Cipher's Elegy

By Cypher

Chapter Sixteen: The Price

Kurt crushed himself against the nook in the ceiling, praying silently that the figure walking beneath him was either Douglas, or some ghost. Whoever it was, though, seemed to be in a hurry, for they never slowed their pace. Letting out a slow breath, he swung down and landed on the ground, instantly hiding in the shadows. If it was Exodus, why didn't he sense me? A minute later his worry grew. Or...maybe he did sense me, and he just doesn't care because he knows I can't do anything--no! Don't think like that. Glancing both ways, he quickly walked down the hall, away from the direction of the footsteps.

It hadn't taken Kurt long to figure out Douglas was planting the explosives on the first floor of the temple. Since he figured doing that would involve searching, he decided to go up the stairs and explore the second level. As he reached the top of the stairs, he had found some light emanating from crystals. He knew then that his friends were somewhere up there. The big question was where. Every room had two more doorways, and it seemed the further he explored, the further he got lost. Finally, one door led out into the main hall, and he decided to follow that until it ended. After that, if I still can't find them, I'll search the maze of rooms.

It had been nearly thirty minutes since he had set out, and just a few minutes since the figure had passed down the hall. Come on, Douglas...finish up and join me! Not that the temple was getting to him, oh no. At least, he'd never admit out loud that his fur was standing on end beneath his uniform and all he wanted to do was run out of the damned building and hide in the Velocity. Something about this temple, and specifically the floor he was on, gave off a feeling of death, despair, even torture. Or maybe I'm just channeling what I felt Jean go through. He shuddered. What had happened in his mind would haunt his dreams for weeks, if not months.

"Cipher and Nightcrawler!"

Kurt's head snapped up at that. That was Herr Logan! Glancing around once more to make sure he was alone, he started running on all fours, doubling his time towards the voice. I'm coming! Just...just hang on! Turning a corner so fast he nearly slammed into the wall, he found himself face to face with what could only be described as a throne room. It took his eyes a minute to adjust to the darkened atmosphere, but when they did his sight immediately locked on the doorway on the other side of the room. And the form lying curled up on the floor. "Bobby!"

Scott's head snapped up at Kurt's voice, but Kurt couldn't tell if the team leader was happy or not to see him. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

Logan was even more direct. "Elf, it's dangerous!"

"Well, ja. That's why I'm here." He padded over to the door and look it over. "What's keeping you in?"

"Kurt, get out of here before you end up-" Scott glanced at the body laying in front of him. "Just get outta here!"

"Not without you."

Kitty moved in front of Scott, touching the shield. "There's, like, some sort of force field. He can control it from his chair. See if you can figure it out."

Kurt nodded and hoped over to the stone furniture, eyeing the crystals on the armrests. "Uh...Kitty? What exactly...do I do?"

Kitty bit her lip. "Er..."

~*()*~

Douglas wasn't sure what he was looking at, only that whatever it was seemed surprised and angry. Knowing he couldn't get around the imposing figure, he did the only sensible thing he could, he ran back into the computer room, half kneeling by a control panel. Checking the gun again, he glanced across the room, staring at the red-skinned man. Is...this Exodus? Well, they got his hair the right color, and he sure as hell is large. But what is with his skin tone?

"I...cannot sense you." Exodus let out a growl, his eyes narrowing. "You. You were the mind I touched earlier. You caused me to recoil."

Recoil? It took Douglas a minute to recall Kurt's screaming form, and how he had calmed down only moments after holding him. He must've...tried to touch my mind. He smirked. So he's got the same faults as other telepaths. "Yeah, well," he aimed the gun at Exodus, "I've also got something here that can kill you. So don't try anything."

Exodus crossed his arms. "Bullets cannot harm me, mortal."

"Oh, I know. I've been studying you for a long time." Douglas slowly stood, keeping his aim on the demigod. "This is designed specifically for your kind. It's energy based, like the Cyttorak crystals." Okay, so it's a lie, but he doesn't know that.

Exodus merely studied him, not at all fazed by the allegation. "Then fire now. This is your only chance before I kill you."

Douglas' will faltered. Just...kill him? He licked his lips, his finger on the trigger. I have to. He was torturing Jean, he tried to kill Kurt. I just have to... He felt sweat trailing down the back of his neck. He did not want to kill. It went against his entire pacifist nature. Just...do it! Shutting his eyes, he pulled the trigger. A minute later, without hearing a scream from Exodus, or even the sound of a discharge, he opened first one eye, then the other. He swallowed when he saw Exodus smirking at him, unhurt. Glancing at the gun, he realized why it was still experimental: it didn't even fire. Oh shit...oh crap...Satan, if you want to make a deal, now's when you should show up!

Exodus flicked his hand and the gun went flying from Douglas' grip, landing in the far corner of the room. "Now, young one. I'm afraid it's time to eliminate you."

Squashing his fear momentarily, Douglas surged forward and swung around, landing his foot against Exodus' temple. The mutant stumbled to the side, open for another hit. Douglas didn't take it, though. Run run RUN! His goal wasn't to injure Exodus. He knew no matter how many blows he landed, the creature before him would find some way to survive. His goal was to knock him out of his path to the stairwell. If I can get to Kurt he can get us the hell outta here! He wondered, briefly, why the Professor never really invested in communicators for the New Mutants.

Exodus recovered from the kick and sent a psychic shock towards the retreating mutant. When the energy from his eyes didn't even slow the blond down, Exodus raised his hand, and a yellow glow surrounded the teen's body. Got you. He flung the boy back into the room, slamming him into a console. "That was very brave. Foolish, but brave." Walking forward, he grabbed Douglas' neck and lifted him off the ground.

Douglas struggled, kicking the demigod in the chest, but to no avail. His mind whirled, trying to buy some time for the others. "I...you...you want to know what's happened since you fell asleep, right?!"

Exodus blinked, surprised by the panicked question. "Perhaps."

Douglas panted, trying to calm his heart. "I...I'm the most intelligent mutant in the world. I've studied history, and you, all my life. You...you could learn everything from me."

Exodus' eyes glowed yellow as he ran a quick scan, trying to determine if the young man was lying. "I can't scan you." He squeezed the blond's neck. "You are lying."

Douglas choked and scratched at the arm. "I'm not! My mind...a telepath put barriers there to protect me! You...you just have to push through them! And...and I can offer you more than history!"

Exodus' grip loosened slightly. "Go on."

"There's...there's been a lot of advance in sciences, technology. I...I know all of that too. Everything...everything you could want is in my head." Douglas closed his eyes, forcing the tears forming away. I have to give the others time. Pray that Kurt finds me and teleports me out before it's too late. "Once you get past the barriers, you'll have everything you need."

Exodus stared at the youth, debating what to do. On the one hand, he suspected the child was lying, trying to prolong his life, perhaps for some sort of rescue from the mind he had sensed entering his temple. On the other hand, however, he could be telling the complete truth. But why reveal it. "Why tell me, mortal. You will die no matter what."

"If...if you have everything you need...there's a chance you'll leave the others unharmed."

Exodus' lip curled up. "Self-sacrifice. Disgusting." He threw Douglas to the floor, his eyes glowing brightly. "I will plunder your mind for what I desire. For your willingness, though, I will make the deaths of the others swift and painless."

Douglas closed his eyes, trying to fight the hyperventilation he felt creeping into his lungs. Please, Kurt, get the others out. Please don't forget me. Please...save me before it's too late.

~*()*~

Much to Scott's relief, Jean had awakened shortly after Kurt's arrival, and was trying to explain how she saw Exodus lower the force field to him, though they were still having some difficulty. Just...hurry it up. He didn't know when Exodus was marked to return, but when the self-proclaimed God did come back, he knew they'd better be gone. He glanced at Logan, who was checking Bobby over to make sure it was only his neck that was injured. He was lucky.

"Can you carry him?"

Scott nodded and carefully tossed Bobby over his shoulder, standing. "I don't know how far we'll get."

"Our powers work outside this room. With luck I can hold him off long enough for you to escape."

Scott shook his head. "We'll hold him off. You may need back up."

"Your job is to protect the students-"

"And X-Men don't get left behind. No matter what." Scott stared at Logan, trying to stare him down. "If we have to deal with Exodus, we do it as a team."

Logan snarled, but turned away and glared at the door. "How's it coming, Red."

"I think we've got it." By process of elimination, but he doesn't need to know that.

Nodding, Logan glanced around outside, trying to spot Exodus, or at least give Kurt a heads up if he appeared.

"Mr. Logan?"

"What, Half-pint."

"Where's Douglas?"

Logan frowned, looking in the shadows of the room, trying to find the blond mutant. His eyes finally met with Nightcrawler's, and by the quick way the fuzzy mutant ducked his gaze, he had a feeling Kurt knew where he was, and he wouldn't like it. "He's probably keeping the front door open."

Kitty bit her lip. He doesn't know either. It wasn't until Jean woke up and took over directing Kurt on what to do that she had finally realized her boyfriend wasn't there. What could he be doing, though? He wouldn't let Kurt come alone. He knows he's useless in a battle like this, but he wouldn't abandon his friends, would he? She watched as Kurt tried stroking a crystal. Maybe...maybe Kurt had to drug him in order to find his way down here. Douglas didn't want to risk his life, either. She hoped that was true, that Douglas was sleeping off some drug in the Velocity, but the lead in her gut told her it was false hope.

That was when the first dull roar reached their ears. Jean glanced at Kurt as the building shook slightly, and she could've sworn that if he hadn't had fur, he had turned pale. "What was that?"

"I guess Douglas set the explosives on automatic timer."

"Explosives?! Elf!"

Kurt ignored Logan. "Okay, I got it!" He slammed his hand on the crystal.

Jean lost her balance as the shield vanished, but she quickly regained it and ran out of the room, followed by the rest of the prisoners. A second later, another rumble shook the temple, and all eyes turned to Kurt.

Kurt shrugged sheepishly. "It was the only way we could seal in Exodus without leaving someone behind."

"We'll deal with it later!" Logan let out a growl and ran for the hallway. "Everyone out!" He noticed Kurt frowning. "You too! I'll go back and get him when you're safe!"

Kurt hesitated, then nodded and ran with the others. He was still recovering from his ordeal, and teleporting around the temple was not going to be easy. He'd need Logan's nose to find his room mate. Douglas, please be waiting for us at the door.

~*()*~

Douglas panted, staring at Exodus' face. He would've bolted if he could've, but Exodus was exerting some telekinetic force to keep him pinned to the floor. At least I'm keeping his mind busy. He could tell by the contortions in the demigod's face that he was having trouble breaking through the incompatibility. He could also tell by the headache and black spots starting to appear that he was succeeding in breaking through the problem. Guess I was too good at convincing him.

He felt the first tremor of an explosion ripple behind him. Half of him feared Exodus would halt and find out what happened, discovering the others escaping. Half of him begged for Exodus to notice, to end the mental onslaught and give his mind a chance to heal, even a little. When Exodus didn't stop, though, he knew that his enemy hadn't noticed. So do I thank God or damn him. He winced, feeling a prick of pain hit his mind. I'm breaking...no! Not yet. I can't! Not until...not until I know they're safe!

What about your safety?

Something warm and wet slid over his lips and dripped onto his chin, a feeling he had felt not too long ago. He's nearly beat the incompatibility. More blood dripped out of his nose, and he wondered what else would happen as Exodus probed further. Unless Kurt finds me soon...I'll be gone anyway.

Searing pain surged through his body, and without realizing it a tormented scream was torn from his throat. When he got control of himself again, tears were rolling down his face. His entire body felt lax, and he could barely focus on the form above him. He was able to make out a smirk, though. Oh God. He's in. I've...I didn't know you could feel so...so vulnerable. Breathing seemed even harder, as if a weight was on his chest. On his peripheral conscious he felt another reverberation of an explosive, and he suddenly realized how his open mind could harm the others. Pulling his thoughts together, he threw all the knowledge he could forward, hiding his plan, his knowledge of his friends, in a dark corner of his mind.

"You were a fool to offer your own mind."

Douglas wished he had a scathing remark to retort with, but it was taking all his energy to keep Exodus from discovering the truth. Just...hold on. Kurt will have gotten them...out...bombs...will end this. His eyes fell half shut. Kitty...

An explosion rocked the room once more, this one close enough that Exodus took notice. While he didn't end his mental probing, he did pull back slightly and looked around. His eyes widened as he realized the shaking wasn't stopping, and the ceiling was starting to crack. "No...this is impossible! No earthquake could destroy this temple!" A word from his hostage floated into his mind, and he frowned. "Bomb." He knew the word, he had heard it before he went into stasis. But what does it mean. It took only a nanosecond to search through the blond's mind, and he stumbled back. "You idiot!"

Douglas closed his eyes.

"You will die as well!"

"I was...going to die...anyways."

Exodus growled and looked at the stairwell. The ceiling had already caved in there, but he knew he could move it. Releasing his psychic grip, he focused all his energies on throwing the stones aside.

Only to have nothing happen.

He stared, disbelieving, until he felt a familiar tingle crawl across his skin, a tingle from a specific type of radiation. "No...no, I won't go back! You can't seal me again!" Turning, he unleashed a full psionic blast into Douglas' mind. "Tell me how to escape!"

Douglas' body jerked at the attack, but he made no other sounds. Instead, the information he had tried to hide burst forth, revealing his plan, what was happening, everything.

"No. No!" Exodus pounded his fist against the wall, feeling the rock crumble beneath it. Gritting his teeth, he glared back at the teen. "At least you won't be saved. Die, you miserable, pathetic mortal. I await you in the abyss."

Kitty...I love you...I'm so sorry...goodbye.

~*()*~

"Move! Move! Move!"

Scott ran out the door and towards the entrance of the cave before dropping Bobby and shielding the young man's body. Jean was next to him in an instant, creating a shield to help protect them.

Kitty ran out the door and paused, looking back at the collapsing structure. "Kurt! What if he's still-"

"Move it, Kaetzchen!" Kurt didn't pause in his running. He merely grabbed onto Kitty's wrist and dragged her into the shield Jean had constructed.

"Logan!" With one final shudder the Temple collapsed in on itself, and Scott worried that Logan hadn't made it out. When the dust settled, however, he spotted the feral mutant lying on the ground just beyond the temple entrance, coughing. "That was a close one."

Kitty pulled her hand out of Kurt's grip and looked around, hoping Douglas was nearby. No one stepped forward, however, from either the temple or the entrance to the cave. "Douglas!" She stood up and walked towards the temple. "Douglas, this isn't funny!" Logan shook his head, getting his bearings, and Kitty walked right past him. "Don't you dare give me a scare like you did before! Douglas!" She felt her chest tighten as she reached the edge of the now fallen temple. "DOUGLAS!"

Kurt felt his own ache, and quickly went over to the ruins, running over them to see if his friend had found some form of protection, or was near the surface. Something, anything. They were desperate. "Douglas? Come on, roomie, this isn't the time to play pranks!" He dug into some of the fallen crystals, only to come up with nothing but more stone.

Kitty pushed her hand on the ruins, then pushed both, before letting out a yell and punching at them. "Let me through! Let me search for him you damned rock!"

Kurt sat back on his haunches, staring at her. My Gott. He...he couldn't be dead. He wouldn't!

"Woah, there, Half-pint." Logan grabbed Kitty's wrists, trying to prevent her from hurting herself.

"Let go!" She kicked him away and phased out of his grip, pounding the rock again.

Scott looked down, closing his eyes. It's like before. We can't use our powers to get in. Only now...it's more permanent. "Jean, can you-"

"You know I can't sense him, Scott."

Scott glanced at her, hearing the hitch in her voice. "But you can sense Kitty."

A single tear slid down Jean's cheek, and she nodded.

"Damn you!" Kitty fell to her knees, her knuckles bleeding from punching the rock. "Damn you..." She knew she was crying, and she didn't care.

Kurt dropped down beside her, touching her shoulder. "Kitty, I-"

"YOU!" She threw a punch at him, and he reeled back, hitting the collapsed structure. "You should have set the damn bombs! You shouldn't have let him out of your sight! You shouldn't have allowed him to come down here you son of a-"

"I'm sorry," Kurt said softly.

"Sorry?! You're sorry?! You're not sorry! You WANTED him gone!"

Kurt winced at the accusation. "Nein, I didn't. We worked it out. I didn't want to split up, but..." He hung his head, waiting for the next blow to land. None came, and he risked a glance up. Tears were streaking her face, and her fist was raised, but she wasn't moving. "I'm sorry. I...I didn't want him to die." That was the wrong thing to say, as Kitty hit him again.

"He's not dead! He's...he's just trapped! We just have to dig him out! We-"

Logan put his hand on Kitty's shoulder, holding her back from striking Kurt again. "Half-pint..."

"Mr. Logan." She sniffed, lowering her arms. "He's not...not...is he?"

Logan hated this. It just wasn't fair, but he couldn't smell Douglas anywhere, not even his blood. "I'm sorry, but there was no way he could've survived that."

"No..." Kitty closed her eyes. "No, no, please, God no." The tears came back full force. She'd never see his smile, never feel his arms around her, never kiss him, ever again. "This isn't fair..."

Kurt sat up, feeling his jaw and wincing. He felt someone watching him and looked towards Logan. The elder mutant was glaring at him, and he quickly looked away. He knew Logan didn't blame him for Douglas' death, he was just angry in general. Doesn't mean I don't blame myself. He felt an arm brush his shoulder and glanced up. Jean was offering him a hand, to leave Kitty to grieve. Sighing, he took it and wandered over to Scott and sat against a nearby wall, staring at the dirt.

Somewhat awkwardly, Logan lowered himself to the ground and rubbed Kitty's back. In return the brunette buried her face into his chest and sobbed, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

"Will...she be okay?"

Jean nodded slowly. "Yes. Eventually." She glanced at Kurt, who she knew would be in as great a depression as Kitty for a while, then at Logan. As soon as we're topside he's going to leave and tear up something. She had a feeling that in some ways, Douglas' death would hit him the hardest, because he failed to protect one of his charges.

"What about...him?"

Jean sighed and closed her eyes. It had to be asked, after all. She reached out with her mind, somewhat looking for Douglas on the astronomical chance she could sense him, and looking for the assertive, dark mind of Exodus. After a few minutes, she pulled back and shook her head. "It's like before. I can't sense him at all."

"Douglas made sure the structure would form an energy barrier like before, so that Exodus would be trapped eternally." Kurt's tail flipped, patting the ground only once before going still.

Scott lowered his head again. Douglas...good work, Douglas, wherever you are.

~*()*~

Bobby groaned, rolling his head from side to side. Geeze, what hit me? Oh yeah...evil guy. Red skin. Yellow glow. French accent.

"Well, Mr. Drake, you gave us quite the scare there for a while."

Bobby blinked, focusing on the figure above him. Eventually he was able to make out Hank McCoy's furry form, and he smiled. "Hey, the calvary."

"Nice to see you have your sense of humor back. Now how about you try to sit up?"

Nodding, Bobby pushed himself up and looked around. He was in the hangar of the X-Jet, along with most of the New Mutants. They were slightly out of character, though. Roberto wasn't being teased by Rahne, Sam wasn't plotting something with Ray, and Jamie was sitting in the corner, sobbing along with two of his clones. No one was smiling. What's going on? Did...we lose someone? Oh no, Kitty! Before McCoy could stop him, he jumped out of his cot and ran down the steps, tumbling a bit as he reached the bottom.

"Careful there, Robert."

Bobby coughed as Ororo helped him get his balance. "Right, sorry."

"Bobby, it's good to see you're alright."

Bobby turned and found Professor Xavier wheeling up to him. "Hey, uh, did I miss the fight?" He caught the look that passed between the two teachers and frowned.

"Yes, you could say you did. Scott has told me what you did, though. That was very brave of you, trying to take on Exodus."

Normally, Bobby would absorb praise, bask in it even. Right now, though, he couldn't. He was too worried. Looking around, he spotted Kurt sitting alone on a rock outcropping, staring out at something. Amara and Jubilee were standing at the base of it, talking quietly. Scott was hanging out with Evan a few feet away, and his defeated posture raised a red flag in Bobby's mind. Please, please, please, don't tell me we lost Kitty. He couldn't see Logan anywhere, though he heard some growling nearby that he knew belong to him. He let out a breath of relief when he saw Kitty sitting with Rouge and Jean. Without asking the Professor if he was dismissed, he jogged over and hugged Kitty. "I'm so glad you're safe!"

"Wha--Bobby?"

"When I woke up and everyone seemed upset I thought, well, Exodus, and how he was glaring at the two of us-" He paused, noticing the tear streaks on her face. He frowned again. "Hey, are you okay?" Something suddenly clicked in his mind, and he looked around once more. "Kitty...where's Doug?"

Kitty stared at him a minute, before bursting into tears and leaning on Jean for support.

Rouge glared at Bobby, until she remembered that he was unconscious and her face softened. Getting up, she took his arm and brought him a few feet away. "Look, Bobby, I hate to be the bearer of bad news..."

Bobby paled, and he fell back against the rock face. He knew what she was going to say. The funereal atmosphere, Kitty sobbing at the name, everyone looking so depressed. "H-how?"

"Kurt said the plan was the plant the explosives and, if necessary distract Exodus. We don't know if Exodus got to him, but," she sighed, "he never made it out of the temple."

"Doug..." He rubbed his arm, bowing his head.

Rouge patted his arm before heading back to help comfort Kitty.

Bobby wasn't sure how long he remained standing there before pushing off and heading for Kurt. He...he must need someone, too. As he approached, however, he could hear Kurt muttering in German. He wasn't very good at the language, but he had heard these phrases before, just never at a time other than Sunday. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name... He bowed his head again, crossing his hands, and joined Kurt silently, praying for their fallen comrade.

~*()*~

~*()*~

~*()*~

Author's Prattle: Guess I should've issued a tissue warning for our younger audiences. Well, there's the big climax. Exodus is dead, the X-Men are safe, but as the saying go: everything has its price. Amazing, this one death scene brought about this entire fic. Those of you who want to call me cruel and evil for killing off a chara you fell in love with, I won't mind. But with all the happy fics out there, I figured there needed to be one that presented the ugly truth of being a super hero: it's not always a happy ending. There is one more chapter after this, the Epilogue. Should be up shortly.

Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men Evolution, Exodus, or Cipher. They all belong to Marvel. I'm just using them in this creative exploration of possible plots.

As always, reviews are very, VERY welcome. And I hope you enjoyed this emotional chapter. And be sure to read the Epilogue! Not only will it close up this fic, it gives hints on my next Evo project...