AN: I want to start off by apologizing for not getting this episode out earlier. I had personal issues this week that prevented me from uploading on Wednesday. I would like to remind you to please check out my profile and subscribe to my twitter (link on profile) for constant updates. Thank you all for reading this story! I appreciate reviews, they let me know what I am and am not doing, what you want to see more of, and it lets me know that all my hard work isn't for nothing. Thank you.
"You are being watched. The government has a secret program, a task force. One assigned to hunt down mutants and imprison them.
We know this because we have witnessed it in action, tracking and detaining mutants. The government considers these mutants dangerous and attempts to dispose of them before they can choose how to use their gifts.
We work to protect mutants from those who would abuse, neglect, and even kill them. We are hunted by the government and work in secret. You will never find us.
If you're in trouble, or if you're hurting someone, we'll find you."
Kelly frowned, looking at the advertisement. "Can't we stop this from airing?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid not." His secretary replied. "That violates Freedom of Speech, and that is a Constitutional right. You know how picky the public gets about that worthless, old document."
"Yes, yes." Kelly replied. "Can't we use Executive Orders? Threat to National Security?"
"No, sir. Only the President can do that, and you know how he feels."
"Ah, yes." Kelly responded, leaning back and folding his hands on the table. "Hank McCoy is a man who believes in mutants. His naïve beliefs will bring this country to it's knees."
Kelly sat in silence for a moment. "These…Morlocks. They're all mutants, correct?"
"As far as we can tell, sir." The Secretary replied. "Though we have limited information on them. We can't even confirm the mutants in their ranks."
"What about the Sentinel Project? Why aren't they tracking these mutants?"
"With all due respect, sir, that is not their mission. Besides, the President banned you from that project, remember?"
"Ah, yes. I remember all too vividly." Kelly replied. He leaned back once again before a smile lit his face.
"The Constitution refers specifically to man, not mutant, indicating the laws apply only to humankind, not mutants." Kelly noted. "There's our grounds for taking this advertisement down without backlash. Get this trash off the air immediately."
"Yes, sir." His secretary responded, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.
Vice President Edward Kelly smiled.
-*
Unknown Location
Himalayan Mountain Range
September 27th, 09:36 EST
The female dropped her glass onto the cold, hard, concrete floor and gripped her head. Her partner, a middle-aged man with some dark stubble on his chin and dark hair with grey streaks walked into the room.
"Yukio?" he exclaimed, rushing to her.
She shook her head and the spell was gone. She looked up at him fearfully.
"Who is it?" he asked seriously. "Who's up for death row now?"
"Slade, who is…Matthew Murdock?" Yukio asked.
X-Men: Standing Guard
Season One, Episode Three
"Mutant of Interest"
-*S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier
September 27th, 09:56 EST
The bridge of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-carrier looked like something mashed together from Star Wars and Star Trek. The bridge was a semi-circle perched on the top of the rectangular ship. The whole front wall was a single piece of glass. With the exception of a six foot-wide walkway spanning the outer perimeter and a walkway cutting straight down the middle, the bridge was mostly sunken six feet into the floor. Computers spanned the walls of these sunken cubicles. S.H.I.E.L.D. officers sat dutifully typing away (or playing Galaga in one person's instance). Extra computers were arranged in neat rows in the semi-circle pattern around the bridge.
Down the center walkway and away from the glass was a chair that looked as if it had been snatched right out from under Captain Kirk and placed on the Heli-carrier. This chair belonged to Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Around him were half a dozen holo-computers, all with various readings, images, reports. On these six screens he had the entire ship at his very fingertips.
The ship itself was made of a navy blue/grey metal. This metal was not the cold metal found in the halls of the Sentinel Project, this metal commanded authority and gave a militaristic feel to the place. The metal itself was lit with a cool, blue light that made the metal seem lighter and airier. At least two dozen armed guards walked around the bridge. The most secure facility on Earth, storing every secret ever known wasn't going to be breached because there weren't enough guards inside.
With a large boom, a portal opened onto the Bridge of the Helicarrier. Fury, the guards, and all personnel leapt to their feet. If there was a weapon on the Bridge, it was now pointed at the portal.
Out of the swirling green vortex came two people: a man and a woman.
The man was, by far, the most threatening of the two. He was dressed in navy blue leggings that were only a series of shock plates and Kevlar, a lighter blue chain-mail shirt with armor of the same hue as his legs over that. His boots, shoulderplates, belt, and gloves were a deep yellow as was the utility belt slung over his shoulder. He had a multitude of explosives, ammunition clips, knives, and other weapons on his utility belt. Two swords and a long rifle were strapped to his back. On his hips were two pistols as well as a variant of knives below that. He had a mask on that looked like one worn by Friday the 13th, except it was entirely yellow with blue outlines and a bright red disc over his right eye. He was tall, well built, and looked as if he were an assassin.
The woman was smaller, about half a foot shorter. Her hair was a natural, yet brilliant red. She was beautifully built. Her outfit was comprised of multiple layers. The first layer was a simple gray body-suit. The second layer was comprised of red armor plates over her legs and arms. A yellow breastplate was scarred with burns, scratches, and cuts. Old blood stains, not fully washed out, were splotched around some of the more nasty marks. The third layer of her outfit was also yellow, consisting of boots, spiked gloves, a utility belt, pouches containing batons, knives, and guns. Finally, a cowl of red and yellow plastic covered her head, conforming perfectly to the shape and hiding her identity.
The portal closed behind the two and the man walked over to Fury.
"Are you Nick Fury?" he asked calmly, as if oblivious to the two dozen guns pointed at him.
"Yes, I am. What do you want?" Fury demanded.
The man took off his mask. His face was handsome, short brown hair and dark eyes. He had a sharp nose and a smooth chin. "My name is Matthew Slade, this is Yukio." As he gestured at the female, she took off her mask, revealing beautiful blue eyes, as deep as the sea.
"What do you want?" Fury repeated, not lowering his gun a millimeter.
"We have information that a man by the name of Matthew Murdock will die soon. Do you know his name?"
Fury looked at the two in shock before turning to his troops. "Lower your weapons and forget that name. Now."
The agents glanced at each other, but obeyed. Fury led the two trespassers into a separate room.
-*
Xavier Institute
September 27th, 13:31 EST
"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Scott called, walking to the front of the two lines of X-Men. "We're going to be playing a little game today! This is a little something I like to call stockpile and destroy." At this, Scott's shades glinted devilishly.
"Each team will have a color, green or yellow. Jean will spread these across the front yard. Each team's goal is to find all of their color frisbees and return them to their base. You are allowed to destroy the other team's frisbees. After all the frisbees are collected or destroyed, we'll tally up who has the most points, and that team can skip an afternoon of training!"
A big yell of enthusiasm went up in the air.
"Jean?" Scott asked, turning to his girlfriend.
The red-head responded with a smirk and closed her eyes, levitating the frisbees across the field. They flew into trees, hills, the ground.
"Alright, match in three, two..." Scott glanced at his stopwatch. "Go!"
Both teams ran out onto the field dashing at frisbees and shooting bursts of their powers at other players and frisbees.
"Hey! Watch it! Attacking a player is a foul!" Scott called. "Only the frisbees!"
The teams continued throwing, shooting, dashing around. Shadowcat slid through Nightcrawler and grabbed a frisbee.
"Hey! Vatch the personal space, Kitty!" he called.
Kitty laughed and tossed the frisbee at Iceman, however Shiro intercepted it and blasted it out of the air. Bobby growled and shot a jet of ice under Shiro's feet. The mutant slipped and fell down.
"Nice, Bobby!" Scott called.
The teen grinned, gave a thumbs up, and ran off.
Shiro was rather angry. He turned around and fired a beam of energy at Bobby. The mutant yelped as it hit him in the back, tossing him face-first onto the ground.
"Foul! Foul! Shiro!" Scott yelled, running onto the field.
"What, Summers?" Shiro demanded. "I thought this training was supposed to prepare us for the real world! In the real world, the humans don't fight fair!"
"Shiro! You can't keep making the humans out to be evil!" Jean scolded.
"You stay out of this, cheerleader!" Shiro exclaimed.
"Hey!" Scott exclaimed, getting in Shiro's face. "You take that back right now or-"
"Or what, Summers?" Shiro taunted.
"Or I'll show you what a real mutant can do." Scott warned.
"Come on, do it! Do it!" Shiro said. "I've been wanting to kick your ass for some time!"
"I'm gonna be doing the ass-kicking here!" Bobby exclaimed, walking towards Shiro, Kitty behind him trying to stop him.
"Hey! Hey!" Kurt exclaimed, teleporting between the mutants and holding out his hands to keep them apart. "Calm down! Zere's no need to fight!"
"Shut up, freak!" Shiro yelled.
"Hey!" Kurt yelled.
Shouts and exclamations broke out between the five and Jean. Other mutants began to take sides. Kitty and Bobby fell in next to Scott. The group was on the verge of erupting into full mutant war when a loud sound and strong wind separated them. A S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicopter flew over them and landed not far away.
"Jean! Scott!" Xavier yelled, wheeling onto the porch with Emma following close behind.
"Yeah, go run to baldy." Shiro taunted as Scott turned to walk off. The young cyclops clenched his fists, turned around, and swung so hard he knocked Shiro to the ground.
"Do not ever insult Charles Xavier in front of me again." Scott said slowly and forcefully, hand on his sunglasses. Shiro nodded frantically and Scott ran after Jean, rubbing his fist.
Nick Fury, Yukio, and Slade stepped off of the helicopter into the sunlight. Charles rolled up to them with Emma, Scott, and Jean joining.
"Director Fury," Charles greeted with a tired smile. "How may we help?"
"Get on the chopper." Fury said.
The four mutants looked at one another.
"Director?" Jean asked.
"I've got something you'll want to hear, but not at the Institute for obvious reasons." Fury expanded.
"Right," Xavier said. He turned to Emma. "Ms. Frost, if you will please stay and watch the Institute and the children while Jean, Scott, and I meet with Director Fury?"
"Yes, Professor." Emma replied.
Fury and his companions boarded the helicopter once again, Scott and Jean following, the latter using her mind to lift Xavier onto the helicopter before it took off.
Emma turned and walked back towards where Shiro was picking himself up.
"So what was it you wished to talk about, Director Fury?" Charles asked.
"And where are we headed?" Scott asked, looking out the window.
"New York." Fury replied, lighting a cigarette. He slid the lighter back into his pocket and puffed on the cigar for a while before pulling it out of his mouth and exhaling a long puff of smoke.
"I've got a story from these two, and I want you to confirm it." Fury started. "They claim that they can see the future and when someone is about to die. They teleported onto the Heli-Carrier this morning and stated the life of a deep-cover agent is in jeopardy." Fury leaned forwards. "Is this possible?"
Charles looked at Yukio, dressed in her full outfit.
"Do you mind removing your helmet?" Charles asked.
"Not at all." the female replied in a soft and smooth voice; it was very feminine, yet also very strong. She reached up and pulled the cowl off, setting it on her knee. Scott raised an eyebrow at the sexualness of the movement. Charles wheeled forward and placed two fingers on either side of her temple. He closed his eyes and she hers. There was silence for almost a full minute before Charles pulled off and wheeled back between Scott and Jean.
"She is a mutant and it is very real, Director." Charles confirmed. "Although I've never seen a mutation like this before. Tell me, how long have you had this?"
"Since birth." Yukio replied. "I first knew at five when...when I foresaw my parent's murder."
"I'm so terribly sorry." Charles said softly.
Yukio vanquished the tears and returned her cowl to her head. "It's nothing." she replied firmly, but softly as well.
"What about you?" Charles said, turning to Slade. "You aren't a mutant."
"No, I'm a former mercenary. I work with Yukio now." Slade replied.
"That's a lot of weapons for a former mercenary." Scott noted dryly.
"It helps to be well protected." Slade replied in the same tone.
"So why are we going to New York?" Jean asked.
"My agent is stationed there." Fury replied, taking in another long puff of smoke.
"What's his name?" Jean asked.
-*
New York City
September 27th, 13:47 EST
"Matthew Murdock."
"So you admitted to being at the crime scene?" Murdock stated more than asked.
"You twistin' my words, man!" The boy exclaimed.
"Mr. Daniels, did you not just say you didn't do the breaking and entering?" The red-clad attorney asked, moving his walking stick back and forth along the courtroom floor.
"That ain't what I meant!" The young boy exclaimed.
"Well what did you mean, Mr. Daniels?" Murdock asked innocently.
The boy stuttered, looking around the juror box desperately, as if the answer were hiding among the twelve men and women, peeping out from their legs to taunt him.
Matthew Murdock was a tall and strong man. He was ruggedly handsome and had jet-black hair combed back on his head, his chin was square and his facial features strong. He was always dressed in a suit with a red jacket and red pants. Sometimes, like today, he wore a red vest along with his suit. His tie was black, his shirt white. His shoes were polished and sparkled on the courtroom floor. No one knew the color of his eyes as he was blind and always wore dark glasses. His long walking stick scraped silently back and forth on the floor, telling the man where desks, chairs, and legs were.
Murdock was very good at his job. Having graduated Harvard Law School at 24, he went straight into the D.A.'s office and began working. He quickly received a reputation, many calling him Matthew Matlock due to his ability to trick the perpetrators into admitting their crime while everyone else thought he was stupid; a characteristic very similar to the character played by Andy Griffith. Some days it was harder to coax the truth out, some days damn near impossible. Today though, Murdock felt he could've gotten this boy to admit his guilt with his eyes closed.(Or as close as one got to that while blind.)
The boy who was on trial was named Evan Daniels. He was being charged with capital murder. He was an african-american teenager, about sixteen, with blonde cornrows. He looked very nervous and uncomfortable on the stand in his suit.
"Mr. Daniels," Murdock spoke after some silence. "You do realize that, while New York does not carry out the death penalty, your crime falls under the federal law and therefore the federal death penalty."
The boy stuttered air.
"Objection, your honor!" A skinny, greasy man called.
"On what grounds Mr. Marquardt?" The judge sighed.
"Harassment!"
"The only person being harassed here, Mr. Marquardt, is Matthew Murdock. Every time he tries to go anywhere, you yell out "Objection! Objection!"
The courtroom laughed.
"Now, Mr. Marquardt, sit down, shut up, and let Mr. Murdock finish."
The man sat down with a huff, his glasses falling askew.
"Thank you, your honor."
Murdock walked briskly down the crowded halls outside the courtroom, his coat flapping behind him. People moved around him quickly with lunch, on the phone. The news was playing a story about Derek Bishop's wife and daughter in Africa. Yells of excitement, lots of talking, whispering. Murdock was finding it hard to move, hard to breathe. He felt his walking stick ram in to something and he stopped.
"Mr. Murdock?" An elderly, but strong voice came.
"Yes?" Murdock replied impatiently.
"I would like to speak with you." The voice came again. Judging from the height, this was either a very short man or he was in a wheelchair. Murdock voted the latter.
"I'm not doing liability suits, only criminal cases." Murdock returned, trying to walk forward.
"Why on Earth would you think I was here to ask for a liability suit?"
"You're in a wheelchair. I assume it was a car accident?" Murdock asked.
Silence from the man. "That is very deductive of you, Mr. Murdock." the man replied. "I'm here on more pressing matters though."
A voice spoke in Murdock's head. "Nick Fury sent me to fetch you."
"How...?"
"This way, Mr. Murdock." The man replied, a smile in his voice.
Murdock decided to follow the old man, especially if he was who Murdock thought he was.
Murdock was led outside by the old man to a quiet and secluded corner of the court house steps.
"Agent Daredevil." A familiar voice greeted.
"Director Fury." Murdock responded, saluting sharply.
"Come soldier, we need to talk." Fury said.
"Sir, could we speak at a coffee shop?" Murdock asked curiously.
"I'm afraid I'm in the mood for tacos." Fury replied. "Clearance ran through, boy?"
"Yes, sir. Just needed to check, especially with the way my vision's been lately."
The joke was poorly made and very dry, but Fury smiled. "This way, Mr. Murdock."
-*
Sentinel Project Main HQ
Prison Bay
September 27th, 14:00 EST
"You sure it ain't just teenage hormones?" Gambit asked, folding his arms behind his head.
"X? I'm pretty shore whoe'er made 'er programmed that out o' her. It's gotta be somethin' else... Do you think she's been compromised?" Rogue replied.
"Cherie, you use words like compromised and programmed and I wanna laugh. You have been spendin' too much time in this here dump! You need t' get back to yo' roots! Go for a vacation deep down south for a week or so! It'll do you some good!" Gambit exclaimed.
"I can't there's a new breakout every day. Besides, they won't allow me!"
"I'm just saying, cherie." Gambit shrugged.
Rogue brushed a strand of hair to the side. "I'm still worried about 'er..."
"If it's so important, just ask 'er if somethin's wrong, Chere. Maybe she's looking for an exit valve and doesn't have one like we do."
Rogue smiled. "Maybe..."
She leaned forward and pecked Gambit on the cheek, causing the cajun to sit up, his eyes widening with surprise.
"I'll go see!" Rogue said over her shoulder, jogging off.
Gambit rubbed his cheek and looked dreamily into the distance.
-*
New York City
September 27th, 14:07 EST
"Sir, with all due respect, I can handle myself."
"Yes, but everyone can protect themselves a little better if they know something is coming, soldier."
Murdock made a "hmff" noise.
"We're not going to follow you around, Murdock; we were just giving you a heads up."
"We're not?" Slade asked.
"Special Agent Daredevil is perfectly capable of taking care of himself." Fury assured the couple.
"He's blind!" Yukio exclaimed bluntly, gesturing in the direction of Murdock.
"I said he can handle himself." Fury insisted, growing tired of the young vigilante's oversteps.
"Our job is to protect those we see are in danger, no matter who they are or what they can do. My ability doesn't sense threats, it senses death. If I received Murdock's name, then he is in legitimate danger." Yukio said, leaning forward over the coffee table.
The young red-head had changed from her armor to a much more modern look: jeans, tee, tennis shoes. She had on jewelry and makeup that made her seem exotic, like a tropical paradise.
Her partner Slade was sitting begrudgingly next to her. It was clear the man didn't like being out in public or even semi-formal clothes, but he was dealing the best he could. His dark hair was combed back and his dark eyes were alert, though the rest of his body did not appear to be. Jean noticed something and she made a mental note to ask about it later.
"He's always in legitimate danger." Fury replied. "He's an agent. His job description is danger."
"That doesn't mean that we're just going to stand to the side!" Yukio exclaimed.
Slade held up a hand. "We needed you to learn who and where he was. You've done a splendid job. We can take it from here." Slade turned to Murdock. "We don't like to advertise, so normally our...customers aren't aware of our presence."
"I agree." Scott said, leaning forward boldly. "You brought the X-Men into this, and the X-Men never leave anyone in danger."
Fury sighed and put his head in his hand. "Murdock?"
"If it'll shut 'em up, they can tag along quietly and discreetly." the blind man replied.
Fury sighed and lit a cigarette, leaning back and taking a puff.
"I know these things'll kill me, Charles!" He exclaimed suddenly, sitting up and glaring at the old man. "But damn it you and your students argue so much..."
-*
Xavier Institute
September 27th, 17:43 EST
Emma laughed, twirling in the air, her cape flowing. Her icy blue lipstick and eyes seemed to match her earrings and short necklace perfectly. Her blonde hair blended in almost perfect unity with her costume, that itself was all white. A short, pointed white top was attached to her cape and revealed much of her upper-body. She had on long, skin-tight, white pants. Her feet were covered with a pair of small, white snow boots. Her hands were clad in long, white gloves that went well past her elbow.
The telepath turned and shot a wave of energy at the students on the ground. They yelped and dodged out of the way. Emma laughed again. She loved playing and training with the other students. With Charles building Cerebro still, and his recent depression, Emma had been confined to the indoors on telepathic duty to detect new mutants. It was tiring and boring.
Something hit her in the back of the head and she caught it, spinning around. It was a crumpled tin can.
"Alright," she laughed, her voice full of glee. "Who threw that?"
"I did." A dark voice came. Emma spun and was so surprised, she actually lost concentration and fell a short ways before catching herself.
"Erik!" she exclaimed out loud. "You look...different!"
"You look for the better," the old man responded. "It's nice to see you again, Emma. How I have missed your company training our young proteges."
"Is that why you're back? You want to re-join the Institute?" Emma asked. Silence. "Erik?" Emma tried to probe into his mind, but yelled an exclamation of pain, the telepathic signal bouncing off.
"You may call me Magneto now, and this helmet deflects telepathic signals. Do not try and breach it. It is impossible." Erik replied, descending upon Emma, forcing her to land on the ground, backing up in front of the students, her arms extended like those of a watchful mother. Her body glistened and she became a walking diamond, glittering in the evening light.
"I am not hear to hurt you, Emma." Magneto called, not to her, but to the crowd of students. "I am here to offer you help!"
"Help?" Emma asked, not diverting from her diamond form. "You act as if you are going to war with us, Erik!"
"Magneto!" The mutant exclaimed boldly, loudly. "And I am not the one going to war with my best friend, Emma!"
"What are you talking about?" Emma demanded.
"Charles has declared war on us!" Magneto exclaimed, hovering into the night sky.
"No he hasn't!" Emma returned with equal force.
"He has!" Magneto returned. "I didn't want to believe it at first, either, Emma. But I heard it myself! He has stated that if we are not with him and those dreadful...homo-sapiens, then we are against him!"
Whispers ran through the student body.
"Do not believe him!" Emma called. "Do not believe one word he says!"
"My brothers! My sisters! I have proof of the conspiracies against us!" Magneto yelled. It was a risky move considering he had none, but he was sure most would forget by the time the arguments were done.
"He is lying!" Emma yelled. "Charles would never do something like this!"
"Wouldn't he?" Shiro demanded, stepping past Emma's diamond-jeweled body. "We all saw how he blasted us last night with his mind-voo-doo stuff! What's to say he didn't threaten Magneto for exposing the plot against us!"
"The Professor wants us to live in peace!" Kitty yelled, marching forward to opposite Shiro. "The last thing he would want is war!"
"Living in fear isn't living! I will show you that, my brothers! My sisters!" Magneto yelled. "I am not asking you to make up your mind right now, but I will be back at midnight tonight. Think it over and if you wish to come with me, be on the front lawn!" Magneto yelled, turned, and vanished into the sky.
Emma waited a moment more before returning to her human form. She turned to look at her students. They were already looking at her, expecting answers.
What was she to do?
-*
New York State Penitentiary
September 27th, 21:21 EST
"This can go easy for you, Evan, or it can go hard. The district attorney is offering you one last chance to admit to your part of the robbery, testify against the other men involved, and in return, they'll lower your sentence from execution to a minimum of twenty years." Murdock said, leaning against the wall outside the cell where the young man charged with murder sat.
"I'd tell you to read my lips, homie, but I forgot you can't see nuthin'." Daniels retorted.
Murdock laughed quietly. "I'm here to save your life, son; I'm not here to bully you." Murdock pulled up a chair and sat down. "I'm going to be here all tonight 'till they drag you to court tomorrow."
Daniels humphed and leaned back in his cell, arms folded over his chest.
Almost two minutes of silence passed.
"You want to know an advantage of being blind?" Murdock asked.
Silence.
"I can beat the pants off of any kid in a staring contest."
Daniels shifted uncomfortably, causing Murdock to smirk.
To protect Murdock, the X-Men had split up. Professor X waited in the car as the getaway driver while Jean and Yukio took up a position on the roof of Worthington Labs across the street from the prison. Slade and Scott stood guard in the alleyways on either side of the building.
It was dark on the rooftop, the only light coming from an old yellow streetlight that looked as old as the Labs themselves. The portion of the rooftop that Yukio and Jean were on was only thirty square feet, covered in gravel with ventilation shafts dotting the flat area like paint drops on a blank canvas.
Yukio was back in her armor, the yellow and red colors on the suit had been dulled to better hide her in the shadows. She had switched masks from the one she had been wearing on the Heli-Carrier. This mask had small ears pasted on the side and slits for eyes. The goggles she had propped up on her forehead, when they covered her eyes, made her look like an owl. The yellow-black lights glowed in the night. She had gold outlines on her face that furthered the look of an owl's head. She had a jagged cape on, resembling owl's wings.
Jean was dressed in a rather simplistic costume. She had on a dark green, form-fitting long-sleeve shirt. The collar started halfway up her neck and seem based on an upturned collar on a coat. On the dead center of her chest was a bold, yellow "X" that sat inside a circle of the same color. The way the suit was fabricated, it looked like she was wearing body armor. Obviously, this wasn't true, due to the curves the suit showed off.
Her pants were designed the same way, dark green as well with yellow highlights and kneecaps. She had on a yellow utility belt that hugged her hips to the extent one could have thought it was part of her shirt. Her hands were covered with fingerless yellow gloves and her feet with slightly heeled boots of the same color.
Over all of this she wore a trench-coat. The coat was made of a black leather with cream-colored fur on the inside. This was where Jean stored many of her equipment: in easy to reach pockets inside her coat. Other than protect her from the rain, however, her coat provided the protection her body-suit alluded to. Packed between the black, slick leather and the plush fur insides was a layer of kevlar, protecting most of her body from bullets. Each of the jacket's shoulders had the same green "X" symbol found on her shirt, once again highlighted with yellow.
The young woman's brilliant red hair, even more impressive than her companion's, flowed freely around her face in the wind. Her emerald eyes seemed to sparkle as she studied the building. She wore no mask, for none was necessary. Her identity was already public, wearing a mask helped nothing.
The two sat in silence in the chilling night before Jean finally spoke.
"How long?" she asked. "I mean-How long have you two-you and Slade..."
Jean tumbled over herself, finally stopping in embarrassment. Yukio looked just as stunned. "How did you know?" she asked.
"I saw the ring on your finger earlier." Jean said sheepishly. "And you're still wearing it."
"Ah," Yukio noted, looking at her hand and the golden band. "Three months." She finally replied.
Jean smiled.
"What about you and Scott?" Yukio asked. "I don't see a ring on your finger..." she added teasingly.
Jean blushed a shade of red that rivaled her hair. "Ah, yeah. Scott and I just graduated college. We're taking our time."
"Why?" Yukio asked suddenly, turning to face the red-head.
"What?" Jean asked.
"Why are you taking your time?" Yukio asked. "You two love each other, right?"
"Yes," Jean answered almost hesitatingly.
"You two would give up everything to help the other, right?"
"Yes, of course, but-"
"You would never hurt each other on purpose?"
"No! Of course not!"
"Planning on dating anyone else?"
"No!"
"Then why wait, girl?" Yukio asked, tilting her head to one side. "If that's how both of you feel, why wait? You never know what will happen and you don't want to not live your life because you're scared."
Jean nodded, thinking.
Something moved in the shadows of the neighboring building.
"Jean! There!" Yukio exclaimed quietly.
The manhole cover in the middle of the street had moved to the side. As silent and invisible as shadows, six figures left the manhole and darted towards the Penitentiary.
"Scott! Slade! We've got company!" Jean whispered into her com unit as Yukio slid her goggles down.
Murdock heard something smash in the room behind him and some cussing. He stood up, looking at the door.
"Oh, you in for it now!" Daniels exclaimed excitedly, jumping up.
Murdock clenched his fists. He heard a thump, then a second one in the room. The door opened and six figures walked in. They all had bizarre appearances.
The leader was a tall woman with an eye-patch and very unfeminine muscles. She was dressed in a tank-top, jeans, and a dark trench-coat.
The second figure was a small girl, about three feet tall with one arm half the size of her torso. There was also a zombie, with the rest wearing cloaks or hoods, guarding their physical features.
"Matthew Murdock!" The woman with the eyepatch exclaimed.
"Who the hell are you and what do you want?" Murdock demanded, taking a defensive stance.
"My name is Callisto, and we are the Morlocks." She said. "We are here for Evan Daniels, a mutant whom you have been prosecuting for simply that fact. You are guilty of hate-crimes. What is the punishment for that, Mr. District Attorney?"
"I've heard about you." Murdock growled. "You're a group of vigilantes and killers who take humans and torture them right before you dump their bodies. You claim to be heroes to the mutant cause."
"We do what others will not!" Callisto exclaimed. "We fight those who are mutant-phobic and their supporters."
"Mutant-phobic?" Murdock asked blankly.
"We will consider leaving you be if you agree to release Mr. Daniels."
"Fat chance, lady."
"Take him!"
Three mutants moved in on Murdock slowly. Murdock smirked and slammed his foot into one's stomach, slammed the heel of his hand into another's jaw, and a third's jaw into his knee.
"That all you got?" he asked to the pleasant sound of moans and groans on the ground.
Callisto was slightly disturbed, and took a step back. She felt someone's body behind her and turned to look. A man in deep blue and yellow armor was standing behind her. He reached for two swords. Callisto turned back towards Murdock to see Yukio and Jean Grey. The final door on the right was blocked by Cyclops.
"Surrender!" Slade demanded, fingering the handles of his swords. "Or don't. I do so love it when they don't."
Callisto was near-speechless. "Who are you? Why are you protecting this man?" Callisto rounded on Jean Grey. "Do you have any idea what he is doing?"
"He's prosecuting this boy for murder and trying to help him, yeah." Jean said, gesturing at Daniels.
"Evan Daniels is a mutant!" Callisto exclaimed.
By now, the three mutants that Murdock had taken out were slowly standing up and returning to Callisto's side. Slade grew uneasy. He could have taken out the three mutants with Yukio and the X-Men's help probably, but six? Slade wasn't as confident as before.
"He still committed murder!" Jean replied. "He doesn't get an exception just because he is mutant! That's just as unfair as executing him without cause, just because he is a mutant!"
"You are taking their side?" Callisto hissed. "He is a human! You are a mutant! He will cut you down as soon as you stop being of use to him!"
Jean opened her mouth to retaliate, but Scott interrupted.
"I'm sick and tired of fighting over humans. Leave or take an ass-beating."
Callisto pulled two pistols off her hips.
"Ass beating it is then," Scott said, and blasted a burst of energy at the Morlocks.
-*
Washington, D.C.
September 27th, 21:36 EST
"Sir!" Kelly's secretary exclaimed as she entered his office.
"What is it?" Kelly demanded, looking up from a stack of papers. "I'm very busy at the moment, and—"
"Sir the Morlocks, X-Men, and an unknown third party are battling it out in the New York State Penitentiary right now!"
"Get a team up there! Get a team up there right now! I want them detained and at the Sentinel Project! Now!"
The secretary ran from the room.
-*
New York State Penitentiary
September 27th, 21:37 EST
Yukio rolled forward, planting her fist in a Morlock's stomach and knocking them into the ceiling. As they fell back down, she kicked them into a wall, effectively knocking them out. Across the room, Slade was battling Callisto and her zombie friend with his swords. Jean and Scott were side-by-side, backs to the wall fighting the remaining three mutants. Scott blasted them in their shoulders and knees, but by the time he had one downed, the previous one was back on their feet. Jean was tossing chairs, desks, paperclips across the room. The mutant with the enlarged hand grabbed Jean's leg and she froze in place, hardening into a statue.
"Jean!" Scott exclaimed.
Evan Daniels was the one who surprisingly turned the tide of the fight. As Murdock stood back, playing his part, Evan grabbed him and ejected a stick from his wrist putting it at Murdock's throat.
"All right, that's enough!" he called. Everyone in the room froze.
"Stop fighting or I slice the man's throat out!"
"You don't have to do this, Evan!" Murdock gasped out.
"My name is Spyke." The young boy returned, digging the stick into Murdock's throat. The next ten seconds were tense, both sides looking at Spyke before, finally, Scott raised his hands in surrender. Yukio and Slade followed suit.
"Scott!" Xavier's voice echoed in his mind. "There's a SWAT team coming in after you! Get out of there!"
"Spyke, listen!" Scott said, stepping forward and keeping his hands up as Callisto freed the mutant. "There's a SWAT team coming in here for you. I suggest you leave Murdock and run before they get here."
"Smooth there, Cyclops." Callisto replied. "I hope you didn't really expect that to work…"
"I'm not lying!"
"Sure," Callisto replied. "Alright, Morlocks! Grab Murdock and let's leave!"
The door Scott had been guarding burst down and something rolled in.
"GRENADE!" Slade yelled, tackling Yukio to the ground as it detonated. It was only a stun grenade, but it left the mutants dizzied. SWAT members swarmed the room and slammed two mutants into the wall, handcuffing them. Slade and Yukio disappeared into the smoke, Scott picked up Jean's frozen body and ran after them.
-*
Washington, D.C.
September 27th, 22:33 EST
"You asked to see me?" Kelly said cautiously, holding open the door to the Oval Office.
"Yes, yes, come in." a deep, handsome voice responded.
Kelly walked in and shut the door behind him. The Vice President was tall, over six feet, and rather skinny. He had slick, combed back brown hair on his head and blue eyes covered by Harry Potter-esque glasses. He was wearing a grey suit and red tie. He seemed very nervous.
"I understand you made a move against the X-Men tonight." The voice started. The President's chair had it's back to Kelly, papers ruffling.
"Umm, yes…yes, sir." Kelly responded nervously, loosening his tie. "They, the Morlocks, and another group of unidentified mutants were attacking the New York District Attorney."
"As I understand it, the X-Men and this other group of mutants were defending the District Attorney when the Morlocks attacked them."
Kelly cleared his throat. "Hank, I was just—"
The President turned around. "That is Mr. President to you, Kelly. You lost the right to call me Hank when you began this witch-hunt against mutants!"
Three words entered your mind when you saw Hank McCoy: Powerful, Determined, American. In one word, cowboy. The President of the United States of America was tall, taller than Kelly even. What differentiated him from the Vice President was the build of his body. He had a large chest, and strong arms beneath his suit sleeves. His hair was dark, his eyes a true blue. He had a square jaw and straight, sharp nose. It was easy to see why Kelly was scared of him.
"I just talked to Charles Xavier and Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. They both confirmed the same story. The X-Men and this other group of mutants were trying to help Mr. Matthew Murdock, District Attorney of New York City." McCoy said. He removed the glasses from his face. "Imagine that, Kelly."
"Sir?" Kelly asked nervously.
McCoy cleaned his glasses with a napkin. "Imagine humans and mutants working together to an end. But of course, that couldn't happen, because that would go against everything you stand for."
McCoy smiled, slid his glasses back on his face and tossed a newspaper to Kelly. "Tomorrow's headlines, Vice President."
X-MEN SAVE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Kelly gulped hard and nodded. McCoy smirked and turned back around. "You may leave, now, Mr. Kelly."
Kelly hurried from the room.
-*
New York City
September 27th, 22:21 EST
"Thank you, once again." Murdock said, shaking the hand of Charles Xavier.
"We're glad we could be of service." Charles replied with a smile. Scott leaned over to Jean, who had recovered from her attack. "It's nice to see Charles happy again, isn't it."
"Yes," Jean replied. "I think things are finally taking a turn towards the good."
Charles signaled for the two to follow him and wheeled off. Before Jean could follow, Yukio grabbed her arm.
"Good luck, you. And remember what I said!"
Jean nodded and hugged the other red-head tightly before following Charles and Scott.
-*
Sentinel Project Main HQ
Secretary of Defense Bolivar Trask's Office
September 27th, 22:43 EST
"Yes, Vice President, we received your little gift." Trask said, glancing at the four cryo-tubes sitting in his office. "Yes, sir."
"We'll put them to good use."
X-23 was lying on her bed, looking at pictures of Amara and her friends that the latter had posted on social media sites. All of the ones with her in them had been removed due to some "Malware". Really, it was to conceal her identity as an agent of the government. X sighed and wondered what it was like to have friends. What was it like to have someone whom you considered your equal, someone who was there for you, someone who you could do things with, someone—
Rogue walked into the room and X quickly switched the phone for a book on maiming someone. She pretended to be reading it as Rogue changed into her pajamas and climbed onto the top bunk. There was silence in the room once again. It wasn't until X went for her phone that Rogue spoke.
"Are you okay, X?" she asked.
"What?" the assassin responded.
"You seem kind of…off recently. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Rogue replied.
X went blank. What was Rogue implying? Did she know what X did in her spare time? The young girl decided to play stupid.
"I—I am fine. I am just tired."
Rogue nodded distantly. "Okay, but if you need anything—"
"I know." X said, locking her phone and closing the book before turning on her side to face the wall and go to sleep.
-*
Xavier Institute
September 27th, 23:03 EST
Xavier wheeled off the helicopter with a broad smile on his face. Fury nodded at Scott and Jean before taking off. Scott grabbed the Professor's wheelchair and pushed him towards the house. "Feeling better, Professor?" Scott asked.
"Much better, Scott. Thank you both."
Jean and Scott glanced at each other. "For what?"
Before Xavier could reply, Kitty, Bobby, and Storm came running down the path.
"It's good to see you back, Storm." Charles greeted. He glanced at Kitty and Bobby. "What is it, my students?"
"We're so sorry, Professor! We tried to stop them, we really did!" Bobby exclaimed.
"He was too strong, and they wouldn't listen!" Kitty added.
"What is it?" Charles asked. "What's happened?"
"Magneto came back for another round of recruiting, Charles." Storm narrated. "He took half of what was left of us and—"
"And what?" Charles demanded. "Storm! Talk to me!"
"Shiro, when Emma tried to stop him from leaving, he—he—She's in the medical wing, Charles. Forge is monitoring her. She's in a coma."