Chapter 77: The Woman Who Fell to Earth
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The walk from Xavier's study to the garden felt like a parade, for some reason. Our mismatched group wound through the mansion's ornate hallways, and students gawked as we passed.
I couldn't blame them. Between Grandpa's military bearing, Gwen's magical artifacts openly displayed at her belt, and Charmcaster's whole "gothic sorceress" aesthetic, we weren't exactly inconspicuous.
"Alright, runts, show's over!" Wolverine appeared at an intersection, herding a group of slack-jawed teenage mutants back toward the main building. He didn't wear his yellow costume, just jeans and a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose those ridiculous forearms. "Storm's explaining atmospheric manipulation in the east wing. Don't be late unless you want to explain why to her."
The kids scattered at the mention of Storm's class, but not without backward glances. Logan's eyes met mine briefly, a silent assessment that I met without flinching. He turned around and continued his patrol.
"Don't mind Logan," Jean said, falling into step beside me. "He's our resident grumpy cat. Secretly a softie."
"Like most cats," I replied, earning a laugh from her.
Jean looked different today – more relaxed than during our previous encounters. Her red hair was tied back in a casual ponytail instead of the severe style she'd worn during the Sentinel attack. She seemed younger somehow, the weight of leadership temporarily set aside.
"So," she said, gesturing vaguely at Charmcaster who walked ahead of us, "I hear you had quite the adventure in Limbo."
"You could say that. Though 'adventure' feels like calling a hurricane a light breeze."
Her smile turned wry. "Illyana's domain tends to have that effect. I've only been there once. Once was enough."
"Smart woman."
"I try to be." She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "Your cousin's quite impressive, by the way. Those telekinetic abilities... they're remarkable for someone so young and without formal training."
"Gwen's a force of nature," I agreed, watching my cousin walking ahead with Kitty Pryde. They seemed to be discussing something technical, hands gesturing animatedly. "And scarier than she looks."
"Runs in the family, I suspect."
I raised an eyebrow at that. "Was that a compliment, Dr. Grey?"
"An observation," she corrected, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Though I've been thinking about what you said at Yellowstone. About mutants and separation. Not many people would challenge Charles Xavier's philosophy and then come visit him a couple of days later."
"I'm not known for my tact."
"No, but perhaps for your insight." She looked thoughtful, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I've spent so many years viewing the world through the lens of 'mutant versus human' that I never questioned whether the lens itself was flawed."
"All lenses distort somewhat," I said, surprising myself with the philosophical turn. "The trick is recognizing the distortion."
She gave me an appraising look. "You're not what I expected, Ben Tennyson."
"I get that a lot. Usually right before something tries to eat me. Or with the world trying to end itself."
Jean laughed again, the sound drawing Charmcaster's attention. Hope glanced back at us, waving at me with a smile before she turned away.
We finally emerged into the garden, and I had to admit it was impressive. Not the manicured perfection you'd expect from a fancy private school, but a wilder, more natural space. Massive old oaks provided dappled shade over stone benches and winding paths. A koi pond shimmered near the center, surrounded by flowering bushes.
More X-Men were gathered here, mingling casually. Jubilee sat on a stone wall, popping pink bubblegum while chatting with Cyclops, who looked stiff and uncomfortable even in civilian clothes. When she spotted me, her face lit up with a smile that spelled trouble.
"Cannonball Tennyson!" She hopped off the wall and bounded over, her yellow jacket flapping behind her like a caution flag. "About time you showed up! I was starting to think you skipped town without saying goodbye."
"Just had some interdimensional business to handle," I said, nodding toward Charmcaster.
"So I heard." Jubilee sized up Hope with undisguised curiosity. "Pretty badass, diving into hell to save your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend."
"I'm his wife."
We both spoke at the same time, then stopped, which only made Jubilee grin wider.
"Yeah, super convincing, Ben. Wow, look at this atmosphere. Oh Ben, she wants you so bad, did you not notice?" She turned her full attention to me, stepping close enough that I could smell her bubblegum. "You know, we're having a pool party this weekend. You should totally come. Show off some of those alien forms. For science."
Charmcaster's eye twitched. "Don't you have homework? Or is bothering other people's men your only hobby?"
"Other people's men?" Jubilee's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, Ben, I think she didn't hear when you said she's not your girlfriend. I think she has a crush on you! Totally."
"He's just shy, and–"
Before she could talk more, I reached over and gently pinched Charmcaster's cheek, cutting her off. "Play nice, Hope."
The look of absolute indignation on her face made Jubilee burst into laughter. Hope swatted my hand away, a flush creeping up her neck.
"You better sleep with one eye open, Tennyson," she muttered, but there wasn't much heat behind it.
My attention shifted to Gwen, who stood apart from the group, examining a rosebush with suspicious intensity. Her shoulders were tense, and she hadn't spoken much since we'd returned from Limbo. Ugh, things keep getting complicated with her. All my fault, too.
I made another mental note to check on her after this meeting.
"Ah, my friend Ben Tennyson! The man who learned to walk between worlds!" A cheerful voice with a German accent drew my attention. Kurt Wagner approached with his distinctive three-fingered hands extended in greeting.
Despite his demonic appearance – blue fur, pointed ears, yellow eyes, and a prehensile tail – his smile was entirely human and infectious. "Nightcrawler," I said, shaking his hand. "Good to see you recovered from that concussion at Yellowstone."
"Ah, it takes more than a little bump to keep the amazing Nightcrawler down!" He tapped his skull. "Hard head, ja? Though not as hard as your Cannonball form."
"Cannonbolt," I corrected with a grin.
"Yes, that one! Most impressive." His tail swished excitedly behind him. "You must tell me, what is it like to transform? Does it hurt? Do you retain your thoughts completely, or do the alien instincts influence you?"
I laughed at his enthusiasm. "Doesn't hurt at all. And it's still me, just... shaped differently. Though some forms do come with their own instincts."
"Fascinating!" Kurt's eyes lit up. "You know, I have always wondered what it would be like to change one's appearance at will. For obvious reasons."
I looked at him thoughtfully. Here was someone who'd lived his entire life being visibly different, yet he carried himself with such confidence and joy. "Some people would kill for the ability to teleport, you know."
"True! Though the sulfur smell is not so popular with the ladies." He wiggled his eyebrows comically. "Perhaps we could trade sometime, ja? You could be blue and fuzzy, and I could try being normal for a day."
"Normal's quite overrated," I said with conviction.
"Indeed it is, my friend. Indeed it is."
A throat cleared, drawing our attention. Professor Xavier had wheeled himself to the center of the garden, fingers steepled as he surveyed the gathered group. The casual chatter died down immediately.
"I believe formal introductions are in order," Xavier began, his voice carrying that particular tone of authority that didn't need volume to command attention. "For those who haven't had the pleasure, this is Maxwell Tennyson, former Magistrate of Earth's Plumber division."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the assembled X-Men. Even Cyclops hid his perpetually furrowed brow and nodded.
"Max was responsible for coordinating defenses against over twenty attempted alien invasions during his tenure," Xavier continued. "Including the Chimera incident of '89, which most of you are too young to remember."
Grandpa Max looked mildly embarrassed by the introduction. "That was a team effort, Charles. And mostly classified."
"We are all friends here, Max." Xavier smiled thinly before addressing the group again. "Max and I haven't personally met before, but by name, we've known each other for many years, and our different teams have occasionally overlapped. Today, we have practical matters to discuss that concern both our communities."
"Practical matters?" Cyclops stepped forward, arms crossed. "You mean Genosha?"
Xavier nodded. "Indeed. Perhaps, Max, you'd like to share the updates?"
Grandpa straightened, shifting into briefing mode. "For those not aware," which happened to be only me and Gwen, given how he looked at us. "Genosha is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. It's currently being developed as a safe haven for mutants, under the leadership of Erik Lehnsherr."
"Magneto," Cyclops clarified unnecessarily.
"Construction has been underway for months," Grandpa continued. "And according to our intelligence, accommodations for several thousand mutants are already completed. The first wave of settlers is scheduled to arrive within weeks. And Magneto… well, he plans to one day have all the mutants settle in Genosha."
I listened carefully, pretending this was all new information. In reality, my previous life's knowledge was filling in the blanks. Genosha was a huge, huge deal in X-Men lore – a mutant paradise that would eventually become a genocide site. The thought made my stomach clench.
"Charles," Jean spoke up, "is this related to our conversation at Yellowstone? About integration versus separation?"
Xavier's gaze found mine, sharp and assessing. "Indeed, Jean. In fact, I was hoping Ben might share his thoughts on the matter."
All eyes turned to me. Great. Put on the spot again.
"Look," I began, trying to organize my thoughts, "I'm just a guy with a fancy watch. My opinion probably doesn't count for much."
"On the contrary, Benjamin," Xavier's voice was mild but insistent. "Your perspective as someone who experiences multiple forms of existence – human and non-human – yet retains your core identity is quite valuable."
I took a deep breath and sighed. "Alright. I think Genosha represents both a solution and a problem. A safe haven where mutants can live without persecution? That's a beautiful idea. Who wouldn't want that? But if it becomes the only place mutants are welcome? That's just another form of segregation."
Xavier nodded thoughtfully. "Yet one could argue that having a homeland – a place where one's people can develop their own culture and identity – is important for any minority group."
"Sure, but there's a difference between having a homeland and being confined to it," I countered. "Black Americans have formed strong communities in various cities, but that doesn't mean they should be limited to those areas. Think about neighborhoods like Little Italy or Chinatown in big cities. They started as safe havens, places where people could find support and preserve their culture in a new, often hostile, country. But they weren't meant to be prisons. They were springboards. From there, people moved out, started businesses, integrated, and became part of the city's lifeblood. Genosha sounds like you're building a Little Italy but sealing the borders. I think coexistence is more than that."
"An interesting analogy." Xavier leaned forward in his wheelchair. "However, mutants face unique dangers. Their powers can manifest unexpectedly, sometimes catastrophically. Having a controlled environment where these manifestations can be managed safely benefits everyone."
"That's what schools are for," I said, gesturing to the mansion around us. "But schools are transitional. You learn, you grow, you integrate into the wider world. If Xavier's School became a permanent home that no one ever left, what would be the point of education?"
Emma Frost, who had been observing silently, gave a slow, approving nod. "The boy has a point, Charles. We're preparing them for what, exactly? A life of hiding in Westchester?"
Xavier's expression remained neutral, but I caught the flicker of irritation in his eyes. "Integration has always been the goal, Emma. But we must acknowledge the world's readiness – or lack thereof – to accept those who are different."
"With respect, Professor," I pressed on, "the world doesn't become ready through separation. Look at the Fantastic Four, the Agents of Atlas. They're out there, visible, using their powers openly to help people. That's how acceptance happens."
"Those individuals weren't born with their abilities," Xavier countered. "They weren't rejected by their parents as children, feared by their communities from birth."
"All the more reason not to self-segregate," I argued. "If mutants retreat to Genosha, humans will forget they exist. Out of sight, out of mind. Then, when any mutant does anything bad or evil, people will blame all the mutants in Genosha. This isn't even a hypothetical situation, I'm sure you know it. This exact scenario has happened a few times across history before, hasn't it? The crime of one is apparently the crime of everybody, according to our stupid society. The loudest voices rattle the most... So how does that advance understanding?"
Jean interjected, "But Ben, what about the mutants who simply want peace? Who are tired of fighting for acceptance? Don't they deserve a place where they can just... be?"
"Of course they do," I acknowledged. "Everyone deserves that. But it should be a choice, not a necessity. And that choice becomes meaningless if the rest of the world becomes uninhabitable for mutants because we've stopped trying to change it."
A thoughtful silence fell over the garden. Even Cyclops looked contemplative rather than defensive.
"If I may," Grandpa Max said, breaking the silence, "this debate mirrors similar discussions within the Plumbers about non-human residents on Earth. There's no perfect solution, but options are better than mandates."
Xavier studied me with renewed interest. "You argue your position well, Ben. It reminds me of conversations I've had with Erik over the years."
"With Magneto?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Though our methods differ dramatically, our debates have always been philosophical rather than personal." A shadow crossed Xavier's face. "Recently, Erik has become convinced that a separate mutant nation is the only path forward. He's channeling all his considerable resources into Genosha."
"Including Dr. Animo?" I asked, remembering the mutant-animal creator we'd encountered.
Xavier nodded. "Yes. Animo's abilities to alter and enhance animal physiology have accelerated construction efforts considerably. Creatures designed specifically for labor have built in months what would have taken years."
"So while you're trying to integrate mutants into human society, Magneto's building an alternative," I summarized. "That tracks."
"And yet," Xavier said with surprising candor, "today, I find myself understanding his position more than I once did. The world has grown increasingly hostile to mutants. Sentinel production has resumed despite government denials. You've seen it with your own eyes. A school, a place where children grow, was attacked ruthlessly. I think for some, Genosha represents their only chance at a peaceful life."
I found myself nodding. "I get that. And honestly, I'm not against Genosha existing. I'm against it becoming the only solution. Having a country of your own where you're safe? That's valuable. But forcing all mutants there, or making it the only place they can survive – which I'm sure is Magneto's goal? That's wrong."
"So perhaps," Xavier mused, "the ideal is balance. A homeland for those who need it, and continued integration for those who choose it."
"Exactly!" I felt a surge of vindication. "Options, like Grandpa said. The problem comes when either side – human or mutant – tries to make that choice for others."
Xavier smiled, genuinely this time. "Well articulated. It seems we've found common ground, Benjamin."
"Impressive debate skills for a teenager," Emma commented, her tone suggesting she hadn't expected much from me. "Perhaps there's more to you than the watch after all."
I shrugged, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. "I've had a lot of time to think about this stuff." I didn't act like that, I know, but that was just my nature. I didn't like to be all broody and serious. "When you can turn into different species at will, you start to question what identity really means."
"Indeed." Xavier wheeled forward slightly. "Which brings me to a proposition. Erik has extended an invitation to the opening ceremony of Genosha's first major settlement. As a gesture of goodwill, despite our philosophical differences."
"And you're going?" Gwen asked, speaking up for the first time.
"I believe my presence would be meaningful, yes." Xavier turned to Grandpa Max. "And I would like to extend that invitation to you and your family as well, Max. Having a representative of the Plumbers – an organization that governs multiple species peacefully – would send a powerful message."
Grandpa looked surprised but pleased. "That's a generous offer, Charles."
"The invitation extends to your grandchildren as well," Xavier continued, his gaze including me, Gwen, and somewhat surprisingly, Charmcaster. "If we are to mend the divide between humans and mutants, we must start somewhere. And it's easier to begin with those who already understand what it means to be different."
I frowned slightly. "Would Magneto even want me there? Last time we met, I was helping the X-Men fight against him and took his helmet off. Although I'm unsure if he's aware of that…"
"I've already discussed this with Erik," Xavier assured me. "He harbors no ill will. In fact, he expressed curiosity about the Omnitrix technology."
"That's... not reassuring. Not at all. I don't want to go." I muttered.
"Rest assured, diplomatic protocols will be observed by all parties. If he is serious about his vision with Genosha, he'd never harm you." Xavier's tone suggested that he meant it. "Your presence would be particularly valuable, Ben. A non-mutant who can transform into different species represents a bridge between worlds."
I glanced at Grandpa, who gave me a subtle nod. "Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?" I wasn't too scared by Magneto's interest. No, it'd have been weirder if he didn't show interest in a device like this. And I don't think he'd try anything crazy to me in Genosha, given what it'd mean to the world if he did. So going there was the smarter choice, since later, he might come after the Omnitrix regardless, but if I go and meet him and share words, he might change his mind.
A lot of mights.
The atmosphere in the garden had just begun to relax when a desperate shout from the front gates cut through our conversation.
"H-HELP! Argh… PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP!"
The voice was female, raw with panic and exhaustion. Every head turned toward the sound.
Jean rose to her feet. "I'll get it," she said, moving toward the gate with swift grace.
We all watched as she approached the wrought iron entrance, her red hair catching the afternoon sunlight. She reached for the latch, pulling it open with casual telekinesis.
The figure that stood on the other side instantly silenced the entire garden.
It was Jean Grey.
Another Jean Grey, to be precise – thinner, with haunted eyes and disheveled hair. Her clothes were a hospital gown, torn and dirty, as if she'd traveled an impossible distance under harsh conditions. Blood and grime streaked her face, and her hands trembled visibly even from a distance.
[Image Here]
Scott Summers jumped to his feet, his face draining of color. Emma Frost's diamond form flickered into sight momentarily as her concentration wavered. Xavier's normally composed expression cracked, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The Jean at the gate remained completely still, her mind clearly trying to process what she was seeing.
"Ah…" The newcomer swayed slightly, her knees threatening to buckle. Her gaze swept across the garden, landing first on Xavier, then Scott, and finally on the Jean standing before her. Her lips parted, trembling with effort.
"The... X-Men... I..." she managed, before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed forward.
Scott lunged forward, shooting a beam at the ground to cover the distance with inhuman speed. He caught the woman's unconscious form before she hit the ground. He cradled her, his face a mask of confusion and alarm.
"Professor?" His voice cracked with strain. "What is happening?"
Xavier didn't know. Emma didn't know. Only I did. Unlike the others, whose faces showed only shock and bewilderment, I felt a sinking recognition in my gut. I knew exactly what was happening. My meta knowledge was crashing into present reality with all the subtlety of a freight train.
I looked at the Jean who had been with us all along – the one who had talked in my head when I was Wildmutt, who had apologized to me for the X-Men's actions, who fought Sentinels, and who had just discussed philosophy with me moments ago. A cold realization washed over me as pieces clicked into place.
Beast rushed forward, medical training overriding his shock. "Get her to the infirmary," he ordered, already checking the unconscious woman's pulse. "Vitals are weak but stable."
"Two Jeans," Emma said, her voice unusually serious as she shifted back to flesh. "Things just got interesting."
As they carried the newcomer away, Scott kept looking between the two identical women, his voice barely audible. "What is happening?"
But I knew. Genosha. The Phoenix Force. The Goblin Queen. Mister Sinister. The dominoes were falling. The Marvel X-Men storyline I knew was accelerating.
And at this rate, we were all caught in its path. Perhaps even me. After all, here existed a Sentinel Mutant Hybrid who could control all tech.
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Author Note: The X-Men '97 (2024) was CRAZY good. Gambit was so well-written. Do you guys want to see Gambit here?
It's a Sunday again! As usual, the Goal for the 2 chapters tomorrow is Top 5! Let's go!
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