Merry Christmas! A new chapter?! What a gift! I know, I know it should have been updated sooner, but no time like the present! And just to let you know I'm going on vacation in a few days so the final installment for this won't be up until sometime next year.
Okay that's it on with the story!
Chapter 19 New Paths
"Come on, Clarice we gotta move!" Marcos says just as the gunshots stop. With shaking hands Clarice manages to open a portal big enough for them to go through. Marcos dives in landing safely on the grass. Clarice and John land together on the grass with a grunt. Making sure each other was okay before they quickly headed to Lorna and Esme.
"Wh-Where is he? Where the hell is Campbell?!" Esme yells.
"We couldn't get to him." John says.
"He shielded himself with a bunch of kids." Marcos says from his place near Lorna.
"So what?" Esme says.
"So, kids." Clarice says as if the answer was obvious.
"Do you know how many people are gonna die if the Hound program continues? We are not leaving here without him!" Esme says enraged.
"They're coming. We have to go." John says as he pushes Marcos towards Lorna.
"No, we can't!" Esme argues.
"They're coming! We have to go! Now!" John says as he and Clarice move to the other SUV.
"Damn it!" Esme says.
With everyone in their selected SUV's they hightail it out of there with two police cruisers not fair behind them. Lorna stands between the sun roof and uses her powers to stop them by pulling a powerline pole down stopping the police from pursing them.
The ride back was tense though it was obvious that the Frost were fuming the whole way back to the safe house. Once their SUV arrives Lorna and the other two Frost are making their way up the steps to the house.
"How could you just let Campbell get away like that?" Esme asks once they are all out of the vehicle.
"Uh, we didn't let him do anything. What the hell are we supposed to do, attack a bunch of little kids?" Marcos asks.
"You're worried about their kids? Worry about your own! No, he is on his way to D.C. with a senator in his pocket right now. After today..." Esme doesn't finish.
"We just gave them a hell of an excuse to expand the Hound program." Clarice says.
"I'm sorry. And-and this is our fault?" Marcos asks.
"Yes, this is your fault. What we need to figure out is where Campbell is, so we can finish what we started." Esme says then turns on her heel and storms into the house.
The trio exchange upset looks before they too head inside the house. Marcos immediately goes to find Lorna. John and Clarice go to their rooms to shower and change. Clarice sighs relived that she's not wearing that useless suit anymore. After her shower she puts on her own clothes and uses the brush and comb that the room provided to brush her hair. Yup definitely keeping these. Clarice puts the comb and brush in her bag. She then leaves her room to check on John her mind going back to the chaos that happened the minute Campbell got away and that John shielded her from those bullets. Once she makes it to his door she knocks.
"Come in." John says. Clarice opens the door letting herself in and closes it behind her. When she turns to John, his back to her she covers her mouth in shock at the dark purple bruises on his back. She walks closer to him. He turns around shirt in hand and the faded pants he had on had seen better days.
"Are you okay?" John asks snapping her out of her thoughts. "Me? You're the one who go shot ten times in the back." Clarice says. "It was 15, but I'm fine." John says. "Really the bruises on your back say otherwise." Clarice says her arms crossed over her chest. "They were long-range shots." John says simply. "That doesn't make it better! You could have died or been paralyzed if they were closer and then what?!" Clarice exclaims. "Clarice I wouldn't that happen." John says as he takes her in his arms. "So, now you can suddenly predict the future?" Clarice asks. "No, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it again in a heartbeat." John says as he lifts her chin up with his hand and kisses her tenderly. Clarice kisses him back after a while then pulls away shaking her head.
"What is it?" John asks. "Aside from the fact that we let Campbell get away and the fact that Esme wanted us to hurt kids just to get him back?" Clarice shakes her head again. "I know I'm pissed that we didn't grab him. But I wasn't going to cross that line." John says. "I already crossed that line." Clarice says bitterly. "Hey, what happened to you when you were captured was not your fault." John says. "But it is! I made the choice to abort our kid! And I regret it!" Clarice says hugging herself. "You did what you thought was right in that moment." John says hugging her against his chest. "Your right." Clarice says.
"I know." John says with chuckle when she hits him in the chest.
"But, what if I didn't?" Clarice asks as she pulls back to look at John. "There's possibility that Selene would have killed you both. Or used our kid to get you to do what she already wanted you to do." John says looking down at her. "Wow talk about taking the bright side out things." Clarice says with an eye roll. "Hey, you asked." John says. "I know I just don't want to be like them." Clarice says. "We won't be." John says as kisses her temple. "I hope your right." Clarice says. "Wait here." John says as he lets her go and opens his bag. He comes back to stand next to her taking her left hand.
"John?" Clarice asks. "I need to give this back to you." John says as he holds her silver ring in his hand. "You kept it safe." Clarice says. "You asked me to." John says. "I know, I can't believe that I forgot about it." Clarice says as she slides the ring back where it belongs. "Hey a lot has happened." John says his hand on her cheek. "Doesn't matter this was my only link to you, it kept me going." Clarice says. "Good to know." John says then pulls her for another kiss. Clarice wraps her arms around his neck and his around her waist. They kiss for a while then their stomachs growl. They pull away laughing. John puts on his shirt then they leave his room and head to the kitchen to eat. They head back to his room and John calls HQ.
"Can't get ahold of anyone at HQ?" Clarice asks. "It rang a few times, then cut out, and then when I just called back, nothing." John says as he puts his burner phone back in his pocket. "Do you think something happened?" Clarice asks. "I don't know." John says. Before she can say more there's a hard knocking at the door.
"John. I can't find Lorna." Marcos says out of breath.
"What do you mean, you can't find her? She was just here." John says standing up.
"She was outside with whichever Frost not too long ago, when John and I were in the kitchen." Clarice says.
"Well, she's not here now. I looked everywhere." Marcos says.
"You're right. And she's not the only one missing." John says after he hears the front door click. The trio leave the room and head downstairs. They find one of the Frosts in the living room typing away on the computer.
"Hey. What the hell is going on?" John asks.
"Something wrong?" Esme asks not looking at them.
"Yeah, something's wrong. We can't find Lorna." Marcos says.
"She left with your sisters." John says.
"They're doing what you couldn't. Campbell and Montez filed a flight plan. They fly out of Morrison Air Center in 20 minutes. The most important thing is to make sure he doesn't get to D. C. Ever." Esme says.
"Whoa. It's an assassination now?" Clarice asks.
"Look I hate that son of a bitch-" John starts.
"John." Esme says as she stands up.
"But that goes against everything we stand for!" John continues.
"Please. John, please." Esme tries again.
"No! If we start killing, it's gonna make life worse for mutants everywhere." John says.
"John, life is already worse for mutants everywhere. You know I'm right." Esme tries to reason.
"Ah, shut up!" Marcos yells.
"Marcos.." Esme starts.
"Don't say another word! Now, we are gonna go get Lorna, right now. And if I see your eyes turn blue, I swear to God I will be the last thing you see." Maros says holding up his illuminated fists in front of the telepath who finches back. "Let's go!" Marcos says.
The trio leave the house and a stunned Esme behind taking the other SUV and heading towards the airport. The ride is quiet until they are 10 miles away.
"Damn it! I should've known. It's my fault. I should've stopped her." Marcos says.
"Marcos, you couldn't have known." Clarice says from the backseat.
"It's not like her to do this." John says his eyes on the road.
"It's not? John, ever since we broke her out of that convoy, you know she's been different. And with the baby..." Marcos trails off.
"I know she's had issues in the past. Do you think that maybe this is...?" John asks.
"No way. I've had friends who were bipolar. Assassination plots are not one of the symptoms." Clarice says.
"She's right. Lorna knows exactly what she's doing." Marcos says as if he finally realized it himself.
"All the more reason to try and stop her, before she gets hurt." John says as they take their exit.
As they are pulling up through an abandoned part of the airport as they turn the next corner the SUV abruptly stops. Lorna forced it to stop. The trio make their way toward Lorna who wasn't looking at them just a plane that flew by.
"Lorna! Babe, we just want to talk." Marcos says.
"There's nothing to talk about. This is just something I have to do. Please stand back." Lorna says as she finally turns around to face them.
"We can't do that." Clarice says.
Lorna taps into her Magnetelekiniesis pulling the barb wire from a fence and making a barrier between them. Clarice started to open a portal only for Lorna to flick the wire in her direction.
"Whoa. Okay." Clarice says as she holds her hands up and steps back. John stands in front of as a shield in case Lorna did that again.
"You're my friend, Clarice, but don't... don't try to get clever." Lorna says as a warning. Marcos shakes his head in disbelief. Lorna looks back at the jet slowly making its way toward the runway.
"Listen, Lorna, you don't want to do this." Marcos says. "Marcos, I have to. For all of us." Lorna says. "No. No, you don't. You saw what happened when innocent people died on 7/15. Not everyone on that plane is trying to hurt us. Innocent people... You take it down, they die!" Marcos says. "There are innocent people on this side, too. If I don't take it down, they die." Lorna says. "Your wrong!" Marcos says with such raw emotion.
"You're not a killer, Lorna. This isn't why the X-Men chose us." John says.
"The X-Men made a mistake. This is who I am." Lorna says looking back at the jet on the runway. "Please, just listen to me. Now, we will figure this out. I don't care about the X-Men. I don't care about the Brotherhood. I care about my family." Marcos says. "That's what I care about, too. But I'm tired of hiding. We have to take a stand." Lorna says looking back at Marcos. "Not like this. This changes everything. This will change everything. Our kid has to live in this world." Marcos says. "It's time to make a new world." Lorna says then drops the wires and faces away from them.
"No, Lorna, please. Lorna!" Marcos pleads. Lorna uses her powers making the jet tilt to the left. "Don't it! No, no, no!" Then she gives it more juice and rips a wing with the engine from the jet. The jet explodes mid-air and one of the engines flies pasts them and explodes the impact knocking Marcos, Clarice, and John off their feet. Debry falls all around them. They get up, flames and dust all around them, but no sign of. "Lorna? Lorna!" Marcos shouts.
"We have to go." John says.
"John, she has to still be here!" Marcos says.
"She's not. We have to go the cops are 10 minutes out." John says as he moves back toward the SUV Clarice not fair behind him. Marcos though reluctant gets in the car and they head back towards the safe house. When they arrive, they don't see the other SUV or any sign of Lorna or Esme when they enter the house. They grab their stuff and some food and leave. They fill up at a gas station then get on road.
"Something must have happened at HQ or Sage would have answered." John says. "Okay, so where would you go in case of an emergency?" Clarice asks. Marcos is quiet in the backseat. "The way station in Nashville, Tennessee." John says. "Nashville? Wake me when were there." Clarice says and lays her head on the window going to sleep.
Marcos stays awake half-way to their destination then falls asleep. John was speeding the whole way trying to cut down the time. They finally made to their destination within four and half hours. When John pulls into the abandoned lot a friend opens up the garage door and he pulls in parking where the rest of the vehicles are, he cuts the engine. Marcos wakes up first and gives him a brief nod before he gets out. John gently shakes Clarice awake and they both leave the SUV. They find Marcos taking with Sage.
"It was close, but we got everyone out. If it weren't for Lauren and Andy, we would all be dead." Sage says as John and Clarice join them.
"And headquarters?" John asks.
"It's gone." Sage says.
"Gone? What do you mean, gone? It can't just be gone." Marcos says.
"I'm telling you, gone. It just... I-I've never seen anything like it. No one got out but the Strucker kids." Sage says.
"You okay?" Clarice asks.
"Uh, just... we sacrificed so much." John says looking down at the pavement defeated. Clarice hugs him.
"Uh... any, uh, any word from Lorna?" Marcos asks.
"Nothing. I'm sorry." Sage says.
"Just, umm, let me know if she calls?" Marcos says then walks away toward the Struckers.
John and Clarice were going to do the same, but Sage stops them.
"Wait there's something else." Sage says.
"What is it?" John asks.
"When Lauren and Andy were taking care of things, they saw Sonia." Sage.
"What? H-how she died I was there Campbell killed her." Clarice says.
"I didn't believe it either when they told me, but she joined the Hounds." Sage says.
"I don't believe this." John says.
"Neither did I, but they said she had the tattoo, but she wasn't drugged like the others, she made her choice willingly." Sage says.
"Does Marcos know? I mean he has to know Sonia was Lorna's best friend." Clarice says as she looks over at Marcos who is chatting with the Struckers.
"That was the first thing I told him. And he told me the Lorna took down a plane with Campbell and Senator Montez." Sage says.
John and Clarice's somber expressions say it all. They don't need to say anything Sage had already figured earlier that if Marcos wasn't going to talk about it, then neither would they. She leaves them with a sad smile going over to Shatter to tell him the news.
Clarice knows that John is not ready to talk to the Struckers yet, so she leaves him there to grab their bags and gently pulls John to one of the many spare rooms that this way-station had. Setting their bags on the ground she turns to face him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asks. "Why would she do it?" John asks. "I never told you, but when we were locked up at Trask, she was feeling really helpless." Clarice says. "It still doesn't explain why she chose that." John says. "No, it doesn't, but we can't get the answers in here." Clarice says. "I know I just need some more time to process HQ and Sonia being gone." John says. "Okay, do you want me to go?" Clarice asks. "No, I need you to stay." John says as he pulls her into his arms. She hugs him back. He kisses her temple and sighs is not because of stress, he's just happy she's here.
After a while they leave the room and head over the Struckers and Marcos. No words are needed when they hug each other, though John and Clarice can see that the experience changed Lauren and Andy in different ways. Lauren looked like sees been crying and the shock has finally worn off. Andy is the complete opposite he looks less afraid than the last time they had seen him. John and Clarice weren't sure if this would make him a better person or the opposite. They didn't dwell on it long; Shatter had gathered everyone together they needed to figure out where and what to do next.
"We need to start thinking about next steps. With the headquarters gone, a lot of people have nowhere to go." John says from his stool in the center of the room.
"John, we know what we need to do. We need to rebuild." Marcos says from his stool on John's right.
"Rebuild what? You heard Sage. The place disintegrated." Clarice said not trying to sound doubtful.
"Not about a building. It's about the network and the people in it." Marcos says.
"Everything we have is gone. Restart from nothing? It's not possible." Sage says.
"Besides, anything that we build, they're just gonna smash it again." Shatter says. Others nod in agreement and few shake their heads.
"No. That's not a reason to give up. That's a reason to fight harder." Caitlin says.
"Listen, I get you trying to help, but you're not even a mutant." Fade says looking at Caitlin.
"I am. And my children are. And the Underground saved our lives. If the Sentinel Services comes after another family, we owe it to them to be there." Reed says.
"I'm sorry, but the fact is since your family came, half our stations have been destroyed." Sage says.
"You can't blame us for that. The Hound program was coming one way or another." Caitlin says. Soft chatter breaks out, some agreeing with Sage others with Caitlin.
"Okay. Hey! The X-Men didn't do this 'cause they thought it would be easy. They knew it would be a struggle. They knew it would take sacrifice." Marcos says through all the noise no noticed these two coming.
"There's nothing noble about struggle, Marcos. And sacrifice is just a pretty name for losing." Lorna says with Esme by her side. "Lorna what are you doing?" Marcos asks and almost everyone stands up. "I'm telling them the truth. The Mutant Underground is dying. That world where we don't have to hide that we've always talked about? I want to build that. For all of us. For my baby." Lorna says. "That baby is ours. And this is where your family is. Lorna, you know I will do anything for you, but... I can't help you do this." Marcos says.
"No one's asking for your help. The people we're here for... They know who they are." Esme says.
"What the hell does that mean?" Marcos asks.
"What?" Caitlin whispers as Fade gets up and makes his way over to Lorna.
"Fade? Fade." Marcos says. Sage moves along with him.
"Sage." John says.
"I'm sorry, John. They ended the Hound program. This is just about survival." Sage says.
"Guys." Marcos says in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me." Clarice says as the big guy they found out is called Bulk, leaves them too.
"No. No way." Reed says when Andy stands up.
"Andy, stay where you are. You are not taking our son!" Caitlin says glaring at Lorna and Esme.
"They're not taking me. It's my decision. This thing they're trying to rebuild, the Hellfire Club, it's something that our family was a part of. And you're the one who's always talking about helping people." Andy says.
"A war between humans and mutants isn't helping anyone." Caitlin says shaking her head.
"I can't let you do this." Reed says.
"I'm not asking." Andy says.
"What?" Reed whispers.
"Andy. When we were kids playing X-Men, we did that... because they were heroes. Because they saved everyone. Please. Don't leave me." Lauren says on the verge of tears.
"The X-Men are gone. We're not little kids anymore." Andy says.
"Andy." Lauren whispers.
"Andy, no." Reed tries again this time gently grabbing his son's arm. Andy uses his powers pushing his family back Caitlin falls down. Lorna keeps the building from falling. Marcos and Reed help Caitlin back up.
"I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I love you guys, but you're my family, I want to hurt you. Don't try to stop me." Andy says then joins the others. The six turn around heading for the exit.
"No." Caitlin says and tries to go after Andy.
"No, no, no, don't. Don't." Marcos says and gently catches her arm stopping her.
Lorna puts her hand on Andy's shoulder as they walk out. Esme smirks as she closes the door behind them.
"D-did that really just happen?" Caitlin asks tears falling from her face.
"It did." Marcos says with a sigh.
"We need to go after them." Reed says.
"That's not a good idea right now." John says.
"Not a good idea?! My son is gone!" Caitlin says.
"No, John's right, if we go after them it will only make it harder for us." Marcos says.
"We can't just leave him with them!" Caitlin yells.
"No, we can't. But if we fought them Andy might hurt you more now than he already did." Clarice says.
"We have all had a long day let's just-" Marcos is cut off by the door opening.
"Andy?" Caitlin says as she goes over to the door, only for three others to come in. All three are male.
"I'm sorry who's Andy? My name is Evan." Said the teen with blond hair.
"Evan?" Clarice whispers.
"Clarice?" Evan says. Then runs and hugs her.
"How long has it been?" Clarice asks.
"Four years you got a new mark." Evan says
"And you got taller." Clarice says.
"Hey ami, how 'bout helping moi with dis." The taller man with red hair said.
"Alright, Gambit." Evan says releasing Clarice from their hug and helping with the bags.
"Fille is dat you?" The man asked.
"Gambit long time no see." Clarice says.
"Quoi? Non hug for Gambit?" Gambit says.
"You're the Gambit? From the X-men?" Lauren asks.
"Oui da one and only." Gambit says with a bow.
"How are you alive?" Maros asks.
"Dat be a story for an'ther day." Gambit says.
"So, you've come to helps us, right?" Lauren asks.
"Non, but Gambit can try." Gambi say.
"Gambit where did you put his toy?" Evan asks coming in with a small boy who looked to be about four years old.
"In da bag he would have lost it otherwise." Gambit says. "So, Clarice tell moi did you find dat boyfriend of yours?" Gambit asks.
"I did." Clarice says looking at John who takes her hand in his.
"I'm-I'm sorry what?" Marcos says looking from Clarice and John to Gambit.
"Gambit now doesn't seem like the right time." Evan says.
"The right time for what?" John asks.
"See Evan they want to know." Gambit says. "Ami come here." The little walks over to Gambit and takes his hand.
"What are you talking about?" Clarice asks.
"Clarice, meet Ryan. Your son." Gambit says.
I know how could I do this and then leave? Don't worry it will be finished in the next and final chapter! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Everyone stay safe and I'll see you all in the New Year! Until next time...
Ami= Buddy or Friend
Da= The
Dat= That
Dis= This
Fillie= Girl
Moi= Me
Non= No
Oui= Yes
Quoi= What