Disclaimer: I'm getting a little bored of saying this every time, but believe it or not, I don't own them.
Betsey sat at breakfast, drinking coffee, and feeding her croissant, piece by piece, to Puppy. She'd never much liked breakfast; hell, she preferred to avoid mornings altogether.
Rogue was tucking into a full plate; she speared a sausage and leaned forward, apparently offering it to Puppy. Maybe she was softening towards him.
No such luck. As he reached out – after taking a quick glance at Psylocke to check it was alright to do so – she snatched it away, devouring it before him.
"That was not necessary, Rogue." she snapped.
She just smirked back. "Ah reckon…"
"You'll reckon nothing. He's mine, and I don't want you messing with him like that."
"Fine, fine." Rogue snorted. "Possessive bitch." she added, under her breath.
"Somebody mention me?" asked Storm, wandering past and picking up an apple. She headed into the kitchen, Kitten following at her heels. When she emerged again, she was holding the apple in her left hand, and a squirming rabbit in the other. Kitten continued to lope behind, looking hopeful.
She released the rabbit, and he leapt after it.
Rogue giggled, as he tore into it. "Gross. At least Betsey's has some table manners."
Bobby slowly awoke. There was a throbbing pain on the side of his head, probably a lump, but he couldn't check, because his hands were bond. He turned his head, and saw the unconscious form of Kurt, and the awake and very irritable looking Jubilee.
"Psst,
Bobby."
"Yeah?" He was still kinda groggy.
"I can't Paf. Like, everything's blocked up or something."
Bobby Drake frowned, then tried to use his own powers. Nothing happened.
"What the?"
"I call it an inhibitor. Simple little drug, personal invention of mine. Quite effective, as you've already found."
They turned to stare at their captor. Bobby gulped. His eyes were pure red, and he smiled with a mouth full of jagged teeth. Behind him lay a lab with what looked like a number of rather painful pieces of equipment, along with something that looked vaguely human, growing in a tank. He heard Jubilee retch.
The man looked behind him, as if just realizing the tank was there.
"Oh that. Just a clone. Some of my Marauders can be so careless. I am Mr. Sinister. Welcome to my laboratory."
Kurt finally stirred, and spat out something in German.
"Yes, I suppose he will. Actually, I rather hope your dear friend Wolverine comes along. He'd make a very interesting test subject."
He turned to leave.
"The drug will wear off in a few hours; but by that point, it'll be the least of your problems."
Mystique wandered in, stepping delicately over the blood stain on the floor that was the remnants of Kittens last meal, and talking on the phone.
She hung up, and smiled at the assembled Sisterhood.
"It seems the esteemed Dr. Essex has set up another lab. Obviously he has neglected to invite us to his opening night party, so we'll just have to invite ourselves."
Rogue grinned, and Betsey looked confused.
Storm's eyes turned white and she hissed. "Sinister…"
She was trapped, trapped in a tiny little chamber, and she couldn't breathe. Vaguely outside she could hear voices, but not what they were saying. Another needle plunged into her side and she screamed.
But no one could hear.
The pain seemed to spread through her body, but with it came a new awareness. He'd been changing her, she knew. Now she seemed to understand how. Her powers had always come from the sky; the rain, the wind, the lightning. But he had funneled them inside, and there was nothing that would stop her.
The lightning began to arc from hand to hand, and then burst out in all directions, shattering the chamber. As Storm flew out through the roof, she heard the shout.
"Sabertooth, go after her! And bring her back alive."
There was an eldritch scream, and lightning struck from Storms hand to yet
another expensive (and now shattered) piece of art.
Mystique muttered something about "shouldn't have bothered to furnish the place", but quietly. Storms eyes were still pure white; a deadly sign.
Rogue grinned. "Let's pay Sinister a wee visit. Ah was getting bored, anyway."
Remy and Jean assembled the team, watching Wolverine with some trepidation. He was sitting in the Blackbird, waiting; popping his claws every few seconds.
Xavier relayed the co-ordinates from Cerebro to Jean, and the rescue mission was underway.
At first it seemed like it was going to be simple. Jean located the captives with suspiciously little trouble, then Kitty phased through, emerging shortly afterwards with Jubilee.
When she phased back through, she was hit by a dart.
"Inhibitor." mused Sinister, watching the Marauders secure Shadowcat alongside her friends. "I love that little drug."
"That's it." said Wolverine. "We're not waiting any long; LeBeau, blow a hole in the damn wall or something."
He muttered under his breath, but let loose a couple of cards. Wolverine tore through, gutting a marauder. The X-Men faced up against Sinister and the Marauders; but their numbers were depleted; they were outnumbered. Suddenly, the roof was ripped away, and Sinister was too busy dodging lightning strikes to do anything else; the Marauders, showing an excellent sense of self-preservation, disappeared into the shadows.
Beast was helping the captives back up to the Blackbird, leaving Wolverine, Gambit and Jean to deal with Mystique, Rogue and Betsey (Storm was still alternating between chasing Sinister and blowing holes in the lab).
Suddenly Mystique spoke.
"Hello, Grandfather. It's so nice to see you again."
"I wish I could say the same, Raven." replied Wolverine.
"Our precious cargo is secure." said Beast, returning. "I would suggest we make haste, before Storm decides the Blackbird would make an excellent target." A clap of thunder punctuated his statement.
Wolverine nodded, and began to back away, with the others.
"This isn't over, darling." he said to Mystique.
Rogue snorted, and suddenly darted at them, grabbing Remy with her bare hands. She floated above them, holding her unconscious captive triumphantly, although she was bleeding from the side – Logan had managed to catch her with his claws.
"You're right, Sugah!" she yelled. "We're only just beginning."
Betsey and Mystique disappeared after the airborne form of Rogue; Betsey flinging a couple of knives behind her. Wolverine got a slash on his arm, which he ignored, but Jean took one right in the stomach.
"Leave them!" yelled Beast. "We have to get Jean back to the mansion!"
Logan growled, but acquiesced.
"Remy…" whispered Jean.
"Sshh, Jean. Try to rest." said Hank, as they carefully moved her to the Blackbird. "We'll find him, I promise."
A/N: Well? Review! I want 2000 reviews before the next chapter g Just kidding. I'm going to inflict this piece of work upon the world whether you like it or not! (Muhahaha)
Next up: Remy meets with Puppy, and oh yeah, there's the whole big rescue thing. (Again. Logan's going to get tired of helping rescue X-Men before long g). And the whole 'grandfather' thing at least partially explained. And other general insanity.