chapter six • 6
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"stop this, Erik"

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"I read the teleporter's mind. Shaw is drawing all the power out of his sub. He's turning himself into some kind of nuclear bomb," Charles informed everyone.

"We got no time. The Geiger count is going out of control," Moira announced.

"Moira, this is what we're gonna do," Charles addressed her. "Get on the radio and tell them to clear both fleets out immediately."

"I'm going in!" Erik announced.

"Beast, Havoc, Ivy back him up," Charles said. "Erik, I can guide you through once you're in but I need you to shut down whatever it is that's blocking me, then we just hope to god it's not too late for me to stop him."

Alex, Hank, Erik and Natalie made their way outside. They stood in a line.

Angel, Riptide and Azazel were waiting. Angel got her wings and lifted herself up from the ground.

Azazel had his blades and Riptide flicked his wrists and two tornadoes formed in his palms. Natalie lifted herself in the air and directed her palms towards Riptide and vines wrapped around his legs and held him in the air. Azazel teleported towards Hank and Alex. Natalie flew towards Riptide and the vine wrapped around his neck. Then Angel flew into Natalie, causing her to fall. She looked up at her and she started spitting fireballs at her, Natalie dodged them in time and she emitted flames out of her palms and she flew away.

Natalie stood up and made her way over towards Riptide. He held his palms out and he formed a tornado in his palm and released it before he fell unconscious. Natalie held up her hands and attempted to control it, the tornado lifted her up and threw her against the plane wall.

Alex and Sean were back on the beach. Alex started to run over to Natalie, but she stood up herself and walked over to both of them.

"You okay?" Alex asked, Natalie out he hand on his shoulder and sighed.

"I'm okay - she's back," Natalie looked up. Angel flew back and Alex stood up and created his energy rings and shot it at Angel and clipped her wings and she fell down. Sean sat up and looked at Alex, laughing.

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Beast and Azazel suddenly teleported back on the beach. Azazel held his tail up to Beast's face. Natalie looked over and she saw Mystique transform into Shaw.

"Stop, Azazel," She spoke. Azazel stood up and faced Shaw. Hank grabbed Azazel and threw him towards the plane but he teleported and Hank turned around and punched him in the chest causing him to be knocked out.

Mystique transformed back to herself and smiled at Hank. Mystique and Hank made their way over to Alex, Sean and Natalie. Alex patted Hank's back. Natalie gave Mystique a hug. Alex and Hank helped Sean walk as he hurt his leg.

Then a loud metal clank took their  attention towards the submarine. A body flew out. It was Shaw, he was dead. Erik made himself visible.

"Today our fighting stops!" He yelled aloud. Then Shaw's body drops to the ground. Azazel, Angel and Riptide were standing near the body. Erick made himself fly slowly towards the ground.

"Take off your blinders, Brothers and Sisters, the real enemy is out there," Erick spoke aloud, pointing at the many ships at sea. "I feel their guns moving in the water, their metal, targeting us," He made his way over to them, "Americans, Soviets, Humans. United in their fear of the unknown." They all followed him towards the beach, near the water. "The Neanderthals are running scared my fellow mutants!" Charles stood by him.

"Go ahead Charles," Erik spoke to him. Charles placed his two fingers on his temple. "Tell me I'm wrong,"

Charles had a face of disbelief and looked over at Moira and nodded. She ran back towards the plane, hoping to stop them. Then all of a sudden. All the ships fired their weapons in the air, all aimed at the mutants. Natalie covered her mouth and held onto Alex. Then Erik held his hand in the air, stopping the missiles in mid-flight. Then slowly turned the missiles around.

"Erik you said yourself that we are the better men." Charles spoke. Erik didn't reply.

"Erik, there are thousands of men out there, good, honest men. They're just following orders."

"I've been at the mercy of men of just following orders." He looked over at Charles. "Never again," Erik flicked his hand and the missiles went flying towards the ships.

"Erik release them!" Charles yelled. Erik didn't stop. "No!" Charles sprinted towards Erik and knocked him down.

The missiles started to blow up in the air and fall down in the ocean. Charles attempted to take Erik's helmet off but Erik hit Charles in the face with his elbow, causing Charles to fall onto his back. Alex, Hank, Sean, Raven and Natalie started to make their way over to them.

"Stay back!" Erik yelled, and made the boys fly into the air, leaving Raven and Natalie standing still. Erik held down Charles as he continued to send the missiles back to the ships, but Charles still tried to remove the helmet.

"Erik! Stop! Release them!" Charles yelled. Erik punched Charles in the face, then stood up, sending the missiles back up to the ships.

Then a bullet went off, hitting Erik's helmet. Moira was shooting Erik, Erik flung the bullets to the side. Charles stood up, then –

One went straight into Charles back.

"Charles!" Natalie yelled, covering her mouth.

Charles fell down, screaming. Erik immediately ran over to him and turned him on his side, and removed the bullet from his body. Charles lied down on Erik's lap. The missiles all blew up.

The mutants started to walk over.

"I said back off!" Erik yelled.

Charles was grunting in pain. Erik looked up at Moira. "You did this," He held up his hand and the Moira's necklace wrapped around her neck, choking her.

"Erik, please. She didn't do this. You did," Charles groaned, looking up at him. Erik released Moira and she fell to her knees gasping for breath.

"Us, turning on each other. It's what they want. I want you by my side, we're brothers, you and I. All of us together, protecting each other. We want the same things," Erik spoke.

"Oh, my friend," Charles softly chuckled, "I'm afraid we do not,"

Erik looked intently at Charles, then over to Moira, he waved his hand in a "come here' motion. Moira ran over.

"Charles! I'm so sorry," She held him as Erik stood back up.

"It's alright, it's alright," Charles groaned.

Erik stood, looking at the young mutants. "Their society won't accept us, so we form our own. The humans have already played their hand," He pointed at the ships, "Now we get ready to play ours," He looked intently at Raven. "Who's with me?" He held out his hand. Raven slowly started to make her way over to him, then looked over at Charles, she knelt down next to him, and held his hand.

"You, you should go with him," Charles looked up at Raven. "It's what you want,"

"You promised me you would never read my mind," Raven replied.

"I know, I promised you, great many things I'm afraid. I'm sorry,"

Charles kissed her hand, then she leant down and kissed his forehead. "Take care of him," She took Erik's hand and walked next to him, holding it. Angel, Riptide and Azazel walked over and the all held hands, in a line.

"And Beast!" Raven called out, "Never forget. Mutant and Proud."

All of them disappeared, they all ran over to him.

"I'm going to get you to a hospital," Moira said, Hank and her tried to lift him up. Charles yelled in pain.

"Wait, wait," Hank informed. "Charles, Charles, don't move, don't move okay?"

"I won't – I uh, I actually, I can't. I can't feel my legs. I can't feel my legs."

"What?" Natalie asked.

"I can't feel my legs," Charles groaned.

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