Past and Pain (Open to all)

[Jean Grey]

Darkness, pain,sorrow, rage, lust, she had felt it all raging through her like one of Ororo's storms and yet it was all inside her. The flood of emotions, the knowledge of The Phoenix had overwhelmed Jean Grey to the point where she couldn't fight back. People had died when Phoenix took Jean's body, people that Jean loved more then life itself. Professor Charles Xavier, the man she saw as a second father and a mentor had tried desperately to repair the damage he had done when he blocked Jean's powers and she had killed him for it. Scott Summers, the love of her life had died when she lured him back tot he spot of her death and resurrection.

The soft sounds of the machines around her caused her to open her eyes, long lashes lifted from those dark emerald orbs and slowly Jean turned her head. She knew this place, how could she not when she spent so much time here? The med lab had always been a place of comfort to her, a place she knew like the back of her hand, someplace to escape when she needed to.The difference this time was she wasn't standing she was lying down. Her head turned from the myriad of machines that kept track of her vital signs to the other side, it seemed for the moment she was alone.

Her eyes closed again and a myriad of images flashed through her mind, all of them blurred and disjointed. A small gasp escaped her lips as she tried to sort the images only to have no luck in doing so. Jean slowly shifted to sit up removing the sensors from her body as she did so. Her clothing had changed from the dark red to a black dress and flat heeled pumps,something simple. Who had changed her she didn't know, but she wanted to find out what had happened. She sensed that things had drastically changed from what she knew, things had happened and she had somehow in part been the cause.

One hand came up to run through the thick waist length fiery locks pushing them back from her face as she prepared to slip off the table she had been lying on. The moment one foot touched the floor her leg shook as if it didn't want to support her weight. Deciding she couldn't stand well enough to leave she settled back on the examining table. She supposed all she could do now was wait for someone to show up, possibly explain all that had happened, the gaps she didn't remember.

[Wind Dancer]

Sofia had been wandering around the sub-basement, looking for any signs of the X-Men she may have missed. Danger Room. No. Cerebro. No. Holding Cells. No. Jean's lab. "I guess it won't hurt if I check" she said. Normally, students weren't allowed in Jean's lab because of the hazardous materials, and all of Jean's experiments. She grabbed hold of the door knob. She twisted it and the door creaked open. Jean's lab was well maintained. All of a sudden, Sofia heard a bunch of glass materials fall to the floor and smash into millions of pieces.

"Wh.. Wh.. Who's there?" she said, edging into the lab, her hands held up, trying to prepare herself if someone suddenly attacked her. It was dark in the lab. She didn't know where the light switch was. She turned around, the door was still creaking open before it finally settled against the wall, a small portion of light pouring in from the hallway of the sub-basement.

[Jean Grey]

Hearing the sound of the door opening and the shaking female voice Jean's eyes opened and she shifted to sit up once more. Those dark emerald green eyes went to the door where the light filtered in and a moment later the lights snapped on as she used her power to do so. The light flared blinding her for a moment before she adjusted to it in time to see Sofia standing near the door. She didn't recognize the girl meaning that she had to be a new student to the school.

She didn't bother responding to the girl's question of who was there seeing as the lights being on made it so she could see. The redhead remained quiet and alert as she watched the girl looking nervous and worried. Jean was careful to keep herself from touching the girls mind even though it was wide open with the girls worry. Finally the silence ended up getting to the woman and she broke it.

"Who are you?" Her voice was soft the question formed out of curiosity so Sofia didn't end up freaking out.

[Wind Dancer]

Sofia started to shake a bit as the lights flickered on and she saw Jean Grey. She had heard about the Phoenix inside Jean, and when Sofia came to the school Jean hadn't been there. She, however, took control of her body's reaction, and stopped shaking. "I'm..." Sofia said, stammering when she opened her mouth. "I'm Sofia" she said, backing away, towards the door. She needed to alert the other students that Jean was here and that it may not be safe.

Sofia stumbled backwards and bumped into one of the benches, knocking beakers and conical flasks off the bench, leaving more glass debris on the ground. "You don't want to hurt me... I don't mean anything. Nothing will come of my death", she said, voice stammering on certain words, like death.

[Jean Grey]

Seeing Sofia's reaction to seeing her Jean looked confused by the girls words before she was realizing why she was so terrified. Jean had enough memory to know what Phoenix was and that she had taken control even if she didn't have the specific memories of what had been done. The point was that because of whatever chaos the darker personality had done caused everyone to be utterly terrified of her. Jean shook her head as she brushed the hair back from her face and she met the girl's eyes.

"I don't want to hurt you let alone kill you. I would however like to know if you know where Professor Xavier or Hank McCoy are?"

She needed to talk to one of the other adults and those two were the best bet. She would have asked for Logan or Scott but she wasn't sure they could give her the answers she needed. Not to mention she had no idea that Phoenix had killed Scott. She remained on the table not wanting to terrify Sofia even more then she already was. Jean wanted to see someone who didn't look like they wanted to bolt just by being in her presence.

[Wind Dancer]

"The Professor and Dr. McCoy are both gone. Kidnapped. All of the adults are. They were taken a couple of nights ago" she said, her Venezuelan accent shining through. "We don't know where any of them are. How will we survive?" Sofia said, calming down at the sight of Jean, relieved that there was an adult left to help them fend off unwanted pests, like the Brotherhood, and other human parasites like debt collectors.

"Professor, Hank, Ororo, Scott, Logan, Warren... Everyone is gone! Everyone thinks they are dead, but a few of us have hope that they may still be alive". Sofia leaned against the now clear bench, thanks to her previous stumbling. "I'm glad that you are here though. It gives us some hope" she said, looking down at her feet.

[mmb]

an awkward silence had began to fill the room. How can a child explain to the legendary Jean Grey that she killed Charles Xavier and the where abouts of Dr Hank McCoy where unknown. Assuming that the young lady knew! Jean's eyes began to tear up. Fearing what she may have done. The young child looking down at the ground then back up to Jean. Her mouth trying to form words but nothing coming out. A cold chill fell over the room. Powerful, echoing footsteps could be heard. Louder and closer with each step. The light in the room flickers in the bulb. The young woman and Jean both look up to the light bulb then to the doorway. A figure of a man fills the door frame. Just light from behind his body to show off he was in fact a man. His voice, instantly rings a bell. "Hello my dear" the young woman looks from the man to Jean. Jean knows who it is. But there are so many questions right now. Could he provide any? The man turns his attention to the child of the room. "You I don't know. Whats your name?" The man steps forward into the light of the room to expose himself, holding his hand out

[/color] "I'm Magneto"[/center]

[Jean Grey]

Jean listened to what Sofia had to report, all of the adults gone, the legendary X-men captured, how could that be? The manors defenses were top of the line maintained regularly not to mention the fact that the place was packed with mutants with powers. It was mind boggling how the entire team and Professor Xavier could have been taken from the manor. Whatever had the power to do that had to be virtually impossible to beat and the redhead felt a chill run down her spine. Before she had a chance to answer a new person arrived in her lab and she turned her head blinking as Magneto made his presence known.

Things were bad indeed if he could get into the manor without tripping any of the alarms or anything else. When he addressed her she remained silent simply watching him unsure of his intentions. Poor Sofia seemed to be at ease with her now seeing as Jean had assured her that she wasn't going to do anything to her. With Magneto present and an enemy of the X-men she was sure the girl was right back where she started when she first stepped foot in the lab.

"What do you want?"

Jean's voice echoed through the lab as she finally managed to slip off the table she had been sitting on and found that her legs wanted to support her weight. She kept her gaze on the man that had caused them grief with the Brotherhood behind him though she knew she wouldn't be able to use her power against him thanks to the helmet he wore. She held out an arm for Sofia to come to her if the girl wished to do so.

[mmb]

"now now dear. Wouldn't want you losing your temper now. Would we?" Magneto has a smirk on his face and he senses the intimidation he still has. He then looks to the confused young girl who gives him a look of concern. Seeing that she is confused as to how Magneto got here and how Jean can't read his mind he elaborates. "You see, Charles is an old friend of mine and I helped him build his school, and what lies underneath. So Charles has helped me build up a resistance to telekinetic power and this helps to..." Magneto taps his helmet. As he see's Jean reach out for the young girl Magneto uses his power to bring over a steel support walker where the drips hang from to support Jean. "Now I know we haven't always seen eye to eye but I'm here for something very important. Jean, you are the only one who can locate Charles and his precious X-Men. If they are in an alternate world, I'm the only one who can help you build the methods of travel you need or travel there myself so...how are you feeling Jean?" Magneto turns to the young girl again. "You know, its rude not to answer"

[Wind Dancer]

Sofia was quite scared of Magneto. She had heard of him from the Professor and other X-Men, so she knew about him, and his powers. She looked at Jean as she held her arm out. Sofia drifted towards it steadily. "I'm Sofia" she said, coldy. She wasn't in the mood to deal with Magneto, and now that she had seen that Jean was back to normal, she felt more than safe. Magneto was no match for Jean, especially with the Phoenix on her side.

Sofia heard the creak of metal twisting, 'wailing' under the pressure. She looked up and saw a large metal beam. Sofia let her mind do the control. She did not move one muscle, no arm for direction or anything. A very small, unnoticeable breeze entered the room. If at a moments notice, Sofia would be able to shove her and Jean out of the road with a large blast of wind. Luckily for Sofia, Magneto had never known of her, or her powers.

"What are you doing here?" she spat with disgust at Magneto. Obviously, it could be taken that she didn't want him there and demanded that he leave.

[Jean Grey]

Jean settled her hand on Sofia's shoulder when the teen came close and she listened to what Magneto had to say. He was right of course, she was the only one who could use cerebro to find Xavier and the others if they were anywhere on the planet. She also had the students to think about seeing as she was the only adult left in the manor and a lot of them needed guidance. When Magneto spoke of being able to help those emerald green eyes narrowed slightly and her hand tightened slightly on Sofia's shoulder.

"What's in it for you?" She asked not trusting the man in the least.

He and his Brotherhood had done so much to the X-men over the years that it was very hard to believe that Magneto genuinely wanted to help. The pressure in the air changed around them as Jean's power reacted to her agitation and one of the cabinets shifted a few feet away from the wall. Closing her eyes the redhead tried to regain her composure, it would not be good to lose control, not now.

[mmb]

Magneto smiled at the temper of the young one. Impressed by the overall power she COULD unleash. He then turns back to Jean, still smiling. He taps his helmet playfully, almost taunting that you can't read my mind. "Charles is an old friend. I wish to see that he returns safely. If not, the very least I can do is guide his children when he is not here. After all, they need a leader"

[Wind Dancer]

"You will never lead us" Sofia spat at him. "We have Jean, we don't need the likes of you" she continued. After all the Brotherhood, led by Magneto, had done to the X-Men. "If you really are the Professor's friend, then why attack us? That doesn't make any sense" she said, still a stern, cold look upon her face. She stepped back further into the safeness of Jean. Why didn't this man just leave? After all, no-one wanted his presence.

~Make him leave, make him leave~ Sofia chanted in her mind, hoping that Jean would be able to involuntarily hear them. ~Please make him leave~ she continued. "What are you waiting for?" she said, directing her question at Magneto.

[Jean Grey]

Jean's arm slipped around Sofia's shoulders as the girl stepped further back into her and she looked to Magneto as Sofia told him he would never lead them. The girl was bold to stand up to the man but Jean was proud of her. If all of the students were like Sofia they would get through this just fine. Like Sofia Jean didn't trust the man as far as she could throw him, however as far as she knew she was the only adult in the manor. She needed help to deal with all the students and at the moment Magneto was the only one around and willing. She caught Sofia's mental pleas to make Magneto go away and her fingers tightened on the girls shoulder as she continued to stare at Magneto in silence as she allowed herself to decide what to do.

"I can't run this place on my own and your right, if the professor and the others are in an alternate universe I'll need the help to get them back. I welcome your help on one condition, if you or any of your Brotherhood lift a finger against the manor or anyone in it your helmet won't protect you."

She knew Sofia wasn't going to like the answer she gave but seeing as she was acting leader with everyone else gone it left the choice up to her. Magneto had extended the offer to help before and then stabbed the X-men and Xavier in the back, Jean intended to keep an eye on the man.