Chapter 34-Stopping the Unstoppable
The X-men were gathered when the third Apocalypse dome appeared in Egypt. "We can no longer sit idly and watch this continue." Professor Xavier stated. "It has been nearly six months and we still are unaware of what Apocalypse is doing by creating these domes, or what his long-term plans are. We have done as much research as possibly, and have hit too many dead-ends. That is why…I want us to apprehend Mesmero."
Jordan clenched her fists, "Where do we start?"
"I already have a lead. Logan, Jordan, and Jean, I want you to go. Before you do, I'll again be placing mental blocks in each of you."
Jordan waved her hand, "I don't want one. I need to be open for him."
"But…" Jean started.
"I have my own way of dealing with telepaths." Jordan reminded her.
"Charles…" Logan urged his friend to persuade his daughter.
"No, Jordan is right. She can act as a siphon to drain him of his powers. She has been able to do it to both Jean and I, and Mesmero is not as powerful as either of us."
Mesmero was hiding out at an abandoned circus lot, back to doing his old gig. Jordan sensed him, and Logan went to draw him out. Once Jean and Jordan saw him running out, Jean used her telekinesis to prevent him from running.
Jordan felt a pressure in her mind and telepathic energies grow as Mesmero tried to enlist her help. Jordan looked at him, walking casually up as she absorbed the psychic energy. He gasped, trying to draw back his strength. "No…no!"
"Time to tell us what Apocalypse is planning," Jean said.
"You're too late." He groaned. "Evolution is upon us. And there is nothing you can do to stop us."
Jordan handcuffed him, then her and her father led him to the Jet to take him back to the mansion.
"I scanned his mind. But from what I can tell Apocalypse abandoned him." Jean said once they got him in front of Xavier.
"No, no! He will be back for me!" Mesmero declared.
"You were discarded, Mesmero. You owe him no allegiance. So please, tell me what Apocalypse is planning. I can take the knowledge by force if you prefer. But I won't be as gentle as Ms. Grey." Xavier warned.
Mesmero glanced away, looking at the group that was holding him prisoner. "Apocalypse will trigger the dormant X-genes in the normal population. So that most will transform into mutants."
"What do you mean by most?" Ororo asked.
"Many will not survive." He said with sick glee.
"How will this be accomplished. What does it have to do with the pyramids?" Beast asked.
"I have said too much. The wrath of Apocalypse is…" Mesmero's eyes shifted around, and Jordan felt his panic overrun him. That was the last of the useful information that Mesmero would willfully give out.
"He is not your primary concern. Not at this moment." Charles said, knowing the same truth as Jordan did, he placed his hands on the side of Mesmero's head and began searching for the information himself.
Jordan felt the surge in psychic energy in the room, but was blocking most of it. After several minutes Professor Xavier backed away from Mesmero, his hand to his own head as he was still processing the information. "Yes…three pyramids, and they are powered by the sphinx. And Apocalypse…he is now ready."
Storm and Professor Xavier left without telling any of the students, but Jordan felt the dread as he left. She felt Jean's own panic as she confronted him, and as he left the mansion. Jean returned upstairs, gathering the X-men herself. "Storm and Professor just left to confront Apocalypse at the sphinx."
"What? Is he crazy?" Kurt blurted.
"He's hoping to find a peaceful way to stop Apocalypse." Jean said. "Just like he has been training us to do." Jordan met Jean's eye, knowing that the other X-men were feeling hopeful, and that Jean was terrified.
"And we'll support him the whole way." Jordan added softly, and Jean nodded.
Jordan took Kurt's hand and led him outside. "It's all coming to and end, isn't it?" Kurt muttered.
Jordan nodded, "I'm really scared. It's…we may not be able to stop Apocalypse. And what will happen if Professor can't…I can't begin to imagine it." Jordan inhaled a shaky breath, "Whatever happens, though…"
"We'll find a way to go through it." He squeezed her hand, and kissed the top of her head. "I love you." He whispered. Jordan rested her head against his shoulder.
Jean called to them once Xavier and Rogue reached Egypt, and the X-men gathered in Cerebro. Soon Professor Xavier came up on the screen.
"He's activated the Cerebro headgear. Relaying the signal to you." Ororo's voice said.
"I'm receiving it. Your powers are at full amplification."0
"Thank you, Hank. Oh, and please, keep the chamber closed to the students."
"I'm afraid we are a little late for that."
"We aren't going to let you go through this alone, Professor." Jean said.
There was a pause before he said, "Thank you all. Now, let's see if we can get Apocalypse's attention."
There were several minutes of nothing, and then Apocalypse appeared on the screen next to Professor Xavier. He looked nothing like he did before. It seemed electronic circuits were covering his skin, metal plates and cords were on his body.
There was silence in Cerebro as Professor Xavier telepathically spoke with him. There was anxiety, but it seemed things were going well. Until Apocalypse rose his hand, and Xavier was pull from his chair and hung in the air.
"No…" Jordan breathed, tears forming in her eyes.
Storm appeared on the screen, attempting to defend the professor. Moments later the same energy balls that had vaporized Magneto appeared around Storm and Professor Xavier…and they disappeared.
Rogue's hand covered her mouth. Jordan's knees went weak, and Kurt held her close, holding her head and letting her hide her face in his chest. Jean cried out, and ran out of the room, followed by Scott. Kitty kept shaking her head, not believing the sight.
They gathered in the planning room, some still shaking and crying, others still in a haze of disbelief. "I…someone should go tell Evan." Jordan said softly. "He'll want to come with us."
"What do you mean?" Rogue asked.
Jordan glanced at her father, "We aren't sitting here and waiting for Apocalypse to go through with his plan, are we?"
"No…we aren't." Logan nodded. "Go ahead, Jordan."
Jordan got on her bike, and sensed Evan over the Morlocks base underground. She found the nearest manhole and using the crowbar she brought with her lifted it away, and jumped into the sewers.
Evan met her in the narrow tunnels, "What? You trying to get me to do a TV show with you?" He snapped, leaning against the wall and glaring at her. He looked over her face as she looked at him sadly, "What's wrong?"
Fresh tears ran down her face as she searched for the words, "Something bad has happened. I wanted to make sure you knew right away, that you didn't have to wait…" Jordan wiped away the tears on her face, only to have new ones fall over her cheeks, "Storm and Xavier went to confront Apocalypse."
Evan shook his head, "No…" Jordan nodded, closing her eyes. Evan got on the back of her bike and went back to the mansion with her.
Shortly after they arrived a SHIELD helicopter landed on the front lawn. Logan went out to meet Nick Fury, and led him inside.
They gathered once again in the planning room. "Bring up a visual on the sphinx." Fury ordered.
Beast glanced at Logan, and Logan nodded. On the large screen the place where Xavier and Storm were last seen was brought up. And it was coming under attack by Sentinels…the giant robots geared towards attacking mutants.
"You resurrected the sentinel program! You just made a bigger mess of this!" Logan growled.
"It was not my choice to make. But their mutant sensors will target Apocalypse, so they just happen to be our best defense at the moment."
"And will prevent us from getting close." Jordan sighed.
On the screen Apoclypse appeared from the sphinx, and began attacking the Sentinels, and made short work of them.
"That's your best defense?" Beast muttered.
"Actually, they are our diversion. Bring up the three domes." Fury said. "The new sentinels have had some modifications. Those cannons now release atomic subdividers so the domes can no longer repel the attacks. We should actually be able to breech them, and then destroy those pyramids!"
"Brilliant." Beast gasped.
"Something tells me it ain't gonna be that easy." Logan growled.
Jordan watched on the screen as the three domes were now being attacked by sentinel groups. A bit of hope broke through her grief.
Then her attention went directly to the Sphinx where Apocalypse was appeared to be calling to something. "Bring that up on the big screen." Jordan pointed, and Beast did so.
She saw easily four people in the shadows walking slowly out, and her jaw dropped as she recognized them. Mystique, Magneto, Professor Xavier, and Storm. They looked good…for people who had been believed dead…but they seemed to have electronic circuits over their body similar to Apocalypse.
"They're alive?" Logan gasped.
"What has he done to them!" Kurt cried out.
"I don't believe it…" Scott muttered.
The four disappeared from the sphinx, and Beast brought up the split screen to include all of Apocalypse's bases, and at each base one of his victims appeared to begin attacking the sentinels. Magneto was in Mexico. Professor Xavier was at the Egypt dome, using a psychic blade to slice through sentinels. Storm was at the China dome, using her ability with the weather to attack the sentinels there. Mystique stayed at the Sphinx.
"If they fail, Logan, I'm out of options. Except for you guys." Fury said.
"Way ahead of ya. We need four teams. One at each dome and one at the sphinx. We absolutely must gain control of those locations. We need recruits. Kitty, you start at the Brotherhood. Jordan, get on the phone with Angel. Jean, Scott, round up anyone else you can think of. Rogue, I have a special assignment for you."
Jordan made her call, "I've been watching, yes." Angel said.
"We're going to stop him. Will you come and help?"
There was a long pause, "I'm on my way."
Jean tracked down Magento's old gang. Pyro was unwilling to help, but Colossus was. Gambit was no where to be found. Scott called his brother, Alex, who got on a plane and was on his way. Kitty came back with Wanda.
"Listen everyone. Our opponents have had their mutant powers greatly enhanced. So make no mistake, we are in for the fight of our lives." Beast said as the teams were formed.
The group going to China left first, consisting of Berserker, Beast, Iceman, and Spyke. Shortly afterwards the two going to Egypt, both the pyramid and the sphinx, left. To the sphinx was Scott, Logan, and Kurt. To the pyramid was Tabitha, Multiple, Jean, Amara, Coloussus, and Jordan. Last group went to Mexico, Kitty, Sunspot, Alex Summers, Angel, and Wanda the Scarlet Witch.
They landed within a few minutes of each other at their own targets. "Tonight we are the worlds last, best hope, to stop this madman. So we are gonna trash these pyramids anyway we can, no matter who we have to go through to do it." Logan said through the communicator.
"Jordan and I will hold off the Professor. The rest of you…focus on breaking this thing." Jean said.
"Are you sure you can do this?" Jordan asked her.
"Are you sure you can?" Jean asked her back.
"No."
"Me either."
In China Evan was begging his aunt to break through Apocalypse's control as she attacked them. In Mexico Wanda had the same conflict, not wanting to hurt her father while he protected Apocalypse's pyramid. At the Spinx Scott, Logan, and Kurt were trying to get to Apocalypse himself, but were being ambushed by Mystique.
In Egypt Jean also tried to talk to Professor Xavier, who didn't hesitate to attack her. Jordan felt the surge of psychic energy, and began to siphon it off. It was neutral energy, Professor Xavier wasn't feeling anything…he was just Apocalypse's pawn. Jordan could feel the weight of the energy, but it didn't hurt her…at least not yet.
She helped Jean to her feet, "We can't play nice." Jordan told her. "I know you don't want to hurt him, neither do I, but if it comes down to him and the rest of the world…who would he choose?"
Jean's eyes were shiny with tears, but she nodded, "I know."
Jordan and Jean turned to the pyramid in time to see the tip of it light up and launch into the sky, connected by a blue beam of light to the base. "Oh god, we're too late." Amara gasped.
"Anyone else's pyramid just go airborne?" Jordan asked.
"Listen, it's not over!" Beast said. "Those pyramids in the skies are probably orbital relays. Just destroy the base units that power them."
"Understood, got it." Kitty replied.
"You heard him, get going!" Jean shouted to the team. "Jordan!"
Jordan already felt the surge of psychic energy, and turned in time to see a psychic blade wielded by Xavier fall down towards her. Jordan took a step back just by reflex, putting her hands up. The blade hit her, and she began to absorb the energy. Jordan cried out, being pushed back by the blade. Pain in both her body and her mind as she faced Professor Xavier. His eyes blank and dull, his face in a small grimace as he continued to put more psychic energy into the blade so he could slice through her like he did the sentinels.
Jordan couldn't bear it any longer, and just as she stopped draining the energy Jean swooped in, driving Xavier back with her own telekinetic blast.
In Mexico things were going badly. Magneto had knocked out the whole team. The pyramid secure, Apocalypse called on him for help. His pyramids in the sky were under attack by more sentinels.
As Magneto left Wanda came to, and tried to take out the base by herself. Noticing his station was under attack once again Magneto came down to find the Brotherhood had made their way and were assisting in the attack now.
In China Ororo had been put into a block of ice, and they team was going to work destroying the base.
At the Sphinx they had nearly reached Apocalypse's lair, Kurt and Scott were unconscious though and Logan was alone against Mystique.
Jordan felt more than saw Jean and Professor Xavier's psychic battle. Jean had retrieved Cerebro and was using the boost in power to battle Xavier.
Jordan checked her uniform, torn and sliced on her arms and legs, and stomach, bleeding in some places. Her mind still felt the great deal she had absorbed from Xavier. She watched, trying to gauge the fight with the amount of energy being exchanged. Then both of them fell to the ground.
"Jean!" Jordan cried out, running to her side.
In China Ororo had broken out of her ice prison, and was making short work out of the others. "I'm afraid we aren't going to make it." Hank said through the communicator.
"Don't give up!" Logan grunted, "We still have one play left."
Jordan watched in horror as Xavier got back up, his power growing as he got closer to her and Jean. "Jean…" Jordan cried one last time, but she was out. Jordan stood to face Xavier. She took a breath as Xavier prepare his attack, determined not to stop until either Apocalypse succeeded, or until the others were safe.
At the sphinx Rogue and Sam landed, with Nick Fury and the young Dorian Leech. The young mutant with the ability to shut down energy around him. After absorbing his power Sam cannonballed her into the Sphinx.
Jordan dodged the edge of the psychic blade Xavier conjured once again, too afraid to touch the concentrated energy of it. She continued to focus her energy on absorbing his power, feeling it draining into her. Jordan was brought to her knees at the sheer weight of it, feeling as if it would build up and explode inside of her. "Professor…no!" Jordan cried as he stood over her, his arm swinging back to slice her with the psychic blade.
Rogue made it into Apocalypse's chamber as he was powering up the pyramids to begin the evolution of the world. With the power she absorbed from Dorian she shut down Apocalypse's power, and the machine he was using, then enclosing him in it.
The pyramid's lost their power as well, and then the hold he had on Magneto, Mystique, Storm, and Xavier. Jordan fell on her back as Xavier got ready to deal a deadly blow, but he suddenly seemed to lose his energy. He fell, the psychic blade disappearing, and landed next to Jordan. Jean came to, kneeling next to the two of them.
All the domes had the same response, and where it was dark they could see the pyramids falling back to earth like shooting stars, burning up into nothing before they could hit the ground.
At the Sphinx Logan helped Scott out, Sam and Rogue helped Kurt walk out. As a last effort Mystique called to Kurt and Rogue for forgiveness, and with that they left her, no longer willing to have any concerns about her.
In Mexico Wanda and Pietro were helping their father, Magento, to his feet.
In China Ororo was hugging Evan, wooden spikes and all.
In Egypt Professor Xavier was hugged by Jean, who telekinetically lifted both Professor and Jordan to help them into the Jet. Jordan was shaking from the excess of energy she had absorbed and was now releasing. "How is everyone?" She heard Logan say into the communicator.
"We're alright in Mexico." Kitty's voice said, "We're alright! Magneto is okay, too."
"Same in China." Beast said. "Ororo is a bit out of it, but she is getting there."
Jordan noticed Jean's headset was off, she must have taken it off to use Cerebro. With a shaky hand she pressed a button to transmit, "Egypt is good." Jordan said, surprised to hear her voice was shaky as well. "Professor and everyone else are alright."
Logan sighed with relief at hearing his daughter's voice, "That's good. Everyone head home."
After making sure everyone was alright the X-men, Brotherhood, and others gathered at the mansion.
"Thanks to you all we have all averted catastrophe. But it was not without its price. But steel is forged through fire, and like it we have been made stronger. We are prepared for what the future brings. I know this because I have glimpsed it in the mind of Apocalypse. Many challenges await us. But I saw some who have been our enemies become friends. And with a heavy heart I saw the dearest of friends become most terrible enemies. I saw my X-men grow and change. And of course I saw that some people never change. But one thing was clear, no matter what awaits us, terrible or wondrous, the X-men will always be there ready. And of that, I am proud." Professor Xavier told them.
News stated that several mutants assisted in defeating the mutant who had created the domes, and prevented a world-wide crisis that could have cost countless lives. Although the world may never know exactly what Apocalypse had been planning to do, and just how close they really had been to failing.