CHAPTER 27: COUNTDOWN TO ZERO HOUR
When Logan woke up he had a sense of motion about him although he was sure he wasn't moving it was a bit disorienting at first. When his vision cleared up he saw he was in an elevator which explained to him the strange motion he was feeling.
He tried to move but he was in some type of heavy restraints, his arms were behind his back and his fists were pointed in opposite directions and weren't covered. Whoever these jokers were they knew enough to make sure his claws wouldn't be used to his advantage.
He looked around he could smell the men around them, the scent of the metal, the gunpowder of bullets, the leather of combat boots with that stuff military personnel used to clean them with. Aftershave, sweat and other things, he took it all in as he looked around. The place was built far too familiar to him, ever military had their own style.
This was a lot of high end work but nothing flashy, everything had a purpose and it was larger then life as well. He had seen designs like this too many times, "This place looks like SHIELD."
"Hardly freak," Said Trask as he rode the elevator down with him he wanted to personally be there for when the mighty Wolverine woke up. He had been initially disappointed when his people failed to bring in Sabertooth but Wolverine was just as good a prize.
He had read all about him as well, all the SHIELD files, all the missions he went on. The man was a literal one man army, a literal living weapon. He couldn't think of anyone better to test his hope for humanity on one of the most dangerous mutants out there. It would seem fate had smiled on him, "I did work for SHIELD but then I learned of your kind of how they did nothing to stop you. You freaks are monsters and a danger to the world so I made it my mission to exterminate your kind for humanity's sake."
Logan knew this kind of person, a fanatic. The way he talked the anger there in his voice with the hatred. He knew the type, the type that couldn't be reasoned with and thought they were in the right and no action they took no matter what was justified. "Great so ya mind tellin' me why I'm still breathin'? Given that I figured out you want to wipe out mutants."
"Oh you're right about that I still need you alive at least for the moment. I have a little surprise for your kind and you'll help me to test it out." He smiled a none too pleasant smile. Logan narrowed his eyes as the elevator stopped. He was lead into a large area and then he heard a large mechanical sound with a thunderous thump sound.
He looked up and was surprised to see a massive robot there walking out into the large open area. He gritted his teeth knowing full well what Trask had in mind now. Well then he was eager to show them what this tin man was like when it was nothing but clawed up junk.
-Meanwhile-
Magneto was in his private room overlooking his plan Sabertooth had confirmed that Wolverine had been taken. The first move had been made and now the game was in full motion. He knew all about Trask and it was time for the X-Men and Charles to see just what humanity would do, he would force the issue in his own way.
He would show Xavier what the humans were planning and in turn show the world that mutants were a force to be reckoned with. Soon the world would change and he would see to it that all their brothers and sisters would be placed out in the open. They would all know they weren't alone and there were those that would fight for them.
Xavier would be forced to meet the humans and he knew Charles was too stubborn to accept humanity for what it was. But soon after when he was choking on the hate around him he would know. When they flocked to his home in anger, when they tried to come for him and his students he would know the fear that would grip his heart.
Magneto sat back in his chair as he rubbed that spot on his arm, the spot where that blasted number had been marked into his skin. He could have removed it like many had after they were free of the camps but there were those that wore them. Those that chose not to forget and to show the world the suffering they had endured.
He knew all about suffering, he lost his family, his wife, his daughter was practically lost to him. His own son was a bit of a disappointment but only he was to blame for that. But someone had to lead mutants into the future and he was that leader.
Right now though he had set certain things in motion and they couldn't be stopped. He would ready his Acolytes for the great performance that was coming. They had no idea what he had planned and he could keep it that way. Magneto wanted this to go off flawlessly and he knew Trask would be surprised by this turn of events as well.
Now then, Mystique should be on her way to do her part in the plan and bait the trap for the X-Men. Then she would go back to the Brotherhood and keep them ready. If things went wrong he may need them but at the moment they were to keep their heads down. He had to make a few contingencies after all since no plan was ever fool proof.
Soon there would be a day of reckoning and the entire world will soon change.
Although Magneto was making plans his other Acolytes were doing their own thing, they were told to be ready to go out and they were to not leave the base until he said so. Those like Sandman, Sabertooth and Pyro eagerly awaited a challenge. They had been put on the side lines for too long and they really wanted some action.
Sandman especially since gaining his new powers he wanted to truly start to use them. He couldn't wait to get out and see what he could do. Others like Felecia and Remy took it in stride they didn't like being cooped up like this but they were still being paid and if that meant sitting on their asses it was on Magneto's dime after all.
Piotr the mutant also known as Colossus was taking the time for his sister. He walked the halls and went to her room. He smiled seeing her there on the floor coloring in a book. He only wished when she grew up that she could understand why he had to do what he did. With their family gone he had to take care of her and this was the only way.
He had been saving up all this time and putting a fund in her name as well just in case the worst should befall him. Piotr would do anything for his 'little snowflake' and if he had to sell his soul to Magneto then he had no other choice.
Illyana turned her head smiling up at her big brother. "Brother! Please come and see what I drew."
He smiled at her happy tone, she was just so full of life and these moments with her made everything seemed like it was worth it. He knelt down and saw what she was drawing and smiled at the image there. It was a child's drawing of what looked like a happy looking pair.
"This is me, that's you." She pointed to a large looking person with a little girl on his shoulders. There was a large house as well with grass and a sun. "This is a house we'll live in one day…We are going to live somewhere else right?"
He nodded his head sitting down next to her stroking her hair. "Da we will, when I earn enough we will have a nice place to live and you'll have a large yard to play in."
That was one of the reasons he worked for Magneto, he had to provide for her. Also the fact that he was in this country illegally and there were those in Russia that wanted Piotr for his abilities. He remembered how men came to his family farm after his mutation. Things only got harder after that and then the accident that took his family only his little sister had been alive.
They had been on their own until Magneto found him and now all he was doing was trying to make a life for his little sister and himself. "It is very good Illyana."
She beamed happily up at him, "You think I'll be as good as you one day?"
"Yes I think you will be sister," He didn't know what was going to happen soon. But whatever Magneto had planned he was going to spend that time with his sister. He didn't know why but he had this sudden feeling of dread. There was something in the air especially when Magneto was around you could almost feel he was gearing up for something.
He hadn't spoken to the others about his fears but there was just something and he didn't like not knowing. As Piotr sat down and joined her in her drawings he couldn't help but feel that something was coming that may make him rethink his plans for the future.
-Cerebro Room-
Xavier was using Cerebro to help try and locate Logan since he had disappeared off Cerebro's tracking. He had been keeping track of his progress but then he had vanished all of a sudden. He was also over an hour late with checking in as well. Xavier had been down here all that time trying to find Logan and it was deeply troubling him how he couldn't find him.
"Charles is there any word?" He hadn't noticed when someone entered the room he had been too focused to have noticed. He pulled off the metal headpiece and turned around to see May there looking a bit worried. "You've been at this for a long time and you looked dreadfully tired."
Xavier sighed and rubbed his temples he had been at this for a very long time and his mind was feeling the strain. May could see it from where she stood, he was tired and worried sick. So far the students didn't know that Logan was missing but soon they would.
Even she was worried about the gruff man, sure they had their little odd exchanges but there had been a growing friendship there. She walked over to Xavier and placed her hands on his shoulders the tenseness in them was terrible.
It always amazed her how he would seem to put the weight of the world on his shoulders, kind of like Peter. Although where he joked about it Xavier would have this calm and collect about the pressure he bore.
"I'm sure whatever trouble he's in, Logan can find a way out." She tried to assure him as she gently rubbed his shoulders. Xavier let out a sigh normally only Ororo had done this a few times and it was nice when his shoulders got all stressed up although he knew that she was trying to help but he still worried none the less.
"Maybe but he's still in trouble and I have to try."
She sighed and nodded, "Alright but at least take a moment to rest up. I'm not sure how this thing works and I doubt I would understand it but I can see that it takes a lot out of you when you use it for so long. So please take a rest for a bit at least then you can throw yourself back at your work."
He had a small smile on his face as she tried to get him to rest and a part of him wanted to agree with that. He could feel the weariness on his mind and starting to sink into his body. "Perhaps a small rest will do, but I have to get back to it. He could show up at any minute and he may need help when he does."
"That's fine at this point I'll take anything," She told him as they both moved out of the room. They ended up in the kitchen as she talked him into some tea to calm him. He waited as he watched her start up the kettle. So far he hadn't slept much since Logan had vanished over a day ago and he was thinking that maybe he should go to his room and rest.
She poured him some tea and it felt nice as it hit his throat. He took a breath and although he was still very worried about Logan he was put a little more at ease. May sat down next to him sipping her own tea. "Has anything like this happened before?"
Xavier thought about it, the only thing he remembered was a few times like when Magneto had captured his students and himself for his Asteroid M. That had been their most difficult battles but one they had come out on top with. He knew that at some point they may face a challenge they were not ready for or an enemy that was far more powerful that they could fight.
But he always hoped that they would all come through things. "Well it's rare but I do hope for the best."
May smiled at his optimism, "Well then I hope that he turns up soon. And if he was fooling around you can bet that he'll get a strong lecture from me about worrying us."
Xavier couldn't help but smile at that, he had no doubt that she was only joking but it was nice to have his mood lightened a bit. He took the moment to let his mind rest as the two of them were in a comfortable silence. Then Amara came running into the room from the looks of her she had been running as well.
"Professor! Logan juts called and he sounds like there is a major problem. He's asking to speak to you." The Nova Roma princess stated. Immediately Xavier and May went to the nearest phone as Xavier picked it up.
"Logan what's going on? Where are you?" Xavier asked.
"I got taken, something is going on down here at the warehouse district in Manhattan. There's a bunch of stuff going on here." Logan sounded strain like he was injured although Xavier wanted to ask how he was he knew that Logan would only shrug it off given his mutant healing powers.
"Logan who took you?"
"I don't know some strange guys, maybe working with Magneto. They're still after me and I can't get out of this. Damn they're on my trail…" There was a pause on the line then he continued. "Look I don't know how long I can stay here."
"Logan I'll send the others to you as soon as I can. Do you think you can hold out until then?"
"Yeah I think so, look just hurry okay? I'll do my best but there are a lot of them. What the…Damn they're here. Look just hurry up to the lower east side, looks like there's an open lot next to some kind of old coal factory. You should be able to-" But then the line cut down.
"Logan? Are you still there?" Xavier asked the line but all he heard was the dead air of the phone and then that beeping noise that you hear when there is no connection for a moment. Xavier hug up the phone and saw May there looking worried.
"Is it bad?"
He nodded his head, "I'm afraid so. I need to gather the senior students and then go after them." He started to roll on to the lower levels as he sent out a telepathic call to everyone he was going to join with him. They had some work ahead of them and he just hoped they could get there in time.
May stayed behind this was the type of situation where she wasn't needed for. She hated how she had to watch them go out but with her time here she knew that they needed to do this. It was what they did and maybe the world needed young people like them to help it.
She had seen it in Peter and in the others here as well. So May did the one thing she could do, she silently wished them all the best of luck and hoped that they came back okay.
In the New York area where there was a pay phone stood Logan as he had ripped the phone off the at the cord. What was left of the phone was in his hand as he dropped it to the floor, he grinned at the box and looked behind him at where the meeting place would be.
He started to walk and when he reached an alleyway he morphed into Mystique she then turned into one of her human disguises as she reached the other side. She had to admit this was a nice plan by Magneto to lure the X-Men out. Now she had to get back to the Brotherhood and await any further orders.
It wouldn't take her that long she just hoped that she could get back to keep them in their places. The world was about to change and personally she was sick and tired of the hiding of living in shadows all the time. Although Magneto had told her that if needed be the Brotherhood may have to be still kept under the radar.
At least at first but then again maybe they could have some fun with that as well. As she walked on she could only wish to see the faces of the X-Men when it all hit the fan and their world was changed forever. Plus there was one more thing that they may need to do, after she stopped by the Brotherhood she had one more thing to do.
She hated to let that person loose but the added chaos would help fan the fires.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 28: OPENING MOVES