Memories
Strange Visitations
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any of their characters. Tora and Weapon X-ii are my own though.
Tora carefully lowered herself into the stream of data. Thoughts, feelings and memories all washed over her. She frowned, trying to pluck the reality out of thin air. Then it was there and Etana was grinning and the other her budged up to allow her into her mind.
Hello Tora.
Hello Tora.
Psychic laughter bubbled as the two minds melded together.
"Hello Etana."
"Which one are you?"
"Tora."
"Ha, ha. I mean really."
"I'm the other one."
"What other one!"
"Your other one."
"Yes, but which other one?"
"There are more than me?"
"Put it this way, when Doom ripped your mind to bits, all of you got the perception."
"Oh…"
"And I assume you're here to ask me a pressing question on which the fate of the world depends."
"Well, not exactly. What should I get Logan for his birthday?"
"Oh. One of those questions."
"What do you mean?"
"A difficult one."
And back on her bed at the mansion, a single tear slid down Tora's face.
Jean laughed.
"Oh yes. Etana could advise on the fate of the world easily enough. But ask her for present ideas and she would struggle for ideas for ages."
"Didn't Jubilee do that, just to annoy her?"
"Yes. It was rather funny."
"Funny for you."
Jean shuddered slightly as Tora went past. For some reason, Phoenix went wild whenever Tora was nearby. It had started after the Doom incident. Each time, the feeling had escalated, getting stronger with each passing day. It wasn't a bad feeling as such, more just one of pleasant surprise, like she hadn't seen Tora in years after hearing she had died of some sort of illness. Jean just put it down to Tora's minor personality shift, making Phoenix think of another avatar. Since the kidnapping, Tora sometimes shifted in personality, never too drastically but enough to suggest there was someone else at the steering wheel. At times like this, Jean wished she could read Tora's mind. That and she'd heard her whispering when she was sleeping on the way back about 'the Song'. Whether it was just nonsense or something more, Jean didn't know, but she intended to find out. Then she heard the screams and ran towards them, Tora joining her shortly. They charged out to the grounds, ran to the lake and stopped. A huge orange meteorite had landed in the lake. As they watched, the rock changed to neon orange goo, which twisted into an almost-human figure. A low voice, made by the goo rippling, rang out.
"I am His High Imperial Majesty Xixswalstar; Lord of Sareel, Herald of the K'meer Empire, Heir to the Legacy of Galactus, Ender of the Karmari People, Destroyer of the Periman Empire, High Admiral of the Most Glorious Imperial Fleet, High Lord of Perima, Speaker of the Imperial Council, Arch-Duke of Emeril, Purge of the Phoenos, Second Son of His Most High Imperiax Elstvalmer; Emperor of the K'Meer People, Leader of the Three Free Peoples. I come in peace. Where can a guy get a drink around here?"
Tora blinked twice before running away to prevent her laughter from causing some sort of diplomatic incident.
"Er, can you repeat that? I didn't quite catch your name. I am Cyclops, leader of the X-Men."
"I am His High Imperial Majesty Xixswalstar; Lord of Sareel, Herald of the K'meer Empire, Heir to the Legacy of Galactus, Ender of the Karmari People, Destroyer of the Periman Empire, High Admiral of the Most Glorious Imperial Fleet, High Lord of Perima, Speaker of the Imperial Council, Arch-Duke of Emeril, Purge of the Phoenos, Second Son of His Most High Imperiax Elstvalmer; Emperor of the K'Meer People, Leader of the Three Free Peoples,."
"Can you say it again, only slower?"
"Just call me Prince Xixswalstar. And please tell me this planet has alcoholic beverages."
"Er, yes it does…"
"Good. I'm parched."
Tora came back, hiccupping slightly. The next bit caused her to run away again, laughing.
"I really, really need to get drunk. I sort of ran away from home."
"Home being?"
"Meer'K, the most beautiful world in the universe, where the golden skies are graced by the blue sun."
"Er…"
"Look, I just got fed up of fighting with the Skrulls and Kree all the time. So I told Father I'm taking a holiday."
"Er…"
"This is a nice peaceful planet, isn't it?"
Tora, who had been walking back, ran away again, laughing her head off.
"Er, not exactly…"
"Wait a second. This is Earth, isn't it?"
"Yep."
"Oh… birstx."
"Er…"
"This is the world with all the insane superpowered people who saved the universe over the whole M'Kaan business, isn't it?"
"Er… yes. That was us. As in the people here, now."
"You saved the universe? I shake you… wait a second; my translator is on the blink again. What's a hand?"
"This."
Scott waved a hand around. The alien didn't seem to be a threat, actually being slightly amusing. Tora had come back and seemed able to not laugh for the rest of the encounter.
"Oh. What's the use of that? Our plasma bodies can do so much more."
A slight snort from Logan made Xixswalstar turn.
"Oh, a berserker warrior!"
"Er…"
"All berserker warriors have the red plasma."
"It's called blood doofus."
"Doofus- one of idiotic stupidity. You will play for that insult, small human male."
"Oh, stop the macho posturing Logan."
"Tora!"
"Look, he's an advanced alien. Do not antagonize him."
"The little woman speaks sense."
Tora turned round and raised an eyebrow.
"I am not little. It's a problem caused by adamantium implantation into a teenage skeleton."
"Adamantium- a virtually indestructible metal alloy. Cool."
"Please tell me he did not say cool."
"He did."
Then the goo started moving, slowly changing into a figure, which solidified. An imposing man about seven foot tall, with neon orange hair and still slightly gooey eyes.
"Since you poor carbon based life forms were obviously dazzled by my good looks, I have adopted a form more suitable for your environment."
"Is this guy for real?"
"Oh, he's for real. Lilandra told us about the K'Meer, remember."
Blank looks greeted Tora's remark.
"The K'Meer are a race of warriors who believe that battle is a holy rite. The Empire believes it should always be at war and K'Meer nobility must make a certain number of kills based on their social status before they become a man. For example, a K'Meer of the lowest caste or any non-K'Meer citizen must make one kill. A K'Meer Imperial Heir must kill the require twenty of a normal High Prince, but also lead an attack on a planet. Look, it's complicated. You should have been listening to Lilandra."
"Oh."
"Excuse me, but would I be able to stay here for a while? It appears my navigation system has shorted out."
All eyes turned to Scott who froze.
"Well, I suppose it is Christmas…"
The two women burst out laughing.
"What's going on?"
They turned and both perked up.
"Xixy just turned up."
"You mean His Most High Imperiax Xixswalstar, Emperor of the K'Meer People, Lord of the Gate, Leader of the Three Free Peoples, He Who Fought The Chaos, Lord of Sareel, Herald of the K'meer Empire, Heir to the Legacy of Galactus, Ender of the Karmari People, Destroyer of the Periman Empire, High Admiral of the Most Glorious Imperial Fleet, High Lord of Perima, Speaker of the Imperial Council, Arch-Duke of Emeril, Purge of the Phoenos, Second Son of His Most High Imperiax Elstvalmer, Emperor of the K'Meer People and Father of His Most High Imperiax Makastarval, Emperor of the K'Meer People, Leader of the Three Free People…?"
"Yes, that Xixy. Death, how's Reave? And the others?"
"Reave is coping well. I've put him in charge of Earthly characters. I'm not certain if Norrin Radd, Teddy Altman and a few others like Marr-vell should be included there…"
"Let them go where they want to go."
"Now I never thought of that Phoenix… Congratulations on doing your job. I should mention, the other Phoenix avatars are petitioning to have transfer to the White Hot Room."
"No."
"Come on…"
"Are you just here to talk business?"
"No. I'm here to join the party."