Earth-717: X-Men Vol 3
Chapter 9: Pryor Engagements
He was finally looking in her eyes again. Even though everything he saw was forever tinted in red, he could still tell that her green eyes were the most beautiful that the world had ever known. And although she could never truly know what his looked like, she knew that if she had the choice, she would never look in the eyes of anyone else.
Jean and Scott walked towards each other. He was the first to reach out with his hand. She smiled as she reached out with hers. Their fingers touched, and they were finally sure that the moment was real. Scott had almost forgotten what her touch felt like. Jean felt rejuvenated as she sensed the genuine adoration in his thoughts, knowing that her presence was warming a heart that had been cold for so many months.
For a few precious seconds, they forgot the rest of the world around them. After so much time spent away from each other, they were finally reunited, and they relived their entire relationship in their minds. Their first meeting at her home. The times they fought side by side. The one night they shared only a few days before the event that tore them apart.
At that moment, nothing else in the world mattered.
Then, the rest of the team entered the room.
"Scott."
Scott let go of Jean's hand and took a couple steps back. He looked at each member of the team in turn, surprised that he didn't even recognize some of them. Moira and Piotr were there, as expected, but now Storm was a permanent member. Logan and Rogue were also present, but Scott had no idea who they were.
Scott spoke as Jean moved her hand, mentally commanding the security officers to leave the room and forget they had ever seen any of the mutants.
"What's . . . . what's going on?"
"We need your help," said Jean.
"We? So this is what the X-Men are now? You've been busy."
Jean briefly glanced over at Bobby and Amanda.
"So have you."
"So this is the guy who left his friends behind, huh?" asked Logan. "Nice job."
Jean looked over her shoulder at Logan and scowled.
"Not helping," she said.
Logan folded his arms. Jean looked forward again.
"How did you find me?" asked Scott.
Jean smirked.
"Do you even need to ask?"
Scott sighed.
"Right," he said. "Stupid question. Then let's try a different one. Why exactly are you here?"
"We need all the help we can get."
Jean then gestured towards Sinister.
"And it looks like you accomplished what you set out to do, so . . . ."
"Help against . . . . wait. Where's the Professor?"
"That's what we need your help with," said Jean. "He's been captured. By a woman named Madelyne Pryor."
Scott shook his head and chuckled. He folded his arms and looked away from Jean for a moment before furrowing his brow.
"After everything he did to me, after he betrayed me, you want me to help him?"
"I want you to help me."
Scott went silent. Moira then stepped forward.
"You know damn well he never betrayed you," said Moira, in a tone that surprised Scott with its anger. "He always did everything he could to help you! Without him, your mind would have torn itself apart, and you'd be in jail."
"You know it was Sinister who hurt you, not him," said Jean. "And whether or not you ever believe that, it doesn't change that we need you. Madelyne destroyed the Institute. It's gone. Burned to the ground. She kidnapped the Professor, nearly killed us all, and she wants to commit genocide against mutants. So I'm asking you . . . . will you help us?"
Scott considered her words for a few seconds before slowly looking over his shoulder at Bobby and Amanda. Bobby stepped up to his side and gave him a nod. Amanda was more hesitant, but after a few more seconds, she joined Bobby at Scott's side. Scott then looked back at Jean, who already knew his answer.
"Yes."
At that moment, an explosion rocked the building they were standing inside. Everyone looked around as they heard screaming and gunfire coming from downstairs. However, before they could react, a Black Spectre helicopter flew up to the floor they were standing on. Jean hastily threw up a telekinetic shield over everyone as the helicopter fired multiple missiles at the team.
Because she barely had any time to prepare, Jean's shield did not protect everyone completely from the the subsequent explosions. Most of the team was blown backwards, their bodies smashing against walls or each other. The only two people who weren't incapacitated by the attack were Logan and Rogue, who managed to get back to their feet.
The helicopter was about to open fire with its machine guns when Logan roared with rage. Rogue held out her hand as Logan sprinted straight for the helicopter.
"LOGAN!"
Logan pounced, holding his claws out in front of him. The helicopter pilot screamed as Logan smashed through the front window and skewered her with his claws. As the helicopter spun out of control and started to fall to the ground, Logan looked down to see a white transport truck leaving the shipping area of the building.
Madelyne was in the passenger seat.
Growling, Logan then jumped off the helicopter before it smashed into the road. Madelyne looked up with a scowl as she heard the sound of Logan's body landing on top of the semitrailer.
"No, no, no, no . . . ."
Madelyne growled under her breath before looking at Deathlok, who was driving the truck.
"Keep driving. I'll deal with this."
Madelyne then stretched her body out of the passenger side window. Logan got into a battle ready pose as she reformed herself on top of the truck, crouching on one hand and one knee. She then stood up and smirked at him.
"Oh, the savage one," said Madelyne, giggling. "This will be fun."
"Not for you," said Logan.
Logan rushed for Madelyne, who waited for him to come to her. He started slashing with both claws, but she moved out of the way of his attacks. After four missed strikes, Logan tried a forward jab, but Madelyne formed a hole in her chest, allowing for Logan's arm to go straight through her.
"Huh?!"
The brief second that Logan was surprised was all the time Madelyne needed to land a powerful punch to his face, knocking him back. However, he quickly recovered, bouncing back to her and landing a horizontal slash across her face. Madelyne's visage was sliced in three places, but she almost immediately reformed her face to make it look like nothing happened.
Logan kicked out at Madelyne, who once again moved backwards. She then stretched her torso upwards before forming hammers with both hands. She slammed down with her left hand, which Logan managed to dodge. Logan sliced at her hand with his claws, and Madelyne stumbled because of his attack.
However, she still managed to swing her right hand at Logan, whacking him across the chest. He was once again knocked back, this time towards the edge of the truck. He had to jam one set of claws into the roof of the semitrailer to prevent himself from falling off. Madelyne cackled as she moved towards him.
Rogue's heart sank as she watched Logan land on the fleeing truck. Looking behind her, she saw that most of the team were either unconscious or struggling to get back up. She started to hyperventilate as she looked back and forth between the team and the truck. She knew that Logan was fighting on his own, and that without backup, there was a very real chance that he would not survive.
Finally making her choice, Rogue sighed before looking out of the hole that had been blown in the side of the building. Closing her eyes, she remembered her mother's words one more time.
"Use your power. That's what it's for."
But this time, she wasn't listening to them for her mother.
She was listening to them for herself.
Rogue then leaped out of the building, holding her arms out at her sides. She had no idea if it was even going to work, but she had to try. Focusing her mind, she then opened her eyes as she saw the ground rushing to meet her. Steeling herself, she then realized a second later that she was no longer moving down, but instead moving forward.
Breathing in and out as the adrenaline kicked in, Rogue then looked at her hands as she flew only a few metres above the road. She then looked forward as she heard the sound of a bus horn. She swerved to the side, barely dodging the oncoming bus. She did not have the time to notice various people on the sidewalk pointing their hands at her and gasping as she tried to gain control of her flight.
She did not gain control fast enough to avoid smashing face-first into a McDonald's billboard.
"Dang it!"
Rogue broke through the billboard and tumbled through the air for a couple seconds before levelling out. Looking ahead, she saw Logan and Madelyne battling atop the truck's semitrailer. Holding her fists out in front of her, Rogue adjusted to the way her body moved in flight, quickly adapting and learning how to direct herself.
She then gasped when she saw Madelyne attack Logan, causing him to nearly fall off the truck. He jammed a set of claws into the roof of the semitrailer to save himself. As she watched Madelyne move in for the kill, Rogue boosted forward. Madelyne formed her right hand into a spike and held it above her head, pointing it directly at Logan.
"Have fun dying!"
Madelyne was then interrupted by the sound of Rogue's voice.
"Get away from him, you witch!"
Rogue landed a punch directly against Madelyne's jaw. Madelyne's head and torso split in half, causing her to stumble backwards. Rogue flew over the truck as Logan used the opportunity to pull himself up and kick Madelyne in the pelvis. She fell over and landed on her knees as her body started to reseal itself.
Logan then looked up at Rogue in shock.
"You can fly?!"
"Uh, yeah. Guess I can!"
Rogue then widened her eyes and pointed ahead of Logan.
"Look out!"
Logan turned forward as Madelyne formed her left hand into an axe and swung it horizontally. Logan barely had time to duck under the attack. Rogue then landed behind Madelyne and clenched her fists. Madelyne swung her axe hand back at Rogue, who leaped over it. Rogue then landed a double aerial kick on Madelyne's chest.
Madelyne stumbled as Logan then stabbed her in the back with both sets of claws. Madelyne sneered as she then melted, causing Logan to look down in surprise. Madelyne's liquid form slithered around Logan's body before quickly reforming into her humanoid form behind him. Madelyne then threw her fist forward, bashing Logan in the chest and sending him careening backwards.
This time, Rogue caught Logan and stopped him from falling off the truck. He nodded at her as Madelyne formed both of her hands into spikes and attacked. Logan slashed Madelyne's hand away as Rogue punched away her other one. The villain snarled and kept wildly thrashing her arms, forcing the two heroes to stay on the defensive.
As the truck turned a corner, Madelyne dug one of her hands into the semitrailer's roof to maintain her balance. Logan then charged forward and slashed multiple times against Madelyne's chest. However, it was not enough to prevent her from stabbing outward with one of her hands, piercing Rogue through the stomach.
Rogue coughed blood as Logan looked down at the silver spike that had punctured her abdomen.
"ROGUE!"
Madelyne maniacally laughed as she threw Rogue to the side. Her body slammed against a nearby building before slumping down onto the sidewalk. Without a moment of hesitation, Logan leaped off of the truck and ran for Rogue's body. Smiling with satisfaction, Madelyne then slithered back into the passenger seat as the truck sped away.
As pedestrians fled, Logan ran up to Rogue and cradled her. She opened her eyes and moaned as she bled from her stomach. Seeing the amount of blood she was losing, Logan took off the glove on his right hand. Rogue saw what he was doing and shook her head.
"N-No, no . . . . please, don't . . . . y-you'll get hurt . . . ."
"It's the only way to save you, darlin'."
"D-Don't save me . . . . please . . . . I, I d-don't deserve it . . . ."
"No one deserves it more."
Without another word, Logan pressed his hand against Rogue's cheek. He gritted his teeth as Rogue absorbed his power through his skin, causing him incredible pain. It was the kind he had not felt since he had adamantium permanently grafted to his skeleton. Rogue cried, for she knew that he was suffering so much to try and save her. She then felt her body start to heal itself, with her wound disappearing almost instantly.
As her strength returned, Rogue shoved Logan away from her. They both took several deep breaths as they recovered. Logan then put his glove back on his hand and moved over to her. She pressed her back against the wall, and he sat next to her. He then reached out with his left hand and gently grabbed her right one.
Rogue looked down at the two gloved hands holding each other. She then looked over at Logan with red cheeks and tear-filled eyes.
"Why?"
Logan turned his head to meet her gaze.
"Because you're worth it."
Unable to contain herself any longer, Rogue bawled as she placed her head against Logan's shoulder. For the next couple minutes, Rogue just let her tears flow freely.
Inside her chamber, Master Mold opened her eyes.
"L-Virus has been secured by Miss Pryor. The final phase of my plan has been initiated. Activating Mark Three Sentinels."
Across the compound surrounding the Trask Industries building, panels opened up across the ground to reveal chambers containing squads of Mark Three Sentinels. While they were smaller than the Mark Ones, standing only three metres tall, they were far more numerous. Over a hundred Sentinels launched into the air, and they all flew in formation through the cloudy sky.
