I.
The cool dusk breeze caressed Rich Cale as he climbed out of the taxi, cradling Rimo, an animal resembling a diminutive wolf. He paid the taxi driver with crisp American bills, a twenty and a five, then faced the gates of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The iron barriers were slightly ajar, and the grounds were ominously quiet.
"So, this is the esteemed school Cartier's daughters attend..." Rich neutrally mumbled. He wasn't particularly impressed with the outside, but it did manage to get a positive nod regarding the architecture and sprawling size. The multiple-story, winged building distinctly stood among the thick forest, its deep red brick and sloping roofs a welcomed contrast against the deep greens of the surrounding foliage. But in his mind, he expected a training ground for teenaged mutants to be some concrete fortress—squared edges, windowless, boring—surrounded by high walls and lookout posts.
Rimo leaped from his arms to the ground, observing the area as well. His pointed ears perked, and his dark eyes narrowed. "I don't think we have too much time to debate the expectations of Xavier's properties. Emplate has already made his move—"
"What?! How do you—" a sharp horn blared from behind him, startling him. He turned and shielded his eyes from the headlights, annoyed.
"Lo, dear stranger," Gaia Sophronia leaned out of the window to greet the gentleman blocking the gate. Chatting about random topics only moments ago, she saw studied their uninvited visitor, accompanied by a foreign creature she couldn't quite identify.
His dark brown eyes squinted against the bright headlights, and his sharp jawline tensed as he moved to one side. Gaia presumed that because of his tanned complexion, slender build, and jet black hair, he could possibly be some sort of subject of art, but there was something about him that didn't quite meet the mark.
The little creature that stood close by was cute, reminding her of some exotic pet on a cartoon Lily told her about—a tale about unique animals, trapped within pocket-sized spheres, battling each other at the behest of their owners. The name of the show escaped her, but she was convinced that the animal that cocked its head in curiosity as its sharp ears perked surely had to be one of the creatures Lily spoke of.
Addressing him further, she asked, "Are you one of those confused, lost children looking for a way out of the forest? Maybe you have run into the child with the red cloak, that golden-haired destroyer, or maybe those siblings who—"
"I'm not lost," Rich snapped, annoyed. Out of all the stories of the X-Men, he didn't recall there being a ditzy, pink-haired girl. "And I'm absolutely positive that you are talking about storybook characters...people that are not real. What business do you have here?"
Gaia cocked a disapproving eyebrow, pushing her bangs from her brow. "I do not care for your tone, stranger. This is a dwelling for learning the arts—rude interlopers are not welcome here."
From the passenger seat, Lily leaned toward her teammate, keeping her voice at a hushed whisper, barely louder than the running engine. "Gaia, aren't you being kind of mean?"
"Child," she huffed with an impatient tone, "you must not fall prey to the likes of wandering outlanders. Heed my warning and learn from my actions, only then will you ensure your continued safety in this dangerous world."
She giggled in response, thankful for the well-intended concern. However, she hoped that Gaia would continue to learn some of the more delicate interactions needed to make friends. She attempted a wave, but when the stranger didn't respond in kind, she offered, "Let me try to talk to him." Before an objection occurred, she hopped out of the car, and smiled pleasantly as she approached, stopping short of his pet.
Her eyes rested only momentarily on the animal, but in that brief instant, she caught a sense of abnormality surrounding it. It wasn't really due to its appearance—that of a miniature wolf—but there was an aura of a strange power ebbing from it. It should have made her uncomfortable, but she felt no hostility or ill-intent. Making a mental note, she turned her attention to the gentleman.
"Sorry about that. She's still adjusting to the school. I'm Lily Madison. And we do go to school here, but I don't think we were expecting any new students. Is there something we can help you with?"
Rich's frown didn't change, but he shifted his weight to appear less defensive. "At least you have some sense about you. I'm Rich Cale, and I was here to accompany Ambassador St. Croix to see his daughters. But earlier, he was taken by a hostile force. I came here to enlist the aid of whomever is capable to find him and to relay the circumstances to his daughters."
"Monet, Nicole, and Claudette?" she asked, piecing the situation together.
Until now, she didn't realize that the St. Croix's father was an Ambassador. Lily then thought back to several conversations, and in retrospect, it was rare that any of them even really discussed any familial ties or issues. But then again, she wouldn't really be able to participate, since she didn't know her own biological parents. When not enrolled at the Arminthorpe Corporation, she had lived in foster homes for as long as she could remember and didn't feel entirely comfortable talking about it, especially since it seemed everyone else had a strong family support system.
She continued, "We've been away for most of the day, so we didn't know anything had happened. We got a call from one of our friends here telling us to get back to the school, but she didn't really explain why." Lily paused, a sudden sense of foreboding and distress overtaking her.
Rich watched the young girl pale. "Are you okay?"
"I—I think so. I'm sorry. I just—there's something wrong here..."
His blood ran cold. He wasn't sure what the girl's mutant ability was, but she clearly validated what Rimo had revealed only moments ago—that something had happened here. And whatever it was, they were much too late to stop it.
Alarmed, he commanded, "Tell your friend to leave the car here. We'll approach by foot."
As Lily passed the message to Gaia, Rich looked back at the school, as the apprehension tied his stomach into a hard knot. With a flick of his wrist, a spiral of flame shot from his palm, materializing into a straight sword. Heatless flame continued to dance along the sliver blade, casting light and shadows in the immediate area.
"You're a mutant?" Lily questioned, having observed the summoning. Gaia stood behind her, trying to hide her own curiosity.
"Yes. But this isn't my mutant ability. I am an Arcanist...magic is my specialty. However, my mutant power is my eidetic memory. I don't forget anything I've learned. It comes in handy for spells. But you know a thing or two about magic as well, don't you?"
"I—" she stammered,
"We should get going," Rimo telepathically communicated to Rich.
Taking the cue, Rich said, "We can discuss later. Be ready for anything."
"Take pause for a moment. What has transpired to give you alarm, vagabond?" Gaia asked as she crossed her arms, preparing not to move until she received a satisfactory answer. It was bad enough that they received the urgent message from Vanessa with no further explanation, but now, they had strangers ordering them around urgently for seemingly no reason.
"Look, I really don't have time for your untoward accusations and misguided comments. Like I explained to your friend, Monet's father was kidnapped and the same monster that did it may have attacked your school. It would behoove us to tread carefully in case the enemy is still around. Don't you learn this sort of thing here?"
"Hmph," Gaia disapprovingly replied while crossing her arms. "I have learned not to trust strangers. And you, vagabond, are a stranger, whether you realize it or not."
Lily, dread pulling at her, said, "Let's trust Rich for now. I'm really worried about everyone. He can help."
Gaia narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Rich. "Lily, only at your behest shall I proceed. Be warned, Rich Cale, at the first notion of hostility, I will render you unconscious. Now, let us make haste."
She brushed past him purposefully without a second glance, then fell into the shadows, taking light, purposeful steps. Lily smiled at Rich before falling behind her friend.
"And to think, you made me come here," Rich whispered, his annoyance snipping every word.
Though Rimo had a canine-line visage, a smile was visibly though his features. "I like them both. I have a feeling the others will be just as interesting and fun. You're much too young not to enjoy this!"
"We don't have time for fun. Emplate—"
"Has already made his move. You know that. The wheels are turning, Rich. And things will get far worse before they get better."
"Remind me to call you when I'm having a bad day," he sourly stated. He too followed the two girls to the school, taking care to stay in the darker part of the grounds, safely covered by trees and bushes. Despite his initial impression of Gaia, she proved to be quite adept at stealth, leading them down a smart path that kept them completely out of sight from several angles. The thickness of the surrounding foliage even covered his flaming sword.
Once to the front of the school, Gaia stooped low and sprinted to the porch, pressing herself against the brick wall. She waited until Lily and Rich were next to her, before trying the doorknob. The door opened quietly, and she peeked her head around, ready to pull back at the slightest provocation, but the scene before her froze her in place.
"By the gods!" she gasped.
Lily and Rich glanced at each other nervously and knowingly before darting around her into the entryway. Before them, the remaining members of Generation X were sprawled lifelessly on the ground with toppled furniture scattered all around. Though it looked like there was a battle, judging from the proximity of the bodies, they must have all been hit at once.
"They're—"
"Alive. But hurt. I can feel their pain. But I can also help," Lily said, stepping in front of them. She held her hands to the side, palms skyward, as a soft glow emanated from her entire body. Her eyes closed, as her hair moved languidly through the air, and slowly, she rose from the ground a few inches as the ethereal light shone over the entire room. The warm white light washed over her teammates and friends, then intensified into a blinding radiance, causing Rich and Gaia to close their eyes, but Rimo sat fixated, watching closely.
But within seconds, it was over, and Lily collapsed, barely caught in time by Rich. He had already dismissed his sword and now held her upright, keeping her balanced.
"You overexerted yourself. Are you okay?" he gently asked.
There was an ache deep within her that throbbed, but she held back any overt sign of her agony. She shakily replied, "As long as they're okay, I will be too."
Gaia watched their fallen classmates carefully, and before she even saw them move, she felt a rejuvenating pulse surge through all of them. As they returned to life, she exclaimed, "They're stirring! You've recovered their vitality with your own might!"
Lily managed a relieved expression though the fatigue, realizing she used much more power than she intended, considering the number of injured people she healed at once. She was used to healing minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises, never having to deal with much more than that. But though not noticeable, the trauma was internal for most, ranging from broken limbs to slight internal bleeding. Whoever attacked them could have easily killed them, but his or her goal must have been to simply incapacitate them. Painfully. Long-term.
Knowing that someone out there could hurt them so easily and mercilessly, caused a raging blaze deep within her soul. A sudden need for revenge seeped through, and for a brief moment, her vision blurred and darkened, along with her heart. It beat against her ribcage, and it took a concerted effort to calm herself, just like when she faced Angora.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Rich asked. Though his question seemed sincere, Lily noted the hint of polite, unspoken prying intertwined within the inquiry.
Steadying herself, she hesitantly replied, "I—just—just a little weak. That's all. Please, make sure my friends are okay." She just needed some breathing room and hoped Rich would catch the hint.
He nodded, giving Rimo a knowing glance before joining Gaia, who tended to the felled teens. Slowly, they all stirred gingerly, announcing their arrival with pain-ridden moans and labored breaths. Lily remained by the entryway, her color slowly returning as she watched with concern.
While Rich helped an older gentleman to his feet, Gaia assisted Artie Maddicks, Leech, and Franklin Richards, listening to their frantic retelling of the sequence of events.
"Then there was this monster with these claws that chased us down the stairs!" Franklin relayed, his bright azure eyes wide with excitement and fear. He hadn't seen anything like that before, and he was sure his parents and uncles wouldn't believe what had happened.
"Monster try to hurt friends. Hurt Leech instead!" the youngster rubbed the side of his smooth cheek, the sting of Emplate's backhand still fresh.
Artie created a three dimensional facial icon with a frightened expression. The translucent image floated in midair, courtesy of the youngster's ability to project three-dimensional images.
Gaia clutched her heart, holding back her tears. She was still leaning to control her powers of empathy, but everyone's terror and shock were overwhelming, which only amplified her own feelings of anxiety. "I'm so sorry. I wish we had come back sooner."
Robert soothed her uneasiness, "Child, there would have been nothing you could have done. This Emplate monster was far too strong."
Personally, he was surprised that they weren't hurt far worse from the damaging wave of energy that took them out. However, as his eyes rested on a paled Lily, he surmised that her current condition must have had something to do with it, considering he understood her to have some sort of healing ability that could be projected to others.
Quickly fetching a glass of water, he returned in less than a minute, lightly encouraging Lily to take small sips, in an effort to restore her vitality. As he was tending to the weakened student, the complete stranger who accompanied Gaia and Lily addressed him with a polite, but pointed question.
"I'm not sure if I heard you correctly, but did you say that Emplate was here?"
Robert nodded, unsure of how much information to give him. However, with everything that happened, he couldn't afford to withhold information on unfounded suspicion alone. "Yes," he firmly answered, "there was no mistaking it. Some of the children seemed to know him."
Jono chimed in, overhearing the conversation, "Yeah, we have history with that guy. Bad history." He noted Rich's strange look, as if he could tell that Jono was telepathically speaking to him with the illusion of actually speaking.
From across the room, Vanessa suddenly exclaimed, "The twins!" She frantically gazed from face to face, while scanning the rest of the room. "Where are they?!"
Rich shook his head, already surmising the outcome of the situation. "He took them. Emplate has them."
A frigid silence fell over the room, and Vanessa held back her own outburst of anger and tears. "He took them?! But—but they're his sisters. They'll be safe."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," he ominously warned.
Jono pulled out his phone, pressed a single speed dial button, and waited for the video to connect. Once the red-haired instructor appeared on the screen, he started his report, "Banshee, Chamber here. We were attacked by Emplate. He...he took Nicole and Claudette. Everyone's here, including Rich Cale."
Sean paused, absorbing what Jono just told him. That meant Emplate somehow infiltrated the school, probably attacked the students, and somehow was able to overcome them to ultimately kidnap the twins. Jono didn't mention anyone being hurt, which was a plus, but still, Nicole and Claudette were in the hands of an unpredictable monster, which left Sean far past the point of just being unsettled.
"Ah dinnae want ye leavin' th' school," he firmly said, leaving no room for argument. "The X-Men are takin' care o' Emplate. Ah'd rather have th' lot o' ye there as backup in case anythin' happens."
Jono's eyes flashed with defiance. "We can't just sit here an' do nothin'. That pillock is out there, and there's no tellin' what he's tryin' to do. And he has th' twins."
"Exactly why ye need t' stay put," Sean reasoned. "Ah don't want anythin' else t' happen t' ye. We're stayin' in th' town as backup fer th' police. Otherwise, we'd be right there with ye."
"Chamber out," he announced before disconnecting. He didn't wait for a response from Sean at all. He didn't want one. He wanted to be able to go out, kick Emplate's ass, and rescue the twins. Instead, Sean acted as if they were incapable of doing anything but staying in the school. "That's a load of ol' bullocks!" he shouted, startling everyone.
Rich frowned. "Well, you're junior X-Men and under their rules. I'm not. I'm going to find Emplate."
"Like 'ell you are. You have a lot to answer for, including just what the 'ell is going on."
"You kids like wasting my time. Look I—"
"You're playin' by our rules, mate. Fer all we know, you could be chums with ol' Emplate. You picked quite a coincidental time to show up."
Appalled and frustrated, Rich didn't hide his contempt. "You're blaming me for this?!"
"No. But I'm making sure that you're not one of the bad guys. You stay by choice or you stay by force, your choice. Mate."
Sensing a continued escalation of the situation, Rimo telepathically said, "This isn't the time to be bullheaded, Rich. He's got a valid point. To them, we are strangers. We're needed much more here than out there with Emplate. Your time to face him is not yet at hand."
"Why the hell do you have to be so damn cryptic?" he snapped aloud back to Rimo.
Jono, slightly confused but still agitated, said, "I don't think I'm saying anything that you don't understand."
Rich crossed his arms, leveling his voice. "I was talking to Rimo."
"Your pet?" Lily inquired, glancing curiously at the foreign creature. When it gave her a semblance of a smile, she saw the animal in a different light, as something a little more human.
"Not quite."
Vanessa pointedly interjected. "Don't change the subject. What are you doing here?"
"He explained it to us earlier," Gaia explained, "though he continues to deny his involvement with the little girl with the red cloak, the reckless blonde, and the directionless siblings. Misfortune brought him to our doorstep—Monet's father was whisked away by Emplate as well. He needed help."
"I don't need help," Rich defiantly retorted, ignoring Rimo's piercing glare. Before he could say anything more, the other team entered through the front door. Everett, Jubilee, Graylon, Angelo, and Clarice stood in the doorway, quickly surveying the scene, and realized something had happened. Everett locked eyes with Jono, speaking volumes without saying a word.
"It's exactly what you think, mate. We were attacked. Emplate," Jono briefed. "An' he took the twins. This guy," he motioned to Rich, "showed up suddenly with Lily and Gaia. An' apparently, he has some connection to everythin' that's goin' on."
"Well, what's your stake in all this?" Robert asked, reviving the earlier question.
Clarice replied, "He's after Emplate. Or at least, that's what his journals say."
"He's also a magician," Graylon added. "Like the shady ass disappearing move you pulled on me at the airport."
His ire beyond measure, Rich's hands clenched at his sides. "You ransacked my room? And you keep company with annoying reporters?"
"I don't know what your problem is with me—" Graylon said, annoyed.
Jubilee stepped forward to ease the situation. "It's probably the same one we have with you too, blondie. Look angsty magic-dude, we didn't wreck your room, but Emplate's creepolas definitely did. Luckily, tha desk clerk was totally badass and used some spell to send those guys someplace else. But we had ta like find ya an' figure out what's goin' on."
"Dimensional holding spell. Not many can use it effectively. Interesting," Rimo mentioned, but realized that Rich didn't hear him.
Rich said to the others, "Yes, I'm an Arcanist. I came here at Cartier's request. I figured there was trouble, and I was obviously right. I've been tracking Emplate for a while. I'm here to stop him, and to possibly save Marius, but if they separate, we could be dealing with something far worse. That's why we should—"
"Stay here," Everett stated without a doubt in his voice. "At least for the time being. I talked to Sean before we got here. Emma's with the X-Men. He wants us to monitor the situation from here. He's authorized the highest security lockdown setting until he gets back. I tend to agree with him on this one, sorry Jono. But if we're spread all over the place, we can't respond to any real threat, and we're increasing our chances of losing if we're not unified."
"So we just huddle here and wait for it to be all over?" Jono asked with renewed anger.
Rich shook his head. "No, trust me, it won't be over. Not by a longshot. Your X-Men...they can't win against him."
Jubilee rolled her eyes, "Whatever. They—"
"Don't fight demons for a living," Rich interrupted, his patience dwindling. "They also don't know about Emplate. If he manages to separate from Marius, he'll be nearly unstoppable. I don't know what his intent is after that, but let's just presume that it won't be good."
Everett said to the group, "I know that this is tough. We're in a bad position right now. And Sean is right—the more thinly spread we are, the more vulnerable we are. We'll regroup here, keep in contact with Sean, and play the rest by ear. It's not like him to ask us to stay on the sidelines, but I have a feeling that if what Rich has said is true, things are only going to get worse."
An ominous silence fell over the group, each of them wondering just how much worse it could possibly get.
II.
Cartier St. Croix struggled against the thick, rough ropes wrapped around his wrists and ankles, holding him steadfast to a sturdy chair. It wasn't that long ago that he had awakened, surprised at his surroundings, only briefly remembering Emplate's assault against him. At this point, he could only hope that no one was hurt and that Rich somehow escaped without detection.
His vitality dwindled and struggling didn't seem to make the slightest bit of difference, so Cartier simply settled into the chair with a heavy sigh. Though Bishop previously issued a foreboding warning, he refused to believe that Emplate—Marius—would have ever attacked so brazenly, with no regard for innocent bystanders. If only he hadn't been so stubborn, he wouldn't have left himself in such a vulnerable position, but there was only so much lamenting—what was done was done. Now, he had to escape and figure out how to warn his daughters and their classmates of the impending danger.
But deep down, he knew that Emplate had already made his move, and there was no telling how they fared against his newfound power. Cartier tried not to think about it, focusing instead on using the powers at his disposal, but when he tried, pain shot through his chest, wrenching his breath away. Gasping and hurt, his shoulders slumped as he realized that he was finally in a situation that had no possible way out.
As he resolved to his fate, a figure moving at the edge of the shadows caught his eye. He peered closer, presuming that he/she/it was another creature enslaved by Emplate, guarding his new prisoner with mindless resolution, but as he/she/it neared, the fluidity of the movements and purposeful stealth made him rethink his initial conclusion, and when the figure finally came into the dim light, he gasped in disbelief.
"Monet? Surely, I must be dreaming," he dreamily whispered.
"No," she responded, tearing the ropes from her father's wrists and ankles with frightening ease. "You're not dreaming. I'm here. We're here—Nicole and Claudette as well. Father, what happened? How did you get here?"
Cartier swallowed, as a sense of relief passed over him. "I—I feared Emplate was attempting something dangerous. I was attacked last night, but Bishop, guided by Gateway, was able to rebuff the monster."
"Bishop?" Monet repeated.
"Yes. There is something about him that we should discuss—"
Monet set into a hard expression. "Now is not the time to discern his connection to our family. It is something I have purposely avoided. We shall simply focus on escaping from this place and regrouping with the X-Men."
"If they are here, then we have a better chance of dealing with Emplate. When I was attacked in the airport, I could feel his immense power. I fear that he has discovered a way to utilize the dark arcane arts to some nefarious end. I had to come here—to stop him."
"You should not have attempted to rectify this situation autonomously. We could have easily—"
"I know. But this is not your battle. Marius—Emplate—this is my burden to bear. Alone."
Monet let the ropes fall to the floor and helped her father to his feet.
"Dad!" Nicole, holding her twin's hand, approached from across the room, then threw her arms around him, feeling the security and safety of having him there. Claudette released herself from her sister and embraced Cartier on the opposite side, her body language saying more than she could ever vocalize.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of you to have to deal with this," he choked for a moment as his arms pulled his daughters close. "Thank the heavens you both are unharmed!"
"He's here!" Monet snapped around to face the shadows.
"Bravo, dear sister," a gravelly voice complimented, punctuated with slow, mocking applause. "You're becoming much more alert these days. It's harder to catch you and your X-Children friends off-guard," Emplate mused as he stepped into the dusky light, shadows splayed over his face and body.
"Do not advance any closer. I will hurt you. Badly."
"At the risk of hurting Marius? I don't think so."
"Though we are connected, you obviously do not know me well at all. I do not bluff."
Cartier shielded the twins and commanded, "Emplate, cease and desist! Your scheme must not progress any farther. I was blinded before, but I now understand what you aspire to achieve. You do not belong in this world, and it is not yours for the taking."
"You are the one that bound me here, old man. Besides, I...I—I want my family back. No, I—I must—must be—be FREE!" The psychic battle spiked, but to the naked eye, a second lapsed before there was a total change in Emplate's posture and demeanor. "That foolish child of yours," he spat, "wasting this precious power. His mind is weak, this body frail. But now, I can shed this body you imprisoned me in, Cartier St. Croix!"
Monet heard the claim, and she simply froze, unsure of what to think for several moments. This body you imprisoned me in—the words repeated in her mind as she debated within herself to fully accept that her father has a direct hand in not only cursing their brother to be forever intertwined with Emplate, but also creating the monster that has continually plagued, and several occasions almost killed them.
Monet's voice was cold and distant. "Father, are his claims valid?"
The icy chill in her voice stung Cartier to the core. "Yes," he replied with enough volume that indicated he stood by his decision, but soft enough to show regret and hurt over his decision. "I made a grave mistake, but despite what you may think, you do not have full control over him. That is why you have gathered us here, isn't it?"
"My will is not entirely my own, of that, you are correct. We have been together for so long that our thoughts are intertwined as one. The desire is to make us a family again—"
Monet did not let him finish. "We are not your family. You are simply inhabiting my brother's body and feeding off of him like the parasite you are. I shall not allow any of us to empower you with our fear—you are nothing."
"See, that is where you are wrong, dear sister. But I won't explain it any farther. She'll be able to explain much better..."
Monet's keen hearing detected a shuffling noise behind her, giving her enough time to whisk around and prepare to kick someone's ass. It wasn't until she focused on the figure staggering toward her did her blood freeze and rendered her speechless. Her legs threatened to give way, and though not prone to fainting spells, she felt as if the entire world was spinning and darkness would overtake her. She couldn't believe her own eyes, yet, no matter how many times she blinked, the figure continued to advance, features becoming clearer, making her realize the extent of Emplate's plan.
The figure in some ways was a derivative of Emplate—mouths on either hand, saliva dripping from every tooth as the mouths perversely opened and closed. Its fingers were long and claw-like and the unsteady steps were those of a storybook zombie, each step a challenge due to some unseen damage to one or both of the legs. But that was where the resemblance to Emplate ended and the real recognition began of the person who existed underneath the monstrous characteristics.
"Meré," Monet said in muted horror.
Nicole screamed, a normal reaction from an eight-year-old whose mother had been turned into something only seen in nightmares. She only remotely felt Claudette cry out mentally, pulling close to her sister while shielding her eyes.
"Do not look!" Cartier exclaimed, stepping to block the scene from their view.
A longing moan resounded as a reply as her mother, a hideous resurrection, continued its shambling advance, driven by the power of hunger and the desire to kill. She stopped short of Monet, adhering to the psychic commands of her master, Emplate.
Monet whipped around to face Emplate, her eyes burning with fury. "How could you?" she spat, her voice low and accusatory. "You've desecrated the memory and body of our mother with this hideous monstrosity! How could you?! If there was any iota of my brother left in that body, he would have NEVER allowed such a thing!"
Her insides burned, and Monet wanted nothing more than to destroy him. If it meant losing Marius, then so be it. There was no way that a monster like that deserved to live—not now, not ever. Her hands balled and angry tears stung the corners of her eyes, subsided only by the fierce glare boring through Emplate.
"My power is beyond measure. I can change this world into something more...an entire race to serve me as a god."
"Delusions of grandeur. Such a thing is cliché, no? And in that case, you must already know that there are people here to stop you. Resurrecting our mother does not change my mind."
He replied, "I am giving you the chance to be at my side as my host's family. This is not an opportunity you wish to squander away. Since your father bound me to him, I feel a certain...connection to him, and as such, an innate desire to spare your lives, even when I separate from him. Refuse, and I will make sure that your suffering is never-ending."
"I don't take kindly to threats, dear sir," Monet replied. Though she was sure that she could have easily bested Emplate if she were alone, she wasn't. She had to protect her father and sisters, which limited the action she could take. Immediately, there was no way out of simply holding Emplate at bay with words. Any engagement in an altercation would only endanger all of them.
This was one of the few times she regretted traveling alone, and for this brief and rare moment, she didn't know what to do. She simply steadied herself and waited to see what Emplate's next move would be, hoping that it wouldn't be the thing that destroyed them all.
III.
The mansion basement was much too labyrinthine and tenebrous for Rico Vidal to muster a good sense of direction. But he still led his fellow prisoners, to include Yvette Ninochka, Ty Sullivan, Vincent Sellenger, Jason Tate, and Craig Taylor, through the similar, winding corridors in hopes of at least finding a set of ascending stairs.
It wasn't too long ago that Rico and his teammate Vincent were on the road, cruising down the street in Sean's jeep. From nowhere, a mummified figure halted their progress and unexpectedly overpowered them with ease. From there, they awoke in shackles, among three other males, who were also inexplicably imprisoned. It wasn't until later that they discovered their kidnapper was Emplate, a vicious enemy of Generation X.
Luckily, due to the capture of Yvette, he was able to quickly plot and overtake Bulwark, setting them all free. And now, the crew of five stayed as quiet as possible, taking a slow, deliberate pace to emphasize stealth and to be ready for anything that may leap from the shadows.
A piercing scream halted them in their tracks as a frightened Yvette carefully huddled next to Rico's leg, taking care not to scratch him.
Rico hurriedly whispered, "I heard a scream!"
"You get the award for saying something stupid. Again. We all heard the same thing," Vincent responded, using a snippy response to cover his own terror.
Ty said, "Someone else is in trouble." The blond kept his voice low, his nearly clear eyes fixated on Rico, waiting for a reaction.
"What does that have to do with us?" Craig asked from his halted spot behind the others. "Aren't we supposed to be getting out of here?"
Agitated, and heart still racing, Rico responded, "Right. Listen, I'm one of the guys that runs toward the trouble when I hear a call for help. If you're with me, then cool. If not, you're on your own."
Craig felt insulted by Rico's response. It was true that he was scared, but at the same time, there was no need to rush into some unknown situation without knowing what they were getting themselves into. If someone was screaming, it was for a reason. And if they rushed in there haphazardly, they would probably be the ones screaming next. Why couldn't that stupid Generation X goody-two-shoes get that?
Hiding his embarrassment and agitation, he responded, "Well, what about the rest of you? I can't be the only one who wants to get the hell out of here."
"Don't look at me. I'm with the X-Hero and the mute girl," Vincent shrugged.
"I'm with you guys," Ty asserted, moving closer to Rico, Yvette, and Vincent.
In response, Jason said, "I'm not a hero, but I don't want anyone else to be a victim of that monster. I still feel a little weak, but I'll do what I can. I'm going too."
"Whatever," Craig disgustedly responded. It's not that he didn't want to help, but as always, he was made to look like the bad guy simply because he was with Arminthorpe. But really, if the roles were switched, he was sure that everyone would agree with the plan of retreating, simply because it was presented by a person with an X on his or her chest.
The others began to head towards the direction of the scream, which had died off and left behind a foreboding silence. Despite the vicious attack on the Generation X team, Craig had never been involved in some unknown plot with a dangerous, strange enemy. His enemies were teens his own age, which seemed much easier to engage with rather than a monstrous mutant vampire.
Though reluctant, he closed the gap between himself and the rest of the group, following them toward whatever awaited.
IV.
Jean Grey-Summers was no stranger to the workings of the Blackbird. Having trained with Scott Summers, Kurt Wagner, and Ororo Munroe, she served as a tertiary pilot and operator of the aircraft. It wasn't often that she took one of the front seats, but with her eidetic memory, she only had to learn the procedures once, which came in handy as she performed a quick ops check.
Her telekinesis expedited the procedures, as she learned long ago to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, adjusting her telekinesis appropriately for the necessary keystrokes and button presses. As soon as list of checks were complete, Jean powered the Blackbird down, satisfied that they could take off again if needed.
As she completed her task, she glanced at her teammates, who still remained unconscious after the vicious, unexpected energy attack racked the aircraft. The Blackbird had negligible damage, but she wasn't completely sure of the unshielded effect of the impact to the rest of the passengers. She closed her eyes, performing a thorough scan of her teammates' minds, checking pain receptors and overall functionality.
Luckily, the Blackbird shielded them from the brunt of the devastating effects, but the small part that did affect them was not kind to their bodies at all. The intensity of the attack caused an instant shutdown of bodily functions, with the exception of autonomic systems. Emplate could have done far worse, which is what concerned her—the attack was mild, which meant he was either sending a message or his power wasn't quite as developed as he needed.
Waking them up would be a delicate, time-intensive process, so, Jean instead turned her attention to the radio, making contact with Sean Cassidy. She relayed the current situation to him, then ended the communication just as the others began to stir, Logan being the first due to his healing ability, quickly followed by Kurt, Bishop, Scott, Peter, and Emma.
"Welcome to the land of the living, everyone," Jean said from the pilot's deck. A few moans were here response as she activated a quick medical scan for everyone. The results yielded zero injuries, which was a relief, especially considering the ferocity of the attack. "Looks like everyone's okay. Ops checks are looking good so far."
As her teammates became livelier, she glanced over her shoulder and noticed Bishop intently staring out of the window in the direction of the isolated mansion housing Emplate. More concerned about him at the moment, Jean paused and turned to him. "Bishop, is everything okay?"
The X-Man turned from the window, his face still wrought with tension. Bishop sighed heavily, his jaw clenching in frustration. "I can't figure out what Emplate is after. Honestly, he could have killed us back there, probably with relative ease. And I'm positive the kids are in danger too, considering his constant attacks on them. He attacked Cartier, and now he's wielding power that we've never seen before. There's something more...something that we're missing."
She nodded in agreement, feeling the same sense of mystery surrounding the current situation. But then again, maybe Emplate was just like Magneto, a villain who desired to have a rival audience than enemies to dispose of. Though it seemed like they were always in a life or death situation, surely there had to be some subconscious mercy provided. And the same could be true of this situation.
Noting Bishop's uncharacteristic pensiveness, Jean remembered something from his past. "Didn't you mention something before about Emplates in your timeline?"
His face turned grim, as he visualized the horrors the gang of creatures committed. "Yes...there were hordes of them, traveling in packs like wolves, devouring anyone they could get their hands on. I'm worried because there wasn't any written record of the actual incident that spawned the creatures. And we never discovered the original maker, if you will. But once I encountered Emplate, I knew that he had to have something to do with it."
Jean frowned at the prospect, but realized the danger of this situation quickly turning out of hand. Bishop traveled back in time to prevent death and destruction within his own timeline, and with this situation, he was going to be extremely focused to ensure that Emplate's plan did not come to fruition. She just hoped that they weren't too late—for his sake and the world's.
"Mein gott! I now understand how a tomato in a blender feels," Kurt moaned from the passenger seat, stretching his appendages. His amber eyes clenched as he worked out the minor pains from his joints and aches in his muscles. "Zat attack vas devastating."
"I agree," Emma said from the rear of the Blackbird. "But how did that St. Croix twit gain so much power? Last I recall, he could barely hold his own against the children. Now, he's successfully taken us out in the blink of an eye."
Logan, already fully recovered, added, "The broad's got a point."
"I'm no one's broad, Neanderthal," she retorted, restraining herself from giving him a psychic pinprick. Instead, she turned her attention to Scott. "So, fearless leader, what scheme have you concocted for us to save the day?"
Standing, Scott was next to Jean as she finished her checks, and once she reported the aircraft being fully functional, he turned to the rest. "First, let's curtail the attitude. It's not helping. Phoenix, lock back on Monet for remote viewing. She'll pass the information to Nightcrawler, who will teleport us in. If needed, we'll split up to locate Ambassador St. Croix, M, and the twins. Judging from his power, a direct confrontation wouldn't be the best course of action. We move in, locate, retrieve, leave. Emma, you can take the X-Scanner to analyze Emplate. The data should shoot back to Beast, who is on standby. He'll give us useful info, so if we have to engage, we at least know exactly what we're dealing with. Right now, we're only sure that Emplate is in there, but history shows that he probably has henchmen at his disposal...three is what we're going with. If a battle ensures, split into teams. Colossus and Wolverine. Emma and Bishop. Phoenix, you're with me. Nightcrawler, your sole responsibility at that point will be evacuation of the Ambassador, the twins, and any other civilians. M will serve as your cover and scout in case they are scattered in various locations. Questions?"
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. Let's just hope everything goes according to your perfect plan."
"One thing you'll learn, Emma, is that the best-laid plans always go awry. Nightcrawler, you're up."
Interlocking hands, the X-Men stood in a circle, as Jean enveloped them in a telekinetic shield, serving as a barrier against the swirling energies and the effects of teleporting through the foreign dimension.
"Is everyone ready?"
No sooner than he received the nods, Kurt tensed his body as he had done so many times before, and the slight tingle of his insides signified a successful jaunt. As they left the normal plane of existence and moved through the Dark Dimension, the familiar smell of brimstone, an indigo haze, and the bamf sound filled the void they left behind within the Blackbird. The strain of teleporting others already began to toll on him, but he simply gritted his teeth and focused that much harder, blocking out the bubbling pain and nausea.
His spatial awareness kicked in almost simultaneously, and he instinctively understood the exact distance to teleport and location to ensure that no one ended up inside of a wall, which would have fatal consequences. The arrival atmosphere shifted slightly, then the empty air suddenly filled with the seven-man team of X-Men leaping to the ground, directly in between Emplate and Monet, who stood in front of her father and siblings.
This was the exact place that Scott didn't want to be. At all cost, he wanted to avoid a direct encounter with Emplate, considering the complexities of his existence, mainly the fact that Monet's brother was the monster responsible for all of this, but a battle would surely lead to severe in injury or death. Because Emplate was now a wild card, the outcome of a skirmish was unpredictable at best, but now, they had no choice.
Scott glanced behind them, noting the St. Croix family huddled together with Monet clearly in front of them as a protector. For her young age, he was always impressed not only with her vast amount of powers, but also her bravery and fortitude, matched only by her regal, lofty disposition. If anything, he was sure that if Monet wanted, she could be a welcome addition to the X-Men.
In front of them, Scott gave Emplate a scrutinizing once-over. He remembered Emplate being quite the monster, hunched over, imposing, downright creepy, but there was a different air about the enemy standing before them. The power display from earlier was just a snippet...the figure they now faced emanated a vast power, and the deep blaze within his scarlet eyes belayed focus for whatever scheme he had concocted. And no one would stand in his way.
However, the individual next to Emplate gave Scott pause. The woman appeared savage and bloodthirsty, as a wet tongue licked over her supple lips. Her eyes and her pallid, smoky skin matched Emplate's, and the mouths in her hands told Scott that she had been transformed into a vampiric slave. But there was something vaguely familiar about the woman that he couldn't quite place.
Emplate mused, "Now this just became interesting. The X-Men have arrived for the final scene. I would say it's unexpected, but you people tend to have nine lives and always stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Well, this only expedites the inevitable."
"Yeah, us kicking your ass, bub," Logan retorted, claws bared and ready for action. His keen olfactory sense caught the odor of decay, as well as three, not just two, scents he was completely unfamiliar with. He kept his senses on high alert, to keep from getting ambushed from the third person he couldn't see.
Scoffing, he replied, "Little man, how you amuse me."
Bishop, in the rear of the group and closest to the St. Croixs, asked, "Cartier. Monet. Nicole. Claudette. Are you okay?" He kept his large gun aimed toward Emplate as he spoke, keeping his eyes fixated on their enemy.
"We're fine. But Marius and Élénore...I—"
"Don't worry. We'll do what we can to save them."
Scott declared, "I'd advise you to stand down, Emplate. You're outnumbered and out-classed. I only issue warnings once."
Emplate smiled. "Well, let's even the odds, shall we?"
With a snap of his finger, the atmosphere immediately behind him bent, succumbing to a vacuum created by a shift in time and space. From nowhere, five figures stepped into existence, each with glowing red eyes and smoky skin, much like their summoner.
The first three figures were easy to retrieve as they were somehow banished to the same dimension Emplate himself was cursed to traverse. He didn't have time to ask, nor did he really care how or why they were there. More than likely, their mission of stopping Rich Cale must have gone awry, but it was of no consequence now.
The other two individuals were mutants that he had once upon a time met and fed from. They were powerful in their own rights and considering their inner hatred for Generation X for reasons unknown, they were prime recruits for his entourage of bodyguards. Considering the amount of difficulty his current members had, he hoped that these two were wildcard variables that would easily surprise and defeat any opposition. To include the X-Men.
"As homage to you, Emma, and your X-Men friends, let me introduce you to my Hellions. Mutants with a touch of magic. Bulwark. Shift. Wrap. Refrax. Buff."
"Cute," Emma icily responded. She studied each one, using the X-Scanner to record bio-centric information, which fed directly back to Cerebro. Skimming the highlighted output on the mini-screen, she raised an eyebrow, surprised at the information.
Emma was familiar with Bulwark from Jubilee's retelling of their last encounter. The muscular mutant had super strength, along with the standard compliment of invulnerability, resilience, and endurance. However, his attributes were comparable to a much younger Hulk, nearly ten times what he should have had.
Shift was Vincente Cimetta, the one who could change himself from a solid from to liquid or gas, from what she could remember. Sometime between then and now, he must have gotten a codename and a makeover. No longer a hazy purple shade, he was now a smoky grey with glowing red eyes, which matched his other comrades on either side.
She knew the mummy simply as Wrap but had no other information on him. In comparison, both Shift and Wrap seemed to have amplified abilities from their last encounter with Generation X. Though initially inexplicable, she was sure Emplate somehow amplified their power with his own newfound ability, making them stronger and much more dangerous.
Refrax was someone whom Emma hadn't seen before, but with a quick on-screen button press, Cerebro retrieved a dossier on him, which meant he was identified and cataloged at some point in the past. Kurt Pastorius was his real name, and his ability seemed to be much like Scott's—harness and release various types of energy from his eyes. While Scott had to wear a visor to control his, Kurt seemed to be completely in control as the energy burned from his eyes, climbing upwards like raging flames from the corners. Apparently, he also had x-ray vision and enhanced, normal vision as well.
Last was Buff, or Arlee Hicks. Like Refrax, she had a dossier in Cerebro, which revealed her power to be nearly the same as Bulwark—enhanced strength due to maximized physical development, invulnerability, resilience, and endurance. Her power readings nearly mimicked Bulwark's, and Emma shuttered thinking of having to battle two Hulk-like mutants.
Emplate said, "In another time, in another life, they could have been a part of your flock. But now, they are my personal Hellions. And they will ensure my success."
His team flanked him evenly on either side, unmoving, and kept their eyes focused on the X-Men.
Using a telepathic connection among the team, courtesy of Jean, Scott said, "It looks like a fight is inevitable. Disrupt and detain. Maintain team integrity, and don't let your guard down. Emma, anything we should know?"
"Aside from being a barrier between us and Emplate, these aren't exactly the same cretins we've faced before. Emplate has powered them to dangerous levels. Their minds are completely closed to me. Blocked. Jean?"
Surprised Emma deferred to her, Jean took a moment before answering. Luckily, she had already performed a psi-scan of the unfamiliar mutants and had an assessment of the situation at hand. "It would take time to break through the individual psi-barriers—time we don't have. A psychic attack or exploitation is out."
Scott's firm jaw clenched, but he said nothing, keeping his gold-trimmed visor locked on Emplate. This was actually the first time he had seen the monster, relying on recounts of previous encounters from Sean and Emma for information. The monster's capabilities surprised him, creating a certain sense of the unknown, which only remotely bothered Scott. The team was powerful and flexible, so no matter what direction this encounter took, he didn't doubt for a moment that they would have the upper hand.
"Maintain original plan," he telepathically commanded to his team.
"Emplate," Cartier declared, hoping to avert the brewing conflict, "you are only making matters worse!"
"For me? Or for Marius? Cyclops, I would advise your team to stay where you are. You are too late. If you try to stop me, my Hellions will destroy you. Am I clear?"
Emma didn't know Scott all that well, but she knew that he, like Logan, did not take kindly to challenges or minimizing rhetoric. She figured that a crimson beam of energy would pierce through Emplate's chest in a matter of seconds, but their enemy still had questions to answer. She quickly interrupted, "Enough stalling. Where are the kids you kidnapped?"
She was answered by the sound of footsteps coming to a halt on the opposite side of the room. Sure enough, three familiar faces graced the group—Rico Vidal, Vincent Sellenger, and Yvette Ninochka. Three other teens were with them—more than likely, they were the reported missing teens. Overall, they appeared unharmed, which relieved her more than she would ever reveal.
"Right here, Ms. Frost!" Rico answered with a huge grin. But then his eyes fell to the X-Men lined next to her, Monet and her family only a few feet away, unfamiliar mutants standing in a line behind Emplate, and the monster himself. His stomach tightened and his palms began to sweat—there was going to be a fight. A large one.
Emplate turned his scarlet, piercing eyes toward the group. "Ah, and we are joined by my young, supple meals. Welcome."
Jason stepped forward, internally testing out his strength. He didn't feel that he was a one hundred percent, but he felt enough energy to launch an offensive attack or two if needed. His anger and adrenaline only fueled him more as he replied, "Enough. You'll pay for what you did."
"Yeah, what he said," Rico added, covering his trepidation with false bravado. "And your goons too."
Emplate smirked, then turned his attention back to the X-Men and St. Croix family. "Well, it seems we have a full house. The audience suits me just fine. Bear witness to my ascension, Hellions, do not let them near until the ritual is complete." At the last word, the six Hellions launched stepped forward, creating a half-circle formation in front of Emplate, making him completely inaccessible.
"Scott, please! You must not let him do this!" Cartier pleaded.
The leader of the X-Men had paused only because of Emma's well-timed inquiry. But now, Emplate had made the first move. Scott nodded to the Ambassador and steadied himself—there was no other option. "Battle plan, X-Men! Hold until I give the word," he telepathically commanded, then gave a nod to Kurt. "M, take your father and sisters—stay with Nightcrawler and the rest of the kids. We're getting you out of here."
Monet couldn't believe that Scott was asking her to leave. It wasn't that she didn't want to protect her family, but she had the most history and background with Emplate. She valued herself as an asset to any team facing him and immediately presumed Scott was simply mistaken with removing her from the fight.
Emma telepathically said, "I know that you want to argue, Monet. This isn't the time. You know that better than any of us. We'll take care of things here—I need you to take care of your family and the others."
Taken aback, Monet paused briefly, surprised at her instructor's direction. Emma had never spoken to her quite like that—a mix of firm directive and caring. And she was smart enough to know when to heed the advice of someone else. She locked eyes with Emma, gave a brief nod of understanding, then ushered her sisters and father toward the other end of the room, away from Emplate.
"Wait, we didn't get briefed on the battle plan, Cyclops!" Rico stated already feeling the air currents responding to his command. Using his power in such a limited space could be disastrous, but he didn't want to simply stand around helpless. He saw Monet making a move with her family towards them, probably as a result of the mysterious, unknown battle plan from Scott. He wanted to know who to blow away. Literally. And fast.
"Because, you're not a part of it," Emma responded, rolling her eyes at the dejected expression that overtook Rico's face.
Vincent replied, "Like hell we aren't!" He could feel the air responding to his command, the temperature changing slightly at his command. At this point, he wasn't quite sure he could create and maintain a large flame. Plus, he wasn't quite sure how safe it would be in such a limited space.
In just knowing Rico's powers, they both suffered from the same problem—their powers were most effective in large, open areas and much harder to control within smaller ones. The wrong move most likely would endanger friends and teammates, which almost made them useless in situations like this.
In assessing the abilities of Craig and Jason, they too would be more effective in a spacious area. The only one of their team that would be able to effectively participate in a battle would be Yvette, but considering her age and history with Emplate, he was sure that Emma wouldn't want her anywhere near this place.
Before Vincent could do anything else, there was a shift in the air, then a distinct bamf sound, followed lastly by the unmistakable smell of brimstone and sulfur. In the next instant, a demon appeared in front of them, hunched over, three elongated fingers and toes, prehensile tail, yellow glowing eyes, sharp canines—but managed a friendly smile. "Meine freunde, I am Nightcrawler. You must come vith me."
Rico noted that they all were taken aback with Yvette cowering behind him but peeking out with curiosity. He heard Jason gasp, then catch himself in an uncertain manner. Vincent's breath caught, though he scowled hard to hide his fearful expression. And Craig took an uneasy step backwards, edgy because everything was happening so fast.
"He's cool. Don't worry," Rico reassured the group. "He's one of the good guys. But Nightcrawler, we don't have to leave—we can help." He couldn't believe that he was actually talking to one of the famed X-Men, and secretly, his insides were jumping with joy.
Monet closed the gap, accompanied by her twin sisters and father. After hearing the last comment, she said, "You are not at your fullest capability. None of us are. But the X-Men are. We cannot provide viable assistance in our current state. And this is no time for pride or obstinacy. Nightcrawler, can you teleport all of us at once?"
"Zat is ze plan, frau."
Rico nodded, agreeing with Monet's observation. Though he wanted to fight alongside the X-Men, if they were not viable assets of the team, then they would simply become a vulnerability, much to their detriment. "I never thought I'd say this," he said, "but I'm glad to see you, Monet. Quick intros—Ty, Jason, and Craig—Riptide, the guy that attacked us at the Corporation. Lightning, earth, and water manipulation. Combined with my wind and his," he pointed to Vincent, "fire manipulation, we make up the basic five elements. Kiana was right."
"I was afraid of that," said Cartier, his gray brows furrowed with concern. Creases hardened the Ambassador's face, and worry seemed to age him twenty years. To the group, he asked, "Has he absorbed your powers?"
Jason nodded, becoming the spokesperson for the group for the moment. "Yes. All of us. Several times."
"Curse him. And I," Cartier replied, scanning the group. His eyes rested on Yvette, who at first shied away, sinking farther behind Rico. But he softened his expression and even offered a slight smile, and was surprised when she smiled in return.
"Ve must go quickly," Kurt hastily reminded the group. He was sure Scott was waiting on him to get them to safety before engaging Emplate and his Hellions. And the longer they waited, the more risky the situation became.
Monet noticed her father take a retreating step. "You are not accompanying us to safety, are you?"
Regretfully, he shook his head. "No, I must stay to see this to the end. I only came over to ensure you and your sisters escape this place immediately."
"Dad!" Nicole cried out.
"Go with Kurt," he directed. "He is a fine fellow and will make sure you are safe. I shall be close behind with the rest of the X-Men."
Emma's words came back to her, so instead of contesting his decision, she said, "Do not make yourself into a liar. Do not do anything to endanger yourself. And if you can, save our brother. Do not allow that monster to continue making a mockery of our mother's memory."
Nicole and Claudette wrapped themselves around him, protesting as any daughters would, but at the same time, showcasing the maturity to let their father go. The twins pulled back, Nicole with tears in her eyes, and Claudette with a melancholy expression. Monet then embraced Cartier briefly, then turned away, refusing the urge to cry herself.
Assisting Kurt, Rico instructed, "Everyone, grasp hands. Yvette, interlock arms between Vincent and me." The group followed his direction quickly and was joined by Monet, Claudette, and Nicole, rounding out the joined circle.
"Are we going to be okay?" asked Nicole.
"We'll be fine," Monet answered reassuringly. "Just hold my hand, and don't let go of Claudette."
"She is right—hold onto each other, and do not let go for any reason," Kurt reiterated. Before anyone could respond, he tensed and the entire group disappeared with a bamf sound. In the next second, they reappeared within close proximity to the Blackbird, which remained untouched a bit of distance away from the mansion.
"I don't think I ever want to do that again," Jason said. His stomach and equilibrium felt unsettled as if he had rode a high-velocity rollercoaster, complete with twists, turns, loops, and drops. Ten times over. If that is what teleporting felt like, he was glad that his mutant abilities were something a little less detrimental to his health.
"Are you kidding?! That was awesome!" Rico exclaimed, his fanboy excitement finally getting the best of him.
Monet, thankful for her invulnerability which protected her from the ill effects, noticed Kurt stagger a bit. "The jaunt strained you," she said, checking her sisters visually. After she determined they were fine, she went to his side for support.
"I vill recover. Ze others are vaiting—" he stopped, eyes wide in horror as intense streams of light shot from somewhere inside he mansion, as if a star was exploding. The brilliant rays intensified and a deep rumbling shook the ground, causing Kurt's fine indigo fur to stand on end. He wasn't sure what had happened, but his stomach knotted, realizing that somewhere at the center of the commotion were his own teammates.
But before he could even begin to think about teleporting back into the structure, there was a forceful explosion and suddenly, the mansion turned into a pile of rubble and debris, surrounded by felled dead trees, with no sign of any other life. His heart skipped a beat and his breath caught as he realized that the psychic connection to the others was completely severed at the same time.
"Where are they, Nightcrawler?" Nicole asked. "What happened to them? They're okay, right? Our dad is okay, isn't he?"
His fatigue and disorientation forgotten, all Kurt could wonder was how he was going to answer her questions and what would happen next.
Notes:
Generation X and all characters related to Marvel belong to them. Any other characters are fictional
Richard Cale and Grimore are characters created by Richard B. Sampson Jr., who has work posted as well. They are used with permission
AOTRS Commander: Ha! Yes, the kind of Hellions didn't fare so well, but after reading this chapter, they have been officially dubbed as such, and they may now be a force to be reckoned with! And bonus points if you know the two additional characters! Yes, things are definitely about to get a little more interesting...hold on to your hat!