Chapter One:
4 years ago- New Orleans
The young man smirked, watching another beautiful woman walk by him. He could not, in all his twenty-three years, have seen a more beautiful set of girls then here. The girl winked as she swished her little white skirt, before turning just the right way, allowing him a fine view of a shapely behind.
The soft thud of cash being thrown on the poker and blackjack tables, the clinking of coins in old women's buckets, and the stench of sweat, nervousness, and cheap perfume in the dingy casino drew his attention back to his table.
He flashed another charming grin to another woman who giggled as she set a drink in front of him.
The cards were dealt, the coins tossed. A few sips of his drink and a toss of his cards, before he had a sizeable pile of chips in front of him.
He smirked at his last hand, full house. Luck was with him tonight.
'He's been cheating!' the middle-age man who looked like he never suffered from a lack of a meal, pointed to him.
The young man schooled his features, 'I ain't cheatin' mon ami. .'
Another man dressed in a knock-off Italian suit stubbed his cigar in an ashtray, 'I ain't playing with a cheat.'
The dealer turned to the young man, 'I'm sorry sir, house rules.'
The man grinned, 'I don' need no special tricks to know dis man is trying to play a pair of threes, and dat one has nothin'.'
Ripping off his glasses, he winked at the women. All whom giggled.
The men gasped, almost choking with fear, 'He's a damn mutie!'
His black and red eyes took in the security guards rushing from all corners of the casino.
His full house started glowing bright orange in his hand, smirking as the look of fear passed over all their faces,
'They were right, de house always wins.'
He flung the cards on the table.
KABOOM!
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3 years ago- Washington D.C
'Mr. President, it's good to finally meet you' the geeky scientist shook his hand.
President Creed gave his patented presidential smile. 'I hear you have been making some interesting advancements in weaponry.'
'Oh of course, we are astonished by what we can do in robotics.'
Together they walked down the sterile hallway, the president's advisors following them a couple of feet behind.
'And…' the president patiently prompted him.
The scientist realized his faux pa, 'Oh I apologize, of course, let me show you.'
The scientist stopped in front of giant white doors. The president looked at him questioningly, 'Big doors.'
The scientist shrugged, chuckling, 'well…we have big toys.'
Sliding his security card in a side computer, the doors in front of him clicked three times before opening slowly.
'Welcome' a recorded feminine voice came through the speakers.
'One of the scientist's wife provided that.' the scientist said, before leaning over, 'she is just as HOT as she sounds.' Chuckling at his own joke he continued down the long corridor while the president simply followed him.
The scientist led him to a large metal wall; the president noted how the scientist looked like a kid on Christmas morning, 'I think you'll be really excited to see what we've done. It's quite frankly a beautiful thing to see.'
The scientist pressed a button Creed didn't even see, before the metal wall slid sideways, displaying large thick glass from ceiling to floor.
The scientist pointed to the glass, 'a foot thick glass, they don't even use this for the space shuttles. But we should be safe behind this.'
The president frowned, 'safe?'
The scientist just smiled as if he didn't hear that. The president turned to the large metal arena at least two football fields large. 'I don't see anything' the president muttered.
The scientist was now a bit nervous, this was the president after all, and everything depended on this demonstration. Unable to stop his fidgeting, he tried to ignore the delay 'just wait sir, they're there.'
Suddenly flickering lights lit up the scientist and president. As the object came closer, the president's eyes widened as he slowly looked up, 'My God.'
The scientist grinned, 'Cool huh?'
The president turned to the scientist, amazement in his voice 'what can it do?'
'Ah, see that's where it gets really fun, we've equipped it with sensors, weaponry from long range missiles to simple machine guns. It has night and day vision as well as infrared, and what's the most fascinating thing about it, it can scan and detect the mutant gene.'
The president turned to the scientist, 'what do you call these things.'
The scientist stared at the robot with awe, clearing his throat, 'Sentinels sir. We call them sentinels'
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Two years ago
On top of Frost Industries
Storm spoke gently, 'Rogue.'
Rogue trembled, terrified at what was happening, her hand, barely shaking with all the weight.
'Don't do this'
Rogue shook her head, 'I have to Storm'
'No you don't'
'I'm sorry.' Rogue whispered.
'NO!' Storm shouted.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
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Alkali Lake-
'Daddyeeeeeeeeeee'
Frank tried to continue the conversation with his boss, but the girl continued tugging on his hand.
'Honey, I'm trying to talk on the phone' he said, his had covering the phone.
'But-' she pleaded.
'Go' he pointed to the water. Turning back to the phone, he frowned. Pulling the phone away, he saw the signal going in and out. 'Hey, you still there….hello? can you hear me?'
The girl jumped from one foot to another, 'but I don't want to go in the water'
Frank took her shoulder and turned her around, 'You wanted to go swimming, go swim..'
He turned back to his phone, 'So I talked to Jim yesterday and he says that the plans are ago.'
'Daddyeeeee, the fishes.' Frank sighed in frustrated, 'Look I'm sorry, can I call you back in a few minutes. Thanks. Bye.'
His little girl kept tugging on his hand, 'Daddyeee!'
Frank shut his phone off, turning to his girl. This was supposed to be their little weekend together. Just him and his kids, Frank looked around. 'Sarah, where's Ben?'
Sarah stopped tugging. Turning she lifted her hand slowly, 'Over there' she whispered.
Frank's head snapped up, looking around the lake's edge, his son stood at the edge of the water dressed in trunks. His pale young body shivering in the sun.
'Ben?' Frank walked slowly, 'Ben?'
Slowly realizing not everything was right, he ran, 'BEN!'
Grabbing his son, he turned him around; Ben looked up at him, his eyes flashing bright red. 'They're all dead' Ben whispered.
Frank stared at Ben, before standing up and looking at the lake.
Dead fishes littered the surface, so dense it created a thick layer as far as the horizon.
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'SCOTT!!!!!!'
It was hot and sticky, it burned everything in its path…it was burning him, tearing him apart from the inside.
He tried to reach his hand out, but the raging inferno singed it.
'SCOTT, HELP ME'
'JEAN' he yelled.
She held her hands out as she was consumed by fire, her skin burning, turning black, before peeling away revealing bones and muscles. A high pitch scream reverberated through his head.
'AHHHHHHHH'
Scott jerked awake, sweat dripping down his forehead and chest. He could still smell and taste the acrid stench of burnt skin with each breath.
He tossed the bedcovers back, running into the bathroom, and retched into the sink.
In the near future:
Upstate New York
'Do you understand English you little wretch?' The woman said through clenched teeth into her phone as she stood on the curb in front of her apartment building. Her harsh words were not the only things drawing attention today. Dressed in a tailored white suit that hugged her in all the right places, with white heels and a deep V in her jacket, she displayed her body just short of trashy and in the depths of classy.
People scurried around her, trying to ignore the glares she sent them if she caught their eye. Sighing in relief at the sight of her car, she could not help but give a small smile that at least one thing was working out today.
A white limousine rolled up in front of her, the driver running around and opening the door for her. She didn't bother to glance at the driver as she slid in, continuing to berate the poor girl on the other end. Shutting the door, the driver smirked under the cap as she slid into the driver's seat.
Her nails tapped on the leather armrest in impatience as the driver made another right turn.
'I don't care what pathetic excuses you come up with. Someone better damn well tell me why my accounts have been frozen.' She snapped. The manager now tried to explain what was happening.
She closed her eyes, running her hand through her hair. 'What investigation? No!...don't you dare…put me on hold…you parasite…ARGH!' She screamed again, as the stupid song came on yet again.
Another few more minutes of nails tapping, deep breaths, and snarky comments before someone else was on the phone with her, 'Put me on hold one more time and I will personally come down there and stuff this phone down your throat. It's quite simple, and I will speak in slow English just for you, I…want…my…accounts…unfrozen, got it...Good…DO IT.' She slammed the phone shut, before tossing it across the seats.
She felt the sudden urge to scream out her frustrations; instead she took several deep breaths while straightening her jacket a little. She was in desperate need of a cigarette, groaning at her stupid decision to quit yet again. Damn nicotine patches weren't working. Rubbing her temples with her well manicured fingers, her head was pounding.
Glancing out the window, it took a few seconds for her to realize this wasn't the way to her office building.
Growling, she punched the intercom, 'apparently I am the only one who is astonished the world turns while idiots still procreate' she muttered, knowing full well the driver could hear her. Speaking into the intercom sweetly, 'You're going the wrong way sweetie. Do you mind actually getting me to my office sometime today? Unlike you, I actually have money to play with.' She shut the intercom off.
After another turn, the limousine rolled to a stop. She stared out the window, finding herself in the middle of nature, more specifically a small park found on the outskirts of the city. She tried to suppress the shudders.
Now enraged by the driver, she stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut, ready to cut the driver down. 'I don't pay you to-'
'Hello Emma'
Emma Frost spun around to see Charles Xavier wheel up next to her. The driver stepped out as well and stood behind Xavier.
The hat kept the driver's face in shadows, but Emma could at least tell it was a woman, even if the low cut neckline didn't tip her off. The driver stood behind Xavier in a tailored black suit, green blouse, and black gloves at 5'6' maybe. Her legs were slightly apart, as if she was ready to fight at any sign of danger.
Deeming the person unimportant, Emma tossed back her hair, and brushed off an imaginary piece of lint from her white tailored jacket. She turned to Xavier, 'Charles? Kidnapping? Really? Doesn't that seem a tad beneath even you?'
Xavier smiled, always finding Ms. Frost entertaining. 'I apologize, Emma, for this particular tactic. I did not trust the meeting would be private should I have contacted you any other way.'
Emma folded her arms, slightly annoyed at this surprise 'well, whatever you have to say must be important considering all this trouble. I'm breathless with anticipation.'
Xavier wheeled a little closer, leaving the driver behind him. 'I want you to teach at my school'
Emma stared at him for a moment, saying slowly 'I'm sorry, you dragged me out here in the middle of no where to ask if I can join your little school.'
Xavier tried to hide his chuckle, 'I am offering you a position at my school to teach young mutants how to control their powers. You would be a considerable asset to the school.'
Emma raised an eyebrow, 'You wouldn't have frozen my accounts? I would have thought that would have fallen under unethical, but then again you did kidnap me today '
Emma caught the surprised look between the driver and Xavier.
Xavier frowned, 'we did nothing of the sort. We simply brought you out here to talk, nothing more, nothing less. We are in need of faculty at this moment, and despite our…less then ideal parting of ways. I believe you would do an excellent job with our students.'
Emma smirked, 'Our less then ideal parting of ways? Surely you have a better word then that, animosity? Hatred? Loathing?' she prodded a little deeper.
Xavier clasped his hand in his lap, saying firmly, 'We would like for you to join us.'
Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she asked 'So who's your little pet?'
As the limousine rolled away, the driver quipped, 'that went well', before looking down at the Professor. Xavier just smiled.
'Do you think this is a good idea?' she asked as they made their way to a car a few feet away. 'She agreed rather quickly and you said she would be the hardest to convince, but the best we could get.'
Xavier frowned, 'yes, I know.'
She frowned in confusion, wondering what that meant, but as always Xavier kept his thoughts to himself.
Xavier clasped hands in his lap as he settled in for the long drive home.
She slid into the driver's seat, still curious 'What is she going to teach?'
'I'm hoping she will teach you Rogue'
She pulled her hat off. Red and white hair fell just above her shoulders.
Let me know what you think, comments, criticisms, and suggestions are more then welcomed.