Penance and New Beginnings: Chapters 5

by Verthri

Jubilee and the others walked into the apartment, and immediately separated on scavenging details.  Jake ran off to the living room to find out what the entertainment system was like, while Jubilee ran to the kitchen to check what food was there and where the sugar had been hidden.  Clarice ran to the balcony, and admired the view of Central Park, with this being her first time seeing it.  Emily quickly darted to the washroom and was pleased to find a hot tub.

Victor and Bishop walked in afterwards, carrying the bags with ease, rather staying back from the ¡¦kids¡¦ than get trampled.

¡¦Bish, whose place is this?¡¦ Jubilee inquired returning from the kitchen with a can of whipped cream, and then proceeded to eat it straight from the can.

¡¦LeBeau¡¦s.  He gave me a set of keys when we came to an understanding after Onslaught.  Wanted me to have a place to go when the mansion became too much.¡¦ Bishop remarked, recalling how awkward Remy had been.

Jubilee blinked and then looked to the can of whipped cream.

¡¦Dis iss Romies whupped croom?¡¦ Jubilee asked, not wanting to swallow.

¡¦Yes.¡¦ Bishop replied.

Jubilee threw the can in the trash and rushed to the sink where she spat out the whipped cream and began to wash out her mouth.

¡¦Eww!  Gross!  I have no idea where that whipped cream has been!  And knowing the kind of women Remy has the hots for, I don¡¦t want to know!¡¦ Jubilee whined as she returned from the kitchen moments later to a thoroughly amused Victor and Bishop.

¡¦Guys!  You better check this out!¡¦ Jake called from the living room.

All soon joined him in the living room and their eyes turned to the television screen.  On the news, a battle between protesters advocating Mutant rights and the Friends of Humanity had broken out.  Police with riot gear were standing behind a barrier of a medical clinic giving free treatment to mutants, while the reporter watched the scene commenting from the safety of the roof of their van.

¡¦The Friends of Humanity began their speech a half hour ago, calling for the cancellation of treatment of Mutants at this free clinic.  Slowly a crowd formed, and the sentiment became anti-mutant within minutes.  Police were called in by clinic staff to protect the premises and soon University students came advocating Mutant Rights and challenging the Friends of Humanity¡¦s leader in a debate that soon turned into a riot.  This is Christine Samson reporting live from the Fifth Street Free Clinic, signing off.  Back to you Mike.¡¦ The female reporter said before the screen turned back to a man sitting at a news desk.

¡¦We have to do something!¡¦ Emily cried out.

¡¦Yeah! You saw the police, they weren¡¦t doing anything to break it up!  Once the FOH is done with the students, you know who¡¦s next, and I don¡¦t think the police will stop them!¡¦ Jubilee added as she stared at the apathetic face of the commenter downplaying the scene.

¡¦Mutants helping that riot could only make matters worse.¡¦ Bishop remarked flatly, even though every ounce of him wanted to stop the bigots.

¡¦Well, can we at least go down and stay on the side lines until they try anything!  There¡¦s gotta be mutants in there who are sick or something.  Just everyday mutants and everyday people, scared for their lives.¡¦ Jubilee asked as she looked up to Bishop.

¡¦Your call old man.¡¦ Bishop said, turning to Victor.

¡¦Bout a good a place as any to start paying for the blood on my hands.¡¦ Victor replied somberly.

¡¦Fine.  Clarice and Jake, your with Victor.  Jubilee and Emily, your with me.  If we join this fight, stay in those teams do not, I repeat, Do Not get separated.¡¦ Bishop instructed as he pulled out a trench coat from the closet and holstered a plasma pistol and a spare charge.

¡¦Yes!¡¦ Jubilee exclaimed, and then ran to the closet and grabbed her trench coat.

¡¦Hey, Bish, you got a biocharge going?¡¦ Jubilee asked, looking up to the larger X-man.

¡¦Yes.¡¦ Bishop replied.

¡¦Well, here.  Have some spare.  If it does get nasty out there I don¡¦t want you going fist to fist with them.¡¦ Jubilee said a moment before she rested her hands on Bishop¡¦s chest.

Slowly sparks began floating around her hands, with the ones touching Bishop fading away.  The glow spread from Jubilee¡¦s hands up to her arms as Bishop began to glow from the eyes.  The other¡¦s stood around them, looks of concern falling on their faces as their friends faces grimaced.

¡¦What¡¦s going on?¡¦ Emily asked, worry in her voice.

¡¦Don¡¦t know pup.¡¦ Victor said with a snarl of apprehension.

¡¦Should they be glowing that much?¡¦ Jake asked, looking ready to pounce and break the contact between the two.

Suddenly Jubilee pulled her hands free as she stumbled into the awaiting arms of Jake.  Bishop fell to his knees, his jaw clenched and his eyes burning with determination as he tried to gain reign on the energy that threatened to lash from his body.  Finally as the glow died down, he looked up to Jubilee.

¡¦What¡¦happened¡¦¡¦ Bishop asked between ragged breaths.

¡¦Don¡¦t¡¦know¡¦you seemed to be sucking me in¡¦I couldn¡¦t stop powering up¡¦had to finally break contact¡¦¡¦ Jubilee replied slowly as she caught her breath.

¡¦Lets not do that again.  You alright to travel?¡¦ Bishop asked as he rose to his feet.

¡¦Yeah¡¦just need something to drink¡¦with lotsa sugar.  Healing factor will take care of the rest.¡¦ Jubilee replied as Jake helped her to the kitchen.

¡¦Emily, grab the duffle in the master bedroom.  It has everything we¡¦ll need if this turns ugly.  First aid kit and what not.¡¦ Bishop said.

¡¦K.  I¡¦m on it!¡¦ Emily replied and ran off to the bedroom.

¡¦And what not.  Meaning enough spare ammo to take out a small country.¡¦ Jubilee yelled back from the kitchen with a bit of mirth in her voice.

Victor looked to Bishop with a feral grin on his face.  Walking over to him, he gave him a nod of admiration and a gruff slap on the back.

¡¦Ya know pup, you¡¦re alright.  Now lets get this show on the road.  Lee was right when she said there were innocent bystanders in there in harms way.  Can¡¦t let those bastards hurt ¡¦em.¡¦ Victor said, looking down to Bishop.

¡¦Everyone ready?¡¦ Bishop asked of the group.

¡¦Hell or high water.¡¦ Jake said in a sober tone, returning with Jubilee at his side who was nursing a chocolate milk.

¡¦Fine, lets move out.¡¦ Bishop said as he rose to his feet and walked off to the door of the apartment.

The scene they arrived to was horrid.  Rocks were thrown and cars had been flipped.  All the while, the police stood silent watch in their riot gear, standing before the Free Clinic.  Both sides of the riot had their casualties, with friends pulling the injured away from the fight.  Trying vainly to quell the tide of violence that erupted, a woman standing atop a car yelled to no avail how this was not helping the cause of Mutant Rights.

¡¦She¡¦s right you know.¡¦ Bishop remarked as his kept a watch on the crowd.

¡¦Like no duh Bish.  Too bad those bigots have more skull in their heads than brain.¡¦ Jubilee retorted as she watched the Friends of Humanity regrouping further down the street.

¡¦Why aren¡¦t the police doing anything to stop this?  If it¡¦s been going on for this long shouldn¡¦t a riot squad have been called out?¡¦ Clarice asked, staying hidden behind Victor.

¡¦Friends of Humanity got supporters in power as well as deep pockets to pay off people.¡¦ Jubilee grumbled with disgust.

Slowly as they stood there watching the hate embroiled battle draw out, the sides drew back to either side of the street.  Neither had won or lost, but the will to fight had been lost with friends laying on the pavement injured and bleeding.  Suddenly from the shadows, a figure ran into the street, dressed in a cloak.  Both sides watched her pass in silence until she tripped on a pothole and fell to the ground.  Her cloak drifted from her and she fell, crying to the world as she stared in fear of the Friends of Humanity with her large blue eyes welled with tears.  Bone spurs ran down her back and arms, and her skin had a leathery quality to it.  Scrambling to her feet, she tried to run to the Clinic as her terrified voice screamed out for her mother.

¡¦It¡¦s a Mutie!¡¦ The leader of the Friends of Humanity cried out, hate dripping from his voice.

Just as the girl neared the clinic, a stone was thrown at her head, knocking her to the ground in a heap.

¡¦Now!¡¦ Bishop yelled as he ran into the rubble covered street, turning to face the Friends of Humanity.

Jubilee and Emily were to his side, both facing the advancing mob, standing ready for a fight.  Victor ran to the girl with Jake and Emily on his heels.  Her whimpering form crawled into his arms as he picked her up, and a pang of sadness gripped Victor¡¦s heart as he looked into her terror filled eyes.

¡¦Easy pup.  Yer Uncle Victor ain¡¦t gonna let anything happen ta ya.¡¦ Victor whispered to her as he rose to his feet.

From the doorway a woman slammed her fists into the glass, her eyes filled with sadness and a mother¡¦s fear.  To Victor¡¦s ears he could hear her cries, and the words sent him into a rage as he ran through the police and smashed though the door.  The mother of the child had ducked out of the way as she saw Victor running to the door, but now she scrambled to his side and pulled her panicked daughter from his arms.

¡¦My baby!  Oh god Thank you!  Thank you!¡¦ The woman cried out as she comforted her screaming child, running to a doctor that was waiting with a first aid kit.

¡¦Your welcome lady.¡¦ Victor yelled back, a satisfied smile on his face.

Behind him, Police watched in awe at the reunion of mother and child, and soon they were running to the street where they joined Bishop and the other¡¦s as the mob approached.

¡¦You know we¡¦re outnumbered captain!¡¦ A man yelled as he braced his shield to his knee.

¡¦You know I don¡¦t give a damn!  They don¡¦t pass!  You hear me!¡¦ The captain yelled, getting into a defensive stance.

Jubilee and the other¡¦s exchanged satisfied looks as they prepared for the Friends of Humanity.

¡¦And here we thought you¡¦d never join the fun!¡¦ Jubilee yelled to the police behind her.

¡¦Our orders were to protect the Clinic.  But hurting a child is just downright disgusting!¡¦ Another man in riot gear yelled.

¡¦And that Mutie child was just downright disgusting!¡¦ A FOH supporter yelled from the mob.

¡¦You people should get out of here, this is going to turn nasty in a second!¡¦ Yet another officer yelled.

¡¦So am I!¡¦ Bishop yelled as the mob broke out into a full charge at the police.

The first blow by Bishop sent a tattoo covered FOH supporter flying back into the mob as they charged.  Soon the police were being forced back as the mob advanced, despite trying to keep them from advancing further.  Jubilee, now thankful for her healing factor and unbreakable skeleton, took to disarming the members of the mobs who had fashioned weapons from bike chains, broken furniture, and car steering wheel locks.  Emily fell back with the police and created a barrier against the mob, with the gravity a freefall backwards to anyone who breached it.  The police watched in awe as two people took on a mob of forty, standing their ground and radioing for backup.

¡¦Bishop!  Behind you!¡¦ Jubilee yelled as she saw a FOH raising a metal pipe to her friend.

Bishop spun and slammed his fist into the man¡¦s stomach, sending him to the ground in a crumpled pile, gasping for breath.  Another man took that opportunity to slam his fist into Bishop¡¦s back, but for his trouble only received a punch to the head as Bishop spun around with a snarl.  Jubilee on the other hand was using everything Logan had taught her, and more than Weapon X had, in her efforts to disarm the mob.  Cuts of all kinds scarred her for the moment, while her healing factor worked on a wound inflicted when a FOH had slammed a broken bottle into her thigh.  Finally off in the distance, police cars rounded the corner with siren¡¦s blaring.  Soon a large van joined them and officers in riot gear spilled out into the street.

The tide of the battle shifted as the mob became frenzied, feeling the police encroaching on them and cutting off routes for escape.  Seeing the dire threat that his friends were in, Victor grabbed Jake by the collar and hefted him up to his level.

¡¦Get into that Tiger mode boy, those two need evac and now!¡¦ Victor snarled and then dropped Jake as he ran to the front the first officers had formed.

Leaping into the fray, his own momentum was increased by the freefall Emily was causing at the barrier, Victor slammed into a group of men, knocking them to the pavement.  Soon Jake joined, as a large white tiger jumped into the crowd and let out a fierce roar, sending panicked FOH supporters fleeing from him.  Catching Jubilee¡¦s scent on the air, he ran to her uninhibited by the FOH who fled the moment they saw him.  Victor caught the scent of Bishop and ran to his side, helping the time lost X-man break free of the fight he was caught in by sheer intimidation alone as he let a roar to rival Jakes bellow over the crowd.

Jubilee turned to see the large white tiger bounding though the crowd towards her, and at that moment knew the kid gloves were off.  Letting forth a burst of pyrotechnics, she blinded the FOH supporters around her and ran to Jake.  As she leapt onto his back, Jake ran with Jubilee the front.  In the corner of his eye he could see Victor and Bishop approaching and let another roar cry out as he ran at the barrier.  Emily turned to see her friends approaching, and reversed the freefall at the moment they leapt at it, sending them tumbling into the startled officers.  With them safely behind the line, she reversed the freefall and doubled it, ensuring none would pass, not even the cloud of teargas that was starting to quiet the mob.

¡¦Ow.  Adrenaline rush is over.  Pain is back.¡¦ Jubilee muttered as Bishop set her to the ground and started looking over her.

¡¦There¡¦s bound to be glass in that leg wound.¡¦ Bishop said, pulling out a shard of glass that was sticking out from her thigh.

Slowly Jake morphed back to his human form before bewildered police, while another bunch stood staring at the unseen barrier that was holding back the tear gas.

¡¦Is she alright?¡¦ A man in yelled from the clinic.

Bishop looked up to see a woman running from the clinic holding a medical bag.

¡¦Do you have anyone injured?¡¦ The woman asked as she neared, and then with a look to Jubilee she let out a gasp and ran to her side.

¡¦It¡¦s not as bad as it looks Doc.  Just hurts like a round with some sentinels.¡¦ Jubilee growled between clenched teeth as Bishop ripped open her jeans leg and exposed her leg wound.

¡¦Like hell!  Jonothan!  Get a stretcher!  This girl needs to be treated!¡¦ The woman yelled back to the clinic, and soon after a man with a stretcher was running into the street.

¡¦Jubilee, do as she says or I¡¦ll be sure to cut you off of any sugar.¡¦ Bishop said with a chuckle, seeing the ever present stubbornness of a certain Canadian in her.

¡¦Fine.  But only if you get that cut on your eye looked at, and that wrist too.¡¦ Jubilee retorted.

¡¦Very well.  Victor, would you help this man with the stretcher.¡¦ Bishop remarked as he turned to walk off to the clinic.

¡¦Fine.  You three pups stay out of trouble, and get in to that Clinic once the cops tell ya to.¡¦ Victor yelled as he helped carry Jubilee into the clinic.

¡¦Will do Mr. Creed!¡¦ Jake yelled from the center of a crowd of curious officers.

Unbeknownst to the group, they had not noticed the camera crew filming the battle with the mob, as Christine Samson stood on a street corner commenting on the scene.

Elsewhere, at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, the newscast of Christine Samson did not go unnoticed as Bobby Drake, the Iceman, gawked at the screen.  Hitting the panic button for the intercom, soon all the X-men in the mansion joined him as he rewound the tapped broadcast.  Ororo, Scott, Hank and Rogue soon joined and looked to Bobby for the reason.

¡¦Guys, I got something you¡¦ll want to see, and that will also explain Bishop¡¦s sudden disappearance after that phone call.¡¦ Bobby announced as he hit a few keys on the keyboard and put the broadcast on the viewscreen.

¡¦This is Christine Samson reporting from the Fifth Street Free Clinic where a riot between Mutant Rights Advocates and the Friends of Humanity had broken out.  The fight had gone on for many minutes, and slowly both sides had fallen back.  That is until an unidentified mutant child ran out into the middle of the street to get to the clinic, screaming for her mother.  A Friends of Humanity supporter threw a stone at the child, and then from a group of people who had been watching it, a man burst free and carried the child to the Free Clinic after a tall black man yelled ¡¦Now!¡¦.¡¦ Christine explained as her voice narrated a video clip of Victor saving the child, with Bishop¡¦s voice clearly heard in the background.

Christine continued to carry on narrating the events that unfolded, with various shots of the mutants present being highlighted.  Gasps came at the unlikely heroics shown by Victor, and the shot of their wayward teammate, Bishop.  Though nothing could prepare them for the shot of Jubilee embroiled in a battle with several Friends of Humanity, showing a rage they had never seen before.

¡¦Ah ma god.¡¦ Rogue whispered as the image of Jubilee fell on the screen.

¡¦By the Goddess¡¦¡¦ Ororo exclaimed, raising a hand to her mouth.

¡¦Dear Child¡¦¡¦ Charles whispered, looking to Jubilee.

¡¦That¡¦s Jubilee.¡¦ Scott stated bluntly, earning a look from everyone from the room as if he were a fool.

¡¦I¡¦ll ready the Blackbird.  Someone find Logan, it would be best not to hide this from him.¡¦ Storm said as she walked off to the hanger.

¡¦Scott, you can do that.  You¡¦re the fearless leader, martyr type.  And I¡¦m sure Hank can stitch you up good if he doesn¡¦t take it too well that his little ¡¦Darlin¡¦ was in New York mixing it up with Friends of Humanity along side Victor Creed.¡¦ Bobby said as he ran off to join Storm.

¡¦Ah¡¦m going with her.  Hank, ya get your furred hide in med lab in case they need any help.¡¦ Rogue said, flying off to the hanger.

¡¦As you wish.  I shall go forth and ready the facilities for the possible wounded.¡¦ Hank said, bounding off to the med lab, leaving Charles and Scott staring at the recording as it finished.

¡¦And the hero¡¦s of today seems to be the unidentified mutants who helped hold off what could have been a violent attack an the Fifth Street Free Clinic.  This is Christine Samson signing off.¡¦ The voice said, growing silent after that.

Back at the Fifth Street Clinic, the doctors marveled at the sight before them.

¡¦Ya got the glass outta my leg, and I¡¦m grateful for that, but will you let me out of this bed!¡¦ Jubilee yelled as the doctor tried to put an IV into her arm.

¡¦You may have an infection or worse, this is for you own benefit.¡¦ The nurse said as she held down on Jubilee¡¦s wrist with amazing strength.

¡¦Jubilee, do as she says.  We have no idea how well your healing factor works.¡¦ Bishop remarked, while getting stitches in his eyebrow.

¡¦Ooooo, Fine!¡¦ Jubilee yelled, finally complying with the nurses wishes.

¡¦Never in all my time have I had a more difficult patient.¡¦ The nurse remarked as she put a piece of tape over the IV needle and left to check on her other patients.

As the nurse left, the head of Jake popped past the doorframe.

¡¦Is it still visiting hours?¡¦ Jake asked with a chuckle, and then walked in followed by Clarice.

¡¦Hey guys, where¡¦s Emily?¡¦ Jubilee inquired, noticing her disappearance since the fight.

¡¦Oh, she¡¦s fawning over Vic.  He¡¦s with the mother of the child he saved.  The girl is going to be ok, seems her mutation gave her considerably strong bones.  X-rays show no cracks in her skull or anything.¡¦ Jake remarked as she sat down on the bed and gave Jubilee a kiss on the nose.

¡¦That¡¦s good to hear.¡¦ Jubilee whispered, feeling a little groggy.

¡¦Hey¡¦did¡¦that nurse slip me some¡¦thing¡¦¡¦ Jubilee stuttered out.

Jake took a look at the IV and smiled.

¡¦Yeah, just something probably to make you not so noisy, along with antibiotic.  Probably a good choice in either case as your mutant healing factor hasn¡¦t been fully proven, and you were waking up half the other patients.  Could hear you all the way in the lounge.¡¦ Jake explained as he smiled at the groggy Jubilee.

Jubilee let a string of curses follow, causing Clarice to blush, and then settled down with her head resting on Jake¡¦s lap.

¡¦So you three met Jubilee and Victor at the University?¡¦ Bishop inquired as the nurse finished with the last of the stitches.

¡¦Yeah, I had an episode when I touched Victor¡¦s hand.  I¡¦m a Touch-Empath, though I¡¦ve got a psychic link with my brother.  I saw some pretty horrible things in his head.  Emily took me to Walter¡¦s lab where Jubilee was.  Apparently she blasted Walter just as he was about to go primeval on Victor, mistaking him for your world¡¦s Victor.  We both woke up in Em¡¦s and my dorm.  Jake and Em stopped by to check up on us, went shopping, and Weapon X came after her.  Wanted us too.  Thus our road trip began.¡¦ Clarice explained as she sat down on the bed with Bishop.

Suddenly Victor and Emily ran into the room, with startled looks on their faces.

¡¦Umm!  Guys!  There¡¦s a plane parking outside the clinic!¡¦ Emily cried out, fearing another attack by Weapon X.

¡¦Is it a sleek black plane?¡¦ Bishop asked, getting a nod from Emily.

¡¦Must be the X-men.  That reporter probably caught the whole incident on tape and had it broadcast.¡¦ Bishop remarked, getting to his feet and grabbing his weapon that had been set on a table.

¡¦Oh¡¦growl hiss¡¦if Logan is with them tell him he can go sniff a tree until I¡¦m ready to deal with him¡¦¡¦ Jubilee grumbled out in her groggy haze.

¡¦Nope, but how about your old Prank Partner!¡¦ Bobby yelled as he burst into the room and then froze as he spotted Victor.

¡¦Bishop!  That¡¦s Sabretooth!¡¦ Bobby yelled, still not believing what he saw.

¡¦Yes.  But that is a long story that I¡¦m not about to get into right now.¡¦ Bishop replied, stepping out into the hall and getting a nurse.

¡¦Well if it isn¡¦t Drake.  You as much as a pain in the arse as the one I knew?¡¦ Victor inquired, looking down to Bobby.

Suddenly a blur flew in and pinned Victor to the wall, the blur turning out to be Rogue.

¡¦I see your still the same hot head as the one I knew.¡¦ Victor coughed out.

¡¦Rogue.  Put. Him. Down.¡¦ Jubilee said flatly as she sat up, with the glazed look in her eyes fading as her healing factor caught up to pace with the drugs.

¡¦Yes Rogue, put him down.  Bishop would not leave him in a hospital unattended without a very good reason.¡¦ Storm commanded as she walked into the room.

¡¦Yeah.  He¡¦s not this world¡¦s Vic Creed, and if you give him any more guff Rogue, you can deal with me.¡¦ Jubilee growled as she pulled the IV from her hand and slid out of the bed.

Rogue stared at Jubilee as if she grew a third head.

¡¦Not this world¡¦s Sabretooth?¡¦ Rogue inquired hesitantly, casting a glance back to Victor.

¡¦Would this worlds Victor save a child from an angry mob of FOH bigots?  And then stand on the sidelines guarding a medical clinic while Bishop and I buy time?  No, he wouldn¡¦t.  And if you don¡¦t believe me, tough!  When we get back to the mansion we can have the Prof prove what I¡¦m telling you!¡¦ Jubilee yelled to Rogue before storming out to the Blackbird, followed by Clarice, Emily and Jake.

¡¦She¡¦s got a temper.¡¦ Victor chuckled as he followed suit, leaving a stunned room of X-men in his wake.

Stopping at the doorway, Victor turned back to Rogue.

¡¦Ya with Magneto on this world, or ya with the Swamprat?¡¦ Victor asked, earning a glare from Rogue, and then he ducked out laughing all the way.

¡¦Anyone keeping score of what just happened here?  Jubilee threatening Rogue, Snaggletooth cracking jokes, and did anyone notice how that slur Jubilee had disappeared in like, three seconds?¡¦ Bobby inquired looking to his stunned teammates.

¡¦Answers we shall only find once we return to the Mansion.  Let us leave.¡¦ Storm finally said as she walked out of the clinic, finding Bishop waiting in the hall.

¡¦He¡¦s legit.  Trust me.¡¦ Bishop remarked as he joined Ororo in her walk to the Blackbird.

¡¦I trust your judgment.  Though the rest of the team will require proof.  There will be many questions being answered once we return, including what Jubilee is doing with you and Victor.¡¦ Storm said.

¡¦I found her with Victor and the three kids.  I¡¦m not about to betray what she has told me in confidence, so it shall be of her own accord that those questions are answered.¡¦ Bishop replied.

Walking in silence the rest of the way, slowly the team joined the others in the Blackbird and strapped in for the flight home.  Jake and Clarice took to the windows while Emily and Bobby sat together, talking the entire way.  Bishop and Victor took to the back seats with Jubilee, sitting in silence as they prepared for what awaited them at the mansion, finding answers to the questions that would be asked, and ways to decline the questions they didn¡¦t wish to answer.  In the cockpit, Rogue kept casting glances back, finding herself uneasy with the docile Creed that sat with her friends.  Turning to Storm, she found the older woman seemed to be lost to her own thoughts.

¡¦You think Jube¡¦s is right?¡¦ Rogue tentatively asked.

¡¦I do.  I¡¦ve never seen Victor so¡¦peaceful¡¦ before.  The bloodlust has always lurked in his eyes, those eyes did not hold anything like that.  Dare I say, it held a look I¡¦ve seen in Logan¡¦s eyes.  Eyes that hold regret for crimes committed.  And I can only shudder at the thoughts of the horrors that would have to have taken place in that world, to have tamed Sabretooth.¡¦ Storm replied, her voice quiet and precise.

¡¦Ah¡¦ll wait until the Prof gives the clear.  Ah can still remember the aftermath of the time he broke out after Scott and Jean¡¦s wedding.  He nearly killed Jubilee and would have killed Bishop had it not been for Jubilee.  Yet there those two are, sitting back there with him.  It¡¦s just too much for me.¡¦ Rogue said, casting another glance back to Victor.

Silence fell over the plane as it raced towards the Westchester estate of Charles Xavier and the home of the X-men.  Time seemed to stand still for those who sat in anticipation of the wonders they would see, while for those who dreaded setting foot there, there didn¡¦t seem time enough to prepare for the questions that awaited them.