CHAPTER FOUR: FROM THE ASHES
Xavier Institute, October 1, 2007
It was morning at the Institute as Clark got ready for his first big assignment in the fall semester at the university. He'd just gotten back from his morning patrol, the others having left for school. The assignment involved conducting an interview; the students in his class had been allowed to pick any current-events topic – within reasonable limits – and do an interview of a person related to that topic. Clark had chosen to do a human-interest topic; he'd heard that Bayville High was awarding the Girls' Soccer Team's Most Valuable Player award, today, so he'd decided to interview the recipient of the award.
He quickly donned the clothing of his clumsy, nervous "Clark Kent" persona, putting it on over his uniform: light brown khaki pants, a grey long-sleeved shirt, a sweater-vest over it, and glasses resting on his nose. He then parted his hair in the middle of his forehead, and then strapped on his own image-inducer, switching it on, making him look more lean, lankier, concealing his powerful frame...making him look more like a clumsy, bumbling country-boy.
He knew that the Brotherhood would be at school, and he couldn't have them deducing that the clumsy Clark Kent was actually Superman.
His disguise complete, Clark picked up his knapsack, and headed out of the Institute, walking a fair distance to a bus-stop, making sure no-one saw him leave the Institute, and quickly caught the next bus to Bayville High.
Bayville High
Jean was currently sitting in the gymnasium, along with the rest of the school, as Principal Kelly was handing out the sports awards. "This year, our Girls' Soccer Team played as a team, they won as a team, and through it all, they respected each other!" Principal Kelly said, picking up the most impressive trophy on the table. "And they all voted on who the Most Valuable Player on the team was! It gives me great pleasure to present this year's MVP award to...Jean Grey!"
Jean gasped in surprise...and then smiled happily, standing up and heading to the podium to accept the award, the school cheering as she did. Walking up to the Principal, she shook his hand, and took the trophy, before standing at the podium, for her acceptance speech. "Thank you all!" she said. "I'm so honored that you chose me for this award!" She looked out among the crowd, spying her friends. Lance was sound asleep in his seat, as was Remy.
She smiled as she spied Scott, her absolute best friend, who was always there when she needed him. Her smile became a bit guilty as she lowered her mental shields slightly, allowing herself to catch a few of his stray thoughts: 'Jean really deserves this award; she's worked so hard for the team...'
Then, she happened to catch a few of the others' thoughts. 'That's so awesome! Way to go, Jean!' Kitty thought.
Rogue's thoughts weren't quite as supportive. 'Oh, Gawd, how long are we gonna have ta stay here?'
Evan was bored out of his mind. 'Okay, I have twenty-six teeth in my mouth...hang on...darn it! Okay...one...two...three...'
Suddenly, the thoughts of everyone in the audience started to fill her mind, overwhelming her; she put a hand to her head. "AAAAHHHH!!" she cried.
Then, suddenly, another voice began to echo in her head...one that was speaking to her.
'Jean...Jean...let me out, Jean...'
Jean managed to raise her mental shields, shutting off the thoughts, recomposing herself. "Sorry about that; migraines!" she said, smiling. "That's what you get from head-butting too many soccer balls!" The audience laughed appreciatively, the tension eased, as Jean continued her speech.
After her speech, and the awards assembly had ended, Jean left the gym, heading for her next class. "Jean, wait up!" Scott called, as he ran up to her.
"Oh, hey, Scott." Jean said, smiling.
Scott looked worried. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.
Jean smiled, nodding. "I'm fine, Scott; my shields just slipped. It was just a bit overwhelming, but I'm fine."
"Oh. That's good." Scott replied. Smiling, he added, "Congratulations, Jean! You really deserve it!"
"Thanks!" Jean said, her smile growing. Scott always made her feel better when she was down.
"So, any plans?" Scott asked.
Jean sighed, nodding. "Duncan was having a party, tonight." she said. Recently, she and Duncan had been arguing often. Duncan was turning out not to be the charming gentleman he'd been on their first date. He was too cocky, he enjoyed flaunting their relationship, and he just...
...wasn't like Scott.
Smiling, Jean asked, "Do you want to go?"
Scott's smile became a bit forced. "I don't know..." he said, "...Duncan and I aren't good friends, even on the best of days..."
"Please, Scott?" Jean asked. "Look, we've been arguing, recently, and if I want to leave, I'll be stuck there..."
Scott smiled, and nodded. "Sure, Jean. I'll go."
Jean beamed. "Thanks, Scott! You're the best!" she exclaimed. Then, she waved good-bye to Scott, heading for her next class.
It was about lunch-time when Clark arrived at Bayville High, walking through the main doors of the high school. He walked down the hallway, his ears ringing from all the teenage chatter; all the bragging, gossiping, and rumor-mongering of high-school. 'And, once again, Kryptonian Knowledge-Chamber home-schooling gets the nod.' he thought. He'd left home before he'd started his freshman year at Smallville High, to find himself, to learn where he came from. Four years of training in the Fortress and learning from the Knowledge Chamber had replaced his high school years. He didn't know if he would have been able to take all this, at fifteen; he didn't know how he would have been able to survive, knowing he was so different from everyone else.
It gave him a whole new respect for his friends.
Before long, he'd reached the office, seeing Principal Edward Kelly...the man he'd once rescued from the falling school mascot. "Uh, Principal Kelly?" he asked, while "tripping" on a knapsack left in the hallway, to enhance his appearance of clumsiness. "I'm, uh, Clark Kent, sir, from the university."
"Clark Kent...oh, yes, the Journalism student!" the Principal said. "Well, it's nice to meet you, son! How can I help you?"
"Well, sir, I was going to do a human-interest interview, and I wanted to interview your Girls Soccer MVP." Clark said.
"Oh, well, that would be Jean Grey." Mr. Kelly said.
"I see." Clark said, trying to keep from smiling; he should have known. "And where can I find Ms. Grey?"
"Well, she may be still in Chemistry class with Mr. McCoy." Mr. Kelly thought. "Class only just let out; you might catch her. If not, he may know where she went next."
Clark blinked. "Is that...Mr. Hank McCoy?"
"Why, yes." Mr. Kelly replied. "Do you know him?"
"I, uh, helped him with some research, once." Clark said; Mr. McCoy had once visited the Institute last year – he'd been fascinated to study the abilities of a "real, live alien."
"Well, his class should be at the end of that hallway." Mr. Kelly said, pointing towards a hallway.
Clark took a few steps, to get a better look...and "accidentally" stepped in a janitor's washing-bucket, soapy water soaking his pant-leg up to his shin. "Aw, dang it!" Clark muttered...while trying very hard not to laugh.
The Principal lightly chuckled. "Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, sure!" Clark said. "Well, thanks, Principal!" With that, he headed down the hallway.
After a few minutes, Clark had found Mr. McCoy's classroom, with Mr. McCoy still there. Hank was tall, and broadly-built, with short, black hair, and dark eyes framed by glasses, clad in khaki pants, and a dark navy t-shirt, under his white lab-coat. He glanced up, his eyes widening as he saw Clark.
"Clark Kent, sir, from Bayville University." Clark quickly introduced himself. "I helped you with those experiments last year, remember?"
"Oh...yes, of course!" Hank said, smiling. "You were certainly a big help; the data I got was...quite insightful! How can I help you?"
"Well, I was just looking for the MVP winner, Jean Grey." Clark said. "I was going to interview her for a human-interest assignment."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but you just missed her." Hank said. "She should be at lunch, now."
"Oh. Well, thanks, anyway, sir." Clark said, as he turned to go...
...and stopped as Jean's friend Taryn walked in. "Mr. McCoy, I finished that review sheet..." she began, but burst into giggles as she saw him. "What happened to you?" she laughed, pointing to his soaked ankle.
Clark chuckled. "Janitor's bucket."
Taryn laughed. "Wow, you must be a major klutz!"
"Taryn." Hank said flatly.
"Sorry, sorry." Taryn said. "Anyway, here's the sheet, sir." She handed him the worksheet, and then headed off.
Clark just turned to Hank, flashing him a conspiratorial thumbs-up; Hank grinned, and nodded in understanding. With that, Clark headed off.
Clark had to admit, Bayville High was pretty big. He'd been walking for several minutes, after finding a map that indicated that the cafeteria was on the level below him. He turned a corner, spying a stairwell...
...and came face-to-face with Anita LeRoux.
Anita, clad in a purple halter-top and blue jeans, arched an eyebrow curiously at him. "Do I know you?"
Clark grinned sheepishly. "Uh, I think I'd remember us having met before!" he stammered, hoping she'd buy the act.
She wasn't entirely convinced. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice carrying a UHF command; if he refused, she'd know he was Superman...
"Clark Joseph Kent, born April 27, 1987." Clark "babbled." "I was adopted and raised in Smallville, Kan..."
"Enough!" Anita ordered. "Just...walk into a wall."
"Okay!" Clark said, as he turned, and walked into the wall across from the stairwell, pretending to stumble back...and "slipping" on his soaked shoe, sending him tumbling down the stairs, to land flat on his back on the floor below...unhurt. 'Well, at least I'm on the right floor...'
Then, he smiled as he heard Anita say, "Well, he's certainly no Kal-El."
He'd fooled her.
Then, he heard a soft female voice giggle. "Are you okay?"
Standing up, Clark spied a 16-year-old African-American girl, with long, brown hair, chocolate skin, and dark eyes, slender, a good bit shorter than him – she looked close to Kurt's height – and clad in a black, shoulder-baring t-shirt, and dark red jeans.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, that happens all the time!" Clark laughed. He extended a hand. "Clark Kent, Bayville University, Journalism."
The girl smiled, and shook it. "Amanda Sefton, Bayville High." she replied. "Need any help?"
"I'm just looking for Jean Grey, the MVP, so I can interview her." Clark replied. "Any idea where she might be?"
Amanda nodded. "I think so." she said. "She often hangs out at the cafeteria, in the far-right corner, with Scott Summers...and that cute German exchange-student, Kurt Wagner." She blushed lightly as she said Kurt's name...and then she looked stricken. "B-But you can't tell him I said that!! Please, if you see them, don't mention my name!"
Clark chuckled. "Okay, I won't!"
Amanda looked relieved. "Promise?"
Clark grinned. "I never lie!"
Amanda smiled. "Thanks." she said. She pointed to a hallway. "Anyway, the cafeteria is just at the end of the hall; you can't miss it!"
Just then, Clark's hearing picked up a signal; there was a ferry in distress in the English Channel. "Thanks, Miss Sefton, but I just remembered something; I'll have to come back later." Clark said. "Thanks for the help!"
"No problem!" Amanda said. "Good luck in your assignment!" With that, she walked off.
Looking around, Clark zipped into an empty area, finding an old service elevator. He quickly made sure no-one was looking, and then pulled the doors open, darting into the elevator, letting the doors close behind him. He then opened the top hatch, and flew up, removing his clothes and shutting off his inducer, putting them in his knapsack, now clad only in his uniform. He tucked his knapsack into a nook near the top of the elevator-shaft, to come back for it later, before opening the top hatch and flying out into open air, rapidly ascending, flying towards England, where he was needed.
It was about mid-afternoon when Scott and the others got back home. After dropping his knapsack upstairs, Scott headed down to the main entrance, where he saw Jean getting ready to leave. "Hey." Scott called. "Leaving so soon?" he innocently inquired.
"Yeah; I promised Taryn I'd help her pick out a new dress for the party, tonight." Jean said sheepishly.
"Oh." Scott replied, smiling. Suddenly, they heard a familiar sonic boom echo overhead. He and Jean both smiled, and headed to the back yard.
Scott and Jean got to the back yard in time to see Superman touch down, his knapsack over his shoulder. "Hey, guys." he greeted.
"Hey, Clark." Scott said. "Working, again?"
"Yeah; ferry in distress on the English Channel." Superman explained.
Jean shook her head, smiling. "Clark, no offense, but you're working too hard!"
Superman chuckled. "Hey, this is a full-time job!" he laughed. "And I'm not the only hard worker, around here! Congratulations, Miss MVP!"
"You heard about that?" Jean asked.
Superman nodded. "I was going to do a human-interest interview with the MVP-winner, today, but I had to leave for 'work.'"
Jean chuckled. "So you were the goof-ball Taryn was telling me about!" she laughed.
Superman nodded. "Never once did she suspect that anything lay beneath the clumsy, country-boy image of Clark Kent." he said.
Scott chuckled. "In addition to being a superhero, he's also a master of disguise!" he joked. "So, is this a big assignment?"
"Oh, yeah." Superman said. "The students with the highest grades are assigned to intern-positions at New York City newspapers."
"Wow." Jean said. She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Clark, but I'm afraid I can't do that interview, just now; I promised Taryn I'd help her pick out a dress."
Just then, Superman paused, closing his eyes, listening...and then opened them. "Don't worry, Jean; I'm still working, it seems." With that, he zipped into the house, dropping off his knapsack, and then zipped out, flying off, a sonic boom echoing as he flew.
Scott chuckled. "No matter how many times we see him do that..."
"...it's still the coolest thing in the world." Jean finished, smiling. Scott smiled back; it was amazing, how in-tune they were, at times...
Scott had once thought that he only liked Jean as a friend.
Oh, what a fool he'd been.
Still, it didn't change anything; Jean was still with Duncan, he thought with a sigh.
Just then, a car horn echoed from the front yard. "Oh, that's Taryn." Jean explained. Smiling, she added, "I'll see you at the party, Scott!" With that, she headed off, to go shopping with her friend.
As the day went on, Scott just worked on his homework, stopping to have dinner with the rest of the Institute, before heading back to his room to finish up his schoolwork. His assignments taken care of, Scott glanced at his clock...
'Oh, crap, I'm late!' he thought, as he bolted out of his room, passing by Kitty and Lance as they headed down the hall...and coughed as a familiar, pungent aroma assaulted his nostrils. "Oh, jeez, guys, hasn't that stink-bomb worn off, yet?"
"Not yet." Lance said. "I think that's why Mr. McCoy had us make 'em in class; so we wouldn't make 'em on our own time!"
Kitty giggled. "Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if you hadn't used your own recipe, Lance!" she teased.
"Hey, how was I supposed to know that the difference between a stink-bomb and a toxic bio-hazard was four extra drops of sulfur tetrachloride?" Lance laughed. "I should definitely sue that web-site!" To Scott, he added, "Any ideas for curing stink-bomb stink, Summers?"
"Yeah! Isolation!" Scott laughed, coughing. "Later, guys!" With that, he hurried off, heading for the stairs...
...and nearly got bowled over by the wolfen Rahne and Sam, as they both rushed up the stairs. "Guys! Be careful!" he shouted.
Having no time to waste, he darted outside, where Bobby and Jubilee were standing next to Scott's car; Bobby had used his powers to create a tiny ice-ballerina for Jubilee. "Wow! Bobby, it's beautiful!" Jubilee beamed.
Bobby smiled. "No problem, Jubes." he replied.
Scott ran towards his car...and slipped on the ice that Bobby's powers had generated. He quickly got up, and hopped into the driver's seat. "Drake, clean this ice up before someone slips!"
Bobby smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Fearless." he said, as he and Jubilee backed away from the car. Then, Scott turned the key in the ignition, and drove off.
Duncan's house was a fair distance from Bayville, overlooking a cliff on the sea, and it sure was a ritzy-looking place. As Scott pulled up, it sounded like the party was in full swing. He hopped out...
...and immediately got beaned in the head by a flying soccer ball.
Groaning, Scott got back up, picking up the guilty plastic sphere. 'Jean, the things I do for you...' he thought, as he headed inside.
Jean sighed to herself at Duncan's immature antics; her boyfriend had just turned a soccer ball into a makeshift football, and tossed it clear out of the house, through the skylight, as his football pals cheered, and clapped him on the back.
Jean had donned her yellow, long-sleeved t-shirt, as well as her slim blue jeans, a slightly more formal outfit that her usual clothes; in the seat next to her, Taryn was wearing the slim, short, orange dress she'd just bought, today. Taryn giggled. "Duncan's quite the handful, isn't he?" she joked.
Jean sighed, nodding. "That's...one way to put it."
Taryn smiled. "He's not exactly a 'Scott Summers,' is he?"
Jean froze. "W-Why do you say that?" she said.
"Oh, come on, Jean; we've been friends ever since we started school, here." Taryn whispered conspiratorially. "I know you like Scott; and you should! He's cute, smart, nice, a martial-arts expert, and he definitely likes you."
Jean shook her head. "We're just friends, that's all." she said quickly...though she had started to wonder about that, recently...
"Okay, whatever you say." Taryn giggled. "Then, if you're not interested...can I have him?"
Jean frowned. "I don't own him, Taryn; you'll have to take that up with him." she replied neutrally...though her insides were twisting themselves up at the thought of Scott with Taryn. It didn't feel like it was against Taryn; she likely would have felt this way at the thought of Scott with any other girl. But...she and Scott were just friends...
...weren't they?
Just then, Scott walked in, carrying the soccer ball that Duncan had tossed. "Anyone lose this?" he inquired.
"Yeah, Summers." Duncan replied, frowning. "And it looks like you've lost your way; pick up a road-map on your way out." At that, Jean frowned.
"I didn't lose my way, Dunc. Jean invited me." Scott replied simply, staying cool.
Duncan blinked. "Oh." Then, Scott casually tossed the ball to Duncan, before heading to the kitchen to grab a soda, smiling at Jean as he passed by, who smiled back.
Taryn smiled at Jean. "Just friends, huh?" she whispered. "Anyway, I'm a bit thirsty; want to grab a soda?"
"Sure." Jean said, as they both got up, heading for the kitchen.
Scott was just leaning against the counter, sipping a 7-Up as Jean and Taryn walked in. "Hey." he greeted.
"Hey." Jean replied. "I'm glad you came." She frowned. "Sorry about the reception, though."
Scott shrugged. "Don't worry; as far as I'm concerned, Duncan being a jackass is just par for the course." he quipped.
Jean couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I'm going to have to have a talk with him." she said, taking a can of Pepsi while Taryn opted for an Orange Crush.
Then, Scott called out, "Hey, Dunc, you mind if I switch on the radio?"
"Yeah, yeah, knock yourself out, Summers." Duncan grumbled. Scott shrugged, and switched on the radio, turning the dial to sort through the channels...
"Whoa, hold on!" Taryn exclaimed, as Scott passed one channel. "Go back." Scott did so.
"...reports are coming in of a major nuclear disaster being miraculously averted in Europe, this afternoon!" the anchorwoman said. "The nuclear reactor east of Berlin, Germany, was minutes from catastrophic meltdown, when its reactor control-rods were suddenly inserted, halting the progression of the deadly reaction! We have the statement of one of the technicians at the power plant."
"I thought ve vere all done for!" a German-accented man exclaimed. "Zhe reactor controls vere severely damaged due to an electrical surge; zhere vas no vay zhat zhe control-rods could have been inserted remotely! Zhe only explanation is zat someone...actually stood in zhe reactor, und inserted zhem manually!"
"A commercial pilot came forward after the event, whose plane had ben flying near the reactor at the time of the incident." the anchorwoman continued. "He reported that his radar tracked a blip entering and leaving the area, too small to be a plane, and moving at speeds exceeding Mach Five! What do you think, viewers? Could this be an equipment-malfunction coinciding with a miracle...or has the elusive Man of Steel saved the day, again? This is Leanne Mitchell, signing off!"
Jean and Scott managed to suppress knowing smiles.
"Well, duh! Of course it was Superman!" Taryn squealed, with similar statements echoing from the crowd that had gathered – mostly the girls. "Is there anything he can't do?"
Scott met Jean's gaze, smiling. 'Probably not.' he thought to her. Jean nodded in agreement; Clark never ceased to amaze them.
"Oh, come on! Not this again! The guy isn't real!" Duncan said, scowling. "And even if he is real, I, for one, want to know who the hell he thinks he is!"
"Amen to that, bro!" one of Duncan's football pals said, the rest of the football team muttering words of agreement.
Taryn giggled. "You're just jealous!" she said..
Jean turned to Scott. 'I've got a real keeper, haven't I?' she thought. Scott merely suppressed a chuckle. By then, the crowd gathered had dispersed, moving to the dance floor. Jean decided that now was as good a time as any to talk to Duncan, and she walked over to him. "Duncan, we need to talk." she said.
"I think we do." Duncan agreed. "What's the big idea with inviting Summers here? I didn't want him showing up!"
"And what's up with that?" Jean replied, a bit angry. "Scott's my best friend, Duncan; why do you have such a problem with him?"
"He's getting in the way of us, Jean." Duncan said. "You act different around him." Jean couldn't help but hear his thoughts: 'You don't act that way with me...'
"How is my friendship with Scott 'interfering with us'?!" Jean said. "God, you can be so impossible, sometimes!"
Then, it started to happen, again; thoughts started to flood her mind. Jean put her hand to her head. "I'm getting some air." she said, managing to keep controlled, as she walked onto the balcony.
Fortunately, the balcony was empty, so no-one could see Jean hunch over, clutching her head. The thoughts were getting overwhelming...
"Jean?"
With a loud cry, Jean sent a telekinetic pulse at the one who had snuck up on her...and then she realized with horror that it had been Scott that her PSI-pulse had knocked over the railing. She raced to the railing, reaching out and catching Scott with her TK just before he hit the pool, below. She breathed a sigh of relief...
"Jean?"
Jean whirled around to face Duncan, her grip slipping...before she caught Scott again, inches above the water. "What is it, Duncan?"
"Hey, I just wanted to know if you wanted to dance." Duncan said, smiling; acting charming, once more.
"Actually, Duncan, my migraine is acting up." Jean said. "I'm going to have to head home."
"Aw, c'mon, babe..." Duncan said.
"Duncan, I need to go home." Jean said firmly.
"Fine, fine." Duncan said, as he walked away, grumbling, "...I've taken hits to the head in football, and you don't see me whining about it..."
Jean sighed to herself, before she pulled Scott up enough for him to grab the railing and climb up. "Your boyfriend's sensitivity and caring are truly inspiring." he quipped.
Jean wasn't in the mood for jokes, though that probably was worthy of a chuckle. "Scott, please, can we go home?" she asked.
Scott nodded. "Sure, Jean. Let's go." With that, they left the party, got in Scott's car, and drove home.
As they arrived at the Institute, Jean was about to head inside, when Scott stopped her. "Jean, what's wrong?" he asked. "I know this is a lot more than just a slipped mental shield; you can tell me."
Jean looked at Scott; out of all the people here, she trusted him the most. "It's my powers, Scott; they're acting up." she said. "It first happened at the assembly; I thought it was just a slip-up, at the time. I just started hearing everyone's thoughts...and...and then...I heard the voice." She started to sniffle. "It was the same voice I heard when...when Annie died..."
Scott's eyes widened; he knew that story – as a child, Jean had witnessed the death of her best friend, Annie. The event had triggered her powers, and sent her into a coma until the Professor had found her, raising powerful mental blocks in her mind, to restrain her powers until she was old enough to handle them better, and she'd resumed life...until her powers had begun to manifest again, prompting an invitation to the Institute to be extended to her.
"God, Jean," Scott whispered, "why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know!" Jean cried, tears starting to form. "I was just so freaked-out by that voice, I just...I just didn't want to believe it." She hugged her arms around herself. "When...when Annie died...I could feel her dying, Scott...and...and a part of me died with her..."
Slowly, Scott hugged her, letting her lean on his shoulder; he always knew how to make her feel so safe. "Maybe." he whispered. "But, from what I can tell, the best part is still alive and well."
Jean smiled. "Thanks." she murmured. "How is it that you always know how to make me feel better?"
Scott grinned. "Hey, what are best friends for?"
Jean chuckled, their hug ending, before she frowned. "How did the Professor handle it?" she asked.
"Huh?" Scott asked.
"He mentioned it the day we first found Clark, in his Fortress." Jean explained. "When Clark told us what happened to Krypton, the Professor said he'd once heard millions of screams – Clark's people dying." She looked worried. "God, Scott...I got this freaked-out by just watching one person dying...but he heard the dying screams of an entire race..."
"Well," Scott said, "in your defense, the Professor has had a lot more experience with his powers than the both of us combined. Plus, at the time, he didn't really know what he was hearing, but Annie was your best friend; she was close to you. It isn't quite the same thing, I guess."
Jean smiled weakly, before she hugged him again. "You are my best friend, Scott Summers."
Scott grinned, returning her hug. "Ditto, Red." he said, his nickname for her earning a laugh. "Anyway, I was just going to go make some hot chocolate. You want any?"
"In a minute; I just need a bit more air. You go ahead." Jean said. Scott nodded, and he headed inside, giving Jean her space. Alone, Jean sat down on the front step, to think...
"Anything wrong, Jean?"
Jean smiled as Superman touched down in front of her. "Nothing you can help with, Clark." she sighed.
Superman sat down next to her. "Try me." he suggested.
"My powers are acting up." Jean said. "So far, it's just my telepathy getting more sensitive...but it could go to my telekinesis, next; just a while ago, I nearly knocked Scott off a balcony! And that's what scares me, Clark; I'm afraid that..."
"...you could hurt someone." Superman finished, his face looking haunted.
Jean nodded. "Yes." she murmured.
Superman nodded in understanding. "Jean...I may not have told you this..." he said, "...but, for the most part, I've had my powers since I was a baby, since I arrived on Earth. My Ma once told me that, the day she and Pa found me, Pa had to change a tire on the truck...and I lifted the truck right up off the ground. I was about five months old."
Jean froze. "Oh my God..."
"The first time I used my strength and realized it was when I was about four or five." Superman continued. "My Ma had told me that I couldn't watch TV, that I had to go out and get some fresh air, and I was a little upset about it. I just absently kicked the wheel of the tractor...and I sent it flying about twenty feet." He closed his eyes. "I was afraid to hug Ma for weeks."
Jean looked horrified.
"Then, when I was about six, Pa and I were in the barn; I sneezed and blew off the south wall – I could've brought the whole barn down." Superman whispered. "And when I was thirteen, my eye-rays first activated." He shut his eyes. "I nearly torched the whole farm before I figured out how to turn them off." He looked at Jean. "Jean, I completely understand what you're worried about."
Jean nodded; if anyone could understand what having dangerous powers was like, it was Clark. "Hey, you got control, in the end." she whispered, smiling.
Superman smiled back. "And so will you." he replied. "Your control is pretty impressive, already, Jean; you've probably just hit a rough patch."
Jean chuckled. "I hope so." she said. "Plus, I have great friends to help me...present company included." Smiling, she asked, "So, who did you hang around with in Smallville, before you left?"
Superman laughed. "Wow, that takes me back!" he said. "Well, I only had two or three real friends, but I didn't tell them about my secret. The first was Lana Lang, who was – in my opinion – the most beautiful creature on two legs."
Jean chuckled. "You had a huge crush on her, didn't you?"
Superman nodded. "I was crazy about her; I wanted so much to tell her...but I knew that, if I did...she would never understand. By the time I'd left...we'd pretty much grown apart."
Jean gently placed a comforting hand on Superman's arm. "I'm so sorry." she said.
Superman smiled. "The next was my best pal, Lex Luthor." he said, chuckling. "We were pals ever since we were kids; he was quite the prankster – he usually got us in trouble...forcing me to get us out."
Jean blinked. "Lex...Luthor??" she repeated. "As in, Lex Luthor of LexCorp?!"
Superman nodded. "I heard that he bought out the company after his dad, Lionel, passed away." he said. "I guess he's doing okay for himself."
"Wow..." Jean murmured. "What about the third?"
Superman smiled. "The third was a girl who came to visit in the summer with her aunt." he said. "She was about three years younger than me...and I think she may have had a crush on me."
Jean smiled. "What was her name?"
"Her name was..." Superman began, but then he stopped, his expression going distant. "Uh-oh."
Jean knew that look. "Trouble?"
"Oh, yeah." Superman replied. "It looks like I'll be working late, tonight."
Jean nodded. "You'd better go, then." she said, smiling. "Thanks for the pep-talk."
Superman smiled back. "Any time, Jean." he replied. With that, he took off, a sonic boom echoing as he flew, as Jean headed into the Institute, to take Scott up on his offer of hot chocolate.
The next day, Clark – in his clumsy persona – arrived at Bayville High at around the same time as he had, yesterday, to try the interview again. He'd been patrolling late, the night before, and this was his chance to get the interview.
He walked through the main doors, deciding to try the cafeteria, first, but then stopped as he saw a 17-year-old youth in a letterman jacket, with short blond hair, talking to some of his pals – Duncan, Jean's boyfriend. He had to know where Jean was.
Clark walked up to him. "Uh, excuse me?" he asked. "Would you happen to know a Jean Grey?"
Duncan looked him over with a dismissing eye. "What's it to you?" he sneered.
"Oh, uh, I'm from Bayville University, Journalism degree." Clark babbled. "I was doing a human-interest assignment, and I was hoping to interview Miss Grey, the school MVP. Do you know her?"
"Yeah, I know her." Duncan said. "I'm dating her."
"Oh." Clark said. Smiling, he commented, "You must be a pretty lucky guy!"
Duncan snorted. "Not really." he muttered. "Lately, she's been kinda annoying, and she's always hanging around with that Summers loser."
'What does she see in this jerk?' Clark thought, though he kept calm. "Well...you must really care about her then, or why else would you be with her?"
Duncan laughed, along with his pals. "God, what planet are you from?" he sneered. "Why do you think I'm with her? Because she's hot, duh!"
Clark had no idea how he managed to stay calm...and then he lightly smiled. "Well, I sure hope she doesn't find out." he commented.
"And who's going to tell her? You?" Duncan sneered.
Clark grinned. "I...don't really need to." he said, and he pointed behind Duncan.
Confused, Duncan turned around...and came face-to-face with a seething Jean Grey, who Clark had seen come walking up behind Duncan, in time for her to catch that little confession. "Oh...uh...h-hi, Jean..." Duncan stammered.
"You...you...you LUGHEAD!!!" Jean yelled. "We are so THROUGH!!" And with that, she slapped Duncan's face hard enough to send his head spinning, before she stormed off, as a hapless Duncan scrambled after her, trying to explain, though Clark knew she wasn't going to listen.
Clark sighed, as he turned to leave; from the looks of it, Jean wouldn't want to do an interview...not until she cooled off, anyway. He headed out of the school, to catch a bus home.
When Scott had gone to look for Jean at lunchtime, she wasn't there, and none of the others had seen her. After checking with the school nurse, he discovered that Jean had gone home, claiming to be having a migraine.
Were her powers acting up?
Quickly, Scott ran outside, hopped in his car, and drove to the Institute, racing upstairs, to Jean's room. He stopped outside her door, and knocked. "Jean?"
Slowly, he heard the door telekinetically unlock, and Scott opened the door...and saw Jean, lying face-down on her bed, quietly sobbing into her pillow. "Jean?" he asked. "Are you okay? Are your powers..?"
Jean slowly sat up, shaking her head no. "Duncan." she hissed. "You were right, Scott; he's a total jerk!!" Then, she told him what had happened.
Scott wanted to drive to school and punch Matthews' lights out, but comforting Jean was more important. "Jean...please, he's not worth crying over..."
"I'm not crying for him." she said fiercely, before she burst into fresh sobs. Quickly, Scott sat down next to her, and hugged her, letting her cry into his shoulder. "Oh, God, Scott, what's wrong with me?! What did I see in him?!" she wailed.
"Hey," Scott soothed, "you wanted a normal life, that's all...and you deserve one..."
Slowly, Jean looked into her best friend's shaded eyes...wishing not for the first time that she could see his eyes. "Do you know what the absolute worst part of it was?" she whimpered. "I've been ignoring you. Oh, God, Slim, I'm so sorry."
Scott smiled gently. "Hey, you weren't that bad..."
"Yes, I was that bad, sometimes, and worse." Jean lamented. "I can't even count all the times I've blown you off to spend time with that...creep!" She lowered her gaze, not wanting to meet his eyes. "Why on Earth have you put up with me for so long?" she whimpered.
She couldn't help but pick up his thoughts...though she was glad, this time, as his single thought put her on Cloud Nine: 'Because I've been head-over-heels for you since the day I first saw you.' Scott thought.
What Scott said was just as sweet: "Because you're my best friend, Jean. It's going to take a lot more than that to make me leave."
Jean smiled...and then she noticed just how close their faces were...but she didn't really want to pull away...
'Jean...let me out, Jean...don't deny me...LET ME OUT!!!'
Jean screamed as the voice came back, full-force; she couldn't hold it...
'LET ME OUT NOW!!!'
Holding her head in her hands, Jean ran for the only place where she knew everyone would be safe from whatever was waking up inside her; she got in the Danger Room elevator, took it to the Danger Room level, and threw herself in the Danger Room, shutting the door behind her.
'Professor! Something's wrong with Jean!' Scott mentally cried out, as he ran after Jean, heading for the elevator, taking it down to the Danger Room level. Reaching the Danger Room, he tried to open the door...but Jean had electronically locked it from the inside.
Before long, Professor Xavier and Clark, in his uniform, had caught up with him, as Scott told the Professor everything, about Jean's flare-ups, and about the voice she'd been hearing.
The Professor went pale. "No..." he murmured. "I...I was afraid that this would happen, one day..."
"What?" Scott asked. "Professor, what's happening to Jean?"
"Scott...when I first found Jean, after Annie's death, the combination of the loss of her friend and the emergence of her powers severely affected her...so much that...an alternate personality emerged, one with an even greater control over her powers than Jean has today." the Professor said. "This alternate personality...called itself..."
"...the Phoenix."
"The Phoenix was extremely powerful...and extremely violent." the Professor continued. "It was utterly enraged at the loss of Annie, and it could have torn Jean's home and family apart...so I did the only thing I could do: I placed powerful mental blocks around the Phoenix personality, locking it away in Jean's subconscious mind." The Professor looked haunted. "But recently, Jean's powers have grown considerably, weakening those blocks..."
"...and the Phoenix got loose." Superman observed.
"Precisely." the Professor said. "I have to restore the blocks around the Phoenix...but it has spent years in Jean's subconscious mind – right now, I have no idea what it is capable of."
"Jean's still in there; she had enough control to lock herself in the Danger Room, to protect us." Scott said. "We have to help her!"
"We will, Scott." the Professor said. "Once we get inside, I'll need the both of you to protect me until I can restore the blocks; the Phoenix almost certainly won't go down quietly."
Superman nodded. "Well, first things first!" he declared, as he walked to the massive steel door, grasped the space between the door, and pried it open, allowing them inside.
The Danger Room was slowly being ripped apart, the steel panels and intricate machinery orbiting a central point. "Jean?!" Scott called. "Jean, can you hear us?!"
Suddenly, a large steel panel broke orbit, flying straight at them, but Superman blasted it aside with his eye-rays. "Well, at least we know that the Phoenix can hear us!" he said. Then, they began to approach the center-point.
As they approached, two more steel panels flew at them, but Scott and Superman both blasted them aside. A Danger Room razor-disc launcher flew at them, but Superman caught it, and threw it away. Several drones came flying at them, but Scott blasted them aside. By then, they were close enough to the center-point. Scott and Superman then opened fire on the debris, clearing it away with eye-rays and optic-blasts. Soon, all the debris was gone...
...revealing a massive sphere of flame in the center. Slowly, the sphere opened, like birds' wings, revealing Jean at the center, except her eyes were now pure white, as she cocked her neck to the side...like a bird of prey, studying them.
The Professor looked grave. "Hello, Phoenix."
The Phoenix's face twisted in rage, as she let out a harpy-like screech, shaking the entire Danger Room. "YOU LOCKED ME AWAY!!" she screeched.
"I didn't have a choice." the Professor said softly.
The Phoenix calmed. "You're going to imprison me, again..." she hissed, her eyes narrowing, "...I won't go back!! I won't!! I deserve to be free!!!" With that, countless pieces of debris started to fly at them.
Superman darted to and fro, slamming debris away with his fists and blasting it away with his eye-rays, while Scott stayed near the concentrating Professor, keeping the air clear with his optic-blasts. "Professor, how are you doing?" Scott asked.
"She's...too strong!" the Professor said. "I can't restore the blocks! Not without help!"
Then, Scott got an idea. "Superman, throw me towards Jean!" he said. "I know I can reach her!"
"You got it, Chief!" Superman said. He darted down, lifted Scott up under his arms, and tossed him straight at the Phoenix. Scott grabbed Jean's shoulders, staring the Phoenix straight in the eye.
The tactic confused the Phoenix. "S-Scott?!" the Phoenix cried. "W-What are you doing?!"
"I know you're in there, Jean!" Scott said. "We need your help! We can't contain the Phoenix without you!"
"No!!" the Phoenix cried. "Scott, please! I just want to be free!"
"Jean, talk to me!!" Scott cried. "Don't give up! Fight her!!"
Suddenly, Jean's voice came through. "S-Scott?!" she cried.
"Fight her, Jean! Come back to us!!" Scott cried.
"I...I can't..." Jean whimpered.
"Yes, you can!!" Scott declared. "I know you better than anyone ever has, or ever will, Jean! I know that no matter how strong she is, you're stronger! You matter more to me than anyone else in this world, Jean, and I am not going to lose you!! Push her back!!"
"Scott! It's working!" the Professor called. "I can feel Jean's presence! She's helping to restore the blocks on the Phoenix!"
A determined look had come over Jean's face. "This...is...my mind!!" she shouted. "NOW, GET OUT!!"
"NOOOOO!!!!!" the Phoenix wailed, as her voice trailed off...and she was gone, leaving Jean in control.
Slowly, the flame-wings faded, the debris descended to the ground, as Scott slowly descended, holding the now-unconscious Jean. The Professor smiled. "The Phoenix is contained." he said. "It's over."
Smiling, Scott looked upon the peaceful, beautiful face of his best friend, who he now realized meant far more to him than a mere friend ever could. She was safe, now.
And that was all that mattered.
It was about sunset when Jean was allowed to leave the infirmary of the Institute. All the other X-Men, and the New Mutants, had come to visit her after school had ended...though Scott had been the most attentive one of them all, Jean thought with a smile. She couldn't get over what he'd said, before...
Had he really meant it?
By then, she was in the back yard, near the flower garden, one of her favorite spots to sit and think. She sat down, just enjoying the color of the red sky...
"Jean?"
Jean smiled as she saw Scott walk up to her...and her smile grew as she saw what he was hiding behind his back. "Oh, Scott, they're beautiful!" Jean exclaimed, happily accepting the bouquet of roses, savoring their sweet fragrance.
Scott smiled, scratching the back of his head in a nervous gesture...one she'd always thought was just adorable. "I'm...really glad you're feeling better, Jean." he said.
Jean smiled, lowering her gaze to hide her blush...despite the fact that Scott saw in shades of red, and thus couldn't see it, anyway. "I'm...glad to be feeling better." she replied. 'Though I'd feel a lot better if I knew how you felt...' she thought to herself.
"Go on a date with me."
Jean froze; had she heard right..?
Scott's face twisted in a panicked grimace. "Oh, God, Jean, I'm so sorry!" he cried. "I know you might still be upset over Duncan..."
"Scott, Duncan is the last thing on my mind." Jean said. "But...why did you ask that?"
Scott took a deep breath. "Jean, lately I've been thinking..." he said, "...about the both of us. Jean, you are my absolute best friend, and that's been amazing – really – but, I've been wondering if...just maybe...we could be...more." He took another breath. "Jean, if you don't feel that way, just say so now. I promise, we can just pretend that I never asked you and still stay friends..."
"Yes."
"Okay, Jean, I understand complete...I'm sorry, what did you say?" Scott babbled.
Jean smiled. "Scott, I remember everything you said to me...today." she said. "I...I really want to see where this goes, if there's more for us; I think we owe it to our friendship...because I've been thinking that way, too."
Scott smiled. "G-Great!" he stammered. "I...I think the school carnival is coming up, this weekend; how about we go, together?"
Jean smiled. "I'd really like that." Just then, she remembered something. "Now, I think I owe Clark an interview, Slim."
Scott nodded, smiling. "Okay." he said. "Later."
"Later." Jean replied, and then she walked off, to find Clark.
Jean found Clark, in his usual white t-shirt and blue jeans, sitting on the back steps. "Hey." Clark greeted. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah." Jean said. "My head's nice and quiet. Thanks for helping with that."
Clark shrugged. "Hey, it was Scott's idea!"
"Yeah, I know." Jean said, smiling. "He and I were going to go to the carnival, this weekend."
Clark grinned. "It's about time!" he laughed.
Jean chuckled. "And thanks for talking to me, yesterday." she said. "It really helped."
"Hey, I do what I can."
Jean nodded. "Now, I think I owe you an interview." she said.
Suddenly, Clark perked up, looking off in the distance. "Uh-oh."
Jean laughed. "You're kidding!" she exclaimed.
Clark smiled sheepishly. "Afraid so."
Laughing, Jean sat down on the steps. "Well, I'm just going to wait right here until you're done!" she declared.
Clark laughed. "Thanks!"
Jean smiled. "What are friends for?" she replied. Smiling, Clark then darted off, donning his uniform and flying off in a matter of seconds, a sonic boom echoing as he flew. Jean just smiled, and waited for her friend to get back.
Coming soon:
Superman's leadership of the New Mutants faces its first real challenge:
Tabitha "Boom-Boom" Smith.
A free spirit with a shadowed past, Tabitha believes in following her own rules, despite the mayhem that ensues.
Can the Man of Steel inspire this young prankster?
Or is the Brotherhood more her style?
Find out in "With Friends Like These," coming to your computer soon...