Excelsior!

[Emma Frost]

Emma had turned to diamond form to help move debris on the way to the Command Room. She knew Scott was exhausted after this mess with the baby, and the bat man was less than a welcome addition to the group.

"I will bet you a night in Paris that the bat flies from our bellfry before this meeting is over," she quipped as she pushed open the jammed doors of the room and made her way inside. "I'm sorry, Scott, but he does not seem to be the type to let us hold him here. That's part of why I wanted to get you here before everyone else showed up. I have no clue what to make of the man. He has psi-bafflers, and that annoys me no end. What is your read on our batty guest?"

[Psylocke]

Elizabeth Braddock, the mutant X-Woman known as Psylocke, entered the room with the mechanical sweep of the large metallic doors into the command room wearing her Hand inspired uniform with a feminine pink sash wrapped around her physically perfect waist. Pausing, Psylocke looked up and down the body of her teammate and fellow psychic, Emma Frost. Psylocke looked unimpressed for the brief moment before she continued stepping into the command room. It was common for the X-Men to meet and debrief over the mission. Betsy was in no mood for pleasantries. Her head throbbed from the use of energy. Her body felt woozy.

Upon stepping in, Betsy heard Emma comment to Summers about a "batty" guest. "You have such an eloquent way with words, Emma." Psylocke was never fond of Emma Frost. They were of the same breed, however, Emma's faux British accent made Betsy want to roll her eyes. Just as well, Betsy continued on into the command room and took a seat, crossing her long legs while swiveling her chair towards Emma and Scott. "And you of all people should know that there are other ways to find out what a man is thinking." A smirk appeared on the purple haired ninja's pink lips. She had to admit to herself that she knew little to nothing about the man in question, but there were ways to find out.

[Emma Frost]

"Of course there are, Elizabeth," Emma said as she returned to her flesh form. "But we ran into him in Alaska, and he has his ways of keeping quiet as well. He is not only technologically superior to many of our opponents, he also seems to have been trained to withstand most forms of intelligence gathering. If you are volunteering to open his lips with your feminine wiles, then please, be my guest. You might want to stay away from that Ashley person from the Marauders and that young man from the MacFeorais brood. Another mystic maniac. What a lovely thought indeed. Trying to get his aunt to ascend to become a dark goddess. Am I the only one who thinks that is a bit mad?"

Emma knew that Elizabeth had her ways of dealing with men. Her personal hit parade was indeed a long one. Not longer than Emma's in the past, perhaps, but long enough to validate Psylocke's original comment upon entering the room. And having her around the other prisons might not be a bad idea. Who knows what they could offer up given the proper incentive.

"I just hope Warren has good news for us after all this. We can't take much more of this fighting, and the students need a place to continue their studies. But if his California gambit is a go, getting us all there might be a bit tricky," Emma said to both Scott and Elizabeth as others entered the room.

[Doctor Nemesis]

"You really need to stop calling me for these meetings and let me do what needs to be done!" James Bradley said as he walked into the room. "Not you, Elizabeth. These two over here. Jeffries is messing things up in the labs again, and Forge is sending us his wunderkind Texan and his fighting suit soon enough."

Nemesis found a chair that was not too worse for wear and sat down. "I take it the mission was a success. Or at least as much of a success as it could be under these circumstances?"

"What are you eating, Bradley?" Emma asked as as Nemesis proceeded to hold up a red jelly bean. "Did you raid Deadpool's locker again?"

"No, these are not those dreadful things from that ridiculous movie. I will not eat ear wax anything. Oh, young Mr. Keller is on the mend and can now ambulate on his own. Thought that would make you both happy since his talents might be needed soon enough."

[Scott Summers]

There was a sudden large thud as Scott's hand came down on the already partially broken table, sending the other half of th etable to crack straight down the middle. " Enough bickering!" Scott shouted before watching Logan stomp into the room, smoking a cigar, not even making the slightest eye contact before leaning against a wall.

Scott slowly removed his hand, flexing a few times from the pain, before looking down at the table. " Once the others get here, we will start." He said in a low tone, with obvious signs of stress and aggravation in it. Success? How do you call a mission a success when you leave without the baby and lose so many in the effort. To lose what the X-Men represent in a conquest that is no closer to being achieved.

Scott flexed his hand a few more times as a few trace amounts of blood trickled down. Atleast it was something to remind him he was alive. Scott then could see Emma coming closer. " Emma i'm fine." He said, still staring at the table. Millions of thoughts racing through his mind. Yet he still had to be the leader, leaders had to always push feelings aside.

Under his breath, Scott mumbled. " Let us hope Warren has good news, for I am in no mood to discuss politics at any length or deal with personal issues." The latter was no doubt a jab at the pissed off canadian in the corner of the room. He noticed Connor and Dom enter the room and head close to Logan. He had no idea what to think about the return of Connor. But the noticable allegiance disturbed him. But that was the least of his current worries.

[Angel Archangel]

Warren made his way into the command room, picking debris out of his clothing and feathers as he walked. He could tell by the way everyone was reacting to his arrival that he was suddenly in the crosshairs.

"Welcome home, Connor," he said as he stood in the doorway, but then he felt someone slip past him. He turned to see Kari make a beeline for Logan, and then he saw the look on Scott and Emma's faces. This meeting was going to be worse than Warren had hoped.

As he walked over to Scott, Warren saw Elizabeth had already arrived as well. "I"m glad to see you made it home safely, Betsy," he said quietly as he moved to the front of the room, gently placing his hand on her shoulder for the briefest of moments. He was still friendly with Psylocke despite their tortured past, and right now they could use all the friends they could get.

"Scott, you can relax on the move," he said to Cyclops as more teammates entered the room. "I can handle the heavy lifting on this one. San Francisco is welcoming us with open arms. Since Tony Stark's hand picked hero squad out there tanked, they need a super hero presence. I'll set up meetings with the mayor after we've moved into our new home. I have my staff working on the details now."

[Karenza]

Kari moved to Logan's side, nodding to Domino and Dragonfly as she pressed herself against the wall. She would have liked to melt into the wall at that point. Her head still felt like a vice was closing around it as she cast her gaze on Scott and Emma. She quietly moved her right hand along Logan's left, slowly tracing a symbol there before pulling her hand away. Logan turned his own gaze on her for a moment, and she nodded and took a deep breath as she turned back to hear Warren speak.

Anyone who had been a close friend of Kari's would have known what she had done before anyone could think to ask. There were times when mental links were more of a curse than a blessing, and right now was one of them. She had developed her own code centuries ago to say if she was fine or if there were a problem. The symbol she drew on Logan's skin meant that they needed to talk later.

As she sighed deeply, Kari saw Emma staring right at her. {{Fine, fine, when this is over. Now please stay out of my head, Emma}} Kari said as she opened her link briefly and then shut it almost as quickly. Her entire family seemed to be in pain, and it felt like someone was going to rip them all to pieces before this meeting ended.

[Emma Frost]

{{Scott, if you want to hit something, I can think of many things you could hit. The table is not one of them. We can have Nemesis look at your hand when the meeting ends}} the White Queen said as she noticed Warren looking at Elizabeth again. {{I swear. The repression in this room is palpable. It's giving me a headache}}

"Warren, you can tell everyone your good new when the stragglers finally arrive. Heaven knows we could all use some good news at this point."

Emma shifted positions, crossing her arms and looking even more vexed than she had before. {{Trust me, Kari, I do not want to be in your head. I do not want to be privy to your sweaty thoughts about the man to your right. Please do not broadcast them so loudly}}

As a smirk crossed Emma's lips, she felt Kari mentally growl at her. {{I can't help it that you two are more repressed than anyone in this room}}

{{Can't you take no for an answer}} Kari telepathically replied to Emma as more people filed into the room. {{Stay out of my head!}}

[Psylocke]

"Perhaps when the time comes, I will." Betsy responded to Emma's suggestion. As for the mystic Emma mentioned, it made Betsy's skin crawl. Her family history was enriched by magic with the Captain Britain Corps, Roma, and Merlin.... She preferred to steer clear, especially after what the Crimson Dawn did to her personally.

Cyclops interruption quickly changed the mood of the room. Everyone could tell he was stressed out. Psylocke averted her eyes from him directly. The mission was an apparent failure, but everyone knew it wasn't over. They had been ambushed basically. Her eyes drifted over where Warren Kenneth Worthington III made his entrance, making small talk with her personally before attempting for Scott Summers to relax. Warren had ran the X-Men as team leader before with relative success. Everyone had a turn at some point. Betsy had taken a leadership role in the Australian Outback before she forced them into the Siege Perilous.

Psylocke paid attention to the body language of Warren. He was a natural charmer. The tabloids called him a playboy. They were right, in part, but Warren had only ever wanted a true love to settle down with. The last time the two had a proper conversation, he had expressed that it had become clear that it wasn't meant to be between the two. Betsy allured Warren still though- She knew it.

Others filed into the room, and Betsy could feel weight add to her shoulders. Everyone was looking to Cyclops after Warren's spill about a move to San Francisco, looking for guidance and the final decision. It was strange that the X-Men were even considering such a move. Things had changed so much since her death. New York had become her home, more than Braddock Manor. What they were suggesting was dramatic, but her ears were open.

[Gambit]

"Chere," Remy started to say as her and Anna got to the doorway of the command room. "I know what I did was not what you would have chosen for yourself. Throwing in with Mystique and Sinister was de last card in de deck. Options were limited."

Remy knew his debt to Sinister would never be truly paid. Essex might have been dead for the moment, but he had his ways of coming back to torture the X-Men. As he stood with Rogue outside the doorway, Gambit knew that time was on thier side for the moment, but it might be a fleeting one.

((Might as well go for broke)) he thought as he pulled Anna into his arms and kissed her more passionately than he had in a long time. To be honest, he might never have kissed her quite like that before, and he held her close as he opened his heart to her. "I know my debt to you could never be repaid, Anna. What I did was wrong, but it was for de very best of reasons. Seeing you here, healthy and full of life, is all dat matters."

Gambit released Rogue from the hug as they walked into the command room. He was sure Scott and Emma would read him the riot act in a few minutes. He nodded to Logan, Kari, Dom and Connor as Anna took one of the seats at the table and he stood behind her. "And thanks for not tossing me off de plane, chere," he whispered to Anna as he stepped back toward the wall.

[Shadowcat]

Kitty thought about the fact that Apocalypse would come for Abbey now, and the thought made her stomach churn. Stalik had fought so hard to get away from that ancient maniac, and now the door was wide open for him to attack the entire team to get to Abbey.

"Scott is one to talk if he doesn't understand this," Kitty said softly as she and Stalik went inside the mansion. "He saved Nate by taking Apocalypse into himself. He can't judge you for what you did."

As they went inside the command room, Kitty looked over at Kari and Logan and put her hand over her heart. She mouthed the words "Thank you" and then looked back over at Stalik. "I think I can understand now," she said quietly as she sat next to her husband. "Why you made that final choice we spoke about. Sometimes it's easy to forget the hell she's been through since she got here. We'll talk more after the meeting. I think we owe ourselves a pizza night with our daughter. To sit and talk. To stitch up the holes. To figure out what the next step is. Because what you said back there is no weirder than anything else we've heard in these walls since we met, and you know it. We've seen heaven and hell and every place inbetween. Right now I just hope we see a bit more heaven soon. After we find out what happened to Kalik and get back Niko and Hepzibah."

[Doctor Nemesis]

"What happened to Kalik?" Nemesis asked as he walked over toward Stalik and Kitty. "And Niko and Hepizbah?"

"Niko and Hepzibah got captured by one of Sinister's lab mates named Wesker," Kari said as she pounded one fist back against the wall. "We have to send a team out to get them."

"But not you. You all have had enough nonsense to last a million lifetimes. You'd all make a mess of things if you were sent out now," Nemesis said as he looked over at Scott and Emma. "Professional opinion, Cyclops. Not sure Cybercide will be up to it either. But I'll patch up whoever is needed so you can send them out again. Just not that lot against the back wall."

"And Kalik..." Kitty said with a sigh as she held Stalik's hand. "Kalik was a Skrull. At least the Kalik we had with us."

"A what? No. Do not repeat that. I heard it, but I still don't believe it," Nemesis growled as he popped another jelly bean into his mouth.

[Nightcrawler]

*Bamf* Kurt teleported in with Sam to one side of him, and Bobby to the other. Kurt nodded to everyone. " Forgive the tardiness, had to attend to my duties to the fallen and make sure the casualties did not pass on without guidance." Kurt sleeked into a corner and stood, as everyone waited for the last few to find their way to the command room.

He then turned to see Remy with Anna. " It is good to see you back Anna, it lifts a great burden to my heart to not have to guide another friend to a better place." With that statement, several faces in the room turned a bit grim, for all those who were on the mission. For Kurt had yet to be looped in on the heaviest casualty of the mission, one that changed the face of the entire X-men.

It didn't take long for Kurt to distinguish that something was wrong. Kurt clasped his hands in front of him. " The loss radiates from you all, I may have spoken too soon." " It is in your hearts and faces that we have lost someone dear to us have we not?"

[Karenza]

Kari very audibly cleared her throat as she looked at Kurt and then to Warren, Sam, Bobby and Bradley. None of them had a clue.

{{If Jean were here, she'd be doing this. Having Emma do it seems all sorts of wrong, and Scott has the future on his mind}} Kari said in their link as she looked over to Logan and squeezed his hand before moving toward Kurt. "The fight was a lot more intense than we expected, Kurt. We lost Caliban in an earlier mission, and Niko and Hepzibah have been captured. Kalik...may be missing. He died in battle, but it wasn't him. It was a Skrull."

{Goddess, please give me the strength to do this}} Kari thought as she prepared to utter the next phrase. "And in the last of the fighting, Charles was taken from us. He died while trying to get the infant to safety."

Kari could not believe the words as they left her lips, and she turned to see the stunned looks on those who had not been told the grim details earlier. "He was gone before I could..."

"No, you could not fulfill your duty because Maddie Pryor and your imbecilic cousin with the ceremonial sword made that impossible," Emma retorted as Kari spun on her heel and glared at her.

"And you were up to your armpits in zombies, Emma. Even those close could not save him. And I'm not even fully sure what happened. None of that matters now. Charles is gone."

[Beast]

Hank, Piotr and Jamie all walked into the command room as Kari explained what happened to Charles. "Yes, none of us are fully sure what happened," Beast said as he sat down. "Bradley, I have the Skrull in the morgue. We can go take a look at it after this meeting. Scott, I hate to say this, but we'll need to loop Tony Stark into this. Having a random Skrull pop up is not what anyone needs. Having that Skrull be something more entirely is not what this world needs."

Beast was beyond being exhausted as he took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I will gladly take the corpse to Stark myself, Scott, but if anyone wishes to accompany me, I will not decline the offer. I know he is not the favorite Avenger of most of us here, but as director of SHIELD, he has to be notified."