And Then There Were Four

Chapter Eight: Dust to Dust

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"I've already activated the mansion's security protocols—the dormitories have been sealed off. The children are safe." Hank McCoy pulled Shadowcat and Storm to their feet as he informed them of his actions.

Cyclops was silent as he moved Emma's limp body to an observation table. Hank broke the silence once more. "I have to admit that you five gave me quite a scare falling through into my lab like that."

"We didn't know you'd be up," Kitty mumbled.

"Kitten," Storm said calmly, "I had no idea you were capable of such a miraculous... Kitty, you phased all five of us through the room. Alex through my own touch, Emma through Scott's... since when can you do that?"

"Since when can Warren heal? Or Emma turn into a diamond?"

"Very well put," Hank added in as he helped Scott place Frost correctly on the table. "And since when can I be found on the cover of Beauty and the Beast?" Hank winced at his own joke.

Storm nodded in response, surveying the room. "I don't know what's going on, Henry—but the walls of your laboratory seem to be safe."

"Only the finest Shi'Ar technology, as always. I'm afraid they felt that they owed it to us after Cassandra Nova illustrated her attack through them."

Scott winced at the name.

Havok busted in. "In case you've all forgotten, we nearly died up there – and Lord only knows how the rest of the X-Men stand! We have to get out there and find out what's going on!"

"What's going on, Havok?" Shadowcat turned. "We were nearly killed by the Phoenix force!"

"This can't be happening," he said a bit more coolly. "Whether Jean's grave is empty or not, this just can't be happening..."

"Jean's grave is empty?" Kitty asked, turning to Scott.

Cyclops nodded. "We need a plan."

"Kurt, head to the dorms – make sure everything's safe an' tidy over there."

Nightcrawler nodded as he simultaneously disappeared with a BAMF! – Wolverine turning to Polaris. "Lorna, you head up after him – someone with your talents can come in useful if things are collapsin'. There's a lot of metal in this place."

"And to think you've never been leader," Lorna Dane, the green-haired X-Man smirked. "I hope Alex is okay," she thought as she ascended into the air after Nightcrawler.

Logan winced. The alarms, which sounded the moment Hank had activated the main security protocols, were slightly more than piercing—and it hadn't been the first time an advanced sense of hearing had come back to haunt him. "Pull it together, Bub," he mumbled to himself.

Wolverine moved through the halls, now a glowing red to match the flashing lights on the walls, with ease. Even with the Institute's new design, he knew this place... and he had a mission.

If his suspicions were right, there was trouble... and his suspicions were usually well-founded.

"Please believe me. I haven't forgotten all that the Friends of Humanity has done for me."

"...Annie?"

The nurse turned, shocked. "I have to go," she said as she hung up her phone and turned to Northstar. "Jean Paul..."

"Annie, I don't want to think about what I just heard – the school is under attack, I came to get you to safety..."

"And so did I," Iceman said, stepping in behind him. "We can deal with what you just said later."

Wolverine stopped short at the sight before him—his eyes narrow, his heart beating much faster than normal.

"Jean."

Hank moved to a nearby monitor, turning it on from a computer panel below it. "Cameras on the north side appear to be out," he said more to himself, "east and west are nearly in the same condition... but look here."

Cyclops and Storm moved to Hank, the sight on the monitor sending chills through their spine. "I wanted to believe it wasn't true."

"We all did, Cyclops," Storm said in a hushed tone.

"We truly are dealing with the Phoenix force, then," Beast said—and then at once, "Kitty—where is Rachel?"

Shadowcat turned. "Gone."

A cloud of pink and a BAMF! later, Kurt Wagner appeared next to the winged Josh Guthrie, his older sister Paige—known as the X-Man Husk, and Jubilation Lee, Jubilee. "I see that the dormitories have been sealed."

"Looks that way, Kurt... all of the exits, including windows, are covered in the metal our security systems use. Sam's in the east side of the dorms with Bishop... they're trying to keep the children calm. Speaking of which—Josh, you shouldn't be here."

Josh rolled his eyes as Jubilee spoke up. "And believe me; Bishop isn't too happy about being locked up in here."

Nightcrawler grinned slightly as he tapped the X on his belt buckle. "Lorna, the dormitories are safe and fully-secured."

"Good," the X-Man replied. "Maybe you should stay there—you're one of the few of us who can get through without lowering the security protocols and endangering the children. We'll call you if you're needed."

"And if you don't call?"

"Worry about that if it happens. Polaris out."

Lorna flew through the air, surveying the grounds below her. The mansion's east side, which consisted mostly of the dormitories, had been shut off completely... and the shine of the Shi'Ar's protection was bright against the orange sky which surrounded the grounds.

It was eerie, Lorna thought, just how bright the place had become at the attack of what she feared was the Phoenix... but it was even eerier that, despite the glow or orange, she had no real idea where the threat was based.

Polaris turned the corner, her eyes wide as flame surrounded her entire body. She'd found the Phoenix.

"We need to find adequate cover," Iceman said as he led Northstar and Annie through a hall which connected the east side to the west. They'd tried going upstairs from the first level in the east side—but found it to be shut off. "Hank, Warren, or Scott activated security—which means they're not on the east side. We need to get to them."

"How can you be sure?"

"I've been an X-Man since the only hair Hank had was a five o'clock shadow and 'Slim' had a crush on Jean," Bobby replied. "I know how this works, Northstar."

The former Alpha Flight member rolled his eyes. "We don't even have any real indication as to what's going on—I don't think it a wise decision to be in these halls... look at all of the open windows."

Just as he said it, Jean Paul had wished he hadn't. The tall hallways were lined with windows to their right—and the burning body of Lorna Dane flew through one of them a few feet in front of the group.

Bobby's eyes grew wide. "Lorna?!"

"Oh God!" Annie shrieked as she ran forward.

Emma Frost blinked rapidly as she stumbled about in darkness. Her hand at her head, she moaned... having no real idea as to what had happened to her.

Concentrating hard, the "room" she was in lit up—but she found it to be metallic and empty, as if she were in the barren Danger Room. Frost froze after a moment, the realization hitting her at the same time she heard –

"Emma."

"...Jean..."