X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter One Hundred Fourteen
Author's Word: So I started today off with orange juice and cookies (bought by those loving of me), watching animated X-Men, then reading up in the paper on guess-who's big film review. Now, the latest chapter is done. So, all in all, I guess you could say it's been an X-Cellent morning. Okay, I'll stop before I annoy us all. Please enjoy and review!
"Blue fairy."
At the utterance that seemed like a delicate whispering of wind, the resting female opened her eyes and gazed up. The spectacle from above caused her orbs of yellow to enlarge rapidly while the rest of her body rolled off the side of the bed with a cut-short shriek.
"Oopies…" The tiny figure somehow attached to the ceiling dropped down onto the mattress, a completely sheepish expression replacing his previously curious one. "I'm sorry, ma'am."
Head and vision clearing a bit, Raven managed to sit up. For several seconds the two remained still, each so focused on the other that the entire room ventured into a sharply silent standstill. Raven took in the small all-too-thin boy with big brown eyes and thick hair of the same coloring. He wore gray pants and a long-sleeved red and white striped sweater. A pair of white untied sneakers covered the tiny feet.
Raven at last established communication. "You're not…" She squinted in disbelief. "…scared of me?"
The boy gave off a serious shake of his head. "No. I'm not scared of you. You're like the blue fairy. Y'know, from Pinocchio." He got off the bed to get in for closer observation.
Raven smiled when he caressed her cheek. "What's your name, honey?"
He replied promptly, "Travis Edward Holt, but you can just call me Trav if you wanna." He put his hands to the tips of his toes and began rocking his body back and forth. "What's your name, ma'am?"
"Raven Xavier McCoy." She then tacked on, "And you don't have to call me ma'am. Raven is fine."
The child became intrigued. "MeeeecCoy. McCoy. Like Mr. McCoy? The man who brought me here."
"Norton," Raven comprehended. "I'm his son's wife."
Elation filled the youngster's face. "Oh yay! The big Mr. McCoy said his son was gonna help me."
"Help you?" Raven echoed then touched down on Trav's shoulder, bringing him in closer towards her. "Trav, why did Norton bring you here?"
He lowered his voice covertly. "To get me away from the other men. They were giving me shots and putting nasty stuff in my mouth. They said it was 'cause I'm sick, but Mr. McCoy said they were doing bad things to me. So he took me away."
"When?" Raven then clarified, "When did he take you away?"
"Yesterday. He told me to stay in the basement til he got his son."
Raven felt a churn in her stomach that had nothing to do with her previous nausea. "You've been down there by yourself all day. Come on." Protective arms of near steel going around him, she stood with him now in her possession. "You must be hungry."
"Yep, yep." He reached for the side of her face again but rubbed fingers against it this time.
Amused, Raven informed, "It doesn't wipe off, not even after a bubble bath."
"Hm…" Trav tilted his head in wonder. "How come you are blue, Raven?"
"I don't know," she responded honestly, heading down the stairs in search of the kitchen. "I pretty much just came out this way. But I'm not always blue." Arriving in the kitchen, she put him down in a chair at the table. "Look."
Lifting her arms entirely for show, she morphed over into her blonde haired guise.
Trav's mouth formed a perfect circle. "Oooh! Goldilocks."
"That's not all." Raven began to shrink in stature.
Trav had to hold onto the back of the chair to keep from tumbling off in his amazement. "That's me, that's me!"
"I know, I know," Raven smiled and returned to her natural blue female stature. "Now what about you?" She went inside the walk-in pantry to look for food options. "How do you stick to walls?"
"Easy. Look-it, Raven." Trav climbed up onto the table then leapt for the ceiling.
Immediate panic gripped the shape shifter and she ran out, box of macaroni pasta in hand. "Travis!"
"It's okay." He crawled over to another portion of the ceiling. "I stick to every- ah!"
Raven had to move quickly to prevent him from connecting hard with the floor. "Whoa now. Are you okay?"
He looked up at her with a small smile. "Well, I stick to almost everything. Wanna see some more?"
"No, no, no," Raven turned down, giving him a seat on a counter now. "Let's save the demonstrations for when my husband gets back, okay?"
Trav shrugged, "Kay, Raven," and kicked his legs.
Raven prepared the noodles quickly and found a jar of tomato sauce in the refrigerator to pour over it. She fixed the boy a bowl full and had him sit at the table again. Discovering a bottle of milk in the icebox next, Raven readied him a glass and sat down with him. The events of earlier continuously running rapid in her mind kept her own appetite dead, but she found enjoyment in merely watching the little boy gobble the quick dish up.
"How old are you, sweetie?" Raven asked him next.
Placing the fork down, Trav reached over for Raven and started ticking off her fingers. "One, two, three, four..." He held her hand straight up. "This many."
"Five, huh?" Raven smiled delightedly. "And you're counting already?"
Trav nodded at her. "I know my ABC's, too. Wanna hear?"
Raven nodded now and he quickly went through the entirety of the alphabet.
"Trav, you are just amazing," she commended.
Grinning widely, Trav deflated a bit. "Raven? Will you and Hank really help us?"
One particular word he used caught her attention. "Us?" A tapping at the backdoor made them both look up. "Oh finally." Raven stood up and started over. "Honey, I am so glad…" She quickly stilled upon remembering that Hank had the keys to the house.
Without another word, she veered around and snatched Trav up. She ran out of the room with him just as the door kicked open. Racing to the front as quickly as she could, the numerous men on their tail moved faster. One grabbed her from behind while another sought to remove Trav from her grasp.
"No!" she screamed, using all the strength she had to hang onto him. "Let go of him! Let go! Stop! Leave us alone!"
Another man stepped up with gun in hand and pressed the barrel against the woman's neck. He squeezed the trigger, injecting her.
Turning limp in an instant, Raven collapsed against one of the men while the other took hold of the boy.
"Raven!" Trav squirmed vigorously, his eyes quickly filling with frightened tears. "Stop, you hurt her! You hurt her!"
The one with the gun hushed him gently. "Travis, it's alright. We just gave Mrs. McCoy something to help her calm down a little, that's all. We're so glad to have you back," he patted his cheek, "We were very worried."
Trav shuddered under the touch.
IIIIIII
Making his return through the front of the house, Hank called out, "Raven," he jogged upstairs, "Raven, I'm back. I found out what happened with the others."
The sight of the deserted master bed made every workable system within him come to a sudden halt. Shaking his head disbelievingly, Hank dashed back for the stairs and jumped straight down to the main level.
"Raven!" He tore through the house, scanning every room. "Raven!"
Not finding any trace of his wife, Hank doubled over to the middle of the floor as soon as he made it back to the foyer. That's when another sense beyond eyes and ears took over.
Several scents penetrated his nostrils simultaneously. He smelled his wife, but it seemed different. As if she had been overly heated or distressed and not just emotionally shaken as she had been when they first arrived. He also picked up on a plethora of other bodily aromas that had not been within the home previously.
All necessary information collected, the young man got back to his feet, his already monstrous height suddenly eminent.
IIIIIII
"Here we go, Travis." Door to the colorful preschool fancied room opened, the tall blonde haired man gestured for the boy to go in. "Safe and sound again."
With an air of caution, Trav stepped inside then looked back. "I want Raven to stay with me, 'kay?"
"Oh don't worry about Mrs. McCoy," the older male assured. "She's fine. You see, she has the same illness that you have and it's important that we give her all the care she needs."
Inching away from him, Trav nodded slowly. "O-kay."
"I'll return for you in a moment," he started to depart, "with the time you've spent away, you're going to need an extra special treatment tonight."
Experiencing chills within the windowless room, Trav blinked hard when the door shut. A latch snapping could be heard next.
IIIIIII
Overhead cover dropping from the vent, Hank poked his head out before coming down on a pair of bare oversized feet. Adjusting his glasses, he started through the area. His ears caught some jovial conversation and he remained in place as his eyes met with two armed men.
"Stop right here," one ordered, already removing his blaster from the holster.
An offhand Hank stated, "It's strange the way things change. I used to go on so many tours of this plant I had the ins and outs memorized before I was eight. However, I don't recall guards at that time having head to toe armor and vicious assault weapons. Not to mention continuously patrolling hours after closing."
The other guard removed his gun upon realization. "It's—"
"The son of the man you violently murdered?" Hank interjected. "Believe me, that will be dealt with in due time. For now, where's my wife?"
The first one extended his gun further. "Down, hands behind your head, now."
Not so much as flinching, Hank reiterated, "Where. Is. My. Wife?"
A response came in the form of an expelled bullet. The minute piece of intensely heated copper penetrated Hank's upper body. Untold agony exploding throughout his entire region caused him to at last go down.
IIIIIII
The sharp gasp from the one nearest to his leg made Magneto cease pacing in place and lowered to the petite girl's level.
"Are you alright, Sweet Imp?" He used his gloved hand to brush some hair out of her face.
A paling and unsure Becky could only nod as his arms wound around her while Joey leaned against her.
From the pilot's station, Professor X manned the controls while Sabretooth acted as co-pilot. The newly remodeled X-Jet offered four pairs of traditional airline chairs. Duos of Banshee and Maya, Emma and Glimmer, Becky and Eel, filled three of them while a row of Havok, Cyclops, and Lighthouse took up part of the wraparound seating.
Frustration taking over, Lighthouse removed his seatbelt to stand.
Magneto turned at his movements. "Keep your calm about you, boychick."
"Who's calm?" Lighthouse snatched back his hood of a mask. "For God's sake, they gunned down Beast's dad. What if they did something to Raven?"
"They haven't," Professor X informed.
Lighthouse whipped his head back. "How do you know that for sure?"
The Professor responded plainly, "Because I know that. For sure."
Sighing, Lighthouse lowered back into his seat, arms folded huffily.
Noticing Maya fiddling with her fingers, Banshee placed on top of hers.
"You okay?" he inquired softly.
She gave him a feeble smile and a, "Yeah," before finding rest on his shoulder.
"I only wish that Hank had heeded me about awaiting backup," Charles said.
Sabretooth glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "Would you have waited?"
Eyes continuing to face ahead, the younger man responded, "No." When they neared their arrival point, he directed, "Triad together."
While Magneto used his powers to take over the controls, Emma and Becky unlatched themselves and got up to join hands with the Professor.
Their combined psychic energy allowed all sight and sounds of the plane to be nonexistent to normal human perception.
Once they touched down on the roof of the nuclear plant, Professor X huddled all of them into a circle for debriefing.
"Alright, once again," he began, "Raven is inside here somewhere, but my detection of her is extremely faint which leads me to believe she doesn't have full consciousness. There are also too many active minds present for me to properly hone in on her. There are four levels to this plant. You'll disperse into teams in order to simplify locating Raven and Hank."
Magneto took over with that. "Lighthouse, Cyclops, I want you to keep together with Havok's command."
"Yes, sir," Havok replied without delay.
"We'll do everything we possibly can," Cyclops promised.
Lighthouse made a fist. "Believe that."
"You will not find doubt here." Magneto then placed his attention on the young couple present. "Banshee, Maya, you're with Sabretooth."
The pair nodded while Sabretooth clamped a hand down over each of their shoulders.
Pressing Becky at the back of her cape to bring her in near to him, Magneto said, "You're to stay with me at all times."
"Yes, Papa," she whispered up to him obediently.
"Glimmer and I can take a level," Emma piped up.
"No," Professor X shot down. "Glimmer can join Magneto. Emma, this is far too dangerous in your condition."
Emma reiterated, "He is perfectly safe so long as I am in diamond form."
Glimmer added on, "He's perfectly safe so long as I'm around."
"Alright," the Professor still grudgingly consented. "You two will have to be communicator ready. While you are in your hardened states, I cannot reach you telepathically."
Eel ventured hesitantly, "What do you want me to do?"
Magneto chose to field that one. "Your father will be vulnerable. Watch over him as he watches over us."
Eel nodded hard to that. "Yes, Uncle Magneto. Hurry back with Aunt Raven and Uncle Hank."
Sabretooth supported, "You heard the man."
Charles offered his last instruction with, "Be safe, my X-Men."
Words spoken, the designated teams divided down the building's fire exits.
IIIIIII
Crouched lowly with gloved hands holding onto Banshee's arm, Maya silently prayed for her standard clumsiness to take the night off. Only finding a deserted hall thus far, the couple kept on towards another section. They started for one door when a weapon ready guard seemed to step out of nowhere.
Taking in their attire, he commented, "You kids are a long way from any rock concert."
"Thought we'd bring the vocals to you." Banshee let off a piercing scream.
Maya immediately covered her ears.
The guard all too late grabbed his own pulsing ears and went to his knees.
"Stop!" They glanced back to see that another armed guard had come up from behind.
From the ceiling dropped Sabretooth who pounced down on him hard enough to make his face collide with the nearest wall.
Claws extended meaningfully, the long haired mutant stated, "Don't touch my kids."
II
Rounding a turn, Havok checked it for clearance before ushering the younger X-Men to follow suit.
"Remember, Cyclops," he directed, "avoid direct blasts. Unless it comes down to your life or theirs then all bets are off."
"Gotcha," the small Summers replied.
Havok, the Professor's mental voice echoed, I'm receiving a reading. Head for the lower level but keep your eyes peeled.
Yes sir, the black and blue clad one returned. "Come on, guys."
They started forth; ever cautious of what could ever lay ahead.
Sensing something, Cyclops paused long enough to glance back and obliterate the camera hanging over their heads.
II
Feet gliding down the winding staircase, Magneto halted at one landing. He used his power to order one door open. Letting his ears direct next, he heard nothing then gazed out.
"This way, Anya." Turning back, he saw the pink and purple uniformed girl standing perfectly still on a middle step. "Rebecca, you must focus." He went back to her. "This is serious, child."
She spoke slowly with, "I didn't ask for this to happen. Honest, Papa. I just didn't want him to try to take Hank away."
Getting down to one knee, Magneto brought her into a tight hug. "I know, ladybug. You have no blame here." He pulled back to face her. "I didn't want them to leave, either. But I don't think any of us could have anticipated this. It was one of those situations over which we had no power."
Becky uttered with a breaking voice, "I want my brother back."
Lifting her into his arms, he declared resolutely, "Then we shall take him back."
II
The trio of blonde, brunette, and redhead moved rapidly through the second level with Sabretooth galloping on all fours ahead of them.
"Whoa," Maya picked up on a heavy red substance all across the off-white tiled floors ahead. "What is that?"
Coming to a sudden stop, Sabretooth held out an arm to halt them. Maneuvering over to the thick spill of crimson, he sniffed then stood straight up.
Banshee prodded impatiently, "Sabretooth?"
"Beast's blood," the man responded, brown eyes morphing into black.
II
Where are you, sister? I know you live. Please, Charles urged in desperation, answer me, Baby Blue.
Eyes locked on his father from where Eel sat in the pilot's chair, the child looked on in full admiration, almost able to witness the powerful man's fight against the strain.
"What the hell is that thing?"
Gasping at the unfamiliar voices, Eel glanced out the front of the X-Jet to see three large armored men coming at them.
With the Professor entranced, the boy ran for the aircraft's open door.
At the sight of him, the men momentarily lowered their guns with one speaking in disbelief, "Is that a kid?"
Eel unleashed a rush of electrical surges from his hands. The force completely covered the men, causing their bodily protection and guns to weld together in a trapping cling. Then hurrying back in, Eel pressed down hard on a particular button that made the doors snap shut.
II
Going after an unusually dressed brown haired man, the pack of guards showed their weapons.
"Hey cotton candy on legs, where do you think you're going?"
Magneto turned around to ask, "Were you speaking to me?"
A duplicate appeared right beside him, stunning the guards. "Or perhaps to me?"
"No, no," they looked back now to see an entire army of metal wielders, "I believe it's me they want."
The clamoring guards had no time to deflect from the heavy iron door that collided with them next, knocking them all soundly to the floor. Magneto then seized their weaponry, crumpling each gun into nothing more than metallic wads.
When the intangible clones disappeared, leaving only the true Magneto again, he looked down to the one who also rematerialized. "Brilliantly played, my daughter."
Becky gazed up with a bright expression. "Can I do that again? Please?"
"Hm." Magneto rubbed his chin in thought then gave her a wink and extended his hand for her. "Let us see who else we can entertain with your unique talents."
Linking together, they nonchalantly headed off in search of further audience participants.
II
Bodies of diamond and gold respectively moving at a graceful pace, the two X-Women ventured about the fourth floor.
"All clear thus far, Professor X," Glimmer reported into her wrist communicator.
"Keep me informed," the man returned.
With Emma in the lead, they proceeded through a double door entry. Once inside, they met with a dozen or more armed guards. All stood in different positions, but aimed to shoot.
"Ah," Glimmer scoffed, flipping a portion of her shoulder-length dark hair, "really? Such a spectacle for a pair of dames?"
Emma stated, "Our fabulous precedes us, baby sis."
"One more move and we fire," the one in the heaviest protective gear threatened.
Glimmer got into an arm protracted fighting stance. "Ready for this, Miss Maternity?"
Emma answered strongly, "You've no idea how much."
Then with diamond legs cutting through the air like a pair of freshly sharpened swords, she kicked the first three in front of her in the head then moved on to the next.
Leaping high into the air, Glimmer elegantly avoided the majority of bullets fired at her while the ones that did make contact simply bounced off her gold plated body. Reaching the top of a file cabinet, she kicked a guard in the face before jumping down to piggyback the shoulders of another. Arching back she forced him into the air and slammed him against a bookshelf.
When the gleaming duo both regained their footing, their backs joined together and their arms linked. Performing a spiral assault, they took out the remainder of the attackers in a unison motion.
"That was the living end!" Glimmer proclaimed giddily.
Realizing just what room they had ventured into, Emma used her ultra-sharp fingernails to slice off the lock on a filing cabinet. "Up for a little homework?"
"Ugh!" Glimmer shining features contorted into a pout. "On the weekend?"
II
"What's this about a breech in security?" the tall blonde man demanded.
"Don't worry, Dr. Rowry," one of the researchers assured. "Security is all over it." He brought them into the laboratory. "Speaking of which, you'll never guess what they deposited right on our doorsteps."
Taking in the void stretched out figure on the table, Rowry had to do a double take. "Hank McCoy…" His lips turned up in a grin. "I knew he'd come after his wife. Is he…?"
"Oh he's alive," the other man assured. "But we won't be getting any further trouble out of him."
"Good." Rowry stepped up to the medical table. "We can't make this as obvious as the others or authorities will pick up the pattern. We'll have to create a paper trail to establish his whereabouts. In the meantime, however…" He turned towards the cart of exam instruments.
"Twenty-five years." Rowry along with every other scientist became motionless. Sitting up on the table, Hank reached for his glasses which had been left among the instruments and put them back on as he spoke. "For twenty-five years my father devoted himself to this plant until he finally made VP. Is this your new retirement plan, Russell? Disposal in lieu of pension?"
"Hank…" A paling Rowry stepped back. "How could you have possibly…?"
Patting his chest, Hank stood up on his massive feet. "I healed real fast." Turning slightly, he lifted the table he had just been laying down on. "Let's see if you're capable of the same."
"Henry, no!" Rowry tumbled back in fear. "Please, you don't understand. I tried to protect your father. W-we had another mole. He—!"
"Quiet!" Hank ordered in a snarl.
Henry, no! Stop!
Lowering his arms just slightly at the presence in his psyche along with the suddenly frozen bodies around him, Hank came back with, Charles? You're here.
Yes. And I understand entirely from where you are coming, but you cannot continue.
How can you say that? They have destroyed countless lives.
There's yet another in there with you.
Hank put the table down entirely. What? That's when he noticed the intakes of air that would never be traced by any ordinary individual.
With his ears to guide him, Hank crossed the furthest end of the expansive lab until he reached a chrome tube where the breathing proved loudest. Sucking in his own breath, he saw a dark haired infantile girl in a white gown through the viewing glass.
"What…" Forcing the hatch open but careful of the cargo within, Hank broke it apart then gathered the bitty girl in his arms.
It seems you are not the only throwaway specimen they preserved for study.
Studying the teeny body briefly, Hank caught sight of the numerous bandages covering the visible portions of the girl's appendages.
Wanting more than ever for the room of currently frozen inhabitants to know his wrath, he used all inner strength to push the desire back. Hank held onto the delicately sleeping vessel as he maneuvered out in an acrobatic blur.
II
Dashing about through the lowest level of the plant, Cyclops and Havok sent out red beams to any overhead light figures or signs to fall on top of any and all encroaching guards. With the darkened space, Lighthouse managed to blind a few as well.
There! The Professor's voice made them stop outside a dark wall.
Lighthouse used his secondary mutation to find her cataleptic and bound against an iron table. "Rae…"
"Stand down, Lighthouse," Havok commanded then rubbed his hands together. "Fire, Cyclops."
Touching the front of his visor, Cyclops unleashed his optic blast while Havok released waves of his own crimson ability. However, their full force proved useless against the wall.
Cyclops kicked at it. "What is this thing made of?"
Havok felt along it. "Could be lead or even titanium." He smacked a fist against his palm in anger. "Damn it, Specter. Where are you when we need you?"
"We've got to think of something," Cyclops urged.
No suggestions had the chance to pass around. A blazing red alarm and signal light blared, distracting the males from the floor splitting apart under them. With simultaneous exclamations and grunts, they plunged more than twenty feet beneath the building.
Jumping straight to his feet, Havok wanted to know, "Are you guys okay?"
Cyclops rubbed the back of his head but replied, "I'll be fine."
"Well, I won't be," Lighthouse spat, desperately clawing at the dirt wall around them. "They've got Raven. They're gonna do something to her if they haven't already."
"Oh don't worry," Havok attempted to climb despite all difficulty, "If they think the gopher treatment can stop us, they don't know the X-Men."
"Yeah," Cyclops joined him, "come on. Just like up in the mountains."
Crouching down to enfold his knees, Lighthouse dipped his head.
Glancing back toward his uncharacteristically silent friend, Cyclops gasped. "Havok!"
The blonde looked away from the wall in time to take in the mesmerizing radiance coming off Lighthouse. He grabbed hold of Cyclops and started to dart his gaze away until the growing light brought calm over him. He found himself not only able but wanting to look directly into it along with Cyclops.
As the light shined brighter and brighter, Frank kept still until his entire frame levitated straight off the floor and he hovered in place.
"Raven!" he bellowed.
Then in a blink, the three X-Men appeared both topside as well as within the holding chamber.
The group of scientists already inside did not have time to fully react as their eyes nearly burst with pain from the immense beams.
Eyes locked on his target, a still airborne Lighthouse made his way over to her. Waving hands over her wrist and ankle restraints, the reinforced iron disintegrated.
Laid out on a table, the light seemed to seek out Raven until she came to. As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt every ounce of her usual strength not only return to her but somehow magnify. The breathtaking sensation gave her what she needed to rise up.
"Rae," Lighthouse spoke out.
With the combination of the boy's mostly white uniform along with the intense light she could not make out his face.
Nonetheless she reached out for him. "Frankie…"
The glow subsided and the young mutant returned to his feet, practically stumbling into her arms. "Rae!"
An utterly taken aback Havok and Cyclops could only linger in place.
A quick remembrance forced Raven to let go of him.
She marched over and snatched up the first lab coat wearer she saw by his throat. "Where. Is. Travis?"
II
All turning a corner at the same time, Sabretooth and Hank each managed to stop before they could slam chest to chest.
"Hank!" Banshee reacted. "We've been looking all over this place for you."
"Thank God," Maya sighed in relief.
Noticing the small one with him, Sabretooth remarked, "Make friends everywhere you go, huh?"
"Maya," Hank transferred the toddler over to her arms, "get her on the jet. I'm not going anywhere without my wife." He turned to go with no further words.
"And I'm with you." Sabretooth followed after but glanced back. "You two get the baby to safety, now!"
Banshee and Maya exchanged a brief look before running the opposite direction.
They made it to the fire escape without delay, only to meet up with another guard.
Fed up, Maya kept hold of the tiny girl while using her one free hand to go to her holster.
"Get out of our way!" she commanded before unleashing a super charged volt from the jeweled taser to the center of the encroacher's chest.
He bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The moment he dropped onto the stairs, Banshee and Maya kept on for their destination. The girl continued sleeping throughout.
II
When the door burst open in a completely unexpected motion, Trav backed away against the corner he currently occupied. Then he saw the blue woman who dashed in next and he jumped straight to his feet.
"Raven!" He held his arms up. "You're okay!"
"Trav!" The shape-shifter nearly went to her knees as she ran forward and collected him up. "Yeah, it's fine, it's fine." She smooched his cheek twice. "We're all going to be just fine now."
Trav looked up with shining eyes. "Raven, we have to find Kiki."
"Kiki?" she repeated with a raised eyebrow.
II
At Banshee and Maya charging for them, Eel right away clicked the doors back open. The exhausted redhead along with the breathless brunette jumped onboard.
"Thank Heavens." Professor X went to them and knelt down, taking in the one in Maya's hold. "Excellent, you have her." He peered up into the teenagers' faces. "Where are the others?"
"Still inside," Maya panted.
"Beast told us to get her on board pronto," Banshee continued. "He and Sabretooth are still trying to find Mystique."
Rising again, Professor X returned to his telepathic linkup then. The moment he did, he instantaneously felt the bright rush of power nearly exploding from one of his students.
Eel got up and went to bend close beside the little girl. Capturing one of her bitty hands, he clasped both of his over it then sent out the smallest of sparks. Banshee and Maya's mouths dropped when they received their first glance of the now opened brown eyes.
II
Legs waving back and forth from where she lay stomach down on the floor of the clerical room, Glimmer finished another file and moved on to the next. Emma sat in the leather executive chair, casually looking through another set of documents.
"Emma, are you there?" Charles petitioned.
Raising her wrist so as to speak into the communicator, the blonde woman returned, "At your service, love."
"Hank and Raven are alright and Hank is in pursuit of her now."
"That's a cue if I ever heard one," Emma determined. She gathered as many files as she could before holding a hand out towards her sister. "Ready?"
Glimmer hurried up and clamped hands with her. "Let's bail it, big sis."
Reforming their diamond and gold casings, the Frosts made it out in time to take in a manifestation even more sparking than their mutated forms. Emma brushed her other hand over her stomach, sensing her developing child's delight.
II
At the radiance somehow coming at them, Magneto brought his daughter up into his arms and kept her as close to him as he could.
Becky's face glowed right along with it as the impinging force shined even brighter.
From Magneto's lips breathed, "Mercy be El Shaddai…"
Touching her temples, further joy overtook Becky. "Papa, I can feel him. He's—" Her smile grew when the two large mutants headed their way. "Big Bear!"
"Becca!" When Magneto gave her over, Hank spun with her in a strong hug.
Sabretooth stood by Magneto, both sets of attention on the light.
"What the…" Sabretooth tilted his head, long locks of honey wheat toppling to one side. "Who let Vegas in here?"
Havok, Raven still clutching Trav, Cyclops, and a floating, shining Lighthouse turned the next corner.
"Little boychick." A mixture of astonishment and pride filled Magneto's tone at seeing the young teenager's display.
Immediately upon spotting his wife, Hank rushed at her. The two had to be careful not to crush the children between them as they all embraced. Becky then looked intrigued at the kiss that followed.
"I," Raven exhaled when they finally pulled away, "I thought that they'd…"
"Shh," Hank brought her in again, "I'm here."
"Hi!" Trav waved then extended the hand towards the curly haired girl. "I'm Trav. Will you be my friend?"
Becky shrugged and squeezed his hand with a smile. "Sure!"
Cyclops requested, "Can we please go home now?"
To everyone's surprise, Hank responded, "Not yet. This plant has caused too much devastation. I want it shut down permanently."
Indicating Cyclops, Havok cracked his knuckles. "I think we might be able to take care of that."
"First we need to get it evacuated," Hank said next.
"Oh sure." Sabretooth rolled his eyes. "Ruin the fun and give us more work to do."
Summoning up a surge of magnetic energy, Magneto set off the fire alarms.
Commotion from employees quickly resulted.
"I believe we should follow suit," suggested the wizard of metal.
Lighthouse maneuvered himself up higher. Another surge of consuming light bathed them all. When it subsided, everyone present along with the Frost sisters stood within the confines of the X-Jet.
Before any could speak, Lighthouse grew limp and started down.
Banshee and Magneto worked together to catch him in time and carefully lowered him to the plane's floor.
Pulling his mask back, Banshee hugged the younger mutant from behind. "Ah Frank-O. Scared the daylights out of me, buddy."
Professor X rushed to kneel to him as well. "Take it easy now, lad. You've used untold power. The residual weakness will subside eventually."
The boy breathed slowly. "Is everybody okay?"
Magneto took his hand and confirmed, "Because of you." He then summoned together some magnetism to get them airborne.
When they got high enough up, Havok called out, "Hey, Em? Are they all out of there?"
Returning to her flesh form, Emma took a brief reading. "All clear."
Havok looked to the one in the visor next. "Then let's do our thing."
Cyclops quickly went to stand beside him. "I'm with you."
By the younger one's eyes and the elder's hands, an outpouring of red rained down. In moments, the entire plant became engulfed in fire.
From one window, Hank looked on, the flames reflecting against his lenses.
IIIIIII
"Peek-a…" Eel removed his hands suddenly to reveal his grinning face. "Boo!"
The bitty girl grinned and pointed toward him.
Shaking his head in a mix of amusement and tiredness, Hank instructed, "Joey, would you let her sleep, please?"
"She's slept enough," the nine-year-old countered.
"And you could use a little of the same," Emma picked him up at the waist from behind to situate him comfortably in-between herself and Cordelia. "You've had quite the active day."
Charles added from where he and Victor piloted back in place, "And might I say, you handled your part superbly, son."
"Yeah," Alex seconded, "those guards all glued together? Hilarious."
Joey said, "I just didn't want them to do anything to Daddy."
"Little did they know they would have you to combat." Erik looked to where a soundly sleeping Frank and drowsy Becky snuggled next to him under his cape. "All of you."
Sean started, "Frank is… I mean… who had any idea he could do that?"
Becky sat back a bit, tugging the cape closer around herself.
Scott put forth worriedly, "But he'll be okay, won't he?"
"He'll be just fine, Scott," Charles assured.
"I'll take a look at him," Hank rubbed underneath his glasses, "first thing in the morning."
Maya leaned across to where the McCoys sat with the small children in their laps. "I could hold her for a while, Hank."
"No, no," Hank cradled the girl closer, "it's best if I hold her- just in case she exhibits any reactions."
Raven turned to Maya. "You're completely gorge in that uniform by the way."
Maya looked down at the blue and yellow suit. "I'm sure you filled it out a whole lot better."
Sean brought up, "I'd like to see Raven yank out a taser in two seconds."
Alex remarked, "I'm scared to see Raven with a taser."
Victor glanced back at the young people. "Little brother's gonna be sorry he missed this one."
A quiet Trav studied the big man beside Raven closely then tapped him on the arm. "Hank?" The scientist looked to him. "Where'd your daddy go?"
Hank broke the expected ensuing silence from the question with, "I'm afraid he had to leave us suddenly, but everything is alright. Though we won't see him again, he knew my wife and I would be here for you and your sister."
Trav formed a smile. "Does that mean we can stay with you and Raven now?"
"I'm sorry, did you think you were going somewhere?" The aforementioned shape-shifter gave him a short tickle at one armpit, getting a light giggle. "I don't ruin perfectly good doors for just anybody ya know."
Sliding off her seat, Becky made her way over to the four. "I'm sorry for not telling you my name before. It's Rebecca Lehnsherr, but," she undid her cape to drape over the small ones, "I'd like it better if you called me Becca."
Trav agreed with cheerful ease, "Okay, Becca!"
From the mouth of the formerly wordless tot Hank held sprang, "Bec-ca!"
Peering into the above mirror, Charles exchanged a look with Erik. Though they already had their fair share of problems awaiting them back in New York in addition to the adjustments that would have to be made from the last twenty four hours alone, for the moment none of it mattered. What did was that they would soon be back in the safety of their home, returning more fulfilled than when they'd left.