Phoenix Rising: Chapter 5

Logan woke twelve hours later with the comforting thump of Jubilee's heart beat in his ears. Regina and Deanna were still at her bedside working. Crusher was in her office until she noticed him moving on the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked as she left the office.

"Stronger," he told her. "I'll need another day before I'm ready ta tackle anything big. How's Jubilee?"

"They're still working," she sighed. "I'm not sure they should stay at it this long."

"They haven't come out since I left the meld?" He was astonished. Most telepaths would have stopped after four hours. "They need ta take a break or they'll burn out."

He hopped out of the bed and reached out and touched Regina. He slipped into Jubilee's mind with ease using the telepath as a conduit. The landscape was very different. There were still areas that were barren but more and more areas had life.

"We're not done yet," Regina said from behind him.

"You've been at it fer over twelve hours," he told her as he turned. "I'm going ta get the portable psi shield set up, then I want ya ta take a break. Ya can't help her if yer exhausted."

She looked mutinous for a moment then sighed and nodded.

"You'll feel it when I got the shield set up. That's yer signal ta come out."

He left Jubilee's mind and returned to his body.

"I'll be back," he told Crusher as he ran out of the door.

He returned thirty minutes later, freshly showered and carrying the small orb. He placed it on the table next to the bed and turned it on.

"Man, I hate that thing," said Regina as she opened her eyes. "I feel like I have a bad cold!"

"I don't feel anything," Troy remarked yawning.

"It only gives ya problems if yer a telepath," Logan said. "Yer a Betazoid so ya got a few hours before it'll give ya a headache. Regina's a true telepath so she'll have problems after an hour."

He leaned over and kissed the unconscious woman softly. "I'll be back darlin'. I need ta get some food inta yer saviors." He ran his fingers through her hair and sighed.

"Come on," he said gruffly. "Lets get some food inta ya then ta bed."

"Why Logan," Regina teased. "I didn't know you were interested."

"Funny," he rolled his eyes. "Out. Ya can come back in twelve hours." He grabbed each woman by an arm and escorted them out of sick bay.

He dropped the two women off at the officers mess and went to the Bridge. Picard has had the Bridge crew scanning for Argon's ship for the past day. He needed to get an update.

"We haven't been able to find a trace of the ship," Riker complained. "If we hadn't run into him earlier this week, I'd say he's never been in this sector."

"He may be cloaked," Logan told him.

"Romulins?" he gasped. "I have a hard time believing they'd help pirates."

"There's cloaked and there's cloaked," Logan said. "The cloak they'd use wouldn't be mechanical. Probably a techno mutant telling yer sensors ta ignore their ship."

"A what?"

"A mutant who has a gift to control mechanical objects," he explained. "Not a common mutation but very handy. Most of the time, the mutant only affects machines they can touch physically. I only remember one who could affect machines he wasn't in contact with and he died before he could father children."

"Do mutations follow families?" Riker was curious.

"Sometimes," Logan told him. "All of my descendants who are mutants have some form of my healing factor."

"How many descendants do you have?"

"No idea. I had four daughters but only one was a mutant. The others carried the mutant traits so my abilities show up from time ta time. Most of my kin live a hundred years or more but none of 'em has lived as long as me."

"Did all of your children have kids of their own?"

"All but my oldest," he said. "She was killed in an attack on her school. She was eleven at the time."

"Who would attack a school?" Riker asked appalled.

"Sentinels," Logan growled as he walked up to the tactical station. "Look fer this power signature," he told Worf as he entered a series of numbers into the console.

"I have never seen a power signature like this," Worf commented. "What is it?"

"Phoenix," Logan told him. "She has a unique power and it can't be copied. If ya find it, it can only be Phoenix." He left the bridge without further comments.

"Data," Riker turned to Ops. "What's a sentinel?"

Data rose and went to the library computer to tap in an inquiry. A picture of a large robot flashed on the screen above the keyboard.

"A sentinel was a large mutant hunter robot developed in the latter part of the 20th century. It was modified several times over the years and by the end of the project, were enhanced humans called Prime and Omega Sentinels. They were sleeper sentinels that were able to infiltrate mutant hideouts and kill them. They were extremely efficient and may have been responsible for the sudden decrease in the mutant population in the early 21st century. Once a sentinel was activated, it did not stop until it had completed it's primary programming or was destroyed. Early sentinels could be ordered to apprehend a mutant but the latter ones could only kill. By the time the Prime and Omega Sentinels were in use, there was no effort to contain mutants, only to kill them. This was later described as the genetic purges of the 20th and 21st centuries."

"How many left during the exodus?" Riker asked, sickened by what he learned.

"There were 7000 mutants on the colony ships," Data told him. "I estimate that 3000 remained on Earth. Some of them were executed in the camps early in the 22nd century."

"The rest probably passed for human," Riker mused. "What was the final death toll?"

"1,472,643," Data said without emotion. "That is the official death toll. There were more deaths from a genetically engineered virus released in the late 20th century. The number of deaths due to the Legacy virus has been estimated at 250,000. This all occurred prior to the Eugenics War."

"And we know how many died in that war," Riker said grimly. "The number of deaths is appalling. And these people were natural mutants, children of friends and family."

"There are several reports of parents killing their children when their mutations manifested. Even reports of them killing or abandoning their newborns when they had an obvious, physical mutation," Data told him. "The loss of human genetic potential was vast considering some of the natural mutations included abilities such as extreme intelligence and telepathy. Logan's own ability to heal from any injury would have extended life many years and eliminated numerous diseases from the gene pool."

"He's married several times but only fathered four children," Riker remarked. "I wonder why he hasn't had more."

"It may be an emotional problem with him," Data said. "I noticed that humans believe in the concept of 'soul mates'. It is possible that he has not met his soul mate."

"Why Data," Riker smiled. "I didn't know you were a romantic."

"Romantic, sir," he said, confused. "I do not believe I am a romantic. I simply observe and report the human condition."

"Sir," Worf interrupted. "Daemon Gar is requesting your presence in his quarters."

"Damn," he swore. "I was hoping that he wouldn't call on my watch." He squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. "I'll be in the guest quarters. You have the Bridge Mr. Data." He heard Data acknowledge his orders as he entered the lift.

The quarters assigned to the Ferengi Daemon were exactly like the ones assigned to Logan; a spacious, two room suite. In an effort to vary the decor, Star Fleet had used different colors in each of the VIP suites. The Daemon was assigned the green suite. Logan had been assigned the much more desirable beige suite. The Ferengi, of course, complained about the accommodations. Riker spent quite a bit of time convincing Gar that these were the best available quarters, biting the inside of his cheek the whole time, trying to keep from exploding in anger. Riker had problems with the Ferengi.

Before Riker could escape, Gar finally reached the point of voicing his real request.

"I would like my slave returned to me," he demanded. It was all Riker could do not to throttle the ugly Daemon.

"She is still in critical condition," he said through gritted teeth.

"I do not care what condition she is in," Gar said imperiously, "I want her returned immediately."

"You have not proven your claim of ownership," he snapped. "The girl has not shown signs of life and we are not sure she is a mutant."

"If she returns to consciousness without a control bracelet, she will prove her mutation and destroy your ship."

"I doubt that," Riker sneered. "If her condition when she was brought aboard is any indication of how you treat your slaves, then you will probably be her target. I know you are the target of the Star Fleet operative we have on board. He doesn't care for slave traders."

"You will control this spy," Gar demanded.

"I have no control over him at all," Riker told him with an ugly grin. "Star Fleet intelligence is a law unto themselves. He will do whatever he wants and Star Fleet will back him."

"I will meet this spy," Gar said. "He will do as I ask."

Riker began to laugh. He hit his comm badge with a finger. "Mr. Worf. Escort Logan to Gar's quarters please."

"Aye, aye sir," Worf replied.

"You want it," Riker laughed, "you got it. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Fifteen minutes later, the door cheeped. Riker went to it and escorted the powerful mutant into the room, Worf close behind. Both appeared tense.

"Yer Gar?" Logan asked with a low, threatening growl. Riker could hear Worf growling from the door.

"I am Daemon Gar of the Ferengi. You will release my slave..." he was unable to finish. Logan immediately flew across the room and pinned the Daemon to the bulkhead with his claws through Gar's shoulder. The Daemon howled in pain.

Logan's growls increased in volume. "She ain't yer slave."

"Don't kill him, Logan," Riker said with a smile. "Ferengi blood in hard to get out of the upholstery."

"Perhaps you wish to purchase the girl?" Gar gasped, afraid that he had said something very stupid.

"No," Logan told him through his teeth. "I'm takin' her." He withdrew his claws with a 'snackt' and Gar fell to the floor, his shoulder bleeding freely.

He leaned into the Ferengi's face and growled with menace. "If I see a Ferengi ship within ten light years o' her, I'll find ya and kill ya. Understand?"

"Of course," Gar said, trying to stem the flow of blood. "I will pass the information on to my fleet."

"Ya better," he threatened. "Drop 'em off at the nearest star base." he told Riker over his shoulder.

"Aye, aye, sir," Riker said. Logan turned and stomped out of the room, followed by Worf.

"I told you I couldn't control him," Riker said.

"He is a mutant?" Gar asked. Riker nodded. "How is it he is not a slave?"

"Grandfather clause. Any mutant alive at the time of the signing of the Federation Charter is exempt from the slavery clause."

"That is not possible. He would be over three hundred human years old. Humans don't live that long."

"He's not three hundred years old," Riker agreed as he headed for the door. "He's almost five hundred years old." With that, he left Gar to contemplate his mortality.

Riker was making his way back to the bridge when his comm badge chirped.

"LaForge to Riker."

"Go ahead Mr. LaForge," he said.

"Main engines are back online," Geordie reported. "Photon torpedoes are available but main phasers will take five more hours."

"I'll inform the Captain," Riker said as he signed off. "Bridge," he told the lift as the doors closed.

"I have widened the search to ten light years," Worf told him as he entered the bridge.

"Very good, Mr. Worf," he told the tactical officer of the day. He went to the ready room door and requested entry. The doors slid open as he was acknowledged by Picard.

"We're healing," he told Picard. "Mains are online but we have no phasers yet. Mr. LaForge estimates another five hours to get the main bank online. The others will take a few days."

"Does Logan have a plan to get on board Argon's ship?" asked Picard.

"Not that he's shared with me," Riker told him. "He seems to be distracted right now."

"I'm sure," Picard remarked with a smile.

"The Ferengi have requested the return of their slave." Picard's eyes widened. "I introduced Gar to Logan."

"Did he kill him?" Picard dreaded the answer.

"No," Riker told him, "but I don't think they'll repeat the request. At least not while they're on board Enterprise. That doesn't stop them from going to Star Fleet Command."

"From the way the law reads, Ms. Lee is exempt from the slavery clause. She was born in 1983, well prior to the ratification of the charter."

"The problem is proving it. She doesn't have a healing factor to account for her age and most of the records for known mutants were destroyed in the 22nd century. We may have to come up with an alternate plan for her."

"Agreed, number one. Have there been any problems with anti mutant sentiments among the crew?"

"I haven't received any reports of problems but that doesn't mean that there aren't any. Most of the time, these kinds of prejudices simmer before exploding in violence. I'll keep my ears open and see if I can't find some trustworthy people to listen as well."

"I hate having to spy on my crew Will, but I can't allow this to become an issue on board."

"Captain," Riker said slowly, "we know Logan, Jubilee and Williams are mutants. How many more are on board? Could they be a problem?"

"I fear they will be targets," Picard said ruefully. "I won't request that they reveal themselves but please put the word out that I would welcome the knowledge. It will not go into any records, I would just like to know in case they become our only defense."

"I'll ask Logan to approach them," Will told him. "As a mutant himself, he may be trusted more than me."

"Williams may already know," Picard told him. "She's a telepath. It's difficult to keep a secret around someone who can read your mind."

"Mutant problems, mon Capitaine?" Q asked as he popped in.

"Do you mind?" Riker demanded. "This is a private conversation."

"Aren't you afraid she'll read your mind?" Q ignored Riker's question. "She has the ability to enter your deepest thoughts at will."

"I trust my crew," Picard said sternly.

"But what of the ones you don't know about?" Q slithered around the chair.

"Do you have a report or are you here to spit venom," Picard asked angrily.

Q sighed and sat down on the desk. "You're no fun," he pouted. "Your boy has a vivid imagination. We may have a solution to the problem. We'll need a few days to test it first but you can tell that wild man that we may be able to do it."

"I'll tell him when you have a plan that will work," Picard told him. "Do you have anything to do with the presence of Jubilation Lee?"

"Nothing at all," Q said airily. "Her problems belong to a human, or rather, a mutant."

With that said, Q snapped his fingers and disappeared.

Picard exhaled with a whoosh. "I was hoping he would have an answer."

"I guess we wait until she wakes up," Riker said grimly.

Picard ordered best speed to the nearest space station and Enterprise was underway.

Logan had been sitting next to Jubilee most of the day. He couldn't bring himself to leave the sick bay for very long. He still had trouble believing that she was here. It was like a dream come true. He couldn't stop touching her, just to reassure himself she was real. There were changes, of course. She'd been missing for a long time. Her hair was longer, reaching almost to her waist. Her girlish figure had given way to the curves of a woman.

She was too thin and still had bruises all over her body but she was healing. Crusher had operated on the wost of the injuries and physically, she was out of danger. Regina, with the assistance of Deanna Troy, was dealing with the much more severe psychic injury. He knew that when she awoke, she wouldn't be the same person he knew as a girl, or even as a young woman. The damage would change her. He wasn't sure if her core personality would change but there was a good chance it would. He didn't know how he would handle it. There was one thing for sure; he couldn't run this time. He would have to accept her as she was, even if it hurt. He owed her, big time.

All his life, he knew something was missing. He had tried to find it many times. The closest he came was with his second wife. He had loved Ororo. She gave him two beautiful daughters. She had warmed his heart when he fell into his morose moods but she remained frightened of the beast that was part of him. Jubilee was the only person who never feared his animal side. She accepted and loved him, no matter how bestial he became. She was never afraid of him. Afraid for him, yes, but never afraid of him.

She had returned to the X-Men at twenty-two, after graduating from Columbia University with a degree in Physics. He had been insufferably proud of her and made sure anyone within ten miles of the mansion knew she'd graduated second in her class. It got to the point that when the X-Men saw him coming with a huge grin on his face, they'd turn around and walk away. It stayed that way the whole summer until it hit him that she was considerably smarter than him. That was when he became nervous.

He began to get the feeling that he was holding her back. She was too smart to stay with a back country bumpkin like him. She was destine for bigger things, not for risking her life every day with the X-Men.

He had discussed it with Scott and Emma and caused a huge fight between them. Jubilee had always been a favorite with Emma and she agreed that she should be given the opportunity to make her own way in the world separate from the team. Scott, however, craved the offensive power she had for the dream. Jubilee was an alpha class mutant with omega potential and her skills and power would be an asset to the team.

The argument went on for two weeks, making everyone in the mansion miserable, until Jubilee stopped it cold by announcing that she would continue her education on a part time basis while taking her place on the team. She insisted that she would not teach until she was done at college and demanded space in the mansion labs to conduct her experiments. Hank McCoy said that he was thrilled to have her. That prompted a string of lewd remarks from Bobby Drake until one morning, he woke up tied to the bed with a huge paff hovering over him. The comments ended after that.

The incident with Bobby had eased his mind concerning her control over her powers. If she could restrain a large paff like that, she didn't need him watching and guarding her. He backed off and let her do her thing. With her gymnastic ability, speed and mutant power, she was rarely hurt and never seriously. He trusted her to guard his back and she trusted him to guard hers. It was like they'd never been separated.

Well... almost. He found himself distracted by the curve of her hips or the swell of her breasts. It had become apparent when she returned home that she wasn't a girl any more. His body was well aware of that fact. She was a mature, attractive woman in the prime of her life. She was attracting attention from the unattached males in the house. The animal in him couldn't tolerate the competition. His temper shortened and he started to snap at everyone. Emma finally had enough and told him to either make a move or let her go. He had growled at her and told her to mind her own business.

He finally snapped one morning when Jubilee came home smelling of sex and her latest boyfriend. He couldn't remember what he said to her, only that he was angry and jealous. Jubilee asked why she shouldn't sleep with her boyfriend, Logan obviously wasn't interested. They said a lot of hateful things to each other that day, most of it he couldn't remember. In the end, he did the only thing he could think of; he ran.

He stayed away for over a year, moving from place to place. Every time Emma found him, he would move again. He couldn't take the risk Jubilee would find him and end any chance of a relationship. As long as she couldn't find him, there was a chance they'd patch things up. If she found him, he was sure she'd tell him never to darken her doorstep again.

Strangely enough, it was Scott who convinced him to come back and talk to her. They'd never gotten along well in the past. Logan's obvious attraction to Scott's second wife, Jean, had made sure they'd never be friends. Scott, however, cared for Jubilee like a daughter and her misery was killing him. He told him that she was dying from the inside out. She was having trouble controlling her powers and had become a danger on missions. If Logan didn't come home soon, she would self destruct. She needed an anchor and, like it or not, he was that anchor. She still loved him and now she needed him to keep her alive. He relented and came home. They had been working on repairing their bond when she disappeared.

"Logan," Regina said as she entered sick bay, Deanna trailing her. "Just the man I wanted to see."

"Mornin' darlin'," he said.

"Jubilee has a strange inner shield," she said as she sat down in the chair near the bed. "Do you know what it is?"

"She always had a way of disappearin' from psychic scans," he told them. "She called it her stealth shield. Chuck said it was a natural defense."

"It isn't completely gone but it has been damaged. I hope she has enough of it left to rebuild. A stealth shield is extremely rare and very helpful in avoiding detection."

"Are ya going ta wake her up today?" he asked hopefully.

"No," Deanna told him. "She needs a few more days to arrange her memories and rebuild her defenses." He must have shown his disappointment because she put a hand softly on his shoulder. "I'm sure she knows you're here."

"We're going to work on the adamantium shielding technique you showed me," Regina told him. "We'll be able to dispense with the portable shield as soon as she masters it."

"I'm not sure she can do it," he said. "Jubilee ain't a telepath. Chuck had to help me build mine."

"Yes she is," Deanna said. "She's a touch telepath similar to a Vulcan."

"I was going to ask Solar to assist in her training," Regina told him. "I have no idea how touch telepathy works."

"She ain't gonna like this," he growled. "She never wanted her latent telepathy to develop."

"She doesn't have a choice now," Regina said. "The attack on her mind activated it."