**Power Surge**

The mad hum, like a swarm of bees was deafening.  Power cables were near meltdown with the overload of voltage passing through them.  Each city he passed was crippled as he absorbed more energy.  As he accumulated power, he kept surging the lines, causing random fires, and general panic.   I am power, I am havoc, and I am revenge!  Gabriel was pleased.  This was going to be easy.  He didn't need Violet anymore; he was the most powerful now.  After he disposed of the X-men, he would find Magneto.  That ungrateful prick would find out what was more powerful, electricity or magnetism.  Gabriel knew he would win.  And Wolverine, -that lab rat had to die.  The vile animal had tainted his creation.  He thought about what electricity would do to a man full of metal parts. He was a virtual walking lightening rod.  Yes!  There was potential for great suffering there.  Good. 

Chicago was behind him now, and his sights were set on New York.  Once he dealt out his revenge against the X-men, he would take care of Violet.  She was his daughter, but she had to die.

*****

In the war room, the X-men planned a strategy.  Xavier's expression was grave.  The enemy racing toward them was unlike any they had ever faced.  He was afraid for his team and the children.  He had to evacuate the school. That was his first concern.

"Professor?" Scott asked, trying to draw him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, yes Scott, the tunnels might be the best place for the students while we deal with Gabriel," Xavier agreed.  The escape tunnels were reinforced, and independently wired and powered.  No connections to outside power sources.  Gabriel would not be able to find them.

Logan and Dani Suddenly appeared just inside the door.  Everyone looked up, half startled.  They were on edge.  Scott noticed how upset Dani was.  Logan had his arm around her protectively, but it wasn't helping to relieve her anxiety. 

"Thank you for getting here so quickly," Xavier said.

"Where is he, what's going on?" Dani demanded.

"Gabriel is no longer human, or mutant.  He is pure energy, like lightening with the thoughts and memories of Gabriel.  He has only one thought, revenge," Xavier explained.

"Then I am the one to fight him," Dani said confidently.  "I am the only one who can."

"Dani, we are a team, your days of showboating are over," Logan warned.

"No, Logan, I think Danielle is right this time.  She absorbs and converts energy.  She could drain and destroy him," Hank said approvingly.  "I think it's the only way."

"Hank is right.  You can't stop him by throwing energy at him, he has to be weakened," Storm agreed.

"How much energy are we talking about here?" Logan asked suspiciously.

"It doesn't matter.  How close is he?" Dani asked.  She had already decided it was the best plan.

Jean went to the computer terminal to check the progress.  "He's passed Philadelphia, the city is in blackout, and there are major fires all over the city," she reported.

"Get the students into the main tunnel.  Beast, Storm and Kurt will be in charge of keeping the students safe," Xavier said.  The three immediately left to gather the kids together.

"What's the plan?" Scott asked Xavier.

"What's with you and plans?" Logan asked gruffly.

Scott just gave him an impatient frown.  This was not the time to start the same old pissing contest.  This time they were defending their home.  Logan was not taking this seriously.

"I think we need to draw him out before he gets to the mansion.  Can you tell where he is?" Dani asked.

"He's moving too quickly.  But I can tell you where our power comes from, and what lines he'll be traveling," Jean offered.  "But there isn't much time, we'll have to…" Jean stopped before saying the last part of that idea.  She knew Logan would be angry, but it was the only way.

"Show me where it is on this funky map of yours," Dani said quickly.  She looked at the odd holographic table they used for planning.  Jean brought up a three dimensional view of the grounds.  Then she showed them the power cables, and the direction they came in from.  Dani had a plan.

"Okay, we need to either break the lines, or disrupt him as he tries to pass," Dani suggested. 

"I think the break is the safest.  Give him a dead end," Logan offered.  "When he's forced to ground, he'll lose some power right away."

"Excellent.  How many can you carry?" Xavier asked Dani.

"How many are coming with me?" She asked with an eyebrow cocked.

"You got me," Logan said firmly.

"I'm in," Scott said.

"And me," Jean added.

"Professor?" Dani asked.

"I'll monitor you from here," he said.

"Not with Cerebro you won't!"  Logan ordered.  "Stay away from the outlets."

"Yes, of course."

"All right, everyone grab a hand," Dani said as she reached her arms out.  Scott took one hand, and Jean took the other.  Logan came up behind her and snaked his hands around her waist.  "Logan, that's not my hand," Dani said as she orbed them all to a hill about two miles from the school.  Logan just smiled.

"I'll take out this tower," Cyclops said.  "Everyone watch out, there's no telling which way it will fall." 

Scott aimed for the base of the electrical tower, and let his beam loose at the highest setting.  The tower creaked as the base twisted and melted from the extreme heat.  Then it leaned away from them and there was a loud snapping sound as it broke free from its base followed by a resounding boom when it hit the ground.  The cables broke and fell to the ground as well.  Logan and Scott had to jump out of the way to keep from being hit by the live cables.

"He's coming," Jean said with a little hint of fear in her voice.  "Look."

In the distance, you could see the glow passing along the cables.  They seemed to sag under the weight of the power surge he was making.  As it got closer, it was obvious that there was intelligence at work here, because the surge slowed as it approached the damaged tower. 

"He stopped!" Logan shouted.  "Now what?"

"Everyone get back, way back!" Dani ordered. 

She paused to give them a chance to get far enough away.  She reached out her hands and consciously drew the energy out of the power cables.  A bright green energy force poured out of the severed cables and began to take shape.  Gabriel's new energy force took on his human outline, but looked like an apparition.  He was just an entity with the mind of a mad scientist.   His voice was distorted, and he laughed harshly.

"My prey comes to me," he said.  "How convenient."  He threw a bolt of green energy at Jean, and she mentally deflected it into the ground.  "Quick," Gabriel said sarcastically.

Logan's inner rage took over and he extended his claws reflexively.  Gabe immediately gave Wolverine his full attention.  This man was responsible for ruining his plans far too often.  He ruined the weapon X project, he ruined his plans for Violet, and he ruined Violet.  The green glow that was Gabriel seemed to grow brighter.

"Feel my wrath, metal man!" Gabriel said seething.

"Bring it on," Logan growled as he bared his teeth and lunged at him.

Logan was hit with the energy while he was still in the air.  The pain was excruciating.  When he landed, he drove one set of claws into the soil.  The energy passed through him and into the ground.  It was agonizing, but the idea was working.  The more Gabriel tried to kill Logan, the more he depleted his energy.  In a matter of a few seconds, Logan had seen a change in the entity's energy level.  His glow had dulled.

Dani tried to get control of the situation.  Logan healed fast, but he couldn't take much more of this.  She was struck with an idea.  She orbed herself right into the Gabriel-shaped energy force.  The attack on Logan suddenly ceased as two distinct screams of pain were heard coming from the same mouth.  Dani absorbed the energy, but also the consciousness of Gabriel.  As her body worked to assimilate the sudden surge of pure electric energy, her mind fought to keep control. 

Logan collapsed on the ground.  His limp body seemed to be smoldering like an old campfire in the early morning.  He was too weak to move, but he was still conscious, which was amazing.  He watched Dani fall to her knees and contort with pain.  She was screaming, and it was tearing him up inside.  Scott and Jean had run over to him.  Jean was checking his vital signs, and looking for injuries.  Scott just put a hand on Logan's shoulder and watched Dani.

"Jean, can we help her?" Scott asked.

Jean looked over at their friend's suffering and felt horrible. "No," she said.  It was true, their part was done.  Dani had to deal with the rest on her own.  Only the professor could help with this.  Jean tried to call him.  Charles, Dani is in trouble.

Already working on that, nobody touch her.  Everyone stay back.  Xavier ordered.

Dani's mind was in turmoil.  There were two minds fighting for control.  Xavier established a link and found himself trapped in a violent storm.  He recognized this place as the once tranquil haven he had visited before, but now it was in ruins.  Trees were being ripped from the ground, and there was a violent lightening storm.  He heard Dani scream, and ran to find her.  He realized he had been wrong, there was no storm.  It was Gabriel and Dani, throwing bolts of energy at each other. 

Gabriel saw Xavier and decided that he was just the pawn he needed to give him the upper hand.  There was a pause in the fray and he used it to play his hand.  "Well, look what we have here, another visitor," he said.

Dani saw the professor, and knew she had to protect him.  "Professor, get out!" she screamed.

Xavier ignored them both and went to work on Gabriel's mind.   It only took a moment for Xavier to see the man had gone completely insane.  He concentrated on purging Gabriel's consciousness from Danielle's mind.  It was difficult and exhausting, but he was finally successful.  Gabriel's image disappeared, and her mind was at peace again.  Xavier broke his link, and nearly passed out from the exertion.

Danielle had stopped screaming, and glowing, and moving.  Jean went over to check on her, and determined that she was going to be fine after a bit of rest.  Logan was still exhausted, but already recovering.  He sat up and looked at Dani.  He hoped this would finally be the end of her past.