Chapter Six


Peter was lounging on the sofa, tucking into a bag of chips, having burned off some energy helping Hank repair the Danger Room and needing to refuel. He was also trying- again- to think of ways to get his father and his sister to be less hostile to each other. There hadn't been any more major fights, but whenever they were in the same room, they always seemed to end up snapping at each other. Peter frowned. He didn't have that issue with Erik, or 'Dad' as he'd started calling him in his mind, so how come Wanda did? He'd have to try and talk to her later, after she got back from the mall... although he knew from past experience that when Wanda's mind was made up, it'd take an act of God to change it.

He stifled a sigh. How could he make her give Erik a chance? He closed his eyes for a second- and his whole body went rigid with fear, his heart pounding frantically. He leapt to his feet, recognizing the second-hand emotion he was sensing. This was rare, and Wanda was more often on the receiving end than he was, more aware of his emotions, so if he was sensing hers now, to this extent... Something was badly wrong.

The feeling cut off abruptly, the link between his mind and his twin's all but nonexistent.

Peter's blood felt like ice. He raced through the halls at top speed, not bothering to dodge obstacles or people.

Charles! he yelled with his mind, as loud as he could. There's something wrong with my sister! He had no idea if the telepath had heard or not, but by then he had already gotten to the study, grabbed the handles of Charles' wheelchair and was taking him at top speed to Cerebro.

He only paused at the hi-tech doors because he remembered that Charles needed to give a retinal scan to get into Cerebro, and as good as the super computer was, it couldn't move at Peter's speeds.

He zipped back and forth across the corridor (his version of pacing) while a disgruntled Charles opened Cerebro's doors, muttering about how Peter could have asked before doing that. At least Charles seemed to know what was going on, as he wasn't wasting time demanding an explanation. He must've heard me calling him after all, Peter thought as he again took hold of the wheelchair, wanting Charles at Cerebro and checking on Wanda as soon as possible. A nanosecond later, they were at Cerebro's controls. Charles ducked his head for a second, breathing deeply, face pale. Peter began tapping his foot on the floor. They didn't have time for Charles to feel ill because of Peter's powers! Wanda was in danger.

"Hasn't it occurred to you," Charles managed, "That if you hadn't insisted on using your powers without warning me, I would be able to work faster?"

Peter ran his hands through his hair. "Sorry. Lecture me later. Find my sister first!"

Charles looked steadily at him. "I will. She cried for help telepathically the same time you sensed her distress, so I already have a basic location. We'll find her soon." Charles closed his eyes and Cerebro powered up.

Peter shook his head wildly. "This is nuts! She and Jubilee only went to the mall. What could've happened?!" The chilling thought of Wanda's losing control of her powers and a mob forming made him shudder. "Maybe I should go and look-" He was already preparing to run back to the upper levels and out of the school when a hand grasped his shoulder. He whirled, fist raised- and froze when he realized he'd nearly decked Erik. When did he come down here?

His question must've shown on his face because Erik replied, his face fraught with tension. "Charles called me down here, but I was already on my way after you ran off with him." He turned his gaze from Peter to Charles, his tone sharper now. "You said something had happened to Wanda."

"The minds of the people in the mall seem to believe there was a fire scare, and that's why they were evacuated. Jubilee is with them, but Wanda isn't. I'm trying to locate her now. Interestingly, Peter seems to have a slight psychic connection to her. He was aware of trouble before I was."

Erik, his mind whirling, turned and glowered at Peter. "You knew something was wrong and yet even with your speed couldn't get there in time?!" He was well aware he was irrational, but he didn't care. Again, a child of his was in danger, and he couldn't think clearly. He'd be damned if he failed Nina again!

Wanda, he corrected himself firmly. Wanda, not Nina. Nina was d- gone. He wouldn't let her sister share the same fate.

Belatedly, he noticed that Peter was yelling at him, but speaking too fast to be understood. His anger at Erik's accusation was obvious though.

The sound of the elevator, and Raven's marching in, broke the moment. She looked from one to the other, rolling her eyes, before looking at Charles. "I got your message. Hank's gone to get Jubilee, and I've warned Scott, Jean and the others we might need to head out. Any sign of Wanda?"

"No..." Charles' voice was distracted. "But several of the people who were nearby when the fire alarm was tripped remember seeing men in black camoflauge clothing."

"So what, military?" Raven's tone was businesslike. "But they made a lot of noise... awful lot of trouble to go through for one mutant."

"Wanda's powers are unique." Erik's tone was calm and controlled- too much so. "And if, somehow, it became known she was my daughter..."

Raven finished the thought. "Then I know at least one guy with the military clout to pull this off, who's shown a lot of interest in mutants before."

Charles nodded bleakly, removing the Cerebro helmet, his face grim as he turned to look at them. "I can't find any trace of Wanda, which likely means she's unconscious. I'll contact Moira, see if she has any idea where Stryker might be. I agree he's the most likely candidate for this, but I can't think of any specific reason he'd want Wanda..."

Peter blinked rapidly. "Stryker? That guy who rounded us up after the mansion blew up? He took my sister?"

"It's possible," Charles' tone was cautious. "We don't know anything for sure yet."

"I could be back at that Alkali Lake place in less than an hour, start searching." Peter suggested.

Erik nodded. "Could you take someone with you at that speed?" This could end before tomorrow.

"Yeah." Peter nodded.

"NO!" Raven and Charles spoke in unison. The father and son duo glared at them, silently demanding reasons why not.

Raven focused on Erik first. "Erik, you weren't with us when Stryker captured us before. The guy builds everything to contain mutants. We barely got out. You don't know what you'd be walking into." She turned to Peter. "And even if he's still at the same place, and you and Erik get there and find Wanda, then what? We both know you can't use your powers and carry three people. You'd either have to leave Erik there, or Wanda, and make two trips to escape."

Erik and Peter looked nearly identical in that moment as they fumed, neither wanting to admit that she was right.

Charles took charge. "Right. Erik, you go and make sure the X-Jet is ready to leave at a moment's notice. Raven, make sure the team's ready too." He paused, looking at her apologetically. "Either you or Hank will have to stay here at the school when we leave, to mind the other students. Sort it out between you; I don't mind who stays. I'll go and call Moira, see if she has heard anything about Stryker lately, then I'll resume using Cerebro for anything unusual. As soon as we learn anything, we'll move out." He began to leave, heading for the elevator.

Peter sped in front of him, blocking his way. "Hey! What do I do, just sit round doing nothing?!"

A humourless smile crossed Charles' face. "No, I imagine your task will be the most frightening of all." He met Peter's gaze. "Your mother needs to be told what's going on, that Wanda appears to be missing. Though I wouldn't go into more detail yet, but that's up to you."

Peter's face went bloodless and he gulped audibly. Telling Mom about this. A shudder ran through him as he pictured her reaction to Wanda's being kidnapped.

He'd sooner face Apocalypse again.


Cold. That was the first thing Wanda was aware of as she slowly came round. She was lying down on an icy cold surface. Her head ached dully, her stomach churned and her mouth was dry and parched. Had she been out clubbing and drunk too much or something? She struggled to remember what had happened as she pried her eyes open.

I was at the mall... guys in black came in... then... nothing. Now she was... here. 'Here' apparently being a white tiled room with brilliant florescent lighting, but no furniture. Groaning, she sat up, reaching to massage the kinks from her neck, only to find her reach blocked by a bulky metal collar. Wanda tensed- she'd heard rumours of devices like this. Concentrating, she tried to draw on her powers, only to feel a searing pain as the collar shocked her. A power dampener. She stopped immediately. If she was captive somewhere, as all this seemed to suggest, then she needed to keep calm and stay conscious, and as alert as possible. She took a few deep breaths, and glanced around. No obvious doors or windows, and a strange green light surrounding the walls. Some kind of electrical field?

"Ah, awake at last." A smug male voice came from somewhere above.

Wanda scrambled to her feet, only now noticing that, several meters above the walls, was a glass panel, like an observation area in a zoo. The thought made her grit her teeth, face twisting with anger. "Cage me like an animal, will you, whoever you are? You'll be sorry!" She didn't bother to keep her voice down- no point in whoever had taken her thinking she would be docile, powers or no powers. A dark haired man in his late thirties, clad in army fatigues stared down at her, He nodded at her. "Ms Maximoff. My name is William Stryker."

He was being polite after having her kidnapped?! Wanda wished she had something, anything, to throw at the glass, to show him exactly how she felt right now.

He watched her pace back and forth, scowling, before nodding abruptly, his expression calculating, and turning away. He gestured towards someone out of Wanda's line of sight, and walked away.

Wanda stifled a scream and slammed a fist into a wall in frustration. Stop. She told herself. Losing your temper won't get you out of this. But what would? She had no idea where she was, and though she'd tried to call to Xavier as she was knocked out, she had no way of knowing if he'd heard. If he hadn't, how long would it take for anyone at the school to realize something was wrong? And Jubilee had been with her... Had she been taken too? Or worse... No, if this Stryker had wanted Jubilee, he'd have had his goons attack when they were together. They'd waited til Wanda was alone, so she had to assume she'd been the only target.

There was a scraping noise at the other side of the room. Wanda's eyes shot that way as the green light faded, a door was shoved open to allow a tiny figure to stumble into the room and was swiftly slammed shut again before Wanda could take two steps towards it.

She cursed under her breath, before looking at the new arrival. It was a little girl, brown haired, far too thin, absolutely tiny and shaking like a leaf. She also wore a power dampening collar like Wanda's.

Wanda blinked a couple of times before movement in her peripheral vision alerted her that Stryker had returned to stare down at her and the child. He was actually smirking now. She scowled in response.

"You've got your father's attitude, I see." Stryker's smile grew. "But I'm going to make something clear. I had you brought here so my men can perform tests on you and make good use of your mutant gifts. You will co-operate with them when necessary."

Wanda snorted. "Dream on, you psycho."

He raised a brow, looking from her to the cowering little girl, who couldn't be older than eight. Wanda followed his gaze, only now seeing something familiar in the little girl... She narrowed her eyes, trying to remember if she'd met this kid before. Was she from Xavier's?

"A little miracle, isn't she?" Stryker said casually. "My men found her in Poland, living wild in the forest. She somehow healed from an arrow to the chest, dug herself out of her mom's grave and survived for weeks til we found her."

Wanda froze. Poland? Arrow through the chest? But it couldn't be... She stared at the kid, then back up at Stryker in disbelief.

He was nodding. "You get it. Good." His lip curled. "You two don't look much alike, but I am glad you've met your sister."

Wanda's gaze darted back to the child- Nina, her apparently-not-deceased half-sister- and found the girl now watching her, wide eyed.

Stryker spoke again. "As I said, you will co-operate with my men and any tests they need to run. Otherwise... well, you wouldn't be much of a big sister if you let the little one get hurt, would you?" His eyes were hard as stone. "I need the girl alive for reasons of my own. That does not mean she has to be uninjured. So do we have an understanding, Ms Maximoff?"

Wanda's blood boiled. When I get out of here, I am going to kill this monster myself. Looking at Nina, hunched up like she wanted to disappear, Wanda swallowed her rage and made herself nod.

Stryker smiled with feigned warmth. "Good. Now I'll let you get on with your family reunion." He strode away, disappearing from sight in seconds.

Wanda glared after him before making a conscious effort to calm her expression and eyeing the still trembling Nina. What had the poor kid been through- a near death experience, seeing her mother's body, her father vanished without trace, living alone in the woods for God knew how long, then dragged here and treated like a lab rat...

Mentally, Wanda listed long, slow ways to kill Stryker and his followers when she and Nina were free. For now though, if they were going to escape somehow, she had to get Nina to trust her... Watching the little girl cowering in the corner, curling into a ball when Wanda took a step closer, the older mutant realised that wouldn't be easy.

Thinking quickly, she sat down cross-legged so she was at Nina's level, and smiled gently, pretending not to notice that Nina was doing a credible impression of a scared hedgehog.

Nina's big brown eyes were fixed on her though, so Wanda took that as a good sign.

"Hi." She spoke as gently as possible. "I'm Wanda. What's your name?" She knew it, of course, but Nina had to be willing to communicate with her or gaining her trust would never work.

"..." Nina's mouth had opened and closed, but no words came out. She'd mouthed her name though, and it had been understandable, so Wanda was encouraged.

"Nina, did you say?"

A nod.

"That's a very pretty name. Much prettier than mine. A lovely name for such a pretty girl." Wanda sat back, looking as relaxed as possible.

Nina peeked at her, shuffled forward about a centimetre, then froze again, arms wrapped round herself.

Wanda feigned a shiver. "It's cold in here, isn't it?"

Another nod. Moving slowly, Wanda slipped off her jacket. "You can borrow this if you want. It'll be big on you, but I can wrap you up in it. It'll make you nice and warm..."

Slowly, over several minutes, Nina inched closer. Moving with the speed of a glacier, Wanda wrapped her jacket round the little girl, tucking it round her like it was a blanket. This room wasn't especially cold, but Nina was young, and apart from anything else, being cocooned might give her some feeling of safety.

Nina's eyes stayed on Wanda, and she wondered what the little girl might be thinking. Stryker had called them sisters in earshot of Nina, but had she even registered that, as scared as she'd been? As she didn't seem willing to talk yet, it was impossible to tell.

Acting on impulse, Wanda shifted backwards until she was leaning on the wall, sitting as if she was planning to sleep. She left her lap clear and her arms lay at her sides, as if waiting to hug someone, but she didn't speak or look at Nina. She just waited...

Eventually, when her legs had just begun to cramp, Nina tiptoed over, clutching Wanda's jacket to her like her life depended on it, and crept into Wanda's lap, her little body tense.

Wanda focused on breathing deeply and regularly, hoping her steady breathing and heartbeat would soothe the little girl. Her baby sister. Infinitely slowly, Nina snuggled up to her and Wanda cuddled her close, guessing she was craving being held after being alone for so long. Very gently, she began stroking the soft brown hair, and at last, Nina's head drooped to Wanda's shoulder as she fell into a deep sleep, probably for the first time in weeks.

Now I just hope she doesn't panic when she wakes and I'm holding her, Wanda thought grimly. Out of nowhere, a bizarre thought came to her and she stifled a laugh. Erik freaked when he learned he still had two children. Imagine his reaction when he learns he still has three!

The half hysterical thought soon became an emotional one. Wanda gazed down at Nina, pushing aside thoughts of Stryker and experiments. We are going to get out of here, and bring this whole mess of a family back together. It'll be good for Erik as well as Nina.

She wasn't sure when she started caring about Erik's mental state, but holding onto that thought ensured she didn't panic about being a captive and solely responsible for a helpless little girl who'd already been through hell.

She pillowed her cheek on her baby sister's head. I'll find a way to get us out of this place, Nina. Somehow. I promise.


To be continued...