Author's notes: Sorry I haven't updated in a little while. My computer was screwed up.
Note to DoWriter12: I do not answer any questions that have to do with the future parts of the story. I like my readers to be surprised.
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The New Vonce
Rogue knelt down next to Hennin's corps as she clutched her wound. The pain was beginning to go down a little, but she knew it would easily come back.
The puppets waited next to her. They wanted to be sure that she would be fit to fight other Hanzain members.
Rogue took a few deep breaths and said, "if Hank were hear he'd be able to fix mah wound properly."
She wondered where The Professor was with the other recruits. Would they make it in time to help her?
The pain from Rogue's shoulder hurt so much that she did not notice one of Vonce's guards sneak stealthily up behind her.
He walked up behind her and slowly put a knife up to her neck. She gasped as she felt the cold metal on her throat.
"Stand up," the cloaked man demanded.
As the pale girl did as she was told he looked down at Hennin lying dead on the floor. He looked at Rogue and said, "lord Vonce will be very displeased. He will have you gutted for this."
The puppets took a few steps forward. The man held his knife tightly and said, "don't move."
The puppets stopped dead in their tracks. The guard began to talk in Rogue's ear. His hot breath made the girl sweat. "What happened here child?"
Rogue answered harshly, "Your buddy here wanted to duel me and as you can see he lost. Trust me if Ah had to do it again Ah'd stab him in a heart beat."
"It doesn't matter," the man said angrily, "your brother has just revealed the formula to lord Vonce."
"Don't lie to me," said Rogue, "Hennin already tried to make me believe that Andre was dead."
"It is true that he is not dead, but the formula has been revealed," said the guard.
Rogue had trouble believing him. Hennin had already lied to her and this man could also very well be lying.
However she could not contemplate that now. She had to figure out how to get out of this man's grasp without getting her throat slashed.
Blade surveyed the situation until something in the far corner of the room caught his eye. He turned and saw one of the last two Totems come out of the shadows, the one possessed by Suetek.
He began to run at the little monster waving his knife hand in the air. The guard pointed his knife at Rogue's neck ready to stab her. "If only you had listened to me she might have lived," he said. He began to push the knife into Rogue's neck, but before he could break the skin he saw the Totem.
The man froze in place with the tip of the knife rubbing against Rogue's skin on her neck. She thanked God that she was not dead.
Blade leapt at the Totem with his knife held back ready to slash. As the knife swung forward "Suetek" caught the puppet's arm. He grabbed onto Blade's other arm and held him so his feet were off the ground.
He threw Blade across the room. He hit the wall hard and fell to the ground.
As the rest of the puppets ran at the Totem Decapitron saw his opportunity to save Rogue. He let out a small electric current as the guard had his attention on the Totem.
The electric volt hit the man's hand that was holding the knife. He dropped his weapon and Rogue slipped out of his grip.
She picked up Andre's cane that the puppets had dropped when they charged at "Suetek". She swung the can at the man and knocked him flat on the ground. Then she proceeded to bash the guard's face in.
Meanwhile the puppets charged at the Suetek Totem. As they readied their attack the monster jumped into the air and over their heads. He landed about a few feet from Rogue.
He ran at her and slashed her ankle with his razor sharp claws. She screamed in pain as she fell to the ground and dropped Andre's cane. This scratch made her wound count go up to three. Two on her leg and one in her shoulder.
As Decapitron tried to defend the Goth the Totem let out a strange form of orange lighting from his hands and knocked the final puppet of the first Toulon back.
The Totem looked at Rogue as she held her hand on her ankle. Suetek's voice was then heard from the small creature. "So here I have the grand daughter of the first Andre Toulon."
Rogue looked at the small creature. "Are you speaking to me?"
"Of course," said the creature.
Rogue tried to stand up, but the pain shot up her leg and she sat back down. "What the hell do you want," she yelled.
"I want to give you a chance to keep your life," said Suetek. "The power you hold is obviously to great for you to handle. Do you really believe that you, a child, can master the secrets of the ancient times?"
"Ah'll do what Ah can," Rogue said angrily.
"It is foolish for you to try," said Suetek, "I will not be denied the secret that is rightfully mine."
"You just want to abuse the magic for your own benefits," said Rogue, "you don't deserve imortality. Ah won't let you take mah brother's secret."
"Nor will you be able to stop me from taking it back," said Suetek.
He fired the orange light from his fingers at Rogue. Pain began to shoot through out her entire body. She began to scream in agony.
The puppets began to run at the Totem, but the Suetek Totem held one of his hands out towards them and knocked them down with the orange lightning.
He continued his assault on Rogue. As the pain grew greater inside of her she began to wish that she would just wake up. She wished this whole thing was just a bad dream and that she would wake up in her own bed at the Xavier Institute. Then she would just go down stairs and all the X-Men would have a good laugh about it. But it was not a dream, it was really happening.
As the thought of death being so near began to pass through Rogue's mind the pain suddenly stopped. She looked up and saw Blade on the Suetek Totem's back.
He had leapt onto the creature when he saw what was happening to Rogue. The puppet jammed his hook into the creature's back.
The Suetek Totem began to thrash around, trying to knock Blade off. The puppet held on as best he could. He waved back and forth like a rag doll.
Finally the Suetek Totem threw Blade off. The puppet landed near a door on the side of the room. As he stood up the door slowly opened.
Blade looked at the opened door. The Totem tackled Blade. They both rolled through the doorway and the door was closed quickly.
Rogue stood up ignoring the pain in her leg. She watched as the puppet called Pinhead walked up and began banging his fists against the door.
She ran over to assist Pinhead. She grabbed the knob and pulled on the door, but it would not budge.
Rogue yanked on the door as hard as she could. She did not care how much her shoulder hurt now; she had to help Blade.
She looked at the other puppets who were still a little shaken up by Suetek's attack. "Don't just stand there help me. The door's jammed."
The puppets ran to her side and did what they could top help her. Torch heated up the lower part of the door with his flame-thrower, Tunneler began to drill through the door, and the other puppets did what they could.
Meanwhile on the other side of the door Blade struggled with the Suetek Totem that was now on top of him. The special Totem had both of the puppet's arms. They struggled to gain dominance over the other.
Blade kicked the special Totem in the stomach and knocked it off of him. He stood up and faced the little monster.
He waved his knife hand in the air and pointed it at "Suetek" as if telling him to bring on the fight.
The special Totem simply screeched and pointed to the door that they had just rolled through.
Standing near it was the last Totem possessed by one of Suetek's watchers. Blade stuck out the little pin pupils in his black eyes. He was now out numbered.
He looked from Totem to Totem trying to figure out which one would attack first. While doing this he also scanned for a way out. The only escape he could find was a hole in the wall.
He took his attention off the Totems and ran for the door. The two creatures leapt into the air and landed right in front of Blade. He would have to fight his way out.
The special Totem looked Blade dead in the eye. The voice of Suetek was then heard, "that girl on the other side of the door can not even protect you. Why do you bother fighting for her?"
Blade of course could not answer, but if he could he would have supported Rogue.
The Totem next to "Suetek" charged at Blade. The puppet raise his knife hand and blocked the creature's claws.
Blade then stuck his hook into the Totem's hand and spun it around so it's back was facing him.
Blade then put his knife up to the Totem's neck. The special Totem looked at this.
Blade then pointed to the hole behind the creature. The Suetek Totem immediately moved out of the way of the hole.
Blade began to walk to his exit facing "Suetek" the entire time. As soon as he was in front of the hole he pushed the Totem at "Suetek" knocking both of them down.
Blade went through the hole which led him back to another hallway. He ran down it searching for a way to get back to the others.
All the while Rogue and the other puppets were still trying to get into the room. Finally after fighting with the door for so long they got it open.
Rogue ran into the room ready to do what ever she had to in order to help Blade. When she entered the room she saw the two Totems lying on the floor, but Blade was no where to be seen.
The Goth looked around the room and soon the hole in the wall entered her sight. She immeadietly knew what happened. :He got away," she said happily.
The two Totems stood back up and saw Rogue and the other puppets in the room. They knew they were out numbered so they exited in the same hole Blade did.
Rogue shook her head and left the room. The puppets followed close behind her.
She turned to her small companions and could see that they were concerned about their friend.
Rogue said to them, "look Ah know we have to find Blade, but we can't do that right now. We gotta save Andre and the others first. Blade can take care of himself. Ah know Ah haven't known him for very long, but Ah do know that."
The puppets knew Rogue was right, but they were still concerned. "Look with any luck we'll run into him before we get to where Vonce has Andre and mah friends."
Rogue picked up Andre's cane and headed for another door. She held it open for the puppets as they walked into another hallway.
Rogue stepped out with the puppets and began to walk down the long corridor. She could help but be worried for Blade herself. She hoped that he would be all right.
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Blade ran through the halls trying to find his way back to his comrades. He had no idea where he was in the Hanzain temple. With out Rogue leading the way he was lost.
The only plan he had right now was to just run through the halls and hope that he will soon run into her.
His feet made a flapping sound as it echoed through the air. As the puppet turned a corner he ran into two of Vonce's guards walking down the corridor. They had their backs to Blade so they did not see him, but they heard him. He hid behind the corner as they turned around.
"Did you hear that," asked one guard.
The other just shook his head and they continued down the hall.
Blade came out from behind the corner slowly and began to follow the guards. He noticed one of them was carrying some sort of container with him. Blade listened to the men talk as he followed them.
"It's hard to believe that the only way to get everlasting life is to kill others," said one guard.
"Yes, but this will be the only time we kill our own men. After tonight we will go out and seek others for the formula and use their brains."
Blade knew what was in the container right away. Vonce must have told them that they needed the digeneral lobes for the formula.
The guards continued down the hall. One guard asked, "did lord Vonce tell you anything else about the formula?"
"No," the guards said, "he only told me that we needed the curtain part of the brain."
They continued to talk as they walked down the hall. Blade made sure that every step he took was quieter than the one before it. No one else in the world could be quieter.
The two guards eventually stopped at a large door. The one that was not holding the container knocked on it. The doors opened wide and they entered.
As the doors closed Blade ran quickly for them. He just managed to pass through them before they closed on him.
The puppet was now in a huge room. All the Hanzain cult members were there. They stood in a large circle around Vonce and the young Puppet Master.
There was a table next to Vonce and on it stood a small cauldron and the creature he had shown the captured X-Men before. The one he was going to transfer himself into.
Blade watched as the two guards that he was following made their way to the center of the circle. They handed Vonce the container of the digeneral lobes.
Vonce took the container and said, "very good. I have already added on lobe to the formula. With these eight lobes added to the concoction it will make more than enough to transfer me into the creature."
The eight digeneral lobes were added to the potion and Vonce began to stir them in. They seemed to dissolve in the substance.
Blade looked around the large chamber and saw the five captured X-Men. They were chained to separate polls around the outside of the circle.
Blade wanted to free them from their shackles, but he knew that if he were caught they would all be killed.
He ran over to the door that he had entered through. He knew he could not reach or turn the knob so he did the only thing he could thing of. He began to tap S.O.S on the door. Hopefully Rogue and the others would hear him, that is if they ever get in hearing distance of his distress signal.
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Rogue walked ahead of the puppets with Andre's cane in her hand ready to strike who ever may attack her.
She was curious because of the silence. She figured that after killing Hennin Vonce would have this place crawling with his men looking for her.
As they ran Six-shooter stopped near a door. Rogue turned to him and said, "Six-shooter we gotta move come on." But the cowboy puppet did not move. He put his head up to the door.
Rogue walked over to him and reached to pick him up, but stopped when she heard a tapping sound. Rogue realized at once that it was mores code.
She knew a little mores code, but not much of it. She listened to the tapping and said what she heard quietly to herself. "S O S."
She motioned for the other puppets to come to her. Her ungloved hand reached for the knob and turned it. When the door was open they all saw Blade standing on the other side.
Rogue was about to yell out the puppet's name in joy and relief, but then she saw all of Vonce's men in the room.
She knelt down to Blade and whispered, "what's going on in here?"
She rolled her eyes remembering that Blade could not talk. Then Blade pointed to the five captured X-Men around the circle of cloaked figures.
Rogue's eyes filled up with some hope. She looked over the whole situation. Andre was in the middle of the large circle with Vonce and a strange creature on a table, and the X-Men were outside waiting to be freed.
But then Rogue saw Vonce filling up a small silver cup with a green liquid. She looked back at Blade. "Is that the formula," she asked. Blade nodded.
The hope in Rogues eyes vanished. Vonce now knew the formula and was about to use it.
"Well, we can't stop him from using it now," she said to the puppets, "but we can at least try to kill him."
All the puppets nodded. Rogue then said, "we can't worry about Vonce now, lets try to save the X-Men first."
She reached into her boot and pulled out the syringes that held the antidote that would give her friends their powers back. She looked down at the puppets and said, "Blade you and Six-shooter are coming with me. The rest of you stay here. If it looks like we're in trouble you swing in and help us alright." The puppets nodded.
Rogue, Six-shooter, and Blade walked slowly to the circle. They headed for the nearest imprisoned X-Men, Kitty.
Rogue hide behind her poll and then whispered to her. "Kitty, are you all right?"
Kitty jumped at the sound of Rogues voice and looked behind her. Rogue poked her head out from behind the poll. "Rogue you're all right," Kitty said joyfully.
Rogue hushed her. One of Vonce's men turned to Kitty. Rogue hid back behind the poll before she was seen.
The man turned back to the inside of the circle. Rogue came out from behind the poll. Kitty whispered, "we were beginning to think you'd never find us.
"Have a little faith in me," said Rogue as she held up one of the syringes.
"That's the stuff that gives us our powers back," Kitty exclaimed.
"How did you know that," Rogue asked
Kitty told her about how they used the substance when they were first brought here. She also mentioned that it would only work if the needle were stuck where the eyelids connect near the nose.
Rogue shuddered at that thought and asked, "are you sure about that?"
Kitty only nodded. Rogue shrugged and pointed the needle between Kitty's eye and nose. Kitty clenched her teeth before Rogue stuck the needle in.
The needle hurt very much, but Kitty did not scream. She just closed her eyes tightly and waited for the pain to go away.
Rogue administered half of the substance in the syringe into Kitty and then pulled the needle out.
Kitty waited a little while as the antidote began to flow through her. She then concentrated on her powers and phased right through her shackles.
She gave a sigh of joy and clasped her arms around Rogue. The Goth winced a little as Kitty squeezed the wound on Rogue's shoulder.
Kitty took her arms off of Rogue and noticed he injuries. "Oh my God, what happened," she whispered."
Rogue hushed her and then heard Vonce begin to speak. "Men," he yelled, "to day is a glorious day for the people of Hanzain. Today we have found immortality."
All of Vonce's men cheered. Rogue and Kitty looked to the middle of the circle. Vonce took his hood off revealing his hideous face. "Today I will place myself into this creature that had been created long ago," he said, "and we will set forth on the world until all humans cower in fear when we pass."
Andre struggled with the ropes around his, but he could not loosen them. This was it; Vonce was using the formula.
Rogue and Kitty watched from outside the circle as Vonce took his knife out of his cloak. He then picked up a funnel and placed it in the mouth of the creature. Then he pored the formula into a cup, nut only the amount that was needed.
He smiled and said, "we appear to have to much of the elixir. There is enough for one of you to gain immortality after the ceremony."
He walked up to the creature with the cup and knife in hand. Before he continued he said, "if this does not work, then kill the Puppet Master."
Vonce held out his hands to his side. He paused for a while and then said the words that Andre told him to chant. "Sendoo eelee tru. Sondo sondo hy."
Rogue watched curious to what the man was doing. 'How is he gonna transfer himself into that body," she wondered. She would have maybe tried to stop Vonce from doing this, but she wanted to see at least one way the formula worked.
Vonce drank the potion from the cup. As he swallowed the substance he nervously held his neck over the funnel.
What he did next made Rogue sick to her stomach. Vonce took the knife and slowly slit his own throat over the funnel. The blood from his neck slowly pored into the funnel and down the creature's gullet.
Vonce began to choke and fell to the floor motionless. His men waited around him for anything to happen.
The creature on the table suddenly moved. It sat up right and looked at the men around him. It looked at his hands and a look of pure glee formed on his face.
The creatures spoke, but with Vonce's voice, "it worked. I am now the creature."
Vonce's men began to cheer around him. Vonce was now the creature.
Rogue and Kitty stood stunned outside of the circle. Vonce yelled out as if shouting to the world, "look how easy it is! Only a sheer moment of pain and then you live forever!"
Rogue shook off her disbelief and turned to Kitty. "Kitty I want you to take this syringe and try to free Kurt and Jean."
Kitty nodded and took the syringe. As Kitty head to where Kurt was chained Rogue checked to see if Blade and Six-shooter were still with her. They were not.
Rogue looked around for them. She saw them already making there way to where Logan was chained.
She made her way quietly to them. They moved to the back of the pole where Logan was chained.
Logan had his attention on the ceremony. Vonce was making some big speech about covering the world in shadow and Logan was so angry with this twisted man that he blocked out everything around him.
He heard a voice whisper to him. "Logan it's me."
Logan cocked his head at the sound. He knew the voice right away. "Rogue," he said quietly.
Rogue came out from behind the pole. Logan could not help, but smile. "I was afraid you wouldn't make it," he said.
"Well you know me, Ah'm full of surprises," Rogue said.
Rogue picked Blade up and held him near Logan's shackles. He began to pick the lock with his knife.
Six-shooter stood by Rogue's feet with his guns aimed at the group of Hanzain members. If any of them were to turn around he wanted to take them out.
As Blade picked the lock Logan noticed Rogue's wounds. "I would have been happier if you were in one peace," he said.
"So would Ah," Rogue said in return.
Blade had finished picking the lock on both shackles. Rogue put him back down next to Six-shooter.
Rogue held up the syringe and was about to inject the antidote into Logan. However he knew what it was right away. He grabbed the syringe from Rogue and injected the substance into himself.
As he did this Rogue looked across the circle. Kitty had freed Kurt and had given him the antidote.
Logan handed the empty syringe to Rogue. "Do you have any more of that stuff for the others," he asked.
Rogue nodded as she held up the third syringe full of the antidote. They quickly made their way to where Scott was chained.
Inside the circle Vonce had finished his speech. Andre just looked at him with hate filed eyes.
Vonce turned to him. "I think we should make another batch, what do you think young Puppet Master," the now monster Vonce asked Andre.
Andre spit at him and said, "go to hell."
"Oh I do not have to worry about that," said Vonce, "but you may. The next batch will have your brain in it."
Andre was about to speak again, but something outside of the circle caught his eye. He saw Rogue freeing Scott from his chains, and Logan was with her.
He did not change his expression on his face however. He did not want Vonce to know what was going on.
Sadly Vonce saw Andre's eyes twitch when he notice Rogue. He turned around and saw the Goth releasing his prisoners. "You," he said as Rogue saw him looking at her.
All of Vonce's men turned to the three mutants. "Oh crap," was all that came out of Rogue's mouth.
Vonce yelled out, "KILL THEM ALL!"
Vonce's men were about to attack the three mutants. Rogue held up her ungloved hands and Logan let the claws out of his fists, but Scott was defenseless. Rogue did not have time to give him the antidote.
As the men walked forward they heard two female voices from the opposite end of the chamber.
They all turned and saw Kitty and Jean standing near the door with the other puppets.
Jean flew up into the air and let loose a blast of her telekinetic power. A few of members of Hanzain went flying through the air.
Vonce picked up his knife and held it up to Andre's throat. "Surrender or the Puppet Master dies," he yelled.
All the mutants and puppets remained still. Vonce gave an evil smile.
He then heard a strange noise from behind him and smelled sulfur. Kurt had teleported behind him.
He threw the creature down and grabbed hold of Andre. They both *bamfed* out of the circle.
Vonce looked up at the empty chair with the ropes on the floor. He looked over to Rogue angrily.
Kurt and Andre appeared next to Rogue, Logan, and Scott they all grabbed hold of them and *bamfed* over to Kitty and Jean.
All the mutants and puppets exited the room and closed the door.
Vonce ran through all his men to get to the door. He banged against it causing it to fly open.
Jean saw the door swing open. She used her mutant powers to close the door. Vonce began to ram himself against the door trying to get it open.
"I can't hold it for long," Jean said.
Andre thought quickly. "Torch blast the door with fire," he commanded.
Torch nodded and let loose a large burst of flame. The fire enveloped the entire door.
Inside the chamber Vonce felt a burning sensation on his arm. The fire had burned through the cracks in the door and set the inner part on fire.
Vonce backed away from the wild flames. He did not mind the burns. He took a running start and broke the door down.
When the door was open he could see that the entire hall in front of it was engulfed if flame all the way to the wall on the other side.
Vonce knew that if any of his men tried to run through it then they would burn to death before making it out. He yelled angrily, "damn you Puppet Master."
He now had no choice, but to wait for the flames to burn out.
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Kitty exited the temple of Hanzain followed by the other X-Men, the puppets and Andre, who now had his cane in hand.
She looked up at the sky. It was still dark out. She said joyfully, "I never thought I'd be so happy to see the night sky.
Rogue stopped to catch her breath and then said, "is everyone here."
Andre looked about and said, "I think so."
Rogue nodded happily and looked over Andre's body. He had many cuts and bruises on his face.
"Oh mah God, Andre what happened," she asked in alarm.
Andre did not really want to answer her. "Does somebody else want to tell her," he asked the other X-Men.
Logan nodded and stepped over to Rogue. "Vonce tried to beat the formula out of him," he said, "Andre took one hell of a bashing."
Rogue looked sympathetically at her brother.
Kurt looked around the clearing. "Where's the X-Jet? Shouldn't the Professor be here," he asked.
"Ah don't know," said Rogue. "He left to get some of the younger students to help us out. Ah thought he'd be back by now."
"Well let's not wait for him here," said Scott, "lets just go into town and try to contact him."
"I'm with you," said Jean, "let's just get out of here."
Every one seemed to agree with that plan. They all began to head out of the clearing.
As Andre walked he heard the voice of his grandfather in his head. "You can not leave yet grandson. Vonce still knows the formula, and Suetek is still abroad."
Andre stopped. His puppets stopped with him. They heard the voice of the old Puppet Master as well.
Rogue turned to them. "Come on guys, we can't stay here," she called to them.
Andre shook his head and said, "we can't leave."
All the X-Men heard this. Logan walked up to the boy and asked, "what do you mean we can't leave yet. I no time at all Vonce is gonna have these woods crawling with his men."
"Logan you don't understand," said Andre, "Vonce was the magic. I can't leave here until I kill him."
"What," Rogue asked in surprise. "You can't kill Vonce, didn't you see what he did. He transferred himself into that creature thing."
"I don't care," said Andre, "I have to kill him."
"But, you won't stand a chance against him now," said Kitty.
"Look, lets at least wait for the Professor to get here with the others then we can discuss this."
"I can't wait," said Andre, "what is there to discuss anyway? Vonce has the magic and now he has to die before he can march his army all over the Earth."
He turned back towards the temple and began to walk back with the Puppets following.
"This is crazy Andre," said Kurt, "Vonce and his men out number you. Even If we help the odds are still against us."
Andre did not answer, he just continued to walk.
Rogue ran over to him and said, "wait Andre Ah'm coming to."
"Rogue please" said Andre, but Rogue interrupted him.
"Don't argue with me on this one Andre," said Rogue, "I just found out that Ah had a brother not even a day ago and Ah don't want to loose you now. Ah'm gonna help you."
Andre did not argue. He simply nodded to her and they began to head back into the temple.
As they descended the staircase the darkness of the entranceway enveloped them again. Torch let out a little of his flame so they would have some light.
Andre so the door that they had entered already. As he reached for the knob a muscular hand grabbed his shoulder.
Both he and Rogue turned around in shock, and standing behind them were the five other X-Men.
Logan said to them, "we're not abandoning you now."
Rogue smiled in joy now knowing that her friends would help them, but Andre did not smile. He only nodded to them and opened the door.
In his mind there was no reason to smile. They were heading back to fight Andre and his men. There was a big chance that they might be heading to their death.