Scott's POV

I wish I could say I had a plan like the brave leader I am supposed to be. I need to know where Alex and Ororo are and that they are safe. Instead, I am shoved in this cell with two other men I don't know. I have no powers to speak of, and my glasses are unaccounted for. Currently, it is both a blessing and a curse.

Unfortunately, it is more the latter.

I don't know how long it has been since I woke up here. It feels like it's been hours. Endless minutes of people in adjacent cells crying and pleading with guards. I hear a child nearby wailing for their daddy, and my fatherly instincts ache. I know Rachel has been through too much to cry for me like this, but what about the baby? In a few years, that could be them.

Should Jean and I bring someone into the world like this? After all, one of the men told me we're in a new prison designed to punish mutants. They've even fit us all collars to keep us from using our powers. If they have already developed that technology, then what else do they have?

I know they don't just don't want to control our powers. They want to exterminate us.

Booted footsteps echo from down the corridor between cells. Then there is an auditable SLAP! "Shut up! You're going me a headache!" Someone shouts. The crying from the cell next door stops, and the child inside is left sniveling in fear.

This, of course, gets my blood boiling. As if it wasn't already. I rise from the corner and storm to the laser beam bars. I can feel the buzzing energy against my face. It's obvious I will be fried if I lay even a finger on them.

"Hey!" I glare at the guard. There is a sort of confidence behind being able to look this bastard in the eye and have him be able to see the anger in mine. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size, huh? That's a child."

"Child?" He approached this cell now, hand on the firearm strapped to his side. "That child can blow up a building with one thought. That isn't a child. It's a freak! Just like the lot of you!"

"We've heard it all, so you'll have to do a lot more to hurt our feelings," says one of the men in the cell with me. But then the little girl is crying again.

"Pwease! I want my daddy!"

"Shut up!" The guard stomped his foot. "Your daddy doesn't want you! You're a freak of nature! A waste of space. Your parents wish they had aborted you!"

"You don't say that to a fucking kid!" I scream at him. He's too much like those shitty foster parents I experienced when I was young. Without thinking, I take a step forward to lunge at him and instantly regret it.

Electricity surges through my body. I am hyper-aware of the burning flesh stench as I'm sent flying through the air. I hit the wall and slide down, my body screaming in pain.

The guard snickers as he walks away. He probably thinks he won. But I swear on my life, the moment I get out of here, I'll make him pay. Him and this whole organization, who locks up innocent children just for being different!

"I hate to break it to you, but I think you have anger issues you've gotta work out," the man says, offering me his hand. "I'm James, but my friends call me Jamie."

"Scott," I groan, wincing at the burns on my arm. I examine myself as best as I can. I know Jean will have a field day with these injuries. She is known to remind me to keep a steady head on my shoulders, and clearly, I didn't do that this time.

"And this guy is Gambit," Jamie jabs to the third man, who is shuffling a deck of cards.

"No need for the pleasantries. Gambit is not here to make friends."

"Neither are we, but we might as well make the best of the situation."

Several hours pass. I try to devise a plan to get out, but knowing next to nothing of the MRD, I cannot see how. Hell, they won't even let us out to use the bathroom! Jamie has been holding it for hell knows how long.

My throat and mouth are dry, and I can feel the beginnings of dehydration kicking in. My head throbs, and so do my burns. This all feels too much like when I was trapped on Vulcan's ship. And of course, with nothing else do to, I'm stuck with my thoughts; Primarily that trauma.

The air around me suddenly feels hot and thick. Sweat collects on my face. I attempt to take a deep breath. But the more I try, the more out of breath I feel.

Just when I think things cannot get any worse, I'm slapped back into reality with voices outside the cell.

"These two are too powerful for the collars."

"Just keep 'em sedated."

"Damn, what did this guy eat? He weighs a ton!"

I look up just as they are dragging two very familiar mutants to cells. Logan is one of them and the other—

"Jean!" I shout, running to the bars. I glare at the guards. "Get your hands off of her!"

The guard closest to me snorts. "Or what? You'll electrocute yourself again?" They all cackle as they continue their job.

Seeing Jean unconscious in this man's arms, being dragged away gracelessly, really gets my anger stirred up. My knuckles are white and trembling at my sides, ready to punch those bastards in the face the first opportunity I get.

Jean should not be here. She should be at home, taking care of herself and our baby! Did she come willingly to break us out? Or did the MRD raid the school? Not knowing is killing me. It is only putting more fuel on the blaze of anger inside me.

"So... Is that your sister or something?" Jamie asks, awkwardly, after they were out of sight.

"My fiancee," I answer. This seems to generally surprise him, and I might be confused by that if I wasn't livid right now.

"Wow! How'd mutants find love in a world like this?"

Not being exactly interested in sharing our love story, sit back down with a huff. Now not only do I have to worry about Alex and Ororo while incapable of doing anything. But now I also have to worry about Jean and our unborn child as well.

I'd be worried about Logan, but meh. He's a grown man who can fend for himself better than most. He'll be fine.

It gets quieter as time passes. I realize that several of the prisoners around me have fallen asleep. My anger has simmered to exhaustion and worry. Questions and concerns spin in my head, keeping me awake.

Is everyone alright? Where are they? Are they safe? Are all the mutants in these cells? Or are some being used differently? Tortured? Experimented on? The Professor has spoken before of scientists who use mutants as their guinea pigs. Wolverine's skeleton is living proof of such things. I know that I am borrowing trouble. However, with everyone else sleeping, I have nothing but my thoughts to pay attention to.

Eventually, my fatigue settles in too deeply for me to fight. My thoughts fade slowly into dreams.

My sleep is light and restless. Until I am suddenly stirred awake by rustling outside of the cell. I peel my tired eyes open. It takes a moment for my vision to adjust. The lights in the corridor have been turned off, leaving us washed in darkness.

Then I notice a pair of green eyes watching me through the bars. They're too familiar to mistake for anyone else's, but it causes my stomach to drop.

"Rachel!" I hiss, frowning in disapproval at my daughter. First Jean and now Rachel? Neither of them should be here! "What are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Oh, don't get your panties in a bunch, Dad. I have the Phoenix on my side, remember? Now come on, we don't have much time. I don't know if my team and Magneto can hold off the rest of the MRD for long without me."

Before I can even comprehend what she said, she swipes a card in a slot. The laser beams rise into the ceiling. Then she grabs my hand and pulls me forcefully out the door.

"Wait," I abruptly stop when I realize what she said. "Did you say Magneto?"

To Be Continued...

Author notes: Plot twist, I guess? Don't worry though. The next chapter will backtrack and explain everything about how this came to be.