Welcome to Cheechi's Place

By: Lisa Anne Hetu

Disclaimer: The X-Men belong to Marvel Comics, and I'm using them without permission. The character called Phoenix (Elizabeth Xavier), who later becomes Silent Rose, belongs to me.

It was another summer's day. The weather was hot and sticky, as most summer days are. The X-Men were all together at Xavier's school for mutants getting ready for a very special event. It was such a special event that even members of X-force were attending it. This special occasion was for Professor Xavier's birthday. Rogue, Storm and Phoenix flew around the study attaching party decorations near the ceiling. Gambit and Cyclops were in the kitchen making party treats. Beast and Wolverine were blowing up balloons, but Wolverine accidentally popped half a dozen with his claws. Jubilee was alone in the corner wrapping the gifts unwillingly.

Meanwhile X-Force and X-Factor had arrived. Fortunately, Professor Xavier was extremely busy in his office and was completely unaware of the birthday party. Bishop, Iceman, Archangel, and Psylocke had the pleasure of greeting the guests. Forge (the leader of X-Factor) spoke with Iceman for a minute while the rest of his team, including Cyclops brother Havoc, his girlfriend Polaris, Strong Guy, Quicksilver, and Random. The entire team of X-Force piled in after them; they included Boomer, Cannonball, Domino, Rictor, Shatterstar, Siryn, Warpath, and their leader Cable. With all the guests, Professor Xavier and the X-Men, the fortunately large study was going to hold 25 mutants.

Professor Xavier was in his office updating all his mutant files and getting tired of it, when Cyclops and Beast entered his room. "Sorry to bother you Professor, but could you come to the study for a minute, it's important." said Cyclops,

"Extremely important!" emphasized the Beast in a very cheery mood.

Professor Xavier followed them to the study and found the room to be pitch black. "Elizabeth what happened in here?" asked Cyclops beginning the little charade, "the power was fine a moment ago."

"The lights just all of a sudden went out, but Wolverine's working on it" she answered from the darkness.

"I think I've almost got it" Wolverine said, his hand on the light switch.

"What's wrong with the light switch?" asked the professor.

"Absolutely nothing" said Wolverine flicking on the lights to reveal a room full of mutants.

"Surprise, happy birthday Charles!" they all said at once.

Professor Xavier was so surprised to see 24 mutants who had gone out of their way for him on his birthday.

As the party unraveled, everyone began laughing and having a good time. Elizabeth flew over the crowd and called for everyone's attention. "I think now is a good time for daddy to open his gifts, otherwise we might be here all day considering there are many gifts in the corner to my right."

"I say Rogue and Gambit should get 25 cups of coffee, cause it looks like we're pulling an all-nighter!" said Wolverine making himself extra comfy on the couch.

Everyone laughed, then each found a place to sit. Phoenix handed gifts to her father, making sure not to mix up the teams in the giant pile. Some gifts were clothes, some were assorted objects, and some were meant as jokes.

Everything was going as planned until...... CRASH!!!, the wall came crashing in knocking anyone close enough head over heals. The others hopped up out of their seats ready to attack. After everyone was up and the dust cleared the mutants could see Juggernaut in the freshly made hole-in-the-wall.

"Who's that?" asked Phoenix.

Everyone looked at her in shock. "I'm sorry, I never met him before!" she protested.

Juggernaut laughed. " You don't know who I am. Har-di-har-har!" he said.

Professor Xavier looked up to his daughter almost ashamed to tell her. "He's my half brother, Elizabeth" he said.

"What! You've got to be kidding me! That clunking can of gutter trash can't be my uncle!" Phoenix shrieked.

Cyclops put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Just why do we have the unexpected pleasure of your visit this time, Kain?" he said, sarcastically.

"It's my worthless half brother's birthday, do you mind!" said Juggernaut, acting hurt, "Happy birthday brother"

Then Juggernaut pulled out a stun ray and shot everyone in sight. Everyone fell to the floor instantly. Then Juggernaut stepped over the bodies carefully and collected the professor while quietly humming "Happy Birthday".

When everyone woke up they noticed right away that the professor was missing, and knew right away that Juggernaut had taken him. The stunned mutants called for their mentor quietly, trying to figure out what to do. Then Wolverine's voice echoed through the room as he yelled "Juggernaut, your a dead man!"

Juggernaught brought his unconscious brother to a run down, old power plant; the perfect place to destroy all those meddling mutants. Finally, Charles Xavier awoke and found himself dangling from a rope over a barrel of old chemicals. "Why are you doing this?" asked the professor, shaking off the dizziness.

"I found the perfect way to get rid of you and your pesky mutant friends once and for all, " said Juggernaut smiling gleefully, "All yer little friends are gonna come to save ya - I left them an obvious trail - and when they get here I'm gonna blow up this joint. If they don't die from all the garbage falling, then they'll die from the chemicals in this place for sure! Of course, I've been waiting and planning this thing perfectly; what better day to rid myself of you mutants than on my worthless half brother's birthday."

Back at Xavier's school everyone was trying to figure out why Juggernaut would take the professor and leave them such an obvious trail. Cyclops was starting to wonder if they were about to walk into a trap. "Well, what are we waitin' for, a solar eclipse? Let's get a move on! I'm in the mood for kickin' Juggernaut into next week." said Wolverine impatiently.

"I don't think it's such a good idea if we all go; we might be walking into a trap. I think half of us should stay here." said Cyclops.

"Nobody's takin' me outta this fight!" said Wolverine with a growl. The leaders of the teams decided to each take half of their teams while the other half stayed behind. Cable sent Boomer, Domino, Siryn and Warpath. Forge sent Havoc, Polaris, Strong Guy and Random. Cyclops took with him Wolverine, Rogue, Storm, Bishop and Phoenix. Together, they boarded the blackbird and were on their way.

Cyclops piloted the blackbird behind Rogue , Storm and Phoenix who flew in front of it to better follow Juggernaut's trail. Within a few minutes they had reached the plant.

As quietly as possible they surrounded the plant and crept inside, but the only thing they found was the unconscious Professor Xavier hanging over the chemicals and gagged. Juggernaut had knocked him out so he couldn't use his mental powers to warn them of his trap. The confused mutants looked around them cautiously, in battle stance. By the time they caught glimpse of Juggernaut he was running away from the plant. Wolverine sniffed the air and shouted "The plant's gonna blow!"

The huge explosion sent wood and debris flying everywhere for miles. Juggernaut, who had watched the explosion from a distance, laughed and walked away. The smoke cleared slowly as Rogue exploded from the fallen building. Frightened, she looked around for any signs of life. A few paces away a red blast knocked away some of the debris and a coughing Cyclops wearily emerged from the rubble. "Cyclops! Are you okay hon?" Rogue asked flying over to him.

"I'm fine, I think" he answered, then winced in pain.

"Yer leg's caught" said Rogue digging him out.

"Phoenix!" called Cyclops, seeing the destruction.

Rubble moved not too far away. Rogue flew over and dug up a barely conscious Wolverine, his right side badly cut, and shielding Phoenix who had been saved accept for a badly wounded right leg; she had lost consciousness over the fumes. Rogue carried the two of them over to where Cyclops was favoring a torn leg.

Rogue had radioed for help from the blackbird, and now Beast had arrived with Gambit, Forge, Rictor, and Quicksilver. Beast opened his medical kit and began wrapping a thick bandage all the way around Wolverine's chest. "Hey! Watch it!" growled a very painful Wolverine.

Forge watched over Phoenix who was still unconscious and attached to a breathing mechanism to flush the fumes from her lungs. Rogue wept while flying over the remains of the plant looking for anyone else who might have survived, but she didn't even find the professor. Cyclops was devastated from the disaster; he stared blankly at the wreckage. Quicksilver radioed back to the mansion and told them the terrible news. Gambit stood close by and listened. "Juggernaut thought it out good, Nate ... No, none of yours survived" Gambit's eyes watered at this statement.

"X-Factor is down to me and Forge" said Quicksilver, sounding shaky and devastated, "Cyclops and Phoenix have injured legs and Wolverine was torn up real bad; Phoenix inhaled the fumes, and she's unconscious at the moment. Rogue's fine." Quicksilver was on the verge of breaking up as he signed off; he nearly fell out of the blackbird because his knees were shaky and weak.

Soon the small group was gathered all together at the mansion. Phoenix sat up weakly in the infirmary bed and hugged Beast tightly, tears gushing from her eyes. Now there were only 15 left from the 25. They were all gathered in the infirmary filled with sorrow and pain for their great loss. Even Rictor and Cable had tears dripping from their eyes. Everyone was silent except for the constant sobbing. How could they have been so careless? Now X-Force had only four members. X-Factor had only two. And the X- Men had lost two members and the most important person in their lives. Professor Xavier was not only their mentor; he taught them everything about their powers, guided them in an attempt to full-fill his dream, and took care of his daughter and raised her to become smart and strong-willed. He was known and loved by many, and he was one of the most important people ever to live; he gave all he had to different causes, the most common of which was to the safety and security of humans and mutants around the world.

What would happen now? Professor Xavier was gone forever. The gathered mutants were at a loss. They didn't know what their purpose was anymore. Did they still have a purpose? and were they still capable of continuing their original purpose? They couldn't give up on the world; they couldn't give up on Xavier's dream. All fifteen of them realized that. Somehow they would have to continue their lives as if nothing had happen; the world would just deteriorate if they didn't. Now they had to try even harder. "We have to continue our progress on the professor's dream," said Cyclops finally, "It's what he would have wanted. We can't give up"

The others looked up at Cyclops with respect and knew he was right. "Your absolutely right Scott, we have to do it for daddy" said Phoenix strongly, although she still wept.

The weeping stopped and tears were less frequent. The others found their strength and together they all vowed, "We'll follow the professor's dream and we'll make it happen. We have to make him proud."

The small group all stayed at Xavier's school together for a long time. During that time they mourned the deaths of their friends and family, but continued their sworn duty as best they could. Now the lives of the X-Men would be different, changes would be made, the remaining 15 would form only two teams, and a new leader would be appointed to take the professor's place. But at the moment nothing could be done, not until the X-Men could learn to accept the fact that 10 of their dearest friends were gone forever, and that now they were alone in the battle for truce.

THE END