Chapter Two A City in Peril

The gun gave a quiet click as the ammo clip was shoved into the awaiting pistol, Alice spinning in midair, firing off the newly reloaded handgun. The bullets tore through the rotting flesh of her pursuers, their moans sickeningly loud in the silence of the night, in the silence of the deserted city. A daring opponent rushed at her, easily dispatched with a hop and kick to the head with her combat boot, it's head smashing hard against the pavement. She was trained to fight, to survive. Of course her 'creators' never knew she would be fighting to stop them. Never knew that the virus would make her this strong. She grimly smiled to herself, the large window of a Laundromat smashing as she jumped through it, That was their own damn fault. She did a summersault as she hit the floor, running through the building and kicking the back door open, shooting an awaiting zombie in the head, it's discarded body just another hellish decoration for the desolate city of LA.

A few hours later she found herself standing on an apartment complex's rooftop, looking out at the sprawled streets below. She had laid a blanket out on the open expanse, a small fire crackling in an old metal garbage can. She watched the metal of the guns she had laid out glint in the small flickering of light, listening to the moaning Orchestra of the undead. Some car alarms still blaring a few blocks down, her ploy to keep them from her sanctum. Laser Technology stolen from Umbrella Corp. was set up in the stair way to the roof, a barrier to protect her for the night. She heaved a large sigh, her beautiful face downcast with stress. How are the others doing...? She thought silently, the memories of traversing the underground labyrinth called the Hive flashing back to her. She rubbed her temples, moving across to the blanket. She laid herself down gently on it, heaving a sigh as she closed her eyes to the star filled sky above. Sleep caught her in its grip in no time, finding herself wandering through corridors of her life long before this Apocalypse had begun.

She bolted upright, a strange sound disrupting her mind from slumber. There was a strange wind pushing past her and she stifled a scream as a giant metal ship seemed to materialize not far away on her rooftop. She grabbed the pistol from the ground, leveling it at the lowering exit ramp, now on her feet, throwing the hands of sleep from her. She held her breath, her finger resting gently on the trigger as an African American woman stepped down, her hair snow white, a gentle expression gracing her face. Behind her a man with red tinted glasses followed, his expression blank as he just looked at the armed woman. "Put the weapon down, we mean you no harm." The woman called, holding her hands out to accentuate her point.

Alice lowered the gun, still keeping her guard up, eyeing the two, "If you are from Umbrella know that I will not go with you willingly." Alice said bluntly. She was pretty sure this woman couldn't be part of the sinuous group. The woman gave Alice a quizzical look, not quite liking a gun being so close to being used, "I have no idea what Umbrella is, but I assure you we mean no harm." She held her hands up in a sign of peace to Alice still, "We are here looking for any survivors and hopefully a way to contain what has already become a nightmare." The man stood there, ever vigilant to the brown haired woman's gestures and moves.

Alice finally gave in, if they wanted to subdue her they would not tarry like this. "As far as I know I am the only one left in this city, besides the two of you of course." She laid down her gun next to the others again, "As for what and who has done this, it is a Corporation that goes by the name of Umbrella." A breeze swept across the roof top and the African woman strode forward, "So it is as we feared, a biological attack?" Alice nodded, a somber expression upon her face, "There is nothing that can be done, you may as well go into hiding." Her face was that of stone. If these people truly meant good then they did not need to blunder off to their deaths so fool heartedly.

"We can not just abandon those in need of help. That would be against all we stand for." The woman came more into the light and a jolt of recognition shot through Alice, "H-how...? I would have thought the X-Men were at Genosha, safe with the rest of the mutants..." Alice's mind moved at the pace of a snail, trying to grasp how two of the elder members of the X-Men had wound up here on this desolate rooftop with her. "Diseases evolve, if we sit by and watch the world fall apart we would soon join everyone else." Cyclops, as she knew him to be now, stepped more into the light to, marks of immense stress evident on his aging face.

Alice nodded at this, it was true. The mutants may be safe now but for how long? She turned from the two and walked to the edge of the building, gazing out at the desolate street below, many zombies prominent amongst the wrecked tableau below. "If the X-Men truly wish to do good then we must plan." Alice turned back to them after saying this, "If you will allow it then I will go with you." Ororo nodded, "Then gather your stuff child, for we shall leave with most haste." Once Alice had her worldly possessions packed up once more she climbed aboard the large craft, slight astonishment overwhelming her when she first stepped aboard. She strapped herself into a seat, slipping back into a much needed sleep not long after the city was left behind.

The slap of shoes against wooded flooring echoed through the grand halls of the mansion, Jubilee sliding against the worn wooden tiles as she made a sharp corner. She came to a halt, gasping in air as she slammed her fist against a large oaken door, "Professor! The X-Jet is here!" She gasped out, her breath coming out in jagged strokes.

"I know Jubilation, please, come in and sit. There is someone you may be interested to meet." Jubilee rolled her eyes, not all that surprised he knew. She had been here for almost two years now and still was ignorant in the ways of telepaths. She plopped down in a large leather comfy chair, her yellow boots just barely scraping the floor. The professor sat there in his usual posture, a slight, all knowing smile pointed toward her, his fingers arched together. "Your mother is a fine woman; she has offered to help Jean with cooking." Jubilee wrinkled her nose at the thought of Jean's cooking, the self-proclaimed 'Five Star Chef' being the only one on Mansion soil that 'wanted' to cook. Or in other words, demanded to be the cook. With threats heavily weaved within. Guess a disaster can bring out the worst in some, and the true insanity… He gave Jubilee a disapproving look at this, "Be easy on her, she tries." He shook his head, looking out the window and calling out unexpectedly, "Come on in Ororo, we have been waiting." The door opened, three people filed in, one of them going to a corner, leaning against the wall and looking about her. The other two took up positions next to the chair Jubilee slumped in. "We went out looking for survivors in the west as you had requested Charles. We have found a woman we think will be a great help." Ororo gestured toward Alice, the woman garbed in light clothes and bristling with weapons nodded at the man, "Names Alice." She looked out the window again, looking out over the tennis courts sprawled across the lawn. Her eyes scanned over the large wall, keeping out what the world has become. She cut her eyes back to the office, looking over all there, her eyes lingering on Jubilee.

"How many are here?" Her question was simple, banter not a thing she was made for. "Currently we have an assorted thirty-five, including myself. There are many more of us out doing what we can, but I am afraid that may fall through." Charles rubbed the bridge of his nose, the atmosphere of the room becoming very dark. "We have a extensive underground structure we call the Subbasement which we have been working to enlarge. Currently there are many converted rooms down there for living in. We are expecting Scottish allies to be coming here where they will be much safer." Alice nodded at all this, making mental notes.

"And how many are in fighting shape? Mentally and Physically." Alice's jaw was set in a firm line, strolling over to stand before the large Desk, "I will train any that are willing." The professor nodded, closing his eyes. "Your new pupils are on their way Alice." He gave a slight smile, "They are most exited to meet you." A sharp intake of breath came from Alice, her hands flying down to her kukri's. She jumped back in a smooth motion, blue smoke clearing, revealing the cause of her actions. The thing held its hands up before it, a worried look upon it's blue hued face. "Mein got! I apologize… I did not mean to frighten you…" He gave an apologetic smile, the Professor clearing his throat, "Alice, this is Kurt Wagner, sometimes known as Nightcrawler." Alice gave him a stiff nod, "Teleportation…" She simply mumbled, looking up at the ceiling as something caught her eye. She shook her head, simply giving up on being shocked. Feet seemed to float down from the ceiling, the rest of the body following as a skinny brunette girl fell into the room, making a slight thump as her feet met the carpet.

"And this-"
"OH my GOSH!" the girl bounced up and down in excitement, looking at the woman standing there, "I, like, love your hair so much!" She ran up to Alice, the Professor chuckling slightly, "I mean, it is like a little short but the color is like amazing!" She bounced around Alice, avoiding the weapons as she went. "I mean, no offense, short works for you… I am Kitty by the way." She rounded back to the front of Alice, beaming at her, "So are you like, the stranger that is gonna teach us?" She blew a bubble, popping it again and quirking an eyebrow at Alice. "Uhm… Yeah…" Alice frowned at the girl. She certainly wasn't use to overly hyper valley girls… "I'm Alice…" The professor used the silence to his advantage, "These two will be your pupils, and others shall be joining, once I see their progress." Alice nodded at this, "Ororo if you could show Alice to her room? If you are willing the training will start as soon as possible. We have a training room in the Subbasement that will be to your disposal."

The two wound their way through the many corridors, finally finding themselves at the Grand Staircase again. "Now down that corridor there is the Dining Room, Kitchen, Living Room, 'Arcade' and a small study. Up the stairs here are the Dormitories where you will be staying till future notice. Clearly feel free to look around, and just come find me once you are ready for a tour." She gestured Alice up the stairs, leading her off the right hand side of the landing, the female wing of the school. "Many students had left for safer places, others to search for family so there are many empty rooms. Uhm, here's one now, this can be yours." She lead Alice into a medium sized room, a bed, side table, dresser and small closet being the main decorations. Alice gestured at a picture on the wall, "Can that be removed? I will need room to place my weapons…" Ororo nodded moving across and taking the picture off the wall. "I will ask Logan if he could try his hand at making some kind of weapon wrack." She leaned the painting up against the wall in the hallway, clapping her hands in front of her, "Well make yourself at home Alice, the Professor will call for you later if you do not need a tour…" Alice nodded and Ororo turned and gently closed the door as she left.

Alice found herself standing at the foot of the Grand-staircase once more, people bustling about the mansion, nodding to her as they passed. She looked down, seeing her gun resting in its holster on her ankle, then started toward the Professor's office at a brisk pace. The door opened as she approached it, the girl named Kitty grinning at her, holding the door with the tip of her toe, "Took ya long enough! I was like about to go get you myself." Alice walked by her, ignoring the girl, her talking obsession was becoming a slight nuisance. "I am ready to get them into training." Alice held her head up, looking down at the Professor with a blank expression. "The sooner the better Alice, for I am afraid a breakout has occurred in Manhattan." The Professor's mouth was set in a firm line, returning her look of determination. "We will need all the help we can get."