Envisionings (2nd Edition) Part 21 💉🩸| ⛓👁

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 presumably 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. And from what we do know about Colbur. . .he wouldn't have accepted anything artificial."

Xavier: "Which underlines the unstable precipice such actions would have us facing. . .

To change some minds would be to change all, or be caught 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

|

Detect

| 

Close

  Distance

|

   Detect

| 

    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.

Then 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."