Memories

Not Alive, But Still Not Dead

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If you want to use Tora, or any of my other characters, PM me.

Scott was staring at the sketchs on the table. Tora frowned at them.

"Those were in my box."

Scott started guiltily and looked up.

"Sorry. They were just lying on the table. Who's this woman?"

Tora stared at the picture Scott was holding out.

"That? That's Jane Howlett, more commonly known as Logan Circen."

Scott froze.

"Tora… If this is some sort of sick joke…"

"No Scott. It's not. The one underneath it is Summer and the White King."

Scott flicked through the sheets and stared at her.

"This… This is one of your…others?"

"Yes. Don't worry Scott. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go and have a word with my son about personal privacy."

The three beings leant closer to the water as the images swirled again. Death suddenly grinned.

"You know, this is the best fun I've had in ages."

Phoenix looked up.

"Well, seeing as once this feature length production is over, a new universe will be born, it's the best fun you'll have in the interim period."

Death nodded.

"I was going to ask you, are you remaining in the host's mind and soul. I already know our dear friend's choice."

Phoenix looked up sadly.

"You… you're…"

"Yes Jean. I am."

Her fingers moved swiftly as she stitched the material together. Flickering waves wove in and out, creating a tight mesh. She pulled her hands out and the water settled, looking like a shimmering silvery-blue blanket, not a delicate construction of water. Then she threw it and it hit the first man. And it swelled and rolled until it was a raging sea and then faded away to nothing. And the holograms died down and Danger stepped forward and held out a hand for Tora.

"Thank Danger. Wouldn't know where I'd be without you giving me a proper workout."

"I know you needed something taxing."

"Yeah. Now, how about going out in San Francisco, finding somewhere quiet and then having a very long discussion about a certain prisoner you're keeping safe for dear old Emma."

Danger blinked then sighed.

"How long have you known?"

"Since I caught a whiff of him. Don't worry. It's Emma I'm rather mad at."

Danger turned and looked at her.

"I have a confession to make. I-"

"No, don't tell me. You used my mental patterns from when I interfaced myself with you."

A long period of silence. Then…

"Am I really that obvious?"

"No, not at all. It's just I know how I think, even if you don't talk or move like me. You think like me, and that is perhaps the thing I notice most."

Danger nodded.

"I…I found your thought patterns the most logical and analytical, therefore the best choice for me."

"Well, rub salt in the wounds, why don't you? I was made to think this way. I was made to be little more than a machine. Operating instructions simple. Point and let loose. Tidy up the few drops of blood even I couldn't clear away."

Danger nodded. Tora sighed and started walking out.

"Sorry. I've been snappy for a while."

"Is this about the attack by Selene?"

"No. I… Yes, okay, it is. Etana. Hank kept some of her cell samples alive and according to them, she's still got an active X-Gene. So why didn't she come with Selene?"

Danger turned.

"Has it occurred to you that she had measures in place to prevent something like that ever happening?"

"Yes, and it just doesn't gel. Etana was amazing, yes. She was clever and canny and an amazing strategist but even she couldn't plan for something like that. She couldn't plan for all those spells. So what happened?"

"She's dead Dragon."

"I know. I know she died, I know her heart stopped and she stopped breathing. I know she's not alive, but I don't think she's dead."

The waters faded away and Phoenix hit the kneeling woman.

"Why are you fading out there! It was just getting interesting!"

"I need a walk."

Tora stood at the grave and shuddered. She was about to do something terrible and highly offensive. She was about to disturb the body of a dear friend. She bent down, ready to start digging with her fingers when a low voice made her freeze.

"The body is still there. She doesn't need a physical body for what I want her to do."

Tora span around and stared at the tall, raven-haired woman.

"Who…? What…?"

"Oh dear, oh dear. My dearest Dragon, can you really not recognise me?"

She calmed down.

"Mistress Death."

"Of course. Would you object…?"

"Not at all."

The face melted away so just the bare bones remained. The black robe swirled around and Death sat on the stone. She started laughing at the look on Tora's face.

"Don't look so outraged! You were about to dig her up with your bare hands."

"What did you mean?"

"Ah, straight to the bare bones of the matter. This is why I like you Dragon. No dancing around an issue, just leaping straight to the most important question."

"I want an answer."

"Maybe she doesn't want me to give you one."

Tora moved incredibly quickly and her hands were on Death's shoulders and shaking them back and forth before the cosmic entity had time to react.

"I want an answer!"

"Ask her yourself."

And Death faded away as Tora tried to cling at the black robe. Then she whipped around.

"Etana! ETANA! ETANAAAA!"

She was only screaming into the empty night.

"How endearing, crying over a woman who was both dead and alive."

Phoenix glared at Death.

"You could have told us."

"Would you have believed me?"

"Good point."

She was trawling through the data paths, trying to find something, anything that might give her a clue as to Etana's continued state of being. She knew the others thought she was clutching at straws, that given Etana and Selene's 'prickly' relationship that Selene had so graciously referred to in the form of 'Oh you mean that old prude? Boring. We've been trying to kill each other for centuries. Glad to hear she finally kicked the bucket,' remarks that had not endeared her to Tora in any way, shape or form and probably resulted in the now ugly scars that traced down Selene's cheekbone, that Selene would simply have not bothered to resurrect Etana, especially due to her strong mind that would be hard to control.

She sighed and then didn't bother to turn.

"Hello Ororo."

"Tora. I'm sorry. We all know how much you cared about her. But this is just hurting you."

Tora whipped around, her eyes wild.

"She's not gone. I know it. She can't be."

"Tora, it's been close to five years. You have to let her go. She was special, she was bright, but now she's gone."

"SHE'S NOT! I… I spoke to Death! Etana isn't dead!"

Storm recoiled slightly.

"Tora…"

"Don't Ro. Don't tell me I'm lying. Don't. Just don't."

"I'm sorry."

Go away.

Every part of her stance and form told Ororo that Tora wanted to be left alone. This called for Plan Z, the one they'd been hoping to call off. Shortly after Storm left, Kurt arrived, walking in quietly and sitting opposite Tora.

"I suppose you're here to tell me I'm a fool Kurt."

"No. Tora, no one could call you a fool."

"She meant so much to me…"

"I know Tora."

"Do you?"

"We were tied by blood Tora. Maybe you forgot that."

"No. How could anyone forget that you two were related? You're both so bright."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But you have to let her go. It's hurting you and I don't want to see you hurt."

She leant over and grabbed his hand.

"She's not gone. I know she's not."

"I'm sorry."

He pulled a hand free and traced it down her face, following the tear tracks.

"She died as she lived. Free, strong, forever being stubborn and so, so proud. Do you think she'd want to see you dying piece by piece because she left, going on the next big adventure? Speak to Erik, he's just woken up."

Tora froze, then leapt up.

"Erik?"

"Yes."

She shot out, leaving Kurt to look over the copious notes she had taken. And his eyes widened as he read what flashed up on the screen.

Phoenix pressed her hands to her host's head, preventing the pain from getting out and damaging the room they were in. As it were, the walls contracted, the light airy room becoming brooding and dark.

"Control yourself!"

"It hurts!"

"Yes, yes it does, but you must be strong!"