Master EffeX

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

T r o n i c a l
T r o n i c a l

Location: Delgato HQ

Keyrs gave a nod to the car door opening service, then proceeded with Steffan to the elevator, as directed.

Several related thoughts going through her mind as she did so.
'Will this be one of those mysterious elevators without buttons?'
Nope.
'I wonder if they can do away with people in here, if they so need.'

She glanced around inconspicuously for any sign of little holes or vents which could exude a debilitating aerosolized substance, and came to be looking out the glass walls instead. 'Oh good. An escape route, if so.'

Sure the height of the complex likely made that impractical but. . .Keyrs made another mental note of something to add to her tech.
Feeling at relative ease despite her elevator suspicions, Keyrs allowed herself to reflect on the building. It was a step up - way up - than what she'd been expecting of the syndicate's HQ. Then again, why hadn't she expected something like this?

Clearly she'd watched too many mob movies.
Or maybe, just not the right ones.

On arrival at the executive level, Keyrs, hands held down in front of herself, reciprocated the nod to the receptionist before listening quietly to what the sitch was. Another reflexive nod, then she followed Steffan to the study.

Rather, one of the locations to be in the building, she was sure.

A series of emotions crossed her face at the sight of the poor taxidermed animals - they were nice to see on a base level, but pitiable and detestable on a fully aware level. Some reminded her of exhibits at the museum which she always thought -make that hoped- were just well done models and not actually once-living animals. Others made her question the character of The Boss, and also case a sideways glance at Steffan. Surely he wasn't party to such collecting? That would put such a damper on how much she was liking him.

Keyrs tried not to focus much on the animals and instead check out the book titles - though the other decorative objects kept catching her eye. 'Look with your eyes. Hands to oneself.' She caught herself, moving her hands from her front to be clasped loosely behind her back as she perused.

"So, who's collections?" She asked in a non-revealing tone.

X-Men Envisionings - A Pragmatic Adaptation/Alternate Continuation

💉🩸

Envisionings Part 18

telkjplang.wixsite.com/xmenenvisionin…

---

A point of crisis . . .The hazy and muffled composition of the scene implying a flashback. . .

. . .a young girl laying sprawled on the road, a car and mangled bicycle in the distance suggestive of what happened. Beside her, another girl, unharmed, knelt desperately beside her friend. . .feeling her die. . .as though she were dying herself. . .

. . .We Ease-In to an Extreme Close-Up of this girl's terrified, tear-filled eyes. . and Ease-Out of the adult eyes of Jean Grey.

She closes them, shaking away the memory. Keeping some distance from it. .
. .even as it's right before her; in the loved one dying now.

Jean's hand placed over his; still warm with the life that's now gone from the body. .

. .not yet cold and hard like the rock beneath it.

From the other side of the medical bed another, much older hand comes just into frame. Resting on the shoulder of the lost young man.

. . and like liquid our scene changes, as we hear an echoing thought in the voice of
Scott Summers: 'Missed it. . . .What else am I missing. . ?'

. . .hazy instances of companionship between two brothers; brotherly love. . .times as they were; times how they could've been, but all the same, gone by. . .and times simply gone. . .a final good-bye.

The scene goes out before our eyes like a light-

-and Scott awakes with one lingering thought: 'Missing.'

There's something noticeably quieter to his environment.

Noticeably still.

^{"No. . !"} The truth of the dream setting in- Scott gets up to confirm-- stumbling
with dizziness through the dark to where he knows his brother's bed was --nothing there; nothing to brace -he falls--". .Lex-"

--into somebody's arms.
There's no question whose. ^{". .I couldn't even say-"} his voice breaks.

Jean: ^{"-you did. That wasn't a dream."}

Scott processes, held together by this even as he draws racked breaths. .
^{. ."Did he feel anything?"}

Jean speaks through her own emotion: ^"No. No pain."

They hold each other. . .though it isn't long before she has to let go: ^{"Anyone could be next."} She's spoken inexactly; unable or unwilling to state who is most likely to be; and knowing he knows as much as she does.

Helped back to his bed, Scott speaks their only saving grace: ^{"The lack of light
has to be working against my blasts. . .by then maybe they'll be extinguished. ."}

Jean: ^{"I'll come back when I can."} She slides her hand from his.

The Danger Medical Bay had been programmed to simulate the sky in real time,
so the occupants don't lose the sense of it. On this day, the rise of the sun does
not equal any fresh start.

The light a burning orange as Xavier addresses everyone from the center of the space.

The "walls" of their individual environments having come down for this, so that everyone
is at once in their own space and a shared one. . .everyone, except Scott.

"By now you are all aware of what's happened, and I know what's on your minds. .You can be assured that analysis shows your paths are very much individual. In other words, what happened to Alex Summers need not be taken as your eventualities. Drs. McCoy and Grey are doing all they can to manufacture a cure, which will arrest the affects of this. . contaminating mist. . Though I want to stay transparent with you: there is much we do not know. We will continue to work with what we do to mark this death as not the first, but the last."

A certain individual has been standing by. Xavier now gestures to him. "My friend, Kurt, will be available to you if you feel in need of spiritual guidance, or simply to talk, and he will continue to facilitate visits from your loved ones. If there is anything else, I am open to you."

And from this openness, we check in with the remaining soul in a closed room. . .
While the darkness had to be preserved, the acoustics have been altered; Xavier's voice carrying as though no wall separates him from Scott, who in the privacy of the dark can find space for his feelings; an anguished breath heard.

Emotional pain entangling with physical, it's hard to say which battle he's currently fighting more. . .as we dip into his mind. . .

Flashback

Voice of Dr. Frost: "At a most vulnerable age you lost everyone you cared about ... that same moment would give you power yet take away your control of it ... from that point on, the force responsible for taking anyone away could be your own. It's little wonder then, how you took to feeling like whether someone lived or died came down to you ... Yet there are other forces at work, Scott. If there's anything useful to bring forward ... it's how you can't control everything. . .through no fault of your own."

Scott is stirred from these ruminations by a presence at his bedside,
Xavier's voice now close at hand: "I am deeply sorry, my friend."

He lays a commiserating hand on Scott's.

Exiting the room, Xavier finds Colbur waiting in the surrounding shadows.

Colbur (unclear emotion): "Were you putting him in a psychic coma like you had Alex?"

Xavier: "Scott's optic blasts work through the conversion of absorbed photons.
Our hope has been that the absence of such fuel will cause them to cease.
Placing Scott in a coma would slow his metabolism which could in fact
slow that depletion, potentially being to his detriment."

Colbur gives him a hard stare: "Was it to Alex's?"

Xavier considers his words: "Alex sustained serious internal damage the last time he willingly blasted. His powers differ. .^differed enough from Scott's, that it was required we slow his functioning so the conversion process itself wouldn't bring about his end. If I'm being completely honest, there was already little we could do for him at that point." Xavier meets the young man's eyes. "I understand he meant very much to you,
and I am sorry."

Control Bay

Ororo glances from the screens to the door as it opens for the Professor.
"Despite the hope in your words, Charles, the course of things does not look promising."

Xavier: "No. And I sensed more than emotional pain in Colbur."
He turns his attention to the screens. "What do the analyses show us?"

Ororo reverts attention likewise: "No longer are his powers only on the outside,
his arteries seem to be literally hardening."

Xavier closes his eyes the length of a sigh; weighted down by the truth:
"His mutation is less straightforward to counteract. . .Perhaps a resonant environment."

Ororo understands, shifting attention to the controls: "I will have the computer create
a mock-up based on Colbur's frequency."

Xavier: "And I will do what I can." A steely resolution settles in his eyes.
"Whoever has caused this must be made to account for their actions."

The day passes slow. . .

We see staff and students alike trying to preserve some normalcy, though the feeling of such seems far off. . .focus on Summer lessons giving way to discussion of what's happening. The peace of students on break fractured; laughter proving to be only imagined as we find Holo perched in a tree, projecting determinedly to herself the image of two boys playing catch; an older one with sunglasses and brown hair, a younger one with blond. . .The imagining taking on a ghost-type image of the two boys as familiar looking adults, until one vanishes completely. . Holo staring into the emptied space like she doesn't know where to go with this. . .

. . .Jean and Hank conscientiously continue their round-the-clock, tag-team work ethic. . .

. . .while inside the Danger Medical Bay, it's a mixed scene as some seek "comfort" in hunkering down in their own environments - Willow withdrawing beneath her covers except when her Mom is near; Alv refusing to open his door even to receive food - while others seem driven towards connection - conversation struck up with "neighbours" as soon as a visiting friend has to leave; Graysen talking to Bobby as though an X-Man
with ice powers has suddenly become his top topic of interest -- at least until the boy has to retreat to his molecularly stabilizing environment, as his disintegration powers suddenly spread beyond his hands -his clothes growing patchier by the second.

It's unclear whether Bobby wasn't minding Graysen's questioning or was just being patient, but what is clear now is his divided concern between the younger boy, and Colbur; crouched in the rock garden idly making balanced rock sculptures as though this "corner" of the room is the only place that exists. . .until things come crashing down--inadvertently drawing everyone's attention as the emotionally smoldering youth erupts with force and voice: "Why do other people ALWAYS see to MESSING US up?! We do NOTHING-- we could do EVERYTHING and STILL!--!" he strikes another sculpture- the rocky laying of his arm also breaking away on impact,
which gives him the idea to smash his other rocked-up arm against the nearest surface.

Inside the Dark Room, Scott painfully stirs at the noise- dampened once again, but still perceivable. Whether hearing enough to know what's going on, or just sensing the tension, Scott shifts with the instinct to see to it- then shifts back with a sigh; knowing he can't.

Those who aren't trying to calm Colbur down are either tensely still; determined
to block things out; or poised to join in lashing out. Shamefully aware of the stress
he's exacerbating, the youth stalks off to his room; showing an affected gait.

Rogue and Bobby exchange troubled looks.

Further disruption averted. . .

. . .though there's no rest for the weary.

We join back up with Jean Grey during a break. . . . . .and like a shadowed, ghost image,
we see Scott in his environment, too.

Red behind closed eyelids, like when Amidst his fractured rest,
you're facing the sun beyond them- Scott grows increasingly aware of pain-
-Jean abruptly wakes. --new pain--wide awake now--

She rubs at her eyes as though pained, Groans precede removing of the compress mask
beneath his ruby quartz one--more groans

as his try at a fix has resulted in worse--

through the pain, Jean acknowledges

how she'd shut the blinds in her room, --he actually slides the quartz mask up out of the way --sealing his eyes off from the world
so if it isn't the sun. . . now with the heels of his hands --all the while
It dawns on her with a sense of panic! whatever's going on is not abating-!

Control Bay

Jean comes in just as Hank is entering from the other door: "Hank?"

She doesn't need to verbalize the question further: "Scott's optic blasts were beginning to beat on his eyelids. I just provided him with the ruby quartz contact lenses I'd been manufacturing for such an eventuality -still crude but they'll do, and he hasn't suffered any true damage. Unfortunately I can't see what we can do once resistance fails in his eyes themselves."

Lab - much later

We see Jean using her telekinesis to discreetly bring something from the work desk behind her over to hers; avoiding waking the sleeping Beast.

She's just starting to look it over when the sound of the door brings her attention there.
Her gaze landing on Logan.

His shifts over to Beast.
"Isn't it your time to be catching up on that?"

Jean reverts most attention back to her work. "I figured he could use a little more if he's catching it like that. . .You're keeping tabs on our schedule?"

"You're not the only one who gets a sense of things whether you're lookin' to or not."

Jean pauses again, this time holding Logan's gaze. . .until she catches herself.
"I really need to concentrate, Logan. So if there isn't anything else."

While she's turned her focus back elsewhere, Jean seems very aware of how Logan hasn't made a motion to move.

Logan: ". . .you know you don't have to feel like you're the one who has to find this antidote.
Not like you're responsible for what happened."

Third pause. She feels the double meaning -not responsible for the cause,
and not responsible for. . ."I still can't let what happened to Alex happen to Scott."

"So you run yourself down tryin'a work to his timeline?" He's stepped closer;
speaks softer: "Look, I get it. But there are a lot more lives to consid--"

Jean meets him with a stubborn stare. "You don't get it, Logan.
If I can figure this out in time to save Scott, that'll be in time for everyone."

The gaze is held silently for a beat; Logan looking past the stubbornness to the emotion behind Jean's eyes. She turns away -perhaps just in time to keep that emotion from bubbling over. "I respect your concern. . now if you'll excuse me."

This time, Logan does.

At the close of the door Jean draws a re-collecting breath.
But she's barely back to her work when she hears another voice--this one at once closer and farther away: 'Jean. . .' She knows it's not an imagining this time.

Concerned for the worst, Jean goes to Scott.

Placing her hand on his upper arm, Jean questions what's wrong. He lifts his hand to take hold of her forearm, and for the first time the full extent of what he's physically dealing with seems outwardly palpable. The cadence of his voice at the least indicative of fatigue.

^{"I felt. . ---- pain."}

Jean's expression deepens with concern: "More pain?"

^"Yours," Scott corrects, moving his hand to take hers; his touch not a
gesture of needing comfort from her, but trying to provide it to her.
^{". . .You could never let me down."}

"No matter what" isn't said, yet Jean feels the implication;
closing her eyes to the emotion welling up.

She squeezes his hand- then pauses -eyes opening; unprepared
for what he's just said: ^{"We should say what we need to say. . . .I--"}

As Scott can't presently see her reluctance, Jean makes a point of verbalizing:
^{"-I don't think we need to be talking about this now, Scott,"} slipping her hand out of
his to then hold it loosely over his fingers, as if her body is also communicating the need to hold back.

"Staring" in her direction, concern deepens in Scott's voice as it had in Jean's expression:
^{"It could be dangerous for you to be there if it happens."}

Feeling her hand squeeze his before moving away completely- "Jean," he insists gently. ^{"Listen. . We've had this stronger connection ever since the reset procedure. Even with the higher point of your power gone, you sensed something happening with me from nearly 4000 miles away. How's it gon--"}

Jean closes her eyes once more, as if cutting-off from this conversation,
but if it has to be had: ". .so it likely won't matter. <sup>Where ever I am I'll feel it."

"Not if you close it off. Cut yourself off from me. ."

. . ."You should really be resting, Scott. And I should get back to work."</sup>
She slips away.

^"Jean!"

Jean pauses at the door, looking back.
Stopping short of saying she'll be back.

Back in the Lab, we follow the clock and see Jean's worked another 3/4s of an hour.

She removes her glasses to rub at her eyes, and her two most recent interactions prompt,
in her overworked mind, a flashing-back. . .

Logan -appearing as he did in the flashback post-Jean's return:
"I couldn't help noticin' you and Scott aren't back to sharin' a room."

Jean stares at him, mildly put-off: "Couldn't help that?"

Logan shrugs shamelessly: "I guess after seein' so much life, other worlds,
he's finally lookin' a little too tame to y-"

"-That's not it, Logan.
I returned to try and move things forward. Not set people back."

"You actually think you'd be holding Scott back?"

"I didn't say I'd be holding him back."

Logan hesitates. "Well anyway," he speaks more soberly, "if you need any help moving on, I happen to know something about that. And culture shock. . ." Off Jean staring at him anew; that unrealized avenue look again, the flashback begins to fade. . .But we don't yet return to the present, even as present words echo ^{"We should say what we need to say. . . ."}

Second Flashback

Scott: ". . I've been thinkin' if I should go here. But the reset procedure affirmed it for me-"
He looks up into her eyes. "I don't want things to be left unsaid."

He has her attention.

"This woman I've gotten to know-"

"-Scott, you don't have to explain that. I've been gone-" she shakes her head,
"I'm not sure it's even right I came back. But I don't want to come between anything new any of you have found."

"It isn't like that. Colleen- she's helped me to understand everything. I used to say 'I love you' without truly knowing what I meant. . Now that you're here again," he closes the short distance between them. "Jean, I-"

Her step back halts him.

Jean: "I don't have a precedent for this, I may not be here indefinitely."

"That's precisely why I wanna' say this."

Jean looks at him squarely: ". . .I don't want you to be hurt, again."

"'Again' already happened," -Jean's look melts into concern and confusion- "-it would continue to happen if you weren't here because the loss never stops. I've learned how to tread it and it isn't a lesson I'll forget. I still love you with every breath, and if there's any more life to have with you, I want to experien-"

Jean (reluctant yet final): "-No."

Scott stares.
For all he's prepared for, it wasn't to have her turn -figuratively- away.

Jean looks into his "eyes": "I'm sorry. . ^{. .I still lov-"}
she stops, turning her head down and away; unsure if saying the words will make this harder.

His hand held down beside himself, Jean notices it fidget, as if Scott's wanting
to do something- maybe take hers, but. . ."Still,"

Jean looks up, casting him a questioning stare,
though he isn't being persistent. . "I'm still here if you need me."
. .just something else he wants her to know.

We fade-transition out of the flashback to a moment of both closure and promise,
as Jean tenderly takes his hand in the Dark Room.

Scott (groggily): <sup>". . Jean. . ?"

"You're not dreaming."</sup>

We hear his persevering breaths,
as he brings his thumb over her hand in a caress.

Jean: ^{". .It wasn't only you I was worried about. . I didn't want to break from you again.
. . .But I'd rather love too much. . .For as long as either of us have, I want you."}

Something in these words and her voice seem to allay Scott's earlier fears.
The last time they'd said goodbye, after all, it was she who knew how to let go. . .

. . He feels her other hand caress his cheek. . .her breath on his lips. .
. .he knows what he'll feel next. . . .

By the close of the kiss, Scott has turned his hand over to hold hers.
Then he shifts, creating space enough on the bed for them to rest together. . . .

Envisionings Part 19

telkjplang.wixsite.com/xmenenvisionin…

---

BAMF

In the dead of the night, Professor X and Nightcrawler appear in a nice looking neighborhood, focused on a nice looking home. . .Outside of which fire trucks and other first responder vehicles are gathered.

Smoke appears to be exuding -just dissipating- from an upstairs room.
The tinge of brown indicative of chemical compounds.

No other evidence is visible to indicate an actual fire.

Two unconscious individuals, presumably husband and wife, are being loaded into ambulances.

Xavier observes this with a heavy heart -all the heavier as a moment of psychic probing reveals the truth of the third individual he knows should live here; his following expression reflecting sheer regret. "I recall this neighborhood, and that house." He opens his eyes.

Nightcrawler looks from the scene to him.

"Earlier this year saw reports of a fire at a highschool. The result of the wrong chemicals coming into contact with each other. One particular young man was unable to get out, with the situation in which he found himself one that should not have been survivable, were it not for his X-Gene expressing itself. With the ability to absorb the chemical smoke harmlessly into his lungs, his life was guaranteed. . .and changed forever.

I came to this family.
Cloaking things at first, I'd informed them of how I felt their son, Michael, qualified
for a Gifted program. But the parents, both geneticists, had no illusions, and neither
did they want to 'give in' to mutantcy as the new reality for him, nor did he want
to take the path I was offering. . .I should have come to them again before now."

Nightcrawler puts together the next piece of the puzzle, eying the smoke
still dissipating into the air: "What he absorbed, he could also put out."

Xavier: "No longer immune, I imagine, from the degradation of his X-Gene. . .
His body lays in that upstairs room." The information sits for a moment before
Xavier directs: "I would like you to search the house for documents."

Nightcrawler looks to him.

Xavier: "Regret hangs here heavier than the smoke. These are the people we have been seeking."

Nightcrawler first BAMFs to a firetruck to grab a mask, then into a tree that allows him
a view of one of the other upper rooms. With a clear line of sight, he BAMFs inside. . .

. . .and from this scene of a now forever fractured family,
we transition back to a promising reconnection. . .

At a point of early morning still ahead of the sun's rise, Jean Grey is interrupted in her rest beside Scott, as Xavier's voice enters her mind: 'There is a new task. Meet us in the Ready Room.'

Laying with her forehead against Scott's, Jean opens her eyes like she'd already been awake. "I'll be only a thought away."

For all it appeared Scott may've been asleep, but we see him move his arm just ahead of Jean shifting to get up.

Perhaps they'd been sharing a psychic conveyance.

Exiting the Dark Room, Jean pauses in her stride to the main door, becoming cognizant
of someone else. Turning, she's just able to see in the simulated partial moonlight,
a blanketed figure laying across one of the benches by the rock garden.

Feeling their distress, Jean spares the time to check on them.

Colbur's drowsy, unrested eyes shift. ^{"Oh hey, Dr. Grey. Don't mind me. ."} His breaths come short, and when his blanket shifts as he does, he seems to have difficulty moving his arm and hand to reset it.

Jean does for him.

<sup>"Thanks"

"Do you need an adjustment made to your room?"</sup>
She eyes the bench. ^{"Or I can make one out here?"}

Colbur sort of chuckles. ^{"No, that's okay- This place is funny.
. . .I just felt like some space."} He stares up at the simulated, star-filled sky.

Jean does as well, a reflective look in her eyes, which she turns back on Colbur.

^{". .I'm fine right here. . ."} He does seem to be nodding off.

Even still, Jean leaves with uncertainty -and still more purpose.

-as she passes through the Control Bay, we can see the screen representing Bobby's room displaying a high thermal reading, indicative of the "Iceman" for once being bothered by the cold-

-Arriving in the Ready Room, Jean casts an acknowledging look towards Nightcrawler before voicing compassionately to Xavier: "I think Colbur's at next closest risk of going critical. There has to be more we can do for him."

Xavier: "We may be able to do for all. Kurt and I have found the individuals responsible." Xavier's manner grows in seriousness. "They are currently recovering from toxic smoke inhalation at Mount Sinai, and in a state of shock over the death of their son, whose mutation they'd been endevouring to reverse."

Jean (piecing it together/irritated): "With other mutants as their unsuspecting test subjects."

"The truth may not be as it seems. In any case, to the point, Kurt found notes on their formulae which Hank has looked over. Hank believes the two of you can reverse engineer their substance to produce an antiserum, however the details are sparce. I believe the full picture exists within the parents' minds. As you have more understanding of the subject matter than I, I would like you to join me in conducting the probe.
I will ensure we have no trouble carrying out our task."

Without delay, Nightcrawler takes them to the hospital, to the room where both parents lay. Guaranteed by Xavier's watchful and influencing mind that they will not be interrupted, the telepathic process begins with a collecting breath from Jean.

She lays her hands aside the temples of the mother, while Xavier does the same with the father, and links his connection to Jean's.

Jean (troubled): "It's difficult. . .the information is entangled in their emotions. .in their pain."

Xavier (calming): "Focus. Allow these feelings to bring the rest into sharp relief."

Jean steels her concentration. . .wresting herself from the current of this mindscape to navigate it. . .and managing to. The process done, Jean opens teary, yet discerning eyes.

Back in the X-Lab

Finishing annotating the papers, Jean moves to make copies of them as she relays to Hank:

"There's nothing in their minds to suggest they even know what they caused in the mutant community. The release of the solution into the air was only the result of spillover from the process - they hardly gave a thought to it as they didn't conceive it could be effective in the atmosphere, and would dissipate without notice. They'd aimed to keep their work private in order to distance their family from the truth of their son's mutantcy."

She looks over the pages, ensuring two correctly ordered stacks. One of which she hands to Hank while continuing: "When both Scott and Alex showed up at the fallout shelter location within a short timeframe,
a location which doesn't typically see visitors, the parents worried they were attracting attention.
That's when they moved into the abandoned underground network, figuring their activity would go
unnoticed amidst the hustle and bustle of city life."

Hank (glancing up from papers): "Reasoning proven to be accurate."

Jean gives a nod, moving to get set up anew at her work station. "Honestly they had tunnel vision when it came to reversing mutation in their son, who they were seeing slip further and further away. . .when their work resulted in a dormant period of X-Gene expression, they mistook it for success, not realizing it was the calm before the storm."

Hank (catching on): "Instead of reversing expression, they thrust it in the other direction.
Scott had surmised powers were 'going supernova'. He didn't conceive of the mutants going with them."

"That thrust precipitated the breakdown. Namely of the self-immunity factor."

Hank sets his full attention on scanning the filled-in articles: "The full formulae suggests introduction of relative DNA to be key. . .a novel revelation." He heads back to his work station. "Presumably we'll need to tailor the source for each of the affected individuals."

Equipped with complete information and a working theory, Hank and Jean get back underway in earnest. . . . while the occupants of the Danger Medical Bay are woken to suggest the potentially needed "sources" who aren't already known like Willow's Mother, or Graysen's Dad -who the boy agrees to have his mutantcy revealed to.

Xavier: "Who in your family would be most likely to accept your mutation?
Most efficient to approach for what we require of them?"

Colbur: ". . .my folks equally. . They're uh, they're on a trip though." His rocked-up arm twitches as if he were going to raise it, but it's too much effort. A hollow laugh is given ahead of his continued response,
"I was kinda' glad they'd be outta' my hair for a while and didn't care where they were going, this time."

Xavier eyes him perspicaciously. "Are you certain you don't know?
No circumstance would be beyond our reach of them."

Colbur's face has clouded over. He meets Xavier's gaze with an uncharacteristically level one. "I'm sure."

Xavier studies the look in the young man's eyes a moment, then speaks as though nothing suspicious has transpired: "Contact will be made on their return, then. In the meantime it is important we pinpoint a viable treatment for you. I take it you didn't find the resonance environment agreeable?"

Colbur is back to an amenable disposition, though looks away tiredly: "Yeah- The frequency you have it on now I don't think's makin' me feel good. I think the idea's- Ha," a genuine laugh, "-'sound' though."

Xavier smiles slightly. "I'm glad to hear that. We will continue to make adjustments,
though it is possible it won't be without some level of discomfort."

Colbur looks back up at him: "Hey, you win some you lose some, right?"

Xavier (sensitively): "I hope not, in this case."

Before Xavier leaves the Danger Medical Bay, he pays another visit to the Dark Room.

^{"I'm sorry, Professor. . .I knew something was happening. . I should've been more careful."}

"You didn't know what you had to avoid.
You aren't at any fault."

^{". . .Bobby, and Rogue. And. ."}
Breath faltering, Scott sighs with the weight of everything Xavier's put into him, now crashing.

Xavier's response remains gentle yet firm: "None of you have drawn your final breath yet. Nothing yet has changed." He places his hand on Scott's shoulder, unwilling to let go of his investment -rather, of his friend, until that ultimate point . . . .

. . . . The proper start of the day sees another assembly, this one informing the students of the facts-- Ororo: " ... while this resulted in release out into the mutant community, that was not their intention ... " --with no worry for new releases, life beyond the school is nearing permission to continue as normal.

Though thoughts of normalcy aren't quite what's on the students' minds. . .

Student Leaving Assembly # 1: "It was in the air, though. Who knows where else- and on purpose next time."

Student Leaving Assembly # 2: "Yeah. If this is possible, you know somebody's gotta' be planning that."

Student Leaving Assembly # 3: "It has to be complicated - I mean this one didn't even work.

Sudent Leaving Assembly # 4: "To get rid of mutants? Without the Danger Room,
it would be working a lot more."

Student Leaving Assembly # 5: "But they weren't trying to get rid of us. I mean, not exactly.
If someone else thought of it, they'd think along the same lines, right? Just take away our mutantcy, not our lives. Otherwise, they wouldn't need science for that."

Student Leaving Assembly # 4: "Fine. So long as it isn't forced on us."

Student Leaving Assembly # 1: Is it really safe to go out again?"

Student Leaving Assembly # 6: "Not yet, dummy. You heard Storm.
Colossus is checking out for residue. Nothing can affect him in his organic metal form."

Hallway Student # 1: "I never thought mutations could be reversed.
Strange to think about, isn't it?"

Hallway Student # 2: "Yeah- I sure wouldn't want it to happen. Being a mutant is great.

Hallway Student # 3: "Until you're in mixed company. Then it sucks."

Hallway Student # 1: "That's what I'd like to change."

Hallway Student # 2: "Yeah -How 'bout a 'cure' for that?"

Hallway Student # 4: "I guess it could be nice as like, not a permanent thing. Take a pill before the family reunion so you're not the odd man out. That sorta' thing."

Hallway Student # 5: "Or on birthdays so you don't blow the whole cake off the table with your super breath."

Hallway Student # 6: "You kiddin', Turbine? That's my favourite part of your birthday!"

As they pass two others standing by a wall, we hear one say to their partner:
"I wouldn't wanna' be any way else. If I'm not a mutant, who am I?"

Dorm Student # 1 (tentative): "I wouldn't mind. . see if I get my old friends back,
and how it used to be in my family."

Dorm Student # 2: "Haven't even told mine. Still hopin' I'll never have to."

Dorm Student # 3: "If mine found out, they'd make me reverse my mutation."

Dorm Student # 2: "How about something that lets others try at life being a mutant?
Let 'em walk in our shoes and maybe some respect will follow."

Dorm Student # 4: "Sometimes I think mine would have an easier time if I came from
outer space."

X-Mansion - Lab

Jean: "We can adjust our priority - Scott's optic blasts have finally depleted."
She settles back into her work with a mixed breath of relief and focus.

Hank: "Most fortunate news. I was beginning to feel the vices of our resources. If not for your draw of Alex's blood for your curriculum occurring pre-exposure, I wouldn't know how we were even to manage manufacture of an antiserum for Scott. . .I suppose some synthetic method."

Something about this now has Jean seeming elsewhere.
"Yes- I suppose." Hank doesn't notice, and Jean's quick to snap out of it; refocusing.

While they may be off the clock where Scott is concerned, they're not for anyone else.
Their concentrated motions speaking to the sustained urgency with which they work. . .

While upstairs - Main Level of X-Mansion.

Opening his eyes as if having just received a telepathic transmission, Xavier -a man holding out against despondency; staring the inevitable in the face, yet refusing to accept it as finality- has been rewarded with the modicum of hope afforded by the news about Scott.

And perhaps more, as his attention is directed to the Mansion's entrance.

. . .Back in the Lab 

Jean abruptly looks up, appearing as one may if suddenly realizing an
electronic buzz they'd grown accustomed to had stopped at some point.

The realization comes with a feeling of alarm.

Hank turns at the sound of the door, "Jean?" seeing her heading out-

-down the hall towards the Danger Room-

-coming into the Control Bay, where Xavier sits keying-in specific commands.

"Ah, Jean. I was about to let you and Hank know you can loosen your schedules.
I shall explain following these adjustments."

With sustained confusion, Jean watches as Xavier disengages the individual treatment environments.

Envisionings Part 20

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---

We join Xavier, Jean, and Hank, now back in the Danger Medical Bay; looking markedly different than before. The re-programming having it resembling more of a camp cabin set-up -albeit with less close quarters- with everyone in one, open space.

For the sake of Scott coming out of total darkness, the simulated lighting of the room has been set to "late dusk". As the other patients disperse from where the Dark Room's entrance had been -as if they'd been told to wait there as the walls came down, ensuring no barrier between anyone and Leech, who is standing by Scott's bed- we hear an address of Xavier's to the room:

"I need every one of you to make no mistake; the presence of Leech does not cure you. While you should begin to feel your symptoms dissipate with the current absence of your powers, what you have been exposed to still exists within your bodies. Remaining in Leech's field does not appear to turn back or even stop that clock." At this he glances towards the woman who came with Leech.
"The contaminate will continue to work against your X-genes despite your genes' expression being neutralized. What I mean to get across is if you leave this room, your symptoms will return, instantly and likely worse. . .Our work will continue towards a safe return to your normal lives, and what comfort we can provide in the meantime. I hope I am asking for only a little more of your patience."

Gradually propping himself up on his arms, Scott slips off the cold compress; all the same looking around unseeingly. Turning his head -still with uncomfortable stiffness- in the direction of the presence by his bed, Leech now stares uncertainly into the ruby quartz contact-lensed eyes.

Off an assuring nod from Xavier, the boy steps away towards the Professor.

Jean observes, sharing the look on Scott's face; at once relieved and curious.

Alv: "And so what's our guarantee you're not gonna' screw us up worse with that work?!
The people who did this didn't do what they were trying to, ^{if that can be believed. . ."}

Jean fields this: "Counteracting what's been done is a comparatively straightforward process. Plus,
mutant genetics is our specialty."

Everyone else appearing more interested in re-situating themselves, or observing the newcomers, no further questions arise. Leaving Xavier free to make some introductions to Jean and Hank: "This young man is Leech.
As I'm sure you've grasped, Leech's mutation grants him the ability to emit an aura which cancels out the expression of other X-genes within his vicinity. Based on conversation and a test we completed, I have every confidence he can maintain this power across the new parameters of the room. Which I've set smaller than his actual boundary to guard against error."

Hank: "A compromise on privacy and space for the surety of life.
Simply remarkable."

"And here we have Val Baskhem." He brings their attention to a raven-haired woman.
"She is the one who brought Leech to us, having been securely sharing his company in the Morlock Tunnels since her mutation grew unbearable from the mist. They had overheard Kurt speaking about the situation, though he'd left before Leech's ability could be introduced."

Hank: "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, as well."

Jean meets Val with a reflective look:
"I don't know if you know how much this means."

"You might be surprised."

Hank: "And what is the nature of your mutation?"

"Complicated."
She doesn't hang around for further conversation, instead moving to scope out what unoccupied area of the room she'd like to claim as her own - beds still forthcoming for the newcomers.

Leech has wandered towards Graysen, the occupant closest to his size besides Willow, who's gone back to observe the goings-on from her own space.

While over by their spaces, Rogue and Bobby can be seen holding hands:
"Ah was scared when you had to stay in your envahronment. . ."

"Yeah. . .Actually had me imagining not having my powers -Didn't think that was something
I ever would."

Rogue looks down, considering their hands. "Guess we get to see what that's lahk, now."
Carefully, from being so accustomed to needing to keep them on, Rogue removes her gloves.
Taking Bobby's hand again afterward, for once skin-to-skin.

Both smile with a mix of uncertainty and pleasure.

We see Colbur observing the couple from across the room before turning his attention elsewhere, ours going with his to see Rogue isn't the only one cognizant of the new ability to forego protective wear.

Scott goes about removing his ruby quartz contact lenses.

Having noticed too, Hank has come over: "You may yet want to leave those in for their luminance dulling properties."

Even as the absence of his optic blasts is readily apparent, Scott's movements remain habitually cautious: having shut his eyes the instant the contact lenses were far enough removed to do so, and drawing a collecting half-breath before he opening his bare eyes. An expression of some disconcert crossing his face for how foreign this feels, increased by the reality that his vision as he's known it is presently altered, too.

It's all temporary: "My mask will be more comfortable."

He reaches for where he knows it to be.

"Ah, but give it time, my friend. Improvements can be made once I have more."

"Thanks. But I won't be lookin' to make those my primary eyewear anytime.
Though they are good for emergencies."

"In that case, I hope never to see you make use of them again."

His mask back on, Scott sighs. What time he's had without compromising sensations affecting his ability to rest being insignificant. He stays sitting as if thinking over if he should lay back to grab more decent sleep, or if there's something else he should be doing in light of the recent developments; a tired, dynamic mind "checking the locks" before it can rest.

Hank: "It occurs to me how this cancellation of power affords the rare opportunity to examine your eyes.
Once they've readjusted, of course. It may be of especial benefit given what your body has just endured."

Scott: "Then consider it an appointment."
He settles back.

Hank vacates his area.

Colbur has moved -noticeably easier- to join the younger boys. Despite the relief from his symptoms, there's a subdued manner about him. Though he smiles down at Leech. "Thanks for sharing your mutation, kid."

"Leech never thanked for sharing."

"Hey, what mutant ever is?"

Meanwhile, curiosity has brought Willow from her comfort zone, and into Hank's path:
"How come you're still blue and furry?"

Hank: "My particular mutation is more set, requiring more of a reversal than a halt.
Though I envisage if I stayed within Leech's presence, my pilose, tinted appearance 
may gradually give way to something more. . .ordinary."

Willow giggles behind her hand.

Overhearing, Leech comes to join them. "You stay with Leech?"

Hank smiles down at him: "No. My work is elsewhere. But I will return for visits.
Be sure to share any needs you may have with one of the mature folks you see,
and we will ensure your comfort as you are ensuring ours." Hank's smile broadens.
"You are doing unquantifiable good here, Lad."

Leech looks confused at the "unquantifiable" bit, but he understands "good";
grinning gamely.

True to Xavier's words, however, Leech's power does not restore conditions to pre-affected states, as over the next while, potential and definite residual affects are discovered. . .

Willow's Mother: "One of your doctors had told me Willow's seizures were likely part of extra electricity building up before her mutant body could release it. The extra would've been part of her mutation too, right? So why if she doesn't have her powers now, is she still having seizures? They even seem different than before."

Ororo: "It is possibly a consequence of what her body has endured. One of ours whose powers are concentrated in his eyes now seems to be seeing less clearly."

Over with Scott, Jean moves back from performing the final test of his eye exam:
"It's clear that there's damage. The vision loss may be arrested at this point,
or it could be progressive. . .We won't know until more time has passed."

". . If that has to be the trade-off."

A look of shared feeling, Jean returns the last testing tool to a container.

"Could you bring a couple books down with you please, the next time you go upstairs?"

Jean: "From our room, you mean?" She asks for the pleasure -and affirmation- of the designation existing again. "Anything for you, Blue." She lingers long enough to hold a look directly into his eyes.

A smile crosses Scott's face.
His brow then furrowing as Jean moves away.

These recent days have brought a lot to think on.

Bobby: "It's strange to see Cyclops like that."

Rogue: "Yeah, he looks softer without any ahwear."

The couple are once again hanging out as a trio with Colbur, though his attention is taken
by who's just coming in the door: "Wonder who's that with your Professor X?"

Turning to look, Bobby's in disbelief: "That's my brother."

He gets up from where he'd been sitting to meet Ronnie, the younger Drake
uncertainly -or uncomfortably- moving through the room towards him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I, uh...I wanted you to know, I'm the one who gave blood for your cure."

Bobby is surprised -and a little suspicious: "You know it's a cure for what's messing up my mutation? Not for it?"

"Yeah, I understood that. Look, I still don't know about all this. . mutant stuff. Why you'd want it-" Bobby frowns, "-but I guess. . I mean we're still brothers." Ronnie shrugs. "I don't. .I don't want you to. ." another shrug, ". .whatever would happen."

Bobby takes this in " . . thanks man."

While the brothers have their uncertain reunion, Colbur takes the opportunity to speak with Xavier, who turns to him receptively.

Colbur: "So our powers, they got pushed out of control, yeah? So what your doctors are working on is something to dial them back down? Suppress them just a bit?"

"Actually, they're working to eliminate the substance from your bodies which is negatively influencing your X-Genes."

"Okay. But if anyone could make something to dial them down, like all the way- make a cure? It could be them, right?"

"Hank and Jean could never make a cure, because mutantcy is not a disease. It is a way of being, as normal as any other."

Colbur smiles ironically: "You sure about that, Professor X?"

"Absolutely."

While back with Rogue, we find her in conversation with Jean.

Rogue (unacceptable): "Havin' mah powers but not bein' able to use 'em?"

Jean: "I know." And she sounds like she really does. "But there's nothing to say it would be forever. Just that while we continue searching for your blood relatives, you can go back to your usual routine."

"Yeah, except for being an X-Man."

Jean (matter-of-fact/connective): "You can still be, aside from missions requiring power use. I'm still one, aren't I?"

Rogue meets her eyes, supposing so; more in doubt of her own state of X-Menhood than of Jean's.

As Jean moves on, we see Val Baskhem with an attentive look in the background.

While Jean notices how Scott is observing the re-connection between the Drake brothers, stiff though it is -a handshake going into a brief hug. Still, a brotherly interaction. . .

. . .Following everyone being seen to and visitors seen back out, we join the Professor with Ororo: "It is strange being in there and not feeling the charge of my powers. Strange, too, feeling their sudden return."

Xavier: "Yes. For me it is similar to the TV being muted, then having the volume return
at an uncomfortable level just before I take back the control."

While in the Lab

Hank: "If worse comes to worst, visually speaking, perhaps I could engineer a VISOR for Scott a la Geordi La Forge."

Jean: "A bit of an over compensation, don't you think?"

Hank: "On the contrary, the expanded capability could play into Scott's penchant for preparedness."

"Trust me, enhanced perception isn't all it's cracked up to be."

Hank smiles like this conversation was for literal entertainment as much as for entertaining the idea;
Jean in on the joke. They get back to more operative conversation.

Jean: "It's looking likely we'll need to synthesize an antiserum for Alv, and Xavier suspects the same for Colbur."

"Is that so? . . And what of the mysterious Val Baskhem?"

"Living up to that description. I suspect she's waiting to see how this goes before divulging anything."
Jean compares something under a microscope to data on a screen.

Back in the Danger Medical Bay - Scott is stretching his legs.

Bobby: "Back to wearing your glasses, Cyclops?"

"From wearin' them so long, my perception of colour is actually irregular without them.
I see no reason in letting my eyes readjust."

The sound of books colliding with the floor directs attention back to Scott's area.
"What are you doing?"

Alv rises from having been rifling through a cabinet by Scott's bed.
"Not surprised there isn't anything worthwhile in your junk."

"So now you've had a look, set it right!"

Alv scoffs: "You don't have your eye beams to sick on me to make me do what you want,
so why don't you just shove off?!" He makes a point of hitting into Scott as he stalks past.

Scott glowers at his departing form, before letting go of the emotion. .
. .everyone dealing in their own way. Everyone dealing.
It wasn't worth the disturbance.

. . .Over the next collection of days, completed antiserums are gradually administered; observations heightened against adverse affects, and bloodwork drawn regularly to confirm efficacy. . .

. . .once things appear to be progressing agreeably in the adults, the younger set are given theirs.

A myoclonic jerk has Willow accidentally sending the syringe out of Hank's hand into a surface where it breaks.

Willow's Mother (apologetic/stressed): "Oh- how long will it take for her, now?"

"Only the time of my stride back to and from the lab. Given the dosage amount we landed on, we have a little surplus." He reverts attention to Willow. "Sit tight, m'young lady."

His form of address succeeds in getting a little giggle out of her, somewhat lightening her Mother's mood, as well.

"Sitting tight", Willow looks around, finding herself staring into the watchful eyes of Val Baskhem across the way. The woman turns away before so much as a smile can be shared.

. . .with no resistance or relapse observed in anyone's bloodwork, Scott's dose -using Alex's blood- is finally made and administered to him. . .

. . .and an antiserum with the missing relative component determined to still have potential for benefit, though to an uncertain consequence, Alv consents to -rather insists on- giving it a go. . .though he's alone in this decision.

Val, Rogue and Colbur opting to wait for their own cures using the proven method. .
. .or in the case of one, take their chances.

Colbur (sensitively) "So none of your family is stepping up for you?"

Rogue: "Ah'm adopted. Ah don't know where mah blood family is.
Professor X is trahin' to find 'em."

There's a certain look that falls over Colbur's face, but it's only a flicker.
In the next moment, there's an air of lightened confidence: "Ya' know?
I bet we're good, anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that stuff sort of clung to our mutations, right? And Leech has cancelled them out for so long, what's that substance had to hold onto?"

"They told us it doesn't work that way. Val was with Leech for days before they came here and she still couldn't be without him."

Colbur shrugs. "We were in treatment environments, it wasn't left to run wild like hers."

Bobby stares quizzically. "That's not how they worked. The contaminate still progressed unchecked and it's still in your blood."

"Isn't that how our bodies work, though? A little bit of whatever's triggered our immune system stays- Doesn't mean anything - it's so our system remembers so the problem's not a problem anymore. Once you're good you're good -I mean even if it's not the case with Val-" -he shrugs, talking fast- "-everybody's different, right? And I'm feeling good!"

Colbur makes for the door --

Bobby and Rogue, having been sitting, now rise:
"Hey- wait!"

"Colbur!"

Colbur turns his head but doesn't break his stride: "Just watch, I'll show you!"

Scott's attention is caught -looking up in time to see Colbur pushing away from Rogue and Bobby's halting touches -his use of force clearly more than either was expecting from their friend-

-who makes it outside the door-

"Stop!" Bobby gets back on Colbur's heels while Rogue's gone to get Leech-

-his boundary to be broken once the boys turn down the hall--

--Scott's gotten out there --trying to get a hold on Colbur as he shakes Bobby off again--
--one arm and leg going beyond, rocking-up at once-- a look of fear and disappointment crossing Colbur's face before instantly giving way--

--the urgency of the situation has Leech confused; Colbur as much out of his reach--

--as Bobby and Scott's--their grasps too awkward or simply too late--Colbur already

in a consequence loop as his solidifying body multiplies his weight--more of his
body falling out of the boundary--more of his body rocking-up--

--Scott goes down with him, a flash of light visible behind his ruby quartz lenses.

Recovering from the impact -a second spent acknowledging the return of his optics blasts;
no consequence- Scott turns to see the calm resignation now permanently etched on Colbur's face. . .

Match-Cut to-
-the entirely solidified Colbur on his bed in the Danger Med Bay.

Rogue and Bobby standing-by as Hank examines him.
Scott standing just back.

Bobby: "Why isn't he changing back? He's in Leech's field."

Hank consults a tablet which shares the diagnostic information of the Danger Room,
relaying with astonishment: "The solidification is absolute. His cells completely
superseded by crystallization. There is nothing left for Leech's power to act upon."

While Rogue and Bobby struggle to come to terms with this, we focus on Scott.
His body language reflective of the thought we hear: 'If I'd been quicker.'

Jean's voice in his head: 'From what you described, Colbur was determined.'

'. . .he was Alex's charge.'

After. . .
Rogue: "He saw how ah was feelin'. He did it wantin' to show me-"

Professor Xavier shakes his head: "You had no bearing on his actions.
It is my belief that Colbur chose to cling to the possible hope that it would be alright
on the other side, than to face an uncertain chance, or a certain pain."

Rogue staring in confusion, Xavier concludes: "His choice, over someone else's, or lack thereof."

. . .Later

Ororo: "All that has happened, caused by parents who could not accept their sons being mutants."

Xavier: "In Michael's case, he did not accept his own mutantcy. In that respect his parents were supporting him. . .Not every one of us will come to accept their mutation as a gift, and in the face of a choice to remain a mutant or not, there is no right or wrong. . .What was wrong in these cases, is how neither Michael nor Colbur had the opportunity to authentically decide on the course of their lives. . .The voices of the world they lived in, choking out their own."

Envisionings Part 21 ⛓👁

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---

As it comes to pass, Alv's synthetic version of the cure stagnates. Progressing enough to restore immunity past concern of his mutation quaking his body apart, though requiring him to wear an anti-seismic suit to counteract residual pain and discomfort, and allow
a functional level of control. . .

. . .for others, walking on from the aftermath is easier. . .

Hank presents Scott with an upgraded pair of glasses and visor: "Beast Brand Modifiable Lenses." We focus-in-on a slider and switch respectively near the front of the arms. "Guaranteed to correct your vision to optimal quality, both near and far."

. . .easier in only certain respects. . .

Subdued in manner, Scott takes them: "Thanks."

. . .though for all, deterioration is behind them; stability restored to their lives,

relatively speaking. . .with "all" coming to include Rogue and possibly Val,

under mysterious circumstances. . .Val first leaving with Leech under the

pretense of preferring to make contact with relatives herself. . .



In a subsequent dead-of-night, Xavier will get a sense of something. . .He'll move from his bed, back into his wheelchair, and towards the window. . .to see a lone figure leaving the school. . .A realizing 'could it be?' informing the Professor's expression. . .

That morning, samples of blood will be discovered on one of the X-Lab's work stations,
labeled "For Marie*"

*This is Rogue's non-mutant name
-in case that didn't already click in your memory! ~Tra

. . .tests will confirm the blood to be a genetic match to Rogue, and an antiserum delivered on. . .The leftover doses then placed into cold storage, where given the positioning, only we see how the level of the others' leftovers appear to be less than Rogue's. . .

The one known as Vak Baskhem is never seen nor heard from again.

-Transition-

News Anchor: "Welcome to your evening news. I'm Roxanne Arsonou, and to open this hour I'd like to express a retraction on misinformation spread through recent stories. So often when we report on situations involving certain demographics, it is from our myopic, outside view. At best this reporting is biased. At worst, irresponsible. Today, guest Dr. Henry McCoy will expand that view, as he speaks on behalf of the mutant community."

Hank: "Thank you, Roxanne. I appreciate your acknowledgement and hope our conversation may serve to underline the importance of critical thinking. Now then," he faces the camera. "What you have all heard regarding ploys to elicit mutantcy or a de-volving of certain mutants has been categorically false. In truth what has been happening ... "

We see this broadcast is being watched on several TVs as we pan throughout X-Mansion.
Seeing as well, life easing back to usual, as though this marks a close on the mutants' recent ordeal.

Finally we come to Xavier's Office, where the Professor finishes watching with Jean
and Scott.

Xavier: "Hank had to be careful to present the facts without mention of an attempt
at a mutant 'cure', or risk planting that seed in more ambitious minds."

Scott: "Chances are someone else has already been thinkin' about it without mutant interest in mind."

"Indeed. So we will be ready to make them think again, should they move on such thoughts."

Jean: "Speaking of minds, shadows of this will persist in many. ." she exchanges a glance with Scott.
"We might want to consider bringing someone in for therapeutic services."

Scott: ". . We know someone."

Xavier looks to him: "I hadn't thought you'd found her to be of benefit?"
Far from discouraging, Xavier seems to bring this up more to see how his grown pupil will respond.

"She had good insights to impart. I wasn't ready to hear them.

Not at first." He looks meaningfully to Jean.

On the close of the trio's discussion, with an "I'll see you later" from Jean,
Scott exits the office, having something he needs to do.

We remain, as the Professor expresses to Jean: "Bobby approached me earlier.
Upset about what we aren't doing for the mutants who fall between the cracks. . .Of course to cater to adults would be a more complex matter, but too many in that demographic are youths, like Colbur. . .I admit, circumstances like those we have just gone through find me tempted. .

. .I could've scanned Colbur's mind, found his darkest secrets about his home life, and then ensured his parents' accepting cooperation with a thought. . .Remove fear and prejudice, from all minds, with the same ease. . .A wrong, to make things right."

Jean: "You have always spoken to lasting change. What can't come from making up others' minds for them. Part of why I separated myself from my higher power is from comprehending how exacting a will isn't the way. . .And from what we do know about Colbur, he wouldn't have accepted anything artificial,
anyway."

Xavier: "Which underlines the unstable precipice such actions would have us facing. . .
To force change in some minds would be to force change in all, or be caught, in the least,
in the mistreatment of human beings as programmable objects." ."

He closes his eyes as if turning away from that murky avenue, opening them to the clear one ahead:
"But Bobby is right. We can be doing more. . .and so we must."

Out in the halls, Scott crosses paths with Holo.

The young girl addresses the circumstance gently: "It's nice to see you well again,
Professor Summers."

"Thanks. . I'm glad you and your sister weren't affected."

Holo nods, meeting his "eye" with a look like she wants to say something more,
but isn't sure. She looks down. "I wish I could've known your brother more."

". . .Me too."

Holo looks up. The way he means that not lost on her; striking her, somewhat.

Her gaze shifts again, this time from thought. . .mixed thoughts. "It's kind of a lot the way powers can work when you mean and when you don't. . .and in ways they shouldn't. . .Professor Beast thinks the plants in the flower shop felt how Eeco was feeling after the garden, and tried to share something with him. That's why they wilted."

Understanding she's still trying to make sense of things, Scott focuses on one part of that:
"The ways powers shouldn't work is always precipitated."

Holo "meets" his gaze at this correction.
Then, as if returning to a thought from just before, ventures gently: "You know . .whenever you'd like to remember him, your brother, you could share a story like he did when we met*."

She keeps hold of Scott's gaze. "And I could imagine it."

*Referencing a time "last year"
after the brothers reunited.
A past story which will be told
in a future Issue! ~Tra

We don't see Scott's response, instead transitioning to what he had set out to do;
his own idea for keeping Alex alive in memory.

He begins by carefully swapping out his glasses for his visor, opening his eyes once
they're safely behind the other lens; reading the on-screen analysis of his optic blasts:
back to normal.

Mind shifts to the task at hand, and we see he's in the garage;
something on a work table in front of him.

Using his optic blast at low intensity, he sets to engraving a brass plate:

ALEX SUMMERS
Center for Empowered Youth

We move out from the garage to come to an area of the Grounds where the "statue"
of Colbur has been erected as its own memorial.

Bobby is there, and with serious regard to what remains of his friend, we see him ice-up more completely than we've seen up to now; a full-body attempt. Though the areas he doesn't typically affect are more "ice-brushed" than full on, he seems resolute: something to work on. . .Something from Colbur to carry forward.

We join back up with Scott, now back inside the school, glasses on again instead of visor, and follow as he continues down another hallway - some students pass him: "nice to have class with you again, Professor Cyclops."

Scott manages a smile.

He comes towards a doorway leading out to a balcony, but a voice pauses him: "Hey. Scott."

Scott turns in Logan's direction.

Logan plays it offhand: "Since we're runnin' into each other, just thought I'd say before cuttin'

outta' here again, uh. .It's good you pulled through. And. .I'm sorry about your brother."

Scott: ^{". .thank you."}

Before he turns to continue out to the balcony: "Take care finishing your mission, Logan."

From down a different way than Scott came, we see Jean.
Logan meets her eye as if he knew she was there; that she would be here.

As Jean comes to meet him, Logan glances towards the balcony and the man
of her actual rendezvous. "So, 'thought you weren't goin' back to what's past?"

Jean meets his eyes: "Some things carry on."

Logan presents a knowing look: "Even when you were out of his life you
were the best thing Scott had in it. You lemme' know if he ever forgets that."

Jean smiles. "Stay safe, Logan."
She touches his arm warmly as she passes to join Scott on the balcony,

where she finds him looking down over it, looking to be lost in his thoughts.

The touch of Jean's hand over his brings him out of them.

". .it should've been me."

"It shouldn't have been anyone."

". .But because a mutant life couldn't be reconciled. . .I wouldn't wish my optic blasts on anyone.
But without them I wouldn't be here, and I can't conceive of my life meaning so much anywhere else."

Jean looks thoughtful; in agreement.

Scott: "That said," he stammers.

Jean waits a second before filling in the hesitation; empathizing: "Leech made things 'quieter'."

Scott looks to her; a wavelength shared without use of mutant power.

"No ambient cerebral frequencies to have to modulate. His influence had my head feeling. . .comfortably empty. . . .Though the quiet was also unsettling." A smile crops up on Jean's face as she spins the situation lightheartedly: "Turns out I like keeping tabs on you."

Scott smiles back, turning his hand over under hers to now lace their fingers.
Smile already faded, Scott adds: "If an option like that existed 4 years ago*,
you might not've had to die."

*Events of X3: Unseen.

Jean considers. "You expanded what the Danger Room was capable of after that.
We might not have been prepared for all of this, otherwise." She turns a more

reflective gaze down on herself, ". . who can say what else would be different. . "

A reflective silence falls until Scott concludes: "It's good that you're back."
The comprehensive statement giving way to more personal feeling: ". .good to have you here."

Jean looks to him ahead of taking him in an embrace; understanding he'd be weathering
two seas of grief if not for her presence. . .and behind his back, looks like she's having
an inner debate. . .Closing her eyes, Jean closes her mind to it; too many unknowns.

"It's good to be here."

She holds him tighter before, with the drawing of a re-balanced breath, they ease out,

Scott kissing her cheek. Taking each other's hand again, they turn to look on. . . .

. . . .and we cut-to/ease-in on an ECU of Scott, seeing the horizon in the reflection
of his lenses, before everything mists over. . . .

returning-to
X-Men Envisionings Storyline # 2 - eXperiment ⛓👁

A shadow amid the mist, the attenuated form of Cyclops stands staring into it.

Jean comes to stand by him. For a moment they gaze into the harmless fog together,
lost in shared and individual thoughts. . .before Jean touches his arm. "Up for the trek?"

Cyclops sighs, giving a nod; as up for it as he's going to be.
His hand goes to his visor's acuity slider:

  Distance
|
 Dynamic
| 
 Close

  Distance
|
 Dynamic
| 
 Close

A few yards back, at a point on the lake's shoreline, a fire and makeshift shelter evidence how they spent the night.
Jean now uses the telekinetic basin trick she'd used back at the crashed jet to extinguish the fire.

Cyclops leads the way; the compromised one setting the pace. . .

. . .they tread through the mist. . .

Jean: "I've never seen fog like this outside of Storm's influence."

The telekinetic "sight" Jean employed in the facility* not so useful in a tangled, spanning exterior space, each of them has one hand feeling for trees and branches. The concentration of fog making it prudent to keep their other hands on each other, to stay current on the other's position as much as to keep steady.

*Part 8, by the way!

Cyclops' head downset, indicative of his gaze, he picks along the shrouded path.
The uneven terrain taxing to him in his current state; the increased moisture in the air
harder on his lungs.

Jean could sense a weight on his mind which had nothing, or scarce little,
to do with his physical state. "It's okay," she reassures.

"It's dangerous."

"You know it isn't the contaminate mist."

"That isn't it. . ^{I lost myself back there."}

"With all that happened, I'd wonder if you didn't."

". . .I can't be absent."

Jean's regard is perspicacious: "Being back in Alex's life sooner-" Scott pauses at her words "-may not've changed the outcome."
-Jean comes around to face him; sight of each other obscured even this close. "There's no way to know."

". . .There are places I need to be.
I know that much."

"You can't be everywhere."

"But I'll be no where if I'm lost in my own mind. . ."

"You'd still be where I can find you."

He looks up. . .then bows his head through the mist into hers as he brings his hand
to her side. Jean brings hers to his neck before shifting, pulling them closer. . .

. . .just ahead of coming to attention: "--someone's here."

⛓👁

(continued)

Envisionings Part 22

telkjplang.wixsite.com/xmenenvisionin…

---

Acuity slider on his visor shifted, Cyclops keeps Jean from moving for a second as he fires an optic blast over her shoulder --the fog having mysteriously cleared enough to see some distance ahead.

When Jean does shift to now being beside him, there's a level of surprise - like whoever he just shot at wasn't who she had sensed - and he's surprised, too.

Jean: "What?"

Cyclops: ". . It was a tree." His expression speaks to a mental struggle; the mist triggering him is one thing, but he has no reason to be hallucinating an adversary. Still, could he have?

All at once the forest gets loud -- rustling leaves; cracking wood; growling earth -- ground shaking like the aftershock of an earthquake -- Jean goes down --We see the cause;

grayish hands gripping her legs -- gripping through her legs; the hands at once incorporeal and able to interact with matter.

--The next instant sees a thick branch of a tree striking Cyclops into the trunk of another some yards away, while thick roots now raise out of the ground under Jean, rolling her towards a part of the forest in the opposite direction; strangely more open.

The fog then pervades the space now separating Cyclops and Jean Grey.

Cyclops' state makes his recovery more gradual, and he moves cautiously in case of any more combative branches -the sounds of the forest giving nothing away; relative quiet settling back in.

"Sc-^ott-!-" the call comes out in a strange, choked way.

His head turns -just ahead of hearing her voice inside it: 'Help-!-'

A breath of mutual distress, Cyclops moves at once -unsteady though clear on Jean's location -their psychic link driving him through the physical obscurity of the fog.

Not far on, he realizes his footsteps are strangely loud in his ears. His breathing the same.
Is he losing it again?

Jean's form gradually comes into view ahead, prone on the ground, a young mutant bent over her. Their appearance eerie; glowing green irises, dark veined, grayish skin; the owner of the hands we saw before. The hands we now see through Jean Grey's back.

It takes a second for this scene to be correctly comprehended, and we see Cyclops horrified. His thoughts clear--what are they doing? What have they done? And what will happen if he blasts them while a part of them is still inside Jean?!

Not completely unconscious, one weak thought from Jean enters his mind in the space of that hesitation: ^{'Do it.'}

--VZhoo--khh !

--The blast hits ground

Where'd the eerie mutant go?

Cyclops stays alert as he closes the remaining distance between himself and Jean,
kneeling down to check on her as he keeps one hand poised at the side of his visor.

A sense like someone's watching him causes him to look up a second later, ruby lensed eyes "meeting" green irises visible through the mist about 10 feet away --then, a second later, directly in front of him. Cyclops never perceived the mutant moving.

--VZhoom!

Gone again.

The "rushhh" of disturbed leaves comes as unnaturally loud as the sounds before. .
. . the crack of a tree ringing out clearly from one side as the leaf sounds shift like surround sound, originally in front, now behind him . .

Understanding now, this comes as a tip off.

--VZhooom!-!

-- a trick shot done blind off the tree -- we see Cyclops react with a gasp as the eerie mutant's fingers had just made it inside his back before the hit -- Releasing his breath with focus, Cyclops whips around to deliver a more targeted, knock-out blow.

Watching a beat to confirm, attention then reverts to Jean -thankfully conscious.

A moan escaping her lips as she gradually collects her bearings; hand to her heart.

While Cyclops breathes like he's already exerted.

More cracking of trees can be heard. . .A temporary waning of the fog nearly escaping his perception. . .Cyclops zeroes in on movement just before the fog closes in on them again.

So he wasn't seeing things before.
The trees are mobilizing!

He discharges a dialed-up blast through the fog --to his surprise getting set off balance by doing so. Unease and the sound of wood splitting into more distracts from the fact this isn't a unidirectional assault -- movement -with a cry- from Jean brings Cyclops' focus back to behind him, where branches woven thick like a battering ram have just been blocked by her forcefield - -the telekinetic shield nearly breaking with the impact.

The ram begins to swing away like a batter getting ready -- gearing up for a counterstrike--

Cyclops: "Lower it!"

--forcefield goes down--

--VZHOOM!!!

The heavy collection of branches falls as it's amputated by optic blast!

The fog lets up again, enough for more trees to focus on their targets before the forest battlefield is enshrouded anew -- the assault growing more sophisticated as the moves are held until this point --with Cyclops and Jean Grey needing to capitalize on this interval.

Hurriedly they steady each other up -- Jean just managing to sense another blow in time to block it --

-- Cyclops blasts -- hard to say if he's doing so discriminately or in wild defense -- exertion increased as he has to work to keep steady against the kickback of his own power.

The formula repeats -- fog waning, X-Men targeted, vision obscured, reaction --

Hits gotten in from both combating parties.

Jean: "I can't lock-on to anyone-" Her hand aside her head conveys a telepathic struggle.
She eyes Cyclops, knowing he's struggling more -- energy waning like the fog; optic power insufficiently stockpiled since his depletion -- the fight literally taking a lot out of him.

But even as physical strength is faltering, the mind is still strong.
The past two cycles has seen Jean left to concentrate on defense, while Cyclops has looked around - beyond the trees - searching. . .his hand shaking yet ever-ready aside his visor. . . . .

Just as the fog is closing back in, he notices it-
-a figure -- --VZHOOOM !!

--the last of what he has goes into the shot

--Unknown Figure: "NnGah!!"

While the dense fog remains, a sudden arrest of certain sound and action speaks to the trees' animation ceasing.

Cyclops brings himself to his hands and knees, trying to get a handle on a fainting feeling.
Jean kneels to keep tabs on his position and state; heavy breaths heard, mind feeling as fogged over as their surroundings. . .

. . .Jean looks up, worried but ready, as the shroud dissipates once more.

Her eyes locking on a long, grey-haired figure before noticing the other, younger adult,
recovering from Cyclops' blast some distance off to the side of the older one,
and looking determined.

It's as if the two want to make sure she sees what's coming next, and Jean watches as the trees are started up again, their movements even stranger. Branches encircling, the fog not closing in this time but the trees encasing.

With a just audible gasp Jean erects a forcefield around herself and Cyclops -pushing back against the trees. But her own energy spent, her power in part focused through her injured arm, we see the forcefield nictitating -- See Cyclops on his back, focusing as he can on the trees, hand back at the side of his visor -- equally unable to stop the trees from winding closer, weaving tighter with every blink.

Jean looks out through a remaining gap; face fearful but focused. No longer does she push back, only simply maintains. .

. .Trees twisting firmly shut before the next second elapses.

Darkness.

Like he was in his last time with Alex. . .

. . .like he was in before Jean found him. . .

. . .But this time is different.

This darkness isn't complete.

Gaps in the branches above, casting light like an insufficiently boarded-up window.
All suddenly still.

Quiet.

Forcefield down, Jean -breathing heavily from the strain- spends a few untrusting beats watching the trees. . .before turning her attention down: "Scott?" She touches his arm.

Cyclops (groggily): ^{"They're gone?"}

"I think. . .None of their minds feel like any I've encountered. Like they're only partially here. .
. .But I don't think they'll be back. There are teenagers missing from here," Jean informs, closing her eyes." They're who I sensed before. . ." Eyes open. "And their minds are unsteady like yours, right now."

^{"So whoever just fought us are intent on leaving people like this."}

Jean massages her own arm. "At least the Professor has our coordinates. Though depending who's coming, your optic blast may still be the best way out." She looks down at him, adding with tender concern. "In any case, you should take this time to rest."

A resigned exhale from Cyclops. . .while he lays recouping, Jean partly reverts attention to their arborious prison, and the ones somewhere beyond. . .Rescue is underway for her and Cyclops. . . By X-Men precept, they won't be the only ones recovered . . .

. . . In the meantime, we join Warren addressing certain other matters of captivity.

Trask Industries - Conference Room

Warren: "You fast-tracked approval of your collars, Mr. Trask, doing so on baseless grounds."

Trask meets Warren from across the room, standing in front of a wall of windows he could've impatiently been staring out of or pacing in front of before Warren's entry.

The distance between them uncompromising.

Trask: "Your conclusion is that I based this on the trouble from earlier this Summer*?
I didn't miss the memo. But whether danger comes inherently or is influenced is beside the point."

*The 💉🩸 storyline,
of course!

He looks Warren dead in the eye. "Any side of the argument can see that."

Trask indeed resumes pacing, as though the act can move this along.

"The collars were in stages of development long before. Manufactured with mutants' best interests in mind. And distributing them to the police?" He pauses, once more meeting Warren's gaze. His impatient manner giving way to self-assurance. "When someone with a weapon is apprehended, that weapon is taken away. Hands are restrained. . .So when the weapon happens to be part of an individual's genetic make-up-" -off a look from Warren, Trask clarifies- "-when certain mutative powers are chosen to be used in a threatening and criminal manner, what other viable way can you conceive of the police handling the situation?"

He sees Warren is following.

"I could do worse. I'm sure there are individuals who would like to collar children as a preventative measure against any X-Gene expression. Just one of the reasons why you will never see my product in the public market. If that disregard to the all powerful dollar doesn't convince you I'm working outside of my own interests, I don't know what more I can tell you."

Warren exhales, seeing he'll have to try a different tact.
"I can't see how you would've tested those collars for the length of time incarceration would require. Somehow they're inhibiting the expression of a gene. That has to have long term consequences. We at least request the papers detailing the collars' specifics and the thoroughness of your research." -'or lack thereof', his tone conveys.

Trask raises a brow. "I don't know, Mr. Worthington. The most recent events* have raised doubts around you and the X-Men. Tomorrow I might see you colluding with Magneto to the result of the collars and such future technology becoming ineffectual. I'm trying to help the mutant population. You can see then how releasing my private information to you could in fact have the opposite effect?"

*See Parts 6 and 7!

Warren (temper rising): "This isn't over, Trask. The ABMC* will be filing a complaint, and insisting on no extended use of the collars until we know more about them. We'll station ambassadors for the mutant community at the detention centers if that's what it'll take!"

*Association for the Betterment of Mutant Citizens,
in case you forgot! ~Tra

Trask: "You have your solutions and now I've presented another.
We will indeed see what it takes."

Back in the tree cell.

Cyclops murmurs in his sleep: ^{"Weak isn't the mist. . .
. . . Final Summers. . . "}

Sympathy and question cross Jean's face, before giving way to a look of response to something.

A decidedly different something than what now echoes through Cyclops' mind

Enigmatic Voice: "To live or die by your choice. . ."

Cyclops stirs, disturbed, while Jean's attention is kept on the bark wall; her hand placed upon it, head bowed against, eyes closed.

A few moments pass, then she opens them. A knowing look on her face,

as we hear Cyclops cough ahead of speaking: ^{". . can you communicate with them? Get us out without alerting the commander?"}

"Maybe if I understood tree language. But we have been able to trace the mycorrhizal network back to the commander's mind."

Cyclops comes more to attention.

Xavier (telepathically to both): 'It is nearly time. Having used Jean's direct connection as a conduit, I will be influencing the commander to release you and the captured teenagers in the next few moments. But the commander's mind is a foreign space. To ensure the teenagers' escape, I will be hiding their release behind yours. Anything in their part of the forest will not register in the tree commander's mind. It is the best I can do. Storm will be maintaining an aerial position to clear the way for all of you, though she can come down
to further assist your exit once the locals are safe.'

Cyclops, shifted now into a kneel, understands what he's getting at.
'Better if we move. How much farther to the clearing?'

Xavier transmits the answer.

'I'll manage it.' He exchanges a look with Jean. 'We're ready on your action, Professor.'

In the following moments, the trees' hold reverses- twisted branches unfurling.

Jean and Cyclops begin to stand as the restriction of the space lets up.

Her hand goes to his shoulder: "You set the pace. I'll be right behind you."

With a nod, the still physically compromised Cyclops heads off through an uncannily fogless avenue, moving as adeptly as he can across the still uneven terrain --drawing on a source of strength and stamina only accessible when one absolutely needs.

On either side, it's as if the fog is wrestling with itself --"arms" being pulled back each time they "reach" into the cleared path -- A deafening, now-telltale sound of cracking trees followed by a -- - -CrrCRasSSsHHH!!!! of lightning-- diffused by the fog into a prismatic splay.

Rising tree roots arrest- -but not before tripping up both Cyclops and Jean Grey.

"Ungh!!" He falls sideways, rolling into obscurity--

--Jean falls backwards.

Recovering she moves to find him, aided by the widening of their clear avenue--

--which reveals the eerie mutant squeezing Cyclops' lungs through his back!

We see him in a breathless struggle, unable to get them off--unable to angle a shot--until his body turns as if pulled/rolled--head aiming even as he draws a much needed breath, visor button depressing as if on automatic from locking-on to his target --now blasted away into the mists.

We hear him coughing in the act of catching his breath as we see Jean,

lowering her arm from an active position.

She comes down to his side--"Scott?"

Cyclops: "H-help me u-p. K-keep going-"

Jean steadying him back to his feet, Cyclops fighting back the briefly vicious breathing cycle,
they go on. - -CrrCRasSSsHHH! another prismatic splay along the fogged passage.

Xavier: 'You will come up on the clearing shortly. Your transport is waiting.'

Jean: 'The teenagers?'

'Have convened with the local search party. They are steps away from exiting.'

And as our heroes take their last vacating steps from the haunting forest, a last ditch effort of all-consuming fog is blown away--not by Storm's wind, but the blades of a Blackhawk helicopter.

Jean and Cyclops halt at the sight of the figure standing beside it;

a final adrenaline-driven rush of heat flooding through Cyclops' body.

Ahead of us seeing what they are, we hear Xavier's voice: 'You can relax, Scott.'
Magneto: "Charles collected on a debt."

Bracing looks give way to question, as Storm comes down from the sky to join them.

"He has not deviated so far. All the same, I have kept up my guard and will continue."
Weary teammates are stewarded into the craft.

Magneto follows, casting a look at Cyclops.
"Is this some new type of defense against me? Having your blood so iron poor."

A still-winded Cyclops stares back, though Magneto has already headed for the cockpit.
It's clear the Professor's assurance hasn't gotten much mileage in Cyclops' mind. . .but the X-Men's leader hasn't enough left in him to maintain his own vigilance. He just gets situated in the troop seat; Jean taking one beside.

While inside the cockpit, the modifications Magneto had been making earlier* become apparent. His hands held out towards where the controls should be; now only blank panels. Craft redesigned so the only way to engage with the interior mechanics is through magnetic mastery.

*Part 7!

A look of satisfaction crossing his face as the aircraft rises, it gives way to one more keen as he stares down at the forest. Eyes shifting towards the Blackhawk's cabin before reverting back; something worth keeping in mind, Magneto's expression seems to convey.

Envisionings Part 23

telkjplang.wixsite.com/xmenenvisionin…

---

Storm joins Magneto in the cockpit. "I would like to take this opportunity to parley."

The Master of Magnetism divides his attention. "So Charles' didn't only send you to ensure the safe return of your comrades?"

"This is not coming from Charles. I have heard the points you have made. They are strong. Though I think your methods of making them are counterproductive."

Magneto expresses a slight smirk, as though he wouldn't expect an X-Man to think any different.

Storm: "You dictate we are superior, yet much of your actions repeat human history. There is one key avenue they still are not able to walk. The very one which has lead the X-Men and the Brotherhood to take their separate stances. . .Do you not think it time we show them how a world lead by a mutant collective can turn?"

Magneto's expression gives nothing away,
save for how he meets Storm's eye. . .

. . .As the conclusion of their expedition draws near,
we check back on Cyclops and Jean Grey for a final time in the Blackhawk's cabin.

His head lolled to the side indicates his unconsciousness, though Jean observes his mouth moving. Based on his previous slumber, she can assume he's murmuring something, though she can't catch the words this time.

Her expression conveys the oddity of this; not a regular thing for Cyclops to do.

Cut-To

X-Mansion - Medical Bay

Cyclops now lies on an exam bed, still unconscious, as Hank tests the flow of an IV by occluding his vein. "The change in body composition and degree of nutrient deficiency is astonishing given only how long he was held captive."

As he moves from Scott we see the door opening, admitting Xavier who comments on the thought: "Still so much of mutant potential is a puzzle. These recent events have me wishing I had more sight of the picture."

Hank: "I was going to say 'the wonders of mutations never cease'."
He is now by a computer next to a privacy screen, behind which Jean lies on another exam table having an electrocardiogram.

Consulting the data readout, Hank continues: "Case in point, the tests would indicate the assault on your heart, Jean, to be as phantom as the mutant who committed it. Same going for their assault on Scott's lungs, even given his compromised state."

Jean: "All that's a relief, at least." She begins removing the electrodes from herself.

Xavier: "And how is Scott?" He turns his attention that way.

Hank: "Not beyond what several rounds of nutrient transfusion and careful physical reconditioning can correct. However, his state of unconsciousness does appear to have reached a peak. Or I should say, a depth."

Jean comes out from behind the screen as Xavier regards Scott's sleeping form:

"The body knows when it can submit to recovery, as the mind knows when it is safe."

Sub-Basement Hallway - outside Medical Bay
Jean and the Professor have left Scott to his rest - Jean looking like she could use a hefty dose of some herself, as she rubs at her temple.

Despite her mental strain, or perhaps to alleviate some of it, Xavier informs: "I looked where you reported feeling the residual thought signatures pertaining to missing mutants."

Jean looks to him in anticipation.

Xavier: "Much is entangled. . .I was unable to discern if any of the missing's own signatures still hang in the air. If we can locate the families, however, which shouldn't be difficult, there's a chance I can pick up traces to work from."

Jean (compassionate): "Anything we can do to try and find them."

"Indeed. Whether the process will be straightforward or not is beside the matter.
Those mutants will be found."

...At the next day's lunch hour, certain other mutants can be found in discussion at a table...

X-Mansion - Cafeteria

Holo: "There's a mutant who can suck the nutrients right out of you?"
By how she's standing by one end of the table, her tray half on it yet still in her hands,
we get the impression she was passing by when she couldn't help being drawn in by the conversation.

Jubilee: "That's what they said. It's why Cyclops is back in the med bay. I saw Beast having to take him there after he and Jean got back yesterday! It sounds totally weird, but thinking about it there're probably mutants who can do just about anything you can imagine. Heck! To a point, that's you!"

Holo takes this all in thoughtfully.

. . .That night, Scott's condition is reviewed, his nutrient transfusion replenished, and a loving hand placed on his shoulder before Jean exits. . .Scott sleeping soundly on. . .Until a point in the night where he stirs. Disturbed by something--

F-l-a-s-h-e-s of the Medical Bay from his perspective; tinted - and of a broken darkness; the room he'd been held in - intermixing with a different medical room; brighter lights overhead - we settle on this one in a double-visioned way, yet seeing it un-tinted by ruby quartz.

The double-image gradually fades back to the Med Bay, seen once again through Scott's typical point of view; the lighting suggestive of it no longer being night.

He looks around, momentarily disoriented. . .puzzled.
Was any of that a dream, or all memory . . ?

Transition-To - Later that day

Xavier visiting a noticeably more rested Scott; sitting up.
The ruby quartz sleep mask he'd had on in the previous scene replaced by his glasses, and a tray off to the side indicative of Scott having taken in nutrients a more typical way today.

"We never completed the mission."

"While it's true you didn't discover who was behind the placement of the psi-blockers, and why, Jean did disable them. The areas they covered are no longer dark spots to Cerebro. I will be monitoring activity from there, going forward."

"I think the entire circumstance was orchestrated. To capture me specifically or they would've also taken Jean, given they'd countered her powers."

"It could be that their experiment did include Jean, separately." His voice takes on a more reverent tone: "The way you two were able to connect. . .Distance is something in itself. But combined with layers of psi-blocking technology. . It is truly remarkable."

"But who could even know to want to test that?"

"Another psychic could sense it."

". . So if they were gauging what would have to be in place to negate our connection,
maybe Jean is who they ultimately want."

"In any case I shouldn't think we'll need to worry. We now have insight into what they are capable of, as well. They may find what they've learned doesn't equate to much, when other variables are inconstant."

Scott appears only somewhat settled. "Well if they do have a next phase, they might be planning it for while I'm still out of commission."

"Making it most prudent for you to concentrate on your recovery." Xavier starts to turn towards the door "Consider that your assignment, until further notice." He casts a teacherly smile ahead of wheeling away.

Despite his unease, a small smile breaks out on Scott's face.

. . .And so we see our optically distinctive hero taking to his "assignment" over a following span of time: walking, at times by himself, other times with Jean; progressing to body weight strength training. . .The artificial -rather, mutational- manner in which he was starved appearing to have an accelerated quality in both directions -- where his body had been affected as though he'd been held captive for weeks instead of days, it now seems more readily capable of recovery than someone having been naturally placed in that condition -- though it's still a gradual process. Still a long road back to form. . .

. . . and outside of the focused activity, Scott seems distant.
His body on its way to restoration while his mind remains in another place. . .

During one of his strength training sessions on the sports section of the Grounds,
this time working with resistance bands, Scott abruptly pauses.
The count made under his breath not even coming to that of a complete rep.

He turns his head, staring at a point on the ground beyond the basketball court. . .

. . .Next, Close-Up shots of him getting prepped for a more formal training session; reaching into one of the transparent lockers to grab his uniform; ruby quartz glasses swapped out for visor; now-gloved fingers moving purposefully across a control board. . .

Danger Room

Cyclops comes to stand in the center, ready as his programmed session gets underway.

It doesn't last.

As the room reverts to a static state, he raises his gaze to the Control Bay,
where Jean stares down disapprovingly.

Coming back up, the door opens to reveal Jean isn't the only one there.

Xavier: "I shouldn't need to tell you learning a lesson involves applying it, with understanding of its complexities." Off Scott's gaze, Xavier clarifies: "You were correct in the after-action* report you handed in before your and Jean's departure."

*Part 4!

Cyclops sighs, looking down to the side a beat.

"I know I can only be where I am. But in this case, it isn't enough."

Xavier stares at him more closely. "Words that sound as though you're regressing back to a much earlier point in time." He turns his head towards the control panel and viewing windows with a significant look.

Cyclops gets his meaning, but: ". . I'm not." That being said, he strides past them both; message heard insofar as session ended.

In the Sub-Basement's Change Room

Jean comes in to find him sitting on a bench, gaze downward.

". . I'm not obsessing. This is something else. Something I. . I need to prepare for."

Jean sits beside him. "I recognize it feels that way. But Scott-"
she pauses at the shake of his head.

"This isn't a feeling. . not an emotional one. This. . it's something in my head."
The words come out as a realization as much as an explanation.

Jean looks like she's putting something together, herself.

"Mind if I take a look?"

In answer, Cyclops shifts on the bench to face her more directly.

Bringing her hands up, Jean sets them on either side of his temples. . .

. . . Following a "trail", she comes across images of a structure, of children playing. . .A car ride -- The images turn superimposed -alike yet dissimilar- doctors leaning over a young patient. . .

Cyclops: "^Essex?"

. . .scientists standing aside a grown man; shackled. . .

Enigmatic Voice in his ear: "The final Summers Test. To see the extent of your own power, augmented. . .the extent of what you can endure. Then again, a section of the city looks just as well. . .Either you're in its path, or the populace are--"

"--Essex!"

Snapped out of the focus, Jean stares at Cyclops: "Who is that?"

Vexed, Cyclops explains: "He's the doctor I went to when I lived at the orphanage. . ."
the pieces of the puzzle click into place ". . .where he first experimented on me."

X-Mansion Sub-Basement - Hallway

Cyclops and Jean Grey relay these developments to Xavier.

Jean: "Essex had been subliminally messaging Scott this whole time he had him."

She looks to him.

Cyclops: "Jean unlocked what he wanted me to know. He's built a gun fueled by my optic power--all of it. Every time he had me blast, it was into what I'd thought was a simple ruby quartz shield, but he was absorbing and storing every last photon. . To fire back at me."

Cut-To - X-Mansion - Ready Room

Xavier: "When that time comes, I would like you to lead the students on a Disaster Drill into the shelter. We will inform them appropriately of the truth of the matter, afterward."

We see he's been informing the other X-Men, Scott and Jean standing by.

Kitty: "Am I the only one who thinks this is, well, stupid? You just going to let this Essex guy shoot you?"

Scott: "He's gonna' use the ray regardless. The alternative isn't acceptable."

Kitty: "Yeah - but couldn't Jean just put a forcefield around you," she looks between them, "instead of you really taking it?"

Jean: "Scott's power at that concentration would take my attention at my full strength.
At the level I have now I doubt I could hold it for more than a second."

Piotr looks back to Scott: "So this force will be bearing down on you still. You can absorb your own power, yes, but with the augmentation and your current condition, you are confident still?"

"Essex did short-burst tests of that side of my mutation. Even as he drained my energy It only felt disagreeable when he was evaluating different light sources, like electric current.

Now if that's part of the augmentation, and regarding the degree of force, I'll just have to endure it. I still have some time to recondition myself before it happens."

Kitty: "Sure, if you can count on the date he gave you."

Scott looks to her without a shadow of a doubt, giving a nod: "Summers' end."

Hank: "Your tormentor is poetic. Now at the risk of sounding unfaithful, what is the contingency plan?"

"The Professor will be maintaining a telepathic perimetre around the property, waiting to sense when someone crosses it."

Xavier: "Essex will most likely be employing more of his psi-blocking technology, though I should still be able to recognize a ripple through Cerebro."

Jean chimes in: "Which could obviate the need for Scott to even take the blast, if we can get to Essex, first."

Scott concludes: "And Storm will be in the air. In either scenario, we learn where Essex is shooting from and take him out."

Piotr: "How will he know you are playing ball?"

Xavier: "Jean caught a trace of his mental signature in the facility, confirmed to be so when she found the same in Scott's mind. While the nature of it precludes getting a grasp on Essex, we should be able to use the frequency to transmit a message."

Envisionings Part 24

telkjplang.wixsite.com/xmenenvisionin…

---

Following the meeting, the others file out while Jean approaches Scott.
"Even knowing this you can't push yourself." Her factual tone gives way to more open concern, "you can't risk a setback now."

Scott: "I know. Not knowing had me restless and confused.
I won't deviate from the regimen now."

Jean considers: "Then again, how about adding more nature therapy to the day?"

Meeting Jean with a comprehending look, we next see the couple setting out on a walk across the Grounds; hand-in-hand.

Transition-To - Another Day

Something set in Scott's hands - a new pair of gloves.

Hank: "RC gauntlets housing compact pressure plates around the thumbs.
Enabling the disengagement of your visor's optic shield via execution of a closed-fist."

As Scott looks up from the gloves, Hank further explains: "The idea came to me following description of your captivity. Now you'll hold command over your optic blasts even if your hands are restricted. So long as you're not intending to simultaneously throw any punches, you should find it to be a user-friendly mechanism."

"Good thinking. Thanks."

Cyclops wastes no time getting a feel for the new tech should he need it. . .

. . .as blast time ticks steadily closer. . .

Morning - Jean & Scott's Room

Scott sits on the side of the bed, swapping his ruby quartz sleep mask for his glasses.
After they're set, his right hand can be seen paused on the arm: "He gave me my first pair."

Jean looks to him from her side of the bed. "Who did?"

"Essex. . . What if it wasn't the brain damage from the accident that disabled me?"

"You think Essex did something?" She pushes herself up into more of a sitting position.

"How else could he've known my optic blasts had to be arrested? And what would do it?"
He fingers the edge of the protective eyewear before bringing his hand down.

Though not having the answer, there's been a question on Jean's mind: "How did he ever have the opportunity?"

"The blackout headaches I experienced after the accident could easily have been taken advantage of."

Jean shakes her head, sympatric and indignant at Scott's treatment as a child.

"Someone had to have suspected something?"

"Well if the people at the orphanage knew, they probably wouldn't have thought much past someone finally seeing worth in me. Nevermind it being for experimentation. They were convinced I wouldn't be wanted by any family."

Having shifted closer, Jean now reaches her forearm over his to take his hand, lacing their fingers together. Scott looks down at this before looking up into her face. At first making only the shy gesture of bringing his other hand to her arm, then turning to lay a tender kiss on her lips.

X-Mansion Hallways - Evening

Hank: "That's right, troop. An orderly procession to the nearest exit."

Drill Student # 1 (while filing out): "End of Summer Disaster Drill?"

Drill Student # 2 (chuckles): "No other school has this."

Filing out from an area under Piotr's watch, Jubilee remarks to her group: "I'm not surprised we're having one- preparing for a disaster is the first thing that sounds right since being told we're apparently trusting Magneto now."

And so it commences. . . The sun tinting the earth that is to become ground zero, as it sets on Summers' last day. . . Cyclops heading for a spot far out on the Mansion Grounds. . .

He's come out ahead of time, just in case. But Essex seems intent on being prompt. . .

. . .Cyclops made to wait as darkness falls over him like a shroud. . .

Xavier (from Cerebro): 'Essex has arrived. I still can't discern his exact coordinates,
but I feel the disturbance in the psychic field; he's coming from above.'

Cyclops draws a focused breath.

Storm (from the air/over comm.): "Nothing from my position so far."
We see she wears a frameless night-vision visor.

Jean, sporting the same, tensely looks around -both with her eyes and her telepathy-

from a point on the Mansion's roof. "Same here."

-Yet all at once-

-from somewhere--

--The gun is discharged-!!---

---a

HUGH B L A S T

 crashing down on Cyclops from an angle --engulfing him like some transporter beam-- force pressing down on him as if from the sky itself -- one knee buckling -- then he's down on both --pummeled by the light his body manages to take it-- yet the metabolizing of it is intense --like he's going beyond capacity ---going to either overflow or explode if he doesn't let off some steam --yet too overcome to even try releasing his blast.....

Night vision having been thrown off- Jean watches from her vantage point --feels by way of their psychic connection the all consuming pressure he's enduring-- 'Scott! Stay strong!'

'Stay Strong!'

-The words echoed by Xavier, who we see with his own pained expression --working to pinpoint the source of the beam-- as we hear Jean's subsequent call to --"Storm?!"

And Storm's response: "Still nothing that I see!"

The Master of Weather gliding up in the direction the beam is coming, seeking its origin. .

. .Which we see much higher. A figure distinctly silhouetted against the extreme light of the blast, standing on some aerial platform housing the Summers Gun. .

Cyclops (heard through telepathy/strained): 'Call Storm back.'

Jean: 'Scott?'

'Out of the way!'

The command is quickly relayed to Storm----as we witness Cyclops making his stand-- trying to-- fighting to plant his foot firmly on the ground in prep for getting up-- action unmanageable-- his arm muscles striving just as ineffectively to bring his contracted hand to his visor-- but no-- He doesn't have to.

Folding his fingers around his thumb, he clenches--optic blast releasing at once- the discharge of presser appearing to grant him more freedom to move- Cyclops raises his powered gaze to the larger light- -mutant blast surging through mechanized--
--O B L I T E R A T I N G the aerial platform and gun -Storm diving further away from the explosion- But the power coursing through Cyclops' body is still too much ----visor frame
S H A T T E R I N G - ruby quartz lens sent flying -  as he throws his head back to blast straight up--the raw blast---now pure white-- extending into the mesosphere-- -thermosphere-- -exosphere!!

The night sky illuminated as if by a celestial body reversing course back into the near reaches of space--

--while back down on Earth, Cyclops' body is taken over by a seizure- -convulsions causing his blasts--now rapidly intermittent by his flickering eyelids--to go wild- - - !

Having had to shield their eyes from the intense photonic energy, their first awareness of what's now happening comes in the form of telepathic connection--Jean uttering a sound of pain and alarm as she feels --along with Xavier-- the now intense electrical activity of a brain undergoing a power surge-!-

The next second sees Jean Grey turn her concentration towards the Mansion- -a window telekinetically opened -a case housing a spare pair of Scott's glasses brought from it. "Storm! Get me to him."

Jumping from the Mansion into a controlled wind, Jean keeps a forcefield between herself and Cyclops' errant blasts while she's p-r-o-p-e-l-l-e-d towards ground zero - - contracting her fingers slightly as she draws close--drawing closed Scott's eyes long enough to place the protective shield over them -- optic power having restabilized to a containable level.

Running out her landing- -Jean arrives at the still seizing form of Cyclops --bringing herself down to him- -hand slipped underneath his head to stop it from hitting the earth as his body can't be turned on its side -- Her concerned thoughts responded to a second later by Xavier: 'It's halting.'

And so, back under the shroud of a redarkned night, we see Cyclops' now side-laying body finally returning to a state of stillness. . . not even breath stirring his chest. . . .

"Scott?-!"

Storm lands beside them- "Is he alright?"

-as Jean quickly removes her gloves and one of his to check his pulse -arrested breath visibly returning in that moment.

Xavier: 'Despite the extreme output of energy, it doesn't appear there will be any lasting damage to his mind, nor I assume, his body.'

Jean closes her eyes the length of a breath; relief washing over her.

Xavier: 'We will reassess his condition back in the Medical Bay."

Storm bends down to assist Jean in transporting Cyclops.

Jean (watchful): ^{"We'll take him in a minute."}

We see Cyclops' mouth move with soundless motions before: "Essex . . Essex . . ?"

Xavier answers the unarticulated question: 'He is gone, Scott.
What can be called his mental signature eliminated with the gun.
You can rest easy, now.'

Despite the assurance in his words, an expression of uncertainty rests on the Professor's face, for only us to see . . .His concentration shifted back to the psychic Aether a moment more. . . before disengaging from Cerebro.

🌌♟️

Envisionings Part 25

telkjplang.wixsite.com/xmenenvisionin…

---

of the otherwise orange-red apparition. . . .
as a purple-blue version edges one side
resembling old 3D tech requiring red/blue glasses to view

rising up into the image of a bird taking flight,

rising,
Flames, various hues, rising,

The images transition into a liquid blur. . . .as we transition-to a careful application of drops to mutationally-powered eyes.

Scott's head tilted far back. Bare, closed eyes receiving the liquid which collects in the creases of his lids. He opens them only after replacing his visor, feeling the lubrication spread over his ocular organs.

We see he's out on the Grounds -a safe place to accidentally discharge optic blasts upwards- and hear, as he takes the cap of the eyedrop bottle from his sweatshirt pocket and screws it back on, the voice of Jean Grey: "Are you ready?"

They're both sporting X-school brand athletic wear -Jean already in a tank top,
Scott removing the sweatshirt to reveal his own underneath.

He places the warmer garment aside,
and Training gets underway--Specifically: boxing.

Scott has the punch mitts -a worn pair, by the looks of it- while Jean's got the gloves. Soon he opens up some distance between them, and Jean's motions still seem to cause impact even though her gloves are no longer colliding with the mitts.

Then, the gloves are coming off--and with only extension of her fingers Jean continues to hit the mitts with telekinesis. But before she really gets going, she stops. "Ready to switch things up?"

Next we see their positions swapped: Scott sporting the gloves while Jean's taken over the mitts.

In the same vein, Scott starts with some "basic" training. Then, at the playful taunt of Jean -"Warmed up enough, yet?"- and telekinetic removal of one of his gloves, Scott switches to hitting the mitts with some low powered blasts from his visor.

Jean steps back at the same time as she begins levitating the mitts, taking the practice into the air.

Scott keeps up as Jean takes things even higher- - then dials up his blast enough to put an end to things; can't keep training when your punch mitts are obliterated.

Jean: "I'm glad to see the last of those old things."

She walks up to Scott, "and that someone's pretty well back to form." She runs her hand along his deltoid for a moment.

Scott cracks a smile.

And we see "The Grounds" pixelate away into the open expanse of the Danger Room.

We then rise up through the ceiling and the earth above, seeing how if on the actual Grounds, their training would've been much more brisk, as steady snowfall continues to blanket it.

Panning into/through X-Mansion, we catch a broadcast of the morning news:

Newscaster: " ... partnership between the police, and the ABMC*'s scientist, Dr. Hank McCoy, to explore alternative methods for dealing with criminal mutants. Guidelines have also been set on what circumstances are appropriate to use the mutation inhibiting collars designed by Trask Industries, which we've previously covered."

Hank: "When one of my fellow founders concluded a meeting with Mr. Trask two months ago, he came away feeling less than optimistic. Given these new developments, our sentiments are decidedly more hopeful."

*Association for the Betterment of Mutant Citizens.

We see, as if viewed through a cutaway, the interior goings-on of the Mansion as we continue our pan-up to the highest-set balcony, where the weather is shown not to simply be coming from the clouds, but the hand of Ororo Munroe.

Our transition from the Danger Room to X-Mansion has come with a small transition of time,
as our arrival at Ororo is concurrent with Jean's: "Still giving Nature a helping hand?"

Storm: "Winter has called to me from the month ahead."

Jean uses her own powers to play with some flakes, remarking good-naturedly:
"So long as the call's ended when it's time view the Leonids."

Storm laughs in her throat: "I will make sure of that. For now, I cannot help it-
Many may associate Winter with an end before life Springs anew, but I feel it marks the beginning - nothing so rough it cannot be smoothed over, messiness made clean again; a fresh breath for the places touched by snow."

Jean takes in her friend's words with a subtler smile. Then, sharing thoughts more than bursting bubbles, adds: "What's underneath is only covered, not taken away."

Jean whisks the snow away from an area down below,
revealing a grass-sparse section of dirt.

"No, but it gives us the renewed perspective of a lighter world.
Not to mention all that can be built from it."

Storm gestures down towards the Grounds at large, where students -along with some of the older occupants of the Mansion- go about erecting snow structures, amassing snowballs for a team-based snowball fight, and setting up larger ones for sculpting -as Iceman adds a degree of frost. Many of these activities done with powers, complicating matters or enhancing them; possibilities only as finite as ideas and the ability to execute them.

Jean takes the cascade in anew. "There is something to the silence it brings," she holds her hand out to catch the gentle flakes, smiling ironically at all the noise drifting up from below - "or at least the recreation." Jean moves her fingers as though playing the snow like an instrument, arranging the cascade into a rhythm.

"Yes. Though life may slow in the Winter months, it certainly does not end. It enters a beginning state of rejuvenation" -Ororo makes a majestic sweep of more snow- "Seen as a dark point in time, the night in fact is never brighter than when under the cover of snow. Winter presenting the world with a blank page on which to write life's next chapter."

Jean: "Now if only I could feel like I were writing the book." She whisks the snowflakes skywards.

And we Transition-To

the sky outside a classroom window.

Scott waiting at the front for his students to finish coming in.

Trig Student # 1: "Hey- where's Iceman?"

Trig Student # 2: "He was just subbin'. Cyclops is our usual* trig teacher."

*Who took time off to recovery properly from the
staggering events of the last two storylines!
~Tra

Trig Student # 3: "Didn't you hear Iceman say it was his last day on Friday?"

Trig Student # 1: "Seriously? But he was the best."

Scott sports an ironic smile: "Alright. I'm pleased you found the temporary arrangement agreeable." He glances towards an air hockey table in a prominent place of the room, "we'll be continuing the curriculum from where he left off," attention then shifting to a workbook.

Trig Student # 1 (raising hand but speaking before being called on): "I can tell you where that was. Our half of the class was about to demonstrate what we learned to the other half." Gesturing towards the ice hockey table, the student grins towards the other half of the room.

Scott (not to be fooled): "Thanks, but we'll be exploring different forms of practical application."

Trig Student # 1 (whispering -not too quietly- to neighbor): ^{"Can he even play? Or just on that old pool table?"}

Vhzkheeoo-- the air hockey puck is banked by a narrowly released optic blast.

Glasses replaced snugly over his eyes, Scott looks up. "Any more questions before we start?"

Meanwhile in another room, a book is telekinetically brought down from on top of a bookcase,
into Xavier's reach.

Xavier: "Thank you. I don't know how it wound up there."

Jean: "I feel just like it." Off a gesture from Xavier, Jean sits down.
A table now between them supports a chessboard with a game in-progress.

"I mean this arrangement of mine, the fact it exists at all. . . I never knew if it could be permanent, still I lived as if I had time. . Now I'm back to feeling like I don't have a hand on anything." She toys with the king, tapping her first two fingers on the crown. "So much I wanted to accomplish, yet I feel like I've done nothing." Jean castles her king.

Xavier (contrastingly assured): "Who can know if this will be the last time you converge here? The future is moldable right up until it becomes the present." A wise smile, Xavier looks down to consider the board.
"And your hand has shaped more than you realize." He makes his move.

The sound of a multitude of footsteps shifts their attention beyond the room.
A different smile crosses his face: "And so our game stretches out again."

Having gotten up, Jean adds with a small smile of her own: "We may want to actually set aside time to play it through."

"In any case, I will be looking forward to your next move."

The Professor is left to his gathering class.

While we Cut-Back-To one now letting out.

One of the trig students reaches for their bag- to the result of it disappearing--remaining contents now spilling over the floor. ^{"Aw man. That's the second time I sent my pack back to my room today. At least I hope that's where it is."}

Meanwhile, after helping to move the air hockey table to a less prominent spot -during which we can see a pool table also on hand- Trig Student # 3 goes to grab their bag. "It was nice to have you back as Professor, Cyclops." Slinging it over their shoulder as they head out.

Trig Student # 1 (to classmate while preparing to head out themselves):
"In my case, I know I'll be missing Iceman all semester."

Trig Student # 2: "He did teach more like he was still a student himself. I liked that."
They help Trig Student # 4 carry their scattered stuff.

Trig Student # 4 (as they're heading out the door): "Well if you ask me, he took some acclimatizing to. ^{But yeah, he was cool after that."}

Trig Student # 2: ^{"You gonna' 'cool it' with the puns now that he's gone?"}

Laughter can just be made out.

Within earshot at his desk, Scott tucks a stack of papers inside after taking a particular one out. We can just see it's a drawn picture of something before he tucks it into his vest to take with him.

Now out in the Halls, there are more snippets of conversation to catch:

Trig Student # 5: "Don't you think Iceman brought some invigoration to the class?"

Trig Student # 6 (jokingly): "Like a 'Cool Mint' breath."

Trig Student # 5: "You've been hanging out with Porter again, haven't you?"

Trig Student # 7: "Cyclops has gotten messed up a lot, lately.
Maybe it would be the thing for everyone if he just passed the baton already."

Trig Student # 8: "Like I'll miss Cyclops' start-of-the-year apple trick,
but it's time to press the evolution button on trig class."

We see Scott looking perhaps disappointed at this reception of his return. .

. . and things don't look much different come Mechanics Class, where a phased-in-view of what's under the hood, or the ability to check anything out without the use of a creeper -thanks respectively to subs Shadowcat and Colossus- are missed more than the ready, off book knowledge Professor Cyclops brings to the table. . .

. . .It's a contrasting story with Jean, teaching her avid class of one; Holo*.

*Jean's been tutoring her on the intricacies
of X-Gene expression--more advanced stuff
than the middle-schooler would come across
in the curriculum with her peers! ~Tra

X-Mansion Sub Basement - Lab

Jean: "Your powers would fall under the Illusion Sub-class. What's interesting is the unique way they function. Illusionists are usually a type of telepath. To compare the typical mechanics to yours, it's as if the illusionist is projecting straight into their subject's mind, tricking them into perceiving what isn't actually there. Where as you project genuine images right in front of people."

Holo: "Is that stronger?"

"It has its pros and cons. Since yours don't require tapping into minds, you can use the same effort to project to a crowd as you would to one person, and presumably it wouldn't matter how strong their minds are. On the other hand, your projections have an actual boundary. They can literally be walked out of; a much easier escape than any illusion in the mind."

Holo thinks this over. "I think I like that. I wouldn't want to get anyone stuck on my channel."

A small smile crosses Jean's face. "That's good to hear."

. . .While they finish up, we go back to the main levels of the Mansion. . .

Where Scott quizzically pauses when he notices Ororo coming down the hallway
-pausing her.

"Who's keepin' an eye on Magneto?"

"The Professor is supervising the reconstruction of the X-Jet."

Scott's disagreement of Ororo's correction is evident on his face.

Ororo responds to it: "An alliance cannot be expected to be maintained if it is not approached with a mind as open as it is pragmatic."

"Well I'm still unconvinced it exists in the first place."

"I wanted to talk to you about that, Scott. It could be that a new perspective is what the X-Men need to lead them forward."

Scott stares, taken aback.

Later - Scott & Jean's Room

We see Scott standing at the desk, appearing to look at the picture he'd taken with him before, which we can see now is a still life of flowers: sunflowers and heather. Scott's expression, however, speaks to looking at a different kind of "life". . . and it's anything but "still".

Jean (having just come in): "Holo gave you one, too?"
When he looks over, Jean shows a picture clearly drawn by the same hand, also of flowers; a sweet pea assortment. "It was a nice surprise." She notices the look on his face.

"Something wrong?"

Scott frowns. "My day had one too many surprises." He moves to the closet.

"Want to talk about it?"

While he considers the question, Scott takes out a jacket for himself and one for Jean, which he holds out to her (^"Thanks").

"Well, it might not come to be anything. I'll see about it, first."
He gets his jacket on. "Ready to go?" - "In just a minute."

And so we fade to just outside. . .to watch the Leonids meteor shower at its peak. . .

Holo's adult sister, Jacilon, has come to X-Mansion to join in the viewing.
Presently, she stands off to the side, speaking with Jean.

"Holo has really learned a lot from you." Jacilon grins a little. "And so have I, since she tells me everything!"

Jean smiles. "Holo is a very attentive student. I've been happy to have her interest."
In the moment, Jean decides to share: ". . .It's looking very likely I could be. . going away again.
I'll miss her when I do."

Jacilon's interest takes on a shade of alarm. "You will be?"

Jean responds to it seriously: "It won't be anything like the first* time."

*X3:Unseen

"How can you know?"

"It's this sense I get. . Dreams. Last time** they had me feeling fearful.
This time their undercurrent is just. . " Jean searches for the most accurate word.
"Steady. I feel it'll more resemble a reverse of when I came back*** than be any way similar to how I left."

**X2
***Envisionings Part 1!

Her gaze sets back on Jacilon.
"But it's your natural reaction that's had us decide not to inform any of the students ahead of time. I admit to thinking about telling Holo, though. With the bond she's developed with me, I don't want her to feel blindsided. Though I also don't want to put her in the position of having to explain anything, or have other students learn about it through Holo, if she happens to imagine my ascent."

Eased, Jacilon responds: "Yeah, Holo can definitely share things without meaning to that way." Further reflecting: "She's a sensitive soul, but pretty relaxed about more things than maybe most kids, or even than I would be. I'm sure she'll be okay if I explain it to her after. Do you, uh, know when it'll be?"

Jean shakes her head. "Probably still a while, but soon."

Jacilon nods. "Well your secret is safe with me, in the meantime." She smiles.
"Thanks for being so good with Holo."

Jean nods, the smile reciprocated. "You two enjoy the show tonight."

"You and Cyclops, too." With a small wave, Jacilon goes to join up with her little sister.

While we join Scott & Jean on a familiar* balcony.

*The self-same one as where they had their
heart-to-heart at the close of the💉🩸 storyline;
Part 21!

Standing close in each other's arms, in this moment they have eyes only for each other. . . .

Jean: "This extra time with you has meant a lot to me."

Scott: "It's meant a lot to me."

A loving kiss is shared ahead of the sky's chromatic ignition; a chorus of awe ringing out from the Grounds below.

Scott shifting the acuity of his smart lenses, he & Jean at first turn only their heads to watch, until the spectacular night captures more of their attention. .

. . Jean coming to be moved by the starry, showering heavens. "To think. . to realize what countless thousands of years went into all this. . .To be here now, taking in this majesty. . . .Much of the stars long gone, yet we still see the ripples of their existence. . ." Jean closes her eyes. "There was never going to be enough time in this life to see everything through. ." She opens her eyes back to the awesome cosmos. ". . maybe in the scheme of things, any ripples we make are enough. . ." While there's still a yearning in her, these words are spoken with an accepting calm; a peaceful manner having fallen over Jean Grey. . .
". . .Looks like it's over."

Scott turns his attentive gaze from Jean back to the sky . . . .

^-wheeewwwWW-

-POP!

~F~i~z~z~l~e~!~

<sup>Voice from out on the Grounds: "Maybe a little warning next time, Jubilee!"

Jubilee: "Sorry! I just didn't want the sky show to be over, yet!"

Holo: "Let me see what I can do! My audio is optional."

Mixed laughter.

"Hey, Holo- we can enjoy your fireworks all night! They're quiet and the light doesn't extend as far
-they won't disturb anybody!"

Holo laughs. "Isn't an all-nighter a college thing? I don't know if I can manage it!"

Jacilon (lighthearted yet sensible): "I don't know if I can allow you to."</sup>

The fireworks after-show breaks up before long, while the couple stays a while longer with the stars. .
. . until Jean decides to turn in: <sup>"You coming?"

"In a minute."</sup>

Jean leaves him with a tender kiss on his lips and a caress of his cheek,
then to his thoughts and the quiet of the night.

Turning his gaze to the sky once more, we see one more celestial body--flashing-- across it,
reflected in his ruby quartz until it completely takes over the lens; the brightest of the night.

~~Envisionings will continue....
~~Envisionings will continue....

"A delayed [product] is eventually good, but a rushed [product] is forever bad."
-Shigeru Miyamoto

X-Men: GenetiX

A distinct pressing sensation exerted itself on Cyclops' brain through his link with Jean. . .

. . .as while she'd cut-off telepathically, avoided the brunt of this experience which by basic definition repeated that which unlocked her powers decades ago -dying "with" someone else- Jean was still an empathetic person. Being physically next to Xavier, watching him, she still felt a degree of the sensation.

A scintilla still sizeable enough to elicit visceral responses -bracing, as though against the G-Forces of a mid-intensity roller coaster; a lacrimal release down the contour of her face.

To apply the roller coaster analogy to Xavier, his experience was far more Ultra-Extreme, yet far less grounded. A re-entry into the atmosphere without a parachute-- disassociated, detached from reality the way a fatal experience might feel in a dream; your skin should be burning, your bones should be splitting, yet instead you feel a sickening other sensation until you wake -and even after. A dream that will never quite leave you, even as you've left it.

--a re-entry decelerating in the last seconds - too fast to process, too late to matter. . .and then you look up.
And you can walk away.

Yet on return to his faculties, Xavier didn't move - "listening" - "looking around" for. . .

sigh the tense seconds ended.

Xavier's astral projected form had ceased to be maintained, and he let no more time elapse before he sent out an assuring message -mental voice tremulous yet conveying resilience: 'Mission accomplished. . .Admirable work.'

Across the distance, as one, Jean Grey & Cyclops breathed an eased breath.

Far down the hall, yet within observing distance, stood Wolverine.
"Beat me to it, kid," his gruff voice could be heard following Ryder's absolute finish of Becker.

Her following statement settled like a salve on Xavier's still-connected mind:
Home.

"Yes. I see a break in the clouds." Storm moved to Ryder in a stewarding manner, stopping short of placing her hand on the girl's shoulder in respect to personal space.

As they'd turn to head back towards the elevator, Cyclops would be just in their path. He gave a nod to Ryder. "Everything according to plan." A reference to his words before they'd disembarked from the jet - "When we leave here, I'd like it be with at least as many of us alive as who came. And in case it needs to be said, that includes you."

He stepped aside.
'What are our closing orders?'

Wolverine answered ahead of the Professor: "I can cover what needs finishin'. If Beast wants to join me, so be it."

"Indeed. You can come for us subsequently."

So Storm, Cyclops and Ryder would head back to the jet while Beast and Wolverine would ensure the agents didn't just disappear into the wind, and that nothing salvageable -and misuseable- was left of Umbra Biogenetics.

'Perhaps now, healing can authentically begin.'

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

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Location: Delgato Car - On the Move

Keyrs had to admit to herself - though her expression admitted it to the world - there was a certain satisfaction in seeing the chaos she'd caused after all that. 'Ha ha', she laughed in her mind, a little grin giving her thoughts away, 'and they won't even know who's dunnit.'

She pondered, though, the potentiality of the cops nailing her "it was that one with the weird purple armour!" - 'I have been thinking of a change of hue. . .'

She was brought out of her thoughts by Steffan's comment, her answer following the driver's brief exchange with him. "I have loads more. Even more in concept. I was working on adding lasers this morning when I hit a snag, and my subsequent trip to the corner store lead me into proposing a deal to your crew. Think the prospect of getting in on this will distract your Dad from chewing you out?"

Making a gesture in reference anew to her tech, Keyrs asked this with a smile. Partly as a friendly joke, and partly to see what Steffan might inadvertently divulge about his Dad in response. In any case, she was liking this "kid". Certainly glad -no, grateful- it hadn't been him who she'd "slipped a disc" with back there.

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

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Location: Paragon City Police Precinct - Outside

'You can say that again,' Keyrs thought at the Delgato thanking The Lord Above. Then -while still moving towards the car- she stared at the man, processing to herself 'Your Dad?'. Not wanting to look foolish in the face of his question, she simply gave a slow nod.

"A pleasure to meet -and free- you, Steffan." If he hadn't already extended his hand, Keyrs would've initiated the gesture - as it was, she responded to it, taking Staffan's hand in a brief, firm shake. Adding honestly, "I've always liked that name."

She gestured -with a gracious smile- for him to get into the car ahead of her -it was the gentlewomanly thing to do being he was someone's precious boy who'd just been rescued- then breathed a sigh of relief as she got back in herself; safe and sound. . .

The description of "sound" in this context flashed through her mind 'healthy, in good condition, free from injury, no damage, no accidents'. . .Safe and wiser.

X-Men: GenetiX

For the X-Men being on the periphery of this battle, it felt like standing inside of a house made of opaque glass; inside yet excluded. Able to discern shadows of what was occurring, yet ultimately cognizant of nothing -- save for the growing cracks -albeit in a more atmospheric sense- which they had no way of determining would hold or shatter; rain down or explode out.

A tense atmosphere of aura.
The "feel" of telepathic power coalescing with the unique energy each person carried, assailing the X-Men like feelings unattached to the specifics of circumstances. Like fear or panic when you don't know what set it off, yet mixing with some known; an ombre piece of thread perceivably coloured yet indeterminate where one ends and the next begins- or in this case, what feelings were their own and what were splash-over.

And Wolverine didn't care for it.

"Screw this. Gonna' go make sure we don't get any surprises." Of course the likelihood was in their favour given his ability to sense someone coming, though he questioned to himself if he could even trust that right now. In any case, he left back the way they came; his part here was done. If he stayed any longer he was liable to go berserk far more primally than he'd already gone.

"Perhaps, at this juncture of uncharted territory, it would be prudent to consider our presence a redundancy." Too, Beast considered it logical that if they were experiencing "splash-over", their could be an osmosis in the reverse - and who was to know if that would be helpful or harmful?

A further tensening of muscle in the X-Men's leader. "I'm not leaving."

"Leaving? Perish the thought. I'm simply putting forth the notion of a measured flight from this fight."

Storm (remaining at the ready): "The weather can always turn."

Beast looked from one to the other before turning resolute eyes back towards the combatants. "Then consider my roots firmly planted."

While inside the mindscape, Xavier's controlled calm was also experiencing a scission.

"And then, I'm going to unmake everything you ever did to me."
"And then, I'm going to unmake everything you ever did to me."

What did Ryder mean by this? A true overcoming of Umbra's "design", or. . .That enigmatic device in her brain. If in a sense it contained her as much as she contained it, could she rend herself asunder?

'Ryder--!' yet Xavier's voice didn't carry - even to his own ears--as if the sound leaked out through the fissures.

And if Ryder did intend to unmake everything, what would that mean for the man presently sharing a link to her mind?
Yes, she had permitted it, and so could obliterate it--kick Xavier out so thoroughly as to render him breathless.

Yet there was a locked intent to Xavier which accompanied his anxiety.
One which in the face of the extreme scenario he feared, could override such revocation. . . . .

The real world scream of Umbra pierced the X-Men's consciousness' uniformly despite any variance in physical distance--
--and on the heels of that, a mental voice of heightened concern--'Scott- the Professor-!'

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

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Location: Paragon City Police Precinct - Inside

Keyrs felt relief at once. That was one major snafu she'd avoided -maybe it was even a plus to the grade she still had to make- just one other snafu to navigate through.

It in itself provided ace cover for part of the way through, until an eagle-eyed cop made a grab -- okay, maybe not so eagle-eyed; Keyrs armour wasn't exactly camou. But then, in this city, it wasn't exactly out of left field either -- and if Keyrs had her way, most of the populace would be donning such at the low-low price of. . .whatever was most sensible for all parties -that was future-Keyrs thing to work out.

Presently she had to work her way out of this building. And "work it" she would. "I'm taking this suspect to a more secure lock-up," she stated, retracting her visor ahead of saying so. Sure, her face wouldn't mean much to this cop, but steady eye contact could be a deciding factor in many things. "Whoever's behind this already got the other one -hence the security upgrade," she indicated her tech, adding in a moment of inspiration, "why didn't we order enough of this stuff to outfit all our personnel?" Gotta' get her tech on the minds of said populace somewhere.

'Hey, I could wind up double dipping. . .better cool it from here on.'

Her question being rhetorical -and her movements being critical- she didn't wait around for a response - a fresh sense of relief settling underneath the heat Keyrs' nerves were generating as this ploy succeeded. Her second plan having been to shoot the cop in the leg, which she wasn't too keen on doing after the preceding wrist disc debacle.

She re-engaged her visor as she lead Delgato away -out -and to breathe in the fresh air of freedom.

Location: Paragon City Police Precinct - Outside

"Car's this way."

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

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Location: Paragon City Police Precinct - Inside

At the question of the name "Robin", Keyrs started questioning herself. She thought she had seen that name on the data detailing this officer to be a war vet. Clearly she'd misunderstood an aspect of her scan results. She would have to analyze this later -building up quite a to-do list this afternoon- but for now, it was fast-action time.

Slipping her one glove on as soon as the officer had her grabbed by the arm, Keyrs fired a series of wrist discs at the locks of the cells. Success x2 was more than enough to create the distraction she needed. Taking her other glove out of her helmet, she slipped both back on in turn and swiftly shifted her attention to the map detailing precisely where she needed to go.

"I'm your ticket out of here." She aimed her wrist discs at their handcuffs.

*Srew-- Srew--* *Klinkewsh* *Squelch*

Evidently she was a ticket for one..as Keyrs watched in horror as her second disc instead sliced into the second Delgato's wrist, managing to cut both the radial and ulnar arteries; there was no coming back from this.

Was that an error of hers? Or had he made a fatal flinch in those fractional seconds between aim, release, and hit? She may never know. She may never want to know..She had to move on. There was another life stake; her own.

Dead serious, Keyrs locked eyes with her remaining rescuee: "I just saved you and tech like this could be yours if I can land the deal I'm trying to with your boss. What do you say to spinning this as interrogation tactics gone wrong?"

To say this as a threat seemed like a double-whammy of wrong, so she was careful not to have her glove trained on him, but nor did she have her arm lowered into a proper "standing-down" position. The Delgato could judge his options accordingly.

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

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Location: Paragon City Police Precinct - Outside

Keyrs' eyes shifted from the display to the direction of the alleyway exit/entry point. She raised her brows with the advantage that afforded her - assuming that wasn't a fire escape armed with an alarm. Though that could work to her advantage, too.

Bringing her hand up to her visor and making a pinch-and-drag motion, she shifted the live camera feed to a corner of her view. Making the same motion with her other hand on the other side, she likewise minimized the blueprint. Somehow this took her back to her days playing TERMINUS - though she didn't intend to play this mission like a first person shooter. More like that spy game she could never remember the name of, just that it was made by Sky-Phenome Seven.

Flexing her fingers together in a forward stretch like a 'let's do this' prep motion, Keyrs proceeded to walk towards the rear access point like she owned the place.

Just outside the door, she spoke another command to her tech: "Execute Vitals Scan."

A smile crossed her face at the results: one officer who hadn't been as diligent with sleep as with their duties, and another with a bad leg; war injury.

'Thank you for serving the country,' Keyrs thought, before getting down to business - removing her helmet and gloves -stashing the latter in the former- before opening the door -with a little "tsk" at having to grab it with her bare hand--who knows what else has touched it?- and heading in.

Location: Paragon City Police Precinct - Inside

The tired guard was first in her way, so Keyrs stood before them with her best authoritative stance, and stated likewise: "Evidence I'm taking to interrogation." She indicated her removed helmet and gloves. She certainly wasn't dressed like an officer, but detectives had more freedom of dress --she was lacking a badge of course, but for all this officer knew it was clipped to her pants, presently obscured by her "evidence" held at her waist-- this was her ploy. She'd watched enough procedurals to be able to see herself as one. See the thing. Be the thing.

Mind over matter proved true - Keyrs being given the nod to proceed, though she was certain the officer's eyes followed her as she did so; sluggish grey cells working after-the-fact to actually place the face they'd just given the go ahead to.

Striding on, Keyrs slipped her hand into one of her gloves while keeping it in the helmet, holding onto her other glove, so she could quickly get enough of her gear back on if things went sideways. "Leg bothering much today, Robin?" she asked in that 'how are you' way when you're not really looking to hold a conversation, as she power walked by the war vet. Yes, the utterance drew attention to herself, but the familiarity with which she spoke could shift the risk in her favour, leaving the officer to second think with whom exactly they'd just had an exchange while Keyrs continued on her way.

If not, she already had a Plan 2 in mind.

Roll Request(s)

If the other officer catches on that she shouldn't be here, Roll for using wrist discs to break open a few cells, creating distraction with the freeing of the prisoners.

Heroes Rise: Paragon City

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Location: Paragon City Police Precinct - Outside

"I'll use my tech and my brain," came Keyrs' seif-confident response, hand on the handle of the door. "Back shortly, gentlemen." Alright, so that moniker doesn't really apply, she thought to herself as she got out of the car. But whatever. They've neither roughed me up nor killed me yet. That counts for something.

She paused once outside the car, staring straight at the precinct for a minute as she spoke the command to herself --more specifically to her helmet's voice recognition software: "Engage Blueprint Scan."

Roll Request

Can Keyrs get an x-ray level "map" of the precinct, seeing not only where the rooms are but who's in them?