Chapter Nine:

Jean Summers

"Pardon me, but who are you looking for?"

"Ororo Munroe Iqadi."

"And who are you?"

"T'Challa. High priest of Wanaka and Ororo's husband."

There was a collection of gasps before Ororo flew down from her room and to the ground.

"What do you want, Black Panther?"

"You, my queen. I have been looking all over for you since you disappeared."

Ororo visibly blushed and she said to T'Challa, "Follow me."

He complied to her demand and they walked into the mansion together. No one saw them for quite some time. For the next few hours, that's all the mutants kids talked of. They were stunned that Ororo was married, just as I was. I didn't picture her as someone who would walk out on a marriage. She was a motherly figure here and seemed to be so strong.

Why did she leave him?

Esmeralda Howlett

"Esmeralda, Logan, he's awake." Hank said into the phone to our room.

Logan and I walked down the stairs and returned to the med bay. I wanted to know who this boy was.

"Hello, Logan and Esmeralda." Hank greeted.

"Hi, Hank. What's the verdict?" I asked.

"He's awake, a little malnourished, but he will be fine in a few days." Hank paused, contemplating something for a little while and added, "But what he's about to tell you is quite strange..."

"What do you mean?" Logan questioned.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

Logan and I followed Hank into the room where the boy was. He was laying in the bed, watching television. He had some color back in his face and had sky blue eyes, which were quite the contrast against his pitch black hair. The boy smiled when he saw Logan.

"What's your name, kid?" Logan asked, getting what he thought was the more important question out of the way.

"Raven. Raven Jacob Howlett."

Logan and I shared the same shock. Both of us had expressionless faces. My mouth hung open for a few seconds before I closed it and Logan looked mad.

"Come again?" I questioned.

"Raven Jacob Howlett."

"How?" Logan asked, trying not to sound pissed.

"You're James Howlett, aren't you?"

Logan unsheathed one set of claws and demanded, "Who are you, bub? You better tell me everything."

I placed a hand on Logan chest, urging him to calm down and retract his claws.

Raven threw up his hands in surrender and said, "Of course. Your little brother, Jacob Howlett, was raised by your grandfather. Do you remember?"

Logan retracted his claws and he nodded, saying, "Yes, I remember. Jacob was nothing but a small boy when I ran away. I had forgotten about him..."

Raven continued, "Well, Jacob could feel when you were in trouble. He kept track of you up until the second he died. His stories about you were passed down by each generatioon. All of the surviving Howletts know of your adventures up until the day of Jacob's death."

"What was the last story?" Logan asked. I knew that he didn't want Raven to know his darker times.

"The last known story was when you went under the experiment. Jacob couldn't track you after you survived that."

"Really?" Hank curiously questioned.

Raven nodded and said, "That's the story Dad told my sister and I."

"You have a sister?"

"Yes. Renee."

"Why isn't she here?"

"She's normal."

I nodded and Logan asked, "So you and all of my realitives that I had no clue about until five minutes ago know most of my life story?"

Raven nodded again, saying, "Hard for you to grasp?"

Logan nodded and I placed a hand on his shoulder for support.

"So i'm your great-great uncle?"

"Great-great-great uncle."

"I feel so old."

I laughed and said, "Oh honey, you are very old."

Laura Kinney

"I'll cut your fucking throat out!" I shouted to Victor, who was carrying me with ropes around my body.

"I'd like to see you try."

I thrashed against him, wanting to rid myself of these damn ropes. It was to no avail though.

"Give up yet?"

"Never, you bastard."

"Fiesty little thing, aren't ya?"

I stayed silent.

"Can't expect anything else from Jimmy's daughter, though."

He thinks I'm Logan's daughter? I have to play along to keep Elisabeth safe.

"You got that right."

I could tell that Victor was walking towards the mansion. I was worried about Elisabeth and Elijah.

Jean? Can you hear me?

Loud and clear, Laura.

Get Elisabeth and Elijah somewhere safe. I think Victor is wanting them. He thinks I'm Logan's daughter. I'm playing along.

You got it, Laura.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Be careful.

I will.

Elijah Howlett

The Danger Room changed to a green meadow that seemed to be peaceful. Ellamae told me there were no "enemies" here.

Ellamae continued, "This Danger Room program was created to help my sister and Ah master our powers."

She pulled out a deck of cards and I was puzzled.

"Are we playing poker?" I asked.

She laughed and said, "No. But Ah do know how to play poker like a champion."

I watched as she pulled out a few cards and slid the rest of the deck into her pocket. Her eyes went from green to red and the cards turned a bright red. She threw them and they exploded like little bombs.

"Woah. Now I know why you needed the Danger Room."

She smiled and her eyes went back to green. "Yes. My sister and Ah share the same powers. We also have Mom's aborption powers, but it's split between us so when only one of us touchs someone, there's no harm. Ah absorb powers, knowledge, and physical abiliites. Evangeline absorbs memories, talents and personalities."

"So the two of you together-"

"Are powerful. Which is why Mom didn't want Evangeline to come with us. She loves the power, whereas Ah don't."

Selene Gallio

"Professor, why did you need me here?"

"Because, Selene, you are the only person I know that can erase the people Rogue, Ellamae and Evangeline absorb. Rogue already has a lot of people in her head."

"So you want me to risk their lives in order to clear their heads?"

"You won't be risking their lives. I think that you will be able to feel when it's only them in their head. Rogue has agreed to test my theory. If it works, she wants you to clear the twin's heads too."

"Alright. But you do know this isn't guarenteed, right?"

"Yes, Selene, I know. Rogue should be here soon."

Anna-Marie LeBeau

I looked at the clock and it was time for me to go to Professor's office for a "mind cleaning" as he called it.

"Here goes nothing." I said to myself as I walked out of mine and Remy's room and downstairs to his office.

"Hello, Rogue. Are you ready?"

"As ready as Ah'll eva be."

"Sit down in the chair and I need you to focus on only the other people in your head. Don't even think about thinking about yourself. Got it?" Selene commanded.

"Yep." I did as I was told and focused only on those I had absorbed in the past. I felt Selene place her hands on each side of my head and I could feel some of the personalities leaving.

Selene's hands dropped and I opened my eyes. She appeared to be much younger.

"I have not fed like that since Atlantis fell."

"You were at Atlantis?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. Well it worked on me, Professer."

"As we thought it would, Rogue. Thank you for being the test subject."

"Don't mention it."

Jean Summers

Rachel, where's Elisabeth?

On the roof with Remy.

Tell her to come to the Danger Room.

Yes, Mom.

I left this up to her because I knew that Rachel and Elisabeth have a telepathic link. This would make it easier for them to communicate.

And Rachel?

Yeah?

Make sure Elijah is there too.

Got it.

Ororo Munroe

"My queen, we need you back in Wanaka."

"I'm not going back. I am at home here."

"Please, my queen. I didn't travel this far to go back without you."

"I don't care. You will have to find another queen."

"There's no one like you."

"I heard you anulled our marriage."

T'Challa sighed and said, "I did. I had to. The people were suspecting foul play. They were saying things and spreading rumors about your disappearance. The main rumor was that I killed you in a state of rage. Why did you run away, Ororo?"

"Because I was young when we got married. I was still in college when I met you. I left college to be with you. That was stupid of me."

Elisabeth Howlett

"Who's the new guy?" I asked Rachel.

She was silent for a moment before saying, "Paras Gavaskar."

"That's a mouth full."

"He's indian."

"Like Native American or India?"

"India Indian."

"What about him?"

"Julian Keller. I met him last year."

"What are their powers?"

"Paras can create this weird armor on his skin. I can't describe it. Julian has insane telekinetic abiliites. Him and I got into a telekinetic fight last summer."

"Awesome."

I looked at both of them. Paras had purple skin and red hair. Julian looked normal with black hair. Both of them were built.

"You're not going mushy on me, are you?" Rachel questioned, obviously reading my mind.

"No."

"Lier."

"Am not!"

"Elisabeth Rose Howlett. You are going mushy on me."

Laura Kinney

We were almost to the mansion's grounds now. Victor blindfolded me awhile back, but I could smell the fresh cut grass.

Jean, warn the others to act like I'm Logan's daughter. Please

Of course.

Victor stopped walking and I heard him yell, "JIMMY!"

Evangeline LeBeau

"Hey, Ma, where's Ellamae?"

"Danger Room."

I ran down the steps to the Danger Room and sure enough, there was Elijah and Ellamae.

I found the intercom and said, "Hey, what are y'all doing?"

"Ah'm showing him my powers."

"Ah'm coming down."

"No yer not!"

"Yes Ah am!"

"Girls, please. Evangeline, stay up there." Elijah interrupted.

"Ah don't havta listen to you."

"Bu' you do have ta listen to moi." I heard behind me, knowing it was Dad.

"Bon jour, Fatha."

"Evangeline, you stay up here. Let Ellamae do dis."

I crossed my arms over my chest and said, "Fine."