Post by adrini on Aug 28, 2015 13:06:28 GMT -5
X-Factor
Chapter 12:
Refuge
“You get it put away?” Bishop pulled out a cig and looked over. Cable was walking out, the boxes now installed inside. Cable only nodded and pulled out a cig of his own. The two walked in to the wet night, the rain had only just stopped, before crossing to the sidewalk and walking into the park. Passing by the fountains and to the subway entrance nearby before pressing the button.
Ten minutes later Senator Shaw’s office was surrounded by fire trucks, police and other emergency personnel. Reports the next day would state that unknown arsonists had attacked the building.
-X-Factor-
The teen looked up to see Emma Frost walk to them, still weak from her last ‘lesson’. Like the others he was subdued, even if still slightly aware. But all were resigned to do as they were told. When she motioned for them to follow, they did.
Walking to the door they again followed her to a car outside and got in, as directed. Whatever they had been training them for was happening. When the group arrived at the unmarked SHIELD base and were told to stay put they did. Walking back out to the car the pale blonde woman turned blue and got back into the car. She held up a programmed data stick, now filled with Shaw’s inner workings for a moment before she drove off.
Waking up in her very nice white silk bed the real Emma Frost lounged before hearing brief banging and the doors flew open. Enraged, Shaw stormed in and threw the satin blanket off his increasingly useless servant. Glaring at him she didn’t pretend to mind that she was naked in front of him, he knew better.
“What.” She got up annoyed. “Kids making too much noise? Some mission you wanted to dump on me at the absolute last second?”
“One job. You came to me with great magical power and you can’t do –one job-. “ He wasn’t amused, but angry. “Useless, like all freaks.”
Emma scoffed but turned as he turned on her large television. The scene of the now fully engulfed office was on the 24-hour news network, the area covered with reporters. The familiar blue jackets of SHIELD investigators were crawling over the charred remains of what they could reach of this office. Whatever wasn’t burned would be found. The only evidence was two shadows who were walking into the park just before the attack. No other footage had been captured.
“I had that building watched, no mind came near it without my knowledge.” She glared and pulled on a white robe. “You missed a mark, someone on your safe list isn’t. That’s on you.”
“Always an excuse. We’re moving, move out.” Shaw, not waiting for her to get dressed, went to the hall and she followed shortly. He was gone, no doubt out of disgust. The kids were gone. The only person they would follow was her, so how did they-
“If that’s what you want, Mystique. “ Her eyes flashed and her skin turned to ice like diamond, gleaming. “War it is.”
-X-Factor-
Jubilee walked out of the training room, putting her bag over her shoulder and noting that she really needed to shower after the room. She had trained up to level thirteen, but it was still kicking her ass. It would have to be enough. At least she had reestablished enough control not to hurt people so easily anymore. She wouldn’t have the training room.
She crossed Rogue in the hallway, it was her turn to train. She wanted to share a look for assurance, she was terrified, but the base had camera’s everywhere. Maria would see it, it couldn’t be risked. The safety here had been an illusion, the needed safety that was real.
She grabbed that shower and saw the small package on the bed. The adults were going to get help, and the kids were going into hiding. The package was the only way they would be reached. They just had to keep Maria off their trail and sneak out while she was in video conference. Time was up. It was tonight or tomorrow Jean was nothing more than a memory.
-X-Factor-
“Hey, Scott!” Maria walked over, the husband was at the intelligence desk working on files for the team meeting next week. He looked up, happier than he had been before. Settling down was working for him. It was going to make the next few days the hardest she’d ever lived. For more than a few of them. “Got a good one for you guys. State house that needs help with too many members. They’ll be packed and everything.”
“A soft ball, always nice to have a change of pace.” He drained his coffee and took the file she offered. “Jean can have a break, it’s been hard lately.”
She nodded, the feeling of guilt only getting deeper, and waved as she walked to the front rooms. Alex was walking into the living area, once again in living condition, with the mail bag. She needed check the regs for rules about mail, Skye had introduced the team to online shopping.
“Hey, mail is here. Not much for you.” He offered the envelopes. “But a few.”
“Someone has to pay the bills, new toys?” He was separating the boxes. “Be careful, people find you-“
“We use our SHIELD aliases, Maria. No one will track us.” He was putting the boxes into piles. “Rogue got the last season of –Friends-, if you ask nicely she’ll let you watch it with her.”
“Not fair, not remotely fair.” Alex only shrugged and smirked. “Fine, you win – for now. I can’t be bribed forever.”
“We’ll see.” Alex was carrying the boxes to each room at a time. “You shouldn’t make your wish list public. I got to drop these off.”
Walking into the teen’s room he saw her adjusting her uniform and trying not to look terrified. Much of the plan had been hers, including holding the SHIELD leaders here so they could get away fast. It was understood, this was an attempt to force SHIELD to come to heel and stop abuse of mutants, but it also meant that membership was basically over. Everyone had made the same call. But it made her sad, Skye still really wanted to be part of it.
“She on to us?” She asked quietly putting on the belt. “We’re not that far off.”
“Just the mail, I think your new set came. Chips or bites or something.” He looked at her warningly. “And hey, you up to games? I totally got through my file this morning. I want to see if we can unlock the secret character.”
“Oh, ya.” Her recovery could have been better, but it was passable. “I’ll get though mine, I’ll be fast.”
They heard Maria walk to the meeting room and seal and closed behind her. They had to act for five minutes, then she would be in the mist of the meeting and they would get themselves and Jean the hell out.
When he nodded goodbye and walked to the hall he saw the tech who was helping them, Rachel, motioned that they needed to move.
-X-Factor-
Recessions left all kinds of wonderful houses empty. Which, when one was trying to find a new headquarters, was wonderful news.
The palatial mcmansion was set for show and would work for now. She explored the house and walked to the bedroom where the balcony was a very element. Even her last place didn’t have a view like this.
“You were a legend, lost too soon.” A voice said and she turned behind her. “A freak accident, only mentioned.”
Turning to see the man she felt her armor cover her. He had white skin, with a mark and was in a heavy cloak.
“The White Queen, I could use you. A front against the Queen of Hearts.” He walked closer. “I’m offering an alliance, Miss Frost. You want to gain equal standing with your former employer and to find a few lost pets. I need an agent to track down a few pets of my own.”
She removed the skin but looked at the man, who sat down.
“The office, who are you?” He didn’t make sense. The window was still open and she was free to leave.
“I am called Sinister and the fire was done by two pests I’ve been dealing with for sometime. However if I go after them they go into hiding and I have nothing.” He watched her take a chair, even if it was sitting on the edge. “I’m from the future, albeit one that is now changed. That future can include you.”
“What’s in it for me?” she asked and he didn’t seem surprised to hear it. “I’ve worked with men before, considering recent history working alone actually sounds okay.”
“Let us discuss.” He motioned and seemed to settle. “What would bring you to the table,
-X-Factor-
Jean wasn’t saying anything, just looking out the window of the used van that Skye had picked up for the escape. Both vocally and mentally the telepath was chewing over recent events in her head, he could feel that she was still shocked that Fury and Maria could even have considered the plan in her file. They had left the younger members, who still needed training, to hide in one of Skye’s old safe houses. But to Jean she was leaving home, one she had only just gotten together. Plus she was already worrying about the younger members they had left behind.
“How are ya doin’sweetie?” Rogue leaned forward, trying to engage her teammate. Jean didn’t respond and Scott kindly nodded that there wasn’t a point. She nodded, unhappily, but leaned back.
“You think they’ve noticed?” Alex asked from the back, where, as the youngest, he was naturally regulated. “Bet Maria is losing it.”
“Ya, well, that happens.” Scott had little sympathy for his once friend, Jean gently suggested and he reached over and grabbed her hand. “How are you to doing back there?”
“We are fine, thank you.” The reserved teach and telepathy specialist had insisted on coming, arguing that her only real job in the base was helping keep Jean safe and she couldn’t do that away from her. “Where are we going, though?”
The question seemed to rouse the red head who sat up and focused on the car, she gathered her thoughts for a moment.
“There are two places in the country a mutant can go for help.” She said and while the Summers brothers weren’t surprised by this the others were. “I attended the other one before I-before Fury found me. We’re obvious enough that civilian life really isn’t going to work. It’ a nice place.”
“It’s a school run by a man names Xavier, he’s a telepath as well. They’re making the plans we need.” It was starting to rain and he got the wipers going. “He knows about Maria pulled to, and has worked with Fury. Best chance we have to work this out. Till then we have rooms at his place.”
“Hey, you guys get to go to school!” Alex was actually okay with this. “That’s what you wanted, right?”
“We are educated, Alex.” Poitr was quick to point out. “SHIELD education is rigorous. What we missed was the social aspect. We might gain that here.”
The car ride went on. Rachel was largely concerned about being able to help the team train, Alex seemed thrilled to just be out, and Poitr was calm. Relieved that, even divided, his little family was safe. It was Rogue that was troubled.
“Comm-Scott,” She said, reminding herself that the ranks had also been left behind. “SHIELD, just how mind controlled did they require us to be?”
Rachel pointed looked out the window as Jean recoiled – it was a job she hated doing. But as the still leader it was Scott who responded.
“A lot.” He said at last, trying to think how to phrase it. “They called some of it reasonable, and maybe it was. Jubes had to be hurried, the twins needed to be calmed.”
“I’m sorry.” Finally speaking Jean sounded torn. “They needed Mystique to stay on the team and to keep her they needed you. I didn’t have to pull you from home, we could have given you a cover and a safe house and it would have been fine.”
“Orders.” The belle said, angry but torn. They had taken away her decision, but she wasn’t buskin’ to make a living anymore. Even on the run she had a home and a bed waiting for her. “What happened if you didn’t follow ‘em?”
When Alex and Scott did nothing but share a worried look she nodded.
“Powerful mutants are sent to the dungeon, if they aren’t safe.” It was a reality Jean had lived with for some time. “Normally SHIELD isn’t like this, but we’re different. Even they don’t really know what to do with us. It’s like the riots a few weeks ago, it’s complicated. They’d rather be too controlling then not controlling enough, to feel safe.”
Scott gripped the steering wheel, a lot would have to change if they were to ever come back.
-X-Factor-
“Powerful Senator, powerful lobby, information that’s a powder keg.” Bishop wasn’t happy about riding shot gun. “Who’ll publish a shot gun story in this age, bunch of pussies.”
Cable didn’t say anything but stopped and checked inside, where only one young man was still leaning against the wall, the others seemed to have wandered off. He didn’t see them lasting long in this area. The young white teen was shaking and in bad shape. Bishop looked at him, amused.
“Your patient, if you remember Mommy’s lessons.” He said and Cable glared at him slightly. His mother had taught him a little mind healing before her passing.
The calming of emotions had been so easy for his mother, in this time line still was, but he had never really gotten the trick. However his mind was still far smoother then the teen’s so his clumsy attempt did still work. The kid stopped hyperventilating and instead started screaming at the new strangers infront of him.
“Holy hell.” Bishop couldn’t hide his annoyance. Cable only put the kid in a hold and grabbed his attention.
“Stop.” He commanded as the young man’s mind was forced into rest. Was it gentle? No, but they could get the kid to the base and to help. It could be their problem.
Bishop’s alarm went off and her watched the kid slump into the back seat before Cable moved to the front seat to see him already there. Driving off to pick up their their third member Cable’s phone went off, and he only shook his head and smiled at the message.
“You’re going to make me guess.” Bishop said.
“New location, take the next highway going east.” Cable said. “Westchester.”
“Of course.” His travel mate made the turn. “The rescue.”
-X-Factor-
“Do I want to know what is in in that pile?” Jubilee asked as she tried to stay seated, there was only one seat and Peitro had called it before they even got to the van. She and Wanda were in the back with the boxes of supplies they were taking with them.
“I do not think so, no.” Her mind no longer monitored Wanda’s accent had come back, she seemed to be shy about it but it sounded really cool. Jubilee had been trying to get to her talk to distract her on the trip. “Miss Skye, where are we going? Won’t SHIELD find us?”
“Maybe, but I might have scrambled our region of the registration code. It will take a while, and we’ll be on the move.” The driver’s words were confidant but she was constantly watching her mirrors. “We’ll get under, when we’re cleared we’ll go back or meet up with the others in a new location.”
“No way in hell we’re going back, pulling that like-“ Peitro was steaming and had been snappy the whole trip.
“Only way we go back is if they put Scott and Jean in charge, period.” Jubilee said, she knew some of the plans. “Norms don’t know how to handle us, so we get to handle ourselves, no excuses.”
“It is a very good idea, but the normals they, they are not so kind. They will be more concerned that we do not hurt them.” Wanda’s experiences were worse than hers, but no one in the car could argue with the fear. “To them we are still odd little toys to play with, or throw out.”
Peitro slammed his fist in the door, memories of his visit away still fresh.
“Stop hitting my car, holy hell, seriously! Are you going to pay for repairs?” Skye glared at him. “Look, they have the leverage. They are pulling in help, calling on friends and maybe Maria will come around.”
“And if they don’t we start our own school, loose the dead weight.” Jubilee said and Wanda smiled. “Who needs norms to rescue mutants when we have a Pheonix?”
“Okay, pulling off.” Skye put on her hat and shades for the drive through. “Everyone down and I’ll order lunch. What do people want?”
-X-Factor-
“Maria?” Mystique walked in and looked around. It was Saturday afternoon, the place should be busy with the local residents. Maybe they were on mission. “Anyone home?”
“No, not they are not.” Maria’s voice sounded defeated, and she looked the same. Standing in the corner, she moved to lean on the wall. “They left last night, but I didn’t have to wit to see it. Everything was perfect, getting along, someone is always fighting for the tv.”
“Maria?” She sat down, looking at the woman. “What happened?”
“I lost two Omegas, the best tactical officer I have ever seen and a team of young people who have the real ability to be either a blessing or a menace to society. I have Fury on the line and no idea what to tell him. Each and every member of that team was taken in because they weren’t safe outside. Well, now they are outside and if something happens to them there’s nothing we can do about it.” Now leaning on a chair she was visibly upset. “God, they’ll catch them again. And they want Jean, they’ll just finish the job they started last time.”
“Isn’t that what you would have done anyway?” The question wasn’t kind, but it was fair. “She’d be dead by now if they were here.”
It was enough to snap Maria out of her head and she looked up in shock. Realizing, finally, what had happened she sunk into the chair. Mystique only watched.
“You need to call Fury, you need to fix the regulations, and you need to get them back.” The woman walked back to her room to shower, if her daughter was with the team she was safe. The team leaders were scouts, they’d take a grenade before letting anyone else get hurt. “Now. This is your mess and you get to clean it up. I want Rogue back by the end of the month.”
-X-Factor-
“Everyone wake up, we’re almost there.” It was nearing midnight, and everyone in the van was tired. The twelve hour drive was grueling even with swapping drivers. Jean, now in the driver’s seat, was signaling to get off the exit. “Just need to drive through the town and we’ll be good to go. Make sure your bags are packed.”
Alex, in the passenger seat, roused himself and started putting his bag back together. In the back of the van Rachel and Scott were stretching and trying to wake up. The back seat was still asleep.
“We’ll just sleep tonight, worry about doing more in the morning. It’ll take us time to settle in.” She explained as they passed a few old churches and a burger joint.
“Up, we’re almost there.” Scott got Poitr’s attention as they got closer, he roused Rogue awake. “You sure you remember the way?”
“Oh ya, first place I felt normal. I could never forget that house.” Jean was watching, still anxious about being spotted. “Xavier is a good man, just give him time. He can be a little formal at first.”
I suppose I can be at that. The old voice filled her head. Nice to see you, Jean. I’m sorry for your trouble. What can I do?
We should talk in person, it’s a little complicated. I can’t thank you enough for taking us in.
We can help each other. Rooms are ready, we’ll talk in the morning. Glad to have you back.