Surprise
"Nice night," a deep voice comments.
"Oh, it's you," I utter, only a little startled. Alone with my jumbled thoughts, I tend to space out.
The purple archer sits down next to me and places a steaming Styrofoam cup in my hands. He stares at me for a minute, finally making me look up. His baby blue eyes are full of worry and concern. "You okay, Illusion?"
"Nikki," I interject. "My name is Nikki."
"It suits you. Doesn't Nikki mean victory of the people?"
"I think so. My parents must have known I would someday become a mutant leader."
"Maybe. Anyway, are you okay? You've seemed out of it all day. Witchcraft said during the recruitments you seemed weaker. Bellona noticed that every time you used your powers you looked sick. Are you sure you can fight tomorrow?"
"If I don't, the rest of you are as good as dead. Give me some time to rest, I'll be fine."
"There's something you're not telling me. Spit it out."
I sigh. Somehow that line seems familiar. Stalling, I take a long sip of the steamy coffee. "Honestly, I don't know how much longer I'll last. Most of the symptoms are done. When you start losing control of your powers, you're near the end of the line. It's taking all my energy just to keep the Virus from spreading. Teleporting was almost too much. I swear I saw Big Ben and Niagara Falls. And all this stuff about this not being reality, there's no way any of it is true. Just imagine a killer in a school, teaching kids how to use their powers."
"You seem overly fond of describing yourself as a 'killer.'"
"That's what I am, Clint! Manslaughter doesn't fix itself! And there's no way to take it back! The scary part isn't just the killings. It's the fact I enjoy it! That I don't care!"
"We've all killed before. You of all people should realize that."
"Not of that severity! I wish the Virus would just take me already."
"So, you don't know when you'll kick the bucket."
"Exactly. For all I know, I won't wake up in the morning."
"Then push aside all those feelings. I know you allow anger and hatred and not much else, so the next best thing is to suppress them. Sense that's the case, we better make tonight count."
Clint pulls my face closer to his. I instinctively pull away, my normal self screaming at me to pull away. This is the kind of thing that can get you killed. But a small part says yes. Let yourself experience happiness. This could be the start of the life you've always wanted. I resign to it. What starts out as a shy, awkward kiss quickly becomes more passionate. The shy lip-locking quickly turns to a full-out sex session. Hours pass. My eyelids flutter open, moving slower at the bright light. It has to be at least 10 am according to the position of the ball of fire. Finally able to see past the sun, I take in my surroundings. We still lay on the cool stone balcony. My head rests on Clint's shoulder. His arm wraps protectively around my waist. My jacket hangs off the side, fluttering in the wind. The zipper running along from my neck to my hips is undone. Nestling closer, enjoying the warmth of his bare chest, I let him sleep a while longer. Everybody needs to be at their strongest today. When I feel enough time passes, I gently poke him while whispering, "Time to wake up. We can't stay out here forever."
He rolls over, still half asleep. "Mornin'," he groans.
"Come on, up you go." I tug him to his feet. "We need to get ready."
"Last night was definitely worthwhile."
Nodding in agreement, I zip up my suit and retrieve my jacket. Then I push open the glass doors. Some give us puzzled glances, but my only response is waving them downstairs. We do some last minute prep. When everything is accounted for, the teleporters transport us to the outskirts of Genosha. "Remember, stick to the plan," I remind them.
Those in charge of the security leave. People who can move fast enough take out the guards on the outer perimeter. I instruct Mystery to keep the others hidden just inside the gates for as long as possible or until I give the signal. Whichever comes first. Grabbing Clint and Mimicry, I move us to a guard room without being detected. Clint keeps a lookout for any lone guards, Mimicry gets herself acquainted with the security grid, and I take a look around outside a window. There are three outer rims of guards. Gypsy sneaks past the outermost corridor. She agilely leaps between the poles with her speed and takes down a guard with a well-aimed kick.
"Ha!" she mouths, moving on.
Dead Speed takes the next layer. He zooms past, steals a gun, and shoots them down one by one. I'm not worried about him being shot at. Diego has a regeneration power. Almost nothing can kill him. That particular power has me questioning parts of his life. On the innermost layer, Dark Flame keeps herself hidden in the shadows. When the guard is distracted, she strikes. Each body falls to the ground, slightly pale from her powers. She hovers over top, her face a cross between victorious and zealous. I know she drains other people's energy to make up for her lack of it, but afterwards she's demented. There is no alternative way to put it.
"I think I can do this!" Mimicry whisper shouts, disturbing me.
Before I can give her further instructions, a piercing scream rings through the air. A sound of gunfire come next, then sounds of power usage. God, no. We've been found. "I have to go!" I cry, shoving my way past Hawkeye, almost getting speared with an arrow flying past.
"You can't!" he yells, just as distressed as me. "You're too valuable. Stay here, I'll go."
"I don't care if I'm valuable, I'm going!"
"No you're not. Without you this whole thing is doomed. Stay hidden."
"Like hell," I grumble, completely pissed but obeying. He bolts off, an arrow ready to go. I sadly watch him leave. His words are true, no matter how much I deny it. Our group needs me to stand a chance. More screams echo off the walls. Bright flashes illuminate the stones. Soldiers run by not far away. Some come towards us once they notice the door hanging off its hinges. To distract them, I make a hologram of Mimicry run away. They follow it, but the illusion starts acting funny. It runs in circles; then it explodes. Great. "Amanda, quicker! The others are getting attacked. I'll shield you as long as I can!"
"I can only work so fast," she mutters. She still moves closer to the machine when I create a protective dome around us.
The dome shrinks. I strain to keep it up, but Amanda encounters a problem. "Just smash the damn thing!" I yell in frustration and pain. "You got what you needed!" Heeding my advice, Amanda picks up the gun of a fallen soldier and blasts it to pieces. "Finally!" I run to join the battle. Even after such little time, bodies of our allies litter the ground. Among them are Mystery, White Tiger, Felecia, and Christmas Miracle. Blood gushes out of Mystery's head, White Tiger has a missing leg, Felecia's eyes stare blankly at the sunny sky, and Christmas Miracle seems to been strangled with her own ribbon. Secretly their deaths faze me, but I give no outward indication.
In the time that it takes me to look around, Translator is gunned down. Dynamite struggles to free herself from a net. Unable to stand the sight of a child in pain, I make a pair of scissors cut her free. I join the fight, my determination fueled by anger. This was going to be bloody-how could it not? But I convinced myself that no one would die. Reality hits me hard. All at once, it becomes harder to breathe. Any constructs I made are dimming and flickering. I have to make my way to Magneto before I become powerless. If that doesn't happen, this was a wasted attempt. "Hawkeye!" I yell. "Hawkeye!"
"What is it, Nikki?" He runs over to me and crouches down so we can look each other in the eye.
"I'm sorry about leaving you to fight Polaris and Quicksilver alone. My time is almost up. I need to get to Magneto pronto. When the opportunity arises, go after the Scarlet Witch. I'll hold him off as lo-" Clint shuts me up with a kiss.
"You always did talk too much," he grins. Clint pulls me to my feet and presses a small medallion into my hand. "I wanted to give you this when we lived in a democracy, but seeing how you might not survive…"
"Thank you, Clint. I'll walk away from this. Promise."
"I'll hold you up to that," he whispers, wiping away a stray tear. Somehow it found a way around my defenses.
This is no time to be distracted. Pretend Clint never came. Focus, Nikki, focus. I creep out of the courtyard extremely slowly, trying not to fall over. Magneto is probably near the middle. That's my destination. Watching my teammates fight for their lives awakes an old bloodthirsty me. It's all I can do to stop myself from murdering all their assailants. All this training, all this formulation, all of it is wasted. I reach the center. Before I can stand upright, a scalding blast of fire pushes me to my knees.
"Well well well, the Calvary has come," a voice laughs.
"She doesn't seem very strong, sir. Maybe we should wait for somebody to rescue her," another unknown voice contradicts. This one sounds female.
"And risk it being your daughter or husband? Trust me; this one has enough fight left in her."
Those voices…I know them. "Magneto? Rebecca?" I squeak.
"Yes, Illusion. Or may I call you Nikki?" Magneto asks.
I manage to pull myself to my knees. "Erik, this needs to stop now. Humans have as much a right to live as you and I." Damn, it feels good to say that aloud.
"Oh, I know. But you need to see it from a true mutant's perspective. You've been tainted by the humans, especially the fool you have chosen to recreate with."
Recreate? The medallion Hawkeye gave me lies on the floor a couple inches away. I extend my arm. When my hand is right next to it, Erik stomps on my fingers. I gasp in pain.
"Rebecca, can you identify this?" He tosses the metal circle to Flame.
She inspects it, memorizing every indentation. "Made long ago, origins unknown, first given to Apocalypse's wife as a marriage gift. Disappeared for many years. I have no idea how Illusion came into possession of it."
So Hawkeye intended it to be a symbol of future matrimony? He must be ready to take our relationship to the next level. "It was a present. Our group has more ties than you know about. Little miss traitor here mustn't have noticed."
"I only told her to report your numbers, strategies, and your declining health."
"Yeah, um, about that…" Another scream, louder than the rest, rings through the air. It sounds suspiciously like Dark Flame. A second one, coming from Baton, follows. I can picture what's happening now. Dead Speed and Dark Force are clobbering Bella's assailants. Dancecraze is beating Baton's attacker to death. Any withdrawals about killing are now completely gone. "You may defeat us, but there will be more. Queen Angelica inspired all of Europe. Ororo of Wakanda, Jalelou of Latveria, and countless others. Eventually someone will succeed."
Rebecca shoots more flames at me. They burn hotter and brighter as she sucks more energy from my dying cells. "May I tend to my daughter?"
Magneto nods. "Maybe I was wrong about you," he sneers, glaring at me.
My sprawled position on the floor is a sign of weakness, I know. Faking strength, but not anger, I snarl, "And to think you used to have some compassion. Correct me if I'm wrong: you made sure I was exposed to a fully developed sample of the Legacy Virus. You made sure Elixir couldn't do a thing to save me. The only question is why you did it before I left."
"It came to my attention something along the lines of your departure would occur. Your strong personality just guarantees that. Now, here's a surprise, just for you…" He snaps his fingers and Quicksilver drags Clint in by the scruff of his neck.
"Hawkeye!" I exclaim, desperately trying to stand up. Unable to, I settle with staying on my knees. My breath becomes more haggard. Sweat cascades down my face. Blood pours from scratches and old wounds I thought were healed.
"Nikki! What are you doing to her? Let me go!" Clint struggles to break free of Pietro's iron grip. Quicksilver just laughs and holds his wrists tighter.
Under other circumstances, I would assure him that everything will be all right, but that'd be a lie. Before I can even say anything, the air around me turns into a mini lightshow. Faint, weak holograms run around for a few seconds, then vanish. Normally I channel my powers through my hands, but now my whole body has control. This can only mean one thing.
"Any last words before your precious powers terminate you?"
"Oh do I ever." Choosing to keep most of the choice words to myself, I keep it simple. "Fuck you," I say to Magneto, full of satisfaction. One would guess that someone standing in the face of death would be terrified. That's not completely true. If you die to give a loved one a second chance, or if you knew you were going to all along, the prospect is not as bad. It's like accepting it as a fact of life. So when the lights around my body brighten, I swallow what fear I have. "I love you, Hawkeye. I'm sorry I never admitted it before now. Goodbye," I whisper, just loud enough for him to hear.
"I love you too, Nikki. More than life itself," Clint says, his voice full of emotion.
As my powers tear my body apart, I wince. A strange feeling washes over me. Déjà vu? Again? This is really weird. And then the world burns white…
