X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Seventy Three
Author's Word: Hi, guys. Here's the last chapter before Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a fun and blessed holiday. Mine, as always, is sure to be… memorable. Let's have the crazy story swap sometime later this week, ah-kay? I just can't wait to get cooking. Please enjoy!
Pssst! Hey, Becky! Testing, testing!
Not so loud, Frank! I'm not a microphone you know, the young telepath shot back.
Sorry. Scott, Joey, let's move, you guys.
Joey tipped on very front of his toes to creep out of his room to where Frank already stood out in the hall, eyes aglow with his newest mutation.
Scott poked his head out of the bathroom the younger boys normally shared before stepping out fully. Where's Rebecca?
Right here. The little girl revealed herself out of the minimal lighting the second floor had to offer at night.
Remember not to talk, Frank cautioned. Just think. If we get busted so do our butts.
We better hurry, Scott thought.
Right. This way. Frank moseyed quietly toward the staircase.
Here, Joey. Becky took his then Scott's hand, surprising the Summers boy a moment. I know you can't see so well at night.
Oh, yeah. Right. Holding on to her, Scott started after Frank.
When they managed to get not only downstairs, but all the way to the backyard, Frank lit his eyes up in full to offer illumination to his comrades. They rushed for the recently completed tree house. The end result, with some final help from Hank, Erik, and Alex, gave them a hundred square feet of space along with a partial second floor tower area.
"I'll go first," Frank directed. "Scott, you go last to make sure Becky and Joey get up safe."
"Got it," Scott understood.
Frank climbed up the rope ladder to the small space in front of the door. "Joey, you're next. Hold on tight." The youngest member of the quad started up and Frank pulled him the rest of the way. "I gotcha." Frank glanced down. "Look out for Becky, Scott."
"Oh I will," he guaranteed.
Becky carefully climbed to the top and took Frank's offered hand. "That wasn't so scary."
"See? Easy as pie." His hand extended again, Frank called down, "Okay, Scott. Let's move it."
Placing his foot on the first rung, Scott mounted the tree with relative ease. "All clear. Time for fun."
Frank raised a fist victoriously. "Everybody, welcome back to the X-Kid Castle."
When they got inside, Joey used his electric energy to power the lamps while the others gathered various flavors of chips from the food chest.
"There they are," Frank informed once he had the telescope in the tower properly adjusted. "Real shooting stars. Wow, you never see these in the city. Look, Joey."
Joey stepped up to gaze through the device pointing out of the open window. "There's a ton of them! And they're going so fast."
"That's because they're falling out of the sky at over twenty thousand miles per hour," Frank explained. "Sean and our jet combined couldn't beat 'em." Frank sat on the floor, taking a notebook off the nearby shelf and a pen out of the holder. "I'm going to document this. Wait 'til Hank sees."
Scott and Becky caught a less glamorous version of the shower from a window on the bottom level.
"This time of night, the sky always looks purple because of my shades," Scott said. "During the day it's more pink."
"Sounds good to me," Becky responded favorably, eyeing the overhead atmosphere in wonder. "Have you ever wished on one of these?"
Scott turned to her. "I used to not believe in wishing. Or a lot of things. Until I found my brother again. It kind of makes me hope…"
She looked over at his trailing. "What?"
"That maybe, just maybe, our parents are out there, too." Scott glanced outside again. "Just lost like Alex and I were."
"What if they are?" Becky posed. "Would you go back to them? Just leave us?"
Scott started, "Rebecca—"
"Rebecca Lehnsherr!" Erik's bellow cut in. "Franklin Tolbert, Scott Summers, and Charles Xavier, down here!"
"Immediately!" Charles' voice seconded.
"Be careful you don't trip!" Emma added.
"Aw man!" Frank groaned, shutting his notebook. "Nothing like a lousy grownup to ruin progress." He headed down the short flight of stairs with Joey back down to the others.
"They're really miffed," Becky sensed.
"Don't worry, guys. I'm an expert on being in trouble and I know what to do. Scott," Frank indicated the door, "you go first."
His friend turned to him incredulously. "What?"
"Hey, you've got glasses on," Frank pointed out. "If I go down there first, Erik'll pop me right upside my head."
Rolling his eyes, Scott headed out and down the rope ladder to where the two displeased men and even countenance possessed Emma awaited them.
"Scott Summers, what is the meaning of this?" Charles wanted to know. "We tucked you in over an hour ago."
"Y-yes sir, but we were, um," Scott wiggled the frame of his shades nervously, "doing some explorative research and…"
Joey came down the ladder, blue eyes enlarged. "Hi, Daddy. Hi, Mummy." He made a beeline right for the latter.
"Charles, what do you think you're doing out here? You know you're barely over your cold," his namesake reminded.
"He was just following us, Uncle Charles," Becky interjected, lowering down next.
Erik picked her up off the ladder at the halfway point. "I'm surprised at you, Anya."
"Don't worry, Erik." Frank rushed down the ladder, keeping his behind safely against the tree trunk. "There's a perfectly logical reason why we're out here, in our pajamas, at night."
Erik planted him with a look. "Then do please enlighten us."
"We were watching the shooting stores. I figured these, ya know," he gestured towards his cohorts, "'little kids' would get a kick out of it while I got to conduct serious scientific research."
"I see." Charles clicked his tongue. "And why, pray tell, did you not ask our permission beforehand?"
"I'm right there with you, Charles. So follow me on this," Frank continued. "We know how you guys get when it comes to us sleeping and growing and junk like that. But we felt so strongly about this amazing phenomenon that we just had to do it. Why didn't we ask your permission? Because if you would have said no, we'd be disobeying you and breaking a rule. This way we're just breaking a rule, which is a lesser crime and therefore carries less penalties and disappointment."
"From scientific genius to lawyer," Erik quipped. "Well, if the defendant is done piling it on high, the judges are ready with their verdict."
"May I request to be trialed as a minor?" Scott attempted to kid.
"This isn't funny, Scott," Charles told him grimly. "Erik, it seems our small babes need their bums spanked before we tuck them in again."
"I believe you're right, Charles," Erik concurred.
Joey tugged on his mother's long nightdress. "We're sorry, Mummy."
"Honest and truly sorry." Becky nestled against Erik's neck. "No one was hurt and we were very careful."
"Gentlemen," Emma spoke, dancing fingers through Joey's hair. "I don't think punishing them for this is very just. After all, aren't we always encouraging them to take their studies beyond the confines of the classroom? Now that Frank has his vision back in full, I'm sure seeing the stars meant a great deal to him. And little Joey is still recovering. We can't have him crying himself into a coughing spell."
Joey glanced up at Charles. "Will you read to me, Daddy? My head hurts."
Becky said nothing, imploring green eyes and quivering lips aimed at her father.
"Stop that." Erik wiped an annoyed hand down his face then looked at Charles.
The younger man pronounced, "Straight up to bed for all of you."
"That's in bed, under your covers, and I had better not see a single light— mutated or otherwise- on," Erik added, standing Becky up. "Now go."
The four young ones made haste in carrying out that order.
Charles turned to Emma with folded arms. "Would it be too much of an inconvenience for you to practice some manner of firmness? Can't you ever support our decisions?"
"No," Emma responded straightforwardly. "They're sweet and precious and I want to be the favorite." She sauntered away with a flap of her ivory robe.
Erik remarked, "Leave it to you to fall for one as bratty as yourself."
Charles turned a huffy plump-cheek face on him.
IIIIIII
Frank snickered as the quad reached the second floor.
"It's a good think Becky's a girl and Joey's so little or we'd be snoozing on our stomachs all night."
Scott asked, "How hard is Erik's hand, anyway?" Other than stray swats during training or to get the boy propelling, Scott really did not have firsthand knowledge.
"He has the firmest one I know," Becky answered.
"It's not that bad," said Joey.
Frank snorted. "That's 'cause you're the baby and he doesn't want to scare you. And it's only firm to Becky 'cause she hardly ever gets a spanking. I still remember when I tried doing that stunt on my bike over the hoods of the cars."
Becky let off a giggle. "You couldn't sit 'til the next day."
"Felt like the next week," Frank stated, rubbing his bottom at the memory.
Scott laughed. "Come on. We better get to bed or we'll all catch it."
They divided up with Frank and Joey going to their end of the hall and Scott and Becky to theirs.
IIIIIII
Cracking his knuckles, Sean stood up from his round of crunches.
"Better call it a night," he declared. "Don't want to overdo it."
"Dude," Alex glanced over at him from the weight bench, "you did five."
"Maya likes a little extra meat. By the way, Erik, try grabbing a sandwich every once in a while."
Erik looked up. "I would if I didn't live in a house filled with adolescent scavengers."
Sean joked, "Solid foods are hard on your dentures, anyway," then ran when Erik reached for a damp towel.
"We should turn in, too, boychick," Erik advised.
Alex grunted on his fiftieth lift. "I'm behind from this afternoon."
"Yet still miles ahead of most here."
"Not saying much, but," Alex returned the bar to its stand over his head, "fine." He sat up and took a long squirt from his water bottle.
Erik massaged one tense arm on the teen. "Your inability to give into the resistance has doubled this month alone. You'll fight stress well when you become an instructor."
Alex lowered his bottle. "Thanks. I don't know how Charles deals with it. I know you have your random acts of violence."
"It takes the edge off." Erik started out. "I have rounds. You hit the shower."
"Yes, sir," Alex called after him.
Once he finished checking on Sean and the younger children, Erik read for an hour then made sure Alex went to sleep.
Done with bed checks for the night, Erik showered and changed into pajamas. He climbed into bed and fell asleep under the humid night air.
Sometime later, Erik felt a pressure and gasped for oxygen that could not come. His eyes shot open and he only took a moment to absorb the black clad masked figure attempting to strangle him before delivering a punch that sent him to the middle of the room.
More than alert now, Erik attempted to fling him about but detected no metal on his person. That mattered not, as Erik lunged forward onto the veiled one.
"I don't know who sent you here," Erik shoved him over into the desk, knocking the chair down, "but you will pay for them with your life."
The assaulter remained silent and sprang for Erik. They grappled until Erik kicked him up against a side wall.
"Erik!" The wizard of metal veered around as Charles burst through the door with Emma in tow. "What's happening? Are you alright?"
Magnetically clicking the light on, Erik looked to the wall. Stun engulfed him at discovering the spot empty.
"Dammit!" He ran to the window he'd left open earlier. "He got away."
"Who?" a lost Emma wondered.
Erik turned to the telepaths again. "Someone was in here. He tried to kill me."
"What?" Charles reacted, first surprised but mostly angered.
"Papa." Charles and Emma stepped apart, showing Becky in the hall, a blanket wrapped around her. "Papa, I'm scared. I keep seeing bad things."
Erik rushed out to lift her up. "It's alright, my baby." He rocked her lightly as she snuggled into his shoulder. "I'm here."
"Uncle Charles and I felt it, too, darling," Emma attempted to soothe. "Don't be frightened."
"Strange." Charles dropped his hands from the sides of his head. "I don't sense anybody but our own in or around the mansion."
Emma looked around at the extreme clutter. "Well, he wasn't fighting himself."
"No." Erik shook his head resolutely. "Someone was here. He could have had a car or even a way to block your powers. Get them to safety." Erik stood Becky and Emma hugged her near. "I'm going to look."
"I'm with you," Charles said. "Emma, get the children to the basement."
Keeping one arm around Becky, Emma touched her left temple to focus. X-Men, awake and gather downstairs at once. Hurry.
IIIIIII
After learning the situation from Emma, Raven and Hank worked together to organize the rarely used but enormous basement space while Sean and Alex collected the kids. Hank carried down bedding and other necessary items and Raven unloaded the cots and sleeping bags from the basement's storage room.
"Precisely how paranoid was your stepfather?" Hank looked around at the wide variety of emergency supplies.
"I don't know," Raven waved off. "Nuclear war and hugging children freaked him out. At least he's finally good for something."
"Here we go." Alex felt his extensive weight training paying off as he carried in a sleepy Joey and Scott.
Sean and Frank brought in twin armloads of drinks and snack items.
"Are you two aware this is not summer camp?" reacted Hank.
"We could be down here a while," Sean pointed out.
Scott sat on a cot next to a forlorn Becky. "You okay?"
"Where're Papa and Uncle Charles?" she wanted to know.
"They're making sure we're safe, Becca." Hank handed over her white bear.
Frank then decided to toss a pillow at the back of Scott's head.
"Hey!" Scott promptly threw one back.
Becky laughed at the full force battle that developed between them.
"Not you." Alex held Joey tighter in the cradling position when the little boy tried to get up to participate. "You need to sleep off the rest of this cold."
Sean sat down near the blondes. "Come on over here, guys. I'll tell you a ghost story."
Scott and Frank dropped their pillows to join the other young males on top of the sleeping bags.
Emma stood just outside the door leading into the shelter. Charles and Erik soon approached; all three in their X-Men Uniforms.
Hank, Raven, they've returned.
The newlyweds stepped out.
"Well?" Emma prompted.
"Nothing," Magneto reported bitterly. "We traced straight into the woods."
"I couldn't register a reading," Professor X said. "It's as if the bloody bloke evaporated."
"None of this makes sense," Raven insisted. "Who would go after Erik so hard?"
Magneto stated with a shroud of vagueness, "None who know my present location."
A notion came to Raven. "What if it was Angel? She can fly off. Or… red guy who teleports."
"Trust me." Hank's eyes darkened knowingly. "If Azazel were to come after anyone, it would be me."
"And whoever I grappled with was a full grown man, not a little girl with wings," Magneto said matter-of-factly.
"It's not the Hellfire Club," Emma assured. "I know those hollow little minds anywhere."
Professor X paused to think a moment. "I've read no reports of a burglar in the neighborhood. Even if that were the case, no thief worth a ha'penny would sneak in through a man's window."
"He was not after valuables," Magneto urged. "Only my life."
Raven shrugged with a half-smile. "That's pretty valuable to folks around here."
Magneto glanced at her with brief appreciation before moving onward. "I still say there's more to this than we realize. I'm going to stay up and conduct periodic searches of the grounds."
"Not alone," Charles informed him.
"I can go with Magneto," Hank put forth. "I can use my powers to better track whoever this is."
"And I will perform psychic sweeps," the Professor raised.
"I'm going to help you," Emma stated.
"You should concentrate on the children," he told her.
"We have Raven and the young men for that," she countered. "I won't let you exhaust yourself."
Professor X nodded, yet again amazed by the woman. "Together then."
IIIIIII
Rolling over on the metal framed bed, Raven sought sleep to no avail. It had only been a half hour since Beast and Magneto had left for another patrol, but the situation in general made her bothered and restless.
On the cot next to hers, Becky lay sleeping with Sweetie Imp. Alex and Sean took opposite ends of the sleeping bag row with Joey, Scott, and Frank securely between them.
"When are Mum and Dad coming to bed?" Joey asked.
"Later, Joe." Alex wound closer arms around him. "They're busy with square grown-up stuff right now. Go to sleep like Scottie."
Joey closed his eyes and Alex tucked the comforter around him and Scott some more. He then laid on his back and gazed up blankly at the ceiling.
"I should be helping Magneto and Beast."
Sean turned over to face Frank. "No, you should be exactly right here. You've had enough nighttime kicks."
Frank disputed, "You know Hank can't see that well. I finally start getting useful powers and I'm still worthless."
"You weren't so worthless when we took down Angel," Sean reminded. "Or anytime we train. Erik says so all the time."
"I'd love five minutes alone with that guy who came after him." Frank moved in closer towards the teen.
"Believe me," Sean placed an arm over him, "as soon as they find him, he is done."
Frank nodded then settled down to attempt a little rest.
IIIIIII
An owl flew off from its roost when a yellow and blue clad bested landed on its branch. Flipping over, the animalistic mutant moved himself from tree limb to tree limb. A determined paced Magneto walked near, cape swooping behind him.
"I sense your vexations more than those of any possible intruder," Beast tossed out.
"I allowed this." The small steel spheres from Magneto's belt floated around his chest armor, his knife in one hand. "I let myself grow weak and unprepared. He shouldn't have been able to get within five feet of my window, let alone creep up on me during sleep. Then I let him get away. Rebecca and Scott's rooms are near to mine. He could have…" He gripped the knife handle tighter.
"He would have been mauled alive by my own hands had he tried," Beast supplied. "I am at a loss to explain how he got in, but you cannot blame yourself. Just as you said, there's more here than we realize."
"Shh!" Magneto hushed suddenly before flinging his knife out.
The blade landed in a bush and a fox shot through the stems, scampering off at top speed.
Beast hung upside down, arms folded. "May we please get through this excursion without endangering friends of Bambi?"
Setting the younger man with a zero amused look, Magneto summoned back his knife.
IIIIIII
Emma ran thin fingers through Scott's hair and pecked Joey's forehead. She then proceeded down the rest of the row to see about the other boys.
Outside the door, Professor X peeled back his eyelids from the mental concentration. They're back.
An alerted Raven stood from her chair to greet her husband and oldest brother. "How'd it go?"
Emma walked out as the tall men approached.
" I didn't detect any foreign cents," Beast responded. "He left no trail, either. Whoever this is knew how to clean up after himself."
"In and out." Professor X rubbed his forehead wearily.
Emma came up to massage his neck area.
"Daddy…" Becky moaned in her sleep. "Daddy…"
Stirred by her voice, Scott slipped his shades back on and got up from his sleeping bag.
"Erik?" He went out into the hall. "Rebecca's calling for you."
Magneto made his way into the room without delay.
"Daddy…"
"Sh, sh." Magneto sat beside her on the cot. "I'm here, Ladybug." He touched her cheek, brushing away stray curls. "I'm right here."
Becky's eyes opened marginally, a smile crossing her lips. "Papa."
Removing his cape, Magneto covered her up to the neck with it. "Go back to sleep, baby. Papa won't leave you."
When she reached for him, he got down next to her and watched her drift off again.
IIIIIII
With an extended yawn, Raven entered the kitchen.
"Please, dear." She clicked the light on and saw Hank seated at the table. "You'll get me started again."
Raven pointed to his mug. "You better give up your stash." Hank in turn pointed out the nearly full coffee pot, still warm in the maker. "Such a good provider." She quickly went to pour a cup.
Emma and Charles soon joined them with Erik coming in last.
He lowered into a chair and gazed across at Raven sprinkling yet another spoonful of sugar into her cup. "Care for some coffee to go with the rotted teeth?"
"She's always done that," Charles waved off, having opted for tea that morning.
"I love my coffee white," Emma said, pouring milk into her mug.
"You'd wear knickers made of poison ivy if the plant came in white," remarked Erik.
"Aren't we a moody monster?" Emma patronized.
"I apologize." Erik exhaled tiredly. "But Becky hardly slept all night, constantly tossing and turning. This entire situation has her upset."
Charles sighed. "An unfortunate pitfall to telepathy."
"We have to do something," Hank put forth. "I don't want Becca feeling unsafe at night again. Nor the boys."
"We'll increase patrols," Erik declared.
"Or increase our number of eyes and ears." All eyes available in that moment stayed on Hank and he continued. "The basement has nothing but wasted space. I propose we use a portion of it as a security room to house surveillance equipment at every possible entryway and window. We could also benefit from an alarm system."
Charles immediately praised, "Capitol idea, Hank."
"Yes," Erik concurred, turning to Charles. "Now please explain how a fortress such as this has no proper security system put in place already?"
"Erik. This is Westchester," Charles stated slowly. "The last burglar I happened upon ended up taking over my lap space on chilled evenings and snatching at my dessert during mealtimes."
Raven giggled impishly.
IIIIIII
Once Alex had all of the youngsters together in the living room, the five adults filed in.
Charles began with, "Hank, Erik, and I are going into the city to look into security equipment. While we are out, we want all of you to remain inside. Be sure to keep the doors and windows locked at all times."
"How long is it gonna be this way?" Frank wanted to know.
"Until we know without a shadow of a doubt that you are all safe," Erik told him. He looked at Charles. "Ready?"
Charles nodded and the three men started out.
Alex picked up Joey and followed them towards the door. "I'll take care of things here. Don't worry."
"We will," Erik put a hand on his shoulder, "but not about your capabilities."
Smiling, Charles tickled Joey's chin. "See that you mind your elder brother."
"Yes, Daddy." Joey leaned his cheek against Alex's. "Hurry back."
When they proceeded out the door, Becky abruptly charged after them, curled pigtails flying.
"Hank, Uncle Charles," she grabbed onto Erik at his waist, "Papa, don't go."
Surprised, Erik touched hands to her head and upper back. "It'll only be a few hours, Sweet Imp. Go back inside with Raven and your aunt. Help them keep the boys in line."
She shook her head vigorously. "No, he'll get you. Papa, stay with me."
"Princess, no one is going to hurt your father," Charles intervened.
"We promise, Becca," Hank tacked on.
Erik knelt to her, peering into the worried green eyes with his own dark blue. "Anya, I love you. Now, back inside. I mean it." He stood and turned to go.
Bringing her hand up, the words, "Stay here!" came out of her mouth with an immense force before she realized she spoke them.
Hank and Charles stared in utter astonishment; there Erik stood before them, frozen in place.
"Rebecca," Charles reproached sharply in order to startle her.
It worked and her lock on Erik faded, leaving the man confused. "What… what happened to me?"
Stepping back, Becky ran inside the house.
Erik dashed after her, picking her up in the entryway. "Rebecca."
Her arms went around his neck. "I'm sorry, Papa. I didn't mean to."
He sat with her on the steps. "I know. It's alright. Don't worry. I'm not angry." He rested his chin on top of her curls. "You don't need to be afraid for Papa, ladybug. Hank and Uncle Charles need my help with this heavy equipment, but I will walk through that door again. Right to you. Do you believe that?"
"Yes, Papa," she whispered.
Kissing her head, he moved her to a sitting position on the step he'd been using and got up. Glancing back at her once more, he stepped out to rejoin the other men.
IIIIIII
"Crummy stuff, huh?" Frank sat upside down in a chair, reloading darts into his handheld robot. "Some guy breaks into our house and he's out there running free while we're the prisoners."
"I know." Scott twirled the propeller on his helicopter. "But it's just until Charles, Erik, and Hank make sure he's not coming back."
"I dare him to come back," Frank mumbled menacingly.
Having put Joey down for a nap a few minutes ago, Alex worked to return stray toys to their correct locations around the recreation room.
His eyes fell on the window and he went to the forlorn little girl. "He'll be okay you know."
Becky did not turn from the pane as she said, "You can't read my mind."
"That's not what I'm reading, shrimpette." Alex squatted down to her. "I know how you feel."
She looked at him curiously. "About what?"
His voice lowered slightly. "Our dad." He got up and joined her at the window seat. "I lost my first father in a horrible way, like you did. And even though things are good now, I have these moments where it feels like someone or something's going to take Erik, too."
Becky stared back at him. "Could you sleep last night?" He shook his head. "Me, either."
Alex studied her pink tinted eyes. "Why don't you get some rest, babes? I'll get you when Erik comes home, okay?"
"Okay," the girl agreed. "Thanks, Alex."
Alex shifted so that his back faced her. "Climb up."
Becky scooted over and latched onto him. "Ready."
"Hold on tight." Alex stood up, reaching back to better support her.
Small princess secure, he ran full speed, making her giggle.
Scott smiled after them.
IIIIIII
Coming out to the second floor terrace, Raven lost her breath at Emma bent over the little table, completely motionless.
"Em!" Raven hurried over to help her steady herself. "Are you okay? Em, come on."
"Yes, I—" Emma moaned, touching her head to null the slight throb. "I'm sorry, gorge. I'm afraid I wore myself out with that last scan."
"You are going to kill yourself, crazy tele-lady, which you can't do because I have enough trouble explaining to Joey that I am unfortunately not with child at the moment."
Emma stood straight. "I'll be fine. Charles can go for these extended strides when necessary. Who am I to complain?"
"My husband leaps around by his feet. Don't count on me trying that out any time soon." Raven glanced over the side of the terrace. "Speaking of, looks like our guys are back." She looked back over her shoulder. "Emma?"
The blue eyes on the woman bulged and she appeared ready to go into convulsions.
"No," she uttered before barreling inside.
Racing through the hall, the frantic female mutant threw the door open. Her pulse darted up at the familiar sneering figure over the sleeping girl's bed.
He saw her and said through a mouthful of teeth, "You should be thanking me."
"You would dare…" Emma unleashed a wave of probes on him made indicative by fire consuming his entire body.
When he disappeared before her own sight, Emma jumped over to Becky's bedside. Rebecca? My darling, answer me.
Erik all but leapt in with Charles and the McCoys at his heels.
Before anyone could say anything, Emma told them, "Shaw was here."
Fury found a place in Erik's eyes. "What?!"
"She projected him," Emma went on. "I can't wake her."
Hank pushed forward towards the bed. "Don't move her." He crouched, using his heightened hearing to listen to her heart. "Her pulse is slowing." He patted at her cheeks. "Becca? Becca!"
"Becca, come on," Raven tried. "Wake up, gorge."
Erik growled and came over. "Rebecca Lehnsherr, get up. Now!" He started shaking her shoulders.
Hank pushed him back forcefully. "I said not to move her!"
"Then do something for her, dammit," Erik ordered fiercely.
Charles spoke up with, "This cannot be solved with ordinary medicine." Everyone faced him. "If memories of Shaw have her this trapped, I know of only one way to free her."
Emma urged, "Charles, let me. If I become trapped with her, you are the only one powerful enough to bring us back."
Erik walked around to the blonde. "You are taking me with you. Illusion or flesh and bone, Shaw is mine to tear apart for my daughter."
"Very well," Emma agreed.
"I will monitor you from this side," Charles told them. "Be careful and return promptly."
Hank implored strongly, "Bring her back."
With a nod, Emma placed one hand on Becky's forehead and the other to Erik's temple. She gasped sharply, tunneling into the youthful mind.
IIIIIII
Silver mist clearing, Emma and Erik gazed about their new surroundings. Erik almost immediately recognized it as an expanded model of the lounge from the facility. The walls carried the pink and purple once dreamed up by Becky for an illusion demonstration.
"Where is she?" Erik demanded, seeing nothing but abandoned jacks at the table.
Don't see me. Don't see me.
Picking up on the mental chant, Emma extended a fingernail to under the table. "There."
They started to rush that way when a suit and helmet adorned Sebastian Shaw materialized before them.
"She should be thanking me."
Emma's body morphed into diamonds and Erik lunged at him.
Shaw grabbed Erik's fist and held the irate man. "All that you have is because of me."
Erik swung a leg back, kicking him to the floor. "I killed you once. This will be a mere bonus."
Unfazed, Shaw sat up with one hand nonchalantly on his knee. "Ask her." Erik turned to Emma. "You don't care about her because she saved Rebecca. You care because she gave you Rebecca—" Shaw stood. "We gave her to you."
"He's twisting our memories," Emma said to Erik, "Don't even listen."
Shaw stayed focused on her. "That's how you sleep at night, isn't it? Your hatred for me? Placing all blame on my shoulders? You're the reason I knew about the recruitment. The reason those men were slaughtered. The reason another young mutant was lost. But then, that's what happens to all of them in your care, isn't it?"
The diamonds around Emma crumbled; her eyes lost and downcast. "We were never supposed to harm our own kind…"
Shaw raised a hand and a dangling rope with a noose appeared near Emma's face. "Go on. Do the world a favor, just as you've contemplated so many late nights."
When she honestly went to touch the rope, Erik snapped, "Don't be a fool, woman!" and snatched the rope out of her clutch.
Emma shook her head hard, coming out of the daze. "Erik?"
"Don't even listen," Erik echoed her. "Now…" His gaze returned to Shaw. "Let me try my hand at these mind games."
The rope he held converted into iron. Swinging it back, he whacked Shaw across the face and down to the floor again, knocking the helmet off. Erik then proceeded to flog him mercilessly. Emma hung back, taking in Shaw's torment filled exclamations and writhing.
Erik stopped but only to force the chain around his neck. "Emma," he picked up one end, "will you help me?"
Not needing any sort of prodding, Emma grabbed the opposite end of the chain. Together, they pulled until Shaw's gags could be heard no more. The lifeless figure lay out on the floor with eyes wide open and disappeared in a fading motion.
"Anya," Erik reacted to the familiar murmur. He reached under the table and carefully picked up the slumbering babe.
"Thank God," Emma breathed in relief. Realization hit her. "Erik, this explains everything. The one who attacked you had to be Shaw projected from Rebecca's mind. That's why we couldn't track him, by foot or telepathy."
Erik shook his head at the theory. "Shaw may have been on her mind, but he couldn't have been the one who tried to strangle me. I know what Shaw's hands feel like." Something he would never forget.
The woman became confused. "Then who could have…"
All at once, the walls lost their vibrant colors and returned to off-white. Then black spread across the room as a shadowed figure came in through the swinging door; the entry vanishing as soon as he did.
"It's him," Erik recognized, passing Becky over to Emma's arms.
This time when he raced up to attack, Erik seized and slammed him against the nearest wall. Erik pressed his arm against the assailant's chest to keep him in place. Using his spare hand, Erik snatched off the mask, finding a head of blonde underneath.
The male mutant's eyes widened in disbelief. "You?"
"Erik, who is that?" Emma wanted to know.
"Gavin Douglas… Rebecca's natural father."
"Her real father," the man corrected through clenched teeth.
"You're dead," Erik came back with.
Gavin struggled to move. "She belongs to me."
Erik dropped him to the floor. "No longer. You can terrorize me night after night for the duration of my lifetime and I will never back down. I love that girl more than you or she will ever know. I never stole Anya from you. She chose me."
At Becky coming to, Emma glanced down. "Darling?"
Eyes popping open, Becky screamed, "Leave my father alone!"
Both men turned to her.
Tiny hand going up, a rush of wind sent Gavin out of the suddenly reappearing door.
When the mental environment passed, Erik jumped back and Emma stumbled to her knees in intense fatigue.
Becky leapt up from the pillows. "Papa?"
Erik climbed into the bed and held her as tightly as he could her small frame. "I'm here, Ladybug." He kissed her curls. "Papa's right here."
Charles went around, lowering beside Emma. "You were magnificent, love."
Emma fell out against his shoulder, clinging to him with an insatiable need.
IIIIIII
At the Professor entering the kitchen, Alex reported, "The little guys are washing up for bed. How's Emma feeling?"
"Extremely worn and rightfully so," Charles replied. He took possession of the cookie jar and walked to the island with it. "She hasn't been as strong a telepath since we combined our efforts to defeat Shaw. She had to tap into a special part of herself to save Becky and it took nearly everything she had. But when it comes to you children, she'll never complain."
"That's our Super Mom." Alex left the dishwasher and sat across from Charles at the island. "I'm still trying to understand about Becky."
Charles finished a cookie before speaking again. "A conflict developed between who she used to be and who she is now."
"You mean Becky Douglas and Becky Lehnsherr?"
"Precisely," Charles nodded. "Thoughts and confusion about her birth father became so overwhelming that it manifested itself into a battle between Douglas and Erik."
"But she picked Erik," Alex surmised.
Charles leaned forward covertly. "Between us? I don't believe there was ever a real contest."
The blonde stared down at the countertop a moment. "Can I tell you something?"
"Always," the older male responded.
His gaze came back up. "I always dreamed about turning back time and stopping my family from flying that day. I imagined that over and over every single day. Then in one year's time— I really hate myself because I love Scott and I'm happy we're together again. But I can't picture my life without Joey in it."
Charles remarked, "You are not alone in that sentiment."
"And Erik…" Alex thought on how to word it. "When I look at him, I see me. Everything he has ever been through is part of me. When Scott looks in the mirror, he's still trying to see Dad. I try to help him remember, but it constantly reminds me of what happened to us and then I want him to shut up and let these years go already. God Charles- how selfish am I?"
Charles got up and went to the distressed young man's side, draping an arm across his shoulders. "Alexander, you have no concept of selfishness. You and your brother cope in different ways. There is nothing wrong with that. There is certainly nothing wrong with opening your heart to people who so fully need you; Joey, Erik, the rest of us. I never want you to think you have to hide your feelings. If you can turn nowhere else, turn to me."
Alex leaned on the telepath in a brief hug. "I need to check on the boys."
"Go on," Charles granted.
As the teenager walked out, Charles could only wonder what man would grow from a boy so far ahead.
IIIIIII
Mug of hot chocolate in hand, Erik reentered his den.
"Last round for the night," he gave the ceramic cup over to Becky, "then it's straight to bed." He sat down beside her on the sofa.
She took a sip then looked at him. "Papa?"
"Hm?"
"I'm so sorry I made you and Uncle Charles and everybody so worried. I didn't want Auntie Em to be hurt. I didn't know I made him come out. Honest I didn't."
Erik dipped to peck her round cheek. "I know that. Papa is not upset with you. None of us are, so long as we have you here."
Becky put her mug to the side. "Remember when I gave my birthday wish to Uncle Charles?"
"That I do." Erik's fingers kneaded through her black hair.
"I didn't need it." The light from the fireplace flashed in her eyes. "Because of the wishes I made last year. I always wished me and Hank could be together all the time. On my tenth birthday, the really important one, I asked for a perfect family."
Erik reacted to this with a stern frown. "What happened at the facility was not your fault, young lady, and you'd best get that through your head before I decide to discuss it with your bottom."
"Yes, Papa. So it's just what grownups say? A coincidence?"
Erik snorted. "Coincidences have even less credibility with me. Life is not ruled by our own design, Sweet Imp. Remember what I've told you?"
Becky recalled, "His ways are not our ways?"
"Yes." He nuzzled noses with her. "Papa's had to learn and relearn that as well."
"I'm glad you learned everything already," she told him. "So you can just tell me and I can have fun all day."
Erik gave her a playful shark bite on the shoulder for that.
IIIIIII
"Here we go." Sean placed the freshly fluffed pillow behind Emma's head. "Ooh, be right back." He picked up her empty teacup. "Refill." He zoomed out past Erik.
The metal wielder stepped into the living room fully, beholding Emma on the couch under an army of blankets.
"I've been ordered not to participate in any strenuous activity," she explained. "Such as pinky wiggling."
Erik shook his head. "You really are their favorite." He took a seat n\on the arm of the couch. "Any better today?"
"No worse," Emma replied.
Erik moved on to the next topic. "Is it true?" She glanced at him for clarification. "What Shaw said. Do those thoughts really enter your head at night?"
"He was a hallucination, Erik," she felt the need to reiterate.
"Is it true?" he asked again pointedly.
Hand going tiredly through blonde hair, Emma admitted softly, "Yes. I would never really, but yes."
"I've been there time and time again," Erik confessed to her. "But who we are, where we are, what we are doing— it would be a disservice to not only everyone in this house, but all of mutantkind. Whatever loathing we have for ourselves goes to the backburner."
"I know that," she assured him. "Now, please. You won't mention this to Charles, will you? He has enough to deal with."
"For now," he decided, facing going deadly serious. "But don't think for a moment that I don't care about this, about you, as well. Should you take a turn for the worst- well, you're the telepath. You can fill in the blanks."
Emma could not hide her initially impressed reaction fast enough. "You're full of surprises, Mr. Lehnsherr."
Raven walked in. "Is this individual disturbing you?"
"Yes," Emma answered instantly. "Do please take him away."
"Alright, King Crab Pants," Raven yanked on the back of his polo, "out, out, shoo."
Erik protested, "I didn't even—"
"Save it."
As Raven quite forcefully prodded the man out, Emma reclined against the couch and bit into another white chocolate square.