**Blue Fury**
"I'll make it up to you Eric, I promise," Mystique said. "Just this one favor, please." She clung to her cell phone and waited for a response. He was mad at her for tricking him into helping Odium. He had a right to be mad. But they both knew that killing stuffy old Charles and the X-men would do more harm than good.
"Who is he?" Eric asked.
"Some genius from the future, Odium said it was very important that I kill him," she said.
"Why should I care?" he asked.
"He knows a lot about the future."
"Very well, Bring him in, I'll have a look at him," Eric finally conceded.
"Thanks," she said.
"And Odium's plan?" he asked.
"Oh, I think I left my sleep gas in my other coat. Oh, well," she said laughing.
"Bitch," Eric said with a grin.
"Yes," she agreed.
"See you tonight," Eric said.
"Bye," she finished and hung up.
Good. She would let Odium deal with the X-men on equal footing; none of this killing them in their sleep shit. That wouldn't do.
*****
Jesse went directly to the library and logged into the computer. He started searching databases of local genealogies, but came up with nothing. He was hacking away into the local courthouse database when he was interrupted.
"You're new, what are you doing?" a young blonde haired girl asked him.
"Just some reading," Jesse said with a smile. "What's your name?"
"Misty," she said shyly. "What's yours?"
"Jesse," he answered. Misty. He wasn't familiar with that one. She was also a little young for this school. "Shouldn't you be in a class right now Misty?" Jesse asked as he turned back to the screen.
"No," she said in a strangely different voice.
Jesse turned around to see the girl transform into a blue woman. He knew immediately who she was, and that he was in a lot of trouble. They were alone in a remote part of the mansion, and she could be deadly.
"Raven," Jesse said.
"Interesting that you know my real name," she said mockingly.
"I know a lot of things," he said flatly.
"So you do," she said. "Do you know why I'm here?" she asked.
"I can guess," Jesse said. She waited for him to continue so he did. "Odium wants me dead so I can't give any useful information to the X-men. How's that for a guess?"
"That doesn't take a genius," she said sarcastically.
"Maybe not, but I know you don't intend to go through with it," he said.
"And how do you know that?" she asked.
"If you wanted me dead, I never would have seen it coming. You want something from me," he said confidently.
"I want you to come with me, to meet Eric," she said.
"Your interest is flattering, but I have an obligation here," he said, trying not to insult her.
"Why do you care?" she asked.
"They're my friends, and I'm not leaving them while some vengeance crazed psycho from the future wants to hurt them," he said heatedly.
"You needn't worry about them. They will be fine," she said.
"What is Odium's plan?" Jesse asked.
"Just your basic bloodbath," Mystique said with an evil smile.
"When, how?" Jesse prompted.
"Forget about it," Mystique said angrily. She needed this kid, and she was at the end of her patience. If he didn't agree right now, she was going to knock him out and carry him. "Come with me now, Jesse, Eric is waiting."
It was an ultimatum, and Jesse knew what was coming, but couldn't stop himself from saying, "Go to hell!"
Mystique moved so quickly, Jesse never had time to react before she gave him an injection of some sleep inducing drug. She picked him up and slung him over her shoulder in a fireman's carry. She stalked silently through the hallway before she was caught near the back door.
"Now where would you be taking my friend?" a quiet female voice said.
Mystique turned around to confront the owner of that voice. It was Logan's woman. "You try to hit me with that energy of yours and you'll hurt him," Mystique warned.
Dani just orbed Jesse out of her arms and into the infirmary. When Mystique tried to bolt for the door, Dani orbed to block her way. "Get out of my way, I'm not here for you," Mystique said.
*Snikt!*
"Then what're you here for?" Logan's voice boomed from behind her.
"Jesse," Dani said. "I sent him to the infirmary."
"Who are you working for today?" he asked menacingly.
"Today I'm working for myself," Mystique said. "You let me go, and I'll tell you Odium's plan."
"Hold her!" Xavier said firmly as he wheeled into the hallway with the rest of the team.
"Let me go, Charles," she hissed.
"I will have an explanation," Xavier said sternly.
"The boy is important," she said. "His knowledge of the future could be most useful."
Xavier probed her briefly. "What was your part in all of this?" Xavier asked.
Mystique was overcome with anger. She had planned on double-crossing Odium, but their suspicion was not endearing them to her.
"Odium told me to kill him," she said. "I decided it was a foolish order."
"And," Xavier prompted.
"He'll be here sometime tonight, after midnight," she said. "Unless he finds out I've failed."
"Failed in killing Jesse?" Dani asked.
"That, and in releasing the gas that was to knock everyone out," she finished. "Now, I've spoken the truth, so release me."
Logan advanced on her, raising his clawed hands slightly. He didn't believe they'd gotten the whole story. "Why'd Odium want to kill Jesse?"
"The boy is more than intelligent, he is a walking computer. He carries a great deal of information. Odium doesn't want that falling into the wrong hands," she said.
Logan was seething. He took another step.
"Logan," Xavier warned. "Were you to report to him that your part was completed?"
"Yes," Mystique said.
"Anything else?" Xavier demanded as his eyes bored into her. She was holding something back.
"The woman," she said finally. "I was to drug her and bring her back to him. I had already decided not to, but that was his plan."
Logan growled, and Mystique stepped back.
"Then that's what you should do," Dani said.
"What?" Logan roared.
"It makes perfect sense. She returns with me and tells them everyone is drugged like sitting ducks. And you'll be ready for them. Odium won't do anything to me until he can use me against Logan. But by then, it will be over," Dani said cheerfully. Dani's plan seemed reasonable to her.
"Dani, that's not the best plan," Scott started to say.
"Actually, it's not that bad," Storm considered thoughtfully.
"Forget it! That's a horrible idea. I say we get her to tell us where he is and go knock on his door," Logan growled.
"I will protect her," Mystique said quietly. She turned to face Dani. "I promise."
Dani looked into Mystique's yellow eyes and searched for the truth within. Mystique was completely sincere in this matter. Dani knew that in this she could be trusted.
"Let's do it," Dani said flatly. "No protest Logan, it's the only way."
Xavier regarded their blue prisoner with scrutiny. Mystique suddenly had Dani's trust. That was not easily earned. All he could read from Mystique was fury.
"Odium has displeased you," Xavier said.
"Odium is worse than a fool. He's a chameleon, and shiftier than a politician. He claims to be a savior, but he's every mutant's enemy," she said coldly.
Xavier could see that she had been taken in by him and he'd disappointed her. Mystique would never learn. He came to a decision.
"Very well," he said. "We will adjourn to my office to discuss the timetable."
*****
"Ah, you're awake," Beast said with a smile.
Jesse sat straight up and yelled, "Mystique!"
"It's all right, she's gone. She's helping us trap Odium," Beast said.
"No, she was taking me to see Eric, er Magneto," he said. He suddenly felt sick when he realized that was one of his father's ancestors. He had almost met his own great-great-great…granddad. "Oh, god!"
Beast saw a distinct color change, somewhere in the green range. "You better lay back down, you don't look so good."
"No, I'm fine. I just realized something disturbing," he said cryptically. "Hey, Hank, can I use your computer for a little research?"
"What kind of research?"
"I'm a little embarrassed to say," Jesse said.
"Boy, I'm a doctor. There's nothing you could say to me that I haven't heard," Hank said.
"I'm looking for my mother's ancestors," Jesse said simply.
Hank considered this a moment. "You don't plan on introducing yourself, I hope," he said humorously.
"No, I just want to know what they were like," Jesse said quietly.
"What about your father's ancestors?" Hank asked.
"I know too much about them. I don't care to know them," he said coldly.
"Oh," Hank said thoughtfully. "Well, the computer is there, let's have a look."
"Great," Jesse said.
"Name?" Hank asked.
"Anastasia," Jesse said.
"Anastasia what?" Hank asked.
"I don't know the last name. I just know that she wasn't a mutant, and she had only one child, a daughter," Jesse seemed to be lost in a memory, staring into the distance as he continued. "The family line was traced through the daughters, all of them the only child, until me, the first boy. They lived in Westchester from this time until mine," he said. Then, coming back to the moment he said to Hank, "That's all I can remember of what my mother told me. I was very young."
"I see," Hank said. "It is an unusual name, to be sure. Are you sure it was a first name?" Hank asked, suddenly struck by an odd idea.
"Well, I assumed."
"Let me look into it," Hank said.
"Look into what?" Logan asked as he strode into the infirmary.
"Jesse was looking for…" Hank started to explain.
"Nothing!" Jesse said quickly.
Logan knew that it must be something important to cause a cover like that. He gave Jesse a 'Gee-kid-don't-you-trust-me' look.
It apparently worked because Jesse looked at the floor and said, "Oh, hell! Just tell him, Hank."
"His mother's family," Hank finally finished.
Logan understood right away what a big deal this must be to Jesse. "Find anything?"
"He only has a first name," Hank said.
"What's the name?" Logan asked.
"Anastasia," Jesse said.
Logan paused. Anastasia? Interesting. "Is that all you know?" Logan asked.
"She was human, and had only one child, a daughter. Each generation had one child, a daughter, until me, the first boy," Jesse said.
"And they lived here in Westchester all those years, remember that," Hank added.
Logan was lost in thought. Coincidence? Dani's mom's name had been Anastasia, and it was Dani's middle name. He'd have to think about that one for a little while.
Jesse was feeling embarrassed. "I think I'm gonna go," he said as a blush crept up onto his face.
"Wait, Jesse. Who was your father's ancestor?" Hank asked out of curiosity.
"Never mind," Jesse said flatly. "I promise you I don't want to meet him." And he just left.
"I was just curious," Hank said to Logan, a bit confused.
"Jesse's dad is a bad egg," Logan said. "It ran in the family."
"Oh, so Jesse was a fluke?" Hank asked.
"His mother was a saint."
*****
Jesse missed lunch but Kitty was waiting for him. She saved him a tray and was sitting in the dining hall reading a book. She looked up just as he entered and gave him a dazzling smile. Jesse's breath caught in his throat. She was absolutely beautiful.
"I'm sorry I missed lunch," Jesse said. "Thanks for waiting."
"I heard what happened," she said. "You don't need to apologize, it wasn't your fault."
Jesse looked at the floor and kicked his toe in front of him like a disappointed child. "I should have been able to handle her," he said bitterly.
"Are you kidding? Sometimes Wolvie has a hard time handling Mystique!" Kitty exclaimed.
"Thanks, but I would have a hard time believing Logan ever had a hard time in a fight," he said with a chuckle. It was sweet of her to try to make him feel better, though.
"Well, maybe not so much," Kitty conceded with a shy smile.
"Is that for me?" Jesse asked, pointing to the sandwich and bottle of pop on the tray.
"Oh, yeah," she said, "I thought you'd be hungry."
"Sandwiches are portable; would you like to go for a walk with me?" Jesse asked.
"Love to," she said with a warm smile.
They got as far as the back door before Scott stopped them.
"Jesse, you are officially deceased. You can't go outside," Scott said dryly.
"Nobody bothered to inform me about it!" Jesse yelled.
"Kitty, would you excuse us?" Scott said as he tried to steer Jesse towards Xavier's office.
"No," Jesse said firmly taking Kitty's hand. "Kitty and I had plans. We'll stay inside, but I will not break a date."
Scott paused a moment at Jesse's surprisingly assertive tone. The hero worship must have worn off. Jesse was obviously not a kid. "You got an hour," Scott said simply, and then walked away. Did he just say date? This was going to be a long day, and probably a longer night.
"This is a date?" Kitty asked meekly.
Jesse looked into her beautiful blue eyes and smiled warmly. "What do you think?" he asked as his thumb traced soft circles on her hand.
She blushed. "The library is usually quiet," she said.
"Perfect," Jesse said, and led the way.
*****
Dani was pretending to be unconscious on the back seat of the car. They had ridden in silence for nearly twenty minutes, and Dani was getting nervous. She tried calming herself. She could transport, so she shouldn't be afraid to walk into a trap, that's what she usually does. She tried to think of something pleasant, like Logan. He had pitched a royal fit when Dani said she was going with Mystique. He was ready to impale the blue woman on the end of his claws. It took a bit of convincing from Professor X and Storm to get him to realize it was a good plan. She'd kissed him goodbye in front of everybody, and he'd made it a really memorable kiss. Logan had a way of making you forget everything else when he kissed you. She blushed again at the memory of Scott clearing his throat loudly after she had wrapped a leg around Logan.
Mystique was disguised as an attractive business woman and glanced over her shoulder at Dani. She noticed the blush. "You thinking about Wolverine?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," she said simply. Dani didn't like Mystique. The shape-shifter had a thing for Logan, and Dani knew it. Dani wasn't worried about Logan being interested; she just hated Mystique's obvious advances.
"You're lucky," she said in passing. Too lucky, Mystique thought. That soft spoken simpering wimp didn't deserve that much man.
The rest of the drive was silent, and short. Mystique arrived at a large office building and drove into the garage. "Play dead," she said flatly. She followed around the ramp until she came to a gate.
"Clearance code," the stern guard said.
"Odium's prize is here," she said smugly.
"That's not procedure!" the guard said angrily, "Identify yourself!"
Mystique transformed back into her normal naked blue self and the guard sighed.
"Woman, you make me all hot," he said gazing at her longingly. "Go right up, he's waiting for you." He opened the gate and watched her drive off. Getting a shape-shifter for a girlfriend would be the best! He could have a different woman every night without the tedious bar hopping.
*****
Riiiiing, riiiiing!
"What?" Orson hissed into the phone.
"Sorry to disturb you sir, but our insider has returned with a guest," Rufus said.
Orson slammed the phone down. He couldn't believe Mystique had pulled it off. He crossed the room and opened the door. She was walking down the hall in all her blue glory with Logan's woman slung over her shoulders. She gave him a smug look.
"Toss her on the couch and have a seat," he said. He went to his desk and took out strange looking shackles. It was a collar and handcuffs connected with a chain, but they were bigger, and had some sort of electronic device built in. He put the collar on her neck and locked it. Then he turned it so the chain was hanging behind her, and cuffed her hands behind her back.
"You surprised me, I expected you later," Odium said suspiciously.
"The kid, he made a fuss, so I was forced to move up my timetable," she said simply. "Deal with it."
"What time did you gas them?" he said, calculating in his head.
"Less than an hour ago," she said. "Just before I left with the woman."
That would figure right with the travel time. He had three hours, but it would still be light out when they struck. He grabbed the phone. "Rufus, inform the team that we roll in ten minutes."
"Yes, sir," Rufus replied. Ten minutes? This is going to be a complete disaster. He was glad he wasn't going.
"As soon as you assemble the team, get in here. You're in charge of babysitting the prisoner," Odium added and hung up.
"Excuse me?" Rufus said to the dead line. No. Not good, not good at all. "Get the boys, Odium's changing the plan again," he said to the nearest soldier the in an edgy tone. The man obeyed without question. Everyone here obeyed without question. Rufus was tired of it. He found himself holding back a lot of questions.
*****
"Hey, Cher," Remy said softly.
Rogue looked up from her book at the handsome Cajun who was smiling at her. She returned his smile. "Hi, Remy."
"Cher, the professor wants you to help look out for the students," Remy said. "He's putting you and Beast in charge of them."
"Jesse's 'friends' are on the way?" she asked.
"How'd Cher find out about that?" Remy eyed her curiously.
"Logan filled me in," she said casually.
"You and the Wolverine are very close, non?" Remy asked with a hint of jealousy.
Rogue cocked an eyebrow at him and gave him a stern expression. "We're just good friends, Remy, and if you can't handle that…"
"It's okay with me, Cher," he said quickly. "Remy understand."
"Good," she said almost bitterly.
"Rogue," he said in his sweetest voice.
"Hmmmm?" she said as she got up to go meet Hank at the tunnel entrance.
Remy caught her wrist and stopped her. "Take care of yourself," he said seriously as he lifted a gloved hand to his lips and kissed her palm. Her breath caught in her throat, and she closed her eyes. Remy lifted her other hand and kissed it too.
"You too," she said breathlessly.
*****
"Kurt, you're back!" Storm exclaimed and leapt into his arms. He embraced her, and smiled affectionately. "You have no idea how much I missed you."
"Shhh my sweet," he said softly in her ear. "I'm home now." He kissed her passionately, and they seemed to forget that they were standing in the rec room. After a good minute, it was obvious they forgot about their public location.
"A-hem," Scott cleared his throat loudly.
"Damn Scooter," Logan said roughly. "What you got against kissing today?"
Scott blushed. "That wasn't a kiss, it was blatant foreplay," he said. "The audience is a little young."
"Prude," Logan said quietly.
Scott was going to say something, but Jean stopped him. Stop letting him bait you, Scott. She gave him a stern look. Scott just sighed.
"Hey, Elf," Logan said. "How was your trip?"
"Good, but it's better to be home," he said meaningfully as he looked at Storm.
"A lot has happened since you've been gone," Scott said.
"I know," Kurt said. "The Professor filled me in already. I'm ready for whatever comes," he said firmly.
Now that we're all here, let's prepare. They are on the way already. Xavier said to the group from cerebro. Get the kids into the tunnels; I'll be up in a minute.
Logan's knuckles itched. There was a fight coming, and he was dying for a little bloodletting. He wanted to get his claws on Odium. He needed to get this over with quickly so he could go get Dani. He was still mad that she was in such a hurry to rush into danger.
"Where's Jesse?" Jean asked.
"He's got a date," Scott sighed.
Logan chuckled. Kitty works fast.
*****
Rogue was at the tunnel entrance with Hank, counting heads. Jesse and Kitty finally showed up from wherever they'd been hiding.
Jubilee stuck her head around the corner and said, "About time you got here, I was worried, Chica."
"I had Jesse to watch out for me," she said blushing. She glanced at him, and he smiled tenderly.
"Stay here where you'll be safe," Jesse said.
"But, you're coming with me aren't you?" she asked nervously.
"They might need me," he said. "I might not know how to fight, but I know Dr. Williams, er Odium. I might be able to help." He gave her a quick kiss and then pushed her toward the tunnel. He looked at Hank, "Take care of her."
"Don't worry," Hank said with a smile.
Jesse went to Xavier's office where the rest of the team was gathered. They were all wearing black leather uniforms, and tense expressions. He noticed that Gambit was casually watching him, and he realized they hadn't actually met. He also noticed Nightcrawler was sitting by Storm, and they were obviously very close. Logan was pacing like a caged tiger, and Scott, Jean and the professor were outwardly very calm.
"Jesse, you should get to the tunnel…" Xavier started to say but was interrupted.
"With the other children?" Jesse finished for him. "Sir, you might need my insight. I worked for this guy, I know him."
"Jesse, the choppers are closing. This is no place for a consultant," Xavier said sternly.
"Logan was quiet. He had seen the kid's power, and knew he wasn't completely helpless. But he also knew the kid felt responsible, even if he wasn't. He wanted to hear what the kid had to say.
"Then read my mind, and get whatever advantage you can," Jesse said seriously.
Xavier eyed him for a moment before making a decision. "Sit."
Jesse obeyed instantly. He sat, and relaxed with his eyes closed. Xavier held a hand on either side of his head and gently probed. Jesse's mind was a strange place. He was brilliant, and had a vast store of factual knowledge, seemingly catalogued and organized like a vast library. He had a photographic memory, and forgot nothing. But his personal memories were a strange combination of a jumbled mess of pain and regret combined with a deep love for his mother. Xavier took a look at his family memories and flinched at the abuse and the constant rejection in a world that was supposed to be tolerant. Then he looked into his college years and his time working in the archives. Jesse did know Odium, but the man had been careful to hide his true nature until the day he left.
Xavier took in Jesse's first encounter with Logan in the future. There was a strange bond there. Xavier knew Logan, and the way he treated Jesse spoke volumes. Odium had only meant to kill me? Xavier thought. Hmmmm. Then he saw what had caused Odium to declare war on the X-men. Logan's actions had been unavoidable, but unfortunate. Xavier sighed heavily and pulled away. He looked at the young man before him and suddenly realized why Logan had such a connection with him. No time for that now.
"Well?" Logan demanded when Xavier finally looked up.
"Odium will not fight; he has people who do that for him. He will, however, want to be nearby, to watch," Xavier paused. "As soon as he finds out Mystique tricked him he will probably have a fit of rage. He will be wildly unpredictable after that."
"What about Dani?" Logan asked.
"She will be his prisoner somewhere. He will want you to have to find her on your own, and then he'll want to kill her in front of you, in a most unpleasant fashion," Xavier said plainly.
Logan roared with a fury that none of them had ever heard. Jean winced, Storm closed her eyes, and Kurt prayed. Scott's jaw got tight, Gambit shook his head and Jesse went pale.
Then they heard the choppers and the time for talk was over.
