Alternate X: Crossroads
Part one
Written by Victor M. Gil de Rubio
Chapter: One: Assault
John Turner leaned back in the contour adaptive chair and sighed. He had been on duty for the last three hours and as usual there had been nothing to report, except for a minor glitch on one of the external cameras. He took a moment to close the dark blue thermal jacket that he wore and swore that he'd complain once again about the heat in the monitoring station. He glanced over at the bank of monitors that he had been assigned to watch and picking up the plexi-glass clipboard that he had left on the console to his right he started to write his hourly log. Turner had volunteered to cover the overnight tour at the monitoring station because he enjoyed the solitude that the tour afforded him. He yawned and looked to his right where he could see the Earth through the plexi-glass bubble canopy.
He touched a stud in the arm of the chair and servomotors moved the chair along a track towards the plexi-glass bubble that made up most of the Western Wall of the monitoring station. Turner shifted his body back in the chair and it tilted with him. He smiled as he looked out at the Earth and put his hands behind his head.
He looked across the silent void at the space station and smiled. He had really no need to actually look at it , as his birthright had given him the ability to detect energy fields, particularly magnetism. He could sense the energy field produced by the station and could sense the tug of the gravity of the distant Earth.
He turned his attention towards the large asteroid that he was standing on, feeling it's own magnetic fields and how they related to the magnetic fields of the distant Earth and the space station. With a thought he altered the course of the asteroid towards the station.
It took a few precious moments for the beeping of the console to filter into John Turner's dreams enough to wake him. He nearly fell out of the command chair as he awoke. Turner reached the monitoring station with enough time to see the asteroid strike the space station. Sheer panic nearly overwhelmed him as the modulated voice of the central computer began relaying an analysis of the damage that the impact had caused.
"Oh shit." John Turner managed as he caught sight of a second asteroid on a similar collision course. He frantically started feeding coordinates into the weapon tracking units as the station's defenses started to come on line. He looked at the screen in shock as they responded with the phrase " UNABLE TO LOCK WEAPONS ON TARGET".
"What the hell's going on?" Captain Mc Cray yelled as he scrambled into the room. He didn't wait for an answer as he caught sight of the Asteroid on a collision course with the station. He threw himself into the seat next to Turner and started to override the weapons computers trying to get manual control of the station's defenses, but he was too late.
The asteroid struck the main landing bay with enough force that the shield doors buckled inward. The damage was enough to cause the explosive decompression of the landing bay .
Mc Cray s face reflected the fear in John turner's own heart as both men suddenly caught sight of a figure on one of the station's monitors. He was not wearing an environmental suit, but was floating out in space in a dark purple body suit, his arms folded, and his face hidden by a Romanesque helmet. The figure's cape seemed to be moved by an unseen breeze.
The figure seemed to nod at the monitor and suddenly another asteroid came into view hurling towards the space station. Mc Cray managed to turn on the station's emergency radio before the asteroid hit.
Chapter Two: S.H.I.E.L.D
Nicholas Fury's expression did not change as he watched the final moments of the video captured by the space station on the holographic displays of the Defense Department's briefing room. He folded his arms, his cold blue eye scanning the faces of the twelve men who made up the Defense Department's Paranormal Affair's Agency. Most of the men had over 15 years of service in various government agencies from the military to the C.I.A, and were hardened men, but this situation had unnerved them. Nicholas Fury though was unfazed. He had dealt with worse horrors in the fifty or so years he had served his country.
He had been ordered to attend this meeting, and though he answered only to the head of the National Security Agency, this situation had such broad impact that it warranted S.H.I.E.L.D s involvement. He frowned as he saw the horrified expressions on their faces and felt his stomach tighten. He hated working for men who'd grown soft with bureaucratic life, as was apparently what had happened to these men. "Are we going to discuss this situation, gentlemen or just sit here like scared old women?" Fury said.
His voice was like a rusty grate, and had been roughened by years of smoking. It had though gotten the attention of the men in the room, and they looked over at him. He put his booted feet up on the edge of the oblong table and pushed his chair back, while lighting a cigar. "Gentlemen," He said now that he had gotten their attention, " We know what the problem is, so lets figure a solution, before we lose any more time."
It hadn't taken as long as he'd thought to convince the Agency's leaders that his plan for a quick counter attack was the best way to deal with the situation. He noted how the group seemed relieved when it was apparent that he would be taking full responsibility for handling this matter for good or ill, and wondered how these men, could place their own careers over the welfare of the people they were supposed to protect. He hated what had become of the world, and wondered when the values he had been brought up to respect had been cast aside by society in general.
Nicholas Fury left the Defense Department and got into a dark gray sedan. He pulled out of the parking lot and drove towards the industrial park on the outskirts of the city. He pulled over to A non discript looking warehouse and got out of the car. He took a moment to scan the street as he lit another cigar. The street was deserted except for a homeless man moving up the block muttering to himself. Fury walked over to the building and started up the metal steps; aware at all times of his surroundings. He stopped in front of the metal fire door and punched a code into the alarm. After a moment there was the hiss of released air and the metal door slid open to reveal a small room with metal walls and a single panel on the right wall.
Fury stepped inside and waited until the door slid closed behind him. Then a series of light beams from hidden emplacements in the walls passed over him. "Nicholas Fury." He said aloud to no one in particular.
"Bio scan, and voice print complete." Came the modulated response, "Welcome Coronal Fury."
Fury stepped through the door and was instantly greeted by six tall, athletic men, each wearing matching midnight-blue body suits with red piping. Each man had military cut hair and stood at attention saluting Nicholas Fury as he entered the hallway. Fury nodded his head slightly and they went back to a more relaxed yet still very alert posture.
"So how'd it go?" came the gruff voice of Nicholas Fury's oldest friend and right-hand man. Fury turned to greet the man who's nickname had followed him first during three consecutive tours in Vietnam, and then through his years in S.H.I.E.L.D.
Dum -Dum Jim Doogan had seen almost as much action as Fury had, and it reflected in the tall Scott's face. He had deep-set green eyes under thick brows and a thick mustache. His short cropped red hair under a bowler hat. The man had a husky build and also wore a dark blue body suit, though with red-orange piping.
"It went off like I'd expected." Fury said as he started down the hallway. Doogan nodded and followed after Fury. "So basically we've been green lighted to start a rescue operation." Doogan said. Fury nodded. As they walked in silence towards Fury's office they ignored the many support people that passed them by. Fury though seemed bothered by something, but because he hadn't said anything, Doogan didn't ask.
"I want a feasible plan on my desk within the hour." Nick said as he stopped in front of his office, then added "Get me the Avengers, on the horn, old man, I want their support should things get screwed up."
"You got that feeling too?" Doogan said.
Fury said nothing but over the years Doogan had learned to read his friend's expressions and he knew that Fury wouldn't have bothered with the Avengers unless he had very strong misgivings over the chance that they could pull off this mission without paranormal interference.
Doogan didn't like dealing with para-normals, but if Fury thought they were necessary well he'd deal with them. He left Fury alone and went to the nearest secure communication's station. Once there he placed the call to Avengers headquarters.
Chapter Three: Returning Home
Professor Charles Xavier watched from his command station as the Blackbird landed in the concealed hanger bay. He watched as the hanger bay doors slid shut above the ship, then vents opened up, releasing a thick blue-white fog of decontaminates. The mist covered the hanger bay and Xavier watched as sensors swept the hanger bay. On the control board red lights started turning yellow, then green, as the thick fog of decontaminant was sucked up by the hanger's vents. "Everything is clear on my board." Xavier said, speaking through the wire thin headphone communicator.
"All clear on my end." Came Forge's reply.
Xavier watched as the Blackbird's main hatch slid open and the ladder was deployed. He could feel the emotions of those within the ship long before they appeared. He could feel their loss added to his own feelings and the fear and nervousness of the rescued mutants. Charles Xavier pushed those feelings into a compartment in his mind and closed it off as he had long ago trained himself. He pulled back away from the console and moved to the doors of the control room.
Xavier wheeled into the hanger bay just as the group of mutants he had sent to find his missing students descended the ladder. He stopped short as he saw their expressions. They had lost their innocence during that mission, and it was clearly visible in their eyes. He had expected that the mission would have had some effect on them, but he hadn't expected what he saw in their faces.
Xavier's attention was drawn from the group to a tall, white haired woman as she descended the stairs. Her movements were almost regal, he noted and she scanned the room with a trained eye. She stood off to the side between Xavier and the mutant refugees as they descended the stairs.
Xavier continued to watch as others started down the stairs. The first was a winged woman with a young mutant girl hanging onto her back. Her thoughts were quite clear to him, but he did not understand her language. Then came Kurt Wagner and a blue furred mutant, carrying Warren Worthington on a stretcher. The boy had suffered some injuries; "I'll lead you to the infirmary." He said, but the blue furred mutant shook his head. "Don't worry about it Professor, I know the way."
"My god!" Xavier exclaimed, "Hank, is that you?"
"Yes sir," Hank said with a broad smile, "I got a make over while I was in Genosha. But you know what? I kinda like it."
"Come, all of you." Xavier said. "I believe a trip to the infirmary is in order, followed by a hot meal."
"Yes that sounds good," The regal woman said, "But first who are you, and what is this place?"
"Forgive me." He said with a slight smile, "I am Charles Xavier, and this is my school for gifted youngsters."
"And what about Forge?" The woman said, "He has yet to join us"
"He'll be down when he's finished with the Blackbird." Vanessa said as she slid down the ladder. No sooner had she hit the hanger then she charged up to Xavier her fists clenched. "So tell me genius, was getting Proudstar killed part of your brilliant plan? Or are you gonna admit you're a friggin'' doofus for sending us into that fucking death trap. Or wait a minute, let me guess, you're just gonna sit there all fucking smug and pretend it never happened. "She exploded, her eyes filling with tears of rage.
"That's enough Psyche." came Forge's voice. Vanessa spun about ready to lay into anyone stupid enough to get to close, but on seeing Forge she froze. "But," She began. Forge shook his head "Professor Xavier is not responsible for what happened, we all knew the risk when we signed on. If you want to blame someone, blame the bastards at Genosha."
Vanessa said nothing, her face set like stone.
"I am very sorry for what happened, Vanessa." Xavier began but she waved him off, "Fuck you!" She said and stormed out of the hanger.
The group followed Xavier to the infirmary, Katherine Pryde walking next to the Professor and seemed to be trying to formulate her thoughts into words. He looked up at her and said "I know what happened was not your fault Katherine, and in the end it was fortunate that you were with them, or things might have not ended as they did."
"Then you're not mad?" She said.
"Of course I'm upset." He replied, "You had no business in the hanger or on board the Blackbird, Miss Pryde, but your efforts on Genosha in my eyes make up for the trouble you had gotten yourself into. I expect though that this situation won't arise again, and you'll limit your wanderings to the mansion itself, not the sub basements."
"Yes sir." She said, and catching Kurt Wagner's smile had to keep from smiling.
It took nearly two hours to examine the new comers and the members of Forge's team and see to each one's needs, but when it was all done Xavier sat back in his wheelchair and took a moment to relax. He could hear the newcomers as they settled into the emergency barracks that Forge had set up for them, and could hear the others talking in the conference room.
"Professor." Vanessa said from the doorway of the infirmary.
"I understand your anger, Vanessa." He said.
"Whatever." She said, and put down a steaming cup of tea on the nearest counter top. Before he could thank her she was gone. Xavier smiled to himself as he picked up the cup of tea. "Thank you Vanessa." He said softly.
Chapter Four: Discussions and Decisions
Forge walked into the large room where in haste Xavier had asked that the Genoshan refugee's be housed until more suitable arrangements could be found for them. Standing in the doorway to the room he watched them in silence. They had formed small groups and seemed to be slowly getting use to the loose fitting coveralls that had been provided for them. He felt a pity for these people as he watched them, but also the anger that he already felt towards the Genoshans took on new meanings. These people reminded him of the survivors of concentration camps and he was appalled that any country this late in the twentieth century could be allowed to do this to anyone. He clenched his fists as he saw the fear in their eyes as they occasionally glanced over at him.
"Do you have a moment." Ororo said as she walked over to him. She was wearing coveralls like the others, her hair tied back in a ponytail, and as she approached him he realized just how beautiful this woman was. "S-Sure." He stammered and mentally cringed, at his response. She apparently didn't notice or made mention of it.
"You have provided much for these people, and on their behalf I thank you." She said.
"You don't have to thank me." He said. "It's the least we could do. "
" I was wondering if there is something I might ask of you, though it will sound foolish, but why are there no windows in this place?"
"Well this complex was built underground, to provide protection from-" he started, but seeing the fear that suddenly filled her face he broke off.
She stepped back her breathing becoming quick as she started to panic.
A'hn'jili'hk'ka saw this and almost instantly stood between Ororo and Forge.
Her words he did not understand but her intent was universally recognizable. "No. No, I didn't do anything to her." Forge said, trying to talk over the string of what he figured were threats that the tall avian spat at him.
"If you ask me Forge, you'd best back up real slow," Hank McCoy said entering the room. "I've seen what she can do when she's pissed off."
"It's alright, A'hn'jili'hk'ka He did nothing to me." Ororo said, grabbing A'hn'jili'hk'ka's arm.
A'hn'jili'hk'ka turned to Ororo and started to speak rapidly in her native tongue. Seeing the confusion on her friend's face She stopped and after a slight pause as she tried to form her thoughts into the Language that Ororo and the others spoke said "If he has threatened you, I swear it will be the last thing he will ever do."
"A'hn'jili'hk'ka it was nothing he said." Ororo said trying to keep her fear under control, "Only that we are underground." She saw the confusion in A'hn'jili'hk'ka's face and added " I-I do not like being underground."
Hank smiled slightly and grabbing Ororo's arm said " Well why don't I just take the ladies upstairs for a breath of fresh air."
Before Forge could say anything Hank was already out of the room, Ororo in tow. He looked at A'hn'jili'hk'ka who watched him for a moment and then followed after Ororo.
Charles Xavier sat alone in his study. He picked up the phone and as he was about to dial he stopped himself. He put the phone down and folded his hands into a steeple his elbows on the desk, as he contemplated how much things had changed, since Scott Summers had come into this room asking Charles to let The X-men try to do something against Genosha.
He wondered how differently things would have gone if he had not denied them, and instead had helped them to do something against Genosha. Had he been wrong to try to stop them, fearing for their safety. Perhaps he should have overseen things so that the X-men would have had the support of everything that he had contracted Forge to build for the purpose of aiding the X-men on field assignments.
It had been his idea to train the X-men to go on these types of missions, so why when faced with that reality he had acted like an overprotective parent, and had heavy handedly denied them, the chance to do what they had been prepared for.
Charles picked up the phone at last.
"Moira." He said "I have been unable to locate my students, but in the course of trying to find them, my alternate team managed to liberate about a dozen mutants from Genosha. I have the facilities to keep them for a while but they have had some genetic alterations done to them that I can do nothing to reverse."
"So ye were wondering if I had it in mind to take in your refugees and do what I can for em here." She said.
"Yes." he responded. There was a pause and then Moira sighed, "Okay I'll arrange for their transportation, but it'll take time." She then added "Charles, I hope you find your X-men soon, because I ave a feeling that what your students ave started, is gonna become more then any of us are prepared for."
Chapter Five: A Father's Loss
The sky was red-violet as the sun sank beyond the horizon. A cool breeze swept across the lake making the leaves whisper. Forge stood on a hill overlooking the lake in what he considered to be the most beautiful point in all of the estate. He looked at the reflection of the setting sun in the lake and sank to his knees as the emotions he had tried to keep bottled up inside him, were finally released.
"He must have been very important to you." He heard Ororo say when the torrent of emotions had subsided somewhat. He didn't answer her but felt her hand on his shoulder and out of the corner of his eye saw her kneel beside him . "He was my son." He said softly.
"I am truly sorry." She whispered, and he knew that they were not hollow words spoken by someone to console another, she had meant it. He looked into her blue eyes and saw therein openness and caring that was so rare. "It's just not fair." He said. "I had just gotten him back into my life, and now he's gone. I had so much I wanted to say, to explain things, but-"
He took a deep breath, "I shouldn't-" He began, but she shook her head, "You and yours have done so much for us, It is the least I could do to listen to you, and perhaps help you find solace in your time of need."
"He hated me," Forge said "He never forgave me for abandoning his mother, and for rejecting my heritage. He could not accept that I had left the reservation because I refused to allow myself to fall into the trap that has kept my people poor. I chose to use my gifts to make something of myself, and I had offered to bring his mother and them out of poverty but she refused to leave her people, or to accept the money I sent her. "
"I had tried to see them, but she wouldn't let me, calling me a white Indian, and eventually I stopped trying." He said. Ororo said nothing, nor did her eyes show any hint that what he had said had changed her opinion of him. "You did what you felt was right, and no one can blame you." She said.
"Yeah, but he didn't see that." Forge said.
"It is difficult to change an opinion forged over years. You should instead be thankful for the time you did have and perhaps during that time his opinion of you might have changed, even though he never spoke to you of it. It is an unfortunate circumstance, but instead of dwelling on what should have been." She said," Be thankful for the time you shared."
I know you're right," He said "But it still hurts."
"Then mourn, but not for what might have been." She said "Mourn the man not the circumstances."