By Orkoad
Based on characters and situations created and/or owned by Marvel Comics, Sunbow Entertainment, Kids WB and John Proft.
Special thanks to Red Witch for the use of her character, Spyder.
chapter 10: Deal with the devil
Jack was standing in the field, the sun bright in the sky. There was nothing but tall grass for as far as the eye could see. After letting his eyes adjust to the brightness of the sun, he saw a woman standing there, his image once again hidden by the lighting of the sun. He started walking towards her, hoping it wouldn't be Mystique again. As he ran towards her he found he wasn't getting closer. She wouldn't move, and he kept running, but it seemed as though some unknown force was keeping him from bridging the distance between them.
"WHO ARE YOU?" He called out to the woman. The woman seemed to wave at him, walking towards him, her outline seemed to take shape, in another moment he would see her...
"Jack, Vake up!" Kurt's voice called out. Jack shook as he sat up. He had been sleeping in one of the back chairs, the plane was shaking a bit, but none of that really mattered, he had just wished he could have stayed asleep another moment. He groaned as he stood up and groggily made his way to the passenger seat next to Sabertooth who was flying the plane at the time.
"What's going on? Are we there yet?" Jack asked as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. When they adjusted, he looked over the landscape and shivered. They seemed to be flying over a fairy tale village. But out on the horizon stood a towering castle that seemed to be made by a scientific genius.
"We've already gotten landing clearance; let's hope the ruler of this little country won't kill us for just showing up," Sabertooth said evenly as he guided the plane. Jack was sure he didn't like the sound of this country's ruler already. He got up and looked at the gauntlets he was able to get made from Forge, and took off the right glove and slipped it in one of the hidden compartments in the back of the plane.
"Vhy are you hiding one of your gloves?" Kurt asked. Jack looked out the window as they began their landing cycle.
"If this guy decides to try to kill us, and I lose the glove I got, I want a spare stashed just in case." Jack replied as he took a seat in the passenger seat next to Sabertooth. "Okay Creed, we need to come up with a plan, I'd like you to hang back in here, we'll signal you if we need back up, but I d like to keep you as our ace in the hole just in case, that work for you?" Creed glanced at Jack as he concentrated on the landing.
"Long as you promise to bring me a sample of the cure, I'll cooperate, but you need to be prepared with whom you re dealing with."
XxXxX
An hour later, Jack and Kurt walked down the ramp and onto the landing pad, just outside the massive castle. As Jack and Kurt walked towards the massive entrance, the door the size of a small building creaked open, and five tall men, very tall men, nine feet tall men, stepped out, all wearing the same light purple armor. If Jack didn't know better he would swear that they were robots. The way they moved it seemed that way.
"We are the High Guard of Lord of Latveria," the leader said, his voice electronic sounding.
"Um... Hi guys, I'm Jack and this is my buddy Kurt. I think we have a five o'clock appointment," Jack said jokingly, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Follow us," the leader said, almost as if he hadn't heard Jack, and turned and walked away, back into the castle. Jack and Kurt shared nervous looks and followed.
XxXxX
Jack and Kurt were lead threw the castle, which was massive, but felt empty, artificial, like the castle was made to house the whole country, but only had one resident. They had been following the guards for about half an hour when they finally reached a room with doors even bigger than the ones they entered the castle from.
"The Lord of Latvaria is beyond these doors. He is expecting you," the leader of the guards said, before the five towering soldiers walked off. Jack turned to Kurt and took a breath.
"You ready elf?" Jack asked. Kurt nodded, taking his own deep breath before the each took a door and pushed them open. The room was dimmer, candles providing the only light, huge tapestry's hanging from every wall, with a monstrous towering throne at the end of the room, an average size man was sitting there. As they slowly walked closer they made out that the man was clad in a suit of armor, with a green cloak cascading down over him, his face concealed behind a very foreboding death mask.
"Howdy," Jack said nervously with a wave as they reached the foot of steps that lead to the throne. Kurt waved as well, feeling very uncomfortable.
"Greetings Jack Carson, greetings Kurt Wagner, welcome to my humble home," the man said at the top of the stairs. Jack couldn't hold back the joke.
"You call this humble? The man at the stairs either didn't hear him, or didn't care.
"You have come to ask for a cure to the hate plague that has swept over the world." Jack and Kurt s eyes widened in shock.
"The vorld, but it was just in north America when we left," Kurt said in horror.
"You underestimate the power of this virus, however I feel confident that with your aid I can create a cure to this plague, however, if you wish to be given the cure, you must agree to my terms." Jack didn't like the sound of that. But he didn't have the luxury of haggling.
"Alright, you win, let's get started," Jack said evenly.
XxXxX
Jack, Kurt and the Lord of the castle stood in the man's lab, which seemed to be something from out of a Star Trek movie. The man had just taken blood samples from Jack and Kurt, and was now studying their various bloods.
"You see child, the reason you and your mutant friend were made immune to the plague, was due to your friends powers of teleportation, the intense scent of brimstone is a natural predator of the plague, and if you inhale it within thirty seconds of your infection, the brimstone will create the antibodies necessary to kill the virus before it starts, brimstone alone however will not kill the plague once it's completely taken over, therefore we must use your mutant friends blood, and your own, to create artificial antibodies to mix in the air." Jack and Kurt looked at each other and smiled, so glad to make some progress.
"That's great Doc, so, what do we do now?" Jack asked. The doctor waved one of the guards that had lead Jack and Kurt into the room to look over the samples, and turned to face the two boys.
"You two are to return to your plane, the cure will be delivered by the time you return to it, he said. Jack felt like this was too easy. Jack looked up at him.
"You said you wanted something in return."
"Indeed, you two shall owe me a favor, to be called for at a time of my choosing, and I warn you gentlemen, it is very unwise to cross Dr. Doom."
XxXxX
Within an hour Jack and Kurt were waiting outside the jet when Dr. Doom and five of his guards walked out, along with an old looking man that walked along side Doom.
"Thank you Doctor, now ve can help our friends," Kurt said happily as they waited for Doom to give them the cure they needed.
"Boris!" Doom called out. The old man beside Doom handed him a metal case. Doom opened the case, showing a small gun that was meant to quickly inject someone, and two vials of cure.
"What is this...? There are only two doses in here?" Jack said angrily. At the very sound of anger in Jack s voice, the five guards all raised a gun, all pointed at Jack s face, causing him to gulp nervously. Doom just chuckled.
"Our deal is concluded, I suggest you leave before my good nature comes to an end," Doom said angrily. Kurt took the case that Doom held out, and teleported into the jet. Jack just stood there, his eyes looking deep into Doom's eyes, the only sign that showed he was human at all.
"Another time Doom," Jack said evenly, as he walked into the jet, just moments before it pulled off the runway, and soared into the air.
XxXxX
"Okay guys, we got a huge problem, we only got two samples of this stuff, and we got um... a whole planet to cure with it... What do we do?" Jack asked, slipping his other gauntlet back on.
"Vell maybe we should use one on the professor, and see what he would recommend?" Kurt asked. Jack shook his head.
"The Prof is smart and all but, he's not a scientist..." Jack found his sentence fall as he and Kurt s eyes met in a common thought.
"BEAST!" They said together.
XxXxX
Jack took a deep breath. He was not looking forward to the plan they had worked out. Jack held his breath as he poked his head threw the main door of the mansion. The main hall looked empty but he had both his gauntlets ready in case of attack. He slowly crept through the empty mansion, looking for someone, anyone.
"Helllloooo?" Jack called out as he tip toed into the main room. There he saw about half the school. They were asleep, cloths torn, cuts and bruises all over many of them. Jack felt his stomach clench at the sight of his friends looking so hurt. But they all seem alright, injured but alive.
He decided that since they all seemed alive, he would check the other rooms. While most of the rooms were all the same, some with less people, but everyone was asleep, some badly injured, but all were still alive. After he checked the mansion levels, he made his way to the elevator, and tapped the com-link he had clipped to his ear that Sabertooth had given them.
"Okay Kurt, looks like beast, Logan and X are the only ones unaccounted for, take Sabertooth and port to the lower levels, I m heading there now," He said into the com.
"Roger, Ve are porting now," Kurt said as Jack made it to the elevator he heard the chime alerting that it had reached the floor he was on. Jack gulped as he turned to face the elevator doors they opened, and there stood X, blades out, and a look of pure hatred on her face. Jack took a single step back as he taped the com-link.
"I may be a little late Kurt, better get a move on... I kinda like living." Jack said, seconds before she leapt out of the elevator, a feral animalistic roar bellowing from her, as her claws sliced thru flesh.
XxXxX
Kurt and Sabertooth teleported into Beast's lab, taking a moment to get their barings.
"Zish is his lab, Beast should be here, Kurt said as they noticed the room was empty. Sabertooth pointed his nose up and sniffed the wind.
"He's nearby, but so is Logan," He said, walking out into the hall and checking both ends. Kurt looked around the lab, and was thankful none of the equipment was damaged. Sabertooth turned to Kurt and took a breath.
"Okay kid, what do we do?" He asked. Kurt was shaken for a moment; he was being given a chance to be in charge. It felt odd and not exactly sure if he liked it or not, but he also knew now was not the time to dwell on it.
"Okay... You find Logan and... Keep him calm, I'll go after Beast," Kurt said. Sabertooth nodded, and looked out into the hall again.
"Alright, Beast is down that hall a ways," Sabertooth said as he pointed down the corridor, and then raced off in the opposite direction. Kurt took a deep breath, scaled the wall to cling on the hall ceiling, and went off after Beast. Kurt was growing more and more nervous. He and Jack were probably two of the only three people on the planet not affected. His worries were pushed away when he heard a snarling sound from up ahead. Kurt instantly leapt to a shadowed corner in a turn in the corridor, to see Beast, lurking down the hall. Kurt waited for Beast to walk beneath him, and was about to leap down when he noticed Beast sniffing, then turned to look straight up at Kurt.
"Oh crap!" Kurt said aloud, realizing he was still leaping at Beast. He had nowhere to go; Beast was almost in front of him. Then Kurt was gone. Beast looked around in confusion; his rage was so intense that he didn't even notice that Kurt had teleported onto his back. Kurt moved as slowly as possible, gently pressed the injection gun to Beast's neck, and pulled the trigger. The cold metal on his neck, and the hiss of the injection flowing into his body defiantly caught Beast s attention, and flung his arms out to reach for Kurt, but Kurt had already teleported away, and back to his crouching spot in the ceiling corner, and watched as Beast writhed about in rage, but then he slowed, almost as if he was getting tired. Within thirty seconds, Beast was gasping, leaning against the wall weakly. After a moment his eyes went wide in shock.
"Dear Lord, what have I done?" Beast asked in self loathing. He jumped in surprise when Kurt leapt down from his hiding spot to stand beside him.
"Hank, ve don't have time, ve need you to create more of zis." Kurt said, handing Beast the last vial of antidote.
XxXxX
Jack felt himself being thrown thru the wall into the mansion lawn, cuts all over his body, and blood trickling down his face from the gash on his forehead.
"X, how many times can I say I'm sorry?" Jack said weakly as he watched her leap out of the hole that had been made with his body. He gulped as he slowly stood up, his whole body aching from the beating X was giving him. "Look X, listen, I just want to... Hey, isn't that Tony Stark?" Jack said between gasps of pain. X looked, and Jack thanked God that she did, and leapt to his feet in a feverish run. X turned and saw that Jack running, and growled as she raced after him. Jack took a deep breath, whirled around and shot five freeze pellets at X's direction. He slowed and took a deep breath as he saw two pellets connect with her arm and shoulder. She froze in mid run, and was as still as a statue. Jack fell to his knees, the injury he had from her beating was too much. He looked up to her, her face the angriest face he had ever seen. He almost didn't notice Forge and Scott racing out from the mansion, Scott wearing his visor as he discarded his broken shades.
"Oh God Jack, you look like hell," he said as they walked up to either side of X. Scott saw her frozen in place. "What did you do to her?" Scott asked. Jack stood up, trying his best to hide his gauntlets.
"Let's just say I know a guy who's good with chemicals," Jack said, glancing at Forge, who gave Jack a wink. Scott took X s frozen body and struggled as he lifted her statue like form over his shoulder.
"Well whatever set off the mansions fire sprinklers has got some kind of cure to this virus so I'm gonna get X in there, Forge, get Jack to the infirmary," Scott ordered. Forge nodded and helped Jack up as Scott walked back to the mansion, X s angry gaze still locked on Jack.
"Hey Forge, those gauntlets, they work, but I m gonna need a refill," Jack said with a smile. Forge smiled and they both laughed as Forge lead him back to the mansion.
XxXxX
Logan growled as Sabertooth pinned him to the wall. It took everything he had to keep Logan from breaking free. Logan howled and snarled as he fought hard to break free. Then the sprinklers kicked in, dowsing them both in a red shower of cure. Logan seemed to calm down, but Sabertooth fought the urge to howl in rage. Whatever had made everyone else furious over everything, seemed to make him calm, and when the calmness left, it now took everything Sabertooth had to keep from killing Logan. He simply threw Wolverine to the ground, and started walking away.
"CREED?" Logan howled. Sabertooth just turned slightly, and growled.
"Not today runt, as much as I hate it, I made a promise, and if nothing else, I keep my promises." Sabertooth said evenly as he walked off.
XxXxX
The next day found Jack in the medical bay of the mansion, Beast looking over him. He had been cut up in several places, as well as several broken bones, but he was alive, and he wasn't alone, Kitty, Spyder and Jean had also been injured in the short epidemic, but none more beaten than Jack. Beast had worked out that the virus had somehow blocked out the powers of the mutants effected, with the exception of Wolverine, X and Sabertooth, due to their mutant healing power. Beast had assured everyone that the whole planet would be cured within a week. Jack was just happy he was able to do something to help.
Jack was the only one awake when the Professor had come in to visit Jack. Jack smiled when he saw his adopted father come to see him, but the look on his face didn't make Jack feel so good.
"You did a very foolish and dangerous thing Jack," he said evenly.
"I know professor but..." Xavier raised a hand to silence Jack.
"Let me finish son, you did a very foolish and dangerous thing but, also a very brave thing. You saved the entire world today, you and Kurt, and the worst part is the world will never know," Jack nodded, he understood that, trying to take credit would create too many questions and to be honest Jack didn't care about recognition. "But now I must ask, what on earth made you go to Dr. Doom, the most evil man on the planet, for help?" Xavier asked.
"To be honest we tried Reed Richards first but... It didn't seem like he would help when he was infected too... And well... It was Sabertooth's idea," Jack said weakly. "We didn't know what else to do... Sir we..." Again Xavier held out a hand to quiet him.
"Under the circumstances Jack, you acted valiantly. Now, you get some rest, alright my boy?" Xavier asked. Jack could only smile and nod. Xavier smiled brighter, and turned to leave. He stopped when he saw X standing in the doorway, looking very nervous. Xavier wheeled by her and stopped, smiling up at her.
"Ah, hello X. Having a good day?" He asked. She nodded weakly as Xavier left. She slowly walked in, not meeting Jacks gaze.
"Hey..." She said weakly.
"Hey.." Jack replied equally nervously, the only difference between them was that Jack was better at hiding it. "You um... Your good with those blades, you know that," He said with a chuckle, and then gave a wince of pain. She seemed to give a look of concern, maybe even guilt, as she raced up to him, not sure what to. She bit her lip, her eyes showing nothing but hurt.
"You know... I was grown in a lab..." X said, causing Jack to look up at her, unsure what to say, what to think. "I was never given parents, never taught right from wrong... Just... how to kill, how to block emotion, I... I was trained to do nothing but hurt and inflict pain and... I d do anything to know how to heal right now..." she said with a tremble in her voice, tears forming, one landing on Jack s hand. He wrapped her fingers around the bar of Jack s bed. Jack rested a hand on hers, causing her to look up into his eyes for the first time since she walked in.
"I can't imagine what you've been through, but... I want... I want to be there for you.. I want to help you threw it.. .I..." Jack coughed, "I want to be your friend." X couldn't help but smile. After everything he had been through, even after what she had put him through, and he still was so eager to help. She couldn't help but rest her other hand on his, and a smile slowly formed on her face.
"I'd like that," she said, threw a steady stream of tears.
XxXxX
"And all traces of the virus have been eradicated, officials are baffled as to why the virus seemed to simply disappear, however, they are thankful to be able to live through this painful chapter in our world s history." The television fell back as the man threw a beaker at it, causing the screen to shatter in a small shower of sparks.
"OUTRAGEOUS!" The man said in rage as he smashed the huge shelf of scientific tools.
"My, my, such an outburst doctor," A voice said from the one entrance into the room. The shadowed man turned to face the man that stood in the glow of the open door, this man was dressed in a dark blue suit, with a flowing matching blue cape, but his most determining feature was his face, a ghostly white, with a small beard.
"Who are you, speak, how dare you invade my home!" The shadowed man said angrily. The blue dressed man walked in smugly, kicking aside what was left of the TV.
"Who I am is unimportant, suffice it to say you have peaked the interest of my employer and he is very eager to make you a deal." The shadowed man couldn't help but smile.
"Your employer must be very well informed to find me after I ve gone to such lengths to keep myself... unobtainable, what would I call your employer?" The man asked.
"Again for the moment that information is of no importance, but who should I say was responsible for such an... attention gaining virus and another question comes to mind, what did you hope to gain by turning the whole world into enraged lunatics?" The shadowed man chuckled.
"Well as for my reasons, I just did it for fun, and as for my name, you may simply call me, for lack of a better name, Dark Beast."
End of chapter
Next chapter: Adventures in Cleveland