Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men, Star Wars, or any of their original characters. Nor do I have any type of claim to those characters. However, the characters of my creation belong to me, and cannot be used without my permission.

Through Means of Deception

(Star Wars: Evolution IV ~ A New Hero Part V)

By

Moonchampion

"What a piece of crap!" said Pietro as he admired the interior of the Blackbird.

"Take a seat, Junior," said Scott as he strapped himself in. "This piece of crap is going to get you to Albutgon before you know it." Scott turned around towards Kitty. "Kitty, go and shut the port doors so that we can take off." Kitty nodded and headed towards the door.

"Hold it right there!" said a voice. Kitty looked out the door to see nearly a dozen Imperial soldiers running towards the Blackbird with blasters in their hands.

"Hey! We've got company!" she cried.

Sitting in the co-pilot's seat, Jean closed her eyes. She did a brief mental scan, and recognized their guests. She turned to Scott. "Imperial soldiers! It's time to move!"

"Oh, you think?" said Lance.

Jean turned around to glare at him. "Doesn't he come with an off switch?"

Jean scoffed and turned around, ignoring Lance. She activated the engines and turned to Scott. "We're ready for lift off." After a few seconds, the Blackbird began to lift off the ground, and began soaring into the sky. After a few moments, the Blackbird found itself floating in the blackness of space. Suddenly, the ship was rocked by a laser blast. "We're under attack! It's an Imperial star cruiser!"

"Wow!" said Lance. "I guess we know who the brain of the operation is around here." Roberto jabbed him in the arm with his elbow, but Lance ignored him. Jean removed her safety buckle and walked over in front of Lance. "Listen, you annoying walking fish tank! If you don't shut up right now, I'm gonna make it so that a sponge has a higher I.Q. than you. Do you understand?" Lance nodded. Jean returned to her seat.

Lance looked over at Roberto sitting beside him. "Y'know, I think she likes me." Roberto only rolled his eyes in disbelief.

The Blackbird continued to rock violently as the Star cruiser got closer. Scott and Jean worked the controls frantically, while Kurt and Kitty started making repairs mid-flight as conduits continued to blow. Pietro looked towards Storm, who was sitting in her seat patiently.

"I thought you said this thing was fast?" said Pietro.

"Bite me, kid," replied Scott. "Hang on. I've got a few maneuvers. We'll lose them. Don't worry." Scott executed the maneuvers with ease. And he managed to put the Blackbird out of firing range from the star cruiser. However, there was one variable he hadn't anticipated.

"Holy viener schnitzel!" cried Kurt. "There are two more star cruisers to our port! Ve're toast!"

"Perhaps now would be a good time to activate the hyper speed," suggested Storm.

"No kidding, lady," said Scott. "Everyone hang on!"

The star cruisers slowly moved into position to corner the Blackbird. Veering around wasn't an option either, because the first star cruiser was moving into position from the rear. Just as the star cruisers were about to fire, the Blackbird began to disappear in a blur of light. It had managed to go to hyper speed, and get to safety before the star cruisers were able to fire.

Lord Magneto watched as a pair of storm troopers escorted Princess Wanda into the Mapping Room. They had taken the precaution of securing her arms tightly with a straight jacket. This way she wouldn't be able to use her mutant powers, even if the stun pulse that neutralized her powers wore off.

"Ah, Princess Wanda," said Lord Magneto. "As I'm sure you know we were unable to find the stolen plans to Asteroid M aboard your ship. However, we have managed to track your messengers to the planet Mutoone. I assure you, this little gambit is over." Princess Wanda frowned as she looked up into Lord Magneto's dark eyes. Lord Magneto returned the gaze. "Do you know what our current location is?"

Princess Wanda only glared into the eyes of Lord Magneto. In her look, the hate and disgust were obvious. Suddenly, the door swished open and Admiral Darkholme stepped into the room accompanied by Captain Daniels. Lord Magneto looked over to Captain Daniels. "Captain, would you be so kind as to tell Princess Wanda Asteroid M's current position."

"Certainly, Lord Magneto," said Captain Daniels as he stepped forward. "Right now, we are currently in orbit around the planet Albutgon."

Princess Wanda's eyes widened once the location had been revealed. "What?"

"That's right, Princess," said Lord Magneto. "And unless you reveal to me the location of the Rebel base, Asteroid M will open fire on your home planet."

"I told you that I don't know anything about the Rebels. I have nothing to do with them," said Wanda.

"Admiral Darkholme, prepare to open fire Albutgon," ordered Lord Magneto.

"No!" cried Wanda.

"Then give me the coordinates, your highness," said Lord Magneto.

Wanda sighed and then turned her gaze to the floor. "The Rebel base is in the second planet in the Doopus system."

"Thank you, your highness," said Magneto. Then he turned towards Darkholme. "Admiral, destroy the planet!"

"No! You said you'd spare the planet!" cried Wanda.

"Isn't it obvious girl? He lied," taunted Admiral Darkholme. She looked towards the guards. Take her back to her cell. The guards seized Wanda by her arms, her restraints still tight. The guards pulled her out of the room. The viewer came to life on the far wall. Lord Magneto, along with Admiral Darkholme and Captain Daniels watched as the planet of Albutgon was destroyed by the firepower of Asteroid M.

Lord Magneto looked upon the destruction of the planet with satisfaction. He turned to Admiral Darkholme. "Send out scouts to scan the Doopus system and find the Rebel base. Once it is located I want it destroyed. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Lord Magneto," said Admiral Darkholme. She nodded in Magneto's direction, as did Captain Daniels. Then, the officers left the room to carry out their orders.

The Blackbird cruised through space at hyper speed. Everyone aboard seemed to be relieved that they had managed to survive their first obstacle of three star cruisers. Scott hopped out of his seat and turned around to face everyone. "Well, don't everyone say thanks at once," he said to them. Kitty and Kurt sprang from their seats and headed towards the rear of the Blackbird.

Jean got out of her seat, and pushed Scott out of the way. "I'll say thank you, Summers," began Jean. "After you finish repairs to the fuel line." Scott scoffed as she turned and started to move along. Suddenly, Jean fell to one knee. At the same time, Storm winced in pain and grabbed her head.

"Are you okay?" asked Pietro as he looked at Storm. Meanwhile, Scott had moved to Jean's side and was checking on her.

"I felt a great disturbance," said Storm. "Total chaos… then… nothing."

They turned to look at Jean who was now getting to her feat. "So many voices were crying out in fear… in pain. But, then… it just… stopped." Jean wrapped held her arms tightly as if she were cold. "I just have this… chill through out my body." Scott moved to put his hands on Jean, but she quickly moved her arms away from his hands, to avoid his touch. "I've got repairs to make." Jean quickly turned and left the cockpit.

Nearly an hour later, Scott entered the recreation cabin to see Kurt playing chess against Lance, with Kitty and Roberto as spectators. Lance made a move that ended up taking Kurt's night. Kurt was upset by the move, and started eyeing Lance as he muttered some German curses.

"Well, that's not very good sportsmanship," remarked Roberto. "It was a fair move! There's no need to get upset about it!"

Kitty watched the game from the opposite end with a smile. "It's not smart to upset a teleporter," she remarked, "especially, one that can teleport you out into the cold depths of space. And Kurt here has been known to be a sore loser and do that a few times."

Lance looked over at Kurt to find that the blue-furred boy was eyeing him now with an evil grin upon his face. He turned to face Roberto who looked at him sympathetically. "I suggest a new strategy, Lance." Lance faced his friend with a hint of hope. "Lose." Roberto's suggestion hadn't been what Lance was thinking.

"Wow, thanks a lot," replied Lance as he turned his attention back to the game.

Meanwhile, Scott had by passed the chest game and moved towards the rear of the ship and stood next to Jean. The two captains stood there watching as Pietro stood in the center of the room, with his father's lightsaber in his hand. A small drone hovered around the room firing stun blasts at him, while he tried to deflect them with the light blade of the lightsaber.

Several blasts erupted from the drone as it circled around Pietro. He didn't deflect any of the blasts, and two of them hit their mark in his rear. Scott snickered at the sight, and quickly felt Jean's elbow jab him in the ribs. Pietro grabbed his rear and massaged it a bit. "Ow! I can't do it, Storm!"

Storm stood up and walked over to the boy. "You must rely on the X-Factor within you. Open your mind to it, and let it guide your actions. An Alphi must be able to be led by the X-Factor, not just control his mutation."

"You've got to be kidding me," said Scott. "You wait around for the X-Factor to guide you in the middle of a fight, and you're as good as toast."

Storm turned away from Scott, and faced Pietro again. "Try again, Pietro. This time, I want you to use this." Storm took out a blindfold and wrapped it tightly around Pietro's eyes.

"But, Storm," Pietro said. "I can't see. How am I supposed to block the blasts now?"

"Let the X-Factor guide you," said Storm. Pietro sighed and raised his lightsaber. The hovering drone moved back into position, slowly circling Pietro. After a few seconds, the drone began to open fire. Pietro moved his lightsaber to block the drone's blast. The drone fired again, the interval becoming shorter and shorter after each blast. Yet, Pietro managed to block each blast. Within a few seconds, he was moving at a blurring speed. Eventually, the drone ceased, and Pietro ripped the blindfold from his face.

"I did it!" he cried excitedly. Storm and Jean smiled approvingly at Pietro.

Scott however scoffed at the sight. "It was nothing but luck." Jean looked at Scott and smiled. She sensed that he was now a believer after seeing what he had. He was, however, to arrogant to admit though. Scott heard a chime and checked his watch. "Looks like we're coming up on Albutgon." Jean and the others followed Scott as he walked back towards the cockpit. Kurt and Kitty were sitting in the pilot seats, but got up once Scott and Jean were there.

Captain Daniels burst into the conference room where Admiral Darkholme and Lord Magneto were talking. It was obvious that the young officer was upset. "She lied to us!" he cried. "There's no Rebel base anywhere in the Doopus system!"

"I suspected that she would not betray her Rebel allies so easily," replied Lord Magneto.

"Then, I suggest we terminate her… immediately!" said Admiral Darkholme.

TO BE CONTINUED…