My apologies that this has been SOOO long in coming! I finally have the ideas on how I'm going to finish it off. Please forgive me! I hope it's worth the wait! Revised when pointed out just what Jubes was doing at the X mansion...

Loose Ends

Chapter 11 Revised!

by Trynia Merin

"Beam them out!" came a crackling set of words.

"NO!" Kurt yelled. Rahne squealed as a Shi'ar transport beam wrapped them and they vanished from inside the base.

"What are you DOING?" he roared as he saw D'Marran in the transporter room. "You said we were to..."

"I apologize, Mr. Wagner... but we're surrounded by enemy vessels... we had to pull you out before..."

"Spaleen, you LIED!" Rahne screamed as she leapt onto D'marran and knocked him down. "You traitor... ye never MEANT us to get there at all!"

"What is the meaning of this!" Kurt yelled as guards rushed over and grabbed Rahne. She slashed back at them only to be crumpled by a stun beam.

"RRAAGH!" she roared, back arching as she landed.

"Unfortunately, we cannot allow you two to endanger us..." D'marran said sternly as he stepped back, and Nightcrawler wrestled in the grip of the two soldiers. "WE need you alive, Kurt Wagner."

"Why do you stop us? The plan was..."

"The plan was working well. We have accomplished what we needed, foolish earthling," D'marren laughed. "So trusting you were... do you REALLY think we would follow a pratorium Imperial Guardswoman to our deaths? Your pathetic little planet means little to us..."

"But you swore... the Empress Lilandra..."

"The Empress is not our true leader, fool. But the Princess Deathbird herself. She paid us WELL to stage this entire farce. So that Saturnine could take over your world. In return we gave her the X man Kitty Pryde as payment, and she will dispose of Cerise. The Empress Lilandra will get a report soon that Cerise perished trying to fulfill her mission..."

"How could you..."

"Simple. D'kandra, take us away. Bring back the other hostages..."

"But what of the others..."

"Leave them behind to Mastrex Saturnine. They are to be her pawns in the takeover of Earth. Once she secures it for us, then the real plans can begin..."

"And what would THAT be?" Nightcrawler demanded. He tried to teleport, but a sputter of Brimstone putted and he was immobilized.

"Oh, and if you try using your puny powers, be reminded that we have ways of neutralizing them. I would relax and enjoy the ride. Deathbird will enjoy seeing you again, X man..."

"Why me?"

"Because you were there to thwart her. But you won't be alone. Put him with the others..."

"You traitors!" Nightcrawler screamed as they dragged him off.

Kitty Pryde felt sweat pour down her forehead. She strained against the bindings on her wrists, only to find they were holding her body. An inhibitor collar squeezed against her neck provided the answer to why she remained bound. Someone had snared the Shadowcat, and there would be HELL to pay.

"My pretty Kitty how naughty of you to deny me," Saturnine laughed, caressing her cheek.

"Save it, bitch," Kitty hissed, turning her face and snapping with her teeth.

Saturnine laughed, shaking her head and licking the blood that dripped from Kitty's bite. She licked it thoughtfully and grinned. "My little cat has fangs. You were trained well by whoever, but you will not deny me the plans I have for you..."

"What is THAT?" Kitty snorted.

"You are my heir. The daughter I could never have. All this was a ruse to get YOU into my hands, away from that chain smoking limey you've become lovers with. What you see in him is apparent to me, but he was once in my thrall as well. We have the same taste in men..."

"Excuse me?" Kitty asked, blinking.

"Pete Wisdom is known to me before. Black Ops ran into Vixen, and I happened to take a liking to him. Although he pleased me, he was too smart for his own good..."

"Nice try, Satyr," Kitty laughed, shaking her head. "Trying to make me jealous is so pathetic."

"It was worth a shot," Saturnine shrugged, winking. "But I still say we are more alike. And this proves it."

"Only proves that you're pathetic. Please, hiding on an asteroid is so lame... to borrow a phrase from a certain X man..."

"HMMM I figured as much..."

"Now what?" Kitty snorted. "I'm tired of the head games, chick. Let's just get to it. You wanna use some mind tricks to get me going. Forget it sis..."

"You always WERE jealous of Jubilee, weren't you?"

"Excuse me?" Kitty blinked.

"Jubilee. That strike a nerve?"

"Don't see why? She's just some stupid KID."

"You always resented the fact that Jubilee was a replacement for you... weren't you?"

"Heh, not," said Kitty. "Give me a break."

"I know why you love Wisdom. He reminds you of your old mentor, does he not? I know ALL About you, how you trained in Japan... how a certain X man saved your soul from the darkness. That darkness is what makes us like mother and daughter, Kathryn Pryde. You deny the strength that it gives you. But I dug and I dug deep. All the dirty secrets you hide I know."

"So what? Don't know HOW reliable it is..."

"When I use the Hellfire club's secret database," Saturnine laughed. "Oh yes. I know all about your bond to that hairy excuse of an ex weapon X operative. There IS a resemblance between him and your boyfriend Wisdom."

"Yeah, it takes a genius to notice it," Kitty snorted. "Get on with it, and just stop yapping already. You're making my head hurt."

"Like father, like daughter... or in your case, like Wolverine, like Shadowcat," grinned Saturnine. "You are cut from the same cloth. And as such, even more the heir..."

"Tell me something I don't know," Kitty shook her head. "If this is brainwashing..."

"No, this is only the warm-up. I have many ways of getting what I want from you. Willingly or unwillingly. Unlike the vaunted Wolverine, you still haven't unleashed that same dark side of your soul. That which you bury, the feline Shadowcat. And I intend to draw that out of you. Making you realize that your self-serving ways are only going to leave you powerless and weak. When you could be forged of strength as I..."

"Dream on," Kitty said.

"Your choice. I think I'll leave you to think about it, while I attend to other details," said Saturnine. She blew Kitty a kiss and walked away. Sighing, Kitty Pryde closed her eyes and shook her head. Anger filled her, and she felt a twisting in her stomach. So this was all to lure her back to the crime lady's side. Yet her words should mean nothing, and yet the mention of her old mentor, and father figure dredged up painful emotions. And jealousy. Jealousy that he had taken on another young charge, a gum popping, smart aleck mall rat from So Cal with a nasty attitude.

"Can't let it bother me. I've got a mission," she murmured. Still the memories surfaced, of the mind warping and twisting at the hands of Ogun, and at the manipulations that Courtney Ross had imposed. Was it just her lack of sleep, or something else that was making her on edge? It seemed incredibly hot and tight, and she felt an urge to want to snap the chains and tear Saturnine's eyes out.

"Wait Kitty, you gotta grip your self-control... don't let her get to you... that's the first thing that Wolvie would say... remember?" she whispered. Angry tears dripped down her face and she felt an ache. The X men were no longer her team and yet there was the unresolved hurt and loss of Rachel. How many more teammates must she lose? And Kurt was perhaps in danger as well.

"My pretty birdie," Saturnine said as she grabbed Cerise's chin and turned her head this and that.

"Laugh now, woman, but when I am through," said Cerise.

"You think you're so tough, Amazon?" laughed Saturnine. "You would do best to join me than be a slave to your pathetic Shi'ar empress..."

"That is not your concern, primitive..."

"In my dimension I was Majestrix, and I ruled worlds with an iron fist. What is to say I won't take over your precious Shi'ar empire when Earth is mine, and the superior technologies I brought from my dimension 23 are in place? All you see is the fruit of my memories. Your precious Shi'ar are only a few steps ahead of me... and I will capture your ship and have its secrets..."

"Boasts and hot air, criminal," said Cerise.

"Takes one to know one, eh Birdie?" laughed Saturnine. "You hate serving that empress. You long to be free. Join ME and you won't serve any master. You can even have what you most desire..."

"And that would be what?" Cerise snorted.

"The leader of Excalibur. Nightcrawler. Don't think I didn't notice how you two kissed one another so long ago..."

"He loves another..." said Cerise.

"But you HATE it. And you can't STAND that he didn't come after you, could you? The man of your dreams abandoned you to be a SLAVE to the Empress... and he thinks you a killer..."

"I serve the Empire. Nothing else matters," Cerise droned.

"Spoken like a mindless puppet of Lilandra. Seems to me that you deserve to see the misery that you have spawned. There is no shame in having killed. Why worry about what they think? At my side you can make Lilandra BEG for making you suffer needlessly..."

"The Shi'ar are bound by codes and laws ancient before your sun had planets," Cerise said quietly.

"Typical drivel. The Shi'ar are birdbrains with not the stomach for conquest. They should have been shot years ago. Only the empress Deathbird could see the way. Unfortunately she was exiled. Would that she and I could..."

"Do what you want with me. But the Shi'ar Imperium will crush you and your little force easily," Cerise hissed. "You cannot stand up to the entire Imperial guard..."

"I won't have to," Saturnine mocked. She dragged back her hand, and a sickening crack shot across Cerise's face. Once, twice, and three times. Cerise spat blood at her, and laughed.

"You are a fool, hatchling," Cerise said. "You know not what you face..."

"And you are obviously not worth my attention. Kill her... when the time is right. I wish to use her to reach Kitty Pryde..." said Saturnine to her guards. She exited, laughing as Cerise hung there defiantly.

"Cerise!" Khaos cried. Wisdom grabbed him around the neck, restraining him.

"Shto, stop it, or I'll hurt you! There is NOTHING you can do!" Wisdom grunted as he held him back.

"My love, I MUST have her! That witch with the silver hair will PAY!" Khaos hissed.

"Amanda help me luv," Pete pleaded. Amanda Sefton gestured and magical shackles reached out to bind him so Wisdom could let him go.

"This is no time for that, mate. She's got my Kitty, an' I feel the same way..." Pete Wisdom snapped as he slapped the dark elf across the face. "Now get it together, cause we need ya..."

"You dare strike me!"

"He's right," Amanda Sefton snapped. "Calm DOWN for pity's sake. This doesn't help Kitty or Cerise..."

"They will pay for this," Pete promised.

In a small cargo bay they gathered. Doughlock's gold threads plugged them into the main computer unit. When he had seen Khaos and Amanda being overpowered, he had diverted the soldiers with a fake distress call. Then he had observed as Kurt and Rahne Sinclair were dematerialized.

"Silence please. Our difficulties are compounded... self has discovered a Shi'ar transport beam has captured Self Kurt and Self Rahne..."

"You're kidding..." Wisdom shook his head.

"It is true, friend Wisdom. We are all alone..."

"How can..." Khaos trailed off. "we're alone?"

"Why do you think he summoned us back here," Amanda asked. "We're safe here as long as my magic can cloak us, and Douglock can keep the computer from thinking we're enemies. Why do you think I teleported us all here?"

"How did you KNOW?" Khaos grunted.

"Simple mate. Me guts told me that D'marran was a rat," Wisdom said, tucking a smoke between his teeth and lighting it. "And Douglock did some digging a bit earlier... so he signaled Amanda in the suit..."

"Without my knowledge?" Khaos demanded.

"We had to make it look real, to get your butt out of there," Amanda apologized. "I'm sorry, but I'm just as mad as you are. They have my boyfriend on that crate of birds... along with Rahne, and Colossus..."

"Colossus?"

"Yes. They got him too," said Amanda. "Douglock, tell them how you sensed his lifesigns briefly..."

"So what now?" Khaos asked. "We are trapped!"

"Free Captain Britain, and Meggan. Then have them help get us out of here," Amanda said firmly.

"I'm with ya, luv," said Wisdom. "Got a plan?"

"Yes," Amanda said. "but we'll need a little help. We can't fight them all ourselves..."

"How can we?"

"Whoever D'marran serves, he's probably not working for Lilandra," said Amanda. "From what Kurt told me, the X men were her friends. But for some reason they wanted Kurt and Colossus, both X men at one time..."

"Why not take Kitty?"

"A deal perhaps," said Wisdom darkly. "Saturnine wanted Kitty. Always wanted her for some sick reason."

"And you know this HOW?" Khaos asked. Wisdom blushed.

"Let's just say I know the bird pretty well... and leave it at that..." he flushed.

"So what are our options? Who's going to be able to help us here?" asked Khaos.

"The X men," said Amanda. "If I can use your IBIC power to boost my teleport spell I have enough to bring one or two to help us..."

"But why not contact them?"

"Too risky. Douglock, can you get the computer to punch a hole so I can extend my spells outside?" asked Amanda.

"How are you even gonna FIND them?" Wisdom asked, scratching his head.

"Simple. My powers of the Winding way enable me to trace the souls of the X men. Those closest to a place of magic will be transported here... I left something in the Mansion for just an emergency..."

"Such as..."

"Kurt's friends all had keepsakes he gave them. A mystical mirror in the X mansion. a gateway to a place called Limbo. Although I am not sorceress supreme, I can still pierce the way to Limbo, and get one of the lesser Demons to help me. One of us must go in and through Limbo and the other side to the X mansion, and get the X men... to help..."

"This is risky," said Wisdom.

"What must I do to help you?" Khaos asked as she removed her shackles.

"Join your power of IBIC with me," she said tracing a pentagram, and taking wisdom's lighter to light several small candles. Douglock's manipulation of the air system vented out the candles and bypassed the fire suppression systems. Wisdom stood back, watching as Amanda dispelled her armor, and Khaos stood ready.

"I know this magic..." he said as she traced mystical symbols. "It is not unlike my own transit spell that brought me to your world..."

"Good then you know what must be done..." Amanda said quietly. She began the chant, and mystical energies swirled and coalesced in the heart of the pentagram. Grasping his mystical talisman, Khaos raised it and focused its power in the heart of the shape. A whirlwind swirled, and forces reached out.

"Mystical lords of space and time, your mistress commands you to find those we seek. The friends of Kurt... who is close and who can help now..."

Her eyes glowed white and a strange demon stepped partway through. "Holy..." Wisdom mumbled.

"Keep back... he is Wyther, a demon of a realm called Limbo who is known to the Margali... this gateway will let me step inside, and bring two others out..."

"Why not just take us all there?" asked Wisdom.

"Good question," Amanda said. "But one must be here to have the portal open. Wisdom, go with Wyther. Get help. Get the X men..."

"Why me?" he asked. "They don't know me proper!"

"Go! Get the X men's help while I stay here... Wyther... show him the way..." she barked.

"Yes mistress," he nodded, grabbing Wisdom and pulling him through. The gate momentarily sealed, leaving Khaos and Amanda panting.

"Bloody HELL!" Wisdom yelled as he was dragged into a realm of blood and fire. "Where the ruddy..."

"This way, little man," said Wyther as he dragged Wisdom into a large Citadel at the heart of limbo. "Quiet or HE will hear..."

"Who?"

"Belasco, the true lord. I am loyal to Margali and her kin, but we must hie to the portal..."

"I'm not even goin' to ask mate... where's the ruddy door to the X men and how can you..."

"This way... Wisdom," said Wyther as he pushed Pete Wisdom down a long corridor of strange flashing discs. Momentarily they appeared only to randomly vanish. He shoved Wisdom towards one that had appeared just before a mirror.

"There is the X mansion. You must go through the mirror and tell them..."

"Ruddy hell I will... what makes you think they'll believe me!"

"They must. You must bring them to help. The one called Xavier will know."

"But this is all messed up!"

"Go now, human... the disc is prepared," Wyther snorted as he grabbed Wisdom and kicked him through the disc that opened up in the mirror's dark surface. With a demon's boot in his bum, he shot through and felt shattering glass.

"Ruddy stupid TOERAG!" he snapped, tumbling into the hallway. He groaned, picking himself up as he looked around. Someone's room, a girl's no doubt. Blinking he saw the rock posters and garish punk bands, and glanced. Multiple cardboard boxes were half opened, while a packed suitcase lay with clothes strewn all about. It looked as if the occupant had just arrived but never unpacked properly. Dust had been brushed off of the items here and there, while some of the posters had been taken down and rolled up into tight small bundles.

"X mansion, eh? Not impressed... probably some young bird's flat, and it looks like they never unpacked their goodies," he murmured, rubbing his sore backside. He tensed as the door clicked open, and dove behind the bed to wait to see whose room it was.

Gum snapped, and he heard the din of a girl singing off key. Glancing up at the mirror he saw the bright garish coat and pink sunglasses holding her hair back. He groaned, realizing she was just a kid. Far younger than Rahne, but that X man badge on her pink shirt told him this was the X mansion. Or else some younger contingent. Just what was this one doing there? He had heard tales of the girl named Jubilee, but he could have sworn she had been sent away to Generation X a year or so ago. Just his luck that he dropped in when the brat was visiting her 'home' with the 'Yes men.'

Jubilation Lee had come back for a rare visit with Wolverine. Since most of the other X men were on missions, Jubilee and Wolverine were spending their time together watching the Mansion. Already she had spent a few days just getting aclamated to the changes in her absence. While she had been gone, Storm had made certain her room remained untouched so she could come back and visit during the holidays. At the Masachuesttes academy she shared a room with Paige. Now she was headed back to see what other clothes she could sort through from her old mess and send on to Kitty Pryde at Muir, or send on to her current assignment at Generation X when she returned.

She delighted in annoying Wolverine's other 'Punkin', having just sent some old things from Masachusettes to rile Pryde. Unfortuantely she had no idea that Pryde's current flame had stumbled into her room headlong. All Jubilation was set for mentally was taking her sorted boxes down to Wolverine so they could pack them up and have them shipped back to the Academy when her break was over.

Jubilee stopped, glancing around the room. "Hey, what gives?" she asked, pulling off her Walkman. "Wolvie... is that you?"

Wisdom darted around the bed, grabbing her by the wrists before the sparkling plasma at her fingertips could detonate. "Shuddup sweetheart! I need you to listen and listen good!"

"Let me go you dweeb!" Jubilee cursed, kicking and squirming. A hand clamped over her mouth and she struggled hard against her attacker. Wisdom grunted as her elbow slammed his gut, and he let go. A fizzle of sparks slammed into him, and he barely brought up his hotknives in time.

"You little pain! Ya gotta listen to me!"

"YEAH Right, jerko! Get out of here before I nail you!" Jubilee snapped, leaping on her bed and sizzling another volley of plasma at him. Hotknives crashed into it, sizzling in midair.

"Got no time for this, girl, you have to listen! Kitty Pryde an' Kurt need you! I'm from Excalibur!"

"I don't care if you're from Camelot dude, you're history unless you get out of here!" Jubilee yelled as she leapt on him, knocking him flat. He grunted as she reached out, and rolled her over, pinning her with his hands seizing her wrists.

"Listen to me now, girl! You have to STOP!"

"Let me go you..." Jubilee hissed at him, struggling. "LET ME GO!"

"Dammit, you better listen! I need the X men's help or Pryde is history!"

"I suggest ya listen to the kid, or else," grated a low voice that made Wisdom's blood run cold. "Let go of her, an back away REAL slow like..."

"Wolvie!" Jubilee yelled. "Thank god you are like soo in time!"

"Perfect, ruddy perfect," Wisdom cursed as he felt three points pressing into his back. "I don't have TIME for this, mate... Pryde's in danger..."

"Let the kid go, now, bub, an I won't hurt ya much..." Wolverine gritted, his breath hot against Wisdom's neck. Slowly he got off Jubilee, feeling the claws dig into his coat.

"Bloody stupid... we're wasting TIME! Kitty Pryde NEEDS YOU!"

"What?" Jubilee asked as she got up, and moved around.

"What's that, bub?" asked the voice. "Turn around REAL slow like, an' don't move or you'll get paffed or skewered..."

"Stupid bleedin' toerag, you gotta listen!" Wisdom snarled, as he spun around, his hands tingling with fire as he faced down the blue and yellow costumed man, about three inches shorter. "Pryde's in danger..."

"Did you say what I think ya said, pal?" Wolverine snarled, pushing Jubilee behind him safely. "If yer lyin'..."

"I'm not, mate," said Wisdom. "Look, put the cutlery away an' let's talk like... Pryde sent me. An' unless you let me tell you what's what, she's toast... an' I'll be DAMNED if the girl I care about..."

"Wolvie, he's so lying..."

"Shush kid," said Logan. He sniffed quietly. Wisdom held up his hands, sighing as the Canadian sniffed carefully. He sheathed his claws, and Jubilee opened her mouth to protest.

"Wolvie... get a clue he almost killed me!"

"Yer tellin' the truth I smell Kitty all over ya. Before I skewer ya, you'd better have a GOOD explanation for scarin' the snot outta the kid... an' for yer intentions towards my kitty..."

"Your... kitty?" Jubilee asked, hand on her hip.

"We're together, if that's what ya mean, mate. Now, if ya want to help, let's get out of this room before I loose me eyes..." Wisdom breathed. "I need a bloody fag..."

"Eww gross!"

"C'mon, let's both have a smoke," Wolverine said as he grabbed Wisdom's shoulder roughly and pushed him ahead. "C'mon Jubes, I need ya to back me up in case he tries something..."

"Nice to meet ya too, mate," Wisdom mumbled as Wolverine pushed him out and down the hallway.