Part One

Part Seven

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The conference room was in shambles.  Chairs tossed to the side, some tipped over as people scrambled to get away from the ‘monster’.  Trask stood at the head of the table, in shock and awe at the sight before him.

If it hadn’t been for the fact he carried his Mutant detector around with him at all times, he would’ve never have known she was in the room.  He watched as the same mutant that had invaded his lab disemate his security. It had been because of her, he had built the detector and started the Sentinel program.  

How does a simple human fight against that?!

She was mere feet from him, when she looked up, eyes going wide.  Trask turned to see four men enter the room. The one with the long coat, he recognized.  It was the one who threw him against the wall, he still hadn’t figured out what his mutation was.  

He stalked into the room, pulling one of the guards guns from the floor, without touching it, and aimed it at the blue girl.

The smaller man, moved next to him putting his hand onto the gun floating in mid air.  “Erik, please let me try….” The gun didn’t waver, but it didn’t go off. “Raven, for once listen to me!”

“Why should I?” She snarled back, her focus between the long haired hippy and Erik.

Trask wondered if he could levitate items?  Maybe Telekinesis. He glanced at the surly man behind him, eyes widening at the bone claws, the very thought of what the man could do as a soldier …

The younger man on the sidelines, seemed out of place as did the hippy, but then he’s learned that mutants who looked innocent were usually the most dangerous.

“Because our future is at stake!”  He snapped at her. “This isn’t the way to do it.  Killing Trask isn’t going to solve anything. It’s just going to set everyone off.”

“He has to die!”  

“And who are you willing to sacrifice in the process!”  He stepped closer to the table, hand out. “Is our lives forfeit for your revenge?  Is mine? Erik’s …”

Her eyes narrowed, he knew it was the wrong thing to say.

She pulled her own gun on Trask, who stepped back tripping over his useless guard.  He scrambled up, and without a second thought slid past the big guy and ran out of the room.

The last thing he heard was a gun going off.

Mystique back flipped off the table, throwing a chair towards Charles knowing, it would distract Erik.   She couldn’t believe they would attack her, instead of the real threat.

She felt the bullet go through her calf as she went through the window.

Erik growled, ready to rip Hank a new one for tackling him into the table, only to see him go through the window after Mystique.  With a frustrated yell he shattered the gun, and turned towards Charles who was knelt next to Logan, who seemed to be lost in a convulsion.

“Is he okay?”  Erik asked.

“I think past and present is mixing.”  He tried to sooth the mutant, but was having a hard time getting past his claws.

“Not surprising.”  He glanced down at the unconscious military personal.  “It’s Captain Stryker, you’ve met his father, and if I recall Alex mentioned him a few times in his letters.”

“Go deal with Raven and don’t hurt Hank too much.  I’ve got this.” Charles jumped back at the slash of the claws, then moved in quickly to pin them down.

‘Hold him!’  He heard the yell the moment he touched him.  It sounded so much like Hank, but older gruffer. ‘God I miss Erik.’

‘He would’ve had a field day with Logan’s metal frame.’

Charles shook his head, he knew that voice, it was Raven!  He put a knee down on Logan’s arms looking down at the bone claws, the metal must have been added later.

‘Kitty are you okay?’

‘I’m fine.  He’s calm now.’

‘Logan… go back.  You need to go back.  The Sentinels are on their way …’  

Charles blinked at the sound of his own voice, older, wiser, harder.  

Dark eyes snapped open, staring at him.  “Are you back?” Charles asked easing up on his grip.  

“Yeah Chuck.”  He struggled to get up, looking down at the bodies around the room, not quite sure what happened.  “Where’s Mystique?”

“Out.”  Charles pointed towards the broken window.

“Erik?”

“Also out.”  He sighed trying to ignore the screams, growls, and crunching of metal.  “We’ve got to get out of here.”

Logan looked down at the soldier.  One flick of his claws …

“I do not know what happened to you, but it made you the man you are today.  The one who was willing to come here to save the world.” Charles put his hand on Logan’s wrists.  

“I’m not sure I like this version of you, Professor.”  He turned and walked away, dragging Charles behind him.  If there was one thing he had learned, leaving the Professor behind would only make Erik angry.

And that wasn’t a good thing.