Alumni
By Whimsical Impulse
"So what's the plan, Chuck?"
Logan paced through the conference room he and Xavier occupied. Despite the complaints of the rest of X-men, ranging from violent outbursts to concerned protests, Xavier and Logan had decided to hold a private meeting to discuss the future plans of discourse.
Xavier had a good hunch of the whereabouts of his leading (and, at times, favorite) student, based on the knowledge of previous cities he knew Nathaniel Essex to have previously operated out of. He also had picked up faint psychic trails of Scott's consciousness. These lingering fragments of telepathic energy gave Xavier hope in the rescue effort.
"We're going to have to send out a strong rescue team immediately; that's for certain." Xavier remarked, as if to himself. "I studied Genetics with Essex during my years at Oxford, I know him well. He's cruel and ruthless man. He will not stop until he obtains what he wants."
"And what exactly does he want?" Logan gruffly asked. "What's Scott got to do with it? He's an innocent."
"Innocent, yes, but Scott possesses immeasurable power."
"You mean his optic blasts?"
"Not quite, Logan. His mutant abilities are formidable, yes, but that's not what Essex is after." Xavier paused, the anticipation of his words weighed heavily on Logan. "It's his very genetic structure. The way that evolution has worked, mutant genes are passed on as recessive traits. When two mutants, both possessing the gene, produce an offspring, that child is almost certainly a mutant."
"So what's that got to do with Slim?"
"In most second generation mutants, the abilities they manifest are generally completely separate from the abilities of their parents. All mutants possess and X-gene, the recessive trait that carries the mutant DNA. However, a few mutants, not many, possess an additional X-2 gene."
"I take it Scott has one?"
"Indeed."
"And what does it do exactly? Does it give Scott any extra powers?"
"An X-2 gene will not grant the possessor any special abilities. However, when the X-2 is combined with any X-gene, the offspring would have the same abilities of the mother. The offspring's abilities would be amplified as a result of the X-2 and X gene bond. Not only the same power, but the offspring would be more naturally adept at mastering their abilities."
"So Essex wants Scott to knock up some random mutant women so he can take their kids?"
"Not just any women. I imagine that he's been cultivating, through genetic manipulation, a perfect female specimen to impregnate, someone who, if their abilities were properly amplified, could become a powerful army."
"How do you know this?" Logan asked doubtfully.
"I know this because Nathaniel Essex has always been obsessed with making an army. He's very much like Magneto, in a way. He wants to force the mutant population into the world by force. He feels that we as mutants are superior to Homo Sapien."
"He sounds crazy to me."
"In that, you would be correct."
"So back to my first question, Chuck. What's the plan?"
"We're mounting an immediate rescue mission, Logan. Here's your team."
Telekinetically, Xavier lifted a data pad and sent it over to Wolverine who snatched it out of the air. He read them over.
Rescue Operation
Elisabeth Braddock
Codename: Psylocke
Location: London, England
Emma Frost
Codename: White Queen
Location: Oakland, California
Henry McCoy
Codename: Beast
Location: Bayville, New York
Ororo Munroe
Codename: Storm
Location: Bayville, New York
James Proudstar
Codename: Thunderbird
Location: Reno, Nevada
"Your old students?" Logan was taken aback. These mutants had long since graduated Xavier's institute and gone on to live their lives.Others, like Henry and Ororo, had stuck with the Institute. Some of them had become less than reputable.
"Are you really surprised Logan?" Xavier asked from behind the table. "I absolutely cannot risk my current team; they're too young and to emotionally attached to this particular mission. They haven't gotten complete control of their powers, you know that."
"I also know that they aren't going to be happy with this, Professor."
"I'm afraid you might be correct."
Logan was correct.
"Are you out of your fucking mind, Professor? There's no way I'm staying here and doing nothing."
Evan, perpetually the most outspoken of the group, was the first and loudest to react. The others were quick to voice similar opinions.
"This is totally unfair, Professor. Scott means a lot to all of us." Kitty said.
"Definitely. You can't keep us cooped up here. We're not children." Kurt pressed the offensive.
"Professah, Kurt's right, we're not children. We're the X-men and we stick together." Rogue declared.
"Yeah, let us go!" Bobby cried out. "We can handle this Essex is guy. We're the X-Men!" Bobby was quick to identify himself as an 'X-man' though he hadn't completed even the most basic of Wolverine's training programs.
Xavier's expression, normally that of a kindly, wise, elderly man, turned rigid. Logan stood behind his wheel chair, his arms folded, stoic. However, at the present moment, the most intimidating man in the room was currently Professor Xavier.
"My word is final. I will not allow any arguments. You are all staying here." The grave look on his face, so uncommon for the man, silenced all of the students. "Now, please, return to your rooms until further notice.
Wordlessly, noiselessly, the students obeyed. Herding, like cows, back to the upper-levels of the mansion. When the masses subsided, one figure remained.
"I said that all students are to return to their rooms. That includes you, Ms. Grey." Xavier let the slightest hint of an edge creep into his voice.
"I'm going on this mission, Professor, whether you like it or not." Jean did not bother with any subtlety. "I deserve to go. More than anyone else."
The Professor met Jean's even gaze. Their staring contests had been frequent during her enrollment at the Institute. However, for the first time ever, Xavier was the one to lower his gaze.
"You're right. You do deserve to go."
With that, he directed his wheel chair into the elevator. Logan stood quietly before following the Professor. Before completely leaving the room, he paused, with his back to Jean.
"Suit up, kid, meet us in the hangar in ten."
"So the Professor knows for certain where Scott is? Are we going to get him immediately."
"Not quite, Jean, we have to make a few quick stops."
"To do what?"
"Pick up the rest of the team, Red. We're going in with all the firepower we can get our hands on."
Does anyone recognize the names on the new roster? What do you guys think will happen to the rest of the x-men? Review to find out!
After getting a few encouraging emails, I decided to continue on with the fic. So please, I urge you, review this chapter if you want to see another one.
-Whim