Plans
by Starsinger
Nope, still don't own them. Oh, by the way, Schlitterbahn is still the best water park in the world, even if I've never been there.
By the year 2010 many things had changed. The resistance in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico solidified. Many finding young mutants and making sure they got out before the Sentinels found them. Meanwhile, the cities began to deteriorate. The daily grind of the every day people became worse as famine and disease became their constant companions. They never stopped fighting. They managed to get word to us that the Sentinels would be moving out no later than 2013.
In Russia our family grew. My brother and sisters married and started having children. Moira, now called Marina for her own protection, graduated from medical school and helped with the refugees as they came out. I couldn't help but wonder about my parents and siblings we were forced to leave behind.
Ilyana stepped from her transport and peered at the sign. It used to be a water park that much she could tell. So much of the infrastructure had deteriorated since the Sentinels had taken over. Whatever the name was it had worn down to a single "S". "New Braunfels," she said to herself. "Strange place to find the leader of the Rangers."
Deep in the interior of Texas, New Braunfels was once known for what was considered the best water park in the world. Now, it was in ruins, like most of the country. She sighed as someone cleared his throat behind her. "We meet here because there's a major waterway running through here. It connects us with the coast."
Ilyana turned to find a tall, powerfully built black man standing behind her. "Von Starr," she asked. He nodded. "I'm Ilyana Rasputin."
"You're English is very good," he replied. "I heard you were Russian."
Ilyana winced, she'd forgotten the accent, "My uncle, Piotr, taught me before Xavier's was destroyed." He nodded as they walked to the interior of the ruined park.
"I was told to expect two of you."
Ilyana smiled, "My sister, Anastasia, was supposed to accompany me. She went into labor last night, so she wasn't going anywhere. I have a new nephew!"
He grinned, "Congratulations! The Sentinels have restricted breeding. If you carry the mutant gene, even if you're not a mutant, you can't breed." She noticed the big, black "M" tattooed over his right eye. "It's been eight years since Xavier's was destroyed. They've created 'hounds' to track down mutants. We've even received word they're preparing to move against the rest of the world." People joined them men and women, mutants and humans.
"You've put together this group? Why do you call yourself Von Starr?"
"Texas Rangers were a legend in their time. Criminals would not cross them wisely. Here, in New Braunfels, is where a large German population settled in the nineteenth century. Look, we need to get some new manifests out, some of them are telepaths and they're the ones being used as hounds…"
Ilyana nodded at the wisdom of the statement. This was the reason she'd come, to get the kids out. She turned to him as the children gathered nearby, saying good-bye to their parents, "HE wants to meet with you, Von Starr, but not today, later this month, and you know how to get in touch with us."
He nodded as she walked to a clear enough spot that would hold all of her passengers, "With all the work you do bringing new people and equipment in line, I picture you more of a forge than a star." She disappeared with those words lingering behind.
"Forge, huh?" he muttered to himself as he slung his rifle over his shoulder and headed out of the park, "I'll have to think about that one."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ilyana dropped everyone off at Braddock Manor, and traveled back to her home in Russia. The hospital in Moscow had a landing pad that also served as a training point for teleporters and flyers. Well, it cut down on accidents anyway. She ran into Mikhail outside the entrance. He had been good to them, even when he did get married and start having his own children. He was as much a father as her real one had ever been.
"Grandpa again, huh?" she said with a grin.
Mikhail smiled back at her. "That makes five. Twins must run in your mother's side of the family."
Ilyana bit back the pain; she had no idea if it did. When she was last with her mother, that sort of thing didn't seem so important. "Ranger Von Starr knows about the planned meeting. Is three years really enough time?" Doubt colored her tone.
"It has to be," he replied.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It has to be, those words still echo across time, and sometimes brilliance runs in families. Generals Montgomery, Zukov, and Rommel came together to plan the freedom of millions, and the defense of millions more.
"We have fifteen large group teleporters," Zukov began. "We need to figure out how many they can transport and where it's best to place the groups."
Rommel looked up, "A group of mutants located in New York is planning on attacking the Baxter Building. They're hoping to take out the headquarters building and send them into disarray. We're sending several groups in through Mexico, it'll be a long way on foot, but it's the best way to sneak them in. The natives there built tunnels into the United States before everything changed."
Monty shook his head, "Smuggling, well, they're nothing if not resourceful. So, we've got groups coming in from Canada, Mexico, and New York. Are you sure they're not expecting us to use mutants?"
Zukov snorted, "They're moving out because they think we're just as scared of mutants as they are." They all nodded and moved out; they had people to contact and location to scout.
Of course my aunt and I were recruited; we were familiar with upstate New York. Three times a week we teleported guerilla groups in who were kept underground by families fighting for their freedom. No one was sure if it would work. We could only pray that it would. I wanted to see these camps for myself. I wanted to see where they'd buried my family. I wanted to make them pay for that night.