Warren Worthing III: "Since Sinister was involved in the construction of your facility and clearly hid things within its structure, I trust you can understand why SynerGene Corp.,
as you presently know it, can't be allowed to go forward."
Saara is seated with her head bowed: "Yes. . ."
"However, your vision still should." She raises her head, listening yet still not looking his way.
Warren's disposition lightens: "The X-Men happen to be in the business of working for a dream. Consider me your new financial backer. When the time's right, I'll make a new facility happen. In the meantime, I'm sure Jean will have a few ideas how to keep the important advances from falling into the void."
Saara looks up. Surprise, hope and relief mixing in her eyes. "So Jean's been recovered? She's alright?"
We transition to the late end of a long day. Specifically to the room of the Mansion where Scott had previously laid down with Xack, now seeing the young lad sleeping again as Xavier, amused, watches small images created by Holo, who sits on the end of the bed.
We can then see Xavier turning his attention to the door, not that there's been any knock.
Down the darkened hallway, Scott is just coming to the room when they come out,
Holo closing the door almost all the way behind her.
Scott isn't surprised on the timing, though he is to see Holo.
Xavier explains: "Holo offered her 'expertise' and proved
herself to be a valuable babysitting assistant."
Scott smiles a little at her.
Holo: "I didn't think Xack was going to drop off until you got back, but I managed to keep up imaginings for him even though I was getting super tired."
Scott makes his face go serious, striking a straighter pose with his hands behind his back:
"Good. An X-Man needs to be able to maintain themselves in all conditions; fatigue being a common one." He gives a nod. "You're dismissed. . .Thank you."
Holo smiles, more at his disposition than the praise as it tells her everything must be okay again. She covers a yawn as she waves to Xavier with her other hand, and goes on down the hall.
Scott turns his attention to the room, opening the door a little more to look in on Xack.
Xavier: "Speaking of the condition of an X-Man, how is Jean?"
Scott glances back to make sure Holo isn't still in the hall, though speaks in a low tone anyway. "She's recovering. Sinister was bleeding her out and collecting every drop.
. . .That's one less Sinister facility on the board, but again he got away. . ."
Scott looks past his son to the window; the larger world feeling so close.
"Sinister's mental signature is on the watchlist," Xavier assures,
"the instant he might take even one step onto the property, Cerebro will let us know."
". . . Thank you, Professor."
Xavier understands the span of that 'thank you',
while Cyclops moves to retrieve the peaceful sleeper.
Scott smiles as he lays Xack back down, now next to Jean;
his family right before him again.
"He's going to be ecstatic when he wakes up and sees you."
Jean smiles down at her son, though also raises a hand to her head.
Scott's expression changes to reflect adequate concern.
"Now that your mind's at ease, you should rest. I'll be here."
"Apparently it's not. . .this feels like how it did on the way back from the airport."
Scott grows more serious: "When we were near SynerGene-" he clenches the sheet, "-Sinister!" In the next moment he's risen from the side of the bed, looking around half tense, have daring the evil experimenter to come out from the shadows.
"No, this is different than that," Jean says assuredly, serious herself; though she
doesn't hold onto it. "Maybe it's a fatigue thing, or. .side effect from the inhibitor."
Jean looks up at him, his disturbance obvious.
"Scott. . ." She reaches for him.
He obliges, sitting back down;
her hand meeting his cheek in a caress.
"Let's not turn those gears, right now.
Let us just be here."
She turns her head back towards their son.
Scott eyes them. Sighs. . .then holds her as he leans down, sets his hand on Xack, and kisses them both.
The following day.
Newscastor: "The mutant-forward facility that came to the city's full attention mere weeks ago has already experienced a catastrophe. We can see from this amateur footage that the X-Men were involved."
The footage recorded by the protestor is shown.
"A brief statement has been made to clarify the altercation was not with SynerGene itself. As a result of it, however, the Corporation will be temporarily closing down. Now to other news, it seems to be the week for disasters at little-known facilities, as an explosion in Alaska brought attention to the remains of one that had been underground. Its purpose and the cause of its demise are unknown at this time."
Watching with his arms folded, Bobby comments: "When is it ever not going to seem like there's a line of people- evil mutants, non-mutants or whatever Sinister is, waiting to knock us mutants back?"
Amara: "It's too bad. For the most part, SynerGene seemed a decent place."
"At least we can make sure more's come out of it than just that," referring to the broadcast,
he shuts it off.
Rogue: "If only the modulators could've been one of those things. If they didn't have the side effect of making things worse once they're taken off. . .it maht've been nahce. . ."
Both look at her; Amara thoughtful, Bobby understanding. He takes Rogue's gloved hand.
Coming out of the TV room, we see Scott on his way to Xavier's office, where we see the Professor combing through one of his bookshelves, facing away from the door.
"Scott," the telepath acknowledges without turning around. "I expected you would be spending all your free time with your family." It's made as an observation not a judgment. "I hope your young man isn't showing you a toddler's sense of justice."
"No. Thankfully he hasn't shown himself to be the grudge holding type."
"Perhaps showing his parents' sense of necessity, then, albeit a little after the fact. "
He pauses in his shelf combing to assure: "You did do what you had to."
Scott gives a nod, though seems less than completely confident.
"It is remarkable. . ." Xavier reflects, "regardless of the efficacy of the modulator, Jean still had to reach out through its influence, across distance, and through what surely must've been another application of Sinister's psi-blocking technology given how even Cerebro could not locate her -to say nothing of Jean's physical state. . .and yet, you two managed to touch mentally once again*."
*first exceptional time being in Cyclops and Jean Grey Chronicles # 2: eXperiment. ~Tra
"Your psychic rapport is unlike any other I've seen. . .What Jean's mind is capable of. . .
But now you find me remiss, as clearly you have come to discuss something and I have a feeling it's not that."
"It can keep if you're preoccupied."
The Professor had resumed his title searching, but presently stops; a book selected. "Not at all." The object set in his lap he turns around, wheeling over to his desk as he explains: "merely selecting the text for my next class."
Scott peers at the title once it's set upon the desk:
The Secret History, by Donna Tartt.
Xavier: "Now," he smiles ironically, "what's on your mind?"
Scott manages a brief reciprocation before he moves to close the door. Facing Xavier again, he hesitates before finally speaking: ". . .Sinister nearly had Jean killed. I don't want to think of what he has planned for Xack. . .I was prepared to do anything to him-" He pauses, needing to be accurate about this. "-to anyone who would take them away from me."
Xavier answers him perceptively: "Your own convictions disturb you?"
Scott's look confirms so.
Xavier considers for a moment. "As X-Men you are sworn to protect those who fear and hate us. . .As the one who assembled you for this undertaking, I will protect you from forces that may corrupt, including ones within yourself. . .Heaven forbid your family be threatened again, you can trust I will prevent you from crossing any line too far."
We pan-out on Scott's thankful exit, seeing Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in a cutaway view; all the individuals throughout it going on with their day. Some more usually
than others, though all safe within these walls.
Safer at least, than they would be beyond them. . . .
. . . .no matter what trouble might seek to pervade.