A/N: Thanks to SperryDee for your reviews, they are very much appreciated.
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The weeks came and went. While the students at Xavier's School for the Gifted trained and prepared themselves to defend a world that seemed to fear and hate them a little more each day, there were those mutants that were preparing for the exact opposite, liking the idea of a world that fears them.
The Scene: A helicopter approaches Bronson Federal Penitentiary in the dead of night, somehow its guards are unaware of the craft's approach until it is almost above them.
"Alright, Boomer. Give those time-bombs of yours a go."
With those words, the teenaged girl named Tabitha Smith creates a succession of time-controlled plasma bombs one right after another in her hands. She then drops them from the helicopter, which has had some major modifications to it since it disappeared from Alkali Lake a few months ago.
"The coast is clear now. I've taken care of the watchtower and the guards that were outside, the rest is up to you guys." Boomer replied.
With that the helicopter, which had managed to shield itself from being detected by the prison's exterior sensors, lands in the prison yard just outside of Bronson's main entrance. Four of its occupants then head from the chopper to the large prison complex, while the helicopter takes off for cover nearby.
"Do you think it was smart to leave Boomer, Bevatron, and Destiny in the helicopter by themselves?" Pyro asked.
"They can handle themselves, our training for this mission should've proven that." Avalanche replied.
"If they were that prepared, then they would be here with us." Empath sneered.
"They're our back-up, in the slight chance that we run into any problems." Mystique replied as they neared the door, "Now, Avalanche make an entrance for us."
With no response and less than a thought, Avalanche used the seismic radiation that his body generated to turn the large steel door at the front of the prison into metallic dust.
"We're in." Avalanche stated as he walked first into the prison.
"Pyro, use your flames to deter any guards who may consider following us." Mystique ordered him.
Pyro granted Mystique her request and created a bird made of fire using the two flamethrowers attached to his wrists, which were being fed fuel from a pack that was strapped to his back. The bird he created was large enough to cover the entrance to the prison and it remained there long enough to discourage any pursuers. It disappeared, however, when Pyro left the entrance to catch up with the others.
"I'll take care of any guards who didn't get to see Pyro's little exhibition." Empath offered as they continued their trek. He proceeded to use his telepathic powers, increasing the sense of fear and panic that the prison's guards and the other staff already felt.
The group then walked down the corridors of the prison, uninterrupted. Mystique directed them using the miniature mutant detector she was carrying, as they sought out one cell in particular.
"This guy really worth all of this trouble?" Avalanche asked Mystique.
"I'll let you be the judge of that." Mystique replied as they continued walking.
They could hear the echoes from the prisoners throughout the facility, as chaos in the prison erupted. When Boomer hit the strategic points in the prison earlier, some of the cell-blocks had completely lost power. This meant that the prisoners were able to roam about freely. While the prison riot continued, the group finally arrived at the cell which held the individual they had been searching for.
"This is it. Avalanche, take care of the door." Mystique instructed him
Avalanche proceeded to hit the door with his power, totally demolishing it. The group then heard a voice from inside the cell speak to them.
"Well, well, well, look who came to bust me outta the pen. This could only be the work of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, back ta claim one of their own." The voice said to them.
"Blob, we don't have time for your long-winded observations. Get up and let's go." Mystique told him, while they all started back down the corridor that led to the prison's main entrance.
"What's the matter? You act like you haven't missed me all of this time I been locked up." Blob replied with a smug smile.
"If it were up to me, you would have been left here to rot. But, Magneto seems to still have some use for you, despite your previous bungling and failures." Mystique said to him as they neared the entrance.
"Speakin' of the past, I don't recognize none of your friends. Where are Unus and the others?" Blob asked her.
"You have been locked up for a while. The team line-up has changed a few times while you've been incarcerated. These are the Brotherhood's newest recruits." Mystique started to explain. But, she was interrupted by Destiny over her communicator.
"Mystique…" Destiny said over the communicator.
"Go ahead." Mystique replied as she listened intensely to her headset.
"The guards that evacuated upon your entry have regrouped with local law enforcement outside of the prison. All immediate timelines point to an easier departure if you leave at the building's south entrance." Destiny informed her.
"Let's find the south entrance to the prison." Mystique said as she turned to head away from the main entrance.
"It's this way." Blob pointed as he led the rest of the Brotherhood to the southern end of the prison complex. Once outside, the Brotherhood ran into a small cadre of local law enforcement.
"Stop, drop your weapons, and lie on the ground!" One of the officers called out to them over his megaphone.
"No, you can lie down. And stay down." Avalanche said as he used his power to shake the ground beneath the police force, burying some of them in a mound of shattered earth. The officers, that were still standing, began to fire their guns at the mutants. Mystique and Empath, who were carrying weapons of their own fired back, killing a couple of the officers and wounding several others. The Blob picked up a large section of a wall that had been knocked down during Boomer's earlier bombing raid. He threw it at the police and smashed a number of their squad cars. Pyro then used his flamethrower to clear a path through the police force for their escape from the prison yard.
"Pyro-2, Cops-0." Pyro said as he walked past the injured officers.
The helicopter, piloted by Boomer and Bevatron, descended to an open area where the Brotherhood was waiting for them. The craft then took off, leaving a massive swath of destruction behind.
"Glad to see you made out of there in one piece, Cutie Pie." Boomer said as she greeted one member of the Brotherhood whom had been on her mind the entire mission.
"Me too." Pyro replied as he got aboard. He then leaned over and kissed Boomer, as the helicopter began its lift-off.
"Our coordinates are set. We should be home in no time, mes amis." Bevatron informed them from the cockpit area.
"And where exactly are we headin', Misty?" Blob asked.
"Snow Valley, Massachusetts." Mystique answered plainly.
"What in the world's there?" Blob continued to inquire.
"Miss Frost's Academy." Boomer answered as she sat down in the co-pilot's seat.
"I can un'erstand these five kids needin' it. But I think you, Destiny, and me are a little too old for high-school." Blob said to Mystique.
"In that case, you can feel free to get off at anytime." Mystique said back to him, referring to the fact that they were hundreds of feet in the air.
"Nah, I think I'll stick it out. If nuthin' else, to give Mags my personal thanks for bustin' me out." Blob said as he closed his eyes to get a few moments of rest.
The rest of the ride back to the Massachusetts Academy was quiet, but with the Brotherhood things didn't stay that way for too long.
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Next chapter: Tragedy strikes an X-Man…