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Breaking Free
Prologue
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Disclaimer:
Recognizable characters are Marvels. The Master and any non
recognizable are mine,
so be nice and ask if you want to play with my toys :-)
Rating: I'm going with a PG rating for
now, but that might change.
Archive: RedShades, anyone else just
ask. I'll pribably say yes, and I'll send you the HTML version.
Feedback is welcomed wholeheartedly. Flamers will have a hose turned
on 'em.
Dedication: This is for Ali Malik, 'cuz
she asked for it.
Acknowledgments: Jubes, Sequoia,
Dannell, and MistyBlueAngel for some betaing. There where a few
others who gave me some help with this part, but for the life of me
I can't remeber their names. Sorry! You know who you are so . . .
thanks! Many thanks to my beta, Crystal Wimmer. She's the best!
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~words~ Is telepathic
talking
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*words* Is someone's
thoughts
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Notes:
This story is in response to a challenge sent by Ali Malik, to the
RedShades mailing list, to write Scott dark. Reading the challenge,
I started asking myself a few questions. What if Scott's brain
damage had not only caused Scott to lose control of his powers, but
also made them manifest earlier? What if someone with less honorable
intentions had found Scott first? How different would Scott be? How
would it affect how/when the other X-Men were recruited by Xavier?
This story is my answer to those questions.
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I've made a lot of
changes in this story. The biggest ones are when Scott's powers
first manifest, the order in which the X-Men are recruited, and the
ages of the X-Men. You should be able to pick up on everything OK (I
hope). If not, e-mail me and I'll answer any questions you may have.
Now ... on with the fic!
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One last thing ...
This ain't Marvels Scott. You have been warned. ::: Evil grin :::
- March 15th, 1985
- "This one?" a man asked, pointing to a gauge. The little
boy on his lap nodded. "That is called the Altimeter. It
registers changes in atmospheric pressure accompanying changes in
altitude," he told the boy. Then added, "Basically, it
tells you how high you are." The man is Major Christopher
"Corsair" Summers, the boy is his oldest son, Scott.
- Scott listened intently as his father pointed out more instruments
and explained each one's function. The first time his father had
taken him flying, Scott knew he would someday join the Air Force and
be a pilot like his dad. It had been his third birthday, and his
father had arranged the flight as a special present. Ever sense that
day three years ago, he'd fallen in love with flying. It was like
nothing he had ever experienced in his young life.
- While most boys his age had posters of superheroes hanging on
their walls, Scott had posters of planes and jets. He also had
models hanging from the ceiling by strings, books about aircrafts of
every imaginable kind lined his bookcase shelves. He'd even dressed
up as a pilot last Halloween. As time passed, his interest in flying
grew. The boy jumped at every opportunity to go flying with his
father.
- "What about those ones," Scott asked, pointing to two
levers side by side.
- Christopher knew Scott had already memorized the name and function
of almost every lever, gauge, and button on the plane. The boy
simply loved to sit on his lap and have his father explain them all
to him. "Well, those are the fuel release valves. If I need to
dump the fuel from one of the engines, I pull one of those
levers." He pointed to one, then the other, as he explained.
"I pull that one for the right one, and that one for the left
engine."
- Without warning the plane lurched forward.
- "Shit," Chris cursed under his breath as he fought to
control the plane. "Scott, get down," he told the boy on
his lap.
- Scott knew something was wrong. He immediately slid off his
fathers lap as Christopher fought the controls.
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- "The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go
marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching one by
one, the little one stops to suck his thumb. And they all go
marching down to the ground. To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM!
BOOM!" Two voices sang enthusiastically. A blonde haired little
boy, Alex summers, bounced happily in his mother's lap. He clapped
happily as they sang, his voice rising louder with each boom.
- "The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go
marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching two by
two, The little one stops to tie his shoe, And they all go marching
down to the ground, To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Kate tickled her son, who laughed and squirmed. Alex smiled up at
his Mom.
- "The ants went march... " The two began again, then
suddenly stopped as the plane lurched forward. The women grabbed her
son and held him tightly.
- "Mommy," Alex screamed, as the rear of the plane erupted
in flames. He wrapped his small arms around his mother's neck and
clung tightly to her as he sobbed uncontrollably into her shoulder.
- "Shhh, it's OK, Alex. Mommy's here." Kate spoke
soothingly to her youngest son as she rubbed the three-year-old's
back. She knew just how to talk to the little boy to calm him down.
His sobbing calmed and his grip loosened slightly. Another explosion
wracked the plane, and Alex's grip tightened again. He screamed once
more and his crying increased until he began to choke on his tears.
- "Alex, Honey, calm down." She pulled the hysterical
little boy away from her and held him at arms length. Kate knew how
serious the situation was, but she also knew she had to keep calm,
and keep Alex calm. Kate felt her heart leap into her throat as she
looked to the rear of the plane saw the parachutes catch on fire.
*No! No, not the 'chutes,* she thought in terror. She looked around
frantically trying to locate the fire extinguisher. *Damn,* she
cursed mentally as she realized she'd forgot to replace it after
their last flight. Christopher had realized it was low and had asked
her to replace it. She'd gotten distracted and completely forgot.
- She looked at Alex again. Tears streaked down the terrified boys
cheeks. "Listen to me Alex," she began as calmly as she
could. "Mommy has to get the parachutes before they burn. I
need you to be very brave for me and sit here, very still, while I
get them. OK?"
- Alex stared hesitantly at his mother. He didn't want her to go
near the fire. He threw himself at her, tightly wrapping his arms
around her neck. "No mommy. Don't go. The fire'll get you.
Pease don't go over there." His crying got hysterical and his
small chest hitched with the falling tears.
- Kate squeezed him tightly and then pushed him to arms length
again. *Oh, God, no,* she thought as a second chute caught on fire.
"Alex, listen to me. I know you're scared, Baby, but Mommy has
to get the parachutes or we will all be in very big trouble. Do you
understand?" Kate prayed he would calm down long enough for her
to get the two remaining chutes.
- Alex stared at his mother as she spoke. He might still be a little
kid, but he was old enough to know what 'big trouble' meant.
"Uh huh. Pease be carefu." He hugged his mother again,
quickly, and then let go.
- Kate smiled at her son. "That's my brave boy." She
touched his face gently as she sent him down and strapped him into
his seat, and then ran to the burning chutes. She reached out for
the chutes just as the third caught on fire. Kate grabbed it and the
last one as well. She frantically tried to pat out the flames of the
burning chute. She coughed as the thick smoke filled her lungs. She
dropped to her knees as she crawled back over to Alex. She checked
the chute that had caught fire. Fear gripped her heart as she
realized she'd been to late. There was a huge hole in the 'chute
pack, exposing the charred chute.
- Kate looked up at Alex. She hugged, trying to put on a brave
smile. "Alex, I have to go talk to Daddy. I need you to stay
back here." She broke the hug and looked at him. "Don't
move till I come back here, OK?"
- Terror filled eyes stared up at Kate. "Yes, Mommy." The
little boy put his head on his knees and pulled his body into a
tight ball.
- Tears filled Kate's eyes as she looked at her little boy. *He
tries so hard to be like Scott,* she thought. *They're so much
alike, but yet so different.* She stood on shaky legs and walked
into the cockpit.
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- The cockpit door opened and Kate Summers walked in. She walked
over to Scott and knelt beside him. "Go into the back and watch
Alex, Honey," she told her oldest son, keeping the panic she
felt pushed down deep.
- Scott nodded. He didn't want to leave, but he knew something was
seriously wrong. Daddy rarely said bad words, and Mommy almost never
came into the cockpit. "Okay, Mommy," he said as he left
the cockpit.
- Kate watched the boy leave, and then turned to her husband.
"What happened, Chris?" she asked.
- "I don't know."
- "Can you land the plane?"
- Chris grimaced and fought the controls as the plane pitched
forward. He somehow managed to level it out again, and then answered
his wife. "I don't think so. Get the parachutes ready."
- "There's only one left. The others caught on fire." She
hesitated a moment before continuing. Her voice was full of dread as
she spoke again. "We'll have to put the last chute on Scott and
tie Alex to him. It's the only way to get them both off."
- Chris's heart plummeted. He nodded, then said, "Get the boys
ready. I'll be back there in a minute."
- Kate stood and walked back to her boys. Scott and Alex were
standing next to each other, looking at the cockpit door. They
watched as their mother took the last parachute from where she'd set
it beside Alex. She unstrapped Alex and helped him out of his seat,
then turned and kneeled down in front of Scott and strapped him into
the chute. "Daddy can't land the plane, so you boys will have
to jump," she explained to them.
- "What 'bout you an' Daddy," Alex asked. Tears had formed
in the little boys eyes, and they started falling freely down his
cheeks as his mother spoke.
- "The other parachutes were destroyed in the fire. You and
Scott have to go alone." Kate held back her tears as she
rechecked the 'chute to make sure she'd fastened it on securely.
- "Mommy, please don't. I don't wanna leave you," Scott
said. Tears began to roll down his cheeks as his mother strapped the
last parachute to his back. The acrid smell of smoke from the
burning plane filled the little boy's lungs. He stared at his mother
with tear-filled eyes. "Mommy, please don't make us go. Daddy
is the best pilot in the whole world. He can land the plane,"
he begged desperately, with all the confidence that all six-year-old
boys had in their fathers.
- "No, baby, he can't. Not this time. There's nothing anyone
can do. I know you don't want to go, but you have to." She took
a tissue from her pocket and wiped the tears from Scott's cheeks.
She wanted to make everything all right for her boys, but she
couldn't, and that knowledge broke her heart.
- "No!" Alex said defiantly. "I don' wanna
leave." Tears rolled freely down the younger Summers' face. He
went back to his sit and sat on the floor in front of it. Then, he
put his small arms around his legs, pulling his knees to his chest.
He put his head down and cried harder. Kate reached for the blond
little boy, but he slid past her. She glanced to the back of the
plane. Panic raced through her as she watched the fire inch towards
them. She turned back to Scott.
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- Christopher Summers desperately fought the controls of the old
plane, but it was to no avail. He wasn't sure what had caused the
plane to catch on fire, but he knew it wasn't a mechanical problem.
He had thoroughly checked the plane before takeoff. As he listened
to Kate talk to Scott, he felt his heart sink. He knew there was no
way he could land the plane. He dreaded what they would have to do.
The idea of pushing his sons off the burning plane did not appeal to
him in the slightest, but neither did knowing what would happen if
they didn't get the boys off the plane. He finally gave up on the
controls. He looked around for something to wedge the controls with.
He spotted Scott's baseball bat by the door and retrieved it. He
quickly wedged the controls and walked out of the cockpit. The plane
was still dropping, but he'd managed to slow their rate of descent.
Chris walked up behind his wife and gently put a hand on her
shoulder.
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- Kate looked up as her husband laid a hand on her shoulder, then
looked back to Scott. She reached up and gently laid a hand to the
side of Scott's face, then turned and walked over to her younger
son. The small boy jumped into his mother's outstretched arms.
"I'm scared, Mommy," he cried as he buried his face into
his mother's shoulder.
- "I know, Sweetie, I know," she told him, trying not to
let her fear show in her voice.
- Christopher knelt in front of his oldest son. "No more tears
now, Son," he said, as fresh tears began to roll slowly down
Scott's face. "You're almost seven. You're a big boy now,
remember? And big boys don't cry." His voice was stern as he
spoke.
- Scott sniffled, wiped his tears with the sleeve of his coat, and
nodded at his father. His face was now a mask of determination and
courage that his heart didn't feel. "Yes, Sir," Scott
said. Then, he stood as straight as he could and saluted his father
as he had seen the older Summers do.
- Christopher stood, returned his son's salute, and then kneeled in
front of the boy again. He smiled. He had known his tactic would
work. Almost since the day he was born, Scott had demanded to be
treated like a "big boy". He rarely wanted to be held,
wanted to do everything for himself, and had even tried to walk
before he'd learned to crawl. Christopher put his hands on Scott's
small shoulders, looking straight into the little boy's eyes.
- "Listen to me, Scott. I know you're scared and confused, but
I need you to be brave for me. You're Mom is going to tie Alex to
you, and I need you to hold on to him really, really tight. Don't
let go. He's you're little brother, Scott. He's just a little boy,
and not as tough as you. I'm counting on you to take care of him, to
keep him safe. Understand?"
- Chris loved both his sons equally, but he'd always been closer to
Scott. Alex was by no means a wuss, but he was closer to his mother
than most boys. He was also not as tough as Scott, and was more
likely to cry over things. Alex loved to be carried, especially by
his mother, while Scott preferred to walk and was content to simply
have his hand held.
- Scott nodded as he looked into his father's eyes. "Yes,
Daddy. I understand. I won't let you down." He could tell his
father was struggling to hold back his tears, so he tried harder to
maintain his composure. He shifted his eyes to his mother, seeing
Alex by her side. His little brother ran to him, crushing him in a
tight hug, causing Scott to gasp. His discomfort increased as his
mother wrapped a rope around the boys, securing them tightly. He saw
his mother's tears start to fall as she and his father both knelt
down to face him.
- "Do you remember what to do, Scott," Christopher asked.
Scott nodded. "That's my boy," he said proudly, ruffling
Scott's hair. Then he gently kissed the top of each boy's head.
- "We love you, boys," Kate said, as the dam finally broke
and the tears rolled freely down he cheeks.
- "I love you too," the boys said in unison.
- Christopher gave each boy a squeeze on the shoulder, and then
pushed them out of the plane before either boy can react. Tears
began to roll slowly down his cheeks as he watched the boys fall.
*God, please take care of them. Please don't let my boys die.* Then
he lost hope as he watched Scott open the parachute. It promptly
caught on fire, sending the little boys hurtling towards the ground.
- Scott looked up at the plane, which was rapidly growing smaller.
*Oh no,* he thought as he saw the 'chute catch fire. Then, suddenly,
the plane erupted into a ball of flames and smoke. "Mommy,
Daddy, NOOOO!" he cried out. He could no longer hold back his
tears, and they rolled freely down his cheeks. He felt Alex's grip
on him tighten.
- Without warning, Scott's world erupted into pain, then went dark
as he impacted with the hard ground.
- End Prologue
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