Chapter Text
The summons to the War Room came in the wee hours of the morning. Ororo’s eyes opened to the sound of emergency communications. She slid out of bed quickly and looked around for something to wear. I suppose my habit of sleeping in the nude does have some drawbacks. Quickly slipping on some underwear and finding a robe, she decided it was good enough. Most likely, she would be changing into her uniform in a short while. I wonder what is happening.
Everyone else was hurriedly moving downstairs, though Ororo was fairly sure that Logan hadn’t actually gone to bed- he was clearly still wearing his clothes from earlier that day. Another wild night at Harry’s, I suppose. Ororo fought down the anxious feeling she got about the notion of Logan being out by himself. It was ridiculous- there was just about no man she had never known who was more capable of looking after themselves.
And yet, ever since the vicious attack he’d received, Ororo had felt just the slightest bit protective over him. Ororo wished that she could have been there to help him.
“I’d say mornin’, beautiful, but it’s clearly still night.” Logan grinned faintly, his eyes roaming up and down a little. “Nice look, `Ro.”
Ororo rolled her eyes slightly at him, though the truth was that she didn’t particularly mind him looking at her. It hadn’t exactly been her intention, but she supposed it was difficult to get around the fact that she was, after all, practically nude underneath the robe. I do have to remember that Americans in particular have very restrictive attitudes about such things. Oh well. “Good night at Harry’s, Logan?” She smiled thinly, not directly acknowledging his comment.
“Eh, it was okay. Nothin’ too excitin’.” Logan grinned back but there was a darker cast further in his eyes. He’s not been quite the same since Victor Creed came back, and particularly since he escaped. Granted, it had only been about a week ago that Logan had been attacked and a few days since Cassandra Xavier had attacked the school- which had already resulted in a lively bunch of protestors outside the lawn and a bewildering succession of calls about interview possibilities. She felt quite bad for Charles, who was already under a lot of stress- and something told her intuitively that he wasn’t entirely well. “Guessin’ this is gonna be a lot more so.”
Something told Ororo that exciting was probably not quite the appropriate word for what was likely to unfold. The exciting missions tended to happen in broad daylight, opposing brightly coloured and none-too-bright supervillains who were easily defeated by the X-Men’s prowess and superior teamwork. Ororo supposed that it was quite possible that this could be a relatively ordinary mission, but she suspected it was something considerably more serious.
The gravity of the meeting was made dead certain by seeing the look on Charles’s face- upon which Ororo could see just about every possible emotion, though only slightly. Charles was clearly working very hard to keep control over his feelings and the look in his eyes when Ororo caught his glance for a moment made her heart break for him. He hasn’t had any opportunity to recover from Cassandra’s attack and likely will not for some time.
Charles was flanked by Wanda, the synthezoid avenger Vision and a woman that Ororo had never met, attired in a mixture of golden armour and flowing blue and white robes, possessing elegant dark feathers instead of hair and avian eyes. The strange woman looked to be relatively serene, as did Vision. Wanda, however- Ororo could see plainly that something was eating her alive emotionally. Like Charles, she’s trying to keep it in. But her eyes were puffy and red. She was crying on the way here.
“X-Men.” Charles began, taking a deep breath. “Of course, you all already know Wanda and Vision.” He then turned towards the exotic woman. “This woman is the Princess Imperial Lilandra, younger sister of D’Ken, the Shi’ar Emperor and, as I understand, the ordained leader of their faith.” A combination of princess and Pope, then. It sounded like a recipe for abuse of power to Ororo, but she had no basis on which to judge the alien woman. He then turned his eyes away from Lilandra towards the assembled X-Men.
His voice cracked and wavered for a moment. Charles. Ororo’s heart went out to him.
“I don’t know how to say it, so you’ll forgive me if I get right to it. Lilandra has shown me strong evidence that Jean Grey might be alive. I would not have believed it myself, but Forge and I have attuned the Shi’ar technology to Cerebro and we believe that we have found where she is. Underneath a former orphanage in Omaha, Nebraska.” Charles glanced over to Scott for a moment.
Scott looked like he’d been thunderstruck, but then his jaw drew tight. “That’s impossible. That’s impossible. We didn’t even have anything to give her family.” His expression grew more intent, however. “But if there is even the slightest, miniscule chance that it’s true. We have to go, immediately. And if this is a trick or a trap, I swear to God, they will pay for it.” He took a sharp breath. “But we can’t send everyone.”
Scott looked over to Ororo. “I need you to stay behind. Someone has to lead a rescue team if we need it, or a second team if we’re needed elsewhere.” Scott glanced around him. He was visibly pale- despite claiming that he didn’t believe the story, Ororo doubted he’d simply dismiss what his adoptive father told him. “Logan, Piotr, Betsy. I want you to stay as well. Rogue and Longshot too.”
Longshot stood up right. “I want to go.” He looked over at Scott, eyes uncommonly determined. “I want to help Jean. She was my friend and I’ve never … I’ve never forgiven myself for being half a world away when she needed us. I know I wasn’t her boyfriend and that I didn’t really know her a long time, but she was my first real friend here. She taught me how to read and how to live outside Murderworld. If she’s alive and she needs our help- please. Please let me, Scott.”
“If it is a matter of … powers or skills, Scott, mine are very similar to Longshot’s.” Kurt spoke up. “And as much as you know I’d enjoy going into the field with Wanda and as much as I want to help Jean-”
Scott took a deep breath. “Fine. Longshot, Hank, Bobby, you’re coming with me. Wanda and Vision will be accompanying us.”
“I will go as well.” Lilandra spoke firmly. “I know you do not know me, but this is important to me nonetheless. Charles did not go into details, but the reason your lover lives again is that she is the avatar of the Phoenix Goddess. I cannot stand aside if she needs me in any way.”
Scott looked over at her. “Dad? Wanda? You’re willing to vouch for her?”
Charles nodded severely. Wanda gave a little thumbs up.
“Lilandra’s fine, Scott.” Wanda spoke with a tiny smile and then broke the formality of the moment by walking over and hugging Scott tightly. “And Jean is out there, Scott. She is. And we’re going to find her and bring her home. And we are going to destroy every single motherfucker that has been keeping her from us or putting her in danger.” Wanda leaned down and gently kissed the top of Scott’s head. “It’s going to be okay, Scotty. We’re going to bring her home.”
Scott took a deep, almost shuddering breath. Ororo realized that he’d be crying at the moment if it were physiologically possible. His hand reached up and rested gently against Wanda’s. Scott took another breath and nodded.
“We’re going to leave immediately. Ororo, your people don’t have to dress right now but they should be on high alert.” Scott glanced over at Lilandra. “I assume we’re taking your vehicle. That means the Blackbird’s free for your team, Ororo. Hopefully we’re not calling for backup.” He stood up. “Longshot. Hank. Bobby. Suit up. We’re going to find Jean and bring her home.”
Ororo noticed that Wanda gave Lilandra a little sideways glance, as if she were warning her in some way. I wonder what that is about.
Her thoughts, however, were interrupted by Forge’s familiar voice coming through the speakers.
“Charles, I know you’ve got a critical meeting down there, but I’m going to link you up with this. I don’t think this can be ignored, either.” The viewscreen came to life with words that immediately made Ororo’s heart sink a little. Live from Genosha, Africa. The footage was a tableau of hellish destruction, a huge variety of military equipment destroyed completely. There were mutants as well, standing among the wreckage, all dressed in purple and red uniforms that made her skin crawl. Magneto?
“The audio is indicating that they’re inspired by Magneto. There hasn’t been a sighting of the guy anywhere around there, but the uniforms look like they were inspired by his.” Forge paused for a moment. “There appears to be quite a number of them. A few dozen at least.”
Charles watched the scene unfold grimly. “It appears you will be returning to Genosha, Ororo. Needless to say, the situation there will be exceedingly dangerous. The Genoshan military is trained to apprehend or kill mutants on sight. Nevertheless, a violent mutant coup is not a desirable solution either. And the uniforms of these so-called Acolytes strongly suggest the involvement of Magneto.”
Ororo stood up. “Professor, if you and Forge could give us any information you can before we go, that would be helpful.” She looked at the remaining X-Men. “Quickly. We need to be ready to leave in fifteen minutes.” Genosha is a terrible, hellish place and I would have been happy enough never going there in my life. Are we really going to fight in favor of a barbaric, monstrous status quo? Genoshans were slavers.
It was not, however, as if Magneto was any better, however. He’s merely offering another sort of tyranny. Just because I would be one of the favored few in his regime does not mean it is right to support it. Personally, Ororo kind of hoped that they totally destroyed each other and that somehow, by some miracle, the actual people of Genosha could build something better in the wreckage. It was difficult for Ororo to judge who was really worse, but at the same time, it was quite clear Magneto was more of a threat. He would not stop at Genosha.
“Looks like a helluva day ahead of us.” Logan sidled up close to her as they walked out of the room, towards the changerooms to get into their uniforms. “Might be fun to get some action in.” He looked back, towards Piotr, Betsy, Kurt and Rogue. “Between you an’ me, you got the better of the two teams here. Magneto’s new people ain’t gonna know what hit it.”
Ororo offered a thin little smile. “I certainly hope so.” It faded quickly enough, however. “Don’t underestimate how dangerous this situation is. Multiple mutants hitherto unknown to us, combined with a powerful military with a strong animus against mutants.” She glanced down slightly at Logan. “And …” She smiled faintly again. “No beer on the Blackbird.”
“Fine.” Logan smirked slightly. “No beer on the Blackbird. Geez, and all Fuzzy and I wanted out of life was a few decent brews.” He glanced back at Kurt. “Y’hear that, Elf? No beer for us!” He chuckled slightly and then looked up to Ororo, suddenly serious. “Don’t worry about me, `Ro. I’m fine. Not just now, either. Period. Don’t get all rattled on my account. Stuff with Vic’s in the past.”
Ororo hesitated for a moment. It’s not that easy simply to dismiss, Logan. I’ve become very accustomed to you. Which was probably something of an understatement, but this was emphatically not the time for any sort of conversation about any feelings between them, or about what precisely their relationship was. Close friends? Certainly. And there it must remain for now, anyway. We both have to focus on the mission ahead.
It wasn’t long before Ororo had changed into her uniform and was ready to walk out to the Blackbird, just as she noticed the other team walking out of the hangar towards their own transport, which was waiting outside. Ororo flashed the most reassuring smile she could towards Scott, but the fact that they were both being called upon dangerous missions was not lost upon her. We would probably both rest a lot easier if there was a reserve team. But neither the possibility of rescuing Jean or the threat posed by an open conflict on Genosha could be readily ignored.
Ororo turned back towards the rest of the team as they walked up to the gangway of the Blackbird.
“I’m sincerely hoping that we get more and better information before we arrive, but if we do not, it is vitally important that we do not do anything rash. The situation- both sides of this are probably nearly equally morally wretched, but we know that Magneto will not rest. If he is behind this and he conquers Genosha, then everything that we have worked towards with the Professor is in dire jeopardy, to say the least.
We’ll do a reconnaissance flight of the battlefield in the Blackbird and find out where the best place for us to deploy is. Our first priority is protecting civilian lives. After which, it is the defeat of whatever this mutant force is. And if Magneto is behind it, finding out why he’s decided to crawl out of the woodwork now. And making sure that he doesn’t escape us again.” Ororo looked at all of them intently. “Perhaps, just perhaps, we can even bring him to justice for all he’s done.” That would be a sweet thought. But would justice come out of our legal system? A punishment, yes. But justice? Is there really such a thing?
It scarcely matters, however, if he is not stopped. If Magneto succeeds, he will be nothing but the king of ashes.
“Why so serious, `Ro?” Logan looked over at her. “C’mon. We’ve been through shitty situations before. We’ll be fine. Punks might outnumber us but they ain’t never seen a Fastball Special. And Magneto ain’t God. He can be beaten.” He offered up a wry little grin. “Probably not by me, though. Ain’t exactly equipped to do that. The big guy? Probably on you.”
Ororo smiled thinly. “That’s a lot of faith you’re putting in me. Taking down Magneto by myself? It’s touching you have so much faith in me Logan.”
“Tell ya what.” Logan looked at her. “If you end up savin’ the day eight times over, I’ll buy ya dinner.”
Ororo laughed softly. “A burger at Harry’s on our usual Friday night gettogether?”
Logan shook his head. “Nope. A real dinner. Maybe sushi. You like sushi, don’t ya? Turns out so do I. That’d probably blow a lotta minds. But I know a really good place in the city. If ya use your imagination just a little, you can pretend you’re in Osaka.” He grinned. “Or maybe I buy you dinner anyway. How about it? Let the kids have their fun on Friday night. And you and I do something classy. I’ll even wear a suit.”
Ororo raised an eyebrow. “You’d dress up? On my account. Well … now I have to accept. If only for the singular pleasure of seeing you in formal clothes for once.” She laughed softly. “Which to say- yes, I would love to. But now, we’ve got to attend to making sure we’re still around to actually do that, yes?” She turned her attention to Betsy, who was using the mini-Cerebro unit to stay in touch with the Professor. “Any news, Psylocke?” How precisely did we come up with that one? It’s not quite as intuitive as, say- Storm. It doesn’t matter.
“Not too much. Just confirming that there’s several hostiles on the island. Difficult to say if Magneto’s among them- he’s not showing up, but it’s not impossible that he’s blocking us. A few heavy hitters and one really, really big psychic.” Betsy’s eyes turned towards Ororo. “If we didn’t know that Jean was apparently underneath some orphanage in Omaha, I’d say that was her. Whoever this great big plonker is, he’s our biggest concern.”
“In that case, Elisabeth, I suggest that you divert some of your attention towards making sure this particular individual doesn’t see us coming. How concentrated are they?” We’ve already found out that we’re outnumbered and if this one mutant is as powerful as predicted- and isn’t Magneto, than we’re likely outgunned as well. She paused for a moment. “And contact Avengers Mansion and the Fantastic Four.”
“Haven’t needed help before …” Logan looked towards Ororo.
“I seem to remember us needing quite a bit of help against Doctor Doom. From squirrels no less.” Ororo’s eyes met Logan. “My personal pride isn’t nearly as important as putting the word out. They might be on their way anyway and as far as I know, they lack the same capacity for monitoring mutant abilities as we do.” Ororo turned towards Rogue, Kurt and Piotr. “Get ready for quick deployment. When we get over Genosha, I’m going to do what I can to give us cover. And Kurt?”
“Yes, Ororo?” Kurt perked up attentively.
“If you felt like praying for us, I’d scarcely be opposed to it. If there is a God, it couldn’t hurt any to ask for whatever help he’s willing to give us.” Ororo smiled faintly. “Especially since Longshot isn’t with us.”
“... hope he’s okay, and not gettin’ himself into too much trouble.” Rogue glanced out the window, but she looked towards Ororo with a faint smile. “Oh don’t mind me none. Suppose I should get used to going into a fight without my favorite lucky charm. I’m sure he’ll be fine. He always is.” She looked a little worried, though.
“As of right now, Roguey, I think it’s us that’s headed towards the shitcan.” Logan glanced forward towards Betsy. “How many mutant hostiles?”
“Dozens.” Betsy replied.
“Got ourselves a real Death Star run here.” Logan grinned. “Odds look terrible. I like `em.”
“I’m not forgetting that you promised me dinner on Friday night.” Ororo replied, taking a breath. “But now? Focus. We’re not far out of Genoshan airspace now.”