[i][b]At the facility of Umbra Biogenetics, in Western Europe.[/b]

Dinner time. Dr. Jean Grey makes partial use of it to place a phone call back home.


[b]Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Westchester, New York.[/b]

Lunch hour. Scott Summers answers.



It was only a short while since Jean took on a temporary position at the facility: keen to see how young mutants were being treated in another part of the world, and see both what she could learn, and what she could contribute.


[color=#DAA06D] "... but I've been picking up on something strange."[/color]


[color=#0096FF] "In what way?"[/color]


[color=#DAA06D]"At different times throughout a day I experience. . the only way I can describe it is psychic nausea."[/color]

[color=#0096FF]"And you don't think the timing is coincidence and it's a symptom of the pregnancy?"[/color]

[color=#DAA06D]"No, this is definitely something external."[/color]

[color=#0096FF]"Then, is it safe that you're there?"[/color]

[color=#DAA06D]"I don't feel it's dangerous. But I'd like if Xavier could look into the area through Cerebro."[/color]

[color=#0096FF]"I'll let you know what he finds."[/color]

Later, Scott stands by while Xavier works Cerebro.

Xavier: [color=#7393B3]"Hmmm...I'm detecting nothing peculiar. Perhaps there's something in the vicinity inorganic, akin to a radio tower, which is causing Jean's symptoms."[/color] He removes the helmet. [color=#7393B3]"What do you think? Should we pay Jean a visit in her new environment?"[/color]

Heading for the hanger and the smaller of the X-Jets the following morning, Xavier cautions: [color=#7393B3]"Best to be on our guard. What I did perceive through Cerebro is that the nearest city is unnaturally devoid of mutant signatures. The ones in the facility, which sits outside city limits, are the only ones present. We could be going where we're less welcome than usual."[/color][/i]

[hr]
When Xavier had said "best to be on our guard", Cyclops hadn't expected this:
getting shot by a standard firearm at the hands of a teenager, not even a couple hours in.

It had started out just [i]fine[/i].

[hr]
[i]He and Xavier were received at reception. He noticed Jean down the hall, looking as well as when he'd seen her last, which was good to see; it confirmed what was affecting her wasn't doing so too much.

With a sudden, knowing look, she'd looked up, casting him an affectionate smile.
He'd returned it.


Then all hell broke lose.


Every bit of technology going off the rails at once--alarms blaring, machines beeping, automated security doors closing and opening, lights flashing on and off. The works. In a minute Cyclops was joining the Director at the Security Room to see if any light could be shed on things there; Cyclops not sparing a thought for making free with the place (intel took precedence), and the director too harassed by the insanity to notice a guest following him into a Staff Only area.

The card reader, of course, was on the fritz, but a well-timed try of the door granted them access all the same.
Unsurprisingly the monitors were going haywire -- blipping, pixilating, static. When they displayed anything.

On one wall Cyclops noticed a board listing the different areas of the facility, with lights to indicate which might be having a security breech. They all, of course, were flashing. One word in particular caught his eye: armoury. 

Seeing the uselessness of being here, the director turned: [color=silver]"Hey- you shouldn't be in here!"[/color] He lead the way back out. Cyclops following after another look by the board.

Back at reception, he found Jean with one hand on the counter in a steadying manner, the other to her head, looking sick. [color=#DAA06D]"It's that sensation again,"[/color] she explained once he came to her side, [color=#DAA06D]"only much worse."[/color] Beyond the disturbance, her eyes had a searching look to them: what was this? 

Other personnel and their charges had gathered as though responding to a drill.

Another minute and the attentions of Cyclops, Xavier, and Jean -collecting herself with slow, deep breaths- shifted to a couple personnel who just arrived on scene, coming straight to the director. With a furtive glance back, he ushered them aside to have their discussion.

Something else was off here.

Xavier exchanged a look with the other two, then seemed to be "listening". 
Wordlessly, he shared what he "overheard".


Somehow in the mess it had been determined one of the charges had just made a break for it.
But the way the small group was talking about it was strange, indeed.[/i]

[color=#7393B3]'I think we should look into this, ourselves,'[/color][i] Xavier thought, with a telling look to Cyclops.

Command received, Cyclops cast a checking-in look to Jean before slipping away.


Outside Cyclops looked around and what luck, didn't have to look long or far to find a young individual standing as though paused by something in front of them. The wide world? 

Cyclops stood some yards behind them. How to approach this?

[color=#0096FF]"Hi. Do you want to tell me why you're running from this place?"[/color][/i]