CHAPTER 7

Storm hurried into the mansion lounge to find Wolverine standing in front of the window, looking outside. "Logan? We've just got a call from the President's office. Magneto has got together with the remains of the Brotherhood. They're about to make a strike on the factory where they're constructing those anti-mutant robots."

"Where?" Wolverine asked quietly.

"A secluded industrial estate on the east side of Manhatten."

Wolverine turned to face her, his expression resolute. He almost looked like he was looking forward to it. "Get a team together."

Kitty found herself enjoying Warren's presence. They'd been to the movie together, sitting in companionable silence throughout, and as they headed back to the mansion she found herself more relaxed in his company that she'd been for a while. Even though he was complaining.

"Of all the films on offer, we had to go and see a romantic comedy."

Kitty smiled at him mockingly. "What would you have preferred? A sports movie?"

"Well it would have left me with a bit more street cred."

"Warren, it's a time-honoured tradition that when you're taking a girl to the movies you choose something romantic,"Kitty told him. "Either that or a horror movie so she ends up hiding her face on your shoulder."

"Yes but that wasn't even a good romantic comedy,"Warren argued. "It was terrible."

Kitty had to conceed the point. "You're right. It was."

"The company made up for it, I suppose."

The observation was made as casually as possible but it was still enough to stop Kitty dead in her tracks. She turned and looked at him. "You really mean that?"she asked, suddenly realising how much she wanted him to say yes.

He didn't say anything. Instead, he leaned his head towards hers and with a sudden surge of excitement she realised he was going to kiss her. She copied the movement, anticipating the feel of his lips on hers…

Her phone went off.

The pair stopped and looked at each other, the moment broken. Kitty gave him an apologetic look and answered the call. "Yeah, Storm, what is it?" All her thoughts of romance flew out of her head as she heard the message. "What? Okay, I'm on my way back." She snapped the phone shut and turned to Warren. "I've gotta go."

She had taken the first step in the direction of the mansion, intending to run back there as fast as she could, when Warren caught her arm and stopped her. "It'll be quicker if we fly."

Bobby was hastily getting dressed, pulling his t-shirt on and adjusting his boxers. Rogue was sitting up in his bed, the covers pulled up to cover her body. "I told you we should have stayed in my room,"she complained. "That way Logan wouldn't have known where to find you."

Bobby paused for a moment, memories of the encounter in the hallway the previous night coming to mind. "Actually… he would,"he admitted.

"Oh." Rogue thought about the comment for a moment then decided it was best not to dwell on it. "I wish I was coming with you."

Bobby looked at her sympathetically. "You know you can't."

"Because I'm not one of you,"she sighed.

"Because you wouldn't be able to help,"he corrected gently. He kissed her softly on the lips, then went back to the wardrobe and took out his X-Men uniform.

Wolverine pulled uncomfortably at his uniform as he went to the office. Over the years, he'd more or less got used to wearing it but he was still aware that it made him look somewhat ridiculous.

Gambit was sat in front of the desk. He looked levelly at Wolverine as he came in. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yeah." Wolverine felt awkward. He knew he wasn't good at this and had been tempted to leave the conversation to Storm but he had to try some time. "We got a situation. You hear about this new factory making mutant-hunting killer robots?"

"I've heard stories,"Gambit confirmed.

"Magneto's about to attack it. That happens and a mutant pickpocket will seem real tame."

Gambit nodded. "I understand but… why are you telling me?"

"'Cos I don't like the odds and we could use any help we can get."

Gambit seemed to consider the comment. "You're asking me to go with you?"

"Yep." The offer was out there. Wolverine stood and waited for Gambit's answer.

At last, Gambit stood up. "One condition."

"Yeah?"Wolverine asked cautiously.

"I don't have to wear one of those uniforms."

Wolverine grinned.

Wolverine led Gambit towards the hangar where the X-Jet was kept. As they arrived at the corridor outside the hangar, Wolverine was pleased to see Kitty already there and in uniform. He was less pleased to see Warren with her. He looked hard at the young man. "You're bringing your boyfriend along now?"

"I want to help,"Warren insisted.

"You did say you need all the help you can get,"Gambit pointed out.

Wolverine felt annoyed at the interruption. "I can do without your input, cajun."

"Come on, Logan,"protested Kitty,"you know the things he can do."

Wolverine's gaze didn't shift from Warren. "I'm sure you're pretty good at sweeping the girls off their feet, Angel, but a bit of fancy flying isn't gonna help you out in the field."

"I was with you at Alcatraz,"Warren argued.

"You saved your pop's ass then hid out the rest of the fight,"Wolverine returned.

"A boy must choose to become a man some time,"Gambit observed.

Wolverine studied Warren a few seconds more before speaking. "Okay. You can come. You want to know why? Because we haven't got time to argue." He allowed his attention to switch to Kitty at last. "Storm, Nightcrawler, Bobby and Colossus?"

"Already onboard,"Kitty reported. "Storm said we had to ask you about Warren coming."

"Sweet of her,"Wolverine replied. "Let's go."

Pyro could instantly tell which building was their target. It was the only factory in the estate to still have lights in the windows. In every other building, the workers had already gone home. Evidently, building mutant hunting robots needed a lot of overtime.

He jumped out of the van as soon as it came to a halt, Juggernaut and Plague close behind him. He saw the rest of the Brotherhood emerging from their own vehicles.

"Everyone, move in,"he told them. "Anyone tries to stop you, take them out. I want this place razed to the ground."

"What do you want me to do?"Magneto asked.

Pyro had almost forgotten his old mentor had travelled with them. He wasn't entirely sure why Magneto was there. He accepted his information had been useful but now he was just unnecessary baggage.

"Just stay here and keep an eye on the car, old man,"he told him before turning to his fellow mutants. "All right, let's move."

He was gratified to see Magneto obeyed his instructions and stayed behind. At least he knew his place.

Forge watched the factory production line with some satisfaction. Technicians were monitoring the machinery but the automated equipment was doing well. He was proud of his inventions. He knew some would see him as a traitor but that was nothing new. He had lived for nearly forty years, seen his dark hair start to turn grey, and been shunned both by his tribe and by his fellow mutants. But he knew the only way he could protect his people, both of them, was to work within the system. He just wish his creations didn't need to be put to the test so soon.

He saw Colonel Barclay approaching with two of his men. Forge didn't really like Barclay but he didn't really dislike him either. The man lacked imagination but Forge knew, deep down, that he meant well. He just wished the government hadn't insisted on placing someone so stiff in charge of the facility.

"Magneto's people are here,"Barclay told him.

Forge felt shock at the news. They'd been told the Brotherhood were on the way but he'd hoped to have more roboguards ready before then. "It's too early!"

"They're not operating according to any sort of schedule here,"Barclay replied testily.

Forge tried once more to find another way. "Colonel, listen, the roboguards are untested. This sort of force… there's just not enough of them to stand any sort of a chance."

"Mr. Gyrich's orders were to activate them as soon as the mutants got here,"Barclay replied. "And to put it bluntly, Forge, without them we don't stand any sort of a chance anyway. So activate!"

Forge hated the fact Barclay had the authority to force the decision on him. He hated even more the fact that Barclay was right. They didn't have a choice.

He worked the controls.

Pyro stopped as they saw the factory doors open. Emerging from it were about twenty robots. They had been designed to look like soldiers, human-shaped and human-sized, metal helmets welded onto their imitation heads, rifles in their hands. Someone probably thought it was intimidating. Pyro just found it contemptible.

"Well, look who it is,"he sneered. "Juggernaut, see what you can make of them."

"How about scrap metal?"Juggernaut suggested. He charged at the roboguards. They opened fire but the bullets just bounced off him. He aimed for the robot in front of him and ploughed straight into it, smashing it. But as he did so, the next robot along whipped out a tripwire and lassoed Juggernaut's legs. The move caught him off balance and he pitched forward head first, landing with a thud on the ground. Where he fell, the ground gave way, leaving him lying face down in a crater the same shape as his body.

Pyro looked on in shock. He hurled a ball of fire at the robots but one of them whipped out a cannon and fired a stream of water, neutralising it before it could hit them. Around him, he could see his people joining battle with the robots. He was gratified to see some of the robots destroyed but the number was small and his people… his people were falling. The robots seemed able to anticipate their powers. Those who tried to grapple with the robots physically found them covered in armour plating. Any projectiles hurled at them were deflected. This was not the walkover Pyro had been anticipating.

He attacked the robots with renewed purpose.

The X-Jet cockpit was getting fairly crowded. Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Iceman, Kitty and Colossus had all donned their uniforms before boarding, where they had been joined by their new companions, Gambit and Angel. As the jet sped towards the estate, Storm was listening to the radio. "Logan, I'm picking up a report from the factory. Seems battle's begun."

"Then we'd better get a move on,"Wolverine replied. "Don't want to miss out on all the fun."