Alaska retreat: getting away from the crazy

[The Red Queen]

A portal opened into what was a very rustic looking cabin, and Maddie stepped inside. Jessie was close behind her, saying her goodbyes to her X-Men teammates and family members. With a flick of her fingers, Maddie started a fire blazing in the fireplace, and she crossed to a wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle and some glasses.

"I know this place looks a bit like a ski chalet, but I find it a blessing," she said behind her as Jessie made her entrance. "It's far enough away from the rest of the world to make it the perfect hideaway. Would you like some wine?"

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie smiled and nodded as her mother offered her a glass of wine. "I can imagine it's very peaceful here indeed. Everyone needs a place to get away from the craziness."The young Phoenix responded as she continued to look around.

[The Red Queen]

"Yes, it is nice to hide away from the world at times," Maddie said to Jessie as she thought about all that had transpired at that insipid gathering. She wondered why she had bothered to go at all after her Hellfire brethren all seemed to hide in the shadows during the battle.

"Jessie, this will be out of left field, so please forgive me if I sound odd. Did you feel that, for the most part, our hosts left the rest of us to fight in that battle? I know Michael Priest was attending to his nephew who had been poisoned, and that man Antonio Estacado was hip deep in demons, but it felt, at least for a moment, as if Shaw and his other members were testing us and watching from the shadows. I do not like being tested. And they should know better than to test a Phoenix."

[Jessie Grey]

"Mother it's been their mo for a long time.....I feel that the situation arose that they felt it best to step back and let us do the dirty work. To be honest I went because of family and it was best to keep up appearances but I didn't like being there. The mystical soup was in my opinion their way to escape back into the shadows."

Jessie said as she took a sip before continuing. "And I think you are more then spot on about testing me. I felt quite a few of the others were concerned about me but rather I be there when it counted rather then not. I know their concerns are justified to an extent but I am fine. I am just glad things wound down when they did."

[The Red Queen]

Maddie was all too familiar with the nonsense that was Hellfire. They were often a means to an end, but it did not always leave the most pleasant taste in Maddie's mouth after dealing with them.

"I'm just wondering how Morgan Le Fay got into the mix in the first place. It seems as if she tricked Michael Priest's sister and those other women, and that seems to be a very dangerous thing indeed. It is very distressing that a woman would take advantage of other women in such a manner. Where you came from, was there some sort of unspoken code among women that kept them from doing such things? I hope your original home was a better place in that respect. I'm sorry if I am asking so many questions, but I want to learn all about you and where you came from," Maddie added as she sipped her wine.

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie thought about it for a few moments "Well mother you have to understand that I am formed of different realities and different beings but I do remember there was at least some essence of that in at least a few of my memories." She said as she took another sip of her wine.

"I did want to ask you something in relation to something you said to me earlier in the evening. You spoke about a way to let my spirit free from time to time without causing too much concern to others? You've asked me to learn as much about me as possible. Well although I'm formed of different memories from different times I will always be that sense of freedom. I know I was created to give a second chance to those I am formed from but as much as I am like Grey & Frost I'm also something else."

[The Red Queen]

Maddie smiled at Jessie as she thought back to their earlier chat. Although she herself did not carry the Phoenix, she carried powers of her own--in this world and in others--that bordered on the stunningly powerful. She knew that holding in all that power was likely something that would drive Jessie mad if left on her own.

Yes, Ewan might have been her balance, but balance was not the same as freedom.

"I'm sorry I didn't fully understand the circumstances of your birth, Jessie," Maddie replied as she set down her wine glass. "I'm glad you explained that all to me. With your origin, I can see why freedom is such an important thing. You are a child of the Phoenix herself as much as you are a child of the Grey, Frost or Summers bloodlines. It is that wild sparks that yearns for freedom."

Maddie motioned toward the windows of the cabin and smiled at Jessie once more. "As dreadfully cold as it is up here, Alaska is a place where you can soar and not likely cause any sort of disturbance. Deserts in Africa could serve the same purpose, and so could direct flight into space. But those could be lonely journeys. And, I would think, anyway, that while solitude is sometimes a blessing, it might also be a curse. Have you felt at home with the other Phoenix holders among the X-Men? Would they be of help to you in this process?"

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie's smile faded for a moment as she though about her mothers question. "Well yes and no. I've had some problems with Rachel as of late. She is my sister but she has been increasingly worried about me. I understand due to the past she is concerned I might present a danger due to my unpredictability. Being around family has helped me a lot. I will always be a child of the universe but I have softened some."

She then tried to lighten back up some. "As for the cold I don't think it will be much of a problem."She said with a small laugh. "I know you were connected to the Phoenix at one point as well....How was your journey through it all? I must admit I am happy to find a kindred spirit in all of this."

[The Red Queen]

"What I held of the raptor was but a tiny spark compared to what you hold, Jessie," Maddie said as she thought back to her own beginnings in Sinister's lab and her early days with the X-Men. The Phoenix had helped bring her to life, but it had not stayed with her for very long at all. If truth be told, her story was just as complicated as Jessie's. "My powers have been honed through what some consider the darker side of things because the amplifier was magic-based. My story is as complicated as yours, I guess. And getting through any of it has not been easy. I have been an X-Man, a member of the Hellfire Club, a wife and mother, and what some consider a villain. Nothing in this world is as black and white as many wish them to be. Moral absolutes are rarely the best way to go. There is always something that needs to be weighed and accounted for. And at times, it is hard to tell others, to their satisfaction anyway, why one acted in a certain manner."

Maddie realized she was likely droning on like a school teacher, so she sighed and thought for a moment. "I'm sorry you have not had the chance to bond with Rachel in a less stressful way. I know she took Jean's death to heart and has tried to fill her very large shoes. At times that means being less the sister and more the guardian of all creation. I hope with time that changes. I hope Ewan's family has not been as aloof with you. Have they treated you well?"

[Jessie Grey]

"Ewan's family has been a welcome to my life.They are a little unusual but again if that bothered me considering then I would really have judgement issues." She said laughing. She then thought back to her encounters with her siblings.

"I think a lot Rachel's worry comes from what happened not too long after I arrived. My mother....My other mother had given me the job of protecting family. Both direct and extended and well I'm at a level that has only been seen once before and the other part of that was I was supposed to bring our families together and as a result it has Rachel very concerned. I know she is thinking back to the first time and does not want a repeat of what happened."She said referring to Jean's first encounter with the Phoenix.

"As for Jennifer I've spent a little time with her but not enough to get to know her."

[The Red Queen]

Maddie nodded as she listened to Jessie talking about her sisters. Part of her wanted to hear news about Nathan, but he had vanished after the birth of the supposed mutant messiah. "I hope that Rachel comes to understand that you have the best of intentions at heart, Jessie. You have a very strong and loving heart. I can tell that from how you interact with Ewan and his family. I know that things have been strained, at times, between the mutants and the mystics. Having you as a bridge between them has to be a benefit to both sides."

As she turned to look outside, Maddie thought about what she had seen of Jessie's power displays at Muir Island and the Hellfire gala. She was truly a force to be reckoned with, and she was likely one of the most powerful members of that team.

"I know Scott and Emma are both master planners when it comes to teams. I would gather that they have a very special place for you on one of them," Maddie said as she thought about how the X-Men always seemed to work and set things up. "After what I saw tonight, it would seem, to me anyway, that you could have your place on any of the squads. But with all the drama, you have to have a release as well. Have you been able to explore your new home at all? I know Scott moved you all to the West Coast a few months back."
 

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie thought about it for a few moments. "I'm sure they do and I know they care but again I think a lot of it has to do with letting go of the past. As for my new home I've explored a little bit but not too much."She responded taking another sip.

[The Red Queen]

"The past is a very hard thing to let go of," Maddie said as she sighed a bit. "I am the living embodiment of that, I guess. Scott would crown me the queen of not forgetting the past, I'm sure. I have never been very good at letting go."

Maddie thought about her days with Scott and got a bit wistful. She swallowed hard as she pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present once more. "I pray you do not pick that trait up from me. That would not be the best gift to pass along to anyone. And I pray you never have to worry about that sort of thing with Ewan. He seems to be a very good man. I hope the pressures of missions and families do not cause you any strife. Is it too soon to ask if you two have made a long term commitment?"

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie smiled as she thought of her love. She was happy to be here with her mother but always liked to be close to Ewan. "Ewan fills such a big hole in my life you would not believe mother. He is the one that keeps me grounded. We share so much in common at times it's a little scary."She said with a laugh.

"And honestly I fit right in with his family. Warriors, goddesses, mystics, etc how could someone like me not? As far as everyone else.....Well it's part of the reason I don't wear my uniform as often as I did before. I think it still makes some people uneasy. Yes there are a few of us connected to the Phoenix but as far as I can tell I am the only one who shows it openly."

[The Red Queen]

Maddie listened carefully as Jessie mentioned the reaction of the other X-Men. It didn't surprise her that they were less than thrilled about the Phoenix in any way, shape or form being in their midst. The fact that there were several women connected to the raptor likely made the lot of them very antsy indeed.

"I'm glad Ewan's family has welcomed you with open arms. Having a place to feel safe and accepted is of the greatest importance when adjusting to a new environment," Maddie replied as she thought about her own time with the X-Men a bit more. "I know that many of them are likely afraid the raptor will corrupt you, but that mess with Jean was the fault of Jason Wyngarde and his meddling. No one can truly understand the relationship with the Phoenix unless the person has been a holder of the power cosmic. Has Emma spoken to you about her time as a Phoenix? I'm sure she could give you insights other can't. And her girls, the ones they call the Cuckoos, were holders as well, I believe."

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie thought about her other mother Emma and her own experiences with the raptor. "I think she understands but due to her own experiences she is just as concerned as the others. It's a difficult situation because those who would most understand have their own concerns so it's a bit of a mess."She said as she took another sip.

"I know the legacy that burns through me whether for the good or not I know exactly what I am I just wished others would understand that."

[The Red Queen]

Maddie nodded as she mentally "dissected" what reactions the X-Men likely had toward Jessie. Taking into account her own experiences, Pryor knew the lot of them all too well and how they reacted in the past to things they likely did not understand. For a group that preached tolerance and understanding, at times they didn't practice it at all where the Phoenix was concerned.

"I hope that, over time, Emma is able to open up to you about her experiences," Maddie replied, "because it would only be helping you, not jeopardizing anyone there. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I guess no matter what I say, it will anyway. They can't judge you by something someone else had happen so many years ago. You may be the child of Jean Grey and Emma Frost and the Phoenix herself, but you are not Jean, nor are you Emma. You are your own person. I hope that they realize that."

As she turned to look out the window, Maddie noticed something shimmering in the distance. "That's odd," she said as she moved closer to the window. "Must be some hunters or trappers lost in the woods. They get wandering around and forget how to get into town. Should we go out and investigate or leave them on their own? "

[Jessie Grey]

"I think they do mother they just need time."Jessie said with a small smile before Maddie commented on the lights in the distance. "Yes perhaps we should. It is awfully cold out there and while it may be nothing I wouldn't want to have them be lost."

[The Red Queen]

"Yes, there have been a lot of hunters get lost in recent weeks in the area," Maddie said as she went to grab a coat. "Luckily, most of them managed to get out of here with no fuss. One or two had to be escorted out of the area, but that is pretty rare. If you need a jacket, I have a few here in the closet."

Maddie had "transformed" her formal wear earlier, so going out into the cold was not going to be an issue. She just dreaded how drunk this wandering lot might be. Once she had to practically drag some fool back into the small town near her home so the sheriff could find him a way back to his own family.

"Shall we?" she asked Jessie as she stood near the front door.

[Deleted]

There was a knock at the door before the inhabitants of the cabin could move outside. "Madelyne Pryor! I mean you no harm!" a tall blonde woman shouted as she pounded on the door again. "It is Amora, late of that wretched place called Oklahoma. Do not stand on ceremony and bid me enter!"

The door opened and the two women inside looked out to see the Asgardian goddess standing before them. "Ah, I see you did find your daughter! Then things are moving as you had anticipated."

"Jessie, this is Amora the Enchantress," Maddie said as the woman went to touch Jessie's cheek. "She is..."

"Someone very interested in what your mother has planned to unite women of strength and honor into a veritable sisterhood," Amora added as she took off her fur cloak and hung it on a rack near the door. "Come, tell me what Madelyne has told you, my dear girl," she continued to say as she simply walked to the sofa inside and sat down.

"Amora, we were headed outside to see what was going on in the woods nearby," Maddie said as she glared at the Enchantress. "I take it what we heard was actually you?"

"Aye, it was, my dear Goblin Queen," Amora answered as Maddie gritted her teeth. "Ah. I forget. Red Queen."  

[The Red Queen]

Maddie rolled her eyes before turning again to Jessie. "I had been speaking with Amora before the Hellfire gala about forming a group of women to look out for mutant and mystic interests alike, but nothing has been cast in stone as yet. Amora, Jessie and I were going to use this time to..."

"Bond? I do not plan to stay and take all your precious time, Madelyne," Amora replied as she looked around the room and scoffed a bit. "I have more pressing matters to attend to, but I might be able to bring at least one Asgardian to your cause. I have heard tell there is a daughter of Thor's in this realm now."

"Jessie can tell you more about her than I can, because she lives among the X-Men," Maddie added as she rubbed her temples. "But I'm not sure the X-Men would be thrilled with you running off to meet her, Amora. Jessie, that seems like something Emma would frown upon."

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie felt both a little uncomfortable and annoyed at Amora's unexpected entrance but after explaining why she was her the young Phoenix calmed at least slightly. "Well mother at least we don't need to investigate that light now." She said as a light glow formed over Jessie's body transforming her winter clothing into something more comfortable but still displaying what she was.

As Amora moved closer to touch her face. She let her out of respect for her mother but after Amora moved her hand away Jessie responded.

"Amora with all due respect please don't touch my face. I understand your intentions but one would say I'm a creature of familiarity and I do not know you." She responded with a slight nod. She didn't want to leave this meeting with Amora with a sour taste in her mouth but at the same time she had an issue with someone other then family taking liberties with her.

"As for Thor's daughter yes she is here in this realm and yes she's with the X-Men. What I can tell you as I have only crossed paths with her briefly is Kari is her mother and you might have to smooth over some things with her before you decide to meet her.....Lets just say her realities version of you and Loki didn't exactly leave her with a good impression of you twoo and to be honest I think until you smooth things over she would just as soon punch you into the atmosphere then shake your hand."

[The Red Queen]

Maddie was not surprised that Jessie and Amora were not exactly becoming fast friends. Amora had this nasty little habit of trying tactile seduction, but the Phoenix likely could sense what the Enchantress was doing and blocked it somehow.

"Jessie's counsel is wise, Amora. I would listen to her if I were you," Maddie said as she watched the Asgardian taking in Jessie's comments. "I saw Alexia fight. She is not one to be taken lightly."

"I was afraid of such a conundrum," Amora purred as she stayed seated. "At times there is too much baggage carried by those from other realms. I will heed your words and tread carefully when I encounter Alexia."

As the women spoke, there was a subtle rumble that could be felt as the cabin vibrated slightly. Maddie looked cross as she turned from Jessie to Amora. She crossed to the window and saw a caravan of trucks going by in the distance. "Jessie, you might want to see this," Maddie said as she motioned for her daughter to come to the window. One of the trucks was carrying pieces of a Sentinel.

[Jessie Grey]

Jessie quickly made her way to the window and seeing the sight of the sentinel even in pieces the fact they were carrying pieces of a sentinel was enough to put her on guard. Light flames could be seen in her eyes as she watched. "What do you suppose they are doing with them mother?"

[The Red Queen]

"It's the first time I've seen any sort of convoy out here," Maddie replied as she stayed with Jessie at the window. "We are not that close to any major highway to make us a must-see destination, so the traffic usually stays clear of this area. That tiny general store is not exactly the height of shopping or dining, and the bar might delight Wolverine, but I would not drink there."

Maddie kept eying the trucks as they drove along. She kept trying to make out the name on the side, and finally the logo clicked in her mind. "Roxxon? What in the world is Roxxon doing with Sentinels? Jessie, do you think we should alert Scott and Emma to this or investigate this ourselves before calling in the cavalry? It might be a lot of nothing, or it could be the start of something very bad."