Rebirth and Redemption
Chapter Five
Jean gasped and screamed in agony as she came to in the White Hot Room. A familiar scent of pipe smoke drifted towards her as she cried, wiping tears from her eyes. She touched her lips, feeling the kiss that had for all intents and purposes ended her life. She looked up and saw that Death in the form of a Scottish construction worker, wood pipe jutting out of his mouth. "Hello again lass. I thought yeh'd be comin' back sooner rather than later. So why do ya come here today?" he asked though Jean knew he had already seen why she was here.
"I'm here to ask you some questions. I know that there are others who I could have gone to get this information but none that I trusted. … And don't give me this cryptic bullshit of 'why are you here?'! Because I know that you have been watching what is going on. So please, just fucking tell me what is happening?" Jean yelled, small flames rising up around her ankles, wrists and surrounding her head.
"Alright lass, turn the flames down. Ye' have ta remember that while I may be wathcin' ye', that doesn't mean that I can give ye' your answer's forthright. Ye' must remember that ye' have to answer the questions ye' have on yer own. Now, ye' can ask me the questions, but it's up to ye' to answer them." Death finishes. He looks at Jean, he flames receding yet she still has a glow surrounding her.
"Alright then" Jean begins. "So, why the hell is my son beginning to manifest his abilities? He is only six years old! While yes I am preaching to the choir, considering I came into my telepathic powers at the age of ten; but he is six years old! What sick cosmic fuck decided to allow that to happen?" Jean exclaimed.
"There is no cosmic entity that allowed this t' happen, lass. And ye' know it. This happened simply due to th' fact that yer son is to be even stronger than yerself." Death says to Jean matter-of-factly. As he looks at the White Phoenix, he sees that she is completely dumb-founded. He takes something out of his shirt, and it looks like a roll of parchment. "Here lass, read this. This should answer yer questions." He hands her the scroll, and she takes it hesitantly.
Jean breaks the seal and unrolls the scroll. She reads aloud just to quiet her stress. "Prior to the birth of the twice blessed child, there shall be the birth of two thrice blessed children. These children shall grow, and shall unite. They shall wield the cosmic flame, and shall have the powers of the Three." Jean finishes the reading and then says "Who the fuck is the Three?"
"They be yer cousins, on yer mother's side. Ye' never knew yer mum's side of the family did ya? That's because they no longer wanted her nor she them. Her great-great-great-great-great grandmother was a witch known as Melinda." Death says nonchalantly.
"You mean to say that I am a descendant of Melinda … Warren? How can that be! My family comes from the Grey's who came to the United States when it first began as a colony, and we settled in New York, not … North Carolina!"
"Ah, but your lines did merge lass." Death continues. "They merged when yer father married yer mother, which is partially why yer son is exhibiting his powers now. I am surprised to see that he hasn' stopped time or seen things that have yet to come to pass."
Jean pauses. "Well he has 'frozen' the mess hall once. Something scared him. But we thought it was someone else. But when I entered his mind today it showed me that it was him." Jean then took a breath. "So Kellen will find the second and together they will be powerful? Who is this person?"
"I cann't tell ye lass, and trust me when you know who he is, ye'll be able to tell. Now get started working on some towers. I have the dead waiting in limbo 'round here."
Logan walked up to the suite he shared with Jean and his son. He found Kellen looking around. "Where's mommy?" he cried. Logan nearly choked on his own heart. He swallowed as he sputtered, "She gone on a trip to talk with someone son. She'll be back," And in a quiet voice only he could hear "but I don't know how long."
Logan picked up his son and together they went downstairs to the kitchen. As he walked everyone around him; especially the psychics, gave him solemn nods. Logan knew that Kellen was aware that something was wrong, but didn't say anything. The boy just kept seeing familiar faces and waved and smiled at them. As they entered the kitchen, Logan heard Emma and Scott talking, and burst open the door so that Kellen wouldn't hear what they were really talking about.
Emma's face went blank and then she turned into her diamond form as quick as a thought. Scott simply looked at the boy and walked out of the room. Emma said nothing as Logan set Kellen down and started making him a sandwich. Logan a voice emanated in his mind this is Charles. I see that Emma has fortified herself from your son; however you must do the same. When you are able, come meet me on the grounds. With that the consciousness of Charles Xavier left Logan's mind. Logan looked down at Kellen but saw that the young boy had not heard or felt anything … yet.
As Kellen ate his sandwich, Logan guided him towards Rogue and Bobby's room. Upon arrival, he had to first cover Kellen's eyes, but was quickly able to greet both. "Hey Rogue" he nodded toward the brunette with the white streak across her bangs, "Bobby" nodding towards the blonde man. "I need y'all to do me a favor and watch after Kellen here for a while. No messin' around, ya here me! First both a ya, come out here, I need to talk to ya both." Leaving Kellen in the room, he, Bobby and Rogue stepped out into the hall.
"A'right kids," Logan started, "I need you both to not say a thing 'bout Jeannie to the kid. Nuthin'. If you do I'll send the both of ya into the Danger Room at Level 15. Got it?"
"Logan, ya know we won't say nuthin'. " Rogue whispered. "The poor kid just got his powers, and his ma, well … she's on her 'vacation'".
"Yeah, Logan. We won't say anything." Bobby swore.
"Good. I can't handle dealin' with a kid who realizes that his mom is dead" he half whispers the last word. "Also you two need to y'alls mental shields up, so that he can't read yer mind; if he's able to. Now, I've gotta run, Chuck's waitin for me." And with that he leaves the two young mutants with his son and heads for the main campus grounds.
When he arrives he sees good old Chuck in his chair reading his favorite book A Once and Future King. "Whatcha got for Chuck?" Logan asks with a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Well Logan, the reason I have asked you here is due to Jean's latest absence. Are you prepared if the need should arise that she may need to be stopped? She has access to so much power Logan that mortals should never have that the entire universe is afraid of her."
"Charlie, you and everyone else 'round here knows for a fact that Jean can and does control it, and the fact that you of all people have so little confidence in her is completely shameful. To be bluntly honest, Chuck, there are some seriously good reasons why you yourself shouldn't haven't been allowed to head a school and yet ye did for how many years was it? You and Jean are more alike than anything; cuz from where I'm standing it wasn't that long ago that you crossed paths with your inner demons." Logan stated impassively.
"I understand that Logan, however," Charles continued, "Jean is a special case. She has been learning to control this for how many years, and at times she has admitted that she sometimes can't control it. I am speaking to you about this because she was my first student, and I care deeply for her."
"Chuck, if you really cared for her, then ye should be puttin' more stock and confidence in her and her abilities than anyone else here. And yet of all the fucking people and students here, yer the only one who doesn't have enough faith in her to trust her. If you have a problem with any of this then you can just leave. And you know it. Ya signed over your rights over this school over to Jean and me, so we have all the authority to tell ya that," Logan bellowed, "So again unless ya put some more faith and confidence in our runnin' of this school and this team, then get the fuck out."
Charles seemed to be startled by this turn of events and closed his book. He completely turned his chair towards Logan and leaned his chin on his knuckles. "Logan, I know that I gave you and Jean full rights over the school, meaning that I would only be a resident here and would not interfere unless with your express permission …"
"Well, yer certainly not followin' that code right now, with what you're talking to me about Chuck! Ya don't have my express permission to interfere with this and I'm not about to let ya. So, from now on, if this situation should ever arise again; especially around my kid, unless I say so, don't fucking meddle in it!" Logan concluded and proceeded to walk off.
"Logan, I did not wish for us to have an argument over this. I am merely concerned for Kellen's well-being and for the safety of the students here. That is all. I know that Jean says she has control over it, but how do we know that?"
"We've gotta take her word for it, and considering the fact that she has exhibited an enormous amount of control over it for the past seven years should be a good example of how much control she has over it. Now, I have a kid to go take care of, and need to get everything prepared for Jean return; whenever that may be." With that Logan nodded at Charles and walked back to the mansion.