X-Men
Dawn of Destruction
Last Chapter: Mister Sinister and Magneto recruit a new member for the Brotherhood and Beast and the Professor return home.
Large, dark clouds rolled through the black, ebony night as lightning flashed angrily through the sky. Mister Sinister smiled, straightening the left cuff of his custom uniform. Polaris had kept it preserved in her lab- winged flaps on the back and all. Magneto, Mystique, and the rest of the Brotherhood-including their unwilling lapdog, Cyclops-made themselves comfortable on the long, stylish leather couch toward the left of the small, dark room.
Polaris and Beep stood awkwardly to the side. Their master was finally home, and he had dragged in just the people she didn't want to be associated with. Her father and his lackeys. It was a surprise she even knew the man was her father-her mother was supposedly dead years ago, and Polaris could care less. She was doing just fine on her own. As soon as she had seen Mister Sinister and her father in the same room, she realized that the familiar green tint was beginning to return to her shoulder-length hair.
Finally, as loud splats of rain smashed into the roof, Mister Sinister walked slowly toward the two, identical Jean Greys that were lying on the long, white platform-like surfaces next to each other. Madelyn Pryor's figure was much healthier looking, the short red hair flipped up stylishly, and her eyes still pursed shut. Jean's hair was damp, the bright red color rinsed from her hair after being personally stone-washed during the Alkali Lake incident.
"Oh, Polaris", he murmured, looking up at her with a slight smile dashing across his lips, "You never fail me." He stroked a damp, red bang from Jean's eye, "Oh", he sighed longingly.
Cyclops stood perfectly still above Methane. Magneto smirked at the irony of it all-they had just unveiled his love, whom he thought was dead, and all he could do was stand there under Methane's spell. Mystique noticed too, and let out a little giggle to show her pleasure.
Mister Sinister bent over and let his lips brush across her forehead. Polaris smirked and met eyes with Beep, who's short, stylish black goatee was racing through the moonlight.
"I never would have found her if it wasn't for Beep here", Polaris put in with a smile.
Mister Sinister turned quickly and smiled at his two minions. He outstretched his hand toward Beep. Beep embraced it with his own and nodded quickly before the handshake was cut off. Polaris crossed her arms, "I wanted to wait until you got out."
"For what?" Mister Sinister asked, amusement dancing wildly in his eyes.
Polaris smiled and pulled a thin, wiry-like plug from below the platform Madelyn Pryor was perched on. In a matter of seconds, the Jean Grey prototype swung her legs over the table and arranged her pair of leather gloves into place.
"For this", Polaris said with a smile, "Atoms and samples were taken from Jean's blood, molecular structure, and mind. Pryor has been modified and designed to serve under you-and only you, however she does have a mind of her own."
Mister Sinister smiled as the red-headed clone got to her feet. She was just as beautiful as Jean, clad in a tight, leather zip-up jumpsuit tied around the same, thin, curving figure. She smiled slowly, the grin upturning over her cheeks. Mister Sinister smirked back angrily and offered his hand. Madelyn Pryor outstretched her own and took it before saying, "Is it time to kill the X-Men yet?" "This looks like the perfect beginning for a wonderful alliance", Magneto commented from his spot on the couch.
Mister Sinister, Polaris, Beep, and Madeline Pryor turned to face him- the same plastered smirks playing over their faces. Mister Sinister was the first to speak.
"Yes, it does."
XXXXXXXXXX
Pyro flicked his lighter on for the five hundredth time that evening. The small flame licked out wildly and he smiled at the thoughts of what he could do with it. Blob sat, lazily, in front of the television that was near the end of Magneto's stone lair.
Why does Magneto treat us like such babies?
Pyro angrily flicked another small, flickering flame from his custom lighter. He was old enough to help out. So far, this place was just like that old, boring Xavier dump. He and Blob were the same age-and they were always the ones getting left behind. Magneto was afraid they were going to mess up, or screw up his plans. How could they if he never gave them the chance?
Pyro decided it was a bag of crap what Magneto had told him back on the Blackbird just before the Alkali Lake incident when they were in the back of the jet with Mystique.
He could care less about us.
Pyro angrily clutched his hands into cocky fists. Methane was only two years older than they were and Magneto was already brushing Mystique aside to make room for his new favorite. Surge was only four years older than Pyro and the Blob-and he had been out on missions over fifteen times since Pyro had been with the Brotherhood.
It's just not fair.
"Whoa", Blob stuttered from near the television set, "Look at this!"
Pyro rolled his eyes and got to his feet slowly. Blob was probably drooling over some skinny, hot models that he would never have a chance with. Pyro was surprised what he found when he finally stumbled toward the television. A large explosion consumed what looked like the mall.
A female newscaster's voice silkily made its way onto the scene, "At Bayville mall yesterday, mutants wreaked serious havoc, causing more than five thousand dollars worth of damage. Few were hurt, and the mutants got away after taking out the whole mall security task force. These three are believed to be the ones who caused the explosion." The streaming video froze on faces that made Pyro gasp. Iceman was leading Rogue and some other guy toward the escalator, "This video was taken courtesy of Amanda Gaines, who was a spectator at the mall that day. It is said that the mutants attacked after seeing a chapter of the H.S.A.M.F. protest against them. Onto other news, an elderly Illinois man swallowed his cat today. . ."
Pyro took a deep breath. What was going on back at that school?
He smirked deviously and flicked his lighter once more.
XXXXXXXXXX
The long, narrow axe swooped downward noisily, like a hawk groping for its prey. Zee concentrated and jumped upward. She felt her feet plant into the wall as she began to race across it. She could make out a large, cannon-like gun forming from the wall behind Iceman.
"Bobby!" Jubilee cried as she shot her plasma blasts at an oncoming, demon-looking creature, "Look out!"
Zee concentrated on the icy-eyed boy in front of her. Just as the loud crack of the gun went of, he disappeared and landed hard on his back on the other side of the battlefield. Zee jumped downward, jump-kicking a large, deformed monster in the back of the head as it grappled in a struggle with Everett Scott, aka, Synch-the African-American mutant who could synch and use any other mutant's power-and also one of the first mutants to be-friend her at the Institute.
"Thanks, Zee", he smirked, immediately beginning to gather waves of her genetic mutant energy.
The two jumped over twenty feet to the nearest wall and ran across it, barely dodging a spike-shooting machine gun. Jubilee was not so lucky- two of the spikes tore into her yellow, leather jacket and tossed her backward, pinning her to the wall.
What a rush, Zee thought, throwing herself off the wall so that she could deliver a spine-shattering blow to a spiky-haired demon mouse that was hassling Rachel. She spun quickly, grabbing a chain from a nearby gun that was spraying out chain-whips and yanking people backwards with them. She twirled gracefully through the air, slapping every opposing machine in sight with the violent, sharp chain.
She yelped as a sharp pain smashed into her side. A long, red beam connected angrily with her bare midriff. Zee felt her body go flying backward. She tried to regain her concentration and defy gravity, but the wall was slamming into her back before she could scramble her mind together. Pain shattered through her spine as she hit the floor. She felt herself going upward quickly now.
"Now what?" she asked herself.
She looked down and realized that she was on a long, tall, narrow column that was flying upward. She looked above her to see another column just like it, racing back at her. Zee screamed, realizing her fate. The oncoming column suddenly froze, right above her head. Zee looked down to see Rachel give her a wink-her arm outstretched, holding the column in check with her telekinesis. Zee jumped out of the small spot she had just been in and flew above the ground gracefully.
Gambit and Rogue were having a much harder time struggling to fend off long, metallic arms that grabbed at them from the wall. Gambit grabbed a card from his jacket pocket-three of clubs-and tossed it at the oncoming arm. It blew up in an explosion of kinetic fire and metal. He turned just in time to see Rogue fend one off with Jubilee's plasma blasts-her friend must have allowed her to take a little of her energy-but an arm wrapped itself around her waist from behind and lifted her off of her feet.
"Gambit!" she cried, struggling to wrench herself free, "Help me!"
Remy LeBeau yanked another card from his jacket pocket-this time a ten of diamonds-and threw it angrily. It cut into the weak metal, penetrating the fronting exterior to reveal twisted, colorful wires. Rogue screamed as she was dropped from mid-air. Thunderbird sped over with the help of his solar-energy, and caught her just before she hit the ground. Gambit tossed three playing cards at the machine that was producing the metallic arms, and it exploded, sending the three mutants flying back in a tangled mass of arms and legs.
Amara Aquilla was having her own trouble fending off a horde of cyborg bees. The large, metallic wasp-like structures were as big as her head and racing for it angrily. Kitty Pryde smiled as she gracefully did a back-flip in her denim capris and matching pink tank-top (she refused to wear the "ugly" black, leather Danger Room uniforms) and rolled out of the way of the wild bees.
Amara manifested a ball of magma in her fist and threw it viciously. The steaming lava slammed into the first bee's face, the metal twisting menacingly as it melted in the steaming ball of magma. Magma rolled to the side as a long, threatening-looking stinger reached for her. She threw her leg up and kicked the bee in the back before tossing another magma ball.
Synch and another young, African-American mutant whose memory was perfect named Chip, jumped into the fight. Amara could feel Synch reach into her genetic being a take a sample of her mutant powers before tossing a crying magma oval into a renegade cyborg's face. Chip just jumped on top of one of the metallic bees and re-wired it with his perfect memory, causing it to hit the ground in a downward spiral.
Colossus took out the remaining two bees with his two-by-two sized, armored biceps. Magma took a deep breath just before she was knocked hard in the back and sent flying into Chip. She looked up to see a tall, gangly- looking creature with no teeth glaring back at her. She cursed as it lifted its large, boulder-sized fist. It collapsed from behind just as its fist was coming down. As the large animal hit the ground, she could make out Thunderbird smiling back at her.
He grabbed Magma by the waist and shot to the side just as a large ball of spikes swung past them.
"Thanks", Amara said as he carried her toward a safe-looking spot.
He smiled in his accomplishment, "No problem!"
Danielle watched as the small, winged, silver balls raced toward her face. She jumped to the side and rolled into Psylocke and Kitty as they passed. They veered back toward her and she put her hand up, concentrating all of her energy into them.
She opened her eyes-they were still coming! She cursed and began to concentrate again-she had to stop them before she slammed into her. She was tired and didn't think she could run anymore. These ball-like things had been chasing her for the whole session-spewing long, laser beams as they flew.
Kitty dodged one and jumped to the side-right in the passageway of two swinging axes.
"Kitty!" Psylocke warned, "Watch out!"
Kitty smiled as the first axe phased through her as if she were a ghost. The process was repeated with the second axe. Danielle screamed at the oncoming balls of doom. Suddenly she felt a quick, sweeping wind grab her and yank her off her feet. She screamed as she was yanked through the air at unspeakable miles per hour. As soon as the ride stopped, she looked up into the smiling eyes of Sam Guthrie-Cannonball.
Meanwhile, Psylocke was having her own dilemma as she attempted to shove her psychic kitana through a large, looming, shadow-like demon. He grabbed the glowing magenta sword with no pain and tossed it around angrily, throwing the poor girl hard into a nearby wall. She struggled to recuperate from the stars dancing through her eyes, but a kick to the stomach that sent her flying to the cold floor assured that wasn't going to happen.
Psylocke gasped and struggled to kick, as her opponent sat on her. Her own weapon-her psychic kitana was in his hands, and he slowly lowered it down towards her neck with a leering smile on his face.
Iceman whirled through a rainfall of mist as multiple guns shot at him. He sighed in relief as his impenetrable ice wall formed around him just as the guns began firing. He peered through the clear glass-like reflection only to see his fellow students in dangerous shape.
Gambit, Thunderbird, Magma, and Rogue were being grappled by long, metallic-like vines. Rachel and Danielle were struggling to fend off an array of metal balls from themselves and Cannonball. Synch, Zee, Chip, and Jubilee were in a tangle of arms and legs as a large foot came stomping down upon them and Psylocke was pinned to the floor as her own blade came plunging down toward her as Kitty struggled to phase through two cuffs that held her into the metal wall. Just as Bobby was about to break out of his wall to help the others, everything disappeared in a loud WHOOSH and the room went barren.
All that was left were the mutants, struggling to their feet and attempting to recuperate. Bobby helped Psylocke off the ground just before Professor X's voice filtered over the intercom, "Great run in the Danger Room today students."
The doors opened on the other side of the renowned Danger Room and Beast stood next to Wolverine. The students slowly, painfully, proceeded out the exit as the two mentors offered towels to swipe at the sweat that was threatening their eyes.
"Great job out there", Synch commented, elbowing Zee lightly in the shoulder.
Zee smiled as she took a deep breath, slightly unzipping her uniform because it was getting extremely hot, "Thanks-you too."
"Great job out there guys", Rachel observed as she wiped sweat from her face and hair.
Thunderbird and Magma made their way toward the rec-room and collapsed on the sofa. Magma ran her fingers through her now damp black hair and studied the muscle-bound, yet skinny young Indian that lied next to her in his leather uniform with the X running across the chest.
"Thanks", Amara muttered, reaching into his eyes, "for having my back in there."
Neal smiled and stroked his incoming goatee, "Hey, it was nothing. A mutant in need is a mutant in. . .deed", he frowned at how stupid he sounded and looked away.
Magma smiled and reached out her hand to touch his face. Before he could turn and notice, Cannonball and Colossus entered the room, and she brought her hand back quickly before anyone could notice. Cannonball and Colossus were laughing about something-including Rachel; they were the oldest students at the Academy.
"Ooh", Colossus moaned sarcastically as he looked at Magma and Thunderbird sharing the couch, "Do I sense a little fire-on-fire action?"
This got a loud guffaw out of Cannonball. Magma looked the buff, shirtless young man over with disgust.
"Uh. . .no", Thunderbird murmured, barely audible.
"Yeah, shut-up", Magma snapped, and with that, the two of them stomped to their feet and stormed their separate ways, leaving the two older boys to sit and laugh.
XXXXXXXXXX
Rachel took a deep breath as she let the hot, scalding water of the shower wash over her. She could have done MUCH better back in that Danger Room. She ran some of Kitty's coconut shampoo through her vibrant red hair and took another deep breath. Back in her own reality she was top dog- Mother Askani-here there was so much talent, that it was going to be hard to shine and come out on top.
Well how can I? My father couldn't even believe I would exist and went on his leave of absence right when I show up.
Don't cry, she ordered herself as the water brushed over her ivory skin. It was hard not to though-apparently her mother was dead, and her father was a creep. So far, Wolverine had been filling that void for her though-giving her a slight illusion that she belonged.
Most of the others weren't very fond of her after the mall incident. She was twenty years old, and planned on going to college. She was years older than most of the others and she wasn't planning on being a full-time mutant. She actually only wanted to attend the Academy so that she could get a handle on her powers-she didn't want to lose control of them. That's one thing she hated.
Losing control.
And at that exact moment, Rachel Summers was glad she was in the shower, so that even she couldn't distinguish the tears from the scalding water rolling down her face.
XXXXXXXXXX
"They're looking good", Storm commented, taking a seat in a swirling leather chair near Professor X. Nightcrawler had made himself comfortable next to her Beast and Wolverine.
"I agree", Professor Xavier replied, "But there is always room for improvement. Make sure Bobby and the others get to work on the Danger Room- I'm going to be on Cerebro."
After last year's Cerebro II incident, the X-Men had enlisted the help of Forge and an intelligent mutant that called herself Sage. They had rebuilt Cerebro so that it was almost as good as new-if not better. Professor X wheeled out of the Danger Room spectating booth and down the hall towards Cerebro's chamber.
He slowly entered, the mechanical voice droning, "Welcome, Professor Charles Xavier."
A tear almost trickled from his eye at the thought of Jean Grey. How much he knew she wanted to use Cerebro, but never had the confidence to do so. Her mind wasn't strong enough-but by this time her mind would be strong enough for Cerebro, and she could be doing this too. He smiled at the distant memories of his comrade, student, and friend.
Professor Xavier grabbed the round, oval, helmet and put it over his bald head. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate. The dome-like room exploded into an orange-like glow and he began searching for Davis Cameron-the young time splitter he and Beast had been chasing only days ago.
He found him on an abandoned beach in Tahiti sometime B.C. He smiled and moved on-Cameron would find his senses soon enough. That's when his mind went numb. This was quite surprising, because he was one of the strongest telepaths in the mutant universe-yet his mind was struggling- quivering. That's when the loud, abrupt picture jumped out of the other mutants going about their normal lives.
It was Jean Grey.
She was asleep-unconscious-and strapped to a table. He struggled to find out the location-for there was something looming in her. Something evil.
He took a deep breath. Had this evil being he sensed kept her alive? Was there even a trace of Jean left? Before he could do anymore, Cerebro sparked and shut down. Professor X pounded his fist into his palm and did something he rarely ever did-cursed.
They had to find Jean-because one thing was for certain.
She wasn't going to be the same.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Thanks a lot, Remy", snapped Danielle as she scrubbed viciously at the exterior of the blackbird.
Inside, Thunderbird was vacuuming the carpet, and Gambit was washing the bottom engines of the large jet. Moonstar thought the punishment was a little harsh-six months of THIS? But, if Gambit wasn't so stupid, they wouldn't have to do it.
Rogue and Bobby were cleaning the Danger Room. They had decided to split up-two of them would wash out the Danger Room while the other three would work on the Blackbird. Danielle snapped as she nearly slipped off the slick surface of the jet. Her dark, Cheyenne Indian hair fell from the neat braid it was held in and tumbled into her face. It was not a good idea to wear her uniform while washing an extremely large battleship.
From below, Gambit said, "Hey, you used your powers too!"
"Only because you left us in the mall with police officers getting on us for what you did!" Thunderbird yelled over the vacuum from inside the jet.
On the rear engines, Gambit just rolled his eyes. He made sure that nobody was watching before he pulled out a five of diamonds. He smirked as he crammed it in between two of the winding pipes below the jet, then hopped off and began cleaning again.
XXXXXXXXXX
"We're BAAACK!" Magneto yelled triumphantly, as he entered his stone lair with his companions at his heels.
Pyro scampered over like a lost puppy and Blob stuffed his mouth full of Pringles before bothering to even get off of the couch.
"Glad to know we were missed", Mystique snapped, shouldering past the boys and toward her own, private sleeping quarters.
Mister Sinister smiled as he crossed his arms, examining the place. Polaris and Beep stood beside Madelyn Pryor, tough glances being thrown toward the two young members of the Brotherhood. Pyro nodded to them like he was some kind of wonderful, then looked up at Magneto's stone-cold face.
"Magneto!" he said, excitedly, "Those X-losers nearly blew up a mall today!"
"What?" Mister Sinister snapped.
"What?" came the same jaw-dropped reply of Magneto.
"Some newcomer tried to blow up some of those H.S.A.M.F. dorks", Pyro continued, "And now I think that they're in BIG trouble!"
Magneto laughed, the loud noise consuming the lair, "I guess some of those peacemakers actually do have spines!"
Mister Sinister crossed his arms once more as thoughts of Jean Grey back at the lab danced through his head, "So, when do we first strike?"
The only reply was an all-knowing smirk from Magneto.
Soon, the stone lair was almost shaking from the joined, loud laughter of the New Brotherhood.
XXXXXXXXXX
The large, white van snaked through the encroaching trees toward the looming mansion before it. On the outside it looked like the perfect little prep school to send your son or daughter to, but the occupants in the van knew much better.
At the wheel was Spike Jones. He wore a large, oversized white T- shirt with a pair of baggy Levi jeans. He barely looked like he was old enough to drive, but he was involved in much more than normal teenage activities. Spike was a part of the teenage New York chapter of the H.S.M.A.F.
Beside him was Jordana Harp. She was slim, with blue eyes and long blond hair that reached the small of her back. If anything, the only reason he wanted to be the leader of this chapter was to impress her. Behind them, in the backseat, was the chapter's current leader, twenty-nine- year-old Brock Newman.
Sitting beside him were the two cousins, Mike and Dufty. They had just been protesting at the mall one day-practicing their free speech mind you-and supporting the Mutant Registration Act. Mutants were scum-ugly, annoying, incompetent scum. They had followed the mutants home after the mall incident and found this place. Their sanctuary. Not for long-soon it would be revealed-whether they wanted it to be or not.
Spike laughed as he pulled up near the front gate. They weren't going to do anything tonight. They were waiting to plan their next move- how to get the mutants back. This was the new victim-this beautiful mansion would soon be torn to shreds. He glanced over at the fading scar that bordered Jordana's cheek from the mall explosion.
He would get his revenge-personally.
"Okay, we know where the place is", Brock said, "Now let's get back to the meeting and report it-we'll think of something to do with the others."
"One thing is for sure", Spike spat as he sped out onto the main road, "This place is going down."
A/n: Okay, what's their problem? Will Professor X and the others find Jean? Will Cyclops ever escape Methane's clutches? What's up with Jean, anyway? Review, please! Thanks to all of you who did review!
Dawn of Destruction
Last Chapter: Mister Sinister and Magneto recruit a new member for the Brotherhood and Beast and the Professor return home.
Large, dark clouds rolled through the black, ebony night as lightning flashed angrily through the sky. Mister Sinister smiled, straightening the left cuff of his custom uniform. Polaris had kept it preserved in her lab- winged flaps on the back and all. Magneto, Mystique, and the rest of the Brotherhood-including their unwilling lapdog, Cyclops-made themselves comfortable on the long, stylish leather couch toward the left of the small, dark room.
Polaris and Beep stood awkwardly to the side. Their master was finally home, and he had dragged in just the people she didn't want to be associated with. Her father and his lackeys. It was a surprise she even knew the man was her father-her mother was supposedly dead years ago, and Polaris could care less. She was doing just fine on her own. As soon as she had seen Mister Sinister and her father in the same room, she realized that the familiar green tint was beginning to return to her shoulder-length hair.
Finally, as loud splats of rain smashed into the roof, Mister Sinister walked slowly toward the two, identical Jean Greys that were lying on the long, white platform-like surfaces next to each other. Madelyn Pryor's figure was much healthier looking, the short red hair flipped up stylishly, and her eyes still pursed shut. Jean's hair was damp, the bright red color rinsed from her hair after being personally stone-washed during the Alkali Lake incident.
"Oh, Polaris", he murmured, looking up at her with a slight smile dashing across his lips, "You never fail me." He stroked a damp, red bang from Jean's eye, "Oh", he sighed longingly.
Cyclops stood perfectly still above Methane. Magneto smirked at the irony of it all-they had just unveiled his love, whom he thought was dead, and all he could do was stand there under Methane's spell. Mystique noticed too, and let out a little giggle to show her pleasure.
Mister Sinister bent over and let his lips brush across her forehead. Polaris smirked and met eyes with Beep, who's short, stylish black goatee was racing through the moonlight.
"I never would have found her if it wasn't for Beep here", Polaris put in with a smile.
Mister Sinister turned quickly and smiled at his two minions. He outstretched his hand toward Beep. Beep embraced it with his own and nodded quickly before the handshake was cut off. Polaris crossed her arms, "I wanted to wait until you got out."
"For what?" Mister Sinister asked, amusement dancing wildly in his eyes.
Polaris smiled and pulled a thin, wiry-like plug from below the platform Madelyn Pryor was perched on. In a matter of seconds, the Jean Grey prototype swung her legs over the table and arranged her pair of leather gloves into place.
"For this", Polaris said with a smile, "Atoms and samples were taken from Jean's blood, molecular structure, and mind. Pryor has been modified and designed to serve under you-and only you, however she does have a mind of her own."
Mister Sinister smiled as the red-headed clone got to her feet. She was just as beautiful as Jean, clad in a tight, leather zip-up jumpsuit tied around the same, thin, curving figure. She smiled slowly, the grin upturning over her cheeks. Mister Sinister smirked back angrily and offered his hand. Madelyn Pryor outstretched her own and took it before saying, "Is it time to kill the X-Men yet?" "This looks like the perfect beginning for a wonderful alliance", Magneto commented from his spot on the couch.
Mister Sinister, Polaris, Beep, and Madeline Pryor turned to face him- the same plastered smirks playing over their faces. Mister Sinister was the first to speak.
"Yes, it does."
XXXXXXXXXX
Pyro flicked his lighter on for the five hundredth time that evening. The small flame licked out wildly and he smiled at the thoughts of what he could do with it. Blob sat, lazily, in front of the television that was near the end of Magneto's stone lair.
Why does Magneto treat us like such babies?
Pyro angrily flicked another small, flickering flame from his custom lighter. He was old enough to help out. So far, this place was just like that old, boring Xavier dump. He and Blob were the same age-and they were always the ones getting left behind. Magneto was afraid they were going to mess up, or screw up his plans. How could they if he never gave them the chance?
Pyro decided it was a bag of crap what Magneto had told him back on the Blackbird just before the Alkali Lake incident when they were in the back of the jet with Mystique.
He could care less about us.
Pyro angrily clutched his hands into cocky fists. Methane was only two years older than they were and Magneto was already brushing Mystique aside to make room for his new favorite. Surge was only four years older than Pyro and the Blob-and he had been out on missions over fifteen times since Pyro had been with the Brotherhood.
It's just not fair.
"Whoa", Blob stuttered from near the television set, "Look at this!"
Pyro rolled his eyes and got to his feet slowly. Blob was probably drooling over some skinny, hot models that he would never have a chance with. Pyro was surprised what he found when he finally stumbled toward the television. A large explosion consumed what looked like the mall.
A female newscaster's voice silkily made its way onto the scene, "At Bayville mall yesterday, mutants wreaked serious havoc, causing more than five thousand dollars worth of damage. Few were hurt, and the mutants got away after taking out the whole mall security task force. These three are believed to be the ones who caused the explosion." The streaming video froze on faces that made Pyro gasp. Iceman was leading Rogue and some other guy toward the escalator, "This video was taken courtesy of Amanda Gaines, who was a spectator at the mall that day. It is said that the mutants attacked after seeing a chapter of the H.S.A.M.F. protest against them. Onto other news, an elderly Illinois man swallowed his cat today. . ."
Pyro took a deep breath. What was going on back at that school?
He smirked deviously and flicked his lighter once more.
XXXXXXXXXX
The long, narrow axe swooped downward noisily, like a hawk groping for its prey. Zee concentrated and jumped upward. She felt her feet plant into the wall as she began to race across it. She could make out a large, cannon-like gun forming from the wall behind Iceman.
"Bobby!" Jubilee cried as she shot her plasma blasts at an oncoming, demon-looking creature, "Look out!"
Zee concentrated on the icy-eyed boy in front of her. Just as the loud crack of the gun went of, he disappeared and landed hard on his back on the other side of the battlefield. Zee jumped downward, jump-kicking a large, deformed monster in the back of the head as it grappled in a struggle with Everett Scott, aka, Synch-the African-American mutant who could synch and use any other mutant's power-and also one of the first mutants to be-friend her at the Institute.
"Thanks, Zee", he smirked, immediately beginning to gather waves of her genetic mutant energy.
The two jumped over twenty feet to the nearest wall and ran across it, barely dodging a spike-shooting machine gun. Jubilee was not so lucky- two of the spikes tore into her yellow, leather jacket and tossed her backward, pinning her to the wall.
What a rush, Zee thought, throwing herself off the wall so that she could deliver a spine-shattering blow to a spiky-haired demon mouse that was hassling Rachel. She spun quickly, grabbing a chain from a nearby gun that was spraying out chain-whips and yanking people backwards with them. She twirled gracefully through the air, slapping every opposing machine in sight with the violent, sharp chain.
She yelped as a sharp pain smashed into her side. A long, red beam connected angrily with her bare midriff. Zee felt her body go flying backward. She tried to regain her concentration and defy gravity, but the wall was slamming into her back before she could scramble her mind together. Pain shattered through her spine as she hit the floor. She felt herself going upward quickly now.
"Now what?" she asked herself.
She looked down and realized that she was on a long, tall, narrow column that was flying upward. She looked above her to see another column just like it, racing back at her. Zee screamed, realizing her fate. The oncoming column suddenly froze, right above her head. Zee looked down to see Rachel give her a wink-her arm outstretched, holding the column in check with her telekinesis. Zee jumped out of the small spot she had just been in and flew above the ground gracefully.
Gambit and Rogue were having a much harder time struggling to fend off long, metallic arms that grabbed at them from the wall. Gambit grabbed a card from his jacket pocket-three of clubs-and tossed it at the oncoming arm. It blew up in an explosion of kinetic fire and metal. He turned just in time to see Rogue fend one off with Jubilee's plasma blasts-her friend must have allowed her to take a little of her energy-but an arm wrapped itself around her waist from behind and lifted her off of her feet.
"Gambit!" she cried, struggling to wrench herself free, "Help me!"
Remy LeBeau yanked another card from his jacket pocket-this time a ten of diamonds-and threw it angrily. It cut into the weak metal, penetrating the fronting exterior to reveal twisted, colorful wires. Rogue screamed as she was dropped from mid-air. Thunderbird sped over with the help of his solar-energy, and caught her just before she hit the ground. Gambit tossed three playing cards at the machine that was producing the metallic arms, and it exploded, sending the three mutants flying back in a tangled mass of arms and legs.
Amara Aquilla was having her own trouble fending off a horde of cyborg bees. The large, metallic wasp-like structures were as big as her head and racing for it angrily. Kitty Pryde smiled as she gracefully did a back-flip in her denim capris and matching pink tank-top (she refused to wear the "ugly" black, leather Danger Room uniforms) and rolled out of the way of the wild bees.
Amara manifested a ball of magma in her fist and threw it viciously. The steaming lava slammed into the first bee's face, the metal twisting menacingly as it melted in the steaming ball of magma. Magma rolled to the side as a long, threatening-looking stinger reached for her. She threw her leg up and kicked the bee in the back before tossing another magma ball.
Synch and another young, African-American mutant whose memory was perfect named Chip, jumped into the fight. Amara could feel Synch reach into her genetic being a take a sample of her mutant powers before tossing a crying magma oval into a renegade cyborg's face. Chip just jumped on top of one of the metallic bees and re-wired it with his perfect memory, causing it to hit the ground in a downward spiral.
Colossus took out the remaining two bees with his two-by-two sized, armored biceps. Magma took a deep breath just before she was knocked hard in the back and sent flying into Chip. She looked up to see a tall, gangly- looking creature with no teeth glaring back at her. She cursed as it lifted its large, boulder-sized fist. It collapsed from behind just as its fist was coming down. As the large animal hit the ground, she could make out Thunderbird smiling back at her.
He grabbed Magma by the waist and shot to the side just as a large ball of spikes swung past them.
"Thanks", Amara said as he carried her toward a safe-looking spot.
He smiled in his accomplishment, "No problem!"
Danielle watched as the small, winged, silver balls raced toward her face. She jumped to the side and rolled into Psylocke and Kitty as they passed. They veered back toward her and she put her hand up, concentrating all of her energy into them.
She opened her eyes-they were still coming! She cursed and began to concentrate again-she had to stop them before she slammed into her. She was tired and didn't think she could run anymore. These ball-like things had been chasing her for the whole session-spewing long, laser beams as they flew.
Kitty dodged one and jumped to the side-right in the passageway of two swinging axes.
"Kitty!" Psylocke warned, "Watch out!"
Kitty smiled as the first axe phased through her as if she were a ghost. The process was repeated with the second axe. Danielle screamed at the oncoming balls of doom. Suddenly she felt a quick, sweeping wind grab her and yank her off her feet. She screamed as she was yanked through the air at unspeakable miles per hour. As soon as the ride stopped, she looked up into the smiling eyes of Sam Guthrie-Cannonball.
Meanwhile, Psylocke was having her own dilemma as she attempted to shove her psychic kitana through a large, looming, shadow-like demon. He grabbed the glowing magenta sword with no pain and tossed it around angrily, throwing the poor girl hard into a nearby wall. She struggled to recuperate from the stars dancing through her eyes, but a kick to the stomach that sent her flying to the cold floor assured that wasn't going to happen.
Psylocke gasped and struggled to kick, as her opponent sat on her. Her own weapon-her psychic kitana was in his hands, and he slowly lowered it down towards her neck with a leering smile on his face.
Iceman whirled through a rainfall of mist as multiple guns shot at him. He sighed in relief as his impenetrable ice wall formed around him just as the guns began firing. He peered through the clear glass-like reflection only to see his fellow students in dangerous shape.
Gambit, Thunderbird, Magma, and Rogue were being grappled by long, metallic-like vines. Rachel and Danielle were struggling to fend off an array of metal balls from themselves and Cannonball. Synch, Zee, Chip, and Jubilee were in a tangle of arms and legs as a large foot came stomping down upon them and Psylocke was pinned to the floor as her own blade came plunging down toward her as Kitty struggled to phase through two cuffs that held her into the metal wall. Just as Bobby was about to break out of his wall to help the others, everything disappeared in a loud WHOOSH and the room went barren.
All that was left were the mutants, struggling to their feet and attempting to recuperate. Bobby helped Psylocke off the ground just before Professor X's voice filtered over the intercom, "Great run in the Danger Room today students."
The doors opened on the other side of the renowned Danger Room and Beast stood next to Wolverine. The students slowly, painfully, proceeded out the exit as the two mentors offered towels to swipe at the sweat that was threatening their eyes.
"Great job out there", Synch commented, elbowing Zee lightly in the shoulder.
Zee smiled as she took a deep breath, slightly unzipping her uniform because it was getting extremely hot, "Thanks-you too."
"Great job out there guys", Rachel observed as she wiped sweat from her face and hair.
Thunderbird and Magma made their way toward the rec-room and collapsed on the sofa. Magma ran her fingers through her now damp black hair and studied the muscle-bound, yet skinny young Indian that lied next to her in his leather uniform with the X running across the chest.
"Thanks", Amara muttered, reaching into his eyes, "for having my back in there."
Neal smiled and stroked his incoming goatee, "Hey, it was nothing. A mutant in need is a mutant in. . .deed", he frowned at how stupid he sounded and looked away.
Magma smiled and reached out her hand to touch his face. Before he could turn and notice, Cannonball and Colossus entered the room, and she brought her hand back quickly before anyone could notice. Cannonball and Colossus were laughing about something-including Rachel; they were the oldest students at the Academy.
"Ooh", Colossus moaned sarcastically as he looked at Magma and Thunderbird sharing the couch, "Do I sense a little fire-on-fire action?"
This got a loud guffaw out of Cannonball. Magma looked the buff, shirtless young man over with disgust.
"Uh. . .no", Thunderbird murmured, barely audible.
"Yeah, shut-up", Magma snapped, and with that, the two of them stomped to their feet and stormed their separate ways, leaving the two older boys to sit and laugh.
XXXXXXXXXX
Rachel took a deep breath as she let the hot, scalding water of the shower wash over her. She could have done MUCH better back in that Danger Room. She ran some of Kitty's coconut shampoo through her vibrant red hair and took another deep breath. Back in her own reality she was top dog- Mother Askani-here there was so much talent, that it was going to be hard to shine and come out on top.
Well how can I? My father couldn't even believe I would exist and went on his leave of absence right when I show up.
Don't cry, she ordered herself as the water brushed over her ivory skin. It was hard not to though-apparently her mother was dead, and her father was a creep. So far, Wolverine had been filling that void for her though-giving her a slight illusion that she belonged.
Most of the others weren't very fond of her after the mall incident. She was twenty years old, and planned on going to college. She was years older than most of the others and she wasn't planning on being a full-time mutant. She actually only wanted to attend the Academy so that she could get a handle on her powers-she didn't want to lose control of them. That's one thing she hated.
Losing control.
And at that exact moment, Rachel Summers was glad she was in the shower, so that even she couldn't distinguish the tears from the scalding water rolling down her face.
XXXXXXXXXX
"They're looking good", Storm commented, taking a seat in a swirling leather chair near Professor X. Nightcrawler had made himself comfortable next to her Beast and Wolverine.
"I agree", Professor Xavier replied, "But there is always room for improvement. Make sure Bobby and the others get to work on the Danger Room- I'm going to be on Cerebro."
After last year's Cerebro II incident, the X-Men had enlisted the help of Forge and an intelligent mutant that called herself Sage. They had rebuilt Cerebro so that it was almost as good as new-if not better. Professor X wheeled out of the Danger Room spectating booth and down the hall towards Cerebro's chamber.
He slowly entered, the mechanical voice droning, "Welcome, Professor Charles Xavier."
A tear almost trickled from his eye at the thought of Jean Grey. How much he knew she wanted to use Cerebro, but never had the confidence to do so. Her mind wasn't strong enough-but by this time her mind would be strong enough for Cerebro, and she could be doing this too. He smiled at the distant memories of his comrade, student, and friend.
Professor Xavier grabbed the round, oval, helmet and put it over his bald head. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate. The dome-like room exploded into an orange-like glow and he began searching for Davis Cameron-the young time splitter he and Beast had been chasing only days ago.
He found him on an abandoned beach in Tahiti sometime B.C. He smiled and moved on-Cameron would find his senses soon enough. That's when his mind went numb. This was quite surprising, because he was one of the strongest telepaths in the mutant universe-yet his mind was struggling- quivering. That's when the loud, abrupt picture jumped out of the other mutants going about their normal lives.
It was Jean Grey.
She was asleep-unconscious-and strapped to a table. He struggled to find out the location-for there was something looming in her. Something evil.
He took a deep breath. Had this evil being he sensed kept her alive? Was there even a trace of Jean left? Before he could do anymore, Cerebro sparked and shut down. Professor X pounded his fist into his palm and did something he rarely ever did-cursed.
They had to find Jean-because one thing was for certain.
She wasn't going to be the same.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Thanks a lot, Remy", snapped Danielle as she scrubbed viciously at the exterior of the blackbird.
Inside, Thunderbird was vacuuming the carpet, and Gambit was washing the bottom engines of the large jet. Moonstar thought the punishment was a little harsh-six months of THIS? But, if Gambit wasn't so stupid, they wouldn't have to do it.
Rogue and Bobby were cleaning the Danger Room. They had decided to split up-two of them would wash out the Danger Room while the other three would work on the Blackbird. Danielle snapped as she nearly slipped off the slick surface of the jet. Her dark, Cheyenne Indian hair fell from the neat braid it was held in and tumbled into her face. It was not a good idea to wear her uniform while washing an extremely large battleship.
From below, Gambit said, "Hey, you used your powers too!"
"Only because you left us in the mall with police officers getting on us for what you did!" Thunderbird yelled over the vacuum from inside the jet.
On the rear engines, Gambit just rolled his eyes. He made sure that nobody was watching before he pulled out a five of diamonds. He smirked as he crammed it in between two of the winding pipes below the jet, then hopped off and began cleaning again.
XXXXXXXXXX
"We're BAAACK!" Magneto yelled triumphantly, as he entered his stone lair with his companions at his heels.
Pyro scampered over like a lost puppy and Blob stuffed his mouth full of Pringles before bothering to even get off of the couch.
"Glad to know we were missed", Mystique snapped, shouldering past the boys and toward her own, private sleeping quarters.
Mister Sinister smiled as he crossed his arms, examining the place. Polaris and Beep stood beside Madelyn Pryor, tough glances being thrown toward the two young members of the Brotherhood. Pyro nodded to them like he was some kind of wonderful, then looked up at Magneto's stone-cold face.
"Magneto!" he said, excitedly, "Those X-losers nearly blew up a mall today!"
"What?" Mister Sinister snapped.
"What?" came the same jaw-dropped reply of Magneto.
"Some newcomer tried to blow up some of those H.S.A.M.F. dorks", Pyro continued, "And now I think that they're in BIG trouble!"
Magneto laughed, the loud noise consuming the lair, "I guess some of those peacemakers actually do have spines!"
Mister Sinister crossed his arms once more as thoughts of Jean Grey back at the lab danced through his head, "So, when do we first strike?"
The only reply was an all-knowing smirk from Magneto.
Soon, the stone lair was almost shaking from the joined, loud laughter of the New Brotherhood.
XXXXXXXXXX
The large, white van snaked through the encroaching trees toward the looming mansion before it. On the outside it looked like the perfect little prep school to send your son or daughter to, but the occupants in the van knew much better.
At the wheel was Spike Jones. He wore a large, oversized white T- shirt with a pair of baggy Levi jeans. He barely looked like he was old enough to drive, but he was involved in much more than normal teenage activities. Spike was a part of the teenage New York chapter of the H.S.M.A.F.
Beside him was Jordana Harp. She was slim, with blue eyes and long blond hair that reached the small of her back. If anything, the only reason he wanted to be the leader of this chapter was to impress her. Behind them, in the backseat, was the chapter's current leader, twenty-nine- year-old Brock Newman.
Sitting beside him were the two cousins, Mike and Dufty. They had just been protesting at the mall one day-practicing their free speech mind you-and supporting the Mutant Registration Act. Mutants were scum-ugly, annoying, incompetent scum. They had followed the mutants home after the mall incident and found this place. Their sanctuary. Not for long-soon it would be revealed-whether they wanted it to be or not.
Spike laughed as he pulled up near the front gate. They weren't going to do anything tonight. They were waiting to plan their next move- how to get the mutants back. This was the new victim-this beautiful mansion would soon be torn to shreds. He glanced over at the fading scar that bordered Jordana's cheek from the mall explosion.
He would get his revenge-personally.
"Okay, we know where the place is", Brock said, "Now let's get back to the meeting and report it-we'll think of something to do with the others."
"One thing is for sure", Spike spat as he sped out onto the main road, "This place is going down."
A/n: Okay, what's their problem? Will Professor X and the others find Jean? Will Cyclops ever escape Methane's clutches? What's up with Jean, anyway? Review, please! Thanks to all of you who did review!