Legend: Thoughts = <>
Stray thoughts = ()
Flashback **
Com links []
Ok, guys, All the disclaimers apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel for the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And I do read all the other stories, and they're great, keep up the good work. They inspire me!
Author's Notes: This is like the Season Finale or whatever. So I'll be taking a break from the story after this.
Chapter 40: Putting the Pieces Back Together
"In world News Today, a school was bombed today in efforts of an unnamed groups plans to eradicate the world of mutants. For more, stay tuned at 5:00." The newscaster said. I watched behind the crowd and kept myself incognito as much as I could. I mean, a guy wearing leather had to be a very big sign of weirdness. So, I stayed to myself, " At 5:00, the Fantastic Four have joined the effort to find survivors in the rubble and have found no survivors, only dead children." Good, I thought. Not that the kids were dead, but that the world wouldn't think it was a good thing. The dead kids still haunted me. I was told to protect them and get them to shelter, but I didn't and now they were dead. No second chance. I heard a clamor and looked around, suspicious that it was me. I saw a fight and took that opportunity to slip away.
As the Beast known as Predator X stalked the forest looking for mutants, he'd been unsuccessful. It was late, but he had to move forward. Though he was not tired, he was hungry. He stopped and sniffed the air and turned, running in the opposite direction. I ran through the forest as the darkness fell upon the tiny forest. I knew if I could get underground, I could find out where the rest of the team was and soon I was out of breath. I knew I was close though, I could feel it. As I stepped onto a branch, it cracked. I stepped back, scared. I shook it off and felt something run behind me. I tried to sense if anything was there, but I couldn't feel another mind. I moved forward, feeling something swish by me again, and I stopped dead in my tracks. I looked back, then tried to move ahead, but bumped into some...thing. I looked up at it and it's teeth glared under the moon.
"Why not." I said hopelessly. The monster lurched and swung is head at me in an attempt to bite me, but I jumped back and fell to the ground, the leaves under me jutting out from under me! The monster lunged at me and I rolled out of the way. As I ran, I figured out that I couldn't outrun him and just as he got closer, I turned and raised a shield, which he slammed into hard enough to throw me backwards and cause him to fly back also! I quickly got up and retreated towards the mansion, trying to find anyone, " HELP ME!" I shouted. As I got closer, I heard a familiar BAMF and suddenly I was staring at metal walls and I turned to see Nightcrawler smiling at me. He latched onto me quickly, " Too Tight, Too Tight..." I gasped.
"We didn't think you made it." Beast said from the corner.
"For a minute, I didn't think I made it." I said quickly, " I survived the explosion."
"You were in the Mansion?" Beast said in awe.
"Have you been up there?" I asked, " It's not really a mansion anymore."
"We know." Nightcrawler said sadly, " We're missing some kids. Devon, Ky..."
"Dead." I said, not bothering to look them in the face, " It's on every news channel."
"Just curious, how did you survive?" Beast asked.
"I...umm...." I paused.
"PANE!" Warren said, running to me and hugging me, " Oh my gosh, you're okay!"
"Where's the rest of the X-Men?" I asked.
"We don't know. They've been taken." Beast said, " But the Juniors got away."
"So, any idea where they are?" I asked.
"After Stryker's first attack, we found a safehouse." Beast smiled.
"Good, is Betsy alright?" I asked.
"I'm fine." she said, standing at the door, " Are we on a mission?"
"You didn't tell her?" I asked, " Somebody tell her. We need to find the safehouse quick, there's a monster on the loose."
"Stars and Garters, you did not meet with Predator X, did you?" Beast asked, shocked.
"He was big with teeth and no brain wave, so if that's what you're calling him, then hell yeah. He tried to eat me. But I told him that my bones weren't gonna make his bread." I smirked.
"We must hurry." Beast said, " Even Magneto's forces were taken off guard."
"I was so gonna watch 'Hair Spray' tonight. Someone is gonna pay." I said quickly.
"It's upstairs, shall I get it?" Betsy asked.
We all looked at her, " Sure. Go on up." I smiled, " So, how far away is this safehouse?" I asked.
"Not far." Beast said, looking at me, obviously trying to relay his thoughts...and he did.
"How long do we have to stay down here?" Julian asked, twiddling his thumbs.
Danielle Moonstar looked at him, obvious annoyed and Joshua Foley sighed, causing Julian to look at them uneasily.
"Noriko, do you know anyway to contact the Mansion?" Dani asked a chinese mutant.
"The Mansion is gone." Sofia Mantega said, listening to the air, " They found the bodies of some kids."
"Has Dust come back?" Laura Kenney asked.
"I am." Soorya said, materializing from nowhere, " They've removed the bodies, and there is no sign of Pane or the X-Men."
"So, we're down one super-nova mutant and a team of powerhouses? The outlook is rosy." Julian joked.
"I don't think so." Danielle said, " We have some powerhouses here too."
"But I can't do all the work." Julian joked.
BOOM!
"What was that?" Josh asked, sitting straight up.
All the Kids huddled together and stared at the door. As the kids got ready to fight whatever was on the other side of the door, it burst open and flew across the room! I hovered in, dropping to the floor and running up to them.
"PANE!" They said, running over to hug me.
"Hi, yeah, we gotta go!" I said, looking around.
"Why?" Julian asked.
A growl came from the empty doorway and I instantly threw my hand up and telekinetically sent it hurling across the room at Predator X and it knocked him farther away! I telekinetically held the door in place and tilted my head, trying to put the door back together. After I did, I looked around, trying to find another way out. I felt a tap at my shoulder and turned to see Julian ushering the kids into a hidden door. I nodded and followed them into the tunnel. I followed them through the dank tunnel and finally we came out into a forest. I walked to the group of kids and stopped as Julian ran to my side from behind me.
"I think we lost him." Julian panted.
I shook my head, " Something tells me that's not the case. I can't sense it." I said.
"Are you okay?" Joshua Foley, Elixir, asked.
"Yeah, just a little shaken." I smiled, " That's like the fifth time i've been crushed."
"Bummer." Laura Kenney joked.
"It really is." I said, looking around, " We need to get back to the Mansion."
"But it's in ruins." Soorya said, " I was there earlier, it was nothing but rubble..." she explained.
"On the surface." I corrected, " The X-Men have to be rescued and we don't have much time."
"Why?" Julian asked.
"Whatever the Purifiers have planned, it's gonna happen soon." I said, moving a branch.
"How soon?" Noriko asked.
"Yesterday." I said, obviously a little annoyed.
"What do you have planned." Dani asked.
"I don't really know. That's more of Beast's thing. I'm just the power behind it all." I panted, looking around. I stopped when I saw something moving the trees, " Guys, run, I'll hold him off." I said, taking a stance.
I felt a hand bring my hands down, " No. We'll hold him off." Julian smiled.
I nodded. When he got close enough, I waved my hand, trying to throw him telekinetically, but it didn't work. Before I could say anything else, something shot by me! I watched as Sam Guthrie flew by at the monster and the monster caught him! Another mutant, Rockslide, quickly ran to his aid, pummeling the monster.
"Quick! Everybody, attack!" I shouted.
As I stood by, Dani joined me and she looked to be concentrating. I looked over and saw another Predator X and was about to act when Dani touched my hand. I looked from her to 'Predator X' II and realized it was another one of her illusions. Predator X swatted the other mutants away and ran at the other predator! It was then that I had an idea! I quickly projected it into Julian's mind.
"No! That's not a good idea." Julian said, looking at me warningly, " You can't even fly anymore, can you?"
"Julian...You know I'd never miss that battle. The one at the end where we win..." I smiled.
"What's going on?" Dani asked as the rest of the mutants surrounded us.
"We don't have time and it's a good plan." I said quickly, " There's a waterfall..."
"How..." Dani asked.
"I can't explain." I said, " Just let me try."
"But you're not even...can you fly?" Julian repeated.
"That's where you come in. Follow me. If I die, I'll kill you." I smirked, running in the opposite direction. As I ran past, I felt something switch and Predator X's footsteps could be heard behind me. I knew he was going to catch me before I got to the waterfall, which was 20 meters away, and I had to do something. I stopped and turned to him. I tilted my head and raised my hand, causing lightning to shoot from the sky and hit him dead in the chest! He stopped as if instructed to at that very moment and I sped off in the other direction. When I finally got there, I looked around, wondering if it was safe. The waterfall would have been a beautiful sight if I wasn't in a very life, or probably death, situation. I looked back and saw that he was speeding after me, but I stepped off the edge and it was as if I was walking on air. I hovered high above the wild waters. I needed cover, so he'd think I was just walking. I lowered my head and felt the fire cause steam to rise and that steam turned to fog as it lifted high above the water, underneath my feet. I looked up quickly to see Predator X racing towards me. He leaped from 10 meters away and tried to grab me, but I shifted to the right and he roared as he fell to the bottom of the waterfalls!
<PANE!>
Pane<JEAN!?>
Jean< Pane, what's going on?>
Pane <Jean, where are you?>
Jean < I don't know.>
Pane <Jean...I'm losing you!>
Vision The X-Men and Magneto's gang locked up. They were being executed in the middle...GENOSHA?!Vision
That would make sense. The center of the mutant race, in one area. Worst case scenario, Genosha go boom with everyone in it. Before I could move, the group of New Mutants ran up to me, Julian in the lead. They looked to be out of breath.
"Julian, thanks, we did it!" I shouted.
"What?!" Julian panted, " I didn't..." he saw the fog move, " You're floating?"
"You're doing this, right?" I asked.
"No." Julian smiled.
"I like the look." Karma commented.
I looked down to see the new X-Uniform and smiled, " Thanks. We need to get to Beast like yesterday." I said, landing in front of them.
"Genosha?" Julian asked.
"Well, tarnation, that's a heck of a long way from home." Sam said.
"What home?" Tabitha "Boom-Boom" Smith sighed.
"Well then, let's go." An African American student named Brian Cruz said, " We need to save them."
I nodded and we headed to the ruins of the Mansion.
When we got back, we immediately came up with plans. I had been thinking so hard, I started to hear other people's thoughts. I decided to go outside, which was the Danger Room, since we didn't have the ability to just leave. I was sitting in a cafe looking out onto the street. I was in Genosha. I noticed that there was a lot of great things here. I looked around the little cafe and noticed the patrons and there was something poking up from under a rug. I looked to the owner, who was busy, then down to the part poking out. I walked to it, but was stopped before I could.
"You, leave now!" the owner yelled at me.
I looked at him oddly, wanting to yell back, but I didn't. There was something strange going on, but instead of arguing, I stepped outside the cafe and ran smack-dab into Brian Cruz, or Tag.
"Sorry." he said quickly, " I was just coming to find you. Cypher and Beast said we're ready to go."
"It's cool." I said, still shaken, looking back into the cafe, " I was just getting thrown out of the cafe anyways. So, Blue and Brain found out how to get a whole school there?"
"We're leaving the kids with Nightcrawler and taking the..." he said, but I couldn't stop looking at him in the X-Uniform. It was a full body red and white suit that had no arms and his dreads made it even sexier. I found myself looking at his package, which looked sexy in the suit, " Pane...Pane...are you okay?"
"Nice suit." I smiled.
Brian smiled, " Thanks." he said quickly.
"So, Brian, we're finally going to the fight?" I asked.
"Yeah." Brian smiled, " And call me Tag."
"Tag..." I said seductively, placing a finger on his chest, " Have you ever had sex?"
"I've...I've had a lot of women." Tag said nervously.
"No. I meant with men." i smirked.
"NO." he said quickly.
I kissed him and he pushed me against the wall, then pressing his lips against mine as hard as he could and he hiked me into the air against the wall and we made out. Just as I was unziping his suit, we heard a voice.
"Pane." Warren's voice said.
Tag nearly dropped me as he turned. He zipped his uniform and just stood there.
"Warren." I said, shocked and confused.
"Is this what you've been doing?" Warren asked.
"I'd better go." Tag said, walking past Warren, who cast him a sour look.
"I've been trying to save the mutant race. How's Psylocke?" I said slyly.
"Oh, don't bring her into this!" Warren asked, " I don't bring up Scott or Bobby or even Julian!"
"Warren, do you love me?" I asked.
"What?" he asked.
"Do you love me?" I asked.
"I..." Warren stammered.
"Warren...do you love Betsy?" I asked.
"I...do." he confessed.
I chuckled.
"I'm sorry, but after what's happened, it made me realize that I do." Warren said.
"It's okay. I mean, you're a nice guy, but we're friends." I smiled, hugging him.
"I'm not alright with that." Warren said, " I can love you. I know I can."
"Warren. Betsy needs you." I said, " As a matter of fact, we need you, Betsy, and Nightcrawler to stay here and protect the kids."
"Sure." Warren said.
"Thanks." I smiled, walking away.
As we got to Genosha, I was in awe of its beauty. The Danger Room hadn't done this place justice. We rode a bus through the town and made our way the town. What we found when we finally arrived in the middle of town was horrible. Hundreds of mutants slaughtered by Stryker's men.
"Stop the bus!" I shouted, running from the bus. The men dropped what they were hauling and looked at me. The raised their guns, " Bend." I said, and the guns bent and flew away, " Where's Stryker?"
"What?" one shouted.
I held my hand out and clenched a fist, then the men levitated into the air, choking, " Where's Stryker?" I asked.
"Pane." Beast said, lowering my hands.
The men dropped to the ground and began to run. I tilted my head and let my mind roam.
(I can't let him know that Stryker's at City Hall.)
"Thanks." I said, causing both guys to fall asleep.
"Pane!" Beast yelled.
"I didn't kill them. And I got the information." I said.
"You got the information? Good." Beast smiled.
"Looks like we're off to City Hall." I said, looking backwards. There was something behind the bodies and the buildings. I dismissed it and got onto the bus. As we got closer, we stopped. There was a border. For about 30 meters before City Hall, there was a barracade. Beast and I looked at each other and I knew we were thinking the same thing.
"You wanna give the speech?" Beast asked.
"Don't I always?" I laughed, turning to the bus full of students, " Look, usually I make a long speech. But I'm tired and all this death is really getting to me. If I overextend myself, I become something worse than any of these guys. Then everyone is in trouble. Don't make me overextend. Everybody has a job. Avoid death at any cost." I nodded.
"Why don't you just go bad long enough to save everybody?" Wither asked.
"Sometimes, there's no turning back. I don't want this to be one of those times." I said, " Any other questions?" No one said anything, " Ok, everybody off the bus." I said, walking off the bus with Beast, " Do you think we have a chance in hell?"
"I do." Beast smiled, " Some of these kids are in training to be the next X-Men."
"This isn't a test." I said, " It's not like when I was training, the world is different."
"Everything changes, dear boy, it's just the choice of changing with it." Beast said, " Will you be able to control yourself?"
"Honestly. I don't know." I said unsure, " I'm kind of hoping that I don't."
"What?" Beast asked.
"If I'm going to die this time, I'd rather you guys kill me. And maybe I'll save people doing it." i said, " It's gonna be hard to survive this one and just me...I don't know if I'm going to."
"You have gotten yourself this far." Beast said, " And we all have your back."
"Oooh, don't you hear, bad guys like to stab me from the front." I joked, " What if we fail?"
"We won't. I know that since you died the first time, I haven't really been as nice to you as..."
"No apologies. It wasn't me. And you're a smart guy. You know that that is the easy part, death." I said, " Now the hard part, living." I said, looking out at the soldiers and Purifiers standing before the New Mutants and Beast and I. I felt a tiny rumbling in my stomach and there was a quiet. I looked up to see Stryker, Matthew Sr., and Matthew Jr. standing in the window. I sneered at them and looked forward.
Beast growled beside me, " We need cover." he said, " Where's Storm when we need her?"
I looked over at him, " You want a storm?" I asked. The clouds swirled and the sky darkened. Heavy fog set in and when it disappeared, Beast and I were the only ones still in place. The rest of the group had formed a circle around the other side, " Let's fight." I smirked.
As thunder roared overhead, I threw my hand up and made a path straight through and Beast and I ran for it! As we entered the soldiers, who had part like the Red Sea, they began to fight. There was so much going on, but Beast still had my hand. We raced through, then Beast let go! I was on my own and I knew it. It was time to shine. A Purifier came at me with a staff, but I grabbed the staff and hit him with it, knocking him to the ground. I heard gunshots and turned quickly to see the gunshots stop right in front of my face! I looked over to see Hellion, who smiled. I nodded and turned to get hit in the face. I got up and sent the Purifier flying, then I ran forward until I ran into Tag.
"Here." he said, touching my face.
"What?" I asked.
"They will leave you alone." Tag smiled.
I smirked and told him to duck, hitting another guy, " Thanks. Be careful." I said, kissing him then running into City Hall. As I entered, Beast ran to me.
"Oh My Stars and Garters, " Beast panted, " Me and the President need to have a heart to heart about these troops."
"You're telling me." I said, looking around.
"You're bleeding." Beast said.
"I wasn't aware that I had stopped." I said, wiping the blood from my forehead and hissing at the pain from the wound, " They're here. I saw them." I said, looking around. I walked forward and stopped. Something wasn't right. As I stepped forward, Beast leaped over my head and tackled someone who had leaped out at me! As I stepped back, I saw that it was Sabretooth! Sabretooth threw him to the side and leaped after me again, but I ducked and moved. I ran to the stairs and started running up. When I got high enough, I turned and he grabbed me by the neck! I looked down in his eyes,
Sabretooth <I can't control my own body>
"Sorry!" I shouted, kicking him down the stairs! He rolled all the way to the bottom. I ran up the stairs, Beast at my side, and we stopped at the double doors. This was it. The moment that had been building since before I died. That had taken Sira away. That had taken my mother away. It had inadvertently done so many things. I raised my hand and blasted the door through! When we entered the room, all was quiet, " They were here. I saw it!"
"Did They knew." Beast said, looking around. He stopped and sniffed the air, " Wolverine was here...he's near."
"I think ya mean here, don't ya, bub!" Wolverine said, standing at the door, his claws extended.
"Logan..." Beast said, walking to him.
"Beast." I said, causing him to turn to me, " That's not him." I said, trying to move toward them, but before I could Wolverine leaped at him and I saw the claws coming out of Beast's chest. I tried to hold him up, but he fell, " Beast."
"Save them." Beast said before passing out.
"You can't." Matthew Jr. said, standing by his father.
I stood and turned to him, trying to make myself look more threatening without totally having my back to Logan, " You bastards."
"You'd be surprised how well that stuff works to control minds." Matthew Sr. said.
"Only that stuff doesn't work on Lo...Wolverine." I said quickly.
"What?" Matthew Sr. asked, " Prepostrious."
"No. It's true." I said, " I guess your son is a more powerful telepath than he thought."
"YOU SHUT YOUR FILTHY MUTANT MOUTH! MY SON IS NOT A MUTANT!" Matthew Sr. spat.
"NO!" I shouted, " It's true. How else could he do anything to Logan? Logan can't even get drunk because he heals rapidly."
"Then how could he be..." Matthew Sr. looked at his son, " Is this true?"
"Yes." Matt said.
"You're a filthy, disgusting..."
"You're not filthy and the only disgusting thing is your father." I said, turning my attention onto Matthew Sr., " You killed a lot of mutants. People. What'd you do with the rest?" I asked.
"Camps." Matthew smiled.
"Dad..."
"You're not my son." Matthew spat, raising his cane and shooting Matt in the chest. Matt fell to the ground, writhing in pain, " You're next." he said to me.
When he turned back to me, I had lost control. I smiled at him, " You're going to need a bigger gun." I said, throwing him onto the ceiling, " How'd it feel killing all those mutants? Bet it made you feel like a big, strong man. Is that why you're like you are, cause I lost control one time and cause you're son to because a raving lunatic? Pity. He was a cutie. Could have had lots of grandchildren. Maybe a cat or dog..." I brought him down to eye level and smiled into his face, " I think I'm going to kill you now."
"Don't." Wolverine shouted.
"Why not?" I asked, " He killed so many people, isn't it justice?"
"No. Justice is him behind bars." Wolverine said, walking to me, " You know I'm right."
I felt myself regain control and Matthew dropped to the floor. I kicked him in the face, " He deserves so much worse." I said, running to the window, " We gotta get the X-Men."
"They're under the city." Wolverine said.
"Under the city?" I asked.
"One of the stores has a way in." Wolverine said slowly.
THE CAFE!
"I know where. Get Beast, we need to hurry." I said quickly.
Underneath the Cafe was a gigantic storage facility. The facility was big enough to hold the X-Men and the Brotherhood and that was pretty big. When we finally got everyone out and back to the surface, we were greeted by three tanks and a butt load of soldiers.
"Glad to see you're all alright, X-Men!" Stryker shouted over everybody. I shifted uncomfortably and he centered on me, " YOU! You ruined everything!"
"Thanks." I shouted over everyone, " But I'm just one of many."
"That's where you're wrong. You'll never be like the rest of the freaks. You're a freak among freaks." Stryker laughed maniacally.
"Says the biggest freak." Amara shouted quickly.
"That is enough Colonel Stryker." Professor Xavier said, " You will surrender now."
Helicopters whirled towards us.
"I have alerted the President." Professor Xavier shouted.
By that time we had started putting kids on a bus and when it was full, we told them to go and the bus moved! As I turned, I saw a tank take aim and it shot a missile at us and we all dived out of the way! I stood to see another missle coming at me, but Iceman used his ice slide to save me and from the sky, I saw the bus explode, killing everyone aboard! I levitated away from Bobby and glided down towards the wreckage. I ran to the debris and saw Brian laying there, burning in the aftermath. I shrieked into the sky and shot up, flying towards Stryker. Another tank took aim and shot, but the missile flew right into me and I still flew faster, overturning the tanks. The main tank shot a missile, which I held up my hand and caused the missile to go back into the tank and it blew up! Before Stryker could hit the ground, I snatched him in the sky.
"Don't hurt me, please." Stryker pleaded
"Oh, it's gonna hurt." I said through gritted teeth.
"Are you gonna kill me?" Stryker asked, " You save people."
I looked at him in awe. Even after killing so many people, this thing was asking me to pardon what he'd done.
(Justice is him behind bars.)
I stopped mid air and dropped him. I landed to see his leg fractured and leaning to the sides. I immediately collasped into a sob, trying to erase what had just happened. I sobbed for Sira. For Everyone on that bus...For Matthew. For my mom.
6 Months later...
I bent down my mother's grave, laying the roses on her grave. Six months ago, I had survived. I had done the hardest thing I could and lived. What Stryker had done had changed the world. He had changed everything, done things that could never be undone. Everything that was lost wasn't coming back. We had done it...the next generation had done it. Bittersweet, that's what it was, to have one and lost.
"Nothing I'll ever say can make up for this." Magneto said.
"You're right." I said, not turning to him.
He moved next to me, " We're all mourning for our dead." he said.
"I didn't get to say goodbye. To anybody." I said, " Somebody took my life for about a year, he saw the people I loved die and might have said goodbye, but I'll never get to say so many things to them."
"You helped save Mutant kind. Sacrifices..."
"It wasn't my sacrifices." I looked at him, " When I came back, I felt like I didn't have a place. And all this was going on and I felt...I felt like the world had passed me by. It took me a while to figure out that everyone is just as lost as I am." I said, walking away.
"Things will fall into place."
"Some people never change." I said sadly, " My friends died. Someone I could possibly have loved...died. Saving the world. And you're not mourning. I think that's why I'm your grandson. I have to mourn for you." I walked back to the rebuilding of the Mansion. Everyone was helping out as I had been before I wandered off. John was even helping. When he and Bobby saw me, the walked over, " How're things going?"
"We're getting things done." Bobby smiled, cement all over his gray shirt, " Where've you been?"
"Yeah, we didn't know where you were." John smirked, " Wanna help me."
"John." Bobby growled.
"Pane, I see you're back." Professor Xavier said, accompanied by Beast, " You've been gone for an hour. Is something wrong?"
I shook my head, " Let's get to building." I smiled, walking over and telekinetically levitating a bunch of bricks into the air and sitting them down on the wet cement in the shape of the new X-Mansion.
Oh gosh. I put my heart and soul into this chapter, I don't know why, it's just that I really tried hard. Well, if you liked it please tell me so I can start work on the next one.