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Beast cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Forgive the interruption, but there exists an additional matter of considerable scientific and humanitarian import for which we solicited Jay's presence today." He moved to the door and gestured for someone to enter.
A young woman with dark hair and keen eyes stepped into the already crowded room. Jay recognized her immediately, though he was careful not to show it.
"Allow me to introduce Tessa," Beast said, his tone carrying both professional courtesy and genuine concern. "Her mutation appears to have encountered some form of impediment leading to her losing most of her powers. We harbored hopes that your rather unique healing capabilities might enable you to conduct an examination and determine the feasibility of therapeutic intervention."
Jay nodded, moving to Tessa and placing his hands on her shoulders. He made a show of concentrating, using his stolen enhanced intelligence—originally hers—to perform a detailed scan while being careful not to reveal that he was the reason her powers weren't manifesting properly.
After several minutes, he stepped back with a carefully crafted expression of regret. "I'm afraid the prognosis is rather grim. There's nothing wrong with her body, but I can conclude the X-gene itself is damaged at the cellular level," he said, the lie tasting bitter in his mouth even as he maintained his compassionate facade. "I'm sorry, but this isn't something that I can heal."
Beast's shoulders sagged with disappointment and doubt, his scientific mind already racing through alternative theories and treatments. "Most regrettable, though I appreciate your thorough examination." Several others in the room shifted uncomfortably, the weight of another mutant's unfulfilled potential settling over them like a shroud. Tessa took the news with stoic acceptance, though Jay could see the disappointment in her eyes.
Jean had been notably quiet during the discussions, her green eyes troubled as she processed the implications of everything being said about mutant politics, the Power Broker, and the various threats to their kind.
"Since we're on the subject of medical examinations," Scott said suddenly, his voice tight with worry, "As you know that Jean died and came back. Could you..." He swallowed hard, his earlier anger now transformed into raw vulnerability. "Could you check on her? Make sure she's okay?"
Jean's head snapped up, her expression shifting from contemplative to alarmed. "Scott, that's not necessary—" she protested, unconsciously taking a step back.
"It is necessary," Scott insisted, his voice cracking slightly. "If there's something wrong, if there's some kind of complication..." His hands trembled as he reached toward her, then dropped to his sides.
Jean's face softened as she saw the genuine fear in her boyfriend's eyes, the terror of losing her again written plainly across his features.
"Scott's got a point," Logan interjected, his gruff voice cutting through Jean's protests. "After everything we've been through, better to know."
Jay hesitated, knowing what he'd find but understanding that Scott's fears weren't entirely unfounded. "Alright, but I'll try not to be too invasive."
He approached Jean carefully, placing one hand on her shoulder and letting his healing aura extend just far enough to scan her cellular structure. Using Sage's DNA ocular abilities, he examined Jean's body while being extremely careful not to probe too deeply into the psychic realm where the Phoenix fragment resided.
His expression shifted from calm to surprised to deeply troubled as the scan progressed.
"Everything looks fine," he said finally, but his face clearly indicated otherwise.
Logan's eyes narrowed. "Your expression says different, bub."
Storm finally spoke, her voice carrying the authority of someone accustomed to command. "Jay, if there are concerns regarding Jean's wellbeing, we should address them openly. Secrets have a way of festering."
Mystique shifted in her chair, her yellow eyes studying Jay with calculating interest. "The boy's face suggests complications. Perhaps we should hear what he has discovered."
Jay glanced around the room at all the assembled heroes, mutant leaders, and curious students. "Maybe those who don't need to know should step out."
Nobody moved. Not one person.
Scott's voice was firm. "We've trusted each other with our lives in situations way worse than this. Whatever you found, we can handle it."
Jay was quiet for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "What I'm going to reveal is part of the reason for the excessive and almost illogical hatred against mutants in this world. But first, the happy news." He turned to Logan with a slight grin. "Congratulations, Wolvi. You're going to be an uncle."
The room went completely silent as everyone processed this information. Logan's eyebrows shot up, while Jean gasped and Scott's mouth fell open.
"Wait, what?" Jean said, her hand moving instinctively to her stomach.
"You're pregnant," Jay confirmed. "About six weeks along."
The emotional whiplash was immediate and intense. Jean burst into tears of joy while Scott whooped and swept her into her arms. Logan showed a genuine smile, a warm expression that transformed his usually gruff features. Even Magneto and Mystique were smiling at the news.
After the congratulations died down, Jay held up a hand. "Hold on there. Why are you all huggin' Scott? I didn't say who the father was. Could be Kurt for all you know."
The room fell silent again as everyone processed this, then turned to stare at Jay with expressions ranging from amusement to horror.
"What?" Jay said innocently. "I think Kurt's handsome."
The tension broke as everyone burst into laughter—even Erik chuckled despite himself. Kurt's blue skin somehow managed to show a blush as he stammered something in German.
But as the laughter died down, the seriousness of Jay's earlier expression returned.
"The pregnancy is wonderful news," he continued, his voice growing grave. "But it's also complicated. Jean, you do carry a Phoenix, but it's just a tiny shard of the real thing. Which raises the question, what happened to the actual Phoenix?"
The room grew quiet again, sensing that they were about to hear something significant.
"After Jean died fighting to save everyone, she was transformed by the Phoenix Force. But when she returned, she shed part of herself to become mortal again. The Jean standing here is real, but she's also fundamentally changed by that experience."
"That's still good news, this means no more losin' control," Scott said, relief evident in his voice.
"That is the good news," Jay replied grimly. "The bad news would be if the real Jean was fully gone and the Jean here was actually a clone planted by someone else."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
'If this were the comics and she was real,' Jay thought, watching the shock ripple across their faces, 'this is about the time the Phoenix would torch the room.'
Scott's face went white, then red with fury. "My girlfriend is not some piece of flaming bird! She's real!"
"I understand your anger," Jay said, raising his hands placatingly as his danger sense began screaming warnings, "but you need to hear the full truth before you—"
Scott's control snapped. "ENOUGH!"
Logan's claws burst from his knuckles with their characteristic snikt, his lip curling in a snarl. "Watch yer mouth, bub, or I'll—"
But before either of them could complete their threats, Jay's danger sense kicked in and he dodged backwards, his enhanced reflexes keeping him just ahead of Scott's wild swing and Logan's slashing claws.
Optic beams charged to deadly intensity.
Adamantium claws gleamed in the afternoon light.
And Jay backed against the wall, trapped between two of the most dangerous mutants alive who'd just been told the woman they both loved might not be real.
The room held its breath as death hung in the balance.
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