Chapter 10: Warning
The trip back to Utopia with Dawn is much more laid back then the last one but also quieter. For one thing, there was no worry about any injured. And second was that they discovered is that Dawn was extremely talkative and curious, sitting in the front row with a quiet Remy, her knees on the seat as she looked back over the top of seat with her arms crossed and her chin resting on them after she asked a question.
"So you're part of the original team of X-men?" she asked Iceman. His seat is right behind hers and he is the first person she was brave enough to talk to.
"Yeah, I am. They call me Iceman." Bobby grinned, producing an ice swan before her eyes. He handed it to her.
"Wow, its cold!" she yelped in surprise, switching it from one hand quickly as she pulled her sleeves down to cover her hands. "Pretty."
"I'm glad you like it."
"I do!" Dawn held the swan to her chest, a pink flush on her cheeks. "Thank you."
"We're approaching Utopia." Cyclops announced from the cockpit. Dawn turned around in her seat and sat down, while Remy helps fasten her seat belt. "Touch down in one minute."
Dawn held the swan on her lap but her finger started tapping against the armrest. Remy noticed this and leans over, speaking in her ear. "Are you feelin' okay petite?"
Dawn nodded before shaking her head. "It was wrong before. That is why I left. It wasn't safe."
"And now?"
"I'm with you. As long as I'm with you, I'll be okay even if you don't believe in yourself anymore." Remy felt his heart jump as he mussed up her hair, making her giggle. After all these years, she could still make him feel like he could take on the entire world, no the entire universe with a few simple words. Her faith in him was unyielding. "And plus the danger is gone from here now." He tilt his head in question, ready to ask her why she thought that when they reached the island.
The jet descended, making Dawn's stomach lurch slightly followed by a small bump as it landed on the landing pad. The team waited for the all clear from Cyclops before unbuckling their seat belts. Dawn waited until Remy undid his belt before undoing hers, grabbing his hand as he heads towards the exit, the team following close behind him. There is a gathering on the landing pad as news about Dawn's awakening and return spread throughout Utopia.
Dawn stopped just inside the exit, moving away from the opening when she sees how many were out there. She tightens her hold on Remy's hand, shifting closer to him. "There's so many of them." She said with awe.
"Yeah."
"Why are they out there?"
"Dey've come t' see you. Dey want t' see wit' their own eyes de youngest mutant on Earth. To dem, you are de future of mutant-kind."
"I am?" Dawn looked up at Remy, her golden eyes wide. He had hoped that her eyes would revert back to the red on black but they remained gold on black. He hoped that wasn't a sign of trouble coming. "Why?"
"Because you are de first mutant t' come into their power since M-Day. You're de miracle everyone has been waitin' for." Remy explained. "You 'member de story I told you how a red witch made a wish and wiped out an entire race?"
"But that was just a story. Wasn't it?" Dawn asked, frightened suddenly. She loved and hated that story. A witch who was beloved by the people had gone crazy and in her craziness, made a wish that wiped out an entire race of special people. She then disappeared, never to be heard from again. The way Papa told it to her, made her wonder why a person who was as beloved as the witch turned bad. Why every time she thought about that story, it made her heart ache.
"No one should have that kind of power." Dawn said suddenly, looking up at Remy. "No one should have that kind of responsibility to change what they don't understand or to think they know what better or to make a wish based on sorrow. It hurts people."
"You've a kind heart Dawn." Remy smiled at her. "Don' you lose dat yeah?"
Dawn nods before turning her attention back to the ever growing crowd outside on the landing pad. "What should I do when I get out there? What are they expecting?"
She didn't wait for an answer, instead she tugged on Remy's hand and together they walk out of the jet. Everyone who could-came out to see Dawn; to see the hope of the future with the first mutant to come into their power since M-Day. To see a cheerful little girl with a smile on her face hand in hand with the mutant traitor who was her father. Admittedly, they were envious on how close and happy she seemed to be with him at her side.
When she is close enough to them, she stopped and let go of Remy's hand. She took a step towards the gathering.
"Thank you for welcoming me to your home." she said, bowing at the waist before straightening up. "My name is Dawn Autumn LeBeau. I hope to meet and know all of you as friends." she finished with a pleased smile.
"Why did you run?" Dawn shifted in the chair, trying to look anywhere but at the green eyes that stared at her. "It is not safe out there alone."
"It wasn't safe here." Dawn said before she looked up at the eyes finally, wilting under the intense look. "I'm sorry Laurie. I didn't mean to make you worry about me. I was going to call when I was at the safe-house I swear!"
"You should have taken me with you. Or your father. Or Tante Mattie." Laurie stated her arms crossed against her chest.
"I didn't know any of you were here or I would have. But I still needed to leave."
"Why?"
"Because it wasn't safe!" Dawn slapped her palm against the armrest.
"Laurie, don't be angry with me please. I just got you back and I don't want us to be upset with each other." Dawn's lower lip trembled. Laurie's frown deepened before she closed her eyes and let out a huff. She opened her eyes and approached Dawn, tilting her chin up.
"I was worried. That is all."
Dawn hugged Laurie. "I remember being so scared for you. You weren't healing right and men where chasing us and people were screaming. There was so much screaming and blood..."
"It's over now." Laurie said, returning Dawn's hug. Across the room, the X-men are trying hard to pretend like they aren't watching the two girls make up but failing completely.
Laurie had appeared on the landing pad not long after Dawn made her introduction to the inhabitants of Utopia. They had created quite a surprising scene as Dawn had broken away from Remy and ran towards Laurie with tears streaming from her eyes and calling "Laurie! Laurie!" over and over.
They met each other halfway, falling to their knees as Dawn sobbed into Laurie's shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around Laurie's neck. Laurie's heated glare kept anyone from getting too close to them, growling deep in her throat when they did. Only Remy was able to get close enough to usher them down below and to the command room where they now gathered to come up with some kind of plan of action now that Dawn was awake.
Laurie is Dawn's sister in all but name and blood. Maybe name too because Dawn gave her a new name and called her sister. They are sisters, deeply bonded and carrying a love for each other that only family can have. Dawn traveled with Laurie when she was tracking down the people who were trying to recreate the Weapon X program and stood besides her when it ended. She gave her a kiss goodbye when Laurie joined the Avengers and welcomed her back with smiles and hugs whenever she took a break and returned to them. She had four notebooks in her room at the mansion in New Orleans filled with text messages they had sent each other, a board filled with pictures of her family where Laurie was predominately displayed.
To Laurie, there was nothing in the world she cherished more and she vowed then and there that no one will ever defeat her like they did in New Orleans. If she had to, she would resort to her most basic instincts, bring out the monster her creators had tried to force on her, she would even turn back and seek the help of her blood father if it meant protecting Dawn.
She would die to protect her.
"I don't like it when you get hurt because of me." Dawn said quietly. "Don't get hurt like you did before okay?"
"I will do my best." Laurie replied, giving Dawn one last squeeze before releasing her.
"Look at my girls! So cute!" A pair of arms envelope them both, hugging them tight. "It's so wonderful seeing you make-up-ow!"
"Hands off old man!" Laurie growled, her fists clenched tightly as she glares at Remy who is hugging his midsection, gasping for air.
"Papa! Don't sneak up on Laurie! You know she doesn't like people sneaking up on her like that!" Dawn protested, her hands in front of her, unsure how to help her Papa.
"I remember but you two are just too cute together." Remy grinned through the pain.
*Ahem* Cyclops cleared his voice. "If you're done, we can start the meeting."
"Sure." Remy pulled himself to his full height.
"Kitty if you can take Dawn to her room-"
"I don't want to go to my room. I want to listen in!" Dawn protested before looking up at Remy with wide eyes. "Papa, can't I stay?"
"Dawn! Autumn! LeBeau!"
Dawn physically flinched as her whole name was yelled out and made a move to hide behind Remy before deciding not to. It was too late to hide anyways. She turned to face the anger of Tante Mattie. "H-hello Gram."
Tante Mattie came into the room like a hurricane full of fury, stopping in front of Dawn with her hands on her hips. The look on her face brought back painful memories of being on the wrong end of a rolling pin and Remy wanted to shield Dawn from that fury when Tante Mattie grabbed Dawn in a hug.
"Don' you be scarin' an old woman like dat again, you hear me girl?" Tante Mattie said against Dawn's ear. "If I weren't so relieved t' see you here, I would make sure you couldn't sit for a week!"
Dawn winced at the threat. "I'm really sorry Gram. Don't be worried anymore, I'm okay."
"Lord child, I swear you're just like your Papa. He gave me several attacks when he was young too. O' course, children grow out of dat phase. Remy, dat boy never has." Mattie turned her dark eyes to Remy who sulked like a little boy.
"Hey, dat's not fair." he protested. Dawn smiled at his sulk as well did Mattie. At their smile, he huffed before he turning serious. "Tante, can you take Dawn wit' you? We have t' have a talk now dat Dawn's awake."
Tante Mattie looked over at the team before nodding. "I will. Come child, let's get you cleaned, dressed and fed properly."
"Ok." Dawn nodded, reaching for her Gram's hand. She looked back at Kitty. "Are you still coming with us?"
Kitty looked surprised at the request before nodding. "Oh! Yes I guess I am."
"Come on then." Dawn said, holding out her other hand. Kitty practically skipped over and grabbed it. "Do you live here?"
"Yes, I live on level-" Their conversation died out as the door shut behind them.
It was quiet for a minute before Gambit spoke. "I'm not takin' back what I said on de bridge. I can't protect Dawn anymore."
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked him, pulling away to look up at him.
"I can't protect you anymore." Remy said a sad look on his face.
"Yes you can. You can do anything." Dawn protested. She pulled on his hand, tugging him away from the X-men standing in front of them, watching quietly. "Come on, we have to leave."
"No Dawn."
"But you can protect me. You've done so all my life!" Dawn pulled harder.
"I have. And I'm glad you trust me but Dawnie, sweetie, you need more than I can provide. You need others like us." Gambit pulled Dawn to him, hugging her to him. She struggled and pushed away from him.
"But-all I want is you. And Birdie. And Laurie. And Gram. And Auntie-" she stopped when he put a hand on her cheek. "Papa."
"It'll be okay Dawn. You'll see."
Dawn looked down on the ground, her eyes wet. They burned. "It's because of me isn't it. It's something I did. I'll take it back." Dawn looked up at him, her eyes wide. "I'll take it all back so you don't have to feel like you-" she stopped, holding a hand to her mouth. She almost said it!
"Failed?" Gambit asked quietly. Dawn shook her head wildly. "Lost? Defeated?"
"You're my Papa and I love you no matter what happens, so you don't have to look so sad or scared because I love you!" Dawn blurted out, pulling her hands away from her mouth.
She felt her cheeks flush in color when she heard a few chuckles. She had forgotten that they weren't alone. She clenched her fists at her side, unfamiliar with having people look at her for long periods of time. Gambit brought her fists to his lips and kissed the knuckles, feeling them relax in his hands. He knew how she felt about being exposed and how deeply embedded the urge to run was.
But the running had to end.
"I love you too Dawn."
He'd put a stop to it now.
"I don't want things to change."
She needed a stable place to call home.
"Seasons change."
She needed a place to call her own.
"I'm afraid."
She needed the security and comfort she had before he met her.
"I'll be wit' you...all de way."
He needed to be the kind of parent that put fears to rest.
"Promise?"
They needed to heal.
"I promise."
And with the X-men he felt that maybe it could happen. He's done it once before, maybe he could do it again and this time, do it right from the start.
"Ok." Dawn held his hand, tightening her grip when he took a step forward. "Ok." She followed him.
"Remy…"
"But just because I can't protect her like she needs t' be protected doesn't mean I'm handin' her over t' you. She's still my daughter an' I still get t' decide on de important things in her life." Gambit turned on the group. "Up t' an' includin' any medical decisions, security protocols an' her education an' physical trainin'."
"We need to test her powers in order to start a training regime." Cyclops said.
"I will be there for de testing." Gambit replied. "I choose who teaches her after it is done."
"Fine. I assume that Dr. Rao will be Dawn's primary doctor?"
"Dat hasn't changed. I'll need access t' de security mainframe an' have someone look through it an' make any changes I see fit if you don' mind."
"I'll give clearance when I run a background on that someone."
"She lives wit' me at de Loft. Alone. Wit' no X-men lookin' over my shoulder."
It was here that there was a deal breaker. Gambit could see Cyclops fight against the automatic negative. The Loft was out in the open, on the other side of the island away from the base. If any attack would happen, then it would be four minutes away from help and their lives four minutes was a very long time. It may have large thick walls surrounding it on three sides but it had no additional security as of yet since Gambit had torn out its previous one in lieu of a new one that he had scheduled to be put in five days from now. It was unprotected, too far and taken over by company that was far less trustworthy than when he first arrived and had in his possession the future of their kind.
Gambit couldn't be trusted with Dawn.
But he had a sinking feeling that Dawn would follow him to the ends of the world and never see pass the adoration and love she had for him. Something must have happened in her past that made her latch on to him in such a way and he planned on finding what it was.
"Fine."
Gambit nodded. "Good."
"You're not going to isolate her from the rest of the island are you?" asked Magneto from his place near the front of the group. "You seem to like keeping her away from the rest of the world."
Gambit didn't need to read between the lines about that comment or know what the man who protested, quite loudly about Gambit's ability to raise and teach Dawn now that she is a mutant, meant.
It was known through the ongoing investigation that Dawn never ventured outside boundaries he had set for her. Prestigious private well guarded schools or home schooling. A mansion with tall brick and iron fences and all the toys and latest new models a kid could ask for, no outsider visitors other than family and the one friend. Very few people knew about Dawn, at least not without some deep digging. If only they knew the real reason...if only he would tell them.
Remy grinned and waved the question away. "No. You heard Dawn, she wants t' meet everyone on de island. She wants t' see you as friends so who am I t' get in her way."
"If you put on a good show for her, she'll come out of her shell. Have it in de open and keep it light. Let her come t' you, not de other away around." Gambit said thoughtfully, a finger tapping on his chin. If he was going to live here with Dawn, then he would have to build the bridges he was reluctant to make when she was sleeping. "Also, don' be surprised bout what comes outta her mouth. She's heard so many stories, dat she's come up wit' her own conclusion 'bout certain events."
"Stories that she's heard from you, no doubt." Wolverine growled. He was also someone who protested Gambit's role in Dawn's upbringing though he found no fault in his parenting skills.
"She got bored wit' fairy tales when she was 5. I had t' come up wit' somethin' t' tell her." Gambit sighed dramatically. "Can't help it if de stories were so boring dat I had t' put a bit more flair t' em t' make em interesting."
"You lied to her you mean." Wolverine grinned darkly. He didn't like how lightly Gambit was taking this whole situation with Dawn. He didn't understand how Gambit thought he could be a father to a little girl with all he's done in his life.
Gambit made a wounded scoff before he flicked his nose at him. "I never lied t' Dawn. I may embellish de truth abit but I never ever lied t' her."
"Listen bub-"
"Cyclops?" Kitty's voice came through the com-badge, interrupting the growing tension.
"Yes?" Cyclops asked.
"Can you come to the Underwater Rec room? Bring Remy as well." Kitty spoke, her voice quivering. They could hear someone in the background, yelling or crying, it was hard to make out. "Dawn needs him."
"We're on our way."
They reached the Rec Room in record time, with Gambit in the lead. They could hear whimpering sounds and Gambit rushed ahead of them, disappearing around the corner. When they entered the room they could see that Dawn was in his arms, being rocked and hiding her face in his neck. Gambit was doing his best to soothe her, stroking her hair and talking with her quietly, "It's okay petite You're safe here. I have you. Papa has you, its fine."
"My neck-!" Dawn is holding her hand against her neck, palms pressed on her jugular.
"Dere's nothin' wrong wit your neck." Remy said. "You're fine."
"I can feel blood." Dawn protested. "It hurts."
"Where does it hurt?" Dawn bit her lower lip, whining softy as she pressed harder on her neck. "Dawnie, tell me where it hurts?" Remy pressed.
"My neck. My neck hurts! Teeth against bone, tearing the flesh like jello and-they're drinking it!" Dawn cried. She's shaking now, shivering under Remy's hands. "Laughing and smiling as they drink the hot blood! Cruel beasts in human forms—ah!" Dawn cried out, pushing away from Remy to curl in on herself. She shuddered again. "Stop please."
"Stop now. Stop." Dawn started muttering as she rocked on her knees. "Please, please, please stop! Stop it! Don't hurt them anymore!" She yelled out the last bit as her protests became louder. "Stop hurting people!"
"Emma can you-"Cyclops stopped what he was asking when he saw that Emma had reverted to her diamond form, her brows drawn in a frown. "Never mind. Cuckoos can you check and see if there is any danger nearby? Find out what is bothering her."
The Cuckoos nodded, their glowing eyes becoming brighter as they sought any nearby disturbance. What they found surprised them. Before they could give Cyclops a warning to what they found Dawn screamed and a heavy telepathic presence slammed into them, knocking the air out of them as they fell to their knees. They could hear Cyclops call for them but they couldn't tear their eyes away from Dawn.
She's pulsing with high energy, a familiar energy that seemed to being thumping in their chests, struggling to be free. "It's not possible." they said. "It can't be."
"I SAID STOP IT!" A bright light surrounded her form, as highly concentrated energy spread from her back, so bright and blinding though a few could swear they could see them form into wings as her hair fanned around her like flames before it shot out of her in a wave.
The room gasped, bracing for impact from the energy they could feel rushing at them. But the power went through them with no harm and disappeared through the walls and glass. They could see it rush out across the underwater landscape.
"Command, track that energy flow now! Let me know what it is doing." Cyclops barked into his com badge as Dawn slumped to the ground, smoking rising from ground around her and off her clothes. She fell against Remy who is slumped over as well. "Cuckoos what-?" he stopped when he realized that the Cuckoos are slumped in a pile. If he had to guess, the other empaths and telepaths on the island would be slumped over on the island as well.
Emma Frost seemed to be the only one unaffected because of her diamond form.
"It was a psychic wave wasn't it?" he asked her. Emma nodded.
"You don't know what you invited on the island Cyclops." Emma said, wrapping her arms around her waist. "She's dangerous."
"Some mutants are when they first come into power." Storm said, stroking Dawn's hair as she held the girl to her chest. Dawn, they could see was awake but quiet, staring into the space in front of her thought she reacted to Storm's soothing tone and touches. She with Kitty's and Peter's help had carried them to a nearby couch, laying Remy down. "It will take time for her to learn control."
"She won't be able to control this." Emma said before turning and headed for the door. "She'll burn us all."
Cyclops drew his mouth in a stern line. "Take them to Medical. I want Dr. Rao to check over Dawn and Gambit. I need all empaths and telepaths in Medical. I want to see what damage was done to them."
After making sure that his orders are being followed, he headed to Command. He needed to find out how Dawn's outburst of energy affected the city across the bay and ready a report to give to the Mayor when she called about the incident. He felt something growing in his gut that was telling him something was coming.
Whatever it was, it was scaring Dawn enough for her to lash out blindly with her powers and in doing so was causing problems. Problems his enemies would no doubt take advantage of. That was something he didn't want and he would do anything to make sure that it stopped.
"Report." he said as soon as the door opened and he stepped in the room. Madison Jefferies is at the keyboard, chatting with the computer like he would any living person because Madison could talk to machines. When Cyclops made his demand he replied, "We have a problem."
"Go on."
"Well boss, it seems we have in infestation in the city. And not just some regular bug or rodent infestation but I mean a real honest to god, holy $# * we're in really deep this time infestation." Madison typed on the keyboard and an image lit up on the wide screen facing the window and showed the city behind it
"This is a map of the city." Madison said. He typed a few keys and the screen lit up in red in large sections. "And this is our problem."
"What is it?" Cyclops asked as he watched the screen shift in real time, the red on the screen black through his visor's filter.
"Vampires. Thousands and thousands of vampires. And it looks like they're headed this way." Madison pointed out, showing the vampires before the psychic wave and after. Before the wave, the vampires were scattered, in large numbers but apart. After the wave, it seemed that they shifted, moving in one direction….towards Utopia.
"How long before they reach the ocean?"
"An hour at the most." Madison said, stroking the computer. It purred pleasantly under his hand. "But who knows? There's just too many vampires gathered in the city. Too many for it to be a coincidence right? I mean, before the wave, there was nothing on our screens that told us of any danger but now look at it. I had the computer silence the alarm before she called it out because then it would throw the whole island on Red Alert Alpha."
Cyclops swallowed. Red Alert Alpha was the highest alert on the island, one poised to set the island on fight to the last man mode because that meant the very end of mutant kind. It meant that someone was going to wipe out all mutants on the island.
"Someone had been planning this." Cyclops said, studying the screen. "Send out Red Alert Beta." It wasn't as deathly serious as Alpha but it would tell everyone to be ready and call all the teams to the Command, including the Atlantean Guard. "If they plan on attacking tonight then I want all the teams debriefed to the situation."
He turned to Madison. "You said that there was no warning before the wave?"
"Yes. And after, it just lit up. As if there was a fog covering the sensors and it was blown away." Madison said before pausing. "Where did it come from, that wave?"
"Dawn. Dawn sent it out."
"The new girl?" Madison asked surprised. He leaned back in his hair. "Amazing, I didn't know she could do that."
'There's a lot we don't know about Dawn.' Cyclops thought as the alarms sounded throughout the island.
"And you're sure the child is there?" A dark haired man with cold red eyes asked the messenger kneeling before him. He licked his lips, showing deadly sharp teeth, settled back against the heavy wooden chair like a king.
"Yes my lord."
"Hmm...delicious." A dark laugh followed suit, chilling the Asian girl lounging at the man's feet. "And how are the psychics feeling?"
"Sir, we lost most of them in the psychic wave that hit us." The messenger said. "The cover they provided is gone, we have been exposed."
"Hmm. Send out condolences to their clans. Tell them that their sacrifice will not be in vain. We will go forward as planned."
"Yes my lord."
The messenger disappeared in a flash.
The vampire shifted in his chair, leaning forward to run his fingers through the Asian girl's black hair. She cooed against his hand. He tipped her chin up so he could look into her brown eyes, soon to be red. "So my sweet Jubilee, you were telling the truth. There is a new mutant on the island."
"Yes Xarus." Jubilee sighed against his hand.
"Then this will be fun. I'll welcome the mutant race into my arms as a new vampire race who will be loyal to me, and taste the freshest, purist mutant blood in the world." He laughed, pulling her to sit on his lap. "By tomorrow night, I will have surpassed my father in power and concrete my place in history as the most powerful vampire in history."
He bit into Jubilee's neck, making her cry out in a mix of pleasure/pain as she fell limp against him.
AN: Hello! Long time no see. I hope you enjoy this update. I know I said that there would be some action but I wrote too much so it will be in the next chapter. LOL. I also added a book cover to the story. I'm happy with it (^_^)
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