14. Emergency

With most of the students out of the mansion for the night, Professor Xavier retired to the library for an hour's worth of reading. Pulling out a copy of Bill O'Riley's latest book, he pulled his wheelchair up to the side of a large oriental couch and settled in for a long, quiet read. The fireplace was lit before him with its heat warming his torso, which unlike his legs, didn't have a warm blanket over it.

Page after page were read through quickly, an easy feat for the most powerful mind on the planet. He was so caught up in his book that he didn't notice Ororo placing a cup of piping hot herbal tea next to him should he be in need of anything to drink. The world was of no concern to him as he delved deeper into the book.

Outside the mansion, security cameras picked up on two lone figures making their way toward the main entrance of the building. Neither looked to be in great shape as they moved slowly across the grounds, ignoring the possibility of cameras catching them. The long driveway to the front doors was forsaken for a straight shot through the grass and bushes. When they finally arrived at the entrance, they knocked with a great deal of force and urgency.

Putting his book down, Xavier began to wheel himself out to the foyer when Ororo passed by the library entrance and announced she would answer the door. Her white hair flowed beautifully behind her as she ventured down the hall. The telepath acknowledged her and went back to his book. No sooner had he picked up the written document when he heard the white haired woman scream.

His book hit the floor. The motor on his chair was pushed to its limits as he slammed the small armrest mounted drive stick forward. Logan had beat him to the entrance and was trying to remove Ororo from a former student that had once lived at the mansion. Xavier's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the bone covered Spyke, her nephew, in a bloody mess. A woman with one eye and chopped black hair stood behind him, clutching her shoulder with one hand and a broken metal spear in the other.

Two hours later in the underground medical bay, the young man known as Spyke lay still as machines around him beeped and displayed his vitals. An air mask was placed over his mouth and nose as the rubber bladder it was hooked up to pumped fresh air into his lungs. Cuts, punctures, and burns covered his body, even though he had a tough bone like covering with spikes protecting his skin. His kidney was repaired but the injury he suffered was to his head as a large piece of his bone covering was removed, as if he had been scalped.

The woman, known as Callisto, was in slightly better shape. She only had a few bullet grazes on her with slices to her stomach from a bladed weapon. The injury to her shoulder was from a metal steak that had been thrusted into her during a close quarters fight with several of her and Spyke's attackers. A dislocated knee kept her from leaving the med-bay, otherwise she would have already been on her feet and out of the mansion.

"Alright," Xavier said as he entered Callisto's room. "Spyke's stabilized. He is in critical but will recover. But I need to know what happened."

Callisto was quiet.

"Callisto, I need you to tell me what happened in the sewers. I thought your Morlocks were safe from being discovered by anyone."

She still didn't say a word.

"Normally I would respect your right to withhold information as it is your business, but this involves a former student of mine. Tell me what I need to know or I will seek the information out in your mind."

"The Morlocks affairs are just that, Charles, Morlock affairs." Callisto didn't even look at him as she made the snide comment. "I will not disgrace my people by telling you what you don't need to concern yourself over."

"What about me?" Ororo said angrily as she entered the room. "Tell me what happened in the Morlock tunnels right now, Callisto."

"As I said, our affairs are none of your-" The injured woman soon found herself face to face with a seething Weather goddess. They were so close, she swore she saw the very lightning she commanded in her eyes.

"Evan is my nephew. Tell me what happened or I will drag you outside and use you for a lightning rod."

The two women stared each other down until Logan called Xavier over the intercom and informed him of the sudden appearance of dark ominous clods outside. Knowing what the dark skinned woman was capable of, Callisto relented and backed off.

"We were attacked. A group of men in black and purple armor came at us while we were all eating."

"How did they get the drop on you all?" Xavier asked.

"They came at us from all directions, killing our sentries. We were completely at their mercy." Venom flowed out of her mouth with her words. "The first ones they targeted were the sick and injured. The older ones as well as the children were after that."

"My God," Storm said at barely above a whisper.

"Evan was one of the first responders. He tried to get those in the middle of the fight out through the escape tunnels but they already had them blocked off and rigged with explosions. I got there shortly after the attack began with a few Morlocks with me from a scavenger run. We walked right into the middle of things and saw dozens of my people killed as they ran for their lives."

"What about Evan?"

"I found him trying to get some of the teenagers and remaining children out. Some of the remaining adults provided cover for him as he directed them down some of the backup escape tunnels. He was hit but continued fighting. I led what I could out the same way the attackers came in since it appeared there were no others using their entrances and headed down a hidden side passage to see if there were any injured when I heard someone running down one of the pipes. By the time I got to him, they already took his head piece. They would have done worse if I was any later. I was injured as I protected him and after dispatching the few around him, I brought him here, to the only people I knew he could trust."

"These men, Callisto," Charles said after letting all she told them sink in, "What more can you tell us of them?"

"Only they were very and thoroughly prepared for the assault. Had it not have been for the extra tunnels we created for such an attack, we would have all died."

"Charles," Ororo said after wiping a tear from her face, "we need to-"

"Hey, Chuck," Logan interrupted via intercom. "The kids are returning like you asked them to. You want me to send them down or keep them up here?"

"I'll be up in a minute, Logan. I would rather explain everything as it has been described to me." Turning to Ororo, Xavier took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "He''ll be alright. He's a strong young man." He then left the room and headed upstairs, not looking forward to explaining what has happened.

Underground Military Base:

"You performed admirably today my Executioners. Let us remember the fallen and learn from their mistakes." Behind his podium, the heavily armored leader of the band of military-esque men looked over the crowd before him as gave a loud 'HURAGH' and salute. His mask held no emotion but his eyes, if they could see them behind their lenses, showed pride and confidence.

"Of the nine hundred of you, eight hundred and sixty two made it back. Our fallen are not to be missed, they are to be looked down upon for failing in their mission to rid the world of the mutant disease. We must make no quarry when dealing with them. We must strike first, strike hard, and strike last. Mutant kind will not survive us. We will rise victorious from their ashes once we burn them to the ground and erase the very knowledge of their existence."

The men gave another loud 'HURAGH' as they threw up a fist into the air each.

"Now, now the true reason the Executioners have been created. Now you will see the real threat to humanity's existence. Watch closely."

With a nod, the leader signaled for a projectionist to start a film on their next objective. Footage of the X-Men played on a giant screen behind the podium with emphasis on each mutant in action.

"While some mutants have left the institute of human oppression, others have stayed or joined. The first one you should know about is Scott Summers AKA Cyclops. Leader of the X-Men, a band of mutant terrorists operating out of Bayville, New York and is capable of firing a concussive blast from his eyes. Danger level, orange."

The footage changed to other mutants as the leader informed his troops of them as well.

"Jean Gray, telepath; threat level, red. Kitty Pride AKA Shadowcat, able to become intangible; threat level, yellow. Unknown woman AKA Rogue, able to absorb the abilities of others; threat level, orange. Unknown Russian AKA Colossus, able to cover his body in sheets of metal and become invulnerable; threat level, red. Tabitha Smith, Boom Boom, able to create explosive spheres; threat level, orange. Remy Lebeau AKA Gambit, capable of charging objects with explosive energy; threat level, orange."

The list went on and on until all the names had been listed. Special information was given on Wolverine, Professor Xavier, and Storm, listing them as threat level black.

"We also have been given information on another mutant who is currently unknown. Reports out of Mexico indicate him as Chupacabra. He's new to the group of terrorists and no footage of him has been taken. Although, it has been documented he uses a pair of energy claws during combat. Given what he has done and his mutancy, his threat level is marked at yellow. This could change at any time and if so, your mask's HUDs will be updated."

The leader came from behind his podium with his microphone in hand. "I will not sugar coat it, gentlemen. These mutants are the real deal. They will not hesitate to use deadly force on you so you must be sure to land that first and final blow to put them out of humanity's misery once and for all. After today, we will officially be at war with the X-Men and those who align themselves with the mutant abominations."

The men answered with a resounding, 'HURAGH!' as their leader approached another soldier. "Thank you for all the inside information, Zero One. We wouldn't have been able to address this matter without you. The media can only do so much."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." The soldier gave him a salute. "I want these X people killed as much as you do."

"When we get to that, I assure you the opportunity of first execution."

Xavier Mansion, five days later:

Alone in her attic garden, Ororo stood looking out the window at the overcast sky. She was letting her emotions get a little out of control and whenever that happened the weather would always change to match it. The plants she took great care of were perky from the amount of rain water she would give them as well as the food sticks she would put in the soil. A slight breeze entered her window, making her reach out to close it when she saw Miguel and Megan walking along the paths around the mansion. She shook her head slightly when she saw the young woman grab onto his arm before she closed the shutter.

"Young people," she said as she left the window.

Her mind went back to Evan. She had taken care of him since bringing him to the institute to control his powers and now, he was injured severely. If it wasn't for that time with the tainted sports drink and it killing mutants, maybe he wouldn't have been down in the Morlock tunnels and ended up in med-lab like he is now. Then again, if she never brought him here or made him part of the team, he may not have been the type of person he grew up to be, loyal, brave, and honest.

Still, he could have ended up worse. It was something she couldn't let herself think but it managed to creep into her thoughts all the same. She shed a few tears, thinking about what she would do without him, what his mother would do without him. Even though he lived in the sewers to avoid intolerance from normal people, they would still get to see him several times a year.

As she remembered the good times and heroic deeds he's done, she headed back to her room. Several students flew past her in a hurry to reach their rooms while others were laughing. Some asked her how Evan was doing and were relieved when she told them his condition had improved over the last few days. She was almost to her room when Logan stopped her.

"Hey, Ro' you haven't seen claw boy have you?" He carried a sealed box under an arm and held a beer in his free hand.

"He was outside with Megan, why?"

"Brother, I thought they hated each other," he mumbled low enough so Ororo could barely hear him. He never understood the way those younger than him think and doubted he ever would. "The Professor had a new uniform made for him. Should he go on any field missions, he'll match the rest."

"Well, I don't know when he'll be back. They went on a trail towards the lake and it looked as if they were taking their time. You could probably leave it in his room."

"Nah, I'll just leave it in his locker in the locker room." He took another swig of his beer and stepped around her. "Hey, by any chance, could you make it rain?"

Ororo turned back to face Logan. "You want it to rain on Miguel and Megan just so he'll find his new uniform?"

"No, Remy's by the pool with Marie in his lap. I just wanted to cool the Cajun off a little."

"Logan…" Ororo crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a discouraging look.

"I know, I know." He went back to walking down the hall. "But I would've gotten a laugh out of it."