AN: For those of you who have some idea of how electricity interacts with positive and neutral charges, lets just say that all the 'pillars' are kept with a constant neutral charge, thanks to a few of Magneto's machines.
Chapter 64: By Blood, her Honor Restored
Piotr stood opposite of Berzerker, as a barrier rose out of the ground, sealing out the other X-Men. He stared at the young man who had betrayed the X-Men, who had gone to the Acolytes, who had become the host to the Psylocke mindshell. He stared at the man opposite of him, and in his heart, knew rage.
Raising his metallic skin, he rushed at Berzerker.
"Stupid move, metal man." Said Berzerker, as he threw a fist full of lightning at Colossus. The metallic mutant took the blast to the chest, and was flung into one of the numerous metallic 'pillars' that littered the arena. He slid to the ground, his nerves screaming with pain.
Slowly, he stood up again, only to be blasted by Berzerker again. His metallic body coursed with lightning, as he flopped against the pillar. Berzerker laughed, as he tortured his foe.
"You're never going to win this, Russkie! I'll just torture you for a while, then, maybe I'll be nice, and give you a big blast of juice. But I don't think I feel like being nice."
He laid off for enough time that Colossus could stand up, as he maneuvered a bit. The massive Russian had just gotten to his feet, when Berzerker hit him again. The massive Russian went flying, slamming into another pillar of metal, his skin coursing with electricity. Berzerker smiled, and decided to finish off the metal mutant. He began to walk forward as he stopped throwing electricity, allowing his opponent to get up.
As Colossus stood, leaning heavily against the pillar for support, he thought back on his time at the institute.
I have no regrets. Had I a choice, I would do everything the same, maybe without Magneto, but all the same. Thought the Russian, as Berzerker began to charge a massive bolt of electricity.Jean watched as the metal-skinned mutant was pounded by Berzerker, and knew that there was nothing she could do. She reached out with her mind, lightly contacting Colossus's. Not enough to get his attention, but enough to get his surface thoughts. She picked up the last thought, and suddenly, inspiration hit her. She sent Colossus an image, one that he knew would get him fighting again.
Colossus leaned against the pillar, awaiting his demise, when he saw in his mind, the image Jean had sent him.
In his mind, he saw Tabby face off with Berzerker, telling him that he was blowing things out of proportion. He denied it, told her that when she came to her senses, come find him, and then knocked her down. She tripped him, a fight broke out, and it ended with Tabby being caught by a fist charged with Electricity. (AN: Familiar scene? Jean sent him the scene of Ray's departure in the chapter 'Traitor in our Midst'. If you want to recap that, go back to chapter 20 or so. Full version lies therein.)
Berzerker chose that moment to launch his electrical charge.
Colossus roared in fury, as he saw in his mind the attack on his 'little one'. Pushing off the wall, he fought through the electrical storm, his arms raised in front of himself to shield the worst of the blast. Reaching Berzerker, he slammed him with a right hook.
"That, is fohr betrahyink your comrades."
He walked towards Berzerker, as the younger mutant stood back up. He slammed him with a right backhand, flinging the other mutant through the air. He followed, as he spoke again.
"That, is fohr attahckink your friend."
Colossus reached the mutant as he lifted himself again from the ground. As Berzerker looked up, he was caught by a thrust kick to the shoulder. He hit the ground, as Colossus walked towards him, and found that his shoulder was shattered. He sat up, holding the wounded arm, just in time to hear who that one was for.
"That, is for huhrtink your friend."
He had no time to react, as a double fist caught him across the chin, sending him flying into the air. He crawled back to his feet, charging electricity around his uninjured hand. He had no time to use it, as Colossus lifted him up by his uniform, and headbutted him.
"The first, was fohr betrayink the Professohr's trust. This, is fohr allowink yourself to be the host for the mind shell."
With that, he threw a punch into Berzerker's gut that flung him into another pillar, a good twelve feet away. Colossus was already moving as Berzerker left his fist. He had just started to slump when Colossus caught him.
"This, is fohr Comrade Betsy." A hard fist to the gut caught Berzerker.
"This, is fohr Comrade Bobby." A hard fist to the chin sent him into another pillar. He had no sooner hit than he was caught again.
"This, is fohr all the innohcent lihves you have huhrt." A backhand to the side of the head sent most of Berzerker's remaining coherency fleeing. He was still coherent enough to hear the last one, though."
"This, is fohr Comrade Tabby, mhy little love." He said, as he flung Berzerker into another pillar.
The barriers lowered, and the X-Men came out cautiously. The area was covered in blood, most of it Berzerker's. Colossus lowered his metallic skin.
"You a'right dere, mon ami?"
"Yes, comrade. I whill not be trahnsfohrmink for a while, dough." Said Colossus.
"I can't believe it." Said Jean. "He's still alive."
"Damn." Said Remy softly.
"Well, let's go, still got ground to cover." Said Cyclops, and Gold team left the battle zone.
Several hours latter, Blue team had reached floor 78. They had had several close calls, and most of them bore small injuries, although nothing too serious.
"Let's get this show on the road." Said Bobby, as they entered the next room.
"Wonder what's in store here?" Said Tabby, as the group entered to see nothing more than a large, rectangular room.
"Well, it's not a challenge." Said Roberto, "Those are all in octagon shaped rooms"
"Let's go." Said Amara, and the group made their way into the room.
About half way across was the point that all the traps began if they weren't immediately obvious. This was no different. Immediately, two thick metal doors slammed down, and the area was filled with a hissing sound.
"He's filling the room with poison." Said Kyle, as Rahne nodded in agreement. Their improved senses of smell could easily detect its stench.
"Bobby." Said Beast. "concentrate your ice on a section of the wall about six feet tall, and five wide."
Bobby didn't argue, as he began to send out a blast of icy energy. As the floor at ankle level began to cover with a thick, green mist, Dr. McCoy finally told Bobby to stop. The members of Blue Team were beginning to feel the poison running through them like a fire in their veins. Lifting one huge fist, he slammed it into the wall, and the section, turned brittle by Bobby's icy assault, buckled.
"Betsy, bend it out of the way." The telekinetic mutant did so easily, and the group made their way out of the area. Once in the hallway, they found that injections rested upon the wall. Taking them, Dr. McCoy saw the chemical formula resting on the side of it.
"An all-purpose antidote. And no other compound gets quite this shade. Everyone take one injection." The group did so, and felt the fire immediately dull.
"This is insane." Said Marrow.
"What did you expect, lass?" asked Rahne.
"Not this. Maybe some fights, but nothing like this."
Jono shook his head. "Bloody hell. This is what hell must be. Fighting for yer bloody life in a crazy's play pen."
Paige stared at the Irish man, as they waited for the Elevator to activate, telling them that Gold team had survived their last challenge, and that it was time to continue.
Gold team was startled to find not a challenge or a trap, but an area with medical supplies, and beds.
Magneto's voice came over the intercom.
"You have done well. You may as well rest, as it is nearly 1 in the morning. If you do not sleep, then you will be chopped to pieces by the Acolytes, for the most experienced wait on the highest levels."
With that, the intercom cut out, and the X-Men found themselves left to treat their wounds.
