Goodnight Irene

Carousel, Krakoa, During Excalibur #1

Irene had finally gotten to the pair of them when she saw that Remy Lebeau, aka Gambit, was glaring at a room where the big blue man was, En Sabah Nur, Apocalypse, but she ignored them and instead followed as Irene had watched them reach one of the beaches that littered the island, “Bedtime, Chere?” Remy had asked Anna Marie Lebeau ne. Darkholme, aka Rogue.

“Reckon it is.” Rogue had said, “Don’t look excited,” She told her husband, “I’m not wearing that power-dampenin’ bracelet in paradise.” She told her husband as they had walked away, “I’m creative. Maybe you won’t need it.” Remy said as Irene had followed, curious on what they were talking about, “You do always find a way to surprise me.” she said, leaning into him lovingly.

“Found a li’l ol’bayou near the middle a’ the island.” Remy had said, making her happy at knowing where they would be living, “We could put a li’l pod house on down there.” he said, “Yes, yes, pleeease tes!” Irene thought, “If I’m bein’ honest, I was lookin’ forward to gettin’ back to work.” Rogue had said to which Remy smiled, “I feel like that’s a performance review, no?” Remy asked, “It isn’t.” Rogue told him.

“What do you think about that third law?” Rogue had said, making Irene get excited, “Make more mutants?” she had said, Irene had held in a squee at that when before Remy could answer, “Rogue?” Trinary had said, irritating Irene as she had tried to stay out of their sights, “Sorry to interrupt, but I need you to come with me.” Trinary said and thus three people had followed.

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Grove of Theoretical Gates, Krakoa

 was waiting and saw that Rogue and his previous Horseman of Death, but there was another that was waiting in the wings, “Apocalypse has been working on a gate that recently opened… to here, not from here.” Trinary had said, “But no one can get through it… either way it seems.” she said as the pair had approached, “And he thinks it connects to King Arthur’s house?” She had told them.

“I insist you call me .” he had told them, “Trinary is correct… the gate appears to have a connection to the Otherworld, the realm of faerie and source of Captain Britain’s powers.” he had said which had worried everyone there with the thought, “I had hoped they would come speak to me before they entered recklessly, but–” went before Rogue interrupted.

“They?” she had asked of him, “Elizabeth and Brian Braddock.” he had told her, “Psylocke is in there too?” Rogue asked, concerned for her old teammate, “Can she get out?” Rogue had asked, “I do not know if she can be retrieved safely. That is not my concern.” the external had told the pair, “Well, it sure is mine.” Rogue told him, hands on her hips and already annoyed at him.

“It appears the gate has been throttled with some sort of magical ward.” told them, “I’m not entirely certain by its nature, but I imagine you can dampen its power with your abilities, Rogue.”  said, “Magic. Magic?” Trinary had asked, “It is a word older than science, child.” told her while Remy was already against it all, “Oh, hell no.” he had said to them.

“‘Just grab it, Rogue?’ We don’t even know what it is!” Remy had said, distrusting the ancient mutant, “I do not like this.” he had told his wife before glaring at , “You ever done anything for that guy?” He asked, “He looks down his nose at you the who time you’re doin’ it like he knows he’s makin’ you do something nasty.” He said, having that experience when he became a horseman.

“Like a cat watchin’ you scoop the litter box.” Remy said, making Irene snort at the thought, “Remy enough about the cats.” Rogue went, knowing that he was thinking about their furry babies and how similar the four were, “This isn’t about us or him. We’re all on the same team now.” she told them all, “And Betsy needs us.” at that, Remy gave a subtle nod at that, “If you’re worried, then put your shirt on and stay ready.”

Remy gave a smirk, loving when she takes charge as they both engaged their uniforms, “What about Jubilee?” Remy had asked and that was when Irene had felt someone grab her shoulder, a woman in a yellow jacket with pink goggles, “Hi there, can you take him ans give him to Kyle Jinadu?” she asked showing an adorable baby, “I just have to talk with those grownups there and I’ll be right back.” she said.

Irene had taken the baby boy and decided that she might as well listen, “I have already sent out the message.”  said and that was when Jubilee had approached, “First of all, you’re crazy if you think I’m bringing my son to see you.” she said and hearing that, Irene had decided to leave with the baby, heading out so that only Remy and Rogue could see her retreating form.

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Beach, Krakoa

Irene was being careful to hold the baby as she had headed towards the beach, the baby boy seemed to love this and so she had stayed by the water, Irene watching and smiling as he had laughed, Irene had smiled at the sight of this, deciding that she loved babies, Irene smiled at the sight before she remembered what the lady had asked, remembering, she picked up the fussy baby and started moving.

“Excuse me,” Irene had asked one of the adults, a woman that was blue haired with metal hands, the woman looking to her, “Do you know where Mr. Kyle Jinadu is?” She had asked as the woman looked at the baby, “Shogo?” The woman said before realizing what happened, “Follow me.” the woman said, “I’m Nori Ashida, and you?” Nori had asked her, at that, Irene gave her signature smile, “Irene Essex, ma’am.” she said.

Nori looked confused at that, “Essex?” she had asked, thinking that the name was familiar, “Mmhmm! My grandfather said to always give my full name!” Irene had told her as they had approached a house where two men, one of them looking like an elf from that movie she had watched in secret, “Jean-Paul!” Nori said to the elf-like man as they had turned to the three of them.

“Jubilee wanted to ask if Kyle could take care of Shogo for a little bit?” Nori had asked, at that, the other man had went over and took Shogo from her, “Hey there, Shogo.” Kyle most likely had said before looking down to the pouting Irene who was sad to not be holding Shogo, “And who might you be?” Kyle had asked her, at that, Irene had given him a flourish with a bow, “Hello, My name is Irene Essex.” she said.

The one called Jean-Paul gave her a quizzical look but Irene had ignored it, “Bye bye Shogo, it was fun holding you for a little while!” Irene had went before she had skipped away, confusing the three, “By the way, do we know an Essex?” Nori had asked Jean-Paul, “We do,” he said, worried for the little girl, “And he’s on the Winter Council with Mystique and Exodus.” He said, worrying them all for her life.

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Beach, Krakoa

Irene was planning to go and follow the two of them when she saw that they were escorting Rogue away from Krakoa in a Flower Bed, “What happened?” Irene had asked of Remy as she approached, The Cajun Mutant surprised by the curiosity of the girl as she had went and looked over at his sleeping wife, “Is she okay?” the little girl had asked, worry on her face.

“Don’ worry petite,” Remy had told her, thinking that the girl was a fan of Rogue, “She’s jus’ playin’ sleepin’ beauty now.” he had told her while she had pouted, as she did, Remy had gotten a sense of deja vu, recalling that pout from someone before, “I sorry petite, but we gotta go.” he had told her, giving a smile towards her as they had loaded her onto the boat.

As Irene had seen them leave, she had felt upset and worried for her, as they had went and had sailed away, “BE SAFE!” she had shouted out to the people on the boat, making Remy and a few others look back and stare at her, curious as to who she was, but that was for later, for now, they had to go and try to save their friends and loved ones from the latest danger.

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Carousel, Krakoa, During X-Force #1

Irene was both bored and worried for The pair of them as she had realized that there was no one her age that she was friends with, bored, she had taken another of the fruits when Irene had noticed that there was someone she recognized and talked to before, Mystique, seeing her, Irene had smiled before she had went over and waved, “Hi Miss Mystique!” she had went before heading over to her.

The older woman was surprised by the greeting from the younger girl, they had only met a few times, they were practically stranger but she ran up to her as if they were family, “Are you up to anything?” The girl, Irene if Mystique had recalled, asked her, “Not right now, where’s Sin– you’re grandfather?” she had asked the girl, wondering what he was up to and who was watching her.

“He’s busy with his experiments, I was just waving Mr and Mrs Lebeau off.” Irene had told her, confusing Mystique, “What was Rogue and her… husband doing?” she had asked of Irene which made her lose her smile, “Mr Lebeau said that she was Sleeping Beauty before they had sailed away.” she had told Mystique and hearing that, the older mutant glared at that, “What?” she had asked.

Before she could answer though, there was the sound of a gunshot, at that, making both look to see as paratroopers had approached the island via the air, firing upon everybody, seeing this, Mystique had reacted, grabbing Irene and putting her behind the older woman before drawing the weapon at her hip and aiming it, firing upon the closest one of them.

Irene was getting worried and a little surprised at what was happening right now, thinking that Krakoa was a better place than the rest of the world, but there were people here trying to kill them as well, it was making her scared before Irene had went and started to get angry, Irene had moved out of the protection of Mystique before picking up a few pebbles, ready to fight back.

Irene had started to charge them before she had went and threw them, thank you grandfather and his desire to hone her accuracy to this level as she had went and threw them, making them explode on contact as she had moved, Mystique had noticed as she had done as much and this was odd, she didn’t notice too many with abilities similar to… him, but as she saw her, she got more confused.

But right now, Mystique and the others had all tried to stop them, not trying to kill the enemy that had invaded their home, Mystique had fired to wound, missing the days that she could kill when she had noticed that one of them had went a pulled a knife, dropping his machine gun and going towards Irene, seeming ready to carve her up as she had backed away, tripping on herself.

As Irene had backed away, she got spooked, not wanting to get killed, she trusted the resurrection and her Grandfathers protocols, but she didn’t want to die just yet, as he had went and put his hand around her throat, ready to choke the life out of her, Irene had decided that she was going to have to break the rule, hopefully she wouldn’t leave anything behind.

As Mystique had readied to make the killshot, she was shocked to see as the person that went to kill the child started to waste away, mummifying at an accelerated rate until they were nothing but skin and bones inside the clothes, as the body had fallen, Irene had coughed and rubbed her throat, glaring as she had realized that Mystique had seen her.

She was worried now, knowing that her Grandfather wanted her to keep it to one ability and they had decided kinetic explosions, taking a breath, she had decided to try and play it off, “I can manipulate energy, taking it or give it to someone else.” She had tried to explain away but Mystique was starting to see the similarities and starting to replace the hair and eye colors now.

“Please don’t–” she had started to say before Mystique had went and put a finger in front of her lips, touching them after she had remembered when the girl had touched her during the revival, “Don’t worry,” Mystique had told her, “You’re secret is safe with me.” she had said to her before seeing that there was the sound of a gunshot, hearing that, they looked to each other confused as Wolverine roared.

Irene had looked over to where he had torn apart another of them before she had went and realized that she had broken a rule, just like him and she didn’t think that anyone but Grandfather would be merciful on her, before she could do anything, Mystique had went and pulled the clothes away from her, “Let’s get rid of these.” she had told Irene, surprising her that a Councilmember would do that.

But Irene was not arguing, she was just lucky that it had happened and so had went and helped her, helping Mystique throw the uniform into the water when she saw something like a black eye on her face in the water, seeing this, Irene had glared towards that before she had looked over to Mystique, they had both went over to the scene, seeing as how Charles Xavier was now dead.

Seeing this in front of them, Irene had held Mystiques hand, surprising the woman, she was the second child to willingly hold her hand, and it was… confusing as she had looked down to the girl “Let’s get you back to Sinister.” she had went, leading her away from the death right now, Irene following her and wondering what was going to happen now that Xavier was dead.

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Bar Sinister, Krakoa

Irene had given a huff as she had went and entered Bar Sinister with her current little guardian, inside there was Her Grandfather who was looking worried and irritated, “Irene, there you are. I hope you stayed out of trouble./ Didn’t use your powers.” he had said with her knowing what he meant, “I didn’t.” she had went and lied towards him easily, having done it in the past.

He seemed to accept this, “Alright Irene, go to your room, me and Mystique had business to discuss.” he had told his granddaughter and she nodded, leaving, knowing that he was most likely not in the mood for her shenanigans, “Good night Grandfather.” she had went towards him before vanishing, making the two of them glare towards each other, “So she used her powers, did she?” Sinister asked Mystique.

“What did you do?” Mystique had demanded on him, ready to hurt him if she didn’t like the answer, Sinister had simply shrugged at that, “I did what I always do, I experimented.” Sinister had told her, “The ability to absorb energy and to convert potential energy into kinetic energy?” he told her, “You could imagine why I would attempt the combination.” he had told her.

Mystique had hated that, if she could get away with it, Raven would fire a trio of clips into the idiot before she made sure that any trace of him was erased from existence, but before she could even begin the plans to start this little scenario in her mind, Sinister had spoken up, “Alright, what do I need to do so that you won’t start to plan the murder you think I deserve?” Sinister had said.

Hearing that, Mystique had paused, thinking on that, “I want access to keep quiet about it to the public,” she had started, “And I want a favor in the future to not tell those two.” she had finished, hearing this, Sinister had thought on that, rubbing his chin before nodding, “Deal.” he had told her, the two shaking hands at that before they had come to an idea, “We will probably have to report to the council.”

As that, Mystique had looked up to the room that Irene had retreated to, “What about her, hearing that, he gave a shrug, “Irene is self-sufficient, she’ll probably play with the cat while we’re away.” he had told her, making Mystique look towards the room, giving a glare towards his parenting style before she had went and walked with him, the two of them splitting up to make sure no one knew what they talked about.

Meanwhile, Irene was playing with the cat, absorbing enough of its energy to gain the concussive laser eyes that had been given to it, as Irene had went to play with the power, she had started to look through the memories of the person that she had absorbed, they were quite violent and angry, the group XENO as they were called had made this person and made Irene a little sad.

She remembered what Sinister had went and taught her, making a box for them, suppressing it and storing it into a blood slide for her to examine, storing it with the clones that Grandfather had made for her to absorb, as she did as much, putting it into her mind box as she had started to call it before Irene had thought of something, getting up, Irene had went towards her Grandfathers computer.

She had easily turned it on, having know his passwords since he had went and accidentally gotten absorbed by her(As far as she knew), Irene had known every possible variation to his passwords that he could have changed it and as Irene had went and accessed it, The young mutant had went and opened up the drones that he had brought with him and were tracking every mutant he had an interest in.

Irene had flicked through all of the mutants that he was looking through, until eventually she had found the two that were for Rogue and Gambit or whatever numeration that her Grandfather had placed them under and had watched as they had continued towards Britain and as she had watched, Irene had gotten nervous as she had noticed that Rogue was still asleep.

It was disconcerting to say the least for the little girl as she had went and opened up the files that she had on the two of them, both Rogue and Gambit had been interests of hers since she had absorbed Grandfather and had realized the relationship between both her and the two of them, seeing them through the years of data recorded, Irene had disengaged her image inducer after locking the door.

It had helped her feel a little more connected to them as she had stared at them with her real eyes, she saw the first time that SInister had met Remy after a incident of Time Travel, sparking his interest in the young mutant when he had met again when Remy had asked for help on his mutant ability, reducing it to a manageable level as it were before making him create the Marauders latest iteration.

Looking through the files that Grandfather had on the King of Thieves, it was a interesting story that she loved to read through, it appeared almost like a story book, one of the few that Grandfather let her read, but Rogues, that one felt like one of the few he read to her, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, no one being truly good or evil with tragedy all around the main character, at least until Remy joined.

When he did, Irene saw it as a tale that she in her ten years of life(not counting the absorbed ones), could ever create, the way that the two of them had always orbited around each other, it made her smile, especially when she had discovered the camera footage of the wedding between Shadowcat and Colossus which had turned into the wedding between Rogue and Gambit.

Irene had nearly screamed in joy with the Banshee that she had absorbed, watching the two of them get married before they had went off planet and then Mojoworld, She had started to think of the day when she could go and greet them as herself instead of as the version that Grandfather had instructed her to be, with that, Irene pouted at that before remembering she had gotten a Cuckoo Clone.

She had went and astral projected like the Cuckoo could and saw them in real time, watching the group sail toward Britain, Irene had wanted to do something for them, anything at all, before she had recalled that project that Grandfather had been working on, with that in mind, Irene had went and pulled out one of the badges that they had been working on and hoped that this would be a pleasant gift for the couple.