A/N: A short chapter, but I've almost finished outlining this story out, so chapters will be coming with greater frequency. Enjoy, and please review!
It was a little after sunset when Jubilee woke suddenly, feeling Logan tense beside her. They had shifted in their sleep, and he was now lying on his back, with her partially draped across him. The day had gone by too quickly; she hadn't slept this well in months. The darkness of the room was natural now, and she immediately went telepathic.No need to let the intruders know that they were aware of their presence.
How many? She asked.
Just smell the one, and he's hurt. He replied.
I'm scanning…Oh my god! Jubilee gasped in shock and threw the covers off the bed.
Wolverine didn't take that as a good sign, his claws sliding out in a blink as he leapt to follow her.
"Gateway! Speak to me, you leathery geezer." She knelt on the ground at the foot of the bed as Logan turned on a nearby lamp. The small, sun-browned aborigine lay prone on the carpet, his eyelids heavy as he breathed in and out with great effort. Running her hands over his body in a professional manner to look for injuries, she couldn't find any cuts or bruises of any sort. "I know you're a man of few words, but you have to tell me where it hurts."
Wolverine relaxed his stance, and did a perimeter check of the suite, checking the doors and windows. "I take it he's a friend?"
"One of the best. Gateway has the power to create…"
Logan finished her sentence. "…lemme guess, trans-dimensional portals?"
"Dammit, your pulse is weak, old man! Talk to me!" Jubilee pleaded.
I have little time, flickers of light and clawed one. A gravely telepathic voice spoke in their minds. I will fade soon, from being away from my homeland for so long. It is time I take the long journey to join the ancestors in my resting place.
"It was Fender Industries that done this, weren't it?" Logan said flatly.
Yes, the scarred one held me prisoner to do his tasks. I have been captive for the last eight moons, moving his people and cargo back and forth in time. Gateway choked as he tried to drag air into his chest, sounding as though he were drowning. He did not listen when I told him of my need to refresh my spirit in the homeland, and now I pay the price.
"You have to make a portal back to the X-men for medical treatment, or to the Outback before it's too late!" Jubilee shook his shoulders lightly.
That moment has already passed; I used the last of my energy to find you. He replied weakly.
"Then let me do it for you!" Jubilee concentrated, ready to pull in the energy required to open another portal. She felt a sudden weight on her mind, and knew that the prone man had somehow aborted her effort. Deep brown eyes gazed into her blue ones, gentle but stern.
NO! Do not reveal your location, the scarred one will find you with great ease. He has very strong powers of the mind. You must double your shields so that you can unravel this mystery and take back the little one.
Gateway lifted his twig of an arm up to touch Jubilee's face gently, and a flash of memories sank into her. Gasping at the shock of the sudden burden, she swayed against his hand causing Logan to jump forward and catch her.
"What have you done to her!" Logan exclaimed, confused at the situation, but trusting Jubilee's assurance that this man was an ally.
She will be fine in a moment…and I wanted to spare her the sight of seeing me fade. His dark brown skin seemed to pale and go ashen as his eyes no longer saw what was in front of him. His voice was fainter as he gazed up at Wolverine. My love and protection go to you both in your future trials. The ancestors call…
Gateway raised his ever present bullroarer weakly above his head, using the last of his energy to twirl it slowly in an arc. A blaze of blue fire burst open below him, and Logan watched as the small man's body misted and became translucent, seemingly fading into the mystical flames.
Jubilee's eyes fluttered delicately against her cheeks as Logan picked her up, carrying her back to the bed. She blinked groggily at him, as though she had woken up after a week-long nap, and then sat up with a frantic alertness searching for Gateway.
"He's gone, Jubes. Went on to a more peaceful place." Logan said quietly as he sat down on the bed, wrapping his arm around her loosely.
Slow teardrops ran down her face at the news, and she shook her head sadly. "He's one of the gentlest souls I have ever known. He didn't say much, but we've always had a special connection with him, you and me."
The scent of her tears and sadness put Logan on edge, feeling as though he were helpless. "Both of us?"
"It's because of Gateway that we ever met. That you didn't die alone in that god-forsaken desert." She laughed softly through her tears. "Old coot had a crazy sense of humor but good intentions. He rarely spoke and would pop in unexpectedly to send us off somewhere where we were needed with no explanation."
"He seemed to have plenty of worries this time round."
"It's the most I've heard him say…ever." Jubilee emphasized the unusual behavior
"Considerin it was his deathbed; he must have felt it was pretty damn important to let us know what's goin on." He squeezed her tighter against him in comfort. "What'd he do to you? You were out for a good five minutes."
She rubbed her temples in response, taking a steadying breath. "He knew he was dying so he gave me his memories of the last few months." Her mind felt like it was heavy with the burden of extra memories that weren't even hers.
"Are you gonna be ok? Sounds kinda dangerous to be toting around another person's memories."
She leaned her head on his shoulder and explained. "I should be fine; he just didn't have the time to transfer the memories with finesse. Its kinda like someone stuffing a gallon of ice cream into a pint."
Jubilee wrinkled her nose at the image and Logan thought she looked adorable. "So what do we know?"
Her eyes went a little distant as she accessed the unfamiliar memories. "The boss man of the operation snatched Gateway in an ambush, and threatened to kill everyone in his tribe if he didn't cooperate. Once he got him away, he snapped a sort of collar on him that allowed him to control when Gateway could use his powers. A sort of modified inhibitor collar."
"So he'd trot him out when he needed a portal to transfer things from the future to here, and vice versa?" Logan guessed.
"Basically. And he used Gateway to find other mutants that had similar powers to his own, such as me and Katrina. He thought Katrina would be the better option since she is a child, and more malleable to his needs." She said bitterly, angry that the sweet little girl she had played with was scared and alone. "He was wrong though, because she has no training or control. She barely understands how her powers work and can't use them consistently."
"But you can."
Jubilee nodded, meeting his eyes.
"And the guy running this popsicle stand knows that." He clenched his jaw, hating how they had all been used. "So they musta taken me as leverage, and they want to blackmail you into working for them and training Katrina."
"That's the funny thing though; Gateway didn't lead him to me. He wasn't even aware that I could create portals. The boss man must have heard about my research through the academic grapevine and investigated further, realizing that I was a mutant." She groaned and her head dropped. "Dammit, I knew I should have been more cautious with how I published my studies. People are bound to become suspicious as to how I came to my conclusions since its all "theoretical".
"Stop beatin yourself up." He nudged her gently in the ribs. "If yer a scientist, it's your job to share your findings with the public. You can't censor everything you learn; it's not your fault."
Jubilee blinked at him, surprised at his insight of her profession. It didn't sound like the old Logan at all. "Maybe you're right. This bastard is slick." Her voice grated out angrily. "He left just enough of a psychic trail to bring me to Paris, and I bet your escape wasn't as fortuitous as you thought. They let you go, Logan. They set it up so you'd be in that nightclub when the hired guns attacked. He wanted to test me, to see if I could feel you through the dimensions, and come to you. I was no good to him if I couldn't deliver."
Logan frowned, a look of worry on his face. "Well, you certainly delivered darlin'. And now that he's lost Gateway and he's trapped in the past, he's gonna double his efforts to get a hold on ya."
Next Chapter: Jubes and the Wolvster go high class and rub elbows with the creme de la creme of Paris' society to gather information about their nemesis. Pinky up, Logan!