During the next week, Professor Xavier worked with Ashby, helping her mind escape from the brainwashing of the Hand.
She lashed out at him, flying up to the observation window and banging her fist against it.
He sighed. "This isn't helping Ashby."
"Damn it. Don't you think I know that?" She glared at him.
"Go back to the floor and we will try again." He told her. She banged on the glass once more before falling to the ground at an alarming speed. At the last moment she stopped and landed, folding herself into a lotus position.
The door shushed open and Jean entered the observation room. "How are things going, Charles?"
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Slowly."
"Why don't you let me give it a try?" She offered.
He nodded. "Go ahead."
Jean entered the danger room, suited up in her uniform.
Ashby watched her with interest. "Ashby, do you remember me?"
"Jean Grey." Her eyes narrowed. "The mind witch."
"You're one to talk." Jean responded. "I'm here to help you."
"Oh good. More help. Just want I needed." Ashby said sarcastically. "Is there anyone else you'd like to send down here?" She said to Professor Xavier, looking up at the darkened window.
"If you're finished, we can get on with this." Jean watched the younger woman, her hands on her hips.
"Fine."
They sat down facing each other. Ashby placed her hands on top of Jean's and let herself find her way onto the astral plane.
//Jean?// She called to the other woman.
//In here.//
Ashby followed Jean's voice through a doorway. The room inside was bare, the only furniture a large purple trunk. Jean was sitting cross-legged on top of it.
//What is this?//
//Your mind.// Jean told her.
//I know that. I meant the trunk. It's never been here before.// Ashby knelt in front of it.
Jean leaned down and took a good look at the trunk. //Looks like we need a key to open it.//
Ashby checked her pockets. //No key.//
//What's through there?// Jean asked, turning and pointing at a door that had appeared in the back corner of the room.
Shrugging, Ashby got to her feet and went to the door. It opened as she approached. Stopping just short of going in, she turned back to Jean. //I can't see anything inside.//
Jean joined her at the door. Bright light spilled out from the room obstructing any view of what was within.
//Should we go in?//
//Can't hurt us, can it?// Ashby said and stepped inside. Jean followed her.
Once inside, the light faded and they could see what was happening. The two women watched as the younger Ashby was strapped to an altar. The young girl was screaming.
//That's me.// Ashby said quietly. Jean touched her shoulder in support.
A group of hooded men circled the child and began to chant. Matsuo Tsurayaba, leader of the Hand watched as the child aged from 9 to 12. The chanting stopped and the magic died.
"Why are you stopping?" He demanded.
"Honored Jonin, we can only do this slowly. Too quickly and she will not survive." One of the men stepped forward.
"How long will the process take?"
"Three days, Jonin."
Ashby turned away from the scene, tears streaming down her face. //I can't watch this. It hurts.//
Jean put an arm around Ashby as the scene faded. //Hurts how, love?//
//Inside. Like I'm still on that altar.//
The two women walked through several scenes. Ashby begin tortured, trained, and finally being sent on her mission. When the last scene faded, Jean noticed something glittering on the floor of the stark room.
//Ash, what's that?// She pointed it out to Ashby. Ashby knelt by the object.
//It's a key.// She picked it up and carried it back to Jean. A door appeared and they went through it. The room on the other side was the room they started in, the trunk still sitting in the middle of the room.
Fitting the key into the lock, Ashby turned it, unlocking the chest. Jean helped her lift the lid and they peered inside.
Images flooded out at them. They recognized other X-Men and the mansion. Ashby also recognized her parents and foster parents.
//There's so many holes.// Ashby declared morosely.
Jean laid a hand on Ashby's back for comfort. //It'll come back eventually.//
//I know.//
The women opened their eyes, back in the danger room.
"Are you alright?" Jean stretched and got to her feet, offering a hand to Ashby.
Working the kinks out of her neck, she nodded. "I think so."
"I'm going to go up and talk to Charles. Do you want to come with me?" Jean started for the door.
"I think I'm going to stay here, if that's alright."
Jean smiled. "Sure."
Logan watched Ashby fight against an unseen enemy, twisting and blocking. When she bowed to her nonexistent partner, he called down to her.
"Ya want something real ta fight against?"
She looked up at the observation window. "Yes, but I guess I'm going to have to settle for you."
"Ouch. That hurts darlin'." He turned off the intercom and went down to the entry to the danger room.
They sparred, neither pulling any punches. Logan grunted as her foot connected with his midsection.
"They taught ya some good moves darlin'." He swept his leg out but she tumbled over him, twisting in the air so she landed facing him. He blocked two more blows and followed them with one of his own. He struck her on the shoulder and again across the back. She fell to the floor, trying to catch her breath.
"Ashby darlin'? Ya alright? Did I hurt ya?" He dropped down next to her, all thoughts of the fight forgotten. Lightning fast, Ashby reached up and flipped Logan over her shoulder. Pinning his shoulders down with her knees, she sat lightly on his chest, her hand at his throat.
"Shouldn't let your guard down, Logan. I could have killed you."
"Maybe." He kicked his legs up, freeing his arms and unbalancing her. Twisting, he flipped them over so he was on top. "Maybe not." Smiling, he let her up. "You've been training awfully hard."
"When the time comes I want to be ready." She did a quick backflip. "They are going to come for me."
"I know darlin'. But you won't fight alone." He tossed her a towel. "Feel like dinner?"
"After a shower." She smiled. He nodded. "Everything feels so weird. Familiar but at the same time, alien. And there are so many blanks."
"We'll fill 'em in darlin'. Just give 'em time." He helped her up and led her to the door. "'Member, my memory's got more holes in it than Swiss cheese." Logan brought her up to her old room. Her room was on the front corner of the house, with two large windows overlooking the front yard area. Someone had placed a vase of fresh flowers on the dresser.
"Here's yer room." He opened the door and let her go past him so she could look around.
"I know, I think. It's the same but so, different." She wandered around touching things that had belonged to her when she was younger. "Thank you, Logan."
He smiled and gathered her into a hug. "I missed you darlin'." He held her tightly. "We didn't know if we'd ever see ya again. We looked everywhere we could before we had to leave Japan."
She nodded, swallowing hard, unwilling to cry. "I know. Do you think you could find some clothes for me? I'd like to change."
"Sure darlin'." He let her go reluctantly. "Don't go anywhere."
"I won't." She wandered to the open French doors. They led out onto a small terrace. She looked around the yard below her. A cool wind blew up around her and she shivered. "Definitely need some clothes." She muttered to herself as she went back inside.
"I don' know ch�re. Y' look belle in dose."
She squeaked in surprise. Gambit was lounging against the doorframe. "Th, thank you." She stuttered.
He laughed, his eyes roaming over her body. The pajamas were huge the sleeves rolled up to fit and her toes barely peeking out from under the rolled up legs of the pants. Despite the voluminous quality of her attire, he could see she had a nice figure, curved in all the right places. She squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Do you know who these pajamas belong to?"
"Oui ch�re." He smiled.
"Who? I'd like to return them after I wash them."
"Me. But, eh, you can keep dem. Dey look better on you anyhow." He blew her a kiss and left.
Logan appeared a moment later. "What'd Gumbo want?"
"Nothing. He's curious about me."
Logan shrugged. He didn't trust the ex-thief. "Well, I got a pair of jeans and some underthings from Jubilee, you'll meet her later, a T-shirt from me and a sweatshirt from Cyke. Bathroom's down the hall, on the right." He laid the clothes on a chair by the door and left.
Ashby stretched and picked up the clothes. She wandered down the hall in search of the bathroom. Pulling off the too big pajamas, she stepped into the warm water. She washed, taking extra time with her hair, enjoying the luxury of hot water and conditioner. When she was done, she dried off and changed into the borrowed clothes. The T-shirt was a very worn gray shirt with the school logo emblazoned on the front. It brought back fuzzy memories of her younger years as she slipped it over her head. The jeans were just her size, even the right length and the sweatshirt was a zipper front hooded one, warm and soft. Carefully folding the pajamas, She went back to her room. She set them on the bed and picked up a brush, running it through her hair, working out the knots. When she was done, she picked up her key from the dresser and went downstairs to find Logan.