Benefit Concert
by Rhona
The concert hall was littered here and there with people; X-People. The students from Xavier's school, Sean's group and X-Factor were already there, as well as a few unrecognized by the two X-groups, X-Men and X-Force.
The sign out front read, Benefit Concert for the Gifted. On stage were several 'kids' -- some from Generation X, and others unknown -- dancing to the latest pop song, Ride That Train.
When they finished, six of the unknown 'kids' remained on stage, while others picked up instruments and joined them. "This is a sound check, people," Sean's voice came over the P.A.
A dark-redheaded girl with a headset nodded her reply and cued the musicians to begin. The song was Celine Dion's All Coming Back to Me Now. Their voices were beautiful and virtually flawless.
The second song was almost a solo. The girl with the headset moved to the microphone stand, pushing the head mike back, and began to sing, Unbreak My Heart, by Toni Braxton. She was flawless, and brought out the emotion from her audience. The large screen behind her showed pictures of people now lost to the world. There was barely a dry eye in the place at the song's end. Then, she began to Alanis Morissette's Head Over Feet, and their spirits picked back up again.
Jubilee began to grow irritated at the slow selection. "Can't they do anything but ballads?"
The lead singer smiled wryly, adjusting the head mike with a raised eyebrow in Jubilee's direction. A slow rhythmic beat began. It was Alia's If Your Girl Only Knew. From that, they went into No Doubt's Spider Web, En Vogue's Never Gonna Get It, and finished with Alanis' You Oughta Know.
"Is that better, Jubilation Lee?" the lead singer asked with all the amount of sarcasm as there had been attitude in Jubilee's voice.
"Yeah," Jubilee whispered, sliding down into her chair from embarrassment at being singled out.
There was a ripple of laughter throughout the hall. "OK, people, to your places for a run-through of the whole show." Sean's voice was bright as everyone ran to their places.
Before they could start, someone popped in an old Adam Ant tape, and started the song Goody Two-Shoes. The redhead grabbed Sean's hand and began to do the Jitterbug with him.
After they were done, Sean shook his head with a broad smile on his face, shaking a finger at her. "OK, no more games."
"Sure, Sean, whatever you say," she purred, then began the first number.
The X-Men approached him as the others performed. "Who are they, Sean?" Scott asked.
"Who?" he inquired.
"The girls and the band," he clarified.
"Sweet Sensation," Sean replied. "Friends and acquaintances of Charles Xavier." He smiled.
"You're kidding, right?" Bobby asked. "They're too young."
"Well, do you remember a young girl that Moira brought when you all first arrived? She was almost ten at the time, and wiped out the danger room with a single word?" He turned to the stage. "Serina, could you come down here?"
She nodded, and began approaching them. "No way," Hank stated. "I heard she was a genetic specialist with the department of Disease Control."
"She is," Sean replied.
"Yeah, Sean? What do you need?" She turned to face them. "Hello, Warren, Jean, Scott, sorry if I missed the wedding. Bobby, Hank," she purred.
"There's no way," Bobby restated.
"No way what, Robert?" she asked, smiling wryly.
"She's be about twenty-two or twenty-three now," he answered, disbelieving. "You're only about sixteen."
"And how old were you when you saw her? Thirteen, fourteen? She was ten years old and I'll be twenty-three in April," she replied smugly. "Looks are deceiving, aren't they? Feel old, yet?" she smiled sarcastically.
"But if you're her, she's a genealogist, not a performer," Beast stated.
"Had to do something to pay my way through school," she replied.
"I t'ink you missed your true callin', petite," Gambit replied.
"Mercí, monsieur. But I feel I can accomplish more with my day job," she smiled. "You're new."
"Ouí," he smiled flirtatiously.
"I'm only doing this to benefit the cause," she said, giving a sideways glance to Sean. "I'd taken a leave of absence to do a tour."
"The proceeds are going to the gifted fund. It aids mutants and exceptional people with their needs. Schooling, housing, medical aid, etc," a beautiful Japanese girl explained as she approached. "Hello, I am Onjya."
"A Neurospecialist," Serina beamed with pride. "Bail," she added.
"Bail?" Logan questioned.
"Yeah," Sean began. "She spoke to Val, and if she can come up with enough, she can help Xavier with the Feds."
"You're kidding," Scott stated flatly.
"No," she replied flatly back. "Already done two shows, small trouble, earned $120,000. Last year's tour earned two hundred thousand, just for college grants, and one hundred thirty-thousand dollars for the Legacy Virus alone."
"Then sixty-five million for medical purposes, and one hundred eight million for homeless and housing," a second redhead added. "Names MacGreggor, Moryella MacGreggor," she smiled.
"Specialist in diseases of the blood and genetics," Serina added.
"Dr. MacGreggor, Dr. Yashida and Dr. MacPhearson, " Betsy commented.
"Beth!" Serina exclaimed, same as Moryella. Onjya nodded. The four hugged. "How the hell have you been?"
"Busy," Betsy replied. "Got your letters, though."
"Same here," Serina replied. Then, seeing the others staring in bewilderment, she said, "School together."
"Off and on for the better part of eight years," Moryella added.
"And lots of finals," Betsy put in.
"You mean this is your old roommate?" Warren asked.
"Guilty," Serina smiled. "Don't tell me, he's the one you wrote about."
"Guilty," Warren chuckled, blushing slightly.
"This girl is so amazing." Sean began to inform the others of Serina's accomplishments. "She had Ph.D.'s in Archeology, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry...."
"If you're going to start bragging, I'm leaving," Serina stated flatly. "I failed Ego 101," she chuckled. "'Sides, I have work ta do." Her voice gave way to a slight Scottish brogue.
