FAIR WARNING: If you haven't seen Captain America: The Winter Soldier (why not?) or the latest episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. do NOT read this episode. I screw you a pretty big plot detail. Cheers! Also, it goes without saying the same for X-Men: Days of Future Past movie.
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Also, I wrote this series of episodes before going to see the Days of Future Past movie.
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AN: Welcome to the Season Finale of X-Men: Standing Guard. This is the first episode not completed prior to my "cancellation" (and subsequent un-cancellation) of the series. We've been slowly, and quietly (perhaps a little too quietly) been building to this all season. I want to thank all of you for your support so far on the series, I'm glad we've made it this far. We have made it to fifty reviews, and thus Season 2 and the Bishop pilot are green-lit to start writing. Yay! Also, last Wednesday (oddly when no episode aired) we broke our record for views in a day! Thank you all so much for the support!
The Season Finale will air in three parts. This episode, "Days of Future Past", is Part 1. The episode title and description for next week's episode are on my profile, but I suggest you DO NOT CHECK THAT OUT until after you read this episode. Needless to say: HUGE spoilers. I've, in fact, updated my profile to an ENTIRELY NEW LOOK! I've got the official description for Bishop up and will have the official description for Season 2 of X-Men out after the Season Finale. I've also got release dates and sneak peeks/spoilers at upcoming episodes of X-Men and Bishop on my Twitter (link on Profile). I know Days of Future Past doesn't sound that interesting to you (especially with the movie out now), but I've got a few tricks up my sleeves that help set up Season 2, Season 3, and Bishop. Oh yes, I've planned that far ahead! This is going to be awesome, so please sit back and enjoy!
Also, Season 2 spoilers and possibly a Young Avengers Easter Egg?
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Five years ago
A flake of dried mud fell off of the makeshift target as a third arrow hit dead center.
The ground was hard sand and rock, the walls of the amazingly well designed fortress were made of mud and brick, built by the hands of those who were recruited. The fortress itself was massive. Surrounded on all sides by miles of the Gobi Desert, the fortress took up as much space as a small city. The fortress was home to a league of assassins*. Most lived in tents made of animal hide, some lived in huts, only few lived in the main castle, towering above the twenty-foot defense walls. The fortress looked Arabic, with domes and brightly painted stripes decorating the exterior. The paint was kept up, as punishment to those who failed, and helped remind the followers just how strong their leaders were.
McKenna Pryde notched another arrow and aimed at the target. Someone approached and she let the arrow fly, turning to face them.
"Eliza!" McKenna exclaimed. "What are you doing up?"
"Couldn't sleep. Wanted t' see what you were up to." Rogue replied.
The red-head was dressed simple brown robes, tied around her curvy figure. Her hair was completely red, devoid of its signature white stripes. Her green eyes were tired, as was her body. She slumped over in the early morning darkness.
"Just shooting." McKenna replied. The curly brunette had her straight black stripes hanging seemingly out of place from her regular hair. She was dressed in her black leather outfit and seemed wide awake as she notched a fifth arrow.
"Yo're pretty damn good at that." Rogue noted.
"Thank you." McKenna replied, watching the arrow fly into her thick grouping. "What about you?"
"Naw, never was much good with it. I'm better with knives an' guns."
McKenna smiled and held out the bow to Rogue. She looked at it, then at McKenna, then back at the bow before sighing and taking it.
"Left hand on the bow." McKenna instructed. "Nah uh! You'll snap your wrist with the string that way, your first two fingers and thumb only, the other two can not touch the bow."
"Not how they do it on TV." Rogue muttered.
"They are merely actors. To learn true mastery of all available weapons takes time and skill."
Rogue struggled but finally positioned her fingers correctly.
"Now take an arrow and notch it." McKenna instructed once more. "No! Don't relax your grip! Keep it firm and yet loose, keep it on the bow and ready to fire at a moment's notice."
Rogue took a deep breath as she notched the arrow.
"Draw it back."
"I don't know if I'm strong enough." Rogue replied.
"It's a compound. It's going to do all of the work for you. Now draw it back." McKenna reassured firmly.
Rogue pulled the string back to her chin. McKenna intervened, her gentle fingers re-adjusting Rogue's, placing the red-head's second finger on the corner of her mouth and positioning her arm.
"Now line up the feathers with the tip, aim it at the bullseye and fire."
Rogue took half a minute to aim, obviously too long for McKenna, but the brunette waited patiently.
"Now what?" Rogue asked.
"Now…release." McKenna replied, her voice as gentle and free as the cool desert breeze.
Rogue let go of the string and the arrow flew across the courtyard. It hit the upper right corner of the target. Rogue sighed, exasperated. McKenna smiled. "Try again."
"That was terrible." Rogue replied.
"Archery can take years to master." McKenna said. "Keep it up and you'll get it."
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Three Years Later
The small membership of the Xavier Institute continued watching the television coverage of President McCoy's meeting with the leaders of America, discussing the mutant "problem".
"Mutants are being gunned down in the streets for being different and that self-righteous fool is up there trying to determine how to eradicate us without damaging his PR too badly." Erik exclaimed. "I told you that we should have let the humans deal with their own problem, Charles!"
"I believe humanity is ready to accept us." Charles replied. "History is at a turning point, just as it was three hundred years ago when America was founded. The principles of this country are the building blocks for democracy, freedom, and equality. Humanity will accept us now, or they will accept us never."
"I don't know, Professor…" Scott said from the couch, Jean on his lap. "I think I have to side with Erik on this one. I'm not sure exposing our powers was wise. After all, Director Fury did advise against it…"
"I don't particularly care what Director Fury thinks on the matter." Charles replied. "This was our decision as a species, one he has no influence in. Now we agreed by majority—"
"Scraping by majority." Erik muttered.
"—that we would reveal ourselves to the world. We all knew what consequences this could hold."
Everyone remained silent.
"What of the new recruits?"
"Who? Kitty, Kurt, and Rogue? They're upstairs getting settled in." Jean replied distractedly. "Perhaps if we appeal to the government and the people, they'll listen to us."
"It's not as simple as tossing your flaming red hair, Ms. Grey." Emma snorted, walking out of the room, her white cape flowing behind her. Jean and Scott glanced at each other and Jean followed Emma out.
"Emma wait!"
"I'm not in the mood." Emma replied.
"Why can't we just be friends?" Jean pleaded.
"I'm a diamond, Grey, I am, by definition, my own best friend."
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Today
"Mr. Kelly, please place your left hand on the bible and put your right hand in the air."
Kelly placed his hands as instructed.
"I, Robert E. Kelly do solemnly swear…"
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The glowing green lights of the Sentinel's eyes flickered on, down the line, down the rows and columns. A hundred green eyes flickered on at once. Their chests glowed green as well, the purple and red armor shifting to adjust to their recently powered bodies.
Vice President Trask grinned while Secretary of Defense William Stryker watched with a serious face that could not hide his glee.
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"…that I will faithfully execute…"
Mystique screamed in pain as voltage danced over her blue body, stinging her, searching her molecules and atoms out for what made her so special. Scientists watched from behind a darkened window as she struggled to shape-shift, a feeble attempt to escape.
"Sir, I think we found it." One younger scientist said, showing an older man a clipboard.
"…the Office of President of the United States,…"
"Increase voltage 100 Joules." The older man ordered, turning back to the window. "We almost have it."
A man turned up the dial and Mystique felt a wave of new pain wash over her.
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"…and will to the best of my ability…"
"Freeze!" an officer yelled, firing at a mutant. Avalanche pulled up a wall of concrete to protect himself from the hail of bullets. Toad leapt down the street, hopping off of walls and cars, kicking officers in the face and rendering them unconscious.
A third mutant appeared and shot spikes out of their arm stabbing police officers in the chest with them. Sentinel Project soldiers rounded the corner and exited their SWAT van, opening fire.
"…preserve, protect, and defend…"
Pyro grinned and shot a wave of flames at the Sentinel Project soldiers, setting some on fire, killing a few more, and sending the rest ducking for cover.
"…the Constitution of the United States…"
The mutant with spikes threw them at the gas tank of the SWAT van and pierced it, sparking the metal and causing it to explode. More police officers, more gunfire. Mutant-human relations were heating up and it wouldn't be long before an all-out war.
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Kelly looked at the Supreme Justice with a smile on his face and uttered the final four words:
"So help me God."
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Xavier Institute
March 29, 10:09 EST
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"I'm recoverin' just fine, sir." Rogue replied. "I'll be out of commission for a while, but I should be fine."
"Good to hear, Agent Rogue." Director Fury replied, looking at the video feed on his S-Phone.
"So what's S.H.I.E.L.D. up to?" Rogue asked, adjusting herself carefully in the bed.
"Well after finding that HYDRA is not only back but was using Worthington Labs to further their scientific research, we're doing a complete rundown of the company to see whose HYDRA and who isn't."
"That's a lotta subpoenas." Rogue replied.
"We're S.H.I.E.L.D., we don't do subpoenas." Fury replied.
Rogue smirked. Her window cracked open and she cut the video transmission. McKenna climbed in.
"You look startled." She noted, pulling her hood off and her mask down.
"I wasn't expecting ya in broad daylight." Rogue responded with a charming smile. "Whatcha doin' here?"
"I heard you were hurt." McKenna replied.
"It's nothin'." Rogue lied.
"Let me see." McKenna said gently, moving to pull away the covers.
"No!" Rogue exclaimed, grabbing the covers. She winced as pain erupted in her ribs and she grinned through gritted teeth. "Nothin' to worry 'bout."
"Oh, Eliza." McKenna sighed, looking at the multitude of bandages.
"My wrist healed." Rogue replied with a triumphant grin, showcasing her wrist.
McKenna sighed. "Who did this to you?"
"McKenna—"
"Because when I find them…"
"McKenna." Rogue said firmly, putting a hand on the brunettes. "I can handle myself. You know I don't like t' be babied."
McKenna smiled, running a finger through Rogue's white striped hair. "If you insist."
Rogue laughed. "I do." She responded.
The two shared a brief moment, one they hadn't shared in quite some time, then Rogue's expression grew serious. "I have t' get back t' work soon. This war…"
"How?" McKenna asked. "You're injured beyond fighting, Eliza. Even I couldn't fight with that many injuries."
"You know I'm a tough cookie." Rogue smirked. "'sides, I got a secret weapon."
"Oh really?" McKenna asked. "Not going to drain my powers again?"
"Naw," Rogue replied. "Somethin' else."
"This war, Eliza, it could doom us all."
"Or it could unite us, make us stronger."
"Ever the optimist."
"People aren't evil, McKenna."
"They are." The brunette replied with a fierce fire in her eyes. "There are few good people in this world, Eliza. You are one of them. Kelly, Trask, his men, they are not. The Hand is preparing for defense, not offense. We're not going to fight until they come to our doorstep. Then we're going to kick their ass."
"How many times do I have t' tell ya, that's a terrible plan."
"It's what we're doing." McKenna placed her hand on Rogue's again. "I wish you would come with me, you could even bring your friends and we can wait out the war."
"No." Rogue replied. "My place is here."
McKenna smiled. "May luck be ever with you, ye haizi."
Rogue nodded and smiled. "As with you."
McKenna smiled and pulled her hood and mask up, departing.
Rogue, after making sure she was gone, reached into her nightstand and pulled out a vial of dark red liquid and a needle. She filled the needle with a small amount of the red liquid and injected it into her veins. She gasped as she felt the liquid begin to take its effect, healing her body. She set it back in the desk drawer and locked it.
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"Kitty, I must disagree." Charles said. "I simply can not allow you to go to New York with this war looming over our heads. Our entire species is at risk here and I can't risk you being captured…or worse."
"Professor, it's only a date! I'll be gone two or three hours and back before you know it!"
"No, Kitty." Charles said firmly.
"Professor…I need to talk to him." Kitty said softly.
"About?"
Kitty sighed and looked at the floor. "This war, it affects him too." Kitty hesitated. "See, Piotr is a mut—Rogue?!"
Rogue grinned and limped into the main living room.
"Rogue, how are you walking?" Charles asked. "You must be in terrible pain."
"I'm healin'." She responded.
"How?"
Rogue smirked. "As you once told me, yo're not the only one with…gifts."
Charles shrugged. "Well then, it's good to see you back on your feet."
Rogue smiled.
"…newly sworn in President Robert Kelly is expected to hold a press conference this afternoon at one o'clock. The news is rumored to involve the heightening mutant-human relationships and former President McCoy's disappearance. Although this is only speculation,…"
"He's behind McCoy's abduction. I know it." Rogue whispered.
"He may very well be," Charles agreed. "But there's no way to prove it, and acting against Kelly is unwise."
"It may be unwise, but it'll certainly as hell make me feel better." A deep voice growled from a comfortable chair in the corner of the room. Rogue jumped and Kitty let out an appropriately cat-like sound of surprise. Charles turned.
"I was unaware you were there, Mr. President."
"You can stop calling me that, Charles." McCoy muttered from behind his newspaper. "I'm not going to be back in the Oval Office ever again. Not now."
"You said you were working on a serum…"
"It's been years since I did anything science related." McCoy replied from behind his newspaper. All anyone could see of him was his khaki pants. "That'll take God knows how long…by then it could be too late."
Charles sighed, seeing the discussion was going nowhere. McCoy growled. "My God, does no one at the Times have spell-check anymore?" he folded up the paper in disgust. Hank McCoy was now a blue ape-like creature, covered in blue skin and fur. He was wearing khaki pants and a large shirt with a suit jacket of equal size over it. He was also wearing glasses.
Rogue giggled and McCoy glared at her. "Sorry, no offense, it's just…the glasses…"
"Shall I take them off?" McCoy asked, humored.
"No, no," Rogue giggled. "They just took me off guard."
Rogue, unlike everyone else, was already taking advantage of McCoy's plea they not refer to him as if he were President. He seemed to halfway appreciate it from her.
Someone knocked on the front door. "I'll get it." Kitty sighed, darting into the front room. McCoy stood up and began searching the bookshelves.
"Do you have any Shakespeare?" he asked.
"Professor!" Kitty shouted, alarmed. Xavier and Rogue glanced at each other before moving very quickly into the front hallway.
Kitty was in a defensive position, fists clenched, eyes locked on the man at the front door.
"Hello, Rogue." Magneto greeted. "I must admit you're coming in and out of the Institute at a rather sporadic rate."
"Rogue, I suggest you keep our dear guest in the Living Room." Charles muttered.
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X-Men: Standing Guard
Season 1 Episode Twelve
"Days of Future Past"
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Xavier Institute
March 29, 11:09 EST
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"What do you want, Erik?" Charles asked, wheeling into the kitchen.
"Merely your help, old friend." Magneto replied, taking off his hat and looking at Charles.
"With what?"
Erik took a deep breath. "Mystique has been taken captive, by Kelly."
"Mystique?" Charles asked.
"Ah, yes, my contact in the international underworld when I was working for MI-6." Erik replied. "She is a shape-shifter and was posing as Kelly's secretary."
Recognition flickered over Charles' face.
"What do you want my help for?" Charles asked.
"I need your help freeing her." Erik replied.
Charles stared at him. Erik had rarely asked Charles for help before, when they were friends, now he was asking Charles as an enemy. This opened a new line of thought in Charles' head. What if this was a trap? He doubted Erik would hurt him and the X-Men, but he did believe Erik would detain them long enough for some plan of his to be carried out. Charles wanted to trust, Erik, but he knew better than to.
"Erik," Charles said. "I can't help you."
This was obviously not the answer Erik was expecting or wanting. "What?" he asked.
"Erik, you and I, we are at war. The last time we spoke, you swore we'd find ourselves on opposite sides of the battlefield. I'm sorry but I can not trust you. Not now."
Erik just stared at him. "Charles…" he pleaded.
The door to the kitchen open and Rogue was pushed in by McCoy, despite her best efforts to keep him out.
"It's the leftovers from breakfast, Rogue. It's not that big of a deal." McCoy said dimly.
Erik smiled. "Ah! Mr. McCoy. It's a pleasure to see you back on two feet."
"You." McCoy growled with an animal-like ferocity, leaping at Magneto. Erik dodged to the side and McCoy landed on all fours, growling rabidly.
"Hank!" Charles exclaimed. "Stand down!"
"He's the one who did this to me!" McCoy growled, a rumbling undertone to his speech.
"I understand, Hank, but now is neither the place nor time."
Hank growled but sat down on his hind legs, glaring at Erik.
"Erik was just leaving." Charles said slowly and firmly.
Erik smiled kindly and put his hat back on. "You should have helped me when you had the chance, Charles. Now the humans are going to feel pain like never before!"
Erik tipped his hat and walked out of the kitchen. The front door opened, closed, and silence filled the kitchen.
"Feel pain like never before?" Rogue asked. "That's the best evil line he could come up with?"
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Undisclosed Location
Weapon X Project
March 29, 12:03 EST
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Mystique's screams echoed throughout the empty chamber as electricity surged through her body. It stopped and she gasped, breathing heavily. The doors at the far end of the room hissed open and three men walked in.
Mystique recognized all of them. The man on the left was the lead scientist and the man on the right was his assistant. The man leading them was Secretary of Defense William Stryker. He was in his full uniform, his blonde hair shaved down to a military-standard buzz cut. The three walked up to where the blue-skinned mutant was being held, looking down on her with distaste. She glared and spat at them, retaining some of her strength even though most of it had been drained by the torture.
"Do you have what you need from her?" Stryker asked.
"Yes, sir." The scientist replied.
"Good," Stryker returned. "Kill her."
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Iceberg M
March 29, 12:07 EST
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"I asked Charles for his assistance, but he refused. So we're doing this alone." Magneto said, attaching his cape to his shoulders. "We get in, we rescue Mystique, and we get out."
Pyro, Quicksilver, and the recently released Havok all nodded.
"Kill as many humans as you want, but do not let it hold you back. I will leave you there." Magneto added.
Pyro grinned. "A'right! Let's do this!"
Magneto nodded and turned around, slipping on his helmet. "Blink," he gestured.
Blink nodded and plunged her spear into the wall. A purple portal opened and the four mutants walked through into an empty hallway. They rounded a corner and two guards pulled their rifles, fingers on the trigger, but Havok shot both of them with destructive waves of energy and they fell to the ground with large, gaping, smoking holes where their hearts had been.
The four mutants continued to the end of the hallway where two more guards stood. Pyro cackled and formed two handguns with his flame-throwers, firing bullets of pure heat at the men, downing them as well. Magneto held up a hand, and without breaking stride, blew the door inwards and across the room. A dozen soldiers glanced up.
"My turn," Pietro grinned, speeding around and taking down all of the guards. Magneto, spotting a familiar blue form on an operating table, ran forward and looked at her. Mystique was silent, her eyes wide, the black-on-yellow orbs staring lifelessly into the sky. Erik touched her gently.
"Raven," he whispered. "Raven, it's me. It's Erik. Erik Lenscherr."
The blue female didn't move. The other mutants crowded around. Erik put his hand on her cheek gently and took a deep, shaky breath. The Master of Magnetism was too hardened to cry about much, but Raven's death hit close to home. This was personal.
Erik pulled off his cape and laid it over the female's body, covering her with it. He picked her lifeless limbs up in his arms and ordered a portal. The four mutants walked through back into the empty control room. Magneto laid Mystique carefully on the floor and kneeled next to her. Everyone stood in silence around their leader for a moment. It was Pietro who finally broke silence:
"So what now?" he asked.
Magneto looked up, tears brimming in his eye. "Now Kelly pays…with his life."
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Washington, D.C.
March 29, 13:00 EST
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The day was warm for March, temperatures in the upper seventies. The sky was blue, but dark storm clouds were on the horizon. The humidity in the air was rising and many people were already breaking into a premature sweat. There was a small, gentle wind. It blew gently into the faces of the crowd.
The stage was small and quaint. It was white, only about ten yards long and half as deep. It stood three feet off of the ground. Red, white, and blue banners hung from an invisible wall. The American Flag was strung up the pole behind the center of the stage. A line of a dozen Sentinels stood behind the stage. They were deactivated, their red-purple armor plates glinting in the fast fading sunlight.
The audience was small, only a hundred people or so were there, all dressed in smart suits and luscious dresses. They were mostly reporters, though some government officials as well were in attendance. They waited impatiently in there soft chairs, glancing worryingly at the dark clouds fast approaching.
The speech newly sworn-in President of the United States Robert Kelly gave was of appropriate length, addressing former President McCoy's disappearance appropriately, including an appropriate amount of facts to give the reporters something appropriate to write about. Then Kelly moved on to the inauguration section of his speech. In this he promised to secure peace, justice, and happiness for the generation in attendance and their posterity. He made bold statements, promising to stand firmly by his beliefs and those of his country. He was nothing but a simple American, he stated, and would continue to be so in the Presidency.
Finally, Kelly moved to the part of the speech everyone knew was coming. Blaming mutant terrorist Magneto for the abduction of President McCoy, Kelly swore vengeance on the terrorists, stating he would use the forces of not only this country, but demanded that all of America's allies assist in the search and detainment of these mutant criminals. Kelly took his vendetta a step further. Kelly stated that mutants must register their name, DNA, residence, family members, and powers with the United States government or be considered a terrorist and locked up. Kelly added that if you had nothing to hide, you had nothing to lose from agreeing to his terms.
Then the shot rang out. Kelly froze, his hand waving at the de-activated Sentinels. Secret Service agents reacted quickly, tackling Kelly to the ground and forming a protective barrier around him. Military officers, previously unseen, swooped in, trying to identify the shooter. The audience panicked, screaming and running for an exit, but were ordered to stay where they were by military officers.
There was no need to look for the shooter. He made himself seen by everyone on the planet.
Magneto and his Brotherhood rose above all others, and showered hell down upon the humans.
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Triskelion
March 29, 13:07 EST
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"Delta-Alpha Protocol 135! I want all available units at the press conference now!"
"Scramble fighter jets and ground troops!"
"Lock down the Capitol! No one in or out until Director Fury gives the order!"
"All units, this is mother bird, you have permission to use deadly force on anyone you consider a threat."
"Hill!" Fury shouted over the noise in the main control room. "Get the Heli-Carriers in the air and contain this situation now!"
"Yes, sir." Hill replied, darting for the door, snapping orders as she went.
"What is the President's condition?" Fury demanded.
"Unknown, sir!"
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Washington, D.C.
March 29, 13:07 EST
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Magneto's forces continued massacring humans. They didn't limit themselves to the press conference, either. The Brotherhood of Mutants spread out over the entire city, killing people, destroying buildings, cars, and other pieces of property. Somewhere in the distance, something boomed and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carriers rose out of the water of the Potomac. Three magnificent, beautiful, and very dangerous platforms flew into the air, blue fire flowing from their engines. They were too far away and too large for Magneto to manipulate, but it would take a solid five minutes for them to make it all the way to his location and they wouldn't risk firing on the President who was forced to lie where he was for fear of complete incineration.
Nick Fury wasn't without a plan, however. At the signal, seven dozen new QuinJets, freshly fueled and loaded with ammunition, took off from the dual decks on the Heli-Carriers, flying at breathtaking speeds towards the mutants.
Fury had ordered that the Sentinel mutant-identifying program be given to S.H.I.E.L.D. so that they could develop a counter to it. However, under the circumstances, Fury had given the order for the mutant-identifying system to be loaded onto the QuinJets' computers and targeting systems. Not only that, the same program was uploading into the Heli-Carriers' targeting systems. Any mutant within a twenty mile radius of a Heli-Carrier was a target. Shoot first, ask questions later.
The QuinJets raced at Magneto, Havok, and Blink. They fired rockets, the targeting systems aiming only at the mutants. Blink opened a portal, however, and redirected the rockets to take down the first squadron of jets. The next jets that flew overhead fired bullets, but Magneto raised a magnetic shield, stopping the bullets in mid-air. Havok stepped up and fired beams of pure energy from his chest and arms, downing planes, sending them crashing into the streets, killing more people.
The final three squadrons of QuinJets rushed at the three mutants from all sides, firing. Magneto ignored the magnetic shield this time, instead closing his eyes and summoning as much power as he could. With a large wave from his hand, the jets re-directed themselves and flew into each other. Massive explosions ensued, debris and fire raining down like hell on top of Washington, D.C.
The Heli-Carriers were moving into the fight now. Fury knew that the ships were too big for Magneto to control, so he wasn't shy about moving in close to the mutants. The Heli-Carriers guns lowered, spun and hummed, then opened fire, spraying bullets at mutants. Havok screamed as he felt bullets riddle his chest while Erik raised a shield once more to protect himself and Blink, but he was having difficulty keeping the shield up. Other mutants, and some humans, fell in the streets.
"We have to go!" Blink yelled, her red hair falling into her eyes.
"No!" Magneto yelled. "They can not fight!"
Magneto grabbed a jet, keeping the shield up, and tossed it at the battery aiming at them. The plane hurled itself at the Heli-Carrier and disappeared into a bloom of fire, taking out the Heli-Carrier gun.
In the distance, a black speck appeared, rocketing at great speeds towards the Capitol. The Blackbird whizzed past the Heli-Carrier IN-01 bridge with a sound like a thousand hooves of thunder.
"Keep your fire off of that jet and its occupants!" Fury yelled.
"Sir! They're mutants!"
"I said hold your damn fire!"
"We can't! The system is targeting them!"
"Disable it!"
"If we do, we might hit civilians, the President, anyone!"
"Do it!"
"Council Override 31-2-Beta-8." A male voice came over the speakers. "Director Fury no longer has the proper authority to disable the mutant-targeting system. You will leave it fully operational until such time as we decide it is of no use to us."
"Coucilman!" Fury yelled.
"Good day, Director Fury." The voice responded.
Fury turned to the tech assistant. "You shut that damn program down!"
"Sorry, sir." The tech replied. "I have my orders."
"Well given that they're stupid-ass orders—" Fury pulled out his gun and opened fire on the control panel. "—I elected to ignore 'em."
"That won't stop it!" Hill exclaimed over the comm systems. "I just tried the same thing!"
"Well how the hell do we shut the system down?"
"We don't!" Hill replied. "Not without shutting down the Heli-Carriers, which we don't have access to do anymore. Only Pierce does!"
"Shit!" Fury exclaimed. He turned to the tech once more. "Can I still make a damn phone-call?"
The tech nodded nervously, eyeing the gun in Fury's hand. Fury pulled up a communication screen.
"X!" he exclaimed.
"Director Fury, if you would be as kind as to cease fire on our vessel—" Charles began, but he was cut off by Fury.
"I can't! My orders have been overridden and I've tried everything! You need to get your students out of here! This is a battle and they are not soldiers!"
"Not all of them." Charles agreed. "But they are X-Men. And we will stand guard against any threat, human or mutant."
"I admire your bravery, Charles—" the line went static.
"That dumb ass mother fucking son of a bitch is going to get himself killed…" Fury cursed. "Hill, keep searching for a way to turn off the damn tracking software! You find it, you do it!"
The Blackbird landed on the battlefield, the ramp lowering, X-Men running out in full battle mode. Magma and Sunspot were in full-on fire mode, Iceman had turned himself into a crystalline piece of ice, skating around on a wave of frozen water, firing bursts at Magneto and his Acolytes. Wolfsbane was in full on were-wolf form, ripping through human soldiers' weapons like they were tin-foil. Scott fired beams of heat at Magneto and Jean threw pieces of debris at the Heli-Carriers. Not everyone was here. Charles had ordered that Banshee, Pixie, and some of the younger students remain with Rogue to keep safe.
Lorna growled upon seeing her father and threw an entire jet at him. Magneto caught it, with some difficulty, and tossed it at the Heli-Carrier.
"I do not want to fight you, Lorna." Magneto called. "You are my daughter! You should be by my side!"
"I am not your daughter!" Lorna yelled, her hair catching fire; green flames rippling over her body as her full power was unleashed. "And you are not my father!"
The Heli-Carrier shook and started a slow descent toward Magneto. Now he was surprised. Not even he, with all of his power, could move the Heli-Carrier. Granted, the Heli-Carrier was moving slow, but it was still an impressive show. Magneto darted to the side, the Heli-Carrier following.
"Xavier!" Fury yelled. "Keep your girl under control!" Things slid past him towards the front window of the Heli-Carrier.
"Lorna!" Charles called.
"Not now, old man!" Lorna exclaimed, raising one hand and pushing Xavier's wheelchair to the side.
"Lorna! You're going to kill all of us!" Charles exclaimed.
Lorna blinked, relinquishing her hold on the Heli-Carrier. S.H.I.E.L.D. crews worked desperately to level out the flying fortress, succeeding, but barely. The top of the dome on the Capitol Building was crushed as the Heli-Carrier leveled out.
The guns on IN-01 had stopped firing to redirect power to the engines. IN-03 took care of the responsibility and opened fire on the X-Men. A bullet went right through Iceman's chest and he grimaced, replacing it with more ice. Magma rushed towards him and fired a ball of pure heat at the gun, disabling it. Two more guns aimed at her, determining her a valid threat, and opened fire. Jean stepped between the bullets and the couple, raising a telekinetic shield.
"Go! Now!" she gasped.
Magma and Iceman darted away, but without the assistance of the Phoenix, Jean wasn't strong enough. Scott yelled in horror as he watched his fiancé fall to the ground. He yelled and ripped off his visor, blowing multiple guns off of the Heli-Carrier and damaging it, the shields dropping drastically.
X-23 was on the verge of death even she couldn't recover from, Kitty was wounded, as were Squid and Rahne. Charles saw the purple Sentinels coming online in the distance.
"We need to retreat!" Charles exclaimed. "Hank! Get the Blackbird in the air!"
Mutants ran onto the jet, all except Scott, who continued screaming and burning the IN-03 Heli-Carrier out of the sky. An engine gave out and the Heli-Carrier choked in the air. Sentinels fired at him and Lorna raised a shield, stepping in front of him.
"Scott!" she yelled. "Now!"
Scott slipped his visor back on and darted onto the jet, continuing to fire beams of energy until the ramp closed and the Blackbird darted off into the distance, QuinJets at first following, but then ordered back. Magneto seemed to have the same idea as Charles as portals collected his troops.
This battle was over, but the war had only just begun.
-
St. Elizabeth's Hospital
Washington, D.C.
March 29, 14:05 EST
-
Vice President Trask, several dozen secret service agents, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and other armed personnel stood outside of the operating room. Nick Fury was there as well, keeping an eye on the situation**. Things were about to get very bad for mutants, whether Kelly lived or not.
A doctor finally emerged and shook his head.
Trask turned around and walked off.
"Where are you going, Mr. Trask?" Fury asked.
"That is Mr. President to you, Fury." Trask replied. "And I'm going to hunt down every single mutant responsible and execute them."
"That is Director Fury to you, Mr. President." Fury replied. "And I advise against that move."
"Well you aren't the Commander-in-Chief, are you?" Trask snapped.
"No, but I certainly as hell don't have to follow your orders."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is a part of the United States government—"
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is a separate entity." Fury corrected. "A part of the World Security Council. Now I suggest some serious consideration on this matter, because if you kill one mutant without a fair trial, I'm arresting you for crimes against humanity."
"Your threats are empty, Director Fury." Trask smiled. "Get the hell out of my country, separate entity."
"With pleasure." Fury responded bitterly.
Trask stalked off one way, Fury the other.
-
S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier
March 29, 14:12 EST
-
"Director on Deck!"
Fury walked onto the deck of the Heli-Carrier, trench-coat billowing in his wake. His hair was messy, his face pale, making the scar over his eye stand out even more. He looked upset.
"Contact the Xavier Institute, now! Priority Alpha-Omega." Fury ordered.
"Sir, I'm not authorized to." A technician replied back.
"What the hell do you mean, you're not authorized to?" Fury demanded. "I'm the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., I give the authorization, make the damn call!"
"No, not anymore you're not." A new, female voice replied.
Fury turned sharply, glaring at the new presence. A tall female figure had walked on board. She wore a uniform similar to Fury's, except stylized in shades of green and more feminine, hugging her curves. Her hair and eyes were a dark, lifeless green. Half a dozen soldier stood behind her, armed rather heavily to be on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier bridge.
"Who the hell are you?" Fury demanded.
"Newly appointed Director of S.H.I.E.L.D." The woman replied. "My name is Merriem Drew."
"Get off my ship." Fury growled.
"No, Nicholas," Fury narrowed his eye. "Not your ship, mine. You will leave peacefully or be escorted out with force. Please do not embarrass yourself by choosing the latter."
She spoke with a German accent. Fury stared at her, studying her.
"In the case of my removal as Director, Assistant Director Hill takes over." Fury gestured.
"Unless the World Security Council has already appointed a new Director, which then gives me rights to choose my own Assistant Director." Drew replied. "Unfortunately, Maria Hill had to be…removed by force. I sincerely hope you do not choose the same path."
Fury glared and stormed towards the doors. Drew smiled and walked up to the command key-board, letting it read her DNA.
"Move this Heli-Carrier to Westchester, New York and prepare all cannons to fire on my mark. Prepare to scramble fighter jets—"
"That's the Xavier Institute!" Fury exclaimed. "You can't do that!"
"I can," Drew said, gesturing at the Director's shield. "And I am."
"No, you're not." Fury growled. "Those are innocent children down there! You can't just massacre them!"
"Mutants, Fury, and yes I am."
Fury stared at her blankly. He turned to the rest on the bridge and looked at them.
"I may not be Director right now, but I'm asking you not to do this." Fury said. "Consider what you're doing! These are children! We've fought alongside these people to save the world, democracy, and so much more!"
"That was the old order." Drew replied. "This is the New Vorld Order!"
Fury growled and pulled his gun, pointing it at Drew. Her guards pulled up their assault rifles and aimed them at the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Other members of the Heli-Carrier bridge crew pulled out pistols, aiming them at the guards. Drew looked at Fury and laughed.
"Vhat are you going to do, Fury?" she demanded. "Shoot the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. right here on the bridge of the Heli-Carrier?"
"I might." Fury growled.
"No, you're not." Drew replied simply. She turned to the crew. "For those of you who have received training from Agent Sitwell's division: Out of the Shadows, Into the Light."
Several soldiers turned their guns from the guards to Fury. Fury looked around.
"What the hell did you do to my crew?" He demanded, lowly. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Drew moved lightning fast, snatching the pistol from Fury's hand, twisting his wrist, and digging her sharp, claw-like fingernails into his heart. He gasped in pain and stared at her. "Hail HYDRA."
Fury collapsed to the floor, lifeless. Merriem grinned and licked the blood carefully off of her fingernails, already retracting into her skin. "Who else wishes to follow suit?"
Silence and absolute stillness on the bridge. Then several technicians made a move at once, as if on an unspoken order, and darted for weapons. They were gunned down.
"Hail HYDRA." Drew repeated. The bridge of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier echoed back: "Hail HYDRA!"
-
Iceberg M
March 29, 14:13 EST
-
Magneto watched as Mystique's body burned. She had asked for an honorable burial if she ever met her Maker, back when she was an informant and he was a field agent. He had honored her one last time, cremating her body. He and several others watched as the blue body turned slowly to ash.
Pietro burst into the room, skidding to a stop.
"Pietro!" Magneto snapped sharply.
Pietro said something so fast it sounded like a hum.
"Slow down, you miserable fool!" Wanda snapped, too. "What?"
"Jets!" Pietro gasped out. "Fighter jets! And a Heli-Carrier!"
Magneto glanced at Wanda.
"They found us!"
-
S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier
March 29, 14:14 EST
-
Rogue walked down the hallways of the Heli-Carrier. She had been surprised at the sudden movement of the Heli-Carrier a few minutes before. Fury had called and asked her to meet with him about something, but she hadn't expected the ship to begin moving. Wherever they were going, they were heading there fast. Rogue had even seen another Heli-Carrier departing, going northeast. She had no clue what was going on. Perhaps she was being called in, out from undercover. That seemed awfully strange though, surely Fury would want her closer to X-23 right now.
The door to the bridge of the Heli-Carrier opened and Rogue had to shield her eyes from the bright glare of the sunshine, glinting through the large window. Two guards blocked her way.
"Move." She ordered them.
"Identification." One replied.
Rogue hadn't seen these guards before. They wore masks that reminded her of a skull, which was strange within itself. She sighed. "Where's Director Fury? He called me here."
"Did he?" a female voice asked. Merriem Drew approached the guards and Rogue with a sinister smile. This woman gave Rogue the chills. "Who might you be? Too young to be his wife…I didn't believe Fury had any children…"
"It doesn't matter who I am." Rogue replied sourly. "Where's Fury?"
"Former Director Fury is indisposed. I am the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Whatever you want, you can discuss it with me."
"Fury only. At least tell me where he went."
"Classified." Drew replied with a sweet smile.
"Classified?" Rogue demanded. "Lemme tell you a little somethin' about classified, sugah—"
Rogue stopped and glanced past her. The Xavier Institute was coming up in the distance. War protocols were splashed on the screen. Technicians were running about powering up batteries, guns, and preparing to launch squadrons of QuinJets.
"What the hell?" Rogue whispered. Someone was dragging a body off of the bridge. Black trench-coat, black eye-patch. Rogue gasped, took one look at Drew, and ran.
"Kill her." Drew ordered casually.
The soldiers brought up their weapons and fired. Rogue gasped as she felt bullets sting her right shoulder and leg. She turned a corner and kept running, cringing in pain. She knew she wasn't going to make it off of the Heli-Carrier alive. She was just delaying the inevitable. Hopefully, just enough. She pulled out her phone and dialed the number of the one person she knew would answer.
"Rogue?" Kitty asked, answering her phone.
"Get everyone out! Right now!" Rogue gasped, bullets spraying past her. She turned one corner, saw more soldiers, and skidded to a stop, ducking around another hallway.
"What?" Kitty asked, taken aback.
"Fury is dead! S.H.I.E.L.D. is about to destroy the Institute! Get everyone-!"
Bullets riddled the red-head's body and she fell lifeless to the floor, her phone sliding from her hand, her eyes staring lifelessly at the cold steel.
"Thirty seconds until firing." One technician shouted.
-
Xavier Institute
March 29: 14:15 EST
-
"Professor!" Kitty yelled, darting into his private office. Lorna and Charles stared at her, startled.
"Kitty, what is it?" Charles asked. "You know not to barge in without—"
"Rogue just called me! She said Director Fury was dead and the S.H.I.E.L.D. was about to destroy the Institute! Then she just…stopped!"
"That is preposterous, Kitty." Xavier said. "Why would S.H.I.E.L.D.—"
"Professor!" Iceman exclaimed, bursting in behind Kitty. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is here! They look angry, too!"
Charles realized very quickly what was happening. He turned to Lorna. "Get everyone out, get them away from the Institute, as far away as possible!"
"Where?" Lorna asked.
"I'm afraid that is up to you, my dear. Go, now!"
Charles touched his head and sent out a telepathic message to everyone within range.
'Attention students, S.H.I.E.L.D. has fallen! The Heli-Carrier outside is preparing to open fire on the Institute. Everyone will proceed to the Dark Room and use the secret tunnel installed there to exit the Institute. Lorna is in charge. This is not a drill. This is real.'
-
"Ma'am," one technician shouted. "We're picking up high amounts of telepathic energy coming from the Institute!"
"It looks like that girl did her damage." Drew cursed. "Are all batteries ready to fire?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good," Drew replied. "You may fire when ready!"
-
The first blast hit the Institute like a rock, shattering the front windows and blowing a gaping hole in the front lawn. More blasts hit the Institute, knocking down the wall to the Institute's library. McCoy, who had already been on his way out, was buried alive.
Xavier was wheeling from his room as quickly as possible. Lorna had already gathered many of the mutants downstairs in the Dark Room. Debris fell around her, but she held up pieces of rubble with her powers. She spotted Xavier rolling towards her. Two pieces of debris fell. One was about to fall on Pixie and Banshee, the other on Xavier. She couldn't stop them both. Biting her lip, Lorna turned and levitated the piece over the children.
Charles wasn't dead yet. Scott, still grieving, had stuck close to the Professor's side, and blasted the rock into gravel.
"Come on, Professor!" Lorna shouted.
A large piece of the roof fell between them.
"I'm sorry, Lorna. It looks like you will have to carry on without me." Charles smiled.
"Professor!"
"Go! Now!"
A piece of rubble struck Scott on the head and he fell to the ground unconscious. Charles smiled, a tear flowing from his eye as he locked his gaze with Lorna's. The roof collapsed and Charles Xavier disappeared. Lorna stared in horror for a moment before running down into the Dark Room, sealing the large, thick metal doors. The metal trap-door on the other side of the room was open, Pixie, and Banshee stood by it.
"Where's the Professor?" Banshee asked as Lorna ran up.
"In the tunnel! Now!" Lorna ordered.
"What about Professor Xavier!" Banshee asked.
"Now!" Lorna snapped as grout from the ceiling trickled down onto them.
Banshee stared at her, but ducked into the tunnel. After making sure everyone was inside, Lorna entered, whispered a good-bye, and shut the door firmly behind them.
-
White House
Washington, D.C.
March 29: 21:09 EST
-
Television screens showed the giant mushroom cloud over and over again. Others showed the Heli-Carriers merciless bombing of the magnificent Xavier Institute. People were in shock. Yes, they had lost two Presidents in half as many weeks, but they had not expected newly sworn in President Bolivar Trask to launch an all-out genocide on the mutants. Many weren't sure what to think of this rapid change. Trask wanted to keep it that way. The less people thought about the situation, the better for his PR. He turned to one news channel where a reporter was criticizing the President's actions. He couldn't have this. Not now.
"Have her arrested and institute Martial Law." Trask ordered. "We're at war, gentlemen."
Two men nodded and left the dark room. Trask smiled. "Have the next batch of Sentinels ready for deployment in three days' time."
"We're going to find every last mutant on the planet and wipe them out."
-
Island of Genosha
March 31, 22:08 EST
-
"How do we know this is not a trap?" X asked, creeping along the wet, mossy stones of the underground pathway. The X-Men were at least fifty feet beneath the soaking surface of Genosha. Lorna had received a call from someone claiming to be Wanda Maximoff and, seeing no other choice, had decided to cross the Atlantic by hijacking a ship and trekking across the African continent. It had taken them two days. They were all hungry and tired, ready to quit. The Institute was ruined, everyone on the face of the Earth was out to destroy them, and their spirits were lower than they had ever been. Lorna kept them strong, though; she kept them going.
"We don't." Lorna replied, keeping her hand to the wall and using her powers to look for large traces of metal like a cluster of soldiers. She had sensed nothing so far.
X nodded and took a shaky breath. The dark-haired soldier had taken an extreme step back when she learned of Rogue's death. It had literally taken Lorna controlling the metal in her body to keep X from charging at S.H.I.E.L.D. that instant. It had taken convincing, but Lorna had managed to keep X with them. Right now, she was one of their best hopes at survival.
"Shh!" Amara whispered. Everyone stopped and listened. Splashing could be heard in the distance. It came closer and closer. Every mutant activated their powers, Bobby coating himself in ice, Amara and Roberto turning to pillars of flame.
Wanda emerged from the shadows, her red cloak floating behind her in the water. She was accompanied by Havok and Blink. Dark circles hung beneath her eyes, her red outfit was ripped, worn, and muddy. She seemed exhausted.
"Lorna." She greeted, hugging her half-sister. "Thank you for coming."
Lorna wasn't quite sure how to react and Wanda pulled off.
"We managed to evacuate what few mutants we could from the Iceberg before Trask came in and nuked us."
This took the X-Men by surprise. They had known that Magneto's fortress had been hit, but they had no idea Trask had nuked it!
"You didn't know that?" Wanda asked, drawing her conclusion from the look on their faces.
"No," Lorna replied. "We came as soon as we heard your call. We didn't have an opportunity to glance at a television."
"Hey!" Iceman interrupted. "No offense, but where's Magneto?"
Wanda closed her eyes.
"No," Lorna gasped. "How?"
"He tried to stop the missile." Wanda replied. "Obviously, it didn't work."
The two parties stood there and let the news settle in. Then Wanda spoke again.
"Come, let us get into the main lair."
"No offense," Amara replied, stopping the X-Men who had already started moving in their tracks. "But why the hell should we trust you?"
"Yeah!" Kitty exclaimed. "You abandoned us! You're the ones that put us in this mess! Now you want our help?"
Other mutants protested, but Lorna held up her arms and silenced them. She turned to her sister and tilted her head at her. "Let's give Wanda a chance to respond."
Wanda looked at the sewage water and imagined that was what her soul looked like.
"When I decided to leave the Xavier Institute, I was foolish. I thought that I was justified in anything I did to humans because of what humans had done to me. I thought I knew what it felt like to be on the receiving hand of a witch-hunt—" At this pun she smiled slightly, then returned to her dialogue. "But I had no idea what it was truly like. I had no idea what kind of damage I was causing, what I was doing. There's a quote in the Bible that says you reap what you sow, but I didn't take it seriously. Now I do."
Wanda looked at them. "I am truly sorry for the mess that I have put you in. If I could take it back, I swear I would. And if—"
"When." Lorna corrected.
Wanda smiled at this little piece of optimism. Lorna was so much like her, and yet not. She regretted not knowing their relationship until recently.
"When we get out of this, I will strive to be a better leader than my father. I will seek peace between our species, I will work with both humans and mutants to find common ground for us to stand on. I will fix this."
A wave of reassuring washed over those present. Wanda extended her hand and Lorna took it, shaking it. The mutants walked towards the open door, following Wanda. Havok placed a hand on Lorna's shoulder and the two waited until the rest had passed.
"Lorna, I—"
"I don't want to hear it." Lorna replied harshly. "You should have said something when you had the chance. Instead you treated me like a toy, something to mess around with as it suited you, not taking into consideration my feelings. You have no idea how much you hurt me. I only hope I can show you that much pain one day."
Havok looked down. Lorna started to walk off when Havok called after her.
"Scott! Is…he…"
Lorna stopped, keeping her eyes straight-forward. "He's dead. As are Jean and Charles."
-
World Security Council
April 23, 17:46 EST
Three Weeks Later
-
"Gentlemen, the simple fact is this: mutants are a threat." Trask said, holding his arms wide as if asking for an embrace, or showing he meant no harm.
"This is genocide, Mr. Trask, and I'll have no part in it!" the Russian President exclaimed.
"You do many controversial things, when the rest of the world stands behind me, you'll—"
"Not give a damn." The Russian President replied. "Come to think of it, when has Russia ever given a damn what the rest of the world thinks?"
Trask frowned. "So I can't count you in, Mr. President?"
"No." he replied, cutting off his video transmission.
There was slightly stunned silence around the diplomatic table.
"Well, I guess that just leaves you gentlemen." Trask said. "I say we put it to a vote: will you allow my Sentinels to hunt the mutants in your countries? All in favor?"
Unanimous.
"Good," Trask grinned. "Good."
-
Ruins of the Kremlin
May 4, 22:09 UTC
Three Years Later
-
Amara collapsed to her knees next to the pool of water, dipping her hands in to drink it, but they were quickly slapped away by Lorna.
"Hey!"
"We have to test the water to see if it's poisonous." Lorna said sternly.
"I don't give a crap if it's poisonous, I need something to drink! We haven't had water in two days, Lorna!" Amara exclaimed.
"Well you at least get to live another day if this is poisoned." Lorna replied back, dipping the stick into the water. "It's fresh. Store as much as you can, then drink as much as you want. We'll try and stay here for tonight."
The dwindling band of mutants darted towards the pool of water, filling up their individual canteens to the brim before pushing their face into the water and gulping it down. Lorna stood back and watched. Squid walked up next to her. "Not going to drink?"
"I will when the rest are done." Lorna replied, arms folded over her chest as she watched the others gulp down the water. "What about you? You need extra water just to survive."
"I'll get some in a minute." Squid replied. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Me? I'm fine." Lorna replied. She pushed a strand of her dirty green hair out of her face and glanced at him. "Why are you so worried about me?"
Squid smiled gently. "I've always been worried about you, seaweed."
Lorna returned the smile and glanced at her feet. "Go get some water, ink-face."
Squid smiled and extended a hand. "Only if you come."
Lorna smiled again and took his hand, heading to the water fountain.
-
"How's it coming, Forge?" Lorna asked.
"Almost done." The Hispanic replied.
"That's what you've been saying for the past two weeks." Lorna replied crossly.
"Yeah, that's what you get when we have to move every twelve hours, chica."
"I don't have to remind you how important this is."
"No, you don't. I know perfectly well what I'm building and what it's going to be used for."
"Well finish it!"
"I'm trying!"
"Not hard enough!"
"You try and amplify one mutant's powers! Then another! Now mix their powers! This is a prototype, we only get one shot at this, and I have no clue if it's going to work or not! Consiga suspantalonesdeun grupo, señora!"
"What about my pants?" Lorna demanded.
"Hey, hey!" Kurt exclaimed, walking in. "Calm down you two!"
Lorna sighed and left the room.
"What's her problema?" Forge demanded.
"She's stressed out." Kurt replied. "She's trying to save our species, she's trying to keep zis ragtag group together, and she's dealing wiz her own problems. She's under a lot of stress."
"Well you can go tell her I'm done. I think. I'd like to run beta tests—"
"No time," Kurt interrupted. He darted into the hallway while Forge meddled with a few things, then came back in with Kitty and Lorna.
"You did it?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied. "It should work. Maybe a test run into, say, a day in the past?"
"We don't know if the machine will last more than one trip, or how much it will drain their powers. We have to act now." Lorna replied.
Something boomed outside. The four mutants glanced at the ceiling.
"Sentinels." Lorna breathed. She turned to Kurt and Kitty. "Use the device, go into the past, undo my father's mistake, change this…"
She took a deep breath. "Save us all."
The building shook again. Forge gestured for the two mutants to come over to him. They did, strapping themselves to the machine while Forge began calculations.
"Lorna!" Amara gasped, running in the doorway. "Sentinels!"
"I know." Lorna replied, continuing to watch as Forge fiddled with several buttons and calculations, typing frantically on his laptop.
"Aren't we going to do something?" Amara demanded.
"No," Lorna replied. "We can't run anymore. They'll find us. This is our last chance."
"What is that?" X asked, darting in the doorway next to Amara.
"It's going to take them into the past, to end this war before it ever begins." Lorna replied.
Something in the other room exploded and the sounds of fighting came echoing into the room.
"They're dying!" Amara exclaimed. "We have to do something!"
"We can't!" Lorna replied.
The sounds of battle came ever-closer. "Forge!"
"Done! Ready when you guys are! Now here's how it works:"
"Not enough time!" Lorna warned.
"Basically, then." Forge grinned. "When one of you uses your powers, it triggers the other's power. So when Kitty goes through time to the assassination, Kurt will teleport. Kitty only needs to focus on the time and Kurt on the location. The machine does the rest.
A mutant flew through the wall and past those standing there. X darted out, claws extended, and ran at the Sentinels.
"Vell," Kurt said. "One small step for blue, furry men…"
"One giant leap for mutantkind!" Kitty finished. "Warp speed, Captain!"
"Geeks," Amara snorted.
A Sentinel peeked inside the room and reached for Amara, who turned blazing red. A bright flash of light slowly filled the room and a loud pop sounded, then Kitty and Kurt were gone.
-
-
Kitty had travelled through time before. Time was however you saw it: some saw it as a swirling vortex, others as a hall of mirrors, showcasing events in history. Kitty saw a clean, white hallway that seemed to stretch on forever in either direction. There were no doors, no lights, only small, yellow windows. On the other side of these windows were little dioramas of events taking place in time. There was no way of determining what was forwards and what was backwards except to travel in one direction or another. Both sides of the hallway were trekked. Time Travel was a messy business.
Kitty normally floated gracefully several paces before ending up an hour or so back in time. The most she had ever gone back in time before was two hours. She had passed out and slept 36 hours straight, too. Kitty had a general idea of where to go because of her mutant ability. There was a small nudge in her mind telling her forward or backwards, like a mental compass.
This time Kitty felt two tugs: a strong one forward, the other slightly backwards. The brunette turned and spotted a girl at the distant end of the hallway. She was wearing red and had red hair. After a second, she disappeared. Kitty shook it out of her mind. That looked like a place where dimensions crossed, and those were very dangerous.
Time Travelling back three years was very sudden. Normally taking a minute to travel one hour at her normal graceful period would have meant travelling for hours in a single direction without losing concentration. This wouldn't be a problem, however, because the moment the two entered the time stream, they were snatched away at high speeds towards the stronger tug in Kitty's mind. Kurt screamed like a little girl as the duo flew down the hallway.
"Don't lose focus!" Kitty exclaimed.
"I'm not used to zis!" Kurt exclaimed.
"Just concentrate! Nothing is going to happen!" Kitty shouted.
Kurt closed his eyes and concentrated hard on Washington, D.C. Kitty continued to focus on the day when Kelly was assassinated by Magneto. The two flew at ever increasing speeds towards the destination, coming to an abrupt stop a few minutes later when Kitty instructed them to. This window was blackened. Kitty leaned over and tried to scrape away some of the dirt and grime on the glass to see what was inside, but she couldn't.
"Vell?" Kurt asked. "Is zis the right place?"
"Dunno. I assume so." Kitty replied. "You still thinking on Washington, D.C.?"
"Yeah," Kurt replied.
"Well then we need to walk through the wall."
"Vhat?!"
"Relax, I've got this." Kitty replied. She closed her eyes, extending her hand gently towards the wall. Using two powers at once was difficult, especially with the drain she had just experienced. She gritted her teeth and held out a hand. Kurt took it and the two phased through the wall into the diorama.
They were in the middle of the park where Kelly was set to give his press conference. For a moment, it appeared as if they were inside a snowglobe, only the edge of the Presidential platform visible at the edge of the dark dome. Then, slowly, the dome drew back, eventually disappearing all together and revealing the stormy clouds.
The device hissed and fizzed and the two let out an exclamation as it sparked. They dropped it to the ground. A few pieces and plates of metal came off and the machine sputtered one more time before dying.
"Shit." Kitty cursed. "Looks like we've only got one shot at this, better not screw it up."
Kurt shuddered and looked around for something.
"What?" Kitty asked.
Kurt ducked behind a bush and puked. He emerged a moment later wiping his mouth. "Sorry, time travel makes me queasy."
Kitty smiled. "What time is it?"
"Dunno, my holo-vatch doesn't tell time." Kurt replied.
Kitty glanced at a passer-by's watch.
"Thirty minutes. We don't have much time. Come on!" Kitty exclaimed, darting towards the podium. Kurt darted after her.
"Hey!" Kitty exclaimed, waving at a Secret Service agent. "Hey!"
The agent turned, reaching inside his jacket suddenly for his gun, but then relaxing when he saw it was only two teenagers.
"What is it, kids?" he asked. "You're not supposed to be here."
"President Kelly's life is in danger!" Kitty exclaimed.
The agent raised an eyebrow.
"Right, and I'm Iron Man."
"No! Seriously!" Kurt exclaimed. "We traveled back through time to prevent Kelly's assassination!" he paused. "That sounded better in my head."
"I'm sure it did." The agent responded, folding his hands over his chest. "Why don't you kids go and mess with some old lady at a crosswalk. I don't have time for this."
"But—"
"And if you mention the President again, I'll have you arrested."
Kitty and Kurt sighed and walked off.
"I can't believe he didn't believe us!" Kurt exclaimed. He scrunched his face. "Is zat proper English?"
Kitty sat down on a park bench. "Well what next?"
The two sat in silence. Kurt perked up. "Vhat about Magneto?" he asked.
"Magneto?"
"Yah! If he's the one who killed Kelly, zen he'll be here any minute now! If ve find him, maybe ve can convince him all of zis is real!"
"Or he'll shoot us on sight…"
"Got a better idea?"
Kitty sighed and shook her head. "No,"
-
Island of Genosha
March 29, 22:08 EST
-
"Lorna." She greeted, hugging her half-sister. "Thank you for coming."
Lorna wasn't quite sure how to react and Wanda pulled off.
"We managed to evacuate what few mutants we could from the Iceberg before Trask came in and nuked us."
This took the X-Men by surprise. They had known that Magneto's fortress had been hit, but they had no idea Trask had nuked it!
"You didn't know that?" Wanda asked, drawing her conclusion from the look on their faces.
"No," Lorna replied. "We came as soon as we heard your call. We didn't have an opportunity—"
Kitty and Kurt popped in, Kurt dropping to the floor in exhaustion.
"What the—you were just right behind us!" Lorna exclaimed, turning to look for Kitty and Kurt behind her.
Wanda, Havok, and Blink immediately took up defensive positions, as did several of the X-Men. Kitty held up her hands.
"Whoah! Whoah!" she exclaimed. "Good guys!"
Everyone slowly lowered their defenses.
"What the hell is going on?" Iceman demanded.
"Bobby!" Kitty sighed, leaping and hugging the Iceman. "God, I've missed you."
"Umm…Kitty?" he asked. "I've been right here the entire time…"
"Oh, um, sorry. It's just in the future, you kinda don't make—"
"The future?" Lorna asked. "What are you talking about Kitty?"
"Don't make what?" Bobby asked. "Don't make it? You mean I die?"
"Ve traveled here from ze future to prevent Kelly's assassination—"
"This is insane. I can't believe you're pranking us right now." Wanda sighed.
"—we tried to convince Kelly's guards, but they wouldn't listen, so we tried to stop Magneto from killing Kelly, but that failed too, so now we're stuck in the same position we were a few days ago."
"Do I die?" Bobby demanded.
"This is nuts!" Wanda exclaimed. "Nobody can believe this, right?"
"Please listen to us! The future of all mankind relies on it!"
-
Sentinel Project
March 29, 22:08 EST
-
"Sir!" a technician exclaimed. "We're picking up mutant activity!"
"Where?" Trask demanded.
"Genosha, sir!"
"Launch the Sentinels!"
-
"Shut up!" Lorna exclaimed.
All noise and conversation stopped.
"Good," Lorna breathed. "Alright, Kitty and Kurt first."
Something exploded above the mutants and they all looked up. Something else exploded and the ceiling creaked.
"What the hell?" Wanda asked.
"I thought you said this island was safe!" Amara exclaimed.
"It is!"
"Well, it sounds like there's a group of dinosaurs romping around up there!" Iceman interjected.
"Romping?" Amara demanded.
"No, not dinosaurs." Lorna whispered. Her eyes widened. "Sentinels!"
"What?" Bobby demanded. "How did they find us?"
Wanda turned harshly towards Kitty and Kurt. "You two buffoons with your stupid time teleporting prank attracted the Sentinels! Now we're all in danger!"
"Wanda, calm down!" Lorna exclaimed. "Blaming people isn't going to help right now! We need to retreat, find somewhere to lay low—"
The ceiling caved in. Three Sentinels descended into the tunnels, cutting off the X-Men from Wanda and her allies. The Sentinels opened fire, bullets streaking through the tunnel. Lorna raised a shield and prevented any bullets from hitting anyone else, but many X-Men were already groaning and clutching various body-parts on the ground, blood mixing with water.
"Wanda!" Lorna exclaimed. "Help!"
Havok fired a beam of energy at a Sentinel and destroyed it. Another turned, opened its chest and fired a beam of energy at the mutants. Wanda leapt out of the way and Blink disappeared into a portal. Havok disappeared with a loud yell.
"Wanda!" Lorna shouted again. "I can't hold them back much longer!"
Wanda looked around desperately as if searching for a weapon, but unable to find one. Lorna fell to one knee, the shield weakening, green cracks appearing in it. Lorna yelled in pain and the shield broke, bullets streaking at the X-Men. Kurt grabbed Kitty and pulled her into a side-tunnel, bullets riddling the opening.
Wanda lost it, going completely insane. She yelled, clutching her head, arching her back and falling to her knees. Red lightning crackled around her, building up as she continued to yell. A small bubble of red energy began to expand from her exposed midriff, slowly building. The Sentinel, having finished with the X-Men in the narrow tunnels, turned and re-directed its gun at Wanda. The gun whirled and hummed, ready to fire. Wanda yelled one final time and the ball of pure energy exploded outwards, incinerating the Sentinel and throwing everyone's bodies around. The world slipped into darkness and everything became absolutely silent.
-
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TO BE CONTINUED!
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*DC has something called the League of Assassins that is similar to this. I couldn't help myself.
**See what I did there? An eye? Okay, not that funny…