Chapter 13: Imprisoned

He could hear sounds all around him. But that wasn't the only thing. He could hear their thoughts. So many thoughts…It wasn't the most pleasant experience.

Professor X opened his eyes and found himself in what looked to be a cell. He took a look around and saw the cell was protected by an electric fence.

The area around him resembled a lab. He knew it was all real. He remembered being knocked unconscious, but he could not remember being brought to this place. He wondered what had happened to the children. He was scared for them all, as well as the teachers. He wanted to know what had happened to them so very badly.

"How does it feel, Professor?" asked a voice. "Do you like your living quarters? I did the best to make you feel comfortable. Of course, it was a little hard, as I can't just read your mind."

The Professor looked around, and then the man came into view. He was older and stocky. His brown hair was short and graying, as was his beard. His green eyes seemed to flash like warning signs behind thick glasses. He was smiling in a very dangerous way, with his teeth being a combination of white and yellow.

"William Stryker," Professor X said. "So you're behind all this! What was the meaning of it? You could have killed innocent children!"

"Innocent?" Stryker asked. "You call those things innocent! How stupid are you? You say you're smart, and I believe that, but to question the fact those things are dangerous is such a terrible and idiotic move. I feel so very sorry for what has happened to you."

"William, tell me where the children are! Please!" pleaded the Professor. "I need to know if they are safe!"

"Just take a look," Stryker said, pointing to something behind Professor X.

The Professor turned his wheelchair around to see many monitors. They seemed to be monitoring the facility he was now imprisoned in, as well as the area surrounding it, which seemed to be some sort of island. On at least four of the monitors, he saw cells containing the children. In the fourth cell, he looked closer and found Hank McCoy, AKA Beast. He wondered if any of the other teachers were around there.

"I have a list of students and teachers in the school," Stryker explained. "We have them all…"

Hearing this caused the Professor to sigh deeply. Stryker could have sworn he saw tears coming to his eyes. But Stryker sighed himself, as he knew his tome to gloat was now over, as unfortunate as it was. But then again, it had never come in the first place.

"…All but nine," he finished. He saw the Professor look at him strangely. "Would you like me to tell you their names? I'm sure you would. You want to know which members of your little team are safe. It's cute, but it's just not right in some ways. Anyway…their names are Alison Blaire, Ororo Munroe, Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Robert 'Bobby' Drake, Piotr Rasputin, Katherine 'Kitty' Pryde, James Howlett—that's a name I haven't heard in a long time—and my personal favorite, a girl named only here as 'Rogue.' Or, as you've put next to their names: Dazzler, Storm, Cyclops, Phoenix, Iceman, Colossus, Shadowcat, and Wolverine. Rogue here wasn't touched up with another name—I'm not very surprised, to be honest. Tell me, are these members of your little 'X-Men?'"

Professor X sighed. "Yes," he said. "I beg you, William, please do not hurt these children! Do not hurt those you've taken, and do not hurt those who are not here! All of them are amazing in their own right!"

"Well said, Charles," came a voice from behind Stryker. The Professor peered behind him and saw Magneto. "It's been a long time, old friend."

"Erik, what is the meaning of this?" Professor X asked. "Did you have a hand in the raid? Please tell me you did not do such a thing!"

"I'm sorry, Charles, but it was too hard to pass up," Magneto explained. "You see, we were the ones who put the Sentinel out on the docks that night. We are responsible for one of your little X-Men being injured. Tell me, how well did she recover?"

"Her ankle snapped back that night," Professor X said. "She heals quickly, Kitty does. But that is beside the point! Why would you dare to be a part of this? This is madness!"

"I assure you, Charles, I wouldn't have done this if it hadn't been for the threat the Sentinels posed to us," Magneto explained again. "If the Sentinels had not been created, then most of this would have never happened. But now they will no longer go into production. We are safe for the time being, so long as we stay with Stryker here."

The Professor knew something else was there, but he didn't wish to push into it with Magneto any longer. He turned his attention back to Stryker, who was staring at him with a strange expression upon his face.

"There is something I must show you, Xavier," Stryker told him. "I meant to show you a long time ago, but it slipped my mind. I shall be right back." He went away, leaving only Xavier and Magneto.

"Please, don't do anything terrible!" Xavier begged Magneto. "I'll do anything so long as you do not hurt any of the children in those cells or those who come to this island! I am begging you, Erik!"

Magneto just smiled at him. "It's funny, Charles. I remember looking out through bars as a child while in an internment camp, and now it seems the tables have turned," he said. "I'll do as I please, old friend. I believe there is another friend you haven't seen just yet, and it is quite unfortunate. I hope you remember our young Raven."

Xavier saw Mystique walk in front of the cell and smile at him. "Hello, Charles," she greeted seductively. Her yellow eyes glowed luteously in the dark light near them. "It's been a while. Some of your precious X-Men hit me, you know. Why couldn't you tell them that I'm one of your old friends? I just wanted to say hello, but instead, I get the crap beaten out of me by a girl who can phase through walls, a girl with a white streak in her hair, and Wolverine."

"Kitty, Rogue," Xavier said. "You didn't hurt them, did you?"

"I tried, but Wolverine stopped me and threw me out a window," Mystique explained. "I shapeshifted into a bird and flew away. But we did not completely lose. You see, your mansion is almost completely destroyed. Our young Pyro was knocked unconscious, but he released some of his power, which hit the generator in the basement and caused an explosion. I'm not sure if anyone died, but much to my anger, I don't think anyone did."

There was suddenly a loud alarm that went off. Mystique smiled. "That might be them, Charles," she said. "Now let's go—"

"It's not what you think it is," came Stryker's voice suddenly. No one could see him. "One of your kids escaped, Xavier." He suddenly appeared from a hallway. Someone was behind him, but everyone kept their attention on Stryker himself. "A boy named Kurt Wagner. I saw in your notes that you planned to make him a member of the X-Men soon. How amazing." Stryker just smiled. Then his smile became that of true anger. "I hate how you mutants think you're so much better than anyone else. How can you live with yourself, Xavier, with knowing how you're endangering this entire planet?"

Xavier couldn't believe what he was hearing. He attempted to look behind Stryker, but he was unable to. Stryker saw what he was trying to do and moved in that direction, blocking his line of vision. Xavier attempted to read his mind, but it was blocked. Xavier looked around and realized it was Magneto who was stopping the link from happening. Xavier sighed, not surprised. He knew it was something Magneto would be expecting, although it was something Xavier never wanted to do unless the circumstances truly demanded.

"It's not the most courteous thing to do, Charles," Magneto said to him. "You once said you would never do such a thing. But it seems you're pushing boundaries. Congratulations."

Xavier looked over to Stryker once more and saw how much more he was smiling. It made him begin to wonder.

"What makes you so happy, William?" Xavier asked. "Is it the fact you've taken us here to torture us? I cannot understand why you would do such a thing. It's barbaric."

"We'll see about that," Stryker said. "Do you by chance remember my son Jason?"

"Yes," Xavier replied. "Where is he?"

Stryker moved away from his spot, revealing a young man in a wheelchair using a breathing device. His eyes were two different colors, blue and green, which indicated heterochromia, the difference of the colors in the iris.

"Jason," Xavier whispered to him. He noticed the young man was staring at him a very strange way. He was wearing a hospital gown. He had most certainly been lobotomized. It disgusted Xavier so very much. He looked back up to Stryker. "William, this is your son! What in God's name have you done to your own son?"

"This is not my son!" Stryker blurted out. "MY SON IS DEAD, XAVIER!"

Xavier couldn't believe what he was hearing. He sighed and closed his eyes, rubbing his temples to help with some of the stress.

Just as he opened his eyes, he realized he was no longer imprisoned in the cell. He was in an office, it seemed. It also seemed the office was in the X-Mansion. He looked around. Beautiful sunlight streamed through the glass windows, illuminating the entire room. He felt warm all throughout his body. He took a step closer to the desk…and then realized something was different. Looking down, he found he was standing. He was able to move his legs all of a sudden. He couldn't believe it. A single tear streamed down his right cheek. He smiled to himself, amazed that he could now use his legs once more.

And then the illusion ended.

Xavier found himself in the cell once more. He swallowed deeply, finding his throat dry. He looked in front of him once more, finding Magneto, Stryker, Mystique, and Jason standing there again.

"What happened?" Xavier asked them.

"You see, after lobotomizing Jason, I found he could send you into an illusion very easily. I have a serum that stops you from falling for it, however," Stryker explained. "But you won't be getting any of it. I have a plan in place, and once it succeeds…well, I'll get to that later. Now, if you excuse me, I need to get back to finding that missing mutant. By chance, when you were going to name Kurt Wagner with his codename,' what would his have been?"

"Why should I tell you?" Xavier asked. "I don't find the need to tell you anything anymore."

Xavier realized the words he'd just spoken. He didn't know where they'd come from. He looked to Jason, who had no expression or, seemingly, any type of feeling on his face.

"Jason seems to have you all figured out, Xavier," Stryker said to him. "How very sad. I believe you thought you could get through life without being figured out. But back to the boy. What did you plan to name him?"

"Nightcrawler," Xavier finally said. "I was going to call him Nightcrawler."

"And why is that?"

"It is a very special reason."

Stryker smiled. He looked over to Magneto and Mystique. "I think we're done here," he said.

As he left, Magneto and Mystique spoke to Xavier.

"I am sorry for this, Charles," Magneto said. "I wish something could be done, but this is the only way." He then left before Xavier could say anything to him.

Mystique smiled. "You know, there is a way for you to be able to meet your little X-Men again. You would just have to wait for a few hours. Just…go to Hell."

Mystique laughed and walked away, leaving only Xavier and Jason.

"I am sorry for this, Jason," Xavier said. Jason just stared back. Xavier thought, There must be a way out of here.