Cosmic Kiss

Sean was on edge. Moira was her usual unflappable self but he could see cracks forming in even her iron façade. She was desperately worried about Armando and Charles and he couldn’t blame her. They hadn’t heard from either man in nearly 36 hours.

If that weren’t bad enough, he’d been keeping tabs on the news since the invaders arrived. Everyone was terrified. People were living in a panic state that couldn't go on much longer.

They and other governments had kept a tight lid on the fact that the Admiral was roaming the Earth as he pleased. They hadn’t informed the public about the ‘sample requests’ the Federation made every few days.

They tried to put a positive spin on things-that Earth had an ambassador that Earth was in friendly talks with the invaders, that a peace deal had been reached.

The news that Earth had surrendered had obviously been a hard pill for most to swallow. The realization that they were encompassed by an energy field that prevented any form of planetary self defense-and face it, that’s what it did-went down even worse. The whole world was a powder keg and he was worried that the ceremony would be the spark that set it off.

Sean was no fool. Stryker had been a loose cannon for years. He was the definition of a war hawk. He saw everyone as his enemy and he saw himself as the representative of the United States on the world stage. It would go entirely against his character to chance his tune now that they were dealing with a universal force.

Moira had joked that if he’d been elected president he could have found a reason to invade anywhere. Sean didn’t think it was much of a joke.

The worst part was that there were billions of people around the world who agreed with him. The entire world was on security lockdown. There was a tension in the air and the massive crowd gathered on the National Mall was very subdued. A sense of foreboding hung over everything, like the whole world was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

There were protestors-thousands of them- but they weren’t allowed in the parade route or on the grounds of the Mall.

Sean was a dedicated advocate of free speech but he could understand the caution the president was taking with not angering their cosmic overlords.

The protestors were getting plenty of play on the news, so at least they were still allowed the right to offend. He wished he could be on protest patrol, from what he was hearing over the CB they were a rowdy lot, keeping the agents and cops on their toes as they tried to break ranks and rush the Mall.

He could have used a bit of liveliness to take the creeping tension out of this scene. He checked the time, it was nearly time for the ceremony to start-actually it was past time but for some reason they were running late.

He’d hoped to see the other members of their team alive and well before the long day started. He could tell from Moira’s pursed lips that she was thinking the same.

~~

~Today ladies and gentlemen, liberty dies~

~We should have fought! We should have died for our freedom! What kind of life is this? Living as slaves to ‘benevolent’ masters?!~

~I always said this day would come!! I’ve told you time and again that our elected officials are in cahoots with the aliens and now you see!! You see that I was right, that they stand hand in hand with these monsters!! With these beasts from Mars! They’ve been planning this for decades! For centuries!! We are nothing to them but the scum beneath their feet!!~

~I’m happy they’re here. My son is alive because of their anti violence ray! They were going to kill him, they said he was gay and deserved it! I’ve never been so terrified! They broke down the door and had rope and axes-one of them had barbed wire! I yelled for them to stop and then they did. They fell down where they stood and my boy is alive!

So you think it was divine intervention?

Yes, these creatures are from heaven. They are benevolent and kind. I believe they are angels sent from above to help us~

~WE NEED TO NUKE THEM OUT OF ORBIT! IT’S OUR ONLY CHANCE TO WIN THIS! IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUR RESPONSE FROM THE MOMENT THEY ARRIVED!!~

~They’ve sold us out! The elites care nothing for the regular people! Do you think the royal family is worried about their kids being conscripted? Raped? Eaten? NO! They’re in on the gig! They’ve set themselves up to be the rulers of hell! Like the revolutions of old we must oust the ones who betrayed us! The streets will run with their blood then we, the people! The true citizens of Earth will rise up and declare our freedom!!~

~I’m not going to the ceremony but I’m definitely watching. Nothing has changed since they arrived-well, no bad changes anyway. So I’d rather just wait and see what they say. What they look like. What they have to offer, you know?

No bad changes?

They turned in all the bad guys and took away their weapons. There are no wars, there are no murders. I’d say those are good changes. Besides, when they cut they power they could have let all those planes crash and all the sick people die, right?

That’s true.

They must want us around for something and I want to know what.~

~This is a test sent by GOD! These creatures are unnatural! They are in league with the devil and if we sign on the line we sign on with the spirit of Anti-Christ! We forfeit our place in heaven to bask in the glory of GOD for all eternity! We cannot allow this to happen brothers and sisters! This is our call to action and we must all heed it! I will see you proud, god fearing patriots on the National Mall tomorrow to protest! To riot! To do whatever it takes to prevent this travesty from happening.~

~~

He switched off the radio. He’d heard enough. Most people were on his side, the fools that weren’t, that were hoping for a peaceful resolution to all this would fall in line or die alongside the traitors that had sold them out and surrendered like cowards.

This was it. Humanity’s last stand. He would rather die on his feet than live on his knees. Subservience to some intergalactic freaks was not an option. The government big wigs were happy to hand over the keys of power just to save a few lives and prevent a bit of bloodshed.

Squeamish pansies.

He’d overthrow these invaders through human ingenuity and prove to the world that they were better off with a real leader.

With him as their leader they would never be conquered again. He’d see to that. He would show mankind and all the universe that Earth was ready for another level of warfare the likes of which they’d never seen.

~~

“Lehnsherr”

“Shaw. What are you doing here?”

“You wound me, Lehnsherr. Am I not welcome to your induction ceremony?” He tilted his head and widened his colorless eyes.

“I’ve had several and you’ve never felt the need to turn up,” Erik all but growled.

“Ah but you’ve never set up a personal protectorate before. There must be something special about this little blue dot,” he said fondly.

Erik said nothing.

“And I wanted to meet your mate. Congratulations. I learned a new language just for you young man,” he turned gleaming opalescent eyes to Charles sending a cold shudder through his very veins.

This man felt…off. Like he was emanating a miasma of dread and doom. Charles felt off kilter but retained enough of himself to offer a polite smile and tip his head in a nod. “Thank you, Admiral.”

Shaw turned his attention back to Erik like looking away from him for even such a brief period of time was difficult. “I’m relieved that I made it on time. Just minutes to spare until the ceremony begins. Shall we head down? I’m eager to see our new colony, especially if the inhabitants are so very appealing. He flicked his eyes over Charles and gave Armando a lengthy once over that had Captain Summers bristling.

Erik grit his teeth, “Yes.” he turned to the deck officer. “Notify Earth of our arrival. Places everyone.”

He helped Charles onto the teleportation pad and showed him how to stand. Charles was grateful for the attention; it kept Shaw from trying to catch his eye.

He stepped past Charles just as Erik stepped a bit away to stand at his side, one hand placed on his shoulder. Shaw let the back of his hand brush against Charles’ knuckles. The touch ran through him like a jolt and he was subsumed with lust, desire, raw envy, and hatred. Only the last was directed at himself.

He sucked in a quick breath, trembling and trying to find his equilibrium. Erik sent him a worried look and then they were standing in a massive marble hallway at the Lincoln Memorial. Charles wondered at the irony of their Induction Ceremony being held here of all places.

“Are you alright?” Erik leaned into him, tilting his chin up gently with a concerned look.

“I-I’m fine. I just feel…strange.” Now wasn’t the time to try and figure out what was going on with him.

“It’s a big day. Stay close to me. We’ll head back to the ship as soon as I can manage,” Erik said for his ears only.

Charles had expected to feel nothing but relief to be back on Earth, but he could only feel a massive headache building behind his eyes and a huge surge of mixed emotions that made him feel nauseous in the extreme.

Frankly heading back to the ship sounded like heaven.

“Agent Munoz! Dr. Xavier!”

Then Moira was there, pulling him close in an entirely out of character embrace. She pulled back and did the same with Armando. Alex and Erik looked less than pleased but said nothing.

Charles turned to Sean and shook his hand feeling a jolt of happiness/fear/relief/anxiety as soon as they touched. He jumped in place, eyes wide.

Sean frowned, “Are you alright?” ~Is he about to pass out? He looks terrible~

Charles stepped back swallowing his gorge. He felt like a tidal wave of emotion was rushing towards him from a distance. A dull roar set up a steady buzz behind his eyes.

“Charles.”

He looked up to see Erik standing in front of him, a worried look on his face. “Erik.” he said softly, willing himself not to collapse. “I can’t…”

Then Erik placed a warm hand gently on the side of his neck and he was soothed. He fell into a peaceful quiet, a low hum of tenderness and warmth that flooded his entire being like a warm embrace.

“Are you alright?”

He sucked in a deep breath, this wasn’t about him. This was about Earth and he wouldn’t ruin this important event by falling ill. He was sure Erik would call it off last minute if he was worried about Charles.  "I’m fine, just nervous. I’ll feel better once we’ve started.” He tried for a reassuring smile.

He could see that Erik didn’t believe him, but thankfully he accepted his word and simply offered his arm so they could step out on stage together. They stepped into the weak sunlight and were swallowed by the roar of the massive crowd eagerly awaiting their arrival.

It was surreal, and if not for the reassuring strength of Erik at his side, he was sure he would have lost consciousness from the sheer swell of sound and emotion filling the air. He hoped he could make it through this without fainting.

~~

Charles was holding on by a thread. The ceremony was beautiful, amazing, and triumphant and he felt like he was burning down from the inside out. This was all too much to take.

He’d been announced as the Ambassador of Earth. He’d been cheered and feted. He’d shaken hands with the president and first lady. The queen and crown prince. Dignitaries from around the world had eagerly made his acquaintance and offered brief small talk as he and Erik made their way down the receiving line.

He was stunned to realize they were all seeking his favor. He glanced at Erik who frankly seemed bored by all the pomp and circumstance. Charles felt a chill run through him when it finally hit him that he outranked everyone here.

Everyone on Earth. He clenched his teeth and smiled, now was not the time for an existential crisis. They reached the end of the line and turned to wave at the millions of people watching-billions if he counted broadcast viewers.

What had he gotten himself into?

~~

Erik was pleased with the ceremony Earth had thrown. The humans had outdone themselves. He had been too many such ceremonies and been the person of honor at most of those, but this was one for the reels.

Earth’s governments had decided to treat the day as a massive celebration. It had been declared an international holiday. There had been parades and festivals around the world celebrating Earths induction to the Federation.

They had missed the DC parade down Constitution Ave that had ended just an hour prior. He made a mental note to watch it later on the reels. Charles had mentioned a fondness for parades. Perhaps they could watch it together.

There was a lively energy in the air that created a sort of shared sense of enjoyment. He wondered if he was more connected to humanity because of his bond with Charles. It was a novel experience.

He could easily see Earth becoming a popular vacation destination for Genoshians. The day would have been perfect if not for Shaw’s presence and Charles’ nerves. He tried to deflect as much attention from his charming mate as he could without seeming rude. Charles whispered his thanks with a weak voice. Erik couldn’t wait for this to be over so he could whisk him back to the ship for some much needed rest.

~~

There had been speech after speech. Now they were seated on the main stage while the Members of the Federation Science Corps made their presentation.

Fortunately he didn’t need to focus on what Hank and his colleagues were saying since he’d been given a preview of the show. He felt better now that he was off his feet and wasn’t the center of attention. Erik sat perfectly still beside him, one hand resting on Charles’ knee. He found he appreciated the contact. It soothed him and quieted the hum of his mind.

Hank-who’s appearance had been met with a dramatic gasp from all assembled- was expounding upon the amazing scientific advancements they were gifting Earth.

They had found a way to improve soil and accelerate crop growth which spelled and end to world hunger. They had a proven, developed method of cleaning the ocean that would commence immediately. They even had the ability to resurrect extinct animals, pending requests by Earth’s scientists.

They were shifting factory farming off world onto a massive space station that would replicate Earth’s atmosphere and gravity to save the watersheds and reduce greenhouse emissions. They would also be able to regulate how the animals were treated and killed.

They had several processes to provide clean water to every society on Earth. They were willing and eager to work with Earth’s governments  to tailor the process as needed.

Hank returned to his seat next to Raven- who looked exactly like Mystique except she wore her hair in long, red curls that fell nearly to her waist. She was beaming with pride that Charles could practically feel-even across the stage.

They were followed by representatives from the Medical Corps who proudly announced cures for several diseases and disorders including many cancers such as leukemia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. Auto immune diseases including HIV/AIDS and lupus. And major killers like heart disease and kidney failure. They even offered help with infertility to name but a few.

They were looking for volunteers for their treatments for brain and mental disorders like Alzheimer, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, dementia, and delusional disorders. They had treatments but were looking for a cures.

The audience went wild. Charles felt tears fill his eyes; he placed his hand over Erik’s and gave it a light squeeze. “Thank you,” he whispered. Erik gave him a small smile and lightly tapped his knee in response.

Then something happened that Charles hadn’t been privy to. Another member of the Science Corps-one he hadn’t met- approached the podium. Charles glanced at Erik who was looking very pleased with himself.

The hulking scientist spoke through a pair of hefty tusks in a surprisingly mellow tone. He talked about the concern with Earth's population and how the advancements they’d already presented promised healthy, extended life spans for most people on Earth.

Overpopulation would rapidly become a serious issue.

Charles felt his heart stop. Were they going to ask for volunteers to go to Genosha? Were they going to cull portions of the population? He tensed.

“That’s why we’re proud to announce that we have shifted the orbit of your sister world which is now poised to become Earths first colony. With help from humanity, we will turn Venus into a second home for mankind.”

The crowd sat in stunned silence for several seconds before it exploded in a wave of excited emotion and thunderous applause. Charles felt himself tearing up again. This was a wonderful surprise that Erik had kept from him. He found he didn’t mind.

After the crowd finally managed to settle down, Weapons Technology made their presentation. Erik seemed irritated by the fact that they were presenting toys to the people of Earth, but Charles had agreed that they would be a huge hit, right up there with the wine chasers.

So they presented fully functional energy blasters modeled after Star Trek. They could only lightly shock an opponent but were great fun to mess around with-they also worked even with the violence deflector in place. They went hand in hand with the Light Sabers Weapons Tech had also produced.

The crowd cheered and laughed at the final presentation and Erik pretended not to notice one of his head engineers trying to catch the eye of a petite human woman with dusky skin and a thick black plait down the middle of her back.

Erik liked to end gift ceremonies on a lighter note and that certainly did it.

He stood, offering his hand to Charles so they could approach the podium as one. He waited for the applause to die down before he began speaking.

“Thank you all for the wonderful welcome you’ve given us. You live on a beautiful world that has captured my hearts.” He gave Charles a soft look as he said it, causing a buzz of speculation to ripple through the crowd. Charles desperately hoped he wasn't blushing.

“Humans are one of the most fascinating species we have ever encountered and I am proud to call this wonderful place my own. Your people are now my people and Earth is now my home. You are now members of the Intergalactic Federation. If they so desire, your children and your children’s children will explore the stars as members of the galactic fleet. This is an exciting time, not only for you but for the Federation as a whole. I know that you’ve faced many changes in the weeks since we arrived but in that time I’ve learned that humans are brave, strong, and resilient. You’ll do well within our ranks I have no doubt of that.  Now, you may wonder what is being asked of you in return for these gifts.”

The crowd was silent, a nervous edge clouding their minds. This was all too good to be true; they were waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Erik continued briskly “The only thing we ask is that you keep an open mind and accept us as we accept all of you. Over the course of the next few years you will see many life forms that may seem unusual to you but will soon appear commonplace.

We are happy to welcome you into our midst and are very pleased that you have chosen to offer us the same courtesy. I hereby welcome you, the good citizens of Earth, into the Intergalactic Federation.” His words were met with another extended round of applause. They stepped from behind the podium and bowed and waved to crowd. Charles smiled widely and grasped Erik's hand, leading to more enthusiastic cheers. Erik was glad their part in the ceremony was over and was ready to lead Charles back to their seats when-

WHHHOOOOMM a sudden shock rocked the audience off its feet, Erik braced himself and caught Charles as he nearly fell to the stage. He locked wide eyes with his frightened mate but before he could soothe him-

“WE WILL NOT BE ENSLAVED!” a man shouted from the fringes of the crowd. Then all hell broke loose.