Six
The ever watchful eyes of mother night dimmed in the firmament over Muir Island; even the waves crashing against the cliffs below had been muted. It didn't take empathy for Malice to feel the unrest roiling through the air; it caressed her skin like the gentlest lover's touch. Nature was well aware of her presence but her empathy confirmed that all the inhabitants of the Muir Island research centre were dreaming such sweet dreams it made Malice sick to her stomach.
A short wave of her hand brought Scalphunter to her side like an obedient dog and Malice really couldn't remember why she had thought his appearance was a sign of Sinister's distrust. If the good doctor had been truly suspicious of Malice's control over her host he would have sent Sabertooth or Riptide just to provoke her. "I want you to take your group around the back while I disable their security. Once you see the lights go out hit fast and hard. Neutralize the telepaths first, then Captain Britain, Colossus and Rogue. Let the kids deal with most of it…unless you want to be cannon fodder as well."
She watched him nod and return to the group of untested young mutants Sinister had pulled from various gangs around the world. This would be their only audition for the big leagues of the Marauders-if they failed here then it was likely they would face prison or the X-Men would be scooping them into body bags. Of course if they weren't smart enough to die at the hands of the enemy Malice was quite willing to finish them off. It was the least she could do.
The shadows danced around her like a velvet cape bringing a smirk to Malice's lips-it felt good to be alive when there was carnage to wreak in the near future. Quickly, the smile died as Malice felt the flicker deep within her that meant her host's mind was trying to pay attention to world outside her prison. Growling under her breath Malice pushed Cypher down-the last thing she needed now was a fight for the body's control. In the face of her determination the spark of Cypher quieted down once more.
Satisfied that she was once more firmly in the driver's seat Malice nodded to Scalphunter-it was time.
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Standing in the dark Rouge couldn't help but feel Remy's presence weighing on her mind. Less than two feet away he stood watching the shadows around the main building move with the breeze and every inch of open space between them made the Gothic Belle's skin crawl. Down in the Alley, Malice had given Rogue a good taste of her powers and Rogue didn't think it cowardly to fear a rematch. After all Malice's abilities allowed her to strike Rogue in the one place she was still vulnerable-her mind.
Only one thing could ease the acidic lump of cold, hard fear-had made all of her worries and uncertainties disappear. Remy's love. In his arms Rogue felt complete and drunk or not Pete Wisdom had a point. Either she loved him or she didn't. If she did then that meant trusting him and letting him trust her. Neither of them had been doing well in that department lately.
Coughing softly, Rogue lifted her emerald eyes to meet Remy's, "Rem…"
Moving with the silence granted him by his thieves training Remy closed the distance between them and lifted on gloved finger to her lips. Deep down Rogue could feel a piece of her heart melt at the simple gesture-one of the many ways he found to sneak under her shields-like her powers didn't matter to him. That maybe he had been telling the truth when he had said he loved her.
Even in the near darkness Rogue could see a glimmer of tears in his eyes as Remy leaned in as close as he could without touching her, "Je sais mon amour…Je sais."
If they hadn't been inside Rogue would have said it was rain running down her face as she collapsed into Remy's arms, drowning herself in his fierce hug.
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"I like don't need a babysitter," Kitty glared through the glass of her containment cell at the dark haired man casually lounging at Moira's chair smoking a cigarette, "Especially not one that smokes."
The man shrugged his shoulders and inhaled deeper-it reminded Kitty of the way Remy would bait Rogue with his smoking when they first began dating. "'Fraid it isn't up to you Ducks…doctor's orders…can't let anything happen to you while you can't defend yourself."
Nearly growling Kitty smacked the glass with her hand; she couldn't stay cooped up any longer or she'd go insane. It seemed wrong to stay behind while the others fought Cypher…Malice. Kitty had just as many reasons as the others to fight her-and unlike Cyclops and Jean she had been in the Alley. Katherine Pryde owed Malice one-not just for her own injury; but for Kurt's and Piotr's not to mention Evan's death.
All she had to do was get out of her cell and away from her impromptu jailer, "I don't have to defend myself out there…everything goes right fucking through me."
"Language, ducks…" He grinned looking Kitty up and down as if she were a fine cut of beef, "Nice girls like you don't say words like that."
"Why the fuck not?"
The man stood and moved closer to the glass so that Kitty could see right into his bright blue eyes-what was it with her and dark haired blue eyed guys? "Cause you're good girls?"
"Try again Asshole." Kitty put her hands on her hips and continued glaring at him finally understanding Rogue's fondness for the expression-it got more done than a smile and a sunny disposition.
"Now luv if you don't clean up that potty mouth of yours old Pete's gonna 'ave to take you over his knee…" a dangerous glimmer appeared in his eyes and Kitty knew she didn't want to push the Brit any further.
Changing her method Kitty smiled at him seductively and pressed against the glass, "Then you'd have to come in here and get me. Or are you afraid to?"
"I'm not afraid Ducks."
Kitty cocked her head to the side and frowned gently thanking God and her inability to draw for
all her years of drama in school, "Oh…I thought that's why you got assigned to
watch me…that you couldn't handle Malice."
Pete frowned and moved closer to the glass causing Kitty to nearly hop with excitement. He looked her up and down again but this time his expression was thoughtful, "Ducks, what the hell you have got against this Malice that you're willing to seduce me to fight her. She steal your boyfriend?"
Kitty drew back as if he had slapped her and frowned-it was too close to the truth for her comfort, "Just let me out. You're probably spoiling for a fight too…come on…they can't hurt me. When it comes to fighting Malice they might need our help."
For a second it looked like Pete was weighing his options and Kitty held her breath in hope. Time stretched out like taffy as she waited for him to make up his mind. Finally, he moved to the door to her containment cell and punched in the code to open it. "Don't make me regret this Pryde."
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She could feel barely restrain her joy as the Keeper's iron control began to loosen as it had the first time she had taken control. Stalking around the mental representation of her bedroom Asli tried to calm herself and prepare. After long last she had found the Keeper's weakness…every time she gave herself up to her blood lust her control weakened just enough. If Asli could focus her strength enough she might be able to fight the Keeper for possession of their body.
Forcing herself to sit Asli began focusing-it was time to show just who was the boss around here.
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Moving her right arm in a wide arc Malice slashed her asp at Psylocke as the violet haired ninja opened herself up to deliver a roundhouse kick to Malice's head. The baton connected with the telepath's knee and sent her stumbling to the ground in a heap. Malice smiled as she moved closer standing above her prey-death would serve the other woman for thinking that she could walk away from Malice a second time.
Kneeling next to Psylocke, Malice put her hands on either side of her head and began redirecting the pain from the injury back into her mind and amplifying it by ten. A rush of pleasure shot through Malice's body as the Brit began to scream in pain. The wails of agony combined with the sounds of battle to create the finest symphony the Empath had ever heard.
Things weren't going exactly as she had planned them. Some one had warned the X-Men of the attack and they had been waiting for Malice and the Nasty Boys when they had gotten within feet of the research center. It was no concern to Malice-she would find the leak and plug them up once she finished bathing in the blood of Betsy Braddock. It was the least Malice could do since the girl had triggered her host's awakening.
"Scream loud…" Malice jerked away as she
felt Cypher crash against the mental blocks she was using to keep her host in
place. "Noooooooo!"
Betsy Braddock watched from the ground as Malice drew away eyes flashing black then grey then back to black as the personalities within warred for control once more.
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Tensing Asli approached the bars the Keeper had been using to trap her and eyed them confidently for the first time since she had awoken. Now was not a time to doubt her strength. Shaking out her hands and forcing herself to relax, Asli brought her palms to rest against the metal. At first she nearly screamed in pain-the bars were icy cold-if she had had skin it would be fused and bloody.
Her lip between her teeth Asli bit back her pain and pushed with all her might. Slowly, the bars lost the icy teeth; warming up match her 'body' temperature. Encouraged, Asli gathered more of her will together and pushed harder. The bars began to bend. When she had bent the bars far enough Asli stepped out of her prison cell and back into her own body.
"Bitch!" The pure hatred of the Keeper's presence fell like a shadow, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
If a mental representation could laugh Asli did as the Keeper stormed towards her red eyes blazing like a child having it's favourite toy taken away. "From you I doubt that's an insult. And in case it isn't obvious I'm taking MY body back."
The Keeper crouched in a fighting stance, "Over my dead body."
This time Asli did laugh, "If that's how you want it."
Moving with a speed she could never have managed outside in the real world Asli attacked driving her fist into the Keeper's solarplexes.
It only took seconds for the Keeper to recover and shoot a hand forward to backhand Asli across the face sending her head rocking backwards. Time disappeared as the opponents faced off ready for the next volley. A smile wreathing her face Asli waved the Keeper forward-this was one fight she had left far too long.
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Rogue spun as an inhuman howl ripped through the battlefield din-she, Colossus and Captain Britain had made short work of the so called 'Nasty Boys' and now only a few dedicated fools were throwing themselves forward. She could see Psylocke on the ground cradling her knee in obvious pain but the scream wasn't coming from her-it belonged to Malice. A quick uppercut dispatched Rogue's foe and she took to the air to help Psylocke.
"Are you okay?" Rogue asked as she touched down next to the Brit.
Psylocke nodded biting her lip gently, "Fine thanks but I'm not so sure about your friend there."
Turning Rogue watched Malice fall to her knees with her hands to her head that unearthly scream still streaming from her open mouth. A shudder ran down Rogue's spine-no human should ever have to make sounds that tortured. Kneeling to help Psylocke to her feet Rogue frowned, "Can you get anything off her? I mean is she alright?"
"I hope so…" Psylocke grimaced in pain, "She almost killed me again…"
"Then Asli is fighting her again." Neither woman had heard Colossus appear behind them.
The hopeful look in Piotr's deep eyes kept Rogue from any cautionary tales about chickens and eggs counted before hatching. It was the first time in a long time she had seen pure happiness shining from ever pore of the Russian's body. Rogue frowned as she felt a twinge of pity for Kitty-as much as Piotr had tried he was a one woman man and he had given his heart long before getting involved with…
"Isn't that Shadowcat?" Psylocke asked poking Rogue in the side, "Wonder what the silly git said to Pete to let her out?"
Rogue returned to the real world to watch Kitty approach Malice; who was busy rocking back and forward on her heels still keening. Things happened so fast that even later rogue couldn't be sure of the exact chain of events. Piotr cried out Kitty's name and began walking towards her, Kitty looked up one hand outstretched and Malice stopped screaming.
Watching in horror Rogue noticed that Asli's eyes were their natural smoky grey, wide and aware; they lit on Piotr's hulking form and a genuine smile formed on the pointed elfin face. Asli began to rise to her feet without paying attention to the fact that Kitty's intangible hand was right above her head, "Pi…"
The words were cut off as the two girls collided. Kitty's hand entered Asli's head and the returned hacker's eyes glazed over. Rogue could barely hear Asli's limp body hitting the ground over the sound of her own scream.
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It was plain to see that the Keeper was tiring, Asli's determination was giving her energy to spare as she refused to give the other entity time to catch it's metaphorical breath. How long had she been stuck in her own mind while this creature ran rampant? What had it done? Summoning that vast well of unanswered questions Asli leapt and spun her back leg into a high kick catching the Keeper across the face.
The black skinned being fell to the ground panting at Asli's feet-defeated. Moving in Asli took hold of the Keepers' head and spun it around. If they had been in the real world the move would have broke her opponent's neck but here in the mindscape the Keeper simply became a cloud of smoke and disappeared. "That was anti-climatic." Asli shrugged to herself.
Awareness of her body began to flow back into her like a long dammed river looking for an ocean. Asli soaked up every nuance of returning to control. She could feel real ground beneath her knees, smell rich, salty sea air, hear the remains of a pitched battle dying down. Taking in a deep breath Asli opened her eyes.
His shining blue eyes caught her's the minute she opened them-the last thing Asli had expected about returning was the possibility that Piotr would be there waiting for her. Loving her still. Blinking back tears Asli shakily began to rise to her feet paying no heed to her surroundings; being back in his arms was the only thing that mattered.
"Pi…"
A strange feeling began in her head as Asli tried to stand. The last thing Asli was aware of as she hit the ground once more was that the neural cortex implant in her head had short circuited.
The world went black again.
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DUNDUNDUN!!!!!!!!!!
How's that for an ending my loyal fans? Am I evil enough? At least I got Remy and Rogue back together. I realized the other day that I started this in January…I'm sorry for taking so long I really am.
So will Asli live? Will rogue and Remy stay together? Better yet will Kitty and Piotr? I guess you all have to wait until I write the rest to find out.
As always the song doesn't belong to me…it's Evanescence's "My Last Breath"…yes I finally broke down and got out my Evanescence CD….
Evanescence – My Last Breath
Hold on to me love
You know I can't stay long
All I wanted to say was
I love you and I'm not afraid
Can you hear me?
Can you feel me in your arms
Holding my last breath?
Safe inside myself
Are all my thoughts of you
Sweet rapture and life,
It ends here tonight.
I'll miss the winter
A world of fragile things
Look for me in the white forest
Hiding in a hollow tree
I know you hear me,
I can taste it in your tears.
Holding my last breath
Safe inside myself
Are all my thoughts of you.
Sweet rapture and life,
It ends here tonight.
Closing your eyes
You pray your dreams will leave you here,
But still you wake and know the truth -
No one's there.
Say goodnight, don't be afraid
Calling me, holding me, as you fade to black.
(Say goodnight) Holding my last breath
(Don't be afraid) Safe inside myself
(Holding me) Are my thoughts of you
Sweet rapture and life,
It ends here tonight.
And so the reviews
Ish – No need to hunt me down now…I fixed the Romy…it just means making Piotr's life more miserable than it already is. I know when we talked about it I was going to make that big cliffy more Kitty's fault…but I figured I have her swearing that's enough OOC…I know you've read the rough copies of most of this but your reviews are still appreciated. I'm glad you like my Scooter…I'd have to change him to write him…or I'd have killed him off in the second story….although I was going to give him a larger role originally. I'm glad I changed my mind.
Star of Chaos – Yeah I don't think there's an exact time line here…it jump around a bit…but I shall heed your sage advice. I think Rogue/Pete Wisdom could be interesting…not here as you said but interesting…maybe I'll use it in Wild Horses once I get around to writing the next chapter to that one.
Shal - So it wasn't as long between updates here…I've been insanely busy in the RW…damn that having a job….if I didn't have to pay bills I'd write all the itme. Maybe I just need a sugar daddy…know any?
Sliver – Thanks for your honest feedback. You will be more than happy to know that Storm gets a pivotal part in the next story. I hope you'll stick around to read it.
Pixie Flyer – I'M ALIVE!!! Yes indeed. Don't cry…I brought you fan fictiony goodness. I promise more Pete/Kitty in the future. I swear on my rainbow suspenders.