Memories
Decimation
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"That's the woman who defeated Magneto?"
She didn't look like much. Just a slight woman dwarfed by her companion. She had a slight frown on her face as she listened to the woman.
"Who's her companion?"
"Eva De Souza, her personal aide. They have a very close history together."
"You mean Project Eden?"
"Yeah. Unfortunately, all data on Eden was wiped courtesy of our mark down there. We know she's a mutant but what she can do is anyone's guess."
"Why are she here?"
"Circen won't go anywhere without her. Eden's the only person who can stop Circen from killing people when she goes crazy."
"And that's bad, right?"
Raven blinked.
"I was there when she lead the Revolution. Every mutant opponent I met had the French flag painted on their face. The red third was in her own blood."
"I thought that was just a legend!"
"Nah. She knows how to inspire loyalty in her followers. She cut her own arm and painted the flag onto her own face and told those who wished to fight to be marked. She stayed on the front line the whole time. I saw her kill who knows how many people. She's not just dangerous. She's lethal."
Once again they looked down at the slight red-head who was now shaking her head furiously at whatever her aide had said. Could that small frame be as dangerous as Wolverine, if not more? Suddenly the mark got up and walked over to Magneto. She stared him right in the eye and opened her mouth.
"Quick! Get the bug up!"
"Magnus." No trace of an accent. Flawless English.
"Marie. What brings you here after all these years?"
"A hope for peace. I apologize for not bowing, but as head of a Republic that executed their monarchy…"
"I understand. How may I help you this evening?"
"I bring you a gift. Something I took from you many years ago. I apologize but I had some trouble getting it and I wasn't able to have it cleaned. My fellow countrymen were a little…overenthusiastic… in their patriotism."
She handed him a box that De Souza placed in her hands. Magnus raised an eye and opened it, using his power to raise the trademark helmet to eye level. Even from their vantage point, the Red Guard could see it had been thirded into red, white and blue. The Tricolore. Raven winced.
"Ouch!"
"Why? What's that about?"
"That is a highly calculated insult. She gives Magnus back the helmet she took from him when she beat him, and it has been defaced with the French colours. It's her way of saying she's still more powerful than him."
"Does she do that deliberately?"
"You bet."
Raven stopped. Their mark now standing apart from the rest of the party.
"Now?"
"Now."
The gun was set into position. It would be such a tragedy, that such an inspirational woman was killed by members of the Human Resistance on Genosha right in the heart of the celebrations. They already had eyewitnesses prepared to swear under oath that she leapt in front of Magnus to protect him, expecting her healing to keep her safe. An act of selfless sacrifice.
But as the shot rang out, the black haired woman ran towards the already turning premier and pushed her out of the path of the bullet, staggering backwards as blood splurted over the black dress. She fell backwards and Marie Circen screamed. Then roared an animal roar. Claws now out, she moved so fast no gun could train on her and then she was behind Magnus's throne, claws held under his throat. Then she slumped forward and stepped away, walking over to the body on the ground, where she knelt down. A long, low moan, an animalistic cry of pain, a lament slid from between her lips. She cradled the head then closed the eyes before standing up. Turned. And walked out.
The Red Guard weren't entirely sure what had happened. They'd just let a target walk away. Why? Why couldn't they shoot the woman called Marie Circen?
"Eva De Souza was a very important person, you know that?"
"How? She died before her fourteenth birthday."
"She turned Marie Circen into Dragon. She deserved the tribute given to her."
They nodded as the statue flickered into view on the water. A swirl piece of water, shaped into a girl who stood as she had never been able to in life. Proud, free and strong.
She collapsed after she had run non-stop for over two miles. Tears of pain and anger ran down her face. She shouldn't have come. Shouldn't have insulted Magnus. But she had. And now her best friend was dead and she was responsible. Eva would never worry about her again, never hustle her into a vital meeting Marie would much rather miss. Marie looked up. A teenage girl was standing in front of her.
"My name's Layla Muller. I know stuff."
She stepped towards the girl who grinned.
"Cage said if we had any chance of surviving, we'd need you on our side."
A hand reached out and suddenly the others were there. And she realised what had happened and shuddered. Then looked the Miller girl in the eyes.
"Merci beaucoup Mademoiselle Miller. Now take me to Luke."
Silver light slid around her fingers and her pupils became coiled dragons.
"Right away Ms Dragon."
The woman who now knew herself to be Tora Logan smiled and followed the girl. This was going to be good…
Death smiled.
"It didn't take much to persuade her."
"Of course not. She'd lost her children. What else would she do?"
"No more mutants."
And Tora screamed as she felt her body being rearranged, as Emma shielded her mind from the warping of reality, as the others screamed out in anger.
She sat up suddenly in bed of her room, displacing Jeanne who let out an indignant yowl and reached out for Logan. Who. Had. Been. On. Genosha. When… LOGAN!
She leapt up and ran to the door, barely remembering to shrug on a dressing gown, slamming open the door. Students milled in the corridors, crying out. She pushed her way through them then realised what had happened. And the Witch's words sank in. NO! She pushed her personal feelings aside and ended up whispering words of comfort into the students' ears. Then Curt came staggering up.
"Maman!"
His claws were out, the smooth bone pale and white, streaks of blood coating them, hands bleeding profusely.
"I… Maman! I'm not healing! I…I can't hear! I'm deaf! Everything's gone!"
She pulled him close to her.
"It's okay Curt… It's okay…"
"You still love me?"
She pulled her head away so he could see the tears.
"We will always love you, no matter what you are."
"Really?"
"A mother's love is unconditional Curt. Remember that. No matter what you do, I will always love you."
"Even if I kill someone?"
"I would be disappointed but I'd still love you."
"So it doesn't matter that I'm not a mutant anymore?"
She pulled him in for another hug.
"I couldn't care less if you had an X-Gene or not. All that matters is that you're alive and with me and your father. Speaking of Logan, where on Earth is he?"
Kurt burst into existence beside her.
"Tora! Logan…if…depowered…the adamantium…kill him…"
She released Curt.
"I know where he is…"
She pushed her way through the throng of students, determined to get out of the building. She got outside and ran into the woods. She reached the familiar clearing where Logan was kneeling, a picture of composure. As she walked towards him he got up and turned to face her.
"I remember. I remember it all…"
"Logan…"
"Etana was right."
"About what?"
"Some things are better left forgotten."
She stepped towards him but he backed away.
"You… Tora, I did…terrible things."
"And I have, in eighteen worlds, killed everyone. Logan, you aren't that person now."
"But I am!"
She reached out and touched his face.
"I saw you Logan. I saw all of you. You might not have realised it, but I knew who I was marrying, even if you didn't know what you were yourself. And I still love you. Because under all that rough, couldn't-care-less exterior, there's a good man, a man whose lost a lot but still finds it in his heart to love. That's the real you Logan. That's the man I fell in love with, almost without realising it."
He blinked at her.
"Logan, I know you. All of you. You are the man I love and I would not have you in any other way. Now come with me. Our son needs you."
"Jamie?"
"No. Curt's bleeding. It's not healing And he needs you to tell him that you love him, even though he's no longer a mutant."
"Curt's…"
"Afraid and alone and needing his father's approval. Curt wants you to love him. I know you find it hard, but just talk to him."
"He's… Tora, he shouldn't be like that! He's six months old! He shouldn't be…running around, asking difficult questions about girls and acting like a teenager!"
"But he is and he wants you to show him just a bit of the love you shower on Eva and Jamie. I know it's difficult. How do you think I feel? I can never introduce him to strangers as my son. He looks ten years younger than I do. People look at me and him and think that either I'm some sort of putain who had a child before I was a teenager or that I adopted a boy out of kindness."
"Tora…"
"The most I can ever say is that Laura and Curt are my step-children. And that hurts. Laura's like a daughter to me. And Curt's my son. But I have to lie to keep to narrow social expectations."
He hugged her.
"One day, there won't have to be any more lies. I promise."
She pulled away.
"That's a lie as well Logan. Don't lie. It doesn't suit you."
"Come on. We need to speak to Curt."
She smiled weakly and he pulled her in close.
"You know, you were right. We did it all wrong."
"Am I justified in telling Scott I told you so?"
"Definitely."
She gave an odd smile.
"The mutant race is doomed isn't it?"
"Don't be so pessimistic Tora."
She closed her eyes, trusting him to guide her through the woods. Under her breath she breathed her private thoughts.
"It's not pessimism. It's the future."
"Of course, as she later became fond of saying, the future is always in motion."
"Good point."