Sidekick
Chapter 5
Jubilee decided when she was aware she was still alive, that her head hadn't exploded. But rather she must be floating because she had the sensation of her brain seesawing. She felt someone tapping her cheek, and lay with her head and shoulders braced against an inclined solid surface. Dank wetness invaded her nostrils combined with a charred smell, and a low voice calling her name.
"Jubilee, can ya hear me?" came a gruff voice and her whole body was being shaken. She moaned and blinked as she started. It was pitch black.
"I can't see… Wolvie… I can't see!" she gasped, biting her lip and trying not to panic. Strong hands held her down.
"Don't try to move. You feelin' any pains anywhere in your body?" Wolverine asked gruffly.
"My head is killing me… can somebody stop the ringing? I swear there's a phone booth and I'm right on top of it!" she griped.
"Can you move your hands and fingers?" he asked, and Jubilee managed to at least wiggle her toes. It seemed strange but he also ordered her to move other parts of her body on command. Memories surfaced of first aid training, and she quickly complied.
"What the heck happened… it looked like some kind of UFO…"
"Somebody forgot to beam up," Wolverine commented. "But that ain't no alien craft. It's manmade. Not natural… I smelled nothing outta this world… just before it hit… there were a few rogue scents that were mighty suspicious…"
"Okay, so someone or something has some device to make these… balls of light. Who would it be? Military experiments? And what ARE they?"
"Ball lightening… charged plasma, call it what you like," Wolverine grunted. "Nothing hurtin' darlin cept yer head?"
"No… although my fingers ache…"
"Good. You think you can sit up?"
"I'll try," Jubilee muttered. Gently he lifted her from behind, and she realized that she'd probably been sitting with her head against his knees.
Another sensation of prickling invaded her body, and Wolverine's hands tensed on her. "Another's coming… can't waste time askin' if you can move, gotta carry you the hell outta here…"
He grabbed her under the knees and back, and lifted her while getting up in one fluid motion. It was as if she weighed nothing. Granted they'd trained often in the Danger room many times, but she still was blown away with how strong he was. She was only ½ or less of his weight, but still…
"Wolvie, what happened…" she asked as he settled her on his back, and she held around his neck while he raced through the woods. She momentarily felt like a child being carried piggyback, and held him around the neck.
"You happened, Jubes," he laughed. "Didn't figure THAT comin…"
"I can't see…"
"That's because it's dark… an' ya don't have my night vision," he answered. "Don'cha worry… it's all over…"
"WHAT's all over?" she protested as Wolverine stopped, and she felt him setting her down next to something.
"Whatever flamin' almost killed us," Wolverine answered.
"That's for sure! I saw you in pain and then I felt that feeling I get when I paff someone… it's gotta be like my power… but how could someone do it?"
"That's what I'd like t' know," Wolverine answered her. "But you did good, Jubester. Whatever ya did, it's gone. An' so's the noise…"
"Which was making you flake out," she answered as he had a hand on her shoulder. "But if it's like what I generate with my powers… it must be plasma… like you said…"
"Wolverine, can you hear me? This is Storm…"
"Yeah Storm, we're here… barely," Wolverine answered. "You see the fireworks?"
"Yes, and we're at the source. It appears to be some sort of electromagnetic device, which I have radioed Beast regarding…"
"Storm… be careful," Wolverine said as he spoke into the com on his wrist. "Whoever it is…"
"Is no longer here," Storm said. "I suggest you join us back at the mansion. Rogue is bringing the device back for Beast to examine…"
"I thought Beast was globe trottin' with Scotti and Jeannie," Wolverine said.
"I'll make scans of this with the camera, and transmit it via Cerebro," Ororo said. "This is perhaps a priority we need his expertise regarding…"
"Will do," said Wolverine. "C'mon kid, let's find the scoot n' get back before the Cajun and the belle…"
"That's it," she asked. "You mean it's over…"
"Flamin' hope so," Wolverine said as Jubilee stumbled. His arm slid under her to support her, and held her stumble along so she could steady herself.
"I'm okay, Wolvie… just my knee…"
"Take it easy Jubes, don't want to ruin my rep," he joked as he crouched down, and motioned for her to get onto his back again. Again he took off, carrying her piggyback through the woods towards the direction of the light that slowly increased.
"I could paff some light on the subject…"
"Don't bother. Ya did enough. I can see plenty… it's over there…" Wolverine said. It wasn't long before he upended the bike, and they managed to get it on the road and back towards the mansion.
"Cher, we gotta stop meetin' like this," Gambit said as he pulled his motorcycle up into the garage, where Rogue was parking her car.
"You swamp rat, how'd ya escape the fun?" Rogue asked as she held up her jacket, which had a smoking hole in the back.
"Gambit has nine lives, non?"
"Gambit, thank Goddess you are all right…" said Ororo as she landed and entered the hanger area. Jubilee still rode piggyback on Wolverine, and felt incredibly silly as he walked in casually.
"What happened to…"
"I hear we got us a new toy," Wolverine said as Rogue swooped out of the hanger, and then returned with something massive in her grasp. With ease she flew the large spherical cluster of globes, and antennae which smelled of charred wires. Still on his back, Jubilee glanced up with narrowed eyes and could swear she'd seen a picture of that sort of thing in one of Beast's scientific journals.
"One ball lightin' device, courtesy of Rogue express," she joked as she hovered. "Where do ya want this gizmo Storm?"
"Leave it in Hanger bay 2, for Beast to examine…" Storm said, and turned to Wolverine.
"Don't ask, 'Roro. Kid's still alive… she's just got a sprained knee is all," Wolverine said. "An since I'm responsible for the squirt…"
"Take her to the infirmary then," said Storm. "And report back…"
"So this is the cause of our problems?" Gambit commented. "Who's the owner?"
"That's what we're going to find out," Storm said. "I suspect that it is terrestrial…"
"Smells like it's from around here," Wolverine said as he glanced at it. Nothing extraterrestrial all right. Metal smells like high grade steel, the type that you'd see in military aircraft… probably from around here…"
"An' you can tell all that from a little whiff?" Gambit shrugged. "The Wolverine's pullin' our leg…"
"You got any better ideas, Cajun?" Wolverine asked.
"Petit, you been havin' too much fun without Gambit?" he quipped, seeing Jubilee still clinging to Wolverine's back and feeling really embarrassed at all the unnecessary comments.
"If you say ONE word about me needing a babysitter, I'll paff you," she grumbled. "And I WORE a helmet this time…"
"Gambit's sayin' nothin' petit," Remy chuckled as she bit her lip at his teasing smile. "Other than maybe safer stayin' home?"
"You really must be more careful Jubilee," Storm chided.
"If she had been, I wouldn't be hear listening to you people jawin' and whinin," Wolverine muttered. "So unless somebody has something more important to take up my time, I'm takin' the kid to the infirmary."
He started to walk off in the direction of the scientific section where Beast and Professor X had various Shi'ar devices at their disposal. Storm walked after them, only to see Rogue fly by.
"So, what now, boss lady?" Rogue asked.
"I suggest we rest and collect ourselves while Beast examines the scans I will send him. And then consult with Cyclops…" Storm said.
"Sounds good. You wanna join Gambit for a late dinner, Cherie?" asked Gambit as he glanced up at Rogue hovering there.
"If yer buying," Rogue's voice echoed as she shot past with the offending piece of machinery.
Storm caught up with Wolverine just as he hit the control panel with one elbow and carried Jubilee inside. She slid off his back onto an infirmary bed, and Storm began the process of looking over her cuts and scrapes.
"You are lucky," Storm said. "I apologize Logan. She could have been worse off…"
"No problem 'Roro," Logan said as he pulled his mask off and wiped the sweat off his forhead with the back of his glove. He sat down on the bed next to Jubilee's and watched Storm as she waved the mediscanners over Jubilee's knee.
"Tell me more about what you two saw," Storm suggested.
"Major weird… it was like my powers," Jubilee said as she looked at her fingers.
"I'm to understand that is the case," Storm said. "Hank will wish you to join him in the lab no doubt…"
"Ugh," Jubilee shivered. "More weird science gone bad? No thank you! I'm not ready to play Dr. Frankenstein…"
"On the contrary, Beast did say you had an aptitude for science," Storm said gently as Jubilee pulled a face.
"Are you kidding me? I flunked in eighth grade…"
"Gimmie a break, Jubes, you can't fool me," Wolverine laughed throatily. "You explained that whole earthquake ball lightening theory last week… an I'm still wonderin' how…"
"That was something I cared about," she shot back as Wolverine's laughter continued.
"Scuse me I'm goin' to the kitchen for a brew. Any of you ladies want anything?" he asked as he walked to the door.
"Some iced tea perhaps, thank you Logan," Ororo said. He exited, leaving the two women alone.
"He isn't putting me in danger if that's what you're thinking," Jubilee blurted out.
"Child, I wasn't suggesting that…"
"Warren and Betsy think so," Jubilee said.
"I am aware of your concern, but you are in no danger of losing your partnership with Wolverine," said Storm. She wrapped an ace bandage around Jubilee's knee, and it stuck to itself, conforming to her leg. She moved it back and forth with a bit of pain.
"I can think of no one else I'd see you safer with than myself," Storm said as she spritzed antibiotic spray on Jubilee's scrapes and cuts, and then followed it with the plastiskin sealer.
"Tell THEM that… did you see what happened in the War room earlier?"
"I did… and I was rather distressed. There was no need for such standoffish behavior. You both know that…"
"Betsy's the prissy princess. She thinks she's so high and mighty cause she's a telepath and a kick butt fighter. And Warren thinks he's so great cause he's gotten his head shrunk for the right price," Jubilee muttered, wincing at the sealent binding up her skin.
"Jubilation… be fair… they are not accustomed to how we work as a team. But their opinions should be respected, even if we do not agree with them…"
"But what if Wolvie DOES do something, and Scott splits us up. I'd HATE it," she frowned.
"He won't if you two behave yourselves. He did give you a second chance, did he not…" said Storm gently as she lay a hand on Jubilee's shoulder. "I trust Logan implicitly, but he could stand some improvement with his people skills…"
"So can wings and the princess," Jubilee made a face.
"Hey is it a private party or can I cut in?" Wolverine asked as he walked in the door, startling both of them.
"How does he DO that?" Jubilee whispered.
"Two iced teas, as ya ordered," he said as he handed a bottled Nestea to Storm, and tossed another to Jubilee, who barely caught it in her lap. He sat down on the bed next to Jubilation and pulled the tab on a can of Labatt's. Rolling her iced tea nervously between her hands, Jubilee glanced from one adult to the other. Wolverine also plunked down a can of Diet Coke, within reach of Jubilee. She wondered why he'd brought two beverages, but figured he had a good reason.
Nice when a girl gets a choice, she thought. Figuring that I drink either one, and it all depends on what mood I'm in. nobody else except him's figured it out...
"Thank you," said Storm. "Now, if Gambit and Rogue are here…"
"Here's the scans ya wanted, Storm," Rogue said as she walked in, carrying a microdisc in its shiny plastic case. Jubilee swung her feet back and forth, bumping one heel against the base of the bed. She still played with the unopened bottle of iced tea as Logan and Ororo sipped their beverages.
"So now what," Rogue asked. "If ya ask me, I'm pooped for the night…"
"We relax and regroup," Storm said quietly. "And give thanks we are all still here…"
"What does THIS have to do with the professor's disappearance, Cherie?" Gambit asked as he eyed Storm's beverage thirstily.
"Perhaps nothing, yet," Storm murmured, sipping her bottled iced tea. Jubilee wasn't so sure when she and Wolverine exchanged glances.
"You gonna drink that or play with it, kid?" Logan asked as Jubilee set the bottle aside.
"Huh?" she asked. "Sorry… my mind was elsewhere…"
Standing up, Storm motioned to Gambit and Rogue. "Let's go contact Beast. Logan… will you stay here with Jubilee and make sure she can move her knee. The bandage should support her, but she's not to overdo it… and bring her into the War Room in half an hour."
"Sure," he said.
"Later Petit," Gambit saluted. "You goin' t drink that?"
"Here ya go," Jubilee said as she tossed the bottle to him, and he walked out, his hand at the small of Rogue's back. She picked up the diet coke to the left of her bed.
"Figured you were in the mood for soda, not tea. Anything going on you want to tell me about, kid?" he said as he glanced at her.
"Huh, sorry," she said, looking distracted. Logan got up from where he was sitting, and crossed over to sit down on the bed next to her. She buried her head in her hands, glancing down at her feet. Blue eyes stared inwardly, her attention not focussed on Wolverine or anything else.
"Hey, talk to me, what's going on here?" he said as he looked at her closely. Reaching across her lap he grabbed the can of diet Coke, and nudged her bare leg.
"Yikes that's COLD!" she yelped.
"Sorry," Logan chuckled as he handed it to her. "Only way to get your attention… You're out to lunch since we got back here."
"You are SOO gonna get it later, Wolvie," she waved her finger at him, and relaxed at the friendly banter. Gambit and Wolverine were always joking around with her, busting her chops like she was their kid sister. It always broke the tension, and made her feel as if she were one of the guys. Unlike the others who treated her as a tagalong. Jubilee cracked open her soda, and sipped it briefly before holding it between her knees. She traced the condensation on it with the tip of one finger, lost in her own world again.
"Jubes, I repeat, is there anything I should know about?" Logan asked again, glancing at her with his blue eyes two shades lighter than hers, but no less intense.
"Oh various things," she said quickly. "You know, like the ball lighting, and that device. I could swear I'd seen something like it before…"
"Where?" Logan asked, sipping at his beer again.
"In one of Beast's scientific journal magazines…" she shrugged, chugging her soda as if it were beer. The two canned beverages brought them into a strange and comfortable kinship, and she relaxed again.
"So, you DO read something else other than comic books," Wolverine glanced at her. "Better not let word get out, cause Beast's going to make you his lab gopher…"
"Shut up, already," she said as she dug her elbow into his ribs. A second later she winced.
"Bad move darlin, especially when yer around someone with an adamantium ribcage," he chuckled. "You want to stay in here for another two hours explanin' to storm how you cracked your funny bone and…"
"Okay already… what's your point?" she shot back.
"The charge device," Logan repeated. "You were sayin' that you'd seen it in a journal. And it seemed pretty important if you're this preoccupied. What exactly did it SAY about this doohickey? Any department of defense uses that Uncle Sam forgot about or looked the other way?"
"Sorta," Jubilee shrugged.
"Sorta's not gonna cut it, Jubes," Logan rolled his eyes. "I need something MORE ta go on. Care to elaborate a bit?"
"The inventor claimed sole rights to its patent… or something. And then just disappeared. He'd designed it originally to be used as a way of transmitting power cheaply and efficiently across long distances. But when the army decided it was better as some kind of weapon to knock machinery out of action… he took off and wasn't seen since."
"Where was THAT when we were dealing with those Sentinels, is what I wanna know," Wolverine commented.
"What gets me is that he worked for that Gyrich jerk that captured me two years ago," Jubilee shivered as she bumped her heels against the bed base. "And Senator Kelly was the one who originally signed the orders for it to be developed as a weapon… some of the other eggheads who worked on it I remember seeing in that Cerebro file about the anti mutant…"
"Uncle Sam's playin' dirty games, and maybe in danger of getting caught with his pants down," Wolverine muttered, thumbing his chin. "Which is why I'm wondering why it's out in the middle o' east Egypt Upstate New York."
"Why would that do any good? Is the government testing it… to use against mutants?"
"If they were, we'd be seeing the tin soldiers. But there's no sign of any of 'em according to Storm or anyone else. I didn't smell anyone except a few bodies and they WEREN'T military."
"How could you tell?" asked Jubilee, blinking in some surprise. There were a lot of things she STILL was finding out about her mentor, and they never ceased to amaze her.
"They weren't wearing BDUs, they were wearing street clothes. The kind of cloth that hunters use, not the type fatigues are made of. The two fabrics smell different… cause they're made of different polymers and fibers…"
"You're kidding me…" she chuckled, bumping her arm into his ribs lightly this time.
"The nose knows," he said. "So I'm thinking that possibly someone's trying to make it look like a government cover up, and draw attention to mutants in the process…"
"It doesn't make sense."
"How else to make the government look bad, then to take revenge for them stealing his patent ideas and funding?" Wolverine said. "Those pencil pushers… I know how they work. In fact, years ago I was part of a government project gone bad. An somebody went to a LOT of trouble tryin' to chase me down…"
"Ugh, you mean the 'Alpha Bits'?" Jubilee winced. "Jeez, you almost didn't make it back in one piece!"
"Tell me about it, darlin'," he snorted. "I don't like this the more I think about it. Let's go see if Storm's got any leads from Beast…"
Jubilee leaned on Wolverine's arm, insisting she didn't' want to suffer the embarrassment of being carried around. Logan grabbed her and slid her arm around his waist, before she could pitch forwards again. "Take it easy… you don't have my healing factor…"
"Stop reminding me, 'k?" Jubilee shot back.
"Will you behave and let me help ya out, or are you afraid I'm going to trash your rep?" Wolverine joked.
"I don't care as long as you don't carry me on your back again! I won't live that down!" she groaned.
By the time they entered the War Room, Storm, Gambit and Rogue were all clustered around the table, watching a holographic view of Beast's face. Carefully she limped, with Logan's help, and a little less obviously towards the nearest chair. She pulled it out and flopped into it while Wolverine pushed it in. Fortunately nobody seemed to notice her limping or being helped into the room, because they had more important things to notice.
"Most impressive," Beast said over the video link, as he examined the charred spots on the main body of what he termed 'the thunder child'. Gambit flipped an ace of hearts between his fingers as he watched the schematics. He scrunched his nose playfully at Jubilee, who stuck her tongue out at him. Logan shot him a withering glance before resting his hands on the back of Jubilee's chair. Ever the protective parent, Jubilee inwardly groaned.
"You said that six bazillion times already, Prof. What IS it?" Jubilee asked as she tapped her foot. Storm looked on in interest. Over the Cerebro link, Scott and Jeannie were examining Beast's report.
"A unique plasma coupler, capable of generating fields of plasma… which can charge the atmosphere and cause electromagnetic disruption for miles…" he said as he glanced at the images.
"Why'd someone go to the trouble of making it… and why here?" Scott asked over the link.
"It seems to be a device of the design of Dr. Mayhew, a noted physicist who has done research into controlling weather," said Beast as he typed into a computer panel. "Most disturbing…"
"I remember reading about him," said Storm. "He was on the verge of a breakthrough, but his research was suddenly curtailed…"
"The government pulled his backing," said Beast. "This leads to some very disturbing possibilities…"
"Such as…" Jubilee asked.
"One, that the fact this device has been used at all and is in proximity to the mansion, and two, that Storm saw the effects of its power…"
"It can indeed mimic my abilities… to a minor extent… but why would anyone…"
"It can do what I do too," Jubilee said quietly. "And that's way weird… and pretty psycho…"
"I would hypothesize that perhaps whoever was using it had destructive intent," said Hank.
"Especially since I have accessed weather reports and the news, and found some rather disturbing outbreaks of anti mutant sentiment…"
"Great," Jubilee muttered.
"Jubilee…" Storm trailed off. "Is something the matter…?"
"Um, just that some lamo creep…" she started.
"Did someone hurt you?" asked Storm. She peered at the scrapes that were healing on Jubilee's arms and knees.
"Um, it's nothing Storm… I already told Logan… no big deal…"
"Why doncha tell 'em, Jubilee," asked Wolverine, who stood behind her chair. "What we were jawing about in the infirmary?"
"Wolvie, are you sure? I mean I hoped to heck I wasn't right…".
"Its okay kid, I know," Wolverine said quietly as he rested his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay…"
"What's going on?" Storm asked.
"If you count some creep chasin' after me the other day, and me spinning out yes…" Jubilee trailed off. "But that would mean… somebody knows about the mansion, and somebody's trying to pin this on us… and…"
"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Storm. "What did you two talk about?"
"It didn't seem major till what you said, Beast… I figured it was some butthead who had a mad on against rollerbladers… and then Wolverine asked me to tell him about an article I saw…"
"You shouldn't go out alone till we solve this case," said Storm. "If things like this happen you need to tell us… and if this has anything to do with what device we found…"
"Yes…" she trailed off. Wolverine's hand tightened on her shoulder as she looked down at her feet.
"Tell us everything you know, Jubilation," Storm said. "Everything you told Wolverine…"
"You start darlin', I'll chime in with the rest…" Wolverine said. She took a deep breath, and let it out with her explanation. It seemed like everyone was scrutinizing her, but his touch on her back spurred her on. A few minutes later, everyone exchanged glances.
"An intriguing theory," Beast said. "What do you think, Scott."
"You're probably onto something, both of you," Scott said with a note of surprise amidst his usual seriousness. "Good work. I think it's time you paid a trip to Washington DC and see if you can stir up any more dirt that might pin this device to this mysterious missing scientist…"
"Who gets the fun road trip?" asked Rogue.
" Storm, I want you to continue undercover and blend in with the people in West Chester. See if you can find any more leads…"
"But we have the device, what good will that do?" asked Rogue.
"If you can find out anything or if anyone might let it slip where it came from, and if they've seen the inventor anywhere…" Scott said.
"And what should Gambit do?"
"I'm coming to that. Since you two came up with this, you're going on a field trip, wolverine and Jubilee. Wolverine, I trust that you still have some way of getting into the government files… in the military associations… and take Gambit with you. His skills might come in handy…"
"I've got the level one clearance, if that's what yer aimin' at," he said. "I've got a few buddies that owe me some favors…"
"Ohh, Gambit's interested. The Wolverine's got some skeletons in his closet like Gambit…"
"Not so interesting as your life, Cajun, but let's just say I go back a ways with the shield boys," he said. "The ol' WWII days…"
"You can't be serious," Jubilee said.
"Gambit knows you're jokin…"
"Do I look like I'm laughing?" Wolverine said with a strange look at Gambit. He extended his hand to help Jubilee stand and she wasn't sure if he was serious or not.
"Good people. Get started first thing in the morning," Scott said. "We'll be in touch…"
"Are you serious Wolvie?" Jubilee asked as they walked out of the War Room.
"You'll find out tomorrow darlin'. Now hurry on an get some sleep after ya pack a few things. It's a long trip… and you get yer butt in gear Cajun… no late night slipping out to the clubs…"
"Remy…" Rogue said.
"Gambit will behave himself," he said as he looked as innocent as possible and walked after Wolverine and Jubilee.
"Road trip!" Jubilee joked. "All right!"
"Lucky flamin' me," Wolverine muttered, folding his arms across his chest. "I didn't expect to be babysitting the big kid…"
