Chapter Three: Breakout Part 3: Juggernaut
At the farm, Charles took out the freshly baked piece of dough shaped like the key.
"It's perfect." Charles said as he held the key and gently tapped it on the counter as it made a clacking noise. "Moira's special recipe for Roman Army biscuits is still as hard as ever."
"Good work, Alex." Moira said with a smile.
"Thanks." Scott said as everyone stared at him. "Well… I supervised him."
"Great." Hank said as he studied the map he made. "Once we open the cell, it's just thirty paces to the left, then down the corridor to the right, and we're home free."
()()()()()
That night, everyone put on their pajamas as Alex held onto his tiger. He was worried. He didn't want to lose her new family only a few weeks after losing his parents.
"Professor, what if Marko gets us?" Alex asked.
"Oh, you take away his brute strength, killer instinct, and pure rage, and what do you have left?" Hank asked.
"Me?" Alex asked uncertainly.
"Alex, Marko may be powerful, but we have Jesus on our side." Moira said as she tucked Alex in.
"Is Jesus stronger than Marko?" Alex asked. He'd only just started to learn about Jesus.
"Of course he is." Charles said with a smile. "Marko may be able to hurt people, but he doesn't have the power to heal them. You know, there was once a man named Jairus whose daughter was very sick. When Jesus came to the village, he rushed over to him and said, 'My little girl is dying. Please come and heal her, so she will live.'
"Jesus asked Jairus to lead the way when a servant of his walked up and sadly told Jairus, 'Sir, your daughter has died.'
"At this, Jairus wept.
"Jesus picked Jairus up and said calmly, 'Don't be afraid. Trust me.'
"Jairus then led Jesus to his house where the women of the household wept over the girl's body.
"'What's all this noise?' Jesus asked. 'This man's little girl isn't dead. She's just asleep.'
"But Jesus sent all but the girl's parents away as he knelt down in front of her and took her hand as he asked, 'Little girl, awake.'
"At once, the girl awoke and was helped to her feet by Jesus.
"'Now give her something to eat.' Jesus said simply as the little girl hugged her parents with joy, and he told them not to say nothing of these events to anyone, but it's hard to keep such a thing secret, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Alex said.
"Alright now," Moira said simply. "Off to sleep Alex. I'm sure your brother and Jean are already sleeping."
"If they're not, could you tell them that story too?" Alex asked.
"Of course." Charles said with a kind smile.
Charles, Moira, and Hank then left his room and shut the lights.
()()()()()
In their small cell, the Christians sang a small hymn as a guard clanged at the bars with his sword to silence them.
"That's real pretty." The guard said with a smirk. "But you'll be singing a different tune tomorrow when you face Marko."
Kurt gulped. He hoped Charles and the others would arrive soon.
()()()()()
The day after his planning, Nur sat in his own personal booth with a smirk as Marko defeated several gladiators without even requiring his full might, and the crowd was cheering.
"If they love this, they're going to love what he does to the Christians." Nur said to Mesmero with a smirk.
()()()()()
Outside the coliseum, Scott was grumbling. The first really exciting thing to do since the fire, and he was stuck near the truck.
"Why am I always stuck with baby-sitting duty?" Scott asked moodily. "I should be inside helping Charles and Hank."
"Then I guess that means I could drive the get-away truck." Jean said with a smirk.
"Now that you mention it, maybe it's better I'm here." Scott said nervously. Jean still had trouble with her bicycle.
()()()()()
Inside the coliseum, Charles rolled a barrel up to Dukes.
"Charles!" Fred called out.
"Fred." Charles said with a smile in his voice. "The gladiators weren't very hungry today. I'm afraid I'm stuck with all this left over produce."
While Fred began getting busy with the produce, Hank rushed off to the cells to free Kurt and the others. He'd mastered the escape route and one or two off-shots just in case of an emergency.
()()()()()
Marko continued to pummel the gladiators as Nur stood up.
"Enough warm ups Mesmero." Nur said plainly. "Where are those weeping frightened Christians? We need drama. We need tragedy. We need a body count."
"Bring out the Christians!" Mesmero called out.
()()()()()
"The gate's opening!" Steve called out as Hank quickly unlocked the door with the key Charles and Alex had made. Hank then lifted the door open.
"Follow me!" Hank said, and they all rushed off.
()()()()()
"Did I mention I love apples?" Fred said as he stuffed his face with various apples Charles had brought as he quickly waved Hank and the others through.
"Bring on the Christians!" A voice called out.
"Well, looks like break time's over." Fred said with a sigh as he walked to the holding cell and quickly ran back out screaming, "THE PRISONERS ARE GONE!"
"The prisoners are gone!" Charles repeated as he pointed all the guards that came to the call in the opposite direction Hank, Kurt, Steve, and all the other Christians had gone.
()()()()()
Hank rushed off with the others, leading the way as they made it to the hallway where they could escape into the crowds.
"Come on, the exit's just ahead!" Hank called out. Unfortunately, they were blocked by a soldier who had his back to them. Now what? Hank hadn't planned on any barriers right at the exit, and he couldn't remember where the other closest exit was.
"I zink ve should go this way." Kurt said as he pointed behind him.
"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this mess!" Hank snapped. He'd had it with that little troublemaker. "I say we go this way!"
Hank then led the others to a large open gate.
"See guys?" Hank said with a smirk. "We're almost there."
They rushed outside as they arrived at the large coliseum.
"At last!" Nur's voice rang out from the stands. "Christians."
"Okay, maybe we should have gone your way." Hank admitted as his way of an apology for everything. In the end, it was Hank that had gotten them into this mess, but luckily, Hank's super strength from his mutation would help him beat Marko, and allow the others to escape for a second chance at freedom.
()()()()()
Charles heard the call and looked out the window to see Hank, Kurt, and the other prisoners standing in front of Marko.
"Oh no." Charles groaned.
()()()()()
Hank smirked as Marko walked up.
"You don't look so tough." Hank taunted.
"There is more to me than meets the eye, little Christian." Marko said as he winded Hank with a single punch.
"That's impressive." Hank admitted.
()()()()()
Outside, Scott, Jean, and Alex heard a roar from the stadium that didn't sound like a human's or a lion's.
"You guys wait here." Scott said as he rushed off. "I'll see what's going on."
Scott rushed up to see a large man with rage-filled eyes walk up to Hank, Kurt, and the prisoners.
"Everyone, stay calm!" Hank called out. "I've got everything under control!"
Marko made a swing at Hank that he dodged.
"Okay Tiny, let's see what you've got." Hank said as Marko smacked Hank into a wall as Scott flinched. Just then, Scott saw Kurt juggling a shield and a helmet.
"Alright, step right up." Kurt said. "Ze show's about to begin. I'll need a volunteer zough. You sir!"
"Hm?" Marko asked as he turned to Kurt.
"Would you like me to juggle the helmet and bounce the shield or juggle the shield and bounce the helmet?" Kurt asked as the helmet hit Marko in the head, and the shield slammed into Marko's foot, causing him to groan.
Scott then noticed everyone else escape through a small hole as he thought he heard Charles's voice say, "Steve, this way."
Scott knew he had to do something. Alex, Hank, and Kurt had their moments, and now it was his turn. He jumped down in front of Marko as Hank apparently recovered and walked up.
"Let me at him." Hank said with only a hint of fear. "I'll tear him to bits."
"Actually, I've got a better idea." Scott said as he went to his sunglasses. "Hey pal, what happens when you get knocked back?"
Scott took off his glasses as his optic blast sent Marko hurling into the wall of the coliseum.
"They're good." Nur said to himself but still loud enough for them to hear. "They're very good."
Hank then picked the two boys up and rushed to the gate Charles was covertly keeping open.
"WHY'S THE SEWER GATE NOT CLOSING?!" Nur called out.
Hank rushed to the gate as Marko charged after them, just barely making it through before Marko as Charles used his telepathy to knock him out as they all heard Nur call out, "FOR THE LOVE OF RA, WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE KILL SOMEBODY?!"
()()()()()
"Alex, another helping?" Moira asked. Everyone was at the mansion and having supper after the exciting day they'd all had.
"No thank you." Alex said with a smile. "Or I'll be as fat as Mr. Dukes."
"Zanks for dinner, Moira." Kurt said. "It vas great, and zanks to all of you for saving me."
"Oh, it was nothing." Jean said with a smile.
"That's easy for you to say." Scott said with a smirk.
Kurt then figured he should head out before anyone offered to take him home.
"Vell…" Kurt gulped. "I better get going. My parents vill vonder vhere I am."
"Scott, Alex, could you two please help me with the dishes?" Moira asked.
"Why?" Alex asked.
"I'll explain once we're helping Moira, Alex." Scott said as he gently took Alex to the sink.
"Kurt, we know about your parents." Jean said plainly.
"You do?" Kurt asked.
"Why didn't you just tell me the truth?" Jean asked.
"I guess I was just ashamed." Kurt said. He now felt pretty brave admitting he was an orphan, but right now, he'd rather face Marko again. "You know, of being an orphan."
"But I'm an orphan." Jean said plainly. "So are Scott and Alex."
"You are?" Scott asked. He just assumed that Charles and Moira were babysitting for the three of them.
"Yeah." Jean said. "Charles and Moira took all of us in after the fire."
"And you'd be welcome to stay with us too until we find your parents." Charles said with a smile.
"You mean, you'd vant me to stay vith you?" Kurt asked.
"Of course." Charles said as Hank walked up and held out his hand with a smile.
"Welcome to the family, kid." Hank said as he shook Kurt's hand. "Now, there's something I just finished I want to show you."
"Come on, Kurt!" Jean said excitedly. "We have something to show you."
Kurt was then taken to a room with a bunk bed.
"Well Kurt, what do you think?" Hank asked.
"It's for me?" Kurt asked in awe.
"Unless you want the lower bunk, Roomy." Scott said with a smile as Kurt leapt onto the top bunk with ease. "No thanks. This suits me just fine."
Everyone then smiled and began talking with their new friend, Kurt Wagner.
And so ends the first adventure of the X-Men Story Keepers. Next chapter, Raging Waters.