Post by adrini on Dec 14, 2015 17:35:40 GMT -5
Ultimate X-Factor 15:
Home Again
By Adrini
Tuesday afternoon, Utah Black Hills SHIELD storage facility.
“We’re pinned down!” Skye screamed, running though the once safe compound. They had to have been spotted, Friend spies were everywhere.
The team was moving themselves and their recues into the back tunnels, thin and cramp, to get away from the invading attackers. They had several people on stretchers, the lack of space made movement difficult.
“Hey, how is she?” Jubilee looked over to Pietro who was pulling his sisters cot. Wanda was still out. Nearly tapped out Pietro looked in the direction of the noise and scowled.
“They’ll get theirs.” His voice was tired, but icy. “We need a way out.”
“There isn’t one.” Skye was baring a door, dispirited. “They found the west exit, the only thing have left is the bay door. There’s no way they’ll miss it.”
“So what do we do? Give up?” Jubilee looked up, her eyes narrowing. “We have help-“
“No, we don’t! We have a…force that checks in and does things. And we can’t call her, she calls us.” Skye banged the wall but looked down.
Some canisters began to full the hall and, coughing, they fought to get to the bay door. At least there was air outside.
Gathered in a group they stood the, both hole and hurt, and looked at the circled cars that faced them. All kinds of people looked back. All walks of life, social groups, occupations – the people who saw mutants as invaders. Ready to kill the vermin.
“We go down, we go down fighting. Save the others as long as we can.” Jubilee said. “That’s what they do would do.”
The Friends began to raise their guns, taking aim of their choice, and making the fate of the kids seem fixed. The something changed.
The sky, a hot and clear 95, became dark, scary. This was a near desert but the air became think with moisture and electricity. Thunder began to crack and the Friends began to back off. With a great crack a blanket of rain fell on them and their exposed firearms, winds whipped them around and even rocked their cars. Lightening, seemingly directed, targeted their metal weapons and they were dropped from the heat.
“YOU ARE PROTECTED, BE AT PEACE.” A voice boomed in the sky. “NONE WILL HARM YOU HERE.”
Behind the storm red rays shot at the few gun remaining, and all the weapons began to float and jump over a nearby cliff to their shattering. The sound of crunching metal could be heard as Colossus attacked the cars, making them undrivable, and a small blue creature began to appear next to wounded teens before -poofing- away with them.
The Friends fell, as though ordered to, and the storm let up. Running to get there as quickly as possible they saw their team, safe, with Maria standing at the quinjet behind them making contact.
“Jubs!” Jean said, a little weak with relief, and pulled the girl into a tight hug. “Thank-“
Like her mentor Jubilee was unable to speak just then and clung on, the terror passing. When Jean got excited she had trouble keeping her surface emotions to herself and the feeling of breathless relief could be felt by anyone.
“We got here as fast as we could, how is she?” Scott was with Pietro and making sure their injured team member was okay. “The doc said the wound would be healed up by now.”
“Blood loss, he had some but-“ Still trying to breathe again Pietro was just glad to see them.
“Easily fixed, lets get her to the jet.” The two picked up the girl and moved, carefully, to the aircraft. Rachel and Piotr worked to get the survivors to the jet as quickly as they could.
Skye was leaning on the wall, her body literally weak from relief at the last second reprieve. After a moment the shallow breaths got fuller and her head stopped swimming. That was when she realized she wasn’t alone.
“Are you well?” It was a soft but proud voice, regal. Looking she saw a beautiful women, dark skin, clear and bright eyes, and a gaze that could only be described as wise. “That must had been horrible for you.”
She nodded, not sure what to make of the new friend. Everyone was being moved to the jet though, meaning that Maria had taken the deal and they were going home. No more running.
“Come, I am told there is food and drink waiting. Home will make everything a little better.” Taking the hand to stand up she could only agree. It would.
At the jet, watching her team work with a proud smile, Maria was talking to a certain commander. Civilians had raided a military installation, one that might have sensitive information. She couldn’t say for sure but they might be working for a foreign power. She would be worried.
Hanging up and turning to get on the jet with her full crew at long last she looked at the sleeping bigots with a smirk. She really hoped they all got Gitmo.
-X-Factor-
Thursday Morning, 6 AM. X-Factor base.
“Fury signed off on this?” Scott said as his team walked in and out of the main room. It was odd being at the base but now that everyone was home he was making sure it was the right place for them to be.
“I did, but he hasn’t reversed it.” Maria was with him, going through the new regulations to make sure they were fully understood. “You had some pointed things to say.”
He didn’t like having to move against Maria, she was family as much as anyone, but that was what the time as required. However she had also come through for them as well.
“It was a hard time.” It was as close as he was going to offer to an apology. “But behind us now, thanks to you. We didn’t expect him to agree to all of it.”
“I did see some bargaining points but they made sense. I just don’t want you out there alone again, we can find the balance of freedom and safety here.” They were at the end, with only a few changes to be made. Already Maria was happier. Looking around life had returned, in its messy, loud and wonderful form. “How was Xavier? It’s been years.”
“He’s odd.” Scott, now happy with the rules, leaned back. “More going on under the surface then on it. It was a little unsettling.”
“Now you know how we feel when you and Jean keep us out of the loop.” She teased and Scott only smiled, glancing to the hall where the young woman was. He began to pick up the papers.
“Speaking of we’ll put this into a handbook form.” He was making sure to keep the pages in order. “And make out a full schedule, get back in the hero business. Thank you, Maria. It nice to have a friend out there.”
Getting up Scott walked to the back rooms were Jean was already working on the mission files and getting them in order. She had spent much of the prior day at the hospital where she got the refugees stable and got the stronger powers under control. It wasn’t every power anymore, just the ones that posed threats, and even then until they got control.
There was talking on the inside of the door and he hurried inside to see that the new member was sitting on the desk as his wife worked. She was having fun with Storm, not knowing the woman well he didn’t know how he felt about her being close to someone he hadn’t gotten to know first. Jean was looking over the information and Ororo seemed to be helping.
“So many terrible stories, Jean.” She was saying in her semi-formal tone. “I do not understand how you can look at them all.”
“Only terrible for now, almost done.” Making notes and putting the files in order she looked at and saw him walk in, smiling. Ororo got off the desk and nodded.
“It would be bad ones now.” He said and leaned over the desk to look. He would have stolen a kiss but he wasn’t used to other people being in their chambers.
“They’re in order, I have one and two team options but that call falls to you.” Jean handed over the files, they were heavy. He traded the new rules book to her.
“One for now, we need this out.” She looked at the papers and nodded. He looked at his new member. “You up for your first field mission?”
“I am.” The tall woman said, she was trying to make a good impression. With Jean it was working, he was still not decided. She began to walk out. “I’ll be getting prepared.”
No sign of conspiracy, just uncertainty. Jean was getting the process started to get the manual done. She doesn’t know where she stands with you.
Smirking he grabbed a kiss and grabbed his bag. Good.
-X-Factor-
5 am Wensday. Newman, Georgia. Mutant Retainment center.
“Deploy in five minutes. Suit up and check your neighbor.” Alex heard and stood up, reaching to check Skye’s pack. He would have thought she would be shaken but instead he found her almost scarily focused. She didn’t say anything as he finished the check and wordlessly waited for him to turn as well. Colossus, who Storm had not gotten to know as well, had his pack checked as well. Skye was still in a world of her own.
Scott nodded, after the lock down and the hatred she had seen only working it out was going to calm her down. The people at the camp were more than worthy of her rage.
Alex also checked his brother’s bag while Ororo watched. The team was close, and while they were polite they also didn’t trust easily. Thankfully she didn’t need help to fly. They got to the site and jumped out, she would have to learn the patterns later.
“Alex, secure the exit. Skye you’re taking security, we need them cold and I don’t mind if their also terrified. I’ll blow out a path. Colossus, as long as this place is open kids are at risk. See it isn’t. ” They were all on radio as Scott talked. “Storm they’ll bring in support, I don’t want them to get it. That okay with you?”
“I will protect you all, of course. Go.” Staying slightly out of sight to move only when needed. Maria nodded from her place at the pilots seat and signaled that she was ready to deploy.
Falling to the ground Scott arrived by the back door and blasted the door. Alex quickly moved in while his brother fought and took position at the door. There were twenty or so Friends at a security
Desk and at the sight of the mutant could always be counted on to get them going. Distracted by Alex and Scott taking flanks they didn’t see the enraged young woman that came after.
“Enough!” Arms out stretched Skye focused and the floors and walls began to shake. Unsure of the concrete under their feet they did, letting the brother rush to the back. A few saw them and moved to the computers, which Skye did not approve. She moved the wave to the area, tossing the people against the wall. Corralling them to an area where they couldn’t do any harm she shook cement from the area to trap them, clearly still angry. “Feel free to give me a reason.”
Inside Alex was rushing to the guard posts and taking out the people there, his own vibrations sealing them in the rooms. Scott saw the doors open and the terrified kids inside. It never changed. He was leading a group of them to the back exit, where Alex waited to direct them to the parked plane, when he heard what could only be described as war yells come from the security desk. The rage was clear.
Ushering the kids to the door Alex nodded and took over the role as Scott hurried to the screams, both of Skye’s rage, Colossus’s rage and the norms terror. It led him to a back hallway with clearly medical use. Skye was utterly and entirely destroying the place as the personnel tried to run but were stopped. She only moved on when the person running was trapped under rubble. Colossus trying, expertly, to help the kids in the room. But without medical training he was lost.
“Skye! Stop!” She was using her force to throw large chunks of wall at now bleeding nurses, this was not going to help anyone. He blasted the pieces and she moved to direct more. He barely got them to in time before they finished the people off. “What are you doing!”
“They-“ She, with the rage now interrupted, was having trouble speaking. “They were-“
He could see her dissolve and supported the weeping form as he picked up one of the files that littered the ground. He understood the rage now. Alex appeared and he motioned for his brother to take Skye to out, she needed to get away from this.
“We’ll need the Doc, call now.” Alex nodded, eyes wide. He could tell whatever this was it was bad. Scott turned his attention to the people he had kept alive.
Slowly walking down the hall to the pinned people he glanced into the rooms. Mutants of all ages connected to machines, treated like common experiments. He had seen nightmares in his time but this was among the worst even of them. Children of four or five were fascinating genetic material, as angry as he was he still felt sick.
The people at the end of the hall seemed to know it, and there was only thing he knew to do. Her range was good enough now. If he explained why he wanted it he didn’t see a problem.
Jean’s mind communicated how utterly sickening his news was to her, knowing her own fears had come to light.
We’ll need them to speak, own to what they were doing. Scott said, letting her see through his eyes. And we’ll need to know what they did to reverse as much damage as we can. It’s force but-
It’s going to save lives and being part of this was a choice, they should answer for it. Done. Save as many of the files as you can and the personnel there will be more than happy to get the kids into the jet. I’ll have a wing here ready for you. He could hear the angry sarcasm.
The nurses and doctors that were able to stand soon began to stand up, hurt but still functional, and move to rooms. They lowered or removed chemicals, removed equipment from the young bodies and gathered files for transport. Scott just watched. Storm arrived shortly after – the reinforcements now stopped. She had the look of someone who was eager to help, but blanched at what she saw.
“Already on it.” He said dryly at her alarmed look. “Welcome to X-Factor.”
-
X-Factor-
X-Factor-
Thursday, late afternoon. X-Factor Medical Facility.
Kurt didn’t remember being this tired, but considering what was going on around him that was possibly the case for more than a few of the people here. With the mutant collections taking place, a thought he still didn’t have his mind around completely, business was hoping.
“Kurt! You’re needed buddy!” He saw Alex arrive with someone on a stretcher, a teen that was absolutely reaching panic. “Mind talking him down? All the telepaths are tied up.”
Being blue and fur covered he was an obvious sign that mutants, even obvious ones like him, were going to be okay here. It was a young man, black. He had open surgical cuts and visible needle marks. It took him a minute to form words from thinking what had happened to him. Alex looked at him, he understood but needed him to calm the kid down or they’d have to use more needles, and the teen had seen enough needles already.
“No, no. You are no longer in danger!” The teen, seeing Alex who looked normal, was reacting. His wounds would pay for it. He worked to move the gaze. “See? I am like you, I’m even Blue! He is to, vell not blue, but like us. I am the only one that is blue here.”
The boy grinned, if barely, and looked at Alex for conformation. He nodded and smiled a bit as he pushed the gurney closer to the wing where he could get help.
“Sea of freaks around here.” Alex said and the teen, still scared, began to fight to calm down. “Kurt here, me, my whole family really. I’m afraid you’re stuck with us weirdos now.”
“Ve’re here, ve’re here!” Kurt saw the Doc at the door, the man walked over to look at the patient. Quickly making notes of what would be needed. “See, he’s gold. You’re one of ze boring ones, not even a veird color.”
“Ya, we’re the boring types in these parts. It takes getting used to.” Gold was with them now and smiling at the attempt. It was working. Alex needed to get him into the theater. “I kinda miss being special, you know? The Good Doc will make it right. And we’ll be here, you’ll be fine. Just try to trust that. All up from here.”
Gold nodded at the sendoff and took the cart. The two young men watched, hearing more patients come in.
“Vat wasn’t too bad, how many more to go?” Kurt asked and Alex nodded to the entrance, they had a ways to go. “How does vis happen?”
“Have to have the right Friends, we’re lucky that way.” Alex shrugged, for a moment showing his own tiredness. ‘Is what it is, lets go.”
-X-Factor-
Thursday Afternoon. Bolixi, Mississippi. Mutant Retainment Center.
“Ya, this is busted up.” Cable said, he hadn’t bothered knocking. The destruction had made it clear who was inside. “Solid work.”
Bishop was doing rounds, like him. The news had hit that the mutant centers were experimenting on the kids, throwing the country into even greater chaos over the mutant issue. While the tongues on the news wagged they worked.
“I do my job, are you doing yours?” Bishop had cleaned up the base a few days prior, but they needed somewhere to meet.
“Helps when you don’t have to make them talk.” Cable grabbed a chair and pulled out the flask from his pants. Without speaking he pulled out a second one and tossed it over.
“Drink your own cheap swill. What do you have?” Bishop tossed it back and pulled out his own. “Besides the obvious.”
“The rescue distraction, ya that was freakin’ obvious. They’re targeting Fury, know SHIELD is tied in. Still want Pheonix, but it’s less of a deal.” Cable’s knuckles were worn. There had been fighting.
“Found a replacement. I know two, both less powerful. One in that Utopia place, the other is dead.” Taking a sip Bishop tried to think of who else.
“Not dead. Frost. Emma Frost. Died in our time but still here in this one. Wouldn’t keep up, but I wouldn’t want to discount her.” Cable had looked her up. “Been after Mom for ages, tied up in this now. Thankfully for us she’s easy to trace, incredible fashion sense. But it leads us with a question I don’t want to ask.”
“Why did that change.” Bishop said, thinking the same. “Who else is here?”
“And why did they want Emma Frost alive?” Cable said, chances were the reason wasn’t good.
-X-Factor-
Friday Morning Training. X-factor Base.
Pietro leaned on the wall and listened to the voices in the training room. Wanda was okay again. Hell she was on fire, it was nice to see. Working with Jean he could see she was getting better, even happier. He was the only one that felt useless.
A second training room has been installed and he could hear the tech woman working on it, putting in the same programs as the first time. He had done his training that morning and was hiding out, trying to settle his mind. There was too much going on.
“Pietro, you have a minute?” He looked up and saw Scott there, Skye right behind him. She looked annoyed.
Standing up he followed, Scott led them into the new training room. Rachel was tying wires and programming the computer but he motioned her to wrap it up and leave as he walked in. She hurried to tie up the exposed wires. The programming she could come back to.
“Battle monitors. Keep them on you. So we know when to pull you out.” Handing all three of them one of the new devices, she grabbed her work box and left. The small bag of completed monitors was smaller than it had been. She had been handing them out.
Scott sealed the door and took his own turn leaning on the wall, looking at the two. He didn’t say anything but instead let the moment sink in. Skye started to fidget and he wasn’t having it.
“Spit it out! I am not putting up with this!” He walked to the sealed door but it was locked.
“Rage, both of you.” He motioned to two work stools nearby and nodded. “Sit.”
It took a moment for the two to remember that no one was going to float them over and they walked over and picked them up. Skye wasn’t happy either, she looked almost as pissed as him.
“Have we been told on?” Skye asked sarcastically.
“Firstly, no need.” Scott said, sitting on an empty pain can. “I can feel what you guys are putting out and I tend to be on the dense side. Secondly, Jean has been trying to ignore both of you but if you broadcast your emotions with fog horns there’s only so much she can do. I expected more subtlety from a hacker and a gypsy.”
They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few more moments. Scott seemed to be forming thoughts but did speak.
“Everyone on the team gets where you’re at right now-no, we do.” He could see they were going to object. “You think you’re the only one with sister issues, Pietro? Colossus’s is still out there, going through god knows what, and he can’t do a thing. At least yours is safe on base and working to get stronger. So she won’t be hurt again. And the terror of being pinned down and trapped, Skye? Read some old mission briefings. That was mission of the week for a years. It sucks, I had to leave Jean behind more than once to get the mission done. She had to learn to take care of herself, but she knew the mission came first. Made her into who she is now.”
Scott stood up and leaned on the wall again. Skye was looking down, Pietro wanted not to care but he hadn’t known about the silver-skinned man’s loss.
“We did what times called for but a number of you are in need of serious training and orientation. And some history and self-control. You’re X-Factor material, both of you. But we all need polish. Main dock, 0800 tomorrow. The good Doc will be taking you through some things, we’ll help.” He opened the door. “You’ll get there, but the only person who gets hurt when you can’t account for yourself is everyone. And we can’t afford that. We have to work smart or we lose.”
-X-Factor-
Friday Evening Staff Meeting.
“I expected Ororo to put up an argument.” Maria said as she moved to the next item on the list. “She seems to be having a good time.”
“No, she came up with the idea, actually.” Jean was focused again, Maria liked seeing it. “She wanted to understand us, thought it was the best way.”
“Impressive woman. They are starting with regulations, and following with procedures. Wrapping up with a drill.” Scott had the timing almost down. “And then we have our team B.”
“New room finished and programmed. Rachel pointed out that she’s here more than she is not. A room would make it easier.” Alex smiled, the table smiled. It was true. “It is a hell of a commute.”
“Done. She’s a great kid, be good to have her close.” Scott wrote in the direction, Jean looking on and smiling.
“New issue. Request from Fury.” Maria said and the table turned to look at her, wary. “He wants to try blending teams. Alex, Jean and of course Scott because they look normal. See how norms react to dealing with mutants. If it works it could help S.H.I.E.L.D. generally.”
“That is now it starts. You get into the military and people have to respect your being there.” Alex could see it, Scott was uneasy.
“Or they send you to a camp and do things to you.” Scott added, pulling from the same historical era.
“It’s your call. But he’s offering some of his best people. I’d take it.” Maria said but the table seemed unconvinced. “Look, I’ll be there. If he tries to pull anything I’ll sound the alarm. You want to be integrated into S.H.I.E.L.D., you wanted to be welcome. Honestly, I pulled for this. It’s not healthy for all of you to be locked up here forever. You are part of the family, it’s time we acted like it.”
“We have a fail safe.” Jean said, still weary but willing. She nodded to her husband. “If we never try we have ourselves to blame.”
“One mission, and we’ll see how it goes.” Scott said firmly. “Just one.”
“I understand, I’ll get the ball rolling. It will be in a about a week, I’ll tell update when there’s more.” Maria smiled a little, knowing her kids we’re finally going out.
-
X-Factor-
X-Factor-
Summers Suite. Saturday night, 11 pm.
It was hard to sleep without Scott, but he was off on a mission and there was nothing for it. After personal practice, training with the telepaths and hospital rounds she had to peel her clothes off. But the shower felt amazing. By the time she climbed into bed she could feel the weariness. Sleep came before her head hit the pillow.
It was not long after that she was dragged back to wakefulness. Something pinned her mind, then her limbs. There were a blinding pain, and darkness.
Rachel had turned off the cameras, putting them on a loop. Once her mother was asleep she had come in and done what needed to be done. The implant, the same as her own, had been sunk into the fair skin rested now against the bone.
Catching her breathe Rachel climbed off the bed, the searing pain her mother had felt also seared into her mind. She sat by the bed and wept for a time, remembering her own pain. But this was how they were safe. This was how they were spared.
She had had to place her own.
She climbed back on the bed again and, taking that one spare moment, rested her head on the long absent shoulder. Some part of her remembered it, what is was to be safe.
Things would be different now, they had to be.