God Loves, Man Kills - Part 1
Posted on Tue Jan 30th, 2024 @ 6:04pm by Connor Bruin & Bobby Drake & Iris Walker & Cameron Hood & Jade Farwynd & Elias Buckley & Tammy Thompson & Bliss Hawkins & Shinobi Shaw & Ethan Hale & Aurora Summers & Kennedy Kelly
Edited on on Tue Jan 30th, 2024 @ 6:07pm
2,635 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3: X-Tra Ecclesiam
Location: Niagara Falls, NY
Timeline: August 24th, 1990 - Afternoon
Big wheels usually turned slowly, but monkey wrenches had a way of changing that. The X-Mansion had spent the morning abuzz with activity—younger students were evacuated on an unscheduled field trip to Muir Island for their safety, the last traces of the Purifier attack were removed from campus grounds, and preparations were made for the assault against Reverend Stryker and rescue of Professor Xavier.
Time was of the essence. While Iris kept a weather eye on the Blackbirds autopilot during the briefing, Connor gave a summary of what they knew to the rest of the team in the rest of the cabin. The roar of the engines at full burn meant they would be over Niagara Falls in very short order as the Blackbird was capable of speeds in excess of Mach 4.
"THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT TAMMY BROKE THE COLLAR ON THE MUTANT RECOVERED FROM BOSTON," Connor announced. "BUT THE BAD NEWS IS THE MUTANT ALMOST DIED. HE MUTATED INTO A SCALED MONSTER WITH A THICK NECK. HE IS CURRENTLY EN ROUTE TO MUIR ISLAND. I DO NOT THINK THE PROFESSOR WOULD SURVIVE IF ATTEMPTED."
He paused his signing in order to activate the Blackbird's internal display monitors. "THE PURIFIER COMPOUND WAS RAIDED AT DAWN BY THE FBI HOSTAGE RECOVERY TEAM. THEY LIBERATED A FEW MUTANTS AND RECOVERED A STOCKPILE OF WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY, BUT THERE WERE NO PURIFIERS THERE. MOST OF THEM HAVE MOVED TO THE NIAGARA FALLS COMPOUND SHOWN HERE."
The screen showed a nondescript warehouse in an industrial park.
"BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FBI RAID, THE PURIFIERS MADE A MOVE AGAINST THE POWER STATIONS BELOW NIAGARA FALLS AND SEIZED THE DECOMMISSIONED ONE. THERE ARE A FEW HOSTAGES WHICH AUTHORITIES AT THE SCENE BELIEVE TO BE MUTANTS. BASED UPON THE INFORMATION RECOVERED FROM THE OLD COMPOUND, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO MUNITIONS OR COMBUSTIBLES TRANSPORTED TO THIS SITE. WHATEVER THE PURIFIERS ARE PLANNING, IT IS UNLIKELY TO BE A BOMB. HOWEVER, THE POWER DRAW WILL BE CONSIDERABLE. THE LOCAL POWER GRID IS ALREADY BEING DRAINED. ONCE WHATEVER DEVICE THEY ARE ASSEMBLING IS FULLY ONLINE, PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA MAY SEE A BLACKOUT BEFORE WHATEVER INTENDED DEVASTATION OCCURS."
With a few more button presses, the screen zoomed out to reveal the current landscape. "HERE ARE THE FALLS. HERE IS THE DAM. HERE ARE THE POWER STATIONS. IT IS LIKELY THEY TRANSPORTED EVERYTHING THROUGH A TUNNEL WHICH SPANS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE GREATER FACILITY AND THAT IT IS NOT UNDER HEAVY GUARD OR EVEN BLOCKED OFF. WE HAVE NO CLEAR POINT OF ENTRY OTHER THAN FROM THE SKY AND ANY ANTI-AIR CAPABILITY IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN."
Finally, the landscape image was replaced by a grid of dossier mugshot photos. "THESE ARE KNOWN PURIFIERS. APPROXIMATELY TWO DOZEN OF THEM PERISHED IN THEIR ATTACK. NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS SUGGEST A COUPLE DOZEN ARE IN OTHER LOCATIONS, BUT MOST OF THE REMAINING NUMBER ARE LIKELY GUARDING STRYKER." The maximum possible number showed as many as 50. "THE TRUE NUMBER IS LIKELY TO BE LESS, BUT WE SHOULD BE PREPARED."
With that, Connor nodded at Cameron. The intelligence portion was given. Now it was time for the team leader to formulate a plan of attack.
"We'll be moving in fast and low. The Blackbird's stealth systems can defeat every known electronic system that can be used to lock onto us. So what I'm most worried about is small arms fire. So we won't land the plane, or fast rope down. Instead, Fable will teleport the strike team down. His energy absorption should absorb any significant momentum." Cameron looked at the dark-eyed young man in question for a moment. "I'm afraid, that from there, it'll be a straight-up assault through the tunnel until we reach the internal structure. Escapade and Fable in front to screen us. Artemis and I will be right behind them to take any shooters down." He gave Kennedy an encouraging smile, or at least he hoped it looked encouraging.
Kennedy nodded her head in agreement with Cameron’s instructions, she noticed his smile of encouragement and she offered him a small lopsided smirk in return, unspoken affirmation that she could do this. He knew she was nervous, it was probably plastered across face, so she appreciated his attempt to embolden her. “I can close the tunnel behind us if needed or if we find any other entry or exit points that would be worth removing. Trapping Stryker inside might be useful if he tries to flee.” Kennedy offered while looking at the maps on display. “I wouldn’t want to damage the dam itself but if we run into a worst case scenario, I could destroy enough of the generators to diminish or completely stop power production. I’m sure people would rather be without power than experience whatever Stryker is planning.”
Elias met Cameron's gaze with a steady and unrelenting one in return. At the unspoken question, he simply nodded, then maintained eye contact until Cameron shifted his attention to Kennedy. Transport and human shield it was then. He'd done worse. His attention refocused as Cameron continued to speak.
"Enigma, Sanguis, and Surge scramble with their gear and minds as best you can. Any distraction is good and welcome." The women were each given a moment of eye contact. "Caveman and Hoodwink will move with the pack." He then looked at Ethan, "Gryphon, you're oversight, as well as rearguard with Flux and Iceman. Keeping an eye out for any Purifiers that try and escape, and picking them off." He looked at the two other men sitting in the rear.
"Once we're in the facility proper we'll split up into two teams. Team 1 will be myself, Surge, Hoodwink, and Escapade. Team 2 will be Sanguis in command, with Enigma, Caveman, and Fable. Stick together, look for X, and neutralise any Purifiers you come across. Everyone has plastic speedcuffs to secure them. Make sure you either take away their weapon or break it. Questions and concerns, now is the time to speak up."
"What about Hank?" Bobby asked. "Iris saw him at the place they got the Prof. What if he's here?"
Connor fielded that question. "THE FREQUENCIES EMITTED BY THE COLLARS SHOW A CONCENTRATION OF MUTANTS NEAR THE CENTER OF THE POWER STATION. IT IS LIKELY THEY ARE AMONG THEM."
"We find X, you want me to get him straight outta there?" Fable asked Cameron. He'd seen those collars up close and personal too, but they had options now to remove them at least. He looked at Tammy. "How many can you disable at once?"
"Depends. Usually any number. I can move at the speed of light and easily disable all the collars in the room at once at the every least. The whole complex if I can reach them and it takes a lot to keep me out. If I can reach them, I can disable them. That isn't a problem. I do worry about ant after effect like the kid in the basement but I can certainly try. It shouldn't be a problem." Tammy said.
"Cool," said Elias, giving Tammy a thumbs up. "The more we can take outta the mix, the more mutants back on our side."
"Yo!" Bobby interjected. "I know we only get one shot here but do we really wanna' roll the dice with the Prof's life?"
"LAST RESORT," Connor signed through his device. "WHATEVER STRYKER IS PLANNING IS BIG AND REQUIRES THE PROFESSOR. HE WOULD WANT US TO SHUT IT DOWN NO MATTER THE RISK TO HIMSELF."
"I can just get X straight outta there," noted Fable. A short pause, and he added. "If you want." Two halves to the problem - the machine and the trigger - remove one and/or the other and Game Over.
Aurora looked towards Connor. "Connor, you mentioned power usage was increasing?" She'd been giving it some thought since Connor had given the briefing. "You also said there was little probability of there being a bomb?" she paused. "Is there any sign they've been bringing in other equipment? Anything that would build a machine? What I'm thinking is the Professor...his power alone is enough to destroy minds if he wanted to, but what if they had a copy or near copy of Cerebro? That combined with the Professor....he could reach every mutant out there."
“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” put in Iris. “Maybe I should go with Tammy to hide her so she can find and disable it before we do anything else.”
"That's an idea for sure. I'm game Iris!" Tammy said.
"Maybe try Plan A before we jump to B," muttered Fable with a wry grin. It was more of an observation than a protest though.
Gryphon looked over at Cameron. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said, "sometimes I just react without thinking. I'm on Overwatch. I won't let you down, I won't let the team down."
Escapade nodded, looking at Gryphon with confidence.
"You're going to be great."
She looked at the gathered heroes.
"You're all going to be great. I'm going to tell you something Armory may not say out loud."
She held out a fistful of plastic handcuffs for the team to see.
"These will be handy if the bad guys cooperate. Don't count on that for one goddamned second. These guys are terrorists. If they think they can take one of us out by blowing themselves up with a grenade, they will. If it's a choice between you and one of them? I vote for you every single time. This is war. Don't martyr yourselves. That's the deal, we all go home, Chuck included."
Connor grinned at Bliss, his eyes full of admiration. She was a little team leader in the making herself.
Bobby clapped his hands. It felt good to be doing something productive for a change. "Looks like we're on rearguard" He grinned at Jace and Ethan. "Shut up, Ethan." Bobby cackled with glee. "Let's do this!"
Ethan bit back the snide remark Bobby must have known he was about to make, "Right on," he said instead., "Let's go make some magic."
"Sounds good," said Jace. "I don't know about making magic, but I can bust some heads. Or squeeze a heart."
Jade silently listened to the proceedings and the briefing, nodding her affirmation where it was required. She didn't relish the fact that she may have to go against The Prof, but for the sake of this team, this school...she knew how to create a blood clot and an aneurysm as much as she knew how to disassemble one. If that's what it took to stop him, she would, and then fight to bring him back to life. "One impossible thing at a time." She was once told.
The Blackbird slowed down above the falls near the diversion tunnel intake, nearly a mile upriver from the power stations which were surrounded by federal law enforcement from two nations. It wasn't a great infiltration point but it would have to do. From there it would just be a matter of getting the team through the police barricade at the dual diversion tunnel entrance without incident. The tunnels were under construction and weren't considered an access point, but that wouldn't stop the X-Men.
Jade adjusted the final tweaks to her earbuds, her costume creaking as it did so. She stepped over to Cam and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing firmly, but with that gentle familiarity reserved only for special that someone. Green eyes caught brown, a nod given. Both knew now was not the time for emotional theatrics.
"Ready when you lot are," stated Fable simply, and waited for Cameron's go-approval. "Who's first?"
Aurora looked towards Cameron and Jade. “I should be able to get us past the police presence, a little telepathic shroud and they won’t even see us enter the tunnel.”
"Whatever works, I guess," said Jace. He was ready to take up the back of the group and mess up some bad guys.
Leaving the Blackbird in a stealth-out holding pattern, the team was teleported down to the intake tunnel entrance. Squad cars were lined up bumper to bumper in a physical obstruction.
"You can't be here, eh! Get back outside the barricade!" A rather flustered policeman began reaching for his radio.
“Ohh you don’t need to do that.” Aurora stepped forward, using her telepathic gifts she gave the policeman a mental ‘push’. “We’re supposed to be here remember...” She motioned the team forward as she clouded the policeman’s mind, once he’d let them through and everyone was out of sight he’d forget he’d even seen them. No one would be any the wiser.
"Ope, what's this then?" asked a second policeman who was reaching for his service weapon.
"They're supposed to be here, remember?"
"Eh, right."
The two officers went back to watching the distant situation unfolding downriver, none the wiser to the X-Men who slipped from their minds as quickly as slipping past them.
Entering the tunnel, the team took the first hundred meters slow and easy. Overhead lights kept the illumination more or less clear, but piles of assorted construction materials strewn out against the walls made every step perilous with the potential for an ambush.
Rather than a sneak attack, though, the first obstacle the team encountered was an intersection. The diversion tunnel had two separate channels to it. Both channels looked more or less the same, filled with the same post-construction debris as they had passed through already. The main difference was that daylight was long gone by this point. Going forward, they would have nothing but overhead lighting to guide them.
Cameron's nerves were fraying ever so slightly. He had steeled himself for a rolling battle, taking out defenders right at the start. But they hadn't met any resistance as a unified team. It made him nervous sending off half his force without him. But needs must. "Alright, Team 2, take the right hand. We'll take left. Lethal force is only permitted as a last resort." He looked at Bliss in particular, "Use the cuffs when you've subdued your opponent, then wreck their weapons before moving on." His eyes moved over the rest, finally resting on Jade. "Stay in contact. Good hunting."
Bliss met Cameron's gaze with a cockeyed grin before pulling her goggles into place. "Let's go, X-Men, we're on the clock."
"Good luck guys!" Tammy said. She hoped everyone would come through ok. "Alright , lead on." she wanted to get this done and free the professor and the others. She knew she could open the collars but was what happened to the kind in the basement a result of the collar or was it just his mutant power. It was risky but she was committed to this.
"Me and Flux hang back here, yeah?" asked Bobby. "Stay frosty."
Kennedy glanced back at Bobby with a somber look on her face before heading into the left tunnel, he seemed so much more relaxed than the rest of the team. She even noticed that Cameron was a little more tense than he had been on the jet, the tunnel wasn’t what they had been anticipating it to be. She didn’t dare say it out loud but she started to worry if this was a trap.
“What happens if we run into trouble?” Kennedy’s voice was soft and low as her team continued down the tunnel. “And by trouble, I mean the unexpected kind.”
"Then we will deal with it," Gryphon said, "We're a team."
Escapade looked to the team as she began to hop from foot to foot. "Consider this a session in the Danger Room with the safeties off. Stay sharp."
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