The Prince of Thieves
Chapter XXXII: Junior X-men to the Rescue
By: Michelle
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DISCLAIMER: I don't own the X-men. I just write fanfics for fun.
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Juggernaut looked around to see five X-men standing around him. Ooo, more fun. He eyed them up. His suit of mystical red metal body armor protected him. Bands were wrapped around his biceps and fists. His helmet was fastened in place by 4 latches.
Rogue held a fighting stance in her green and yellow uniform and her hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Iceman's cold exterior sent chills in the air.
Jubilee flipped her pink tinted sunglasses up and felt her hands tingle as they began sparkling.
Colossus stood tall and proud in his metal form.
Then, there was the one hidden in the corner shuffling cards.
"Charles, I didn't know you had babies fighting for you too." Juggernaut said seeing how young they were compared to the fallen X-men. "Don't worry. I'll change their diapers for you." He said throwing Xavier back into his wheelchair. Then, he turned to the Junior X-men. "Now who do you think you are to challenge me?"
"Iceman."
"Jubilee."
"Colossus."
"Rogue."
Gambit remained silent still shuffling his cards.
"How cute?" They even got codenames." Juggernaut said. "Guess it'll make it easier to identify their bodies."
"De only one who be about ta fall is ya." Gambit said as he stopped shuffling.
Juggernaut eyed him up real good. He looked like Cyclops, but then again he wasn't. Cain wasn't the brightest bulb in the pack but he knew Cyclops had to have a visor to control his powers. He really doubted Xavier could make ruby contacts. Plus, Cyclops didn't wear a trenchcoat. "And who do you think you are?"
Remy smirked. "I don't believe we ever met, Marko. De name is Gambit."
"That name is almost as dumb as you accent…How about if I just call ya 'loser'?" Juggernaut replied sarcastically.
Gambit chuckled. "How 'bout I leave ya wit something ta remember my name wit?" He said and held out a single card in his hand. "My card " He said and clung it at him.
Juggernaut looked at the card flinging before him. It was an Ace of Cubs with a disturbing pink glow to it. He really didn't understand why it was pink until it hit the ground.
KABOOM
Juggernaut stumbled back. Who did that punk think he was to do something like that to him? He regained his balance and focused on Remy. "You're gonna pay for that."
"Yeah, den put it on my bill."
"You're a cocky one aren't you?" Juggernaut said. "You actually think you can defeat me." He said reminding him of all the fallen.
Wolverine was still under the fallen entertainment center.
Nightcrawler was still lying on his back in pain.
Storm stood up slowly ready to take another beating. She leaned on one of the posts. "You have to take his helmet off."
Gambit nodded and signaled the team to move in.
Iceman decided to make the first move. "You know what they say. The bigger they are…" He jumped forward and kicked Juggernaut in the chest. He didn't do anything but bounce off.
"The more bones they break." Jubilee said sarcastically.
Iceman looked up to see that was the stupidest thing he ever did. He rolled out of the way before Juggernaut slammed his foot down on him.
"Whoa." Jubilee exclaimed.
"My turn." Colossus charged him and took a swing.
Juggernaut caught the punch and laughed. "Bet you think you're a touch one." He said. "You need more training from Charles." He swung him into Professor Xavier knocking him out of his wheelchair and onto the hard floor.
"Professor." Rogue rushed to his side.
Storm saw what happened and was tired of Juggernaut's unwelcome visit. "Juggernaut." She called to him as her eyes glazed over white.
BRAKOOM
Juggernaut turned to see Storm ready for another round. "I thought I finished you earlier."
"Not quite." Storm replied as lightning flashed behind her brightening up the room.
Juggernaut laughed. "Nice light show, but you look tired." He said and picked up the largest object he could find. "Why don't you relax on the couch while I take care of business?" He said and threw it at her.
Storm counterattacked by thrusting a hard gust of wind at flying couch sending it back towards him.
Juggernaut slammed it with his fist knocking it back to her as if he was playing ping-pong. The couch spit into two pieces as it flew one on each side of her.
Each piece slammed into the wall behind her causing it to crumble. Storm looked up and all her fears took control. No. No. As the pieces fell around her, the walls seemed to close in. "NOOO!"
"Stormy." Gambit looked at the cards in his hand. He had to do something.
Meanwhile…
"Professor, are you alright?" Rogue asked as he lay on the ground.
"I'm fine Rogue." He propped himself on his elbows looking at his useless legs. "You need to help the others." He said feeling all his X-men fall before him.
"How." Rogue was confused. She knew this wasn't a training session. This was the real thing. Out of everyone's powers, hers seemed to be useless. "It's not like I can fly or punch through walls."
"You are part of a team." Xavier reminded her. "All of you are. You need to find a way to work together."
During that…
Jubilee ducked and crawled in between Juggernaut's legs. That was close.
Where'd she go? Juggernaut spun around only to be hit in the eyes with a blast of sparks.
"Now."
Bobby created an ice slide over his head. With Juggernaut temporarily blinded, he reached for the helmet.
Click
Even though he couldn't see, he could still hear clearly. Someone unlatched a latch of his helmet. He swung around wildly knowing sooner or later he was going to hit something.
Bobby jumped off his slide and slid off on another just before Juggernaut smashed the ice beneath him.
Juggernaut regained his sight and looked at the shards of ice. He kicked some of the large chunks aside.
Colossus made the next effort to unlatch the helmet. He threw punches and blocked others, yet even with his strength it didn't seem to do much good.
Tired of this, Juggernaut laughed and backhanded him. "Who's next?" He asked as Colossus landed on the other side of the room.
Gambit steamed as he thought about what Juggernaut did to his 'Stormy'. "I am."
"The cocky one." Cain laughed. "Let's see if you can hold up to that big mouth of yours. So far, you've done nothing but watch."
"Oh trust me." Gambit replied. "I can talk the talk and walk the walk." He eyed up Juggernaut as he shuffled his cards. "But I'm a gambling man by nature."
Heheh. "Hence the name Gambit."
"Gee, and I thought ya'd be dumb."
Juggernaut steamed. It was one thing to talk back to him, but it was another thing to insult him. "I'm gonna make you wish you never opened that hole in your face."
"Like to see you try." Gambit said challenging him.
Juggernaut charged forward. "Have it your way." The ground shook like an earthquake with every step he took.
Gambit flung a handful of charged cards at him.
KABOOM
KABOOM
KABOOM
"Is that all you can do?" Juggernaut laughed and tried to step on him. "I've seen that trick already."
Gambit rolled out of the way, but his trench coat got caught under Juggernaut's foot. Shit. He quickly slipped out of it, leaving it charged for impact.
KABOOM
Juggernaut fell to his knees.
Gambit jumped on his back quickly putting his thieving fingers to work.
Click
Click
Juggernaut grabbed his casted arm and slammed him on the floor in front of him
Damn. Gambit felt his body ache. I'm gonna feel that in the morning. He rolled out of the way again to avoid Juggernaut's fist from slamming into him. You'd think he was trying to kill me.
"Stay still." Juggernaut fussed as Gambit kicked at him. "You're only making me angry. You won't like me angry."
"Oh Please." Gambit landed another kick at his head. "Ya ain't no Hulk."
Time for a new game. Juggernaut grabbed Gambit by the neck and pinned him against the wall.
Gambit's face turned red as Juggernaut tightened his grip. With one hand trying to loosen the grip, he reached out towards the helmet with the other. Almost there. Almost there. He stretched and ground his teeth as he tapped it. I can't unlock it. Damnit. I can almost. He touched the latch with his finger. I may not be able to unlatch it, but I can sure charge it.
His eyes blazed red as the latch began to glow pink. You're going to be in for a surprise fucker.
Juggernaut could see the redness in Gambit's face and eyes. "Looks like you lost this bet." He said ready to snap his neck.
Storm pushed the last piece of debris out of her way leaving her an opening. With her body shaking, she crawled through to gasp at the scene before her.
"I…never…lose…" Gambit said and pulled his hand from the latch.
KABOOM
The last latch exploded leaving Juggernaut's helmet loose upon his shoulders. When he tried to relatch it, he found that the latch was too damaged to do so. "You're gonna pay." He fussed and began slamming Gambit back and forth against the wall.
Gambit felt a surge of pain flow throughout his body and his head pounded. I'm sorry. His eyes dulled as he took one last look at Storm. I'm so sorry. He mouthed and everything went black.
Juggernaut tossed Gambit aside like a rag doll. He was just one less X-men he had to deal with.
Rogue steamed. That was my friend. She tore off her flung them to the floor. No more miss nice girl.
"You better watch it girlie." Juggernaut said as he eyed the angry white streaked teen that stood before him. "Or you're gonna be next."
"I'll take my chances."
"Suit yourself." Juggernaut replied taking a swing at her.
Rogue ducked as the punch swung over her head. As if in slow motion, she looked up to see the large fist that could have crushed her easily, but her opportunity to take him down. Bare Flesh. With lightning speed, she grabbed his bare flesh in between his crimson bands and held on with everything she had.
Juggernaut laughed as he lifted her up. "Cute." He said as she hung there. "And what's your power."
Rogue smirked at him. "My power is your power."
'Ha." Juggernaut laughed until he felt it. His arm where her hands touched his flesh began to tingle. What the?
Rogue felt his power surge through her. It was different than anything she had felt before. His powers were mystical and his mind was driven by anger. Between the two, it gave Cain Marko the power to be the ultimate Juggernaut.
"What are you doing to me?" Juggernaut said falling to his knees. He couldn't understand it. He was so weak, but he was a juggernaut.
"Bobby." Rogue yelled to him. 'Now."
"I'm on it." Iceman said freezing Juggernaut on the ground.
"Jubes."
PAFS
Using her 'fireworks', Jubilee knocked off Juggernaut's helmet.
"No." Juggernaut hollered knowing it was his undoing. With the rest of his strength, he flung Rogue away from him and smashed free from the ice that held him in place. He stood back up to find Colossus ready to put him in his place.
Colossus blocked several punches thrown at him. He swung back nailing one to Juggernaut's face.
Juggernaut stepped back gaining his balance. He actually felt that hit. Whatever Rogue had done to him, weakened his powers. So, out of anger, he grabbed Colossus before he got another hit in and threw him at the 3 Junior X-men trying to protect Xavier. Like a bowling ball knocking over pins, the Junior X-men were knocked completely off their feet.
Seeing the fallen, Juggernaut turned his attention on the one person he came to confront. Charles Xavier. Without his helmet, he was vulnerable to a mental attack. He had to destroy Charles in order to win…in order to seek his revenge.
"Professor." Storm helped him up.
"Storm." Xavier looked at her face. She was always good at hiding her fears and her pain. He knew he had to do something quick. He leaned on her with one arm around her shoulder.
"Charles."
Xavier looked at Juggernaut storming towards him without his helmet on. Cain was his stepbrother. Although he was his enemy and sought nothing but revenge on him, Xavier cared for him. Cain was the closest family he had left and he hated to do what he was about to do. "I'm sorry Cain. I wish there was another way."
Cain braced his hands on the side of his head
"Hi. I'm Charles." Young Charles greeted. "You must be Cain my new brother."
"Stepbrother." Cain corrected. "And don't you forget it."
"Do you want to play a game?" Charles asked ignoring Cain's attitude.
"Sure." Cain replied. "Hey, but first let me show you a trick. Look at my hand squirt."
"Ok."
THWAK
Cain popped him in his face. "That'll teach you not to stand around with your dumb looking face hanging out."
XXX
"I told you to be nice to Charles." Cain's father fussed.
"I'm being nice." Cain replied. "I can't help it the little pip squeak is a dork."
His father folded his arms not amused by the comment at all. "You are going to end up ruining everything, aren't you?"
Cain didn't reply.
"I guess you are just going to have to go to boarding school."
XXX
"Cain." Charles said as they were horseback riding through the property. "Why didn't you come home for the summer?"
"Cuz I didn't want to hang out with a dork like you." Cain replied ugily.
Charles wasn't buying it one bit especially after feeling this sharp pain in his head.
"Father won't let me come home." Cain steamed as he pounded his pillow. "He loves Charles more than me."
"No he doesn't."
"What? I didn't say anything." Cain thought for a moment feeling the invasion. "Hey."
"I'm sorry.' Charles apologized. "I didn't mean it. It was an accident."
"You were in my mind."
"I didn't mean it. I promise." Charles pleaded. "I can't control it some times."
"You're one of them muties."
"Huh, but I…"
"Mutie."
XXX
In Korea while their unit was under attack, Charles chased Cain into a cave. What they stumbled onto was the ruins of the Temple of Cyttorak. Charles looked around the cave reading the inscriptions on the wall. It's a warning.
Cain spotted the ruby in the center of the room.
"Cain." Charles turned seeing his brother heading towards the ruby. "Don't."
'Out of my way." Cain said as they both began to scramble after it.
"Cain Stop."
Cain pushed his stepbrother aside and touched the ruby. Whosoever touches this gem…
"Cain." Charles looked up as the ceiling of the cave began cracking.
"…shall possess the power of the Crimson bands of Cyttorak!"
Pieces began to fall all around him. "Cain, we need to get out of here."
"Henceforth, you who read these words shall become…"
"Cain."
"…forevermore…"
Charles took one last look around. "Cain come on."
"…a human…"
Charles stared at Cain. He wasn't listening, so re turned and made a run for it as the cave collapsed.
"…Juggernaut."
Charles looked at the opening of the cave. It was sealed shut and Cain was still inside.
XXX
"You left me." Cain exclaimed as he smashed through the walls of the newly founded school.
"I thought you were dead."
"Bet you wish I was now." Cain said and laughed as Charles tried to penetrate his mind. "Problems Charles. Or did I forget to tell you. I'm a Juggernaut. No one can stop me."
"We shall see Cain." Xavier said. "X-men."
XXX
"You did what you had to do." Scott said to Xavier.
"I know." Charles replied staring at the tank with Cain safely inside. "But he is my brother Scott."
"I understand Professor." Scott nodded. "But if you didn't do this, Juggernaut would be loose and hurting others."
"I know." Charles sighed. "Can you give me a moment?"
"Sure."
Charles waited until Scott completely left the room before he wheeled over to the tank. "Cain." He placed his hand on the glass and stared up at the figure. "I'm sorry I had to do this to you. Maybe in time, you will forgive me. Maybe in time, we can act like a family." His hand slid off the glass and he hung his head. "I'm sorry."
"Get out of my head." Juggernaut hollered as he struggled to get to Xavier.
"Hurry Professor." Storm said backing them up.
Xavier concentrated hard. It hurt him to feel what Cain was feeling about him…about his father…about everything. Cain was a very disturbed soul, but who was to blame. Had anyone besides himself try to understand the hurt and the anger that filled his soul.
Juggernaut stumbled around as he reached for Charles, but he knew it was over. He fell hard to the ground sending vibrations around the room. He landed face side up with his arm outstretched to Charles feet. He heard Charles apology and his eyes shut signaling that it was all over.
Everyone was silent as the room seemed to spin around. The entertainment was still fallen pinning down Wolverine. Nightcrawler still lay on his back in and out of unconsciousness from his pain. Jubilee and Colossus looked around in awe. Rogue shook and panicked as she felt Cain's anger. In turn, Iceman massaged her shoulders trying to coax him into calming down. Gambit still lay unconscious with blood rolling down the side of his head.
Then, there laid Cain in the center of it all. His large unconscious form was peaceful and innocent looking. The man who was supposed to be invulnerable, ever powerful, and unstoppable had ironically been stopped.
Storm kept Xavier up knowing this had been one of the hardest things he had to do, especially to his brother.
Then, Xavier broke the dead silence that had taken over the room. "I'm sorry Cain."
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Alright, that's the end of Chapter 32. The countdown begins: two chapters left. That's right. Only two chapters to go.
Cain and Charles flashback encounters were based on and quoted from X-men (1st series) #12, X-men Forever #4, and the X-men cartoon from the 1990s.
Gambit and Juggernaut's encounter was quoted from Uncanny X-men #334
Thanks to simonluke26 for the quotes and help with the writing process.
Thanks for all the reviews. See you all next chapter.
Michelle
