xp_logs | The Caged Bird

The X-Men and X-Factor arrive at the Brotherhood's hideout, and Sue fills them in on what she's learned.

The X-men's blackbird was a marvelous piece of technology, fast, stealthy just what you need as a covert paramilitary group, the one thing it wasn't was quiet. Sue stood just out of range of the downdraft from the jet, one hand holding the phone she'd been using to guide in the X-men and the other holding down her hair as the wind whipped it up and around her head. "The cavalry finally shows up," she muttered to herself as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and waited for the X-men to shut down the Jet's engines.

Opening the hatch, Rogue looked around for Sue. The girl's body language wasn't as inviting as it could be but hey, this was a mission. No one was ever relaxed. "Thanks for the guidance, Sue," Rogue stated, leading the others off. "What's the status right now?"

"They took her into the port," Sue informed her gesturing over her shoulder in the direction of the port. "I saw metal dome take her into the managers office while the rest of his goons started moving around containers. I didn't think it was a good idea to hang around in case one of them got really lucky and ran into me." It had never happened before but Sue didn't wanna take any chances with Lorna's life in the balance.

"Great. Constantly blocked line of sight, plenty of hiding spots and lots of bottlenecks to set an ambush in." Garrison shook his head as he considered the situation. The options weren't particularly good. "We're not going to be able to rush them and grab Alex. I think we need to draw the Brotherhood out, distract them while another team grabs Alex. Sue, if Jean can locate the rough area he's being held, do you think you could lead a small group to him?"

The blonde cocked her head to the side in thought as she replayed the layout of the yard in her head, "Yeah," she nodded, "a small team and if you guys can provide a distraction. I can get them in to wherever he is without anyone else noticing."

Jessica gestured around to her XFI teammates.

"What about us? We're a small team, right? If you lead us there, Sue, we can grab Alex. If he's hurt, I can carry him out easily. Plus, we'll have luck on our side." She continued, elbowing Arthur as she did so. "That work for you, boss man?" She added in Garrison's direction.

"Sounds fair. No heroics. Our goal here isn't to haul Magneto off to jail. First, get Alex clear. Once he's safe, we'll see from there." Kane said, motioning the X-Men towards the other side of the warehouse. "Jean, find him. Then meet up with us. Jean will give the go order, people. No one moves before she says."

Magneto. When Jean first heard the name it reminded her of an old 1920s magician. The Great Magneto! Master of Magnetism!

Sadly this was not reality but something far more sinister. Charles talked about him sometimes, usually with a tinge of nostalgia and regret to his voice. Theirs was a friendship severed long ago, and the two men were now but two sides to a coin when it came to the future of mutant kind: peaceful cohabitation, or supremacy.

She nodded to Garrison. "Be right back. Anything fishy and you'll know it, one way or another," she said. Her attention turned back to the rows and rows of shipping containers and she soon disappeared among the stacks.

"While you focus on busting through to rescue Alex, I need to go after Lorna," Wanda said quietly. "The forces Magneto has here will be focused on you. He, though, will be too busy either attempting to get her somewhere safe or attempting to talk some "sense" into her, hoping to make her come with him on his own." She rolled her shoulders and sighed. "If I go in alone, I may be able to get the drop on him, long enough to get Lorna away."

She knew she was banking a lot on who she was - Magneto might, just might, hesitate to kill or harm her out right.

"Sounds like a plan to me." Bobbi said, tightening the grips on her battle staves. It made sense to try and draw them out before making their move, they just had to wait for Jean to give them the go ahead and make it count the first time.

Arthur, eyebrows raised, was giving Jess a skeptical side-eye. "First off," and he he put his hands to his chest to underscore his sincerity as he addressed the group, "Hurray for crazy plans that rely upon my random and unpredictable god-like abilities, but how do we plan to get this guy out once we have him?"

Kurt raised his hand. "Teleportation. If the jet is within a reasonable distance, I can bring him straight to it."

"Alright, that's good. Nightcrawler, bring us in and we'll do the rest." Jessica promised.

"I found him," Jean's voice rang out as she re-emerged from the rows of shipping containers. "He's in one of the containers about three rows over. I wasn't able to pinpoint the exact location without getting right on him and tipping one of the Brotherhood off but he's somewhere in the middle. We should move now."