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Slaves to the Cause: Scene 13As she gracefully rose to her feet it dawned on Blaze not who she'd sent away, but what. That calmness, that purest of distractions where she didn't have to face up to anything. Hugging herself tightly she thought of her daughter, feeling the familiar knife blade stab her between the ribs, piercing her heart. Clinging to the pain as it breathed life back into her drained and empty shell, Blaze ascended the gangway into the X-Jet. Her bleeding heart drummed a staccato rhythm as memories of Jessica punctuated her thoughts.
Without knowing it Blaze flung open a storage locker that was nominally Scott's. No point in looking for a way to release her anguish in Wolverine or Gambit's secret alcohol stashes, no doubt they'd be drained by now. Scott furnished Blaze with a three quarters full hip flask of whisky. Hollow and cold Blaze took a swig of the liquid fire. She nearly choked as the taste hit the back of her throat. Somehow she swallowed though, going to peer through the windscreen at the mist droplets clinging to the glass. Tiredness made her joints ache, made her unable to call on her powers to warm her damp and shivering body. When would this all end? When would she find a semblance of real peace?
"That Indigo leavin'?" Logan asked behind her. Blaze glanced over her shoulder and nodded. "Good. Time to go home."
"I can't." Blaze stated numbly. "The reason I'm here in the first place still stands. I can't go back. Don't ask me to explain why."
"Bullshit." Logan told her. "Don't give me that martyred look Blaze. I'm not letting you stay here and rot in your own stinkin' misery. People I care a hell of a lot about are in trouble. Unless you an' the Cajun can come with some clever plan to save 'em, I'm gonna end up stickin' these in a whole lotta people 'til it all goes away."
Blaze glanced at Logan's claws as they slid through his knuckles. Looking up to meet his eyes, she didn't need to be empathic to see the hurt and concern in his face. He's terrified something will happen to Ilehana or the Professor, Blaze realised. She turned her face away feeling humbled.
"The fog is starting to lift." Stifle announced, entering the jet with Gambit. They were both loaded up with the camping gear, ditching it at the rear of the jet for stowing later. "If we want to use its cover from the police and the media, we need to go now."
"All right." Blaze agreed, taking another ceremonial swig of the whisky before passing the bottle to Logan. He copied her without a thought, his claws retracted again. Remy took the next turn before passing the container to Stifle.
"Isn't it a little early for alcohol?" She asked, raising an eyebrow sceptically.
"Welcome to the dark side." Blaze answered with a thin grimace. "Its cheaper than a shrink anyway."
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"What is this place?" Matthew asked breathlessly as he followed his young charges into the safe house that their strange rescuer had brought them to.
"My home." Studd smiled, wheeling himself through an archway and shaking Forge's hand. "Well done old buddy, looks like you got there just in time."
"Lordy," Iona mumbled, gazing around vaguely, "This is something."
"Not as nice as my Dad's place." Sam sniffed, wiping a finger over a surface as though looking for dust. "But a whole lot nicer than that old cabin. Who are you?" The suddenness with which she changed the subject made Studd laugh.
"You're a handful, bet you're the Sam Hawley Gambit and Wolverine told me about. I'm Studd, an old friend of the Cajun." He held out a hand for Sam to shake hesitantly. The girl obliged, looking confused and slightly distrustful of the cat-eyed mutant.
"You know Gambit? Have you seen him recently?" Vertigo didn't have the same issues Sam did with these strangers.
"Yes, yes!" Studd chuckled, "He and Wolverine paid me a visit not too long ago, they've gone to pick up Blaze and then they are coming right back to put all this to rights, you'll see. Now come on in kids, make yourselves at home, the more the merrier. There's plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, just throw your laundry in the chute and we'll get it cleaned up…" The spectacled man seemed to relish the idea of guests who needed his utmost care and attention.
Matthew watched the kids all file off up the stairs, mumbling amongst themselves. They had not only managed to rescue the stragglers who had gone missing during their battle with the GRSO troops, but also a good deal of their possessions from the cabin. Exhausted by the ordeal, Matthew was quite happy to hand over the care of the teenagers into the hands of other adults. The last few days had reminded him why he'd never even considered being a teacher.
"I don't know how you found us." Matthew finally spoke to Forge and Studd, shaking slightly with his own exhaustion. "But thank you."
"Come with us." Forge took Matthew's arm and guided him to Studd's cave of wonders. "There are some things you need to see."
Matthew tried to remain calm as he was informed about the President's trial, the demise of the X-Men, the national curfews and the widespread violence against mutants led by the GSRO specialist soldiers and the National Guard. He saw confirmation that the X-Men had indeed all been captured and moved to an undisclosed 'secure location'. He learned that not all the children from the school were accounted for, but that they were still being hunted down. With no adults to protect them, Matthew was sure the prognosis for them was not good.
"We can't leave them out there!" The indignant voice of Sam came from the doorway. "We have to rescue them, its what the Professor would want us to do."
"You did good today Sam," Matthew told her, "But don't go getting ahead of yourself. You'll put yourself in danger again if you go trying anything rash like that."
"Don't lecture me Matt!" Sam snapped; negating the kiss she'd given him earlier. "Just 'cause you're a paper-pushing coward who can't even get a girl to go on a date with him! I'm not leaving my classmates out there getting picked off by some freakin' sociopaths just because there's no X-Men left to help them! And don't start that Wolverine and company will be back soon to save the day 'cause their minds will be on the bigger picture, on the President and whatever. Who knows how many kids will be dead before then?"
"The girl has spirit." Forge spoke calmingly, placing a hand on Shockwave's shoulder. "Don't worry yourself Shockwave, Studd and I are already tracking the GRSO communications. Its how we found you, and if they come close to finding the other children we will act accordingly. You will be welcome to make your contribution. I admit I have been wondering just how many more practical jokes you have inflicted on your teachers you have stored up your sleeves?"
"Plenty." Sam grunted, sticking her tongue out at Matthew as Forge guided her from the room. Matthew let her go, shaking his head and folding his arms.
"It should be Blaze taking this punishment, not me." He grumbled to Studd, "I should be sunning myself in the Bahamas or somewhere, forget that damn Hawley girl and her damned Senator father. I do not need this grief anymore."
"Don't believe you." Studd wasn't even really listening; he was intent on a computer screen and some CCTV images that flickered across it. "Now then, will you lookie at that? I am a genius! I've just got in to the CCTV footage for the Xavier Mansion, GRSO style! Say 'Hi' Professor, you're on candid camera!"