Back to Gatefold#5 by A. Crute
December 2017 |
WHERE WALKS THE JUGGERNAUT! - Part 2
Previously in Xavier Academy…
“Hey I’m Bobby Drake and I’m breaking the fourth wall just like She-Hulk and Deadpool…neither of who I know exist in this continuity… to fill everyone in on what happened in the first issue of this arc.”
“First up and obviously most importantly, I managed to get a date, she’s hot, cute and whatever else any 14 year old boy could be looking for in a prospective date…I thought Hank did too with some hot dancer called Stevie but it turns out he’s as gay as the day is long...Who knew? So not the Stevie he would probably like”
“Jean and Warren started dating. Scott hasn’t been taking it so well since he found out but is trying to hide it…though that happens between issues and you’ll get filled in via exposition as we go.”
“Then finally it turns out the Professor has a brother, he’s an ass hat and he turned up at the mansion and tried to throw us out. The Professor had little option to let him stay. This is because when they were younger The Prof accidentally killed their ‘father’ in self defence and then erased Cain’s memories of the whole thing so he just woke up with no memory next to the dead body of his father…I don’t know this either, just Moira. Oh and he’s AWOL from the army but no one knows this yet, Chuck expects it though. Still it can’t be bad I distinctly remember The Professor telling us that Cain wouldn’t be here long”
Now…
“Three weeks!” cried Bobby before banging his fist down on the table. “He’s been here for three weeks being a complete A-Hole and The Professor wont do a thing!” He had pushed his chair back and was leaning across the mansions pool table where he had decided to hold court amongst the other students of the Xavier Academy.
“What’s an A-Hole?” Rahne asked raising her hand. The teens looked to her and then shot death stares at Bobby. Rahne had only been allowed in on the discussion because she pulled that darn ‘I’m so cute’ look at Jean.
“It’s not really been that bad has it Bobby?” Hank offered as he tried to be the voice of reason to the small group.
“Not that bad?...not that bad?” Bobby shook his head in disdain, a level of disdain which was a little over the top. “I haven’t iced up in three weeks, do you realise how freaking hot it gets around this damn mansion?” Bobby growled pulling his sweat soaked T-Shirt away from his body, the others hadn’t even noticed thinking it was a rather cool day.
“You know I hate to do it but I have to agree with Bobby,” Warren nodded towards his young companion, which caused the teen mutant to stick his tongue out at the winged mutant. “They’re still probably not strong enough to fly on but my wings are really straining against this harness, I thought not flying was bad enough but if I don’t let them out I could go crazy.”
“Doesn’t the psychic flights we go on help?” Jean looked over at her boyfriend. She and Warren had been using her burgeoning telepathy powers to play through some of his memories of flying as if they were happening all over again. Xavier seemed to let Jean’s use of her powers slip by. Her telepathy was so un-intrusive and not visible so it didn’t really hurt. She however wasn’t allowed to use her powers on Cain and was still banned from using her telekinesis.
Warren reached across the side of the table and held her hand tightly. “They’re nice, really but then when we stop it just makes it feel even worse.”
Jean looked up to the group. Scott’s head shifted in direction quickly. He had been glancing unknowingly at the hands of his two team mates. He had been trying to hide it as best he could over the past few weeks but when you have a massive crush on a good friend’s girl it made hanging around with the two of them most of everyday really difficult.
Jean moved her hand free of Warren’s and tried not to make eye contact with Scott as she picked up on his despair, sadness and all the other churning emotions he had.
Warren looked from her and then read her face well, glancing at Scott he stared at the red shades of the mutant. He hated that he couldn’t make eye contact. ‘Eye contact is the best way to form a relationship Warren whether it’s friendship or asserting a dominant role’ the voice of his father echoed.
“I’ll admit, we haven’t been able to train in the last three weeks…I worry we’ll get rusty just when Magneto chooses to attack somewhere,” Scott added with a solemn nod.
“Trust Mr Summer to come up with the one good thing about all of this,” Bobby rolled his eyes. Scott was a square plain and simple. “If we had a prefect or head boy instead of team leader then Scott would be it and probably shine the Professor’s shoes…though he didn’t really use them so they’d be clean…he’d inflate his tyres or something.”
“Well Bobby I don’t really know what we can do about it.” Hank cut in trying to steer the conversation. Scott was giving Bobby a glare, even without seeing his eyes that much was clear. He had begun to notice his fellow students snapping at one another, the secrecy in their own home and lack of powers was beginning to get to all of them in some small way or another. “The Professor has explained that his brother can’t know were mutants and there is nothing we can do to make him leave. It’s just something we’ll have to put up with.”
“It’s not even just that,” Bobby sighed, leaning his entire body on the pool table. “The guy is a…” he shot a quick look to Rahne “…Jerk!”
“Tell us something we don’t know Ice-Cube. He’s obnoxious” Warren nodded.
“He stares at Moira and I in a way I don’t like,” Jean nodded.
“He’s uncouth to be certain,” Hank volunteered with a sigh.
“He’s a meanie who won’t let me watch Sponge Bob…and I can’t turn into a wolf anymore,” Rahne let out a little feral growl.
“He does walk around the place like he owns it…okay he does but he does it in a certain way,” Scott agreed.
“Plus he’s crude,” Bobby shook his head in disgust. The four teens stared at him with some level of disbelief. “Y’know not in the cute and endearing way that I am.”
“So what is the point of all this Bobby?” Scott asked cutting to the point of the whole discussion. “Were just going around in circles telling each other things we all already knew.”
“I suggest,” Bobby tightened his fist and looked at the faces of all the teens around him “…revolution. The Prof and Moira wont do anything about it so we do!”
The four teens exchanged glances and then looked concernedly at Bobby. “I think the ‘heat’ has went to your head Robert,” offered Hank. Warren and Scott couldn’t help but smirk at Bobby’s idea.
“I’m serious,” said Bobby, he held out his hands as if imploring his fellow team mates to take him seriously.
“Well I think this can bring an end to this makeshift revolution by Bobby Fawkes eh?” Hank took a step away from the table. A muscle in his back twinged, he didn’t admit it but he had been in a lot of pain recently. His natural stance was a hunched or crouched one and so standing up straight for so long was causing problems for him.
“Hank come on…Hank?” Bobby pleaded.
“Bobby we have a ‘double-date’ with Stevie and Zelda. I’d sure like to cancel it, nothing turns my stomach as much as seeing you with your face pressed against hers whilst I’m trying to discuss politics with Stevie. So if you’d rather plan this little revolution, we can…”
“I’ll go change my T-shirt, I’ll sweat through it before we get there though,” he sighed and began to walk alongside his friend.
“Once were clear of the mansion I’ll let you freeze a bottle of water in the car,” Hank patted his friend on the shoulder as the two vanished from sight.
This left the three teens who were locked in what Bobby continued (much to the chagrin of all involved as they tried to gloss over the situation) to call a love triangle and Rahne.
“So…Scott what are you going to do this afternoon?” Jean offered a smile. Scott was a friend of hers, she enjoyed his company but the wedge which was being forced between her was making this difficult. She was the one of the three who was most trying to gloss over the whole occurrence.
“I…I’ve got some reading to catch up on, history stuff, The Professor has set me an assignment on military leaders and their tactics,” Scott nodded.
“I’ve got ‘The Art of War’ if you need a copy. My Dad gave it to me when I was 10, something about the killer edge in business,” Warren smiled.
“I’ve already got a copy,” Scott spoke quickly, almost a snap “thanks though.” He pulled himself up immediately. He hadn’t meant to snap. He thought about asking what the two would do but decided not to, he didn’t want to know honestly and he knew that Jean would pick up on that. He just turned and left.
Warren and Jean looked to one another. “That was…I want to say weird,” Jean sighed.
“When he’s done stuff like this for the last few weeks it moves over into just plain rude. I get he liked…likes you but were together now and he needs to get over it. He’s our friend, he can be sad for himself but he should be happy for the two of us.”
Jean nodded. “I’ll try and have a word with him, maybe we should just leave him alone for the rest of the afternoon.” She kissed Warren as he nodded and the two turned to leave.
Rahne was left standing in the room by herself. She scratched behind her ear. She didn’t really understand everything which was going on between the older students but she sure thought it all seemed complicated.
Xavier’s room…
Charles sat at the desk in his room working through some paperwork. He had papers to grade from the students, some legal work to complete and the several articles to review and comment on as part of his ever ongoing study of biology, psychology and mutation.
He found the desk in his room the best place for his studying today rather than his office. A gentle rap at the door pre-ceded the appearance of Moira. Charles had explained that he had an open door policy with her, she was free to enter at any point she wished.
The two had been friends since they were 18. There was nothing which had passed between them in all this time that they had not shared with one another at one time.
“Look at ye hiding yuirsel away in here all day,” Moira tutted. She crossed the room and perched on the corner of his desk. Charles wheeled himself back away from the table and turned to face his friend. Her hair was swooped back behind her head and the simple blouse and black skirt she wore was set off nicely with a pinny.
“I’m sorry if I’ve seemed a little scarce, I’ve had a lot to do,” Charles nodded and smiled.
“Ah,” Moira exhaled and shook her head. “ye cannae lie to me Charles, never could. Yuir hiding away in yuir bedroom from yuir rank banjin bampot brother like ye used to when ye were a wee bairn.”
Charles face went serious for a second. “I could see how it would seem that way Moira but honestly I’ve just been feeling a better level of concentration here as of late.”
“Aye and why do ye think that is ye big fool?” Moira tsked “I may not have the doctorate in Psychology like you do but I can read ya well enough.”
Charles was about to speak but was silenced by Moira raising a hand. “Yuir office is the one Doctor Marko used to use…aye yuir father before him but then it was his. Yuir brother being back has put you right back into the state of mind when you were a wean.”
Charles was silent for a few seconds. It all certainly made sense, he was in part responsible for the death of his stepfather (the weak blood vessels in the brain which could have honestly went at any point being the actual cause) and then he wiped his step brother’s memory of the whole thing. All his brother knew was that he had been arguing with his father and then blacked out, when he came to his father was dead by a trauma in the brain.
“You may have a point Moira but given the relationship and the past my brother and I share I think it would be best if I just remained out of his way until he has moved on again.”
“Aye Charles I dunno what to do with ye half the time,” she sighed deeply “Half the time you’re Martin Luther King and then half the time you’re a little boy. Is this what you should be teaching the children…the children you’ve barely seen in two weeks, hide away from your problems and mistakes…I’m not saying you have to tell Cain what happened but hiding in your room.” Moira drifted off in her sentence. “He doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anyway.”
“He’s AWOL Moira, I’ve checked. He’ll have to move along before long or the Military Police will catch up with him,” Charles said, he tried to keep eye contact but had to look away.
“Aye Charles and nothing will get any better,” she sighed and shook her head. “He’s an awful man Charles, an awful boorish bloke and a bully to boot. The students all hate him…more than they hate Erik probably and you’ve done nowt but hide from him. You need to come out, I’ve got Lunch on the go for everyone, come down and join us. Lessen the brunt of your brother on them eh?”
Charles smiled. “It’s the least I can do I’m sure,” he nodded. He had been lacking in his duties as a role model and guardian of the students and it was time he faced up to it. He did not like his brother, he did not love his brother but the two were bound by their pasts and their current circumstance and so he had duties to answer to. He was his brother’s keeper as long as he was interacting with his students.
An hour later…
Moira was serving up the portions of chicken and chips she had made onto plates in the kitchen. Warren was giving her a hand wondering whether he should feel bad about eating his fellow feathered brethren since his mutation was basically giving him features of a bird.
Jean and Charles couldn’t help but smile as they picked up the stray thought. The two telepaths were sitting at the table in the kitchen with Rahne, Cain and Scott.
“Shouldn’t a Doctor be trying to get us to eat healthier rather than just giving us fries?” Warren queried as he shook the metal grid after lifting the ‘chips’ out of the deep fat fryer Moira has bought.
“Chips Warren, world of difference,” she pulled one from the basket and bit the end of it. “Who could resist these really? Plus once in a while winnae hurt.”
“So,” Charles began with a thought out intensity “are you going to be up to anything this afternoon Cain?”
Cain looked up from the racing form he was reading. He didn’t tilt his head but merely rolled his eyes upwards to stare at his brother across the table. “Why?”
“I’m just inquiring, making conversation,” Charles said defensively. Cain’s eyes remained fixed on his brother, it was simple eye contact but it came across as aggressive and intimidating. “You’re staring at me Cain.”
“Just making eye contact Chucky, best way to read a man…never trust or like anyone who you can’t stare in the eye without them blinking.” His eyes panned off Charles as he blinked and over to Scott. He lingered there for a second before Scott spoke.
“You can’t see because of my eye condition…I’m not blinking,” Scott’s voice was like ice. He was never one to suffer bullies gladly. It was something his dad had managed to instil in the boy before his all to premature death.
“Scott, please calm down,” Xavier said telepathically to calm his ward. Cain snorted and smiled.
“Just planning to lie around and drink some beer, relax on my leave,” Moira cast him a sceptical glance. Then raised her eyebrows at Charles as she moved out of Cain’s view.
“Do you know when you’ll be called back?” Charles smiled and nodded thank you as Moira lowered the plate of food she held in front of him.
“Looking to get rid of me Cue Ball?” Cain wrinkled his nose at the plate of food in front of him and then ignoring the fork picked up a piece of chicken with his hand and popped it in his mouth.
“I don’t think the name calling is really necessary Cain, were adults now…”
“…it really still bugs you doesn’t it Chuck? Used to get you really riled up when I called you that as a kid.” He smiled. “I tell you what guys,” he turned to the three teenagers “You should have seen ‘The Professor’” he put on a haughty tone as he said it “when he was your age, or even the pipsqueaks age…little bald freak.” He snorted again and turned his face to see if he was getting under his brother’s skin.
“Anyway,” Charles began again “I of course am not trying to get rid of you Cain but you have been rather taking over the house. Henry informs me that you…accidentally I’m sure…messed up an experiment he has spent a week or two arranging. I’m afraid I can’t let you interfere with my students lessons, their parents would be most displeased.”
Charles was trying to remind Cain of the lie he had told him when he first arrived. The students parents would sue the two brothers in bankruptcy if their offspring’s education did not take the foremost concern.
“Henry…” Cain thought for a second. “…He’s the fat tub right?”
“Cain,” Charles hissed. “I have kept my calm and a civil tongue in my mouth because you are my brother and because of our history but please do not push me…please do not make me do something I don’t want to do.”
Cain’s face turned, a scowl etched across it. “What exactly would that be?”
“I’m sure your superiors would like a call…just to tell them how you’re doing obviously.” Cain kept up the stare for another second or two.
“Can I help it if I can’t remember any of your students names?” he glanced across the table at Jean. “Except Jeanie of course…not going to forget her in a hurry,” his yes moved from her face to another part of her body.
Scott’s fist tightened on the table. Warren, Jean and Charles all looked to him. Jean and Charles both keeping him calm with a mental command. “You’ve got a thing about good looking red heads aint you Chuck? Moira, Amelia…Raven was it? How long before you move onto this little tasty bite.”
“That’s it!” Scott was standing on his feet, shoving his chair away with a kick of his foot. He was instinctively clearing the area ready for a fight if needs be. He was trained, he was sure he could take the larger more powerful man. Cain stood up a split second later and kicked his chair backwards. He stared at the red sunglasses of Scott. “Listen to me you Jackass, I’m not going to sit here and listen to your crap anymore!”
“You want to take this somewhere Slim just say the word, I can take any punk who can’t even look me in the eye” Cain growled like an animal. Moira pulled Rahne close to her.
“Trust me, nothing would give me more pleasure,” Scott’s face was stone.
“SCOTT!” Charles barked in reprimand. “Warren, Jean…please take Scott to calm down. I will deal with him later.”
Warren and Jean got to their feet and tried to push and pull Scott. He remained staring at Cain for a second before he finally gave and was ushered out of the room. Cain glared at him even as the door swung shut and they vanished from sight.
“Cain,” Charles barked again. His brother’s eyes panned down to him. “I want you gone! I want you gone by morning or I will call the Military Police myself.” There was silence between the two men as they stared at one another, Cain turned and exited the other door to the kitchen.
Charles tense shoulders slid down the chair and he let out a long sigh.
Outside…
The three X-Men was standing in the foyer of the mansion. Jean was rubbing Scott’s shoulder in an effort to comfort and calm him.
“Jesus Scott I didn’t think you had it in you,” Warren smiled, it was a weak smile. There was obviously something going on in his mind.
Scott’s head slumped forward and he ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what got into me, I just got sick of him just getting onto everyone all the time.”
“No you didn’t,” Warren sighed looking from Scott to Jean and then back. The two teens were just about to ask ‘what?’ when Warren continued. “He only got your back up when he said something about Jean,” Warren cursed.
“No, Warren it isn’t…”
“Look Scott!” Warren cut across the other teen. “I get it, you liked Jean…we both did and she chose ok, she chose. I’ve spent the last three weeks tiptoeing around you and sucking up to you, ignoring the fact you’re the reason I can’t fly just to make you feel better. I consider you a friend and it sucked we both liked the same girl but get over it already! So I’ve been a friend to you and you be a friend to me now and to Jean and just be happy for us.”
This tirade had been building in Warren for three weeks. Jean wouldn’t be herself around him and Scott, she wouldn’t let Warren kiss or touch her and she changed the subject whenever he tried to make plans. They had been tiptoeing around sulky Scott all this time despite the fact Warren was going absolutely crazy with being unable to fly.
“Warren I didn’t mean to…” Scott trailed off, he didn’t really have anything to say in his defence. He realised how he had been for the past few weeks.
Warren sighed. “It’s fine…I over reacted. She doesn’t need you to stick up for her, she can do it for herself and I’m there to do it when she can’t.”
Jean looked from Scott to Warren, her cheeks were bright red. She had been picking up on both boy’s thoughts but had tried to silence or ignore them in her own mind. “I also don’t need you to speak for me,” she sighed, she looked to Warren with a weak smile. Scott hadn’t bothered her and she was a little upset Warren decided to speak for her but she could see that it had been bugging him so she couldn’t exactly call him insensitive if she didn’t acknowledge that.
Warren suddenly stumbled forward and let out a cry of pain. Scott was at his side in a second to grab him. The teen’s eyes were bulging out and Scott could see the tension being put into the back of his shirt. “PROFESSOR!” screamed Jean.
Warren stumbled down to his knees as the Professor and Moira came through the kitchen door with Rahne in tow.
The shirt ripped to shred second later. Angel’s wings spread wide behind him knocking Scott sideways. The two teens stumbled to catch their own body weight.
“What’s going on?” jean asked, the worry in her voice was palpable.
“Warren’s wings are healing, I can only guess that they need to stretch at the moment and have burst free of the harness. Warren I need you to go upstairs as quickly as you can and…”
“I can’t do it Professor, I can’t have them bound again…” He shook his head and began climbing to his feet. “..they’re not hurting any.” He tried to give them a brief flap but they barely moved before the pain raced across his face.
“He can go into the woods, no one will see him there,” Scott nodded to Warren. The teen responded with a similar nod. Scott reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys “I started overhauling the van and the car this morning…you can take my bike, stick to the routes I showed you before and it’s unlikely you’ll run into anyone.”
“Go with him and make sure he doesn’t run into Cain…Jean and I will try and find my brother and steer him away should he head in that direction.”
Salem Centre…
The foursome who had become a regular sight at the Coffee bean were taking up their usual corner spot.
“I really don’t get why we come back here all the time? Am I the only one who thinks it sucks?” Bobby poured a packet of sugar out onto the table.
“You know anywhere better? It’s craptacular but it’s this of McDonalds with everyone else out of my class at school,” Zelda wrinkled her nose. She was slumped down in the seat next to Bobby. The two had become fast ‘friends’ which usually involved mutual snarking over things, listening to music on headphones or ‘necking’.
“You’re the one whose lived here all your life, I’m new and exotic,” Bobby flashed a smile and then sighed. Zelda was forced to roll her eyes.
“You’re from Long Island you freak, you’re not exactly exotic” she lurched forward suddenly and blew on the pile of sugar Bobby had been working on for the past five minutes causing the sugar to cascade over him. He let out a curse.
Zelda laughed and then let out a little scream as Bobby leapt around the edge of the table and into the seat next to her. Zelda held out her hands and caught Bobby’s and the two began to wrestle with them. The two teens came closer to one another and their lips met.
“…and so the eternal courtship continues, who had under 15 minutes?” Hank sighed and then shrugged his shoulder to clear off the two teens who were leaning against him “I swear you’d think they wont come up for air until we leave now.”
Stevie Hunter was sitting across from him next to where Bobby had been sitting. She smiled her amazing smile. Stevie was beautiful it would take a blind man not to realise it, Hank however was in a position where he didn’t truly appreciate it. He was certainly more focused on her mind anyway. She was someone who he could have real in depth conversations with.
“So doesn’t her mother mind? You’re supposed to be teaching her daughter dance and yet you bring her to score with…well lets face it a bad influence.” Hank took a sip of his coffee.
“Dance lesson is over, she chose to tag along,” Stevie winked. “I don’t really think her Mom cares, imagine Bobby if he had a time of the month…Miranda is more than happy for some extra free time. I’m not even sure Bobby can match Zelda on…well ‘themness’.”
“Bobby’s parents sent him upstate, he’s not a gifted youngster just an annoying one,” the two older teens laughed. They were practically playing ‘my dad can beat up your dad’ but with the annoyance of their young friends.
“Were sitting right here you know,” Bobby had pulled his head away from Zelda’s for about a second.
“You know what to do about it then,” Hank shrugged his shoulder again to try and clear the two teens off of him. They took the hint this time and climbed to their feet grabbing their coffees as they did so and heading into the corner of the room where they slumped down in a corner booth and began devouring one another again.
“So why are you at the school? You should be in college not in a school with one teacher and a bunch of high school students, you’re wasted there…I know a couple of guys who would kill to meet you.”
Hank smiled at the comment. “The Professor and Miss McTaggart are actually the foremost genetic and biochemical experts in North America if not the world. The education I’m getting with them is phenomenal.”
“College is about more than the education you get,” Stevie smiled. Hank laughed again.
Hank looked over to Bobby and then out of the window. “So is the Academy,” he added wistfully.
The Woods…
Warren cut out the bike engine as he shot over the mound of dirt. He closed his eyes and felt the wind pressing against his wings. They didn’t hurt like this, only when he tried to move them himself. It felt good.
It wasn’t really like flying, he could feel the stiffness of his muscles and the warmth of the low altitude as well as the weight of the bike holding him down but it was the closest he had managed to get in weeks and weeks.
The sun through the trees was warm and the breeze was cool. Warren couldn’t help but smile, he hadn’t felt this good in weeks. He felt like a prize idiot for how he acted with Jean and Scott back at the mansion and he knew he would have to apologies especially given how easily Scott put it behind him to help him out.
He started the bike as it hit the floor and twisted the handlebars leading the bike up a different path. He pulled back and twisted sharply causing the bike to leap across a small ridge of rocks.
He could see why Scott loved this so much. It was such a release, nothing compared to flying but most people would never know that freedom. Scott especially would never know this freedom, he was so uptight and buttoned up that Warren found it hard to imagine he would let himself go enough for this.
The thought of Scott brought back the little love triangle that Warren found himself in. It was messy and he knew it. The playboy Warrington was not a one for love triangles…he was not a one for love really. He generally had whatever women he wanted, his chiselled play boy looks, wit and the money usually saw off any competitors for a young ladies attention. If it didn’t? Warren walked away. There were always more women.
Jean however was different and not just because she was the only girl, though this didn’t help with the situation any. She was different however in the fact that she was the first girl he was willing to fight for. It was just unfortunate that Scott also wanted her.
Warren ramped the bike up and flew off another jump. He was about to cut the engine again when he realised he was leaping through the tree line onto a road. He would need to move quickly across the open distance to make sure no one noticed his wings should they be on the road.
He hit the tarmac on the other side and revved the engine, he scanned up the road to see if anyone was coming. What he saw surprised him, he eased up on the engine and swung the bike underneath him using his foot as a pivot.
100 or so yards down the road was a mass of flaming wreckage. Warren’s sensitive eyes could see the charred corpses in the driving seat of the vehicle. The front looked like it had driven right into one of the trees but it was in the centre of the road. He felt like he should help but the people in the car were far past any help and he needed to get off the road, he could ring the police in a moment.
He turned his head to look in the other direction. His bird like eyes compensated immediately and he ‘zoomed in’ like he was looking through binoculars into the distance. There a figure walked away, heading down the road towards The Salem Centre.
The figure was dressed in brown metal and was about the size of a small bus in height and a small moon bounce in girth. Warren was by no means Hank but he figured out what happened to the car.
“Professor!” he yelled telepathically and then revved the engine on his bike and took off. He would fill The Professor in on events as he went. He needed to keep pace with this monster of a man though.
He was within arms distance of the monster before he turned allowing Warren to scream past him and come to a halt. The man looked like a fat missile. He must have weighed close to a thousand pounds.
He glared at Warren and his large wings. The began to walk towards him, their was purpose in his steps.
The Xavier Academy…
Scott sat as quietly and as still as possible in the chair across Xavier’s desk from The Professor.
He sat with his hands steepled across the bottom of his chin, his face was one of concern. “Scott, what exactly did you think you were doing?” The Professor’s voice was stern, Scott had never heard him so serious.
It was obvious The professor was angry. Scott didn’t like it, he was really beginning to think of The Professor as a surrogate father figure and this was the first time the two had had a cross word.
Charles was annoyed with Scott but the real anger he was feeling however was aimed at himself. He had let Cain go too far many times over the past few weeks.
“Professor,” Scott was about to defend himself. He sat forward instead and sighed out loud “I’m sorry…I lost control.”
“Yes,” Charles nodded “you did Scott. Not only did you lose control of your emotions and composure in an unacceptable manner but you also were about to flagrantly display your powers, the thoughts were clear in your mind.”
Charles stared at Scott, he couldn’t see the teens eyes but was picking up telepathically that Scott wasn’t liking The Professor staring at him, he was making eye contact.
“You showed a disregard for my wishes and the safety if our school, our mission and the other students by almost revealing us to the one person I have no doubt would use it against us,” Charles thought about his words for a moment. He hadn’t realised up till this moment how much he really disliked and mistrusted his brother.
“I was trying to stand up for us, he was…”
The Professor raised his hand to silence Scott. “I am well aware of what you intended to do and the bravery you showed in doing so. It is the only reason…the only reason…that you are remaining the team leader. Should you.”
The Professor’s eyes suddenly seemed to glaze over as he stared through Scott. “Professor?” Scott asked, he climbed slowly to his feet cautious about moving towards his mentor.
Charles suddenly snapped back into the room. His head titled instantly to stare at Scott. “There is trouble in The Salem Centre. Warren has encountered some mutant…some mutant I cannot sense and is currently being chased by him. We need to leave now.”
Charles wheeled himself away from the desk. “Professor, the cars and the vans…they’re in no shape to go anywhere.”
“We have to get there Scott, there must be a way…” The professor trailed off as a noise rang outside of the window. The monstrous roar of the Humvee that his brother drove.
The two mutants looked at one another for a few seconds. Charles’ mind was racing, he lowered his head slightly and sighed. “There is no other choice…this day has been a long time coming.” “Jean, can you hear me?”
Outside the mansion Cain took a step back from the engine block and looked at the dipstick of the car he held in his hand. He nodded and shoved it back into it’s slot and then brought the hood down. He was going on a long car journey, a couple of weeks ahead of what he had originally planned.
He had been planning to lie low at the mansion for another month or so, it would have been even longer without those damn kids running around. Chuck wouldn’t have said boo to him if they weren’t there. How it currently stood however he wasn’t sure if Chuck would call the MP’s or not.
Cain didn’t have the luxury of calling his bluff on this one. He was up on enough charges to make sure he never saw the light of day again. AWOL, Insubordination, Desertion, Theft, unlawful killing and a whole host of other military misdemeanours. He really wondered whether it was worth it.
The cold hard lump of red gem in his bag in the trunk told him it was. An ancient pilfered jewel which was absolutely priceless which someone was willing to pay enough money for that Cain could head to a non-extradition country and live out the rest of his life in the lap of luxury.
He smiled at that thought, the anger he had about the whole Chuck thing melted away with the thought of sipping drinks on a sun kissed beach. He clinked the keys in his hand with a smile.
He tossed them into the air and held out his hand to catch them. They took a sharp right angle in the air and shot to the mansion door into the waiting hands of Marvel Girl.
Cain looked at the slim red head in the skin tight body suit with puzzlement. He wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box but even he could see that this was Jean Grey. She was joined a second or two later by Chuck who was being pushed by that Scott kid in a visor that looked like something off Star Trek.
“What the Fuck do you three think you’re doing? How the hell did you do that to my keys?” Cain was glaring directly at Charles.
“Cain,” The Professor exhaled to calm himself. “I am and always have been a mutant…as are the students at this school. There is a situation nearby which requires our immediate attention and we need to commandeer your car. It will be returned at the first possible..”
“Hell no…freak,” Cain growled. He had always known there was something wrong with the cue ball, something deep down which made him hate him so much. He had never thought it would be something like this, he never thought Charles would turn out to be a Mutie. “Give me back my keys and I am out of here,” he thought for a second about staying, using this against his brother but there was nothing against the law about being a mutant, not yet anyway and there was nothing to stop him from ringing the MP.
“Cain I am sorry but I can’t allow that, we are taking your car,” Cyclops pushed Xavier forward. “I have sworn never to use my powers on you but I will have Jean stop you in your tracks if you try and stop us.”
The three moved towards Cain stopping for a moment before him and then passing him. “Stop,” he growled. “I’ll drive you there and then you’re out on your ass and I’m gone,” the thought of his bag in the back made him compromise.
Charles turned to look at his brother and after a second nodded.
Coffee A Go-Go…
Hank was in the middle of a story about a guy he went to high school with who ended up stark naked in the middle of the school talent show. He was as ever being the constant entertainer, Stevie was doing her role as the audience laughing at all the right parts. The two were enjoying one another’s company.
The café suddenly rumbled. Hank looked at Stevie and she returned it. They were confused. “HANK!” Bobby exploded across the room from where he had been sitting. “We need to go, Warre…” Bobby turned slowly to look at Stevie. “There is some kind of Angel being chased along the road on a motorbike by some kind of giant…we should go call for help.”
Hank was on his feet in seconds. It sounded like a ridiculous comment but it wasn’t exactly outside the realm of possibility. “Right…The Police!” Hank smiled weakly at Stevie and then made for the door with Bobby.
“That is the weakest excuse to ditch a girl ever!” Stevie called after them thinking that Bobby may have just grown bored of poor Zelda.
The angel which roared passed the window on a motorbike followed closely behind by a metal covered giant whose every stampeding footstep caused the ground to shake however blew all other thoughts out of her mind.
The door to the coffee shop no sooner swung shut behind the two boys than a stream of ice shot passed the window followed by a iced up teenager. Bobby had been able to launch right into the battle as his ice-form disguised all of his features.
The wall of ice formed right in front of the metal coated man but he effortlessly smashed through it. His footsteps slowed and he came to a stop turning to face Iceman.
The frost covered mutant swore loudly and then launched himself sideways as the creature took a step towards him.
Warren in the meantime had tried to swing the bike around when he became aware he was no longer being chased. It instead of spinning jolted and threw him forward. The teen’s wings spread wide on either side of him and he felt the slight drag of the air.
He glided for about twenty feet before coming to the ground in a resounding crash. Iceman was at his side a second later sliding at his top speed. He grabbed at the winged mutant and dragged him to his feet as best he could. “What the hell is going on?”
“I don’t know! He was smashing things up heading here. I tried to do something and he started chasing me. He doesn’t seem like the sort to start spouting exposition does he?”
“Move!” Bobby shoved Warren in the opposite direction that he exploded into. He was hurling balls of ice with everything he had. They shattered and exploded on contact with the behemoth. They however did what they were supposed to be doing. They kept the focus on him.
Warren was injured, Bobby had to keep him safe. The iced teen turned a hard right and tried to sail up past the monster man again. He caught out of the corner of his eye a group of people. “Could everyone not bright enough to see this is an emergency please clear the area…I’m a superhero trust me!”
He glided in a circle once he reached behind the man. It was obvious that once he started moving in any direction he wasn’t going to have the smallest turning circle. Bobby breathed in deeply and let flow with a blast of ice towards the massive man’s form.
The ice raced around him as he came to a stop. Iceman had never actually encased someone in ice. He wondered when he should stop, the man needed to breath surely. It only took a few seconds until only the domed helmet of the man was visible above the block of ice.
Bobby watched for a second and then breathed a sigh of relief. It was premature. The ice exploded outwards a second later showering the little frozen teen with masses of ice. A huge chunk about the size of a portable television collided with his head making it slam backwards, the force drove him of his ice covered feet to the floor.
The massive man moved towards the teens fallen form. He got to about seven feet to the boy when there was suddenly a noise behind him. He turned slowly just in time to see the winged boy he had been chasing charging towards him on the motorcycle.
Warren leapt clear at the last second trying to use his wings to glide again but landed badly again. The motorbike slammed into his massive form causing him to lean backwards before a flick of his arm sent it spiralling into the middle of the street.
He silently fixed the winged boy with a stare. In all of this fight Warren had yet to hear the man do anything but scream in anger as he gave chase. He stomped towards Warren who was still trying to get up.
A figure suddenly flew into his vision. The strong hand had pressed down on the top of his helmet and tossed his weight forward somersaulting over the massive man. He was the marvellous bouncing Beast. “Hit the Beast and get a prize…” he cheered loudly.
He pivoted on his hand before grabbing hold of both shoulders and swinging his weight down into the man’s chest feet first. “…miss and you get body slammed!”
The man didn’t move. Beast felt like he had just bounced into a solid wall of metal. He grinned sheepishly and then launched himself away from the man as his monstrous arm swung through the air.
Beast’s hands hit the floor and he back flipped back into a crouched position. “It seems I’m the only member of my team who is still standing…well crouching…it looks like it’s up to me.”
He flipped back again as the man took a step towards him…then another, the second step was much faster. The third was even faster. Beast was calculating that he was using his own momentum to increase his speed.
“I don’t really think even with all your momentum you’ll be able to keep up with me when I really get going.” He launched into a four limbed gallop across the floor and up the side of a building before launching backwards over the head of the charging man.
He slammed hard into the wall. The building shook and lurched as rubble began to cascade down. Beast took a leap back feeling that he had made a very poor decision in that manoeuvre. “Live and Learn Beasty Boy,” he sighed and then charged at the man who was emerging from the rubble.
He pushed his weight down before pushing upwards. His body span on three axis and he stretched out his hands to carry himself over the man who grunted with aggression. The massive fist hurtled underneath him.
He did wonder for a split secondabout whether is was also the best plan. He could out manouver the juggernaut of a man quite easily but it wasn’t going to win any fights.
A stream of red energy exploded around the man. The energy cascaded around him as if he was a spoon under a running tap. Beast breathed a sigh of relief for a moment and then bounded away as best he could.
The red energy cut out after a second when Scott realised it wasn’t doing much good. He spun the dial on the side of his visor up a few notches and fired it again, this time he shifted his weight.
“Professor, this doesn’t seem to be doing much.” The massive man was shifting slowly to face the teens. Can you do anything?”
“I’m trying to gain access to his mind but I’m having difficulty. The helmet he wears is shielding almost like it’s made from Adamantium.”
“I thought you said it was a rare metal...” Bobby groaned. Jean was at his side trying to rouse him and help him up. “We’ve had three fights…and three opponents with Adamantium helmets.”
“It’s good to see you’re back with us Iceman,” the Professor smiled. “Jean our opponent is gathering steam against Scott’s blasts perhaps you can misfoot him?”
Jean nodded placing one hand on her temple and stretching out her other hand before her. She focused on a telekinetic bubble underneath his feet. His massive plate came down and she reeled back letting out a scream of pain. The massive force that he slammed it down with was too much for her.
“Jean!” Scott barked. He cut off his blasts and turned quickly to face his friend.
“Scott focus!” Xavier yelled pointing towards the man mountain.
“Got it!” yelled Iceman, from his lying position he stretched out his hand covering the road in a sheet of ice.
The massive man’s foot came down on the ice and skidded slightly. He remained upright however, the momentum of his movements carrying ever forward. The next footfall however proved fatal to him. The large form of Beast launched onto his back just at the right time causing the unstoppable object to career forward face first into the ice.
Beast leapt clear at the final moment and bounded effortlessly across the ice to his waiting team.
The giant slowly skidded to a halt. It was only a few seconds later that he pressed his hands onto the floor and began to climb up. His head tilted back to face his foes for the first time.
His eyes moved across them and then fixed about 50 feet behind them, the figure he had been searching for all this time…and the energy which flashed against his specially developed senses. “MARKO!” he screamed.
The X-Men turned to look behind them. Charles no sooner turned and made eye contact with his brother then the memories began to flow into his head. He wasn’t trying to read his mind but the thoughts were beaming out of him like some awful waking nightmare.
Cain with a small group of other soldiers in some jungle filled country searching for something. “It’s around here, I’m sure of it.” Growled a black soldier.
“You’re talking out of your ass,” growled Cain. Cain could almost taste it however. The Gem of Cyttorak, the worlds biggest ruby…steeped in myth and legend in the area. They had been hired for a small fortune by some secretive billionaire to go AWOL and take it from whoever was guarding it. They were given a map and everything. Cain had went mercenary.
Days later in a clearing Cain and his men were exchanging gun fire with well trained and devoted religious soldiers whose soul purpose in life was the guard the gem.
The memory then flashed to inside a temple. Cain, wounded and bleeding, the only survivor of his men chasing one of the guards into the tomb of some long dead…and most likely imaginary god.
The next set of images were jumbled. Cain hurling a grenade at some moving black mass of man…namely the villain they were currently fighting. A rockslide or a collapse burying the man beneath tons of rubble.
Cain bent slowly brushing aside some dust and rocks and seizing the giant gem stone. One word echoed through his mind “Juggernaut!” Xavier screamed aloud, he sighed a relief after a second.
“Give him the Gem Cain!” Xavier screamed at his brother. Cain was frozen in fear. He would never admit it but he had been having nightmares about the thing which was currently raging towards him. A forgotten god of destruction…a god he had angered. Xavier suddenly span round “Defend!” he barked an order.
The X-men around him burst into action. Iceman was instantly hurling ice as fast as he could and in as many forms. One hand hurled balls of ice whilst his other froze the floor. He then switched and began setting up walls of ice.
These walls Beast bounded over with hardly any effort. He was hoping the slippery footing and the fact Jean was doing her best to hurl balls of telekinetic energy to gently nudge Juggernaut would allow him actually let him tackle him.
Scott was sprinting at his top speed along the side of the road out of the reach of the ice walls…which Juggernaut was smashing through with ease. He fired blast after blast of crimson energy at the careering monster pausing only when Beast managed to get within distance.
The high flying mutant simply bounced off Juggernaut like he had been hit by a car. He spun in the air and managed to land on his feet.
“Professor, what can I do?” Warren limped to the Professor, he had been avoiding the battle as much as he could because of his injury.
“Warren, you’re reflexes and senses are superior to ours. Watch Juggernaut for any sign of weakness. I need to speak to my brother” Xavier spun his chair around and began to wheel quickly towards his brother.
“Cain you need to give me the Gem! It’s all he wants…you can end this madness!”
“No,” Cain shook his head slowly. “It’s not what he wants…he wants me! Cyttorak wants my soul. He calls to me in my sleep, he wants me. I thought I buried that thing forever but here he is!”
The thoughts cascading off of Cain showed that he at least believed what he was saying. Charles thought for a second…could he really let his brother lose his soul, or whatever was going to happen should Juggernaut get his hands on him. “We need to stop him…nothing is working. Do you know if his helmet is part of the base of the armour or if we can remove it?”
“It can be removed, it was in the temple next to the gem,” Cain nodded. Xavier returned the nod and sent out the telepathic command.
Beast was the first to act. He bounced on top of the Juggernaut’s head and slid his fingers quarter of the way around the base of the helmet before he felt something click. The first catch had been removed.
Juggernaut caught him in one hand and easily disposed of the teen. Iceman whipped an ice slide across Beast’s path causing him to slide into a standing position.
Marvel Girl flung out her hand and focused on the helmet and gave it a tug. It didn’t budge. “There are more catches!”
Cyclops fired a blast against the Juggernauts head. It would do any good against the catch but it distracted him long enough for Bobby to arch over head pushed by Beast on a giant ice loop and scrabble at the edge of his helmet. “Missed!” he yelled followed by a curse as they dropped once gravity finally took control. Beast caught the iced teen in his hands.
Cyclops had managed to get behind Juggernaut and continued to fire. The ‘villain’ turned slowly, it was a needed distraction.
Warren launched forward using an ice wall as a heightened launch point to hurl himself forward. His wings spread and he glided onto the back of Juggernaut. His hand slipped almost to easily into place and clicked both the second and third catches.
Juggernaut reached behind him and dragged the teen forward. Pain raced through Warren as the massive hand tightened around his wings. The blasts of ice, telekinesis and red energy didn’t seem to bother the Juggernaut.
The Juggernaut raised his hand high and pitched Warren at the floor. The winged teen managed to spin with almost Beast like grace and land on his feet. He shot forward as hard as he could into the groin of the giant.
The man finally stopped for a second. Angel though he didn’t use it often, relying mostly on his flight powers had the strength and speed of a human beings peak abilities. He was a flying Captain America. It wouldn’t slow down the unstoppable for long but a full force blow to the sensitive areas by such an individual provided food for thought for a few moments at least.
The moment was over quickly as Juggernaut’s hand came crashing down towards Angel, striking hard …the TK shield Jean had managed to throw around her boyfriend.
Iceman skidded quickly around the edge of the man mountain and launched himself forward. His hand slipped around the smooth metal and he forced ice to form underneath it clicking the catch open.
Jean did the rest with a telekinetic yank. The combined mental prowess of her and The Professor suddenly swept into Juggernaut’s mind. He was frozen in place in an instant. His muscles un-reactive to his thoughts.
The two telepaths focused on keeping him steady. His mind slammed against them with almost as much force as his body could have. Jean had to pull back, her psychic powers were relatively weak…thankfully Xavier’s were amazingly strong and he was able to hold the giant in place. It unfortunately distracted him.
Cain walked right up to Juggernaut BANG! BANG! BANG! Cain began to unload bullet after bullet into the unprotected face of the massive man. He tossed the gun aside as the bullets tore through the flesh of the man but he remained standing. He pulled the Gem which he had grabbed out of his bag in his hand and grabbed the discarded helmet. He began to murmur under his breath.
A blinding beam of light erupted from the gem engulfing Juggernaut and Cain. It subsided after a few split seconds leaving only one man. The new Juggernaut.
“Cain,” Xavier gasped. The helmet was once again protecting Juggernaut from telepathy. The X-Men prepared to launch into battle again. Xavier however raised his hand to slow them.
Cain walked calmly up to Xavier. “I can feel the power,” he grinned with great joy. Power was always something Cain had enjoyed.
“Cain what have you done? The crimes…how can you go one with yourself?”
“I’m unstoppable now,” Cain laughed as he finished. “I can carry on in any way I like.”
“Cain, please…I” Xavier stretched out his hand. Juggernaut stuck out his hand to silence his brother.
“You’re a freak…and thanks to you, I’m a god,” he grinned again. “I’m letting you roll away from this one Chuck,” he tapped his helmet gently “turns out a side-effect of this little beauty is my memories are back…what you did to my dad and me is back.”
“Cain, I’m sorry, I was young.”
“He was my Dad and I loved him,” Cain growled. Charles did not like the turn this conversation was going. “He was also a Grade A piece of shit. If you hadn’t killed him chances are I would have by now. I’m just going to walk away now…this time, but brother we have a reckoning coming at some point.”
Juggernaut began to slope away walking proudly with his head held high at it’s full eight feet in height. “Professor should we engage?” Cyclops walked up to their mentor followed by the other X-Men, Beast and Marvel Girl helping Warren.
“No, I don’t think that would work out best for any of us,” Xavier nodded. “We should however make our leave quickly.” He motioned to the Humvee and began to move forward.
“Hank,” the X-Men turned to the voice. It was Stevie Hunter. Beast shot a nervous look to Iceman.
“I’m sorry citizen,” he began doing his best upstanding superhero impression “you have me mistaken for someone else.”
Stevie’s face was not an impressed one. “You really expect to pull the wool over my eyes? You really think there are that many people in the world with your particular build? I’m also guessing Mr Frosty is Bobby. The blonde one must be Warren and that’d leave Jean and Scott.”
Beast’s mouth flapped ineffectively. “Why didn’t you say anything? You’re a super genius gay man…who is also a superhero who fights for racial equality! I think you just became my best ever friend.” Stevie smiled widely. Beast returned the smile.
“Beast,” The Professor cut across. “We need to be leaving now…please Miss Hunter could you come and visit us tomorrow at the mansion. We have much to discuss.”
Stevie nodded and turned to leave the group. The X-men moved toward the Humvee and climbed in. Cyclops started the engine and the car began to move.
“Wow secret identities were really nice while they lasted huh?” Iceman laughed as the car pulled away.
The End
Next Time: Beast fights alone!
Previously in Xavier Academy…
“Hey I’m Bobby Drake and I’m breaking the fourth wall just like She-Hulk and Deadpool…neither of who I know exist in this continuity… to fill everyone in on what happened in the first issue of this arc.”
“First up and obviously most importantly, I managed to get a date, she’s hot, cute and whatever else any 14 year old boy could be looking for in a prospective date…I thought Hank did too with some hot dancer called Stevie but it turns out he’s as gay as the day is long...Who knew? So not the Stevie he would probably like”
“Jean and Warren started dating. Scott hasn’t been taking it so well since he found out but is trying to hide it…though that happens between issues and you’ll get filled in via exposition as we go.”
“Then finally it turns out the Professor has a brother, he’s an ass hat and he turned up at the mansion and tried to throw us out. The Professor had little option to let him stay. This is because when they were younger The Prof accidentally killed their ‘father’ in self defence and then erased Cain’s memories of the whole thing so he just woke up with no memory next to the dead body of his father…I don’t know this either, just Moira. Oh and he’s AWOL from the army but no one knows this yet, Chuck expects it though. Still it can’t be bad I distinctly remember The Professor telling us that Cain wouldn’t be here long”
Now…
“Three weeks!” cried Bobby before banging his fist down on the table. “He’s been here for three weeks being a complete A-Hole and The Professor wont do a thing!” He had pushed his chair back and was leaning across the mansions pool table where he had decided to hold court amongst the other students of the Xavier Academy.
“What’s an A-Hole?” Rahne asked raising her hand. The teens looked to her and then shot death stares at Bobby. Rahne had only been allowed in on the discussion because she pulled that darn ‘I’m so cute’ look at Jean.
“It’s not really been that bad has it Bobby?” Hank offered as he tried to be the voice of reason to the small group.
“Not that bad?...not that bad?” Bobby shook his head in disdain, a level of disdain which was a little over the top. “I haven’t iced up in three weeks, do you realise how freaking hot it gets around this damn mansion?” Bobby growled pulling his sweat soaked T-Shirt away from his body, the others hadn’t even noticed thinking it was a rather cool day.
“You know I hate to do it but I have to agree with Bobby,” Warren nodded towards his young companion, which caused the teen mutant to stick his tongue out at the winged mutant. “They’re still probably not strong enough to fly on but my wings are really straining against this harness, I thought not flying was bad enough but if I don’t let them out I could go crazy.”
“Doesn’t the psychic flights we go on help?” Jean looked over at her boyfriend. She and Warren had been using her burgeoning telepathy powers to play through some of his memories of flying as if they were happening all over again. Xavier seemed to let Jean’s use of her powers slip by. Her telepathy was so un-intrusive and not visible so it didn’t really hurt. She however wasn’t allowed to use her powers on Cain and was still banned from using her telekinesis.
Warren reached across the side of the table and held her hand tightly. “They’re nice, really but then when we stop it just makes it feel even worse.”
Jean looked up to the group. Scott’s head shifted in direction quickly. He had been glancing unknowingly at the hands of his two team mates. He had been trying to hide it as best he could over the past few weeks but when you have a massive crush on a good friend’s girl it made hanging around with the two of them most of everyday really difficult.
Jean moved her hand free of Warren’s and tried not to make eye contact with Scott as she picked up on his despair, sadness and all the other churning emotions he had.
Warren looked from her and then read her face well, glancing at Scott he stared at the red shades of the mutant. He hated that he couldn’t make eye contact. ‘Eye contact is the best way to form a relationship Warren whether it’s friendship or asserting a dominant role’ the voice of his father echoed.
“I’ll admit, we haven’t been able to train in the last three weeks…I worry we’ll get rusty just when Magneto chooses to attack somewhere,” Scott added with a solemn nod.
“Trust Mr Summer to come up with the one good thing about all of this,” Bobby rolled his eyes. Scott was a square plain and simple. “If we had a prefect or head boy instead of team leader then Scott would be it and probably shine the Professor’s shoes…though he didn’t really use them so they’d be clean…he’d inflate his tyres or something.”
“Well Bobby I don’t really know what we can do about it.” Hank cut in trying to steer the conversation. Scott was giving Bobby a glare, even without seeing his eyes that much was clear. He had begun to notice his fellow students snapping at one another, the secrecy in their own home and lack of powers was beginning to get to all of them in some small way or another. “The Professor has explained that his brother can’t know were mutants and there is nothing we can do to make him leave. It’s just something we’ll have to put up with.”
“It’s not even just that,” Bobby sighed, leaning his entire body on the pool table. “The guy is a…” he shot a quick look to Rahne “…Jerk!”
“Tell us something we don’t know Ice-Cube. He’s obnoxious” Warren nodded.
“He stares at Moira and I in a way I don’t like,” Jean nodded.
“He’s uncouth to be certain,” Hank volunteered with a sigh.
“He’s a meanie who won’t let me watch Sponge Bob…and I can’t turn into a wolf anymore,” Rahne let out a little feral growl.
“He does walk around the place like he owns it…okay he does but he does it in a certain way,” Scott agreed.
“Plus he’s crude,” Bobby shook his head in disgust. The four teens stared at him with some level of disbelief. “Y’know not in the cute and endearing way that I am.”
“So what is the point of all this Bobby?” Scott asked cutting to the point of the whole discussion. “Were just going around in circles telling each other things we all already knew.”
“I suggest,” Bobby tightened his fist and looked at the faces of all the teens around him “…revolution. The Prof and Moira wont do anything about it so we do!”
The four teens exchanged glances and then looked concernedly at Bobby. “I think the ‘heat’ has went to your head Robert,” offered Hank. Warren and Scott couldn’t help but smirk at Bobby’s idea.
“I’m serious,” said Bobby, he held out his hands as if imploring his fellow team mates to take him seriously.
“Well I think this can bring an end to this makeshift revolution by Bobby Fawkes eh?” Hank took a step away from the table. A muscle in his back twinged, he didn’t admit it but he had been in a lot of pain recently. His natural stance was a hunched or crouched one and so standing up straight for so long was causing problems for him.
“Hank come on…Hank?” Bobby pleaded.
“Bobby we have a ‘double-date’ with Stevie and Zelda. I’d sure like to cancel it, nothing turns my stomach as much as seeing you with your face pressed against hers whilst I’m trying to discuss politics with Stevie. So if you’d rather plan this little revolution, we can…”
“I’ll go change my T-shirt, I’ll sweat through it before we get there though,” he sighed and began to walk alongside his friend.
“Once were clear of the mansion I’ll let you freeze a bottle of water in the car,” Hank patted his friend on the shoulder as the two vanished from sight.
This left the three teens who were locked in what Bobby continued (much to the chagrin of all involved as they tried to gloss over the situation) to call a love triangle and Rahne.
“So…Scott what are you going to do this afternoon?” Jean offered a smile. Scott was a friend of hers, she enjoyed his company but the wedge which was being forced between her was making this difficult. She was the one of the three who was most trying to gloss over the whole occurrence.
“I…I’ve got some reading to catch up on, history stuff, The Professor has set me an assignment on military leaders and their tactics,” Scott nodded.
“I’ve got ‘The Art of War’ if you need a copy. My Dad gave it to me when I was 10, something about the killer edge in business,” Warren smiled.
“I’ve already got a copy,” Scott spoke quickly, almost a snap “thanks though.” He pulled himself up immediately. He hadn’t meant to snap. He thought about asking what the two would do but decided not to, he didn’t want to know honestly and he knew that Jean would pick up on that. He just turned and left.
Warren and Jean looked to one another. “That was…I want to say weird,” Jean sighed.
“When he’s done stuff like this for the last few weeks it moves over into just plain rude. I get he liked…likes you but were together now and he needs to get over it. He’s our friend, he can be sad for himself but he should be happy for the two of us.”
Jean nodded. “I’ll try and have a word with him, maybe we should just leave him alone for the rest of the afternoon.” She kissed Warren as he nodded and the two turned to leave.
Rahne was left standing in the room by herself. She scratched behind her ear. She didn’t really understand everything which was going on between the older students but she sure thought it all seemed complicated.
Xavier’s room…
Charles sat at the desk in his room working through some paperwork. He had papers to grade from the students, some legal work to complete and the several articles to review and comment on as part of his ever ongoing study of biology, psychology and mutation.
He found the desk in his room the best place for his studying today rather than his office. A gentle rap at the door pre-ceded the appearance of Moira. Charles had explained that he had an open door policy with her, she was free to enter at any point she wished.
The two had been friends since they were 18. There was nothing which had passed between them in all this time that they had not shared with one another at one time.
“Look at ye hiding yuirsel away in here all day,” Moira tutted. She crossed the room and perched on the corner of his desk. Charles wheeled himself back away from the table and turned to face his friend. Her hair was swooped back behind her head and the simple blouse and black skirt she wore was set off nicely with a pinny.
“I’m sorry if I’ve seemed a little scarce, I’ve had a lot to do,” Charles nodded and smiled.
“Ah,” Moira exhaled and shook her head. “ye cannae lie to me Charles, never could. Yuir hiding away in yuir bedroom from yuir rank banjin bampot brother like ye used to when ye were a wee bairn.”
Charles face went serious for a second. “I could see how it would seem that way Moira but honestly I’ve just been feeling a better level of concentration here as of late.”
“Aye and why do ye think that is ye big fool?” Moira tsked “I may not have the doctorate in Psychology like you do but I can read ya well enough.”
Charles was about to speak but was silenced by Moira raising a hand. “Yuir office is the one Doctor Marko used to use…aye yuir father before him but then it was his. Yuir brother being back has put you right back into the state of mind when you were a wean.”
Charles was silent for a few seconds. It all certainly made sense, he was in part responsible for the death of his stepfather (the weak blood vessels in the brain which could have honestly went at any point being the actual cause) and then he wiped his step brother’s memory of the whole thing. All his brother knew was that he had been arguing with his father and then blacked out, when he came to his father was dead by a trauma in the brain.
“You may have a point Moira but given the relationship and the past my brother and I share I think it would be best if I just remained out of his way until he has moved on again.”
“Aye Charles I dunno what to do with ye half the time,” she sighed deeply “Half the time you’re Martin Luther King and then half the time you’re a little boy. Is this what you should be teaching the children…the children you’ve barely seen in two weeks, hide away from your problems and mistakes…I’m not saying you have to tell Cain what happened but hiding in your room.” Moira drifted off in her sentence. “He doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anyway.”
“He’s AWOL Moira, I’ve checked. He’ll have to move along before long or the Military Police will catch up with him,” Charles said, he tried to keep eye contact but had to look away.
“Aye Charles and nothing will get any better,” she sighed and shook her head. “He’s an awful man Charles, an awful boorish bloke and a bully to boot. The students all hate him…more than they hate Erik probably and you’ve done nowt but hide from him. You need to come out, I’ve got Lunch on the go for everyone, come down and join us. Lessen the brunt of your brother on them eh?”
Charles smiled. “It’s the least I can do I’m sure,” he nodded. He had been lacking in his duties as a role model and guardian of the students and it was time he faced up to it. He did not like his brother, he did not love his brother but the two were bound by their pasts and their current circumstance and so he had duties to answer to. He was his brother’s keeper as long as he was interacting with his students.
An hour later…
Moira was serving up the portions of chicken and chips she had made onto plates in the kitchen. Warren was giving her a hand wondering whether he should feel bad about eating his fellow feathered brethren since his mutation was basically giving him features of a bird.
Jean and Charles couldn’t help but smile as they picked up the stray thought. The two telepaths were sitting at the table in the kitchen with Rahne, Cain and Scott.
“Shouldn’t a Doctor be trying to get us to eat healthier rather than just giving us fries?” Warren queried as he shook the metal grid after lifting the ‘chips’ out of the deep fat fryer Moira has bought.
“Chips Warren, world of difference,” she pulled one from the basket and bit the end of it. “Who could resist these really? Plus once in a while winnae hurt.”
“So,” Charles began with a thought out intensity “are you going to be up to anything this afternoon Cain?”
Cain looked up from the racing form he was reading. He didn’t tilt his head but merely rolled his eyes upwards to stare at his brother across the table. “Why?”
“I’m just inquiring, making conversation,” Charles said defensively. Cain’s eyes remained fixed on his brother, it was simple eye contact but it came across as aggressive and intimidating. “You’re staring at me Cain.”
“Just making eye contact Chucky, best way to read a man…never trust or like anyone who you can’t stare in the eye without them blinking.” His eyes panned off Charles as he blinked and over to Scott. He lingered there for a second before Scott spoke.
“You can’t see because of my eye condition…I’m not blinking,” Scott’s voice was like ice. He was never one to suffer bullies gladly. It was something his dad had managed to instil in the boy before his all to premature death.
“Scott, please calm down,” Xavier said telepathically to calm his ward. Cain snorted and smiled.
“Just planning to lie around and drink some beer, relax on my leave,” Moira cast him a sceptical glance. Then raised her eyebrows at Charles as she moved out of Cain’s view.
“Do you know when you’ll be called back?” Charles smiled and nodded thank you as Moira lowered the plate of food she held in front of him.
“Looking to get rid of me Cue Ball?” Cain wrinkled his nose at the plate of food in front of him and then ignoring the fork picked up a piece of chicken with his hand and popped it in his mouth.
“I don’t think the name calling is really necessary Cain, were adults now…”
“…it really still bugs you doesn’t it Chuck? Used to get you really riled up when I called you that as a kid.” He smiled. “I tell you what guys,” he turned to the three teenagers “You should have seen ‘The Professor’” he put on a haughty tone as he said it “when he was your age, or even the pipsqueaks age…little bald freak.” He snorted again and turned his face to see if he was getting under his brother’s skin.
“Anyway,” Charles began again “I of course am not trying to get rid of you Cain but you have been rather taking over the house. Henry informs me that you…accidentally I’m sure…messed up an experiment he has spent a week or two arranging. I’m afraid I can’t let you interfere with my students lessons, their parents would be most displeased.”
Charles was trying to remind Cain of the lie he had told him when he first arrived. The students parents would sue the two brothers in bankruptcy if their offspring’s education did not take the foremost concern.
“Henry…” Cain thought for a second. “…He’s the fat tub right?”
“Cain,” Charles hissed. “I have kept my calm and a civil tongue in my mouth because you are my brother and because of our history but please do not push me…please do not make me do something I don’t want to do.”
Cain’s face turned, a scowl etched across it. “What exactly would that be?”
“I’m sure your superiors would like a call…just to tell them how you’re doing obviously.” Cain kept up the stare for another second or two.
“Can I help it if I can’t remember any of your students names?” he glanced across the table at Jean. “Except Jeanie of course…not going to forget her in a hurry,” his yes moved from her face to another part of her body.
Scott’s fist tightened on the table. Warren, Jean and Charles all looked to him. Jean and Charles both keeping him calm with a mental command. “You’ve got a thing about good looking red heads aint you Chuck? Moira, Amelia…Raven was it? How long before you move onto this little tasty bite.”
“That’s it!” Scott was standing on his feet, shoving his chair away with a kick of his foot. He was instinctively clearing the area ready for a fight if needs be. He was trained, he was sure he could take the larger more powerful man. Cain stood up a split second later and kicked his chair backwards. He stared at the red sunglasses of Scott. “Listen to me you Jackass, I’m not going to sit here and listen to your crap anymore!”
“You want to take this somewhere Slim just say the word, I can take any punk who can’t even look me in the eye” Cain growled like an animal. Moira pulled Rahne close to her.
“Trust me, nothing would give me more pleasure,” Scott’s face was stone.
“SCOTT!” Charles barked in reprimand. “Warren, Jean…please take Scott to calm down. I will deal with him later.”
Warren and Jean got to their feet and tried to push and pull Scott. He remained staring at Cain for a second before he finally gave and was ushered out of the room. Cain glared at him even as the door swung shut and they vanished from sight.
“Cain,” Charles barked again. His brother’s eyes panned down to him. “I want you gone! I want you gone by morning or I will call the Military Police myself.” There was silence between the two men as they stared at one another, Cain turned and exited the other door to the kitchen.
Charles tense shoulders slid down the chair and he let out a long sigh.
Outside…
The three X-Men was standing in the foyer of the mansion. Jean was rubbing Scott’s shoulder in an effort to comfort and calm him.
“Jesus Scott I didn’t think you had it in you,” Warren smiled, it was a weak smile. There was obviously something going on in his mind.
Scott’s head slumped forward and he ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what got into me, I just got sick of him just getting onto everyone all the time.”
“No you didn’t,” Warren sighed looking from Scott to Jean and then back. The two teens were just about to ask ‘what?’ when Warren continued. “He only got your back up when he said something about Jean,” Warren cursed.
“No, Warren it isn’t…”
“Look Scott!” Warren cut across the other teen. “I get it, you liked Jean…we both did and she chose ok, she chose. I’ve spent the last three weeks tiptoeing around you and sucking up to you, ignoring the fact you’re the reason I can’t fly just to make you feel better. I consider you a friend and it sucked we both liked the same girl but get over it already! So I’ve been a friend to you and you be a friend to me now and to Jean and just be happy for us.”
This tirade had been building in Warren for three weeks. Jean wouldn’t be herself around him and Scott, she wouldn’t let Warren kiss or touch her and she changed the subject whenever he tried to make plans. They had been tiptoeing around sulky Scott all this time despite the fact Warren was going absolutely crazy with being unable to fly.
“Warren I didn’t mean to…” Scott trailed off, he didn’t really have anything to say in his defence. He realised how he had been for the past few weeks.
Warren sighed. “It’s fine…I over reacted. She doesn’t need you to stick up for her, she can do it for herself and I’m there to do it when she can’t.”
Jean looked from Scott to Warren, her cheeks were bright red. She had been picking up on both boy’s thoughts but had tried to silence or ignore them in her own mind. “I also don’t need you to speak for me,” she sighed, she looked to Warren with a weak smile. Scott hadn’t bothered her and she was a little upset Warren decided to speak for her but she could see that it had been bugging him so she couldn’t exactly call him insensitive if she didn’t acknowledge that.
Warren suddenly stumbled forward and let out a cry of pain. Scott was at his side in a second to grab him. The teen’s eyes were bulging out and Scott could see the tension being put into the back of his shirt. “PROFESSOR!” screamed Jean.
Warren stumbled down to his knees as the Professor and Moira came through the kitchen door with Rahne in tow.
The shirt ripped to shred second later. Angel’s wings spread wide behind him knocking Scott sideways. The two teens stumbled to catch their own body weight.
“What’s going on?” jean asked, the worry in her voice was palpable.
“Warren’s wings are healing, I can only guess that they need to stretch at the moment and have burst free of the harness. Warren I need you to go upstairs as quickly as you can and…”
“I can’t do it Professor, I can’t have them bound again…” He shook his head and began climbing to his feet. “..they’re not hurting any.” He tried to give them a brief flap but they barely moved before the pain raced across his face.
“He can go into the woods, no one will see him there,” Scott nodded to Warren. The teen responded with a similar nod. Scott reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys “I started overhauling the van and the car this morning…you can take my bike, stick to the routes I showed you before and it’s unlikely you’ll run into anyone.”
“Go with him and make sure he doesn’t run into Cain…Jean and I will try and find my brother and steer him away should he head in that direction.”
Salem Centre…
The foursome who had become a regular sight at the Coffee bean were taking up their usual corner spot.
“I really don’t get why we come back here all the time? Am I the only one who thinks it sucks?” Bobby poured a packet of sugar out onto the table.
“You know anywhere better? It’s craptacular but it’s this of McDonalds with everyone else out of my class at school,” Zelda wrinkled her nose. She was slumped down in the seat next to Bobby. The two had become fast ‘friends’ which usually involved mutual snarking over things, listening to music on headphones or ‘necking’.
“You’re the one whose lived here all your life, I’m new and exotic,” Bobby flashed a smile and then sighed. Zelda was forced to roll her eyes.
“You’re from Long Island you freak, you’re not exactly exotic” she lurched forward suddenly and blew on the pile of sugar Bobby had been working on for the past five minutes causing the sugar to cascade over him. He let out a curse.
Zelda laughed and then let out a little scream as Bobby leapt around the edge of the table and into the seat next to her. Zelda held out her hands and caught Bobby’s and the two began to wrestle with them. The two teens came closer to one another and their lips met.
“…and so the eternal courtship continues, who had under 15 minutes?” Hank sighed and then shrugged his shoulder to clear off the two teens who were leaning against him “I swear you’d think they wont come up for air until we leave now.”
Stevie Hunter was sitting across from him next to where Bobby had been sitting. She smiled her amazing smile. Stevie was beautiful it would take a blind man not to realise it, Hank however was in a position where he didn’t truly appreciate it. He was certainly more focused on her mind anyway. She was someone who he could have real in depth conversations with.
“So doesn’t her mother mind? You’re supposed to be teaching her daughter dance and yet you bring her to score with…well lets face it a bad influence.” Hank took a sip of his coffee.
“Dance lesson is over, she chose to tag along,” Stevie winked. “I don’t really think her Mom cares, imagine Bobby if he had a time of the month…Miranda is more than happy for some extra free time. I’m not even sure Bobby can match Zelda on…well ‘themness’.”
“Bobby’s parents sent him upstate, he’s not a gifted youngster just an annoying one,” the two older teens laughed. They were practically playing ‘my dad can beat up your dad’ but with the annoyance of their young friends.
“Were sitting right here you know,” Bobby had pulled his head away from Zelda’s for about a second.
“You know what to do about it then,” Hank shrugged his shoulder again to try and clear the two teens off of him. They took the hint this time and climbed to their feet grabbing their coffees as they did so and heading into the corner of the room where they slumped down in a corner booth and began devouring one another again.
“So why are you at the school? You should be in college not in a school with one teacher and a bunch of high school students, you’re wasted there…I know a couple of guys who would kill to meet you.”
Hank smiled at the comment. “The Professor and Miss McTaggart are actually the foremost genetic and biochemical experts in North America if not the world. The education I’m getting with them is phenomenal.”
“College is about more than the education you get,” Stevie smiled. Hank laughed again.
Hank looked over to Bobby and then out of the window. “So is the Academy,” he added wistfully.
The Woods…
Warren cut out the bike engine as he shot over the mound of dirt. He closed his eyes and felt the wind pressing against his wings. They didn’t hurt like this, only when he tried to move them himself. It felt good.
It wasn’t really like flying, he could feel the stiffness of his muscles and the warmth of the low altitude as well as the weight of the bike holding him down but it was the closest he had managed to get in weeks and weeks.
The sun through the trees was warm and the breeze was cool. Warren couldn’t help but smile, he hadn’t felt this good in weeks. He felt like a prize idiot for how he acted with Jean and Scott back at the mansion and he knew he would have to apologies especially given how easily Scott put it behind him to help him out.
He started the bike as it hit the floor and twisted the handlebars leading the bike up a different path. He pulled back and twisted sharply causing the bike to leap across a small ridge of rocks.
He could see why Scott loved this so much. It was such a release, nothing compared to flying but most people would never know that freedom. Scott especially would never know this freedom, he was so uptight and buttoned up that Warren found it hard to imagine he would let himself go enough for this.
The thought of Scott brought back the little love triangle that Warren found himself in. It was messy and he knew it. The playboy Warrington was not a one for love triangles…he was not a one for love really. He generally had whatever women he wanted, his chiselled play boy looks, wit and the money usually saw off any competitors for a young ladies attention. If it didn’t? Warren walked away. There were always more women.
Jean however was different and not just because she was the only girl, though this didn’t help with the situation any. She was different however in the fact that she was the first girl he was willing to fight for. It was just unfortunate that Scott also wanted her.
Warren ramped the bike up and flew off another jump. He was about to cut the engine again when he realised he was leaping through the tree line onto a road. He would need to move quickly across the open distance to make sure no one noticed his wings should they be on the road.
He hit the tarmac on the other side and revved the engine, he scanned up the road to see if anyone was coming. What he saw surprised him, he eased up on the engine and swung the bike underneath him using his foot as a pivot.
100 or so yards down the road was a mass of flaming wreckage. Warren’s sensitive eyes could see the charred corpses in the driving seat of the vehicle. The front looked like it had driven right into one of the trees but it was in the centre of the road. He felt like he should help but the people in the car were far past any help and he needed to get off the road, he could ring the police in a moment.
He turned his head to look in the other direction. His bird like eyes compensated immediately and he ‘zoomed in’ like he was looking through binoculars into the distance. There a figure walked away, heading down the road towards The Salem Centre.
The figure was dressed in brown metal and was about the size of a small bus in height and a small moon bounce in girth. Warren was by no means Hank but he figured out what happened to the car.
“Professor!” he yelled telepathically and then revved the engine on his bike and took off. He would fill The Professor in on events as he went. He needed to keep pace with this monster of a man though.
He was within arms distance of the monster before he turned allowing Warren to scream past him and come to a halt. The man looked like a fat missile. He must have weighed close to a thousand pounds.
He glared at Warren and his large wings. The began to walk towards him, their was purpose in his steps.
The Xavier Academy…
Scott sat as quietly and as still as possible in the chair across Xavier’s desk from The Professor.
He sat with his hands steepled across the bottom of his chin, his face was one of concern. “Scott, what exactly did you think you were doing?” The Professor’s voice was stern, Scott had never heard him so serious.
It was obvious The professor was angry. Scott didn’t like it, he was really beginning to think of The Professor as a surrogate father figure and this was the first time the two had had a cross word.
Charles was annoyed with Scott but the real anger he was feeling however was aimed at himself. He had let Cain go too far many times over the past few weeks.
“Professor,” Scott was about to defend himself. He sat forward instead and sighed out loud “I’m sorry…I lost control.”
“Yes,” Charles nodded “you did Scott. Not only did you lose control of your emotions and composure in an unacceptable manner but you also were about to flagrantly display your powers, the thoughts were clear in your mind.”
Charles stared at Scott, he couldn’t see the teens eyes but was picking up telepathically that Scott wasn’t liking The Professor staring at him, he was making eye contact.
“You showed a disregard for my wishes and the safety if our school, our mission and the other students by almost revealing us to the one person I have no doubt would use it against us,” Charles thought about his words for a moment. He hadn’t realised up till this moment how much he really disliked and mistrusted his brother.
“I was trying to stand up for us, he was…”
The Professor raised his hand to silence Scott. “I am well aware of what you intended to do and the bravery you showed in doing so. It is the only reason…the only reason…that you are remaining the team leader. Should you.”
The Professor’s eyes suddenly seemed to glaze over as he stared through Scott. “Professor?” Scott asked, he climbed slowly to his feet cautious about moving towards his mentor.
Charles suddenly snapped back into the room. His head titled instantly to stare at Scott. “There is trouble in The Salem Centre. Warren has encountered some mutant…some mutant I cannot sense and is currently being chased by him. We need to leave now.”
Charles wheeled himself away from the desk. “Professor, the cars and the vans…they’re in no shape to go anywhere.”
“We have to get there Scott, there must be a way…” The professor trailed off as a noise rang outside of the window. The monstrous roar of the Humvee that his brother drove.
The two mutants looked at one another for a few seconds. Charles’ mind was racing, he lowered his head slightly and sighed. “There is no other choice…this day has been a long time coming.” “Jean, can you hear me?”
Outside the mansion Cain took a step back from the engine block and looked at the dipstick of the car he held in his hand. He nodded and shoved it back into it’s slot and then brought the hood down. He was going on a long car journey, a couple of weeks ahead of what he had originally planned.
He had been planning to lie low at the mansion for another month or so, it would have been even longer without those damn kids running around. Chuck wouldn’t have said boo to him if they weren’t there. How it currently stood however he wasn’t sure if Chuck would call the MP’s or not.
Cain didn’t have the luxury of calling his bluff on this one. He was up on enough charges to make sure he never saw the light of day again. AWOL, Insubordination, Desertion, Theft, unlawful killing and a whole host of other military misdemeanours. He really wondered whether it was worth it.
The cold hard lump of red gem in his bag in the trunk told him it was. An ancient pilfered jewel which was absolutely priceless which someone was willing to pay enough money for that Cain could head to a non-extradition country and live out the rest of his life in the lap of luxury.
He smiled at that thought, the anger he had about the whole Chuck thing melted away with the thought of sipping drinks on a sun kissed beach. He clinked the keys in his hand with a smile.
He tossed them into the air and held out his hand to catch them. They took a sharp right angle in the air and shot to the mansion door into the waiting hands of Marvel Girl.
Cain looked at the slim red head in the skin tight body suit with puzzlement. He wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box but even he could see that this was Jean Grey. She was joined a second or two later by Chuck who was being pushed by that Scott kid in a visor that looked like something off Star Trek.
“What the Fuck do you three think you’re doing? How the hell did you do that to my keys?” Cain was glaring directly at Charles.
“Cain,” The Professor exhaled to calm himself. “I am and always have been a mutant…as are the students at this school. There is a situation nearby which requires our immediate attention and we need to commandeer your car. It will be returned at the first possible..”
“Hell no…freak,” Cain growled. He had always known there was something wrong with the cue ball, something deep down which made him hate him so much. He had never thought it would be something like this, he never thought Charles would turn out to be a Mutie. “Give me back my keys and I am out of here,” he thought for a second about staying, using this against his brother but there was nothing against the law about being a mutant, not yet anyway and there was nothing to stop him from ringing the MP.
“Cain I am sorry but I can’t allow that, we are taking your car,” Cyclops pushed Xavier forward. “I have sworn never to use my powers on you but I will have Jean stop you in your tracks if you try and stop us.”
The three moved towards Cain stopping for a moment before him and then passing him. “Stop,” he growled. “I’ll drive you there and then you’re out on your ass and I’m gone,” the thought of his bag in the back made him compromise.
Charles turned to look at his brother and after a second nodded.
Coffee A Go-Go…
Hank was in the middle of a story about a guy he went to high school with who ended up stark naked in the middle of the school talent show. He was as ever being the constant entertainer, Stevie was doing her role as the audience laughing at all the right parts. The two were enjoying one another’s company.
The café suddenly rumbled. Hank looked at Stevie and she returned it. They were confused. “HANK!” Bobby exploded across the room from where he had been sitting. “We need to go, Warre…” Bobby turned slowly to look at Stevie. “There is some kind of Angel being chased along the road on a motorbike by some kind of giant…we should go call for help.”
Hank was on his feet in seconds. It sounded like a ridiculous comment but it wasn’t exactly outside the realm of possibility. “Right…The Police!” Hank smiled weakly at Stevie and then made for the door with Bobby.
“That is the weakest excuse to ditch a girl ever!” Stevie called after them thinking that Bobby may have just grown bored of poor Zelda.
The angel which roared passed the window on a motorbike followed closely behind by a metal covered giant whose every stampeding footstep caused the ground to shake however blew all other thoughts out of her mind.
The door to the coffee shop no sooner swung shut behind the two boys than a stream of ice shot passed the window followed by a iced up teenager. Bobby had been able to launch right into the battle as his ice-form disguised all of his features.
The wall of ice formed right in front of the metal coated man but he effortlessly smashed through it. His footsteps slowed and he came to a stop turning to face Iceman.
The frost covered mutant swore loudly and then launched himself sideways as the creature took a step towards him.
Warren in the meantime had tried to swing the bike around when he became aware he was no longer being chased. It instead of spinning jolted and threw him forward. The teen’s wings spread wide on either side of him and he felt the slight drag of the air.
He glided for about twenty feet before coming to the ground in a resounding crash. Iceman was at his side a second later sliding at his top speed. He grabbed at the winged mutant and dragged him to his feet as best he could. “What the hell is going on?”
“I don’t know! He was smashing things up heading here. I tried to do something and he started chasing me. He doesn’t seem like the sort to start spouting exposition does he?”
“Move!” Bobby shoved Warren in the opposite direction that he exploded into. He was hurling balls of ice with everything he had. They shattered and exploded on contact with the behemoth. They however did what they were supposed to be doing. They kept the focus on him.
Warren was injured, Bobby had to keep him safe. The iced teen turned a hard right and tried to sail up past the monster man again. He caught out of the corner of his eye a group of people. “Could everyone not bright enough to see this is an emergency please clear the area…I’m a superhero trust me!”
He glided in a circle once he reached behind the man. It was obvious that once he started moving in any direction he wasn’t going to have the smallest turning circle. Bobby breathed in deeply and let flow with a blast of ice towards the massive man’s form.
The ice raced around him as he came to a stop. Iceman had never actually encased someone in ice. He wondered when he should stop, the man needed to breath surely. It only took a few seconds until only the domed helmet of the man was visible above the block of ice.
Bobby watched for a second and then breathed a sigh of relief. It was premature. The ice exploded outwards a second later showering the little frozen teen with masses of ice. A huge chunk about the size of a portable television collided with his head making it slam backwards, the force drove him of his ice covered feet to the floor.
The massive man moved towards the teens fallen form. He got to about seven feet to the boy when there was suddenly a noise behind him. He turned slowly just in time to see the winged boy he had been chasing charging towards him on the motorcycle.
Warren leapt clear at the last second trying to use his wings to glide again but landed badly again. The motorbike slammed into his massive form causing him to lean backwards before a flick of his arm sent it spiralling into the middle of the street.
He silently fixed the winged boy with a stare. In all of this fight Warren had yet to hear the man do anything but scream in anger as he gave chase. He stomped towards Warren who was still trying to get up.
A figure suddenly flew into his vision. The strong hand had pressed down on the top of his helmet and tossed his weight forward somersaulting over the massive man. He was the marvellous bouncing Beast. “Hit the Beast and get a prize…” he cheered loudly.
He pivoted on his hand before grabbing hold of both shoulders and swinging his weight down into the man’s chest feet first. “…miss and you get body slammed!”
The man didn’t move. Beast felt like he had just bounced into a solid wall of metal. He grinned sheepishly and then launched himself away from the man as his monstrous arm swung through the air.
Beast’s hands hit the floor and he back flipped back into a crouched position. “It seems I’m the only member of my team who is still standing…well crouching…it looks like it’s up to me.”
He flipped back again as the man took a step towards him…then another, the second step was much faster. The third was even faster. Beast was calculating that he was using his own momentum to increase his speed.
“I don’t really think even with all your momentum you’ll be able to keep up with me when I really get going.” He launched into a four limbed gallop across the floor and up the side of a building before launching backwards over the head of the charging man.
He slammed hard into the wall. The building shook and lurched as rubble began to cascade down. Beast took a leap back feeling that he had made a very poor decision in that manoeuvre. “Live and Learn Beasty Boy,” he sighed and then charged at the man who was emerging from the rubble.
He pushed his weight down before pushing upwards. His body span on three axis and he stretched out his hands to carry himself over the man who grunted with aggression. The massive fist hurtled underneath him.
He did wonder for a split secondabout whether is was also the best plan. He could out manouver the juggernaut of a man quite easily but it wasn’t going to win any fights.
A stream of red energy exploded around the man. The energy cascaded around him as if he was a spoon under a running tap. Beast breathed a sigh of relief for a moment and then bounded away as best he could.
The red energy cut out after a second when Scott realised it wasn’t doing much good. He spun the dial on the side of his visor up a few notches and fired it again, this time he shifted his weight.
“Professor, this doesn’t seem to be doing much.” The massive man was shifting slowly to face the teens. Can you do anything?”
“I’m trying to gain access to his mind but I’m having difficulty. The helmet he wears is shielding almost like it’s made from Adamantium.”
“I thought you said it was a rare metal...” Bobby groaned. Jean was at his side trying to rouse him and help him up. “We’ve had three fights…and three opponents with Adamantium helmets.”
“It’s good to see you’re back with us Iceman,” the Professor smiled. “Jean our opponent is gathering steam against Scott’s blasts perhaps you can misfoot him?”
Jean nodded placing one hand on her temple and stretching out her other hand before her. She focused on a telekinetic bubble underneath his feet. His massive plate came down and she reeled back letting out a scream of pain. The massive force that he slammed it down with was too much for her.
“Jean!” Scott barked. He cut off his blasts and turned quickly to face his friend.
“Scott focus!” Xavier yelled pointing towards the man mountain.
“Got it!” yelled Iceman, from his lying position he stretched out his hand covering the road in a sheet of ice.
The massive man’s foot came down on the ice and skidded slightly. He remained upright however, the momentum of his movements carrying ever forward. The next footfall however proved fatal to him. The large form of Beast launched onto his back just at the right time causing the unstoppable object to career forward face first into the ice.
Beast leapt clear at the final moment and bounded effortlessly across the ice to his waiting team.
The giant slowly skidded to a halt. It was only a few seconds later that he pressed his hands onto the floor and began to climb up. His head tilted back to face his foes for the first time.
His eyes moved across them and then fixed about 50 feet behind them, the figure he had been searching for all this time…and the energy which flashed against his specially developed senses. “MARKO!” he screamed.
The X-Men turned to look behind them. Charles no sooner turned and made eye contact with his brother then the memories began to flow into his head. He wasn’t trying to read his mind but the thoughts were beaming out of him like some awful waking nightmare.
Cain with a small group of other soldiers in some jungle filled country searching for something. “It’s around here, I’m sure of it.” Growled a black soldier.
“You’re talking out of your ass,” growled Cain. Cain could almost taste it however. The Gem of Cyttorak, the worlds biggest ruby…steeped in myth and legend in the area. They had been hired for a small fortune by some secretive billionaire to go AWOL and take it from whoever was guarding it. They were given a map and everything. Cain had went mercenary.
Days later in a clearing Cain and his men were exchanging gun fire with well trained and devoted religious soldiers whose soul purpose in life was the guard the gem.
The memory then flashed to inside a temple. Cain, wounded and bleeding, the only survivor of his men chasing one of the guards into the tomb of some long dead…and most likely imaginary god.
The next set of images were jumbled. Cain hurling a grenade at some moving black mass of man…namely the villain they were currently fighting. A rockslide or a collapse burying the man beneath tons of rubble.
Cain bent slowly brushing aside some dust and rocks and seizing the giant gem stone. One word echoed through his mind “Juggernaut!” Xavier screamed aloud, he sighed a relief after a second.
“Give him the Gem Cain!” Xavier screamed at his brother. Cain was frozen in fear. He would never admit it but he had been having nightmares about the thing which was currently raging towards him. A forgotten god of destruction…a god he had angered. Xavier suddenly span round “Defend!” he barked an order.
The X-men around him burst into action. Iceman was instantly hurling ice as fast as he could and in as many forms. One hand hurled balls of ice whilst his other froze the floor. He then switched and began setting up walls of ice.
These walls Beast bounded over with hardly any effort. He was hoping the slippery footing and the fact Jean was doing her best to hurl balls of telekinetic energy to gently nudge Juggernaut would allow him actually let him tackle him.
Scott was sprinting at his top speed along the side of the road out of the reach of the ice walls…which Juggernaut was smashing through with ease. He fired blast after blast of crimson energy at the careering monster pausing only when Beast managed to get within distance.
The high flying mutant simply bounced off Juggernaut like he had been hit by a car. He spun in the air and managed to land on his feet.
“Professor, what can I do?” Warren limped to the Professor, he had been avoiding the battle as much as he could because of his injury.
“Warren, you’re reflexes and senses are superior to ours. Watch Juggernaut for any sign of weakness. I need to speak to my brother” Xavier spun his chair around and began to wheel quickly towards his brother.
“Cain you need to give me the Gem! It’s all he wants…you can end this madness!”
“No,” Cain shook his head slowly. “It’s not what he wants…he wants me! Cyttorak wants my soul. He calls to me in my sleep, he wants me. I thought I buried that thing forever but here he is!”
The thoughts cascading off of Cain showed that he at least believed what he was saying. Charles thought for a second…could he really let his brother lose his soul, or whatever was going to happen should Juggernaut get his hands on him. “We need to stop him…nothing is working. Do you know if his helmet is part of the base of the armour or if we can remove it?”
“It can be removed, it was in the temple next to the gem,” Cain nodded. Xavier returned the nod and sent out the telepathic command.
Beast was the first to act. He bounced on top of the Juggernaut’s head and slid his fingers quarter of the way around the base of the helmet before he felt something click. The first catch had been removed.
Juggernaut caught him in one hand and easily disposed of the teen. Iceman whipped an ice slide across Beast’s path causing him to slide into a standing position.
Marvel Girl flung out her hand and focused on the helmet and gave it a tug. It didn’t budge. “There are more catches!”
Cyclops fired a blast against the Juggernauts head. It would do any good against the catch but it distracted him long enough for Bobby to arch over head pushed by Beast on a giant ice loop and scrabble at the edge of his helmet. “Missed!” he yelled followed by a curse as they dropped once gravity finally took control. Beast caught the iced teen in his hands.
Cyclops had managed to get behind Juggernaut and continued to fire. The ‘villain’ turned slowly, it was a needed distraction.
Warren launched forward using an ice wall as a heightened launch point to hurl himself forward. His wings spread and he glided onto the back of Juggernaut. His hand slipped almost to easily into place and clicked both the second and third catches.
Juggernaut reached behind him and dragged the teen forward. Pain raced through Warren as the massive hand tightened around his wings. The blasts of ice, telekinesis and red energy didn’t seem to bother the Juggernaut.
The Juggernaut raised his hand high and pitched Warren at the floor. The winged teen managed to spin with almost Beast like grace and land on his feet. He shot forward as hard as he could into the groin of the giant.
The man finally stopped for a second. Angel though he didn’t use it often, relying mostly on his flight powers had the strength and speed of a human beings peak abilities. He was a flying Captain America. It wouldn’t slow down the unstoppable for long but a full force blow to the sensitive areas by such an individual provided food for thought for a few moments at least.
The moment was over quickly as Juggernaut’s hand came crashing down towards Angel, striking hard …the TK shield Jean had managed to throw around her boyfriend.
Iceman skidded quickly around the edge of the man mountain and launched himself forward. His hand slipped around the smooth metal and he forced ice to form underneath it clicking the catch open.
Jean did the rest with a telekinetic yank. The combined mental prowess of her and The Professor suddenly swept into Juggernaut’s mind. He was frozen in place in an instant. His muscles un-reactive to his thoughts.
The two telepaths focused on keeping him steady. His mind slammed against them with almost as much force as his body could have. Jean had to pull back, her psychic powers were relatively weak…thankfully Xavier’s were amazingly strong and he was able to hold the giant in place. It unfortunately distracted him.
Cain walked right up to Juggernaut BANG! BANG! BANG! Cain began to unload bullet after bullet into the unprotected face of the massive man. He tossed the gun aside as the bullets tore through the flesh of the man but he remained standing. He pulled the Gem which he had grabbed out of his bag in his hand and grabbed the discarded helmet. He began to murmur under his breath.
A blinding beam of light erupted from the gem engulfing Juggernaut and Cain. It subsided after a few split seconds leaving only one man. The new Juggernaut.
“Cain,” Xavier gasped. The helmet was once again protecting Juggernaut from telepathy. The X-Men prepared to launch into battle again. Xavier however raised his hand to slow them.
Cain walked calmly up to Xavier. “I can feel the power,” he grinned with great joy. Power was always something Cain had enjoyed.
“Cain what have you done? The crimes…how can you go one with yourself?”
“I’m unstoppable now,” Cain laughed as he finished. “I can carry on in any way I like.”
“Cain, please…I” Xavier stretched out his hand. Juggernaut stuck out his hand to silence his brother.
“You’re a freak…and thanks to you, I’m a god,” he grinned again. “I’m letting you roll away from this one Chuck,” he tapped his helmet gently “turns out a side-effect of this little beauty is my memories are back…what you did to my dad and me is back.”
“Cain, I’m sorry, I was young.”
“He was my Dad and I loved him,” Cain growled. Charles did not like the turn this conversation was going. “He was also a Grade A piece of shit. If you hadn’t killed him chances are I would have by now. I’m just going to walk away now…this time, but brother we have a reckoning coming at some point.”
Juggernaut began to slope away walking proudly with his head held high at it’s full eight feet in height. “Professor should we engage?” Cyclops walked up to their mentor followed by the other X-Men, Beast and Marvel Girl helping Warren.
“No, I don’t think that would work out best for any of us,” Xavier nodded. “We should however make our leave quickly.” He motioned to the Humvee and began to move forward.
“Hank,” the X-Men turned to the voice. It was Stevie Hunter. Beast shot a nervous look to Iceman.
“I’m sorry citizen,” he began doing his best upstanding superhero impression “you have me mistaken for someone else.”
Stevie’s face was not an impressed one. “You really expect to pull the wool over my eyes? You really think there are that many people in the world with your particular build? I’m also guessing Mr Frosty is Bobby. The blonde one must be Warren and that’d leave Jean and Scott.”
Beast’s mouth flapped ineffectively. “Why didn’t you say anything? You’re a super genius gay man…who is also a superhero who fights for racial equality! I think you just became my best ever friend.” Stevie smiled widely. Beast returned the smile.
“Beast,” The Professor cut across. “We need to be leaving now…please Miss Hunter could you come and visit us tomorrow at the mansion. We have much to discuss.”
Stevie nodded and turned to leave the group. The X-men moved toward the Humvee and climbed in. Cyclops started the engine and the car began to move.
“Wow secret identities were really nice while they lasted huh?” Iceman laughed as the car pulled away.
The End
Next Time: Beast fights alone!