Thank you for all the reviews! Glad to see that last little plot twist caught you all by surprise :) Hopefully the rest will too evil grin
And now for chapter ten:
The fight lasted well into the early hours of the morning, but with the children all escaping into the network of tunnels, and those strong enough to fight fighting, the Brotherhood knew there was little chance of finding Jimmy. They had done what they set out to do. They had caused their chaos, so they left before they started taking damage and suffering losses, leaving the school in a moderately destroyed state. Several people were wounded, though fortunately none seriously.
Storm rushed around, rounding up all the children and sending them back to bed. The early wake up call and the stress of the attack had left many of them exhausted. Morning lessons were cancelled, and any who had enough energy were dedicating it to restoring the mansion. Currently they were working on repairing the window that Jack had sent the Juggernaut through.
"You must have some power in you, girl," Storm said as she held up a sheet of plastic for Jack to tack into place, a temporary fix while they waited on some proper builders, "I was told nothing on Earth could stop the Juggernaut once he built up momentum."
Jack frowned, giving Storm a quirky little look before shrugging.
"He almost didn't," she said, "I guess he hadn't built up quite enough momentum to become unstoppable."
"I guess," Storm replied, stepping back from the broken window.
Her mind was still racing from the attack, and all the things she had had to organise and do since, but one thing had at least become clear. She knew exactly what answer she was going to give the President.
The jobs they could do were over by the afternoon, but Storm called a halt to all lessons anyway. People were still tired, emotionally and physically, and she thought it was only fair to both students and teachers. She would leave it a day before telling everyone of her decision, though Hank had already guessed her mind.
"I know what you're thinking," he said, "And I think you've made the right choice."
Warren also guessed, though he never said anything to her. He could just tell. Years of sitting in the background, watching people had left him very good at reading faces. He was just deliberating whether or not to call up his Father when his Father called him.
"Hi son, how are you?" Warren Worthington Senior asked.
Warren could have fought with him, made it difficult, but after all the fighting the previous night he didn't have any fight left in him.
"Hi Dad, I'm doing alight," he said, running his hands through his curly blonde hair as he tried to think what to say next. His Father seemed to be having the same problem.
"Son, I…" he began before faltering, "I need to talk to you about something, are you busy?"
"No," Warren replied. It came out a little shorter than he intended.
He hadn't really spoken to his Father in the six months that had passed since Alcatraz. They had never officially not been talking, but hardly any communication had passed between them. It was like they had made some subconscious agreement that each needed their own space.
"The President came to speak to me the other day," Mr. Worthington began, "He told me that the issue of public safety is the main concern to be discussed at the upcoming Summit."
"Yes…" Warren said, wondering where this was going.
"He asked me how I felt about manufacturing the Cure as a weapon."
Warren didn't speak for a moment as his Father's statement hung in the air. He didn't know what to say – why was his Father telling him this?
"I told him that I…" Mr. Worthington stammered through the uncomfortable silence, "I told him that I couldn't make a decision, without talking to you first."
"To me?" Warren echoed, surprise in his voice. His Father sighed before continuing.
"I've come to realise in these last six months that the only opinion that really matters to me is yours. I was quite happy to tell the President 'yes, of course', but I couldn't, not without clearing it with you first."
Warren couldn't even begin to think of anything to say to that. Was this his Father, the esteemed Warren Worthington II, finally coming down a level and apologising?
"It's your call, Warren," his Father said softly.
Warren thought of the attacks, of the kids running down his corridor in terror from the Juggernaut, of Jack in his arms straining with all her might to keep the children safe. Like Storm there was really only one decision he could make.
"Do it," he said firmly, "tell the President he can use the cure as a weapon."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," Warren said.
"Well then, I better go," his Father was stammering slightly again, like he had something else to say but didn't quite know how to say it. Warren had something else to say too.
"Dad," he interrupted, "The X-men, we're going public."
"You do realise the kids are gonna want in on this?" Logan said. It was the next day and Storm had just told him her decision.
"Then we must devise a system, one that will help us decide if they are ready for that or not," she answered, "Something they won't be able to argue against if they fail, something impartial."
"Stick them in a program in the Danger Room, let that decide," Logan suggested, "If they can't hack that, then there's no way they get a suit. Simple."
"But what level do we set it at?" Storm asked, "Turn that thing up onto full danger and even you couldn't 'hack' it. How do we judge what sort of danger we will be facing in the outside world?"
"What level do you reckon you could handle, confidently?" Logan asked.
"I don't know, five or six?" Storm replied.
"Then start there – anyone who can't handle level five is eliminated immediately, the rest we'll worry about later."
"I've always admired the way you make things sound so simple, Logan," Storm said with a smile.
"I just don't think too much," Logan said with a shrug.
Bobby breezed through Level Five. He had done it before enough times in training sessions with the teachers, he knew what to expect. Peter and Kitty were the same, Level Five gave them no hassle. Considering that they already had suits, it was almost a given that they would be part of the team anyway.
The ones Storm was watching were Jack and Rogue. She doubted that Rogue's power would count for much on the battlefield, and so was surprised that she breezed through it at least as easily as Kitty.
Rogue herself seemed fairly surprised. She found herself listening, like Jack had suggested, and through listening was able to predict the pattern of attack the guards used. This allowed her to dispatch them with a few basic fighting moves that she had been taught during previous danger room sessions.
Jack was the last to take the test. She stood in the centre of the room as the simulation switched on all around her. Storm stood outside, watching.
Jack was calm as the guards approached her. She had trained herself to deal with situations like this long ago. She wasn't too happy about protecting other people, but she could protect herself.
Storm didn't think that Jack was going to move, but at the last minute, she took out two circular items from her pocket, charging them with the green energy that emitted from her hands. Like a discus thrower, she span round then released them. The energy added extra momentum to the spinning discs and knocked the men backwards before lodging in the walls. The men dragged themselves to their feet at various speeds, allowing her to pick them off one by one.
Storm watched with interest. Jack's fighting style was raw and unrefined, but a bit of training would sort that. She was surprisingly strong for such a scrawny girl, and made easy work of them. Though Storm wasn't too happy about taking on the students, she knew Jack, given a little training, would make a strong new addition to the team.
Warren sat with Bobby, Kitty and Peter, feeling a little ridiculous wearing his outfit. It fit him perfectly and left his wings to move freely and comfortably. He was no superhero though, and that was what he felt like he was trying to be, sat with the kids he normally taught, who could teach him so much about battles and fighting, having much more experience than he did in such matters.
"Doesn't leave much to the imagination, does it?" Jack's voice echoed from the fitting room just beyond them, making everyone sat in the line laugh.
"Not exactly," Rogue said in reply. She sounded a bit uncomfortable.
"Hurry up!" Bobby called out to his girlfriend and her best friend.
"We're hurrying!" Rogue called back indignantly.
She stepped out from behind the doors and gave a little twirl.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"I think you are definitely going to be a major distraction to the enemy," Bobby said, standing up and walking over to her.
"Hey!" Rogue said, punching him on the arm. Bobby actually flinched.
"Ouch!" he said, "I swear you're getting stronger."
He slipped his arm round her shoulders and led her over to the bench where he had been sitting with the others. From another entrance Logan, Hank and Mystique walked in.
"Everyone suited up?" Hank asked.
"Just waiting for Jack now," Rogue said.
"I'm coming!" Jack said, walking through the door.
Warren tried to resist looking over at her, as he knew how Logan would interpret it, but in the end he couldn't help it. Like Kitty's outfit had a pink stripe, Jack's had a green one to match the colour of her energy beams. The other difference between it and everyone else's was it had a utility belt incorporated into the design. She had attached onto it a couple of boomerang like objects and her penknife. Warren was so busy wondering what they were for that he didn't notice he was staring, and he also didn't notice Wolverine approach.
"Now look me in the eye and tell me you're not interested," he said, before walking off again.
Storm smiled as the new recruits stood before her, but she had one last thing to say.
"Now, you have successfully made it this far on your own strength and merit, but as the leader of the X-men and the Headmistress of this school, I reserve the right to kick you off the team at any time," she said, "This isn't a game, and it's not about glory and fame. We are a team, and we work together as a team to ensure the safety of first ourselves, then everyone else. If you can't work together in the group, or for any reason put us in danger, then you will have your suits taken off you faster than you can say your codename. Do you all understand?"
There was a chorus of agreement, and Storm nodded, before leaving with Hank to talk to the President.
Jack walked upstairs into the living room, holding her suit in her arms. It was empty except for Jimmy, who was sat on the sofa reading.
"Hey Jimmy!" she said, walking over to sit by him.
He looked up at her warily, with a hint of hurt and anger in his eyes.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"You're the matter!" Jimmy snapped, slamming his book shut and storming out of the room. Jack watched him go with a bemused expression on her face, before running after him.
"What have I done?" she asked as she chased him down the corridor towards his room.
"I thought you were my friend!" he said, sounding close to tears.
"What? I still am aren't I?" Jack tried to follow him into his room, but was met with a door in her face. She tried the handle but it had been locked, "Jimmy?"
"Go away!" he said.
"Jimmy, let me in," Jack said softly, turning the handle gently.
Jimmy didn't answer, and there was no sound of him getting up to open the door.
"Jimmy, let me in or I'll get Warren to fly me up to your window so I can get in that way," she said.
There was a shuffling round inside, but the door didn't unlock. Jack slumped against the wall, frustrated. She was worried about Jimmy and wanted to know what was bothering him. He seemed to be so fragile, and she hated to think that she had done something to upset him.
"What are you doing down here, Jack?" the welcome voice of Warren asked from somewhere above her.
Jack looked up to see him looking down at her with a confused expression.
"I've done something to upset Jimmy, but he won't let me in to talk about it," she said, "So, I'm glad you're here, because I said if he wouldn't let me in I'd get you to fly me round to his window."
She hauled herself to her feet.
"What have you done to upset him?" Warren asked.
"I don't know, that's why I need to talk to him," Jack said, "So, you going to help me out here or what?"
Warren wasn't too thrilled about the idea of flying her up to Jimmy's window, but he didn't have to in the end, because before he could even voice his protest Jimmy unlocked the door.
"Fine," the young boy said, "come in."
Thank you, Jack mouthed to him as she followed Jimmy into his room.
"You're welcome," Warren said to the empty corridor, before shaking his head and continuing on to his classroom, thoroughly bemused.
"So, care to explain what's got you so mad at me?" Jack asked, sitting herself on Jimmy's bed.
She was casual and familiar like that – just doing whatever she felt like, without thinking about the company she was in. She probably would have done the same in anyone else's room.
"I always thought that you didn't care about my mutation," Jimmy said.
"I don't," Jack said, "I don't care about anybody's mutation, it's the person that counts."
"But it's no great hardship for you not to care about my mutation!" Jimmy said angrily, "I thought you were a really great friend, sitting by me even though it cost you a piece of yourself, but you don't lose anything!"
"Jimmy, I would have come and sat by you if it meant losing a piece of me, my powers, or not," Jack said.
Jimmy just glowered coldly, looking away from her.
"Jimmy," Jack said softly, "I get the feeling it's not even me you're angry at."
Jimmy sniffed, and a solitary tear dripped down his cheek.
"They don't like me because of who I am, because of what I do," he said, small sobs catching in his throat, "They're no better than all those Mutant-hating people out there. I get the worst of both worlds – everyone hates me. I hate me."
"I don't hate you," Jack said, "And I know at least one other person in this school who doesn't hate you. In fact, I would say she probably loves you, because you gave her the happiest six months of her life."
Jimmy stopped glowering and looked over at Jack.
"We shouldn't measure ourselves on what difference we make to the world," Jack said, "Else we'd all hate ourselves for being so insignificant. You've got to look at the smaller picture, and the difference you make to certain people's lives. If the fact that you could do so much for one person doesn't make you like yourself just a little… well, I don't know what else I could say to cheer you up."
Jimmy closed his eyes and more tears dripped down his face. Jack shuffled closer to him and pulled him into a reassuring hug.
"You've got a gift, Jimmy, a very special one. Don't let anyone else ever make you think otherwise."
They sat together in silence for a while, until the harsh school bell rang. Jack didn't go to leave.
"Don't you have a lesson now?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah, English, but I'm not going anywhere until I see a genuine smile on that face of yours."
"You'll get in trouble," Jimmy sounded a little concerned.
"Probably," Jack said, "But Warren knows I'm here, so he can come and get me if he wants me in his class that bad."
Jimmy smiled, just a little.
"That's better," Jack said, "And if I ever hear you say that you hate yourself again, I will have to tickle you relentlessly until you take it back, young man."
"I'm sorry, Jack," Jimmy said, "For being mad at you."
"Hey, that's ok," Jack said with a shrug, "Everyone needs to get mad once in a while."
"I don't think I've ever seen you even upset," Jimmy said.
"Well, you've known me the grand total of about two weeks, so that's not really surprising."
"I can't imagine you getting mad."
"I'm scary when I'm mad," Jack said with a grin.
"You don't seem to care enough about anything to get scary-mad," Jimmy said.
"I care about two things very much," Jack said, "But I don't let anything else bother me."
"What are those two things?" Jimmy asked.
"My friends," Jack said.
"That's one thing."
"I'm not going to tell you what the other thing is," Jack said.
"Professor Worthington…" Jimmy muttered under his breath.
"Excuse me?" Jack said with a grin, before tickling him, "What do you think my name is, hey? Kitty?"
Jimmy laughed until his sides ached, before convincing Jack to stop. They then spent a happy hour talking and laughing together like there had never been any argument.
"I suppose I better go and see what I missed," Jack said, standing up and heading towards the door.
"Yeah, I don't want you getting in trouble because of me," Jimmy said.
Jack opened the door and walked out of it, before poking her head back round one last time.
"You know, I'm surprised you haven't asked me yet."
"What, about 'what are you if you aren't a mutant'?" Jimmy said.
"Yeah," Jack replied. The young boy shrugged.
"I know you don't like answering questions, especially when they're about you," he said, "You're my friend and that's all that matters."
Jack smiled warmly at him.
"Thank you," she said and clicked the door shut.
"Sorry I missed your lesson."
Warren was busy packing away his things when he heard Jack's voice from the doorway. He looked up to see her standing there in all her untidy glory. She didn't look at all worried about getting in trouble, which was typical Jack – totally unconcerned and unafraid.
"How's Jimmy?" Warren asked, standing up.
"He's fine now," she said, "I think he's a bit lonely – the other kids don't like him too much, because of what he does to them."
"I know," Warren said, "and I should be telling you off really, but I'm just glad that someone is finally taking the time to talk to that boy."
"He's a nice kid," Jack said with a shrug.
Warren nodded, piling up the last few books on his desk and sweeping some papers into a briefcase.
"So, what did I miss?"
"The work is on the board," Warren nodded over to the chalkboard in the corner of the room.
He watched her closely this time. That slight flicker of some emotion crossed her face, anxiety, perhaps, or worry. It was quickly replaced by cool and emotionless as she looked over at the board, her eyes scanning across it.
"Ok," she said, "I'll do that when I get a spare minute – I don't have a lesson tomorrow morning, so I should be able to catch up then."
"Ok, it's not much really, you shouldn't have a problem, now go get yourself some lunch before you miss that too!" Warren said.
Jack smiled at him then left the room, closing the door behind her. Warren sighed guiltily and looked over at the board. On it was written only two words.
Nice try…
Jack found her way over to where Rogue was sitting and joined her.
"Hey, Jack, missed you in English today, where did you get to?" Rogue said, budging up on the bench to make room for her friend.
"With Jimmy," Jack said, "He was upset so I decided it was more important that I stayed and cheered him up than go to lesson. Did I miss much?"
"Not really," Rogue said.
"Mind bringing me up to speed?" Jack asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Not at all," Rogue said, and proceeded to explain the lesson. Neither girl noticed Warren watching them closely.
Congrats to creeativ who guessed this little plot detail aaaagees ago! (sorry I didn't acknowledge you sooner - just didn't want to give the game away to everyone else! And yeah about going to see the movie - i'd never read any alex rider books before, but my little sister got the lot for her birthday so one day when I was ill I just sat and read them all :) can't wait to see the film it looks dead good!)
Reviews are appreciated muchly as always!