CHASE
PART I
CHAPTER IIII
Charles watched Lyra move around the Danger Room with cat-like agility, leaping from wall to wall, swinging from holographic light poles, gliding along the empty matrix with such unending energy. She had donned her old clothes again, the black body suit with the phoenix embroidered on the back shined in the unnatural light.
She had told him everything she knew of the Brotherhood and Phoenix League, the assassinations and plots to diminish the human population. Using children to perform such operations seemed barbaric to Charles, but his thoughts on the matter were interrupted by Ororo Munroe's entrance. She came striding in, white hair drifting about her shoulders, her eyes directed straight at the professor.
'Look at this.' She said, voice like thunder.
She thrusted a folder into his withered hands, someone had scribbled messily with a permanent marker on the front. "Test results"
He flipped through the 10 page file, glancing at the charts and words that filled it, not really concentrating on any of it.
'Well?' Ororo questioned sternly, looking down at him, hands at her hips, forehead furrowed in frustration
He glanced sideways at Lyra who was perched atop the roof of one of the many housing commission buildings that filled the artificial environment. 'I suppose that there is something of importance you intend to lecture me on, Storm' He sighed and turned to look at her. Her face was ageing, lines were forming around her eyes and mouth. They weren't smile lines.
'When we were monitoring her mind during the first few hours of her induced sleep, I noticed the fact that there was another mind connected to hers. Note the double brainwave frequency here.' She pointed with her white Esté Lauder polished fingernail at a mind frequency chart, tracing the double lines. 'Also, after doing several tests on her blood, to determine her actual mutations, I recognised the same chemicals that were in Scott's system after spending some time at Alkali Lake with Striker.'
Charles shuddered at the sound of those two words. Alkali Lake. 'By this, I assume, you mean she had no control over her actions?'
Storm nodded. 'We have to do something about this "Phoenix League" before Magneto has a chance to raise an army. There out there, you know Professor, they are gathering and soon they'll make their stand.'
'Yes, yes.' The professor paused, apparently dwelling on a thought, ' I want a list of all registered mutants with connections to the brotherhood and other human hating clubs, guilds, secret societies, that sort of thing. I shall get in contact with some peace groups, see if I can string up a strong enough side.'
Storm nodded, turning to the computer beside her. 'I want Scott and Logan to go collect some electronics I ordered from Japan, send Lyra along with them and Kurt can look after the Children.'
Storm looked up from the government network search engine she'd hacked into and gave the professor a puzzled look. 'Do you think that's wise?' she questioned, brushing back a bit of ivory hair with her hand.
'What? Yes, I assume Mr Wagner is competent enough to look after a small group of children,'
'No, sending the girl with Logan and Scott, she is a criminal.'
The professor shook his head and sighed, his Armani shirt rose and fell with chest. 'I agree that Logan isn't exactly what I would call "parent material" but she is his charge. He seemed to do a good job with Rogue.
He did the damage, he has to repay it to her.'
X
Upstairs, hours later, Bobby, Rogue, Jubilee, Poitr, Kitty and Monet St Croix were sitting in front of the television contentedly. Well, the majority of them anyway. Jubilation Lee was fidgeting in the deep leather seat she was sharing with Monet. Bobby had the volume on the wide screen turned up to the max and the news readers voice was echoing of the polished panels of the walls.
'...The security systems at the White House and the Mutant Research Centre have been compromised. A group of young mutant rebels entered and stole several items, all of which are yet to be named...We spoke to Hank McCoy earlier...'
Several pictures of mutants where shown before the forth was put up.
'Oh god, no! Bobby roared as his friends face flashed up on the screen, details of his mutations where read out before another photo flashed onto the screen. This time it was Jubilees turn to yell out.
'That's the girl I saw in the sick bay when I went down help Dr Reyes!' She jumped off the seet, sending Monet sprawling on the floor. 'BACK IN ALGER-'She began angrily but stopped herself.
'This group, known only as the "Phoenix League" is wanted for a string of robberies and assassinations. This group is connected to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, a group of wanted mutants including public enemy number 1, Erik Lensher, who held an entire police squad and threatened to kill ...'
The transmission began to falter and soon, the picture was completely overrun by static.
'All senior students and staff are to meet in my office in 5 minutes'
Poitr smiled. Something big was happening and this time he was going to be part of it.