Chapter 6: Plan
Every head in the room swiveled my way. I saw Lance's smirk and heard Magneto's remark, but only barely. I was locking on my little brother. He had a bloody nose and bruises beginning to appear in numerous places, but that wasn't what bothered me the most. The worst thing was that Pietro had Alex held securely with his arms behind his back, but Lance was the one rubbing his knuckles. They hadn't even given him a chance to defend himself!
". . .It's nice of you to join our party, Cyclops," I caught the end of Magneto's speech.
"Doesn't look like much fun to me," I pointed out, angrily. "There aren't even any fair games."
"You of all people should know now that I don't enjoy watching a fair fight," he returned, taking a step toward me. "Now I would really like to know where you've been lately."
I forced out a small laugh. "And you expect me to cooperate when you have my brother bloody and defenseless?"
"Yes," Magneto stated, curtly. Lance threw a punch that caught Alex in the temple. The crack was deafening. Alex made no sound but sagged slightly in Pietro's grip.
"I will do anything you want if you let Alex go," I decided taking a step toward the middle of the room. "I give you my word."
"Your word means nothing to me," Magneto shot back. "Nothing."
I sighed. Suddenly I was grabbed from behind and put in a bear hug. I knew it was Blob, so I allowed myself to be apprehended without a fight. My feet were lifted off the ground and it was difficult to breathe. Magneto approached me. I stayed calm and watch him stop in front of me.
"Cyclops, I honestly doubt that you want to get hurt after just getting out of the infirmary today," he stated.
"I got out less than two hours ago," I pointed out, not the least bit surprised that he knew about my recovery. "Alex doesn't get his cast off for another three weeks."
Magneto studied me with his eyes. He had no clue what I was doing and frankly, I didn't either. All I knew was that I was going to get Alex out of danger before I began negotiating, fighting, or arguing. I looked over at my little brother. He was just barely hanging onto consciousness. Even though he was looking down, I could see the glazed over look in his eyes. Then Alex raised his head slightly, so he could see me. We locked eyes for a moment. He gave a weak smiled. I smiled back.
"Are you ready to cooperate?" Magneto asked, jerking my attention back to him.
"If you release Alex," I told him. Magneto paused. Then he raised his right hand and snapped. Pietro released Alex, who collapsed on the floor. I froze in horror and mentally called out to him.
I have him, Scott. You just worry about yourself, OK?
Sure. I told her.
Magneto locked eyes with me. "Where were you when we first go here?"
All attention turned to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jean pulling Alex over to them with her telekinesis. "Logan left as soon as we started having trouble. I went after him, because I figured he was going to do something stupid. We met up at a bar, but I couldn't convince him to come back."
Magneto's brow furrowed. "So how did you end up over there?"
"Your helicopter's on the roof," I told him. "I saw it and parked a few blocks away. Then I came up through the basement."
Jean and Rogue pulled Alex up onto the couch with them. Neither Pietro nor Lance noticed, but I did. Jean took one of Alex's hands and shot me a reassuring smile. I knew brother was in good hands, but I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy and worried. Magneto moved from me to the row of mutants on the floor.
"Now I'm sure you're all wondering what we're planning to do," Magneto addressed them. "Am I right?"
A murmur shot through them. I smiled as I caught a few 'not really's and some 'whatever's. I even saw Alex crack a smile. Magneto, however, seemed unamused as his eyes narrowed.
"Fine!" he barked. "I'll just send out the first group uninformed. Quicksilver, this'll be your group: Wolfsbane, Iceman, and Spyke."
"Whoa!" I interjected; Magneto looked at me. "Think about something here. Have you ever seen Spyke and Quicksilver together? It's not a pretty thing."
Magneto turned to Quicksilver, who answered the silent question with a guilty, sheepish look. "Besides," I continued, "I don't think Spyke is in the best mental stats after what you did to his aunt." Magneto looked at me again. I had him perplexed, just like I wanted.
"All right," Magneto said. "Quicksilver will stay here. Avalanche will be going instead."
I caught Evan's confused glance but offered no answer. Lance approached me. The second Magneto turned his back to us, Lance threw a punch to my temple. I yelped in pain as his fist connected with my all ready injured head. Most of the eyes in the room snapped to me. Magneto kept talking; Lance smirked.
Jean, tell Logan to calm down and that I'll be fine.
All ready done, baby. How'd you know that he was wound up about Lance's cheap shot? She sounded impressed.
He's told me not to hit my head plenty of times in the last two hours, especially when we were at the bar. How's Alex? I was worried about his condition.
He's hanging in there.
"Crying to your girlfriend?" Lance interrupted our telepathic conversation with his taunt. "You couldn't take a punch like a man?" His voice was just barely loud enough for me to hear.
Lance threw another punch. It hit my shades and split them right in half. I shut my eyes instantly.I heard some voices, but didn't make out any words. Then I felt myself being moved.
Jean, what's going on? I asked, utterly confused.
The group's heading out. You're being set on the back couch, while Todd gets you a new pair of shades. Kitty wants to know if she should phase through the floor.
Tell her not to. She'll only get us in more trouble and more security than we'll ever want.
Got it. She was gone for a second. Kitty agreed. How's your head doing? It's still attached and working properly, right?
Sounds like Logan wants to know. I felt myself being set down on a cushion. Tell him it's still attached and in proper working condition with a little throbbing all over the whole thing.
Will do. Then she was gone again. He wanted to know if we should tell Rogue he's here. I voted not to in case she gets questioned.
I'll doubt she'd tell them anything, but just in case, I agree with you.
"All right, kids," Magneto addressed them. "Go to bed and I'd stay there if I were you. Don't get out of your rooms until I tell you to tomorrow. Now go!" There was a pause. "You four, stay here."
Jean- ?
It's all right, baby. She sounded sincere at least. Everyone's going off to bed except Alex, Rogue, and us. I'm guessing we'll get our metal clamps or what-nots. You know, he's way to be in charge of us.
Yeah, I get it. Any sign of Todd?
He just came in with your shades. He's approaching you from the right.
Todd came up to me from my right and slid my shades on. I opened my eyes. Magneto stood about ten yards in front of me. Alex, Jean, and Rogue were about seven yards up and five over. None of the boys were in the room.
"Come sit on this couch, Cyclops," Magneto ordered. I rose to my feet and made my way to the couch. I wasn't scared of him, but I wanted to stay on his good side. I sat down in the open space between Rogue and the end of the couch. I watched Magneto angrily. I couldn't help but wonder what he had planned for us.
TBC
