Genoshan Underground KGB Base, Feb 7th 11:32 am
Mystique stared into the tube of suspended liquid Rogue was floating in. She had been in the strange machine for two days, and her former foster mother was beginning to worry. When she returned to Sinister and he saw the shape Rogue was in, he slapped her across the face, shouting a long string of curses. "If you let her die," He spat. "I'll be stuck with that highly inferior clone with no cache of abilities! You fool!" He snarled at her rabidly, wasting no time to start healing her.
Mystique was too stunned to respond, realizing now that she only had one stone left: the Soul Stone. She had to trick Kurt into being sacrificed so they could revive Apocalypse. She didn't want to believe it. She didn't want Rogue to be in the hell she'd put her in. She didn't want any of it, anymore. And her mind had begun working long ago to do something about it.
"Raven," Sinister was glaring at her impatiently, she'd zoned out as he talked. He stalked around in his true form for once, their associates dispatched doing something. "Focus. The Soul Stone?' He growled at her. She shook her head and tore her eyes from Rogue.
"I will need her to travel to Vormir, and she will need to lure Kurt... He would not willingly go with me." She answered thinly. Mr. Sinister rolled his eyes.
"Fine, whatever. She still needs more time to heal. We need to distract the X-Men and these Avengers, anyways... I'll get my useful teammates to do this. Polaris and Madelyn have rested long enough." He smirked though, thinking about how relatively easily they'd retrieved two stones. "S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers are fools, En Sabah Nur's revival is nearly guaranteed now. Don't keep me waiting long." He whisked past Mystique who's gaze drifted back to Rogue. 'What do I do...'
Mr. Sinister opened the doors to Polaris and Madelyn's compounds. "It is time, my queens. Our plan is near fruition." They both stepped out and eyed the telepath. "I need for you to keep these X-Men and Avengers at bay." He pushed a mental suggestion on both of their mind's and heightened their emotional states. "They will be no match for you!" They nodded, their brows working into knots.
"Yes, Mr. Sinister." Madelyn clenched her tiny fists, her face in a snarl. "It's time to make Scott pay!" Her hair looked like flames as she seethed thinking about the X-Men's leader. 'Why did she have to love him?' She lamented to herself, her face darkening. Sinister chuckled proudly.
"Then you will go distract the X-Men." He turned his attention to the celadon haired Polaris, his face working into a cruel sneer. "You, my darling, will dismantle the Avengers, snuff them out before they can interfere with our plans further." She was draped in a mossy, green gown as she levitated her helmet to her hands.
"The Daughter Of Magnetism can't wait." She answered, her voice sounding strange. Erik watched wearily, knowing all too well what the Reign of Apocalypse would mean for the world, but he couldn't abandon his daughter. He stepped forward, his face dark.
"Nathaniel, allow me to accompany her. Those Avengers are a lot of normal humans enhancing themselves with tech provided by S.H.I.E.L.D." He stood beside Polaris and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Which will be overtaken instantly by both of our conjoined forces." Polaris watched her father with admiration. He worshipped her, he was everything she wanted. Or maybe everything that Malice wanted...
Sinister stroked his chin pensively. "I suppose that makes sense. Guide her, keep them out of my hair." Erik nodded, eyeing his daughter wearily. 'I have to get her out of this, and then we need to hide.' Magneto thought desperately. 'I'm running out of time.'
Connecticut S.H.I.E.L.D Compound, Feb 7th 7:23 pm
The arrangements made by S.H.I.E.L.D were surprisingly sufficient. There was more than enough space to invite the school three times over. A rather accurate (and unnerving) copy of the Danger Room, so training could still be conducted in this mean time. The quality and overlay of technology to make the lives of students and teachers easier was impressive. The compound was their tax dollars at work, costing millions of millions of dollars at least.
It was rather sterile and white, things detailed in silver. The whole building seemed to faintly glow, and it didn't mimic the sophisticated warmth of the burgundy theme of the mansion. Professor Xavier's taste was unparalleled. This place also reminded all of it's inhabitants of that. That this was shelter, a place to stay, and they were really fortunate to have it. But it wasn't home.
Especially not missing so many friends and allies who could help make it feel like it. Emma, Ororo, Hank and the other administrators were relieved no S.H.I.E.L.D agents had stayed on board to tide things over. They would've mistaken their sullen attitudes as being ungrateful, and that wasn't the case. They were mutants, they had been fucked over by the Government before. Many times. They all knew the Government didn't have to do any of this, and S.H.I.E.L.D certainly didn't. But they still couldn't lift their spirits.
They were still in the dark about the so called Infinity Stones, there were no leads on Rogue, and they had the looming threat of Apocalypse to deal with (and they were missing some teammates). Nobody could smile, nobody could laugh. Every one plodded around the first few hours in a daze, trying to clean up, bandage wounds, and get some rest.
But rest wasn't easy to come by.
Remy stared wistfully at the polaroid Kitty had taken of he and Rogue on his motorcycle Logan had gifted him. The sun was shining and she looked happier than he'd remembered. He glared at the window to a cloudy, dreary day outside and sighed. He was scared he would forget her face soon. He missed her in a way he didn't know he could. He knew if she were off with Mystique that she wasn't good. He clutched the photograph tightly in his hand. 'I was supposed to protect her.' He thought bitterly, to atone for all the mistakes he'd made along the way.
If he hadn't conspired with Mystique she wouldn't have Carol Danvers' powers. It was hard not to think of them as a blessing, but the acquiring of them had been extremely traumatic and dangerous for Rogue, nearly killing her and leaving a young child comatose. Then, heartbroken and lost, Remy submitted to Mr. Sinister and antagonized Rogue endlessly before begging for asylum at the institute. The professor, Rogue, and Logan all kept giving Remy chances he didn't feel like he deserved.
He jumped when he realized Logan's shadow, Laura, and breached his room in silence. She was standing beside him, also looking out into the sky. He placed a hand on her head and she didn't flinch. "Minou..." He sighed, his eyes sad.
"You smell like Logan." She said bluntly, meeting his stare with dark eyes. "Both of you smell like heartbreak." She continued after a minute, her voice quieter. They'd both been reeking of it since Rogue went missing, and now since the mansion was destroyed it was even worse. In her head, she thought of the X-Men's leader and scowled, catching Remy's attention. 'You both smell more heartbroken than he...' She thought, although it came from a staunch place of dislike for Scott Summers. He was heartbroken too, but there was also a budding curiosity in him growing for a blonde telepath.
He was flaky. He was flaky towards the X-Men and the women around him. But she kept the observations to herself. "Heartbreak..." Remy mused, he was sure he'd smell that way for the rest of his life. He studied the 18 year old carefully, remembering when she was scrawny, hostile, and unable to pick up on people's emotions despite being able smell them. She had changed and grown a lot and he was really proud of her.
"Miss her, too." She said finally, her eyes pained. From the outside looking in, she and the other mutant didn't seem close, but they respected each other. Rogue had gone out on a limb for her and Laura never forgot it. "I hate it here. It's not home." She clutched a fist, angry at the tears forming in her brown eyes. "Feels like jail. Everyone looks tired and exhausted all the time. I can see Logan aging the longer Rogue is gone-" Remy grabbed the younger girl to him and held her close for as long as she would allow.
She let out a quick sigh and he figured that was as much as she was gonna emote. He broke apart from her and chased her stare. "It gon' be okay, petite. Logan an' I will take care'o ya. All o'ya." He promised, his eyes shining with emotion. She sniffed indignantly.
"Hate to say it, but things look kind of bleak right now." She crossed her arms, ever honest and blunt. Remy smirked with determination.
"T'ings always look bleak fo' a gaggle o' mutants." He threw an arm around her and she squirmed as though she was embarrassed. "Voudriez-vous?" She rolled her and wiggled out of his touch, sitting in a feline position on a white bed.
"J'suppose." She said with a shrug, secretly feeling a little better. She wished anything could make Logan feel better, lately. Downstairs, Scott watched the footage of the various public catastrophes of late, not surprised by most of the media spinning the X-Men to blame. He swirled a mug with scotch and ice in it absentmindedly.
'What are we doing wrong?' He thought. They just hadn't been strong enough for anything they'd faced. Certainly not these mystical stones he'd never heard of until now. Wanda passed Emma in the hallway to the media room, clad in a red tank top and plain jeans she'd found graciously left there for them. Emma snorted.
"I hope you aren't going to talk to Summers..." She began as the passed, but Wanda shrugged. She wasn't scared of Scott's moodiness or bossiness. She wasn't really scared of anything anymore. She tuck a strand of brown hair behind her ear, studying Emma's white peasant top and white jeans.
"Yeah, don't see why not. It's 'spiral down a rabbit hole' o'clock instead of being productive." She answered, deadpan. She continued forward without waiting for her answer, sighing when she spotted Scott doing exactly what she'd said, still shrouded in his X-Suit and dingy, brown jacket. "How did I know?" She asked, crossing her arms beside him. He changed it from the parade footage quickly. "No, it's fine. I had things to learn from that too." Scott sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
"I just want to know what we're doing wrong, we're running out of time." He threw his head in his hands. "We need the professor..." Wanda grimaced.
"He's not here." Scott looked up at her in surprise. "So what are going to do, watch footage of our failures? Or get proactive." He stared at her through shades of red. "They gave us capabilities on par with the institute. It doesn't feel like home, but it can get the job done." She placed a hand on Scott's shoulder and he smiled.
"Come into the Training Room with me?" He asked, his eyes determined beneath their shield. She nodded.
xxx
"I wish that Logan would get some rest..." Kitty sighed, wrapped in Piotr's strong and slightly bandaged arms. She always seemed so worried these days, both her and his young sister. He hated that he was powerless to help that. He looked down at her and he couldn't help but smile. 'Always worried about someone else...' He thought, holding tighter. 'It is why I love you.' He leaned his chin gently on her head.
"I would say the same to you, Katya." He said, trying to keep the worried edge from his voice.
"I've slept," She snapped quickly, regretting it went she looked into his face. She huffed, adjusting her position curled into his arms. She was lucky to have him. "He's been patrolling the grounds endlessly since we got here." She tossed a worried look into the expansive hallways surrounding them. "I just wish he'd relax, that's all." She concluded. He was still strong and their protector, but he hadn't been the same since Magneto injured him. They all knew that.
'I hate him for that.' She thought bitterly. Piotr noticed her expression change.
He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Hard to these days, Kitty-Kat." His expression became troubled. "We are... Vulnerable now. He wants to keep us all safe." He explained, empathizing with that. 'We are just trying to keep you and Illyana, everyone safe. Let us.' He thought, hoping they were as safe as they seemed in a S.H.I.E.L.D. compound. Kitty tugged Piotr's red sweater around her and leaned closer to him.
On the sofa across from them, Kurt was in a fitful sleep. Every so often, Logan would return to have eyes on how Kitty and Kurt were doing. He'd be relieved the boy was sleeping, but would watch him toss and turn, his chest aching. 'There's nothing I can do to make it better for these kids...' He thought bitterly, stalking the lawn out front. 'I brought Fury into their lives, I got the institute destroyed a second time...' He hung his head. 'Charles rolls in his grave right now.' He clutched a fist and shot his claws out.
He sniffed and looked around suddenly, the wind carrying a scent to him. "No..."
D.C SHIELD Headquarters , Feb. 7th 4:49 pm
"Experts wonder if something should be done about another vigilante team calling themselves 'The Avengers', and whether they need to be dealt with. They have been found on site of rising, mutant disturbances and their allegiance should be questioned. So far, S.H.I.E.L.D hasn't commented. Todd, back to yo-" Steve shut the T.V off with a growl, ruffling golden hair in frustration. He had had enough of the news as of late. As far as he knew, the enemy was in possession of 5 of 6 Infinity Stones and Apocalypse would soon follow.
Tony and Bruce hadn't come out of their labs in days, scrambling to come up with some tech that would allow them to be able to defeat mutants. Clint and Natasha were leaving and returning frequently, struggling themselves to come up with an endgame for this earth that didn't end in destruction. Bucky was by Steve's side but they had to physically restrain Thor from trying to contact "The School For The Strong", growing desperate.
"We will not defeat the Infinity Stones or the Apocalypse without them!" He roared, refusing to watch another world be destroyed. Veins bulged on his thick neck, his skin flushed and red. Still, Steve and Bucky blocked him.
"We're enemies right now, Thor. They're not happy with us. And they've got their own issues getting in the way of seeing the big picture." Natasha approached him from another side, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
"It'll just cause another commotion. This place doesn't need anymore unnecessary damage right now." She urged, relieved when Thor finally letting a tear slip out of his eye in frustration.
"I won't watch this place be destroyed." He insisted. "We failed last time, we don't have time to wait!"
"You're right," Bucky agreed. "But we gotta let them come around. The time will come, for now..." He released his grip on the Asgardian and he wrenched away from him. "We gotta do what we can with what we got." Thor dropped his head in disappointment. That hadn't been cutting it. But before he could respond, their whole, A shaped, Avengers building shook violently, causing Natasha to stumble into Steve's arms.
"What the hell was that?" She asked, looking around.
"Nothing good." Steve quipped, breaking away to grab his shield. Both Tony and Bruce poked their heads of their labs.
"Oh, you guys felt that too?" Tony asked sarcastically, making Clint groan.
"Can you save the jokes for when we're not under attack?" Bruce mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. The skyscraper shook more violently this time, and Tony hurried to activate his suit instantly. Thor raised his hand with a roar and Mjolnir flew into his grasp.
"I am in need of steam blowing." He announced, his blue eyes shimmering. Natasha clapped a hand on his shoulder and chose not to correct his turn of phrase.
"Well, don't you worry, buddy." Tony exclaimed as they heard the distinct sound of metal being twisted. They exchanged looks before rushing up to the ceiling, a hovering, green haired woman in the sky above them. She shrieked as she continued ripping part of the roof off. "Hey, lady! Don't drop the property value here. I really want to move some day!" He shot a blast out of the hand of his suit, but it was blocked easily by Magneto's electromagnetic barrier.
He scowled down at them, hovering proudly beside his daughter. "Now, Lorna." He instructed with a point. They both held their hands out and shot out a massive electromagnetic pulse. Tony's suit collided with the ground, black smoke billowing out of cracks. Clint, Bucky, and Natasha were sent flying. Bruce shouted, ripping his shirt before his transformation began. He swelled into a massive, veined, green monster. He ripped another chunk of roof off and tossed it at the mutants.
"Bow before agents of Apocalypse!" She screeched, manipulating the metal and sending it flying. Some of the material was concrete, and it hurdled towards her quickly. It slammed into her with a thud, and she wavered in the sky.
"Daughter!" Magneto screamed, catching her in the air with ease and righting her. He flew them over the stable ground of the roof and through his hands out, metal ripping through stone and concrete to fly at them. Natasha shot one with her wrist blaster but then it began to malfunction. She slammed her palm against it in frustration. 'Their powers our interfering with our tech.' She thought, looking around her. Steve battered metal away from them both with his shield, grunting with effort.
Bruce yelled and grabbed metal shrapnel from the air, hurling it back at them. Polaris erected a faint, green barrier keeping them from being hit. 'She is very good with her powers...' Magneto observed. She was getting sharper with every outing. Bucky leapt in the air, causing Natasha and Steve to start screaming. 'His arm,' She thought. 'You moron! They control metal!'
Tony typed furiously into his suit but the pulse had knocked it completely offline, leaving him vulnerable. Bucky's metal arm slammed into the ground and sent a shockwave. A shockwave that for some reason, separated Malice from her control of Lorna Dane. She screeched, catching her father's attention. His assault stopped and he watched carefully as his daughter grabbed her head. Tears streamed down her face as she blew out big breaths.
"God's of Asgard!" Thor bellowed, his hammer held high in the air. "Lend me your thunder!" Magneto reached out and snatched the weapon from his grip, sending it flying out of sight and beyond his call. "What is the meaning of this?" He shouted.
"Hate to break it to you but Mjolnir is just Asgardian metal, dude." Tony commented dryly, finally getting his Iron Man Suit to respond to commands. He hovered uncertainly.
"Back Online." Jarvis whirred. He fired a few test shots. Clint ran beside him and knocked an arrow when he realized the two mutants had stopped attacking. Natasha ran out and held her hands up.
"Nat!" Clint hissed, his heart hammering in his chest. 'She trusts these people too much.' He thought, sweat dripping down his brow as he watched.
"Just hold on, guys." She looked up and watched them interact. Magneto was peering worriedly into the woman's face. Lorna was panting, trying to account for the gap in her memories. 'Where am I? What's been happening... Why don't I remember?'
"Y-You... The one with the same powers as me." She looked into his dark eyes. "My father?' He nodded slowly, his suspicions confirmed. 'Nathaniel had her under some control. I was right. And whatever it was appears to be broke, this could be our out.' He looked down skeptically at the Avengers.
"Cease fire." He demanded, his hands held out. They looked amongst each other. Bruce screamed into the air, not so ready to let go of the fight. Natasha held her hands up and he tried to be more patient. "Lorna is my daughter, and she was under the control of Mr. Sinister, who you know is after the Infinity Stones." Tony looked between his teammates.
"Yeah, and as far as we can tell, you are working for him." He responded skeptically. Magneto huffed in exaggeration.
"I did it to look after her. To protect her from him. My only desire is to take her from him." Tony's eyes narrowed beneath his mask as he thought for a long moment.
"W-"
"Go." Steve said firmly. "Go, now." He exchanged a look with Magneto before he and Lorna were surrounded by pieces of metal. Tony turned to Captain America in disbelief. "Tony, you saw that. They weren't acting. They were sent here to do something and they didn't do it." He looked into the sky at the retreating ball. Tony sighed.
"Let's hope they didn't. That was strange." He looked at his Iron Man suit in dissatisfaction. 'These mutants have a lot of advantages over my suit I don't know how to safeguard.' He thought about Pepper and how every mission here was a potential kamikaze mission. He jumped when he realized Steve was by his side, peering worriedly at him. "What?"
"You alright?" Steve asked, and it reminds Tony of a less complicated time. Before half their whole universe was destroyed. Before they came to this world with many powerful beings. Before they knew Bucky assassinated his parents and he still defied the law to get him asylum. They are still friends, and they still care, but it'll always be complicated. Always. Tony's smile is more of a grimace.
"Fine." He shrugged from under his touch to head back inside. "Gotta keep working on... I don't know, something."
Connecticut S.H.I.E.L.D Compound, Feb 7th 8:11 pm
Logan pounded back into the building breathlessly, trying to think quickly of a way to get the team assembled. Thankfully, Emma could sense him projecting his emotions. 'Logan? Do you forget telepaths are here-'
'Get out on the lawn, Frost. Call the main team out here. That Jean clone arrived.' Emma was out of her seat before he'd finished talked, cursing to herself, white fabrics flowing around her.
'Right. Scott, Ororo, Kitty, Piotr, Kurt, Bobby, Laura, Remy. Out front, this compound is breached. Sorry Peter, we might need little Magik. Can't afford to get creamed again.' She sounded off effortlessly.
'That is okay, she has trained and she isn't afraid.' Piotr answered, his face hard. Kitty noticed his fist clench beside her.
'Time to show what you made of, Em.' Logan commented, earning him a roll of her eyes.
'Remy isn't on the main-' Scott began, ready to put up a fight.
'We are short-handed, Scott.' Emma cut in smoothly.
'But, breached by who?' Kurt responded sleepily.
'It's a surprise.' She responded wryly, signifying the end of the mental conference. She found Logan on the lawn with his claws already out, Jean's doppleganger antagonizing him. Tears flowed freely down his face, wondering why he was never spared this torture. "My god..." She murmured.
"This isn't right!" Logan screamed at the hostile telepath. Tears and mascara were already streaming down her face, more of her skin and more makeup on her face than Jean ever wore. She almost had her stare down, a stare similar to Dark Phoenix. She glared at them with such hatred, like they had created her. "Sinister, he has you twisted-" Logan tried.
"Silence!" Madelyn shrieked, her teeth bared. "All of your obsessions with Jean led to this! Now, I have to suffer!" Logan began to scream and cry suddenly, falling to the ground with his hands on his head. 'Arrgh, what is she doin'? She'll turn my brain to mush...' He roared, his claws shooting out over and over. Emma arrived first, her hand thrown out.
"Only I can do that." She snapped, grappling immediately with Madelyn's sinister, telepathic hold. 'She seems to be getting boosted by that hack job, Sinister. But it'll be no match for a natural born telepath.' Emma turned into her diamond form and the telepathic assault ended on Logan. He inhaled and looked up at Emma in shock.
"Thanks, Satine." He said, standing up shakily. Emma smirked.
"Oh, I get a nickname now?" He barked out a laugh as everyone else approached.
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Emma grunted under the strain and he frowned, he figured a clone of Jean would be powerful.
"Ororo," Emma said politely. "Add a little atmosphere?" The weather goddess smirked at that.
"WINDS, GUIDE ME!" She cried, whipping up freezing raining and whipping wind. Madelyn shouted, her head and hair whipping in the storm.
"You're no match for me! I'm born from a goddess!" Madelyn declared, the look in her green eyes mad. "You will all pay!" She cried out as Emma increased the pressure of her psychic abilities. A little blood began to dribble from her nose, making Scott frown.
"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly, tearing his eyes from Jean's twin. Emma nodded but the expression on her face, even in her diamond form, pained.
"Yes," She said. 'As long as this doesn't go on for too long.' She grit her teeth and clutched her hands in fists, making Madelyn howl. "I didn't want to do this, Madelyn. But you leave me little choice." Soon, the clone's mind was filled with feelings and memories of the real Jean Grey's life. She gasped, completely overwhelmed by memories that should've been hers. 'What is this?' She thought in surprise, her eyes growing wide in shock. "This is the life lived and left behind by Jean Grey!" She shouted. "Avatar of the Phoenix Force."
She stuttered to her knees and Kitty caught her cautiously. Scott was by her side. "It's working, tell her the truth." He urged, feeling a chill as he watched.
"You are just a replication of her DNA. Somehow created by Sinister. He made you. Jean was loved, cherished." Her expression softened. "Missed. None of us would ever have her created like this. Seeing you is painful." Madelyn shrieked, tugging on her long, red hair. 'W-Why me?!'
"You lie!" She shouted. Scott stood abruptly, leaving Emma with Kitty.
"No, she's right. He got our DNA and created clones and experiments without our consent." Scott frowned. "We're victims, Madelyn. Like Jean. Like you." She looked at him closely through splayed fingers and felt the love Jean felt for him that crossed through time. It made her stomach hurt. 'How was I created in her image... Why?' "I'm sorry. I wish I had something different to tell you." His gaze dropped, he felt like this was all he ever said. He looked down at her as she curled into a ball, her cape falling around her.
"Are you done, now?" Emma asked, panting with fatigue. "You have to have gotten the point. Your beef is with Nathaniel, not us." Madelyn looked at her, the links between their minds broken.
"What do I do now..." She whispered, staring blankly at the ground. 'Sinister took everything from me. He created my son and she took him away. He gave me this life I never wanted, I never asked for! Then he made me do what he wanted...' Her hands grabbed handfuls of grass as she stood, her face twisted into a snarl. "I know what I do. I get my revenge on him." Logan carefully swung Emma's arm around his shoulder and helped her stand, eyeing Madelyn wearily. "And you will all help me!"
Illyana began screaming suddenly, and both Kitty and Piotr crashed at her side. "Illy?! Illy what is it, tell us!" Kitty cried hysterically, her eyes watering. Terrified tears streamed down Illyana's face as she felt the telepath pry into her mind. 'O-Oh no,' She thought, reaching for her brother. 'She can't take control of my powers!'
"N-No..." She cried as she felt her win the battle. "Piotr..."
"Sestra, sestra! Pozhaluysta. Ne moya sestra!" Piotr howled in his native language, clutching his sibling tightly. In a moment, she had blasted both mutants away from her, a malevolent look on her face. "Sister, please-" He begged. Her Soul Sword appeared in her hand, and it showed black. Kitty gasped in horror as she leapt to Madelyn's side.
"Take us. Take us to limbo!" She demanded, snapping her fingers beside the girl. Emma scrambled from Logan's grasp, unsure of what she was about to do, but not about to watch Illyana be kidnapped. 'I'll shatter into a hundred pieces first!' She thought desperately. But it was too late. Illyana opened the portal with an evil grin on her face, and she and Madelyn disappeared inside.
"No! Illyana!" Logan cried, jumping after them but missing. "NO,"
"Illyana! Illyana no!" Piotr ran to the spot she had last been and felt the grass with trembling, iron hands. "No... I promised her. I told her nothing would ever happen to her..." He slammed his fist into the ground. He raised it and slammed it again, and again. Kitty collapsed to his side sobbing.
"Please, P. Stop. We'll get her back, I promise!" He broke out into sobs, his back collapsing as he shook. Emma clutched her fists so tightly she was shocked she didn't shatter her own hands.
"Do not make a promise you cannot keep. Nothing is promised, not to any of us." He yelled in response. Logan's hair stood up on end, but he cut Piotr some slack, his sister had just been taken. "Quite opposite." He finished quietly, feeling even worse for taking a tone with Kitty. 'I've never done that before...' He thought miserably. Tears streamed down her face.
"I-I'm sorry, Piotr." She sniffed and he pulled her gently to her.
"No. I am sorry for speaking to you that way." He apologized solemnly. Logan unclenched his fist and looked around helplessly.
"How many times do I fail that poor girl..." She thought, remembering how she'd also been taken and experimented on during her mission. Ororo shook her head, trembling. "I..."
"Don't." She groaned, staring at the last spot the child had been.
"Don't make this about you," Logan began. "Now, let's think. We need to make a real retaliation against Sinister." He tried to keep his voice even. "No more letting this stuff happen to us." His breath caught in his throat as he thought about Rogue, and now Illyana at the mercies of Apocalypse's allies.
Scott inhaled sharply. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but you're right. No more happens to us. We are happening to them." He sent Logan a look. "And if those Avengers get in our way, we mow them down too."
A/N: Sestra, sestra! Pozhaluysta. Ne moya sestra: Sister, sister! Please. Not my sister.
