No Longer Under the Radar
by Starsinger
I've debated writing this story, mostly because many people won't like who I kill in this chapter. I remind you, nothing is permanent in the Marvel Universe, much less my own story universe, not even death. So, I don't own these characters, I wouldn't be poor if I did.
A/N: Excalibur did not break up after Meggan and Brian's wedding, and they're still on Muir Island. Moira and Rahne are currently racing against time to cure the Legacy Virus, and Mystique is about to strike, with deadly consequences. A definite AU.
Morning sickness, Kitty grinned as Meggan made another dash for the bathroom, they call it that, but it always seemed to strike at the oddest times. She and Peter had been sitting on the couch in the television room, trying once again to sort out their feelings when they heard the mad dash down the hall.
"I wonder if Brian's using the one in their room," Kitty murmured, "it would explain why she didn't just use that one."
Peter opened his mouth to speak just as an explosion hit the side of the building, they both sprang to their feet as Kurt and Brian emerged from their rooms. "Meggan!" Brian shouted, "get downstairs and look after Moira, we'll take care of this!"
They had expected this; Mystique and her ilk had mutated the Legacy Virus into something lethal to normal humans, now she was here to stop its cure from being found. Even if it meant killing her own kind. As they faced off against the other mutants Kitty felt something cold clutch her heart, someone would die because of this.
They charged, using their powers, their fists, whatever came to hand hitting each other trying to either stop or get through, their goal clear: Dr. MacTaggart could not be allowed to live. Kitty and Mystique finally ended up circling each other. "You can't stop me, child," Mystique taunted.
"At what cost, Mystique? You're course would see us all dead!" Kitty shouted, hoping to keep her distracted. Suddenly, pain exploded from her right side, she was unable to keep her feet, and breathing became difficult. She fell to the ground clutching at her side, the hand came away covered in blood.
She heard Mystique screaming at someone, "What are you doing? She's not supposed to die, not now! Now, no one will offer us shelter!" Brick and mortar fell around them still, but the explosions came to a halt.
Kitty, too weak to phase, saw a huge cinder block hurtling downward. "Nyet!" she heard, as Colossus heaved the stone out of the way, and shielded her body from the rest of the falling debris. He, Kurt, and Brian had watched helplessly as the mysterious figure pulled the knife and plunged it into Kitty's side. As glad as they were of the retreat, they wondered, at what cost victory. Kitty's lips started turning blue as gentle hands turned her over. The world started to turn to black as another sharp pain entered her side. Whatever it was, she was now able to breathe easier.
"Meggan, call Xavier's get some help o'er here! Tell them to send a full medical plane, minus Logan; he'll go berserk when he learns o' this."
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The hum of the Blackbird did nothing to dispel the worried furrow in Moira's brow. She didn't know the extent of Kitty's injuries, but had placed her on a ventilator just to be safe. She had the key to the cure for the deadly virus that had been ravaging the mutant community in recent months, and now this happened. Rahne sat next to her, "What di' yae think, punctured lung?"
Moira's rested on Peter, who looked stricken, unable to fathom what just happened, "I hope so, Rahne, for his sake, I hope so."
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Jean, Moira, and Xavier looked at Kitty with sorrow. The damage had been easily repaired. She'd been weaned off the ventilator and they had hopes she'd come around soon when the bane of all surgeries and recuperating patients struck: an infection.
The coughing started two days after the vent was removed. A deep hacking cough that made Moira's own look tame. Desperate, she took cultures and found nothing out of the ordinary, whatever it was, the Legacy Virus it wasn't. In sheer desperation, she sent a slide off to the Shi'ar Empire to see if they could help. Their news was grim; it was a virus that was deadly on their world. Kitty would be dead in the month and there was nothing to do to stop it.
Their proposal was also simple, let them put her in suspended animation and try to cure her, Kitty had agreed. Terri, Kitty's mother, was on her way to the mansion now, and Peter, Peter begged her to marry him, and she did. At least her last moments would be happy; she would take the cure to the Legacy Virus. Her reasoning was sound, she was dying anyway. Let others live as she died. Moira approached the IV, syringe in hand. She pushed the needle into the injection point just as Terri entered the room. She nodded at the woman as she took a seat and pushed the plunger.
"Kitty," she whispered, "wait till it has had time to disperse through your body, and then trigger your power." The woman nodded as she turned and left the room, she looked at her companions, "I dinnae know if I can watch," she sobbed. "Both the knife plunged into her side and the tubing I used to save her life were coated with the virus. It was meant for me!" She slid down the wall, sobbing and coughing convulsively.
Jean knelt next to her, forcing her head up, "And who would have had to die if this hadn't happened?"
Mora shrugged, "I woulda found some way," as yet another deep wracking cough started and just stopped. She looked at her hand and then Jean. With more energy than she had felt in weeks, Moira stood and looked into the room as the heartfelt sobbing began.
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The Memorial Service was held the next day for both Kitty and Lockheed. The faithful friend had followed her into death. Pictures stood where the coffin would normally sit, both had left in a cryogenic chamber for the Shi'ar Empire's home world two hours after her death. It was understood that if a cure was not affected in two years, their bodies would be returned.
When Terri returned to Chicago, Peter went with her. It seems he had applied to the Art Institute of Chicago and had been accepted. He found purpose in life, waiting, hoping for the return of his wife.
The heart had simply gone out of Excalibur, Kurt and Moira stayed in New York, while Meggan and Brian returned to England, and named their new daughter Katherine, after their beloved friend.
And somewhere in Europe, a British secret agent named Wisdom, felt like his heart had just been torn apart.
This was a tough write, I know there are people who won't like what I just did, I just hope you'll hang in there with me, I promise you'll like the ending.