THE HEAVENS OPEN
By Stormkeeper (stormkpr@usa.net)
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
And now…the final chapter
******************
After two days, the Vengeance had covered enough distance that Jean was able to make brief telepathic contact with Wolverine and the others in the Pryde. The shuttle reversed course and headed towards the Vengeance. The X-men anticipated that their rendezvous with the three would now be within just seven or eight days.
Jean walked down the hallway towards Storm's room. She looked forward to the healing ceremony. `We're so lucky,' she mused, thinking of the fact that the women on the team had this ritualized way to celebrate their friendship.
She tried to brush aside the pull of tension she felt. Storm would always be one of her dearest friends. Her loyalty, however, had to remain with the man she loved. `That's the wrong way to think about it,' she said to herself. It was not –--and must not become – a case of Storm versus Cyclops. They must find a way to work through any power-sharing struggles. `I am in a unique position to help them do that,' she realized with resolve.
It was amazing how these healing ceremonies put a person in a more reflective mood, Jean noticed. Just coming to that realization made her feel better. She wished that she had continued to host the rituals in Storm's absence but somehow no one – not Jean nor Rogue nor Jubilee – had suggested it during the six months Storm had been gone. Yet now that Storm was back with the group, it seemed the most natural thing in the world for the four of them to be sitting in a circle, in the darkened room lit only by candles.
Jeanne-Marie and Dani turned down offers to join them. Jeanne-Marie's rejection was not a surprise – she never attended the ceremonies – but Dani's was a disappointment. "She could really benefit from this," Storm had said.
"And she usedta love them," Rogue had added.
As soon as all four women had entered the room, Storm got up and lit the candles that surrounded their circle. She then turned the lights off.
"Feels just like the old days," Rogue said, looking at the faces of three of her closest friends. "Here we all are again."
"It feels like coming home," Storm added, seating herself cross-legged on the floor.
"You are back home again," Jean said, smiling at the thought.
The women sat together, and wished for healing for Rogue from her miscarriage, and for Dani to heal from Marrow's suicide. They wished for a quick reunion with Wolverine and the others. They created and sent positive and powerful energy where it was needed.
***************
It was really an exciting time. We X-men were almost whole again, and as soon as we met up with Wolverine and the others, we would be one big family once more. (Well, without the Professor but his presence was always with us.) It was so exciting to have a functioning starship again too – who knew what lay ahead. Maybe we'd finally get to earth.
I was really glad that Storm and Dani were back, though Dani definitely was not the person she had been when she left with the Pirates. She didn't really talk much to me – or to anyone, as far as I could tell –- but I was still glad she was with us once more. I felt bad for her though. I guess I really had no idea what she was going through, or even what her relationship with Marrow had been like.
One day, I was tending to my vegetables in the green house. My plants were thriving, if I say so myself. I squeezed a few fat tomatoes and picked them from the vine, thinking of what a nice salad we could have that evening. I was even growing jalapeno peppers, which could be used to liven up any replicated dish (and which I'm sure Hector would like, when we met up with him in a few days.)
The door opened and Jean-Paul walked through.
"Hello, amour," he said.
"Hi, love," I said, going up to him and kissing him. "What's this?" I asked. I could tell he was holding something behind his back.
"For you, my sweet," he said, presenting me with a bouquet of red roses.
I was really touched, and I think my face turned pink as I handled the bouquet. True, with our now-ample supply of dilithium, obtaining a bouquet of flowers was as easy as pressing a few buttons, but it was what the flowers symbolized that meant the world to me. For a few seconds I was flustered, but then I pulled Jean-Paul into a hug.
"Thank you," I whispered. "I love them."
I then sobered up and asked, as I released him from the hug, "So what's the occasion? Other than that we have a lot of dilithium now and can do stuff like this again?" And then a sobering thought entered my mind and I asked – hoping to sound half-joking – "You're not going to ask me to have children with Jeanne-Marie again, are you?"
"No, no," he assured me. "Why does there need to be an occasion? I just wanted to say that I love you. And," he added, "I hope we don't go through another period of not talking to each other again. After all we've been through together."
I nodded and looked down at the roses. "We have been through a lot together. It's such an insane galaxy we're living in….but I'll always be there for you, Jean-Paul. You know that, don't you?" I paused and, seeing his nod, continued, "There isn't much you can bet on in this galaxy, but I will always be there for you and always love you."
"I know, Bobby," he said, and gave me a quick kiss on the mouth. We hugged for a bit, though the large bouquet was between us. Jean-Paul released me from the hug and said, "I've been thinking, amour. I talked to Kurt this morning. We thought maybe it would be good for me to start up with seeing him again. So I'm going to go back into counseling -- or whatever you call it – with him."
I nearly had to stop myself from jumping into the air with joy. I settled for a fist-pump. Jean-Paul smiled at my happiness.
*************
"At least I got to see why everyone makes such a big deal out of the Paradise Planet," Dani said to Jubilee.
"I'm glad you got to see the beauty of the place," she responded, taking another swig of her drink. With the replenished dilithium supply, the X-men were free to replicate what they wanted – within reason – and Jubilee enjoyed an orange fizzy soft drink. She and Dani, along with Rory, lingered in the mess hall after lunch one day.
Jubilee looked across the table at Dani. She looked like hell. At least Jubilee had succeeded – after several days -- in luring her to moving her belongings and setting up a room inside Freedom. But no one had gotten her to talk about Marrow's suicide, which made Dani's remark about the planet all the more surprising.
"What did you do when you were there?" Dani asked. She was drinking something stronger than Jubilee's soda pop.
Jubilee opened her mouth to reply, when she had to turn her attention to her daughter. "No, Rory, put that down. You already had dessert."
"Want more!" Rory demanded, brandishing a cookie.
"No, sweetie. One was enough. You don't need another."
Rory flailed one of her arms and knocked over her mother's drink. The liquid poured onto her clothing, then dripped down to the floor.
"Great," Jubilee muttered. Rory then scrambled off towards the corner of her room where she'd left a favorite doll. Jubilee said, loud enough that only Dani could hear. "God, if I'd had any idea how much work this motherhood thing was gonna be…." She let her voice trail off.
Dani wasn't one for uttering platitudes – not now nor ever, really. She handed Jubilee a clean towel to dab at her outfit. "It'll come out," she said, pointing to the wet mark on Jubilee's shirt.
"Yeah." Jubilee lowered her voice again and said, "I love her, but sometimes I wonder why in the hell I decided to go through with it." The words slipped out and Jubilee marveled as she realized something. Dani was the only person to whom she'd ever confided her mixed feelings about motherhood. She'd never told Wolverine, Storm, or Bobby. She'd never even mentioned it to Sam.
"**That's** what I remember most about our stay on the Paradise Planet. Being pregnant and having her," Jubilee said, as Rory headed back in her direction. Rory reached up to give her mother a hug, which Jubilee eagerly reciprocated.
And then she quietly added, "And desire – I got it back, on the Paradise Planet. That's one of the things I remember from there. I was like all numb – sexually, you know --- for months before I got there. Sometimes I thought maybe I'd never get horny again. But it came back – the urge came back --- when I was on that planet." She smiled with sincere joy at the memories.
Jubilee saw Dani's eyes, looking and listening intently. Dani was just so easy to talk to. Jubilee thought back to the misguided pass Dani had made at her. It seemed so long ago, though Jubilee realized that not too much time could have passed. She began to wonder if she herself would be better suited to lesbian sex, at least from the point of view of the mechanics of lovemaking and at least based on what she assumed two women did in bed. Penetration didn't do much for Jubilee. She rarely orgasmed during the penis-in-vagina part, though she did respond well to clitoral rubbing and licking. Sam was generally happy to oblige, but still. Sometimes she felt like he was doing her a favor and sometimes he acted just a bit like he was doing her a favor too. She wondered what it would be like to have sex centered around the things **she** liked rather than the thing her partner liked.
`Too bad I'm not at all attracted to women,' Jubilee concluded.
"What are you thinking about?" Dani asked.
"Oh, nothing," Jubilee responded and she realized that her cheeks were just the slightest shade of pink. "Um, actually, I take that back. I was thinking of something. Dani, I – uh – I want to apologize. For what happened between us on An'zhina. I've been meaning to say this for a long time. I totally responded all wrong. I was an idiot for not going back to you right away and trying to make it better."
Dani looked downwards and didn't reply. It all seemed so long ago to her now.
Jubilee was half-expecting her to wave her hands and say that an apology wasn't necessary and that she was the one who should be apologizing. But she didn't do any of those things. "I regret what happened too." Dani shook her head and said, her voice near a whisper, "What was I thinking?"
"Don't worry about it. You know….if something else ever happens to mess up our friendship, let's like try to deal with it next time. It's…it's worth it, you know." For a reason she couldn't explain, Jubilee extended a hand.
Dani took it. The hand was warm. "It's a deal," she said.
***************
Life was good for the 320 inhabitants of An'zhina, Charles Xavier contemplated early one morning. This he could tell without using his powers. The mutants were healing and growing stronger, day by day. He tried to put his worries about the X-men out of his mind. `Wherever they are,' he said to himself, knowing in his gut that they were not dead, `they will be safe. They know what to do.'
He and Moira ate breakfast together every morning on one of the back porches of the main building. They both rose at sun-up and were usually the only two people awake at that time. He smiled as she saw her approaching the table, tray in hand. She was still beautiful; he found that her wrinkles and age lines gave her face such character. Xavier took a breath of the An'zhinian air and tried to remember to be thankful for this achingly beautiful world, with the orange and pink sunrays bursting through the last visages of the night's darkness.
As they chatted amicably during the meal, Charles made a mental note to talk to John and Elaine Grey. Their family was doing well despite their worries over the whereabouts of Jean and Scott. Gail and Joe now appeared quite comfortable in their mutant skins and Joe still harbored aspirations of one day becoming an X-man. Sara Grey had broken up with Angel, but both members of the former couple appeared well and happy. Angel was now dating one of the other An'zhinian inhabitants.
Moira's husband and step-daughter were in good cheer. Siryn had just married her boyfriend Lisman. The Professor had been honored to conduct the ceremony. Banshee liked his new son-in-law and was delighted with the fact that Siryn and Lisman planned to have children soon. He wanted to be a grandfather. It might not be that long before Rob McCoy was no longer the only baby on An'zhina. Moira said that she was holding back her excitement until the day that the baby would be born. Once that day arrived, Charles knew she would be a beaming and doting grandmother.
The Professor knew that things could be better for Panda and her son Rob. He checked in with them occasionally but found that Panda seemed to open up most with Colossus's former love, Elena. He hoped that Panda might someday return to her X-men training, though thoughts of rigorous work did not seem to be on the minds of many An'zhinians. Charles found himself less bothered by that fact than he knew he ought to be. Most of the mutants without special powers had taken self-defense classes led by Angel, and they seemed to be content with that.
Todd wasn't causing any trouble, though Charles knew that might change if Bobby and Northstar ever returned. `**When**,' he silently corrected himself, `not if.' And the former FOH soldier Mark seemed fine. His friends on An'zhina were numerous, his days as an FOH soldier forgotten or forgiven by most.
Queen Marina was oddly absent. She normally allowed the mutants to live as they wanted but she used to make periodic contact with the group. No more. Charles felt perhaps she had withdrawn due to the fact that the X-men were gone.
"They will be back someday, Charles," Moira said, reaching to hold one of his warm hands. "You know they will."
The painful sense of loss stabbed at his gut once more. "I know," he said. He then pressed his lips together, wanting to smother the tears that threatened to prevail.
**************
The Pryde was beamed back inside Freedom's shuttle bay as the X-men stood around, eager to reunite with their three teammates, Wolverine, Shaman, and Hector.
Storm wondered whether the others could pick up on her emotional state. Jean turned her head and gave Storm a smile.
Beforehand, Storm had stood inside her room, observing her naked body in front of a full-length mirror. The fact of the matter was that Storm would age and Wolverine would not. She knew that she was still stunning. But she also knew that she wasn't 25 any longer.
Her heart beat madly as the door to the shuttle slowly opened and the ramp was lowered. It had been seven months since they'd seen each other. `A person can change in seven months,' a nagging voice, buzzing inside her head, taunted.
As the three walked down the shuttle's ramp, X-men swirled around them, rushing up to greet their friends as if they had not seen them for ages. Most seemed, however, to stay clear of Wolverine, giving him and Storm space. Looking at Wolverine as he walked down the ramp, duffel bag flung over his shoulder, the crowd between the two of them seemed to part. Her heart rate picked up when she realized his attention was focussed solely on her. Solely. Storm exhaled. `Of course it is. This is the man who took dancing lessons for me.'
***************
She wasn't sure how, but they ended up inside their personal quarters, seemingly a second or two after their eyes had locked in the shuttle bay. Storm was certain more time must have passed but she could not recall how or when.
Logan was showering. She recalled him saying, "The damn sink in the shuttle don't cut it." She smiled.
Storm had bathed just prior to the shuttle's arrival, enjoying a long bubble bath with aromatic oil. She always chose subtle, natural scents, not wanting to confuse or overwhelm Logan's sharp senses.
By the time she heard the water stop, Storm had lit six candles. The room was bright even with the lights turned off. She had been debating whether to greet him in the nude or wearing a sexy number. She finally decided on what she knew they both would enjoy the most.
Wolverine was towel-drying his hair when he emerged, naked, from the bathroom. He saw her and a look came over his face as if he wanted to lick his chops.
The towel was thrown to the floor. They embraced each other hungrily, kissing passionately. Storm's breath was nearly taken away. The feel of naked flesh against naked flesh was tantalizing to both. She ran her fingers through his damp hair.
"Love you so much, `Ro," he breathed, desperately.
"I love you too, Logan," she said, before crashing her lips against his once more. She had not forgotten the excitement of his tongue in her mouth, his rough stubble against her face, his hands roaming her body which soon would be glistening with sweat.
Ever since the Pirates had let Storm go, she had wondered what this moment might be like. She had considered the possibility that she wouldn't want sex right away, that she might need some time to just cuddle with her lover, to talk, to reconnect. Sex, she had contemplated, might come later but there would be no harm in giving it time.
`All good ideas, but what the hell had I been thinking??'
She wrapped her hands around his cock, which had been stiff when he exited the shower but in the span of a few minutes was now hard as adamantium. He groaned. "Don't wanna go too fast for you, Ro," he whispered. He brought his lips to hers again.
She enjoyed the kiss for several moments, then breathed against his ear, "We can make love all day if we want. But round one can be fast – I need you inside me this minute!" She grabbed his hand and brought it to her core, which somehow was soaked already.
He groaned again and picked her up. His muscular arms lowered her to the bed, and she spread her legs. His mouth still against hers, tongue plunging inside, he entered her.
Storm gathered that Logan was trying to go slowly, allow her time to get used to the sensation of being full once more. But soon, he was able to pick up from her cries and frantic thrusts how serious her words had been. Her nails scoring his back, she moved her lower body against his, reveling in the purely animalistic pleasure of feeling his hard cock inside her. "Oh god Logan!" she exclaimed, as his tongue explored her neck.
He continued to pump her, his body aching with pleasure. He'd yearned for this moment for months on end, dying to have her soft body against his, to be inside of her, to have her wet lips kissing his mouth as he plundered her. He loved her aggression, the way she was wanting it as fast and hard as he did, the way she thrust up to meet each and every stroke of his. Later he would tenderly make love to her – and enjoy it as she did the same to him. For now, they would both obey the raw desires of their bodies. He pumped her harder.
"Oh god…..ohhhh," Storm breathed as her body spasmed. The indescribably good sensations spread from her loins throughout her body.
Logan cried her name as he began to cum, moments after her orgasm began. He kept thrusting, pouring every bit of his orgasm inside her.
The couple lay melted together as the motions of their lower bodies slowed, and gradually ceased. For several minutes, they allowed their lips to leisurely explore each other's, as if to counterbalance the frenetic pace of their lovemaking moments ago. Slowly and languidly Storm allowed her kisses to roam Logan's face.
"Storm." He spoke her name, after he slowly rolled off of her.
"Welcome back, Logan," she said, reaching to cup his face. Her breathing only gradually began to return to a normal pace.
"Same to you, darlin."
Their arms still wrapped around each other's, they kissed again. Logan relished his special homecoming. "You miss me, darlin'?" he asked.
She playfully swiped at him. "What do you think?" she asked, smiling. Storm then hoisted herself up and straddled his body. She lackadaisically played with the hair that covered his chest. "It was beautiful to the see the Paradise Planet again, but it just cannot compare with this."
"You were damn smart to get the Pirates to go there." Wolverine had heard the entire story, telepathically, from Jean.
"I truly had no idea that this would happen though," she said. "That Psylocke would let us go." She then bent forward, dangling her full breasts in the vicinity of his face.
Logan reached a hand to cup and fondle the beautiful breasts. He allowed a small, slow groan to escape, conveying his enjoyment. "God, Storm, you're so beautiful," he murmured. He gently squeezed one of her nipples. He repeated, whispering, "You are so beautiful."
She closed her eyes, feeling a new wave of desire beginning to spread throughout her body. The sensual feelings from her orgasm had not completely subsided either.
"C'mere," he gestured. She bent her body downwards and Logan reached up so that he could suckle her breasts. He reached a nipple into his mouth and tongued it, as a hand massaged the other breast. Sitting upwards, he brought her large breasts together and hungrily sucked on both nipples at the same time.
"Oh Goddess," Storm hissed.
She allowed him to continue his ministrations for several moments, before deciding to retake the lead. She broke from his grasp and repositioned herself towards his midsection. Storm reached for his manhood, which was already stiff again.
After playing with and licking his cock for a while, Storm opened her mouth wide and deftly slid it inside the warm, wet cavern. She moved her head up and down on his shaft. One of his hands was threaded through her white hair; the other clenched the wet sheets. He was able to partially sit up so he could enjoy watching her give him head. Mostly he just gave way to the pleasure of the sensations that he had not experienced for so long.
"I'm gonna cum," he whispered, moments before he began to release. Storm kept her mouth on him. Logan watched her through eyes half-lidded with pleasure. Afterwards, she licked a drop of the white substance off her lips.
"My turn," he said, never one to waste time. He bade her to lie on her back, and practically dove down in-between her legs. She'd spread them wide. With a shocking tenderness, he parted her lips. Her clitoris was large and swollen, and he could hardly wait to begin stroking it. Finesse wasn't his strong point, but he always knew what to do when it came to going down on her. He gently began to lick her outer lips.
Storm closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She knew she was in for a long – and rapturous – reunion.
*****************
Meanwhile, Jubilee and most of the others waited in the rec room. "Are we ever gonna get to see Wolvie again?" she wondered. She knew he and Storm had to have their reunion, but she missed him. It was so awesome, she reflected, to have both Storm and Wolverine back now. 'Assuming they ever leave their damn room,' she added to herself.
"We need him back here so we can have our meeting and plan our next step," Cyclops said, sounding impatient.
"Sheesh, what's with you people??" Bobby asked, annoyed. "He and Storm haven't seen each other for **seven months**! Have a little sympathy." Jean-Paul sat next to Bobby and smiled. He planted a delicate kiss on his lover's cheek.
"Y'all know he's got that healin' factor," Rogue said. "We might as well call it a day and meet tomorrow."
Remy, sitting next to his wife on the sofa, reached for and subtly patted her thigh. He fondly remembered the day after they'd first made love on the Paradise Planet. He had so enjoyed the congratulatory winks and nudges that he'd received from Bobby and Colossus the next day.
Cyclops looked around the room. "Good idea. Hell, what's one more day?"
***************
So the X-men would discuss their next move the following day, giving Wolverine some time to adjust to being home once more. They all knew the last thing the wild man wanted to do was sit in a meeting, and no one volunteered to tear him away from Storm's arms and bring him to a conference room.
After putting their children to bed, Jean and Scott settled into bed together, wrapping the warm blankets around themselves. They hadn't planned on making love that night, but Scott spontaneously initiated it. They were slower and less vigorous than the newly-reunited couple a few doors down, but their love for each other was no less intense. Afterwards, Scott fell asleep right away.
Slumber did not happen quickly for Jean that night. She usually had little trouble falling asleep and felt puzzled at her body's inability that night. Climbing out of the bed once more, she mentally did a brief check-in of the ship's inhabitants and the surrounding area of space. Nothing abnormal. She took several calming breaths, and then quietly resumed her place beside her husband, hoping not to wake him.
Finally, she began to fade from consciousness and fall into the blackness of sleep.
//Jean Grey? Is that you?//
Jean sat bolt upright in bed. Another telepathic consciousness had touched hers, and she knew instantly that it was not Psylocke. Her mind was groggy, and she had to concentrate.
//Emma Frost?// Jean asked.
//Yes.//
It had been a long time since Jean had contact with this fellow telepath. They had had limited dealings with each other back on earth, years and years before FOH had risen to power. Much more recently, Emma had worked in concert with FOH – in exchange for a smattering of freedom --- and had used her powers to counter the X-men during a few of their trips to earth. Jean had been on the last such trip, and she had fought off Emma during a few battles of the mind.
Panicked, Jean sat up in bed. How was Emma able to reach her here, so far out in space? Had Emma's powers been somehow increased exponentially? Jean then struggled to control and shield her thoughts, only projecting those she wanted to reveal. She was successful.
//Where are you?// Jean asked.
//I am in space. I'm on a runabout with several FOH leaders.// A runabout was a space vehicle larger than a standard shuttle but much smaller than a starship like Freedom.
Jean immediately sought to verify Emma's words. She picked up the mental signatures of about five men, all in proximity to Emma. A few perfunctory scans revealed that they were, indeed, FOH leaders. One of them was the notorious General Smith who was – at least last the X-men had heard – FOH's supreme leader.
//What the hell is going on, Emma?// Jean asked. She noticed her husband now awake, sitting up beside her. Due to their mindlink, he could pick up traces of Jean's "conversation" with Emma.
//We're fleeing earth. We're looking for you.//
//Why?//
//Jean, the situation on earth is terrible. We're under attack by the Cetians…and some other group. We fled in this cloaked runabout. We've been trying to find the X-men for a long, long time. We were on our way to that moon where you have your base.//
// Give me some details. What's happening on earth?// Jean's impatience came across loud and clear over the mindlink.
//You know who the Cetians are, right?//
//Yes. In fact, last I recall, your friends in FOH sold three members of the X-men to the Cetians a few years ago.// Jean referred to the fact that the Cetians used to have an alliance with FOH. FOH had captured Wolverine, Gambit, and Bobby and had shipped them off to the Cetians. The X-men had rescued their teammates, and shortly thereafter, FOH terminated their relationship with FOH.
//FOH sold a lot of humans to the Cetians over the years. But they botched their relationship with the Cetians. And now the Cetians have teamed up with some…some sorcerer from god-knows-where. Earth is under siege. They've been raiding earth, beaming down and stealing our resources – our water, our oil, they're even tearing up our forests, what's left of them, anyway. They've been kidnapping thousands of people and taking them into space – for slave labor, I guess. They're killing anyone who gets in their way. Most governments have collapsed, infrastructures are falling apart, the people who are left are starving. Earth is becoming a wasteland. Jean, it's just awful. FOH doesn't have the firepower to fight them off. Or to restore any semblance of normalcy for the people.//
//I can't believe that. FOH has hundreds of thousands –maybe millions -- of soldiers and a huge fleet of starships. The Cetians' technology and weaponry were comparable to ours. With the fleet and manpower FOH has, I can't believe that they're not able to put up a fight.//
//It's that…sorcerer who's working with the Cetians. They call him Dagron.//
Jean's blood froze. Dagron. The man who had kidnapped her, desirous of her telepathic abilities. The man who had seized a shuttle the X-men had left on his homeworld and used it to begin constructing an armada. He must have succeeded.
And the last words he had exchanged with Jean were "You haven't heard the last of me!"
Jean paused for another moment to ascertain the truth of Emma's words. She could tell that Emma wasn't giving her the whole story, but the thoughts she communicated **were** accurate. Jean doubted that Emma had the ability to pass off utter lies as truth, unless her powers had somehow increased tenfold.
//You know that I'm telling the truth, don't you?// Emma asked.
Jean ignored the question. Even without her telepathy, her gut told her of the veracity of Emma's words, as much as she wished to disbelieve them. //What about the mutants on earth? There are the thousands you have locked up in the FOH camps, and there are those like Pyro, Vertigo, and Avalanche who are working for FOH. Can't they fight back? FOH's army combined with a few hundred mutants should be powerful enough.//
//Hundreds of the mutants in camps were killed by the Cetians and Dagron's forces early on. Dagron had thousands of inhibitor collars. He was able to quickly subdue any sort of mutant resistance. The first few waves of the invasion were very swift and very targeted.//
//So you, and a few of FOH's leaders, were somehow able to escape earth in a runabout? You're with them out of your own free will, or do they have a collar on you?//
//Yes, we escaped together and yes, I'm with them out of my own free will. I couldn't have reached you telepathically if I had a collar on. We came searching for you X-men. You are the earth's last hope. Unlike the mutants in camps, you know how to fight. And unlike the FOH soldiers – or the mutants like Pyro and Toad – you know to fight as a team. You are probably earth's last chance for beating back this invasion.//
//And FOH **wants** us to help??//
//That's why the leaders are here. Well, we needed to escape to save our lives. But they are here also to ask for your help.//
Jean was silent for several moments. She was barely aware that Scott had turned on the lights and dressed. He was watching her intently. //You'll forgive me, Emma, if I can't quite swallow all this. It seems like a trap to me.//
//You're one of the strongest telepaths in the galaxy. Read my mind, or the minds of those with me.//
//I have. And how do I know that Dagron isn't somehow clouding things up?//
//You'd sense it if he were around here. But he's not. He's back on earth, pillaging what's left of the planet.//
'Pillaging.' Jean thought to herself. 'And setting a trap for the X-men, maybe?'
******************
I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I needed the warm, caffeinated drink to help the wheels of my brain turn. I don't think it was helping to steady my nerves though. All of Freedom's inhabitants were now sitting around the main conference room, clad in bathrobes, pajamas, and the like. Shaman and Rogue were on "bridge duty" on the Vengeance, so they joined us via a video link.
"Sounds like we're in for the fight of our lives if we go," Jubilee said, once Jean had explained the situation.
"Jean, how certain are you of the truth of Emma's words?" Storm asked.
"She's hiding some things. But I think…based on what I can tell….her basic words are correct. From reading her minds and those of the FOH leaders with her, I can tell it is true that earth is under siege. The planet is probably in the worst condition ever, and they are truly desperate."
"Fascinating," Hank said. "And quite alarming too."
"I saw some horrific images," Jean added quietly. Scott had an arm around her.
I looked at Cannonball, and he looked like he was freaking. His parents and sister were on earth – or at least, they had been at the time he left it. I saw Jubilee squeeze one of his hands, but I'd never seen him looking quite that distraught. I vaguely wondered what had become of my parents and brothers, but I truly didn't have more than a passing interest in the question.
"Smells like a trap to me," Wolverine said. He looked tired and exceptionally grumpy. This meeting was taking place several hours after most people had gone to bed – I wondered if he and Storm could possibly have still been going at it.
"We have an obligation to at least investigate," Cyclops said.
"We don't got any obligation to that shit-hole of a planet," Wolverine countered.
"I agree," Jean-Paul said. I turned my head to look at him. "We are not under any obligation towards earth."
"If we decide to investigate, we need to be very careful," Storm said.
"Las' time we run in wit' Dagron, we escape drough the skin of our teet'," Gambit said. "We sure we wanna take him on again?"
"Look, people, we might not have a choice here," Cyclops said. "If he is taking over earth, we can stay away if we want, but what makes you think he's going to stop there? He'll probably hunt us down eventually."
Cyclops had a really good point, I had to admit. I looked around the room, sipping my coffee, thinking that our lack of enthusiasm for this battle had to be due to what we had suffered during the last few years. Torture at the hands of FOH, mysterious power at the hands of Dagron, slavery under the Cetians….we were not cowards, but we weren't masochists either. We had been through enough. We had faced the insurmountable before and survived, but this might be too much.
Jubilee spoke up, "I hate to sound like…..like a wimp, I guess, but maybe we should return to An'zhina. The Endarians could squash the Cetians – and probably Dagron – like a bug. We're safe there. None of us wanna walk into a trap."
"I do not wish to either," Hank began, "but I do not wish to forsake earth either." Kurt sat next to Hank and was nodding at his words.
"Why not?" I asked. "We've been in **exile** for the last four years."
"Yeah, earth sure has exiled us," Jubilee said. "I just don't feel like I owe it anything."
I saw the disappointed look that Sam gave her. Looking around the table, I saw a mixture of fatigue, fear, confusion, and several other emotions.
"I suggest that we all go back to bed and try to get some more sleep," Cyclops said. "It might be difficult, but this is an important discussion….and it will result in a monumental decision. We need to have the discussion and make the decision when we're all more alert. We're not in any immediate danger now. Let's sleep on it and reconvene in seven hours." He looked at Rogue and Shaman over the viewscreen. "That will give you time to finish your shift and get some sleep, right?"
Rogue nodded. "We'll be extra vigilant," she promised.
We started to get up out of our seats. "One more thing," Cyclops began. "Whatever we decide to do, we'll do it as a team. No one will be forced into participating in a battle they don't want to fight." He paused, and then added, "But if we are going to take this on -- and win -- we all need to be one united team."
****************
You know what it's like when you're handed a piece of information that changes your life? I felt that way when I learned that Jean-Paul had tested HIV positive. Your stomach drops, your future is muddled, fear frazzles your system, and nothing is consoling. Jean-Paul held me tight when we went back to bed and he miraculously was able to sleep, but I couldn't.
Worries kept me awake. We X-men had defeated Apocalypse before and hadn't balked at going into battle then. Were the stakes any lower this time? Was it simply that we were older and had more concerns? Or was it what I had been thinking during the meeting, the fact that we had lived through different kinds of battles and torture during the last four years? Or did we just not care about earth any more? I wondered what the discussion would be like during tomorrow's meeting.
Jean-Paul woke up once and detected that I had not slept. "Go to sleep, amour," he whispered. "You always worry so."
"I can't help it."
"Can you really say you're surprised at what is happening on earth? We knew it was in trouble."
"But we didn't know it was facing a full-scale invasion. From the Cetians and Dagron, no less."
He sighed. "True. I wonder what the other X-men will want to do. I think that eventually they will decide that we should go back to earth and defend it." Jean-Paul's voice turned more tender. "Oh…um, Robere? There's something I've been meaning to say, but I have not been able to find the right time to say it."
"What is it?" I asked. I was actually glad at the prospect of having something to take my mind off of all this.
"Well, I wanted to apologize," he began, and I knew the words were not coming easily for him. "For flirting with Gambit in front of you."
I was too tired to make a sarcastic comment such as `Which time?' or `Okay, just flirt with him when I'm not around.'
Instead, Jean-Paul continued, "I mean that time back on the planet when we were sitting around the table outside."
"Oh, that time," I said, remembering the incident where he'd placed his hand on Gambit's thigh. I was glad he apologized and told him so. I then added, "Any particular reason why you brought this up now?"
"Well, I had a meeting with Kurt today. He pointed out to me that what I did might have been about control. I mean, I did not think of this when I did it. I was not thinking this way or trying to be a jerk. But he kindly pointed out to me the way my subconscious thoughts might have been motivating what I did."
"Control, huh?" I asked. It made sense to me, as I tried to think of how my old therapist might have seen it. Flirting with someone else right in front of me did function as a means of showing me who was boss. I had tried to forget about the times he did something like that. But forgetting about them didn't make them just disappear. I suppose no relationship is or ever will be perfect.
He reached for one of my hands and found it. "I'm sorry, amour," he repeated.
I was gratified that he'd apologized; humility was not easy for him. So I told him I forgave him, and shortly thereafter I fell right asleep.
*****************
Very few X-men were sleeping that night. Jean and Scott sat up in bed, facing each other. Jean held Charlotte, gently trying to coax her back into sleep.
"I was very proud of you in there, Scott. Proud of what you said. You sounded like a true leader."
He gave a brief smile at the compliment, but the dismal plight of earth prevented him from taking any real joy from the moment. "You know where my thoughts are in terms of what we should do. Where are yours?"
Jean looked down. "If we didn't have the children, I would say that we should go to earth in a heartbeat. But what about the children? We can't lead them into such danger. I know that we might not be heading into battle….that we might go to earth just to investigate. But we also know that, chances are, a battle is looming ahead of us should we go to earth. I can't put their lives in jeopardy."
"I know. I feel such duty to go to earth, but we have our duty to them too," Scott said, heartbreak evident in his voice. He had arrived at the same conclusion as she. She vocalized the terrifying idea.
"One of us could leave for An'zhina with the kids in a shuttle."
*****************
"T'anks for tryin', chere. But I don't t'ink dat anyt'in's gonna get us back to sleep tonight. Why don't you get some rest?"
"I'm too stirred up to even think of it," Rogue said. Her bridge shift finished, she had returned to their room and been massaging Remy's back, in the hopes that at least one of them would enjoy some sleep that night. The prospects for that happening began to look more and more dim. Gambit rolled over and lay on his back, looking at her.
"You're the only person I can admit this to, swamp rat. I'm fuckin' terrified at the thought of goin' up against Dagron again."
"Me too, chere. We lucky we escape las' time." He sighed. "An' I never do what I told dose Nalarians dat I was gonna do – go an' help dem." Remy's deep guilt was evidenced in his voice.
"Well, you would be helpin' them, in a roundabout way, if we go back to earth and defeat Dagron," Rogue said glumly.
"I know. Is dat what you t'ink we should do?"
"I dunno, Remy. I just don't. Our chances of winnin' against the Cetians and Dagron can't be all that hot. An' I sure don't think that we owe earth all that much."
"Me neither. But we – but **I** -- told the Nalarians dat I help them. An' what Cyke say prob'ly be true. Dagron and the others ain't gonna stop at eart'."
"We could go back to An'zhina and stay there. We give Queen Marina the warning and I'm sure her people can come up with whatever defenses they need. Heck, they probably already have whatever defenses they need."
"Too bad we can't go an' ask her for help."
"We can forgit that," Rogue snorted. "She'd probably want in return an all-day sex orgy with all the X-men."
Rogue's comment was so off-kilter and unexpected that both members of the couple found themselves laughing. It started with a few giggles but they soon found themselves laughing uncontrollably.
"Dat helped," Remy began, when the laughter had subsided. "I feel less stressed now. An' you right, chere. We ain't goin' beggin' for help from Marina."
They were silent for a few moments. Remy looked into Rogue's eyes, searching. He saw that she had reached the same answer he had. "Deep down, chere, you t'ink we oughtta go back. An' help earth."
"I guess we have to," she said quietly. "I'd rather fight for our planet than tuck tail between my legs."
"Me too. We gotta do it. If we really the earth's last hope, we can't jus' back away. Dere are billions o' people on dat planet, and not all of dem hate us."
She nodded. "They ain't all responsible for what happened to us," she said, though she wondered how much of their silent complicity contributed to it.
She reached for one of his hands and held it. "Remy, if we succeed…let's have children. Let's give it another try."
"You sure you want dis, chere?"
"I'm sure. I've been thinking 'bout it for weeks. I never stopped wantin' a baby, I think. I jus' needed to get over what happened before." She searched his eyes. "But Remy….the question is – what do **you** want?"
He was quiet and thoughtful before he finally said, "If eart's wort' anot'er try, den dis can be too. I'd like to be a Pere. Let's try again." He paused and then added, "You know we might be in for anot'er heartbreak dough."
"I know. But I think we can handle it."
"I got no doubt dat we can handle anyt'in fate sends our way."
She pulled him into her arms, savoring the feeling of his embrace and the strength she retrieved from their love. "I love you, Remy."
"I love you too, chere. An' I always will."
***************
"We have not been blessed with the best of luck," Storm said. The two of them sat side-by-side on the bridge of the vessel once called The Vengeance. The captain's and first officer's chairs sat next to each other, and the expansive bridge was easily twice the size of Freedom's. Wolverine had joined Storm on her bridge duty shift; he had insisted on replacing Jubilee.
"Can't even get a damn full day together," he grumbled though he was never one used to having things turn out as he hoped – in fact, he had grown so used to the reverse happening.
"You were sayin' that you were givin' up on earth," he then said. He was referring to a conversation they had during their reunion. Storm had spoken about the Paradise Planet; she'd told him of wanting to give up on the planet from which they came.
"I know. And how ironic that now the planet and its people truly need us."
"If Emma ain't lyin'. If we ain't walkin' into a trap."
"What do your instincts tell you?" she asked, looking at him.
He met her gaze. As he looking to her clear blue eyes, he realized, "If Jean says Emma's tellin' the truth, then Emma's tellin' the truth."
"I, too, trust Jean's senses." She closed her eyes, shook her head, and sighed. "Feared and hated by a world we are sworn to protect," she breathed.
He listened to her words. He couldn't remember ever hearing that exact phrase before, but it seemed so familiar. "Guess that's what bein' an X-man's about," he said.
She nodded. Every muscle in her body wanted to return to An'zhina, bask outside in the sun, and spend all day making love with the man she adored. "We cannot give up on our home planet. If it's a trap, we'll get out of it. We can handle anything that Dagron or the Cetians throw at us."
"I know."
With that settled, Wolverine had to bring up something else. It had been on his mind. "Alexander's got the hots for you," he stated.
"You can sense that," Storm remarked.
"Yeah," he said.
"Then you could probably also tell that I found him attractive," she said. She meant it when she used the past-tense. Thoughts of Alexander had been gone from her mind ever since her reunion with Wolverine.
"Yeah."
"And you can also probably sense that nothing happened between the two of us. I am sure that your trust in me would have told you that too."
"Yeah."
"Logan," she said, placing one of her hands over his. "You're not one to want to talk about this kind of thing unless it's bothering you. So why is it bothering you?"
"I don't know, Ro. I trust you." He paused. "Guess it's a bit of good old-fashioned jealousy."
Storm knew that it was somewhat puerile, but she couldn't help but to take a smidgen of pleasure from his jealousy. `Shame on me for that,' she thought to herself.
"You have nothing to be jealous of, and you know it," she told him. "My heart belongs to you."
He leaned towards her and kissed her. "And mine to you, Ro," he said, before reaching for another kiss.
The doors to the bridge slid aside and Jubilee entered. Storm and Wolverine quickly broke apart. "Jubilee, what are you doing here? You should be resting," Storm said.
"That's why we told you to go back to your room," Wolverine added.
Jubilee wanted to make a sarcastic remark like, 'Thanks Mom and Dad,' but bit her lip instead. Besides, it would be obvious to them in a second or two that she had been crying; that she needed a mother and father. She could not express how happy she was that Storm and Wolverine were back with the X-men now. She sobered at the realization that her joy would be very short-lived.
"What's wrong?" Wolverine asked, when she moved closer. "C'mon, sit here," he gestured.
"Sam's gonna go on this mission," she said, her voice full of sorrow. "Nothin's gonna keep him away from it. He wants to see his family again."
"And you?" Storm asked, though she already knew the answer.
"I can't take Rory into this! We know that no matter what happens, it's gonna mean a big battle – or lots of big battles, and lots of danger for us. I- I want to be there, but I just can't. Rory and I are gonna have to take a shuttle back to An'zhina. It's the only way." Overcome with guilt, Jubilee once more wished that she had not become a mother.
With that, Jubilee resumed sobbing, though this time softly. She had spent most of her tears when she had the conversation with Sam. Storm and Wolverine said little, though they put their arms around her and tried to console her. Wolverine was glad that Jubilee and Rory would be away from the danger. Being separated from them would be like having his heart torn out, but it would be better than watching what would happen should Dagron, the Cetians, or FOH get their hands on them. This was more painful now, but better in the long run.
"I'm gonna miss you all so much," Jubilee cried.
"And we shall miss you," Storm said.
"You know we will," Wolverine added.
"Storm, you gotta take care of Dani. Both of you. She was starting to open up to me."
"I promise that I will take the utmost care of her," Storm vowed.
Jubilee remained with the two of them, talking a little but mostly just taking a measure of comfort in their presence.
After at least an hour had passed, the doors to the bridge opened once more.
"Am I interrupting anything?" Cyclops asked.
"Of course not. Come right in," Storm said.
He forced a smile. "I thought that calling for a seven hour break would allow people a chance to sleep, but I don't think anyone has." He then walked up to where Storm sat. "Can you and I talk for a moment?" he asked.
"Of course," Storm said. He looked in the direction of the door, so Storm then quietly asked, "Somewhere else?"
He nodded, and she got up to lead him to a nearby conference room. Not knowing the lay-out of the Vengeance, Scott followed Storm.
When they were both seated at a table, he asked her, "How would you feel about leading the team on this mission?"
Storm furrowed her brows. "What about you?"
The agonized look on Scott's face told the story. "Jean and I have been discussing it all night long. Charlotte and Chris have to go back to An'zhina. We can't take them with us on this type of mission. And we **need** Jean to be on this mission – we won't have a prayer without a telepath."
"So you are going to return to An'zhina with the children," Storm said.
"Jean and I don't see any other way. We talked about every other possibility." Indeed they had. Guessing that Jubilee might return to An'zhina with Rory, they had discussed entrusting their children to her care for the journey until Jean's parents could assume primary care for them on An'zhina. But they could not do that to Char and Chris, depriving them of both of their parents. They considered having Jean return to An'zhina with the kids, but both knew that the X-men would have an abysmal chance without a telepath on the mission. They even considered asking Psylocke to help, to fill in as the telepath on the mission -- but she was far too untrustworthy and very unlikely to agree to help anyway. The X-men did not have an iota of trust in Emma Frost either. Another possibility was to stay together as they reached earth, and then have someone return to An'zhina with the children, should the situation be as dismal as Emma said it was. But that option created too much risk; the X-men knew they were unlikely to find anything safe or pleasant on earth, even if Emma had not been telling the entire truth. The closer they got to earth, the lower their chances of bringing the children to safety. Jean and Scott's options dwindled until it became obvious that they would need to separate.
Storm nodded. "I will greatly miss having you as a co-leader. But I can do it. With the help of Rogue, Wolverine, and Hank," she said, listing the field commanders.
"I know you can do it. Thank you, Storm," Scott said. He never dreamed that his desire to abdicate leadership would come true so quickly, and in such a heart-wrenching way.
Then Scott's communicator sounded. "Scott, it's Hank. I hope I am not waking you."
"No worry about that, Hank. I haven't slept at all."
"May I speak with you for a few moments?" Hank sounded as if he had not slept either.
"Sure," Scott said. He checked his timepiece out of habit. Still several more hours to go before the X-men were to regroup and make their final decision. "Give me five minutes and I can beam over to your room. I'm on the Vengeance now."
"Thank you," Hank said, and turned off his communicator.
Scott looked at Storm. "Thank you," he repeated.
"I wish you best of luck. I know that this decision is heartbreaking for you and Jean."
The word 'heartbreak' didn't even cover it, Scott thought as he walked to the transporter room. He would have the better end of it, he knew. Jean would be bereft of both her husband and her children, and she would have to face whatever awaited them on earth.
********************
"You are both my friend and leader," Hank began, once Scott had seated himself on the chair inside his room. Hank sat on the edge of the bed. "I find myself in the midst of a dilemma and I would appreciate your advice."
"Of course," Scott said. Hank's opening words were music to Scott's weary ears. Fleetingly, he wondered why Hank had not sought out Bobby instead. "What is on your mind?"
"I do not know whether to return to An'zhina or proceed to earth with the X-men. I am making the assumption, of course, that the X-men will decide as a group to investigate the situation on earth and fight against the Cetians and Dagron's forces."
"That's probably a safe assumption," Scott said. "From those I've been talking to, at least."
Hank nodded. "I have an obligation to the X-men. I am both doctor and scientist. My skills would be useful in numerous situations. However, I….." Hank had to cease speaking for a second or two, as his voice nearly broke. "Scott, I also have an obligation to my wife and child, whom I have been neglecting."
The room was silent for a beat or two. "You must feel really torn," Scott said, nodding.
"Yes, I feel as if I am being split into two pieces. You know how seriously I take my duty to the X-men. And yet I also have a duty towards my family. My son is a stranger to me, and I feel as if Panda has become one as well. The duration of our separation has not been extensive, but it is still significant. This mission on earth will require a far longer separation." Hank paused and continued, "We know that any trip to earth carries risk with it. This mission carries the risk of confrontation and conflict with forces that might be superior to ours. We might not all return alive."
Scott fought to listen to Hank's words and squelch his own heartbreak over his impending separation from Jean. His heart pounded with abject fear when he considered the danger Jean would face during the mission. As he fought the sickeningly horrifying thoughts, he closed his eyes and wished for a second or two that he and Jean had never been born mutants.
Hank looked closely at Scott. Having known him for nearly twenty years, he could guess the other man's emotions even though the visor hid Scott's eyes.
"Scott? Is there something….?" Hank allowed his voice to trail off.
Scott told him, even though he did not want the information to influence Hank's decision. "I won't be going on this mission, Hank. Jean and I can't put our children in that much danger. One of us needs to return to An'zhina with them, and it can't be the one of us with telepathic powers. Storm will lead the mission."
Hank nodded. "The thought of being separated from Jean must be brutal for you." He paused and added, "If I do not elect to return to An'zhina, I shall miss you, my friend."
"Hank, you have time. This is a big decision, and you have a lot of time to make it. Don't rush. Even after our meeting, we're not going to just turn around and fly off for earth." He then digested his friend's words and said, "But if you go with the team, I'll miss you too, Hank."
Hank stood up. "I understand that a decision does not need to be made imminently, but our discussion has assisted me greatly in sorting through my thoughts. I think I have reached my decision. My love for my family is no less strong, but my duty to the X-men and to the people of earth must take precedence. I will go on this mission."
Scott stood up and spontaneously hugged Hank. The X-man leader knew he soon would be making many such sorrowful farewells, but none would compare with the misery of parting from Jean.
********************
During the last few hours prior to the meeting where the X-men would decide their fate, Jubilee went around to those whom she knew were awake. She knew what the result of the meeting would be, and she wanted to say farewell privately.
"Shit, it's not gonna be the same without you," Bobby said, hugging her tightly. He did not know how close he came to being deprived of his best friend too.
"I know," Jubilee said. Having cried her eyes out during the past few hours, she hoped a fresh round of tears wouldn't start. She and Sam had cried together more than Jubilee would have ever imagined. Bobby held it together, which was helping Jubilee to do the same. "Rory's gonna miss you too."
She bid goodbye to Moonstar. "Thanks for helping me these past few days," Dani said. "You really did help. I'm gonna miss you a lot."
Jubilee couldn't explain why, but her tears began anew even while Dani remained stoic. Perhaps deep down she sensed that her departure was putting Dani through another round of agony, the last thing her torn-open heart needed.
Upon seeing Jubilee's tears, Dani sought to console her. "It's okay," she whispered, pulling Jubilee into a hug. "You'll be okay," she murmured. One hand tenderly stroked Jubilee's hair before the silently rebuked hand was withdrawn.
***************
Dani was able to sleep for just a couple hours. She did dream. She envisioned that she was back on the Paradise Planet, playing her flute while Marrow danced to the music. Marrow was smiling; the lines of pain and rage on her face had softened.
Dani woke up to the jagged sounds of the alarm, signaling her that she had less than twenty minutes before the X-men's meeting. She threw herself into the shower and dressed, the cold water assaulting her skin even as her insides remained numb.
**************
Rogue and Gambit each slept for an hour or so as well. When they woke up, they talked about their dreams.
"I dreamed I was flyin,'" Gambit said. "Don't know how, but I was flyin'. We were on some mission on eart'."
Rogue's eyes grew wide. "Yeah, an the rest of the X-men were in the Blackbird right behind us. And I just knew we were gonna win, even though I felt kinda scared too."
"Dat's what I dreamed too! We must'a had the same dream," Gambit said.
"Maybe it was the mindlink we got, makin' a comeback," Rogue smiled.
*************
We had the meeting after that interminable night. I grimly sat around the table with everyone else, the oatmeal I'd eaten sitting in my stomach like a lump. I really wanted to be back on An'zhina, feeling the sun and sipping drinks by the beach instead of heading off for a mission that was sure to bring unfathomable strife. But An'zhina was far away. (So far, in fact, that it was not even feasible for us to stop there and use some of the dilithium we'd stockpiled.)
Cyclops started off by telling us that, should the X-men vote to return to earth and face our enemies, he would not be joining us. He explained that he had to ensure the safety of his children. "Storm will make a more than capable leader." He then said, "The question of whether or not to return to earth and take on this mission – potentially going into battle against some very tough foes – is a huge one," Cyclops said. "I would like each person to say what they think we should do."
"If we all speak like this, there is a risk of group-think," Storm cautioned.
I saw Rogue smile. "With this group, hon, I don't think you gotta worry about that." Her comment provoked several smiles.
"So let's hear from everyone," Scott said. "And I don't want anyone to just nod. I want to hear each of you say what you think we should do – and what you are willing to do."
Storm nodded at Jean-Paul, "Would you like to begin?" she asked. He was sitting to her side.
"I don't want to go," he began. "But it is the right thing to do."
"If we go, will you be fully committed to it?" Storm asked him. I can't exactly blame her for asking.
"You don't need to question my commitment, Storm," he said. He didn't come off as curt as he could have. "I don't do anything half-hearted."
Jeanne-Marie was next to her brother. She said, "I'm for it. I will go." We had spoken just before the meeting. She desperately wanted to see her son again.
I was next, and I voiced support for it.
Dani Moonstar sat on my other side. I felt some energy from her. "I'm proud to be an X-man. I want to defend earth. I want to go on this mission, but may I ask two favors from the group?"
"Of course," Cyclops said.
"First, I want to be called Mirage, not Dani. I have been training a lot and I think I have a lot to show you. And so I want you all to use my codename." She paused, and then said, "Secondly, I ask that we have a memorial service for Marrow."
Storm and Cyclops looked at each other. It was kind of an odd request, granted. Or at least an odd time to make such a request. "Of course, Mirage," Storm said.
We continued to go around the table, voicing our opinions.
Wolverine – "Bastards on that planet fear and hate us. But I'm gonna fight for them one more time."
Hank – "Yes, let us defend the earth. It is what we are called to do."
Cannonball – "I agree with what he said. 'Sides, there are plenty of mutants on earth who need out help too."
Jubilee – "I wish I could go with you." Most of us had already said goodbye to her. "But I gotta take care of my Rory."
Rogue – "I'm for it too."
Gambit – "Me too."
Jean nodded. Her face was red and tired. "I will use my powers to defend the earth against its enemies."
Shaman – "Let us fight for the earth and her people."
Hector – "I'm behind it."
Nightcrawler – "As am I."
Alexander had already expressed his desire to join the X-men. He did not possess any "combat" powers, but everyone thought he had a lot of potential for becoming a skiller fighter. He would need training, and we were more than willing to work with him. Besides, he added the added attractions of being a doctor and his unique ability to turn things into food. "I'm completely with you," he said.
Scott then smiled at Storm. "I'm thrilled that Storm will be leading you on this mission. I know that you are all in extremely capable hands. And I know that each and every one of you is as well trained as you ever were. You are a strong and powerful group, capable of handling almost anything. Whatever is happening on earth, I know you can take care of it. Even though I will be leaving you temporarily, I know that you will all return triumphant." Scott's sometimes comes across as wooden. He didn't this time, though. He paused and then seemed to swallow. "I want to thank each of you for giving me the chance to be your leader for so many years."
And then Hank spoke. "I cannot speak for the rest of the group," he began. "But I wish to thank **you**, as well, for your leadership, Scott. You led the X-men into countless battles, many of which seemed impossible when we embarked upon them. We always emerged victorious. Throughout numerous trials and tribulations over the years, your leadership was always steadfast, brave, and valiant. Thank you."
And then a rumble went out through the group. One by one, we each thanked Scott. Even people who had never seemed to particularly like Scott – such as Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit – said a few words. There words were sincere, honest, and appreciative of his leadership over the years. I thought of what he sacrificed to cure Jean-Paul and felt a guilty lump in my throat. When it was my turn, I lowered my eyes and said, "Thank you, Scott."
*****************
Cyclops and Jubilee were assisted by the others as they packed the childrens' belongings – and their own – into the Pryde. It would be a tight fit inside the shuttlecraft, but they would have to make do.
The playset that many of the group had assembled together would have to remain behind. It fit inside the shuttle but left room for little else. Jean Grey watched as Wolverine and Gambit carried it to a storage room. There would be no need to house the playset inside the rec room any longer.
"I'm sad," Charlotte said quietly, to her parents.
"We are too, sweetie," Scott said. "We are too."
Christopher began to cry. Jean followed shortly thereafter. The family had stayed up all night, talking together and weeping. They had said their goodbyes then, and didn't want to repeat the experience in the shuttle bay. Seeing – and sensing -- her mother so disconsolate over their impending separation was almost more than Charlotte could bear.
Jubilee and Rory were crying nearby as they bid their farewells to those she had not reached the previous night. Jubilee had reached most of the ones she really wanted to say a proper farewell to. She didn't want to face Sam again, didn't want to speculate upon what their separation might mean to the future of their relationship. He had seemed so hurt that she was not going to be part of this mission. She ushered Rory up the shuttle's ramp just before a new round of tears began to emerge from her depleted body.
"Jean, my soulmate, my love," Scott whispered, standing outside the shuttle as he ran his fingers through her hair. He knew that most of the rest of the group was standing around but he didn't care.
Jean was sobbing too much to speak extensively. "I never thought my powers were a curse…until now," she managed. "I don't know how I'm going to survive without…." she let her voice drift off after that. They had said everything there was to say last night. `We can tolerate this because we know it will only be for a finite period of time,' they had said. They hoped the mission would not turn into an epic struggle lasting for years, though they knew that was a definite possibility.
The couple exchanged one last kiss before Jean left the shuttle bay. Rogue, standing not too far away, averted her eyes. She was eternally grateful that she and Gambit would not have to face a similar situation. She couldn't imagine having her heart torn out, as Jean surely was now. `At least she's got us – her friends,' Rogue thought. `We're gonna be there for her."
Cyclops bid goodbye to each of his teammates, one-on-one.
"Please give this to Panda," Hank said, handing him the disc that he'd given to Wolverine for his aborted return to An'zhina. Hank had since added on to the disc. He was not without hope that Panda would understand, though he bore no false optimism either.
"Of course," Scott said.
"I shall miss you, my friend." He and Scott hugged.
Scott then found himself shaking Wolverine's hand.
"Take care of yourself," Scott said.
"You too," said Logan. He then added, "Sometimes the right thing to do ain't the easiest. You're doin' the right thing."
Scott nodded. He then scarcely believed his ears when Logan said, "You've been a damn good leader all these years." He had expressed similar words during the meeting earlier, and hearing them a second time seemed to make them more real.
Moments later, Scott found himself sharing a brief hug with Storm. "I wish you the best of luck," Storm said.
"I'd wish you the same, but you don't need it, Storm. You know what to do."
She nodded at his compliment. "Thank you, Scott."
Bobby and Northstar were next in the line of those wishing to say their goodbyes to Scott.
"Take care of Bobby," he said to Northstar, as he shook his hand.
"I will. I think he will take care of me more, though," Jean-Paul smiled.
Bobby extended a hand but found himself instead pulled into a hug by Scott. He overcame his surprise quickly enough to say, "Thank you for everything you've done. Especially what you did on An'zhina," he whispered.
"You're worth it," Scott said.
He then shook Rogue and Gambit's hands. They didn't say much other than wishing each other the best and expressing hopes that they would be reunited soon. As with the rest of the X-men, the sentiments expressed weren't lengthy but they were sincere.
Scott then boarded the shuttle with the weeping Jubilee and the three crying children.
"Daddy, when we see Mommy again?" Charlotte asked, as the cloaked Pryde exited the shuttle bay and then accelerated to warp speed.
"I hope it will be soon, sweetheart. It might not be soon, but I hope it will be."
*****************
"If we survive this, will you marry me?" Jean-Paul asked.
"When we get to earth, find me a nice diamond ring, and it's a deal," I smiled.
We X-men renamed our starship. It would not longer be called Vengeance, but rather Victory in hopes that we could bring some lasting peace to earth.
So that was it, and we were heading back home. We had fifteen X-men and an entire planet to save. But somehow I knew Cyclops was right. We were going home. The struggle would be long and grueling, but we eventually would win and we would all stay together. Once the battle was finished, I didn't know if we'd settle on earth or return to An'zhina, but I knew that in the end, the X-men would ultimately triumph.
THE END
******************
FINAL NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR -
I would love to hear your feedback on the trilogy. Please contact me at stormkpr@usa.net. In particular, let me know whether there is anything that you did not see happen in the story that you wanted to see happen; therefore if I do ever pen a sequel, perhaps I can include it.
I have a few statistics you might (or might not) be interested in about the trilogy. The Heavens Open is the longest book of the three. In Microsoft Word, the number of pages each book takes up is as follows:
X-men: Friends of Humanity – 443 Freedom – 397 The Heavens Open – 460(Taken together, it comes to exactly 1,300 pages. I swear, I didn't plan it that way!)
This entire trilogy took over three years to write. I began in October 2000 and finished in December 2003. As far as writing the books themselves, The Heavens Open took me the longest to write – partially because it was the longest one, and partially because I've had a lot going on in my life during the last two years. I began The Heavens Open in February 2002 and finished in December 2003. By contrast, Freedom took me less than one year to write. I used to strive to write one page per day, but I had a harder and harder time keeping up with this self-imposed quota So in the end, I just tried to focus on quality rather than speed.
I never intended to write a 1300 page epic. I began "Friends of Humanity" with just the idea for the first two chapters. Once I'd written them, it became apparent that I couldn't end it there, so I just kept on writing, as the ideas continued to sprout.
Ask most writers what they like about writing, and honest ones will tell you that feedback from readers is high on their lists. I'm no exception. Reader feedback has been one of the reasons I've continued writing. Readers have even influenced outcomes of the various sub-plots. For example, as I wrote Freedom, I debated whether or not to have Storm and Wolverine finally come together as a couple. However, reader feedback was so strong in this regard, that I took the wise council of my readers, and I think it worked for the best.
And now it is my turn to say a few thank yous. First, to my regular beta testers: Leigh, Ann, and Severine. Each of them has contributed valuable feedback, made strong suggestions, and influenced the trilogy for the better. I am honored at their attentiveness and loyalty. And also, thank you to all the readers who have stuck with me during the years and taken the time to write me a note or leave a review.
A fourth book in the series is not out of the question, though I don't have any immediate plans to write one. I look forward to taking a break from writing, but who knows? I might write a fourth book in the series, or I might write another X-men fic. (Though maybe not one so lengthy….)
Thanks again for reading, and best wishes!
Stormkeeper