Chapter Two: "A New Creation"

Jean Grey walked briskly across the Brown campus toward the labs. She was on her way to her last class of the semester. As far as was possible at that moment, she was happy. She had spent the previous night packing with Scott for their newly instituted annual vacation to her parent's house and his family ranch in California. They would have a nice break from the everyday humdrum. She could just see his smiling face as they joked last night about how disappointed Alex was going to be at not coming also. She thought about how happy Nate was going to be when she told him that he could finally get to surf like his Uncle Alex had always talked about. And that made her happy. She had decided to dwell on the positive, at least for a week, and like Scott had told her, she had felt better. Now if only he had a solution for her stupid powers acting up again. She frowned. "Well, there goes my good day," she thought as the memory of last night replayed in her head.

-She had been having the same nightmare almost every night for the past two weeks. Her dreams were constantly filled with an immense and hollow darkness, with her standing in the middle of it, entirely alone. She would desperately call out for a familiar face, anyone who would save her from being totally isolated. But, every night the answer was the same. A fiery being, that she had come to find out was a phoenix, a birdlike creature found in ancient mythology, would descend upon the blackness and envelop her into all its flaming brilliance and speak to her in a familiar voice. At first, it scared her to no end, but after a while, she got used to basking in the warmth of the glowing force that emitted from somewhere within the creature. Last night she had finally worked up the courage to reply to the creature when it called her name. She shuddered at the thought of its reply:

"Jean, Jean," the phoenix whispered into the depths of her soul.

Jean looked around, crying to herself at being unable to find her friends. "What is it you want from me?" She screamed at it, frustrated.

"Jean, come with me. You have a greater destiny to fulfill than this. You and I are the same. Together, we will never be alone again. We will be unstoppable!"

Jean could feel her body slowly rising to meet the descending Phoenix. She felt her powers expanding, and surprisingly she kept control over them. She loved the feel of the rush of warmth as she approached the blazing light force. Jean felt an uncontrollable urge to sprout wings and fly away. She lifted her arms and breathed in deeply. Never before had she experienced such a feeling of strength and well-being. The Phoenix drew closer and closer, heating the air around her with its furious brilliance until she could not bear it any longer. Suddenly, the fire stopped. In its place remained a constant glow she could still feel deep inside her breast.

"Jean, we will be always together; you won't have to feel alone again. Now as one, we can fly over the universe, casting our eternal brightness over its shadow," said the Phoenix's voice, which suddenly came from within the recesses of her mind. "Come, let us take flight!"

Jean could feel her body engulfed in flames. Surprisingly, its inferno no longer hurt her, but warmed her against the darkness like a snug blanket on a frigid winter day. She sensed wings spring from her back, anxious to begin their first journey. She glanced all around her, observing her surroundings growing fainter and fainter as she ascended higher into oblivion. Then, from out of nowhere, she saw a tiny speck beneath her. She could hear the speck calling out to her. "Jean, Jean, come back!"

She recognized the voice. Only one voice could melt her soul into tiny pieces. She felt a surge of pain at the thought of having to leave him for this new, great thing. She couldn't. She wasn't strong enough to live without him. Nothing could change that. "Scott!" She cried, desperately fighting the power drawing her away from him. "Scott, save me! I can't escape the force. It's pulling me away!" She saw him slipping further away, out of her reach forever. "NOOOOOO! Scott!" She screamed, now fully turned toward him, trying to dive headlong towards the ground, but the Force kept wrenching her away. "Nothing is worth this!" She cried, as he slipped out of view. And then she awoke, her sheets scorched and sweat dripping from every pore on her body. She quickly got up, looked at her surroundings and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She couldn't believe what she saw. Her eyes flashed, a swirling blaze of flames had turned her brilliant emerald eyes a gleaming amber color. She looked down at her hands. They were still emitting occasional flames from her fingertips. Her skin had a brilliant glow to it that was still abating. She breathed heavily again, this time consciously relaxing every muscle. When she opened her eyes, not only did she feel and look more like her old self, but she was also surprised to see a figure quietly slip through the wall adjoining their two rooms. She knew at once that it was Kitty, and was instantly worried about how much Kitty had witnessed. She walked quietly out her door into the hallway, and stopped just outside Kitty's door listening for any sound, and then for her thoughts. Jean turned the knob that Kitty had locked, and mentally released the latch. She found Kitty shaking uncontrollably, but still preparing to return to bed.

"Kitty," she called quietly.

Kitty looked over at her, visibly shocked. "Stay away from me, Jean. I didn't see anything," she lied hurriedly, shrinking as far away from the approaching Jean as possible.

"Kitty, don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you!" Jean reassured her.

"Yeah, right!" Kitty blurted, looking at Jean strangely. She had seen Jean's screwy powers unconsciously attempt to kill her just minutes ago. "You just tried to kill me, Jean! And it's not been the first time either! Just stay where you are!" Kitty was growing more and more uncomfortable as Jean came and stood next to her bed.

"I am so sorry, Kitty! I would never purposely hurt you. I," Jean looked away uncomfortably, "I just don't know what's been going on with me lately. I've been having such strange nightmares." Jean looked back at Kitty, who was by now already standing back up on the opposite side of the bed, trying to keep something between her and Jean.

"Yah, well, you should maybe think about getting your powers under control. I've been doing the same thing every night for the past two weeks. And tonight was the worst! I can't handle it anymore, Jean," Kitty looked at Jean straight in the eyes, hoping to find a sign of her old friend, instead of this new thing that was scaring her so. She found it.

"Kitty! What have you been doing?" Jean stared at her, surprised and then worried, "What have I been doing? Did I hurt you?"

Jean listened to her mind before Kitty could reply. In that brief few seconds before Kitty could think of an answer that wouldn't cause too much shock, Jean saw it all.

How every night her nightmares had woken Kitty up. How Kitty had come in, and amidst the flying debris and flaming creatures spinning about Jean's room, had managed to restrain Jean until she calmed down. And how Kitty had kept it to herself after Jean showed no sign of remembrance every morning. Jean saw all this in Kitty's mind and was touched to her core that she could have a friend that devoted to her safety and well-being.

"Well," Kitty began, pulling her pillow up in front of her face, unsure of what to say, "Not so much . . ."

Jean interrupted her. "Kitty, I know. I am so sorry for all I have put you through. Why didn't you tell me?"

Kitty peeked at Jean from behind her pillow. "You seemed too stressed as it was, you know, and like, I thought you were going to get over it."

"And what if I didn't?"

"Well, I was like, fixing to tell Scott. I knew you would want to deal with it on your own. Since now you know, you can do what you want. But, you definitely need to fix your little problem," Kitty replied, staring at her pointedly. –

Jean shook her head sadly. Though they had stayed up all night discussing how to deal with her powers expanding, neither of them had come up with a credible solution. Both had decided it would probably be best not to tell Scott now, since he also was stressed out. Jean knew he would find out eventually, and did not like keeping secrets from him, but she felt she didn't have much of a choice, especially after what she had dreamed about them. She would just keep it to herself until he de-stressed and then break it to him gently.

She reached the labs and sought out her lab partner, Eddie Malheurst. They had become good friends ever since he transferred to Brown about a year ago. She made her way toward their usual table, scanning the room for his face.

"Hello, Jean Grey. Who are you looking for?" A voice with hints of an English accent came from behind her.

"Eddie, you're late! I'm surprised!" Jean turned around, her face smiling now, and beheld the sight of Eddie, her tall, well-built, handsome lab partner. Eddie grinned, flipping his auburn bangs out of his eyes.

"Well, Dr. Grey, what of it? I had to meet my girlfriend my way over here. We had some urgent business to take care of," Eddie rejoined, looking into her face, as if searching for something.

"Since when do you have a girlfriend, Eddie? You never mentioned her before." Jean started setting up her equipment, and Eddie began taking down the instructor's directions.

"You wouldn't like her, she's not your type," he replied seriously, not looking up from his legal pad. Jean could see the edge of his mouth turn up slightly and she laughed.

"Very funny." She bit her pen, thinking of something humorous to return with.

"Don't strain yourself, Jean. You might pop a brain cell," Eddie joked, and walked around to the other side of the table, just out of her reach.

"Eddie! Get back over here so I can hit you," she commanded, looking at him, with an amused look on her face.

The instructor replied before Eddie could move, "Do I need to sit you children outside? Other people have come to learn and you are interrupting them."

Jean blushed, "Sorry, sir. It won't happen again," she replied, and promptly ignored Eddie for the rest of the class. At the end of class, she walked out without a word to him. Eddie rushed after her and caught her in the parking lot as she was about to get in her car.

"Jean, wait," he began, but stopped, out of breath.

"What Eddie? I have to get home before seven and I still have a three hour drive to go."

"Jean, I'm sorry I got you in trouble, okay? We were just joking around. That guy just has a stick up his . . ."

"Eddie!" She interrupted him before he could complete his expletive. "I appreciate your apology. I just don't want to be penalized for joking around."

"I know, and I'm sorry. Just don't leave mad, okay?" he pleaded, obviously upset at her being mad at him.

"I'm not mad at you, Ed. I'm mad at myself. I should have known better," she replied.

"I didn't want you to feel bad, that was all," he added.

She stared at him, hoping her feelings weren't that visible. "What do you mean?"

"You looked upset. I thought maybe you'd like a bit of cheering up," he answered, smiling down at her.

"I had a long night, that was all," she explained, then looked at her watch. "Listen, I'm running late, and I have to go somewhere tonight. I'll see you in August."

"So, we're good?"

"Yah," she replied, and shut the car door. Rolling down the window, she added, "Maybe when I get back, you'll introduce me to your girlfriend. See you then!"

"Bye," Eddie replied and waved as she drove out of the parking lot. He watched until her car was out of sight, and then turned to walk to his own car. He wasn't surprised to find his 'girlfriend' waiting for him there.

"Oh, how touching!" She said affectedly, and gestured with her finger under her eye, "A tear."

He looked at her darkly, "Just get in the car."

"No problem, boss," she replied sarcastically. "I just didn't want to miss that touching farewell. It's just so emotional!" she added, sighing heavily, evidently trying to offend him. He got into the car and unlocked the other doors.

"Shut up and get in, Mystique," he commanded her again.

Mystique smirked mockingly at him. "Well, have you lovebirds set a date? I want to be there to see the look on old Summers' face when you break the news to him."

Eddie's accent became more pronounced until it was unmistakably of Scottish origins, "Must you always be so acerbic, or is it just unavoidable?" Mystique grinned again as she watched Eddie transform back into his original self, Lucas Ian Riley.

"It's fun to be derisive, or don't you agree?" she replied, glancing out the window as she spoke, waiting to hear the plans she had come for. She didn't have time for his corniness. Time was running short and she had to get busy or forget it. And forget is something she never did. Ever.

"Yah, I know what you're wanting. It can wait until we get back to my place. I have some other stuff to go over first. And get your mind out of the gutter!" He said, after hearing her thoughts.

Mystique glared at him. "I don't have all day to wait on you, so I might as well have some fun."

Lucas laughed, clearly amused, "You're a naughty girl, Mystique. I don't have time for that kind of fun."

Mystique reached over and placed her hand on his leg, and replied seductively, "Woman, Lucas. I'm a very bad woman."

Lucas, still driving, removed her hand from his leg telekinetically, saying, "Now, Mystique, this is purely a business relationship, nothing more."

"Ah, but what is business without pleasure?" She asked mischievously.

"A job done," he answered gravely.

By now, they had arrived at 'his place', as he liked to call it. In reality, it was a government owned duplex, normally used as a safehouse for the witness protection programs, which he had skimmed off Haytin in their deal. It was an awesome Victorian style mansion, well furnished with comfortable archetypical furniture. Lucas chose it, reasoning to Haytin at the time, "If you're going to be evil, why not do it in style. You expected a dingy warehouse, no doubt."

Mystique was impressed, a rare thing for her on any occasion. Of course, she didn't show it, but got out of the car, looked over at Lucas across the hood, and asked, "So, where do I sleep?"

He rolled his eyes, exasperated, "Try to be serious, would you? We have work to do."

As they made their way to the mansion, and walked through the antique oak door, Mystique promptly took note of her surroundings.

From where she stood in the massive foyer, waiting impatiently for Lucas to disable the security system, she could see that off to her left was a well-furnished sitting room, which she took to be the parlor. Opposite the of the sitting room, was a library, stocked with a multitude of literary classics, and stylishly decorated with cherry bookcases, forest green walls, several chairs covered in luxurious russet colored leather, a large oriental rug spread on the floor, various antique tables and lamps, and a large cherry wood desk situated near a large bay window.

Directly in front of her, was an almost ostentatious winding stairway that led up to the second floor.

Beyond that, were doors that led to the kitchen, dining room, downstairs lavatory, and what she assumed to be a small elevator.

Lucas gestured for her to follow him up the staircase.

"Business or pleasure?" she said with a smirk.

"Aahh! For the last time, it's strictly business!!"

He stomped up the stairs and she followed as they made their way up the aging stairway. At the top, they turned to the left.

Mystique absorbed the lush surroundings in one swift glance. The classic paintings, the antique wall runners, the Victorian light fixtures; her eyes took it all in, categorized, and pushed it to the back of her mind. Lucas took her to a door at the end of the hall, and opened it into a gorgeous bedroom.

"This is where you will be situated for the time being," he stated, "Now, if you don't mind following me back downstairs, I will go over the plans."

His tone gave no room for argument, so she stood up to the full of her imposing stature, and regally followed him back down into the foyer.

Lucas, somewhat relieved that she didn't repeat her little come-on's again, led her into the library where they found a man there, obviously getting impatient.

"Ah, Haytin, so nice of you to wait," Lucas began, smirking slightly. He walked over, claimed a plush armchair, and motioned for Mystique to take a seat. She sauntered through the walkway between the coffee table and sofa, keeping her eyes on Haytin the entire way. She took a seat across from Haytin, closer to Lucas, but enough out the way to observe without being too conspicuous.

"So," he continued, obviously delighting in watching Haytin play with his watch nervously. "Now that we're all finally on the same page, let's get down to business. Mystique here has agreed to assist us," here he indicated Mystique, who raised her chin, arched an eyebrow, and leered menacingly at Haytin, who shivered slightly, knowing her reputation, "in our communal efforts to bring the so-called mutant 'problem' to an end, each in our own ways. Haytin," Lucas addressed him, "have you got the intelligence reports on the Institute that I requested?"

Haytin swiftly reached into his large black briefcase and retrieved a crisp manila folder filled with structural statistics regarding the Westchester institute that Xavier built, including satellite surveillance photos of add-ons since the Defcon 4 and Apocalyptic incidences. He handed them across to Lucas, who flipped through them carelessly before passing them over to Mystique to consider. She studied each one carefully, while still listening intently as Haytin continued.

"Really, Lucas, I would have thought with all the pressure you are applying on me for urgency, you would pay more attention to the details," Haytin stated, glancing from Lucas to Mystique questioningly.

"Well, since you obviously don't know yet, Mystique will be doing a lot of the leg work for this project," and then sensing Mystique's reply, he quickly looked over before she could say anything and command her darkly, "Don't say it!!" He then turned back to Haytin, still perturbed at Mystique's constant uncouthness, and continued, "Anyway, I will be concentrating on the more complex problems in our preparations. From now on, you can just forward all the documentation directly to her, at this address, naturally, as I will be unavailable at most times from now on. Since she reports directly to me on all matters, you can be assured that I will still be overseeing the itinerary until completion."

Haytin nodded and glimpsed over at Mystique, who, nodding slightly to acknowledge him, continued perusing the documents intently. He turned back to Lucas and persisting on the topic, "Well, now that I have delivered the floor plans as you requested, what else is there left before you begin?"

"Ah, ye of little faith," Lucas replied, sarcastically sacrilegious. "My strategy is already in play, you needn't worry. I have resolved the 'hacking and tracking' as it were. Now, all that remains is the incursion of the institute, and that is what is being planned as we speak. Mystique is the master at these things, and on such a grand scale, she is unsurpassed for such a project. All that remains for me to do are the primary infiltrations, the targets of which you are already aware," he said, indicating the file, which Haytin now held in his hand that consisted of the names of highly evolved mutates that they were planning to use. He went on, "We will soon be ensconced within their group and draw our targets from there. When we have accomplished this, I estimate the remainder of the project to be a mere two weeks before completion. Once I have delivered the securing device that will keep them all in line, you may take over the control of your little strike force, as I will officially be retired, luckily for you."

"And, when will this joyous day be?" Haytin asked acerbically, anxious to know when he would be free of Lucas' meddlesome influences.

"Sooner than I expected, actually," Lucas replied, ignoring Haytin's courageous jab. "Primary target is well within reach. In only twelve days countdown, we will have incorporated the perfunctory device within her brain, and with it acting as a restraining agent on expansion of independent thought, we will use her as a 'devolution cell' for the others."

"If you are so close" Haytin queried, "Then why the wait? Why not even sooner?"

"Because, you dolt, I said so, that's why." Lucas' tone left no room for argument, and yet, Haytin pressed on.

"That is unacceptable, Mr. Riley! It is adamant that I have full range access on your plans, or else I cannot be held responsible for your demise. Your say-so is intolerable and offensive! The reason, if you will," Haytin stared Lucas straight in the eyes, trying not to betray the fact that he could have slapped himself for his stupidity just then.

Lucas arched an eyebrow, amused at his tone, "Well, Director, have you decided to finally grow a pair?" Mystique snorted, and tried to control her laughter at hearing the hilarity of Lucas' accent pronouncing those words. Lucas looked over to her, also apparently pleased with himself, and upon seeing the look on her face addressed her, "Mystique, would you terribly mind being a dear and getting me a coffee? I wouldn't want you to witness my ripping him yet another pair, as accustomed as you may be to the sight." Mystique, though somewhat maddened at being treated like a lackey, acquiesced due to her good humor and the amusement of Haytin about to get his. She rose elegantly from her armchair, and strode grandly out to find the door that led to the kitchen, grinning with bared teeth at Haytin as she passed. When she had quitted the room, Lucas rose from his seat walked behind his desk and then turned back to Haytin, leering at him malevolently. "So, Director Haytin, you want a reason, eh?"

Haytin nodded ever so slightly, becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and regretting his decision to get out of bed that morning.

"Not usually being what people might call a nice person, I have graciously decided not to eliminate you at this moment, since you are still a pawn in my little game. Muahahaha!" Lucas laughed at his attempt at the usual 'evil-genius' laugh.

Haytin frowned at Lucas' impertinence, though still sighing in relief at not being flung off the face of the earth. "Very funny," he answered Lucas.

Mystique returned then, carrying Lucas' coffee over to his desk, and overhearing his last comment, added, "Yeah, muahahahah!" in Lucas' voice.

"Yeah, now we are officially evil," Lucas laughed. "Anyway, back to business." He looked back over to Haytin, who was sitting there, bewildered at their antics.

"Are you two nuts!? I'm going to lose my job if this is not taken care of immediately! Now, what is the hold up?" Haytin was constantly becoming bolder as they continued, as he had little tolerance for such activities.

"Your job is not the only thing your in danger of losing, Haytin," Lucas replied, with intent. "There are still some factors that need to be resolved before we proceed. Otherwise, you might as well run this into the ground, for all it will be worth, if I don't."

Haytin nodded, somewhat appeased, knowing that was as much as he would get. He stood to leave, saying, "Well, if that is all, I have an appointment with a senator that I'm now late for. "

Lucas walked with him to the door, and opened it for him, stating as Haytin walked through, "Two weeks from now, I expect to hear back from you, Haytin. Get my place in order, and I'll be out of your hair."

Haytin frowned, but nodded acquiescingly. He walked down the steps to the black Crown Victoria that had been waiting for him, and opened the door.

"And give my regards to that stupid-ass Senator Kelly," Lucas added as Haytin was getting in. Haytin slammed the door without commenting, but Lucas knew he was broiling inside, which made him smirk gleefully. He turned back to go into the house, and addressed Mystique, who was waiting in the foyer.

"What have you come up with?"

"Well, the floor plans have several new add-on's that I still need to familiarize myself with, but there is another option other than just storming the place once I deactivate the security system," she paused, trying to determine whether or not it would be appropriate to mention it.

"And?" he replied, walking past her back into the library and plopping down on the sofa.

"And, well, someone could be used as a mole, and determine the infrastructure from the inside, before we take the main target," she suggested.

"Who did you have in mind? Yourself?" he asked unconcerned, laying back on the sofa and resting his eyes, waiting for a reply.

"Of course not," she replied, mentally kicking herself for not thinking of it before, but still not wanting the mental anguish of having to see them more than was unavoidably possible. "I had someone else in mind; someone who is already somewhat situated there, and wouldn't mind, or could at least be persuaded to help."

Lucas sat up slowly, thinking over her plan, and hearing her suggestion before she could speak it. "Brilliant!" he exclaimed, and then pressed his fingers against his temples, as if searching for something deep inside the recesses of his mind. Mystique slightly smiled at the compliment, and sat down across from him, about to continue her thought, when he turned to her and said, "He'll be in town tonight with a friend. Contact him there."

Mystique nodded, "Will you be there, or not?"

Lucas thought for a moment, "I may be in the neighborhood, if he has changed more than we thought. Otherwise, you can just take care of it yourself." Lucas lay back down, telling her, "Excuse me, if you will. I am exhausted and I have to rest before my big date with destiny." He motioned for her to leave.

"You know," she replied as she reached the door to the library, "Irene is really not your type. She is a bit too domesticated for someone like you."

"Get out!" he yelled.

"I hope you know, you sound like Shrek!" she yelled back and then slammed the door before he could reply. She walked down the front steps, morphing into a non-descript brown haired woman, and chuckling to herself as she walked down the street.

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