One for Every Sin
Even though the X-Jet was in full stealth mode, Scott couldn't shake the feeling that it had been entirely too easy to elude Magneto's island's defenses. The combined resources of Worthington Industries and Frost International had given the island state of the art weaponry and detection hardware – some of it legal, much of it not. To not even have triggered those defenses…
It also wasn't difficult to figure out which building was Magneto's command center. The thing looked like a castle more than anything else. Obviously Magneto had not lost his flair for the dramatic. The four X-Men approached cautiously, looking for an unobtrusive entry point.
"There," Wolverine suggested. "The schematics called it a utility entrance."
"Good thinking," Cyclops agreed.
They proceeded into the building, and were again baffled by the lack of challenge.
"Jean?" Scott asked.
"Most of the building is empty," Jean answered, her brow not strained with effort as it had been in the past when her telepathic abilities were considerably less formidable. "There's one room I can't really get a read on… I think I'm being passively blocked by another psychic." The suspicion in her voice almost screamed, Emma, but she didn't actually say it aloud. "I can't push farther without them knowing I'm doing it."
"That's okay," Scott assured her. "That has to be where Magneto is." Again, it felt almost too easy. But Scott ignored that nagging detail.
"There are a few people not in the blocked room…" Jean continued. She was suddenly alert. "Scott, I think we need to go to the dungeon before we go to Magneto."
xxxx
Of course, it went without saying that the heavy, archaic-looking barred doors and stone walls of Magneto's "dungeon" were augmented with state of the art technology for containing potentially dangerous enemies. Still, the appearances had their desired effect; the atmosphere was as dreary and depressing as a dungeon right out of the middle ages.
It was not surprising that Magneto would have need of such facilities. Magneto had no interest in killing his fellow mutants. He would if necessity required it, but every mutant fatality hurt his ultimate goal of genetic superiority.
"Which way?" Cyclops asked as he led the way in, quickly scanning in every direction for signs of guards.
"This way," Jean answered, moving confidently forward. The others followed her lead, and stopped in front of one of the cells.
Its lone occupant was a thin, sad-looking young man. His expression brightened slightly with apparent recognition upon seeing them, but the overtone of sadness remained.
Jean gasped in obvious shock, and the man also looked surprised to see her.
"Aren't you dead?" he asked her in an agonizingly familiar voice.
"I'm sorry," Jean said quietly. "I didn't expect you to be…"
"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh avay," the other man answered with a sad shrug.
Storm gasped. "Oh my God. Kurt?"
"Yes, Ororo," he answered fondly, "it is I. But please… do not take the Lord's name in vain. Especially on my account."
Recognition and shock registered on the other X-Men's faces. The resemblance was actually pretty shocking, considering the lack of blue skin and a tail. Kurt had also grown his hair out – whether that was intentional, or a byproduct of his captivity – and it was difficult to see in the dim light what color the previously-blue hair was… but once they knew it was him, it was difficult to understand how they hadn't been able to tell immediately.
"What happened to you?" Storm asked sympathetically.
"Vhen the sentinel shot me… I thought I vas dead," Kurt answered. "Then I vas here. And I vas like this," he added, holding his now "normal"-colored arms in an open gesture.
"We need to get him out of here," Cyclops said, taking charge as usual. "Storm?"
"There aren't any windows nearby," Storm pointed out. "I can't fry the control panel if the lightning can't reach it."
"Well," Cyclops said with a shrug, adjusting the intensity on his visor, "here goes nothing."
"Scott, wait!" Jean warned, placing her hand on Cyclops's arm. "What if there's an alarm? We'll lose the element of surprise."
"Jeannie's right," Wolverine agreed. "It sucks, but we need to come back for him on the way out."
"What if there's not time?" Cyclops pointed out. "I don't want to risk leaving him here."
"I'm of no help to you right now anyvay," Kurt pointed out. "I vould only get in the vay."
Cyclops frowned. "I don't like this."
"You vill be back for me," Kurt answered with a reassuring smile.
"We will," Cyclops hastened to agree. "I swear it."
xxxx
They made their way cautiously towards the source of the interference with Jean's powers. She warned them when they were getting close, and they began moving with true stealth. Wolverine, the most combat-oriented member of the group, led the way, sniffing the air before glancing around each corner.
At one corner, he gestured for everyone to be silent.
"What is it?" Storm whispered.
"There's someone around the corner," he answered almost inaudibly. He sniffed the air again. "Two of them. They both smell familiar… two of Frost's pets, I think."
Jean gave Scott her most insufferable I told you so look.
"Alright," Cyclops ordered, "we take them out as quickly and nonlethally as we can."
"Emphasis on the quickly or the nonlethally?" Wolverine predictably asked.
For once, Cyclops was prepared to give him the answer he wanted. "Quickly."
Wolverine almost grinned as he deployed his claws. "I can do that."