Flight of the Valkyries
Posted on Fri Mar 21st, 2025 @ 9:17pm by Scott Summers & Connor Bruin & Bobby Drake & Hank McCoy & Kurt Wagner & Hayden Davis & Jean Grey & Kennedy Kelly & Maeve MacKenna & Jennifer Bryant & Drew Williams & Desmond Greene & Pietro Maximoff & Kayleigh Marshall
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 6: X-Fernus Agenda
Location: Genosha
Timeline: December 10th, 1990 - 01:02
The sounds of Hammer Bay were not what anyone would have expected in the aftermath of a revolution.
Where once the docks had been the site of unspeakable trafficking, where collars and chains defined a mutant's worth, now there was a different kind of chaos—organized chaos. The Brotherhood's black-clad Acolytes moved among the crowds of liberated mutants, guiding them from long lines to sleek, floating transports, bearing the unmistakable seal of Asteroid M emblazoned on their hulls.
The ships pulsed with a low hum, a sound that blended uneasily with the murmurs, cheers, and quiet sobs of those who had been freed. Docks that had once carried human cargo for profit were now filled with hopeful faces, bruised bodies, and tired eyes—a sea of souls finally tasting freedom.
Overhead, Connor watched as one of the sleek Avalon transports rumbled to life, ascending into the sky and carrying away another full load of newly freed mutants into orbit. Its shadow swept over Connor like a passing cloud, and for a brief moment, he looked up at it with a frown.
This was the cost of freedom, he thought. Chaos, loss, and a hope that maybe tomorrow would be better.
But for now? He would find his team. He had to.
Makeshift med tents lined the pier, patched together from the remains of Magistrate staging grounds and shipping containers. Doctors, healers, and mutants with medical abilities worked side by side, triaging injuries, removing collars, treating old and new wounds.
Connor moved quietly between the tents, his face marked with dirt and blood that wasn't all his own. His sharp eyes scanned every face, every stretcher. He paused when he caught a glimpse of yellow-blonde hair, but it wasn't Kennedy. The archer was still somewhere in the crowds or maybe one of the medical tents. He hadn't seen her or any of the others since becoming separated in the hustle and bustle of the crowds that had thronged in the streets.
A healer with glowing hands reached out to offer Connor assistance for his injuries, but he shook his head, signing a polite. "THANK YOU BUT I AM LOOKING FOR MY FRIENDS," he signed.
"Your loss," the healer murmured, moving on to the next patient without pressing the matter.
Connor turned back to the next medic tent, weaving through the long lines of mutants waiting to have their collars cut away, some watching the skies for the next transport, others still too stunned to realize they were free. Collars clinked to the ground around him, some falling like heavy shackles that had weighed on necks for years, others with fresh burns where they'd fought removal.
Nearby, Brotherhood personnel organized those who didn't want to leave Genosha. Feral-looking mutants and hardened survivors with steel in their eyes stood off to one side, volunteering to stay behind and form Magneto's new militia, prepared to root out the Magistrate loyalists and Moreau's remaining forces that would surely try to regroup.
From where he stood, Connor could see the platform where Magneto himself had appeared, earlier that morning, addressing the freed masses. His words had echoed across the bay.
"You wish to see justice? Then bear witness! For too long, this island has stood as a monument to human cruelty! For too long, mutants have been shackled here, enslaved, dissected, discarded like refuse! And the world, it did nothing! No longer! Genosha has been placed under the summary judgment of the Brotherhood. The tyrant Moreau, the butcher of our kind, will answer for his crimes! No more trials! No more diplomacy! He will be hoisted by his own petard, crushed beneath the weight of his own Machinery and power he used against us! To those who still kneel before him, stand down—your time is over. This island belongs to mutantkind now. And to those who still think themselves our masters? Run!"
Connor clenched his jaw at the memory. It was powerful rhetoric. Too powerful. And from what he could glean, it had been uploaded to Asteroid M where it was said to have been broadcasted throughout the entire planet.
His eyes scanned the horizon. No sign of Kennedy. No Drew. No Maeve. No Ty.
He rubbed his neck, tension crawling up his spine.
Where were they?
A nearby medic shouted for supplies—too many injuries, too few hands—and Connor couldn't help but pause, his eyes flicking over the faces of a row of battered mutants sitting on crates, holding their arms, some barely conscious.
From one of the lines, a younger mutant, face gaunt and pale, glanced up at Connor. "You one of them X-Men?" he asked hoarsely, collar still around his neck but disconnected from power.
Connor blinked, unsure of how to answer. He gave a small nod.
The boy's cracked lips formed a faint smile. "Didn't think anyone would come. Thought we'd all die in those cells."
Connor swallowed hard and placed a steady hand on the boy’s shoulder for a moment before moving on, eyes still searching. The words sat like lead in his chest.
Off in the distance, near a medical tent where the worst cases were being carried, Connor finally caught sight of someone familiar.
Maeve was waving away a few people who were trying to help her. Crowding her more like, so it felt anyway. "Don't you have somewhere else you guys need to be now?" she asked rhetorically as they fussed. These were non-medically abled mutants who were just assisting so were really just trying to clean up some wounds and take a look at her burn markings.
The markings followed the pattern of the nerves, the veins in her body. A route from entry and trying to find an exit. Windrider had been particularly focussed on 'helping' Maeve see the error of her ways, to see the way forward. Guess that didn't work out for either of them as last she saw Windrider was slimed by some rather slippery looking chap with Magneto.
"Will ya stop fussin' and go away." Maeve said finally to the two hovering helpers. She felt like she'd gotten off so much easier than the others. Yes, she'd been in The Machine, she felt different, more connected, but somehow couldn't quite grasp her powers fully. It was strange and felt like a tidal wave ready to wash over her. However, she was glad that the island had been mostly liberated and had heard Magneto's speech, the words resonating with her far more than she thought they would. Was his way more effective?
Having gotten separated from the others Kayleigh had set about doing what she could to help with the wounded. With her healing ability she could help those with minor injuries without much harm to herself, especially if she took time to let the injuries heal in between. Helping whoever she could she was resting when she saw Maeve.
“Maeve!” She offered a warmer smile as she walked over to where Maeve was. “Are you okay?”
Maeve looked over when her name was called. It was Kayleigh. A smile formed on her face, a familiar sight was always welcome in a sea of the unfamiliar. "I'm grand." she joked. "People fussin' over me, pullin' and pullin'." she shook her head. "How are you? This has been mad eh?" she asked half rhetorically feeling a little stupid inside for getting herself, and Kurt, caught.
“I’m okay” Kayleigh offered a wry smile as she looked at her wounds. “I thought I’d help with healing the minor wounds, they don’t take long to heal on me and it gets a few people out of the way to free up medical help for the more severely wounded. “I wish I could do more, but I’d only end up giving them another patient.”
"Yeah, don't want that." Maeve agreed. "I think they've got enough to handle." she added as she swung her legs off the side of the bed and pushed herself off. Her legs were a little shaky and she ended up grabbing Kayleigh for some support as she righted herself. Clearing her throat she smiled weakly at the other girl. "Sorry, I think my adrenaline has finally wore off."
“That’s okay” Kayleigh smiled warmly. “I used to worry about people touching me in the past, but I have control over my abilities better now. “Have you seen anyone else from the team? There’s so many people here it’s just a sea of faces.”
Maeve shook her head, "No, I've not seen anyone but hoddit and doddit over there." she gestured to the two people who were hovering over her moments ago. They wouldn't give her a minutes peace so her focus was getting them to leave her alone. "This is the scale of slavery that Moreau allowed. Most of these people were in the containers so no wonder we didn't know how many we were dealing with. Hopefully we find some of the others soon."
Kayleigh nodded. "No doubt they're busy helping others too."
A puff of smoke at their side heralded Kurt's bamf. He handed a medical case to a waiting attendant who carried it to one of the beds. Only when freed of his burden did he let himself wince as he grabbed his side in pain. Teleporting so much after his own ordeal was taking a toll on him. "I hope ze stitches hef not broken..."
"Are you alright, Kurt?" Kayleigh gave Kurt a worried look. "You should be resting."
"Eet is just ze vound I received before," Kurt said, clearing favoring one side. "A medic stitched me up but zhat giant man slashed me deeply. It may take some time before it closes all ze vay."
Maeve looked at Kurt as a a wash of sadness and remorse filled her. Her eyes watered slightly as she watched his yellow eyes meet hers. "I'm sorry, Kurt. If I hadn't lost control you'd never have been caught with me and this wouldn't have happened." she had moved over to him and took his hands in hers. "I just hope you can forgive me. That you can trust me again..."
"Fraulein, do not fret or fear." Kurt summoned a grin that washed away the painful expression that had been on his face a moment ago. "Vounds heal vith time but forgiveness is a gift zhat can be given now. Zhat is vhy 'now' is called ze 'present', ja?" He chuckled a few times and earned another wince for it. "All is vell zhat ends vell, und ve all are safe und soon to be headed back." A darkness fell over his face. Kurt held regrets of his own that would not be so quickly dispelled either. "Let us give zhanks for zhat," he included, rubbing his wounded side ever so gently, "instead of vorrying over past troubles."
“Maybe I could help with partially healing your wound for you Kurt?” Kayleigh offered as she gave him a worried look. “I can’t completely heal it, but I can start it on its way?”
Looking down at his side, Kurt gave a reluctant grimace. "Ja, if not, zhen it may never heal properly." He glanced back at Kayleigh with his warm, golden eyes. "Danke, Fraulein."
Drew had become separated from the others in the bustle of the crowd. He had spent time looking for the others, but then gave up to help the injured. He had spent the last half hour retrieving supplies for the few medical personnel and fetching water for some of the dehydrated children.
Hayden was still recovering from her time in the Machine. There was certainly some physical aspects that were taking their toll, but fortunately for her, she wasn't in there as long as the others. The mental and emotional trauma, however, was deeply embedded and would take time to heal.
It was rather dark save for the lights around the most important areas. One of those was her current resting place, a stretcher outside of a med tent. One of the healers had taken care of her throat, voice, and other physical ailments earlier. Since then, she had been summoning water for the med tents, healers, and the thirsty mutants that were freed from their bonds.
Now it was time to start looking for the rest of the team. An organized meandering was plotted in her mind as she began searching for the others.
Connor saw Maeve's fiery red hair first, but he soon recognized Kayleigh next to her. And then before he made his way over, he saw Hayden.
"HAYDEN," he signed, abandoning their codenames for the moment. They had completed their objectives and were basically waiting for extraction. "YOU ARE ON YOUR FEET. ARE YOU O-K?"
Hayden smiled weakly at Connor. "Just ok. The healers did a great job on the physical. I still feel exhausted, though. And I'm pretty sure that's a combination of the Machine and helping where I can."
She paused next to a shipping container and leaned against it. "I just hope I wasn't in there long enough for any lasting effects. I mean, other than the mental and emotional. I fully expect those to take a long time. Anyway, when do we leave this rock? I could use some cough-medicine-induced sleep," she said with small laugh.
At first Connor just shrugged. They're objectives were accomplished so far as he could tell. It might be as simple as that.
"WE NEED TO REGROUP," Connor signed. "X-FACTOR IS INBOUND AND IF ALL IS WELL THEN WE WILL LEAVE WITH THEM " Getting a head start on information gathering, he asked, "HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING WEIRD?"
"I, um, well...the whole stinking island is weird, Connor," said Hayden. "The lights are nice to have, but it's dark everywhere else. And the farther away from the lighted areas you get...the closer to the jungle...." She trailed off from that statement. "This is all so new to a lot of these mutants. Seems like some of them don't know what to do or where to go now. Whether to go with Magneto or stay here and try to make the best of it." She shrugged, "I dunno. It's all just weird and I'll be glad to get away from it."
Connor nodded. "AGREED," he signed. "LET'S GO FIND THE OTHERS."
"Best idea I've heard all night," said Hayden. "Er, uh, morning I guess, now." She fell in with Connor to look for the others.
“This one is full!” Kennedy shouted to the driver as she slammed the back doors shut on the supply vehicle. Its engine revved and it quickly departed, destined to deliver much needed rations and medical supplies to the more distant regions of Genosha. Without missing a beat the next vehicle pulled forward, waiting to be stocked before it too headed out to administer aid. Kennedy continued with the routine that they had performed dozens of times now, she opened the back of the supply wagon and began to lift and load equipment and food. “It’s disgusting how much they had stock piled in the city, this place could have been a paradise…”
While Kennedy hauled another crate into the back of the next supply wagon, her sleeves rolled up and face streaked with effort, a slow, mocking clap echoed from behind her.
It was none other than Maestro. He pushed off the truck, swaggering a few steps closer, chin tilting up to glance at the line of refugees boarding the transports. "You know," he added, loud enough for others nearby to hear, "if you were half as good at leading people as you are at loading boxes, maybe you wouldn't have needed us to show up and clean up your mess. Kinda funny how you show up, then everything goes to hell, huh?"
With a sharp, manic grin, he gave a mock bow. "Don't let me stop ya, sweetheart. You're doin' a bang-up job playin' hero."
Kennedy took on the appearance of a bristled cat as Maestro came into view, the last time she had seen him was on Asteroid M where their brief verbal scuffled had escalated into a physical fight which resulted in the entire Alternate Class being permanently banned from Avalon. She continued with her work despite Maestro's attempts to try and make her feel less. “Hello, Patrick, I see you’re taking a break from kissing the earth Magneto walks upon... or are you just playing pretend that you don’t live under his thumb for the afternoon?”
"It's Maestro," he corrected, trying not to let a seething sneer overtake his smarmy smirk. "Magneto trusts me, which is why I still have Moreau on broil up in his Machine." His voice dropped as his cruel streak reasserted itself. "Speaking of sore thumbs, though I didn't see your boyfriend with the rest of your crew." The glint in Maestro's eye was pure savagery that put a sadistic spin on his grin. "Traded up, but you're probably used to that, aren't you? Not the first time, won't be the last..." He shook his head and tsked with mock sympathy. "Some people are just fated to play second fiddle. Don't worry, though. I'm sure you'll do great stacking boxes. Alone. Forever."
“I wish I was alone right now.” Kennedy snorted while she continued to load the back of the vehicle. “Or are you hoping you have a chance now that I’m single? I’ll spare you from the effort, because Jace’s refuse is still out of your league.”
Maestro snorted, his lip curling as he looked her over with a sharp, condescending glint in his eye. "Ha! If that's the best you've got, freckles—calling yourself trash to try and score one up on me?" He sneered, folding his arms across his chest in mock pity. "Maybe stick to lettin' that fancy rich daddy of yours fight your battles—oh yeah..." His smirk widened into a razor-sharp grin, eyes glinting as he leaned in just enough for his voice to drop low and vicious. "That's right. Forgot. The Brotherhood already took care of him, too, didn't we? Looks like eating shit must run in the family."
Kennedy’s eyes narrowed over Maestro’s words and she reached out for one of the tinned rations that she had loaded onto the truck. She began to charge the can with energy when Jean’s voice passed through her thoughts.
A look of disappointment and relief passed through her as she found an out from this conversation that didn’t involve chucking explosives at Maestro. “Unfortunately, it’s time for me to go. Looks like the X-Men are going home… home is a place where you feel comfortable, protected, and loved.” Kennedy’s smile turned smug as she hopped off the back of the vehicle and began to head towards the dock. “Enjoy your time in Genosham Patrick, don’t let Magneto know you abandoned your post babysitting The Machine.”
"It's creepy as fuck," Maestro called after her. "Just like your face!"
The nighttime skies above Hammer Bay had cleared only slightly—dark clouds still churned where smoke had billowed over the ruins of Magistrate towers. But now, another sound began to cut through the chaos on the docks—the deep, thrumming roar of jet engines.
From the clouds, a sleek, black shape sliced through the sky, its sharp silhouette unmistakable. The Blackbird streaked over the bay, banking hard as it began a slow, sweeping descent toward the makeshift landing zone being hastily cleared by Brotherhood Acolytes.
Inside the cockpit, Scott sat at the helm, his hands steady on the controls, his ruby-quartz visor casting a soft glow across the instrumentation. He scanned the chaotic scene below with a hardened gaze. "Coming in for a landing."
Next to him, Hank McCoy sat in the co-pilot's chair, his dark eyes fixed on the devastation below. "This is worse than I expected," he murmured, his voice tight. "We all heard Magneto's pirate broadcast, but even then..."
From the passenger seats, Bobby Drake leaned forward, peering through the window with a low whistle. "Hammer Bay looks like it's been hit by a tsunami... or a warzone. Take your pick." His usual humor was faint, his mouth set in a grim line as he took in the masses of wounded and freed mutants.
“Yeah, he’s good at that,” Pietro replied to Bobby’s comments with deadpan delivery. “I don’t blame him for being outraged but when Magneto’s temper flares, it always ends in destruction.”
Jean winced and sharply inhaled as her fingers instinctively rose to her temples. “This place is haunted…” she hissed as she squeezed her eyes shut while attempting to block out the psychic echoes. “So much death can stain a place. Too many last thoughts and unfulfilled dreams cycling on repeat. Their lives were unfinished, there’s no closure here…” They heard the struggle in her words, how hard she fought to keep the voices at bay. Jean was no stranger to death but its presence would always remain her greatest weakness. “Genosha is a tomb.”
~We won't stay any longer than necessary~ Scott couldn't give Jean the affirming squeeze that they both would have preferred, but he did reach out to her in the way only he could. ~I promise~
The Blackbird landed at the end of a pier where a flying Acolyte had indicated. So far, the Brotherhood was playing ball and so X-Factor would do the same. When dealing with Magneto, though, only a fool held their breath.
Scott stood from the pilot's seat, turning to the team as the engines wound down. "Alright, you know the drill. We find Connor's team, we assess the situation, and we help however we can. Stay sharp—Magneto says we're all on the same side today, but tomorrow is always up for debate."
"Got it," Jennifer said. She stood as well, looking thoughtful as she stood as well.
Drew looked up at the Blackbird as it hovered overhead and prepared for landing. He headed for the landing site, figuring the rest of the X-Men would do the same. He reached the aircraft as the rear cargo ramp lowered.
Seeing Scott, Jean, Hank and Bobby was an immense relief. However, he didn't rush forward until he lay eyes on Jennifer. He had missed her, but understood that she had wanted time to go home to her family and sort things out.
As X-Factor exited the Blackbird, Jean scanned the bustling harbor and began to track a pick up on the mental signatures of each of the X-Men. Most appeared to be in the medical facility not far from here.
~* ‘X-Men…’ *~ Jean’s telepathic voice reached out to all of them, whatever equipment had been used to previously block telepaths had been destroyed along with everything else in the Satellite Communications room. ~* ‘The Blackbird has arrived to provide any additional aid that is required and to take everyone home. Meet us at the docks.’ *~
Kayleigh heard Jean's voice just as everyone else did, she smiled glad to be going home once they were done helping.
Drew approached the group debarking the Blackbird. His thoughts weighed heavily. Despite their victory, well, the Brotherhood's victory, there was still a matter that needed attention. He just wasn't sure how to address the issue.
Jennifer headed towards Drew. She smiled at him softly. "I'm relieved to see you," she said.
“Boy, am I happy to see you guys,” a batter Kennedy said with a smile as she approached X-Factor. “I thought I hated the Savage Land but this place is so much worse."
Bobby smirked at Kennedy’s melodramatics, shaking his head. "Y'know, I was with you in the Savage Land, and I'm starting to think maybe you just have a thing against jungles."
Before Kennedy could retort, the rest of the team finally made their way to the pier. Connor signed sharply, "THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAIN FORESTS AND JUNGLES, BUT WE SHOULD DISCUSS IT AT ANOTHER JUNCTURE."
Scott exhaled, allowing himself the smallest chuckle at the exchange, but relief was evident in his posture. His gaze swept over the assembled group, doing a final headcount. Everyone was accounted for, including Tandy and Ty who were cuddled up together, though everyone looked like hell. Bruised, battered, exhausted—but alive. That was what mattered.
His eyes landed on the hulking, bark-skinned figure standing among them, and his brow lifted above his visor. "And who's your friend?"
Connor quickly signed, "THIS IS DESMOND. HE HELPED US IMMENSELY. WITHOUT HIM, MANY OF US WOULDN’T BE HERE. HE SHOULD COME BACK TO THE SCHOOL WITH US AND MEET PROFESSOR X."
Scott glanced at Desmond, taking in his sheer size and the subtle way the others seemed to position themselves near him—not just for protection, but out of trust. That said a lot. After a pause, Scott nodded. "That could be arranged."
The tree of a man nodded, perhaps slightly unsure. He didn't want to stay here, he knew he couldn't go back to New Haven. His parents would've taken him in in a heart beat, but the community had rejected him. Desmond's amber orbs found Connor, and with a simple nod he conveyed all the thanks he could muster.
“He did a pretty good job at the train station.” Tandy chimed in with a word of praise for Desmond from her position at the back of the crowd with Ty
Scott's attention shifted back to the rest of the team, his expression shifting to something more assessing. "Alright. I’ve got a pretty good idea of how things went from the looks of things, but I want to hear it from you in your own words." He gestured at them as a whole. His tone wasn’t demanding, nor was it an interrogation. He genuinely wanted to know, to hear their account of everything they had been through. "What happened?"
Oh wow, Hayden didn't even know where to start to answer that question. So she started rambling the highlights. "Let's see, being captured, collared, drugged, watched while showering, and treated like cattle was how it started for me. Then being freed, fighting, blowing things up, fighting a Rhino-man, and feeling like my blood was on fire in that dang Machine. Finally being able rest and help out a little while starting to recover. That pretty much sums it up for me. Well, other than the... weird feeling this liberated island has."
It felt strange hearing Hayden speak, her words echoed what happened to Maeve as well. However, that had been her own fault, her loss of control, her panic had caused not only herself to get caught but Kurt, and jeopardise the team mission as a whole. She kept quiet for now, thinking of her own ordeal, the torture of Windrider, the Machine she'd been placed in as well although she can only remember pain from that and not so much anything else around it. Her neck and wrists felt heavy from the collar and restraints used that she was now free of. Mostly she felt ashamed, she felt guilty and that maybe she was more a liability than an asset.
With a heavy sigh she looked at Cyclops, at Scott and frowned. A flash of some strange recognition furrowed its way into her brain. In the mansion there was pictures of Scott and someone else. She'd never asked who it was, she didn't have any need to know. The mansion was full of old pictures of people and most of the time she didn't take much notice. "You look like Havok, sorry like Alex..." she commented as a realisation donned on her and Scott snapped to meet her gaze.
Scott's head snapped toward Maeve the instant she said the name. "Alex?" His voice carried a weight of disbelief, hope, and barely restrained urgency. "Why didn't anyone mention him first thing?"
Connor raised both hands to flag Scott's attention as well as sign in response. "WE DID NOT MEET HIM FIRST THING AND NOBODY HAD NOT GOTTEN TO THAT PART OF THE ACCOUNT YET."
Scott exhaled slowly through his nose, pressing his fingers to his temple in the universal gesture of trying-not-to-lose-it. Dealing with Connor often required a certain level of patience, one he had gotten used to over time—but right now, patience was in short supply.
“I’ll look for him…” Jean replied before Scott could say or even think about what his missing brother’s homecoming would mean. They hadn’t been on the best of terms before Krakoa but this reunion might be the very thing the Summers brothers needed
Taking to the sky, Jean began to search through the thousands of minds that resided on Genosha. Alex was a familiar presence for her, his mental signature a known one to the telepath. It was just a matter of finding him in the crowd now that she knew he was here.
~* ‘I don’t hear him…’ ~ Jean replied with a touch of panic in her voice as she spoke to Scott . ~ ‘People are scared…’ *~
Speakers came to life as Magneto began to use Moreau's public broadcast system. Screens embedded at random intervals throughout the area crackled to life and displayed Magneto's helmeted visage. The Master of Magnetism took a breath, preparing to give an address that would no doubt lay out the future of a liberated Genosha.
But, alas, it was not to be.
At that moment, an explosion ripped through the Ridgeback Mountains like a hellish sunrise, fire and black smoke billowing into the sky in a catastrophic bloom.
Throughout Hammer Bay, newly erected screens crackled with static, interrupting Magneto's address before it began. The out-processing centers—where mutants had been registering for evacuation to Asteroid M—fell silent as every eye turned to the firestorm erupting above them.
Flaming debris rained down like falling stars, embers scattering over rooftops and streets. Yet, more terrifying than the explosion itself was what lingered in its wake.
The fire did not dissipate. It churned, writhing unnaturally, swirling into the early morning, becoming something deeper, something... hungry. The flames bent inward, folding upon themselves in a way that defied all reason, forming a massive, gaping portal high above the Ridgeback Mountains. It pulsed with a molten glow, its edges lined with a deep, unholy red that burned like the smoldering rim of an open wound.
That moment stretched, oppressive and suffocating, before the silence was broken—not by Magneto, but by Maestro's voice, audible across the broadcast's open channels as he stood with Magneto's Acolytes.
"Ohhhhhhh... shit!" Not cocky. Not mocking. But uncharacteristically raw, shaken, and utterly afraid. His voice conveyed the alarm sounding off by his technopathic sense. "The Machine..."
Across every screen, Magneto's helmeted visage was unreadable. But those who knew him—those who had seen him stand unshaken against the worst humanity had to offer—could see it in the way his lips parted, just slightly, as his eyes took on a look of horrid recognition.
"Inferno," he whispered, the word barely escaping his lips.
Then, his gaze hardened, sharp as steel.
"Attention, my Brotherhood! Abandon all assets and evacuate immediately,” Magneto commanded, his voice reverberating through the speakers, through the air, through the stunned, waiting multitudes. "All transport vessels are to return to Port Avalon at once. Genosha is lost, and the Brotherhood shall leave this damned island to its accursed fate."
Panic rippled outward like a shockwave. The city of Hammer Bay—moments ago a haven of celebration and freedom—was now a powder keg of confusion, dread, and imminent chaos.
"THIS IS BAD," Connor signed with his jaw agape. He couldn't help staring at the sky where a false sun lit up the night in a smoldering twilight, just like in the Savage Land.
“No shit!” Kennedy huffed as she looked up alongside Connor. They had seen this once before, the sky turned red and horrible creatures straight from hell crawled across the land and filled the air. “We have to close the portal, otherwise they’ll just keep coming.”
Kennedy looked over at Bobby. Last time this nightmare had hit, he had lost the most. She was worried he might snap all over again. “Be careful everyone. This is how we lost Lorna, she was dragged into Limbo and we couldn’t get her back.”
Hayden stood there, slack-jawed and shaking her head at the initial explosion. Then when the sky began to burn, she started shivering as cold chills ran down her spine. "Hell on earth," she murmured. "How? How do you even begin to close the gate to hell, er, Limbo?" she asked. "I mean, Magneto isn't even sticking around."
Hank let out a dramatic sigh, his usual dry wit barely concealing his own concern. "‘Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.’ I daresay our dear Magneto has quite the refined palate, given his prompt departure." He shot a glance at the burning sky, then squared his shoulders. "But rather than lament the absence of certain self-proclaimed saviors, we should focus on the task at hand."
Connor, jaw still clenched, signed rapidly. "EVERY VECTOR HAS A POINT OF ORIGIN. LOCATE THE PORTAL'S ANCHOR, DETACH IT IF POSSIBLE."
Scott crossed his arms, looking between Connor and the gaping inferno above them. "You're sure that’s how this works? We're talking about an extradimensional rift—who’s to say it even has an anchor?"
Connor exhaled sharply, glancing at Kennedy before responding. MAGIC IS NEW TO ME, BUT WE’VE SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THE SAVAGE LAND. THAT SLIGHTLY SMALLER PORTAL CLOSED. SO THERE MAY BE A WAY.
Scott considered that for a beat, then finally gave a curt nod. "Alright. We'll follow your lead, Caveman." His visor gleamed as he looked toward the burning mountain, already preparing for whatever nightmare waited beyond.
From Jean’s aerial position she was able to survey the city and all the chaos that had been created in a few short minutes. Magneto’s sudden departure, the explosion, and the portal that turned the sky blood red had created an absolute panic amongst the citizens of Genosha. Screams and shouting were already starting to fill the streets as people began to scramble and look to save themselves.
“Cyclops, Caveman.,” Jean replied as she gently floated back to the ground, “I will stay here at the docks and begin organizing the mass evacuations. We can use the shipping barges as a way to get as many people as possible off the island.”
The redhead looked back at the rest of the team, thinking about who would best aid her in getting people onto boats. “Quicksilver, Cloak, and Dagger can help move as many people as possible to the dock while I empty out the cargo containers.”
Jean looked back towards the building that had once housed The Machine. There were screams of agony from the now smoking building, she felt their pain and it added to the strain that her psyche was already under. After a few steadying breaths, her attention returned to the team “Beast can help with triage and using the limited number of planes we have to get the gravely injured off the island.”
She glanced at Scott as the last part of her plan became clear. Ever since Krakoa, Jean did not like the idea of separating from him, they were better together, but the call to action required them to make hard personal choices for the greater good. “But I’ll remain in contact telepathically, Kurt should go with you in case the X-Men need to suddenly evacuate.”
"I think I'll tag along," Bobby said with more confidence than he felt. He, too, had seen that sky beam before and it had ended in one of the worst days of his life. Lorna had been pulled right from his fingers into a flaming maw of darkness. "Time for round two."
Drew looked at Connor expectantly. "What's the play, coach?"
Staring straight ahead, Connor steeled his jaw and tried not to let his eyes bulge. "WE GO TO GROUND ZERO," he signed, "AND WE STOP THE INFERNO."
"Out of the warzone, and into the fire?" Desmond said out loud.
"Ja, somezhingk like zhat," Kurt agreed. "Now everyone join hands, bitte und danke, vhile I prepare to move us closer to... zhat." He nodded toward the devastation. He summoned what cheer he could to suppress the dreadful foreboding that fell over one and all as they committed to the dangerous course of action. "Ze Amazing Nightcrawler flies again!"
RSS Feed