Chapter 10
Within the Danger Room, several squads had gathered for the drill regimen. In the observation booth sat Jean Grey, glancing down at the assembled group, with Scott pensively looking on. Storm glanced up, walking in next to Beast, while Psilocke and Angel entered next. Rogue, Gambit, Morph, Bobby and Wolverine along with Jubilee stood in a small cluster before they heard Jean's voice cut in.
"Good to see you all here. Storm, what's your idea for today?"
"I had thought we'd start with a level one… after I divide the team into squads… and you can observe and make suggestions, Cyclops?"
"Fine, I'll be watching everyone," Scott said quietly. "Jean will keep you all in light psychic rapport. Psilocke, you're in charge of one team, Storm the other… right?"
"Right," Storm nodded. "Now here's the team rosters. Gold team, which I will be leading, will consist of Beast, Gambit, Archangel, Morph. X men blue will be lead by Psilocke, and consist of Wolverine, Rogue, Jubilee, Iceman. Any objections?"
"None, except I would prefer to participate in the exercise myself," Scott said.
"Fine, then you shall join Gold team. Let's see how we all do. Gold Team will run the gauntlet first in the Danger Room, while the other team attends warm-up exercises on the estate. I trust you can follow Wolverine' regimen as he is experienced in such matters, Psilocke," said Storm.
"As good as done," Psilocke nodded. "Everyone ready?"
"Sure thing," Bobby nodded.
"Give the word," Rogue agreed, while the others chimed in. X men blue exited, leaving Gold behind.
Everyone was not certain till the word was given, and Jean punched buttons to ring up a particularly easy challenge. Terrain shifted and moved, while Gold team moved into their respective positions.
"Okay, plan's simple, folks, so listen up," said Wolverine. "Basically we play a modified tag you're it…"
"Sounds interesting. So it is akin to paintball?" Psilocke asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Pretty much. Everyone for 'emselves…"
"Might I tweak it, tag team ninja style?" Betsy chuckled. "I direct one against another in order to assess your skills, and keep you all off balance to see how you cope?"
"Your game," Wolverine said. "Just as long as we get a workout…"
"It will be fun, and interesting," Psilocke promised. "I can telepathically link you all, but you won't know what the other will next do… and I will tell who's ally, and who is rival…"
"Let's do it," Rogue nodded.
"Scatter. And then when I give the psicast, move. Objective is to reach the X mansion, without getting splattered…" Betsy said. She tossed paint filled balloons to each group, and grinned. With a gesture she slipped out of sight leaving the team momentarily disoriented.
"Move Jubes, an' quick," Logan barked. They scattered, in four different directions. Psilocke's telepathic laughter echoed in each of their heads.
Iceman generated a pillar of condensation, lifting himself above the trees. The mansion was perhaps half a mile away. Grinning he turned his ramp towards it.
"Iceman, think fast… rogue's ahead," came her command. Looking up from his ramp that he generated he saw a green blur, and then a punch that broke his ramp. Rogue laughed, soaring back and forth. He sent pulses of controlled ice towards her.
"Can't catch me if ya can't see me, sugah," she teased, ducking into the canopy.
Blasts of plasma sizzled past Drake, momentarily disorienting him. In a tree stood Jubilee, fists curled as she generated pulses of light. Drake sent a chilling wave of ice towards her, trapping her, but Jubilee brought up her hands just in the nick of time to vaporize before she dropped down into the forest floor.
A loud snarl alerted drake, and he tumbled off the ice ramp that Wolverine slashed into bits. A quick burst of ice trapped Wolverine where he stood. Drake grinned, and then glanced up to see Rogue streaking overhead. A blast of snow in her face disoriented her.
"Nice work, but too slow," Psilocke laughed. He gasped as a foot slammed into his chest, knocking him flat. Her fists shot out in rapid succession. Drake rolled over, forming ice barriers but Psilocke's twists and tumbles kept her just ahead of his blasts.
Jubilee's blast freed Wolverine, and he shook the chips of ice off. Somersaulting, he flipped head over hands after Psilocke. Both of them traded blows for a few seconds. She leaned back while he swiped claws towards her face, then leapt over his low swipe. Her fist flashed out, and he caught it, then she flipped over and hurled him over her shoulder. He tumbled and landed on his feet, claws extended on either side with a grin on his face. She seemed a worthy opponent.
"Nice, but can you stop this?" she asked. A dagger of purple energy formed at the back of her wrist. The sum focus of Psilocke's mental might in twin psychic daggers. Purple energy fizzled inches from his head with each swipe and kick.
Drake dropped Rogue with an ice blast, and she shook herself off. A blinding flash disabled Drake, as Jubilee stood before him, visor down. He blinked, and Jubilee turned to Rogue. The southern belle grabbed her up by her collar and tossed her towards where Wolverine and Psilocke were fighting. However she didn't count on Jubilee focussing her blasts downwards, and bleeding off velocity by using them like modified retrorockets. Sizzling pyro cut between Psilocke and Wolverine, causing them both to tumble out of the way. Wolverine cursed, momentarily blinded.
"Clever, young one," Psilocke nodded in appreciation. Jubilee landed in front of the telekinetic ninja. Psychic blades sparkled with energy as Psilocke struck first. Throwing herself backwards, Jubilee somersaulted out of the way, and then brought up both her hands to block the psychic dagger with a pyro blast. Psilocke crossed her wrists to block Jubilee's next blast, and then flipped out of the way of the next volley.
"Jubes, use your head! Don't let her rattle ya!" Logan barked. Jubilee nodded, anticipating where the telepath would strike. All the time Betsy's powers struggled to scan the youth's mind, but to no avail. A blinding flash crackled right before Psilocke, but Jubilee forgot the ninja could still rely on other senses. For a moment Psilocke vanished, and then a fist flashed right past Jubilee's face. She dropped, dodging at the absolute last minute.
"Time!" Psilocke laughed, her fist raised above Jubilee's head just about to strike. Jubilee glanced up, and saw a slight smile in the ninja's eyes, knowing she wasn't about to get eviscerated with a psychic dagger.
"Holy crap," Jubilee breathed.
"Very good job, Jubilation… I had no idea that your skills had progressed so well," said Psilocke. She reached out a hand and pulled Jubilee to her feet.
"Thanks, I think," Jubilee murmured. "Not too bad yourself…"
"I have a few suggestions that you might wish to try… if you'd consent to training with me one on one…" Psilocke suggested. "Just because you and I cannot fly does not mean we're limited in any manner…"
"Exactly right, girlfriend," Jubilee nodded eagerly.
"Are you all ready to go back now?" Betsy asked the others. "Not bad…"
"You're one devious lady… you said that…" Bobby spluttered.
"Who cares, best fun ah've had since the Danger room broke two months ago… way better then computer threats…"
"You ain't kidding Rogue. That's why these are far more fun, Betts," Logan nodded as Psilocke walked over to help Rogue up, and Jubilee gave Wolverine a hand. Bobby rubbed his backside, shaking his brown haired head.
"First rule in my experience, expect the unexpected," Betsy Braddock winked. "Now who's for a spot of tea before we muck on ahead?"
"Make that beer, and you're on," Wolverine said.
"Ah'd prefer iced tea, if ya don't mind," Rogue said, and grabbed Betsy under the arms. "Want a ride, boss lady?"
"Whoops, I think…" Betsy gasped as she was swept up and carried in the direction of the X mansion. Bobby Drake followed with an ice ramp.
"Slowpokes!" he called. Jubilee and Wolverine rushed through the undergrowth after them, both gasping for breath.
"After this… I'm gonna regret taking a shower BEFORE practice…" Jubilee panted.
"Look at it this way darlin, at least we're not under Cyke's one eyed gaze…." Wolverine panted back accustomed to rushing through woods at a good clip.
"C'mon you two, we're late!" Rogue called, streaking back and grabbing both of them. Jubilee yelped when she seized the back of her yellow coat, and Logan grunted as Rogue seized his belt and hefted him in her other gloved hand. Within seconds they were deposited by the back door of the X mansion where Drake was already icing up a cooler.
"Jubes luv, could I trouble you to boil some water?" Psilocke asked, pulling out a metal pot and some cups with a box of Darjeeling. "Chance to show me how finely you control your abilities…"
"This is nothing," Drake laughed as Jubilee quickly boiled the water.
"Now, chill it down, and let's resume a breather," Psilocke panted. She tossed a beer over to Wolverine who caught it gratefully. Soon the tea was brewed, and all team members sat on the metal patio chairs around an umbrella table by the pool.
"Good stuff," Rogue murmured, gulping down a glass of perfectly chilled iced tea. Psilocke leaned back in her chair, folding her long legs one over the other. She sighed with pleasure as she sipped her tea slowly, then glanced down at the house. A tray levitated from inside, wrapped in purple energies.
"Showoff," Drake laughed. "You stole THAT from Jean!"
"So what?" Jubilee asked, throwing her sunglasses on the table. She pulled off her coat and tossed it over an empty chair. She reached for one of the 'digestive biscuits' and gnawed on it hungrily.
"I'm not even gonna ask what a digestive is… but it's some British thing," Bobby murmured through a mouthful of cookie.
"Don't y'all know anything? It's what they serve with high tea…" Rogue rolled her eyes. "Even ah know that!"
"I defer to you, your Royal Highness queen of the south," Bobby mock bowed.
"X men blue, front and center!" barked Cyclops over the loudspeaker.
"Cyclops, do you mind, dearie?" Psilocke glanced up at the speaker. "You could be less of a boor about this… and unless I'm much mistaken, isn't Storm in charge…"
"My apologies," came the answer. Everyone groaned, shaking his or her heads.
"Once a leader, always a leader," Rogue said.
"Or once a pain in the ass, always a pain in the ass…" Bobby added. Getting to their feet they left their break materials and entered the mansion once again. On the way in, Wolverine slowed his pace and extended his hand to Jubilee. Pleasantly surprised, she slid hers in his, and felt the small squeeze he gave her fingers.
"I don't know if I'm up to a whole danger room session after THAT little drill," Bobby mumbled to Rogue.
"Ya big baby, that was nothing," Rogue laughed, giving him a shove.
"Some of us aren't invulnerable…"
"Just cause ah'm invulnerable doesn't mean ah don't get tired like the rest of yuh."
"There's a thing called a dictionary, Bobby. Might I suggest you use it?" Psilocke added.
"Oho she nailed you," Jubilee laughed.
"Ha ha, very funny…" Bobby stuck his tongue out. "Not up to MY standard, but not bad for a new X man…"
"Says the guy who just blew in WHEN?" Wolverine added.
"Now that we've exchanged verbal pot shots at one another," Psilocke grinned. "I take it this means you're somewhat cozy on the idea of me as a leader?"
"Duh," Jubilee answered.
"That sums it up," Bobby said. "The Valley girl has spoken…"
As they entered the underground complex, they walked along the corridors to the Danger Room area. Sounds of shouting and commands along with laser echoed throughout, and the members of X men Blue exchanged anxious glances. "Doesn't' sound like ol' Cyke's too happy right about now…"
"What else is new?" asked Bobby.
"Wait, shh, I hear Storm. She's pretty ticked off," Wolverine said with a slight smile.
"What are they saying?" asked Rogue. "Don't tell me Scott's gone off again!"
"Shh… they're coming out… back away peoples…"
"Let's say they're just having a large difference in opinion," said Psilocke with a snort.
"Super hearing?" Rogue asked. "No, wait… you're a telepath an' yuh heard it a mile away…"
"Yes, and I suggest WE get a mile away… perhaps we should wait in the Danger Room observation area?" Psilocke suggested. Everyone in Blue quickly dispersed, trying to evade the storm front that exited the danger room.
"I'm sorry Storm but that last move…"
"Might I remind you that it was YOUR idea that you join us for the exercise, Scott?" Storm answered dryly.
"Scott, if you weren't who you were…" trailed off Warren.
"This is just ridiculous. Scott, what IS your problem?" demanded Storm. "Just when you say you've got your outbursts under control, another 'situation' arises… if this is resentment about the suggestion that I…"
"You are simply overdoing it, my friend," Beast said as he took Scott's shoulder and walked him in the direction of the stairs leading up to the mansion.
"No Storm, it just proves that Beast is right…" Scott said. "Forget what I said. I really DO need to…"
"Why don't you take a walk outside and I'll set the danger room up for the next team," Jean said gently.
"I'm sorry… I'll just… go and cool off. I apologize Storm…"
"Scott, please understand that we all…" Storm started.
"He knows Storm," Jean said softly as she raised a hand.
"Can't you get him OFF the war path? Scott's always been a type A, but he's scaring me," Warren shook his head.
"My thoughts exactly. This has been building up for a long time, and it seems to have no ending in sight… Jean…"
"Storm, I've tried reasoning with him… when he seems to have calmed, something ELSE sets him off… I'm thinking he needs a break from all this…" Jean sighed.
"But we can't spare him, can we?" asked Storm quietly. "He'll insist that…"
"Magneto isn't giving us any problems, so why not just take him away for a long romantic weekend, Jean?" asked Warren. "I can give you my private jet… I know Scott loves to fly… and you two could go up to Alaska and just spend time at my folk's cabin up in Juneau…"
"Sounds wonderful… but Storm can you handle things here?"
"We have in the past… so why not? Psilocke is a capable telepath. And you and she can keep in rapport so if we do need you, you both can return," Storm said quietly. "Besides, we have Wolverine and Beast, and Warren, who are all original X men… not to forget Bobby… I'm certain we can keep the team running while you're gone…"
"After what happened on their honeymoon," Warren mumbled.
"It will be all right," Jean smiled slowly. "Scott and I haven't had a weekend alone since…"
"Since before we can remember," Storm added. "Go on, pack. I'll suggest a leave of absence to Scott, and you can help break it to him gently. Hank and I have been suggesting this… for a while…"
"But you didn't tell Jean?" Warren scratched his head.
"I already could sense it," Jean interrupted with a knowing smile. "Scott needs time with his wife. And I have a few activities planned that will take his mind off work once and for all…"
"If you can't help him Jean, I don't know WHAT could," Warren groaned. "But what I don't get is that he and you had forty eight hours…"
"A change of scenery is just what will be needed, for him to achieve harmony with body and soul," Storm said brightly. "I should know, from experience…"
Psilocke grinned when she opened her amethyst eyes, and regarded her teammates. Wolverine cracked a rare grin himself, which left Bobby, Jubilee and Rogue to wonder just what had transpired. "Took them bloody long enough," Psilocke laughed.
"I know. Guess it took Hurricane Storm to get Scott to take a vacation," Wolverine chuckled.
"Guess we know who wears the spandex in THIS team," Bobby quipped.
"Shush, will ya?" Rogue hissed.
"Hey, it's true," Bobby shrugged.
"Shh, they're coming back… act casual," said Wolverine. Jubilee paced back and forth, orbiting the table a few times before Wolverine grabbed her wrist gently.
"I don't think I wanna see his face right now…" she grumbled.
"Relax, Jubes… an' sit down. You're makin' us all nervous…" Logan suggested. She yelped in protest when he tugged her down and pulled her into his lap.
"You'd better listen to what the man says, sugah," Rogue teased.
"Shut up," Jubilee protested, blood rushing to her cheeks and tinting golden skin a dusky rose.
"Or else Scott's not the only one who's going to need a holiday," Psilocke further teased.
The door hummed open, admitting the tall figure of Storm. She pushed locks of silver hair from her face, and smiled levelly at the members of X men Blue. "Good to see you here. I've an announcement to make, though I suspect a few of you already have sensed what will transpire…"
"Well…" Psilocke began.
"Relax," Storm smiled warmly. She pulled up a chair and sat down gracefully next to Betsy. Visibly relaxed, Psilocke exhaled and lifted her gaze to face the woman again.
"So, what's the scoop?" Rogue asked.
"Cyclops and Jean are going on vacation… effective immediately. Psilocke, you will consider yourself full Deputy leader in his absence, as I will be assuming command of the team till his return. I request that you forge a psychic link with Jean Grey to keep in a light rapport so we can alert them if we require their assistance," Storm said.
"Sounds jake to me, 'Roro," said Wolverine. Storm arched a silver brow at the sight of Jubilee sitting precariously balanced in his lap. However she said nothing, and returned her attention to Psilocke.
"I trust that we'll all be able to be happy for them, for the next week," said Storm. "And that we will all work together towards our mutual goal in harmony…"
"Um, just one thing Storm," Bobby asked. "Uh… are we going to have to worry about our personal lives being um… butted into as much? Sorry to be rude about it and all…"
"What goes on behind closed doors and off team duty does not concern me, as long as it does not disrupt the interests of the X men," Storm said diplomatically. "We all derive strength from our personal relationships on and off the team, and unless such behaviors compromise our mission, you will have your privacy. I simply wish you afford me the same courtesy…"
"Good call," jubilee blurted out.
"So, if Scott and Jean hold hands, anyone else doing the same won't be on latrine duty, right?" asked Wolverine.
"I would have put it more delicately, but the answer is yes, Logan," Storm smiled wryly. "Now, it seems that all of you are rather winded from your impromptu training. I suggest we retire for an early and leisurely dinner, which Gambit has consented to prepare, and see Jean and Scott off with all good fortune…"
"These are orders I can live with," Bobby grinned.
"But do not be fooled into thinking that I will be any less strict when it comes to demanding your absolute best," Storm said with a hint of sternness to her voice.
"We wouldn't give you anything else," Wolverine answered.
"Thank you. Now why not get cleaned up and join the rest of us for dinner… it should be ready within the next two hours… oh, and Psilocke, could you join me for a bit and brief me on your team's progress?" Storm said, glancing at her wristwatch. She exited after rising from her chair.
"Certainly, luv," said Betsy. She pushed away from the table, and rose at the same time Storm did. Both women exited the room, leaving the rest of X men Blue to exchange various glances ranging from surprise to relief.
"Took 'em long enough," Bobby commented. "I could've told them Scotty needed a time out… AWAY from the team… "
"And away from being up our bums," Psilocke added, glancing at her nails.
"Amen," Rogue nodded. "Now why are we just sittin' here?"
