Title: The Downside to Being One of the Bad Guys
By: X
X0832001@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am getting no money.
Summary: The main problem with being one of the bad guys is that you have to fight the good guys, and you what always happens with that...
A/N: Takes place about a year and a half after X2. I didn't address the Jean issue, I just don't mention her at all. I also decided to add Gambit, he's with the Brotherhood (I know he doesn't belong there, but that team needed more players and I like Gambit)
Professor Charles Xavier called together his X-men in the war room. Seated with him around the large table were Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, plus the newly promoted Rogue and Iceman. In their new black shiny uniforms they sat with the others, but unlike them, couldn't keep excited grins from their faces. On Xavier's right was another X-man, a Big, shaggy Animal like man.
"For our newer members, this is Dr. Hank McCoy, codename, Beast. He's a former student that's recently returned after doing some work in Washington." explained Xavier, gesturing to the large, blue, furry man next to him. The assembled team members all gave nods and made polite noises. "And Hank, this is Logan, codename Wolverine, Marie, codename Rogue, and Bobby Drake, we call him Iceman." Beast smiled and raised a paw.
"'I am prepared to meet anyone, but whether anyone is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.' Mark Twain. I truly appreciate your warm welcome; it is a pleasure to be back."
"How was Washington Hank?" Storm asked, still smiling from Hank's little joke.
"Oh, I think I did what I could working against the registration act. People can be very stubborn." Murmurs of agreement followed that comment.
"Speaking of stubborn, Magneto is up to something again. We've gotten a report; he's lurking around Rhode Island. It's Magneto himself has left the house so it must be something big." Cyclops explained.
"It's defiantly Magneto?" Rogue asked
"Older man, big purple cape and funny bullet helmet, is the description given to the local police. I think it might be him."
"I want Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Beast and Iceman on this mission. Start with reconnaissance. Try and find out what he's up to." Xavier explained. He glanced at Logan. "I know things may get messy, that's why we'll be prepared, but do try and keep things civil Logan."
Wolverine gave a rather dashing smile, "Don't I always?"
Cyclops set the Blackbird down behind cover at an abandoned construction site. Magneto had been in the area recently and the partly constructed building kept the passersby, if there were any, from spotting the plane. Cyclops turned around in the pilot's seat to look at the team. Iceman and Rouge were barely containing their excitement. The Beast was reading some kind of Rhode Island tourist guide. Cyclops didn't bother to question this odd act. Wolverine was warily looking out the front window.
"What's the matter Logan, scared of a little recon?"
"Shut up Cyke, something doesn't smell right."
Humoring the Canadian Scott replied, "OK we'll stay extra alert." Scott was able to keep from laughing as they left the Blackbird. Logan was always making missions a fight. It was possible for them to leave the mansion and not wind up fighting someone. Why didn't Logan see that?
It was a blatant set up. Wolverine growled. As soon as they left the Blackbird the Brotherhood had appeared. Mystique smiling seductively, Magneto, cape blowing in the light breeze, Toad tilted his head to the left eyeing them, and Pyro grinning as he twirled a ball of fire with the fingers of his left hand, a blazing tail connecting it to the lighter in his right. They were a dashing scene and Wolverine charged towards them. But the master of magnetism held him mid stride. Wolverine couldn't move, couldn't join his teammates as they took on the Brotherhood.
Pyro launched his fire at Bobby. Iceman dodged and lobed an ice ball at the other teen. Rogue inched closer, trying to go unnoticed and then make a grab for Pyro. But Mystique grabbed her around her clothed middle using one of her agile blue legs. She brought Rogue down and then kicked. Rogue moaned; this was not a fun part of the job. She rolled over and prepared to fight the shape shifter.
Cyclops turned to the skirmishes that had erupted. Then he felt a weight slam into his back. He tried to turn, create enough force to throw off the person on his back. But, it was Toad, and he was stuck on good. Cyclops drove his elbows back, trying to hit the smaller man in the ribs or some other vulnerable spot. Failing to do this, instead he felt Toad's tongue close around his neck, strangling him. In a last ditch effort as things got gray Cyclops threw himself backwards onto the ground with all his strength, sandwiching Toad between the ground and the black leather back of the X-man. Toad moaned.
"You twat!" he cursed.
"Hey! Keep it civil, you'll ruin Bobby's virgin ears." Pyro scolded from behind, using his foot to roll Cyclops off of the little green man. Both men were now shakily on their feet and slowly circling each other.
The Beast was not an overly aggressive man. But, they were under attack, he needed to fight back. They needed Wolverine back, so Beast scanned the battlefield for Magneto. They were slowly spreading themselves apart. Rogue and Mystique were literally rolling on the ground. Pyro was advancing Bobby towards a framed out wall that was likely meant to be the houses' garage. The conflict between Toad and Cyclops was almost comical as the X-men leader shot optic blasts at the Brother who simply flipped out of the way like a gymnast. Magneto stood farther back, trying to avoid notice a little, still holding Wolverine by the adamantium of his bones. The Beast spotted him and began a loping gait towards the master of metal.
A few feet away Iceman and Pyro were going strong. Pyro threw himself forward and the shift in target threw Bobby off balance. Pyro and Iceman collided head on and fell to the ground, a mess of limbs. Physically it was a very even match, the boys were practically the same height, weight, and had been originally trained by the same man. But Pyro had been undergoing very intense training with the Brotherhood since he'd left Xavier. He was up first and had Bobby around the wrists. Bobby shot an ice blast, which caught Pyro in the chest, making him stumble back to his knees. Bobby tried again but Pyro re-aimed Iceman's hands in a harmless direction. Glancing around Pyro saw his opportunity. He brought his knee up to Bobby's face, dazing the blonde. He yanked him the couple feet to a support beam of the partially completed house and withdrew a pair of shiny metal handcuffs from his pocket. Bobby groaned. "I know kinky, but hey standard issue from the master of metal." He clipped Bobby's wrists around the beam. Bobby's head cleared the rest of the way and he struggled to free himself.
"Sorry Iceman, I win." And Pyro left him to rejoin his teammates.
Hank crashed into the caped figure and sent him sprawling to the ground. Magneto let go of Wolverine to focus on his attacker for the moment. In response a big metal beam flew towards the blue man. Beast caught the flying metal and tossed it aside. Beast continued forward. He crashed into Magneto and drove them backwards, farther away from their teammates. They rose up into the air. Magneto was in control. The beast held on to the older man and tried to break his focus. He was a little wary about the drop, but he really couldn't just wait for Magneto to decide to take him back down. With his acrobatics he should be able to roll when he hit and avoid extensive injury. Committed to the plan, he let go of Magneto and pushed off with his strong feet.
The sensation of falling was intense. It was so intense Beast was only vaguely aware off Magneto shooting upward as his velocity increased due to the dramatic reduction in weight. He was sure the Brotherhood leader would regain control and return to the fight, but beast really had to focus his attention on landing first.
Wolverine felt Magneto's hold drop, felt control rush back into his limbs. He was in full combat mode. He took off towards the Beast. Suddenly he came to stop. Eyes closed in concentration he heard the crunch of sand as an enemy stepped up behind him. Wolverine spun around fast and planted his claws deep into the member of the Brotherhood who had tried to sneak. His nostrils flared as the faintly familiar scent drowned in the coppery odor of blood. Opening his eyes, he saw the slack-jawed face of John Allerdyce. The only thing that was holding the boy up was the adamantium. Withdrawing the claws, he caught Pyro and lowered him to the ground.
He'd speared the kid between the ribs, clean through the left lung. John lay on the ground, his T-shirt was black so you couldn't see a spreading redness, but the wetness was apparent. In fact it was oozing out from under him and visibly pooling around the wound. His chest was heaving madly and he wheezingly gulped for air.
"Logan!" the cry of Marie cut through the air. Mystique held her, dangling over the edge of the hill they were fighting on, a bit of a distance away. It was a good distance up, she'd be lucky to survive the fall. Logan felt the animal that had edged back upon seeing the damage he'd inflicted, come rushing back. One of the pack was in danger. He had to remember, Pyro was one of the enemy. He'd done the same thing to Mystique that day on Liberty Island. He took off in a run, determined to stop the blue skinned brother from her current mission.