ABSOLUTION

Part I: Denial

By James Jordan

The doorbell rings. Its shrill sound goes throughout the vast mansion, which sleeps silently in the news that its occupant, Charles Xavier, is on his way out its doors for the last time.

It doesn’t take long before a white haired woman of African descent comes down the stairs in a vestige of the most exotic of gods. Her hair flows slowly in the wind, which seems to follow her as she passes the living room into the foyer of the Xavier Institute For Higher Learning.

Ororo Munroe, as she is called, stands before the mahogany doors which veil a group of X-Men. She sighs, and uses her hands to flatten her dress. She feels unexpectedly reluctant to see those who, as she feels, have betrayed ‘the dream’ as set forth by the man they’re here to visit. To Ororo, honor is a key code of conduct in all aspects of life. And they abandoned that honor by disturbing the reverence of Charles Xavier, someone who has cared for so many people and given so many opportunities to all of his X-Men… his family.

The door opens before Ororo can even realize it. Standing on the other side is Jean Grey-Summers. Jean smiles at Ororo, and Ororo can’t help but smile back. The two have shared so much with each other that just the sight of the other makes them forget that they had ever fought… or in this case joined separate, complete opposite sides on the spectrum of debate.

“I’ve missed you,” Jean says in an embrace with Ororo.

Ororo smiles and relieves her grip around Jean, “And I, you.”

The two stand for a moment looking into each other’s eyes, and already Ororo knows something is wrong with Jean.

“Do you have space in your med-lab? We need two beds,” comes the voice of Cecilia Reyes, interrupting the silent conversation between Jean and Ororo. Cecilia continues past the two in a rapid fashion.

Ororo, having been deterred from her and Jean’s moment, shakes her head and rubs her neck. “Oh, of course…” Ororo thinks about Cecilia’s requests. “Wait, why do you need the medical lab?”

“Long story short, Cyke – unconcious, Bolt – recovering,” Cecilia states bluntly as she rushes to an elevator door. “Does this go down to the lab?”

Ororo and Jean quicken their pace to join Cecilia by the elevator, which has now opened. “Yes, but I’m afraid you’ll have to embellish more on what’s going on. What do you mean Bolt is recovering?” Ororo inquires.

“As in he was sick and now he’s not,” Cecilia snaps as though Ororo’s questions are of no importance. Cecilia presses the button on the elevator, prompting Jean and Ororo to rush inside the elevator beside her. Cecilia looks at her watch impatiently and looks up. “Jean, contact the others and tell them to meet me in the lab. By the time they get there it’ll be ready for Scott and Chris.”

“Already a step ahead of you,” Jean replies smugly.

“Wait, what is Bolt recovering from?” Ororo questions, still confused by the arbitrary arrival of the X-Men.

Cecilia looks to Jean, and Jean looks to Cecilia. With a sigh, Cecilia answers, “The Legacy Virus.”

He came to the mansion not understanding himself, or the world around him. To Bobby Drake life was one of the complicated Nancy Drew mysteries found on the shelf of a young girl. He didn’t understand its appeal. The fact that he found it unbearable to trudge through didn’t help either.

But all of that changed the day he entered Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, a place he would call home for most of his life. It was at Xavier’s that he met his best friends, the X-Men. Bobby thinks to himself about all the things they did in the beginning of their existence as a ‘superhero’ group. Magneto, the Savage Land, the Brotherhood of Mutants… all adventures. But the memories he savors most are those that happened within the mansion’s walls. Playing baseball with the ‘gang’, kissing too many women to recount, learning to control his powers…

Somehow Bobby doesn’t see this moment as one to add to the list.

Bobby stares at the sleeping Charles Xavier. He’s been there all night, just staring at the world’s strongest telepath as he sleeps. Occasionally the professor will cough or roll over, and Bobby will jump from his seat hoping that Xavier will wake up and tell him that it will get better.

Everything gets better. That’s one of the first things Xavier taught Bobby as a teenager. Bobby can remember those words as if they happened the day before, ‘Bobby… when life is at its worst, there’s nowhere left to go but up. Things will get better. Everything gets better.’ The words ring through Bobby’s mind at one of the most painful times in his life.

‘Professor Xavier is dying,’ Bobby thinks to himself. As he sleeps right now, he may very well pass on. Bobby is all too aware of this so he keeps praying and hoping to some god or another that his mentor will live just another day. Just another day so that Bobby can tell him how much he means to him.

A knock comes from the door, startling Bobby. He catches his breath before replying, “Come in.”

The door opens and in steps Warren Worthington III. His wings lay folded at his sides, and as he steps in they move to reveal Hank McCoy and Dani Moonstar. Bobby stands to his feet and nods to the three. His lip trembles and he falls into the arms of the Beast. The two haven’t spoken much since the splitting up of the two X-Men teams.

Dani pats him on the back. “Don’t worry Bobby.”

Bobby and Hank relinquish their hug. “Well that was manly,” Bobby replies, wiping a tear from his cheek. “Like mega macho, macho man.”

Beast stares caringly at his friend and chuckles. “It’s quite fine. I’ve been told many a time that I can come off effeminate myself.”

The two have been best friends for years and it only seems right that when in each other’s company they find solace and comfort. “So, how have you been?” Bobby questions of his friend.

“Fine. Nothing new at all I’m afraid, just some breakthroughs in the lab,” Beast says coyly.

Dani smiles, “Hank McCoy is amazing. He’s going to go down in history for this.”

“For what?” Bobby asks of Dani’s cryptic comment.

Warren stands sternly at the edge of Xavier’s bed with arms folded. He looks very professional and statuesque. “We have good news,” Archangel states as he looks at his former mentor, motionless in his bed. “We have the cure for the Legacy Virus.”

Bobby looks at Warren in awe. The past week he has done nothing but hope that Xavier would be cured, and now it’s true. “Are you sure? One-hundred percent positive? No wait – one-hundred and ten percent positive?”

“One hundred and fifty percent, my friend,” Hank replies. “The cure was tested on Christopher Bradley, and he’s alive and well in your lab being monitored.”

“I can’t believe it. I mean, I’m surprised you guys showed up. You have no reason to be here,” Bobby says.

Warren relieves his soldier stance and walks to Bobby. “How could you have thought that? Xavier was a big part of our lives, despite what happened between us.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, I just would’ve understood if…”

“If what, Bobby?” the mutant formerly known as Angel snaps with a finger pointed at Iceman. “If we didn’t come? If we let him die? How insensitive do you think we are?”

“Warren…” Dani begins, placing her hand on Warren’s shoulder.

“No, Dani. He thinks we’re heartless. I want to leave after Xavier’s healthy and go back to Chicago. I don’t want anyone to forget why we have separate teams. Nothing has changed.” Archangel walks toward the door. His mood completely changes from angry to emotionless. “I’ll send Cecilia up with the serum as soon as possible.”

Warren leaves the room in a state of silence. All three, Bobby, Dani, and Hank, look to the floor. They all know Warren’s right, but sentimentality and memory are sometimes blinding even to the faces of the strongest convictions.

“I-” Dani begins and stops herself. She looks around the room confused. She looks to Bobby and weakly smiles before walking out the door to follow Warren.

Bobby and Hank stand in the silent room, looking at the floor.

Bobby looks up with the eyes of a lacerated man. “So, where do we go from here?”

“How is he, any better?” Jean Grey-Summers asks Cecilia Reyes of her unconscious husband.

Cecilia, who has been sitting in front of the lab’s main computer since she arrived, replies without taking her eyes off the computer screen, “He’ll be fine. He should be waking up within the next couple of hours.”

“So, nothing fatal, life altering… he’s not going to wake up and want to kill anyone?” Jean asks playfully.

Cecilia smiles, “In theory, you are correct. I suspect no murderous thoughts coming out of this one. At least for tonight.”

Jean takes a seat next to Cecilia and rests her elbow on the computer tables. She looks at Cecilia’s stern, concentrated face as she types away on the computer. “How are the tests on Chris going?”

“Surprisingly well, actually. It seems as though the serum was able to create some sort of receptor to detract the virus from Christopher’s central nervous system. It’s killing the virus slowly, but surely.” Cecilia spins her chair around to face Jean. “Ugh, I can’t stare at this screen for another minute. I need coffee.”

“I thought you’d want some,” Jean says with a smirk as she telekinetically moves a cup into Cecilia’s hand. “I figured you were tired, so when I was upstairs I got you a cup.”

Cecilia takes a sip and takes a deep breath in. She breathes out and grins, “Much better. But at this rate, I might need more than a cup. Maybe a gallon?”

Jean nods and giggles, taking a sip out of her own cup of coffee. She stares at her knees, imagining how she’s going to see Xavier. “Do you think Char… the professor is going to be receptive to the serum?”

Cecilia shrugs. “I’m not sure. I’m not one-hundred percent confident on what Professor Xavier’s medical history is like or how far along the virus is. I’m keeping it positive though, I think it’s going to work.”

“But there’s a chance that it might not?”

Cecilia places her hand on Jean’s leg, “Honey, what I’m saying is that I don’t know. It’s up in the air. The serum is working. It’s ready to save thousands. It all comes down to whether or not those few thousand people want to be saved or not. Xavier’s the same.”

Jean sighs. “I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… I don’t know if I should see him or not. If he dies tonight and I never get to see him again, I don’t know what I’d do with myself. But it just seems awkward.” Jean pauses and looks to her husband on one of the various beds. “I wish that Scott was awake. I think he needs to forgive Xavier more than I do.”

“Don’t worry about Scott, Jean. He’ll be up before…” Cecilia pauses as she rethinks her words. “Xavier and Scott will have time to talk. You should go up there and see him. Bring Rachel and John; he hasn’t seen them in a while. And if it gets heated, the kids will keep you civil.” Cecilia smiles and turns back to the computer.

“I guess so,” Jean replies. Jean stands to her feet and moves toward the elevator. As the door ‘dings’ she steps inside and presses the button to go to the first floor. Feelings of overwhelming emotion wash over her.

She’s going to see Xavier.

The doorbell sounds the once silent X-Mansion, which has now filled with the noise and commotion equivalent to that of a family reunion.

“I’ll get it,” Alison Blaire, the Dazzler, shouts to the room of people as she rushes to the door. She answers it, and standing before her is Kitty Pryde. Directly behind her is Piotr Rasputin, better known as Colossus.

“Alison!” Kitty shouts as she wraps her arms around the voluptuous blonde. “I haven’t seen you in so long.”

Alison, still shocked by the eager greeting, half-heartedly smiles. “I wish it could’ve been under better circumstances.” Alison moves out of Kitty and Piotr’s way so that they can come in, when she begins to look at the two with a confused expression. “Did you guys come together?”

“Oh… no,” the two say in unison. Piotr makes a half smile and Kitty giggles.

“Jinx,” Kitty says playfully to the armored mutant known as Colossus.

“It was just coincidence,” Piotr says. “It’s good to see you Alison.”

Alison places her hand on Piotr’s shoulder. “Ditto.”

Kitty looks to Alison and Piotr, both remaining silent after their greeting to each other. She bobs up and down awkwardly before breaking the silence, “So how’s Becca?”

“Good,” Alison pauses, “Great actually, especially under the circumstances.”

“Oh, I heard about the Sinister situation,” Kitty states, acknowledging what Alison has gone through the past couple of days. “Did Jean really…?”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Alison says, cutting Kitty off. “Now come on, I’ll tell everyone you’re here.”

Alison begins walking up the stairs to the other X-Men, with Kitty and Piotr behind. Each step feels heavier to Alison as she remembers what happened to her child at Sinister’s lab. She can’t help but feel that being an X-Man is not the right thing for her child. As a mother Alison must consider the best options for Becca.

“When are we going to see him?” Piotr asks earnestly.

“Well, we were all waiting for you two to get here before we go in as a group,” Alison answers. She turns around to look at Piotr while she’s walking up the stairs and smiles discerningly. “But to tell you the truth I think the professor is going to be fine. Cecilia and Hank discovered the cure to the Legacy Virus. It worked on one of our students, Christopher Bradley. He’s recuperating in the med-lab.”

“That’s amazing!” Kitty exclaims. “So he’s going to be okay then?”

Alison shrugs, “They haven’t administered the serum yet, they want to run a few more tests first. But when they do there’s a fifty-fifty chance it won’t work. A lot of the damage has already been done. But I have a hunch we’ll see Xavier up and walking.” Alison pauses. “Well, figuratively anyway.”

Alison stops once she reaches the hallway. “Everyone’s in the living room to the right,” she informs.

“Are you coming?” Kitty asks.

“I might come in later. I’m going to go check up on Becca.”

“We’ll see you later then I guess,” Piotr says.

Alison smiles, as Kitty is ushered into the living room by Piotr. The two walk in, and already Alison can hear the reaction to the two former X-Men’s arrival. She smiles and shakes her head.

“You know this is ridiculous,” comes a voice from the shadows causing Alison to jump. The haunting voice reveals itself to be Marrow as she steps away from the shadows. “You know, everyone making a big deal over the bald guy’s ‘death’.”

Alison, clutching her chest, looks to Marrow, disgusted. “How can you say that? This man has done so much for all of us.”

“And he’s also done so many bad things to us,” the Morlock growls back. “I like how when someone is in pain or is dying that no one acknowledges all of the negative aspects of their life. You’re all pitying Xavier, that’s what you’re doing. You’re not honoring him, you’re belittling him.”

“How humans express their feelings is none of your business,” Alison says as she continues down the hallway. “You’re not human,” she says under her breath.

“I’d take that back if I were you,” Marrow scoffs. She stands still in her place, roughly ten or fifteen feet away from Alison.

Alison turns around to face Marrow. “You’re full of shit.” Alison pauses for a moment to look in the eyes of Marrow before turning around and heading back to see her child.

Marrow stands in the hallway, angry and frustrated. If this had been years ago, Dazzler’s head would be on a stick and her child would be mutilated. In ways she has reformed, but at the center she’s the same angry and malicious Morlock from yesteryear.

Marrow finally turns away, choosing to ignore Dazzler’s ignorant statements, and finds solace back in the shadows of the mansion.

“I’m feeling much better, really,” the bald man in the bed says, palliating his X-Men’s fears.

Rogue, Gambit, Iceman, Archangel, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Shadowcat, and Moonstar all stand around his bed in a half circle. They all have smiles on their faces, exuding a confidence in Xavier’s health that they all lack.

“Do you want anything Professor?” Rogue asks of her mentor. “Ah could get you something from the kitchen. A glass of water maybe?”

“I’m fine, but thank you Rogue,” Xavier says smiling. “So Kitty, Piotr, what have you two been up to? I feel as though I haven’t seen you in years.”

“I’ve spent most of my time in Russia since I left the X-Men. But I’ve done a lot of traveling, specifically Europe, although I visited China for a short period,” Colossus answers.

“And you, Kitty?”

Kitty shrugs as she moves to the bed post and sits on it. “Nothing really. I’m in New York City, and still working at the electronics store. It’s nothing special, but it makes me happy.”

Xavier chuckles. “You and I both know that it’s special, Kitty. Anything you do is special.”

Kitty grins and pats the professor on his leg, “I suppose so.”

“Warren, Dani, I understand that you two were on a date before the Sinister incident?” Xavier inquires.

Warren looks to Dani, baffled. “How did you…?” Warren stops himself remembering Xavier’s title as ‘the most powerful telepath in the world’. “Nevermind,” he chuckles.

“It wasn’t a date per se… Warren’s just been helping me with, well with everything that’s been going on in my life,” she replies to Xavier’s inquisition. “It’s nice to have someone around that understands,” she says as she looks to Warren and smiles. He smiles back.

Xavier yawns, and stretches his arms. It becomes very apparent that he’s sick as his hands tremble while he lifts them. It also becomes evident because of how pale he is as he lifts his head to the light.

“Should I get everyone to leave, Professor? You seem tired,” Iceman states.

“No I’m fine, just waking up really,” Xavier explains.

Gambit steps forward. “Are you sure? I could get rid o’ all d’ese people for you.” Gambit grins at his playful statement.

Xavier shakes his head, “No, I’m perfectly fine. It’s good to see everyone.”

“I think it’d be best if everyone left, Professor. I’m showing them out whether you like it or not,” Iceman says jokingly to Professor X.

“Well as long as they know it’s not me giving the orders,” the Professor exults.

Everyone begins filing out of the room, waving to the Professor who waves back with a smile. Once the door closes and the last person has left, the Professor’s joyful face turns somber and dark. He looks out his window into the night; the only sound audible is that of the crickets playing their music. He sighs, before hearing a knock.

“Professor?” comes the voice of Jean Grey-Summers.

Xavier is startled; he didn’t suspect that Jean would come up to see him. “Oh, come in,” he says.

The door opens revealing the red head, who carries her two young children. She enters slowly and sits beside the professor with the two children still in her arms. Xavier sits up to see the children.

“I figured that you hadn’t seen them in a while, so…” she begins but ends the sentence there.

Xavier smiles. “They’re beautiful, Jean.”

Jean looks down at baby John and Rachel, and smiles. “Yeah, they’re the best things that have ever happened to me.”

Xavier puts his finger in the hand of John, and holds back tears. He knows something that Jean doesn’t. Something that would break her heart. Something she must know before he goes.

“Has Hank administered the cure yet?” Jean asks.

Xavier nods. “Yes, but sadly there have been little results.”

The two stare at the children, avoiding what they really want to talk about. Occasionally one will take a glance at the other, before turning their attention back to the children so that the other doesn’t notice. Jean and Xavier both feel awkward in the situation, and they both know it. Being a telepath has its perks.

“Look, Professor…” Jean begins.

“No, Jean, wait,” Xavier says interrupting Jean.

Jean stands to her feet, angry. “No, you’re going to listen to me. Don’t treat me like a child; I’m not your student anymore.”

Xavier stops, startled. He’s never seen Jean like this. “Alright,” he replies timidly.

“What happened between you, me, Scott and… and… everyone else, I just want to say that it was a horrible situation. I never want to be put in a situation like that ever again,” she begins only to pause to see Xavier’s reaction. She begins pacing, nervously. She can’t remember a time when she ever spoke to Xavier like this. “Which is why I’m here. I need to forgive you. I need you to forgive me. I don’t think I can go on knowing that you were angry at me and Scott.”

“Jean…”

“I just really need to say that I’m sorry for what happened,” she says as she begins crying. “I love my husband, and support every choice he makes. But I can’t help but think that maybe we made the wrong choice by cutting all ties with you. You see, I’ve had this knot in my stomach since we left this place.”

“Jean…”

“I can’t seem to place this horrific Xavier that’s in my mind from the one I knew in my childhood. Right now, you’re dying. And I feel horrible because I’ve never been able to tell you how much you mean to me, whatever may happen between us or whatever has happened between us.” She pauses as she sits in the chair once again. Her voice becomes more hushed in between cries. “I just want to say that I’m sorry… and I love you. You’re more of a father to me than you will ever know.”

“Jean…”

“Charles, can you forgive me?” Jean utters.

“Jean!” Xavier exclaims, now crying himself. “You are not the one that should be searching for absolution. I am.”

“What?” Jean questions.

“I’m dying Jean, and there’s something you must know before I’m gone.”

Jean looks at Xavier with wounded eyes. “What is it?”

“It’s your son, Jean.”

Jean looks at Xavier, horrified. “What about my son?”

“You have no son, Jean,” Xavier tells her.

Jean’s mouth opens agape, and she stands, pushing the chair out from beneath her. The chair falls to the ground and Jean steps away from Xavier. “What do you mean?” she asks, looking to baby John.

“John is dead.”

Jean looks at her son yet again as a tear falls from her eye and goes through John to hit her arm. “What are you doing to him?” she demands as her son begins crying. “You’re hurting him, stop it Charles!”

“I’m not doing anything, Jean. The psionic energy you hold in your hands is fading with my ailing powers and health.”

“Stop it, you’re lying!” Jean screams.

Xavier shakes his head. “I’m not, Jean… it happened a long time ago. Your son was killed after you were infected by Omega Red.” Xavier begins coughing violently as sweat profusely drips down his face.

Jean begins pacing back and forth in the room, nervously. John continues to fade slowly. “This can’t be happening… Charles, you…” She pauses and stops to look at Xavier. “You’re not Xavier! You can’t be! This has to be the Shadow King or, or, or…”

“Jean it’s me. I need you to understand my reasoning. I don’t have much time left. I…” Xavier coughs yet again, he knows it will be only moments.

“Your reasoning?!” she shouts. “You can’t be Xavier! I don’t need a reason besides your black heart!”

“Jean just read my mind, you know it’s me. I know you know,” Xavier says.

Jean’s lip trembles as she stares at Charles. She knows it’s true, she knows it’s Xavier. That piece of information makes it all the more difficult. “You bastard! You invaded my mind… my body… my soul!” Jean hisses at Xavier between tears.

“Jean, I don’t have much time… please let me explain,” Charles begs weakly. “I couldn’t see you and Scott in so much pain… it was heart-breaking, and even though we had our disagreements I still loved you like my own children.” Charles can barely lift his hand to stroke Jean’s hair or squeeze her arm and tell her it’ll be better. The virus is getting continuously worse by the second. He understands that his time with Jean will be drawing to an end very soon.

“You breached my family, and destroyed it from the inside out… how dare you call me your child!” Jean looks to John, who is becoming increasingly incorporeal. “John, please don’t go baby…” Jean stays holding onto the hope that Xavier is lying. “Fix this!”

“Jean I’m sorry,” Xavier says. His breaths become fewer and far between, as he drifts into an unconscious state. His eyes close as the cries of the fading John ends.

Jean looks to Xavier and then back to her arm. John is gone. Gone. Jean can’t come to grips with reality just yet. She rushes over to Xavier and lifts his body with the hand John once rested in, gripping his collar. “Bring him back!” she screams as she shakes Charles violently. “Bring him back, you bastard!” She continues shaking Xavier, faster and then slower. She ceases shaking him and drops him. “Bring him back…” she says in a hushed tone. Jean closes her eyes and wallows in agony.

“Bring him back… bring him back… bring him back…” she chants between sobs, rocking back and forth. She clutches Rachel, remembering the final cries of her dead son. “Bring him back…”

Denial, the first stage of grief.

NEXT ISSUE: The ramifications of Xavier’s actions are felt by all of the X-Men.