15. Explanations
In an underground sewer, people screamed as they ran from black and purple armored men armed with rifles. Those not able to get out of the way in time were shot in the back while others who stood up to them were quickly surrounded and fired upon. Injured were finished off with shots to the head, not mattering in the least if they were adults or children. Bombs exploded, sending teargas throughout the area to bring the fleeing people to a halt where they were shot or stabbed to death. In short, it was a massacre, the exact same thing to happen to the Morlocks five weeks ago.
Within the observation deck of the Danger Room, Charles Xavier and his team of X-Men watched the scene below them play out carefully. The holographic armored men were heavily trained and were using maneuvers comparable to the US Navy SEALS to surprise and attack the holographic Morlocks.
"So this is how they moved?" Logan asked. "Are you sure of this?"
"Yeah, very sure." Spyke, who had recovered enough to get out of bed, stood at the window in front of the group and described what had transpired since Callisto went to find her people who had gone to their fallback spot. He still had a thick bandage of gauze strapped to his head where his hard crust used to be.
"Damn, we're looking at some potential military personnel in these guys. That or they were highly trained by them."
"They came from the upper pipelines over our eating area using grappling ropes. We believe they were opening fire from above to cause us to scatter and head into the tunnels. That's where they got the most of us. As we ran for tunnels in the north and east sectors to get out, they opened fire from within and caught us in tight formations. The ones that went back were killed by the men coming in from above."
"What about the kids?" Kitty asked as she watched the massacre below on the Danger Room floor.
"They were picked off by snipers from above."
Kitty held her hands to her mouth as she saw the re-enactment of the young mutant Morlocks being picked off along with their parents or the ones taking care of them.
"They began to enter our hideout using the southern pipes, putting us in a flanked position and leaving the western ones as our only option. After so many of us fled to them, they detonated. The entire gathering area was one large killing floor." Spyke turned away when he saw the image of himself below join the fight. "I got injured trying to get them to the secret escape routes. When I tried to lead the soldiers away, I was cornered and had no other choice but to turn and fight. I had lost a lot of blood by this point and was too weak to continue. Had Callisto not have come back to find me, I would have been killed instead of only losing my…my head piece."
Charles was silent for a moment, contemplating what he had seen and been described for the tenth time since speaking to Spyke. "Students, we face a new threat unlike anything we have faced before. Given the Morlock massacre we have witnessed, it's possible we may be attacked."
"Are you sure, Professor?" Scott asked.
"They knew where the Morlocks were hiding. That is a very good indicator they will go to any lengths to find us. And since the institute is publicly known as a mutant haven, so to speak, it's not farfetched to believe we may be attacked next."
"So what do we do in the meantime?" Jean asked. "Be on guard here twenty four seven? We have young mutants who are still discovering what their powers are and how to control them. If we're attacked-"
"I know, Jean. And no, we cannot let this group strike fear in us. We will go on with our lives as normal. Go on every day as if everything's like it should be. In the meantime, we will train and be ready for the potential of an attack. As for the younger students, they will be instructed to head underground to the hanger and drilled to do so in a timely manner. The Blackbird will be prepped to take them away from here if it comes to it."
"You sure that's a good idea, Chuck?" Logan asked.
"Yes. If we tip our hand, it will show we're ready for an attack and on guard. If we show we are ready for an attack of any sort, it may play into their hands by showing the public we are a threat to them. What we need to do is make it look as if we are living as normal and turn the tides on them should an attack occur. This will deter any others from launching future attacks on the mansion. The mansion's defenses will be our second line of defense; our first will be our combined awareness of the situation. With any luck, they will not get to the mansion itself."
"Professor," Tabitha said. "Some of us are going out in a few days. We could cancel if would you'd rather have us here in case something goes down."
"No, Tabitha. Go on with your plans. Logan, Ororo, and myself will be here with the other experienced members of the team."
"Speaking of the team, what about Miguel?" Scott leaned against the wall next to Remy. "He has no field experience and hasn't worked with a complete team since being here."
"What about the four on four exercises?" Kurt brought up.
"Those are squad runs, not a complete team. And he mostly goes off by himself to do what he thinks is necessary to complete the mission," Scott explained. "Professor, as field leader, I think it would be best if he sit out anything regarding the situation. And if he loses his temper again, he could become a liability."
"But he's been working on getting his anger under control," Megan butted in. "I know he's not as experienced as we are but he could be an asset if we're under attack."
"Is this a performance evaluation or you feelings coming into play?" Jean asked. "We know about you two getting together."
"WHAT?" Kitty yelled. "You and him are-"
"Performance," Megan interrupted. "I wouldn't let my feelings for him get in the way of the team's safety."
"I gotta go wit Pixie on dis," Remy said. "He's a wild cahd but it's bettah ta have an ace up your sleeve den nothin' at all."
"I understand your points," Xavier said. "But I think if a field mission comes up or we find ourselves under attack it would be best if he stand down and us handle it. While he may be a skilled fighter, his temperament is still in question."
"Well, let us know what you think, Professor. We'll stay home from the concert if you want us to and be on alert in case you change your mind." Scott took his leave with the rest of the X-Men, leaving Logan and Xavier behind.
"Well, Chuck, it's up to you." Logan walked past him and headed for the door.
The Professor watched the simulation of the Morlock Massacre finish then addressed the Canadian. "How would you evaluate him, Logan? Would he be able to-"
"Chuck, the kid's got a temper on him; believe me, I know. He's also good to have on our side in a scrap. But as far as following orders, no. He's too much like-"
"You, my friend?" the smallest of grins appeared on Xavier's face.
"Don't insult me."
"Like, why didn't you tell me you were knocking boots with Miguel?" Kitty practically screamed at Megan as they ascended to the mansion above in the elevator. "Why didn't anyone else tell me either?! This is valuable information you all denied me and as such, I shouldn't consider any of you reliable sources anymore."
"We're not knocking boots!" Megan screamed back. She had a red face as the others in the elevator listened to her personal business. "We just started seeing each other. That's it."
"Are you sure? Like, how long has this been going on? Have you even gone out on a date? Are you planning on going to the concert together?"
"Oh," Jean said nervously.
"Oh, what?" Megan asked.
"Um, about the concert…I kinda, sorta, gave your extra ticket to Amara."
"WHAT?" Kitty exclaimed.
"It's only because you said to give it to her. Had I have known you were going out with Miguel I…well…at least you haven't told him yet, right?"
"But I did tell him," Megan told her. "I invited him to go with us."
"See, this is why information is, like, so important," Kitty explained to the elevator of X-Men. "I finally got these two together and-"
"Since when did you play match-mutant with these two?" Tabitha asked. Marie, Remy, and Scott tried to hide their snickering as the young valley girl continued on with her little rant.
"Since, like, forever. I went out of my way to hook them up by planting the subliminal seed within Megan's head and nurturing it until it sprouted into a rose bush of love, and now all my hard work's ruined."
"Kitty," Marie asked, "did you take one too many happy pills this morning?"
"Shut up, Rogue. I've gotta think of a way to solve this and get both in the concert, but how? How? How am I gonna pull this off on such short notice? Maybe the old ticket switch at the gate? Or I could just phase into the concert. Or maybe…"
As Kitty continued going over her various schemes, Tabitha gathered the others around her and whispered to them so Kitty couldn't hear. "As soon as the elevator stops, run out. I've got a few pop rocks I'd like to give her." She held up a hand full of her 'time bombs'. "It'll be like a bunch of Black Cats going off around her feet."
The moment the bell dinged to signal their arrival at the ground floor of the mansion and the doors opened, all except Kitty came running out of the elevator. Being the last one out, Tabitha pressed the 'door close' button and joined the others in waiving 'bye' to a confused Kitty Pride.
"Hey, where are you guys-" Noticing a yellow light under her, she looked down and saw the little yellow and red orbs Tabitha left behind. "Oh you guys suck."
Hundreds of pops from the orbs filled the enclosed elevator but they couldn't drown out the screams Kitty let loose as she jumped from the harmless explosions, forgetting she could phase through the door at any time. The others laughed their heads off.
Alone in his room, Miguel quietly read his copy of Jurassic Park with the window open. A warm breeze came in and the sound of trees rustling could be heard, providing a nice background to the book as he reached the part where Robert Muldoon was being hunted by the Raptors he had a hand in raising. He was just about to the part where Muldoon was attacked when a light knock sounded at his door.
"Ah'm reading," he said, not looking up from his book.
"Does that mean I can't interrupt?" Megan asked from the other side of the door.
Slipping a note card in his place, Miguel tossed the novel on the nightstand and got up to answer the door. Megan stood on the other side with a smile, which made him give a grin of his own.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked.
"Yeah. Wanna come in?"
She entered his room and clasped her hands together in front of her midsection. "Um, about that concert I invited you to; it seems there was a mix up."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Jean gave the extra ticket away before she knew I invited you." She waited a moment to see what he would do. When he just continued to look at her, she continued. "So I wanted to give you my ticket. It's only right you take it since I'm the one who messed up." She handed him her ticket and watched as he took it and looked it over.
"Fifth row. Middle seats. These are great."
"Yeah. I'm really not a big fan of Trapt so-"
"Pix," he gave the ticket back to her, "you go. This was meant for you, not meh."
"But I invited you, and you can't go since Amara's going in your place. Besides, you like that kind of music."
"Ah want you to take it. Go with your friends. They're already counting on seeing you there."
"You sure? Because if you want to go, I'll understand. This was supposed to be me and you at the concert together."
"Ah'm sure," he told her. "It's on a Friday anyway."
She cocked her head to the side. "What difference does that make?"
"Well, Friday's when Smackdown is on so…"
Knowing what he was doing to not make her feel bad for going, she gave a nod and a half smile. "Got it. Thank you, Chupa."
"And maybe next time it'll just be us two."
She took a step closer to him. "Sorry I screwed up."
"Forget it. Stuff happens."
"I'll uh, let you get back to your book. I gotta meet Kitty to go shopping for the concert."
"You in that much of a hurry to go, Pix?" He took a step forward and trapped her between him and the closed door.
Her face flushed red as she bit her bottom lip. "Not that much of a hurry." She snaked her arms around his neck and the two kissed.