CHANGES

By Ryan Krupienski

Mere miles North of Chicago, there sits a huge estate, belonging to Warren Worthington III, the Archangel. It was built decades ago by his father, Warren Worthington II, to be a home for his family that was truly their own home, a home they built themselves.

But the Archangel’s father has long since passed on, and the estate now serves as the home and headquarters to one-half of the X-Men lead by Cyclops. Over the past few years, it’s been equipped with Shi’ar technology of all kinds as a back-up, should the Xavier Institute in Westchester ever be compromised.

Presently, the X-Men are gathered together in the hangar bay of the estate, preparing to bode farewell to their newfound allies, the outlaw super-team known as the Thunderbolts.

“Well, Hawkeye… if you ever need anything else, you know how to reach us,” Cyclops says, shaking Hawkeye’s hand.

“Much appreciated, Cyclops. You’ve been great to us, letting us stay here the past few days to recover from our tussle with the Masters,” Hawkeye replies.

Beast walks over to Jolt. “Remember what I told you, young miss, get plenty of rest and stay off the battlefield! The Crimson Cowl impaled you in the shoulder, and the wound will take longer than a few days to completely heal.”

“I know, Doctor McCoy, I know…”

Hawkeye sighs, and looks around at the rest of the Thunderbolts. “Okay guys an’ gals, let’s start makin’ tracks! Songbird, if you would…”

Songbird creates a platform out of sonic energy, as the hangar bay’s dock opens. The Thunderbolts get on the platform, and fly out the hangar bay, waving goodbye.

“Well, now that that’s over with, I have to get to New York,” Archangel announces.

Cyclops looks confused. “New York? Warren, you’re not…?”

“No, Scott, it has nothing to do with Professor Xavier or the other X-Men. Although it might involve Xavier if worse comes to worse… look, I’ll fill you in when I get back. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, probably a few days. I’ve got to go pack up a few things.”

Archangel leaves the hangar bay, leaving Cyclops, Phoenix, Beast, Cecilia Reyes, Psylocke, Shadowcat, and Colossus behind.

Phoenix turns to Psylocke. “Betsy, do you have any idea what’s going on?” she asks.

“Somewhat. Warren received a disturbing phone call this morning. Something to do with Worthington Industries, some troubles with the stock or something. He didn’t want to talk about it, he was so upset, but I heard him talking on the phone,” Psylocke replies.

“Well, he knows we’re here if he needs us,” Phoenix says. “Anyway… I was planning on going for a swim. Anyone care to join me?”

“Jean, it’s a scorcher out there – ninety-seven degrees!” Cecilia exclaims. “You shouldn’t be swimming in that heat, especially since you’re pregnant.”

Everyone in the room, save Cecilia, looks at Phoenix and says in unison, “Pregnant?!”

One hour later, in the hangar bay…

Warren Worthington III, dressed in a custom-made stone white suit with a navy blue undershirt, walks over to his small private jet with a suitcase in either hand. He opens the door, puts his luggage inside, and is about to get in the jet when Betsy Braddock comes up behind him.

Warren turns around just as Betsy grabs his shoulder. “Betsy… what’s with the suitcase?” he asks.

Betsy, who is dressed in a red dress cut at the knees with thin shoulder straps, replies, “I’m going with you, Warren. Your problems are my problems. We’ll face them together.”

Warren smiles, and hugs Betsy. ‘This is the Betsy Braddock I remember. I was beginning to fear that the Crimson Dawn was having some unseen effect on her, turning her more towards the dark side. But now she’s getting back to normal, it seems. Thank God,’ he thinks.

“Well, luv, perhaps we should get going,” Betsy says, pulling away from Warren.

Warren moves away from the door and holds it open for Betsy. “After you, my dear.”

Betsy smiles and enters the jet, followed by Warren. The door shuts, the engines start up, and the jet takes off.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom of Katherine ‘Kitty’ Pryde, high above the hangar bay on the second floor of the mansion…

Kitty is sitting on her king-size bed, flipping through the channels on the television. “What time is it? Just about three o’clock? Rosie should be on in a minute or two,” she says to herself, not thinking anyone is around.

Actually, someone is around, at the doorway in fact. Piotr Rasputin, the steel-skinned Colossus, watches Kitty with a smile. ‘She is so beautiful… of course, she always is. I am happy to see she is dealing with her father’s suicide, though I fear instead of dealing with the pain, she’s bottling it up inside. I need to talk to her… before I go.’

“It’s the Rosie O’Donnell show!” Kitty chirps, singing along to the tune on the television. She turns her head, and sees Piotr standing at the doorway of her room. She jumps a bit, then says, “Piotr! You scared me!”

“I’m sorry, Katya. I could not resist watching you sing the theme song for Rosie,” Piotr jokes, walking over to Kitty.

Kitty hits Piotr playfully with a pillow. “Oh, shut up!”

Peter sits down on the bed next to Kitty. “So, who’s on today?” he asks.

“Susan Lucci, Ricky Martin, and Camryn Manheim,” Kitty replies. “You wanna watch it with me?”

Peter shakes his head. “No, thank you. I really came here to check up on you. I wanted to see how you were.”

Kitty looks at Piotr, not knowing what he’s talking about. “What do you mean, Piotr?”

“I mean… about your father. I know it has been months since he… committed suicide, but I know these things take time to get over. Such was the case with me after Illyana died…” Piotr says, taking Kitty’s hand.

Kitty looks down. “I’m… working through it. It still hurts… a lot… but I try not to think about it. Instead, I like to think my dad’s in a better place now, watching over Mom and I…”

“I am here if you need me, Katya. In spirit, at least,” Piotr replies.

Kitty looks confused. “What are you talking about?”

Piotr nods his head. “I’m leaving, Katya. I am returning to Russia, to visit my parents’ graves, and to see how the old farm is doing… I have been meaning to for so long now, and with everything that’s happened in the past few months, I’ve not had the time.”

“Oh Piotr…” Kitty says. She walks over and hugs Peter. “I’ll… go with you…”

“No, Katya. I must do this alone. I will be back, but not right away. You don’t have to worry about me,” Piotr replies, pulling away from Kitty. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go and pack.”

Kitty’s expression turns sad once more, as she watches Piotr walk out of her room. “Yeah, sure…”

One level down, in the mansion’s infirmary…

“Hank, how long will the tests take?” Jean Grey-Summers, who’s sitting on an examination table, asks.

Henry ‘Hank’ McCoy, dressed in a white lab coat, replies, “Not horribly long, Jean. You could have always taken one of those home pregnancy tests, but they are not as effective as they seem. This way takes longer, but the results are one-hundred and one percent definitive. I should have results within the hour.”

Cecilia Reyes walks over to Jean. “Jean, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have opened my mouth…”

“Don’t worry about it, Cecilia. I wasn’t too far off from telling Scott, anyway. And now I’ll have a definite answer sooner than expected!” Jean replies happily.

Scott Summers turns to his wife. “Jean, why didn’t you tell me about this? You shouldn’t have gone into battle with the Masters of Evil if you were feeling so sick, or if you even thought you might be pregnant!”

“Scott, I didn’t know for sure if I was pregnant… and I didn’t want you to be disappointed if I wasn’t. Cecilia was originally going to conduct some private tests with me, but I guess with everything from the Masters of Evil’s attack to Cecilia’s powers evolving to the Thunderbolts being our house guests, we sort of forgot about it,” Jean says. “But now… now we’ll know for sure, and I’ve got high hopes that we are going to be having a little boy or girl!”

Scott kisses Jean on the forehead. “I do too, Jean. And I want you to know, that you could never disappoint me.”

Scott and Jean embrace, as Cecilia turns to Hank. With her eyes, she signals for the two of them to leave the room so Scott and Jean can have come privacy. They walk out into the hallway quickly and close the door behind them.

“Well, I certainly hope Jean is pregnant… considering how much those two love each other, it’d be a shame if she wasn’t,” Cecilia says.

“The test results will tell all very soon, Cecilia. Now, while we’re waiting, would you care to join me for a cup of coffee…?”

Before Hank can say another word, the sound of the phone ringing vibrates through the halls. Hank rushes to the nearest phone, and picks it up. “Hello? Yes, this is. Cecilia Reyes? Hold on,” he says.

Hank rushes the phone over to Cecilia. “It’s for you, Cecilia,” he says, handing her the phone.

“Hello?” Cecilia says into the phone. “Yes, that’s right. It’s… it’s done? Really? Yes, yes I will. Thank you.” Cecilia pressed a button on the cordless phone, turning it off, and put it down on a table nearby.

“Well?” Hank asks.

“It’s my clinic, Hank. It’s been completely fixed up. I can go back to New York now.”

Ten minutes later, in the bedroom of Piotr Rasputin…

Piotr has gathered up his belongings, and packed them up into two large black suitcases. Clothes, books, painting utensils, and pictures, of his family.

Kitty Pryde walks in the room. “Need any help?” she asks.

Piotr turns to her. “No, thank you, Katya. I’m nearly finished.”

“How long will you be gone?” Kitty asks.

Peter sighs. “I… am not sure. But I will call you when I arrive, to let you know I am okay.”

Kitty smiles as much as she can. “You better, or else!”

Piotr stops what he’s doing, and walks over to Kitty. He hugs her, then pulls back just a little so he can look at her.

“Piotr… are you okay?” Kitty asks.

Piotr says nothing. Instead, he continues to look into Kitty’s eyes. Then… he kisses her.

Kitty doesn’t resist the kiss… but she doesn’t return it either. She pulls away almost immediately, and slaps Piotr across the face. “Why did you do that?!”

“Katya… Kitty, I…”

Kitty walks out of the room, clearly upset. “Shut up… just shut up!”

Back downstairs, in the hallway…

“You’re going back… to New York?” Hank asks, trying not to show how upset he is to hear Cecilia say she’s leaving.

“Yeah, I am. I have to, Hank,” Cecilia says. “I have a clinic there, remember? Patients, people who depend on me… the arrangement was that I’d only be staying here until my clinic got fixed up. Now it’s all fixed up, and I’ve got to get back to Salem Center.”

Hank gulps, not knowing what to say. “I… I…”

Cecilia eyes Hank suspiciously. “Hank? You okay?” she asks.

Hank sighs. “No, I’m not, Cecilia. I’ll be honest with you… I’m not happy one bit that you’re leaving. Truth be told, I was hoping you’d be staying here indefinitely.”

“Why, Doctor McCoy… I’m flattered,” Cecilia says, smiling. “You really like having me here, don’t you? Well, I also have a confession… I like being here. But I’ve got responsibilities back in New York. I’m sorry.”

Cecilia hangs her head for a second and sighs, then begins to head down the hallway, towards the staircase. Hank follows her with his eyes. “Where are you going?” he asks.

“To pack,” Cecilia replies.

Hank runs to her side, blocking her path to the staircase. “No, wait, you can’t…”

“What? What do you mean I can’t? I can, and I will!” Cecilia says, getting a little annoyed.

‘Tell her, you coward!’ Hank thinks to himself.

Cecilia is beginning to get truly agitated. “Alright, blue boy, you either tell me WHY I can’t leave, or move! I…”

“Alright, I’ll tell you why you can’t leave! It’s because I love you, Cecilia Reyes, and I wouldn’t be able to bear it if you left!”

Many miles away, at the Worthington Industries main office in New York City…

Warren and Betsy walk into a board room, complete with a large oval meeting table and plants in each corner. They walk to a set of chairs at one end of the table, and sit down.

At the other end of the table is an Asian woman. She’s petite, about 5’4″. Her hair is black, short, and cropped. She’s wearing a light gray suit, and has somewhat of a cold demeanor about her.

“Hello, Warren,” the woman says, seemingly pleased with herself.

Warren stares at the woman. “What do you think you’re doing, Melissa? Do you really think you can pull this off?” he says angrily.

Melissa smiles devilishly. “Oh Warren, calm down. Temper tantrums just don’t become you.”

“You really think you can do this? You really think you can take my company from me? You’ve got another thing coming if you think I’m going to allow you to knock me out of my position as CEO of Worthington Industries,” Warren says.

“Oh really? Well, let’s examine the evidence, shall we? You, Warren, have hardly been around the office lately. You moved to Chicago, am I correct? Well, in your absence, the company’s stock has dropped twenty-eight points. That’s quite a drop, Warren. If it keeps dropping, Worthington Industries is going to be in deep trouble. And that’s where I come in,” Melissa says.

Melissa smiles again, sliding a folder over to Warren and Betsy. “This is my proposal for a stronger, more profitable Worthington Industries. I’ve scheduling a board meeting for about a month from now. You have a bit of time, Warren, to bring your company back to where it was. If you don’t succeed… the board members may just opt to elect a new CEO.”

“Damn it, Melissa! You’re not going to rob me of my own company! My name is on this company! My grandfather and my father worked too hard to build it to what it is for some wretch like you to just steal it all away!” Warren yells angrily, tearing up the folder Melissa passed him. “You can try all you like, but it’s not going to happen.”

Melissa gets up out of her seat, and headed towards the door. “Sticks and stones, Warren, sticks and stones…” She sighs. “Think what you will, but know this – before year’s end, I, Melissa Bennett, will be CEO of Worthington Industries, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. Ciao!”

The door closes behind Melissa, leaving Warren and Betsy alone. Warren gets up out of his seat, and walks over to the window. “She can’t do this, Betsy… I am this company! She can’t just take it away…”

Betsy walks over to Warren. “Don’t worry, luv… I’ve got a plan on how to deal with Miss Bennett. I can tell just by looking at her that she’s going to play dirty. So… why don’t we as well?”

Warren eyes Betsy suspiciously. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

Back in Chicago…

Cecilia Reyes just got the shock of her life. Well, maybe not as shocking as when her father died, when she got her job at Our Mother Of Mercy in the Bronx, or when she discovered she was a mutant… but it’s shocking nonetheless.

“You… you WHAT?!” Cecilia exclaims with wide eyes.

Hank looks at her innocently. “I… love you, Cecilia,” he says softly.

Cecilia leans against the wall. “Whoa. Okay. Hold up, now. This… this is quite unexpected, Hank. Is there a reason you had to wait until now to tell me this?”

“Look, Cecilia… I’ve admired you since the moment we met… well, okay, I’ll admit I wasn’t happy when you called me ‘Animal’… but in all our time together, I’ve grown to admire you very much. You’re intelligent, strong, witty, beautiful… and it saddens me deeply when I think of you leaving. Please, Cecilia, stay here. There are plenty of hospitals in Chicago, and we can easily sell your clinic. Please… stay.” Hank takes Cecilia’s hand.

Cecilia looks at Hank, her eyes flooded with tears of joy. “Oh Hank…”

Before Hank can say another word, Cecilia puts her arms around him and kisses him. Without thinking, he returns the kiss. And what a kiss it is…

While Cecilia and Hank are still locked at the lips, two figures emerge from the infirmary and catch the romantic scene in the hallway.

“Whoa…” Scott says, slightly suprised.

Jean just smiles. “And what’s going on here?” she asks in a playful tone.

Hank and Cecilia quickly disengage their kiss, and look innocently at Scott and Jean. “Ah… nothing, fair lady,” Hank says with an innocent smile.

All of a sudden, footsteps can be heard on the stairway. The four X-Men make their way to the foot of the staircase, only to see Piotr walking down, with one large suitcase in each of his hands, and a duffel bag across his shoulder.

“Piotr? Where are you going?” Scott asked, confused.

“I am returning to Russia, Scott. I realize that I pledged my loyalty to you and your new direction for the X-Men when our team split in two, but… I have been planning on returning to my homeland for a while now. With everything that’s happened recently, I got sidetracked,” Piotr replies.

“When will you be back?” Jean asks.

Piotr shrugs. “I honestly do not know. But I hope I will not be gone too long,” he replies.

“We’ll walk you to the door,” Scott says.

Hank takes one of Piotr’s suitcases, as the five X-Men wade through several rooms and hallways until they arrive at the mansion’s main foyer, complete with a grand staircase and a ceiling that seems to go on forever. Scott walks up to the the white double doors, and opens them. Sitting outside is a taxi.

Jean walks up to Piotr, and gives him a hug. “Call us when you get there,” she says.

“I will,” Piotr replies, as Hank hands him his suitcase. He walks out the door, and takes one last look at his teammates. “Please tell Katya… I’m sorry. Goodbye, comrades.”

The four other X-Men walk outside, and wave goodbye as Piotr gets into the taxi and drives off. Kitty looks down from the top of the staircase, still upset… partly at herself.

“I’m sorry too, Piotr…”

Twenty minutes later, back in the infirmary…

Jean is once again sitting on the examination table, with Scott and Cecilia at her side. Hank is back near a lab area for almost ten minutes, while Jean and Cecilia are talking.

“…So I’m planning on having a few training sessions with Hank in which he’ll teach me more about my powers. I’m not sure about all the wild new things I can do with them yet, but I know I can turn my entire body into the psioplasmic energy that usually just covers my body as a force-field,” Cecilia says. “It’s kinda strange… I mean, I don’t even have complete control over the first manifestation of my powers, and now they’re already evolving!”

“I know how that feels… I didn’t even know I had telepathy until long after I joined the X-Men. Professor Xavier shut it down, and it remained dormant until I was ready to deal with it,” Jean replies. “I’m just glad something good came out of what Lodestone did to you. I bet she’d be pretty miffed if she found out that in addition to getting arrested, she advanced one of her enemy’s powers!”

All of a sudden, Hank walks towards the trio. He’s obviously anxious to tell them all his findings.

“Well, Hank? What’s the verdict?” Scott asks.

Hank smiles, and looks at Jean. “Congratulations, Missus Grey-Summers, you’re pregnant! You’re two weeks into the second trimester, in fact!”

Jean’s face lights up, and she hugs Scott. She turns back to Hank. “Three and a half months? But how…?

“Well, Jean, many women go into their second trimester not knowing they’re pregnant. You haven’t even begun to show yet. But I assure you… you will, within the next month,” Hank replies.

“So Hank… is it a boy or a girl?” Scott asks. “Or is it too soon to tell…?”

Hank smiles once more, “It is, in fact, a bit too soon to tell. But the fact is, you may be having one of each. Jean, you’re having twins!”

NEXT ISSUE: Forget #8… it’s issue #7.5 up next! Who is the woman named Chyna, and what sinister X-villain does she work for? Find out as she discovers a secret that will test her allegiances and start her on a path to Westchester!