Uncanny X-Men

Chapter 10: Days of Hellfire

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel.

The Xavier Institute-

Once again, Professor Xavier was holding court in the War Room. The Hellfire Club was up to its old tricks, and it was up to the X-Men to shut it down before something really bad happened.

'I wuz wonderin' when Shaw would show his ugly face again.' Logan smirked. 'Any idea what he's tryin' to do this time, Chuck? Revenge on the X-Men, or yer generic plot to take over the world?'

'Who really cares?' Kitty shrugged. 'Let's go kick his ponytail-wearing butt already.'

'I must urge caution, Katherine.' Xavier pointed out. 'As you will very well know, Sebastian Shaw is an opponent that we must not underestimate. There is no telling what sort of heinous plans he has for us.'

'Then why are we standing here?' Piotr asked. 'Should we not have a plan of some sort? or are we just going to charge in like some kind of gung-ho fools?'

'Sounds good t' me, Petey.' Logan smirked.

'Heh.' Lockheed added.

Then it was Scott's turn to take charge.

'Thanks to Emma's invaluable help, we have discovered a secret entrance to the Hellfire Club's headquarters right in the former Morlock Tunnels.'

'Oh, that is just divine.' Hank rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh. 'Do you have any idea how hard it is to wash the smell of sewer water out of my fur?'

'Don't tell me that yer scared o' wallowin' in the poop. McCoy.' Logan teased the fuzzy blue scientist.

'I am merely being a realist, my friend.' Hank pointed out. 'I was just thinking of how Emma would react when I arrive back smelling like a pair of Deadpool's undergarments.'

'And you know what Deadpool's undergarments smell like from prior experience, eh Hank?' Kitty smirked.

Hank shot the young X-Woman a glare and turned back to the holographic image of the Morlock Tunnels.

'What kind of security does the Hellfire Club have down there, anyway Charles?'

'According to Callisto's reconnaissance, the Hellfire Club has minimal security around the secret entrance.' Xavier answered.

'Kinda dumb, don't ya think?' Logan asked. 'They're askin' fer somebody ta tray an' attack 'em.'

'It's a good job that we are intending to attack them then.' Scott replied. 'Now, if that's all, I'd say that it's about time we gave Shaw a visit.'

'Sounds good to me.' Kitty cracked her knuckles with an eager grin. 'I've been looking forward to giving Shaw a good kicking for along time.'

'But Katya... You have not eve met Sebastian Shaw before.' Piotr pointed out.

Kitty shook her head with a sigh.

'Does one really need a reason to want to kick that breeches-wearing pansy up the butt?'

'I guess not...' Piotr conceded.

The Morlock Tunnels, later-

The X-men were now trudging through the sewer tunnels that used to be the home of the Morlocks. Hank, of course, was still grumbling about getting sewer muck stuck in his fur.

'Oh my stars and garters... Emma will not be pleased...'

'Then why didn't you wear boots?' Kitty sighed, somewhat fed up with Hank's complaints.

'When you find boots that will fit my feet, then I will happily wear them.' Hank countered.

'You could have borrowed a pair of Cain's boots.' Kitty pointed out.

'Have you ever smelt his feet, Katherine?' Hank asked. 'They smell...'

'I think we get the picture, Hank...' Scott interrupted. 'We're coming up near the secret entrance to the Hellfire Club. Everybody keep alert.'

Lockheed let out an impatient growl. He was eager to get in there and kick some Hellfire butt.

'Calm down, dragon.' Kitty patted her friend on his scaly head. 'We don't need you flying in there and jeopardising the whole mission. We have to be careful.'

'Feh.' Lockheed sulked.

'So, how're we gonna go about his, Slim?' Logan asked. 'Go fer the sneaky option and take out the guards without them knowing it, or go fer the noisy option, and sic the dragon on 'em?'

'A little bit of both, I think.' Scott replied as he put his hand to his visor. 'I'll take the one on the far left. Logan, the one on the right is yours.'

'About time too.' Logan smirked as he unsheathed his claws with a 'Snikt!'

Scott let rip with an optic blast, taking out one guard. Before his teammate could even make a move to defend himself, Logan was upon him with a flurry of adamantium claws.

While the guards were being dealt with, it was up to Hank, Kitty, and Piotr to find a way inside.

'Allow me to make ourselves a doorway...' Piotr said as he transformed into his steel-skinned form.

'No, Piotr...' Kitty put her hand on the Russian mutant's hand, preventing him from knocking down the door, therefore alerting more guards to their presence. 'If I remember correctly, this door uses an electrically-powered lock. And what happens when I phase through machines?'

'Heh. Excellent plan, Katherine.' Hank nodded in appreciation. 'proceed.'

Kitty stuck out her hand and phased it through the door's electronic lock. There was a brief burst of sparks before the door slowly swung open.

'Voila.' Kitty threw her arms open with a satisfied grin. 'Am I cool, or what?'

As if in reply, there was the sound of somebody cocking a gun.

'Not to fast, X-Man...' The Hellfire guard warned her. 'One false move, and...'

'Lockheed, I believe this guy's yours...' Kitty smirked.

Lockheed simply nodded in understanding and leapt straight at the Hellfire guard, aiming for the eyes.

'Ahh! Get it off! Get it off!'

Piotr rolled his eyes and bashed the guard on the head, quickly shutting him up.

'Now, into the belly of the beast...' Hank said as he cautiously led everybody inside. He made sure to keep his feline senses ready for any sign of more Hellfire guards.

'Hmm, this is most unusual...' Hank frowned to himself. 'Surely there would have been more Hellfire guards to fight.'

'What's the matter, fuzzy?' Kitty teased. 'Jealous that you didn't get to take any down?'

'I am sure that there will be much more time for taking on foolish Hellfire Club guards.' Hank countered, but first we need to find out what Sebastian Shaw is up to...'

'Then perhaps I can help you...' A feminine voice said from the shadows.

Lockheed gave the stranger a warning growl.

'Lockheed, don't be rude.' Kitty shushed him. 'Assuming that we can trust this woman, she may be able to help us...'

'Who are you, anyway?' Scott asked. 'Not some disgruntled guard, I bet.'

'Oh no, I am not a lowly guard...' The mystery woman chuckled. 'I am the new Black Queen. I have several... disagreements with Shaw's plans.'

'That's real nice an' all, but why are you gonna help us?' Logan asked. 'What's in it fer you?'

'Why, complete control of the Hellfire Club and all of its affiliated companies, of course.' The woman answered.

'Why should we trust you at all?' Piotr queried. 'How do we know that you will not try to attack the X-Men when we stop Shaw?'

'You will just have to trust me, then.' The woman sighed. 'Why are you heroes so distrustful?'

'Call it prior experience, I guess.' Scott shrugged. 'Now, who are you?'

The woman stepped out of the shadows. She was an attractive raven-haired woman dressed in a low-cut green dress with a long slit up one leg.

'I am Umar.' The woman introduced herself. 'And we must move with haste. Sebastian Shaw plans will destroy us all! He plans to conjure He Who Sleeps But Shall Awake: Shuma-Gorath!'

Hank groaned out lout.

'Oh my stars and garters. We are so screwed...'

TBC...

Next: He Who Sleeps But Shall Awake

The X-Men and Umar take on Sebastian Shaw and Shuma-Gorath. 'Nuff said.