Eclipse

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Disclaimer: see previous chapters for details.

//are thoughts **telepathic speech [You guys know the drill.]

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Chapter 3

After depositing the doctor with an old friend of Wolverine's and removing the formula from his mind. It didn't take her long afterwards to make her rendezvous with Mrs. Brawn. Paige met her in the parlor. 'Money was agreeing with Paige.' Jubilee snorted. The woman looked like their former teammate Monet.

"Did you do as I instructed?" She asked hastily.

"Yes the doctor is alive and well taken care of." She smiled as she thought of the S.H.I.E.L.D. holding cell where she'd left him. "Here's the item you wanted. Now where is my payment?" Paige looked at the person before her hoping to catch even the smallest glimpse of the friend she remembered. The strong set of other woman's jaw and the look of disgust in her eyes told her that her friend was dead.

Paige just stiffened, and handed her the bag, as she began to speak. "Alright then if that is all our business is concluded." Eclipse accepted the money turned on her heels and vanished.

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The growl of a motorcycle ceased outside Kine Laboratories. The outside looked pretty normal but that didn't say much. As the wind change two scents intermingled. With an intake of air Wolverine's claws unsheathed to their deadly length. 'Sabretooth was here along with Jubilee.' Worry and anger clouded his judgment as he entered the lab.

Logan slowly made his way deeper into the building. As he neared a warped and blackened junction in the corridor Jubilee's scent became strongly intermingled with Sabretooth's. A noise from a mangled door drew his attention. It burst open and Sabretooth came barreling out right into Logan. Logan rolled with him unsheathing his claws into Sabretooth's chest.

Creed grabbed his wrists and slung Wolverine headlong into a wall. Creed stood his ground waiting for Logan to bounce back. The angry burnt patches he'd received from his fight with Eclipse were slowly healing. Logan glared at the mutant before him. The loose reign he held on the beast loosening. "What were you and Jubes doing here Creed?"

"A little bit of business before pleasure runt." Sabretooth said as he licked his lips suggestively. Logan roared as he charged Creed. "Come and get some!" Creed flexed his hands in anticipation. The thrill of blood lust evident the two men. Sections of the building fell as the mutants tore and ripped at each other. Creed continued to taunt Logan.

"…The frail finally got tired of the X-geeks. She found herself a real man." Logan pulled a metal strut loose and began beating Creeds head. Blood dripped from his mouth as he told Logan how he'd marked her as his property. The battle finally ended when the lights sparked of a gas explosion. Logan pulled himself from the burning wreck and onto his bike.

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Eclipse appeared outside the residence of Jonathan Starsmore a.k.a. Charles Evans. 'I hope this goes better than my reunion with the X-men.' She removed the obscuring mask of her nightcloak. The back door of the house seemed to be the best point of entry. 'Jono and I left on…well I won't say good terms but civil ones at least. {{If you consider civil to be calling him a traitor for not taking out M when he had the chance.}} Shut up you! He couldn't have done that any more than I could have. I know that now. {{If you say so. Just remember your family and friends have long memories.}} Aren't you just the happy ray of sunshine?'

It didn't take but a sec to pick the lock and enter the house. So far she hadn't been detected by anyone. 'It's not like I'm infiltrating a base or anything. I'm just visiting an old friend. {{Old friends usually use the front door.}}' She walked quietly past the door to the guestroom and stopped. Something had caught her attention. As she stepped back in front of the door three familiar women. Nicole and Claudia lay upon the beds as Monet looked over them. Her fluttered open as a sound caught her notice. Fear blossomed in the young woman's eyes as she looked into Jubilee's. Energy crackled cascading around Eclipse's hands as she stepped into the room. Tears welled up in Monet's eyes running down her face.

"Those crocodile tears won't save you."

A barely audible plea escaped her lips, "Take me but please don't harm them."

Eclipse narrowed her eyes as she took in the other woman's words and anger filled her eyes. She unclenched her fist and the blast flared from her palm and fingertips. Monet closed her eyes at the brightness of the discharge.

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TBC

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A/N: Read and Review.