Chapter Eleven
Full Force
Xavier assembled the whole Institute, every mutant to his disposal was at his feet awaiting orders in the Danger room. The seniors of the X-Men had been sent to the rehabilitation center to recover from their wounds, Xavier was left with just a few Seniors and whole allot of Rookies... Xavier thanked his lucky stars that Logan was amongst the crowd and not in the rehabilitation center.
"X-Men, today will be the day that your training will finally pay off..." Xavier announced, a screen appeared on one of the large walls of the Danger room, "This, is Yoshiko Seika," Her picture appeared on the screen with data side notes at the corners, "One of our students here at the Xavier Institute, as you all probably know, she has been kidnapped by Magneto and has been brainwashed and manipulated to be under his control," Hushed whispers fell over the crowd, "Yoshiko is a powerful mutant that goes by the name, Wanderess. Her abilities are based on elements Dark and Light. She currently has one of her strongest abilities under control, and also at Magneto's will, a signal touch can kill a person. Much similar to Marie Darkholme, Rogue, but allot deadlier." Xavier looked to Mr. McCoy, "Anything you would like to add?"
"Yes, thank you," Hank stepped in front of the crowd so he could be herd better, "Don't try reasoning with her, she does not and will not remember any of you. Which could be used at your advantage, just be wary." More hushed whispers.
"Show them the plan Hank," Xavier said as he was about to leave, "I'm going to go see how the others are doing, when your down telling them get them loaded up in the jets. We need to get out of here quickly."
Hank nodded, Xavier wheeled into the elevator and pressed a button. He leaned back in his wheel chair and sighed, and he thought teenagers were bad enough. When he got to the rehabilitation center he saw Jean walking around to each of the beds and every now and then taking a pulse, he went up to where she was, by Scott's bed side.
"He's going to be fine, a few scars or so but he'll be just fine," Jean said, she was holding back tears that were obvious in her voice, "I'll tell you this now Xavier, I never want to be a Doctor."
"Agreed," Xavier chuckled, "But it's determined that Scott's going to be okay, how about you? Are you doing all right?"
"Yea, I guess I'll be fine," Jean brushed aside some of Scott's brown shaggy bangs, "He just wanted to help her... how'd it end up like this?"
"Jean?" Scott's hand moved to reach hers, "Jean, that you?"
"Don't open your eyes," Jean grabbed Scott's glasses off the bed stand and placed them on his face, "All right, go ahead."
Scott opened up his eyes, he saw Jean and a small smile appeared on his face. He knew it was her, he knew she'd be there. He tried to sit up but his muscles hurt all over, he felt like he had a major sunburn all over his body. He winced when Jean gently pushed him back into his bed.
"Easy, you've been through hell and back," Jean said, "Might wanna get some rest."
"Really Professor, making Logan teach Yoshiko all those extra martial arts moves wasn't really necessary," Scott gave a horse laugh and smiled, "Where is she?"
"Who?" Jean took a damp wash clothes and dabbed his head.
"Yoshiko," Scott said puzzled, "You guys got her back, right?"
"I'm sorry Scott," Xavier said, "She's still at the base..."
"What!? We have to go back!" Scott tried to sit back up but his body wouldn't let him, neither would Jean, "We have to go help her! She's only a kid!"
"Calm down Scott," Xavier reassured him, "We're sending out a rescue team as we speak. In fact," He looked to his watch, "I have to go, Jean would you like to accompany us or would you like to stay here?"
"I wanna go," Rogue stood up from her bed, on the other side of the room, "I'm more than capable... I can use my other hand."
Xavier looked at her hand that she attacked Yoshiko with, it was wrapped in bandages that were already bleeding through. Otherwise, there was nothing wrong with her.
"Are you sure your up to it Rogue?" Xavier asked, she nodded, "Then get some fresh bandages for that hand of yours and let's go." He looked to Jean, "Coming?"
"No, I think I'll stay here," Jean said, "I'll need to attend to Scott, Kitty as well when she comes around... along with Ororo."
"All right then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As soon as Rogue had her new bandages, Xavier and her left for the X-Jet. When they arrived it was already full and seated with all the others, Xavier did a mind sweep and everyone was present and accounted for except... Rahne. It doesn't matter, they were loosing precious time and they didn't have any left to wait for Rahne. Rogue took her seat and Xavier took the copilot seat next to Beast, Beast started up the engine with a roar. The water fall parted, the X-Jet took up speed and when the ground beneath it disappeared they were off and flying.
"Everyone here?" Beast asked, they were already reaching mock speeds so he kept his eyes in the sky around him making sure there were no other planes or jets to crash into.
"Everyone but Rahne," Xavier sighed, "Perhaps she'll feel better when we bring Yoshiko back home."
"Perhaps..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When they had finally arrived in Antarctica, it was easier to find the base this time. It's magnetic shields were down, and nothing seemed to come out to attack them for trespassing. Beast lowered the jet down right in front of the base, and yet nothing came out to attack them.
"Something's wrong..." Wolverine said, he was standing above Beast's chair and looking out at the base, "Magneto wouldn't be this stupid..."
"Your right...." Xavier looked at the giant base, he hesitated but pressed the button to open the back of the jet, "I want five teams, Wolverine split them up but make sure there is at least one or more seniors in each group." Wolverine nodded and left to go make the groups, "Beast, I want you with me."
"We're leaving the Jet unguarded?" Beast asked puzzled, "But what if--"
"Magneto can't touch it," Xavier said, "I did a mind search, he's not in there. Neither is Pietro, if they are in there they aren't conscious."
"Do you think... Yoshiko, did something to them?"
"I can't tell... but I know she's still in there..."
"The teams are paired up," Wolverine said as he returned, "Five groups of eight, they've already headed in. They all know the plan and have a senior in each group to reinforce it."
"All right then, let's get going." Xavier said as he and Beast exited along with Wolverine's group.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yoshiko walked down a long corridor, fluorescent lights hung one by one on the ceiling every ten feet giving the hallway an erie effect with the shadows climbing the walls and floors. Yoshiko's tiny feet made no sound as she walked down the hall, her pitch black hair framed her porcelain doll like face. She stopped in her tracks, she herd foot steps... she gave a wicked grin and she stepped into the beckoning shadows and disappeared....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nightcrawler walked down a long corridor, he shivered at the effect of the fluorescent lights. He was oldest and most experienced in the group so he led the way, he wasn't use to being a leader but he figured if Scott could do it he could.
Amara Aquilla, a rookie mutant that can create and manipulate lave and can even become a lava woman, also known as Magma walked beside Nightcrawler. She wasn't too found of the corridor either, she peered up at him with her big brown eyes.
"Um, Nightcrawler? Exactly how can we tell if she's here or not, Beast said that she can transport through shadows. What if she just pops out and takes one of us and we won't even know it," Magma shivered as she looked at the shadows, "I mean, she could just pop out any minute!"
"Shh! We don't need you to scare us Magma!" Roberto said, also known as Sunspot, "Geez! Do you read enough horror stories!?"
"Quiet down," Nightcrawler said, "The both of you."
"Yea really," Yoshiko said, "You two biker like your related."
"No kidding," Nightcrawler looked down at Yoshiko and smiled, "Thanks Yo-- Yoshiko!!!"
"AHH!" Magma jumped and hid behind one of the other kids that were with them.
"Oh please..." Sunspot rolled his eyes, "She's just a kid." He patted Yoshiko on the head, "Ain't that right?"
Yoshiko smiled and took his hand, she sent a surge of black lightning into him. He yelled in pain as he fell to his knees, he started to regret not hiding like Magma did.
Nightcrawler teleported to Sunspot and grabbed him around the waist, he then teleported away. Sunspot felt numb all over, he could bearly move but he was still conscious.
"You all right?" Nightcrawler asked, "That was quite a shocker!"
"You haven't seen anything yet..." Yoshiko giggled as she stepped into a shadow.
"Some one! Get here!" Nightcrawler yelled, "Don't let her get--"
She was already gone, Nightcrawler looked around. His team, all of them, just stood there. A few were looking at the ground, a couple scuffling their shoes. Why wouldn't any of them stop her!? Nightcrawler thought it over, would you want to touch her?
"Look, I wouldn't want to have touch her either!" Nightcrawler snapped, "But that's what part of being an X-Men is all about! You have to make sacrifices!" More heads dropped and stared at the ground, "I... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you guys like that. Let's just go see if we can meat up with the others, all right?"
A few nods and a whispered sure, Nightcrawler had Sunspot lean on him as the small party walked down the dimly lit corridors in search of the others.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rahne walked down another corridor, her feet made small taps on the cold ground. She shivered, where could Yoshiko be in this place? Why'd she run like that? She turned a corner and smacked into something big and harry.
"Huh? AHH!" Rahne yelped as she staggered to her feet ready to run.
"AH! Oh! It's just you!" Beast looked down at Rahne, Wolfsbane, "Rahne, how'd you get here? What are you doing here?"
"I-I can earlier to look for Yoshiko," Rahne stammered, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help."
"It was wrong of you to go off by yourself Rahne," Xavier said, "You can stay will Beast and I for the time being, we have a search party looking for Yoshiko right now."
"Is she better?" Rahne asked, "How'd she get lost?"
"Better?" Xavier looked at her questionably, "What do you mean, better?"
"Well, I ran into her about an hour or so ago," Rahne said, "But she didn't recognize me, when I tried to make her recall she seemed to panic. She looked like she was having a nervous break down or something."
"Did she say anything?" Beast asked, "What was her reaction?"
"Well, it was weird. When I ran into her, it was Yoshiko but it wasn't. You know? Like she wasn't exactly herself? When I told her my name," Rahne looked over her shoulder, she had an eire feeling someone was watching her, "Well, she seemed to struggle against something! Like she was fighting something! S-she told me to run, she told me to keep away. I know this sounds weird, but I think her better half has been taken over. Like, Light and Dark you know? I-I just stood there, I could have helped her! I!"
Rahne clasped her hands over her face and started to cry her heart out, Beast wrapped his large arms around her and hugged her. He patted her on the back as the sobs rolled out, Xavier looked at Rahne. Was she telling the truth? Or was she just saying this because she's obviously traumatized?
"Rahne, shh, it's okay," Beast picked her up and smiled, "We'll get her back, we'll get Yoshiko back. Everything will be fine, you did your best."
"Beast, I know anything is possible but," Xavier started, "But let's just say, for this one moment, that Yoshiko does have another half. Like you have your beast within and yet your human, perhaps she is Yoshiko and there's another part inside herself she can't control. Like, a good and a bad. A Ying and Yang?"
"A Keiroshi to be exact," Yoshiko stepped out from the shadows, "I am the Dark One Keiroshi Seika... you can call me Wanderess..."
"Keiroshi?" Xavier looked at her, of course! It made perfect sense! All the pieces of the puzzle started to match up! "But if your Keiroshi, then where's Yoshiko?"
Keiroshi/Yoshiko tapped her chest where her heart is, "She's still here, I just so happen to have control now... permanently..."
"Where's Magneto?" Beast asked as he put Wolfsbane down, "Where's Pietro?"
"Who?" She asked as if the words were foreign, "Oh, yes, them. I have disposed of them for the time being, it's funny Xavier... I remember, that one night when Yoshiko was standing outside your room, you told her you didn't need protection from the night.... oh how wrong you were..."
Yoshiko too just one step forward to Xavier when a fence of spikes were shot at her feet, she turned around to see an army of mutants behind her... and Spyke in the front. He shot one more into his hand and held it both of his hands like a sword, he smirked.
"What the--" Keiroshi glared at him, "You... how dare you--"
"--Yea, yea, how dare you, bla, bla, bla, do you know what your doing, bla, bla, bla," Spyke mocked, "Dude, that gets real old real fast you know?"
"Arraaah!!!" Keiroshi tackled him to the ground, "NO ONE MOCKS ME!!!"
She touched his forehead with her hand and sent bolt after bolt of dark energy into him. Startled, Spyke did the first thing that came to mind, he sent spikes through his whole body sending Keiroshi across the floor. She skidded to a stop at Xavier's feet, she looked up and glared at him.
"You!" She hissed.
She put up a hand and was about to touch his foot when she felt a wave of confusion move through her head, she struggled to reach her hand up to his foot.
"AHHHHHH!!" Keiroshi screamed that heart breaking scream, piercing the souls of everyone around her... it sounded just like a child being beaten...
Xavier sent physic blows to her mind, tears ran down Keiroshi's face. Blow, after blow, and yet somehow Keiroshi grabbed Xavier's ankle but fell limp before she could even get one spark into him... she laid at his feet.... everyone stared at her in horror, how could something so innocent be so retched?
"Yes... I remember you offering you to protect me Yoshiko..." Xavier said, his voice hushed as he too looked at the small body before him, "And I thank you... but do you remember me telling you I'm one of the most powerful mutants in the world Keiroshi?...."
Wolverine stepped from the crowd, he looked to Keiroshi and then to Xavier. Xavier didn't have to read his mind, but the expression on his face.
"No," Xavier shook his head, "She's not dead..."
Wolverine picked her limp body up from the ground and looked back at the large group, it didn't take an army to have control over a child...
It took a family...
