Normally it was difficult to keep the entire team contained for very long in such crowded conditions. Two hours in the cramped confines of a transport ship had already begun to wear on the occupants' nerves, and Charles wondered if his team of twenty and thirty-somethings would still retain their sanity after the extra six minutes it would take to depressurize the cabin. Mostly he was worried about the three that would not be joining them in the luxurious and opulent conditions that would follow the Majestrix's presence as surely as heartburn followed Logan's twelve alarm chili. This was their job, to act in dangerous situations for the good of all involved. Yet Charles couldn't help but think about the fact that the Imperial Guard had disappeared on their way to the Crystal, and what the chances were of the same thing happening to three of his own students.
"Now Logan," Hank continued on in his doctorial rant. "As the only impervious member of this rescue unit, I am urging you to consider the benefits of utilizing one of those magnificent pieces of Shi'ar technology known as 'space suits.' I realize that you're mobility might be slightly compromised, but I do not think it too wise to push the limits of your healing factor by merely supplementing your personage with an oxygen supply."
"Hank, I'll be fine!" Logan shouted for about the third time while the doctor paused for breath. "If whatever's out there goes after me a space suit ain't gonna stop it. 'N sides, I've been hit by worse radiation fer much longer 'n I'm still here." With that Logan turned to inspect his oxygen tank and officially ended the conversation, only to overhear another one going on farther back in the cabin.
"I don' like dis, chere." Remy whispered to Rogue, who was also in the process of checking and rechecking her equipment. "Promise Remy you'll be careful."
"Nah Cajun, Ah'm gonna go in there an' be reckless!" She replied over her shoulder, purposely avoiding eye contact.
"Y'know what I mean." He whispered back menacingly. "'M worried 'bout you, don' want nothin' ta happen t'ya." He tried to slip his arms around her waist from behind and hold her close, savoring their last few moments together before he disembarked, but she shrugged away from him and moved toward the front of the ship.
"Thanks f'yoah concern, Cajun, but Ah'm a big girl now. Ah can take care o' mahself." On her way to Logan's side she passed Sam, who was also involved in a conversation that she caught bits and pieces of.
Ororo stood with her hand on Sam's shoulder as the rest of the team made their way into the Imperial Star Cruiser behind her. "I know, Sam, that you have not been a member of this team for very long, but you were not chosen for this mission simply because you cannot be hurt by the radiation." Sam nodded as Storm backed away, walking towards the exit hatch. "We trust you to do what is best, Cannonball." And with that Storm turned and became the last person to leave the ship.
Behind Sam, Rogue let out a huge sigh. "Thank Gawd, Ah thought they'd nevah leave!"
Logan chuckled. "Read my mind, darlin'."
* * * * *
Stepping onto the deck of the Cruiser was almost freeing for Charles Xavier. No matter how much he loved the planet Earth, no place could be home without his beloved Empress at his side. "Lilandra." He said simply, an odd smile playing about his lips.
"Beloved, it has been far too long." The same look echoed on her face as the two took each other in, completely ignoring the dozens of people around them for a long few uncomfortable seconds for said dozens until somebody unceremoniously cleared their throat. "X-Men," Lilandra continued without missing a beat. "Welcome to my temporary home. It has been a long while since I have seen most of you. We have much to catch up on."
While most people in the room were pretty sure that last statement had been solely for Charles' benefit, Lilandra made good on her promise, greeting and making small talk with those she knew, learning the names of those with whom she was not so familiar. The chatter would have continued for longer if it had not been broken by one simple statement. "So where's this daughter-in-law I've been informed I have?"
Silence reigned as the Starjammers entered the docking bay, Corsair in the lead with Raza and Hepzibah flanking on both sides, and Ch'od towering behind. Scott stepped to the front of the group with Jean close by his side. Both men stared at each other for what seemed to be a drawn out moment of uncomfortable silence, broken by their sudden backslapping embrace. "Scott, it's been too long. I wasn't even invited to the wedding!" Corsair complained good-naturedly, leading his son and, thus, the rest of the X-Men out of the docking bay and towards their rooms behind Lilandra's lead.
"You were invited!" Scott retorted. "I seem to remember getting a brief holographic message about Brood and Kree and a really bad case of the stomach flu."
* * * * *
D'tar sat back and watched the brewing conversation with growing interest. "Now that the Xsh-Men are here I hope the noblessss will be sssatisssfied that the Empresh isss adequately protected."
"I fear the Council does not favor the X-Men as much as you do Tes'ral." A'nok replied, sipping languidly from his mug of kresvl, the Shi'ar version of tea. "In fact I wasn't aware you were such a big fan of these earthlings."
The statement was a challenge more than anything else, and D'tar pretended to close his eyes disinterestedly so that he could focus more on the Skrull's tone as he answered. "I trusht them more than thoshe pathetic Sssstarjammerssss asss far asssss protecting the Empressss issssss concssserned." The skrull replied crossly, but from the amount of hissing he was producing D'tar could tell that Tes'ral was lying through his teeth, and afraid of having the truth discovered. Tes'ral was nervous.
"Personally I would feel better if they had brought the entire team." Ailon stated nonchalantly from where she lounged on the other side of the room. "Especially if they had not left that short, beastly looking one behind."
D'tar opened his eyes just in time to catch the Skrull jump. "Left them behind?" He questioned, whiping the drool from his face in an effort to cover his shock. "I wassss to believe that all the earthlingssss would be arriving together."
Realizing the suspiciousness of his continuing silence, D'tar let out an aggravated grunt, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to stave off a headache. "I am sure that the small army of earth creatures that Xavier fellow brought along will be more than enough to protect the Empress and give the cleaning crew nightmares. Including Xavier I counted at least ten of them."
Ailon giggled. "I didn't see the woman who usually goes toe to toe with Gladiator either. She probably figured there was no point in coming if her sparring partner wasn't available."
"Perhaps child," A'nok said, pointing a finger at her. "You did notice that the Phoenix was among them. I do not like anything that brings that creature so close to the Crystal."
"Nor I." D'tar stated firmly. Ailon let out a grunt, and Tes'ral hissed in reply, though whether it was one of surprise or pleasure D'tar was not sure.
* * * * *
The small transport vessel slowed as it neared the moon until it came to a complete stop. The pilot turned, uttering something in Shi'ar and motioning violently towards the door. "Ah think this is where we get off boys." Rogue said as the three of them stepped through the airlock, preparing to be cycled out into space. Jeannie, if'n yah can hear me, we're leavin' tha shuttle, an' headin' towards that purply Crystal thang. Catch ya on tha surface. Jean's reply came not in words, but a mental head nod that meant she had gotten the message loud and clear and would wait to hear from them when they made it onto the surface.
That done Logan hit the panel that opened the hatch and the three X-Men were sucked out into the vacuum of space. Rocket packs powered on and together the three sailed through nothingness towards the moon. They were almost there, the pitted surface starting to resemble the crater covered rock that it was when the Crystal started to glow more brightly, getting stronger and stronger until it burned through closed eyelids. "I don't like this one bit!" Logan shouted into his communicator, but the message never reached his companions as the Crystal gave off a final flash and all three were gone.
* * * * *
"Bobby!" Warren shouted, finally fed up with the frozen man's actions. "If you don't stop pacing I might have to kill you."
Iceman shrugged and took a seat in one of the lounge chairs that sat around the pool area the two were supposed to be 'guarding.' "What do you want, Warren. This is BO-RING! Raza's info from the Starjammer is worthless, so all we can do is sit here and guard a POOL while we wait for those three to give Jeanie a mental call back."
Angel shrugged and let his wings fall luxuriously around him. "What can I say Bobbo, nobody ever told us that the Superhero business wasn't all battle, gore, and heroic deaths. Sometimes you just have to lounge around a pool and stare at the hotties. Life can suck." For emphasis, Warren gave a slight wave to one of the Shi'ar women who had been eyeing him for the past hour. He was about to motion for her to come join him when Charles' mental call made him almost fall out of his chair. All X-Men, report to Lilandra's chambers immediately! This is an emergency!
"So much for Babe Watch." Bobby shouted as the two raced out the door and down the hall toward the Empress' private chambers, as many of their teammates joined them in their mad dash.
Once inside the Majestrix' chambers, the entire team came to an abrupt halt, not even bothering to waste the time sitting down. "What?" was all Warren had to ask.
A telekinetic nudge shut the door and bolted it before Jean began. "I lost contact with the re-con team. They aren't responding telepathically, and the sensor readouts aren't picking them up."
"Could they have gone inside some kind of shield or something?" Bobby asked, thinking of the most likely scenarios.
"No." Lilandra stated frankly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "Your teammates were farther away from the Crystal than the Guard was when it disappeared, and there would not be a shield around the Crystal that I did not know about."
"So what den?" Gambit asked from his spot by a window. "Did de Crystal swallow dem?"
"It's a possibility." Jean said frankly to the Cajun who scoffed and returned to studying the window. "But I won't lie to you, this has me very worried. It's as if they completely ceased to exist."
* * * * *
Sam shook his head, and still the cobwebs refused to clear, so he shook it once more for emphasis. Slowly he moved each of his limbs more in an effort to make sure he still had them than anything else. Once he was sure that arms, legs, hands, feet, and head were still firmly attached Sam began the slow climb to his feet. Then he began trying to puzzle out what exactly had happened. He didn't remember falling, but he probably wouldn't either. He certainly didn't remember taking off his oxygen and rocket pack, but they were nowhere to found. That meant somebody had taken them, one of his other teammates perhaps. "Rogue?" He coughed, leaning himself against a wall for support. "Logan?"
"They aren't gonna answer you." A voice replied, floating to him through the darkness that was finally beginning to vanish.
"Why not?" Sam shouted, not sure exactly which direction the voice was coming from.
"Because," and a short blue furred creature walked into the ever widening circle of light, its gray mohawk swaying as it moved. "They aren't here." Sam just stared at the creature uncomprehendingly for what seemed like hours before he could get his mouth to open and close successfully. "I'm Jahf by the way." It continued as if oblivious to Sam's earlier lack of vocal response.
"Who?" Sam finally managed to spit out, making the creatures enormous gray eyes light up in amusement.
"Ja-ahf." It stated slowly, pointing at itself. "Welcome, Mr. Guthrie, to the M'kraan Crystal, the Nexus of all Realities." And with a sweep of his little arms the darkness faded completely giving way to a slightly fuschia tinted light.
"How?" Sam muttered, following along obediantly as Jahf led the way to a destination that Sam couldn't imagine.
"That," Jahf answered, "is a bit more complicated." Abruptly Jahf stopped, and rounded on Sam. "Tell me Sam, what do you know about the Crystal?"
Sam, also stopped, scratched at his head for a second. "That it's more trouble than it's worth, that's foh sure." Jahf gave him an amused grunt for that answer. "I 'member Jean said sumthin' 'bout it connectin' differnt realities, almost lahk a wormhole connects differnt sections o' space in them Star Trek movies."
"Very good, Sam." Jahf applauded mockingly, then continued on his way to wherever he was headed. "That's almost exactly right, imagine reality as a koosh ball Sam, we are at the very center where all those little strings tie together."
"Oh." Sam replied, then stopped in shock as they entered a giant room that looked infinitesimally huge, as if it contained the entire universe in one fell gulp. "So where are my teammates?" Sam asked, trying to take in the entirety of the room and trying not to let his head spin in the process.
"Hopefully on their way here." Jahf stated, for the first time beginning to look nervous. "Hopefully the Crystal hasn't gotten them yet."
* * * * *
The first thing Logan was aware of was the lack of scent, nothing had a smell, not even that freshly washed clean smell. The second thing he noticed was that whoever had taken him to this place was not holding him captive, he could walk around, move, talk, whatever he wanted. Last thing he noticed was that neither Sam or Rogue were anywhere to be found. Worry started to build up inside, and worry brought thoughts that he'd rather not dwell on. Thoughts about his teammates and their well-being, thoughts about the ones who weren't on this mission, thoughts about Jean. He shook them off violently, these were not Logan's thoughts. He had been trained too long not to realize the feeling of something else sifting through his brain. Instantly the shields went up and Logan ran, the direction did not matter so long as he could outrun the force trying to creep inside his mind.
* * * * *
Tes'ral hissed as he watched first Sam then Logan work their way out of the Crystal's clutches, attempting to spoil his master's perfect plan. "It is upsetting Tes'ral, I am aware." The hologram of his master appeared before him as the previous feed cut out. "But, we will find a way to make it work. This third one may offer us some possibilities." Tes'ral found it hard to contain the laugh that emanated from him at the sight of this third unwilling participant.
* * * * *
Rogue had not stood a chance. From the moment she awoke there was only one thought on her mind: Remy. From there it was not difficult for the Crystal to ferret out her deepest desire, control over her powers. A doorway opened beneath her, seemingly out of thin air, and Rogue was no longer inside the Crystal, but home in the mansion.
It was the unfamiliar weight that woke her in the first place. It was concentrated mainly across her stomach. With a start Rogue jumped out of bed, tripped over the lamp that shouldn't have been where it was, crashed into and broke the mirror, and woke the other occupant in the room. "Christ, chere! Y' gotta be playin' destructo derby in here dis early in de mornin'!"
"Remy!" Rogue cried out, realizing all of a sudden how naked she was, and hastily covering herself with a bed sheet. "What are yah doin' in mah room!" Then waking hit fully. "Naked, in mah bed!"
"Well I was sleepin', till y' decided t'start breakin' everyt'ing. As f'de 'naked' part," he said, smiling seductively. "Y' never seemed t'care b'fore. An' since when is dis your room?"
Unable to comprehend what exactly was going on, and completely unable to come up with a decent argument Rogue just began searching for her clothes. She looked under the bed, on the chairs, under the chairs, everywhere to no avail, much to Remy's amusement. "Chere, pour quoi du monde cherches-tu?*"
Rogue looked up at him angrily, eyes level with the mattress. "For mah clothes, swamp rat." She said keeping her tone even.
Remy looked at her oddly for a second, then shook his head as if to say it wasn't worth asking. "Did y'try de closet?"
Rogue just glared at him, then made her way over to the closet, gallantly trying not to trip over her bed sheet. When she opened the closet she found her clothes alright, and Gambit's, lined up evenly on opposite sides of the closet, shoes in tidy rows underneath. Rogue stepped back from the closet door as if stung, only to step right into Gambit's arms. "Why y'be needin' clothes anyway, mon amour?" He whispered seductively in her ear, his hands searching for a way through the sheet. She went completely rigid, realizing that she was naked underneath that sheet, and Gambit was clothed only in the boxers he had donned at some point between the bed and the closet. Remy was never careful, one touch and it would all be over, oblivion for him and more nightmares for her.
Slowly he turned her so she faced him, and reached up with his left hand to tilt her chin. It was then that Rogue noticed the flash of gold. "What the hell!" She shouted, jumping back out of his embrace and almost landing back in the closet. "Remy that's a wedding ring!" She accused, pointing at the band of gold around his left ring finger as if it were the devil himself.
"Y' jus' realizin' dis now?" He laughed, reaching for her again.
This time she did step into the closet. "Ah thought ya'd divorced that bayou hussy y' married!" She screamed, pointing at him with her left hand, then noticing a similar golden ring around her own finger. "When the hell did Ah get married?!" She shouted even louder, holding her hand up to her face in complete horror, the connection not quite arrived at in her brain.
Making soothing noises, Remy coaxed her out of the closet and back to the bed to sit down. "Well, chere. If y'count t'day, y' got married t'ree weeks an' four days ago to de most handsome, charming man in de world." Rogue stared at him blankly. "Chere, dis is de part where y'say 'Yah forgot dashing, 'n sexy, 'n talented ecetera, ecetera'." He teased, mimicking her accent as closely as he could.
"Ah married YOU!" Rogue accused.
"Gee, chere," Remy said, running his hands through his already mussed up hair. "When y'put it dat way, makes me jus' feel all warm n' cozy inside." Suddenly leaning towards her, Remy kissed her deeply and Rogue froze. Then he sat back and frowned at her, and Rogue looked at him in shock that he was still alive. "Guess I'll jus' go take a shower den, get ready f'r dat early mornin' trainin' session wit Jean. Get some more sleep, mon amour, mebbe y'll feel more like y'self." Before he slipped through the bathroom door, he turned around and looked Rogue in the eyes. "I love you." He said forcefully, then disappeared into the bathroom.
* * * * *
"The Phoenix issss ssstill alive in that reality." Tes'ral hissed as the images again were replaced by his master's grizzled visage. "Perhapsss in another..."
"Patience, Tes'ral." His master cut him off. "We still have nine X-Men to go. Surely the Crystal can connect one of them to a reality in which the Phoenix does not exist." The master rubbed his hands together and grinned. "Until then, Tes'ral, we have all the time in the world."
* translation: "What in world are you looking for?"
AN: Ha! Tricked you, I moved it! Now don't worry, all the characters will get their own little spotlight, and some might not end up so...predictable as Rogue's, but then again not all characters are as predictable as Rogue either. For those of you who are confused, the characters aren't just going on a mental trip, hence the door. They are actually being sent into different realities. Is this worse than we suspect? Who is behind it? When will Hank discover Nair for Men? Yah, so anyway RRE (read, review, and enjoy). Next chapter: Who shall fall to the Crystal's clutches, and what does D'tar learn of Tes'ral?