Ships in the Night

Posted on Tue Nov 21st, 2023 @ 4:46pm by Charles Xavier & Scott Summers & Connor Bruin & Bobby Drake & Iris Walker & Cameron Hood & Jade Farwynd & Elias Buckley & Bliss Hawkins & Ethan Hale & Aurora Summers

Mission: Episode 3: X-Tra Ecclesiam
Location: X-Mansion
Timeline: August 19th, 1990

It was the day before the big debate that was scheduled at the JFK Library & Museum at Columbia Point in Boston. The venue was several hours away by drive, so the Professor was leaving today in order to be ready for tomorrow. An executive town car service which offered instate travel waited outside near the main doors.

"I want to thank you all for seeing me off," the Professor began while his luggage was being stowed in the trunk of the black and shiny Mercedes. "While I regret that we will not be together at the debate, rest assured that I will be with you in both solidarity and purpose." He tapped the side of his head. "Make me proud, my X-Men."

"Sir," Ethan piped up. "All due respect you're going to have a giant target on your back. You shouldn't go alone. I can fly overwatch." He looked around. "Eli," he said pointing, "could go in the car with you. If you're okay with that, Eli. He could teleport you away if trouble started."

Silently, Iris agreed. She had not announced herself when she had arrived; after all she was here to see the Professor off and he would know she was here. She didn’t have to tell him.

Elias looked from Professor to winged student and let his gaze slip over the very slight shift in gravity that polarised around a space he recognised far better now than he had before. Iris. Present and correct in the proper dimension. From everyone else's perspective, he ignored her completely, unable to physically see her exact position, but he let his gaze linger briefly in the general vicinity of that mild anomaly anyway. Keeping an 'eye' was a Good Thing, right? And speaking of which...

"I could go for a road trip about now," Elias stated, the edges of his mouth hinting at a potential grin. "Always good to have an emergency evac, right?"

"There you go," Ethan agreed. "there is nothing wrong with taking precautions. If we lose you, not only are the X-Men in trouble, but the whole world is."

Jace nodded in silent agreement. The X-Men were the reason he was standing there among their number.

Professor Xavier smiled broadly at Gryphon, the former predator in whom he had seen a mighty guardian nature. "I assure you, I will be quite fine. Traveling incognito is my best disguise. And, should the worst happen..."

Suddenly the courtyard was filled with twenty Professors, each identical to the last. Fire began to blaze from their eyes and balls of energy swirl from their fists as they hovered out their chairs. The temperature seemed to double almost immediately despite it nearing the cool of dusk. And then they all spoke as one, a monstrous booming voice that spoke in twelve keys at once in a harmonious cacophony. "TREMBLE BEFORE MY ONSLAUGHT!"

Then, even faster than it took the scene to set, everything was back to normal. No flying demon wizards. Only one Professor Xavier who was seated in his wheelchair as if he had never left it. In all reality, he had not. "I am hardly defenseless, my friends. Do not lose sleep for me."

"WHAT WAS THAT?" The dispassionate question from Connor's device belied the horror in his face. "DO NOT MELT MY BRAIN."

Aurora gave Xavier a wide-eyed look. “Wow! Remind me to get you to teach me how to do that!”

Although she had known Xavier was a master of mental manipulation, Iris had still been surprised and alarmed. He had convinced her, however. He would definitely be okay.

As impressive as the Professor's performance was, Bliss was far from relieved. There were very few people who she trusted, and one of them sat in the wheelchair in front of her. She knew what losing the professor would cost mutants everywhere. She also knew that the opposition was more than willing to break the rules in order to take out the king on the other side of the chessboard.

"One sniper with telepathic shielding, or a bomb in the cake. That's all it takes. Bad guys play dirty. They won't play by the rules. Just remember it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you."

"Assassination is meant to send a message. Killing me in transit would send a weak one. Besides, nobody is aware of my travel plans." The Professor turned to smile at the man who secured the trunk and returned to the driver's seat. "I would have my driver confirm that to you, but none of you are currently registering to his mind as present. Trust me. I have contended with powers far greater than bigots with sticks, stones, and sniper rifles. This will be... fun... for a change."

At that moment, the distant roar of a jet engine echoed up from the lake. Specifically, from the direction of the secret hangar bay. After it died down, a chill passed through the air. Frost crystalized into fragile balls that began to fall all over the courtyard. Their syncopated tinkling was clearly not natural. Once a rhythm was established, larger icicles formed in thin air and began to fall in rapid succession like aerial rows of dominoes. All together, they formed a catchy staccato beat from otherwise random sounds of winter in August.

|*-5-5-5-5550-|-5-5-5-5-5550-*||-05------|------757-7-|

Bum-bum-bum duh-duh-dum-bah-dum

"Ice, ice baby!"

An ice bridge materialized like a frozen royal carpet in front of a man. Rather than flesh and clothes, he was a gangly figure fully encased in ice like an anatomically correct Frosty.

"All right, stop! Collaborate and listen! Ice is back with a brand new invention!"

The ice bridge met the ground, but he didn't stop when it did. Instead, he turned around and let his momentum carry him backward in a frictionless moonwalk dance. He came to a stop with a twirling flourish.

"Oh, Bobby!" Xavier started laughing at the young man's antics with a joy and vigor he hadn't felt in some time. "You always did know how to make an entrance. Why didn't Moira tell me you were well?"

Bobby Drake, the Iceman, let his glacial form mist away to reveal his flesh and blood face. "I made her promise to let it be a surprise. Looks like you're headed out though." He looked over the assembled group who were obviously seeing the Professor off. "That's all right." He winked at Aurora, recognizing her from their former captivity together. "I'm sure I'll make do..." His words trailed off when he saw Tammy. "Well, helloooo." He gave Professor Xavier a wolfish grin. "Uh, yeah, it's definitely good to be back. So, where you going?"

"It's a long story," the Professor said, "so I will let the others fill you in. I wish I could stay, but I do have a schedule to keep." He looked around. "I do hope this also means Miss Farwynd has returned as well."

"Yes," came a reply, voice slightly offset by a cover. Jade stepped through the dissipating mist of frost, she too in an upgraded edition.

She wore a black costume with red trimming and details throughout. A red criss-crossed harness across her chest formed an X, with a smaller brooch just on her collarbone in the form of an X itself. Black and red shoulder pads attached to the harness, arms fully covered in black with red detailing, black gloves on her hands, only covering her wrist and middle and ring fingers.

Red detailing on black continued down her torso, where a red belt, with an X shaped loop sat around her waist, a small vial of red liquid at the side, a dark steel knife at the other side. Red detailing on black continued down her legs, to knee-high boots all topped off by a black battle dress with red trimming.

The lower half of her face was covered by a mask, which was again black, with a red X detailed across it, and a black hood with red detailing was drawn over her head, her red hair spilling across her shoulders.

Aurora was loving the fact that Bobby was back, they had been in captivity together for a short time but she hadn’t really gotten to know him properly. She was looking forward to talking with him. Looking toward the new female arrival she admired the suit that she wore.

"BAD. ASS." Connor had to type them as separate words as synonyms for evil and donkey, but his intended meaning was nonetheless clear.

Aurora offered Connor a smile, she loved his way of speaking his mind.

Bobby laughed too. "Yo, Caveman! Gimme some skin!" He held up his hand for a high-five.

At first, Connor made to object on general principle, but then he realized Bobby's intended meaning. He slapped Bobby's hand hard enough to knock it backward.

"Damn, dude..." Bobby mingled into the crowd where he could discreetly rub his palm.

The Professor ignored the boys' antics and greeted Jade. "It's wonderful to have you back with us, Miss Farwynd." Noting her costume, he added, "Or should I say Bloodhound?"

"Sanguis," Jade replied as she stepped closer to the Professor. She spread her arms a little and did a girlish twirl. "Moira helped me with the costume and the name, wotchafink, Prof?" The Australian mutant broke the badass entrance with the awkward tone and spin.

"I think I am delighted to have you back," said the Professor, dodging a direct answer, "for by any name, a rose smells just as sweet."

Jade chuckled, "Thanks Prof. Well you get goin' to where you're goin'. Scott, Bobby, Cam, and I can handle things here."

Speaking of Cam, where was that bloody Pom? She'd have to find him later. X was going somewhere and by the looks of it didn't want the others to joining him.

“Professor,” Aurora looked to Xavier. “Don’t forget to call us when you need to show that united front. We have to show off those new uniforms.” She smiled a wry smile.

Jade nodded, glancing over in the younger girl's direction. Her brow creased for a moment. Her scent was different. Her hormones were off. Elevated.

~You're pregnant. Already? Jesus, I've not been gone a week. What else has happened?~ Jade thought to herself before she looked back over at the Professor.

But the Professor was already being helped into the car by the driver whose mind he was blocking from viewing the rest of them. "Don't worry, dear Aurora," he said through the open backseat window. "I've left instructions for everyone to follow. I expect to see you all tomorrow in Boston. Farewell!"

A moment of eye contact with Xavier from the back, and a nod was all the confirmation Cameron expressed towards the Professor. But he did shuffle behind Jade, quietly. "Nice uniform you got there. The red's a bit on the nose innit?"

Jade spun around to face Cam, grinning at him, though it could only be seen in the eyes. Realizing this she pulled off her hood and removed the face cover, then did a joking half shrug. "I dunno, I thought Sanguis was a bit much, but Moira said it would be totally rad. Plus, red's my colour..." She gave Cam a smirk, "Good to see you too, by the way. We need to catch up..." She looked around the group. "Much has happened, I can tell."

Cameron's eyes had danced across Jade's outfit, perhaps a little appreciatively. He liked to think he had a good poker face though. "I might just call you 'Red' from now on though. Latin always felt so pretentious." Cameron joked. "We definitely need to talk, and I need someone to grab a beer with who isn't bald and in a wheelchair."

Jade nodded, "Meet you downstairs in an hour? I need to change out of this."

"Sounds like a plan." Cam agreed, cracking a smile.

"EVERYBODY GOT THEIR MINDS BACK," Connor put in through his device. Clearly, that was his biggest takeaway for the last week.

"A mind is a terrible thing to waste!" called the Professor as he waved from the window of the departing Mercedes while it wound its way down the driveway.

Bobby rubbed his hands together. "Well, with the Professor gone, let's get down! What's first? Truth or Dare? Spin the Bottle? Seven Minutes in Heaven?"

Scott reached over and flicked Bobby behind the ear. "Grow up, Bobby," he said. "There's a lot you don't know."

Finally reading the proverbial room, Bobby saw that maybe his antics weren't appreciated. "K... sorry."

Glad she could not be seen, Iris rolled her eyes. She half considered calling attention to herself in order to make a great sarcastic comment that had come to her mind, but she decided against it. Still, without really knowing why, she silently began a slow walk back toward the mansion.

Jade looked over her shoulder to see Scott flick Bobby behind the ear and shook her head. Then she caught it again. That off feeling. It was seeping between Scott and Aurora, combining. "Wait, noooo! Noo! What? Noooo." She needed to talk to both Scott and Aurora. Separately. Soon. Six days! It took six days! What the hell? What else did she miss?

"WHAT SONG WAS THAT EARLIER?" Connor asked Bobby.

"Hell if I know," Bobby said with a smirk and a shrug. "Some new jam the radio won't quit playing. Just felt right."

"How about dinner first? It's Sunday, so we'll order in. First mutant who grabs the phone gets to pick the place we order from!" Cameron called out. "Gives the homecomers a chance to change into something more... casual. How about it?"

Connor let out a hoot and was already cartwheeling toward the Mansion doors.

Jade looked at the group for a moment before following along. Was this what that strange feeling was, camaraderie? It felt strange and she wasn't sure she liked it. Sure, she liked some people here, but the group like this sort of made her feel fuzzy inside. She definitely wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

Aurora followed on looking to Scott and offering a smile as she passed by him. She was enjoying the camaraderie herself.

Once everyone was inside, and after no small amount of bickering, it was decided that everyone would order a little of everything for dinner.