PART 2:
Buffy had been at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning for a couple days now. So had all of her friends and amazingly they had all clicked into the place with ease. Ben had disappeared though and Buffy was worried about him. Xavier told her he had his best people attempting to locate Ben. For some reason the blonde slayer was inclined to trust him.
She had told Xavier everything. About her lineage, about Dawn being the Key, about Glory and she even told him of Angel and the place set up in LA. Buffy didn't remember exactly but she was fairly sure Faith came up as well. Buffy rubbed the back of her neck quietly standing alone in a large empty room that the man, Robert Drake, had called the danger room. Unsure of how she felt being here with this many people or well mutants Buffy wasn't really sure what she was doing.
Glory seemed to be missing for the moment. Probably still in Sunnydale attempting to locate her missing Key. Buffy was terrified to lose Dawn and had one of her people with Dawn at all times. She knew that Xavier's men and women were powerful that much was evident. But she felt better knowing her people had an eye on Dawn.
Buffy couldn't sit stagnant like this. She had to do something. Willow was doing something, her and Scott's wife were attempting to combine a spell and Jean's own psychic ability to try and retrieve Tara's mind from Glory. They believe it would hurt the goddess as well as restore Tara.
Hearing a click as the door opened Buffy spun on her heels instantly dropping into an attack stance. She was met by a man around her height but still very much larger then herself. His name was Logan and he seemed very disgruntled but he had an air to him that made Buffy enjoy the man's presence. She wasn't sure what his powers were.he looked human.
So far Buffy knew that Bobby could control ice or make ice or something along those lines, Scott had his eye rays, Jean was a psychic, as was Xavier, a man Buffy knew as Cain was just obnoxiously large and strong. She was pretty sure that was all she knew power wise from the people she'd encountered while here.
Logan stepped into the danger room, "Care to work out?" He asked Buffy and the blonde nodded. Logan wanted to see her in action. To really get a feel for what a Slayer was. He was sure he could take her in a fight that he wasn't worried about, he just wanted to see her go.
"Sure." Buffy said and watched as Wolverine brought up a program. The entire empty room changed. Suddenly they were in an alleyway somewhere in a major city. There were three men opposite Logan and Buffy. The short feral man stepped back gracefully letting Buffy go first.
"Have at them girly." He said and Buffy smiled an inward smile. The same type of smile she got when her and Faith had gone out on the town. These three men seemed generic but were not in normal garb. One was in a bright red and orange outfit with what appeared to be torches under his wrists.
The second and third looked more harmless then the first. One was short and rested on all fours and the other was in a metallic outfit with a weird headgear on. Stepping forward slowly the man in front laughed and shot a blast of fire in her direction. It formed into hands and Buffy rolled dodging them.
She popped up her fist driving hard into the cyber-Pyro's chin. She elbowed him in the stomach and snapped his head back again with a hard right. Pyro dropped the flame hands disappearing but his partners had wasted no time. The short one on all fours was stuck to the wall above her. His tongue flicked down and wrapped around her leg. Hadn't Spike killed a demon with a tongue like this?
Buffy was flung into the alley wall but was able to roll with it enough to not hit the wall itself. Rolling back to her feet the ground became unstable. The man in the metallic gear was blasting the ground with some sort of vibration. Buffy began to fall and flipped backwards. She barely landed on her hands when she did a side tuck putting her behind a garbage can. Cheerleading had paid off. Spinning Buffy dented the can as she kicked it contents and all into Avalanche.
The man in the suit was knocked backwards but he was quickly back up. Come on Buffy how do you defeat these guys? She racked her brain. She needed a weapon to take down the one with the earthquake whatevers. The one with the tongue though was already after her again.
This time she sensed his tongue moving and snatched it in her left hand. Using her increased strengthen she whipped him through the air into his partner. Rolling forward Buffy grabbed the unconscious aussies flamethrower. Before either Toad or Avalanche had a chance to attack her she blasted them in fire. Toad was able to dodge Avalanche however wasn't as lucky.
His metal suit began to heat up and turn red. He instantly began stripping it off starting with his helmet. Running forward Buffy kicked Avalanche twice then backhanded him to the ground. She reached for her stake out of habit then realized not only was she not carrying a stake but this man wasn't a vampire.
Turning Buffy was kicked hard in the stomach by Toad. She landed on top of the now unmoving Avalanche. Grabbing Toad's feet Buffy snapped them both. She then grabbed the mutant by the throat and hurled him into the wall. She didn't want to kill any of them but that dirty little tongue wielding freak was just to much.
Sighing Buffy looked around locking eyes with Logan, "Thanks for the help."
"Hey I'm impressed you took down Pyro, Toad, and Avalanche by yourself first try. Not to shabby blondie." Logan stated turning towards the door to leave. He had seen what he needed to see.
"What that's it? I don't get a prize. A cookie maybe?" Buffy said to the retreating Logan. Logan turned around a small fire in his eyes.
"Ya want a prize. You can fight me." Logan said and huffed a quick computer off so the room returned to the normal emptiness. It took Buffy a moment to get her surroundings and in that moment she was tackled by Wolverine.
The feral runt moved to hit Buffy but the Slayer was able to parry. She could run at nearly fifty miles per hour this wasn't hard for her to dodge his blow. His arm was hard as she grabbed some form of metal covering it.
Buffy was elated at the chance to train with this man. He was obviously a good fighter. His methods were extremely well thought out. He snatched both of Buffy's wrists in one large palm the other hand grabbing the Slayer by the chin.
"What you going to do?" Buffy said and brought her legs up wrapping them around Logan's middle. She spun over so now she was on top of him. She yanked her arms free and put them on his shoulders effectively pinning him to the ground. "I win."
"Not quite girlie." Logan said with an animalistic smile as he kicked her once in the stomach toppling her off of him. He rotated to his feet his claws coming out on both hands.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "I didn't realize you came prepackaged. Once mutant knives included."
"You have no idea." Logan said moving at her with a Samurai's intelligence and fighting skill. Buffy barely dodge his blow his claws tearing her shirt. Logan obviously was holding back as not to kill the Slayer. Buffy could tell so she did the same. But the next thing she did her punch was definitely not extracted. She yanked her fist back hitting Logan square in the jaw with most of her strength.
Logan dropped in a heap and Buffy screamed in pain cursing herself, "Holy! What the heck!"
"Yeah that whole metal skull thing surprises a lot of people." Logan said his claws coming in he hopped up he moved over to Buffy putting his arm around her, "You are by far my favorite Summers."
. . . .
Ben cursed himself. Dawn was the Key why had he allowed himself to get this close to Buffy and her friends. Glory knew Dawn was the Key and yet here he was within striking distance of her. Damn you Ben what were you thinking..
Ben's thought never actually got finished as his body transformed into the beautiful blonde hell-goddess Glory. Looking around Glory was unquestionably confused. She was on a paved road in who knows where. Not only that but all that she could see on either side were trees.
"Benny you don't do anything right." Glory said cursing as she looked at the shambles outfit she was in. Torn jeans and a blue plaid shirt. God Ben was a walking disaster.
Listening Glory heard something that made her ears perk up. It was in the distance fairly far. But she could hear it the sounds of a large city. Ben had been in control far longer then Glory had intended she had felt weird as if her mind had been invaded by an outside force. A bald man.but that was ludicrous.
Rounding the corner Glory saw her savior a man in a red sports car. Just her color and just her style. Whistling with her thumb out it took nothing for the man to pull over for her. Snapping his neck she tossed him into the road and drove away.
. . . .
Dawn was sitting at a table playing checkers with a very large man. Probably the biggest person she had ever seen, human or demon. He was about ten feet tall and nearly four feet wide. He had on some sort of metal costume and his fingers were nearly as big as Dawn's entire arm.
"So you're like super strong?" Dawn asked the Juggernaut for nearly the fiftieth time that evening.
"Yeah kid I am. What part o' dat don't ya get." Cain said, he liked the girl despite her constant talking. She was sweet and innocent, Cain never liked how people got corrupted.
Northstar was sitting about four feet away from the checkers game he sat with a younger man named Xander. "So Xander. You get out much?" The silver haired speedster asked the brown haired boy.
"What.oh no not really. Not since I got engaged." Xander said holding up his ring finger. This guy was creepy. He kept giving Xander looks and had a complete aura of look at me I am gay going on. Xander had no problem with gays just a problem with them and him.and.yeah.
Seeing the man's uncomfortable ness made Northstar smile. He glanced over at Dawn and Juggernaut and zipped over at a high speed, "Move that one." He said touching one of Dawn's pieces. The move allowed Dawn to jump four pieces of Cain's own. Cain crossed his arms in disgust as Dawn gave North star a high five.
"So Juggernaut right? Could you like beat up a vampire?" Dawn asked wondering if this guy was stronger then Buffy. She didn't know and she knew Buffy was really strong.
"Yes. I could beat up a lot of vampires. Blood sucking maggots." Marko said popping his large neck as he stood to his full height, "Care to get some food?"
"Sure." Dawn said and was surprised as Cain lifted her up onto his shoulder. She easily fit on one. She laughed the entire way to the kitchen. She liked it here with Cain and all the others. It made her forget about Glory and all her problems. It made her forget she was the Key to some dimensional hell hole. This was the good life.
Setting her down Cain opened the fridge and pulled out a large piece of salami and a block of cheese. Dawn stopped him her hand coming down on one of his fingers, "No I am cooking."
Xander stood in the other room because he had promised he would watch Dawn. That and he had suddenly just become very aware of the fact he was alone with Northstar. Xander just knew the man was gay and attracted to him. Which whatever but Xander loved Anya.
Northstar smiled moving around the couch to the front of Xander, "No need. Dawn's in good hands with Juggs. May be a big bloke but he loves kids." The young mutant said to his very nervous human compatriot.
. . . .
Tara lay prostrate on a med-table in front of Willow. The red head woman, Jean was her name. Was standing at the end of the table next to Charles Xavier. She had her hand on the bald man's shoulder as Xavier himself had his eyes closed both palms on Tara's scalp. They were attempting to retrieve Tara's mind.
On the seemingly endless Astral Plane on Tara's mind Xavier stood next to Jean Grey. Xavier was standing in a tan business suit looking around at the black emptiness. Jean on the other hand was in her classic green and yellow Phoenix entourage.
* It is so empty. So quiet. * Jean said softly as she looked around the area seeing nothing at all.
* Yes. I can feel her mind here but its like its trapped inside a box. Somewhere else. * Xavier said and spanned out across the plane with his immense ability. * There. Its coming from over there do you feel it? *
Jean floated into the air as Xavier's own body lifted without his knowledge. Both were moving towards something. Neither knew what it was but they could both feel a power from somewhere in this blackness.
* Did you scan that Ben boy Jean? * Xavier asked locking hands with her for safety. He couldn't afford to lose her mind in here.
* Yes. But it was weird. It was like I couldn't actually read it. * Jean said as they drew closer to his thing they were feeling.
* I got through. But I couldn't do anything as I was quickly forced out. I am unsure of what was going on either he is a powerful psychic or he isn't normal. * Xavier said and the stopped his ascent towards the point the believed Tara's brain was trapped in. * Do you feel that? *
Jean could feel it. Yet she said nothing. It was if suddenly they were no longer in Tara's head. They were on a road and they had killed someone. Someone.a stranger, killed him for his car. Suddenly Jean got a flash a blonde woman in a review mirror.
* I have Tara. * Xavier said and jean looked over a limp psychic version of the woman in there med-lab in his arms. * But Jean look at all these minds. *
Jean looked across the expanse seeing hundreds of minds from small children, to postal workers, to well just about any and everyone. Whose mind were they in now? Jean wondered as she looked forward again seeing through this persons eyes. Suddenly Jean was very aware that the person was looking back at her.
* Out of my head! * Glory screamed and the car swerved off the road smashing into tree flinging Glory's physical body forward. *You're taking the witch. You.you have my Key! *
Jean suddenly felt herself flung. Hard out of this unstable connection between Tara and Glory's brains.
Willow was surprised when Xavier doubled over in his wheel chair and Jean flew literally through the air into the wall. But her surprise was quickly replaced with elation as Tara opened her eyes and whispered, "Willow?"
Willow moved forward kissing her girlfriend deeply, "Oh goddess Tara are you alright?"
"I am fine. I thought I saw an old man." Tara started and that was when Willow remembered Xavier and Jean. Jumping up from her girlfriend her eyes flashed over seeing Xavier looking grim faced but alright. Jean was up as well standing leaning against the wall for support.
"I think we may have a problem." Xavier said and then resonating in Willow and she was sure everyone's heads she heard or rather just sort of felt inside her head, * To me my X-Men. *
. . . .
There was quite the group in the war room. Along the left wall you had Spike in duster looking more then pissed off. Next to him was the shorter but no less pissed Wolverine. Sitting in chairs in the back was Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Tara, Nightcrawler and Emma Frost.
Up front an center where everyone had there attention focused was Charles Xavier with Jean Grey at his side. The blue skinned Angel, Cyclops, Iceman and Beast all sat around the war room table. Joining them sitting in a single seat were Anya and Xander.
The completion of the group was the two newest members of the X-Men. Northstar and Juggernaut sat alongside the right wall. Juggernaut had to sit as he took up most the room as it was. Northstar on the other hand was standing, he never sat much. Except when flying a jet, he was a very capable pilot.
Xavier looked at all the group, "After talking with Miss Rosenberg my fears have been confirmed. The blonde woman's mind that Jean and I entered happened upon when rescuing Tara was Glory. Our hell-goddess knows we're here and she is coming to claim Dawn.
"My X-Men that will not be aloud on my watch." Xavier said with one of his sternest tones ever. He was very adamant about this. He would not lose a child to a demon, it was beyond wrong. Plus if what Glory believed to be true, and Xavier was sure it was, then Dawn's bloodshed at the right moment would open a portal allowing all dimensions to flow in. That was not a good idea.
"I want watches set up now. Nightcrawler will lead Team A. This team will consist of Willow, Tara, Emma Frost, Beast, Spike, Northstar and Juggernaut." Xavier paused looking around the room at his team, "Team B will be co-lead by Buffy and Cyclops. It will consist of Wolverine, Phoenix, Iceman, Angel and Juggernaut."
Finishing all the X-Men still had there eyes on there teacher, "Cain I hope you don't mind pulling double shifts. She is strong and you're our strongest." Xavier looked at them all then finished up, "Team A you have first shift outside. Team B inside. Dawn if you would please come with me."
Before anyone could say anything Dawn crossed the room to Xavier. * Dawn I have already discussed this with Buffy. You and I are leaving. If worse comes to worse its better you aren't even here for Glory to find. You and I are taking one of the X-Men jets and flying to Syracuse. Your cousin Alex is living there currently on hiatus to find himself after his recent awakening from a coma. *
Dawn didn't even question Xavier's judgment. She knew it was best but if any of these people died on her behalf she couldn't live with herself.
* They won't Dawn. No one is dying. * Xavier said to reassure her. But he didn't even believe that himself. He had been in Glory's head and he knew what she was capable of. These are the times I wish the Phoenix force was still with us.
Buffy had been at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning for a couple days now. So had all of her friends and amazingly they had all clicked into the place with ease. Ben had disappeared though and Buffy was worried about him. Xavier told her he had his best people attempting to locate Ben. For some reason the blonde slayer was inclined to trust him.
She had told Xavier everything. About her lineage, about Dawn being the Key, about Glory and she even told him of Angel and the place set up in LA. Buffy didn't remember exactly but she was fairly sure Faith came up as well. Buffy rubbed the back of her neck quietly standing alone in a large empty room that the man, Robert Drake, had called the danger room. Unsure of how she felt being here with this many people or well mutants Buffy wasn't really sure what she was doing.
Glory seemed to be missing for the moment. Probably still in Sunnydale attempting to locate her missing Key. Buffy was terrified to lose Dawn and had one of her people with Dawn at all times. She knew that Xavier's men and women were powerful that much was evident. But she felt better knowing her people had an eye on Dawn.
Buffy couldn't sit stagnant like this. She had to do something. Willow was doing something, her and Scott's wife were attempting to combine a spell and Jean's own psychic ability to try and retrieve Tara's mind from Glory. They believe it would hurt the goddess as well as restore Tara.
Hearing a click as the door opened Buffy spun on her heels instantly dropping into an attack stance. She was met by a man around her height but still very much larger then herself. His name was Logan and he seemed very disgruntled but he had an air to him that made Buffy enjoy the man's presence. She wasn't sure what his powers were.he looked human.
So far Buffy knew that Bobby could control ice or make ice or something along those lines, Scott had his eye rays, Jean was a psychic, as was Xavier, a man Buffy knew as Cain was just obnoxiously large and strong. She was pretty sure that was all she knew power wise from the people she'd encountered while here.
Logan stepped into the danger room, "Care to work out?" He asked Buffy and the blonde nodded. Logan wanted to see her in action. To really get a feel for what a Slayer was. He was sure he could take her in a fight that he wasn't worried about, he just wanted to see her go.
"Sure." Buffy said and watched as Wolverine brought up a program. The entire empty room changed. Suddenly they were in an alleyway somewhere in a major city. There were three men opposite Logan and Buffy. The short feral man stepped back gracefully letting Buffy go first.
"Have at them girly." He said and Buffy smiled an inward smile. The same type of smile she got when her and Faith had gone out on the town. These three men seemed generic but were not in normal garb. One was in a bright red and orange outfit with what appeared to be torches under his wrists.
The second and third looked more harmless then the first. One was short and rested on all fours and the other was in a metallic outfit with a weird headgear on. Stepping forward slowly the man in front laughed and shot a blast of fire in her direction. It formed into hands and Buffy rolled dodging them.
She popped up her fist driving hard into the cyber-Pyro's chin. She elbowed him in the stomach and snapped his head back again with a hard right. Pyro dropped the flame hands disappearing but his partners had wasted no time. The short one on all fours was stuck to the wall above her. His tongue flicked down and wrapped around her leg. Hadn't Spike killed a demon with a tongue like this?
Buffy was flung into the alley wall but was able to roll with it enough to not hit the wall itself. Rolling back to her feet the ground became unstable. The man in the metallic gear was blasting the ground with some sort of vibration. Buffy began to fall and flipped backwards. She barely landed on her hands when she did a side tuck putting her behind a garbage can. Cheerleading had paid off. Spinning Buffy dented the can as she kicked it contents and all into Avalanche.
The man in the suit was knocked backwards but he was quickly back up. Come on Buffy how do you defeat these guys? She racked her brain. She needed a weapon to take down the one with the earthquake whatevers. The one with the tongue though was already after her again.
This time she sensed his tongue moving and snatched it in her left hand. Using her increased strengthen she whipped him through the air into his partner. Rolling forward Buffy grabbed the unconscious aussies flamethrower. Before either Toad or Avalanche had a chance to attack her she blasted them in fire. Toad was able to dodge Avalanche however wasn't as lucky.
His metal suit began to heat up and turn red. He instantly began stripping it off starting with his helmet. Running forward Buffy kicked Avalanche twice then backhanded him to the ground. She reached for her stake out of habit then realized not only was she not carrying a stake but this man wasn't a vampire.
Turning Buffy was kicked hard in the stomach by Toad. She landed on top of the now unmoving Avalanche. Grabbing Toad's feet Buffy snapped them both. She then grabbed the mutant by the throat and hurled him into the wall. She didn't want to kill any of them but that dirty little tongue wielding freak was just to much.
Sighing Buffy looked around locking eyes with Logan, "Thanks for the help."
"Hey I'm impressed you took down Pyro, Toad, and Avalanche by yourself first try. Not to shabby blondie." Logan stated turning towards the door to leave. He had seen what he needed to see.
"What that's it? I don't get a prize. A cookie maybe?" Buffy said to the retreating Logan. Logan turned around a small fire in his eyes.
"Ya want a prize. You can fight me." Logan said and huffed a quick computer off so the room returned to the normal emptiness. It took Buffy a moment to get her surroundings and in that moment she was tackled by Wolverine.
The feral runt moved to hit Buffy but the Slayer was able to parry. She could run at nearly fifty miles per hour this wasn't hard for her to dodge his blow. His arm was hard as she grabbed some form of metal covering it.
Buffy was elated at the chance to train with this man. He was obviously a good fighter. His methods were extremely well thought out. He snatched both of Buffy's wrists in one large palm the other hand grabbing the Slayer by the chin.
"What you going to do?" Buffy said and brought her legs up wrapping them around Logan's middle. She spun over so now she was on top of him. She yanked her arms free and put them on his shoulders effectively pinning him to the ground. "I win."
"Not quite girlie." Logan said with an animalistic smile as he kicked her once in the stomach toppling her off of him. He rotated to his feet his claws coming out on both hands.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "I didn't realize you came prepackaged. Once mutant knives included."
"You have no idea." Logan said moving at her with a Samurai's intelligence and fighting skill. Buffy barely dodge his blow his claws tearing her shirt. Logan obviously was holding back as not to kill the Slayer. Buffy could tell so she did the same. But the next thing she did her punch was definitely not extracted. She yanked her fist back hitting Logan square in the jaw with most of her strength.
Logan dropped in a heap and Buffy screamed in pain cursing herself, "Holy! What the heck!"
"Yeah that whole metal skull thing surprises a lot of people." Logan said his claws coming in he hopped up he moved over to Buffy putting his arm around her, "You are by far my favorite Summers."
. . . .
Ben cursed himself. Dawn was the Key why had he allowed himself to get this close to Buffy and her friends. Glory knew Dawn was the Key and yet here he was within striking distance of her. Damn you Ben what were you thinking..
Ben's thought never actually got finished as his body transformed into the beautiful blonde hell-goddess Glory. Looking around Glory was unquestionably confused. She was on a paved road in who knows where. Not only that but all that she could see on either side were trees.
"Benny you don't do anything right." Glory said cursing as she looked at the shambles outfit she was in. Torn jeans and a blue plaid shirt. God Ben was a walking disaster.
Listening Glory heard something that made her ears perk up. It was in the distance fairly far. But she could hear it the sounds of a large city. Ben had been in control far longer then Glory had intended she had felt weird as if her mind had been invaded by an outside force. A bald man.but that was ludicrous.
Rounding the corner Glory saw her savior a man in a red sports car. Just her color and just her style. Whistling with her thumb out it took nothing for the man to pull over for her. Snapping his neck she tossed him into the road and drove away.
. . . .
Dawn was sitting at a table playing checkers with a very large man. Probably the biggest person she had ever seen, human or demon. He was about ten feet tall and nearly four feet wide. He had on some sort of metal costume and his fingers were nearly as big as Dawn's entire arm.
"So you're like super strong?" Dawn asked the Juggernaut for nearly the fiftieth time that evening.
"Yeah kid I am. What part o' dat don't ya get." Cain said, he liked the girl despite her constant talking. She was sweet and innocent, Cain never liked how people got corrupted.
Northstar was sitting about four feet away from the checkers game he sat with a younger man named Xander. "So Xander. You get out much?" The silver haired speedster asked the brown haired boy.
"What.oh no not really. Not since I got engaged." Xander said holding up his ring finger. This guy was creepy. He kept giving Xander looks and had a complete aura of look at me I am gay going on. Xander had no problem with gays just a problem with them and him.and.yeah.
Seeing the man's uncomfortable ness made Northstar smile. He glanced over at Dawn and Juggernaut and zipped over at a high speed, "Move that one." He said touching one of Dawn's pieces. The move allowed Dawn to jump four pieces of Cain's own. Cain crossed his arms in disgust as Dawn gave North star a high five.
"So Juggernaut right? Could you like beat up a vampire?" Dawn asked wondering if this guy was stronger then Buffy. She didn't know and she knew Buffy was really strong.
"Yes. I could beat up a lot of vampires. Blood sucking maggots." Marko said popping his large neck as he stood to his full height, "Care to get some food?"
"Sure." Dawn said and was surprised as Cain lifted her up onto his shoulder. She easily fit on one. She laughed the entire way to the kitchen. She liked it here with Cain and all the others. It made her forget about Glory and all her problems. It made her forget she was the Key to some dimensional hell hole. This was the good life.
Setting her down Cain opened the fridge and pulled out a large piece of salami and a block of cheese. Dawn stopped him her hand coming down on one of his fingers, "No I am cooking."
Xander stood in the other room because he had promised he would watch Dawn. That and he had suddenly just become very aware of the fact he was alone with Northstar. Xander just knew the man was gay and attracted to him. Which whatever but Xander loved Anya.
Northstar smiled moving around the couch to the front of Xander, "No need. Dawn's in good hands with Juggs. May be a big bloke but he loves kids." The young mutant said to his very nervous human compatriot.
. . . .
Tara lay prostrate on a med-table in front of Willow. The red head woman, Jean was her name. Was standing at the end of the table next to Charles Xavier. She had her hand on the bald man's shoulder as Xavier himself had his eyes closed both palms on Tara's scalp. They were attempting to retrieve Tara's mind.
On the seemingly endless Astral Plane on Tara's mind Xavier stood next to Jean Grey. Xavier was standing in a tan business suit looking around at the black emptiness. Jean on the other hand was in her classic green and yellow Phoenix entourage.
* It is so empty. So quiet. * Jean said softly as she looked around the area seeing nothing at all.
* Yes. I can feel her mind here but its like its trapped inside a box. Somewhere else. * Xavier said and spanned out across the plane with his immense ability. * There. Its coming from over there do you feel it? *
Jean floated into the air as Xavier's own body lifted without his knowledge. Both were moving towards something. Neither knew what it was but they could both feel a power from somewhere in this blackness.
* Did you scan that Ben boy Jean? * Xavier asked locking hands with her for safety. He couldn't afford to lose her mind in here.
* Yes. But it was weird. It was like I couldn't actually read it. * Jean said as they drew closer to his thing they were feeling.
* I got through. But I couldn't do anything as I was quickly forced out. I am unsure of what was going on either he is a powerful psychic or he isn't normal. * Xavier said and the stopped his ascent towards the point the believed Tara's brain was trapped in. * Do you feel that? *
Jean could feel it. Yet she said nothing. It was if suddenly they were no longer in Tara's head. They were on a road and they had killed someone. Someone.a stranger, killed him for his car. Suddenly Jean got a flash a blonde woman in a review mirror.
* I have Tara. * Xavier said and jean looked over a limp psychic version of the woman in there med-lab in his arms. * But Jean look at all these minds. *
Jean looked across the expanse seeing hundreds of minds from small children, to postal workers, to well just about any and everyone. Whose mind were they in now? Jean wondered as she looked forward again seeing through this persons eyes. Suddenly Jean was very aware that the person was looking back at her.
* Out of my head! * Glory screamed and the car swerved off the road smashing into tree flinging Glory's physical body forward. *You're taking the witch. You.you have my Key! *
Jean suddenly felt herself flung. Hard out of this unstable connection between Tara and Glory's brains.
Willow was surprised when Xavier doubled over in his wheel chair and Jean flew literally through the air into the wall. But her surprise was quickly replaced with elation as Tara opened her eyes and whispered, "Willow?"
Willow moved forward kissing her girlfriend deeply, "Oh goddess Tara are you alright?"
"I am fine. I thought I saw an old man." Tara started and that was when Willow remembered Xavier and Jean. Jumping up from her girlfriend her eyes flashed over seeing Xavier looking grim faced but alright. Jean was up as well standing leaning against the wall for support.
"I think we may have a problem." Xavier said and then resonating in Willow and she was sure everyone's heads she heard or rather just sort of felt inside her head, * To me my X-Men. *
. . . .
There was quite the group in the war room. Along the left wall you had Spike in duster looking more then pissed off. Next to him was the shorter but no less pissed Wolverine. Sitting in chairs in the back was Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Tara, Nightcrawler and Emma Frost.
Up front an center where everyone had there attention focused was Charles Xavier with Jean Grey at his side. The blue skinned Angel, Cyclops, Iceman and Beast all sat around the war room table. Joining them sitting in a single seat were Anya and Xander.
The completion of the group was the two newest members of the X-Men. Northstar and Juggernaut sat alongside the right wall. Juggernaut had to sit as he took up most the room as it was. Northstar on the other hand was standing, he never sat much. Except when flying a jet, he was a very capable pilot.
Xavier looked at all the group, "After talking with Miss Rosenberg my fears have been confirmed. The blonde woman's mind that Jean and I entered happened upon when rescuing Tara was Glory. Our hell-goddess knows we're here and she is coming to claim Dawn.
"My X-Men that will not be aloud on my watch." Xavier said with one of his sternest tones ever. He was very adamant about this. He would not lose a child to a demon, it was beyond wrong. Plus if what Glory believed to be true, and Xavier was sure it was, then Dawn's bloodshed at the right moment would open a portal allowing all dimensions to flow in. That was not a good idea.
"I want watches set up now. Nightcrawler will lead Team A. This team will consist of Willow, Tara, Emma Frost, Beast, Spike, Northstar and Juggernaut." Xavier paused looking around the room at his team, "Team B will be co-lead by Buffy and Cyclops. It will consist of Wolverine, Phoenix, Iceman, Angel and Juggernaut."
Finishing all the X-Men still had there eyes on there teacher, "Cain I hope you don't mind pulling double shifts. She is strong and you're our strongest." Xavier looked at them all then finished up, "Team A you have first shift outside. Team B inside. Dawn if you would please come with me."
Before anyone could say anything Dawn crossed the room to Xavier. * Dawn I have already discussed this with Buffy. You and I are leaving. If worse comes to worse its better you aren't even here for Glory to find. You and I are taking one of the X-Men jets and flying to Syracuse. Your cousin Alex is living there currently on hiatus to find himself after his recent awakening from a coma. *
Dawn didn't even question Xavier's judgment. She knew it was best but if any of these people died on her behalf she couldn't live with herself.
* They won't Dawn. No one is dying. * Xavier said to reassure her. But he didn't even believe that himself. He had been in Glory's head and he knew what she was capable of. These are the times I wish the Phoenix force was still with us.