"Remarkable," Professor Charles Xavier blinked.
"I hope you have something a little more useful than that to
say," Kitty's semi-transparent astral form scolded him gently. "With
Doctor Strange still gone, you seemed the best person to contact," the
brown haired girl explained.
"Let me get to Cerebro," the Professor said as he rolled across
the office, revealing the concealed electronics. He pulled the silvery
helmet on, then concentrated, his eyes widening as he murmured,
"Fascinating."
"Is that a good fascinating or a bad fascinating?" Kitty asked.
Professor Xavier gave her a look then said, "Her psionic imprint
is unique, but it clearly shows traces of both Scott Summers and Jean
Grey."
"Does she have a mutant power?" Kitty asked.
Xavier focused his concentration, "It seems she inherited
telekinesis and telepathy at some impressive levels," he noted, "but her
individual ability seems to be a separate psionic ability."
"So she's telling us the truth," Kitty sighed.
"Apparently so," he agreed. Xavier looked at her curiously, "I
would like you to bring her by the mansion, if possible, so that I can
do a more precise examination."
"That may not a good idea," Kitty shook her head, "her
resemblance to Jean Grey is uncanny. What if she runs into Scott?"
"A point," Professor Xavier acknowledged.
"Still, I'll try to bring her by as soon as possible," Kitty
said thoughtfully, "we can just put a glamour over her, or something."
"Thank you," the Professor smiled. He noted that Kitty's image
had begun to fade and said, "You'd best cut contact."
"Right," Kitty nodded, "talk to you soon...."
With that, her already semi-clear faded out, entirely
disappearing in a few moments. Xavier returned the Cerebro helmet to
it's place before sighing, "I hope this isn't more trouble."
Kitty blinked a few times, seeing Illyanna looking down at her
worriedly. "Are you all right?" Illyanna asked, blonde hair flowing
around her.
"Just a bit of a headache is all," Kitty said with a sigh,
uncrossing her legs and getting a bit wobbly to her feet.
"So what did the Prof. say?" Illyanna asked curiously.
"As far as he can tell she is the child of Jean and Scott,"
Kitty answered, stretching out a bit. "Is Rachel still asleep?" she
asked as they left the study together.
"She's still out like a light," Illyanna noted. She looked over
at Kitty, "I was a little surprised to see her collapse after eating
lunch...."
"Stress, probably," Kitty shrugged.
The two went upstairs to the bedrooms, walking down the hallway
to cautiously open up the door to the guest room that was beside their
own room. Oddly, Kitty was pretty sure that the room hadn't been there
before earlier today. The house had apparently restructured itself to
create the room, anticipating their needs.
Rachel slept soundly on the big bed, her short red hair curling
against her neck. Her green eyes were closed, her slim form curled up a
bit on the large bed. She rolled over to snore once, loudly, then
Illyanna reached out to gently pull the door shut.
They walked a short ways away before Illyanna said, "So what do
we do now?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Kitty softly admitted. "I kind of doubt
that we're qualified to help train her," she put her hands in her jeans
pockets as she continued, "not and keep up with are duties as Doctor
Strange's apprentices."
"We'll manage, love," Illyanna said. She gave her lover a smile,
"Let's go check the Orb, see if there's anything new and unusual to deal
with."
"Hopefully not another summoner trying to call up an Elder God,"
Kitty noted as they walked on, "banishing things back to the Dungeon
Dimensions isn't easy."
Back in the guest room Rachel waited to be sure they were gone
before she stretched out, her red hair falling into her face. She sat up
on the bed, blinking away tiredness, then slid off to walk onto the bare
floor. She dropped to her knees, closing her eyes as a golden fire
flickered all around her form. It danced outward, concentrating in front
of Rachel, and in moments a beautiful woman stood, her body glowing
red-orange.
She smiled warmly, scarlet flames dancing around her face like
hair as she gently said, "Are you well, child?"
"I am, Lady Phoenix," Rachel said softly.
The Phoenix laughed softly, shaking her head. "I'm no lady," she
said, "and as I've told you before, call me Jean."
"Jean then," Rachel said, a blush to her cheeks. "I've safely
arrived in the past, and my masters remain unaware of your presence,"
she paused, "I hope."
"They won't remain unaware for long," Jean noted, "as powerful
as I am, even I cannot hide from this dimension's sorcerer supremes."
"They aren't yet... are they?" Rachel blinked in surprise.
"Dr. Strange has invested them with the task," Jean said softly,
"and the great powers of this dimension have sensed the shift."
"So I should tell them about you?" Rachel sighed.
"I think so," Jean nodded, "and it should be sooner rather than
later. Keeping secrets from them will make you no friends."
"You're right," Rachel nodded. She smiled suddenly, "Walk down
with me?"
Jean chuckled, "Of course." They left the bedroom together,
going towards the stairs as she asked, "Are you truly nervous about
facing them alone?"
"Well, Illyanna anyway," Rachel blushed, "I've heard about what
she did during the Demon Wars, the battle for Limbo."
"And Kitty?" Jean asked.
"No, not Kitty," Rachel admitted. "She's always been a bit of an
adopted Aunt to me, it's hard to be scared of her," she explained.
"I'm glad," Jean said. They reached the closed door to the
study, hearing talking going on inside. She turned to Rachel and asked,
"Ready?"
"Yes," Rachel knocked on the door, waiting until she was invited
in to push it open. Kitty and Illyanna were bent over one of the orbs,
studying something intently.
"Hi," Kitty looked up with a smile.
"Uhm," Rachel took a nervous breath, "I didn't tell you
everything, when I first arrived. I've me the Phoenix and... well...."
The Phoenix stepped into view, the fiery incarnation of Jean
Gray giving both young women a cheery wave as she stood protectively at
Rachel's side.
Kitty blinked in surprise, then pulled out a ten dollar bill and
passed it to Illyanna with a sigh. "You won the bet, partner," Kitty
said.
"Told you she'd 'fess up quickly," Illyanna smirked as she put
the money away.
"You knew?" Rachel blinked.
"We sensed the Phoenix," Kitty nodded respectfully to the woman,
"almost as soon as you arrived. I thought we should give you a chance to
tell us, first."
"And you helped me win a bet," Illyanna smirked.
Rachel shook her head, "You two really don't change too much in
the next twenty years."
"Thank you," Kitty answered before adding thoughtfully, "I
think."
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