Restoration
AN. Before people yell at me for not finishing any of my stories, all I ask for is a little patience. We all know that muses are finicky, and as of right now I am not necessarily happy with all my writings. So after massive contemplation, I am starting another story just to continue my writing, and I hope for the better. I will finish Untouchable, It was all a dream, and Rogue's Journey. I am just taking a brief hiatus. Anyway this story follows my short story Safe Haven, so if you haven't read that, you might want to now.
Thanks for your continued support.
Love to all Reviewers,
Bry
PS Keep up the great reviewing!
Chapter 1
Infiltration
Robert Drake coughed as the dust settled in his lungs. The mansion that used to be Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters currently resembled an abandoned building instead of a school. It was very difficult to believe that just a few days ago, the hallways had been filled with children instead of debris and blood. His stomach felt a little queasy after observing the trails of blood throughout the building that was all that was left of the death and destruction. The army wasn't kidding when they said no one was left behind.
He kicked some broken marble with his black boot. He knew the professor had ideas about reinstated the school as quickly as possible, but Bobby really couldn't see that happening. Besides the fact the structural damage done to the building, no one who had been in the school during the night of the attack was quiet ready to start sleeping without any concerns. And he was pretty sure it wasn't only an idea shared by the terrified students.
As of right now, the professor only had two teachers, not including the professor himself. And he barely had that. Both Scott Summers and Ororo Munroe were devastated by grief for their fallen comrade, and Bobby couldn't see how either of them could teach math or history under the circumstances. Heck, he wasn't sure any of the students would be interested after the death of Jean Grey up at Alkali Lake.
Jean Grey offered the ultimate sacrifice when she exited the jet, Blackbird, and offered her life so she could protect all the people she loved inside the jet. But after her death, her fiancé Scott was a wreck. Dr. Grey was the only thing that put a smile in his face, and ever since she died, Mr. Summers just looked ahead through his ruby quartz glasses, and just went through the motions of life.
Dr. Grey's best friend since they both joined the professor was Ororo Munroe. The white haired goddess could barely contain her anguish, as evident with the constant rain clouds, and sudden tornados. No, Ororo wasn't a magician. She was a mutant. They all were. Ororo, also called Storm because of her ability, had a great difficulty controlling her "power" under great times of stress or grief. With a single thought she could cause a hurricane in the desert, or a snow storm in Tahiti.
Bobby coughed again as he continued sorting through the rubble. He thought back on Mr. Summers, or more familiarly known as Cyclops. Those glasses he always looked through prevented him from destroying everything in his sight. Literally. Without the protection of the ruby quartz, a red laser like beam would leave his eyes and actually punch a whole through a mountain. Most people who knew him usually would consider him stiff, but the stiffness came from over self control, not from snobbishness. Cyclops had a sense of humor that most people ignored, but since the death of Dr. Grey, all happiness left him.
Bobby managed to clear a path in the hallway to start climbing the upper levels of the mansion. When he got to the landing he thought of the leap Logan took off it just a few nights before. All the trouble seemed to happen as soon as Logan came back from a "self discovery". Logan was a relatively short, stocky man, who was no stranger to hair. He acted more like an animal than human, or at least that is all Bobby observed. Just that awful night, Logan had no qualms killing the soldiers that infected the school. Thanks to the metal skeleton that ran through his whole body, he was able to cut through the enemy like they were made out of butter. But Bobby was aware if he didn't kill like he did, he would of most likely have been carted away to Stryker's lair instead of helping take it down. For that Logan, the man without a past, would always have his gratitude.
~Find anything yet?~
Bobby was stunned by the thought that entered his head. But he was aware that he wasn't the only one who heard it. Just by thinking, the professor would send out everyone's thoughts out like a complicated radio. Currently the professor was sitting at their temporally headquarters just about 10 miles from Westchester. It was important that they scout out what had happen to the mansion before they could attempt to savage anything.
~Well Chuck, so far I have found some stone, mortar, and a couple books. The nice soldiers managed to cut off the generator so all the elevators are off line. Anyone make it downstairs yet.~
Bobby chuckled over Logan's thought but his wasn't the only one he heard.
~Negatory on my part. I back up the no power statement. Storm, I think we need to repair that generator so we can evaluate what was taken, besides the parts of Cerebro.~
~Got it Scott. I'll go back out side and see if I can fly up to the emergency generator. If not I will try concentrating a lightning bolt, but that would most likely be unwise, considering I might just blow out the mainframe.~
The professor interrupted. ~Don't worry Storm. Do what you must, just try to prevent damage to the under cell mainframe. I have most of my research on file on the computer system, so try to get one of those hard drives instead.~
~Um, professor? Isn't there any stairways down to the sub floors?~
~Unfortunately Rogue, no. It is to steep to walk down.~
~Hey, can't Kurt teleport down their, and try delivering power that way?~
~Bobby, Kurt's chances of materializing in the earth are too great. Especially since he doesn't know the frame work of the sub floors.~
~I could always try if there is not an alternative, Mr. Professor.~
~I'll remember that. Anything else to report?~
Bobby continued his walk up the stairs and observed the hallways.
~Fortunately the west wing is pretty much intact. Professor, you might need to spring for some windows, but that is about it.~
~Same thing over here. I am just outside the kitchen and there isn't that much damage. And the elevator isn't working, obviously. Bobby, I am heading your way.~
~Well, that is good news. If only we could now the damage to the X-Men wings. I fear that they took more then Cerebro, though I am not sure what else. Well, keep up the good work, and Storm, work on the elevator issue.~
They all thought their goodbyes, and Bobby stood there waiting for Rogue to join him. He was perfectly aware that even though the professor allowed them to put on their X-Men suits, he would prefer it if they didn't wander around alone. Bobby was not quit used to the tight leather surrounding his body, but he was aware that the suit he wore could protect him from anything from a bullet, to a fire wall.
He thought of the newly joined mutant, Kurt Wagner, to kill some time. Kurt wasn't definitely an X-Men yet, since his plans for the future were so unclear. But the blue mutant with a tail was not a force to be reckoned with. He had managed to get past White House security. He had the ability to transport himself anywhere, which was a plus considering the mission they had just gotten back from at Alkali Lake, although he didn't see where he was going, he could end up killing himself by entering a wall.
He finally heard the soft foot steps coming up the stairs. The first thing he saw was the white streak of hair that stood out against a head of brown hair. The girl that he was beginning to like more and more each time he saw her sent him a small smile. He tried to block out the sight of her leather clad body by staring into her deep green eyes. Rogue had joined the school just four months ago when Logan came. She had been terrified of her surroundings since she had just recently acquired her mutant powers, and Bobby suspected that Logan was one of the few people she had trusted in a long time. It didn't help when the mutant called Magneto had tried to turn everyone in the UN into mutants using a machine that almost killed Rogue but gave her a white streak of hair instead.
"So, I am guessing you didn't find anything interesting then?" her voice was filled with the south.
"Nah, did you?"
"Nothing. All they left behind was a few stones, but that is about it. And I think you ruined that Oriental rug back in the hallway."
"Well, I just had to leave my mark."
He thought back on the ice wall he created so they were able to escape the soldiers. Ice was his power. His mutation gave him the ability to manipulate the temperature in the air, and with enough concentration he could almost do anything. But being young, the professor doubted that this mutation was far from over.
Rogue had moved right in front of him, and he had to remind himself that he was on a mission, not just walking down the hallways. Rogue seemed to sense his thoughts as she took a curt step backward. This was definitely not the time to start experimenting. It wasn't that they had never kissed before, but one touch of Rogue's lips on his, if held long enough, could kill him. Rogue's mutation was an extreme case that she cursed almost every day. Touch was eluded for her, and her self control riveled Cyclops.
"I guess we should keep on looking, eh?"
Bobby thought back on his thoughts from earlier of that day. What he would do to be normal, or at least not have any of these things happen. What he would give to kiss this girl.
"Yeah, don't want to be off guard."
They walked down the hallways, when all of a sudden Bobby noticed something. The temperature from the outside of the building was flaring up, and with in second's Bobby tackled Rogue to prevent her being incinerated.
"Bobby!"
He placed his hands firmly on the ground and cause a quick ice shield to form. It cracked under the pressure, as the building shook.
Bobby glanced out at the hallway wall and stared at the huge gap in the wall. In front of it flew Storm, who was causing the wind and rain to get rid of the fire. Soot was in his hair.
"What the hell was that?"
Storm landed gracefully. "I sent off a lightning bolt. Unfortunately I fear it struck a formally undetonated rocket."
"A trap?" Rogue asked as she managed to get off the floor.
"I am not sure." Ororo's eyes were filled with worry. "Scott and Logan are trying to manually open the elevator. They have to be warned."
Another explosion shook the building.
Rogue's eyes were wide. "I think it is too late."
AN. Ok, tell me what you think. Critiques aren't bad but flames are. If it sucks tell me why! Should I keep it going?
Bry