Don't Be The Hero

Thirty

Nina pov.

We touched down in the small clearing in front of the heavy metal doors. We loaded out, Storm was in charge of the jet, no one in or out unless its us. Jean was back up. When I shredded the doors, surprisingly, there were no alarms. We went down the halls, single file, I knew exactly where we were going. Not really, I could just smell dad. When we came to a three way split down the hall, we stopped. I took charge of this mission. "Jack and I'll go for dad, he can help. Annie and Matt, I'm pretty sure that there are cages down the middle." They went. When I was sure they were gone. "Jean you can go that way, but I'm sure it's the testing labs. Make sure there's no one left." She nodded and jogged off down the last hall. I could smell traces of chemicals and blood. I dragged Jack with me towards dad. We turned a few more corners, and I shoved him against the wall. "He's right around the corner, I'll go first if there's guns." He kissed me quickly and hid, as I bolted. Dang. Dad had a full militia surrounding him. At least twenty guys, all with guns. Machine guns. When they saw me. They shot. It hurt, like little knife wounds. I dodged most of their bullets, and slowly took them out. But more kept coming. I couldn't risk Jack getting shot, so I kept taking them out one by one.

Annie pov

Matt and I went down the hall. There were at least a hundred cages, all crammed on top of each other in a room. We started at once. Matt snapped the locks as I helped them out. I directed them to run to the exit. I said over the com, "Storm, I got a bunch of em coming out. There are around a hundred of them." I waited and she responded. "Lowering the ramp now." We continued helping the people out. The age range was from adults to kindergarteners. All crammed in not very big cages. We started at cage number 134 and it apparently went all the way down to one. That is a lot of people.

Nina pov

Soon Jean came and saved my butt. She looked pale, and a bit green, but fought jus the same. The shots were getting annoying, and I had resorted to stabbing. Until she threw them all in a corner, weapons in another. Jack came out from his spot. Dad was confined by chains to the wall. Thick ones too. He was out.
I sent Jean to help Annie and Matt. They need it.
Going up to unchain my dad, Jack had my back. I successfully unchained his foot, the only thing I could reach. I didn't realize he was so high up. "Nina." A voice said coming from the hall. No. Not now. Please not now. Around the corner, came Striker, followed by a short redhead. "Oh good, I thought you would never show up. And you even brought your dog." When I turned back around to try and get dads other foot I realized, I needed his arm free. What good would it do if his feet were free? I launched myself at the wall and sunk my left hand claws into the wall, and used that to pull me upward. Pull-ups help. I reached up with my right hand, unsheathed my claws, and slashed blindly above me. Blood drops fell on me, but dad's arm dropped limp at his side, healing instantly. I landed, and slashed a his other foot. The chain came loose. Then I stabbed dad in the leg. I waited. He would wake up.
I turn around just in time to see Jack leap at the redhead. He took her to the ground, but I have to admit that she was good. Military ranger good. Then my head put her clothes and fighting skills together. Duh. She was a ranger trainee. Probably dads. Jack backed up towards me, not a scratch on him. He understood my face at once. He went to the corner and grabbed a gun. Instead of shooting at Striker, he shot at my unconscious dad. I flung myself at the girl, pinned her down and stabbed her in the gut. I went after Striker next. Before I could even spit on his shiny shoes, he drew out a pistol. Instead of aiming at me, like one would expect, the barrel was pointed at Jack's head. I raised my hands in surrender, sheathing my claws. "You got me."

Annie pov.

Jean was a row over in the eighties. I didn't notice when the ninjas came in. Wearing all black they had those sniper guns you see in movies. First they went after fleeing mutants. Then they saw us. They shot at Jean, but she used her powers to send the bullets right back. Four out of five down. The last one we didn't see until it was too late. He shot twice, aiming for me. Matt came and slammed me into the cages. Both bullets hit him. Jean took out the last one and I helped Matt onto the ground. Jean rushed over. "No, go help the others. I go this." She nodded and left. Matt proper himself up against the cage and moved his hand. Maybe I don't got this. I took a deep breath. Both bullets went through his gut. They looked like they went straight through him, but they also shredded his insides. Oh God, No. Matt looked up at me and grabbed my hand. He knew. He knew I couldn't do anything. "It's ok."
"No it's not ok! What am I suppose to do without you?" He only had minutes left. He grabbed me and kissed me. "I want you to to take care of our friends." I was crying now.
"Yes! Yes." I kissed him. "What?" He asked, obviously confused. "Yes, I will marry you. Just don't leave me."
He was pale, the blood draining from his face, but his eyes looked full of life. He smiled and cupped my face in his hands. I was bawling. "I love you so much, and never forget that. When you get out of here, can you call my dad. Tell him I'm sorry." I nodded and kissed him, tears streaming down my face. I kissed him, hoping that when we broke apart he would look up and smile at me. Or make some joke about my hair. But he didn't. He laid there. Lifeless. But there was a faint hint that he was smiling. I backed away. "Jean. Jean!" She came running to my side, took one looks at Matt, and dragged me up. "Come on, get these people out of the cages. I broke most of the locks down there. I'll handle this." I nodded and wiped the tears off my face. Matt would want me to help other people out of here.