"What happened between you and the Old man?"
"Let's just say Xavier's title of most powerful Telepath alive is not for show," I said. "He tried to mind rape me, and things didn't quite work for him. Jean was not as lucky when he invaded her mind a decade ago. She was apparently so powerful when he found her that the only way he could calm her down was to seal her memories and powers.
Those seals kept her relatively weak, but recently, they've been unraveling," I carefully said. "She likely reached a tipping point after watching Charles try to lobotomize me but still stuck around because she cares about him." I grimaced. "I'm afraid Charles will try to put a lid on Jean's powers again."
"Jesus," Fury muttered.
I saw the conflict in Natasha's eyes. On the one hand, she didn't like me or wanted to pity me, but on the other hand, nobody deserved what I'd got.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Clint asked the more pressing question. "If she's as volatile and powerful as you said. Won't it be better if she was…contained."
"Ordinarily, Yes," I admitted. "The problem with that is that Jean is far too powerful for a measly telepathic seal. She can level a quarter of New York with a wave of her hand."
Fury, Natasha, and Clint blanched.
"So, I take it tactical elimination is off the table," Clint said.
"Not unless you're suicidal," I scoffed. "She's an all-powerful Telekinetic and Telepath. She could probably atomize the bullet before it reached her or wipe us out the moment she senses hostility."
"And you're certain you're not blowing this way out of proportion?" Fury asked.
"If anything, I'm lowballing it," I said. "Jean has the kind of power that will make Atom bombs look like grenades. We cannot fuck this up."
"If we're not neutralizing her, what's your plan?" Natasha asked. "You can't tell me you're banking on your personal relationship to unarm a walking nuke."
I grinned. "That's exactly what I'm doing. She's in a mansion filled with people who've been brainwashed by her surrogate father. I'm the only guy she CAN trust because I resisted him. As soon as I get through to her, I already have a solution lined up."
"What's this solution?" Natasha asked. "And what if you're not as charming as you think you are?"
"I am," I smirked, then turned to Fury. "The alternative is pissing Jean the fuck off. We can't hold her, and we won't be able to kill her unless she lets us. I called in a favor with a sorcerer who can help her learn control somewhere far away from here."
"Sorcerer?" Natasha raised a brow. "You can't really be considering this, Director?"
Fury had a contemplative look before he turned to Clint. "Get the RX-29, just in case. As for the Sorcerer, it's no stranger than hiring a 19-year-old Clairvoyant to predict the future for us. I will need to meet this cat myself first though."
Clint departed the room to fulfill his order, and I nodded to Fury.
"I'll set up the meeting with Drumm. I think you'll get a kick out of meeting him."
I understood the need for the meeting and high-tech rifle. I wouldn't leave the fate of the world to the whims of a teenager, too. My only fear was that they'd piss off the Phoenix and not Jean.
"Just don't be overeager to call in that strike. Jean is an emotionally distraught teenager with the power of a god. She'll lash out if you give her a reason to."
"I know that you're confident in your visions, but there's no way in hell I'm treating a potential threat with kid gloves," Fury said. "I'd not be a very good director if I did."
I sighed, shaking my head. Maybe I should've just left well enough alone and not told Jean about her silent partner, but Shin didn't seem like the patient type. He never gave me a timeline, but I was damn sure I was on a clock.
"Will you take the nuclear option off the table if I told you I had another way to isolate Jean quickly if the situation called for it?"
"The sorcerer?" Natasha offered.
"Yup," I nodded. "He can make Portals."
"Like that Eldritch thing?" Fury raised a brow.
"Different," I said slowly, making a mental note never to tell Fury the name of the branch of magic the Sorcerers practice.
"He can basically transport her to the Arctic with enough preparation."
"Now I really want to meet him," Fury said. "Can he route one of his portals to our containment sites?"
"I don't know," I lied. "You'll have to talk to him yourself, but I'd like to remind you that you'll be putting us all in danger if you try to keep her."
Fury stared at me for a moment before he nodded. "The Artic it is, but I'd like a serious discussion with the walking nuke once she's settled. And that is non-negotiable."
I nodded.
"I'll go get Drumm."
I was about to leave for the Sanctum when Fury waved me back.
"Prep for the op Natasha. Get the standard meta-suppressing kit. Knock-out grenades, high-voltage bullets, foam… you know what I like. And keep the team small."
"On it, Director," she nodded and left the room, then Fury turned to me.
"I'm going to need you on the call with Xavier. We're going to use your blackmail to twist his arm. If what you're saying is true, then your leverage might expire tonight."
Fuck. In the chaos of it all, I hadn't put it together.
"You're probably right."
"Xavier has a lot of friends in high places. He's not the type of person we can move on without solid information. So, what do you have on him, exactly?"
I set my jaw as the memories came back. "A recording of him admitting to brainwashing his ward and trying to melt my brain."
Fury's single eye went wide. "You weren't exaggerating when you said he tried to lobotomize you?"
"Pulled no punches," I said. "Had blood leaking from my eyes, nose, and everything."
Fury looked at me like I had five heads. "How are you still alive?"
"I heal fast," I shrugged. "I guess that's one more secret you know about me."
There was a small stretch of silence.
"You have the tapes with you?"
I smiled and summoned a shotgun with a tape recorder duck taped to the bottom. "Never go anywhere without it."
I slowly extracted it and gingerly handed it to Fury. He slipped it into an odd Cassette player in the corner of his office, and his face went through a wide range of emotions before finally settling on rage.
It was a feeling I was intimately familiar with.
"Got what you need?"
"That and a whole lot more," Fury said.
"Then, let's go save the world."
---
Charles POV
I sat shivering in my seat, dabbing away yet another layer of sweat from my brow as I threw back my third pair of Aspirin for the night.
Penetrating Jean's mind was proving impossible. Yet, I had to do it for my sake, for the children's sake. For all of our sakes.
We kept her on an IV drip, limb restrained, head fitted with a psychic-energy inhibiting crown to make sure she couldn't use her abilities, yet it hadn't been enough.
About 30 minutes ago, Jean willed herself awake. Hank was unsure how that was even possible. We'd loaded her with so much sevoflurane and cyclopropane that we thought she was dead.
She willed her phone over the moment her eyes snapped open, and it rang a second later as if she was expecting the call.
She managed to get a word out before Scott, who was in the room, lasered the phone, but the damage was done.
Dante was coming.
Getting her down a second time proved far more difficult than the first, even though Jean couldn't use her abilities much. She was supernaturally strong, seemed to absorb Cyclops Laser when I ordered him to fire, and even sent Wolverine flying with a swipe of her hand.
Kitty had been the one to take her down by sneaking up behind her and jamming a potent cocktail into her neck.
But the monster inside Jean refused to be contained.
Psychic energy exploded from her body when Beast tried to secure her after, blanketing the entire mansion.
A few things happened at once.
All the windows exploded inward, bathing us in glass shards that never fell to the ground. Everything that was not glued down, including people, shot to the ceiling and remained there.
The walls groaned and moaned like an ancient beast baring its maw. Bits and chunks of flooring and masonry broke off as cracks several feet wide sprung from the floor and climbed up the walls.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, Hell descended. The temperature shot through the roof, and I felt fear, unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
Despite everything, I refused to abandon Jean or relent. Only Hank and I were left in the room. My furry companion was substantially more durable than I was. He could take the heat.
Trying to go back into Jean's mind was like sticking my arm into a furnace.
The monster found me immediately.
You Dare!
I heard a voice shriek out in indignation, and I nearly soiled myself.
Sweet Mary and Joseph. Dante was right.
You Overstep, Ant.
I will not let you take a child of mine! I mentally screamed back, despite my fear. Surprisingly, the monster chuckled.
Each syllable shook the mansion.
Blood poured from my lips, nose, and ears as her presence blanketed me.
For your hubris, Xavier, your life is forfeit. It pronounced then subsequently receded. I collapsed to the floor and remained there for a long moment.
----
Duh, Duh, Duuuuhn. Things are heating up, and I'm psyched for you guys to read the coming fight. They're some of the best in the book so far. As per usual, I'm shamelessly plugging my Patreon.
We're up to chapter 54 there, and I'm doing a double chapter on a new arc tomorrow night, so it's really popping over there. If you'd like to support me, check out the new art I'm working on and read ahead, check out Patreon.com/ArtandCreativeWriting.
For next week goal, we're aiming for 700 stones. Make it happen, and I'll make another double chapter happen.