Redemption

Chapter Thirty-two

"What's going on?" Rogue asked after they piled into one of the safe rooms and locked the door.

"It's the Dark Phoenix," said Professor X. "It's got Daken."

"If it's got Daken," said Jean, "then we're already dead. Daken was a monster when he wasn't the Dark Phoenix, but now that he is the Dark Phoenix, he went full berserker."

"He's much more than a berserker," said Logan. "After you were Dark Phoenix, Jean, didn't you say that the Phoenix fed off your emotions?"

Jean Grey nodded, "Yeah,"

"That must be happening with Daken," said Beast.

"I wonder where he is right now," said Nightcrawler.

"Wondering where he is won't help us," said Storm. "We have to do something to stop him!"

"We can't defeat the Dark Phoenix, Storm," said Logan, turning to me. "The only reason we won last time was because Jean was strong enough to get it out. Daken will do whatever's necessary to keep it in."

"Then we'll have to kill him," I said.

"What?"

"We were going to do that to Jean," I said. "We just have to do that to Daken."

"That's going to be a lot harder," said Kurt. "Like Logan said, Daken's probably gone berserker."

"If he's gone berserker," I said, "then we have to go berserker too."

I sat there, watching the chaos unfold. Storm seemed to be confident with her plan, but the others weren't. I do not say my opinion, this battle is for the X-men. I know I created them, but they have overcome so many obstacles without me that I am confident that they will be able to defeat Daken. If they need me though, I will be here, and I will do the best I can.

"X-men," I called out.

"What is it, Professor X?" Logan asked.

"He's coming," I said. "He let me sense where he is. He's almost to the first safe room!"  

"Everyone, get ready!" Wolverine yelled.

The fire licked at my body but I didn't feel it. I walked through the flames, in the way the Dark Phoenix was guiding me. I could feel their fear. I could practically taste it.

He has to be put away. 

It was Rogue who had thought it.

He NEEDS to be put away, for good, forever. 

I stopped, a lump forming in my throat. I knew I needed to be put away, that everything about me was wrong. The flames faded away to a memory. A memory of the Avengers, the real Avengers. I watched as the primary colors of their costumes flicker through the collapsing building, the destruction I had caused. They were protecting the innocents I had jeopardized, I watched as they became the heroes they were to the public. I remembered watching them . . . watching how wonderful they were. I watched how wonderful they were, realizing that I was nothing. I was nothing. And I still am today.

That's what they want you to think.

"No," I said. "It's true. I am nothing."

Not without me.

"What would life be like if Itsu had survived?" I asked. "Tell me, what would I be like if my mother were still alive?" 

I do not know about the if of that question, but I can show you the now.

"W-what does that mean?" I asked.

A space in the flames formed.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

You'll see, and you'll thank me.

Through the flames I could see a body forming. It was a woman's body, wrapped in a Japanese robe. She was covered in blood, but before my eyes the blood seeped away. The flames vanished around me. The woman stirred.

"Are you alright?" I asked, running to her side. The Dark Phoenix was quiet.

The woman blinked, her eyes adjusting to life.

"Logan . . .?" she asked, looking directly at me.

I shook my head, "No, I'm not Logan."

"You look like Logan," she said.

"Are you Itsu?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yes, do I know you?"

"No," I said, "but you know my dad."

I helped her up.

"Who's your father?" she asked.

There was a war cry and someone pushed past Itsu and Logan stabbed me in the chest.