chapter five • 5
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"Suit up,"

•••

Early the next morning, all the mutants all met up in the living room and then went towards the lab to get Hank. They were greeted by a note on his door. "Gone to the airbase, bring the crate marked X - Hank." They didn't think much of it as they walked in.

The whole lab was a mess. All of the furniture was thrown around and everything was smashed up. "Holy crap," Natalie mumbled as Charles and her walked towards the back of the room.

"What the hell happened here?" Erik asked from the door. Natalie glanced back at Erik before walking to the crate marked with an 'X'. Charles opened it up to see seven yellow and black suits, but one black and green.

"Hank has been busy," Erik nodded.

"Do we really have to wear these?" Alex asked with a disgusted look on his face.

"As none of us mutated to endure extreme g-force or being riddled by bullets, I suggest we suit up," Charles said, grabbing the first yellow suit that laid on top.

"Except for me," Natalie smirked as she grabbed the black and green.

•••

They all met up at the airbase in their yellow suits. Natalie's suit was different from the rest, it was green and black, with a cape. It was designed to adjust to her ability. All of them stood still as they stared up at the jet in awe. Hank really outdid himself this time.

"Where is Hank?" Raven eventually asked.

They all turned their heads and watched as Hank's silhouette made its way towards them. When he got into view, Hank's skin was completely blue and he had fur covering his body. "Hank?" Erik asked.

"It didn't attack the cells. It enhanced them. It didn't work," Hank looked down.

"Yes, it did, Hank. Don't you see? This is who you were meant to be," Raven spoke as Hank walked up to her. "This is you." Raven caressed his cheek. "No more hiding."

"You never looked better, man," Erik smacked his arm with a smile. Hank suddenly grabbed onto Erik's neck and began chocking him. Hank growled at him.

"Hank!" Charles warned.

"Don't mock me!" Hank growled at Erik. Hank's face relaxed and he let go of Erik.

"I wasn't," Erik breathed out.

"Even I got to admit you look pretty badass," Alex crossed his arms against his chest. "I think I got a new name for you. Beast."

Sean looked up at the jet. "Are you sure you can fly this thing?" He asked Hank.

"Of course I can. I designed it," Hank gave him a smug smile before making his way towards the jet.

•••

Everyone was dead silent in the jet. They we're thinking of ways this could turn south if they didn't make it better.

"It looks pretty messy down there," Hank mumbled as he flew the jet around.

Charles briefly glanced at Natalie before raising his fingers to his temple. Charles invaded one of the minds of the men on one of the Russian ships and saw that Azazel killed everyone.

"The crew of the Aral Sea are all dead. Shaw's been there," Charles announced to the group.

"He's still here, somewhere," Erik insisted.

"He set the ship on course of the Embargo Line," Charles said.

"If that ship crosses the line, our boys are going to blow it up. And the war begins," Moira spoke.

"Unless they're not our boys." Charles closed his eyes again in concentration as he controlled one of the men on the ship to blow up the Russian ship that was about to cross the line.

The missile shot up and almost hit our jet if Hank didn't dodge it in time. The jet went completely upside down, Charles' hand attempting to hold Natalie down by placing his hand on her stomach. The missile crashed into the Russian warship that had been commanded by Shaw's men.

"A little warning next time, Professor," Hank said as he glanced over his shoulder at us.

"Sorry about that," he quickly apologised. "You alright?"

"Never been better," Natalie sarcastically said.

"That was inspired, Charles," Moira commented.

"Thank you very much, but I still can't locate Shaw," Charles tried to go through to his mind again.

"He's down there. We need to find him now," Erik pushed.

"Hank?" Charles asked.

"Is there anything unusual on the radar or scanners?" Hank asked Moira.

"No," Moira spoke, looking down at the panels. "Nothing."

"He must be underwater in that submarine," Natalie spoke up.

"We don't have sonar," Hank announced.

"Yes, we do," Sean spoke up immediately.

Charles, Erik and Sean were quick to rip off their headsets and unbuckle their seat belts. They all gripped onto the railing as we made our way to the back of the jet. "Hank, level the bloody plane!" Charles yelled out.

"Whoa!" Sean held his hand out to Erik and made him halt in his steps. "You back right off!" A smile escaped Erik's lips as he held his hands up in surrender.

"Beast, open the bomb bay doors!" Sean yelled.

The doors below them opened up. "Remember! This is a muscle," Charles pointed to Sean's neck. "You control it! I'll be in here the entire time!" Charles pointed towards his head.

"We'll see you soon! On my mark! Three! Two! One! Go!"

Sean whooped as he jumped out of the plane. He spread his arms out like a bird and screamed against the surface of the water. Sean glided against the water for a short while, before diving into the ocean and out of sight.

"Banshee has a location on the submarine," Charles told us.

Charles turned towards Erik. "You ready for this?"

"Let's find out," Erik says as Hank circled the plane back around and we began to hover just above the water.

Erik carefully climbed down the jets wheel. He grabbed onto the metal with one arm and with the other her hand his hand out above the water. Natalie looked out the window and saw the submarine be lifted out the water. Then she saw one of Shaw's henchmen, Riptide, opened up the hatch and stood on the roof of the sub.

Natalie unbuckled her seat belt and stood up before Alex grabbed her hand.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"That tornado dude is out there, he's about to take down the plane, I have to go," Natalie looked at Alex before walking over to the bomb bay doors.

"Natalie! What are you doing?" Charles spoke aloud the noise.

"Look!" She pointed at Riptide. He nodded.

"Be careful!"

His eyes were filled with anger as he held his arms out and then spun around. A tornado formed in thin air from where he spun and made its way towards us.

Natalie's eyes went crimson red, her hair ice white. She flicked her hands began to control the tornado. Trying her hardest to contain the tornado. Natalie suddenly was lifted in the air by the wind she created under hair.

"Natalie!" Charles yelled trying to get her attention. She couldn't hear him.

"Erik! Take my hand!" Charles called out to him.

"Hold on guys, it's gonna get bumpy," Hank informed.

Erik suddenly lost his grip on the sub as the tornado slowly made its way over.

"Erik! Take my hand!" Erik reached up to Charles' hand. Erik held on tight as Charles pulled us into the jet.

Natalie screaming out as she couldn't hold onto the tornado as she was thrown back into the plane, knocked out.

"Nat!" Alex yelled out.

The jet began to roll Erik laid on top of Charles, using his abilities to hold them in place as we crash landed onto the sand. Erik steadily held his hand out to hold Natalie in one place.

When the jet stopped, Erik slowly let go and the two of them landed gently onto the ground. The plane was upside down, the rest of the kids were still in their seats.

Natalie was shook awake by Alex. She moaned as she sat up, looking at a worried Alex's face.

"Moira! Are you alright?" Charles worriedly asked as he helped her out of her seat.

"Nat, you okay?" Alex asked pushing hair out of Natalie's face.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay," Alex helped Natalie up as she looked at the rest of the crew.

•••