Post by adrini on Aug 29, 2014 23:09:22 GMT -5
"No, no. Stay still. It's all right," said the man in a soothing voice as Wanda began to sense light around her, echoes of screams from before she blacked out echoing out in her ears. This new voice was kind, and her nerves settled somewhat.
"A good choice. I'll dim the lights so opening your eyes will be easier." The voice laughed lightly. "No worries." A few seconds passed and she felt a soft hand cover her eyes. "Now open your eyes, but slowly. You were hurt pretty badly so it'll be a bit before you're fully back again."
"Okay," she said softly and nodded a little. She slowly opened her eyes. Even the dimmed lights made them hurt. She could see light but her sight was still blurry. Once they were fully open the hand was removed and she could look around the room and see clearly in a few seconds. She looked over to the physician, a young man who was smiling warmly at her, a smile which failed to draw Wanda's attention from the doctor's shining golden skin from head to toe.
"Yes, I know." The gold-skinned doctor smiled and sat down. "Let's just say you're among friends and leave it at that, shall we?"
It was a hospital. She was in a white bed with several machines nearby and as she felt her body again she knew she was also connected to them. It was odd and intrusive but the memory of those last moments told her they were likely entirely needed. In the next bed she saw her brother, Pietro, still unconscious. But he was breathing, she could hear the soft beeping of the monitor. She sighed and rested on the pillow, her dark red hair resting on her shoulders against her pale skin.
"He'll be fine. Calm down," He said again. Wanda tried to get up to see him, but she was pushed down. "He was worse off then you but we got him out in time. He'll be awake in a day or so, you'll see. How are you feeling?"
"I-" She tried to formulate the words, but there weren't any for the hell she had suffered, the hell she had had to watch Pietro suffer. She despised weakness, but tears came unbidden to her, and soon violent sobs seemed to take over of their own accord. The doctor sighed.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She barely heard the doctor leave and was completely oblivious to a new person entering until her delicate fingers touched Wanda.
Two hands began firmly holding hers and she felt an aura, soft like a warm blanket. It didn't take the pain away. It didn't erase the memories of watching her family and friends be slaughtered as she screamed for the killers to stop, but slowly it took away the edge of it all. The pain dulled slowly, and when the tears finally stopped, she felt lighter. Not that what happened wasn't terrible, but at least it was over. She would never have to live through such agony again. It was a small comfort, but in the darkness that small flicker of light began to mean everything.
"That's all I can do for now. I'm sorry," a soft feminine voice at her side said. "Healing will come, though I won't lie to you and say it'll be easy."
"Who are you?" Wanda looked to the voice, but her weakened sight was still blurred by tears. The woman let go of her hand and dried her eyes, as well as cleaning up her face.
"Call me Jean. I get called in to help people who had a rougher ride then most. I do what I can." Jean was a pretty girl, not a Hollywood super model, but pretty nonetheless. She had light freckles on her cheeks and red hair. What caught Wanda's attention most were her vibrant green eyes, bright with laughter, but also with sharp with grief. "And you had a rougher start then most. I am so sorry for that."
"Are you like us?" Wanda asked as she looked over at the bed her brother rested in. Jean nodded.
"You'll be hard pressed to find someone here who isn't. Maybe some support staff," Jean said, grinning a little. "We're the normals here."
"You still have healing to do. Dr. Foley said you were hurt rather badly. It's going to hurt to do even little things for a while." Jean fixed the blankets and looked at her and Pietro before shaking her head. "But the worst is over. I know you went through hell, but it's uphill from here. That I can promise."
"No, you don't." Wanda suddenly went tense. She hated false sympathy. No one could understand.
"Yes she does." a new voice added. The newcomer was an Asian girl around fifteen-years old, with spiky black hair. "She very much does."
"Jubilee, please. She has no way of knowing that." Jean grimaced. "I'm sorry, I said too much. I'll leave you to rest. I'll be in the area all day if you want me back."
The woman left and Wanda watched as the girl protectively tailed her. Maybe it was possible. Mutants were despised after all. It wasn't unthinkable someone else had suffered that. But she was suddenly very tired, and the sound of Pietro's breathing nearby gave her more comfort then any visitor's conversation.
"I'm not saying that you're bad, just that I'm better." Scott leaned on the bar and drank the beer that had been slid his way. It was better than what they got on base at least. "But I have to give credit, you do have skill."
The man, a local Nordic hunter, scowled and left the table. Scott shrugged and relaxed. This was as close as he was going to get to a break. At least the beer was cold and plentiful.
Everyone on base was good at pool, just like they were good at fooseball and darts. SHIELD didn't exactly jump for the newest game systems or board games so they played what they had and got scary good in the process. He just wasn't interested in pool at that moment. He had gone four games in a row with Piotr the day before, so kicking back with a beer and watching TV was fine.
"You're good, huh?" a new man asked, another classic mountain man. "Bet I'm better."
"You're not, but my girlfriend wants to redecorate our place. I'll take donations." Jean had got it in her head that their rooms needed to be homey. Neither of them knew what that meant but he was kinda excited to find out. It sounded nice.
"Like a wuss like you could get a girl," the mountain man sneered sneered and his companions laughed. "Except some ugly whore." He didn't laugh long. The nerd comments Scott could handle just fine, but anything against Jean...
"Jean is beautiful." Scott had found himself moving out of his own volition, grabbing the man by the neck and picked him off the ground. SHIELD training was nothing if not speed building. "She's perfect. If you have an issue you will keep your mouth shut or you will deal with me."
"I wouldn't push 'em, bub," a new voice said from behind. "He seems a mite protective."
The man got the message and Scott put him down. Stepping back the speaker nodded.
"That game still on the table?" the newcomer asked. He was tall and thick with thick black hair and mutton chops. "Logan."
"Yeah, sure. Scott." Scott saw the man set up the break . Logan flipped through his wallet and pulled out a wad of bills. Scott, with a military salary, as well as household expenses for the first time in his life, had a much thinner pile.
"Can't be that good if that's all you have." Logan looked at the joint pile.
"We just got a place, and I'm saving for a ring. That's all." He picked up a cue and got ready.
"Gonna make me cry," Logan said dryly, taking bills away until the two were even.
Logan broke the center and the balls split about as Scott thought they would. He managed to get three balls into the corners before he shot a dud and walked away from the table.
"Alright, lover boy. Show your stuff," Logan taunted. Scott his a smirk, looking at the layout of the balls. A classic rectangle, Maria made these every time. He nodded.
"Sure." The cue ball could take three shots easily but they were expecting a show, and it would be rude not to give one. He took the triple shot to make the best impression. The three balls flew into holes, and the crowd suddenly took notice. When an extra ball spinned and put a forth ball away Scott actually earned a round of applause. He sat back on the stool and looked at his opponent. "Just waiting for them to stop."
In one stroke all of the striped balls Scott was aiming for had been sunk, finally ending with the 8 ball in the corner pocket. Logan handed him the stacks. He was impressed.
"You need a hobby," Logan said as the two sat down. "And you didn't come for the company."
"No. I came for help." Scott had been told only a few things by Fury about Logan, but the first and most important was to play it straight and not try to play any games. Scott adored the man who had taken he and Alex in without a second thought, but Scott knew he ran a very complicated international game of chess.
"Got a little mess you need help with? Keep walkin'." He took a swig and began to turn away.
"I got kids being butchered. Kids like us. Too many of them, and it's only getting worse. Mess enough?"
"I'm listening." Logan bowed his head for a moment.
"Thank you." Scott pulled out a small pad, opening a file of pictures. He flinched as he glimpsed the the first three. These were the images that haunted his nightmares. Hill had pulled the pre-reconstruction and the immediate post ones. "That's Jean when we found her. There wasn't much left. She was nine. Friends got to her first though, they're good at that."
"Son of a-" Logan said as he looked at a few dozen of the pictures. "That's just wrong."
"You're not big team player, I get that. But we need help. We know where the kids are, but there's too many of them for us. We're losing more then we're saving. You can change that, more then most." Scott slid a card across the table. "Think about it. Let me know."
"Will she be all right?" Jubilee hurried to grab Jean's hand. Jean was doing rounds at the mutant wing, part of her duties in X-Factor. As Dr. Foley was there to heal the body, so Jean was equally important in helping to heal the mind.
"Functional, certainly," Jean grinned and squeezed her hand. "But going through that, it changes you. No one comes out the same. Some people can bounce back like you , some can't."
"I have a good friend to help me out." Jubilee clung close. She knew she couldn't do this forever but until the rougher parts of the ride were over Jean was a good ballast. "What about the ones that-"
"Depends." Jean knew the question she was trying to ask. "A few are just broken and there's nothing for it. We have a residence for that to see they're at least taken care of. A few need years to recover and we have a center. It's nice, almost a resort. Some, well, they are a danger to themselves and others. It's bad. We do what we have to."
"It's depressing, isn't it?" Jubilee asked. Jean sighed and nodded
"It can be," Dr. Foley replied as he approached the two, relieved to see them. "Doctor, I could only smooth the edges. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's a notable difference. Thank you." He was openly grinning. "While I have you here though, there are a few cases you could be a huge help on."
Jubilee saw the small smirk in Jean's eyes. There were clearly more then a few. The redhead grinned and handed her phone over before responding.
"Of course. Take my calls for me. I"ll be a while. If it's Hill just tell her the Doc here pulled me away." Jubilee grinned and nodded, holding the phone carefully.
The doctor, whose bright gold skin put Jubilee on edge more then it should, hurried to pull Jean into the corridors. Jubilee sat down and looked at the training modules she was required to keep up with. She was even starting to get them.
-For your eyes only, the nights are never cold. You really know me, that's all I need to know-
She saw Jean's phone go off. The song was from an old movie and Scott's picture was showing.
"Hey, Jean is with the doctor helping some of the patients," Jubilee said as she answered the phone. "Can I help?"
"Just letting her know I'm back. I'll be at the base when you guys are finished," Scott replied, not surprised. "I'll have dinner ready by seven. I'm trying steak tonight. That goes with potatoes and broccoli, right? "
"If that's what the book says." She shrugged. "I've been surviving off cheap mall chinese and pizza for the last few years, hell if I know."
Scott carried the grocery bags into the kitchen and put the steaks on the counter to start the marinade. Cooking had become the new entertainment and slots were fought over. The one regulation cookbook now had multiplied into a full shelf of volumes.
"A definite improvement. There's room to breathe here." Blond hair poked out from the sofa. "And I brought you a present. You guys need it."
"You little-" Scott ran over to the sofa. "Alex!"
"Scott Summers, cooking?" The brothers shared a tight hug. "Jean has you well trained."
"Hey, we don't have to live off rations anymore," Scott laughed. "How did you get in?"
"Hill totally sent me the info." Alex followed his elder brother to the steaks. "And the new uniform, itchy as always. I figured something happened when you blacked out on me. I'm just glad it was only a new place. I was starting to jump every time I saw a nice suit."
"Sorry about that, but in the middle of a transfer there has to be-" Scott explained as he opened the packages.
"Radio silence, I know. I'm still allowed to worry." Alex shook his head. "I don't have to pretend I don't drink here, do I?"
"You're old enough to serve. Go grab one for me." Scott laughed, just glad to see his kid brother. "How is school?"
"You would have loved college." Alex handed over the beer. "Has you written all over it. I tell myself that when I notice myself falling asleep in class."
"Make the most of this. Everyone here would give a right arm to be able to do what you're doing," Scott sighed, following the recipe he had memorized that morning. "Do you have a major yet?"
"God, you too." Alex perched on the barstool and took a swig. "Like it matters. I'm a walking weapon, not nearly as controlled as I should be. It might be best if I just throw in."
"You're control is fine. There has to be something you like." The meat was ready and soaking.
"I like art, but there's no money in it. Really it's that nothing compares, what's business administration next to stopping evil kid killing bastards? Would Hill mind if I joined?"
"No, and we'd be glad to have you. Just be sure. It's a one way street. There's nothing wrong with part time."
"Aren't you interested in your present?" Alex nodded and was followed. His brother was right, but Alex had already made up his mind. He had even brought a brand new game system as a gift to celebrate his joining the team. "A guy in my dorm was just going to pitch it, but it was perfect for this place. I got the whole thing for twenty bucks. A full box of stuff. I set it up while I was waiting for you."
"Thank you for getting to me promptly." Maria sat down at the desk. She tried to avoid bothering the Director normally, but this couldn't wait. "It's her."
"The same one that ordered the hit?" Fury asked, instantly concerned. He had been waiting for this information for years. "Are you sure?"
"Agent Foley managed to connect the last of the dots with a little help from Raven." Fury nodded. Fury and the rest of SHIELD had become quite skilled in bugging nearly everyone they'd ever met and everywhere they'd ever been. Even Agents were bugged on a regular basis. For SHIELD it was no different than a randomized drug test. Especially on high-risk agents like Mystique. "It's about a woman called the 'White Queen', certainly a title."
"A telepath, she's popped up a few times." He knew this much, of course he did. "What's the connection?"
"The Hell fire members are smart. They supply information about the mutant they want taken or killed to anti-mutant groups, and then the work is done for them." Hill knew he was going to interrupt, and she was right.
"Using an mole, which is where Raven comes in. This queen person was behind that, she's smart." Fury wasn't happy, he never was when dealing with an effective enemy. "I understand the trapping, but why the killing?"
"That was the missing piece, but I think I cracked it." Hill sent a file over. "Competition. Jean, and I would think at least a few others, were a danger to existing members."
"And she wants the job finished. Raven is still a double agent?" Hill shrugged.
"The name doesn't ring any immediate bells. I know contact has been lessened as of late, but that could mean a lot of things."
"Right, I'll be in touch. There are a few leads on my end," Fury was adding things in his head. "And keep those two safe, there's no team without them."
"That is one party goin' on back there." Rogue sat down on the sofa and looked to the back. As soon as Jean and Jubilee had came home they had been claimed by Scott and a second young man. They seemed to be having a good time.
"Yes, our little family," Piotr grinned and nodded. "It is good you appeared when you did. It was some time in the making."
"Hey, nothin' wrong with family. I'm happy for 'em," Rogue grinned, more weakly then he remembered.
"You have family now too. Have you enjoyed your time with your mother?" Piotr asked. Rogue tried to grin, but was unsure.
"You have dreams, you know?" Rogue tried to explain, leaning on the arm rest. "Meetin' people. Before Momma and Daddy found me I would dream for hours of my real parents walkin' though those doors and demanding I be handed over. Happier then anythin'."
"And the reality is not this, yes?" Piotr joined her on the sofa.
"I guess this will be harder then I thought," Rogue sighed. "She's interesting, but there's a lot I don't know, I guess."
"Raven has been looking for you for years. She also had a dream. We do not live in dreams. However our dreams can guide us," Piotr said and she looked at him in surprise.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked cautiously.
"When I came here, I was alone. Not even with one relative to be with like you. I had to leave my sister behind to live. All my life I wanted a family, but my parents gave us up as children, then we were separated."
"That's terrible."
"When I got here I thought I was going to be alone forever. I was wrong. Scott was here then, and Alex had been sent off to stay with another family while Scott had to stay here. He also dreamed of a family, like he had once. But both of us couldn't have the dreams we wanted unless we built them." Piotr smiled at the laughter in the back.
"You built a family here." Rogue smiled brighter, catching on.
"We had to," he nodded. "So many of us, pasts that we carry, broken dreams. We cannot hold to that. So we rebuild and make new dreams. It is the only way."
"You're a wise man," Rogue said as she relaxed. "Think there's a dream for me here?"
"If you are here, then I know there is, Rybka." Piotr grinned, having seen this conversion many times before. "No one finds their way here by chance. There is always a reason."
"I'm gonna to ahead and believe that." She smiled and started to get up, before losing her balance at the last moment.
"Be careful, my friend." Piotr quickly reached out to catch her and grabbed her hand to steady her, the call to action had turned his skin to steel. She looked grateful for a moment before looking shocked.
"Oh my God, are you okay?" Rogue scrambled to stand up.
"I am fine. Is there a reason I should not be?" Piotr asked puzzlingly, but Rogue was as confused as he.
"Sure, sugar. I can't touch anyone. Haven't been able to for years now. Why are you special?"
"We are all special, this is just my way," Piotr said simply, indicating his skin, she grinned. "Now come, Rybka, it is time you got to know your family here."
"You're late." Raven looked up to see the White Queen sitting at the table. "Trouble escaping again?"
"It is a military installation," Raven sat down, she was late. She knew she was but she knew she had to be careful. Emma, tall and blonde, with cold blue eyes and a heart as cold as her skin, was a free agent. She had little understanding for restraints.
"So you keep telling me. Can you get me in?" The blonde arched and played with her cup, classic french cafe, always elegant.
"No." There was no point avoiding it. It just wasn't possible. "The security has been upped again and they're on to you. Your stunt put you on the map."
"She's getting stronger, and faster then you said she would," Emma said with a slight glare, careful not to wrinkle her perfect face. "You still haven't finished the job. Tell me what the problem is, Raven. Or our arrangement might need to be looked into."
"Yes, our arrangement," Raven laughed dryly. "You didn't find my daughter, Emma. All this time. I don't think you even looked,"
"You think it's easy? Finish the girl and I'll fill my end." The blonde considered the matter closed.
"Jean already did. She found her years ago, even kept an eye on her, in case things went south. Had plans written up if she had to be pulled quickly. She likes yellow and bluegrass. Drinks more soda then I like but she's beautiful, and most importantly, safe."
"So now you're going to live up to your double crossing nature yet again, Raven?" Emma was at attention.
"You failed. She succeeded." There wasn't a point to this now. "You had years to fill your end but chose not to. Once I got Jean the information my little girl was found within a year. I didn't sign on to your cause, just a mutual trade. There is no longer that trade."
"You will not do this to me." Emma leaned over the table, seething with barely controlled rage. "I need her gone."
"Sounds like a personal problem." Raven gathered her things before standing up. "And I have kids to look after."
"This isn't over, Raven." Emma was standing, hands on the table. If looks could kill Raven might have had an issue, thankfully Emma wasn't Scott. "I will see that child finished, and you will no longer be spared."
"If you are so inclined." Raven said cooly, turning to face the woman. "But know that will be an interesting day, even for you."
"A good choice. I'll dim the lights so opening your eyes will be easier." The voice laughed lightly. "No worries." A few seconds passed and she felt a soft hand cover her eyes. "Now open your eyes, but slowly. You were hurt pretty badly so it'll be a bit before you're fully back again."
"Okay," she said softly and nodded a little. She slowly opened her eyes. Even the dimmed lights made them hurt. She could see light but her sight was still blurry. Once they were fully open the hand was removed and she could look around the room and see clearly in a few seconds. She looked over to the physician, a young man who was smiling warmly at her, a smile which failed to draw Wanda's attention from the doctor's shining golden skin from head to toe.
"Yes, I know." The gold-skinned doctor smiled and sat down. "Let's just say you're among friends and leave it at that, shall we?"
It was a hospital. She was in a white bed with several machines nearby and as she felt her body again she knew she was also connected to them. It was odd and intrusive but the memory of those last moments told her they were likely entirely needed. In the next bed she saw her brother, Pietro, still unconscious. But he was breathing, she could hear the soft beeping of the monitor. She sighed and rested on the pillow, her dark red hair resting on her shoulders against her pale skin.
"He'll be fine. Calm down," He said again. Wanda tried to get up to see him, but she was pushed down. "He was worse off then you but we got him out in time. He'll be awake in a day or so, you'll see. How are you feeling?"
"I-" She tried to formulate the words, but there weren't any for the hell she had suffered, the hell she had had to watch Pietro suffer. She despised weakness, but tears came unbidden to her, and soon violent sobs seemed to take over of their own accord. The doctor sighed.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She barely heard the doctor leave and was completely oblivious to a new person entering until her delicate fingers touched Wanda.
Two hands began firmly holding hers and she felt an aura, soft like a warm blanket. It didn't take the pain away. It didn't erase the memories of watching her family and friends be slaughtered as she screamed for the killers to stop, but slowly it took away the edge of it all. The pain dulled slowly, and when the tears finally stopped, she felt lighter. Not that what happened wasn't terrible, but at least it was over. She would never have to live through such agony again. It was a small comfort, but in the darkness that small flicker of light began to mean everything.
"That's all I can do for now. I'm sorry," a soft feminine voice at her side said. "Healing will come, though I won't lie to you and say it'll be easy."
"Who are you?" Wanda looked to the voice, but her weakened sight was still blurred by tears. The woman let go of her hand and dried her eyes, as well as cleaning up her face.
"Call me Jean. I get called in to help people who had a rougher ride then most. I do what I can." Jean was a pretty girl, not a Hollywood super model, but pretty nonetheless. She had light freckles on her cheeks and red hair. What caught Wanda's attention most were her vibrant green eyes, bright with laughter, but also with sharp with grief. "And you had a rougher start then most. I am so sorry for that."
"Are you like us?" Wanda asked as she looked over at the bed her brother rested in. Jean nodded.
"You'll be hard pressed to find someone here who isn't. Maybe some support staff," Jean said, grinning a little. "We're the normals here."
"You still have healing to do. Dr. Foley said you were hurt rather badly. It's going to hurt to do even little things for a while." Jean fixed the blankets and looked at her and Pietro before shaking her head. "But the worst is over. I know you went through hell, but it's uphill from here. That I can promise."
"No, you don't." Wanda suddenly went tense. She hated false sympathy. No one could understand.
"Yes she does." a new voice added. The newcomer was an Asian girl around fifteen-years old, with spiky black hair. "She very much does."
"Jubilee, please. She has no way of knowing that." Jean grimaced. "I'm sorry, I said too much. I'll leave you to rest. I'll be in the area all day if you want me back."
The woman left and Wanda watched as the girl protectively tailed her. Maybe it was possible. Mutants were despised after all. It wasn't unthinkable someone else had suffered that. But she was suddenly very tired, and the sound of Pietro's breathing nearby gave her more comfort then any visitor's conversation.
--X-Factor--
"I'm not saying that you're bad, just that I'm better." Scott leaned on the bar and drank the beer that had been slid his way. It was better than what they got on base at least. "But I have to give credit, you do have skill."
The man, a local Nordic hunter, scowled and left the table. Scott shrugged and relaxed. This was as close as he was going to get to a break. At least the beer was cold and plentiful.
Everyone on base was good at pool, just like they were good at fooseball and darts. SHIELD didn't exactly jump for the newest game systems or board games so they played what they had and got scary good in the process. He just wasn't interested in pool at that moment. He had gone four games in a row with Piotr the day before, so kicking back with a beer and watching TV was fine.
"You're good, huh?" a new man asked, another classic mountain man. "Bet I'm better."
"You're not, but my girlfriend wants to redecorate our place. I'll take donations." Jean had got it in her head that their rooms needed to be homey. Neither of them knew what that meant but he was kinda excited to find out. It sounded nice.
"Like a wuss like you could get a girl," the mountain man sneered sneered and his companions laughed. "Except some ugly whore." He didn't laugh long. The nerd comments Scott could handle just fine, but anything against Jean...
"Jean is beautiful." Scott had found himself moving out of his own volition, grabbing the man by the neck and picked him off the ground. SHIELD training was nothing if not speed building. "She's perfect. If you have an issue you will keep your mouth shut or you will deal with me."
"I wouldn't push 'em, bub," a new voice said from behind. "He seems a mite protective."
The man got the message and Scott put him down. Stepping back the speaker nodded.
"That game still on the table?" the newcomer asked. He was tall and thick with thick black hair and mutton chops. "Logan."
"Yeah, sure. Scott." Scott saw the man set up the break . Logan flipped through his wallet and pulled out a wad of bills. Scott, with a military salary, as well as household expenses for the first time in his life, had a much thinner pile.
"Can't be that good if that's all you have." Logan looked at the joint pile.
"We just got a place, and I'm saving for a ring. That's all." He picked up a cue and got ready.
"Gonna make me cry," Logan said dryly, taking bills away until the two were even.
Logan broke the center and the balls split about as Scott thought they would. He managed to get three balls into the corners before he shot a dud and walked away from the table.
"Alright, lover boy. Show your stuff," Logan taunted. Scott his a smirk, looking at the layout of the balls. A classic rectangle, Maria made these every time. He nodded.
"Sure." The cue ball could take three shots easily but they were expecting a show, and it would be rude not to give one. He took the triple shot to make the best impression. The three balls flew into holes, and the crowd suddenly took notice. When an extra ball spinned and put a forth ball away Scott actually earned a round of applause. He sat back on the stool and looked at his opponent. "Just waiting for them to stop."
In one stroke all of the striped balls Scott was aiming for had been sunk, finally ending with the 8 ball in the corner pocket. Logan handed him the stacks. He was impressed.
"You need a hobby," Logan said as the two sat down. "And you didn't come for the company."
"No. I came for help." Scott had been told only a few things by Fury about Logan, but the first and most important was to play it straight and not try to play any games. Scott adored the man who had taken he and Alex in without a second thought, but Scott knew he ran a very complicated international game of chess.
"Got a little mess you need help with? Keep walkin'." He took a swig and began to turn away.
"I got kids being butchered. Kids like us. Too many of them, and it's only getting worse. Mess enough?"
"I'm listening." Logan bowed his head for a moment.
"Thank you." Scott pulled out a small pad, opening a file of pictures. He flinched as he glimpsed the the first three. These were the images that haunted his nightmares. Hill had pulled the pre-reconstruction and the immediate post ones. "That's Jean when we found her. There wasn't much left. She was nine. Friends got to her first though, they're good at that."
"Son of a-" Logan said as he looked at a few dozen of the pictures. "That's just wrong."
"You're not big team player, I get that. But we need help. We know where the kids are, but there's too many of them for us. We're losing more then we're saving. You can change that, more then most." Scott slid a card across the table. "Think about it. Let me know."
--X-Factor--
"Will she be all right?" Jubilee hurried to grab Jean's hand. Jean was doing rounds at the mutant wing, part of her duties in X-Factor. As Dr. Foley was there to heal the body, so Jean was equally important in helping to heal the mind.
"Functional, certainly," Jean grinned and squeezed her hand. "But going through that, it changes you. No one comes out the same. Some people can bounce back like you , some can't."
"I have a good friend to help me out." Jubilee clung close. She knew she couldn't do this forever but until the rougher parts of the ride were over Jean was a good ballast. "What about the ones that-"
"Depends." Jean knew the question she was trying to ask. "A few are just broken and there's nothing for it. We have a residence for that to see they're at least taken care of. A few need years to recover and we have a center. It's nice, almost a resort. Some, well, they are a danger to themselves and others. It's bad. We do what we have to."
"It's depressing, isn't it?" Jubilee asked. Jean sighed and nodded
"It can be," Dr. Foley replied as he approached the two, relieved to see them. "Doctor, I could only smooth the edges. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's a notable difference. Thank you." He was openly grinning. "While I have you here though, there are a few cases you could be a huge help on."
Jubilee saw the small smirk in Jean's eyes. There were clearly more then a few. The redhead grinned and handed her phone over before responding.
"Of course. Take my calls for me. I"ll be a while. If it's Hill just tell her the Doc here pulled me away." Jubilee grinned and nodded, holding the phone carefully.
The doctor, whose bright gold skin put Jubilee on edge more then it should, hurried to pull Jean into the corridors. Jubilee sat down and looked at the training modules she was required to keep up with. She was even starting to get them.
-For your eyes only, the nights are never cold. You really know me, that's all I need to know-
She saw Jean's phone go off. The song was from an old movie and Scott's picture was showing.
"Hey, Jean is with the doctor helping some of the patients," Jubilee said as she answered the phone. "Can I help?"
"Just letting her know I'm back. I'll be at the base when you guys are finished," Scott replied, not surprised. "I'll have dinner ready by seven. I'm trying steak tonight. That goes with potatoes and broccoli, right? "
"If that's what the book says." She shrugged. "I've been surviving off cheap mall chinese and pizza for the last few years, hell if I know."
--X-Factor--
Scott carried the grocery bags into the kitchen and put the steaks on the counter to start the marinade. Cooking had become the new entertainment and slots were fought over. The one regulation cookbook now had multiplied into a full shelf of volumes.
"A definite improvement. There's room to breathe here." Blond hair poked out from the sofa. "And I brought you a present. You guys need it."
"You little-" Scott ran over to the sofa. "Alex!"
"Scott Summers, cooking?" The brothers shared a tight hug. "Jean has you well trained."
"Hey, we don't have to live off rations anymore," Scott laughed. "How did you get in?"
"Hill totally sent me the info." Alex followed his elder brother to the steaks. "And the new uniform, itchy as always. I figured something happened when you blacked out on me. I'm just glad it was only a new place. I was starting to jump every time I saw a nice suit."
"Sorry about that, but in the middle of a transfer there has to be-" Scott explained as he opened the packages.
"Radio silence, I know. I'm still allowed to worry." Alex shook his head. "I don't have to pretend I don't drink here, do I?"
"You're old enough to serve. Go grab one for me." Scott laughed, just glad to see his kid brother. "How is school?"
"You would have loved college." Alex handed over the beer. "Has you written all over it. I tell myself that when I notice myself falling asleep in class."
"Make the most of this. Everyone here would give a right arm to be able to do what you're doing," Scott sighed, following the recipe he had memorized that morning. "Do you have a major yet?"
"God, you too." Alex perched on the barstool and took a swig. "Like it matters. I'm a walking weapon, not nearly as controlled as I should be. It might be best if I just throw in."
"You're control is fine. There has to be something you like." The meat was ready and soaking.
"I like art, but there's no money in it. Really it's that nothing compares, what's business administration next to stopping evil kid killing bastards? Would Hill mind if I joined?"
"No, and we'd be glad to have you. Just be sure. It's a one way street. There's nothing wrong with part time."
"Aren't you interested in your present?" Alex nodded and was followed. His brother was right, but Alex had already made up his mind. He had even brought a brand new game system as a gift to celebrate his joining the team. "A guy in my dorm was just going to pitch it, but it was perfect for this place. I got the whole thing for twenty bucks. A full box of stuff. I set it up while I was waiting for you."
--X-Factor--
"Thank you for getting to me promptly." Maria sat down at the desk. She tried to avoid bothering the Director normally, but this couldn't wait. "It's her."
"The same one that ordered the hit?" Fury asked, instantly concerned. He had been waiting for this information for years. "Are you sure?"
"Agent Foley managed to connect the last of the dots with a little help from Raven." Fury nodded. Fury and the rest of SHIELD had become quite skilled in bugging nearly everyone they'd ever met and everywhere they'd ever been. Even Agents were bugged on a regular basis. For SHIELD it was no different than a randomized drug test. Especially on high-risk agents like Mystique. "It's about a woman called the 'White Queen', certainly a title."
"A telepath, she's popped up a few times." He knew this much, of course he did. "What's the connection?"
"The Hell fire members are smart. They supply information about the mutant they want taken or killed to anti-mutant groups, and then the work is done for them." Hill knew he was going to interrupt, and she was right.
"Using an mole, which is where Raven comes in. This queen person was behind that, she's smart." Fury wasn't happy, he never was when dealing with an effective enemy. "I understand the trapping, but why the killing?"
"That was the missing piece, but I think I cracked it." Hill sent a file over. "Competition. Jean, and I would think at least a few others, were a danger to existing members."
"And she wants the job finished. Raven is still a double agent?" Hill shrugged.
"The name doesn't ring any immediate bells. I know contact has been lessened as of late, but that could mean a lot of things."
"Right, I'll be in touch. There are a few leads on my end," Fury was adding things in his head. "And keep those two safe, there's no team without them."
--X-Factor--
"That is one party goin' on back there." Rogue sat down on the sofa and looked to the back. As soon as Jean and Jubilee had came home they had been claimed by Scott and a second young man. They seemed to be having a good time.
"Yes, our little family," Piotr grinned and nodded. "It is good you appeared when you did. It was some time in the making."
"Hey, nothin' wrong with family. I'm happy for 'em," Rogue grinned, more weakly then he remembered.
"You have family now too. Have you enjoyed your time with your mother?" Piotr asked. Rogue tried to grin, but was unsure.
"You have dreams, you know?" Rogue tried to explain, leaning on the arm rest. "Meetin' people. Before Momma and Daddy found me I would dream for hours of my real parents walkin' though those doors and demanding I be handed over. Happier then anythin'."
"And the reality is not this, yes?" Piotr joined her on the sofa.
"I guess this will be harder then I thought," Rogue sighed. "She's interesting, but there's a lot I don't know, I guess."
"Raven has been looking for you for years. She also had a dream. We do not live in dreams. However our dreams can guide us," Piotr said and she looked at him in surprise.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked cautiously.
"When I came here, I was alone. Not even with one relative to be with like you. I had to leave my sister behind to live. All my life I wanted a family, but my parents gave us up as children, then we were separated."
"That's terrible."
"When I got here I thought I was going to be alone forever. I was wrong. Scott was here then, and Alex had been sent off to stay with another family while Scott had to stay here. He also dreamed of a family, like he had once. But both of us couldn't have the dreams we wanted unless we built them." Piotr smiled at the laughter in the back.
"You built a family here." Rogue smiled brighter, catching on.
"We had to," he nodded. "So many of us, pasts that we carry, broken dreams. We cannot hold to that. So we rebuild and make new dreams. It is the only way."
"You're a wise man," Rogue said as she relaxed. "Think there's a dream for me here?"
"If you are here, then I know there is, Rybka." Piotr grinned, having seen this conversion many times before. "No one finds their way here by chance. There is always a reason."
"I'm gonna to ahead and believe that." She smiled and started to get up, before losing her balance at the last moment.
"Be careful, my friend." Piotr quickly reached out to catch her and grabbed her hand to steady her, the call to action had turned his skin to steel. She looked grateful for a moment before looking shocked.
"Oh my God, are you okay?" Rogue scrambled to stand up.
"I am fine. Is there a reason I should not be?" Piotr asked puzzlingly, but Rogue was as confused as he.
"Sure, sugar. I can't touch anyone. Haven't been able to for years now. Why are you special?"
"We are all special, this is just my way," Piotr said simply, indicating his skin, she grinned. "Now come, Rybka, it is time you got to know your family here."
--X-Factor--
"You're late." Raven looked up to see the White Queen sitting at the table. "Trouble escaping again?"
"It is a military installation," Raven sat down, she was late. She knew she was but she knew she had to be careful. Emma, tall and blonde, with cold blue eyes and a heart as cold as her skin, was a free agent. She had little understanding for restraints.
"So you keep telling me. Can you get me in?" The blonde arched and played with her cup, classic french cafe, always elegant.
"No." There was no point avoiding it. It just wasn't possible. "The security has been upped again and they're on to you. Your stunt put you on the map."
"She's getting stronger, and faster then you said she would," Emma said with a slight glare, careful not to wrinkle her perfect face. "You still haven't finished the job. Tell me what the problem is, Raven. Or our arrangement might need to be looked into."
"Yes, our arrangement," Raven laughed dryly. "You didn't find my daughter, Emma. All this time. I don't think you even looked,"
"You think it's easy? Finish the girl and I'll fill my end." The blonde considered the matter closed.
"Jean already did. She found her years ago, even kept an eye on her, in case things went south. Had plans written up if she had to be pulled quickly. She likes yellow and bluegrass. Drinks more soda then I like but she's beautiful, and most importantly, safe."
"So now you're going to live up to your double crossing nature yet again, Raven?" Emma was at attention.
"You failed. She succeeded." There wasn't a point to this now. "You had years to fill your end but chose not to. Once I got Jean the information my little girl was found within a year. I didn't sign on to your cause, just a mutual trade. There is no longer that trade."
"You will not do this to me." Emma leaned over the table, seething with barely controlled rage. "I need her gone."
"Sounds like a personal problem." Raven gathered her things before standing up. "And I have kids to look after."
"This isn't over, Raven." Emma was standing, hands on the table. If looks could kill Raven might have had an issue, thankfully Emma wasn't Scott. "I will see that child finished, and you will no longer be spared."
"If you are so inclined." Raven said cooly, turning to face the woman. "But know that will be an interesting day, even for you."