UNYIELDING X-MEN #2
RECOVERING PART 2
By:Chris"TheMtVernonKid"Bennett
Previously…
Rogue along with Pixie,Gentle and Surge venture into the former Morlock Tunnels to pay their respects to the horror which was known as the ,deep in the tunnels a new community has occupied the tunnels. Rogue and her young companions are amazed to see that among the community are 6 young mutants. Sadly,the peaceful time turns to horror when another massacre happens and the six young mutants are gone. One clue that Rogue knows for sure is the Marauders are involved now the hunt is on.
Manhattan,New York:
Rogue,Gentle and Surge wait near the tunnel entrance,pixie returns.
Rogue: Gwen how's Jean?
Pixie:She suffer a concussion but she'll be fine doctors say they'll keep her overnight.
Surge: That's good but we need to find the Marauders and….
Rogue: Easy now y'all forget we're X-Men. This is not about revenge Noriko.
Surge: I know Rogue I'm just…
Gentle: (places his hand on Surge's shoulder) We're all worried about the kids,Noriko.
Pixie: (pointing up) Look guys!
The group looks up and they can see a familiar jet coming in.
Surge: The Blackbird!
The jet descends and the rest of Rogue's team arrive Warpath,Psylocke,Sunspot,Magma,Shatterstar,Hepzibah and Mimic.
Psylocke: Pixie filled us in.
Warpath: Are there any survivors?
Rogue: Only one James Gwen took her to the hospital.
Magma: And we're sure it's the Marauders?
Gentle:That's the description Jean gave us .
Rogue: That's right and she described,Scalphunter.
Hepzibah: So what's our plan,Rogue.
Rogue: We find clues and we track them down.
The team ventures back into the tunnels and return back into the scene of the crime.
Sunspot: My God why did they do this?
Shatterstar: (studying a body) This was done by a mini gun guys.
Warpath: Definitely,Scalphunter m.o
Mimic: Guys over here!
The team approaches Mimic and he directs the team to a small opening.
Hepzibah:Do you hear that.
Mimic:Hear what?
Hepzibah: Crying. Someone is crying.
Rogue: Crying? There's another survivor y'all.
Psylocke:(using telepathy) Yes it's true someone is down there.
Rogue: Betsy can you see the person.
Psylocke:Yes. I see a little girl she's scared so scared.
Pixie:Little girl? That's Tammy!
Psylocke: I see. It's your call Rogue.
Rogue approaches opening in the wall and calls out to the young mutant girl.
Rogue: Tammy...Tammy. It's Rogue ,darling remember me? Tammy ah know you're scared but it's alright. Please,hon can you come out?
The X-Men wait patiently and a few minutes later the little mutant girl appears the first person she sees is Rogue.
Rogue: Come on darling.
Tammy:(wiping tears away) Everyone is gone.
Rogue picks up the little cat mutant and carries her away.
Pixie:I'll take her Rogue.
Rogue hands Tammy over to Pixie.
Pixie: Come on. Close your eyes don't look okay.
Rogue: Take her back to the blackbird.
Psylocke: Rogue I read hear mind she saw it. The Marauders are involved. And you know where that leads too.
Warpath: Sinister.
Magma:What I want to know is how the got in here without someone noticing (pointing). The entrance is there and there's nowhere else.
Suddenly a flash of light appears and a medium man appears, he was bald had tattoos all over his arms. He seemed to be looking for something. However he was surrounded my Rogue and her team.
?:The X-Men!
Rogue: Who are you?
?:Please don't hurt me I've done nothing.
Warpath grabs the man by the throat.
Warpath:We asked you a question? Now talk!
?: Pl….ease I...ca...n't b….reathe
Hepzibah touches Warpath on the shoulder. Warpath releases the man.
Rogue: Ah say again who are you?
?: My name is Darius.
Psylocke:Why are you here?
Darius: I came here to find.
Surge:He's looking for Tammy. Aren't you!
Darius: Whose Tammy?
Mimic: He's playing us for fools.
Darius: No!I don't know anyone named Tammy.
Rogue: Betsy.
Psylocke reads his thoughts.
Psylocke: Hm..interesting I see someone has mental blocks. What are you hiding ?
Before Psylocke could complete her task. Hepzibah alerts everyone.
Hepzibah: Everyone look here a secret entrance.
Gentle: That would explain how the Marauders got in here.
Surge: What about this Darius guy? I don't trust this guy he just pops up out of no where?
Psylocke: I agree with Noriko. I saw his thoughts he has some impressive mental blocks Rogue. We can let this guy go.
Rogue: Maybe ah should take a crack at him.
Mimic: I don't think that's a good idea.
Psylocke: I agree no telling what would happen.
Rogue: You're right can't take chance.
The X-Men ponder what to do with Darius.
Rogue: We can't let this block our objective. Hepzibah you Warpath,Shatterstar,Gentle and Surge investigate the passage.
Hepzibah: We're on it.
Rogue: Stay in touch y'all.
Surge: Right.
As the five members depart and enter the passage Rogue and the rest stay behind.
Rogue: We'll catch up but first we need to honor these people with a proper burial. Amara gonna need your help.
Magma:My pleasure.
The remaining X-Men gathered all the bodies the could while Magma used her powers to create a huge grave. Once she was finished burning a big enough hole,Rogue and the other buried the the slain citizens in the huge hole.
Rogue: (praying over the grave) Ah promise. We promise we'll find the one who did as for you ah don't know who or where you came from.
Darius: Please I know nothing.
Psylocke:Sure you don't. I'm taking him bad to the blackbird.
Rogue: Be careful Betsy.
Psylocke: Aren't I always let's move . (whispers in his ear) And if you like of running you don't want to know what I'll do to you.
Psylocke escorts Darius back up to the Blackbird.
Mimic:Now we catch up the others right.
Rogue: Right
MEANWHILE IN THE SECRET ENTRANCE
Surge:Any sign Warpath?
Warpath: (Reading tracks) By the looks of these track I said they've been through here less than an hour ago.
Hepzibah: I agree and I smell gunpowder.
Shatterstar: Then they can't be too far.
The team travels further into the tunnel until it's opens to a clearing. As soon as the team steps they are greeted with gunfire. The team takes cover.
Warpath: Damn! I didn't that everyone okay?
Gentle: We're fine! Who's shooting at us?
Shatterstar:I can see! It's him Scalphunter!
Scalphunter:(shooting his mini gun) So the X-Men are here! You always playing the heroes!
Hepzibah: We must move Surge go!
Surge: I'm on it!
Surge shots off like a bolt of lightning she runs so fast Scalphunter can't lock on. While Scalphunter is distracted the other move in.
Scalphunter: Damn,electric speedster! However,I did a little remodeling.
Scalphunter pulls out a detonator and pulls it. The ceiling explodes and cause a cave in.
Warpath: look out!
The X-Men are buried under rock.
Scalphunter: So long X-Men…
Will the X-Men survive? Who is Darius? See you next time.
To Be Continued