A Friend in Need III: Crash and Burn

By Somogyi

Chapter 19

With still no sign of Cable or Emma emerging anytime soon from their latest session with Cerebro, Ororo wrapped her arms around herself and walked back toward the Ready Room. Glancing inside, she saw that Scott still sat at the table, head bowed, fingers pressed to both temples. With a sigh, she continued to pace the corridor.

Hearing the arrival of the elevator a few minutes later, she turned to see who had come to the sub-basement. The doors opened, and Jubilee emerged into the metal hallway, wearing a pair of roller blades and toting a tray with several steaming mugs.

"Hey, 'Roro," the girl said as she approached. "No word yet?"

"None, I am afraid."

"Care for a drink? I've got coffee an' tea."

"Tea sounds wonderful, thank you," Storm replied, selecting one of the mugs.

"Anyone else around?"

"Scott is in the Ready Room. I am not sure if he is awake or not."

"Only one way to find out," Jubilee replied, skating toward the room.

"Just try to be quiet," Ororo whispered after her.

"How can you expect me to sleep with the sound your heels make on a metal floor as you pace?" Scott asked, letting go of his head and offering Ororo a look of mock disdain.

"Well, it sure beats sitting here in the dark," Jubilee replied, setting the tray down on the table. "Care for a hot cup of java, Cyke?" she asked, holding out a mug. "Black, one sugar-just the way you like it."

Cradling her own mug between her hands, Ororo took a cautious sip. She wondered why Jubilee was even bothering; for more than the past day, Scott had refused all offers of food or drink. The man seemed to prefer to be left well enough alone.

"Sure," Scott said, accepting the proffered mug. "Thanks, kiddo." He offered her a small smile before taking a sip.

Ororo arched an eyebrow as a small grin curled her mouth. Shall wonders never cease.

"'Roro said there's been no word," Jubilee said softly, resting her hip against the table beside Scott.

"Yeah. They've been in there for hours. It's not looking good." Placing his hands around the mug that sat on the table before him, he let out a deep breath. "Not good at all," he muttered, bowing his head.

Frowning, Jubilee looked toward Ororo, who looked equally disheartened. She hesitated, and Ororo could sense the girl's unease.

But then an abrupt change came over her: her jaw set determinately, even as her shoulders squared. She skated behind Scott's chair and leaned forward. "It's gonna be okay, Scott," she whispered as she wrapped her arms over his shoulders and pressed her cheek to his temple. "We're gonna find her. I just know it. You've just gotta have a little faith, is all."

Ororo watched as Scott lifted a trembling hand, clasping Jubilee's forearm, even as he leaned back into her embrace. He seemed to visibly relax as his foster daughter tightened her hold. Ororo offered a silent prayer then, giving thanks for the modicum of comfort the girl was able to offer their distraught friend.

Suddenly there came a hissing sound from behind her. Turning, Ororo saw the doors to the Cerebro chamber slide open a moment before first Emma, and then Nathan, emerged. Jubilee skated up beside her as Scott got to his feet, and the trio watched as the two psi's entered the Ready Room, drenched in perspiration and looking absolutely exhausted.

This time, no one had the nerve to ask the question to which the answer was painfully obvious.

"Is that caffeine I smell?" Emma asked, approaching the table and draping her coat carefully on the back of a chair.

"Coffee or tea-pick your poison," Jubilee muttered.

Emma selected a mug of the latter, and sat down wearily, crossing her legs before taking a sip.

"I'm sorry, Scott," Cable whispered, once again unable to look his father in the face.

"Surely you've found some sign of her?" Scott asked. "At the very least, a psychic imprint from the accident scene?"

"There's nothing," Nathan said. "No sign of her on the astral plane or the physical one. It's almost as if she's vanished off the face of the earth."

Scott blanched. If that were the case, best case scenario meant that Jean had been transported to another dimension or another planet. Worst case scenario. . . . He refused to even consider worst case scenario; he was far from ready to give up on her yet.

Swallowing, Scott looked up at Cable. "But surely with Emma's powers added to your own-"

"Face facts, Summers-this entire endeavor was a waste of my time," Emma remarked.

"Waste of time!" Scott's face quickly regained its color as dread was replaced with rage. "My wife and unborn child have been kidnapped by one of our greatest enemies, and all you can think about is your precious time, you coldhearted bitch!" Fists raised in indignation, Scott made a rush for Emma.

Cable quickly intercepted him, and held him back. "Easy, Scott."

Emma, meanwhile, did not even bat an eyelash. She continued to sip her tea as she regarded Scott with a pitiful stare. "Kidnapping is merely supposition on your part," she pointed out. "For all we know, Jean does not want to be found."

"What!" Scott stared at her, dumbfounded. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"What it means, Scott, is that a telepath as powerful as Phoenix could easily hide her presence from us."

"But for what purpose?" Ororo asked.

"Well, it was not all that many months ago that Scott retreated to the school in Massachusetts because of marital strife. Who's to say that Jean is not doing the same thing now?"

"What gives you the right to even insinuate-!" Scott tried to push forward, but Nathan strengthened his restraint.

"What's wrong, Scott-did I strike a chord?" Emma asked with a smirk, lowering her lids as she took a drag of tea.

Without warning, the mug exploded in her face in a burst of colorful light, splashing tea everywhere. Screaming in outrage and pain as the scalding liquid hit her skin, Emma jumped to her feet, wiping at her face. A moment later, she glowered at Jubilee, obviously the perpetrator. "How dare you-!"

"No, Emma, how dare you!" Jubilee spat, skating closer to her teacher. "How dare you even suggest that Jean's disappearance is voluntary? Jean would never take off like this, faking her own death in the process, and hurting those who care most about her. That's your style, not hers." Jubilee clenched her fists at her sides, fighting to keep them lowered. "You're just jealous, is all."

Emma laughed. "For what earthly reason would I be jealous of Jean?" she asked, using a handkerchief to dry her face and pat at her neck, shoulders, and bosom.

"You begrudge Jean the happiness she's found. The love of her friends. The family she's made. The respect she gets that's due not to fear but genuine admiration for her accomplishments, her heart, her compassion. Jean has everything important in life that you can only dream of."

"Don't be ridiculous. . . ."

"Oh, I think I'm perfectly lucid, Emma. You try to force us to respect and admire you for owning your own company, for running the school with an iron hand, for instilling fear in the heart of your enemies-for having accomplished these things entirely on your own. But what good are they if they leave you isolated and alone? I'd much rather remain an average Josephine if it means having friends and family who love and care about me-" she looked at Scott and smiled- "who would move heaven and earth to help me when I'm in need. Like we all are for Jean. So, if you don't mind, kindly shut up and stop dissin' my moms."

Emma paused in her cleaning, glared first at Jubilee, then at Scott. Clearing her throat, she reached for her coat and slipped it on, tugging it into place as though trying to regain the dignity she had just lost. "You're obviously distraught with worry," she told the young woman. "As such, I will forgive you for addressing me with such rancor. I am going to go to my room to shower and change if you decide you have further need for my assistance. Good day." She turned on her stiletto heel and strode out of the room, chin high, never looking back.

"Oath!" Cable muttered, releasing his hold on Scott. He regarded Jubilee in amazement. "Never thought you had it in you, squirt."

"Well, Wolvie didn't dub me 'Firecracker' just coz of my powers, Bro," she replied with a wink. She then turned her attention to the other Summers. "I'm, uh, sorry about that, Scott. I know I was sorta out of line. . . ."

Scott shook his head. "Well, maybe just this once I'll overlook-"

Scott! Scott, can you hear me?

Without warning, the familiar voice was projecting into his head. "Jean?" He froze, hand flying to his temple almost unconsciously, even as he made eye contact with Nathan.

Nodding in comprehension, Cable mindlinked with his father.

Jean, is that you? Scott thought.

Yes.

Oh, thank God. Are you okay? What about the baby? Where are you? What's hap-

We're fine, Scott. I can't maintain the link, or they'll trace it and pinpoint my location. Love you.

And just as quickly as the telepathic contact had been established, it was severed. But not before a mental image was imprinted on his mind-and that of Cable.

Jean? Sweetheart, can you hear me? Jean? Jean! When there came no reply, she shook his head in frustration. "Damn it!"

"Scott?" Jubilee asked. "What happened? You just went totally catatonic on us."

"Jean just contacted me."

"Is she okay?" Jubilee questioned, approaching him. "What about-?"

"She said she and the baby were okay," he replied with a faint smile, taking her outstretched hand in his. "Nate, were you able to pick up on any of that?"

"Yeah, I heard it, Scott. Did you get that picture she sent us?"

The hint of a smile curled the corners of Scott's mouth. "Looked like the counter in a restaurant."

"A diner, I'd guess," Nathan agreed, his excitement growing. "You see the newspaper?"

Scott nodded. "The Daily Herald, Omaha's Hometown Newspaper," he recited from memory.

"She's in Omaha?" Jubilee questioned. "That ain't New York City, but it's still a big area to search. Don't suppose she gave you the name of the diner?"

Both Scott and Nathan shook their heads simultaneously.

"I got the impression Jean didn't even know exactly where she was," Cable said, "or else I'm sure she would have projected the exact coordinates."

"Is there any way to trace it?" Scott asked. "Jean said she couldn't keep our link open for fear of someone learning her location," he explained to Jubilee and Ororo.

"Well at least we have a much more localized search radius. I think that if we get close enough, I can pick up her thought pattern. Or track her unique mutant signature with Cerebro's aid."

"There is a portable Cerebro on the Blackbird," Ororo pointed out.

"What are we waiting for?" Scott asked, already heading for the door. "Let's do it."

End Chapter 19