A/N: Okies all this is the last chapter before the climactic confrontation, which I'm afraid to note may take another few days to get uploaded 'cause I wanna get it just so. This is my first try at action/adventure and as the story gets more into that genre I find myself thinking a bit too much over everything I write and whether it's too this or too that. Just a warning in that area, the following chapter once posted will be rather sci-fi/fantasy.
Thank Yous:
Leigh, glad you like the series so far and hope it continues to entertain. :-) Thank you for the review.
Gambitgirl, glad you like the "Ropoc" interaction and it will get a bit different in this chapter. ;-)
ManniElf18, as Agatha said Rogue's touch to Mystique's statue would prove enough to unlock Mystique's powers to free herself. Apocalypse simply put all the pieces back together so Rogue could absorb the mutation and do as Agatha said she was capable. Also, sorry 'bout the slip up on Kurt's toe count and all will be revealed about the future of the Apocalypse/Rogue possible relationship in this chapter.
Glaivester, I kind of like "Ropoc" as an abbreviation for the Rogue/Apocalypse pairing. Not that anyone would ever actually pair them … would they? :-P
Ok, gonna end my rambling on that and on with this chappie!
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Choose
"What is that thing doin' here?" Rogue asked as she walked into the main chamber for dinner.
Apocalypse remained seated at the table Mesmero was escorting her to and cast a glance toward the Eye of Ages, which now stood center stage in this room.
"Now that you are aware of its presence there is no longer a need to keep it hidden below. It will also be needed tonight," the man said calmly.
"Needed for what?" her face was puzzled as she sat down and allowed Mesmero to fill her plate with food and her glass with wine.
"Your friends are planning a visit."
While she sat doubting her hearing En Sabah Nuhr began eating his meal.
"What?" the room echoed with her near shriek.
"Your mother has done just as she promised she would. She ran straight to the X-Men and rallied the troops for you," he put down his utensils and leaned back in his chair while looking into her eyes. "They should be here within the hour, so I suggest you eat now while you can."
His words were so cryptic that any appetite she may have had fled.
"'While Ah can?'"
"Eat," he ordered rather harshly and startled she obeyed.
Nervously she began cutting up the chicken on her plate and shoving it into her mouth then going to work on the vegetables and rice served on the side.
After a seemingly endless period of nothing heard in the room except the sounds of their eating, Apocalypse pushed his empty plate away sat back in his chair to stare at her intently.
"You have no desire to be my queen, do you?"
Having no idea how to respond without angering him, she just shoved a forkful of chicken down her throat and nearly choked on it.
"My kisses and touch have not repulsed you," he continued as she coughed over the bite of food and gulped some wine to wash it down. "In fact, I believe you're rather intrigued by them, but it means nothing to you beyond the idle curiosity you've always had about touch."
Swallowing slowly she began to freeze like a deer caught in headlights while wondering where all this was leading.
"I've come to a rather difficult conclusion, my dear," his dark eyes met hers across the table and the look in them terrified her. "You will never willingly become my queen. The offer of standing at my side to lead a wonderful new world in which all mutants can live freely has no appeal to you. Therefore I have had to come up with a different scenario for us.
"As you know the last time I used this," he rose, rounded the table and pulled her to her feet toward the Eye of Ages, "I was betrayed by my followers and locked within the device. Mesmero is far more loyal to me than they ever were, but still he has a healthy fear of my powers and the possible repercussions of my using the machine. I cannot afford to trust him completely and you have given me another option in my plans. I can transfer my powers to you to carry out my evolution of the Earth.
"I leave it you to decide whether you wish to be my queen or you would prefer to power up the Eye of Ages."
~*~*~
Fear raced through Logan's body as he sat tensed and ready for battle on the Velocity which was making it's way through the night toward Mexico.
He stifled a feral growl as he realized that it was not his fear.
Once again, somehow he was picking up on Marie's thoughts or feelings and something had just scared her about to death. Not knowing how this apparent bond between them had formed and not really caring he snarled at Hank to fly this damn thing faster.
All around him the other members of the advance team were turning to look at him a little worriedly for the outburst that had broken up the complete silence of the ride thus far.
When he ignored their stares they all shrugged a bit and returned to their own serious contemplation of what was to come.
Betsy, Caliban, Charles, Cybelle, Evan, Jean, Kitty, Kurt, Mystique, Nate, Pietro, Plague, Remy, Scott, Stall and Wanda were all as prepared as they were ever going to be to breach Apocalypse's fortress and attempt to get their teammate back.
Just ahead of the X-helicopter flew the Blackbird at record breaking speeds with Callisto and Ororo at the controls.
Crowded into the X-Jet were all the others who would be standing guard outside the pyramid to try and take Apocalypse out if the advance teams failed. Amanda, Amara, Bobby, Brian, Fred, Healer, Jamie, John, Lance, Lucid, Margali, Piotr, Ray, Roberto, Sam, Scaleface, Tabitha, Todd and Warren were all crowded into the jet. None of them were thinking back on their conversations before leaving on this mission. They were all trying to stay sharp for the potential battle ahead even as they hoped that the advance teams would succeed and that they would not be needed.
~*~*~
"What happened to yer owin' me one?" Rogue asked as her wide green eyes remained locked on the machine before her.
"I offer you a life as my queen and fellow ruler of this world. If you accept that, then my debt to you is repaid and we live in our new paradise together. If you refuse it, then my debt is also repaid since you do not wish to accept the only payment I am willing to offer," Apocalypse said coldly.
"That's a bit childish don't ya think? Eithah Ah say yes and do it yer way or be killed?"
"You are correct in assuming that it will kill you. Your absorption of my powers will only last long enough to use the machine once and once my invulnerability has drained from you there will be nothing left. It is not my wish to see that happen though."
"Then why even suggest it?!" she demanded shrilly.
"As I have already stated, I cannot completely trust Mesmero not to betray me as did my followers before when they trapped me in the device," he said calmly. "If you agree to be my queen I will trust you to see that I am not betrayed. If you refuse then I am left with using you to power the device as my only option."
"How tha hell is that your only option?! 'Cause personally Ah see a few othahs lahke lettin' me go or … here's a far out idea … maybe not even tryin' this whole 'evolutionize' tha world thang?!"
"I was one of this world's first mutants. Those humans that accepted me in my time were slaughtered as I would have been by those who feared my differences. For 5,000 years I have been entombed upon one of the highest mountain tops in all the world and do you know what all has changed in that time? The fashions people wear and the weapons with which humans kill one another. Our kind is still not accepted by 'humans' even though we are one and the same. It is time to erase the differences between us. Once my evolution is complete all survivors will be mutants and there will no longer be a need for the battles I have been fighting since my birth," he stepped toward her and tipped her head back to look into her eyes. "Simply say the word and there will be no need for you to feel alone and outcast ever again. We will forever be among our brethren and never again have to hide our true selves from the world. As my queen you will be honored, revered and cherished by all the mutants we will have liberated."
"And if Ah can't say that word, Ah die so yer little delusion can play out?"
"It is not a delusion, girl, it shall be reality. The choice is entirely up to you whether you live to share in that reality or are sacrificed to make it so."
"What kahnd of choice is it?" she turned on him furiously to demand. "Ah nevah wanted any of this. Ah nevah wanted to be a mutant then Ah wanted nothin' to do with Mystique then Ah nevah woulda helped yer damn Mesmero get yer sorry ass outta this box ta begin with and now if Ah don't wanna commit ta be yer freakin' queen Ah die?! Where tha hell do you see me havin' a choice in this?!"
Anger overwhelming her, Marie balled up her fist and struck the ancient mutant's iron jaw.
Apocalypse's head did not move so much as a fraction of an inch at the feeble blow, but his expression turned deadly serious as he looked down at her.
Her body seemed frozen in place, turned slightly away from him due to the momentum of the swing she'd taken. Horrified at her action and the reaction she saw brewing within him, it took all her strength not to faint.
"Your decision is made then," he raised his body to hover above the ground then went to don his headpiece and cover his flowing black hair. "Just in time for your friends to watch you die."
~*~*~
Callisto remained at the controls of the Blackbird as did Hank in the Velocity. They stayed in place there as the teams exited the crafts so that they would be able to take off quickly if and/or when needed.
Outside, on the ground, everyone stood staring at the Mayan pyramid before them in a great deal of shock.
"I thought is was supposed to be glowing, mates?" Pyro broke the silence to comment.
Charles and Mystique exchanged rather concerned glances at the lack of the force field that had surrounded the monument while Logan stood growling with impatience as the fear he felt from Rogue grew even stronger.
"This changes nothing except that it looks like we get to go in the front," the Wolverine turned to say to his advance teams. "All plans are go."
"Logan - " the Professor frowned.
"Witches," Logan ignored the other man to snap at the Sefton's, "start your spell."
Without hesitation Margali led her daughter to a nice patch of flat ground near the pyramid and the two began unpacking the small bag they had brought with them. In minutes, the pair sat chanting in a circle they had created with some kind of powder.
Assuming they were doing what they needed to to provide the advance team with whatever protection from Apocalypse as their sorcery could, the Wolverine stalked over to Amara and Lance.
"You two remember your roles?"
Though still unwilling to actually think of having to carry out the orders they had been given the couple nods at the man who growls approvingly then returns to his team.
"Places everyone," he snarls loudly and the team members assigned to stand guard outside the pyramid pushed down their unease to encircle the base of the monument.
"Logan - " Charles again tried to get his friend's attention.
Once again Logan ignored the other man and turned toward the entrance he saw standing open as if in invitation to them.
Sighing aside his misgivings about the ease with which they were being allowed to make their entrance, Xavier followed the Wolverine when he growled to them all, "We're going in."
Still as ready to do this as they ever were going to be, Betsy, Caliban, Cybelle, Evan, Jean, Kitty, Kurt, Mystique, Nate, Pietro, Plague, Remy, Scott, Stall and Wanda followed the two men into the pyramid.