Desperate Measures
The hanger door opened and a jet slowly descended. Sleek, black, with incredible speed and untraceable by the best sonar, the Blackbird was an incredible piece of machinery. The engine died with that could almost be described as a sigh, or a groan. The ramp was lowered and a figure emerged. It was a girl of average height. She had an excellent figure and her red hair was short, like a boys. She wore an all black uniform that could have been made of paint for all it hid. She clasped her hands over her head and stood on her toes stretching. Jean Grey relaxed and turned to see the rest of her team disembark. There was Scott Summers, a tall somewhat muscular boy with a visor and brown hair, also wearing an all black uniform, Ororo Munroe, an African American girl, slightly smaller then Jean with White hair and (of course) a black latex uniform, Henry (Hank) McCoy, a young man that, due to a run-in with Weapon X, was now covered in blue fur and his black uniform, and last off the Jet came Peter Rasputin, a tall young man with black hair and a calm quiet disposition.
Jean grinned, "It's great to be back isn't it?" she asked.
"Yes," Hank said puzzled. "But why did he suddenly decide to recall us?"
"Maybe he decided that we need a break," Ororo said. "We've been gone for nearly four months."
"Well," Scott said, "we'll find out soon enough."
They walked into the main entryway and stopped dead, there were silent children everywhere. Not two minutes later the team was still standing there starring when Logan burst through the door, Bobby right behind him.
"What the Hell!" he yelled as one of the eighteen children tuned, put their finger to their lips and said, "Shhh! Gotta be quiet, Larla's s'eepin'!"
Suddenly the Professor's voice sounded in their ears, The children are right, you do need to be quiet. Their assessment of the situation, however, is slightly off. Psyc is not sleeping, but rather is in a coma. If you would come into the library, I will explain everything.
The X-Men looked at each other, then proceeded down the hall to the library. Once they were all there and the door was shut, Scott spoke.
"All right, Professor, what's going on?"
"I will get to that, Scott, but first, your mission reports," Xavier said calmly.
"All missions were a success, we got them out and they know they are always welcome her," Scott said robotically.
"Good," Prof. turned to Logan. "And yours?"
"F.O.H. is practically non-existent. The main base out west was hit and the leader taken down, it fell apart after that."
"Right, the base that was hit was the base were the children were being held," Charles explained. "Now let me start at the beginning. About a month ago young Sherry was kidnapped. Psyc came home to find her gone and called her team. Jazz and Remy arrived three days later to find Psyc gone. I had thought Psyc had taken Sherry somewhere but I was wrong. They followed and caught up with her in L.A., unfortunately Psyc had been captured. They infiltrated the building and Jazz found Sherry along with eighteen other children and Remy found Psyc beaten nearly to death. Her physical injuries are healing nicely, but she will not wake up."
When he was done speaking, Jean spoke, "Professor, have you tried psychically coaxing her out?"
"Yes, Jean, I tried but could not get through her shields. I am hoping that the two of us together will be strong enough to bread the barrier. It seems Psyc is stronger then she led us to believe."
The group entered the med-lab and it, if possible, got even quieter. Sherry was asleep on the bed next Psyc, Remy was sitting in the chair next to the bed, his head resting on his arms on the side of the bed, and Jazz was leaning in the corner looking like a guard, her legs crossed at the ankle and her arms crossed over her chest.
Jazz raised a finger to her lips signaling them to be quiet.
Bobby gave her a look that said, "Duh, ya think?"
Jean started to reach out with her mind, trying to wake Remy without disturbing Sherry.
Remy opened his eyes, "Don', mon ami, 'paths can' ge' in t' Remy's head," He sat up. "So, yo' gonna try 'gain t' help Lar'a, Prof.?"
"Professor," Scott broke in, "she's had basically no training, she can't possibly be strong enough to keep both of you out."
"I hop you're right, Scott, but with her known level of training, she should not have been able to keep just me out, so I will not underestimate her. Now, if you would hive us some time with her… alone with her."
He looked from Jazz to Remy and back as he spoke the last. Remy picked up Sherry and with a last glance left, followed by a very put out Jazz. The others stalled slightly but then they too left.
Xavier turned to Jean.
"Shall we begin?"
She nodded and they both placed a hand on Psyc's forehead.
Jean seemed to lift out of herself and float in a gray mist as she entered the astral plane. It was a place of nothingness and sometimes the vague shadows that were the minds of others. Some described it as a limbo, and that was half true—the minds of others were also present, so it was not a complete void, the trick was to find them. Jean moved through the mist that clung to her like fingers, and whispered to her that this is where she belonged. She knew the tricks of this plane, knew that many had given in to those fingers and that voice and were lost. She moved on, ignoring the temptation to give in. Up ahead, she was what she was looking for, the form of the professor.
"Are you ready?" he asked and held out his hand. His voice echoed slightly and sounded far off, as all voices did in the astral plane.
"I am," she replied and grasped his hand. They remained next to each other, seemingly unchanged, yet their powers meshed. The two minds became one, yet retained their individuality.
"It's straight ahead," Xavier said and as one they moved.
Then they encountered it. Directly in front of them was something more then the typical vague shadow, this was something bright, vibrant. It was the color of a sunset and seemed to be made of a tight seamless weave. It towered above them, and seemed to stretch on forever.
"That is her shield?" Jean asked in disbelief. How could Psyc have this, even the Professor's shields aren't this vivid or massive.
"Yes, and we must try to find the seam."
They began and three hours later they retuned from the astral plane, both on the brink of oblivion. Xavier sent Jean to bed, and then went to tell the others.
Remy, Sherry and Jazz were all in the waiting room across the hall form the med lab. Sherry was sleeping on the couch. Jazz, it seemed had simply switched corners and was once again lost in her own thoughts. Remy stood in front of the door, if they couldn't help… well, he knew what he would have to do.
Six years o' stayin' hid, so… his thoughts were interrupted when the door suddenly opened.
Xavier came in looking haggard.
"I'm sorry," he told them, "there's nothing we can do."
Remy sighed, Well, he thought, Remy knew he couldn' stay hid f'ever.
Then he said, "May, I use de phon'?"
"Of course, Remy, you know that."
"Oui, misure, bu' Remy no' makin' a norm'l call, Remy gon' cal N'awlins."
Remy stood in the hallway the phone pressed to his ear, it rang on the third ring someone answered, "Bonjour?"
Remy's voice caught in his throat.
"Bonjour?"
The phrase was repeated and this time he replied, "Oui, bonjour, Tante Mattie."
"Remy? I' dat yo' chille?"
"Oui, i' me," he paused and then went on. "Tante, Remy need yo' help."
"Wha's wrong? Di' yo' ge' yo'self hur'?"
"Non, Remy fine. 's ma amie. She nee's help bad."
"All righ'. Tell me wha's wrong wid 'er?"
"She's got bruises all ovah bu' dose are healin' jus' fine. Wha' I nee' yo' help wid 's she won' wake up."
"All righ', I'll be dere a'soon as possible."
"Merci, Tante Mattie, merci."
Remy hung up the phone. He knew he didn't have to gice her the address, his dad had probably already traced the number. Remy turned to find Sherry in the doorway.
"Who was that, Remy? And why did there parents name them Tante?" Sherry asked.
Remy couldn't help but laugh.
"Tante i' French, chèrie. 't means aunt. That was my aunt Mattie an' hopefully she gon' be able t' help us ge' Lar'a t' wake up."
Sherry grinned, then sobered and said, "Professor X told me to come and get you."
She used the nickname she had given the Prof. the first time she saw the way his name was spelled.
"The new students are here."
Nathan stood beside the only other person from the party to take the professor's offer. She was 5'7", six inches shorter than his 6", had long wavy dark blond hair, were his was silver blond, she had dark royal blue eyes, and his were silver gray. He looked around, always wondering which of these people were the ones he was looking for. He also didn't see Jasmin.
Well, after the way she punched me last time, maybe that's a good thing, he thought.
The professor's voice brought him back to the present.
"Thank you both for giving us a chance. As previously explained, you will both have roommates, Nathan, you will be rooming with Remy, and Kitty will share a room with Sherry. Today, you will simply be getting to know your classmates."
Before he could continue, the doors behind them blew open. Nathan turned to see eighteen children, each carrying a stuff animal, come inside grinning and trying not to be loud. A girl that looked about ten stepped forward.
"Sorry to interrupt, professor, but we wanted to know," she paused and went on, "could we ride the horses?"
The professor smiled slightly and said, "You know the routine: you have to get Jazz to go with you to control the horses."
The girl opened her mouth and the professor responded, "Yes, she is with Larla-Rose."
"Thank you," the girl said and the gaggle started off down the hall.
"Kitty, Nathan, I apologize for the interruption, all but two of the children will be going home soon. That is all there is to explain, except that everything on the grounds is open, and you need to check with me before leaving them," and Xavier turned and went into his study.
"Well," Kitty said, "that was fun." She looked around. "Which one of you is Sherry?"
The 'little girl' Nathan remembered from the party raised her hand.
"I'm Sherry," she said.
"Oh," Kitty said. "Okay, then, can you show me were our room is?"
Sherry let go of Remy's hand and grabbed Kitty's.
"It's this way," Sherry said. "I don't care what you do to it, just so long as I can keep my bookcase."
Nathan heard Kitty laugh as they walked down the hall and say, "I think we're gonna get along just fine."
Remy came down the stairs, and stopped beside Nathan.
"Remy'd show to' de room, bu' he go' de fee'in' he gonna 'ave t' take ovah fo' Jazz."
As if on cue, the gaggle of children was back, with Jazz in the center.
"Remy," she called. "Could you…?"
"'m a'ready dere," Remy told her.
As Remy started to leave, Nathan called, "Do you mind if I came with you?"
Remy turned and looked at him, "Like de prof. say, yo' c'n g' anywher'. 'f yo' wanna come shore, bu' yo' gotta be quiet."
When they got where they were going Nathan realized why the place was so quiet.
After a few minutes, he asked, "Is she your girlfriend?" indicating Psyc. "I don't mean to intrude on private matters, I just figure it's better to know who's going to kill me for what."
Remy shook his head, "Non, she no' Remy's girl, bu' yo' right t' ask who who." Remy grinned, "So Remy'll fill yo' in. Scott an' Logan in a constan' battle fo' Jean, 'Ro an' Hank go 'gether, Logan migh' kill yo' go' tinkin' 'bou' lookin' at his petite soeur, dat Jazz. Oder den dat, dere ain' much t' say."
After a few more minutes passed, Nathan asked, "So how much time do you spend here watching her?"
"'bout eighteen hour a day."
Sherry sat on the steps reading a book. It had been three days since the teams got back and during that time parents had shown up and taken kids home, not only nine of them remained. The doorbell rang, and since everyone but Remy, who was watching Psyc, was out back playing hide-and-seek, she went and answered it. Standing on the doorstep was a tall man with auburn hair and sparkling brown eyes.
He smiled down at her and said, "Bonjour, petite, is mon frère dere?"
Sherry looked at him and grinned, "You must be one of the parents!" then frowned, "I don't speak French, though, so I'll go get Remy so he can translate for me. Come on in, I'll be right back."
She turned and ran down the hall. She didn't notice the black lady with him.
Remy was sitting by the bed when Sherry came in.
"Remy there's a parent here and I need you to translate because I don't speak French."
"Alrigh' Remy be dere in jus' a few minutes, keep dem busy 'til he ge's dere."
"Alright," she said and went back to the guests.
"He'll be here in a minute," she told them, "I'm supposed to keep you entertained…but I don't know what to do!"
The man smiled at her, "'ow woul' yo' like t' learn a new trick?" he asked. "One dat's tres cool?"
Sherry's eyes lit up, "Like a magic trick?" she asked.
The lady laughed as the man replied, "Yo' coul' call it dat."
Before Remy even entered the entranceway five minutes later, Sherry ran and hugged him.
Looking up at him she said, "Remy, look what he taught me to do!"
She showed him a padlock and two little picks of wire. Her face scrunched up with concentration and in forty-five seconds she had it open.
"Ta-da!" she said. "See, it's like magic!"
"Oui, Remy see, now yo' wan' him t' show yo' 'ow fas' 'e c'n do it?"
Sherry handed him the lock eagerly. In less then three seconds he had it open.
Sherry stared in wonder as he handed it back, and he went into the entranceway calling, "Henri, wha' are yo' doin' teachin' 'er t' pick locks?"
"Bonjour t' yo' too, mon frère."
"Henri, wha' yo' doin' 'ere? Yo' know Remy won' go back."
"Oui, I know," Henri said. "Which is why I din' tell pere where yo' be."
Before the conversation could go any further Mattie broke in, "B'fore yo' two g'on, 'm 'ere fo' a reason. Remy where be de girl?"
When Remy started to lead the way she said, "Don' boder takin' me, jus' tell me. Yo' know dat yo' can' be in de room anyway."
Remy told her where to go and she left.
He was going to aks about what Henri had said, when once again they were interrupted, this time by Sherry.
"Remy?" she called, while tugging his hand.
He dropped to one knee and she went on.
"How'd you get so fast at that?"
Remy laughed and pulled her into a hug.
"Henri taught Remy dat trick when 'e wa' jus' a little older den yo' be now."
Sherry looked confused, "Who's Henri?" she asked.
Remy stood up and made introductions, "Meet Henri, Henri meet Chèrie."
Henri laughed, "Oui, bu' wha' be 'er real name?"
"That is my name, silly, I'm Sherry," she said and held out her hand.
"Oh, pardon moi," Henri said and surprised her when, instead of shaking her hand, he kissed the back of it.
"Chèrie," Remy said, "'s time fo' yo' t' go see de prof."
"Okay," sherry said and hugged Remy before she left.
"Remy," Henri started.
"Don' e'en start," Remy said, "le's jus' go see 'ow Tante doin', 'kay?"
"D'accord," Henri said and followed Remy down the hall.
"Tings don' look good, Remy," Mattie said, when she finally came out of the med lab. "De chille runnin' from something an' i's pullin' 'er deeper int' 'erself."
Henri looked puzzled, "Yo' mean she doin' 't t' 'erself?"
"Oui, dat exac'ly wha' I be sayin'."
"Bu' c'n yo' help?" Remy asked.
"Oui, bu' 'm gonna need help, too," Mattie said, "I need de people who be closest t' 'er, an' I need t' ge' 'er int' a mo'e natural site."
Remy paused for a moment, then said, "Alrigh', tante, de prof. say do whatevah yo' say so…"
Remy went over and gently took Psyc off life support. He handed Henri the blanket and picked up Psyc.
"Lea' de way, tante."
Remy and Henri followed Mattie out into the woods. When she stopped, Henri spread out the blanket and Remy lowered Psyc onto it. A short time latter, Sherry and Jazz walked into the clearing. Mattie explained what was wrong and what she planned to do. Then she told them that only the people who were close to Psyc could stay. Henri left and Remy started to follow. Jazz stepped in front of him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Yo' 'eard wha' tante said…"
Jazz cut him off, "Remy LeBeau, if you try to leave this clearing, I'll give you the same treatment I gave Psyc the day she tried to leave the institute."
Remy sat down next to Sherry. Jazz sat on the other side of the blanket. Mattie told them to close their eyes, clear their minds and think only of Psyc. Then she started chanting in a language none of them understood. They remained like that for almost two hours, their eyes closed, thinking of Psyc with Mattie's voice washing over them like ocean waves.
Finally Psyc took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
When everyone looked up at her she grinned.
"Hey," she said, "looks like I missed the fireworks."
Please reveiw. Any comments welcome.