Sweet Little Lies

Chapter XXXIV: Round Three – The WAR

By: Michelle

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the X-men. I just write fanfics for fun.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Trish stared blankly at her work schedule. Alls she could think about was Hank. It was driving her crazy. Why couldn't he be with her?

"Trish." Her boss said as the burst in the door of her office.

"What?"

"I need you to go up to Connecticut." Her boss replied in a single breath. "I have a chopper waiting for you."

Trish stood up grabbing her purse. "Ok. What's going on?"

"There is mutant activity going on at a warehouse outside of Hartford." Her boss explained. "Mutants…those robots…things are exploding left and right…"

"And this is my field." Trish rushed out the door. "I'm on it. You don't have to ask me twice."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Storm touched the collar on Wolverine's neck.

"You have to get that off him." Mystique informed her. "It's the only way he's gonna survive."

Storm turned her attention to her. "How do you get it off?"

"I don't know." Mystique replied. "I've been trying for hours. Graydon must have some sort of control."

"We don't have time to look for that." Storm took a good look at the collar. "It's electronic. I could power surge it."

"It could kill him." Mystique replied hearing Sabretooth growl. "Shut up Victor."

"I could do it low enough." Storm said. "It might be worth the shot."

Wolverine raised his head and peered at her with his slits. "Do it."

Storm nodded and backed up. Her eyes pearled over and she sent forth her surge.

ZAP

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Rogue clung tight to Gambit's arm. "You want to rethink that Terminator theory you had the other day."

Gambit stared forward as they backed up. "Ya mean de one where I done said dey can't make dat kinda shit."

"Yeah." Rogue let out a deep breath. "That one."

'Oh chere. Ya know I ain't de type ta admit when I be wrong." Gambit replied as Sentinel stared them down. 'But I might have ta make an exception in dis case.

CLICK

Gambit and Rogue glanced to the doorway seeing a man aiming a gun at them.

"Dis just keeps getting betta n betta." Gambit said staring at the shaky hand.

"You're Larry Trask." Rogue said as the man stepped into the light before his creation.

"I am." Larry admitted keeping his gun aimed. "And I'm not going to let you destroy him."

Destroy him." Gambit raised an eyebrow. "Dat thing dun attacked innocent people."

"Innocent." Larry replied. "They were mutant terrorist."

"Not all of them." Rogue corrected. "How about the little girl you sent those things after?"

"She has potential. Her parents…grandparents…" Larry said as his hand shook more and more. 'I had to do what I was ordered."

"Rules were made ta be broken." Gambit replied. "Does Graydon control ya thoughts or do ya always be doing what ya be told?"

Larry looked at his gun. "My father created the Sentinels for protection and order."

"That was your father's intentions." Rogue agreed. "But it's not Graydon's."

Larry lowered his gun. "I didn't intend for them to do harm."

"Den help us stop dem." Gambit pleaded. "Before dey kill our friends."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"LLLLOOOOOOOOKKKKKK OOOOUUUUTTTTT!!!!!..."

Cyclops turned too late and felt the laser hit him in the chest. It burned straight through his X-suit and onto his flesh. He fell to the ground in pain smelling his own flesh.

Beast jumped up and onto the Sentinel. He clawed as the back of its neck ripping out wires until it froze into place. Then, he jumped down to Cyclops. "Scott."

Cyclops looked over at him feeling himself spinning. "Beast…"

"Oh my stars and garters." Beast looked at the burned flesh. "We need to get you out of here."

"We can't stop fighting." Cyclops replied. "Storm and the others are counting on us."

"Scott." Beast fussed as Cyclops forced himself to his feet.

Cyclops looked at him. The tears flowed from his eyes as the pain overwhelmed him. "Lead."

"I…"

"Lead the team." Cyclops ordered him as he braced himself against a tree. "Lead them Hank."

Beast nodded. "Sure…What about you?"

"I'll be fine." Cyclops replied.

"Quicksilver." Beast hollered.

"Yeah." Quicksilver said coming to a halt. "Bring Cyclops back to the jet."

Cyclops stared at Beast. "I can make it Hank."

"I'm not taking that risk." Beast replied. "You wouldn't leave me out here to die. None of us are going home in a body bag."

Cyclops nodded and shook his hand. He made the right choice. Then, Quicksilver sped off with him to the safety of the jet.

Beast looked out at the Sentinels. It was time to end this.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Talia hollered as a man cornered her. There was something about him that was familiar, but she didn't trust him. He always seemed to know where she was. He was wicked in his black tied suit and stood forcefully upright.

"Stop your screaming child." Azazel spoke sweetly to her. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Talia shook her head and remembered what she did earlier to that man. She could do it again. She was sure of it.

Azazel gazed at her bright golden eyes. She was up to something.

Talia pounced at him and slammed into his chest. Then, she fell to the ground wondering what happened as she cried.

Azazel shook a finger at her. "That wasn't nice." He said and crouched down beside her. "And that little trick can't work on me. I invented it."

"You're a bad man." Talia whispered as his eyes glowed bright.

Azazel smirked flashing his fangs. "You have no idea."

"T.J."

"Talia."

Azazel stood up and turned seeing her parents rushing in the room.

The Scarlet Witch ran to her daughter and scooped her up in her arms. She began crying as she held her. "Oh my baby."

"Mutti." Talia clung to her mother.

Nightcrawler grabbed Azazel by the neck and pinned him against the wall. "If you laid a hand on my daughter, I vill filet you like a fish."

"Oh would you?" Azazel smirked flashing his golden eyes. "Must have gotten that from your mother."

Herr Draco. Nightcrawler dropped him and stepped back. "Vho are you?"

Azazel eyed him up as the tail slipped out and swung behind him. "Ask your mother?"

The Scarlet Witch's eyes widened and she held Talia against her.

Azazel smirked at her with his white fangs. Then, disappeared.

BAMF

Nightcrawler waved his hand in front of his face. Somehow, he didn't want to know. Then, he turned to Talia and Wanda. "Are you alright?"

Talia lifted her head off her mother's shoulders. "Ja." She said and reached for him.

Nightcrawler took her in his arms and The Scarlet Witch checked over her for bumps, bruises, and scratches. "My Little Nocturne."

The Scarlet Witch looked at Nightcrawler wondering whether or not she should back away from him. Talia needed her father more than she needed her mother.

"Wanda." Nightcrawler said catching her attention. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah." The Scarlet Witch replied playing with Talia's silky curls.

Talia leaned back and looked at her parents. "Mutti. Vati. Ve go home now. I nein like it here."

"Ja." Nightcrawler nodded. "Ve go home."

The Scarlet Witch fussed with her communicator. "I can't get a signal out."

"Vhat?" Nightcrawler replied and messed with his communicator. "Storm. Gambit…."I'm not getting an answer."

"Oh what shame." Graydon added as he came into the room. "How unfortunate that must be?"

"Hallo Graydon." Nightcrawler answered handing Talia to The Scarlet Witch. "Nice to see you again."

"Unfortunately I can't say the same for you." Graydon replied walking closer. "So the family is all here. Mother, daughter, and Father."

"Vhat's vrong?" Nightcrawler stood protectively in front of Talia and Wanda. "Jealous."

"In a way." Graydon admitted. "I have to admit for a mutant, the Scarlet Witch is quite a lovely piece of ass."

"You bastard." The Scarlet Witch said coming from behind Nightcrawler.

Nightcrawler quickly stopped her and turned his attention back to Graydon.

"She's definitely go spunk." Graydon said. "How ever did you land a woman like that/"

"Captain Morgan and Parrot Bay." Nightcrawler replied. "You know it's a pirate life for me."

Graydon smirked. "And I thought you were a beer person."

"Shows how much you know." Nightcrawler replied. "Maybe you should have done more research."

"Yes research." Graydon replied. "That was fun. Did you obviously think you could hide a daughter from me?"

"I shouldn't have to hide anything." Nightcrawler said coming forward. "This ends now."

"Is that a challenge?" Graydon replied turning on his suit. "You know the Bible. I am Cain and you are Abel. You know how the story ends."

Nightcrawler flashed his fangs. "Then, I'll guess I'll have to rewrite it."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

ZAP

Wolverine's eyes rolled back feeling the shook run through his body. Then, he went limp with his chains keeping him up. The collar fell off.

"Logan." Storm walked slowly over to him. "Logan."

Mystique looked at his knuckles. The three marks from his blades healed up. "Logan."

Sabretooth growled seeing his enemy healing up nice.

The bullet in Wolverine's thigh popped out and fell to the floor. His eyes opened and his feral rage set in.

Storm took a step back. "Logan."

Wolverine pulled at his chains until he twisted his wrist enough to slice through. One by one he sliced himself free.

"Logan."

Wolverine growled angry at the world. He looked around with his cold dark eyes. There in the room with him was a woman he couldn't have, a woman that deceived herself as much as others, and a man who spent his life trying to ruin others.

"Logan." Storm placed her hand on his shoulder. "Calm down."

Wolverine grabbed her by the arms and pinned her up against where he was chained.

"Logan." Storm said softly trying to calm him. "Logan.'

Wolverine's eyes softened as he realized who she was. He lowered her down. "Storm."

"Hey." Storm replied taking deep breaths.

Wolverine looked over to the others. It wouldn't have bothered him at all leaving them there, but no one deserved to die like this.

Mystique turned her head as he sliced her free. She felt him grab her and tear the collar from her neck. As her body turned blue again, he let her go.

Sabretooth growled at him as he ripped the collar from his neck.

Wolverine tossed the collar to the ground. "Get yourself out."

Sabretooth tore through his chains with his claws. Then, he went after his foe.

Mystique jumped in between them. "Now is not the time."

Sabretooth growled at her. "Move Raven or I'll take you down with him."

'Try me." Mystique replied as claws extended from her hand.

Storm held Wolverine back. "She's right." She hated to admit to them. "Now is not the time unless you want to die here."

Sabretooth backed up. "Fine, but I can't promise you anything when we leave here."

Wolverine retracted his claws. "And I'll be waiting."

Mystique lowered her hand. "So how do we get out of here?"

"There is a hole in the side of the hall I came through to get here." Storm answered. "But Gambit, Rogue, Nightcrawler, The Scarlet Witch, and Talia are all still here. We're not going anywhere without them."

"The Elfkin ran out of here." Wolverine sniffed around for her scent. "Graydon was after her."

Mystique took a deep breath. "Yes…he was."

Wolverine nodded to Storm. "This way."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Polaris jumped back as a Sentinel hand fell in front of her. School wasn't as stressful as this was. She concentrated and the hand rose above her. She clenched her fist and the Sentinel hand formed a fist.

BOOM

BOOM

Polaris turned around and smirked as another Sentinel came into view. She took the Sentinel fist and smashed it into the Sentinel. The Sentinel's head popped off leaving the Sentinel standing there motionless. Then, she raised her hands and flipped it over her head.

"Oh shit." Toad hopped out of the way as the Sentinel slammed into the building.

But once that one was destroyed, another raised up.

Quicksilver sped up by Beast. "They are coming out of the ground."

"I see that." Beast nodded. "But the problem is getting them to stop."

"We have to close off those holes they are raising out of." Quicksilver replied as another raised out the ground.

"Iceman."

Iceman leaned against a tree nodded to them.

"Freeze those holes shut." Beast ordered as he hopped off to fight.

Iceman nodded and slid off. "Yes sir."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Larry sat down at the controls as Gambit and Rogue hovered around him. "I'll have to override the program." He informed them. "My father designed the system, but died before he could train me on every aspect."

"That's comforting." Rogue answered. "How long could it take?"

"Minutes…hours." Larry typed away at the computer. "There is no telling."

Gambit studied the screen as it flipped through. "How many of this Sentinels are there?"

"I'm not sure." Larry replied. "They are made underground and send a signal back here. Each time a Sentinel is destroyed, another is made in its place. They are programmed to learn from each other and adapt to abilities of the mutant that is attacking them."

Rogue looked over to Gambit. "There could be hundreds down here."

"Dey ain't got a chance out dere unless we shut it down." Gambit answered her.

"Ahhh here it is." Larry said getting their attention again.

"That was quick." Rogue said looking at the screen.

"Too quick." Gambit admitted. "Shut it down."

Larry typed in the override password.

M

A

S

T

E

R

M

O

L

D

Then, as his hand reached for the enter button…

I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT

Larry felt the sphere rip through his chest. It was a long skinny cylinder with a sharp point.

Rogue stepped back screaming as the computer sparked.

Gambit grabbed her and covered them with his trench coat as the system exploded and they fell to the ground.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nightcrawler and Graydon circled each other. Brothers normally fought, but most never tried to kill each other.

"Wanda." Nightcrawler said not leaving his golden glance off Graydon. "Get T.J. out of here."

"Kurt." The Scarlet Witch stopped herself before she spoke anymore. She knew better than that and backed slowly out of the room.

Graydon smirked. "What a shame. No witnesses."

"No one vants to vitness vhat I plan to do to you." Nightcrawler replied. "Lieber Bruder." Dear Brother.

Graydon sneered at the remark. "You are nothing to me demon."

"Blood is thicker than water." Nightcrawler replied. "You know that, right?"

"Not when it's flowing out of you." Graydon answered. "You all are just a stain in the family tree."

"Nothing removes the stain of blood." Nightcrawler reminded him.

"Your death will." Graydon said and attacked.

Nightcrawler roundhouse kicked him in the chest and punched him in the mouth.

Graydon stepped back and touched his busted lip. "Not bad." He smirked and tasted his blood. He wasn't Sabretooth, but he was his son. "That's the only hit you'll get in."

Nightcrawler enticed him to attack again. "Then let us see."

Graydon smirked and pulled out his gun and shot at his brother.

Nightcrawler bamfed out of the way feeling his heart rate rise. This wasn't going to be a pretty fight.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ice covered one of the holes and Iceman stood over it. Underneath a Sentinel stared up at him through the frost. It was mad and he quickly ran off as it blasted itself free.

"This isn't going to work." Iceman yelled to Beast and slid out of the angry Sentinel's way.

"Pyro." Beast hollered.

"What?" Pyro demanded.

"Burn the holes." Beast ordered him. "Iceman will help you keep them at bay."

"Are you crazy?" Pyro asked him. "I'm not going into the lions den and I don't take orders from you."

"If you don't listen, then we are all dead men." Beast replied as another Sentinel raised from the holes.

Pyro shook his head. "I know I'm going to regret this." He said and ran over to one of the holes as Iceman froze a nearby Sentinel in place.

Pyro overlooked the hole seeing another Sentinel rise. Then, he poured out the flames down upon it.

Quicksilver sped around a Sentinel having it maneuver after him until it lost its balance. As it fell to the ground, he looked over to Pyro as the red hot Sentinel rose up.

"Shit." Pyro took off running as the Sentinel unleashed fire back at him.

Beast growled in disappointment. This was not working. He jumped off and up and over another Sentinel. As it grabbed for him, he tore at the wires from its neck until it rendered unconscious. Then, he jumped off as it came crashing down.

The explosion rocked the ground and another Sentinel rose up. This is nearly impossible. He thought as the team began to tire. I'm going to have to call a retreat.

Boom-Boom leaned behind a tree with Northstar out of breath. It didn't seem to end.

Northstar joined her and closed his eyes. "You have any ideas."

"No." Boom-Boom answered as the ground rocked behind her. "You?"

"Nope." Northstar answered. "I was hoping you did."

Sentinels rose and fell as the X-men and Brotherhood each began taking shelter in the supposed safety of the trees. Explosions rocked the ground and the heat burned them through their suits. But this wasn't how they were to meet their end as the ground began caving in.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Stay still." Graydon fussed as Nightcrawler flipped and bamfed around him. "You are starting to work my last good nerve."

"Good." Nightcrawler popped him behind the legs with his tail.

"AAAHHHH " Graydon hollered as he fell to his knees dropping his gun.

Nightcrawler pounced on him and the two began to roll around the ground. "It doesn't have to be this vay Graydon." He said to his brother as Mystique's gun fell from his suit. "I don't vant to be your enemy. Vhy do you hate me? Vhy did you kidnap my daughter? Vhat did I ever do to you?" He demanded as he pinned Graydon.

Graydon's face pressed against the floor. "You were born."

"Ja I vas." Nightcrawler answered. "And our Mutter threw me off a vaterfall shortly after."

"At least you got that luxury." Graydon replied feeling jealous. "I had to live with her and my father." Tears of hatred burned his eyes. "Then, she dumped off because I wasn't a freak like you."

"And now I have to suffer for it." Nightcrawler hollered pressing his brother harder against the ground. "She dumped us both. I shouldn't have to pay for her mistakes."

"Neither should I." Graydon replied. "Go ahead and kill me Kurt."

Nightcrawler's eyes glowed bright. The temptation was overwhelming.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gambit lifted his head and looked ahead of him. His red eyes widen. "Mon Dieu."

"What the hell just happened?" Rogue asked as she sat up. Then, she saw what he was seeing. "Oh my God."

The room lit up completely allowing them to see further than they could before. The eyes they saw earlier were just part of larger Sentinel…a Mastermold. He rest there shoulders up with the rest of his pieces split up behind him. He was the controller. He was the master. He was angry at both of them.

FOOLS. HOW DARE YOU TRY TO STOP ME?

"Remy." Rogue said as she clung to him. "It's talking."

"Oui." Gambit replied. "I just glad I ain't crazy."

YOU WILL PAY FOR INTERFERING WITH MY WORK.

Gambit pushed Rogue down to the floor as Mastermold shot a spear at them. Gambit turned slightly and the spear caught his trench coat pinning him to the wall.

Rogue looked up from where she had fallen. "Remy."

Gambit tried to slip out his trench coat to get free, when another spear shot at him. He turned quickly dodging the other as it pinned his trench coat again. "Shit."

Rogue got up and ran towards him. "Remy."

Gambit tried to reach to his cards when he saw her heading for him. "Rogue, NO."

Mastermold shot another spear at Gambit.

"NNNOOOOOOO. RRROOOOGGGGGUUUUEEEE." Gambit hollered as it struck her in the side.

Rogue hollered out in pain as the pierced through her body. The force of it slammed her against Gambit pinning them both to the wall.

Gambit hollered out feeling her body hit his and the spear pierce through his side. He looked down at her emerald eyes staring up at him.

Rogue's eyes watered as she stared up at his rubies. "I'm sorry. I love you."

Tears rolled down Gambit's eyes. "Je vous aime aussi." I love you too. His arms slipped out of the trench coat and around her.

The ground shook as Mastermold assembled himself together. They remained there pinned against the wall holding onto each other.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Kurt."

"Ja." Kurt replied taking another sip.

"You're my best friend." Stefan said.

"Nein, We've known each other since we were babies." Kurt said to him. "We're like blood now Stefan."

"Swear to me Kurt…If I ever turn evil…if I ever take and innocent life." Stefan said looking him dead in the eye. "…That you would kill me."

The world spun around so fast that the next thing he knew he and Stefan were fighting.

"Stefan."

"Kurt let me go." Stefan fought to get him off his back. "Let me go."

"Stefan you need to stop this." Kurt tried to reason with him, but Stefan wasn't willing to. He was fighting back and Kurt did what he could to stop him. In the end, Kurt heard Stefan's neck crack. "I'm sorry." He cried as he lowered his brother's body to the ground. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you hurt her."

Nightcrawler looked down at Graydon ready to break his neck, but he couldn't. Not again. Never again. He let go of Graydon and backed off.

Graydon stood up staring at him with his cold dark eyes. He didn't get it.

Nightcrawler ran his fingers through his hair. He couldn't believe he almost let history repeat itself.

Graydon walked over to the gun on the floor. He picked it up and instantly recognized that it wasn't his. He didn't know where his was. He traced the engraved name RAVEN on it. It was his mother's gun…Mystique's gun.

Nightcrawler felt sick to his stomach. He hated Graydon and would have killed him, but his Christian beliefs stopped him. "Es tut ich Leid." I'm sorry.

Graydon turned to him still holding the gun. "I'm not."

Nightcrawler looked over at him. Oh shit.

Then, the ground shook and knocked them both back to the ground.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Mutti." Talia screamed as the ground shook.

"It's alright baby." The Scarlet Witch assured her. "it's going to be alright." She turned the corner of the hallway running into Wolverine. "AAAHHHH."

"Easy." Wolverine replied picking up Wanda and Talia's scent.

"Are you alright?" Storm asked looking for Kurt.

"We're fine." The Scarlet Witch looked around seeing the ceiling shake. "Kurt's down that hallway…with Graydon."

: He's alone with him." Wolverine asked.

"Yeah." The Scarlet Witch nodded.

Mystique thought of her sons fighting. It had to end. She couldn't deal with it. She slipped off down the hallway.

Sabretooth growled. He could have gone after her. He knew what she was going to do, but it was obvious she was more passionate about it than him. Plus, no one was here to stop him from killing his enemy.

CRACK

"We gotta get out of here." Wolverine grabbed both Storm and The Scarlet Witch and moved them out of the way as the ceiling began to fall. "And Now."

"Heh." Sabretooth growled as the dust began to settle and dozens of F.O.H. officers came into view. "Looks like we have some company."

"The more the merrier." Wolverine extended his claws.

Sabretooth eyed up the men. "Time for us to have fun."

"Come on." Storm said to the Scarlet Witch. "Let's get you two out of here."

"What about them?" The Scarlet Witch asked.

"They can handle themselves." Storm replied and noticed someone missing. "Where's Mystique?"

The Scarlet Witch looked around. "I don't know."

Storm sighed. Oh great. "Come on."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

KABOOM

The ground dropped out and the dust settled. One by one they began climbing out of the hole.

"Oww." Northstar landed on his ankle wrong.

"I got you." Iceman said as he helped him up. "Can you make it up?"

"Yeah." Northstar nodded. "I think so."

'I'll help you." Iceman said as he helped him climb up.

"You weigh a ton." Polaris said to Toad as she pulled him up. Oh gross my hands are going to get so slimy.

Toad crawled on the ground in front of her as she let him go. "Thanks Luv."

"Whatever." Polaris looked around seeing Quicksilver. "What's happening?"

"I don't know." Quicksilver replied as he joined her side.

Beast stood up and his eyes widened. "Oh my stars and garters."

Mastermold stood four times taller than the Sentinel's they were fighting. He looked at them.

ALL MUTANTS MUST BE DESTROYED.

"Retreat." Beast hollered and they all made a run for the X-jet.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Trish's mouth gaped open as the helicopter flew over the F.O.H. compound. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't have seen it for herself. "Do you have the camera rolling?"

"Yeah." Her cameraman replied just as shocked as she was.

"This is Trish Tilby reporting live from Hartford, Connecticut…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yeah. I'm done another chappie. I hate fight scenes and I ain't done yet.

The countdown has begun. I think this story has only 4 or 5 chapters left. Damn. Coming up Chapter 35: Round Four

Thanks for all the reviews and for being patient with me.

See you all next time

Michelle