Ch. 13 – Capture
Xavier had notified X-Factor and Alpha Flight that the
X-Men had rescued their personnel. They
arrived shortly before the two Blackbirds arrived. Xavier was waiting patiently for them, when he spotted them on
the horizon. Blackbird Gold landed
first because it was carrying the rescued mutants. The teams were ecstatic to have their captured mutants returned
to them. Xavier was glad to have the
X-Men back.
"Well done X-Men. And I'm glad to see you've returned too." Then Blackbird Blue landed, and Slash and Rogue joined in the
celebration. Only that Slash didn't
want to join in. Xavier was going to
talk to Slash, but Rogue stopped him.
"Professor, he needs some time to hisself. He got hit with some hard information on
this mission. Concerning the truth
about his wife…" Rogue's voice began to choke. Xavier understood. As they were
rejoining the party, Cyclops met them.
"Did you see where Slash went? I want to talk to him about his erratic flying."
"No Scott. He
needs some time to himself." Shadowcat
had been nearby and heard the entire conversation. She phased through the walls so no one could see her leave. Meanwhile, Xavier and the X-Men watched as
X-Factor and Alpha Flight headed out to return to their bases. Xavier had some news to announce. "Seeing the performance today has caused me
to make a decision. I will keep the
two-team arrangement, Blue and Gold. Only one thing will change: I am
renaming Blue Team. They will now be
called X-Men Recon, in honor of Slash's former occupation. Only personnel change is that Psylocke will
move over to X-Men Recon with Gambit, Slash, Rogue, Shadowcat, and
Wolverine. Let's get some rest. We have training tomorrow." They all headed to their quarters to relax
after a stressful mission.
Shadowcat had finally gotten to Slash's room. She tried the door several times. He didn't even answer the door. She then decided to phase through it. She found it locked as she entered the
room. She saw him lying on his bed,
facing down.
"Slash? Are you
ok?" He turned to see her. His face was wet from weeping.
"How'd you get in here? Oh wait, forgot. Nothing can keep you out of anywhere." He paused, and wiped away another tear. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just got the worst news of my life, next to
when my wife was murdered." Shadowcat
came and sat on his bed. "Sinister had
my wife murdered. It was him who tipped
off the FOH. Bad thing is that Sinister
is invulnerable. I will make it my
undying quest until I die to kill that evil man and make him pay for what he
did to my wife." Slash sat up, and
Shadowcat comforted him. He pulled off
away from her, and looked her straight in the eyes. "I have come to terms with my feelings for you." He paused. "Kate, I find you very attractive. But being married before has taught me not to just look at the
outside. You have a character very
similar to my wife. Please, I don't
want you to think that you are a replacement for her. I love you very much…" Slash leaned over to her, and placed a
kiss on her lips. She was at first
surprised, but then placed her arms around him. They fell over on the bed and embraced for a few more minutes. Then Slash pulled away. "I now have closure for Erin. I think she'd be happy with this that she
would want me to get on with my life. I
love you Kate Pryde." He looked deep
into her eyes. "I'm sorry to ask you
this, but I need my rest. It's been a
draining day. Good night my love." He pressed his lips gently to her
forehead. Shadowcat got up, and walked
back out to the door. She felt as giddy
as a schoolgirl. Nothing with Colossus
or Peter Wisdom could even compare with her feelings for Slash.
In the morning, however, Shadowcat found a note on her
door.
'Dearest Kathryn,
I have come to a very difficult decision. After you left, I spent the entire night
tossing and turning. I have come to the
conclusion that although I love you with all that I am, I have to find a way to
avenge my wife's death. Therefore I
have decided to leave the X-Men to find a way to kill Sinister. But, my love, I will return for you. Every mile that I put painfully between the
mansion and wherever I am heading is one more joyful mile gone when I return. I hope you understand I must find closure
with Erin before I can proceed with you. I'm as hurt over my decision as I know you will be. I think of you everyday I am gone. I will return before you know it. Yours truly, Lt. Matthew Kerns "Slash" ' Shadowcat was devastated.
Slash had packed none of his SEAL weapons. He first raided his old SEAL headquarters
and "borrowed" a M-249, the SEAL'S light machine gun, and a 9mm Beretta to fly
the friendly skies with. He also
revisited the site of his home. By now,
it had been rebuilt. He also looked up
his wife's grave. Although he was a
mutant, he and Erin were still eligible for a burial plot at a National
Cemetary. He left instructions with the
military that he wanted to be buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery, so he
decided to look for her there. Slash,
after a painstaking search, found her tombstone that would someday be his plot
too. He didn't know the words to say to
her. He just knelt there for a long
time. Slash also didn't notice the
giant robots that had landed behind him.
"Lieutenant Matthew Kerns, mutant deserter. Subject must be apprehended. Surrender or prepare to be
termintated." Slash was surprised when
he turned around and saw three Sentinels behind him.
"Hmm. Three to
one odds. I've been up against
worse." He turned to the Sentinel that
spoke to him. "I choose to take down as
many of you before I am terminated." With that, he chambered a round in the M-249 and sprayed lead at all of
them. A lucky shot managed to take out
the right Sentinel. Slash flew for cover behind the brick wall of the cemetery. The Sentinels shot at him the entire
way. He found a good firing spot and
began firing burst of fire. Suddenly
the gun jammed. "Dammit! Guess I'll have to take 'em out the old
fashioned way." He flew up, and twisted
the head of the center Sentinel and flung it towards Little Round Top. The head landed on the crest of the summit,
surprising many tourists. The last
Sentinel then zapped Slash with a stun ray. Slash fell to the ground, and was knocked unconscious.
When he came to, he realized he was in some sort of
prison camp. There were armed guards
around him. There also was a man in
sunglasses bearing a whip and a knife. Slash realized his clothes were torn up. He also realized that he was bleeding all over. The man spoke.
"Filthy mutant deserter. My name is Henry Gyrick. You are
one of the X-Men. You will tell me the
names of every one of your friends or you will be killed. And I know we can kill you." Although dazed, Slash managed to respond.
"Matt Kerns, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Serial
Number Two-Four-Two-Nine-Three-Juliette-Golf-Alpha-Papa-Oscar-Seven-Five." He managed to spit out his serial number,
just as his Navy training dictated. Gyrick
got mad. He whipped Slash multiple
times in the chest, and cut up his belly area.
"Now talk." Slash
spoke up again.
"Matt Kerns, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Serial
Number Two-Four-Two-Nine-Three-Juliette-Golf-Alpha-Papa-Oscar-Seven-Five." It was harder then when he was taught not to
reveal secrets to the Iraqis. The Iraqis
were pretty brutal, but this guy was even worse. Gyrick got even more upset, and took the knife and cut up Slash's
arms and legs so the blood was flowing from him like water.
"Hopefully you will talk before you die." Defiant to the end, Slash managed to spit
out words once more.
"Matt Kerns, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Serial
Number Two-Four-Two-Nine-Three-Juliette-Golf-Alpha-Papa-Oscar-Seven-Five." Then he passed out.