Writer: Rowland Wells
Disclaimer: I am in no way any part of Marvel Comics or any affiliation of their enterprise. I do not own the X-Men or any Marvel Characters.
Alternate
X-Men
#12
"all in the family"
It fell to Doctor Kyle Kryles to deliver the news to Commander Spaskyich in person. He was not happy about it, and would have preferred one of the officers to convey the message, but his position held responsibilities and now it seemed like they were being called in to play. His news was not of a high-quality nature, in fact, it was relatively alarming because it described the long wave frequencies being picked up on by the agents in the underground Installation. The people monitoring the signals relayed the information to their superior, who in turn told Kryles to deliver the message. Weapon X, it appeared, was suspect to a rather unexpected visit from the high-end operatives in SHIELD. Although the main arm of the organisation was discrete to the point of being anal about their transmission secrecy, Weapon X was better equipped than Captain Fury assumed, so the details of the Installation's visit were caught in mid-air. Kryles held in his hand a sheet of paper with sensitive material printed on it. The Commander would not take kindly to such an intrusion of his privacy.
The Doctor knocked rapidly on the door, and was told to come inside. 'Sit down, man.' Hawk said straightforwardly. Kryles gave the piece of folded paper to him, his hand shaking in the process. 'What's the matter?' The Commander asked. There was a pause between the two as Kryles stared down at his feet. 'What the hell's the matter, Kyle?'
Spaskyich glanced at his inferior, then to the sheet. His eyes glazed over the black ink words, and then he got up and switched off the music softly coming out of two wooden speakers. Instead of exploding with a fiery temper, Hawk took a seat next to Kryles, and fingered the paper, fidgeting. 'Fury thinks he can spring a force in here without our consent, he's got another damn thing coming.' He said, chewing his lip anxiously. 'It says here he's got another twenty minutes or so to arrive – and I'm betting he won't use the front door…' He sighed, attempting to suppress the rising anger. Kryles shuffled uncomfortably. 'You screw up in Hanko? Did ya? And you wouldn't tell me, Kyle? Shit!' He yelled, smacking the Doctor upside the head. 'Twenty minutes! How the hell do you think we can organise the base in twenty goddamn minutes, Doctor?'
'I've no idea sir…'
'It's 'cos you got no idea that we're about to get taken from behind! Get over to the cellblock, move all the altered mutants into Medical and keep them locked up – sedate them if you have to!' Spaskyich whirled around and threw open his office door, running to the top of the balcony walkway that overlooked his control room. 'If you run into any officers on the way, make sure they know what they're doing – I'm going to call each on the coms. If they haven't a clue, make sure they call me!'
Kryles stood still, watching the room as it sprung into life, switching from simply analysing the threat to engaging it. Men in black ran to and fro across the room, and hundreds of screens flickered into life. The main display screen at the head of the control room came on and the Commander's face appeared. 'This is Spaskyich – we have a priority one alert – the base is soon to be compromised, and I need everyone who isn't dead, armed and awake. I want two squads of five at every available entrance, plus twenty men in all guarding the central sparring room. Enforce discipline on any prisoners and get all official mutant agents up to the dormitories. Guard the armoury and hanger bays and unless I say otherwise, identify any threats on site and eliminate as necessary. You have ten minutes. Over.'
Upon his instructions, the mass of agents in black subtly moved and operated as a fluid machine, each part complementing and working the other. The control room burst into life, and people set about following his orders. Guns loaded, agents paced down corridors and all the while Spaskyich surveyed his enterprise with powerful presence. Dr Kryles marvelled at the functionality of it all, the way it evenly ran. He made off for medical down the central corridor, and went to see his mutant subjects.
* * *
Below was a sea of white, perfectly covering the green forest underneath in the early hours of the morning. Although the sun wasn't yet over the horizon, its predawn glow issued into the breathless air, the clear dew that dripped over snow clad peaks glistening. The perfect morning was interrupted only by the sudden boom of the Blackbird making its way toward the co-ordinates Fury had given. The jet was nearly indistinguishable from the light blue sky peeking through the clouds, but it managed to stay concealed until dipping low enough to risk exposure. The underground installation would surely detect its presence instantly, but the four mutants on board were willing to take that gamble. Charles guided Warren's tired hands until they approached the miniature clearing of trees from out of which a small metal housing poked, doused in the blanket of fair snow. The clearing was so slight, that Charles had to confirm its existence by detecting the people just below the surface. The jet hovered for a brief moment, allowing for their procedure to act out, and then whisked away to find another clearing to land.
* * *
Simultaneously at the other entrances to the base, SHIELD soldiers were accumulating outside, scanning the ground and openings for explosives, sensors and security devices. They stood several feet away, donned in a high-tech military gear. Each soldier held onto a rather large but light semi-automatic, infra-red goggles and a Kevlar vest for body protection. They huddled, without making a sound while engineers worked on the doors. After several seconds at each entrance on top of the installation, every team of soldiers outside blew open the doors and cut through under activated smoke grenades and muted gunfire. They tossed in several flash-bang grenades, piercing the ears of the agents guarding each door. As the smoke filtered further into the small passages, more and more soldier's forced their way in. Specifically when the first shot was fired from the surprised agents, a lethal skirmish ensued. The soldiers took up points in every passage, forcing the agents back toward the central rooms and corridor. Bodies fell in the spitting glow of gunfire light, and screams echoed down the installation as men were torn apart. The men guarding the main rooms along the central corridor fell back into their areas, sealing the doors shut and calling for outside assistance in combating the more than evenly matched threats.
The hangar was the first room to be entirely compromised. Spaskyich hadn't considered it a main entrance as the bay doors opened on the side of a steep cliff, but his set of guards was completely overrun by the invading force. The agents fell back beside the increasingly damaged helicopters and trucks, but soon the lines of silent gunfire consumed them too. The hangar entrance was locked from the inside, so Captain Fury, who was with the final strike force ordered it to be blown open. They met with heavy resistance from patrolling agents originally set to guard the control room and officer mess. Forced back, Fury could still see that his power was overcoming the enemy in the side passages. Eventually he would penetrate the inner corridor and pull through the fighting to confront Spaskyich in his hidden control room.
* * *
Hearing the gunfire from their own comrades, many of the soldiers guarding the sparring room dispersed to back up their forces preventing invasion of the main corridor. Seven of the agents remained, extremely on edge. They held their automatic rifles high, and stood straining from their posts to see the action that lit up the side passages. Soldiers had come this far, but now they would have to deal with a much heavier resistance.
The seven agents staying at their post were utterly astonished when Kurt Wagner appeared in their midst from right out of nowhere. A small flash lit up the top right hand corner of the room, followed by his materialisation before their very eyes. Jumping straight out of their skin, the agents twisted around, and aimed their rifles at his catatonic body. Kurt was paralysed with fear, because although Charles had convinced him to teleport into the building, Kurt could not control where he reappeared if he didn't have an idea of what the location looked like. He thanked God that he had at least landed on an outcrop at the top of the room, but his predicament was quite serious. 'Mein Gott!' He screamed, as the flaring lights of the firing muzzles burned brightly. His reactions kicked in suddenly, and he willed himself between the groups of people, vanishing in a dust only to appear between them. Coming instantly from one place to the next, Kurt lashed out his long dark tail, and whipped it across the nearest agent's chest. The man spun backwards, while Kurt teleported over to the other side of the group. The agents lurched for where he was, but he appeared in mid-air behind another, and kicked him across the length of the sparring room. The clattering rifle spun onto the metal floor spraying several bullets into the air.
Still falling through the air, Kurt was suddenly on top of the next man in black, and let his dropping weight crush the man below him. In a swift motion, the German mutant propelled himself across the gap and into the chest of another agent. As that man careered backwards with the mutant's weight and momentum, Kurt teleported again, and appeared mid-air around another. Holding onto the man's head, Kurt emerged with him high in the air and spun around, falling, until the man was sent flying into a wall. The remaining two agents reloaded, shooting bullets at his disappearing form constantly. Instantly he vaporised and was then between the both of them again, flicking two feet against the back of one man who shot into the door of a vacant sparring room, and then throwing himself against the other who went clear through the wooden boarded-up hole Logan had created. Wood splintered everywhere in a terrific crash, and Kurt managed to teleport on impact and reappear in the middle of the room again. His yellow eyes surveyed the seven unconscious men, and he barked into the microphone taped to the clothes on his chest. 'Jetzt.' He said, panting heavily through the tiny wire frame covering the receiver.
After several seconds, there was a heavy ripping sound as Warren tugged away the last remnants of wood from the small opening. He clambered through, followed by Betsy. 'Jesus, you took out all these people by yourself?' She asked, glancing to Warren uneasily.
Kurt tilted his head, trying to process the question, and then nodded, deciding to indulge them both. Warren picked up a discarded rifle and the three cautiously made for the sparring room entrance where the cracking spit of gunfire resonated throughout the underground building. 'Stay close, you two…' Warren said, quite unnecessarily.
* * *
Within the cellblock, the prisoners awoke to the crack-sound of firing rifles. Guards on position around the secured room became flustered in the tumult and scrambled to the aid of their friends. Several men stayed at the entrance, holding the fort as many of the agents thundered down the main corridor. The mutants peered from out of the green barred mesh shouting in surprise at the broken silence. Lights flicked on, illuminating the area with brilliant incandescence. Scott, still staying in Jean's cell walked to the bars, and stared out from his confinement. 'What the hell's going on out there?' Jean asked, stirring underneath her flimsy bed blanket. Scott adjusted his glasses, shaking off the sleep from his body. 'I think they're in trouble…' He replied. They all heard shots echoing from down the hall, and finally perked up, extremely aware of the situation. Hank stood stock still at his cell entrance, Bobby behind him, wary of the dangerous noise. 'You don't think they're here to kill us, do you?' Bobby said, his voice quivering.
'Who knows…' Hank responded. His voice was a lot lower and gruffer due to his altered bodily structure, but he still retained the same intelligence and memory that he had before. 'I don't want to know any more!' He shouted, slapping the side wall violently.
* * *
The SHIELD soldiers advanced up through the side passage between the barracks and agent dormitories. The encountered little fighting while creeping through their entrance, but as soon as the main corridor was breached, agents flooded out from both the connecting rooms, cutting off the soldier's stealthy progression. Managing to tip over lockers, cabinets and other supply boxes, Fury's men holed themselves in the side passage, lying behind the cover. Bigger, more covert rifles were used to pinpoint individual agents firing on them, taking each down in a spectacular display of showering blood. The soldiers put grenades into the foray, making a rather violent and bloody space for them to advance into. Screams travelled down the corridor, finally coming to the ears of Dr Kryles and his small escort going toward medical. The Doctor made for them to go into the primary barracks, and cut over the melee ensuing below. As they bypassed the fight with little action on their part, Kryles was able to gain access to medical. His plan to hold the altered mutants there was clearly scrapped, so they concentrated on taking up position in the small medical offices. Amid the hustling movement and flashing of guns and ammo, the Doctor could safely diagnose himself as being very afraid. He grabbed for a pistol, and hoped to god that Spaskyich would pull through.
* * *
From his more securely defended ground, Captain Fury kept his men at a distance from the retaking force of agents in front of them. The hangar bay doors had been taken apart, and hiding behind the wreckage of a truck and several columns supporting the ceiling, the SHIELD soldiers fought back with rocket propelled grenades and heavy rifles. The combat was most devastating among this end of the central corridor, but Fury was positive it would only take a little more time. He signalled for a radio man to approach, and put a message through to Xavier, flying over the forest tree tops above them. 'Keep near, Charles!' He shouted above the explosions. 'We're going to penetrate the control room and disengage the discipline chips on your guys – there's heavy fighting here!' A stray line of bullets cut him off as both Captain and radiomen ducked for cover.
Charles responded, but through the noise, it wasn't very clear.
Fury indicated to his men once more, and they lurched out from cover, pinning down the circled agents who had come to far into the hangar. Sensing their near lethal predicament, the agents surrendered their weapons, and were subsequently lined against the far wall. The Captain advanced his invading force further into the main corridor. Explosives were set, and more section doors were blown open to gain access.
* * *
Standing behind his large computer panel on the control room's balcony platform, Hawk Spaskyich taped at different buttons, bringing up camera views and sensor displays on the main screen. Few technicians operated the consoles on the floor below, and the rest of the agents took cover among the equipment. They aimed at the main door ahead, certain of its penetration in a matter of seconds. Spaskyich screamed at his men amongst the shouting, sweating heave of frightened people. He indicated to the computers, and the people operating them, and then turned his attention to the private console he operated.
Almost immediately after the sizzling sparks of an engineer's torch cut through the main doors to the control room, they blew clear open, shooting across the room to decapitate any poor souls directly in their path. A haze of thick smoke wafted into the area, disabling sight completely as the soldiers moved in. Through the fumes, Spaskyich could see the blazing glow of gunfire lighting up the vapours. He ducked instinctively, dodging random shots that sprayed across the ceiling. Screams and cries went up, and his agents fell back, dying amid the terrible crossfire.
Fury advanced his force behind the pillars and console stations on the control room floor, communicating continually with his force. The soldiers overcame many of the agents on first contact, but Spaskyich's defending men fled up the stairs and behind the main floor to the compartments for supplies. There was no way out of the room once invasion began, and as the agents fought back in stark terror, they were gunned down mercilessly. Spaskyich took hold of a dropped rifle and reloaded, hoping to cut through the melee. He leaned over the console and shot of several rounds into the clearing smoke. Soldiers dispersed and followed the running agents to the balcony upstairs. Fury was behind them, wary of the risk, but determined to end the operation in swift success. Spaskyich took out one man ahead of the Captain, not even realising his presence there. The agents ran into the offices in a flurry of panicking, but soldiers pursued and finally disarmed them. Several men surrounded Spaskyich's struggle, defending their superior. Fury scrutinised the console and gestured to his men to take out the defence.
In the slow-motion haze of a life-threatening fight, Spaskyich took a chance to smash the glass housing of the most delicate button in the installation. Bullets flew past his face, bringing down one of the black-suited agents defending him. Spaskyich jumped, screaming, and threw his rough hand down to the large red button. His face cracked into a demonic leer in the action and he yelled victoriously. In the split-second between thought and execution, Fury himself leapt through the group of advancing soldiers and shot off at Hawk's form. The bullets embedded themselves in his swinging arm, and Spaskyich spun around to catch sight of his attacker. His other arm, holding the weight of the large rifle tipped back, and his weight was thrown over the balcony bars. Fury killed the rest of the agents guarding the position, and then ran to the console. His eyes flicked over the writing just above the button: "Use in case of emergency" it read "terminate cellblock subjects". Using all his strength, he tugged up against the button, hoping that Spaskyich hadn't the time to depress it. The red knob tore off in his hand, and he called the engineer over. Spitting cracks of gunfire echoed out in the main corridor, but for the most part, the control room was quiet once more.
'Disconnect every wire leading into that button.' Fury ordered. He then glanced over the side of the balcony, expecting to see Hawk's unconscious body. What met his gaze was an empty space where the commander should have been. Fury vocalised his rage, and broke the rail with his hands. 'Get moving!' He yelled to the soldiers.
* * *
Following on foot as Warren sped in front of them with his mighty white wings, Betsy and Kurt slowed to let him scout ahead. She wasn't prepared for the reality of their situation, but it wasn't going to deter her from playing an important part. * What now? * She asked Kurt, communicating with him telepathically.
*No idea, but we have to run into your friends at sometime or another. * He replied. The two stopped outside a small door on their side passage, sticking close to the walls. The flickering lights had been going completely insane after Fury's team partially disabled power to the installation. The door to medical beside them winged open, and before Betsy could scream the agents inside raised their guns to the two mutants. Kurt threw his arms protectively around her shaking body, and as the bullets travelled through the remaining dust, they reappeared high up in the air of the cellblock area. Both yelling in utter astonishment, they plummeted at hurtling speed toward the cold floor below. Kurt let go of her body as they transported, but managed to teleport himself closer to the ground, landing safely. As Betsy dropped, she concentrated intensely, erecting a telekinetic bubble around herself. The shield of psychic energy lowered peacefully to the floor, and her descent inside slowed until she could release her mind. Touching the floor, she grinned to Warren as he flew in through the central corridor.
'Look out!' He managed to gasp as the stationed guards fired off at the intruders. A cheering uproar thundered through the cellblock as the prisoners saw the new arrivals. Betsy threw up another bubble around herself, while Kurt teleported behind one of the guards, and Warren swept into the other from on high. The bullets thudded harmlessly against the girl's shield, and the three free mutants gained the great approval of the prisoners.
Standing so close to the laser bars inside his cell, Scott called to the others outside. 'Warren – get us out of here!' The other students assembled in their compartments, awaiting their freedom. Jean came next to Scott, and wrapped her hand around his defiantly. The grins appearing on the side of everyone's faces lit up the dreary, dank atmosphere of the sterile area. Warren walked over to the large reflective panel at the end of the passage. Flipping the lever ecstatically, he watched as the green bars glowed brightly, and then dissipated into nothingness. Although the prisoners were still aware of the gunfire coming from down the main corridor, they tumbled out of the cells into the passage, surrounding the three intruders with overjoyed enthusiasm. After much celebrating, Warren managed to cajole the others toward the cellblock entrance; they started cheering abruptly in the cold air of the large room. He held onto Kurt and Betsy, ensuring they weren't taken in the sway of rushing prisoners who had no association with Xavier's students.
Bobby stood on the outside of the group, suddenly aware of Hank's disappearance. Looking around for him in a panic, the teenager ran to the entrance and recognised from his awkward gait, Hank running off into the distance with several of the other mutants. Bobby yelled for him to come back, but Hank was determined to mete out punishment for his experience.
* * *
The collection of other mutants stormed down the central corridor completely oblivious of the danger just a few doors away. It seemed to the Fury's soldiers that they were overcoming the enemy's forces, but there was still heavy fighting in the side passages and barracks. The mutants evaded any fighting by coming straight to medical. They were seeking out the Doctor and his agents, sure that he could be found cowering in his labs. The two entrances to the room were boxed in, and the mutants threw themselves in under a stream of gunfire.
Several of them were blown apart on entry, their insurmountable rage so powerful that their lives suffered the loss of judgment. Kryle's men floundered amongst the sudden use of the mutant's powers, not expecting them to show through for the discipline chip. Several agents shot through the glass windows, clattering onto tables and medical equipment. Hank followed through the mass of injured bodies. His primal instinct manifested through the altered state, and he roared deep from his large lungs. The agents scattered as he bounded onto a gurney in the centre of the operating theatre. He grasped one man in his heavy hands, and propelled him across the length of the room, whilst striking another clean across the jaw. Fire broke out among the equipment and the several other Doctors fled for the entrances. Stopped in their tracks by several more mutants, they were mercilessly slaughtered where they stood. Agents still holding weapons tried to rotate around the room, firing on Hank's wrathful form in the centre, but the dexterous mutant danced between them, cracking bones, and bruising flesh. The last agent to remain was able to fire off his sidearm effectively, hitting Hank in the chest and arm. He screamed in pain, his face contorting to an animal scowl. Swinging his mighty arm, Hank batted the last agent against the front of the gurney, almost tearing him in two.
Having dispatched the men, Hank leapt like a caged beast through the operating theatre doors and into the office. Dr Kryles swung a pistol up to level with Hank's face, but the altered mutant caught the clenching hand in his big paw. Kryles howled in agony as his wrist and finger bones were crushed in the vice grip. 'You're killing me!' He coughed out, weakly. Hank roared spittle and blood into his pained open mouth, and raised his other wounded arm to crush the human's crippled shoulder. 'You'll pay in hell for this!' He growled, tearing the man's bones from their sockets. In the distance, the gunfire reduced to sparks and crackles as the soldiers forced their way through the barracks and armoury.
Grabbing for the nearest instrument on the discarded tray beside the good Doctor, Hank thrust a scalpel across Kryles's ribs, finally letting it reside deep in the collarbone. Kyle shook in his trembling body, falling back into his Doctor's chair. Satisfied with his complete demise, Hank gripped the man's jaw between thumb and forefinger, and morbidly flicked backwards, finally receiving his closure from the disgusting creature. His vacant skull looped forward onto his chest, and Hank spun around to see Bobby staring slack-jawed behind him. 'My god…' He breathed in shock.
Without saying a word, the hunched man hopped past and out the door.
* * *
Remy led the both of them through the network of corridors, sure of his destination. Even though he didn't know that the chips had been disabled, the Cajun was aiming for the removal mechanism located in the Robot Maintenance offices. Fighting had been pushed back solely to the armoury, where the agents had quite a supply of ammunition and cover. Fury was commanding his soldiers through to the agent dormitories, but much of his strike team was forcing its way into the armoury entrance.
Creeping through the destruction and debris, he led Rogue into the abandoned, blown-out maintenance room. Several guard bots and turrets had been disabled, leaving the area defenceless. 'What happens if we're caught?' She whispered to him, staying in the shadows made by smashed lights. 'We ain't gonna be caught, chere – Remy's got this whole thing figured out…' His voice trailed off while they forced their way through the office main door. Equipment was stacked in varying rushed arrays, weapons left for dead among the wreckage of burnt file paper and overturned supply boxes. Coming to a busted door, Remy left the girl outside to step over the butchered body and grab the device he held. A small cube shaped piece of metal was applied to the chip on the back of Rogue's neck. Remy gave it a small tug, and the thin plate of metal that had traumatised every prisoner in the installation for months on end floated to the ground. She groped at the space, and withdrew her fingers at the first touch of blood. The electrode had been taken out and with it, some small flakes of flesh, but nothing substantial. She performed the same operation on him, and then stamped on the chip as it fell. 'Now what?'
'Maintenant, cherie, nous laissons – we make a break fo' it!' He took her by the arm, and they stealthily made for the dilapidated hangar bay.
* * *
The train of Xavier's students slowed to a stop as Scott and Jean saw Remy sliding quickly down the main corridor. He made terrific speed running from the dangers of the installation, but the two leading managed to catch the chip remover as he left it for them. 'What's this?' Jean asked, fingering the small cube in the palm of her hand. Tessa took it, and turned the redhead about. 'This is the same thing used to break the collar off when Kryles first brought us here. Keep still a second…' She said, placing it at the neck. 'Do you think Spaskyich is dead?' Jean asked cautiously, hoping it was the truth.
'I believe he's more resourceful than we estimate him to be, Jean, and I can bet he's got out somehow.' Scott replied, sifting through the wreckage on his hands and knees. Hank stepped forward, parting his blue fur for Tessa to relieve his bondage. 'The same can not be said for Dr Kryles though.' He exclaimed, speaking dejectedly. 'Whatever happens to the big worm, his maggot can't touch another damn person.' The metal plate wafted to the floor, and Hank trampled it under his large foot. Ororo approached him, stroking his arm tentatively. 'You alright?' She asked, expecting the worst.
He brushed her off, and strode ahead of the group.
'Well how do we get out of this hole in the ground?' Ororo shouted angrily at no-one in particular. 'Don't know about you people, but I'm quite ready to leave; and where the bloody hell is Logan for chrissakes, we haven't seen him in ages!'
'They're still fighting in the tunnels, and we don't even know who Spaskyich's men are attacking.' Kitty stated amid the motionless group.
'The soldiers are from SHIELD, the original agency from which Weapon X branched off.' Warren said. 'We have to get topside if there's any chance of leaving. Charles has landed the blackbird somewhere near the tip of the installation, unfortunately,' he sighed frustrated 'we can't hear him because we're too far underground.'
'Then what happens? We run into agents and get killed, or we stay down here and wait for the damn roof to collapse.' Jean said, scratching her short hair.
'No, we can get Kurt here to teleport into the Blackbird and talk to Charles.' Warren replied, a smile finally starting to appear on his face.
'Great! Can you take me with you?' Scott asked, talking to the German. Betsy interjected. 'He can't speak English.'
'You do though, pretty well – who are you?' Scott asked, unconsciously pointing to her.
'I'm Elisabeth, but you lot can call me Betsy. I met Warren in London.' She said.
'How are we supposed to communicate with him though if he can't speak English?' Scott wondered.
'He's learning to, but for the meantime, we can use the telepaths among us to understand him.' Warren responded.
From down the halls a huge explosion resonated through the building, and as Scott grabbed for Kurt's arm and said: 'Now!' They both vanished.
The other students ducked and scattered for cover as the crystal crack of gunfire burst into the main corridor once again. Screams and calls echoed around, and the lights above them suddenly burst in a combined shatter of glass. There was a thundering clatter of footsteps before a great number of the soldiers flooded down the main corridor, yelling all the way. The students backed off, and hid amidst the wreckage and side passages until the scrambling people vanished.
Ducking suddenly at the skittering burst of fire, Jean hit the floor, and shouted to Tessa. 'Where did Scott go?'
The ensuing noise was much too loud for any of them to communicate over, so they got up, and made to run.
* * *
Materialising in the centre of the armoury, Kurt screamed, letting go of Scott's struggling body. 'What the hell was that?' He shouted, but quickly ignored the surprise after registering his surroundings. Solid metal counters, piled high with military equipment, weapons and all kinds of ammo were burning intensely with bright orange flames. The high ceiling above had not yet filled with smoke and suffocating fumes, but thick black exhaust wafted from barrels and boxes lighting up from the blaze. 'I thought you said we were going to the Blackbird?' Scott shouted over the sizzling crackled of burning rubble. Kurt could only shake his head in despair. He tried to explain that the explosion had put off his concentration, but the dumb American wouldn't comprehend. Before he could shrug, several agents leapt through the falling devastation and reached for salvageable material and weapons. On an incentive, they squeezed off several shots before Kurt threw himself out of the way, and Scott ducked. Flame licked up around the room as the bullets were consumed in orange flares. Rising from the fuming debris, Scott tipped his ruby glasses off the bridge of his nose and let loose a blast that had been a long time coming. It tore through the weakened walls, thrashing against the foolish agents. The bellowed in harmony and were put straight into a bank of ammo packages.
Kurt took a quick look at the leaking barrels, observing the pierced containers were leaking onto the burning floor. 'Wir müssen gehen!' He howled, grabbing for the other man. As the flashpoint of the fuel was reached, a spark went off, and the trail of liquid lit up beautifully. Kurt teleported again, making his exodus with Scott. There was a flash before anything else, and then the armoury resounded with a terrific boom. The resulting explosion took the ceiling off, and the steel and wood blew through the earth and trees topside. A fantastic orange back draught flowed out of the armoury entrance, colliding with the main corridor wall opposite. It warped and twisted in the fiery furnace, melting away fixtures and reinforced material. As the students cowered from the terrific display, the explosive pressure expanded the glow throughout, and brightened up the corridor. Jean knew even before the power of the explosion spread, that the pressure could only escape through the connecting passages. Preparing herself for the onslaught, she focussed her mind on the one protecting barrier.
The shield went up in front of the group of students as the explosion dogged itself down the corridor, thundering at enormous speed. It consumed the fire and smoke issuing from the blaze within, pulling everything in its path into a heated embrace. 'Hold on!' She yelled, turning back to her fellows. Bobby surrounded the walls just ahead of them with crystal white ice, hoping to slow the uncontrollable heat, but receded as Betsy and then Tessa went up to assist Jean's defence. Knowing the result, the other five students backed away from the impending confrontation and ran at speed toward the gaping hole in the sparring room. Escape, now, was the only option.
As the lashing orange flames battered heavily against the shield from the entire focussed force of the channelled explosion, all three women were pushed back, slipping and sliding from the backlash. It bottomed loudly, and they were tossed to the floor, with little psychic energy to smother the scattered flames dancing up beside them. 'Come on…' Jean struggled to her feet and helped the other two up. 'This will only incite more fighting, and I doubt both sides are up for it.' They bounded after the running group, hoping to reach the outside before more gunfire came through.
* * *
Charles was logged onto the several computers aboard the Blackbird, monitoring the outsides of the craft when a sudden flash lit up the cockpit from behind. Instantly his powerful mind reached out, detecting the presence of Kurt and Scott's sudden entry. The younger student laughed ecstatically, bouncing over to his master. He hugged the older man's back joyously, revelling in his long-awaited freedom. Charles turned, letting go and he beam a smile at the two. 'Good to see you, my boy! Are you alright?'
Scott nodded his head, still elated. 'Damn it's a fine sight this thing!' He slapped the metal interior of the craft, grinning. 'I've waited too long for this moment – when I could finally say I'm free from their clutches.' He sighed loudly, and sat back in the co-pilots seat. Kurt brushed the dust and dirt off his ragged clothes and stood behind the Professor. "I got him out safely, but there are others still inside." He said in German.
'We have to land just outside the tip of the base to pick up the rest of the team. Is everyone okay? I'm picking up mixed signals from you…' Charles switched on the Blackbird's engines, and the craft started to ascend.
Scott's face turned sour vaguely. 'We haven't seen Logan since yesterday; I've no idea what's happened to him, but Professor – Hank… the Doctors there did something to him.'
Charles looked away from the windscreen readouts, facing his young student intensely. 'What do you mean?'
'I mean that whatever medical procedures you and Jean used to repair his body after Croatia, had reacted with something that they did to him. He's got the blue hair all over his body now, not just on his head.'
Xavier banked the vehicle to the right, flying low over the glistening treetops and over to the rising stack of thick smoke. 'Is is reversible?' He asked.
'I really don't know, but his body has been altered too. He's a lot more… beast-like. Almost an animal, I suppose.' Scott trailed off, as he peered out of the windscreen.
'Never mind about that now, we must see to it at home. I'm setting the Blackbird down. Is everyone else still with you? Because if we are to leave before the entire installation blows up, then we have to do it quickly.'
The aircraft vibrated on top of the soft, tainted snow, shuddering with each tree branch it crippled on descent. The ramp came down, and they waited.
* * *
Hank assumed that the time must have been close to five in the morning, as the pink radiance in the clear sky above was preparing to dissipate for the sun to rise. He was in the branches of a large tree just outside the front entrance of the installation, watching for the remaining band of agents to accumulate. They hid behind various rock structures and trees, hoping to conceal their small number until the Commander could escape with them. Hank gripped the leafy tree branches tightly, gritting his teeth in an effort not to spring onto the men beneath. He had already taken Doctor Kryles out of the picture, but it was just a matter of time before his revenge could be absolute, and Spaskyich would pay for his inhumane crimes. The forest outside had become completely silent after the explosion went off, and the only sounds he could hear were the rustling of leaves in the wind and the fresh crunch of crisp snow under trampling feet.
The broken steel flooring creaked and snapped as the final party left the remains of the base and Spaskyich was greeted by several more men. He stumbled out, a tourniquet tied round his wounded arm, and his army clothes stained a bloody red. The gruff Texan motioned for his agents to proceed through the woodland, but his own progress was lacklustre, and Hank chose the opportunity to exert his wrath. The Commander jumped out of his skin when the blue furred beast landed on the ground just in front of him. He gawked at the fluid movement as Hank danced forward and swung a hefty blow clean across the Commander's chest. Spaskyich tumbled into the snow bank behind him, crumpling into a mass. Hank bore down on his terrified form, screaming for mercy, but the mutant was too far gone in his hatred to listen. As he was about to apply the coup de grace to the poor wretch, soldiers leapt from their seclusion and tackled him. Hank tussled with several of them, Fury emerging from the forest to order his restraint. The soldiers held him back, and several guns pointed to the defeated Commander. Spaskyich groaned under a pile of broken bones, watching wearily as his prisoners gathered around to witness his conquered state. The agents were herded by the last of the SHIELD troops, and disarmed.
'You've lost this round, Hawk.' Fury said a disappointed look on his face.
'Ya can't make me apologise…' He grumbled crawling until his back leant against the snow bank. His eyes wandered over the scene, a tumult of bad thoughts clouding his brain. Fury stood over him, clad in warming winter gear, with a long pistol in his hand. His agents knelt with hands behind their heads and all around soldiers waited to incarcerate him. Xavier's students had appeared at the side as well, furious and yet relieved at their captor's situation. 'You're all happy now!' Spaskyich coughed out, a trail of blood dribbling down his chin.
'Yes we are.' Jean shouted, among her fellows. Hank was let go of by the soldiers and went back to join Ororo in their group.
'Well mutants can burn in hell.' He whispered spitefully, facing them.
'Then we'll see you there.' Hank barked back.
The Commander shook his head tiredly, and stayed stuck on the floor.
Above them the Blackbird hovered into view, lowering its ramp. The craft balanced in the air, being bustled by air currents. Deciding to leave the scene at last, Xavier's students ambled into the open jet, welcomed by familiar faces.
* * *
Several days later, while Charles sat in the wreckage of the Mansion's basement, contracted builders working all around him, he sifted through the contents of the one working computer they had. Files, files and more files; he wondered if there was any point in keeping the information stored in the machine, considering it had helped in no way finding or preparing for the Weapon X invasion and his students. In some corner of his mind, Charles knew that it was better to utilise the data than not use it at all, but what had been accomplished, he asked himself. Not a shred of evidence on the Weapon X programme had told him about their actions or techniques. So Charles was debating what to do with it.
Tessa stepped down the corridors, passing over burnt out plates of wall panels and other materials. She observed the working men ferrying out rubbish and debris, while planning the resurrection. Coming behind Charles, she spoke to him. 'Don't these people find it a bit suspect that we all live in a house where the basement resembles a military base?'
'I've got them under control.' He replied, tapping his temple with two fingers. She grinned to him thankfully, and they smiled.
After a pause, she stared out to the rest of the damaged area, and clicked sadly at the loss of the Cerebro computer. 'I'm glad you came looking for us.' She said.
'Well I'm glad I found you; perhaps not how I remembered everyone exactly, but more or less.' He chuckled.
'And what about Logan – do you think he's coming back any time soon?'
'Wherever he disappeared to, I'm sure that he's quite alright. The man can take care of himself, it seems.' Charles said, closing down the computer at last.
* * *
Stumbling tiredly up the stairs of the small motel, Logan looked for the right room. Finding it, he rapped on the door with bare knuckles, and leant against the frame. His clothes were dirty and worn, his muscles ached from exertion, and skin around his neck was just starting to appear normal once more. The maroon coloured door creaked open, and a young woman's head popped out, the white streak decorating the tip of a swaying bob of brunette hair. 'Hiya, girlie,' Logan slurred 'you got a place I could crash?'
Rogue straightened and opened the door a little wider for him. Remy looked over, and sighed annoyingly.