Chapter 6

“Tell me, Betsy, what was your relationship with Nate like?”

Psylocke turned away from the Blackbird window to look at Jean Grey. “No offense, Jean, but I’d rather not talk about it right now.”

Jean placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “Betsy, I’m his mother. I have a right to know. Please.”

Psylocke sighed and closed her eyes. “I still remember the first time I met him. There was something about him that...made him seem totally innocent, as if he didn’t deserve to live in such a cruel world. He was just a little boy, but he was always the only one who ever treated me like a queen. I still wonder if that was because he felt sorry for me or if he really felt I deserved all that attention. Either way, he could steadily find a way to let me know he cared, even when he really didn’t care about himself.”

“I never realized Nate was so depressed until recently,” Jean said. “At first, I just assumed it was the trouble with Scott that was bothering him. I didn’t realize how much Rose meant to him until...until he said he was willing to forget he even had a family if he could just see her again.”

Psylocke shook her head. “I know you’re blaming yourself, but you shouldn’t. Nate always told me he loved you, even if he didn’t show it. He would’ve shown it more, if he had gotten along with Scott.”

“It’s not just that, Betsy. There’s so much I don’t know about my own son. You and Rose know the most about him, but he’s so secretive. Who knows what he might be hiding from us? I’m just afraid he’ll end up like Remy...”

“Not even a possibility, Red,” Wolverine growled from the pilot’s seat. “Ya got a good kid, no matter what ya don’t know ‘bout him. 'Sides, he’s been through things no kid should have to go through. He’d just rather keep all the pain to himself. Can’t say I blame him.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a transmission coming over the Blackbird’s com-unit. “Logan, is that you?”

“Long time, no see, Summers. What’s up?”

“It’s better if I explain it to you in person. Bodyslide by two, Blackbird-bound.” There was a blinding flash of light, and two more X-Men appeared on the jet.

The first was a man in his thirties. He stepped forward and winced, falling to one knee. The second, a young woman, clasped his arm and helped him up. Her long, flowing red hair and bright green eyes rivaled those of Jean Grey herself. “Hello Jean, Betsy, Logan,” she said. “You’ll have to forgive Sabre’s rudeness; he’s even more stubborn when he’s injured like this.”

Sabre mumbled something about “just a scratch,” as Rose helped him to a seat in the rear of the Blackbird. Then she gave each of them a hug, saving the last one for Logan.

“Nice to see you again, darlin’,” he said as he returned her embrace. “Now what was so important that Sabre had to teleport you both here?”

“To be perfectly blunt, I finally know where Nathan is...for now, anyway. I stumbled upon his bio-signature while checking up on the Darkness Realm, though I’m not exactly sure why he’d be there.”

“Why on Earth would you be checking up on the Darkness Realm?” Jean asked.

Rose smiled and said, “Actually, it’s not on Earth. As the name implies, it’s another realm. And as a student of the mystic arts, it’s my job to check up on it from time to time. Besides, my dearly departed Uncle Thomas used to live there.”

“I had no idea Nathan was powerful enough to teleport to other realms,” Jean said, a worried look on her face.

“It’s not as hard as you think, Jean. I’ve been there a few times, just by using mystic arts. It’s great, if you’re into the Gothic look.”

“Then...you can take us there?” Psylocke asked anxiously.

“Of course!” Rose said. Her green eyes suddenly flashed with a long-hidden power, and the Blackbird gradually faded out of sight.