And Then There Were Four
Chapter Six: Deception
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Ororo Munroe stood before Emma Frost, her eyes a solid white – in return, Frost's piercing blue eyes stared right back.
"If you believe I have no training against telepathic attacks," Storm's voice beckoned, "then you are sadly mistaken."
"And if you believe that your mediocre psychic barriers are a match for my telepathy," Emma countered, "than so are you."
A lightning bolt fell from the "sky" as the two women saw it, The White Queen dodging it with ease. "This is my doing, Storm – I brought you here. Remember that!"
Storm fell to the ground as the scene around the two women – previously black – morphed into that of Emma's office. Ororo pulled herself up in time to watch Frost take a seat behind her desk. "What are you playing at...?"
"I don't want to fight you," Emma sighed. "I want to talk to you."
Though not visible here, Storm could feel her pounding lip. She knew Emma had drawn first blood. "You have a funny way of showing it."
"I won't deny that I have a bit of a... temper," Emma began, "and perhaps an evil side."
'One, as an X-Man, I have seen many times, Frost."
Emma simply nodded regretfully before continuing. "Oro—Storm, I have a tendency to overreact when it comes to my students. You had no right to bring Everett into this."
"Your track record aside," Munroe challenged, but stopped herself. Frost was right. She shouldn't have mentioned Everett – the poor boy's death had been a terrible time in the life of Emma Frost... especially considering all of the other students she had watched die – even recently. It had been a low blow. Composing herself as she sat down in the other chair, Storm spoke once more. "You're right. But you have no right to parade around, begging for attack – disgracing Jean's memory."
"This may be hard to believe, but I love—"
"Scott aside," Storm interrupted. "Not only did you mention Forge – which, by the heavens, is long behind me... but your 'greeting' this morning was a direct attack on my love for Jean."
Emma hesitated this time. "Do you know—"
"—what it's like to wake up from these nightmares?" Rachel asked as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "My God, Kitty. I hate this."
Shadowcat put her arm around her friend, pulling her close. "Did it have anything to do with meeting Cyclops last night?"
"I don't know," Rachel sighed. "I just felt such a ... burst. A burst of telepathic energy that jolted me awake... right before Jean – before I – said..."
"It's so hard to look at the man you love and know he's thinking of another.
"To feel that he's thinking of another. One emotion that is harder to shut out... harder than any other... is that of love." Emma's lip curled. "I can't help but know – blessed telepathy – that he's thinking about her."
Munroe sat, puzzled. Emma Frost certainly worked in odd ways. Just a few minutes ago, the two women were fighting... and now, Ororo had been drafted into becoming her counselor. The long-time X-Man found herself doing her best to shield her thoughts—her thoughts of disgust: why shouldn't Scott think of Jean? And also thoughts of sorrow. She almost felt sorry for Emma.
"I know this must be terribly awkward for you, Storm." Frost sighed.
(Remember—almost felt sorry.) "Emma – when I left the X-Men, a squad behind me, to obtain Destiny's diaries... Jean asked one thing of me."
Ororo paused, remembering her dear friend's face. "She asked me never to forget her, though she knew I couldn't.
"In another place – in another circumstance – the two of us could have been friends. But I warn you," Storm stood, "I have been the best friend of Scott Summers' significant other once before. I shall not do it again – and if this is some sort of attempt..."
Emma's pride sunk. "Don't flatter yourself, darling." The Headmistress stood as well. "You lead one of my squads – and I believe you to be a very competent leader. I think it foolish to continue on such as we were – both my pride and temper placed aside. If Logan and Scott want to carry on like children, fine, but I wish quite differently for us—because, as always, my primary thoughts are of the children. They need to be led by adults."
"For the children, I agree," Storm said. "But I wonder..."
Emma arched an eyebrow.
"If given the choice, how many would see you in charge before me? Don't throw your 'weight' around at me, Emma. Mine is larger. I'll give you my respect, but you don't have my allegiance."
Emma Frost and Ororo Munroe's eyes flashed open simultaneously, the two women immediately pulling themselves up from the kitchen floor. They were met by Paige Guthrie and Jubilation Lee, Husk and Jubilee respectively.
"What were you going to do, dear?" Emma asked Paige, noting the hard exterior of her skin. "Did I teach you nothing in our time together? Were you going to beat me from the astral plane?"
Bobby Drake strolled into the Danger Room, Kurt Wagner behind him. "It seems as if the two of us are scheduled to train together, ja?"
"Well, we're both here," Iceman muttered. "Think you can keep up, Wagner?"
Nightcrawler raised an eyebrow. "Do you? Computer – begin sequence 'Frozen Port' in three, two, one..."
The room around them shifted into a graveyard – a familiarly recent tombstone in plain sight. Bobby's eyes scanned SHE WILL RISE AGAIN before he really questioned his fellow X-Man.
"We are all having a hard time, Bobby," Kurt said as he walked to his friend. "It is outside of our nature not to."
"Kur--? What? What is this? What are you doing?"
"I want you to un-ice yourself."
"That isn't funny, Nightcrawler. You know that I can't. Everyone knows that I can't."
Kurt nodded. "You've made sure of it. I wonder, though – would Jean be able to help you? Would you let her?"
The thought of a telepath inside of Robert Drake's head was less than intriguing... one of the last notable times, Emma Frost had been inside of his head... and it wasn't an enjoyable stay.
"I don't understand where you're going with this, Nightcrawler – but I don't like it. I don't know why we're here – or why you're bringing up Jean – but I'm leaving."
"No, Bobby... no – you are not.
"Listen to me, mein freund. There is nothing wrong with you – nothing. Countless tests have shown this."
"Nightcrawler."
"Bobby, please—"
"Computer, override sequence... Robert Drake, Iceman, 005."
The Danger Room shut itself down at the code of the original X-Man, Nightcrawler watching his comrade make his exit.
Narrowing his eyes, he teleported after him. He and Bobby had never been very close – but the two had always respected one another. And Kurt knew when one of his friends was hurting... and bringing much of the pain upon themselves.
In a cloud of brimstone, Kurt appeared before Iceman with a dark look upon his face. "You will not listen to anyone else, Bobby – but you will listen to me. You're crying out for attention as if you are still a child. Having felt much pain and insecurity as of late... with Lorna's return, with Havok's leadership, ja? Much that you have known is no longer the case in your life.
This situation with Annie is no doubt on your mind, as if you can change it. Professor Xavier has, in your words, 'abandoned' the X-Men... Jean is gone..."
"Kurt. I'm going to ask you once.
Please—will you leave this alone?"
Nightcrawler stared into the eyes of the X-Man—and after a moment, nodded.
As Iceman turned the corner, he sighed—falling against the wall behind him and sliding to the floor.
The hair that fell in his face wasn't ice.
The former villain known as Juggernaut narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the wooded area before him. "Get ahold a'yerself, Marko... Tom ain't here and he ain't gonna show his ugly head around this place. There's just no way."
Cain Marko turned around, heading back towards the grounds – though he stopped short, his eyes wide. He tapped the small X on his belt buckle.
"Uhh, Alex...?"
"...Juggernaut? Cain, what're you doing?"
The humongous X-Man's armor shone under the large orange moon.
"We have a situation, Havok..."
Cain looked once more to the empty grave before him.
"A huge one."