Chapter 16

 

(Tony Stark)

 

February 10th, 1997
Top secret facility
Hawaii

"Ahhh, better than the New York chilly climate." The sky was blue, the air warm and the trade winds striking a black haired man of medium height. He combed his right hand on his stylish beard and sighed in relief. The trip had been long and somewhat uncomfortable, but still, he had a chance to see something truly unique. Through his friend Rodey, SHIELD had petitioned for his help; at first he had refused to be embroiled in the mess that this organization was at this time, but...

Tony Stark had been baited, there was no denying it. The classified report on that power armor that the new Director of SHIELD had sent him was intriguing. Though they couldn't open the thing and look at the schematics, Tony needed to see that piece of tech in person. For once, he was excited to find that someone who might actually be smarter than him had come up with something truly revolutionary, from looking at that armor he expected to be able to track the maker.

Tony scaled down the stairs of the ramp of his Gulfstream G700 Private Jet in the color of Stark Industries. He stared at the busy runway the jet had landed on, full of military craft with the SHIELD emblem; some Lockheed C-130 Hercules, F-16, C-17A and Learjets being maintained or taking off.

It was Monday here, the timezone was different and his new personal assistant, Virginia Pepper Potts followed him; the redhead looked quite fetching in her white pantsuit. She had a suitcase in hands, her head turned left and right as she watched the secret base. The two of them noticed that they had a welcome committee twenty meters from the plane, three people waiting with a black colored hummer.

The uniform they wore was dark blue with the symbol of SHIELD on their shoulder badges. Tony recognized one of them, the black man with eyepatch was SHIELD's newly appointed Director. Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury, he got appointed at the post by the previous director, Peggy Carter after she decided to retire following the events of the reveal that HYDRA still existed and had infiltrated most of the world's governments on the planet. 

Tony and Pepper walked toward them at a slovenly pace, and when the billionaire was facing the one-eyed African-American man, Tony held his hand that was quickly shaken by Director Fury. "Mister Stark, welcome to R&D base number 2."

With a grunt, Tony answered, "Hello Director, nice base you have here. Aunt Peggy didn't tell me about this place." Not that the ex-director used to tell him anything that he had no business to know, Peggy had always told him that his curiosity will kill him one day.

His spry and classy hot British godmother had been quite busy, between showing Tony and his mother her sudden rejuvenation and wedding planning, Peggy had no time to explain to Tony what was really going on with the new direction of SHIELD. The only advice she had given him was: 'Stay sharp and if you see a teenage redhead don't annoy her.' There was a story there, but for the love of God, his godmother didn't want to tell him more and kept mumbling something about averting an apocalypse by stopping Tony from meeting another problem child. 

So Tony was being a good boy and stayed wary of any surprise that might spring up from this little trip.

"It was just finished being built last month." Fury quickly defended.

Tony could see that. A lot of construction vehicles were stashed in a special parking lot surrounded by a fence. There was still material in the containers near the aircraft hangars and other runway and landing pads. To Tony it looked like a... rush job. Now that he thought about it, Tony found that Fury had been rather insistent in contacting him. 

"I see, why Hawaii though?" Tony asked innocently. He didn't expect to be told the reason, but Fury surprised him.

"Our previous facilities were compromised, a certain nascent organization knows where they are all located." The spy informed him.

This worried Tony and he came to a hasty conclusion. "HYDRA? I thought that SHIELD had destroyed them or was it someone else?"

Fury and the two other agents at his side looked downright terrified, looked around them and then looked back at Tony and Pepper; even more so at Pepper, the man sounded angry when he spoke next. "I guess I can tell you, it concerns you as well." 

For a beat, nothing was said; until Fury said with reluctance, "They are called the Ascendency; it is led by the person whose technology you're here to help study, Mister Stark."

People even scarier than an organization that had infiltrated all levels of society, military and civilian and they were more advanced technologically? Tony found this unlikely, no one was that advanced on the planet. "How dangerous are they?"

Fury chuckled at the question, it was a dry and humorless chuckle. "Let’s say that they are even more dangerous than HYDRA, as an example… They make Erskine little super soldier serum research and the Red Skull's technological advance in World War II seems like high-school science fair projects."

Pepper who was behind Tony seemed nervous by hearing this, she had never wanted more to be somewhere else than right now. But she was paid top dollar to be Tony's assistant and she owed Maria Stark for her ascension to her new position; though now she understood why her clearance level at the company had to be raised if such big bombs were casually revealed to her by proxy.

"Oh… are we entering another arms race, Director?" Tony didn't want it to be true, but when someone developed a new weapon that made all others obsolete, you either needed to adapt or die, that was how it was done in this business. Tony saw it as a challenge as well, the person who had come up with this tech better watch out.

Fury smiled, he recognized this shine from Howard Stark’s welp. Starks were smart but also egotistical and competitive, telling Tony that there was someone out there who was maybe more intelligent and creative than him, placed the billionaire and engineer where he wanted him emotionally and that was: head in the game.

"Not yet, this is me getting ahead of the curve, Mister Stark." Fury revealed, this wasn't sanctioned project at all, the U.N. wanted SHIELD to restructure and help in getting everything under control once again. Fury though was obsessing over the fact that a teenager may be the biggest threat this world had seen since Magneto or the Red Skull.

Tony nodded, straightened the lapel Of his expensive armani suit and took his sunglasses from his breast pocket to put them on his nose. "Very well, Director, let’s get this show on the road, I will do my best to help you and learn about this new piece of tech."

Fury waved his hand to the hummer whose door opened to reveal empty seats in the back of the vehicle. "Follow us in the vehicle please."

 

# # #

 

Lab #13
100 meters underground
3 hours later

Three hours of going over what the previous science team had discovered on the ‘borrowed’ Achilles Armor Mk I of the newborn Ascendency and Tony got a lifetime of multiple discovery; he was going through a copious amount of notes that Pepper was hard pressed to keep track of. Lab number thirteen was also a rush job, it had everything Tony needed but as it wasn’t his own lab everything was badly organized inside. But the billionaire inventor did what he does best, adapted and did science.

"Fascinating." Tony said out loud as he used the sparking method to quickly determine the elemental composition of the alloy of the chestpiece. The machine looked like a big chest in which they had placed the piece of armor. OES (or Optical Emission Spectroscopy) analysis uses a sparking process, which involves applying an electrical charge to the sample, vaporizing a small amount of material. Problem was that it didn’t evaporate anything, the armor resisted any form of study so far.

"What is?" The voice of Fury behind him didn’t even surprise Tony anymore, the man had been hovering for three hours straight and Tony asked himself if the man had anything else he could do right now? The director was distracting him.

Rolling his chair out of the desk where  the spectrography machine’s computer was located, Tony then swivelled his chair and looked at Fury. The man had a tray in his hand with a coffee mug and some food that he placed on the work table between him and Tony. Fury slid the tray to the billionaire who looked famished.

"Elemental and structural analysis show that this isn't nitinol nor single crystal titanium like your lab guys thought. This is actually Vibranium, it has the same proprieties spoken of in my father's notes, and this? Whatever this alloy in the external armor is made of is the most durable metal I've seen… I’ve never come across it before. Hmm, donuts."

Four donuts with different frosting on a plate were quickly pulled toward Tony who smelled them, they were still freshly warm from the oven. Tony continued to speak as he smelled the coffee in the mug as well. "Whoever made this powered and armored exoskeleton is leagues ahead of us in material science, robotics, engineering and physics."

Tony turned to the mannequin with the pieces of armor on it still, minus the chestplate. The helmet had yielded even more revelation to Tony; the electronics inside were advanced at least twenty years from what was available on the market. The OS was also different from the one Tony’s company produced, it was more intuitive and easy to use. Though it wasn’t the full version, it seemed that the HUD was made to work with some kind of onboard computer that Fury couldn’t ‘borrow’ at the time when he got the armor.

Fury asked the question that has been tormenting him for a while, "Can we... reproduce it?"

Tony ate a glazed vanilla donut, chewed and then swallowed his food before answering after thinking, "With enough resources, innovations and time? Yes."

The billionaire estimated that it would take years to be able to match the technology to reach that level of material processing. This Ascendency seemed to have developed a process to create new alloys by... bonding the molecules of different metals together, went ahead in micronization of electronics; the missing computer that should have been there with the armor seemed to have been a miniaturized supercomputer well above Tony’s standard as well. If the armor could be this advanced, Tony didn’t want to think about what kind of weapon they had come up with.

There was something fishy going on, and Tony didn’t know what; when he finished eating, he finally asked what had been bothering him. "There’s something you aren't telling me, director."

Fury took two manilla folders from his black coat. "I have some files to show you…" The super spy threw the folders before Tony, avoiding the still half filled coffee mug.

 

Doctor Myron MacLain

Subject Grey

 

Tony looked at the names on the two folders, then back at Fury who stared back meaningfully at him. “If you read this, you’ll understand… what we are against, you should start with Dr. Myron Maclain.”

Tony did just that, the manilla folder was consequent, there was a copy of the doctor degrees and PhD, his awards and a resume of his services to the USA. But as Tony leafed through the file a disturbing image was shaping.

 

***

Myron Maclain (Deceased)
Profession: Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering
Sex: Male
Age: 66
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Black
Bio: Scientist working for the US government since World War II; creator of the ultra-resilient Vibranium-Steel alloy shield that is used by Captain America. After the war he was supposedly working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture but it was revealed after the Hydra purge that he was in fact in the Employ of HYDRA. The Hydra base known as Tarantula was sacked and destroyed by Subject Grey, Doctor Maclain’s remains were found in his lab. His research has disappeared, suspected to have been seized by Subject Grey (See file Subject Grey). Doctor Maclain had supposedly handed over a formula for an extremely durable metal, but SHIELD resources couldn’t find any trace of his work in the government database or files.

***

Tony looked up at Fury and saw a lot of different emotions on his face, such as shame, vindication and resolution. This man was on a mission and he intended to bring Tony into his orbit just like a chess piece, but Tony was no one's pawn. He could see where all this was going, his father may have helped SHIELD and funded them, but that was before. Tony wasn’t going to put his support behind an organization willing to take in Nazis and get surprised that they’ve been in control from the shadows after a while.

He decided to learn as much as he could, Tony would help Fury decode the bare minimum of that tech and go back to his business. But… just in case, why not make inroads with that Ascendancy organization. If Tony didn’t hear of them they must have some goal different from what Fury was insinuating. Tony finished consulting the Maclain file and put it on the table, took a sip of coffee, then he took his time to appreciate his sip. At least someone was doing their job well at the cafeteria, Tony thought about poaching them.

The billionaire opened the manilla folder, it was less consequent than Maclain’s; but Tony was surprised what was written on it.

***

Subject Grey
Sex: Female
Age: 16
Hair color: Red
Eye color: Green
Bio: Subject Grey is a female mutant who has come to the attention of SHIELD after the atypical cases of people being found brain dead in the neighborhood where she lived (Annandale-on-hudson/New York) for 5 years before she was revealed after slipping up and neutralizing field agents, by wiping their memories. It was revealed later that another mutant (see file about Nathaniel Essex) has been attacking her since she was 8 years old to kidnap her and experiment on her. Agent Phil Coulson, the then Director of SHIELD, Margaret Elizabeth "Peggy" Carter met Subject Grey in her abode and negotiated her consultancy with the Organization.

The Science and Weapon division poked and prodded Subject Grey and rated her threat level to the rank of Alpha. (Subsequent Rating was raised later)

With the help of Subject Grey, SHIELD has seen a rise in success in completion of cases new and old thanks to her abilities. Subject Grey was the first to have discovered HYDRA’s deep infiltration in SHIELD and the government. After her kidnapping by Nathaniel Essex, she disappeared for a period of a month and reemerged in late December 1996. She came back with a lot of resources at her disposal (See files about ghost base #1) and technological advancements that some field agents who are still loyal to SHIELD have sampled.

Subject Grey has helped in the neutralization of HYDRA cells all over the world with the permission of Director Carter. The bombing of Camp Lehigh, Castle Dietrich, the assassination of all their sponsors and allies are attributed to Subject Grey and her team of super powered operators. After the mopping up of Hydra, subject Grey decided to cut ties with SHIELD, but poached one percent of the personnel and agents. 

Subject Grey is the head of the Ascendency.

Mutant abilities observed and tested from Subject Grey:

• Tactile telepathy
• Telekinesis 
• Pyrokinesis
• Electrokinesis
• Kinetic beam generation
• Super strength
• Enhanced intelligence 
• Memory manipulation 
• Portal creation
• Teleportation

 

***

 

Tony was scared, all that power in the hands of a teenage girl, a teenage girl who amassed a lot of power by killing her enemies; he should rename this subject Grey, Red Sonja at this point. Because, yes, she seemed to have the “To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.” thing down pat at this point. He could also see that SHIELD was eager to bite the hand that had helped them in the past, Tony didn’t want to associate with people like that.

“Well, okay this is... surprising.” Was Tony’s answer after he put the file into the folder.

Fury, who was nursing a mug of coffee, black without sugar because there sure wasn’t any sweetener or milk on the table, asked, “Could you elaborate, Mister Stark?” The black man sipped on his mug of coffee.

“Does SHIELD always engineer its own enemies? I mean, first HYDRA, then now this Ascendancy you spoke so fondly of.” Tony said in an accusing tone.

Fury stared at Tony for a longtime, then into his coffee mug with a thoughtful expression. “You know what?” The spy began to say after he sat on the chair facing Tony. “You might be right, we made our own demons… I had pegged the girl since the start, I wasn’t dazzled by her personality or anything, she’s just a brat… but Peggy and Coulson were putty in her hands. Grey is the kind of young woman who insinuates herself in your good grace and your life, becomes your friend or surrogate daughter and then she shows her real colors later when you need her help.”

Tony crossed his arms and said jokingly, “Sounds like pretty much any prom queen I’ve known at school.”

He had dated a great number of those as well, all had been after his fortune or rebuffed by his mother because Maria Stark didn’t want Tony to focus too much on girls. It was a good decision as Tony focused more on his study.

Fury shook his head. “Grey doesn’t think like a normal young woman. The thing is that she doesn’t care about fame, she has an overarching goal that I can’t guess at, and she will stop at nothing to reach it.”

“Sometimes we geniuses don’t have any, just surviving and living life free is what we want.” There was one last donut on the plate before Tony, he took it quietly and bit into it. He ‘Hummed’ in delight and decided that it was time to get back to work.

Fury stared at him as if he was an idiot. “But too much freedom leads to anarchy, Stark.”

“That’s why we have checks and balances, Director. Now I need to get back to work, if you’ll excuse me.” Tony as usual had the last words and returned to work, he needed to know how that tech worked.

 

# # #

(Nick Fury)

 

Lab #12
1 hour later

 

The monkeys have finally cracked the black boxing on the battery. “Fucking finally.”

The case of the battery could only be unlocked with special tools that they had to invent specifically for it. On the scanners surrounding the battery, a spike of energy was detected from the device. The supercomputer in the lab showed a graph showing how powerful the battery was. It produced at least 500 Megawatts of power, enough energy to provide 200,000 people with electricity. This little battery could easily power an american city for a year and that amount for a battleship indefinitely.

But Fury wasn’t interested in that, he wanted to be able to reproduce the process of safely harnessing exotic energy like Jean Grey could and to develop directed energy weapons like she did, not the HYDRA knock offs that were unstable. He regretted to not have secured any, but taking the armor and the battery was all he could do when it was time to scramble to leave the base in Eç@çà#{|`\. Fury grunted in pain and held onto his head. It happened again, he couldn’t even try to remember where Grey’s base was located. She put a mental block or some shit like this when she wiped his memories of anything related to her hideyhole.

Fury wanted some aspirin, something that would sooth the pain. He hated this, not being able to trust his own mind, but his enemy was able to get him anywhere and everywhere. Fury had proof that Jean Grey tampered with minds and that she would surely manipulate her enemies’. The spy already had an idea on how to protect his people’s mind, the technology exists and is in SHIELD’s hands; the scientist had made this project a top priority.

Speaking of scientists, they were oohing and aahing at the piece of tech. Once the casing was taken out, the chief scientist, Doctor Key, frowned as he looked at the screen. “What the hell is this?!”

Fury would like to know that question as well, inside the case was a translucent blue and flat crystalline block suspended between two silverish metal bands acting like some kind of conductor. The block began to glow more strongly. Fury frowned as he saw this. The spy’s phone began to vibrate and ring. “Who the fuck is calling me right now?”

He took out his phone, and on the screen in big fat letters was written ‘Private Number.’

*Private Number?* This shouldn’t be possible, who could be calling him? His phone number wasn’t available to anyone who wasn’t authorized and the device was encrypted to the gills. Fury didn’t answer and let the call die. 

Ding! But his phone vibrated again. He looked up at the SMS he received, it was short and succinct.

[You better run.] The message said.

Fury looked at the glowing piece of crystal his monkeys had started to take from the case with robotic arms. He could hear a humming sound coming from it, even from the other side of the reinforced glass.

Ding!

[I told you there would be consequences.] The next message appeared to be more threatening.

The Director had an idea of who was texting him right now. *Is there truly no escape from Grey?*

Ding!

[No one steals from me, Nicky. No one.] The last message was more than threatening, it was downright terrifying; a feeling reinforced as the robot arm holding onto the glowing blue crystal simply melted, causing the crystal to fall on the ground. The air inside the room started to burn and from blue the crystal went to white.

The evacuation alarm of the base rang, the white lighting in the room changed to red. A female voice gave a recurring warning, “Ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention please. Due to circumstances beyond our control it has become necessary to evacuate the building. Please leave the building immediately by the nearest exit. Do not use the lifts. 8 minutes before the base explodes.”

The scientists looked around, and all of a sudden rose from their seats and exited the observation room in lab number 12. Fury followed them through the corridors; through the throng of people running about he spotted Tony Stark who was pulling his redheaded assistant's hand toward the exit stairs. Then once everyone was waiting on the floor containing all the banks of high-speed elevators; One after the next people climbed into the elevators.

Ding!

[4 minutes.] Fury looked at his phone’s screen and cursed; but he stayed calm. The hundred or so scientists and support staff were quickly evacuated in the time they had left, far from the base at a distance of over two hundred meters from its entrance. Fury left the evacuation process to the department heads of the base, he went directly to Stark and his assistant.

The redhead looked rather shaken as she held onto the billionaire’s arm; Tony had a hastily filled suitcase in his hands, some papers could be seen to not be totally in the case.

“Stark, what happened to the armor pieces? Did you at least take one piece with you?”

Stark looked rather shocked. “Some woman called me on my phone, and get this, she told me ‘Stealing is bad, Tony. But it’s not your fault.’ Then, all the armor pieces disappeared in a flash of blue light. What the hell is happening, Fury?!” The billionaire gripped at Fury’s coat and looked agitated.

Fury could guess that seeing teleportation in action for the first time in his life had shaken him. With gravitas, Fury simply answered with, “She found us.”

Ding! The spy, phone in hand, watched the screen and saw written, [Times up.] 

The ground began to shake and people began to panic around Fury. The intensity of the shaking rose to a crescendo and as if a god had punched the ground, a hole appeared and from it, A spear of blue and white light. All of a sudden a green domed screen appeared all around the group. Protecting their vision from the lance of intense light. 

BOOOMMM!!! A shockwave spread from the explosion. The extreme heat and pressure of the nuclear fusion -because yes it clearly was that- caused changes in the surrounding rock and building, simply melting or vaporizing them. What was strange was that the detonation didn’t do more damage.

“How are we still alive?” Tony Stark asked as he hugged Virginia Potts against him.

The green barrier around the group of evacuees simply dissipated, the smell of ionized air and the temperature around ground zero hit everyone like a fist. Even so, the heat seemed to be sucked into the sky and the rocks, buildings seemed to have just surface damage. Someone was actively making the area less noxious and that’s when Fury understood. *We are alive because Grey didn’t want us dead.*

It was at this moment that the world stopped around the Director, all the humans at least stood frozen. Then he looked toward where the crater was located and saw someone walking toward him, a young woman with scarlet red hair in a ponytail, a smug smile on her face and gem like green eyes; she wore a red v neck pullover covering a white shirt and a black leather skirt with tights and  matching ankle boots.

She was familiar to him, her beauty had never blinded him to her fault; She stopped before him and greeted him. “Hello, Nicky.”

Fury glared at her, his black coat billowing in the wind. “You.”

Jean Grey tilted her head. “Surprised to see me?”

The spy smoothly and swiftly took his guns from his shoulder holster and fired two rounds into Jean in quick succession. Nothing happened, the bullet went through her.

“I’m not really here, look.” She advanced and passed her arms through the nearest people.

Fury scowled at her, he didn’t reholster his weapon. “Haven’t you done enough?” His tone was filled with accusation as he looked at the deep crater behind Jean.

The redhead dismissed his accusation with a casual tone. “You started it, I told you I don’t play around, Nicky.”

“I didn’t expect that you’d nuke my facility.” Fury was… furious. He had gone over budget for this new base, the material and the secrecy to ship them from different locations and through shell companies was for naught.

Jean shook her head; she looked affronted. “Oh, don’t you put that on me! I told you to give my tech back and… well you got the old battery pack, they are highly unstable, you know.”

Fury couldn’t say anything, she had repeatedly petitioned him to give her back her tech, that it was just a quick and dirty serviceable set for the situation they had been in, a proof of concept. Grey continued to speak, explaining what happened in the lab. “Once the tetryon charged crystals are exposed to the air, they explode. They are vacuum sealed for a reason, I scrapped this design long ago for something more... efficient and safe. When your guys opened the battery case, I attempted to call you, but you didn’t answer, now here we are.”

“I will get you for this, Grey. You hear me? This is the second US site that you nuked.” Fury spat, his trigger finger hitched when he looked at her.

The redhead snorted and made a waving gesture that was akin to ‘speak to my hand’ and began ranting at the spy. “Oh please, your bald ass can’t cash that check your mouth is trying to cut. Do you believe that crap that you spit out of that hole in your head? I was kind enough to allow you to get out this time instead of just… you know, setting off a catalyzed fusion battery in your face with a painted on middle finger and some choice words that Peggy wouldn’t approve of. Or… I could come, you know, and be done with you.”

That scared Fury out of his mind, he knew how she dealt with her enemies; Grey was merciless, in fact he doubted she knew what the word meant. After what he did, Fury doubted that she could be bargained or reasoned with. He had stolen from her after she had saved him and fixed his problems for him; Hydra was no more. However, Fury didn’t back down, his friendships with Phil and Peggy kept him alive right now. 

“But you won’t.” Fury finally added as he scowled at her with his lone one eye.

Jean sighed, closed her eyes and a moment later, glared back at Fury. “Yeah, Peggy would be disappointed and I like my grandma so…”

Fury felt relieved at that; he had expected to die right now. Any other agent would have killed him for what he did. However, he wasn’t out of the woods just yet as Jean walked up to him and poked his chest. He felt a pressure between his pecs, she shouldn’t be physical. *How is she doing this?*

Jean’s gem-like eyes focused on him, the temperatures around them raised immediately. “We are done. I owe you nothing anymore after this stunt, Nicky. I’m washing my hands of you. If you get in trouble and I know you eventually will, I won’t be coming to save your crusty black ass.” Then she laughed like a bipolar when she turned back and looked at the crater. “When you burn your bridges, you do so spectacularly, Nicky.”

She turned to him yet again. “Hope I see you at Peggy's wedding. Ciao.” She faded into motes of light.

The people around Fury resumed their movements and began looking at the desolation around them. The agents began organizing the evacuees, when Fury looked up he saw that planes were turning around and coming to the island.

Ding!

Fury consulted his phone one last time and read. [Next time, there won’t be any warning when I blow up your stuff.]

This didn’t sound like a threat, but like a promise. “Fair enough.” Fury needed somewhere safe, and fast. Nowhere seemed to be out of Grey’s reach. She had tech to project her solid or soft holograms from far away, how obsolete was the world compared to what the mutant girl had? He hoped that he could find a way to control what she did back in the country. He had already heard a rumor that she was about to open a tech company from Peggy. He will allow it and steal her stuff legally then, but they just couldn’t continue to be on the backfoot, they needed to innovate as well.

Fury’s eyes fell naturally on Tony Stark who looked angry when he looked back at him. Now he understood what Jean had meant by burning his bridges, he will find no help here.

 

# # #

(Madelyn Nachios-Grey)

 

February 11th, 1997

Maddy was having the time of her life, for once her big sister Jean had accepted to take her on a brief supply tour in Europe for her base of  operations. They first went to Rome, to order food to place in the warehouses connected to the teleportation system in the Adirondack base. 

Next to Japan to order materials, but Jean succumbed to Maddy’s puppy eyes attack ‘critical hit of course’ and they went to Akihabara to buy anime, manga and other paraphernalias. Maddy had a magical girl and a ninja girl fetish. From RG Veda to Card Captor Sakura and Sailor Moon, Jean’s little sister was a real Otaku. It didn’t help that she was taught how to be a Shinobi by Elektra. Anna-Marie and Jean bought new clothes for Maddy, they were cute and warm. She had put on a white blouse covering a pale blue shirt with a blue pleated skirt and white half calf boots. Jean complimented and hugged her as she called her cute.

Their last stop had been to see a bald woman at 177A Bleecker Street in Manhattan, they were all waiting before the door of a three-story Victorian-style brownstone townhouse built in the French Baroque architecture design with a Mansard roof. Maddy’s big sister called it ‘The Sanctum Sanctorum’ and one of the places part of a system protecting our planet from extradimensional incursion. She didn't understand a lot of what her sister told her sometimes, Elektra had told Maddy that Jean was a nerd and to always ask her to simplify her explanation or you would be there for days.

“Jeanie, this is where the witch lives?” Maddy asked as she looked at the big house, she felt curious about it and wanted to explore it.

“She’s a sorceress, not a witch, Maddy.” Jean chided her sister.

Tilting her head cutely, Maddy inquired, “There’s a difference?”

Jean smiled at her. “A big one. I will explain everything to you in time.”

Maddy scrunched her face in distaste at that, Jean’s explanations were too long and sounded like she was before a panel of scientists. Then the young girl pouted as she crossed her arms, trying to avoid looking in Jean's direction. Anna-Marie pinched her cheek and laughed at her pouting expression, Wanda patted her head in commiseration.

Jean chuckled at that, then rang the house’s doorbell .

Dingdong.

A short and stocky older man with short black hair, and brown eyes clothed in a green and yellow qipao opened the wooden door to the Sanctum. His eyes roamed on each of the girls and stopped directly on Jean. He smiled amiably. “Ah, you are finally here, Miss Grey.”

Jean smiled and held her hand before her. “Hello Wong! It’s nice to see you.”

The asian man shook it firmly. “You have come with quite the gathering.”

Maddy found this Wong guy really polite and friendly. Wanda and Anna-Marie greeted the man neutrally, he slightly bowed his head at them with a smile.

Jean put an arm around Anna’s waist and another around Wanda’s shoulder. “Yes, I want to see if any of them can be taught magic.”

Wong held her gaze for a moment and nodded. “I see, please enter.”

When the girls passed through the door, it was to the foyer on the first floor. Maddy looked around and found the place somewhat badly lit and old looking. There were multiple lounge areas with some sofa and table all around the first floor and a big staircase leading to the other floors. The decoration was baroque, still giving the impression that this house’s floor plan hasn’t been updated since the 1800.

On the far right, a woman in yellow garb seated on a red and gold sofa was drinking tea, the set of porcelain on the low table before her looked ancient and full of history. The woman was bald, but she had kind eyes, Maddy noticed. She liked her instantly. Jean walked up sedately toward the woman, bowed slightly and greeted her. “Hello ancient one.”

When someone as powerful as her big sister Jean respected someone, it was wise to emulate her; so the two other girls and Maddy mimicked her.

“You were supposed to be here one week ago, Jean.” Maddy heard the woman, the ancient one say with a disapproving tone.

This was the first time that Maddy saw Jean looking chastised by someone other than Peggy, mother Elektra and her grandmother Elaine. Jean averted her eyes from the ancient one’s. “Something has come up.”

*Jean is always super busy.* Maddy lamented in her heart, she didn’t like that the first person she had opened her eyes to didn’t have time for her, but her mother made sure that she was taken care of. Jean spoiled her like a big sister would, while Elektra was strict yet kind. Her aches and pains from training with her mother and her uncle Matt still bothered her.

“Really? You know that I am always open to lend you my help.” Ancient one then gestured to everyone to sit on the sofa facing her’s.

Maddy sat at Anna-Marie’s side while Jean sat between Wanda and Anna. The young girl was aware that the two of them were in love with her big sister, but she didn’t understand the impact of relationship between gender yet. To her this was normal.

Jean frowned and looked at the delicious looking biscuit on the table, she snatched one with her TK and before eating it, said, “I’m going to take care of it myself.”

The ancient one nodded in acquiescence. Then her gaze was suddenly on each of the three girls who had come with Jean. She smiled as her eyes stopped on Maddy. “Ah, so you have come to get them tested.”

Jean poured herself some tea as she spoke. “Yes. I don’t know how to spot someone who is a Homo-Magi and Meta-human at the same time.”

Maddy turned her head to her sister who was now sipping on her tea. This admission was unlike Jean, she always appeared to be in control of everything around her. The young girl didn’t like to hear that her sister wasn’t perfect like she had always thought.

“So you have come to defer to my experience.” The ancient one put her tea cup on its saucer as she watched Jean.

The redhead nodded and sipped on her tea. Ancient one stood up and walked around the girl's sofa and stood behind them. She put a delicate hand on Wanda and Anna’s shoulders and focused. After a while she hummed and then said, “Miss Wanda is obviously a meta-human and Homo-Magi. Anna is, unfortunately, just a metahuman…” 

Wanda gave a proud little smile at Jean, but she already knew that she could do magic.

“Aww no ruby slippers for me.” Anna-Marie feigned being sad. She didn't care at all, her own powers were already difficult to control, and she was focused on mastering them without distractions. 

Then it was Maddy’s turn, the woman put her right hand on her shoulder, it felt warm for a brief instant and she felt something spread through her body. *Strange.* Maddy raised her head to look at the tall woman who watched her with kindness and a sharp interest.

“Hi, miss Good Witch.” Maddy waved at the woman. She grinned at her and patted her head.

People always patted her head for a reason that she couldn't guess. Ancient one laughed at the new nickname. “Your sister has a lot of potential, like you, she’s both as well.”

Jean turned her head toward Maddy, her expression was full of affection. “I'm not surprised. She’s awesome.”

Maddy preened at the compliment, Jean always made her feel important to her. It made the little girl always give her best, but it was worth it, Maddy thrived under pressure.

Ancient one suddenly loomed apprehensive, it worried Maddy and Jean. Before she could ask a question, the Sorceress Supreme spoke. “However, we need to come up with a teacher for Madelyn. Her magic affinity isn’t easy to master, I’m afraid that you’ll have to go find someone on Otherworld to instruct her.”

“Which affinity is it?” Wanda asked. This was the first time she spoke in the entire conversation.

Ancient one's gaze slid on the auburn haired young woman. “Dimensional and space-time magic.” Was her answer.

Wanda and Jean’s eyes fell on Maddy who didn't appreciate the sudden attention. *What was space and time magic?* The young girl asked herself. 

Anna-Marie hugged the young girl against her as if to reassure her. Jean pinched her arm hard and winced in pain and loudly cursed. “Well, shit.”

Ancient one tutted in disapproval. “Language Jean, your sister is still impressionable.”

Looking sheepish, Jean lowered her eyes and then said to Maddy before looking at her, “Right, sorry for cursing Maddy.”

The young redhead smiled wickedly, the same smile that would usually adorn Elektra’s face. “It’s alright, but I will have to tell mom.”

With a gaping expression, the older redheaded said in shock, “You’d snitch on me?!”

With a raised chin Maddy couldn’t help but ask for a bribe.  “My silence can be bought.”

Jean glared at her. “You little…”

“Ahah! Don’t curse anymore.” Maddy raised her finger and leaned against the sofa’s back. 

“Fine, what do you want?” Jean crossed her arms sulkily.

“More ice cream.” Maddy said imperiously as she stood up.

Sigh. “Okay, we will swing by Rome again for Gelato...” Jean gave in and Maddy showed how closely related she was to the other redhead by showing a similar smug-like smile.

Ancient one had been looking at the byplay and was somewhat amused by it. She coughed and interrupted the ribbing between sisters. “Oh Jean, I think that you should go visit The Magic Shop before your trip to Rome.”

Jean froze, she turned to Ancient one and looked into her eyes for a moment. Maddy was sure that they were having one of those telepathic conversations right now.

“Understood.” Jean finally said.

“Jean, Maddy, Wanda. In one week, you and your parents are invited here, in the Sanctum. They must be made aware of the supernatural world. I will have to convince Miss Nachios to let young Madelyn join us to unlock her potential.”

Jean and Wanda flinched visibly. Their hands found each other and linked. This wasn’t reassuring for Maddy at all.

“Will it hurt?” The young girl asked the Sorceress.

The mystic put a hand on the young girl’s shoulder in reassurance. “No, my dear. I will be there to show you how to do it without hurting yourself.”

Jean and Wanda looked somewhat jealously at Maddy at the same time. The meeting broke after that, the ancient one created a portal leading to Romania in an alley that gave access to a beautiful front shop. The girls gave their goodbyes and left.

 

# # #

(Wanda Maximoff)

 

Romania
Bucharest
Magazinul Magic

In Bucharest, hidden deep in a back alley behind a bookstore and an electronics shop, Magazinul Magic could be found. It was famous amongst the magical community to be the place where you could find magical tomes, rare ingredients and enchanting services such as a cleansing ritual, curse breaking and security warding. The front of the shop looked like any other, but the midnight blue color and the reinforced display window showed off the interior that somehow looked like a library with ingredients on display in vacuum sealed plastic or in vials behind protected cases.

An attractive young woman with short black hair and a heart shaped face with blue eyes could be seen reading, she wore a gothic outfit consisting of a tight long sleeved black dress. The magic portal closed behind the four girls. Jean and Wanda clearly knew the place and walked directly to the shop’s door with predatory gaits.

Wanda and Jean had found the shop on the recommendation of the Ancient one. It was over tea and a casual conversation that Jean obtained the address of the safest magic shop for starting witches, magicians and sorcerers. This woman was Mavis, a sorceress who was also the co-owner of the magic shop she operated. Wanda liked Mavis, she was such a beautiful woman and despite how she clothed she had a sunny disposition that made people less wary of her.

Maddy and Anna-Marie just followed them like baby ducks. The bell of the shop rang and the attractive ravenette at the counter looked up. Her eyes glowed blue like sapphire momentarily and then a slow smile blossomed on her lips.

Wanda had felt the scan on herself, she was sure that Mavis had some sort of sixth sense or third eye to see behind illusion or glamor. She didn't have hers open yet but she intended to ask Mavis to teach her later. The shop offered that kind of service. Obviously, Jean had already opened hers as she looked around and moved to avoid some things unseen. 

The witch apprentice looked around her, all the shelves on the right side of the shop were full of books, and on the left, they were full of special ingredients in special warded containers to keep them fresh and pristine, some of the magical plants were still potted. There was a clear demarcation that separated the two areas in the building, it was a strange sensation to Wanda. The decorations in the shop were clearly gothic but not the gloom and doom that you would link to such a fashion statement. There were still colors everywhere and Wamda felt as if she was missing something in the shop. After all, Jean looming in wonder at everywhere and laughing like a little girl told the witch that she missed out.

“Ah Jean, Wanda! I’m glad to see you. As usual you are surrounded by beauties.” The ravenette greeted them, putting down the book she was reading. Wanda couldn't distinguish any title on the cover or the book's spine.

“Hello, Mavis. Still wary of customers I see?” Jean waved at the pretty shopkeeper. 

Wanda smiled awkwardly, she wasn’t used to other people yet, but she tried. “H-hey, Mavis.” The young witch greeted with a nod.

Her hands stayed glued to the side of her red dress. Mavis knew a bit of Wanda’s story so she didn’t push like she would have normally by making joking overtures. 

The sorceress’ eyes focused on Anna and Maddy. “And who might those two be? Recruits for your coven, Jean?” The shopkeeper waggled her eyebrows lewdly.

Jean blushed and used her hand to chase a stray wick of hair from her face and place it behind her ear. An attractive gesture to Wanda who once again admired the beauty of her adoptive sister.

The redhead whose face was almost as red as her hair defended herself. “Huh, we are not ready for that coven stuff yet, for now it’s just Wanda and I learning the basics of magic.”

“I see, fair enough." Mavis harrumphed as Jean popped her bubble of delusions. 

Though Wanda would like to try all that kissing and hugging with Jean, she's been crushing hard on the redhead for a while. The ravenette then focused on the younger redhead who hid behind Anna-Marie. Mavis grinned at Maddy as she asked out loud, “And who is this? She's so adorable. ”

Anna-Marie stepped out of the way when Jean gave her instructions mentally and Maddy was suddenly in full view of Mavis' analytical gaze. Jean pointed a finger at the younger redhead. “Isn’t she? This is my younger sister, Madelyn." Her finger then slid toward Anna-Marie who waved at the shopkeeper. “And the knockout Maddy was hiding behind is my girlfriend, Anna-Marie.”

Mavis looked between Anna-Marie and Jean, a lewd smile appeared on her face and she asked with curiosity, “Are you sure that you aren’t building a sapphic coven worshiping Aphrodite and Hekate? I’m sure there’s quite the demand for such…”

Jean interrupted her and quickly answered, “I just have two girlfriends, okay?”

“Yeah, just two… I know how this goes, it always starts at two.” Mavis' smile didn't subside at all, in fact she leaned forward and said in a knowing voice, “You know, normally prolific and charismatic young women like you are always attracted to the tantric side of magic.”

Wanda was irritated that Mavis would presume that Jean would be interested by such; but as usual her assumptions made an ass out of her. Jean’s eyes shone with interest, she walked up to the counter and was directly face to face with the shopkeeper. Maddy, who wasn’t interested in the books that appeared on the counter,  went to look to the side of the shop with enchanted toys on the shelves.

“Sex magic? I’m in!” Jean said quickly.

Wanda spluttered in indignation, while Anna-Marie laughed at her girlfriend’s outburst. “J-Jean, you pervert!”

Raising an eyebrow, Jean looked at Wanda dubiously after she stated the obvious. “So? I want to rock Cindy and Anna’s world.”

“Ah’d like ta have my world rocked, please.” Anna, who was furiously blushing, raised her hand and laughed at that.

A dusting of redness appeared on Wanda’s face, but she theatrically rolled her eyes and mumbled how Jean attracted perverts. Mavis gave Jean a knowing smile and snapped her fingers; four books materialized out of thin air in a blue flash and floated down on the counter in a stack. “I knew you would be interested, so I kept these for you…”

Wanda was the first to read the books’ covers, then began to hand each one to Jean who read them aloud. 

 

Sex Magick by L. Lovegood. 

Advanced Sex Magick by L. Lovegood.

Tantric sex to make your life interesting by L. Lovegood.

Sex Magic, Tantra & Tarot: The Way of the Secret Lover by Phil Hine

 

Jean was the first to frown at the name of the author, she dismissed the idea that Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potterverse existed in her reality. “Who is that L. Lovegood?”

“Wow, her surname is on point! She must love really good.” Anna-Marie giggled.

Wanda noticed how Jean was disturbed by the name of the author, and told herself that there may be something to those books. *Should I check them too?*

“Some witch from Otherworld. Really famous for her big family and harem.”Mavis used her hand in a gesture that said ‘how big’ she was talking about. The thirty centimeters space told nothing to Wanda about how numerous that witch’s harem was. Jean looked rather interested.

“Hehe, Jean it seems ya ain’t the first ta wanna have yer cake and eat it too.” Anna idly commented.

Jean turned to Anna-Marie who yelped; everyone heard a ‘slap’ sound coming from the brunette’s ass. Jean had used her TK to do so. The redhead smiled at her girlfriend and already Anna-Marie promised retribution. The auburn haired witch didn’t like how raunchy Jean got when she was paired with Anna-Marie, she focused on something else. Wanda looked for Maddy and saw her playing with a sample of thread games that guided her hands to create some figures. She saw the thread glow red each time Maddy completed a figure.

“So what brings you to The Magic Shop?” Wanda heard Mavis ask the older redhead.

Jean took on a thoughtful expression before a piece of paper appeared in her left hand and she put it on the counter. “Those energy masking pendants you got us, they are doing a bang up job so far, and I want to commission more of them for my… employees.”

Wanda agreed, those pendants were vital to magic users, they masked powerful magic users from demons who wanted to enslave them. It was the first thing Jean had bought for her and she wanted to know how to make those.

“Oh and it would be fun if you had more magic primer and any advanced mana manipulation tomes.” Jean continued to say.

This was another thing Jean wanted to establish, an order of magic users at her beck and call, Wanda was supposed to be their chairwoman when she became a master of the arts. Those were the plans that Jean had come up with for the future, and Wanda desired to be part of it. Mavis squinted her eyes as she looked at Jean, Wanda was certain that the shopkeeper was analyzing Jean’s aura for deceit.

She was right to doubt Wanda’s adoptive sister, circulation of magical grimoire was tightly controlled and you could only access those that your level of mastery allowed you to consult. At least that’s what Wanda understood was the rules from the famous and Otherworld affiliated magical shops around the planet.

“Show me that you can access the mana of the world first.” Mavis challenged Jean.

“Okay.” The redhead smiled smugly and smoothly held her hand before her and she pulled on the ambient magical field around her and started chanting one of the spells she and Wanda learned together. 

 

“Blessed humble hand of Gaea.
Breath of Mother Earth,
I pray thee come before me,
show your great compassion to this being
and deliver them
RECOVERY!”

 

White and gold aura surrounded Jean as she channeled the spell. Wanda felt a warm sensation through her entire body, the healing energy seeking to right any ills and aches that may have developed. But there was nothing to heal as Wanda was really healthy. It was the same for Anna-Marie but she hugged Jean from behind and kissed her cheek; there must have been some sores that the spell healed, Wanda realized. Anna-Marie wasn’t a sporty girl like Jean or the spider girl that Wanda didn’t like, one day she will steal Jean back from her.

Mavis crinked her neck and popped some vertebrae by rolling her shoulders. “Ah, that soreness in my back disappeared. Wow Jean, you are fire attuned and your magic is more supportive than offensive, you would make a great Healer.” The shopkeeper declared.

Jean pouted in dissatisfaction at Mavis. “Wait, why am I the effing healer? Why couldn't it be Wanda?”

Wanda would have loved it if her powers were just about supporting others and not the unstable Chaos Magic she had learned to dislike since she was little. “Jean, that's mean! I would totally want to just be a... H-healer.”

The redhead looked sheepish and mumbled an inaudible 'Sorry.' Wanda decided to get back at Jean later when they were home. Mavis’ gaze focused on Wanda, she crossed her arms and placed her chin between her right hand’s fingers as she put upon a thoughtful expression. Her eyes glowed blue, a sign that she was using some diagnostic magic on her.

“It's hard to say but amongst you, Wanda is the strongest magically here, she has more potential for destruction magic.” Mavis finally said after setting her hands palm flat on the counter.

“The Ancient One said that I am a strong wielder of Chaos Magic, that must be why.” Wanda revealed, not daring to look in Mavis’ eyes. She knew how people got scared of her when she said what her speciality was.

Mavis stepped back from the counter. “Chaos magic with a big 'M'?”

Wanda was unsettled by the shopkeeper’s behavior, Ancient One had reacted the same way when she had met her the first time. “Yeah.”

Anna-Marie and Jean placed themselves at Wanda’s side in support; they didn’t like Mavis’ reaction. For a tense moment, nothing more was said. 

Mavis sighed and decided to cut short this standoff as she nervously said, “Jean, why is your group full of rare and powerful magical users? Are you trying to storm Otherworld? Or take over some place?”

Wanda wanted to defend Jean at this moment, and tried to say something; then she remembered what Jean did to get the wealth she now enjoyed. She stormed the bases of her enemies and stole everything from them, even their lives. Mavis looked at the apprentice witch who averted her eyes, unable to defend her adoptive sister.

Jean crossed her arms and looked rather offended. “Since when am I a rare magic user? I mean, I can understand Wanda, she’s awesome… and why does everybody assume I’m going to invade somewhere? Magic is just an awesome subject and I want to learn it.”

Wanda loved how casually Jean praised her, the witch blushed profusely.

“Yeah! Jean would never do that!” Maddy hollered from behind one of the shelves, god only knows what she was doing.

Anna-Marie unhelpfully commented, “If Jean had a good reason, she would do it.”

Mavis, Wanda and Maddy who was peeking at the confrontation from behind a bookshelf looked stunned at Anna-Marie. Jean looked down a bit hurt. But pride suddenly showed on her face and she raised her chin with an imperious expression.

Still, Wanda turned to the other girl and punched her shoulder. “Anna, you traitor.”

The metahuman girl simply shrugged, massaging where Wanda had punched her. “Hey, I'm just saiyin’!”

“It’s a really good question, Mavis. But I don’t have any expansionist ideas, yet.” Jean gave her an honest answer.

This ‘yet’ worried the shopkeeper. But she decided to let it go, Jean was her best client as of date; she didn’t so much blink at the price of her rare books. Nevertheless, Mavis still looked doubtfully at Jean and couldn’t understand why the Ancient One, her patron, didn't inform her of the rarity of her gift. 

The shopkeeper took it on herself to light Jean’s lantern. “Do you have any idea how rare true healers are?” She stated.

Rolling her eyes, Jean’s answer was such, “Of course, I had to be the special snowflake... I just want to do some magic, Mavis. I’m not interested in being a big shot in the magical world.”

Closing her eyes, breathing in and out, Mavis apologized. “Sorry for being such a worrywart Jeanie, but people with great power often have big ambitions.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” Jean looked down at the sex magic books on the counter and with an interested tone in her voice asked, “Say, how much for the books?”

Mavis raised her right hand and with her index finger she wrote with glowing blue magic numbers and letters in the air the following price, “100 Gold, no haggling tolerated. Those are rare books, you know…”

Jean and Wanda frowned at the price; 100 Gold in Dollars are the equivalent of $10 000. Pretty expensive for four books on recreational magic.

“How rare? That’s pretty expensive, you know.” Jean said hesitantly, but Wanda wasn’t blinded by her innocuous tone, she knew Jean wanted those books, after all Ancient One guided them here to the shop for those. At least that was what the apprentice witch thought.

Mavis looked left and right and said conspiratorially, “Otherworld made them illegal.”

The shopkeeper then began to tell them why they were made illegal; some witches snapped up a lot of scions from big families on Otherworld because they were too good in bed. Those harem and newly formed families became so strong by pooling their resources and powers that the old monsters in that realm have felt threatened.

Jean cackled in delight. “Sold, they are mine.” With a flash of blue light, a gold ingot appeared in Jean’s hand and she placed it on the counter.

Mavis’ eyes goggled as she looked at the gold bar. Maddy chose that moment to come back to the counter with a shopping basket with over ten MtG decks and a mountain of boosters. Jean sighed and added, “And I will also take all the “Magic: The Gathering” decks that Maddy picked up.”

The young girl pumped a fist in victory. “Yes!”

Their little shopping trip at The Magic Shop yielded a lot to them as they made even more purchases, Anna-Marie received an enchanted ring of fleetfoot, and Wanda took a book about Meditation written by a disciple of Merlin. The girls left the shop after this and went to Rome for Gelato.

 

# # #

 

Back with Jean…
3 hours later
La casa del Grey
Forest Hills

The night had started really well, I was teaching Wanda and Maddy how to play MtG. Maddy was really interested, it seemed that my uber geek genes were given as well. It was almost time to go to sleep though and mom made me put Maddy to sleep in her bedroom; Wanda decided to meditate before going to sleep to center herself.

I had just finished brushing my teeth when I felt mom and dad’s thoughts calling me. The house has become rather more silent since my parents have become able to direct their thoughts so easily in my presence. So after putting my lacy black nightgown on and covering myself with my wine colored sleep robe,  I cut short the brushing of my hair before my mirror and put my brush against the counter top. Standing up, I went directly to the living room where I could feel my parents were located.

I was curious about why they wanted to talk to me, but the feelings I could sense from them without prying into their mind was that this was serious and that I might hate them for what was going to be said in this discussion. As I descended the stairs, I began to dread what my parents had to say, but I was Jean Grey and I’m no coward.

Arriving in the living room, where a fire was burning in the hearth, Dad and Mom were waiting for me on the irish green sofa with… is that warm chocolate that I smelled? I couldn’t help but say, “Whatever you have to say, it must be bad if you broke out the chocolate mug and marshmallows.”

I sat on the other single sofa facing my parents. The fire crackled in the fireplace ominously. John, my dad whined like a kicked puppy while mom had a smug expression on her face… It was uncanny how much she looked like me. “See, I told you, John. My girl is too smart to be deceived by just food.” Mom elbowed dad who put his hand where she hit him, a painful expression on his face.

Dad’s new Tony Stark-like beard made him more attractive, he was attracting a lot of thirsty female students in his class; thankfully mom showing up in her most sexy dress to look for him with an Aston Martin convertible seriously told any contender that he was happily married and rich. Though it didn’t deter some of his persistent coworkers. *Thots all of them.*

Mom’s hair was now carmine red, a different shade from my scarlet red hair; she had petitioned me to change them with my transmutation. I think she wanted to be closer to her daughters who all had different shades of red in our hair. She looked like a more voluptuous older me, it was strange. She was healthy and my twin brothers were growing in her womb. I can’t tell you how protected my house was at the moment, there were three power armored operator teams cycling everyday to protect our home and I had countless satellite scanning the place for any shenanigans. *No one will get my mom and my siblings.*

Dad chuckled nervously as I watched him shake his head at mom’s antics.“Yeah, alright. You were right again, dear.”

“Don’t you forget it!” Mom kissed him on the cheek and passed an arm around his waist.

As I observed them, I used my TK to float the mug of hot chocolate to her hands; inside were some marshmallows. “I will accept the bribe, I can still brush my teeth again later.”

I sipped on the beverage with relish, it was perfectly sugared and didn’t overpower my sense of taste. My parents looked at me, their mood subduing as I tasted chocolatey goodness.

“Maddy is asleep?” Mom suddenly asked.

While looking in my mug, I focused on my sister’s presence. I could see her playing Metroid on her gameboy that I bought her in Japan. That girl was going to turn into a video game addict; but knowing Elektra maybe she won’t… Raising my head and looking in Mom’s eyes, I said, “She isn’t, she’s playing her gameboy under her covers.”

Mom looked at her watch, it was 10 pm or so; she didn’t look happy at all that our new family addition was such a rule breaker. Poor Maddy is going to get her pocket console confiscated.

“Wanda?” Dad asked this time.

Another bout of throwing my awareness and I saw Wanda meditating on her bed, her pendant was glowing as it masked her presence and didn’t let her do any astral jumping. This was one of its functions, the girl couldn’t even defend herself from me and my pain bolts, I wasn’t letting her go to the astral plane without my supervision.

“She’s meditating, but I think she’s gonna fall asleep in the lotus position at this point.” I found myself revealing to my parents.

“Good.” Mom leaned forward and let go of dad.

My parents were nervous, they looked at each other and tried to strike a conversation with me that they were reluctant to broach.

“So… what do you want to ask me?” I finally asked, I had class tomorrow and I didn’t want to look like a zombie to everyone. I have been getting tired more easily lately...

“Well dear,” Mom began to say. “you remember how you had promised to go see Charles? He called last Sunday to invite us to his school. He offered to host us this Saturday.”

The atmosphere got heavier as Jean frowned, taken by surprise by this development. The fire in the chimney wavered, making the shadows dance in the living room. After a while, Jean asked her mom with a tight smile, “Really? Mom, you know the type of enmity I have with the guy.”

“I know, I know. But, unfortunately, Xavier wants us there.” Mom was getting angry about something, and she didn’t like the fact that she had to ask me to go to that crazy bald bastard.

“I will not go.” I answered firmly as I loudly put my mug on the low table. It was disrespectful but I couldn’t find it in myself to care when Xavier was concerned.

Mom stared harshly at me. “You think I want you to go there? After what you told us about what he did to your counterparts in those… other timelines?”

Mom was protective of me, she wanted to go find baldy and pummel him with a hammer; she was usually a goodie goodie, but if you piss her off, she didn’t mind scheming your demise. Since I gave her back her youth, she was as fiery as I was.

“No I can sense that you don’t want me to go, what’s happening, mom?” I couldn’t keep the worry out of my voice.

Dad looked mad, he was an easy going man most of the time. But this business with Xavier seemed to have angered him a lot. Mom finally spoke. “He is pulling some strings as well, the university your dad is working for occasionally, the Dean might dismiss him from his position.”

I didn’t feel myself move, but I had stood up from the sofa. “He dares?” Orange and red flame wreathed around my body, my hair rising in the air wildly under the cosmic fire. “HE DARES?!”

Mom and dad flinched at the casual display of power.

I began to float as my Phoenix raiment replaced my sleepwear. “I’m going to destroy him, right now.” I said as I was about to phase through the ceiling and burn down the creepy baldy.

“Jean. Sit your ass down.” The order was crisp, it was the pissed off voice of my father.

I looked down and saw that his face was serious and that I would regret it if I left right now. I suppressed my aura, floated down and landed on the sofa in my railment.

“And take a sip of hot cocoa.” Mom stood up and pushed the mug full of chocolate toward me.

Mechanically I took the mug full of chocolate in my hands. This situation was surreal to me, why weren’t they pissed off? “Why aren’t you upset?”

Dad let his mental defense down just a little bit, allowing me to sense the feelings that he had deep inside, he was becoming skilled enough to fool my passive scans. 

“Oh believe me dear, I am. But I am past being upset.” John Grey said as he channeled his anger into purpose, not letting it engulf him.

Dad had a plan, I didn’t know what. “Can you show me your memories? About what happened at the college.”

Sighing, Dad waved his hand and massaged his temples as he said, “One moment, it’s difficult to open my mind like you showed me…”

Dad opened fully to me, I put a finger on my temple as I focused on slowly delving into his memories, avoiding the embarrassing stuff like how he was even more in love with mom than before or their sexcapades. I finally found it, the memory I wanted to see…

 

***

(Memories of John Grey)

 

February 10th, 1997
The Bronx
Manhattan college
10:45 AM

 

John looked at the Dean, Mister Miller; a supposedly god fearing man. But it couldn’t be helped that he was also a sinner, a greedy one. He was a big boned man, with salt and pepper hair and a cunning expression on his face. He wore a grey expensive suit with white shirt and red tie. His office was extravagant, with trophies on the shelves at the side of his desk, on the white walls were all the certifications and degrees he possessed. On his desk, multiple framed pictures with a woman holding the Dean proudly and people visibly looking like the Dean’s kids showed that he was a family man.

The history professor was sitting before the Dean, not knowing why he was here. Mister Miller poured himself some whiskey from his decanter set on the side of his desk.

“Want a drink, John?” The Dean offered.

The history professor waved no. “No thanks, Dean Miller. Um, I heard you needed me?”

After a scorching swig, the Dean nodded. “Yes, John. One of my old buddies from city hall just called me and he insisted that I free you for this Saturday.”

“Who? And what for?” John had a sinking feeling that he knew why.

“His name is irrelevant.” The Dean deflected, then began to dissemble. “Well, you see, he is part of the old boy club. And in last night’s meeting at the River club, he met with his friend Xavier who was touting about how smart your third daughter was and how he plans on scouting her for his school.” 

John’s face darkened as he heard the name of the professor, a man he had refused his offer last Sunday. Jean hated the man and had called him untrustworthy, his little girl was a potent telapth and was right all the time about the moral fiber of those that were interested in her. John still regretted that his daughter didn’t come to him when she suffered from being ostracized and to tell them about her powers. Then again, it was better this way, John doesn’t think he or Elaine would have had the maturity to know how to handle a super powered kid.

“Charles is meddling, I see.” John leaned in his seat, finally seeing what all this was about.

The Dean’s eyes shone with mischief. “Oh you know him? This changes everything.”

The man knew already that John was acquainted with Charles Xavier; he was just playing at being the jovial old man.  “I know Charles, yes. He had come to see us in Annandale last September and had given us a good offer but... Jean, my daughter, wants to go to NYU or Cornell and she is already in the process of getting her GED. I’m loath to disturb my little bird’s plan. So I don’t think we are going to accept Charles' generous invitation...” Subtly, John told the man that he wasn’t interested in pandering to Xavier.

The Dean started to dissemble even more as he said, “She sounds like a smart girl, what’s the field she wants to study in?” He put his glass on the table.

John smiled, his daughter was clearly more intelligent than the majority of the people touting their intelligence; however, his daughter was also a hothead, just like her mother and big sisters. So she reacted more emotionally than he would prefer; this attempt from Charles to secure a meeting with her will not be liked at all.

“Smart just doesn’t describe her, she wants to go into genetics and bioengineering.” John boasted.

The Dean didn’t know how to react to this unwavering faith the doting father had for his daughter, so he decided to speak more frankly. “I see… err, this is a problem, John. I guaranteed him that you’d be able to go.” Parents always thought that their children were special after all.

John scowled at the Dean and stood up from his seat. Looming dangerously over the portly man. “A liberty that you shouldn’t have taken, Dean Miller.” The historian's tone was as cold as ice.

But Dean Miller was used to being threatened, he had thick skin, he was used to playing politics. “This is troublesome, you know how much money Charles gives us to keep us afloat? I see that I have no choice but to employ my last card; John, I cannot… keep you employed here if you can’t do this tiny little thing.”

His anger cooled at the ridiculousness of the situation. “Blackmail, really?”

The Dean laughed jovially once more. “Oh, no John, blackmail is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it incentive.”

 

***

 

Back in the living room, I felt my anger boil. I retired from my dad's thoughts and stood up and then began pacing in the room. Dad didn't need to work anymore, with how rich we were now, teaching was a hobby for him. I wanted to tell him to quit his job so badly right now… but this is me being selfish, he loved to teach and hear different opinions about stuff from the past. I couldn’t take that from him.

“What do you plan to do?” I asked dad, this concerned him after all.

A dashing smile appeared on my dad's face and now I understood how she got seduced into having his babies. “We are going of course.”

“And we are going to make him regret inviting us.” Mom flipped her hair, her blue eyes shining ominously thanks to the flame in the fireplace.

I gave them a devilish smile in answer to their intentions. I loved them, I was never more proud to be their daughter than tonight. “I like that, we will make him regret being a manipulative bastard, regret trying to pull me into his schemes and I will make him definitely regret that I will blow up his little cult down in Westchester County.”

“Hmm, why not? He deserves it.” Mom shrugged as she mirrored my smile.

Dad took the case containing his pipe and smoking kit, he wasn't averse to giving himself a little boost with his own herbal blend. I couldn't begrudge him taking something to calm himself. Mom didn't like when he did though. So she stopped him with a glare.

“You are all joining me on the dark side, huh?” I said as I looked at them. They were more accepting of my brand of justice lately...

“Jean, we had a wild history before having you and your sisters.” Dad was tempted to show me what he meant by taking me down memory lane. 

Eww. I didn't want to and decided that discretion was the better part of valor and said, “Fair enough. So, Saturday the 15th you said?”

Mom and Dad nodded in sync. Plans were already churning into my mind. I drained the mug full of hot chocolate and put it on the low table and stood up. “I will be ready. Good night, Mom, Dad.”

I teleported back into my room and went to brush my teeth back again. I had a visit to the astral plane to make.

 

# # #

(Samira & Destiny)

 

Astral plane

 

Samira and Irene woke up in the astral plane as expected. Irene caught Samira's hand and floated toward the island with the giant burning bird roosting in the colossal tree spreading its roots and pulling other ectoplasmic islands to form a territory. They noticed Jean waiting on a wooden throne with two others facing hers.

She waited for them after having pulled them from their dreams; Irene landed at the meeting point nested between the roots where Jean had furnished some constructs. Samira and Irene took place on their respective throne and Jean raised her hands as a bowl-like construct appeared before them. Irene smiled, with this they could show their vision to their benefactor.

"Tell me what might happen, please." Jean asked.

Irene started first and put a finger to her temple and a ball of light hovered over her index, then she threw it into the bowl. “It will go like this…”

Jean, Samira and Irene watched as the image of a big mansion slowly formed inside the bowl...

 

# # #

(Erik Lensherr aka Magneto)

 

February 14th, 1997
The Queens
Forest Hill
Park

It warmed his heart to see Wanda so happy and full of life. She was running in the park with Jean Grey, huffing and puffing at the exertion. They ran around the mini-lake; the redhead was running at full speed and kept passing Wanda and saying ‘on your left’ and Magneto could see that it was irritating his little girl. He expected Wanda to get angry and lose control, but no such thing was happening.

*At least she taught her a modicum of control it seems.* Magneto stood up from the park bench and straightened his cap, then left. He lamented how the girl could run in that weather, it was cold and also too much for his old bones. He got his answer as he saw how the girls’ tracks were full of water, somehow there was a heat field around them.

“I see, she has that much control now. Enough that getting her back won't affect her.” Magneto said out loud.

Magneto flew up, taking care of not getting detected by the redhead who seemed to become too nosey for her own good. No one will take his children from him, no one.

---

A/N: So the mini-arc with the X-men start next chapter, it's already available on Patreon!

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