Chapter 20: Reckoning Part 1
Egypt
Rogue hovered above the ground, just ahead of Madeline and Cable brought up the rear. A sudden flash caused him to step back as a glowing blade struck the ground where he had just been.
Rogue spun with her hands clenched and caught sight of the figure in the shadows as it stepped forward, the dim light reflecting from the tip of his metal beak. Strange energy radiated from its hands as it grasped the sword, seeping into the very metal.
The falcon-headed guardian swung the great blade again and Rogue dashed forward, taking the strike to her torso. There was an explosion of sparks and she fell to the ground, smoke rising from where she took the hit.
Horus swung his head up at Cable and he opened fire, knocking the attacker back. Madeline looked around frantically and smiled, seeing a sharp protrusion from the wall.
Quickly she shot her gaze towards Horus and using her telekinetic abilities, launched him at the jagged metal with brutal force.
The fighting had started to die down and Scott looked around, seeing that most of the Acolytes had been beaten and those that hadn't – made their escape. "Beast… take the rest and guard the Blackbird."
Before the blue-furred mutant could respond, Cyclops already disappeared through the entrance into the citadel, leaving the rest behind.
The corridor twisted along and Scott cautiously pressed forward, watching for any sign of the others. His footsteps echoed around him and every-so-often he thought he could hear someone else close by, but shook his head, seeing nothing but the empty tunnel.
Elsewhere
Sinister sat in his darkened lab and within the sanctity of the tesseract. With grim satisfaction he stared blankly ahead at the main monitor and smiled at what he saw. Finally he understood.
There was a flash behind him and he spun in his bio-mechanical chair, coming to face a robed figure in the shadows. Sinister shook his head. "You shouldn't be here! How is it possible?"
The hooded figure stepped forward, revealing her features to the pale-skinned Essex. "Each of us play a role in fate Nathaniel. It is time for you to finish what you began so long ago."
The Citadel of Apocalypse
Cyclops crept through the eerie catacombs, finally coming to a great chamber. He looked around in awe and his stomach sank. Hundreds of bodies lay stacked in neat rows, crudely wrapped in burial bandages.
Scott approached the nearest and looked down to the form of a woman, her face shriveled and contorted in pain. She was dead. They all were.
Slowly he walked along and stopped before a massive sarcophagus in the center of the room. The lid lay on the ground beside, bearing the semblance of the demigod, adorned with the crown and headdress of an Egyptian lord. "My… god."
Shrill laughter echoed from behind him and Scott spun as the guardian approached. His skin was dark blue and, like the carving on the sarcophagus, he too wore an Egyptian crown. "You are correct. The exalted one is the god of even the gods."
Cyclops shook his head, his hand rising slowly to reach the switch on his visor.
Set laughed. "You are a fool. The will of Apocalypse is supreme."
Crimson energy filled the room as Cyclops released the vicious beam. Suddenly a storm of electricity exploded from the Dark Rider as his body seemed to dematerialize.
Scott paused in the blast and for a moment all seemed quiet. "Too easy."
Suddenly an arc of electrical energy shot toward the ground from somewhere above and Set reappeared, glowing with the power of a storm. "Indeed."
The X-Man went to fire another blast and pain rippled through his body as Set unleashed a barrage of lightning that coiled around the black leather uniform. He screamed in pain as his muscles tightened and finally the pain subsided.
With a gasp he fell to his knees.
Bobby Drake drummed his fingers over the paneling of the Blackbird's interior, keeping time with the song that ran through his head. Finally he stopped and looked over to Nightcrawler. "Aren't you tired of waiting here? We should be down there, helping them."
Kurt smiled wryly. "If dat be dere vish, dey vould tell us."
The Iceman stood and shook his head, walking past the elf-like mutant and descended the boarding ramp. Beast sat outside, staring off over the horizon and turned slightly as Bobby came into sight. "Come to see the sights? It really is marvelous."
Bobby shook his head. "I just wanted some air."
Henry shrugged as the youth continued by, shuffling his boots through the sand.
Gambit leaned against the jet's hull, absentmindedly shuffling the deck of cards in his hands. Bobby shot him a glance and ran a hand through his short hair. "You wanna get down there as badly as I do… don't you?"
The shuffling stopped and the Cajun looked over to him. "Maybe."
"Look. I hate you. I probably always will, but they need us. We wouldn't be here if they didn't… right?"
Gambit just stood in silence.
Bobby shook his head and stormed off in the direction of the citadel, ice crystals forming on the outside of his uniform. By the time he made it to the entrance, a hand settled on his icy shoulder.
He cocked his head and met Gambit's sly grin. Remy chuckled. "Wouldn' be smart… lettin' you go down der alone."
Well it's been a long but fun trip and just one more chapter to go!!!! Thank you all for your reviews and please, keep 'em coming!
-Nate