I'm back guys. Sorry for the delay life just seems to keep happening. Lol! Anyway, things are about to heat up for the X-men can they handle the fire? Enough babble. Story on!
Disclaimers: I do not own the characters just having a little fun with them.
Chapter Two: Far From Over
The X-Men disappeared from the room leaving Xavier at his desk. The Professor sighed raking his hand through his hair for the umpteenth time today.
"What are you up to, Apocalypse?" He mumbled looking up after sensing several new presences in the hall outside his door. Charles smiled after hearing a soft rap on the door leading into his office.
"Come in, Moira." He called out to the person on the other side of the door, it swung opened slowly revealing Moira McTaggert and the X-Force filing into the room.
"You know," Pietro began zooming passed her into the room. "that never ceases to amaze me." He took a seat on the arm of the couch a cocky smirk resting on his face. A smile found Charles face as he watched his second team X-team entering. Betsy Braddock, code name Psylocke entered in behind Moira. Her long purple hair in a high ponytail her slanted purple eyes focusing on the Professor. Hello, Charles.
Hello, Betsy. She nodded taking a seat on the couch beside Quicksilver. Jubilee, a past student of he's, entered next waving at him broadly with a happy smile on her face. Her yellow trench coat flowed behind her. She was followed by the younger summers' brother, Alex, who nodded in the Professor's direction. Another one of his old students, Theresa Cassidy better known as Siyrn, trailed in after him smiling at Charles. Following up the rear was Sean Cassidy, also known as Banshee he and the Professor shared a look as he closed the door behind him. They all took a seat or stood making themselves comfortable in the nice size office.
"You ready to get to work, Charles?" Moira asked in her distinct Irish accent. He caught her eyes and grinned at her.
"Always."
"So what's the skinny on this Apocalypse guy?" Sean spoke up. He stood beside Moira placing a hand around her waist in a possessive manner. "Anything new, we should know?" Charles lips quirked at the gesture finding it unnecessary. His past with Moira has long since been dead.
"That's what we're trying to figure out. The X-Men have just left not hardly a moment ago to ascertain just that. While I was in Cerebro, I stumbled across Mystique's power signature in upstate New York. Just as I was about to leave I sensed Sabertooth in the Arctic circle."
"Arctic circle? Why the hell would they be there?" Alex said with a confused look on his face. Charles shook his head.
"That's what we have to find out. Not only that I felt Kurt's energy pattern, he too is present."
"Kurt?" Quicksilver head shot up. "We need to see if we can help out! I can get there in 15 minutes." Charles waved him off.
"No, they can handle it." Pietro seethed crossing his arms against his chest. Charles shook his head. "I sensed a powerful telepath in New York, a nine year old boy, and I sent Storm, Magneto, and Gambit to retrieve him and prevent whatever Mystique's plans are~."
"Oh goody, Magneto on the mission." Pietro sneered rolling his eyes to the ceiling. The room became tensely quiet. Charles cleared his throat and continued but stopped when he sensed someone at the door.
"Good, the others have arrived. Come on in Kitty." He said watching the door. Kitty, Bobby, Marie, Warren, and Peter filed into the room joining the rest of the team. Betsy and Warren locked eyes and his mouth fell opened. Feelings that were thought dead and gone bubbled near the surface. Hey, Angel. He looked away shyly. She simply grinned at him. "I was just going over the missions that the other X-Men have been sent on please have a seat. Now, the first team was sent to Upstate New York to rescue a telepathic boy living there." Charles said to get the others up to speed. "And then I sent Phoenix, Wolverine, Emma Frost to the Arctic Circle to find out what Sabertooth is up to there. Blink will be the go between in both missions. I am optimistic that some of our questions will be answered."
"Let's hope so. We always seem to be a step behind them every time." Moira spoke up making her presence known.
"Agreed."
"Charles, I'm with Quicksilver, you should lets us help. There's no telling what Apocalypse has planned." Alex said from his seat on the couch.
"15 minutes." Pietro looked hopeful.
"Alright," Charles began dragging a hand over his face. "Jubilee, Iceman, and Colossus take the black bird and head to Upstate New York. I will send the coordinates to the Black Bird mainframe." They nodded their heads standing to their feet. Charles turned to Pietro, "Quicksilver," Pietro stood up, "you going on and head to the Arctic Circle. Psylocke and Havok will follow behind in a X-Jet." They nodded following behind the others that were leaving out.
"Let's do it!" Quicksilver pumped a fist in the air. He sped out of the door as quickly as he left out he came back into the room. "You have some sort of beacon or coordinates or something?" Kitty frowned at him from where she leaned against the bookshelf while Marie giggled at him. Charles shook his head as he telepathically placed the destination in Pietro's mind. "Thanks, gotta run!" Pietro was gone out of the door again in a flash.
The X-Men arrived in a seemingly quiet neighborhood. Children could be seen playing in the yards, as men mowed their lawns proudly, and joggers ran along the streets waving to their neighbors as the went. Anxious eyes of the small neighborhood fell upon the leather clad warriors as they appeared out of thin air. Erik scuffed casting his eyes about,
"This very well could be another busted lead." He grumbled. Logan and Jean exchanged looks. Jean shuddered as the memory of what she did to her home two years ago filtered into her mind. Logan watched her with concern on his face. Ororo whipped out a Cerebra, a small hand-held device that aided in locating mutant energy signals, much like it's predecessor Cerebro. A beeping resonated from the device that began to pick up rapidly. She pointed to a house in the center of the cul-de-sac.
"There. Over there, are two mutant signals coming from the house on the end of the block." The house was dark, the shades were drawn, and there was not a car in the driveway.
"Chere, you sho? It don' look like dere be nobody home." Emma closed her eyes reaching out to the house with her mind.
"According to this two mutants are inside."
"Ororo's right there are people inside, but be careful we don't know if Mystique has made contact with the family yet. However, we need to head to the Arctic Circle to stop Sabertooth." Blink turned to Jean and the others.
"Well I'll be back later, guys see ya. Let's rock and roll." Blink and the others disappeared from the street leaving Remy, Ororo, and Erik. Ororo took a deep breath marching forward. Remy felt that things were off but he kept following behind Erik and Ororo. Just as Ororo was about to knock on the door Remy grabbed her arm.
"Chere, careful. Dere be a lot a fear comin' from dat house." Ororo gaze shifted from Erik to Remy. "Remy'll go 'round back to check thangs out while yall knock on de door." Ororo nodded watching Remy disappear around the side of the house. She locked eyes with Erik and she bit her lip. He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She turned to the door and rung the doorbell. The door opened wide revealing an African American woman wearing a broad smile but faded slowly. She wiped her hand on her apron.
"Can I help you?" She asked frowning at their strange appearance.
"Um . . hi. I'm Ororo and this is Erik. I was wondering have you seen any strange people around the house? Or have you noticed any strange behavior from any of your friends or neighbors?" Yeah that was real smooth. Ororo scolded herself looking at the woman who she hoped didn't think she was crazy. The woman scanned over them with skeptical eyes.
"As far as strange people besides you? No I haven't. I'm sorry." she attempted to close the door but Erik caught it.
"What about your friends or neighbors have they been acting strangely?" Erik asked placing a hand on the small of Ororo's back. The woman shook her head no. Ororo noticed a young boy peeping out of the window. He had curly hair, dark brown skin, and grey eyes peering at her in desperation. Ororo smiled at the boy. Hello there. Are you okay? She spoke to the boy telepathically. His grey eyes bucked and he shook his head no.
She killed my mom and dad. Ororo nodded.
What's your name?
Adam, please help me!
"You have a beautiful son." The woman smiled at Ororo and nodded a thank you glaring at the boy. Erik cleared his throat. "What's his name?"
"Alan."
"Oh? What a nice name." Ororo nodded her eyes became white with power. "You see he told me his name was Adam." Storm said sending a gust a wind at the woman sending her back into the house. The woman went flying through the air crashing through a wall landing on the kitchen floor. Her skin transformed into it's usual blue hue as her yellow eyes glared at Storm. Erik came beside Ororo holding the boy. His expression harden taking in Mystique's image on the floor. They locked eyes as Magneto handed Adam to Storm. His azure eyes burned into Mystique.
"Where is my daughter?" he growled threateningly. She looked up at him from where she laid on the ground remaining silent. "WHERE IS WANDA!"
"She is where she needs to be, Erik." She spat rising to her feet. He squared his shoulders running a hand over his silver head.
"Ororo take the boy and get out of here." his voice devoid of all emotion.
"Erik?"
"Now, Ororo." She gasped holding the boy closer to her. Erik sighed looking at Ororo. "Please, I don't want you to see this." She nodded turning to carry the boy out of the house. Just as she was about to leave out Pyro, Arclight, and Juggernaut appeared before her from thin air.
"And just where do you think you're goin' girly?" Juggernaut said as she ran into his strong chest. Storm put the boy behind her and began inching back.
"Stay behind me, Adam, okay." He nodded his head holding on to her thigh. Storm's pointed a hand at them her eyes whiting over with power as she sent a harsh gale at the newly appearing trio. Juggernaut was the only one able to withstand the brutal winds as the others were flung out of the windows of the house landing outside. Juggernaut staggered a bit but moved forward inching closer to Storm and Adam.
"We're not leaving here without that boy!" He yelled over the blustering wind. Storm took a step back. Go hide, Adam.
What about you?
I'll be fine, go! He nodded running up the stairs. Juggernaut attempted to switch directions, but Ororo sent a harsher squall at the behemoth. She gritted her teeth as the furniture in the room became swept up in the chaotic winds pummeling against the large, Juggernaut. She raised her arms and the large mass of a man was lifted into the air. Storm swung her arms and Juggernaut was thrown through the open door landing outside the house as well. Ororo turned behind her to see Magneto standing with forks and knives swirling around him. His face was calm but his eyes burned with a rage she had never seen.
"Where is my daughter?" He asked in a calm voice.
"I'll never tell you." He pointed at Mystique and the silverware went hurling at her. She expertly dodged and swayed avoiding every metallic object.
"Is that the best you got?" Mystique taunted him.
"You know me better than that my, dear." Both of them looked up as the back door blinked bright pink before it exploded into the house. Mystique did a back tuck out of the way landing neatly on the counter. Storm used a breeze to hurl herself at the frozen man knocking Magneto and herself out of the way. Gambit stepped in dodging a punch from Mystique.
"Looks like Remy be late fo' de party!" He said blocking a kick from the devious blue woman. He charged a card hurling it at Mystique who sailed across the room from the blast. The air was knocked from her lungs as she swayed to her feet. A deep gash ran up the length of her arm. "Remy guess you do bleed red afder all." She hissed at him charging full force.
Erik and Ororo locked eyes as she laid on top of him. He smiled up at her enjoying this moment.
"Are you alright?" She asked her cerulean eyes frantically searching his face. He grabbed her cheek brushing his thumb against it. He kissed her gently on the lips.
"I am now." Ororo blushed turning away from him.
"Erik," she began trying to raise up but he pulled her back down to him holding tightly to Ororo's thin waist. Her heart pounded within her chest his azure eyes enchanting her.
"You still love me don't you."
"This isn't the time for this." She again tried to pull away but he held fast. Her hands rested against his strong chest.
"Ororo, I never stopped loving you, and as long as I live, I always will."
"Erik." She whispered leaning down to him as he met her halfway their lips brushing, but Erik stopped the almost kiss. He raised up a magnetic shield protecting them from the shockwave Arclight sent at them. Magneto rolled Storm onto her back placing her behind him as he ripped apart the cast iron table wrapping it around Arclight. She fell to the floor on her side glaring at the Master of Magnetism. Erik helped Ororo to her feet just as John ran up the stairs to find Adam. "Go, I'll handle the Bear." She nodded flying up the stairs.
"Who me, mate?" Juggernaut said as he stepped back into the house. Magneto turned to him a broad smile on his face.
"Why don't we take this fight outside? Tell me, is that suit made of metal?" Juggernaut frowned as Magneto sent him hurling back out of the house. "I thought it was." He said walking out of the house after him his leather cape billowing behind him.
Storm flew up the stairs her white eyes searching for Adam. Adam? Adam honey where are you?
I'm down the hall in the last room. Hurry, he's in here. She darted for the room the pictures that hung on the wall were torn off by the rapid winds she left in her wake. She heard Adam scream out as she arrived, finding Pyro holding the boy against him his hand around Adam's throat.
"John, stop this!"
"Why? We, us, mutants are the future, Storm! Why do you protect those humans? And now you have Magneto, the once mutant savior fighting with you. Why?"
"You know why, John. Now let Adam go." He grimaced at her.
"My name is Pyro, and oh yeah, I remember. Peaceful co-existence," He wore a lopsided grin, "what a load of crap! Apocalypse wants us," he said pointing among all three of them, "to rule them. Humans are nothing!" The wheels in Ororo's head began to turn. John was a hot natured as the element he manipulated.
"Do you actually think he's going to let you rule anything, John? Honey think about it, Apocalypse is about survival of the fittest, and you're a pawn to him. A servant! Only the strong will rule with him." John growled. Adam whimpered as the hand around his neck glowed burning into his skin. Ororo gasped locking eyes with Adam. He squirmed against John.
"I am strong!"
"Are you? You have a child by his throat, how strong can you be?" John sent a stream of fire at her. She dodged the angry heat summoning a lightning bolt to blind Pyro temporarily. He screamed out falling to his knees as he held his eyes. Storm scooped up the blinded Adam flying back out of the room.
Blink and the others arrived at the Arctic Circle their eyes roaming the scene around them. Jean gasped when her gaze fell upon Mr. Sinister holding a badly beaten Kurt against him with a knife at his throat. The pair stood on a wooden alter amidst ice harden glaciers with Sabertooth, Frenzy, and Riptide standing below. Sinister was chanting when they arrived but stopped at the intruders. His bloody gaze turned to Jean an evil grin peeled his lips.
"Kurt!" Blink shouted out in a voice merged with anger and fear as she saw the man that had become a father to her life hanging in the balance.
"How nice of you to join us, to witness some greatness!" Mr. Sinister offered politely adjusting the smaller slumping man in his grasp. A soft moan rolled from Kurt's opened mouth as his head fell against the deranged Doctor. Sabertooth growled glaring daggers into Wolverine, who unsheathed his claws.
"Bring it on, bub." Sabertooth looked back at Sinister, who nodded at him. A bloodlust pulled over his face as he tackled Wolverine. The men went tumbling down an icy slope leaving the conversation. Sinister chuckled his red eyes shifting to Clarice, Jean, and Emma.
"Let him go!" Emma's body turned into indestructible diamond her clear gaze burning into Mr. Sinister, and he chuckled again.
"As soon as I am finished with Mr. Wagner I promise to think about it, Miss Frost." His red eyes turned to his compatriots, "Riptide, Frenzy how about a little protection until I'm finished with this." They nodded turning toward the X-Men. Frenzy sped past Blink connecting a punch to Emma's diamond jaw. The force knocked her face to the side but she remained on her feet. Emma turned to her and punched her back getting the same result from Frenzy.
"Looks like this could take awhile." Emma's sarcasm not lost on Frenzy, who laughed nodding her head.
"Looks that way." She kicked Emma in the side then darted around kicking her in the back of her leg knocking her to her knee. Emma swung wildly at Frenzy, who dodged it punching her in the head. Just as Frenzy attempted to punch Emma again, she caught her hand.
"I've had about enough of that." She kneed the Frenzy in the stomach and pushed her to the ground. Emma dove on her bring her elbow down on her but Frenzy zipped out of the way kicking Frost in the face.
Jean stood across from Riptide, who wore an arrogant expression on his face. He summoned a level two twister in his palm waving his hand back and forth before hurling at Jean. She closed her eyes concentrating, when they opened bright flames burned within them as she extended her hand. She caught the twister with her mind a smirk hanging on her lips. He chuckled in response turning the intensity of the twister to the next level. His dark shoulder length hair blew wildly about him as he grit his teeth pushing it forward, and she pushed back. Riptide chuckled again creating another twister in his other hand hurling it at her as well and she caught that one too. Jean's deep red hair whipped around wildly as her eyes burned darker turn black.
"Is that the best you can do?" Jean asked in a barely confident tone. He roared as he summoned an even larger tornado. The darken wind grew fiercely tumultuous as it touched down on the ground. The tornado sought the Phoenix threatening to over take her. She felt her control over her powers slipping and dropped to one knee. The ice below her chilled her as she reached into the depths of her mind for the control she needed of her dangerous powers. We need to destroy him! Phoenix echoed from within the deep recesses of Jean's mind. Jean shook her head no clawing for control.
"So this is the mighty, Phoenix?" He yelled over the loud wind. "Somehow, I thought you would be tougher than this!" Flames erupted around her huddled form encase her within the inferno. LET ME FREE TO SAVE US! Phoenix screamed within her mind. Jean's control slipped and Phoenix was released, for the moment. The entity brought her blackened eyes to him.
"You should always trust your first thoughts." Phoenix rasped in voice that was barely human. She used her telekinetic powers to grab all three twisters she slammed them together. YOU WILL DIE TODAY, MORTAL! Phoenix screeched within Riptide's mind. He gasped trying to gain control of his twisters. Telekinetic flames burned within the gigantic tornado she released a battle cry that sounded like an eagle's call, and sent it back to Riptide, whose eyes bucked in surprise. He was swept up in the tornado of his creation and her manipulation. The flames bit at his body and the winds ripped at him until there was nothing left. Riptide's tortured screams barely heard over the roar of the treacherous winds. When the tornado stopped spinning, there was no sign of Riptide. Jean slumped over tiredly her breaths coming out harsh and ragged. She tried to stand but fell back to her knees. She sat for a moment trying to gather her composure. A wave of guilt washed over her as she thought of what she'd just done. I took yet another life. Phoenix cackled within in the recesses of Jean's mind sending comforting waves to the distraught woman.
You did what you had to do. It was him or us. You chose wisely. Jean bit back the sob in her throat turning her eyes to Logan, who was battling against Sabertooth.
Logan narrowly missed the slash to his torso. Sabertooth growled his blue eyes glaring coldly at the smaller man.
"You getting slow, Jimmy." Logan frowned at the name giving Victor the window he needed to slash Logan across the face. Logan fell back landing hard on the ice. Sabertooth stomped his foot into Wolverine's stomach. A yell was wrenched from the man's lips as he gathered himself holding on to the taller man's leg. Logan stuck his claws through Victor's thigh blood dripping from the metal blade claw. He roared in pain sticking his own claws into Wolverine's chest. Sabertooth picked Wolverine up over his head and slammed him into the ground. Logan coughed trying to get back to his feet but Victor stomped him in the back. Logan cried out in pain trying to roll away but Victor kept stomping him mercilessly. "I have to say, Jimmy. The X-men have made you soft."
"Who the hell is Jimmy, bub!" Logan kicked Victor in the balls causing him to fall to his knees. Logan shoved his claws through Victor's heart giving it a brutal twist before yanking them out. Victor moaned falling to his side he began to laugh hysterically.
"You are, brother."
"Brother?"
"That's right, Jimmy. We're brothers and I owe yer ass one hell of an ass whooping." Victor jumped up running his thick nails up one side of Logan and down the other. "Oh yeah, you don't remember." He said as he head butted the smaller man in the face breaking his nose. "Stryker really fucked you up didn't he?" He said with a laugh kicking him in the side. "You don't remember a Goddamn thing." He kicked him in the side again. "Tell ya, what, maybe I can tell you everything once all this is over, or" he kicked him again. "not!" he went to kick Logan again but he caught his foot.
"What do you know?" Victor squinched his eyes at his younger brother. Hazel burned into blue.
"I know everything, brother." Victor looked at him smugly preparing to snatch his leg back when they both looked around to see Quicksilver slamming a foot into Sabertooth's face. The tall man slid across the ice away from the fight.
"Hey there!" he said offering Logan a hand, who took it. "Looks like I got here just in time." Logan looked around to see Emma smashing Frenzy in the face.
"Yeah, I guess you did, bub."
Mr. Sinister stopped chanting and growled as he watched the Quicksilver join in the skirmish. He shook his head his eyes sweeping over the battles before him, finding Riptide nowhere insight.
"Useless!" He shouted out. His red eyes glared at Blink, who popped up in front of him. He smiled at her. "Why hello there Miss Ferguson, I'll be with you shortly."
"Let him go!" Her eyes narrowing at him. Sinister laughed at her bringing the blade tighter to Kurt's neck.
"Or what little girl?" she sent a glowing magenta pike at him and he caught with his mind. "I am a bit busy right now, go away." He sent the pike back at her she barely got out of the way in time. She attempted to throw another one but fell backward off of the alter when it began to shake landing awkwardly on the ice. "It begins, now all I need is the blood of the son." He leaned down to whisper into Kurt's ear, "and guess what Mr. Wagner. That just happens to be you!" He slit Nightcrawler's throat. Kurt's eyes were large as his life's essence drained from him. Mr. Sinister leaned him forward so his blood could drip in front of him on the pentagram drawn on the alter.
"KURT!" Blink roared charging at them. Mr. Sinister chuckled tossing Nightcrawler at Blink and they both went flying over the edge of the alter. She pulled him into her arms holding him tightly. "Please! God help me! Somebody!" The battles all stopped as all eyes were on Clarice and Kurt, who was gasping she held her hand over his wound tears spilling from her eyes.
"KURT!" Quicksilver shouted out speeding over to Nightcrawler and Blink helping her with him. Kurt reached up a hand touching her face panting small puffs of air could be seen leaving his lips. Jean ran up to them next, using her medical background, she snapped into action. She tore a piece of cloth from Kurt's tattered shirt tying it around his neck.
"Keep pressure on it!" Frenzy looked around in horror not believing what her eyes were telling her. She shook her head no both she and Emma ran to them but stopped when flames exploded from the alter. The earth shook violently as a shockwave flowed through the area knocking everyone standing from their feet aside from Mr. Sinister, who wore a pleased expression. Quicksilver covered Clarice and Kurt with his body as Jean raised a telekinetic of flames to shield them protecting the trio.
A loud trumpet resounded around the Arctic forewarning the arrival of someone coming. The flames shot straight up into the sky turning black as a figure ascended to the alter leaving only smoke behind. A tall bare chested humanoid with red skin, glowing yellow eyes, black hair, and a thin muscular physique stood boldly where the flames once were. His hard eyes scanned over the people.
"Hello, Azazel. It has been a long time." Azazel tipped his head offering his hand to Mr. Sinister, who shook it.
"It has, my friend." His yellow eyes locked with Blink's magenta ones and her at smiled. "It's so good to see my children, again." She gasped pulling Kurt tighter to her. Kurt turned his yellow eyes to Azazel gazing at him. "That's right. You are my children." Clarice shook her head.
"You are not my father!" Azazel chuckled and nodded his head. He disappeared from the alter reappearing in front of the group huddled around the dying Kurt.
"Oh but I am." He shape-shifted into a shorter man with blonde hair and olive green eyes. "Do you remember me now?" Tears sprang to her eyes as she shook her head no. "I thought you would." He shifted back to his regular form walking closer to them. He leaned down into Jean's flaming telekinetic shield. Her eyes bucked at him trying to strengthen the force of the shield but he was unaffected. "You can not die yet, son. There is work yet to be done." Azazel touch Kurt's neck and Nightcrawler's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he passed out.
"What did you do to him!" Clarice yelled pulling a pike from her holster. He chuckled at her standing up to his full height.
"He will live." Azazel looked up as an X-Jet descended down on them. He looked over his shoulder at Mr. Sinister. "I believe that is our exit cue. "
"I believe so." Azazel turned to the group at his feet smiling wickedly once more turning away.
"I will meet you there old friend." He teleported away leaving smokey sulfur behind to sting the noses of the X-men. Mr. Sinister touched a button on his belt and disappeared from the alter reappearing beside Frenzy the others quickly joined them disappearing from the Arctic Circle.
The fight in the quiet neighborhood went from inside to outside as the X-men battled the forces of Apocalypse with an angry vigor. Storm floated in the air channeling lightning through her body hurling it at the ever elusive Arclight, who ducked and dodged her every attack. The evil mutant clashed her hands together a shockwave hit Storm full on knocking her from the sky. She landed hard on the ground trying to stand but fell back to the ground. She shook the darkness that threaten to overtake her back. Storm looked up noticing that Mystique was missing from the battle. She stood as worry entered her, Adam? Adam! She looked around frantically trying to find him. Arclight charged at her from behind attempting to hit her blind side, but Gambit hurled a charged card at the mutant sending her flying in the opposite direction. Storm and Gambit locked eyes for a moment and she smiled at him. He blew her a kiss and continued fighting Pyro.
Storm! She heard Adam in her mind and found Mystique approaching him. Storm watched as he touched his temple and Mystique stopped in her tracks. She tried with all her might to keep walking forward but Adam managed to stop her with his mind. Storm flew at Adam grabbing him in her arms. He dangled above the air held tightly in Ororo's grasp. He looked up at her and smiled and she winked at him. Storm held him in one arm and sent a small lightening bolt at Mystique, who managed to dodge at the last possible second. She glinted at the Windrider, who hovered above her.
Gambit leapt out of the way of a stream of fire from the pyromaniac. John's vision was still blurred from the lightning bolt Storm delivered to him. He rubbed his eyes trying to focus better before he began concentrating on short burst of fire. He grunted after ever ball he threw at the Cajun.
"Hold still!" Pyro said gritting his teeth. Gambit rolled across the asphalt retrieving his bo staff and spun it in front of him deflecting the fire balls Pyro was throwing at him.
"Dere be no blackened Cajun today, mon ami!" Gambit charged his bo staff with his kinetic powers slamming it into the ground. Pyro was flung into the air just as sent one last fire ball at him. The misguided fire missile whizzed dangerously in the air approaching Storm and Adam. "Chere! Look out!"
Juggernaut long since discarded his armor now relentlessly pounded on magnetic shield Magneto had around. The Master of Magnetism gave the angry goliath a cocky smirk with his arms across his chest as he watched from the safety of his shield.
"Come on out and fight you wanker!" Magneto chuckled at him. He lowered his shield just as Juggernaut was about to punch, and the angry mutant went stumbling past him running into the bricks of the split level house.
"Alright then. As you wish." Magneto used his powers to strengthen his attacks as he slammed Juggernaut's head into the bricks then punched him in the left kidney. The behemoth howled as Magneto's attacks were ten times stronger with the magnetic force behind them. Juggernaut swung his arm around nearly connecting but Magneto ducked and kneed him in the face. Juggernaut growled angrily grabbing Magneto by the throat choking him. He buried his booted feet into the chest of the angry man stretching out of Juggernaut's reach and flew out of his grasp. Magneto touched his neck and narrowed his eyes into slits. He sensed copper pipes underneath the ground, with his powers he ripped the piping from the earth. It swirled around the wide eyed Juggernaut before Magneto began beating him over the head with the piping. "Where is my daughter?" Erik asked as he hit him again. He caught one of the pipes throwing it at Erik, who floated to the side missing the copper torpedo.
"Sod off you bloody wanker!" Magneto wrapped a copper pipe around Juggernaut's thick neck squeezing it tightly. The man wheezed and hacked trying to breathe around the obstruction. He tugged at the pipe as his world was starting to turn black but Magneto squeezed harder.
"Where is my daughter?" Juggernaut's blue eyes began rolling to the back of his head. "Not yet!" He hissed slacking the pipe he dragged Juggernaut up to him. "WHERE IS MY WANDA?" The man inhaled deeply as air was released into his lungs. He began to a horsed laugh.
"She's with us, now." Magneto roared slamming him into the ground then into the house and back up to him. Blood spilled from Juggernaut's lips and nose, one of his eyes was beginning to close.
"GIVE HER BACK!" The mutant only seem to laugh more.
"Not my call." He said weakly giving Magneto a bloody grin. They looked up as they heard Gambit call out. Magneto looked around to see a fireball coming right at Storm, who was holding Adam to her chest as she fought Mystique from the air. He dropped Juggernaut and sped towards them just as Storm looked around. Her eyes bucked as she stuck out her hand to summon a wind but there was not enough time. Erik threw himself in front of the flames taking the brunt of fire. He shielded her and Adam wrapping himself around her. Storm and Magneto both screamed out from the burns they received. He gasped his grip on her slipping. He fell away from her but she sent a draft of wind under him slowing his descent. She laid him as gently as she could on the ground. She placed Adam down beside her as she kneeled down to access Erik's damage. Half of his face was burned away, his whole back was charred, and his right side was covered with melted leather fused with his skin.
"No no no no! Erik! Erik baby." He smiled weakly at her. Tears sprang to her eyes as she brushed what silver hair was left. She saw Mystique take a step back in her peripheral vision and Storm heard Juggernaut chuckle tiredly from where he laid. She locked eyes with the massive beast and snapped, her eyes whiting over with power. Juggernaut's smile fell as she stood letting out an angry shout taking to the air. The skies darkened, the clouds opened releasing hellish amounts of rain, and hurricane winds whipped through the small neighborhood. The houses trembled at the fierce winds the shutters and shingles flying away. Lightning flashed across dark sky and thunder rumbled above. A funnel drifted from her body sweeping Juggernaut up, followed by Pyro and Arclight, ending with Mystique. Their screams were drowned out in the angry funnel. They swirled within the vortex terror filling each of them.
"Ro! Stormy! Stop! Ya'll kill 'em!" She looked down at him. His eyes pleaded with her. "Dis ain't the way! Stop! Ya ain't a killa!" She whimpered but nodded her head pulling her powers reigning her powers back into her core. Storm dropped them on the lawn in a disoriented pile. Storm descended to the ground below falling to her side from exhaustion. She crawled over to Erik pulling him into her arms weeping uncontrollably. Remy and Adam looked up as the Blackbird descended from the sky landing in the middle of the street. The ramp let down and Colossus, Jubilee, and Iceman ran to them.
"What the hell happened?" Bobby said his eyes raking over Erik's burned body in Ororo's arms.
"Homme jumped in to save Stormy and Adam. Les get him to de Blackbird. Iceman, petite yall handle dem." Remy pointed to the barely conscious pile of mutants on the front lawn. Jubilee and Bobby ran towards them powering up as the ran. "Colossus help me wit him."
"I got him." Colossus said as he lifted Erik into his arms carrying him to the jet. Ororo tried to stand but fell back against Gambit.
"Take it easy, chere." He helped her stand up right.
"I'm fine." She said wiping her tears away. She held out a hand for Adam, "Come on sweetheart." He ran to her taking her hand. Remy turned to others about to help Bobby and Jubilee out when Mystique looked up she stretched out over the others and touched a button on her belt.
"This is far from over!" she hissed as she and the others disappeared from the grass altogether.
"Merde!" He cursed raking a hand through his hair. His red on black eyes shifting from where they laid to the X-men. "Well hell, les go den. We need to get Magneto to the mansion." They took off in a sprint to the jet boarding it quickly.