Hellfire and Damnation
Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
"Ah never thought that mah Remy could be so cold tah me sugah, ah'm telling y'all the truth, he's joined Dark Beast because he wants too, ah didn't want tah believe it. Ah touched them both and ah can't get his thoughts out of mah head, ah don't ah've touched a mind so, ah'm going tah have nightmares fer a long time tah come," whispered Rogue shuddering as she recalled the trip into hell that had been the mind of McCoy. When she'd regained sufficient strength she continued.
"As far as ah can tell all that McCoy did was tah offer Remy redemption and ah can hardly believe it but ah'm afraid I can't lie tah mahself. Dark Beast cares fer Remy sees him as a kindred spirit and yah don't know how much that hurts me. Then Remy touched me and ah felt nothing, nothing at all, he was as cold tah me as the Antarctic waste ah abandoned him in," whispered Rogue.
She broke down into tears again and Hank patted her shoulder and offered her a handkerchief. Hank looked up at Scott who nodded grimly while Kurt, Piotr and Kitty went over to comfort Rogue. As for Warren he if possible seemed angrier towards Remy then ever before. Hank was rather surprised at this since he would have thought Warren would be pleased that his feelings towards Remy had been vindicated. After all it seemed that Remy had turned back to darkness of his own accord. Hank had known Warren long enough to know the truth though, despite his anger and hatred Warren had wanted to be wrong about Remy and to have found he'd judged him too harshly. Even Scott had wanted Remy to have come back to them and that they could have put the past behind them, maybe even one day forgiven him. Yet despite himself Hank couldn't find any anger towards Remy in his heart, only sadness that they'd driven away a friend and that Remy had chosen badly. He feared the day when Remy was no longer of use to the Dark Beast and most of all he feared having to fight somebody who'd once been a trusted friend.
"If you'll excuse me Scott I'd like to stay with Rogue while the rest of you attend your little briefing in the War Room. I just feel that she ought to have somebody with her,"
"Of course Hank I think that would be a very good idea."
Hank remained in the room placing a hand on Rogue's shoulder letting her know he was there and would be for as long as she needed him. He was surprised when she hugged him holding him close to her and snuggling as close to him as she could without making skin contact. It was tragic that she could never touch really especially now when she most needed the comfort of human contact. Still Hank hoped that one day perhaps Rogue and Remy would find rapprochement and perhaps he might even be able to call Remy an ally again. He knew he couldn't hate Remy no matter what happened and Rogue, poor Rogue would always love him.
"The worst enemy can be the friend you turned away," whispered Hank to himself.
After a while Rogue felt like talking again and Hank listened intently as she told him of Nate Grey and how he'd been staying with her to look out for her. At the mention of the mysterious Puma who'd also befriended her and who Rogue still wasn't sure had been a real friend or using her for his own ends worried Hank, maybe Dark Beast wasn't the real enemy. The revelation of the arrival of two new refugees from the Age of Apocalypse and the reappearance of Holocaust sent Hank's pulse racing. At the mention of Madelyn Pryor and Selene Hank abruptly rose and rushed to the door.
"Stars and garters Rogue, I believe Scott had better hear this at once. If I'm not mistaken far from pursuing a vendetta against Remy and McCoy we should be allying with them. If Selene and the Hellfire Club are involved we could all be in mortal danger."
Somewhere in New York
"Ya know Clarice I think we ought ta have revealed ourselves ta the X-Men instead of just leaving Rogue at their doorstep and porting straight out again. If we're going ta be going up against Holocaust we'll need all the help we can get," growled Victor Creed.
Blink's lavender skin paled as she remembered Holocaust, no matter how many times she faced him she still felt the same chill of terror. The first time had been the worst back when she and Victor had been part of Magneto's X-Men fighting against Apocalypse. Creed had gone alone to face Holocaust and he'd lost that fight. She'd been with Rogue and the others and she'd never forget the horrific sight of seeing him crucified and eviscerated. The man who'd been like a father to her was dead and that had filled her with rage and given her the courage to fight Holocaust. She'd fought well against him and beaten him back and Victor had survived and come back to her. Still whenever she closed her eyes at night she could still see Victor and the horrific skeletal face of Holocaust and she knew he'd always be haunting her nightmares.
"We're still new here Mister Creed and we don't even know yet why the others sent us here. We'll contact the X-Men later once we're sure they're the right side; remember we've had more than one dimension where they've been the enemy. I think Holocaust was working for someone even worse than him and that they're Dark Beast's enemy too. That's why X-Man stayed behind to talk to him. I just don't know who our friends are," Clarice tried to sound brave and wasn't entirely sure if she'd succeeded.
"Well we've got each other darlin, we're a team and ya know we can take on anyone together, Dark Beast, Holocaust, Sugar Man and even Apocalypse himself if we have ta. Ya know though darlin, if we need an ally like the Beast, whoever the enemy is must be even worse than anyone we've faced yet. Don't ya worry darlin, because ya know I'd give my life fer ya if that's what it takes?"
Creed cupped Blink's chin with one hand and she looked up into his amber eyes, seeing his usually ferocious face soften the way it always did when he looked at her. He meant it about sacrificing himself if he needed to. Impulsively she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Hey let's hope it doesn't come to that," she said and she playfully tugged one of his sideburns.
"Yeah yer right darlin, it won't come ta that,"
Rooftop somewhere in New York
Puma knelt clawed hands resting on his knee, furry head slumped to his chest and eyes closed as he was lost in thought. As soon as he'd finished binding up his wounded shoulder he'd decided he needed to meditate, find his inner peace and try and find the answers he sought. Honor dictated that he fulfills his contract but he was no longer sure about this. He knew he was not being employed by honorable people so what reason would he have to be honorable towards them. Especially when he felt so unclean, so ashamed of using Rogue a woman he'd felt such sympathy and sorrow for. Especially when he found people like Logan and Remy who he could respect and people who he would like to be his friends. Certainly he didn't want to kill them and even with Dark Beast if he had to fight he'd try to be merciful.
The answer came to Puma and with his sudden enlightenment he grinned, a broad predator's grin revealing all his fangs. Triumphantly he rose to his feet and threw back his head, howling like a wolf at the moon, letting the bestial feral nature of the predator within snarl rebellion and defiance.
"Yes honor is a flexible thing and it is always best to follow the calling of one's heart. I shall not kill for you Selene and sadly I must break my contract. Thomas Fireheart will always do the right thing and everything tells me that my chosen cause is just. The Puma shall fight by the side of the Wolverine, the Dark Beast and Gambit. As it mote so shall it be," growled Puma.
Turning to face the direction of the Hellfire Club he shook a massive clawed fist and roared a challenge daring Selene to try and stop him. So loud was the roar that many in the streets below stopped and stared up towards the roof with its bestial occupant. Puma was amused to see the friendly neighborhood Spider-man was among the crowds albeit as the reporter Peter Parker.
"Howdy Spider-man," bellowed Puma giving his ally/enemy a friendly wave.
Giving the gathered crowd a single showy bow he took his leave of the rooftop, after all he had places to go and people to see.
Hellfire Club
"Why must they always betray us in the end En Sabah Nur, why do the ones who show so much promise always turn out to bear treachery in their hearts? It will be a great shame to have to kill a man as magnificent as Puma, he could have had everything but he's earned nothing but a traitor's death," sighed Selene. She turned to the kneeling Creed and ran her fingers through his thick blonde hair.
"You'll hunt him down and kill him for me won't you my sweet. Bring me back the skin to make a lovely fur coat and you can be my Knight, serve me as my protector and any other duties I see fit. You'd like that wouldn't you," she crooned.
"Yer wish is my command, Puma will be dead meat fer me ta rip his heart out fer ya Selene," growled Creed.
"This has been merely a temporary setback nothing more Selene and the important thing is that we now know where Nate Grey is. I believe it is now the time for me to stretch forth my hand and winnow out the unworthy and the weak. They have proved themselves to be of the strong and worthy of respect but still they are as ants before my might. Let us see how they fair against my Horsemen, War, Death, Famine and Pestilence," rumbled Apocalypse.
At any other time he could have handled all of them by himself, if he was near his full potential power he could have matched Nate Grey. Unfortunately that just wasn't the case and he was continuing to deteriorate even if the rate seemed to be slowing down. Standing he had to fight to overcome the wave of dizziness but fortunately nobody noticed. Instead he was commanding their attention; even the likes of Holocaust and Selene were eagerly awaiting his next words. His voice, his presence were the only things that hadn't yet failed him, as long as he could command he had a chance.
"By all means send in the Horsemen my dear, they will hopefully prove more successful than our previous attempts,"
"Indeed Selene and we shall send the two strongest and deadliest fighters we possess. Holocaust, Sabretooth you now have a chance to redeem yourselves by bringing Nate Grey to us along with the heads of Puma and McCoy. Aside from this minor stipulation anything goes," Apocalypse gave a twisted smile.
"I'm ready ta rumble boss," growled Creed rubbing his hands together in glee.
"Oh my magnificent feral, I know you won't let me down," purred Selene.
"I shall not disappoint you father," whispered Holocaust, the seething inferno of energy within him churning in turmoil.
"Yes and if you succeed perhaps you will be worthy of being called my son."
One person was not sharing in the positive mood. Madelyn Pryor stood in the shadows brooding and wondering whether she still had a future. After all she was the one who had hired Puma and sung his praises to Selene and she was the one who had assured Selene that bringing in Nate Grey would be simplicity itself. Maybe she could have one chance to redeem herself.
"I'd also like to volunteer my services to redeem myself in your eyes Black Queen,"
"As you wish Pryor, you may have the chance to prove yourself. Now you all know your duties so you are dismissed," called Selene.
She waited until Apocalypse had departed noting the unsteadiness of his walk and she smiled coldly. A nervous Trevor Fitzroy appeared at her side when she beckoned him to her. He was tugging on his beard, green hair slicked with sweat obviously afraid that he'd incurred her displeasure. He had nothing to fear though, this time.
"Fitzroy I have a job for you, I want you to keep an eye on Apocalypse for me,"
"My pleasure ma'am," said Fitzroy confidently with a deep bow.
"Good boy," she crooned
McCoy's apartment
"Look I despise you and everything you stand for McCoy and nothing will ever change that. One day I'm going to do the world a favor and rid it of a blight that should never have been brought to it. You know this just as I know that if I'm not careful one day I might find a hypodermic syringe being emptied into a vein and look up to see your triumphant grin. One day maybe soon I'll begin to burn out and perhaps you'll end up snapping my neck after I beg you for a merciful release. There will be a final confrontation between us one day,"
"Indeed X-Man but it won't be today. Now that we've established that we mutually despise each other what do you suggest. I'm willing to help restore your telepathy to its optimum level if you're willing to pay my price. You're certainly not here to exchange pleasantries are you?"
Despite the pain of his wounds McCoy was grinning triumphantly, it was good for once to see Nate Grey truly afraid and deliciously ironic that X-Man knew he was in over his head. He might not be a telepath but he could read X-Man well enough to know that Nate was afraid and that he was trying to bring himself to do the impossible.
"No it's just I realize that someone out there is far more terrible than both of us, far more evil than you and more powerful perhaps even than me. We're both in great danger and I see no point in us doing our enemy's work for them and carrying on a fight that will serve no purpose. I guess I'm calling a truce and I, I guess I do need your help. Yes restore my telepathy and I'll pay your price,"
"Oh I'll ask nothing of you now, just that you agree to stay out of my way if I stay out of yours and that some day in the future I will collect my debt. If this deal is agreeable to you then let's shake hands on it,"
McCoy's massive gray furred hand engulfed Nate's own and they shook perhaps the closest the two would ever come to an agreement.
"Dis is good mes amis dat you can come to de understanding. Remy must say dat somebody else is here dat you both might want to talk to,"
Remy jabbed a thumb in the direction of the door and then ducked as with an angry snarl Logan went sailing overhead to crash heavily into the wall just behind McCoy. Remy stood poised bo staff in hand and several playing cards ready to throw. He was prepared for the battle but didn't rate his chances too highly against this particular opponent.
"Mon Dieu, why is it dat you come back mon ami, if you want to fight den fight Remy. Remy bet dat in five minutes flat, you flat on back with boot on chest and staff at your throat. You prepared to take dat bet mon ami, Remy ready for dis fight if you are,"
Red on black eyes glinted reflecting Remy's confidence, he was prepared to back up his bold challenge and rather offended when the intruder literally roared with laughter and slapped his thighs.
"Merde, Remy find dis insulting mon ami,"
"Relax friend I'm not here to fight although Logan wouldn't take my word of honor for that. Unfortunately he came at me with those claws so I had to push him back, seems I forgot my strength a little. My apologies by the way Logan," said Puma contritely.
"Yeah yer welcome bub," growled the still prone Logan.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of your company then Puma?" asked McCoy.
"Let's just say I've had a change of heart and if you take me, I'd like to join your team," said Puma.
He knelt before Dark Beast presenting his throat, hoping that this would show Dark Beast he was sincere. McCoy would have his word of honor that he'd be loyal and he just hoped that proved acceptable.
"Stars and garters, no need for submission Puma, I'll be honored to have you fighting at my side. Welcome to my world," purred McCoy with a genuinely warm smile on his furry face.
"Now it seems dat enemies are becoming friends Hank mon ami, looks like our star is rising oui," chuckled Remy.