"Check again!" Scott screamed over Kurt's shoulder. But the screen showed the same thing. One second Apex was sitting in his cell, a few moments of interference, and then when the screen returned, he was gone.
Scott turned his frustration towards Hank.
"I thought we knew the extent of his powers. How could he have shut down the security system without us knowing about it?"
"He couldn't have. He showed no signatures for any electrical or mechanical mutations." Hank was flipping through his notes for an explanation.
"If all of you have spent enough time trying to figure out how Apex got out of the cage you put him in, can we get to finding him now?" The Mansion had immediately been put into lock down. All younger students either locked their rooms or sent to the nearest safe room. Senior staff and older students patrolled the halls in teams, although no one had seen anything yet.
"And trust me, they won't." Greer was impatient. "You were naive to think a cell built for Sabertooth would hold him anyway. And your even more naive to think you'll be able to find him. Trust me, you won't. He's probably long gone by now." Greer's voice softened near the end. She needed to get out of here and start her own search. She knew she could find him if she had to...
"I don't think we need to worry about that Greer." Xavier turned to Greer who just thumped her tail in response. She was still furious with him for keeping Apex in a cage in the first place. He wasn't some...animal.
"And why is that?"
"Because we are all fairly confident that he won't leave here without you."
Apex had considered numerous methods of escaping his cell and the containment level, but a sudden electrical malfunction was still appreciated and saved him the trouble. Now was the task of locating Tigra and getting as far away from this facility as possible.
Xavier's range was almost incalculable but there were still methods of evading his detection. Of course the further the distance, the better the chances. But first...where were they holding Tigra?
He found all of the hallways in the subterranean levels empty. Likely his escape had triggered some silent alarm within the facility and it's staff. But that was to his advantage. The less mutants he had to avoid the better...he also suspected Tigra would not take his method of their escape well if it included harming her so called, 'friends.' Regardless of their treatment of her.
It was still midday, leaving far too much sunlight to operate as Apex preferred if he had to move to the upper levels to search. Still, he knew where the majority of cameras were located on the main levels of the Mansion from his reconnaissance. But the first place he was headed was for the infirmary they had told him that Tigra was recovering in.
Avoiding some amateur patrols, Apex followed the scent of antiseptic and found the infirmary. Empty...Save for a recovering and unconscious Wolverine.
Damn it.
He had been a fool to believe anything these mutants had told him. Tigra wasn't here. She wasn't 'recovering.'
'Is she even still alive?' Apex felt a slight increase in his own heart rate.
'Stay focused.' Closing his eyes, Apex took a deep breath to calm himself and then his eyes flashed open. Tigra's scent was here...just covered by the odors all infirmaries exude. So she was alive...at least she had been a few minutes ago. But her scent was all mixed up. He doubted he would be able to track her that way.
But if Tigra wasn't here...where was she?
...
"Where is he?" Greer wanted to shout. The Professor had assured Greer that his theory was right, that Apex was indeed still somewhere on the grounds. It had taken some convincing, particularly from Ororo and Jean describing what had been going on over the last couple of days, for Greer to believe that Apex was indeed likely trying to find her and not already miles away.
"Greer, if you're right and Apex won't let us find him if he doesn't want us to, then we need to do the next best thing: let him find you." So it was that reasoning that led Greer to be standing in the neglected barn at the edge of the grounds.
Everyone had agreed that no matter what happened, it should happen away from the students still locked down in the Mansion. Ororo, who stood along with Xavier next to Greer, used a gentle gust and blew Greer's scent from the barn and throughout the Mansion.
"Now what?" Greer felt like an idiot. She was standing around when she should be out looking. A few more minutes passed and Greer lost her little amount of patience.
"That's it. I'm leaving." Greer moved towards the door but Ororo grabbed her arm.
"Greer, wait. We need to -"
Apex dropped down from the rafters of the barn just in front of Greer with a dull thump, with Ororo and Xavier right behind her. Ororo paused, shocked, as Apex suddenly appeared. She had never seen him outside of sitting in his cell and he now towered over her as he came out of his crouch.
"She said that she is leaving." Apex rumbled, but Ororo didn't release Greer's arm and instead took a step protective step in front of her.
"Ororo wait -" Greer tried to calm the situation but Ororo had regained her composure. An African goddess is not easily shaken...or at least never allows it to show.
"Greer is right where she is supposed to be. Here with us. Like you should be." Apex noted the remaining mutants step out from around the barn. He had known that they were there. Normally he would have taken his time and eliminated them individually before engaging two of the most powerful mutants on the planet. But Greer was there, and if he alerted them, they would likely harm her. That was not going to happen. Greer had helped him get away from Weapon X. He would help her get away from this facility.
It was that simple.
"Let her go." Apex did not leave room for negotiation. Apex was not Logan in that he would suddenly lose control and go berseker. But that did not mean his self-control was without limit. Ororo relinquished her grip on Greer's arm but did not move aside.
"We do not want to fight you Apex. We want to help you. Like we helped Gr -"
"Controlled her." Apex growled. Storm's eyes clouded white and the sky above darkened, a deep rumble from above to match the one Apex made.
"Storm..." Xavier warned but Ororo knew that to back down now would be a mistake. If they wanted Apex to trust them, they needed to reach him in a way he would understand.
"No one controls here Apex. No one wants to hurt you or Greer. We only want to talk with you before you make a mistake."
"You put me in a cage." Apex flexed his hands, taking note of which beams supported the upper level of the barn. He would strike the one directly to his left first, collapsing that section, and use the confusion to -
"Apex stop it." Greer moved to reach Apex but Ororo stretched out her arm and held her back. Greer knew what Apex looked like when he was sizing up a situation. The X-Men might have thought their numbers and high ground would deter him from attacking but they didn't know him like she did. Apex would attack regardless and people would get hurt. Greer knew she needed to stop this before it got out of hand.
"Apex this is the place I told you about. We can be safe here. No one wants to hurt us. No one wants to control you. I swear." Apex's eyes flipped from Storm to Greer to the mutants around him and back to Greer.
"It doesn't look that way."
"Everyone leave. Get out." Greer looked around the barn but everyone ignored her. Greer turned to Xavier. "Professor, I need you to tell everyone to stand down. Tell them to leave. Please." Xavier met Greer's eyes as she tried to tell him what was about to happen if he didn't listen to her and looked at Apex who appeared ready to take on the entire team.
Xavier took a moment to consider what Greer was asking him to do. Then he considered what he knew about Apex thus far. He had been clear of the Mansion and could have left. But instead he had come here. For Greer...
"Professor..." Scott was standing above Xavier in the upper level the barn. He had not taken his hand off of his visor since Apex had appeared. It bothered Scott that he hadn't detected Apex until he had dropped down. All he needed was the word and he would drop this commando-wanna-be-piece-of-
"Scott, lead everyone out of the barn." The Professor spoke so everyone could hear him, a look of concern and confusion passing among them.
"Professor you can't -"
"Scott I told you -"
Apex and Greer heard it first, their heads turning to the west. Then Jean and the Professor sensed it. But it was Scott that spoke first as the small tablet on his wrist beeped. When the Mansion was on lock down Scott had the entire security system linked to him at all times. Including the radar.
"Professor we have two inbound heading directly for the Mansion. Is there someone we should be expecting?"
"I have no idea who that might be." The Professor reached out to try and sense who was coming and his eyes flashed wide when he realized what was on its way.
"It's S.H.I.E.L.D." The X-Men dropped from the upper level and came to stand around the Professor at the tone of his voice. Apex remained still and simply took note of the tightening circle. Xavier turned his attention back to Apex. "Apex, I have been doing my best to keep SHIELD at bay in regards to your whereabouts but it seems they do not want to take my word. Do you know why SHIELD would be interested in you?" Now all the eyes turned to Apex.
"Weapon X. You. S.H.I.E.L.D. We are leaving. Now." Apex's entire body was tense. The helicopters were getting closer and he and Tigra needed to get out of there. Immediately. He took a step toward Greer which immediately resulted in the sound of armor appearing, ice forming and lasers powering, all met with a roar from Apex.
"Enough!" A crackle of lighting struck near the barn causing everyone to take a step back. Even Apex.
"Apex please. S.H.I.E.L.D will be here in a matter of minutes. You are free to leave but I urge you to stay and allow us to help you. We know what Weapon X has done to you -"
"You know nothing." Apex shot back. This was all a trick. It had to be...
"Then allow us to learn. We will all leave and go out to meet SHIELD. Greer, Jean and Kurt will stay here with you. If there is trouble, Kurt will be able to transport you all to safety. Now please, allow us to help you." The Professor tried to anticipate what Apex would do next but he seemed to be looking at Greer for what to do. Greer walked past Ororo and stood by him, her hand on his arm.
"Go Professor. We'll be fine." Greer and Xavier locked eyes. "Professor, trust me. Go." Apex looked between Greer and Xavier now to see what he would do.
"Alright. Scott, Storm, Hank, with me. Jean, Kurt, stay here with Greer and Apex. Jean, link with me and keep tabs on what transpires. The rest of you, get back to the Mansion quickly and resume a normal schedule. Keep the students calm. Nothing is to appear out of order." With one last look at Greer and Apex, the X-Men vacated the barn leaving only Jean and a disgruntled Kurt with the tense pair of ferals.
The pair of helicopters dropped down in the large yard that fronted the Mansion. While a tall woman with close cropped haircut stepped out of the smaller chopper, a full unit of armed SHIELD agents marched out of the larger transport helicopter. Xavier, Hank, Scott and Ororo came through the main doors to greet them.
"Professor Xavier. I'm here under order directly from -"
"Ms. Hill. Nick Fury had spoken very highly of you. Where is Fury, I would very much like to speak with him." The Professor's tone was cordial. He noted that all of the SHIELD team, save for Ms. Hill, wore helmets...and that he was unable to clearly read their thoughts. Internally, he frowned at the progress SHIELD was making at blocking even his telepathy.
"It's Deputy Director Hill, sir. And Director Fury is a very busy man. He sent me to ensure that everything here goes smoothly." As Hill spoke the agents lined up behind her. Nothing threatening, but their presence was not misunderstood. Hill was here and did not intend on leaving empty handed.
"And what precisely are you here to do?" Scott asked. He and Hill had met before and had gotten along fairly well. Scott hoped that could play to their advantage and avoid any unnecessary escalation.
"We have reliable intelligence that you are harboring a member of the para-military group known as Weapon X. Fury has made it a priority order to locate and neutralize all elements of the organization as a matter of national security."
"Logan has been cleared of all of that some time ago Deputy Director." Xavier kindly reminded her.
"We're not here about the Wolverine, as you well know. We are here about another operative code name Weapon 22." Hill looked between the eyes of the mutants assembled across from her but saw no recognition. Although Summers seemed more uptight then usual...if that was possible. The Professor regained her attention.
"You know who we are Deputy Director. We take in wayward mutants and offer them sanctuary. Teach them to control their powers and if they choose to assist them as they reenter society. And if there was a mutant here seeking refuge, I would never betray that trust." Jean? They know about Apex.
"Really?" Hill looked skeptically back, hand on her hip...slightly above her gun.
"Really." Scott doubted Hill was going to be backing down.
Hill stood silent for a moment before taking a different tack. This time addressing Ororo.
"Strange weather you have up here. Anything causing trouble?" Hill's eyes shifted to the smoke cloud emanating from behind the Mansion. She had noted the lightning strike and was trying to mentally map where it had likely struck.
"Simply giving a demonstration to some students Deputy Director. If you'd like, I can provide you with one as well." Hill eyed the rumbling clouds above before turning her attention back to Xavier.
"You really going to to make this difficult? Do you even know who you're protecting?"
"Deputy Director I assure you -"
"We have it tied to over twenty-five assassinations. And those are the ones we were able to verify with bodies. Countless incidents of espionage...some of it even against S.H.I.E.L.D. Not to mention the disappearance of two tactical teams sent to investigate the disappearance of two of your team. Wherever you are hiding it -"
"Him." Hank took off his glasses and rubbed them carefully with a handkerchief he took from his pocket. "You are talking about a him. And you should know Deputy Director that Captain Rogers is currently on his way to see Director Fury. It seems he has what you could call a soft-spot for the...mutated community. He and I, along with the rest of the Avengers, do not take kindly to you attempting to take one of our own into custody."
"So you admit that it - excuse me, I mean he is here." Hill gave a quick motion and the soldiers behind her brought their rifles to a ready position.
"I would urge caution Deputy Director. I cannot allow you to place my students in danger." Storm let a rumble of thunder shake the earth as the skies darkened at Xavier's words. Hill looked past the mutants in front of her and saw a number more standing in the windows and on the roof. Hill however was not deterred.
"You would stand against SHIELD? Protect a murderer? An assassin?" Hill challenged.
"I stand with those that have put their faith in me." Hill raised her hand to signal her men when an audible beep came from her earpiece. Her hand in the air, Hill gave Xavier a look before turning her back and pressing her com.
"Hill here...Yes sir...But Sir!...No sir I don't -...Yes...Yes sir I understand." Hill let out a sigh of frustration and turned back to Xavier.
"Seems you have some very convincing friends Professor. I'll be seeing you."
"Come back anytime Deputy Director." Scott called back. The pair shared a look before Hill just shook her head and headed back to the churning choppers.
"Just remember: we'll be watching." Hill called over the sound of the choppers and slammed the doors. The choppers taking to the skies and disappearing over the horizon.
"Why did you do that?"
Xavier, Scott, Hank and Ororo had returned to the waiting ferals and Jean in the barn. As soon as Jean had informed Kurt that the danger had passed, he had given Apex a pleasant cursing in German and teleported away.
Apex stood where they had left him, his head down and Greer standing nearby.
"Do what?" Xavier wheeled closer while Hank and Ororo looked on expectantly and Scott with a furrowed brow.
"You had no reason to protect me. I have done nothing but harm all of you. You owe me nothing. You should have alerted them to my location and let them take me." All of this made no sense. Why did they do that? Why?
"Apex I want you to trust me. To trust us. This is a place where mutants can be safe. And we would like to help you if you would let us. If you wish to leave we will do what we can to make sure you arrive wherever you go safely. It's your choice." Xavier extended his hand. Apex looked at it for a second before taking in the mutants around him, lasting a moment longer on Greer before turning back to Xavier. As far as he could recall he had never had a choice of where to go or what to do. But these mutants had protected him despite everything he had done.
So what was he going to do now...
"I'd give you a full tour but as I recall you don't really need that. Do you?" Scott had not been in a pleasant mood before. But as the designated staff member in charge of introducing new male members to the Mansion, he was in a truly sour mood as he lead Apex around the Mansion.
At this point it was evening and most of the students were roaming the lower halls of the Mansion enjoying the rest of their day or studying and writing papers. Xavier had suggested an abbreviated tour as a way to avoid over-saturating the obviously edgy Apex and Scott had taken the senior staff elevator straight to the staff wing.
Apex remained silent the entire time and just walked silently behind Scott. Scott did not like the feeling of not having eyes on Apex.
"And this is where you will be staying." Apex looked between Scott and the open door before walking in. Apex took it all in quickly: the room was a square twelve by twelve, a bed, spartan dresser and closet with an attached bathroom. He noted the large, almost floor to ceiling window that took up the wall facing the woods. They were three stories above ground so roughly twenty-four feet drop. He was roughly sixty yards from Greer's room...
Scott eyed Apex as he appeared to just be standing silently in his darkened room. He hadn't bothered to turn on the lights so Scott did it instead.
"You have some sweats in the top drawer and basics in the bathroom. I'm sure someone go into town if you want to get you some things."
"That won't be necessary." Scott actually did a double take as that had been the first words Apex had spoken since they had left the barn.
"What, you just going to walk around in nothing but shorts all the time?" Scott asked acidly. Honestly Scott felt all of this was a waste of time. He doubted Apex would be here for longer then a few weeks. If that.
"Would that be a problem?" Scott realized that was an honest question. He found reading Apex's feline face impossible.
"Yea. I would think so. Not to mention we have children living here." Apex seemed to consider Scott's words and just nodded his head.
"So if that's everything, meals are typically served -" Scott headed towards the door.
"At 5am, 7am, noon, and 6:30pm." Apex finished.
"Right...Well in case you do decide to leave your room, you should be aware that classes here -"
"Begin at 8am with intermittent breaks until 3pm. Younger mutant train after class and senior members train together Sunday evening and I suspect intermittently someplace within the Mansion. Lights out are 10pm." Scott just stared as Apex turned back to look at Scott. Or at least in Scott's general direction.
"How do you -"
"Where is the a training facility?"
"The gym and danger room are on the first sub-level. Sign-up for staff is on the main server." Scott answered distractedly giving Apex a more critical look before shaking his head.
"Listen Apex," Apex turned at Scott's tone. He recognized that tone, "Xavier has invited you to stay and I'm not going to question that. But don't think I've forgotten what you did. What you've done. The first time you slip up, the first time you put this place in danger? I will blast you out of here. Are we clear?"
"We're clear." Apex and Scott stared each other down for a few moments longer before Scott was satisfied his message had gotten through and stalked off.
Apex listened for him to reach the stairs before slowly closing the door. To his room...I have a room. Apex looked around one last time and allowed a hint of a smile. He had never had a room before.
Greer just sat on her bed. She wasn't sure how long she had been there for.
Once Apex had been led off by Scott for the mandatory tour, Greer had begged off talking to anymore people saying she was just tired. Greer had planned to get back to the quite of her room, jump in the shower and go see how Apex was settling in before meeting everyone at dinner.
But instead Greer just kept sitting on her bed.
She thought she was going to run into her room and feel relieved. Happy. Instead she just felt...empty. Tense.
Jean knocked on the door as she entered and burst into a huge smile at finally seeing Greer back where she belonged. Jean just couldn't get used to her room without Greer in it.
"Greer aren't you going to get in the shower? I can't imagine how nasty you must be feeling. Let's get washed up and get downstairs for some -...Greer?" Jean had been walking around their room finding what to wear when she noticed that Greer hadn't responded to what Jean had been saying. In fact, Greer hadn't moved at all.
"Greer? Greer are you alright?" Greer gave her head a quick shake and gave Jean a crooked smile.
"Yea I'm fine. I'm just - not really feeling up for seeing everyone yet." Greer said quietly.
"Of course." Jean stood there uneasily for a moment giving her best friend a concerned look as Greer seemed to lull back out. "Greer, you know you can talk to me about anything right?" Greer just silently nodded her head. Jean wasn't sure she had even heard her.
"Well alright. I'm just going to head back down and give you some privacy. I'll bring you up something." Jean headed for the door.
"Jean -" Greer's voice cracked and Jean barely made it to the bed as Greer just broke down in her arms. "Jean..they - they made me - I killed -" Greer's words were swallowed by sobs more like choked spasms. Jean felt Greer's grief radiate off of her as the events of the past month unleashed on Greer. Her entire body shaking as the weight of it fell on her.
"Shhhhh...you're safe now Greer. It's over. Shhhhhhh. You're home. I got you. It's over."
Jean held the trembling Greer until she finally fell asleep, exhausted, in her arms.
"So what happened Forge?" It was past midnight and the Mansion was silent. Scott and Xavier waited as Forge reviewed the security system in an attempt to figure out how the system had failed earlier in the day and had allowed Apex to escapte. Forge had removed a large section of the wall adjacent to the cell Apex had been in to try and solve the problem.
"See this shouldn't happen." Forge muttered to himself.
"What shouldn't?"
"There's no virus. No tampering with anything in the network. Nothing fried. All of the mechanics checked out. They were just out of place. It was like somebody just moved the mechanical parts within the security system and let him out." Forge said frustrated. He almost never had a problem finding a problem with something mechanical. It was bugging him to no end. But the Professor let out a deep sigh of frustration of his own.
"What is it Professor?" Scott and Forge looked at Xavier who was focused on Forge.
"What is your necklace made of Forge?" Forge gave Xavier a confused look before he saw the bulge under his T-Shirt. Pulling down the collar his necklace flew up towards the exposed mechanics. All three shared a grave look.
"This entire area has been magnetized..."