X-Force #8

Opening scene Peter is working in the X-mansion library looking for materials related to robotics or engineering while Peter is a genius that successfully made fully functioning robots he lacks formal schooling. As Peter is pulling books from shelves he sees Jean at a desk with a laptop in front of her and several books open.

"Hey, Jean what are you working on," I ask with interest. Jean looks up from her work.

"Oh, Peter I'm just working on my dissertation," She says with a smile.

"Dissertation, oh that's right I keep forgetting you're a student what are you studying," I ask.

"I'm trying to be a doctor of psychology what other job is perfect for a telepath," Jean says with a small laugh.

"True what university do you go to again," I say as I sit down with my books.

"I'm getting my doctorate at Claremont University College though I got my undergrad and masters at NYU," Jean says flipping through pages of one of her books. We both sit in silence for a second as we both read then I notice Jean starts to laugh a little.

"What's so funny," I say curiously.

"Just remembering the last time I saw you in the library," Jean says.

I get embarrassed remembering the event, but I try not to let it show on my face.

"By the way do you still sense danger being around me," Jean asks.

"My spider-sense still goes off when I'm around you it's become much subtler over time," I say.

"Subtle?" Jean says like a question.

"Yeah usually all my hair stands on end and there is this overwhelming feeling like somethings wrong and I need to leave, but with you, it's more I can sense your presence if your close enough it's kind of weird," I say rubbing the back of my neck.

"This also brings the question why I set off your danger sense in the first place you've met other omega level mutants and you don't freak out when you first meet them," Jean says with her finger on her chin.

"I can't say for sure, but my best guess is maybe your more powerful than they are out of all the omega level mutants you're the only one with more than one power," I say.

"Interesting theory" Jean says with a smile.

(Jean, Logan, Peter, I need to see you three in my office immediately) Xavier said in our minds.

"Is it weird that I'm getting used to having Xavier just think and we appear," I say to Jean as I start putting away my books.

"Yes, but in this house, no one's normal," Jean says leading the way to Xavier's office. As we walk towards Xavier's office we see Logan and he opens the door for Jean and says "After you Jeanie". Jean just quietly accepts his offer and sits down. As we all get comfortable Xavier pulls out a file from his desk drawer.

"So what's the bad news," I say expecting the worse.

"I have just received word from Mystique of a base in North Korea being used to study mutants and their study involves controlling mutants and enhancing their powers," Xavier says showing us the file. I flip through it and see the usual mutants in cages and armed guards torturing the defenseless.

"When do you need us in the air," I say like I know the drill by now.

"Tonight and be careful of this mission I have a bad feeling about this one," Xavier says with a serious tone.

"Is this a psychic bad feeling?" I say looking between Xavier and Jean.

"Don't look at me?" Jean says denying any involvement in Xavier's behavior.

"No this isn't a psychic ability just a gut feeling," Xavier said.

"Don't worry Professor I have a danger sense, Jean is Omega level, and we don't even know if Logan can die we'll be fine," I say trying to reassure him.

"I hope so," Xavier says as we leave his office.

*****Later that night

Logan, Peter, and Jean all loaded up into the Blackbird and flew off into the night.

"Alright, so the plan is we fly in undetected destroy all the data they collected from experimenting on mutants and free the captive mutants and place them in South Korea where they will be granted asylum did I miss anything," I ask the two in front of me.

"That about covers it," Logan says as he flies the jet.

"But remember stealth is imperative for this mission if they catch us or these mutants it the end of everything were doing" Jean stresses.

"That's nothing new stealth is imperative for all our missions," I say defiantly.

"Yes, but remember Professor Xavier's warning," Jean said.

"I remember; Logan do you remember," I say while poking him like an annoying child.

"Poke me again and I'll show you the pointy end of my claws," Logan said without breaking his gaze from me.

"Sorry Logan, why are you on edge?" I say apologetically. We sit in silence for a minute as I wonder what's wrong with Logan thinking back he hasn't said much to me since we fought in the Weapon-X base.

"Logan are you upset about Laura," I say bluntly. Logan just grunts with a serious expression on his face.

(That's why he's mad,) I think. "She hasn't contacted me yet you probably just need to give her time," I say trying to help his mood.

"What did you say to her when you two met," Logan asks.

"Oh just that I knew who you were and I could introduce you two and I read to her all the info the files had on her," I say. "Do you wanna know what they said?" I ask.

"No, if she wanted me to know that stuff about her she would have told me I'll talk about her life with her if she chooses too," Logan says.

"Wow you sound so mature and calm talking about her it's really sweet," I say honestly.

"Don't get sappy on me kid" Logan.

"Sorry we can't all be leather-wearing bad-asses with knives for hands," I say as wrap my arm around Logan's shoulder.

"Get off me kid I won't ask again," Logan says lowering his voice a little.

"No we're having a moment and you're going to have to accept that," I say defiantly.

"You two are idiots," Jean says with a slight smile.

"You want in on this group hug," I ask Jean. She didn't answer and just sat down in the back of the plane. Logan lands the plane and we all head out.

"The lab looks small," I say seeing only a few guards around a small building. "Are you sure this is the right building?" I ask.

"Yeah most of the more nefarious stuff is underground," Jean says.

"Are you sensing any trouble, Jean?" I ask.

"Surprisingly no though they could have psychic dampeners keeping the place seemingly inconspicuous," Jean says.

"So do you want to distract them as we did in Germany or should me and Logan sneak in while you hang back," I say pitching ideas.

"No, since there aren't that many people here I can make us unnoticeable to them," Jean says.

"How," I ask.

"I can make them think everything's normal all it takes is a slight push in their minds and we can walk through the front door with no one batting an eye," Jean says.

"Have I mentioned how broken your psychic abilities are?" I say slightly jealous. Jean just smiles and walks toward the base totally unarmed and casual.

"C' mon kid this is the fun part," Logan says smiling. We walk up to the front gate and when they see us they don't stare at us for more than a few seconds and don't seem to care about us being there. We all get inside and it seems like a normal government building with receptionists and janitors and everyone going about their business like normal.

"I've scanned their minds and the very lowest floor is where all the mutants are being held so that's our destination but we need access from a senior member to get their" Jean says.

"Ok, who's a senior member," I say casually rolling with this situation.

"Follow me" Jean speaks like she is giving a tour instead of raiding a foreign government's mutant lab. We walk a little way and go into a nice office building with a view and see an old Korean woman at a desk eating a sandwich.

"Dr. Cho we need your help downstairs," Jean says to the woman who stops eating and gets up and leads us all to an elevator.

"What is going on," I say as Dr. Cho hits the elevator button and scans her eye so she is granted access to the lower floors.

(Dr. Cho thinks we are her lab assistants and she is helping us with whatever mutant experimentation is currently going on downstairs) Jean speaks to me telepathically.

(Did you make us linked psychically you got to warn me before you do that) I think back.

(Why kid you got dirty thoughts about Kitty you don't want us to see) Logan thinks in my head.

(No what is wrong with you I meant my head is a private place) I think back angrily.

(So no thoughts about Kitty, Bobby will be happy to hear about that) Logan thinks.

(Don't even think about, wait, I know what you're doing your mad about earlier nice try, but I'm not playing your games) I think while trying to calm myself down. Just then the elevator door opens and we all go to the basement of the building. The door opens again and we are in a dark long hallway with metal grates supporting us.

(Peter the data collected along with all their vile experiments are down the hall and to the right me and Logan will focus on freeing the mutants you go destroy the data) Jean said in a commanding tone in my brain. I follow her directions and come across a room full of science equipment and computers. I walk to the main one where I assume all their data is stored as I walk towards it I see a black liquid-like substance in what looks to be some sealed containment jar. At first, I didn't think much of it but as I got closer to it the more it seemed alive. It moved toward me and slightly shook the jar trying to get close to me.

"Weird," I said out loud. I keep walking to the computer and begin erasing all the data they have collected on experimentation on mutants. I learned that the black goo is some type of parasite created by a mutant that can control whoever it is attached to and even amplify the host's natural abilities. It seems the North Korean government is testing and studying it trying to make it so that all mutants can be controlled through this substance and added to their military power with controlled and amplified mutants.

"Whoa you're a nasty little bastard," I say looking at the jar. I delete all the information I just read and the alarms for the lab go off.

(What's happening over there) I think through our mental link.

(Bone head Logan thought it would be a good idea to just slice open a magnetic lock) Jean says annoyed. (We are getting the mutants out now I've managed to keep the guards away, but you need to leave now) Jean says hurriedly.

(On my way) as soon as I think that the lab door flies open and my spider-sense flares. About ten guards rush me and start firing their guns like madmen. I jump and dodge as much as I can but I'm pinned down behind a metal desk. I make a rash decision and Vibro blast the desk towards the guards it destroys the equipment on the desk, but I hear gun fire stop. As I go running out I step in something I don't look at my feet as I'm trying to flee from the guards.

(Jean Logan I'm on my way to the elevator where are you) I think.

(Already they're waiting on you Kid) Logan thinks. I rush there and see Jean and Logan packed in an elevator with a bunch of North Korean mutants. We get to the main floor and chaos ensues the guards at the entrance fire their guns at us, but Jean stops the bullets with her mind and I Vibro blast them apart as we all make a break for it. I'm webbing people up and Vibro blasting them apart while Jean is keeping the enslaved mutants together and safe from gunfire. Logan is having a field day slice and dicing and beating people up. We can't be doing this for more than a few minutes but it feels like forever but we all manage to get in the Blackbird safe and sound. As soon as we are in the air I crash on the Blackbird floor.

"I think that one fight took 10 years off my life," I say while gasping for air.

"Yeah that was a tough fight but it's not over yet we got to drop these guys off," Logan says flying the Blackbird.

We dropped off the mutants in a safe place and got them homes but on the trip home I felt strange like I wasn't myself and I felt strangely cold. Like my body was no longer my own.