Chapter 11: Ready, Aim, Fire Part 2: The Beginnings of a Fire
Piotr waited quietly as he heard the groaning of slaves and soldiers pulling the catapult. Once it was clear, he made a dash for Bayville's market district. He hoped and prayed to God that he'd get there before Essex.
()()()()()
Hank checked around the area. His side looked clear, but he had to make sure, especially with Ororo watching.
"Are my leaves on straight?" Kurt said with a smile in the tree he was hiding in.
"Yeah, but you need more twigs." Jean replied as the two of them and Alex giggled.
"Stop giggling!" Hank whispered angrily. "Trees don't giggle!" Seriously. Kids had to be told everything. "Any sign of the guards?"
"All clear." Kurt responded.
"All clear, Charles." Hank responded.
Charles nodded and walked over to the Christians who'd arrived for the story.
"Many of you ask, 'How long must we keep telling the stories of Jesus in secret?'" Charles started. "Well, one thing is certain. They can't keep us quiet forever. Anymore than they could keep a blind beggar quiet when Jesus passed by.
"It was on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus and his disciples had to cross through the city of Jericho, and it was there that they met a blind man called Bartemaus.
"Upon hearing that Jesus had arrived, Bartemaus called out, 'Son of David! Jesus, help me!'
"Even though the people tried to shuttle the poor blind man away, Jesus stopped them and asked them to call Bartemaus over to him.
"When he arrived, Jesus asked, 'What is it you want from me?'
"Bartemaus replied, 'I want my sight back.'
"'Go home.' Jesus responded. 'Because you have trusted me, you have been made better.'
"And just like that, Bartemaus could see again."
Just then, a knock was heard. Hank approached it cautiously and opened it a bit to reveal a friend from Nur's palace, Piotr Rasputin.
"Piotr!" Charles called out. "What's wrong?"
"Gambit sent me, but I think I may be too late." Piotr said panting. "There's gonna be a fire."
"What?!" Moira called out.
"He's right!" Kurt called out from the tree. "Ve're surrounded!"
Everyone began to talk excitedly when Charles calmed them down.
"Friends, please." Charles said as calm as the sea. "If we panic, it'll only make things worse."
"I don't think they can get much worse." Hank pointed out.
()()()()()
At the hilltop where the catapult was, a flaming boulder was released right at the heart of the district.
"Bull's eye!" Essex called out. "That'll teach Christians to defy Pharaoh's law. RELOAD!"
()()()()()
Meanwhile, at the district, everyone was carrying water to clear a passageway to allow for an escape.
"Keep it coming!" Charles called out.
Alex tried to help, but the bucket was too heavy for him.
"Alex, you're spilling it everywhere!" Hank said angrily. "Leave it to me!"
Alex felt like he was about to cry as Hank took the bucket from him. Why was Hank being so mean today?
"Hey Alex, I could use your help." Ororo said kindly as she gave Alex a smaller bucket he could handle as she held two of her own.
()()()()()
Gambit looked around cautiously when Essex touched his shoulder.
"What are you doing here?" Essex said angrily.
"Hail Essex." Gambit said quickly. "How's the fire?"
"So, you've come to share in my victory, have you?!" Essex asked angrily, just as Gambit wanted. "Well En Sabah Nur put me in charge of this operation! And I don't need any help from you! Stay out of my way, and you won't get hurt."
As Essex left, Gambit saw Fred barely pluck an apple from a tree, giving Gambit a fun little idea.
As they prepared to set another boulder ablaze, Gambit walked up and whistled at a horse, who came up and ate an apple Gambit held before quickly walking off, causing the catapult to be pulled forward enough, so that they missed their next target.
Instead, it hit an old bath house, putting the boulder out at once.
()()()()()
The gang breathed a sigh of relief after a good hour's work.
"We did it." Jean sighed.
"For now." Piotr said. "But Gambit can't stall Essex forever."
"Piotr is right." Charles said calmly. "We'll have to evacuate."
"How?" Piotr asked. "We're completely surrounded."
"We all knew this day would come, and we're prepared for it." Charles continued as calm as before. "You kids know what to do."
Using the aqueduct system and camouflage, the kids were able to help everyone out of the market district of Bayville.
()()()()()
Back at the catapult, Gambit subtly damaged the rope as it began to fray.
"Perfect." Gambit said with a smirk.
"PREPARE TO FIRE!" Essex called out.
The boulder just fell idly down the hill as the entire catapult fell over. Gambit could only smile at the look of horror and rage on Essex's face.
Hooray for teamwork and sabotage!