Chapter 2
The yellow taxi pulled up to the curb next to 1407 Graymalkin Lane, stopping behind a long black limousine also parked there. They young man, not much more than a boy really, got out of the cab dragging a suitcase behind him with various corners of hastily packed clothing sticking out of the zipper. He handed the driver some money then turned down the sidewalk and came to an abrupt halt.
There was a man leaning back against the hood of the limo. He was well dressed and perhaps in his early twenties with wavy blond hair and Hollywood-style good looks. The young man then looked through the wrought iron gate to the large pile of rubble beyond. His mouth dropped.
"So, uh, I guess school is out kinda permanently, huh?" He said. The other man barely registered a grin.
"Apparently." There was a heavy silence between them.
The young man scratched his head and looked around. "Do, you, uh, know how to reach this Professor Xavier guy?"
The blond man stood up straight suddenly and smiled at the younger one. "Pardon me, where are my manners today," he extended his hand "Warren Worthington."
Shaking the mans hand, the younger replied "Bobby Drake."
"Pleasure to meet you, Bobby." He studied the young man for a long moment. "I take it you are...gifted?"
Bobby laughed. "If by gifted you mean 'troublemaker in my old school' yeah, I kinda was. Are you, like, a teacher here or something?"
Warren narrowed his eyes in confusion. "No, I'm not a teacher. And no, by gifted I meant, you know, a mutant?"
Bobby glanced around in alarm. "Watch it man, people might hear you. And besides, why would you think I was a mutant?"
Warren arched an eyebrow, "...Maybe because that's what this school is, or was, for? You didn't know?"
Bobby looked to the rubble pile. "A school for mutants? No, I had no idea. I never even talked to this Xavier guy, my parents just wanted to get rid of me. And this was the cheapest offer they could find."
Warren shook his head and sighed. After another few moments of silence, a second cab pulled up and a well muscled fellow in flannel and jeans got out, paid the fare and approached the pair standing outside the gate. Jus as he was about to greet them he noted the pile of rubble behind the gate. "Oh my stars and garters..." He mouthed.
"Indeed. I'm Warren Worthington, this is Bobby Drake."
"Hank McCoy, pleased to meet you. Now, what in blazes happened here?"
"I have no idea." Warren replied. "How would you two like to investigate?"
Hank looked to Bobby and they both blinked. "Huh? Investigate what?" Bobby asked.
Warren stood straight and sighed. "Professor Xavier and his associates were building a school for a mutants here. And I know for a fact that included certain hidden areas below ground. I, for one, would like to take a look at them and you two are welcome to accompany me if you want, or stay here if you want."
Warren walked to the gate, which was still locked. He looked up and down the street as though considering something when Hank walked up to him. "Allow me, good sir."
Hank grasped two of the bars in his hands and, with some grunting, pulled them apart enough to allow entry. "Cool!" Bobby exclaimed.
The trio managed to sift through a good amount of the rubble, with Hank doing most of the actual sifting due to his strength. After nearly an hour, they managed to locate one of the hidden entrances to the lower levels. Hank produced a small pen light and the trio carefully descended into the darkness.
Bobby was in utter awe of the steel facility. "Looks like we just walked onto the Enterprise or something..." He muttered.
The place was a mess down here as well. Computers and screens laying about in piles, disks and papers scattered everywhere, doors were stuck where they were forced open. It looked like a war-zone. They managed to find the backup generator and with some effort, Hank managed to get it running and restored some of the lights.
"Oh my stars..." he breathed as the full nature of the place was revealed. Despite its current state, the facility was still extremely impressive.
Warren appeared pensive as he studied the remains. Hank approached him cautiously as he finished his inspection of the facility.
"Warren, this place is amazing. You should see the training room. There is even a hanger here. What exactly did Xavier have in mind for us?"
Warren sighed. "This facility was to train a group of mutants to help protect the innocent mutants out there from over zealous humans. And to protect innocent humans from dangerous mutants. He wanted us to learn to use our powers for the full benefit of man and mutankind. And, I think, we still should."
Bobby turned a curious gaze on him. Hank asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean us three. We can do what the Professor wanted. We can repair the underground part of this place and use it as our...base of operations to defend the innocent. What do you guys think?"
Hank looked to Bobby and shrugged. "I do not, exactly, have much else to do. Why not?"
Bobby smiled. "We're gonna be superheroes. Cool."
The sleek black aircraft made its way silently over the heavy forests of Alaska. Finding a proper clearing, it slowly lowered itself to cold ground. To armed soldiers in black went down the ramp first followed by a young blond woman holding some type of tracking device in her hand.
"That way." Commanded Cooper as she gestured for the two soldiers in front of her and the two coming up behind her to head into the forest.
Some time later they approached who they were after.
A young man with brown hair sat huddled against a tree in tattered rags. He was shivering and obviously had not eaten much in several weeks. He wore a torn bandage over his eyes and clutched a walking stick in his hands. Val knew he was not blind, however.
Upon hearing the crunching underbrush, the young man stood quickly and began to back away, holding the stick in front of him. "Please, leave me alone." His parched voice cracked out, "I don't want to hurt you."
Val approached very cautiously, fully aware of what this young man was capable of. "Scott," she began, "We are here to help you."
The sound of his name gave him pause. "Help...? You know...who I am...?"
Val smiled, letting the smile enter her voice, trying to calm the young man. "Yes, Scott, I know all about you. You were in an orphanage. They told you that you had to leave because you were too old. That made you angry, didn't it? Upset? And the next thing you know you were shooting holes through the building."
Scott nodded. A tear streaked his cheek. Val continued, putting her hand on his shoulder, he stiffened. "We know about mutants, Scott, a great deal actually. We can help you control your powers...so you don't have to fear hurting anyone else again. We can help you use them for the benefit of your country, and the world Scott. All you have to do is take my hand and come with me."
Scott stayed stiff. He liked her words, and he liked having hope again. He could control them, she had said, he could stop this devastating energy from destroying anything he dared to look at. She could help. His shoulders dropped and he sobbed openly. He grasped her hand, "Please...help me..."
The young red haired woman sat huddled in the corner of her room. She rocked herself back and forth, her eyes shut tight against the world. Over her head books and picture frames and pillows and clothes circled her in the air. She wanted it to stop, but it wouldn't. The doctors wanted to come in and sedate her, and she too wanted this. However, as soon as she knew they were trying to enter, and as she heard their thoughts as soon as they did, she always knew when they were going to try, she forced the door shut with a protective psionic barrier.
She had been abandoned here. The older bald man, Professor Xavier, that used to help her stop the nightmares and the mental outburts, had stopped coming months ago. Gradually, the visions returned. Her poor friend, dead there on the street. She felt it as surely as if the truck had struck her. With no other options open, her parents had been forced to send her here. The doctors here had no clue how to deal with a telepathic telekinetic teenager. So they kept her sedated most of the time. Sometimes, however, her mind would not allow her to give in. And things like this happened.
"Someone else, theres someone else here..." She muttered to herself. Suddenly her green eyes went wide and she stopped rocking. The gas canister rolled into the room and released its vapors before her telekinetic powers could fling it away. Within moments, she slipped to the floor. The books and pictures and other things fell to the ground around her.
She heard a woman's voice say "You did the right thing, doctor, and I'm sure Professor Grey will send his thanks to you."
She kneeled next to the dazed girl. "We are going to help you, Jean, I promise..." Then the redhead was unconscious.