Ch. 7 – A Man of Honor
Slash gave out their last minute assignments.
"On the approach, I want Storm in the air giving us cover
if we need it. Fog, mist, etc. I'll be on the point, closely followed by
Wolverine and Gambit hanging together; Beast, you've got tail end Charlie. Wolverine busts down the fence, we get
in. Wolverine, get Morph; Storm, get
Shadowcat; Gambit, get Psylocke; Beast get Nightcrawler. I'll find a high spot to give you cover and
a diversion. Then, we go out the
opposite way we came in. I'll cover the
retreat, and we get back to the LZ. I've also arranged so that Rogue will be at the fence line after we
break in, so if something goes wrong, we have a reserve right there. Simple plan. Let's do this everyone." Slash had gotten use to giving these sort of pep talks when he was in
the SEALS.
Transit across the country had taken a short period of
time. They were ready and in position
to exit the plane as Cyclops touched down gently. Slash pulled the MP-5 from his shoulder, and chambered a
round. As soon as the ramp went down,
he was off, checking to see if anyone was there. Of course there wasn't, but it was a force of habit for a Navy
SEAL. The rest of the team exited, and
they headed off to their objective. After a 10-minute walk, they were outside the compound. It was only five buildings: the Quonset hut that we assumed the four
comrades were being held, and four guard towers. The towers would be Slash's responsibility. Slash signaled Storm to give us a fog
cover. After it rolled it, Wolverine
slashed a hole in the fence, and the four X-Men on the ground entered the
compound. Gambit charged up a pair of
cards, and blew up two of the towers. Slash rushed over to a third tower, as firing started up with a
bang. Slash popped off a two round
burst, and wounded a machine gunner of the tower. He then turned his newly won machine gun against the other
tower. After a quick chatter of the
gun, the tower exploded. Slash flew out
of his perch, and ran over to the rest of the team, waiting by the door of the
Quonset hut. Slash kicked in the door,
and rushed in. Luckily, they had
managed to find their four buddies on this side of the hut, completely
unguarded. While Slash covered the
door, the respective team members destroyed the locks or cages to free their
imprisoned comrades. When they all were
ready to move out, Slash moved out to cover them as they ran to freedom. Gambit and Psylocke came first, followed by
Wolverine and Morph, Beast and Nighcrawler, and Storm and Shadowcat. Then something happened that none of them
counted on.
Along side the fence was a machine gun nest that they FOH
had just put up days before the mission. The crew had been asleep in the other side of the hut. When the firing broke out, and then stopped,
they immediately got to the gun and readied it. Now, as the X-Men left, they began firing. Slash was surprised because it wasn't
suppose to be there. He ducked and pulled out Wolvestopper. He began blasting the sandbags with rounds,
but he still heard a cry behind him. Storm was hit in the leg, and stumbled and fell. Rogue immediately flew in, and picked up
Storm. Shadowcat still lay there. Beast yelled that he would get her. Slash told them to make for the plane, that
he would get her. He was hit in the
arm, but it wasn't serious. Slash put
in a fresh clip, and began using those mutant powers of his. He then plugged off multiple rounds, and
blew up the gun. He shouldered
Wolvestopper and pulled out his MP-5 again. He took Shadowcat across his shoulders, and ran. A group of FOH soldiers came out and shot at
him with M-16's. Slash them fired off
his remaining bullets in the MP-5's clip to give him cover. He took off and radioed Cyclops that the
condition was Yellow. He wasn't sure if
the FOH would follow him into the night or not. Shadowcat was falling from his shoulders. He strapped up the MP-5, and carried
Shadowcat in his arms. He landed
outside the plane, and boarded it. Cyclops took off, and the Blackbird was headed home to New York. Success.
Despite the fact that they took casualties, and he
himself was wounded, Slash had a huge grin on his face from their success. Beast tended to Storm and Slash, in addition
to reviving their captured friends. After they were all squared away, Gambit disappeared with Beast. Slash was almost asleep when they returned
carrying pieces of cardboard. Gambit's
had a star on the bottom.
"Fer meriotorious conduct above an' beyon' de call of
dutee, Gambit present to you Slash on behaf of de X-Men, de Silve Star." Gambit pushed the tape hard, so it would
stay below Slash's Eagle and Trident. Then Beast pulled out a purple award.
"I believe that in your military there is an award that
is given if you are wounded in combat. On behalf of a greatful X-Men team, we award you and Storm, the Purple
Heart." Beast then put it on Slash's
uniform next to Gambit's Silver Star. Wolverine walked over.
"Well well. Lookie here. Mr. Squid has saved
the day. You're a hero. What are you gonna do now?" After a few seconds, Slash smiled with a
response.
"I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!" This got everyone laughing, even the resentful Cyclops, who was
upset that Slash was getting all the glory.
That night, they returned, and got all the wounded and
injured to the infirmary. Slash would
be the fastest to recover, but still made quips with Beast.
"Man, I think I should just move in here, as many times
as I've been in here. Ha." Across the
room, Shadowcat came to. Beast quickly
tended to her.
"Where am I?"
"Katharine, you are here at the X-Mansion. You are safe, and among friends." Her eyes scanned around the room.
"There was someone else, a new X-Man. He…saved me, I do remember that, but his
face was unfamiliar to me. Where is he
Beast?"
"Right over there." He pointed at Slash. "His name
is Matt, but we all call him Slash."
"Slash, thank you for getting me out of there."
"All in a days work Miss…"
"Pryde. Katharine Pryde."
"All in a days work Miss Pryde." Beast left her side, and headed for the
door.
"Well, it's time you all get some rest." Beast shut off the light, and the door
closed behind him.
Keep those reviews coming!