Going Global

Ashley had been flown around a fair bit already, giving the same message to various people, sometimes in other languages. She had learned how to explain that Emma Frost was the listener's Queen, and they should do whatever she wanted, in the top 100 most spoken languages. Finally, the White Queen and Ashley were in front of the cameras, being broadcasted live throughout the world. Ashley had to talk for a long time, switching languages every now and then, and by the time she was finished, her throat was sore and her jaw was tired.

As Emma Frost took center stage, she psychically told Ashley to leave. "Since you tend to get headaches when you think about Phase Two, you should go backstage and relax at once." Ashley was grateful, since even the presence of her queen wasn't able to stop the headache this time. "I've prepared something special for you as your reward."

That was new, Ashley thought, her feet following the Queen's guidance to a door. She couldn't imagine what reward the Queen could give her that would make her any happier than serving her did. Her eyes snapped shut in response to a mental command from the White Queen too subtle for her to have noticed. She opened the door and stepped inside, awaiting her surprise.