PRINCESS

By David Wheatley

Author’s Note: This issue is set after events in Uncanny X-Men #10

The state of Illinois is somewhere I’ve never visited that much. Not really considered it too often. They call it the Prairie State, vast treeless plains where all sorts of animals live and hunt and survive.

Including wolverines.

Can’t think why I’ve never bothered with the state much before. Heck, I’m only bothering with it now because of Chicago.

Why Chicago? After the big bust up between the X-Men, half the team took off and set up their own version o’ the team, using their base of operations as Chicago, while the other team continues to use Manhattan.

It’s kind o’ ironic really. In the 1870’s the Grange Movement farmers took the slogan ‘Raise less corn and more hell’. When the X-Men are around there sure ain’t no lack of hell raisin’.

Now, I’m digressin’, because I’m here in Chicago for a reason. Two really. Since the Princess bar was wrecked in the Lowtown of Madripoor, the regulars were all killed and yours truly framed for it by Prince Baran and General Coy with the help of Police Chief Tai. What friends I had still alive after that, none of them lived much longer. I ain’t really been back to the Princess.

It still runs, I just don’t go there any more. Today’s a new day, and in light of what’s happened with my team o’ X-Men recently, I need something less stressful.

Which is why the Princess Bar in Chicago makes it’s debut tonight. New bar, new location and I get to keep an eye on the other X-Men. Because tonight is special to me, I’ve invited someone special to come to the opening.

We ain’t spoken in a long time. Not since that business with Viper. We didn’t part on the best o’ terms, and then the X-Men shattered in to two teams. The bar is jumping, but I’ve got my eye on the door. I don’t know if she’s gonna come.

~SNIFF~

That answers my question. She’s here. She’s put on a bit on a bit o’ weight but then again she is pregnant.

“Logan,” she says, dolled up in a little black dress, that even with her bulge makes her look sexy as all get out.

“Jean. How you been, darlin’? Apart from the obvious?”

“Good.” There’s a strain on her face. The light in her eyes seems kind o’ jaded. Being pregnant and running with the X-Men, when her husband ain’t exactly playing with a full deck, can’t be good for any o’ them.

“We’re not going to talk shop tonight?” she asks me, sensing my thoughts. This ain’t about the X-Men. It’s about us.

“Not yet.”

“Oh,” the look on her face shows she ain’t too happy.

“Cyke know you’re here?”

“No, I got your letter when he was… missing in the Mojoverse. I didn’t mention it to him when he and the others got back.”

“You told Kitty, though? I can smell her scent on you. Too strong to be a casual odour.”

“Yes. She sends her regards.”

“Likewise,” I say as I hop behind the bar, and get her a drink. Mineral water, because of the children. There’s also no smokin’ in this section of the bar. She’d keep the smoke away anyhow with her telekinesis, but it’s the though that counts.

“Thanks,” she says. There’s a moment of silence between us both, I’m about to say something when she gets there first. “Why did you invite me?”

“Because we’ve got to talk. About the twins, about you an’ me, about the X-Men. About the future.”

“You’ve never been that bothered by the future before,” says Jean, her hand brushing back her flowing red hair.

“There ain’t been so much at stake before. Jeannie, I don’t know where I stand any more, an’ I figure that the best person to ask is you. You won’t lie to me, because I’ll know it when you do.”

“True.”

“Are you happy?”

“Yes, the twins are fine…”

“Are you happy?”

Jean looks slightly hesitant, as if mulling over what to say. It ain’t exactly an easy question. “I don’t know. So much has changed and nothing’s the same any more. Not even you.”

“Tell me about it,” I reply, thinking of my claws, and I leap over the bar. That gives her time to compose herself.

“What is it about you and Viper, anyway?” That question wasn’t totally unexpected. She’s been cuttin’ to the chase since she came in and sooner or later this was going to come up.

“Short version, ’cause the long one means we’ll be here all month. I owed a debt to an old friend. This was her payment. Giri, the Japanese call it. I owe it to Chuck, the X-Men, Alpha Flight, Mariko, Silver Fox. My responsibility. I know you were upset at the time…”

“And still am, a little.”

“An’ still are a little, but I couldn’t not go through with it. It ain’t who I am. I don’t make any excuses, because I don’t like the situation any more than you do. I ain’t got no choice, and if our union is dissolved, Madripoor will ignite in to the dirtiest civil war mankind has ever seen. It make the trouble in Genosha seem like a civil disagreement.” I don’t know why I ask this next bit, but the words come out anyway. “Jeannie, were you… jealous?”

“A little,” she admits looking away. She knows she can’t lie to me and that’s it’s not easy to look someone in the eye when you admit something like that. “Kitty’s explained a lot of what went down, but that wasn’t why I was that upset. I mean after Onslaught and Gambit’s revelation about the Mutant Massacre, the last person I expected to do something against everything the X-Men stand for was you.”

“You expected it from Scott?”

“Onslaught hurt him emotionally and Zero Tolerance physically. He’s lost faith in the old way of things and without the faith he couldn’t carry on.”

“Like Petey joining the Acolytes?”

“Something like that. Except he’s hurting more and more. The thing with Nathan, knowing that his son could die at the end of the year, Madelyne’s return from the dead.”

“I’d known about Madelyne, but what about Cable?”

“When we were in the future, Scott and I did some checking up. At the end of the year, it seems as if Apocalypse will make his move. Everything comes down to that moment and it’s not an easy time.”

“What about the Twelve?”

“You know about them?” asks Jean with surprise.

“Hey, I read the files from your X-Factor days. Cyke’s battle with the Master Mold, and the confrontation on the moon between Apocalypse and X-Factor.”

“Well, that ball is in Nathan’s court. If he knows who they are he’ll call us when the time’s right, but it’s not doing Scott any good.” Jean frowned, slightly, and it hurts me to see her like that. “He’s lost them once and he thinks he’ll lose them again. And then there are the twins. How do you feel about that?”

“Huh. Ever been gutted and elated at the same time? You know I still love you, and even though you’re married and all, it still hurts that you’re with Scott an’ not me. But I deal with it. I ain’t gonna lie about my feelings to you, it ain’t fair to either of us.”

“You know I care deeply for you, Logan. Despite our differences there’s a love I have for you that’s the same as I have with Scott yet different.”

“A Mulder/Scully type of romance? You know they love each other, but it’s not a physical thing. It’s pure romantic love. No questions asked.”

“Something along those lines,” said Jean. “You’re okay about the children then?”

“Yeah,” I answer, as earnestly as I can. I don’t want to offend her, seein’ as how we’ve only just got back to steady waters.

“But…?”

“But the life we lead, it ain’t no place to raise children. Cable’s a good example. X-Factor placed his life in danger on several occasions, because there was nowhere else for him to go. Look at Franklin Richards. He is always in jeopardy because of his parents and their lifestyle. It ain’t fair to the kids.”

“I know, and I don’t know what will happen. I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“What’s Scott say?”

“Not too much. But it needs to be dealt with.”

“Aw, darlin’, I know you’ll do what’s right.” I put my arm around her, wantin’ to kiss her but knowin’ it wouldn’t be right.

“Your tie’s crooked,” she says. “Let me.” She adjusts the tie so it looks right. “You look good in a penguin suit.”

“Don’t get the occasion to wear one that often.”

“We’ve mentioned this before, but you were missed at the wedding.”

“I have a confession,” I say. “I was there. I watched from the distance because I couldn’t stand everyone askin’ how I was, and because it was painful. But I was there.”

“I know, I did sense you and I do understand. You were also on Creed’s mind as well.”

“Yeah,” I chuckle at the memory. “He was gettin’ frisky so I sorted him out. Least I could do.”

“Thanks,” says Jean and takes a hold of my hand. “Would you like to dance?”

“Darlin’ it’d be my pleasure.” The guys in the band see us stand and they play a tango.

Tonight’s not a night for fightin’. It’s a night for good friends to talk and enjoy each other’s company.

“So the little warrior is enjoying himself,” said the man as he watched the events in his mystic pool. “He is different from when we last met. More feral, less human.”

He cast a spell to see what was going on. “Ah, so the metal the protected him in our last encounter is gone. It will all come down to skill and who is the better warrior. Excellent. At last I shall have my revenge. Not only on Weapon X, but on Adam Destine as well!”

The man’s mocking laughter filled the air as he made his preparations. Let the animal enjoy himself. He would start with the Clan Destine and soon he would cross paths with Logan once more.

The night’s drawin’ on and it’s gettin’ late.

Jean and I have talked a lot, danced, drank a bit and rebuilt our relationship. There’s just one issue we haven’t addressed yet.

“The X-Men.”

“Shop talk?” asks Jean, sitting down, a tired look in her eye.

“I know darlin’, and I don’t want to spoil the evening but we gotta talk about it. Because I agree with Scott.”

“What?” It’s not so much as a surprise but as a question.

“The last time we spoke was when he was leaving to recover from his injuries after Zero Tolerance.”

“I know you spoke, but he never said what about.”

“I told him straight. Jeannie, I ain’t Scott and I ain’t Xavier. It used to be we went out t’stop evil mutants. Us on one side, them on the other. Somewhere along the way it got messed up. I warned him that while he was gone things would change.”

“But not the way you thought?”

“No, not the way I thought. I mean, heck, I agree with what’s doin’. What I don’t agree with is the way he’s cut the rest of the team off, or the way he treated Storm.”

“He was out of order on that point,” said Jean. “And he’s made a few bad judgement calls.”

“Yeah well, if I’d have been about, he’d have been on a slab. Your husband or no.” Then I wonder if I crossed the line.

“That’s… brutally honest, Logan.”

“Yeah, well there ain’t no use playin’ what if games. Not the time o’ year for that.” My mind flits briefly back to Japan.

“Ah,” says Jean, understanding. “So what are you saying? Are you leaving Charles and joining us?”

“No, I ain’t leaving Chuck. It’s giri. Yet, I ain’t happy about the way the team’s divided. The X-Men have never had much of a destiny, not according to Cable or Bishop or Rachel. How can we fight the enemy if we’re fighting among ourselves?”

“I know that it’s hard. Scott has his pride and Charles has his. They can’t put aside this that easily.”

“Yeah, so what I’ll do is join both teams.”

“Will that work?”

“Jeannie, I’ve been away from the X-Men for weeks on end before and they ain’t missed me. Not that much anyway. I can split my time between your team and theirs. See that door?”

“The toilet? Oh, it’s a WC.”

“Yeah. From Harry’s Hideaway in Salem Centre to here, courtesy of Landau, Luckman and Lake.”

“Your own personal teleporter?” She’s impressed.

“Had to call in a few favours to get it, but it does the job.”

“How do you want to play this then?” Her eyes have lit up. She’s kind of excited to have me on their team. Guess I’m in.

“Keep me in the background at first, in reserve. When you need me, I’ll be about.”

“You’re sure about this? What do the other’s think?”

“I ain’t told ’em, yet.

“Do you want me to tell Scott?”

“If you like, though I’d like it to be a surprise when I bail him out.” I can’t stop myself from grinning.

“Some things never change,” said Jean. “Anyway, I have to go. It’s getting late.”

“I understand,” I tell her.

“Thank you,” she says as she gets up.

“What for?”

“A wonderful evening. Your offer. Your understanding.”

“Thank you fer acceptin’ the offer and for comin’. I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Neither did I, but I’m glad I did. Welcome back, Logan.” She kisses me on the cheek. “Nice bar, by the way.”

“Yeah, well it ain’t the only Princess in Chicago.” She smiles, and then she’s gone.

It’s been a good night. Nothing’s been broken, fences have been mended and it looks like I made a tidy profit. The world might not be in the greatest state at the moment, but for one night at least, we had a break and a chance to rest and enjoy ourselves..

It don’t happen often and it won’t last as it never does, but however hard life kicks you, you always get a break.

NEXT ISSUE: Logan meets an old friend, and old enemy, and the fight for the destiny of a special family begins! Against ninja magic and the past, can even Logan and his allies survive? It’s all in the first part of The Revenge Of Chen Yu, guest-starring the ClanDestine!