A New Threat

chapter 12: White House Captured
Panther's icy glare unnerved Gabriel, although he hid his fear very well. It was one thing Dracula remembered about him. Gabriel could control his fear to the point where his heartbeat remained steady, he oozed a deep sense of calm, and the only time he would break a sweat
was during the efforts of battle.

Gabriel tried to calm the animal – tried to make her remember how Father Cleo helped her when she was wounded. Nothing registered. She only knew her desire to kill.

Van Helsing remained calm, but his lack of fear didn't help him stop Panther. She fought him hard and strongly until she knocked him unconscious.


Xavier, accompanied by Jean, met General Miller in his office. There, the General waited and after a quick briefing on his leaving the army, the General's daughter was escorted in by Kurt. The General's daughter had the gift of telekinesis, similar to Jean. He hugged his daughter tightly telling her how much he missed her.

Scott entered the office and whispered into Xavier's ear.

"Please excuse me," Charles said while rolling towards the back of the office.

"Mutants have taken control of the White House. The President is being held hostage. The news is going to cover an interview with the mutant faction that has taken over."

"Oh, my God," Charles replied. A look of intense worry washed over his face.

"There's more," Scott said with hesitation. "It looks like Danielle is a part of it."

Charles paled out. He had not been able to reach Danielle through Cerebro since that one fleeting moment some time ago.

"Professor, is something wrong?" Jean asked after picking up on his projections.

Charles rolled back to his place behind the large desk.

"It seems there has been an incident at the White House."

The General stood up. Charles asked Kurt to take the young teen to the dining hall for ice cream.

"What has happened?"

Scott turned on the monitor to the computer. Keying in the website for the latest in world news, images popped up on the screen of the battle – blurry pictures of the destruction of the Sentinels and of a clawed mutant attacking the soldiers.

"Scott, I think we better ready the team – you, Storm, and Jean – for surveillance."

"What about Logan?"

"If Danielle is there, I think it is best he not know. We can't afford him losing control."

"Professor, if anyone is going to bring Danielle home, it has to be Logan. If she is out of control, Logan is the only one strong enough to battle and subdue her," Jean said.

"Perhaps," Charles said while putting a finger to his temple. He thought silently for several minutes.

"Scott, bring the team, and Logan, in here. We need to discuss how this survey will happen, and he must be made to understand that he is to follow all of your orders as Team Leader."

"That's asking Logan to submit to my authority and we all know how he feels about that," Scott said.

"He honors your authority, Scott. It is hard for him as he has so much more experience in the field," Jean said.

At that moment, Agent Macpherson and Chief Stevens were knocking on the door of the mansion. The team gathered in the conference room where Macpherson and Stevens were waiting. The police chief had orders to arrest all the Xavier residents – orders he was reluctant to follow through on. However, the military had taken control and Agent Macpherson used his authoritative powers to push for the arrest of Xavier.

"Before you go any further, let me implore you to listen to what I have planned to maybe stop this revolt and bring a peaceful end to this situation."

Everyone sat down around the expansive table. They watched the TV coverage of the hostage situation. Dracula appeared seated next to the President and the presidential guards.

"I address the world in the name of all mutants. We have taken command of the highest office of this country in the name of mutant freedom. We no longer live life by your rules. We will be setting new ones that humans must obey or face the consequences of disobedience."

Magneto smiled in the background as Mystique hugged him. This was everything he dreamed of. No longer would he need to live in fear of being labelled or tatooed with a registry number. He and his brothers were free.

"To mutants all over this world, use this battle as an example. Fight the war as we have! Fight for your freedom!" the Count added before the media coverage was terminated.


The Team used the cover of night to pierce the security of the White House grounds. Mutants fought mutants. Logan led the way. As they made their way through the gates, they found Van Helsing and several wounded soldiers who were clinging to life. Jean did her best to assist as many of them as she could. She projected to Xavier to have additional help sent as the team loaded them onto the jet.

Logan used force to breach the front entrance of the building. His heart pounded as a familiar scent rode in the air.

"It can't be," he muttered to himself.

Scott began to worry. Logan smelled danger and he smelled Danielle. The Team didn't tell him of the possibility of his woman being there.

"She's here," Logan said.

They listened to the sounds of an animal growling. Logan rounded the corner with claws extended. He was dropped to the ground by the surprise attack of a familiar face.

Panther walked out and popped her claws. Logan waited and she lunged for him. Dracula joined the attack turning into the horrible hell creature. It took Scott and Storm by surprise. Magneto, Sabertooth, and Mystique joined the fight. Magneto used his powers over Wolverine's alloy skeleton to his advantage. Logan couldn't move and it allowed Panther an ability to strike at him without retaliation.

Jean fought the hell beast in a battle of wills. Both of them used their telepathy in an attempt to overpower the other. It would fail on both sides. Then, Sabertooth got in the way and fought with Jean.

Storm used her powers to make Magneto relinquish his hold on Wolverine. Logan returned to his feet, and with Scott, they continued to fight Panther. Storm turned her attention to the hell
beast and Mystique. Dracula changed back into his human form and turned his attention to the Weather Goddess. He stared deep into Storm's eyes probing her mind – finding the anger she had deep in her very soul.

"You hate man for what they have done to us," he said.

Storm couldn't respond. His stare was hypnotic.

"Man hates you and you hate them. I feel it."

Storm wanted to fight him but she couldn't.

"Join my brotherhood. Be with me."


Logan turned around having pushed Panther away. Storm and the hell beast were gone. Panther roared and charged again. She knocked him down and pounced on top of him – her claws ready to strike. Logan sensed intense anger and she didn't hesitate to attack. There was no
memory of him – no remembrance of their love – just intense rage and hate and a will to destroy.

Wolverine pushed her off again and got to his feet. His claws extended and he had no choice but to use them against Panther. The feral mutants waged war against each other prompted by instinctual drives for supremacy and survival. Panther fought strongly – Wolverine was an invader on her turf and she had to protect what she had claimed as her own.

As strong as the Wolverine was, he found his female adversary used all possible options to her advantage. Blood spilled on both sides of the battlefront. But as Logan spun around to face Panther again, she met him with such force that wounded him severely. As Logan dropped down, Panther approached wanting to finish him off. She grasped Logan's hair pulling his head up and he impaled her with the claws of his right hand. Panther released him quickly and fell to the ground in pain.

She slowly rose to her feet and two blasts were heard. Arrows pierced her flesh and the wounds burned with intense pain. Van Helsing stood against the wall with his crossbow ready to fire again. Her wounds didn't heal as quickly as Wolverine's and she opted to find her Master for protection.

Wolverine got to his feet again.

"Who the hell are you?" Wolverine demanded to know.

"We'll discuss this later," Scott ordered determining it was time to regroup. As Scott shouted for the team to leave, Wolverine refused to go.

"NO! I'm not leaving without her!"

"Logan, not now! We'll come back when we are better prepared!" Scott ordered.

"I agree," Van Helsing added.

"Logan, please. It's better if we go," Jean added.

"NO!" Logan cried out angrily while pulling away from Scott's grasp.

"Logan, now!" Scott ordered again.

"Where's Storm?" Jean asked.

They looked around for Storm and Logan used his keen senses as Jean reached out telepathically to locate her. She couldn't be far off. Failing to do so, they left hoping to find her outside. Reaching the jet outside the gates, Scott called for Storm. Jean again stretched her telepathy in hopes of finding her. Logan sniffed the air.

"I don't feel her," Jean said.

"She has to be around," Logan barked. "I'm going back in. They have Danielle and I'll be damned their gonna keep Storm too!"

"Logan, I said no! We need more help. We have to get a group together. There are too many for just the few of us to fight," Scott ordered as Jean guided the jet home.

"You have no idea what you are facing. I can help you," Gabriel said.