Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I making any money from, the X-Men
characters. Thank you to Corrinth for the loan of Ilehana Xavier. Blaze is,
always has been, and forever will be mine, so there!
A/N: Don't forget to review!
Scene 15
With no food, no supplies, no money and no transport, Blaze ran. Past the university's sports field with high stands and dark floodlights. Over the perimeter fence in the opposite direction to the road and civilisation. Out into the unforgiving dawn, as she knew that somewhere her friends and colleagues from Xavier's school were preparing to fight for their lives, their ideals. She wished them luck, but all she wanted was to be left alone.
She didn't get that chance. As the sun crept over the hillside above her, she knew she was being followed. Like a robot she clicked into thief-mode, trying every trick in the book to lose her pursuer. But every time she changed direction, used the land to hide her movements, even went to ground and hid for a while, a short while later the figure moved in the distance again. It was as though he knew everything she planned to do...
...So she stopped planning. Why let him toy with her like a cat with a mouse? Stopping and waiting, Blaze ran a hand over her flat stomach as though mourning that it was so empty. The man who followed her didn't try to hide his actions, and he smiled amicably as he caught her up.
"Mornin' Chere." The assassin named Jacques smiled an empty smile as he regarded Blaze over the top of his sunglasses. "Glad you gonna make dis easier on both of us."
"What do you want with me? Can't you just leave me alone?" Blaze kept all emotion out of her voice; her words were a statement of fact.
"I don't want nothin', Belle. Unfortunately, my employer wants to see you, so I have to bring you in. But it jus' business you know?" Jacques put his hands in his trouser pockets, kinking his knee-length trench coat back over his arms, confidence oozing like larva from a volcano.
"Tell me this, is your employer a certain scumbag by the name of Alessandro Jacobi?" Blaze's brown eyes narrowed; empty as Jacques confirmed her fears with a wink and a nod. "Then I don't think I'll be coming with you, sorry and all..."
"I knew you say that, Blaze. But I'se also know you don't got no choice."
Refusing to use her firepower unless she really had to, Blaze leapt at Jacques with her unbounded agility, aiming a two-footed kick at his chest. Quicker than was possible he simply reached out, grabbed her ankles as they raced towards him off the ground, twisted them and therefore her whole body round and dropped her hard on the floor.
"What the? Are you some left-over from the Matrix or something?" Blaze asked, trying to swipe the feet out from under Jacques with her leg, but he jumped her attack like a skipping rope, slamming down with his fist to punch Blaze in the face. Fortunately Jacques wasn't the only mutant with a few fighting skills and somehow Blaze managed to block his attack. But at the same instant Jacques cracked a solid kick to Blaze's ribs, sending her sprawling across the grass.
"Give it up, Chere. I know what you gonna try next, an' I warn you that I can avoid a fire-blast without even gettin' my coat tails singed..." Blaze blasted him anyway, what else could she do? True to his word Jacques somersaulted over the low blast and grabbed Blaze by the hair in one movement. She didn't scream as he slammed a hard fist across her jaw, knocking her out. "Je suis désolé, Chere. It only business... For me anyways..." He pulled out a palmtop and dialled up Jacobi's base. "I got the fille, we on our ways."
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The streets on New York City were more or less deserted. A few brave souls ran for cover as noon neared like the citizens of some God-forsaken western town. Only difference between this showdown and a western was that this was no film.
Mutants had been converging on the city any way they could, the location of Magneto's field headquarters hardly the secret the government had intended it to be. As for the government, the police and the army, they were nowhere to be seen. A lone swat team had earlier that morning tried to turn Magneto into a martyr for his cause. Their bodies now lay stinking in the gutter.
As the X-Jet flew in silently over the city, clouds gathered behind it like an omen. Rain began to fall, heavier and heavier, the forecast fine day driven away by Storm's power. She could only hope it would be enough to keep people in doors and out of harm's way. Ilehana's grip on the jet controls hardened as she spotted the marching FoH troops. They were too well organised to be your average hate-filled mob. Someone with money was paying these men to fight for this cause.
**Jubilee, Kitty and Colossus are waiting for you on top of the tower block to the east. ** Ilehana's father distracted the meta-morph from her angry musing, bringing her back to the present task. Sure enough, as Ilehana lowered the jet slowly in the heavy rain, three figures dressed in black stood at respectful distance, waiting.
Not too long later Ilehana addressed her full team aboard the Blackbird. Full, now there was a word with new meaning today, the scant few in front of her consisting for the most part of untried pups were supposed to stop the battle? She saw fear in the younger team member's eyes, felt it in their thoughts, as they looked up at her so unsure. It was up to her then to put their fears to rest. Vixen hoped and prayed she was up to the challenge.
**You are my daughter, as are they. Have faith. ** Xavier pushed his support down the telepathic link between him and his daughter, feeling her strengthen as he did so.
"Okay, here's what we are going to do. Some of you might be disappointed to hear it," She glanced at Logan pointedly. "But we are here to stop a fight, not to start one. Storm, this rain is great, for a start, but the weather needs to get much worse around here and quickly. If they can't get out of their buildings for snowdrifts, gales, lightning or whatever, they can't fight."
"Of course Vixen." The white haired African nodded her ascent. She knew how much depended on her powers today.
"Jubilee." Ilehana turned to the nervous young X-Man, hastily popping bubblegum in overdrive. "First of all get rid of that gum, this is a mission not a trip to the mall." The popping stopped, but Ilehana knew Logan was chuckling silently at how like her father she had just sounded. Oh well, there were worse role models..."Stay here with Storm, watch her back."
"That's all?" The girl asked, not masking her disappointment.
"Yes. But understand it is possibly the most important job I will hand out today. Storm's power will hopefully dissuade the combatants, but she will be blind to any attacks on her whilst she wealds the weather. You have to keep her safe. Also, you will have the best view of the city below from up here, you can keep us aware of the locations of both sides." Ilehana gave Jubilee a reassuring smile. "I know you will do us proud."
The Vixen turned next to her teleporter and her... Ilehana wasn't quite sure what the term was for Kitty's power. Phaser sounded so 'Star Trek'. Anyway, of the three newcomers it was Kitty who looked the most at ease in her uniform for which Ilehana was eternally grateful.
"Shadowcat and Nightcrawler, your mission will be to act as bait for the FoH. I'm sorry to put this on your shoulders, but we need to split them up, confuse them, make them think that they are being drawn on by Magneto's crew when actually we will be leading them away from the mutant rabble."
"No problem." Kurt enthused, placing a blue three-fingered hand on Kitty's shoulder in support.
"I'm not sending you out alone, Kitty." Ilehana offered. "I need you and Kurt to coordinate, but to lead groups of FoH off in different directions. Do you think you could phase Logan along with you?"
"Yeah, like he's not that big, is he..." Kitty risked an uncomfortable smile in Wolverine's direction. Logan rolled his eyes skywards as he returned the jest.
"Great, stick me with the Half-pint why don't you?"
"Good, that's settled then." Vixen smiled encouragingly at Kitty, not quite sure who would be babysitting whom in this new partnership. "Colossus, you will go with Kurt, watch his back, and talk to each other people. Everybody's radios working?"
There was general assent in the jet as earpieces were checked and re- checked. Storm had started towards the gangway to the roof when Logan spoke the question Ilehana had been waiting for.
"An' what are you doin' to be up to in all this?" Ilehana placed a hand on his shoulder, knowing he wouldn't like what she was going to say. But when they were so few in numbers, it was up to the leader of the pack to take the biggest risks in the hunt.
"I'm going to pay my Godfather a social call. Got any choice words for him?"
"A few," Wolverine replied. "But not many I'd use round kids." Over Jubilee's protestations about being called a kid, he muttered words only meant for her ears. "Be careful. You need me, call."
"You too." Ilehana squeezed his shoulder gently before releasing him and addressing her entire team. "Lets move."
A/N: Don't forget to review!
Scene 15
With no food, no supplies, no money and no transport, Blaze ran. Past the university's sports field with high stands and dark floodlights. Over the perimeter fence in the opposite direction to the road and civilisation. Out into the unforgiving dawn, as she knew that somewhere her friends and colleagues from Xavier's school were preparing to fight for their lives, their ideals. She wished them luck, but all she wanted was to be left alone.
She didn't get that chance. As the sun crept over the hillside above her, she knew she was being followed. Like a robot she clicked into thief-mode, trying every trick in the book to lose her pursuer. But every time she changed direction, used the land to hide her movements, even went to ground and hid for a while, a short while later the figure moved in the distance again. It was as though he knew everything she planned to do...
...So she stopped planning. Why let him toy with her like a cat with a mouse? Stopping and waiting, Blaze ran a hand over her flat stomach as though mourning that it was so empty. The man who followed her didn't try to hide his actions, and he smiled amicably as he caught her up.
"Mornin' Chere." The assassin named Jacques smiled an empty smile as he regarded Blaze over the top of his sunglasses. "Glad you gonna make dis easier on both of us."
"What do you want with me? Can't you just leave me alone?" Blaze kept all emotion out of her voice; her words were a statement of fact.
"I don't want nothin', Belle. Unfortunately, my employer wants to see you, so I have to bring you in. But it jus' business you know?" Jacques put his hands in his trouser pockets, kinking his knee-length trench coat back over his arms, confidence oozing like larva from a volcano.
"Tell me this, is your employer a certain scumbag by the name of Alessandro Jacobi?" Blaze's brown eyes narrowed; empty as Jacques confirmed her fears with a wink and a nod. "Then I don't think I'll be coming with you, sorry and all..."
"I knew you say that, Blaze. But I'se also know you don't got no choice."
Refusing to use her firepower unless she really had to, Blaze leapt at Jacques with her unbounded agility, aiming a two-footed kick at his chest. Quicker than was possible he simply reached out, grabbed her ankles as they raced towards him off the ground, twisted them and therefore her whole body round and dropped her hard on the floor.
"What the? Are you some left-over from the Matrix or something?" Blaze asked, trying to swipe the feet out from under Jacques with her leg, but he jumped her attack like a skipping rope, slamming down with his fist to punch Blaze in the face. Fortunately Jacques wasn't the only mutant with a few fighting skills and somehow Blaze managed to block his attack. But at the same instant Jacques cracked a solid kick to Blaze's ribs, sending her sprawling across the grass.
"Give it up, Chere. I know what you gonna try next, an' I warn you that I can avoid a fire-blast without even gettin' my coat tails singed..." Blaze blasted him anyway, what else could she do? True to his word Jacques somersaulted over the low blast and grabbed Blaze by the hair in one movement. She didn't scream as he slammed a hard fist across her jaw, knocking her out. "Je suis désolé, Chere. It only business... For me anyways..." He pulled out a palmtop and dialled up Jacobi's base. "I got the fille, we on our ways."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The streets on New York City were more or less deserted. A few brave souls ran for cover as noon neared like the citizens of some God-forsaken western town. Only difference between this showdown and a western was that this was no film.
Mutants had been converging on the city any way they could, the location of Magneto's field headquarters hardly the secret the government had intended it to be. As for the government, the police and the army, they were nowhere to be seen. A lone swat team had earlier that morning tried to turn Magneto into a martyr for his cause. Their bodies now lay stinking in the gutter.
As the X-Jet flew in silently over the city, clouds gathered behind it like an omen. Rain began to fall, heavier and heavier, the forecast fine day driven away by Storm's power. She could only hope it would be enough to keep people in doors and out of harm's way. Ilehana's grip on the jet controls hardened as she spotted the marching FoH troops. They were too well organised to be your average hate-filled mob. Someone with money was paying these men to fight for this cause.
**Jubilee, Kitty and Colossus are waiting for you on top of the tower block to the east. ** Ilehana's father distracted the meta-morph from her angry musing, bringing her back to the present task. Sure enough, as Ilehana lowered the jet slowly in the heavy rain, three figures dressed in black stood at respectful distance, waiting.
Not too long later Ilehana addressed her full team aboard the Blackbird. Full, now there was a word with new meaning today, the scant few in front of her consisting for the most part of untried pups were supposed to stop the battle? She saw fear in the younger team member's eyes, felt it in their thoughts, as they looked up at her so unsure. It was up to her then to put their fears to rest. Vixen hoped and prayed she was up to the challenge.
**You are my daughter, as are they. Have faith. ** Xavier pushed his support down the telepathic link between him and his daughter, feeling her strengthen as he did so.
"Okay, here's what we are going to do. Some of you might be disappointed to hear it," She glanced at Logan pointedly. "But we are here to stop a fight, not to start one. Storm, this rain is great, for a start, but the weather needs to get much worse around here and quickly. If they can't get out of their buildings for snowdrifts, gales, lightning or whatever, they can't fight."
"Of course Vixen." The white haired African nodded her ascent. She knew how much depended on her powers today.
"Jubilee." Ilehana turned to the nervous young X-Man, hastily popping bubblegum in overdrive. "First of all get rid of that gum, this is a mission not a trip to the mall." The popping stopped, but Ilehana knew Logan was chuckling silently at how like her father she had just sounded. Oh well, there were worse role models..."Stay here with Storm, watch her back."
"That's all?" The girl asked, not masking her disappointment.
"Yes. But understand it is possibly the most important job I will hand out today. Storm's power will hopefully dissuade the combatants, but she will be blind to any attacks on her whilst she wealds the weather. You have to keep her safe. Also, you will have the best view of the city below from up here, you can keep us aware of the locations of both sides." Ilehana gave Jubilee a reassuring smile. "I know you will do us proud."
The Vixen turned next to her teleporter and her... Ilehana wasn't quite sure what the term was for Kitty's power. Phaser sounded so 'Star Trek'. Anyway, of the three newcomers it was Kitty who looked the most at ease in her uniform for which Ilehana was eternally grateful.
"Shadowcat and Nightcrawler, your mission will be to act as bait for the FoH. I'm sorry to put this on your shoulders, but we need to split them up, confuse them, make them think that they are being drawn on by Magneto's crew when actually we will be leading them away from the mutant rabble."
"No problem." Kurt enthused, placing a blue three-fingered hand on Kitty's shoulder in support.
"I'm not sending you out alone, Kitty." Ilehana offered. "I need you and Kurt to coordinate, but to lead groups of FoH off in different directions. Do you think you could phase Logan along with you?"
"Yeah, like he's not that big, is he..." Kitty risked an uncomfortable smile in Wolverine's direction. Logan rolled his eyes skywards as he returned the jest.
"Great, stick me with the Half-pint why don't you?"
"Good, that's settled then." Vixen smiled encouragingly at Kitty, not quite sure who would be babysitting whom in this new partnership. "Colossus, you will go with Kurt, watch his back, and talk to each other people. Everybody's radios working?"
There was general assent in the jet as earpieces were checked and re- checked. Storm had started towards the gangway to the roof when Logan spoke the question Ilehana had been waiting for.
"An' what are you doin' to be up to in all this?" Ilehana placed a hand on his shoulder, knowing he wouldn't like what she was going to say. But when they were so few in numbers, it was up to the leader of the pack to take the biggest risks in the hunt.
"I'm going to pay my Godfather a social call. Got any choice words for him?"
"A few," Wolverine replied. "But not many I'd use round kids." Over Jubilee's protestations about being called a kid, he muttered words only meant for her ears. "Be careful. You need me, call."
"You too." Ilehana squeezed his shoulder gently before releasing him and addressing her entire team. "Lets move."