Chapter 16
Scott’s little trick on the deck had done enough of a job that most of the robots were turning around and leaving.
A few of the deck hands helped Scott, still in the suit, down to the bridge to meet with the others.
“Fine work you did there.” Peirce said as Scott entered. He went to shake Scott’s hand and got a small zap.
“Sorry, I don’t have a lot of control when I’m stressed. That should wear off in a minute or two. Can I get some water?”
He sat down and began to climb out of the armor. He had succesfuly extracted himself by the time one of the agents returned with the bottle of water, which he dumped half off over his head straight away.
“What? It’s fucking hot in that thing.”
“We’ve got a stragglier…” One of the bridge crew yelled. The single drone flew around and aimed itself right at them. It slammed into the glass of the bridge at full speed, causing the glass to shatter and the decking to buckle.
Directly under Johnson. She found herself falling through the gap, hanging on to a part of the railing.
“Give me your hand!” Scott yelled. reaching out to her.
The mount gave way. A look of pure terror crossed her face as she dropped away, disappearing through the clouds, plummeting toward the ground. He panicked and froze. He didn’t think to reach for her with his powers till it was too late.
“DAMN IT!.” He said, slamming his fist into the deck.
“You know that wasn’t her, right?” Fury asked, putting his hand of Scott’s shoulder.
“What difference does it make?” Scott said, taking deep breathes. “she’s gone because I forgot something I’ve been doing my whole life.”
He picked himself up and started back towards the door
“Let’s get this thing back downstairs.” He told the deck crew. “I’ve got repairs to make to it. Gather up as much from the deck as you can and bring it to me.”
For the next day or so. Scott locked himself in the workshop. He didn’t eat. He didn’t sleep. He just worked.
“Scott, stop beating yourself up over this, it wasn’t your fault.” Xaiver said
“How’d you get in?”
“Spare keys.” The bald man said, holding them up. “I know what you’re going through, and it’s not because I can read minds.”
“The friends you lost?”
“Yes… One in particular. He and I didn’t exactly see eye to eye on everything. We fought over and over on the issues of how we mutants fit into society… But… He died. He saved my life during the wall rise, by giving his own.”
“I’m sorry…” Scott said.
“So, what are you working on?”
“I’m trying to replicate the arc reactor technology as I know it. It’s a lot smaller than these contraptions. And trying to get some of these suits usable by others. Be easier if it wasn’t just me out there.”
“Let me show you something that might help.” Xaiver said, holding up another key on the ring.
“If it’s Ghost in the shell girl downstairs, I’ve already met her.”
“No, Something Director Fury didn’t want you to see…”