Disclaimer: It's Marvel's okay? Not mine. I swear.
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Charles Xavier woke with a start. Something was wrong, horribly wrong. For a brief instant, he felt the mind of another reach out to him, then suddenly go silent. He pulled himself out of bed, grabbed his cane and hurried to the underground facilities that housed Cerebra. He was pushed only by the sinking feeling that something was terribly out of place.
The same telepathic summons that woke Xavier had Jean Grey-Summers in her dressing gown and halfway down the hall before her husband, Scott, realized something was wrong. He poked his head sleepily out into the hall.
"Jean," he began, "what's wrong?"
She turned, a frown on her face. "I don't know, nothing I hope, but get dressed just in case."
As she passed student dorms, she heard faint stirrings and light switches click on. This can't be good, she thought.
By the time she reached Cerebra, Xavier was already in the main chamber. She heard footsteps behind her.
Xavier stood and removed the helmet. He examined his X-men closely. They were droopy eyed and in various stages of undress, from Wolverine who slept in her trousers, to Rogue who seldom wore night clothes, but favored, instead, body suits due to her mutation.
He licked his lips to ward off the dryness in his mouth. "It seems," he began, "that we are a long way away from peaceful coexistance between humans and mutants." Xavier noted the various degrees of confusion on the faces of his pupils and raised his hand to silence any questions.
"A group of unsympathetic vigilantes have moved in on one of the new mutant shelters near-by and I'm afraid they don't have the best intentions in mind."
He watched as the confused expressions changed to shock. "Aren't those shelters for mutant children?" Beast inquired.
"Yes, Hank, indeed they are."
Before Xavier could continue his brief, the X-men were suiting up and seperating into their normal teams.
"Storm, you and you team take the roof," Cyclops barked. "Professor, any idea how many we're dealing with?"
Xavier shook his head.
"Great," he exclaimed sarcastically, "I'll contact Warren and have them standing by as back up. We'll handle crowd control and the media."
They paused long enough to get the location from Xavier and hurried to the hanger.
"Rogue," the professor called, "I would feel more comfortable if you sat out on this one."
She turned and gave him a look as if to say 'And miss all the fun?' She gave him a quick smile and ran after her teammates.
He shook his head and decided to monitor the situation from Cerebra.
"This is Kate Johnson with channel four news. I am standing in front of a newly constructed mutant shelter created by Charles Xavier's X-Corps. This shelter houses orphan and abandoned mutant children Currently, these children are being held hostage by a group of vigilante terrorists. Their demands are not clear at this time, however, it is clear that the mutant community isn't taking it lightly. With me is spokeswoman for the Xavier Institute and X-corps, Jean Grey-Summers. Mrs. Grey-Summers, am I to understand that an X-Corps team is on its way right now?"
"I'm sorry, but answering that question with any response could endanger the children."
"Very well, but these are mutant children, are they not?"
"Yes."
"Then why not use their powers to defend themselves?"
"Well first of all, some of these kids are so young, their powers have even appeared yet. They were abandoned merely because of their appearance. Second, many of them have just been introduced to their powers and do not yet understand how to use them. We also have reason to believe that the terrorists are using what we call an x-gene null-field generator."
"I see, and how does that work?"
"I believe I can answer that madame."
"Dr. Henry McCoy, correct?"
"Spot on my dear. An x-gene null-field is basically a field in which mutant powers cannot be used. It nullifies the effects of the x-gene. The generator is a relatively new invention. It generates this field. However, the generator can only extend a field of a few feet in area. Which is why they are not widely used."
"And you believe that the terrorists are using one of these generators?"
"They would be ignorant not to. These young people may not be able to defend themselves, but they are frightened and with fear comes adrenaline. We have found that adrenaline can boost a mutants abilities significantly. These children, as you call them, are likely to start firing with all guns blazing, not only causing possible harm to themselves, but to everyone around them."
"Doesn't this add support to the antimutant argument that mutants are dangerous?"
"That's why these children must be looked after and trained, Ms. Johnson," Jean replied. "Within a few years..." she stopped and spun around. A scream issued from the building. "NO!" Jean screamed and ran as fast as she could to the building.
She found herself in a large room with cots set across from each other. In a corner, was a terrified looking group of children. Around the children, were several tall, thin, metallic objects that blinked rythmically. One of the children who seemed to be a bit older than the rest stared at her. The girl's eyes were red and swollen, most likely from crying. Blood trickled from the side of her mouth. Just then, one of the men surrounding the children followed the girl's gaze.
"Who are you?" he demanded in a gruff voice.
She tried to respond, but before she had a chance, the door burst open, heralding the entrance of several strangely dressed people. The men surged to the door, only to blown back by a great gust of wind.
She couldn't move, she was absolutely amazed by these individuals. She had never seen their like before, at least, not that she could remember, which at that moment, wasn't much. They moved with speed an precision, calling out to each other occaisionally for assistance. Moments later, they were joined by another group, dressed in smart, black uniforms.
"Are these all of them Storm?" one called out. He had beautiful blue skin and dazzling white wings.
"These are all that we have found. You encountered no one else, Archangel?"
"A few on the bottom floor, but they've been dealt with."
Archangel, she thought, what an appropriate name. Rushing in to save the children in the nick of time. At least, that's what she hoped they were doing because those kids looked awfully scared.
She snapped out of her daze as she noticed a thin blue man in priest's drab motioning to her.
"Move kind!" he commanded. Kind? She knew that word, but how? It meant child. Did he mean her. She didn't think of herself as a child, but she couldn't remember how old she was. Suddenly, she felt someone grab her wrist. She turned to see a large black man with the letter 'M' over his right eye.
"The man said move, kid."
She nodded and started to walk away from the window she was standing by, but not before she heard a gunshot ring out.
"Alright, brothers," that same gruff voice said. "We're outnumbered and out gunned by these filthy beasts, plan B!"
The other men grunted sounds of agreement and began to pull out various weapons. The leader had taken out what appeared to be a shot gun (how did she know that?) and aimed it at her. The big black man moved to knock him down, but she never saw the outcome. She felt something hard slam into her stomach. Her feet left the ground and her head flew back. She felt something break and shatter behind her. She saw a woman with dark hair with a white streak framing her face zoom towards her as the puffy-eyed girl screamed.
Jean knew she wouldn't make it on time. The images from the minds of the other X-men told her as much. There was too much blood. The girl would bleed to death even if she survived the fall. Maybe she could slow her down...maybe....
Rogue flew as fast as she could. All she knew was she had to save that girl, from the fall at least. She'd probably die from the gunshot wound, but there was something abou those eyes. Something familiar. She swooped out the window and past the falling girl. She waited beneath her and scooped her un in her arms. The pain was almost unbearable and she nearly dropped her. The girl looked up briefly. Rogue looked into her eyes. They were soft and deteremined and the color of blood. They started to droop and the girl blacked out.
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Okay, that was another long one. I guess I'm a little more inspired than I thought I was. Quick notes. The null-feild generator is something I cooked up so don't freak. I got the idea from the old fox cartoon with the collars at Genosha. But anyhoo, go review, now!
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Charles Xavier woke with a start. Something was wrong, horribly wrong. For a brief instant, he felt the mind of another reach out to him, then suddenly go silent. He pulled himself out of bed, grabbed his cane and hurried to the underground facilities that housed Cerebra. He was pushed only by the sinking feeling that something was terribly out of place.
The same telepathic summons that woke Xavier had Jean Grey-Summers in her dressing gown and halfway down the hall before her husband, Scott, realized something was wrong. He poked his head sleepily out into the hall.
"Jean," he began, "what's wrong?"
She turned, a frown on her face. "I don't know, nothing I hope, but get dressed just in case."
As she passed student dorms, she heard faint stirrings and light switches click on. This can't be good, she thought.
By the time she reached Cerebra, Xavier was already in the main chamber. She heard footsteps behind her.
Xavier stood and removed the helmet. He examined his X-men closely. They were droopy eyed and in various stages of undress, from Wolverine who slept in her trousers, to Rogue who seldom wore night clothes, but favored, instead, body suits due to her mutation.
He licked his lips to ward off the dryness in his mouth. "It seems," he began, "that we are a long way away from peaceful coexistance between humans and mutants." Xavier noted the various degrees of confusion on the faces of his pupils and raised his hand to silence any questions.
"A group of unsympathetic vigilantes have moved in on one of the new mutant shelters near-by and I'm afraid they don't have the best intentions in mind."
He watched as the confused expressions changed to shock. "Aren't those shelters for mutant children?" Beast inquired.
"Yes, Hank, indeed they are."
Before Xavier could continue his brief, the X-men were suiting up and seperating into their normal teams.
"Storm, you and you team take the roof," Cyclops barked. "Professor, any idea how many we're dealing with?"
Xavier shook his head.
"Great," he exclaimed sarcastically, "I'll contact Warren and have them standing by as back up. We'll handle crowd control and the media."
They paused long enough to get the location from Xavier and hurried to the hanger.
"Rogue," the professor called, "I would feel more comfortable if you sat out on this one."
She turned and gave him a look as if to say 'And miss all the fun?' She gave him a quick smile and ran after her teammates.
He shook his head and decided to monitor the situation from Cerebra.
"This is Kate Johnson with channel four news. I am standing in front of a newly constructed mutant shelter created by Charles Xavier's X-Corps. This shelter houses orphan and abandoned mutant children Currently, these children are being held hostage by a group of vigilante terrorists. Their demands are not clear at this time, however, it is clear that the mutant community isn't taking it lightly. With me is spokeswoman for the Xavier Institute and X-corps, Jean Grey-Summers. Mrs. Grey-Summers, am I to understand that an X-Corps team is on its way right now?"
"I'm sorry, but answering that question with any response could endanger the children."
"Very well, but these are mutant children, are they not?"
"Yes."
"Then why not use their powers to defend themselves?"
"Well first of all, some of these kids are so young, their powers have even appeared yet. They were abandoned merely because of their appearance. Second, many of them have just been introduced to their powers and do not yet understand how to use them. We also have reason to believe that the terrorists are using what we call an x-gene null-field generator."
"I see, and how does that work?"
"I believe I can answer that madame."
"Dr. Henry McCoy, correct?"
"Spot on my dear. An x-gene null-field is basically a field in which mutant powers cannot be used. It nullifies the effects of the x-gene. The generator is a relatively new invention. It generates this field. However, the generator can only extend a field of a few feet in area. Which is why they are not widely used."
"And you believe that the terrorists are using one of these generators?"
"They would be ignorant not to. These young people may not be able to defend themselves, but they are frightened and with fear comes adrenaline. We have found that adrenaline can boost a mutants abilities significantly. These children, as you call them, are likely to start firing with all guns blazing, not only causing possible harm to themselves, but to everyone around them."
"Doesn't this add support to the antimutant argument that mutants are dangerous?"
"That's why these children must be looked after and trained, Ms. Johnson," Jean replied. "Within a few years..." she stopped and spun around. A scream issued from the building. "NO!" Jean screamed and ran as fast as she could to the building.
She found herself in a large room with cots set across from each other. In a corner, was a terrified looking group of children. Around the children, were several tall, thin, metallic objects that blinked rythmically. One of the children who seemed to be a bit older than the rest stared at her. The girl's eyes were red and swollen, most likely from crying. Blood trickled from the side of her mouth. Just then, one of the men surrounding the children followed the girl's gaze.
"Who are you?" he demanded in a gruff voice.
She tried to respond, but before she had a chance, the door burst open, heralding the entrance of several strangely dressed people. The men surged to the door, only to blown back by a great gust of wind.
She couldn't move, she was absolutely amazed by these individuals. She had never seen their like before, at least, not that she could remember, which at that moment, wasn't much. They moved with speed an precision, calling out to each other occaisionally for assistance. Moments later, they were joined by another group, dressed in smart, black uniforms.
"Are these all of them Storm?" one called out. He had beautiful blue skin and dazzling white wings.
"These are all that we have found. You encountered no one else, Archangel?"
"A few on the bottom floor, but they've been dealt with."
Archangel, she thought, what an appropriate name. Rushing in to save the children in the nick of time. At least, that's what she hoped they were doing because those kids looked awfully scared.
She snapped out of her daze as she noticed a thin blue man in priest's drab motioning to her.
"Move kind!" he commanded. Kind? She knew that word, but how? It meant child. Did he mean her. She didn't think of herself as a child, but she couldn't remember how old she was. Suddenly, she felt someone grab her wrist. She turned to see a large black man with the letter 'M' over his right eye.
"The man said move, kid."
She nodded and started to walk away from the window she was standing by, but not before she heard a gunshot ring out.
"Alright, brothers," that same gruff voice said. "We're outnumbered and out gunned by these filthy beasts, plan B!"
The other men grunted sounds of agreement and began to pull out various weapons. The leader had taken out what appeared to be a shot gun (how did she know that?) and aimed it at her. The big black man moved to knock him down, but she never saw the outcome. She felt something hard slam into her stomach. Her feet left the ground and her head flew back. She felt something break and shatter behind her. She saw a woman with dark hair with a white streak framing her face zoom towards her as the puffy-eyed girl screamed.
Jean knew she wouldn't make it on time. The images from the minds of the other X-men told her as much. There was too much blood. The girl would bleed to death even if she survived the fall. Maybe she could slow her down...maybe....
Rogue flew as fast as she could. All she knew was she had to save that girl, from the fall at least. She'd probably die from the gunshot wound, but there was something abou those eyes. Something familiar. She swooped out the window and past the falling girl. She waited beneath her and scooped her un in her arms. The pain was almost unbearable and she nearly dropped her. The girl looked up briefly. Rogue looked into her eyes. They were soft and deteremined and the color of blood. They started to droop and the girl blacked out.
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Okay, that was another long one. I guess I'm a little more inspired than I thought I was. Quick notes. The null-feild generator is something I cooked up so don't freak. I got the idea from the old fox cartoon with the collars at Genosha. But anyhoo, go review, now!