1Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of X-Men Evolution, they belong to Marvel and Kids WB; this story is making me no money.
Charles Xavier sat in his study, and reviewed the Institute financial records as he tried to not think about his current predicament, a futile attempt. Since Scott had left things had been quiet, almost like the eery calm before the storm; he anticipated an invasion force could be at his doorstep at any minute and he felt powerless in what he could do. Though confident that the mansion's defense systems could adequately protect the children inside for a while, who knows how long they would last. He had to admit that his mind was more preoccupied with the children not under his roof at the time. Neither his government contacts nor Cerebro had drawn out any successful leads. "It's all up to Scott now," he thought and worried he would only lose another of his children.
The Professor's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock on his door and immediately sensed the last of his X-Men, Dani Moonstar. "Come in Dani," he spoke up.
Dani entered but stopped at the doorway. "Sorry I didn't mean to disturb you," she said as she glanced at the documents that covered up most of his desks, and the ledger in his lap.
"No, merely some minor paper work, please sit down," he said with a warm and inviting tone.
Dani nodded approaching his desk and then taking a seat. "I was just curious if you got any leads, heard from Scott or anything," she asked.
"I'm afraid not," the Professor sighed as he sat back. "Dani, I know you are worried but we mustn't lose hope..." he began when suddenly a beeping noise interrupted him. "My video phone," he said as he pressed a button on his desk.
A phone rose out of the side of his desk and a screen folded up. "Professor," a familar voice called out as a the picture became clear.
"Scott," the Professor responded with surprise and smiled as the picture became a bit clearer. Dani's head rose and her face brigthened.
"Sir we found them," Scott called out with a smile as Jean appeared behind him, smiling at the Professor.
"Well not all of us," she pointed out. "But we're on our way to," she explained.
The Professor smiled. "Jean you are alright, thank goodness, but what about the others," he asked with concern.
"Kitty, and Bobby are with us, but they still have Kurt, Paige, Jubilee, Logan, and Ororo," Scott explained.
"What about Rogue?"
"That's a bit more complicated," Scott began. "We'll have to explain that later, but we have someone who wants to talk to you?"
"Hello Charles," Sean Cassidy said as he appeared on the view screen.
"Hello Sean, I'm glad to see your in one piece and there to keep a look out for my students. But could you please appraise me of the situation?"
Sean nodded. "It seems a man we both know all to well is back, William Stryker."
"Stryker is behind this," Xavier frowned. "I must admit it does fit perfectly."
"He's using mutants for military purposes, both as soldiers and as testing," Sean shook his head. "With Scott and Ms. Frost's help among other factors we managed to escape during an operation to capture the Juggernaut, and now we are en route to his compound. We're sending you the coordinates we discovered, we'd hope you'll past them to the Department of Defense and apprise them of the situation, I fear if Stryker isn't stopped soon, the prisoners lives could be in grave danger."
Charles nodded. "Of course my friend, I will ensure you get the assistance you need if I have to talk to the President himself," he said.
"I'm sure you will."
"One last thing Sean, please watch our my children," the Professor said softly.
Sean nodded. "I'll do my best, Cassidy out," he said as the phone closed.
"Well it looks all is not hopeless," Charles said as he looked up at Dani who had taken the whole conversation in but remained silent.
"Where are they headed," Dani asked. "I need to go," she said firmly ready to fight any objection he might have
The Professor slowly nodded. "I thought you would say that, and it seems your team-mates are going to need all the help they can get. I suggest you find Mr. Beaubier, I have a few calls to make" he said as he picked up his phone and began to dial as Dani ran off to find the Canadian speedster.
Scene Scene
Stryker slammed his fist into the wall as he watched another of his soldiers fall as the weather witch thrashed him. The battle suits were not being nearly as effective as they were suppose to be and ever since she had been released he had slowly began to lose control of the situation and it evolved into a stalemate. He had the men and weapons to keep the mutants contained but not to subdue them. "We need to end this once and for all," he said.
"Sir," one of his technicians asked with confusion in his tone.
"Send in our operatives."
Meanwhile Logan took a knee to catch his breath after fighting off another of Stryker's armored soldiers. "What I wouldn't' do for a cigar," he muttered.
Jubilee rushed over to him. "Are you okay," she asked as she examined his beaten up and bleeding body, which was covered by his equally ravaged clothes.
"I'm fine kid," Logan smiled but then frowned as he saw the soldiers, both the injured and those still able to fight, pulling away from their attack.
Storm realized the lack of pursuit as well and quickly landed on the ground next to Logan. "It looks as if they are giving up."
"I know," he grunted.
"Isn't that good news," Jubilee chirped in.
"They're up to something, looks like they are just forming a perimeter, keep us contained till they unleash something else," he frowned.
"Agreed," Storm nodded. "I also am suspicious that they will indeed go in for the kill now, it seems they are done trying to take us down."
"I'm sure Stryker is pissed his flunkies haven't been able to subdue us yet, this was probably all just to test out those battle suits. If he is done with us, well lets just say it's a bad thing."
"Look they are parting in the middle," Jubilee pointed out and the two adult stood in front of her ready to fight.
"Stay out of the line of fire," Storm ordered her. "They might spare you if they do indeed to unleash everything on us."
"I can fight to," Jubiliee pleaded but was rebuffed by both her elders.
"They better hurry this up, If I'm going to die...," he began but stopped short and began to sniff, growling as he recognized the first scent immediately. "Two figures approaching, one of them's Creed,"he growled then gasped. "Wait a minute I recognize that scent..."
Two figures in black uniforms appeared at the center of the soldiers. Storm immediately took flight, before Logan could finish. "I hate to do this but we must take the advantage," she said as she prepared to aim, but then saw a familiar face. "Rogue," she gasped.
Rogue flew up in the air to meet her. "Hello Storm, I hate to do this but it has to be done" she said as she charged right into her.
Meanwhile Creed immediately charged at Logan and the two began to tackle each other, flying in every direction with equal amounts of anger and brute force.
Scene Scene
"ETA 15 minutes, Scott announced from the pilot's chair. "Okay ladies and gentlemen we have to figure out our game plan," he said. "Jean, Emma, and Lady Mastermind all have complete layouts of the compound from the pilot," he explained. The pilot was unconscious and tied up in the back of the aircraft.
"That means we all have to be with one of them at all times," Sean explained. "We don't know if we'll have the advantage of surprise or not, so everyone's going to have to keep their head up and prepare to improvise. Even if we do surprise them they still are armed to the teeth and very dangerous."
"And what if do not wish to get involved in your operation," Scrambler grumbled. "Some of us value our lives and do not have the luxury of revenge to blind us." Blockbuster grunted with indicating he agreed
"Well you could of said something when we were taking off," Bobby interjected.
"We didn't have much of a choice with the military chasing us," he snapped back.
"Well we could throw you out of the chopper if that would make you feel better," Lady Mastermind said looking him square in the eye. "So we can do that or you can shut up."
Scrambler quickly silenced himself and Emma smirked. "I like her," she thought.
"Now with that settled, we should be getting told to identify any second now," Lady Mastermind explained.
Suddenly the helicopter's machines began to beep widely. "Looks like they know who we are," Scott frowned as he looked at the radar, and saw several missiles headed straight for them. "Kitty can you phase us,"he asked.
"I'll try," Kitty nodded as she grabbed hold of the aircraft and concentrated. Three missiles flew through the helicopter as if it wasn't even there. "Can't hold much longer," she groaned as a few more missiles made it through.
"Come on Kit, there's only a few more," Bobby said trying to encourage her.
"I need to breathe," she gasped just as another missile was passing through the phased aircraft, becoming stuck into the floor.
"We have a slight problem," Sean muttered as he glanced at the armed missile right near their feet. "We need to land and now."
"Jean can you guide us down with your TK," Scott asked.
"I'll try," Jean nodded as she projected a field around the craft and began to ease it down. Just as she started another blast off the port side of the craft made the entire aircraft shake. "Another hit like that and we won't make it to the ground."
"Iceman create a slide for us to land," Sean said and Bobby moved to act.
"The facility is in the mountain, we'll have to walk," Emma frowned. "That is if they're defense systems don't blow us to bits."
Scott paused. "Wait Jean can you aim us to crash into the mountainside?"
"Are you nuts," Jean asked but then looked Scott in the eye and realized he had a plan. "Wait maybe you have something. "Kitty are you ready to phase again?"
"I guess so," Kitty nodded. "Wait you want to get inside the mountain?"
Sean paused for a second then grinned. "Brilliant, bloody brilliant," he managed to get out with a look of amazement on his face.
"Well here goes," Jean said as they neared the mountain. "Kitty prepare to phase in 5, 4, 3, 2,1... NOW!."
Kitty closed her eyes and clenched the helicopter as hard as she could just as the nose of the chopper was about to make an impact. The aircraft phased through the hard rock harmlessly, and with great luck, landed in the middle of one of the docking ports. Kitty let go and took a breath as the large vehicle skidded across the floor. "Not doing that again for a while," she said as Bobby caught her.
The alarms ran wild and soon many of the soldiers were rushing in to quell the invasion. "Alright people time to move, and fast," Sean said as he heard the sound of several weapons clicking.
"Yeah good luck with that," Scrambler said as he jumped out of the aircraft with his hands up. "I surrender." BlockBuster quickly followed suit and did the same.
"Those sellouts," Bobby yelled.
"Something tells me that wasn't the wisest move," Sean commented as he saw the soldiers continue to aim their weapons.
A few soldiers slowly approached and aimed their weapons. "Get on your knees, and put your hands behind your head." They did as they were told and weapons were pointed at them, they clicked.
Apparently Scrambler got the message and used his powers to disable the weapons and BlockBuster threw his assailant across the room. The other soldiers reacted in kind and opened fire.
"Now before they are distracted," Sean called out and the others all climbed out of the aircraft and began to try and get through the preoccupied soldiers.
"What about them," Kitty asked but Sean pulled her.
"Forget it lass, nothing we can do to save them," he explained and then took flight using his sonic scream on the soldiers who had realized the other mutants were making a break for it.
"Bobby ice them out," Scott said after everyone had made it through, amidst the gun fire. Bobby nodded and created a wall of ice that immediately received gunfire.
The group reached two corridors going in separate directions. "Which way," Sean questioned.
"The one on the left is to the holding area, the one on the right leads to the command center and Stryker," she said coldly before heading right. Scott followed after her before looking back at Sean.
"We'll take control of the command center, you free the prisoners," he said almost ordering the older mutant, but the Irishmen held his tongue. Emma quickly followed after Scott.
"Oh no she doesn't," Jean said as she went right as well.
"So much for staying with the telepaths," Kitty shrugged as she, Sean and Bobby went left just as the ice wall was shattered.
Scene Scene
"What do you mean they got in," Stryker snarled as he shook one of his aides, then pushed him away. "This can't be happening," he growled then calmed down. "Well at least you nailed two of them. But get the rest of them and tell the men not to hesitate," he growled. "Now for some good news," he said as he glanced over at his monitors. Wolverine was finally being subdued by Sabretooth, giving his men time to regroup and prepare his last piece of weapons technologies. "Excellent, putting the implant in his head this time worked quite well, hopefully Creed won't tear his head off first, though Wolverine won't give up easy," he thought. He pressed a button on the screen and the camera view changed to Storm and Rogue who were flying across, Storm's experience was obvious since she was winning, but her unwillingness to use brute force was apparent. "Now this could be very interesting."
Storm indeed was holding back, she had effectively used the wind to blow Rogue away several times, but refused to go in for the final hit to win the fight; she was confused and didn't want to hurt the team, who she felt was very confused. "Please Rogue, stop it," Storm pleaded once again.
"Ah already told you ah have to do this," she snapped back before charging at her again and this time getting her in the stomach. She flew up and then down on to Storm's shoulders, sending her into the ground. "Well time to do this," she thought as she removed one of her gloves.
Storm could here herself moaning as she opened her eyes and saw the ceiling, as well as Rogue rapidly approaching. She was hurting but staying down wasn't an option. "I hate to do this," she frowned as her eyes began to glow. A tornado formed above her and engulfed Rogue, spinning around at rapid speeds.
Rogue felt like she was on a never ending roller coaster, she was sure she was going to vomit but she had a job to do and she was going to do it. She tried to fly against the cyclone and got no where. "Damn it," she groaned but then got an idea and flew with the wind. After going around a few times she flew right out of the cyclone and toward the wall, slamming right into it. "Whoa." She regained her senses and headed straight for Storm again.
"Here we go again," Storm sighed as she stood up again and prepared to blow Rogue away. "What is wrong with this girl, is there anyway to get through to her," she sighed.
Rogue charged at her preparing to hit her again when suddenly Storm lay down her hands and just stood there waiting for her. Confused, the young mutant landed next to her. "What is this," she challenged, suspicion in her tone.
"I'm done fighting you," Storm sighed. "If your going to take me down, you better do it. But if you wish to know what I think, its that you aren't the type of person who would take out someone who was defenseless."
"Yeah your right," Rogue sighed as she turned away for a second then sighed. "But ah'm sorry," she said before slapping her bare hand on Storm's cheek, draining the weather mutant to knock her unconscious. Rogue's eyes began to glow. "Well it's done," she sighed, glanced at Storm then ran out into the corridor. She pushed through several soldiers until she reached an empty corridor and a box on the wall with warning signs on it. "I hope this works," she said as her eyes began to glow.
The soldiers paid little attention as they re-entered with a new weapon attached to their armor. The one in the lead glared at Logan, ready to fight.
Logan was wrestling with Creed, it was a typical fight between the two, little surprises except Creed hadn't said much. "So hair bag, don't you want to run your mouth before you kill me," Logan grunted as he flipped Sabretooth in the wall. Sabretooth merely growled as he got back up and charged at him. "Well guess Stryker has you under his leash, he'll make you sleep outside if you talk out of turn."
He wasn't paying attention to the four soldiers who were ready to re-enter the fray. "General, the upgrade is ready," a Lieutenant said over his communicator.
"Then fire," Stryker snapped back.
"But Sabretooth is in the way."
"Collateral damage, he would of became a liability eventually, DO IT."
"You heard him," the Lieutenant said as he prepared to aim right at the battling mutants.
Jubilee sat over the weakened Storm and pulled her over to the side, propping her up. "It's going to be okay Storm," she said and got a moaning as an answer. "Well at the very least your showing signs of life," the girl shrugged. She looked up and saw the soldiers preparing to fire.
"Oh my god, LOGAN," she exclaimed and created as bright a firework as she could right at the soldiers as they were ready to fire.
Logan, caught the blast in the corner of his eye, then heard an energy blast and then a scream as he pushed Sabretooth off him again. He saw the four soldiers grabbing their eyes as if they had been blinded, and glanced over at one of the walls, which had a smoldering blast mark into it. Below it lay the motionless body of Jubilee. "No," he exclaimed and slit Creed's throat as the other mutant prepared to fight again, then rushed to her side. "Kid, wake up," he said as he shook her.
"Hey," she groaned. "Good they missed you," she groaned.
"Don't worry kid we're gonna get you some help alright," he said as he began to tear up just a little bit.
"Yeah sure," she coughed. "Look I just want you to know something, and tell the others," she began and he tried to protest but she shook her head. "No, just thank you, for this time, my life it wasn't going anywhere, cough cough, but you guys at least gave me hope for a little bit, cough, gave me family. Can you just tell them that."
"Yeah kid, of course," he nodded and watched as she closed her eyes. He looked at her then slowly lay her body down. He stood up, glancing back to see Creed still clenching his ripped throat, not healed yet. Then he looked up at the quartet of murderers standing before him, they would go first then Stryker. He began to charge at them as they readied their recharged weapons, no smart remarks here, just pain. Fueled by rage he began to slice into them, the restraint Charles Xavier had instilled in him was eroded. There would be no holding back.
Storm awoke, realizing what had happened and looked up to see Jubilee's motionless body and turned to see Logan's savage display. "Logan," she yelled out, but then everything went black.
Everything went black, the Testing Area, all the corridors, the holding area, and the command center. In one empty corridor, was the one person who understood what had happened.
"It worked," Rogue breathed with excitement her hands glowing with electricity, as an electrical conduit sparked up in front of her.
Scene Scene
In the Command Center, Stryker sat in his chair clenching at the arms. From what he had seen, his attempt to eliminate Wolverine had failed, all it did was kill that child and thus unleash the beast, who now was preying his corridors. Not just him, those pests were all over his corridors, trying to find their way to him. "Well I'm not going without a fight," he snarled and reached under his desk in the dark. It was still there, he could feel his weapon as it clicked for him. He now knew what he had to do, and smiled as the emergency lights brought minimal light to the room.
"Sir what are your orders," one of his aides asked.
Stryker stood up and headed for the doors. "I suggest you and any other man gets out of here, and live to fight another day," he said and exited the room.
Scene Scene
In his holding cell, Kurt stared into the dark corridor of the holding area, with frustration. He couldn't believe his sister was acting this way, and she was also so cryptic as well, he had become convinced she was trying to tell him something, but what? His thoughts were interrupted when any light in the holding area just disappeared. "Vow this even a little dark for me," he said to himself as he looked out. Despite the darkness, his nocturnal eyes allowed him to see with little trouble. He glanced down at his collar, the normal light that emitted from it was gone. "Vell vill you look at that," he said to himself and concentrated.
Without trouble he teleported out of his cell and into the corridor. He glanced down the hall and could see at the entrance the guards were all standing in the darkness, a bit confused. "It's checkout time," he said as he glanced at the other cells and spotted Paige. "Paige vake up,"he called out.
Paige had finally fallen asleep in her little cell, when she opened her eyes she quickly remembered she had been imprisoned. "Kurt," she called out for all she saw was darkness. "Are you out there?"
"Good your awake, can you get out," he asked. "Your powers should vork now."
Paige was confused, she still felt the collar around her neck, but if Kurt had escaped, maybe it was worth a try. She concentrated on her hand, changing it into a metal, then punched open her cell door. She rushed out and met up with Kurt. "Well that was a little loud,"
Another crash was heard. "Not as loud as me petite," the familiar voice of Gambit said and he made a card in his hand glow, giving them some light. "Thought I'd join the party," he shrugged. "I'm sure the jailers will be coming, and since we'd already made the noise," Remy began before sprinting over to several cells and charging the glass. "Stand back ladies and gents," he said before the glass shattered open.
The other mutants poured out and charged the entrance of the holding area when it burst open.
"I guess they heard you," Kurt whispered to Remy as they prepared to fight whatever was coming to charge them.
"Relax ah ain't no soldier," a familiar voice spoke out.
"Rogue," Kurt smiled as he ran over to his sister. "Vait I thought you vere.." he began.
"It's a long story, lets just say ah wasn't exactly straight with ya before," she said as she hugged her brother back. Her hand sparked, causing his fur to stand up on end.
"Vait that's new," he observed. "Electricity that's new, vait did you have something to do with the power outage."
Rogue nodded. "Ah been waiting for my opportunity to get past these jokers, but ah had to drain a little bit of Storm," she sighed. "But she's near Logan so ah thought she might be okay, but come one we have to go help him."
"Not our problem," Arclight sneered as she, Scalp Hunter, Grizzly, and several other mutants pushed past them and bolted for the door. Kurt observed that besides Paige and Gambit, only Sabra and Wright had stuck around.
"That's gratitude for yah," Paige huffed.
"Well we'll be happy to help you," Wright said in his rich british accent. "Micromax, agent of MI-6 at your service," he said. Sabra simply gave a nod.
"Hello cherie," Gambit winked and went to kiss her hand but she pulled it away.
"Ah don't even want to ask," she rolled her eyes before leading the way out, amidst the darkness, alarms, and gun fire.
Scene Scene
The armored door of the command center was blasted open and one man and three woman poured inside. "Figures he'd run off before we'd get here," Emma huffed at the seemingly empty room.
"Maybe so but he left us something," Jean said and used her Telekinesis to lift a skinny technician, who had been hiding behind some of the larger equipment.
"Do your worst I'm a soldier and I can take it," he said.
"Chair," Emma motioned, Scott pulled one in front of them and Jean lowered the soldier in the chair. "This might hurt," Emma said. "Wait, Might? Who am I kidding this will hurt," she as she placed her hands on his head and began to dig into his head, he moaned in pain as she did this without restraint, as Scott and Jean watched on.
"Normally I would find this unethical, but under the circumstances I guess we have no choice," Jean commented and waited for a response but got none. "Scott," she asked. "Did you hear me?"
"Oh yeah right," Scott said as he looked back at her, he was obviously distracted.
"What's wrong," she asked as she could tell how distraught he was.
"It's nothing," he tried to assure her. "Nothing I can tell you about," he thought as he glanced back at Emma and thought of the price of her help.
Jean fold her arms and shook her head. "Nothing? Your so transparent, obviously something's on your mind," she sighed.
"I just really want to get Stryker, he has a lot to answer for," Scott said as he tried to convince her this was his only concern. "He killed John, captured all of you, and then today one of his thugs almost put a bullet in your head. If he had I'm not sure..." he paused as she came closer to him. "Look we just have to stop him," he said.
Jean sensed he was holding back a lot but this was not the time to pry. "I know we have to," she nodded. "But I know your hiding something, if you don't want to tell me it's okay," she nodded.
Scott paused. He knew he should tell her about his deal with Emma. "Okay here's the thing..." he began but was interrupted by the loud thud made by the soldier when he hit the ground after Emma released him.
"Seems our good friend Stryker has ordered a mass evacuation," Emma explained. "This charming fellow just got to call when we made our grand entrance."
"What about Stryker," Scott frowned.
"He apparently has a personal mode of escape, a plane in the hangar with a full armament and he was on his way down last reported. We might be able to catch him but we can't use our telepathy to track him since he's still wearing a neural repressor."
"We have to catch him," Scott demanded. "Who knows what he'll do with that armament."
"If you let me finish I'll tell you," Emma frowned. "His intention seems to be to clean up his mess as it were, by burying all of us."
"Move now," Scott ordered and rushed out to the corridor with Emma at his tale.
Jean turned back to Lady Mastermind who was kneeling over her father's dead body, which had done since they entered. Her face displayed a mix of sorrow and of rage. She looked up at Jean and sighed. "I am coming, he must pay," she nodded and the two went to join up with Scott and Emma.
In the corridor Emma grabbed Scott by the shoulder. Scott turned back while he continued to run. "What is it, we have work to do."
"Oh yes we do Scotty boy, just don't forget our agreement, and remember lips shut," she whispered just as Jean and Lady Mastermind could be seen catching up.
Scene Scene
Meanwhile in another dark corridor, Bobby, Kitty and Sean huddled behind an ice barrier as they were showered by gunfire. Sean clenched an AK-47 he managed to get his hands on, getting up every so often to fire.
"You know all things considering this ain't half bad, especially since we're in the dark. Almost romantic huh?" Bobby grinned as Kitty was huddled up close to him, bandaging his shoulder which had been grazed by a bullet.
Kitty smacked him in the head and rolled her eyes. "Just for the record this doesn't count for a night out, as soon as we get out of this you owe me dinner and a movie buster."
"Yee have to get out of this first," Sean frowned. "So why don't yee get off your arse and do something?"
Bobby shrugged and looked over at Kitty. "What," she asked.
"Well you're the brains, think of something."
"Oh like so typical," she sighed then thought for a second before whispering something in Bobby's ear.
"Wow that might just work," he nodded, then iced up and stepped ahead away from the barrier.
"What are yee doing lad," Sean gasped as he saw the boy get up and in plain site.
"Hey guys take your best shot," he said before firing out several ice blasts.
"Has the boy gone mad," Sean wondered and turned to Kitty to only see she had gone missing. "And now where did she go." He turned back just in time to see Bobby get blasted to pieces.
"My god," Sean gasped.
"That was easy," one soldier was heard saying as he and his group slowly approached the debris.
"You've got that right," a familiar voice rang out and the soldiers looked behind them to catch Bobby and Kitty phase out from the floor. Bobby immediately set out a blast, binding them together with ice. Bobby turned to Kitty. "Good plan, we should do that again."
"Like there ever was any doubt," she grinned. "You can come out now Sean," she said.
"Yee could give a man a little warning, you kids almost gave me a bloody heart attack ," he frowned.
"Relax," Bobby said as he began to go down the corridor. "I mean no harm done, nobody got shot, its smooth sailing..."
"Quiet," Sean whispered as he grabbed Bobby's mouth and listened for a second. "Footsteps," he whispered and then leaned up against the wall, preparing to take on whatever was about to come around the corridor. Bobby and Kitty followed suit. "Okay on the count of 3, we'll jump them. 1... 2... 3...
"Voah there," the familiar voice of Kurt rang out as Sean popped out with his fire arm. "Nice to see you guys too," he said with his hands up, with his group of mutant allies, all who seemed just as battle worn as Sean and his associates.
"Kurt," Kitty smiled as she gave him a big hug. "And Paige, and Gambit, and more people, wait where did Rogue come from."
"Rogue, what's she doing with you," Bobby demanded. "Last I checked you switched sides."
"Look sorry about before but that's what I needed yah to think," Rogue explained.
"Jah she created the power outage that freed us," Kurt explained. "Ve'd still be stuck in the holding area if it vasn't for her," he said, in adamant defense of his sister.
"Ah don't really care how yah feel about me right now, we need to help Logan before its too late," she said.
Suddenly a group of soldiers began to come storming down the corridor. "It seems we have yet more to deal with," Micromax commented as he hung on to Sabra, who was keeping him from falling to the floor.
"Remy don't care how tired he might be, he'll keep fighting till we all get out of here," Gambit said definetely and winked at Rogue who just scoffed. Sean and Bobby exhibited similar sentiment as Bobby readied his hand with ice and Sean reloaded his firearm. But to their surprise the soldiers simply kept going down the corridor with little regard for the group of mutants.
"I admit I'm new to all this adventuring, but aren't they suppose to attack us," Paige asked.
"Aye, but something is going on here," Sean began. "The only reason they wouldn't engage us is because they have new orders."
"They're evacuating," Bobby spoke up. "Jeanie just dropped me a line, Stryker's going to blow this place to bits."
"Just great," Sean frowned. "Well we better move, and fast."
"But Logan and Storm," Rogue said adamantly.
"Too late," a familar voice grunted from the darkness.
"Logan," Kitty smiled, but she quickly sighed in horror as he appeared out the darkness, carrying a lifeless Jubilee. He was drenched in blood, which everyone knew was mostly not his.
"Mein Got," Kurt sighed while his fellow students looked in shock, not being able to speak. Remy charged a card, and flung it into the darkness, his eyes glowed with rage. Paige looked like she was going to collapse.
Storm appeared behind Logan, looking a bit winded and battered, but otherwise fine. Her face told it all, despite her attempts to put a positive light on the situation. "Oh thank goodness you are all okay," she said as she approached, the others. "I see you have discovered what has happened," she sighed. "But we must press on," she said with determination.
Sean nodded in agreement. "Looks like we have everyone accounted for, we better just contact Cyclops and the others and tell them to meet us in the docking port...," he was about to continue when Logan started to move again.
"Sean do me a favor and make sure she gets the body's taken care of" he said as he motioned for Sean to take the body.
"Logan, where are you going," Storm questioned with confusion.
"I have business with an old associate," he said as he began to head out.
"But we need you here,.." Storm tried to continue but Logan blew her off and continued to walk.
Sean rolled his eyes and chased after him, getting in front of him. "Look I know yuir hurting, but this is no time to..."
"Get out of my way," Logan growled. "I won't ask you again."
Sean paused for a second. "I didn't want to do this," he sighed turned away, before punching Logan in the jaw. "Ouch that smarts," Sean said and shook his hand.
Logan rubbed his jaw and growled as he stood up. "Damn it Sean what's the big idea."
"No," Sean snapped. "What's the big idea with you, I need yee here to help me get them all out of here, not going off on some pointless mission of revenge. Knowing Stryker he's already has executed his exit strategy. And I bet his men aren't going to be to generous in helping us escape, we'll need all the muscle we can get to catch a lift. I know yee angry but yee want a risk even one of them lying beside her."
Logan paused for a second and sighed and glanced over at Bobby, Kitty, Paige, Rogue, and Kurt, then he began to walk back to the group. "You heard the man, we're getting out of here," he said before picking up Jubilee's body and heading in the direction toward the docking port.
Scene Scene
Scott's quartet finally reached the docking port and quickly looked around at the several aircrafts that were taking off during the evacuation. "Oh just great," Scott frowned. "He could be in any of these aircrafts."
"Look for the one that sticks out," Lady Mastermind suggested. "A personal craft would be smaller and knowing Stryker be unique considering his ego. Like say that one that's heading out right now," she suggested to a jet that was just about to launch out of the hanger.
"Jean get us over there," Scott said with out hesitating and Jean took the two of them in flight while Emma was left behind in a huff. "Faster," Scott said. "It's taking off now."
"I'm going as fast as I can Scott," Jean responded as she concentrated on getting them over there. "Almost there," she said as Stryker's jet was almost completely out of the hangar and it's engines revving up.
"We're not going to make it, push me toward them," Scott said and Jean gasped at him. "I know it's risky but it's the only way we'll save everyone," he explained.
Jean nodded with reluctance and let go as she sent him along with a strong push.
Scott landed with a thud on one of the wings of the craft and quickly gripped them so he wouldn't fall. "Perfect landing," he told himself as he aimed his visor at a vent on the roof of the craft. After blasting it open he managed to work his way over to it and crawled in. He quickly tumbled into a holding area adjacent to the cockpit where Stryker sat.
Scott got up and readied his visor. "This ends Stryker," Scott called out.
The General immediately swung around. "Oh it's you again boy, at last we meet again," he said and drew his side arm firing it at Scott just as Scott fired an optic blast. Both men were pushed back. Stryker immediately typed something into the controls before running past Scott.
"Oh no you don't," Scott snapped as he tackled the fleeing general. "Your not going anywhere," he said as he pinned the older man to the ground and grabbed his fire arm before he could reach it. "Your going to answer for your crimes."
"You and I have differing opinions on who the real criminals are," Stryker retorted. "But would you rather detain me, or your save your friends."
"Shut up," Scott snapped back.
"Oh please, my weapons are already locked on the mountain, they launch as soon as we're a safe distance away. Your friends are still there, last I checked," he said. "Your choice."
Scott paused for a second and punched Stryker hard in the nose before dropping him and sprinting to the cockpit.
"Thought so," the General smiled to himself as he got himself back up and rubbed his nose. He pulled a parachute out of the compartment and slid open a door. "See you in hell boy," he said before jumping out.
Meanwhile Scott frantically tried to abort the launch, but there was no way he could break the code. If only he could contact Kitty and get advice, but there was no time. He saw the count down and knew it was now or never and took the controls. "Jean, Professor, I know you can hear me, I'm sorry I have to do this, tell everyone I love them," he thought with as much clarity and as loud as he could.
Jean stood by the hanger with Emma and Lady Mastermind watching the plane fly off, she could only hope Scott would manage to stop Stryker. "Come on Scott," she prayed.
"You guys made it,' Kurt's voice could be heard as he and the others approached them after finding their way to the hangar.
"Thank goodness you found your way out," Storm said as he approached Jean. "But where is Scott," she asked.
Jean was about to respond when she grabbed her head, as if she was getting a telepathic message. "Scott," She cried out loud and fell to her knees. .
"Jean what is it," Storm asked as she grabbed her just as a large exlplosion could be heard.
"That plane just went down," Remy exclaimed as he looked out where Jean had been looking.
Jean and Emma both grabbed their heads in pain and cried with sorrow. "He's gone," Emma whispered.
Storm gasped. "Where is Scott, Jean where is he," she asked frantically.
"He was on the plane," Lady Mastermind spoke up. "He was trying to stop General Stryker."
"Not Scott,' Storm cried as she put her arms around Jean and the two began to cry together.
"Wait you mean..." Bobby began but he couldn't manage to get out the words, he just couldn't believe it, his eyes began to tear. Kitty grabbed hold of him and held him as close as she could, though her eyes were tearing just as much as his were.
"Stryker!" Logan roared and began to tear into the wall with his claws in an undirected rage.
"Scott," Paige sighed softly and began to cry as well Sean grabbed the girl and tried to provide comfort.
Rogue was speechless and merely rested her head against Kurt who began to speak softly. "I walk in the valley of the shadow of death..." he began to recite.
The other mutants present merely bowed their heads in respect and all was quiet but weeping and words of comfort for several minutes till Gambit broke the silence. "Do ya'll here that," he asked.
Sean perked up his ears and nodded. "Sounds like helicopters," he said and they turned to see a fleet of military helicopters coming across the horizon.
"Come to finish the job,' Logan growled. "Lucky them I really want to fight right now."
But before Logan could say anything a familar white blur blew into the docking port. Jean Paul and Dani appeared.
"Cavalry is here," Jean Paul bowed. "We aren't a little late are we?" he asked.
Dani's powers immediately picked up the enormity of the sorrow around and she fell to her knees. She looked up at Jean Paul as she began to weep. "We're too late."
Back at the Xavier Institute, Charles Xavier sat in his chair completely silent with a blank look on his face. "My son," he said to himself.
Okay that's the end of Weapon X. Interesting twist, I'm sorry to all the Scott and Jubes fans about their deaths, but you have to trust me on this. There's a method to my madness. There will be an epilogue to deal with the immediate fall out and set up things for Book II. Please Review I'd love input.
