Sanctuary by Christopher Golden Read Free Book Online

grows. Time is of the essence, Ororo."
    "Do not think for a moment that I disagree, Hank," Storm said. "But without the Professor's approval, I don't think we should go anywhere."
    "Indeed," the Beast said, obviously frustrated but not arguing. He reached to an intercom switch on the wall, and snapped it on.

    "Time is wasting, Charles," he said without preamble.
    "We must depart at once."
    "I'll be right there," Xavier's voice came back, filtered into the room through the speaker, and the Beast looked back to Storm with an apologetic shrug.
    "I am aware that this assemblage has never been a democracy," he said. "But at times, there are certain imperatives of logic that must be addressed."
    When the door hissed open to allow Professor Xavier entrance, Storm could not have been more relieved.
    "Finally!" Bishop exclaimed, as they all gathered round the table once more.
    "What news, Charles?" Storm asked, and Xavier hesitated only a moment before answering.
    "None, I'm afraid," he began, and held up a hand to forestall interruption. "Valerie Cooper is meeting with the President as we speak, attempting to get authorization to officially work with the X-Men for the duration of this crisis."
    "Come on, Professor!" Bobby said angrily, leaping to his feet. "There's no way in hell our old buddy Gyrich is gonna let that happen. Yeah, maybe we're feeling pretty down about what went on in Colorado. But this is a whole new scenario. Every minute that ticks by just makes it harder to put an end to this thing."
    "Bobby is correct, Charles," the Beast said emphatically. "You must do whatever you may, secure what reinforcements you can, just as Valerie is doing what she may within the parameters the government has contrived for her. But we cannot delay."
    After a silent moment, Storm said calmly, "They are right, Professor. Though we stand very little chance of succeeding, we must go."

    "Don't talk that way darlin'," Wolverine snarled before Xavier even had a chance to respond. "We'll take it to 'em hard, guerilla style. They won't even know we're they're until it's allover for 'em. Trust the ol' Canucklehead, will ya? They've got way too much ground to secure. We leave now, we can have New York back in the hands of the thieves who've been running the place by first light."
    Wolverine looked at Professor Xavier, then, and Storm could almost hear the words before they came out of his mouth.
    "Whaddaya say, Charley?" Wolverine asked, and Xavier winced. He had asked Logan dozens of times not to call him by that name. Storm suspected that Wolverine did it on purpose, just a little way to shake the balance of a man to whom equilibrium was everything.
    "Storm," Charles asked, "are you prepared for this suicide run?"
    "Completely," she answered. "The Blackbird is ready to go, as are the X-Men. This may be the decisive battle in the war for your dream of harmony, Professor. It must be fought, though we are sadly outnumbered and outgunned."
    Professor Xavier nodded.
    "With the Blackbird' s VTOL abilities, you should have no trouble landing in Central Park," Xavier said. "As you are all mutants, the Sentinels will not stop you. However, they may be programmed to notify Magneto if they detect you. There will be nothing you can do about this. Attacking the Sentinels openly is not an option.
    "I will be in Jersey City, doing as much spin control as I can with CNN and the major networks. When I do reach Valerie, we'll try to figure out if the X-Men and the government can work together. I've left a message for Scott and the others. If they return to Earth in time, we'll need them desperately."
    He paused a moment, then gave the mission his final blessing in a mental message that entered the minds of each member of the team in the ready room.
    What are you waiting for? Xavier's voice said in Storm's mind. Get moving, X-Men.
    In seconds, they were racing down a corridor, boots slapping marble, toward the Institute's hangar bay. Storm was grim, determined.