First Mutant
By David D. Amaya
Chapter 10
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Huntsman 3 Marine helicopter, en route to the White House, 1734 EST. Day 18
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"So you guys," said Agent Nichols; a 9mm still pointed at him. "Who is the highest bidder? Iran, Latveria, Genosha, Albania?"
"No, a patriot," Leach said as he pointed his Sig Sower at him. "A patriot who will turn that mutie into a martyr.
"Now we can say that either you jumped after we found out that you had been paid off," he said. "Or we can officially wait until they find the incriminating evidence we planted, and then cap your ass!"
"That matters little here," said Nichols as he kept his hands raised. "What happened to Cyrus Parkman?"
"Don't worry about him anymore. You'll be joining the little gene joke soon enough."
"Hey," called out the chopper's pilot. "The news is coming in now."
"Punch it on the speakers. I want Nichols to hear the charges against him before he goes."
... A source close to the investigation, has told NewsRadio WTOP that evidence obtained by investigators has linked Special Agent Kordel Nichols of the Secret Service to the kidnapping of Cyrus Parkman this afternoon in Washington...
"Well guess this is good bye. So how do you want it? Over the side or right between the eyes?"
"Over the side," said Nichols. "I just had this suit dry cleaned."
"A sense of humor even in the face of death," retorted Leach. "I'll miss you Nichols. Say hi to Nixon for us."
Nichols opened the sliding door of the Marine chopper, and then paused.
"What's the matter, Nichols," asked Leach. "Afraid of falling?"
"No," he replied. "It is the sudden stop at the end that I am worried about. Could you give me a push?"
"Anything for a friend," said Leach. "I just hope you don't scream like a baby when you fall."
As Agent Leach reached to shove Nichols out of the helicopter, Nichols suddenly spun around, grabbed Leach's weapon and using his own momentum, fell out of the helicopter...
Screaming like a baby.
"DID YOU MEAN LIKE THAT!" Nichols called down, then pointed the semi-automatic pistol at the helicopter's flight crew. "Take this bird to Castle, NOW!"
The pilot pulled back the throttle forcing the helicopter to climb and making Nichols fall to the rear of the Boeing-made craft, as the co-pilot unstrapped and reached for his sidearm.
Nichols shot toward the cockpit, emptying Agent Leach's Sig Sower, striking the co-pilot in the leg and hitting the control panel, setting off many alarms.
"You just killed the electrical system," called out the pilot. "I have no control of this bird!"
Nichols then pulled out his own sidearm and shoved it into the pilot's neck.
"Then take us down," ordered Nichols. "Or the electrical system will not be the last thing to get killed!"
The chopper then started to dive towards the National Arboretum when another series of alarms went off.
"That's the steering!" shouted the pilot as the aircraft started to fall towards earth. "Were gonna crash!"
Then the helicopter crashed into the Anacostia River.
As the aircraft began to sink, Nichols inspected the flight crew. The pilot died in the crash, but the co-pilot was unconscious and was bleeding from the gunshot to his leg.
Nichols dragged the co-pilot out of the sinking craft and pulled him to shore. As they made it to the foot of the Allen Benning Bridge, the co-pilot regained consciousness.
Nichols grabbed him by the collar of his flight suit, pulled him close, and leveled his weapon in his face.
"WHERE IS CYRUS PARKMAN!" He yelled.
"WERE IS HE!"
The co-pilot just grinned, right before he died.
Then he heard the sounds of sirens in the distance as he climbed out of the river bank to Benning Road and hailed a cab.
"Addams-Morgan," He told the driver and they pulled away from the crash site, just as the Metro District Police pulled up to the Anacostia.
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War Room, Xavier Institute, 1801 EST.
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"There's got ta be somthin' we could do ta find the lad," Sean told the rest of the X-Men as they were awaiting orders in the War Room.
"The Professor is doing all he can, Sean," said Scott. "He's trying to find Cyrus through Cerebro and the Secret Service and the FBI are doing all they can.
///Buzz.\\\
"What is it Jubilee?" asked Jean as she answered the intercom.
"You guys, turn CNN. It just hit the fan!"
... Nichols, a four-year veteran of the Secret Service has been with the White House detail for only three weeks.
To recap, Washington newsradio station WTOP has reported that Kordel Nichols, the agent assigned to Cyrus Parkman is involved in his kidnapping. We now take you to the banks of the Anacostia River where Lynn Vaughn is standing by with farther developments.
I'm standing on the edge of the Western bank of the Anacostia River, near the US National Arboretum, where a Marine Helicopter crashed into the river just a short time ago.
CNN has also received reports that a Secret Service agent that was on board fell out of the Boeing-made aircraft and died on impact at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens about two miles northeast of this location.
Early reports say that the helicopter pilot died in the crash and the co-pilot was found on the bank of the river with a gunshot wound to his leg. He has since died of his injuries as well.
Witnesses report that a man was spotted climbing up the riverbank and hailed a taxicab near the Allen Benning Bridge. Now if you have seen this unidentified man, you are urged to contact the Washington DC Metro Police.
The identities of the agent as well as the helicopter flight crew have not been released.
From the banks of the Anacostia River, near the US National Arboretum, I'm Lynn Vaughn, CNN, Washington.
the ringing of the telephone cut the silence like a knife.
"Xavier's?"
"Mrs. Summers? Is Charles there? I urgently need to speak with him."
"Kordel?!" replied Jean. "Are you aware that they're looking for you?"
"Yes. Did the crash make the news yet?"
"Yes. CNN says that you are involved."
"I never believe what I hear on television anyway," he said. "I was set up, Jean. You have to believe me!"
"Jean, allow me speak with him." The professor said as he came through the War Room doorway.
"Agent Nichols, This is Charles Xavier. We just heard the report against you. We know that the charges are false."
"That is good to know, Charles, because I can not trust anyone right now."
"Agent Nichols, where are you?"
"Back in Washington." He replied. "I need some supplies from my home then I am going after the President's son."
"Agent Nichols, you can not be serious."
"I am dead serious, Charles. But there in a request I must make, but it is one you have every right to refuse. If, no, I mean WHEN, I rescue Cyrus, I must ask if I may shelter him at your institute, until it is safe to allow him return to the White House."
"Agent Nichols, please turn yourself in." The professor implored. "The Secret Service must know your innocence. If you do not, you will just make yourself look guilty."
"I do not care about apperences, Charles. That helicopter was sent to have me executed. They mentioned something about making him a 'martyr.' And they know that he is a mutant. Cyrus Parkman is MY responsibility. I failed him once, I will not make that mistake AGAIN!"
"If I can not convince you to surrender to the authorities, then my answer is yes, Agent Nichols. I formally offer you and the President's son safe harbor here in my family's home for as long as it is required."
"Thank you, Charles," The line went dead.
"Professor, did you have any luck in locating Cyrus?" asked Scott.
"No, and Agent Nichols said he was going to track him down himself."
"We can't just stand here and do nothin', Chuck," said Logan. "That guy may be a G-man but he's only one man. Besides, I could find him easier that the FBI can."
"Professor," added Ororo. "Agent Nichols may be innocent of the charges against him, but he will need assistance in rescuing his charge."
"Very well," said the Professor. "Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Gambit, Phoenix, Rogue, and Banshee will go and locate Agent Nichols and aid him in his search. I will continue to monitor Cerebro for any sign of the President's son.
"Go My X-Men, and good luck."
End of Chapter ten
© David D. Amaya 2007