Iceman remains at the underground location into the evening. Colossus -discreetly in his non-mutant form- swaps with him for the night. Nobody else arrives. Above, the streets are quiet.
Next day....
We next see Xavier using Cerebro to amplify his telepathic powers in order to reach the Mutant community: 'My fellow Mutants, this is the voice of Professor Charles Xavier.
'You may have seen the reports on the news about a 'Rose Mist', seemingly harmless. We know now this is not the case for those like us. If you have been exposed to the 'Rose Mist' or otherwise find the nature of your mutations have increased or changed suddenly, I implore you to seek out the Mutant Outreach Centre.'
He gives the address.
'A friend there will be waiting to provide the first assistance as we work together to treat any fluctuation of control or adaptation. You may come assured I ask only for your trust. May we meet soon.'
Next, he's speaking with Beast in person: "I have called Kurt and Logan back from their assignment. It will keep. Kurt I have instructed to be the transport between the Outreach Centre and here." They're in the control area of the Danger Room. Beast is keying in specs for a new, rather different type of simulation. "Alex had expressed a desire for more agreeable accommodations the last time I spoke with him. Hopefully this will be just that for all who will be under our observations. The built-in stat recorder will allow us to keep apprised of everyone's condition, as well, without any encumbering and unsightly monitors in-room."
Xavier sighs. "I hope our preparations will wind up being more unnecessary than not. I should be going."
"Give Warren my regards."
Some final keying-in and Beast engages the sim, which makes the Danger Room appear as though it's any other room of the Mansion -lush wood, natural light etc.- and a large one at that. There's even a little patio section.
Through the window of the control area, we can see Jean and Scott reacting to this as he -moving somewhat dizzily- is steadied by Jean on his way to get onto a medical bed. Alex is also there on one of his own, but doesn't seem conscious of the surroundings he inspired.
We join them.
Scott: "Thanks." He's back in regular clothes, with visor replaced by his ruby quartz glasses - actually, a modified version looking somewhere between glasses and a sleep mask. Alex's lower body is underneath a sheet, his upper body is bare, save for the device keeping his own blasts contained.
Scott turns his head to look over at him: "I don't know if Alex actually would've liked being in here, this time..." it's not a critique but a regret. He's angry at himself: "if I had never let him come with me Xavier wouldn't have had to place him into a psychically induced coma."
"No, Scott, Alex had to go past me first." She adds in regret, "you told me to take care of him..."
Scott sighs. He doesn't blame Jean, so he can't hold blame himself -though that seems easier said than done; but what does it matter now....
Likewise, Jean tries to get on top of the moment, recognizing regret does nothing for them: "Anyway..if Alex hadn't been down there with you to take down one of the machines, you would've suffered more injuries than just what you did to yourself. As it is, nearly whiplash," her hand goes to his neck, caressing it, before her fingers rise to the side of his head, "a concussion.." her tone while holding both professionalism and concern, now takes on more of the latter, "and I'm worried about your degree of dizziness."
"Even with my eyes closed it's as if the room is still spinning..." Scott's hand goes to his head to rub it. Their fingers brush and he moves his hand over hers. . . "It's at least a relief Alex's injuries aren't as severe as he felt like they were..." he turns his head to look at his brother, again. Then asks Jean a heavy question: "do we have less time now with what we've done to ourselves?"
Her breath catches, she hesitates. "I don't know. But it's served some purpose since now we know what we're dealing with to the full extent. . ." Her hand is still aside his head, but looking at him.. -almost suddenly, she moves it away. "I should get back to the lab, and you need to rest."
Scott let her hand go but catches it again before she's out of reach: "Jean." Though he brings her attention back, he doesn't seem to have the words for what he might've wanted to say.
Jean changes her mind, not wanting to leave him the way she just had -she holds his face in her hand once more as she leans in to give him a kiss.
Scott holds her loosely but lovingly -the moment is brief but it will have to be enough.
Jean exits this time; Scott's attention reverting to his unconscious brother, himself sighing again before he tries to let his mind drift away from the spinning....
We now go upstairs, where we see students filing out of an assembly hall having just been apprised of the situation. While the nature of it takes priority over classes, the students are to remain on Mansion grounds until it is resolved. Any who have been into the city recently, whether they recall going by a Rose Mist location or not, are to report down to the lab to be sure.
Student #3: "That's what's ultimately happening. I overheard Rogue telling Iceman. Any mutant with powers, it'll be like they're in combat with themselves or something eventually."
Student #4: "Can that happen? Like, I can't even picture that."
Holo walks past these two with Jubilee: "I don't get it, either."
Jubilee: "You know, it's like how when I do this," she pauses, holding her hand palm up as she concentrates on sending a firework a couple of feet into the air. Some students pause, on alert if others are losing control. Jubilee assures them that was on purpose and as they move on, reverts attention to her younger friend: "See? I don't damage my hand even a little bit." She shows Holo her palm, which looks exactly as it did before she'd shot off the firework.
"That's because I'm immune to my own powers. But if I had what those other guys have, I'd likely blow my hand clear off if I tried that again."
She resumes walking: "It's a good thing Kitty's still on her graduation trip with her parents. If she got affected, she could wind up phasing right through to the centre of the eart--"
Holo had continued pace with Jubliee for a few steps, but the older girl now notices she's fallen behind. Holo now just standing in the hall with a look both thoughtful and troubled.
Jubilee -doubling back- seems to suddenly realize who she's just given graphic information to: "Uh-h-h, but I mean, don't worry about it, kid! I'm sure the adults are figuring out a fix this minute. Plus it's not as if stuff like that would even happen to most of the people affected by this thing. Like Rogue's powers only matter if she touches someone which she doesn't do anyway, right? And others like yourself, well your powers can't do any damage at all."
Little does she realize....
Later, outside on a city street....
A man with angel wings -presently folded close to his back and held a little high at the shoulders- gets into the back of a car.
In the modified driver's seat sits Xavier. "You may move my collapsible chair into the back and take the passenger seat for yourself."
Warren Worthington III: "That's alright. I like a little more space." Sitting in the middle of the back seat, he unfolds his wings as suitably as he can against the rest of the seat; relaxing his shoulders.
Xavier smiles. "Yes, I can see how that would be the case." He shifts the car into drive and pulls away from the curb.
Warren: "So what is our strategy going into this?"
"We will make no direct accusations but merely inform Trask that a serious risk to the mutant community incidentally has directed our attention to his Industries. You will be playing your role, doing due diligence for Mutant Affairs, and I will do my part throughout our discussion to be certain his thoughts concur with his verbal responses."
Warren gives a nod. "Presumably they will not."
"Quite so. But not operating on assumption alone is what separates us from those who fear and hate us."
Warren smiles wryly: "One of the things, anyway." He flexes his wings.
Xavier gives a chuckle. "Indeed."
Back in the Danger Room turned mass-medical-/observation-bay-with-a-simulated-view, the affected mutants are settling in. The protocol being that on arrival to the Mansion, they are directed to the lab for their blood to be examined under the microscope. If confirmed to have the Mist Virus they are directed to the Danger Room. If not, they return to the foyer to await a return trip with the teleporting Nightcrawler.
Storm is presently stationed in the Danger Room, welcoming everyone in Xavier's stead and directing them to individual areas.
Some real living-accommodations seem to have been brought -or are being brought- in, such as small tables, more beds -cots for those who aren't in any distress like Alex and Scott; presently the only two on medical beds though the simulation now makes them appear more natural in the space.
Speaking of natural, the simulation includes a few house plants, which the boy from the news who wilted the entire contents of a flower shop is cheered to see; a simulation can't wilt if you don't want it to. His mother is with him.
Colber surveys who else is there so far; his expression is indiscernible. He turns to where he, Rogue and Bobby seem to have set cots up in their own little section; marked by some artful little stacks of Colber's rocks.
Rogue, presently, sits on her cot with a worrisome expression. Colber: "I can understand grouping us in here so they can see how we're all doing more or less at once," he shifts through a backpack for something, extracting a drink and uncapping it to take a swig, "and 'cause we can't destroy the place. But it still feels kind of, I don't know...I mean do you even have to be here?" This question is directed at Rogue, who he promptly grins at, "not that your company is at all undesirable-"
Bobby shakes his head with a smile, answering first: "Actually since we live here, we don't have to stay in here besides check-ins, and so long as our powers aren't affecting us yet like they are for Cyclops and Havok. But, um," he looks to Rogue.
"Ah'm choosin' to stay."
Bobby: "And I'm staying with her."
They hold hands.
Colber rises his eyes back to Rogue: "But you're not even affected."
"What do you mean? Ah've got this in mah blood, same as you."
"Well yeah, but I mean here Bobby and I are, him with custom gloves so he doesn't bring the icy touch, and me facing more rocks than I'll know what to do with, probably, while nothing's happening with you. Again not that that's at all undesirable."
"Well, mah powers aren't like yours. Actually they're kahnd of like Cyclops' ah just realahzed; never in mah control but already contained." She turns one of her gloved hands over in front of her eyes, which have a worried look in them that seems both far off and close: "and who even knows what 'loss of resistance' maght look like for me..."
Bobby's gloved hand comes up to take hers.
She smiles appreciatively.
Colber's eyes shift away: not from their relationship, but from the conversation he wishes he hadn't started, now.
A gruff voice suddenly interrupts: "Hey, kid. How're ya' doin'?"
Rogue: "Logan!"
She gets up at once and goes to give him a -careful/loose- hug.
He keeps his hands on her covered arms a second as he repeats, clearly with care in his gruffness: "I mean it. How are you?"
Rogue holds her hands behind her back in a suddenly more reserved stance. "Ah'm managing so far."
Colber saves her from having to think anymore about this stuff: "So you're the famous Logan?"
Logan reacts mildly, in some disbelief: "I'm famous now, am I? Can't imagine that."
A fresh rock drops from Colber's dominate hand. "Damnit. That's getting annoying." He bends to pick it up.
Logan: "Give it here."
Lowering his brows in question, Colber tosses him the rock.
Logan catches it in one hand, gives Colber a little look, then extends his adamantium claws from his other hand and slashes a row of gashes into the rock before tossing it back: "There. Take it as my autograph."
He succeeds in amusing Colber, Rogue and Bobby; taking all their minds off the troubling situation at hand in that small, ephemeral way.
When Logan is leaving, he pauses by where Alex and Scott are, looking from one to the other before speaking to Scott. "So are you actually that bad off, or are you just that guy?"
Scott stares at him.
Logan: "I'm just sayin', it would take a lot for you to find me just layin' around waiting to be taken care of by Jean-" he pauses abruptly with a smirk, "Actually..." It's Logan's version of "how are you?"; if Scott can retort-
Scott scowls. "Don't worry, Logan. As soon as possible you can go back on your remote missions."
Logan glances about the room: "I don't know about that. Seems like things happen while I'm away. I mean the last time I came back I found Jean back, too, like she had never died."
Scott: "Right - nothing you needed to be here for."
Logan eyes him a moment before shaking his head -yeah, he's still okay enough- leaving Scott to himself.
In the Lab, Jean and Beast are working with the blood samples...
Beast (soberly): "I had hoped most of the potential cases commuting to us from the Outreach Centre would prove to be false. The results so far have been dispiriting."
Jean: "Yes. So far at least it seems only Bobby and Rogue have been affected from here."
Beast (offhand): "And, of course, Scott."
They're working at stations on opposite walls. Beast doesn't notice Jean's pause before she responds with some quiet furstration: "Hopefully Charles' meeting with Trask will bring us information on the properties of the mist, and we can make progress on a cure instead of just playing at it, and tallying who all will be needing one."
Beast: "Quite so." He stretches in his chair. "I've been lax with my sustenance today in favour of the cause, though now feel I've grown cross-eyed and am on the verge of inattention. Yourself?"
Jean answers somewhat distractedly: "Yes. I mean I've been lax as well. I can get something for the both of us," she's already gotten up, "I wouldn't mind stretching my legs."
"In that case, I wouldn't mind a couple of bagels and tea. Any kind will do."
When Jean exits the Lab, Logan is just coming out from the Danger Room.
They pause as they see each other across the hallway.
Jean speaks first: "Logan. I heard you and Kurt were called back."
"Yeah. He's already where the Professor wants him. Which I guess is obvious considering all the new faces," his head turns back in the direction of the door, "hardly recognized that as the Danger Room." He gives a sort of laugh, "it's sorta' not bad. Maybe we should think about some new simulations when all this comes to an end."
He's said something that's affected Jean. "I should get back to the lab, I was just getting something to keep me and Hank going. Excuse me."
She goes to the elevator which Logan is close to, he catches her by the arm: "Look, I'm sorry Scott's one'a the guys in there. .I'm also glad it isn't you."
Jean gives a deflecting answer: "I don't think that's where I'd I be if I had this."
"That's not what I mean."
Jean drops the act: "I know," her disposition reverting to a more subdued kind.
Logan considers her a moment. "Look, you and Hank, once you've got what you need you'll figure this out. I'm positive. . and if there's anything I can do."
Jean meets his eyes.
Their gazes hold for a moment. . .then, she seems to get an idea: "Maybe there is. Maybe all we need is your healing factor."
Logan's brows go up but then furrow, like 'there's an idea, but how?'
Jean directs: "Tell Hank. He'll take your blood and get things started."
Before she goes, she places her hand on his which is still on her arm, their gazes holding the briefest moment more, before she takes his hand away and steps into the elevator.
Logan keeps his eyes on her until the doors close, then, resolutely, heads down the hall to the lab.
Meanwhile, the meeting is underway at the HQ of Trask Industries....
Trask: "My company owns those specific underground pockets, yes. I can dig up the documents so you see it wasn't something we did below board. They were for a long-since obsolete purpose. Our early days before we were able to grow our facility properly above ground."
Warren: "Yet a security system was found very much in active, working order." "Leftover from that time and, frankly, forgotten or assumed inoperable. At least up until the recent breech responses, which I understand now were you," he directs this last bit to Xavier.
"And you're certain, aside from those, that no other security breeches have been logged?"
"Completely." As Xavier regards him, we hear Trask think ''of course those systems would only activate under detection of mutants.'
"It must be someone who knows how to work around our systems," Trask smoothly concedes, but is firm, "though anyone presumably conducting experiments in those underground stations have been doing so independently. Certainly no experiment of such nature has been given authorization." Xavier: "I'm happy to hear that, Mr. Trask, as these so called 'experiments' bring with them serious consequences for mutants. I trust you will do what you can to find whoever seems to have gone rogue?"
"Straight away."
Xavier smiles: "Then we'll conclude." Warren: "Assuming you understand The Department of Mutant Affairs will need any details you uncover, to ensure we can respond properly to things on our end?"
Trask: "Absolutely."
Xavier and Warren exit, the latter inquiring as soon as they're in the privacy of a hallway: "So?"
Xavier's expression is one of perplexity: "For the most part, he was being honest. Though I don't know that we have the entirety of his cooporation, those underground sentinels were anything but obsolete and forgotten and Trask obviously has been keeping that network for something. But it is not this."
Once outside they get back into Xavier's car, but they don't drive off.
Xavier's eyes close.
Warren watches him, waiting silently.
A couple minutes pass before Xavier, eyes still closed, relays: "He's addressing his science department..." a small smile crosses Xavier's face, "he isn't pleased by the meeting he's just had to have." That of course being their own.
A side of Warren's mouth turns up as well: "Who ever is when it comes to us?"
"Indeed." Xavier concentrates back on the conversation going on in the building. We hear what he does telepathically - Trask: "Considering you come to me by end of day, I will be lenient. But if any of you here are involved, or know of involvement by colleagues not currently present and do not come to me, but instead hope that I will not succeed in ferreting them out, well, you better not be too attached to the the details of the life you're living. They will change drastically once the truth is found."
Xavier maintains psychic connection for several minutes more before opening his eyes; puzzlement anew: "I can discern no guilt in the minds of the employees. Not one is experiencing either a fear of detection or the superiority of one who believes they are beyond it." His voice turns grave, "which places us in no further position than when we arrived."
Back at the Mansion....
We see Mystique walking down the halls, where some of the younger students seem enraptured by her shapeshifting. "Can you do me?"
Mystique pauses, considers, then obliges.
"Wow! What does that feel like?"
Mystique experiences another uncontrolled cycling and waits until she's back in her own form before answering: "At the moment, nauseating." She walks away from them to enter the kitchen.
But we next see inside Holo's room, where the young mutant is just thinking by the looks of it. The uncertainty in her expression shifts as she turns her head to stare at the space beyond the foot of her bed where she sits.
We soon see an imagining of Jubilee...who then, with an unnaturally quiet *BANG*, proceeds to suffer the injury to her hand that the real Jubilee had spoken of.
Holo is shocked by her own imagining and yet, even as the image of Jubilee fades away, we see another familiar one beginning to form....
In the kitchen, Mystique has selected a lemon from a fruit bowl and has just gone to the fridge when Jean enters, somewhat surprised to see her: "Oh- Hello, Mystique."
"Xavier said to make myself at home while this has to be, and at home I move about freely."
"I didn't say anything."
Over the fridge door she gives a mirthless smile: "Some things you can know without being a telepath."
Jean speaks her mind, anyway: "You really should be where we can observe you."
Closing the fridge with a bag of rye bread in her other hand, Mystique raises her brows: "Because of what's happening to me?" Her brows lower. "Or what could happen because of me?"
Before Jean can respond, something else seems to take hold of her awareness, she seems to be considering what in fact it is....
Mystique observes her.
Just as Jean might return to task, she hears in her mind a male voice -- a voice that shakes her by its familiarity, though she's never heard it like this -- screaming from the pain. --Then her own, yet not of her own making -- "SCOTT!!!!"
Before Mystique's distinct eyes, Jean's expression crumples into a look of distress 'A premonition? No...!'
No.
Jean's response shifts as she becomes cognizant that this horror isn't her reality, it's somebody else's imagining. "Holo-"
We're back in Holo's room, where the screaming imagining of Scott reaches his hands up to his ruby quartz glasses, removing them in a desperate effort to release what's causing him severe pain -- his optic blasts cut short as his eyes blow out, leaving behind empty, bloody sockets as his body goes limp.
An imagining of Jean, preceded by the exact scream we heard before, enters the scene
-as the real Jean opens the door. "Holo!"
Even at this intrusion it takes a minute for Holo's imagining to cease --now showing Scott spasmodically reaching his hand back up before the imagining of Jean catches it, holding it, trying to comfort him and herself -- and for Holo to turn to the real Jean with a starkly traumatized look.