The X-Men Episode Three

"Sentinel Island pt. 2"

"The X-Men vs the Super-Mutant"

By Maru Tamehana (First Draft, 21/6/2019)


The X-Men investigated a mysterious signal on a previously unknown island, only to find themselves captured by Sentinels, and now will apparently become the latest guinea pigs of a sinister mastermind.


CHAPTER ONE

CAPTIVE MUTANTS and STRYKER


Research lab X3-23.

Tuesday, 4:23 AM…

They were all held in capsules – each individually designed to hold them. It was obvious that they were expected, or at least that the people here had been prepared.

The massive Sentinels had surprised them with gas – Rogue only had time to knock the block off one of them before she too was caught and overwhelmed. Mutant or not, none of them were immune to the gases' effects.

It seemed Stryker was still continuing his experiments, but this time, he had help. They had known for some time that the man who once ran the program that created Wolverine, i.e. "Weapon X", had been looking for outside help. And he got it from those who utterly loathed anything to do with mutants, which was quite an impressive feat in itself, if baffling.

"Looks like we're the latest guinea pigs, boys and girls," Wolverine said, grunting and he strained against the steel bolts and shackled pinning him to his prison. The cages were all protected by force-fields, naturally – except for Cyclops'. Whatever they had used to armour the Sentinel was also used to create a shell for his cage. He could only hear the others.

For Cyclops, this felt particularly symbolic for him. Jean was unconscious, he had been helpless as he watched them douse her with gas again, so he could not rely on her telepathic aid.

The only guards were the giant Sentinels, stone-faced and expressionless, as the scientists observed their latest experiments. The X-Men said nothing, and eventually the scientists left, presumably to return another time.

They tried, in various ways to escape. But they found themselves confounded, like ordinary mortals. "Boy, I'm really out of shape," Havoc complained, trying to lift his legs up over the ring. Others made similar complaints.

"When we get back, I'm putting you all through trials," Cyclops told them. They made sounds of disgust at that.

The Sentinels bent down, peering at them like giants at their toys. "Hello, X-Men," a voice interrupted them. It was Stryker again.

(*)

Stryker had come and gone, and left only a mocking message that they would be there for a while. He had all sorts of plans for the X-Men, it seemed. He had let them keep their costumes, and even Scott's visor, which surprised him – although he quickly found it was useless in any case.

But inside the tank, although they were separated, Scott wasn't entirely alone. The gas had come and he had sunk into a dream.

He seemed to be caught in that astral plane again. The girl winked at him and then ran away. Disappeared, more like.

Jean must be reaching out to him with her subconscious somehow. He flexed his wrists, testing for any movement. The cuffs were pretty tight – these guys didn't play coy.

"That's very sweet, Scott, but you can't protect me against the universe, you know," she pinched his cheek.

The memory came back to him, and he couldn't tell if it was more a memory or more the dream.

I can sure try – he had thought to himself.

They seemed to be some sort of sewers – but they stretched away infinitely in every direction, he couldn't see the end of it, even through his red-tinted visor.

A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he took the visor off. And blinked.

No optic blast.

It was like a cool wind to his face. He didn't even remember the last time he had been able to do this. With Jean, maybe. But this time he was just standing out in the open – normal. In a dream.

It was… was this normal? He laughed. He could see everything with normal eyes, sort of, but everything was warped and dream-like – hardly an improvement.

He shook his head, and put the visor back on. Dream or not, this was no time to break good habits. If his optic vision came back, he didn't want to be taken by surprise. It was dumb, he thought, his powers couldn't protect him in a dream, but even in a dream world he didn't want to be without his defense. It'd be like dreaming he had no arms or legs. Even if it was only psychological, well… this was a psychological realm. He didn't have Jean's gifts.

It seemed to him he could see things, were those the guards? They didn't seem aware of him as he came closer. He looked over the shoulder of one, and although it was blurry and almost nonsense, he recognized the security panel. It seemed like the one that would unlock their cages, and probably the room too.

He didn't know how well he could trust it, but this dream thing was as close to seeing as he could with his eyes shut – Jean must be guiding him somehow if there was any truth to it. Even in her unconscious state she could be reaching out to him.

He wasn't a psychic like Jean or Xavier, but he did have one thing, and that was love. And force of will.

(*)

"Do you enter everyone's rooms this way?" the voice was amused.

"If only Xavier knew how you were spending your time prowling around looking into boys' bedroom."

She stiffened. "Don't tell him!" She just realized the Professor might not let her back in the Danger Room, not even to watch! It's not like she meant any harm, it was just a lot easier than using the door. He might confine her to the girls' quarter for the rest of the week or something. Probably tell Storm on her. It made her cross.

"Idaho… uh… Marcus? What's the belt for?"

His eyes flashed for a second, then he smiled and shrugged. "Guy's got to have secrets."

What?! She put her fists on her hips. "That's what girls say," she poked a finger at him.

"So? Why should you have all the fun?"

"Ah-" she stalled on that one.

She suspected it was some secret thing to do with his family now. Maybe there were pictures of them in it. Or maybe it was a secret tool-kit. Unless it was something the Professor or Beast made to help control his powers. She'd ask them. She felt a moment's hesitance, but then shrugged to herself. What harm could it do?

(*)