-Battle Royale!-II

A/N: I know what everyone is gonna complain about here is that if Jean is using the Phoenix force, why hasn't she beaten everyone with a snap of her fingers? Simple, she is currently fighting off an Omega level psychic at par with her and a magic user, while blocking the soldiers' fire, and her intrinsic mortal morality prevents her from giving into the Phoenix force completely. Don't worry though, by the time the Chitauri invade, she'll even make Thanos take pause. Just a quarter-second of a pause. But still, a pause. Jean is the actual hero of the story, not John. He just has the privilege of lighting the flame for her to be forged in.

Date: 4th November, 2008, Time: 1624 hrs. Location: On board G.I. Joe Quinjet, above Russian airspace POV: MSgt. Shana 'Scarlett' O'Hara, Strike One Intel Specialist, G.I. Joe

I adjusted my footing at my station on the port minigun as Flint banked the Quinjet in the direction of the massive explosions rocking the forest. We approach to see a wrecked and gutted base with a massive crater in the middle, flames licking around assorted vehicles of what was formerly a motor pool of what looked like Cobra vehicles. Amidst all the rubble and explosions, Vipers and Red Room agents were taking cover and firing at two figures, one wreathed in flames and the other having a red cloak of power floating around it, as they fought them all simultaneously while taking on two opponents each.

Looking through the gun's scope, I could see the woman, Jean, was swiping long whips of flames through the crowds of soldiers, causing them to stumble and fall, clutching their heads or curling into balls. One of her opponents, glowing with a blue aura, was clutching her head, while blood dripped from her nose and ears. Then, as if sensing a weakness, four wings of fire were summoned into existence and wrapped around the blue aura, snuffing it out. A horrible, piercing shriek was squelched off. The woman with the massive sword let out a demonic scream as she launched herself at Jean, who neatly sidestepped the overhead slash, then hit her on the point of the chin with a beautiful right cross, dropping her like a light.

Prophet, who we had come to rescue on behalf of the Widow, was holding his own against both Zartan and Storm Shadow, dodging, blocking and occasionally opening fire with some wrist mounted weaponry, causing his opponents to duck and dodge. He even traded fire with the troops surrounding the pit, slotting them at an unbelievable pace. As we watched, he suddenly blurred, slamming a punch into Zartan's throat, then neatly dodging Storm Shadow's thrust, then grabbing the arm, twisting it around and slamming the sword into him. Prophet then kicks Storm Shadow off the blade, causing blood to fountain out.

Now armed with a katana, Prophet again blurred. Within a second, he cut a swath through the Vipers surrounding him.

"Well Joes, what are you waiting for? Open fire!" Widow orders us. I press down on the triggers, aiming at the Vipers. The electric motor first spools up with a hum, followed by the noise created by a jackhammer, as it fired at the rate of 2000 rounds per minute. In a ten second barrage, Heavy Duty and I cleared out our landing zone. Flint slowly brought us in to land as we both kept up a steady barrage of fire.

"Landing team, go, go!" I hear Duke yell as pounding feet descended down the ramp. Soon, our barrage is joined with Cover Girl's grenade launcher, scattering the group of Red Room agents that were making their way to our landing zone, and the chatter of the rest of the teams' weapons' fire.

Flint then took us up so we could return to providing CAS. And we watched carnage unfold.

-X-

Date: 4th November, 2008, Time: 1624 hrs. Location: Red Room/Cobra joint operations base POV: John 'Prophet' Shepherd

I sliced off the head of one of the Vipers, summoned his grenade pins wandlessly, then kicked his corpse into a group of enemy soldiers. I somersaulted over them into the next lot, while behind me the grenades detonated.

I think I should do that too Jean commented idly as she fended off attacks from her brain washed teammates, while trying to undo the programming. It seemed someone did a number on them, psychically bending the X-Men to their will.

Darling, why don't you just make them go to sleep for now I ask her as I slice up the group of soldiers surrounding me.

Won't they be in danger? she asked as she deflects Cyclops's optic blasts, hitting Iceman with it, knocking him into Magma and Rogue. She then TK blasts him into Wolverine, causing the two to slam into a tree. Hard. She winced in sympathy, but brushes against their minds and satisfies herself that they are ok. I feel her surprise when they suddenly disappear. I send a wave of reassurance to her as I cut my way through another group of Vipers and Red Room agents.

A friend I say to her, to which she sends me a wave of thankfulness.

Suddenly, a ring of fire converged around me, as a familiar Harrier flew past above us.

"Sorry for the danger close fire boss" came ARTEMIS's voice "Couldn't find your bio-signal until just now, saw you surrounded, decided to take care of them"

I sigh, knowing saying anything to her would be pointless.

"Next time, warn me" I reply, as I use SECOND to target mark incoming Cobra reinforcements in the form of a company of troops reinforced with a squadron of HISS tanks that showed up in ARTEMIS's flyby.

A series of explosions mark the destruction of the reinforcements.

Suddenly, Jean was in front of me, and embarrassingly for me, picked me up in a bridal (or should it be bridegroom? And am I not jumping the gun by a huge margin?) carry and flew into the cargo bay of a hovering Quinjet, it's miniguns covering our retreat.

"Flint, all eagles are in the bird, let's go!" I turn to look at a blond man with a scar on his face yell into a radio as a team of soldiers, with Spyke and Kitty, rushed into the Quinjet. The Quinjet lifted off, the guns still hammering away, while ARTEMIS plastered the area with high explosives.

As soon as we were clear, ARTEMIS took up position in formation with us. That's when I realised that Jean still had me in her arms.

Um, Jean? You can put me down now I said to her. I can sense the wicked amusement from her as she thinks of her reply.

I don't know, I kind of like having you in my arms like this she replies, a cheeky grin on her face as her eyes, flash white with merriment. I fix her with a completely unamused look.

I'm mostly secure in my masculinity, given that I'm a couple of inches shorter than you, but I would feel a little less emasculated if you'd put me down I reply, causing her cheeky grin to grow wider.

If you say so she replies, dropping me.

Thankfully I land on my feet. Before I can say a thing I hear a voice speak up. A familiar, feminine voice.

"John? Care to introduce us?" I turn to look at Natasha Romanoff, a carefully blank look on her face.

"Awkwaaarrdd" I heard someone mutter onboard the Quinjet as I stood between the two most important women in my life.

-X-

And that's a wrap! Truths! Drama! And a sorting out of the tangled mess our hero has landed up in!

Two more chapters, and Arc-1 will be complete! And I thought of including an additional chapter, increasing the length of the battle, but felt that I should move the story along a bit.

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