X-Men Evolution: Rogue Evolution

Snow Fall 11.2

The buzz of a new mission never got easier. A blaring alarm undercut by shouts and galloping feet echoed through the halls and eventually channeled its way down to the Blackbird's hanger. Somewhere along the way one had to find time to swap out of your street clothes, into padded uniforms, and try not to think about what things those uniforms were there to protect you from.

Anna and her fellow students appeared in the hangar in what must have been record time seeing as the little Wall-E robots were still doing their prep work on the jet. What was an even more rare sight, was finding Xavier sitting in his wheelchair next to the Blackbird's open bay door. The tips of his fingers were pressed together, and under the overhead lights the angles of his eyebrows and cheekbones looked sharp enough to cut glass.

"Students!" He called, "Gather! Quickly!"

They followed his orders, gathering around him like players getting the opening play from a coach.

"Students", He paused oddly as if his tongue had suddenly doubled in size in his throat. "X-Men, this is no ordinary mission. A force - a singular force - has taken a course toward downtown Bayville in what I believe will be a single-manned reign of destruction."

Scott leaned in, "Brotherhood?"

"No. Not Brotherhood but they are a mutant. A mutant who is known for wreaking havoc and has a reputation for being unstoppable. His name is 'The Juggernaut.'"

"The Jugger-"

"Your mission is not to stop him. You students will help the authorities in evacuation efforts. I, along with Wolverine and Storm, will stop Juggernaut. I repeat you X-Men are not to engage the threat!"

Ororo, Storm, appeared from the other side of the jet's landing gear with a tablet in her hand. "Professor, the Blackbird is ready for lift-off."

"Excellent. Students, board quickly! Wolverine is already inside and will distribute additional armor as you board. Now move!"

They were coralled into the bay of the jet where Anna just managed to wrap her arms around a helmet Logan had shoved into her chest. When she and the others were secured in their seats, she spotted the professor rolling down the center aisle and taking Scott's usual spot as co-pilot.

Scott was still standing, his hand gripping the headrest of one of the chairs, "Professor?"

"I'll be joining you all and using the jet as a mobile base. Cyclops, find a spot and strap in, we are taking off as soon as the engines are primed!"

Apparently, the engines didn't take much, because Cyclops was barely sat in a seat before the jet was lining up the runway and blasting off. Anna was pressed deep into her chair from the sudden explosion of force and found it hard to breath as the craft blasted though the hanger doors. They shot up toward an overcast sky and were buzzing the gray clouds so aggressively Anna could see nothing but fog outside.

"The helmets have a built-in radio," Wolverine explained from somewhere behind Anna. "Just talk and we'll hear it. Of course, they cover your face too, but you might want to set your face scrambler on your watch anyway."

She looked down at the heavy thing her in lap for the first time since having it shoved into her arms, and found it look strikingly like a BMX helmet.

"These are to be worn at all times." Wolverine went on. "Cyclops, while Storm and me deal with this bastard, you coordinate rescue and evac of citizens. Cooperate with authorities but don't speak to them. Don't get too close to them either. If they ask questions, just reassure them you are there to help."

The jet lowered from the clouds and Anna saw it. Billowing smoke, fire, the flashing lights of cop cars and emergency services. As the jet banked to one side she saw a building had been completely leveled and a car was thrown like a spear into another.