I gathered together my assault team with some worry and reluctance. We had all been shaken by the idea that we had harmed, had killed those for whom we cared. But I had to put aside my feelings again, cling to the memory of those warm blue velvet dreams, and believe we could work together as a team again.
If I could not believe it, I could not make others believe it.
We assembled back in the kitchen after taking stock of weapons and other supplies. Our assault team was gathered there: Remy, Rogue, Jean, Scott, Logan, and Raven.
I cleared my throat. "The others are going back to the mansion under Hank's command." Their eyes tracked me as I began pacing. "I, of course, must hold back some because of my condition, so I shall coordinate efforts outside."
"Can't do it without someone to back ya up, Storm." Logan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "No matter how good ya are at hidin', someone can always find you."
I frowned. "I should be fine outside."
"He's right," Scott said quietly, standing apart from the others, head bent as if in prayer. "I won't let you do this alone."
"I won't either, sugar. Neither will the rest of the team. Raven's … unique, but she agrees with me." Rogue spoke and Raven nodded once, eyes grave, but with a small smile on her face.
"Fine," I sighed. "Which of you will stand guard over me?"
"Not us, Storm. Kurt." Remy casually pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Rogue glared at him and he just as casually tossed it to the floor. "Hank'll take over from him no problem, then he come join us."
"You set this up." I felt tremendous relief. They had worked together ahead of time to figure this out. They could still work as a team.
"Guilty." Jean's face was calm, her voice relaxed. "We told Hank to take over for Kurt before he left. Kurt should be here soon."
I put aside the pleasure washing over me at the idea of seeing my fiancé again to focus on our mission. "Very well. Now that we are all here, let me tell you what I have learned." I unfolded some blueprints on the table. "The portion of the Hellfire Club that has been coming after us has its headquarters on the 45th floor of this office building in New York. The two floors above and below it are empty, but all the others are occupied with various businesses. This is how the floor was laid out when these plans were filed with the city. Supposedly." I watched as they all leaned in to take a look at the sheets on the table.
"However, I contacted some of the contractors who were hired to do "renovations" after those plans were filed with the city. Using what they told me, we constructed these blueprints instead." I pulled out the other set of blueprints and unfolded them on top of the first set.
The changes were startling, and I had not even begun to detail them. The group huddled together over the plans, poring over them and discussing them in low tones. "Lots more open space here, for what?" "…all the wiring leading to this room, must mean somethin'…" " … go in here for cover."
We discussed strategy for a while, then came up with a plan we all liked which should gain us the upper hand.
If we are lucky.
If everything goes as planned.
I leaned a little on Kurt as we left the confines of the Academy. He easily took my weight as we headed out for my observation post in a building a block away from the Hellfire Club assault building.
