I'm so sorry, you guys. It's been a rough month. Writing battles is something I struggle with anyway and I want to do this one really well, but between conferences and grading and schoolwork and a childhood friend being killed, I haven't gotten as much done as I want. I PROMISE I will get the battle up as soon as I can. You know, once it exists. I have bits of all the chapters that follow this one, but this is still a complete blank.
Anyway, before I ramble more, here's a short scene to tide you over. It takes place immediately after the last chapter. I'll address my lovely reviewers next time I post.
Interlude
Charles got all the way to the kitchen before Onslaught made his presence known. His toast had just popped up and he'd turned to get the milk from the refrigerator for his newly refilled cup of tea. When he turned back, Onslaught sat on the counter in all his orange-auraed glory, swinging his legs back and forth like a five year old. Charles shot a bitter look to the swinging legs before raising his gaze with an unamused frown.
"Really?"
"Oh, don't be so touchy. One of us should be able to move our legs."
"A bit risky, manifesting in the kitchen. Anyone could walk in. They know you're still around, but I doubt they'd be thrilled to see you."
Onslaught waved the comment off as Charles returned the milk to the fridge. "We'd know well before they made their way down here. Besides, everyone except Erik is still in bed and he's right where we left him wondering what you're not telling him. He's assuming the worst, obviously."
"I would expect nothing less."
Onslaught hopped down from the counter and leaned over the island where Charles was putting the finishing touches on his toast. Resting his chin on his hands, he stared at Charles until the telepath sighed and met his gaze.
"You felt it, didn't you? The machine?"
A rush of power
A fiery grin
The whir of a gears shifting
The hum of energy stabilizing
A flare of victory
"Why else would I be awake before sunrise? With that spike in psionic energy, I'm surprised Ms. Frost didn't wake as well."
"She didn't know what she was looking for. You've been on edge about it since you figured out Phoenix's plan."
Charles stirred his tea and stared at nothing.
"We have time yet," Onslaught continued. "It will be days before it reaches full capacity and even then we have a chance. We knew this was how it would happen. We were never going to get there before she started the machine."
"Yes, but knowing isn't the same as having confirmation. It's different when there's no turning back."
"Don't be so dire, Professor. Like I said, it won't reach critical for days yet. We'll cut it close, but we'll get there. We'll go into Phoenix's mind and, with luck, get her to shut it off."
"And what will we do when she refuses?" Charles looked up again, his stony face contrasting the matching one that held a melancholy smile. "What will we do when it reaches the point of no return and even Hank and Erik's sabotage will do no good?"
"We'll do what needs to be done."
"I've looked everywhere for some way around it-"
"You know as well as I that you won't find anything in those papers to prevent what's coming. Research on using psionic energy to start and end cataclysmic events is sadly lacking."
Charles stared at Onslaught morosely. He kept up his front of positivity in front of everyone else, but that wasn't an option with Onslaught. One benefit to having a sentient other half of yourself was that you didn't have to hide all the time.
Onslaught snorted.
And one of the negatives was that said other half wasn't always sympathetic to your emotional plight.
"Don't give me those watery puppy eyes," Onslaught said. "There's still time. And, remember, at least one good thing came out of all of this."
"And what would that be?" Charles sniped back.
"We know that you were right about Erik. Even after horrible things he did, he still cares. The good you sensed in him all those years ago that I dismissed…it's still there. Which is a good thing because we need him. More than you know."
Charles narrowed his eyes. "What do you know that I don't?"
"I know plenty of things you don't," Onslaught said, standing up straight and brushing some non-existent dust off his shoulder. "I've always been the brains of the operation. Just know that Erik has the means to be a great help to us. Everything will work out in the end."
Charles scoffed, but smiled. "Since when have you been the optimistic one?"
"Since you became the realistic one."
Charles sighed. "Fine. I believe there's more preparation to be done. Shall we?"
He put his tea and toast on a tray in his lap. As he left, the kitchen was empty, but as he rolled down the hallway he felt the sensation of walking and couldn't help but smile to himself.
I'm not 100% happy with this. If you see any problems or anything you wanna see more of, let me know and I'll see what I can do :)