x men

[dragonrazor]

Wizard looked up, seeing Rogue walk back into the hangar, and smiled. He didn't know why, but he felt happy whenever she was around. He shrugged his backpack on, and then headed for the courtyard outside the mansion. He had already seen the news report showing Juggernaut carrying the Professor and Jean out, and hoped he knew what he was doing. It wouldn't do well to go to all that trouble only to find out they couldn't get them back. He had slipped a take recorder in his backpack at the last possible moment, hoping to capture Sinister's plan on tape to show the government. He ignored the growing headache he was feeling, figuring it was just fatigue.

"This promises to be a wild ride. I just hope we survive it."

 

[Devilgrl]

"Listen Harry we gonna start this bad boy anytime soon" Magma shouted straping himself in. "I don't feel like having that 'Storm' girl around if she catches were fried"...


OOC: sorry been out for a couple days and didn't know what was going on so i made a short post

 

[Shaq]

Fantomex stood with Storm within Eva as they watched the contents of the disk.

“The predator we have created cezzzzzwzwzw!”

the holographic image began to appear snowy as though receiving interference until nothing showed at all. A loud “DING!” was heard and the toast popped out.

Fantomex reached down and took the disk and put it back in the compartment and retrieved another piece and put it into the toaster.

The man from the earlier image appeared again but he is in different clothes and in a different looking facility.

“....the mutant warrior called Fantomex. He is the primary obstacle to completing the weapon plus project. He has destroyed our earlier creations but in doing so has only led our research to newer discoveries. No longer would we splice genetically engineered humans with nano sentinels, instead, we would use the mutants against themselves. Behold, the predators that will destroy those who transgress the limits of nature."

In the background, pink streams of explosive kinetic energy emanate from every poor of a mutant in the background. The man turns to the mutant.

“As you can see, the initial results are incredibly promising.”

We have contained him in a containment field that borrows technology from a generator that creates pocket alternate universes. Our test subjects, our newest weapon plus creations are quite literally in another world. But in this pocket universe we can see how they may defend ours.

As the pink energy envelops the man he walks through what appears to be an old Roman street. As men and women in togas walk out before him the mere look from his eyes causes the pink energy to envelop everything in his visual path and explode. Buildings crumble and human beings combust by his mere vision. His path leaves nothing but destruction in its wake.

In another pod a grotestque looking man walks a similar looking street and places his hands around the face of unsuspecting victims. A visual monitor zeroes in on his hands and those of his victims and you see that they leave hideous mouths with two rows of hundreds of small jagged teeth.

“This weapon is able to gain control over any human or mutant he infects. He can create an army out of an entire city. And our prize weapon is truly a living weapon. Capable of converting potential energy into explosive kinetic energy. He will lead the new weapons. Ororo Munroe. Jubilation Lee. The one they call Rogue. He will lead us to them all. Huamanity’s, new son.”

Storm recognizes the face better than anyone. Standing in the midst of the containment field is the kinetic energy manipulator known as Gambit.

 

[Vixandra]

Rogue

I slid into the co-pilot's seat and started flipping switches for preflight.
Strapping in, I shot a look over my shoulder. "Everyone in? Good, clear the boarding doors!"

The doors closed with a hiss and I finished the rest of the preflight checks, flipping the engines on. After a moment's purr they settled into thier silent run mode. Made us a bit slower but almost indetectable.

 

[Ithica]

The disk ended and Ororo stared in a stunned silence, looking where the hologram had been playing. She started to think about everything that had happened today. Then it hit her, something wasn’t right. Out of everything that had happened today from a fanatic mutant attacking, a conspiracy against mutants, and sentinels on the lawn, all of that made sense. The only thing that wasn’t clicking right was Fantomex.

What exactly is in this for you? Because let me get this straight. You are showing me this valuable information out of the goodness of your mercenary’s heart? You could extort large amounts of money from several groups, including the X-men, but you are just showing this to me?

Ororo turned to face Fantomex and continued,

You wear an X-man communicator, which implicates us and now we have to get involved. You go to the mansion looking for sanctuary, which you didn’t really need because you have Eva. You tell us a little information and say that you need the X-men’s help to stop the government, but you only walk off with me. During the confusion of the attack and everyone scattering, I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on. You then said that you got information that said that the X-men would be betrayed by one of our own. So you decide to what, run to our rescue? Even considering the little I know about you, none of your actions make any sense. So I’m asking again, what are you getting out of this?

 

[dragonrazor]

Wizard nodded slowly, then looked out the window of the plane, feeling a sense of urgency. He had the feeling something was going to happen, and whatever it was, it wasn't a good thing. That, and his headache was getting worse. He reached into his bag, and pulled out some aspirin, and quickly swallowed a couple of tablets, before drinking water. It wouldn't do to be incapacitated by a migraine when the others needed him to carry out his mission.

 

[Jeremy Davis]

::The darkness gave way to the flickering light as Professor X opened his eyes and observed his surroundings. Electronic devises circled the room, and the beeping of a heart monitor filled his ears. However, there was not just one monitor but two. Xavier attempted to lift himself from the bed, but he was held fast by the restraints. He also felt the weight of a helmet on his head.

What has happened? Fantomex...Juggernaut....Now this...Jean! Where is she?!

Xavier fought the restraints trying to loosen them so he could get free and find Jean. He turned his head to the left and saw jean across the room on a table much like his, restrained and helmeted as he was. Someone in a white lab coat was looking over her, checking her out medically. After wetting his lips with his tongue, Xavier tried to talk.::

Where am I? What are you doing to Jean?

::The person in the white lab coat did not pay Xavier no mind, instead he produced a syringe from a side table full of medical apparatus and pressed two fingers onto Jean's neck. Fearing for Jean's safety, Xavier tried to reach out with his mind and stop the man. However, as Xavier started to use his mutant powers, his mind was assaulted by pain as the helmet sent electrical pulses into his brain that could only be compared to electrocution. Xavier twisted his face then cried out.::

As you can see my dear Professor Xavier, the helmet will protect me from any intrusions of my mind, and punish you for such rudeness. Please be sure to let Ms. Grey know of this when she wakes to save her from learning this lesson the hard way.

::Sinister went on with his work, and inserted the needle into the carotid artery of Jean. He then took enough blood to fill three vials before pulling the needle free. While Sinister finished his work and cleaned up, Xavier recomposed himself and attempted to find out what had happened to them.::

Mr. Sinister, what are you doing with the blood you've taken from Jean?

Come now Professor, I am a doctor and should be addressed as such. As for Ms. Grey, her blood will be used for my latest experiments and studies in mutant Genetics.

What experiments are you performing Doctor?

You see Professor, everyone loves to talk about their next big study or the results of some sort of experiment. Such boasting only brings more curiosity and unwanted attention. No, my findings and breakthroughs in genetics and cloning are my own and I share them with no one. Just suffice to say that the samples taken from you and Ms. Grey will be put to good use. Fantomex and John Kitano are going to be quite disappointed when I come up with my findings.

How are they connected with all of this?

::Sinister walked over to stand beside Xavier, and pulled the rubber gloves from his hands, dropping them into a bio-hazard trash bin.::

Fantomex, once and experiment himself, now wants to start a new Weapons Plus Program. Knowing that such and endeavor would require scientists and rather large sums of money, he brought his ideas to the US Government through Agent Kitano. They then sought out the best geneticist that this world to offer and once everything was in place, They formed a plan. They were going to capture mutants and splice their cloned DNA to make weapons. The best mutant abilities were easily found and I must say that it was not hard to find a traitor within your organization Professor.

Juggernaut....My own brother.

They say that blood is thicker than water, but money makes the world go round. Fantomex and Agent Kitano promised him control of all your assets once you and a select group of your beloved X-men were captured. How could The Mighty Juggernaut refuse such a deal?

Who else is Fantomex after?

Aside from you and Ms. Grey, Fantomex also wants Storm, Jubilee, and Cyclops. However, the two mutants he most desires are Rogue and Gambit. With the DNA from his list, he will splice and clone super mutant weapons to help the US Government. However Fantomex is a fool...

 

[Devilgrl]

Magma sat in his seet feeling dizzy. "Where are we going" he said holding his chest he was to far away from the earths surface. Almost throwing up he saw that Harry had some asprins worth a try he thought as he took some from the bag then swallowed them.

"So you really think your going to be able to take Sinister...you carry around a book of spells no offense but he will catch on". Ya Sinister is a real real fast learner. "You know he got his whole body burned down to the bone then he regenerated it all we don't stand a chance without Cyclops" oh this is hopeless.

"But none the less we will be getting...help"


***Dark road in middle of no where

"Where is his signal beconing from it's right in front of us" Blink said with Spike at her back holding her binoculars.
"Don't know how bout you Vulture".
"Nothing...wait what the hell" Vulture said as a jet screamed past them...They started up the great chase.

 

[Shaq]

Fantomex

Fantomex looks to Storm and speaks.

"Ms. Munroe, for someone so versed in the nuances of battle you really should study up on the Art of War. Combat is not always about having a aerial escape that Eva provides, but enlisting allies that can help against forces one can’t defeat alone. If you so wish to humiliate me, I will comply. To put it simply, I cannot defeat Sinister alone. And I cannot do it when every government in the world has marked me for death! As for why I involved the X-Men it is as I stated at the mansion. You all don’t see it how I do."
Fantomex looks at Storm as though he is frustrated. The temperature on Eva suddenly starts to grow colder as though someone turned on air conditioning.

“Of all the X-Men I thought you would see it for what it is. It as I said before. Misdirection. You make a person look one way and hit them from another. All warfare is deception and no one in mutantkind has learned that but me.”

Fantomex walks toward Storm.

“Tell me, weather goddess, in all the years the X-Men have waged battles for the forces of good who have they been against? Humans or mutants? Who has hurt you the most? Humans or the mutants? A human did not amputate Archangel's wings. Stryfe, a mutant created the legacy virus which ripped through our ranks. Magneto, Apocalypse, every time they speak they give human beings more than a reason to hate us. They give them a right to hate us. Even among you X-Men. Jean Grey once destroyed a planet. As Onslaught Professor Xavier crippled New York. The sentinels that mutants point to as signs of human agression fell under his control and did more damage to humans than they ever did to us. But do you know why I don’t hate mutants Storm? Do you know why I don’t admit that Reverend Striker is right and that I’m a mistake by God and would be better off dead? Because I see it for what it is. It's all misdirection. Can't you see that? The Magnetos and Apocalypse of the world have been empowered and embolded by humans from the start to turn public opinion against us. Give Magneto Genosha, he'll arm the country and start a war! Don't risk the Avengers against Apocalypse! Let the X-Men fight him and lose some of their own in the process! Storm, don't you see what they planned? Mutants are the beings on the planet with the greatest chance to create change. We have power to defend against oppression. We have the power to refuse martial law. We have the power to change the whole world Storm. But those who like the unfair and cruel world just how it is don't want change and they want to get rid of the only people in the world with the power to cause it. Mutants. So it’s like I said before. I implicated you to make you see it for what it is. I didn’t involve thee X-Men, you were already involved. Already implicated, whether you know it or not.”

Fantomex presses a button on the toaster and ejects the disk. He reaches in to the compartment once more and pulls out what looks like normal soft white bread.

“The burnt pieces are actually complete discs. It’s like when you burn MP3s to Cds. You have to close the session before you can play it. The burnt pieces are closed sessions, these aren’t. Fortunately, Eva and I were able to find a technician who, after some convincing, was able to salvage some of it. Look for yourself and see if you should help me.”

The halographic simulation begins again. This time in the background the same man can be seen but the resolution is far less clear. His mouth is moving and he is reading a piece of paper but no sound can be heard.


Fantomex studies the man’s lips closely and focuses on his mouth. He explains to Storm “Body language. I read body language. His lips move and I understand it as if he were speaking right into my ear. He’s saying that in order to complete the project pawns needed to be used. He‘s saying pawns are anything, people, procedures or activities that will lead to the ultimate purpose. The means to an end. He says the previous weapon plus creations were pawns. Wolverine, Weapon Ten.” the screen blitzes.

“I couldn’t read the last thing he said but now he’s talking about Weapon XII, the Huntsman. Weapon XIII, yours truly………and Weapon XV Ultimaton. Longshot, Domino, Scarlett Witch…….Wizard. I can’t read what he says after them but we were mutants that were the prototypes but now we are no longer needed. The purposes are Jubilee, Gambit, Rogue and yourself Storm.”

Fantomex sits down on a chair. “Weapon Plus wants you Storm. You’ve seen what they did to your friend Wolverine. And I can tell you that whenever I get a fever, Eva may meltdown a town. They made us like this for one reason, so we would be hunters. Destroyers of our own kind. And now they want you. So if you don’t see any reason to get involved, then we’ve have different worldviews.”

“Fantomex” eva interrupts.

“Yes?”

“There is a problem.”

“Why must there always be a problem? For once can we fight for our lives and have it go smoothly without any problems?” Fantomex says as he shakes his head and sighs.

“Did you perform a scan? What were the results?”

“Multiple mutants found.”

Fantomex turns to Storm.

“That’s good. Hopefully Jubilee is one of those mutants. Eva can you show us where the mutants you found in the town are?”

“Everywhere.“

“What?“ Fantomex asks.

“That’s the problem. They are everywhere. The entire town carries the mutant gene.“

“Mutant Town, Germany? That’s impossible. The whole town can’t be mutants.“ Fantomex frowns.

“Something’s wrong. Because we can’t isolate the mutant genes in this town it means it will be that much harder to find Jubilee if she’s here. Which means someone beat us here and they are doing something to mask mutants and mask their tracks. Which means we investigate the old fashioned way. By beating people up until they point us in the direction of an Asian American loud mouth with a bad wardrobe.“

Fantomex upholsters two guns on his side them puts them back on. He also looks at Storm and appears to make a decision.

"So you know what's in it for me, now I'll tell you what's in it for you. Help me destroy Sinister and stop any of his weapon plus abominations and I'll give you the disks. All of them, even the two I did not show you. All of them to show to your little friend Wizard. I'll give you the projector but you all have to find your own power source. Vibranium is expensive. Fly high overhead Eva. I’ll keep you informed.“


Eva sits down on the ground in a dark corner of the town. A bright light aboard her shines and Fantomex steps into the light to get off.

He looks around. The town appears almost empty. Silent. Very Strange.

Suddenly the air is punctured by a scream.

“HELP!!!!! Please Papa noooooo!”

Fantomex looks to Storm and begins to run toward the voice. It sounded like a young girl was in trouble. And once he found her, the person who put her there was going to be in even more.

 

[Ithica]

Was she that far off of her game? She knew that it takes time to trust people but she also knew she had been biased against him because of Jean’s and Xavier’s information. She was on edge not knowing what was happening with everyone else, but why attack Fantomex. He had been nothing but cooperative and very charming. She was giving Wizard the benefit of the doubt, why not Fantomex? She felt secure enough in her abilities to believe that she could defend herself against him, if things went bad, which was why she went with him in the first place.

Storm stepped into the light and found herself in a town.

“HELP!!!!! Please Papa noooooo!”

Storm heard the girl's scream and ran after Fantomex.

 

[Jeremy Davis]

:: Charles Xavier contemplated everything Sinister has told him as Sinister finished cleaning up his tools. Jean started to come to and when she regained all of her senses, she gasped when she saw the white faced, red eyed man looking down at her. Immediately, her instincts took over and she attempted to use her telekinesis to push Sinister away. However, as what happened to Xavier, her mind was assaulted by the shock of the helmet making her cry out in pain.::

Jean! Jean, stop using your powers! The helmet you are wearing will shock you each time that you do.!

It is a shame that she tried to use her remarkable mutant ability before you could warn her Charles. I hate seeing a lady in pain.

Jean, just relax. There is nothing we can do for the moment.

::After a few moments, Jean recovered from the jolt, then looked around at the laboratory. She then looked at the Professor with wide eyes, a look of fear starting to form on her face.::

Charles, how did we get here? What is going on?

Please allow me Professor. You both were captured at the mansion by The Juggernaut when the US government and the sentinels attacked. He then turned you over to some government agents. Once subdued at the mansion, you both were brought to the new Weapon Plus facility. Fantomex and Dr. McCoy plan on using your DNA for new weapons, however I could not allow this chance to pass to get my own samples.

::Xavier looked confused for a moment as he heard the name McCoy. Surely Hank is not in on this with Fantomex...no wait...Dark Beast...::

What does Dr. McCoy have to do with all of this. I thought you and Fantomex were working together?

We were until I had done my first experiment. The results were less than satisfactory. When I told Fantomex it would require more time to refine the theory, he brought in McCoy and they pushed me out. What the two have engineered, and are testing as we speak in Germany, makes me sick to my stomach. Hideous deformities that they are going to sell as biological weapons to the Government who will pay the most. If your mutant powers, or those of Ms. Grey's for that matter, were spliced with another mutants and given to an unstable creation such as what McCoy has cloned, there would be potential for mass destruction.

::Jean shook her head and decided to try to get Sinister to help them.::

Release us and help us stop Fantomex. At least take these helmets off so we can get ourselves free...

I have already taken measures against Fantomex and McCoy. I've reacquainted myself with an old colleague. He should be able to use his knowledge, cunning and mutant abilities to help your X-men fight against Fantomex, McCoy and their experiments. Hopefully when the cards are down, your X-men will see past that so called "trial" and listen to the Cajun. Seeing as I have taken what I need from you both, perhaps I could free you both or at least you Charles.

::The sounds of footsteps approaching slowly grews louder as someone was heading to the lab. Sinister turned towards the door, then turned back to Jean and the Professor, an evil grin on his face.::

Such horrible timing. I must take my leave now. I have enjoyed our little talk Professor. I only hope your beloved X-men are up for the challenges they will face.

::Before either Xavier or Jean could say more, Sinister shifted into a medical staff member and exited the room, leaving Jean and Xavier to whatever fate had in store for them.::

 

[Masume]

Name – Elisabeth “Betsy” Braddock
Codename - Psylocke
Height – 5’11”
Weight – 155lb
Hair – Purple (Originally Blonde)
Eyes – Purple (Originally Blue)

Personality – Betsy is a true lady. Thanks to her upbringing, she has become a well-mannered, strong and highly intelligent woman. She’s the type of woman that knows what she wants and gets it! Betsy is what you could call a social butterfly. She is such a cultured woman, with a spectacular sense of human and wonderful sense of well being, it’s hard to hate her. She’s quirky, cheerful, friendly and of course moody. Highly independent and loyal, Betsy is the perfect candidate for a friend. She’s very spearheaded and determined, going after what she wants and believes in with a great force. She’s self motivated and a perfectionist, constantly striving to be the best, even if competing with herself.

Adventure and danger thoroughly appeal to this woman. A natural thrill-seeker there is hardly ever a moment where she is bored. Being bored is like nails on a chalkboard for this Braddock twin. Knowing first hand that your life’s end could be any day, minute or second. She fully intends to make the most of her time.

A few negative tid bits, besides her sometimes-moody behavior, she constantly compares herself to others, in order to improve on herself, something that could be seen as jealousy. She is very strong and can be intimidating to some. Also Betsy’s sense of humor can sometimes be a little cynical, where she’ll come across as a very unique person to those who dig deeper, underneath all the layers that make up Betsy Braddock.

Known superhuman powers – Psylocke possesses many telepathic abilities, enabling her to read minds, communicate mentally with others over long distances, stun the minds of others with "mental bolts," control the minds of others, and create illusions in the minds of others. Psylocke can intensely focus her psionic powers into her "psychic knife," with which she can stun or kill an adversary.

 

[Shaq]

Somewhere deep in Arizona at a converted Hulk buster base Professor Xavier sits in his cell and thinks. He looks around at his surroundings and cannot help but wonder at the predicament he finds himself. He has seen his X-Men kidnapped, captured and tortured but he will never get used to it. Deep inside, he feels this time may be the worst of all because in the eyes of the outside world he deserved to be arrested for helping "A self admitted terrorist" Xavier quotes himself and chastizes his own foolishness in helping Fantomex.

He looks at Jean and understands the cost of training her so well in the use of her powers is that she seems to be falling apart, mentally ironically, without them.

He sits and thinks. Beast, White Queen and all of the other senior staff are under investigation but as far as he knows have yet to be arrested. Who could he turn to to help his X-Men if they are in as much danger as Sinister claims?

He would never be allowed to contact Nightcrawler's team and he is unaware of their wherabouts. Surely, they would come to help him upon learning of his imprisonment.

Xavier sits restless. He can tell by the relatively humane treatment he has received that his captors do intend for him to stand trial but he hopes that one of his X-Men will visit him in time so that he can inform them about the grave danger that surrounds them all.

 

[Shaq]

Fantomex

As he ran toward the direction of the voice Fantomex unholstered his weapons.

He heard another scream and realized it came from inside a home slightly in front of him. Yet as he prepared to enter the house he saw another man with a gun running at full speed and kick in the door.

"I'm coming!" the man says in German.

A loud shotgun blast rings through the air and Fantomex leaps through the door and takes a position in the corner with guns drawn.

On the floor he sees a huge pool of blood leading to a fat man on the floor with a huge whole where his chest used to be.

The man with the shotgun who presumably shot him cradles the young girl as she cries.

"Papa!" she says in German as she reaches out toward the body.

The man who is holding her notices Fantomex and quickly picks up his shotgun and points it at him.


"Show me your hands! Show me!"

Fantomex assumes the man means for him to raise his hands. He raises both of his hands into the air as though he surrenders and drops both guns in the process. As the guns fall down in the air through the ground he quickly crouches and picks them up and throws one at the man toward his face.

The gun hits him and he fires a shotgun blast but the impact of the gun hitting him knocks him off his feet and in a moment Fantomex is on top of him and removes his shotgun.

"Be careful having these around children." Fantomex says as he throws the shotgun away.

"Someone may get hurt."

"Run little one!" the man says in German and she moves toward the door. As she does her eyes grow wide and she turns back around and says "Brother they are coming!!!"

"Who is coming?" Fantomex says.

The man looks at him curiously and says "You are a stranger. I have not seen you before today."

"And you won't see me after today if everyone in this town greets visitors with shotguns."

The man frowns.

"No, they greet with something much worse than death. Show me your hands."

Fantomex looks at him as though he is crazy.

"Hey, I'm the one holding a gun here."

"I must see if you have the disease before I tell you anymore. I will force you to kill me but you will not destroy my soul! Show me your hands!"

Fantomex extends his palm.

"No glove!"

Fantomex pulls off his glove and shows the man his hand. He reads the facial expression on the man and sees that he is relieved.

"Come, we must go. Everyone has gone mad. Those who bear the disease that eats minds have a sign on their hands. Teeth, mouth, the mouth of Satan that eats souls. And they are coming. We must go!"

The man gets up to leave with the little girl and Fantomex follows. He is met outside by Storm.

"How's your German Ororo?" he asks.

"It's too late." the man says sadly as a huge mob of people approach the group.

 

[Masume]

Elizabeth Braddock switched her attention from her Greek salad to the handsome man with the shaggy sun-kissed hair, mile-deep dimples and sea-green eyes that twinkled with humor and mischief. And that smile, that butter melting in your mouth smile just added a whole new level of beefcake to his scorching hot looks. She was never one to fall deeply into the world of Soap Operas; she always found them a waste of time. From what she could remember and she remembered plenty, living back at Xavier’s Institute was a Soap Opera all on it’s own. No need for the Young and the Useless or whatever it was. How long had it been since she received any new news from Westchester? Curling one foot underneath herself, she rested the bowl of salad on her lap and continued to chew as the hunky doctor rambled on about saving a patients life. His words were drowned out by a smaller television a house cleaner put on. Her name was Esmeralda; she was more like a friend that just so happened to clean the Braddock Manor rather than just a house cleaner. They’d go out, talk do all the friendly stuff. Although interrupting her near x-rated thoughts with news wasn’t exactly Betsy’s idea of friendly.

“Esmie, do you mind turning that-“

“Charles Francis Xavier, known simply as Professor X is still being held in .”

“Bloody hell…turn that up Esmie…” Elizabeth scooted her butt onto the edge of her plush sofa, cradling the small television in her hands, staring down at it.

“Aiding a what?!” Elizabeth exclaimed. She knew Xavier, she knew him damn well. He was many things but a terrorist was NOT one of them. She looked ahead for a moment, closing her eyes, seeing if she could contact him mentally. He was completely blocked. She was blocked. Her abilities were nowhere near as strong as his or Jeans…Jean! She could contact Jean. Again, she did her best to connect but she wasn’t getting through. This was not good, not good at all. Looking back down at the television, she waited for them to spill the beans on his location. For now the newscaster decided to ramble on about bullshit she could care less about. Filler on how awful mutants where.

“You’re a reporter…report dammit!” The British butterfly’s fuse was growing shorter and shorter. She needed to find Xavier and get this whole mess cleared up. The only thing she had to figure out now was…how.

Lifting violet eyes to meet a concerned Esmeralda, Elizabeth flashed a grim smile. “Get a travel agent on the phone and get a ticket for….”

“Held in Arizona…”

“Arizona!” She shouted as Esmeralda scrambled to get a phone. “First class!” Yes, this was a bad time but that didn’t mean she had to settle for any less. The last thing the Professor and…apparently, Jean was a bitter Elizabeth Braddock. She had to keep her thoughts clear if she wanted to pass off as a normal citizen, visit the Professor, and reframe from snapping each of the guards heads clear off their necks.

Okay, calm down Betsy…calm down. She coached herself.

Arizona – The Cell

Psylocke had thousands upon thousands of questions for the Professor. Questions like “When exactly did you decide to hang around with terrorists?” Honestly, she was having a very hard to grasping and wrapping her brain around all of this. All she knew was he was being held in Arizona and she had to get there. Money truly did make the world go round. She didn’t flaunt what she had with the exception being her body and utter intellect. But this was one of those moments when being wealthy really paid. She played the helpless little damsel that just had to see her dear friend Charles. She couldn’t exactly barge in probe minds, flash her psi-blade around, and expect to help things. Sure, it would get her answers but add more problems to Xavier’s obviously troubled world.

She hadn’t forgotten about Jean. They didn’t exactly swamp homemade cookie recipes or spend day at the spa gossiping about any and everything. She didn’t love the woman to death but she didn’t hate her. It was more of she didn’t want her harmed, she just didn’t always feel as thought it was her duty to help her. Did that make her sound bad? If she was in as much trouble as Xavier was in she’d do her best to get them both out of this jam.

“Who you here to see lady?” A rough looking blue-eyed guard asked. Fondling his gun. That poor gun.

Psylocke inhaled a deep breath and put on her game face. “I’m here to see Charles Francis Xavier.”

“Oh is that so?” The guard examined her for a moment. As if trying to figure her out with his eyes. “What for?”

“I’m a family friend of his. He used to take care of me as a child. I spoke with an officer while traveling here.” She was never a very patient person and conversing with the big oaf wasn’t her cup of tea. “Please…” And she hated begging. A lot.

“Miss Braddock am I right?”

“Yes. May I see him now?”

The guard grinned, looking back over his shoulder and then resting his eyes on the British beauty once more. “You ain’t hiding anything in that coat of yours are you?”

Raising a slim lilac eyebrow, she returned his grin, unbuttoning the faux mink coat and settling it gently onto a desk off to her right. She was pro fashion and anti animal torture. All the while, she kept eye contact. Underneath the coat she wore a black and white leather-trim halter top.

“See no knives? No guns. Just skin. May I see him now?”

“Right this way.” The guard pointed her in the direction of a cell, opening the door he buzzed her in. Inhaling deeply she prepared herself. She swore if they had laid an unfriendly finger on him she’d kill them all. There was one thing she hated and that was anyone she cared about being hurt. Taking careful steps in case there was a trap, she kept herself alert and ready for anything.

“Professor?”

 

[Ithica]

I don't speak German.

Storm turned towards the crowd with her hands in front of her and yelled,

Stop!

There was something not right with that crowd and the man with Fantomex was becoming aggitated. She would have to treat the mob as hostel.

She summoned up the wind to knock the crowd back a couple of metres and yelled stop again, but they just got up and kept walking towards them.

What is wrong with them? I think we need to get out of here.

 

[Shaq]

"Elizabeth!" Professor Xavier is so happy to see one of his former students that he rushes to the front of his cell to embrace her forgetting that a solid foot of shatterproof glass separates them.

He touches the glass and smiles at her.

"I'm happy you arrived. I spoke with my attorneys earlier. They believe that Jean and I will be released but it will take time. What have your heard from the mansion and from the other X-Men?" the Professor asks.

 

[Shaq]

Fantomex

"They have the plague!!!" the man shouted and began to run away from the mob.

"I'm in the mood for a German rendition of the Boston Massacre but before I start making people bloody I want to know what's going on." Fantomex says to Storm and begins to follow the man.


Fantomex chased him and caught up to him because the man was slowed by the small girl he carried with him as he ran. Fantomex took the girl from his arms and carried her as they ran.

"The police. We are stationed there with them." the man said.


Ahead Fantomex saw a two story building. Focusing his eyesight he could see that a figure moved near the window, likely a sniper.


"Is that your man near the window?" Fantomex asks.

"Yes, those of us who were not infected have grouped there. I thought you were one of them. My poor guest, you have picked a horrible time to visit our community."

The group arrived at the police station.

Someone had been watching them approach and Fantomex hears great strain as 2 uniformed men and 2 teenage boys open the heavy metal door.

"Quickly!" one of them says.

Fantomex walks through the door and sees that it is a barricade door of sorts.

Exhausted due to lifting the heavy metal bar that goes across the door without any mechanical assitance Fantomex waits a moment for the group to catch their breath. Despite holding the child and running with the man Fantomex's nanosentinel infused body has kept him fully energized and Eva fuels him though his unique physiology she hovers far above him.

"What is going on here?" Fantomex asks.

 

[Masume]

"I'm happy you arrived. I spoke with my attorneys earlier. They believe that Jean and I will be released but it will take time. What have your heard from the mansion and from the other X-Men?" the Professor asks.

“Absolutely nothing.” Psylocke walked up to the glass and placed her palm against it too. Lowering her hand, she took a seat. The chair was uncomfortable and probably had one too many butts in it to handle over it’s lifetime. It sunk under her weight and poked in all the wrong placed. Shifting around slightly and looked at him.

“How on earth did you get into this mess? What happened?!”

 

[Shaq]

Professor Xavier

"Oh Betsy, I was a fool. A fool to trust someone who has hurt my students so many times in the past. And a fool to trust someone of whom we know nothing except lies. Had you heard about the attack involving mutants at a market in New York City? It involved a mutant we know, a terrorist, named Fantomex. During this battle we noticed that he wore an X insignia, the communication devices exclusive to the X-Men. I knew that such a piece would lead authorities to us eventually but we could not understand why Fantomex wore it or how he got it. He came to the mansion and asked for sanctuary. He claimed that he needed our help against a foe and...and I believed him."

Professor Xavier wheels his chair slightly away from the glass so Psylocke cannot see the embarrasment on his face.


"And I believed him. My brother, Cain Marko betrayed us. The last thing I remember was allowing him into the Danger Control room and then I was here. They are holding me on charges related to terrorism. Fantomex's presence at our home has given the authorities reason to arrest Jean and myself. We will be fine Betsy but we have something far worse to concern ourselves with. While here I was visited by Mister Sinister. He told me that the events that happened tonight are part of a far greater plan and I believe some of our friends may be in danger. It appears as though Fantomex, himself a member of the Weapon Plus program that experimented on Wolverine, plans to restart the program using some of the XMen. Jubilee, Gambit, Storm, Rogue and maybe others are in danger. I have not been able to get in contact with them here as this helmet prevents Jean or myself from communicating telepathically. And if Juggernaut has helped Fantomex to gain control over my estate as I fear, then it may take breaching the defense systems that we built to protect ourselves in order to access Cerebro to find the others. But there is another way. The Massachutes Academy and Muir Island have machines almost as effective as cerebro which should suffice. Or have your powers developed to the point where you may be able to locate their minds?"

 

[Masume]

"Oh Betsy, I was a fool. A fool to trust someone who has hurt my students so many times in the past. And a fool to trust someone of whom we know nothing except lies. Had you heard about the attack involving mutants at a market in New York City? It involved a mutant we know, a terrorist, named Fantomex.”

“Fantomex? No, never heard of him.” Psylcoke scooted her chair closer. She already hated the man.

“…During this battle we noticed that he wore an X insignia, the communication devices exclusive to the X-Men. I knew that such a piece would lead authorities to us eventually but we could not understand why Fantomex wore it or how he got it. He came to the mansion and asked for sanctuary. He claimed that he needed our help against a foe and...and I believed him."

“You’re a trusting person Professor. You cannot beat yourself up for all of this. You made a mistake, everyone does.” She was searching for words of comfort but this was a tense situation. A really bad situation. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she continued to listen.

“And I believed him. My brother, Cain Marko betrayed us. The last thing I remember was allowing him into the Danger Control room and then I was here. They are holding me on charges related to terrorism. Fantomex's presence at our home has given the authorities reason to arrest Jean and myself. We will be fine Betsy but we have something far worse to concern ourselves with.”

There was more? This was what happened when she was away. Chaos broke out at the mansion. Xavier and Jean got themselves arrested and now she was sitting here speaking to Xavier through glass. This was just unbelievable.

“…While here I was visited by Mister Sinister…”


“Sinister? He’s back in the picture?”

“ He told me that the events that happened tonight are part of a far greater plan and I believe some of our friends may be in danger. It appears as though Fantomex, himself a member of the Weapon Plus program that experimented on Wolverine, plans to restart the program using some of the XMen. Jubilee, Gambit, Storm, Rogue and maybe others are in danger. I have not been able to get in contact with them here as this helmet prevents Jean or myself from communicating telepathically. And if Juggernaut has helped Fantomex to gain control over my estate as I fear, then it may take breaching the defense systems that we built to protect ourselves in order to access Cerebro to find the others. But there is another way. The Massachutes Academy and Muir Island have machines almost as effective as cerebro which should suffice. Or have your powers developed to the point where you may be able to locate their minds?"

The question of her powers made her cringe. She wasn’t sure. Sure, she probed a mind here and there, she could control minds and communicate. As far as the evolution of her powers, she had yet to discover their limits. She’d seen what others had done, literally draining themselves when they used their powers to it’s breaking point. She was a precious toy and had no intention of breaking.

“I…I might be able too.” Scratching the side of her cheek, she looked beyond Xavier. “I tried contacting you but for obvious reasons I was unsuccessful. Whatever I need to do to help you. I will do it. In a heartbeat.”

 

[Shaq]

"You cannot beat yourself up over this professor. You made a mistake. Everyone does."


Her words comforted Xavier. He was touched by how high his students regarded an old man who had made such a foolish mistake.

"The reason you have not heard of Fantomex Betsy is because there is no Fantomex. Jean told me it was merely a persona he invented. He is an escaped member of the Weapon Plus program. Wolverine is Weapon X, or Weapon 10, the tenth product of a series of tests on living weapons. Fantomex is a stealth fighter, Weapon 13, the thirteenth weapon created by weapon plus. And now I'm afraid he has some of the X-Men. I can only relate to you what I was told by Sinister and his information has been misguiding in the past. But I do not doubt that the X-Men are in danger. When I last saw the X-Men Havok, Storm, Jean, Rogue, the young student Wizard, and Cyclops were in the mansion with Juggernaut, Magma, Deadhand and Fantomex. I do not know what happened to them after I was knocked out and brought here. Jean tells me that she released Magma from the telepathic hold and sought to join me in the control room when she was blind sided. She could not see who assaulted her but we assume it was Juggernaut. Betsy, you must find the X-Men who were at the mansion. Storm and Rogue may be in imminent danger but locating Jubilee and Gambit is a priority as well."

 

[Masume]

Drumming manicured fingernails along her knee the news got worse and worse and she was beginning the think this was a probably she wouldn’t be able to handle on her own. She needed the rest of the X-Men, but unfortunately, they were all mixed into this mess. “Well then Storm and Jubilee are at the top of my list. If they’re in the most danger, I need to find them first? I have a question. How am I supposed to find any of them?”

 

[Shaq]

Professor Xavier

"I know of two possibilities. You can travel to the mansion and hope to use Cerebro covertly or without Juggernaut's knowledge. But as acting head of the mansion in my absence he may not admit you. The other option is the Massachutes academy. You may find the version of cerebro there is suffcient to locate the X-Men. I know that Jubilee is training at a facility in Germany. Rogue knows of the location though I am not positive of its exact whereabouts. Choose whichever you think is best Betsy, but you must find the X-Men."

 

[Masume]

“Since I may not even be allowed into the mansion. Massachutes it is. I’m sure there cerebro will give me some source of information. If not I’m sure I’ll be able to pry it out somehow. I’m going to help you get out of here. I promise.” And she meant every single word. There was no way she was going to let this continue any longer. And if it meant risking her own life then so be it.

Standing she flashed Xavier a reassuring smile. “And I always keep my promises.”