Chapter 4:
Stryker stood in the central operations room of the base, leaning forward slightly with his hands on the ledge of a large, blinking control station. There was a smug half-smile on his face, and the soldiers around him were busily preparing for the approaching mutant threat.
"Is everyone in position?" he asked the commander to his right, who nodded.
"Yes, sir," he replied, "And the squadrons approaching from Chicago have also called in to let us know they will be within a mile of the compound in one hour."
"Good," Stryker said, "Have our guests arrived yet?"
"Recon reports the first helicopter has landed in close proximity to the base," the soldier said, "It did not make any attempt to stay below our radars. The second craft has been more difficult to track but had been maintaining a steady path behind the helicopter before it descended."
"Has everyone been equipped with a neural inhibitor?" Stryker asked, and was again met with an affirmative from the commander at his side.
In the months since Alkalai Lake, Stryker had been preparing for another encounter with Erik Lensherr...but also with Charles Xavier. His base was secure against Magneto's power, and now his soldiers were equipped against Xavier's as well.
His scientists had studied the information gathered from the now defunct company of Systems Operations, and had used their information on mental domination in mutants to develop a defense against it. Each of the soldiers now wore a neural inhibitor crowning their heads.
The inhibitors resembled thin wire spectacles attached to strange silver cap; two clear lenses covered their eyes and a series of thin metal cords covered their heads. The electro-magnetic interference caused when it was activated made the wearer immune to outside psychic influence...at least, all their tests had proven as much.
Stryker had once used such a device to keep Xavier trapped inside his own mind. Now, he used them to keep the Professor out of the minds of his soldiers.
"Tell them to wait..." Stryker mused, "About five minutes...and then activate their inhibitors. Let's give the all-seeing Professor a little peek before we blind him."
***
With a loud protesting shriek from the hinges, Sabertooth forced open the doorway with mild effort. Magneto waited behind him, along with Pyro and Mystique. They stood at the end of a short tunnel on the side of the mountain, and had so far met no resistance in approaching the base.
Magneto regarded the crumbling door with disguised concern. Like the Sentinel, the substance it was made from was not metal of any kind, yet seemed to possess the same strength in structure. So, whoever created this compound knew enough not to make it of metal. But Magneto knew, just as with the hapless guards of his old plastic prison, people never knew how easily the tiniest amount of metal around them could become deadly.
The four members of the Brotherhood entered the compound with discretion, ready to face down any guards they may meet. They walked for several minutes before their path lead them to the large empty hanger where the Sentinel stood dormant.
Magneto walked toward the device and ran one gloved hand along its belly. It had obviously been attacked, by multiple means, but seemed quite intact. His hands found five claw marks and he wondered what had become of the Lady Deathstrike.
"Magneto," Sabertooth called then, making no effort to lower his booming voice, "Over here..."
The large mutant stood by the open hanger door and pointed out another set of claw marks, deeply set in one controlled swipe. Magneto smiled broadly.
"The Lady is inside," he said and turned to Sabertooth, "Take Pyro and head inward. Kill all those you find, save any mutants taken by the Sentinel. Bring them back to me alive. Mystique and I will head up to the second level and rendezvous back here in one hour, unless I specify otherwise."
"What about the X-Men?" Sabertooth growled but grinned as if he already knew the answer. Mystique's eyes grew wide, but gave no other indication of concern at the large mutant's words. Magneto glanced at her briefly, smiling confidently, and then looked back at Sabertooth.
"Avoid them if you can," he said, "They are more a nuisance to us than a threat. However...if you should come upon the Wolverine...well, I'm sure you would like to have a few words with him..."
Mystique's tense muscles relaxed slightly at Magneto's order. Sabertooth nodded and smirked over his large teeth.
"A few words..." he growled, "Maybe less..."
He began to storm across the hanger, and Pyro hesitated a moment before following, deciding he would rather deal with Sabertooth than Magneto's fury. Pyro took out his lighter and held it firmly in his palm, new anticipation to use his fire also motivating him to follow the large mutant.
"Burn me..." Sabertooth rumbled to him, "And you're dead."
Pyro did not pause, but glanced at the charred part of Sabertooth's arm with bitter amusement. That firestarting chick might have just done him a favor, giving Sabertooth a little taste of the flame. It might make the large mutant rethink shoving Pyro around again.
***
Wolverine flexed one fist experimentally, but did not unsheathe his claws. He was looking straight ahead, frowning in thought as they followed Magneto and his Brotherhood. Mostly, however, he was thinking about the Lady Deathstrike, and her last words to him on the ground.
Think of me...think of me as you die...Brother, her voice rang in fury through his mind, and as he flexed his hand, he could feel the unnatural blades grinding against his bones. It was painful, but only for a moment. The memories of past hate, and what it had driven him to, was worse.
Two years ago, it would not have mattered. Two years ago, he was alone, he did not have anyone to look after, anyone looking up to him, anyone who cared whether he lived or died. Now, he had felt responsibility, he had felt friendship, he had felt love, and he had felt loss. Yet, out of all of those emotions, he was discovering that guilt was the most difficult to face.
"Magneto has landed, Professor," Cyclops said from the pilot's seat and Wolverine drew himself back into reality.
"Circle once, Scott," Xavier said, "I'll try to reach a mind within the base that may know the best place to land..."
The Professor closed his eyes and focused on the lives in the compound below. He felt the minds of dozens, not quiet one hundred men and women with their thoughts busily filled with their respective duties. He did not sense the prisoners within, but found himself drawn to a familiar mind. Xavier frowned, this mind was one he recognized, but from where...he concentrated, and almost had a name...
Suddenly, Xavier inhaled with surprise and opened his eyes. The minds of those in the compound below were cut off, disappeared. He focused again, but could sense nothing. He rubbed one temple with his fingertips and frowned.
"Professor?" Wolverine asked, and Xavier met his face gravely.
"There are many within, but...I could not get an accurate count," the Professor admitted, "Bring the jet around to the front hanger, where the Sentinel touched down."
Wolverine smirked, "Right through the front door, huh? Isn't that a little rude?"
Xavier sighed but spoke cynically, "If those within were concerned with manners, they would have apologized after destroying the Malloy residence. Besides, they know we're here. I've lost all sense of their minds, and unless they have all suddenly died, they have a way to block my power."
Xavier did not add about the familiar mind he sensed. The hate he felt there had been all too recognizable, though impossible that it was the same person. Stryker was dead, but he was not the only man of power in the world who hated mutants. Who was continuing his work?
Cyclops landed the jet conspicuously in front of the open hanger door, and then stood and walked to the back. Wolverine moved next, followed by Nightcrawler.
"Keep radio contact," the Professor said, as he directed his chair after the three X-Men, "I will continue to scan the area from here and keep you notified of any changes I am aware of."
Sid stood from the passenger seat and began to exit the jet as well. Xavier held up a halting hand and met the young man's angry gaze.
"I'm going with them," Sid said and Xavier shook his head.
"I don't think that would be wise, Mr. Malloy," he said firmly, "Scott, Logan and Kurt have been trained for this. They will recover your sister and..."
"What makes you think my sister needs rescued?" Sid asked angrily, and then took a few more steps forward, "We have more experience with this type of thing than you know..."
"I understand," Xavier said, "But for now, I must insist you remain here. You can sense her mind, yes? Use that to let us know where they are, and maybe she will use that to find the way out."
Sid continued to glare angrily but did not attempt to follow the X-Men again.
"This entire place is made of glass and stone!" he exploded suddenly, "Can't anybody else feel that? I would be more help inside than out here!"
Xavier remained completely calm, his gaze unwavering.
"And if the hanger doors close..." the Professor explained, "Or if that Sentinel is reactivated, wouldn't it be better if you were here to help those inside get out?"
Sid stood in anger for another moment and glanced between the X-Men and their leader.
He finally sighed resigningly, "Fine. If that's what you think is best...fine. But...if I feel, at any time, that I'm needed within, I'll be gone before you can stop me..."
From the bottom of the jet's ramp, Sid heard Wolverine chuckle with amusement.
"I...wouldn't try that, bub," he said, "Charles can come up with some pretty convincing ways to stop you. What do you think, Professor? Six year old girl...he's got a sister...she could braid his hair..."
Sid turned and looked at Logan with angry confusion that quickly faded into a strange amusement. Wolverine smirked and walked off toward the open hanger door with Cyclops and Nightcrawler. Sid turned and looked at the Professor warily, but with a grin.
"You can do that?" he asked, and Xavier shrugged noncommittally.
"It was part of Logan's 'quit smoking' program," the Professor replied.
Sid nodded, but his smile faded, "I meant it, though. I will leave if I'm called."
Xavier nodded, "I don't think my influence could stop you. However, if we..."
The Professor then frowned and tilted his head. He may not be able to sense the minds inside the compound, but he most certainly could sense the two other minds quickly approaching.
"We're going to have company soon," Xavier said, looking pleased and annoyed at the same time, as the small jet carrying Rogue and Mary drew closer to the compound.