Disclaimer: The X-men are copyrighted by Marvel comics. This story was created for the enjoyment of X-men fans. I am not making any money for writing this so please don't sure me.
"Life's Xcitement"
by: D Anne Paris
Chapter 1
"Chrissy, look out!" Her father's voice rang out to her.
15 year old Christina Anne Grey-Summers looked behind and saw two torpedoes coming her way. In an instant she flew off the ground and zapped the torpedoes with her opic blasts. They exploded and left thick gray smoke behind causing Chrissy to become engulfed in it. She flew even higher to escape the smoke but it didn't help. She began to cough uncontrollably as the smoke entered her lungs and eyes. The next thing she knew a mechanical tentacle grabbed by her waist and began to squeeze her. Chrissy tried to break free of the grasp but the smoke was causing her attention to falter. After what seemed like forever she heard her father zap the tentacle with his optic blast and Chrissy was free. Flying in midair she tried to control her coughing as well as get the smoke out of her eyes.
"Computer end simulation," her father's voice said.
The smoke then disappeared and Chrissy slowly made her decent to her father. The room was now returned to its original state looking like a metal cargo area then an area the X-men use to create simulations. Simulations here helped the X-men practice their skills to help humanity live in harmony.
Chrissy walked up to her father as she tried to stop wheezing from the smoke, "I'm sorry dad," she said in a whisper, "I didn't think that the torpedoes would have all that smoke."
Scott Summers, known as Cyclops to those he leads, put an arm on Chrissy's shoulder, "Don't worry Chrissy. With more practice you'll recognize that there can be a lot of different things that can happen."
Chrissy frowned and wiped her smoke filled eyes, "I guess you're right." She then looked up at him, "Do you think Mom made any cookies? I'm starving!"
Scott laughed at his daughter and wrapped his arm around her shoulder tighter, "I don't know. Let's go and see."
***
Jean Grey looked up and saw her daughter walk in the kitchen with her father. Chrissy looked so much like Scott that there was no doubt that he was her father. Chrissy's wavy dark brown hair and eyes were definitely from Scott as well as her temper. The only thing that Chrissy got from Jean was her slim figure. Chrissy's mutant powers though were a mixture of both of them. Her optic blasts were definitely from Scott and her telepathy and telekinesis where from Jean. In addition, she also could fly as well as form a protective shield around her that Scott and Jean couldn't figure out who she got from. Maybe it was from her grandfather Christopher Summers who she was named after. Or maybe it was from Jean's late best friend Annie as a gift from heaven to Jean for making Chrissy's middle name Anne in memory of her. Jean didn't care who Chrissy got her powers from, she only wanted her daughter to be happy and healthy.
"Did you make any cookies Mom?" Chrissy asked as she ran up to Jean and peered to see what she was doing.
Jean laughed and shook her head causing her curly red hair to bounce, "Of coarse I did. Do you think that I'm going to let you be hungry?" She told her as she went to the oven and pulled out the cookies.
Chrissy went to the cabinet and brought out some plates while Scott got the glasses and poured some milk in them.
Jean placed the cookies on the table and they all sat to eat and talk.
"So how did the exercise simulation go?" Jean asked as she bit into a cookie.
Chrissy frowned.
Scott looked confidently at Chrissy, "Don't look so gloomy Chrissy you did good."
"Yeah, right. I would have been crushed by a tentacle if you didn't help me," She told them as she chewed on a cookie.
Jean put her hand on Chrissy's shoulder, "Chrissy, you've only been practicing for about a year. At the rate you're going you are doing excellent. You just have to be patient."
"I've been patient for the past year. Why can't I do anything right!" Chrissy cried.
"Hey, Chrissy," her father said as he pulled her close to him, "Don't be so hard on yourself. It took both your mother and me a couple of years to finally learn how to use our powers."
"That's right, Chrissy," her mother assured her, "When we were your age we couldn't use our powers as confidently as you do now. Cheer up, you're still growing and you'll get better everyday."
Chrissy looked up at her, "You really think so,"
Jean smiled and her green eyes sparkled, "Yes, I do. You just have to be patient,"
Chrissy sighed, "I'll try."
"And we'll help you," Scott told her as he released her from his hug. "Now, why don't you two go shopping."
"That's a great idea, Scott." Jean said as she got up from her chair.
"Don't you want to come too, Daddy?" Chrissy asked.
"I have some things to do," he told them, "And besides you know how much I like to shop."
Chrissy laughed, "Yeah, you only like to window shop!"
Scott grinned, "Laugh all you want Christina Summers but you get the desire to shop from your mother not me."
Chrissy made a face at him, "Duh! Daddy! It's a woman thing! You wouldn't understand."
Scott got out of his chair and put his glass and plate in the sink. "I don't think I want to understand." He then walked up to Chrissy and kissed the top of Chrissy's head, "Trying to figure out women in general is one thing but trying figure out your own daughter is another."
Chrissy laughed and wriggled out of his grasp. Scott wouldn't let her go and began to tickle her.
Chrissy squealed in delight, "Dad! Stop it!" she said between her laughter.
"Not until you say mercy," he said smiling.
"No!" Chrissy protested. When Scott would not let up she gave up, "Okay! Mercy! Mercy!"
Scott let her loose laughing at his victory. "Summers, wins again!"
"Hey! That means that I win too!" Chrissy protested.
"You want a rematch?" Scott asked as he feigned to attack her again.
"No!" Chrissy squealed as she ran to the other corner of the kitchen.
"All right you two. Play time's over." Jean told them as she finished rinsing the last of the plates. "We want to get to the mall before it closes."
Scott went up to Jean and embraced her in his arms. "Don't be gone too long, because I'm going to miss you," he told her as he passionately kissed her.
Chrissy looked at them in their passionate embrace and laughed, "Seesh! I still can't believe I'm on only child," She grabbed some cookies and passed her parents, who were still kissing. "At the rate you two are going I'm surprised that one of you doesn't suffocate!"
Jean broke away from Scott and looked at Chrissy, "Chrissy!"
Chrissy gave an innocent smile and ran up the stairs.
"You know, she's right," Scott told Jean as he leaned closer to her.
"About what?" Jean asked puzzled.
"About the fact the she's an only child."
"Scott, we both agreed to try and not have any more children until we get married." Jean told him.
Scott sighed, "I know but with us trying to save the world from evil mutants and raising as well as protecting Chrissy, we never got the chance to actually get married."
"Maybe it's time we did," Jean told him.
"Miss Grey, are you proposing to me?" Scott asked as he held her tighter.
Her green eyes sparkled, "Well, what do you think?"
"I think that we better get married," he told her as he kissed her again with even more passion then before.
Chapter 2
Chrissy sighed as she walked through the mall with her mother. Nothing seemed interesting to her- not even the fashions. Her mind was wondering to other things that were going on in her life. The first of which was trying to control her powers. It was hard for her and it was even more stressful. In the world that she lived in people like her were feared and hated because they are different. Chrissy could never understand why everyone just didn't try and work things out instead of always putting the blame on mutants like her and her parents. The second of her problems was the fact that she was lonely and she wondered what it was like to have a boyfriend, since she never had one before. Although she was slim and had dark hair and eyes no guy seemed interested in dating her. Instead they all stayed away from her as if she had a disease that they could catch. Chrissy walked by a shop and saw a cute black miniskirt that she would look good in.
Her mother stopped and saw what Chrissy was looking at, "Do you want to go in and try it out?"
Chrissy looked through the window and saw behind her a couple that walked passed them. They were holding each other's hands and laughing at some personal joke. Chrissy's interest in the skirt faded away. "No, it's not my style," she lied as she turned around.
"Hey," her mother grabbed her and turned Chrissy to face her, "What's wrong?" Worry started to show in her eyes, "You don't seem like yourself."
Chrissy looked at the floor, "I just don't feel well,"
Jean placed her hands on Chrissy's shoulders and looked at her with deep concern in her eyes, "You want to go home?"
Chrissy looked up at her mother and saw behind her another happy couple walking in the mall. This time they were more towards her age and Chrissy felt her inner soul sag at the sight, "Yeah, can we go home." Then she looked at her mother, "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to ruin our shopping trip."
Jean gripped Chrissy's shoulders tighter, "You didn't ruin anything Chrissy. It's all right." she took her daughter and squeezed her, "We can always shop some other day, okay?"
Chrissy nodded and once again looked at the floor, thinking about her life and how depressing it was.
As they walked towards the door they met Storm and Rogue, two other X-men who lived in the X-mansion with Chrissy and her parents.
Storm, or Ororo Monroe as is her real name, had an air of command and dignity about her. Standing 5'11" and able to control the weather, Ororo was the second in command to the X-men. Her cloud white hair and dark skin made a different combination and a rather attractive one. Whenever Storm walked down the street many men looked at her. Chrissy always admired her for her coolness in battle and how patient she was. When Chrissy was 6 she broke Storm's favorite painted plate and Storm didn't even shout at her. Instead, she said accidents happen and picked up the pieces of the broken plate.
Rogue, though till today no one still doesn't know her real name, was different. Standing 3 inches shorter then Storm she was the energy of the team. Hailing from the South, Rogue's southern accent and brown curly hair and white streak made her irresistible to most men. Yet her powers prevented her from touching any human being. Touching them would cause them to fall into a coma while Rogue absorbed their memories and maybe even their inner soul. Still Rogue always had a sense of humor and goodwill towards others.
Rogue smiled at Jean and Chrissy and drawled, "Howdy, gals. How come ya'll leavin' so soon?"
Jean smiled at her friend, "Chrissy doesn't feel well so we're going home."
Storm looked at Chrissy with concern, "If you're not feeling well then why don't you go see Hank."
Dr. Henry 'Hank' McCoy, also known as Beast because of his blue fur and animal like characteristics, was another mutant who lived in the Mansion. He was a genius when it came to science and Chrissy always adored how lighthearted he was.
"No, I'll be fine," Chrissy told Storm, "I just have a headache. It'll go away."
Rogue smiled, "Of coarse it will, gal. A headache won't ever stop ya. You're too energetic."
Chrissy laughed at that. When she was 7 Rogue was the only member of the X-men who could catch up with her and her playful manner.
"I'm not as young as I use to be Rogue," Chrissy commented.
"To us you still are the rambunctious child that was born in the X-mansion." Storm told her smiling as she thought of the past.
They then all said their good-byes and left to go their separate ways.
***
Chrissy laid on her bed and flipped through a teen magazine. Her interest wasn't on the magazine though. Her mind drifted towards her future and what it was going to be like. Pushing the magazine aside, Chrissy strode to her window and looked at the night sky. From her second story room everything looked peaceful. The long driveway could be seen extending from the main gates, which were a couple yards away. Trees covered the mansion as if hiding Chrissy's presence from the rest of the world. All the stars were shining outside and crickets could be heard stringing their own song. Resting her chin on the windowsill, Chrissy looked out into the dark night as if seeing her future ahead of her.
Just then the main gates opened and a car drove down the driveway. Chrissy got up and looked at the car. As it got closer she recognized it being Rogue's car and she smiled as she realized that they would probably drop from shopping for so long.
When the car stopped in front of the main doors Rogue stepped out of the car and carried out a girl's body.
Chrissy leaned out the window, "Rogue, who's the sleeping visitor?"
Rogue looked up and saw Chrissy, "I don't know her name but a robot wanted her badly cuz' she's a mutant."
Chrissy froze, "Robot?"
Rogue flew inside and Storm followed her.
Chrissy didn't waste any time as she flew downstairs to the med ward. When she got there Beast was looking over the girl as Rogue, Storm, and Cyclops watched.
"She's fine, just sleeping," He told them. "Right now she just needs rest, so I suggest we leave her alone,"
Chrissy turned to Rogue and Storm, "What happened to her? You said something about robots."
They looked uncertain about what to tell her and they turned to Cyclops.
Cyclops took hold of Chrissy's shoulders and said, "I need to talk to you, Chrissy,"
Chrissy felt the fear in her father's voice and followed him out of the med ward. They went down the hallway and stepped into the war room, where the X-men's meetings usually took place. Chrissy sat down in one of the chairs by the meeting table.
"You can tell it to me straight, Dad," she told him as he sat down across from her, "I'm not a little kid anymore. I have to know what's going on."
Cyclops sighed, "I guess you're right Chrissy. You aren't a little girl anymore." He folded his hands in front of him, "There are new anti-mutant robots on the loose. Who made them, we don't know but we know that their mission is to capture mutants,"
Chrissy looked at him, "Did you know about this before?"
Cyclops shook his head, "No, none of us know anything about this until the robots came after that girl at the mall."
"What are we going to do then?"
Cyclops looked at her. Christina was his only child and only known relative. He couldn't and he wouldn't ever loose her, "I'm not going to lie to you, Chrissy. I don't know what we're going to do. Professor X is deciding right now how we're going to handle this."
Chrissy got up and paced the room.
Cyclops could tell that she was irritated. He himself would pace around a room when he was irritated. "Chrissy, sit down."
Chrissy looked at him, "Why does everyone hate us?"
Cyclops sighed, "People are just afraid of us because they don't understand what our powers could do."
"Well, why don't they just stop being afraid and leave us alone!" she yelled as her uncontrollable temper kicked in.
Cyclops stood up and tried to grab her shoulders but she pulled away, "Chrissy, stop this. As far as we know there might only be ten of these robots."
Chrissy faced her father, "Why does there have to be hate in this world, Dad? Why can't I walk down the street at night in peace instead of always looking over my shoulder to make sure no one with a knife is behind me?" She shook her head. "Why do I always have to be afraid? Why?" Chrissy asked as anger seeped into her.
Cyclops took hold of Chrissy by the shoulders and calmly told her. "I wish that I had the answers that you want Chrissy, but I don't."
Chrissy broke free from his grasp. She then looked back at Cyclops, "Dad, I feel like I'm living in hell."
Cyclops sighed, "We all feel that way, Chrissy."
"If you all feel the same way then how do you go on living your life?"
"We have hope that someday humans and mutants will live peacefully together. Hope is what keeps all of us going."
Chrissy looked in disbelief, "That's it?"
"Yes,"
"How can something like hope keep you going?" She asked him.
"Well, I'll give you an example." He told her, "When I first met your Mom, when she moved in the mansion to become an X-man, I instantly fell head over heels for her. But Angel and Beast as well as Iceman constantly tried to get her attention in any way they could,"
"In any way?" Chrissy asked coyingly.
Scott grinned, Chrissy was definitely going through puberty. He looked at her and replied. "Yes, by giving her flowers, candy, taking her to the movies, that kind of thing." Cyclops told her.
"Oh," Chrissy said, with somewhat disappointment at not being able to hear what antics her uncles tried in order to swoon her mother.
"Well, anyway." Scott continued, "I was an orphan and when I came to become an X-man I had nothing- no money, no friends, not even a family. But I always hung on to hope that your mother would feel the same way about me."
"And how did you find out?" Chrissy asked curiously as her parents past was slowly being unfurled to her.
"Well, we talked to each other and one day it just sort of came out." Cyclops told her as he omitted how their intimate celebration was like.
Still, Chrissy knew he was hiding something, "So when did I come into the picture? I know that I wasn't planned." she probed.
Cyclops could feel himself turning red, "Well, let's just say you unexpectedly popped up and surprised us."
"Popped up? Come on Dad! Don't tell me the stork just dropped me on the front step!" Chrissy said.
Cyclops chuckled, "OH, so your mother told you already huh?"
"Told me? She never told me anything and I know that I wasn't left by a stork!" Chrissy told him laughing.
Cyclops let her go and walked out of the War Room. "Why? Don't you believe me?"
Chrissy ran after him, "No, I don't and for your information I do know where baby's come from! They come from..." Her father placed his hand over her mouth.
"Zip it Chris." He said with a smile, "We'll talk about this later." With that he left and headed upstairs.
"OH!" Chrissy feigned frustration, "Why won't you tell me how I got here?!"
Gambit and Rogue came down the corridor and heard her remark.
Gambit was the first to speak, "Well, it's quite simple, chere. You got a man an den you got a woman..."
"Forget it Gambit!" Chrissy told him as she strolled past him and Rogue.
"I don't think I can forget something like dat, chere. Rogue and I are going to do dat to have children of our own." He leaned closer towards Rogue and tried to kiss her.
Rogue instantly pushed him away, "Get away Remy. You want to end up unconscious."
Remy smiled, "Sure why not."
Rogue flew away leaving Remy alone, "Woman, huh." he muttered as he walked down to the rec room.
Chapter 3
Chrissy paced her room as her anger started to gnaw at her. She wasn't angry about her father not telling her how she came into the picture, since she was just joking about that. It was the fact that humans hated her and other mutants like her. Couldn't she for once be able to go somewhere and not worry about anyone looking at her strangely because she had mutant powers? Chrissy grabbed one of her pillows and flung it at the door... and missed Professor X by a hair!
Chrissy instantly felt guilty, "I'm sorry, Grandpa!" she told him as he entered her room in his hoverchair.
Professor X picked up her pillow and handed it to her, "I can see that you're angry about something."
Chrissy took the pillow and put it on her bed. She then looked at Xavier and sighed. Ever since she was a little girl her parents always told her to call the Professor- Grandpa. To her parents he was a father so to her he was a grandfather and that's exactly what he was- a loving, caring, grandfather who always tried to make her smile and to sometimes spoil her when her parents weren't looking.
Chrissy sat down on her bed and looked at her grandfather, "Why do humans hate us?"
Professor X nodded his head and told her, "They're afraid of us, Chrissy. And their fear is what drives them towards hatred. They use that fear as a motive for violence against us."
"But why can't they just accept us? Why don't they just ask us- 'What do your powers do?' and then just make peace with it?" Chrissy asked.
"It's not that simple. There are many people who are very ignorant and they'd just rather blame all of society's problems on us."
Chrissy got up and paced the room again, reminding Professor X a lot of Chrissy's father when he becomes irritated, "Chrissy, in time humans will understand us and accept us."
Chrissy stopped and looked at him, "In time? That could be in the next one hundred years! By that time I'll be dead!"
"Chrissy..." Xavier said as he floated towards her in his hoverchair. "You have to be patient and understanding. Your anger won't help the situation at all."
Chrissy knelt in front of his hoverchair, "I know it won't but I feel like I'm in this cage and the humans are outside mocking me and laughing at me just like..."
Xavier picked up her thought, "Just like the kids in grammar school did to you."
Chrissy shook her head trying to block the memories of Westchester Elementary, the second grammar school that she attended from 6th grade through 8th. "They were so mean there. Even though I didn't have any mutant powers yet they still mocked me because I didn't go to dances or because I didn't have a boyfriend." Chrissy closed her eyes as she felt the deep anger creep up again, "Even after Cindy died they kept on mocking me. They saw that I was crying, that I was hurt deeply and yet they just kept at it!" At this point Chrissy began to cry.
Charles Xavier never could stand to see his granddaughter cry. He bent down and tilted her head up and looked at her, "Chrissy, even though those memories were painful for you, you have to remember to forgive and forget otherwise you'll just be like the humans that hate us."
"But I never did anything bad to anyone at Westchester! Why did I have to suffer three years of that!?" Chrissy asked again with tear-filled eyes.
"You were an outsider, Chrissy. Maybe that whole situation was to prepare you for the life that you are going to live out."
"I don't know if I can ever forgive all of them. I mean they all laughed at me when I was crying for my best friend who was dying from cancer! Now tell me, grandpa, do you think that I still should learn to forgive them?" Chrissy said as anger once again seeped into her veins.
Xavier nodded, "Yes, believe me Chrissy, I went through the same thing as a boy because I knew my step-father only married my mother for her money and he never loved me. But you, you have a whole family here who loves you. And now that you're in high school you're starting to make new friends like- what's that young lady's name who constantly calls you and talks your ear off?"
Chrissy laughed and wiped some tears from her face, "It's Cat and yes she does talk my ear off but I like talking to her. She's a very nice person."
Xavier smiled, "There, you see. Things will get better in time and your old scars will fade away."
Chrissy smiled and then looked at her dresser mirror. "Not all my scars will fade away," she walked to the mirror and took a picture, that was taped to it, off. Bringing it to Xavier, they both looked at it. In it Chrissy was about 8 and her best friend Cindy was 7. They were in the mansion's swimming pool and both of them were trying to swim with life vests on. "Do you think that she's happy in heaven, grandpa?"
Xavier looked at the little girl in the picture. She was so young when she died of cancer and Xavier could remember the sorrow that all the X-men felt during that time. Cindy was so close to all of them- Rogue, Storm, Gambit, even Wolverine. She was able to make everyone smile, laugh, and see that there were brighter spots in life. Xavier looked at Chrissy and smiled, "I know that she is Chrissy. And right now she's probably thinking 'Why is Chrissy crying again for me? Why doesn't she just get on with her life?' "
That made Chrissy laugh, "She always made me smile. I don't ever think that I'll stop missing her, grandpa. She was like my twin,"
"Now there's a thought. Two Christina Summers running around the X-Mansion." Xavier exclaimed.
Chrissy laughed and hugged her grandfather, "Thank you, Grandpa. I'll think about what you said."
Xavier handed her back the picture. "Good, because I want to see you among the heroes of Earth's history, not the villains."
"Okay," Chrissy said as she placed the picture back on the mirror.
Xavier turned his hoverchair and headed for the door but then stopped, "By the way, why don't you check on our visitor?"
Chrissy turned around, confused, "Visitor?" then she remember the girl that was in the med ward, "Oh, okay, yeah. I'll go check on her."
With that she ran ahead of the Professor and down the stairs to the sub basement. Chrissy traveled down the long corridor and came to the door of the med ward. Looking at it she saw that the handle was blown open. "Oh, great!" Chrissy exclaimed as she ran to the nearest communication panel. She touched the panel and a monotone feminine voice answered,
"Hello, Christina Anne Grey-Summers, how may I serve you?"
"Cerebro, where is the patient that was in the med ward?"
"Scanning," the computer replied. "Mutant female is on the roof of the X-mansion,"
"The roof?!" Chrissy exclaimed as she ran down the corridor, "Oh, great! What if she's planning on committing suicide?" Chrissy left that thought unanswered and ran up the stairs towards the first floor. She then took to flight as she went out the front door and flew up towards the roof. There she found the girl with Storm and she sighed in relief.
Storm spotted her and waved her to come to them.
Chrissy landed slowly on the roof and looked at the girl. She was a Chinese girl about 13 years old maybe younger with short black hair and dark brown eyes. Chrissy walked up to her slowly and extended a hand in greeting, "Hi, my name's Christina. Everyone here calls me Chris, Chrissy, or Christy and my Mom and Dad usually call me Christina Anne Grey-Summers when I'm in trouble. But you can take your pick."
The girl smiled and shook Chrissy's hand, "My name's Jubilation Lee but everyone calls me Jubilee."
"That's a cool name. I guess that you've already met Ororo." Chrissy said looking at Storm.
The girl looked a bit confused. "Who?"
Storm smiled, "She means me, Child. Ororo Monroe is my real name but everyone calls me Storm here."
"Yeah," Chrissy interjected, "That's because she can control the weather."
"Yeah, I know. She showed me." Jubilee stated as she looked at both of them, "So you're a mutant too?" she asked Chrissy.
Chrissy nodded, "Yeah, I am. I'm a really messed up case." Chrissy said laughing.
Storm looked at her strictly, "Christina, that is no way to talk about yourself."
Chrissy looked at Storm, "I'm just kidding, Aunt 'Ro." looking at Jubilee she said, "Speaking seriously, I can fly, produce optic blasts, form a tight protective shield around me, move objects by telekinesis, and am a telepath."
The girl's eyes almost popped out. "You can do all that? All I can do is fire fireworks from my fingers."
Chrissy smiled, "Hey, that's a pretty awesome power. You don't have to worry about buying fireworks for the fourth of July."
The girl began to laugh and Storm smiled.
"I think we better go inside," Storm suggested after their laughter died. They went down the stairs into the attic and took another flight of stairs down again.
"Boy, this place is huge." Jubilee exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's a great place to have parties." Chrissy joked as they turned a corner.
"There you are!" Cyclops said as he almost ran into them. "Where have you guys been?"
Chrissy looked at her father, "On the roof."
Cyclops nodded, "Okay, Chrissy why don't you show Miss Lee to the guest bedroom."
Chrissy nodded, "Okay, Dad. Come on Jubilee, this way." they went down the hallway leaving Cyclops and Storm behind to talk about the situation.
When Chrissy and Jubliee were out of earshot Cyclops asked Storm, "What did you find out?"
Storm shook her head, "Jubilee's a foster child. Her parents died when she was very young. She's very frustrated that she's a mutant and she doesn't understand why humans hate her."
Cyclops looked to the area where the girls went to, "I think that it'll be a good idea if Chrissy hung around her a while. She could teach Jubilee a lot of things and Chrissy wouldn't feel so lonely in this house."
Storm nodded, "I think that they will both learn much from each other." Looking once again at Cyclops she asked, "What about the robots?"
Cyclops sighed, "We don't know very much about them other then they want to capture mutants. I'm going to go call Jubilee's foster parents to let them know that she's okay. In the meantime I suggest we find out as much as we can about these robots. I don't want them going after innocent kids like Jubilee and Chrissy." with that he turned around and headed back downstairs. Storm waited a while and wondered what was happening on this Earth. It seemed to be getting more and more violent every time she got out the door. 'What is it going to be like for Christina when she gets older?' Storm thought as she followed Cyclops.
Chapter 4
"So Cyclops is your Dad?" Jubliee asked when they got into the guest bedroom.
"Yes, he is." Chrissy said as she went into the closet and floated up to grab some towels.
Jubliee was momentarily stunned at how easily Chrissy floated, "You know that is so cool."
Chrissy glanced back at her, "What being his daughter?"
Jubilee shook her head, "No, you being able to float like that."
"Well, it's simple only after you practice a lot." Chrissy explained as she handed Jubilee the towels, "You'll be able to control your powers, too. You just need the training."
"Who taught you?"
Chrissy smiled, "My Mom and Dad did."
Studying her Jubliee asked, "Is Cyclops your real father?"
"Yeah, he is. Why do you keep on asking me that?"
Jubilee shrugged her shoulders, "He just looks too young to be your Dad."
Chrissy nodded, "That's because I was born when my parents were both 18."
"18!?" Jubliee exclaimed, "So wait a minute, how old are you?"
"15."
"So your parents are both 33?" Jubliee asked.
"No, they're 28."
"What!?" Jubliee exclaimed, "But you just said..."
"That's because when I was younger a man injected me with a growth hormone that made me grow faster."
"What!?" Jubliee asked stunned as she looked at Chrissy, "Why did the guy do that?"
Chrissy turned and looked at her, "Mr. Sinister, that's his name, is obsessed with my parents genes. Ever since I was born he always tried to kidnap me because he believed that I would be the most powerful mutant on Earth."
Jubliee shook her head in amazement, "That is so weird."
"Well, that's not even the whole story." Chrissy sat down next to Jubliee, "When I was five years old he finally kidnapped me and took me to his lab in a tropical island. I remember that well because I remember thinking how much I felt like going swimming. Well, the next thing I knew I was shoved into a cylinder and I was crying." she paused and recalled the memory, "I felt like I was suffocating in there. It was so stuffy and hot- hotter then the environment outside. After what seemed like forever, Mr. Sinister came with what looked like a gun and then next thing I knew- I was back at the mansion and my parents were hovering over me like crazy."
"What happened in the time that you were unconscious?"
"From what Mom and Dad tell me, Sinister shot me with the ray gun but they intercepted him before I got the full dose of the growth hormone. When they got me back to the mansion Dr. McCoy quickly injected me with a substance that slowed down my growth. Still, I aged 5 years during a 2 year span before my natural growth hormones took over."
"That must have been traumatic for you."
"It was but I've gotten over it." Chrissy said as she stood up and looked in the mirror. "Still, I can't believe that I'm really 10 years old. It sometimes shocks me how much of my childhood I lost over that." she then turned around and headed for the door. "Well, if you need anything my room is down the hall. You can't miss it because I have a Star Trek: Voyager poster on it."
"All right. Thanks." Jubliee replied as she still sat on the bed.
"No problem," Chrissy left Jubliee's room but didn't really feel like going to her own. She went downstairs and plopped on the couch in the living room.
"You okay?" asked a voice from the other side of the room. Chrissy looked up and saw Austin Smith, aka Slingshot because of his ability to leap high bounds, standing in the doorway. Only 3years older then Chrissy, and very similar in appearance with brown eyes and dark brown hair, Austin was the newest member of the X-team.
"I'm fine, just tired." she told him as she moved over to make room for him.
He sat down next to her, "You do look really tired. What did you do today, fight an army?"
Chrissy laughed, "No, but I did train in the Danger Room today."
Austin shook his head, "Well, that explains it. To me the Danger Room is the army."
Smiling, Chrissy answered, "Well, after a while you sometimes forget that it's really a simulation."
Austin nodded, "Well, simulations are good but I'd rather be part of the real action."
Chrissy nodded her head, "I know how you feel, Austin, but Dad hasn't said anything so I really don't know when either of us will be on the team."
Austin looked disappointed but didn't say anything. He grabbed the remote and began to flip through the channels until he stopped at one in particular. "Now this looks good."
Chrissy looked at the TV. Women in small tight bikinis were running around on the beach. Chrissy realized what show it was. "Baywatch?" she exclaimed, "Oh, come on! Don't tell me you actually want to watch this?"
Austin looked at her, "Hey, there's a lot of women in tight small bathing suits, so of coarse I'm going to watch it!"
Chrissy felt disgust come over her, "Fine," she said as she stood up, "If you like watching silicon stuffed women that have strings as bathing suits then be my guest." she crossed to the other side of the room and then told him, "But don't expect regular girls to watch it with you." with that she walked out.
Austin ran out of the living room and grabbed her arm to stop her, "Wait Chrissy."
Chrissy didn't look at him, "What do you want?"
"Please," he asked her, "Look at me."
Chrissy looked at him and saw in his eyes that he was genuinely sorry,
"If I said anything to hurt you, I'm sorry." he told her.
"You can't help it if you like to watch those kind of women on TV."
Austin looked a bit ashamed, "Look, the truth is that- I like you."
Chrissy almost laughed out loud, "Yeah right, funny Austin."
Austin took hold of her shoulders and looked into her eyes, "I'm serious Chrissy." He told her, "I like you and I'd like to go out with you."
Chrissy still couldn't believe her ears. "Austin if this is one of your practical jokes..."
"This is not a joke!" he snapped. "But if you don't feel the same way about me then..."
"No, Austin." Chrissy stopped him as she realized that he was indeed serious, "I always thought that no guy would want to date me."
"What? Why do you think that?"
"I had a really though time in grammar school, Austin. Everyone there made fun of me and said things like I'm too ugly and that I'll never have a boyfriend and bunch of other stuff that I want to forget."
"Chrissy, they were wrong." Austin told her as he took hold of her hands. "You are very beautiful and I was actually surprised to find out that you never had a boyfriend. You're really beautiful, Chrissy."
Chrissy felt tears form and she tried hard to hide them as she told him, "Thank you, Austin."
Austin bent down and gently kissed her lips as he wrapped his arms around her.
Chrissy didn't resist and she enveloped her arms around his neck and enjoyed her first kiss.
Jean and Scott rounded the corner of the hallway and found Austin and Chrissy kissing.
Seeing Chrissy kissing Austin made Scott's fraternal instincts kick in. He was about to pull the two of them apart but was stopped by Jean who pulled him back around the corner.
She's not five years old, Scott, she's fifteen. Jean telepathically told him, You can't keep her locked up in her room for the rest of her life.
Scott looked at Jean and realized that she was right. Chrissy was fifteen and as much as he wanted to he couldn't keep her locked up. You're right. he told her through their psychic rapport. But if he hurts my little girl...!
Jean smiled and giggled as quietly as she could manage, You sound just like my father when I told him I was dating you!
Scott smiled, Well, your father was only trying to protect you.
Just like you're trying to protect Chrissy. Jean commented.
Just then they heard Chrissy and Austin talking.
"Okay," Chrissy was saying, "I'll be ready at 10 tomorrow morning."
"Right. I've got some errands to run so maybe I'll see you later." Austin told her.
"Okay, I'll see you later then."
With that Austin turned and left down the corridor. He turned the corner and walked right into Scott and Jean. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Summers, Ms. Grey, I didn't..."
"Don't worry Austin, it's okay." Jean told him as she gently patted his shoulder.
Scott didn't say a thing but kept his gaze at Austin as if trying to make him quiver in fright.
Austin noticed Scott's gaze as well as guessed what Scott was thinking. He slowly turned and walked as fast as he could manage without making it look like he was running away.
Scott looked at Chrissy sternly.
Chrissy blushed and bit her lip, "I, um..." she began. She looked up at her father and knew that he was not happy with what he saw.
Jean came up behind Chrissy and wrapped her arm around her shoulder, "Why don't you come and help me with dinner?"
Chrissy sighed and telepathically thanked her mother, "Sure, Mom."
They both passed Scott who was grumbling under his breath about something that Chrissy did not want to know about. Jean and Chrissy headed towards the kitchen while Scott went the other way and headed towards the basement. When Jean and Chrissy safely made it into the kitchen Chrissy asked,
"Is Dad really mad?"
Jean smiled and took out the cutting board, "He'll get over it, Chrissy, don't worry."
Chrissy went into the fridge and took out some vegetables. "I'm just afraid of what he'll do to Austin."
"Oh, he'll just blast him a few times, that's all."
Chrissy looked at her mother with a horrified look on her face.
Jean laughed and patted Chrissy on the shoulder, "I'm just kidding Chrissy. Your father wouldn't do anything like that."
Chrissy sighed in relief, "You had me there for a second."
She then reached into the fridge and took out some tomatoes. "But seriously Mom, what does Dad think of Austin."
Jean shrugged her shoulders, "I really don't know Chrissy. Austin's only been here for about 7 weeks so I don't think that your father has an opinion about him. But I'm sure he'll form one right away after you start dating him." she said with a smile as she placed a pot on the stove.
Chrissy began slicing the tomatoes, "I'm just worried that I'm going to tarnish Austin's chance to be a X-men."
Jean looked puzzled, "Really? How?"
Chrissy looked down and concentrated slicing the tomatoes, "Well, if Austin and I do become a couple- I'm afraid Dad's going to get his revenge by cutting Austin's chances of getting on the team."
"Don't worry about that Chrissy. He will never judge Austin based on the fact that he's your boyfriend." Jean assured her.
"I hope that you're right." Chrissy said as she dumped the tomatoes into the salad bowl. "Speaking of getting on the team, when will I finally be part of the team?"
Jean looked at her daughter. Chrissy was very smart and intelligent as well as gifted with her powers. Jean personally didn't want Chrissy to go out into field combat. Chrissy was her only child and the X-men have lost some of their own before. Jean didn't want to ever see her only child buried on the Mansion grounds with the other past X-men. If it were Jean's choice she would never allow Chrissy to be part of the team. But it wasn't her choice- it was Cyclops, Storm, and Professor Xavier's choice and Jean had to trust their judgement on whether Chrissy was ready or not.
"Mom?" Chrissy's voice broke through, "Mom, are you okay?"
Jean looked up from the soup that she was stirring, "I'm sorry Chrissy. What were you saying?"
"I asked when I'm going to be part of the team."
Jean shook her head, "I don't know Chrissy. Your Dad hasn't said anything."
"Oh," Turning her attention on the lettuce, Chrissy began to tear it and put it in the salad bowl.
Jean could feel the sorrow that was emanating from Chrissy. She put down the wooden spoon she was stirring with and walked over to Chrissy, "Chrissy, your father knows what he's doing. When he feels that you're ready to be part of the team he'll make you part of it."
A
Well, I get the feeling that he=s going to put my on the team when I turn thirty.@ Chrissy grumbled.A
Chrissy,@ Jean gently said, ABeing part of the X-men isn't easy at all. It's a very dangerous job and you can get hurt or even killed.@ Jean turned Chrissy around and looked into her chocolate brown eyes. AYou still have a long life in front of you and you shouldn't have the extra stress of being part of the X-men right now.@Chrissy sighed,
ABut I want to help. I want to help stop the people who hate us.@A
Chrissy, you can help by just being you. We all love to see your smile when we get back from a mission. We love the way you try and make us all smile even when things are tough. You're very special Chrissy and you help the team in ways you don't even know.@ Jean told her convincingly.Chrissy thought about what her mother told her. Could it be that she lightened the X-men
=s tiresome days? Chrissy looked at her mother, AI guess that you're right, Mom.@Jean embraced Chrissy,
AI am right Chrissy. So never ever forget that everyone here loves you the way you are.@They released each other and went back to getting dinner ready for the X-men.
Chapter 5
A half an hour later the X-men began to gather to eat in the dining room.
A
W=at=s dis stuff, chere?@ Gambit asked Chrissy as he took an egg roll from a bowl that she placed on the table.Chrissy looked at him,
AIt=s a Chinese egg roll. Try it, it=s great.@Cautious Gambit slowly bit into the roll,
AIt not bad but since you cooking today why don=t you make Gambit something hot and spicy?@Chrissy grinned,
AHow about fried Cajun?@Rogue and Cyclops couldn
=t contain their laughter at the remark.Gambit shot a glance at Rogue and she smiled.
A
Ya got what ya deserve, sugar.@ she told him as she sat down beside him.Gambit ignored her remark as he turned to Cyclops,
ADen=t you ever teach da girl to respect people old=r den her?@Cyclops shrugged his shoulders,
AI did but I guess that she took up some bad manners from the Cajun that lives here.@Wolverine walked in and chuckled at Cyclops
= comment.A
We pickin= on the Cajun today?@ he asked as he took a seat and grabbed an egg roll.Chrissy came back and put the salad down,
AYup. He was being mean to me.@ She told him as she strolled back into the kitchen.Just then Professor Xavier and Storm entered the dining room.
A
Who=s being mean to Chrissy?@ The professor asked.Wolverine grinned,
AIt was Gumbo.@Gambit sat back in his seat and casually replied,
AI=m not bein= mean, mon ami. I ask petite, if she'd make her Uncle Remy sometin= better.@A
It sounded like a command to me.@ Scott grumbled as he walked into the kitchen.A
How would you know what a command sounds like, mon ami? Since you da one always givin= dem.@Cyclops stopped in his tracks and was about to reply when Chrissy pushed her way through him.
A
Don=t Daddy.@ she whispered past him.Placing the gravy on the table she looked around to see who else was missing. Austin went out on an errand and was going to be back later. Jubliee...
A
Where=s Jubilee?@ she asked.A
She=s probably still in her room.@ Jean called out from the kitchen. AWhy don=t you go get her.@A
Sure.@ with that Chrissy moved around the table and dashed up the stairs.A
Da girl sure got energy.@ Gambit said as he bit into a piece of chicken.***
A
Jubilee?@ Chrissy knocked, AJubilee, we=re having dinner now, why don=t you join us. You must be hungry.@ When there was no reply she slowly cracked open the door and peeked inside. No one was there.A
Oh, great!@ Chrissy hissed as she opened the door wider. AThe kid split!@ She ran around the top floor and still no one was there.Running back down the stairs she entered the dining room.A
She=s gone!@ she told the X-men.A
Who? Jubilee?@ Storm asked."Yeah, she's not in her room or anywhere upstairs." Chrissy told them.
A
Then we=ve got to go find her.@ Cyclops told them. AThere are probably more of those robots out there.@Everyone left their seats and headed down to the War Room.
Chrissy started to follow them but her father stopped her.
A
You stay here, Chrissy.@A
But, why? You may need my help.@ Chrissy explained.A
Chrissy, we=ve been through this before and you know that I don=t want you to go along with us on missions until you=re ready.@A
But Daddy...@A
No, Chrissy. Stay here. Maybe Jubliee will call.@ Cyclops told her.Chrissy felt aggravated,
AYeah, right she=s going to call. She doesn=t even know the phone number!@Cyclops stood his ground,
AEnd of discussion, Christina.@Chrissy knew that she was beat especially when her father started calling her Christina.
AFine.@ She turned and headed up the stairs.A
Chrissy.@ her father called.A
What!?@ Chrissy snapped back at him.Cyclops felt his blood boil. He never thought that being a parent would be this tough.
ADon=t you use that tone with me, Christina Anne Grey-Summers.@Chrissy spun around fuming even more then her father,
AOh, really? And what are you going to do, ground me? Because if you haven=t noticed, Dad, you can=t keep me bolted down especially when I have stronger mutant powers then all the X-men combined!@Worry struck Scott
=s heart. Chrissy was right. She did have great mutant powers and if she ever unleashed them she=d be able to beat all the X-men single-handedly, and that worried Scott. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Where was Jean? He needed her to help him out. As if an answer to his prayer Jean emerged up from the basement.A
Scott, everyone=s waiting for you.@ she told him in her gentle voice.Scott nodded his head and then turned his attention towards Chrissy.
AWe=ll finish this discussion later, Christina.@ He turned to leave with Jean but stopped when Chrissy shouted.A
Don=t be so sure that I=ll be here when you come back, Dad.@Scott and Jean turned to face her but Chrissy was already gone.
Jean looked at Scott with worry,
AScott, what is she talking about?@He didn
=t answer but ran up the stairs and headed towards Chrissy=s room. He found her door open but she was no where in sight. Jean caught up with him and asked, AScott, what is going on?@Scott didn
=t answer again as he looked around Chrissy=s room. Her coat was missing and the window was open. It was pretty cold outside so it would be pointless to open the window.Scott looked out the window,
ADamn it!@A
Scott, what is going on!@ Jean yelled.Scott turned and looked at her,
AChrissy wanted to go with us to help find Jubliee. I told her no and she just snapped.@ He looked around the room to try to find any kind of clue that would tell him where Chrissy went. Jean came up behind him and grabbed his hand.A
Scott, what did she say?@Scott squeezed her hand,
AShe said that I couldn=t ground her because she=d be able to escape.@ He paused, AShe then said that she was more powerful then the X-men and she seemed to enjoy that fact.@ He then looked at Jean, ADamn it, Jean! What did we do to make her act like this?@Jean leaned against Cyclops
= shoulder, AI don=t know Scott. Sometimes great power can corrupt a person and Chrissy isn't ready for this kind of power. We=ve got to do something to show her that she=s wrong.@Scott sighed,
AI know, Jean.But what?@Jean shook her head,
AI don=t know. Oh, God Scott, what if one of those robots gets her?@Scott felt a bunch of emotions well up inside him. He squeezed Jean
=s hand with reassurance, AWe=ll make sure that doesn=t happen, Jean.@ They both left Chrissy=s room and headed down into the basement.A
The X-men are going to stop these robots.@ he told Jean as they headed toward the War Room. AWe=ll fight them till the end but they won=t ever hurt our daughter.@Chapter 6
Chrissy flew through the sky like a bird that was finally set free. She enjoyed the feeling of having wind blow through her hair. Looking down she saw all the houses below, some with their lawns neatly trimmed, others with a mess as a backyard. Chrissy slowly descended into a forest near the neighborhood and landed. Slowly, she walked out of the forest and on to the sidewalk. She didn
=t know where she planned on going but she knew that it had to be far away from home. Turning left, Chrissy kept on walking till she got on a busy street. With her mind wandering she continued to walk until she realized that she was in downtown New York. A smile lit her face.A
Dad and Mom would have the biggest fit if they found out that I was in downtown New York alone.@ with that she resumed her walking until she came up to a McDonalds. Her stomach began to rumble and she realized that she didn=t eat dinner at all. Digging into her pockets she pulled out a 5 dollar bill and a few quarters and dimes.A
I guess I=ll have to manage somehow.@ Chrissy mumbled as she entered the fast food place. Ordering herself a cheeseburger and small Coke Chrissy sat down at a table by the window. While eating her cheeseburger Chrissy glanced at the people passing by. Some were tall, others short and they all where going somewhere or maybe going to see a someone.That
=s all I need right now, Chrissy thought to herself, is for my conscience to go on a ride of guilt. I=m 15, I should have a certain amount of independence in my life. Just then Chrissy glanced at the door. She couldn=t believe her eyes- Austin just came in and he wasn=t alone. A tall blonde girl about two years older then Chrissy, was hanging on to him like a clinging vine. Chrissy tried to keep her mouth from dropping and from being spotted. They both went up to the counter and Chrissy couldn=t help but stare. Austin seemed to be enjoying the girl=s company and he seemed to enjoy the looks that other women where giving him.Well, Austin. I know that you wouldn
=t like the kind of look I=m giving you right now. Chrissy mentally said.Austin suddenly turned and looked around the restaurant.
Chrissy swore at herself. Her powers still didn
=t work 100% which caused problems. One of which occurred right by accidentally throwing a mental thought at Austin, which he heard. Chrissy quickly finished off her sandwich and grabbed her soda. Before she could make it to the door a loud roar was heard outside and the ground shook. Looking out the window Chrissy saw what was causing the sound and she tried to calm her heart, which almost leaped out through her throat. Outside, in the middle of the street stood a huge robot the size of one of the smaller skyscrapers.A
What is it?@ a person asked as a crowd looked through the window.An elderly man came beside Chrissy and whistled when he saw the robot.
AIt sure isn=t Superman!@Chrissy felt her heart begin to race. What if this robot knew that she was a mutant. What would it do to her? Chrissy didn
=t want to find out. She bolted out the door but not before Austin spotted her.A
Chrissy!?@ he shouted as she began to run.She didn
=t look back, she just kept on running away from Austin and away from that robot. Other people on the street also ran in different directions and panic spread as the robot began to slowly walk down the street, in the same direction that Chrissy was going. Chrissy knew that her only chance was to loose it, but how? She rapidly looked around and couldn't seem to find anywhere to hide.She ran into an alley way and hid behind a dumpster. Hopefully, the robot wouldn=t follow her into the alley. The robot suddenly stopped and began to search the area. Chrissy flattened herself against the wall and held her breathe. She didn=t want that thing to find her and she wouldn=t let it capture her. The robot slowly scanned the area and then he turned to look in the alley. Chrissy tried to stop her heart from beating so loudly. But then Chrissy notice something- it wasn=t her heart that was beating so loudly, it was the roar of some engines- The Blackbird=s engines! Chrissy stayed as still as she could manage. Soon she heard Rogue yell out.A
Ya=re holding up traffic, sugah.@ And then a big whap as her fist hit the metal. Chrissy glanced at the end of the alley. Sure enough soon all the X-men were there each trying to stop the robot.Instead of helping them, Chrissy turned and ran the other way. She didn
=t want to talk to her parents and she didn=t want them to see that she was scared. Running down the alley she turned a corner and got out onto a different block.***
The sentinel was hurled into another building by Rogue
=s punch. People were shouting and running everywhere to get away from the scene where they could get hurt.Cyclops blasted the robot with his optic beams and Gambit threw a kinetically charged card at it. The Sentinel was pushed back by the force but it wasn
=t slowing down. Instead, it reached out and stunned Rogue with a bolt of energy from it=s hand. Storm caught her friend before she fell to the ground.Wolverine clawed his way up the Sentinel and was up to it
=s waist. The Sentinel sensed Wolverine=s presence and grabbed him. Wolverine clawed at the robots fist while Cyclops blasted the Sentinel again. Wolverine sliced through the robots finger which loosened it=s grip on him. He jumped out of it=s grasp and Gambit threw a kinetically charged card at it. Distracted, the Sentinel kept it=s focus on the X-Men in front of it but not on the ones coming from behind. Rogue flew from behind and grabbed it=s neck trying to twist the head off. When the Sentinel tried to grab her Storm sent a strong lightning bolt at it=s hand, melting it before it could reach Rogue. Rogue then twisted the head till sparks and smoke began to fly around her. Gambit finished the job by throwing another charged card causing the headless body to fall onto the pavement, charred and useless.A
Scratch one robot.@ Wolverine told them as he came and looked at the scrap pile robot.A
Wonder how many more of them there are?@ Rogue commented as she looked over the mess.A
I don=t know,@ Cyclops commented, ALook and see if any of you can find some kind of homing beacon or information unit that can help us find out where this robot can from and how many more of them there are.@Just then a yell was heard behind them and they all turned to discover Slingshot bouncing towards them.
A
Guys!@ he yelled as he neared towards them.A
What is it?@ Cyclops asked as Slingshot stopped in front of him.A
Did the robot catch her?@ Slingshot asked as he looked at what was left of the robot.A
Who?@ Storm asked.A
Chrissy.@A
Chrissy was here?@ Cyclops asked fuming, Awhere is she, Austin!@Slingshot took a step back afraid that Cyclops would soon zap him,
AI saw her at the McDonalds down the street, right when this robot appeared. Before I could stop her she ran off with this robot on her heels.@Cyclops stepped up to Austin and grabbed him by the collar,
AWhy didn=t you go after her!? That thing could have killed her!@A
I couldn=t!@ Austin tried to explain, AI was with a friend and I didn=t want her to know...@A
That you were a mutant!?@ Cyclops yelled, AYou coward! If my daughter is hurt in the least way...@A
Cyke, let him go.@ Wolverine told him as he tried to pry Slingshot from Cyclops.Cyclops looked at Wolverine and got a grip on his anger. He let Slingshot go and commanded to the team,
ASpread out all over this area and try to find Chrissy. She couldn=t have gone that far. As soon as you find her contact me immediately.@Everyone obeyed and each member went a different way. Cyclops looked over the remains of the robot.
AIf any more of you robots try to hurt my daughter then Lord help you because I will hunt you down and destroy you all.@ With that he turned and headed to the Blackbird to help with the search for Chrissy. All the while worrying about her and hoping that she was alright even though he was mad as a hornet at her.Chapter 7
Chrissy ran and ran until her stomach began to hurt. She slowed down and began to walk a slower pace. Turning a corner she discovered that Central Park was not too far and decided to go there and rest for a while. When she got there she sat down on a bench and looked at the pigeons who were eating the scraps that people left behind. They moved and picked up little pieces here and there not really caring that Chrissy was staring at them. Chrissy sighed and wondered how they could live by eating scraps that others left behind. A voice interrupted her thoughts.
A
Miss, do you have the time?@ a young man wearing a Knicks jacket asked her as he was about to pass her.A
Um,@ Chrissy looked at her Timex watch, AIt=s 5:30" she told the man.A
Oh,@ he took a good look at Chrissy=s watch, ANow why don=t you give me your watch.@ he said as his hand went into his packet.Oh, my God! This guy is a mugger! Chrissy
=s mind screamed, as her whole body froze.A
Didn=t you hear me, girl? Give me the watch and all your money!@ he told her again this time taking out a .45 caliber from his pocket.A
No!@ she blurted out to him as she stood up.A
What!? Do you want to be dead girl? Because I will shoot you!@ he yelled back at her.A
No, I will not give you anything. Get the hell out of here!@ Chrissy said with anger as she felt that her mutant powers where there to protect her.A
Not until you give the watch!@A
I think you=re deaf I said no!@A
I think you=re stupid because you have a gun pointed at you!@ the mugger told her as he waved the weapon again.Chrissy smiled and began to laugh at the mugger, confusing him. Thinking Chrissy was loosing her mind he tried to push her over only to discover that there was some sort of shield that protected her.
Realization struck him,
AYou=re a mutie!@ he yelled.A
Yes, I am.@ Chrissy said with a proudness in her voice.A
Well, you=re going to be a dead mutie!@ he yelled as his finger pulled on the trigger. The bullet ricocheted off of Chrissy=s forcefeild and hit a garbage can at the other side of the park. Before the mugger could take another shot Chrissy TK=ed the gun from his hand and flung it up high into the atmosphere. The mugger stared in shock not knowing what to do. He looked at Chrissy and she smiled.A
Get lost.@ she suggested.The mugger took her suggestion and ran as fast as he could.
A
Jerk.@ Chrissy muttered as she started to walk in the other direction. As she walked down through Central Park she finally began to realize that if her mutant powers did not work at that critical point she would have been shot and bleeding to death by that park bench. Her mother and father would not have known at all that she was hurt. They wouldn=t have been able to help her and she would have been dead. Chrissy felt a shiver go down her spine. She didn=t like the idea of being dead. She was too young and she had so much to see and do before she kicked the bucket. She began to realize that she missed her parents and her family back at the X-mansion. Chrissy knew that she should go back but she wanted to prove a point. She wanted to prove...what? What was it that she wanted to prove? The fact that she should be independent and that she could handle going on missions. That=s what it was. Chrissy was concentrating so hard on what she needed to prove that she didn=t hear the ever growing loud sound coming from the sky until it was nearly on top of her. Chrissy looked up and saw another robot flying up in the sky. The people that were in Central Park started to run and Chrissy decided to blend it with them and ran with some of them. The robot landed and looked at the crowd of people running. He focused in Chrissy=s direction and Chrissy ran faster. Flying would have been better but that would be a dead giveaway for the robot. Still, the robot seemed to be able to sense that she was a mutant and started going after her.A
Oh, shoot!@ Chrissy muttered under her breath as the robot was on her heels.A
Holt Mutant!@ the robot commanded.Chrissy acted like she didn
=t hear and she kept on running. She ran through the lawn and tried to figure out how to loose the robot. Before she even could think of something a cold metal tentacle grabbed her by the waist and pulled her off the ground. Chrissy felt fear strike her as she turned and looked straight into the red eyes of the huge robot.A
What do you want from me.@ she choked out.A
Mutants must be terminated.@ it answered in it=s cold and heartless voice.A
As if!@ She tried to use her mutant powers but couldn=t. Great time for my powers to decide to take a break! Chrissy mentally thought. ALet me go!@The robot did not answer but instead it took to flight with Chrissy still wrapped in the tentacle.
Chrissy began to get annoyed at the mechanical menace. She tried to squirm her way out of the tentacles but they just got tighter around her. Pretty soon she realized that the robot was too strong for her. Then she remembered that her father and the X-Men were hopefully still somewhere below her. They would help her.
She inhaled as much air as she could into her lungs and yelled,
AHELP! X-MEN HELP ME!@The robot looked at her and then a valve opened from his hand and a white gas encased Chrissy.
A
No!@ She yelled as she began to loose consciousness, AOh, sh...@ her limp form fell against the cold steel hand of the robot. Seeing, Chrissy asleep the robot turned it=s attention once again to returning to base.***
Night slowly crept up on the X-men
=s search and soon they were unable to finish their mission. They all assembled back into the War Room to figure out their next move.Cyclops paced back and forth around the room. Jean, worry etched in her face, sat by the table and stared blankly in front of her. Storm sat by Jean trying to ease her friend
=s worry. Rogue, accompanied by Gambit who stood behind her, sat by Jean=s other side, also trying to help her. Beast stood by a computer console trying to find any new evidence of where Christina Summers might have gone. Wolverine tried to sit calmly in his seat but found that he was growing even more edgy by the minute. Professor Xavier finally entered the room and all his students looked at him.A
The government states that it knows nothing of these mutant catching robots.@ He told them as he stopped in front of them all.A
How can they know nothing!?@ Cyclops yelled, AThousands of people have seen them! They=ve caused mass destruction in downtown New York and they don=t know anything about it!?@Jean stood up and reached for Cyclops
= hand. He took hold of her hand and continued to yell at no one in particular.A
Those robots are dangerous, surely the government knows that! So why aren=t they doing anything about it!?@A
Scott, calm down.@ Xavier instructed him.A
How can I calm down when my daughter is missing and those mutant hating robots are loose!@ he yelled back.A
She wouldn=t be missin= if you didn=t make her run off.@ Wolverine coldly told Cyclops.A
Wolverine!@ Jean snapped back irritated.Cyclops looked at Wolverine,
AParenting isn=t easy as you think, Logan.@A
If your idea of parenting is giving orders and expecting the kid to obey, then that=s where you=re wrong.@ Wolverine told him as he stood up from his seat. AAnd that is why Chris ran away, because you keep giving her orders and trying to keep her on a leash!@A
Since when did you become Dr. Spock!?@ Cyclops yelled back.A loud whistle stopped the conversation and everyone turned to where it came from. Gambit looked sternly at all of them.
A
Listen, mes ami. Dis is not >bout who=s right o= wrong, dis is about w=ere petie went.@ He told them.A
Gambit is right.@ Xavier told them. AOur main concern is finding where Christina is.@ he turned towards Jean, AJean, did you contact all her friends?@Jean nodded her head and sighed,
ANone of them have heard from her at all but they promised to call us if Chrissy tries to get in touch with them.@A
Where could that gal have gone?@ Rogue asked.A
I don=t know.@ Jean told her, ABut I have a very bad feeling. Usually I can sense her and know that she=s alright, but right after she left I couldn=t sense her at all.@A
Meaning?@ Storm asked.A
Meaning,@ Xavier finished Jean=s thought, Athat either Chrissy mentally shut off her rapport with Jean or she=s unconscious or...@ he left the word unsaid knowing that all the X-men hoped against all hope that that wasn=t the case.A
We got ta find her.@ Gambit whispered as silence crept into the room.A
I found something!@ The before silent Beast voiced from his computer console.Cyclops and Jean were the first to come up and look at the computer.
A
What is it, Hank?@ Cyclops asked him.A
I programmed Cerebro to scan all the aviation computers to see what the flight patterns for the past 24 hours were.@A
And?@ Storm asked.A
Well, in these flight patterns we know which planes are going where. I then took satellite feed and cross referenced it with the flight patterns to see if there was any unidentified planes that were around the New York area.@A
So what did you find?@ Wolverine asked.A
I found 14 unidentified planes.@A
Or robots.@ Cyclops mumbled.A
Exactly.@ Hank told him.A
But how is that going to help us?@ Storm asked.A
Well, with the satellite feed we will be able to see what the destination of those 14 planes were and by process of elimination we should be able to find the home base of the robots.@ Hank told them.A
Well, then, what are we waiting for?@ Wolverine asked.Chapter 8
Chrissy slowly opened her eyes and was blinded by a bright light in front of her.
Am I dead? She thought to herself as she squinted. Moving her head swiftly to the right she hit something. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the bright light and she opened her eyes. It sure wasn
=t heaven. She was in some sort of room that looked like a doctor=s office. The walls were all white and there was a small desk on her left side along with a chair. Trying to sit up she discovered she was strapped to some sort of metal bed.A
Where the hell am I?@ she asked outloud as she tried to sense if there was anyone else in the closer vicinity. She concentrated and discovered that her powers were gone. AWhat the...?@A
If you were thinking of using your mutant powers, I have bad news for you.@ A cold baritone voice rang out into the room.Chrissy searched the whole room but couldn
=t figure out where the voice was coming from.A
Oh, you won=t find me, mutant. I=m very far from you. In fact I might not even be in the same building or country as you are.@ the voice continued.A
Who are you!@ Chrissy yelled.A
Oh, I don=t have to tell you anything. But you, on the other hand, will tell me everything you know about those so called X-Men.@Chrissy felt her heart skip a beat. How did this guy know that she was associated with the team? She calmed herself and said,
AI don=t know what you=re talking about.@A
Of coarse you do. It seems that right after the Sentinel tried to capture you the X-Men came to your rescue. Coincidence? I think not.@A
Well, I think so.@ Chrissy said adding an edge to her voice, @Don=t you think that if I knew these so called X-Men I would have stayed and helped them defeat that Sentinel?@A
You could be a spy of their=s.@Chrissy laughed,
AA spy!? I=m 10 years old, do you really think a 10 year old can be a spy?@The voice paused for a minute and that
=s when Chrissy realized her mistake. She looked 15 and acted like a 15 year old. Telling that weirdo that she was 10 just complicated matters even more.A
You don=t look like a 10 year old.@ the voice replied, AMore like a 14 or 15 year old. Do you really think that lying is going to help you?@Chrissy felt a bit of relief at the fact that the guy didn
=t believe that she was 10. She decided to try a different approach, @Yes, I did think that it would help me since you seem to do that just fine.@A
I haven=t lied to you.@A
Oh, yes you have. You have lied about where you=re at. You=re not in another country, you=re right in the same building as I am.@The voice replied,
AYou are a very sneaky one trying to sway me to another topic but being sneaky won=t help you at all.@Damn it! Chrissy told herself, What is going to make this guy let me go?
AOn the contrary being sneaky has helped me in many ways.@A
You must know something about the X-Men since you=re strongly trying to avoid that subject.@ the voice told her.A
You know what? I don=t know anything about them. I=m just a teenager who loves to listen to music, talk about guys, and shop in various malls. If you want to ask me about those things then I would be happy to answer.A Chrissy told him in a tone that said end of conversation.A
Who are the X-Men?@ the voice asked her. AI want names.@Chrissy wanted to roll her eyes. This guy want just going to repeat the question over and over again until she answered. Then she got an idea.
AYou really want to know who the X-Men are?@A
Yes, I do.@A
Well, okay- they=re a group of mutants who fight to help others. That is who they are.@ She could hear the frustration in the man=s voice as he tried to cover the microphone with his hand and tell another person.A
This mutie is very tricky, Trask.@Another male voice told him,
AI thought that you weren=t going to interrogate any more mutants!@A
This is the last one. I=ll let her go after I get the answers I need.@A
That=s what you said about that last mutant teenager you interrogated. Why haven=t you released her?@ Trask asked.A
Those so called X-Men rescued that mutant girl from the mall, she knows more then she=s willing to admit.@Mutant girl rescued from the mall by the X-men? Could they be talking about Jubilee?
Chrissy asked herself. It has to be.A
Let them go, Gyrich. Otherwise, I=m going to go to the press with this whole operation.@A
You can=t do that Trask, you know that everyone that knows about this operation will deny it. You=ll come out looking like a lunatic. @Trask didn
=t stop, AThey will believe me as soon as I tell them about what happened to all those missing mutants!@A
You can=t win Trask!@A
Neither can you, Gyrich.@ he paused a moment and said, Awhen I get back these mutant girls better be released. @Gyrich said nothing and Chrissy wondered if he turned off the microphone and left. No sooner did the thought enter her head when Gyrich asked her again,
AStart telling me what I want to know about the X-Men.@Chrissy felt her blood boil over but the wheels in her head were turning.
AWell, I would but I=m just so uncomfortable that I just can=t think straight. @ she tried to move around but since she was strapped down by the metal cuffs the movement was pointless.A
If you were comfortable would you be willing to give me the information that I need?@ Gyrich.A
Perhaps.@A
Yes or no.@A
Yes,@ Chrissy replied. The next thing she knew the metal clasps released her hands and feet. She sat up and rubbed her wrists. AHmm, this room is a bit, let=s see what=s the word I=m looking for? Ah yes, small and medicinal. You don=t happen to have a nice room that has a couch, TV, and a nice view, do you?@A
No. Now the info?@A
Now wait a minute. I said I=d give you the info when I=m comfortable. I am not comfortable, I want a nicer room with a couch and view.@ Chrissy said sternly as she got up and walked around the room trying to find the speaker where the voice was coming from and possibly a camera that was watching her every move.A
This is the best room there is. Now...@A
You=re lying.@ Chrissy cut in knowing that she was angering Gyrich even more. She knew that it might get her into more trouble but she didn=t care. This Gyrich character sounded like he was giving other teenage mutants a hard time and she didn=t like that at all.Gyrich got angry,
AListen you little mutie, I=m tired of playing games with you. I=m going to give you one hour. Either you cooperate with me or you will suffer the consequences. @ with that he turned off the microphone.Chrissy felt enraged,
AI=m not your slave you jerk! I don=t have to say or do anything. You got that!?@ But she knew that it was useless since he probably wouldn=t answer her. She sat back down on the metal table and tried to figure out what to do next. AOh.@ she sighed as her hand went to her neck. She froze as her hand touched what seemed to be a collar. Chrissy looked around the room to find a mirror, instead she used the reflection the metal bed gave her. She stared at the unclear picture of herself and saw that indeed she was wearing a 4 inch yellow collar. There was also a pair of red lights that were throbbing at both sides of it. She ran her fingers through the whole apparatus and tried to find the switch that would open the thing. Chrissy tried several different ways of removing it but it didn=t budge a bit. Sighing, Chrissy sat back down on the table and tried to figure out what to do. Looking around the room she noticed that there was a vent on the far side of the room.Wait a minute. There has to be some kind of door around here. I doubt they threw me in through the vent. She told herself as she scanned the room again. Chrissy began to feel the walls to see if there was any kind of crack or indentation that remotely resembled a door. By the time she reached the wall by the desk she still didn
=t find anything. She stopped when she reached the desk and looked around it. The floor around the desk had scratch marks that showed that the desk was moved more a couple times in the same direction towards the wall behind it. Seeing that it was her only clue, Chrissy began to push the desk towards the wall. It was a lot heavier then she expected but she kept pushing it. Soon she began to see that portions of the floor were beginning to slide off as she was pushing the desk further towards the wall. When the desk was right by the wall, Chrissy saw that a passage was exposed. She glanced down and saw that there was a switch that she assumed was what moved the desk back and forth. Looking down further she saw that there was some light in the passageway and that it lead in two different directions.It
=s better then nothing. She told herself as she began to climb down. Halfway down she stopped and decided to do something that would help her when her captors discovered that she escaped. Going back into the room she moved the metal bed towards the air duct. Getting on top of the bed she removed the cover of the vent and put it down onto the bed. She then ran down to the passage way and pulled the switch which to her delight caused the desk and the floor to move back to what it originally was like. With the vent open it would look like Chrissy escaped through the air duct when in fact she went down the passageway. But if there was a camera her capture would know how she escaped. Chrissy prayed that that wasn=t the case. Sighing she hoped that her best friend was watching over her as she turned right and headed down the passage.Chapter 9
A
This has got to be it!@ Cyclops said as he flew the Blackbird slowly over an abandoned warehouse that was big enough to house a hundred F-16's.A
I still can=t sense her,@ Jean said behind him as she looked down at the warehouse.A
She=ll be fine, Jean.@ Rogue reassured her, AThat gal is very smart. She knows how ta take care of herself.@ Rogue tried to believe that Chrissy was okay,too. If anything did happen to her Rogue knew that she personally would pound the person who hurt Chrissy to pieces. Next to her Gambit was shuffling a deck of cards as he looked down at the warehouse.A
Dat=s one big place, mon ami. Migh= take us hours ta find petite.@A
That=s why we=re going to split up,@ Cyclops told them as he set the cloaked Blackbird behind the warehouse. When the plane landed Cyclops turned to the team.A
This is what we=ll do. We split up and take different areas of the warehouse. There are two missions that we must accomplish. The first is to find Chrissy and get her out of there. The second is to find out how to deactivate those robots-- and if we have to we=ll destroy them. If any of you encounter someone,do not harm them. Instead stun them and make sure that they don=t set off some kind of alarm. Does everyone understand?@Acknowledgements of approval answered his question and the X-men spilt up and went to different areas of the warehouse.
***
Chrissy walked down a corridor and came to the center of the warehouse. There, robots like the one that chased her were being built by what looked like an even bigger robot.
Chrissy leaned against the wall and observed the massive robot. A new robot was taken out of the bigger one
=s chest and was set down by a whole row of other robots. Chrissy looked to see what was powering the massive being and saw a few dozen cables that were connected to him.The power cord could be any one of those. She told herself as she kept observing the robot.It seemed that the King robot produced a new robot every 15 to 20 minutes. At this rate, he
=ll produce enough robots to totally destroy the mutant population. Chrissy thought. I=ve got to stop this, or at least slow them down. Looking around, she tried to find where the main fuses for this whole complex would be. Glancing around she discovered that the biggest cable that was connected to the robot king was connected to a panel on the other end of the warehouse. Chrissy followed where the cable from the panel went to and to her disappointment saw that it went two ways, out of the warehouse and underground. Chrissy decided to first try the cable that went outside. Looking around, she tried to find any visible sign of a door, but to her dismay she couldn=t find one. Windows, Chrissy thought as she caught sight of a window on a far wall that she could possibly open and escape through. The only problem was getting over there without any of the robots noticing her. She could slowly creep and hide behind some of the boxes there and then make a mad dash to the window. Chrissy shook her head, Those robots would grab her pretty quick if she did that. If only she could use her powers, she thought as she tugged at the collar on her neck. It was no use, it didn=t even budge an inch.Okay, plan two then. She told herself, if I can
=t go outside, then maybe I can disable the robot=s juice from downstairs. She turned and headed back down the way she came and tried to picture where she was in the warehouse. She turned right then right again and slowly walked through the tunnels, keeping her eyes and ears open. Chrissy kept walking and stopped abruptly as she heard some voices approaching from down the tunnel. She held her breath and listened.A
I didn=t let her go because I=m telling you Trask, that girl knows something about those X-Men, but she just needs some persuasion to give the information to us.@ a voice that was very familiar to Chrissy stated.Chrissy pulled her black sweatshirt up and around her neck to block the red flashing lights of the collar. It blocked the lights and Chrissy quickly thought of someplace to hide. She was in the middle of a long tunnel and the only exit is to go back the way she came, or to go forward and make a left into the next connecting tunnel, which was where the voices were coming from. Chrissy didn
=t know what to do, she just stood and listened.A
Gyrich, she=s just a teenager! I don=t think that the X-Men recruit teenagers onto their team.@ Trask answered as his voice slowly became louder by the minute. AI want you to release her and the other girl immediately!@A
Trask, have you ever thought that she might be related to one of the X-Men?@A
All the more reason to release her.@ Trask said.Chrissy slowly inhaled and waited to see them enter the corridor.
A
Sir!@ a voice behind Trask and Gyrich stopped them.A
What is it, Walter?@ Trask asked the security chief.A
We=ve got trouble sir. Some of my men have been knocked unconscious and one of the mutant girls is missing.@ Walter told him.A
Which one?@ Gyrich asked.A
The one that we just captured today.@Gyrich turned to Trask,
AI told you, Trask. She=s one of the X-Men!@Trask ignored him and turned to the security chief,
AI want all your men and the sentinels on alert. Then I want...@ his voice slowly became quieter as the three men went back down the same corridor that they came up in.Chrissy sighed in relief, pulled her sweatshirt back on, and continued down the tunnel. Running, she thought of what Walter said. How could some of the guards be unconscious? Unless...
Chrissy stopped in front of a door at the end of the hall labeled
AMechanical". She turned the knob and found it locked.Ah! She thought as she looked at the door. The hinges were inside meaning that the door moved inward. Guess I
=ll have to use some of that karate that Uncle Logan taught me. Chrissy stepped back a few steps, ran, and kicked the door. It shook but didn=t open. Chrissy figured it would take a few swift kicks before it open. She stepped back again and kicked the door again. It wasn=t until the fourth time that the door opened. Chrissy smiled and pushed the door open. Flicking on the light switch she found the cable came from the ceiling and split down into 7 electric meters, and then to a few circuit breakers. Chrissy opened the circuit breakers and found that they were the new switch type, which meant that the worse she could do was shut the electricity temporarily until someone came and switched it on again.There has to be someway that I can delay them longer... Chrissy thought as she looked at the circuits. She then looked around the room and found a tool box on a small table. Opening it, she found a pair of pliers, various screwdrivers, a few spare wires, spare fuses, a flashlight, insulation tape, tape measure, and a wrench. Taking out the pliers she looked at the cable. She could cut it, but then she
=d be electrocuted. Then she looked at the fuse boxes, the one on the left had a lever.A shutoff lever. She thought. If I turn off the electricity, I
=ll only have about a minute to cut the cable wires before someone comes down here to find out what=s wrong. Chrissy took the pliers, flashlight, and put the wrench in her pocket. Turning the flashlight on, Chrissy put it under her armput so that she would have some light. She then sighed and pulled the lever down. All the lights went out and Chrissy began to slash every cable in each of the meters.***
A
What the...!?@ Cyclops mumbled as the lights turned off. He, Jean, and Wolverine walked down the tunnels.A
They=re probably onto us.@ Jean said as she fished out a flashlight from her pocket.A
That=s not going to stop us.@ Cyclops said as he took a flashlight out of his belt and turned it on. AIt=ll take more then a blackout to stop us.@They went down another corridor and Wolverine stopped.
A
What is it?@ Jean asked.A
Chris, she=s close. Just down this corridor. @ Wolverine said as he pointed forward.All three X-Men doubled their pace and ran down the tunnel.
***
A
What in tarnation?!@ Rogue commented as the lights in the warehouse flicked off.Gambit grinned,
ALooks like someone turned off de lights, chere.@A
Ah know that, Gambit, but what caused it?@ Rogue asked.A
There might be a possibility that our fellow teammates are the ones responsible. @ Beast commented.A
It might also be that they have discovered that we are here.@ Storm told them.A
Could be.@ Gambit told him as he took out a flashlight.A
We gotta find where those robots are at.@ Rogue said as they walked through the warehouse. It was full of all sorts of boxes that contained wires, screws, and a bunch of other electrical items. Gambit used the flashlight to help them maneuver around the boxes.They came across a door and Gambit slowly opened it. There they found the massive robot and the smaller versions of it. The only lights on were the emergency lights which caste the shadows of the robots in all directions, making them appear enormous.
A
By the goddess,@ Storm whispered.A
Oh, my stars and garters.@ Beast murmured.A
Jackpot,@ Gambit said as the X-Men came in and hit behind a row of boxes.A
Let=s get em!@ Rogue told them.Storm held her back,
ANo. We have to wait. We don=t know where they=re holding Christina. What if she=s hidden somewhere among those robots?@A
Storm is right,@ Beast commented.A
Yeah, Stormy got a point.@ Gambit agreed.Rogue sighed,
AYer, right Storm. But when do we hit em?@Storm thought a moment,
AI don=t know. Right now I suggest we contact Cyclops and tell him our position. @Chapter 10
After cutting the last meter, Chrissy put the pliers in her pocket, grabbed the flashlight, and bolted out of the room. She ran forward and then turned left in the nearest corridor. Using the light from the flash light, she kept running down the tunnel. She stopped at an intersection as she saw a group of people with flashlights heading her way.
A
It=s the mutie!@ One of the guards yelled.How did they know it was me? Chrissy thought as she bolted back down the way she came. Then she remembered the red blinking lights on her collar and cursed it
=s maker. Chrissy ran as fast as she could manage but one of the guards jumped on her and pinned her down.A
I got the little dirt bag.@ he told the others as he pulled Chrissy=s hands behind her back and pulled her up.A
She=s probably the one who caused this blackout.@ Another scrungy little man said as he looked Chrissy over.Chrissy felt furious. She kicked the little man and then kicked her capture in the shin. He let her go but not before another man grabbed her arm. Chrissy quickly grabbed the wrench that was in her pocket and whacked the man
=s hand. He screamed in pain and let her go. Chrissy ran off, but another man from the group was right on her heels. Chrissy cursed herself for not joining the Track and Field team as she kept running down the tunnel. It was no use, the man behind her grabbed her and pulled her arms behind her.A
You are one little feisty mutant, aren=t you?@ he asked as he held her arms tight.Chrissy tried to kick him but he was ready for it and moved his leg.
A
You aren=t so great without your mutant powers, aren=t you?@ he asked as he tightened his grip on her arms.Chrissy didn
=t say a thing as he lead her back down the tunnel to where his injured buddies were at.A
So you caught the little mutie.@ one of them said.A
Yeah, I did. I told you she isn=t so tough.@ he told them, AIsn=t that right, mutie?@ he asked Chrissy.Chrissy kept her silence.
A
Say something!@ her captor commanded as he shook her.Chrissy gave all of the men a cold look but said nothing.
A
I guess she=s a stupid mutie, too, since she don=t know how to talk.@ a guard taunted.A
Let=s get her to Gyrich. I=m sure he=ll be pleased to see her.@ Another guard commented.A
Yeah, and maybe he=ll give us something for our troubles.@ the man holding Chrissy said.Chrissy bit her lip to keep herself from replying to that remark and followed her captors.
***
A
Turn right.@ Wolverine instructed as he, Cyclops, and Jean ran down the tunnel. ANow left.@They ran down the hall and Wolverine stopped.
A
What? What is it?@ Cyclops asked.Wolverine sniffed the air,
AChris was here, but she wasn=t alone. I smell a few others,... probably guards because I smell gun oil.@A
Look,@ Jean said as she picked up a wrench.Wolverine took it and nodded,
AChris, definitely had this wrench. Looks like she probably used it to defend herself.@Cyclops felt his anger boil even hotter,
@Wolverine, which way did they go?@Wolverine sniffed the air.
AThat way,@ he said indicating to go down further into the tunnels.A
Let=s go.@ Cyclops told them but just before they ran, his communicator beeped. He tapped it, ACyclops here.@A
Cyclops, we found the robots and the robot maker, so to speak.@ Storm told him, AWe=re holding our position, what do you want us to do?@A
Stay where you are. As soon as we get Chrissy we=ll team up with you and take down the hole stinking fleet of robots.@ Cyclops commanded.A
All ri...@A
Storm? Storm what=s wrong?@ Cyclops asked as the team continuing running down the tunnel.A
Cyclops. We found Christina she was just brought up by some guards. They=re talking to some man..@A
Is she okay?@ Jean asked with concern.A
She looks fine, but some of the guards don=t look the same.@A
All right. Stay put and make sure they don=t harm her.@ Cyclops told Storm as he and the rest of the team started to run even faster.A
We=ll be there soon.@ he cut off the communication and ran as fast as he could.***
A
You were the one who cut the electric wiring, weren=t you?@ Gyrich yelled at Chrissy.A
Don=t you yell at me you lunatic!@ Chrissy yelled back at him.A
Sir,@ another guard come up to Gyrich, Awe caught the other mutant girl. She escaped from her cell when the power went out but we were able to catch her.@A
Very good. Bring her here.@ Gyrich instructed him. He then turned towards Chrissy. AYou may think that you=re so tough, mutie, but we=ll see how tough you=re friend is.@Two other guards came, one of which held Jubilee, who was also wearing a collar, in a tight grip.
A
Loosen the grip you creep!@ she yelled at him.A
Shut up mutant!@ Gyrich yelled at her. He came up to Jubilee, ADo you know that girl?@ he asked pointing to Chrissy.A
Yeah,@ Jubilee told him.A
Is she part of the X-Men?@Jubilee looked at Chrissy and saw the look of determination on her face.
AI don=t know.@A
You=re lying!@ Gyrich yelled at her.Chrissy got fed up,
ADon=t you yell at her!@ she tried to free herself but the guard gripped her arms so tight that Chrissy had to bite her lip because of the pain. Her gaze was diverted to the other side of the warehouse for a split second and she saw her parents and Wolverine hiding among the boxes. Jean motioned that Chrissy not look at them. Chrissy quickly then looked at Gyrich.Gyrich came up to her and tilted her chin upward,
AYou think you=re so smart, don=t you?@Chrissy looked at him full of hate and anger in her eyes,
AI am smarter then you. You have the IQ of a skunk!@A
Why you little...@ his hand flew to slap her but she moved her face too quick and Gyrich slapped the guard instead.The guard winced but didn
=t loose his grip on Chrissy. Gyrich grabbed Chrissy=s chin in a tight grip and looked straight into her brown eyes. AYou have tried my patience long enough.@ he said in ragged breaths, AWho...are...the...X-Men?@A
We are.@ A voice said behind him.Gyrich released his grip on Chrissy and turned around. There behind him stood Cyclops, Jean, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, and Beast.
Cyclops stepped forward,
AYou want us, here we are. Let the girls go.@Gyrich grinned,
AI knew that you=d come for them and now that you=re here, you can be terminated.@A
Let the girls go.@ Cyclops told him again.A
No, I don=t want to.@ he went up to Chrissy and grabbed her chin again. AI think I keep them as slaves.@Chrissy kicked Gyrich in the leg and he tumbled down.
Jean
=s telekinesis helped Chrissy and Jubilee break free from the guards grasp. They ran away from the guards and went to the X-Men.Gambit threw some charged cards at the guards and they began to flee. Rogue picked one of the guards and threw him onto a stock of boxes. Storm brought some wind up which carried some more guards towards another pair of boxes. Cyclops blasted his optic beams at the guard who moments before held his daughter. The guard fell down and Jean used her telekinesis to throw the guard on a bunch of boxes on the other side of the room. Wolverine ran to Gyrich and pinned him down.
A
I=ll teach ya to pick on innocent kids.@ he told him as his adamentium claws came out of his hands.A
No, please. I didn=t mean to hurt them...@ he whimpered.Before he could reply one of the robots grabbed Wolverine and began to squeeze him.
Gyrich began to laugh as he commanded to the robots,
ADestroy the X-Men!@Chrissy looked behind her and discovered that all the robots were becoming activated.
AOh, no.@ She tried to pull off the collar but couldn=t manage to.A
Might I be of some assistance. @ Beast asked.A
Yeah, can you get this off?@ Chrissy pleaded.Beast took the collar and managed to open it and take it off of Chrissy.
A
Thanks,@ Chrissy said as she felt her powers kick back on. AIt=s payback time!@She flew into the air and activated her shield as a robot shot a bolt of energy at her. The shield protected her and she shot an optic blast at the robot, knocking it to the ground.
Rogue grabbed another robot and swung it out of the warehouse.
Beast was climbing up to the master robot but was thrown off when the master robot stood up and began to fly out.
A
Oh, no you don=t!@ Chrissy yelled at it as she shot a round of optic blasts at it. It didn=t phase him at all, so Chrissy tried to hold it down with her telekinesis. He was too big for her to hold down and he broke free. Chrissy was determined to bring him down and she followed him as he slowly flew out of the warehouse. She flew and sent several optic blasts to his center. The robot sensed her and grabbing her he threw her back into the warehouse. Chrissy felt herself falling and tried to stop but it couldn=t manage to. She formed the protective shield around her and hoped that it would hold when she fell.Wolverine tore at the robots as they came after him. Rogue was the first to see Chrissy came through the roof in a incredulous speed.
Rogue flew up to catch her but a robot intercepted her and fired on her, causing her to fall to the ground.
Wolverine saw Chrissy and tried to reach her but another robot grabbed him by the waist and began to squeeze him.
Jean sensed her daughter
=s danger but she couldn=t get rid of all the robots surrounding her. Scott, Chrissy=s in danger, she=s coming in too fast! I don=t know if her shield...Scott understood her meaning and let Storm cover him as he ran to the spot Chrissy
=s body was going to impact. He widened his optic beam and fired on her.Chrissy felt herself begin to slow down a bit and soon she was able to regain control.
Cyclops shut off his optic beams and breathed a sigh of relief as Chrissy stopped and floated a few feet above him.
A
Thanks.@ she told him.A
It=s not over yet.@ he told her.Chrissy saw all the robots attacking the X-Men. She flew over to help Beast fight off a robot.
Cyclops hit another robot and saw that the number of robots were diminishing. Soon there were only three and with swift teamwork they were all down.
The X-men regrouped and Cyclops asked,
AWhere=s Gyrich?@A
The guy split.@ Jubilee said, AI tried to catch him but he got into a helicopter and flew off.@A
You did good, petie.@ Gambit told her.A
Thanks.@ Jubilee said smiling.A
I guess there=s nothing left to do except go home.@ Jean said as she went up to Chrissy and put her arm around her.Cyclops nodded,
AJean=s right. Jubliee and Chrissy both of you are going back to the X-mansion. The rest of us are going to find that master robot.@A
But dad...@ Chrissy started.Cyclops gave her a stern look,
AYou=re in enough trouble as it is Christina, don=t push it.@Chrissy sighed, she was really in for it.
Chapter 11
It was 8 hours later that the X-Men returned to the mansion and by that time Chrissy was already asleep. The next morning Chrissy didn
=t even go down to greet her parents. Dad would be here any minute to give her a huge lecture and tell her that she would grounded for the rest of her life. She sighed and tried to concentrate on her Algebra homework.A knock interrupted her.
A
Come in.@ she said, not looking up from her book.Scott and Jean entered, both wearing civilian clothes.
Scott was the first to speak,
ACan we come in?@A
Do I have a choice?@Scott turned red,
AChristina...@Jean stopped him and gave him a look that said
>Calm down=. Jean then looked at Chrissy.A
Chrissy, what you did was wrong. You shouldn=t have run off like that. Your father and I were worried sick about you.@A
I know.@ Chrissy told her, not even glancing up from her Algebra book.A
Then why did you run off like that!?@ Scott yelled.Chrissy pushed the book off of the desk and stood up,
ABecause you still treat me like a baby! I=m not a two year old!@A
Then don=t act like one!@ Scott yelled back.A
Hey!@ Jean shouted at both of them. ARight now, both of you are acting like two year olds! Stop yelling!@ Scott and Chrissy both quieted down, ANow, Chrissy, listen to us. We=re your parents and we love you dearly. The reason why your father hasn=t put you on the team yet is because he=s worried about your safety. You saw how dangerous those sentinels were and you yourself almost got gravely hurt. By now, you should understand why your father hasn=t put you on the team.@A
But I can handle it.@ Chrissy told them, AI want to help! I don=t want to spend my whole life in this mansion wondering what=s going on during all of your missions.@Scott sighed,
AChrissy, I=m sorry if you feel that way, but having you here in the mansion is the only sure way that I know that you=re safe. And that in itself is a big help to both your mother and me.@A
But I want to do something more, Dad. My powers will soon be fully working and I want to use them to help the team.@ Chrissy told him.A
Don=t worry, Chris. You will eventually use your powers to help the team, but not right now.@ He came up to Chrissy and placed his hands on her shoulders, ARight now, you can help the team by doing all your homework and staying out of trouble, got it?@Chrissy knew that she couldn
=t win, AAll right.@A
Good,@ he said as he hugged her,A
Ouch.@ Chrissy said as Scott hugged her.A
What=s wrong?@ Scott asked.Chrissy rubbed her arms,
AI=ll be fine, my arms are just sore.@A
If I ever find Gyrich...@ Scott began.A
Scott...@ Jean warned him.He looked at Jean,
AI was just going to say that I=d do anything to see him behind bars for life.@A
What ever happened to forgive and forget?@ Chrissy asked with a grin.A
When it comes to someone who enjoys hurting others, it=s pretty hard.@ Scott told her.A
But we try,@ Jean added, Aand eventually we do. Now how about we jump in the car and go out and get breakfast?@Scott looked at her,
AYou really want to change the subject, don=t you?@A
No, I=m just hungry. What about you, Chrissy?@ Jean asked her daughter.Chrissy nodded,
AYeah, let=s go!@ she said as she grabbed her jacket and ran out of her room before her father could say anything.Scott looked at Jean,
AJean, she=s got to learn to accept the consequences...@A
And you have to lighten up, Scott.@ She told him as she wrapped her arms around his waist, AIf you don=t then you=re going to be a very dull guy.@A
Jean, Chrissy has to learn...@A
And so do you, Scott. You have to learn to give Chrissy some more freedom.@ she told him as she hugged him, AIf you don=t then she=ll rebel again and the next time we won=t be so lucky.@Scott thought a moment,
AYou know that it=s hard for me, Jean. I still see Chrissy as my little girl.@Jean looked up at him,
AShe still is, Scott, but she=s growing up. She doesn=t need you to hold her hand anymore.@A
You=re right.@ he sighed, AIt=s going to be hard letting her go.@A
You=re not the only one that going to try to let her go. Remember, we=re in this together.@ Jean told him.A
I don=t know what I would do without you.@ Scott told her as he kissed her.A
Oh!@ Chrissy moaned as she came back to her room, ABy the time you two are done it=ll be next year!@Scott and Jean released each other and smiled at Chrissy.
A
Just get in the car, Chris.@ Scott told her as he took Jean=s hand and walked out of the room.Chrissy did as she was told and ran down the stairs only to bump into Austin who was coming up the stairs.
A
Chrissy, um...@ he started but stopped when he saw Scott and Jean come down after Chrissy.Chrissy looked at her parents.
AWait for me. I=ll be down in a minute.@Jean nodded and lead Scott away before he could say anything to Austin.
Chrissy noted her father
=s anger towards Austin and looked at Austin. ASo Austin, who was she?@He sighed,
AMy fiancé.@A
Your what!?@ Chrissy asked again, not believing that she heard right.A
I said my fiancé, well actually she=s now my ex-fiance.@ Austin told her with a hint of anger in his own voice.Chrissy crossed her arms and leaned against the banister.
AYou know what, Austin? I should slap you but instead I'm interested in hearing your side of the story. @ she told him with a no nonsence attitude.Austin sighed,
AI never meant to hurt you, Chrissy, I swear. Kelly was the girl I was going to marry but after I joined the X-men I realized that I=ve changed and I didn=t see myself spending the rest of my life with her. She also changed so much that I couldn=t even realize that I actually wanted to marry this girl. Kelly became so anti-mutant that I decided to break it off with her even before I asked you to go out with me.@A
But you didn=t and from what it looked like at Mickey D=s it didn=t look like you were going to.@ Chrissy told him sternly.A
I know that it looked that way, but sometimes Kelly is so irresistible...@Disgusted, Chrissy turned and headed down the stairs.
A
Chris!@ Austin yelled back.She turned around and looked at him,
A You broke my heart Austin! I thought that you really cared about me!@Austin came to her and tried to embrace her but she broke away.
AChrissy, I do care about. Please I made a mistake.@A
Yeah, you did and it cost you my heart.@ She stopped and looked into his eyes. AI don=t know if I will ever trust you again Austin. If you really cared about me you should have told me about Kelly. @A
Chrissy, I=m sorry.@A
Sorry isn=t going to mend my heart, Austin.@ She turned and left leaving Austin behind. After two steps she stopped and looked at Austin, "And by the way, keep watching Baywatch because you're going to need those images to keep you company at night." She then bolted out of the room, feeling better about herself.***
Epilogue
Chrissy slowly walked down the green lawn and stopped in front of a grave. Her hand trembled as she laid down two yellow roses on the grass.
Sighing, she said a prayer and spoke quietly.
AThanks for being there with me. I know that you=re always by my side, keeping a watch over me. You don=t know how much of a relief it is to know that you're always watching me.@Kneeling down on the grass Chrissy looked at the headstone. "Cynthia Emily Hartson, Safe within the gates of heaven and sealed within all our hearts."
"You are truly safe where you're at Cindy. Down here it seems that things keep getting worse and worse for mutants like me." She stopped and tried to collect her thoughts, "I plan on changing that. Somehow, someway, I'm going to help change this world, so that no one has to live in fear." She paused, "Keep an eye on all of us down here and don't ever forget that no one has forgotten you."
Slowly, Chrissy stood up and left, leaving behind the roses which turned to gold in the sunlight and keeping the memory of a friend deep in her heart.
The End