Chapter 9
A few weeks later, well into December and the Christmas spirit had easily taken over the mansion as usual.
Apart for Betsy, who was still back home in England with her family, after discovering her father had died in that explosion at Emma's school in Selene's dimension.
Also not in much of a holiday spirit; Alex. Roulette had broken up with him once it became clear the Hellions were leaving Bayville and not returning. Considering, equally, Scott was in a lousy mood thanks to the end of his relationship with Emma, the Summers brothers were unlikely to have the jolliest Holiday period ever.
Things were a little awkward around Illyana still but the consensus, after a lengthy staff meeting, was that Illyana deserved to be given a chance. She was really no different to any other person who had undergone a deep trauma. Sending her away would accomplish nothing.
No. She needed to be here and helped to 'find her balance' as Clark had called it.
It was the usual Institute Christmas Party tonight before the students, who have a home to go to, head off to be with their families over the Holidays.
And as per tradition Kurt was chasing Kitty around, holding a piece of mistletoe, trying to get a kiss.
His girlfriend, Amanda, was quite happily laughing away, joining in on the joke and in fact encouraging Kurt and shouting out advice on how to pin down the phasing mutant girl. Amanda must admit that since she became a mutant she has come to love living at the mansion despite all the anti-mutant aggro. She had even gotten herself her own codename; Daytripper. To be honest it came from a nickname her mother use to use when she was little but it seemed very appropriate to her. Plus it seemed to fit so well with Kurt's. Nightcrawler and Daytripper. He teleported in a puff of dark blue smoke. Her in a flash of white light. Night and Day. Kurt and Amanda. It had be fated. Seriously.
"Don't, like, encourage him!" Kitty whines as she phases through the tree in her efforts to avoid Kurt.
"Aw come on Kit. Just vone little friendly kiss on zhe cheek," Kurt pleads as he acrobatically leaps around the room after her.
"Ew, no!" Kitty denies him that. "Only one boy gets to totally give me the smoochies and you aren't him!"
"Ew, no? What are you? Like 9?" Clark asks, mocking her in that teasing pseudo brother/sister thing they have going.
"Oh cram it up your-eek!" Kitty squeaks as she makes a sharp turn as Kurt teleports in front of her.
Clark snorts with laughter. Kitty was always great entertainment.
"Dude I wouldn't laugh. Not when lightning streak is getting ideas," Bart, at Clark's side, says, pointing at something.
And what he is pointing at is Live Wire grabbing her own piece of mistletoe...and a wicked grin forming on her face. Yes, she was still here and had lasted far longer already than that week Rogue had predicted...much to the irritation of the Southern Belle.
Clark face palms himself. He had tolerated her being here and her enduring attempts to flirt with him because he's a nice guy and she needs to be here to be helped but he draws the line at her trying to sneak kisses with him under the mistletoe. Just because he and Illyana are still working out their issues…admittedly things between them weren't much better than when they agreed to keep giving it a shot from a few weeks back. Just because of that it is, most sincerely, not an opening for Leslie to try and swoop in. "Ok I am out of here," he tells Bart, deciding that the best way to avoid a scene is just not to be here. "If Leslie asks, you haven't seen me," he instructs Bart.
"Got it dude," Bart says with a knowing wink.
And with that Clark vanishes in a gust of wind. Maybe he'll get changed and go out. SHIELD will probably chase him. They usually do but that would be preferable to the Live Wire related alternative.
Back at the party Piotr is enjoying his very first X-Men Christmas and he must say he is enjoying it very much. For all the chaos it was very homely and felt like a family get together. Like the very thing he and Illyana have not had in a very long time.
Course his sister wasn't exactly full of the holiday cheer but he has rarely ever, if at all, seen her just be unreservedly happy since she first returned into his life. The closest he has ever seen her like that is when she is with Clark...but even that has seemed dulled these last few weeks. He hadn't asked but even he had guessed that his sister and Clark had hit a rough patch. For the sake of her happiness he hoped they could work it out.
"I thought I told her to stay away from Clark," Illyana mutters threateningly as she spies what Live Wire is up to.
Piotr has to actually smile because Illyana's reaction is just so...normal. Human.
"What are you smiling at?" the younger Rasputin sibling wonders when she catches the look.
"Nothing, Snowflake," Piotr replies, still smiling.
Illyana's eyes narrow slightly at him.
"You should join in in the Christmas spirit," Piotr suggests to her.
Illyana rolls her eyes at him. Unsurprisingly Christmas doesn't move her as it once did. She's certainly not like her boyfriend or her brother who do get in the spirit...and she certainly does not fill with child-like glee at the sight of snow like Clark does. It's stuff like that that reminds her, that in many ways, her and Clark are quite, quite different. Somehow, despite what Apocalypse did to him, the light in his spirit still prevails. Illyana would struggle to say the same about herself. It has left her pondering whether she and Clark really can move past the hurt they inflicted on each other. Do they really have a future together?
It's a question that has been eluding an answer for the last few weeks. Illyana severely wishes she could find an answer.
"Oh Clarkie!" Live Wire calls out as she searches for him, having missed his swift departure mere moments ago.
"That is it," Illyana's patience snaps as she stomps off to confront the blue-haired nuisance. She marches up behind Leslie who is actively seeking Clark and taps the electrical mutant on the shoulder.
Leslie turns round at the tap and her eyes fill with mischief at seeing who it is. Illyana's scare tactics at the kitchen table a few weeks back hadn't worked on keeping Leslie silent for very long. Probably says a lot about her mental state. "Yes? Can I help you?" she asks with faux innocence.
Illyana shakes her head. "No...but I can help you."
Leslie arches an eyebrow, curiosity pricked. "Really?"
Illyana nods her head this time. "Yes," she confirms. "I can help save you from being poisoned."
"Wha-huh?" Leslie queries, utterly lost.
Illyana's eyes flash and the mistletoe in Leslie's hand spontaneously combusts.
"OW! Son of a..." Leslie swears as she shakes her hand out before sucking on the end of her fingers. She glares at the Russian girl.
Illyana returns the glare with a look of innocence. "There we go," she says. "Mistletoe is poisonous if you didn't know," she explains herself.
Lightning dances in Leslie's eyes. "Did you know I have something in common with mistletoe?" she asks before answering her own question. "Handle us incorrectly and we can both be deadly," she says...and in a swift action she smashes a charged ball of electricity into Illyana's face…
…
…
Illyana recoils, covering her face, blinded by the flash.
There is a loud ringing in her ears so, at first, she doesn't hear it but eventually, above the high pitched whine in her ears, a voice begins to break through. It takes her a moment but eventually she makes out it what is being said.
"Illyana...Yana...can you hear me?" they ask in concern.
Illyana blinks a few times and through the spots the concerned face of her boyfriend begins to appear. It takes her a try or two before her mouth can form a coherent word. "C-Clark?" she queries.
Clark smiles but there's something not quite right about it. His smile is kinda care worn and the light in his blue eyes seems dulled slightly from what she is use to seeing.
Illyana frowns as her eyes start to take in more, moving up and down Clark's form. He's dressed in some sort of armoured suit of a dark blue, red boots with his family crest on his chest and a red cape attached at the shoulders. "What are you wearing?" are the first words out her mouth.
Clark frowns quizzically. "What I always wear," he replies. "Are you ok? Did you hit your head? If they hurt you I swear I'll put an end to this insurgency once and for all."
Insurgency?
Illyana can see Clark's eyes flash electric blue as he examines her, his right hand placed on her cheek as he gently rubs the flesh with his thumb.
"Superman," a voice calls out from behind.
Clark closes his eyes for a moment and lets out a tired sigh. "Yes, Captain," he acknowledges the man as he spins away from Illyana, his cape billowing around him as he does. This reveals a man dressed in black military gear...but on both arms, patches of Clark's family crest.
Illyana now takes the opportunity to take in the area around her. She was standing in some sort of compound with an exterior wall and various buildings within. From the damage, clearly, there had just been a battle here. She then takes a moment to look down at herself and finds herself in some sort of black and white uniform with a gold stripe on the arms. Even by the standards of her life this is strange. She decides to keep quiet and play along until she can learn more. She turns her focus back to the conversation Clark is having.
"The rebels have retreated," the Captain, as Clark identified the man, informs the alien powerhouse. "Flash and Cyborg were in pursuit along with 3 squads," he tags on.
Clark's face looks grim. "They would only retreat because they got what they wanted," is his analysis.
"In regards to that the SHIELD Director requires your presence, sir."
"Of course he does," Clark mutters. He turns his head back toward Illyana. "You coming?"
"Sure," Illyana replies.
Clark nods and strides off. Illyana almost has to jog to keep up with his pace. They enter a building and inside Illyana finds a group of people wearing the same uniform she is...apart from the fact the stripe on their arms is red instead of gold. Familiar people...only older looking. Grown up would be a better description.
There was Quicksilver, Polaris, Magma, Volcana, Haze and unbelievably Mystique.
In Clark's presence they instantly stand up straighter. They are outside what seems like the entrance to a vault.
Clark folds his arms across his chest and speaks to someone unseen within the vault, chastising them. "You know the word is request. Not require. You request my presence...Magneto."
Illyana's eyes go wide as striding out of the vault, dressed not in his armour but in a uniform of its colours, red and black, is the Master of Magnetism. "It was urgent," he offers no apology.
"You know I can always replace you with Commander Darkholme. She's been after your job for years," Clark points out.
"Along with my head," Magneto says, aiming a pointed look at the blue-skinned shape-shifter.
Mystique actually smirks.
Volcana chuckles which makes Clark roll his eyes at his sister. He turns his attention back to the here and now. "So what did they steal?" he wants to know.
"This," Magneto says, holding up a tiny green crystal between his thumb and finger.
Clark's eyes narrow. "Kryptonite," he says the word in grave tones.
"Bastards," Volcana swears, clearly furious. In fact everyone else moves a step away from the visible heat haze forming around her.
"How is that possible?" Magma queries. "I thought we got rid of it all," she says as a reminder.
"This was a secret facility run by the former military," Magneto begins an explanation.
"No doubt creating weapons to kill me," Clark states with annoyance. "You know I'm pretty certain they spent more money on R&D trying to find a way to kill me then they ever spent on trying to make people's lives better."
"Yes, well that is one reason, amongst many, that we had to remove the old corrupt and failing regimes was it not," Magneto points out.
Clark's face darkens. "It was never what I wanted," he states, unhappily.
"Of course not Clark," Volcana pipes up, trying to soothe him. "None of us wanted this. They forced us into this."
"They are an extreme, dying minority, clinging to the beliefs of an ideology that only brought war and chaos," Magneto says. "The vast majority of the populace have embraced the peace and order we have brought to their lives."
Clark nods in a manner that almost says as if he is trying to convince himself.
"And do not worry," Mystique speaks up. "We will find the kryptonite before they have a chance to weaponise it," she assures Superman.
"I have complete faith in you, Commander," Clark says. "Liaise with Flash and Cyborg. They were pursuing the thieves."
"Understood," Mystique says with a salute before she leads her team out. "Red Squad, move out!" she barks out the command.
"We should recall the rest of Gold Squad," Magneto suggests.
"They're on a mission," Clark argues back.
"They are responsible for your personal safety which, until we retrieve the kryptonite, is under threat."
Clark snorts. "Oh because no-one has ever threatened me with kryptonite before," he drawls sarcastically.
Magneto arches an eyebrow.
"Besides I have Illyana here. That's all the protection I ever need," Clark makes his case.
"I was not impugning Commander Rasputin's abilities. I am well aware of how capable she is," Magneto deflects criticism.
Commander Rasputin? This day is just getting weirder and weirder, Illyana has to think to herself.
"Also," Clark continues, "the last thing I want right now is to give Kara an excuse to be overprotective. When she hears about this we both know she'll overreact. Probably try and lock me away in the Fortress."
'Who's Kara?' Illyana wonders.
"Well she is family," Magneto says as if that explains everything.
"Hmm," Clark says in a contemplative tone. "Are you any closer to finding the rebels' base?" he wonders.
"From our inability to detect it through any means it must be cloaked, possibly through magic. I believe it'll require to be revealed through the interrogation of a captured rebel or getting a spy within their ranks."
"Or sheer dumb luck," Clark tags on.
"That too," Magneto will concede because it can happen.
"You'll let me know when you get a lead."
"Of course."
"Do we know yet how the Insurgency learned of this place?"
"Alas that is also something we do not yet know. From its covert nature my guess would be my predecessor."
"Fury," Clark says the word like a curse.
"The man has a habit of surviving what others wouldn't."
"I promise you this; sooner rather than later I will put an end to the Insurgency," Clark vows, his tone deadly serious.
"After having worked with you these last 5 years I have no doubt about that," Magneto says.
Clark turns back to face Illyana and she notices his features soften greatly as he gazes at her. "Come on. I would like to check you out properly," he says, worried over what happened earlier...whatever that was because Illyana doesn't know.
She is surprised when he sweeps her up in his arms, so gently, tenderly and protectively it's unbelievably sweet.
Then there is the rush of air as he takes to the sky, accelerating effortlessly, heading north.
As they fly Illyana can see clearly a wintry landscape, giving some hint to the time of year. She has not worked out what has happened quite yet. This could all be an elaborate illusion...or she's in the future. Time will tell.
They soon come across the breathtaking sight of the Fortress of Solitude, lightly glowing under the Northern Lights.
"This was not how I imagined the Holidays going this year," Clark finally says something to break the silence so far on the flight but there is a hidden intensity in his voice, conveying he wishes to express a lot more. He sighs. "I gave Gold Squad that mission just so we could be alone for a day or two. It's so rare we get any time to ourselves but it seems the rebels won't even give me that," he complains, bitterness starting to leak through.
They fly in...and Illyana can see many, many changes. Clark's been redecorating. What dominates is a huge sculpture of 2 people, a man and a woman, holding a planet between them...and the man bears a remarkable resemblance to Clark himself.
They land and Clark places Illyana down.
The next moment he has engulfed her in a hungry, desperate kiss so overwhelming all Illyana can do is return it, his hands wander all over her body, igniting a fire within.
Between kisses desperate words drop from his lips. "Rao...thought...lost you...couldn't...bear it...need you..."
Illyana can guess in what way he needs her and she doesn't resist as he lifts her up and carries her into a bedroom. After all she is a long way from being a saint now isn't she.
More than a few hours later Illyana wanders through the Fortress in nothing but one of Clark's old plaid shirts. The lovemaking had been frantic, desperate...sort of like life reassuring, as if Clark needed to convince himself she was alive and well. It's a good thing she's a Hell Lord and therefore quite a bit more robust than she looks. If she was a normal human she might have been looking at crushed bones and certainly not be walking around. Plus Clark, being older, had learned some new tricks. To summarise; it was really great. It's always great really. The physical part of their relationship was not the problem. It was everything else.
Illyana had left Clark sleeping as she thought this was her opportunity to try and get answers as to where she is, what is going on and eventually how was she brought here. While the Fortress had changed quite a lot(Clark had done a heck of a lot of redecorating) the control interface was still where it always was. Hopefully, if Clark and her were this close, he had enabled her to have access to it.
She walks up to it, recalls how Clark has used it in the past, adjusts one of the crystals and the holographic interface activates. Now what to search for. Illyana taps on her chin as she thinks.
"Can I help you Mistress Illyana?"
The blond-haired sorceress spins round...to find a quirky looking robot floating there. "Who are you? What are you?" she asks.
"I am Kelex. Master Kal-El created me to maintain the Fortress and its systems as well as to protect Krypton's legacy."
"Oh...wait. I'm your Mistress?" Illyana questions that part.
"Of course. Master Kal-El instructed me to obey your commands," the robot obediently replies.
"Then perhaps you can tell me what is going on," Illyana matters.
"You must narrow the parameters, Mistress," Kelex advises.
Illyana blows her bangs out her eyes. "What is going on? How did Magneto become Director of SHIELD? What is this Insurgency Clark mentioned?"
"Master Kal-El appointed Magneto to the position of Director. The Insurgency is a rebellion against Master Kal-El's rule," the robot answers dutifully.
"What rule?"
"The rule where all previous constituted governments of Earth's nation states seceded their authority to Master Kal-El who established in their place a One Earth Government with himself at its head, using the title; High Chancellor."
Illyana blinks. "Are you saying Clark rules the world?" she tries to clear up what she thinks that means.
"Confirmed."
Well Illyana can safely say she never saw that one coming.
Author's Note: Clark rules the world eh. Who could see that coming. Yes, this is a sort of version of Injustice: Gods Amongst Us Illyana has found herself in. Question still to be answered is what is going on but we'll get to that. Next up; Yanamas part 2 as Illyana's trip into the future continues.
