01-2 [Action / Voice]

[eyecondition]

[It's a weird sort of deja vu to go to sleep in one's own bed only to wake up on the ground in the middle of some forest. His first instinct was to assume it was a hugely unfunny joke, and he picked himself up and groped around the closest trees, eyes clenched tightly.]

Very funny, guys! Now give me back my glasses before I end up hurting someone.

[He gropes at two of the nearest trees, trying to gather his sense of direction. He'd memorized every tree around the perimeter of the school for just this occasion. This one is as thick as one of the old oaks, but didn't have any of the telltale carvings he'd notched into the closest trees years ago. That means he's either out farther than he thought or that this isn't a prank at all.]

Whoever's out there, this isn't going to solve anything. [It can't be Mystique again. Mystique is dead.] We can talk about this. You don't have to put everyone into such a dangerous situation.

[There isn't any answer. That means worse things. Had there been an attack? Was he separated from everyone again? There's only one way to find out.]

Look, I don't know if anyone can hear me. But if you can and you're close by, please get back right now!

[He dares to open his eyes, for just a flash of information. A beam shoots out, splintering the tree in front of him and sending chunks of wood blasting out in all directions. Luckily, there hadn't been anyone standing there, though he was almost positive he'd seen a rabbit. And if he'd seen a rabbit, that rabbit wasn't alive anymore. It was a mistake to check at all.]

It's fine, Summers. [He coaches himself now that he assumes he's alone.] You've done this before. Just reach out to Jean and she'll come find you and everything'll work out again. Assuming she's all right. Jean, please be all right.

Comments

[snikting]

First of all, there ain't just the cultists no more. Word is, they got someone new leading 'em now. Former Malnosso. They invaded last month, like I said. But they didn't do it by any kind of fightin'. They brainwashed us before we ever got to make a fist.

[eyecondition]

[The idea of people invading telepathically almost sends Scott reeling from his stool. His thoughts turn to Jean, and the trouble she's had with other telepaths. Of the steely way the Professor redirected the thoughts of a stadium full of people for the greater good of everyone involved.]

How did you break free of it?

[snikting]

I didn't. Someone else did. Killed the bastard that caused it.

[And that is the worst part of it. He didn't overcome it. There was no struggle to reclaim his mind. One minute he believed something, the next he didn't.]

[eyecondition]

[Sorry, what.]

If you didn't, then who did?

[How did anyone manage to be more resilient than Wolverine?]

[snikting]

[He shook his head.]

Don't know. I ain't seen anyone claim credit yet.

[eyecondition]

[He takes a deep breath, struggling to process all of this.]

So. We're just stuck without a plan?

[snikting]

... I'd argue if I could. But that's about the size of it.

[And he hates admitting it. Because it just reminds him of how he's failed in Lueceti so far.]

[eyecondition]

That's impossible. There's got to be something we haven't tried.

[snikting]

[There's a low, frustrated growl under his breath.]

You think of it, I'll be glad to hear of it.

[eyecondition]

Well. Well-- what about Kurt? He can still teleport here. Maybe someone can do science to help him move around in that other dimension again. [I mean sure it would unleash dinosaurs-from-hell, but THEY HANDLED IT ALL RIGHT THE ONE TIME.]

[snikting]

[Well. That actually gives him pause. He looks at Scott, eyebrows raised.]

... that we ain't tried, yet.

[eyecondition]

[Well now he's been validated. He smiles smugly.]

I thought you let the best and the brightest think of everything.

[snikting]

Sure, best and brightest. Never claimed they were clever.