Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men
Episode 9: 1885
"And how exactly are we going to find Eury? He's a time traveler, Jasmine. He could be pretty much anywhere." Ben followed her to the car. "Or, um, anywhen."
"We have to find him," she said. "Because if Jonah dies in the past, I want him back here where he's safe."
"I'm not disagreeing with you," Ben said. "I just... it doesn't seem likely that we're going to find those time people. They could have left already."
"Want to bet?" she smirked, pointing across the street. Kish-oo was running out of a candy store, followed closely by Anya. "We just follow them and we'll find Eury."
Ben sighed and got into the passenger seat. There was no arguing now. Even if he felt that all of this was an intensely bad idea, Jasmine was set in her plans to rescue Jonah. He didn't know her well, but he knew her well enough to know that she wasn't going to budge on the issue.
She followed them closely, not letting them out of her sight. Kish-oo was incredibly bouncy and hyper for a person who would grow up to be a schizo, Ben remarked dryly to himself. He looked at Jasmine and saw a spark of fierce determination in her eyes, and he quickly looked away. Maybe it was a bad idea, but this was good for Jasmine. It gave her something to do.
The spark in her eye also made her increasingly pretty.
"They're going into that warehouse," she said suddenly, turning sharply and stopping the car. Ben sat back and grabbed the sides of his seat.
"Warn people at all?" he asked, getting out. "Ever?"
"Be quiet and come on," she ordered, grabbing his arm tightly and dragging him into the warehouse.
"Maybe we should..." Ben stopped and looked at the group of time travelers staring at them. "...knock."
"Eury, you have to send us to 1885," Jasmine demanded, walking over and grabbing the front of his shirt.
"Please," Ben added for her.
"Woah," Eury said. "If you want something, I can give it to you. But let me down, alright?"
Jasmine let him down with a growl. "Help us. Now."
"Okay, alright already," Eury said. "1885 right? That's what you want?"
"Yes," Ben said. "Hurry please. I think Jonah screwed up the time line."
"Well, if you go back, won't that muck up the works more?" Anya said, taking Kish-oo's candy away.
"I would assume so," said Nathan. "Why should we send you back in time?"
"Jonah is going to die, and you're going to help us," Jasmine shouted. "Or you're joining him."
Kish-oo shivered. "Scary lady."
"It's okay Kish-oo," Kennedy said, hugging him and standing. "Alright, you're my mother, right?"
"Yes," Jasmine said.
"And you're supposed to have me with my dad."
"Yes."
"Who is currently in 1885, not here."
Jasmine scoffed. "We already know all of this. Get to your point already."
"Well then, we have to send them back Eury," Kennedy said. "If I'm gonna be born in this time line, then he has to be here."
"Reasonably so," Eury agreed, nodding and stroking his chin. "I guess you're right."
"Hurry up," Ben said. "I'm getting a headache and my telepathic protector is dead in this time line."
Eury opened a small portal in the wall. "Go on," he said. "California, 1885."
Ben took Jasmine's arm before she could jump in. "Are you sure about this?"
She nodded, eyes blazing. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Ben. Please, come with me. If you don't want to that's okay, but I don't think I can do this on my own."
Part of Ben was startled. She needs me, that part of him said. That's a good thing. A good step.
But she needs you to help her get Jonah back, the other part of him said. That's a bad step.
He shook his head. "I'll go," he said. "Jonah's my friend and he needs my help."
Jasmine smiled and they stepped through together. Ben was starting to doubt his action just as the portal closed behind him.
"When you're ready to come back, come to this exact spot and call me," They heard Eury's voice echo. "I'll pick you guys up."
"That's probably what he told Jonah," Jasmine said quietly. "I wonder why he never came back."
"I don't know," Ben said, looking at his T-shirt and jeans. "But I think we have a problem involving attire and lack of direction."
"Where are we?" She looked around and squinted into the distance. "I think that's a ranch over there."
"That's where we'll start," Ben said. "The way Jonah used to talk, everyone in Cal-ee-fornia knew who he was."
"Don't make fun of him," Jasmine snapped. "Just walk."
Ben watched her storm ahead, smiling slightly. She was prettier angry than not, but he knew the only reason she was angry was because she didn't know what to do. Ben usually had the same reaction to those kinds of feelings. She kicked up some dust and sent a small plant flying, roots and all. "Hey," he called. "Hey, stop that."
"Stop what?" she said harshly, whirling around. She watched as Ben rushed forward and grabbed the plant, putting it back into the ground and securing it with dirt.
"Don't kill it," Ben said. "It didn't do anything to you."
"What do plants feel anyway," she grumbled, looking slightly ashamed as she stuck her hands in her pockets.
"You have to learn that everything has a place," he said. "Even the small things."
She nodded as he stood up and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Now." he continued. "Let's find Jonah Danger."
NEXT: Jonah's Vigilantes!