Sorry for the delay! Between busy at work, getting stuff ready for the holidays and just being sick, I didn't get to update this when I wanted to. Here's Chapter 8, and the next will be up *soon*!!
Chapter 8: The Plans of Mice & Men often go awry…
"John!" Bobby snapped. "Keep going."
"Yeah, sorry. It's just that I'm tired and…"
"I know, but you have to stay awake. You were out for a while. You probably have a concussion. Just keeping talking."
"This was supposed to be it."
"Be what?"
"The big finale. What finally did the X-Men in. But I messed it up."
"How do you mean?"
"Magneto knew the professor would find out about the forest fire plan. In fact, he was planning on that, and also planning on you coming. I was supposed to have a large fire already started by the time you got here. He figured that the X-Men would split into two groups, one would go inside and the other would try to fight the fire. Magneto and Mystique would take care of one group and I was supposed to catch the other in the fire."
"Then what?"
"I was up on the roof, but I couldn't start the fire. I just couldn't bring myself to burn the forest. Call it conscience, or whatever. But since there was no fire, the whole X-Men team went inside to face off with Magneto and Mystique. That's probably why they weren't interested in making sure I got out safely before the bomb went off."
"You knew about the bomb?"
"Yeah. It was supposed to be for 'emergency' use. It must've been some emergency if they set it off."
Bobby didn't answer and didn't press John to continue because he found a way outside. All he had to do was use his powers to make a slide, and then he and John could get out of the building.
He knocked the remaining shards of glass from the window frame, and then placed his hands on the edge of the blown out window, forming a slide two floors down to the ground. He went back to John, kneeling by his friend's side.
"John?"
"Still awake, sort of," John answered, opening his eyes.
"I found a way out, but I'm not sure how good it will be for you," Bobby said, pointing over to the window.
"Don't worry about me. I'd rather suffer out there than in here."
John tried to sit up, but couldn't on his own. Bobby saw that and moved in back of John so his friend leaned against him. Then Bobby helped John to his feet, supporting most of his weight as they walked over to the window.
"Now how are we going to do this?" Bobby asked himself aloud.
"You go first and I follow," John suggested.
"That's the problem. I don't think that would work. But neither would you going first," Bobby replied, then thought for a moment. "I do have an idea."
It was difficult, but Bobby managed to get himself down while helping John. On the ground, they saw that the X-Men's jet was gone, like they expected.