Further down the road
"Are we sure about this plan, Beast?" Bobby asked.
"As long as you concentrate and cross the street quickly, Bobby, the MRD convoy will have increased its overall speed," Hank said.
They were both at opposite ends of the street, or rather, Bobby was crossing the other end. They were both wearing hoods and masks. Across the street, Emma was ready.
"Your costume isn't very suitable," Hank said over the radio.
She was wearing an expensive fur coat, with a hood that hid much of her face.
"When we're done you'll leave it, of course, Emma," Xavier conveyed.
"It's not even real, not even legally purchased, I might add," he thought.
They had no idea where Xavier was. And that's precisely why Charles concealed his presence from everyone on the street. At the same time, he had to keep people moving, disinterested in what was happening on the road. Bobby crossed the street, creating frost. The exact amount of frost needed to cause a rollover if the driver lost control of the vehicle. Charles would deal with the loss of control, and then the pedestrians.
"Are you sure about this, Emma?" Hank asked.
"It'll be difficult, but I want to do my part to prove my worth. Plus, being able to win the MRD is a good motivation," Emma smiled.
"We're here to rescue Warren, not for revenge. Now, try not to talk, Sage. How are things going over there?"
Across New York, in Westchester, Sage was tracking the MRD vehicles and keeping Charles updated via telepathy. At the same time, the X- Men founder appeared to be standing next to Jean, leaning on his crutches.
"So this is the secret," he said.
"I don't need to read your mind to know what this is like, Jean: a private army, a vigilante group, or perhaps worse, terrorism from a certain perspective," Charles said.
Jean placed her hands on her head, concentrating her powers. She briefly appeared before Charles in New York, but couldn't sustain the projection.
"I think this seems to indicate that you're trying to do something better than the MRD. Which is difficult in itself; this is an unstable situation, and the mutants are looking for a better solution. And if I can, I want to help with that," Jean explained.
Charles smiled, finally seeing in Jean what he saw when they first met. A strong, talented woman, passionate about her beliefs and her friends, and willing to fight for them. The perfect candidate and representative of his X- Men .
Breathe, Jean, close your eyes, breathe, and think about Henry, Bobby, Warren, and Emma. Stretch your mind, imagine a chain between them—no, a link. They're not linked, they're bound by a common goal and mission. Focus on maintaining a bond between them, helping them share smells, sounds, and sights, " Charles explained.
Jean did as she was told. Her mind slid toward Henry. She saw in him a multitude of Shakespearean plays, an impressive knowledge of science, and the history of a loving family that cherished his passions. But also doubts, fear of himself and what he might become. Then she slid toward Bobby and felt confidence, humor, and a need to prove himself. But that need was suffocating; he was, in a way, his own worst enemy. Briefly, she saw his affection for a girl whose protection he'd almost been arrested for, a girl the poor boy didn't quite accept had been afraid of. Added to that was a rejection of his own potential, a hatred of what he was. Then, envy—for his own brother, someone who accepted what made him "different" from everyone else. Emma was shutting down her mind; Jean could only read in it the synopsis of his life. Wealthy parents who made her compete with her two sisters, a brother she admired for rejecting their parents and embracing his sexuality, a desire to excel, and a hatred of the way the world was.
- That's it Jean, now form the link!
"Here they come, Charles," Sage said.
Jean gasped, almost overwhelmed by her powers. She could see through the eyes of Bobby, Hank, and Emma. The boys took off their coats, and Emma tore off some of her clothing. In her mind, Jean sensed their intentions; the men found her body a distraction. The DRM vehicles slid by, and the drivers were given subtle instructions to spin their wheels. One after another, the DRM vehicles plummeted. Then the X- Men surged forward.
"Focus, focus, change the carbon in your skin to the right density," Emma urged herself.
Her skin began to glow, turning from flesh to hard granite. Then, it turned white and became as hard and beautiful as a diamond. Jean felt the bond between them waver, but not completely severed. Emma charged the MRD soldiers as they emerged from their trucks. She was agile, furious, and knew how to throw a punch. Any greater skill the MRD soldiers had in unarmed combat was negated by the devastating blows Emma's diamond-like skin delivered. A pair of soldiers switched their weapons to automatic mode and fired at Emma; the bullets shattered upon impact. She grabbed both men by their shirt collars and threw them at her head.
"Here I go, coming Iceman," Bobby declared.
He ran at full speed, slipping between MRD's legs, freezing the equipment, both literally and figuratively. As they fed on what had bitten them, Bobby attacked. He pushed them against the side of the truck or tripped them on ice. Touching the barrel of a man's rifle, Bobby poured the ice mist over it until it shattered. Then, with all his strength, he punched him, feeling the knuckle in his jaw break.
"Let's fight, my friends," Hank said.
Amazingly, Hank jumped and even bounced among the MRD soldiers. His fists and feet brought them down with simple thrusts. Jean warned the team , and they reacted instantly. Emma threw one man at a guard who tried to shoot Bobby, who froze another long enough for Hank to kick him in the stomach.