Emma had managed to consume the rest of her coffee, but she hadn't had time
for anything more substantial, which she regretted. She hoped it wouldn't
grumble too loudly as she sat strapped into the Blackbird.
Logan, Jean, Scott, Kitty, Evan and Kurt were there as well. Emma had relinquished her age - given right to the co-pilot seat to Scott. Even that was too close to Logan. //And besides that, I can't fly this thing.//
Buchanan Country was full of trees and grass. It was easy to find a place to land the Blackbird. They had decided to enter an abandoned coal shaft that ran near to the trapped miners and break through. Scott handed out torches and communicators and he took the lead, followed by Jean, Emma, Kitty, Kurt and Evan. Logan brought up the rear.
It was cool inside the coal mine, and became more so as they descended. The air grew thicker and damper.
Scott stopped, examining the plans he held. "It should be here. Shadowcat, go through and have a look."
Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes at how corny the exchange sounded. The girl nodded in the gloom and walked through the wall. Her voice cracked over the communicator. "Yeah, we found 'em all right."
"Good, get them away from the wall." He stepped back and turned to Jean. "Try to hold up as much of it as you can, the rest of us will get them out."
Then he unleashed his optic blast at the rock, blowing it away. Emma shielded her eyes from the bright beam and the flying rock shards. One sharp fragment nicked the skin on her forehead, making a small cut. When Scott stopped, a round hole had been carved into the next tunnel. He took a step forward and the rest followed.
There were fourteen men in the tunnel, three badly injured, whom Kurt teleported to the surface. As they were helping the last few out, the ground lurched beneath them. Emma stumbled, already burdened by the burly mean that was leaning on her for support.
Rocks began to tumble to the ground.
Emma made quickly for the exit, followed by the last two men, as Jean cried out, "I can't hold it!"
"Jean, come on!" Scott was ahead of Emma, making for the exit as quickly as she was.
"But - " Emma's protest was cut off. There were still more people in the tunnel. As they came into the light, there was a great boom and the entrance closed behind them. Some one - probably Kurt - had brought an ambulance around. Emma left the man in their hands and stared at the entrance.
Jean looked at her. They were both numb. The two men behind them hadn't come out.
"Hey, are you guys all right?" Kitty approached them, concern in her eyes.
"There were two others behind us." Emma sounded as tired as she felt.
"They didn't..." Jean was likewise affected.
**************************
5:00 AM
Emma woke, for no apparent reason. She squinted at her alarm clock, groaned and went back to sleep.
Logan, Jean, Scott, Kitty, Evan and Kurt were there as well. Emma had relinquished her age - given right to the co-pilot seat to Scott. Even that was too close to Logan. //And besides that, I can't fly this thing.//
Buchanan Country was full of trees and grass. It was easy to find a place to land the Blackbird. They had decided to enter an abandoned coal shaft that ran near to the trapped miners and break through. Scott handed out torches and communicators and he took the lead, followed by Jean, Emma, Kitty, Kurt and Evan. Logan brought up the rear.
It was cool inside the coal mine, and became more so as they descended. The air grew thicker and damper.
Scott stopped, examining the plans he held. "It should be here. Shadowcat, go through and have a look."
Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes at how corny the exchange sounded. The girl nodded in the gloom and walked through the wall. Her voice cracked over the communicator. "Yeah, we found 'em all right."
"Good, get them away from the wall." He stepped back and turned to Jean. "Try to hold up as much of it as you can, the rest of us will get them out."
Then he unleashed his optic blast at the rock, blowing it away. Emma shielded her eyes from the bright beam and the flying rock shards. One sharp fragment nicked the skin on her forehead, making a small cut. When Scott stopped, a round hole had been carved into the next tunnel. He took a step forward and the rest followed.
There were fourteen men in the tunnel, three badly injured, whom Kurt teleported to the surface. As they were helping the last few out, the ground lurched beneath them. Emma stumbled, already burdened by the burly mean that was leaning on her for support.
Rocks began to tumble to the ground.
Emma made quickly for the exit, followed by the last two men, as Jean cried out, "I can't hold it!"
"Jean, come on!" Scott was ahead of Emma, making for the exit as quickly as she was.
"But - " Emma's protest was cut off. There were still more people in the tunnel. As they came into the light, there was a great boom and the entrance closed behind them. Some one - probably Kurt - had brought an ambulance around. Emma left the man in their hands and stared at the entrance.
Jean looked at her. They were both numb. The two men behind them hadn't come out.
"Hey, are you guys all right?" Kitty approached them, concern in her eyes.
"There were two others behind us." Emma sounded as tired as she felt.
"They didn't..." Jean was likewise affected.
**************************
5:00 AM
Emma woke, for no apparent reason. She squinted at her alarm clock, groaned and went back to sleep.