It's All Relative
Chapter Eight
Morph looked back and forth between Rogue and Velocity, his expression screaming indecision. All it took was a jump into Rogue's arms, and he would be rescued and finally safe. Why, then, was he having this overwhelming urge to stay?
"Morph, let's go!" Rogue called again.
"I can't!" he shook his head, and then scrambled back into the front.
"What?" her jaw dropped in shock.
Morph reclaimed his seat beside Toad. "What's our status?"
"Well, I can barely keep us in the air, we're gonna be in the middle of one hell of a mushroom cloud if this bird crashes," Toad sounded very stressed. "I think you could safely say that we're up Shit Creek without a paddle."
"I know how to save us."
"Roger that - we have a paddle after all," Toad almost laughed in relief. "What have you got?"
"Rogue and Storm get the others outta here. You and I land this thing."
"And we do this, how?"
"We were going to Times Square, right? That's a pretty open area. You fly. I become Reed Richards, and parachute us down."
"No way," Velocity had been listening, and moved into view. "I'm not putting you two at risk."
"It's the only way," Morph insisted. "Or we all die."
"He's right, Nad," Toad agreed.
Velocity watched New York City growing closer and closer, then looked back at the crates, then to Pyro, then back at Morph. "Reed Richards, huh?"
"The idea just kinda came to me back at the base," he grinned.
"You're crazy."
"Certifiable."
She took a deep breath. "All right."
"Set the plan in action, girl," Morph tilted his head back, revealing the inhibitory collar. Velocity didn't hesitate to punch in the code for its deactivation, and it dropped to the floor. "Let's get this show on the road!" he grinned again, and jumped back to the side door. "Rogue!" he shouted over the wind. "You and Storm get these guys outta here!"
"You got a plan, Sugah?"
"Aw, nothin' big, just gotta save the city," he replied. "But first you've gotta get Velocity, Pyro, Sabretooth and Creed off this thing!"
"You got it!" she nodded, and then spoke into her comm. "Storm, cool the twister, gal. The kid's got somethin' up his sleeve."
Rogue and Storm flew to the door, where the others were waiting. Storm carefully took Velocity and Pyro out of harm's way, but Rogue had a bit more trouble with Sabretooth.
"I don't need any of your help!" he growled savagely, swiping at her.
"Whoa, pipe down, Kittycat, less'n y'all want ma fist ta introduce itself to your face!"
"Sabretooth, just go, ya jackass!" Toad hollered from the front. The big mutant roared in his direction, and then reluctantly allowed Rogue to fly him and his son out of the chopper.
Jean watched as Rogue and Storm carried the four figures from the helicopter. She knew Morph's plan, and hoped it would work. And all she could do was watch and pray, as she dropped her speed to fall behind the gunship.
Cyclops sat near her chair, leaning against the metal siding of the control panel, his head tilted back. He didn't notice the occasional stolen glances at him from Jean; his eyes were squeezed tightly shut behind his ruby quartz visor. His face had gone pale, and he was breathing deeply, trying not to concentrate on the screams of pain from his leg.
Gambit, meanwhile, was standing by himself at one of the ship's windows. He had a sick feeling in his stomach. He hadn't meant to hit the helicopter. He'd just wanted to help Rogue shake Sabretooth. Now, as his deep red eyes stared out at the copter as it spun, nearly out of control, he knew that it was his fault.
Wolverine was furious. He was furious with Sabretooth for taking a potshot at Rogue and causing Gambit to accidentally hit the copter. He was furious with Gambit because now Morph was in serious danger, and he couldn't help him. He was furious with Morph for acting so noble and risking his own life. He was furious with Cyclops for getting hurt when they needed everyone - especially their team leader - to bring down the Brotherhood. He was furious with Velocity for hurting him. Most of all, he was furious with himself because he was so helpless in a critical situation.
All four were fighting the urge to say their last good-byes, should Morph's plan fail.
Pyro weakly looked up at the helicopter from Storm's arms. He realized, after staring at the smoldering tail rotor for a moment, that if the fire reached the fuel tanks before Morph and Toad could land the thing, they were all in big trouble. Or worse yet, if it reached the nukes...
The Aussie closed his eyes and clenched his fists, willing the flames to be smothered out. And they began to flicker, and then died.
Morph, who was leaning out the side door, grinned. "Remind me to thank your pal!" he called up to Toad. "He just took care of a lot of heat that woulda been on my ass!"
Toad was nervous, but managed a smile. "Listen, mate, if this doesn't work..."
"You're not gonna get all sentimental on me, are ya, Toynbee?" Morph smirked playfully.
"Hell no, I was gonna say if this doesn't work, it's your fault," Toad smirked back, and the shapeshifter chuckled. "Good luck."
"You too," Morph nodded, a feeling of mutual respect passing between them. Then Morph's appearance shifted to that of Mr. Fantastic, and, after tightly gripping the doorframe, he moved outside the copter.
Mystique and Blob knew something was wrong as they approached Times Square. There were police cars everywhere, sectioning off a full block of Broadway. Angry people were yelling, cursing, and honking their horns and the place was crawling with the press.
"What happened?" Mystique gaped in disbelief.
"Somethin' else went wrong, I bet that's what happened," Blob frowned. "Bad things come in threes, right? First Nadia got hurt, and then Lance goes missing, and now the others are in trouble."
"We don't know that," Mystique was trying to convince herself more than Blob.
"Then what is it?"
"I don't know," she admitted, shifting her look to that of a young police officer, "but I'm going to find out." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Stay here." He nodded, and she walked toward the blockade. "So, can anyone tell me what we're even doing, exactly?" she asked another officer, trying her best to sound innocent.
"President Kelly sent the order straight from DC to clear this area," the cop replied, then leaned over and spoke in a hushed voice. "Word has it that it's some big CIA counterattack on a terrorist group or something. Nothing like I've ever heard of before, that's for sure."
"Wouldn't the CIA send out a Black Ops group before risking the public finding out?"
"Way I heard it, they did already, but the plan got botched. I dunno what we're supposed to expect."
Mystique looked up into the night sky, noticing the sounds of a chopper for the first time. And they seemed to be getting closer.
"I swear, McCoy, if you don't fucking let me out of here to help my friends, I'm gonna rip your God-damn blue face off!" Avalanche was not happy.
"I do not much dislike the matter, but the manner of his speech," Beast replied simply as he prepared a bed, more to himself than to Avalanche. "William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra."
"Real cute, freak, now let me go."
"Mr. Alvers, while I understand your need to protect your fellow teammates from eminent danger, from a doctor's perspective I do not think it wise to partake in physical exertion after a mere day's recovery."
"It's been almost two days," Avalanche retorted. "And I'm fine."
Jubilee was pacing behind them. She'd run in here to tell Beast what was going on with the others, but she hadn't counted on Avalanche being awake. Now he was extremely angry at being trapped here when his friends were in trouble, and the angrier he got, the more noticeable the quakes became. He wasn't able to release his full power with one hand bound across his chest and the other carefully restrained, but the steady tremor was reminder enough of what he was capable.
As Avalanche continued to argue his point, Jubilee was anxiously listening to the happenings in Manhattan. Cyclops had fallen silent now, but the others were still talking enough for her to form a mental picture of the scene. And she couldn't take it anymore.
"Hank?" she blurted out. "I'm going to Times Square. I can't do anymore good sitting around here."
Beast sighed, the restlessness of these young people beginning to get to him. "I know that I cannot stop you when you are determined, Jubilation. I can only ask that you be careful."
"I will, Hank," she nodded, and dashed to the door.
"Wait!" Avalanche called, and the tremors ceased. "Let me come with you." The other two gave him an odd look. "Look, the Friends of Humanity have spies everywhere, and chances are they already know exactly what's going down. If they catch you alone, you'll be in big trouble."
"I can handle those dweebs," Jubilee shot back.
"Sure, kid, just like you handled them back when Morph sent you to their headquarters, right?" he replied.
"You know about that?"
"Kid, everybody knows about that." Jubilee's face fell. "Look, I can protect you till we get there. I'm being honest, here, and you should take advantage of that." The girl sighed, then turned to Beast and nodded. Beast, somewhat reluctantly, punched the code on the cuff that restrained Avalanche's unbound hand, and it slid open. "Let's rock and roll," he grinned, and stood up.
Mystique watched the descending helicopter in amazement. She recognized Toad's piloting skills over the damaged machine, and also thought that the parachute attached to it looked strangely familiar...
"Reed Richards?" she wrinkled her nose, wondering absently when the Fantastic Four had involved themselves.
People were beginning to panic, and a thick, soupy fog was rolling in, obstructing the view of the chopper. Mystique knew it was Storm's handiwork, and that meant the X-Men had control of the situation. They were the Black Ops group. Something else had gone wrong.
There was an ear-splitting screeching - metal on pavement - followed by a crash. She realized the copter had landed. "Blob!" she screamed his name over the crowd as the fog began to glow an alien shade of green.
"Comin' through!" the enormous mutant crashed his way through the people and cop cars that obstructed him. Mystique reverted back to her true form, and the two ran to where the glow was coming from. The fog was much thinner here, and they were shocked at the scene before them.
Morph, back to his normal self, leaned through the window frame of the helicopter, the front of which was now mangled and wrapped around a streetlight. Toad was awkwardly stuck inside the wreck, and Morph helped him unbuckle his seat belt so he could slide out the window.
Rogue and Storm landed just after the Shi'ar craft set down, and immediately Velocity was on top of Sabretooth, fists flying at a fantastic speed, calling him every name in the book. Toad and Morph looked up at the sound of the commotion, and then movement caught their attention: Mystique and Blob entering the scene through the fog. They sprinted to the fight and pulled the two apart.
"What is going on here?" Mystique shrieked at the two of them, gripping Sabretooth's arm.
"I'll let you field this one, traitor," Velocity's eyes burned as she spoke to the big mutant while being held in the air by Blob's strong arm. Sabretooth snarled in reply, itching for another shot at her now that he was ready. Any respect he'd had for her and her methods had gone now, replaced by the desire to tear her head clean off.
Gambit and Jean scrambled out of the spacecraft, followed by Wolverine, who supported Cyclops on his shoulders. Nobody had pictured this scenario; how were they supposed to handle the Brotherhood members being at each other's throats without inciting even more rage?
"Dammit!" Avalanche slammed his fist on the dash of Wolverine's jeep, which Jubilee had 'borrowed'. Traffic was backed up for blocks, and the honking horns were driving Avalanche up the wall.
"Wait, check it out," Jubilee tapped him on the shoulder and pointed around them at the fog extending from Times Square. "Storm's cover. They're safe from any FOH goon's sight."
"For now," Avalanche added, and then hopped out of the jeep. "Let's move. We're takin' the rest of the way on foot."
"Check," Jubilee agreed and, after remembering to take the keys from the jeep, followed him through the lineup of cars.
"Nadia, does this really-"
"Back off, Grey! This does not concern you!"
"Ooh, you better watch how you talk to the lady."
Velocity didn't even flinch at Wolverine's remark, locked in a stalemate stare-down with Sabretooth. Mystique threw her hands in the air, looking back and forth between the two of them.
"One of you had better tell me what is going on!" she demanded. "Why are you two ready to kill each other? And what the hell happened to Pyro?" She stopped, now staring at Pyro, and put two-and-two together. "You didn't," she looked back up at Sabretooth.
"I warned him."
Mystique clasped her hands over her face, digging her fingernails into her skin. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God," she rambled over and over. "Okay, listen, we will resolve this, alright? Just, please, calm down. It's over."
Before any X-Man or Brotherhood member could argue, the ground shook violently and the street began to explode. Everyone turned attention to the source, following the trail of destroyed pavement where it stopped in front of two figures.
"Lance," Mystique held her breath.
"Jubilee," Wolverine uttered.
Avalanche eyed each and every figure as he stalked toward to group, finally landing his gaze on Pyro. His mouth twisted into a furious sneer, and his hand repeatedly clenched and unclenched. Nobody made a sound; nobody even moved. Not a single one of them wanted to give Avalanche an excuse to snap on them. And snap he would; the guy was visibly stressed.
Avalanche reached the cluster of mutants, standing over Pyro, studying the gashes that decorated his best friend's upper torso. "Who did this?" his mouth barely moved, and his eyes darted from person to person, seeking an answer. "Who did this?" he demanded, much louder, and everyone flinched. Everyone, that is, but Sabretooth, which consequently caught the rock tumbler's attention. "It was you, wasn't it?"
"What if it was?" Sabretooth was smirking. Avalanche took a step toward him. "Oh, you wanna rumble, tough guy?"
"Rumble's my middle name," Avalanche retorted.
Jubilee had carefully tiptoed around the tense confrontation to where Wolverine stood. He put a comforting arm around her shoulders, but she could tell that even he was edgy.
Sabretooth laughed viciously. "How do you expect to beat me with one arm?"
Velocity stepped beside Avalanche, soon joined by Toad and Blob. "Because it won't be just him," she replied. Sabretooth narrowed his eyes at the four of them, and then felt Mystique at his side. "Mother," Velocity hissed, realizing her betrayal.
"I'm sorry, Nadia," Mystique sneered. "But I'm in this for my survival, and the survival of mutantkind. The four of you have let love and friendship blind you to the true cause, which I intend to continue to fight for. Even if it means stepping on you along the way."
"You-"
Avalanche was cut off by an explosion four feet away, which sent everyone flying off-balance. They looked up to see a group of armed men, several with grenades, and all wearing white T-shirts with three clear letters: FOH. And they were led by a smug-looking man.
"Henry Gyrich," Jean gasped.
"Get rid of the mutants!" Gyrich hollered, and the men charged them, firing guns and throwing grenades.
"Look out, chère!" Gambit intercepted a grenade headed straight for Rogue with a kinetically charged card.
"Thanks, Remy," she smiled at him, and then flew toward the attackers.
The four younger Brotherhood members stood around Pyro, ready to protect him with their lives. They fought off the FOH as the sky was filled with an assortment of helicopters, both news and police, using their searchlights in an attempt to see through the fog. Velocity stumbled away from the group and was grabbed from behind by one of the FOH. That's when she lost control, and used her speed to fling the man over her shoulder, then raced after the rest of the attackers, letting her frustrations loose on them.
"Rogue!" Cyclops called, as police sirens went off around them. "There's been enough destruction for one day! Stop Velocity and let the police handle the Friends of Humanity!"
"On it!" She took off. "Nadia!" she hollered down to where Velocity had just laid out a man with a lightning-quick punch combo that had probably broken his jaw. "Y'all better just simmer down, gal! Cops are on the move! Leave them the dirty work!"
"You mean retreat?" Velocity looked up at her sister. "From them? Not an option!" She sped off.
"Then y'all ain't givin' me much of a choice," Rogue frowned, removed her glove, and chased her.
Henry Gyrich was lying on the street, having been knocked down by an earthquake caused by one of them. He noticed the mutant known as Rogue approaching another: the female speed demon. Reaching into his pocket and producing one of Trask's gizmos, he decided to rid the world of two pieces of mutant garbage for the price of one. He took aim with the device and muttered, "No more mutants."
Gyrich shot the two women just as Rogue made skin contact with Velocity. Both women screamed as two sets of unnatural forces surged through their bodies.
Toad found the source, and narrowed his eyes. "Let them go!" he commanded, then shot out his sticky tongue and snatched the device out of Gyrich's hand. Rogue and Velocity dropped to the ground, no longer under siege from the enigmatic force beam.
Wolverine and Gambit were immediately at Rogue's side and likewise with Avalanche and Toad for Velocity. The Friends of Humanity had stopped their attack, startled by what had just happened.
"You okay, chère?" Gambit asked.
"Ah have no idea, Remy," Rogue shook her head. "What the heck was that thing?"
"Same thing that whacked your prof, I'll wager," Toad tossed the device over, which Wolverine caught.
The sirens were very close. The gunshots had made the police very nervous about the mysterious situation taking place within a wall of fog. They were probably surrounding the area with the SWAT team at that very moment.
"Hey, Lance, maybe we ought to bail while we still can?" Toad suggested.
"Good plan," he nodded.
Blob lumbered over, carrying an extremely distraught and numb-with-pain Pyro. "Is she okay?"
"She's unconscious," Avalanche replied. "Normal side effect from gettin' drained. She'll be okay."
"Where's Mystique and Sabretooth?" Blob wondered, surveying the area.
Avalanche looked around, surprised, and then his usual angry expression returned. "Who gives a damn? We don't need 'em."
He motioned for Blob to pick up Velocity as well, and the big man complied. Then, as the X-Men were pre-occupied with regrouping and tending to their own squad, the young bloods of the Brotherhood disappeared into the fog.