The Prophesied Mutant
Chapter 2
The Past and the Future
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews so far I appreciate them a lot. Just a quick bit of information on this chapter. Hex's earlier life is shown a bit more clearly, and one or two more characters will probably be introduced. Can't say which side they'll be on, that'll spoil the fun. Splendid Sweet, I've got a few original ideas already down on paper, but they're in script format and not quite completed yet. Expect to see at least one of them in the not too distant future. I'll also try to work on the grammar, lol. Part of that may be that I have no clue how to work with html, so all the ". . ." are spaced out, because in my other story, whenever I didn't space them they would show up as only one dot. Also, the words in all caps are actually supposed to be italic, but my ignorance in terms of html causes that also. And as far as the character watching the two brothers. . .I will tell you he's one of my own, and let you, and anyone else who wants to, decide for yourselves which side he's on. Cris-X: Hmm, well. . .Hex does have two sides to his personality, but I assure you, he's only got one whole personality. I probably wasn't clear enough with the writing, but those parts where the more evil sounding character was talking, that was his twin brother. Though your question is quite a good one. IS Hex capable of murder? And if so, what could push such a seemingly well-mannered, caring individual to such a thing? Only time will tell. . .
Contrary to what Hex had assumed, the professor had not stopped trying to read his mind. In fact, the discovery of a challenge seemed to excite him a great deal, and Hex now had a session with him every morning. Not much really came of it, with the exception of a few headaches and the occasional swear word from the professor.
For the next two weeks, Rogue and Hex continued to grow closer together. Of course, as these things always go, a roadblock was discovered, a roadblock by the name of Lauren Dennis.
She had white hair, which was odd-and apparently, exotic-that was normally let to hang to about her mid-back. She was tall, about 5'11", but was most definitely NOT lanky. She had a pretty face, pale skin, and very long legs. She was never without tight clothing, and had the obvious "sexy girl" walk that captured every male eye within a ten-mile radius.
Her powers were quite simply control over electricity. She could create bolts of it and charge herself up with it. Yet, that wasn't the reason she was quickly nicknamed "Livewire." Her personality was what got her that one.
She was energetic and flirtatious, and apparently, she'd chosen Hex as the guy she wanted. Which, of course, didn't matter to him at all. He was with the person he wanted, and he certainly wasn't interested in a girl that had obviously been around the block a few times.
Apparently, Rogue didn't see it that way. She could understand the girl making a mistake once or twice, but after Hex straightened her out, there was no possible way the girl could've kept it up. So, she was left with choosing between one of two things: Either Hex HADN'T straightened her out, or he had talked to her about it and decided to ENCOURAGE her instead.
Thus, that is where the roadblock comes in.
So that is why, on a Friday night a week and a half after Lauren walked into the school, Hex was left sitting at a McDonalds, across from Kurt and Bobby, his head in his hands. "Ugh. . .I can't believe this. I'm surprised she hasn't dumped me already."
"Don't talk that way my friend," Kurt replied, munching on a fry.
"Yeah, she's just jealous," Bobby, added.
"What's to be jealous of? The girl was obviously the town bike, and even if she wasn't, she still doesn't hold a candle to Rogue."
"Have you told her that," questioned Kurt.
"More times than I can count." There was a pause, and then Bobby gulped down some soda.
"She'll get over it," he replied, letting an appreciative glance fall on the Pepsi. Hex waited for him to say more, but nothing was forthcoming. Eventually he realized Bobby was finished and he sighed deeply.
"Yeah, that helps," he shot back sarcastically. And then, seeing a flyer being posted on the window, he had an idea. He leapt out of his seat and bolted outside; his two friends found him gazing at the flyer like Einstein must have gazed at the newly completed Theory of Relativity. Bobby leaned over to see what it said and laughed.
"Dude, a heavy metal concert? You really think Rogue will be into that kinda thing?"
"Man, it isn't for her to come with me. I need time to unwind, and what better place is there?" Bobby nodded in agreement.
"You have a point."
"You guys want to come with me?"
"I'm always up for a little fun," Kurt replied. "Can I bring Kitty?" Hex shrugged.
"If you want." Hex turned his gaze to Bobby. "How 'bout you, Iceberg?"
". . .I don't know why, but yeah. When is it?" Hex turned to find the information on the flyer.
"Let's see. . .it's tonight."
"I guess we missed the ticket deadline," Bobby mumbled, disappointed.
"Nah, it says you can just come in."
"Who's playing," Kurt asked, trying to get a look over the taller boy's shoulder.
"Just some local bands," Hex replied.
"Heavy metal, punk, emo," Bobby asked.
"Says heavy metal," Hex said approvingly.
"Heavy metal man," Bobby asked.
"All the way," Hex replied, smiling.
"I wouldn't have guessed," Kurt replied.
"I would," rang a seductively smoky voice, and Hex grimaced.
"Evening Lauren," he said with a sad sigh, letting his head smack against the window.
"So, do you have a date yet, Firebird," she practically cooed.
"No, and I don't intend to have one," he snapped back.
"Oooh, feisty. Well then, I guess Bobby'll just have to-"
"No," Bobby returned quickly.
"But Iceman, why not?"
"First of all, because you KNOW you're not supposed to use our codenames in a public place like this," Bobby shot back. "And second of all, because you're only REALLY going to get Hex in even MORE trouble with Rogue, and I watch out for my friends."
"Well then Kurt-"
"I'm taking Kitty," Kurt stated, cutting her off.
"What, none of you are willing to take little old me out on a date?"
"That's about the size of it," Hex replied.
"Sounds right to me," Bobby added.
"I'm already dating Kitty," Kurt stated matter-of-factly. She simply scoffed at them all and walked off.
"Well, that went well," Bobby, joked.
"If only Rogue had been here to see it," Hex said, shaking his head. "More than likely Lauren'll spread the rumor that I said I just wanted to get some advice on how to handle a girl like her from other guys. Then I'll REALLY be deep in it." Kurt clapped him on the back.
"The rigors of dating, my friend." Hex laughed.
"I'm beginning to wonder whether it's really even worth it." ....................................
Upon returning to the mansion, Hex decided to take a nap so that he wouldn't be tired during the concert.
That was probably a bad decision.
"Alright, where the hell am I," Hex mumbled, looking around at what appeared to be a castle throne room. "And what in the blazes am I wearing," he asked, shocked. Silver robes with golden runes sewn in on the edges of the hood and sleeves hung about him.
"In your throne room, Milord," replied a voice from behind. "And you're wearing the robes you always wear to these things Milord. Politics demands it, you always say."
"Uh. . .I'm a King?" The voice was now on his left.
"Of course Milord, what else would you be?"
"Well, I could tell you, but you probably wouldn't believe me."
"WELL, BOY. YOU SEEM TO HAVE KEPT YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT ALL THIS." The booming voice spoke from everywhere around him, and Hex began spinning about, bringing his fists up.
"Yeah, well that's because it's an ever-so RESILIENT sense of humor. And a good one, too."
"DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, BOY?"
"I'm guessing. . .a castle?"
"CORRECT. WHERE?"
"Man, I don't know! You're the one that sounds like he's seeing everything!"
"A GOOD ANSWER. INDEED I SEE EVERYTHING."
"Hey, um. . .Jean told me about this Uatu guy-"
"I AM NO WATCHER!" The ground practically shook at this exclamation. Hex held his hands up defensively and slowly spun around in a circle.
"Hey, ok, ok. You're not a Watcher. I was just checking man, geez."
"YOU ARE NOT AFRAID."
"Bingo. I figure, right now you're just a voice. A big, scary voice, but still only a voice."
"YOU'RE MISUNDERSTANDING WAS AN EASY ONE. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY OVERREACTION."
"See, now that's better. Politeness. And hey, it's no big deal. From what I understand, Uatu is a pretty shriveled up guy. Can't say I'd want to be mistaken for him either."
"HAH. YOUR JEST IS ENTERTAINING." With a lack of anything better to say, Hex simply said what he would normally say in that situation.
"Thank you." He shrugged. "So, what, this is the past? And you've lived this past, so you can see all of it?"
"PRECISELY."
"Could you show some of it to me?"
"I SUPPOSE. WHAT DO YOU WISH TO SEE?"
"Well, I guess I don't really need to see as much as hear. Why am I here?"
"BECAUSE YOU WERE HERE BEFORE."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"IT IS A CONCEPT MOST CONVENTIONAL PEOPLE SCOFF AT, BUT YOU WERE ONCE THIS KING."
"What, um. . .what land did I rule?"
"A LAND BEFORE LEGENDS," the voice replied.
"Um. . .can you give me anything besides that rather clichéd line?"
"HUMANS, AND MUTANTS FOR THAT MATTER, BELIEVE THAT BEFORE RECORDED HISTORY THERE WERE SAVAGES AND PRIMATES."
"Cavemen and gorillas. Right." Hex paused before continuing, thinking about how to phrase his question. "Are you saying that such a belief is incorrect?"
"YOU ARE LIVING PROOF OF THAT."
"So I ruled a nation that existed before recorded history?"
"YES."
"So. . .wait, that would make me. . . ."
"CORRECT. THE FIRST MUTANT."
"What about that Apocalypse guy that the X-Men faced?"
"EN SABAH NUHR WAS THE FIRST MUTANT IN RECORDED HISTORY. PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER THAT YOU CAME BEFORE RECORDED HISTORY, AND THEREBY, BEFORE HIM."
"So. . .I'm older than Apocalypse?"
"NOT PHYSICALLY. NOT RIGHT NOW, AT LEAST. BUT SPIRITUALLY, YES. YOUR SOUL IS FAR OLDER THAN HIS."
"But he was a God! Set!"
"AND YOU WERE A GOD AMONG GODS." That simple statement shook Hex to his very core. "OUR TIME HAS RUN OUT. YOU MUST WAKE." The castle started to fade.
"Wait," Hex shouted. "Who are you?" The last thing he heard, the last thing before waking, was the booming voice giving him one word.
"YOU." ....................................
"Hex, wake up hunny, wake up." Rogue's voice was the first thing Hex heard upon awakening, and without even opening his eyes, he thrust his arms out and grabbed her around the waist, burying his head in her stomach gently. "It's okay baby, it's ok. I dunno what happened to ya, but Ah'm here."
"En. . . ."
"What? What is it?"
"Rogue, I. . .oh gods, what's happening to me?" Rogue noted the use of the plural, but knew now wasn't the time. She just sank down next to Hex and whispered comforting things to the obviously petrified youth.
It was going to be a long night. ....................................
"Ah don't know what's wrong with him Professor, he just went to take a nap and started mumblin' and tossin' around. Ah went in to see if he was okay, and he was too scared ta tell me what happened." The Professor considered this and then turned his head to Hex, who was sitting silently to Rogue's immediate right.
"Hex, this is the Professor. Can you hear me?" Hex gave a brief nod. "Ok. At least we know you're still here with us. Now, tell me. Did you have a nightmare?"
"No," Hex stated.
"You didn't," The Professor asked, wondering what could have done this to him in his sleep.
"Real."
"What was?"
"It was real."
"The nightmare?"
"Not a nightmare."
"What was it about?"
"Me."
"You?"
"En Sabah Nuhr."
"Apocalypse," Rogue asked, shocked.
"Legends," Hex stated firmly.
"Legends. . .what do you mean by that," questioned the Professor. Hex seemed to snap back to reality then, and gave himself a shake.
"Nothing, don't worry about it." The Professor and Rogue glanced at each other in concern but let him leave.
"Now. . .did you tell him Apocalypse's real name?"
"Nah, Ah didn't. Ah assumed you did. He prob'ly coulda guessed the name."
"A name like that? I doubt it." The Professor sighed. "No, something happened to him while he was asleep. I just wish I could find out what." ....................................
Well, this is turning out better than I expected. Who would've thought the boy would've started having the dreams so soon?
Well, I did, but that's beside the point. I'm a special case.
Poor kid. I wish I could save him the trouble, but it'd mess things up. He needs this for his own good.
So how come I feel so damned guilty about doing it?
It's not like I can help it. He has to see. He has to see why everything that's about to happen to him is necessary. And I have to show him. I thought I had more time; maybe some time to figure out a way around what has to come next.
I was wrong. I'm out of time. And that means Hex, as cold as it sounds, is out of luck. ....................................
So, with the damage between Rogue and Hex repaired (at least temporarily) he decided to ask her if she wanted to go with him to the concert. Surprisingly enough, she wanted to, and it was only partially because of the concern she still felt for him.
Bobby found a girl to hang out with at the concert, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Kurt, of course, brought Kitty. Hex and Bobby found themselves both thinking the same thing as he snuggled with her in the back seat. 'That boy is whipped.'
It was what happened after the concert that none of them could've expected. ....................................
I guess it's time. I really don't want to do this, especially since he's got others with him, but I'm out of time. He needs to see. The others. . .I can't help that.
So, all I've got to do is open this portal here, and. . .bingo! ....................................
Hex and Rogue were walking hand in hand, both enjoying the warmth that action caused.
Bobby was walking with his arm around the waist of the girl he'd met at the concert, a girl by the name of Christina.
Kurt was thinking about how he could mimic the romantic gestures of the other two boys and not seem like he's copying off of their actions.
All of them were taken by surprise, however, when suddenly something that could only be described as an energy vortex appeared and sucked them all in. In fact, they were caught so completely unawares that none of them even had the chance to let what had just happened register before the vortex closed behind them. ....................................
"Is everyone ok," Hex asked immediately, completely ignoring the trickle of blood that was dripping down the right side of his head. He stood on craggy, rocky, blasted, scorched ground, with the remnants of what looked like buildings all around him. Roads were torn up, there were enormous craters in the ground, and here and there Hex could see the skeletal remains of trees. Fires burned in some of the ruined buildings and on some of the trees.
"Ah'm fine," Rogue grumbled, standing up and only staying that way with Hex's help.
"Still ok here," Bobby groaned, "but I REALLY want to talk to whoever made that thing." Christina was checking a bloody gash on his arm, mostly unharmed except for a bloodstain on her lower right leg.
"As do I, mein fruend," mumbled Kurt as he shakily limped over to one of the skeletal trees, favoring his right leg and helping Kitty stand.
"I'm sorry about that," said a deep but familiar voice from the tree that Kurt was leaning on, "but it was necessary." Hex spun to face the tree.
"Who are you?!" In response, the man jumped down from the tree, and left everyone gaping in shock.
The man had long, shoulder length orangeish-red hair. He was about 5'11" tall and muscular. He had on a pair of dark cargo pants that looked well worn, and a plain tan sleeveless shirt that was slightly faded. He had a cybernetic panel on his right forearm, and there were guns strapped to his back and sides. A shotgun and an assault rifle were strapped to his back, two handguns were holstered on his wrists, and a submachine gun hung at his right side. A portion of his upper right leg was cybernetic.
Oddly enough, none of that disturbed them nearly as much as his eyes. Or lack thereof. Instead of eyes, the man had flames raging in his eye sockets.
His hair had fallen and covered half his face, but they didn't need to see the other half to identify the man. Hex stepped forward slowly and reached out a hand, poking the exposed side of the man's face. "You're. . .me." The man whipped back his hair and the other half of his face was exposed. Now there was no question.
"Yes. I am you," the man replied. "But you should call me Wildfire." He gestured at the others. "I'm sorry for bringing you here," and he paused, nodding to Rogue, as if to say 'especially you' and continued, "but there was no other way. I had to show you," he pointed to Hex, "what was going to happen."
"What do you mean? Happen to me?" Wildfire laughed and shook his head.
"No. I needed to show you what's going to happen to the world." Hex blinked.
"What. . .what happened here," he asked. "Or will happen, or. . .whatever. Was it En Sabah Nuhr?"
"No. Apocalypse has been destroyed."
"How," Bobby blurted.
"There is a realm here now, a realm called Oblivion. Anyone who is killed while a mark is on them will be sent there, never to return."
"Where are we," Christina asked.
"This place was once called Philadelphia."
"Oh man," Hex mumbled. "Look, maybe you should just tell us the entire situation."
"That will take a while. Hold on a moment, I'll get us a vehicle." Wildfire raised his right arm and began typing something on the panel.
"Hey, Wildfire. You find the kid?" Bobby paled considerably.
"That sounds like me," he mumbled. Wildfire nodded.
"It is." He laughed at Bobby's frightened look. "Don't worry. You've got it good, my friend." He glanced at Hex. "You, not so much."
"What about me," Kurt asked.
"You're married to Kitty and are raising two children in California, both mutants."
"And me," Christina asks.
"You're power should manifest about an hour after I send you back. You'll go to the mansion and go on to become Lioness. You and Bobby are both still part of the X-Men."
"The X-Men are still around," Kitty blurted.
"Not the X-Men you remember, mostly. Cyclops, Jean, and Beast are all dead. There are people that come along soon, by the names of Colossus and Angel and Thunderbird. They're all dead as well." Wildfire paused and surveyed them all. "There are others dead as well." Hex had a sinking feeling that he had read the underlying tone in his future self's voice. The panel on Wildfire's arm blared to life in something that sounded very much like a warning alarm. He immediately unholstered the two handguns on his wrists. "Shit." He tapped on the panel with the butt of the gun in his left hand and roared into it, "Bobby, get that damn evac down here NOW! We've got Mutant Hunters coming in quick!"
"Moving as fast as we can boss," Bobby roared back through the panel.
"Boss," Rogue asked. "You run th' show? What happened ta th' Professor?" Wildfire simply shook his head.
"You don't want to know."
"Yes," Bobby persisted. "We do." Wildfire sighed.
"Alright, but not right now. I've gotta concentrate on getting us outta this mess," Wildfire replied. "Those Mutant Hunters are getting mighty close. I may have to cut loose." He looked at the others. "Christina, you might want to go hide. You don't have your powers yet, but these things'll recognize it in you and toast you. Rogue, watch her. The rest of you, back me up if I need it."
"Hey, how do we know we can trust you," Hex asked, feeling stupid about asking a man that was essentially the same person that. Wildfire smiled.
"Kid, I guess you don't know. You've just gotta follow your gut."
"You mean heart?" Wildfire's face clouded for a moment.
"Not yet. Right now I mean gut."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bobby chose that moment to tap Hex on the shoulder.
"You hear that?" They all paused to listen, and then Wildfire let out a whooping yelp.
"Good ol' Iceberg, always coming through in the end!" He noticed Bobby's disgruntled look and laughed. "Some things never change, kiddo."
"So hey, where is the, um. . .other me," Bobby asked.
"Just wait. You always did have to make one helluva entrance." And then, suddenly, what looked like a jeep the size of a large van came flying off of a nearby cliff and pulled to a stop scant inches from Wildfire. He swung open a huge back door and gestured for everyone to get inside. "Alright, all aboard!" He glanced at his panel. "This train ain't got too long, so move it along there kiddies!" The six of them didn't argue, and when all of them were in, Wildfire slammed the door and hopped into the front.
"Hope you know what you're doing," mumbled the future Bobby's voice from the driver seat. ....................................
"You really shouldn't have brought them," future Bobby was stating in a conference room. The room was located in the new headquarters for the X- Men, a low-key abandoned mansion just outside of New York City. "I understand bringing the younger you, but man, you shouldn't have brought the others."
"Hey! I kind of like having this chance to see the future," young Bobby interrupted. "I mean, at least I know what happens so I can help deal with it."
"Agreed," Kurt added, with Kitty and Christina both nodding their heads in confirmation. Wildfire turned to face his younger self.
"And what do you think, kiddo," Wildfire asked his younger self. Hex spoke slowly, obviously trying to maintain a civil demeanor and only partially succeeding.
"I think perhaps you could've waited a bit longer, at least until we split up to go to bed." Wildfire sighed.
"Well, I would've done that, but you weren't going to bed alone." Rogue and Hex looked at each other. "Don't worry, it was a mutual idea. You both wanted it, you did it, and you never had any regrets about doing it. But my point was, you understand now why that wouldn't have worked. And something monumental is going down in this time period early tomorrow morning, so we're working on a rather tight schedule."
"Well that won't matter anyway, because judging by the appearance of this world, you're trying to keep this future from ever happening, right?"
"This is going to take some explaining, and after early tomorrow morning, that isn't possible any longer." Hex considered this.
"Alright, I see your point." He sat back in his chair, one leg hanging over the right arm. "So explain."
"Alright." Wildfire paused, pressing a few buttons on his panel, and a screen behind him hummed to life. He stepped aside to give the kids a clear view.
The images that played across the screen were truly horrific. Masses of people running in panic, Sentinels being blown up, the creation of the realm of Oblivion, the death of Magneto by one of his own children, the death of Charles Xavier by a boy that looked exactly like Hex but wasn't. Cities being leveled, burned, or flat out destroyed. The death of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, at the hand of a panicked Sinister, who believed that if he couldn't have the Summers genes, no one would, the resulting death of Sinister by the boy that looked like Hex. The death of Beast and a man that Wildfire pointed out was Colossus. Wolverine leaving the mansion, followed by the death of the man that simply HAD to be Angel by Apocalypse, and the resulting final destruction of Apocalypse by Wildfire himself. Thunderbird and Wildfire fighting side by side, and then another image of Thunderbird and Wildfire fighting against each other, and Wildfire finally killing Thunderbird. Wildfire and a futuristic Iceman with spikes and spires of ice jutting out from his body fighting Magneto's children, and finally winning. And finally, an altered version of the boy that looked like Hex sitting smugly on a throne, ordering people around. The next image is the most terrible of all.
Most of Earth's remaining cities were destroyed in powerful fires. People screamed, people died, and people cried. The video ended, and the screen shut off. Wildfire waited a few moments before speaking, to let all of what the kids had just seen sink in. He opened his mouth, but Hex cut him off. "That was. . .that was the most horrible thing I've ever seen." He sighed. "I knew my brother was capable of a lot, but that. . .that just never even. . . ." Wildfire nodded sympathetically.
"Neither did I. To be honest, we don't know what happened. He just suddenly gained all this power, and he used it to take out most of the Earth. There are three American cities left. Los Angeles, believe it or not. New York. And Dallas, though Dallas is in question." He sighed and plopped down into the chair at the head of the table. "Here's how things are: Los Angeles is where you and Kitty live, Kurt. You've got yourself a little team there that manages to defend the place. Same with New York, they've got us. Dallas. . .Dallas didn't like mutants. They held out until the very end, maintaining a law that prevented mutants from living there. When they finally realized they needed mutants to defend the city, it was really too late. There aren't enough, and it'll probably fall."
"To who," Bobby asked, his voice hoarse from the sheer shock and horror of it all. Wildfire chuckled.
"Take your pick: The Mutant Hunters, the Sentinels, Black Flame, The Hellfire Club, the. . .well, let's just say a whole lot of people." He glanced at Hex. "Black Flame is what our brother has taken to calling himself."
"I figured," Hex replied. "He always was one for melodramatic names."
"Amen to that," Wildfire shot back. "So, that's pretty much how it is. The majority of the populace no longer hates mutants. Of course, without mutants, the majority of the populace wouldn't be living, so that makes sense. Of course, with Black Flame ruler of pretty much everything, anyone who says they hate mutants gets shot right on the streets. They leave the body, and most of the time someone'll come by and pick it up."
"So, what is this guy? Like a mutant Hitler," Bobby asked. Hex immediately shook his head.
"That's not our brother's style, is it Wildfire?" The older man shook his head.
"Not by a long shot. Our brother enjoys letting people glimpse what they once had, and then taking it away, only to let them glimpse it once more. That way, he crushes the masses every day." Hex nodded.
"So he hasn't changed."
"Only physically."
"Yeah, well, so have I. Apparently," Hex stated, and there was more than a hint of a question in his tone. Wildfire shrugged.
"Things change," was all he said. Hex shrugged.
"So, what are these Mutant Hunter things, anyway," Kurt asked.
"They track us. Not only can they sense an active mutant gene, but any latent gene as well. Which is why Christina would've been in just as much hot water as the rest of us."
"I'm really a mutant," she asked, just as a woman that looked like a cat- human hybrid strode into the room.
"You sure are girl. And a formidable one, if I do say so myself." She was wearing casual clothes, a black shirt, and jeans, that sort of thing. She had a pelt of light yellow fur and a mane of blonde hair that stretched nearly to her waist. Shiny claws glinted on the end of her fingers. "Taught by the best."
"Logan," Bobby chuckled.
"Yeah, that's it." She paused, cocking her head. "Wow. It's weird to see you so young and smooth again."
"What do you mean?"
"She means," a deeper voice replied, the future Bobby stepping into the conversation for the first time since his brief argument with Wildfire, "this." He pressed his watch and his human form dropped, revealing itself as a hologram to cover up his permanently iced over body. Spires and spikes of ice covered his body. The younger Bobby jumped back in shock.
"Whoa! Ok, what the hell happened to you? I mean me. I mean-Oh, you know what I mean!"
"That's not important right now." He smiled. "Our job here is done. It's time for you to go back."
"But nothing got done," Hex said, confused.
"On the contrary," Wildfire replied. "More got done here than you think."
"How?" In response, Wildfire only smiled.
"See ya around, kids. And Hex?" He paused, shook his head. "Never mind." Young Hex shot him a questioning glance, but Wildfire shook his head. He pulled a cigarette out of his right pocket, fished a lighter out of the other, and lit up as he began tapping things on his arm panel. The kids looked at him like he was crazy. "What? This kinda shit is draining on me; I need to calm my nerves." He laughed. "Before he left, Logan tried to turn me on to cigars. I smoke one occasionally, but I never took to 'em like he did. Cigarettes though, that's another matter entirely." An energy vortex opened before them, but this one didn't suck them in. "Now get goin' kids. You've got a lot of work ahead of ya, and some it's gonna be dirty." With that, the X-Men of the future pushed their younger counterparts into the energy vortex. ....................................
"Well, guess things are gonna start getting ugly back then, huh," future Iceman asked.
"Yeah," Wildfire said.
"Guess it's time for you to go," Lioness replied.
"Not yet. Can't let 'em know I'm behind 'em. Close the vortex, reopen it in about an hour or so."
"Do you have a plan," Lioness asked. A haunted look crossed Wildfire's face and he nodded.
"Yeah. Had one for a long, long time." ....................................
"So," Rogue said, standing exactly as she had been before being sucked into the energy vortex. "Just what're we supposed ta do now?" Hex shrugged.
"I dunno. Maybe make sure all that stuff doesn't happen?"
"Probably," Bobby said, slight uncertainty in his voice.
"And Ah don't want ta see ya start smokin'," Rogue added.
"Well, it wouldn't do any harm. My body reacts, remember? I don't see how my lungs are any different. Though I've got to admit, cigarettes just don't seem right. All the really badass guys smoke cigars. I mean there's Logan, that Fury guy that came by the other night, even that Joe Fixit dude on the news last night." He nodded emphatically. "THAT'S what I'll do this time around." Rogue sighed.
"Fine. But ya aren't smokin' anythin' around me, understand?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied. "So, what say we all head back to the mansion? Yeah, you come along too Christina. I don't think Bobby would mind showing you around, would ya Iceberg?"
"Y'know," Iceman stated, "that doesn't get any funnier." ....................................
"Y'know," Iceman stated, "that doesn't get any funnier."
"Sure it does, Icefishing." Wildfire blinked. "Ok, that one WAS just lame." He shrugged. They had waited almost two hours, to be certain that the younger versions of themselves weren't still hanging about.
"Sure you want to do this buddy," Iceman asked.
"Yeah," Wildfire replied. "I have to. I know that now."
"Alright. I'll, uh. . .well, y'know."
"Yeah, and I'll feel the same way," he said, and the pair hugged despite Iceman's spires and spikes.
"You'd better not go and get yourself killed," Lioness said. "Whether you'll be preventing this future or not, I'll never forgive you if you do."
"Don't worry Christina, I won't. Remember, someone would have to be trying very, VERY hard to kill me."
"Yeah, well that just makes it go double." Wildfire laughed and embraced her. "I'll miss you for however long we're still here."
"I'll never stop missing you all. And if you get the chance, tell Kurt and Kitty I'm gonna miss them too." Iceman clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Will do boss. Will do." He gestured at the energy vortex opening before them. "Now get going already, time waits for no man, even you." Hex nodded and headed towards the vortex. He stopped once more, his feet almost in the vortex, and looked back at two of his oldest friends. He hoped he was doing the right thing. If not, he may very well be dooming the world. And on that thought, he stepped forward and disappeared, reappearing where his younger self had been standing two hours before.
"I'm really going to hate doing this to myself."
Chapter 2
The Past and the Future
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews so far I appreciate them a lot. Just a quick bit of information on this chapter. Hex's earlier life is shown a bit more clearly, and one or two more characters will probably be introduced. Can't say which side they'll be on, that'll spoil the fun. Splendid Sweet, I've got a few original ideas already down on paper, but they're in script format and not quite completed yet. Expect to see at least one of them in the not too distant future. I'll also try to work on the grammar, lol. Part of that may be that I have no clue how to work with html, so all the ". . ." are spaced out, because in my other story, whenever I didn't space them they would show up as only one dot. Also, the words in all caps are actually supposed to be italic, but my ignorance in terms of html causes that also. And as far as the character watching the two brothers. . .I will tell you he's one of my own, and let you, and anyone else who wants to, decide for yourselves which side he's on. Cris-X: Hmm, well. . .Hex does have two sides to his personality, but I assure you, he's only got one whole personality. I probably wasn't clear enough with the writing, but those parts where the more evil sounding character was talking, that was his twin brother. Though your question is quite a good one. IS Hex capable of murder? And if so, what could push such a seemingly well-mannered, caring individual to such a thing? Only time will tell. . .
Contrary to what Hex had assumed, the professor had not stopped trying to read his mind. In fact, the discovery of a challenge seemed to excite him a great deal, and Hex now had a session with him every morning. Not much really came of it, with the exception of a few headaches and the occasional swear word from the professor.
For the next two weeks, Rogue and Hex continued to grow closer together. Of course, as these things always go, a roadblock was discovered, a roadblock by the name of Lauren Dennis.
She had white hair, which was odd-and apparently, exotic-that was normally let to hang to about her mid-back. She was tall, about 5'11", but was most definitely NOT lanky. She had a pretty face, pale skin, and very long legs. She was never without tight clothing, and had the obvious "sexy girl" walk that captured every male eye within a ten-mile radius.
Her powers were quite simply control over electricity. She could create bolts of it and charge herself up with it. Yet, that wasn't the reason she was quickly nicknamed "Livewire." Her personality was what got her that one.
She was energetic and flirtatious, and apparently, she'd chosen Hex as the guy she wanted. Which, of course, didn't matter to him at all. He was with the person he wanted, and he certainly wasn't interested in a girl that had obviously been around the block a few times.
Apparently, Rogue didn't see it that way. She could understand the girl making a mistake once or twice, but after Hex straightened her out, there was no possible way the girl could've kept it up. So, she was left with choosing between one of two things: Either Hex HADN'T straightened her out, or he had talked to her about it and decided to ENCOURAGE her instead.
Thus, that is where the roadblock comes in.
So that is why, on a Friday night a week and a half after Lauren walked into the school, Hex was left sitting at a McDonalds, across from Kurt and Bobby, his head in his hands. "Ugh. . .I can't believe this. I'm surprised she hasn't dumped me already."
"Don't talk that way my friend," Kurt replied, munching on a fry.
"Yeah, she's just jealous," Bobby, added.
"What's to be jealous of? The girl was obviously the town bike, and even if she wasn't, she still doesn't hold a candle to Rogue."
"Have you told her that," questioned Kurt.
"More times than I can count." There was a pause, and then Bobby gulped down some soda.
"She'll get over it," he replied, letting an appreciative glance fall on the Pepsi. Hex waited for him to say more, but nothing was forthcoming. Eventually he realized Bobby was finished and he sighed deeply.
"Yeah, that helps," he shot back sarcastically. And then, seeing a flyer being posted on the window, he had an idea. He leapt out of his seat and bolted outside; his two friends found him gazing at the flyer like Einstein must have gazed at the newly completed Theory of Relativity. Bobby leaned over to see what it said and laughed.
"Dude, a heavy metal concert? You really think Rogue will be into that kinda thing?"
"Man, it isn't for her to come with me. I need time to unwind, and what better place is there?" Bobby nodded in agreement.
"You have a point."
"You guys want to come with me?"
"I'm always up for a little fun," Kurt replied. "Can I bring Kitty?" Hex shrugged.
"If you want." Hex turned his gaze to Bobby. "How 'bout you, Iceberg?"
". . .I don't know why, but yeah. When is it?" Hex turned to find the information on the flyer.
"Let's see. . .it's tonight."
"I guess we missed the ticket deadline," Bobby mumbled, disappointed.
"Nah, it says you can just come in."
"Who's playing," Kurt asked, trying to get a look over the taller boy's shoulder.
"Just some local bands," Hex replied.
"Heavy metal, punk, emo," Bobby asked.
"Says heavy metal," Hex said approvingly.
"Heavy metal man," Bobby asked.
"All the way," Hex replied, smiling.
"I wouldn't have guessed," Kurt replied.
"I would," rang a seductively smoky voice, and Hex grimaced.
"Evening Lauren," he said with a sad sigh, letting his head smack against the window.
"So, do you have a date yet, Firebird," she practically cooed.
"No, and I don't intend to have one," he snapped back.
"Oooh, feisty. Well then, I guess Bobby'll just have to-"
"No," Bobby returned quickly.
"But Iceman, why not?"
"First of all, because you KNOW you're not supposed to use our codenames in a public place like this," Bobby shot back. "And second of all, because you're only REALLY going to get Hex in even MORE trouble with Rogue, and I watch out for my friends."
"Well then Kurt-"
"I'm taking Kitty," Kurt stated, cutting her off.
"What, none of you are willing to take little old me out on a date?"
"That's about the size of it," Hex replied.
"Sounds right to me," Bobby added.
"I'm already dating Kitty," Kurt stated matter-of-factly. She simply scoffed at them all and walked off.
"Well, that went well," Bobby, joked.
"If only Rogue had been here to see it," Hex said, shaking his head. "More than likely Lauren'll spread the rumor that I said I just wanted to get some advice on how to handle a girl like her from other guys. Then I'll REALLY be deep in it." Kurt clapped him on the back.
"The rigors of dating, my friend." Hex laughed.
"I'm beginning to wonder whether it's really even worth it." ....................................
Upon returning to the mansion, Hex decided to take a nap so that he wouldn't be tired during the concert.
That was probably a bad decision.
"Alright, where the hell am I," Hex mumbled, looking around at what appeared to be a castle throne room. "And what in the blazes am I wearing," he asked, shocked. Silver robes with golden runes sewn in on the edges of the hood and sleeves hung about him.
"In your throne room, Milord," replied a voice from behind. "And you're wearing the robes you always wear to these things Milord. Politics demands it, you always say."
"Uh. . .I'm a King?" The voice was now on his left.
"Of course Milord, what else would you be?"
"Well, I could tell you, but you probably wouldn't believe me."
"WELL, BOY. YOU SEEM TO HAVE KEPT YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT ALL THIS." The booming voice spoke from everywhere around him, and Hex began spinning about, bringing his fists up.
"Yeah, well that's because it's an ever-so RESILIENT sense of humor. And a good one, too."
"DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, BOY?"
"I'm guessing. . .a castle?"
"CORRECT. WHERE?"
"Man, I don't know! You're the one that sounds like he's seeing everything!"
"A GOOD ANSWER. INDEED I SEE EVERYTHING."
"Hey, um. . .Jean told me about this Uatu guy-"
"I AM NO WATCHER!" The ground practically shook at this exclamation. Hex held his hands up defensively and slowly spun around in a circle.
"Hey, ok, ok. You're not a Watcher. I was just checking man, geez."
"YOU ARE NOT AFRAID."
"Bingo. I figure, right now you're just a voice. A big, scary voice, but still only a voice."
"YOU'RE MISUNDERSTANDING WAS AN EASY ONE. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY OVERREACTION."
"See, now that's better. Politeness. And hey, it's no big deal. From what I understand, Uatu is a pretty shriveled up guy. Can't say I'd want to be mistaken for him either."
"HAH. YOUR JEST IS ENTERTAINING." With a lack of anything better to say, Hex simply said what he would normally say in that situation.
"Thank you." He shrugged. "So, what, this is the past? And you've lived this past, so you can see all of it?"
"PRECISELY."
"Could you show some of it to me?"
"I SUPPOSE. WHAT DO YOU WISH TO SEE?"
"Well, I guess I don't really need to see as much as hear. Why am I here?"
"BECAUSE YOU WERE HERE BEFORE."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"IT IS A CONCEPT MOST CONVENTIONAL PEOPLE SCOFF AT, BUT YOU WERE ONCE THIS KING."
"What, um. . .what land did I rule?"
"A LAND BEFORE LEGENDS," the voice replied.
"Um. . .can you give me anything besides that rather clichéd line?"
"HUMANS, AND MUTANTS FOR THAT MATTER, BELIEVE THAT BEFORE RECORDED HISTORY THERE WERE SAVAGES AND PRIMATES."
"Cavemen and gorillas. Right." Hex paused before continuing, thinking about how to phrase his question. "Are you saying that such a belief is incorrect?"
"YOU ARE LIVING PROOF OF THAT."
"So I ruled a nation that existed before recorded history?"
"YES."
"So. . .wait, that would make me. . . ."
"CORRECT. THE FIRST MUTANT."
"What about that Apocalypse guy that the X-Men faced?"
"EN SABAH NUHR WAS THE FIRST MUTANT IN RECORDED HISTORY. PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER THAT YOU CAME BEFORE RECORDED HISTORY, AND THEREBY, BEFORE HIM."
"So. . .I'm older than Apocalypse?"
"NOT PHYSICALLY. NOT RIGHT NOW, AT LEAST. BUT SPIRITUALLY, YES. YOUR SOUL IS FAR OLDER THAN HIS."
"But he was a God! Set!"
"AND YOU WERE A GOD AMONG GODS." That simple statement shook Hex to his very core. "OUR TIME HAS RUN OUT. YOU MUST WAKE." The castle started to fade.
"Wait," Hex shouted. "Who are you?" The last thing he heard, the last thing before waking, was the booming voice giving him one word.
"YOU." ....................................
"Hex, wake up hunny, wake up." Rogue's voice was the first thing Hex heard upon awakening, and without even opening his eyes, he thrust his arms out and grabbed her around the waist, burying his head in her stomach gently. "It's okay baby, it's ok. I dunno what happened to ya, but Ah'm here."
"En. . . ."
"What? What is it?"
"Rogue, I. . .oh gods, what's happening to me?" Rogue noted the use of the plural, but knew now wasn't the time. She just sank down next to Hex and whispered comforting things to the obviously petrified youth.
It was going to be a long night. ....................................
"Ah don't know what's wrong with him Professor, he just went to take a nap and started mumblin' and tossin' around. Ah went in to see if he was okay, and he was too scared ta tell me what happened." The Professor considered this and then turned his head to Hex, who was sitting silently to Rogue's immediate right.
"Hex, this is the Professor. Can you hear me?" Hex gave a brief nod. "Ok. At least we know you're still here with us. Now, tell me. Did you have a nightmare?"
"No," Hex stated.
"You didn't," The Professor asked, wondering what could have done this to him in his sleep.
"Real."
"What was?"
"It was real."
"The nightmare?"
"Not a nightmare."
"What was it about?"
"Me."
"You?"
"En Sabah Nuhr."
"Apocalypse," Rogue asked, shocked.
"Legends," Hex stated firmly.
"Legends. . .what do you mean by that," questioned the Professor. Hex seemed to snap back to reality then, and gave himself a shake.
"Nothing, don't worry about it." The Professor and Rogue glanced at each other in concern but let him leave.
"Now. . .did you tell him Apocalypse's real name?"
"Nah, Ah didn't. Ah assumed you did. He prob'ly coulda guessed the name."
"A name like that? I doubt it." The Professor sighed. "No, something happened to him while he was asleep. I just wish I could find out what." ....................................
Well, this is turning out better than I expected. Who would've thought the boy would've started having the dreams so soon?
Well, I did, but that's beside the point. I'm a special case.
Poor kid. I wish I could save him the trouble, but it'd mess things up. He needs this for his own good.
So how come I feel so damned guilty about doing it?
It's not like I can help it. He has to see. He has to see why everything that's about to happen to him is necessary. And I have to show him. I thought I had more time; maybe some time to figure out a way around what has to come next.
I was wrong. I'm out of time. And that means Hex, as cold as it sounds, is out of luck. ....................................
So, with the damage between Rogue and Hex repaired (at least temporarily) he decided to ask her if she wanted to go with him to the concert. Surprisingly enough, she wanted to, and it was only partially because of the concern she still felt for him.
Bobby found a girl to hang out with at the concert, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Kurt, of course, brought Kitty. Hex and Bobby found themselves both thinking the same thing as he snuggled with her in the back seat. 'That boy is whipped.'
It was what happened after the concert that none of them could've expected. ....................................
I guess it's time. I really don't want to do this, especially since he's got others with him, but I'm out of time. He needs to see. The others. . .I can't help that.
So, all I've got to do is open this portal here, and. . .bingo! ....................................
Hex and Rogue were walking hand in hand, both enjoying the warmth that action caused.
Bobby was walking with his arm around the waist of the girl he'd met at the concert, a girl by the name of Christina.
Kurt was thinking about how he could mimic the romantic gestures of the other two boys and not seem like he's copying off of their actions.
All of them were taken by surprise, however, when suddenly something that could only be described as an energy vortex appeared and sucked them all in. In fact, they were caught so completely unawares that none of them even had the chance to let what had just happened register before the vortex closed behind them. ....................................
"Is everyone ok," Hex asked immediately, completely ignoring the trickle of blood that was dripping down the right side of his head. He stood on craggy, rocky, blasted, scorched ground, with the remnants of what looked like buildings all around him. Roads were torn up, there were enormous craters in the ground, and here and there Hex could see the skeletal remains of trees. Fires burned in some of the ruined buildings and on some of the trees.
"Ah'm fine," Rogue grumbled, standing up and only staying that way with Hex's help.
"Still ok here," Bobby groaned, "but I REALLY want to talk to whoever made that thing." Christina was checking a bloody gash on his arm, mostly unharmed except for a bloodstain on her lower right leg.
"As do I, mein fruend," mumbled Kurt as he shakily limped over to one of the skeletal trees, favoring his right leg and helping Kitty stand.
"I'm sorry about that," said a deep but familiar voice from the tree that Kurt was leaning on, "but it was necessary." Hex spun to face the tree.
"Who are you?!" In response, the man jumped down from the tree, and left everyone gaping in shock.
The man had long, shoulder length orangeish-red hair. He was about 5'11" tall and muscular. He had on a pair of dark cargo pants that looked well worn, and a plain tan sleeveless shirt that was slightly faded. He had a cybernetic panel on his right forearm, and there were guns strapped to his back and sides. A shotgun and an assault rifle were strapped to his back, two handguns were holstered on his wrists, and a submachine gun hung at his right side. A portion of his upper right leg was cybernetic.
Oddly enough, none of that disturbed them nearly as much as his eyes. Or lack thereof. Instead of eyes, the man had flames raging in his eye sockets.
His hair had fallen and covered half his face, but they didn't need to see the other half to identify the man. Hex stepped forward slowly and reached out a hand, poking the exposed side of the man's face. "You're. . .me." The man whipped back his hair and the other half of his face was exposed. Now there was no question.
"Yes. I am you," the man replied. "But you should call me Wildfire." He gestured at the others. "I'm sorry for bringing you here," and he paused, nodding to Rogue, as if to say 'especially you' and continued, "but there was no other way. I had to show you," he pointed to Hex, "what was going to happen."
"What do you mean? Happen to me?" Wildfire laughed and shook his head.
"No. I needed to show you what's going to happen to the world." Hex blinked.
"What. . .what happened here," he asked. "Or will happen, or. . .whatever. Was it En Sabah Nuhr?"
"No. Apocalypse has been destroyed."
"How," Bobby blurted.
"There is a realm here now, a realm called Oblivion. Anyone who is killed while a mark is on them will be sent there, never to return."
"Where are we," Christina asked.
"This place was once called Philadelphia."
"Oh man," Hex mumbled. "Look, maybe you should just tell us the entire situation."
"That will take a while. Hold on a moment, I'll get us a vehicle." Wildfire raised his right arm and began typing something on the panel.
"Hey, Wildfire. You find the kid?" Bobby paled considerably.
"That sounds like me," he mumbled. Wildfire nodded.
"It is." He laughed at Bobby's frightened look. "Don't worry. You've got it good, my friend." He glanced at Hex. "You, not so much."
"What about me," Kurt asked.
"You're married to Kitty and are raising two children in California, both mutants."
"And me," Christina asks.
"You're power should manifest about an hour after I send you back. You'll go to the mansion and go on to become Lioness. You and Bobby are both still part of the X-Men."
"The X-Men are still around," Kitty blurted.
"Not the X-Men you remember, mostly. Cyclops, Jean, and Beast are all dead. There are people that come along soon, by the names of Colossus and Angel and Thunderbird. They're all dead as well." Wildfire paused and surveyed them all. "There are others dead as well." Hex had a sinking feeling that he had read the underlying tone in his future self's voice. The panel on Wildfire's arm blared to life in something that sounded very much like a warning alarm. He immediately unholstered the two handguns on his wrists. "Shit." He tapped on the panel with the butt of the gun in his left hand and roared into it, "Bobby, get that damn evac down here NOW! We've got Mutant Hunters coming in quick!"
"Moving as fast as we can boss," Bobby roared back through the panel.
"Boss," Rogue asked. "You run th' show? What happened ta th' Professor?" Wildfire simply shook his head.
"You don't want to know."
"Yes," Bobby persisted. "We do." Wildfire sighed.
"Alright, but not right now. I've gotta concentrate on getting us outta this mess," Wildfire replied. "Those Mutant Hunters are getting mighty close. I may have to cut loose." He looked at the others. "Christina, you might want to go hide. You don't have your powers yet, but these things'll recognize it in you and toast you. Rogue, watch her. The rest of you, back me up if I need it."
"Hey, how do we know we can trust you," Hex asked, feeling stupid about asking a man that was essentially the same person that. Wildfire smiled.
"Kid, I guess you don't know. You've just gotta follow your gut."
"You mean heart?" Wildfire's face clouded for a moment.
"Not yet. Right now I mean gut."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bobby chose that moment to tap Hex on the shoulder.
"You hear that?" They all paused to listen, and then Wildfire let out a whooping yelp.
"Good ol' Iceberg, always coming through in the end!" He noticed Bobby's disgruntled look and laughed. "Some things never change, kiddo."
"So hey, where is the, um. . .other me," Bobby asked.
"Just wait. You always did have to make one helluva entrance." And then, suddenly, what looked like a jeep the size of a large van came flying off of a nearby cliff and pulled to a stop scant inches from Wildfire. He swung open a huge back door and gestured for everyone to get inside. "Alright, all aboard!" He glanced at his panel. "This train ain't got too long, so move it along there kiddies!" The six of them didn't argue, and when all of them were in, Wildfire slammed the door and hopped into the front.
"Hope you know what you're doing," mumbled the future Bobby's voice from the driver seat. ....................................
"You really shouldn't have brought them," future Bobby was stating in a conference room. The room was located in the new headquarters for the X- Men, a low-key abandoned mansion just outside of New York City. "I understand bringing the younger you, but man, you shouldn't have brought the others."
"Hey! I kind of like having this chance to see the future," young Bobby interrupted. "I mean, at least I know what happens so I can help deal with it."
"Agreed," Kurt added, with Kitty and Christina both nodding their heads in confirmation. Wildfire turned to face his younger self.
"And what do you think, kiddo," Wildfire asked his younger self. Hex spoke slowly, obviously trying to maintain a civil demeanor and only partially succeeding.
"I think perhaps you could've waited a bit longer, at least until we split up to go to bed." Wildfire sighed.
"Well, I would've done that, but you weren't going to bed alone." Rogue and Hex looked at each other. "Don't worry, it was a mutual idea. You both wanted it, you did it, and you never had any regrets about doing it. But my point was, you understand now why that wouldn't have worked. And something monumental is going down in this time period early tomorrow morning, so we're working on a rather tight schedule."
"Well that won't matter anyway, because judging by the appearance of this world, you're trying to keep this future from ever happening, right?"
"This is going to take some explaining, and after early tomorrow morning, that isn't possible any longer." Hex considered this.
"Alright, I see your point." He sat back in his chair, one leg hanging over the right arm. "So explain."
"Alright." Wildfire paused, pressing a few buttons on his panel, and a screen behind him hummed to life. He stepped aside to give the kids a clear view.
The images that played across the screen were truly horrific. Masses of people running in panic, Sentinels being blown up, the creation of the realm of Oblivion, the death of Magneto by one of his own children, the death of Charles Xavier by a boy that looked exactly like Hex but wasn't. Cities being leveled, burned, or flat out destroyed. The death of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, at the hand of a panicked Sinister, who believed that if he couldn't have the Summers genes, no one would, the resulting death of Sinister by the boy that looked like Hex. The death of Beast and a man that Wildfire pointed out was Colossus. Wolverine leaving the mansion, followed by the death of the man that simply HAD to be Angel by Apocalypse, and the resulting final destruction of Apocalypse by Wildfire himself. Thunderbird and Wildfire fighting side by side, and then another image of Thunderbird and Wildfire fighting against each other, and Wildfire finally killing Thunderbird. Wildfire and a futuristic Iceman with spikes and spires of ice jutting out from his body fighting Magneto's children, and finally winning. And finally, an altered version of the boy that looked like Hex sitting smugly on a throne, ordering people around. The next image is the most terrible of all.
Most of Earth's remaining cities were destroyed in powerful fires. People screamed, people died, and people cried. The video ended, and the screen shut off. Wildfire waited a few moments before speaking, to let all of what the kids had just seen sink in. He opened his mouth, but Hex cut him off. "That was. . .that was the most horrible thing I've ever seen." He sighed. "I knew my brother was capable of a lot, but that. . .that just never even. . . ." Wildfire nodded sympathetically.
"Neither did I. To be honest, we don't know what happened. He just suddenly gained all this power, and he used it to take out most of the Earth. There are three American cities left. Los Angeles, believe it or not. New York. And Dallas, though Dallas is in question." He sighed and plopped down into the chair at the head of the table. "Here's how things are: Los Angeles is where you and Kitty live, Kurt. You've got yourself a little team there that manages to defend the place. Same with New York, they've got us. Dallas. . .Dallas didn't like mutants. They held out until the very end, maintaining a law that prevented mutants from living there. When they finally realized they needed mutants to defend the city, it was really too late. There aren't enough, and it'll probably fall."
"To who," Bobby asked, his voice hoarse from the sheer shock and horror of it all. Wildfire chuckled.
"Take your pick: The Mutant Hunters, the Sentinels, Black Flame, The Hellfire Club, the. . .well, let's just say a whole lot of people." He glanced at Hex. "Black Flame is what our brother has taken to calling himself."
"I figured," Hex replied. "He always was one for melodramatic names."
"Amen to that," Wildfire shot back. "So, that's pretty much how it is. The majority of the populace no longer hates mutants. Of course, without mutants, the majority of the populace wouldn't be living, so that makes sense. Of course, with Black Flame ruler of pretty much everything, anyone who says they hate mutants gets shot right on the streets. They leave the body, and most of the time someone'll come by and pick it up."
"So, what is this guy? Like a mutant Hitler," Bobby asked. Hex immediately shook his head.
"That's not our brother's style, is it Wildfire?" The older man shook his head.
"Not by a long shot. Our brother enjoys letting people glimpse what they once had, and then taking it away, only to let them glimpse it once more. That way, he crushes the masses every day." Hex nodded.
"So he hasn't changed."
"Only physically."
"Yeah, well, so have I. Apparently," Hex stated, and there was more than a hint of a question in his tone. Wildfire shrugged.
"Things change," was all he said. Hex shrugged.
"So, what are these Mutant Hunter things, anyway," Kurt asked.
"They track us. Not only can they sense an active mutant gene, but any latent gene as well. Which is why Christina would've been in just as much hot water as the rest of us."
"I'm really a mutant," she asked, just as a woman that looked like a cat- human hybrid strode into the room.
"You sure are girl. And a formidable one, if I do say so myself." She was wearing casual clothes, a black shirt, and jeans, that sort of thing. She had a pelt of light yellow fur and a mane of blonde hair that stretched nearly to her waist. Shiny claws glinted on the end of her fingers. "Taught by the best."
"Logan," Bobby chuckled.
"Yeah, that's it." She paused, cocking her head. "Wow. It's weird to see you so young and smooth again."
"What do you mean?"
"She means," a deeper voice replied, the future Bobby stepping into the conversation for the first time since his brief argument with Wildfire, "this." He pressed his watch and his human form dropped, revealing itself as a hologram to cover up his permanently iced over body. Spires and spikes of ice covered his body. The younger Bobby jumped back in shock.
"Whoa! Ok, what the hell happened to you? I mean me. I mean-Oh, you know what I mean!"
"That's not important right now." He smiled. "Our job here is done. It's time for you to go back."
"But nothing got done," Hex said, confused.
"On the contrary," Wildfire replied. "More got done here than you think."
"How?" In response, Wildfire only smiled.
"See ya around, kids. And Hex?" He paused, shook his head. "Never mind." Young Hex shot him a questioning glance, but Wildfire shook his head. He pulled a cigarette out of his right pocket, fished a lighter out of the other, and lit up as he began tapping things on his arm panel. The kids looked at him like he was crazy. "What? This kinda shit is draining on me; I need to calm my nerves." He laughed. "Before he left, Logan tried to turn me on to cigars. I smoke one occasionally, but I never took to 'em like he did. Cigarettes though, that's another matter entirely." An energy vortex opened before them, but this one didn't suck them in. "Now get goin' kids. You've got a lot of work ahead of ya, and some it's gonna be dirty." With that, the X-Men of the future pushed their younger counterparts into the energy vortex. ....................................
"Well, guess things are gonna start getting ugly back then, huh," future Iceman asked.
"Yeah," Wildfire said.
"Guess it's time for you to go," Lioness replied.
"Not yet. Can't let 'em know I'm behind 'em. Close the vortex, reopen it in about an hour or so."
"Do you have a plan," Lioness asked. A haunted look crossed Wildfire's face and he nodded.
"Yeah. Had one for a long, long time." ....................................
"So," Rogue said, standing exactly as she had been before being sucked into the energy vortex. "Just what're we supposed ta do now?" Hex shrugged.
"I dunno. Maybe make sure all that stuff doesn't happen?"
"Probably," Bobby said, slight uncertainty in his voice.
"And Ah don't want ta see ya start smokin'," Rogue added.
"Well, it wouldn't do any harm. My body reacts, remember? I don't see how my lungs are any different. Though I've got to admit, cigarettes just don't seem right. All the really badass guys smoke cigars. I mean there's Logan, that Fury guy that came by the other night, even that Joe Fixit dude on the news last night." He nodded emphatically. "THAT'S what I'll do this time around." Rogue sighed.
"Fine. But ya aren't smokin' anythin' around me, understand?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied. "So, what say we all head back to the mansion? Yeah, you come along too Christina. I don't think Bobby would mind showing you around, would ya Iceberg?"
"Y'know," Iceman stated, "that doesn't get any funnier." ....................................
"Y'know," Iceman stated, "that doesn't get any funnier."
"Sure it does, Icefishing." Wildfire blinked. "Ok, that one WAS just lame." He shrugged. They had waited almost two hours, to be certain that the younger versions of themselves weren't still hanging about.
"Sure you want to do this buddy," Iceman asked.
"Yeah," Wildfire replied. "I have to. I know that now."
"Alright. I'll, uh. . .well, y'know."
"Yeah, and I'll feel the same way," he said, and the pair hugged despite Iceman's spires and spikes.
"You'd better not go and get yourself killed," Lioness said. "Whether you'll be preventing this future or not, I'll never forgive you if you do."
"Don't worry Christina, I won't. Remember, someone would have to be trying very, VERY hard to kill me."
"Yeah, well that just makes it go double." Wildfire laughed and embraced her. "I'll miss you for however long we're still here."
"I'll never stop missing you all. And if you get the chance, tell Kurt and Kitty I'm gonna miss them too." Iceman clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Will do boss. Will do." He gestured at the energy vortex opening before them. "Now get going already, time waits for no man, even you." Hex nodded and headed towards the vortex. He stopped once more, his feet almost in the vortex, and looked back at two of his oldest friends. He hoped he was doing the right thing. If not, he may very well be dooming the world. And on that thought, he stepped forward and disappeared, reappearing where his younger self had been standing two hours before.
"I'm really going to hate doing this to myself."