Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X or X-Men, titles or characters. Evie is my character.

Chapter 18 – A United Front

Gambit and Storm entered the Blackbird. Logan met them at the hatch and kissed Ororo. "You smell like Gambit," he teased.

Ororo smiled at him. "Well, we were sharing a room. You weren't around. A girl gets lonely sometimes." She leaned in and kissed him again as she heard him begin to growl.

"Gambit only out to please," he said in his defense. "Now if you don' mind you can repay de favor by helpin' to get mon amor out of de base, so Gambit don' have to keep sharin' yours." He walked over and stood behind Jesse who was busy on the computer.

"This is the layout of the base. Adam's office and the lab are in section 2G. That's probably where they have Kitty."

"If they have a governor on Shadowcat, it's a safe bet they'll try to put one on Rogue, too. They'll also suspect that Storm and Gambit would attempt a rescue and put Adam under heavy security." Shalimar's rising concern was more than evident.

"I agree. There's no longer the possibility of covert maneuvers." Storm stepped easily into her role as mission commander. "We will just have to go in the front door. Brennan, your powers will be most helpful in clearing our way. Remember we want to keep the destruction and bloodshed to a minimum." She directed her gaze at Gambit and Wolverine who looked at each other then back to her with a look of surprise that she would feel they would need such a reminder. She only rolled her eyes and continued. "Keep in mind that most of these guards are blindly following orders. We get in and get our friends out, then let the professor send in the authorities." Everyone agreed as they left the Blackbird and headed to the gate.

They gathered into a tight cluster as Storm called forth the winds that lifted them into the air and safely over the gate. As they approached the building they spotted a group of four guards posted outside the door. They strode up in confidence as Brennan formed a tesla coil and shot from both hands at two unsuspecting guards who were quickly rendered unconscious. As the other two realized they were under attack and tried to raise their weapons, Brennan had already shot a second time causing them to join their friends. Finding the doors locked, Jesse placed his hand on one door and exhaled fully. When the phase was complete he gestured for his friends to pass. Inside they had startled the unsuspecting Officer Jimmy coming out of his office.

Gambit moved to the front as Jimmy began to raise his gun. As Brennan was about to fire, Storm placed a hand on his arm to still his actions. Wolverine released his claws, sliced the shaft of the gun and retracted faster than the eye could spot. As the gun hit the floor, Gambit hit Jimmy, square in the jaw. "You left wid' mon chere. Where is she?"

"She---she---didn't want to---to be with---you." Jimmy stuttered.

Gambit knew that he was young and the extent of his career was probably walking around a deserted base at night. He evidently also was not up on the news since he still thought Gambit was there to get his girlfriend back. Loosening his hold on the young man, Gambit tried a new approach. "Listen, Officer---" he looked at his nametag, "Clark. Miss Kitty and Remy had a little disagreement. She needs to come home wid us. Her brother come to get her." Gambit turned slightly, caught Logan's eye and released Jimmy.

Playing along, Logan stepped up out of the group and flanked Gambit as he stared at the officer. "What have you done to my sister?" Logan asked gruffly and grabbed his arms a little more forcefully than necessary.

"I---I---I didn't do anything to her. She---asked me to help her until--- until she could call you---to come get her." Jimmy was much shaken.

"Well, that's very nice of you." Logan suddenly smiled and released the man. "Now if you could just tell me where she is, I'll see that she gets home safely."

"She's in the---the back room---" Jimmy nodded to the security office behind him, "asleep."

Before he finished his sentence, Jesse pushed past him and rushed through the office to the closed door on the other side. Jimmy and the others followed behind as Brennan and Shalimar kept watch in the hall. Jesse pushed the door opened only to find an empty cot. Turning on Jimmy he gritted, "Where is she?"

Looking past him and into the empty room, Jimmy was obviously bewildered and now very scared. "I---I---don't know. I left her here to sleep."

"Well, now it's time fo' you to sleep." Gambit came across with a right hook that spun Jimmy around and landed him unconscious as Wolverine caught him and put him on the cot that Kitty was supposed to be in. Jesse immediately went to the computers. "Look, guards, here, here and here." He pointed at the changing surveillance monitor. "Section 2G. There are no cameras in the lab or Adam's office."

"Let's go, and stay together." Storm led the way out of the office and down the hall. Around the bend they quickly came upon four guards at the top of an open stair well. Brennan shot and got one as the others dodged. Shalimar quickly jumped to the front of the group and with another short jump kicked the rifle from one of the guard's hands and began to fight. Wolverine was only a second behind her. He quickly put down one guard as Gambit appeared at his side swinging at the last one. Even though no shots were fired, the commotion alerted the guards at the bottom of the stairs. As they raced up, Storm firmly took a stand at the top and raised her hands into the air. Calling forth the winds that obey her, she created a small gale that threw the guards helplessly against the walls and to the bottom of the stairs.

Emerging on the next level down, the team found they were in between the lab and Adam's office. Seven guards were now converging on them, four from the lab entrance and three from in front of Adam's office. One retreated into the office to maintain his position. Haphazard shots were fired as the guards ran toward the intruders. As Shalimar took cover behind him, Jesse massed and deflected several shots. Brennan instinctively pulled Storm toward him and stepped back against the wall shielding her with his body. He smiled down at her when he realized he had caught her by surprise. Gambit stood behind Wolverine who managed to dodge all the bullets except two. The first went through his shoulder causing him to merely growl and begin to advance. The other deeply grazed his thigh and caused him to fall to his knee. As the two groups of guards got closer they refrained from firing to not hit each other and proceeded to engage the enemies by hand. Gambit moved to cover Wolverine, giving his healing factor time to kick in. Brennan ran out as Shalimar grabbed Jesse's shoulders and flipped herself into the air landing in front of him.

The guard that was coming after Jesse was surprised as Shalimar landed in front of him and didn't have enough time to react before she sent him stumbling back with a nasty punch in the face.

Jesse smirked. "Show-off." He winked at her as she turned a beautifully proud smile at him. He massed as a guard went to punch him and shook his head as he heard the distinct crack of knuckles against rock. With a massed fist he hit the guard on the side of his head giving the man the opportunity to pass out and not have to think about his broken fist.

Shalimar turned her attention back on the man who was now regaining his footing and coming after her. After a quick spin and a roundhouse kick in the air the man slumped against the wall as Shalimar gracefully landed on her feet and ran her hand through her hair.

Wolverine had to concentrate to not let his claws out as he hit a guard with an adamantium reinforced fist. The man doubled over and was soon thrown unconscious against a far wall. Wolverine growled as the butt of a rifle was rammed into the back of his neck. Falling to his knees as he was momentarily stunned, his healing factor kicked in and he turned his head to realign his neck. The guard placed the rifle against Wolverine's throat and pulled in an attempt to choke him from behind. With a sudden movement Wolverine pulled forward and rolled the man over his shoulders and to the floor in front of him. Punching with both fists he saw the man's body soon go limp.

Brennan from his position at the back shot a low charge and sent a guard sailing through the air and knocking into a wall, only to slide to the floor in an uncomfortable sleep. He used his propulsion abilities to lift himself off the ground and flipped into the air landing behind a man who was attacking Storm. Tapping him on the shoulder he smiled deceptively as the man turned to face him in confusion. "Didn't your daddy ever tell you that it's cowardly to hit a woman?" Brennan immediately doled out a firm punch to the face as punishment and sent the man to join his friend in slumber.

"Such a gentleman," Storm remarked as she smiled at him.

"Well, just don't tell Shalimar I came to your aid before hers," Brennan smiled sweetly then cringed as he felt familiar hands on his waist.

"I heard that," she smiled as she squeezed her powerful hands causing him only the slightest pain. She allowed her eyes to return to their natural coloring and smiled as he put a loving arm around her and kissed her head.

The others gathered around and watched as Gambit punched and ducked then with a final move spun and extended his long leg to knock the guard off his feet and to the floor with a thud. He stood and joined the others. "Dat was fun. Wat next?"

TBC