Goodnight Irene

London England

“Miss Irene Essex,” her teacher said, stern tone in her voice as she said it, “You are in quite a lot of trouble,” a file dropped onto the desk in front of her, Irene smiled as she tried to open the file when Mrs. Prewett slammed her hand to stop the little girl from opening it, “Assaulting a nurse is grounds for expulsion,” she threatened, “What would make you think that this was okay?”

Irene glared at her, she didn’t like this teacher just like the last few, “Grandfather told me to never let anyone prick your arm without your consent, punch the bugger and wait for me to pick you up.” her teacher was shocked by her response, “Young lady,” she said to Irene, anger threatening to lash out, “I know you’ve been in a bate since the loss of those dreadful muties,” the teacher said, ignoring the anger in Irenes’ eyes, “But that is no excuse young lady.”

Irene was going to talk back to her when “Mutants of Earth,” Irene heard, confusing the little girl, standing up wondering who it was that was speaking, “We are building something….” “Miss Essex,” the teacher said, nearly distracting her as she looked around, “Are you paying attention to what I am saying?” Irene just hushed her as the voice continued, “All of you-” The Voice said as her teacher looked offended.

“All our brother, all our sisters-” The voice said, “All.” “Miss Essex,” Mrs. Prewett asked her, angry now, “What exactly are you doing?” Irene got irritated so she turned to her teacher, “I’m listening to the voice Mrs. Prewett so stop being a bore and hush.” Mrs. Prewett was stunned by her tone and wording as Irene started to listen deeper, “Now is the time to put aside all differences and realize we are one people.” The voice continued.

“So I am extending to you…. An invitation.” The voice said, sounding gentle but also hesitant as he offered this invitation, Irene thought it sounded cool,  “Join us….” The voice said, sounding like he was speaking to her,  “For you have a place here.” At that Irene looked towards her teacher who was practically fuming at her outburst, “It is a place of refuge….” The voice promised, “Of Sanctuary….” Irene liked the sound, remembering when she was reading the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

“It is your home….” The Voice told her, “And we will be waiting for you here….” they promised, making Irene excited for what they were promising, “On Krakoa.” remembering the name, Irene got excited, Irene started to leave the room when she felt a hand grab her shoulder, “And where do you think you are going young lady?” Mrs. Prewett asked her, “We are not done talking young lady.”

“Okay,” Irene thought, done with this school anyways, “Please let go,” Irene said, turning her head back with a glare, “I wouldn’t want to hurt you.” Disbelief. Anger. Were what Mrs. Prewett was feeling as Irene began to absorb her, Panic. Fear.”What’s happening? Why am I feeling-” Mrs. Prewett thought before taking her hand off of Irenes’ shoulder, smiling Irene waved before leaving, “Tah.” she simply said before leaving.

Irene picked up her pack and walked through the hall, “I wonder if grandfather heard the message too?” Irene thought as she started to fiddle with her wristwatch, to manipulate the image inducer, she turned her blue and White Jumper which she hated except for the colors, to the setting that her grandfather made, A Black Blazer with a Red Diamond over the breast pocket, a Blue Checkered Skirt with a white dress shirt and blue checkered tie.

Happy that she was in her favorite clothes, they made her look professional after all instead of the little kid she was, and exited the doors when she heard the sound of her Primary School teacher, “Wait a minute Irene!” Mrs. Prewett shouted towards her retreating form as she opened the door, other students watching the exchange, “Irene what the bloody hell did you do!?”

Irene tsked at that as she exited the school building, “Grandfather would destroy your mind for cussing in a school.” Irene thought when she noticed the car was in front with a grinning Sinister Clone dressed as a human chauffeur, “Did you hear sweetie?” The Clone asked happily as he opened the door, “Krakoa is open for us and mutants all have a lifetime pass!” ignoring the sounds of Mrs. Prewett as Irene got into the car.

“Hello Mrs. Prewett,” the clone said, “We are quitting, Tah!” Mrs. Prewett was stunned as SC shut the door Irene giggled at the response, “Are we going to Krakoa now?” she asked the clone, knowing that they were planning to have gone there ever since those two men, X Wheels and Red Man, thought they had wiped grandfathers brain, “You are,” The chauffeur clone said, “The Prime Sinister will be there later.”

Irene nodded at that, “And you and the other clones too correct?” she asked, wondering if Grandfather or his copies will be watching, making sure she didn’t tell any secrets she knew, the chauffeur gave a sigh at that, "Sadly, no,” He had told her, “There is a rule against clones such as myself.” he told her, making Irene sad, now one of his clones wouldn’t give her attention when he was busy.

“Is Grandfather Prime going to burn you or store you?” She had asked him, at that The Chauffeur Clone thought on this, “Possibly burn most of us, store ones like a copy or someone useful.” he said to her as they had approached the gate, as she got out, Irene had went and hugged him, “I’ll be sure to put you on the storage list.” she said, the clone returning it before she went and skipped into the gate.

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Krakoa, Pacific Ocean

Irene had smiled widely at the sight before her, it was a beautiful lush jungle area that seemed surreal, even more than one of her Grandfathers labs, it was beautiful, and there were more mutants then she had ever seen before in her life, she grinned at that before seeing that there was a feeling, like a buzz that drew her in, Irene had started to follow it before she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Irene looked and smiled, “Gr–” “Shhh darling.” Mister Sinister said as he pressed his pointer to her lips, “Don't want to spoil the surprise TOO soon.” he told her with a wink, Irene nodded at that, giggling as she looked around, "It's beautiful!" She told him, loving the feel of everything there, "You haven't even seen the best part yet." He told her, making Irene intrigued.

The young Mutant was in love with everything here before she saw that there were people looking at grandfather and her, curious, she wanted to check their thoughts, absorb what they felt, but as she started, the failsafe was engaged and she couldn't activate her gift, "Behave." Grandfather said, knowing her mind, "I have to go and change the world." He said.

Hearing that, Irene watched as he left her, seeing this, Irene looked around, "Now," She had thought, already scheming, "What is a Moppet to do?" Irene thought, walking around now with interest in Krakoa before she saw that there were kids around her age in black and yellow jumpers, seeing as how there was nothing better to do, Irene went to them, wondering if they'd be fun.

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Arbor Magna, Krakoa

Irene was growing more and more curious in the following hours as she had followed the kids before finding herself in someplace beautiful, it was filled with people, mutants one and all, she had never seen so many in real life, only on Grandfathers computer, as she watched, one of them, Ororo Munroe aka Storm, had spoken, "Brothers and sisters of Krakoa!" She had roared.

Making Irene grin at that, "A great thing has happened today." She said as five had left the big tree, "A miracle made possible by Mutant hands…" she said as The Five got closer, "…The great work of The Five." She said, making Irene frown, "Pretty simplistic." She thought as The Five joined the crowd, "Love them…" Storm said so Irene had touched the Pink one who smiled at her.

"…for they have righted the wrongs of man and defeated our greatest enemy death." Storm said, "Huh," Irene thought, "So they finally did it." She thought before seeing that a group of naked adults dripping gold goo walked out as well, "By the power that is their birthright, "The Five have returned these mutants thought lost to us–" Storm said as Irene started to get some words in her mind.

"Their family– and to this place– their home.” Storm said with the next phrase making the words make sense, “I see them. Do you?” Storm asked and with the others, Irene chanted, “WE SEE THEM. BUT DO WE KNOW THEM?” the crowd together had asked, at that, Storm had turned to one in the visor, Scott Summers aka Cyclops, the two of them appeared to be conversing with each other.

Eventually, Storm had kissed his brow, she turned to the crowd and shouted out, “This is my brother. I know him.” she said, “As do you. Yes, his name is Cyclops, but he is more than that. What is he?” She asked and they answered with fists in the air, “MUTANT!” they had chanted, she then turned to The Redhead, Jean Grey, the two talking before they hugged each other.

“This is my sister. I know her.” she said before unwinding from her and approaching them, “As do you. Yes, her name is Jean Grey, but she is more than that. What is she?” Storm asked and they answered, “MUTANT!” they had told her before she turned to another, approaching her but the woman flinched away, Irene could understand that, she loved touch but not when others did it all of a sudden.

Storm laughed at this before turning to the crowd, “This is my sister. I know her. As do you. Yes, her name is Monet, but she is more than that. What is she?” Storm asked of them and they chanted once more, “MUTANT!” at that, Irene had started to drone it out, looking at the others, a blonde, an angel who was next, the Wolverine, and– Irene had paused at the sight of the two blue people.

The red headed shapeshifter and the kind looking demon both from the files that she had seen and smiling at them when Irene noticed that it was The Redheads turn, the two had glared at each other, The Redhead having a hand on her hip before Storm turned to them, “This is my sister. I know her. As do you. Yes, her name is Mystique, but she is more than that. What is she?” Storm asked.

“MUTANT! MUTANT!” Irene had chanted at the sight of Mystique, she had went and waited for the next to approach, Storm and The Fuzzy blue one hugging each other before words were exchanged, smiling, Storm had turned to the crowd, “This is my brother. I know him. As do you. Yes, his name is Nightcrawler, but he is more than that. What is he?” she said and all of them, even the island had raised a fist, “MUTANT!”

“Mutants all.” Storm said as they walked down, “And it was through their deaths that a great victory was won for our people…” she had told them, “…The first victory of many.” she said as they joined the crowd, Irene making sure that she was the first to go and greet Nightcrawler and Mystique, grabbing their hands and smiling, “Hullo, and thank you.” she had told them, “See them for what they are… heroes of Krakoa.”

Nightcrawler smiled to her but Mystique gave her an odd look, as if she recognized her, but Irene couldn’t think further on that as she was pushed back by the mob, but Irene only smiled, glad to meet the pair of them, she had went to go and explore the island, not noticing that there were two sets on eyes on her, one set curious on what she would do while the other was curious on who she was.

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Carousel, Krakoa

Irene had explored some of the island while Grandfather was busy being himself, apparently he was a part of the ruling government here, nice, that meant he and her could get away with so much now, smiling at the thought, Irene had went and plucked one of the fruits that was growing, taking a bite and tasting blueberries and pomegranate, as she enjoyed the taste, Irene noticed that people were celebrating.

She went to join one of the fires, laughing as someone her age had pulled her in, the two of them laughing and enjoying themselves when Irene had felt a hand on her shoulder, curious, she turned to see it was Mystique which made her smile, "Hullo!" Irene went, glad to see her again, "Hi there," Mystique said, examining her, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe we've met before?" She asked.

"We haven't," Irene had said to her, "My name is Irene Essex, Mrs. Mystique." She said to her, offering her hand while Mystique glared, Irene… Essex?" She said, not liking the combination of the two, "Yes, Grandfather always said to give people my full name when greeting." She told her, Mystique observed her features then, trying to see a relation then.

"Mister Sinister is your grandfather?" She asked Irene, looking at her Raven hair and honey brown eyes, the face reminding her of someone else, "That's what Grandfather tells me to call him." She said and honestly, Irene didn't mind, he was all she knew as family really, that and Claudine Renko but she was more of a cool aunt that tried to kill Grandfather.

"And who are your parents then?" Mystique asked, at that, She was about to answer before another hand went onto her shoulder, "Get your own grandchild, Mystique," Sinister said to her, "Lord knows your daughter and son-in-law are close to making one." That angered Mystique while Irene looked to him hopefully, excited at the thought of that before she was being pulled along by Grandfather.

As they had moved, Irene saw that they were heading to one of the gates, "Where are we going?" Orene asked, disappointed that they were leaving the party, "Just a little checkup and then you can go back, promise." He said and hearing that, Irene gave a grin as the two of them stepped through the gateway, all the while Mystique heading to Kurt to ask him a favor.

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Bar Sinister, South Pacific

Irene had skipped over to the lab before she twirled, "Ready Grandfather!" She told him and said Grandfather gave a smile before he had started to test the suit, "Alright then, let's start with the lock." He told her before he started to fiddle with it, as he did, Irene started to feel the others around her, even the island itself before she was cutoff, unable to sense or absorb a thing.

She pouted at that, "Seems fine, next up, the image inducer," he had told her, at that, he shut off every one, needing to do a diagnostic which meant she could look at her uniform in the mirror, Irene had moved to be in front, stretching so she could see herself as what she really looked like, wearing a uniform almost identical to her grandfather except hers was short sleeved with no cape and she had a red diamond where a breast pocket would be.

Irene loved this part cause she found see her real face, only four people besides herself have seen her real face, making it a secret that she wanted to share with the world as it were, it made her like it but she also wanted to be the real her, not hiding like the others, but then Irene looked back to her Grandfather as he had re-engaged the Image Inducer, putting her back to the previous setting.

With that, Irene gave a huff at the sight before she had gone and turned to her Grandfather, “Can I go back to the party now?” Irene had asked as Grandfather had went and pulled out a syringe, “Just a little blood and you can go.” he said, as that, Irene rolled up her left sleeve and let him take a shot of her blood before putting a bandaid on it before she had went and skipped out the gate.

Meanwhile, Sinister was looking at the sample that he had gathered and saw that there was an increase in her ambient charge, as he looked, the energy started to build up more and more before he had to go and disintegrate it, leaning back, Sinister had sighed at that, on one hand, he had a nuclear option, on the other hand, if the two of them ever found out what he did, making him shiver at the thought.

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Carousel, Krakoa

Mystique had watched as Irene Essex had returned alone, Mystique watched her from a distance, there was something that bothered her about the child, she looked as the girl had went and danced with the other kids, as she had looked towards the child, she felt as someone had went and teleported by her side, “Hello, mother,” Kurt had said with a smile before trying to see what she was doing, “What are you doing?” he asked.

Hearing that from her son, Mystique had looked towards the child, “Does that child remind you of anyone?” She asked her son, hearing that, Kurt had looked to see who she was talking about and saw a professional looking child that was laughing with the others before he saw as she had started to head towards the adults, “No, who is she?” Jurt had asked, a little worried at his mothers interest.

“She says her name is Irene Essex, Mister Sinister’s granddaughter.” Mystique had said which had surprised Kurt, “I didn’t know that he had children?” Kurt had said, “I didn’t either, and I don’t think she is.” She had told him, making Kurt worried, “So you’re keeping an eye on her?” Kurt said, Mystique nodded, both of them not trusting Sinister with a child, especially with his track record.

As the two of them looked, Kurt decided to inform Rogue and Remy next time he saw them, as he thought of the pair, Kurt remembered Remy's smirk then before seeing Rogue's scowl as well, making Kurt look confused at the connection in his mind, "Keep an eye on her, I don't trust Sinister as far as I can throw that snake." At that, the mother and son could agree as they watched her.

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Irene had loved the freedom that she was feeling here, not being in a Flatscan school, not pretending to be one of them and ignoring when they called them a Mutie or a Gene Freak, it was absolutely incredible to her that they could all be mutants here and not having to pretend to be anything but what they were, as she was walking around, Irene had noticed her pink friend who was smiling as someone caught on fire.

Irene went and joined her as the adults had tried to put each other out, “I’m Irene,” she said, offering a fruit to the girl who took it, “Curse.” the girl had said and the two enjoyed each others company for a bit before Curse saw something that interested her and Irene saw a couple that she had been wanting to meet since she had learned about the two of them.

Irene had tried to follow them as sneaky as possible, looking through the brush and passing by adults and such, Irene was interested as she had tried to follow them before all of a sudden, Irene had went and seen that the two of them had gotten a bit away from her, but Irene was not going to be deterred, Irene had kept trying to follow the pair of them when she got stopped again.

This time, it was a stranger that she didn’t recognize, they were a teen with a shiny golden eye that looked at her odd, “Can I help you?” she had asked him, not liking the feel of his arm on hers, “Irene?” He said, “Is that you?” he asked, “I’m sorry, but who are you barmy?” Irene had asked of him, scanning his features before seeing that there was a scowl that was all too familiar.

Before Cable could say anything else, Irene had went and yanked her arm out before she had went and ran while Cable had looked on as she ran away, Nathan was surprised that there was an Irene here, he remembered when she had helped train him, the woman was a survivor who had been a part of Clan Askani as long as Mother Asknai and was the one that taught him how to survive.

Irene was a bit of a enigma, she would appear and disappear through different timelines, always coming back as if she lived those lives, seeing her here dressed up like she was from a private school, he started to watch her go, glad to see another familiar face besides Rachel as he had returned to go and party with the others his age, dealing with a past Irene would have to happen later.

As Irene had continued onwards, she had passed by the Wolverines who smelled chemicals and nothing else, as if someone was trying to erase her scent while there was something under it all, confusing them as the kid had went and left, confusing the family as they watched her leave them and continued to follow the two of them, making Gabby look interested before the others went back to the party.

Sinister and all of the others that she had interacted with had the same curiosity on their minds, wondering what was going to happen next with her there while Irene was more focused on meeting the two that were in front of her, making Irene want to get closer and closer as she followed the pair of them, wanting to be close enough, even to touch them for a moment.