xp_logs | Genosha: Savrola: Enemy of my Enemy

The team in the city discovers some most unlikely allies.

Back again. They crouched at the edge of the Citadel grounds looking over the grounds through the still unrepaired gap in the walls. They had chosen the approach since the Genoshans had yet to repair the damage in this area inflicted a week ago by the X-Men's assault. They could hear the sounds of combat and planned to use it as a chance to punch through into the Citadel and make another desperate strike against the prison to rescue their people.

Garrison had moved into point, gun at ready, carefully quartering the empty guard post for any opposition. He had almost given the all clear when the back door opened and the lights went on. Only years of practice at the FBI range kept his finger off the trigger, as two women walked in.

"I told you, Madam Minister. This is where we'd find them." Tam Anderson's features were starkly outlined in the light, and even if her sidearm was still holstered, Kane's gun didn't waver.

"Why's that?"

"Because this is the only place that you can make a fast rush to the Citadel with a diversion and not get caught. I'm learning not to underestimate you people."

"Yeah, keep talking." Kane's face was hard, and the urge to pull the trigger was almost overwhelming.

"Call your people in, Mister Kane. This isn't a trap. We want to discuss a deal with you. It turns out that we've been on the wrong side the entire time."

Kane looked dubious, but waved the others inside.

Angelo was standing against the wall, arms folded and giving both of them a hard look. "And we're just supposed to believe you suddenly saw the light and there isn't a whole unit of Magistrates waiting round the corner."

Sasha Ryan turned towards the young man that was leaning against the wall, his distrust and looked him in the eye. "No, not suddenly. But when your world is turned upside down... We found out... certain things that we didn't know before. And as for a team of Magistrates... I am sure there is someone here who can check that from here." She shifted her gaze to the others in the group.

"I don't like you." Maddie glared at the two women, lips pursed in a thin line. "Mr. Canuk, sir, please aim for the kneecaps if I start getting shot at. Thank you." She dropped to the ground, and quickly scurried over to the hole in wall; she was small and quick,so she figured the task to check for Magistrates was up to her. She had to do everything.

"All clear," she turned back to her group. The quick look into the gap showed that there was no surprise strike team waiting there for them. "Maybe they're telling the truth. But I still don't like them."

"Or we just can't see the Magistrates," Artie said and shrugged, letting the words fade away. "But we have to trust them. I'd've already arranged it if I was going to sell us out, like a dead hand switch or whatevs, in case we don't believe them and kill them anyway and they know our entrance and they know we'll fuck their shit up if they are lying." It made sense to him at least.

"You kids talk way too much," Callisto muttered, jamming her hands into her pockets. "Swear I never taught you that in self-defense. Pretty sure I said 'no talking' in fact." Her tone was almost fond, though, beneath the usual layer of Callisto-doesn't-give-a-shit. "I don't hear anyone closing in," she added in a slightly clearer voice - presumably directed at the 'grown-ups'.

"You have them well trained." Anderson said dryly, earning her a sharp look from Kane.

"You said you were here to talk. Well, talk." He holstered his weapon. A trap wouldn't require this elaborate a set-up. Also, as a cop, Kane was used to be lied to by suspects and witnesses; enough that his bullshit detector was remarkably sharp, and neither of them were setting it off."

"Alright. The President of Genosha has gone mad. In a very calculating and cunning way, but still, mad." Anderson said, taking a set on the edge of a retaining wall. "I put some people loyal to me on the information that we had been supplied regarding Xavier's school, and discovered that much of it had been doctored. The Citadel prison Warden provided me with more information from the prisoners which further confirmed that our intelligence was tailored to connect Xavier's and the Brotherhood very closely."

"Really? The teenagers didn't clue you in?"

"This is Africa. Children trained to use assault rifles isn't exactly uncommon here." Anderson snapped back, and Kane was forced to concede the point. "Regardless, the more that I dug, the more I found other parts of the government had been compromised, including the GDF and the Genegineer's office."

Jean could feel the tension in the air, and still felt a certain sense of weariness herself, but mentally they didn't seem to be giving off any signals that would convey duplicity. If this was what it was, a change of heart, then she hoped for a change in the tide.

"You spoke of a deal," she said.

"Yes, a deal." Ryan nodded firmly. "We can help you stop the Moreau brothers. The key to that is to stop the Genegineer. If we manage to take him down, no more new mutates can be created. I'll probably even be able to reverse the process on your friends and every other mutate. From there we can work to expose the plans of Thomas and David Moreau and remove them from power." She was unable to hide the faint note of pain in her voice as she spoke the last name. David Moreau had been her mentor for a long time and the betrayal was hard to take.

"Wait..." Sooraya stepped forward and her voice was a lot less flat as it had been since the events rooftop. "You say you should be able to reverse the mutate process on our friends... How? And why probably?"

"If we take the labs and the equipment is still intact, I can use it. I know how it works. But the equipment must remain undamaged. Otherwise there can be many risks..." She restated firmly.

Nico was a shadow against a wall, and a shadow she remained. Slowly but surely things seemed to be turning, maybe not entirely in their favor, but it was good enough for the time being.. "Get in, dispose of everyone, get out, and let you in." She mused from her place. There were others besides her that could pull that. "Can be done."

"We'll put together a security team to escort you, then." Bishop glanced to Kane and Jean to check their reactions. The implication of an escort team was that Ryan had better succeed, of course. "So we can make sure you get to the equipment."

John doubted Ryan would be stupid enough to fuck with them due to the fact that she couldn't possibly believe that they wouldn't make her pay for it. Or that a certain pyromaniac wouldn't kill her for messing with them. He really didn't have to say much at all. The way he had been looking at her the entire while, it was as if he was just waiting for the chance to burn her alive at the slightest change of heart.

Jean-Paul had listened to the conversation through the comm link in his ear and, hearing Bishop's suggestion, he flew in at speed from his position behind them. Touching down between Jean and his coworker, he said simply, "I will assist with the security."

Sam had quietly listened to everything that was said, and finally nodded in approval. "If it means getting our people back and reversing the mutate process then we'll do all we can to make that happen." They sounded confident that they could make it happen if they were able to get to the undamaged equipment, so that was exactly what needed to happen. "You'd best be sure that you can live up to your end of the bargain."

"We will do our part." Ryan's eyes swirled to meet Sam's. "But I have to repeat... For the reversion of the mutate process much will depend the state of the equipment." The flash in her eyes was intended to provide a clear warning to all...

Angelo snorted. "So what you're saying is we get rid of your problem and then you could turn around and say 'sorry, can't help'. I don't trust either of you, whatever the others say... but what the hell. If it means bringing the Moreaus down, I'm in."