Chapter 13


His stomach churned, and he felt hairs rising on the back of his neck. Something squirmed in his instincts that he had pushed away in the heat of the argument, and trying to keep himself focussed. He'd mistaken it for anger and resentment that they were leaving HIM in charge, and now that eerie silence of waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop.

Jubilee seemed tense and filled with a ripping agony inside. He could smell the sourness of misery and fear she held back. This was way too intense for just some bad gut feeling. Judging from the tension in her muscles, he had made a grave error. Why DIDN'T he stop Storm, and simply ASK Jubes what was wrong? Did he presume to know better, because he wanted to protect Jubilee from the truth that she could be right? Trying to grab some piece of security to fool himself, because his instinct was screaming at him to listen to her, rather than to the reason of Storm?

"Wolverine… I feel…"

"You really DID see something serious… you didn't just FEEL it did you? An' you're still feeling it?" Wolverine asked softly, stopping her.

"It's probably just me overreacting…" she trailed off, with a weak smile.

"I don't think so. Somethin' telling me that I'm bein' the biggest hardheaded dupe for not listenin' to ya, an yer only holdin' back cause you think I'm gonna blow you off again…" he panted.

"You said there was nothing we could do…" she trailed off. "You big JERK, why did you wait till NOW!"

"Jubes, you're right, I AM a big jerk," Wolverine sighed.

"And you let me think I was flaking out… and now all of a sudden you're feeling guilty so NOW you pay attention to me. Is THAT what…" Jubilee yelled, shoving him away. She rushed ahead of him, angry tears gleaming in her eyes.

"Dammit Jubilee…" he snorted in frustration. Wolverine rushed after her, feet pounding heavily on the floor. Of all the bad decisions he had made, this ranked by far the worst.

Hearing him behind her, she wheeled on him once again. She held up her hands to stop him from reaching out to touch her in any way. She snapped, "Just STAY there. Just… just leave me alone okay?"

"I can't," he disagreed, with a toss of his masked head. "It's real… my instincts are tellin' me I just made the biggest mistake not takin' you seriously, an' not stoppin' Storm…"

"Why?" she demanded, tears dripping donw her cheeks. "Don't mess with me, Wolvie!"

"If I'm right, I'm so damn sorry I can't…" he trailed off as he closed his eyes, turning away. "Dammit…"

"I thought you didn't think it was a big deal," she said softly.

"I should know better," Wolverine said quietly. "I want ya to tell me EXACTLY what you saw or felt… that was so bad… and what you're STILL feeling an' hiding from me an yourself…"

"Why do you care now?" she asked quietly, biting her lip. She crossed her arms over her chest just like he did a million times.

"You were just pretendin' to go along with me cause ya were afraid of another argument. An' that ain't fair to you or to me… I'm not bein' honest with myself an' we sure as hell aren't treating you like the full fledged X man you are… so before I make another damn mistake…"

"But I still…" Jubilee trailed off, and wiped away tears. "You sure you want to know? What good will it do since we let Storm go…"

"Jubilee, we can't afford to be wrong on this, because you're not makin' this up, an' we don't fully understand yer powers… so I'm listening, an' I'm listening now. …" Wolverine answered. Still angry, he kept his back turned to her. Ashamed to look her in the face, and embarrassed for such a faux pas.

"Wolverine… please… don't loose it because of me!" she said softly as she saw his back muscles tensing, and his fists forming at his sides.

Claws erupted with their rasping SNICKT. Shoulders heaved, indicating a deep breath being inhaled and exhaled. He shook his head, still not facing her, but he did retract one set of claws on his right hand. Raising his left hand he scratched long strokes into the wall idly, with the claws on his right. He mumbled, "Course I can't blame ya for bein' ticked, Jubes. I would be, if I were you right now, seein' as I let ya down in the worst way…"

Slowly she walked towards him, stopping her hand inches from touching his shoulder. She reached out to take his wrist gently instead, and softly said, "I am… feeling it still… and I'm NOT pissed that you blew me off…"

"You should be," Wolverine mumbled, turning his head only slightly to glance at her hand on his wrist. Her shadow fell across the gleaming metal claws, temporarily eclipsing them in darkness. How small her silhouette appeared next to his. Yet he smelled the concern at his self-recrimination along with her own anger fading to concern and self-doubt.

"It's just that I don't know if I can trust… what I saw… I don't' want to think that I could be right!" she stammered. Her grip on his wrist tightened. Logan raised the hand with the claws still extended then let them slide back into their sheaths. This time she felt the movement of the muscles jerking under her fingers that caused this.

"Tell me WHAT you saw," Wolverine requested, turning to face her. He twisted his wrist from her grasp then caught hold of that same hand in his. Jubilee flinched at the motion, only to relax when his hand enclosed hers tenderly.

"Did you see Storm?" he asked, facing her fully now. He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, then rubbed the back of her hand with his fingers.

"I saw Storm and the other X men with Magneto…" Jubilee admitted. "On Genosha. They were all arguing but it wasn't like a bad thing… more like the debating I see going on at the UN… there were mutants from EVERYWHERE there…"

"Go on…" Wolverine encouraged.

"Then suddenly there was an explosion… and fire… and Magneto tried to stop it…"

"What, Darlin?" Wolverine narrowed his eyes. His hands clenched on her shoulders. Each word was increasingly difficult for Jubilee to form on her lips. The more she spoke, the more his instinct berated him that it was right. Something WAS terribly wrong.

"But then…. But it's impossible… he's dead…"

"Who, darlin'?" Wolverine asked, sliding a finger under her chin to tilt her head upwards again.

"I saw Fabian Cortez… but he looked like Apocalypse, and he was… somewhere on the island laughing at Storm and Magneto and the others… but it can't be possible…"

"Jubilee, tell me ALL," Wolverine growled. "This is WAY too important to ignore, an' I'm kicking myself to just… please tell me…"

"He was laughing at Magneto. Storm and Magneto were shaking hands with all these mutants, and then there was fire and explosions… and everyone just VANISHED… and then I saw the X men… vanishing… and then me… and you all alone… and all these other mutants and we couldn't help them…"

Wolverine growled as he saw the fear in her eyes. Letting her go he punched the wall. "I'm such a stupid… flamin' IDIOT!"

"Why do you believe me now… you said there was nothing we could do…" Jubilee repeated, blinking when she saw three puncture marks after he withdrew his fist.

"Don't matter does it? We gotta stop them… now!" Wolverine trailed off. "I was lettin' my head tell me that my instincts were just me overreacting… how could I be so… damn… we gotta go…"

"You mean…" she shivered.

"Cripes yeah. We have to… I owe it to you… to find out if it's right or wrong…" he shook his head. "An hope ya forgive the canucklehead for bein' such a…"

"A man?" she asked, wiping away tears. "But Gambit…"

"Go get one of them jets ready an' wait for me," he barked quickly, grabbing his communicator. "Gambit! Get yer butt on the line NOW!"

"What?" Remy asked. "I can hear you without the link!"

"Call Jean an' Scott NOW! We just sent Storm an' the others into a TRAP!" Wolverine snarled.

"Why you change your mind?"

"Jubilee's got a vibe. An' Psylocke… aww hell… Jubes got a premonition, an' I don't think we can ignore it. Get Jean an' Scott to get back here an' take charge. I'm goin' after Storm before it's too late…"

"But you never listen to Petit…" Remy stammered over the radio.

"Cause I'm a hardheaded jerk an' too damn stubborn," Wolverine mumbled. "Just DO it! Jubes an' I gotta split NOW!"

He rushed after jubilee as he spoke the twisting in his stomach seizing up more. Anger and guilt mated and increased the adrenaline surging through his system. Everything suddenly yelled at him to hurry because he was the idiot who had possibly signed the death warrant to Storm. All because he thought he knew better…

"Damn, damn damn," he trailed off.


Jubilee shook her head; images flickering like a fast paced film. She threw switches on one of the smaller minijets, checking for fuel and other requirements. A strange unreality crashed over her, both awe and resentment that Wolverine took her seriously after doing little to stop Storm. Yet better late than never.

Her muscles lost control momentarily while she sat there, shivering with a wave of dread so tangible she could feel it between her fingers. More images became her reality. Blood, fire and the stench of something like acrid fur on fire. What was taking Wolverine so long?

At the edge of her sensations she heard his voice barking into the communicator. Slowly growing louder as it approached, and she huddled with the waves of pain racking her body.

"You're really seriously thinking Petit saw something?" Remy's voice queried as Wolverine rushed up to the minijet. Jubilee was huddled in the front seat, hugging her stomach and shivering.

"Wolvie…" she gasped. She felt his hand gently cupping her cheek turning her head to the left and right.

"Jubes… oh HELL…" he got out, stroking her cheek. "Please… you gotta be okay!"

"I'll be okay… just GO!" she cried, as he clicked her seatbelt into place. He leapt behind her into the pilot's seat, and jammed buttons in the console. Engines roared to life as he grabbed the control stick and pushed it forwards. Overhead the canopy slid forwards to enclose the flight cabin with a rasp and a definitive click.

"Hold on kid, we're Goin' NOW!" Wolverine barked.

She didn't mind the lurching shove that threw them against their seats. Wolverine guided the minijet out through the hanger holographic field and aimed it right across the choppy Atlantic. She shivered hard, tossing her head while her body detached and her mind floated in some other place where time had no meaning.


"Gambit, get Rogue to fly up to Alaska to get them!" Wolverine's frantic voice grated behind her.

She blinked slowly, seeing the gray storm clouds brewing behind them, while the slate waters churned with foam far below. From a nightmarish vision she surfaced, her heart aching and pounding with fear. "Wolverine… I saw it again…"

"Dammit, I guess we got our answer. You okay Jubilee?"

"I'll be all right… just…" she trailed off. "Just tell Gambit what you were telling him…"

Snorting, Wolverine shouted into the headset, "We might not have the time! You take care a' things here… an' get the Blackbird ready… an' go pick 'em up. Then wait for a signal from Jubes an' me…"

There came silence, and she could faintly hear the muffled tinny response that must be Gambit's surprise. Sighing, Wolverine said, "I'm DEAD serious. Jubes is actin' weirder than animals before a volcano eruption. I just can't afford t' blow it off… Cajun…"

She saw Gambit's image flicker onto the viewscreen just ahead of her. He blinked his red eyes in confusion, his face grim, "Petit, what's goin' on? Wolverine actin' crazy again?"

"Gambit, please listen to him! I had a flash… flash-forwards…" said Jubilee, groaning softly.

"All right, mon ami," Gambit said. "I'll get the plane ready. But maybe you and da petit should wait for da rest of us!"

"No time… if this IS a false alarm, no big whoop, but if she IS right…" Wolverine insisted.

"I'll get the Blackbird ready with everyone, while Rogue goes ahead. But you be careful with da petit, I'm telling you!" Remy's voice scolded.

If not for the fact the spare blackbird needed some repairs, he would have taken it. Yet only Scott's expertise, without Beast to help, could even hope to get it to its full capacity. Considering the primary Blackbird had been torn apart over Genosha, they had few options. Hopefully Rogue could fly fast enough to get to Scott and Jean while Gambit got the blackbird ready to bring the other X men to the rescue if needed.


"Storm, this is Wolverine! Talk to me… now!" Wolverine barked over the radio.

"Wolverine, what's the meaning of this…" came Storm's voice. "I ordered you to..."

"Forget that. Jubiation is goin' NUTS an' you guys GOTTA turn your butts around before you get KILLED or worse!" Wolverine barked. "You can't go there!"

"Why are you suddenly so adamant when you…" Storm queried. Snow and static swirled on his videolink, forming into the confused features of the Wind Rider. He could tell from her arched brow and twitching forehead that she was not amused at being countermanded.

"Who flamin CARES what I did? Jubes is flippin' out, an' my instincts are tellin' me not to ignore her. You can't go to Genosha, cause it's a TRAP! I'm tellin' you turn around NOW!" Wolverine yelled. He heard Jubilee's whimpers and moans while she huddled there on the front seat.

"But we are barely halfway to…" she protested. "What is wrong with Jubilee?"

"Jubes, hang on," Wolverine urged. "We're gonna stop 'em… I promise…"

"What's wrong with Jubilee?" Psylocke's voice cut in. Storm's image glanced over her shoulder.

"It's serious Ororo! Jubilee an' I can overtake ya, an' find out what's what there… no sense in riskin' ALL of us…" Wolverine urged.

"But we would loose you…" said Storm. "To suddenly change the plans… on the whim of a child's..."

Wolverine growled at this, but chose to ignore it. Instead he said, "Better US than you. I'm trained to handle espionage, an' I know Jubiation is up to it cause she's the one with the crazy images an' feelings playin' in her head… and she ain't a kid. She's a full fledged X man!"

"Logan, I refuse to…" Storm sternly rebuked him, till he heard Psylocke's voice cut in.

"Storm, listen to him. What if Jubilee is right? From experience I know not to take precognition lightly. If her body is responding… a simple psychic probe can tell… we should stop and turn around… till I can confirm…"

"But Sunfire is waiting…" Storm protested.

"Storm, you gotta land yer bird an' let Psylocke do her thing. Can we AFFORD to lose you too, when there's a chance that this ain't onna level? Don't we owe Jubilee the chance to prove that she is RIGHT? She's an X man like us, an' we GOTTA hear her out…"

"Are you saying this to convince ME, or yourself, Logan?" Storm asked quietly.

"A little a' both. Where are ya now?" Wolverine asked, glancing into his radar screen. Still too far ahead to track them, he shook his head.

"We're near Newfoundland…" Storm reported, her countenance glancing down at something unseen on the videoscreen.

"Ask for clearance t' land… say that yer having some emergency…" Wolverine said quickly.

"Are you sure that's wise…" Storm asked, raising a silver eyebrow. Naturally she was unconvinced. At first Logan could not fathom why, but it dawned on him. A hot flush of shame spread over his face, and he was glad for the mask over his face that hid it from her view.

"Nope scratch that," Wolverine groaned, almost slapping his forehead in frustration. "Get yerself down, in Maine. No use in draggin' some old friends turned enemies into this…"

"What was that?" Storm asked.

No sense in confusing her further, Wolverine thought. How could he be so careless, considering Alpha Flight would naturally wonder why a plane full of mutants was dropping in for a visit. No, he couldn't drag them into this. Not with all the resentment they felt for him 'deserting' them. Better to leave that alone for now.

"Never mind. Canada ain't the best place t' be with those old BUDDIES of mine. They ain't too keen on me, so the X men would… look, just turn that damn bird around an let Psylocke scan Jubes… Betsy, can ya scan her if she an' me are flyin' to Genosha?"

Psylocke's features replaced those of Storm on the videoscreen, saying, "Yes, my powers can work at those distances. Although the further away you get…"

"You radio them an' say you're en route. Then lemmie know what ya see, Psylocke. Jubilee an' I will fly to Genosha… while you're scannin'. If it looks kosher, than you can come. But if it don't.." Wolverine said. Just then, Psylocke was momentarily pushed out of sight, replaced by Storm again.

"But we had an agreement…" protested Storm, brow furrowing on the viewscreen ahead of him. "We cannot…"

"Screw the agreement. Is it worth riskin' the X men for pride?" Wolverine demanded. "Storm, we owe it to her, an' to us to do this right…"

"Very well," Storm relented after a period of silence. "We shall do this your way. I hope for our sake that Jubilee's premonition is wrong…"

"So do I," Wolverine mumbled, glancing at Jubilee who was slowly coming round. He wished there was enough room in the cockpit to reach over and give her a hug and kiss to reasure her. Yet he knew he'd have that chance soon enough.