The battle was fierce. The X Men were out numbered by the dozen but they fought anyways. They had one advantage to their side and that was their abilities. Scott knew this and planned for it. With Jean and the professor holding a mental link between all the players on their side he began to give orders.

All right, Jean, you and me will take the group of faceless dudes on the left. Colossus, I want you, Pyro, and Iceman going up the center. Gambit, Magma, and Sunspot take the right. The rest of you spread out and take down as many as you can. Shadowcat and Nightcrawler…you guys focus on the big players and getting our major powers up to the front. The front was actually only several hundred feet away from the mansion but with all the mercenaries around it seemed like farther.

Those "major powers" were actually anyone who was strong enough to take on the people obviously orchestrating this. Storm took to the air at the same time Logan jumped into the battle with all claws out and waiting. Bishop and Sage had long ago entered the battlefield, while Magneto and the professor remained in the house for the time being.

Rogue and Sean stood just inside the open doors, watching everything that was happening. "Are we goin' to help or just stand here?"

"John, we must wait for the perfect moment. When it comes Ah'll tell ya."

John nodded. He didn't like this waiting, it was unsettling. The X Men obviously thought this was the "big battle" they had told them about, but unfortunately they were wrong. This was only the beginning.

Out on the lawn, Defcon 1 had activated and the professor was having a hell of a time keeping the automated guns from shooting their own people. Magneto was helping. They weren't having as much success as they had hoped. A laser beam was cutting a wide swathe across the lawn, and taking down plenty of enemies with it. It was also taking down several other things like three of Multiple's…well, his multiples, as well as singeing Berserker (who didn't really feel it) and narrowly missing taking off Wolfsbane's head. Not that any of them noticed. They were all too busy fighting.

Scott knew that they were slowly, very slowly, moving towards the shadowy figures revealed by that huge inferno up ahead, but it was taking too long for his taste. All right, everyone back up…NOW!

Making sure that everyone had gotten out of the way, Scott turned to the menacing soldiers in front of him and opened his visor. Letting out an optic blast that was sure to disable anyone in front of it…if it didn't disintegrate them first. The running figures fell underneath the force of that blast, leaving the way to the front open and clear.

Everyone ready themselves. Let's go! Scott reached for Jean automatically seeking her calming presence. She answered that probe with a rush of love from inside her mind. Filled with that love, Scott rushed over the hill and right into a trap.

Before Scott even knew what was happening, he'd been picked up by some kind of metallic tentacle and thrown back over the small hill in the lawn and into the rush of mutants following him. They fell under his weight and all began to scuttle back in the face of the madman before them.

"Do not worry, children. The doctor is in!"

The battle sequence will come in like, six or seven parts, so it will take like a week or two to get it all up. And yes…the CONCLUSION IS COMING!