Author's note: May need to read X-Book Prologue in order to understand the second part of this chapter since it is slightly different from the end of X2. I know I've thrown a lot out there (a lot of details which won't be addressed right away) and I hope it doesn't become too confusing. PS – reviewer responses at the end! :-)
Chapter Sixteen:
"What the hell was that?" Cyclops said as a bright fiery light shone at the edge of the dark city.
Cyclops was seated in the co-pilot's chair of the X-Jet, Storm to his right, while Wolverine, Gambit and Iceman sat behind them. They had just been approaching the Chicago city limits, flying silent and low to avoid local radar.
Storm frowned and looked out towards the horizon. From behind her, Wolverine stood and leaned forward to peer out the large front window himself.
"Looked like a small explosion," she replied, "There must be a building fire somewhere."
The orange glow faded and the skyline once again shone only with the twinkling lights of the metropolitan area. Wolverine narrowed his eyes, and glanced at Storm.
"The Professor send us any coordinates yet?" he asked, and she nodded.
"We're heading for a northern residential area," she said.
"The same direction as that blast," Cyclops replied.
Wolverine gave him a dark look, "I have a feeling we're a little late to the party."
***
***
"Sir?" the soldier said quietly to the man behind the desk and waited at attention for a reply.
Below several hundred feet of solid rock, General William Stryker sat in a small dark room, lined with glass windows overlooking a vast hanger filled with waiting machines.
The General did not seem to notice the young Major, he was reading a document in his hand intently, a small crease of concentration on his brow. On his face, several round scars marred his skin. They had been caused by frostbite, given to him by an icy chain that had once been tightly drawn around his body in the cold wastes of Alkalai Lake.
By all rights (and by all measures of justice), he should have been dead, his body left to eternally rot below the torrent from the demolished dam. However, someone had been watching over him that day, someone had protected him from the flood, so that he could continue his work. For the stranger, the dark man in the wilderness, had seen the purpose of Stryker's work, the importance of annihilating mutants from the face of the earth.
And, that dark man had given Stryker all he needed to accomplish his goals, for a price that had not yet been presented.
Whatever the stranger wanted, Stryker intended to pay the debt, no matter the cost.
"Sir?" the soldier said again, more as a question, unsure if the General had heard him.
Stryker held up a waiting hand, and finished reading the last paragraph before looking up at the Major and smiling. It was not a pleasant expression, and the soldier suppressed the urge to wince under the other man's gaze.
"How can I help you, Major?" he asked, his voice oddly friendly. After all, this was one of his own, one of his soldiers, a good, wholesome, normal American citizen, serving his country...serving Stryker.
"I just wanted to inform you that recon has identified possible aberrant mutant activity in Chicago," the Major reported, and Stryker quickly interrupted him.
"All mutant activity is aberrant, Major," he said, placing the document on his desk and slamming his palm down on it, "That what they are...aberrant, abnormal...wrong. You understand that, don't you?"
The Major looked straight-ahead and nodded, "Of course, sir. Sorry, sir."
"So, tell me," Stryker said, "What activity has recon detected that they found unusually abnormal?"
"There has been the report of a small explosion in the northern part of the city," the Major explained, "Residents of the area described it was a wave of flame, brief and controlled. Your orders stated that any unusual fires in that area were to be reported immediately..."
"I know what my orders were, Major," he snapped. His expression had faded from the mock friendly smile to a dark purposeful frown.
"Contact recon," Stryker said, "I want to know exactly why they think this fire was caused by a mutant..."
"That's why they reported in so quickly, Sir," the soldier interrupted, and Stryker shot him a vicious glare, "They also have positively identified the mutant Magneto in the vicinity."
Stryker stood quickly and leaned against his desk on his fists, "They're...sure?"
"Yes, sir," the Major said, "The plastic tracking implant from his prior incarceration is still functional, apparently he has not discovered it in the time since his escap..."
"That would be the obvious conclusion, Major," Stryker said. A dangerous anticipation filled his eyes and the soldier took a step back at his vicious tone.
Stryker marched quickly around his desk and out the door. The Major took a surprised step out of the General's way and then followed him down the hall.
"Have our people in that area contact the local authorities and intercept any approaching police or fire crews," Stryker barked, " Then, have them take positions around the location of the fire and Magneto. It's time to test out our new toys..."
He said the last sentence with a fierce glee, and the Major paused and looked startled. The General could not be talking about the Sentinel prototype.
"But, sir," he said, "That's a highly populated area. You aren't thinking of sending those machines right into someone's backyard."
Stryker did not hesitate in pace or response.
"Mutants," he spat, "are in our backyards, soldier! They're in our towns, our schools...even in some cases, our own homes. And, it's time someone took action against those creatures, or else it could be your house burning next time! Why do you think I've been developing these machines, Major? To contain any mutant threat to our way of life! I think a mutant trying to burn down a residential neighborhood is a threat, don't you?"
"Yes, sir," the Major agreed, but his face was lined with doubt.
"Good," Stryker said, "Have them prepare the prototype for departure. Remember, I want them alive, especially Lensherr. But, if they show any threat to our men or any one else, kill them on site."
"Yes, sir," the Major repeated again. He wondered to himself, a question he would never dare ask the fervent General, why a man who hated mutants so much want them taken alive. The Major decided, he would rather not know.
***
To Grey Goalie: Thanks! I like the idea of episodes more than complete movies just because there's so much depth to each character, and I want to explore that. I hope to have books for each character eventually. :-)
To The Fire Dancer: Thanks again! More action coming I promise. Dialogue is fun but every now and then you need some laser eye beams blowing things up. :-)
To amber eyed wolf: Much more of the Cajun to come! :-)
To Arain Rowen: Sorry for all the distractions! If all your references in your essay have to do with Marvel characters you can blame me. :-)
To Anee: ALWAYS a cliffhanger! :-) But I promise to update as quickly as I can!
To Sarah: Are frames on sale this week? Oh, well. BTW, Mom says dinner on Thanksgiving is at 2 p.m. Don't be late. :-P Oh, yeah and *singing badly* You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant… *done singing badly*
To sych77: Yeah, Sebastian is a vampire (non-feeding for reasons explained later, sort of like Angel but not as annoying). I'm gonna make their family history as weird as I can (a contrast to Mary's simple upbringing). As for the 'phenomena,' well…if you're a fan of Buffy TVS you know what strangeness they run into. Now throw some mutants in and stir. Oh, the fun times! :-)