Chapter 32: The Good Doctor

"See! I told you that goodie two-shoes wouldn't actually show up!" Lance scoffed, his voice echoing slightly off the cave's cold, damp rock walls where he and his fellow Brotherhood members were waiting.

The air was thick with anticipation, mingled with the earthy scent of moss and stone. He pushed himself away from the jagged wall, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth as he crossed his arms over his chest. 

They were 8 kilometers away from the MRD's heavily fortified facility, the fortress that stood as a symbol of their oppression. Today's mission was critical—not just for their cause, but for proving that they could strike where it hurt.

"Atomic will show. Have some patience, Lance." Mystique said, her voice smooth and reassuring as she perched gracefully upon a weathered rock. Her penetrating gaze was fixed on the cave's mouth, beyond which an endless expanse of sun-baked desert stretched out, shimmering under the midday sun.

Suddenly, a silver streak darted in and out of the cave entrance, coming to a skidding halt to reveal Pietro, his expression a blend of impatience and annoyance. "When are we going to do this? I'm losing my mind in here!" he exclaimed, his frustration palpable.

"Why do we need that guy anyway? Can't we just smash in there and do this ourselves?" Frederick chimed in, his mouth still full of chips, crumbs scattering as he spoke.

"I like the guy. Anyone who can make me free stuff from thin air is alright on my books," Todd declared, his green-tinted skin almost glowing with anticipation as he leapt down from the cave's ceiling. His eyes sparkled with a covetous gleam, reflecting dreams of treasures yet to come.

"You really think Atomic is going to make you a mountain of gold? Keep dreaming, Toad. He'd sooner turn you in to the cops," St. John chuckled, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. With a flick of his wrist, he coaxed a swirling ball of fire into life, shaping it into a vivid rendition of Atomic and a bound Todd. The fiery figure of Atomic soared overhead, clutching Todd and depositing him unceremoniously behind a flaming jail cell.

"Hey! What do you know?! Maybe if I ask real nicely-" Todd protested, but his words were interrupted as a striking figure, clad in red and white, gracefully descended at the cave's entrance, immediately capturing the attention of the group.

Mystique's lips curved into a satisfied smile at the arrival of Atomic. A sense of relief washed over her; her earlier concerns about whether the hero would appear had been unfounded. Heroes like him, unwavering and reliable, had a knack for keeping their promises—even when it put them in precarious situations.

Atomic touched down with a purposeful grace, his sharp eyes surveying the ragtag group before him, his allies for the day. The Brotherhood stared back, a mix of skepticism and curiosity etched across their faces, as the air thickened with anticipation for what was to unfold.

"Where's Magneto?" Atomic asked.

"Right here, Atomic," Erik said from the skies. 

Atomic looked up to watch Erik float down from the sky, his arms behind his back. "With everyone here, we can begin our mission to save our brothers and sisters. Now then, let's go over strategy-"

"Before that, let me make one thing clear," Atomic said and stepped closer to Erik, making everyone tense up. "We do this clean. We focus on rescuing and getting everyone out. But no one dies today. If any of you cross the line, our little partnership ends then and there. Is that clear?"

Erik narrowed his eyes at Atomic, and a tense silence hung over them. "…very well. Our sole focus will be freeing our kind. The agents that beat and kidnapped them will live to see another day," He said tensely and turned to his Brotherhood. "Is that clear?"

A chorus of agreements quickly followed, while Mystique remained silent and narrowed her eyes at Atomic.

Satisfied that he had thoroughly expressed his point, Atomic stepped back to listen to Erik's plan of action.

The strategy laid out before him was uncomplicated yet daring: Mystique would infiltrate the heavily fortified facility, disguised as one of its personnel. Her primary objective was to locate the control room. Once she gained access, she would deactivate the facilities security systems and unlock all the holding cells, freeing the mutants who had been captured and confined for far too long.

As chaos reigned from the now freed mutants, the rest of the Brotherhood would storm into the facility, wreaking havoc and destruction to create a potent distraction for the MRD agents. Under the cover of this madness, Pietro would dart throughout the building with incredible speed, racing against time to ensure that every captured mutant made it out of the facility.

Atomic's role in the operation was, on the surface, deceptively straightforward. His task was to forge a clear escape route by dismantling any defensive systems the facility had in place with his powers as well as removing the large outer perimeter wall. The simplicity of his assignment nagged at him; it felt almost beneath his capabilities. 

When the dust settled and the escapees were safe outside the facility, Erik's formidable powers would bring the entire facility to ruin once everyone, including MRD personnel, was clear—a grand finale to their mission. 

Atomic couldn't shake a sense of unease as he contemplated the plan. Although it was undoubtedly simple, loud and explosive, he felt the lingering doubt that Erik was deliberately underutilizing his talents. Was it intentional? 

Despite these inner conflicts, Atomic resolved to keep his misgivings to himself, opting to follow Erik's plan for the time being. Yet beneath his calm exterior, he began to devise his own contingency plan, just in case things didn't unfold as expected.

••o••o••o••

Doctor Robert McPherson, once a dedicated US Army medic and now a highly accomplished physician and researcher, walked through the sterile, fluorescent-lit corridors of the MRD's Nevada facility. 

His calm demeanor and schooled features masked the turmoil churning within him. Beneath the surface, Robert was a man weighed down by the heavy burden of his moral conscience, grappling with his inability to act upon what he knew was wrong.

He had initially joined the MRD in response to the government's urgent efforts to prevent another incident like the one involving Sasha Conner, a disaster that had left the nation reeling with fear and distrust. The event had amplified a once pedestrian concern about mutants into a full-blown societal anxiety, driving wedges between communities and fostering prejudice against those who were different.

Eager to contribute positively, Robert had accepted a position at the facility, drawn by the hope of studying and helping young mutants learn to control their burgeoning abilities. The prospect of exploring the intricate interactions between the X-Gene and human DNA had filled him with anticipation. He envisioned a future where mutants could be understood and accepted, living harmoniously alongside humans.

However, this dream of potential and compassion was quickly extinguished when Robert uncovered the grim reality of the facility. 

What had been sold to him as a sanctuary for growth and understanding was, in truth, a nightmarish facade. Day after day, he was forced to walk the same sterile halls and witness the anguish of kidnapped mutants—both children and adults—who had been wrenched from their homes and thrust into a nightmarish existence. They were subjected to cruel testing and forced to endure inhumane conditions that pushed the boundaries of pain and suffering.

The heart of Robert's resolve began to crumble. He felt a visceral sickness each time he observed the fear in the eyes of the frightened subjects, many of whom were barely clinging to hope. The intention of helping and fostering understanding had been replaced by a grim pattern of exploitation and torment, leaving him in a moral quagmire. 

The urge to quit consumed him; the thought of abandoning ship, however, was quickly quelled by the shackles of his government contract. It was a grim reminder of how far he had strayed from his initial intentions. He recalled the fate of the previous physician whose position he had unknowingly taken—a cautionary tale of what happened to those who dared to defy the dictate of the government.

Any misstep could lead him down that same dark path, and the fear of becoming another casualty of this twisted system bolstered his internal struggle. Robert McPherson was trapped in a reality where his desire to help had turned into a haunting nightmare, one that threatened not only his career but also the fragments of his dwindling moral integrity.

Pausing in front of the imposing steel door, Robert inhaled deeply, allowing the cool, metallic scent to fill his lungs as he steadied his racing heart. With a final steadying breath, he pushed the door open and stepped into the dimly lit medical exam room. 

There, Jubilation sat calmly in the center, her expression unreadable. Looming behind her were two MRD agents, their eyes sharp and vigilant, fingers hovering just above their holstered firearms, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.

"It's okay. I can handle it from here," Robert said with a calm demeanor.

"I'm sorry, Doctor, but we have orders," one of the agents replied.

"I understand, but I can't perform my duties with you two gentlemen making her uncomfortable," Robert said, gesturing toward the door. "If I need your assistance, you'll only be a few feet away. Please."

The MRD agents exchanged glances and shrugged. Without another word, they left the room. As soon as they were gone, Robert dropped his cold exterior and offered Jubilation a small smile.

"Hello, Jubilation," Robert said, deliberately ignoring his orders to refer to the mutants in the facility by their assigned numbers. "How are you doing today?"

Jubilation took a deep breath and returned his smile, raising her hands, which were secured in thick steel handcuffs. "Oh, you know, Doc. About as good as any other day," she said, tilting her head. Her now shoulder-length hair brushed against her neck, tickling her. "So, what's on the agenda today? A psych test? A physical? A mental evaluation?"

Robert's smile faltered slightly, but he pulled a tablet from his satchel. "No, no tests today."

"But today's Thursday? Shouldn't you be doing your usual weekly tests?"

"I thought we could try something new today," Robert said as he tapped away on his tablet. Once he was finished, he flipped it around to show Jubilation a video of three women dancing on stage. They were performing a K-pop song, moving with incredible fluidity. "I finally gave that group you recommended a try. Their songs are pretty catchy."

"Ha! I told you the Sunlight Sisters were amazing!" Jubilation exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as she watched one of the world's most famous K-pop groups sing and dance. "What I wouldn't give to have seen them perform live. It's too bad they retired."

Robert smiled softly as he watched Jubilation become engrossed in the video playing on the screen before her. He set his tablet down gently beside him, allowing her the quiet space to indulge in the moment. As she watched, Robert shifted his focus to the assessment report he needed to complete. With practiced ease, he began crafting the necessary paperwork, though it was a facade, embellished to align with the expectations of the facility's guidelines.

To Jubilation and the other residents confined within the stark walls of the facility, Doctor Robert was a beacon of kindness. He was not just one of the three doctors on staff; he was the one who stood out for his genuine compassion. He treated each individual with respect and dignity, a rare commodity in their world. 

While the hierarchy often instilled fear and distrust amongst the staff, Robert went above and beyond to ensure that his patients felt cared for and valued. He risked his own safety to navigate tight situations, often bending the rules to bring them small treats—little tokens of normalcy in an otherwise controlled environment.

Suddenly, the tranquility of the room was shattered. A violent tremor rippled through the examination space, shaking loose papers from the desk and rattling the instruments mounted on the walls. 

Panic flickered in Jubilation's eyes as the harsh red lights began to pulse rhythmically, casting an ominous glow over the room. The blaring alarms filled the air with a frantic cacophony, signaling an emergency that no one had anticipated.

Thinking quickly amidst the chaos, Robert sprang to his feet. Quickly, he hurled his tablet into a nearby trash bin, prioritizing Jubilation's safety above all else. With instinctive protectiveness, he positioned himself in front of her, ready to shield her from whatever threat was looming. 

Just then, the door swung open with a forceful bang, and two MRD agents marched into the room, rifles at the ready, their expressions taut with determination. Tension electrified the air as the reality of their presence settled in—this was a moment that would test Robert's resolve like never before.

"Doctor, we have a situation. We're moving you to the evacuation center!" one of the agents said.

"What about Jubi-Number 201?" Robert asked.

"Forget about her. You're our priority. Now get moving," the agent replied, pushing Robert out of the room. Robert craned his neck back and gasped as he saw the other agent raise his firearm at Jubilation.

"Close your eyes, kid. I'll make this quick," the agent warned.

Adrenaline surged through Robert, and his hand flew to grab the pair of scissors from his desk. Planting his feet on the floor, he shoved the agent behind him back, taking him off balance. With a spin, Robert swung the pair of scissors into the agent's neck. Slicing through his flesh and ripping the man's internal jugular vein.

"What the hell?!" The agent who was about to shoot Jubilation yelled and turned to Robert. He paused in sheer disbelief as he watched his partner fall to his knees, grasping his bleeding neck. "You fucker!" The agent growled and raised his rifle. Robert stepped back and froze at the sight of the barrel.

Before the agent could fire, Jubilation yelled and brought down her thick steel handcuffs onto the agent's neck. Knocking the man out cold.

Snapping out of it, Robert grabbed one of the agent's assault rifles, a key card, and a set of keys. "Fuck me… no going back now," he whispered. He then turned to a scared Jubilation and resolved himself. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he wasn't about to allow Jubilation to get hurt, not as long as he could do anything about it. "Come on. I'm getting you out of here." He said as he unlocked Jubilation's steel cuffs from her wrists and ankles.

"Oh, uh, y-yeah," Jubilation whispered, her voice trembling as she instinctively glanced toward the bleeding corpse sprawled on the cold, sterile floor. Before she could fully lay eyes on the corspe, Robert stepped into her path, a firm but gentle presence that shielded her from the sight.

"It's okay. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. Now, follow me," Robert said, his voice steady as he opened the door to the examination room, peering cautiously into the chaotic hallway beyond.

The corridor was filled with an eerie cacophony of blaring alarms and the glaring illumination of red emergency lights, casting frantic shadows over the faces of scientists, doctors, and facility personnel. They darted past in a frenzy, adrenaline propelling them toward the evacuation zone, their expressions a mix of fear and anxiety.

Taking a steadying breath, Robert stepped back into the room. He placed the rifle down with a deliberate motion, then swiftly removed his doctor's coat. Wrapping it around Jubilation's shoulders.

"Okay… stay close to me. I'm getting you home, alright?" Robert said, forcing a shaky smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as the facility shuddered violently. Jubilation inhaled deeply, steeling herself before nodding in quiet resolve.

With a final reassuring glance, Robert returned the smile—small yet genuine—and together they stepped into the chaos unfolding outside.