Author's note: Very long, very difficult chapter. Sorry to say, but will not be happy. Review responses at the end! It's very late…forgive sentence fragments and speaking in tongues…
***
Chapter Twenty-Four:
Cody's breath blew away from his lips in a visible, white mist, as the air in the hanger grew colder. He shivered, a reaction stemming from his lingering, childlike fear, as well as the bitter chill.
Paul put a brotherly arm around his shoulders, and glanced around to locate the other four of the Lot project. Eddie and the twins still stood a distance away, hesitant to move as they watched the uncertain soldiers shift positions.
The mutant known as Wolverine was holding their commander by the throat, but after the fiery exchange, many of their number had fled, and the remaining few debated intervening with the powerful mutants.
Andrew, on the other hand, was on his feet again, walking forward without the aid of his cane. His sightless eyes were fixed on Paul and Cody, and he reached them easily, weaving around the X-Men and Brotherhood. Paul spotted Andrew and nodded to reassure him that Cody was unhurt. He was considering everything around him, and quickly trying to decide on the best way for the six of them to escape this place. Paul was the oldest, he was their leader, and he was tired of taking orders from those who hated them. Those who would rather see them dead than free...
Like Stryker, who was still forcing menacing laughter through his throat.
Paul shivered himself then, and his eyes stung with icy tears. He flinched as Rebecca leaned forward, and glared at her.
She reached toward them tentatively, and smiled. Andrew tilted his head down and looked at her and Sid. The strange déjà vu always came just before…well, just before he had to speak to Paul for the last time.
Rebecca carefully heated one outstretched hand, and marveled at how quickly her power had returned. It seemed to be waiting, just behind her skin. Cody's pull on her had been painful, and it had not dampened her power's defensive nature...it actually seemed to make it stronger...
The air around Cody was getting warmer, and he relaxed visibly. Paul continued to glare at her, untrusting, but his 'brother' opened his eyes slowly and stared up at Rebecca and Sid. His eyes were wide with childlike curiosity and he looked first at Charlene McGee's daughter and then her son. A cautious, shy smile spread across his face, as he looked at them both together.
"You are her!" Cody said, pointing at Rebecca, his neglected voice cracking, and then he pointed at Sid, "And so are you! You're both Charlie!"
His words contained such a heartbreaking innocence that it caught the attention of almost everyone else around him. He laughed quietly with delight, until another voice began to laugh also. It was vicious...menacing...and very cold...
Cody shrunk down again against Paul, as the sound echoed through the hanger.
Stryker also reacted to the sound, and began to struggle fruitlessly against Wolverine's hold on him. Xavier rolled his chair in the direction of the sound, which was much closer than it had been when the dark presence had lingered in the shadows above. Mary took slow steps along side the Professor, and stared at the growing dark gathering on the other side of the hanger.
It moved, and the cold moved with it, passing over the mutants, and the soldiers, the last of their ranks leaving this damned place for good. Stryker found himself alone, the only human among mutants and monsters, but he would not have to worry about it for long. The stranger, appearing in human form underneath the Sentinel, would take his mind permanently very soon.
Xavier turned and faced the figure beneath the Sentinel unflinchingly. Magneto, without consideration for circumstance, walked up beside him. They were both leaders here, they both had people to command, people to protect, if not for the same reasons. The stranger knew this very well. There was another wave of rolling laughter and an icy wind blew across the room
"It seems..." the stranger began, "...the governing powers here have shifted, William."
Stryker pulled in vain again on Wolverine's hold, his eyes wide with mindless terror. In many ways, William Stryker had died under the waters of Alkalai Lake, and this writhing man was only of ghost of what had been. But, of course, he was only one of a few ghosts who had lived beyond that day...
Xavier focused his mind on the figure in the shadows, but his power was held back by the dark force.
"In a moment, Charles," the stranger said, "I'm speaking to the General."
Stryker's body suddenly became rigid and Wolverine tried to keep his hold on the man's shoulders. Stryker's head jerked back unexpectedly and slammed into Wolverine's face. The General's skull was no equal to the X-Man's metal bones, and the impact created a gruesome indentation in the back of Stryker's head. But, he did not feel it. Stryker was dead, reanimated only for a short time by the stranger's machinations, and now set to his final use.
Wolverine staggered backward from the blow, though it had not done much damage. The blood on his forehead was more Stryker's than his own. He gaped in shock as the General's body staggered about dozen steps before it fell to the ground.
More laughter turned the attention of those in the room away from fallen man, and no one saw Stryker turn over and sit up slowly. In one hand, he held the gun Logan had knocked out of his grasp when he had stopped him from shooting Rogue.
"Time to kill mutants, William," the stranger's voice rang painfully.
***
Rebecca screamed as the gunfire began.
Paul could only watch in horror as Stryker leveled the gun at Andrew. The blind mutant smiled sadly. He was a seer, after all, and had seen this day coming long ago.
"Andrew!" Paul said urgently. He shifted Cody over to Rebecca roughly, grasping for his other 'brother' as three bullets struck him in the back.
"Goodbye, Paul," he said softly, and closed his eyes a moment before he fell.
"NO!" Paul screamed and then cried out in pain as a bullet struck his leg.
***
Wolverine ran toward Stryker's body but was held in place by an unseen force. Magneto did have his hand raised, but not to control the Wolverine. He was trying to halt the bullets, but he was unable to stop the metal from striking. Cyclops tried to fire a beam of energy from his visor, but the light seemed to only reflect back painfully. Sabertooth also tried to reach the armed corpse, but was held back as firmly as Wolverine.
Xavier tried, just as those of the X-Men and Brotherhood had, to stop the dead General, but every effort was met with bitter laughter from the dark.
Mary turned in the direction of the stranger's voice and screamed.
"Stop it! For God's sake, STOP!" she shouted, and the stranger growled in recognition.
"Don't try to interfere, bitch," the voice spat.
Mary did not turn away, but began to take quick steps toward the darkness beneath the Sentinel.
***
Stryker's gun, moved by the stranger, leveled finally on Cody. He fired only once, but the damage was two-fold.
Cody was struck in the neck and Rebecca had been cradling him closely. The bullet passed through her right shoulder.
She screamed again, but did not let go of the other mutant. Sid wrapped his arms around both of them and began to drag them backward.
Paul was struggling to move, and saw Eddie, Max and Jack staring at him with confusion and terror.
"Go!" he screamed to them, "Go! Run! Get away!"
His 'brothers' did not listen, and continued to move toward him and the gunfire. Paul put his hands to his temples and pushed the three of them hard with his mind. His head roared with pain and his nose began to bleed again, but he watched his remaining brothers run out the hanger doors. He hoped they would find somewhere safe, anywhere that was not here…
Stryker's gun was slowly taking aim again, and Wolverine saw it moving toward where Gambit was holding Rogue. He growled with effort as he fought the stranger's hold.
***
Mary was less than thirty feet from the Sentinel, when she spoke again.
"Stop," was all she said, yet the dark seemed to flinch back. If any of the others had seen her eyes then, they would have seen a glimpse of the untapped, secret force within. But she only faced the stranger in the dark…
***
In the moment the shadows were distracted, Wolverine was able to lurch forward and leapt toward the dead General. His claws were out, and he plunged them into the body violently. The gun fired, but missed its target. The undead body of Stryker incredibly fought to aim again, but ten claws exited its chest from behind. The tips of the other set of adamantium claws ended within inches of Wolverine's face, and began to tear downward. Wolverine jerked his own claws upward, until the body of General William Stryker dropped the weapon it held and finally was still.
Wolverine withdrew his claws, and the other claws did the same. The body fell, and he was face to face again with the Lady called Deathstrike. There was no emotion in either of them as they stepped away from the body, and left the past behind.
***
The darkness grew again, and the voice of the stranger spoke in anger.
"Now, you see what I could do," the stranger said, "What I will do…to them all, Charles…Erik…if you do no give me what I've come for…"
Magneto turned to face the new enemy with fury.
"I will give you nothing, murderer," he said darkly.
"Nor will I," Xavier agreed, and then he saw how close Mary was to the Sentinel.
"I believe you will…" the stranger replied bitterly.
Above him, the Sentinel roared to life. The disk-shaped device began to expand, and they all could only watch as it took humanoid form. Its eyes, once green to see in the dark, were now a dark red. Mary could see that the stranger's eyes shone the same color.
***
No one noticed the heat growing behind them, as they were focused on the ice and cold. Rebecca was wounded, but still cradling Cody as he died. He was trying to speak, trying to cry, but his voice was gone. She cried for him as he looked up at her. She wondered if her mother had ever held him like this, when he was a child.
***
"Now…" the stranger said, "I will tell you what I want and you, each of you," he said referring to the two mutant leaders, "will voluntarily hand over what is yours."
Magneto scoffed, his own arrogance making him much more difficult to sway than Stryker.
"What is it that you think we will give you?" he asked, and the stranger grinned.
Xavier knew what the answer would be and stared gravely forward.
"Why…" the stranger said, motioning to all the other mutants in the hanger, "You will give me them, of course. Your followers. I will tell you I cannot take them, which is why I tried to make use of the departed General. However, William was a terrible disappointment. I'm hoping you will be more understanding…"
The Sentinel took a heavy step forward, and the ground shook.
Mary was trembling when she spoke again, "Children…you want children…"
The stranger glared at her, the amused smile falling from his face.
"Not this time," he hissed, "But, perhaps again soon. I understand Charles has quiet a collection…"
Xavier was staring at Mary as she spoke. Something within her mind, some new power, caught his attention. A light, shining against the darkness, seemed to overtake her consciousness.
The darkness shrunk back again, but the stranger outstretched his hand. Mary choked in surprise as the dark force seized her heart. She was lifted off the ground, and the stranger sneered.
"Should I start with this one, Charles?" he asked viciously, "She seems so eager to join the fun!"
"NO!" Mary screamed, and the light within burst forth.
The others had to shield their eyes as the light pierced through the darkness. The stranger shrieked, the same sound as before, in rage and pain.
Mary was dropped to the floor, but kept her eyes fixed on the stranger.
"No…" she struggled to speak, "No, not ever…"
As the light shone, the stranger felt the same voice that had driven him off before, and he knew he was no match for his light.
Nightcrawler was holding his crucifix tightly as the battle raged.
Light and darkness…good and evil…his rosary felt as if it was humming in his hands.
With one final shriek, the darkness dissipated, taking the stranger with it.
Xavier felt cold words pass through his mind one last time.
Not over…not over, Charles…I will have what I want…
***
Mary was gasping on the floor, but she did not lose consciousness again. The power was fading, and waves of emotions overwhelmed her. She began to sob uncontrollably, and covered her face with her hands.
***
Xavier reached her first, and put a hand on her shoulder. She wanted to pull away, but had no will to move as her body shuttered with tears.
***
Magneto frowned as he watched Xavier comfort the weeping young woman, whom he did not recognize. His eyes moved and fell upon Sid and Rebecca Malloy. He walked toward them quickly.
Rebecca was still holding Cody in her arms, rocking slowly back and forth. She felt Sid to her right, trying to hold her still as he examined the bullet wound on her shoulder.
To her left, Toad was crouching next to her with Pyro standing behind him. The sorrow on her face was less disturbing than the blank look in her eyes. Toad was not sure how to help, how to comfort. He drew a white cloth from one of the many pockets in his jacket and held it against the wound in her back. The bullet had cut through her shoulder completely, and the red stains on her shirt were spreading.
Finally, Erik reached them and knelt down in front of Rebecca. Sid put a protective arm around her shoulders, no longer trusting Magneto after Xavier revealed the truth about the Sentinel attack.
However, his face looked distant, as if he understood the trauma this young woman was experiencing.
"Rebecca," he said firmly, but not unkindly, "He's dead. He's dead, child…you have to let him go…"
After a moment, Rebecca seemed to hear him, and glanced up at Erik Lensherr.
Carefully, Magneto pulled Cody from her arms, and laid his body down on the ground. Paul, moving with slow painful steps, fell in a heap next to him and began to weep again. Two of his brothers were dead, and three had run out into the storm. He felt so cold…he should have felt so cold…but he was sweating…
"Rest in peace, brother," Magneto said over the dead mutant, and Paul looked up at him. There was something in the way the man in crimson had said 'brother' that caught Paul's attention…
Rebecca was staring down at Cody's body, when she felt Sid's hands on her face.
"She needs a doctor," Toad said quickly, stating the obvious but only because he did not know what else to say. Rebecca's face was so pale, so empty of life, and her brother was only staring at her…
"Becca," Sid said softly, his palms held firmly against her burning cheeks, "Becca…you were hurt…say something…"
"Did you hear me?" Toad shouted at him, "She needs a bloody doctor!"
Sid ignored him, as Rebecca's head lulled downward. Sid glanced at Toad quickly, and the fright in the young man's eyes surprised the English mutant.
"Don't you understand?" Sid said, "She's been attacked! Her body feels it…but her mind feels it more…you don't understand what happens when she's attacked!"
Toad's eyes widened, finally comprehending what Sid was referring to. Back at her home, just being chased and knocked around had caused the fire to come…now she had been shot…
Rebecca suddenly raised her head, and met Sid's eyes with her own…which were blazing with orange light…
"Sid…" she said in a calm voice, "Get them out…"
***
Review Responses: God, that chpt was depressing…on to more fun topics!
To The Fire Dancer: Thanks for saying it again! :-)
To DemonRogue13: Lots of Rogue-age in the past few chapters for the Rogue fans! And was that a little Romy-ness I heard? Glad you're enjoying the story!
To Deb1: Thanks…the intrigue comes from lots of caffeine combined with little sleep. :-)
To Sheera: Cliffhangers are my curse…they won't stop. BTW, the crossover sources are listed at the end of each book, so check out the last chpt of books 1 and 2!
To Xany: Yeah, the writer's blockage of the holidays is definitely gone. Hope to update as often as I can. I sacrifice sleep for my art! lol….ZZZZZZZZZZZ
To Jojo: Glad you're liking the story! Sorry for all the swearing. *Leen looking innocent* A character's dialogue unfortunately has a tendency to reflect my own excessive dropping of the "F"-bomb. LOL My sis can attest to that if she ever decides to inspire us with her wisdom again. The story is pretty intense right now, so I'm allowing Logan and crew a few slips of profanity. But, don't worry, if the situation gets out of hand…I have the soap ready… Thank you for the review! :-)