Chapter 13: Heart of Stone

"I don't believe this."

Jean Grey turned sharply, fixing the boy across the room with a maddened look. "You have to, Scott. It happened."

Letting out a deep breath, Scott Summers ran his hands through his hair. He had returned from a late-night study session at the local library only a half hour earlier, and after being rushed upstairs by Jean and Kurt, heard the long, horrible story about what had befallen Kitty…at least, what they thought had happened. Now the three teens were in Jean's posh bedroom, debating their next course of action.

"How—why would he do something like that? Jesus, I sat with him at lunch today and everything was fine. This makes no sense!"

"It makes perfect sense to me," said Jean quietly, angrily.

"Well, Jean, I don't know how to say this, but you've always had a thing against Lance."

The redhead scowled, her pretty face burning. "What's that supposed to mean? As if you've never clashed with 'Alvers'!"

Scott opened his mouth to snap back, but held his tongue. He took a deep, calming breath, and said, "I know he and I haven't seen eye to eye on a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I think he's capable of raping someone. I saw how he treated Kitty—we all did! He was totally gone on her."

"So what are you saying, Scott? That Kitty lied?"

"No—I don't know what I'm saying." He threw down his hands and started to pace around the room, circling Jean's bed as he pondered. "All right. Kitty said that she was too shocked and afraid to phase away, right? So how did she get away and end up here? And why would Alvers come back if he had raped her? He had to have known what kind of welcome he'd get!"

"Someone hurt her." Kurt slammed his fist against the wall, unable to listen to any more. "Someone ripped her clothes and gave her zhose bruises…I never zhought zis vould happen either, but if Lance didn't do it, who did?"

"I should go talk to her," said Scott, reaching for the doorknob. Jean grabbed his arm before he could leave, holding him in place.

"Scott, no. Let's just leave her be for a little bit, all right? She's just gone through something unimaginable, and Kurt and I pressed her enough. We'll sort this all out in the morning, and tell the Professor when he gets back. He'll know what to do."

Scott could feel the telepath gently nudging his mind. His feelings of anger dissolved, and he then looked into Jean's eyes. There's no use in snapping at each other any longer. "Okay…tomorrow then."

So with that, the three young X-Men went to bed with their heads hanging low, none of them knowing that soon they'd have a very abrupt, very harsh awakening.

* * *

"So, Raven…did your stint as Kitty Pryde provide any information concerning that other matter?"

Destiny sat in Mystique's room upon her silken bedspread, studying her as she changed battle garb. The shape-shifter had slipped out of her usual white gown for a simple getup consisting of tight black vinyl.

Mystique wound a leather strap around an arm, anger boiling inside her shapely indigo form. "Yes. It would seem that Rogue's feelings for Scott Summers are being reciprocated. I'll kill him before he can turn her against us."

"Do you really think that will change anything? That she'll run into your arms with him gone?"

Mystique's brow furrowed at the reproachful questions. "What are you getting at?"

Standing up from the edge of the bed, Destiny sighed. "I know you care about her; I'm not disputing that. But consider her feelings for a moment, will you? Rogue has so very little as it is…"

Mystique stepped forward, putting her face dangerously close to the other woman's. "This is for her own good."

For a moment, Destiny was quiet. Then, she tried a different angle. "You don't want to lose her again, do you, Raven? I know how hard it was for you to leave her in my care all those years ago…to lose another child…"

"Be silent!"

"What will you do to him, Raven? What will happen should you come face to face with him tonight?"

"I will do what I have to do," huffed the shape-shifter angrily. If anyone else had dared speak to her in such a manner, they wouldn't live long enough to do it again. But Mystique could never bring herself to harm Irene Adler, no matter how strange or disparaging she acted.

"Now, if you're done, there are other things that need attending to."

Boom-Boom opened the bedroom door just a crack, peeking inside as Mystique said that final sentence. She could see the sinister mutant approach a painting that hung on one of the far walls. A massive portrait of a royal family now lost to the ages, it hid a secret. Mystique pressed a button along the side of the golden frame and there was a metallic click, like that of a safe being opened. At her angle Boom-Boom couldn't see what was behind the frame, only that Mystique was looking at it with rapt interest.

"What is that? The back-up plan?" inquired Destiny.

"Yes. While there is no doubt in my mind we'll defeat those lousy X-Men, experience has taught me that one should always be prepared in case something goes awry. If all else fails, we have a powerful bargaining chip…Ah, everything's in order--what are you doing?!"

The girl jumped as her leader's eyes shot towards her, but she resisted the strong urge to run. Instead she opened the door all the way, hoping she held her cool.

"Quicksilver sent me up here, boss lady. He wants to know if you're ready yet. Avalanche is getting restless; if we wait any longer he's gonna bust outta here and knock the mansion to the ground all by himself."

Mystique frowned. Quicksilver was becoming too bold for his own good. She reasoned that she was the one who needed to take him down a peg, but if she laid a hand on that particular mutant, Magneto would hang her scaly blue pelt on his wall…          

She stalked past Boom-Boom, not acknowledging the girl's presence. She turned her head to face Destiny one last time. "Take care of that other matter, will you? I know I can trust you with this, Irene."

* * *

The Brotherhood of Bayville Boarding House had many rooms, far too many for its few occupants. There were nights when the old house was so empty and still that one could easily imagine a ghost prowling through the halls, and the slightest creak in the floorboards could send shivers down a spine. It could really give a guy the creeps.

Lance Alvers had been assigned one of the previously vacant rooms to dress. He should have found it suspicious that Mystique had a uniform prepped and ready for him, but his mind was on other things. Like his old X-Man uniform, the new costume was form-fitting and covered his body from the neck down. However, his new uniform was outfitted with steel-gray plates of armor along his arms, chest, and knee-high boots. It might not have won any fashion awards, but it was certainly more practical and impressive that the flimsy spandex he wore before. For the first time he really felt he was leaving Lance Alvers behind. He was Avalanche. The transformation was complete.

He suddenly had company; Toad and Blob entered the room somewhat hesitantly, looking at him as if he were a stranger. An awkward moment or two passed before Avalanche had enough of the spotlight.

"What?"

Toad blanched. "We were just wonderin' 'bout y'all. You really gonna fight the X-Men?"

"Of course I am," came the annoyed reply.

"But weren't they, you know, your friends?"

"Do you have a point, slime-breath, or are you just wasting my time?" snarled the rock-tumbler. "As far as I'm concerned, they're already dead."

Hoo-whee, Mastermind really did a number on his head, thought Toad, shocked by the intensity in Avalanche's blazing eyes. Once, in what felt like a lifetime ago, Lance had defended him from one of Duncan's rages, at the cost of getting covered in spaghetti and Jell-O. It was an act Toad could not imagine this Lance Alvers doing. There was no warmth or compassion in his voice or mannerisms…he was now as cold as stone.

"And what about that girl, Kitty? What're you gonna do if you see her?"

An image of Kitty's smiling face appeared in Avalanche's mind, only to quickly fade away. It put him off-balance for only a second.

"I'll kill her."

* * *

It was Boom-Boom's night for eavesdropping. She stood only a few feet away from Avalanche's room, hands pressed against the faded wallpaper, face troubled. Suddenly a breeze blew through her yellow hair, and she stared at Quicksilver.

"You know, it's not nice to listen in on other people's conversations, Tabby-kins."

Boom-Boom snorted. "I wasn't listening. Just thinking."

"Penny for your thoughts."

"You don't have any pennies."

"Fair enough. But tell me anyway."

The girl gave in, staring down at the singed carpet. "This isn't right."

Now Quicksilver was the one who snorted. "Wow, it must have taken you a full second to figure that one out!"

"Shut up!" exclaimed Boom-Boom. "You know what I mean. Brainwashing this guy, getting rid of his girl and fighting the X-Men just to get some knick-knack for Mystique…I don't like it at all."

"This sudden change of heart wouldn't have anything to do with Fuzzy, would it?" The speedster cocked an eyebrow.

"No. There's nothing between us." Boom-Boom leaned against the wall, wrapping her arms around herself. "You saw to that yourself."

"Good, because the whole 'switching sides to be with a love interest' thing is so last millennium sweetie, and believe it or not, I wouldn't want to see Mystique turn you into a stain on the wall."

"Thank you. Now I feel all warm and squishy. And don't worry about me. I know where I belong."

Quicksilver wore an expression of fake disbelief. "You mean the thought of deserting to the X-Nerds never occurred to you? Be honest."

Boom-Boom scowled.

"I mean it would be stupid of you to think that King Goody Two Shoes, Xavier himself, would accept you. You are wanted by the police."

"Shut up!"

"Tsk, tsk. Attempted murder. A pretty young thing like you locked away for something like that is so terrible. Your own fa--"

"Goddammit, Pietro! If you know about that then you know I didn't have a choice!"

           

//Zhere's alvays a choice, Tabitha.//

She stopped still, color draining from her face. No, Kurt, sometimes there really isn't.

* * *

Rogue sat atop her bed, eyes fixed upon the ceiling. The tight, dark green jumpsuit she wore was uncomfortable, and looking at it only reminded her of what was to come. There was a knock, and her melancholy reverie was interrupted by Destiny. The older woman looked somehow sad, yet walked across the room with a determined stride.

"The time has come, Rogue."

"…Yes."

Destiny placed a loving hand on the girl's shoulder. She was the closest she had to true family, her daughter in all but blood. To see her in such a state was nearly heartbreaking. But there was no other way.

"I know you don't feel ready for this, honey, but Mystique is adamant. She feels that it is time for you to prove yourself as one of the Brotherhood, and I cannot deny that we'll need your power against the X-Men."

Rogue spun around and slammed her fists against the wall, biting her lower lip to stifle a small sob. "Irene Ah can't. He's not mah enemy!"

Destiny stroked Rogue's hair, soothing her. "Easy, easy, honey. I know, I know…but think, Rogue. You saw the wound the X-Men gave Avalanche. Do you believe if they treat their friends in such a manner, they'll welcome their enemy? If anything, Cyclops will only try to use you against us."

"No, he wouldn't."

"I understand the confusion in your heart, but please think about this: the Brotherhood is your family now. Do you want to sacrifice that for a simple crush?" She paused a moment. "Do you trust me?"

Rogue let Destiny gather her into a hug. "Of course."

"Then believe me…everything will be all right."

* * *

Boom-Boom bit her lower lip, and looked searchingly into Quicksilver's eyes. "There was something you were going to tell me earlier, wasn't there? About Mystique and…Kurt."

"Hmm?" He held his chin in hand and thought a moment. "Nope. Don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't be an ass, Pietro."

He threw up his hands. "Fine! Fine. Take it easy; I'm only messing with you. Still, I'm don't think you're ready to hear this."

Boom-Boom tried to smack him, but his head pulled back a nanosecond before contact.

"Have it your way." He whistled tunelessly, buffing his nails on the front of his suit. "As field leader of this ragtag bunch of misfits, I have certain…connections. Knowledge, if you will. And I happen to know what ties Mystique and Fuzzy together…"

"Ties?"

Pietro put his lips to her ear, barely able to hide his twisted glee. "Mystique is Nightcrawler's mother."

The blonde gasped as his words registered with her brain, then scowled. It had to be another of Pietro's lies—how could something like that be true? How could someone as sweet as Kurt be born from that cold-blooded psychobitch?

"I know what you're thinking," continued the speed demon. "But there is a resemblance, you know. And it does explain why she hates you so much—you're not good enough for the likes of her spawn."

"But he's an X-Man--!"

"Yeah, well, Mommy Dearest abandoned her blue little bundle of joy years ago, and Xavier got his claws into him before Magneto could."

Boom-Boom opened her mouth for another exclamation of disbelief, but was interrupted by tremors that violently shook the boarding house.

Avalanche stormed out of his room, the shrinking figures of Blob and Toad behind him, and marched down the stairs. Mystique and Mastermind were waiting for him. In her hands the shape-shifter held a large metallic box.

The assembled Brotherhood then gathered in the basement, where their battle plans were made. Mystique had in her possession a secret layout of the Xavier Institute that had been taken via satellite, and Avalanche broke it down, identifying the bedrooms of his ex-teammates and secret entrances and short cuts that could be used in the sneak-attack. Stealth would be the key: neutralize the X-Men while they slept, then secure the objective.

"Excellent," purred Mystique as her recruits repeated their tasks. "Nothing will prevent us from taking the Mindcoil."

"I don't care about the Mindcoil," muttered Avalanche from the sidelines. "I just want to make those lying freaks pay."

Mystique's lips curled into a delicious smile. Her young Avalanche was burning from the inside with a powerful flame lit by his fury. Watching his eyes crackle reminded her of his sexual encounter with "Kitty Pryde", and she decided that when all this was through she would have to use his fire to warm her bed.

Saving those pleasurable thoughts for later, Mystique held up the metal box and opened it. "My dear boy," she said to the rock-tumbler, "Soon we'll all get what we want."

Reaching inside the box, she removed a large, see-through helmet that had more than a passing resemblance to a fruit bowl. She crowed him, securing it to the plates of armor along his back. It fastened, effectively shielding the top of his dark head.

"A present from Magneto. It will protect you from the prying thoughts of telepaths, no matter how powerful."

"Hey, why don't we all get fancy helmets?" demanded a jealous Blob.

Mystique silenced him with a withering glare.

"So, are we ready or what?" asked Quicksilver impatiently.

"Oh yes. We are ready." The shape-shifter then turned to Mastermind and Destiny. Neither were fighters despite their powerful mutant abilities, and were to stay at the boarding house while the others lay siege to Xavier's mansion. She and Mastermind exchanged a nod, but no words. It was Destiny she addressed.

"You can see into the future, Irene. Tell me, will victory be ours?"

Rogue watched her foster mother intently as she replied, "Yes. I see you holding the Mindcoil in your hands, Xavier's playthings dead at your feet. As you said, we'll all get what we want…and what we deserve."

Mystique's smile exposed her white, sharp teeth. "Then let's be off. We have X-Men to kill."

* * *

The sky was pitch black, the moon and stars hidden by oppressive clouds. A frosty wind whistled through the trees, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the scene. The Xavier Institute seemed to be completely asleep at that early morning hour, as the place was devoid of any light or sound. Seven figures approached the iron gates. One stepped forward and pressed his palm against the scanner at the entrance.

"Welcome, Lance Alvers," said the mechanical voice. The gates opened for the visitors.

Avalanche smirked.

* * *

Quicksilver had thought about what that night would be like countless times. He imagined Magneto leading a magnificent charge against the X-Fools, the Brotherhood right behind him, and making an example of those who opposed him. Quicksilver would stand by his father and be rewarded for his efforts and loyalty. He would grin as Magneto unleashed the Mindcoil on humanity.

He had not imagined sneaking into the Xavier mansion like a common thief, quiet so not as to disturb the residents. What, were they afraid of the X-Men?

"You want a flashy entrance? Hah! You heard Avalanche—Xavier hid a bunch of lasers and alarms hidden in all those pretty statues out front…if we made a ruckus we'd be in kingdom come by now!" snapped Boom-Boom, her voice a low whisper.

"Silence!" Mystique hissed. She reached for the knob of the front entrance and turned it, her lips pressed into a concerned frown. Unlocked. No lights went off, nor did any alarms sound when the Brotherhood silently entered.

"Of course," grinned the shape-shifter. "Why lock the door when any invaders would surely be deterred at the gate?"

Toad muttered, "Aww, I'm gettin' antsy, yo. Let's just do this thing."

"Fine." Mystique narrowed her eyes. "You all know the plan. Rogue and Boom-Boom, take the upstairs and neutralize all the X-Men you come across. Toad and Blob, take the lower east and west wings, and make sure there aren't any heroes staying up for a midnight snack. Quicksilver and I will cover Avalanche as he leads us to the objective. Now go."

The Brotherhood split up, each team member going his or her separate way. Avalanche seemed to hesitate however, as if he had heard none of his leader's words. Quicksilver zipped up the front stairwell and tapped his foot impatiently as the boy stood still. Mystique spun around and snarled, "Come on!"

That time, Avalanche listened. Yet as the blue skinned baddie turned her back, her brainwashed charge fixed her with an angry, piercing glare.

Once upstairs Mystique began to creep down the main hall towards Xavier's study, where she was certain she'd find the entrance to the Mindcoil's hiding place. She was cautious to not make any noise, yet let out a curse when she looked behind her and saw Avalanche had gone off on his own, marching towards the bedrooms.

"Hey man, what are you doing?" demanded the silver speedster, who buzzed around the rock-tumbler's face like a mosquito that needed a good swat. "We need you over here!"

Avalanche stopped cold, and looked his teammate dead in the eye. Quicksilver swallowed.

"Leave. Me. Alone."

He obeyed, slinking back toward Mystique. The two watched him disappear down a corner.

"Damn him," muttered the woman.

"Look, shouldn't we stop him or something? He could blow this mission!"

"I know where he's going. Let him see what's waiting for him. No matter what he does, the X-Men have already lost."

* * *

Avalanche had stood in front of the door many times, eagerly awaiting it to open in the morning and be the first person to see that beautiful smile. Now, he felt a very different kind of anticipation.

He opened it slowly, the old wood softly creaking, and stared at the bed ahead of him. He could feel her lingering presence, like the scent of the flowery perfume she favored hanging in the air. Stepping towards the bed he sneered contemptuously at a stuffed bear that had been thrown on the floor, and then turned his eyes to the form buried under the pink covers.

"Kitty…I'm home," he whispered.

Avalanche took hold of the blankets and threw them off the bed, expecting to see the frightened face of the girl who had wronged him. Instead, he saw something absolutely galling.

Pillows had been arranged under the covers to look like someone was sleeping under them. She wasn't there. She wasn't anywhere.

"Kitty!"

He screamed her name with all the force his lungs could muster, and the world around him felt his fury, his agony. The floor--the walls--the ceiling--it all started to shake, and the tremors reverberated throughout the mansion, bringing it to life.

* * *

Inside Xavier's study, Quicksilver and Mystique stumbled as the mansion was shaken up.

"I knew it!" cried the boy. "Your precious Avalanche just screwed us over, Mystique!"

"Shut up!" she hissed. Leaning against the fireplace for support, she pulled a dusty old book from the mantle piece, triggering a mechanism inside the wall. The fireplace gave a jerk, and then the fixture opened like a vault to a safe, revealing an armored passageway. She grinned and signaled her companion to follow her. "This is it."

They stepped inside.

* * *

Rogue and Boom-Boom split up, each taking a different hallway. Rogue silently stalked through the right corridor upstairs, past the bedrooms. She approached Jean Grey's door and removed a glove. If luck was on her side, she'd grab the sleeping girl and absorb her powers without any fuss, leaving one X-Man out of action. Unfortunately Avalanche chose that moment to loudly announce his presence, and the shockwaves eliminated any chance the southern Goth had of taking her prey by surprise.

The bedroom door flung open and Jean burst into the hall only a few feet from Rogue. She gasped and Rogue took advantage of the opening, delivering a kick to Jean's side. She fell to the ground and Rogue was on top of her, reaching for her bare cheek. Jean growled and unleashed a telepathic attack just as her fingertips brushed her skin. Both struggled for several agonizing moments as the redhead fought back, using her powers to hurl a flower vase at her attacker. Despite the pain of that injury and the mental assault, Rogue tenaciously held onto Jean until at last her consciousness faded.

Rogue stood, and breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling empowered by the psychic might rushing through her, she did not balk when Evan Daniels raced down the hall. He was still half-asleep and zipping up his uniform, the ever-present skateboard under one arm. He was hers.

He saw Jean's unconscious body at Rogue's feet and shouted her name. "Oh, you're gonna pay, girlie!" Extending his arms, Spyke unsheathed several bony projectiles at fired them at the invading mutant. With a cunning smile, Rogue stopped them in midair.

"Oh sh--!"

Spyke's feet left the ground, and he was slammed against the wall, suffering a nasty bump on the head that knocked him out. Rogue then used his levitating spikes to pin him to the wall by his clothing, ensuring he wouldn't pose a problem should he wake up.

The girl then mentally contacted her teammates.

**This is Rogue. Two X-Men down.**

* * *

Like the others, Kurt Wagner was jolted awake by the tremors. He bolted upright, his shock and confusion soon replaced with dread. "Avalanche," he whispered. He leaped out of bed and threw off his pajamas, hastily slipping into his red and black X-Man uniform. In the melee caused by the rock-tumbler's entrance, he never heard the tiny cherry bomb explode in the lock to his door, blasting it open. In a flash of blonde hair and black leather Boom-Boom was behind him and took the elf in a fierce chokehold.

"Don't move," she warned.

"You!" he rasped. "Vhat are you doing?"

"Making a choice."

Nightcrawler teleported out of her grasp and took a fighting stance as he reappeared in a smoky cloud of brimstone. Boom-Boom threw up her hands, as if in surrender. If she had a white flag, she would have waved it.

"Easy! I'm going to fight you."

"Yeah right. Bombing my room and attacking me is some sort of courtship ritual?"

Another quake was felt throughout the mansion, and bits of plaster fell from the ceiling around Nightcrawler's bed. "Zat's Avalanche, isn't it? Vhat have you done?"

"Nothing, Blue!" she insisted. "This is all Mystique's doing!"

"Vas? Avalanche is working vith Mystique?"

"No! Er, yes. I think. God, this is so hard to explain…"

Nightcrawler grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him. "Try."

"Okay—I know about what you think happened between Alvers and that Kitty girl, but it's not what you think. He didn't rape anybody. Mystique switched places with her at that field trip in the caves and seduced him. The bitch snuck away, morphed to look like someone beat the crap out of her, and lied about what happened. After Jean gave Alvers that telekinetic beat down Quicksilver picked him up and then some weirdo friend of Mystique did some freaky brainwash thing on him. Now Alvers wants to kill you all!"

"Mein Gott…" Nightcrawler didn't understand it, but he believed her. "Vhy vould Mystique do somezhing like zis?"

"She wants the Mindcoil."

"Vhat is zat?"

"You don't know?"

Nightcrawler had a sudden headache. Before he could reply to that last comment a thought hit him. "Kitty! Vhat happened to her?!"

"I…don't know. Mystique said--"

"Did she kill her?!"

"I don't know! All Mystique said was that she was 'taken care of.' She could have done anything to her."

"If Lance really has been brainwashed against us, she's ze only one vho has a chance of reaching him. Ve have to find her!"

Boom-Boom scoffed. "What are you saying? She could still be laying in the caves, for all we know---" Suddenly her eyes lit up. She blinked, realization dawning upon her. She whispered, "I know where she is."

"Vhere?!"

Boom-Boom told him. Nightcrawler wrapped his arms around her and the two were gone in a flash, the trail of smoke the only indication that they had ever been there to begin with.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

To Be Continued…

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Next Chapter: Avalanche continues his assault on the X-Men, facing Cyclops and unleashing his true might. Nightcrawler and Boom-Boom look for the one person who can save the rock-tumbler, but what has Mystique done with her? As if that weren't enough, Magneto steps out of the shadows, and the bindings on the Mindcoil are removed…

Thanks for all the great reviews, everyone! ~Sandoz