Part 18: Epilogue 1

Channel 5 morning news at 10.

The Golden Gate bridge has just reopened for traffic. CalTrans inspections have deemed the bridge safe for use. The freak lightning storm that closed the Golden Gate last night apparently cause significant cosmetic damage to the top of the north tower but did no structural harm.

Traffic was backed up for miles as all traffic was routed from the 101 to the 580 San Rafael Bridge. Kevin Morten is on location at...

Part 18: Epilogue 2

Note found taped to Peter's door that morning:

Goodbye.

I have things I must do and I can no longer remain here.

I will return once they are done.

Thank you for your love. It means more then I can express, more then I am able to express.

Part 18: Epilogue 3

Where did all the energy go? Somewhere and somewhen a crack oh so briefly happened in the confinement of the Elder Gods. They could not escape but two things did. Witchfire was free but found herself missing the Beatrix Medallion, and most of her abilities as a result. The Beatrix Medallion also escaped, scattered somewhere and somewhen in space and time.

The nature of the Beatrix Medallion meant that it was completely untraceable by any means. It could only be found, never located.

Paradox averted. Future actions set in motion.

But that's another story.

Part 18: Epilogue 4 (after the re-launch of the New Mutants)

Hank, Emma, Scott, and Logon were in a conference room. Hank was speaking.

"Well, her medical readings and physiological profile are all rock steady. Heck almost flat line on the stress measurements. The imminent emotional meltdown of a few days ago appears to be gone as if it never was. The brain scans are no longer a sea of red, although the patterns are still not baseline human norms. However her emotional responses are now very minimal on the brain scans; it's like her emotional centers are atrophied or damaged".

Login had a look of tired disgust on his face, "That's because we're too late Hank. From what I can smell that meltdown, if it happened, happened years ago for her. We've lost the chance to help her grow into something other then what she was. She's acclimated all right, but as something I don't think is very nice".

Hank agreed "Something I fear is quite true based upon my dialogs with her. Before I saw a scary young woman who was filled with fears over her actions and what she was capable of, now I see just a scary young woman".

Emma asked the question that needed to be asked "So, do we let her stay"?

Scott answered "Do we have much of a choice"?

Logan got up to leave "We always have a choice Bub, which is more then I think she may have had for much of what's happened to her. Still need to give her a chance to be better then she is. My vote is yes".

Hank got up to leave as well "I vote yes as well".

Emma coolly gave her answer "I vote no for the record. She's a danger".

Scott "Yes, but I want her under consoling three times a week with you Hank and once a month with Emma".

Emma sarcastically stated, again for the record.

"Well then I guess it's welcome to the X-Men Magik, I hope we survive the experience".