A/N: I'm sure everyone's hyped at the chapter title. Who's ready for action?
Chapter 7 – Battle Front
Three months had passed. In such a short span of time, so much had changed. The new students were experiencing one of the hardest aspects of being X-men. Ever since the mutant vs. human video from the school had been released on the news, floods of mutant related issues and violence were pouring through the media. In the span of barely ninety days, the country had reached a level of such anti-mutant paranoia that didn't even match the fear and hatred that emerged when mutants first appeared. Anti-mutant groups, the most prominent named the Friends of Humanity, were springing up like weeds all over the country, spreading hostility and brutality. Normal reports of mutants being attacked and even killed darkened the news almost every night. Congress was now discussing passing a law for a Mutant Registration Act, where mutants would be forced to identify themselves and reveal their locations. Many mutants didn't dare think what would come from this.
In Bayville, the Xavier Institute was almost in lockdown at all hours as crowds of local mutant haters mobbed the gates. The Brotherhood were not bothered, but the X-men suspected this was greatly due to Wraith and the Scarlet Witch. Not even the most detesting human would dare to assault the boarding house when the shadows and the streetlights began attacking. Bayville high had imposed a 'temporary' mutant ban, for how long no one knew. The X-men now took all classes at the institute.
The professor would never show it, but he was nearly at wit's end. The country, through its own prejudice, were driving them into a state of darkness and fear that he couldn't see an end to. Despite this, he felt pride in his students. They were flourishing in their control of their powers. He had been surprised to see Rapport often with Gambit, learning to restrain his empathy. The professor felt gratitude toward the former Acolyte for helping the boy, and felt it was a good way for him to earn the trust of his team. Black Diamond had reached new limits with her undiscernible powers, and Dalaja had a small amount of control over water without connecting to it. Doc and Elementress had grown to be good friends.
There were, however, some people who's powers remained stubborn. Dread had become more melancholy, believing it her fault that all this trouble had come about. The others insisted that she was blameless, but her depression remained. As a result, her powers were still sporatic and dangerous when being used. And one of his first students, the Rogue, was still untouchable. He had almost daily sessions with her, believing it was a mental block that kept her from controlling her powers. Yet every session ended the same: she would absorb whoever was helping, adding to the psyches in her head. It was heartbreaking as her face grew more despondent every day.
Among his new students, several leaders in the troubled times had emerged. StoneHeart was a steadfast member that many relied upon. Scott found a great support in the unfazable teen, and had a great trust and respect for him. Dynamo and Prism were both assets in training sessions, as was Reflect, who was becoming one of their most powerful fighters among the new recruits. Wreck, surprisingly, was excellent at taking charge, and her lively and unbreakable spirit kept them lighthearted.
His first students held well under the pressure, but the close confines were beginning to tell on them. Kitty and Kurt tried to keep the mood lively. Rogue was excelling her combat class in leaps and bounds despite the discouragement of her powers. Scott and Jean remained the fearless leaders in face of their trainees, but both were becoming stressed, showing it only in solitude. Logan was never a pleasant person to be cooped up with, but thankfully it was more than easy for him to slip past the crowds at the gates to get some fresh air. Storm was collected and serene as ever.
The students themselves could feel the changes that had come upon them. Everyday they trained, it was almost as if they could detect themselves growing faster, stronger, more agile. Their souls were hardening as well; resistant to abuse, ridicule, and hatred. It was cruelly ironic: everyday they grew stronger, everyday they needed that new strength more.
They had taken certain measures to make things easier on their new lifestyle. An underground tunnel system had been connected with the lower levels, leading to the sewers of Bayville. This way, they could have easy access to the city without going through the mobs surrounding the grounds. Now they were in frequent contact with the Morlocks, and Evan alias Spyke was in and out of the mansion quite often. Image inducers were distributed to the younger students who were still not experienced in defending themselves without powers. Whenever they left the mansion they now traveled in groups. The X-men were livid over the cowering state they had been reduced to, but the professor convinced them that with the country in the grip of this panic there was little they could do to change it without causing even more damage. So with reluctance, they retreated into their sanctuary, growing both stronger and weaker with every day that passed.
XXXXXX
Blonde hair whipped as Wreck whirled about to face the Sentinel looming over her. She was alone, but she wasn't the least bit afraid. The Sentinel was a machine, and that put her in control. She dashed forward, brushing a delicate gloved hand along the robot's foot as it aimed its blast cannon at her. Peyton felt the rush of warmth in her arm as the Sentinel shuddered and stumbled, its power now residing within Wreck's body. The girl scooped up a broken metal fence post and swerved back toward her target. The pole glowed with yellow charge as she jammed it into a nook in the Sentinel's outer armor. There was a shattering crackle as the power flowed up the Sentinel, splitting its exoskeleton and bringing it to its knees. Without hesitation, she jumped and clambered up the metal shoulders like one would a rock wall. Reaching its head, she whipped out a thick metal cutter, slicing a square in the monolith's helmet as it rose once again to its feet. A grin spread Wreck's lips as she reached the central cortex, clinging tight as the robot swayed beneath her. Her fingers wrapped around the brain of the machine, and the language only she could understand played in her mind: a series of beeps, whirs, creaks, every sound and defect telling her everything. It told her of the weaknesses, the systems, the important parts, where the metal was straining, and how much more damage it could take.
"Say hello to my little friend." She withdrew a small, pointed device from her belt and shoved it into the cortex. It sparked and then blew, and the Sentinel staggered and fell, Wreck riding it to the ground like Legolas from Lord of the Rings. The thundering boom rocked the cityscape as it hit the street. Peyton leapt off, brushing her hands on her camo cargo pants.
"Not a bad session if I do say so myself. And I do." She smirked. "Deactivate simulation." The danger room powered down, the Sentinel changing back into a now-incapacitated practice droid.
In three months, Peyton Manheim had changed physically. Her blonde hair had grown out to her waist, and despite her still small size, she had morphed into a tiny teen powerhouse of recently-turned-thirteen. On the outside she still looked innocent and helpless, but if one saw past the baby soft skin, flushed cheeks, and wide eyes they could detect the catlike muscles lying sleekly in her arms and legs. She stretched her arms above her head, flexing the sliding musculature in her back as she yawned. She knew that in male company this would earn her more than a few admiring stares. There was a loud buzzing, and Cyclops' voice echoed through the intercom in the control room.
"Not bad Peyton. You handled it well, but next time could you tell someone when you'll be doing a solo run. You could have been hurt and if I hadn't walked in no one would be able to help you."
"Chill Scotty. I'm perfectly capable of handling one Sentinel, you know. And how long were you watching by the way?" Her glinting chocolate eyes flickered to the control room, a devious grin lighting her face.
"Only since you used the fence post to neutralize it. The reason I came looking for you though is that you're with me this time for a supply run."
Wreck groaned. "Why can't you just admit that we're going grocery shopping and errand hopping. We all know calling it a 'supply run' doesn't make it any less boring."
"Come on Peyton. If you want to keep eating and showering we have to do it. So clean up and meet me in hanger in forty five minutes."
"Whatever you say goggle-boy." She muttered under her breath as Scott left. She hurried from the danger room and upstairs to shower and change. Exactly forty five mintues later she flounced into the hanger, her damp curls bouncing, wearing a white shirt with blue horizontal stripes and grey jeans. Scott was waiting by a black jeep, tapping a foot impatiently.
"Relax, I'm on time." Peyton slid up next to her team leader. He just nodded to her and climbed into the driver's seat. Peyton pulled her lips into a small pout. "Can't I drive? It's not like we're going to run into any traffic cops down here. And don't you pull that 'you're to young' excuse, I can probably drive even better than you can."
"Yeah I know. I'd just like to keep some sense of seniority. Plus, I do know the tunnels better than you do."
"Pff, seniority. You just don't want Remy, Roberto, and Carter catching me chauffeuring you around again," she stated indignantly as she jumped into the passenger seat. Scott opened his mouth to protest but then closed it again. It was pointless to argue with this thirteen year old with the attitude of someone twice her age. Also, she was right on the point of not getting caught again, though he'd never admit it. Instead, he turned the key in the ignition and steered the jeep into the underground tunnels.
The passageways were similar in design to the lower levels of the mansion, but wider and higher. They were an intricate maze with steel doors requiring identification to pass. It would be nearly impossible for someone to enter who wasn't supposed to be there. Scott found them useful, but resented that they had need of them at all. After about twenty minutes they turned off onto a slope. They reached one more door that required a retinal scan and password to open, which then slid apart to reveal bright sunlight. The jeep rolled out of the ground in a wide alleyway and swung out into a town just a few miles north of Bayville.
They went to various places: first to the pharmacy to pick up necessary supplies for Dr. McCoy, then to the hardware store, and at last to the superstore to pick up the last items.
Inside they separated; Scott heading for the food aisles and Peyton to pick up soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and feminine products. She fingered the credit card Professor Xavier had given her to buy the items, wondering if she should indulge in the makeup set shining distractingly on a display stand in the cosmetics aisle. The girl sighed; no, she would get only what was necessary.
When she had everything on the lengthy list she carried, she met Scott at checkout. They left the store, glad nothing unpleasant had occurred. As they exited, they passed a man and woman getting out of their blue Civic. Both were engaged in a fervant conversation.
"Honestly, I don't know why those fools in Congress don't just pass that registration law and lock those creatures up like they should. None of us are safe until they're put away for good." The woman stated firmly, her husband agreeing heatedly. Peyton felt a growl in her throat, but Cyclops nudged her and leaned over to whisper. "Pay no attention Peyton. They don't matter, and besides, we can't show aggression."
The blonde still looked murderous, but turned her gaze away from the man and woman, instead reaching for her receipt and studying it intensely. Scott relaxed as the couple entered the store, and he swung back into the driver's seat.
Peyton hesitated, then turned. Her eyes darted about, looking for possible witnesses. Seeing none, she brushed her hand over the blue Civic's hood. For a moment she could hear the mechanical language before a metallic screeching that only she could hear reached her eardrums. Wreck smiled like the Grinch and clambered up into the jeep.
They were long gone when the couple came back out to their car. Climbing in, the man started the engine only to hear the car shrieking around them before a blast of smoke hit their faces as the vehicle collapsed into pieces beneath them. The engine of the car let out one last pathetic sputter before it coughed and died.
XXXXXX
Scott pulled back into the hanger, and he and his companion began unloading the numerous bags from the trunk and backseat. They staggered upstairs with them, making it as far as the entryway. Unexpectedly, the urgent voice of the professor vibrated through their heads, almost painfully.
"All students and X-men, report to the war room immediately."
Scott looked up startled, and Peyton's eyes widened in half apprehension half excitement. They simply dropped the bags in the few chairs nearby and sprinted back downstairs to the war room. Above them and ahead of them they could hear the thundering of many more footsteps. Jean, in levitating flight, shot past them and rounded the corner.
Peyton and Scott burst in, the room already crowded and even more people coming. Logan paced the room, already in battle uniform and Storm hovered anxiously. At last Eclipse and Waver skidded in, accounting for all of the mansion's occupants. The professor looked over them all.
"Cerebro has detected a sudden use of many concentrated mutant powers in western New York state. They are all centered on a prestigious university of genetics located out there. I don't recognize any of the mutant signatures, but from the amount of signatures and their large activity I doubt that they're presence there is friendly."
Whispers broke out until the professor silenced them. "X-men, suit up and prepare to investigate this development. Be prepared for violent outcomes. From what I can make of the mutants I have detected, none of them are of the cleanest records and pasts."
"I also believe that our new students are prepared enough to face their first assignment. The larger numbers are needed." The new students let out exclamations of fear and anticipation.
"You are dismissed, and good luck to all of you." The room emptied quicker than one would have believed possible. Xavier sincerely hoped his new pupils were ready for whatever they were up against.
Peyton stepped from the locker room, fully suited. She fixed her headset in place and tied her sneakers before rocketing toward the hanger. Beside her, Dread's face was drawn with nervousness while Elementress' was set in determination. The X-men crowded in the hanger as most of the team boarded the X-jet, the other half to the newest jet, the Blackbird. Wreck found herself seated in the Blackbird, Copycat on her right, Doc on her left, and Black Diamond situated behind her. Logan and Storm were up front in the pilots' seats. Receiving the order from Scott and Beast in the X-jet, Logan pulled back on the steering device and the jet rolled forward, picking up speed.
Wreck leaned back, trying to thrust down the butterflies in her stomach. Their first real mission as X-men, and Wreck was more scared than she had ever been in her life.
XXXXXX
Shadowcat peered around the X-jet at all the teens who were about to face their first battle. She wondered if this was how the professor had felt when his original six X-men met their first fight. At least they had only been facing off against the Brotherhood their first few times. These guys would be jumping into the unknown, completely new adversaries with unknown abilities. Kitty fought away the queasy feeling, hoping that whatever they were up against wasn't so dangerous as to put lives at risk.
She could hear Scott speaking from the front. "ETA to destination, seven minutes." Shadowcat looked back at the new kids. StoneHeart appeared as calm and collected as ever, his face determined. Dynamo and Torch were muttering a conversation excitedly while Oceana bounced in her seat nervously. The newer official X-men, including Multiple Man, Sunspot, and Magma appeared more composed but there was still edginess in their stances. They hadn't seen major action since Apocalypse and everyone was tense.
"We've arrived at our destination." Everyone started as the X-jet touched down. They all leapt from the plane, Scott leading and directing the plan of action. The Blackbird team had joined them.
"We won't be jumping into it right away. I'll send a forward team to check out the situation and report back what they find. Then, depending on what they discover, we'll move in from there. Okay, I need Shadowcat and Nightcrawler to lead with Iceman, Waver, Biofuse, Doc, and Wreck. Circle the perimeter and try to see without being seen. Go."
The scout team made for the outer walls of the facility grounds. Wreck was trembling with tension, wondering what awaited them. The genetics facility was just outside of the city of residence, surrounded by high concrete walls that sheltered the various buildings within. As the strike team drew closer, sounds began to reach them. Yells, blasts, and crumbling debris all met their ears.
Nightcrawler turned to them. "Alright, ve split into two groups. Shadowcat will take vun, and I vill take zhe other. I'll take Iceman, Waver, and Doc." He motioned for them to follow him as the blue mutant crept along the west wall. Shadowcat led her team back along the south wall. They reached an ideal spot.
"Let's see what's going on." Shadowcat gripped the hands of Biofuse and Wreck and phased their heads through the thick wall. What they saw had all three gulping.
Swarms of facility guards in blue uniforms ran hither and thither all over the expansive grounds. Several of the posh looking office buildings were smashed and the debris was scattered over the grounds, while other buildings burned with light from fires that were steadily spreading. What had them most worried was the solid mass of bodies that moved unrelentingly for the buildings. They were all dressed in identical red and black and marched like an army. Blasts of flame and colored energies fired out of the ranks of mutants, sending the human guards running.
Kitty seized her communicator. "There's like an army of mutants in here. The guards can't do anything, and the mutants are heading straight for the buildings. Even if we have all our X-men, this is gonna be a hard one to win." Her face was more than a little pale.
"We have no choice. We have to stop them from securing whatever they're after. Shadowcat, take your team around the right flank. Don't show yourselves until I give the signal."
"Got it." With that, Shadowcat pulled Wreck and Biofuse through the wall and sprinted forward, skirting the group of attacking mutants and staying low. Thankfully the sun was beginning to set, and the lengthening shadows kept them hidden. They crept closer to the advancing mutants. Wreck drew in a breath, preparing for the signal.
Suddenly a young woman, no older than Kitty, with pink hair stiffened. The ranks around her stopped. Her head lifted and she was perfectly still, then her head whipped around and she glared right at Shadowcat and her team. She yelled and the rest of the legion turned as well.
Kitty gaped. "We are so, like, doomed."
The mob surged forward.
XXXXXX
Scott's communicator crackled and Shadowcat's voice screamed. "We're compromised, they spotted us! We need, like, immediate back up!"
Scott turned to his team. "Now!"
They all charged for the perimeter walls. Scott lifted his hand to his visor, sending an optic blast that shattered the concrete. They rushed through to see Shadowcat's team fighting back scores of mutant terrorists. Biofuse lashed his sharpened appendages with accuracy, sending his enemies scattering from the deadly human weapon. Wreck was ducking in and out and around the blows, fighting like a little blonde panther. There was a blast of smoke as Kurt's team arrived to help. Doc knocked several mutants flying with a blast of his shields as Nightcrawler charged to help Kitty.
Cyclops' and Wolverine's teams charged into them. The mutants scattered for a moment at the unexpected counter-attack. They all stumbled as Elementress rocked the earth below them as the X-men leapt into the fray. Pandemonium ensued.
Wreck found herself backed up against Cyclops as bodies pressed them and then spread outward again. Cyclops spoke to her above the din of blasts and screams.
"Wreck, I need you to get a select group into the building they were headed for and secure it. We don't know what they're after, so you just need to keep them out of the building. You need to get past the security systems inside." He pressed his communicator. "I need Doc, Dread, Black Diamond, Colossus, Gambit, Rogue, and StoneHeart in that building. Wreck, go!"
Wreck nodded, delivered a crippling crotch kick to her opponent and ran flat out for the building. It was still a good distance off, but easy to see since it was the largest. She could feel her teammates converging around her, Rogue taking the lead. Wreck suddenly collapsed, someone having tackled her from behind. She whipped around to see a blueish haired man pinning her. She struggled to free herself, when the man was lifted from her, Colossus punting him a good distance over the lawn. He whirled in the air and like a rocket blasted back toward them. Colossus readied himself for a collision, but it was made unnecessary when a black energy beam and a glowing card knocked him, unconcious, from the air.
They all reached the building. "Come on. Wreck, get the door open." Rogue ordered.
Wreck stepped forward and placed her palm over the control panel on the wall. The machine whirred in her ears and the doors opened. Before she could remove her hand though, the security system told her something else. She whirled to the others.
"Someone's already inside. Their objective is on the top floor, Laboratory 4."
Rogue nodded and they all tore inside and pounded for the elevator as the Goth girl reported through the comlink. "We're in, but somebody beat us here. We're gonna trah ta intercept 'em."
Doc hammered on the up button but nothing happened. They all headed for the stairs instead. As they climbed the plan was laid. "We don't go chargin' in lahke the cavalry, we have ta get the lay of things and see what we're gonna be facin'. Doc and I'll go first, since we both got mental shieldin', in case there's a telepath in there."
"I don't t'ink so cherie. I go wit' da kid, I've got bettah stealth skills an' I also got mental shields." Gambit protested. Rogue glared, but consented that it made sense. She still didn't like him undermining her authority though.
They reached the top floor. They could see very little since all the lights were out. With a nod, Gambit and Doc crept off down the hallway. Doc was focused, moving nearly as stealthily as the master thief. They reached the end of the black corridor, outside of a door marked 'L4' in black figures. The two young men both eased to peer through the circular windows in the double doors. They could see the lay of a dark lab beyond the glass, and within two tall figures. Gambit slipped out his comlink.
"Dere's only two as far as we can see, but dere may be mo' den dat. Can't see 'em fo' de dark, an' dey ain't usin' dere powers."
"That'll have ta do; we can't let 'em get what they came for." Moments later they were joined by the rest of the group. Rogue held up three fingers to indicate when they would burst in, guns blazing. As her fingers dropped, the new X-men were coiled like springs, ready for anything.
The third finger dropped, and the doors burst open before them as they lunged into the room. They were briefly aware that whoever had been standing there was no longer, when harsh white lights blazed awake around them, nearly blinding the team. They backed into a defensive circle, blinking their watering eyes.
"Well, I should have expected to see the X-men here. After all, our arrival was not subtle. However, I am actually quite pleased to see so many of Xavier's new charges. I was hoping to meet them. It's good to see you again."
They all looked up, eyes squinting. A tall and muscled figure hovered over them, a dark purple cape billowing around the black and red armor. Glinting eyes peered down at them from the shadows of a long helmet. Rogue snarled.
"Magneto."
Yes, I'm leaving it there. I know I'm evil and I like it. Mwahahaha! Don't worry, I'll try to update as soon as possible. Stay tuned.
By the way, all of Magneto's followers are real Marvel x-men villains. If you read the comics you might recognize some later.
