Envisionings (2nd Edition) Part 15 💉🩸

X-Mansion - Medical Bay

OfAll BAMFs in with the first mutants --and finds someone already there. "Colbur?" Her curious tone turns mildly instructive: "This place is gonna' get full. They'll need you out."

Concern deepens in the younger mutant: "I came to check on Alex--"

OfAll BAMFs away and back with more "passengers" before answering the question in Colbur's look: "I'll be bringing him," she breathes, exertion increasing with every trip, "but Colbur you'll need to wait until everything's settled in here, alright?" Her tone was still mild -she understood, but she knew how things needed to go: "something serious is going on which is gonna' to take some figuring out."

On OfAll's next return, Colbur isn't there.

Waiting outside in the hall, hands in half stone-filled pockets, it's clear he's wanting to go back in. Before he can decide to, someone comes out --Rogue.

In a state of urgency she passes without acknowledging him. Colbur watches her go into one of the other doors down here. As Iceman now exits the Med Bay in pursuit, Colbur pauses him: "What's happening?"

Iceman: "A lot. Rogue's gotta' blow off some steam from taking other powers. Come on- I'm going to make sure she's okay."

With a divided glance back towards the Med Bay, Colbur follows Iceman through the door marked Danger Room.

Rogue isn't running a sim or even a basic mechanical training session, she's simply using the space.

Iceman looks down on her from the Control Bay's viewing window a moment before heading for the ramps that will take them down to the Danger Room proper.

Colbur: "What's happened with Alex?"

"He passed out-- looked like using his own powers hurt him or something. Same with Cyclops and most of who we were dealing with out there."

"And Rogue?" Paused at the doorway, which remains open since no session is running, Colbur sets his gaze on the figure in the center of the vast room--'least as steadily as he can while the tail end of shockwaves reach him and Iceman.

"She's struggling with all the powers she's taken." Keeping his balance against the wall, Iceman turns his own attention from Colbur to Rogue, concern just as apparent in his expression, "it's never been like this."

--Though she'd managed to hold them in on the way down here, in the freedom of the Danger Room Rogue's let everything go --or it's all spilling out.

She rises with zero-gravity at the same time the combustion powers flare, then falls as they peter out in reverse turn--saved from a harsh landing by a slide Iceman's just managed to construct, which shatters from fresh shockwaves right after.

They taper off as Rogue is slammed from a propped-up position into prone by a sudden increase of gravity. The combustion powers flaring up again across her face--she struggles and manages to beat back the gravity; getting up--throwing off her gloves and removing the jacket of her uniform and her overshirt to expose more skin for the combustion powers to release through.

While Colbur hangs uncertainly back--watching the scene unfold with fear and confusion, Iceman gets in even closer, aiming to help cool things down--but at this distance another shockwave knocks him off his feet.

From the ground he raises his hand to deliver an icy blast Rogue's way, stopping after a moment to see. . .

. . .the shockwaves have dissipated. . .Rogue no longer seems to be struggling against the gravity, though she breathes heavily; taxed. Her hair tousled around her down-turned face. She's near to the point of relief, save for a stinging sensation persisting in her reddened skin; her movements and expression indicative of this.

"I've got you." Iceman comes to kneel beside her at the same time he distributes blasts of ice over her hands and arms and upper torso. For her face, he holds it -the chill of his hands coming through his gloves.

Rogue catches her breath. "Thanks, Bobby. . .that's good," placing her hands on his arms to ease them away.

"Cyclops shouldn't have had you grab all those powers. He knew something was-"

"-ah can decide for mahself, Bobby, and you heard him ask me." As if her attention's been suddenly brought there, Rogue looks to where her hands still rest on his arms, "ah'd say 'chill out' but feels lahk you've already got that covered."

Her hands are off. Iceman realizes what she's referring to and slides one of his arms out of the jacket of his uniform. We can see it's iced-up almost all the way to the shoulder, and that he is also surprised by this.

Colbur has joined them. "Y-your powers get a little out of hand when you're stressed, too?"

Iceman: "No." The ice starts receding. "This is what happened earlier, too."

Rogue: "You don't think you're also affected?"

Iceman meets her gaze, sharing the new concern.

A few stones trickle out of Colbur's pocket as he takes an involuntary step back: "Affected?"

They look up at him; time to explain what little they know. . .

. . .and as the conscious X-Men work late into the night in service to that and in effort to know more, one of their members abroad gets her own vague sense of things. . . .

Geneva, Switzerland - Hotel Room

Jean Grey reacts like she's experiencing a sudden headache -or a sense of something.

Understanding still settling in, Jean remains paused, processing.

She reaches for the phone, before on second thought shifts attention to her suitcase.

Meanwhile - Swiss Hotel Lobby

Kurt Wagner A.K.A. Nightcrawler: "Sorry ve are late, Professor."

Xavier (no matter): "It only means you missed what might've engendered pessimism.

But today is a new day."

Logan A.K.A. Wolverine: "If you think that'll change anyone's mind."

It's clear he doesn't.

And also clear what's on his mind as he looks around -clear at least, to Professor X: "Jean should've been right behind me. Just a moment."

Xavier speaks telepathically: 'Jean? We're all ready to go.'

'. . .we need to go back home. .Something is happening.'

Xavier feels the weight of this sense at once. 'I'll send Kurt ahead with Logan. He's used to teleporting longer distances with him.' He eyes the two men who come to attention, understanding something's changing their plans. Ahead of filling them in, Xavier finishes his communication with Jean: 'If you could collect my things, I'll meet you at the airport. I will ensure we get on a flight.'

X-Mansion - Rogue's "Dorm"

In contrast to her state last night, it's a calm morning for Rogue. At least in terms of powers.

We find her eating alone from a tray beside her bed, idly shifting her spoon in a bowl of cereal. Concern and conflict creasing her face.

There's a knock on her door.

Rogue utters a listless "come in" with only a momentary glance up.

We hear the door open, then a gruff voice: "How's it goin', kid?"

Rogue looks up: "Logan!"

She gets up to give him a hug -careful not to touch the skin of her face to his.

"When did you get back?"

"Early this morning. Jean and Xavier are on their way. You didn't answer my question."

Rogue frowns anew. "Fahn so long as ah don't touch anyone. Beast worries it would be a problem for me even if who I touch isn't affected by. . .whatever this is." Rogue folds her arms, her movement appearing restless like her stress is bubbling more to the surface. "And Bobby's got it--we still don't know where it's comin' from. Who next?"

Rogue shifts her eyes up to meet his.

Logan: "You don't have to worry about me. Even without knowing what this is I'm sure I've dealt with worse."

"Yeah? Well ah thought about your healing factor. Beast thinks this would work the same on it as on any mutation it has so far; sendin' it into a negative spahral."

Logan looks like he can't quite work out what that would mean, but it doesn't really ruffle his feathers, either. In fact he rolls his eyes, "sounds like Beast's already worked somethin' out." He meets Rogue's gaze with a steadier one. "And Jean's gonna' be workin' this with him. I can't think of anyone who could do a better job figurin' this stuff out."

Rogue looks away, processing. . .settling. She turns her eyes on Logan once more, saying softly: "Ah'm glad you're back."

Shortly thereafter, Logan leaves Rogue to her breakfast. Though on exiting her dorm, we realize things aren't exactly as they seemed.

The Mansion hallway, or the look of it, appears to extend only so far until a junction marks its transition into different hallways altogether; even an alleyway.

Logan walks past all of these, pausing at an exterior wall marked "Dark Room", it's entrance hidden behind a fall of shadow.

Inside is pitch black. We can hear groaning breaths somewhere close, as Logan speaks knowingly into the darkness: "I guess you really do have a plan for everything."

Scott's voice is heard coming from further away: "What? Logan?"

"Jean got a sense of what's happening here. I'd bet specifically about you. Got her on the way back here to play doctor," he goes from an informative to an impudent tone, "wouldn't have thought that your style, but.." and purposely trails off.

Scott knows what he's doing. "Well if this were one of my plans, you wouldn't also be back."

We hear a self-satisfied scoff from Logan before he takes his leave. . . . . .and exiting the shielding darkness of the room and it's surrounding space, he comes to one more door, this one familiarly metallic. Walking through it, we see him step out from the Danger Room.

He heads for the elevator, and once on the upper levels of the Mansion, comes to stand in a doorway off the cafeteria, where Ororo is addressing the students: " ... If you notice any change to your mutations, do not hesitate to speak up. And do not be afraid. Know that we are getting on top of this and will be able to help you, should you need. To be safe in the meantime, no trips off school grounds will be permitted ... "

Following the assembly, we pan past Jones watching television again. . .

Morning Show Host # 1: "Mutants have proven themselves to be a vindictive and scheming race, and that's what we're seeing here."

Morning Show Host # 2: "They call themselves the next step in evolution. I think it's the step back. That one from Central Park -who else had the thought he'd just gone primal?!"

. . .then see Jacilon speaking with Holo.

"Okay- I'm gonna' be busy at the Youth Center until Alex can come back. I think it's better that you stay here, anyway. But I'll come back to check how things are going."

Holo nods, stating bravely: "Professor Munroe said not to be scared. I'll be okay."

Jacilon smiles proudly. "That makes two of us."

Holo smiles, though it's short-lived: "Will you- Could you check on Eeco for me?"

Jacilon: "Definitely."

The sisters hug, then Jacilon goes to join Kurt.

Kurt: "Good vork you did last night in my stead, I hear."

Jacilon smiles a bit: "I don't know you manage it on the regular. I'm glad to be the passenger today." Kurt smiles. "The fact it is regular is how I manage. Sure you don't want more practice today?"

"I think I better leave my powers open while this is all going on. Never know what I might need to emulate and when."

"Good thinking." They take hands and Kurt BAMFs them both away.

Later, in a common area of the ad hoc "Danger Medical Bay"

three youths are discussing their predicament.

Colbur has his leg up on a chair, arms folded: "My bet's on that woman from the news, killing the community garden actually because she was tainting it against mutants, then hiding her evidence."

Rogue, arms folded too, leans against a wall: "How does that make sense if only you and Alex are affected? Ah assume you're not the only ones at the Youth Center eatin' the vegetables."

Bobby is sitting backwards on a chair, his arms folded over the iced-over chairback: "Plus I know I didn't have any while I was there, and unless all the other affected mutants made trips into that neighborhood, I don't see how they could've gotten this that way, either."

Colbur (unwilling to give up the idea just yet): "So it's some spread out, anti-mutant group targeting multiple community gardens, and that woman on the news just messed up, or realized it was actually causing more problems," he steps down from the chair, "what with the losing control and everything."

Accidentally illustrative to his point, some unintentionally generated rocks trickle from Colbur's hands as he unfolds his arms. "Damnit," he says under his breath, bending down as though to pick up the rocks. Though after a moment's bothered-turned-focused stare, the "spill" turns into a "skin" as Colbur absorbs the rocks back into his hand -as though absorbing the properties itself--his hands now appearing to be made of rock themselves.

Rogue and Bobby take note.

Colbur sports a satisfied little smile, rising. "I was workin' on it last night. Couldn't sleep. He points to Bobby, whose hands are presently somewhat iced. "Got the idea from you, Iceman. Figured 'hey, if that guy can do both ways, why can't I'?"

"Nice." The two 'men meet their hands in a side-five, Bobby shaking his afterward as though shaking off a little impact pain. "Took me a while to get that solid."

"Beats leavin' a trail. Even if the design of this place accounted for that." Colbur steps over to to a nearby rock garden, where he now seems to put the rock of his hands into medium-sized stones to add to it. "Some silver lining to all this." He looks up, eyes setting on the Dark Room; what little mirth he had now fading.

Rogue: "He'll be alraght."

Colbur glances back at her just for a moment. "Yeah. ." He adds with a seed of hope, "maybe since he's here."

And speaking of "here", a certain two mutants have just arrived back home. . .

X-Mansion - Foyer

Coming to meet Xavier and Jean, Logan's eyes lock with the latter's, and from his we go into a Flashback - sometime after Jean's descent*

*a.k.a. the point where our story began!

Jean is busy with something when she hears a voice: "So I guess I heard right. You really are back."

Jean smiles a little; turning: "It's good to see you again, Logan. . .I know this is strange."

"Not so much for a guy who's cheated death for decades."

Jean looks at him as one might an old, long-since-passed-by avenue, suddenly seeing it in a new light. . .

Out of the Flashback Logan answers the question presently held in Jean's eyes: "It's bad." He turns, the trio now moving towards the elevator. "According to Hank everyone's losin' immunity to their own mutations. Says Scott's lucky he didn't break his neck the last time he blasted." -Jean and Xavier exchange troubled looks- "The fact his optic blasts emit constantly actually worked for 'im. It lessened the kick. If you ask me, he could stand to be worse. The same can't be said for his brother."

We just hear Xavier say knowingly: "I'll go to Alex at once. Jean, gather the full rundown from Hank."

as we pan away and up, following where these voices are carrying. . .

. . .up to the upper landing of the foyer's flanking staircase, where we see Holo standing. Concern and curiosity etched across her young face.