Envisionings (2nd Edition) Part 19 💉🩸

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.

"Thanks"

"Do you need an adjustment made to your room?" 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 closest risk of going critical

-ahead of Scott, now that his optic blasts have finally depleted- There has to be more we can do for him."

Relief crosses Xavier's focused face at the news about Scott: "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."

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

Hank: "It's fortunate that your draw of Alex's blood for your curriculum occurred pre-exposure, or I don't know how we would manufacture the antiserum for Scott. . . .I suppose some synthetic method."

Something about this has Jean seemingly elsewhere. She's quick to refocus: "Yes- I suppose."

Hank: "In any case with consideration to our resources, it is chiefly fortunate that Scott's optic blasts have abated."

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 attention comes to be required on the main level of X-Mansion

Entryway

Opening the door, Xavier finds a raven-haired woman alongside the boy Nightcrawler met underground.

Woman: "We overheard you can help mutants suffering. . . .We think Leech may be able to help you."

Made curious by these visitors, Xavier is on the cusp of responding when a peculiar expression -a peculiar awareness- crosses his face. A smile of true hope replaces it as he reaches out his hand: "Very good of you to have come, young man."

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 just as Xavier does from the other door.

"Ah, Jean. I was about to come let you and Hank know you can loosen your schedules.

I just need to make a few adjustments."

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

Cut-To several minutes later.

Hank has joined Jean and Xavier who are now back in the Danger Medical Bay, which looks 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". The other patients dispersing 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.

Propped up on his arms, Scott looks around unseeingly. Turning his head -still with uncomfortable stiffness- in the direction of the presence by his bed, Leech now staring uncertainly back into the bruised sockets housing the ruby-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.

Xavier: "I would like you to meet Leech.

As I'm sure you've realized, 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 just 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."

Xavier brings the point home:

"Leech will grant us all the time we'll need to draw things to an acceptable close."