Scott and Ororo, Friday night

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Scott checks back in with Ororo from the cockpit of the Blackbird on the ground in San Diego on Friday night.


Scott settled into the pilot's seat of the Blackbird, taking a deep breath. Too comfortable. He couldn't sit down for long or he'd be asleep again. The airfield where they'd gotten permission to keep the 'Bird in between hops to Westchester - hurray for phone calls that made official-types cooperative - was far from quiet, even at this time of night. Too much was going on with the relief efforts for that, but at least the Blackbird itself was quiet. Gave him a moment to catch his breath.

"Blackbird to base," he said, after settling the headset on his head. "Storm? You still awake?"

"Thanks to several gallons of coffee, yes," came the muffled response as Ororo stifled a jaw-cracking yawn. "My apologies. I am here. How does the situation look to you?"

"Slightly less pear-shaped, maybe. Relief efforts seem to be progressing as well as can be expected. I imagine you're probably seeing the overall view better than we are down here on the ground," he said a bit wryly, running a hand through his lank, sweaty hair. "CNN's coverage."

"Yes... despite the damage, many of the experts are optimistic. They say it could have been worse." She laughed dryly. "I suppose we will see how things look in the light of day."

"Here's hoping a little bit better with every new morning," Scott said tiredly, slouching in the seat. "It's the whole purpose of digging out from under, isn't it? Literally, in this case."

"Indeed. How is everyone holding up on your end? I am sure they are all working themselves to the bone, but are they well enough to continue their efforts?"

"I'm keeping track of everyone as I can," Scott responded. "Haven't gotten the replacement coms to everyone just yet, but the National Guard's been helpful. It's gotten around," he said after a pause, "that we may have had something to do with stopping the tsunami. Gives us some extra credit on the ground, here."

"Well, that is good... not that we would have done differently even without the acknowledgement. Be sure that the team knows that, though, it will be good to know their efforts are appreciated." Ororo smiled, feeling extremely proud of everyone that had participated in the initial efforts and those that were working now. "Is there anything you need that is not provided for there?"

"No, I think we're good for now. I'll probably be back again tomorrow night to drop off anyone who's worked them into exhaustion and restock supplies... the team's using the 'Bird as a base of operations, since we don't want to be mixing too much with the emergency teams. Awkward questions and all." Scott bit his lip. "Everyone doing okay back there?"

"The medical team is taking good care of them. Everyone is expected to make a full recovery, the last I heard."

"That footage... I hadn't realized until yesterday that it went out on CNN too." Scott said softly, after a moment. "I saw it at one of the emergency shelters." At least no one's faces had been visible from the close-up footage. What the newscopter had transmitted before the EMP had been staggering to see.

There was a moment of silence as Ororo shifted, looking up at the flickering monitor that had been running continuously since she had gotten back to the mansion. "Yes... I am sure there will be questions later. But there is little to do at the moment - at least, little for you to worry about."

Scott nodded slowly. "Point," he said quietly. "I think I'm going to go now, Ororo. Try and get some sleep, all right?" He smiled. "Not that it isn't comforting to know that you're there on the other end of the 'phone'."

"Anytime. Follow your own advice, get some rest. I will speak with you tomorrow, Scott."