Subject: [OTL]: (alt. Betsy/Star Wars) Fanged Butterfly 2: Knightcross 47/? (R) From: Phil Hartman Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 01:28:13 +0000 will1@earthling.net Fanged Butterfly Vol. 2: Knightcross Chapter 47 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Marvel's are Marvel's. LFL's are LFL's. Any original characters are mine. The rest belong to their owners/creators. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. ------------------------------------------------------ 40 ABY/5/10/08, Terran Standard Calendar: Grey Residence, River Road, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York: 16:00 hrs Eastern Daylight Time: ------------------------------------------------------ Elaine Grey wasn`t a young woman anymore, but neither was she one of those bedridden poor souls waiting to die in some nursing home. Even at 77, she could still tend her garden. She plucked the offending dandelion, tossing it into a bucket for the compost heap. She`d cultivated (the pun wasn't lost on her; marrying an English professor helped with humor) a hobby early on to set herself apart from the other Bard College faculty wives. Then, a growing family had helped Elaine recover, after ... #Well. I should count my blessings. Three - with Madelyne - successful daughters, 10 healthy, wonderful grandchildren, and two adorable great-grandchildren,# Elaine reminded herself. After all, being the matriarch of a huge family of mutant descendants required living in the present. One never knew when someone might call ... ~Mom? We've got ... news. May we pop up?~ Jean called; Elaine beamed - she never minded a telepathic call from her descendants, and Jean made Elaine proud with her etiquette (although Elaine was proud of Jean for so many other reasons). #Of course, dear. How many places?# Elaine asked, heading inside to fix tea; it was NEVER a bad time for a constitutional, and she adored hosting family. Better them than some airheaded socialite like Muffy Vanderhoesen, the biology dean's wife. (Poor Muffy, cooking that dead duck in her freezer as the main course for last Founders Day, when EVERYONE but her knew Alan had picked it up for a research paper. Muffy's shi tzu was smarter than Muffy.) ~Hmm. Four; Rachel, myself, Frank, and ... two guests. One of whom could use a power cord,~ Jean sent, and Elaine quirked an eyebrow. #Ah. Off a socket or the backup generator?# Elaine asked, setting the tea to brew; it wasn't THAT odd for a guest to consume electricity. Jean and Scott always brought interesting friends over ... ~Just a second ... socket should be fine. We'll be up in a minute. Thanks,~ Jean sent, and Elaine projected affection as Jean left her mind. "JOHN? JEAN'S BRINGING A MECH GUEST!" Elaine yelled, in case her husband didn't have his hearing aid in. John Grey stuck his head out of his den, and Elaine pointed at the extension cord. "Well, at least it's not that Marrow. Girl's got no manners, drinks straight out of the milk carton, and leaves bone flakes everywhere," John harrumphed, plugging the cord in as the air started to displace ... Elaine smiled, stepping out of the kitchen doorway into the living room as Jean stepped through a teleportal, followed by Rachel; it was so thoughtful of them not to blaze in through some wild teleporting method, like that young ruffian Davis Cameron. "Frank's portal. He'll follow, once - hey, you guys. This is Elaine Grey, and John - my grandparents," Rachel said, hugging Elaine and John before turning to the next two ... entities through the portal. The first was ... a whistling, 3-foot-high, domed ROBOT, who chirped gratefully when ... he? ... saw the extension cord John was holding. The other was a teenaged boy, about Rachel's age, wearing Xavier School sweats and loafers, with a rather serious-looking belt at his waist ... which held a *lightsaber.* His red hair was severely buzzed - Elaine had reluctantly grown used to the style on her grandsons - and his eyes a keen blue ... and his facial structure was eerily familiar. He smiled, both politely and ... *familial?* while Franklin appeared - and Elaine gasped at the new boy, "You're ... another of my grandchildren." "Yes, ma'am ... I'm Ben. This is Artoo," the boy said, with an accent Elaine couldn't quite place, before patting the robot's dome. Artoo ... Elaine *recognized* the name - toodled, and John asked, "I'm not really surprised anymore by relatives coming out of nowhere, but whose son are you?" Ben gulped, while Jean said, softly, "Mara's." Elaine's head spun ... but she hugged Ben, and said, "Let's talk." -------------------------------------------------------------- Ben had never even considered the chance of meeting his mom's family; he'd always been afraid of the history with his dad's side. But sitting, drinking tea - a little weak, but Ben was used to black caf to not look like a kid in front of the other GAG troops - and just *talking,* Ben quickly felt a connection with his grandparents. Grandma Elaine was fiery like Mom, once she stopped being so formal. Rachel (whom Ben had just as quickly befriended; she didn't take the whole Skywalker thing too seriously, or mock Ben) had said Grandma just pretended to be stuffy because of their social class. And Grandpa John was just as kind, and he'd been nice about hooking Artoo up to a power socket. "Gives a whole new meaning to 'universal adapter,'" Grandpa had joked when Artoo had been able to accept the power cord plug. "All right, now that we're settled, HOW ... where IS Mara? She was only a day old when ... we had stopped at a gas station, and ... someone grabbed her from my arms, when I got out for some air," Grandma asked, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Ben felt ashamed at making her cry, and said, "I'm sor-" "Don't apologize, dear! YOU'RE not to blame. I just get emotional. Redhead temper, you know. I was an O'Mara before marrying your grandfather. The religious and ethnic clash was what upset our parents. Catholic girl marrying a good WASP boy and all that," Grandma said, patting Grandpa's arm, and Ben just smiled; he THOUGHT he understood. "It was tough on my folks, when they were dating. It wasn't religious. Dad was a Rebel hero, and Mom was ex-Imperial," Ben said, and then he could sense Aunt Jean and Rachel tensing ... Grandma concentrated, while Grandpa looked at Artoo recharging. "Wroo dvwoot twoo," Artoo replied. Then Grandma squinted, and asked, "Your eyes and chin dimple ..." "Come from Dad, yeah," Ben said, gulping, hoping they'd understand ... Grandpa slowly smiled and said, "You're a ... SKYWALKER ...?" Grandma cheered, "My family has JEDI! EAT IT, MUFFY! BWAHAHAHAHA!!" Ben couldn't help but smile. They were OK with him ... Ben looked at Artoo, then at Grandma and Grandpa, and said, "Artoo has holos of Mom, Dad, and I, if you'd like to see ...?" He grunted when Grandma hugged him, gushing, "Yes! Such a darling boy!" #Yeah, she's got Mom's energy ...# Ben realized, rubbing his ribs ... --------------------------------------------------------------- Summers Boathouse, Xavier Academy, Salem Center, N.Y.: --------------------------------------------------------------- The X-Men were working on a way to help Ben get home, but in the meantime, one thing was for certain: He wasn't going to be lonely. Aunt Jean smiled a little apologetically, as Ben took in the scene in the living room. "Better get the crash course in introductions out of the way," she said. "Kids? Meet your cousin Ben. He might be staying a while." Marrissa waved from where she was rocking a very young baby in a large chair, while the little one waved fists and gurgled. At Marrissa's feet, a boy of maybe 4 or 5 standard years, with buzzed brown hair and blue eyes, in short pants and a shortsleeved shirt, was running some kind of wheeled toy around ... until he made the car *float.* With the boy were two others his age, also with buzzed hair, but theirs was a reddish brown. They were definitely twins, and Ben sensed something pass between them telepathically as they looked at him. "Hey. The kidlet here is my daughter, Siri, and the brown haired boy there is my son, Chase. The guys playing cars with him are two of his uncles, Brian and Brandon," Marrissa greeted, and the little boys waved as Ben returned their smiles, while Marrissa patted Siri. A thud on the staircase drew Ben's attention, and he looked up at *another* pair of twinbonded kids; a boy with short blond hair, and a girl with reddish blonde braids, maybe 8 or 9 years old. "Our older twin pair, Connor and Deirdre. Deedee, remember: Mental privacy," Aunt Jean warned, and Deirdre sighed before she and Connor came downstairs. "I can't read him anyway, Mom. He's glowy, though, like Frank. And ... you're hurt. I CAN tell that," Deirdre said, patting Ben's hand before she sat in front of what looked like a 2D vidscreen playing what looked like Clone Wars era holos. #Glowy?# Ben wondered; maybe she meant the aura Force users had when someone saw their astral forms? Ben shuddered inwardly when he remembered that HIS astral form had looked Shaped, and he quickly examined his astral form, relieved at its HUMANITY ... He really was Ben Skywalker, human again. At the kitchen door, a boy of about 11, with buzzed brown and white hair and a blue right eye ... and a gold-glowing left one ... nibbled a sandwich, before walking over to shake Ben's hand. "Nate. Don't worry about how quiet the kids are; it won't last," he said, bringing a smirk to Ben's face. "We're bein' good, Nate! We just gotta be quiet for Siri," one of the younger twins - Brian, Ben thought - complained. Ben tried not to laugh, then sat on the couch and waited for - Everyone went VERY still when Artoo rolled up to the door, then peeked in and beeped, "Bwoo dwool?" The little kids all gasped, and the Force - and the astral plane - filled with excitement and mental chatter, until Aunt Jean sent, ~CALM. DOWN. Yes, that's really Artoo Detoo, but DON'T scream. And don't hassle Ben with questions he might not want to answer.~ Artoo rolled in, cautiously, and parked beside Ben, who gave Aunt Jean a grateful smile. To his cousins, he said, "You guys can talk to Artoo, just don't yell, please? He's not just a machine. He has feelings, and he's saved me a lot of times." Chase, Brian, Brandon and Connor approached Artoo, and the little droid warbled calmly after he seemed to figure out the audience wasn't gonna poke, bind or carve him. To Ben, Chase asked, "Are you really a Skywalker?" "Yeah. Haven't really behaved like one, though," Ben sighed; the memories were catching up to him again, and he shielded, so as not to upset the kids. Marrissa sat carefully beside him, rocking Siri, and gave Ben a knowing look. Aunt Jean looked concerned, until Marrissa said aloud, "Jean, if he hears it from us, at least it'll be out of compassion, and not from overreaction." Ben looked between the women, sensing there was something they were trying to tell him, but couldn't figure out how. He finally asked, "Is this about my Guard work? I'm not proud of why we did it, but there're good people in it." Aunt Jean gave Marrissa a ... challenging expression, so like Mom that Ben felt a pang of homesickness. He calmed down, as Marrissa said, "There ... are novels. About Jacen rising to power ... and your role. Some of the details are ...they'd scare you. I'd show you ... but only if you want." "OK ... and you can see my past few days. They've been ... creepy," Ben warned, blushing a little. He'd been so ... eager, being Shaped. Marrissa kissed Siri and handed the baby to Aunt Jean, then held out a hand, which Ben took ... and a rush of memories flickered between them ... Ben surfaced, white as a sheet, while Marrissa looked as horrified - what she'd read was a NIGHTMARE to Ben - "They think ... Jacen might poison my mom? And ... I KILL Gejjen AND Omas!? They're jerks, but I'm no assassin - I mean, Mom was the Emperor's Hand, but she stopped!" Ben blurted, trying not to cry. "But what you've already survived ... Ben, I am SO sorry. You've faced ... all THAT, *AND* then landing here ... and I treated this like some wish fulfillment ..." Marrissa said, fighting back tears while Chase hugged her legs. Ben composed himself, especially when he saw how Chase was trying to comfort Marrissa. "You were just trying to help," Ben said, meaning it; he could sense her kindness ... He looked around, and it hit him - in a GOOD way - these people were his FAMILY. They were helping him, after he'd fallen out of the sky ... just accepted him, without asking anything of him. #And they're not being creepy about it, either. They're wearing real clothes, living real lives, just ... humans, like me,# Ben thought, smiling at the realization ... "You're sure you're OK," Aunt Jean asked, handing Siri back to Marrissa when the baby started to fuss and Ben opened his eyes. "Better. At least I won't go veermok shavit if I read those novels, now," Ben said, blushing at his language; he really should watch it around the little kids ... Most of them just looked at him funny, while Artoo chirped reprovingly, "Blurrt dwoovit." Marrissa, for her part, smiled and asked, "So, it DOES mean -" "Uh, yeah ... sorry," Ben interrupted, blushing again as Aunt Jean smiled a smile that SCREAMED "You're in trouble now, young man." It was like Mom wasn't thousands of light years away at all. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dinner at the Summers household, Ben quickly figured out, was ... hectic. #And this is a NORMAL day,# he realized, ducking - and laughing at - the telekinetically passed dishes, utensils and occasional napkins that were going around the table. Uncle Scott and Jake had joined them, with Frank, whom Ben had guessed was Rachel's boyfriend. Nate had delighted in teasing Rachel that "your boyfriend's here" ... at which, Rachel had calmly yanked Nate's undershorts telekinetically, before sitting beside Frank as Nate undid what the younger boys howlingly laughed was a "wedgie." Also at the table were another pair of teens, a red-haired and green-eyed boy and girl. Rachel introduced them as her - and Ben's - cousins, Joe and Gailyn Grey.They were friendly, and passed stuff telekinetically like everyone else. Everyone was so ... comfortable and open with their powers, Ben felt right at home. But he did have to ask, "Isn't using your TK so easily kind of ..." "Abusing it? Depends. If we were robbing a bank, yes. But household chores aren't of the dark side," Rachel said calmly. Ben pondered that, as Aunt Jean added, "We shouldn't rely solely on our powers, we agree. Not only does it breed contempt for the unpowered, it makes us lazy. But simplifying everyday tasks once in a while isn't evil." "And not treating our powers as normal, healthy parts of our lives just adds to people's irrational fears about mutants. I *have* to deal with my optic blasts; I can't shut them off, so I have to use ruby quartz glasses or visors to control them, or an inhibitor device. If I let myself become bitter about my situation and feel separated from others about it, I risk feeling superior to others. Of REALLY abusing my power," Uncle Scott pointed out. "Like people accuse the Jedi of being superior. Dad makes sure we don't make people give up their Force sensitive babies, but we DO live away from most people ... joining the Guard and meeting everyday guys like Jori and Captain Shevu was so different," Ben remembered. He felt awful, then, for not thinking of Lekauf and the rest of the Guard, and sighed, "I hope the Ganner Rhysode reached Korriban OK ..." Marrissa made a frightened noise, and Siri squeaked until her mother patted her back. "Sorry ... instinctual reaction. After Remy and Marie brought that Sith holocron back from Antarctica, I've been trying to wrap my head around the actual existence of the Sith," she explained. "Don't try too hard. Trust me, I've heard enough of Sithy relatives ... first, people give Anakin grief about Grandpa, and Mom about working for Palpatine, and now Jacen's ... fallen ..." Ben grumbled, feeling sick when he finally said what he'd been avoiding. Jacen HAD turned to the dark side. And Ben had to get back and try to help stop him - "Wait!? That Remy guy found a SITH holocron!? I left him with Aunt Betsy on Nar Shaddaa! She might be walking into a trap?!" Ben yelped. Aunt Jean shook her head and radiated comfort. "Marie - Rogue - was the one who found the holocron. She hid it, became obsessed with it after her son, Charles Lehnsherr, was arrested for apparently killing Betsy. Remy, with the rest of us, tried to get Marie to stop spending time with it, but about a month ago, she ... snapped, and stole a hyperspace-capable shuttle. Remy asked a ally of ours, a teleporter named Gateway, to send him to where he could help Marie, but that was almost a week ago," she explained. "Oh. But how can she be Force sensitive? I mean, Aunt Betsy is, but she's not just from Earth. She told me about Otherworld," Ben asked. "We're guessing Force sensitivity and mutation are close genetically. Not all mutants are Force sensitive, but both populations seem to have higher than usual mitochondrial ... er, midichlorian ... counts," Frank said, and Ben nodded. "But what other Jedi have you met? You've said Earth only met the Empire about 60 years ago, and their Jedi were all darksiders ... well, Mom was kind of gray ... no pun meant," Ben asked, groaning at his joke. But when his cousins laughed, it wasn't bratty or cruel ... and Ben felt comfortable using his telekinesis to help clear the table. It was a different way to live with powers ... but not *so* exotic. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Thanks for helping with the dishes ... so, Betsy saved Chewie at Sernpidal?" "That's what everyone told me, Marrissa. What else do you wanna ask?" "It's OK? Really, Ben?" "I can sense you've got more questions. It's a Jedi thing." "Har, har. Your sense of humor's the same, at least." "I'm just glad I CAN still laugh. You guys are real helping. What else you wanna know? Just don't ask too much about the stuff before ... 31 ABY, cause before that, I was a toddler." "Got it. But you can tell me how Anakin lived?" "Well, Aunt Betsy used her telepathy ... pretty nastily, she said. She's glad she saved Ani, but she killed a LOT of Vong with mindblasts." "Yipes. That's Betsy, though ... still, she tries nonlethal approaches first." "Yeah. She's always helped me. She was the one who taught me how to use my ... mutant? ... telepathy. Anyone else you wanna know about?" "Hmm ... Jaina. Jag or Zekk? Or Kyp?" "She married Jag ... they're kind of bounty hunters, but good guys." "BOUNTY - whoa. Well, at least Jag's safe ... uhm, is Alema dark?" "Huh? No. Dad and Aunt Tionne helped her after Nura got killed." "YES! Luke with a brain AND a heart - uhm. Sorry ... where's Tahiri?" "She and Ani are a couple ... those novels REALLY turned out nasty, huh?" "TOGETHER!? YES!!! - uhm, the novels. Compared to your life? Yeah." "Ack. Who else?" "Raynar ... still crazy? Locked up in the Coruscant Temple?" "No, he and Aunt Betsy date sometimes ... but Ganner's back ..." "WAIT!? Betsy and RAYNAR!? And Ganner's ALIVE!? HOW?!" "I'm not sure ... Aunt Betsy said something about Vergere ..." "VERGERE?? Good grief, you have more resurrections than the X-Men!" "I just hope everyone lives at least until I can get back ... 'scuse me?" ------------------------------------------------------------------ Ben stepped out onto the Summerses' back porch and wiped his eyes; he wasn't mad at Marrissa's curiosity ... it just HURT, missing home. #I should be grateful. I'm human again, I found Mom's family and they love me, I've got sane grandparents ... but I really, REALLY miss Mom and Dad and everyone else,# Ben thought, leaning against the railing and watching the sun sink lower. "Ice cream? Frozen milk with flavorings," Ben heard, and he thanked Rachel for the bowl of cold dessert. It wasn't bad, and they sat on a swing, while Frank sat on Rachel's other side, and Joe and Gailyn found deck chairs.. "Am I projecting? I don't want to hurt anyone," Ben asked, between bites. "Don't worry. All of us Grey-descended telepaths are sensitive to each other; it's genetic affinity. We just want to help, if you need it. Deedee's a natural empath, so she's always picking up emotions she shouldn't. AND she has a bad habit of mindpeeking," Rachel sighed. Ben nodded, then said, sadly, "Jacen is an empath. A lot of people think the Vong War messed him up permanently. But Vergere tortured him, too ..." "Well, you seem normal enough ... hurt, but that's normal after your scumbag cousin genemodded, almost mindwiped, ungenemodded and THEN cloned you," Frank said, and Ben blushed - how - Frank winced, adding, "Sorry. I didn't scan you ... I just have a STRONG precognitive and psychometric power. I wouldn't violate your mind, promise." "I believe you. Aunt Betsy said you were really careful about your powers ... did you REALLY, y'know ... bring her back to life?" Ben asked. Frank nodded. "She hadn't crossed over yet. Lifeforce manipulation isn't something I do for fun, but Betsy deserves a full life," he said, friendly affection for Aunt Betsy in his voice. Ben was impressed by Frank's telepathic shielding. A psi that strong should've blinded Ben, but he felt OK. Frank's aura, though, WAS transparent - and Ben blurted, "You're Force sensitive! And TRAINED!" Frank looked amazed, and said, "I started training with Gateway; he's a shaman, from Australia, one of our southern continents. He taught me basic power control after my reality warping power turned back on ... but *I* have the Force ...?" Rachel rolled her eyes, then kissed Frank. "Why the surprise? You warp reality; the Force isn't any weirder," she teased, and the teens laughed. "This from the mentally time traveling future X-Men team leader? Cous, you're not exactly normal, either. None of us are. Part of the fun," Joe chuckled, grinning at Ben. "I didn't feel comfortable about being a mutant when I came here, but Ray's like my sister, and the school ... it's SAFE to be yourself here. Believe us, Ben, a Jedi isn't that wacky. We're glad you're here, and we won't bug you about the F-O-R-C-E," Gailyn promised. "Thanks, you guys. I don't really just ... hang out, is that the word?" Ben said, returning the others' smiles. "Well, you can now. Jedi seem so uptight, it's not much surprise when they go crazy and become Sith. No offense. The Code just sounds impossible to live up to," Rachel huffed. "None taken. It's not easy. I wonder ... maybe the Code's part of the problem?" Ben wondered aloud. What was weird was, he didn't feel ... awful for questioning. Dad and Mom HAD been OK with Ben asking questions ... but Jacen had gotten growly when Ben pushed him too often. #Mom and Dad ... do they think I'm dead?# Ben worried, reaching out in the Force - It was too far. Even for a Skywalker. But Ben wouldn't give up ... He opened his eyes and saw Aunt Jean at the kitchen door, looking a little worried. "Ben, some of my fellow X-Men would like to ask you about Betsy.If you want, it could wait ... you've had a lot of stuff happen today," she said. Ben was grateful for her trying to protect him, but he'd sensed the X-Men coming toward the house. They were so hopeful ... "It's OK, Aunt Jean. If I can help, I'd like to. And meeting the X-Men would be astral," Ben said, standing and smiling. To the others, he said, "Can we talk more later?" "Anytime. If you want, you can train with us tomorrow, hang out some more. I'll talk with my dad, too; between us, we should be able to get you a hyperspace capable ship, or maybe we can find a teleporter with the right range. See you," Frank said, vanishing through a portal after kissing Rachel's cheek. "C'mon, cous. Time to meet the extended 'family,'" Rachel said, winking while she, Joe and Gailyn walked with Ben. -------------------------------------------------------------------- It had been more than 10 months, and Warren Worthington the Third still felt worse than when he'd been harpooned to a sewer wall. Betsy had saved Warren from the resurgence of the Crimson Dawn after her resurrection, and they'd ... parted as friends, again, at least. Then July 2, 2007, had destroyed all paths to what they once had. The Professor had healed the broken psi-link; time, and lunches with Brian and Meggan Braddock, and talking with the other four original X-Men, had eased the shock and loss. Scott welcomed him and the others, but also warned, "DON'T overwhelm him. His culture shock is bad enough without you guys jumping down his throat ... and if he says he needs a break, he GETS one. Let me ask Jean." Warren nodded, finding a seat as Ororo, Logan, Piotr, Bobby, and Jubilee sat, or leaned against a wall. Rachel and the Grey twins waved at them as they shooed the younger Summers kids upstairs or to bed, and Jake nodded as he and Marrissa took their kids back to their house, just down the beach. #Summerses, happy at last ... everyone finds love, except ...# Warren shook off his typically morose mood; his playboy personality had never entirely returned after his time as Death, even if Betsy had turned him Caucasian and feather-winged again. Her ... departure ... had worsened it. A noise, like a chirp, drew Warren's attention to the kitchen doorway - and Jubilee blurted, "NO *WAY*!" "Vrwoo ... dwoo brwoot?" a ... VERY unlikely ... figure replied, and Warren gaped as ... well, ARTOO DETOO ... rolled into the living room. "Dude. Either 'Riss got a REALLY accurate replica, or ... it CAN'T be really a ... droid?" Bobby stammered. "BWUURT! Bwoo TWOOT dwrapppp!!!" the ... well, Artoo, complained, and Bobby leapt atop Piotr as the little droid opened one of his hatches, a shock arm projecting from it. "Robert, I have seen the movies too, da? Please get off or I may let Comrade Artoo test whether his shock arm conducts through my metal body," Piotr grumbled, turning to steel and looking up at the gulping Drake. "Not funny, Petey!" Bobby yelped, while Artoo looked up at him and Jubilee broke into giggles. "Who is laughing? Artoo is metal. I am metal. He and I are natural friends. You turned my socks pink. I am not laughing," Piotr said, fighting a smile. "Artoo! Calm down, OK?" a young voice - teenaged male, with a weird accent - called, and Warren looked up. Jean and Scott walked in, behind a fairly athletic, but young-looking, teenaged boy with buzzed red hair, wearing Xavier School sweats ... but the familiar metal tube at the boy's belt, and his piercing blue eyes, convinced and shocked Warren all at once - this kid was REAL. But what surprised Warren was the boy's look of ... recognition? And then ... Ben Skywalker ... gasped, "She named her ship for YOU." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Ben was almost unable to move; they were ... almost all here. REAL. Especially the Angel. Warren, Aunt Betsy had called him, with a sad little smile and a note of longing in her voice even Ben had heard when he first remembered her stories. The winged man stood up - HE was the one Ben had felt earlier, so desperate for news - and begged, "Ben, right? Please, tell us. Is she ..." "She's alive, yeah. She's told me stories about the X-Men since I was little. I know some stuff about all of you ... and, Mr. Worthington, she named her shuttle, the Angel's Wing," Ben said, smiling a little when ...Warren? Mr. Worthington, Ben decided ... closed his eyes and beamed. "She's ALIVE. Thank God ... but if you've known her since you were little ...?" Mr. Worthington asked, while Artoo rolled back over to Ben, and a brown-haired guy Ben thought was Iceman climbed off of the big YVH-droid-looking guy ... Colossus, Ben thought. "Franklin suspected time travel, Warren. Remember the chronal displacement on the probe he sent through the wormhole in Antarctica?" the lady who looked like Adi Gallia, the Old Republic Master - Storm, Ben realized, he matched her regal/wild mental signature to her - said. "'Cept, this kid don't smell of tachyons. Does smell Grey, though. And a lotta Betts on him, though - an' a whiff of the Cajun. An' a trace of... Phoenix. Bird's gone, at least," the short, hairy - and REALLY dangerous, Ben sensed - man beside the teenaged black-haired girl on the couch said. "Yessir, Mister Logan ... Wolverine. You're the X-Men's Battlemaster. And Jubilee, your ... Padawan, kind of. But you're a Knight, now," Ben said, bowing respectfully to the Wolverine before addressing Jubilee - Aunt Betsy had said Jubilee had become a full X-Man. "Knight, huh? Kewl. Where'd ya run into Gambit?" Jubilee asked, and Ben had to shield against her wild noise ... she was smart, but also so unfocused that she had natural shields BY broadcasting thoughts wildly. "Nar Shaddaa. We were escaping Gardulla - Mr. Drake ...?" Ben asked; Iceman was ... grinning. Kinda stupidly, actually, but Ben didn't SAY that ... "On your belt. Is that ... REAL?" Iceman asked, and Ben removed Mom's lightsaber, holding it. Its weight was comforting ... but Ben teared up, feeling the distance, until Aunt Jean hugged him and said, "Bobby, enough ... Ben, we can - " "No. Please, Aunt Jean, I'm OK ... I can show you, what Aunt Betsy looks like," Ben offered, wiping his eyes and nodding at Artoo. "Vreedwoot oroo!" Artoo replied, and his holoprojector shone a lifesized holo of Mom - standing with Aunt Betsy, and THAT caused the gathered X-Men to gasp, radiating surprise and joy. "DAMN. Yep, that's a Grey woman, alright. An' Betts ... she aged well. A Jedi, huh?" Wolverine asked, meeting Ben's eyes. "A Master. She trained Knight K'urod Var-Tasik, a Zabrak ... but the Order was attacked ... my cousin, Jacen Solo, betrayed them. Betrayed ME ... his son, Tace, needed my genealtered stem cells, so I let Jacen change me. Then he kept lying, and he changed me back, and threw me out and cloned me, and ... tried to KILL me ..." Ben stammered, tearing up ... He'd been just a dumb, naive kid. Jacen had played Ben all along, and now ... now, Ben was thousands of light-years from home, without his parents or aunt, uncle or Solo cousins ... #But I'm NOT alone,# Ben remembered, wiping his eyes before looking at the image of Aunt Betsy, then Artoo, the X-Men, Uncle Scott, and Aunt Jean as she hugged Ben. Aloud, Ben said, "Thanks, all of you. I ... Aunt Betsy thought, thinks of you as family. You've accepted me as family, too, and I appreciate it. "But, now I have to ask a favor ..." -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/11/08: Xavier Academy Headmaster's Office: 08:00 hrs: -------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Xavier had led many ... interesting student orientations before, but this one ... this one, he'd never forget. Ben Skywalker - now wearing a yellow and black New Mutants training skinsuit - walked in, bowed, and asked, "Professor, you're always taking new students, right?" "Anyone is welcome, Ben. Especially someone with so many ties to us," Xavier said, smiling in surprise. Ben nodded, eager and hopeful, then said, "Sir ... I respectfully request your help in mastering my telepathic power ... "I want to learn to be an X-Man, like my relatives before me." -------------------------------------------------------------------- tbc