THE RETURN OF SPIDER-X

CHAPTER 40: BEFORE THE BIG EVENT

It was near midday by the time Norman Osborn woke up, he slowly started to come around and he looked up. He was confused since the last thing he remembered was being in his office, then…It was kind of blurry after that but he thought he was in the elevator and then in the lower levels. There was a flash of a green mask and of laughing but that was it.

He tried to remember more as he saw he was back at his home and in his room. He was in his chair and in fresh clothing he couldn't remember how he got back or how he dressed himself. 'What happened to me last night? I could have sworn that I was thinking about something but what was it?'

Then he remembered the facility with the mutants being attacked. He quickly went to his computer pushing his little black out away as he went looking for any information about it. The authorities would already be onto that place given all that went on you can't hide that kind of thing. He looked through his computer systems and e-mails and other sources.

He had found a few memos and urgent news updates from his people. The facility was attacked but it seemed that there was a fire and explosions. From the reports that weren't going to be official the place was attacked soon after the first group. There were images of the security tapes that were found.

When he called up the images they were blurred and hard to see but what he could make out sent a chill through him. There was one of the Goblin Gliders but that wasn't the Hobgoblin on it this one looked green. Then he got more flashes of the green mask and of the gas again he had no idea what was going on who was behind that mask and how did they get into the vault?

He had no idea but he sent an e-mail for all footage to be destroyed before it was taken, from reading the damage reports the building housing the experiments and records was torched to the ground. Any link to Oscorp was in that building at least he hoped it was he'd have to try and cover his tracks a bit more.

He just couldn't believe this, the place was ruined and most likely all the subjects were gone now! And he lost the Spider Slayers as well it would take months to make new ones and those weren't cheap either.

Norman was frustrated, confused and above all angry as hell. How was he going to turn this around? Trask was most likely running scared now if he wasn't caught and there were still parts to that back-up Sentinel in a warehouse waiting to be shipped but that was unlikely. 'Wait…I still have that and the mutant scanning technology should still be in there. But I won't do this alone I need connections…'

Plans started to form up in his mind, maybe there could be a way to sell the plans for those Sentinels? With how the world was at the moment there were always some nations willing to have something to make them feel more secure and with the scanning technology say put into a satellite maybe he could track down mutants.

It shouldn't be that hard and with the proper partners they could make breakthroughs in genetic engineering making super soldiers, the Pentagon wouldn't care where the data came from as long as he could produce results. Norman went back to his computer and looked up any other information and there was a moment of good news.

Essex and Warren managed to get out with enough genetic data to the other site to continue their work. With Warren's cloning technology they could always make more genetic material to study and he was looking forward to that. Norman sat back in his chair, 'Maybe this won't be a total loss after all.'

Plus with Harry a friend with that Parker boy he could always learn more as well, he'd have to maybe tap Harry's private phone line to listen in. Any information that passed between the two of them could come in handy and he just knew that Peter would contact his son at one point.

Now there was just one more thing to work on, what happened to him last night? He thought about going to the doctor but what would they know? They'd only do more tests wasting his time, if it got bad enough then he would but maybe it was just stress. He couldn't really worry about that now he had to continue on with damage control anyway.

He had a lot of work ahead of him and he would do just that.

-Brotherhood House-

The Brotherhood were all getting a little cabin fever waiting for something to do, luckily no one knew they were mutants at the moment so they didn't have anything to worry about plus with all the mutant stuff on TV they were getting bored. Currently Toad was upside down on the couch, Fred next to him eating a whole pizza.

"Man this is totally lame yo, why can't we just go out and do stuff?" The gangly teen asked his larger counterpart. "I mean, where's the boss man and boss lady huh?"

Fred shrugged, "Don't know personally I wouldn't mind something to do as well. But at least we can still order take out, how much cash is left in the jar Mystique left?"

Toad shrugged, "Not sure haven't checked it out but man she better get back…Okay now you know things are dull around here when I actually want that woman back here. Hell I'm even thinking of using the gym, me of all people," Fred nodded his head he was hoping for some type of news or something soon all this waiting around was boring.

In the basement of the home Delilah was in sweats beating on a punching bag working up a sweat she too was itching for a fight. She was begging to use her powers at one point she was missing the street fights she used to go into. She just liked violence it was just something that she liked.

When the new members showed up a few changes were made one of them was the basement being fitted into a small gym area. There were mats on the floor, weight machines and other such things. Mystique wanted her new Brotherhood to be more fit and ready. And Delilah was one of the few that used this room all the time. The other new guys used it as well even Max and she bet it was because of his little thing with that Parker boy.

Max was in his room just reading up, he snuck out and bought himself a few science magazines and books to keep himself busy. Mainly those that were electronic based after all it was his specialty and he figured the more he knew about it the more he could use his powers in new ways.

Morrie was with Pietro playing cards with him they changed up the game now and then although the two of them were just as bored although it was odd how Pietro was a lot more upbeat then you'd expect when you find out your sister is flattened. Everyone thought it was either in denial, in shock or something.

The two of them were in the kitchen when they heard the front door open up. The two looked at each other, "We're all here right?" Morrie asked Pietro in front of him who nodded back they both left the table and ran off to see who it was that came in. To their surprise it was Mystique that had just walked in.

"Hey where have you been?" Pietro asked her annoyed at how they had been left out of the loop of things, "I mean you leave here and tell us not to leave, things go nuts out there and now you just walk on back can you please tell us that there is going to be some action soon?"

Mystique gave him a short glare, "I don't answer to you Pietro but with luck what I just sent in motion should have the desired effect. When the humans make their move so will we, now where is Sandra?"

"In her room I think," Morrie shrugged, "She's been kind of grumpy lately usually training all the time and staying in her room I think."

Mystique nodded as she walked past them making Pietro a little frustrated at not being kept in the loop. He had tried his father with the cell phone but he got no answer so far he never even got to tell him yet that Wanda wasn't dead. Mystique walked up to the second floor and came to Sandra's room. She knocked but got no answer so she opened it up.

The room used to be Tabitha and Wanda's but now belonged to the two new girls of the Brotherhood. There was a bed against each wall, separate dresser drawers and a full length mirror. You could tell which side belonged to which, Delilah had a more colorful color scheme for her side while Sandra was more gothic.

And there she saw her adopted daughter with headphones on and reading some kind of magazine. She walked over and took off the headphones. "Hey!" She shouted and looked up at who it was and her face fell a bit. "Oh you're back."

"Normally you're a lot happier to see me," She said with a small smile.

Sandra shrugged and Mystique knew something was wrong although she wasn't sure what to do she had several kids but hadn't raised any of them, it was times like this she realized just how little parenting skills she had. She sat down next to her looking at her, "Okay what's wrong and don't tell me it's nothing," She said in a serious tone.

Sandra was mute for a moment not sure what to say but then she said it, "I'm I just a replacement for you? Do you love your other children more then me and I'm just here because I just fill a void?"

She was taken aback by this and then got a serious look on her face. "Sandra look at me, I may not have given birth to you, you may not have been the first child I took in but that doesn't mean that you're any less precious to me."

"I love you and I care about you, you're the only person here that does that and I will do anything to protect you. You are my child no matter what and never doubt for a moment that I don't care. You are not a replacement but you do fill a void in me."

Sandra blinked a bit feeling the sting of tears no one had ever loved her not anyone in her life but for the first time she knew what it meant to be loved. She felt a bit like an idiot for questioning that but she had to know, she had to hear the words. "Thank you…Mother." She said and went over and hugged the blue woman.

Mystique hugged her back and she felt that missing piece of her life fill, the love of a child. She wanted that more then anything and now she had it. Yes she cared for Rogue and Kurt but they didn't want anything to do with her and that hurts a mother more then anything. But feeling Sandra there hugging her helped to dull that pain away.

"I should be thanking you, you are my favorite child." She whispered to her.

Sandra's heart leapt to her throat feeling that and a sense of pride she smiled at the thought of her being the favorite. Above Kurt and especially above Rogue, "I'll never let you down mother, I'll show you just how proud you can be of me and I'll do anything for you. I'll be the best there is, you'll see."

Mystique smiled as she stroked her long black hair, "Oh I don't doubt that, and if all goes well you may get your chance to do just that."

Sandra pulled back a little looking up into those yellow eyes, "What do you mean?"

Mystique got a slight predatory grin on her face, "Let's just say that the Sentinel was just the opening act, now that humans know of mutants they are scared. And I had to go and let someone out to make them more scared. Soon they will turn their armies against mutants and all mutants will be forced to fight back."

"We're starting a war!" Sandra was totally shocked at that sure that's what Magneto preached about the coming war but she never expected it to happen so soon.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

Sandra's face turned into a mirror image of her mother with the same grin and gleam in her eyes. "Hell no, I owe humanity nothing. My parents and everyone I knew was human and where did that get me? Nothing but abuse, drugs and nearly a pathetic death, no if the war is coming I want to be by your side when it all goes down."

Mystique smiled at the young pale goth girl in black. "Now I truly am proud of you Daughter."

Sandra giggled a bit at that and Mystique stroked one of her strands of raven hair, "Well then the plan is all goes well is wait and when the time is right we strike. Electro is going to be used to take out the power plant for the entire New York area, and we hit other main infrastructures in the New York areas if all goes well and then we start rounding up all mutants we can for the fight to come."

Sandra smiled as she rested against the mother and hugged her happily. She could just see it, her with her mother fighting the humans as they fought along side each other. She didn't care after the war but she just wanted to be with her mother the only true family she had in this world. She only hoped that she could be as good a mother one day when she was ready to have kids.

-X-Men Camp Site-

The X-Men and New Mutants were finally packing everything up this day. No one was sure what the plan was or if there was one. But everyone was glad that they would be doing at least something. There was a slightly energetic feel in the air about actually moving forward.

Plus there were a few other things as well a few people noticed the slight change in two of the couples of the Institute. Jean and Scott were giving each other secret smiles the entire day and then there was the odd thing about how they were talking to each other. They would just stop talking and then pick up the conversation like they hadn't.

Sometimes they would say something to the other like they had said something and the other would respond like they had said it. If it was just Jean they could have put it off as her telepathy but the fact Scott was doing the same. And the two of them had been so busy it was like they didn't notice, which for them was a good bet actually given how long it took for them to just admit that they liked each other more then just friends.

Then there was the fact that Peter and Rogue were still a bit more happy then normal it wasn't long until a few people were starting to noticing this. But before anyone could question the couples any further Xavier and the other adults had called them together for a meeting when they had just finished loading the last of their equipment and supplies.

Xavier gathered them all together as he looked over everyone present, "Well I know this has been hard road but I felt that we should take a more active role in things. I had hoped that things would calm down but instead they haven't. I'm afraid that if something isn't done soon then things may get even worse."

He didn't voice his fear about what if someone in the government tried to make a very stupid decision in regards to mutants. "So I felt it was time to take action."

"So what are we going to do?" Evan asked him from the gathered students, he like everyone else was eager to know what the plan was and how they were going to get some semblance of their life back.

Xavier went on to explain, "We're going to go to Washington ourselves and make our case to them and to the world."

There were a few audible gasps from the group there as they some started to talk to others about what they thought about that. In some respects it was like walking into the lion's den but in others that was where the power of the government was and if they could be heard and make a difference it would be there.

Xavier waited for the noise to die down, "And we aren't going alone, we felt that if we had a few humans with us showing that they weren't afraid of us then it would help us out. It would show that humans and mutants can get along which is why May will be there. We also got in touch with Dr. Connors he and his wife and son will want to do this as well."

"Billy is coming here?" Jamie asked as Connor's son Billy was a close friend to him and Spyder. In fact they played together all the time and it would be nice to see him again, even noticed that Ollie was smiling a bit at that as well. They both hadn't seen him since all this happened and they both only had the chance to call him at least once each.

"Hopefully this will help so we'll be taking a detour to Bayville on our way to Washington." Xavier explained.

Jean got a thought then and stepped forward, "Professor what is we got more support? I mean there are others I could ask Taryn to come too. I'm not sure if she's up to it but it couldn't hurt to have more people with us that support us."

"Yeah and I could ask Paul too, in fact I think he'd jump at the chance," Scott put in his thought about this as well. Plus he knew that Paul had wanted to see the X-Jet ever since he told him about it well this was his chance to see and ride in it. He got a small grin on his face at the expression Paul would have when he save the blackbird.

Peter thought about Hobie as well and although he didn't know where he stood on mutants maybe he'd give a call while they were in the air and see how he felt as well. So far he hoped this would work out he liked the mansion it had become a real home for him and his aunt these past months.

They had gotten to know the people there, made friends, and in his case fell in love. He was still holding Rogue's hand the two of them after last night couldn't stop themselves from being close as he glanced at her. She really was beautiful he felt even with the makeup, and last night she seemed perfect.

He thought of the 'punishment' they would get when they got back but it was worth it he couldn't wait to sleep in a bed again. Then he grinned about the thought of sleeping in his bed curled up with a certain goth girl. It was definitely one more reason to get their lives back.

"Well then are there any questions?" Xavier asked them all and there weren't really any. The X-Men would be in the Velocity while the others would be in the X-Jet given there was much more room in there for everyone else. By the time they took off their hopes were soaring high that soon very soon things maybe be going on the right track.

So far they got back their lost members, everyone was together again, they were finally moving forward with a plan. So far their luck was running on a hot streak and they wanted it to continue. If it did continue only the next forty-eight hours would tell.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 41: MUTANTS ON CAPITAL HILL