I received a sudden rush of very nice reviews so thank you to that person(s?). I wasn't sure if this would work but I'm enjoying writing Mojo. Possibly losing track of Longshot so should probably pay better attention. And thank you for the follow as well. I'm going on holiday on Friday so really don't know when I'll have time to write and post more of this, hopefully it won't be too long.

CHAPTER SIX

Wolverine was standing in an arena. Dotted around the edge of the large circular space were guards. There was no audience, at least none that Wolverine could see. Mojo had said that somewhere, in another dimension, millions were watching them. Presumably watching in the hope that he'd get eviscerated. Repeatedly.

He glanced across the combat area at his opponent. Inevitably, it was Juggernaut. The other mutant was snarling at him, apparently psyching himself up for an extreme form of violence.

Major Domo stood at the side of Mojo, who was watching them with the expression of a kid at a fair ground…or a kid who'd been given a magnifying glass and a set of ants to burn. "You will fight,"Major Domo announced. "You will continue to fight until at least one of you can fight no longer. You may begin."

Wolverine looked at Juggernaut. "You know, we could choose not to fight."

"And why would I do that?"Juggernaut sneered.

"Dunno. Just putting it out there."

Juggernaut balled his hands into fists and knocked them together. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Wolverine extended his claws but then Juggernaut charged. His opponent slammed into him with bone-shattering force and carried on going, carrying him into the wall and crushing him against it. Wolverine brought his fists down on Juggernaut's shoulders, causing him to let go momentarily. They separated and circled each other. Wolverine slashed at the air with his claws, aiming for Juggernaut's face. Juggernaut dodged the thrusts then swung his fist in a blow that knocked Wolverine flying.

Mojo's tongue hang out as he watched the fight in delight. He glanced at Major Domo. "Get me a drink."

In the cage area, none of the other prisoners could see the fight. All they could hear was the crashes and grunts and occasional cries of pain. Spiral was supposed to be guarding them but in fact she'd taken up station by the tunnel where she could see what was going on.

Longshot and Dazzler were standing in a corner of the cage. "How are you feeling?"Dazzler asked.

Longshot's mood was sombre. "They're hurting each other out there. They're being made to hurt each other. That's what I used to do. I used to…hurt people. For them, for the Spineless Ones."

"It wasn't your fault,"Dazzler reassured him. "It was what they made you do. And you fought against it, you tried to change things…"

"And people died,"Longshot concluded. "They died because they followed me. And now you're all going to die, because you helped me." He punched the bars in frustration. "And that hurt,"he added.

Dazzler took his hand and rubbed it gently. "We're not going to die,"she told him firmly. "You have to believe that. If you give in to despair…" She trailed off but her eyes flickered to where Warren was sitting.

Jubilee had noticed him too. She went and sat down next to him. "Warren, I'm worried about you."

"Why single out me?"Warren asked bitterly. "Worry about all of us. We're all going to die."

"You don't know that,"Jubilee pressed.

"Yeah, I do. Those two out there, it doesn't matter who wins. They'll keep sending us out there until we're all dead."

"Warren, you can't think like that. Because sooner or later, they'll send you out there."

"So what?"

"So I'm worried you'll let yourself be killed. Because it's easier that way."

Wolverine was beginning to get the rhythm of the fight. He couldn't beat Juggernaut at brute strength so he was having to rely on agility. He danced around the arena, daring Juggernaut to charge at him. Juggernaut kept glancing off walls, every knock making him more and more angry.

"Hit each other, hit each other!"Mojo shouted. "This is getting dull."

With a roar, Juggernaut charged. This time, Woverine didn't dive out of the way. He ducked into a crouch, then swung his leg round and knocked Juggernaut's legs away from under him. Juggernaut went end over end, landing in a heap on the other side of the arena. He got up with a snarl.

"Was that more to your liking, sir?"Major Domo inquired.

Mojo giggled. "Make them do it again."

Rogue was standing by the bars of the cage, looking pensive. Bobby came up behind her. "He'll be all right, you know?" Rogue gave him a startled look, as though caught in some wrong-doing. Bobby smiled gently. "I know you care about him."

Rogue sighed. "He's…I don't know what he is. The father that stood by me, the big brother I never had…He's one of us. And if he doesn't make it through this, if any of us don't…" Bobby put his hand on her shoulder. She laid her own hand over it gratefully.

Professor X's gaze flicked to where Blob and Avalanche were standing, at the opposite end of the cage to the rest of them. He nodded to Storm. He knew she was worried about Wolverine but giving her something else to focus on could help. He looked around to see who else could join them but Cable and Bishop seemed to have decided to take advantage of the lull to indulge in sparring and everyone else was deep in conversation.

The two Brotherhood members looked suspicious as the two X-Men approached. "We don't have to do this, you know,"Xavier told them.

Avalanche sniffed. "Seems like if we don't then people are going to make us."

"Not if we all stand together. If we refuse to go along with this."

"What, you scared of the fight?"Blob asked scornfully.

"This Mojo's obviously mad,"Storm protested.

The comment attracted the attention of Spiral, who looked around from her post. "Be careful what you say, X-Woman. That could be considered blasphemy."

"You give us another option, we'll take it,"Avalanche told Xavier and Storm. "Until then, fighting you lot is our best chance of staying in one piece."

Wolverine was tiring. His efforts to evade Juggernaut were becoming less and less successful. He stumbled as he dived out of the way and came down on his knees. Juggernaut aimed a blow at him and Wolverine just got his arm up enough to deflect it. He knocked Juggernaut aside and then collapsed, waiting for the killing blow.

But it never came. Juggernaut too was exhausted by the fight. He just stayed where he'd fallen, holding his body up with his fists but unable to get back on his feet.

Major Domo calmly walked down into the arena. He looked from one combatant to the other, then looked up at Mojo. "It seems this contest is over."

Mojo looked unhappy. "But no-one's died."

"Indeed, sir."

"It's no fun when no-one dies."

"I understand your disappointment, sir, but perhaps the situation is not entirely without its positives. If they are allowed time to recover, then they can do it all again."

Mojo's face lit up and he gestured to his guards. "Take them away."