The morning was a hurried event. Meals were rushed. Everyone was hurrying around without sparing each other much more than a quick greeting as they all prepared. They met up as they approached Hank's lab. A note for them waiting there to bring the box marked with an X and meet him at the airbase.

"What the hell happened here?" Erik asked as everyone looked around in confusion at Hank's trashed lab. But they didn't have time to think too much about it. Charles opened the box that contained the team's suits.

"Hank has been busy," Erik said as he examined the contents of the box.

"Do we really have to wear these?" Alex asked.

"As none of us mutated to endure extreme g-force or being riddled by bullets, I suggest we suit up."

After reaching the airfield, they let themselves take a moment to double-check their suits.

"I already know I'm ditching these," Ellie said as she stepped further into the hangar. She made her way over to Charles and Ruby. She tugged at the fasteners that ran around her shoulders. They felt cold and uncomfortable against her skin.

"You will do no such thing," Charles stated.

"At least not until you have to shift," Ruby added as she let Charles double-check her suit.

"Is it really that bad?" Alex asked as he joined them, looking over his shapeshifting friend's suit.

"I mean, I guess this part is kind of cool. Here, hold this tight." There was a small spot to grip near her wrist. Alex gave her a questioning look but did as he was told. She pulled her arm back fast, and the fasteners gave way. She grinned as he was left holding the now empty sleeve. "Although I'm not sure how protective it is if they give away that easy."

"I'm sure it will be fine, but only if you, you know, leave it on," Alex counters. He held the sleeve out for her to slip her arm back into it.

"I'll consider it," Ellie smirked as she let him help her snap sleeve back in place. She doesn't even argue when he checks the rest of his suit. "But you know I'll lose those the second they detach." She does her best to ignore the fact she can feel Erik watching them. She looked over at Charles. "I can barely keep track of my dress half the time. Now I have a breakaway flight suit that pulls apart into I don't even know how many pieces." She picked at the fabric. "I mean, I know he didn't have a ton of time, and my powers aren't exactly the easiest to accommodate but…"

"Just try, that is all I ask," Charles said.

"I will also consider it," Ellie replied.

"Thank you," Charles grinned.

"I'm sure you'll manage," Alex stated.

"Or I'll come home naked," Ellie said with a wink. "Either way works for me."

Alex shook his head as they all went over to look at the jet. Ellie made sure that she had a buffer between herself and Erik. Alex didn't seem to object to the position. It was silent as they all looked at the jet in awe.

"Where's Hank?" Raven asked, breaking the silence.

"I'm here." They all turned to see a blue figure approach them. Ellie instinctively took a half step to put herself between her friends and the figure. Alex's hand wrapped around her wrist to stop her. The action earned him a glare from Erik.

"Hank?" Charles asked, shocked at his friend's appearance but doing his best to hide it.

"It didn't attack the cells." Hank began to explain his appearance to his confused teammates. "It enhanced them. It didn't work."

"Yes, it did, Hank," Raven stated. "Don't you see? This is who you were meant to be." Ellie fought the urge to roll her eyes. Her annoyance must have been clear on her face because Alex squeezed her wrist.

"This is you," Raven continued. "No more hiding."

"You never looked better, man," Erik said. Ellie reacted in a blink catching Hank's arm as the newly transformed blue mutant's fingers gripped Erik's throat. Her own claws now digging into the other's suit.

"Hank!" Charles shouted.

"Don't mock me!" Hank shouted at Erik.

"Hands off or I take it from you," Ellie spat.

"Hank," Charles told his angry friend, "put him down immediately, please. Hank! Hank!" The telepath's tone gained urgency as Ellie moved closer.

"I wasn't," Erik said, as Hank dropped him to his knees. Ellie twisted Hank's arm in a quick motion.

"Ellie!" Charles shouted.

"Try that again, and not even your fancy suit will stop me." Ellie let go of his arm but stayed in Hank's space until a hand pulled her back. She looked back to see Raven had grabbed her shoulder. Ellie shoved her hand off her with a glare. She ignored the look Erik gave her as he stood up. She went back to stand between Sean and Alex.

"Even I got to admit you look pretty badass," Alex said, trying to break the tension. "I think I got a new name for you. Beast."

"You're sure you can fly this thing?" Sean asked.

"Of course, I can," Hank replied. "I designed it."

They all moved to board the jet. A hand grabbed Ellie's wrist. She expected it to be Alex again. She hadn't expected it to be Erik. She pulled it out of his grip. He opened his mouth to say something and Ellie shook her head. "I'd have done it for anyone here, now get in there," Ellie said as adjusted the fabric at her wrist that all the tugging seemed to shift it. "Too bad I'm not blue huh?" Ellie shook out her hands, as she flexed her normal fingers.

"That's not-about that," Erik started to say but Ellie didn't let him continue.

"This is what you've wanted right?" She looked up at him.

"What?" He looked at her confused.

"A chance at Shaw?" Ellie said, changing the subject. "What are you waiting for?"

"Of course, but-" He started but she held up a hand.

"I'm not missing my chance at Angel because you want a chat," Ellie glared at him. "Let's go."

"You okay?" Alex asks as he meets her on the ramp along with Charles. She nods as she reaches them.

"Im ready for this to be over," she says.

"Agreed," Alex states.

Alex glares at Erik as he follows her into the plane as she goes to find her sister.

"Let's just get through this, and we can sort everything else out after," Charles tells the metal bender.

Erik doesn't say anything but makes his way into the jet. Charles can understands Erik's doubt as they join the others. Moira and Hank are in the cockpit getting the jet going. Ruby clearly had taken over seating arrangements. Ruby and Alex sat on either side of Ellie. Sean next to Alex. Ruby had put as much space between her sister and Erik and Raven. A stern look on the usually kind dream walker. It worries Charles a bit, but he smiles at the way her eyes softened when the meet his. He made his way over to them. He double checks her harness. Earning a sweet smile from her.

"We just need to get through this and things will be better," she mentally directs at him.

The telepath's heart sinks, he doesn't have the heart to tell her things have already changed. Damage was unfortunately done. As much as he hoped they could sort everything out, he could feel proverbial walls going up between many of them. The team dynamic was fragile on the best of days. And the last 24 hours had created a rather large fissure. But he can't help but appreciate her optimism. He kisses her forehead. Before going over to take his seat across from them. Ruby reaches over and holds her sister's hand as they get into the air. Even Sean is quiet as they mentally prepare for what they are about to do.

"Race ya," Ellie says with a grin as she steps off the edge and free-falls gracefully until she slips under the water. Having called on her powers to not only survive the impact but to breathe under the water. She tried not to think of Darwin doing something similar as she did. She begins her search for the sub.

[Sean uses sonar]

But her echolocation, especially when she was mostly in human form, had nothing on Sean's much stronger version. She covers her ears just in time for Sean to use his powers to locate the sub.

Being the faster swimmer she helps him to the surface.

"Go on," Sean grins as they tread water. "Don't let me slow you down."

"You sure?" she asks.

"Go," he repeats. She does.

Ellie shakes the salt water off her suit as she takes in the scene around them as she ties her hair back. Her lungs taking back over now that she was on solid ground. Shaw's sub completely grounded on the beach thanks to Erik. The two lock eyes as chaos erupts. Erik nods. Ellie begrudgingly does the same. They were on the same team. He was off to fight his own battles. His only goal was stopping Shaw. Ellie has two goals of her own. Rip Angel's stupid wings off and tear Riptides smug face off.

Erik let himself have one single moment as he looked over at Ellie. He couldn't drop his guard and he refused to let himself get distracted. As much as he worried about the team, especially her, he knew if he failed, they would all suffer a fate where death would be the kinder ending.

Erik took strange satisfaction that with one swift motion, he pulled a hole in the side of Shaw's sub and brought it down on top of Riptide. He hoped it hurt more than when the man worse than the jukebox the crushed mutant had thrown Ellie into. But he didn't take time to enjoy the sensation of metal on his enemy. He needed to get Shaw.

Anger coursed through Ellie as she saw Angel going after the ship Alex was on. Ellie had just freed her arms and gone for the main zipper of the suit, and she was going to attempt to shift when Sean came out of the water and hit Angel with a blast. Ellie felt absolutely useless. She ran towards the water when she saw Angel targeting Sean in the air as he tried to support himself and Alex. Smoke was coming off of Sean's suit.

"Forget this," Ellie said, holding her hands out and cloaking Sean and Alex. Angel couldn't hit what she couldn't see. She had to concentrate to maintain their cover as they moved at their speed. Glad the others were keeping Azazel occupied and that Riptide was out for the count so she wouldn't get ambushed as she focused.

She kept them cloaked until they hit the sand. She rushed to reach them, stopping as Alex sent out a blast that took out Angel's wings. Ellie changed course. Running over and put her boot on Angel's throat. Angel spit at her as she did. Ellie blocked it with her arm. Her exposed skin was covered in protective scales. The shifter bent down, sure to keep her foot in place. She took the fabric that had been the sleeves of the flight suit and shoved it into Angel's mouth.

"Chew on that," Ellie said as she forced the female mutant on her stomach. She wrapped the rest of the fabric around and tied it around the other's head to be sure the make-shift gag stayed in place. "You picked the wrong side, cockroach." Ellie dragged Angel to her feet with enhanced strength and a tight grip on the back of her neck. She steered the gagged mutant over to where Sean and Alex were. "You guys alright?" Ellie asked as she kicked the back of Angel's knees, making her kneel.

"Quick thinking with the cover, Trickster," Alex says.

"Had nothing on that perfect shot, Havok. And without the aid of the suit," Ellie says as she tosses Alex a torn piece of her suit. "Get her hands, will you?" Alex hesitated but did as he was told.

"Bit much, don't you think?" Sean asked.

"No, Banshee, I don't," Ellie growled. She held up her scaled arm as it sizzled where the acid had struck. She knew very little would help her now. The damage was done.

"Oh, that's not good," Sean says as he tries to help her clean it off, but it sticks between the plated scales. She winced as he tried. It would probably leave a nasty scar, but she'd live. "Charles is going to be pissed I took them off." She tried to brush the sand out of the fresh burn that had gotten stuck in it when he wiped it down.

"He probably already knows," Sean glances towards the jet. Ellie doesn't take her eyes off Angel.

"We should find a better way to secure her," she says, glaring at the subdued traitor.

"Ellie," Alex said as he looked at Ellie's arm. "She's down. There is nothing she can do." Ellie let out a growl before trying to help Hank fight Azazel, but to her surprise, Raven and Ruby beat her to it as the pair tricked Azazel into believing Shaw was there. Giving Ruby enough time to grab the teleporter's head and put him to sleep before he could teleport away.

Ruby ran over to her sister and their friends. She puts her hand on Angel's forehead repeated her actions. Angel hadn't been able to resist Ruby's powers and was out cold in seconds.

"You guys should secure them both," Ruby says as she turns her focus to her sister.

"What are you doing?" Ellie asks, wincing as her sister takes her arm.

"Charles said she got you good," Ruby tells her as she opens a bottle and pours it over her sister's arm. It stings, but Ellie grits her teeth and bears it.

"What is that?" Sean asks. Alex had told him to stay with the sisters in case something happened while he and Hank dealt with the knocked-out Hellfire Club.

"Hank figured this would happen to someone," Ruby answers. "Base to neutralize the acid." She looks up at Ellie's face. "You okay?"

"I'll survive," Ellie states.

"How bad is it?" Hank asks as he joins them. "There's a med kit in the jet-"

They are cut off by shouting. Ruby runs back to the jet in time to steady Charles as he wavers on his feet. Shaking his head.

"Shaw's dead," he tells her, as well as Moira.

"What happened?" Ruby asks as she wipes the sweat off the telepath's forehead.

Charles shakes his head. He takes her hand and rushes them out of the jet to find Erik.

Ruby's hand tightens around his as they see Erik exit the jet. Shaw's helmet now his.

"Well, that's a look," Sean says as the small group watches. Hank lets go of Ellie's arm and turns as they all prepare for a fight. Alex and Hank take point, hesitating only because the ships launch their missiles. Both American and Russian arms united and aimed at what they clearly saw as the bigger threat. The mutants. Erik wasn't going to let that go. The line in the sand had been drawn. He turns the weapons of destruction back towards the ships they had come from. Rath and scorn on full display.

Charles tackles Erik in an attempt to stop him. A full-on fight ensues. Ruby doesn't hesitate. She takes off to try and help. If she could get close enough, she could end it. Knock him out like she did Azazel, but Erik knows what she can do and that the helmet won't stop her. The metal bender uses the fasteners on Ruby's suit to throw her back. Earning him a punch to the gut from Charles. The telepath now thoroughly pissed off.

Moira helps Ruby to her feet. Ruby nods and the agent goes for her sidearm. She shoots at Erik as Ruby runs back to help Charles. Not caring if she gets hit herself. Ellie is already running at an enhanced speed when she realizes way Erik redirected the bullet was aimed right at the people they cared about. It was headed towards Charles and Ruby. Ellie wasn't going to let that happen. The bullet tore through the already damaged plated scales on the trickster's arm.

Erik watched in horror as the bullet went clean through her already injured arm as Ruby and Charles lunged toward the shapeshifter. The slowed bullet embedded in Charles' side, stopping them both. Erik dropped down beside Charles as fast as he could and pulled the bullet free. Ruby pulled Charles to her and away from the man who had caused the whole mess. Erik looked up to see Ellie fall to her hands and knees. Her heavily injured arm gave out as she did. Alex caught her before she fully hit the ground. An injured Sean was right behind him. The plasma-yielding mutant ripped one of the tattered strips from Banshee's suit. Erik heard a shout of pain from Ellie as the pair tied the strip tight above the wound. Any protection she'd had from her powers faded, much like the color in her face. Alex was shouting something, but Erik couldn't hear it over the sound of the missiles crashing and exploding. He now sees the team advancing on him.

He shouts at them to back off. He looked around to see that Ellie was back on her feet, good-fistballed to fight him if she had to despite most of her weight being supported by Alex. Havok's hands covered in blood. Ellie's blood. Ellie's bloody handprint on the younger blond's chest from where she had clearly held herself against his damaged suit. Rage coursed through Magneto as he tried to ignore his own broken heart. His failures. Alex had so easily taken his place. That anger, it needed an outlet. He turned his attention to Moira.

"You. You did this," Erik said, using his powers to tighten Moira's dog tags around her throat. Ellie grits her teeth and pushes off Alex. She used what little energy and every ounce of power she had to slam her fist into Erik's unguarded side while his arm was raised. He dropped his hold on Moira to steady himself. He grabbed Ellie's shoulders as he did. Earning a shout of pain as his hand connected with her injured arm. He pulled her against his chest. Adjusting his hold by moving his hand to her side.

"Erik," Ellie's voice came out in labored half-sobs. She raised her hand, bloody fingers pressed weakly against the helmet. Probably leaving a handprint much like the one on Alex's suit. He could smell the iron of it. Taste it in the air now that she is so close. And it felt like a knife to his heart already broken heart. He was the reason she was clearly in agony. Yet she was giving everything she had. Pushing herself just to stop him. His stomach twists as he feels her body shakes from pain, maybe adrenaline, or anger, possibly a combination of all three. "Was...it...worth it?" she asks.

He looked between her and Charles. The woman he had given more of himself to than anyone and the man who was easily his closest friend.

"Us turning on each other, it's what they want," Erik said, his eyes finding the telepath's, "I tried to warn you, Charles. I want you by my side, both of you." He looked back at Ellie, tears streaking her face as her hand fell limp beside her. "All of us together, protecting each other. We want the same thing." Ellie tried to pull away from him, but she was too weak. Erik brushed away the tears from her cheek.

"Not...like this," Ellie managed to say. "Never this."

"Oh, my friend, I'm sorry," Charles said, drawing Erik's attention. "But we do not." Erik looked up to where the rest of their team stood. Hank clearly keeps Alex from attempting to help Ellie. The trickster's safety was the only reason no one had tried. They were ready to fight him but afraid what Magneto might do to her. But Erik couldn't bring himself to even threaten to hurt her. Any chance he had at salvaging their relationship was destroyed by a single bullet. The damage he'd done was irreparable, and he knew it. There was little fight left in him now. He gestured to them that it was over. So they could see to their injured friends. Moira and Alex ran over. Moira going to help Ruby with Charles. The human begged for his forgiveness as she did.

"Ellie!" Alex shouts and pulls Ellie away from Erik. Lowering them both into the sand so she didn't fall. He keeps her tight against his chest.

"Alex," she mumbles as she blinks up at him.

"I'm here, El, I'm right here," Alex assured her before glaring at Erik. The shapeshifter buried her face in Alex's shoulder and cried. Alex turned his attention back to her and tried his best to comfort her. "You're going to be okay," he tells her. "Just stay with me, okay?" She hums but doesn't say anything else.

Erik has to look away. He stands. "This society won't accept us. We form our own. The humans have played their hand. Now we get ready to play ours. Who's with me?" He knows better than to look at Ellie. He looked at Raven. "No more hiding."

Raven starts towards him but goes to Charles.

Charles looks at her closely. "You...you should go with him," He tells her. "It's what you want."

"You promised me you would never read my mind," Raven said.

"I know. I promised you a great many things, I'm afraid," he replied, "I'm sorry."

Raven kissed his forehead. "Take care of him," she said, looking between Ruby and Moira before she stood. "I'm sorry," she said when she caught Ellie's gaze from where she was held by Alex. Ellie shook her head and hid her face against Alex. She didn't have the strength to say anything anymore. Raven turned to Hank. "And Beast?" She said. "Never forget, mutant and proud!"

Raven and Erik joined hands with the remnants of Shaw's team, and they vanished.

Hank and Sean rushed forward. Hank moved to help Charles. Sean, despite his own injuries, helped Alex get Ellie up. Alex carries her over to join the others.

"Ellie, I am so sorry," Moira said as they approached.

"Don't," Ellie shook her head, the motion a bit sloppy. "He...needed to stop." Ellie looked at Charles. "I couldn't," Ellie forced out. "Stop it." She took a shuddering breath. "Angel, she…'m sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for," Charles gave her a weak smile. He was almost as pale as she was.

"It's Erik's fault," Ruby stated, her voice harsh. Ellie had never seen her sister so enraged. "You were already injured, and he nearly killed both of you."

"We aren't out of it yet," Hank said as he tried to stop Charles' bleeding. Ellie listened as Moira and Hank debated how to call for backup, but she lost track of what they were saying. Their voices seemed to fade out like the edges of her vision. She was so tired. Ellie managed to look up at Ruby and then Alex before she heard shouting, and everything went dark.

Ellie curled herself up as best she could with her injured arm as she lay in bed. She let herself cry until she couldn't breathe.

"Oh, Ellie," Ruby said as she walked into her sister's room, hastily setting down the tray she was carrying. She crawled into the bed with the shapeshifter and wrapped her arms around her. She held her tight and gently guided her sister to sleep with her powers. She would heal faster that way. She asked Alex and Sean to keep an eye on her while she slept. She didn't need to be asleep to know the horrors that would haunt her sleeping sister's mind.

Ruby found Charles in his study. "Moira leave?" She asked.

"Yes," Charles said, "and we won't be seeing her again."

"Probably for the best," Ruby said as she sat on the edge of his desk.

"Probably," he smiled at her. "How's Ellie?"

"I got her to fall asleep," Ruby's shoulders dropped as she spoke. "I don't know what else to do," Ruby said.

"I know," Charles said, taking her hands in his.

"It's just so hard. They left her, they left us." Ruby said. "They chose the people that nearly killed us, more than once, over staying with us."

"I know, sweetheart," Charles said sadly.

"They'll never know the scars they left. They'll never know that they basically took her powers from her," Ruby said. "If they even care."

"Hank said she may heal enough someday to shift again," Charles said.

"Run maybe, but she'll never fly again," Ruby stated. "And you're lucky you didn't bleed to death."

"Only because your sister slowed the bullet," Charles admitted. "To which I am grateful."

Alex smiled sadly when he saw that Ellie was awake when he went to check on her. She was staring at the hand on her injured arm. It had a hint of claws on it but nothing like the ones on her other hand. She shifted back to her normal self as he came closer.

"Give it time," He said as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Can you?" She held up the fresh bandage that she'd been in the process of replacing when she decided to try and shift.

He put on the pair of gloves that had been on the tray, took the bandage from her, and set to change her bandages. He tried to hide the wince as he wrapped the marred skin of Angel's burn. "Does it still hurt?"

"Yeah," Ellie admitted. "But you have to admit, the scales made for a badass scar. Hank said you could actually see where it got between them. So I'll always have this splattered pattern on my arm. I just hope her wings grow back crooked, or not all."

"I'm with you on that." He set to carefully peel the bandage off the bullet wounds. "Sorry," he muttered when her breathing turned labored.

She didn't say anything until he was finished and pulled the gloves off. "Don't be sorry," Ellie said, her good hand squeezing his forearm. "I might not have an arm if you hadn't taken care of it as quickly as you did."

"You had a burn and a bullet wound and still managed to save Moira. You didn't need me at all," Alex stated.

"I'd have had a face full of sand and probably wouldn't have got back up without you," Ellie retorted. "And well, from what I hear, you kept me from dying from blood loss after I passed out. So quit trying to sell yourself short." She laced her fingers with his. "I'm sure I'd be dead without you."

Alex had to clear his throat before he spoke. Emotions weren't something he was used to talking about, so he changed the subject. "We were going to play cards. You want in?" She shook her head, but he wasn't going to let her suffer alone in her room. "You can use your tricks to mess with Sean's cards," he added, earning a smile from her.

"Maybe," She said.

"Maybe is good enough for me," Alex said, using their entwined hands to haul her to her feet. She rolled her eyes when he held out a sling for her. "Hey, Hank's orders, not mine." He helped her into it, and they made their way into the hall. She nudges his shoulder with her good one earning a chuckle from him. "Thanks for coming to check on me," she tells him.

"Anytime, El," he says. "You need me, I'll be there."

"I know," she smiles at him. Her good arm goes around his as she laces their fingers again.

Charles grinned to himself as he and Ruby neared the rec room.

"That's not fair, she's cheating for you!" Sean shouted. They heard Hank and Alex laugh.

"What can I say, she just likes us better," Alex said.

"That's not true, is it El?" Sean asked with an exaggerated pout.

"Oh, hush you," Ellie grinned, "Deal the next round for me. Then we'll see."

"Deal us in," Ruby said as they neared the table.

"Oh, that isn't fair. You always beat me," Sean said as he looked at Ruby. "And we all know she loves you most."

"Damn right," Ellie said, holding her good hand out to her sister. Ruby quickly accepted. "Though I'm fine not being her favorite anymore," Ellie added. "She can invade Charles' dreams at night."

"Anytime, love," Charles winked at Ruby.

"It's easy to do when you're already there," Ellie teased.

"In her dreams or in his bed?" Sean asks.

"Both," Charles grinned as goes over and steals a kiss from Ruby. "Always both, right darling?"

"Incorrigible," Ruby grins, a slight blush on her cheeks as she looks away. She wasn't used to having someone want to be with her. It had just been her and Ellie for so long. The telepath kisses her temple to assure her he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. His hand slid down to her lower back. He sits at the table and pulls her into his lap. Ruby doesn't seem to mind.

"Eww, Ellie, he's being gross," Sean said. "You always tell me I can't be gross."

"Nah, they're being sweet," Alex stated as he looked at Sean. "You're still gross, though." Ellie tried not to laugh.

"Oh, so it is gang up on Sean's day, I see," Sean grumbled.

"Deal the cards, and maybe I'll help you," Hank said.

"Okay," Sean said. "But no powers."

"Fiiiine," Ellie said. "I'll let you see your cards this time."

"Thank you," Sean said as he started dealing the cards out.