Xavier Institute For Higher Learning

Havok

He has walked through these hallways hundreds of times and not felt like this. He's been happy, sad, injured, and elated. He's seen marriages and break ups, the birth of babies and the funerals of friends. Alex Summers has been through a lot. First, during his time with X-Factor and more recently with the X-Men. But nothing he's been through has ever made him feel like this.

He tried to think of a word to describe it and couldn't. He walks by a window and can see a group of students playing basketball outside. Farther away he sees the swimming pool that lies beside the court. Walking away from the window he passes a group of students who smile but he sees a look in their eyes that covers the smile on their face. Alex Summers passes them and smiles back. He recognizes the look because he knows his eyes have it too.

Havok passes a living area where a lot of the students like to hang out. He sees them huddled in front of the television. Peeking into the room, he stays behind them, trying to see what they are watching.

He sees a female reporter.

"Again, this is breaking news, the last survivor of the Kronach massacre has died. The victim's identity has not been revealed but CNN has learned that indictments are not forthcoming and with no surviving witnesses the X-Men will not be extradited to face charges. We're going to go live with Sara Tavaris who is at the White House hoping to hear a statement from the President. Investigations have been going on for days and exactly what happened in Kronach and to what degree the X-Men were involved if any remains uncertain."

"Uncertain." Havok's nods to himself and realizes that's how he feels. He is uncertain about what the Institute will do now that its founder and leader is jailed with terrorism realted charges. Storm and some of the other X-Men have returned from Germany with their mission a public relations disaster. The public distrusts the X-Men more than ever.

Turning aways from the room Havok walks up the stairs toward Xavier's study. He admits to himself that he too, distrusts the X-Men more than ever. "Wizard's stunt in the hangar bay costs lives" he thinks. "Storm just got back, maybe she wasn't ready. And if Remy was there Rogue would have been distracted and...." he sighs.

"I should have been there. None of this would have happened." He walks into Xavier's study.

"No, some of it would have. The juggernaut may be MIA but Xavier's still gone. There is nothing I could do to change that. Or change the response I got from the others X-Men away from the mansion. Still, there must be someway to make this okay. The team, the school, all of it. There must be a way and I'm going to find it."

Havok steps far back into the closet inside Xavier's study. Pressing on a button near the floor he braces himself as he feels the swift movement of air as the chamber takes him deep into the bottom sub-basement of the building. A control panel screen appears in the air.

He presses the button that will take him to the war room.

As the door opens he steps off and walks into the War Room.

"Alex Summers: X-factor, password: Dane71"

The lights to the room open and he turns on a monitor.

The president's can be seen addressing the nation.

"At this time, investigations are still ongoin'. But what happened in Kronach, will be known. The United States, and the governments of the world will not tolerate unprovoked acts of violence of any group . And when we find out what happened in that town, I can tell ya we will hold those parties responsible."

Havok turns off the monitor.

Pressing a button on the table at the center of the room he makes an announcement through the mansion. "Holding people responsible. That's not a bad idea." Havok thinks.

"X-Men Senior Staff report to the War Room. John Simms stand by."

Wizard sighed, and shook his head. He had spent most of the time since they had gotten back from Germany in his room, packing his things. He was fairly certain he'd be dismissed, which was fine by him, since he was a danger now that he couldn't control his powers at all anymore.

Rogue

I pushed myself up into a sitting possition, hair tumbling around my face as I looked around. My room, with its beautiful pale oaks and deep green fabrics surrounded me, comforting and familiar.

Unlike the events of the previous 72 hours or so.

Pushing a button on the wall, I replied to Havok's summons. "On my way, Havok. Gimme a moment or two to get dressed."

Sliding out of bed, I shook the last trendles of sleep's grasp from me and walked to my dresser. After pulling on a set of black velvet-like panties and bra, I opened my closet. Grabbing the first thing I touched, I pulled on a body suit formed of a soft material, deep green in color with a hood I could pull up if needed.
Green 'racing' stripes ran from shoulder to fingertip, armpit to ankle along the sides of the bodysuit. The material was a touchably soft terrycloth-like substance.

On cat-quiet feet, I padded downstairs, wondering where Remy had wandered off to.

They had actually come to the edge of the woods some time ago, but Mallory did not simply want to break into the clear and dash to the rear of the property so he took the time to walk all the way around and finally left behind the woods that had served as a haven for what seemed to be so long to walk up to the mansion gates. At the last moment the twins consented and Babette came out. It seemed little more than a token gesture, they were filthy and Babette's skimpy club clothes had been torn and stretched a bit. Covered in filth and blood (from various sources) their usual glamour was only hinted at in Babette's face.

Briefly holding her breath, Babette pressed the intercom, "Bonjour, I ceci le sanctuaire de mutant? We require assistance."

::He had taken to the small cabin on the lake that Scott and Jean used when they wanted time away from the mansion but still wanted to be close by in case something happened. He just didnt feel right going back to the mansion, at least not yet. There was a lot that needed worked out and he had to get through it all before he could feel better about being back. Being this close was a start.

He was just getting out of the shower when he heard Alex's voice on the hardwired speakers that ran throughout the mansion and surrounding areas. Scott had wired the cabin as well just in case something happened and he would need summoned. Gambit finished drying off and slung the towel aver his shoulders as he hit the button.::

I'm just out of da shower, Mon Ami. I should be dere in 15 minutes tops.

::He quickly got a pair of pants on, followed by his boots and a grey t-shirt. After pulling it all on, he quickly toweled his hair off once more, then left the cabin and headed towards the Mansion.

As he walked to the mansion, he pased groups of students as they relaxed in the gardens or busied themselves playing backetball or swimming in the mansion's pool. Some of the kids paid him no mind. Either they didnt know him or didnt care due to the good time they were having. Some however had heard through the grapevine about him and cast him disgusted looks as he made his way to the mansion. In truth he didnt care about what anyone thought about him. They didnt know him. They never walked a mile in his shoes so what did they know. No there was only one person he needed to come to terms with, which is why he agreed to come back to the mansion.

Soon he was in the elevator and heading down to the sub-levels of the mansion where the Xmen had their headquarters. The doors soon opened and he walked down the hall turning into the War Room.::

Not a hundred percent sure I should be here, but I thought what da hell. Worst dey could do is ask me to leave, no?

After returning from Germany, Storm had been spending most of her time in her garden. She had a quick talk with Shadowcat but found that it would be better if she stayed by herself until things were settled. Staying in her garden helped keep her calm but the weather around the mansion was still acting up. Psylocke had left that morning to find out more about what was happening with Xavier which was making Storm nervous.

When she heard Havok's page she started down to the war room. Germany had been a disaster. The only thing that came of that fiasco was that Wizard and herself were infected with a disease, they didn't get the disk or the cure, and Jean, Xavier, and Scott were put in jail. She was starting to wonder if things would have been better if she had extended her stay in Nairobi. But with everything in such turmoil it was best that she was home.

Storm stepped off the elevator and walked to the War room. She entered the room and found Havok who explained that Rogue and Gambit were on their way. When they got back from Germany the full extent of Wizard's misbehavior came to light and Storm figured that Wizard would be one topic that would be discussed.

Rogue

I walked into the War Room and had to fight not to make some lusty comment over Gambit. Fresh from the shower, hair still damp, very enticing... almost too enticing.

Instead, I came up beside him with a grin. "If you get asked to leave, I may just have to join ya."

::He looked over his shoulder at Rogue hearing her comment and couldn't help himself, he couldn't let her comment go by without responding.::

I do look good all wet and dripping eh, Cher? Don't tease me like dat else I may just walk out reguardless.

::He offered her a wink, then went to his pocket looking for a cigarette before realizing that he had left them back at the cabin and silently cursed himself knowing that if this turned into a bitch fest he would have to have something to keep him off edge.

His attention then went to Storm and his mind drifted back to Paris. He had just returned from meeting with Sinister where he had gotten the cure and met the others at the house. Looking exhausted and in disarray, it was all they could do to keep it together while the world seemed to be looking for them in connection with the little town in Germany. Storm was given the cure there and the mouths on her hand sealed themselves and the healing process had started. Where did you get a cure, Remy? Rogue had asked him, but he told her to wait until they were alone before he could tell her.

Once she got some rest, it was Storm who recommended that they return to the mansion. The students would need them and this whole mess needed to be addressed which is why Havok had called this meeting, or at least that's what Gambit thought.::

Looks like we are all here Alex, what did you want to discuss?

Havok

"On my way, Havok. Gimme a moment or two to get dressed."

“I'm just out of da shower, Mon Ami. I should be dere in 15 minutes tops.”

Havok responded to Gambit and Rogue’s replies with silence. He wasn’t sure they would be in such a hurry if they knew what he was about to ask them.

He watches as Storm enters the War Room. He begins to flash a smile but aborts it and quickly just nods in greeting. He is unsure of exactly what happened in Germany but he knew it went badly.

A bright red light catches his attention. A message is coming from the gates of Xavier’s.

"Bonjour, I ceci le sanctuaire de mutant? We require assistance."

He walks over to a screen and sees a figure standing outside on the front. Not wanting to interrupt the meeting he presses a comm link to shadowcat.

“Kitty, there is someone at the door. Could you answer them please.”

Ending the communication Havok turns to see Rogue and Gambit.

“All right, everyones here. And as much as I hate to start this off with bad news I’m going to have to cause that’s all we seem to have at the moment.”

Havok lifts a peace of paper.

“One eyewitness, a father of three, says that Rogue, you ripped his arms off when you spun them off his body. He says he was hiding in the closet because according the translation “The first mutants bit me and made me sick. I was scared that the others would hurt me more.”

Havok puts down the paper.

“He wasn’t just writing that to his diary either. Every station is playing the messages left by those who survived past a day. If there is any good news its that I got in contact with Evangeline Vange the lawyer overseeing the X-Men’s legal team. She says that the X-Men won’t be indicted because all the witness’ are dead. Their taped transcripts could be used against us but she put in a motion noting that they victims never agreed to have their statements taken as deposition so they were thrown out. Rogue, legally you, Wizard and that psycho Deadhand are off the hook. But public opinion is killing us. An entire city was killed and the X-Men smack in the middle of it emerge spotless. And its not just the public that upset.”

Havok walks around a desk.

“I spoke with Nightcrawler about bringing the rest of the X-Men to the mansion. He advised against it. Even boosting our ranks now might be seen as a sign of aggression by world governments so we’ll have to move carefully. We can’t expect much help from the others. One or two maybe able to come back but they’ll have to be quiet. Vange told me the Professor, Jean and Scott won’t be back for a while either. The professor doesn’t even want us to contact him to distance himself from the school. It’s that bad. If there is any good news it’s the Juggernaut hasn’t been seen since that night. The students are saying he is the one who turned the Professor over to the government. As much as I would want to turn his corpse over to the people he’s been working for its probably best we don’t have a known villain as the face of the mansion right now. Deadhand is already gone. Fantomex is gone. And dammit, if Simms isn’t out of here soon-”

Havok’s eyes begin to spark as circles of energy begin to leak from his body. He is angry. He discontinues speaking to calm himself.

“Wizard needs to go. The mansion has to get back the trust it was building. That means no more reforming villains, no mercenaries and no stains on our reputation.” He sighs and turns to Gambit and Rogue.

“And that’s why both of you need to leave with Wizard. Rogue, they may not be able to prosecute you but the world has already judged you guilty. The X-Men were just starting to gain recognition as a legit superhero team. The world just saw you rip off the arms of a guy who was at a school working to feed his family. You and Gambit look bad right now, and the rest of us can’t take that heat. Both of you should go.”

::He knew that he was going to need his cigarettes, and being acused of something that he had no part of was one thing. He could handle that, but having to watch Rogue take the fall for just defending herself made him lose his temper.::

You are going to toss us out just because Rogue defended herself when she was being overrun by dose damn zombies? And you didn't even say why you were tossing me out, just tossing me out like I was a piece of garbage.

::His fist clenched as his mind raced. He wanted to lash out, but losing his cool wasn't the way to go about things. He wanted to calm himself but he lost it again.::

Besides Summers only one person in dis room can claim rights to run da X-men and da school and dat's Storm. So unless she tells me dat I have to leave da mansion and da school I'm staying right here...

::Gambit steps up to Havok and gets nose to nose with him. Amex Summers was never one to control his temper and Gambit wasnt any good at it either. He was half begging Alex to just swing so he could take him out as he has before in the Danger Room.::

Unless of course you t'ink you big enough to toss me out, Mon Ami.

Havok

For a moment Havok felt badly. In his wildest dreams he never would have imagined Gambit would react so strongly.

"Being an X-Man must really mean a lot to him" he thought. For a moment he thought of himself and wondered if the idea of leaving Xavier's would ever strike him so deeply?

Then Havok saw the anger in Gambit's eyes and felt something else. He felt a challenge. Cyclops never even came at him like Gambit was doing.

Havok thought about it more. Gambit never approached Storm or Beast or any of the other senior X-Men like he is doing now. Havok began to get upset but he knew Storm was watching.

"Now is not the time to blow your cool Summers now's not the time! Scott would get it from Logan worse than this and he never blew it. Keep your....why did I just think about Scott?"

Angry with himself, Havok reply to Gambit was merciless.

"I didn't toss you out like garbage Lebeau. The X-Men did. Maybe you didn't get the memo when the team left you in Antarctica. What, you didn't think they would tell me? I got the briefing when they came back. All the squad leaders did. You don't think its funny Gambit? You've been an X-Man longer than me Bishop and Emma but the Professor never trusted you or Rogue to lead in the field. Plain and simple she blew it. She's made the X-men look like an army unit invading a country and abusing civilians. And helping a student hijack a plane!? Both of you are liabilities and dont' belong at this school."

"That's enough! Both of you are going to back down this second or I'll toss you out myself." Storm said and stepped between the two men.

"Havok, you can't throw Rogue out for defending herself. This media circus that is hurting our public relations isn't the problem. We were in trouble before the media found out about Rogue's actions. Fantomex caused more problems for us with the media then any thing they have on Rogue. Sentinels landed in our front yard and took off with Xavier, Jean, and your brother proving that they don't need any provocation to attack us. I agree with you about being more careful of the people we allow at our school. If we are throwing anyone out it will be Wizard. He can't be trusted and he proved that by attacking a team member and not following orders."

Havok

"You're taking his side!? Figures!" Havok says rolling is eyes.

He walks away frowning. He knows he's an outsider. During his time with X-Factor he wasn't a teacher, he was a hunter. He could have controlled the situation in Germany before it got out of hand.

Here? He's second string at best. He's a mutant. He's a soldier. But he's not an X-Man. He sees that now.


Folding his arms Havok felt the alienation of not having his squad here to back him up. More than anything right now Havok wants to be with someone he's fought beside and trusts to back him up.

::He backed down when Storm interjected herself in between them and backed up though he was still fumming. Alex's words cut him to his very soul. In truth it wasn't the X-men that left him in Antarctica it was Rogue, and she couldn't be blamed entirely. Eric the Red made her kiss him once again to absorb the memory of his betrayal at the hands of Sinister. It was because of that kiss that she also absorbed his self hatredwhich is why she left him for dead in that frozen wasteland. What even quieted him quicker was that he had made another agreement with Sinister to get the cure for Storm, but noone else would know about that.

He didn't know anything about the kid, all he knew was that Rogue was being grouped into something that was not entirely her fault and that is what pissed him off the most.::

I don't know anyt'ing about da kid or what he did before I met up with da group in Germany. If what you say is true, den I agree he will have to be delt with.

::He shot a glare at Alex, knowing that had Storm not gotten between them he would have light him up, literally.::

Everyone here knows dat I had to for what I've done.

::He turned his back to the other two and looked at Rogue, searching her face for some sign that there was hope for them within it.::

"You're taking his side!? Figures!"

Storm had been shocked that Havok had brought up Antarctica and was using it against Gambit. She was getting tired of Havok walking around with a chip on his shoulder.


"Maybe if you come up with something constructive perhaps I would take your side. If you would stop attacking everyone and listen, you would see that I am agreeing with you to some extent. Yes, I realize that like Wizard, Rogue went against orders and hijacking a jet needs to be looked at. But I also believe that kicking her out isn't an option. Like you said, she has been with us for awhile and should have taken on a leadership role a long time ago. I don't believe that this mess up should wipe away everything that she has done. But there should be consequences for her actions. As for Gambit I believe that he has more than paid for what he has done in the past and continuing to beat him down with it isn't helping anything."

Havok

"Well you can tell Wizard he's leaving. I never want to see that kid again." Havok said still fuming.

"And we still haven't decided. What do we do about the school? Some of the parents are threatening to pull their kids out because of everything they have been seeing on the television."

"I'll deal with Wizard. Our options with the parents are we can make a statement to the media or we can talk to the parents personally. I hope that the majority of them are reasonable and realize that the media isn't exactly mutant friendly. As for Rogue, I recommend a week probation which will give us time to get things in order and then we will discuss if further action needs to be taken. Rogue, you will be given a chance to explain your actions."

Storm noticed that Rogue had been quiet during the talk and hoped that it ment that she was going to cooperate.

Quelle est cette merde? Are you fucking kidding me, our lives are in danger Babette. Just jump the fence and apologize later.

Mais nous pourrions entrer à l'ennui sérieux, ces personnes entrons aux combats toute l'heure !

While the twins stood at the gate silently, they continued thier heated internal debate.

Wizard sighed, carrying his stuff to the front door. He refused any help that was offered. This was his problem, not theirs. He'd had enough of the whole thing. Mutants hating mutants, ungrateful commanders. Havok should have been GLAD that he had been kept out of it, all things considered. The last thing he did was take the sword he had received and put it back in its box. He didn't have much stuff to begin with, not here anyways. One of the older students, who saw him getting ready to leave, ran to tell Storm about it.

Shadowcat

“Kitty, there is someone at the door. Could you answer them please.”

Katherine put her book down and looked towards the intercom. She smoothed out her black skirt and tugged on her purple t-shirt as she stood up and pulled her brown hair back. She walked through the door so she wouldn't wake Lockheed. He was curled up napping by her window. Normally she would have just opened it, she didn't like using her powers for mundane things like getting out of rooms, she kept surprising people, or walking through them. It was funny when it happened, but she'd keep her phasing to a minimum in the school.

The hall was empty. She could hear the click of her heels on the floor echoing around her. She past afew students on the way but didn't stop to chat.

As she neared the front door she saw someone standing there. She was trying to figure out his name before she got there. Wasn't he the student that went on the Germany mission. "Hey, are you ok." Kitty asked as she reach the door.

Wizard shrugged, then shook his head. "I haven't been okay for a long time."

Shadowcat

"Are you leaving." Kitty asked. She didn't need her empathic dragon to tell her that this guy was feeling like crap. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

Wizard shook his head, then moved the last of his stuff out into his father's waiting car. He didn't want to deal with anyone from the Mansion anymore. He had bigger fish to fry. Somewhere out there, the people who changed him were still loose.

Shadowcat

"Hey buddy, hang on a sec." Kitty shouted out to him.

Oh shoot, I forgot about the door. She pressed the intercom "Hi, can I help you?"

Wizard took one last look at the place that had been his home since he was a kid, and shook his head. He'd miss Kitty's optimism, and he'd definitely miss Rogue, but he was nothing more than a third wheel here.