Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or anything X-Men related.
Dedicated – To my girlfriend, thank you for always encouraging me and being there for me. I wouldn't have bothered with this if not for you.
A/N – If anyone has even read the first chapter and has been (for some odd reason) been waiting for another chapter. I am sorry it has taken this long. Had this chapter written for about 2 months now, was just waiting for some reviews. PLEASE R/R people.
The Askani: Chapter TwoNathan pulled up to a big house that was off a deserted road, at a first glance one would think that the road led nowhere and would turn around and get back on the main highway, but if you kept driving for several minutes you would eventually see the house of the woman known as Mother Askani. Within the massive house off the deserted road resided an organization known as The Askani. Throughout time, they monitor activities and legends occurring, that most people call myths. They don't investigate ghost sightings, or urban legends, or common myths such as the Blair Witch or the Jersey Devil. The Askani keeps their eyes on old creatures of power, ones that could bring about the world ending. In short the Askani see themselves as the protectors of humanity, to a certain degree.
As Nathan walked up the stairs to the main gate, he could almost feel all the security focusing on him, if he was to sneeze or trip over a step at any moment, all of the security would be all over him. There were no doorknobs on the great doors leading into the house; the only way to get in was to knock. A special seal was placed on the door that recognized the sound waves and force that each member of the Askani generated when they knocked, bidding only the members in, and not opening its doors to the others.
Right when Nathan walked in, two guards walked strait up to him and asked him to remove any weapons. Nathan opened his coat and revealed a large knife, a pistol, several stealth gadgets, his cell phone and a stethoscope. Upon seeing the last item the guards looked at Nathan quizzically, to which Nathan responded; "Rushed here after work."
Satisfied the guards let Nathan past the foyer of the mansion and to proceed to whatever areas of the mansion he chose. On his way to Mother Askani's quarters he ran into Kane and Aliya, two people that he worked with. When they saw him they asked him if the stories they have been hearing were true, about what he has discovered. He simply told them that he wasn't sure what he had found and needed to run it all by Mother Askani. They left him as he went down the hall to her quarters, knowing that is was indeed a matter that needed to be kept under wraps until they knew for sure what was going on. As Nathan grew near the doors, they automatically swung open, and he walked right in. knowing that if Mother Askani was busy, the doors would remain closed. Inside Mother Askani's room were a giant monitor on the wall, a couple smaller monitors under that, a massive wooden desk, carved with many seals and symbols, three chairs facing the desk, a table with chairs all around it, a great library, another door leading to her sleeping quarters, and a small collection of bladed and projectile weapons on the wall, all of which she have mastered. Nathan walked strait to the desk, stopped right in between two of the chairs and gave the woman sitting behind the desk a small bow. "Mother Askani." He said.
"As you do not like people being so formal with your position at the mental ward, I do not like people being so formal outside of an assignment and in my own quarters." Replied the woman.
"Yes Rachael, I'll remember that someday." Smirked Nathan as he sat down in the center chair.
Rachael gave Nathan a half smile, they have served side by side on many missions and the formality between them quickly disappeared. Rachael was dressed in a business suit, which had a jacket top, and a mid length skirt on the bottom. Her hair was a dark red, and she had emerald green eyes. Her face was more round than pointy, her nose was small and had a point at the tip, and her lips were just a bit thin. "What have you found out at the mental ward?" she asked looking into Nathan's eyes with up most seriousness. "Were our agents in the Egyptian branch correct? Have we found the new vessel of the Phoenix?"
"To be honest, I can't really tell." Responded Nathan as he handed Rachael his cell phone, to which she plugged into her computer and projected the camera images onto the main monitor.
"We have seen many cases like this where all the big pieces matched up, but not the little pieces, which proved to make all the difference in the world. This one however, all the little pieces match up, but the big obvious ones do not."
"So like the other ones, this could be a fraud as well?" asked Rachael as she looked at the first image.
"Maybe, maybe not. You can see that the patient, Miss Jean Grey, her body quickly recovers from the tranquilizers and meds that the mental ward gives her. Promoting the resurrection ability of the Phoenix."
"Yes, but her body could have a high stamina, we have seen it before, in Germany and in Israel." Responded Rachael as she clicked the remote to show the next image.
"True, but the dosage amount, it almost lethal" countered Nathan. Rachael saw the close up of the amount used on Jean Grey and clicked through more pictures, seeing that the dosage went up at first every week, than every other day than everyday. "No human immune system or stamina amount can counter that high of a dose over a period just over three months."
"So...what doesn't match up?" Asked Rachael a little confused and excited over the prospect of finally finding the Phoenix.
"Well, as you can see in the next image," Rachael clicked the remote. "Her doctor and nurses have reported her frequently screaming and yelling about destroying the world, as well as just going berserk, to a point that she is in a padded cell, suited in a strait jacket with metal binders."
"Insanity? That is not a trait recorded to be among the vessels of the Phoenix." Said Rachael, more to herself than to Nathan.
"And another thing, if Miss Grey does have the powers of the Phoenix, why haven't she broken out of her cell? She would just so much, have to flick her fingers at the wall and the entire place would crumble."
"So, she isn't the vessel. Just an anomaly."
"That's what I thought too, and I would have dropped it right there, but two more things kept bothering me." Said Nathan as he lean forward, his head rested on his hands. "One, if there is nothing special about this patient, why is the file confidential? Why is no one allowed to talk about it?"
"Who is her doctor?"
"Someone named Nathaniel Essex. Odd thing is, Jean Grey is the only patient he looks after."
"Computer." Rachael spoke to her mainframe. "Run a search on the name Nathaniel Essex."
"Initiating" the computer, responded in a flat, monotone voice.
"And the other?" asked Rachael as the computer searched.
"Look at the last two pictures."
Rachael looked at them, both were photographs from mental exercise sessions with Jean and Dr. Essex. One showed her with hallowed out eyes.
"Possession" responded Rachael.
She looked at the other one, which showed her in a fit of rage, with her eyes slightly red.
"Is that the Phoenix force?" she wondered.
"I want to say yes." Responded Nathan. "But like I said, too many things say 'no'.
"Search complete" stated the computer.
"Run results." Ordered Rachael as she switched the monitor's viewing from the images to the computers response screen.
"Nathaniel Essex, dual citizenship with the United States and England, with no known criminal record. Co-owner of many famous museums in the United States, and has sponsored many archeological digs in Egypt, South America, Israel, Australia, China, and Africa. Had a double Major in Sanford College, in History, and psychology, as well as a minor in anthropology."
"Historic events, mental habits and behaviors, and culture of other people. Sounds like someone who might be looking for the Phoenix." Said Rachael as she lowered the screen and just looked at the bookshelves, as if looking for a specific title.
"What are my orders?" asked Nathan as he rose from the chair.
"Continue to monitor Miss Grey, we need more proof that she is the vessel before we can think about making a move." Responded Rachael as she broke her gaze from the bookshelf and looked at Nathan.
"Yes Mother Askani" replied Nathan, making a small bow and leaving Rachael, to think.