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Title: The New Mutants, volume XXI: Vengeance Unfolds
Author: kanedax
Fandom: X-Men Movieverse
Spoilers: X3, The New Mutants volumes I-XX (see above)
Pairings: Nothing too major in this chapter
Rating: R for language and violence
Summary: The Raft is infiltrated by the Phoenix, and two X-Men make the ultimate sacrifice
Notes: This is it. After what turned into five months of writing and over 59,000 words, The New Mutants is drawing to a close. After this chapter, I have also written a postlogue that will be posted at the same time, and will be probably writing a holiday one-shot sometime in December. Also, if anyone wants to play with any of my characters, I would love to see it. Just don't, you know, expect it to become canon if I should happen to come back later. As usual, I don't own the X-Men, 20th Century Fox, Marvel Comics, or You. Thanks all for reading!
Previous Chapter (Naughty Children) / Next Chapter (Epilogue)
Nick Fury lit another cigar and leaned back in his chair.
“I must say, Miss Munroe,” he said, “I’m getting awful fucking concerned about your information.”
“She’ll be here, Commander,” Storm said, staring at the wall of monitors.
“You said that eight hours ago,” Fury growled. “I’m gonna run out of cigars.”
“Have we heard any other word about attacks on S.H.I.E.L.D. installations?” she asked.
“No, we haven’t.”
“Then I’m to assume that she heard what she needed to hear.”
The clicking of a keyboard droned on behind the two. “Well, the signs are leaning to an attack soon,” Forge said.
“Why’s that?” Fury asked.
“Since we got here there have been two other psychic pulses,” Forge replied. “I just got the results of the locations. One was in California. The other was in Japan.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that she took a flight across the US and rested,” Forge said. “Then she took a flight across the Pacific and rested. “Then she just re-activated herself again, and her next stop is here.”
“Damn,” Storm said. “She’s getting more powerful with each transformation.”
“And she’s moving damn fast, too,” Forge said. “It was three hours between the US pulse and the Japan pulse. Meaning she activated, flew across the ocean, and was able to fully rest within three hours.”
Fury leaned forward and pressed the communication button. “Beta squad, what’s your status?”
Holding steady, Commander, a crackling voice replied from the speakers. No sign of any suspicious activity.
“How are you boys holding up down on the ground?” Storm asked.
Besides Magneto bugging the piss out of me? Logan’s voice crackled. Just dandy, Storm.
“Keep on guard, everyone,” she said. “We have reason to believe the Phoenix will be here soon. It’s up to the roof and sky teams to make sure we get that word.”
What are we looking for again? one of the soldiers asked.
“I big fireball’s what I figure,” Fury replied.
“Colossus? Shadowcat? How’s the roof holding?”
Holding cold, Storm, Kitty replied. It’s freezing up here.
“We’re in the mountains, it should be expected. Get ready to move, either by phase or by portal. Sky team?”
Banshee can’t talk, a voice responded. He’s too busy screaming himself airborne.
“I understand,” Storm said, a small smile crossing her face. “Thanks for coming, Angel. We needed as many eyes in the sky as we could get.”
It’s the least I could do, Warren Worthington responded.
“No, the money you gave the school for reconstruction was more than we hoped. This is just icing on the cake.”
Just don’t expect me to be much help in a fight, he said. I may have a laser gun, or whatever this thing is, but when it comes right down to it, I’m just a big white feathery target.
“If you need to run, we’ll understand,” Storm said. “And we won’t hold it against you.”
I’ll just swerve my way around the helicopters, Warren said. It’s a madhouse up here.
“Just keep your eyes peeled,” Storm said, and turned off her microphone.
“Are you sure your people can handle this?” Nick asked Storm.
“You said it yourself, Commander,” she replied. “We’ve been in battles before.”
“Right, but you also said that your distance attackers are at a commodity right now,” Fury said, pulling the cigar from his mouth. “Have any of them fired a rifle before?”
“We don’t believe in guns,” Storm replied.
Fury snorted laughter. “You had a guy who could punch a hole through a mountain with his eyes. Another who killed dozens of soldiers with indestructible claws, and a third who was on the verge of killing every single human on the planet. And you don’t believe in guns.”
“I don’t necessarily feel like a philosophical discussion right now, Commander,” Storm replied shortly.
“Don’t worry, Nick,” Forge said from behind them. “I was trying to convince the Prof to get some shooting lessons going for years. When your power lets you come up with all sorts of wacky gizmos, I always hoped they could be put to use.”
“How about the kid?” Fury said, pointing his thumb at Clarice, who was sitting in the far corner. “She doesn’t exactly have the warrior look to her.”
“We trust her,” Storm said simply.
Hey, Storm? Warren crackled.
“Yeah, Angel,” Storm replied into the mic.
It’s tough to see in this light, the sun’s pretty bright. But I think I see something off to the east.
“Can anyone confirm?” Fury said, sitting up.
Chopper Eight here, sir, a female voice responded. I’m seeing it, too.
It’s coming in fast, Peter said. Getting bigger by the second.
“It’s her,” Forge said. “Infrared’s reading hot.”
“Fire away when she’s in range,” Fury ordered.
“Here she comes!” Logan yelled. The Raft was located on a flat area of an otherwise mountainous area. The Phoenix sailed down at the edge of the flat, about fifty yards away from the front gate. The air was filled with explosions as dozens of soldiers opened fire on the armored figure.
She came in low, Ororo said over the earpiece. Everyone get down there.
“This should be fun,” Magneto said, bringing the knives circling his body to a stop and flinging them at the Phoenix.
Logan raised the laser gun to his shoulder and began firing. He looked to the side to see that Hank was doing the same.
“This isn’t working!” he yelled. “It’s just bouncing off it!”
Stay back, Fury said. I’m sending in the helicopters.
On cue, a dozen air-to-ground missiles rained from above, encasing the Phoenix in fire and smoke.
Did we get it? Fury asked. Someone get in there!
“No!” Hank yelled. “Wait for the smoke to clear!”
Ignoring the request of the Ambassador, a half dozen troops jogged towards the site of impact, weapons at the ready. Before they had time to react, the Phoenix launched from the smoke, its blade slicing three of them in half as she blasted towards the large metal door.
“Get out of the way!” Logan yelled, and he and Magneto dove to the side, avoiding the Phoenix by inches. She stopped in mid-air, six feet from the door, holding a too-slow Beast by the throat, and lifting his feet off the ground.
“Do you really want to kill me, Jean?” he choked. “Then go ahead and do it.”
Jean is dead, Jean’s voice said into his head. But it’s not your time yet. I have a schedule to keep. She tossed him aside, throwing him into Logan. The two went down in a heap.
She turned to Magneto.
Gonna come watch the festivities, baby? she asked, then swung her sword at the door. One slash, two slashes, three, and a large triangular hole was cut into the twelve inch titanium. She flew through the door and disappeared down the hallway.
“Come back here and fight me!” Magneto screamed, jumping through the hole and chasing the Phoenix at super-speed.
A portal opened next to Logan and Hank, and Clarice stepped out. It shut behind her, and she pulled a piece of paper from her front pocket.
Shadowcat, Colossus, either go in the portal with Beast and Wolverine, or phase down to the third basement, Storm said quickly. That’s where the Maximoffs are being held.
“Know where you’re going, kid?” Logan asked. A high-pitched wail filled the air as Sean landed next to him.
Clarice stared at the paper, which Hank saw was a photo printout of a particular hallway in the facility. There were two guards standing in the hall, guarding two doors. “I got it,” she said, and waved her hand. A hole opened in the air, and the four ran through.
Magneto floated down the elevator shaft. He was having some difficulty, as this was his first time levitating since losing his arm. But he quickly learned to rebalance himself to handle the asymmetrical magnetic fields.
Three floors down, Erik saw that the Phoenix had sliced open one of the doors. He floated through, and looked in both directions down the hallway.
“Which way are they?” he mumbled to himself. He was answered by the distant sound of gunfire, and he sped off in that direction.
Seconds later, in what he assumed must have been about a half mile of hallway, he screeched to a halt. The gunfire had stopped, and what he saw in its place horrified him. Blood was splattered on the walls and was dripping from the ceiling. He saw what remained of the two guards, each sliced in half at the waist.
He felt the gorge in his stomach rise, but he quickly regained control as he saw that one of the two doors had been pulled from its hinges and was leaning against the far wall. He ran towards the room, but was knocked backwards as a blur slammed into him.
He looked up from the ground to see a young face staring down at him in shock, gleaming white hair falling over his forehead.
“Father?” Pietro whispered.
“Your powers are back,” Magneto said, smiling despite himself.
You can’t avoid me forever, boy, Jean said into both of their heads, and the two men turned back to the room to see the Phoenix running towards them, her flaming sword etching a glowing red mark into the metal floor.
“Come on, father!” Pietro yelled, and disappeared in a streak down the hallway. Magneto tried to follow, but his feet caught beneath him, and he fell back to the ground. He raised his hand weakly, and the steel door flew into the Phoenix, smashing her into the wall.
He stood up, amazed at the motionless Phoenix beneath the door. Then he read the words on the plaque: POLARIS.
That wasn’t the door I threw, he said, and looked up to see his daughter running to him, the door of her cell now on top of the armored creature.
“We must leave, Father,” Lorna said, pulling him to his feet.
“Pietro already ran ahead,” Erik said.
“Ass,” Lorna spit. “He knows that I don’t have the speed that he does.”
“We’ll do our best,” Magneto replied. “Come.”
He grabbed Lorna’s hand, and the two turned to run back to the elevator. Before they could take two steps, however, they heard a loud crash behind them. They turned to see the Phoenix picking up the door with its free hand and dropping it to the floor.
That stung a bit, Jean said. But, don’t worry, I’m fine!
“Sorry to hear that, bub,” came a voice from behind them. They turned to see the snowy field of the outside, and four X-Men standing in its way.
“Get out of here, Green,” Logan said to Lorna. “We’ll take it from here.”
“Run, Lorna!” Magneto yelled. Lorna nodded, and ran through the portal.
Let’s not and say we did, Jean giggled. She lifted her sword, and the flame shot into a column, launching through the closing portal. There was a scream, and Erik turned in horror to watch Lorna Maximoff fall lifeless to the ground, a smoking black hole in her back.
“Nooo!” Erik screamed, and raised his hand, launching the two prison doors at the Phoenix. She spun around, and slashed her sword through them both like crepe paper.
Logan took advantage of the distraction, and launched himself at the Phoenix, his claws flipping up from his wrist. He swung downward, and cut three marks into the back of the Phoenix’s armor.
The Phoenix spun around, staring into his face with her glowing red eyes. You messed up my armor, you… she said, then stopped. Her red eyes narrowed.
You, she cursed. It was you.
“That’s right,” Logan said, his clawed hand poised at his side. “I’m the one who killed you. Whatcha gonna do about it, bitch?”
She raised her sword and swung it down at Logan, who rolled out of the way. He stopped his roll in the crouch position, and leapt forward, digging his claw into her chest armor.
I’m going to make you pay, she said, and grabbed a hold of Logan’s wrist and pulled it from her chest. Logan looked down, and saw that there was nothing coming from the wounds. They were just three empty holes. He swore he could see through to the back of the armor, then was thrown by his arm down the hall.
“Hit her!” Hank yelled, and he and Sean both opened fire on the Phoenix. Again, the weapons simply bounced off her as she stalked towards Logan, her sword raised. Logan looked up, slowly getting to his feet. Too slowly.
Be thankful I’m not letting you suffer, the Phoenix crowed, and swung the sword down. As she did, the air was filled with a powerful screech. Logan, his mind working in slow motion, saw her arm start to violently vibrate as Banshee blasted a concentrated flow of sound at her sword.
The aim’s not perfect now, he thought as the sword waved back and forth. He planted his hands, and pushed himself out of the way. He felt the heat of the sword as it flew within inches of his face, but could only watch as his arm attempted to catch up with the rest of his body.
The sword crashed into the ground, catching his clawed hand at the wrist and removing it from his arm.
Logan howled in pain, but his animal instinct kicked in before he allowed the shock to overcome him. He pushed himself up with his good hand, and jumped to avoid the low swing of the sword as it attempted another attack.
Stand still, Logan, Jean growled. So I can finish you off like a good little boy.
She lifted her sword again. Logan saw three gleaming blades rise from the ground and fly at the Phoenix. They pierced through her armor, spun around, piercing again. They spun around her at a fantastic rate, slicing and gashing the maroon armor.
The Phoenix whirled to see Magneto standing before the X-Men, his hand outstretched. Logan’s adamantium claws, separated from the device on his now-severed hand, pierced the Phoenix’s helmet. She shook her head, unaffected.
You know there’s nothing in here, right? Jean said to Magneto. My tailor’s going to have a field day.
“Pity,” he said, and disappeared in a blur, blasting himself at the Phoenix at supersonic speed, the claws trailing close behind. The sonic boom echoed through the hall, and the impact threw the Phoenix fifty feet down the hall. Erik stopped where the Phoenix had been standing, and then collapsed to the ground.
“Erik!” Beast yelled, running towards Magneto. As he did so, Logan ran back to the group. He grabbed Clarice by the arm.
“Get me out of here,” he said quietly.
“What?” she replied, her eyes wide with shock.
“Get me out of here,” he repeated. “Somewhere remote.”
“Where?” Clarice asked, her mind spinning.
“He’s dead,” Hank said, kneeling beside Erik. “The impact killed him.”
“The desert, the Amazon, fucking Antarctica,” Logan said, looking back down the hall, ignoring Hanks cries. “I don’t know and I don’t care. I’m next.”
“You’re running away?” Sean said, his voice rising in anger.
“Of course I am,” Logan replied, picking up his rifle with his only hand and slinging the carry strap over his back. “And I’m taking Phoenix with me.”
He watched as the Phoenix slowly stood back up, its armor dented in the front.
“Gimme something to work with, Blink,” he muttered, then grabbed Sean’s rifle from his numb hands and clutched it in his hand.
Clarice nodded, and closed her eyes. Somewhere remote, she thought. Like Antarctica. Snow. Ice. No, be more specific.
“Hey, Brian!” Logan yelled down the hall. “How long can you stay fresh in that can?”
More specific, Clarice thought desperately. Then it came to her. That movie. March of the Penguins. Try to remember the first scene. That was in Antarctica or the Arctic, but it doesn’t matter, it’s out of the way of anything.
The portal slowly materialized behind her. She could feel the chill air blowing against her back.
“Come and get me!” Logan screamed. “I fragged your ass once, and I’m gonna do it again!”
Then here I come, murderer, Jean replied, and flew forward. Logan turned around and dove through the portal. Hank rolled away from Magneto’s lifeless body, and the Phoenix flew past, ignoring him completely. She flew through the portal.
Clarice turned to watch the path, and the portal slowly began to close. Then she saw where they had gone.
The ground was covered in snow. It was dark and cold. Three people stood in the white, watching as Logan rolled to a stop. The Phoenix turned back, raising her hand jovially.
Did I break your concentration? Jean asked.
Clarice’s mouth dropped in horror. The image that she didn’t even realize she was thinking, one jammed into her subconscious mind by the Phoenix, now floated into her mind. It perfectly matched what she was seeing, complete with the houselights in the background.
Oops, the Phoenix said, waving as the portal closed between the Raft and the front lawn of the Academy, My bad.
“No!” Clarice screamed in anguish, and dove through the portal as it closed behind her, leaving Hank and Sean staring helplessly at the far end of the hallway.
“Sounds like they’re getting pretty active out there,” Jones said as the kids sat in the living room, watching the movie.
“They’re X-Men,” Alison replied, splayed out on the couch. “They’re allowed to get more vocal. Just hope the neighbors don’t complain.”
Kurt walked to the window and pulled back the curtain.
“Turn it up, would you?” Jimmy asked. Jones blinked, and the volume rose on the television.
“Mein Gott,” Kurt breathed, and Remy looked up at him. He tapped Theresa, who was half asleep on his lap, and she lifted her head, letting him stand.
“What’s going on?” he asked, walking up to the window beside Kurt.
“Holy shit,” Jones said. Outside, a small war was being waged. He saw a huge armored figure standing in the snow, swinging a flaming sword at Logan, who was firing at him with what appeared to be a rifle straight out of Return of the Jedi, the movie Lucas had convinced them to watch. Bobby and Rogue were standing off to the sides, throwing cold air and snow at the creature, and Alex, who had taken off his gloves, was shooting bolts of energy at it.
“We’re leaving,” Kurt said, putting his hands on Remy and Jones’ shoulders. Before they could pull away, the three disappeared in a puff of dark blue smoke.
Alison sat up, suddenly alert. “Where’d they go?” she asked. Lucas and Jimmy had already jumped to their feet and run to the window.
“He teleported them,” Theresa said anxiously.
“Where?”
The air filled with the stench of sulfur. “The Danger Room,” Kurt said behind Alison. She jumped in surprise.
“Why are we going to the--?” Alison asked, and disappeared in mid-sentence as Kurt grabbed her and disappeared again in a poof.
Theresa jumped to her feet and ran to the other two.
“Shouldn’t we get away from the window?” Lucas asked, his eyes cemented to the scene in front of them.
“Yeah, probably,” Jimmy said, his feet otherwise planted.
“Why can’t you stay in place?” Kurt yelled as he appeared in a dark cloud and walked towards them. “We have to go!”
He reached his hand out to grab Lucas and Jimmy. As he did, the hand holding Jimmy’s arm changed. His two fingers split into four, and his blue skin turned to a tan color.
“We’re not moving,” Kurt said in confusion. “Why aren’t we moving?”
“I’m sorry,” Jimmy said nervously. “Your powers don’t work around me. I’ve been able to pull it back from where it used to be, but…”
Kurt stared in awe the hand grabbing Jimmy’s arm, momentarily distracted from the proceedings outside.
“Amazing,” he breathed. The three children shared his fascination, and failed to see the body fly towards the window until the last second. Logan shattered the glass, slamming into Kurt and knocking him into the coffee table.
“Ugh,” Logan said, standing up slowly. The three students watched as the shards of glass pushed themselves from his forehead and arms. He grabbed his arm (which, they realized, was missing a hand) and tugged hard. A loud popping noise came from his shoulder.
“What are you guys doing here?” he said. “Get downstairs, now!” Then he dove back out the window towards the melee.
The students ran over to Kurt, who was lying motionless atop the shattered table. Jimmy touched his fingers to Kurt’s neck, Wagner’s face changing into a handsome brunette as he did so.
“He’s got a pulse,” Jimmy sighed. “He’s just unconscious.”
Lucas stood and ran back to the window.
“We have to help them,” he said, turning to the three. The other two stood and nodded.
Lucas continued to stare at them for a moment, then chuckled. “We’re helping them, right?”
“Of course we are,” Theresa said.
“Sorry,” Lucas said. “I guess I just expected someone to say ‘But Logan told us not to!’ or something predictable like that.”
“Don’t be a dork,” Jimmy replied, and the three leaped out the window and towards the battle.
“Goddamn it!” Logan yelled as the kids appeared by his side. He was crouched in the snow, catching his breath. They watched as Bobby encased the Phoenix’s feet in ice while a steel-covered Rogue hurled steel fence posts at her. “I told you guys to go downstairs!”
“Since when do we listen?” Lucas asked.
Theresa picked up one of Logan’s rifles, and let loose a shriek. Her sweatshirt ruffled around her, as though caught in a high wind, and she lifted off the ground.
“Cassidy taught her good,” Logan said, watching in awe as Theresa flew in a wide circle around the creature, firing away.
The Phoenix lifted her feet, breaking free of the ice. She swung the sword toward Rogue, who crossed her arms in defense. The flames phased harmlessly through her.
“Bishop!” Alex yelled, his containment suit now torn open. “Let her know you’re here!” He spun towards Lucas, who braced himself as the cosmic energy blast hit him square in the chest. He stood still for a moment, allowing the energy to course through his body, and then ran headlong at the Phoenix.
The Phoenix spun at the approaching threat, and swung its sword, which had shortened back down to normal length. Lucas pushed the energy into his legs, and launched fifteen feet into the air, the sword passing a good distance below him. He fell towards the helmet, his glowing fist prepared to strike.
She reacted too quickly, though, striking Lucas with her unarmed hand. He was launched back towards the school, his back slamming against the wall next to the front door.
“Ah, shit,” he groaned, the energy from the impact already healing his body. “That didn’t work.”
That looked like it hurt a little, a crackling voice chuckled from next to his head. He jerked in surprise, and turned to see the front door’s intercom system. The speaker’s light was lit to TALK.
“Jones?” he asked.
That’s Glitch, Bishop. Remember? Jones replied. I connected myself to the Academy’s security system. It’s amazing how much Mr. Forge added to this place after the last attack.
“Where are you?” Bishop asked, pushing himself to his feet.
I’m in the Danger Room, the intercom said. I’m a better help here than out in the field. Gambit’s on his way. Dazzler went to grab Chamber from the med lab, and they shouldn’t be too far behind.
“Chamber?”
Jono, Jones replied. He wasn’t around to get a codename, so we made one up for him.
Need a little juice?
“If you got any,” Bishop said, his ribs shifting back into place. He heard two clicks coming from over his head, one on each side.
Smile for the birdie, Glitch chuckled, and Bishop looked up to see two lasers, placed above the main door, shoot at him. Energy surged through him, and he felt his shirtsleeves straining against his arms.
“Thanks, Glitch,” Bishop said.
I’ll give ya some cover, Bish, Jones replied, then the TALK light turned off. Bishop sprinted back towards the battle. The night lit up as a dozen laser cannons fired down on the Phoenix.
“My turn!” he yelled, throwing both arms forward. Two purple blasts of energy launched from his hands, knocking the Phoenix to her back. They heard the clang of metal through the snow, and the sword melted the white around it.
“The armor’s empty!” Logan yelled. “Go for the sword!”
Lucas launched another blast at the Phoenix’s armed hand. It was joined by Alex’s cosmic energy, Bobby and Rogue’s ice bursts, and the laser rifles being carried by Logan and Theresa. Inside the Danger Room, Jones shut down the defense system, realizing that there were too many bodies, now suddenly too close to the target.
Despite the constant barrage, the Phoenix slowly struggled to its feet.
Alright, the voice of Jean Grey said angrily. Now I’m pissed.
The Phoenix swung her sword out, pointing it at the first target she could find. The sword turned into a column of fire, as it did when she had attacked Lorna in the Raft, and struck Alex in the chest.
Alex screamed in pain, but didn’t move. He felt energy flowing through him, and he realized that the fire was striking him in an area where the suit was torn, exposing his bare skin.
What’s happening? the Phoenix wailed.
“What is happening?” Logan asked. The eyes of the Phoenix, for the first time, showed a look of fear. He could see her arm twisting, trying desperately to pull the sword away.
“He’s absorbing it,” Jimmy breathed. “Oh, my God.”
“I tried controlling the sword earlier,” Rogue said, running to the two. “Since I thought it was fire. But it’s not fire. It’s something else that just looks like fire.”
“He’s absorbing all of the energy,” Jimmy said.
They watched as the column of fire slowly began to diminish. As it did, the sword appeared to shrink along with it, its power being sucked in to Alex’s body. At last the stream broke, and the last bits of power finished their journey. The armor of the Phoenix, and the hilt of her sword, fell in a pile into the snow.
“Alex!” a voice yelled from the school. Alison and Remy sprinted towards the group, while Jono Starsmore stood at the front step, his eyes wide with shock.
Alex had collapsed to the ground. He was shrieking in pain, and his skin was glowing the same fiery red color as the sword.
“Everybody get inside!” Logan yelled. “Get downstairs! Jimmy, what the fuck are you doing? He’s going to blow!”
“Charles says that if he releases the energy,” Jimmy said, seemingly in a trance as he approached Alex, “the Phoenix will come back.”
“Charles?” Logan yelled. “What are you talking about?”
“The Phoenix,” Jimmy said. “Brian’s power was to convert his essence into energy. His body changed into the armor, and his essence was the sword.”
“What?”
“And now she’s in Alex,” Jimmy continued. He knelt down in the snow, placing his hand on Alex’s shoulder. As he did, the red glow faded, and Alex’s screams quieted. He looked up at Jimmy.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Charles says that my power can keep you from exploding,” Jimmy replied, “until we can figure out what to do next.”
“Okay,” Alex replied wearily, as Jimmy helped him to his feet. “That’s good.”
“Once Hank and Moira come back,” Jimmy said. “And Forge. They’ll be able to figure something out.”
“Yeah,” Alex said. “We have one more problem, though.”
“What’s that?” Jimmy asked, and Alex’s hand flung out, striking Jimmy in the jaw and knocking him to the snow.
“Alex isn’t in charge,” he said, grinning maniacally. Then the grin disappeared, and was replaced by one of sheer terror and pain.
“Oh, God!” Alex yelled, his hands flying to his face. His body slowly began to glow again. “It hurts!”
“Alex!” Lucas yelled, running forward. Logan grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
“She’s trying to get out!” Alex continued, screaming. “I’m trying to hold her back, but I… I… Somebody kill me! Now! Before she gets out!”
“Alex,” Lucas cried. He looked around, seeing if someone was even trying to help, but it appeared that everyone was frozen.
Except for one person. He watched as a small body emerged from the shadows and wrapped her arms around Alex’s glowing body.
Hello, Clarice, a man’s calm voice echoed in her mind.
Are you Charles? Clarice asked. She had never met the man before, yet somehow she knew him.
Yes, dear, he replied. I can see what you’re thinking of doing.
I know, she said.
Are you sure, Clarice? Charles said. We can think of something else, there’s no need to…
It’s okay, Alex said. I’m ready.
Are you sure, Alex Summers?
I killed my foster family, Alex replied. It’s been hurting me every day since then. I need to do this.
I have to make amends, Clarice echoed. For everything that I’ve done. For all the good people I hurt.
There was a silence.
Very well, Charles replied. I’m keeping her at bay as long as I can.
Where are we going? Alex asked.
I haven’t decided yet, Clarice responded. I’m kind of making it up as I go along.
My children, Charles Xavier said calmly. I used to be the most powerful telepath in the world. I have been seen places you have only dreamed of.
Let me show you one.
The X-Men and the students of Xavier Academy watched in awe as a portal opened behind Clarice and Alex. On the other side lay an alien world, a rocky planet with a red and purple landscape.
“The fuck?” Logan gasped. He tried to push himself forward to try to stop the inevitable, but it was as though a force was in his mind, stopping his legs from moving. The students in his peripheral vision appeared to be doing the same, and their faces were showing the same strain.
Clarice Ferguson and Alex Summers-Blanding fell backwards through the portal, and they, along with the mind of Charles Francis Xavier and that of the entity known as the Phoenix, disappeared from the Earth forever.
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