Chap 14
Dreamplane
Danger room
Kitty found herself standing in an office building with the rest of the X-men, the same one Maddox had been using for their lessons. Just then, a voice came from above, booming with authority.
Maddox: "Ladies and gentlemen. You have learned how to create multiple impossible staircases and mazes in out last lessons, now you will put them to the test. There will be no objective, no ending point. The objective of this exercise will be simply to survive for as long as possible. I suggest you start looking for you avenues of escape from that spot because the scenario starts in 10 seconds."
The X-men immediately did so, knowing that whatever scenario Maddox had cooked up, it wouldn't be pleasant. True enough, the men and women around them shrieked horribly with distended jaws and charged at them.
Bobby: "Aww shit!"
Storm: "Damn you Maddox!"
Maddox just laughed as he watched the X-men run for their lives. If they did things right, this was going to be a long day.
If Kitty thought that being chased by Juggernaught was hard before, she didn't now. These flesh-eating creatures chasing her were fast and they just didn't give up. Kitty ran hard up the stairs and then willed the staircase she was on to connect to another level before closing it off. However, as soon as she had done so and exited the stairway, she found more of those things on the same level. Kitty ran to the other side of the hallway and entered a door, shutting off the connection around her, hoping that would throw off her pursuers. Oh she was so going to make Maddox pay for this!
Storm couldn't believe what Maddox was doing to her. This was the exact same thing that he did to her in their first encounter. Couldn't he have picked another scenario instead? She entered a door leading to a hallway filled with doors. She ran into one and willed it to lead her someplace else in the building, closing off the connection behind her and randomizing the other doors. His training had better pay off.
The other X-men were also running for their lives, putting their dreamscape skills to the test. Some had already failed, Rogue and Sunspot ran into a dead end and were 'killed' by the creatures. By far Blink was doing the best, her knowledge of teleportation giving her a significant advantage in understanding and exploiting the dreamscape tricks Maddox had taught them. Kitty was not too far behind her, though she was just barely hanging there along with Piotr.
Finally after an agonizing hour with Piotr and Kitty added to the 'casualty' list, Maddox released the rest from the dream. The remaining X-men awoke to find the eliminated X-men sitting around waiting for them.
Maddox: "That concludes today's training lesson. Now you've all gotten a feel for what its like to work in a dreamscape. I'm afraid I can't teach you more offensive tricks because none of you possess the capability. We'll slowly work on your skills more and then proceed up the tiers, but I'm capping it at Tier 3 level 5. You will only have one training session at level 6 for evaluation and to let you feel how it feels like at higher tiers, but no more than that. I already cannot guarantee your safe return at Tier 3 level 6."
"Your wallet is going to suffer this Saturday Maddox.", growled Kitty.
"I have no doubt of that.", laughed Maddox.
The next day
Mantis Security Armoury
X-Mansion Basement
There are many rooms in the basement, but one above all stood out from the rest. Once a storage room for X-men uniforms that was never used, Mantis Security took it over and turned it into their personal armoury. It is here that the men and women of Mantis Security get and ready their arms for duty each and every day. But today was a special day. Professor Xavier was going to meet the Secretary of State. It was a widely publicized event, meaning that everyone knew about it. While Professor Xavier preferred that the security detail continue to refrain from carrying any long arms, Maddox had insisted. Today every single Mantis Security guard was armed to the teeth with rifles and protected by full tactical gear. No chances were to be taken in light of this historic event. Some of the men were concerned enough about the threat level that they had taken to carrying AK rifles, a choice that would have been frowned upon by law enforcement, the government and the public in general. But to each his own concerning his tools.
The clack of weapons being charged was distinctly heard throughout the room, as the security contractors prepared their equipment. Within half an hour, they were in position throughout the compound. Maddox stood by the Professor's side along with Storm, the rest of the Professor's security retinue formed up behind him. Soon enough, a black government car came through with a motorcade escort. There he was, the Secretary of State. Maddox did a quick assessment before moving on to the rest of his bodyguards. They were armed for sure, but Maddox was watching for any sign of suspicious behaviour. There was no telling if any of these men were radicals. Some of the bodyguards sized up their counterparts from Mantis Security and flinched a little, clearly uneasy about the heavily armed guards.
Professor Xavier: "Mr Secretary, It is an honour and pleasure to welcome you here."
Secretary of State: "Likewise Professor Xavier. Shall we?"
The men made their way to the conference room to start with their dialogue, security retinue in tow. While the two were friendly, their security retinue were polite but wary of one another. Maddox and his men did not know if any of these men were infiltrators while the Secretary of State's men were suspicious of their counterparts' choice of weapons. Even in the conference room as the two leader chatted away, the security details were staring at one another, watching for any sign of hostile behaviour.
Throughout the day, Maddox and his Mantis Security personnel kept their guard up in the conference room or on the school grounds, preparing for any attack. Finally the meeting came to an end as the Secretary of State's car disappeared into the distance, Maddox finally breathed a sigh of relief. The meeting had gone without a hitch.
3 days later
It had been three days since the visit by the Secretary of State and Mantis Security had stood down from their heightened alert. All in all, the Professor's negotiations seemed to have worked. It had been agreed that measures pushing for mutant protection and acceptance would be endorsed by the government, obviously there had been a wave of outcry from the Human Majority. While they had stored away their long arms and tactical gear, Mantis Security was not lax despite the downgrading of the security threat level.
Maddox was once again on gate duty, waiting to stop any approaching people or vehicles. Three were approaching which was normal for this time, and so Maddox went out of the gate guard post and stepped out into the open. That was when he noticed something odd about the vehicles. They were pickup trucks, but what caught his eye were the people mounted on the back of the trucks. Suddenly, something whizzed by his ear and impacted behind him.
Instinctively, Maddox ducked low and drew his Lionheart LH9N pistol and took aim at the approaching vehicles. He didn't have to call for help since the other duty personnel with him had seen what had happened and radioed for help. Behind the school gate, the warning sirens within the school confines starting to wail.
Kitty was walking back to her room when suddenly a large wail permeated off the speakers in the hallway. Everyone looked up before Kitty shouted, recognizing the mournful wail of the alert sirens.
Kitty: "Everyone to the shelters now!"
The students scrambled just as the alert message came through. The hallways were a riot of movement and noise as students rushed to safety, the staff and X-men placing themselves at key areas to supervise the evacuation.
As she stood at a doorway herding students into one of the entrances, Kitty's thoughts drifted to Maddox. She knew he was on gate duty, meaning that he was likely facing the attack. She desperately wanted to leave the area and check on him to make sure he was alright, but she controlled herself and focused on the task at hand. Maddox could handle himself, and she had to secure the students. She just hoped that Maddox could hold back whoever was attacking and live to see her again.
Back at the gate, Maddox and the men on duty had taken cover and were returning fire with their sidearms. The trucks had been stopped after a few men had shot out the tires, blocking up the small road. That had forced the men to dismount and attack on foot. Maddox popped out from cover and fired two rounds, dropping an assailant. There still at least twelve more, and they were being stubborn. They would fire from behind their vehicles, taking pot shots at them. More security personnel arrived from the school, these men being the response team. Unlike the guards at the gate, they were fully geared up and armed. The response team opened fire with a vengeance, several of the gunmen jerked spasmodically after taking hits, while the rest decided that they had had enough, taking flight in two of the vehicles.
The guards cautiously made their way to the writhing and still bodies of the shot assailants left behind. Those who were still alive were restrained before first aid was applied, while the other bodies were cleared of any explosives or weapons.
As Maddox restrained one of the injured gunmen, he suddenly spoke with a hatred that told Maddox what he needed to know.
Man :"We told you we'd come for you."
Professor Xavier: "We have to get to the bottom of this. These people are getting serious now."
Maddox: "Winchester Police department has already been notified the numbers of the vehicles that fled, its only a matter of time before their caught. In the meantime, we should be more alert. I've ordered everyone on high alert and anyone on duty will be fully geared and armed."
Bobby: "They've taken it too far this time. They have to be stopped soon."
Professor Xavier: "I agree... but there's not much we can do for now except shore up our defences. Storm, I want you and the rest of the X-men to help out Maddox with security. All of you, do whatever you can to help Mantis Security. They could use the help."
Maddox: "They'll know that we have a pretty solid defence, so they'll probably resort to explosive packages and the like, biological or chemical weapons if they have them. All letters and packages will first be examined before being passed over. "
As soon as the group ended the meeting and left the room, Kitty pulled Maddox to the side and grabbed his head, searching for any wounds.
"Are you ok? Did you get hurt? I was so worried about you.", rambled Kitty.
The others around the two snickered as they passed by, Blink and Rogue gossiping away as they left.
Maddox glared at the two girls as they passed by, his head motion still restricted by Kitty's hands. Blink and Rogue only laughed more at him as they walked by and down the hallway. Kitty didn't seem to notice, her sole attention on him alone.
"I'm fine Kitty. I'm not injured", said Maddox as he removed Kitty's hands.
Kitty sighed in relief and hugged him tight, to which Maddox reciprocated.
Maddox: "Kitty? You can let go now. I have to go back downstairs."
"Oh errrm yeah. I'll see you later.", said a flustered Kitty as she released her boyfriend.
Maddox laughed slightly before bending down to kiss Kitty. The kiss turned even more passionate as the two continued to kiss before pulling away. Maddox smiled at her and stroked her cheek with his hand before putting on his balaclava and helmet.
While the two kissed, Rogue, Clarice and Bobby were hiding down the hallway watching them.
"They're so sweet!", whispered Rogue.
Blink: "Those two are really in love."
Just then, Maddox turned towards them after putting his headgear on and placed his hands on his hips. Realizing they had been caught, the three of them ran laughing all the way.
Maddox sighed as the laughter of the three echoed down the hallway , while his girlfriend turned red and walked the other way . Chuckling to himself, Maddox shook his head and continued down the hallway towards the basement.