(Sorry for the delay, finals and projects are killing me. But you didn't select this chapter to hear me moan, you came to find out what happens next. Well, your wish is my command.)
Carol Danvers came running into the command center carrying a large vial canister. "That's it." said Wraith, confirming it was the antidote. "This is an aerosol canister. How far can this amount reach?" demanded Bishop. "Seven hundred square feet." replied Wraith.
"Seven hundred feet?! We would have to cram every one of those things in a seven hundred square foot killzone?! It can't be done." said Braddock. "Then you won't mind me giving it a shot." said Logan who grabbed the canister.
"What are you doing?" asked Storm. "When we attacked one of those things, it called for backup. My guess is if we manage to attack one, the others will come running to help." said Logan. "We could barely hold our own against a dozen of those things. How are we supposed to handle a hundred or more?" asked Scott.
"None of you are helping me. I'm going at it alone." said Logan before walking outside.
The X-Men chased after Logan who didn't slow down, his eyes were filled with determination. "Are you out of your mind? You can't take on that many by yourself!" yelled Jean. "I'm the only here who can take anything they've got and keep going." said Logan, who didn't slow down to talk.
"You're not doing this alone." said Summers. "You're not in charge of me boyscout." replied Logan. The team passed a line of civilians moving into the refugee area. Suddenly, someone screamed and for good reason.
A Wendigo busted through the perimeter fence, easily shrugging off any bullet fire. Logan was about to charge at it when suddenly, Juggernaut appeared behind it and grabbed the monster by the tail. He pulled it back, right off it's feet. Then Cain spun around, still holding on. The two twirled around like a cyclone until Cain let go and the Wendigo went sailing off out of sight.
Juggernaut staggered a little, somewhat dizzy. The X-Men all looked at each other and then it hit Kitty. "Uhh guys. I think we've just found our solution." she said.
It took a little effort to calm Cain from attacking them but the mention of stopping these monsters got his attention. "Let me get this straight, you need my help to get everyone of those things in the same area so you can get 'em all with some gas." said Cain, summing everything up.
"Pretty much." grumbled Logan, who wasn't comfortable with this plan. "None of us would last very long in a fight against even a dozen of those things but I'm guessing you could." said Kitty. "I'll take that as a compliment." grunting Cain.
Fury pulled Logan aside. "You want to put the lives of millions in the hands of that maniac?" asked Fury, just as unhappy with this as Logan was. "Like it or not, not even the X-Men and your team together would last very long. He's all we've got." said Logan.
"You'll need to get them all in a wide open area, so you should probably lure them into Marquette Park. The creatures have elevated body heat so they're easy to pick up on infrared, even among other animals their size. Once we confirm they're all in the park, we'll set of the gas and hopefully get all 'em. If any of them get out and start multiplying again, the city is going to be leveled with a thermonuclear device." said Bishop. "No pressure." grunted Cain who snapped his helmet on. He walked off without saying another word to anyone.
Cain made a quick stop at the refugee tent where Kayla was. "Hey squirt." he said sitting down next to her. "Hi. Thanks for saving my life again." she replied. "No problem…I'm about to do something crazy and though it can't possibly happen but it might, I may not see you again." he said.
"But you're unstoppable." Kayla replied. "Yeah well…I suck at goodbyes." grumbled Cain, realized whatever thing he was about to say just got screwed up. "Then this isn't a goodbye, it's a see you later." she said.
"Uhh…right. What I meant to say is…I didn't save your life, you saved mine. My whole life I've been all about anger and hurting people. Every time I knocked around some punk who deserved it, I was happy for a little while but then I'd go into this…mood where my life seemed pointless and nothing would truly make me happy. So I'd smash something and it would make me happy for a moment but then that mood would come back. Then I met you. Seeing you smile made me smile, watching you laugh made me laugh. I never thought I could have real happiness until I met you and because that, you saved me." he told her.
Kayla hugged Cain's massive leg. Juggernaut patted her on the back. "I'm going to try and get your mom back. I promise." he told her. "Thank you...Cain." she said with tears of joy in her eyes.
The X-Men were in SHIELD helicopters over Marquette Park. Though they couldn't provide any ground support, they could provide some air support. Logan and Storm were in a chopper together, while the rest of the team was scattered among the various helicopters in the air. "Cain, you ready?" asked Logan into his intercom. "Just a sec." responded Cain's voice over the radio.
Juggernaut walked a Chicago street, the entire neighborhood was deserted. Everyone either took off running when the Wendigos attacked or where changed into one. A growl caught Cain's attention. He turned to see a Wendigo leaping towards him.
Cain caught the creature in mid-air, it's claws slashed against Juggernaut's skin but caused no damage. "Time to go for a ride." said Cain. He slammed the Wendigo's head into the pavement and took off running, dragging it's head along the ground as he ran.
He ran through cars, buildings, streetlights, nothing stopped him. Cain was right now living up to his name. The Wendigo howled in pain, it cries echoing across the city.
"It's working." said Fury who was in the chopper with Logan and Storm. On a satellite infrared scan of the city, thousands of massive red dots began to head towards the park. "They're all on their way." said Fury.
Juggernaut reached the park and body slammed the creature as hard as he could into the ground. The Wendigo moaned but it's wounds were already starting to heal. Angry howls from the approaching Wendigos echoed throughout the park.
"Come on." grunted Cain, waiting for them to come. One by one, the Wendigos began to emerge into the park from all sides by the hundreds. "COME ON! LET'S SEE YOU TRY AND STOP THE UNSTOPPABLE!" yelled Cain. He charged into the middle of the park, knocking aside Wendigos in his way like dominoes. Then he stomped his feet and stood his ground.
The creatures all rushed at him at once but with every movement of his hand, dozens of them were hurled away. He knocked them all away one by one or five by five depending on how hard he threw his punches. The injured Wendigos howled for reinforcements while they healed.
"Wait for it." said Fury. The majority of the red dots were inside the park but a few were still on their way. The plan was get them all inside before they strike. By now, thousands were inside the park. Dozens of them piled almost on top of each other to get to Cain. When all the dots were inside the park, Fury sprung the trap.
"All teams, open fire." ordered Fury into his radio. Then all of the helicopters began firing down on the park with missiles and chain guns. Storm summoned a lightning storm and sends dozens of lightning bolts hitting the park in rapid succession. Scott, Alex, and Bishop fired energy blasts down from their choppers. Bobby fired ice beams that would slow down or trip various Wendigos. Carol Danvers floated in the air, firing a massive fifty caliber machine gun that would normally be put on fighter jets. The rest of the X-Men such as Kurt, Kitty, and Evan dropped grenades from their choppers to the ground.
The park was turned into a giant chaotic war zone. Explosions and lightning bolts everywhere. But the majority of the attacks were near the edges of the park, which forced the Wendigo to move away from the edges and more towards the center. "Fire the canister as the west edge of the park. Storm, have the winds carry the gas across as soon once the canister is empty." ordered Logan.
Braddock fired the canister from a missile launcher from her chopper. The canister shattered and green gas seeped into the air. Once the gas spread to about five hundred feet long, Storm used her powers to blow the gas into the center of the park. The Wendigos all screeched when they breathed in the gas. They all gasped and howled in pain. Within a few moments, the Wendigos began to shrink and revert back to humans.
When they got back to the command center, all the refugees and soldiers alike broke out in applause. The X-Men and Juggernaut were seeing something they've never seen before, people applauding mutants for using their powers. Reporters took so many pictures, more of the X-Men had to shield their eyes.
"Wow, this is a real change for how people normally react to our powers." said Storm. "And a welcome change." said Bobby. "Amen to that." said Scott. Fury and the SHIELD mutants walked up beside them.
"I've got to say, I'm impressed. You've just saved not only the people who would have killed from nuking the city but every one of those people infected with the Wendigo curse." said Fury. "Not bad…for a bunch of kids." said Bishop.
Fury's phone rang. "Yes…What?...Bring him in." he said into his phone.
Cain, who was never a fan of the media, walked off towards the refugee center. To his surprise, he saw Kayla and her mother embracing each other. The sight of joy in Kayla's face brought a smile to his own face. Maybe there was something to this superhero business.
"X-Men, there's somebody I think you should see." said Fury who motioned for them to follow. He led them inside the command tent where Charles Xavier was waiting.
"Professor!!!" the X-Men all yelled at once with joy. Kurt teleported over to him and gave him a hug. Kitty was next to join in along with Scott, Jean, and Bobby. "Alright kids. Let the man breath." chuckled Logan.
"It's good to see all of you." said Xavier. "What happened to you?" asked Scott. "Mystique, she attacked me back at the insane asylum when I was meeting with Wanda. She took me to Stokes County Prison and put me in Cain's cell after she left him out. When Captain Stone saw Cain on the news, he found me and released me. I would have sent word to you but you were already busy with this situation. Words can't even begin to describe how proud I am of all of you. You saved millions on more then one occasion and stopped a possible war between mankind and mutants." explained Xavier.
"So…what now?" asked Kurt. "We go home but first, I'd like to make a little stop first." Xavier replied.
The others were nervous about Charles seeing his stepbrother but he insisted on it. He also wanted to do it alone. Charles found Cain standing around, probably deep in thought. "I hear you saved the lives of everyone in the city." Charles said to him.
Cain glared at his stepbrother. "Just because I was willing to help out doesn't mean I'm going to join your little goon squad." said Marko. "No, I know that's not what you want. What I want to know is where do we go from here." said Xavier.
Cain was silent for a moment. "I think I'm starting to see why you enjoy helping people. I've been using my powers for only myself my whole life. Well, it's time for a change. For the first time, I've got a reason to live." Cain finally said.
"As for the two of us…I'm done hunting you. But don't expect a Christmas card." continued Cain. "I see. Well, your actions today will probably get you a pardon from the government so you won't have to worry about Stokes County anymore." said Xavier. "Not that anyone could send me back to begin with." chuckled Cain.
"Yes well, good luck." said Charles. Cain didn't say goodbye, he just turned and walked away. A person's feelings don't just change overnight but to Charles's, this was a good new beginning.
"Turn it up." said Domino. She and the rest of the Acolytes were sitting in front of a television in Magneto's hideout. Gambit turned up the volume.
"Authorities are called the mutant's actions some of the most bravest and most heroic they have ever seen. Public opinion of the matter is split but most we have talked too have called the X-Men heroes." said the new castor before the television turned off by itself.
The Acolytes turned around and saw their leader Magneto standing beside Exodus. It didn't take anyone long to realize Magneto shut off the television. "It seems Xavier's students have averted war yet again." said Exodus. "War against the humans cannot be stopped. All the X-Men have done is delay the inevitable." replied Magneto.
Lorna Dale stepped into the room. "And when the time comes, we'll be ready for them." she said.
(The Acolytes it seems have a new member. Next chapter, first day back to school for the X-Men. But Pietro, Kine, and Terrance plan on it being a very miserable one. Expect lots of superglue and mousetraps in very ingenious ways. Meanwhile, something happens to Wanda that may be the end for both the X-Men and Brotherhood.)