Chapter 13 (Logan)
I cannot bear Nori's agonized cries for another second. I scream with rage and fight as hard as I can against Sinister's telekinetic bonds, but they are impossibly strong. My vision goes red and I'm completely overwhelmed by everything going on in this room—Nori's screaming, I'm screaming, Scott's pleading, Jean's burning and waiting. If this isn't Hell, I don't know what is.
"Sinister, just stop it," I hear Remy plead. "Y'proved your point. Stop hurting her, please!"
"Stop? But I'm just getting started," Sinister says. He smiles cruelly and Nori's screams somehow get louder and more desperate. I can smell that she's pissed herself.
Suddenly, Scott hits Sinister with one of his blasts. I will never, ever say a word against Cyclops again. (Well… maybe I shouldn't make promises I can't keep. But I'm damned grateful.)
Briefly distracted, Sinister stops his onslaught against Nori. She stops screaming. She's still slumped limply in her telekinetic bonds, sobbing quietly.
Sinister hisses and glares at Scott, but nothing happens. A look of genuine surprise crosses his face, and he wheels and turns to Kurt.
"Herr Wagner, what did you do?" he asks, his voice nasty.
Kurt smiles. "It was not tranquilizer I gave you," he says.
"What was it?" Sinister asks.
Kurt shakes his head. Then, to my horror, Nori floats out to the middle of the room. Her arms and legs stretch out stiffly, making an X out of her body. "Herr Wagner, you may have done something to my telepathy, but my telekinesis still works. If you do not tell me what you have done to me, I will rip your friends to pieces while you watch. Starting with Miss Oyama."
Nori remains perfectly still, even her face. Telepathically, she reaches out to Remy and I. Remy, Logan, I love you. I love you so much.
I start to cry at that, at Nori's tacit acknowledgment of her impending death. Nori, you're going to be just fine. He won't do it, I try to say. Kurt will tell him.
I think back to the letter she'd written for Aiko. Had she known? How could she have known? I renew my fruitless struggles against Sinister's bonds.
I love you, cher, Remy says. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. He's crying too.
Nervously, Kurt says, "Nein, Sinister, please. It—it was a drug. I forget what it is called. Dr. McCoy gave some to Nori, before, and—and it made her telepathy stop working. So—I thought—to give it to you."
Sinister walks up and slaps Kurt across the face. I smell blood. Kurt hisses, but says nothing. Scott flies across the room and joins the rest of us along the wall. Nori returns to the wall, none too gently. She makes a small, whimpery sound that does absolutely nothing to diminish my urge to kill Sinister.
Sinister says, "Now, Phoenix, my dear, are you hungry?"
"Yes, I hunger," Jean says, glowing brightly.
This does not bode well for us.
"Look here," Sinister says. "What a nice meal for you. So many powers. So much energy. Feed, my dear."
"Yes," Jean says, and she flies at Scott.
"No!" I shout. "Jean! It's Scott! Don't do this! Don't do this!" But it's too late. She engulfs Scott and he collapses forward against the telekinetic bonds, unconscious.
A horrified silence falls over us. What has happened to Jean? Jean looks at Scott and blinks.
"Scott?" she asks in her normal tone of voice. "Oh, God, Scott." She screams with rage and turns to her fire form. She flies at Sinister.
"Jean! No!" Sinister says, but he's powerless to stop her. She engulfs him and he falls to the floor. When he loses consciousness, our telekinetic bonds dissolve. Remy and I both go to Nori and envelop her in a tight hug. She cries softly.
After a moment, she says telepathically, Kind of hard to breathe now, guys. Remy laughs and we both step back. She takes a deep breath and then Remy hugs her again. Still trembling, she turns to hug me too, pressing her face into my chest.
Jean watches us closely. Nori looks up at her and smiles warily.
"Can you help me?" Jean asks brokenly. "I think I killed Scott."
"I don't think he's dead," Nori says. "And I'll try to help you." Remy and I each glance at each other. Nori's still pale and she's leaning heavily on me. I don't think she's in any shape to help anyone.
"Jean… could you come with us? I don't think we should stay here," Nori says gently. The rest of us watch with bated breath.
Jean nods. "Yes…"
I turn and pick up Scott and carry him out the way we came.
Nori says, "I told Hank we're coming back. He said they're warming up the jet."
We make our way slowly back to the air vent we came in through.
Jean looks at it and turns to her fire form.
Nori says, "Easy, Jean. We can get through this." She's not Mesmero, but she's pretty persuasive. She smiles encouragingly, and Jean returns to her normal form.
"Sorry," she murmurs, shaking her head.
"Jean, will you help me?" Nori asks. "We can use telekinesis to get Scott through this air vent. Okay?"
"Okay," Jean says.
Kurt goes through the tunnel first, and then I go. Scott floats behind me. It's real weird.
Nori follows Scott, and then Jean. Kurt takes us all up to the top in turn. Hank is startled to see Scott unconscious, and he takes Scott from Kurt and holds him. When Hank sees Jean, he gives an enormous grin. "Jean!"
She looks at him warily.
"She's not… exactly… herself," I say quietly.
"Please God can we get on the Blackbird now?" Nori asks.
"Yes—of course," Hank says, taking in her pale, shaky form. He reaches in his pocket and clicks something, and the jet's ramp slides down. Remy guides her up into the jet. He hates the cold even more than she does, I know. I wait outside with Hank and Jean while everyone else boards the jet. By the time I get on the jet, Nori's already half-asleep with her head tucked against Remy's chest while he whispers to her in French. I'm surprised she made it as long as she did. I guess she knew she had to.
Jeannie looks around skittishly. I decide to leave Nori with Remy and sit with Jean. I hope she's not still hungry.
"Hey, Jeannie, it's Logan. Y'remember me?"
She nods. "Where's Scott?"
"Scott's… restin', darlin'. He's up front," I say, jerking my chin forward at him.
Jean looks troubled, but she nods. I take her hand. "Missed you, Jeannie. I… I'm glad you're here," I say, and it's true, even if I'm afraid of what she's become.
"Where was I?" she asks,
"I don't know," I reply, honestly.
We sit quietly. I don't know what to say, and even if I did, I wouldn't want to say it when Mystique and Pyro are sneering in the row behind us. Don't know what their attitude is about—ain't like they were any help down there.
We're somewhere over the Atlantic when Nori starts sending out horrible empathic waves. She's having a nightmare. God knows I've felt her nightmares before, but this is a bad one. Not that I blame her after what she just went through.
Jean looks at me with glowing red eyes. "Something's happening," she says.
I call out, "Cajun, you'd better wake her up."
He makes no response, and I unbuckle myself to investigate. Remy's asleep too, one arm curled around Nori. She's leaning against him and making small, anxious sounds. Jean turns to her fire form and follows me over to them. Not good.
"Nori, wake up!" I yell, shaking her. "Nori!" She wakes up with a gasp, and Remy opens his eyes too. He looks vaguely guilty, and then frightened when he notices Jean. But as soon as Nori wakes up, Jean reverts to her usual form and looks embarrassed.
"Hey," Nori says softly.
Jean says, "You're the one who… the one who… you called me."
"Yes," Nori says. Remy and I both exchange glances. I'm not at all sure if Jean is grateful to have been called back, and I'm not sure how she'll respond. And I don't think I can protect Nori from Jean.
But Jean gives a small smile and says, "Thank you. I… I was lost. I couldn't find my way."
Nori smiles back. "I'm glad I could help."
"Nori… I… I borrowed you. I'm sorry."
"No harm done," Nori says, though that's not quite true.
I take Jean's hand and say, "Let's sit down. We can talk more when we get home, all right, darlin'?" She nods and lets me guide her back to our seats. I frown when I realize Nori's empathy is blocked off. She only shields from me when she's in a bad mood. Again, I don't blame her, but I still hate it. I hate that she almost died today. These last few weeks have forced me to reflect upon the fact that Nori and Remy are going to die one day. They're going to get old (if they're lucky) and they are going to die. And me? Will I ever get old?
I'm still missing plenty of memories, but I know I've already outlived two women I loved—three if you count Jean. How much more of this can I bear?
It feels like a week before we make it back to the mansion, though it's really only a few more hours. Remy takes Nori upstairs, and I follow Jean and Hank, bearing an unconscious Scott, down to the medbay. Mystique and Pyro come too. I try my best to ignore them. I want to focus on trying to help Jean.
Jean surveys Xavier, Erik, and Scott and her eyes go red. "Oh, God. I did this."
I take Jean's hand and Hank says gently, "Can you help them, Jean?"
"I don't know…" she closes her eyes and kneels next to Scott. "Scott," she whispers. "Scott, come back to me." I sigh, watching her try to communicate with her fiancé. It's not that I'm jealous, not exactly. But this is damned weird. I sit and watch quietly. It doesn't seem like she's having any success. I know Pyro wants to make some kind of jab, but even that cocky asshole is afraid of Jean now.
Nori and Remy appear in the medbay. Nori's showered and dressed in yoga pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Her face looks slightly distant and fearful, and she's still shielding. Jean looks up at them.
"Hi, Nori," Jean says.
"Hello," Nori says quietly. She glances at Mystique and Pyro, but says nothing to them.
Remy keeps a protective hand on her shoulder and he extends his right hand to Jean, leaning down slightly to reach her. "Hello, Mademoiselle Grey. Remy LeBeau, at your service."
She takes his hand and gives him an intent look. "Ah. You are hers," she says.
He smiles. "Yes, I suppose I am."
"Nori, help me," Jean says.
Nori bites her lip. "Of course," she says softly. "I'll try."
I watch with a pang of fear. It had taken so long for her to recover from her previous visits from the Phoenix. I can tell Hank has reservations too, but none of us want to upset Jean.
Nori kneels beside Jean and takes her hand. Remy and I stand side by side and watch. Telepathically, she says, Love you two. Don't worry. I'll be okay.
Then she shuts off the link and she and Jean both disappear to someplace I can't follow. Her face looks sweetly dreamy and Jean's looks fierce. They kneel together in silence for a long time. I begin pacing around the room. Finally, Jean says, "This is pointless!" Her eyes flash red. "I don't know what I did. I don't know how to undo it. It's impossible."
"Hey, sweetie, no it's not. We just have to figure out how… how your new powers work," Nori says reassuringly. "The same thing happened to me. Well, kind of. I guess."
Jean glares. "You know nothing," she says, glowing red. Remy and I instantly move to put ourselves between the two women. Remy shields Nori and I put my hands on Jean's shoulders. It burns my hands, but I hold tight.
Jean backs down and blinks. "Oh, no, I'm so sorry," she says.
Nori smiles. "It's okay. I know—it can be hard to control your powers."
I say, "Maybe you should try Xavier, first. Maybe he could help."
"Cher, you feel up for that?" Remy asks.
She looks exhausted. I know it must have been draining for Nori to use her powers so much, especially after what she went through today. But I hope Jean doesn't have to wait another day for Scott to wake up. She's powerful and unstable.
"It's okay," Nori says. "I think I have another try in me. I think that's a good idea, to try to help Xavier. If that's okay with you, Jean?"
"Yes," Jean says. "Yes." She kneels next to Xavier and Nori joins her.
Nori hums to herself and Jean glows faintly. We all watch carefully, and Hank gasps when the monitors flicker. Xavier opens his eyes. Nori looks delighted. She stands up and leans back against Remy, who puts his arms around her and looks unbelievably relieved.
"Professor, what did I do?" Jean asks. Her voice is desperate.
"Jean?" Xavier asks. He sounds confused. "What happened?"
"I don't know," Jean says.
Remy guides Nori to a chair. She looks around blankly. "You all right, cherie?"
"Fine," she says quietly.
Hank swoops in and starts checking on Xavier. I keep pacing back and forth and observe. Jean is confused and upset. Xavier is confused and delighted to see Jean. Suddenly, Nori starts sending out nightmarish empathic projections. She's fallen asleep in her chair. Jean transforms into the Phoenix, and Remy quickly shakes Nori awake. She sighs and blinks up at Jean.
"God, I'm so sorry," Jean says.
"Fascinating," Xavier says.
"Is it fascinating?" Remy snaps.
Nori tucks her knees up against her chest. "It's okay, Remy."
"It's not okay, cher. You've been through too much these last few weeks, and now this Phoenix is trying to, to eat you or something. And you keep putting yourself in danger. Don't you know—don't you know what would happen if anything happened to you? Don't you know how many people would be hurt? And Xavier here has the nerve to call it 'fascinating.' I don't know if this place is safe for you any more." This is as angry as I've ever seen the easy-going Cajun.
"No place is safe, Remy," she whispers. Normally, I know she'd try harder to reassure him, but she's tired and spooked.
Xavier says, "Remy, why don't you take Nori up to bed?"
Remy gives a brief glare before saying, "Yes, fine."
Nori says, "Are you going to be okay?"
Xavier nods. "We'll be all right. Remy's right, Nori. You should rest."
Jean's eyes glow red as she watches the argument. Nori blinks and says, "Okay. Good night. Take care."
She stands up and puts an arm around Remy's waist. She sends me a questioning glance and I shrug. I feel like I'm needed here. Remy and Nori function as a pair. They happily accept me as an orbiting satellite, but don't require my presence. And I'm still shaken from watching Nori's torture earlier today. I need a little break from her.
I watch Xavier and Jean. They must be conversing telepathically, and I'm not invited. That's fine. I sit and think about Remy's words to the Professor. Xavier was a good enough guy, but he thought he knew what was best for everyone. He was the one who was responsible for the Phoenix, really. He was the one who'd kept my past from me. He had helped Nori, but I was sure that if it came down to it, he would risk her life for Jean's. He couldn't help himself. Jean was like a daughter to him, and he'd already lost her once.
Finally, Jean appears to sleep. I decide to head outside for a smoke before Xavier can ask me to leave. Then I go upstairs and lie down in my own bed. It feels empty, but I don't want to disturb Nori and Remy (well, really just Nori-Remy can sleep through anything) at this hour. I wake up around four with my heart pumping and my claws out. Watching Sinister torture Nori had given me a new nightmare for my collection, which was already pretty elaborate. I take deep breaths and selfishly wish I were in Nori and Remy's room. Nori's always sweet to me after my nightmares. But she's been through enough today, and the un-selfish part of me is glad I'm not there to disturb her. I lie back in bed and catch my breath for a few minutes, but I know I'm not going to fall back to sleep. I pad down to the medbay. Mystique and Pyro are both sleeping there on extra cots. Mystique opens a single yellow eye upon hearing me enter, but she closes it again.
I sit and wait for morning to come, for this whole mess to get resolved.
NOTE: I just feel like I have to say that I think it's totally weird that Sinister's base is in Antarctica, but it's CANON. I can only conclude that Sinister also loves penguins.