Disclaimer: Do Not Own anything, MARVEL owns it all.
A/N: Been thinking this one over for a long time now...technically since before I ever heard of Fan Fiction. Note to comics and movie fans, forget what you know before reading this story. Takes place in a different universe than any canon.
Summary: A new group of mutants have appeared, unallied and unstable, what are their motives and who are they loyal to.
A/N 2: First major edit on this story. Reworked Chapter's 1 and 2 making them a bit more detailed. As a note on this chapter I feel the new ending leads to the next chapter more fluidly.
-Blackbird-
Everyone on the jet turned to Jean after her announcement. Apocalypse was one of the oldest enemies of the X-Men, rearing his ugly face when the original first class had formed X-Factor to combat the ever growing threat of mutant terrorist organizations. He had tortured and and experimented on Warren Worthington III, a former avian mutant that been mutilated during the massacre of the Morlocks. Originally codenamed Angel, Warren had been renamed Archangel and became the Horsemen Death.
Caliban, from his shadowed corner of the jet quivered, "Master Apocalyps?" He edged closer to the group, "They're like me?"
"No...something else," Jean moved to the one with reddish brown hair, "This one is different...his mind is his own...though buried beneath memory and instinct." She placed a hand on his forehead, "Pain, loss, and grief...betrayal. He's too exhausted for coherent thought."
Rahne after strapping James into his seat walked over to the others, "James has a concussion and a couple cracked ribs, but otherwise is fine." Glancing at the two prone boys on the floor of the jet she began rubbing her arms, "...Anyone else notice that one was kind of focused on me?"
"Noticed it darlin, he ignored everything we threw at him...also noticed the second one didn't enter the clearing until you were hit by that red energy." Logan indicated Caliban, "Caliban noticed the second was stalking around the edge of the clearing. He tried to talk to him, but when you were hit he reacted."
Jean switched focus to the dark brown haired twin, "Hmm...he's got more mental blocks than the other, some sort of programming at a young age. There's a buried subconscious command...Rahne's image...and I don't know how but her scent." Jean retracted her hand, "He also has memories of killing dozens of people..." She looked disgusted at the child, "...he's quite proud of it."
"He also exhausted?" Logan tensed.
Jean shook her head, "No, the dampening collar is slowing his healing factor...he did just get hit by a car."
"Hmph, if I didn't know any better think that one took lessons from the Hulk." Logan turned to Rahne, "I'm not sure why you're on some mental hitlist kiddo, but until we figure it out I want you to keep your distance from that one."
Rahne nodded, "How about the other?"
Jean returned her focus to the first twin, "I'm not sure...your image and scent are cataloged in his mind, but so are all ours...unlike his brother there doesn't appear to be any subconscious commands." Jean paused, "Wait...here it is...buried deeper than his brother. No commands, that are active."
"So he's not as dangerous as the other." Logan turned to the cockpit, "Hank how long till we're home?"
The Beast turned back to him, "We're over the manor now...Logan you're not going to like this."
Moving to the front The Wolverine looked out the window, "...what's going...damn just what we don't need."
The others questioned what was wrong, it was Hank who answered, "Seems we have some guests...a SHIELD quinjet is parked on the front lawn."
-Xavier's School for the Gifted-
The Blackbird hovered into its hanger behind the cloaking waterfall, quickly landing. The team disembarked to find Charles Xavier waiting along with Summers, and two MRD officers. Xavier watched as Logan and Hank each dropped one of the boys onto stretchers and waited for them to be secured and moved to the medical wing.
Summers frowned, "Kids? I thought the reports said they were full grown mutants."
"Yeah, apparently they transform and appear older while in that form." Logan walked over with Jean and Kurt, "Wasn't a hard apprehension, keep the dark haired one under guard though...he's a killer."
Jean glared at Logan, "It's not his fault Logan, he seemed to be acting based on some form of programing."
"Yeah, and that programing has left a trail of bodies at least two hundred miles long." Logan lit up a cigar, "How'd we miss something like this?"
Summers frowned, "What are you talking about?"
His wife frowned, "After losing consciousness their minds were open books, except for a few blocked sections. They are confused of their origins...the only clue we have is some fluid filled tanks in which they heard voices whispering to them. Beyond that the SHIELD emblem is burned into their minds as the first clear image. After that it's a lot of forests and dark caves."
"Guess Fury has some question to answer," Logan growled, "That why his mini-jet was parked on the front lawn?"
Xavier shook his head, "No, apparently he caught wind of the new Sentinel models. He doesn't like that we kept his people out of the loop. I reminded his that we do not answer to him."
"I've told you Professor, my concerns are purely altruistic." Nick Fury entered the hangar flanked by four SHIELD agents two in suits the other two in SHIELD's standard combat stealth suits. Fury nodded his bald head to Wolverine, "Logan...long time no see."
Logan sneered, "How's the eye Fury."
"Enough Mr. Howlett," Xavier turned to the agents, "Fury, is there something else or have you forgotten the way out?"
Nick Fury nodded, "Actually there is...the kids you just collected. They aren't your problem, turn them over and we'll see they're properly taken care of."
Summers moved to intercept Logan then turned to Fury, "Explain Fury...make it quick and make it good or my friend here might just take your remaining eye."
Sighing Fury leaned against a ground crew console, "This started happening about forty to fifty years ago. Most I only know from my predecessors notes...and the few meetings I've had with the first one."
"First one?" Xavier was actively reading Fury's mind, "This first one is still in your custody?"
"Yes, in the cube. He's the resident of the deepest cell in that place. The cube was actually built to hold him." Fury pulled a holo emitter from his belt, the image of an old man restrained into a wheelchair floated in the air, "No name, no identification, and no known relatives save for one...En Sabah Nur."
Every head in the room turned to the image after the revelation, "You're sure?"
"Not really in the beginning. Back then no one knew who Apocalypse was, no one besides Mastermind and Sinister even knew the man existed. Not until recently had we acquired a DNA sample, and began testing it against similar individuals, both alive and dead." Fury noted their confusion, "Something our old friend here said. When I asked him why his father allowed him to be imprisoned for so long, he merely said his state of being didn't matter. Death wouldn't stop what was to come, then he started talking gibberish about Ragnarok and the twin wolves devouring the sun and the moon."
Rahne frowned from where she was standing beside the plane, "Twin wolves?"
Fury turned to her, "Yes Miss Sinclair...you can understand why these two concern me. What did they look like while attacking all those towns?"
Bowing her head Rahne couldn't hide her discomfort, the pair had looked like her in the transitional form. A thought had come to her, "Sir you said Sinister..." She turned to the older X-Men, "You don't think?"
The head of SHIELD frowned, "Something I'm missing?"
Scott Summers ran a hand through his hair, "About twelve years ago Rahne and her classmates took the Blackbird out for a joyride. Rahne had only been here a few weeks Moira had discovered her during a trip home to Scotland. Emma had just folded the Massachusetts Academy and brought the Hellions to join our school. The two groups of kids decided they needed an adventure to put their animosity aside."
Fury looked at the group of mutants, "I'm guessing their little joyride went bad?"
"Yes," Summers continued, "When I found the Blackbird gone I activated the tracking beacon and issued an alert to the MRD, Air Force, and civilian air authority. I didn't realize it was the kids who'd taken the jet. Air Force interceptors forced them to land near the Canadian border. After they were stationary for several hours we arrived in the mini jet." Summers looked to Rahne, "Rahne, Sam Guthrie, and Danielle Moonstar were missing from the Blackbird landing site...the others were all unconscious. Before we could begin searching the three of them emerged from the wood. Sam and Dani were relatively unharmed, a few scratches and bruises. Rahne though was in a bad way, Kurt grabbed her and got her to the nearest hospital which was only a few miles away."
Jean turned to Hank, "Get to the lab and test those kids DNA...if they are what we think."
Hank nodded then leapt away without a further word. Xavier steepled his fingers, "Apparently Fury you may be wrong...it appears these boys are indeed mutants, and as such are our responsibility."
Fury frowned, "Even if they are genetically mutants, they are vat grown weapons."
A snarl from Logan's side drew attention to Laura, the Wolverine placed a hand on her head to quiet her, "Doesn't matter Fury...they're kids. Minors, even mutant minors can't be held responsible for actions when they have no positive guidance."
"Yet even you said one of them, maybe both are killers." Fury frowned, "Hope you know what you're do...ing"
Alarms began blaring throughout the hangar
Alpha Alert!
Unregistered individuals in secure sectors. Repeat. Unregistered individuals in secure sectors.
A second alarm began blaring.
Omega Alert!
Bio-electrical discharge detected. Repeat. Bio-electrical discharge detected.
Xavier turned to the X-Men, "Move out, keep them from reaching the surface."
-Secure Infirmary-
"Wake up!" The familiar voice of the girl echoed in his head, "Wake up...you have to get up, he's already moving."
His eyes snapped open to bright lights and the smell of blood. Sitting up he found the collar around his neck unlocked, looking to his right he finds the nearly unconscious medic dropping a small black square. Leaping from the table he began to transform, but halted halfway. A familiar burning in his gut warned him against going any further.
Blue energy arced around his hand, which he placed on the weakening medic's shoulder. As he recovered the man pointed out an open door, "He went that way...I hit the alarm, no body is ready for that."
Growling he launched himself through the door, his blue energy whipping out in all directions. People moved about the hallway tending to wounded, the damage a trail easier to follow than his brother's scent.
"Hey baby brother!" turning he finds his brother standing at the end of a hall, transformed into a larger form he's holding a large blue furred humanoid against a wall. His red energy coursing through the humanoid draining his life force to aid his brother's healing. Snarling he took to all fours barreling down the hall. As he collided with his brother he fired a bolt of blue energy at the humanoid as they tumbled through the door.
His brother lashed out at him as he punched him. They tumbled across the circular floor, barely aware of the door snapping close or the numerous panels opening to reveal various weapons.
His brother snickered as the weapons began to power up, "So baby brother...think you're going to beat me?" His brother's form twisted as he began to grow.
Several beams of energy were emitted, while his brother dodged them he smiled as they struck him. With the temporary boost of energy he began to grow, "Yes brother...I do."
-Outside Danger Room-
Rahne and James Proudstar followed the damage and strewn out MRD officers to the doors of the danger room. Hank stood panting, his hand holding the doors emergency lock, "They're inside...I was able to guide them inside. Though in truth they seemed focused only on each other, the rest of us were mostly ignored."
A loud bang from the door revealed one of the twins wanted out of the room, "Seems our new friends aren't fans of the Danger Room."
The click of heels on metal floor announced the arrival of Emma Frost. The White Queen motioned to the door, "The struggle is over Hank, you can release the door."
With a frown The Beast let go of the lever allowing the door to open. Standing in the doorway was the reddish brown wolf creature, his brother lay prone on the floor behind him his face a mask of rage.
Emma's face paled, "Rahne he's about..." before she finished Rahne moved catching the wolf boy as he collapsed forward, "...to fall."
"Dr. McCoy!" Rahne lifted her hand from the boy's back revealing a red sticky substance.
Hank moved to examine the boy, finding four deep gashes on his back, "Take him to the infirmary immediately."
Rahne picked up the boy and rushed down the hall, James quick on her heels. After the two younger X-Men had departed the White Queen turned to the remaining twin, "Now, what to do about you?"
His only response was to snarl at the telepath, "Come now boy we both know you can't move...you may have ripped you brother open, but he severed your spine."
The dark twin sneered, "Baby brother knows I'll get back up in a few minutes...then I'll pay him back for this."
"No, you won't." The White Queen used her powers to send the boy into a coma.
Hank snorted, "Was that really necessary?"
Emma stood wiping her hands, "Yes...tell Charles to hand this one over to Fury."
"Why?" Hank moved to check the boy.
The White Queen narrowed her gaze on the boy, "Because his target was and always has been Rahne...he knows they are connected, and plans to kill her."
The Beast looked surprised, "How?"
Emma sighed, "He was programmed with the knowledge...his brother is not programmed like him." She moved towards the door, "Didn't you think it strange two creations of Apocalypse are so different.
-Xavier's Office-
Professor Xavier sat with several of his oldest students in a meeting that could mean major changes. Henry Wainwright and three other upper rank MRD officers also sat in on the meeting. Charles turned to the one person who didn't look like she belonged in the meeting. Emma Frost appeared more like she was ready to go out for the evening than an instructor.
Though he could not doubt her ethic, she was the most invested instructor at the school. To the point she took any failure by the students as a personal failure, and was attached to each of her students to the point she practically replaced their mothers.
This was a two way attachement of course, one they had all been first hand witness two when she mentally lobotomized Fitzroy after the brutal murder of the Hellions. Following the death of most the Hellions Emma and the surviving students of the Massachusetts Academy came to the Salem Institute to make a new home among the X-Men.
Sighing he spoke so all could hear, "You want us to turn the boy over to SHIELD...why?"
Emma sipped a glass of water before turning to one of the MRD officers, "Major Wilkes, how many men are in medical following the incident in the sublevels?"
Major Wilkes looked uncomfortable, often attending such meetings but rarely being addressed, "Um...seven have severe injuries, but about twenty eight are registered as under observation or on reduced duties."
"Thank you Major," she turned back to the others, "We are ill equipped to hold someone like this, especially seeing he somehow broke out of his collar."
Hank shook his head, "Didn't break out...spoke with the medic in charge. He was acting under normal protocols and removed the collar, we don't know how he recovered so quickly."
"Still the matter of he brainwashing." Logan leaned against a bookcase, "Can't let him roam around if he's got kill calls going off all the time."
"Actually Logan it's more like programming than brainwashing...this was done when his mind was still developing." Jean frowned, "Though I find it strange it was Rahne that he was sent to attack. I would find it more likely for Apocalyps to send an assassin after the Professor or Warren...even Caliban would be a more logical target."
Wainwright spoke up, "Actually...if what Scott thinks is true it makes perfect sense." Everyone looked at the human, "Apocalyps made those boys for some reason...maybe he only meant to make one and the other was a mistake, but they're part of something. What better way to prove one's loyalty and willingness to do anything...kill someone who no normal person would willingly harm."
"Does it hold the same importance when the act was done against the doer's will?" Emma looked hard at the man, for a human his resistance to telepathy was uncommon.
Wainwright frowned, "I was watching the security feed from the hangar...kept Fury and his lackeys under watch the whole time they were here...after he mentioned the connection to that first one I had the slicers do a bit of poking around. One of the crimes he was accused of was matricide...looking through the linked files found they were all guilty of that crime."
Xavier bowed his head, "This programming isn't something that can bee undone, as Jean said it was introduced as the boy developed and grew. There is nothing we can do for him, but perhaps we can salvage the other."
Emma smiled, "His programming is mostly knowledge based...it seems to be linked to how he catalogues external stimuli. There are gaps that appear similar to the mental blocks in his brother...perhaps he was meant to receive the same programming, but something interfered with its implantation."
As everyone was taking that in a lab tech entered and walked to the third MRD officer, "Sorry Dr. Saiko, we were under the impression Miss Sinclair was bringing the resualts."
"What gave you that impression?" Scott said from his seat next to Jean.
The tech frowned, "She came by the lab and said you sent her for the resualts."
Dr. Saiko frowned at the report, "I do hope she hasn't looked at the resaults yet."
