CHAPTER TWO
"There was no new mutant." Shalimar informed Adam as he did a scan on her injuries. "I think it was a trap. It was as if they knew we were coming."
Adam considered what Shalimar said. He had heard of the new mutant on a scanner that he had on an open channel. It wasn't from his usual sources but he had asked the team to go check it out nevertheless. He shook his head thinking about it. "Setting a trap like that would have been a long shot. It was an open channel and anybody with a scanner could have picked it up. That's not how the GSA usually works, they're more innovative than that and they don't depend too much on chance."
"That's another thing Adam. I don't think they were GSA agents. They're definitely not familiar and they're dressed way too casual than your average agent. Besides they didn't have mutant powers but they fought well. Like they've been trained or something." Shalimar explained. "What do you make of it? Do you suppose they're the group responsible for the sudden increase in mutant disappearance lately?"
"I'm not sure. I'll ask around with my contacts and see whether they know of any non-mutant group operating underground."
Adam continued with the scan on Shalimar at the same time thinking of what Shalimar had said. He hated mysteries and usually couldn't rest easy until it was solved. He did know of a group that was bent on ridding the world of mutants. They were dangerous and thought nothing of killing a mutant in cold blood. But their modus operandi didn't usually consist of an open attack in the middle of the day. And they usually attacked to kill. From what Shalimar informed him, the attack was not aimed at killing. Whoever and whatever they were, they wanted the mutants alive.
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"What do you mean they got away? I've waited for a long time for Mutant X to fall for my little trap and you let them slip from my grasp. You morons!!"
"I'm sorry Mr. Xavier. They were just too good."
"Well of course they're bloody good. They're Mutant X!!! Why do you think I put all of you to such vigorous training?!"
"Sir." One renegade stepped forward, interrupting their leader's tirade. "I did manage to put a tracking device on their vehicle, sir."
Xavier weighed the implications of that before he spoke. "If I know Adam Kane, he would probably have technology installed to detect any device planted on all vehicles coming into his secret hideout. That device is as good as gone."
"Not this one." A voice interrupted from the doorway. All eyes turned to look at the beautiful woman who walked in "This one comes with a little bombing mechanism that melts the entire device making it part of the vehicle. So as far as any technology is concerned, no foreign substance would be present."
Xavier smiled as he pulled his mutant girlfriend closer for a kiss. "I knew I could count on you darling."
"There is a setback though." Lena said as she pulled back. The device would not be of much use around any technology that scrambles its signal. We lost the signal a couple of hours ago so from the looks of it, Sanctuary is impenetrable in that respect."
Xavier frowned and started to speak. "But", Lena interrupted putting a finger to Xavier's lips seeing that he was about to voice a protest, "we would be able to pick up the signal again as soon as the vehicle is on the move. So though we might not find out where Sanctuary is.yet.We would be able to know when and where any member of Mutant X is out and about."
Xavier's frown slowly turned into a smile.
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Jesse was standing outside the med bay watching Adam treat Shalimar's injury. Shalimar had briefed Adam on what had happened and he couldn't bear to face Adam or Shalimar right now. He knew Adam would not have been angry outright. But his silent disapproval could sometimes be more deafening to Jesse than any angry words he could have directed at him. Jesse knew that that would be more than he could handle right know what with his own guilt in the forefront. He was however relieved to see Shalimar up and about, the prognosis of the injury being only some damaged ligaments to the shoulders that would heal in no time on the feral.
He heard someone approaching and turned around to see Brennan walking purposefully towards him.
"What the hell were you thinking!" Brennan asked, not bothering to keep his voice down, as he walked towards Jesse. You could have killed her! That was the stupidest move you could have made!"
Not looking Brennan in the eye Jesse replied silently "I didn't realize she was behind me. It all happened so fast." Even to his ears it sounded lame.
"What do you mean you didn't realize! We're your teammates. That's what teammates do. Watch each other's back! Not go and get them killed!!" Brennan's anger was escalating and he was by this time inching closer to Jesse.
Adam and Shalimar's attention had been peaked. Even Emma who was in the kitchen came over to see what the commotion was about.
"Wake up and smell the blood!" Brennan continued heatedly. "This isn't your precious little world anymore where every time you make a mistake you can run home to your rich parents and they would pat you on the back and everything would be okay. This is the real freaking deal. Real people, real problems where no amount of money is gonna make it go away. If you can't deal with that than maybe you shouldn't be out there risking your life and ours!!
Jesse lifted his head to finally look up at Brennan. "You're right. Maybe I shouldn't" he replied and brushed past Brennan as he walked away.
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"There was no new mutant." Shalimar informed Adam as he did a scan on her injuries. "I think it was a trap. It was as if they knew we were coming."
Adam considered what Shalimar said. He had heard of the new mutant on a scanner that he had on an open channel. It wasn't from his usual sources but he had asked the team to go check it out nevertheless. He shook his head thinking about it. "Setting a trap like that would have been a long shot. It was an open channel and anybody with a scanner could have picked it up. That's not how the GSA usually works, they're more innovative than that and they don't depend too much on chance."
"That's another thing Adam. I don't think they were GSA agents. They're definitely not familiar and they're dressed way too casual than your average agent. Besides they didn't have mutant powers but they fought well. Like they've been trained or something." Shalimar explained. "What do you make of it? Do you suppose they're the group responsible for the sudden increase in mutant disappearance lately?"
"I'm not sure. I'll ask around with my contacts and see whether they know of any non-mutant group operating underground."
Adam continued with the scan on Shalimar at the same time thinking of what Shalimar had said. He hated mysteries and usually couldn't rest easy until it was solved. He did know of a group that was bent on ridding the world of mutants. They were dangerous and thought nothing of killing a mutant in cold blood. But their modus operandi didn't usually consist of an open attack in the middle of the day. And they usually attacked to kill. From what Shalimar informed him, the attack was not aimed at killing. Whoever and whatever they were, they wanted the mutants alive.
************************************************************************
"What do you mean they got away? I've waited for a long time for Mutant X to fall for my little trap and you let them slip from my grasp. You morons!!"
"I'm sorry Mr. Xavier. They were just too good."
"Well of course they're bloody good. They're Mutant X!!! Why do you think I put all of you to such vigorous training?!"
"Sir." One renegade stepped forward, interrupting their leader's tirade. "I did manage to put a tracking device on their vehicle, sir."
Xavier weighed the implications of that before he spoke. "If I know Adam Kane, he would probably have technology installed to detect any device planted on all vehicles coming into his secret hideout. That device is as good as gone."
"Not this one." A voice interrupted from the doorway. All eyes turned to look at the beautiful woman who walked in "This one comes with a little bombing mechanism that melts the entire device making it part of the vehicle. So as far as any technology is concerned, no foreign substance would be present."
Xavier smiled as he pulled his mutant girlfriend closer for a kiss. "I knew I could count on you darling."
"There is a setback though." Lena said as she pulled back. The device would not be of much use around any technology that scrambles its signal. We lost the signal a couple of hours ago so from the looks of it, Sanctuary is impenetrable in that respect."
Xavier frowned and started to speak. "But", Lena interrupted putting a finger to Xavier's lips seeing that he was about to voice a protest, "we would be able to pick up the signal again as soon as the vehicle is on the move. So though we might not find out where Sanctuary is.yet.We would be able to know when and where any member of Mutant X is out and about."
Xavier's frown slowly turned into a smile.
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Jesse was standing outside the med bay watching Adam treat Shalimar's injury. Shalimar had briefed Adam on what had happened and he couldn't bear to face Adam or Shalimar right now. He knew Adam would not have been angry outright. But his silent disapproval could sometimes be more deafening to Jesse than any angry words he could have directed at him. Jesse knew that that would be more than he could handle right know what with his own guilt in the forefront. He was however relieved to see Shalimar up and about, the prognosis of the injury being only some damaged ligaments to the shoulders that would heal in no time on the feral.
He heard someone approaching and turned around to see Brennan walking purposefully towards him.
"What the hell were you thinking!" Brennan asked, not bothering to keep his voice down, as he walked towards Jesse. You could have killed her! That was the stupidest move you could have made!"
Not looking Brennan in the eye Jesse replied silently "I didn't realize she was behind me. It all happened so fast." Even to his ears it sounded lame.
"What do you mean you didn't realize! We're your teammates. That's what teammates do. Watch each other's back! Not go and get them killed!!" Brennan's anger was escalating and he was by this time inching closer to Jesse.
Adam and Shalimar's attention had been peaked. Even Emma who was in the kitchen came over to see what the commotion was about.
"Wake up and smell the blood!" Brennan continued heatedly. "This isn't your precious little world anymore where every time you make a mistake you can run home to your rich parents and they would pat you on the back and everything would be okay. This is the real freaking deal. Real people, real problems where no amount of money is gonna make it go away. If you can't deal with that than maybe you shouldn't be out there risking your life and ours!!
Jesse lifted his head to finally look up at Brennan. "You're right. Maybe I shouldn't" he replied and brushed past Brennan as he walked away.
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