AUTHORS NOTE – Some of the quotes are taken almost directly from the show and comics. Can you find 'em? Don't worry, they fit the story, IMHO, and some of them are even quoted.
Chapter 12
Warren Worthington III woke up, and found himself in a similar position to that of Jean Grey's. Strapped to an operating table, in some sort of lab, body exploding in pain. Only he was strapped on his stomach, not his back. His eyes lids felt like lead, and he wanted more than anything to just close them and drift back into sleep. Maybe this was all a dream. A bad dream that he'll wake up from in the morning....
Combing his mind, he remembered seeing Betsy fighting off some Sentinels, some kind of forest, then being knocked into a tree by Boom Boom, who actually turned out to be some white-faced guy in black armour. Then there was the smoke.... Jean! He remembered that Jean was with him. With a lot of effort, he pushed himself up slightly with his body and looked around. She was nowhere in sight. Instead, there were three other bodies strapped onto operating tables much like his.
"Jean?" he called out. "Jean, are you there?"
There was no response. Grunting, he fell back down again. He had to get out of here. He tried moving his arms and legs, but they were held firmly in place. ~Man, Summers is going to clip my wings if he ever found out....~ His wings! He tried moving them, but received this strange sensation instead. Straining his head, he looked behind him, and noticed that they were gone. As reality finally sunk in, he promptly fainted and drifted back into unconsciousness.
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Scott Summers made use of every resource he had in his effort to find Jean Grey. The search continued at a rapid pace, and between Wolverine's heightened senses and Blink's teleportation, they were able to cover a lot of ground. Not enough, though. It had been almost three days since the two went missing. The only meaningful lead they obtained was some sort of strange canister they found in the forest. After examination, Hank confirmed that it used to contain an advanced knockout gas, which explains how Jean and Warren were captured.
That was how Scott was found in the Common room at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, studying the object for any details. Resting in front of him was an envelope with the Stanford University logo printed neatly on it. Setting the capsule down, he took the envelope in his hand, and ripped it in half before he threw it in the trash bin. Picking up the capsule again, he tossed it into the air as Gambit walked by. The Cajun immediately froze and stared at Cyclops with disbelief.
"Where did'ya find dat, homme?"
Surprised, Cyclops responded, "it was found where Jean and Warren disappeared." He paused. "Know something we don't?"
"Yeah, but Remy ain't about to tell you, mon ami. Dere's no time. Right now, Jeannie is in serious danger."
"Get the most experienced members of each team. Meet me down in the Planning Room."
Not even five minutes later, Cyclops, Psylocke (who for some reason, insisted on coming along), Blink, Gambit, Wolverine, Storm, and Beast gathered in the Planning Room. In a flash of light, they were gone.
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Jean woke up to find herself still strapped to an operating table. She was attached to some type of machine. She had no idea how long she had been stuck here - time seemed unable to penetrate the walls of the laboratory. Around two days, she estimated. Her body was stiff and ached with numbness. Essex seemed a bit preoccupied – perhaps with someone else. ~At least he hadn't cut me open yet~ she thought dryly. Just then, she heard him enter the lab, closing the metal doors behind him. The sight of the man struck fear into her heart.
"Sorry I'm late, but your friend Warren Worthington was proving to be quite a handful. Shall we begin?"
"What have you done with Warren?"
"Warren Worthington is no longer of your concern."
"You know, my friends will be looking for me, and they will find me." It sounded weak to her own ears.
"Oh, I'm sure they will," he replied dispassionately.
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The X-men found themselves running through the subways as Gambit led them to Sinister's base. Scott found himself thinking of all the possible things that could've happened to Jean in three days ~Oh gosh, no. Please, not her~
"Its here. De door." Gambit pointed to a wall of graffiti. Although he was confused, Scott shot at the exact spot that Remy had pointed at. To his surprise, a perfectly camouflaged door was blasted off its hinges. As they proceeded through the entrance, they were suddenly ambushed by the Nasty Boys.
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Essex picked up a large surgical knife and traced a line with its razor-sharp edge from a spot several inches above her navel to a point several inches below it.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, hoping to stall as long as possible.
"Ah, trying to delay the inevitable. Well, no matter. I'm merely going to extract samples of your DNA from some of your internal organs." He paused. "This may sting a bit, but you should be fine. The machine that you are attached to accelerates your healing."
Jean was beyond terrified as she watched the blade advance towards her body. As Sinister prepared to make the incision, the metal doors were sliced in a X-pattern and kicked open, revealing Wolverine. He was past anger as he lunged at him with an animalistic roar.
Replacing the blade, Sinister turned to his foe as Wolverine slashed furiously at his body. He just smiled as it instantly regenerated itself. After several seconds, Logan couldn't believe what was happening. He should've made mincemeat out of this guy. Instead, he didn't even have a scratch.
Two flaming cards embedded itself into his black armor before exploding, leaving a pair of gaping holes in his chest. A second later, they were gone. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Gambit emptied his deck into Essex's body, the lab trembling as it was rocked with numerous explosions. Breathing heavily, the Cajun started to admire his handiwork when the figure of Sinister stepped out of the dust and debris.
"Pathetic. The future belongs to a new race of mutants, which I will build. You will not interfere with my greatest experiment ever!" Hands outstretched, he blasted both his attackers out of the room.
Satisfied, Essex turned his attention once again to Jean and the task at hand. He was about to pick up his surgical blade when suddenly, the wall behind him exploded. Standing amidst the rubble was Cyclops, ruby-quartz glowing crimson as it became saturated by solar energy.
"Ah, Mr. Summers, how nice of you to join us," Sinister greeted.
"Leave. Her. Alone!"
"Do not interrupt, boy, when your betters are speaking."
Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of pain ripped through his head as images of his childhood flooded his mind. "You! I remember you! After the plane crash, I heard a voice calling – and I opened my eyes and blew off the hospital roof! Then you said, 'How wonderful, child. How deadly. But we can't allow that to happen again, can we?' When I woke up next, a year has passed. I thought I was in a coma. But it wasn't I coma, was it? It was you!" Clutching the sides of his head, he slumped to the floor.
"Finally you realize the truth. I've controlled your life ever since that day. Now be off - I've got more important things to attend to."
"Scott!" Jean cried as a sharp edge once again descended upon her. Turning around, Sinister was about to start his work when an optic blast caught him in the side, sending him sliding across the floor. The area where he had been hit, instead of repairing itself, was charred and smoking.
"Impossible!"
"Guess you aren't as tough as you thought," his voice quivered as he continued to shake off his migraine. He clumsily staggered to his feet, one hand to his visor. As Sinister tried to get up, another blast struck him in the leg, knocking him back down.
"You destroyed my life, and that of my family's, with your evil," he paused as he tried to control his rage. "So, you like to play God, huh? Well, just stay away from my friends!" With as much power as he can muster, a huge beam of crimson cut through the air and hammered Sinister in the chest, smashing him through one of the walls, across the next room and through another. He disappeared in a cloud of rubble and dust.
"Scott?" Jean called out in a weak voice. Hearing it, he quickly made his way over to where she lay. "Jean, its alright. I'm here. Everything's going to be alright," he assured her, gently brushing a lock of scarlet hair away from her beautiful face. Blasting away her restraints, he wrapped his X-Factor jacket around her as she started shivering. Burying her head into his shoulder, Jean could never remember feeling so safe as he picked her up in his arms and held her close. They kept up the embrace for a long time. It was finally over.
"Oh Scott," she murmured, "I was so scared. I thought I'd never see you again." Being cradled in his arms was definitely a welcome change from being strapped to a rock hard table.
"You don't have much faith in me, do you?" he smiled. " 'No need for thanks. That's what we heroes do - rescue damsels in distress,' " he said, in his most manly, heroic voice. Saying that always annoyed her - something about being the weaker sex.
"Take me home, you egomaniac."
"Yes ma'am." Pleased that she caught the reference, he kissed her forehead before turning to leave.
