Restoration
AN. Sorry it seems to take me forever to update, but being a senior is time consuming. Thanks to my newly attended LEGAL X2 DVD *happy dance of joy and inspiration* I have reviewed all the X-Men facts visually instead of reading about them. I am aware that the X Mansion appears to be perfect, but my story is taking place IMEADIATELY after Alkali Lake, so I am not even sure they have spoken with the President yet. Hmm. We will have to wait and see. Please keep reading!
I love all the gracious people who review,
Bry
Sumerstormes@aol.com *email or IM me at any time*
Chapter 2
Usefulness
"It seems so unlikely that Stryker would plant traps." Storm reasoned. She led the way to the main level to investigate the explosion. "It is especially implausible since he did not expect any of us to return." She paused on the landing and looked back to see if they were following her. "Let's hope it was just a mistake."
Rogue's system was burning. She couldn't comprehend how Storm could seem so together when Logan could be injured, or possibly- though she didn't like thinking about it- dead. She doubted that his healing factor could save him if he was in 50 billion pieces. It took everything inside her not to push past Storm and go find out for herself. But considering this was her first mission, she didn't want anyone to think that she was ruled by passion instead of logic.
Storm continued down the steps, her cloak flapped behind her. Rogue followed behind her with her worry barely contained, and Iceman went down the stairs last trying to ignore the bad feeling he had in his gut.
In even strides they skirted around the corridors and walked past the main level rec room. Their boots were made of a special leather that maintained their internal temperatures so that they hardly noticed the puddle that remained of Iceman's gigantic ice wall from just days earlier. They stayed close together, and without saying it out loud, they all were paying close attention for more traps.
After turning another corner, Rogue's breath caught. Smoke filtered into the hallway, all that was left of the exposition. The smoke was so thick; Rogue could barely breathe along with Iceman and Storm. But Storm didn't allow the opportunity for them to become filled with the smoke. Her eyes turned an opaque white as she conjured up a strong wind. Bobby protectively grabbed a hold of Rogue as they held their ground against Storm's wind. Within seconds the hallway was clear of all smoke.
The emotion Rogue thought Storm didn't have came out as she yelled, "Scott? Kurt? Logan? Are you alright?"
Rogue joined in as she wiggled her way out of Bobby's arms. "Logan?"
Faintly, from the bottom of the tunnel that made up the elevator system they could hear voices. Rogue leaned over and laughed with relief. Hanging onto the cables running down the sides of the shaft were Scott, Logan, and Kurt. Scott looked annoyed, Logan looked pissed, and Kurt looked unconscious.
Storm knelt down beside Rogue. "What happened?"
Logan looked up and almost growled, "One eye hear almost blew us to kingdom come."
"I did not. I just misjudged is all."
"Misjudged my ass."
Cyclops remained silent for a moment as Wolverine held on grumbling. The elevator itself appeared to be on the 3rd floor above them, and if they hadn't been as quick witted as they had been, they would have been smashed to a pulp against the metal at the bottom of the elevator shaft.
"Is he ok?" Storm asked.
"Eh, yes I am. Just a small head ache." Kurt opened his eyes, and Storm lost her breath when she saw the yellow eyes. There was blood trickling down his face.
"Can you teleport out of there?" Storm's voice was lowered in concern.
He stared blankly at her with his wide yellow eyes. As if it were a delayed reaction he finally said, "Yes, I think. I am fine… I think." Within a moment he was out again. His instinctive grip of the elevator shaft was lost though and he began to fall.
"Kurt!"
They watched from above as he tumbled down the shaft. Cyclops reached out to get him, but his grip wouldn't reach. Wolverine grabbed hold of a cable and let go of the wall. He let out a primal shout as he seemingly flew across the empty space. He grabbed hold of the mutant's tail as his shoulder was wrenched out of place. He gritted his teeth and looked up. "Can I have some help here?"
Kurt muttered something inaudible.
"Bobby. Be ready to catch him." Storm ordered. Once again her eyes turned went from blue to white as she urged a wind to form. It spiraled from underneath the dangling pair, and without being told to, Logan let go of Kurt. He flew into the air and was pushed into Bobby's direction. Bobby held on tight as the force of the wind knocked both of them to the ground.
"Help." He groaned under the weight of the over six foot man. Rogue ran over and tried to be of help. Now that she knew Logan was ok, she felt a lot better.
Storm looked down at the two remaining. "What are you going to do?"
"Can you lower us down so we can investigate the damage below?" Cyclops asked.
"I can't control it like that. I most likely wouldn't be able to cushion your fall." She paused as if she was thinking. "What was the noise before?"
Logan swung to the wall and held on. "Cyclops said he would be able to open the door with his blast. He screwed up with the setting and the pressure sucked us down…"
"I made a mistake which thankfully no one was seriously hurt…hopefully."
"Can you climb down?"
"Maybe…" Logan tested the cables.
"I can help."
Storm looked over and saw Bobby. "What?"
"I can build a support that they can slide down."
"Bobby… maybe you shouldn't…"
"Trust me Storm." His blue eyes met hers. "I can do it."
She nodded.
He walked over to the elevator and knelt down. He already had the mental image of his ramp in his head. Kneeling down, he placed his hands down on the edge and conjured up an ice field. The room's temperature dropped dramatically as the ice began to crystallize. Rogue walked behind him and was amazed at what he was able to do. Within seconds the slide was complete.
"Storm, can you cushion them at the bottom with something."
"I can concentrate." She was a little stunned. Bobby had grown up quickly- a little too quickly.
Wolverine was the first one to test the ice ramp, and shortly he was crashing into the bottom. Bobby held his breath. The wind storm supplied eased the collision, but it left Logan muttering. After Cyclops was at the bottom, Storm turned her attention to Nightcrawler.
He was coming to, and his blood wound had clotted thanks to the pressure supplied by Rogue. Storm bite her lip as the first thought that came to mind was they needed Jean. She couldn't think how would replace the doctor in the school before the classes began.
At the bottom of the shaft Cyclops adjusted his visor to make sure he didn't make the same mistake twice. With a quick blast, the doors were open. They went in and started to take inventory about what was lost.
Rogue placed a hand on Bobby's leather suit. He turned around and looked at her, his eyes the color of ice and his voice artic. "They made it."
"That was amazing."
"Yeah, I didn't think it would work."
She raised his eyebrow. He looked over to make sure Storm wasn't paying attention. "I…I never thought it would hold their weight. Icing a teacup is nothing compared to this." His voice evened out as his body approached an even temperature.
"You can do anything you put your mind to. Your power is useful and wonderful. What can I do? I am no help."
"Don't say that Rogue…"
"It is true. All I can do is hurt… I can't fight or protect. I'm not smart or useful."
He motioned her to stop. "You can do anything you put your mind to."
But I can't. She thought. She turned around; thinking about her shortcomings was hurtful. She walked over to Storm.
Storm's eyes were serious. "I think it would be best if we got him to Blackbird." She looked down at Kurt. "I am just praying it isn't a concussion."
Rogue silently grabbed one arm while Storm took the other. They walked silently out the main entrance to the yard dragging Nightcrawler between them.
Bobby didn't move to help. Rogue needed to learn for herself she was useful. He looked down at the slide. Maybe he could help them down there. He held his breath as he materialized the slide to begin at the top of the opening. He positioned himself at the top of the slide and let go.
He smashed against the floor. He coughed as he pushed himself up. Stepping over the ledge, he entered the world of the X-Men. The floor, ceiling, and walls were covered with blue tiles that had lights running from the top and the bottom. Every sound seemed to echo around him. He stared wide mouth. It was amazing.
Bobby examined the first X bearing door he saw. In a simple font, the plaque stated "Danger." He walked down the hallway and noticed most of the doors were unlabeled. For the first time in the two years he had been with the school, he was able to see the real world he had lived on top of. He examined the locker room that held uniforms like the one he wore.
He exited the room and noticed a door opened down the hall. His boots echoed as he quickened his pace. "Enjoy what you seen?"
He jumped. Logan stood behind him. "Yeah, I felt the same when I saw it."
Logan approached Bobby, and led him forward to the open door. Scott stood in front of it, his jaw clenched. "Those bastards."
Bobby peaked over his shoulder and gasped. If he had walked past the door way he would have fallen to his death. This was the center of Cerebro. All he saw was a few metal sheets and a lot of wiring. The soldiers had ripped the place apart.
Scott turned around, and moved forward. He entered one of the X doors and stayed inside for a moment. Unbeknownst to Bobby, Scott was copying the professor's hard drive and setting up a computer link to their temporary head quarters. They needed to find out what else Stryker had taken from them.
"Is he ok?"
"One eye? I don't know. He'll lead though. His heart maybe bleeding, but he'll lead. That is what the good guy does." Logan's voice was filled with bitterness.
"I'm sorry. I know Dr. Grey meant something to y…"
"You know nothing boy. But if you are lucky, you will live long enough to know."
He was interrupted with that cryptic note. Scott joined them and they walked down the hallway in silence. They looked up the elevator shaft. Cyclops's lifted an eyebrow at Bobby. "Figure you can manage a way to get us back up."
The back up generator that allowed power to light the X-Men floors did not have enough power to power the elevator. Bobby turned to Scott. "Yeah, I can try something."
With that, Bobby officially became part of the team.
AN. Ok what do you guys think? Hmm…please review…I don't mind critics, as long as it is useful for me to correct myself and not just to flame me! I'll update soon, if I know people are interested in this kind of story.
Bry
Sumerstormes@aol.com *Im me any time.*
PS. I went through the text and realized I didn't put the "the" in front of the Blackbird. LOL. I reloaded it just in case anyone else noticed, but it only was like that for 2 words!
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