Disclaimer: None of the mutants belong to me. Anything familiar you read below is most probably not mine either.
*
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed. =) I loved each and everyone of them. And if this chapter and the previous ones seem rushed, it's because I hate doing action scenes. Plus, I realized that this part of the plot are only stepping stones to my story and not the actual conflict or the climax or whatever (I never did pay much attention to my English classes).
Anyway, this chap is experimental. I need feedback if the stuff that happened makes sense. If not, then it's back to the drawing board for me. I think I'll put this chap on probation. I'll take it down in ten days and revise it if no one understood them. So I need your feedback, people! Thanks!
*
Previously on XME: The antagonist of the story is revealed—he's none other than Bolivar Trask. After capturing the members of Team Blue and Jean and Rogue of Team Gold, Trask reveals to Jean her destiny. Remy, who was able to infiltrate Trask's facility, found and liberated a young boy named Jaime. The captured Brotherhood members, on the other hand, receive a yet unrevealed message from a redheaded guard.
* Chapter 9*
"I wanted to see the two most powerful beings in the future." Bolivar Trask turned to Jean and to the unconscious Rogue. "I cannot believe that you are the two women Destiny described in her diaries. One would destroy the world. The other would save it. Finally. I have you two at my disposal."
Jean's eyes widened. Most powerful beings in the future? But before she can open her mouth to react, a redheaded guard burst in the room, the one whose duty was to feed the prisoners.
"Sir!" He said frantically. "There was a security breach. Two mutants from Sector Three have broken out of their cell!"
Bolivar Trask shot up in shock. "That's impossible!" His jaw hardened. "I want them captured immediately." He called to his guards.
Three of his five guards immediately left the room.
"Bring them back to their cells," he commanded the other two, gesturing towards Rogue and Jean.
"I don't think so." To everyone's surprise, Rogue got up and delivered a blow to the guard who had stooped down to pick her up. The guard, caught unaware, didn't stand a chance, as he quickly folded up and was rendered unconscious.
"Get her!" Trask roared to the other guard and the redheaded man.
"No." The redheaded man said as he brandished a gun and pointed it at Trask.
Trask's eyes widened.
Rogue quickly disposed of the other guard as Jean had taken it upon herself to bind the limbs of the unconscious guard with the bountiful wires at Trask's feet.
"What is the meaning of this?"
The redheaded guard smiled sinisterly. "You underestimated my intelligence, Trask. Do you really think that we would be caught unaware?" With that, he pulled off his realistic face mask.
"M-Mystique!"
*
*
*
"This way." Lance placed back the piece of paper which contained a sketch of the whole facility. Mystique had given them that after she had let him and Kurt of their cells with the order to destroy the machine that was holding their powers in check.
Kurt nodded as he took the lead, more used in stealth than the older boy. Ducking behind corners and keeping out of the soldiers' way, they soon made it to the room housing the super computers.
Lance was working as fast a he could. He wanted to finish Mystique's orders as soon as possible. The sooner they were done, the sooner they could go look for Kitty. Ah, yes. And for Rogue and Wanda. Must not forget the two gir—er, ladies.
Kurt tried pushing the doors open. "It's locked."
Lance grinned as he held out the card that Mystique gave them along with the map. That woman is nothing but meticulous. He fitted the card in the slot beside the door and it easily slid open.
"What are you doing here?" A man in a white lab coat gasped as he saw Kurt.
"We're here to wish you sweet dreams," Lance said as he delivered a knock-out punch to the science geek.
Kurt grinned as he walked up to the computer console. So this is the device that had negated their powers. "Oooh. I wonder what does this button do…"
"I don't know," Lance grinned as he found and grabbed hold of a metal chair. "Want to find out?" And with that, he swung the chair with all his might.
*
*
*
"Kit-Kat!" Remy grinned as he saw Kitty sulking inside her cell.
Kitty looked up and cheered considerably. "Remy! You're here!" She ran towards him in delight. But as she grasped the bars, she suddenly phased out.
And nobody was as shocked as she.
Remy laughed. "Petite, you don't have to pretend to be a damsel in distress just to have Remy notice you,"
Kitty stuck out her tongue at him. "If I could do that before, do you think I would just stand in there doing nothing?"
Remy shrugged as he took out a card from his pocket. He held it out and it immediately began to glow. "Whatever it be that cancelled out our powers be gone now, henh?"
"Cool!" A voice filled with wonder interrupted them.
Kitty looked behind Remy and saw a young boy. "Hello."
The boy shied away from her and immediately hid himself behind Remy, clasping the older man's trench coat like a shield.
"It be OK, petit," Remy assured him as he took out the charge from his card and slipped it back to his pocket. No sense in wasting ammo. They have no idea what they're up against. "Kitty be a friend. Kitty, this pup be Jaime. Remy found him."
"And he just followed you home, huh?"
"Remy not be home yet, but I think the fille's got the general idea,"
"Well, let's go free the others!" Kitty suggested excitedly as she took Remy's arm and pulled.
*
*
*
After Mystique had removed the prosthetics that was covering her blue skin, she smiled at Trask malevolently. "That was a weird feeling," she admitted. "Masquerading as someone else using make-ups and what-nots. Perhaps I should even thank you for the experience."
"You scum." Trask growled at her.
Jean suddenly gasped as she closed her eyes in pain.
"What is it?" Rogue asked in concern.
"My powers," Jean said as she re-adjusted to the feeling of a thousand thoughts trying to invade her brain. "They're coming back."
"Good." Mystique said. "Rogue. Go find Irene and Erik." She tossed Rogue a pair of gloves she wore with her soldier uniform.
Rogue nodded as she held out her arms. Slowly, she rose from the ground with her borrowed telekinetic powers. With Mag's powers, the doors opened. "It's good to be back," she smirked before floating out.
*
*
*
"That stupid Cajun," Scott muttered to himself as he moved slowly around the building, desperately searching for a way in. "That idiot." He had been muttering obscenities and insults that would've made Wolverine blush against Gambit since he turned around and found the thief missing. Gambit knew that such blatant display of disobedience really got on his nerves in the Danger Room. But here and now where lives are at stake…
If anything happened to the Professor, or to Jean, or even to Rogue, the thief would answer personally to his eyebeams.
Speaking of which, Scott pushed up his glasses to scratch wearily at his tired eyes. And when he opened them…
"What's going on there?" An irate soldier demanded after a red beam nearly took his head off.
A slow smile spread on Scott's face. There goes his covertness, but on the upside…
*
*
*
It's been said that if a person is close to dying, his life would flash before his very eyes in a single instant.
Logan never believed such nonsense. Having lived more years than other people, he figured that it would take more that a single instant to relive his life. And he wondered if such nonsense was actually true, would the blind spots in his memories would eventually be revealed to him?
But now, he was reevaluating his opinion.
Flashes of memories rushed in his mind. The face of his father, one he barely remembered. The voice of his mother. People he met. His lover. His friend. The first guy he had killed. Xavier. The kids. Mystique. Sabertooth.
Doctors.
Scientists.
And suddenly, he was in a glass cell, numb, barely conscious, bound. The liquid that contained his body was freezing cold. He tried to move but he cannot. He slowly opened his eyes. There were people on the other side, but he cannot see their faces.
The world, as he saw it, was hazy and green. Like that ridiculous city in a book he had read somewhere, some time. Was he still a boy back then? He can't remember. But that's not important right now.
He wanted to struggle, but he can't.
And then, the pain came.
He struggled. The pain was unbearable. He wanted to scream but his mouth was gagged. He wanted to run away but he was trapped.
And then, it stopped. As suddenly as it had come, it stopped.
And inside, he felt as if he had begun to heal himself.
But it was when the pain ended that his rage begun.
Revenge.
And then his hands were burning hot.
He was not an animal.
He wanted his freedom.
He wanted to avenge himself.
Three metal claws suddenly shot out from each of his hands.
Revenge was his.
*
*
*
"Wanda?" Kitty was appalled to see the Scarlet Witch balled up in a corner of her cell, hugging her knees, rocking gently back and forth, as tears streamed down from her eyes. "Wanda! Let's go."
Remy frowned as he began to work on the locks.
"I got this," Kitty phased through the bars and kneeled before the Goth. "Wanda,"
No response.
"Wanda." Kitty repeated as she grabbed Wanda on her shoulders.
Wanda winced.
"She be terrified, petite," Remy told Kitty as he squatted beside her.
Then Kitty remembered. Professor X had told them that Wanda used to be kept in a mental asylum where she had spent most of her childhood. She hated it there. Mystique busted her out once they found what had happened to her. Mastermind had altered her mind to keep to keep her from killing her father (the last tidbit was relayed by a gossiping Lance). But it seemed that Wanda's unconscious gave her a fear of incarceration.
And now, it seemed as if Wanda had snapped when confronted with her worst fears.
"Chere," the Cajun's smooth voice spoke slowly and soothingly. "We're going to get you out of here, your hear? It gonna be alright, petite. Remy's going to take care of everything." All the while he was speaking, Remy had reached out to Wanda and had offered his hand.
Charm powers, Kitty realized. He was using his charm powers to get Wanda out.
Slowly, Wanda took the offered hand and let Remy help he stand up.
"Now, we be out of this cell, chere." Remy gave her a grin. "Remy knows how much you hate it here."
Wanda nodded as she let herself be led out.
Kitty beamed at Remy, impressed.
"You're so cool," Jaime stated in a voice full of her-worship, eyes full of wonder.
"Oui," the cocky Cajun was back. "The ladies can't resist Remy."
*
*
*
Rogue flew through the Sector Two where she was originally held and was surprised to see that the cells were empty. She was now checking out Sector One. Irene had to be here somewhere.
She peered in the first cell. In it was the prone figure of the Wolverine.
She frowned as she used her magnetic powers to open the high-tech locks. Wolverine looked older than when she saw him last. She shuddered to think what sort of research Trask performed upon him. But she kept herself from thinking what that madman had done to Irene. Irene better be alive or else…
"Mr. Wolverine?" Rogue asked tentatively as she flew closer to the man. She then kneeled to the floor and picked up the upper extremities of the much-feared mutant, trying to determine if he was still alive.
Snikt.
Rogue's eyes widened in shock. Three sharp, metal claws had imbedded themselves in her chest. Red soaked her uniform as black started to blur her vision.
*
*
*
Lance and Kurt were on Sector Three. Unable to open the locks in the cell, Kurt had taken into porting into every one and porting its captive out.
"Hurry!" Evan said as he shot out his spikes at the weapons of the soldiers after them.
"Alright, alright," Kurt grumbled as he ported in Bobby's cell.
"We have our powers back?" A confused Bobby asked.
Kurt nodded as his tail swished excitedly.
"Where's Pietro?" Lance demanded as he looked into the rest of the cells and didn't see Quicksilver.
"Didn't see him," Evan replied with a frown. Although he didn't like the guy, he wanted no one but him to put the silver-haired boy in his place.
Lance's mouth set itself into a grim line.
Kurt sent out a silent prayer for his missing teammate.
"Let's go look for the girls." Lance said instead.
"Hold it right there!" The leader of a group of soldiers shouted as he and five others besides stood in the mutants' way.
Lance's yes rolled back as he extended his arms. "Let's rock and roll!"
And they did just that.
*
*
*
"I think we just found out what his powers were," Kitty said in amusement as she held out her hand to Jaime, who had fallen to his butt on the floor.
"I produce twins!" Jaime said, but his voice came from somewhere beside Remy.
The four of them had been sneaking around in the facility, dodging the increasing number of guards, trying to locate their teammates when a group of soldiers had seen them. A struggle ensued, one which ended quickly thanks to the return of Gambit's kinetic powers. That man throws cards like nobody's business. One after the other, cards exploded, causing the group of soldiers to either run or be rendered unconscious because of the explosions. And all throughout the ordeal, the soldiers can't even touch them because Kitty had phased all four of them through everything that the soldiers threw back at them. Of course, because of the hex bolts Wanda (who was getting more and more like herself) threw with a vengeance, there was really nothing much the soldiers could throw at them in the first place.
But when everything else was over, Kitty must have held Jaime too hard for when they became tangible again, there appeared two Jaimes, much to the confusion of Kitty and Remy.
"Oui, petite," Remy grinned at the boy. "You got yourself your own army."
Jaime grinned like he had been awarded the biggest compliment of the year.
"Look!" Kitty squealed as she pointed to the door labeled Sector 1. "I bet that door leads to another place where they lock up their prisoners."
Remy was about to show-off to Jaime his door-opening prowess when Kitty grabbed all of them and phased them through.
And it looked like Kitty was right.
"Oh my god!" Wanda shrieked.
Kitty gasped when she saw Wolverine, half-sitting up, half-lying down, inside the first cell. She immediately pulled Jaime behind her.
But what was more shocking was the woman inside the cell with him. She was facing Wolverine, kneeling down. It was obvious that it was she who propped him up. And on her back protruded three metal claws.
Remy was beside the two in an instant. "What happened, homme?"
Wolverine growled as his claws slowly retracted. Life began to shift in his eyes. He was waking up.
Remy caught Rogue as she fell down when the claws released her body.
Suddenly, Wolverine's eyes filled with shock. "What the hell happened here?"
"You gutted her in your sleep." Wanda glared daggers at the man as she kneeled beside her friend and tried to examine the damage. "Crap."
"No problem," Remy said confidently.
"She's bleeding to death!" Wanda snapped.
Remy smirked. "We've got the Wolverine here,"
"I think this is how this whole problem started,"
"Remy thinks he likes you better shell-shocked."
"And I think you're both wasting our time!" Kitty snapped at them.
Wolverine gave another growl as he placed his hand on Rogue's cheek.
Remy and Wanda watched in morbid fascination as slowly, Rogue's injuries started to heal.
*
*
*
"So we just make things go boom?" Kurt asked in wide-eyed fascination. It was like a dream come true.
"Knock yourself out," Lance told him.
Kurt looked like a little kid at Christmas as he turned to the complex beeping and blinking machineries before him. "Alright!" Completely ignoring Lance, he turned to the machines and started pushing buttons.
"I'm gonna take off now," Lance said. "Gonna look for the girls."
"Ja." Kurt said, never taking his eyes off the giant screen in front. "Later."
*
*
*
"Tryin' to save me again, Cajun?" Were the first words out of her mouth.
Remy smirked. "Always, chere."
Rogue struggled to get up. "Wanda?"
"Right here, Rogue."
"How about we stop this mumbo jumbo and start savin' the others?" Wolverine grumbled, a little weak from the power drain but unwilling to let his weakness show.
"Alright."
"Wow. Her ouchies just disappeared," Jaime gasped as he fingered his own injuries. He wished he could make all those disappear too.
Suddenly, alarms started sounding. The place became bathed in blinking red light.
"Self-destruct mode enabled." A female robotic voice announced from an unseen speaker. "This place would self-destruct in ten minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test."
"Alright. Split up." Wolverine commanded them. He knew that the first batch of mutants, like he was, was in no condition to calmly exit the building. They had experienced horrors in the hands of Bolivar Trask. "Save whomever you can."
*
*
*
Kurt was in love. With a shiny new red button.
With fingers trembling from excitement, he slowly reached for the release mechanism that would bear the button for him to press.
The latch opened, the red button laid before him, waiting for Kurt.
And press the button he did.
"Self-destruct mode enabled." A female robotic voice announced. "This place would self-destruct in ten minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test."
"Uh-oh. That can't be good," Kurt winced.
*
*
*
"Wow!" Jaime's eyes widened when he saw a big, flurry man inside a glass cage filled with liquid. He had entered the only cell that was unlocked. It was just like in the movies. Looking around, he saw a lever of some sort. Walking towards it, he tried to pull it downwards but it was just too stuck for him to move. Then, he got an idea. Pinching himself, another Jaime appeared. He repeated the process until there was eight of him in the room.
Together, all eight Jaimes pulled the lever down.
Slowly, the lever moved. And when it was all the way down, the liquid began to seep out of the tank.
Jaime watched as the blue monster blink in confusion until he fully woke up. Then, the blue mutant struck the glass. It cracked. Another blow to the glass broke it.
"I take it I owe my liberties to you, young man?"
Jaime was surprised that such a kind and affectionate voice could come from a monster like him. So he smiled and nodded.
"This place would self-destruct in eight minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test." The robotic voice said again.
"I gather that would be our cue to leave. Lead the way, young sir."
*
*
*
"Omigosh! Storm!" Kitty cried out as she hurriedly removed the straps that were holding Storm down in a hospital bed. Storm had a lot of cuts and bruises. Kitty struggled with a particularly tricky strap. Then she slapped her head. "Duh!" She then took Storm's hand and phased her through the bed.
Storm let out a moan.
Kitty helped the half-conscious Storm to her feet. Placing Storm's arm on her shoulders, she supported the older woman out of the room. "We're going to get you out of here, promise."
"This place would self-destruct in eight minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test." The robotic voice said again.
*
*
*
"Hello, father."
The normally regal and strong looking Magneto was bound in a straight-jacket, pretty much like the ones Wanda spent her childhood in. He seemed dazed, possibly from all the drugs they injected in his system.
For some twisted reason, Wanda took a little pleasure in that. Hesitating a moment, she hexed the lock so that it would open for her. "So, dad, where's your little illusionist pet? Oh, that's right. He left a few months before all of these happened. I haven't seen your little boy either. So I guess it'll just be you and me." With a point of her finger, the jacket fell off. Wanda removed his gag next.
"This place would self-destruct in eight minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test." The robotic voice said again.
Together, father and daughter made their way out of the cell.
*
*
*
His claws unlocking the cell door for him, Wolverine stepped into the small room. One sniff and he knew that he was faced with a choice.
Sabertooth was chained on the wall, unconscious.
Cursing the stupid honor Xavier awakened in him, Wolverine diced the chains and slung the unconscious man on his shoulders.
"This place would self-destruct in eight minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test." The robotic voice said again.
He walked out the door muttering profanities.
*
*
*
Rogue grimaced when she saw the most powerful mind on the earth slumped in a wheelchair.
His eyes were open, but it seemed that there was no one home.
"Professor?" She shook him gently.
No answer.
"This place would self-destruct in eight minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test." The robotic voice said again.
"Professor?" Rogue realized that whatever they had done to him, it had to be horrible enough to make him loose his mind. She sighed. Well, telepaths can save a person driven to insanity, right? Rogue peeled off her gloves and touched the professor's face.
In hindsight, she realized that it was probably not the most intelligent thing she did in her life.
She just hopes she absorbs his powers and not his insanity.
*
*
*
"Let's go, mademoiselle," Remy gave his most charming grin to the lady in front of him, even if he knew that she won't be able to see him.
"No." Irene told him with fierce determination. "I must stay here,"
"But—"
"This place would self-destruct in eight minutes. All personnel are requested to calmly exit the building. This is not a test." The robotic voice said again.
"Go!" Destiny commanded him.
"Non," Remy argued stubbornly. "Roguey—"
"If you insist to take me with you, both of us won't make it." Irene told him.
"Remy doesn't care," he said, preparing to take her by force if necessary.
"No. You must make it, young man. For Rogue's sake."
Remy frowned in confusion.
"You are the key to her future, to our future. You must take her and teach her the right way. Without you, the end would come."
"Remy can never leave a lady in distress. His poppa would skin him alive if he does." Not to mention what Rogue would do to him.
"Remy Le Beau, your destiny is intimately intertwined with Rogue's. But in the future where you insisted to bring me along, both of us won't make it. Rogue's destiny would come to pass, but she would take the wrong passageway. Without you, she would walk the path of death and destruction. It is only when she is with you that the future's clear."
Remy looked like he would still argue, but Irene held up her hand.
"Go now, young man. If not for the sake of the world, but for Rogue."
*
*
*
~tbc