Memories
Removal
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She stared at Warren in horror.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Utopia has been quarantined, because of this virus. You can't go back. We need you on the X-Men we have here. There are so few of us, having you and 'Ro on the team will make everyone feel a lot calmer."
"Why? No one in their right minds would want me fronting a team in a catastrophe."
"Actually Tora, they do. Do you have your old uniform? Right now we need to appear familia-"
"I am not wearing my old uniform. I wear the new one or I don't fight. I am not the old Tora."
"We know that, but having you and Storm will calm down the few people who are still here no end. You're Dragon. You're the person who took on Dark Phoenix one-on-one. And won. Tell them that you are going back to Utopia, they panic."
"MY CHILDREN ARE THERE, WARREN!"
"Yes, but because you and Logan have been so careful, no one knows that you two are even together, let alone have kids. We can't suddenly announce you've gone back to look after them. They have their flu shots, because according to Hank, you threatened him with a four-inch needle until he vaccinated them, despite protestations that they have healing factors."
"That's not the point! The point is, my kids are in a quarantine zone and they only have their dad. I should be there as well."
He grabbed her wrist.
"Well, I want Curt on the team then."
"No. Curt is going to school on Monday. He is not on the X-Man team. He is staying at a friend's house until we can get back to Utopia."
"Whose house?"
"Well, actually it's ours, but we've never used it."
"This is one of Etana's safe-houses, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Warren sighed.
"Please don't go back, Tora. We need you."
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine. But if one of my kids gets sick, I'm getting back to Utopia so fast you will swear I flew."
"Deal."
"You know, she never did get the hang of flight, despite knowing how to do it instinctively when Dark Dragon."
"Didn't you know? She was absolutely terrified of flying. Hated anything you couldn't explain in basic scientific terms. She only tolerated the Blackbird because physics dictated it could stay up."
"Logan's been hit and hit bad, Tora. We can't risk you coming back. If he can catch it, so can you and we need you."
"What about the kids?"
"Both are fine. They're locked up in a room with those who haven't caught it yet."
Tora gulped then heard Warren talking cheerfully.
"Well, I called in two of the big guns. No offense…"
Tora walked in, in time to see 'Ro wheel through the sky. She raised her hand and mouthed 'Welcome Windrider', and was greeted with one of Storm's joyful smiles. She turned away from the window, taking in her 'team'. Northstar. No problems there. She like Jean-Paul, knew he'd enjoy the chance to shine. Dazzler… So-so. Tora knew she was a good fighter and a good woman but they didn't get along, never had. Storm and Angel, again, no problems. They were three of the longest-serving X-Men, had lived together, fought together, almost died together. Pixie and Poison? She wasn't happy. Those two were kids. They shouldn't be doing the job of the X-Men. Curt was only here to prevent him from setting fire to the kitchen but he'd end up worming his way onto the front line, because that's what he did.
Warren walked up and touched her shoulder.
"We'll want you to appear as a part of the group. Not going off on your own all the time. Once you were a team player. Now you're worse than Logan and Namor combined."
She turned to face him, and he noticed how she seemed taller.
"I am dying, Warren. I am dying. And I don't want you to die with me."
"You're not dying, Tora. You can't."
She didn't answer him.
"And her heart went out of it all."
"How are we to tell her?"
"We don't."
"We have to. We can't tell Logan. That would make him worse."
"It's worse that it's her. He dotes on her."
"We have to do something."
"We can't."
They looked at the tiny girl on the bed, the oxygen mask ridiculously oversized, her messy red hair splayed across the pillow.
"She's just a kid. We can't let her die."
Scott reached out and swept Eva's hair away from her eyes.
"We need a vaccine. We need to keep this girl alive. Else Tora will kill every single one of us."
"Too bad they didn't tell her. It just drove her further into the madness."
"Put me on, Scott."
"What?"
"Put me on."
She stared at Logan, his face pale, shiny with sweat, veins bulging, pain obvious on his face.
"Hey, Logan."
"Need…Get to Chinatown… Need their Black Dragon…"
She smiled softly.
"I might silver, not black, but I'm a Dragon alright. Don't worry."
He smiled weakly then slid back onto the bed.
"Stay safe."
"I will, Logan. Relax, I have everything under control. I'll fix up whatever the problem is in Chinatown and then I'll find a way of sending you one of your stashes."
"Cigars?"
"No. Just…no. I was actually talking about the sake."
"Oh. You know…'bout that?"
"Logan, have you ever managed to hide something from me?"
"No."
"Well then."
She nodded and turned away, letting Warren return to talking to Scott. She stared at the photographers, ignoring pleas to look a certain way. She pressed her mind to Dragon.
How long? I need him back.
It won't be easy. It will cost you dear.
I have already lost almost everything that matters to me. I need him.
But it will cost you everything.
And that is a price I am willing to pay.
You care deeply, too deeply.
My life for the life of the best man who ever walked the Earth? I would die a thousand times over to save him.
He is already saved. He was never damned.
You know what I mean!
You mean you cannot let him go.
When I die, I shall die with the X-Men. We will all go together.
"Well that didn't happen."
"I think she meant when they all died properly."
"Oh."
"I feel left out."
"Why?"
"All of you can basically fly. Except Daz."
"I can't."
"You are going to school, Curt."
"Ma-maan!"
"School. Now."
"But…"
"Now."
"Yes, Maman."
"Go."
He grumbled but shot out of the window.
"And I'm ringing the principal to make sure you actually arrive! Remember, this is your last chance!"
He muttered something that was swept away by the wind. Tora sighed and closed the window.
"We need to get to Chinatown."
"Of course."
She kept staring out the window at Curt.
"He'll be fine, Tora. You know he will be."
"It's not him I'm worried about. It's the people he'll be in school with."
She turned around and raised a hand which started glowing silver.
"Let's get this mess sorted out."
She looked different, her face drawn, thin. Scars standing out against almost pure white skin. Eyes a dull gold, not a spark of joy or teasing happiness in them. It was like she was going through the motions, rather than actually enjoying life. Phoenix stared at the face in the water and shook her head.
"She should be teasing, making jokes. Planning her post-fight celebration prank with Kurt. Not getting ready silently."