Explosive Combination: Parts 11-12

by Verthril


Chapter Eleven : The Abyss

Darkness, complete and utter, enveloping and stifling, drowning out all sense of reality as she groped about as she tried to find her way out of the abysmal void. The only thing more unnerving than the darkness was the silence, but then it was never truly silent if she listened, for the sound of her own breath was faint as it was swallowed by the void. The walls of wherever Jubilee found herself were cold and precise, feeling like worked marble or granite. Even her paffs did little for the darkness, swallowed and absorbed with only leaving her form expose with the faintest glow against the ebony floor. She didn・t know where she was, nor what happened after Remy and her had left with Ororo to find the other X-men. All she knew was that there were three powers working against the Empress Lilandra, and if nothing could be done soon, a future as dark as the void she found herself in would be forged from the ashes of the rightful timeline.

Remy awoke with his head throbbing, and as he tried to raise a hand to ease the pain, he found that they were shackled. Looking about, he found himself in a dungeon not unlike the one he had eavesdropped on when the revelation of the Skrull plot was exposed. Ororo too had found out, and along with Jubilee they had hoped to find the other X-men to warn them. But it came too little too late as Psyloke attacked with Imperial guards. Off in the corner he could see Ororo laying limply upon a mat, her hair matted with blood and dirt from the fight. Looking further he couldn・t see Jubilee anywhere, his fears catching the better of him as the thoughts of what Ororo had told them of the Skrull came back to him.

・Merde, if dey hurt her, dey going to have de devil ta deal with.・ Remy growled as he charged the chain on his shackles, destroying it and freeing his arms from behind his back.

Walking over to Ororo, he gave her a gentle nudge to bring her back to the conscious world. A groan came as her eyes fluttered open, drawing tight against the little light that the cell had. Rising to a sitting position, she looked about and leveled her gaze on Remy.

・I would take it we did not win the battle?・ Ororo asked in a rhetorical tone, merely earning a nod from Remy.

Ororo looked about the cell further, looking for weaknesses and other things that might be useful to their escape, then she noticed the lack of something that nagged at her throbbing mind. Focusing past the pain of the headache she was suffering from, she realized that the girl was missing, Spark he had called her. As she opened her mouth, Remy merely gave a shake of his head as he caught her train of thought.

・Gone. Don know where too. If dey hurt her, dey have da devil ta deal with, I promised dat.・ Remy said in a tired voice as he rose from his sitting position and helped Ororo to her feet.

・I fear that Betsy has been taken by the Skrull, for I have never seen such rage and anger in her, nor would she double-cross us in this manner.・ Ororo stated, clearing her friends actions from the battle prior.

・Der was a reason I wasn・t showing dem what I ・ad in de battle, fearing dis might happen.・ Remy said with a sly grin as he walked up to the cell door and charge the lock.

With a fizzle and a loud snap, the lock was blown. Repeating the trick on the hinges, the door soon fell from the frame, caught by Remy to stop the loud clattering smash that would have echoed down the corridors. Taking Ororo by her hand, the two figures stalked out into the darkness of the dungeons, intent on finding out what had become of Jubilee, while too the X-men.






Stairs now, rising for lord knows how high into the void. Jubilee crawled along them, fearing a tumble from the height she had climbed since finding them, each step forward taken tentatively as she groped about in the darkness to ensure no pitfalls. A faint glow flickered off in the farthest point of the void, infinitely small against the vastness of the darkness that surrounded her. As the only guidance in the otherwise featureless void, she pressed on and hoped for either rescue or release from this place.

・Eh Stormy, as de P・tite would say, what has about fifty feet, bad breath, and ・n even worse temperament?・ Remy inquired as he peeked about the corner.

・I haven・t a clue, ・Ace・.・ Ororo replied, annoyance in her voice with the new pet name she had just acquired.

Remy gave his head a nod for her to look over the corner, and as she peeked over, she saw twenty-five guards standing about a vast door rising eighty feet into the vaulted ceiling of the dungeon.

・What you t・inking dey keeping in der?・ Remy asked as he looked to Ororo.

・Shall we find out ・Ace・?・ Ororo asked, receiving a nod from Remy.

Stepping out into the hallway, Ororo raised her arms high into the sky, calling down the fury of gale force winds and the freezing depths of the Artic Tundra. The guards ran at her, weapons drawn, but as a barrage of charged rocks flew into them they fell back and tumbled against the wind. Frost and snow covered their metal armor, all of them now either unconscious or bordering on hypothermia. Remy and Ororo walked up to the door and pushed it open, finding the ease of the task strange for the size of the door. Looking up to the behemoth before them, they suddenly wished they hadn・t let their curiosity guide their actions.






Jubilee had lost track of time as she climbed the stairs, having long since broken into a mad dash towards the light as her mind tittered on despair. Her paffs guided the way, keeping watch for every change in the direction of the stairs. The light grew closer with every step, and finally as she found the landing of the stairs, it was almost blinding in the intensity of it. It stood like a portal in the darkness, with the landing ending in a perilous edge at which the light sat. Too pass through it, merely to find out it was nothing but a ball of light would mean death, but if the risk taken proved it was a portal, freedom could be awaiting her on the other side. If there was one thing Remy had taught her over their time together, it was patience, and this would require time to decide the risk fully.

The behemoth looked down to the pair, straining against the shackles that held it about the wrists, ankles and throat. Furred and fanged, it looked like a creature out of mythology, yet here it stood imprisoned on the Imperial Throne-world.

・You know anyt・ing about dis t・ing?・ Remy asked as he turned to Ororo.

・I have not the faintest idea my friend. Goddess forgive me, but at this moment we do need a distraction for the guards that we might be able to find the others and warn them of the plot.・ Ororo remarked as she raised her hands skyward, sending lightning bolts shattering through the skylight of the prison, destroying the shackles about the behemoth.

The giant creature looked down to them gratefully, but then a snarl fell over his face as a squad of guards advanced upon the cell. Panic clear on their expressions, the beast lunged at them from the cell as it attacked his oppressors.

・I feel sorry for dem Stormy, dey don know dat dey working for de Skrull. But alas, dey too don know we be on de same side. Lets get out of here.・ Remy said as he looked skyward and gave a smile to Ororo.

With a nod of her head and a chanting to the elements, the pair soon rose upon winds beckoned by Ororo, rising through the skylight and to freedom. They had to find the other X-men and warn them, and they also had to find their respective better halves. Logan was still missing and comatose, while Jubilee was missing entirely with no idea of her whereabouts.






Jubilee stood upon the edge, looking to the light hovering perilously over the edge of the landing. If she were to leap into it, she would have to do it right the first time as only one attempt could be made. Then suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck rose, as a feeling of someone watching her overtook her. Spinning about, she saw a menacing figure in the flicking light of the orb of pure white light. In her haste and shock, a misstep cost Jubilee her footing as she began to tumble over the edge. A shrill scream was swallowed by the darkness, cut short as a strong hand grabbed her by the arm. Looking up with tears in her eye, despair having finally washed over her; gray eyes peered at her through the darkness with concern in their depths. As the figure pulled her back to the edge, she could see a familiar silhouette about this figure, and as her eyes adjusted to the dim light she found Logan to be sitting with her on the edge.

・You okay kid?・ Logan asked in a gruff tone.

・Peachy, only on the other side of the universe in some abysmal void that you nearly had me fall into by sneaking up on me!・ Jubilee screamed in the darkness that consumed the noise.

・Sorry kid. Just about as lost as you are. One minute I・m tracking down Deathbird, next thing I know it feels like I was turned inside out, finding myself in this damn place.・ Logan said as he waved his arm about the void.

・Whoa, back up. Last thing you remember is chasing Deathbird and then waking up here?・ Jubilee asked only to receive a nod from a curious Logan.

・Dude, someone fried your brain. Oh man oh man. That mind-witch biatch was with those guards. One minute I・m fighting with Re・err・Ace and Storm, next minute it feels like I was coming down from a four week sugar high.・ Jubilee remarked as she glanced back to the light.

・So fur ball, you thinking what I・m thinking?・ Jubilee asked as she looked back to Logan.

・Hell Darlin・, anything is better than this place.・ Logan said as he rose to his feet, offering a hand to Jubilee.

・Damn skippy.・ Jubilee said as she took the hand and hefted herself to her feet.

The pair ran back to the edge of the landing, slipping off their shoes for better grip on the otherwise featureless surface. Breaking into an all out dash for the edge, they leapt through the void like falling angels, clearing the void and passing through the light.






Disorientation passed over them as light filled their eyes. Looking about, they awoke to the shocked faces of Betsy and Professor Charles Xavier, while an alien dignitary that Jubilee recalled from her time at the grand ball stood next to Lilandra. A second glance about their surroundings soon alerted them to the fact that they both were quite naked, while in webbing Charles and Betsy hung like prey captured by a spider.

Turning back to the group standing before her, Jubilee threw a volley of plasmoids at the doppelgangers, charged by the anger and embarrassment of the current situation. The Skrulls fell back from the attack, only to be attacked close quarters by an enraged Logan. Leaving the man to do what he appeared to be so good at, Jubilee took to freeing the captives from the webbing. As Charles fell from the webbing, the Skrull who had taken his form reverted to its original state.

・Behind you child!・ Xavier yelled as he pointed behind her.

Jubilee spun to see the alien dignitary charging at her, and with a swift kick Jubilee floored him and spun about. A second barrage of plasmoids freed the imprisoned dignitary along with Betsy, leaving the Skrull reverting back to their original forms.

・Impertinent Youngling! You shall pay for this!・ The largest of the Skrulls yelled as he got to his feet and charged at her once more.

But this time a bolt of purple psonic energy found home with his temple as he toppled to the ground in a screaming heap. From behind him, Betsy, likely nude, glared down to the man with much anger in her eyes. Betsy then walked over and helped her one time and once more mentor to his feet.

・Whoa, like, aren・t you a cripple?・ Jubilee asked as Xavier stood before her, all in the room doing their utmost best to keep their eyes firmly locked on the faces of the others.

・A bit of Shi・ar technology child.・ Charles said as he walked over to Lilandra, probing her mind and undoing the damage the Skrull had done.

・Beloved?・ Lilandra asked as she looked about, casting disgusted looks to the Skrull.

・A long story my love, shall you call your ship and have us teleported, we must return to the Throne-world to stop the unrest which must be erupting in your absence.・ Charles remarked, giving his love a kiss.

・Whoa, I・m not getting teleported anywhere until I get some clothing!・ Jubilee shrieked, covering herself, finally having time for such modesties with the battle finished.

・Patience child, all shall be taken care of upon the Flag ship. Guardsmen, stay here and ensure that these ones do not impose a further threat upon the Empire・ Lilandra remarked.

Their forms slowly dissolved from sight at the command of Lilandra, their forms reappearing within the private quarters of the Empress of the Shi・ar Empire. Servants quickly brought dress and clothing to the guests and consort of the Empress, finding Jubilee to be stubborn as they attempted to dress her in the dress of a noble.

・I can dress myself! I・m not three years old!・ Jubilee shrieked as she tore a dress away from one of the servants and stormed off to another room.

Charles gave Logan and Betsy a glance as Jubilee left, while Lilandra held a smile upon her lips at the finicky behavior.

・Might you explain to me the child Logan?・ Charles asked while a servant dressed him in the style of clothing he had taken to liking while in the Empire.

・Wish I could Chuck. Her and some Cajun fella fell outta a portal when Deathbird had us all trapped after we got sent here by Lilna Cheney. I chased after Deathbird only to get turn inside out and get lost in some mind landscape ya would know more about than I would. Found the kid in there, got out, and found ourselves where we found ya. End o・ story.・ Logan explained while a woman clothed him.

・Hmm, I shall have to speak with these two later, but now we must get to the Throne-world. There may be more Skrull imposters there working the Empire as a puppet.・ Charles said as he followed Lilandra to the bridge of the Flagship.






Meanwhile back upon the Throne-world the X-men and Remy found themselves surrounded by a rather large force of Imperial forces. Several more lay upon the ground unconscious and beaten, having been the last force to have had attacked the X-men in the corner they had taken refuge in.

・Ach, they just keep coming. Maybe we best surrender and await Charles・s return.・ Sean suggested a moment before letting lose a sonic blast on an advancing troop.

・What good is dat gonna do mon ami? Charles is a Skrull, we・d be finding ourselves in de dungeon in no time.・ Remy remarked as he threw a fistful of charged pebbles at another advancing troop.

・Well laddie, we・re risking life and limb with our backs in this corner. Unless ye have any better ideas, it does neah look too promising.・ Sean quipped back.

・Wind! Scatter these offenders like the fallen leaves!・ Storm yelled as she beckoned the winds to repel the advancing forces.

Suddenly out of the cloud-enshrouded sky, a large ship emerged like a whale surfacing. The troops stopped their attack, while the X-men looked to the ship in all it・s might, hovering over the battlefield like the hand of a Greek god. Then suddenly a light flickered between the forces, with familiar silhouettes flickering into existence. Charles stood with Lilandra, while Jubilee and Logan stood next to one another with Betsy at their side.

・X-men, cease your attack. The Skrull threat has been dealt with thanks to the aid of young Spark and Logan.・ Charles called out.

・Imperial Guards, cease fire! Do you wish it be said that this is how the Empire treats its guests and allies?・ Lilandra yelled out, earning compliance from the troops.

Remy and Ororo exchanged glances of disbelief, all too ready to believe it to be another plot in the Skrull arsenal. Locking eyes with Jubilee, he walked forward until he could look into their sapphire depths. She exchanged a quizzical look at first, until she recognized the look that Remy held in his own demon eyes. It was a look she had seen when he didn・t believe what it was before him, doubt and fear swirling within them.

・Remy, it・s me.・ Jubilee said as she took his hands, looking into his eyes with all the love she had grown for him over their time together.

Remy cracked a smile as he looked into her eyes, gently rubbing his thumb over her hands a moment before he pulled her into a warm hug.

・Remy was worried dat dey might ・ave hurt ya girl.・ Remy whispered into her ear as either held the other tightly.

・I can・t say the last thing I remember was all that pleasant, but I・m here now and that・s all that matters.・ Jubilee whispered back as she pulled away.

Across from them, the scene was acted out anew, with a flare of the romantic as Logan and Ororo embraced one another. Charles blinked as he looked at the pair, not having known how close they had grown as of recent. A smile fell across his face at the act, finding a warm feeling at the sight of two of his friends finding love and peace with one another.






A banquet and ball later, Charles found himself sitting in the private study he had gained for himself with his time on the Throne-world with the two enigmatic guests that had come to their rescue. Jubilee still a little lightheaded from the wine she had been allowed, a treat from Remy, sat with her head resting against Remy・s shoulder while they sat on a sofa. Charles took to a leather armchair, his hands arched together as he considered the pair.

・Firstly I must say I am eternally grateful for the aid you have provided.・ Charles said while pausing as he looked to the pair.

・T・ink not・ing of it. Just somet・ing de P・tite and I ・ad to do.・ Remy said as he brushed a stray lock of hair from Jubilee・s face.

・What he said.・ Jubilee whispered, finding it tasking to remain awake.

・Might I inquire of the true motives behind your aid?・ Charles asked.

Remy looked to Charles, then down to Jubilee. He could only wonder what the outcome of the future be if the X-men knew of them that night when they fled from the mansion. Letting out a sigh, he could feel his mind growing fatigued and longing for a good rest after all the action.

・Lets just say dat you・ll be meeting up wit us in a few years. Be best if you do dat mind control t・ing and ・ave all de other X-men forget about us. I・m sure Jahf is having a laugh at us right, eh P・tite?・ Remy remarked, looking down to the now slumbering Jubilee.

・Jahf? The Guardian of the M・Kraan Crystal?・ Charles inquired.

・Merde, let de cat outta de bag on dat one. Oui, Jahf boy had us helping out another person you・ll be meeting soon enough. We still ・ave some loose ends to take care of. Anyway you can get your amour to let de P・tite and I have a look at de Crystal?・ Remy asked as he slouched down in the sofa.

・Of course. But I think that can wait for the morning, don・t you? I・ll have some servants come about to arrange your quarters for you. Good might Mr. Ace is it?・ Charles asked with a chuckle.

・Eh? Well, as I・m sure you can keep a secret. Remy LeBeau at your service, while dis is Jubilee, Jubilation Lee by birth but if ya call her dat you be asking for a face-full of sparks.・ Remy chuckled as he gave a nod.

・I will speak with the X-men and gain their consent to lock the memories of this day until we meet again. But for now Mr. LeBeau, I bid you a good night.・ Charles said as he rose, walking across and giving the other man a shake of the hand before he left to retire for the evening.

Looking down to Jubilee, Remy smiled fondly at her as she slumbered like an angel. While awake she was often a fury to no end, excitable and irritable. But as she slept, all that faded away to the petite child she was, innocent and caring.

・Good night my P・tite Ange. Pleasant dreams.・ Remy whispered as he waited for the servants.

Chapter 12 : Sacrifices


Xavier sat helpless, the all to familiar feeling of the Matrix surrounding his core, restraining and inhibiting any attempt at resistance or escape. He watched in horror as the Skrull took his form, and with it, the vast power that came with his special mutation. Charles Xavier, founder of the X-men and Imperial consort to the Empress of the Shi・ar Empire possessed perhaps the most powerful mind upon the planet Earth, an unfathomed stronghold of psychic potential. He at a young age had learned the responsibility of such a gift, and dedicated his life to using his power to bring humanity and mutants together. Now he sat and watched as the Skrull stole all that power, with only perverse intentions in the beings twisted mind.

・Don・t you see the irony in it all Charles? That your mind shall be the very undoing of the X-men・s aid all those years ago? That it shall be you who shall deal the deathblow to your beloved Lilandra? Oh I do love the very thought of it, for it all would not be possible if it were not for that wonderful quirk of genetics that created you.・ Deathbird hissed as she looked to the imprisoned man before her.

Turning, she watched as the Skrull doppelganger of Charles Xavier took his place in the duplicated Cerebro unit at the heart of the monstrous machinery surrounding the M,Kraan Crystal. As the machine powered up, energy arched about the crystal as pure and raw psonic energy rippled from the enhanced mind. Time opened up before the being, and as he delved into the past to find the first mind on the long list of those whom were to be disposed of, a look of shock fell over his face at what he saw. Time had been changed, and a wave rippled across the known continuum, atop the crest two beings stared back at him from across the divide.

Warning lights began to flash as sirens let out their wails of protest. Attendants and scientists took to their stations, finding out what the alarm was of, and as they analyzed the readouts, their faces took on the same dread that befell the Skrull before them.

・A wave of corrections is passing along the continuum, adjusting time and space due to a change in the time space.・ The lead scientist announced above the buzz of activity.

・A wave of correction? But we have not even begun the process? Will the shields be ready?・ Another scientist inquired as her fingers danced across a console, preparing the displacement shielding that was to save them from the alterations to the time stream.

・I haven・t a clue I・m afraid. The magnitude of the change is marginal, yet something is very strange about it. A time space abnormality is present in every time stream that the computer calculates.・ The scientist explained while his eyes were glued to a console.

Suddenly a shock hit the shielding, shaking the entire ship. The space occupied by the ship having changed, yet the shielding preventing the change from happening. Molecules out of place in the current time stream created feedback in the shielding as the time stream adjusted accordingly. Finally as the alarms ceased and the shaking subsided, the crew looked to one another in silence.

・Report!・ Deathbird shrieked as she advanced upon the lead scientist.

・I beg forgiveness my Empress, but I must wait for the computer to calculate the changes while too drawing information from the Shi・ar databanks outside the field.・ The scientist said in a sub-servant tone as he avoided eye contact with the possible Empress.

Deathbird stood over him, looking to the console in the alien tongue, reading slowly. Nothing appeared to have changed as far as the records had displayed, yet the computer calculated a difference from the records. The abnormalities in the time stream were still there, yet they were outside normal time and space.

・Explain this.・ Deathbird said in a flat voice as she pointed to the abnormalities in the time space continuum.

・It is as if two beings not present in the last timeline are now present. I have not any explanation for this aside from perhaps a quantum paradox or perhaps interference from future events. Time travel works both ways Empress.・ The scientist remarked as he looked to the abnormality.

Meanwhile throughout this, the Skrull still held the same look of fear in his stolen eyes as his mind passed through the time stream, staring into the fate of past events with the eyes of others. He knew the two beings were growing closer, and held no good intentions for them. With every failed attempt to lock upon their minds his fear grew.

・Empress!・ The Skrull cried out in the stolen voice of Charles Xavier.

Deathbird spun around to the doppelganger with a look of vexation. Her eyes grew wide at the site before her as the M,Kraan crystal took on an aura.

・Empress! The records do not show these two, but with the borrowed memories of your past self I do know that they were present when the X-men defeated you the last time. Not the time we know of as the events had changed with the success of a parallel time streams mission by our parallel selves." The Skrull explained.

・Which two?・ Deathbird asked as the aura grew to blinding levels, causing all to retreat from the crystal.

Suddenly the sound like glass shards falling upon a stone floor echoed through the cargo bay holding the crystal, and as the aura faded two figures could be seen, neither looking impressed with what they beheld.

・Miss us?・ Remy asked as he threw a barrage of charged cards at the machinery, once again disabling it.

The scream of the Skrull doppelganger could be heard as the Cerebro unit pushed his stolen powers to their limits. Psonic energy arched about him as his mind was released unto the astral plane.

・You!・ Deathbird screeched as she launched at Remy, talons ready to draw blood.

Remy had his Bo staff drawn within a heartbeat, throwing the Shi・ar warrior at the crystal. The guards drew about them, but with a gesture Jubilee had the Matrix imprisoning Xavier destroyed with a blast of her plasmoids. As Charles fell to the floor, he was free once more, as were the powers of his mind.

~ Cease your attacks this instance! ~ Charles commanded as the guards stopped where they stood.

・Fools! Attack!・ Deathbird cried out as she stumbled to her feet, talons readied once more.

The guards stood their ground, their minds imprisoned as Xavier once was. Remy and Jubilee drew about Deathbird. Remy gave a twirl of his Bo staff in response to the snarl on Deathbird・s face, while Jubilee readied as her hands glowered with energy.

・They will not obey you anymore Deathbird, surrender.・ Charles said as he drew near as he dragged himself across the floor.

・Never! Never again shall I surrender! I am the rightful heir of the Shi・ar Empire!・ Deathbird screamed as she launched herself at Xavier, plowing past Remy and Jubilee.

Just as she was on top of him, ready to deal a fatal blow to the founder of the X-men, the ship lurched and the combatants were thrown clear. The lights fell to red hues as sirens whined. Voices over the intercom told of the Imperial Flagship bearing down on them with an armada of Imperial ships of the various races of the Empire. The forces of Deathbird and those of Lilandra stood face to face in all their combined might, ion cannons charged and torpedo banks readied.

・This is the Empress of the Shi・ar Empire, Lilandra Neramani. By Imperial decree, I order your surrender.・ The voice of Lilandra beckoned from the hijacked comlink of the ships.

・Helmsman, fire at will!・ Deathbird screeched as she picked up Xavier by his throat, holding off her aggressors with a well-placed talon to his throat.

Weapons fire echoed through the vastness of the ship as either armada opened fire upon one another. But within that room, within that space of a heartbeat, time and all else in the universe centered upon the threat of a single man・s life, held in the grip of a psychotic noble of a Empire not their own. Remy and Jubilee looked to one another, hesitant as to what to do.

・Surrender now Youngling and you hairless ape and I shall spare the life of the consort of my sister.・ Deathbird said as she pressed a talon into Xavier・s throat, drawing a faint drop of blood.

Anger grew in Jubilee・s eyes as she watched a man who had spent his life for the benefits of everyday mutants, mutants like she was when she was nothing more than a scared child on the streets of Beverly Hills. He represented the first good thing she had seen in humanity, unselfish love for his people and the hope that some day humans and mutants could coexist. The words that Remy had spoken that time ago came back to her, those years in the future, yet only seeming like days in the past. The words Remy told her back at the wall came back. Time to think of someone other than herself.

With a feral scream she launched herself at Deathbird with all the acrobatic grace she could muster, sending Xavier free and landing a blow square in the temple, sending the Shi・ar warrior stumbling back. But as Xavier fell, Deathbird lashed out at her attacker, tearing up Jubilee・s chest as a splatter of blood was sent against the wall. Jubilee fell limply to the ground, spasms of shock setting in from the force of the blood. Silence fell over the room as Deathbird took her ground once more, but it was a silence broken by an inhuman scream as Remy attacked Deathbird.

Blows charged with kinetic energy lashed out at Deathbird with the fury of a demon, flicking in and out of the visible range of movement as Deathbird was thrown back by fists and small explosions where the fists charged pieces of her body armor. A glow overtook the two combatants as Deathbird・s armor shimmered with an aura of released kinetic energy. Vainly she struggled against the assault, but she was outmatched. A final heart wrenching scream ripped through the cargo bay as Remy threw a fist against her chest, releasing the kinetic energy as Deathbird・s armor erupted. Falling limply to the ground, the Shi・ar warrior knew her day of defeat.

~ Helmsman, your Empress is defeated. Cease your armada・s attack upon the Imperial forces now! ~ Xavier commanded as he cradled the limp form of Jubilee in his arms, vainly trying to stop the flow of blood from her wounds.

As Remy fell to his knees, he looked about, as he grew aware of his surroundings once more. A moment of rage incarnate had taken over him with the sight of Jubilee・s blood splattering against the wall. Within a heartbeat he was to her side, clutching her to his chest, as her weak breath broke free of her battered form. As the sound of weapons fire ceased, and the shields dropped, the trio vanished in the energy signature of a Shi・ar transport. As they reappeared upon the Shi・ar Flagship, medical aids of the utmost skilled in the Galaxy stood waiting, Lilandra having picked up upon the distress in the minds of those upon the Flagship of Deathbird・s rebel forces.

・Quickly! Let me see the youngling! We must tend to those wounds now lest she die!・ A doctor cried out in shock of the sight before her.

Remy relieved his precious burden to the doctor, blood staining his body armor in her stead. Staring as one would their own flesh and blood dying, he sat where he was with a lost look in his eyes, every prayer he knew being silently said as his lips passed a whisper to the fates above that she live, that he would give anything that she might live. So lost to the moment that he didn・t even notice as a strand of rosary found its way into his grip, his hands running along the beads of a crystal known only to one crystal in the universe as he passed along prayers to the fates. So lost that he didn・t notice the addition of a new doctor to the bedside who took charge of the operation that would save Jubilee・s life.

Meanwhile Jahf smiled fondly as he watched, knowing that whatever it was Remy gave to the crystal, it must have been worth it. Rarely did the crystal do such a favor, but then again this one seemed to find the ace in the hole when the chips were down, a gambit much like his namesake. The doctor who took charge was not of this universe, though he was one of the most skilled in any universe. Taking a puff of his cigar, he turned away from the view and took to savoring a good scotch on the rocks as he awaited the next visitor to his burden and joy, his guardianship of the most important meeting place in any Universe.






Remy awoke to a gentle whisper in his ear, stirring his mind from the darkness it clung to. As he opened his eyes to the darkened medical bay, he found himself staring into a set of green eyes filled with admiration and concern. Slowly he pulled the face from the haze of his mind, and the name that it belonged to.

・Morning Rogue. How is de P・tite?・ Remy asked as his voice cracked with thirst.

・She・ll be fine. The Shi・ar know a thing or two about medicine, let me tell ya now sugah. Now, they also know a thing or two about breakfast, lets get ya something ta eat now, eh?・ Rogue whispered as she looked to Remy.

Slowly Remy stumbled out of the bed he did not recall climbing into, dusting off his jacket and looking at the horrid reminder of the events the night prior. Rogue, after noticing the stained armor, took Remy to get a shower and a change of clothes first. After the shower and change of clothing, he joined her in her trek to breakfast, finding the other X-men sitting in a private dinning hall with a reinforced wall of windows giving a view of the Shi・ar Throne-world in all its glory.

Settling for toast and a coffee, Remy took to the window where Ororo stood admiring the view. The pair stood enjoying the silence of the moment. Then with a glance to her eyes, Remy knew something was upon her mind.

・Somet・ing bothering you Chere?・ Remy asked as he set his coffee down on the railing of the wall.

Ororo took in a calming breath as she faced Remy, drawing in strength against the shock of the revelation that had been delivered to the X-men the night prior with the return of their mentor.

・I remember you ・Ace・.・ Ororo whispered in a voice half amused, yet half in disbelief.

Remy gave a grim nod as he looked to her, waiting for the other foot to fall in this stride of this Titan of revelations.

・You and her, you did all this for us and we barely even knew you.・ Ororo whispered, struggling to maintain the composure she was known for.

Remy gave a nod, not knowing what to say to her at this moment in which she had found that that they had met for what to her had been years ago, yet for him had been the passage of days. Having risked all to travel about time and set the timeline upon its proper path, and now having finally returned to save the very founder and mentor of the X-men, only to have his better half nearly fall to the hands of a psychotic.

・Why?・ Ororo asked, still in disbelief as the pieces of the puzzle set in place, two rogues that they X-men had merely met like passing mists in the night, having risked all for something they knew nothing about.

・Seemed de right t・ing ta do Chere.・ Remy whispered as he took her hands, steadying them.

・She saved Logan.・ Ororo whispered.

Remy merely gave a nod to her, finding it all that need be said. Taking in a calming breath, Ororo gave him a nod in return before she left, seeking out the side of her beloved Logan. Alone again, Remy found his gaze lost to the world before him, a pang in his chest as he longed to be home once more in his own place, Jubilee at his side and not in a hospital bed nearly torn to shreds. Not so lost to the moment this time, he cast a curious glance down to the rosary beads he found in his hands, working over them in the way he would in prayer.

As he drew the beads close, he recognized the material with a thieves eye, and he almost swore he could see Jahf smirking back at him across the void.