Here we are, chapter 25 of this story. I am sorry, folks, that I take so long to update. I want to get better at that.
Drumroll, please.
Christy; I'm very glad you like the story, and the Christian point of view Wesley has. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well as the last, thanks very much for reviewing.
Freegirl; Ah, faithful reviewers like thou, art surly blessings sent from heaven to writers. I'm sorry I left you hanging a month, it's been busy. Anyway… Magneto won't really react to Wesley's accurate prediction until next chapter, but it should be good. And yeah, Kurt and Wesley will be on good terms in this story, despite their differences. You're welcome for the update; reviews make it all well worth the time spent writing.
Iloveromys; I must admit, whenever I see your penname, I feel a twinge of guilt that Rogue and Gambit's romance doesn't get more screen time, so I am especially pleased and relieved that you like the story. I appreciate you complimenting Wesley's character, the fact that he's a Christian. I also think it helps make him a more realistic character. And while I wouldn't hesitate to bash some doctrines that the church teaches, (Eh, I already did that in the chapter) Christianity itself holds a very dear place in my heart. Thanks for the review, my friend.
Anyway, a little chat before the chapter begins. Maybe I should just get a livejournal account, eh?
On the 31st of July I had some dental surgery, wisdom teeth being removed. I currently (as I type this section, it's the second of August) feel fine, though, thanks to 600mg doses of painkillers. It was an awful thing to have to look forward to. Fast forward to a few minutes before the operation-I'm in the chair, the surgeon's assistants were placing sensors on my chest to track my vital signs and such. They've already put the laughing gas mask on my face, the smell of which makes me feel like puking, one assistant is tying a band around my upper arm to make is easy to put the IV in (The IV contained the almost-general anesthetics,) and I started breathing slightly faster, anticipating the pain to come. One of the assistants heard my heartbeat speed up via the more rapid beeping on the monitors, or just noticed my increased breathing, and offered me a bit of comfort.
"Don't worry," he said, smiling. "It'll be fun."
All I heard was the Joker from The Dark Knight asking, "Why so serious?"
On a positive note… did you all see Kung Fu Panda? It's great! Tigress is awesome, definitely the best character in the film, and the most impressive fighter. Go to youtube and search 'Kung Fu Panda Last of the Wilds' it's this awesome music video someone made about the movie.
I did see the The Dark Knight, and Iron Man, and well as Kung Fu Panda. Iron Man was good, a really neat Sci-fi action movie. The Dark Knight was very dark and grimy, and did not end on a high note at all. Kung Fu Panda is overall pretty funny, with a few very childish parts, and a few really neat fight scenes. Yes, I do see a lot of movies.
Oh, and the 22nd of August was my birthday. I'm now seventeen.
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Mystique, now identical to Colonel Stryker, ran into the control room. "Lock down all passageways and secure the hanger! We'll have to search every square foot of this base, located and verify the identify of each person and secure every area, one square foot at a time!" He barked at the officer at the desk. The show of confidence fooled the man, who turned his back. Mystique smoothly reached out, picked a handgun up off a computer, and smashed it against the soldier's head, knocking him out. She would have simply shot him, but in that small room, the report would have deafened her.
She shoved the operator out of the seat, and sat down. Six seconds later the control room doors were locking down. Ten seconds after that the west blast doors were opening. She pressed down the button on the radio headset she had been given.
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A dozen yards from one of the base entrances …
"I'm in." Mystiques voice said clearly over the headsets each person was wearing.
"Excellent, my dear." Magneto said. He continued, "Did everything go smoothly?"
"Not quite as much as I hoped." Mystique said. "I got into the base, but then Stryker apparently realized I wasn't the real deal and tried to kill me. I'm in the control room now, your entry point is opening. Beware of light resistance. Mystique out." Magneto looked over at Wesley, an eyebrow raised questioningly. The younger man just looked smug. BAMF! Kurt suddenly teleported next to them. "The woods are clear. Ze have no pickets or scouts roaming around; ze must feel very safe."
"No surprise." Storm said. "They're well hidden, safely inside the United States. "
"Enough chatting. You heard what Mystique said!" Wolverine growled. Sniik! His claws came out. "Let's move!"
"Remember the plan, Logan." Magneto said calmly. Wolverine rolled his eyes and took up his position next to Magneto, on his left, three feet from him. Wesley stood three feet to Magneto's right. Jean stepped behind Logan, and Storm behind Wesley. Kurt stood off and watched; he'd be teleporting around side the base, not walking in. The Magneto smiled, enjoying the fact he was commanding the X-Men, if only two of them, and only temporarily. "Oh, yes. You will all need these." He held a small bag up and handed it to Logan. "Take two and pass it around." It was a bag of earplugs. Half a minute later, each of the five were wearing them. Nightcrawler said he would be fine without them.
"Now we have to trust you to keep us alive." Logan grumbled. "I'd rather take my chances."
"Of course you would." Magneto said mockingly. "But for now, I am in charge."
They walked forward to the entrance, to the wide open doors. Bursts of gunfire fire broke out from several soldiers crouched at corners and behind small vehicles, making the four involuntarily cringe and look away, blinded by the flashes and deafened by the reports of the guns. The bullets did nothing, though; Magneto had his hand raised, creating a magnetic shield in front of them; the rounds simply stopped in midair and fell down. BAMF! Kurt teleported next to the rearmost soldier, kicking the man in the head, sending him into the wall, knocking him out. The man hadn't hit the ground yet when Kurt suddenly BAMFED! over two soldiers and grabbed both of their shoulders. BAMF! All three of them vanished. Magneto used the metal the last soldier was wearing to pick him up and hurl him into a wall with bone-crushing force. BAMF! Kurt reappeared, alone. The hallway was cleared of enemy forces-the group could move on.
"Where'd you put them?" Logan asked the teleporter. The blue mutant laughed as he gave his explanation.
"Ze looked a little overveight, so I decided zey needed a hike; they're two miles away in the woods, on the opposite side of the base away from ze jet." That was fine with Logan.
"Which way?" Jean asked; Erik seemed uncertain. Wesley seized the opportunity to pick up a dropped gun, a pump action Remington 870 shotgun. He checked the rounds; it was loaded with 00 buckshot, so shooting someone with one shell would be the equivalent of shooting them six times with a .38 special revolver.
Magneto depressed the small button on his headset and consulted Mystique for directions. "Which way?"
"Fifty yards straight, then go right, twenty yards, take a left." She said. "I'm busy here, have to go." Stryker's forces were working hard at breaking back into the control room.
They set off, formation broken. Logan hugging the right wall, claws out, Wesley staying close to the left, stolen shotgun at ready.
"Clear those corners!" Wesley said. That meant he wanted Logan to check the corners as they neared them and declare it clear or announce any enemy contacts.
"Shut up, kid, I know what I'm doing," Logan said snapped, not liking taking commands from someone who was at most half his age and a fraction as experienced in combat. They hurried on, quietly and quickly, the noise of their footsteps hidden by the hum of the ventilation systems.
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The base was on full alert, and walking around openly could get him shot, so he was careful to stay out of sight. From what Remy could tell, nearly all of the base's forces were being drawn to one point; the single tunnel leading to a restricted area that he hadn't explored. His stolen radio squawked to life, making him freeze to try to hear it; "Intruders, lower west entrance! Need backup, Alpha level threats!"
Remy promptly turned and headed towards the lower west entrance as fast as he could.
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Stryker gave his last commands to his son Jason, and turned, and left, giving a mock salute to Charles Xavier, who was in the middle of whatever fantastic hallucination Jason was giving him. He tapped a command into a small computer just outside the door, and the massive blast doors locked shut securely. This was the sole doorway in the entire base that could not be remotely opened from the control room, due to a little wise forethought.
"Summers, melt the console." Stryker ordered the mutant. The bodyguard obediently turned and blasted the panel, wrecking it. Without hours of skilled electrical work, or a huge amount of explosives and equipment, no one would be able to get into that room. Within twenty minutes, every single mutant on planet earth would be dead, thanks to the unwilling Xavier's abilities. He glanced at his watch. He didn't have much time before the serums he had injected into his two mutants bodyguards wore off. No matter, they wouldn't be around much longer anyway.
"Kill anyone who approaches." Stryker ordered his men, who had taken up positions behind outcroppings in the tunnel walls, some holding ballistic shields. "Even if it's me." Hopefully his men could delay the intruders long enough to prevent anything from stopping the plan. Most likely, the intruders would kill them all. He shrugged. Several dozen men was a small price to pay to eradicate mutantkind.
He set off at a quick jog, and came to a junction in the tunnels, near the motor pool. If his estimates were right, the intruders would cross that path within three or four minutes.
Stryker turned to the mind-controlled Scott Summers, who was ironically a good friend of Xavier.
"At all costs, do not let anyone pass by." The mutant nodded silently and stood halfway down the tunnel, staring towards the junction. His optic blasts would be extremely effective, making it a turkey shoot, Stryker hoped.
"Let's go." The officer said to his other bodyguard, Yuriko. The control room had been sealed by that shape-shifting mutant, and the hanger doors couldn't be opened manually. He would have to get the one chopper outside the base. If he stuck to service tunnels and took the side routes, he could probably skirt the intruders and escape through the smelting room's exit. Stryker set off, making a small detour to a weapons room, and ordered his guard to wait outside. Inside was several hundred pounds of RQX-71 high explosive; one pound of it could level a ten-story tall office building. He set the timer and carefully double-checked his work before exiting the small armory.
Xavier should have just enough time to finish wiping out the mutant race before the base blew sky high. Stryker would blame it on the invading mutants, and all evidence of his actions would be thoroughly destroyed in the blast. His men were a necessary sacrifice at the moment, and a very real security threat later if any of them survived battling the intruders.
If people found out that the government was behind all mutants suddenly dying, they would have serious problems. Externally, some mutants held high-ranking positions in foreign governments such as Briton, Russia, and Australia, along with several others, and their deaths would be looked at as assassinations, acts of war. Internally, massive riots would occur in most major cities, and assassination of government officials would become a daily occurrence. That was the best-case scenario. Worst-case scenario? The United States would shatter into a civil war. Most people didn't like mutants very much, but only a tiny, miniscule percentage would be happy to have them all killed, and large amount of the populace would realize that if the government would destroy all mutants, there would be no telling what other groups might be next on the list.
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Gambit ran lightly through the tunnels, making his way rapidly to the lower west entrance, stopping only to read the small direction signs on the walls and verify he was going the right way. Thankfully, the tunnels were mostly empty now, and stealth wasn't required as much. He rounded a corner-
-and nearly had a heart attack. One lone figure was standing in the middle of the dim
passageway, just standing there, motionless. Gambit froze, gripping a throwing card in his right hand. After a few more moments, he realized the man was looking the other way, and had not seen him. He took a few more cautious steps closer, moving silently. His eyes adjusted to the light, and he could see detail.
It was Scott Summers, standing stone still, just staring towards the end off the hallway. Gambit was perplexed. Last he had seen Summers, he was following Colonel Stryker, next to his other bodyguard. Now Stryker was nowhere to be seen, and Scott was just standing there.
BLAMBLAMBLAM! Gambit winced as the gunfire echoed loudly down the tunnels, assault rifle fire by the sound of it. Scott was unmoved as Gambit covered his ears. Ka-Chink-BOOM! A shotgun, no doubt there. Apparently, a few soldiers were still trying to slow the intruders down. Gambit was unsure of what to do. It looked like Stryker had left Summers behind to defend the restricted area.
"Clear!" He heard someone say. Was that Wesley?
"We can see that." Another voice growled. Gambit was certain that was 'de Wolverine. How'd the X-Men find this place? And where they working with Mystique?
"Better to be safe than sorry," A third voice said. Magneto?!
Footsteps came closer, and the talking continued, but Gambit wasn't paying close attention. Scott had raised his hand to his visor, ready to blast the group as soon as they were in sight.
Gambit hesitated. Scott was probably under some sort of drug influence, but odds were that he was still very capable of fighting.
The group sounded like it was just out of sight. Gabmit groaned, and threw caution into the wind. He simply walked forward several paces and smashed his elbow against the side of Scott's head. The teacher just collasped, knocked unconscious. Gambit decided to join him; when the group rounded the corner a moment later, they saw two bodies on the ground, a few feet apart. It was an old trick Gambit had learned once; in a gunfight, look dead and you might not be shot at, more commonly called 'playing possum'. Chances were the X-Men wouldn't accidentally kill him, but plenty of friendly-fire incidents had been in unlikely situations.
"What happened?" Gambit heard Wesley asked, perplexed. "We haven't been down this way yet! Who killed them?"
"Maybe the good Colonel lost his temper with a few subordinates." That was Storm speaking.
"Let's move on." A German voice asked. Remy had no clue as to who that was.
"Wait, I need some ammo," Wesley said. "Unlike you guys, I require more than sheer willpower to fight. Cover me."
"Like you really needed to say that?" Wolverine asked sarcastically. "Do we look like a military squad to you?" Wesley didn't say anything, and Remy could hear him walk closer.
"What-? Scott!? Remy!?" He recognized them. Gambit made a fist with his left hand, letting him know he was alive without startling him. More footsteps clattered down the tunnel, and Gambit opened his eyes and sat up.
"You're alright?" Wesley asked, shocked.
"Sure am, mon ami," Gambit said, accepting Wesley's offered hand and pulling himself up. "I just wanted to make sure you guys didn't 'stake me for a bad guy."
"Scott!" Jean said, examining her husband for injuries.
"Your chere mari is in one piece," Gambit said. "I just knocked him out. I think Stryker had him pumped full o' drugs."
BAMF! A blue demon suddenly appeared next to Gambit."Who is zis?" He asked. Gambit jumped from the surprise, leaping back and reaching for a throwing knife in his boot.
"Gambit! Relax, Kurt's a friend." Jean said.
"My apologies for startling you." Kurt said politely.
"Don't sweat it." Gambit said, embarrassed at having been frightened. "Why the blazes are the X-Men working with Magneto?"
"Desperate time, desperate measures, my lad." Magneto told him.
"So, what's going on?" Remy questioned.
"Long story short," Logan growled, "some colonel in the army wants to wipe out all mutants, so he built a cerebro and kidnapped the Professor, who it turns out, is powerful enough to kill millions of people telepathically when using cerebro."
"Ookay." Gambit said slowly. Wesley tossed him his headset.
"Why don't you let Marie know you're fine?" Wesley suggested.
"How is my amie l'un?" Gambit asked, smiling.
"She's okay, her and Jubes are waiting in the blackbird a short walk away from the base. Can we cut the yapping and move on?" Logan asked, frustrated.
"Are the children here?" Storm asked quickly. "The troops that invaded the mansion took several students prisoner."
"Yeah, the Colonel has some kiddies locked up," Gambit said, "and I couldn't figure out how to break them free. But now that y'all are here-" He charged a card, and let the glow illuminate his face. "let's get this party started!"
"Sure thing. First, which of you three are carrying Scott?" Jean asked. "If we take him back to the jet, we'd have to send an escort with whoever was carrying him. That's at least two fighters down. We bring him with, only one man is unable to assist in combat."
Logan and Gambit glanced at each other, then simultaneously looked at the youngest of them; Wesley. He rolled his eyes, but turned the shotgun's safety on, slung it across his back, and heaved Scott up, lifting him properly, spreading the weight across both shoulders. Gambit was letting a much relieved Marie know he was still alive, and Logan was stamping his foot with impatience.
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On the jet…
"Hello? Is this on?" A familiar French-accented voice said over the radio. Rogue nearly fell out of her seat, resulting in Jubilee bursting out laughing.
"Yeah, Remy, is that you?" Marie asked, leaning close to the microphone.
"It's me, Rogue. Just want to let you know I'm fine. Were nearly done here, I should be seeing you in fifteen minutes, tops." Gambit said, reassuring his girlfriend.
"Sorry to interrupt this tender moment," Mystique broke in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But things have changed. All the troops are being positioned outside dark cerebro. It's clear around the control room; meet me there."
Rogue mimed pounding Mystique's face into the ground, much to Jubilee's amusement.
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In the control room…
"Good, you're finally here." Mystique said, standing in from of the bank of surveillance camera feeds.
"Nice to see you to." Logan snapped. Mystique snickered.
"The target is just down that hallway." Mystique said, pointing. "A hundred yards at most. But every soldier left in this tiny base is sitting in that hallway waiting for something to shoot."
"We have to get the children as well." Storm pointed out.
"I know where 'de children are," Gambit said. "Let's split up; half of us rescue the dear Professor, 'de other half get the children. Den we go home."
"Storm, you, Kurt, Gambit, and Wesley, go get the children. Logan and I will go with Mystique and Mangeto, and dismantle Stryker's cerbro." Jean said. "That alright with you, Logan?" She turned around. Logan was gone, along with Wesley. Scott was propped up in an empty chair.
"What?" Storm said, surprised. Neither had been seen leaving. "Where'd those two go?"
"After Stryker." Jean said softly. One target, two reasons. Answers, and vengeance. Jean turned to Scott, and placed her hands next to his head, and focused, telepathically contacting her husband's unconscious mind. "The drugs have worn off him." Jean said.
"That's good. He could be a nice help." Storm said. Jean shook Scott, trying to wake him up. No luck. She tried again. Nothing.
"Need help, chere?" Remy asked, grinning. "Gambit's really good at waking people up." Jean rolled her eyes.
"Wake him up, then, Mr. Expert." Jean said. Gambit gave a bow, and knelt before Scott, and started rapidly unlacing the man's boot.
"What're you going to do, tickle his feet?" Mystique asked sarcastically. Gambit raised an eyebrow, finishing by removing Scott's sock.
"You mean you never learned 'dis technique?" He asked. He removed a small matchbook from a pocket and lit one. "Don't worry, it's easy to memorize."
"Wait," Jean said. "You didn't say you were going to-" Gambit pressed the lit match to the sole of Scott's foot, held it there for a moment, then blew it out. The horrid aroma of burnt flesh filled the air, and Scott mumbled a few times, starting to regain consciousness. The technique could wake drunkards, the ill, and even people who had been tortured so much the agony had knocked them out, while the pain of the minor burn kept them awake and focussed.
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While the others were discussing what to do, Logan was looking at the bank of surveillance camera feeds, displaying everything the cameras around the base saw. Stryker and his female bodyguard strode down a tunnel, plain in sight of the camera. Logan quickly read the label under the screen, and consulted a map on the wall of the control room. The others could go rescue Charles; Logan had some personal business to attend to. He quietly turned and left out of the room, walking casually, claws retracted. As he rounded the corner, he heard soft footsteps behind him. It was Wesley. Logan turned and acknowledged him, letting the younger man know he was aware of his presence, feeling a stab of disappointment as he did so.
He wanted to deal with Stryker alone.
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The chapter was going to be a bit longer (it got to seven pages on my processor, without my commentaries at the end and beginning) then I realized that I seriously needed to just get out the next chapter, not make you folks wait forever for a ten page chapter. Oh, and the next chapter, chapter 26, should be out within two weeks; I already have about half of it written.
French translations, what those phrases Gambit spoke mean in English.
Mon ami- my friend
Chere mari- dear husband
Amie l'un- loved one
If that's not correct translations, well... pardon my French!
I really hope you all enjoyed reading the chapter; please leave a review – they really mean a lot to me. Getting no reviews on a chapter is like being snubbed by a good friend. Getting one review is nice. Getting two is encouraging, cheering, and tells me people enjoy my writing. Getting three is awesome and makes my day great!