The She-Rex of Bayville (Ch 35): Sam External
XAVIER INSTITUTE FOR GIFTED CHILDREN
(Megan's Point of View)
We were all shocked. We had been attacked twice in our own home! The cybernetic attackers, calling themselves 'Reavers' have hit us have been hurt as never before.
Samuel "Cannonball" Guthrie, our friend, our brother in arms, is dead.
He took a burst of machine gun bullets meant for Storm. He died a Hero. Storm is NOT taking this well. We can ALL see the guilt upon her lovely face. We will have Sam's services as soon as we can get an adult from his family up here. They live in Kentucky, so it's a long ride to get here.
I am still in the Infirmary. So is Blob, AKA: Fred Dukes, who has FINALLY woken up. He'd been hit in the head with rocket propelled grenade to the back of the head. I am convinced that if the grenade had been live, instead of a dud, we'd be having TWO closed casket services.
Todd Tolansky is still unconscious from a medically induced coma. I know what is going on in Lance's heart. I saw much the same in Ray when I was in the hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Wanda is still by his froggy side. She looks haggard. No surprise, as she'd cried as much as any one girl can. She is curled up asleep in a chair beside his bed.
Fred is quietly reading a Superman/Batman comic book. I am mentally writing a police report. It passes the time quietly, and I AM a cop's daughter. Jake had already bought breakfast for all of us. Beast is napping in his office. Medic has just left to finally get some rest for herself.
I hear a thump in another room, and figure that Beast isn't as asleep as I thought.
Another thump, and a muffled voice.
Waitaminute! Beast's office is in the opposite direction. It came from the other hallway. It came from the temporary morgue. Is somebody seeing Sam in private? I didn't see anyone go in, but we ARE X-Men. Kitty or Kurt could have gotten in without moving past me.
Another thump, and I HAVE to see what's going on.
I carefully shuffle over to THAT room.
It's empty!
I blurt out "Huh?"
Another *Thump*!
I must have had my heart try to jump outta my chest! It SOUNDED like it came from one of the morgue drawers!
Another *Thump* and a muffled voice calling out!
*SCREAMING!*
I realize that the screams are from me! Oops!
Beast comes running in, and we both see one of the drawers visible rattle under a heavy *Thump* from INSIDE!
The metal is dented badly, and we can now hear a Kentucky accented voice…
"Get me outta here!"
"Oh my stars and garters!" blurts out Beast.
Soon several people are running this way as the metal gives way entirely!
Sam is there! The drawer rolls open, and Sam is half wearing his shroud!
Wanda and I scream in horror, clinging together in mortal terror!
I hear Jamie scream "It's a Zombie! Kill it!"
Wanda and I scream LOUDER!
Logan pushes past us all, and has his claws out.
Sam stops right where he is, and looks confused. Finally Sam says something. "Um. Can I get some clothes, please? It kinda drafty in here!"
Logan puts away his claws, sniffing at Sam. "It's Sam, alright."
Logan turns to us and says "Hey! Pipe down. It's Sam. I don't know HOW, but I DO know that it IS Sam. Relax."
Wanda and I shut up. The room behind us is filling up fast. If it had been a zombie, it would have been dead meat….Um….again.
Wanda and I let go of one another, sheepishly. The Professor rolls in and we step out of his way.
Kurt Teleports in with a pile of clothes for Sam. "Here, mien friend..."
The Professor says "Only Logan, Hank and Myself will be staying. Everyone else, please give Sam privacy."
That was our cue to leave. Wanda and I went back to our places in the Infirmary. Poor Todd was still out of it. Fred sat back down, looking spooked. I know that Wanda and I were.
Come ON, that was terrifying! Stupid horror movies…
About fifteen minutes later, Sam was dressed and being led into Beast's Office for, I am guessing, a full exam. I know that I would expect nothing less. Sam looks OK. I don't even see any blood.
The Infirmary got crowded as everybody got in to see Sam when he got out. Ororo got the best spot. Wanda and I made sure of it. It WAS for Storm that Sam got shot in the first place. He guilt is still likely a large problem. Her pretty face is still streaked with tears.
An hour and twenty two minutes later, the door opens. The Professor, Logan and Sam all walk out together, while Beast can be heard to say "I'll be a while analysing these samples. Go on, Sam. You have been given reprieve from certain death. Enjoy your life."
Sam looked at all of us waiting, and shyly smiled. If we did not know that he'd been a bullet-riddled corpse a few hours ago, we'd have NEVER guessed that he was ANY different.
Storm walked over to Sam, looking conflicted, hesitant. Sam looked at Storm, and smiled "Ahm glad yer alright, Storm…"
Storm was startled "YOU'RE glad that I'M alright?! Samuel Guthrie, you DIED for me!"
Unable to contain herself further, Storm wrapped Sam up in a hug of inexpressible gratitude.
Soon we were back to...well...we're not big on 'normal' around here. Back to how it was before Sam died, and came back...I guess. It's weird for all of us.
To make a long confused conversation short and clear: Sam claims NO memory of any Afterlife. None. Hank took some of his blood and found that his X-Genome finally reached it's full expression. Whatever THAT means.
Now we rest, recover and wait for those mechanical bastards to return. I put a call to my Dad and he's going to have a little badge-party waiting for those Sci-Fi rejects! The Professor isn't happy about it, but my Dad simply told him what was going to happen. Dad didn't ask for permission. He told the Professor what would happen. Dad does NOT mess around with people with illegal weapons, and thugs with guns IS what the cops are for! Besides, as he told the Professor, Dad has every right, and every obligation to protect his own family.
Soon a set of cruisers were parked on the Institute grounds. A S.W.A.T. van was there as well. Several cops were obviously nervous, but just as many were simply on the job. The S.W.A.T. guys were suited up, and ready to go at a seconds notice. Jake and I both know that S.W.A.T. teams will use armor-piercing rounds on suspects who have body armor. After all, S.W.A.T. means Special Weapons And Tactics! The cyborgs certainly qualify as S.W.A.T. team sort of customers. Cyborgs or not, the S.W.A.T. sniper has a .50 calibre rifle.
As dusk approaches, the police are fed as are the rest of us. Nobody has told the cops about Sam. It's just TOO strange, even for Mutant Incidents. *Sigh* Oh well, at least Sam is wise enough to keep his mouth shut.
Still, Sam is giving Storm a few odd looks. Like he would look at Amara or Tabitha...NO! He has the hots for Storm! Oh dear Heavens! That is NOT going to end in any manner that will make him happy. She's an adult instructor, and he's seventeen! She'd be better off with LANCE, for crying out loud. At least HE just turned eighteen...
The Security Grid failed. The Police and S.W.A.T. teams comm-systems went offline.
Jean calls out "Here they come!"
A dozen cops in body armor get into positions they had been assigned beforehand. The S.W.A.T. team disappears into their own positions. I'm just glad that Medic has put most of us back together. Now, only Todd is still out of the fight. With the police on site, Jamie is simply waiting in the Infirmary with Todd, Medic and the Professor.
The Reavers come in fast and hard!
The first one to get close enough is ORDERED to stand down by the police. That was ignored. Then the shooting started…
It was wild! It was crazy! It was bad...mostly for the Reavers who soon walked into a near-wall of lead! Two Reavers simply dropped, thanks to the sniper. Then the sniper was pinned down, by laser fire. The majority of police weapons were a bit light. So they had little effect on the cyborgs. Only when the bullets found flesh did the police score any joy at all.
For several minutes we fought together. Police, S.W.A.T. and X-Men all worked together to repel the Reavers. I must have stomped on at least five Reavers, and chewed up six or seven weapons. Yuck.
Then, it was over. Again, the cowardly bastards Teleported away. Leaving us with injuries. The injuries are less, as the Reavers had so many more targets to choose from, and police body armor is actually pretty good. Dad has a bruise on his abs, but Mom will kiss away the boo-boo tonight. Jake has a few laser burns, but they will not be much of a problem. Sam was coming back from the dead...Again. It was weird seeing someone other than Logan or Laura spit out a blood-covered bullet and get back up. He just grinned up at me, and I nodded my massive head right back at him. None of the police are seriously injured. They ARE, however understandably ticked off at the suspects not only shot cops, the jerks got away!
We need to find a way to stop the Reavers from Teleporting away. The Professor is having Forge brought in. Several methods are discussed. My Dad has the best idea yet.
"We'll simply place a few police-issue tracking devices on them, as soon as we drop any of them, When the disappear, we'll wait to get a good signal and pay them a visit."
We set our plans. Police, and X-Man coordinated tactics. The tracking devices were brought in. These, we were told, were designed for tracking drug shipments across State lines. They have an effective range of THE PLANET. It's better than ordinary models, because they will link-up with a government satellite, and scream their location to within five yards/meters.
Now we wait...