-1Chapter 10
Skyler, April, and Bryce sat in the back seat of a black SUV. Ororo drove the SUV quietly letting herself experience the somber mood. It had been a week since Skyler awoke from her coma and while still sore she was almost healed. Skyler was finally cleared by Jean to travel to the cemetery where her fallen friends lay. It had been one hell of a week for Skyler. Not only did she nearly die at the hands of Gabriel, but she had finally come clean about her past to April and Bryce. They were shocked by the news, but very supportive. As soon as she told her friends about her past Skyler could feel a weight being lifted off her chest.
The SUV stopped at the cemetery parking lot. Skyler looked to the cemetery with dread, but before she could feel that emotion for long she felt someone grasp her hand. Looking to her left Skyler smiled April's attempts to comfort her. The reality of her friends death had not hit her yet, and she was wondering if she would be able to contain her emotions. Skyler followed Ororo to two marked head stones. Only a week and half ago Emma and Shawn were alive a vibrant. All they wanted was to live out their lives in peace. Now they would never get that chance. Skyler would not succumb to their fate. She wanted a life.
"Skyler, can I do anything?" A meek April asked.
Skyler ignored April's comment. " I won't end up like them. I don't want to travel from place to place anymore. I'm tired of constantly looking over my shoulders. I want a life and a place to call home. I won't end up like them." Tears began to fall down Skyler's face.
Bryce responded to Skyler's uncharacteristic melancholy by embracing her. "No you won't end up like them. You have us, the school, and the X-men."
X X X X
Professor Xavier waited patiently in the waiting room of Neogene Pharmaceutical. He had an appointment with the vice president Gabriel. The Professor was positive that Gabriel the was the same Gabriel that attacked Skyler a week and a half ago. He was perplexed why a vice president of a very lucrative company would risk that position to get rid of Skyler. From Skyler's memories the Professor was able to determine that Gabriel was the prototype for the Dante1321 program and he had a plan that he did not want Skyler to interfere with. The goal of this meeting was for the Professor to find out what Gabriel was planning.
"Professor Xavier, Mr. Daniels will see you now." Gabriel's secretary said as she motioned for the Professor to follow.
The Professor followed the secretary into a large office with a very modern look to it. The office had a huge window on one side over looking the business district. A flat screen plasma TV hung on across from Gabriel's desk with a muted CNBC playing. Behind the desk a large black chair swiveled from side to side as the voice of a young man traveled over the chair.
"Yes, that is correct. Thank you Tom see you tomorrow. Bye." The black chair turned around to reveal a neatly groomed and well dressed young man. He smiled at the professor as he leaned forward in his chair. "Professor Xavier, what brings you here to see me?"
The Professor smiled back politely. "I maybe interested in investing in Neogene Pharmaceuticals. I just wanted to meet one of the men in charge of the company and look at the facilities."
"Well, let me tell you that it would be a wise investment to support this company. We have made leaps and bounds in developing new vaccines and providing the public with influenza vaccines." Gabriel explained. "You own a school, right?"
"Yes I am the founder of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. I am also very active in mutant rights issues."
Gabriel sat back in his chair when he heard the name of the school. "Neogene would be lucky to have such investor."
The Professor looked intently at Gabriel. "I would like to know a little more about you. Knowing who runs the company can give the investor very valuable knowledge on the potential of that company."
Gabriel smile and nodded. "That is true. I graduated from Yale 6 years ago and was fortunate to get a job at this company. I worked my way up and here I am. I work hard and believe in the work I am doing."
The Professor couldn't help but notice how confident and charismatic Gabriel was. It was hard to believe that he had attempted to kill Skyler and probably killed Shawn and Emma. A knock on the door stopped the conversation and Gabriel told the individual to enter. A young female walked into the office. She had dark brown hair and piercing purple eyes. As soon as she walked in the Professor knew that she was from Dante 1321 program. The young woman asked to speak to Gabriel alone. Gabriel then asked the Professor to excuse him for one moment as he straightened out some business matters. Gabriel and the young women left the office and talked just outside the door. The Professor used his telepathy to hear the conversation.
"Are the plans set for tonight?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes. We should leave at around 8pm." The woman replied.
"Alright. I will meet you and the others at the jet at 7:45pm. Area 51 is well known and we must be careful not to draw attention to ourselves."
The conversation stopped and Gabriel returned to the office. "I'm sorry, but I must cut our meeting short due to business matters. I have arranged a tour of our facility for you. I hope you will choose to invest in this company. Thank you for the pleasant visit." Gabriel said as he extended his hand toward the Professor.
"Thank you for you time and the tour." The Professor returned as he shook Gabriel's hand.
X X X X
At dinner time Skyler sat with her friends and other students from the school. Usually she only sat with April and Bryce, but she found that she enjoyed the company of Rogue, Jubilee, and John as well. The teens attention was diverted from the conversation by the arrival of a very unusual look guest. He was a large, blue, ape looking man. Skyler had never seen such a mutation before.
"Who is that?" Skyler asked Jubilee. Jubilee was the queen of gossip and knew everything about everybody.
"That's Hank McCoy. Code name the Beast." Jubilee replied. "He visit's the school sometimes. Mostly when we need a babysitter."
John scoffed at Jubilee's statement. "We don't need a babysitter. We are old enough to take care of ourselves."
"And destroy ourselves." April replied.
"Where is the Professor going to be?" Bryce asked while taking a bite of his hamburger.
"He has his biweekly chess game with Magneto." Rogue said with considerable venom in her voice. Skyler made a mental note to ask why such animosity towards this Magneto character.
"I wonder where the others are going." Bryce pondered out loud.
"Probably on some mission. I wish I could go. It would be better than a lame old movie night." John answered Bryce as he popped a french fry into his mouth.
John made a good point. The X-men were probably going on a mission and it most likely had to do with Gabriel. Skyler wanted more information, but for now was content to leave the matter alone for the time being.
X X X X X
The Professor arrived at Magneto's glass prison around 7:30pm. He had relayed the information about Gabriel's plan to the X-men and told them to follow Gabriel to Area 51 in Arizona to see what he was up to. The Professor wanted to ask Magneto if he ever heard of Gabriel or of the secret government program Dante1321.
Magneto moved one of his pawn before sitting back in his chair. "You seem quite Charles. Something on your mind?"
The Professor smiled at Magneto's comment. Erik and himself had been friends as young men and even though he wasn't a telepath he was remarkably perceptive. "Am I that transparent?"
"A little. What is bothering you?" Erik asked.
"Have you ever heard of a man named Gabriel Daniels?"
"Only that he is vice president of a pharmaceutical company."
"Do you know anything about a secret military program to design the perfect assassin using genetic engineering?" The Professor continued to question Erik while still trying to win the game of chess.
Erik raised his eye brow in curiosity. "I have heard rumors of such programs, but no actual proof. Well, except for your Wolverine. What is with all these questions?"
"Gabriel Daniels tried to kill one of my students. We have recent found out this student was apart of a secret government program to create genetically altered soldiers. Apparently, Gabriel was the prototype of this program and now he up to something and we want to know what he is up too."
Erik smiled at Charles. " Well, you have had an interesting time since I have been behind these bars. Sorry I can't be of any help…unless you want to get me out of here?"
The Professor moved his Queen in front of Eric's King. "That's not going to happen. Check-mate."
X X X X X
The blackbird landed in Arizona near Area 51. The blackbird had been in stealth mode for the whole trip and the had enter the military area without being detected. The X-men had also followed Gabriel's jet plane to the exact area so they could find out what he was up to. Scott ordered Logan to follow Gabriel closely as the rest of the team held further back to avoid detection.
Logan located Gabriel's jet and watched as Gabriel. At Gabriel's side was two males and one female. They didn't stray far from the jet, but it was clear that they were meeting someone at that location. With in minutes a black truck drove up. As the man exited, he carried water cooler.
"Logan to Scott. Someone has driven up and he has passed Gabriel what looks like a water cooler. Get here fast, we should confront them before they leave." Logan said frantically.
"We'll been there soon." Scott replied.
Scott, Ororo, and Jean were by Logan's side within seconds. Scott told the plan to the rest of the group. "Okay, we are going to go down and intercept them before they get on the jet. Ororo and Logan I want you guys to block the entrance to the jet while Jean and I will flank them on the other side."
Meanwhile down near the jet Gabriel was sealing the deal. "Thank, Jason for your help. Here is your money. I'm sure that you would like to count the money."
The man shook his head. "Nah…I'm sure there is a million in here. If not I know where to find you or I could leak this information to the authorities."
"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Gabriel said in a truly evil tone. "I'll have to kill you if you do."
"I would believe him. He almost killed a 15 year old girl…and I'm sure he has killed more." Logan said capturing the attention of Gabriel.
Gabriel turned around to see Logan and Ororo blocking the path to his jet. One of the young men by Gabriel's side started to walk towards Logan and Ororo, but stop when Gabriel put his hand up. "Who the fuck are you?"
"That doesn't matter. You almost killed someone close to us and now we want to see justice." Logan said as he grid his teeth. " And you are surrounded." Logan pointed in front of him to Scott and Jean. "So I suggest you hand over whatever is in the cooler."
Gabriel laughed. "If you want a fight, I am all for it. But I won't give this up so easily." Gabriel gave the signal and his team attacked the X-men. Gabriel went straight for Logan.
Gabriel was remarkably strong for is built and stature. Before Logan knew it Gabriel had the upper hand. He was militarily trained, but that would not save Gabriel from Logan's adamantium claws. Logan sliced at Gabriel and he evaded them as best he could. Gabriel fell to the ground and Logan was about to stab Gabriel when he threw a handful of sand into Logan's eyes. Logan was temporarily blinded and in that moment of weakness Gabriel hit Logan over the head the handle of a knife.
While Logan and Gabriel were fighting, Scott fought one of the other males. Scott was trying to hit the man with his optic blast but the other man was able to avoid it. The man then punched Scott in the stomach and took his eye piece in one sweep leaving Scott helpless. At the same time Ororo and Jean were temporarily stopped.
Gabriel and his team quickly grabbed the cooler and boarded the jet. Before the jet door closed Gabriel made one more jab at his defeated enemies. "Oh, by the way…it is not smart to leave your kids alone unprotected." With that the jet door closed.
Jean looked around and saw that the man who had received the money had already run away in the scuffle. "Let's get out of here! We have to get back to the mansion" Jean ran over to Scott and led him away along with the rest of the team back to the blackbird.
X X X X
April and Skyler entered the kitchen to get a soda. The rest of the kids were watching The Emperors New Groove in the recreation room.
"I love this movie. There are so many good quotes." April laughed.
"I agree." Skyler replied. As the made their way to the refrigerator the lights were cut out.
"What the?" April said looking around. "Why did the lights go out?"
"Maybe we blew a fuse?" Skyler guessed. Skyler walked over to the window and looked outside. It wasn't windy or raining so it had to be a fuse. Skyler almost turned away from the window when something caught her eye. 'Damnit!" was all Skyler could think as she saw a horde of her former brothers and sisters emerging from the tree line.
Ok there is the end of this chapter. I will try and keep up on updates. I have been very busy with school and other stuff so I have new plan. I'm going to update weekly, but they maybe smaller than before. Instead of 6 or more scenes I will do only about half. That will make it easier for me to update. Tell me how you like it.