The Fight Is All There Is
Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Infirmary
"I'm afraid that I was correct in my assumptions Scott, we were visited by my diabolical and duplicitous double. The footprints were identical to my own right down to the claw marks and fresh within the last two hours when we know I haven't been in that area of the grounds for days. Also he caught himself on some thorns, a few black cotton threads from a T-shirt, some gray hairs and a couple of drops of blood have provided adequate DNA samples to establish that we were covertly visited by the Dark Beast."
Hank's voice had sunk to a harsh whisper as he fought to keep the anger from his voice; he kept picturing his hands closing on McCoy's throat hearing him pleading for mercy and then snapping his neck, disturbing thoughts for him. Scott looked no happier than Hank, it was obvious that Dark Beast had managed to completely bypass their security and he'd got close to the mansion, too close.
"If he got that close Hank he probably knows about our plans and with Logan and Remy on his team he'll know our tactics. Given the fact that he successfully passed himself off as you and fooled your girlfriend there's nothing to stop him infiltrating the mansion again. I want you to be on your guard Hank especially given his personal vendetta against you, I know he's got you mad but you can't let yourself be affected by his mind games," Scott laid a comforting hand on Hank's shoulder.
"I know that Scott and I'll warn you, don't underestimate how dangerous he really is. He's a genius, a warped twisted genius maybe but a lot smarter than you. He's also ruthless, sadistic and worst of all he's got a rather twisted sense of humor. Stars and garters, I just want him to pay Scott," snarled Hank baring his fangs his hatred plain to see.
Scott was shocked by just how angry Hank was; he'd hardly ever seen Hank lose his cool before let alone heard him growling like well Wolverine. Perhaps not surprising considering what McCoy had done to Hank in the past, Hank's old friends and acquaintances were thin on the ground nowadays thanks to McCoy. As for Dark Beast's latest blow, it might perhaps have been easier to deal with if he'd hurt Trish rather than what he actually did. Even with all this going through his mind Scott still couldn't stop himself from shrinking back in fear. Seeing his friend's fright Hank silently cursed, he'd let McCoy get to him allowing Dark Beast a victory.
"My apologies Scott if my momentarily lapse of control and descent into savage bestial rage caused you alarm. I certainly didn't intend to frighten you," murmured Hank contritely.
"It's alright Hank, just it's so rare to see you angry, but actually I really should thank you for it. It's a timely reminder just how dangerous McCoy will be. I've been picturing myself with my hands round his throat strangling him but in reality it would be the other way around, that's if he didn't just tear me limb from limb,"
"Actually he'd be more likely to inject you with a syringe full of some genetically engineered poison or virus he's created just to test it out or if you're really unfortunate he'll take you alive especially since you'd make a rather valuable test subject."
At Hank's last remark and uneasy silence filled the room.
Just outside McCoy's apartment
Logan ducked as the massive furry gray bulk sailed overhead in a high leap, McCoy's triumphant laughter ringing in his ears as he slammed home a second high dunk through the basketball hoop. Logan supposed it was his own fault for allowing himself to get distracted by Fatale's underhand tactics, sure he should have blocked her pass to McCoy and he'd been ready too. It was just distracting when she turned into Jean Grey right before his eyes. Oh well McCoy had said that powers were acceptable as long as they weren't used to cause lasting harm to an opposing team member or ensure instant victory so at least teleporting was out. That also meant no illusions or organic bullets from McCoy's team or kinetically charged cards, plasma bursts or bone daggers from his team. It was just unfortunate that McCoy's natural strength, agility, speed or intelligence was covered. Now that latest slam dunk meant that they were about equal so it was time to put an end to this before he really started losing his temper, he didn't appreciate being used as a springboard.
"Oh pardon my claws bub," said Logan almost sincerely as he 'accidentally' popped out his claws and deflated the basketball.
"What's the matter Logan, were you afraid that 'the best there is' was going to end up facing a humiliating defeat at the hands of the bouncing furry gray Dark Beast?" asked McCoy mildly.
Logan snarled at McCoy further enraged by the disdainful look and exaggerated yawn that the man gave. Sighing Remy stepped between the two bo staff extended as a barrier between the two mutants, interesting though it might be to see just how the fight would go he really didn't want to watch McCoy and Logan tearing each other to pieces.
"Oui mes amis, I think dat is quite enough, dis has been a fun game so we don't want to spoil dat. Now I know dat you don't like each other much but I ask dat as your mutual friend you agree to tolerate each other, s'il vous plait?"
"Yeah you really don't want to let all that testosterone get to your heads guys or I might have to make you feel really hot under the collar. Perhaps singing off your sideburns with a plasma burst might convince you to cool down a little," to make sure he'd got his point across Alex sent a small plasma burst vaporizing the remains of the deflated basketball.
The stench of the burning plastic assailing their sensitive noses McCoy and Logan nodded hesitantly and then under the others watchful gaze shook hands yet again.
"Mon Dieu Remy glad dat you backed me up Havok mon ami, with dese two it's as well to keep an eye on dem before dey tear each other apart," sighed Remy.
"Yeah I know what you mean. Hey I wonder what's up now," Alex scratched his chin thoughtfully he saw Logan turning sniffing the air as McCoy followed suit. Logan turned to McCoy muttered something the rest couldn't hear and McCoy nodded. Waving his hand McCoy directed Mastermind, Random, Havok, Marrow and Fatale to get inside quickly while he and Logan headed to Remy.
"What is it mes amis, not Sabretooth back again, after de kicking dat we gave his butt, surely even he not dat keen for rematch."
"Now that's the odd thing Remy, we did pick up Sabretooth's scent but different somehow and he's not alone. Another scent that seems somehow familiar to me and also he seems to be keeping odd company. X-Man, someone unfamiliar and apparently your former lady love Rogue. Quite the little family reunion eh," growled McCoy.
"What fuzzy forgot ta mention is that they seem ta be almost on top of us," growled Logan.
"Actually we're even closer than you think," growled a throaty voice.
Logan snarled and leapt as a sandy-furred feline form leapt down from the roof.
"Yer not Sabretooth but yer close enough fer me, are ya ready ta rumble," snarled Logan.
Immediately after
Puma really had no wish to fight Logan, he'd heard of him of course by reputation that he was the best there is, and they had one mutual ally/enemy in common, Spider-man. Peter Parker was an enemy that Logan always had trouble fighting, and Thomas knew he was even faster, stronger and more agile than Logan. Still one good hit with those adamantium claws would be all it took to end the fight for him. Best to keep dodging and hope to wear him down, it would be a shame to have to hurt Wolverine. There was much he could admire and he would have liked to fight by the man's side one day. Putting down Logan hard would be one more thing to regret when the mission was over.
"I wish there could be some other way Wolverine, you'll never know how much this saddens me," whispered Puma as he raked his claws across Logan's chest.
"Yer really going ta have something ta be sad about bub," growled Logan slashing with his claws. He was hoping a clean blow, one that would wound without killing, enough to take Puma out of the fight. So sad to have to fight someone who could be a kindred spirit?
To his credit Puma nearly dodged the blow, still he howled in pain as adamantium ripped into his shoulder metal scraping against the bone and sending a wave of nausea through him. He grunted as his left arm went numb, hanging limp and useless but he knew he'd gotten off lightly; the blow could easily have taken his whole arm off. Managing to leap away across the street he knelt in front of a parked car, lifted with his one good hand and hoisted the car into the air over his head.
Logan quickly reevaluated his enemy, obviously Puma was even stronger than he'd thought, and while Beast might have lifted the car it wouldn't have been with one hand and as effortlessly as that. Certainly he wouldn't have thrown it with such force that there was no chance of avoiding it. The car slammed into Logan's chest throwing him back and pinning him against the wall which was shaken to its foundations. Puma shook his head sadly and walked away.
"Sorry I had to do that Wolverine but you started the fight. I'm only after Dark Beast not your friend Remy, you didn't have to go and get involved. I suggest you spend a little time thinking about while I attend to the job at hand."
Adamantium claws sliced through steel as easily as a knife through butter and within a few moments a decidedly dazed, bruised and battered Logan emerged from the wreckage. He glared after the departed Puma and snarled.
"Alright ya had the better of me this time bub but next time yer going ta be the one going down. Still yer a good fighter I'll give ya that."
Inside McCoy's apartment
While Rogue had gone charging straight through smashing down doors and through walls in her haste to get to Remy, Blink and Sabretooth had simply teleported to Remy's location leaving Nate the simple task of holding off the rest of the Brotherhood. Even with his telepathic powers currently nearly useless it was a piece of cake dealing with his old 'friends', using purely his telekinesis. A telekinetic shield to deflect Havok's plasma bursts and Random's projectiles, a telekinetic pulse had already taken Fatale out of the fight smashing her back against a wall when he'd sensed her about to teleport behind him. With Marrow he had simply held her aloft out of harms way, as far as he knew she'd been one of the good guys and until he knew for sure she'd turned bad he wasn't going to hurt her. Another full force wave of telekinetic energy and Random and Alex were down for the count.
"Looks like I've won already, I must admit I'm disappointed, I thought I'd get more of a workout."
"Oh but you will X-Man. I thought you should know I sensed your little weakness and this is ironic, the most powerful telepath on the planet may be vulnerable to a relative novice like me. Time to show me what you fear Nate Grey," purred Martinique.
X-Man tried to raise his shields but it was still too weak, the thoughts were sluggish and then it was far too late. Fingers probed softly intimately through his mind, stripping past the layers and finding his true fear, that he was dying and nothing could be done to stop it, he'd burn out before he was twenty. Maybe that's what was happening to him now, his loss of telepathy was just the first sign that he was burning up right now. He felt so weak and tired, better just to sleep now and let the peace of oblivion take him.
Back outside
Dark Beast managed to roll with the blow of Rogue's fist, the glancing hit merely cracking a couple of his ribs and knocking the breath out of him instead of shattering every bone in his body. Still he collapsed to his knees and he lay helpless and cowering before the enraged Rogue. She poised with her fist ready to deal that single fatal blow, ready to kill the man she believed had taken her Remy.
"Unless yah want tah meek yah maker ah suggest yah reverse whatever yah done tah mah Remy. Ah'm not letting yah get yah hands on him do yah hear. Ah may have let Remy down once but ah'm going tah save him. Then maybe he'll be able tah forgive me fer what ah did tah him,"
She paused astonished as McCoy began to chuckle brokenly, breaking down into a fit of rasping coughs before starting to whisper through blood-flecked lips.
"Why should Remy forgive you Rogue when you abandoned him to die after you'd saved him from certain death? Far more cruel to save him from a quick death in the collapsing building and then leave him to die from cold, starvation and dehydration. He didn't even have a shirt Rogue and he was forced to eat plastic insulation, drink melted snow. How hypocritical of you to judge his crimes so harshly when many of you have done far worse, like Marrow say and yourself, remember the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and Carol Danvers. Maybe it was because he kept it a secret but then you've never even revealed your own name to him. No I don't think he ever will forgive you my dear."
"Yah stepped over the line McCoy," Rogue hissed even as her eyes began to tear.
She drew back her fist to strike the final blow and was astonished when charged cards struck her one after another, sending her flying backwards, the pain of Remy's betrayal hurting far more than the physical pain.
"Remy how could yah," whispered a singed and astonished Rogue.
"Sorry dat I had to do dat chere but McCoy my ally now, not you. You no longer have a place in my heart, I don't know whether I should hate you or not and in fact I can't really feel anything for you. Guess that when you left me in de ice my heart became cold and empty. You might like to know chere dat I've found someone dat might be able to warm it, now I suggest dat you go and dat you don't ever come back," said Remy coldly.
"No that can't be yah Remy, yah wouldn't be like that tah me, yah ain't in control of yahself, ah know yah not really meaning tah say those things."
"On the contrary my dear I think he means every word he says, if you don't believe me then see for yourself," growled McCoy thrusting his furry face forward against her own for just a second long enough to give her a glimpse of his mind.
Fighting past the utter revulsion she felt at the contact with his mind Rogue learnt the terrible truth, McCoy had done nothing except offer Remy a second chance, that he felt something for the man perhaps as close to compassion and warmth that he was capable of feeling. Genuine anger at how she could have abandoned him. Then Remy's fingers brushed against her face and she gasped with horror as she sensed his true feelings for her, nothing at all. Rogue collapsed to the ground sobbing and she would lie there for a long time overcome by grief and regret and the knowledge that Remy was truly lost to her forever.
"Don't you worry mon ami, Remy will protect you from, Sacre Bleu, dat ain't de Sabretooth dat and Blink was dead? Merde, dis is all too much," Remy found the hardest thing to take in was the fact that Logan was standing right by Sabretooth and seemed happy to be in his company.
"Yeah bub, it seems that these two are from the same place ol fuzzy gray himself sprang from. Let me tell ya, I nearly gutted Creed before Blink intervened, it seems that they don't want ta fight us," growled Logan.
Inside the apartment
"Sorry about that Mastermind but at least you've got the comfort of knowing it's all in the mind. Thanks by the way for inadvertently restoring my telepathy. Now thanks to you I can check on what just Puma is really up to," muttered Nate glancing down at Martinique as she lay screaming and writhing lost in a nightmare of her own making.
Outside
"Fine I'll agree to talk; I've no wish to harm either of you. However I'm bound by honor to fulfill my contract and for that I'm sworn to kill McCoy. I just find it hard to believe men of your honor and integrity is prepared to defend such a monster," growled Puma.
Remy shrugged and held his bo staff poised, he'd little doubt about his chances against Puma, maybe he could take him but more probably he'd get torn apart. You just had to look at those eyes to see that there was a man who would kill you if he had too, he wouldn't like doing it but he wouldn't regret it either. Also it was hard not to be impressed by that little display of agility which made even Remy look clumsy. Or the fact that he'd just lifted Remy as easily as a bag of sugar. Two inches away from that furry face and getting a far too close look at those sharp fangs was enough to make even Remy a little nervous.
"Oh believe me it's surprising how much loyalty I can inspire in my friends, isn't that right Remy," chuckled McCoy.
"Oui mon ami," said Remy.
"Thomas may I ask you a question? Do you really know what those people; Madelyn Pryor and Selene are really like? I doubt a man as honorable as you would really be comfortable if he knew just who he was dealing with and believe me I've had experience with both," said Nate.
Puma howled as suddenly his mind was bombarded by images as Nate Grey telepathically filled him in on his own dealing with Madelyn Pryor and Selene. Eyes widened with sudden enlightenment and then narrowed as an angry growl formed deep in Puma's throat. He nodded once curtly and then turned to Remy.
"My apologies I believe I perhaps should have been more careful who I worked for. In the light of this little revelation about my employers I'm going to have to reconsider this contract. I've got some thinking to do and maybe just once the honorable thing would be to break my word. Now if you'll excuse me," muttered Puma.
As he strode off he turned just once and gave Logan a grin.
"Good fight by the way, we must do it again some time,"
"Yeah bub maybe we will," growled Logan.
Hellfire Club
Selene screamed with rage and hurled the crystal ball to the floor watching it shatter into fragments.
"Damn your hide Nate Grey, you'll pay for interfering with my plans. Curse me too for allowing such a powerful pawn to potentially fall into the hands of McCoy. With his cursed honor he'll probably turn against me and it'll be a shame to have to kill the Puma. Still the game has just got a little more interesting that's all, in the end it doesn't really matter how many enemies I must face, and it'll just make my inevitable victory so much sweeter."