"Ten minutes!"
The reporter shivered slightly. He was supposed to introduce the interview and answer follow up questions. He stood in his best suit and tie. His hair was freshly combed and his cheeks freshly scrubbed and powdered for the lights.
He was from the old school of reporters. They drank hard and refused to pull their punches when it came to the story.
But not today.
Today he had avoided drink entirely. And as far as the 'hard hitting' went… There was nothing in this story that he would dare raise a hand to.
Once upon a time, as a child, he sang the praises of Britain. But it had been ages since he felt a true swell of patriotism. Not even when people would attempt to induce it for political reasons.
But today, he stood for something.
And he knew it.
Of course it was up to history to determine exactly what he stood for.
He had no control over that now. He had done all he could. He had poured all that he could in to this one moment.
He cast his eyes about. People were doing what they always did before a broadcast; teaming about and skittering from here to there and fine-tuning every aspect of the presentation.
They don't know. He realized. They thing there will be other stories… Other revelations … They just don't know.
This is it. Ground-Zero!
The end and the beginning.
Alpha and Omega.
Britain is dead.
Long live Britain.
"Nine minutes!" Jubilee called out.
The New Mutants burst out of their rooms and flooded down the hall towards the great common room – and it's equally great television.
Logan stuck his head around the end of the hall and peered down. "Beast!" He glanced around. "Beast!"
Hank stuck his head out of the kitchen. "Logan?"
Logan jumped up and slipped in to the kitchen.
"Why are you sneaking around?" Beast asked.
"Ummm…" Logan swallowed. "Did you see this thing… About Kurt, on TV?"
Beast nodded slowly "Yes Logan. I did." He took a handful of popcorn from the bowl and offered some to Logan.
Logan declined.
"Well… Did it… Was it just him or…"
"Or was a miniature female clone of one of us doing the narration and making on screen appearances?" Beast smiled wide.
Logan deflated.
Hank laughed. "She looked good. How long has she been over there with him?"
"They left at the same time but not together. She took a ship." Logan shook his head. "I told her to keep a low profile."
Hank chuckled. "I've seen you fail at that same task. And just as badly I might add."
"She's in trouble Hank. And she doesn't trust anyone. You can't even get near her…"
"She trusts Kurt." Hank told him. "That was almost the entire point of the segment we saw."
"She does?" Logan allowed himself a small and hopeful smile.
"Indeed." Hank said softly. "It's very dramatic and sincere, split up with some footage of Kurt doing some very heroic acrobatics. She's sitting on some stairs, talking to a reporter."
"Sitting and talking?" Logan looked speechless. "Really?"
Beast cocked his head. "Logan… Is there something you're not telling me? When last I heard about her there was every possibility we could recruit her. You're acting as though she…"
Logan drew a long, slow, deep breath and interrupted. "She was hurt. Badly. By someone … sick." He swallowed and sneered. "Who tried to prey on her as… a girl."
"Oh God." Beast felt his stomach turn at the insinuation.
"She killed him, in anger. I hid her in the woods out back when I found her but all I could do was offer and let her choose to hide there. She was wild Hank. Wild and hurt…"
Hank reached out and lay one of his great blue hands upon Logan's shoulder. "And you sent her to Kurt because…"
Logan dropped his head. "It's stupid… but … Kurt…" He raised his head and met Hanks eyes. "He makes me laugh. Even when I'm so mad that I might…" Logan shook his head and smiled. "And then… Kurt will just … say something and…"
Beast nodded. "He once told me I could be Austin Powers evil enemy Dr. Shag." Hank sighed.
Logan laughed. "See, like that!" He swallowed and looked considerate. "That's great, you know."
Hank nodded. "I use it as a screen name now." He laughed and blushed beneath his fur. "But… whatever happens… And for whatever it's worth… I think you did the right thing."
Logan breathed a sigh of relief. "T-thanks Hank. That means a lot."
Just then Jean whipped up and stuck her head in the room. "Come on guys! We've only got …"
"Eight Minutes." Said the English woman to her child. "Eight minutes until we get to hear the whole story about the man who saved you!" She laughed as the little girl smiled squirmed.
"We owe him everything, don't we sweety?" She laughed and picked up her daughter.
Kurt's face flashed across the screen and the little girl squealed in delight as she strained, reaching for the image. "Teddy!" She laughed.
"That's right." The woman whispered. "Our guardian teddy."
Then she kissed her daughter's forehead, smoothed her hair and held her close as the clock clicked one moment closer.
"Seven minutes." Rogue said as she looked at her watch.
She stood in front of the television shop on Bayville's Main Street.
"Mind… Mind if I watch too?" Wanda edged closer. "I saw… Kurt's going to be on. But I don't… know what it's all about."
Rogue smiled. "He's working with the English government now. He's making some kind of announcement."
"Really?" Wanda's eyes went wide.
"And the clip they showed earlier… He wasn't wearing his disguise." Rogue smiled. "I think he's done with it."
"Wow." Wanda turned to the window and sure enough Kurt's undisguised face flashed across the screen. "That's really brave." She decided out loud.
"Yeah." Rogue smiled. "He is."
And they smiled at each other. Both of them finding themselves amazed at how easy it really is to come together – in celebration of a good thing.
On another coast, a man of limited insight came home early to find his daughter standing quietly in front of the television.
"Hey honey, how was your day?"
She simply stood there, shaking with rage.
"Amanda?" He asked, growing concerned. "Are you all right?"
Her throat burned with bile and she wanted to cry. But instead she simple mustered up the nerve to thrust the remote violently in to his chest.
"I'll let you know in six minutes!" She snapped as she pushed in to her room and slammed the door.
And he turned to face the muted TV, only to come face to face with an image from his past.
He looked confused as the facts scrolled across the bottom of the CNN news feed.
Mutant advisor? English diplomat? He slowly sank down in to his seat.
My God… I felt bad… the boy didn't ask to look like… But I didn't think he could provide for her… I didn't know if it was … safe.. I … I … He shook his head as though to clear it. Oh, Dear God… What have I done?
