Chapter Eleven

The group gathered around us in the meeting room greeted the news with the same horror we ourselves had felt.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Shock, clearly hoping we weren't.

"I'm afraid so," said Annie.

She looked to our father for guidance. Oculus' gold eyes looked back into those of his only daughter as he said, "This confirms what little I was able to read from their minds while using Cerebro. There's something strange about the Horsemen. Two of their minds I couldn't access at all. But anyway – this makes matters worse. Much worse. Now we don't even have the luxury of being able to attack them and dismantle their missile while they are issuing their demands. We can only assume they will launch it the second it is completed. This tips our hand. We can't wait for them to make the next move. I'm not entirely sure where they're building this weapon, but I was able to narrow it down. We have to go out and destroy it before they can find another nuclear device."

"We also have the vaccine to worry about," said Gaia. "It's hard to decide which is our greater priority."

"The obvious solution is to split into two groups and do both at the same time. The only problem is, we don't know where to go to do either of them."

Our mother sighed, "You're right, we have to do both. There's no point saving the world from one holocaust only to leave it at the mercy of another."

"So what are we going to do?" I asked impatiently.

"Nightcrawler is tracking Recyclo, and from your mind I can see that Mystique is too," said my father. "I don't think we can do anything more on that front until they've located him."

"Can't you use Cerebro?" said Annie. "I know your telepathy probably isn't as strong as mine, but you've used the machine often enough to know how to handle it."

"I don't think it would help. Recyclo's mind is warped and twisted and isn't easy to track down. You've probably experienced it yourself."

"Yes."

"Given that, I think our only option is to concentrate on the Horsemen. Chris?"

Shapeshifter nodded, "I can set up a computer program that will monitor Internet traffic in the area you think the Horsemen are based. If they make a move it will be seen by somebody, and I'll know about it. Then we can move against them."

"All right," said Oculus. "With so many of our friends still not recovered from Death's radiation poisoning, we're down to something like half our normal strength. I know none of you is going to shirk away from the responsibility we have here, but I can't deny that we find ourselves at a distinct disadvantage. And it doesn't help that most of you are not even adults."

He looked from me, to Annie, to Cassandra, to Helios, to Aqua.

"Whatever you want us to do, we're ready," said Helios confidently.

Cassandra nodded her agreement, squeezing my hand to boost either her own confidence or my own, I didn't know which.

"Dad," I said to him. "I know you can see into my mind. Is there anything you can tell me about the Horsemen that I don't already know? They seemed impossibly strong when I fought them earlier today. I'm just wondering if they have some extra power that makes them resistant to physical harm, or something."

"I noticed the same thing when we fought them at the mansion that time," Annie added. "Two of them seem to have a normal reaction to pain and damage – Pestilence and War. But the other two are different."

"Yes," said our father. "There's a lot that's different about Famine and Death."

"What do you mean? Do you know something we don't?"

"Possibly. Chris and I managed to hack into Van Gaarde's research files on his employers' computer system. I think what we found told us all we needed to know. It just required a bit of working out, and what you've told us completes the puzzle quite nicely."

"Tell us," I said.

"OK. This much you know, or at least suspect: Van Gaarde was recruited by the government to breed a set of genetically enhanced super-mutants, to use as a safeguard against any possible attacks from the rest of the mutant population. Now obviously the government weren't stupid enough to fund the creation of a super-powerful being that might one day turn against them, so they put in certain safeguards. One was a form of 'auto-destruct' mechanism that was implanted into the Horsemen's vital organs, to ensure that they could be safely killed at the flick of a switch."

"So that's how we kill them?" asked Shock.

"Unfortunately, no. Van Gaarde knew he was only being released from prison to work on this project. He knew he'd be returning there to finish his multiple life sentences once the Horsemen were ready. He decided to try and deceive the government, and he secretly operated on the Horsemen to remove their auto-destruct mechanisms."

"And he succeeded?"

"He successfully removed the devices from Pestilence and War. They continued to lead a normal life – or as normal a life as could be expected in their position."

"What about the other two?" one of the girls asked.

"Their kill-switches were buried too deep inside their major organs. Van Gaarde was a competent surgeon, but not good enough for the kind of infinitesimally careful work that needed done. He came up with another solution."

"What?"

"I don't know the exact details of the procedure, and I don't think we ever will. Only one or possibly two men have ever known more than Van Gaarde about mutant genetics. And they're both dead. From what I can tell, something about mutants makes us more resistant to radiation that ordinary humans. It's something to do with the mutant gene that is passed on by the male parent. Maybe it's evolution's way of trying to protect us. Anyway, Van Gaarde knew about this, and he decided to use it to his advantage. In the same way that a mild form of radiation can be used to kill tumours in cancer patients, he used a harsher form of radiation to try and destroy the implant devices."

"Did it work?"

"It did. It also changed the two remaining Horsemen – Famine and Death – into something they had never been before. Certainly not something the government had intended them to be, and I can only guess how much of it Van Gaarde predicted. In a way he created a new life form. They're no longer alive in the way we would understand it – they don't eat, they don't need sleep, they don't breathe – but they're not dead either. They're somewhere in between. That's why you couldn't hurt them, Gary. They don't feel pain and their bodies don't take damage in the way ours do."

"Are you sure about this?" asked Cassandra doubtfully. "It sounds crazy to me. How can they not be alive and not be dead?"

"I said I don't fully understand it. There's a lot about the mutant body we don't fully understand. We're different from humans in more ways than you might think. Take yourself for example; you're more than just a human who can see into the future. You're a different species. I don't know if we're an improvement on humanity or simply an alternative, but we are different. While humans and mutants can have children together, it isn't a good idea. But anyway, I digress. Van Gaarde's experimentation has now caused mutant life to take a further offshoot from our original human DNA. Famine and Death are life as we have never seen it before."

"So how do we kill them?" I asked impatiently.

"I don't know. As I said, they aren't alive in the same way we are. They can withstand any amount of physical harm without so much as a scratch. Yet it may be that there is something else, something which does not harm us, that may turn out to be their undoing."

"So the radiation treatment – that's what gave Death his radioactive power?" asked Annie.

"I assume it must be. That's another thing I discovered. Radiation gave them their new life, and now they crave it, almost like a drug. Like I said, they don't need food, sleep or oxygen – it is radiation that sustains them. And like a drug, it gives them an intense high – a sort of euphoria rush. It would be like – well, you're all too young to know what sex feels like."

Cassandra and I glanced at each other for a second, then I returned my attention to the matter in hand. Annie was speaking.

"I think I understand now," she said. "That's why they want to launch this missile. They want to annihilate all life on Earth with lethal levels of nuclear radiation from the explosion. It will take centuries for the radiation levels to subside, and in the meantime Famine and Death can live in a world of perpetual radioactive heaven."

"Kind of a nuclear paradise," I said.

"Yes. It's their Apocalypse. Destroying the world and life as it is, to usher in a new age – their own."

"What about War and Pestilence? Would they survive?"

Oculus shook his head, "No. They'd die along with everybody else."

"Don't they realise what they're doing? What they're going to do to themselves?"

"I don't know. I don't think they really matter. It's the other two we have to worry about."

Shapeshifter nodded, "Agreed. We have to move fast. I'll start on that computer program right now."

"Wait a minute," said Cassandra. "You said you found all this by hacking into Van Gaarde's computer files, right? Well, we did the exact same thing and found nothing."

I looked at her, "It wasn't us – it was Recyclo. He only told us he'd never found anything."

Gaia's eyes widened a little, "If Recyclo found the same information we found – if he knows everything about this we do – "

"Would he join us to help fight them?" asked Helios, a note of hope in his voice.

Nobody replied. Nobody knew. I suspected Recyclo hadn't played his last part in this business, but I couldn't predict what he might do, and on which side his strike might fall.

"What do you want me to do in the meantime?" I asked my father.

"There's nothing we can do until the Horsemen make a move," he said. "I suggest you get some sleep. You too, Cassandra. You've been awake for more than 24 hours."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Where can I sleep?"

"I'll show you," said Annie.

Cassandra and I followed her to the upper floors, where she led us into one of the empty bedrooms. I turned to my sister, "Annie – what Dad just said…is it true? It sounds too fantastical to be possible. It sounds like something out of a science fiction novel…"

"It does, but people probably said the same thing about mutants once. I could read Dad's mind and I know he wasn't lying. He believed what he was saying. Whether or not it was accurate, I don't know."

"Assuming it's true – what do we do?" said Cassandra. "I mean, how do you fight people who can't be killed?"

"I don't know that either. We'll find a way. We have to. Anything else is inconceivable."

"I know, but – " my girlfriend hesitated. " – what if we can't? What if there isn't anything that can stop them? I know you guys believe in God – I'm not sure if I do or not – but doesn't the Bible say something about the Apocalypse bringing the end of the world? Maybe that's what this is."

Annie shook her head, "No. This isn't God's work. We will find a way to stop them."

"Or die trying," I added.

"You two just get some sleep. We'll wake you the second anything happens."

She left, and Cassandra and I were alone. Up until the moment Dad had mentioned sleep, I hadn't realised quite how tired I was. My adrenaline and the last vestiges of my berserk power were keeping me going, but now I could feel fatigue tugging at my eyes and my muscles, urging me to rest. I didn't resist too much. Dropping on to one of the beds I fell asleep almost as my head hit the pillow.

How long I slept I didn't know, but I was jolted awake by a hand tugging my shoulder and a voice speaking urgently into my ear, "Hey! Wake up!"

My eyes snapped open and I looked up into Annie's face. I could tell instantly from her expression that something was wrong.

"What is it?"

"We're in trouble. Get downstairs now."

With that she had left the room and I heard her hurrying away down the corridor. The room was empty; Cassandra must have already woken up and left. The urgency of Annie's voice had jolted me into action, and I quickly stood, running after her. I caught up with her just as she reached the stairs, and I asked, "So what's going on?"

"We received a transmission a few minutes ago. The Horsemen are launching a missile at the mansion."

"They're what? You mean they've got hold of a nuclear device?"

"No. It isn't a nuke. It's an ordinary explosive warhead. Well, I say ordinary but it's powerful enough to level this facility and everything else for some considerable radius. We assume they're testing their launching platform, and trying to get us out of the way at the same time."

We had reached the bottom of the stairs now, and Annie passed me a piece of paper, "They're launching a second missile too, aimed at those co-ordinates. Do you recognise them?"

I looked at the scrap of paper on which Annie had scribbled down the numbers. For a moment nothing registered, then a vague memory surfaced and I gasped in horror, "It's our island! It's the co-ordinates of our island!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! They're trying to take out the X-Men and the Brotherhood in one fell swoop! How did we come to know about this?"

"As I said, we got a transmission. It was anonymous. I have a suspicion who sent it, but – "

We had now reached the ground floor where the others were gathered.

"What's the plan?" I asked.

Oculus must have read Annie's mind, as he said, "Gary, use the communicator and contact the island. Tell them to get clear. We'll make preparations to evacuate the children from the mansion, and try to think of some way we can deflect the missile."

"Got it," I said, and Annie and I hurried to the communications room.

Cassandra and Marina had joined us by the time we got there, and I entered the island's frequency from memory. It wasn't long before a voice answered, sounding sleepy, "…hello?"

"Vertigo?" I asked.

"Gladiator? That you? What's – "

"I don't have time to explain! Get the helicopter ready! Get everybody off the island!"

He was awake now, "What? I can't do that!"

"Don't argue with me; this isn't a joke! Do it!"

"No, you don't understand! We can't use the helicopter! I've been looking it over, and I think Recyclo must have sabotaged it before he left! It'll take off but I won't be able to keep it in the air!"

"Damn it! All right, we're coming to you. Get everybody ready."

"OK. What's this – "

I didn't answer, switching off the communicator. I turned to Annie, "We have to get out there."

She nodded without question, and ran to get one of the jets ready. I was on my way to tell the others what was going on, when I heard my father's telepathic voice in my mind, I know what you're doing, Gary. Don't waste time talking to us.

I hurried to the hangar where Annie was already at the controls of one of the aircraft, ready to go. Cassandra and Marina were still behind me as I hurried up the ramp into the interior. I was too preoccupied and too tense to tell them to stay here, out of danger. Annie took off and we were heading out towards the island.

"I can't believe you're doing this," I said to my sister. "I thought you hated my friends. I thought you people hated the Brotherhood."

"No. They're only children. Pyro is the one who's controlling them. He's the only one I have an issue with. Let me see those co-ordinates again."

I gave her the piece of paper, and I went to sit in the back with the two fourteen year old girls. Cassandra and Aqua were sitting opposite each other, neither wanting to catch the other's eye, an uneasy silence hanging in the air between them. As I approached, I realised I had to make a choice. With the two of them sitting on either side of the passenger compartment, I could only sit beside one or the other. There was no middle ground. Both of them looked at me, waiting for me to choose. I didn't want to make the choice. My knees brushed against a seat – one of the seats at the rear of the cockpit – and I hastily sank down into it. Breathing a slight sigh of relief, I knew I was only putting off the inevitable. Sometime soon I would have to choose.

It was only a few minutes later when Annie spoke from the front, "We're getting near. Be ready to lower the ramp and help them on board."

Cassandra stood to hit the ramp control, then Annie's voice came again, this time urgent and strained, "I've got something on radar! Moving fast…same course as us…it must be the missile!"

"Is it behind or us in front?" I asked.

She was too busy with the controls to respond. I gripped the edge of my seat tightly as we began to accelerate rapidly, the ocean passing below in a blue blur. Eventually I could see the island in the front view-port. I could also see that we were too late. The missile was already ahead of us, arcing down towards its target. There was no way we could get there before it obliterated the island.

"No!" Cassandra screamed. "Gemini! Acceleratus!"

I was on my feet, my mouth opening in horror as the missile began to drop almost vertically towards the island.

"Annie, do something!"

"I can't, it's too fast! There's nothing I can – look!"

Cassandra and I pressed forward to peer through the front view-port, following Annie's pointing finger.

"The helicopter! But Vertigo said – "

"Hold on!" Annie warned us.

The jet turned and dipped suddenly, throwing Cassandra into me. We clutched each other instinctively, watching the helicopter's seemingly unbearably slow rise from the pad. The missile dipped, and homed in on the sanctuary building, striking with cold, deadly accuracy. The explosion ripped through the calmness of the day with a thunderous roar, a huge orange fireball filling the front view-port. The shockwave rocked the jet, and Annie struggled to keep it under control.

"Are they all right?" Cassandra screamed. "Where's the helicopter? Are they all right?"

Then, from the cloud of smoke that surrounded where the island had once been, we saw the plummeting shape of the ruined helicopter as it plunged towards the ocean.

"No-o-o-o!!!" Cassandra shrieked.

Then Annie turned in her seat, "Marina…!"

I looked back, just in time to see Marina disappearing off the edge of the partially lowered ramp, into the ocean below. She hit the water in a perfect dive, and before I knew what I was doing I had run to the back of the jet and dived after her. I hit the ocean's surface with considerably less grace, but I got myself under control and looked for Marina. Ducking under the surface, I could see her streaking through the water towards the sinking wreck of the chopper, cutting through the water like a fish. I swam after her as fast as I could. It didn't occur to me how bad an idea this was. I was going after Marina because of my determination to protect her. I had forgotten that below the water I was the lost and confused one, the one in need of her protection. Nevertheless I continued to dive down towards the helicopter.

Marina had already reached it by the time I was halfway down, and she began struggling with the cockpit door. With her mastery of the water to help her, it took only a few seconds before she managed to force it open, and reached inside. By this time I was down by her side, and beginning to realise just how stupid this really was. Not only was I not a very good swimmer, I couldn't hold my breath for any more than a minute. I wasn't going to be a whole lot of use down here.

Aqua had pulled free the first of the figures trapped inside the helicopter. It was little Acceleratus, and she wasn't moving. Marina reached inside the helicopter to pull out another figure – Gemini – then put an arm around each of them and prepared to swim to the surface. Then she spotted me. There was no time for her to ask what I was doing down here; she simply did the first thing that came into her mind, planting her lips firmly on mine and breathing oxygen through her aqualungs into my mouth. Then she was gone, flitting upwards like a dolphin. I reached into the chopper to grab the first person I came to – Mole – then pulled Scarab free as well. Mere seconds had passed, but Marina was already back at my side. She gave me another mouthful of air, then disappeared upwards with the two small figures. That left just Vertigo and Atlas inside the helicopter. They were up front by the controls, and I had to stretch dangerously far inside to pull them free. My lungs were almost empty when I got them out, but there was Marina to replenish my air and this time I swam up to the surface with her.

My head broke the surface and I gratefully gasped at the sea air. It took me a moment to get myself back under control, then I took stock of the situation. The jet was hovering overhead, steadily lowering towards the surface of the water. Annie was presumably still at the controls. Bobbing in the water not far away from me was a bright yellow inflatable life raft – it must have been stowed inside the jet – with Cassandra kneeling inside. Marina was helping her lift the still, unmoving figures of my friends into the raft. I swam over. Were they alive? Had we rescued them from the sunken chopper only to find out it had been for nothing?

They're alive, came Annie's mind, all of them. Cassandra, hold on. I'm going to lift the raft on board.

The jet was mere feet above sea level now, and Annie's telekinetic powers lifted it the short distance into the aircraft's interior. Watching it go, I felt Marina's arm slipping around me. For a moment I thought she was making a romantic gesture, but more likely she had realised how bad a swimmer I was, and was simply trying to keep me afloat. She lifted her other hand – for a moment I wasn't sure what she was trying to do – then a tall plume of water, summoned by her power, propelled the two of us upwards and on to the landing ramp. Cassandra hit the switch to raise it back into position, and I collapsed on to the floor, exhausted, in Marina's arms.

"They'll be OK," she panted.

"Thanks to you," I told her.

She gave a small, nervous smile, and looked away. Suddenly her confidence was gone. Below the water she had been a different person – lightning fast, all-powerful, in command of everything – but now that we were back above the surface, she was her usual shy, traumatised self. Like a fish out of water, was the expression that sprang instantly to mind. As I thought about it, I realised just how well that summed up Marina. A fish out of water. Someone being forced to live in an environment they weren't suited to. Marina had lost her family, lost everything that had ever mattered to her above the water – now the only place she could find solace and happiness was beneath the waves, where she truly belonged.

I found myself hurrying to the cockpit to find Annie, "Can you tell what's happening back at the mansion?"

"No. It's too far away. When we get closer I'll try and use my telepathy to contact Dad. In the meantime there are some blankets in the emergency locker. You'd better give them to your friends."

Cassandra was already pulling the grey blankets from one of the storage compartments, and distributing them amongst the almost-drowned Brotherhood members. Some of them had regained consciousness, but only to the extent that they could wrap the blanket around themselves – they had no idea where they were or what was going on. It would take a few minutes at least for the shock to wear off. I took one of the blankets and wrapped it around the cold, shivering form of Gemini. Unaware of who I was, she instinctively put her arms around me, murmuring, "Pyro…" and resting against me. Inhaling, I breathed a very gentle flame towards her water-logged figure, hoping it would warm her up without harming her. Looking up, I saw Cassandra swathing the tiny Acceleratus in a blanket and cuddling the child against her chest. I knew she loved the maternal feelings she got whenever the little girl was near, and she wanted more than anything to have her own – our own – children. And yet, I was no longer as sure as I had once been, now that my aquatic angel was also claiming her own part of my heart.

Gemini was looking up into my eyes. She blinked once, then frowned slightly, "Gladiator – is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"Oh – I thought you were an angel. I – I thought I was dead."

"Not this time. You're going to be OK."

She looked around the interior of the jet, "Where are we? Where are we going? Who was attacking the island?"

"The Horsemen," I said.

Gemini looked at Annie suspiciously, "What's she doing here? Did Pyro agree to the alliance?"

"Yes. We can explain it to you fully once we get back to their mansion."

She didn't respond right away. Gemini was staring at Marina, and she whispered into my ear, "Is that her?"

"That's Marina."

Then a thought occurred to me. Gemini had let go of me and I stood to join my sister up front in the cockpit.

"What's the matter?" said Annie as she sensed me approaching.

"Something doesn't add up," I told her. "It's obvious the Horsemen deliberately targeted the island with that missile. What I don't understand is how they knew its location."

"You mean – "

"Nobody knows the co-ordinates of the island except Pyro – and I guess the rest of the Brotherhood. I don't understand how the Horsemen knew we were based there. Obviously they know where the mansion is because they've been there – but how could they have found out about the island?"

"I suppose somebody must have told them," said Annie.

"But who knew? Nobody except – oh – of course."

"Recyclo knew."

"You think he told them? You think he's met them since he fled?"

She considered it, "I don't know. It's possible. For a while I suspected that our warning message about the missiles might have come from Recyclo – but Mystique is following him, and if he'd found out about it, she would have too."

"And she would have told us. So the warning must have come from her?"

"Yes."

"If Recyclo has allied himself with the Horsemen – what does this mean for us?" I asked.

"I suppose in a way it makes our job easier. If our two targets have merged – and that's still only an assumption – then we can take both of them out together. We can destroy their nuclear weapon while retrieving the antidote from Recyclo."

"Assuming he hasn't already destroyed it."

"I think Mystique would have told us if that had happened."

"Yes, you're probably right."

Annie's brow furrowed suddenly in concentration, "We're getting close to home. I can sense Dad's mind."

"Are they OK? Did they evacuate in time?"

"From his thoughts, I don't think the first missile has arrived yet. If I increase speed we might get there before it. Tell the others to get strapped in. Tell Vertigo to come up here. I might need his help."

"Right."

I hurried into the back where my friends, with the exception of little Acceleratus, were awake and fully conscious. The tiny mutant was still sleeping in Cassandra's arms. Marina, nervous in the presence of the Brotherhood, had moved over to stand beside me.

"Everyone take a seat and strap yourselves in," I told them. "In a moment we're going to start going a lot faster. Vertigo, Crusader wants you up front."

He looked doubtful, but nevertheless moved past me to join my sister in the cockpit. The rest moved towards the seats and began pulling their restraints into place. I took one of the rear cockpit seats, and Marina silently sank into the one beside me. I had no sooner put my strappings together when the jet leapt ahead with a sudden burst of speed, and the ground below us began to pass by so fast it looked like one whirled mess of colour.

And then we were there. Ahead I could see the mansion, and in the sky beyond a steadily growing black speck that had to be the second missile. It was dipping, dropping down into a lethal arc that would ensure certain death for everybody inside the school when it hit.

"Have they evacuated?" I asked.

"Not all of them," Annie responded.

"There must be something we can do!"

"Look down."

I looked. On the grass below us a single figure stood, facing the oncoming missile, both of his hands outstretched. It was Oculus, our father. I looked up at the incoming rocket once more. It seemed to be moving a little slower than before – or was that my imagination? – but was still falling relentlessly, unstoppably down towards its target.

"What is – what is he doing?" Marina asked

"He's using his power to try and stop the missile," said Annie. "But he can't do it alone. Vertigo, take over!"

Without question he took over the aircraft's controls, while Annie rose from her seat and hurried into the rear section.

"Where are you going?" I asked her.

She didn't have time to respond, hitting the control that released the landing ramp. As Vertigo brought us down to skim the grasses below, Annie jumped out. Using her mind powers to control her fall, she landed gracefully in the gardens a few feet away from Dad. From the front door of the mansion a group was hurrying towards us.

"Touch down!" I said to Vertigo. "If they can't stop the missile we'll have to evacuate the rest in the jet!"

He did so, and the hurrying figures climbed up into the aircraft. Among them were Helios and Gaia.

"Where are Pyro and the others?" I asked.

"Chris and Fliss got them out on the other jet," said my mother. "Gary – Gary, wait!"

I didn't know what had possessed me to do it, but I was running down the ramp and outside, over to where my father and sister now stood. Their combined telekinetic power now fought against the incoming missile, as the needle-thin black shape continued to arc down towards us. There had to be something I could do. There had to be some action I could take, that would contribute to their efforts and stop the rocket. There wasn't. All I could do was stand and watch, watch as the missile dropped vertically towards us. Annie gave a gasp of exertion as she stretched her power even further. Dad's muscles tightened and he gave a cry of rage as he entered his own berserk state. The two of them were pushing now, pushing with everything they had.

And it was working. The rocket had already slowed, and its momentum began to drop lower and lower. As it dropped directly on top of us, I shut my eyes and raised my arms in an instinctive yet useless defence. A second passed. Then another, and another. Slowly, tentatively, I opened my eyes. Annie and Dad were both swaying with the taxation of their power, but both were holding firm. Above them, less than a foot above Dad's outstretched hand, the missile had stopped dead in mid-air. I sagged with relief.

It seemed that, for the time being, all was now well. The rocket had been carefully lowered to the ground and disarmed; it would no longer pose a threat to us. With the imminent danger passed, those who had already evacuated soon returned. Shapeshifter was among them, and one of his first actions was to check on the computer program he had left to monitor activity in the area where we believed the Horsemen to be active. I was with Annie as she recovered from the intense strain of using her mind powers to combat the missile. Dad was there as well, working with a map and a set of calculations.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

He looked over, "I'm trying to work out where the missiles came from. The one fired at the island arrived considerably sooner than the one aimed at the mansion. If we assume they were launched at the same time, we can work out an approximation of where they were fired from. Coupled with what I was able to gather while using Cerebro, it should pinpoint the Horsemen's location precisely."

"They sent the missiles to kill us…do you think they know we survived?"

"I doubt it. They obviously intended to wipe out any remaining threat to their plans. While it's worrying that they will go to such lengths to kill us, it's a positive sign that they do see us as a threat. They obviously consider us capable of stopping or at least hindering them. Hopefully that means they have some weakness we don't know about, that we might be able to exploit."

"Once you find out where they're based, are you going to go and kill them?" I asked.

"No. It isn't my place to fight any more. The world was once mine to protect, but I've since passed it on to another."

"Who?"

"To Annie, of course. And to you too, if you choose to protect it."

"Father, I – "

Our conversation was abruptly cut short as the door was thrown open and Shapeshifter entered, with Shock close behind him.

"Neil? Oh, there you are," said the liquefier. "We have a serious problem, and if we don't act soon we may have lost everything."

"What are you talking about?" I said.

"It happened while we were preoccupied with the missile attacks. The Horsemen raided another military compound. They found what they were looking for."

"Oh, no," said Oculus.

My eyes widened in horror, "You mean – "

"They managed to find a plutonium sample," said my father. "They now have all the materials they need to put together a nuclear missile. If we don't move to stop them immediately, there may be no life left on Earth."