Rise of the Phoenix
Havok probably tossed Cyclops into the cell harder than was strictly necessary. The energy field went up immediately.
"Emma, whatever you're doing, Professor Xavier and the others aren't going to let you get away with it."
Emma smiled triumphantly. "Charles can't stop me anymore, Scott. The next time you see me I'm going to be the most powerful mutant in the world."
"Emma, think about what you're doing."
"Magneto might be a megalomaniac, but he's right about the humans. Today's incident, these 'sentinels', it all only confirms it. We can't live among them. They're savages."
"Emma, the woman I knew—"
"It's evolution, my dear. I've merely discovered the next stage. Don't worry. You'll have a place in the New Order. Whether you want one or not."
God. She's gone insane. "Emma—"
"Goodbye for now, Scott."
xxx
"Alex?"
"Everything is in place, ma'am."
"Excellent. Once Cerebro is activated, it is absolutely essential that no one be allowed inside. Any interruption might prove fatal."
"Yes, Miss Frost." Alex glanced uncomfortably back in the general direction of the brig. "If I may… do we really need him?"
"Your brother is special to me, Alex. I value your loyalty, but his defiance… futile though it is, I find it… delicious."
xxx
Cyclops paced around the cell in frustration. "Damn it. There must be something we can do."
Colossus glanced up from his spot next to the cot. "I'm afraid I haven't had any luck waking Kitty."
Cyclops slumped against the wall and fell into a sitting position. "No. Whatever sedative they gave her will be very effective." He shook his head. "Damn it. How could I have been so stupid?"
"A question even the most gifted of geniuses have asked at some point in their lives, Scott," a very familiar voice commented. "Perhaps I can be of assistance."
Cyclops openly gaped at Beast. "Hank? But you're—"
"Surely my position as a research student at Miss Frost's Academy cannot lead you to believe I've lost all sense of reality, my friend."
Scott sighed with relief. "Don't take it personally, Hank. I just don't know what to believe anymore."
Beast keyed a few controls, and the energy field disappeared. "I believe we must stop Miss Frost from her cryptic but likely genuine threat to become the most powerful mutant alive."
Cyclops patted Beast on the shoulder. "Good to have you back, old friend. Peter—" Colossus was immediately on his feet. "Get Kitty somewhere safe, then quietly – very quietly – get the children to the tunnels."
Peter looked disappointed, and Scott knew he had to be thinking, Not again!
"This is important," Scott assured him. "As of this moment, you should consider yourself an X-Man. And your first order is to get those kids to safety."
Peter snapped to attention. "Yes, sir!" He smiled. "Thank you."
Scott nodded, and said, "Go!" Peter gathered Kitty into his arms, and was gone.
"This might not be the best time to mention this, but I will likely need a new research sponsor once Miss Frost discovers I've betrayed her."
xxx
It didn't take Cyclops and Beast long to reach Cerebro, and when they did enter the hallway only Havok stood between them and the door.
Havok cursed loudly and fired an energy blast at them.
"Hank, duck!" Cyclops shouted, and fired an optic blast to intercept Havok's attack.
"She should've killed you when she had the chance," Havok lamented as they both fought against the strength of their respective energy blasts to move closer.
"Yeah, Emma's problem was always an overabundance of compassion," Cyclops answered sarcastically. "What the hell are you doing helping her, Alex?"
"I'm so glad we can still talk like this," Havok replied bitterly.
Both of them cut off their energy blasts at the same moment, knowing they were useless against each other, and rushed to meet each other in hand-to-hand combat.
Havok quickly threw an elbow, which Cyclops ducked, and tried a snap-kick at Havok's midsection, which he avoided by jumping backwards.
"She's insane, Alex," Cyclops persisted.
Havok grunted as he blocked a punch from Cyclops, then connected with a right hook. "She's going to make the world safe for mutants. She's going to do what Magneto always talks about doing, but is too self-obsessed to actually do."
Cyclops shook off the impact and drove his knee into his brother's midsection. "If you believe that, you're insane."
Suddenly a blue blur from the ceiling shot past Cyclops and hit Havok in the chest.
It turned out to be Beast, who backflipped onto his feet after kicking Havok. "I hope I'm not interrupting the sibling rivalry, but I felt expediency was best."
Cyclops smiled. "Thanks, Hank. Now let's get in there." He stepped forward towards Cerebro, and the scanner recognized him.
"No, wait!" Havok protested. "You can't interrupt her!"
But the computer had already said, "Welcome, Scott Summers." And the massive door hissed open.
The scene that awaited Cyclops and Beast was overwhelming. The walls of the room appeared to be on fire, and the brightness overwhelmed their senses.
Shielding their eyes with their arms and trying to squint to see the center of the room, Cyclops and Beast moved cautiously into the room.
And there she was. She was restrained in some sort of machine. But she was there, alive and practically glowing with energy.
"Jean!" Cyclops yelled.
Emma Frost stood directly across from Jean. She was wearing the Cerebro helmet, and appeared to be engaged in some sort of psychic battle with the immobilized Jean Grey. Her concentration broke as she glanced over after hearing Cyclops's voice, and that pause proved fatal.
Jean screamed, and everyone staggered away from her as waves of energy like shockwaves knocked them back. Her eyes opened, glowing bright orange, and every electronic instrument in the room exploded in showers of sparks and flame.
"You fools!" Frost screamed. "This was our only chance. Now there's no stopping it!"
It became obvious the room was going to collapse. Still, Beast had to drag Cyclops from the room.
xxx
For safety, they completely evacuated the Mansion while Cerebro and the surrounding rooms collapsed. The storm had passed, and the night air was deceivingly tranquil as they stood outside the Mansion, surveying the damage.
Scott stared motionlessly at the rubble. "Jean…" he breathed.
Suddenly there was an explosion, and rubble rained down on them.
And there was Jean, glowing so brightly with energy that it was impossible to look directly at her. She just floated there for a few moments, and then suddenly was wreathed in flames.
"My God…" Beast whispered breathlessly.
The Phoenix had risen.
