Chapter 10

Logan took a cursory look around him, "Let's go," he said as he reached for me. "How do you know?" he whispered in my ear as we approached the plane.

"Because I know," I insisted as I made my way up the stairs. "He's there," I said solemnly. I knew it. I knew it like I knew the sky was blue and the grass was green, that water was wet and ice was cold. I knew. He was there. He was still a part of me. I was still connected with him in this most intimate of ways. I knew and I was filled with dread. Something was wrong - terribly wrong.

We were on our way within the hour, one engine still down, but able to continue our mission. I had to keep busy: I memorized the plan, rehearsed the scenarios, reviewed the maps and I prayed. I prayed we'd get there in time; prayed we'd find the children and the Professor unharmed; prayed Scott was all right; and prayed we could get out of there unharmed and put an end to Stryker and his kind forever.

Mystique went in first, disguising herself as Logan, and acting as a decoy. She disabled the spillway doors, which allowed the rest of us to enter safely. Once inside and locked down, she notified us, "I'm in."

"She's good," Logan acknowledged as he remembered her shape-changing talents.

"You have no idea." Magneto added with a wry smile.

I wondered what he meant by that, but didn't have time to delve any further as we launched into action. We quickly made our way from the plane to the underground plant. Mystique cleared our path from the spillway to the sealed metal doors that controlled the dam, where she located Cerebro and Professor Xavier. Magneto opened the locked metal doors and joined Mystique as she continued to search the databases for the location of the missing children. They were imprisoned in a holding cell near Cerebro. We split up and went in search.

"Alright, we'll get the children and meet you at Cerebro," Storm instructed as she assembled the teams. She took Night Crawler and headed toward the west corridor.

"Okay, I'll try to find Scott and the Professor," I agreed as I partnered with Mystique and Magneto.

"Will you be all right without us?" Storm asked as she eyed Magneto suspiciously.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Where's Logan?"

"He's gone," I said hollowly.

I didn't trust Magneto and Mystique, no matter how accommodating they seemed. I knew they had their own agenda, I just didn't know exactly what they were planning. It seemed, for the moment anyway, that they were on our side; but I knew how quickly the tide could change and knew I needed to stay alert and on guard for when that happened. It wasn't a matter of 'if,' just a matter of when.

We walked hurriedly down the east corridor; it was dark and cold underground. The air was heavy, as if the snow itself would lullme to sleep and suffocateme in its steely embrace. We fervently searched for some sign of Scott and the Professor when I felt him, but it wasn't him. Scott! He was different, he was changed, I sensed a determination for revenge in him and I felt this strange sensation - the back of my neck burned. He was evil incarnate. My skin began to crawl as I felt him coming closer to us. He had one purpose in mind, and that was to seek and destroy. He's here! The blast came and I mentally 'pushed' Magneto and Mystique out of the way, propelling them forward onto their hands and knees as the wall collapsed behind them. The air was thick with dust and rubble.

"Go! I'll take care of him!" I yelled. They had to find Cerebro!

I ran around the corner ready for battle, my hand blocking his blasts. He pummeled against my will with hard continuous blasts of power that threatened to overtake me. Scott, what did they do to you? I forced him back, rocketing him into the air until he slammed into the wall with a loud 'Uumph.' He dropped like a stone over the railing. I ran over to the ledge, and looked down screaming, "Scott!"

He wasn't there. I looked about frantically, trying to spot him, but he was gone. I cautiously made my way along the guardrail until I came to the bowels of the spillway, trying to see into the dark corners of the dimly lit room. He's watching me. I can feel it. The hair on the back of my neck rose as the tingling sensation overcame me, threatening to smother me...Oh my God! I turned and raised my hand in an attempt to ward off the blasts. Red angry bursts of energy pounded against me, zapping my strength.

"Scott, don't do this." I pleaded.

Stronger it came, pushing me back, as I tried to hold fast. Scott, stop! My mind screamed to him, Please, don't do this! I tried to reason with him as he let me in his mind…Scott! What are you doing?

"I could kill you."

Scott, don't.

"You betrayed me."

I'm sorry.

"No you're not," he said bitterly as he increased his optic blast to maximum power.

I felt his anger, his hurt and confusion. He wanted to punish me for betraying him. He wanted to make an example out of me. He didn't want to hurt me, not really, but for some reason he felt somehow he needed to. I felt the conflicting emotions within him; but he couldn't stop himself. Scott, please, stop! I tried one more time. The force increased as I struggled for control. I couldn't hold on much longer. I'm going to die. The realization hit me at once. He was going to kill me and I couldn't stop him.

"Scott, please!" I begged as weakness overcame me…I had lost this battle. I'll do anything you want! My mind screamed to him.

The blast flickered momentarily and I seized control sending Scott catapulting into the wall, cracking the foundation of the plant, creating leaks and tears in its metal and concrete armor. I ricocheted back, slamming against the heavy machinery and into oblivion from the sheer force of the energy I released.

I hear water dripping, I thought as I struggled to consciousness. I heard the steady click of footsteps fast approaching. Scott! I jerked myself fully awake, recoiling from him as he knelt beside me. He placed a steady hand on my shoulder. Hysteria threatened to overwhelm me; I felt the panic rise as it surged through my body. I had to get away!

"No, no, no…it's ok. It's ok, it's me," he assured me as he tried to calm my fears.

"Scott?" I said through the tears. Could it really be him?

"I'm so sorry." It was him!

"I thought I'd lost you," I cried as I hugged him tightly.

"I'm so sorry, I could see you, but I couldn't stop myself. I tried. I'm sorry – I love you so much."

"It's okay." Relief washed over me as I drew in a shaky breath and wiped at my tears. "It wasn't you." I tried to sit up, "Ahhh, my leg."

"Okay, easy. Easy," he said as he moved his hands over me, checking for injuries. He drew me up into his arms, placing his right arm around me as I stepped gingerly onto my left foot. Shooting pain coursed through me and I couldn't help the cry that escaped me.

"Are you all right, Jean?"

"I'll be fine. I think it's just sprained." I tested the measured pressure on my foot. With Scott's support it held. "I just need to hold on to you. We need to hurry." I said as we hobbled down the wide tunnel in search of Cerebro. He glanced at me when I paused.

"Scott…" I said with a dull awareness, "something's wrong."