CHAPTER 28: OPENING MOVES
The X-Men were suited up as they were getting ready for their mission, Xavier was watching then as they were boarding the helicopter for this mission the Blackbird was too large for something like this. Storm was going with them as he would stay with Cerebro and hope that he could help them locate Logan's position.
Then he noticed Wanda in her Scarlet Witch uniform walking up to the vehicle and he hadn't planned on her going. He moved himself in front of her, "Wanda what are you thinking?"
"My father is involved so I'm going," She said in a harsh tone everyone knew that she had a lot of anger against Magneto not that anyone could blame her.
"Wanda…"
"I have to go," She insisted to him and stared him in the eye. "After all that he did to me I have to make him pay!"
Xavier sighed at her feeling all the anger coming off of her. "Wanda I've been trying to help you with your anger since you've been coming here. You've made some nice progress but I don't want you to throw it all away, plus the fact that if you're too focused on your own plans for revenge you'll be putting the safety of the others at risk."
Wanda felt her anger rising but she put a stop to it closing her eyes and trying to focus herself like she had been taught while here. It was true that Xavier didn't have to give her a place or even help her, hell he had given her a roof, an education, and help with her anger and powers. She did owe him but there was a deep and dark anger that wouldn't go away until she at least faced her father.
"Professor…I do appreciate all that you've done, and I don't want to put anyone else at risk. But I need to face him sooner or later and the more I wait the more anger I'll have in me. Please I need to do this I need to confront my father. I promise that I won't get in the way but if there is a chance that I can get at Magneto then I will take it."
"Plus if you don't let me go I'll find another way to New York and I don't care about the consequences," Her face softened then and she looked at him with a pleading look. "Please…Let me do this…"
Xavier put himself deep in thought her powers would be useful but her mental state was what worried him. He knew that she had a few valid points but he was afraid of what would happen when faced with her father. "Wanda I need to know for sure that you'll not endanger the team with your personal issues."
"You can scan my mind if you want but I promise you that I'll keep my head in the game."
He was tempted to do just that but he had to show that he trusted her it was a two-way street after all and he just hoped his trust wouldn't be misplaced. "Alright but I'm putting my trust in you Wanda, please don't disappoint me."
"Thank you," She said to him and walked off.
Scott was overlooking the last of the flight checks on the outside the Velocity when he heard someone walk up behind him and he narrowed his eyes when he was it was Lance in his old uniform. "Lance where do you think you're going."
"Look I know we don't like each other but Magneto is serious business and I won't let Kitty go out there without me." He stepped up to Cyclops.
"Lance this is an X-Men only mission," he turned fully to him stepping an inch from his face.
"Oh yeah? Since when is Wanda a member?" He pointed to the goth as she was getting onto the helicopter.
Scott noticed this and he wasn't sure about this either sure Wanda was getting in training sessions with them now and then although most were personal lessons to help her gain control. "I don't know but Lance this isn't the time."
"Come off it if Jean was going off somewhere and you weren't on that team tell me that you'd want to be there as well."
Scott didn't want to admit that Lance was right about anything just on general principal the two of them never got along. But he did admit that he'd be there as well and looking at Lance he could see that look in his eyes and he was going to argue this point. "Lance I need a team out there not hot heads. Do you honestly think that you can take orders from me and I mean no matter what you do as I say. I can't have you doing your own thing out there because this is important."
Lance was silent a moment thinking about it, even though the idea of listening to Scott and taking orders from him he hated. But he was worried about Kitty he just had a really bad feeling about all of this and he really, really didn't want to do this but he knew he'd have to listen to Summers.
It went against everything he knew that the two of them would never see eye to eye they were just too different. But then he thought of Kitty and what was more important his pride or her? He'd just hoped that she would appreciate this, "Look for this one time I'll do it, I won't like this but I will."
Scott regarded him at a moment, "Okay take off the fruit bowl then," He pointed to that thing that covered his head.
"What?"
Scott sighed and shook his head, "You didn't even last five seconds."
"Hey you just caught me off guard," He snapped and took it off and threw it aside. "There happy?"
Cyclops had no idea what they would face but if Lance was willing to take orders from him then he could use the help. Lance had been one of the more powerful mutants in the old Brotherhood if a bit uncontrollable. He had seen the results of some of the training he was going through he had been showing some improvement.
"Okay fine, get on but if you screw up-"
"Yeah I know I'll be in trouble."
"Actually we both will," That surprised Lance and looked at him confused, "It was my decision to let you on, you screw up means it was also my fault that made me let you on as well."
Lance had no idea what to say to that, on the one hand getting Scott in trouble did appeal but he never figured he would take responsibility for anything he would screw up on. That was different back in the Brotherhood they hardly admitted their own mistakes they just blamed the other. It was just another example of how different things worked here. "Uh…Okay then, but why did you want me to get rid of that thing anyway?"
Scott just smirked as he got on bard, "Because that thing looks ridiculous and if you're on my team I want us to look respectable." Lance wasn't sure what was more shocking the reasoning or that Summers made a joke.
-Oscorp Facility-
Norman Osborn was overlooking his facility that was up and running now. The facility was for his new project or at least part of it, he was never one to put all his eggs in one basket. This facility would be for stage one the holding and processing of the mutants. There was another place where after the preliminary work was done the real genetic work would be done at Site 2.
So far in Site One this was where the Spider Slayers were built and being stored. Both of the Smythes were working in this facility at the moment. Norman was in an overseer station looking down onto the father and son team working on the giant robots.
Each one was different there was a large Black Widow model that was all black with the red markings of that spider it was about the size of a small van. Next was its larger 'cousin' the Tarantula model that was nearly twice the size of the first and purple. The last was a giant green Scorpion model.
Normal grinned at the armored machines as they were his way of taking those mutants that he needed. Thanks to Trask he had everything he needed, at least he hoped so but he hired someone that would see to it that could deal with any uncertain problems.
In fact he was waiting for that fool to get around to seeing him, he was late and he didn't appreciate this. He was already under enough pressure, sure Trask was happy but there were other concerns. Wilson Fisk was starting to make a bid on his stocks he had to make sure that his stocks didn't fall too much so that they would sell and Fisk to take them.
The last thing he needed was for that man to take control of his company, it didn't help with all the rumors about how Fisk operated. Somehow all his business rivals kept having nasty accidents and he wasn't a fool to know those weren't just coincidence.
Plus there was the fact Octavius had been sighted stealing from one of his facilities. This was getting out of hand and he maybe need to hire more people to deal with that man. He was already on a razor's edge and this wasn't helping. "Where is that mercenary?" He growled out.
"My ears are bleeding." A voice that seemed to be light hearted and humorous came from behind him.
Norman turned to see a man sitting there on a chair and had his feet propped up on a console. He was fooling around balancing a knife in his fingertip with a few other weapons strapped to his red and black costume that covered his whole body. "Nice place you got here, a little on the evil villain side but some kick ass toys."
"How did you get in here?"
"Hey I'm not one of the best for a reason," he said flipping the knife and catching it by then handle and put it back as he got up to the window. "Oh hey! Cool robots, where are the controllers? I love Robot Wars and Battlebots and these guys would kick ass! Oh come on let's make them fight, I'll be the big green one, now how to you start this thing and where's the attack buttons?" He was looking over the controls about to start pushing random buttons.
"Knock that off you fool!" He hit the man's hands away from the console. "Are you insane?"
"Oh please I'm just as sane as Charles Mansion." He waved his hand at him.
Normal blinked a few times with a cold stone like glare, "He's not insane."
"Yeah I know that's why I said it." He said in a voice like it was perfectly natural thing for him to say like it was a commonly known fact. Norman pinched the bridge of his nose maybe thinking he should have hired another person then this.
"Deadpool…"
"That's my name don't wear it out."
"Will you be serious I'm to explain to you why I called you here." He felt the sudden urge to smash this fool although he knew of the other man's skills would normally give Osborn pause for some reason he felt that he could take him. He had no idea where that came from in his head but he pushed it aside.
Lately he was feeling more and more aggressive and restless. All these fools getting in his way all the time he felt that he wanted to just get rid of them but in a more personal way. Sometimes he felt like there was something growing in some dark corner of him but that was just nonsense.
The mercenary just sat down and kicked up his heels again, "Yeah I know you said as much when you hired me out in that message. Want me to help with acquiring something for you, sounds a bit dull to me but it's your dollar."
"Oh trust me it won't be dull," Norman grinned as he turned to face the giant machines, "These machines will be tested in battlefield conditions for the first time and I need someone out there with the skills to make sure that they aren't ruined also if the case need be to help capture a few specimens."
"Specimens? What you making a zoo or something?"
"Not quite," He pulled out a small disk and passed it to him, "This will contain all information that you'll need. Be ready to deploy at a moments notice because I have a feeling I will need you soon."
He knew that Trask's plans were moving ahead and pretty soon that man would start his little war. Little did Norman know that it would start much sooner then he had planned but that would be of little consequence to him.
-Later-
The Velocity was flying over the area trying to find where Logan had called from as Xavier was back home trying to use Cerebro to help. Jean was in contact with Xavier but she only thing she felt from him was confusion and a bit of frustration. Xavier was having no luck in finding Logan and it bothered him that he couldn't find him.
Ororo was piloting while looking below her, they were very careful about hot to get to into the city, thankfully the ECM they used would keep them out of civilian radar traffic and they have come in high so anyone looking up would just make out the outline of a helicopter and nothing else.
They had been looking for over ten minutes over the area until they found a place that looked like the place Logan had described. She took them into a landing in an open disserted area that was away from the streets thankfully. They slowly got out looking all over the area Peter looked around, "Man I don't have a good feeling about this."
"Is that the normal kind or the spider kind of not a good feeling?" Evan asked him he looked around and it was pretty quite and like the cliché it was too quiet for his taste.
"Just the normal kind for now but this isn't what I expected. When are all the bad guys for instance?" Peter asked.
"I don't like this," Cyclops said scanning the area, "Everyone fan out in pairs and be careful I really don't like the looks of this."
"Hey look up in zhee sky!" Kurt pointed to several metal globes that were flying through the air into the maze of boxes, steel drums and other such things that had been left littering the area for who knows how long. "Aren't zhose zhe zhings zhat Magneto used before?"
Everyone who had been there remembered the metal spheres Magneto used to kidnap several of them last year for his Asteroid M place that they had destroyed.
Scott stepped forward, "Looks like we're in the right place after all, okay same thing only we focus in that direction." He pointed to where they had landed. They landed behind some of the random garbage and out of sight at least for the moment. "Everyone be careful we have no idea who he brought with him."
He noticed Wanda there her fists were clenched tightly as there was that familiar blue glow to them her eyes cold and her jaw was to tight her teeth. "Wanda are you going to be okay with this?" Scott didn't get and answer and place a hand on her shoulder, "Wanda!"
She shook from her head and looked at him she forced her hands open and pushed back her power. Trying to bottle it back up feeling the energy slowly return to that place she felt inside where it came from. She made a promise and she was going to keep it, "Yeah I'm fine."
He nodded and they went back to the mission at hand. At the other end the metal spheres opened up and out came the forms of Colossus, Sabertooth, Sandman, Pyro, Black Cat and Gambit. Pyro was giddy at the change to get to work, "Oy let's get this show goin', I want to start burning things and I can't wait!"
"Just remember what the boss said keep them busy and cause as much chaos as you can," Sabertooth snapped at them before going off at a run to the enemy he sniffed. The others made their way through the maze of junk.
Rogue was looking around it was a bit odd since her hearing was sharper then ever it was still taking her time to adjust to having this kind of hearing thankfully Logan and Rahne had been helping her cope. Then she heard a scuffle and to her right and turned in a ready fighting position.
"Good day chere," Said a tall handsome older boy there with brown hair a long coat and strange red on black eyes. He flashed her a charming smile, Remy had seen her picture but the real thing was even better looking in his opinion. "Now why do we have to go an fight huh? Can't de chere and Gambit be friends?"
Rogue was surprised by this as he came a bit closer and the way he looked and smiled made her flush a bit. But she shook it off 'what ah'm ah doin'! God ya got someone stop starin' girl!' She felt a bit bad at her response and glared at him. "What do ya want?"
"My card," He said and handed her an ace of spades she looked at it and then noticed it was warm and it was glowing. She knew it was bad and threw it away as it exploded and sent her off her feet she growled out and looked up. He was a slippery one that was for sure since he had disappeared.
Rogue could hear more battles going on as well and figure the others had met up with more of Magento's people. She picked herself up and made a mental note to wipe that smile off that boy's face. He sounded like he was from New Orleans or something.
Lance was with Kitty and Spyke as they were making their way and then came face to face with a man in black pants and a dark green t-shirt. "This is what we were up against? Just kids?"
"Hey man we may be kids but we can kick your ass!" Evan went in without thinking and launched several spikes at the large and well built man. The spikes passed through him in fact for a moment it looked like around the area where they penetrated it was sand.
"Kid you got not idea who you're messing with," Sandman stated and threw out his arms as they turns to sand and two huge waves of sand that merged into a giant one hitting them like a sandbag. Both males were sent hard into a large metal container and Sandman looked oddly as Kitty was still standing there untouched.
"You so got to do better then that."
"I'll take that challenge little girl," He turned himself totally into sand and engulfed the area where she stood. She phased her self through the ground and came back up near Lance and Evan.
"Guys I think we may need a bit of help here," Shadowcat said as she helped Lance up.
Peter in his black and white Spider-X uniform was trying to make his way to the battle when out in front of him Black Cat show up. "Hey there Spider."
"Cat…I don't have time for this."
"Look just listen, we can just leave this together. How about it? You and me," She walked sultry up to him tracing her finger over his chest. "Come on we don't have to get involved in this and we can have so much fun together."
"I can't do that I have responsibilities and my friends need me!" He was really starting to get sick of this with her. "Why are you even with Magneto?"
"Who do you think made me what I am today? How do you think I got so strong and fast?" Peter's eyes widen behind his mask. That was something that he never thought of and was wondering how he had done it.
"So now I'm like you, I can be your equal please Spider leave with me." She pleaded with him.
"I'm sorry Cat I can't, I have to help my friends." He started walking past her when his spider-sense kicked in he ducked as her leg had sung over his head. He jumped back. "Whoa, what was that for?"
"You know what they say Spider…"She said getting into a fighting stance, "Hell has no fury like a woman scorn."
Peter just knew that she was pissed now and he guessed there was no way getting out of it. He wasn't sure he could even hit a girl although he sure didn't want to get his ass handed to him by one. The fact she was drop dead sexy in black leather he just knew Bobby would make some kind of twisted dominatrix joke at his expense.
Peter sighed getting ready to fight back, 'It's never easy.'
Below them Logan had just finished fighting the Sentinel or more likely getting his ass shot off again. He fell to the ground his uniform torn and his wounds healing although he was pretty much out of it at the moment. The last attack had knocked him out a few guards came to drag him off to his holding cell.
Trask was very pleased with how the Sentinel was working out he was in the control room grinning at how well his team had done. "Good work a few more rounds and we may be totally ready."
"Sir! There is a problem on the east surface gate!"
Trask turned to look at the monitor the east gate was a camouflaged secondary launch site for the Sentinel they made sure that no one would notice the area. On the monitor it showed several mutants fighting it out right on top of him.
He couldn't believe this, it was just so surreal had they found out about him? No wait if they knew they wouldn't be fighting each other only him. He grinned as an idea he had in mind. "I think it's time we gave our Sentinel a full test. Activate the gate when they are in position and bring them in, I want to see how our Sentinel handles in a live field test."
"Yes sir!"
NEXT UP CHAPTER 29: ZERO HOUR