Mutantville, formerly Kansas
"Bullet are you ok?" Charles asked after rolling into the hospital room I laid in.
"Daddy why did he call you bullet?" Robby asked confused.
"That's a story for when you are older. For now how about Mommy takes you to get some Jello." I replied and he nodded before hugging me tightly causing me to cringe from the pain before Rogue grabbed his hand and led him from the room.
"So how are you feeling?" Charles asked again.
"A little sore but its just a fracture Charles, I have been through worse but breathing has been easier." I replied as I got to my feet and put my pants on underneath the hospital gown. I then removed it and grabbed my shirt. I pulled it over my head and cringed as I lifted my arms.
"So why did the sentinel attack, I thought they were meant to defend the barrier?" He asked me.
"I do not know but I intend to find out." I said angrily.
"Any idea of another mutant in the area that could have crushed a sentinel like that? Magneto was nowhere around." Charles asked and I nodded my head.
"Just one." I said and thought back to Robby's tear streamed face and the fear in his eyes as the sentinel was about to step on me.
"There is no way. Not at his age." Charles replied having already known what mutant I was thinking of.
"Its the only explanation I have." I said shrugging my shoulders until the pain in my ribs struck and I dropped my shoulders back to my side with a cringe.
"Are you aware of what his mutation is?" Charles asked trying to grasp the idea that a child so young could be capable of such a task.
"I could be wrong but I believe he is able to manipulate gravity." I replied. "It has happened on a few occasions when Robby gets emotional. It started with things floating when he is happy and things crushing under their own weight when he gets angry. The sentinel weighs a lot as it is, its not really that unbelievable that he could increase the gravity to a point that it was unable to support itself." I answered.
"That makes sense. I will be heading back to the site of the attack and try to uncover anything else that I can. I will keep you updated. Get well soon." He said and rolled on out of the room.
I finished getting dressed and walked to the cafeteria to meet up with Rogue and Robby. After Robby finished his jello we walked back to our house as the sun went down, guess today wasn't the good day I hoped for after all. I laid on the couch after we put Robby to bed and Rogue sat down on the arm of the couch.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
"Its just a fracture, I will be fine." I replied and let out a deep breath fighting off the urge to cringe at the sharp pain.
"Is there anything I can do?" She asked.
"No I just need to take it easy for a couple days. Go on to bed I will be there soon." I said and she stood up. And began to walk toward our bedroom. "Marie?" I asked and she stopped and turned to face me. "I am sorry I broke my promise." I said.
"Its not like it was something you could have prevented we will just have to try again once you heal. Good night Jason." She said and walked into the bedroom.
"Goodnight Marie." I said.
I listened to her toss and turn in the bed for nearly an hour before her breathing began to reach a slow steady rhythm. Now that she is asleep it is time for me to conduct my investigation into what happened. I left the house and made a painful journey west. I walked for two hours before approaching the barrier.
"Halt Mutant, Access is prohibited. Turn back or you will be assumed hostile." A sentinel said as it looked down at me.
"Why did one of you attack us unprovoked 18 hours ago?" I asked it.
"Mutant you have been warned turn back now or your actions will constitute an act of aggression." A human voice said over the Robots speakers.
"Who am I speaking with?" I asked.
"Private Gary price second class. That is all you need to know." He said.
"You have to be kidding me, put me on with your commanding officer." I said.
"As I said turn back or we will have no choice but to take your insubordinance as an act of aggression." He replied.
"Aggression is what I am trying to avoid. We crushed your sentinel earlier and many mutants are angry that it attacked in the first place. The way I see it you attacked us first and that will not be tolerated. I carry some pull around our community and I can talk the rallying mutants down. Now I suggest you let me speak to your commanding officer." I explained and was met with several moments of silence.
"My name is General Richard Abrams with whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?" Another voice asked a moment later.
"Jason Woodbury pillar of the mutant community." I responded.
"I was informed that I should speak to you regarding a problem that you have." He said.
"Yes, you see one of your sentinels attacked us earlier a few miles east of here unprovoked and with the intent to kill. There had better be a good reason for it. As we speak mutants are rallying and are calling for blood. Face it you don't want a war and neither do I. There would be many casualties on both sides and I am hoping to avoid such a thing I am looking for an explanation." I responded.
"The sentinel that attacked you earlier acted on its own accord." He said and I scoffed.
"You expect me to believe that?" I asked angrily.
"We had some problems in the testing phase with wires shorting in the sentinels processing center. The problem was fixed but the occasional malfunction does still happen. What you dealt with was a Rogue sentinel, not an act of war." He said.
"Get the problem fixed, if anything like that happens again not only will I not be able to prevent mutants from breaching the barrier and launching a full scale attack on the U.S. but I will join them in their attack." I said and the Sentinels hand began glowing red and it pointed straight at me.
"Are you threatening the United States government?" He asked.
"In the event that you fuck up again, you bet your ass I am. Keep the incompetence to a minimum and we can all be happy." I said and turned my back and walked away. I walked back to my house and walked in to an unexpected and unpleasant sight.
"Damn it Jason, you are Injured do yah really think its the best time to be going on yah damn missions?" Rogue asked, I sighed and removed my shirt as I walked in and sat down. "We just went over this, What the hell were yah thinking?"
"I am not in the mood for this Marie." I said tired and frustrated.
"An yah think ah am, yah brought this on yahself." She said trying to keep her voice down to avoid waking Robby.
"Its not what you think, and I don't feel like getting into it." I said hoping to just go to sleep and wake up in less pain tomorrow.
"Then what is it Jason, explain to meh what it is." She sternly demanded tapping her foot on the floor.
"I went to find out why the sentinel attacked." I said and she looked at me shocked.
"What did yah find out?" She asked more curious than mad now.
"I talked to the general in control of the sentinel program he told me it was a malfunctioning sentinel." I answered.
"A malfunction that caused it to attack Mutants? You of all mutants?" She asked and her foot stopped tapping.
"Yeah I don't believe it either." I said and ran my hands across my head.
"What do yah think?" She asked.
"A test they are trying to cover up. They wanted to see how we would handle an attack." I answered.
"Why would they do something like that?" She asked.
"To get a feel for what kind of damage they would do if they sent a dozen or two dozen sentinels." I answered and her jaw dropped.
"Yah don't really think-"
"Not now, no if they send more now we are looking at 10 times that. One sentinel couldn't kill one of us and with magneto on our team they know they would need greater numbers." I said.
"So what are we going to do?" She asked.
"I am going to bed." I responded and walked to the bedroom.
"That's it." She said curious standing in the doorway.
"Nothing is going to happen tonight. I need to ease my mind and my body so tonight yes that's it." I responded sitting on the edge of the bed painfully before removing my shoes and swinging my legs up on the bed.
"Yah cant just tell meh something like that and not tell meh what yah are planning." Rogue said standing at the foot of the bed with her arms crossed angrily.
"I don't have much of a plan yet. All I know is things are going to get really bad and soon. I will talk to the professor tomorrow and we will come up with a plan about how to move forward. You are more than welcome to be there." I said and put my hands behind my head and closed my eyes. "I am not leaving you in the dark Marie I am just extremely tired and in a lot of pain now if you don't mind can I get some rest?" I asked hoping to avoid any more arguing.
"As much as I love yah I really hate yah sometimes." Rogue said with a sigh and walked around to her side of the bed. She laid down and kissed me on the cheek before turning over. She laid there for a few minutes and her heavy breathing not only kept me from getting to sleep but also let me know that she wasn't very happy with me.
"Marie?" I questioned.
"What do yah want Jason get your sleep." She said angrily.
"I should have told you I was planning to get some answers about today but I was trying to avoid a fight." I said and she didn't even bother turning to look at me.
"Now yah want to talk? Yah have been quiet and distant and hiding things from meh for a long time now. We cant continue to work like this." She said and I could hear a faint sob.
"Your right but at the same time if I told you everything I was doing you would forbid me from doing it. If I did it anyway we would be in the same boat and if I didn't do it mutantville would be much worse off than it is. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I never meant to upset you but it seems no matter what I do I lose." I said and reached over to wipe a tear from her face.
"Do yah have any idea what it is like for me every time yah go out? I sit here holding back tears and my worry that you might not come back. Every time yah leave it is a risk and one of those times yah will not be so lucky. I think about Robby and what that would do to him to lose his father." She said after rolling over to face me.
"Everytime I go out it is for you and Robby. I make sure that my brain is functioning 100 percent and I calculate every risk and my odds of making it back alive. I know how you must feel but it has to be done. I love you Marie but I can not just sit on my hands and do nothing." I said softly trying to ease the tension.
"I know yah have reasons to do what yah do but why does it have to be you?" She asked.
"Because they look to me to be the one." I answered. "Sometimes I wish I could have a normal life but you knew that would never be the case when we met. You signed on for this."
"I know I just thought things would change once we had Robby." She said and wiped away another tear.
"Robby is the reason that I can not stop at least not yet. I want to settle down and live a family life with you and Robby but there are changes that have to be made before that is possible. I am sorry that I have been hiding things from you and I will not do it again but I need you to understand that there are things that are necessary for me to do." I said and stretched my arms out so that she could curl up next to me.
"Ah will try to be more understanding." She agreed.
"That's all I ask now go to sleep Marie we will talk more tomorrow." I said and pulled her close before wrapping her in my arms holding her head into my chest. Her breathing began to slow moments later and then eased into gentle rhythmic breaths.
"Whats the deal Chuck why did you call us here? We should be out shredding these oversized tin cans." Wolverine growled from the doorway to charles' entertainment room.
"For once I would have to agree with the animal Charles." Magneto said as he stood next to the sofa.
"We don't know that the Sentinel was sent to attack us. We must not be so headstrong." Charles replied.
"Yes we do." I said as I walked in. "Robby how about you go play with aunt Laura." I said winking at Laura as she could still hear our conversation from the other room and Robby has always liked her.
"How do you know the attack was planned?" Charles asked me curiously.
"Because he stupidly went to talk tah one of them." Rogue said as she walked in and gave Charles a hug.
"You what comrade?" Piotr asked shocked.
"She's right, I went out to the barrier last night and talked to the general of the Sentinel program." I answered. "He told me the sentinel malfunctioned and was not acting under any orders."
"And that of course leads you to believe that it was acting under orders?" Charles asked.
"The general had a tell." I replied.
"I'm sorry a what?" Charles asked.
"A tell, Its a poker term means the homme was bluffing. If Jason says he has a tell Remy believes him he is afer all the only person able to outplay the great Remy labeau." Remy responded.
"What was this tell?" Hank asked.
"A slight hitch in his voice when he tried to over emphasize his lie. If it had only happened once I wouldn't have thought much of it. I think there is a reason they chose Kansas as Mutantville." I said.
"And what do you suppose that is?" Magneto asked.
"Well metal head think about it. They have all of us grouped together in one area in the middle of the country away from large cities and other people. A large scale attack on a small area could very well wipe every last one of us out with minimal collateral damage. Then all they would have left to do is wipe out the small rebel groups outside of our walls. They started testing everyone traveling into the united states for the X-gene and anyone that tests positive is refused entry. They are planning to destroy every last mutant in the country." I said and magneto didn't seem shocked but Storm, Cyclops, Hank and Charles all did.
"Makes sense Chuck." Wolverine grunted.
"For once I gotta side with the runt." Sabretooth ground out.
"It seems all of you have decided on a course of action?" Charles asked.
"Not yet." I answered for the group.
"What do you mean not yet bub?" Wolverine asked.
"If we go out there half cocked and without a plan we will lose. If we go out in a large force we will ignite a full scale war, too many lives will be lost. If we do nothing they will attack and we will all suffer. We do not have many options here. I say we take today and everyone come up with a plan we will reconvene tomorrow and go over details. We have to get this perfect." I said.
"As much as I would like to disagree you do raise some valid points Bullet." Charles said.
"Enough with the codename we are not in the field. I don't want Robby knowing that name." I said.
"It would seem to me you already have a hero as a son would it be such a bad thing to incorporate him into the mutant hero lifestyle?" Magneto asked.
"He is too damn young for that and if I find that you speak a single word to my son I will kill you with a plastic spork." I said and got face to face with the older mutant. Sabretooth jumped to his feet and as he growled I pulled my pistol from my waist and shoved it in his mouth. Wolverine jumped up and unsheathed his claws. His claws began to spread out in his hands causing him to howl in pain and I used my free hand to grab Magneto's throat. Rogue jumped to her feet and pulled her pistol and put it to mystiques forehead before she could launch an attack.
"That is quite enough. How are any of you going to formulate a plan of attack when you cant talk calmly without attempting to kill each other?" Charles asked angrily. Storm clouds formed outside lightning streaked across the sky and thunder boomed. Scotts hand reached to his glasses preparing to remove them and just then all of us were held apart from each other by a telekinetic barrier.
"They are just talking Robby everything is fine." I heard Laura say from the other room. I withdrew my pistol and reholstered it before releasing Magneto. Rogue got up and walked to go find Robby and I sat down.
"Charles has a point. Lets say we call it a night as many of us are on edge." Magneto suggested and then resituated his helmet.
"Sounds good to me." I responded before getting up and following after Rogue.
We got back home later that evening and I laid on the floor with Robby our feet up in the air drawing. I looked on and wanted to laugh as he drew his favorite heroes including Iron man, The Hulk, Captain America, and Thor. I agree with them being heroes but having met them the only one I truly consider to be a real hero is Captain America. Tony has always been an arrogant Jerk. Banner has virtually no idea what he is doing as the Hulk and while Thor fights to protect earth or midguard he is always preoccupied with problems on Asguard. Captain is the only one who truly fights for what is right. Still I will choose to let Robby learn that there is a right and wrong worth fighting for. Maybe if I grew up with role models like the avengers things might have been different for me. Still as much as I wish some things were different sometimes I still would not trade what I have in a million years. I just want better for Robby and I am prepared to fight till the end to ensure that he gets it.
I got up and left Robby continuing to draw. I walked into my study and immediately got to work on my laptop. I began mapping out trajectories and locations for a mission I have to do to better my odds should I come face to face with another sentinel. I finally tracked what I was looking for when Rogue walked in and noticed the image of the large black rock in the desert.
"Is that what ah think it is?" Rogue asked.
"Meteorite composed of almost pure Adamantium." I answered.
"How did you find that?" She asked.
"Military satellite." I responded and began mapping exact coordinates.
"When did it land?" She asked.
"45 seconds ago." I responded knowing I should lie.
"You caused it to hit the earth?" She asked. "How?"
"Laser on the satellite originally designed to destroy missiles midflight that may be fired at the U.S. I merely hit the meteor and changed its course so that it would enter the atmosphere." I responded.
"And you are going to go get it?" She asked full of questions.
"I have to Marie." I said knowing where this is heading. "I wont stand a chance alone against another sentinel. I need adamantium rounds to even the playing field."
"Ah understand, when are yah going?" She inquired which surprised me.
"Tonight after Robby goes to bed." I said as I got all of the information I needed.
"Make sure you come say goodbye to me before you go." She whispered into my ear before kissing my neck and getting up and leaving the room.
We put Robby to bed shortly later and Rogue walked off to go to bed herself. I walked to gather the supplies I was taking for my mission and after everything was loaded into my truck I headed back into the house. I walked back to my office and and pulled out a pad of paper. After all was said and done I walked into our bedroom to find Rogue already fast asleep.
"Goodnight Rogue, Please forgive me." I said before kissing her forehead and turning to leave our bedroom.
I then walked into Robby's room. I walked up to Robby's bed and took a knee at his side. "I am going to be gone for a few days buddy take care of your mom." I said before getting back to my feet and preparing to walk out.
"Daddy?" Robby asked sleepily. "Where are you going?"
"Daddy has to go away for a couple days Robby." I answered.
"Why?" He asked me.
"To stop some bad men." I answered.
"Can I come with you, we can be like Captain America and Thor?" He responded and I couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe one day big guy but for now you have a more important job, I need you to keep an eye on mommy can you do that?" I asked.
"Yes daddy." He said and I tucked him back in.
"Thank you Robby now go back to bed." I said before ruffling his hair and walking out of the room.
I left the house with a heavy heart but a clear mind, knowing full well of what I am getting into and also knowing that it is the only way. I got into my truck and headed toward one of our escape tunnels. I made my way outside of the barrier and headed toward the destination of the meteorite I shot out of the sky. An hour and a half outside of Mutantville and I heard the sound I knew would be coming.
The whirring of helicopter blades grew louder and louder then the engines of Humvees rushed in and I stopped my truck. I jumped out of my truck hands at the ready to grab my holsters. Men began repelling from ropes the helicopter lowered and the dropped from the ropes where they began to surround me with their guns drawn.
"So this is the infamous bullet, doesn't look so tough." One of the soldiers said bravely.
"Care to find out?" I asked and moved my hands away from my pistols offering him the chance to back up his mouth. He handed his rifle off to one of the other soldiers and smirked as he approached me.
He walked up with his hands raised in a terrible excuse of a fighting stance and I had to fight back my laughter. He is brave I will give him that but bravery will only get him so far. I kept my hands dropped to my side as he got within range. He swung a telegraphed right followed by a sloppy left and I side stepped the leaned out of range avoiding his punches. Punch after punch I dodged until I began to grow bored.
"That's it, I thought the military taught hand to hand combat. I guess they will let anybody in these days." I taunted and I could see the frustration rowing in his face. He charged me hastily and threw one last punch which I ducked and the raised my knee directly into his ribs expelling the air from his lungs. He dropped to the ground holding his stomach gasping for air. The other soldiers stood around laughing.
"I don't want any problems. I know I should not have left mutantville but I needed some supplies and I had no choice. Let me go and I will head back." I said and the laughter subsided.
"We are not here to escort you back to freak town. Our boss would like a word with you." One of the shoulders stepped forward and from the confidence he carried himself with I could clearly tell he was their leader.
"Your boss huh? This should be good, what kinda boss hires people like this?" I asked gesturing to the man still lying on the ground. "Either way you can tell him I appreciate him rolling out such a nice welcome mat but I am going to have to regretfully decline his offer."
"It was not an offer. As good as you are you can not take all of us and you know it." The man responded.
"Not with all of those pretty rifles but I am pretty sure your orders are to take me alive or am I wrong about that?" I asked with a sly smile.
"Get him boys." He said and suddenly three dozen men began to advance on me. I began throwing punches and kicks keeping them at as much of a distance as I could. I knew I couldn't keep it up for long though I knew what I had to do. As I fought off attackers from the front I left my back exposed and just as I was preparing to knock out another soldier everthing went black.
I awoke several hours later to the familiar daze of having been unconscious. I lay on my side and attempted to rub the back of my head and that is when I realized my hands are tied behind my back. Not that I didn't expect that but I am a little dazed. Once my eyes began to focus I realized I was in some sort of holding cell. I am not sure where but I am fairly certain that I have a pretty good idea. I sat there getting my bearings for what felt like hours before the door to my cell opened.
"Weapon 19 it has been far too long." A man said from the shadows but I would recognize that voice anywhere and as much as I planned this his voice still makes me cringe.
"Stryker."