First X-Men fic, yay! I'm a huge X-Men fan, and have decided to try a story featuring some of my own OC's. Takes place after X3, focuses mainly on Storm and Wolverine (future RoLo?). First chapter doesn't give much, but should I continue with the story? I love any and all feedback!
The cold, metal floor stretched for another hundred feet before them until it was met by a door. A tall, vault-like door that held so many secrets behind it. Continuing down the dimly lit hallway, Logan stopped just a few feet in front of it.
"Wolverine, what is it?"
Logan however didn't hear the question, as he focused his enhanced senses. He heard the usual mechanic buzz of distant computers. Smelt the overpowering stench of some sterile cleaner or another. Felt the easy vibrations of working machines underneath his feet. But then there was something else. Something hidden behind these other noises. A faint drip, then another drip, followed by a shallow breath. Memories came crashing back into his mind. He clenched his fist, and then turned to the woman standing beside him.
"Storm, I don't think they just have computers and papers here. There's somethin' past that door that ain't a machine."
"Are you sure? Beast did a lot of research and snooping. He discovered no traces of live mutant experimentation…"
"I'm sure," Wolverine growled with disgust.
Ororo pondered Logan's claim. If this facility was actively experimenting on mutants, then the tables had just been turned.
Beast had done a thorough thermal scan of the facility before Storm and Wolverine had entered it. It showed the building that housed the desired files was slightly empty of life, save for what they assumed were four guards. Three of those guards had already been silently taken down. The facility itself was just a small research front, where Beast had suspected the mutant terrorist group known as Volatile housed their collected research. The building of which Storm and Wolverine now occupied was thought to be housing the known research on the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. Storm feared that if the terrorist group did have any strong research on the Institute, then they would also have a plan on what to do with it. Volatile was a large collection of anti-mutant hell raisers that weren't afraid to kill hundreds of innocent mutants. They'd already committed crimes that allowed them to claim the murders of twenty-one mutants, and the X-Men now had a right to intervene and had no plans on allowing the number of deaths to rise. As Storm had claimed at the last team meeting, there would be no more bloodshed at the hands of ludicrous monsters.
Ororo was pulled from her thoughts as she saw Logan move to the door. A single blade slid from his fist, and he slipped it into the narrow space between the two door panels.
"You ready darlin'? I don't smell no one else in there."
"Ready as I'll ever be," Ororo replied, taking a deep breath. She focused her mind back on the mission: attain the files. She doubted there was a mutant behind that door, but if there was, then they would not touch it but instead take note of it for later. It was best to stay quiet for now, off the radars of the government and Volatile.
Logan used the strength that came easily to him and pushed the metal doors open. He took a few steps into the room and stopped, his amber eyes scanning the scene before them. Ororo walked up beside him and drew in a breath. In the center of the room stood a large, cylinder tank that stretched from floor to ceiling. Incased in the mint green colored water of the tank was a girl. Ororo guessed she was no older than twenty, her young face seeming at rest with her eyes closed and shallow, slow breathing. A mask covered her mouth, no doubt an oxygen mask. Black tresses of hair floated around her face, giving the effect of a doll that had peacefully floated to the bottom of a lake. She wore only a small black tank top and black shorts, with wires and needles sticking out of her arms and torso.
"This ain't right, 'Ro" Logan growled from next to her. However, Ororo didn't seem to hear as she walked up to the tank and placed her hand on the chilled glass, her eyes focused on the girls face. Tendrils of cold air floated around the tank, chilling Ororo to the bone. She stood there for a few minutes, not saying a word. Logan just watched, unsure of what to do.
"This child…there is something about her Logan…she doesn't belong here…"
It was a faint whisper, but Logan easily picked it up with his hearing.
"Storm, is this really the best choice? Let's get the files and get out of here, we shouldn't raise any alarms."
"The Wolverine, being the logical one? Hmmm, the school really has done something to you," she said with a slight smirk, stepping back from the tank. However, as she turned back to Logan, she glimpsed something from the corner of her eye. She turned back around to see that the girl in the tank now had her eyes open. They were a captivating violet, but were then quickly replaced as her eyes filled sparkling silver. Ororo staggered back to stand next to Logan, the two of them just staring at the girl. The room then filled with the eerie sound of cracking glass. Logan growled and extended his claws, but Ororo remained transfixed on the tank. The glass was cracking slowly, water starting to leak out and pool on the floor. In one quick burst, the whole tank crumbled to the floor, glass shattering everywhere. The girl fell to her knees in the pool of water. There were a few moments of complete silence.
"Hey kid, you alright?" Logan finally asked, taking a step forward.
"We aren't here to hurt you, we are X-Men. We help and protect mutants like you," Ororo stated, staying where she was. The girl remained still.
"We…need to…get out of here…now," the girl said breathlessly, bringing her head up. Her eyes still blazed the intense silver, but this time there was a hint of violet to them. Her brows were knotted in anger, her jawline tight.
As if on cue, there was a low rumbling as the ground below them started to shake.
"That's our cue 'Ro, lets go!" Logan growled, turning back towards the door.
"What of the files? And the girl?!"
"I'll be out in a minute," the girl said as she got to her feet. "Go!" she yelled, turning and running to the other side of the room and disappearing through a smaller wooden door.
"Do we follow her?" Ororo asked, turning to Logan.
"Nope, main exit is this way darlin'. We better go, I think this place is gonna blow. Bet it's a goddam trap! I bet there's not even anything in these cabinets," Logan said, running to a cabinet and jerking it open. Every drawer was empty. Rage filled his body at their stupidity for thinking it would be this easy.
"Let's go Logan!" Ororo yelled, already standing in the doorway. He ran over and together the two of them sprinted from the room and back down the empty hall. An alarm started to blare throughout the emptiness. Rounding the final bend, the two were met with a dozen guards. Wolverine wasted no time in extending his claws and taking to slashing at the one closest. Ororo took a deep breath and summoned some gale force winds in the small space, sending a few of the guards flying backwards into the others. As she was about to let out a few small bursts of lightning, another dozen guards rounded the corner. Logan let out a feral growl and flung the lifeless and bloodied body of a guard to the floor. Crouching down and ready to pounce, he noticed the change of expression on the guards faces. What was determination a minute ago was now utter fear. Logan turned and saw the girl running towards them, her hands…on fire?! He watched as the girl swiftly lifted her palms, red and silver balls of fire spouting out and racing for the oncoming guards. Logan lunged across the hall, grabbing Ororo around the midsection and dropping them down to the floor as the large balls of fire whizzed by just over their heads. His arm still around Ororo, he bounced up and helped her to her feet, watching as the fire made contact with the guards and sent them flying into the walls. Not one was left standing.
"Sorry," came a soft voice. Logan turned just as the girl ran past him with…was that…a leopard at her heels? He blinked but it was still there, running at her same pace. Reaching the farthest wall, the girl stopped.
"I don't think we have time to find an exit," she said, balling her hands into fists. A blazing silver fire erupted in her hands. Laying her hands on the bare metal wall, the intensity of the flames increased. Metal started to melt away beneath her touch, and in a minute she had made a decent sized hole that they could all jump through. Not waiting another minute, the girl slipped through the hole, the leopard right behind her.
"Guess we're followin' her then," said Logan, hopping through the hole. Ororo followed behind him and was instantly greeted by the cold air of the night. Summoning the winds, she lifted herself into the air. Logan took off at a run, still following the girl as they ran through the empty field. Ororo followed above him, gliding on the winds. As they reached the edge of the field, the girl stopped, resting her back against a large pine tree. Logan stopped as well and Ororo eased herself to the ground next to him. At the sound of increased rumbling, they all looked to the small cluster of buildings and watched as there was a moment of silence followed by a loud BOOM. Debris and smoke flew into the once still night sky. Flames encompassed the compound, the buildings burning to the ground.
Logan whistled and turned to the girl. As he was about to say something, the girl gasped and collapsed to the ground. The leopard seemed to faint as well, as it staggered and fell down next to the girl.
"This kids got a lot o' explain' ta do," Logan stated, stooping and picking the girl up. "Take her back to the mansion, 'Ro?"
Ororo mulled the question over in her head. What else were they to do with her?
"Yes, let's put her and her…leopard…in the Blackbird and get out of here. I'll call Hank as soon as we leave."