CHAPTER FOUR

Wolverine was holding court in Xavier's office, largely by default. Rogue, Angel and Jubilee had been summoned there, along with Cannonball, Moonstar and Wolfsbane, but they were mostly just watching him pace. Rogue tried to get the conversation moving. "So, the professor's gone."

"The professor and an X-Jet,"Jubilee correccted.

"Do we think those are connected?"Cannonball asked.

Wolverine stopped and glared at him. "Well, I don't know, hayseed, what do you think?"

"We're mainly worried about what you think,"Moonstar argued, defending her friend.

Rogue watched Wolverine closely. "You think it means trouble, don't you?"

For some reason, Wolverine couldn't bring himself to snap at the younger woman. Somehow, she'd always brought out his softer side. "Yeah."

"So we need to get after him,"Angel concluded. "But how?"

"I think we can answer that one,"Storm replied as she and Bobby entered. "We've picked up the tracking signal from the X-Jet the professor took."

"What is this, a dramatic pause?"Wolverine snapped.

"It's in Manhatten,"Bobby provided. "It's right near where we fought Apocalypse."

"But that area's been abandoned for years,"Rogue protested.

"That's right,"Storm argued. "No-one was quite sure about the after-effects of the explosion that happened when Magneto killed Apocalypse. It was sealed off."

"Well, guess it's time to find out,"Wolverine decided. "Storm, Bobby, Warren, get kitted up and head for the silo." The trio nodded and exited. "Rogue, you're in charge here."

Rogue went into Harmony's room. The girl sat in the bed, looking up at her. "The professor's gone?"

"Yes,"Rogue admitted. "But your daddy and the others have gone to find him."

"He's with the metal man,"Harmony answered. "They're coming soon."

The X-Jet came into land alongside its fellow in Manhattan. Wolverine, Storm, Iceman and Angel exited. Iceman nodded to the other jet. "He didn't leave that way."

Storm noticed the Professor's wheelchair lying overturned nearby. "And he didn't leave in that either."

Wolverine glanced upwards. "Warren, get up there and see if you can spot him." Angel nodded and took off into the sky.

"So what are we saying happened?"Bobby wondered.

"Well, if he was crawling along on his hands, he couldn't have got very far,"Wolverine mused.

"And why would he do that?"Storm asked. "Why did he come here?"

"And that's another question we don't have the answer to."

Angel swooped back down and landed with them. "Can't see any sign of him."

Storm nodded. "So he's not dragging himself out of here. I guess he could have been meeting someone, could have left in a vehicle."

Wolverine completed the thought. "Or someone could have taken him."

"Either way,"Storm concluded,"I have this uncomfortable feeling that we're looking the wrong way."

Rogue felt the mansion shake. She ran out onto the landing without thinking. Three of the older students were out there, looking confused. "Paige, Angelo, Artie, what's going on?"

"I don't know,"Paige replied helplessly. "I think there's something outside."

"Jubilee's gone out there,"Angelo added.

"I'm going out there too,"Rogue decided. "Watch Harmony." She glanced back at her daughter who had got off the bed and was staring at her. Rogue gave her a smile that she hoped was reassuring, then dashed down the stairs.

Jubilee was out on the lawn, the New Mutants with her. "What's going on?"Rogue asked her.

Jubilee nodded to a spot a few feet away. "That."

A six foot tall metal man was standing there. His body was fashioned out of red and purple, making him look like he was wearing armour and a helmet. For a moment, he reminded Rogue of their long dead adversary Magneto.

"Who are you?"Cannonball asked challengingly.

"You think a name will make me less of a threat?" The voice was cold, the only emotion being scorn.

"It'll beat saying 'Hey, you',"Wolfsbane offered.

"Then call me…Onslaught."

Cannonball took off and flew straight at Onslaught…but then stopped in midair as if frozen. Onslaught gestured to him and he dropped to the ground. Wolfsbane changed into her wolf mode and leapt at him but Onslaught easily shrugged her off. Jubilee launched a series of fireworks that exploded off Onslaught without during much damage.

"Jubilee, get the students to safety,"Rogue instructed.

Jubilee gaped at her. "You want to face that thing alone?"

"Not quite. Jimmy can help." Rogue looked at Leech, whose expression was incredulous. He nodded all the same.

Jubilee accepted the order. "Dani, Doug, with me."

"Leech, I need you to block his powers,"Rogue instructed.

"You think that'll do much good?"

"It'll be a start."

Leech did as instructed and Rogue flew at Onslaught. Her fists impacted with his chest. It didn't send him back but he didn't move forwards either. Rogue landed on the ground in front of him and he grabbed her arms. "You think you can stop me?"he asked.

"I can try."

They struggled. Rogue was fuelled by anger, the anger of a mother whose child was in danger. Against someone else, it might have been enough. But Onslaught was implacable. Slowly, inch by inch, he forced her back. With one final burst of strength, he threw her away. He stalked past Leech towards the mansion.

Inside, Moonstar and Cypher were ushering a group of students out of the ground floor rooms. Onslaught burst in through the front door. Moonstar conjured up two Samurai warriors, who stood ready to defend their charges, but Onslaught ignored them and stalked upstairs.

Paige and Angelo were escorting Harmony along the landing. "Mum said to wait here,"Harmony protested.

"I know,"Paige agreed. "But we need to go, okay?"

Suddenly, Onslaught was in front of them. Paige shed a layer of skin like a husk, leaving her with crystal-hard skin. Angelo extended his skin by several feet, forming it into a shield. It was a valiant effort but futile. With a wave of his hand, Onslaught sent Paige crashing over a balcony and Angelo crashing into a wall.

Onslaught prowled towards Harmony, who stood stock still. A glow emerged from his body, enveloping her. Then it seemed to draw her inside himself, until she disappeared.

Onslaught took off into the air, blasting his way through the roof and away.