Sorry about not updating sooner, College's getting pretty hecktic since it's nearly shudder exam time

Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or X-Men: Evolution, Maria Hill's owned by DC

Chapter Four: Government Lockdown

The afternoon sunshine shone through the wide windows, the particles of dust could be seen swirling around in the air in the quiet lounge, the plush white leather couch was empty; the rooms only occupant was slumped in the equally plush, comfy armchair.

Cyclops stretched out in the soft armchair and yawned. He and Jean had spent the last few days with their daughter, they'd been to the amusement park, the pier, the movies and more clubs and cafes the he could count. He'd learnt a lot about Rachel and was happy they'd done it, even if it had left him almost comatose, and it had driven all thoughts of Alex from his mind

At that moment his thoughts switched back to his little brother, he thought Rachel would have loved to get to know her uncle and that they were a lot alike, more alike than Rachel and he were at least. He wondered if she knew him in her future, of if he'd died along with everyone else back at the Institute. He decided to ask her when she got back from the mall with her mom, but at the same time knew it would have no effect on Alex's current situation, even if he'd recovered in her future, that timeline was gone for good and just because he'd recovered in that one, it wouldn't mean he'd recover now

Beneath his ruby shades his eyelids grew heavier and heavier and he drifted into a light doze

Scott waved goodbye to his brother as the tanned couple from Hawaii bundled him into their car and drove away as the heavens opened up on that dreary day in Nebraska. Even after he'd lost sight of the car in the bucketing rain he stayed rooted to that spot. He knew he should go back and get his umbrella or he'd catch a cold, but he didn't care, his brother was all the family he had left and he'd gone to, finally, he was all alone and he hated it. Then he felt a cold hand clamp down on his shoulder

"Come on Scott, let's go back inside" Mr Essex said to him, Scott remembered the man, he was the one who owned and ran the orphanage and he'd always taken an interest in him and his brother. Scott knew he meant well but with the mans jet black hair, deathly white skin, his black suits and the way he always kept his eyes hidden he didn't do much to endear himself to his charges. Scott always thought he looked like a vampire

And besides, there was something about him; Scott didn't know what or why, that made him feel scared whenever he was nearby

"Mister Essex, do you think I'll see Alex again?" he asked, Mr Essex smiled a crocodiles smile

"Anything can happen Scott, the world's a big place"

The door to the lounge opened and woke Scott from his slumber

"Who's there?" he muttered, still half-asleep, Jean used her powers to open the window to let in some fresh air as she replied

"Scott, it's us" Scott barley had time to process that information before he got the wind knocked out of him by a ton of bags getting dropped on him

"Look dad, me and mom got all these great clothes" Rachel exclaimed happily

"Are you sure this is…appropriate?" Scott asked, holding up two halter-tops and a miniskirt that had fallen out of one of the bags

"Relax dad, all the girls wear them" Rachel told him, unable to suppress a small smile at the look which crossed Scott's face

"Relax Scott, you look like she just told you she's dating Sabertooth" Jena told her boyfriend telepathically

"Well, I guess its O.K, as long as you only wear them indoors"

"Daaaaaad!" Rachel whined, this time Scott smiled, thinking 'she's so much like Alex it's scary'

The prefect family moment was spoiled by the sound of blades slicing through the air and all three of them ran to the window of the lounge and could barely believe the scene unfolding before their eyes

A small fleet of helicopters were hovering over the Institute and yet more were on the horizon. Rachel, Jean and Scott all recognised the insignia on the sides of the pitch-black machines.

"What are SHEILD doing here?" Scott growled, knowing that it wasn't like SHIELD, or its Director Nick Fury, to make house calls unless there was something very bad about to take place

One of the helicopters touched down on the lawn outside the mansion and its door slid open. To the X-Men's surprise a woman, not Nick Fury, got out. Flanked by two burly men she strode forwards up to the door of the mansion and knocked firmly on it. Beast opened the door and Scott saw the woman walk (or rather barge) her way inside

"Come on, let's see what's going on" he told Rachel and Jean who followed him as he made his way to the foyer where Beast and the woman were talking.

As he got closer he saw the woman in more detail. Her dark brown hair was cut short in standard military detail, her well-tanned Caucasian skin combined with the all black SHEILD bodysuit she was wearing gave her a very dark and foreboding presence, like a harbinger of death and doom. It was her eyes that caught Scott's attention the most, dark brown pools of absolute calm and confidence, as if she already knew she'd exactly what it was she'd come her to do and complete

"Ah, Scott, this is…" Beast started

"Maria Hill, Assistant Director of SHEILD, I'm here to see my superior, Nick Fury" she butted in, her voice was firm and formal but with the faintest hint of compassion and respect that made Scott feel that this woman could be trusted

"He's here?" Jean asked her. She nodded curtly before replying

"Yes, he flew ahead to inform you of our mandate"

"What mandate?" Scott asked

"The Xavier Institute for gifted youngsters is under SHEILD enforced Level 10 quarantine by order of the President of the United States and the United Nations Security Council, effective immediately"

"What!" he yelled in response, Maria Hill didn't so much as flinch before replying

"I apologize, Director Fury was supposed to have informed all for you ahead of the enacting of the quarantine" the faint trace of sincerity in her voice was all that kept Scott from blasting her and her two bodyguards

"Calm down Summers, Agent Hill could take you out before you so much as took off those shades" a firm voice said, Scott saw Nick Fury, Professor Xavier, Rogue and Wolverine enter the lounge

"Jena, please contact the school and inform them that all students still there need to return here immediately" he told her before turning around wheeling away

"Professor what's going on?" Scott asked

"Scott, find everyone you can and tell them to meet me in my office in five minutes" the professor said as he continued moving away Scott stepped in front of his chair

"Tell me what's going on!" he demanded

"There's been a new disease discovered that only infects mutants. It is extremely dangerous" the Professor replied

"What's so bad about it?" Rachel asked. There was a violent retching sound behind them as Rogue vomited up a torrent of dark red blood and collapsed to the floor, shivering violently, Nick Fury looked Scott in the eyes

"That"

In the next chapter – SHEILD calls in its top doctors to try and find the source of this deadly new virus, but why does one of them scare Scott so badly?

To be continued, please reivew

Deadpool: Yea, or else!

Me: Ignore him, I do, with any luck he'll go away

Deadpool: Don't count on it!!

Me: Seeya next chapter everyone