X-Men: Evolution
THE PRICE YOU PAY
a fanfic by JetNoir
CHAPTER FIVE
CAPE VERDE ISLANDS
Storm was simply astounded when she managed to get to the rendezvous so quickly – and yet the Velocity had beaten her to it. Mind you, it was not as if she could really compete with the supersonic plane.
She was panting furiously at the exertion of her powers, indeed, she was absolutely exhausted and Scott – who was piloting – had to help her board.
They were soon on their way back to Bayville, but in the delicate matter of time for the present, none but Irene Adler could possibly know what was going to happen next.
THE INSTITUTE
They were alone in the Mansion. Professor Charles Xavier sat quietly, opposite their anonymous benefactor. The Professor realised, that this in fact could be an even more complicated endgame of Apocalypse's – indeed, they were putting all their faith in this man – and if he turned out to be a current servant of Apocalypse, instead of a disillusioned one – then Kitty's life was as good as lost. Xavier was not a religious man, believing in humanity to deliver itself.
If he believed it would make any difference whatsoever, he would have begun to pray.
Due to the portal that had sounded less than an hour ago, the mansion's current state of desertion was due to the fact he had sent Logan, Jean, Kurt, and Hank to deal with the situation. The Professors only defence was Rogue, patiently waiting in another room. The New Mutant's had been evacuated – their was no way they could face Apocalypse at this time. However, they were also backup. If the X-Men were to fail…they would be the last chance.
The Professor wished he knew where Apocalypse was now…but the trail had run cold months ago. Now, they could merely sit and wait.
And wait.
KITTY
Puzzlingly, a cold wind was blowing fiercely into Cerebro. Kitty Pryde was sitting with her back to the console, hugging her knees.
She looked up from the semi-slumber her brain resided in, since she had found herself unable to go to sleep after the horrific nightmare she had had. There was a tiny gap in the middle of the two doors – bent out of recognition, by something extremely large hitting it with its body on a rather frequent basis.
Kitty could see the pale, slimy yellow of its skin through the dark light emanating behind hit.
There was no way out. Nothing above. Nothing below. She could feel her world compressing inwards, and slowly she realised what this place was.
An illusion. Whether it was Apocalypse tormenting her, or some strange twisted logic, it finally made perfect sense. When she had arrived into this ether, she hadn't been able to leave the gates of the Mansion, and the world was slowly turning inwards…collapsing. So what would happen when it finally went completely?
Perhaps she would be the first human being to see what Hell truly looked like.
There was no way out.
KUNLUN MOUNTAINS somewhere nr TIBET
The Demon had not traversed far in an hour; indeed it had not even left the cave it had appeared in, so when The Blackbird landed outside, the X-Men were relieved to find that at least something had gone right in this twisted trial.
"What if it doesn't speak English?" asked Nightcrawler, as the four gazed at the monstrosity in front of them.
"You sure as hell had better pray that it speaks German then, elf," snarled Wolverine, unleashing his claws, fighting to control his rapidly losing temper.
"Where's Kitty?" shouted the Beast, "What have you done with our friend?"
"It's strange," said Jean, "I'm trying to link with it's mind…but there's just a hole there. It's nothing. Purely empty."
The Demon just stood through this exchange, glaring, and snarling. In less than a second it had leaped onto Wolverine, knocking him flying.
Surprised by this unexpected move, Jean reacted instinctively, and wrapped the demon in a telekinetic bubble, ripping it off the ground, and hovering it in the air. Logan leaped straight up, and sunk his claws, deep into its sides. Kurt used this to fly at the Demon, but it twisted throwing Wolverine off, and catching Kurt with such force that Kurt was thrown into a wall, falling to the ground – unconscious. The Beast leaped up, and grabbed the Demon, throwing it to the floor. Jean, freed of telekinetic bubble, dashed over to Kurt, checking he was okay. Logan walked over to the Demon and simply stuck his claws into the Demon's throat, killing it mercilessly.
Hank McCoy winced at the barbarity of Logan's actions, but he realised the cold logic of them. They could not say how they could reactivate the portal, to send it back, and they couldn't just imprison it, or release to an unsuspecting world.
Hank got up, and nodded sadly, then going to Kurt, picking him up, they walked silently back to the Blackbird.
What none of them saw, was the Demon dissolving some time later, in a hiss of yellow pus – until nothing was left, but a dark symbol that glowed menacingly on the floor.
THE INSTITUTE
When Cerebro announced the rift had been closed Charles Xavier looked at The Man and smiled.
"You have a good team," The Man said. I really didn't think they would have been able to handle it."
It was another hour before Ororo Munroe arrived, shaken and exhausted.
"What is it?" she demanded, "What has happened?" The Professor told her the entire story, and explained the presence of The Man.
"But why me?" she asked, extremely confused.
"Because of your power," The Man explained, "you have the ability to control the elements of this world. Might I ask, have you ever produced ball-lightning before?" Ororo nodded slowly.
"Once or twice."
"Good. Now I need you to follow my instructions exactly. If everyone could stand back?" He led Ororo gently in front of a wall, and positioned himself, Scott and The Professor behind her.
"I'm afraid this may damage the interior design!" The Man said softly. Xavier shook his head.
"I don't care. As long as it gets Kitty back."
"Okay-dokey. Now, Ororo. Please focus a ball-lightning…about the size of a basketball…on that wall please."
Ororo's eyes turned snow-white as she stretched her arms out in front of her. Small flickers of lightning flickered over her uniform, and in the room, as a ball of white-hot energy manifested in front of her.
"Now," The Man said, "overload it!"
"WHAT!" screamed Ororo with the effort of talking, "That'll kill us all!"
"Just do it!" snapped The Man.
'Ororo,' came the Professors voice in her head, 'I trust him.'
"I sincerely hope that you are right Charles," said Storm, as she poured energy into the ball. Grunting slightly with the effort she staggered back, but the ball continued to grow larger.
"Keep going!" The Man said, "Almost there!"
A high pitched whining filled the room, five seconds before the ball-lightning exploded, throwing everyone off their feet, and filling the room with intense, hot light.
"God!" murmured The Professor, as he saw in front of him.
The wall was still there, but it was shimmering – like a vertical pool of water.
On the other side stood a very surprised Shadowcat.
"Kitty Pryde!" yelled The Man, leaping to his feet, "Jump! For God's sake JUMP!"
KITTY
She could see through the shadow.
Kitty turned with shock as a large explosion ripped into Cerebro, replacing the circular wall with a shimmering…field of some sorts.
She could see The Professor, Storm and Scott, who were with a strange man; and it was this man that shouted instructions.
"Kitty Pryde! Jump! For God's sake JUMP!"
With the sound of screeching metal, the door of Cerebro was flung inwards, and three snarling…demons stood there, spittle dropping from their open mouths.
Kitty twisted, and jumped towards the wall, but she was not quick enough to escape the Demon's razor-sharp, 10cm claws that plunged violently into her unprotected back. She screamed, and unconsciously twisted sideways, ripping the claws off the demons hand, and fell toward the real world.
EGYPT
He could tell instantly what had happened, and raising his bulk to upright, he threw his head back and roared – a primal screech of hatred and disgust.
Apocalypse had failed in his task.
He was determined that this would never happen again.
THE INSTITUTE
The world shook, as the massive energy it had taken to open the portal dissipates, and the Demons behind the veil disappear.
The way between worlds had been closed.
But at what cost?
Kitty Pryde – Shadowcat – stood in front of her astonished friends, and a smile illuminates her beautiful face.
"Safe," she croaks softly, and then falls to the floor – dead to the world…
Note: Please, please keep reading!
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for the character of Kitty Pryde, or any of the X-Men (put that down to Stan 'The Man' Lee, and everyone who have been involved with the X-Men!). The TV series 'X-Men Evolution is copyright to Warner Brothers and the story to me. This story has been written on the understanding that you may read it and print it out; but you may not pass it off as your own, hire it out, or sell it for money. You also may not put it on your own or any other web page without my express written permission. Thankyou!
JetNoir