A/N: Here's the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and/or added this story as a favorite, it made my day.
I took the liberty of crafting Remy's past from the comics as they don't talk about his origins in the Wolverine movie. I had a hard time writing the battle scenes so I hope you enjoy the story!
Disclaimer: Once again I own nothing.
We were never friends were we?
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Last time
"Sergeant Lyman, gather the rest of your men and meet me outside Cerebro." Stryker ordered. The man hurried away to carry out his orders. "You carry on." Stryker ordered the two men still working on breaking into the security control room. "When I come back, I want this door open all the way!" The two men hurriedly resumed working on breaking open the inner door as Stryker stalked off.
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Xavier wheeled his wheelchair down a long metal hall, a barefoot mutant girl in a nightgown following close behind.
He stopped in front of a metal door where a laser from the retinal scanner examined his eye.
Welcome Professor. The computerized voice said as the metal doors slid open.
Xavier looked back at the girl.
"Don't leave me alone please." She pleaded.
"You can come inside." He said.
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In the room Stryker had built his modified Cerebro in, Hermione Granger stood guard over the two wheelchair-bound mutants. One was controlled by the other's mind and the controlling mutant was, in turn, controlled by the mind-control serum she had developed a while back.
Hermione smirked as she regarded the two mutants. She had always been the most brilliant witch at Hogwarts. And by developing this potion she had proved it, if only to herself. I should have been number one in our graduating class. I deserved it but Perfect Potter always did have to have the limelight. She thought viciously.
Oh yes, Perfect Potter. He always ruined everything. At first she really had considered him a good friend, and she had been a good friend in turn. But the witch also recalled the fiasco at the end of fifth year in the Ministry of Magic. That had opened her eyes to the attention-seeking and trouble-making brat that Potter really was. And she wasn't the only one to see him for what he really was. Ron had finally accepted the fact that his best mate was too concerned with being a hero and defeating the Dark Lord, to get the fame, that he didn't care a fig about his best friends' safety.
Hermione frowned. She and Ron had discussed what to do about Potter all throughout the summer, in between making out of course. At first they had just considered severing the friendship and not associating with him anymore. But the more the talked the more a better plan developed. They knew that Harry would either have to kill the Dark Lord or be killed by him. The latter being the most likely outcome. So what they had decided to do was to pretend to continue being his friend and then once he had been killed, preferably after he had destroyed the Dark Lord, she and Ron would be able to play the grieving friends and reap all the benefits from being best friends with Saint Potter.
On the other hand, if he did end up living, they were going to see that he got them positions in the Wizarding world that befitted their status as his best friends. She in the Ministry and Ron as either an Auror or a professional Quidditch player. He would marry Ginny, she would have his kids and they would end up slipping him some poison, or have him declared the next Dark Lord, to get him out of the picture. And Ginny would gain access to the Potter and Black fortunes as the beneficiary of his will.
Either way it would have been perfect if Potter hadn't disappeared taking that werewolf brat, the Veela, Loony Lovegood and that traitor Bill. All of their perfectly laid plans had gone to waste. Luckily though she had gotten a position in the ministry anyways, although not as high a one as she deserved, and had helped write and push through the Dark Creature Registration Act. She was incredibly proud of that fact. And Ron became an Auror, even though he shouldn't have had to go through that ridiculous amount of training when Potter should have gotten him promoted to full Auror status right away.
Well, that was all in the past and they were planning on getting their revenge, starting with the werewolf brat in one of the back rooms.
She continued to study the two mutants and wondered what illusions Jason was creating in Charles Xavier's mind.
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Xavier rolled into the room containing Cerebro with the young girl close behind.
The doors slid shut behind them.
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In the security and control room Mystique was busily typing away when a loud creaking sound caused her to whirl around in her chair.
She stood up, prepared to fight her way out when a loud explosion made her flinch.
The heavy metal door to the security room floated backwards and Mystique smirked.
The door dropped to the ground revealing Magneto and the other mutants.
Jean used her telekinesis to slam the two guards into the wall behind her, effectively knocking them unconscious.
"Have you found it?" Magneto asked striding into the room.
"A large portion of the energy from the dam has been diverted to this chamber." Mystique replied gesturing to a highlighted area on the monitor.
"Cerebro." Hank breathed.
"There it is." Magneto said quietly.
"Can ya shut it down from 'ere?" Gambit questioned.
"No." Mystique said after attempting to do so.
"Come there's little time." Magneto said turning around.
"Not without us." Jean said.
Magneto and Mystique exchanged glances.
"Oh my god. The children." Storm said her gaze caught by one of the monitors.
Luna looked at Kurt. "Kurt can take me there and we will get the kids safely back to the jet. "You're needed here." She said to Storm, the silvery haze retreating from her eyes.
"But…" Storm started to protest.
"Listen to her." Harry ordered his own gaze caught by another monitor and the red-head inside.
"Vhere are they?" Kurt questioned.
"They're being held in a cell one level down." Mystique replied after checking the map.
"And that room?" Harry asked pointing to the one with Ron in it.
"One level down and to the back." Mystique answered.
Harry's mouth tightened into a thin line. It's time to end this ridiculous game Weasley.
"Storm, Hank you go with Mystique and Magneto to Cerebro while Kurt and Luna get the kids." Jean ordered. "Logan…."
"Cajun. I think we're going to have ourselves a little family reunion." Wolverine interrupted Jean pointing to a monitor that showed Stryker stalking away.
"Oooh. Remy love a family reunion." Determination lit up Gambit's eyes. "Remy got ta return da favors Stryker showed 'im at de Island." Gambit said thinking of the experiments Stryker had performed on him and some of the other mutant kids.
"Harry?" Jean questioned looking at the wizard with the glowing green eyes.
"I'm going to pay an old friend a visit. I'll meet you outside Cerebro." Harry said coldly.
"Good. I'll try to find Scott and the Professor." Jean said as Kurt and Luna disappeared and the others left the room.
Gambit paused to kiss Harry deeply. "Be careful mon petit."
"You too." Harry said giving Gambit a quick kiss before he disappeared.
Gambit raced out of the room after Wolverine. They had a scientist to visit.
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"You set up a perimeter!" Sergeant Lyman ordered his men.
Stryker and Yuriko walked down the hallway through the armed guards to the thick metal door where Cerebro and Xavier were.
He punched in the code and walked into the room.
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Hermione was startled out of her plotting by the sound of the door opening. She had her wand out and a curse on her lips before she realized it was only Stryker entering. When this is over that pompous ass is the first to go.
"What's the matter?" She questioned the military colonel.
"There are mutants loose in the base. We need to step up the process. I want all of the mutants dead." Stryker growled at her.
"Very well." Was all Hermione said, but internally she rolled her eyes. The man couldn't do anything right!
"Imperio!" She shouted training her wand on Stryker's son. The mind-control potion, even though it was made with Jason's brain fluids, wasn't strong enough to control the illusionist. So Hermione used the Imperius curse, of which muggles and mutants, didn't have the ability to resist what so ever. She nodded to Stryker when she saw the mutant's eyes cloud over.
He leaned over the wheelchair back so his mouth was level with the mutant's ear.
"Jason." The blue and green eyes were alert waiting for the next order. "It's time. Time to find our friends." That insidious voice whispered.
To the side Hermione rolled her eyes. How melodramatic. Why in Merlin's name didn't he just have her Imperio Xavier to kill the other mutants? Honestly the man was pathetic. Luckily his usefulness was quickly coming to an end. If there were mutants in the base, out to rescue the professor no doubt, then Harry and his hero-complex self would be among them. Her revenge was so close she could almost taste it.
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The little girl stepped closer to the Professor. "Is it time to find our friends?" She asked quietly. "All of them? All of the mutants? Everywhere?" She questioned even as Stryker said the words into Jason's ear.
"That's right." Xavier replied.
"Every one of them?" She repeated the question.
"Oh yes." Xavier answered.
"Good."
"It's time to bring this to an end. Make me proud." Stryker said to Jason.
"Keep an eye on them." Stryker ordered Hermione before stalking out of the room.
This could be interesting to watch. "Legilmency!" Hermione called out and found herself in Jason's mind watching the illusion proceed.
Stryker entered the password into the control box on the side locking in the room two soon-to-be-dead mutants and a witch who had outlived her usefulness.
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The little girl watched the Professor pick up the helmet and place it on his head.
"Just don't move." He informed the girl before concentrating his telepathy into activating Cerebro.
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Stryker turned to Sergeant Lyman. "Kill anyone who approaches….even if it's me."
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Magneto and Mystique were walking side by side down the hall, Storm and Beast close on their heels. Behind them Jean furrowed her brow in worry. Something wasn't right. Sensing a threat she used her telekinesis to knock the other four mutants to the ground, just in time to avoid a laser blast from Cyclops.
"Go! I'll take care of him!" Jean shouted at the other four.
"This is one lover's quarrel we cannot get involved in, my dear." Magneto muttered to Mystique as they got to their feet, Storm and Beast right behind them.
"Be careful Jean." Storm warned before hurrying down the hall.
Jean got to her feet and ran down the side passage using her telekinesis to knock Cyclops backwards and into the wall before he fell down to the ground below.
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"Help us! Anybody!" the children's screams echoed through the basement floor.
"Listen." Luna said.
"Help! Get us out of here!" they cried.
"Kids. It's Luna. We're going to get you out of here so the vicious Snorlacks don't get ahold of you." Luna said.
There was a whoosh and Kurt appeared in the cell, a trail of blue smoke floating around.
The children jumped back startled by his demonic yellow eyes, blue skin and tail.
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Harry stalked down the corridor. He could vaguely hear kids shouting, but he had to trust that Luna and Kurt would get them out safely.
He was glad that Mystique was able to locate Weasley's whereabouts, but he didn't need directions now that he could feel his son's magic.
Harry slipped his wand out of the holster on his arm. He couldn't remember if he had ever told Ron that Professor Snape had been training him in wandless magic. If he hadn't then it would be his secret weapon and if he had, well, Ron still didn't know about his mutant abilities.
Harry flattened himself against the wall and risked a peek around the corner into the open door of the room the two wizards were in.
"Don't worry you pathetic werewolf brat. I'm sure your heroic dad will be here any minute ready to protect you. But let's see how he likes being injected with this mind-controlling potion that your Aunt Mione invented. Then we'll see just how powerful the almighty Savior is." Ron cooed menacingly to Teddy who only stared wide-eyed at the slightly insane redhead.
Outside the door Harry tightened his hands into tightly clenched fists. Well, that explained how mutants like Magneto and Nightcrawler had been controlled by someone who didn't have an ability of his own. Hermione had always been smart, but he didn't think she would help a crazed scientist destroy a group of people in her quest for imaginary revenge. He had given these people everything and this was how he had been repaid! Betrayal, kidnapping and a plot to destroy the life he had worked so hard to build. Well, Harry was no one's puppet and he certainly wasn't going to let a jealous ex-classmate ruin his life.
So he gathered his magic and cast a wandless, non-verbal shielding spell over Teddy before using Jean's ability to grab the vial of serum and let it shatter on the floor. And the moment Ron spun around, startled, Harry was on his feet racing through the doorway, an Expelliarmus spell rolling off his lips. Ron's wand was flung backwards and hit the wall with a thud, but Ron had pulled out his secondary wand and retaliated with a shouted, "Crucio!"
Harry dodged the spell and ducked behind some machines. "What's wrong Weasley! Upset that your little plan to control me isn't going to work? Or should I say Hermione's plan? You always were just a dumb sheep that followed her every word with no thought of your own!" Harry taunted the temperamental redhead.
"Come out here and fight like a man Potter! You always thought you were so much better than the rest of us, but I'll show you that I should have been the hero!" Ron raged as he threw shattering hexes at the machines Harry was using for cover.
But Harry had anticipated Ron's frontal assault and was already on the move firing off several slightly darker hexes at the other man.
He knew at least one hit its mark by the pained cry from the redhead and just barely avoided getting hit by one of Ron's curses. He didn't want to kill the other man, but he wasn't sure he could let him live and chance that the other man might attack Teddy.
Harry paused a moment to run through his options. The redhead didn't really care about attacking Teddy as he was more focused on defeating Harry himself. The shield around Teddy would keep him safe from any stray or rebounding spells and since the pen he was in was against the back wall Harry only had to keep Ron's attention firmly centered on himself.
Satisfied, Harry leapt to his feet¸ wand in hand. "What's the matter Weasley? Did you get sub-par Auror training because you were no longer best friends with the Savior?" Harry taunted as he shot three stinging hexes at the youngest male Weasley.
"Fuck you Potter! You ruined everything. You put my family through hell just so you could get the fame from defeating the Dark Lord!" Ron screamed, flinging out blasting curse after blasting curse at the general area where Harry was crouched.
"Even now that he's dead you can't even say Voldemort's name! How in Merlin's name are you going to defeat Voldemort's defeater if you can't even say his name?" Harry taunted as darted out from his cover flinging a bone shattering curse at his ex-best mate.
Harry dodged Ron's retaliating blood-boiling curse and continued his taunt. "And your family was considered to be blood traitors for supporting Dumbledore and being muggle-lovers. Voldemort and his Death Eaters were going after you anyways. At least with me around you all weren't slaughtered like sheep in a slaughterhouse the moment he attacked!"
"You know what Potter you weren't so high and mighty when you were sniffling over Cedric's and Sirius' death. And you're certainly not going to be when you're crying over the werewolf brat's body!" Ron cried out as he flung, not a spell, but a knife at Teddy sitting in the pen, watching his daddy.
Harry froze in horror for a moment before he focused on Jean and her ability to freeze the knife in mid-air.
Ron stared at the immobile knife in confusion even as his Harry's grip on his magic slipped and the whole military base and even the dam shook under the power of his rage-fuelled magic.
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Wolverine and Gambit walked through the winding corridors keeping a sharp eye out for Stryker and his assistant when they felt the shock wave of power.
"What was that?" Logan asked as the two men picked up their pace.
Gambit didn't reply as he was thinking back to last night in the forest and how Harry's magic had exploded under emotional duress. He hoped his soul-mate was alright.
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"Scott!" Jean called out as she scanned the empty areas between the equipment for any sign of her brain-washed lover.
She advanced cautiously, scanning from side to side, keeping eyes and ears open for a sound that would betray Scott's location.
A footstep and the sound of Cyclop's power being released alerted her just in time for her to throw her hands up, focusing her telekinesis into pushing back Cyclops' optic blast.
The force of his blast and him moving forward pushed her backwards. "Scott, don't do this!" She shouted trying to reason with the other mutant. She didn't want to hurt him!
She reached inside herself for that well where her telekinesis lived and drew as much of it out as she could. But it wasn't enough! She needed more-
Her eyes snapped open, fiery flames flickered to life in her eyes and she bared her teeth, focusing on gathering that power and slamming it into Cyclops' blast. The surge of energy flung Scott backwards and the shockwave reverberated throughout the base, causing structural damage to the dam itself.
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In one corridor Stryker paused looking around as he tried to determine what had caused the very foundations of the base to shake for the second time. And like the first time he blamed those damn mutants. "No matter, they'll be dead soon." He murmured to himself before continuing down the corridor.
He paused again after only a few steps to remove his glasses. There were water droplets on the lenses. The ceiling was leaking!
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Jean lay on the ground behind a piece of fallen machinery, her leg lying at an unnatural angle.
Scott strode over towards her and she cried out as he knelt next to her.
"Jean, no, no, no. It's okay. It's me." He said placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"Scott." She breathed out in a combination of pain and relief.
"I'm so sorry." Scott apologized softly as Jean threw her arms around his neck and he hugged her close.
"I thought I'd lost you." Jean breathed into his ear.
"Oh, God." Scott sighed kissing her. "I'm so sorry. I could see you, but I couldn't stop myself. I tried, I'm so sorry." Scott apologized.
"I love you so much." Jean replied, running her hands through his hair.
"I love you." Scott answered moving to stand up.
"Ahhh!" Jean cried out in pain. "My leg."
"Okay, easy. Easy." Scott said as he wrapped his arms around her waist to help her up only to stop at her tone of voice.
"Scott….something's wrong."
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Stryker hurried to a wall of gauges to monitor and regulate the water pressure in the dam. "My God. No!" He cried out as he saw the spike in pressure.
He hurried off, Yuriko following as faithfully as ever.
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"Have you found the mutants yet? Have you found all of them?" The little girl questioned the professor.
"I'm trying. There are so many of them." Xavier replied, voice reflecting the strain the search was taking on his mind.
"Then concentrate. Concentrate."
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A rumbling and bubbling noise caught Gambit and Wolverine's attention. They walked down the steps into a room out of some sci-fi novel or a medical horror story. A tank with a greenish-colored liquid caught Logan's attention while Gambit focused on the numerous X-ray photos lining the lit-wall.
Logan walked over to the cauldron that held a bubbling, liquid metal.
"Is dis where Stryker injected ya wit' de metal?" Gambit asked softly.
"Yeah." Logan replied just as softly, remembering how they had injected the liquid metal through several red-hot and painful needle-like drills.
"The tricky thing about adamantium is that if you ever manage to process its raw, liquid form, you gotta keep it that way. Keep it hot. Because once the metal cools, it's indestructible." Stryker said as he watched the two mutants from the top of the stairs. "It's rather like coming home isn't it. You two were the ones that gave me the most trouble in all the years I've been working with mutants." Stryker said as he moved across the room.
The two men said nothing keeping a wary eye on the man that had caused them so much grief.
"I used to think you were just another street rat, Gambit. And I used to think you were one of a kind, Wolverine." He paused at the top of the stairs. "I was wrong about you both."
Snarling, Logan raced towards Stryker intending to get revenge, but Yuriko surprised him, spinning her leg around and slamming it into his chest, sending him flying backwards.
Gambit gripped his staff in one hand and drew out a couple of playing cards from his pocket. "'bout time t'ings got interesting 'round 'ere." He said grinning demonically.
"Have at it Cajun." Logan grumbled getting to his feet. He hadn't expected Stryker to have a mutant assistant.
The three thick metal claws on each hand gave off a snickt! sound as they were unsheathed.
Yuriko smirked as she brought up her hands, her finger nails extending into ten spear-like metal claws.
"Holy shit." Wolverine breathed out.
"Remy wonderin' where de hell we gonna find some nail clippers big enough." Gambit said as he charged up three of his playing cards and let them fly at the woman.
She dodged the explosions, but it put her close enough to Logan that he grabbed her calf and spun her around, flinging her backwards.
Gambit started forward ready to back up the other mutant, but stopped at Logan's words.
"Go deal with Stryker. I've got this bitch."
Gambit hesitated a moment.
"Go!" Logan ordered gruffly as Yuriko got to her feet.
Gambit raced out the door after the colonel.
"Let's dance." Logan growled menacingly at the other woman.
Smirking, she raced forward, spinning around like a tornado, nails slashing Logan across the face.
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Gambit blew up the door that Stryker went through and raced after him.
Stryker looked behind himself, surprised to see that damn Cajun following him! This proved that mutants couldn't do anything right!
He picked up his pace trying to outrun an angry mutant with a grudge.
"Oof!" Stryker cried out as he fell, face first onto the floor, tripped by one of Gambit's kinetically charged playing cards.
Stryker was forced over onto his back and found that the glowing butt of Remy's staff was pressing into his neck.
"What are you going to do to me? Kill me?" Stryker asked, almost daring the Cajun to.
"Ah should fo' what ya've done ta me 'n de ot'ers." Came the reply as the staff was pressed just a little bit harder into his neck.
"Well, I wouldn't be the first one you've killed. After all you did destroy your family because of your mutant abilities." Stryker taunted secure in his persuasive and manipulative abilities.
"Funny ya should mention de word family 'cuz dat be part o' de reason Remy want ta see ya punished."
"Oh and what does your dead brother have to do with me?" Stryker asked.
"Nah dat be in de past. What Remy talkin' 'bout is when ya kidnapped ma cheri's son from de mansion."
"Ahhh the child. Actually I really don't know what's become of him. I was supposed to kidnap him for some people who wanted revenge on the child's father. In return, they gave me access to the serum that controlled your mutant friends." Stryker said. "I'm sure the boy is fine Gambit. But don't you think you should walk away from them. I mean you've already destroyed one family, why should the second one be any different?" Stryker asked condescendingly.
Gambit was silent for a long time. Neither man moved from his position: Stryker prone on the ground, a glowing staff pressed against his throat and Gambit crouched over the man, eyes glowing the same bright red as the staff.
"Dis time it be different 'cuz Remy t'ink 'e would die wit'out his cheri 'n le garçon. 'N right now Remy be done wit' ya 'n ya plottin'" Remy said.
CRACK!
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Logan snarled as he coughed up blood due to the adamantium claws buried in his back and stomach. This was just great! Two mutants with adamantium claws and regenerative abilities. How the hell was he supposed to finish this bitch off?
He flung his arms out, claws slicing through the chains that held the platform up letting it, and Yuriko, crash into the tank.
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In the jet, the three teens were sitting in silence worried for their teachers and friends.
"Do you think they're okay?" Rogue asked softly.
"They have to be." Bobby said as reassuringly as he could.
John opened his mouth to say something, but was startled into silence by a popping sound and then Harry appeared in the jet.
"Harry!" they all cried out at once.
Glowing green eyes stared up at them, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead.
"Are you okay?" Rogue asked timidly.
"Yeah. I'm fine." He replied before dropping one bundle he carried on the floor and shifting the other bundle on his hip.
"You got Teddy back!" John cried out, happy that both his more-than-likely family members were safe.
Harry smiled before passing Teddy to John who cradled him carefully.
"I know it's hard for you guys not to be in on the action, but I need your help." Harry said.
The three teens nodded, ready to help the other man in any way.
"I know you're not trained for fighting, but you shouldn't have a problem keeping an eye on this piece of trash." Harry growled nudging the bundle harshly with his foot.
Bobby and Rogue gasped when they realized the bundle was actually a man!
"Who is he?" Rogue asked.
"The bastard that kidnapped Teddy and hurt Gambit, Logan and Hank. He's unconscious for now, but I want him alive which is why I brought him back here. You three are strong enough to keep him under control and Teddy safe while I go deal with his partner-in-crime. The three of us have a history together and I want to be the one to make sure that they don't hurt anyone else." Harry growled out thinking back on their long shared history.
"We'll keep Teddy safe and make sure he doesn't escape." John promised solemnly.
"Good." Harry nodded. He reached into Ron's pocket and pulled out the second wand. He took that one and the other wand and snapped them both in half.
When Harry snapped the wands the man on the floor arched up, letting out a silent scream before falling back to the ground, unconscious.
"What was that for?" Bobby asked cautiously.
"So the bastard can't do any magic. I know he's not powerful enough to do wandless magic so you don't have to worry about him attacking you." Harry assured.
"How are the others?" Rogue asked when Harry looked like he was about to leave.
"The last I saw they were fine. But I'm going to go back and make sure they stay that way." Harry said before Apparating away.
"Rogue, help me tie him up." Bobby said dragging the man to one of the seats as John watched, cooing to a quiet Teddy.
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Luna linked her arms through two of the captured kids while Kurt did the same with the other two.
"Back to the jet?" Kurt questioned the blonde.
"Back to the jet." Luna confirmed, the soft pop that signaled Apparition trailing her words.
Bluish-black smoke drifted lazily through the room after Kurt and the other two kids disappeared.
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Logan rolled off of Yuriko's claws, coughing up blood. His respite was short lived however as Yuriko burst out of the tank like a hell-spawned demon, slamming her adamantium nails into Logan's back.
Crying out in pain Logan's eyes fell upon the adamantium reservoir and the nozzle attached to it.
Gathering all his strength he lunged forward and grabbed the nozzle before turning it around and plunging it into Yuriko's stomach.
Yuriko shuddered in shock and pain as the liquid adamantium flooded her body.
Logan watched in stunned horror as she jerked back once, silvery liquid metal oozing from the corners of her eyes, mouth and nose. He glanced away saddened and horrified by what he had to do to survive even as Yuriko slipped away, dead, landing with a thud at the bottom of the water-filled chamber where, years ago, he had been injected with the same metal that caused Yuriko's death.
Logan let his head fall back in pain and tried to catch his breath. He might have preternatural healing abilities, but that didn't take away the pain brought on by multiple and, in anyone else—fatal, stabbings.
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"Find all the mutants." The girl whispered to Xavier as the map lit up with the red dots indicating the presence of a mutant. "Find them. Find all the mutants. Find them all. Each one. All of them."
As Xavier concentrated harder, the girl smiled.
"Good. Kill them."
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Outside of Cerebro the soldiers went on high alert as a sound betrayed the approach of a potential threat.
The soldiers were surprised and alarmed to find that the pins on their hand grenades were flying off pulled away by some unknown force. They scrambled frantically, trying to stop the inevitable.
Explosions and screaming erupted before everything fell silent.
The metal pins made a clanking sound as they hit the ground next to Magneto's feet.
"Was that really necessary?" Hank asked as they stepped up to the huge metal door guarding the entrance to Stryker's Cerebro.
"Not really. But it was so much easier than taking them down one by one." Came Magneto's dry and unapologetic reply.
Storm shook her head.
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"Need some 'elp?" Gambit drawled from the door above leading into the experimentation room.
"Not a chance Cajun. What happened to Stryker?" Logan questioned as he leapt up from his reclining position.
"Dear ol' dad is a bit tied up right now 'n 'e won' be able ta come 'n 'ang out wit' us." Gambit replied smirking.
"You're something else Cajun." Logan said shaking his head. "Let's go find the others."
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Magneto placed his metal helmet on his head and stepped up to the door. Mystique glanced at him worriedly while Storm and Hank prayed they would be able to get to the Professor in time.
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"Concentrate. Concentrate harder." The girl whispered insidiously to Xavier.
In the back of his mind, a small voice warned the Professor that he shouldn't be doing this, that he could kill all of the people he had worked so hard to protect. What was he doing?
"Now, find them all. Find the mutants."
Oh, yes. He was trying to find the rest of the students from the mansion. He hoped they were safe.
"Kill them. Kill them all. Kill them."
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Jean and Scott were hurrying as fast as they could when Jean suddenly cried out in surprise. "Cerebro." She gasped out. "We're too late."
A second later the two collapsed to the ground, holding their heads and screaming in pain.
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Mystique collapsed to the floor screaming, causing Magneto to whirl around in surprise. His mouth tightened into a grim line. It was time to finish this nonsense.
Storm and Hank also collapsed to the ground, but Hank wasn't in pain anywhere near as bad as the others. He could feel the Occulmency barriers that the goblins had carefully crafted inside his mind to protect the wizarding world's secrets, bearing up under the assault of the Professor's mind. Hank wasn't sure how much longer they were going to hold up, but he prayed that Magneto would be able to get into the chamber soon.
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On the plane the three teens collapsed in agony, Teddy sitting on the floor crying in fear while an unconscious Ron was oblivious to everything.
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Logan and Gambit collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony.
"Mah cheri." Gambit breathed out through the pain.
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Even with his extremely powerful ability to control metal, it took what seemed like an eternity before Magneto was able to disrupt the metallic panels that made up Cerebro.
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Xavier looked around in surprise when the glowing map disappeared and Cerebro automatically shut itself down. "That's strange." Xavier said examining the panel in front of him.
Behind him the young girl started breathing heavily and looked around the room in shock.
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Hermione frowned. She felt the power from outside the door and saw how it disrupted the machine that the mutant professor was using.
She concentrated her magic on the figure outside the door. Was it Harry?
When that distinctive magical signature didn't appear she relaxed. It must be those ridiculous mutants coming to rescue their beloved professor.
Hermione scowled. She really didn't feel like bothering with whoever was going to come through that door if it wasn't Saint Potter.
Besides if Stryker couldn't do anything right then she wasn't going to risk her hide to save his pathetic little scheme of wiping out mutants. She had more important things to do. Like destroying the next Dark Lord. Once she showed the Ministry Potter's dead body she would be promoted to a rank befitting her abilities and fame and riches heaped on her and her husband. If Potter wouldn't help them by living then by Merlin he would help them with his death!
Quickly she cast a Cloaking spell over herself and a strong Notice-Me Not spell, just to be on the safe side. She didn't sense Potter, but there was another magical presence outside the door and it wouldn't do at all to get wrapped up in a duel.
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With an imperious gesture the metallic doors to Cerebro slid open and Magneto strode into the room.
He paused to look down at the wheelchair-bound Jason.
The bi-colored eyes glanced over at him intending to draw him into an illusion, but Magneto only tapped his helmet mockingly before continuing over to the still trapped Professor.
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Rogue and Bobby embraced on the jet, still shaken from their near death experience.
John shakily got to his feet and carefully checked over the infant he held in his arms for any injuries.
The three were startled again by a sharp cracking sound and a softer popping noise and John almost set Luna, Kurt and the four other mutant kids on fire when they appeared unexpectedly in the jet.
"Luna! Kurt! I'm so glad you're okay." Rogue said as she and Bobby disentangled themselves.
Luna offered the three teens a smile before she turned to the unconscious Ron and delivered a sharp kick to his calf.
The redhead grunted in pain but otherwise didn't wake up.
Bobby raised an eyebrow.
Luna shrugged. "He was infested with mischief-causing Sprites and a good kick is the only way to dispel them."
"How are Harry and the others?" John asked ignoring yet another display of oddity by the blonde witch.
"For the moment they're fine, but we need to get the jet closer to the base. The others are going to need a quick escape route."
"Do you even know how to fly the jet?" John questioned, skeptical.
"No, but what better time to learn." Luna said serenely as she seated herself in the pilot's chair.
Kurt crossed himself.
Rogue swallowed nervously.
Bobby buckled his seatbelt.
John wondered where wizards went when they died.
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Harry struggled to his feet. Damn the Professor is one hell of a mutant. His Occulmency barriers had held up under the strain of the attack, but it had been a constant struggle to keep moving towards the room where Cerebro and Hermione were under that relentless attack.
Why did he stop all of a sudden? Harry wondered as he took off at a run. I have a bad feeling about this.
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"How does it look from there, Charles? Still fighting the good fight?" Magneto asked the unresponsive Xavier. "From here, it doesn't look like their playing by your rules." He said condescendingly. "Maybe it's time to play by theirs."
He levitated himself above the walkway and concentrated his powers on the metal paneling. The panels rearranged themselves into a pattern known only to two people. One trapped in an illusion, and one with his own agenda.
"What is he doing?" Storm demanded as she stepped up behind Mystique.
The shape-shifter rolled her eyes and delivered a roundhouse kick to the white-haired weather mutant, knocking her out.
Hank sent off a slashing hex towards Mystique which hit her, but didn't stop her. She slammed him into the wall before she dropped to the ground in pain.
Eric lowered himself back down to the ground and looked at the blue-skinned woman.
Hissing, she drew herself up and morphed into the body of William Stryker. She approached the wheelchair and leaned in close to his ear. "There's been a change of plan."
Eric smirked as he watched Mystique manipulate Jason to do their bidding. Then his smirk disappeared and he turned back towards his old friend. "Good-bye Charles." He said patting the back of the man's wheelchair. He removed his cloak and handed it to Mystique who tied it tightly around her still bleeding side. There were no words needed between the two as they strode, side by side, out of the room.
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As soon as the doors to Cerebro slid shut Jason went to work manipulating his illusion so that Charles would do what Jason wanted.
"There's been a change of plans. Now find them. Find them all—the humans. Find all the humans. Every one."
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Logan stopped suddenly causing Gambit to run into his back.
"What was dat fo'?" Gambit asked crossly, rubbing his nose.
"I thought I heard water." Logan replied.
"So?"
"Like water from a dam." Logan growled out.
"Shit."
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Well, that was interesting. I certainly hadn't expected that turn of events. Hermione thought to herself. Well, I suppose it doesn't really matter. I felt Harry's magical signature earlier and I know that he'll be here any minute, wand-drawn and ready to avenge his freaky friends.
In the end that's all that matters.
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"Find all the humans. Every one. Find them. Find all the humans. Find them all."
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Harry regarded the thick metal doors with suspicion. From the information he had pulled from Weasley's mind he knew that Hermione was guarding the Professor and the mind-controlling mutant. The mutant wouldn't be a problem as his Occulmency barriers were running at full strength.
The problem was Hermione. He knew that she wouldn't be easily taunted into making mistakes so what was the best way to disarm her?
He paused as an idea came to him. It was rather on the simple side and he would be vulnerable if she didn't react as planned. And he would need to use a lot of magical power which he was running low on because of the duel with Ron and then the strain of holding up his mental shields under the Professor's assault.
A noise made him spin around.
Scott approached supporting a limping Jean while Hank helped Storm up off of the floor.
"Are you okay?" Harry addressed the other mutants worriedly.
"We will be as soon as we get the Professor out." Storm replied.
"He's trapped in an illusion and….and oh my god." Jean breathed out as she focused her telepathic abilities.
"What?" Storm questioned.
"Magneto's reversed Cerebro. It's not targeting mutants anymore." Jean said in horror.
"Who is it targeting?" Harry asked.
"Everyone else."
"Shit. We've got to get in there and fast." Scott ordered.
"Okay. Well there's a witch in there that helped Stryker develop the mind-control serum. She and I have a score to settle. I can get Hank and Storm inside but you're on your own after that. I'll join you on the jet later, but don't wait up for me. Get the Professor and get out." Harry ordered.
The others nodded.
Harry closed his eyes and concentrated on his magic. He, once again, had Snape to thank for what he was about to do. The man might be a genius when it came to Potions, but his obsession with the Dark Arts and its Defense gave him incredible insight into the structure of spells and how to manipulate them.
Harry would never have even known it was possible to alter a spell. He had simply presumed that a spell did what it was supposed to and that it couldn't be changed in any form. But under Professor Snape's tutelage he had first learned to see magic, then how to analyze the structure of a particular spell and finally, just before the Final Battle, how to forcibly alter not only his own spells but also ones cast by other people. It had been incredibly challenging, but in the end, after a lot of difficulty, he had managed to do it. Snape was a very powerful wizard but Harry was one of the three most powerful wizards in the world and with Dumbledore and Voldemort dead he was the only wizard with the magical strength to force another's magic to his will. It was difficult even for him and it was one thing that he was glad he had never shared with his friends. He would never have been able to leave Britain alive if the Ministry found out about his abilities.
Harry pushed those grim thoughts aside and focused on Hermione's magical signature. They had spent so much time together that even 2 years apart and cloaking spells couldn't hide her magic from him. Concentrating Harry latched onto Hermione's magical core and gave a hard tug while simultaneously switching her with Hank and Storm. Not a moment later he concentrated on picturing where he wanted to go.
And with a pop Harry disappeared from the military base.
HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP-HP Stryker grunted in pain as he twisted his arms, trying to free them from the chains the Cajun had used to tie him to the helicopter base. Just a few more minutes. There!
Just as soon as he had freed one arm, Stryker clapped it to his forehead as a loud humming sound started in his mind.
"Impossible." He breathed out before the pain tripled.
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In the Oval Office, the President's bodyguards were writhing on the floor in pain.
The president was slumped in his chair oblivious to anything but the pain in his head.
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Hank and Storm appeared on the walkway in the chamber.
They looked around, surprised to see not the Professor, but instead a little girl in a white nightgown.
"Hello. What are you looking for?" She asked.
"Professor! Can you hear me?" Storm called out, ignoring the little girl. "You've got to stop Cerebro now."
"Who are you talking to?" the little girl asked confused.
"If we weren't in an illusion I would just Stupefy the other mutant, but I can't risk hitting the Professor." Hank murmured to Storm. "I would still risk it, but I don't know what would happen if the professor's mind was forcibly disconnected from Cerebro."
The girl seemed to realize that they weren't buying her little act. "I've got my eyes on you." She said eerily.
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Magneto and Mystique strode towards the helicopter and the whimpering man chained to it.
"Mr. Stryker." Magneto greeted. "Funny, we keep running into each other. Mark my words it will never happen again."
The metal chain tightened around Stryker's neck, choking him.
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"Hank, it's about to get very cold in here." Storm warned the other mutant.
Hank nodded and cast several Warming charms around them both.
Storm's eyes clouded over and a chilling wind started to blow in the chamber.
"What are you doing?" the girl asked scared.
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Mystique fiddled with the buttons on the helicopter's control panel getting it ready for takeoff.
Magneto stared out the window as though he was waiting for someone to appear.
"The boy?" Mystique asked.
"It seems he's not going to appear. A pity. I had high hopes for that one." Magneto sighed. He laid a hand on her thigh. "Get us out of here my dear. I believe we have some catching up to do before we continue with our plans."
Mystique smiled and lifted the helicopter into the air. She couldn't wait.
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"Find all the humans. Kill them. Every single one. Find all the humans."
He was trying, but it was getting so cold.
"Focus. Focus. Find all the humans."
Jason panted heavily in his wheelchair. Frost was starting to form on his face.
"Stop it!" she screamed at Storm.
"Jason." The Professor breathed out.
"He's going to be so angry at me." The little girl cried.
She spun around, grabbed her head and screamed before she vanished.
The Professor panted harshly as he removed the helmet from his head, disconnecting Cerebro.
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Outside the door Jean and Scott hit the ground when water burst through the walls.
"Where are Logan and Gambit?" Jean asked worriedly.
"I don't know, but we better get out of here soon." Scott replied looking worriedly at the metal doors.
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Inside Cerebro the four mutants looked startled as the ceiling started to fall apart.
Quickly Hank Apparated Storm outside the door before Apparating back inside the chamber to grab the Professor.
Jason remained alone in his wheelchair on the walkway as the world fell down around him.
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"We have to get out through the spillway." Storm cried.
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Water was rushing through the spillway as Logan and Gambit raced through the base trying to save their friends.
They rushed up the walkway and were almost to the doors.
Gambit gathered his kinetic energy in his hand and slammed it into the control panel next to him.
The huge doors slid shut in front of the astonished X-Men.
"You don't want to go that way. Trust me." Logan said.
"Come on. Dere be 'nother way out o' 'ere." Gambit said as he and Logan turned back the way they came.
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"I'm impressed." Harry said as they landed in the forest clearing which he had destroyed not that long ago.
"With what?" Hermione snarled at her ex-best friend.
"The way you let me kidnap you. I mean you were the smartest witch in our class and you knew my reckless tendencies. I'm still amazed that you can read me like a book, but then again you were the brains and I was always the brawn, right?" Harry said.
Hermione was confused. She knew she hadn't transported either of them. For Merlin's sake she hadn't even sensed Harry's presence! But Harry seemed to think that she was responsible for their Apparition….. "Being the brawn isn't exactly a bad thing Harry. After all the three of us were a team and we complemented each other." Hermione soothed. "We all had our parts to play in defeating the Dark Lord."
"Were is the key word though, right 'Mione?:"
"Well, you did run away from home and left Ron and me without a best friend and Ginny without a boyfriend." Hermione retorted gently.
"Ah yes. But Ginny was trying to drug me with love potions and you and Ron were only concerned with what you could get out of my fame. Does that sound familiar?" Harry asked sarcastically.
Hermione was irritated at the self-righteous prick. "Well, what did you expect Potter? You put us into dangerous situations year after year, almost getting us killed and you got the majority of Ron's family killed as well!" Hermione yelled at Harry.
"Oh and I supposed I held you at wandpoint and forced you to accompany me on all of those dangerous missions? In fact I recall insisting that you stay behind on several occasions. But you all insisted on tagging along anyways. And as for Ron's family….well, they were adults and could make their own choices. They were in the Order and the Weasleys were considered blood traitors they were at the top of Voldemort's hit list." Harry snapped back.
"Don't try to escape blame, Harry Potter! You were so wrapped up in defeating the Dark Lord that you didn't care what happened to the rest of us! You just wanted the fame so you could be a celebrity!" Hermione screamed.
"I had a Prophecy hanging over my head from the time I was a year and a half old that said I either had to kill or be killed. And then the entire Wizarding World placed all their hope on the shoulders of a teenager! A fucking teenager whom they never actually asked if he would save them all! I was either a hero or a psychotic teen depending on the day! Merlin be damned Hermione! All I wanted was a family and a normal life! But you and Ron are still so fucking convinced that I want fame! All I want is to be left alone!" Harry screamed.
The two ex-best friends stared at one another, in silence, for the longest time.
"You're right Harry. We never did ask you for what you wanted. And for that I'm sorry. So just come back home, Ginny promised to wait for you until you're ready to get married and then you can find a caring home for Remus' son so you guys can start your life together." Hermione replied adopting a conciliatory tone of voice.
Harry closed his eyes. Why couldn't anyone understand? "Dammit Hermione! You're not listening, again! Everyone expected me and Ginny to get together just like my parents and their storybook romance! But we aren't them and I changed Hermione! Ginny can't be what I need not after the war. Besides I've met the person who makes me happier than I've ever been and they aren't going to demand that I give Teddy away like an unwanted Christmas present!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at the angry wizard standing across from her. "I see you're still just as selfish as ever." She said quietly.
"Yeah, well maybe I'm going to be selfish for the first time in my life." Harry replied softly.
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
The two enemies released spells at almost the exact same moment. Hermione might be a brilliant witch, but Harry had the raw power and the training to put it to good use.
It was over in less than a minute.
Harry looked at the unconscious witch and sighed. "I'm sorry Hermione."
He grabbed her arm and Apparated away.
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The X-Men hurried out the side door that Gambit led them to. They were anxious to get away from Alkali Lake before the dam flooded everything.
"Mon Dieu! De 'elicopter was right 'ere." Gambit cursed.
Everyone was scared. Then they heard a loud rumbling noise and the jet flew into sight.
It landed in front of their astonished eyes.
Everyone hurried towards the jet as the ramp opened.
Logan and Gambit paused, however, when they caught sight of Stryker chained to the ruins of a wall.
"Dat's not quite 'ow ah left 'im." Gambit muttered.
"Let him rot in hell. He won't be able to bother us or anyone else ever again." Logan said dismissively.
"Ah reckon ya be right."
"Let's get out of here."
And with that the two mutants left their pain to die with the man who caused it.
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"Luna?" Storm questioned surprised.
"It was a lot of fun flying the jet. I've never flown a plane before." The blonde chirped.
Scott looked at the three pale teens and the praying teleporter. "So I can tell." He said dryly as Luna vacated the pilot's chair. He took his seat while Storm seated herself in the co-pilot's chair.
"Who's the redhead?" Logan asked gesturing to the bound and unconscious man.
"Don't really know." Bobby replied.
"Harry popped in with him and Teddy. Said to keep him tied up till he got back." John replied.
The Professor looked towards Luna a question clearly written on his face.
"He's a traitor." Was all she said before seating herself next to Kurt on the bench. He wrapped his tail around her waist.
"Where is 'Arry?" Gambit asked worriedly.
"He should be here any second now." Luna said.
A popping sound had everyone looking back towards the cargo bay where Harry appeared with an unconscious woman in tow.
"Harry you're safe!" Rogue cried out.
"Yeah I'm fine." Harry said, though everyone could clearly see that he was not happy.
"When did you learn to teleport?" Xavier asked surprised.
"Er…it's a long story Professor. I'll have to catch you and Scott up to speed later." Harry replied, tying up the woman next to the redhead.
"Oh good you got her too. I figured she was the other one involved when I saw Weasley tied up. Where one is the other will be." Luna said. "It's the Blithering Humdingers that does that."
Everyone else looked confused while Harry just smiled. "Hopefully this will all be over soon." Harry said.
"Well, it won't be if we don't out of here a.s.a.p." Logan snarled, interrupting. "Can you two get this bird off the ground?"
Scott hit several buttons and flipped two switches. "Engaging power and we're ready for takeoff." He said.
He and Storm gently guided the plane off the ground and into the air just as the dam burst and water rushed out, destroying everything in its path.
"Scott, we've got to get to Washington. I fear this has gone beyond Alkali Lake." The professor said gravely.
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The President strode through the halls of the White House accompanied by his assistants and security guards. "Today I've been given an opportunity to shed light on recent occurrences from the attack that ended in this office—Good morning—to the unexplained phenomenon that swept the Earth nearly annihilating our way of life."
"Good morning Mr. President." One of the workers greeted the man.
"Do we like this word annihilating?" the President asked his assistant.
"Good morning." The President greeted the press and the others as he entered the Oval Office.
The photographers were snapping photos as the President seated himself behind his desk for the televised press conference.
The technical director approached the president. "Mr. President, we're live in five, four, three, two…." He trailed off as the camera light came on, signaling they were broadcasting.
"My fellow Americans, in this time of adversity we are being offered a moment—a moment to recognize a growing threat within our own population and take a unique role in the shape of human events."
Outside lightning flashed and the camera went blank.
"Did we lose the feed? Are we still live?" the president queried softly.
He looked around the room, shocked, when he saw that no one was moving and they all seemed to be frozen. He turned around in his chair to look out the window at the storm that had appeared out of nowhere.
It had been a sunny day with no hint of clouds in the sky, but all of a sudden menacing dark grey storm clouds covered the sky, thunder rumbled and lighting flashed.
The president turned back around in time for a flash of lightning to illuminate the strange new people who had appeared among the press.
"Good morning Mr. President." The bald-headed man in the wheelchair greeted.
The president started when he saw the blue-skinned man who had attacked him not that long ago. He started to rise from his chair in alarm.
"Please, don't be alarmed. We're not going to harm anyone." The man soothed.
"Who are you people?" the president questioned.
"We're mutants." Came the reply. "My name is Charles Xavier. Please, sit down."
"I'd rather stand." The president answered bravely.
"Rogue."
A girl with white streaks in her hair approached the president and laid a blue folder onto his desk.
"These files were taken from the private offices of William Stryker." The professor said.
The President studied the papers in the folder for a moment. "How did you get this?" He questioned.
"Well, let's just say I know a little girl who can walk through walls."
Logan smirked at that comment.
The President slowly sank down into his chair as he continued to read what the file contained. "I've never seen this information."
"I know." Xavier said.
"Then you also know I don't respond well to threats." He retorted.
"Mr. President, this is not a threat. This is an opportunity. There are forces in this world, both mutant and human alike who believe that a war is coming. You will see from those files that some have already tried to start one and there have been casualties. Losses on both sides." He said thinking about the soldiers and about Yuriko, whose only crime had been following orders while drugged.
Gambit recalled some of the mutants on the Island who hadn't survived the experiments Stryker performed. He knew there were a lot more mutants, himself and Logan included, who still bore the scars from those same experiments.
"Mr. President—what you are about to tell the world is true—this is a moment. A moment to repeat the mistakes of the past or to work together for a better future. We're here to stay, Mr. President. The next move is yours." Xavier said.
"We'll be watching." Hank said.
Thunder boomed and lightning flashed and when the storm cleared the mutants were gone.
The technical director checked the teleprompter to be sure it was working. "Mr. President." He whispered.
The president looked around the room for a long moment and then glanced down at the folder on his desk before folding his hands and looking at the camera.
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A/N: Wahoo a whopping 40 pages! Hope that makes up for the wait. As you can see I manipulated the ending of the movie a bit, but all for a good cause! Just one more chapter left to tie up some loose ends before the sequel which I have planned. Please review and let me know what you think! ~Dark Disaster.