Meanwhile, on the island, tempers had settled down (hot heads never lasted long in the hot baking sun of Hawaii's islands) and the New Recruits had settled for their favorite activity to pass the time.
Mutant Volleyball.
They had the equipment of course. The Blackbird had on board, in addition to enough firepower to take out anything else in the air, enough storage space. They'd filled it with all manner of beach stuff and survival gear, though they'd left most on board. They wanted to challenge their inventive nature and mutant powers. Still, they could take a break and have fun every now and then.
The game quickly became guys vs. girls. With Alex, Ray, Bobby and Jamie (only one at the moment) taking on Tabby, Amara, Jubilee and Rahne. Roberto was busy soaking up sunlight on the beach, far away from the players of the game. Lance and Kitty had both declined offers from their own sides to join, and were sitting in the shade of a nearby palm tree, cuddled in one another's arms. Of Kurt and Amanda, there was no sign. Not entirely a surprise. They tended to wander off for hours at a time, 'gathering firewood' or 'exploring.'
Clouds were prominent that day, obscuring the sun, but it was a welcome break from the heat, and no one complained. And when the light returned, again no one complained or noticed.
Only it wasn't the sun that was making that light.
"Hey, what's that?" asked Kitty, pointing up at the sky. Something was up there… burning? It was a bright spot of red fire, high up in the sky.
"I dunno," replied Lance, sitting up and squinting his eyes. He couldn't see from this distance.
And then more eyes became to fixate on the strange light up in the sky. And soon they were all peering up at the strange phenomenon, wondering what it could possibly signify.
And very soon, they found out.
Because it was heading straight for them.
"As Kitty would say, orange is -so- not your color," remarked Rogue lightly, one hand pressed against the glass, one hand holding the phone to her ear.
"I've worn worse, believe me," replied Remy, cocky and suave, even in his given circumstances, his stance mirroring Rogue's.
Gambit had, from day one, never made a secret of his former life of a thief. Hell, half the time he was damn proud of it. He could've pilfered the pearl necklace off of Ororo's neck from thirty feet away without her noticing. He was the best.
But when he met Rogue, he'd given up his thieving ways. When he'd settled at the Institute, he'd sworn on his mother's grave (a very serious thieve's guild oath) to atone for his past sins. Not exactly to stop stealing all together (never say never, after all) but he would make amends for some of the things he stole. One such item had been rather irreplaceable, and had originally been intended, by its original owner, to be donated to charity. This had been the worst of Remy's crimes. Thus, he'd done the only honorable thing he could do.
He'd turned himself in.
Professor Xavier's aid and Remy's cooperation had placed him in a minimum security prison for a five year sentence, on the condition he did not use his mutant powers. If that happened, he'd be transferred to the Maximum Security Penitentiary for Superhumans for at least twice that. So far, he'd been nothing less than a model prisoner, and the D.A. suggested that he might be out in another year and a half or so, provided there were no problems.
"How're things in the real world?" asked Remy jokingly. "I almost forget what its like out there, chere…"
"Same old, same old. Kitty still steals my Linkin Park CD's, can't cook, and is going to be moving back in with me in Fall when the new students arrive."
"You must hate that."
"I'd rather have my favorite Cajun for a roommate," she replied teasingly. He smirked, not even phased. Darn, Rogue was really hoping to get him with that comment. Whenever they played the teasing game, Remy always seemed to walk away the winner, and it irritated Rogue to no end. One day, swamp rat, she vowed, one day you're gonna go down.
"I miss you," he said, his voice and indeed his entire posture changing. He was being serious. Long time around him had helped Rogue see the subtle points of his nature. And made her like him that much more.
"Ah miss you too," she replied, her southern accent thickening as it always did when she was around Remy. He brought back such fond memories of her old home. Before mutants, before costumes, before no-touching. When life was simpler. "You know ah'll be waiting for ya when ya get out," she said, leaning closer against the glass that separated them.
Glass that Rogue could've shattered with a flick of her finger, that Remy could've blown to bits. They could've escaped in under a minute, and no one could stand in their way… but they didn't. Professor X had taught them both better than that. Power brought responsibility.
"Better have my coat ready for me," he replied with a smirk, his posture once again teasing, but his eyes were serious, red on black as they peered into Rogue's green ones. He'd given her his prize trenchcoat, and all of the playing cards therein (including a Tarot deck Rogue had once bought him for Christmas) before offering himself up to the Bayville police.
And so visiting hours came to an end, and reluctantly Rogue and Remy separated, going their separate ways. The next few years would be hard on both of them, but they would come through it the better for the experience.
The gathered mutants scattered, each heading their own way and doing their best to find whatever shelter they could. For all the good it did them. A meteor didn't exactly stop until it left a smoldering crater in the earth, which is exactly what it did when it (thankfully) flew lover over their heads, so loud it was nearly deafening, and slammed into the earth. Entire waves of thick black dust flew up into the air, whooshing over the students and the teachers alike. Kurt grabbed Amanda and teleported her inside of the Blackbird where they had a sliver more protection than those outside from the shockwave that followed.
When it was over, everyone was covered in dust, half-deaf (ringing in the ears mostly), and confused, but thankfully no one was hurt.
Once everyone was safely taken care of, Hank immediately took charge and gathered up Kitty and Lance to come with him and inspect the fallen meteor, leaving behind Ororo to organize the others to clean up what things they could find. Their volleyball net had been blown into the sea, and the game was officially over.
Kitty was the first to reach the impact crater, which stretched nearly thirty yards from end to end. Hank and Lance were lagging behind. Below, there was a great deal of white smoke, but it was quickly dispersing. All around, the trees were broken and knocked down, particularly in a long path that had no doubt been the flight of the meteor.
Then the smoke cleared, and Kitty got a good look at what had fallen to their blue planet from the stars.
"Oh my god," she whispered, her hand over her mouth.
By the time Lance and Hank had arrived, Kitty had already stepped into the crater, ignoring any warning Dr. Hank McCoy might've given about how the rock was still hot and dangerous. And when she emerged again from the crater, she had something in her arms.
Something tiny, purple, reptilian, with wings and a tail… that even Hank McCoy could not identify with all his knowledge of the various species of earth's animal kingdom. But his study into mythology identified it, even as his mind reeled from the impact.
It was a dragon. A tiny, alien, baby dragon.
"Ah, finally… I have her. She is mine."
"Ours."
"Yes, yes, ours of course… her power is. But she herself is mine and mine alone. Make that clear when you begin your work."
"As you wish. Pity… I'd've rather liked her for myself."
"Just remember what I saved you from, you freak."
"Alright… we'll begin now."
Author's Notes:
Two distinct voices that time, much easier conversation to follow obviously. Hmmm, let's see… Remy's not dead but I think his jail scene would satisfy the many rabid anti-Gambit fans I have, while not getting my crucified by the pro-Gambit fans. Nice little compromise, I think. Also my explanation of why Rogue had on a trench coat in the future scenes of Ascension. We get a little insight into the vacationing X-Men, and learn once more the dynamics of a fanfiction. Trouble follows the hero around. A meteor containing a baby purple dragon? I've been waiting to give Kitty that particular pet for ages now. And don't worry, it wasn't completely random… it ties into the rest of the plot later to come. Next chapter… no more evil voices. We will finally see whom is behind the evil plotting and shadowy voices.
Star-of-chaos: I used to be filled with the terrible hatred for Jean. Then I realized if I tortured her, it'd be more appealing to the fans than killing her outright. Sentinel… uh… right. That sounds like it would be oh so remarkably painful. But yeah, he does deserve a swift kick in the rear, at least.
DoubleL27: I know what I'm doing. I've heard the complaints about Emma from everyone, I know how to keep the hussy from ruining the Evo universe. And yeah, good old Magneto. He's not really being manipulated, he's making deals. That OC you'll see again soon enough, and then her identity will become apparent.
Lyranfan: Not exactly a puppet. Not as much as some others will be used as pawns later on. After all, why would he care about Jean? It's just his kids (and alright, maybe his old buddy Charlie) he cares about. However, you might be right about him being pissed later on.
Evan fan: Nobody likes Jean, it would seem. But she seems more pleasant somehow around Scott, yes? And besides, I kill her I hurt him. But if I just make her suffer… muwahahaha! And there are your not-so-New Recruits. And all the others who aren't at the mansion. Evan'll have his time much later on.
Todd fan: Yes its Mastermind, but don't tell Scott that. They never learned his real name, you recall. He's hiding out in the Legacy company with his associate Emma Frost. His appearance? Illusions! Muwahahaha!
Fluffy's Number 1 Gal: Well there is in my story, damnit! Work with me here! There's lots of 'em! Maybe there was a spontaneous volcanic eruption a few years ago and this little island popped up out of nowhere. It's the Evo universe already. Now that my rants done, hope you're enjoying the rest.
Rogue14: Think X2. That might give you hints. Actually, that's all but giving away who she is, but I've decided to be generous lately. That's why I have a whole chapter dedicated to the villains of my story later on. Actually, that's the next one.
ViciousAssassin: And if you would recall, at the end of Annihilation to save time, I wrote that Magneto visited and trained the New Recruits. That scene is taken care of. Magneto is now freed to do whatever he wishes (or I wish). And as for that chapter, yes, one was Mystique, one was Emma, and one was our evil mastermind. Whomever they are. Package was files, but yes, they are important. Very valuable information. And Arcade isn't evil, no… but he can be easily manipulated. Mystique proved that. And don't worry, this is a plenty big review. But I love any and all feedback I get. Big, small, long, short. All delicious reviews!
Comet-hime: You must be the only person who is appreciating the developing love triangle of Scott-Jean-Emma. Although then again, you are the only one who knows where this is going. Good on the scanner. Let it know if it gets out of line I've got Apocalypse in my back pocket, and I'm not afraid to use him either!
Nessie6: Its illusion, baby. Hey, I love Morlocks! I gave them there own story, way back in the day. Nobody loves Morlocks more than me. Well okay lots of people probably do. But I was the first to support the Evan/Callisto couple! Or at least write a romance and a lemon about it.
X00001: You'll see soon enough. I have big plans for her and, indeed, the Evo universe.