Legend: Thoughts = <>
Stray thoughts = ()
Flashback **
Com links []
Ok, guys, All the disclaimers apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel for the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And I do read all the other stories, and they're great, keep up the good work. They inspire me!
Chapter 47: .MoThEr.LaNd.
"Will you marry me?" Scott asked, on one knee.
"I...I..." I stammered.
Professor Xavier <X-Men, we are leaving. I need the X-Men to the jet.>
I looked away and turned to leave.
"I need to know." Scott said, causing me to turn.
"If we come back from this," I said, taking the ring and sliding on my ring finger, " Then yes...if I don't come back...then yes." I said, hugging him.
"I love you!" he said, kissing me softly as we left the room.
As I got down to the Subbasement, The team was already heading to the X-Jet. Everyone had boarded, but Storm stood talking to Professor Xavier. The two seemed to be discussing something urgent. Scott put his hand on my shoulder and and I turned with a smile as he stood beside me.
"Have any idea what they're talking about?" I asked.
Scott looked at me, his visor gleaming, " Nope. Must have just happened." he said, walking over and joining the conversation. I watched as Scott's peaceful expression became shocked, then irratated as he argued with Storm. Professor Xavier was in between them. I walked over and listened.
"It is criminal action! They have no right, I have to help them." Storm argued.
"I understand, but Storm, you can't go alone, this is a very dangerous type of thing." Scott retorted.
"I believe that Storm is capable of doing this mission herself." Professor nodded, " Though," he said, cutting off Scott, " I do not think it is advisable to do so." he said, addressing Storm.
"I'll go." I said.
They all looked at me, then each other. Scott's face looked as if he wanted to say something and I knew he was having a conversation with Professor Xavier.
"I agree." Scott said.
Storm and I looked at him in shock. Then, the shocked look fell from Storm's face and she nodded. She was talking to Professor Xavier too, " I would be very much pleased to have you along." she smiled.
"And exactly what're we doing?" I asked.
"The politicians in Africa are acting like tyrants, as you might have heard, specifically in a tribe this is closely connected with mine. They are trying to take the land from the tribes." Storm explained.
"I'm in." I said.
As we landed in Kenya, I noticed we landed far away from the actual civilization and in the middle of an actual tribe. The tribe was staring in awe as they saw us land the tinier bird. As I walked out of the craft, I noticed that Kenya was as beautiful as Ororo had described. The trees, the sun, the animals. It was all surreal. As I stepped foot on the land, I felt calmer. I waited for Ororo, who smiled as she got out of the plane and closed her eyes, raising her arms into the air. The wind picked up. I smiled and felt the refreshing wind blow across the plains.
"Who are you?" one of the people asked, moving closer, " Ah, Ororo. Good to see you back," then looked at me, " And who is this?"
"Pane." I said.
"I'm sorry, come again." the woman said.
"My name...it's Pane." I said.
"Oh." she said by surprise, " Such a...unique name."
"It works for me." I said.
"Aniahshia, so nice to see you again." Storm smiled, hugging her.
"Who is this young man?" Anaiahshia asked.
"He is with me, to help make right these wrongs." Storm said, looking around.
"Hello, Pane, I am Ana." Ana smiled warmly, " Welcome to our village."
"Thank you." I said, looking around, " So, where's the bad guys?" I asked.
"Everywhere." Ana smiled, " How long will you be here?"
"We shall not impose long, we are just here to help against the mass of terrorism." Storm said graciously, " We have to get your view of the events."
"Step right this way." Ana gestured graciously.
Storm noticed I hadn't moved, " What is wrong?" she asked, her blue eyes sparkling in the light of Africa.
"I want to just...check this place out." I said, " Maybe the market..."
Storm and Ana traded careful glances, " Please be careful," Ana said, " It is a very dangerous place."
I nodded.
"No powers." Storm said.
I nodded, once again, then left.
In town, I wandered around, trying to find whatever I was searching for. There was a reason I had come, but what was it? What did I need to see? As I walked along the streets, I saw the near-malnutritioned children and my heart sank. The kids watched me, sizing me up. That's when I noticed it wasn't just the kids, it was everyone. A ball rolled to me and I stopped it at my feet. I bent down and picked it up, only to see a child barely to my knees run up to me. I smiled and handed him the ball.
"Hey, kiddo." I said, smiling at him. He was a cute kid. You know, small and full of energy. He smiled at me and I bent to pick him up.
"You shouldn't." A man, sitting in a chair on the deck of one of the stores said. The man had a gun and his hat was over his eyes so that he could see me, but I couldn't see him. He was relaxing.
"Why not?" I asked.
"He's got AIDS. Wouldn't wanna catch that." the guy said snidely.
I ignored him and picked the kid up, " It shouldn't matter. It's not his fault." I said, looking at the kid, " Hey, what's your name?"
"Kynan." the little boy said, flashing a smile with his new teeth.
"How old are yoU?" I asked.
He held up one lone finger and I smiled. I tickled him and he chuckled in a way that only a child could and that made me laugh.
"Did you tell him that kid has AIDS?" I turned to see another couple of men standing with the first man.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"DOEKE RIEBEECK." A guy just older than me said, running up to me, " Forgive him, he's not from here."
"I can see that." Doeke growled, " Where you from?"
"I don't remember there being an answer and question part to this." I said.
The man, Doeke, stood next to his men now, who I noticed had guns. Really big guns.
"You have no idea who you're talking to." one of the other men spat.
"Ditto." I said carefully.
"It is not his intention..." the boy pleaded.
"Step aside, boy." Doeke growled.
The boy stood tough and I smiled. I handed him the child and smiled, " Take him. And please tell my friend Ororo that I've been capture." I said, " She's in the village just beyond. She's got white hair, you can't miss her."
He nodded, " Are you sure you will do this?" the boy asked.
I nodded, " They've got guns, not at the top of my scary list." I said, walking to the men, who yanked me to their truck roughly and we headed off. Once we had travelled quite a long way, I was less confident about this plan working. Maybe I should have fought, but then we wouldn't know where to go. As they took me into a huge building, I was sat at a desk as they left the office.
"Hello." A creepy voice came from deeper in the room.
"Hi." I groaned, looking around, " Where are you?"
"You're new to our little slice of heaven." a man said, " I would like to introduce myself...I am Anton Pretorius."
"I'm Pane." I said.
"Come again..." he said.
"I get it, it's a different name. Get over it." I said, bored of hearing how different my name was.
Anton just stared for a second, then let a smile creep out. The smile creeped me out, " I see you've never been around people before."
"Yeah. Just not people like this. You're the people who're killing people?" I asked.
"Just the people who don't follow our laws." Anton said, " We need to be kept in line. One person out of line could lead to..."
"A revolution." I said, realizing something. In the United States, there was always meant to be a freedom type place, but rules were kept so that people were kept in line. How would one bring down a Nation? Undo what it took so long to do.
"Precisely." Anton said, " Do you know what the consequences for insubordination are?"
"I'm guessin it's not good." I said, still thinking.
"Death." A dark voice said, causing me to turn. A man wearing a black suit stood behind me.
"Who..." I asked.
"My name is Black Panther." he said.
"Oh. You might wanna leave the room." I said.
"I'm here to rescue you." he said.
"Rescue me? Ummm, good luck with that." I said.
Anton was pressing a button on his desk, " What's wrong with this damn thing!" he shouted.
"They're sleeping." Black Panther said.
The lightning outside let me know that Storm was here. I took a step forward, " You think you're so much better than those people out there because your skin is different or because you work here, but you couldn't be more wrong." I said, raising my hand and he flew back against the wall, " I'm not a big fan of bigotry, as a matter of fact, I hate it. It makes me angry and I seriously doubt you'd like me when I'm angry."
"If you kill me, you'll be everything I knew you people were." Anton panted, scared for his life.
"Are you going to kill him?" Black Panther asked.
Hollow <Well, are you?>
"No." I said, letting him fall to the floor, " Not this time." I said, turning to Black Panther, " Hold on to something." I suggested, and Black Panther grabbed ahold of the wall with his claws. The room began to spin, literally as papers swirled around the room and the desk flew up into the air, smashing into the wall! The miniature tornado tore the room apart, leaving a messy, untidy room. I turned to see the door open and Storm standing at the door.
"What was that?" Black Panther asked.
Black Panther looked at me, and I looked at Storm, but Storm looked to the unconscious Anton, " Is he alive?" she asked, worried.
"Yeah." I said.
"Are you alright?" Storm asked.
"I will be." I said, " We have to get back to the U.S., I know what's going to happen next?"
"What...how...your powers?" Storm asked.
"Powers?" Black Panther asked, " Hello, Ororo."
"Hello T'Challa." she smiled. I felt her happiness. Their joint happiness but ignored it.
"The government...Apocalypse is going to take the government down, leaving us in chaos." I explained.
Well, if you liked it please tell me so I can start work on the next one. I really need feedback, especially if you like it. If you don't, I need advice and suggestions, please.