SIX

The ground beneath Logan's feet crunched as he walked barefoot, not registering the hot earth scorching his flesh. The sun beat down on his skin mercilessly and sweat dripped from his brow. He licked his lips and tasted the coppery tang of his own sweat. It was the closest to water that had touched his tongue on this long journey. His body was near breaking point and his bones felt curiously brittle.

The wasteland in front of him stretched for miles in every direction but up-the deep blue sky kissed the cracked brown earth with what he assumed was tenderness, or maybe teasing it with the promise of rain that never came. He knew he was searching for something, someone…but his mind could not recall the details in the assault the heat lashed upon it. He was prone to seeing strange beings: a blue furred beast, a bird made of fire and a man who seemed to be made completely of ice. They all dissolved and swam in front of him, and then he remembered why he was here. He had to find Gateway, ask him the way. Gateway knew how to get to most places with barely an upward glance. He wasn't a real talkative kinda guy, but you got used to him. The little Aborigine had last been seen traveling in these parts; he remembered one of the police officers in Alice Springs saying so. He suspected the cop pegged him for an adventure hungry American tourist.

Then, like another mirage, Gateway appeared in front of him. Gateway had aged considerably since their last encounter, which as far as Logan could remember, thirty years ago; the thinning grey hair was almost white, in shocking contrast to his dark face. His beard was also turning the same color, although it would be a while before the white took over completely. Gateway's glittering eyes danced like the shimmering heat around them.

"You have to show me something," Logan said, keeping a respectful distance from the legendary tracker. "That's why you've brought me back here isn't it?"

Gateway just stared back. He always stared. Logan clamped down hard on his frustration and tried again. "We're about to embark on a journey. Where will our path lead?"

The old Aborigine smiled then, and sat down on the flat earth. His ribs stuck out obscenely underneath his skin, but he had a paunch like belly that reminded Logan of a man who had lived well and gone to seed. Logan sat down too, crossing his legs like Gateway. Gateway produced a flat, elliptical wooden object which was tied to a very long piece of string. He was still smiling and threw the flat object onto the ground between them, giving him enough rope to use it.

"Woomera." Logan said, pointing to the object between them.

Gateway nodded and with surprising swiftness, he began to swing the Woomera above his head. It began to whine as the flattened wood sang through the air. The device was being swung faster and faster and Logan could see it was shimmering. At first he thought it was a trick of the heat, but then he noticed it again. The huge oval that Gateway was creating in the air was rippling with energy. Logan leaned forward and waited for whatever was about to happen next. (With Gateway it was always hard to guess.)

The rippling got faster too, until the ripples vanished and an image appeared in the spinning circle. Logan frowned. He recognized the face that had formed in front of him immediately. He spoke the name before he could stop to think about it. "Magneto," He said.

Gateway did not acknowledge his words. The image of Magneto's face disappeared and it was replaced with another scene: The crash of flight 706 in full graphic detail. The last image shimmered into view and showed Logan just what lay in store if they failed: New York lay in ruins, black squares of earth rotting holes where the huge proud buildings once stood. Black helicopters zoomed into view and Logan could just make out a giant figure emerging from the Hudson, dwarfing Lady Liberty as it approached. Then, Gateway stopped twirling the Woomera and opened his eyes. Logan knew what was in store for the X-Men if they failed this mission.

Logan woke with a start and shook his head. He rubbed his hands over his face and they came away covered in a film of sweat. He blinked rapidly and realized that it was still daytime, and he had fallen asleep in a chair in the common room. He looked around with quick, jerky motion, and stood up on shaky legs. He heard Xavier's wheelchair humming along the hallway towards him, and turned to see the Professor enter the room, concern forming a question on his face. "He came to you again, didn't he?" Xavier asked simply. "Gateway?" Logan could only manage a nod. Xavier sighed and wheeled in closer. "What did he show you?"

Logan shrugged. "A few things. He showed me what could happen if we fail. Or at least, that's what I think he was showing me. It wasn't a pretty sight, Charley."

"What else?"

"The crash of flight 706, I think. Magneto's face appeared briefly, but I don't know why."

Xavier's frown deepened at this, but he didn't give voice to the concerns that had obviously taken hold. Logan didn't need to be a psychic to decipher Charles Xavier's mood: It was clear that he was more willing to place his faith in what an elderly Aboriginal Australian held for their future, than anything currently at his disposal. "Gateway has been wrong before," Xavier said, meeting Logan's gaze from under furrowed brows.

"He is just the guide, Charley," Logan replied softly. "What you need to understand about Gateway, he's only a messenger. He can't pick the images he presents, he just shows them, and they are a record of what might come to pass. If we're good, we avoid the outcomes he's shown us."

Xavier nodded. "I've come across him on the Astral Plane before. I have tried to engage him in some kind of dialogue, but he resists my attempts."

Logan smiled crookedly. "That's because he hasn't got something to say to you," He responded. "Think yourself lucky."

Xavier wondered why indeed a dead Aboriginal prophet and teleporter would appear to Logan so regularly. They had crossed paths when Gateway was alive, Xavier knew that much. He was able to glean little else from Logan's mind. Snatches of images from those times would force themselves to the surface from a sea of images that washed through Logan's mind. "Gateway appears to trust you," Xavier said slowly. "He normally doesn't like to interfere in mortal affairs."

Logan scratched his jaw thoughtfully. "Happens I've been thinking about that," He replied slowly. "Maybe Gateway is showin' me these things because he doesn't want them to occur."

"You think so."

Logan stretched and yawned. "I do, but then it's only a theory. The only person who can tell me what it means is a dead mute Aborigine."

Alex entered the room dressed in one of the team's uniforms. Xavier smiled in his direction and Logan wolf whistled. Alex did a little turn as if he were on a catwalk and sauntered over to them. "Military hardware by James Cameron, costume design by Tom of Finland!" Alex said obscurely. He rotated his shoulders in the shiny black leather jacket he wore over the uniform. "They don't leave much to the imagination, do they?"

"Who is Tom of Finland?" Xavier asked with a bemused look on his face.

Alex gave him a wry smile. "Look it up on the Internet."

Xavier made a mental note to do just that, and wheeled forward. "How are the Blackbird modifications coming along?" He asked.

"Scott is just finishing up now. How did you and Hank go with Cerebro?"

"We were not able to successfully upgrade the system," Xavier sighed. "I'm afraid we have to rely solely on instinct for this mission."

"I figured we might have to," Logan said. He stood up and slapped a hand on Alex's shoulder, making the younger man jump. "Might as well round up the others. Tell them all to suit up and meet in the Blackbird hangar in one hour."

Alex nodded and headed out of the room to comply. Logan began to walk after him but Xavier called him back. "Logan."

Logan turned and faced Xavier, a question knitting his eyebrows.

"I've been thinking about your advice regarding Bobby's involvement in the mission," Xavier said slowly. "And while I agree that his lack of experience on missions such as this could slow us down, it might also be wise to consider him on other grounds. His powers notwithstanding, he has proved himself to be a quick thinker in very difficult situations. I don't believe he could be a liability in this case, Logan. And I approve of his inclusion in the team roster."

Logan shook his head slowly. "With due respect, Charley, I think you've lost your marbles," He replied. "He's just not ready."

Xavier held up a hand to quiet Logan's opposition. "I will take full responsibility for this decision, Logan. Besides, he won't be alone. I will be going with you all."

Logan's mouth fell open. He looked around the room, as if trying to find someone to ally with him against this crazy plan. "We're heading into a war zone, Charley," He said softly. "I can't let you…"

"Then it will please you to know that the decision is not yours to make," Xavier said curtly. "I do not wish to sit on the sidelines and watch as I place you all in such danger. Besides, with our inability to upgrade Cerebro, it does not seem the wisest decision to go in blind. While my long range telepathic abilities are boosted by Cerebro, they will function as normal if I attempt to lock onto an individual at relatively close range."

"But Jean can…"

"Jean's powers have yet to manifest at full capacity. At best she might be able to get an impression of Cortez's whereabouts, but no more. If I am there, the chances are great that if he is hiding, I will find him, or those around him."

Logan fought the urge to say any more on the subject. He didn't like the idea of dragging Xavier's crippled body through a mission that it may well not survive. They needed speed and stealth. He grinded his teeth and nodded. "I can't stop you."

Xavier offered him a smile. "I'm sure you could." He wheeled off then, leaving Logan to simmer. The very thought of mounting a mission into an unknown land where not only the terrain but the inhabitants were hostile, while dealing with an inexperienced X-man, and the team crippled leader on top of it…Logan could do nothing but strenuously object to Xavier's assertions. If he was a good soldier he listened to the guy calling the shots. And followed his orders to the letter, because it was all he could do. It didn't mean he agreed with them necessarily.