Shadow King: And we're back

[x-legion.livejournal.com]

And suddenly . . .



Though the Medlab didn't have an Admitting, he could think of this area as nothing else. Especially not with Amelia here. She was nearby, simultaneously perusing charts and presenting a discreet deterrant against further escape.

The room's only other occupant was motionless. An empty pill bottle was rolling, progress curved and uneven from the lip at the top. Across the floor to the wall, up the wall to the ceiling, across the ceiling and down again. Ceiling, wall or floor, it made no difference. The bottle rolled, steady and inexorable.

Vision distorted by exhaustion and so tired he could barely bring himself to breath, Jack sat in his chair, drawing imaginary lines across the room with a bottle dragged only by his mind, and thought of nothing. Nothing. Nothing.

. . . Nothing?

The bottle hit the tiles with a thok.

Amelia looked up from her paperwork. "Jack?" she asked, mildly enough. "Something wrong?" The look she was giving him was a critical one, as if she was wondering whether he was about to explode or something equally dramatic.

The man in the chair just sat, brow creased and eyes flicking fast. Disbelief crawled across his face, and then, slow as the rising sun, determination.

He rose abruptly, the move more energetic than any he'd displayed for days, and locked eyes with Amelia.

"Get Moira. You'll be wanting to check on the professor. And the others." He turned towards the door. "I'm going to Haller's room. No matter how long I'm in there, only person who disturbs me is Xavier. Hear me?"

Amelia came to her feet, charts sliding forgotten to the floor. "I hear you, but before you walk out that door, I want to know what's going on," she said, wisps of green smoke taking shape around her as if she was preparing to teleport in between him and the door if need be.

Jack paused, just for an instant, and turned to lock her eyes.

"It's over."