Thanks for the feedback: Risty, raniatlw, ChaosTheory89, Steven P. P, Chia4, The Son of Logan and Ororo, T. Riddle
Sam zeroed in on a trail of smoke rising into the sky. A few seconds later he landed beside a campfire where Gambit and Wanda were drying their clothes and thawing out their bodies.
Gambit waved cheerfully. "What do y' t'ink de odds are of two people fallin' off a hundred foot cliff into a flashflood den bot' of dem walkin' away wit'out even a bruise?" He asked as he wrapped an affectionate arm around Wanda's shoulders. "Wit' dis femme on m' side who needs lady luck?"
Wanda colored faintly. "Did you stop them?" she asked.
"No, but we're working on stopping what they set loose." Sam replied. "Ah ain't promising a smooth ride but Ah can give yah a lift to where we're meeting up with the X-Jet."
"Sounds like de best offer we're goin' to get." Remy replied. They each wrapped an arm around Sam's shoulders. He blasted back toward Apocalypse's chamber.
****** ****** ******
Lance sat in the cab of a truck beside Andrew.
"So um… I was wondering, you farm right, so why are you buying a truck load of potatoes?" Lance asked in an attempt to make conversation.
"Those are seed potatoes." Andrew replied.
Lance twisted around to look at the bed of the truck. "They look like potatoes. Seeds are smaller aren't they?"
Andrew grinned. "You grow new potatoes from old potatoes."
"So let me get this straight." Lance said. "You take a potato you could already eat, stick it in the ground instead and in a couple of months you get a different potato out of it. Seems like a lot of bother for no gain."
Andrew laughed at that. Lance scowled. "It's not a one to one ratio." He explained. "We'll chop up the seed potatoes back there into around four parts each. Each part grows into a plant. Each plant produces maybe nine, ten potatoes."
"Well excuse me for not knowing." Lance sulked. "Still seems like a jip. You've got to have potatoes to start with in order to get more, just like money."
"You got that right." Andrew chuckled. "Guess that explains why farmers always have plenty of crops but no cash. And don't mind me, I just get a bit testy seeing people on the news saying how they don't need farmers 'cause they get their food from the grocery store. Humph. At least you're asking questions."
"Whatever." Lance muttered.
"How long have you been at Xavier's?" Andrew asked.
"A while." Lance replied shortly then sighed. "A couple of months."
"Do you like it there?"
"Yeah. I guess I do." Lance said after a moment. "Some of the people there can be a little stuck up but I'm starting to believe they mean well."
"So before that you were in foster homes rights?" Andrew said.
Lance tensed up. "Mostly. Awe hell, you'll find out anyway. I'm kinda good at getting in trouble. I lost my temper and my powers made a mess. I didn't have anywhere to go. This woman showed up and offered to help. I pretty much knew she was bad news, but like I said, I didn't have anywhere else to go. She was, well, sort of like a terrorist. I don't have anything to do with her anymore. I'm not saying that was the only time I ever got in trouble but it's the worst situation and I'm out of it now."
Andrew stared at the road for a long time. "Hell kid you like dropping bombs on a body don't you? Did you kill anyone?"
"No, never." Lance answered quickly. "Don't ask about property damage."
"Goddamnit, what are you?"
"Told you that already. I'm a mutant. My powers are sort of destructive. Things happen." Lance said defensively. "I haven't used my powers for anything bad since starting at Xavier's."
"Dora and I ignoring the mutant thing isn't going to work is it?" Andrew said. "When you first told us that we didn't really believe you, it's just not part of our reality. After we called to your Professor Xavier we talked. We decided it wasn't really an issue, that we could ignore it like we ignore that Jessica isn't actually married to that boy she lives with."
"I thought someone introduced me to Jessica's husband." Lance said, he sounded confused.
Andrew's smile was self-mocking. "That was probably me. They don't correct me when I introduce them as husband and wife and I don't insist on them staying in separate room when they visit."
"Sounds stupid." Lance said bluntly. "Even if you don't want to think about it Kitty and I are still mutants. She can walk through walls. I can too, but I knock 'em down first and Kitty doesn't. I'm not using my powers right now but I still know there's a car in the truck's blind spot, I can feel the vibrations it sends through the earth."
"I could happily forget things like that." Andrew replied wryly. "I can't just decide something isn't going to make me uncomfortable, but I can chose to ignore if I want to. Dora and I learned the hard way that there's a time to stop fighting. I don't like your father, probably never will, but I should have shut my mouth about it after the wedding. There's a reason the pastor says 'Speak now or forever hold your peace.' I didn't listen to that and eventually I drove Sophie away. She never got over losing you and your sister and I can't help but think that maybe if they'd had family to turn to turn to when things got bad they might have made different choices. This mutant thing seems like something out of a bad science fiction flick. I'm not too comfortable with the idea of people with all these weird powers running around but you are my family. I just want to ignore the powers and get to know my grandson as a person."
Lance smiled hesitantly. "I guess that could work out. You probably don't want to visit my school though. You'd basically have to walk around blindfolded."
****** ****** ******
Rogue lay across the back row of the seats on the X-Jets curled up on her side, her face hidden against the seatback. Apocalypse was set loose and it was her fault. Mystique had used her to hurt her friends and unleash that monster on the world. Her whole friendship with Risty was lie created by Mystique to use her or Risty was still missing and Mystique had taken her place, Rogue didn't know which. She didn't want to know. She hated Mystique for doing that to her, for using her. She hated that she'd let herself be used.
She winced at the sound of Pietro using the seats in the jet as crutches as he moved. She didn't know what to think when he sat beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I wish I knew how to make you feel better." He said. "I don't like it when you're miserable."
Shock made Rogue sit up and face him. The sight second degree burns across his face, chest and arms only made her feel worse. "Why?" she asked. "After everything that happened… Ah let them use me. This is mah fault. Ah always end up hurting yah."
"Come on Rogue, what happened wasn't your fault. People like Mystique, Magneto and Mezmero use everyone. It's just how they are. You're no more to blame for Apocalypse being free than Jean is. If Mezmero hadn't been able to use her to open the first door he wouldn't have been able to use you to open the last one… At least Mezmero had to brainwash you. I knew what a creep my dad was and I still let him use me against my friends just because he was my dad."
"Pietro don't go there. Yah ain't responsible for Magneto twisting your intensions."
"Well you don't go there either." Pietro replied. "Mezmero and Mystique are just screwed up. It's got nothing to do with us."
****** ****** ******
Storm flew with the speed of the whistling winds. Beneath her the snow-covered slopes of the Himalayas gave way to the jungles of India followed by the deep blue of the India Ocean then the sandy deserts of the Arabian Peninsula.
The electric glow of Apocalypse's power was always before her. As was the gleaming metal sphere Magneto had summoned to conserve his energy for the coming battle. The sphere rode the earth's lines of magnetic force like a pearl sliding down the string of a necklace. Storm hoped that Apocalypse would maintain his lead long enough for him to reach his destination; that way the helicopter full of X-Men would be of assistance when the fight came. She feared Magneto would overtake him enroute and they would have to fight him on their own.
Her fears came true a moment later. As Apocalypse flew over an outcropping of rocks Magneto's sphere caught up and opened. The Master of Magnetism rose from it to confront the ancient Warlord. The sphere broke apart into a swarm of fletchlets which Magneto sent flying at Apocalypse.
Storm pressed the winds to carry her higher and faster.
As Magneto's blades neared Apocalypse the First Mutant's glow intensified. The metal disintegrated. Slowly Apocalypse turned toward Magneto, a slight frown of annoyance formed on his lips. He clapped his hands and a wave of compressed air crashed into Magneto like a massive hammer.
Storm's powers filled the air with sand. While the abrasive substance scowered the desert, Storm caught Magneto. Apocalypse laughed, he gloried in the raw power of the elements and his own imperviousness to them. Storm was barely able to control her landing as Apocalypse's memories crashed over her. The desert had been his first adversary. Her sand storm was nothing to him but a memory of home, a reminder of a child's earliest conquest. The unfettered power of his mind drove Storm to her knees. She wasn't even sure that this was meant as an attack. Her winds died and Apocalypse resumed his journey.
Storm activated her comm. badge. "Magneto is down. I am leaving him with my communicator. I will continue to follow Apocalypse."
"We hear ya darling." Wolverine replied. "We'll come back for old bucket-head after the party's over.
"No need Logan." Xavier broke in. "Jean is here in Tibet. Sam is returning with Gambit and Wanda now. We'll pick up Erik. Continue backing Storm to the best of your abilities."
As Xavier signed off Cannonball crashed to the ground outside the X-Jet with Gambit and Wanda. They left a small crater in the ground.
"It's a good thing everything Ah'm holding gets protected by mah blast field." Sam commented as the three of them picked themselves up and boarded the jet.
"Gambit?" Pietro called warmly. "How'd you get pulled into this mess?"
"Traitor!" Wanda hissed as she glared at her twin.
"Leave him alone yah witch!" Rogue snarled. She jumped to her feet and stood protectively beside Pietro.
Remy felt a spear of concern at Pietro's battered appearance but he silently took a step closer to Wanda to indicate where his loyalties lay. Remy's actions hit Pietro like a blow to the gut. Hurt, confused and shocked he could only stare as the person who'd been his lifeline during the horrific weeks he'd spent at Magneto's base rejected him in favor of the twin who'd tried to murder him.
"Everyone find a seat." Xavier instructed. He quickly updated them on Strom and Magneto.
"Storm's on her own?" Sam asked with concern. "Kurt how fast do yah think we could catch up using our powers in tandem?"
"Sam, we'll all catch up as quickly as the jet's engines allow." Xavier said.
Sam scowled stubbornly. "She's mah partner, Ah ain't leaving her without backup."
Xavier nodded. "Go, but remember Storm's experience far outreaches yours. Do exactly what she says."
Sam nodded. Kurt joined him at the door. The boys blasted off. As soon as they were airborne Kurt teleported, instantaneously covering several miles. Sam continued picking up speed as he flew onward.
****** ****** ******
"Do it again." Pyro pled. He leaned over the seat in front of him to smile at Amara. The rest of the copter's occupants groaned.
"Leave me alone!" Amara exclaimed. She shoved him back in his seat.
"Aww come on, fire up just once."
Ray and Bobby glared at him. "You heard her: Cool it or do you need my help with that?" Bobby snapped as he iced up.
Pyro wrinkled his nose distastefully. He flicked the trigger on his flame-thrower and a wreath of fire formed over his hand.
"Don't make me come back there." Logan snarled from the pilot's seat. Both Pyro and Bobby immediately powered down.
Kurt and Sam bamfed into the world five meters behind the X-Copter then blasted past. The boys waved to Logan as they over took the helicopter, a moment later they bamfed away again.
"That's more than two miles." Logan commented as he caught a glimpse of Cannonball's blast field in the distance.
"Perhaps Cannonball's velocity allows them to travel further through Nightcrawler's alternative dimension than he could travel unaided." Beast speculated. "Forge attempted to lengthen the period of time Kurt remained there. We never experimented with strapping a jet pack to his back."
Evan glanced across the aisle at Colossus and Pyro. "You two don't seem real excited about your boss getting taken down." He commented.
Pyro drug his eyes away from Amara and shrugged. "Tell me the bastard's dead and I'll throw a party."
Colossus glanced out the window. "He will never give me back my sister, but until she is safe I have no other recourse but to obey him."
****** ****** ******
The X-Jet lifted off into the desert night after retrieving the unconscious Magneto.
Pietro stared in disbelief as Wanda fussed over their father. "How can she forgive him and not me?" He asked in a pained whisper.
Rogue entwined her arm with Pietro's and clasped his hand tightly. "If we didn't already know the girl was batty this'd cinch it." She said as she glared angrily at Wanda, Gambit and Magneto.
Fred, Todd, Rahne and Scott all made a point of distancing themselves from the trio and placing themselves between Pietro and his twin. Rogue wasn't sure Pietro had noticed the silent show of support but she was grateful for it.
****** ****** ******
Storm hovered far above the Sphinx. "Wolverine what is your ETA?" She asked.
"We're five minutes out." He replied.
"That will not be soon enough." Storm decreed. "I fear we shall have no chance against him once he is inside."
"Be careful." Wolverine replied. "Remember ya only gotta delay him a few minutes."
"I am always careful." Storm said as she signed off and prepared for battle.
As Apocalypse opened a hidden passage beneath the Sphinx Storm called down freezing winds from the upper stratosphere. The chill air, impregnated with ice crystals ripped through the desert night, streaming toward Apocalypse. An instant after the winds struck, Strom unleashed her lightening as well.
Apocalypse clapped his hands and created another shockwave like the one that had felled Magneto. Storm surrounded herself with a tornado. The shockwave broke and flowed around the vortex of wind. Storm retaliated with another blast of lightening. She sent her perceptions out to search the weather currents for ice and rain; anything that might prove effective against the ancient desert bred mutant.
Apocalypse swept his hands apart and Storm's winds died as the very air around her fled, taking with it the winds that had supported her. She screamed as the air in her lungs and blood expanded, trying to fill the void around her but she made no sound. As she lost consciousness Apocalypse struck her with another shockwave. Storm tumbled toward the face of the Sphinx as if she'd been swatted out of the sky by the hand of an angry god.
A half-mile away Cannonball and Nightcrawler appeared. Cannonball dove toward Storm. He cut his blast field a moment before catching her so that he could cushion her fall instead of becoming the invulnerable object that she smashed up against. Storm's momentum sent all three of them spinning out of control. Nightcrawler teleported them two-dozen meters up to give Cannonball time to reengage his blast field.
As the two boys fought to complete their rescue Apocalypse descended into the chambers beneath the Sphinx. Moments later the X-Copter landed.
"He's inside!" Cannonball yelled. "Storm's out cold and Kurt's worn to the bone."
"Stay with 'em." Logan ordered as he led Beast, Spyke, Colossus, Pyro, Iceman, Magma and Berserker after Apocalypse.
Pyro and Magma used their powers to light the cavernous underground chambers. They saw Apocalypse's glow illuminating the next passage.
"Popsicle you're up first." Wolverine said. "Then Spyke and the energy wielders. Hit him with everything you've got."
The New Mutants nodded, their expressions grim. Pyro grinned and saluted flippantly. At Wolverine's gesture he and Magma damped down their flames and the group crept up around the corner.
The sight of Apocalypse battling giant statues of the Egyptian gods froze the New Mutants in their tracks. "Now." Wolverine hissed.
Iceman shook off his surprise and blasted Apocalypse for all he was worth as the ancient mutant used one of his shock waves to shatter a statue of Anubis. Robotic components were mixed in with the stone revealing the true nature of the statues.
The ice that encased Apocalypse shattered. One of the statues turned toward the attacking mutants. Pyro wreathed Apocalypse in white-hot flames. Spyke unleashed a barrage of bone spears at the statue. Berserker and Magma followed Pyro's lead and fired streams of electricity and lava at Apocalypse.
Colossus saw one of Spyke's spears protruding from the statue's knee joint. He ducked under its immense saber and drove the spike clear through the joint with a double fisted blow. Sparks erupted from the statue's leg and it dropped to one knee. It knocked Colossus through a wall in retaliation.
Wolverine charged Apocalypse while the Ancient was blinded and distracted by Berserker, Magma and Pyro. His claws rebounded harmlessly off of some sort of defensive shield around Apocalypse. Apocalypse gestured and Wolverine felt like a Mack-truck had slammed into him.
Berserker hurried to defend Wolverine's unconscious body from the statues until the older mutant's healing factor had the chance to kick in.
"Bobby!" Beast exclaimed as he bounded across the room to snatch Iceman out from under the foot of an Isis statue. The younger mutant had been so focused on his attack that he'd failed to watch his back.
Apocalypse used his powers to shatter another of the statues then continued deeper into the Sphinx. He left the X-Men and the Sphinx's robotic guardians occupied fighting one another.
"Looks like Elvis is leaving the building." Pyro commented as he directed Magma's attention toward the departing Apocalypse. "What say we tag along Princess?"
She glanced around the battlefield. Wolverine and Colossus were just staggering to their feet. As she watched Berserker focused his powers on a clump of circuitry exposed by one of Spyke's attacks on the statues. Ray kept pouring on the juice until, finally, the robot short-circuited. The young X-Man hit the ground at almost the same moment as his foe, exhausted beyond the ability to stand. Iceman was busily creating slick patches on the floor and Beast was luring the statues onto the ice.
"Spyke come on." Magma called. The three of them dodged through the remaining statues to chase after Apocalypse.
Wolverine shook off the last remaining grogginess just in time to yank Berserker out of harm's way. "Hey, where's glow-boy?" He yelled.
Beast surveyed the chamber. "There are two options: The way we came in and that door."
"Hank, get Ray out of here." Wolverine ordered. "The rest of you move it, this ain't what we came for."
Iceman threw up a quick ice tunnel to the door. Then he and Colossus followed Wolverine while the animated statues rained blows down on the sheltering ice. Beast collected up Berserker and scrambled back up the stairs before the statues' attention returned to them.
Pyro, Magma and Spyke caught up with Apocalypse as he mounted the steps to an odd diamond shaped structure. They immediately opened fire on him. Negligently Apocalypse gestured toward them and the three young mutants were violently thrown back.
Apocalypse entered the diamond structure. As it closed up behind him Wolverine, Colossus and Iceman raced into the chamber. Iceman encased the entire structure in ice but that didn't stop it from disappearing a moment later.
"Yeah! We got him on the run!" Bobby cheered. Colossus stared at him in disbelief.
"We got more injuries." Logan said grimly.
Notes: I decided to reverse the Sphinx battle and Tibet. With Mystique kidnapping people left and right there just wasn't time for Xavier or anyone else to develve into Apoc's history and find out about his Egyption heritage (Also since I didn't change his background I didn't want to spend a lot of time on the X-Men discovering it).
Yeah, Shadowcat's name got screwed up, I thought since Evo did the weird spelling thing with Spyke they'd do the same for Kitty. - Kizmet