Next chapter might be a bit late since I'm away for most of the weekend, and it's one of those chapters that takes a while to write *sigh*. Sorry.
A/N 1: As in the previous chapters – ideas for fic and character development, questions, plotbunnies, suggestions, flames, character pictures, corrections, additions, comments, and everything in between can be mailed to hack_heaven@usa.net
A/N 2: SilentPegasus: Let's just say that Jordane and Blade have a...unique past together, and that there's a reason why she's so devoted to him *smirk*
Italics indicates thoughts/telepathy
Oh, and a pyrokinetic is a mutant who can control fire.
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Chapter Forty-Nine: United They Stand...
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In retrospect, it was nothing short of a miracle that no one had realized what was happening in Chicago. Sure, the speculations had been numerous, they all knew that - everything from riots and protests, to genocide and all-out war.
Those speculations often brought a cynical smirk to those who knew what was really going on. History wouldn't repeat itself - the riots they had started nine years earlier had been a failure, it was that simple. Those riots had claimed the lives of countless of innocent humans, and even when compared to the impressive number of mutants that had died, it was a price that was unacceptable.
They were the Friends of Humanity, not a group of insane killers who were just looking for something to kill. They had devoted their lives to protecting the human race, not to harming it in their fight against mutants.
But they'd realized their mistakes, and they had learned from them. Riots, war, protests - it was disorganized and a danger to the innocent humans who might get in the way. There were better ways to deal with the mutants - through mutant internment camps, through power-suppressive drugs and collars, through the systematical removal of the most dangerous mutants. The government had been more than willing to give them the names of the known mutants, and had already dispatched patrols to bring them in. Seemingly over night the city had become populated by FoH soldiers, many of them brought in from the surrounding cities. Checkpoints had been set up on the main roads, cutting off anyone who would feel tempted to run.
They'd learned, and they had become better. This time they were prepared and knew what to expect. This time they were organized and well equipped, and this time they would make sure not to let things get out of hand. This time they would clean out one city at a time, and use the advantage their sheer number gave.
They had failed once.
They would not fail again.
* * *
The uniforms.
That was the first sign that something was wrong. Sure, it wasn't uncommon to see a couple of FoHs in the streets, but it had never been a problem - they were easily avoided, and unless there were many of them, they were rarely out to cause any trouble
But something had changed, seemingly over night. The number of dark green and black uniforms in the street was unnerving - it was unusual to see so many FoHs in one town, and when it happened, it was usually a bad sign.
Kyle cast a brief look at a passing military jeep, then focused on the road again. The rumors that West had passed on to them kept running through his mind, again and again, reminding him of every atrocity the FoH might be planning, each worse than its predecessor.
It doesn't have to mean anything, just because there are more FoHs than usual.
...But wasn't that what the mutants had said nine years earlier, only days before the continent went up in flames?
Kyle took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. Whatever the FoH had planned was undoubtedly bad news, but with a little luck the Guardians would be far away from Chicago before things turned worse. They were almost out of the city - they would reach one of the main roads soon, and follow it to Omaha.
Yes...they would be far away by the time anything happened.
If something *will* happen. You're paranoid, Sanderson, his voice of reason whispered, voicing the small fears in the back of Kyle's mind. Fear that he was overreacting. Fear that he was turning into some paranoid nutcase.
Kyle snorted.
Paranoid...yeah, maybe, but in this case he could almost *feel* the tension as they approached the larger roads. Something was wrong, he was sure of that.
Besides...better paranoid than dead, right?
They drove around a corner, and Kyle felt a ripple of shock run through the faint, telepathic link he'd established with Ryan, followed by a rush of adrenaline as his body reacted to what it perceived as a danger.
Ryan?
There was no reply, but the shock faded, leaving a constant, humming worry behind, and finally Kyle was able to look past Ryan's car to see what had caused his reaction.
A checkpoint.
Kyle's hands tensed around the steering wheel, and he took a deep breath to calm down. A look at the area ahead of them revealed that it wasn't as bad as it could have been - the checkpoint was nowhere near the size of the one they'd run into in New York, but it was bad enough. This one had been set up with military precision; everything organized and under control, swarming with soldiers, and with none of the chaotic atmosphere that the one in New York had been surrounded by.
Well, that certainly explained the tension in the air, didn't it?
"Kyle..." Suzuka said, motioning towards the checkpoint, but Kyle shook his head.
"Not now. I need to talk to Ryan," he replied, and Suzuka nodded and fell silent.
Ryan? Kyle asked silently. Any ideas?
Not really, Ryan admitted. Hopefully, I'll be able to convince them to let us through. Otherwise... He trailed off, and Kyle frowned.
Are you sure you're ready to manipulate that many minds?
Ben did a good job healing me. I'll be fine.
Kyle nodded slowly, still not entirely convinced, but they didn't really have a choice. With a small sigh he followed the other car closer to the checkpoint, then fell into line behind it.
"Kyle? What's the plan?"
This time it was Ben who asked, and Kyle finally looked at his two teammates.
"We'll lay low, and Ryan will convince them to let us through," he replied.
"And if he can't?" Suzuka demanded, no doubt remembering what had happened when they'd tried to pass the checkpoint in New York.
"He can handle it, Suzuka," Kyle said quietly, and the girl sank back into her seat again, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. Ben waited a moment, then accepted the statement as well and turned his attention to the people outside.
He can handle it, Kyle repeated silently. ...He has to.
* * *
Not surprising, the first sign of danger came from Ryan. Kyle was sitting in the car, absently thinking about the past few days, when he felt a ripple of worry through the telepathic link.
Ryan? What's happening? Kyle asked concerned and took a quick look at the area around them, drawing the attention of the other mutants in the car.
I'm not sure - something's going on up ahead. The level of tension is almost giving me a headache, Ryan replied.
Anything we should worry about? Kyle asked and felt Ryan frown.
I'm not sure...I don't like this. Something's wrong. I'm trying to scan the minds of some of the people further up, but... Ryan trailed off. I'll pass it on to you if I find anything.
Kyle nodded, and shook his head lightly to clear his thoughts, then looked at the others.
"Ryan says something is going on up ahead," he said. "He's not sure what it is, but he'll be in touch."
"Anything dangerous?" Ben asked with a frown.
"He's not sure," Kyle admitted. "But he'll do what he can to find out."
Ben and Suzuka exchanged a brief look, then nodded. It was obvious to Kyle that they - like him - were starting to feel slightly edgy, but they also knew that asking more questions wouldn't help. Kyle had told them what he knew, and until Ryan contacted them, there was nothing they could do but wait.
Kyle closed his eyes, and took a moment to relax, letting his thoughts drift. The faint feeling of a mental touch against his mind quickly brought him back to reality, though, and his eyes snapped open.
What did you find? he asked silently.
I'm not sure yet. I think I've managed to get into the mind of one of the soldiers. He--- Ryan stopped abruptly, and the feeling of shock that followed was strong enough to make Kyle gasp and grab his head in pain.
Ryan-
Shit! Back! We have to get out of here, now! Ryan snapped. Go!
Kyle reacted instinctively and had already put the gear in reverse before he got the chance to take a look at the situation behind them - more cars arrived by the minute, creating an efficient traffic jam that stretched across the entire road.
Road's blocked! We can't get out. What-?
Get out of the car, now! Ryan ordered, and Kyle could see the doors in the other car open. Whatever was going on, it was enough to make Ryan seriously freaked out, Kyle could feel that much. Christ...
"We have to get out, now!" Kyle snapped, and opened the door to the driver's seat. Neither Ben nor Suzuka hesitated but followed him out, knowing better than to ask questions at a time like this.
Ryan-
That tension - they've cornered a pyrokinetic, Ryan explained hurriedly.
How bad? Kyle asked, and followed Ryan and the others towards the buildings at the side of the road, away from the potentially deadly situation that was developing.
Bad enough - I haven't been able to locate the mutant, but the soldiers are worried.
"Pyrokinetic," Kyle explained quickly to Ben and Suzuka, but before he could elaborate, the screeching of tires interrupted him, followed by the loud crash of cars colliding.
Kyle spun around, vaguely awake that Ben and Suzuka did the same, and felt his eyes widened at the sight that greeted him. Ryan had been right - it was bad. Several of the cars in the front had collided in a futile attempt to get out, and their owners were now trying their best to get away. Kyle looked around, frantically searching for the source of the threat, then-
-Part of the building at the opposite side of the road exploded in an inferno, sending flames and burning pieces of debris into the air. Screeching, then crashes as cars tried to get away, but failed.
Kyle tried to move, to get anyway, but his body refused to react. Even as his mind fought to get him to react, he found himself staring at the inferno, terrified, and morbidly fascinated.
KYLE!
Ryan's mental shout tore Kyle out of his trance, and he looked away from the fire just in time to feel the rumbling of another explosion. More fire, more debris, this time joined by sharp pieces of shrapnel, flying towards them at a ferocious speed, and-
-Kyle raised his hands and froze shrapnel midair.
And only then did he remember that they were surrounded by soldiers - soldiers who were used to dealing with mutants, soldiers who were trained not to panic...under any circumstances.
No.
The soldiers reacted instantly, focusing on the new threat. Guns were raised, pointed at this new group of dangerous mutants, then joined by heavier artillery - machine guns, and Christ, even a small rocket launcher, Kyle realized, feeling the adrenaline course through his body.
He risked a quick look over his shoulder and saw several of the soldiers collapse as Ryan's mindbolts hit them, then heard the screaming as several others felt the searing pain as the light from Deirdre's hands reached their eyes. Kyle raised his hands, freezing the molecules in front of him, Suzuka, and Ben, creating an invisible shield, wholly expecting a rain of bullets-
-And suddenly, the sounds of fighting stopped. The low rumbling from the fires were still there, as well as the sounds of people trying to get away from the chaotic scene, but the fighting...had stopped?
Ryan? Kyle sent worried. Ryan?!
He strengthened his shield, making sure that nothing would be able to pass, then risked another look over his shoulder. And suddenly it all made sense. Ryan was a fighter, but he wasn't suicidal - the number of soldiers that now surrounded them had increased to a point where it would be impossible to escape.
We have a problem... Ryan replied, watching the soldiers carefully. Another quick check, and Kyle realized with relief that the others were okay, too.
But for how long? If they decided to fight...no. He didn't want to think about that.
I know. What do we do now? Kyle asked silently, and heard Ryan sigh.
We...surrender, he admitted, and the feeling of defeat hung heavily in the air around him.
Surrender? Kyle repeated and frowned.
Do we have a choice? Ryan asked rhetorically, and Kyle had to admit that he had a point. They wouldn't be able to get away, not anymore. Not with the number of soldiers around them, not with the sheer amount of weapons aimed at them. Any attempt to escape now would be suicide, it was that simple.
Ben and Suzuka looked at him, both waiting for him to tell them what do to.
"Don't fight," Kyle said quietly and slowly help up his hands, signalizing to the soldiers that he was unarmed. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Suzuka tense, obviously not happy about the order. "Don't fight them, Twilight, that is an order," he repeated through clenched teeth, and Suzuka lowered her eyes in silent acceptance.
She hated the order, hated surrendering without a fight, but at this moment Kyle didn't care. Fighting now would be suicide, and there was no need to die for a lost cause, not when they might be able to escape later.
Kyle felt the bitter taste of failure in his mouth as the soldiers approached him, but he remained unmoving, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing him weak. He felt one of them grab his arms, then the sharp sting of a needle in his shoulder, followed by a sudden dizziness. The drugs coursed through his body, burning a path of numbness where they went, until Kyle could feel the unconsciousness clawing at the edges of his mind.
This time, he didn't try to fight it.
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