Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:51:53 +0000
From: Adam McDonald <ender2155@gmail.com>
Subject: phoenix reborn part 22

The same disclaimers and restrictions from my last stories are in effect.

As I stumble away from Charles' lifeless form, the weariness and pain of the
day almost consume me.  Not only am I broken physically, but mentally.  All
that has taken place is due to my stubborness and failure to ask for help
when I needed it.  Pride has led to what has happened; my pride.  And I
don't know if I can forgive myself enough to face the task that lies before
me.  I know what I must do, but am I strong enough to accept the fate I must
endure?

I mean, who can willingly face and accept death?

"Ryan?" a soft voice asks, "Are you ok?"

I look to my right and see Nick approaching me.

The fire and anger I felt at his 'betrayal' has dimmed to nothing as I smile
and say, "Not really, but I'm getting there.  How are you, buddy?"

Nick senses my forgiveness and smiles even wider as he comes over and puts
one of my arms around his shoulder and helps me off the rubble towards some
grass.  He gently sets me down and sits next to me.

"I'm so sorry to have been ..."

"Save it," I state, "You did what you had to for the best of mankind.  I'm
sorry I was an ass about it earlier."

Nick fidgets, "I should have been honest with you; we told each other
everything.  I'm sorry ..."

"SAVE IT!" I exclaim, with what little strength I have, "I over reacted and
I made the mistake.  Friends?" I ask as I offer him my hand.

Nick seems both bewildered and relieved before pushing my hand aside and
embracing me, "Friends!"

I can sense his wry smile.

"You STILL can't fuck me," he whispers.

"You asshole!" I exclaim, as I push him off me.

Reality invades.

"Oh my God!  How is Cindy?"

"She's fine," Ryan assures me, "she is actually at home with her parents.
We got into an argument, over you, by the way, and she thought it best to
have some away time."

"I'm so sorry, bro, I didn't mean for me to come between you two."

Nick laughs, "Don't think you're THAT important!  We needed some holiday
time from each other.  We've both been stressed over everything, and your
treatment by the X-Men was an easy excuse to agree to spend time to cool
off.  Don't worry, we just talked a few hours ago, and nothing's changed.
We still plan on getting married."

"Well that's good, I mean ... WAIT!"

Nick gets a bit red in the face.

"You two are getting MARRIED!!!  When was I supposed to find out?!"

"Well, between your being an evil god and recovering from your fight, we
just never got around to it.  We wanted to tell you though."

"Oh my God, that's awesome, Nick!  Have you set a date?"

"Not really.  We wanted to make sure there WAS a date to set."

Nick's words suddenly bring me back to reality as I realize that with Liz
running loose with the powers of Dark Phoenix there may not BE a tomorrow.

<confront him>

"You ok?" Nick asks.

"Yeah .. yeah, I'm fine.  I need you to do me a favor.  I know Cyclops
doesn't care for me, but I need to talk to him.  I'ts of the utmost
importance, and I need you to convince him."

"I don't know," Nick begins, "you know how close to the heart this whole
Phoenix thing hits him."

"More than you can know," I reply, "But his involvement is the key to
everything.  Can you do this for me?  You're an X-Man, he'll listen to you."

Nick looks unsure at first, but upon seeing the resolve in my face, he nods
and says, "Ok, let me see what I can do."

Nick stands and walks back to the rubble where Charles lies.

With what blurred vision I have left, I can see Cyclops standing numbly over
the body of Xavier as Nick reaches him and begins to talk.  At first Cyclops
does nothing, but at a certain point of what Nick says, he pushes him back
and begins yelling something.  If I wanted to, I could have listened in with
my powers, but I have neither the strength nor interest in voyeurism to
focus on them.  Nick stands and responds intensely, and after a few more
moments of argument, Cyclops glares are me and starts walking towards me.

I try to stand, and do so, unsteadily, as he reaaches me.

"You wanted to talk," he states.

"Not talk, but convince," I begin, "The Phoenix needs you to ..."

With the word 'Phoenix' Cyclops steps back and punches me in the face with
all of his might, and I fall back down to the ground.  The pain doesn't
annoy me as much as the fact of how much effort I wasted to stand.

"HOW DARE YOU!" he yells, "HOW DARE YOU USE THE TOOL THAT DESTROYED MY LOVE
TO ASK ME FOR HELP!"

As I spit up MORE blood (GOD!  how much more do I have LEFT?) I turn and
look up to him, "If you loved Jean, don't deny me this!  Phoenix led to the
death of her body and it still has a hold on her spirit.  If you loved her
as much as you claim, LISTEN to me!  I can help set her free!"

My words pierce his body and soul, and the hatred he showed me melts as the
memories of the woman he loved wash over him.  Tears stream from behind his
red goggles, and he touches the wetness streaming down his face in wonder,
as if he has never seen tears before.

"H ... how are you doing this?"

<tell him>

"Its not me," I reply, "I told you Jean is still here.  Remember when you
cried, so long ago with her?"

Cyclops falls to his knees and weeps, "Oh Jean!  I miss you so!"

<let me speak>

I give in to the power inside me, and let her take over my body and mind.

For the first time in months, I feel peace.  For the brief moment, I let the
Phoenix, Jean, assume my body, I finally get rest.

What can only be minutes later, but seems like a lifetime to me, I return to
myself to see a resolute look on Cyclops' face, "Ok, Ryan, I understand and
know what I must do.  I'll follow your lead from here on out."

"What?" I mumble, "I have no idea what you're talking about.  What just
happened?"

"We both know what to do, and it will become apparent when the moment
approaches."

Annoyed, I say, "Well it would be a HELLUVA lot nicer if I knew what is
going on!"

Cyclops finally smiles at me,"You're actually a good guy, I know that now.
But what you must do has to be of your own volition, otherwise it won't
work.  So I can't tell you anything or I'll endanger the outcome."

"So I have no choice in the matter?"

"No, the choice is completely yours," Cyclops responds, "But you have to
make it when it is given to you  But you ask too many questions.  From here
on out, you need to improvise."

"Improvise?!"

"Yes; go with your gut feeling."

I begin to protest.

<i told him all.  listen to what he has to say>

"Okaaaay ... I'll improvise.  Should I pull a rabbit out of a hat?" I ask
sarcastically.

Cyclops finds this amusing and says, "Actually, YES!"


That's it for part 22.  Yes, I KNOW it ends on a silly note which makes NO
sense now, but it will! ;-)  Feedback, as always, at ender2155@gmail.com